23rd Sun's Dusk… 1939…

The expedition thus far had not been easy traveling. Between vampires and Stormcloaks, the fear of being caught had been enough fuel to keep the small group moving. The three men that lead them were honest and confident. It made her more comfortable, but her tail still twitched in agitation as she looked at the river they walked next too.

Living on the docks since hatching hadn't been exactly a life. The war and the Nords of Windhelm had always treated her kind with brutishness. But, taking away their food rations and abilities to fish had been the final straw for her brethren.

She stole a glance at the others, swaddled in fur cloaks, wandering behind the Blades as they led them through the Reach.

"Hectate, don't lollygag…"

His blue eyes caught her as she searched the river. She jumped under the Nord's penetrating stare.

"It's dangerous even here. We're close and these lands are riddled with Forsworn."

The hiss that followed came from behind her. She picked up her pace and syncing her step to the others. Her desire for a swim would have to wait.

She glanced up the crags as the snow fell. The rolling hills had become rockier and slicker in the cold. The hills had given way to craggy spires surrounding them hours ago. The sight would be truly wonderful if she wasn't half scared to death of being captured or killed.

The cloudy haze broke and the Blade turned to his small group once more. "We'll rest at the Old Hroldan Inn. It is a safe haven for us…"

They passed the shrine of Dibella on the road, but didn't spare it a glance.

The three Blades were still walking separated. Philibus walked ahead, ensuring their path. The middle aged Imperial seemed nice enough to her, even if he didn't speak. Folian walked with them, constantly looking around at his comrades and the scenery. The young Nord never seemed to smile, but she could see the concern in his eyes. It made her trust him readily, even if the others hadn't at first. She glanced back when Folian had to look at the trailing Blade. The Imperial held her bow in hand, walking with care as she scoured the landscape. Hectate hadn't seen the concern in her eyes for their troop. In fact, she clearly seemed annoyed, but hadn't said a worrying word. She just seemed odd to Hectate.

After another hour of walking they finally arrived at the inn.

"Claudia, have Eydis get the rooms below ready. We'll get these new recruits some food and rest before we make the final leg of the journey." Folian looked at the small group once more. "If any of you have changed your mind, this is where we'll part ways."

Hectate looked around at her kin. None so much as swished their tails.

"We have no intention of changing our minds, Honored Friend." The Argonian's low voice hissed with illness.

"Scouts-Many-Marshes is you name, correct?" Folian surveyed the tall Argonian, and the young male stood straighter under his cloak.

"It is, Land Strider."

Hectate watched as Folian walked around him. "You are ill like the others, Scout?"

He hissed his disapproval at the shortening of his name. "Why must you Nords disrespect us so?"

"Asking if you are ill was not intended as disrespect…"

"Our names are not to your approval, Nord?"

Folian sighed and Hectate wondered if he had grown tired of Scouts-Many-Marches constant complaints.

"Scouts-Many-Marshes, if we are to serve together, I ask you to be understand a few things. First, by calling you Scout, it's for familiarity. Second, to be a Blade… we are a family of soldiers, knights of an ancient order. You must let go of the past, this is your new life… We're not Nords or Argonians here. We are Blades, pure, simple and absolute."

Folian turned back to the door, pushing it open. Philibus patted the young Argonian on the shoulder affectionately and let him enter before him.

"Why must you argue with them?" Hectate hissed in his ear when the heat of the inn enveloped her.

"They do not trust us as fully as they would have you believe, sister."

Hectate grumbled under her breath, but the warmth of the inn was too inviting. The air within was filled with the smells of cooked meat and smoked fish. Her stomach growled loudly with hunger as she and the others hovered near the fire.

Hectate watched as a young boy no older than fifteen brought out a try filled with smoked fished and set it on the table.

The young boy cleared his throat. He warily searched each of the Argonians eyes before speaking. "These are for you. I'll bring the rest up in a minute, but if you want to begin…"

The starving Argonians rushed to the table.

"Skuli, stop talking and get them the rest of their dinner."

"Yes, mother!" The boy quickly disappeared down the steps.

Hectate savored the flavor of the smoke on the salmon. It had been too long since she had enjoyed such a succulent meal. An entire fish just for me… this one is quite the prize, so large and fresh… Surveying the others as she chewed, she realized they were each eating slowly. None sat at the tables, instead, they sat in a corner on the floor. Her eyes landed on Folian as he shook his head with disgust.

"All of you… get up!"

The Argonians each stood and stared at them.

"You go to join the Blades, you do so as free men and women. Now sit down to eat as we do. You're not dock workers anymore!" He pointed at the benches.

The Argonians quietly filed to the benches and sat. Skuli appeared with another tray heaping with smoked oysters and clams, followed by his mother holding a third tray massive tray piled with grilled perch and river fishes.

Every last Argonian's jaw dropped at the sight of the food.

"Eat up recruits!" Eydis called out cheerfully. "Philibus, can you bring those pitchers of mead up?"

None of the twenty Argonians move as Philibus passed the pitchers out among them.

"What's wrong?" Skuli asked quietly.

"Forgive us…" Hectate answered. "…we have never seen this much food at one time."

Folian shared a look of understanding with her. "This is for you, friends. You will never starve again in the company of the Blades." He leaned down and picked up a pitcher and began filling tankards on the long table. Philibus and Claudia filled the remaining Argonian tankards and their own. Each serving the Argonians themselves.

Folian lifted a tankard into the air. "To new beginnings…" Philibus and Claudia followed suit. "Long live the Dragonborn! Long live the Empire!"

Everyone but Claudia drank.

Hey everyone! Thanks for reading thus far...

It has been suggested by other readers, that I stick with the Dawnguard quest line to the end, once the Soul Cairn is discovered. So I pose a couple of questions to you.

Would you like it if I only focus on completing the Dawnguard Quest Line?

~OR~

Do you like the way things are progressing with other things going on in the back ground as side stories?