Chapter 3: Harkon

Serana and Talis walked up to the gate. The gatekeeper was telling Talis to leave, but let them in as soon as he saw Serana. "Hey, before we go in, we need to talk." Serana said.

"What now?" Talis asked the Vampire.

"I just want to thank you for getting me out of that crypt. But once we get inside, let me take the lead. If not, you might not make it out." Serana said.

"Hey, don't worry. I appreciate the concern, but not only am I Dragonborn, but I'm also a Werewolf." Talis said. "They can't harm me."

"True, Vampiric Drain can't work on you, but they can still plunge an ax into your skull." Serana pointed out.

"Good point." Talis said. As they went in, Talis kept a hand on Dovkaalkrine's hilt.

An Altmer Vampire approached her. How dare you trespass here!" He then saw Talis' companion. "Wait, Serana? Is that you?" He around and walked into the dining hall. "My Lord, everyone! Serana has returned to us!"

"Guess they were expecting me." Serana said. Talis followed her, her hand still on her Greatsword."

Talis and Serana descended from the stairs and approached a large Nord Vampire. Talis was guessing he was Serana's father. She looked around, noticing the Vampires feeding on men and mer, still alive. She also saw the Vampires eying her, like a starving wolf. Ironic, considering what she herself was.

"Ah, my long lost daughter returns. I trust that you have my Elder Scroll?" The Nord asked Serana.

"I return after 4000 years, and that's the first thing you say? Yes I have the scroll." Serana told her father. Talis could tell right away that the relationship between them was…saying it was rocky was putting it mildly.

"Of course I'm glad to see you. Must I really say the words aloud?" Serana's father said. "If only your treacherous mother was here to see this. I'd want her to see this family reunion before putting her head on a spike."

"Well aren't you romantic." Talis said.

The Vampire turned his attention to Talis. "Now tell me Serana, who is this mongrel you brought into my court?"

"My savior, Talis Winter-Blood." Serana said.

"Ah, the Dragonborn." The Vampire said.

"You know who I am?" Talis said, tightening her grip on Dovkaalkrine.

"I have ears everywhere. I'm well aware about who you are and what you're capable of." The Vampire told her. "But you know nothing about me. I'm Harkon, Lord of this court. For my daughter's return, you have my gratitude. And you must be rewarded."

"My Lord, what kind of reward can equal the worth of the Elder Scroll and Serana?" The Altmer, Vingalmo, asked.

"What indeed." Harkon said, stroking his beard.

"I've got a feeling I'm not gonna like where this is going." Talis thought to herself.

"I've got it!" Harkon said with a sinister tone. "The only gift equal to Serana and my scroll: My blood. With it, you will be a lion among sheep. As an added bonus, it will purge you of the filth inside your soul."

"And should I refuse?" Talis asked.

"Then I shall banish you from this court. I'll spare your life this one time, but you will be prey. Perhaps you need more convincing." Harkon's body began to change. Talis recognized this form: it was the creature she saw from her vision in Ysgramor's Tomb. "This is the power…"

"No." Talis said. "I refuse your so called gift."

"So be it." Harkon told her. "You are prey, just like the rest. I banish you!" Harkon's hand started to glow black.

Talis' eyes began to feel heavy. "Why…why am I so sleepy?" Talis' eyes closed, and she blacked out.

"…is! Talis!" Talis faintly heard. Her eyes began to feel lighter. She woke up. She looked around herself. Tymvir was sitting next to the bedside she was lying on.

"Tymvir. Where am I?" Talis asked.

"Northwatch Keep." Tymvir said. "Thorald and Avulstein Grey-Mane found you unconscious outside." Talis began rubbing her head. "So what happened in Castle Volkihar?

"Well, I didn't get to find out what they wanted the Elder Scroll for; I realized Serana's father was the creature from my vision; and I was given the choice to become one of them. I refused, so they kicked me out." Talis told Tymvir.

"Why did they let you out?" Tymvir asked.

"I guess, if anything, Harkon's a man of his word." Talis said. "But I do know one thing: Isran isn't going to be happy when we get back."

At the entrance to Dayspring Canyon…

Talis and Tymvir walked up to the entryway into the canyon. Talis heard footsteps running up to them from behind. They turned around, and saw a Thalmor warrior, dressed in Ebony Armor, approaching them.

"Dragonborn! You shall pay for Elenwen's death!" He said, drawing an Ebony Sword. Before he could strike, an arrow was shot through his head, the arrowhead exiting his skull. He fell down, dead. Talis pulled part of the arrow out to examine it.

"Daedric." Talis said.

"That would be mine." A voice called out. Approaching them was an Imperial, dressed in the attire of the Dark Brotherhood. He was slender, in his 20s. His hair was short, light brown spiky hair. He had heterocromia. They recognized him.

"Ticedo Menanius. What's the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood and the most wanted man in Tamriel doing here?" Talis asked. Ticedo was the one who murdered Emperor Titus Mede II, thus leaving the Empire without an Emperor. "Rikke and Hadvar have been looking for you."

"I figured." The Assassin said. "Well, I just want to have a little chat with you." He glanced over at Tymvir. "Alone."

"Not happening, pal." Tymvir said as he placed his hand on Kodaavhun's hilt.

"Tymvir, go on ahead." Talis said. Tymvir looked at her in worry. "Relax. I'll be fine." Tymvir turned around and entered Dayspring Canyon, catching one last glimpse of Ticedo. Talis turned back to him. "So, what in Oblivion do you want?"

"Well, since you asked so nicely, we've been getting a lot of contracts on you." Ticedo said. "But no matter how many assassins we send after you, you just refuse to die." Talis placed her hand on Dovkaalkrine. "Relax. I'm not going to attack you: I want to make a deal."

"What kind of deal?" Talis said.

"Pay 20000 Septims, and I'll forget about the contracts, and should this person try to contact us again, I'll even kill them for you." Ticedo said.

Talis was silent for a moment. "Why offer me this? What does your 'Night Mother' say?"

"She knows how hard it is to kill you." Ticedo said. "As for myself, I'm getting tired of losing initiates to your blade." He approached her. "So, do we have a deal?"

Talis was eying his hand, making sure nothing was up his sleeve. Slowly, she reached out and shook it. "Deal." She turned around. "Meet me at the Bannered Mare at Whiterun. I'll pay you there." She turned back, and he was gone.