Isran acted as predictably as they assumed when he saw Torina holding Auriel's Bow. With barely a moment to breathe the entire company was called away to load carriages and start a campaign that would end right at Harkon's doorstep. A skeleton crew would be staying behind at the Fort with a mixture of faces that Torina had grown accustomed to over the last year or longer.

For years Torina acted on the fringes of this organization, helping Durak and acting as an informant and scout since she traveled extensively across the province. Now she had spent the better part of the last year or so with the company in the thick of it. The story she told Serana about Durak being the one to finally convince her to go to Isran and ask to join wasn't false, though she had omitted several other tasks she'd completed for the orsimer to earn blood-kin status. Torina didn't like to talk about each time she'd met a daedric prince and lived.

Thinking on all she'd been through with this company made her heart swell with pride. She hadn't belonged to something this close to a family since her time in Kynesgrove, or long before that in Morrowind when her parents were still alive.

Though, if she were being honest, the idea of calling Dravynea any sort of family made bile rise in her throat.

Serana approached her as the dunmer spoke with Florentius. He was very interested in the flora they'd collected in the Vale and was telling Torina that he and Arkay were very curious to know if she'd be willing to get more gleam blossoms, yellow mountain flowers, and poison blooms.

"I'll bring you any extra I gather, Florentius," Torina said.

She looked to Serana to see if she needed to speak but the vampire motioned that she could continue. Usually Serana would stick close to Torina as most of the Dawnguard still found her presence unsettling. She had overheard on more than one occasion that Serana's nickname was 'Torina's shadow'. Torina learned the dovahzul word for 'shadow' to amuse Serana and give the nickname power instead of acting as a passive way to ridicule her.

Once when a newer member caused a fuss at Serana's presence, Torina had had enough. She stood and used her Thuum to mutter vokun, causing the lot of them to be cast in shadowy darkness for a handful of seconds. Isran had rolled his eyes when the recruit tried to complain about the incident and reminded him it's only a stupid man who goes to a dragon's lair and insults it in it's home.

After Torina realized Serana did not need to bring news, she continued speaking to Florentius. "Are you staying behind or joining us at Castle Volkihar?"

"I've been tasked to stay behind and help defend the fort in case anything happens. Arkay won't tell me anything about the outcome of this but I have full confidence in you and the rest," the priest said. "Isran is smart to keep some of us back. I'd hate to see this fort ruined if we left it without protection."

"Agreed," Torina said. "Serana and I are joining the advance guard, so we'll be leaving soon. Thank you for your help."

"The pleasure was always mine, Torina," Florentius said. The odd priest wished safe travels and Arkay's protection to both of them before wandering off to his enchanting table.

"Who is in the advanced guard with us?" Torina asked Serana. As she'd been relaying information to the moth priest Dexion Evicus about what happened with the Elder Scroll, Serana had been listening to Isran issue orders to the group.

"Sorine, Durak, and Ingjard."

Torina considered the group. "All good choices. Level headed, even Durak."

"Isran and I thought the same," Serana said. "They'll be waiting at the front door whenever you're ready to go, Torina."

"Thank you," Torina said. "I'll just be a moment but you're welcome to join me."

A sense of dread had grown in the pit of Torina's stomach from the moment they left Darkfall Cave. She had done and seen so much in her time on Nirn, more than what should be possible by mortal standards, and for the first time had started to worry when her luck might run dry.

Serana followed her through the main hall where the sound of voices echoed off the high walls until individual voices could not be heard. Most of the advanced guard already stood in the foyer of the fort waiting for them. As they walked by Serana could see Sorine off to the side with Dexion speaking softly to each other. The sight made a lump form in her throat and the dread get stronger.

Torina took a deep breath when they made it to the top of one of the towers leading to the top of the fort. The grey light of dawn teased the horizon. When she and Serana had first set off to the Vale in search of the bow the first signs summer was ending were in the air. Now, in the cool morning light, autumn's grip was unmistakable. Frost Fall had turned to Sun's Dusk without her noticing.

"Serana," Torina said as she looked out over the valley. "Do you believe in fate?"

Her companion didn't respond immediately, taking the question seriously. "Do you, Torina?"

Torina's lips lifted in a small smile. "I asked you first."

"I know I used to," Serana answered. "Especially when I was locked in that crypt with an Elder Scroll tethered to my back for hundreds of seasons. My father's life revolved around a prophecy that at the time was barely a whisper on the wind, just a hint of something, but he called it destiny. He believed our kind was fated to win over mortals in the end."

In a pause in Serana's answer, Torina asked, "And now? What do you believe?"

Serana waited even longer to speak this time. The two of them watched as the first rays of sun crept over the mountains like they'd done dozens of times together. Torina watched as the symbol of Akatosh, of Auriel, made its appearance over Skyrim with a deliberate and predictable path. The idea of changing the path of the sun felt as impossible to her as the idea that she still had enough luck to make it out of another adventure. There would undoubtedly be casualties in this campaign.

What she was afraid of more than anything, though, was the idea of being the only one remaining alive at the end. Again.

"I believe we make our own fate," Serana said softly.

Her voice called Torina back to reality and she lifted a hand to wipe away a stray tear that had snuck away from her. Serana gave her a moment to collect herself before grasping her hand and pulling her away from the wall. She let go once the dunmer's feet were steady on the stones and nodded her head towards the door.

"Let's go make our own fates again."

Thank you to all of you reading and especially commenting or following this story in one way or another. Whether you've just jumped in or found it when it was posted, I appreciate you.