"WULD!" In a rush, Aela caught Serana from behind, just as Azriel sidestepped to knock Serana away from Eamal. Aela leaped backward holding her, pulling her closer to Valerica.
"Serana, don't be a damned fool!" Valerica snapped at her. "Be still."
Serana glared at both Aela and Valerica. But Aela held her tightly, not letting go. "This is what they want, don't give it to them," Aela whispered fiercely.
The half-circle of vampires shifted, yet only taking a single step.
Eamal pull her hand back, her eyes never left the Dragonborn. The storm around them blew snow to white out the landscape blocking everyone from Eamal's view except Azriel and Idgrod.
Eamal locked her eyes on Ahziial, "You cannot hide them from me, dear one."
"Eamal, please..."
The blonde vampire took a step forward, recovering the space she lost when Ahziial moved. "No, the Volkihar matrons will be punished. They must be, young one. This is our way, and I will see it to fruition."
Snow fell hard, the frigid whirlwind blowing Idgrod into Azriel, holding her against the Dragonborn.
Idgrod struggled to breathe in the gale of artic air, "If you punish them, you still will not stop Harkon. They are each key."
Eamal looked at Idgrod, contemplating her, but returned her gaze to Ahziial. "Eamal, listen to us! That's all I'm asking. Serana and Valerica didn't do this. None of the vampires in my company are part of the Volkihar clan. You would be destroying the wrong people!"
Eamal locked her eyes on the Dragonborn, measuring her for a long moment.
"LOK VAH KOOR!" Twin Thu'ums rang out.
Azriel scrutinized the vampire as the wind and snow died around them. On either side of Lydia and Valerica, Odahviing and Fruunskahdirn lowered their heads, glaring at the nine-robed vampires. Their silent appearance caught the Scions and their pure-blooded matron unaware.
One of the Scions gasped, taking a step back, "It's true! She commands the ancient ones." The others whispered among themselves.
"Silence!" Eamal commanded. In an instant, all eight female scions fell silent. She turned back to face Idgrod, glancing warily at the red dragon behind her.
Taking another breath, Idgrod took this as her only chance to change the vampire's mind. "All three of them must stop the other vampires. It cannot be you. You will not succeed."
The Scions rustled once more behind Eamal but remain quiet. Eamal regarded Idgrod for a moment, allowing her eyes to roam the young woman. The young Nord didn't move while the vampire inspected her.
Azriel took a deep breath, immediately regretting and wincing hard as her side throbbed in pain.
Eamal turned her attention momentarily back to Azriel. Watching the Dragonborn's face as she dealt with her pain. With a look, she inhaled deeply.
"You share the wolf." She stated quietly. Azriel nodded and Eamal inhaled again. This time, she knitted her brows together in question, again looking directly into Azriel's eyes. Azriel squeezed her side harder as another cramp struck, trying not to show the vampire her pain, to no avail. "You are wounded, child," Eamal whispered the words this time.
Azriel let out a low breath through her nose. The vampire knew and it would be a mistake to lie to her. Especially if she was trying to get her to trust her. "Yes."
For a moment longer Eamal contemplated Azriel's pained expression.
Without looking away from Azriel, Eamal addressed Idgrod, "And how will I fail when they cannot win. Tell me sweet child, but do not lie. I will know. "
Idgrod, let go of Azriel's arm while taking a small step forward, to stand next to Azriel. "If you strike down Serana and Valerica, Aela will attack you. Your attendants will descend on her, but the Dragonborn will destroy you. She will use their last breath to avenge her family and the dragons will aid her."
Idgrod paused, carefully watching the ancient one. "Even if you kill everyone here, the dragons will destroy you, and the Volkihar will still find the other Dragonborn. They will complete the prophecy and end the world. Tamriel will march against all children of shadow. The races of Men and Mer will eradicate your kind and many more." She paused, watching the visions in her mind play out, "From there my visions fragment, but all end when the World Eater returns."
"You will not live to leave this mountain, young one. Consider your actions," Odahviing warned.
On the opposite side of him, Fruunskahdirn spread his wings, growling in agreement.
Eamal studied Idgrod, it was obvious to the Nord that she was considering everything she said. Eamal looked between both Idgrod and Ahziial, considering the pair, "There is another Dragonborn?"
"Yes," both responded. Ahziial added, "She's a Septim." The Scions began whispering again.
Eamal focuses entirely on Ahziial, "But you are… surely?" Ahziial shook her head, "No. We are not the same bloodline. She is the daughter of Queen Barenziah and Tiber Septim."
For a very long few minutes the Scions whispered, but Eamal remained silent behind them. The longer it stretched on, Azriel could few the people behind her, becoming more uneasy. Ahziial could feel all the apprehension and fear of her company, mingled with Aela's pain and Serana's wrath. She never broke the eye contact she had with Eamal, hoping the vampire would reconsider her position.
Valerica broke the long silence, "Prophecy cannot be cheated. You will have given Harkon another means to an end."
Now Eamal looked directly at Valerica, stepping past Azriel, glaring at the woman. Aela moved quickly, placing herself in front of Serana and Valerica. "I will not let you harm them." She growled.
Azriel caught Eamal by the hand. From behind, Serana, hissed at her, "Azriel, she isn't who you think she is. Don't trust her."
This time Eamal hissed back in a cold ire, and the Scions moved forward, closing the gap between themselves and Eamal.
"Does no one listen to reason?" Valerica spat. "Harkon now has three of Daughters of Coldharbour to choose from and the Dragonborn to pull the bow! Even if you destroy us, you heard the seer, there is another Dragonborn! You cannot cheat prophecy nor ignore the Elder Scrolls! We must complete what has been started to end this madness."
Another Scion, closest to Eamal spoke, "My Lady, they lie to preserve themselves. If the Dragonborn are key, then perhaps we should eliminate them as well. Without them, this cannot come to pass."
Both dragons roared, causing the scions to swiftly move away from Eamal as Azriel held her in place.
"Odahviing, no."
Azriel looked back to Valerica, "Valerica, does the poison affect vampires?" Azriel called over her shoulder.
Valerica glanced at the Dragonborn, understanding her intent immediately, "No, it does not."
Azriel glared at the scions, "I have some honor in me, I am not lying." She pulled Eamal's hand to her chest, "Eamal, we are not lying, and I am willing to prove it to you."
"Azriel, no!" Serana cried out. "Don't!"
Valerica grabbed her daughter, sharply pulling her into herself, and whispered frantically into her ear, "Serana, for all our sakes remain silent. Let the Dragonborn show her!"
Eamal looked between the struggling Serana and Ahziial, "How will you prove it?" Now focusing her full attention on Ahziial, "How do you propose to show me, my child?"
Azriel, ripped the left collar on her shirt open, drawing her dagger. "Through my blood, you can see my memories. I read the Elder Scrolls and I'll prove Serana and Valerica have nothing to do with this. They are no longer part of the Volkihar clan and have been seeking to stop Harkon and return their kind to shadow. They've been working to stop this all along. I'll show you how we end it because I saw how to." Azriel pulled the dagger from her waist, then drew it across her collarbone. "Drink." She offered quietly.
Behind Eamal, the Scions shifted. Each smelled the air as blood seeped from the wound on Azriel's shoulder. The desire for the potent blood burned on the very air around each of the purebloods, yet sickening Movarth and Lydia. Eamal watched spellbound as the blood quickly rolled down her chest into the obscurity of her shirt. The fire in the blood was a siren's call the vampires could not ignore. "You would do this… for them?" The vampire searched her eyes.
"Yes," Azriel whispered back to her without hesitation listening to her own heartbeat in her ears, feeling the droplets of blood that began to stain her shirt. "Drink," she whispered again. "I will show you everything."
Eamal took one last look at the red dragon over Azriel's shoulder, then pulled her close. The smell of the dragon-fire blood burning her nose, she whispered "I will not harm you," to Azriel, so that only the dragonborn heard. Azriel nodded, pulling the vampire closer.
Eamal's tongue tasted the molten fire of dragon blood, then she bit into Azriel's flesh.
Thousands of memories pounded her through the blood like a tsunami crashing onto a storm-beaten shore.
The power of Ahziial's blood flooded Eamal's mind and body. Every memory, and recollection calling to her, desiring her attention. Nineteen years of adventure, sadness, loneliness, and heartbreak and love poured through the dragon's blood. She heard the roar of a dragon and the howl of the wolf. Through her own consciousness, she saw every memory simultaneously.
Each existing as if watching the young warrior as an observer in a snippet of time, ready to be plucked up and viewed at her leisure.
Around her were the recollections of Ahziial's childhood, her life in the arena, and every fight she had ever won or lost. They danced through the vampire as she drank slowly, savoring the powerful nature of the Dragonborn. With every beat of Ahziial's heart, the echoes of her past played in graphic detail.
Eamal saw herself through tear-stained eyes.
"Why do you weep, dear one?" The night around them kissed her wet cheeks in gentle reassurance. She looked past herself to the quiet pond, the white flowers glowing in the moonlight.
"I have never seen…" she looked at the flower in her past self's hands, "something so beautiful in my life." She felt the breath hurt in her chest as the tears poured down her face. "How can something like this exist in a place such as this? A place that makes my heart hurt to be in." Eamal looked back up to the face of her past, watching herself give an understanding smile.
"Because even in darkness, beauty exists to remind us that there is…". She contemplated the next word for a moment," hope." The vampire answered.
"I am afraid to hope," Ahziial answered, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
The vampire knelt in front of her. "I feel the sadness within you, little wanderer. You are safe with me. We shall take this one with us, it is my gift to you, to remind you always that hope exists even where you think you cannot find it."
A cerise wave rolled around her as she crossed into Skyrim, finding herself at the headsman's block. A roar filled the air, and a black dragon landed next to her. Drinking deeper, the vampire's mind was a tumultuous sea of visions of dragons, the sky, war, and ancient memories. Each passed instantly, imprinting her.
Ahziial's memories filled her mind, swelling as the raging storm in a sea of blood. Another whirlpool of visions passed; hunting the plains as the wolf, the fires of the Deadlands, the shadows of the Ebonmere, the warm lights of Twilight, and the smiling face of the werewolf that now stood behind them. The echoes of mages' whispers, bloomed on the light of chaos' fire. The dragon roared louder in her mind as she swallowed. The rapid beats of her heart kept time with flickers of memories, while Eamal absorbed them all.
A great white dragon battled a black dragon on the mountain with her, next then Sovngarde. The vampiress charged the massive black dragon with a ferocious roar. At her side, Hakon and Ysgramor shouted encouragement to her over the din of the dragon as they sprinted. At her back, the heroes of Sovngarde giving chase, racing with her to end an ancient battle and save Nirn.
Ahziial roared and the hoard of thousands of Nord and Atmorian heroes answered. The clamor of battle rang as swords, axes, and the collective voices of many tore at the World Eater. The fighting was relentlessly unending. Alduin roared at the sky, calling his fiery storm to end the world. Each time Ahziial, bellowed back to clear the sky of his fire. The dragon fought, swallowing the souls of countless heroes. Thrashing away the Dragonborn and her many companions time and again. Each time, the souls of Sovngarde lifted her up, giving her their strength to resume the fight.
"JOR! ZAH! FRUL!". Their voices cried out as he raised into the sky.
The vampire felt her exhaustion through her blood. But she also felt her resolve. The black dragon against the pink sky crashed against the ground with a roar summoning another storm. Gormalith shoved her hard. "Now! Dovahkiin! Strike! It must be you!"
The vampire's senses were overwhelmed with Ahziial's rage and exhaustion as her blade pierced the dragon's eye. Pulling her closer, biting into her again, Eamal heard Ahziial cry out. She felt the pain searing her side. Yet, Azriel didn't struggle against her, instead, she held the vampire just as close.
A great fort loomed over a valley, the colors and shades twisted, and they were in the sky. The red dragon was in flight, sliding into the next memory of a man named Isran, and then back to the blue sky. With another draw of blood, she was deep in a tomb, having climbed for hours, the memory slipped by, landing Eamal in front of a large stone monolith. Ahziial placed her hand on the sarcophagus and the stone face slid open revealing the woman inside.
The world around Eamal spun in the rapid eddy of memories, speeding through the young girl's life. She adjusted her in her arms, drawing another deep drink from Ahziial. The memories became a rolling sea, and Eamal saw them all at that moment. The heat of the dragon's blood burned her in a way she never experienced.
The days and weeks of Ahziial's life flickered, snatching her attention, through the stream of blood.
The peaks and valleys of emotions consumed her, causing the vampire's own emotions to match her. The vampiress felt the tumultuous love affair of the three as it blossomed, with all its struggles and rewards. For every heartbeat that pulsed heavily in her ears, the musical accompaniment of Ahziial's breath became shorter, more ragged.
Eamal pulled further on Ahziial's flesh, drawing more of the dragon's living essence into her. In doing so, she felt the waiver of Ahziial's strength, and her pain became more excruciating. Through her lifeblood, she reached deeply into the young Dragonborn, feeling fear and apprehension of the younger vampire and she-wolf. Eamal, tightened her grip as she drank deeply both in blood and the echoes of Azriel's life.
The smell of ozone and the crack of lighting shattered around them as they trudged up the stairs in the Soul Cairn. The pink-purple hues painted the landscape. Through Azriel's eyes, she watched Serana climb the stairs and the exchange. She felt the lead steps of Azriel's feet and the ache of her body as they climbed the staircase towards the two vampires' voices. She felt her own rage building at the older vampire. then felt it explode within her, cresting with the wave of visions.
"Your husband hunts your daughter for this prophecy…"
Valerica interrupted her again. "You're beginning to see why I wanted to protect Serana…"
"Stop fucking interrupting me, you cold-hearted bitch!" Azriel snapped at her. "Or I swear to Sithis, I will tear your head off."
Serana groaned next to her, "Both of you stop this! This isn't getting us anywhere."
Azriel stared at Serana for a second, noticing her mother did too.
"Fine. Go back to the part about how Serana is important to this…" Azriel could barely keep her rage contained as she seethed at Valerica.
"In Harkon's eyes, Serana would be dying for the good of all vampires." The frosty disdain colored Valerica's very words.
"So, let me get this right. Instead of standing up to him, you hid Serana under his nose and ran away to the Soul Cairn?"
Azriel glared back into her hate-filled eyes as Valerica answered, "And how exactly do you propose to stop him?"
"I, unlike you, have every intention to kill him," Azriel growled back at her.
Valerica laughed emotionlessly, "Then you are a bigger fool than I suspected. Don't you think I weighed that option before I enacted my plans?" Valerica's voice dripped acidly.
"Did you bother to ask Serana's opinion in all of this, oh wise one?" Azriel shot back at her.
"You care nothing for Serana or our plight…" Valerica started, but Azriel rushed forward to the barrier once more.
"Don't you dare tell me that I don't care for her!" Azriel roared back at her.
Valerica moved as closely to Azriel as the barrier would allow. "Run home, Pyromancer. This place… my daughter… our dilemma… none of this is for you."
Eamal felt Ahziial begin to shake hard, attempting to keep her balance and stay in the vampire's arms. Through the roiling blood, she felt both the rage and fear of her lovers. The bond of their souls was so strong, she could almost hear their individual thoughts as they passed like whisper through her blood. The weakness in Ahziial was growing, and the vampiress pulled her closer still, tasting the poison.
The wave crested again, as blood flowed through Eamal. Memories danced and flashed around her of men and magic. Voices of dragons, bards, and the dead consumed her. The colors and smells became a blur once again. The cloudy, gray sky hung with thick wooly clouds above the flowered meadow, the cool breeze carried the floral fragrance of winter's blooms.
"Skyrim has changed, in a lot of ways. There are trees that have leaves as colorful as the sunset. It's so very intriguing, the flowers, the people, even the weather it's all so very different. Wait until you see…"
Eamal watched the young vampire place flowers in her mother's bag.
"We aren't visiting, Serana." Valerica cut her off. "We have a duty to stop Harkon and reclaim our kingdom of shadows."
Eamal hobbled past them in Ahziial's form, throwing the older vampire a glare, "That's right, cut yourself off from this world. See where it gets you this time around."
Valerica glared back at her. "There is no place amongst the herd for us."
Eamal instantly felt the incense at the word and stopped. "What did you call us?"
"You are mortal…" Valerica started.
"I'm not your fucking food, bitch." Azriel lashed out at her. "I'm also not mortal."
"Nor am I," Aela added, reappearing from through the brush. "This world is your only hope for defeating Harkon. I suggest you figure that out."
Valerica drew herself up to her full height. "You are not involved with our affairs enough to even begin to fathom our situation. Vampires must dwell in shadow. It is how we are to survive without drawing unnecessary attention to ourselves. We are not meant to walk amongst mortals, for fear that we draw suspicion of our actions and agelessness."
Ahziial's heart was beating like a drum in her ears, but it was slowing.
In front of her, all three Elder Scrolls, glowing illuminated splendor. Thunderous songs enveloped her, wrapping her in a cloak, shielding her from their radiance. Eamal felt the emotions of all three songs Ahziial sang, the ancient words, and their effect. The three songs that answered her were sonorous and sung by a choir of voices.
"You're killing her!" Serana shouted pushing away from Aela and Valerica.
Opening her eyes, Ahziial looked directly at Serana and shook her head no. Valerica crushed her daughter against herself, holding her in place once more, but didn't reprimand her.
Eamal's ignored the outburst. The crashing heartbeats of the werewolf, dragons, and Idgrod smashed against her. The swish of robes of the Scions that surrounded her sounded like the sails of a thousand galleons in a windstorm.
Ahziial crushed her eyes close as her knees gave from under her. Eamal held her, still drinking, as she lowered her to the ground. The six songs merged in her mind, connecting to her. Ahziial's song of the Elder Scroll of Blood spun with rage and revulsion, the moths answering in kind with outrageous visions of the horrors of Coldharbour in a way Eamal had no desire to relive. The moths' songs began to weave the stories of the Scrolls together with their own bodies, tying the Dragonborn to the raven-haired vampire forever. The ballad engulfed her sight, creating a map, through the moths, of the location of Auri-El's bow in an ancient Chantry.
As the moths blurred in front of her, Eamal saw the vision of the Dragonborn and her hand pulling the bow from Atherius. Yet, as the moths sang, their bodies blurred, showing a Dunmer pulling the bow simultaneously. Each refrain merged, linking Scrolls' independent stories, blending them, entwining the tapestry of a voluminous refrain, and finishing the vision of Auri-El's bow, Serana, and the Dragonborn.
Eamal, skin blazed, her ears rang, and her senses sharpened, taking in every sound around her. She shifted Ahziial's body while descending through Ahziial's madness. She walked the dreamscape, then watched the unification of the Dragonborn's soul, by the two women that loved her. All around her, the life of the Dragonborn shimmered. She had seen every recollection, memory, and feeling, the Dragonborn had ever experienced. Through her blood, she felt a strong connection to Odahviing, Aela, and Serana.
She resonated power of young woman's blood and being touched by Elder Scrolls.
The black dragon roared as it crashed into Eamal, and she released the Dragonborn.
The loss of the dragon's blood was immediate and staggering. The power coursed through her body, effusing the staggering through her as though it was pure heat. She rocked back on her heels as Ahziial rolled on her side, trying to stay conscious and keep the searing pain in her side at bay. The vampire struggled against the urge to pick her up and continue to feed.
Once again one of the Scions addressed her, "My Lady, what is your command?"
Eamal traced her lips watching the Dragonborn struggle. The silence lay like a blanket over them. The only sounds that came were Azriel's whimpers and movements and the swishing of cloaks. Eamal tore her eyes from the Dragonborn and looked from Serana to Aela.
"Lydia…" Azriel struggled to breathe. Her breath hitched in her throat.
Around her the only one that moved was Eamal. Her fingers still resting on her lips as she now looked at Lydia.
"Lydia," Azriel repeated.
Lydia swallowed. Looking from the ancient vampire's gaze to Azriel struggling on the ground. "Yes, my Thane." The words felt weak as she spoke, it was obvious she was terrified.
Azriel gulped for air, "My armor… fetch it." Azriel rolled onto her left side as the cramps caused her to buckle again.
Lydia looked back at the blonde vampire, then disappeared back inside. Outside, only Azriel moved as Lydia ran down the tunnel. The weighted blanket of silence lingered for several minutes until Lydia emerged from the ruin.
She warily approached Azriel, who was still struggling with her breath. "Give it to her." Lydia tentatively handed the armor to the vampire that slowly accepted it. "Eamal, inside… pocket." Azriel breath was ragged as she spoke.
Slowly, the vampire turned the armor over, inspecting it.
Aela and Serana shared a look.
Her fingers traced the stitching, then delved inside to retrieve the objects contained within. When they emerged, they held a stained and folded heavy piece of paper and an ancient medallion.
Azriel lay on her side, the battle to breathe was taxing her. The pain flared, like a wicked throb in her side. "When I went after Alduin," Azriel fought for her breath as she spoke, "no one could follow. I carried that with me." Eamal let the armor drop, unfolding the paper. "I fought Alduin for two weeks with all Sovngarde behind me. Ysgramor," she took a long and ragged breath while wincing, "and Hakon One-Eye at my side."
"At my back Hrotti Blackblade…" Aela took a shaky breath at the mention of her foremother's name "and Gormalith Golden-Hilt fought with me." Azriel panted for a moment as the vampire stared at the note and dried sacred lotus flower in her hand.
The vampire looked from the note to the medallion in her hand, turning it over, and observing the damage on it. The others listened, spellbound. "As we fought, he took the souls of Nords to heal. I fought against him with all of them shouting to not give up. My greatest weapon was… hope," Azriel wheezed.
"You have saved my life three times."
Eamal blinked.
Looking up from her hand and back at the Dragonborn. "Once… in Cyrodiil." Her body shook from the effort it was taking her to stay conscious and speak. "The second time was Sovngarde." Azriel swallowed, panting. "The third time…" Azriel rolled onto her back to look at the vampire, "was the medallion that took the bolt meant for my heart." Azriel's eyes fluttered. "You have never asked for anything, except for me to remember you."
Azriel forced her eyes open to look at the vampire, "When I fought him, I remembered you." Azriel coughed hard, the searing pain made her grit her teeth. "I remembered Aela." The vampire glanced at Aela who stared back at her. "I remembered Lydia and Idgrod. I had hope that maybe I could save all of you."
Azriel touched the vampire's hand.
"I have hope still. I know what you saw, Lamae. You know the truth."
Valerica's eyes flew wide with the mention of the vampire's name. To know the Order had summoned First to destroy Harkon made sense. Only she, outside of the prophecy, would be capable of it. Serana pushed herself away from Valerica, pulling Aela close to her. Both felt Azriel fight with her pain, but now she was losing consciousness.
As Movarth shivered behind her, Azriel's eyes began to flutter shut. She was losing the battle with consciousness.
Lamae, refolded the paper, slipping the three objects back into the pocket quickly. Placing her hand on Azriel's side, pulled her back to life.
Tenderly, the ancient vampire lifted her tunic.
"No!" Serana hissed taking a step forward. "Mother, look!"
The black tendrils of the thick poison had been drawn by the vampire through her blood. Now, instead of a fist-sized black mark, the rot had spread up Azriel's side, and down past the hem of her breaches. The tendrils were reaching for her heart.
Eamal lowered the tunic, "This poison, is only to destroy the wolf. I can cure this, but you would no longer be the wolf. You would become one of my night children, Ahziial."
Azriel shook her head, "No." She took another short breath, crushing her teeth together. "I can't. I can't become like Alduin. My desire to crush everything would go unchecked. I can't accept." She nodded, turning slowly to where Aela, Serana, and Valerica stood. Her face was a mask as she regarded them. Finally, she took a step forward holding out her hand to Aela. "And you, huntress of Hircine? I felt your pain as well. Will you accept my gift?"
For a moment Aela weighed her words. She regarded the vampire coolly. Looking from Lamae to the scions, finally to Serana. She didn't look back at Lamae when she spoke, instead she studied her lover's eyes as she spoke. "If I were to become a vampire, I would only allow Serana to change me. So no, I will not accept your gift."
Serana gave Aela's hand a squeeze. Aela returned a small smile, then turned to look at Lamae once more.
Lamae regarded her for a long moment, then shifted her gaze to Serana and Valerica. "And this cure you intend to create?"
Valerica slowly shook her head. "We lack the correct reagents to create a single antidote, lest two."
Lamae now was looking directly at Serana. Her eyes regarded the younger vampire for a full minute before she spoke. "Which reagents?"
"Wolfsbane," Valerica said simply.
At her feet Azriel coughed, shakily moving, trying to stand. Lamae turned to her, placing her hand on her back. "No, little wanderer. You mustn't move. We must remove this poison if you are to live." She pushed her to the ground gently.
"Enora." Lamae looked back at Valerica, regarding her. "You are from Skyrim. Where does Wolfsbane grow?"
One of the Scions stepped forward to address her, "My Lady, in the Reach there is a sacred garden tended in the old ways. Hagravens protect the garden for the Old Gods. It is protected, they will not allow us entrance without tribute. It must be something sacred, a trade of sorts, something both blessed and impossible to find. It is the closest place, and I know we will be successful there. Outside of the Reach, it does not exist in Skyrim."
Azriel coughed hard, trying to breathe. "Lamae, the lotus." She coughed again trying to catch her breath. "It has been to Atherius and has the blood of a god on it."
"How far must you travel?" Lamae asked her quizzically.
"Two days, then we must commune in the old ways to be granted entry."
"Young one," Fruunskahdirn interrupted them. "If you allow me, I can carry you there swiftly." The scion looked between Lamae and the dragon that spoke to her.
Lamae stooped quickly retrieving the lotus, handing it to the scion. "Go. Elila will attend to you."
The scions walked to the dragon that bowed his head to them and they climbed on. As the dragon lifted into the air, another of the scions approached within steps of the Dragonborn.
"My Lady, perhaps we should consider retrieving the other Dragonborn if..."
"The other has traveled the Ebonmere into Evergloam, she is protected by the Queen of Shadows." Lamae looked down at Azriel, "They are both her Nightingales, and the Mistress of Night will not leave the other unprotected in her realm."
Valerica cast a long sideway glance at Serana.
"My Lady…" The scion regarded the other vampires, "What of the Volkihar?"
Lamae looked to Serana and Valerica once more. For another long moment, she regarded them both, then rested her gaze on Serana. "I see no Volkihar before me." She said simply. "Only Ahziial's clan. They are not our intended and we shall spare them the swiftness of our justice."
Serana appeared next to Azriel, scooping her up, then disappearing wordlessly into the ruins with Aela on her heels.