Chapter 10: Curse Never Dying.

"So let me get this straight: In order to destroy this barrier, we need to go around the Soul Cairn, defeat these incredibly strong beings known as the Keepers, and then come back here? All while looking out for a Dragon named Durnehviir?" Talis asked after Valerica told her and Serana what they needed to do to get inside.

"Correct." Valerica said.

The two women looked at each other. "Like we have anything better to do." Serana said.

"Yeah." Talis looked back at the elder Vampire. "We'll be right back."

As they turned to leave, Valerica spoke up. "Serana!" Serana turned to her mother. "Be careful."

Serana gave her mother a genuine smile. "I will." She turned back to Talis and began to walk with her.

Talis looked at Serana. "Do you have any idea where we need to go?"

"No, but I assume the giant purple streams of light will give us a clue." Serana said while pointing at the very thing she was talking about.

Talis glanced at the three lights, coming from the right of the castle, the south of that, and the last one directly south of them. "Ok, sounds like a plan." They ran to their first light. The keeper was a specter that, while lacking a head, wore Dragonplate Armor and wielded a Dragonbone Battleaxe.

"Remember Talis, careful." Serana reminded Talis. The keeper began to rise from his throne and approached them.

Talis drew Dovkaalkrine and breathed. "FUS RO DAH" She shouted. She was able to push the Keeper back. Serana cast Ice Spike while it was down and Talis slashed away. Taking a foe down longer than usual, she finally killed it.

After going through another portal to the top of the structure, Talis encountered another Keeper with a Dragonbone Bow. "My Rikkrinejun is a better bow than yours." She drew her bow and entered into a shootout with the Keeper. After a few rounds, Talis finally put down the Keeper, taking an arrow in the process. She used Close Wounds to heal herself.

The last Keeper, directly south of Valerica's castle, used a Dragonbone Mace. The Keeper began to charge at Talis. She blocked the mace, while Serana cast her spells and Talis went on the attack. "YOL TOOR SHUL!" The Keeper was blasted with flames and Talis delivered the killing blow. "And that makes three." Talis looked at Serana. We should be able to get to your mother now." Serana gave Talis a smile.

Back at Valerica's castle…

Talis and Serana ran up to the castle, the barrier now gone. Valerica walked up to the pair. "Miss Talis, I must say, I'm actually impressed. I would never have thought they would be destroyed."

"Thanks. Now can we get the scroll?" Talis asked.

"Of course. Follow me." Valerica said, leading them to the doorway to the inside of the structure. Be on the watch for Durnehviir. With the barrier down, he is more than certain to investigate."

Valerica led the ladies into the boneyard. It was a large area, with only a few rocks. Talis could see a small area to their right, where there was a long chest next to an alchemy table. That was where she assumed Valerica did her work.

They then herd a roar, coming from something rather big. "You all heard that, right?" Serana asked.

"A Dragon." Talis would recognize the sound anywhere.

"It's Durnehviir! Defend yourselves." Valerica said. The dragon finally came in sight. He looked like an ordinary Dragon, except his horns were more like a rams than his kinsmen. His flesh was also decayed and his wings tethered, even worse than Paarthurnax's.

He perched himself upon the wall opposing them. "DIIL QOTH ZAAM!"

"Talis, what does that mean?" Serana asked.

"Undead tomb slave." Talis said. "A Shout I don't know."

Bonemen and Wraithmen began to rise from the ground. They drew Ancient Nord weapons and began to assault the Vampires and Werewolf. Talis was dispatching them with Dovkaalkrine. She turned back to check on the Vampires. They were casting spells back to back, a real mother and daughter duo.

Talis smiled and turned to the Dragon. "JOOR ZAH FRUL!" And just like clockwork, Durnehviir was forced onto the ground. Talis began to slash at the undead Dragon. She jumped onto his back and plunged her Greatsword into Durnehviir neck, and then into his skull for good measure. Talis then healed herself as Durnehviir's undead goons vanished. She looked on as the dragon's body was consumed in flames. But she noticed something different; the flames were purple. Then there was the fact a skeleton wasn't left behind like there normally was. Then she noticed probably the most important detail of all: She didn't absorb Durnehviir's soul.

"In all my life, I would never have thought I would see that dragon dead. You keep surprising me Talis. Volumes on Durnehviir mentioned he can't be slain by mortal means." Valerica said.

"Durnehviir isn't dead." Talis said.

"That's right. You didn't absorb his soul, did you?" Serana said. She looked at her mother, recognizing the look of confusion on her face. "Talis is Dragonborn."

"Ah." Valerica walked up to Talis. "So, if you didn't absorb his soul, then that means he will return. Wither the time to do it is in minutes or hours, I don't know. But before that happens, let's get you that scroll." She lead them to her alchemy area and unlocked the chest. "Go on. Take it."

Talis picked up the Elder Scroll from the chest. "Alright. We have both scrolls. Let's get back to Fort Dawnguard." Talis turned to Valerica. "What are you going to do?"

"I must stay here. I'm also a daughter of Coldharbor. If I return to Tamriel, the chances of the prophecy coming true increases." Valerica told them.

"Fine, once we kill Harkon, we'll come back." Talis said.

Valerica gave a small laugh. "I appreciate your concern, but Serana is all I care about now. Remember, Harkon is never to be trusted. No matter what he promises, he'll deceive you in order to get what he wants. And keep my daughter safe. She's the only thing of value I have left."

Talis nodded. "I will. Now I have a question. Before we came here, Serana partly Soul Trapped me so that I could come here. You wouldn't happen to know if I can get it back, do you?"

"Ah, I see Serana has been using what I've taught her. Don't worry. I can help you. Your soul is trapped inside a gem. When you and Serana came here, it 'given' to the Ideal Masters as payment." She dug into her cloak and pulled out a Black Soul Gem. "I was wondering what this was. It appeared in the boneyard before you arrived." Valerica handed the gem to Talis.

The gem shattered and a Dragon Soul aura enveloped Talis. She could feel her power returning to her. "Alright! I'm back in top form!" Talis yelled.

"Good. Let's go back to Dexion." Serana said. She turned to Valerica. "Talis is right. We'll come back for you." She walked up to Valerica and embraced her.

"Just stay safe." Valerica said. "I love you Serana."

"I love you too." Serana said, letting go. Talis began to think of her own mother in Sovngarde.

They started walking to the exit. "So, was it nice to get that all off your chest?" Talis asked.

"It was." Serana said. "I do love her, but she's far from the perfect mother."

"You should be glad you still have a mother." Talis said.

As they stepped outside, they noticed a glowing form, now shaping into the recently 'slain' Dragon. "Durnehviir!" Talis drew her blade.

"Stay your weapons! I would speak with you, Qahnaarin." Durnehviir said.

Talis stepped forward. "Valerica assumed that you weren't truly dead."

"Cursed, not dead." Durnehviir explained. "Doomed to exist in this form for all eternity. Trapped between laas and dinok, between life and death."

"Why are you talking to me?" Talis asked.

"I believe in civility among seasoned warriors, and I find your ear worthy of my words." Durnehviir said. "My claws have rendered the flesh of innumerable foes, but I have never been bested on the field of battle. I then name you Qahnaarin, or vanquisher in your tongue."

"Wow, another title to add to your already growing list." Serana said.

Talis smiled as she placed her sword on her back. "Thank you. I found you equally worthy." Talis said.

"Your words do me great honor. My desire to speak with you was born from our battle, Qahnaarin." Durnehviir said.

"Ok, while I appreciate the title, I do have a name. It's Talis. Talis Winter-Blood." Talis told the dragon.

"Very well, Talis Winter-Blood. I merely wish to respectfully ask a favor of you." Durnehviir said.

"Go on." Talis said. Durnehviir then explained about how he was in service to the ideal masters, guarding Valerica until her death. "Man, you got fucked."

"Guess they neglected to tell you that my mother is also immortal." Serana said.

"Indeed. But before this, I roamed the skies of Tamriel, as did all of our kin, Dovahkiin Talis." Durnehviir said. "Yes, I am aware about who you are and about Alduin's defeat at your hands."

"Well, that saves time on explanations." Serana said.

"I desire to return there. However, my time here has caused me to become bonded with this dreaded place. If I should journey far from here, my strength would begin to wither until I was no more." Durnehviir said.

"I'm sorry. How can I help you?" Talis asked. It was a good thing the Blades weren't here. Delphene still hasn't fully forgiven her for her absolute refusal to kill Paarthurnax. They would each have a heart attack if they knew she wanted to help a dragon, and Talis was pretty sure Esbern wouldn't be able to survive one.

"I entrust you with the right to call my name from Tamriel. Do me this simple honor and I will fight as your ally and teach you my Thu'um." Durnehviir said.

"Another personal Dragon to summon and a new Shout? Alright, you've got a deal. I'll call your name from Tamriel. Nau dii zin ol Dovahkiin (On my honor as Dragonborn)." Talis sealed the deal.

"My thanks in advance, Dovahkiin Talis Winter-Blood." Durnehviir took to the skies of the Soul Cairn and flew away, already eager to return.