26th of Last Seed
Matria didn't like having the help or someone knowing the details. Both disgusted her. She wasn't sure if dying would be better than telling someone the details she swore never to. Molag Bal made it well known to all Daugthers of Coldharbour what they were. His slaves, as he preferred over anything formal, buried what happened deep inside. All daughters knew and accepted their fates by force.
Those who waited and earned the right to be chosen faced things no one ever thought possible. Stories and rumors only filled the voids to anyone who never went there. Some assumed the worst, having read the tales of Lamae Beolfag, the first pure-blood vampire. Those who managed to survive the tale never spoke of it. None of the Daughters ever returned to their homes to speak of it, left to the world and their own devices as some sort of cruel reward.
"Sit still or this is going to hurt a whole lot worse than you can imagine." Tenaya said to her vampire. Matria couldn't sit still whether she wanted to or not. The wound sat a little too close to the heart. Breathing made her cry if anything more than the shallowest of breaths. Her lung barely worked as it was having a new found hole in it.
"Why is… this so im.. important… to you…" Matria chose to ask. The silence in the room made the tension so much worse.
Tenaya refused to even acknowledge her question. The words hung out there for much longer than they should. The story itself sat buried inside her. She bit her tongue and made the healing, if it could be called that, more intense. Valerica showed her a little trick that works on the undead. Regular healing doesn't work as their bodies were no longer alive. At the same time, their bodies were not completely dead. To heal what is not alive or dead proved to be difficult.
Valerica showed both her and Serana the little trick in the Soul Cairn after Serana took a heavy hit from a guardian. Neither of them witnessed anything like it. In essence, the healing spells everyone knows were mutated. Instead of pulling at the life to fix itself and rebuild, the caster wills a piece of another who is stuck between to replace it, effectively becoming them and mutilating a soul elsewhere. You rip the bodies of the undying to fix what is not alive or dead, just as they are. Truly a blend of necromancy and restoration.
The glowing white light accustomed to healers slowly turned to a pulsing black and white cloud. Tenaya found her hand covering Matria's mouth as it seeped into the wound. Her cries came out muffled enough to not draw attention. The last thing she needed was some guard popping in to see her with a vampire. Her fingers pushed in her mouth when Matria opened too wide in pain bring on another set of looks she didn't care for.
Once it finished, Matria took a heavy breath. Pain still shot through her body but at least she wouldn't die from the wound. Tenaya kept her promise and saved her life. The vampire on the other hand regretted making the deal.
"My guess is you are a new vampire. That form offers you no advantage when you know nothing about magic. How long ago were you turned?" Tenaya said turning her back to get cleaned up. The goo inside Matria's mouth left little to be desired in the way of cleanliness. Matria looked on furious at the ignorance.
"You know a little too much about me. Why do you want to know all of this? Seems you have enough figured out already" Matria tried to prop herself up but the pain pushed her down quickly. "Were you a Molag Bal loyalist or something who didn't get chosen?"
Tenaya laughed before sitting down at the small table in the room. All Tenaya could imagine was this vampire trying to run around Cyrodil having to live with a mortal beating her up, while drunk no less. Here sat one of the prizes of Molag Bal and not a single thing to show for it. A gift, the perfect vampire form, rendered useless and all she surmised out of it was I didn't get picked.
"I am not and never will be. You are not the first pure-blooded vampire I encountered or even spoke to. You also are not the first I killed."
Matria studied this woman over, hearing those words intently. She knew of only one more in Cyrodil as a Daughter of Coldharbour, close to two hundred years her elder. Who the hell was this woman? She had a couple scars on her face, but nothing that said she was some great warrior who managed to kill vampires for the fun of it. Matria studied everything about her from the golden brown hair to the awkward eyes. This woman looked more suited for the brothels than fighters guild.
It wasn't until her eyes fixated on two small marks sitting to the right of her neck did she start piecing it together. She looked from her eyes and realizing they were mutated. Tenaya wasn't normal at all. "You were a vampire, turned by someone…"
Tenaya pulled the cloak a little higher without realizing the marks showed through. She grinned for a moment before looking back to Matria. It was a sinister satisfaction of feeling what she did as a vampire and knowing she became stronger as a result making that face. It took her longer to figure that out than she assumed it would. "I was a vampire for a week. It served its purpose and then I found myself a cure."
"What?! There is no such thing as a cure." Matria yelled feeling the pain from making too much noise.
Tenaya didn't bat an eye as she strode over to the bed beside Matria. She knelt down close to her face and did everything she could to be clear and concise. "I hated every minute of being that filth. A cure exists and felt so good to spit in your master's face!"
The look in her eyes said one thing, but her mind said another. She did it for someone she cared about, not for the reasons this one chose. Never in her life did she expect to fall for someone, let alone a vampire, rather a pure-blooded vampire. Serana tore her heart out in so many ways. She became one of them just to have that forever and not give up a piece of her being to the Soul Cairn. She wanted Serana to have a complete woman. She felt everything slip away after they defeated Harkon.
That knife…
Her knife as a gift…
The edge sunk deep into her chest with a glancing shot on her heart. Serana didn't bat an eye when she collapsed to the floor by her feet. Serana unstrapped the boots and gauntlets made just for her hands. Everything dropped beside Tenaya in the chapel. It wasn't so much the possessions but the look… the look almost seemed relieved to have me out of the way. She didn't do any favors when my body went through the front gates and down the long pathway with a single throw. Had the gargoyles not been destroyed earlier, Tenaya swore they would ravage her body and end her existence.
All the fighting to stay alive led her to Isran and the cure, but only after a thorough torture and interrogation. Those days on a torture rack, spelling out the truth every time without waver, left her even more tattered. How she managed to make it to the cure came out of pure hatred. Those steps filled with anger, hatred and pain drove her to the brink.
"Fourteen years ago I was turned…" Matria chose to finally speak just to get Tenaya's face from hers and those glassed eyes looking into nothing away. "Molag Bal chose me over the others. I prepared for it all my life and won the right to be presented by killing four Boethiah Initiates by accident. They attacked our town the day before his invocation. Molag Bal found me worthiest of those presented at his alters all over Tamriel."
"Sounds to me like you caught his attention." Tenaya spoke out loud without realizing it.
"It definitely did. I never expected to see Coldharbour. The place burned and froze you at the same time. Everything looked dead as I imagined it to be. You do not just dedicate your life to Molag Bal and not know what to expect, or so you think."
Tenaya listened to her tale weave through Coldharbour. Matria started to choke up when she mentioned seeing Molag Bal for the first time. She only stood there in a white flowing dress, allowed no armor or weapons, to face a Daedric Prince. What Matria didn't notice was the intent Tenaya listened. Every word, down to the descriptions of the pillars and palaces etched in her mind. She wanted to know it all.
Matria choked up for a few moments. Tenaya remembered this look very well. Serana refused to talk about anything, her only words talking about how degrading the ritual was. Her persistence with Serana went nowhere and Matria didn't look like giving up much more.
"It isn't like you get a choice in how things go. You can't fight back. No one really tells you what happens. You read the stories and hear about how powerful you become. The whole thing is a way to have a demi-god torture you, the one he feels would satisfy his thirst the most."
Tenaya watched someone breakdown before her eyes. The vampire struggled, never even realizing the events altered her life forever. She might be a Daughter of Coldharbour, but the price for it was great. Her story weaved through things unimaginable. The lengths a demi-god would go to just to try and see if someone was worthy. There was little she could do to ease the pain brought to her. For Tenaya, the pain she forced this woman to endure became too much. Without even knowing it, her hand rested on Matria's to comfort her.
"The stories never leave you. I felt my soul ripped from my body. He took everything I was and warped it to the being I am today. I never attacked anyone without being provoked. The only reason I killed four of them was they ran in to our shack and I lit it on fire by accident. I even studied in the local school against their wishes you know? This life shouldn't exist. Once you get it, you realize how foolish you were."
Matria removed her hand from Tenaya's grasp. The vampire looked at the ceiling, cold, emotionless. It became clear why these Daughters of Coldharbour were who they were. Serana had the same stare. He never punished the men, he gave the gift for their sacrifices only. All of it felt wrong. But as wrong as it all felt, he kept to the same standard. She felt the same way Serana did. Tenaya understood now things were not as they should have been. This vampire broke down and showed a human side. Those feelings exist within them.
"You can go as you like. If you turn right and go down two blocks, a pickpocket will be there. Don't feel you need to spare his life for the things he has done."
Matria pulled herself together and went to leave the small house. She turned one last time to look at Tenaya and debated for a moment whether to ask the question or not. Her sense of curiosity made it slip out. "Why was it so important to know all of this? I answered everything you asked in every detail. I would like to know why."
"Molag Bal I thought ruined the one thing I ever had that felt real. What you went through tells me all I ever needed to know. I know our path started rough but I will ask a favor of you once more, this time you may chose. Will you return here on the 2nd of Sun's Dusk? If you return, I will provide you with something to make your life much easier; something truly priceless."
The look on her face said it all. This woman who she wanted as food now asked a favor of her. What type of woman was this? Her curious side consumed her. Matria nodded her head knowing what that day was. Why on earth would this woman want her to come back on the Summoning day of Boethiah?
"Heal carefully Matria. Blessings upon you."
Tenaya set herself down in the chair one more time. The stories echoed through her head making it very clear what Molag Bal did. His grip held so tight to all the Daughters of Coldharbour only for that moment. The memories haunted them, dragging them deeper in to pity until they learn to escape. She assumed Molag Bal kept Serana away, angry over a partial blooded vampire, one she created, being by her side. She blamed Molag Bal for it all, but he didn't pull the strings, he never did. His affect lasted a lifetime
Tenaya should have known when the kiss happened before the Soul Cairn the entire thing was doomed. The look in her eyes was empty. Tenaya wanted to believe she was speechless, but that look haunted her.
She went about her business in the house. House might have been a little nicer than most words to describe it. Tenaya wanted to be out of sight and out of mind. She achieved this beautifully with the purchase of a rundown unit on the lower levels Bruma with nothing but a bed, table and fire pit. Maybe it came down to the Nords living in the city or her desire to escape Skyrim so quickly, but Bruma felt right. Cold enough to make life tough on those not prepared but out of Skyrim where she felt she died.
Most of her money sat in the vaults of the Imperial City. Eyes turned when she handed over that much gold. She earned it all on those adventures. Now the time came to start fresh. The busted floor proved a great hiding place for the gold she kept around. The magical sack hid enough for her to live out her days in comfort if needed, but this wasn't the plan anymore.
As morning came, Tenaya found herself ready to go out. The glass dagger set hidden on her belt. She missed the days of smithing as strange as it sounded in her head. Nothing felt better than settling in by a forge and making the unimaginable come to life. How she missed the Dragonborn so much. His guidance showed her the way of the forge. It was like he said, you never have enough money to buy the right equipment so plan to make it. Learn to anywhere.
His guidance put her down a few different paths, things she never knew existed. The Dragonborn showed her not only the way of the forge but taught her the agility of those who liked lighter armor and the way of might with nothing more than a simple sword. He forced her to meditate on her knowledge constantly, opening new pathways in her mind to things she only dreamed of.
Tenaya carried only one regret, never getting to master her magic. His life ended too soon; and she wasn't strong enough. The College of Winterhold gave guidance, only to frown upon her desire to be a Spellsword. They demanded dedication and it became impossible for her to give. She wouldn't lie to their faced to learn, it wasn't her style. She took their words and left.
Getting lost in her thoughts for a moment, Tenaya ventured the wrong way before tracking back to the Hammer and Axe. Fjotreid looked rather unpleasant today for some reason. She really didn't want to hear about another failed endeavor with his armoring skills or asked to go track something down he didn't want to buy outright. Much to her surprised, he seemed a little more open when the requests for goods came out. All she ever asked was for a fresh sharpening of her dagger.
"How much Refined Moonstone do you have in stock?" Tenaya tossed it out there in hopes his mood might change with a large purchase.
"Moonstone eh? Let me go take a look. It's running a little expensive these days." Fjotreid always like to point out prices.
"Just tell me what you have and bring it here. I want to see the quality of it."
He didn't like some random lower level girl coming in and asking about high-priced items. The guard in the corner glanced my direction for the same reason with a hand on his sword. Why did everyone have to judge her or assume the worst?
He pushed a cart of Moonstone out. He easily had enough to have a few sets of everything Tenaya planned. The chunks looked to be of good quality. Whoever smelted this did it right. It didn't have the usual specs of black through it when people try to rush the process.
"I will have ten pieces of this and a large chunk of quicksilver over there. Might as well toss in some iron ingots and leather."
"Just hold your horses young lady. This is a shop, proper establishment. Unless you have coin, I ain't a loading anything."
"How much?"
"More than your house down there was worth. Please do not waste my time."
"How much? And for that, how much to rent your forge in privacy?"
Fjotreid always assumed I was nothing more than barely getting by. The guard always questioned where Tenaya managed to get the glass dagger from. Neither of them believed her when she said it was forged with her own hands. Everyone assumed the story to be a lie. She spent a few nights being interrogated on different occasions. It all depended on the guard in the shop.
"We are talking 1600 Septim for that alone and if you want my forge, you might as well add another 400 Septim."
Tenaya walked over to the scale and started pulling coin from the bag. Every handful tilted it down to the astonishment of both the guard and keep. Just when Fjotreid thought it ran out, more came. Every Septim piled higher until he felt satisfied by the weight. His fingers ran over the Septims to make sure this really happened. No one ever bought like this, no one.
"Put it next to the forge. I will be back tomorrow to start. If any of it comes up missing, I will take from yours, do you hear me?" Fjotreid nodded his amazement. He stared as she walked out of the shop and back to her home.
Tenaya dropped the cloak to the ground and slipped off the clothes she wore. In the mirror stood a woman she barely recognized. Her fingers ran over the scar on her chest where Serana stabbed her. That damned woman took everything from her and now things had to change. She wanted a reason as to why. She wanted to know why Serana chose to run her through. She always thought Molag Bal did this, his grip so tight she couldn't escape.
"Two moons to get back in shape and make what I need for this trip."