Epilogue: Dawnguard.
"Are you really sure you want to give it back?" Knight Paladin Gelebor said, holding Auri-El's Bow in his arms. Standing before him was Talis and Tymvir, at the Inner Sanctum where they killed Vyrther.
"Yeah I'm sure." Talis said. "I was just borrowing the bow to slay Harkon. Don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful and powerful weapon. But…" She looked back to Riikkrinejun, back where it was meant to be. "I prefer to use weapons I've made myself."
Knight Paladin Gelebor nodded. "I understand. Well, if you ever need the bow again, you know where it is." He left to place the bow back in the wayshrine.
One week later, Breezehome.
'Dovahkiin Talis returned Auri-El's Bow to the Forgotten Vale's Chantry, where it truly belonged.' Tymvir wrote in his book. After speaking with Isran, Tymvir was given permission to write about their exploits while serving in the Dawnguard. 'Now with Harkon dead and Skyrim safe from the greatest Vampire threat to face, Talis ventured to Ysgramor's tomb so she could…' As he wrote, he heard the front door open. He saw Talis entering the house, a smile on her face. "So, did you do it?"
Talis took in a large breath and exhaled. "I did, and it feels great." She walked by Tymvir and looked over Tymvir's shoulders. "So, aren't you going to finish it?"
Tymvir smiled, and he turned back to finish the sentence. "So she could cleanse herself of the Werewolf blood. She vanquished the beast within her and freed herself from the grasp of Hircine." Tymvir said as he wrote it. He turned back to the subject of his work.
Talis walked to the bookshelf and picked up her father's letter. It told of yet another prophecy involving her and the Thalmor. It said that before she was ready to face them, she had to vanquish three great evils that threatened Tamriel. Alduin was the first, and she knew Harkon was the second. 'So who is the third?' Talis thought to herself.
"So, have you heard from Serana?" Tymvir asked.
"Not since I killed Harkon." Talis answered, placing the letter back on the shelf. After Harkon was killed, Serana told them she was going to the Soul Cairn to get her mother. She told Talis and Tymvir to go home. She said she needed to do this alone and that she would meet them in Whiterun. "What do you think she needed to do?"
"Well, she left to go get her mother. But after that, what could there be?" Tymvir wondered. "Come to think of it, didn't she take the Soul Gem Harkon was carrying? And didn't she ask you about curing your lycanthropy?"
'Did Serana go to…?' Before Talis could finish her thought, there was knocking on the door. She walked to the door an opened it. Standing right in front of it, hood down and in broad daylight, was Serana.
"Hello." Serana said. She gave a smile to her friend, noticeably without her fangs.
"Serana…something's different about you." Talis noticed. She also saw that Serana's eyes changed color. Now they were a dark green instead of a bright orange. "Did you cure yourself?!"
"I did." Serana said. Talis could hear the joy in her voice and see the spring in her step. "It was easily the best thing I've done in centuries! I feel like I can actually breathe, and feel the warmth of the sun! I'm actually alive!"
Tymvir approached the women. "I'm happy for you Serana, but why did you get rid of it, if you don't mind me asking."
"No, I don't mind." Serana said. "Well, I did a lot of thinking. I saw what Vampirism did to my family, and what had to go through to get it was…degrading. I decided I didn't want any part of it anymore. Besides, I figured getting rid of it would serve as a giant fuck you to Molag Bal. Plus, now I don't feel so thirsty anymore." Her stomach than gave a rather loud growl. "Now I'm just hungry." The friends all chuckled at this. "So, want to go get something to eat?" Serana asked.
"Sure. A home cooked meal or something from the Bannered Mare?" Talis asked.
Serana pondered for a moment. "Let's go to this Bannered Mare."
The trio of Nords walked to the local inn. They entered and saw a few of the usual patrons. They took the tree seats at the bar. Ysolda came up to them. She looked at Talis. "Thank you for all you've done with the Vampires."
"Hey, the true thanks should go to the Dawnguard." Talis said.
"As you say." Yslolda said. "So, what can I get for all of you?"
"The usual." Talis said. Talis' usual order was Venison Stew with Nord Mead.
"Beef Stew with Baked Potatoes and Ale." Tymvir answered.
Serana was silent for a moment, and her stomach growled. "Uh…how about Horker Stew, Salmon Steak, A Goat Leg Roast, Grilled Leaks, some bread, and Wine." She looked at Ysolda who was just staring at her in disbelief at what she just heard. "I haven't eaten in a while." Her stomach growled again.
"…okay…" Ysolda looked at Talis. "This will be a total of 48 Septims." Talis placed the money on the counter. Ysolda collected it and walked off. "Hey Nyx, we've got quite the order to fill."
About half an hour later…
Talis and Tymvir were watching Serana devour her meal. She was going at it like a pack of wolves eating their freshly caught prey. Mikael was walking by. "Wow, where dose your friend put it all?" He asked Talis.
"Don't ask me." Talis said as she went back to eating her Venison Stew. She took a quick glance back at Serana. Talis could see that Serana was enjoying the first meal she's had…well since she became a Vampire. "So Serana, what are you going to do now? Will you keep Castle Volkihar?"
Serana stopped eating for a moment. "No, I don't want anything more to do with that place. Isran actually offered me an official place in the Dawnguard. I accepted."
"What about your mother?" Tymvir asked.
"She's staying in the Castle for now. She's trying to make the decision about her own Vampirism herself. After all…she said she doesn't want to live long enough to bury me." Serana said. After a moment of awkward silence, Serana turned back to Talis. "Anyway, with the Dawnguard, if you need me more than they do, I'll be there waiting for you." She took a bite of her Goat Roast.
"Thanks Serana." Talis said. The three of them continued eating their meals. They recalled the events that they lived through in this last adventure, talked about other plans for the future, and other subjects.
"Out of curiosity, what did you do with the Elder Scrolls?" Serana asked the Dragonborn heroine.
"Well, I was going to give the Dragon Scroll back to Paarthurnax, but an old friend of mine approached me about it. Her name's Jullbelle Frenrose, Arch-mage of the College of Winterhold. She came to me and begged me to give her the Elder Scroll. She said something about wanting to improve the College's reputation by studying it. She paid quite a lot for it."
"Well after the last fiasco they had with that crazy Thalmor, their reputation could use some mending." Tymvir said.
"And my mother's scrolls?" Serana asked.
"I sold them to Dexion." Talis said. "Six thousand septims he paid for them. So I guess I owe you three thousand."
"Will Dexion ever get his sight back?" Serana wondered out loud.
"Like he said, it's highly unlikely." Tymvir said. "All we can do is hope for the best for him."
After they finished eating, Serana gave Ysolda money for a room. A while later, Talis came back to check up on her. Talis saw the former Vampire sleeping soundly, a genuine smile on her face, quite possibly the first one she had since becoming a Vampire.
The next day…
"Like I said yesterday, if you ever need me, you know where to find me." Serana said. She, Talis, and Tymvir were all standing before the gates of Whiterun. Also with her was a pouch full of Septims from Talis' deal with Dexion.
"Sure, and don't forget to write to us." Talis said. She gave her friend one last hug. Serana returned it.
"Good luck. Be careful on your way back." Tymvir said. He shook hands with Serana. She waved goodbye one last time before exiting the gates, giving one last smile to her friends, no, her family, as she left, ready for what Tamriel had in store for her.
Talis and Tymvir walked back to their home, ready for some well deserved rest.
And so, as another chapter of Talis' tale ends, another begins. Next time, Talis will have to face off against someone who she could truly call her kin, traverse a plane of Oblivion, save an island from tyranny, and face…
Talis: Please don't say it, please don't say it…
Three Frostbite Spiders, none of the Giant variety.
Talis: Oh…that's not so bad.