"Do you have to stand so close to me?" Serana asked, her long hair blowing behind her in the harsh wind.

"Any further away and I couldn't see you," Arven replied. He was around a single pace away from the vampire with just enough room for a person to squeeze in between them, if they so wanted.

"Your eyesight must be terrible," Serana replied.

"We're in a blizzard. No one can see in these conditions," Arven said. He was trying to be subtle when he kept checking up on Serana, but due to the limited vision he had and the restricting helmet he wore, he mostly ended up turning his head 90 degrees to the side.

"Well, no mortal can," Serana said. The difference in their posture was incredibly obvious. Arven had his shoulders hunched, trying to limit the amount of surface area that was facing the front of the blizzard while Serana strode along side him, standing up tall and proud as if the weather and visibility were both perfect.

"Seriously though," she continued. "You don't need to keep checking; I'm not going anywhere. I want to go home."

"Miss your family, huh?" Arven said. He almost sounded bitter, although it was hard to tell with the raging winds filling their ears.

"…Not quite. It's… not the most welcoming place, but depending on who's around, I'll be safe there." Serana said.

"Didn't you say it was your family home?" Arven replied. "Why wouldn't you be safe?"

"Let's just say that my mother and father had a bit of a falling out. I'm not in any danger, really. It'll just be more unpleasant to run into my father." Serana waited for a response after she spoke, but instead an uncomfortable silence just fell over the pair. Arven simply stared at the woman, his helmet making his expression impossible to read.

"Ugh, saying all this out loud makes it sound so… common. 'Little girl who doesn't get along with her father.' Read that story a hundred times." Serana shook her head as she spoke, an almost disgusted look souring her beautiful features.

"Almost makes you sound like a regular person," Arven said. Serana frowned.

"I may be a vampire, but I'm still human you know," she said.

No, you're not.

"Anyway," she continued. "I'm not going to run off, so you can relax a little."

"I'm not worried about you running off. I'm worried that any second now, you'll remember where you are." Arven said. Despite his shield on his back and sword in its sheath, Serana started to notice that his hands were never too far away from either. He was constantly tense.

"I'm worried that once you remember where you are, how to get home, that you'll stab me in the back and leave me to die in a ditch, and I won't be able to get to the bottom of all this." As he spoke, Serana remained quiet.

"Once I get you home, you won't need me anymore. Honestly, this is the stupidest thing I've ever done, but the idea of a bunch of vampires with an Elder Scroll scares me shitless and I don't quite know what else to do besides follow along." Arven's voice continually grew less calm, his mind racing as he tried to justify his current actions.

He was being blatantly honest. He had absolutely no idea what the right thing to do was in his current situation. It was idiotic. He just couldn't do nothing, so something suicidal like walking into a vampire's home seemed better than that.

"What happened to you to make you so distrustful of vampires?" Serana asked.

"Not sure if you know this, but most people generally don't like vampires. You aren't the most popular bunch."

"Sure, most people dislike us, but you hate us. I've known you for a few hours and it's the most obvious part of your personality. No one hates like this without good reason."

"There's a reason."

Serana didn't push the topic. She wasn't in much of a talking mood, and that wasn't exactly the nicest conversation she'd ever had. The two simply continued walking, Arven doing his periodic checks every 10 seconds or so.

Earlier on he'd decided to start walking to Castle Volkihar immediately. The Sun had just set as they excited the cave earlier, leaving them a decent amount of time to make some progress. If they walked all throughout the night at a decent pace, they should be able to make it just as the sun was rising. That is, if his map was accurate.

Initially he was worried about someone running across them and causing problems, instantly recognising Serana as a vampire due to her eyes. The blizzard reduced those fears to nothing, no one would be foolish enough to go out in these conditions at night. Well, almost no one. When he'd brought that up to Serana she simply laughed at him. According to her, no one would be able to see her true eye colour. They'd all just see her as a (mostly) regular woman.

He'd asked her why he could see them, and she simply replied that she didn't have time to use any illusion magic since she'd just woken up. Unknown to Serana, Arven also had a charm around his neck specifically designed to resist any magics from a vampire. He just didn't want her to know that.

After almost two hours they passed the turn-off to Morthal. There were a few lights still on, barely visible in the blizzard. Serana watched them the entire time they were in view but they moved straight past the town.

"You know," Serana said. "We can stop and sleep through the day, continue the next evening. We can even walk during the day. It won't be pleasant, but as long as it doesn't shine directly on me, I'm okay. Just a bit weaker. You don't have to exhaust yourself."

Arven thought for a moment. The idea of her being weaker was honestly a pretty good one, it just meant them stopping and resting. If he stopped, he might fall asleep. If that happened, chances were he'd either lose her or die.

"No," he said. "We keep walking. Through the day if we need to, since you'll be fine."

"Aren't you tired? Freezing? How haven't you frozen to death yet?" Serana asked. She almost seemed worried.

As if right on queue Arven let out an almost silent breath. "Yol." Heat escaped from his lips, warming his face in an instant as the warmth then spread throughout his entire body. It was a handy trick he'd learnt a few moons after discovering he could shout fire. If he toned it down, put less force into it then instead of breathing fire he simply warmed his body. Handy for when it gets too cold.

"Tired, sure. Freezing, not at all. We keep going." Arven said. Serana just shrugged and followed along.

A bit after Morthal the blizzard stopped, finally giving way to clear skies and a bright, full moon. After the weather had cleared Serana slid her hood off, brushing some snow from her hair. She actually smiled as she took a deep breath again.

No one that old should be that attractive, Arven thought.

"How much longer until we're there?" Serana asked.

"6 hours, maybe? We're about a quarter of the way there." Arven replied.

"Seriously? We've been walking for hours!"

"Only a couple so far."

Serana just sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "We really are going to be walking all night, aren't we?" She asked.

Arven nodded. Reaching onto his belt he unbuckled a small satchel, taking out a green potion. Over the few hours they'd been walking his steps had slowly gotten slower and shorter. He'd been awake for a long time now, and half of that time had been spent fighting. Understandably, he was exhausted. The warrior just didn't want to show it.

Reaching up he took off his helmet with one hand, his hair matted with sweat clinging to the inside of the helm momentarily. His dark brown hair was messy, his fringe almost reaching his lips when he didn't have it swept back. Wiping his hair, the dirt and grime from his face Arven brought the bottle up to his lips and downed it in a few moments. He drank voraciously, as if he was dying of thirst. He didn't notice but Serana was watching with an amused smirk as he did so.

After finishing the contents of the stamina potion, he placed it back in the satchel it came from and went to don his helmet once more, but paused when he noticed Serana looking at him.

"…What?" He asked.

Serana just turned away with a hint of a smile on her lips. "Nothing. It's just amusing, you're thirstier than I am."

With a grunt Arven placed his helmet back on and caught up with Serana again, walking along her side. Now that the blizzard had passed, they were walking a few more paces further apart. He initially dismissed what she said, but then the Imperial realised something.

"Actually, aren't you thirsty?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?" Serana asked.

"Well, you haven't drank… eaten… in a while."

"Understatement of the year, but you're right."

"Well, is that an issue?" Arven asked. He was trying to approach the topic cautiously; he didn't want to give her an invitation to go off hunting. He also didn't want her collapsing on him.

"No, it's not. I am feeling weak, but I'll be fine until I get home."

If this is her when she's weak, I'd hate to see how strong she is when she's sated.

"Right," Arven said. "Good to know."

"I mean, if you're offering, I'll gladly take a bite out of you." Serana turned to look at Arven as she spoke, offering him a quick wink. The walk was long and boring, so she had to find entertainment somehow. She decided she'd find that entertainment by toying with a stuck-up warrior.

"No."

"No?" Serana asked? "That's it? Oh Gods, you're dull. Can you show some expression, make a joke? Something?"

Arven looked straight at Serana. He shook his head. "Nope."

"Out of all the people to wake me up, did it have to be you?"

"Yep."

Pouting heavily, Serana folded her arms and kept on walking, picking up the pace slightly to force Arven to keep up. A few moments later sparks began to dance between her fingers, the electricity building up before she discharged the smallest amount in Arven's direction.

The lightning zapped him and he jumped, a small yelp coming from him. His voice broke.

Serana cracked up almost instantly. "Oh God, what was that?"

"Nothing. That was nothing," he replied, trying his best to act entirely normal.

"That was hilarious!" Holding her stomach Serana bend over at the waist, her laughing echoing throughout the woods around them. If she wasn't so annoying, the sound would actually be quite pleasant, Arven thought.

"Is this what happens when you're locked away for a few hundred years? You go a little insane?" Arven asked. His cheeks were slightly red under his helmet.

"Oh please, I am not even close to being insane. Anyone would find that funny." After she'd finished laughing Serana straightened up, wiping a single tear from her eye.

"They really wouldn't."

"Oh, come on, what's not to love? One moment you're acting all tough, 'Oh look at me, I'm the powerful vampire slayer! I don't need any sleep, this blizzard is my bitch!' Then you squeal like a child!"

"Wonderful, not only am I stuck with a vampire, I'm stuck with a vampire that's lost her mind."

"I have not, but if this trip was any duller, I just might go crazy. You can't blame me for trying to have a little fun."

Arven sighed. "I suppose not." A part of him felt slightly guilty, and he felt that it really couldn't hurt to relax just a little bit. Serana hadn't done anything suspicious so far, nothing that gave Arven a reason to distrust her. The only thing she was guilty of was being a vampire.

That's reason enough, he thought. He shook his head, closing his eyes to try and clear his mind. He couldn't trust her. He'd known people who had trusted a vampire, and they all ended up hurt or dead. Or worse.

This is what they do. They trick you, seduce you, use you. They're all the same.

"Just keep on walking, would you?" Arven said.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say." Serana didn't say much more after that, but she did have a small smile on her lips for a good while afterwards.

By the time dawn was just starting to break, the sky getting the smallest hints of light from the East, the pair had made it to the frozen tundra of Skyrim. A short while later and they spotted Castle Volkihar off in the distance.

"That's it, out there to the north," said Serana. She had her hood up now and had put gloves on her hands. She'd covered up every bit of skin that might be exposed to the sun. "We used to keep a boat around here to get there and back."

Arven didn't reply, instead walking down the small hill they had crested, his boots crunching in the snow beneath. Serana followed, albeit more slowly than usual.

"You coming?" Arven called behind him, stopping after he'd put a decent distance between them.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm just feeling a little light-headed." Serana replied.

"You alright?"

"Fine, just… hungrier than I thought I'd be. I'm alright."

They found the boat easily. A small jetty had been built and it was in surprisingly decent condition. It certainly didn't seem hundreds of years old. They both got in the boat and Arven started to row, Serana sitting in front of him.

"So. This is your home, huh?" Arven asked.

"This is it. Home sweet… castle." Serana replied.

"You never mentioned it being a literal castle."

"I know, I didn't want you to think I was one of those… you know," as she spoke Serana waved her hands about in the air, her tongue getting caught as she tried to think of a word that escaped her. "Just, one of those women who sit in their castle all day? I don't know. Coming from a place like this, well… it's not really me."

"…Huh."

"What?"

"Nothing," Arven said. "Just… didn't really expect you to care about other people's opinions all that much."

"I normally don't," Serana said.

The hell does that mean?

After pulling up at the shore, they both got out and walked up the beach until the ground beneath them turned to stone, a road lined with statues of gargoyles now between them and the entrance to the castle.

"These aren't going to come to life and jump me, are they?" Arven asked, his shoulder aching slightly as he remembered being crash-tackled by a gargoyle back in the crypt.

Serana chuckled. "They won't. But if they do, I'll save you again."

Arven took a step forward, but as he did Serana reached out and grabbed his shoulder. The moment she did, the warrior flinched and recoiled, turning to face her.

"Ah, sorry. I just… before we go in there," she said.

"…Yeah?"

"I just wanted to thank you for getting me this far. Even if it wasn't the most pleasant of trips, I appreciate it. And don't worry, after we get in there, I'm going to go my own way for a while," Serana said. She waited to see if Arven said anything, but when he was silent, she continued.

"I know your friends, and you, would probably want to kill everything in there. I'm hoping you can show some more control than that, for your own safety. Once we're inside, just keep quiet for a bit. Let me take the lead." After she finished speaking, Serana took a few steps in front of Arven and slowly walked towards the castle.

"Sounds good to me," Arven said under his breath.

As they approached, an old, thin man stood up straight with a shocked expression. "Lady Serana's back!" He called out. "Open the gate!"

"Lady, huh?" Arven said.

"What of it?" Serana asked.

"Aren't ladies supposed to be all dignified?"

"Oh, shut up."

The gate was raised and they both walked in. After entering through the main door Arven almost gagged as an incredibly powerful scent of death and blood assaulted his senses. It took everything in him not to throw up in his helmet.

The first person to greet them, unlike the watchman, was a vampire.

"Serana? Is that truly you? I cannot believe my eyes! My lord! Everyone! Serana has returned!" The vampire called out behind him, his voice echoing out.

"I guess I'm expected," Serana said as she stepped into the hall, beginning to descend a staircase into a large, wide dining hall. The lighting was dim, but as Arven slowly followed Serana, feeling the eyes of the vampire that had called out to everyone drilling into his back, he got a good look at what he was walking into.

Three long dining tables, arranged in the shape of a 'U' were in the middle of the hall, men and women all sitting on the outside, facing in. Arven didn't know if they were all vampires, but the vast majority were at least. It only took a second to figure out where the overwhelming stench had come from.

There were carcases, fresh ones lying on the tables. Vampires were greedily digging into the bodies, tearing flesh from bone and drinking the blood. Some parts were served up on tables, and bloody kegs were placed around the room with wine glasses to go with them. Where ever Arven laid his eyes, there was blood. On the tables, on the floor, on the carpet. On the faces and hands of every single creature in the castle.

The sight was so shocking that for a second, he didn't even realise that aside from Serana, everyone had their eyes on him.

"I can't believe it." A voice rang out from the centre of the room. It wasn't loud, but it was powerful. Arven felt himself stand up straighter, looking to the man in the centre of the room who was holding out a hand to Serana.

"My long-lost daughter returns at least." As the man spoke Serana slowly approached, still maintaining a decent distance between the two. "I trust you have my Elder Scroll?"

Serana scoffed. "After all these years, that's the first thing you ask me? Yes, I have the scroll."

"Of course I'm delighted to see you, my daughter." When the man spoke, every other vampire stopped what they were doing. He had their full attention. It was somewhat impressive, Arven had never seen someone who could make a vampire stop feeding voluntarily. "Must I really say the words aloud?" The man, Serana's father took a step closer to his daughter. Serana took a step back.

"Ah, if only your traitor mother were here, I would let her watch this reunion before putting her head on a spike," he continued.

What a lovely man, Arven thought.

"Now, tell me. Who is this stranger you have brought into our hall?" Every eye, almost in unison shifted from the man speaking to Arven in an instant. He had never felt more uncomfortable and exposed in his entire life.

"This is my… saviour, the one who freed me," Serana said.

A small smile crept up on Serana's father's lips, and he slowly approached Arven.

"For my daughter's safe return, you have my gratitude. Tell me, what is your name?" He asked. Despite his words, Arven didn't feel an ounce of thankfulness coming from the man.

"Arven."

The vampire nodded. "I am Harkon, lord of this court. By now, my daughter will have told you what we are."

"A reclusive cannibal cult." Arven didn't know why he said that. It was idiotic. Serana did chuckle a little after he said it, though.

"No, not quite," Harkon said, obviously rather unimpressed by the jest. "We are the oldest and most powerful vampires in Skyrim."

Heard that before, Arven thought. Although, something made him more inclined to believe Harkon. The castle probably helped with that.

"For centuries we lived here, far form the cares of the world. All that ended when my wife betrayed me and stole away that which I valued most." Harkon said, looking over at Serana.

The girl, or the scroll?

"So, what happens now?" Arven asked. He would've felt immensely safer with his sword in his hand, the weapon whose hilt was glowing incredibly bright with this many undead around. He'd even noticed several vampires staring at it. Arven wasn't about to draw his weapon in a room full of enemies, though.

Harkon seemed to think for just a moment before replying. "You have done me a great service, and now you must be rewarded."

"If it's a dinner invitation, I'll have to pass," Arven said. He noticed Serana rolling her eyes.

"There is but one gift I can give that is equal in value to the Elder Scroll and my daughter," Harkon said after ignoring Arven's jest. Arven couldn't help but notice the order in which he referred to those two important "items".

"I offer you my blood," Harkon continued. Arven went pale underneath his helmet. "Take it, and you will walk as a lion among sheep. Men will tremble at your approach, and you will never fear death again."

Immediately Arven began to shake his head. When he spoke, his voice was stammered, weaker than normal. "N-no, I refuse your gift."

Instead of being offended, Harkon just smiled. "Perhaps you need convincing? Behold, the power!" Holding his arms out to the side Harkon's skin began to bleed, his form shifting and twisting upon itself before a horrifying, deathly scream boomed from the man.

Where moments ago a regular vampire stood, now there was a beast who's very presence made Arven want to turn around and run as fast and as far as he could. Every bit of exhaustion that he felt evaporated in a single moment, and all he felt now was terror. Harkon now towered over Arven with grey skin, a demonic visage and crooked, tattered wings sprouting from his back.

"This is the power I offer!" Harkon said, his voice resembling that of the Greybeards in its intensity. "This is the power of a Vampire Lord! Now, make your choice."

Backing up from Harkon, Arven placed a hand on his sword and drew a few inches of the blade out of its sheath before he even realised what he was doing. The pure blade illuminated the floor around him, reflecting off of the blood and gore splattered on the tiles.

"No, I refuse. I don't want your gift," he said. Somehow, Arven managed to tear his eyes away from Harkon to look at Serana for just a second. She almost seemed ashamed, with a small hint of panic in her eyes as she looked back and forth between Harkon and Arven.

Harkon noticed the blade in Arven's hand. His eyes grew enraged as he studied the metal that was visible, understanding dawning on his face. Arven realised that if he was as old as he thought, chances are that Harkon knew of Dawnbreaker, and he couldn't be pleased about its presence.

"Not only do you turn down the offer of a lifetime, but you threaten me?" Harkon said. He advanced on Arven, floating across the floor effortlessly. "I should kill you where you stand!"

"I saved your daughter when I could've killed her, and I brought her home. A life for a life, let me leave this place!" Arven called out, trying to make his voice mirror the intensity of Harkon's. In doing so his dragon blood flared up in his veins, his words almost turning into a shout as he made the floor rumble and the roof vibrate, dust falling down. That made Harkon hesitate.

Arven's heart was beating incredibly fast, the sound of blood rushing filling his ears. He knew that every Vampire in the room could hear it as well. Drawing his sword fully he stood with it held in both hands, shield still resting on his back.

"Allow me to leave, I will not bother you again," the Dawnguard soldier said.

In response Harkon descended to the floor, his bare feet touching the carpet beneath. He still remained in the demonic form.

"Very well," Harkon said. "You are prey, like all mortals. Leave this place, you are banished!"

Arven ran. He didn't spare anyone a second look, instead climbing the stairs and sprinting out into the open. As soon as he ran through the entrance, pushing past the confused watchman he took in a deep breath of clean air once more, letting it fill his lungs. He sprinted half-way down the stone path before he hunched over and rested his hands on his knees, panting heavily as he struggled to calm down.

The warrior felt as if he was having a panic attack. He'd fought countless vampires before. He'd even fought dragons! But this, this was one of the most terrifying experiences of his life.

Back inside the castle, Harkon had resumed his humanoid figure, walking back to his seat. Serana followed closely behind him.

"Why did you threaten him!?" Serana demanded. "He saved me and brought me back, you had no right to do that!"

"He had no right to insult me in my own home! The fool is lucky his head is still attached to his body," Harkon retorted. The Vampire Lord took his seat again, drumming his fingers on the wooden table as he thought to himself. Serana stood beside him, her face clouded with anger although she remained silent.

Then, Harkon spoke to the court. "I don't quite enjoy being talked down to and threatened in my own home. If anyone were to silence a man who'd disrespect me, my name and my home, I would be very appreciative."

Serana's expression dropped, a look of shock and disbelief on her face.

"No! You can't do that, father! He brought you me and the scroll, you can't kill him!" Serana said, pleading with her father.

"I'm doing no such thing, my darling girl. I'm just enjoying my meal. What the members of this court do is entirely up to them."

Outside Arven had started walking back to the boat, not looking behind him as he wanted to leave every memory of that castle behind for good. Eventually, the sound of footsteps on stone reached his ears. He spun, his hands free as he had sheathed his sword once more. Standing a hundred or so metres away from him, he saw a lot of vampires.

There were at least 10 all standing together. Despite it being daytime the clouds had covered Castle Volkihar and it was raining lightly. Arven cursed his luck.

The warrior watched the vampires as they all stood idly by, no one making a move. One of them bared his fangs, hissing. Then they all charged.

You've got to be fucking kidding me!

Drawing his sword, Arven began to think. He couldn't run, they'd catch him. He couldn't swim away, they'd catch him or he'd drown in his armour. He couldn't fight them, he was tired and every vampire here was ancient. He didn't know if any of them could transform like Harkon, and he didn't want to find out. He only had one valid idea, and he hoped it would work.

Inside Serana continued arguing with her father, but after realising she was getting no where she turned and ran towards the stairs.

"Don't be a fool Serana, it's just a human. Just some cattle. Leave it be."

Serana ignored her father, ascending the stairs within a second as she ran towards the door. Just as she burst outside, she caught the view of Arven standing his ground, sword and shield raised as he was just about to be swarmed by vampires. For some reason, his helmet was off.

"Yol Toor Shul!"

Opening his mouth wide a torrent of flames erupted from the Dragonborn, bathing the stone before him in fire as it advanced towards the vampires. Each one of the undead immediately changed their direction. Some turned around, fleeing as flames licked at their heels while others dived off the side of the path. Almost every one suffered burns to some degree.

The shout lasted for a good few seconds until the stone had begun to melt, and Arven only stopped as he felt his fatigue getting the better of him. He didn't kill any vampire, but the attack had its effect. They all thought him to be too dangerous to risk their own safety attacking now, and that was all the warrior needed.

Placing his shield on his back, Arven kept Dawnbreaker in his hand and turned around to approach the boat. Just as he did he caught Serana's eye, noticing a look of pure shock on her face. He chose to ignore it. Climbing onto the boat he had no issues sailing away, every vampire standing eerily still and staring at him as he faded away to the horizon.

Seriously, fuck today.

Hey again! Thanks for reading, I hope you're enjoying the story so far! Also a big thank you to anyone following or who favourites the story, it goes a long way in motivating me to write some more.

If you're got any questions or comments please feel free to leave a review, I always enjoy seeing what you guys think or have to say.