Author Notes
Soundtrack recommendation: The Rising by Follow the Cipher
~~-x-~~
24th of Sun's Dusk
Serana stared up the mountain towards the Riften pass. This would be the first time she left what was considered Skyrim in her life. Skyrim became the only home she really knew of now. The years before Tenaya freed her from the tomb didn't count anymore. She realized her life only started when they met. To think of anything she did before Tenaya, beyond meeting Molag Bal and being the chosen one carried no weight. Tenaya was her life.
"We are really going to do this aren't we?" Ivy asked seeing the snow blowing down from the pass.
"Yes, we are. I hope to find some more of those Dawnguard we pass yesterday." Serana said.
"I couldn't agree more. It seems we have a mutual feeling about them. I am not as helpless as before thanks to your mother." Matria chimed in, saying the unspoken name.
"She at least did something useful…"
Serana's statement under her breath didn't go unnoticed by either. The resentment and anger she held for her mother festered the entire way. Their pace, mostly dictated by Ivy and the sun, tended to be one of caution. They couldn't run ahead and leave her behind. Matria and Serana could easily cover the distance quicker without her, or at least until the sun came up and then Ivy held them together. All those adventures before with Tenaya started to make sense. She held Serana together without her even realizing it.
All three started the trek through the pass. Word of a bounty of Tenaya's head didn't escape any of them during their dinner at the Inn outside Riverwood. That bounty from Velatin would prove a point. The amounts of thieves and bandits hunting for her made the roads tricky. Every tree seemed to have someone behind it looking for her. What once would be the occasional run-in became a constant. Almost every hour they had to deal with people coming for Tenaya.
It didn't even take them half of their climb to have another stop on their journey. Three bandits blocked the path to Bruma wanting some sort of interrogation. Ivy stopped the group and approached on her own just to try and reason. She didn't want the vampires to get angry like the last few times. For what it was worth, having vampires as friends turned out to be worth its weight in gold. Serana moved with a speed she couldn't imagine and Matria learned every moment they were together. Her speed started to increase the more she listened to Serana about life and learn their secrets.
Ivy did her best to convince the bandits they knew nothing. When a sword flashed as a way of intimidating her, she didn't flinch. Matria and Serana collectively froze their hands over, wanting only to have a clear shot at the bandits for being so stupid. Their fingers twitched for an opening that never came and wasn't necessary. Ivy had her sword drawn and brought the three down without the need for their help. The bandits were petty with no skills. It was almost too easy.
"Thanks for taking the fun…" Matria yelled.
"You can talk to the next group then." Ivy said, smiling.
"Okay. We will take turns. I was starting to like this ice spike she showed me Serana."
Matria fired two spikes off, one from each hand against the mountain. Serana looked on amused, content, seeing someone listen to her and returned the gesture with hers. Only if Matria would have listened to get some type of armor instead of the typical vampire robes she wore. It stood out like a sore thumb, but she insisted on being who she was until returning to Bruma where she could buy the right stuff. Skyrim didn't suit her tastes, or so she told Serana.
Both ran to catch Ivy who started walking ahead. Ivy pulled the cloak tightly with the wind blowing stronger the higher they went. Flurries flew through the air as the sun ducked behind the clouds. Matria and Serana let out a sigh of relief with the sun vanishing. Neither cared for the burning feeling on their face with each passing minute.
Another hour passed with no bandits until the road took the turn down instead of up. Matria slowed seeing the fires lit at a camp ahead remembering this spot. She knew what sat there and the group of people. More than three Dawnguard held the pass to prevent any vampires from escaping Cyrodiil. "Looks like we have a group of Dawnguard again. There will be a lot if I remember the camp correctly. This seemed to be a holding area for them."
"I wonder how Tenaya managed to get through here and leave them alive?" Ivy asked.
"When we see her, we will ask. Right now, I think we should approach carefully. I really do not need my wing ripped off again…"
"I guess there is no time like now to test out my gargoyles."
Matria ducked behind the rocks before the turn, out of sight from anyone in the camp or road. She quickly went about her business with gathering the stones along the ground first. Her hands went straight to the bag on her waist and started pulling everything out. She knew what it took to get these gargoyles made. Ivy however, started to feel sick seeing the Daedra Hearts still gooey and wet when Matria pulled them out. The various ores and jewels kept Ivy occupied while Matria worked.
"Both of you back up some. This will let off a lot of heat and light." Matria said.
Her hands slammed together until a beacon of red and purple started to pulse. The temperature in the area grew higher the longer she held it. Snow started to melt, and sparks of light crackled around. Her hand held the orb while she threw a jewel to the orb, then pieces of ore and finally the heart. Once the heart absorbed, immense flames and heat shot into the air, sending her backwards while the molten orb fell to the ground. She quickly repeated it for another feeling the pressure grow the second time.
Serana watched in awe as two gargoyles rose from the ground with their wings moving wide. She truly did it just like her mother. Ivy smiled and tapped on one of them to see how real they were. He quickly turned his head as if to kill her for the insult but did nothing. They had two gargoyles of immense strength making the fight much easier.
"Now I think we can do this. I will have them wait here. Time to cover-up again…"
The group left the gargoyles on their own knowing the first sign of a problem and they would fly in without delay. Dawnguard troops waited in the middle of the path with their roadblocks stopping anyone from getting through. Their setup turned out to be rather elaborate with makeshift gates and guards on both directions. How this group managed so much control over everyone and their lands amazed Serana. The Dawnguard didn't care what impact they had or on who. Just their desire to kill her and every vampire drove them incessantly.
"Halt! This checkpoint has been setup to verify your status as a living creature as agreed with the Imperial Guard. Allow our guards to perform their test and you can be on your way." The guard said who blocked their path forward.
Ivy decided to make this worth the time. She counted seven guards in the camps and tents. "Oh! Thank the nine you are the Dawnguard. We need your help!" Ivy said, panting, wanting to sound terrified. "There are a couple vampires coming behind us. Can we stay in your protection?"
His eyes squinted at the woman and the other two, both of whom stood beside her with their entire bodies covered by cloaks. "Dawnguard, fall in! We have vampires approaching!"
Every soldier quickly rushed to the line with their crossbows aimed. Matria flexed her wrist underneath the cloak. She moved her gargoyles to the air, captivating the Dawnguard completely. They flew circles above as bolts fired rapidly from crossbows. Not a single shot hit the gargoyles who continued to circle high overhead and dive down only out of amusement.
"Fools! Those are not vampires! They are gargoyles."
The voice caught Serana's interest. Seeing him leave the tent enraged her beyond reason. She threw the cloak off and unleashed every ounce of anger and rage inside her body unexpectedly. Ivy and Matria looked on without warning, knowing no reason for the sudden anger. Matria unleashed her gargoyles to protect Serana who already ripped the head off the first guard she could get her hands on.
"ISRAN!" Serana screamed at the top of her lungs.
Ivy pulled her sword and Matria did her best to protect Serana. All out panic swept over the Dawnguard who succumbed to the brute force of gargoyles and the group. Ivy yanked Matria to the side just as a bolt sailed by her body. Matria looked up from the ground to see Ivy plunge her sword into the stomach of the woman who fired the shot. Her gargoyles protected both until Matria could get back on her feet.
Serana however didn't slow down. Isran yanked his hammer forward missing only by inches. Serana wasted no opportunity with a shoulder to his side. He stumbled backwards to a flurry of ice spikes. It only took one to hit his arm and render the one side useless. Isran however, wouldn't slow or relent. He still managed to swing the hammer, hitting Serana on the chest to send her flying.
She struggled to get up, spitting blood from her mouth. He wouldn't win this fight. He didn't have his numbers and she wasn't backing down.
"I always knew Serana. You couldn't leave the peace alone. Know I will bring death to you this time. No fancy torture to get information. It will be my hammer splitting your skull." Isran said.
"Not today Isran. You will not keep me from Tenaya." Serana yelled.
"If I saw Tenaya I would gladly end her miserable excuse for a life also."
"Then you go through me. This is our time Isran, not yours."
"So be it."
Isran ripped the spike from his arm like it didn't matter and threw back a potion. He flexed his arm showing no signs of slowing down. Serana readied her spike and a little something she saved just for the day they would meet. The ice spike bounced off his hammer letting him charge forward. Serana waited, unmoving, unwavering. She wanted him closer. He needed to swing that hammer of his just this one time to give him something to remember her by.
Serana watched it swing in front of her face. The hammer pulled him around leaving her the only opportunity she would get for her gift. Her hands touched his sides crackling with lightning. The hammer dropped to the ground while he shook from the shock. Serana smiled for a brief moment, savoring the look in his eyes. It slowly ended when his hand punched her head. Serana stumbled backwards, falling to the mud for a brief moment. Isran grabbed his hammer, still feeling the effects with his armor smoking slightly.
His hammer came down on the ground as Serana rolled out of the way. He wasted no time sending an explosion her way. Serana felt the impact send her back to the mud, the heat and burning setting in over her skin. She looked up from the ground to see Isran rushing closer again. The hammer again missed only by inches, mud flying every direction. The explosion erupted again from his hand, sending her backwards to the side of the rocks.
Serana shook her head, wanting to clear the cobwebs. Isran was good but seemingly predictable. He wanted to smash with that hammer of his no matter what it cost. Only when he missed did he try something a little different, but again, highly predictable. She waited for his charge forward with his hammer. He missed just barely and tried to hit her with another spell. Serana's hands clapped back, sending a fireball his direction.
Isran bounced out of the way before ice spikes shot through the air. Isran ran around, avoiding the spikes. Serana raised her other hand, letting the red glow emanate before draining pieces of him away the more he ran. She enjoyed the game of cat and mouse he played. Isran however stopped playing, throwing a dagger directly at her head to break the spell. The dagger dropped to the ground, covered in some type of poison by the looks of it.
Each of them tested their magic against the other. Serana's wards deflected the fireballs with great efficiency while he managed to breakdown her spikes at an increasing rate. The torrent of ice eventually became agonizing to defend. Isran lit a ball of light and threw it directly for Serana. While it missed, the explosion hurt badly. She felt it inside her bones. Everything hurt all at once. This spell she hated and knew it came after what she was.
"You lack focus Serana. This is too easy. Perhaps I can rip an arm instead of a wing this time unless you feel like changing?"
Isran started to glow bright as Serana knew the spell very well. She watched it one time while working with the Dawnguard before. Stendarr's Aura. She had to keep her distance now more than ever. He had many little tricks, but she knew what his game was. Serana circled him to let the aura slowly begin to fade. She feigned attacks to keep him backed up. That spell took a massive chunk of his magic and she knew it.
Her feet pushed off the ground sending her through the air. She took the pain with his aura for a moment and kicked him backwards. Isran stumbled and fell while she retreated. The precious time ticked away while Isran struggled to regain his footing in the mud. Serana didn't waste the time and lifted a body up, ripping his neck open and drinking the entire man as much as she could. Blood smeared her face and mouth angering Isran.
"You animal! That was a fallen soldier. To disgrace him…"
Isran lost himself in the rage, reinvigorating his aura one more time. Serana knew his temper wouldn't be controlled, baiting him further. He rushed in swinging the hammer. The aura burned like before until she backed away. Her skin stayed on fire for a moment while she waited for his next move. Isran didn't take long charging again and only missing with his hammer by inches. He backhanded her across the face, sending Serana to the ground. The hammer came down on her stomach, the armor barely holding together. It didn't matter, Isran pounced, holding her down as the aura burned every part of her body.
"So easy…" Isran said through her screams.
The glow encompassed both. He pressed her legs down using his entire body weight to ensure she couldn't move. The screams echoed off the canyon as her body burned. Heat scars ripped a piece of her face open as she struggled to get an arm free. He smiled down trying to get to his hammer.
"You are getting weaker."
"Not quite…" Serana said with her teeth together. Her fingers pulled out the dagger from Tenaya's armor. She lifted her hand and came down onto the side of his neck and shoulder, jamming the dagger straight in as far as she could. His armor stopped only some of the hit until it found the weak point. His other hand quickly reached for the dagger until she pulled him down.
His howls echoed like her screams. She held his arms tightly, caring less about the aura burning as she wanted to see his face. He reached for the dagger and Serana wrapped her legs around his waist to keep him down. He pulled at it while Serana kept his hands occupied. She reached up punching it with a fist to take it deeper.
Isran headbutted her trying to get free. Serana refused to give him an inch, tightening her egs around his waist. Isran clawed with his fingers as Serana screamed from the burning the closer they became. She rested her head on his shoulder, her hands pounded the dagger repeatedly until Isran grew weaker. Their struggle rolled through the snow and mud, but Serana refused to release her grip.
"You deserve this more than anyone for what you did to me you bastard." Serana said no longer feeling the aura burn her.
"This will not be the end Serana. Others will rise up in my name." Isran said weak.
"Then I will kill them if they come for us."
Serana rolled him over to his back. She stumbled to her knees and feet, feeling the pain from the aura. Serana looked at the man on the ground who no longer had the strength to fight back. Isran stared upwards as Serana pulled the dagger from his neck and shoulder. She straddled his waist wanting to be the last thing he ever saw. The dagger lowered to the middle of his throat until it pierced slowly, entering with little effort.
Isran gagged for a moment and died within the next. Serana put all her weight on the dagger taking a moment to breathe. For her, this was over with the Dawnguard. Isran represented everything they were and shouldn't be. His crazy interpretations caused countless deaths and just as many people to be tortured for the fun of it. What made her any less of a person than him? She was no creature or less than human being.
"Serana?" Matria said, lowering a hand on her back.
"He didn't deserve to live." Serana said quietly.
"I know..."
Ivy helped her up and looked at the dagger in his throat. She recognized the markings as those on the armor she wore now. Tenaya made that dagger and it obviously went with the armor having the same look as the feathers. Serana pulled the dagger from his throat and cleaned it off in the snow. She handed it to Ivy as she looked at her curious.
"That dagger was meant to kill me. It belongs in the back of your armor. Tenaya made it special. I found it only right to use to kill Isran. I took it when I recognized his voice."
"We had no idea. What should we do with their bodies?" Ivy asked.
"Burn them. Leave nothing or you will get a martyr."
~~-x-~~
Ysolda stalked the streets of Whiterun like her life before. Many eyes looked at the woman who appeared the same. Her looks may be the same, but the inside was so much different. She walked through the market, buying the essentials only like before. Her home seemed less of a welcoming place with trash scattered across the floor. Ysolda didn't make the mess, no, this honor was reserved for Velatin.
"No updates Lord Velatin." Ysolda said, sitting at the table across from him.
"I wonder where she is hiding. Half of Skyrim hunts her now and people saw her in this town." Velatin asked, curious, wanting to be over this.
"There are no rumors of her at all now. The Inn speaks nothing of her name. Not even her servant has answers."
"Perhaps I will speak to her."
"Of course Lord Velatin. This evening will provide better cover."
"No, my servant. I want everyone to see this with their own eyes."
Velatin stood up and pushed the door open. He walked out of the small house to the market. Everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at the brute of a man. Velatin commanded the respect of everyone regardless of who they were. Guards grew anxious seeing him walk through the streets. The armor and sword scared most to the point of complacency.
His hand tapped the door to Breezehome. On command, Lydia opened the door and came face to face with the man known as Velatin. She paused for only a moment having a feeling she knew who he was. Ysolda standing beside him only made things much more obvious.
"Where is your Thane?" Velatin asked.
"I do not know where she is. You may excuse yourself now." Lydia replied.
His foot went into the doorway, stopping the door from closing on him. "I will ask you only one more time. Where is your Thane?"
"My Thane is not here so move your foot."
"Pitty. Who will stop me from killing you then? Those who serve her and by the rights given from my masters, you will die."
Velatin pulled his sword as screams from every direction came. Guards ran from every spot within the city. Lydia wouldn't die quietly pulling her sword. She pushed against the man to the street. His sword swung with incredible strength, snapping hers in half on contact alone. Guards surrounded the man who refused to back down.
When the guards went on the attack, his sword brought swift death to those who tried. Companions ran down the hill with the guards. Adrianne and her husband came running to meet the threat head-on. No one came into Whiterun and tried to take the place over. Velatin didn't waver, standing his ground with the waves of people coming. None of them stood a chance and he knew this.
"Run Lord Velatin. You do not need all of Skyrim hunting for you also." Ysolda yelled.
"I fear none of them. Let them come to meet their deaths!"
"My lord, you must trust in my wisdom. Escape Whiterun and continue to let me be your eyes here."
"Very well. You know where I will be."
Velatin kicked Lydia through the air. Her body bowled over Adrianne and her husband. Velatin left with a brisk pace towards the gate. Every person who walked in his way fell to the swing of his sword. The screams of death continued as he exited the city. Ysolda smiled at the death in the air. She chose the right side and knew it.