Author Notes
This is the final chapter of Beyond Coldharbour. Book 2 of the series, Ports of the Tempest, will start tomorrow. I posted a brief introduction to the story for those who care to bookmark the story. It has been a pleasure writing the first of this series and I hope to hear from all of you about your thoughts.
Soundtrack recommendation: Eye of the Storm by September Mourning
~~-x-~~
5th of Evening Star
Velatin left Moonshadow with a smile that could not be contained. The air around smelled of death. No more flowing waterfalls or cascading marble. Gone were the endless fields of flowers as far as the eye could see. Monuments sat in ruins with flames ripping through what remained of the tranquil world. Moonshadow looked exactly like me wanted it to; a tribute to his lords, Molag Bal, Malacath and Mehrunes Dagon. His steps through the portals of Oblivion removed all power Azura once had. She sat on his shoulder, helpless, lifeless, destined to die at the hands of those who wanted the war.
"Masters, I bring you the weak and pathetic body of Azura." Velatin yelled to the three figures.
Molag Bal jumped down first. The blood dripped from his mouth seeing the broken body. How he craved to get Azura and finally remove the protectors. Azura was but the first who would die.
"Excellent Velatin. You prove yourself worthy of our support." Molag Bal boomed.
"Yes… He deserves our support. My armies will be at your command during the attacked." Mehrunes Dagon whispered and yelled at the same time.
"And what of their champion? We must remove her to stop the prophecy. Only her name sits on the tablet." Malacath demanded an answer.
"She is of no concern. Tenaya Darix is no longer a threat." Velatin replied.
"FOOL!" Molag Bal scream before slapping him across the great chamber in Beyond Coldharbour. "She is the one of destiny. We determine who is important and who is not!"
Malacath hopped from the tower he clung to resembling the Backbone from Ashpit. His sword stopped an inch from the neck of Velatim who looked up from the ground at the Prince. Malacath drug the sword across his neck slowly, a trickle of blood coming from the wound. Velatin didn't move or fear the pain, accepting the punishment.
"Let this serve as a reminder of who you serve. She must be removed. You do not ascend to Azura's place until the deed is done."
"We can only block Azura's light for so long. Tenaya Darix will perish without her power. Find her!" Molag Ball commanded.
"Of course, my masters. I will not fail you."
"Tenaya Darix must die! It is her soul needed to fuel the altar to remove Azura. Be gone before we find another who can do what you cannot!"
Velatin scampered away from the floor and to the portal. He didn't speak another word or dare challenge the masters. They saw his inaction as defiance when Tenaya Darix stood no chance against him. He would find this woman to make her suffer worse than anyone ever did, breaking her slowly just to inflict his own scars she would remember in the afterlife. The entire providence needed to hunt for her just to bring an end to this miserable place.
With a blur, Velatin stood up from the base of Mehrunes Dagon's statue overlooking Skyrim. The anger caused veins to push out from the side of his head and arms. The roar from inside echoed across the mountains surrounding his statue. Curse Tenaya Darix and all she did to make him wait for his gift.
"What is wrong Lord Velatin?" Ysolda asked.
"The masters are angry she lives. I want my place at their side! Curse this woman!" Velatin yelled.
"Perhaps we need a more subtle approach. Word of your bounty spreads to all corners. Every bandit does your work. What you need is something else. Her friends protect her. We need to convince them to turn on her."
Velatin looked on, intrigued. Perhaps returning Ysolda to life was worth the cost. Her knowledge of this forsaken providence seemed to make things a little more tolerable. She knew no one trusted her in Whiterun anymore, but others would see the light if she could manage to get just one to speak ill of Tenaya. They needed to expose Tenaya for what she is to the entire city. If they saw what she was, no one would help her.
"We need to use what we have against her. She is a vampire now Lord Velatin. Vampires are not accepted openly by any city, especially the center of her power, Whiterun. The Dawnguard would be a formidable ally in your battle. We must also not forget of the werewolves within the Companions who are natural enemies." Ysolda explained.
"And how do we go about this? I assume you have a plan?" Velatin asked.
"Yes, my lord. She will return to Whiterun being Thane knowing her friends protect her. The Thieves Guild would rather see her dead. We can buy them out," Ysolda explained in the deepest of plans. "Allow me a group of highly train mercenaries, ones of the highest quality. Let the ambush happen in the city and expose the real Tenaya Darix. Vampire attacks almost ruined the city years ago. She will be pushed aside quickly."
Velatin thought about her idea for a short moment. A quick nod followed by a coin purse gave the answer. Ysolda looked inside seeing jewels, not coin, enough to buy even a Jarl with the quality. She could buy the best of the best to make the trap, perhaps kill Tenaya in the process to appease her lord. Thoughts of fame and rewards filled Ysolda. She wanted nothing more than to be the one to bring Tenaya down. Had it not been for the interference of another, Ysolda would have brought an end to her life.
By the time Ysolda looked up from the bag, Velatin vanished. No footsteps went through the snow-covered snow leaving her to wonder where he went. She remained at the base of Mehrunes Dagon's statue with a smile. She would be the one to end Tenaya Darix, not another. Ysolda, savior of Whiterun had a wonderful sound to it.
~~-x-~~
"Dawnguard, form your ranks." Their leader yelled.
Each member at Fort Dawnguard moved around quickly to create their lines. New recruits stumbled to get into formation properly. Word of Isran's death spread quickly, at the hands of a vampire no less, bringing around countless new recruits for them to push their mission further. What they once lacked in numbers now became their greatest asset.
"We no longer will focus our attention on Tamriel. Our focus will become only the land we serve; Skyrim. We will remove every vampire from these lands. We will fight the plague by every means necessary. Any captured will be dissected to better find ways to destroy them. Our friends in the Evergail Order want fresh bodies, lots of them. They offer a reward for pure-blooded vampires great enough to fund our entire order for years."
"Sir, a lot of the recruits feel uneasy about work done through the Evergails. Some have seen their methods and do not feel it to be humane…"
Their leader stalked the ranks to the recruit who spoke up. He reached his hand forward and ripped the sun from his uniform. A swift punch to the face and men dragging him from the line gave the answer each of them needed. No one would speak against their plans or methods. No one. Each vampire was to die or serve their life in research.
"Does anyone else share this weak excuse for a Dawnguard? Our enemy knows no limits. We will show them no quarter. Kill them. Hunt them. Bring them back so we can become more effective. We will remove every vampire from these lands. Isran showed me the way of light and in his name, we bring the fight to the scum!"
A few recruits watched in horror while those hardened from previous fights cheered. The Dawnguard changed. Somehow, when Isran died, a new radical rose in his place, Damien Woxen. Taught by Isran and made radical through his teaching, Damien had much larger ambitions. Radical ideas. The world of vampires was nothing short of a disease, a plague on the lands.
"We are the bringers of light to this savage world. Choose your weapons wisely and speak with the enchanters. Get prepared. First teams roll out for Whiterun, Windhelm, and Solitude this evening. Second teams patrol Riften in the morning. Those of you not leaving should submit to the captains for further training."
Everyone spread quickly. Only the newest of recruits watched idle without a plan or clue of where they belonged. Dozan ran with the first team intended for Whiterun. Inside Fort Dawnguard, things changed since the attack from the pure-blooded vampires. Barriers and guards remained at the entrance with stronger weapons than the rest. Some believed the enchantments were unstable with the amount of power pushed through the soul gems.
Dozan met the armory master in the back caves close to the dogs. What once sat rather open looked littered with piles of armor and weapons of various types.
"Well Dozan, would you like the usual or perhaps something stronger?" The master of arms asked.
"Give me the most powerful bow you have this time. I am on the hunt and need the best. Do we have anymore Sunhallowed arrows? I think I am the only one still using them." Dozan requested.
"We have a handful only. I have a few quivers of Elven if you would like? We will have to figure out how to get back to the elf for more. I trust you well enough young Dozan."
"Of course. I will take one of the blessed daggers also and a set of light armor for the run."
"It will be done. Who are you going out with?"
"One of Damien's new captains. I think her name is Ferta."
"Watch your words around her. She killed two recruits for speaking with a couple living vampires they brought in. Do not question her."
Dozan nodded his head and left to get changed. The armor seemed well suited for his style of hit and run with the bow. The explosions from the arrow disoriented everyone enough to make it possible to move so quickly. He learned the strategy from Serana all those years ago. Fire and run. Fire and run. The disorientation slowed vampires enough. Part of him wished he never fired the first arrow at her. She seemed helpful enough and even when Isran demanded it, he felt wrong.
From that point forward, Isran rewarded him greatly for the blind loyalty he showed. He didn't care to be the hunters and Isran knew it. The strike from the pure-blooded vampires left him rattled. Serana sat in pieces, begging for him to stop and he wouldn't. The arrows he refused to use on her, his first act of defiance. Isran didn't want to push him knowing their connection from the previous years. He paid for it later in the form of lashes, those lashes still scar his back to this day.
"Whiterun team, we leave in thirty minutes. Get your supplies ready. Rumor has it we will have some pure-blooded vampires heading there at some point. Scouting reports and an informant show their Thane may be a vampire now." Ferta yelled through the halls.
"Can't wait to kill some of these creatures. What that witness saw happen to Isran… We will get our revenge on them!" A recruit yelled.
The cheers from those within earshot filled Fort Dawnguard with jubilation. All recruits seemed to want nothing but death. Their weapons sat ready to strike the first vampire they encountered. Each recruit, wearing their choice of armor, gathered around before running through the front of Fort Dawnguard. Dayspring Canyon sat prepared, blockades and guard posts littered everywhere unlike before. Groups marched back and forth through the length of the canyon with weapons readied.
Dozan jogged with the others past Riften. None of them slowed down with Ferta leading the way. People stood by the side of the road through their journey around the Throat of the World. The Dawnguard no longer sat idle or walked in behind the scenes while others played. This would be a force to reckon with as long as Damien lead the charge. People cheered their arrival like saviors to a burning city.
None of the recruits asked to stop or take a break. Everyone pushed themselves as hard as their leaders asked. When Whiterun came into sight, their pace changed to a brisk walk down to the riverbank. Every mouth and hand went into the river, taking drinks and splashing water around. Felka stood on the ready looking towards the walled city. She pulled her sword out at the slightest sound. It wasn't so much a need, rather it was done intentionally. Her hands twirled the sword with the greatest of ease, making smooth circles gracefully.
"You move quite well. I would guess mercenary seeing your skills." Ysolda said, walking with hands in the air towards Ferta.
"Who are you? What business do you have with the Dawnguard." Ferta yelled.
Both stood in the middle of the road, only a bridge away from Pelagia Farm. Ysolda kept her hands in the air. She approached Ferta slowly, carefully. Every step made the recruits nervous seeing a random person approaching.
"I am no vampire, but I know of some for you to kill." Ysolda said.
"We do not need assistance. The Dawnguard is more than capable on its own."
"I am sure you are. The Thane of Whiterun is a pure-blooded vampire now and I would rather see her dead than ever return to the city. We need your protection."
Felka perked up hearing such news. The rumors appeared to be true. To the Dawnguard, this meant vampires started to infiltrate the most sacred of sanctuaries. When Jarls began to trust vampires, the world would come to an end. The time would come for people to be slaves, cattle to the creatures. She refused to allow it.
"If these words are true, we will remove your Thane from existence."
Ysolda nodded and turned to walk away. She left the group with a smile on her face. The deed was complete. By the time she returned to Whiterun, Dawnguard headed her direction. Within days, mercenaries would roam the same streets, waiting for the return of Tenaya to Whiterun. If she returned, it would be the end of her existence.
~~-x-~~
Molag Bal and Malacath stalked the bloodied body of Azura with Mehrunes Dagon watching in pleasure. What once was a mighty Daedra, laid on the ground of their world. Her light dimmed with the power radiating from the three other Daedra. Darkness engulfed the light she tried to carry.
"Do you approve of our weapons now Azura?" Molag Bal asked. "We made these special for you and the others. Once your champion's soul is ours, the Altar of Desecration will destroy you and your weak existence."
Malacath kicked Azura in the stomach towards the chamber underneath their altar. Mehrunes Dagon jumped to the ground seeking redemption from the years of defeat thanks to the others. All three took their turns wanting redemption for the ages of being spurned. Each of them wanted to see her dead, replaced with one of their choosing.
Azura crawled on the broken rock trying to show them no emotion. Her hands clawed through with every bit of strength she had. The light inside her faded, their power to great as a group. Azura felt the abuse, body covered in black blood. She tried to believe in Tenaya. She needed to believe her champion would somehow make this right. When her eyes met the sinister smiles of the three Daedra, she had to believe, or it would be certain death.
Far away from Azura, sitting in a house on Tamriel, the very champion she needed didn't have the strength to even stand herself up. Tenaya tried to put the armor on and listen to Serana, but her strength didn't return like she hoped. The weight pulled her to the floor instantly. She sat on the floor a complete mess, not the champion she needed to be. Serana kept by her friend with hopes of bringing her back slowly. The look of defeat in their eyes matched the eyes of Azura.
"Find yourself Tenaya Darix…" Azura whispered, passing out on the ground at the feet of Molag Bal.