Author Notes
The soundtrack recommendation is correct. The song is off the album and artist of the same name. This will help anyone locate it.
Soundtrack recommendation: The Dark Element – "The Dark Element"
~~-x-~~
28th of Evening Star, 4E 206
Silence hung over the lighthouse through the evening. Tenaya gave everyone a choice, one none of them took lightly. The verdict came back unanimous; they believed in her. No one, not even Ciphen, wanted to run. She had to win this fight with their lives sitting in the balance.
"This sword is the best I can do for you. It is balanced as your other sword. Give it a try." Grelka said, handing over a blended sword.
Tenaya carefully took the sword while noticing the enhancements Grelka added. The hilt protected her hand from those spikes on Velatin's sword. The grip wasn't like her old sword either, leather wraps with a strange kind of metal, one that collapsed slightly with her grip. Tenaya swung the sword around in circles, feeling the balance match her hand entirely.
"Once again, you outdid yourself. How many different salts went into this one?" Tenaya asked.
"Enough. You do not want the details. The Daedra Heart was the worst part."
The sword didn't move, Tenaya turning her head towards Grelka. "Daedra Heart? You used black forging? Grelka!"
"Velatin and the others you will fight could care less. The sword is cursed, exactly like his. Yours doesn't have any ill-effects, Ciphen made sure to help me through that part. It is heavily enchanted also."
"What is this sword?" I want to know everything before I use it."
Grelka went through everything they did. Her sword, or as Grelka named it, Frozen Shadows, brings together frost magic and stamina damage all at the same time. She needed something to withstand the punishment his sword could carry, and at the same time, give her protection from his. The sword provided her the best chance of this.
"Any luck getting the armor enchanted?" Tenaya wondered.
"We could not. Getting the sword enchanted raised enough eyebrows. Using a grand soul gem on a custom sword caused enough chaos in Windhelm. Had Matria not joined for the journey, he would have died."
Tenaya nodded, understanding the situation. Her armor would have to hold on without any enchantments. She only hoped Velatin wasn't gifted with arcane abilities like the swordwork and strength from their first fight. Memories of his force were hard to forget, or his speed. No matter what she did, he managed to throw her to the side like a child. The man she would go to fight wasn't just a mortal, he carried the strength of three Daedra on his back.
Serana came down to the lower level, insisting Tenaya come upstairs. The smile on her face brought an uneasy feeling over Tenaya. Of all people, she expected to be nervous, it was Serana. Nothing stopped Serana from dragging her up the stairs to the open door. The sound of rain made the moment so much easier to understand.
"It's cloudy and raining over by Solitude. This will stop you from being worn out so easily with the sun."
If one thing would work in her favor, the weather was the last part she worried about. It offered Tenaya the ability to fight without limited sight or fearing any flames. She could fight Velatin on even ground now, or so she hoped.
The others gathered in front of the fire, all finishing their meals minus Matria, who happily sat to the side. Tenaya went to the bedroom where her armor sat, closing the door. She stripped off the robe over her body, as ready as she would ever be. Serana opened the door with the look of innocence fading away quickly. A passionate kiss melted Tenaya, one she wouldn't forget at this moment.
"Let me help you. I really do not like this, Tenaya. He chose this for a reason, something doesn't feel right." Serana said, teary-eyed.
"This has to happen. All of you are in danger if I do not. When it is just me, I didn't care, it was my burden. All of you chose to help, now I chose to face him," Tenaya explained.
"Make sure you have a couple potions on you. The weather is a help, okay, Tenaya?"
Tenaya nodded as Serana buckled the last of her armor. She grabbed the helmet, refusing to put it until they were outside. The two embraced one more time, Serana squeezing Tenaya as tight as she could, not ready to let the woman go. They emerged as one, leaving the bedroom to the waiting group. Each of them prepared as they saw fit. Lydia prepared for war if things broke loose as did the rest. Seeing the group make themselves for war gave her hope, one that meant no one would ambush her during the fight.
"Anyone who joins out there, it is your own will. I welcome all of you and respect anyone who stays behind." Tenaya said, wanting them to know how she felt.
"We stand with you, and I join you to avenge Ivy," Matria said, putting on her helmet.
"We all go with you. I, for one, want to see you destroy this man. It has been my honor to serve as your Huse Carl, but more importantly, as your friend." Lydia added.
The entire group stood ready, everyone loaded for their battle. Ciphen packed his robes with enough scrolls to destroy an entire city. Grelka wore her battle armor, a set no one saw since their journeys with Dragonborn. Dozan stood with quivers of arrows strung around his back, bow at the ready for anyone dumb enough to charge.
Tenaya led her friends out the door, a cloudy gray haze fell over the horizon. In the distance, rain loomed, a welcome sign regardless of how annoying the fight would be. As they walked the path, Gargoyles circled overhead. Matria didn't sit around at all. Five different Gargoyles circled, watching their every move. No dragons approached, nothing stood in their way. The bandits who commonly littered the path gave way to their approach.
"It all seems too quiet…" Serana said nervously.
"I would agree. Nothing. This is weird." Tenaya replied.
In Morthal, things changed quickly. Arrows flew by their heads at an increasing rate. Tenaya looked to the hills outside Morthal, a large amount fo bandits blocked their path forward. Everyone ducked for cover as quickly as they could. The flurry continued with new screams for residents and guards alike, adding to their chaos. Tenaya looked across the path to Lydia. The trail of blood across the dirt made caught her attention quickly.
"Are you okay?" Tenaya yelled.
"I will be. Arrow caught my leg." Lydia replied, yelling in both pains and over the noise.
Dozan had the only bow of the team, returning fire the best he could from behind a building. Guards joined the effort with a charge up the hillside. Tenaya shook her head, knowing they stood no chance. The group brought down every guard on approach, their combined arrows too much for even their armor. This wouldn't work. The entire group remained trapped, unable to advance, limited on ranged weapons.
"Any ideas on this one, Serana?" Tenaya asked.
"We will be slaughtered before we can get clean attacks. I counted ten or eleven alone. Their armor is much stronger than anything I have at this range."
"How many of those magic potions did you bring?"
"I have a couple, why?"
"Just another one of my bad ideas," Tenaya said, turning to find Ciphen. "Ciphen, do you have a scroll that could do heavy damage to a group?"
Ciphen shifted around his robes a couple times, looking for something that she spoke of. He had more than enough scrolls. Tenaya peaked around the corner to see if anything changed. As soon as her head moved out, an arrow unnotched her direction. From this distance, it wouldn't find its target fast enough. She had the chance to scout them a couple times. Every time they fired an arrow, she counted. Two seconds, it was all she had. It wouldn't be much time, but hopefully enough to make the magic work.
She kept gauging the time while Ciphen pulled a scroll from inside his robes, opening it up to speak the words. He had something to do damage to the waiting group. With the way this team attacked, it probably wouldn't kill any of them, but the disorientation fo a Fire Storm would give them a chance to advance.
Tenaya moved out to the path, waiting for the arrows to fire her direction. The first ones came flying, her movement shifting to the side opposite of their trajectory. Ciphen came out to the path quickly, moving the course of the mercenaries. She kept them occupied long enough to get to Highmoon Hall. He wasted no time with the scroll, unleashing its full fury towards the group on the hill. Each of them scattered to not be burned. It left little time for anyone else to move.
"Move everyone!" Tenaya yelled, seeing the fire blowing up the path.
Serana frosted a hand and spun another spell in the other. Dozan ran ahead with his bow drawn, firing arrows their direction. Ciphen, at the same time, wasted no time unleashing his own destruction. Tenaya joined the battle, sending everything she could against them, conjuring a Wrathman in the middle of the path.
None of the mercenaries had a chance to react quickly. By the time fire exploded, ice spikes shattered around, and lightning crackled close by, their numbers started to fall. Arrows began to find their mark one by one, Dozan unleashing each shot with absolute precision. Tenaya's Wrathman swung his weapon, mowing down the mercenaries just as quickly. Gargoyles swooped in with pinpoint accuracy, claws ripping through their armor like a knife to butter. Nothing stopped the onslaught once it started.
As the last mercenary fell, the people of Morthal began to emerge. Tenaya turned her attention to Lydia, who hid the best she could behind Thaumaturgist's Hut. She hobbled with Grelka in obvious need of care. The arrow stuck out the backside of her calf, the entire shaft intact thankfully with the wound.
"She won't be joining you. I can get her back to the lighthouse and take care of the wound," Grelka offered, clearly knowing the damage to Lydia.
"No!" Lydia yelled, hobbling on her feet, "I am going to remain at your side. Break the shaft and pull it through. Cauterize it."
Tenaya nodded, Lydia's insistence to remain coming out in determination. Tenaya sent flame from her hands to the nearby bush. Grelka put her dagger into the fire and turned her attention back to the arrow. With a quick snap, the shaft broke in half clean enough to pull through without splintering. She waited, the dagger needing to take its time to heat up. Serana grabbed a small stick from a nearby tree.
"I think you will need this," Serana said, handing the stick over.
Lydia bit down tight to the stick when Grelka pulled the dagger from the dwindling fire. With one swift motion, Grelka yanked the shaft through the wound and quickly pressed the dagger tip into the wound. Lydia's screams came through muffled even with the stick. Grelka moved quickly, flipping the dagger over and pressed it firmly to the other side of her calf. The screams continued, Tenaya refusing to let go of her friend's hand in support.
Once Grelka finished, Lydia quickly took the potion from Serana. She chugged the entire bottle without hesitation. At the same time, Serana handed a bottle to Tenaya. Tenaya did the same as her friend, both knowing this would only help them both.
"Let me slip inside the business and buy something of quality," Ciphen said.
As quickly as the man spoke, he vanished into Thaumaturgist's Hut. The group waited, giving Lydia time to recover and just get through the pain she obviously had. Grelka used a piece of cloth from her underclothes, wrapping the wound to make sure she didn't bleed any with going forward. Only when Ciphen returned did they regroup to continue on.
Tenaya and Grelka helped their friend from the ground. Lydia needed assistance to continue on with no ability to put weight on her leg. The wound tore into her muscles, ripping pieces apart deeper than even a potion would resolve. Tenaya put her arm around Lydia's waist to take the first steps. Within a few steps, Serana moved Tenaya away and took her place.
"You need to conserve every bit of energy you have. We will take care of Lydia. Thank god the weather is miserable still," Serana said.
Matria sent her Gargoyles flying again to scout the path ahead. This was too close for comfort, her most of all, wanting no more surprises on the journey.
"It seems Velatin has a few tricks up his sleeve," Matria said, pulling Tenaya to the side.
"Thankfully, I wasn't alone. To have to fight that group alone, Velatin surely planned it out."
"Yes, and that is why I want to tell you something I think you need to know. What I am going to tell you I am sure Serana never warned you about."
Matria kept her outside earshot of Serana. She wanted this to be completely private, a conversation between them only. Tenaya had no clue what she planned to say. Everything she knew about being a pure-blooded vampire came from Serana, only a little bit of histories and understanding from Matria.
"Under no circumstances do you change your form. When you do, Molag Bal knows. Velatin may push you to that point. If you feel a coldness run down your spine, fight the urge. Molag Bal surely made it clear how to convince the demons inside you. Resist Tenaya."
"What are you saying? He can manipulate me to change?" Tenaya asked, weary.
"Yes. You did it to me. It happened so quickly, and I just gave in to the urge. The feeling is so good, refreshing if you will. It will feel perfect, but it is not. Serana mastered this, she has no point in warning you. How many times has she ever changed?"
The words were exact. Serana never really changed. She mastered who she was, or appeared to in all their conversations. Even as they sat around talking about being a pure-blooded vampire, Serana never once worried about changing over. She accepted what she was without regard. The monster inside as she called it, rarely came out. Over her lifetime, she said it happened a handful of times, all by her choosing.
Matria's Gargoyles returned to the ground. Each walked as a shield in front of the group. Tenaya pulled her sword, everyone getting ready as they crested the hill to descend towards Dragon Bridge. The Gargoyles served their purpose. Tenaya looked wide-eyed at the number of troops sitting in Dragon Bridge. Velatin came with everyone he controlled from the first appearance. Only one figure stood on the bridge; Velatin.
"It looks like he brought back-up. Are all of those bandits?" Serana asked, running to Tenaya.
"No. Some of your old Dawnguard friends are there. It looks like the Evergails are there also. Anyone he managed to convince came to watch. Even Ysolda came…" Tenaya said, dryly.
Tenaya stopped the group before going further, wanting to have a moment with them. She knew this would happen today, the fight to break one group or another.
"None of you get involved no matter what. This is my fight with Velatin. If they rush or attack, you run! Do all of you hear me?" Tenaya demanded.
"We won't let them hurt you," Serana yelled back, angry over the demand.
"All of you stay back. Let me fulfill my destiny here. Live or die, I am glad to call you all my friend. Whether you tried to chomp my neck the first time we met, fell from a tomb, or became a housecarl, I am grateful to have friends like you in my life. Now all of you, stay here and just send the Gargoyles."
Tenaya walked to Serana, wiping the tears from her eyes. She slid the helmet off one last time, kissing Serana deeply while wrapping her arms around. Serana cried through the entire kiss. This time, Serana had no way to feel better. She struggled to let Tenaya go. Serana grabbed the helmet from Tenaya's hands, lowering it onto her head. One last kiss sent Tenaya down the path with the Gargoyles at her side.
She approached the bridge slowly, Velatin standing with the same arrogant look as their first encounter. The gargoyles remained on their side of the bridge as Tenaya commanded. Each step brought the evil smile much more prominent. Tenaya clenched her fists tightly, arms to her sides. She looked at Velatin again, noticing nothing changed about him. Same armor, same sword, everything he had before remained.
"It looks like the search party came for nothing. I doubted you had the nerve to show," Velatin said, laughing with he group adding to the sound.
"Well, I am sorry to disappoint. Here we are, face to face. You thought you knew everything about me before. It will not be so easy this time." Tenaya replied, her words soft but sturdy.
"I know about your fight with Malacath. If you think a little strength or swordplay worries me, you are wrong. I will not pull my sword to fight you."
"Then, I will leave my sword where it is as well."
The words caught Velatin by surprise. Tenaya stood before him, more confident and ready to fight. She circled him on the narrow bridge. Velatin moved in a circle slowly, giving Tenaya nothing. Her foot moved his direction while he stood unwavering. She smiled much to his frustration.
"Would you like the first punch then, Tenaya? It is not like you will hurt me." Velatin boosted, trying to anger her.
"I should offer you the first one this time. It is only fair to give you the same chance."
Tenaya took off his direction with every ounce of force and speed she had, closing quickly but slowing her punch down. Velatin moved out of her first swing with nothing but laughter. Tenaya turned around, smiling, laughing with him.
"This feels all too familiar…" Velatin yelled, laughing uncontrollably.
"I hoped you would say that. Maybe I should try to hit you this time."
Tenaya lept through the air again, coming down with a punch across his face. The helmet bounced across the ground with Velatin staggered. Tenaya didn't relent, her foot coming directly at his stomach. When he pushed her leg aside, her fist came crashing into the side of his face. Velatin looked in her direction, seeing a much different woman than before. Her movement flowed so smoothly. His armor now kept him laboring to move as she hoped. Another punch to his face dropped Velatin to a knee.
Velatin looked to his hand, rain washing the blood away from his palm. This was not the same woman he encountered before. She fought differently, with passion and eagerness he didn't expect. The power inside her as a vampire dwarfed anything he carried directly. He stood up to his feet without a care about the fight, the smile slowly returning to his face.
"This pleases me greatly. I get to hurt you now with everything you have on display. Now I will enjoy this!" Velatin yelled.
His hands clamped together tightly. A darkened mass began to form around where he stood, circling him. Tenaya didn't look away, remaining firm where she stood. The group he brought backed away with the waves of purple and black, pushing everyone backward. Those who tried to resist felt their feet slide in the mud, others giving up completely to run away.
Serana walked down the hill, refusing to be away from Tenaya anymore than she had to. The group moved with her, going as close as the force blowing around would allow. They stopped behind the Gargoyles, elevated slightly on the hill. She watched Velatin giving into the darkness, channeling every ounce of evil the Daedric Lords would provide. This was his moment, the full potential coming out. He summoned the strength of all those who would honor him.
"You underestimate the strength of my lords. I do not just serve three, Tenaya."
The shadows of each Daedra appeared behind him. Molag Bal. Malacath. Mehrunes Dagon. Two others seemed to give him the strength he sought. Mephala and Namira stood behind Velatin as well, a woman of rotten beauty and the spider lady, now choosing their sides. Tenaya stepped back, realizing he carried a lot more strength than she did, their infusion enough to overcome the advantage she held as a vampire.
"What is wrong? My dear Tenaya, did you think I would fight you without knowing what you were capable of?" Velatin jeered, summoning two Spider Daedra as a gift from Mephala.
Tenaya stopped her backpedal, letting the blessings of those Daedra who would offer their support to her. Azura proudly gave everything she had, the warm, pleasant aura she recognized. Another that felt like her, only darker, came just as quickly. Nocturnal gave her blessing as promised, Tenaya oblivious to the workings in the background. She wondered if this was it, or if anything else would come. Molag Bal wouldn't give her a blessing, even as a Daughter of Coldharbour, but she held a piece of him inside.
Another answered her call unexpectedly. It felt different, something she never expected. Boethiah appeared to her side, giving her blessing in time, hugely unexpected. She nodded to the Daedra, the only words she mouthed to Tenaya were simple; Fulfill your promise.
Nothing else came. Velatin could drown out her strength, the blessings of an extra Daedra, adding to his power. She chose to not tap into the darkness of Molag Bal, clinging to the light instead. Both accepted things as they were, rain pouring over them both.
Velatin waited no longer, pouncing on Tenaya at the same speed she moved at before. Each blessing of the Daedra amplified his already fast reactions. Her hands barely had the opportunity to come up, fists raining down across her covered face. She kicked him off, rushing to her feet with a grace she didn't have their first fight.
Tenaya pulled her sword as Velatin grabbed his. He swung down with force, Tenaya using the edge of her blade against the gauntlet to stop from slicing through. Velatin pushed with everything he had, Tenaya started to drop down from the sheer strength. She stared into his eyes, the soulless shell of a man happily fighting for the evil he served.
"You are stronger, but it is not enough!" Velatin yelled, pressing harder with both hands.
With a slip of her foot, Tenaya rolled back towards the edge of the bridge. Velatin pursued, walking with conviction towards her. Tenaya swung her sword backward, sweeping down towards his shoulder. Sparks sprayed the bridge where they stood. Both stood equal in their skills, Tenaya not making ground no matter how hard she tried. Velatin struggled to gain the upper hand, seeing Tenaya's desires much differently. Before, his sword cut through the others. This time, he didn't get the luxury of discarding her weapon.
As his arrogance faded away, Tenaya leaped forward with lightning ready. The lightning arched out, sending Velatin to the ground in agony. Electricity scattered across his armor with smoke coming from the edges. Tenaya plunged the sword down, missing his stomach by only inches. Velatin rolled away and snapped to his feet. He looked at the woman before him, her eyes filled with anger and rage, seeing for the first time a real challenger.
He stepped back, leading Tenaya on. She watched him, swinging her sword in a circle, wanting to pounce. His hand shot fire forward. The flames engulfed Tenaya until she stepped away. Her hands burned in agony, sword dropping from the heat radiating through. She felt everything at a higher level, choosing not to feed for days to keep the strength as a reward.
"Did you think Molag Bal wouldn't warn me about your vampirism? I know everything there is about you, Tenaya Darix." Velatin said, enjoying her suffering.
Another fireball went forward, her armor deflecting some of the flames, but most still hurting her. She quickly moved away, staying towards the lightning. Serana reminded her the ice spikes were useless against his armor. She wanted to use ice so badly, wanting to slow him down just a little bit. Everything she had pushed into the lightning. Massive bolts turned the fog in the area blue, bring about a different light for just a moment.
Velatin went to the ground to avoid what he could. Lightning shot over his body, still touching him as it passed. Tenaya dropped to a knee, the magic she knew stretched to its limit with the blast. Her hand found the sword, picking it up again. As she swung down, Velatin kicked her stomach to get space. The two moved against each other with a more potent force than they started. Now their fists and feet joined together in an even more dangerous dance.
Tenaya brought her elbow down against Velatin's jaw, his counter to the sword leaving him exposed as she spun around. With one hit, Velatin dropped to a knee. Tenaya wasted no time moving forward. Her knee found his face with a jump into the air. The sword came down with all her strength, breaking the armor over his arm, fragments flying through the air. Velatin looked on from the ground, feeling the sting of a blade in his arm. The frost broke through the armor, penetrating deeply.
Without wasting a moment, Tenaya knelt down over Velatin, punching his face while the frost hit. Punch after punch, hit after hit, blooded Velatin. He struggled to break free of her grip. Tenaya wouldn't relent, pounding on him as wildly as she could. Only when his knee found her back did she launch off him.
Velatin scrambled to his feet, blood washing down through the rain. Tenaya looked on with a grin, the others behind Velatin doing the same. Her friends saw something different, a woman possessed, unwilling to give in to the man. For what should have been a moment they enjoyed, it remained shortlived. A smile crept over his face. Velatin did nothing except raise his hand, pointing to a woman in his group.
Tenaya never looked away, but Serana did. The woman opened a scroll, skimming something before it vanished. No one made out what she said, but the rain came to an abrupt end. Clouds quickly started to scatter. The once pouring sky changed rapidly. Clouds began to part within seconds of what she did, rays of sun pushing to break through the few remaining clouds, giving light to a once dreary day.
"What? Did you not think I wouldn't come prepared? Molag Bal reminded me of how much you enjoy the sunlight." Velatin said, laughing.
Her hand quickly went over her eyes, the light breaking through the remaining clouds. Her skin started to feel on fire with every bit of sun coming down. The once miserable day that gave Tenaya even ground now made things much more different. Water puddles on the bridge and around shot rays of light everywhere she looked.
"Oh no…" Serana said out loud.
Velatin shot flames directly at Tenaya. Her ward came up quickly, but her magic slowly slipped away. The sun stopped her from starting to recover any strength. Velatin took full advantage, surging his fire forward. All at once, every flame hit Tenaya. She succumbed to the pain, dropping to a knee with the fire burning her body.
Tenaya leaped into the air towards Velatin, flames still consuming her body. She smashed her hands down against his helmet. The fire stopped with the hit to his head. Tenaya ran for her sword, grabbing it before Velatin recovered. She moved in as quickly as she could. Her sword clanged against his, the strength advantage she had slowly began to fade. Every swing took a little more out of her. The energy she had earlier seemed all gone. Velatin pushed her down the bridge towards the village, wanting the gathered crowd to see everything.
Serana and the others quickly ran to the top of Dragon's Bridge itself, seeing Tenaya on the ground at the base. Serana slowly began to notice something else, something not right. The feeling in the air resonated power, unlike anything she ever felt on Nirn. Everything felt unnatural, an aura over the entire area. All she could do was watch and wonder, seeing Tenaya fighting for her life with the man who wanted her dead.
Tenaya continued to struggle, no matter how deeply she breathed, the strength never returned. Velatin's sword started to push further against hers. He took advantage of every trade. Tenaya protected her neck and face at all costs, but it wasn't enough. The sword came down against her cheek, cutting against her. As it drug against her skin, she screamed in pain from the cursed blade. She pushed with all her might against his.
"My, how the times have changed. You stood over me in full control, now you scream for your life." Velatin said, enjoying the moment of control.
"You will not win this fight. I will kill you…"
Even with her clenched teeth, Teanay was clear as day. Velatin, however, had enough. He bled profusely from a broken nose. The wound in his arm ached. The only thing on his mind now was the death of Tenaya and a stiff drink back at the Inn. The fight started to take its toll on Velatin, never having faced someone who pushed him to his limits.
Velatin pushed down, his sword sliced through the rest of her cheek, the spiked hilt barely missing her face. He kicked Tenaya in the stomach with a motion she couldn't see. Sunlight started to blind her as it reflected off all the nearby puddles in the mud. Tenaya covered her eyes, unable to see anything. Velatin walloped her across the back with all his might.
Serana struggled to stay still, seeing Velatin start to dissect the woman she loved. Her eyes focused on the woman who read the scroll. This woman didn't look familiar, but Velatin knew her somehow, a level of importance to trust with that scroll. She struggled to watch Tenaya be dismantled by Velatin at every exchange. Nothing she did seemed to work against Velatin. At the same moment, she realized Velatin gathered a different amount of strength while Tenaya seemed unable to fend him off. Not even the sun hurt her this much.
Another figurer walked through the crowd, appearing next to a beggar. He looked disfigured and mutilated, almost as a shadow of a person. Serana felt their presence alone, something she only felt before in her life in Coldharbour. Another figure appeared, and then another. Serana remained uneasy, the power radiating through the air. Matria perked up the same, the presence overwhelming to her also.
"You feel that?" Matria asked, struggling to see Tenaya being pummeled.
"It can't be…" Serana replied, wanting to cower.
"He's here."
Their words mattered little. Velatin didn't relent. His fists came down at every opportunity, Tenaya barely able to hold her footing. He started to get those around to cheer, savoring the moment with every passing opportunity. Velatin looked to the figures for standing in front. Their reassurance gave him newfound confidence.
"They came to see her die. This is it, Matria. She dies, they run free," Serana said. The lump in her throat grew large as she begged for Tenaya to pull through. "Come on, Tenaya, please…"
"Boethiah betrayed her…" A voice whispered in the air as Tenaya no longer stood on her own power.
"What?" Serana asked, spinning around wildly.
"She does not stand alone…" Another voice called out, one much different than the first.
A hooded figure appeared behind the group on the bridge, a figure no one ever saw. The dress looked the same as Azura's, only solid black. A dog trudged beside, one Serana swore she recognized. Azura broke through the ranks on the bridge, joined by Meridia in her natural form.
"All the Daedra watch, Serana Volkihar. The consequence of this battle carries our future. Some choose to remain silent, others realize they must help." Azura said, resting a hand on Serana's shoulder.
"She won't win. The woman over there read a scroll, and the skies cleared."
"Boethiah? Why am I not surprised…"
Serana turned to see the beggar, now understanding why she had the scroll and why Tenaya struggled like she did. For a time, Tenaya fought without. The other Daedra came to lend their support.
"Tenaya has some new allies, ones who will help her as she helped them. Clavicus sent his dog as a show of support, Sanguine gave his staff. Meridia, Nocturnal, and I are here. It is no longer a matter of balance. She must find a way to push through. This is now Tenaya's time."
In some conduit or form, every Daedra watched the battle raging. Molag Bal, Malacath, and Mehrunes Dagon sent a conduit, as did Mephala and Namira. The others watched from their respective places on oblivion. This started to become something much bigger. Serana wondered if the divine watched more intently with so much power focused on one area. Surely they watched to intervene, Serana prayed they would.
While the support changed the dynamic some, it didn't erase the struggle. Tenaya couldn't catch her breathe no matter what she did. Velatin took full advantage, continuing to beat down Tenaya at every attempt. He had the benefit of sunlight, one that started to wear Tenaya out completely. She barely held her sword up while Velatin charged.
"Tenaya!" Serana screamed.
The woman she loved fell to the ground, Velatin's sword rammed into her shoulder. He grabbed on to her back, pulling her closer as the blade sunk deeper. Cheers erupted from the opposite side, the village was seemingly alive with Tenaya's scream of agony. Velatin reeled her closer, her face shaking in pain, Tenaya pushing against him to get free.
Serana watched him punch Tenaya in the stomach, lifting her face only to spit all over her face. She turned her head, all of this too hard to watch. Matria rested Serana's head to her shoulder, giving her a moment. Serana wept, the shot appeared to be the beginning of the end. She looked to the group, Lydia covering her mouth, Grelka shaking her head, Ciphen gasping, and Dozan crossing his arms.
Her eyes remained on Dozan, pushing Matria to the side. Without hesitation, Serana grabbed the bow from his arm. Dozan didn't know what to do, trying to stop her. Tenaya didn't want them involved, giving warning to the group.
"Serana, do not do it!" Dozan yelled.
"Give me the damn bow, now!" Serana yelled back.
"She asked us not to get involved. I won't let you do it."
"Give me the bow. I am not asking again!"
Matria ran over, pulling them apart. Serana looked over her shoulder to see Tenaya struggling to stand, Velatin hitting her while the sword remained stuck in her shoulder. She refused to stay still any longer. She pulled away for only a second, waiting for Matria to turn her back. Lydia limped over to calm them. She wanted the fighting to stop, the fight already grim enough.
Without wasting another moment, Serana pounced on Dozan. She grabbed the bow and an arrow as quickly as she could. Their scuffle on the ground brought everyone over, even the Daedra, who looked on unsure what happened to this group. As she backed away, she pulled the dagger off her belt.
"What are you doing? We are all friends, damn it!" Lydia yelled.
"Forgive me, mother…" Serana whispered.
Serana sliced her hand, dripping blood all over the arrow before firing it directly at the sun. Everyone looked confused as it sailed into the sky. All of a sudden, the sun turned black. A massive pulse shot out, red and black waves rippling across the sky, a red hazy remaining across the land.