Azriel had calculated the trek along the beach to take two days in total. If they traveled from where they'd left the girls, to the College without more interruptions they could be there by morning. They had already passed one day and night. The dragon had slowed them down. But, the rapid pace they had set to make up for lost time, meant they could be at the College sometime late into the night. They had passed most of the day without any disturbances, but uneasiness hung around them as they walked. Each had looked over their shoulder on more than one occasion and Azriel was fidgeting more often.
Aela yawned and Azriel echoed it.
Serana watched them both quietly from her periphery. Azriel's fleeting playfulness had faded the instant they had left the dragon behind. Instead, a mute and brooding Dragonborn had taken her place. Azriel stared at the sand for the hours they had walked. She had noticed Aela had tried to initiate a conversation, but had given up realizing the Dragonborn wasn't paying attention.
Serana had watched Aela's concern grow throughout the day, along with her own. The segregation between herself and Azriel felt like an ever expanding chasm. Azriel's silence was maddening. The world around Serana seemed desolate without her warmth or her touch. It was driving Serana out of her mind and there was no feasible way for her to repair the damage she had caused without Aela standing witness.
"There's a cave about a quarter of a mile from here. It's not much, but we could get some rest there." Azriel muttered.
Her slurred speech was a reminder that Azriel hadn't slept nor eaten in far too long, which also made Serana worry.
Aela grumbled. "I have no desire to have my back to another wall. Let's make camp here. The forest is dense and the sea far enough away that the tide won't reach. The fog is rolling in so it will grant enough cover for us."
Serana looked at them. "I'm sick of caves. This place is fine."
They walked to a small group of rocks and Azriel dropped both bedrolls to the ground. She looked at Aela and watched her yawn again. "I'm going to gather some wood. I'll see if I can scare up a rabbit or two."
"I'll come with you." Aela stretched and pulled her bow.
Aela's own silent ruminating made her thoughts drift to the dragon's remarks. She was determined to get an answer from Azriel about the dragon's meaning.
Serana knit her brows together as the two trekked into the woods. Leaving Azriel alone with Aela wasn't something she wanted to do. Regardless of what had happened in the early morning between herself and Aela. Serana still didn't even know what it was, so she had chosen to forget about it. She still needed to find a way to speak to Azriel alone and clear the air with her. She didn't want to spend another day near Azriel with the heavy silence that separated them.
Serana quietly followed the two, skirting the trees. She watched Aela land two rabbits almost immediately. Azriel busied herself with gathering firewood for the camp. Neither of them spoke was they worked. Serana could see the growing agitation on the Nord's face.
"So, you going to tell me what you've been thinking about?" Aela stuffed the rabbits into her bag and walked to Azriel.
"There's nothing to talk about. I just want to hurry up and get to Winterhold." Azriel said quietly.
Aela growled. "Fine. Then maybe you can explain something to me."
Azriel's lack of an answer or attention infuriated the werewolf instantly.
Serana watched as Aela knocked the firewood from Azriel's arms. "What did that dragon mean, Azriel?"
Serana stepped closer, watching Azriel's face as she stared mutely at the wood on the ground.
"I asked you a question, Dragonborn." Aela stepped closer to Azriel, the resentment in her voice was unmistakable.
Azriel shifted listlessly, but kept her eyes on the ground. For a full minute no one moved or made a sound. Azriel finally cleared her throat, but remained quiet.
"You mated with that vampire, didn't you?" Aela's voice fell with disbelief.
Azriel crushed her eyes closed and her breathing became shallow. But, she didn't say a word.
"I heard your argument with her, Azriel. I didn't want to believe it…" Aela backed slowly away. "…I hoped that I was wrong."
"It doesn't matter." Azriel's answer was almost inaudible.
"To whom, Azriel? Because I know how I feel about you and you've pushed me away. We part ways for a short time and she just walks into your life. All the sudden you're mates?"
Serana watched Aela's fingers curl into fists.
"I told you, it doesn't matter." Azriel replied weakly.
Serana watched Azriel swallow before continuing. "She hates me and so do you… rightfully so. I fuck up everything I touch. I deserve her anger and yours."
"Why?! Why did you mate with her? At least tell me that!" Aela was in the clutches of her own fury.
Azriel cringed at her tone.
"It doesn't matter. Because to her, I'm nothing but a mistake." Azriel finally opened her eyes and looked at Aela. "I can feel your anger and I know I deserve it. I've spent so much time living in fear of my feelings and the repercussions if I were to…"
Aela's growl built to a furious bellow. "You're damn right you deserve it! I have done everything I could to show you that I care and you've done everything you could to push me away!"
"Is that what you think? After everything, Aela? Is that honestly what you think? I've done nothing but struggle with my feelings for you for ages. I can't fathom my world without you in it. That dragon specifically tried to kill you because it saw you as my mate. It won't end there! You remember Riften! That dragon would have killed you and I was trapped under that wall! I couldn't help you, just like today. If Serana wouldn't have been there…"
"I don't need protection, Azriel!"
For a moment the two stared at each other. Azriel's body felt like it was frozen and her throat felt like it was closing down. The hurt in Aela's silver eyes shone, colored in steel grey.
"Find someone who deserves you, Aela. I'm… I'm not it. I'm not good enough for you... either of you. I know that now and I'm sorry that all I do is hurt you."
Serana sat in shamed silence as Aela sulked away. She watched Azriel stare at the ground.
"I told you a long time ago that I'd only disappoint you. All I've ever been is a disappointment." Azriel mumbled to herself.
When Aela disappeared, Serana watched sadly as Azriel fell to the forest floor weeping. Cracks in Azriel's barrier let her emotions flood through and Serana felt the unbearable sadness that submerged Azriel. Serana observed Azriel draw her knees to her chest, hugging herself closely. The rawness was staggering as Azriel's trapped emotions bled from her.
The riveting force of chaos hit Serana, burying her in the avalanche as she felt Azriel finally give up.
Azriel buried her face into her knees, muffling the sounds of her cries. Her arms wrapped so tightly around her, she couldn't feel them or her legs. The hopelessness and crushing regret hit her hard. So many emotions were trapped within her, coupled with the endless starvation and insomnia, was shattering her. Azriel prayed that whatever answers the Moth Priest would have would be enough to lead Serana to finding a means to stopping her father on her own. Azriel would go no further with her. Aela could return to Jorrvaskr and Azriel could finally leave Skyrim. She had already planned to ask Tolfdir to write a letter of introduction for her to the Collage of Whispers. She had wanted to take time to study magic more fully and this would be her opportunity. After that, she didn't care where she went. Anything would be better than this…
Serana took one tentative step after another, her eyes never leaving Azriel.
Her own regret wore at Serana as she picked her way closer. The depth of Azriel's grief was pit that had opened in Serana's stomach and shook her. Azriel's misery wove around her and pressed on her, crushing her with the woman's despair.
Serana could feel the writhing in her own self and silent cries of the dragon as it called for her, begging for its mate. Serana's remorse grew abysmally, listening to the dragon's soundless call.
Serana knelt quietly in front of her, setting her hand gently over Azriel's. The electricity of the touch arched over their fingers and Serana could swear she saw it.
Their touch froze the air in Azriel's chest and she gasped for breath. She had been so engrossed with her own melancholy she never heard the vampire approach.
Serana pulled Azriel's hand to her lips and kissed her scared knuckle gently. "Forgive me."
Azriel unfolded herself bit by bit. Her hitched breath and red eyes a small testament of her real distress. The true evidence lay hidden in the nadir of her soul. "I hurt you, why would you ask for my forgiveness?"
Serana shook her head. "My jealousy and loneness shoved the one person away who has ever truly cared for me. I hurt you, unforgivably so…"
She pulled Azriel's hand to her chest, pausing only for a quick breath. "I have lived for thousands of years in darkness. You were my light in the eternal darkness. With an inexcusable deed, I ruined the best thing that has ever happened to me. I had no right to fault you for your life or your feelings. But, I did so anyway."
She pulled Azriel's fingers to her lips and stole a kiss along her fingertips. "My jealousy was a demon I threw at you and demanded that you deal with to suit me. It isn't fair of me to place my fears on you or to hold you captive the same way I was my entire life."
Serana squeezed her hand gently and moved closer to Azriel. "I have thrown everything you've done for me, in your face. Instead of accepting you, I've crippled you with my own selfishness and burdened you with my fears after learning about you. I have questioned your every action and thought. Then I have the audacity to demand more from you…"
Serana wiped away Azriel's tears. "I don't have any right to judge you, Azriel. Not with the things I've done. I should have been grateful that I had you in my life. Instead I pushed you away. I took you for granted and made your feelings out to be insignificant to my own."
Azriel opened her mouth, but Serana place her fingers gently to her lips. "Let me finish."
Azriel nodded.
Serana smiled sadly. "You're not a mistake, Azriel. I was so angry and I felt so betrayed. I couldn't understand that you could possibly hold any regard for anyone in your life besides me. But, it was fear not betrayal that I felt. I was afraid of losing you completely. It's unpardonable what I did to you. It's another thing I'm not proud of in my life. I can only ask that you forgive me, knowing I don't merit it. And I for damn sure don't deserve you."
Serana took a deep breath and exhaled trying to get the right words to come out. "But, I don't want to live my life without you in it. I can't deal with this impenetrable wall that you built. I can't take the silence or the loss of your touch. I can't be without you anymore."
Azriel curled her fingers around Serana's. She thought for a moment about how to word her response.
A slight click caught Azriel's attention.
I know that sound…
Azriel jumped to her feet and raked the forest for its source.
Serana stood next to her. "What is it?"
The stillness of the woods was resounding. Azriel could feel the apprehension in herself and Serana. The birds stopped singing and even the wind seemed quiet. "I'm not sure, but it sounded like…"
A soft thump and a shy whistle filled the air and Azriel pulled Serana into a tight hug. Azriel used her body as a shield to cover her as the silver bolt pierced Azriel's back directly where Serana's unprotected heart was a moment before.
The sharp intake of breath pulled Serana's attention to Azriel's contorting face. Azriel pushed into Serana, pulling her into a kiss. A second thump and whistle whispered through the forest. The escaped bolt found its home in Azriel's kidney.
The burn of the silver stung the werewolf as she pushed Serana backwards with tears running down her face. "Run! Please!" Serana stared at Azriel's face as the wolf snarled at her. "Go!"
Fur erupted over Azriel's body. The sound of her bones breaking and realigning covered the whiz of the third bolt that struck her in the right shoulder.
Serana's eyes went wide as the large wolf in front of her yelped. Azriel turned and Serana inhaled sharply seeing the silver imbedded in her body.
Aela spun towards the woods, hearing the distressed yowl of the wolf. She ran the width of the beach, leaping over a pile of drift wood and transformed in the air. Her paws collided with the ground, pushing her forward.
Aela's ears pricked up, listening to the sounds of a fight deep in the forest trying to decipher the direction through the echoes. She switched directions twice, howling in frustration. A second ferocious snarl pierced the woods and Aela dashed towards the sounds.
Aela ran hard, her legs pushing her off of trees and over obstacles. She could hear the men's voices as she charged through the underbrush, higher up in the woodlands. Her mind raced in tandem with her wolf's thoughts. Azriel's yips of pain and furious snarls were countered by the angry howls of the men on the low crest above her.
Aela sprinted to the narrow path leading up, hoping she wasn't too late. The electricity in the air made her hair rise as Serana's angry hiss followed the crack of lightning. Aela leapt to the outcrop, scrambling upward. She jumped from the ledge to the trees, pushing off the large pine's trunk and launching herself to the crest.
Serana lifted the Dawnguard from his feet, ripping open his throat with her fangs. She drank deeply then threw the hemorrhaging man over the ridge. Aela soared over her, landing on top of the large Orc that emerged from the brush behind Serana with his axe. Aela slapped her claws across the man, tearing his armor and chest to pieces. She buried her snout into his chest, tearing the Orc's heart from his body, devouring it.
Serana dove at a third man, her dagger arched through the air with a sinister hum. Her blade sliced across his neck with such force, she twisted him around. Serana grabbed the man by his helmet, snapping his neck.
Azriel's paw swiped through the trees at the last man. Her swipes were countered by his Axe as he attempted to deflect her, keeping her trapped in the willowy branches.
Aela bellowed, rushing at the small natural cage from the other side. The smell of silver and blood filled her nostrils and her wolf barked with frustration.
Azriel's paw crashed through the branches of the small trees. The man's shield clashed against her wrist, driving her arm in between the broken branches and wedging it there. He brought his silver axe down hard on her shoulder and struck into the bone, partially severing her arm.
Azriel shrieked in agony and her wolf form faded. The man grabbed the crossbow from his back and fired a single bolt into Azriel's chest as she hung trapped in the trees.
Aela caught the man's arm and ripped him through the branches. She slammed his body on to the ground, growling angrily.
"Aela, wait!" Serana caught the werewolf's arm.
Serana didn't wait for a response from the wolf. "How many of you are there from here to Winterhold?"
"Fuck yourself, Bloodsucker."
Aela bit the man's hand, crushing it in her jaws.
"She'll rip it off slowly! Now answer me. How many of you are there?"
"Just… us." The man's breath caught as he fought against the pain. "The rest are on their way back to the Fort Dawnguard."
"That doesn't make sense, why are they leaving?" Serana glanced at Aela and Aela snapped the bones in his lower arm.
"Gods stop! The fort was attacked by vampires. They tortured the others and killed Isran…"
"Is that everything? She's more impatient than I am." Serana watched as Aela's drooling maw hover over his neck.
"We thought it was the Dragonborn that killed them. She was spotted near there, but Florentius went crazy. He said she was protected then he started talking crazy at that old Silver-Hand fort. So we kicked him out."
Aela snarled then gave a low growl.
"Define crazy… What did this Florentius person say?" Serana asked quickly.
Azriel's whimpers caught Serana's attention. The three bolts in her back bled profusely, her half severed arm was still wedged in place, hemorrhage freely.
"He said she was the daughter of Akatosh and Arkay said she was protected by the Gods themselves. The man finally lost his mind!"
Azriel's knees buckled and her body twisted to the side. Serana saw Aela's eyes go wide at the sight of the silver bolts lodged in her body.
"She is the daughter of Akatosh." Serana growled at the man.
The man's eyes widened in momentary disbelief and then he let out a choked laugh. "Doesn't matter now, she's as good as dead with all that silver in her. She'll be with him soon enough."
Serana glowered at the man. "You can kill him now."
Aela snapped her jaws around his neck, crushing it and snapping his spine with a single shake.
Serana moved fast to Azriel's side. She cautiously lifted Azriel's unconscious body, taking care not to move any of the bolts.
Aela let her wolf's powerful body melt away and rushed to assist her. She careful lifted Azriel's partially severed arm from the branches and held it as Serana carefully laid Azriel on her side. She mentally tallied the number of bolts in her body and let out a panicked breath.
Azriel's body was riddled with silver. Three bolts shined from her back. The shafts erupted from her torso and limbs. A bolt pierced her neck near her collar bone, narrowly missing her jugular vein. Another impaled the palm of her left hand. One had imbedded itself in her chest where the dragon had torn her armor. One of the bolts was lodged in her stomach at a funny angle. The last was directly over her heart.
Aela set to work quickly. "The poison is already spreading. We need to get these bolts out before the fever starts." She ripped open Azriel's ruck sack searching for bandages and potions. "You need to fix her arm." She threw a spare shirt at Serana.
"Stop the blood flow and then force her to drink this." She chucked the small red vial at Serana.
They moved quickly, working synchronously to patch Azriel's shoulder and remove the bolts.
Aela's hands burned from touching the silver, but she never stoped working or showed any pain.
Serana finished bandaging Azriel's arm and gave her the potion. "Now what do I do?"
"Can you make fire or heat?" Aela asked holding up her dagger in her bloodied hands looking down at the last bolt.
Serana looked down at the bolt as well, her skin crawling.
"You mean to cauterize her wounds?"
"I do." Aela placed her hand on Azriel's chest and her other on the bolt. The bolt was definitely wedged and Aela felt it through her armor.
"She may have lucked out. I don't think this one is in her chest. Quickly, undo her buckles. I'll hold the bolt, you lift the armor. If it breaks her skin, stop."
Serana nodded and quickly undid the fastenings. She lifted slowly, feeling for the bolt and then pulled Azriel's chest plate free. Aela looked closely, noticing a small square sewn into the doe skin. She looked up questioningly to Serana who simply shrugged.
Aela ripped the tunic free of Azriel's body. "Look at her wounds… the flesh puckers around silver. The silver fragments are poisonous and we need to cut them out."
Serana swallowed looking at the five holes in Azriel's chest and the three in her back.
"She will lose a lot of blood."
"It's better than death. We must be quick, the fever will set in soon." Aela was already cutting the contaminated flesh from her wounds. "This will be worse than the last time…"
"What happened the last time?" Serana reached out heating the blade with her touch.
Aela didn't spare her a glance as she worked. "She saved our Shield-Brother's life. By the time he got her back, the fever had already set in."
"Is the fever bad?" Serana asked as Aela wiped the blade.
"It is. It dredges every nightmare and every horror from the depths of your mind. You recognize nothing as you fight for your life against every terror. The stronger the wolf, the more terrible the effects... the closer you come to death while living in your nightmares."
Aela wiped her brow, looking up at Serana she could see the worry that painted her expression. For a moment Aela forgot her dislike of the vampire with her own concern. "She's strong, Serana. Don't give up on her yet."
Aela finished her work on Azriel's wounds and gathered their things in Azriel's ruck sack. "Hurry, we must find shelter before it's too late."
"What about that cave?" Serana asked standing.
"Good enough. Try to keep up." Aela rose taking the form of the wolf and pulling Azriel onto her back.
Amphilochus let his grin spread, looking at the cave entrance. The Dragonborn's blood smelled like a wildfire. He stroked his sister's hair as he let the pieces of his plan snap into place.
Alecto let her legs swing freely like a child. She tittered under his affectionate touch and scooted closer on the branch towards him. She rested her head on his chest as he wordlessly formed his plan.
"It seems our dear young hero has a little booboo." He mumbled to himself amused. "Pity. I was looking forward to killing her slowly. Perhaps these Dawnguard can be useful to our Lord after all."
The sounds of Azriel's screams reached his ears and he kissed his sister's hair. He let his arm drop and puller her closer, holding her against him.
Alecto fidgeted with the amulet around his wrist. The white metal fascinated her and she flicked the amulet of Akatosh with her finger as it dangled from the chain.
"I take it you like the shiny necklace?" His voice was silky and sweet as he purred out the words. He felt her nod against his chest.
"It's amazing what people discard in their old burned clothing." He ran his fingers over the stitching in Alecto's vampire armor. He wondered if Serana had forgotten about the necklace he had found in her pocket.
"It is an interesting trinket. I was wondering if Lady Serana has converted her religious affiliations. But, after that beautiful gem of knowledge in the woods… I can see why she'd have such a lovely piece of jewelry." He chuckled softly.
Finding out the Dragonborn was the daughter of a god had been astounding. Lord Harkon had asked for the Dragonborn as well, but people tended to die when they put up a fight. Taking the Dragonborn back to the castle now seemed like a better idea. His Lord would be more pleased with the return of his troublesome daughter and her young demi-god lover.
Amphilochus sniffed the air. There weren't any other mortals nearby and the beach was deserted save for the five of them.
His fingers worked their way through the knots binding his sister's armor to her body. The effects of silver on a werewolf were something he was very familiar with. He'd used silver many times in the past to torture his weakling cousins. But, the Dragonborn was different and so was the other wolf that traveled with Lady Serana. He frowned slightly, undoing another knot. The Dragonborn was incredibly strong and the other wolf was a nuisance.
They would wait until the silver fever passed, she'd be incapacitated and easier to manage. If the Dragonborn lived through it, all the better, if not it didn't bother him. The Nord they'd just needed to kill.
"Now we wait, Alecto. The Dragonborn will be difficult to deal with until the fever has passed. Once her fever has passed we will strike."
Thanks for reading and thank you so much for all the feed back!
You guys that are sending PMs and posting reviews... thanks! It really helps me as a first time writer to hear your thoughts and get feed back from you.
For the silent readers out there... thank you as well. I'm glad you keep coming back.