Chapter 10 COMPLETELY REDONE. The only thing that's the same now is the first scene.
Y'all... my writing was so GARBAGE back then, I mean... DAMN. My age really showed when I was writing this story on my iphone. Jesus...
AND NOT A SINGLE REVIEW TELLIN ME LIKE IT IS.
SIGHHHHHHH
In other news... Quarantine. Over with. Very soon. Thank god. Enjoy my slightly better writing. Expect major changes from this chapter on up because GOT DAMN, I GOTTA WORK ON BUILDING UP THE STORY.
Hehehehe, updates. It's almost Christmas time.
Irina had dragged herself all the way back to castle Volkihar with thoughts of Lydia plaguing her, she had wanted many many times to turn back hire a carriage to Riften and free her housecarl from Fort Dawnguard. Irina knew that that would be an idiotic thing to do while she was this injured, while she was sought out for so she trekked to Castle Volikar instead.
She felt her shoulder begin to sting and placed a hand atop her armor where her wound would be.
Begrudgingly, she had dealt with the on and off pain throughout her journey. She knew the silver was slowing down her healing process immensely, despite having fed on Celann before she retired from Dragonbridge his blood hadn't been enough to soothe all the pain. If she had some Skooma on hand it would have made the journey alot easier.
Her boots stepped at an even pace over the stone bridge, she passed stone gargoyles covered in snow and eyed them curiously. An ominous presence came from them, one that sent shivers running down her spine. She hurried her pace to the castle doors and kept her eyes fixed forward.
The bosmer's neck was exposed only by a little, but enough for one to notice the bruises that dotted her neck and some her chest. The elf rubbed her skin and whispered to no one in particular "she didn't strike me as the type to be subtle. I suppose I will pay for it later" though despite her tone there was a smirk gracing her lips.
Irina pushed open the castle doors and made her way to the main hall, the short journey had been taxing on her patience. She was ready to hear the words of the prophecy, she was ready to decide what to do next. She was ready to save Lydia, more than anything she was anxious for her well-being.
Upon descending the stone steps she took notice of the gathering of Harkon's court, Ronthil was being berated by Feran Sandri and she saw the altmer Vingalmo sitting at the end of the table with a goblet in his hand.
Every single man and mer was present, they seemed to be waiting for her. The dovahkiin did note the absence of Serana, however.
Irina looked to one of the tables and felt her shoulders slump in relief when she saw Dexion sitting idly in a chair, he'd arrived and his health seemed to be intact. The moth priest noticed her eye and brightened at the sight of her.
She gave a swift nod in his direction and looked to the center of the room, there standing was Harkon who drank from a blood stained golden goblet with Garan Marethi at his side. They spoke in low voices and upon sensing Irina's eyes the dunmer abruptly stopped, he seemed tense but Harkon raised his hand in reassurance. The dovahkiin's mind filled with suspicion but she controlled her countenance, Harkon didn't spare her a glance and waved off the dunmer who bowed and walked off.
She wanted to ask, but thought best for her not to.
Harkon's eyes found hers and set the goblet down on the table behind him. He moved with such grace and confidence that the woman wondered if the man rehearsed his movements.
As she silently admired, she cecided to approach him. Harkon waited for her to stand in front of him and when she did he took in her disheveled state. He could smell the blood from where he stood and had taken notice of the way she walked. A slight limp, hardly noticeable to the average man. But, he was no average man, he was a seasoned killer and centuries of years old.
"Well done, somehow I knew it would be you who found our moth priest" he spoke deeply and truly, Irina felt a tiny prick of pride in her chest. It was almost a shame to believe that the man had pursued something as foolish as blotting out the sun.
"I trust his capture was not too difficult a task?" the question was almost rhetorical.
Mentally draining would have been the correct answer to give but Harkon cared not for her mental well-being. Irina instead said, "the Dawnguard had found him first, they pose no threat as a whole, however their leaders are a different matter. They've also learned to tame trolls and have them equipped with armor"
"Yes of course, they're weak individually but numbers do sometimes play a role in victory. But trolls you said? We must talk more of that later... well, your thrall awaits and we've given him the elder scroll. Command him to read it and let us hear the words of prophecy together" the woman glanced behind her back to see Dexion looking at her patiently, she nodded to her lord and excused herself making her way toward the scholar.
Dexion followed her form and gulped nervously once she came face-to-face with him. He was her thrall and his will taken from him, Irina wondered if it was wrong to not feel remorse over that. "I've a new task for you, one I'm sure you'll like...I need you to read the elder scroll that you were given, loud so that we may listen" Dexion rose from his chair and nodded eagerly, "of course, master, I must admit I've been looking forward to this"
"Then you may begin" she said removing her Deathbrand helm and held it by the horn, her light brown hair fell down to her shoulders and her exhaustion could clearly be seen. Irina inhaled sharply at the stinging sensation from her shoulder, she'd moved far too much for her own good. Dexion moved to the center of the dining hall where eyes watched him curiously, "now if everyone would please be quiet, I must concentrate..."
Irina watched the moth priest as she leaned against the wooden table, her expression passive.
Personally, she felt as if as though the nordic lord hadn't an idea of how serious all of this talk of putting out the sun was, or if he did he wasn't thinking about the consequences too thoroughly. Harkon was either a fool or too prideful, she hadn't which one it was yet.
"I see a vision before me, an image of a great bow. I know this weapon, it's Auriel's bow! Now I hear a voice whispering...among the nights children a dread lord will rise. In an age of strife, when dragons return to the realm of men, darkness will mingle with light and the night and day will be as one" Irina bit her jaw. A dread lord rising... and the time of strife where dragons returned to the realm of men? That time was now. Harkon was clearly the dread lord but Auriel's bow... how in the world does an arcane weapon fit in?
"But wait, there is more here... the secret of the bow's power is written elsewhere. I think there is more to the prophecy recorded in other scrolls" Irina's attention was turned back to Dexion and she held a horn on her helm tightly, she was in possession of one elder scroll. Harkon would never know, she would make sure of it.
"Yes, I see them now, one contains the ancient secrets of the dragons and the other speaks of the potency of ancient blood...m-my visions darkens and I see no more. To complete the prophecy we must have the other two scrolls."
Harkon had moved over to where Irina was leaning and spoke in a monotone "that was not as useful as I would have liked...but even so you did well" his expression was upset. Almost as if he was expecting all solutions to come after having read that scroll, she felt a tinge of nervousness.
There was no way the nord could have known she had access to an elder scroll so her paranoia was unwarranted, even so.
Irina cleared her throat and asked "do you've any idea where these other scrolls are?" Harkon eyed her for a short moment before saying, "my traitor wife stole one of them away and then disappeared, as for the other...last I heard it was lost in the bowels of a dwemer ruin"
He let out a light sigh, "it seems our work is not yet done. But I have waited this long, and we are so very close now. I can wait a bit longer" he narrowed his eyes at the bosmer but didn't say anything else and left her to her devices. Irina didn't feel comfortable until he had left the main hall entirely, and even then, the woman hadn't realized how tense she was until she relaxed.
Harkon... leader of the volkihar clan.
Lord of his vampire court, and Irina's next foe. Something told her that in the back of his mind he felt it too.
Running a hand through her hair Irina let her feet take her to the thralls. Her wounds would need fresh blood if she was to ever heal properly, normally she'd have just gone to the nearest person but she was tired of appearing weak to the clan. They'd all mastered their Vampire Lords... Irina needed to do the same otherwise she would continue to look feeble and pathetic.
The thrallmaster was still in the main hall, so it seemed. She couldn't find him down in the cells, which frankly didn't matter to Irina but she supposed having the one man to distinguish... taste would've been helpful. Though, the elf was never a picky eater, she hadn't had the luxury of such a childhood. Whatever was available would do splendidly for her.
"I don't think I've ever seen you come down here" Serana's voice spoke out against the quiet. Irina turned her head behind her to catch the nord's eye, Serana was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed peering down at her with a wonderous stare. Lazily, the bosmer gave the woman a smile and a wave.
"I was told that the castle supplied thralls, I came to indulge" Irina resumed walking further into the dungeon and sparing glances at the humans chained down to their cells. For the most part they all looked somewhat clean, there was the occasional dirt scruff and smell of body odor but that was to be expected from a human in captivity.
"Obviously, I'm kind of surprised that you're not as opposed to drinking blood as most are. It's normally a process to get over" Serana said seating herself at the top of the stairs. She rested her head in her hand and watched as Irina took glances at the thralls.
The nord occasionally fixed her gaze on the elf's neck, feeling a twinge of annoyance at registering the bruises and what they were from. Did the woman have time to go off and find a man to lie with? How wonderful for her. Serana caught her envy and blinked in confusion, why did that bother her?
"I should really tell you more about myself, good grief... I hadn't noticed how detached I can be at times. Anyway, this is not my first go at vampirism, I was turned once before. I never fed on humans though, only animals. The repulsiveness slipped my mind however, first time round" Irina responded nonchalantly finding a blonde breton to her liking. The man made eye contact with the elf and his eyes looked empty. He already knew what was to come, Serana cast her gaze elsewhere while Irina fed giving the woman her privacy.
"I can tell. Do I have the right to call you repulsive because of that?" the nord asked sarcastically. She kept her eyes to the wall.
Irina laughed a little, and it made the nord's eyes perk up a touch. "I wouldn't care if you did, because I know you'd be lying."
Serana almost laughed with her until her sharp nose caught the scent of silver. Her eyes removed themselves from the wall to Irina who released the man from her grip, her cheeks were flushed and her lips were stained red. A loud swallow was heard and Serana felt embarrassment creep It's way onto her expression.
Irina caught her eyes lazily and licked her lips of the blood, Serana thanked the divines that the room was dark because she felt the heat rise up from her neck to her face.
Footsteps approached and it gave time for the nord to quash her embarrassment and for her head to clear. "You're injured. Again" she spoke with annoyance and a stern expression.
Irina rolled her eyes as if those weren't the words she expected her to say, "it was no easy securing that moth priest, if you'd been there I might have actually kept myself together. Maybe..." Irina shrugged.
The nord almost sighed but she shook her head instead, "Don't make it seem like I didn't offer. Let's go take a look at you, shall we?" Irina could see that if she refused it would mean a headache, and she hadn't the time to be dealing with lectures from the nord. Irina had to make her way to the rift soon.
Serana had Irina follow her to her chambers and it brought back the memory of their- or rather, Serana's kiss. The nord closed the door behind them gently, the wood and metal making a loud click. Serana leaned against the door and crossed her arms over her chest, "I'm just going to let you know if I can smell the silver, everyone else can too."
"I figured as much. There is quite a bit of damage, you'll see. I took longer than Dexion to get here because of my injuries, I spent a night in Dragonbridge to be tended to by a friend." Irina said. The elf sauntered over to the fireplace burning over on the other side of the room and peered at the flames, Serana pushed herself from the door and approached the woman.
Irina then suddenly chuckled, raising a brow from the nord. "It feels like I'm having to report to you, does your father want to know too? Is that why you're asking?"
"Actually...no, I wanted to speak with you. You have a moment to talk, right?" Serana asked.
"I wish I could say I did my lady, but I need to leave again. My housecarl, Lydia... she's still in danger. I must go to her" Irina said with a tone of voice that meant nobody could stop her.
Serana saw the same pained expression from when they were returning to the castle together, and it touched the nord's heart. What did it feel to love someone so dearly? As Irina did her housecarl. Serana would never know but she tried to compare it to the love she once held for her parents, although that was hard since she hardly even remembered what that feeling felt like.
"She's dear to you, I can see that, but what I have to talk about concerns what that moth priest said-"
Irina shook her head and stared into the nord's golden eyes. "Serana, please. No more of that prophecy... Tell your father if you wish, but I want no part in it. The sun? Dominion over the province? The chaos would be catastrophic, and I have mortal friends who would not lie down and allow their way of life to be challenged. I would stand with them and kill all of you, that's just how I feel." the bosmer didn't know why she shared her disagreement with the nord, she was Harkon's daughter, the one who should be the most loyal. She also didn't know why she shared so much with her either.
However, something in Irina knew that the nord wouldn't betray her trust. In fact, the look the nord was giving her was reinforcing that instinct. "Then we are one of the same mind. I agree with you, completely."
"I see... even so, my housecarl. I need to find her, I must" Irina spoke earnestly. The nord nodded hurriedly, "and you will, I'm coming with you. After we find her we must speak of the prophecy, do I have your word on that?"
"You would help me? What of your father? Don't you... tch!" Irina had moved her shoulder a bit too much, she'd been poking at the logs in the fire with her dagger but even that small amount of movement was enough for the elf to abruptly stop.
"I told you once before I would give you answers, I haven't because I didn't know where your ambitions lie. Honestly, I still don't know what you're after but knowing you want no part in the prophecy of the sun is enough for me right now. So, yes I'll help you"
The dovahkiin stared at the nord cautiously, the bosmer straightened out her back and sheathed her dagger. Serana was unfaltering in her gaze, the nord stood over her with a serious look that suited her well.
"Hah, I knew there was something other than your cheekbones that I liked. Excellent" the dovahkiin gave her a half-smirk. Serana had almost lost her composure and would have swooned for the bosmer had it not been for the seriousness of the issue.
Before the nord had time to think of something clever to retort back with, Irina spoke. "I plan to leave as soon as these wounds to heal. While I'd love to just take off now, I wouldn't feel certain in my combat abilities."
"Let me heal you, I've pretty much mastered restoration. Besides, I'm sure most of the hard work has been done already by your mortal friend in that town." the nord offered taking a step toward the bosmer. Irina considered it for a moment before nodding, the faster she was healed the better.
"The blade pierced pretty deep, and the dagger the same. Theres a shallow cut in my chest, and my arm has been stitched together. I have two minor cuts on my torso and leg but those I'm certain I could sleep off." Irina spoke while she removed her breastplate, her hands setting down the armor by their feet.
"I'm more surprised how you found the time to bed someone and then get sliced open in the same day." Serana murmured taking in the amount of bite marks Irina had on her neck and collarbone.
Irina swept her hair back and chuckled deeply, "I was cut first then bedded, hardly any moving for me but my partner was more than willing to do most of the work for me."
"How thoughtful of him. Anyway, are you aware this is barely two inches from your heart?" Serana asked incredulously. The dragonborn shook her head and straightened her posture to make it easier for the nord, Irina also lifted her chin upwards to expose more surface area for the woman. She thought about correcting her and telling her that she bed a woman instead of a man but decided that that wasn't important.
The nord placed her fingertips atop the elf's chest and focused her magic into the wound. Irina slipped her eyes closed and let the restoration magic do its work, the sooner she was healed the sooner they would be able to leave for Riften. Once she was inside the fort... Irina knew that bodies will pile atop one another inside the base, she would make it so. The flames crackled beside them catching the elf's attention, the flames burned bright and the warmth coming from the fireplace felt nice.
As the tissue healed and was beginning to connect muscle fibers the nord used her free hand to pull at the herbs packed into her chest. Irina made a face at seeing the process, it was rather unsightly.
"It's closed now, give me your arm" Serana spoke while freeing the last of the herbs and letting her hand lower from the shorter woman's chest.
Irina blinked back to the nord and nodded, "you seem distracted, I'm guessing once I'm done you intend to leave right away huh?" Serana asked while filling Irina's shoulder with her magic. She used one hand to hold Irina's elbow out while the other placed itself over her stitched cut, the warm glow of Serana's magic surrounded the two of them, bathing them in light.
Irina only responded with a curt nod, her eyes determined. Serana found herself shaking her head, she was always moving, never a moments rest.
Such initiative, and such strong will. All for the sake of a friend, Serana found herself smiling. She wondered what fueled the bosmer so much, her close combat ability was unrivaled and that could have only been mastered after years of training. Years of adventure and foes, her body was proof that it had not always been easy.
"Why are you smiling?" Irina wondered when Serana released her arm, the nord chuckled in response. "I've never met someone like you before, you're quite charming"
"Charming?" the woman looked surprised, as if the words coming from Serana were strange. It wasn't that the compliment itself was strange, no Irina could handle and appreciate a compliment. It was just that it came out of nowhere, and from her no less.
Serana crossed her arms over chest and nodded, "that's what I said."
"You are simply making my ego rise, that's not good." Irina said with a half-smirk.
The taller woman wondered if the bosmer knew that she was a temptation. There could be no denying the lust between them, their constant flirting and their innuedos. Even a blind man could see the tension in the room, and yet, Serana couldn't deny there was a strange allure to the woman. She hated to admit that despite being attracted to her, she also found her company and her spirit pleasant.
Before the nord could respond with anything witty, they both turned their heads to the knock at the door.
Serana turned her head to the door with a curious stare and walked over to answer meanwhile Irina had begun to fasten her armor in place. While she left Serana to greet her unexpected guest Irina knelt by the fireplace once more, the colors of the embers reminded her of Riften. The fall colored leaves seemed to always stay that way, no matter what season the province seemed to be in.
A beautiful place, in all honesty. It was also a three day journey on horse should they ride hard and fast, a five day journey taking a carriage since they always rode at a leisurely pace and stopped frequently, and on foot would be damn near a fortnight. Irina inhaled through her nose and released through her mouth, soon Lydia... soon. The bosmer stood erect and walked over to the door, the visitor turned out to be Hestla. The blonde paused in the middle of conversation with Serana upon taking notice of the elf and blinked in surprise, "Irina...?"
"Excuse me lovely women, I'm going outside-" Irina turned to the black-haired nord and spoke, "worry not, I'll wait for you at the shore"
Serana felt her cheeks turning red at the woman's reassurance and she nodded in response, Irina put a firm hand on Hestla's shoulder and nodded to the both of them before walking out the room.
The nord watched her go and she hated how she caught herself staring out for longer than usual.
Gentle were the winds against Irina's face, her eyes slipped closed in bliss and she took in a breath. The sun had set just an hour ago and while the night was cold there were no winds to make it colder. It was almost a perfect night, emphasis on almost.
"Are you planning on running off somewhere yet again, Irina?" came the voice of Vingalmo, another one of elvenkind in the castle but his descent was of the altmer.
"Hmm? Oh... you're name is Vingalmo isn't it? Handsome man you are, are you curious to know where I leave to next so you could follow me in pursuit of a future together? I'm afraid I have to decline, I'm married you see" Irina responded with grandiose hand gestures.
The altmer made a distasteful sound in response and spoke again, "Are you now? Well that's going to be brought up again for another time, ah... did that bother you?"
"Not for the reasons you may think, Vingalmo. I have no personal attachments to the man, the courtship is simply something I agreed to for business purposes. Still, should you try to pry any further than that and I think I may be rather upset with you" the bosmer replied smoothly resting a hand on her hip. The high elf chuckled a little and brushed a strand of golden hair behind his ear, if he hadn't acted as pompous and pretty as most altmer do then Irina would have teased the man some more. However, he clearly thought too much of himself.
"My intention isn't to upset you and, heavens forbid, fight you. I would just like to converse with you, I haven't seen you speak to anyone other than the women of the castle, is there a reason for that?"
Irina raised an eyebrow, "You're thinking too much into it, I'm a busy woman. Here at this castle, and on the mainland, I suppose the women were simply the first ones to meet me. Are you positive you're not trying to seduce me, Vingalmo? I do have to respectfully decline...-"
The altmer sighed audibly, "you're a character, truly. I am doing no such thing, but if you would answer my question?"
She couldn't help but to crack a smile at the man, he was so serious it was almost cruel that Irina had teased him. She hoped the rest of the vampires inside weren't as serious as he, Irina would sooner die of boredom.
"The lady Serana and I are headed to Riften. I have to settle some business there, not only that but there's a dwemer ruin nearby the city. I plan to search it for any signs of an elder scroll, truth be told, I don't think I'll come across one but what would I be doing here?" Vingalmo almost looked impressed with the woman, he gave her an acknowledging nod and crossed his arms over his chest. He was really giving her an assessment wasn't he?
"I agree, I don't think you'll find one on the first try but whoever knows the truth? Serana has one in her possession, and therefore there's only a few more lord Harkon needs to acquire. I do hope you find the remaining scrolls, I've also sent my thralls to search the province and a few outside of Skyrim. Ah... the prophecy is so very much near completion" he placed a hand over his midsection and bowed to excuse himself. Irina raised a peculiar brow at the man and watched him stand erect before walking away.
Was that it? That simple conversation had been all the man wanted? Irina scratched the back of her head trying to figure out the deeper meaning of the conversation. Had it been some type of warning? That his thralls were lurking about and would be keeping an eye on her? She let out an exhausted sigh, damn high elf... the woman merely rolled her eyes and stared out to the ocean instead. Across those waters and farther still... her friend was in chains. Irina was tempted to swim across, to the mainland, and run all the way to Riften.
The mainland never looked so close... Irina raised her arm and opened her fingers, reaching for Skyrim.
For her housecarl.
She felt a sudden burst of emotion in her chest she hadn't felt in a long time. Her arm began to tremble and her breathing was a little difficult, divines... what was going on with her? Irina held the tiny drops back for as long as she could, but nothing could stop them from falling and running down the sides of her cheeks. She lowered her arm and let her head hang miserably, "how could I have let this happen to her...?" she questioned the shore beneath her.
Her first friend in Skyrim, and her first love. The bosmer had never told her of her feelings but the nord would have to have been foolish to not know. It was always sort of unspoken between the two women, the dragonborn had always assumed it was the age difference that had always deterred the nordic woman. Irina had been eighteen when they first met and Lydia was twenty-six. But even with that, Irina was okay with never being with the woman so long as Lydia would stay by her side.
Then she left, and didn't come down High Hrothgar for three years. She'd lost any hope she had of being with the nord to Vilkas, ah... seeing her rounded belly had broken the elf's heart in two. Not just because she'd lost any chance of being with her romantically, but because now Lydia couldn't even travel with her or fight. She had left that part of her life behind her.
The dovahkiin wiped at her eyes and inhaled deeply through her nose and exhaled through her mouth. That was alright, because Irina would make sure that Lydia lives out the future that with Vilkas she desires, she would live a long life with her child and husband. So long as Irina would be able to see her happy and well... That'd be enough for now.
"Irina, I'm ready" Serana's voice came calling out from the bridge. Irina regained herself before the nord approached and she looked at Serana with a new fire in her eyes.
"Let us go then" Irina said already making her way to the jetty.