Azriel stood over the red-haired Nord, shaking in rage as she looked down at him. The man had suffered greatly from his injuries. His left arm and legs had been ripped off. His throat and heart had been torn out. Black blood was around what was left of his head near his mouth and eye, Calder had hemorrhaged before being ripped limb from limb.

"He died near your home…" Irileth looked at her with remorse. "He fell in battle fulfilling his duty to protect you."

Azriel closed her eyes and wordlessly covered him with the shroud. Serana took her hand and waited for Azriel to calm herself from her fury. Brill had been drained, but Calder's desecration had been very personal. His death was meant to send a message to her. She had wanted to protect him, not have his life end in such a terrible way.

Azriel opened her eyes slowly and weaved her fingers into Serana's. She nodded slightly to Andurs in thanks. The old Priest bowed his head to her. "I am very sorry for your loss, Thane Azriel."

Irileth watch the two of them for a moment. "Azriel…?"

Azriel pulled herself from the corpse and looked at the Dunmer.

"Wherever this dark road takes you, I pray Azura protects and guides you." The woman mumbled softly.

Azriel shook her hair into her face. That was probably the nicest thing she's ever said to me. "Uh… thanks, Irileth. I think we're going to need all the help we can get."

Azriel had seen enough to know they needed to keep moving. The vampires wouldn't stop until they had Serana and her scroll. No place was safe, not even Whiterun as heavily armed as it was. They didn't stop walking until Azriel slammed the door shut to Breezehome. She leaned against the door, trying to sort out what needed to be done.

"Azriel, I'm sorry about your Housecarl." Serana said softly. "But, you can't…"

"I can't what, Serana? Can't blame myself?" Azriel bit back, she reached for her amulet forgetting it was gone.

Serana watched her quietly for a moment. "Azriel, it wasn't your fault. That soldier was wrong to blame you. They expect you to fix everything that's broken. It's not your responsibility to constantly save them."

Azriel rubbed the back of her head, walking to the table in the back. She leaned over it, resting her hands on the table top. "I don't blame myself, Serana. I know it wouldn't have mattered where I was. I couldn't change what's happened. But, it is my responsibility to help them. I have to help them. I don't have a choice in this..." She mumbled to herself, picking up her ruck sack.

Serana watched her, realizing her intentions. "Oh no you don't. Put that down!"

Azriel looked up surprised. "We need to leave. It's not safe here for you. Your Father's vampires know we're here. We need to find that Moth Priest and figure out how to stop him."

Serana walked to her and pulled the bag from her hand, throwing it on the table. "You need to sleep, Azriel. I'm not taking 'no' for an answer. When you're rested and fed, then we'll leave."

"We need to go, Serana. I can eat and sleep later. It's you I'm worried about!"

Serana sighed. "It's daylight, Azriel. They won't attack right now and they can't."

Azriel reached for the bag again, but Serana caught her hand. "You're not safe here Serana. They know we're here. We need to get out of Whiterun and get back on the road."

"Azriel, if my Father sends his goons out, they will eventually find what they are looking for. They always do… You need to rest!"

"And that is exactly why we need to leave!" Azriel yelled back at her.

Serana narrowed her eyes and a dangerous look crossed her face. "Fine, I you won't listen to me, we'll do this the hard way."

Before Azriel could respond, Serana grabbed her and flipped her over her shoulder.

"Serana, put me down!" Azriel tried to squirm out of her grasp halfheartedly.

Serana chortled as she carried her up the stairs. "I'll put you down, alright… in bed."

"I thought you wanted me to sleep?" Azriel said with a laugh.

"I know a way to get you to sleep..." Serana smirked clutching her tighter as she carried her up the stairs.

Aela rolled her shoulders as she walked. She switched her shield to her other hand.

She'd left Ivarstead just after daybreak six hours ago. She had the same feeling of being watched as she had the previous day on her hike down the mountain. This time she found herself more than once looking over her shoulder to see if someone was following her.

She treaded past a group of disgruntled Stormcloaks guarding the roadway. Their eyes followed her like the others in previous groups had. The small camps of guards were in the middle of switching shifts. She had heard at the inn that raids were stalling the Stormcloaks' advancement. Road guards had been instituted as a preventative measure for the raids.

Aela watched them warily. There was something about this group that was unsettling.

She had already heard their animated and mumbled comments. Some of the men were watching her with a little too much interest for her liking.

"Hail, Companion." A solider called out tauntingly.

A few of the soldiers snickered.

Aela kept walking without acknowledging the greeting.

A man stood and lumbered onto the road in front of her. "You're one of the Companions, Aela the Huntress… right?"

Aela silently cursed.

"I am." She kept her voice even as she spoke.

The man leered at her. "Well, well, boys. Today's our lucky day…"

Aela's hand found her dagger as she gripped her shield tighter.

The soldier narrowed his eyes at her as the rest surrounded her from behind. "Well, bitch. Looks like it's time for you to find out what happenes to traitors to our kind. We're going to make an example out of you."

The man drew his greatsword with a laugh. His eyes grew wide suddenly as a shadow blotted out the morning sun.

The golden dragon soared over her, snatching the soldier up in its jaws. In a snap of its maw, it devoured him whole.

The Stormcloaks scattered when the dragon circled around for its next attack. An archer pulled his bow, taking aim at the dragon.

Aela saw the golden dragon look from her to the Stormcloaks.

"YOL TOOR SHUL!"

Aela dove off the road as the flames burned at men around her. She rolled to her feet dropping her dagger and shield. Aela pulled her bow, aiming for the archer. The golden dragon pirouetted gracefully in the air, coming straight down at the men.

"GAAN LAH HAAS!"

The tremendous shout collided with four of the soldiers, including the archer, breaking his aim.

Aela's arrow found its mark through archer's throat. She pulled back another arrow, letting it fly towards a soldier as he ran. The arrow found a new home in his spine.

Aela dropped to her knees notching another arrow in place. She spun around and the dragon was inches from her arrow tip.

"Stay your weapon, Kendov."

"What do you want, Saaraadgraat?" Aela watched him suspiciously, her bow still taut.

The dragon slowly turned his head, his golden eye fixed on her silver ones. "I have watched you with the Old One, Kendov."

Aela didn't trust him. "That doesn't tell me what you want, Saaraadgraat."

"Krosis, youngling. I know you wish to help my Thuri. In turn, I wish to help you."

Aela lowered her bow and released the tension on the string. "Why do you want to help me?"

"The Old One has only told what he wishes you to know. He speaks of the Dovahkiin's path, but does not give you the truth. Ahziial is Thur, not the Old One. I have sworn my allegiance to her and by my honor, I wish to aid you."

Aela put her bow away. "What is the dark path he speaks of? I can't imagine Azriel becoming evil…"

Saaraadgraat chuckled deeply. "Evil is a matter of perspective, Kendov. The Dov do not have the same… moral sense as the joor." He inhaled her scent. "No, Truth is power found in strength of our Thu'um. Do you think if the Dovahkiin wished to rule, the Old One would stand in her way?"

Aela watched him for a moment, absorbing his words. "Paarthurnax is frightened of her?"

"Geh. She has defeated the eldest. She is Thur." The dragon answered simply.

"You're telling me Paarthurnax thinks that Azriel travels a path to destroy him?" Aela couldn't help the skepticism in her voice.

A deep rumbling sound emanated from the dragon. "Dovahkiin will eventually succumb to her desire. She is like us, though our Father did not grant her our form. Ahziial will rule… both joor and dov alike."

Aela remembered their trip to Ivarstead. Azriel's anger had gotten the best of her in the carriage. They had talked about exactly the same thing and Azriel's fears. Azriel has been so angry…

The dragon was patiently quiet as she explored her memories.

"That doesn't make sense, Azriel… damnit… Ahziial would never harm Paarthurnax." But, she said she could feel her anger rise around him… Her hate…

"Are you so sure?"

"I don't believe she would." Aela wanted answers, but their conversation was leading to more questions.

"Think, Kendov. The dragon within Ahziial demands she rule. It is our nature to conquer, Truth is found through Power. Paarthurnax does not tell you of our nature because you are joor. You cannot understand it."

Aela thought about everything Paarthurnax had said. "Was there another like Azriel… a child of Akatosh, born mortal?"

"It is forbidden for us to speak of." His golden eye gleamed.

Aela looked at him for a moment. "Paarthurnax wouldn't answer me either."

The dragon watched her closely, as if waiting for her to answer her own question.

Aela thought harder about their carriage ride. Azriel had told her about her feelings of anger and her own personal fears. Azriel had progressively become angrier over time, she remembered thinking about it before. Each dragon they had killed, Azriel seemed to be slipping away and becoming more aggressive. More like the dragons she fought against. She remembered the look on Azriel's face when she had talked about reading an Elder Scroll.

After Alduin, she almost never rested. She read constantly or would disappear. Kodlak had said to give her space and some time to herself. Then, when Kodlak had been cleansed, she seemed to change more. Like she had been trying to distance herself from people she cared about.

"He fears Ahziial will become like Alduin. That she may go as far as killing dragons to take their souls that she has allied herself with…" Aela paused, her thoughts raced. "…their knowledge would become her power. Or that she would command them and become worse than Alduin ever was. That's why he declared himself Overlord. He wanted to remove the temptation from her, but he's only pissed her off."

The dragon bowed his head. "Knowledge is power, Kendov. Even this brief glimpse, gives you understanding. This is truth and in it you will find what you seek."

How many times had she entered old ruins with her? Azriel would study everything from the carvings to the Draugr.

"Ahziial has spent time in old Nordic ruins and searches ancient tomes. She's summoned Dremora before in my presence when we've fought together in the past. She's never told me what she was searching for, I figured it was a personal quest to understand being Dragonborn. But, it seems like more… Like she's looking for something else at the same time."

Aela furrowed her brow in thought. She kicked the thought around in her head some more. Azriel is a powerful mage, the youngest Arch Mage in decades… Aela reflected silently for a few minutes. Azriel is constantly reading books or old scrolls. She has those odd stones she keeps in her house. She hunts the ancient walls and through old tombs. What is she looking for?

Aela looked back to the dragon and searched his eye for an answer.

"She does not understand what she already possesses." Saaraadgraat answered. "Her gifts are far greater than Talos himself held in life. Yet, it is not enough to be gifted. One must become the master of their power and the master of themself. This is what you must help her with."

Aela sighed and looked around as she sat on the ground. "Other dragons attack her as a challenge, don't they? They want to rule."

Saaraadgraat settled himself down next to her. "That is how she won my mir. Her strength humbled me when I challenged her."

"She's good at that." Aela smirked.

They sat wordlessly together for several minutes before Aela finally spoke again. "So how do you propose to help me, Saaraadgraat?"

"I have grown tired of the thin air of the Old One's strunmah." He sniffed the air. "I shall speed your journey and take you to the Dovahkiin. But first, we shall hunt together." The dragon's tongue flicked from its mouth.

Aela's ears perked up at the notion of a hunt. "That is the best idea I've heard in a while."

The dragon bowed its head down. "Come, young one. It is time you learned to hunt as the Dov."

Serana watched patiently as Azriel inhaled three large portions of stew and nearly choked on a loaf of bread she tried to ram down her throat whole. She let her hearing search the mortals' conversations as Azriel wolfed down her food. The tavern was bustling with people. Many of them were talking about the storm or the attack that occurred. Some were even talking about Azriel and the earthquake.

"Can I get you anything else?" Saadia asked cheerfully.

Azriel wiped her mouth and looked at Serana. "Want anything?"

Serana smiled under her hood. "More wine, please."

"And a couple apple pies if you don't mind, Saadia." Azriel added.

The Redguard smiled at them. "Coming right up."

Serana waited for the woman to walk away, looking between Saadia and Azriel.

Azriel grabbed the cheese wedge in front of her and ripped a piece of bread off.

"Is their skin always so dark?" She kept her question casual.

Azriel stared at her, chewing slowly. She took a drink and cleared her throat. "Yeah, Hammerfell is for the most part desert."

"Their skin is different from yours. Yours is much lighter, more golden."

We're still on this subject? "I'm Nibenean, I'm not a Redguard." Azriel could feel her irritation at Serana's questions. Innocent or not it pissed her off.

Serana furrowed her brow. "Does it bother you that I asked?"

"A little." Azriel took another drink.

"Why?"

Azriel set down her goblet and picked up her bread. "Because, I hate the way I look, Serana."

Serana laughed softly as Azriel took a bite. "Why, Azriel? You're beautiful."

Azriel choked on the bite she was swallowing.

"The fuck I am. I'm taller than the Nords here, which is abnormal for an Imperial. I have dirty brown skin that's covered in scars. My hair is the color of a sabre cat that's been rolling around in clay. I always look dirty, especially compared to you."

Serana set her gloved hands on the table and leaned forward. Well that explains a lot… "You tell me to have confidence in myself…"

"That's totally different." Azriel growled back at her, taking another bite of bread.

Serana's eyes burned under her hood. "I think you're beautiful."

Azriel blushed deeply at her compliment and swallowed her bread. "I'm glad you think so."

Serana smirked relieved she finally took a compliment. "I have a question for you. Why did you call me Lady Serana? You don't have to introduce me like that… Actually, I prefer you didn't. I've never been one for titles."

Azriel flashed her a grin. "Do you prefer Princess? It does have a nice ring to it."

Serana laughed. "Ugh. No, smartass, I don't. I always hated that."

Azriel bowed her head. "Very well, Princess Serana."

Serana picked up the bread and threw it at her.

Azriel ducked with a laugh. "I wanted the Jarl to recognize you for being someone with a background. I didn't want him to see you as some barbaric animal. Then again, he hasn't bedded you… Princess."

Serana glared at her playfully, but could feel the blush on her cheeks. "I'm warning you… Empress."

Azriel chuckled darkly. "Threatening me with a good time is just going to bite you in the…"

Saadia made her way back to the table with their wine and pies. "Here you go, Azriel."

"Thanks, Saadia." Azriel cleared her throat and pulled out a few gold coins, handing them to her.

Azriel smiled, picking up the steaming pie and Saadia sauntered off.

Serana watched her take a bite of it and chew happily. She was glad the woman had finally rested and was eating a decent meal. "You were saying?"

The door to the tavern opened and a group of soldiers entered. The midday breeze blew the faint smell of snow and stale body odor through the tavern.

Azriel smiled as she chewed. "I'd rather show you…"

Serana watched Azriel's face change as she took another bite and looked at the doorway.

The tall Nord looked over at them with a scowl, his eyes locked on Azriel's. "Milk drinker…"

Azriel ignored him, but the man wasn't finished. "You should be fighting on our side, Dragonborn."

"Go away, Idolaf. Can't you see I'm with someone? You're ruining my romantic meal."

Idolaf eyes roamed Serana then back to Azriel. "She lacks taste in her choice of company."

"If that were the case, she'd be with you." Azriel took another bite of the pie, but it had lost its appeal. She set the pie down and brushed her hands as he approached their table.

"I'd be very careful if I were you, Dragonborn."

"Why?" Azriel smirked at him and rose from her seat. "Okay seriously, what the fuck are you going to threaten me with?"

The man stared at her for a moment at a loss for words.

"That's what I thought." She looked at her food, disgusted, and held out her hand to Serana. "Come on, Serana. We can't hang out where the skeevers do."

As Serana stood, Azriel could see her smile. It made her shiver wondering what she was smiling about.

Serana threaded her fingers through Azriel's and looked at the man, allowing him to see her eyes.

"No wonder why Azriel spends so much time with Odahviing!" She yelled over the wind.

Aela was ecstatic. Hunting with a dragon was absolutely the most amazing thing she had ever done. It had taken her a few tries to get her timing right, but together they had downed a herd of deer.

Aela had enjoyed her cuts from the deer and Saaraadgraat had finished off the herd. It had taken them a couple of hours to eat and rest, but their conversation had been interesting.

The wind blew through her long scarlet hair as they flew over the planes. "How do you know where Azriel is?"

She could feel the rumbling in the dragon as he chuckled at her question. "I feel her, Kendov. She is the light of the moons in the darkness. Her soul is strong and our bond leads me to her. I will always know where she is."

Aela watched the grasslands whip by. "Azriel has talked about her bond with Odahviing before. Can the Dov form bonds with all mortals?

The golden dragon stretched his wings forward slowing them down, and then lifted them to land.

When they were on the ground, Aela jumped off. "Where is she?"

"She is not here, but Ahziial is not far." The dragon inhaled her scent deeply. "I wish to answer your question, Kendov."

Aela arched her eyebrow at the dragon. "You had to land to answer my question?"

"Geh. It is appropriate to do so." The dragon paused and sniffed the air. "In the time of your ancestors, the Dov ruled fiercely. The Dovah Haar were bound to us as servants. This was necessary to ensure Alduin's rule was absolute. But, there exists another way to bond."

"Cryptic, but go on."

"The Dovahkiin is not a joor like you. She is dovah with the body of a joor. Her dovah sos and dovah sil make her joor body stronger than yours or other joor. She has survived much because of it. The blood in her veins is the blood of our Father. But, a pact can be made with a joor, binding them to us giving them some of our strength though our sil."

Saaraadgraat turned his head so he could look at her. "I offer this to you, Kendov."

Aela crossed her arms watching him closely. "Why?"

"I have sought my own path, even under Alduin's tyranny. I enjoy my freedom under the Dovahkiin. The sky is mine to command, as is her wish. I simply desire to understand the joor from a different perspective, one that does not require oppression."

"Fine, what's the catch?" She could help but be suspicious of his reasons.

"This is not a pact made with a joor, Kendov. There is no catch as you say. I offer Grah-Zeymahzin."

Aela regarded him. "I'm sorry I don't understand what that means."

"It is a binding pact one joining our sille. It means 'battle brother honor' in your tongue."

Aela contemplated his offer. "Alright… but why me?"

The dragon chuckled. "I can sense your blessing and its strength now that I am no longer blinded by my own greed. It has taken much to overcome my own pride to be able to see what the Old One sees in you. In watching you, I have learned to overcome my selfish desires. This is why I chose to follow you."

The dragon leaned its head down and inhaled her scent. "I know in time you will come to understand our ways. You will be a force to be reckoned by your own strength. I sense you will be at the Dovahkiin's side as her mate. This is also something the Old One will not tell you in whole. Thus, I wish to remain with you, Kendov. I wish to learn from you and to fight with you, if you will allow me that honor."

Aela cleared her throat. Well that's… interesting.

The dragon fixed its eye on her once more. "Do you accept my offer?"

"Yes, but what do I have to do?"

Saaraadgraat lifted his head and inhaled deeply. He moved his back down closer to hers and exhaled a golden breath, letting it wash over Aela.

Aela's mind filled with thousands of images of dragons, animals, mountains, and the sky. The droning of endless battles filled her mind. The sounds collided in her ears, deafening her to the noises around her. Aela was drowning in thousands of years' worth of memories which collapsed into seconds, assailing her. Her blood felt as if it were boiling and her skin felt like fire as she transgressed though lifetimes of knowledge. She could feel the icy heat pressing into her body and the tethers of Saaraadgraat's soul coil around inside of her. The rush was maddening and invigorating at the same time. She felt like bursting from the incredible rush that pulsed through her.

In a few moments it was over, but she could barely stand. "By the gods, what was that?"

"It is our bond, young one. Let it fill you with my knowledge and strength."

Aela felt her body shaking as she tried to recover. The dragon nudged her with its head and she held on trying to steady herself.

It took several minutes for her to finally recover.

"Now, I shall teach you my name. Saar. Aad. Graat. Feel the words and know them, Kendov. I give you permission to call me when you are in need of me."

The resplendent glow surrounded her and Aela mumbled the words thoughtfully.

"Are you ready to continue on?" His intensity swept over her and she could feel his concern.

Aela cleared her throat still affected by what he had done. "Um yeah… Let's go. I really want to find Azriel."

Saaraadgraat chuckled bowing his head to her. "Come then, briinah."

Aela smiled weakly and climbed back on to the dragon.

They soared over the grasslands and Aela looked hard at the changes in the landscape. A new river had formed, spilling detritus over into a small flood plain.

She could feel the winds change, becoming colder as they sailed past Whiterun in the distance. The ground became rockier and Saaraadgraat lifted higher into the air. He flew over the thin tree line towards the tall pines of the Pale.

"Dovahkiin is near."

Aela searched the ground as they flew. The snowy trees obscured the landscape as they circled. The wolf howled a low warning in the back of Aela's mind. She traded her shield for her bow and notched an arrow. Her apprehension was building.

Saaraadgraat lifted higher as an arrow whizzed by them. Aela looked for the source of the shot.

Near an old grove of trees, Aela saw Azriel surrounded by Stormcloaks and fighting them furiously. "Saaraadgraat, there!"

Aela drew back on her bow string, watching the fight. She chose the worst threat she could find, a soldier with a warhammer running straight towards Azriel. Aela released her arrow.

The arrow that zipped by her ear surprised her so much Azriel stumbled. She had felt the dragon, but not the rider.

"KRII LUN AUS!" The dragon's roar ripped across the men Azriel was fighting, fracturing their armor and making it brittle.

Azriel spun gracefully, pirouetting around her swords and cutting through the Stormcloak armor as if it didn't exist. Her dragonbone blades arched in the air with a hum. She ended the move with a flourish, driving the point of her left sword through a man's eye. She moved her body to carry the movement through with a half spin and decapitating a woman with her right.

A beast of a man ran towards Azriel after she cut down the second wave of soldiers. His battle axe was high over his head, poised for the strike. She quickly moved to meet him as three more arrows pierced the Stormcloak officer's leg and arm, slowing him down. Azriel offered a silent prayer to Akatosh as she charged him.

Saaraadgraat cut a tight circle, seeing the hooded figure slip into the forest pursuing her prey. He didn't concern himself with the vampire, her quarry was doomed. He pulled high into the sky and dove toward the roadside again.

How many of these fuckers are there? Aela nearly dropped her bow at how fast the dragon executed his move. Then she saw the large encampment by the multiple fires that burned brightly. Fuck me! Azriel is fighting an entire camp.

The golden dragon dropped from the sky, routing the Stormcloaks that raced toward Azriel.

"YOL!"

The flames burst over the road, blasting the burly officer and two others that charged against Azriel at his side. Azriel switched tactics, embedding her swords in the snow flipping over them. She added her own fire to the dragon's, incinerating the men.

Serana raced through the woods after the two fleeting men. She could hear the roar of the dragon in the distance. She couldn't concern herself with that. The two messengers needed to be stopped. She didn't doubt for a second if they got away, they'd warn others of their presence and then there'd be an army hunting them down.

She picked up speed, running past the trees and rocks in a blur. She saw the first man, his light weight leather armor would offer no real protection to him. Serana dodged and weaved her way through the branches, until she was on top of him. She grabbed him from behind, skidding to a halt and wrapped her arm around his neck, snapping it. She dropped him to the ground and tore after the other man crashing through the forest.

"Get lower!" Aela yelled as the dragon circled again, her hair whipped violently in the wind. "I'm getting off!"

Saaraadgraat swooped lower, dipping towards the road. Aela watched for a spot to jump. She spotted a small drift against a bank. "Saaraadgraat, that pile of snow, get me closer!"

The dragon grazed the ground with his wings extended. The snow on the ground twirled up and out in his massive wake as Aela jumped. She hit the snow bank hard and fast, rolling a long distance and burning off the energy of the impact. She scrambled to her feet, shaking off the dizziness and notched an arrow.

Azriel had reclaimed her swords and was fighting four Stormcloaks at once. The wolf in her mind howled for release. She could hear more coming, their shouts were getting closer. The din of the battle raged and the force of the Stormcloak assault was increasing.

"GAAN LAH HAAS!" Saaraadgraat's shout reverberated through the trees, shaking the snow and ice from the branches. The wave smashed into two of the Stormcloaks and the snow swirled like a blizzard around the group fighting, disorienting all of them.

Azriel cursed trying to see the men around her when a blast of icy wind rushed by her, driving more snow over top of the clashing mortals. Out of nowhere, Azriel saw the dragon's golden head appear through the snow and snatch a screaming soldier in is maw then disappeared again.

Azriel muttered to the wind, her swords poised in defense. A heated gale swirled around her, turning the small blizzard to vapor. Azriel could hear the rumble of the dragon behind her as it built to a ferocious roar. Her face slid into an evil smile as the three remaining Stormcloaks' attention unanimously was pulled to the Dragonborn, backed by the fierce dragon behind her. Azriel lifted her swords with a roar and charged.

Serana ran after the man, he was slowing himself down by zigzagging in front of her. Her ice spikes whistled past him uselessly because of his erratic path. Fuck This! Serana let the frost die in her hand and focused on the newly formed spark. The old Nordic ruin loomed on her right up ahead. She could feel the ancient magic of the place and summoned the dead to rise in front of them.

The man veered towards the ancient ruins hoping to shake her, instead falling into her trap. The first skeleton rose in front of him and the man slid past it.

The next three were far luckier. Their boney fingers grabbed him as he tried to struggle to his feet on the thick ice.

Serana could hear their wails as they locked down on him and she willed them to restrain him, not kill.

Aela let the arrow fly, catching the woman she targeted through the shoulder. The Stormcloak's sword fell from her hand as she screamed in pain and Azriel delivered the blow, forever silencing her.

Azriel swung at the man, his sword blocking hers. She spun around, catching him with her foot to his chest and drove him backwards. He stumbled as an arrow pierced his heart and the lumbering dragon bore down on him.

Saaraadgraat grasped the man in his jaws, shaking him viciously and throwing him aside.

Azriel ran past him in pursuit of the last Stormcloak as he turned to escape. Aela let another arrow loose from her string, striking him in his thigh.

Azriel ran to the man as he tried to rise and stomped him down into the snow. "Where do you think you're going, pig?"

"Sovngarde. But, you will rot forever in the Void, you lying whore."

Azriel spun the sword in her hand and drove it downward into the base of his skull severing his spine. "Not today, fuck face."

She took a few deep breaths and looked around. Her eyes lingered on the bodies of the dead Stormcloaks for a moment. Then she looked up at the golden dragon and smirked. Movement on the road caught her attention and she looked over to the scarlet hair Nord that let her bow down gently. A slow smile crept across Azriel's face as she stared at Aela.

Aela cleared her throat. Gods she's beautiful covered in blood... "Long time no see, stranger."

The smile on Azriel's face blossomed as she pulled her sword free. "Drem. Yol. Lok. Aela."

The sounds of crunching in the snow caught both of their attention and Aela notched another arrow. She pulled the string taut as the vampire stepped onto the roadway carrying the body of a Stormcloak over her shoulder.

Aela let the string snap just as Azriel yelled for her to stop.

Serana heard the arrow as it flew and Azriel's yell. Her hand automatically rose to meet it.

Aela notched another arrow as the vampire's hand snatched the first from the air.

"Aela, stop!" Azriel screamed in a dead run for her.

But, Aela's attention was on the new threat. The powerful vampire was holding the arrow in her snow white hand, glaring at her. Aela let the bow fall from her hand as she took a step forward and broke into a run towards it.

Serana looked at the arrow in her hand then to the running woman who fired it. She bared her fangs with a hiss. Serana snapped the arrow head off with her thumb as the werewolf raced towards her, the Nord transforming as she ran.

AELA RETURNS! May the games begin!

I was really excited about this chapter and it was a lot of fun to write. I hope you enjoyed it!