Author Notes
Soundtrack recommendation: Fireball by Amaranthe
~~-x-~~
26th of Evening Star, 4E 206
Ciphen managed to blend in with the group comfortably. He walked into the lighthouse without concern, seeing other vampires around and mingling. This wasn't the world he figured existed, not at least according to the Evergails. What he managed to tell us about the location proved to be immensely helpful, but Serana doubted his sincerity, wanting to see the place for her own eyes. As a group, we agreed to go and see it together, a trap for no single person if there was one.
Together we all traveled, find the location as he promised. Serana seemed happy at first with the dead Evergails all around. It wasn't until they started looking around; she became uncomfortable with everything.
"Well, that went easier than I thought," Tenaya said, sheathing her sword after wiping the Evergails blood from the metal.
"They hunt the other locations. These two, they are researchers. Look at the dead vampires." Ciphen replied, pointing to the tent he went through.
"I won't disagree, the smell alone is repugnant," Serana said.
"The entrance is over here, I think."
Ciphen led the group to a puzzle, etched across three rocks. The rocks stood not too far from Movarth's Lair to the north of Morthal. Tenaya looked at each, seeing a familiar pattern across all three. Some of the symbols changed, a mixture of the divine, but all three stones carried the emblem of Stendarr. Tenaya shook her head, seeing the symbols. This would be one of the worse paths she could ever imagine. Stendarr.
She tried moving the stones, forcing them to budge with all her might, however, no matterwhat she didn, nothing changed. The stones remained locked, held in place by some force she couldn't explain. No doorway or structure stood around. The only sign of anything here were the stones, a hint of something else, was here.
"Try this. After all, we are talking about the divines," Ciphen said, handing an Amulet of Stendarr to Tenaya.
Tenaya slipped it around her neck, reaching a hand forward, touching the coarse emblem of Stendarr. When her fingers tapped, the stone glowed green. She went from the first stone to the others, touching each until they burned green. Each spun around freely without binding, whatever stopped them from moving vanished. Once all three stones faced forward, Stendarr's emblem prominent, a loud boom exploded from the ground. Beneath her feet, the earth parted, slowly growing wider, each scrambling to not fall through. Everyone looked to the staircase freshly unearthed, dust still settling. Everyone's gaze shifted to down the steps where they once stood, the way lit by a strange aura.
"This would be a good time to figure out who is going and who wants to wait," Tenaya asked.
"I am good up here…" Grelka said.
"You know my place, Tenaya. I will be at your side," Serana replied.
"Let me go, I feel I owe you for the bow. I have never felt power like this." Dozan said, Auriel's Bow hanging around his back with multiple quivers of arrows.
"No one else should go, this is more than enough. Three of us will go down, the rest of you can protect the area," Tenaya commanded.
All heads nodded in unison, Lydia and Matria joining Ciphen, who walked from stone to stone across the area. Grelka found a comfortable spot to prop herself against, waving goodbye to the three descending the steps. For the darkness underneath, everything had a faint glow, an unhuman glow. Greenlight lit the entire way to a door, unlike anything they ever saw. The door looked like a combination of jewels and ebony, one massive arch with Stendarr's emblem in the middle, no signs of a way in.
The ground shook again with their approach. Tenaya looked to the Serana and Dozan, having no answer for this. Every step brought a more thunderous motion, each of the three struggling to remain on their feet. The noise brought the looks from above, Ciphen and Lydia staring down the steps in awe. Serana clutched the wall, unable to stand anymore. Tenaya pushed further towards the great door standing before them. She reached out, touching it with her fingers again.
A shockwave sent her flying in the opposite direction, slamming against the steps they had come down. As soon as she hit the stairs, the shaking everyone felt stopped immediately. Both Serana and Dozan regained their balance before rushing to Tenaya's side. She sat motionless against the rock-formed stairs, her body taking the brunt of the impact even with armor.
"Tenaya, are you okay?" Serana asked.
"Ya... Give me a minute… Now I see why I hate Stendarr…" Tenaya replied through deep breaths.
"You did kill a Vigilant of Stendarr for Molag Bal."
"Guess we are even…"
Tenaya brushed her legs off, knocking the dirt down from the armor. This time, the ground didn't shake upon their approach. The arch slowly lowered down, opening to another set of stairs. Wherever they ventured, nothing in Skyrim or Tamriel compared. Through the door, the world gave way to white stone with gold outlining the edges. The stairs started down in a circle, walls with Stendarr's emblem every so often.
"Wonder how far this goes down?" Dozan asked.
"One way to find out, let's go," Tenaya said, not sure she wanted to find out herself.
The stairs seemed to go on forever. The circle kept going, around and around, further down. Everything grew monotonous, nothing changing for a considerable amount of time. Each grew weary going so deep without knowing anything about this place or what to expect. This was unchartered territory for anyone. They ventured to a place never seen by mortal eyes.
Suddenly, it stopped. The stairs came to an end. Tenaya reached a hand out towards the silver door, their path blocked further until opened. With the slightest push, the door split down the middle, swinging open to a vast cavern. Tenaya stepped through, mouth hitting the ground.
"Places like this shouldn't exist…" Tenaya said out loud, walking forward.
The stairs the group ventured down remained hidden, a massive tower reaching from the stonework floor they stood upon to the very top of the cavern. It looked like the Direnni Tower except hidden underground. The white and gray stonework looked magnificent. Everything inside kept a green tint, the feeling of awkwardness growing with Stendarr's influence evident. Serana trembled with the almost ominous in its never-ending presence.
"By the nine, what is this place?" Dozan asked.
"This is the burial place of one Divine Orb. Be on the lookout, this seems a little too easy." Serana said.
"Oh, this is far from easy. Have you ever seen a creature like that?" Tenaya said, pointing ahead.
Both Serana and Dozan remained too mystified by the cavern to pay attention to their surroundings. Ahead stood a creature, nothing like on Tamriel. Tenaya flipped the sword to her left hand, charging a fireball in the other. Serana quickly frosted her palms while Dozan readied an arrow. Their steps were returned with a step from the creature.
"That is no creature; it is an Ayleid. Look at the armor!" Serana yelled, the Ayleid starting to sprint.
"How by Oblivion would you know that?" Tenaya asked.
"They were alive in my time. I would start praying to Azura if I were you, this will be ugly."
Magic exploded around the three. The Ayleid fired spells repeatedly, fireballs bursting around them. As they split up, his target remained solely on Tenaya. She deflected the first fireball, Serana's ice spike hitting him to only be a distraction. The smile under the helmet left an uneasy feeling for them all. Her ice spikes slowed him for a split second, nothing more. At the same time, arrows found there mark only to bounce off his armor. Nothing they mustered did any sort of damage.
Tenaya charged ahead, sword in hand. She jumped through the air to avoid the fireballs, picking up speed with every passing fireball. Frustration turned to anger with each missed shot. With him struggling to find the target, he stopped, pulling out a hammer more massive than any Warhammer before.
"What the heck is that?" Tenaya yelled.
"Why do you keep asking me like I know? This is a first for me too." Serana replied, more terrified than Tenaya at the sight of his hammer.
The hammer didn't look natural or of this world at all. At the head, it carried a spiked circle, some random metal with jeweled spikes. The emblems circled around the entire head. Even the Ayleid struggled to pick it up for a swing. When it came down close to Tenaya, the whole cavern shook violently. All but the Ayleid fell to the ground as a shockwave like nothing they ever experienced took over the battle.
Out of instinct, Tenaya kicked him in the stomach, separating him from the hammer for a second. She reached over to his weapon of choice, unable to even budge the hammer. She pulled with every ounce of strength in her body, the hammer didn't move. One thing caught her eye, the emblem of Stendarr across the top. Serana joined quickly, together they tried to lift the hammer. The hammer didn't move, never budging once with their combined efforts.
"What in the nine is this thing?" Tenaya mumbled.
Together, they tried one more time only to be stopped by the Ayleid. His hand yanked Serana away, throwing her across half the cavern. Tenaya looked up in time to see a fist coming for her head. The rage within its eyes was evident. Even though the dust and strange haze of the cavern, his eyes burned red with fury. Seeing them touch the hammer, his hammer, only fueled the fierce rage.
Tenaya jumped again to miss another swing. She took the opportunity and kicked him in the middle of the chest. The Ayleid stumbled backward and fell to a knee for a second. Before she could do anything, the Ayleid returned to his feet again, whatever impact she had been brushed aside. Even as a vampire, her strength mattered little. Tenaya kicked him with everything she had, her foot still aching in the boot from it, his body seemingly indestructible and made of stone.
While Tenaya struggled to stay out of his reached, Serana pulled herself together. Her vision blurred slightly, Dozan coming to her aid quickly. When she came around, Serana ran ahead and went on the offensive again. She took advantage of Tenaya being the target. Her hand turned a bright red, throwing it forward towards the Ayleid. Even as her drain spell hit, nothing happened. Her hand lowered as he continued to go after Tenaya. She saw nothing like this in all her life.
Serana and Tenaya regrouped together, the Ayleid hoisting the mighty hammer with a slow and methodical walk their direction. Dozan inched closer, an arrow primed on his bow. He fired the arrow, the arrow bouncing off the face with a direct shot.
"How do you stop this thing? That hit his nose and did nothing." Dozan said, irritated.
"He is from the Aedra. Of course, nothing we have will work." Serana said.
Tenaya looked to the Ayleid, noticing what Serana meant. He walked around without fear in the world. He carried a hammer of some mythical origin. What did he have to fear? Tenaya ran as he swung the hammer wildly again, barely missing her. She separated from the other two, drawing his attention further away. She pulled him further and further, each step, making sure Serana and Dozan remained out of harm's way.
"Come on, I am the one you want, not them," Tenaya said, keeping him occupied.
The Ayleid never replied. His steps followed her as the distance grew further. They remained far enough for their safety. Tenaya had an idea, a crazy one, but an idea. Serana and Dozan watched on, Tenaya backing herself to the corner. The smile came across Tenaya's face, mimicking that of the Ayleid.
"What are you up to, Tenaya?" Serana whispered out loud.
Tenaya's hands started to glow, a deep black and purple swirl coming around her entire body. Everything fed the ball forming between her fingers. The ball began to pulse rapidly, growing in size, lightning crackling around the edges with more going into the magic.
"Oh, shit. Get down!" Serana yelled, yanking Dozan to the ground.
The ball catapulted forward, hitting the Ayleid head-on. An explosion of darkness engulfed them both instantaneously. Winds shot every direction from where they stood. Small rocks fell from the ceiling of the cavern, the blast echoing throughout with purple sparks flying everywhere. The Ayleid stumbled backward, falling onto his back. The armor rattled with a massive clang. Tenaya walked forward to see the damage but walked backward in horror.
He stood up with little effort, seeming to shake off the explosion as if it were child's play. The swing of the mighty hammer rocked the stone floor again, Tenaya almost crushed under its power. She ran, narrowly avoiding his attempts to break her. Nothing she threw at him did any damage. The darkness of Molag Bal knocked him over. The light from Azura and Meridia only adding to his strength. Her sword wouldn't cut into his armor or exposed its flesh. He seemed indestructible.
Dozan looked on, remembering the Vigilants of Stendarr, their words suddenly passing through his head. "May Stendarr have mercy on you, for the Vigil has none to spare."
"What are you mumbling?" Serana asked, confused.
"Maybe we cannot kill him and are not meant to. Stendarr is the god of righteousness, forgiveness, and mercy. What if we are supposed to ask for mercy and forgiveness? Why would a god of these want death?" Dozan replied, seeing the understanding in Serana's eyes.
Serana nodded her head, understanding what he meant. No god of compassion and mercy would seek death. This was the test in itself. They wouldn't kill this guardian no matter what they tried. The key was in everything Stendarr stood for. An idea quickly formed in Serana's head, one she doubted Tenaya would very much like.
"Tenaya, let him hit you with the hammer!" Serana yelled.
"What?! Are you nuts?" Tenaya screamed back with another fireball thrown the Ayleid's direction.
"Trust me, my love, let him hit you. It's going to hurt. No better test for that armor."
"You are serious, right now, aren't you?" Tenaya yelled, the hammer smashing another chunk beside her.
"YES! DO IT!"
Tenaya couldn't believe what she was asked to do. She quickly sheathed her sword to make it known there wasn't an attack. The hammer broke everything around. She had no doubt it would break her upon impact. Maybe this was her destiny after all. She may visit the Daedra much sooner than she ever expected.
Her steps slowed, turning to face the Ayleid. He moved his hammer to swing, arms lurching backward with their full force. The hammer swung in her direction rapidly, the circular face smashing against her armor. Tenaya flew across the cavern. She bounced back to the base of the tower like a pebble across a pond. Serana and Dozan looked on in shock, neither of them expecting that to happen. Tenaya took the blunt force directly. Even they didn't understand why this didn't work.
Every bit of breath had been knocked from her lungs. Tenaya coughed and wheezed with a hand clinging to her chest as she rolled over. It took everything she had to push up from the dirt. The armor took the shot with only the dragon plate split down the middle. To her surprise, she lived. Nowhere in her life could she remember such a powerful hit. Isran's Warhammer felt like a blacksmith's hammer compared to what she was just hit with. While her armor only had a split plate, meanwhile the Ayleid's weapon laid in pieces at its feet.
Tenaya walked his direction, joined in route by Serana and Dozan. They approached the Ayleid carefully, not sure what he would do. Dozan knelt carefully, picking up the pieces he could lift and handed them over. The Ayleid stared him in the eyes, Dozan understanding the test better than the others. Tenaya picked the most substantial piece from the ground with Serana's assistance, returning it to the feet of the Ayleid.
"You are a worthy challenger, and I am sorry your weapon broke," Tenaya said, heeding the words of Dozan.
He stared at Tenaya, standing up slowly. The look turned from disdain to a smile. He started to fade away, vanishing before their eyes. No words were spoken by the Ayleid as he disappeared. The pieces on the ground forged themselves back together. All backed away to see the hammer, reforged by some power, restored to its perfect state slowly faded away too.
Serana grabbed Tenaya, pointing to a door opening opposite of the tower. All three started to run for the light streaking through the cracked door. Each appreciated the size of this cavern the longer their run took. By the time they reached the door, it had opened completely. Just like the steps earlier, the cavern gave way to another set of steps.
Tenaya started coughing, slight bits of blood came up the longer they progressed on. Serana took notice but said nothing. That hit was as awful to watch as Tenaya felt. Dozan was right, this was about mercy and forgiveness, the ways of Stendarr.
At the base of the same white stairs, a single room stood ahead. There were no doors or places to hide. Inside, the entire room glowed a faint green. Tenaya waved the other two back, no longer willing to put their lives into jeopardy. Through the entryway sat two people, both identical in every way, sitting at the same table in the same exact pose.
"Welcome, Tenaya Darix." The man on the left said.
"We wondered who would come first to try and claim the Divine Orb." The other man said.
"You watch the struggle then?" Tenaya asked.
"Of course, all the Divine follow it with moderate curiosity. We wonder what a child of Mundus cares of the Daedra." The man on the left asked.
"You know my destiny and history the same as the Daedra do."
"Yes, we do. Perhaps the Daedra deceive you? Remember, they are of Padomay only," Both replied in unison.
Tenaya thought about this for a moment. She appeared to stand before the essence of Stendarr, in this form, questioning what a Daedra would do. Something didn't feel right about the question. An answer popped into her head, one that would make Stendarr wonder.
"What you speak might be accurate, but you are also of Padomay as history says. Anu and Padomay, if I remember correctly. How would I know you are not deceiving me?" Tenaya asked.
"It seems you know your history well then, Tenaya Darix. If you receive my divine orb, what would you seek?"
"I seek to fulfill my destiny and restore the barrier between the worlds."
"A barrier the Daedra weakened. Perhaps they continue their manipulation of mortals, preying on the weak and lost," said the man on the right.
"Is this what you fight for?" the man on the left asked.
"Strength over weakness?" asked the man on the right.
"Despair over prosperity?" asked the man on the left one last time.
In a war of words with a divine, Tenaya could think of only one question. "I challenge you, Stendarr, to ask yourself this. If the Daedra are only evil, why do they answer the blessings of mortals when the nine remain silent? They offer mercy to those the nine forgot."
The once talkative men fell silent. Neither provided an answer to the question she asked. Signaling the end of their conversation, both men stood up, walking before Tenaya. Both stood a footstep away from her, full attention turned towards her answer.
"One of us must die. Who do you choose to kill?" They asked in unison.
"Why must anyone die?" Tenaya asked in return.
"You must choose; one of us holds the orb, the other holds a dagger. Choose carefully."
The orb seemed to appear around the neck of one man, while a dagger appeared in the hand of the other. Tenaya wondered what type of reason she had to kill either of them. Tenaya took a deep breath, letting it out to speak clearly. "I choose neither for I am not the decider of their fate. It is you, the divine, who judge, not I."
A smile came across their face, both vanishing from where they stood. Each faded away like the Ayleid did before. Another door started to open between the tables, splitting the wall in half. Each side swung open, revealing another set of stairs leading up. Tenaya peeked inside, calling for her friends. These stairs were much different, solid ebony with silver traces throughout.
"I dislike these games. Something doesn't feel right about all this." Tenaya said, concerned.
"They are the divine, we will never figure them out," Serana replied.
A hand grabbed hers, a subtle squeeze of reassurance gave Tenaya all the courage she needed. Together, they ascended the stairs to another room. This room was different than the rest, a figure sitting behind a makeshift courtroom bench. He stared to the three walking inside, doing nothing more than following with his eyes. Tenaya watched him, a mixture of black shade and whiteness of a Wispmother, their presence remained ominous.
"Tell me, what do you seek…" The figure said, his voice a haunting screech.
"We seek the Divine Orb of Stendarr," Tenaya answered, turning her hands up slowly.
"As guardian of this orb, I demand to know what your intentions are…"
"We seek to restore the Tempest. What has faltered can be restored with this orb."
"Ah, yes-s-s-s, the Tempest-t-t-t-t…."
What sounded like hissing and teeth chattering etched an ugly feeling in the back of Tenaya's mind. She didn't doubt anything it spoke. This was the guardian, more potent than anything she ever felt before. Being one of the divine creations, she didn't question the strength it possessed. Standing before it, the aura intensified, unlike anything Tenaya remembered. Nothing compared, not even her journey to the Ideal Master's Soul Cairn or standing on Oblivion with the Daedra. This power was magnificent.
"Stendarr's Orb is yours for a price…" He whispered with dragging words, leaving Tenaya frozen, more terrified than any time in her life.
"What is the price?" She asked, keeping calm.
"The divine seek different things. Akatosh and Mara seek your lover's immortality. Julianos seeks your lover's words. Dibella seeks her beauty. I seek nothing from her, only you."
"I heard no price then, Stendarr," Tenaya said.
"My price is the justice for Vigilant Tyranus, the man you killed during his corruption at the hands of Molag Bal."
Tenaya didn't know the man but remembered the events well enough. The journey was one of her firsts with Serana. She watched Serana cower in the corner at the sight of Molag Bal's shrine. The man came after them when she refused to kill at Molag Bal's request. She didn't go into the abandoned house for the fun of it. The Vigilant asked her to join. What Stendarr asked seemed unique.
"You seek justice for the man who I offered to help and attacked me? What justice do you seek?"
"His actions were corrupted by your lover. Justice is blind to no one. If you want the Divine Orb of Stendarr, you must be willing to allow your lover to be corrupted as he was by her master."
Serana backed away, the entrance no longer existing, a wall sealing the room shut. Her hands trembled. The way to making Tenaya suffer was through her. They wanted her immortality, her words, her beauty, everything. The only way Tenaya would get through all this was to watch the only person she truly loved to suffer, to turn Serana into someone completely different.
Tenaya looked to her shaken lover, seeing the fear radiating over around. She couldn't let them hurt Serana, she refused to allow it to happen. It seemed the divine planned to punish Tenaya for choosing to support the Daedra. What originally started as a path forward quickly devolved into a twisted game of torture. Nothing prepared Tenaya for the words she heard.
"If this is what you call justice, then I pity the divine. For what purpose does torturing the woman I love serve you?" Tenaya asked, visibly upset.
"Your own thoughts answer the question…"
She looked to the ghostly figure realizing what it meant. They planned to torture her for helping the Daedra. She chose Azura's side, and the divine didn't agree. She decided to represent Oblivion instead of Nirn.
"Then I chose justice for your Vigilant on my terms, not yours. Serana didn't corrupt the Vigilant serving you, Molag Bal did. I will grant your sentence to the proper person only."
"Only the truly righteous would see justice served properly," The figure replied, moving in front of Tenaya. "You are granted the Divine Orb of Stendarr. May justice continue to be blind to no one, Children of Oblivion…"
A small green orb dropped against her hand, fitting comfortably against her palm. The figure vanished, another set of stairs appearing to their left. Tenaya placed the orb into the sack hanging from her waist, almost feeling accomplished if not for the ominous news. Serana pushed herself from the wall to join Tenaya. Dozan looked to both, unsure of what he saw. A figure speaking like Stendarr appeared but wasn't a divine he knew of. The entire thing left him sweating, doubting his place with this group.
"Are you okay, Serana?" Tenaya asked, checking on her after the discussion.
"This is going to be the death of me, I realize it. I wish I didn't spend so many years inside a tomb," Serana replied, voice cracking with emotions.
"No one will take you from me, do you understand? Damn the divines if they plan to take you."
"He called us 'Children of Oblivion' for some reason. What do you think that meant?"
"I do not know, but let's get out of here before we talk anymore. I do not like this place…"
Tenaya pulled her sword before starting to climb up the stairs. She led Dozan and Serana up the stairs and to a new spot outside. The ruins they emerged into, were not nearly as close to the place where the others waited. As soon as they stood upon the regular land, the stairs vanished into the ground as quickly as it appeared for them.
"The old Stormcloak camp isn't far from here. We just need to travel west, I believe. It looks familiar…" Dozan said, continuing on with an explanation for how he knew the place.
"Lead the way, Dozan. I have no clue where we are…" Tenaya replied in agreement.
Dozan led the ground through the battered archway. The remnants of the Stormcloak camp came into view, Dozan moving quicker with his bearings about him. He turned swiftly to the left, seeming to know the westward path perfectly. Within only a few minutes through the swamp, their friends appeared in the distance. Grelka remained against a rock with the others scattered around. All three went into a sprint to get there as quickly as possible.
"Lydia!" Tenaya yelled.
All their ears perked up, turning to the sound of her voice. Everyone gathered, embracing their return like the welcoming home of heroes. No one knew what their journey would be like or if this would be the last time anyone saw their friends. Serana backed herself away from the happiness, her mind elsewhere, trapped in the messages given by Stendarr. She was the pawn, the weapon to punish Tenaya for helping Daedra.
"What happened down there?" Ciphen asked.
"It is a long story, one better told over dinner. Like it or not, we are all eating together tonight." Tenaya said, noticing she wasn't around anymore.
"I need some time on this, Tenaya. You realize I am the one who carries the brunt of their anger for loving you?" Serana replied.
"Umm, is there something we missed?" Lydia asked, seeing Serana in distinct turmoil.
"Inside, not here. Remember what Azura said, ears are always around." Tenaya demanded.
The group bowed to her wishes. Serana walked further from Tenaya than she ever did. Matria drifted to the back of the pack just to keep her from being so alone. The trip to Frostflow Lighthouse remained silent, with no words spoken as Tenaya requested. The ears Azura mentioned were indeed everywhere. Tenaya watched to the hills all around. People walked, shifting position to position in the distant shadows. The same ones reappeared at different intervals, seeing them all moving as they did.
"We have company. Everyone needs to get inside and prepare for an attack. We can hold down better inside than outside." Tenaya said, breaking into a run.
Everyone followed, her words making sense to Matria and Serana, who quickly saw the same figures once Tenaya pointed them out. Serana paid attention, a hand rapidly frosting over. Matria held a fireball close to her stomach, ready to fight if the time came. Their sprint pushed everyone to their limits, no one slowing from the Windward Ruins to the lighthouse.
Tenaya threw the door open quickly. She moved to the side, holding it for everyone to come inside quickly. Matria ran up the steps to see everything from the top. Serana and Tenaya scanned the horizon, two figures watching from a distance.
"Feel like another fight?" Tenaya asked.
"Sure, why not. I am angry enough as it is," Serana replied.
"Everyone else, stay here. We have this."
Tenaya took off with Serana, sprinting towards the figures. Their attention shifted to another figure approaching, his arms in the air. The man stood with no armor. He was but a commoner, from the looks of it a simple man who barely took care of himself. Both Tenaya and Serana came to a stop. He remained where he stood, his attention fixated on Tenaya only.
"I've been looking for you. Got something I'm supposed to deliver – your hands only." He said.
"Who are you?" Serana asked.
"I am a courier miss. This message is for a Tenaya Darix. We searched for days and finally caught up to you outside Mortal."
The courier handed a note to Tenaya. She grabbed it quickly, more irritated a damn courier tracked them down. If there was one thing about Skyrim she never understood, it was the ability of the couriers to find people regardless of their hiding. It seemed almost divine how they managed to find people.
"May the nine bless you…"
He left as quickly as he appeared. The two figures in the distance vanished at the same time, making it feel as if their location was known. Tenaya felt uneasy about their visitor. The entire group did their best to remain hidden in Skyrim, the bounty taking its toll no matter where they visited. Serana, with her impatience taking over, grabbed the note from Tenaya's hands. She quickly unrolled it to see the message.
Tenaya Darix,
Rather than play these games, I summon you to end this, once and for all. The bounty has been halted to allow you a safe passage. If you dare not show, the bounty will be placed on you and each of your friends.
Do not doubt our resolve. The likes of Lydia, or maybe Grelka, another Daughter of Coldharbour, all will no longer walk Skyrim in peace if you fail to show.
Meet me on the 29th of Evening Star, midday, on the Dragon's Bridge.
-The one true champion, Velatin
"It looks like he is not willing to wait anymore," Serana said, handing the note over.
Tenaya looked the note over. This surely was the real thing; he wouldn't dispatch a post to play games or have scouts follow the courier just to play a game. She knew she had to go, ready or not for the battle coming. What made him so impatient? What reason did he have to give up the cat and mouse they played? She knew deep down, her strength started to come back. Maybe he feared her, no, it was a fool's volley. Tenaya kept the thoughts to herself.
"Let's go back. The time has come for everyone to make a decision, not just me," Tenaya said.
"About what happened earlier, Tenaya," Serana struggled to find the words.
"No one will hurt you or take you away from me. I fought to get you back. If the nine desire your beauty, let the bastards have it for your heart is mine. If they want your immortality, do not forget I can just as quickly turn you back. And I cannot forget, the nine want your words. I do not need words to tell you how much I love you, Serana."
A shy smile came across Serana's face. Those words meant the world to her. She didn't doubt Tenaya, the fact the nine wanted her to suffer for another felt unreal, but Tenaya wouldn't let that happen. Anything they did, she would undo. This wasn't just a war with the Daedra anymore. Now the nine wanted to take something Tenaya fought for, and she would stand between anyone coming for Serana.
"Are you really that foolish to stand against the divine?" Serana asked.
"For you, I would stand against Akatosh himself. No one will ever take me from you. No one…"