Author Notes
Soundtrack recommendation: In This Moment by The Birthday Massacre
~~-x-~~
4th of Evening Star
"That was a long damn hike to get here. Next time we take one of those flying transport things." Matria said, half out of breath from climbing through the mountains and around.
"You can say that again…" Ivy said collapsing to the ground for a moment.
"I didn't see either of you saying you didn't want to walk." Serana scoffed.
They managed to make it from Cheydinhal in Cyrodiil all the way to Vivec without many incidents. The occasional Cliff Racer became more of a pest closer to the Red Mountain. Having to deal with the diseases they seemed to carry as well as the scamps left a lot to be desired.
"Make sure you call this place Vvardenfell when you talk to anyone. They do not seem to like hearing the name Morrowind for some reason." Matria reminded them.
Both nodded their head realizing this place was drastically different than Skyrim or even Cyrodiil. Everyone here turned out to be less than welcoming. No matter who they ran into, everyone referred to them as outlanders. It was not the term of endearment they hoped it meant. Everything seemed to change with that term including how much different things cost down to the way people answered their questions. What should have been an easy trip to Suran turned in to a goose chase through half a providence thanks to people not wanting to help or messing around with the outlanders.
Their track didn't turn out to be all that easy. Once they figured out the blight zone wasn't quite the friendliest place and their directions led them right to it, together they quickly tracked the long way around and ventured through the mountains. Ald'ruhn proved the least friendly of the cities visited. Their directions took them to Caldera and further south to Balmora, Seyda Neen and now the Foreign Quarter of Vivec.
"How much further do we need to go to get to Suran?" Ivy asked drinking some wine to quench her thirst.
"If the information we received is right, it is only a couple hours to the northeast from here." Matria replied.
"Well look at it this way, we are getting our exercise on this trip. Any objections to me getting some food before we continue?"
Both shook their head having fed on bandits the previous night. They took their steps to the Waistworks and marveled at the inner workings. It almost seemed like a small city inside having different shops and merchants everywhere. Guards had a heavy presence inside making thieves a lot less common from the looks of it.
Ivy pointed to the tavern sign and led them, almost running with the growing growl of her belly. She held out hope this place had something good to offer with the amount of noise coming through the door. No matter how hhard she tried she could not get past some of the names here. Everything seemed over the top. It wasn't good enough to be a tavern, it had to be a club or something special. Ivy smiled reading the name, Black Shalk Cornerclub. Morrowind appeared littered with these places and none seemed too welcoming.
Inside, everyone quieted down seeing three strangers walk inside. A few of the shadier characters grumbled at a corner table. What caught Serana's eye was the amount of people standing around instead of sitting at the tables. Almost no one had a drink or food in their hands but all of them carried some type of weapon that was formidable in battle.
"Crab meat pie and an ale." Ivy said to the barkeep.
"Well outlander, the price is high in this establishment." The Dunmer replied, obviously the owner of the place.
"How much?"
"Fifty gold pieces for you and your friends."
Ivy's eyes grew big hearing the price. She never heard something so absurd for a simple meal and tankard of ale.
"Here you go…" Serana said handing over the gold. She turned to look at Ivy giving her a smile. The barkeep happily took the money and walked off to get everything.
"That was extortion." Ivy whispered, "nothing is worth that price!"
"And you need to eat. We have plenty of gold so relax. Do not forget Matria has the jewels."
Ivy nodded still feeling upset by the price this cost. She put the ale down quickly having a massive thirst from their travels. The food turned out to be mediocre at best but at least it provided sustenance. Her stomach didn't growl anymore, and she didn't feel like passing out from dehydration. How her traveler friends manage to go days without eating amazed her. Part of her wished for the same vampire lifestyle just to make things easier.
Each of them stepped away from the table at the same time and headed back out to the Waistworks. Serana picked up on the fact a couple of the patrons following them after they departed. Their actions were less than subtle while trying to maintain a safe distance. Both Dunmer followed them no matter where they went. Matria stuck to the Foreign Quarter exclusively, moving from the outside to the Upper Waistworks and then the plaza. The two followed their every move, sometimes running just to catch back up.
Matria pulled Serana and Ivy to the side on the lower level allowing the two Dunmer to run by and search. None of them moved until they had a clear indication they were no longer being followed. "We are too close to finding Suran to get in a fight and arrested. Guards are everywhere around this place."
Serana nodded and followed behind Matria away from Vivec. Ivy kept her guard up from that point forward not having realized people were following them. For a short time, she just assumed they wanted to look at what Vivec was all about. Her mind stayed fuzzy a bit thanks to the amount of ale she drank at the tavern.
"I do not think we will make it to Suran before nightfall." Matria said, noticing the lack of light currently and the hours walk they had ahead.
"We are not staying here. Let's find a good place between here and there." Serana replied.
Matria lead them out of Vivec and down the paths. She noticed a point for the transport, and it sat empty, probably taking another on their journey. They had no choice but to continue on foot through the area. At least the path seemed half-way maintained and signs giving directions that were correct.
Serana kept a keen eye on the landscape for anyone trying to ambush them. Both her and Matria saw perfectly through the darkness of night leaving no chance of someone sneaking up. Ivy kept to the middle with a hand always on Matria's shoulder to ensure she didn't lose them in the process. When she looked out, other than the lights of Vivec or the occasional fire or light in the farmhouse, her eyes saw nothing. The other two however, saw things perfectly.
"Do you see what I am seeing Serana?" Matria asked.
"Yes, but where are they all going?"
"I have no clue. There are way too many vampires out tonight for my liking. I do not think I met this many in my lifetime."
"Something is going on. I do not think we are the reason, but whatever is going on, it sure isn't good. Let's stop by this farmhouse and keep there for a bit."
Matria crouched down and led them forward to the western side of the farmhouse. Whoever sat inside was clueless to everything going on around their land. Ivy sat down on the ground with the other two with no ability to see what was going on. All she knew was the rumblings of the other two about the amounts of vampires moving through the area.
"How many have you two seen?" Ivy asked.
"Probably twenty or so at this point. They are all moving the same direction, some alone and others in groups. I never realized vampires were so prominent. We had yet to run into any or I would have found us a room." Serana replied.
"Let's just get to Suran. We are too easy of targets out here. I love you guys, but I am not planning to be vampire food, no offense." Ivy pleaded.
"None taken." Matria said half laughing.
Walking through the marsh presented a different struggle. The weather was cold enough to keep everyone cold while the water did them no favors. Matria saw the lights from the city across the water knowing they were close. The problem became how to make it there without attracting the attention of others. Everything caught the vampire's attention when they heard something. Every group or vampire passing by stopped with the slightest sound. Serana and Matria had no ideas seeing how many vampires walked the area.
"Can we do this the easy way? I can fly her over the water and we won't have the struggles. You can do the same just as easily." Matria suggested.
"As much as I hate to do it, you are right. You take Ivy since I am better with magic."
Matria nodded and shifted to her Lord form. She cracked her neck and stretched her wings. Her eyes caught the vampires on the other side of the river running towards the city. She locked on to the first set hoping to avoid being seen. Serana transformed with a larger light shining as she did. Her age made the shift much more powerful compared. Both watched, waiting for the proper moment to take Ivy across.
Ivy hopped into Matria's arms for the ride. Serana moved directly with her over the water, hovering just above to keep their wings as low as possible. Each beat swooshed the water to the sides making slight ripples up and down the length of the river. Serana watched as a vampire spotted them, stopping in her tracks to make sure she saw what was happening.
"Pure-bloods." The vampire asked standing on the edge of the riverbank.
"Looks like we have a problem to deal with. Let me go ahead." Serana said, taking off with speed to the edge of the river.
Serana looked the female vampire eye to eye, allowing her wings to blow air at the vampire. She stared with a tilted head, unsure what to make of the situation. Another vampire slowed their approach having seen Serana hovering next to the other.
"Do you have a problem with us?" Serana asked.
"Molag Bal will not be pleased with your presence. You should leave."
"I am a Daughter of Coldharbour, do not tell me Molag Bal would be displeased!"
Serana boosted heavily wanting to put fear into the vampire. She looked this one over, seeing nothing special about what she was. Serana held no ill-will to any vampire regardless of who they were. If anything, they shared a similar fate in this world. To believe she was better than this woman would be a fool's folly.
The vampire backed away seemingly to avoid confrontation. She joined the other who came beside her, both taking off into the night towards the city. Serana watched them leave, unable to turn away or not hear the words they spoke.
"We will exterminate their kind soon enough." The vampire said to her friend.
"Molag Bal made it clear." She replied.
"What exactly was that about?" Matria asked.
Ivy dropped to her feet looking at both. Serana remained silent for a couple minutes before telling Matria what she heard. Under no circumstances could they change forms again. Their only hope was not being seen in their forms or figured out as a pure blood. Matria did not seem thrilled by the news and Ivy less knowing she would be dead without the two of them around.
"We need to see if Tenaya is here. I am sure finding her isn't going to be easy if she is even here. Morrowind hasn't been the friendliest." Serana said.
"Never thought I would say it, I miss Riften compared to this place. Shaking down people was a lot better than the way we are getting treated."
No one would argue with Ivy given how their trip went so far. Even in Suran, the reception was less than friendly. Guards refused to let them walk without a million questions about what they were doing in the city. Trying to get a guard to answer a question proved less than effective. Their footsteps were followed through the city with guards handing off to another just to ensure they were not up to no good. The thieves who lurked the alleys didn't get the same treatment, only the outlanders.
Suran gave them less than they liked the more they went. No one helped answer a question about Tenaya. None of the city ever heard the name or anything. The only person to offer any sort of assistance came from Desele's House of Earthly Delights. The information didn't feel too credible at first, but the mention of an outlander who recently moved into one of the vacant houses to the north of town seemed better than nothing.
If they didn't encounter the vampires and overhear what they did, Serana might have waited to see if they house was Tenaya's or if some random person. She couldn't wait anymore. Whether Tenaya liked it or not, she was a pure-blooded vampire from Molag Bal. That put her at risk the same as them. No one knew if they spoke of Tenaya or perhaps just everyone in general. Either way, Serana didn't plan to stay inside the place to find out.
Serana followed the directions from the patron down to the last detail. The house looked rundown, clearly without any maintenance for years. The number of webs around everything and general amounts of junk sitting everywhere meant it didn't have a keeper. It sat nestled tightly to the hillside and was the house. The drawings on the front matched what he gave Serana. She reached out and knocked on the door loudly, wanting anyone inside to wake up. She waited for an answer that never came.
"What now?" Matria asked after no answer came again.
"I am going inside. I can charm someone if needed. You two wait here."
Serana waited until the guards were not as visible and checked the handle. To her surprise, the door opened without any effort or lock. Inside, everything looked as abandoned as they did in front. Bottles sat all over the floor and table with webs stretched over them. This place looked abandoned. The amount of dust covering the place and accumulation right under the door left little faith as to Tenaya being here.
She guarded her steps to be as silent as possible. The stairs creaked with ever step as much as she hated it. Both doors at the top sat open. Serana stopped in her tracks hearing the sound of breathing from one of the rooms. The noise didn't sound natural. Whoever slept barely breathed. She slowed her approach, sliding tighter to the wall. Her eyes caught a foot on the floor, laying motionless on the ground. Serana peaked in and found what she feared the most.
All reserves vanished when she ran over to Tenaya. She quickly rolled her over from stomach to back. Her face looked weak, body the same. Blackness took over where paleness once was on her face. Cheekbones defined her face exclusively without anything shape otherwise. The skin on her exposed body pulled tight, muscles mostly gone with no signs of nourishment. She shook Tenaya to get her attention and saw no response. Serana opened the robe over her body noticing her ribs pulled tight to her skin. She was lucky if she ate anything in weeks.
"You will be just fine Tenaya. Come back to me…" Serana cried softly, rocking Tenaya in her arms. She tried to kill herself by not feeding. Tenaya gave up on the world. Serana felt like a fool for never warning her of the consequences. Had her mother not put the spell of sleep over her in that tomb, she wouldn't be around to talk about it.
"Looks like we found her." Ivy said shaking her head.
"She hasn't ate. We need to get you away from her. The Tenaya we know may not come back." Serana said.
"At least a couple weeks judging by the marks. She didn't know, did she?" Matria asked, moving Tenaya to the ground and checking her over.
"No…"
"Can you explain what that means? I am not exactly a vampire here people." Ivy asked blankly.
Matria and Serana took for granted their knowledge. Ivy had to sit back and listen to the ill effects of not feeding. Tenaya made the choice to not feed which slowly started to kill her mind. After a week, the person begins to lose what holds them together. After a couple weeks, they no longer care for anything they knew or felt, slowly turning to a mindless zombie who only cares about feeding. Those vampires frequented caved and the underground where they lost themselves.
"Once you cross that bridge you do not come back. Your mind doesn't return." Serana said, backing away from Tenaya.
"She saved my life and I will give everything I have to help her." Ivy said and pushed them both aside. She pulled out her dagger and carefully sliced her hand. The blood started dripping down as she squeezed tighter. Her hand lowered over the mouth of Tenaya. Every drop fell to her tongue. If blood made them tick, blood could certainly bring her back around. It was the only idea she had.
Serana crawled on all fours hoping for a miracle. Serana couldn't leave her side, holding her hand tightly. They watched as her throat moved, swallowing the blood in her mouth. She waited beside Tenaya for something else, needing to see the woman alive. Her eyes slowly opened, meeting Serana's gaze. Serana smiled, crying with the smallest of things.
"Hi Tenaya." Serana whispered. Ivy and Matria backed away to give them privacy. Her hands brushed the hair from her face, cupping her cheek gently.
"Serana?" Tenaya muttered with little energy.
"I am not letting you go. Never again."
Serana lowered her head kissing Tenaya slowly and passionately. Tenaya raised a hand to her face. For Serana and Tenaya, the world stopped. Serana held the woman in her arms she needed to live. If there was no Tenaya, there would be no Serana. Her heart belonged to the woman sitting in her arms. Serana lifted Tenaya's hand into hers, locking fingers without breaking from her eyes.
"Azura is dead because of me. You should have let me die. I am no champion…" Tenaya said lowering her head down.
Serana lifted her face up, "you made a mistake. It's time we do this the way we should have before, together."
"I can't… People are dead because of me…"
"More will be if you do not stand up Tenaya. I failed you before and will never do it again." Serana choked up trying to find the right words to come out. Her feelings took over making things so much harder to say. "You asked me to face my demons and I realized I cannot alone. Our souls are bound together and have been. Do you realize over this very hill is where I was chosen? You found me in Dimhollow Crypt, no one else. Everything about us belongs together. We belong together."
Serana stood up extending her hand to Tenaya. She stared intently at the woman on the floor. Tenaya grabbed her hand and went up carefully, weaker than she ever imagined. Serana slipped an arm around her waist to keep from falling to the floor, barely having the energy to stand, let alone walk. Both moved carefully to the bed where Tenaya sat.
"You need to feed badly. Never do this again. You do not die by lack of feeding. It turns you into a mindless zombie Tenaya. Its time we tell you what you really are."
Matria and Ivy came at Serana's request. Things needed done or else Tenaya would never get back on her feet. Both watched Tenaya have no form or color about her, eyes that once glowed now looked blackened by the lack of feeding. Seeing Ivy made her perk up in the exact way Serana feared. She wanted to eat here without a second thought. She wanted to drain Ivy of everything inside. This was the Tenaya who walked now.
"Can you go and get her something to eat? She is in no condition to leave." Serana asked Matria.
"Of course. I will find one who can spare a good amount. We saw enough thieves earlier."
Matria vanished down the steps without hesitation. She went on the hunt for food. In the house however, things unraveled. Tenaya broke down crying, unable to regain her composure. She rested her head on Serana's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. Serana lifted a hand to her head. Ivy at the same time walked away.
"I am a failure Serana. I am not strong enough to do this." Tenaya sobbed. "Why did it have to be me? I cannot do this…"
Matria returned with a very eager thief before Tenaya could continue. Serana knew he was under her spell just from the look in his eyes. He appeared to be more than enough of a meal for Tenaya if she would do it. Her resolve pushed her to potions almost exclusively, feeling this life wasn't for her. Matria let him sit on the bed beside Tenaya before grabbing Ivy and taking her away. Ivy had no need to see what would happen if she did. The sounds alone were enough to fill her imagination. Tenaya fed endlessly. The poor thief stood no chance.
The glow returned to Tenaya's eyes. Her strength seemed to return slowly with the fresh feeding alone. Her face appeared fuller again. Tenaya began to look a little bit like herself. Her expression said a lot differently with the perpetual frown hanging from her face. The resolve of the woman vanished. She didn't accept anything herself. Trying to convince Tenaya of anything wasn't the easiest.
"What chance do we have with Azura gone? I let one of the only decent Daedra die."
"Tenaya, stop this. Azura isn't dead. Her shrines still stand, and the beacon of light still shines. She chose you as her champion because she believed in you. We believe and came looking. The world needs you right now."
"The world is screwed if it needs me. I am a fai..."
Serana slapped Tenaya across the face. "Stop beating yourself down. We all make mistakes. It is time you accept you are a Daughter of Coldharbour and learn what it means. She made it clear, you are one of only a handful blessed by more than one Daedra. Where she was wrong is you need to embrace what you are. Let me show you Tenaya."
"Let us show you." Matria said, returning to speak her peace. "You spared my life for answers, but you refuse to know who you are. We are Daughters of Coldharbour."
"I may not be one of these Coldharbour people, but I believe in you. I can show you how to move in the shadows and be the silent killer. We all have our ways…" Ivy added.
Tenaya wiped the blood from her lip looking down at her hand. It was the closest thing to a wake-up call she ever received. She nodded her head slowly, looking back at the three. Serana earned the chance to show her the way. She came across half of Tamriel to find a battered and broken woman without the will to live.
"One chance Tenaya. Give me one chance. Together we will face our demons, not alone."
From the look on Tenaya's face, she wasn't sure she ever could face hers. Imagining the damage she caused wouldn't be undone. Serana held a different belief and pushed for her to get up. Tenaya walked carefully down the stairs with Serana's assistance, the group happy to see her starting to come around. Ivy quickly hugged her while Matria left it at a pat on the shoulder.
"I am starting to think you and I are going to cross paths the rest of our lives." Matria said, smiling.
"May not be a long one then."
It was more Ivy who caught her attention with her mind starting to work again. She looked her over, not as a meal but noticing the armor she wore. For a second, Tenaya smiled. She looked at her wearing it proudly. The armor fit her perfectly. She walked around Ivy looking at her, seeing the armor for what it was. Tenaya stopped, staring at Serana. She never saw anything like she wore. Tenaya tilted her head to the side.
"Queen's armor. It was made shortly after my rebirth. I was only supposed to wear it on my wedding day to the one I loved and keep it for special occasions. You know, my family's royal ambitions."
"Queen's armor? And yet you wear it before your wedding day."
"My heart belongs to her already. What's the difference if I wait?" Serana smiled coyly. Tenaya didn't know what to say with the others around. Her face blushed slightly, blood returning to her cheeks for the first time in weeks.
"I think I am going to need to get some supplies. I can't do this alone…"
Serana shook her head. "No. We are going on a trip, you and me for a little bit."
"Do you really think she is up to this? Or really split us up? We all are together now." Matria pleaded.
"Where we are going, I would not dare take either of you. I must face my demons too. Will you wear the armor one last time Tenaya? You need something beyond that robe."
"Are you serious right now? I just… I…" Tenaya fumbled her words.
"Face our demons together, remember? The time is now for me to face mine."
Tenaya cautiously agreed asking Ivy to take the armor off. Serana helped her slide it on, promising it would be the last time she ever wore this armor again. Tenaya wore it against her will as a hand rubbed the spot on her stomach Velatin destroyed. Serana thought in her mind, she had a plan. They had to face their demons together. Her demons sat on the other side of the hill, the very place she gained her immortality and forever scarred who she was. That one place ruined her family and changed what it meant to be happy. All of it destroyed her. She never accepted happiness again, pushing it so deep, burning at her soul. Happiness didn't exist.
Then she fell into the waiting arms of Tenaya. Life changed forever…