"I've done this before, you know. I'll be fine."
"I'm not keen on you traveling alone across Skyrim," Torina said, frowning and crossing her arms at Serana.
"What choice do we have? The Vale should remain as hidden as possible, and if Dexion comes here, so will Sorine, and soon the rest of the Dawnguard will be swarming it."
"I know. It doesn't mean I have to like this, though."
Leaving the chamber deep in the mountainside, the group carefully had transported the kel, the elder scroll, back to the surface. Despite the damage to the chest holding it the scroll itself was in pristine condition. Torina's eyes hurt just looking at it. Though her dragon soul kept her from most of the damage from reading the others she'd encountered, the last thing she needed were more vividly lucid nightmares like back in Winterhold. Dexion was their best bet.
Serana volunteered to go back to meet the Dawnguard stationed at Castle Volkihar. Her reasoning was if Dexion and Sorine were already gone then she could at least meet with her mother. Unable to truly argue with that logic, and the knowledge that Serana could indeed take care of herself, Torina had relented.
Torina had insisted that she join Serana back out to the mouth of Darkfall Cave. Not only did she want to extend her time with Serana, she wanted to ask Durnehviir if he recognized the writing on the scroll to know its name. She suspected daedric though the word evaded her. Each time she tried to copy the words down onto a roll of parchment or in her journal, her eyes would cross and a headache started. Not even sips of a health potion could alleviate it.
Perhaps the dragon could rule out the possibility of several languages after being exposed to so many in the Soul Cairn. That, and his first-hand knowledge of Dovahzul would rule that out as well. Torina did not know how to actually read the letters in that tongue.
The two friends stood at the mouth of the cave. Now that the passage was more heavily traveled, fewer wildlife ventured inside. Torina didn't expect that would last for long, though. Winter was approaching quickly and soon even more of Skyrim would look like the mountains and lowlands of the Pale.
"Durnehviir!" Torina shouted once they were a good distance from the mouth of the cave.
The green scaled dragon rumbled as his form materialized on Nirn from the Soul Cairn. The vibrations made the small stones at their feet tremor and clatter against the ground. Torina and Serana were sure to stand back slightly to avoid his partially-corporeal bulk.
Since she usually called him during combat, the dragon was poised to strike from the first syllable out of Torina's mouth. It only took him a moment to realize there were no enemies to dispatch, though there was a dangerous sweep of his tail and wings to avoid before he did.
"Qahnaarin, why do you call me from the realm of the Ideal Masters?"
"To give you a chance to fly the skies of Tamriel," Torina said.
Durnehviir twisted his head slightly to look at her with one eye. The corner of his maw twitched in amusement. "And?"
Torina smiled and reached over to rub the snout of the great dragon. As unsettling his appearance could be, covered in half-decayed scales and tattered wings, she had a great fondness for the dragon. A small measure of affection was welcome to both of them.
"A small favor. We've found another elder scroll, a kel, hidden deep beneath this mountain. The markings on the edges are in a language we don't recognize."
"Bring it closer to me, Qahnaarin. My eyes, my miin, do not see as well in the light from Magnus."
Torina complied. Using a foothold on rocks nearby to lift the elder scroll closer to Durnehviir's good eye, she held it as still as she could. Her arms trembled a bit from the cold air. That, and the health potion she sipped from that morning after breakfast made her muscles sing with the extra regenerative powers. Though they hadn't expected trouble in Darkfall, Torina reasoned it never hurt to be prepared. She had several other potions on her just in case.
"These words do not look familiar to me. Dahmaan, I have been trapped in the Soul Cairn for many eras. Tiid. Time runs away with me."
Even as he spoke, his body started to fade away back to his prison. Torina was disappointed but not surprised. She stepped back from the dragon so he could push away from the ground and allow his wings to stretch and soak in light from the sun for a moment or two before he faded completely.
"If Dexion and Sorine have already traveled back to the Rift," Serana started to say once the dragon disappeared, "I promise to return here first."
"Thank you. Dexion is likely our best resource for the scroll, and Sorine's fascination with ancient technology could prove useful with this strange soul-gem like paragon. Not that I expect her to leave Dexion alone at any time, given his health. Give my best to your mother," Torina said. In a moment of sentiment she grasped her friend's unnaturally cold hand and squeezed. "I'll continue to research with Gelebor. He might have more information on the theory regarding the Dwemer. I'd appreciate your help if it takes us back to Blackreach."
Serana pulled a face at the mention of the underground city, but recovered swiftly. "Of course. I plan to see this through to the end, like all of our other adventures."
"I appreciate it, my friend," Torina said.
The vampire looked up to the sky to note the sun falling quickly. She took a breath of relief. Traveling under it would only hinder her progress. That, and several days in the Vale meant her time to feed was nearing.
With a playful smile she looked back to her friend, still standing near the mouth of the cave. "I may pay the Thalmor Embassy a visit for a drink or two."
"You'd better not!" Torina called after her. Though she knew she was likely teasing, the cold stone of worry got a little heavier at the suggestion. "You'll need to save some for me if you do, anyway."
Both of them knew she would likely target Forsworn wandering in the region, or bandits, and avoid larger settlements altogether on her way back to Castle Volkihar. Torina watched her until she couldn't make out her form in the brush any longer. Rubbing her arms to work out some of the chill still lingering there, she turned back into Darkfall Cave and made her way to the chantry.
Gelebor looked up from his work when Torina re-entered the citadel. She moved with her head down and arms crossed warming herself and didn't seem to be aware of her surroundings. Watching her, he felt the desire to smooth the creases of worry on her dark brow.
"Are you comfortable, Torina?" he asked. She startled at the sound of his voice, which worried him further. The Dragonborn did not easily startle in his experience. "You appear cold. Here, I've a fire in the hearth but can bring it up further for you."
At the suggestion, Torina's hands fell away from her arms and she set her jaw. "I'll be fine. I left my heavier cloak in the room. I'll return once I have it."
Without a stronger argument, he simply nodded and watched her move through the room to the next without another comment. Gelebor returned to the charts and blueprints spread out before him and tried to push his confusing feelings for the Dunmer out of his mind. He wasn't successful.
Thank you to everyone reading this and commenting! Your insight has definitely shaped the story. -d9