4E 204 year… 10th of Evening Star… 1704…
She was aware of the pain she was in even before opening her eyes. The pounding noise in her head matched the tempo of the throb in her side and chest. As her eyes slipped open, the dark gray sky above, moved fluidly. Its surreal and endless spiraling made her feel nauseous. Her throat scorched like she had inhaled embers from a fireplace. Her ears recoiled from the noises that surrounded her, making her rising nausea worse. She opened her mouth, trying to speak, yet no sound came out. The air that flowed through her nose stung.
The very air suffocated her, making it difficult for her to draw breath. Someone was speaking, but the sounds didn't make sense. She couldn't understand what they were saying. It was jumbled, echoing, like she was in a cave. She didn't know if it was one voice or two. She wasn't even sure if they were speaking to her. They sounded near, but the more she tried to focus on the, the sharper the pain in her body became.
The feeling of it rattled her. She crushed her eyes closed, trying to quell the sickness rising in the back of her throat. Her senses were overloaded. The agony she was in came to a climax as the banging in her head pierced down into her heart. Her wolf howled. The sound of her wolf made her reel. A fresh wave of nausea gripped her, and she started to retch dryly. Cracking her eyes spun the outside world. The ceiling above danced and swayed. She couldn't stop heaving, drawing from herself more pain and sickness. This time the bile poured from her, then choked her. Her eyes slipped shut as if trying to stop the flow.
Hands covered her, turning her to her side. She tried to cry out, to stop them, but her voice failed her. Illness gripped her with a fresh swell. The pain in her side flared while she vomited, preventing her from breathing. The wailing of a drum echoed in her ears, and she made the mistake of opening her eyes again. The sickness it brought overpowered her. Azriel heaved more of the black bile onto the floor as her eyes teared and her lungs desperately tried to capture the air she needed. She felt something cold pressed to her face, and she tried to push it away. It made her shiver, with its iciness. It sent her into a coughing fit, and with the movement, she felt herself start to fall. Strong arms caught her, lifting her back into place, while she struggled for air. She felt something cold pressed to her lips, and she tried to push that away as she fainted.
"She's burning up, mother!" Serana wiped the cloth over Azriel's face and neck.
Valerica wiped the feverish girl's back. "Serana, I have given her all I can. Even with the purification of the fire salts and the wolfbane, the antidote will become yet another poison in her system."
"Then figure something else out!" Serana snapped at her.
"Would you prefer I turned your lover into a lich?" Valerica spat back at her. "Because that's essentially what you are asking me to do!"
Serana slammed her fist into the stone table, breaking it. "This is our fault!"
"No, Serana. This is your fault. You involved her." Valerica glared icily at her, "If you would have thought for just one moment, just one, this would not have happened. You did everything you could to undermine the plans I enacted to keep you safe. You were the one to tell your father with whom you traveled. I told you at every turn to send them away and you selfishly refused. You, and only you, are to blame." Valerica threw the wet rag onto the broken table, "If her fever doesn't break, she will die. That is the reality you need to face. There is nothing more I can do." Valerica walked out of the chamber, leaving Serana to fume.
4E 204 year… 10th of Evening Star… 2342…
"Drink this, it'll help," Serana whispered, gently wiping Aela's hair from her face. Aela accepted the cup with shaking hands as Serana held her. The cold water in the cup quelled the burn in Aela's throat. When she had drained it, she handed it back to Serana to refill.
Aela cleared her throat, hoping it would make it easier for her to speak. "How is she?" The words were gravelly, the sound of them made her throat hurt more. Serana pressed the cup back into her hands, smoothing Aela's sweaty hair. "Her fever finally broke an hour ago." She exhaled thinking about how ghostly and frail Azriel looked laying in the makeshift bed. "She's not out of the thick of it yet though."
Aela shifted, nearly dropping her cup. Serana quickly caught it before the water spilled. "Let me hold it for you, you're not well enough yet." She pressed the cup to her lips, letting Aela drink.
Aela coughed, pushing it away and Serana set the cup down. Aela shook her head, "I want to see her."
"Aela, you need to rest," Serana stroked the woman gently. Aela was deathly pale, her normally tan and rosy complexation was replaced with a shade of gray, that was sallow and ghostly. The area around her eyes was black and sunken. Her lips were gray, showing how close to death Aela had come.
"I know, but now is not the time. She isn't awake and you need more rest."
Aela swallowed what felt like a sandy lump in her burning throat. She let her head rest on Serana for a minute, it was too heavy to hold up on her own.
Serana stroked her hair tenderly, pulling her back down on the bed roll. "I'll take you to see her after you sleep."
Aela nodded letting Serana hold her weight. She didn't have it within her to sit up, let alone fight. The cure made her feel worse than the poison itself. "How many doses has she had?" Aela's voice was so weak, it made Serana worry.
Valerica had told them that poison had spread so quickly in Azriel, she required more than a single dose. She had warned them that the antidote would bring them close to death to remove the poison. What had happened was far worse than her description.
Aela had only one dose and she didn't think she'd live through the effects of it. Her entire body felt like it was on fire. The pain in her side made her want to claw her own body apart. The fever it brought on her was worse than silver had ever given. Her body shook so hard, that she had lost control of herself. The pain of drinking the antidote itself was like having a sword shoved down her throat. As the effect spread, she lost the ability to move, breathe, or speak. The ache within her had been excruciating and she had suffered it in a horrid silence.
"She's had three," Serana whispered as she pulled her closer, kissing her forehead tenderly.
Aela shivered against her, "Serana…"
Serana knew what she was going to say, she could feel how close both had come to death when her mother had given them the antidote. She had refused to leave either to suffer alone. "You're both going to be okay. I promise." She cradled Aela in her Aela in arms, letting her relax as she went back to sleep.
4E 204 year… 11th of Evening Star… 1534…
Lydia sat quietly next to Azriel, wiping the sweat from her skin. Even though she no longer had a fever, she was still sweaty and trembling.
Lydia was careful not to wake her, while she worked, she listened to noises within the structure. Dipping the cloth back into the cool water, the noises consumed her attention. Next to her, Azriel's breathing was still shallow, but rhythmic. Her heartbeat was stronger than it had been earlier that afternoon. But she didn't show any signs of waking up anytime soon. The ruins were cool where they were. They had moved Azriel and Aela further into the bowels of the structure to better keep their temperatures regular.
Lydia wrung out the cloth and placed it over Azriel's face. Down the hall to the right, she could hear the near-silent sounds of the other vampires as they prepared to leave. Valerica had spoken to them and Movarth had agreed to follow her to her Keep. Down the hall to the left, she could hear Serana speaking, but she couldn't make out what she was saying.
When Valerica had canvassed each for their support. Lydia had agreed to Valerica's gift, with the condition she was allowed to remain with Azriel's group. Idgrod refused Valerica's offer but remained firm in remaining with Serana, Aela, and Azriel as well.
Lydia pulled the cloth from Azriel's face dunking back in the water. From down the hall, she heard Idgrod's approach. She could smell the food Idgrod was carrying. When Idgrod got to the doorway she paused, looking expectantly at Lydia. Lydia understood her inquiry and shook her head. Idgrod nodded while she watched the sleeping Dragonborn, then sighed.
She continued her journey down the hall. Lydia could hear her stop where Aela and Serana were and the knock on the door that followed.
4E 204 year… 11th of Evening Star… 2254…
Azriel coughed, shifting in her sleep. Idgrod sat up in her chair, examining her. Azriel hadn't moved in hours, and she was still a ghastly color. Idgrod watched her chest rise and fall. Nothing seemed different about her from an hour ago.
She had forced Lydia to leave to hunt with the others, taking her place as the caretaker. She let herself relax again after a few minutes, carefully watching her friend. She'd only settled back into her chair when Azriel moaned softly. Idgrod sat up again, reaching down, she pulled the bucket close to her and grabbed the rag from it. She quickly wrung it out and placed it on Azriel's head. Idgrod kept quiet not sure if Azriel was awaking or not.
Azriel moaned again. Idgrod pulled the rag away and started checking her to see if her fever had returned. Once she was satisfied it hadn't, she dipped the rag back into the cool water and dabbed it on her cheeks.
"Water," Azriel whispered hoarsely.
Idgrod quickly moved to the table to pour water into a cup. When she turned around Serana was already in the room. Idgrod yelped, not hearing the vampire enter so stealthily.
"Water," Azriel repeated.
Idgrod pushed the cup into Serana's extended hand as she lifted Azriel. The tenderness of how Serana treated Azriel struck her, as she watched her tip the cup to Azriel's lips. Idgrod listened as Serana quietly encouraged Azriel to drink.
Idgrod thought of her dreams. She knew for sure it was Serana in them, yet her ties to the gray monster and the basin of blood, she wasn't sure of. She also wasn't certain how to talk to the vampire about it with both Aela and Azriel so ill. She decided to wait.
Serana already seemed at her wit's end and Idgrod didn't want to add to the stress she could see the vampire was in. She knew that Serana had considered turning them both into vampires. Idgrod had intervened, telling Serana of her dreams of the vampiric Dragonborn. She had watched Serana fight within herself as she spoke, realizing how close Serana had come to sharing her blood with them.
She watched quietly as Serana set the cup down next to her, then pull Azriel onto herself, holding her so that she could sleep. Wordlessly, Idgrod left the room, giving them privacy. There was so much she needed to discuss, not sure how or when to broach the subject of her other dreams with Serana.
4E 204 year… 12th of Evening Star… 0301…
Serana could feel her mother's gaze following her as she paced. She ignored Valerica.
A pit resided in the center of her chest. The openness of it left her feeling weak. Her thoughts traveled down the hall to the two people she loved laying in their beds. In the pit lived the heaviest weight she had ever endured, it pulled down on her, threatening to take her back into her dark depression. Her anger and despair fed on their pain.
She hadn't said a word to her mother since their argument. Serana didn't want to admit to her that she was right. Nor would it change anything between them. It also wouldn't alleviate the crushing guilt Serana felt.
It disgusted her that she had led them into the various traps of her father's making. Everything she said to her father haunted her. His relentless pursuit had nearly cost each of them their lives and all she could do is wait to see if they lived. At the same time, Idgrod's words disturbed her. The visions of a vampire Dragonborn were more terrible than her father could ever be.
Serana's hands worked at her temples. She thought about the path the three of them had traveled thus far, and the misfortunes she had led them to. Every step had been laden with perilous misadventures. She had been the cause of their injuries too many times. Serana growled as considered the prophecy and the madness it wrought. It had destroyed her family once, now it threatened her new family.
She turned pacing in the opposite direction, trying to push the abysmal emotions from herself. Her worry sickened her. Her powerlessness to help them, all she could do is pace and wait.
The more she thought, the angrier she became. Aela had nearly died from the antidote as it took its effects. And Azriel… her thoughts trailed back to the depths of her grief. The poison had found its way to her heart after the first dose. The second dose had slowed the savageness of the wolf. The third dose nearly destroyed her. Yet still the poison lingered.
Serana turned back the way she had come from. Time felt like it ticked by slowly as she marched in her parade. Her misery was arresting as Valerica's words ate at her. She exhaled as she turned on her heel again, this time, she stopped pacing. "Fuck this."
She walked down the corridor, stopping only briefly to give Idgrod an expectant look. The mage shook her head at her, and Serana continued to where Aela was resting. Lydia stood, giving her a reassuring smile, and walked by patting her arm. "She's finally stirring."
Serana knelt, lifting the furs away from Aela. She worked carefully to make sure not to disturb the sleeping Nord. She lifted the tunic she was wearing, and for the first time in days, she smiled. The black mark of the poison had disappeared. The wound, which had already begun to fester with rot, was no longer weeping. It had finally closed and was a healthy pink color. Serana let her fingers trace the mark as she thought.
Aela moved, catching her hand gently. "If you keep doing that…" her husky voice trailed off.
Serana let out a small laugh, "You'll do what exactly?" The sound of Aela's voice made her stomach flutter and her heart swoon.
Aela opened her eyes as a smile appeared on her face, she pulled Serana down to her and rolled her into the bed. The move surprised Serana with how forceful and quick it was. She hadn't expected that kind of strength after the last few days.
Aela studied her face, a smile firmly fixed in place, her scarlet hair falling around Serana's face. The two quietly regarded each other, the heat of Aela's body warming her after so many days of coldness. Aela leaned down and kissed her. For a moment, the entire world melted away.
4E 204 year… 12th of Evening Star… 0711…
Serana paced quietly in the large chamber. The ruins within the cave echoed with the sounds of vampires quietly busying themselves. In the far corner, Lydia and Idgrod whispered back and forth, occasionally throwing glances her way. She had caught part of their hushed conversation but wasn't paying attention. She thought about going back to be with Aela and Azriel, but they were sleeping, and she was worried she'd disturb them.
"Everything has been arranged, my Lady." Movarth interrupted quietly. "We can begin when you are ready." He stood waiting near the door leading downstairs to another chamber.
"Very well," Valerica answered, standing.
Serana stopped pacing, "Do you really think this is a good idea?"
Movarth cleared his throat and bowed his head. Valerica ignored him, shifting her gaze to Serana, letting it become a cold glare.
"Serana, if we are to defeat your father and his court, we need to be prepared."
Serana glanced at Movarth, he continued to watch Valerica and avoided returning her look. Serana relented, knowing that once again her mother was right. The vampires that had remained did so because of their skills, not because of their gifts. They had accepted Valerica's offer of her blood in return for their allegiance.
"Would you prefer I let your father slaughter them?" Valerica continued coldly, "Because that is how it sounds."
"Of course not." Serana rubbed her temples she wasn't in the mood to argue.
Valerica stood, her gaze still fixed on Serana, "Then I suggest you…"
"Not a chance in Oblivion, Dragonborn!" Aela's angry voice rang down the hall. Valerica and Serana shared a quick look, then Serana disappeared.
Aela was holding Azriel in place as she tried to get out of the makeshift bed. "Aela, we need to go." Azriel was trying to brush her hands aside.
Serana caught Azriel's hand, pushing her gently back onto the table. "No Azriel, we don't. You need to rest. Your eyes aren't even open yet. You need to sleep."
"Serana, I saw the bow." Azriel shook her head, trying hard to open her burning eyes. "I tried to take it, but I saw…" She caught the edge of the table trying weakly to fight back.
"You saw what?" Valerica's voice caught them all off guard. Aela and Serana turned to look at her.
Azriel stopped struggling and cracked her eyes open. "I saw a vampire holding the bow in a storm, laughing. It was in the sky surrounded by mountains. It was in the Chantry, but not." Azriel closed her eyes, breathing heavily, "He was standing over you and you were bleeding." She winced, clutching her chest. The pain flooded through each of them. "Aela was dead, and I couldn't get to you. I was watching from far away."
Aela and Serana eased their attempt to restrain her, sharing a longer look. They had ignored her dream at the cave, and they were dealing with that decision now. "We should think about this, Serana." Aela's pained expression captured her with its sorrow.
Serana looked over her shoulder at Valerica and Valerica shook her head with a shrug.
"What did this vampire look like?" Serana asked in a gentler tone. But Azriel only gripped herself harder, shaking her head. She rolled on her side and fell back to sleep.
Valerica sighed, "She is not in any condition to travel." It was the first-time concern for Azriel had colored her words. Valerica vanished down the hall before Serana could say anything.
Aela let out a long breath. "We shouldn't ignore her." She looked down at Azriel as Serana pulled the blanket over her. "Her dreams have been right thus far. We have been ignoring what she's been telling us making it harder for ourselves."
Serana closed her eyes, rubbing her temples. Letting her hands drop, she walked to Aela and pulled her into a kiss. The force of it made them both ache as they lingered.
When they broke, Aela touched her forehead to Serana's, "We need to think before we act." Serana nodded, pulling away far enough to kiss Aela's forehead. "I agree." But she still wasn't sure what to do.
4E 204 year… 12th of Evening Star… 1020…
It felt like someone had driven a hot nail through each of her temples. The stinging ache encouraged Azriel to open her eyes slowly.
She had no idea where she was as she stared at the ceiling. The smells around her were foreign yet they stirred her memories. The scent of slag mingled with more floral smells. She closed her eyes and let her senses guide her through the next few minutes as she digested the world around her, taking inventory of the scents. The smells mingled and she worked to pick out each one as they reached her.
The most powerful were rosewater, mountain flower, leather, and warm summer grass.
She concentrated on the sounds around her, listening to the ruins. Next to her, she could hear Aela's rhythmic breath and heartbeat. It brought her peace knowing both Aela and Serana were close.
As she listened, she could hear people talking down the hallway. Their voices were muddled together. She couldn't hear the distinct words. But she could hear them moving and the sounds of people.
She lay in place, trying to decide if she was still asleep or if she was awake. It confused her because when she opened her eyes, she could see that ceiling was moving. She let her eyes slide closed and took inventory of herself. She wiggled her toes and fingers to see if there was any pain.
When she was satisfied with her state, she decided to get up.
Moving slowly, she swung her legs over the edge of the table she was laying on. In the darkness, she saw Serana and Aela sleeping near her.
The pain in her chest weakly surged, like clawed fingers trying to scrap her insides. She slowly took a deeper breath trying to gauge it.
The walls moved in her vision. She closed her eyes trying to steady herself. Taking another deep breath she held it, tasting the air, to experience it.
She grew a little bolder with the sensations it brought. Sliding off the edge, her feet touched the floor. The coolness of it was disorienting. She still wasn't sure if she was dreaming or not. The confusion of it left her in doubt.
She looked back to where Aela and Serana were sleeping. She contemplated them trying to decide what to do. As she leaned against the table to steady herself, she hoped that it wasn't a dream. She let herself linger on the two. The dust on the floors worked between her wiggling toes as she continued to evaluate the world around her. She watched them for a minute or two. She smiled slowly, taking them in.
Her chest ached differently as she watched them silently. Serana's face was partially buried in Aela's hair. The way her arms were wrapped around Aela tugged at Azriel. One hand cradled her head, the other wrapped around her holding her in place. In turn, Aela rested herself on the vampire, with her head resting on her chest, her arms embracing her. Even in their sleep, their tenderness made Azriel's heart warm.
She let herself take another deep, slow breath. The walls were still moving, and it made her feel queasy. She swallowed, wishing she had some water. It was the only way she could be sure. As she watched them, she made up her mind, knowing she wouldn't be able to walk to them.
"Serana, wake," she whispered.
Instantly, the twin fires showed, looking at her from across the room. "Am I… dreaming?" Azriel whispered to her. The look of confusion on Serana's face turned to worry. She moved Aela, then stood and went to where Azriel was leaning against the table. She pulled Azriel into a hug, savoring her heated electric touch. "You're not dreaming."
"I… I can't tell." Azriel held her tighter for a moment. The electricity arced between them as they held each other for the first time in days. They were each eager to feel the other after being apart. They stood there for a long while, just holding each other and finding comfort in it.
"We have to go. Your father's men are looking for us."
Serana felt her jaw tighten. "It can wait, Azriel."
Azriel pulled back and searched her eyes. "No, it can't. We have to leave."
Serana loosened her grip enough to pull back to look at her. "You just woke up. Give yourself a day longer to rest. Trust me, we can wait."
Azriel shook her head, "You don't get it. He's going to kill you." She searched Serana's eyes, looking for understanding, but only finding concern.
"No, Azriel, we can wait. The…"
Azriel shook her head at her, "Aela, WAKE!"
The rumble filled the cavern as Aela jumped to her feet. "What's happening?"
"We're leaving."
"You're unbelievable, you know that?" Serana glared at her, holding her in place, "We are not leaving. You can barely stand!"
Footsteps thundered down the hallway. Lydia slid into the doorway first, followed by a trailing Idgrod. "What's happening?!" Lydia shouted in a panicked voice.
"Nothing," Serana growled at Azriel. "We are not leaving."
Aela looked between them shaking her head. "Serana, as much as this may pain me to say, we need to listen to her."
"Really, Aela?" Serana kept her hands planted on Azriel's shoulders to keep her in place.
"We didn't listen to her in that cave, and you see where that got us," Aela answered evenly, not wishing to anger her further. "If she says we need to go, then we need to listen."
Serana transferred her glare from Azriel to Aela. "I cannot believe either of you. Aela, two days ago you were on your deathbed. Azriel has barely just come off hers and you both just want to go charging off?"
"Yes!" Azriel answered quickly. "We have to stop that vampire from getting the bow." Even though she had kept her voice low, it was hurried. Serana threw up her hands in frustration watching Azriel's face.
"It isn't your father." Everyone looked at Idgrod. She cleared her throat, "The vampire she's talking about. He's not your father, but he wants the Prophesy fulfilled. I don't know who he is though."
Serana looked back at Aela. "Wonderful."
"She's never wrong," Aela said quietly.
Serana looked between Azriel's weakly reassuring smile and Aela's worried face. She could feel their determination and concern, and with that Serana conceded the battle. "If either of you dies, I will bring you back just to kill you myself."
Aela looked to the doorway and Lydia nodded at her understanding her look. Idgrod was watching Serana and Azriel, missing the silent communication between the companions. Lydia placed a hand on Idgrod's shoulder, "Let's grab everyone's things." The pair slipped away, allowing the three a short reprieve of privacy.
Aela watched Serana pull Azriel into another hug, as the footfalls faded. "Serana, I understand your concerns and I share them. But we cannot allow your father or whoever else it is searching for this bow to hold the advantage."
Aela walked to them. Serana held out her hand, catching Aela with it. "I'm already struggling with the guilt of what's happened to you both." Her voice trailed off.
Aela squeezed her hand reassuringly, "None of this has been your fault, Serana. That rests with your father and his greed. We choose to come with you."
Serana rolled her eyes, but Azriel put her fingers on her lips. "We're going to see this through with you. You're stuck with us now, Princess. I'm not going anywhere, I made a promise, remember?" Azriel smiled weakly at her.
Serana returned her smile with a sad one of her own, realizing they were trying to put her mind at ease.
"Nor am I, Princess." Aela ran her fingers over Serana's cheek softly. "We are your family, and we are both staying with you." Aela returned Serana's brightening smile.
Azriel winced as another surge of pain went through her chest and side. The ache was intense enough to make her shut her eyes for a moment to deal with it. She gripped her chest, rubbing it until it returned to a dull throb. When Azriel finally opened her eyes, she realized they were watching her. Movement in the doorway caught her attention before she could say anything.
"While I doubt, you'll listen to any semblance of reason, I will say you should wait a day longer before you depart." Valerica leaned against the entry, scrutinizing the three of them.
"You aren't well enough to travel, Dragonborn. I can still smell the poison in you." Valerica paused, glancing at Serana, then back to Azriel. "Even you are not invincible. If you won't heed my advice for your own sake, then do so for Serana's… Unless you intend to break your promise."
Azriel didn't respond. She looked down at the table she had been sleeping on and climbed back onto it. Serana looked back at her mother, who watched as Azriel lay down without a word. Valeria shared a lingering look with Serana, before turning to go back down the hall.
Aela pulled the blanket over Azriel. For a few minutes, they sat with her as she fell back to sleep.
"What… just happened?" Serana whispered, running her fingers through Azriel's hair.
Aela sat quietly contemplating Azriel as she slipped deeper into sleep. "They found something they can both agree on." Aela looked up at Serana and smiled.
4E 204 year… 13th of Evening Star… 0400…
Winter's chill greeted her before she reached the cavern's exit. She could smell the snow in the air spiced with the scent of pine. In a couple of steps, she heard the wind over the rocks. As she walked into the night air, she saw the nine vampires garbed in purple robes waiting.
Snow had fallen around them, covering the bloodstains of the murdered priest. Florentius' body was gone from the mountainside, making it seem as though it had never happened. Around the vampires, the snow had fallen knee-deep. Their purple robes and hoods told the tale of the winter storm that had passed over the last few days. None had removed the snow that clung to them.
Azriel strolled forward to greet the vampire in the center of the group that was smiling at her.
"I see you have recovered." Lamae sniffed the air as Azriel reached her. The vampire's smile changed to a frown, "The poison still lingers..." Her voice trailed off as a question.
Azriel nodded, "Valerica said it will take longer for the antidote to work fully. But we don't have any more time. Harkon's men will find another way very soon, we must stop them now."
Lamae bowed her head, "Then within a fortnight you must return to the Volkihar Keep. If you do not, I shall know that you have failed. Harkon and his clan shall find my justice swift."
Azriel took her hand and held it to her heart, "Lamae, I want…"
Lamae hushed her with a finger to her lips. "You do not need to thank me." She looked over Azriel's shoulder to where Serana and Aela stood with Odahviing watching.
"I wished only to help you and for you to live a long life."
Azriel nodded. The vampire removed her finger, her eyes locked with Azriel's. "We shall purge the Volkihar clan's reach within the province whilst we wait for you."
With a smile, she removed her hand from Azriel's.
The nine vampires were gone.
4E 204 year… 13th of Evening Star… 0912…
Azriel was taking deep breaths trying to control her rising anxiety. She was sick just looking over the cliff at the racing rapids below. The cavern rained from the spray of the angry river below them. The sound was so loud it was deafening. The mist in the air coated everything including them.
Aela and Lydia were assessing the bridge. Serana was looking for another way across.
"Just keep breathing," Idgrod shouted into her ear. The noise of the water and rapids was so loud that Aela and Lydia were signing to each other.
Azriel backed away from the ledge and wiped the sweat from her brow. She looked over to where Serana was walking back from, then to the bridge itself. She swallowed hard, knowing she'd have to cross the small wooden bridge soon. She sat there transfixed as it swayed in the wind generated by the rapids. The rope on the bridge was old and frayed. The wood was slick and rotting. Lydia stepped on the bridge to gauge the weight it could hold. The sinusoidal wave that she generated with a single foot on the bridge sent Azriel into a full panic. She sat down hard on the ground, pulling her knees to her chest.
After testing it a few times, Lydia put her full weight on it, the rope strained but held. Aela waved all of them over, but Azriel refused to budge.
"You look terrified," Idgrod yelled, kneeling next to her.
"I'm peachy." Azriel did not look at her.
"Azriel, we need to go."
Azriel shook her head no.
Idgrod looked at her, realizing her friend was not going to move. "Is it the bridge that's scary? I'll help you."
Azriel shook her head harder. "It's the water. I'm not going."
Lydia was already across, waiting for the rest of them. She pointed at Azriel and Idgrod, and Aela and Serana looked over at them. Aela signed back at her to check ahead, and Lydia disappeared down the cavern.
"Azriel, I'll help you cross. There's no other way over." Idgrod stood holding out her hand. Azriel tucked her hands under her arms and shook her head again. She was shaking at the thought of crossing the bridge.
Serana and Aela came over to where they were. Both could feel her terror.
Serana knelt next to her, "Azriel, we must go. We'll help you cross; nothing is going to happen to you."
Azriel slowly shook her head no. "I am not stepping foot on that bridge. Not for every Septim in Skyrim."
"I thought you preferred bridges to boats?" Aela prodded her.
"Fuck you, Aela."
"So, you do prefer the mighty Volkihar fleet?" Serana added with a smile.
Azriel glared icily between them.
Serana stood, "Will the bridge hold if we carry her?" She directed the question at Aela.
"We'd be too heavy," She looked at the battlemage before continuing, "maybe if Idgrod carried her. She the smallest and easily the lightest."
Azriel shook her head again, "No."
Idgrod took off her helmet, handing it to Serana, who placed it into Azriel's rucksack she was carrying. Serana and Aela pulled Azriel to her feet. Idgrod tried lifting her, but she was too heavy. "I can't."
Aela and Serana looked at each other, and Aela pulled her close. "Neither of us can take her across, the bridge won't hold."
"I can put her in a trance to get her to cross on her own, she won't know what she's doing."
Aela thought about it. "Do it. Or we'll be stuck here."
Serana knelt back down and smiled at Azriel. "Look at me." Serana wove the spell, sealing it with a kiss.
Aela watched them both stand-up and looked at the dazed look in Azriel's eyes. "Is she going to stay like this for long?"
Serana smiled, "It definitely works better when someone trusts you, but yes until I release her."
Aela laughed, "Might come in handy later."
Serana smiled fully at her, her eyes holding a mischievous gleam. "I didn't realize you were so evil."
Aela's retort was swift, "Maybe I'll show you later."
Idgrod groaned, but they both ignored her.
Serana blushed at the thought, "Cross Aela, I'll send her to you. Then you can show me."
Aela gave her a wolfish grin and walked to the bridge. With the sound of the rushing water, she couldn't listen for any problems. She moved slowly, feeling the rope and wood as she went. A board cracked under her feet, but she kept her slow pace trying to distribute her weight as she went. Once she was across the bridge, she waved to Serana.
Under Serana's spell, Azriel only listened to her command to cross. The spell did not allow her to slowly work her way across as Aela did. Nor did she have the capacity to think about distributing her weight. As Azriel crossed the ancient bridge, it began to bounce, straining the already frayed ropes. The boards that cracked under both Aela and Lydia's feet were unavoidable for Azriel.
The wood and rope already giving out failed, casting Azriel into the rapids far below. The moment she touched the water, she was gone. Neither Aela nor Serana thought before they acted. On either side of the broken bridge, they both ran, jumping from the cliff edge to the river below. Serana moving faster than Aela could. Lydia had caught sight of Aela as she went over the edge and ran where the remains of the bridge hung. Idgrod said a quick prayer to Talos and jumped after Serana. Lydia leapt from the other side following the young noble.
When Azriel hit the water, the spell had broken. The swift-moving waters carried her fast through an intricate cave system. As the water swept her away, Azriel panicked. Everything Aela had taught her about rivers was lost to her hysteria. She thrashed against the raging river, going over the falls, getting pulled under. The eddy spun her out of control, and she was moving down the river headfirst. The wolf within her howled. Azriel battled desperately against the river, and the river was uncaring of her plight. With another drop, came pure darkness. The sounds of the river filled all Azriel's being, the force, and fury of its pure terror. She was pushed and beaten against rocks, all the while the river moved faster still. In the darkness and her terror, Azriel slipped under the white waters, unable to catch her breath. In an act of self-preservation, her wolf pushed out and Azriel transformed.
Serana caught the rocks, pulling herself out of the river at the off-channel edge. She had heard the howling of the wolf within her, she was desperate to find Azriel. She looked around; the river widened at this point giving her a good view. To one side a cavern with a beach that led further up, to the other racing rapids that traveled farther into the cave network.
Serana swam toward the large rocks that greeted her in the calm pool. The rounded rock faces were slick, making either lifting herself or walking difficult.
Instead, she swam until both her hands and knees could touch the shoreline. She stood carefully and jumped to the top of a tall rock where it was dry.
From her vantage point, she surveyed the massive river's expanse.
Under the water's surface, she saw Azriel in her werewolf form. She was trapped against a large rock, under the ledge, where the rapids were the quickest. From her periphery, she saw Aela in the river, still floating in the rapids. "Aela," Serana pointed to the rock, "there!"
Serana dove from the rock into deep water, knowing Aela could ride the current faster than she could swim to her.
It took less than two minutes to get to where Aela was struggling trying to lift Azriel.
"I can't lift her; she is trapped on something." Aela panted, holding Azriel by the arm.
Serana and Aela both dove under the water. Aela tipped Azriel's head back, breathing air into her lungs through her nose, while holding her lupin mouth shut. Serana followed Azriel's body down to where her leg was trapped inside a crack in the rock. Serana tried pulling on her, to get her freed, but the force the water was exerting against her, made it impossible to move Azriel.
Aela dove again, breathing air into Azriel. Serana surfaced, catching Idgrod as she and Lydia got to them. "Her leg is trapped. Even if I break it, I'm not sure it will come out. I'll have to try prying the rock apart to get her out."
Aela dove again to breathe for Azriel. When she came up, she was panting. "What do you need us to do?"
Serana wiped her hair from her face. "You and Idgrod stay with her. Keep breathing for her. Lydia and I will go down. Lydia, you try to work her leg free. I'll work on the rock that's trapping her."
As she dove, Serana looked at Azriel's wolf face. Her eyes were partially open, her gums were pale, and her lips were already turning blue. She watched Aela dive and breathed into Azriel.
The silence through their connection was deafening as Serana called out to her. She could feel Aela, but Azriel was silent. Serana could still hear her heartbeat, but it was slow.
She grabbed Azriel's left leg and followed it into the rock. She pressed her palm to the stone and forced ice into the crack, expanding the stone, and breaking Azriel's leg in the process. She dove under Azriel, coming up on her left side. Repeating the process, she nodded to Lydia, underwater, as Idgrod dove to breathe into Azriel. Serana punched the rock as Lydia pulled her leg. The pieces of rock and ice formed a plume around them. Grabbing Azriel's leg, she slid it to one side, as Lydia pulled. The minor movement was enough for Serana to put both hands against the rock face again, filling the new crack she had made, forcing the farther apart. Serana smashed her fist against the rock, trying to break off the largest piece that held her foot. With each punch, more of the rock broke. Serana grabbed it and pulled it free, and Lydia pulled her free.
Idgrod and Aela, looped her arms under Azriel's, while Lydia and Serana each grabbed one of her legs as they swam back to shore.
The four of them lifted her out of the water, carrying her towards the lit cavern, and up onto the shore.
"Aela, I can't feel her or hear her heart." Serana's voice was strained with fear.
"Nor can I. Put her down!" Aela put her ear to her chest, "Her heart has stopped."