Morthall was only a few hours' walk down the road, and I realized that we would need to have a serious talk.

"Listen, Serana," I said, as we kept a brisk walk along the road, "Morthal is the nearest haven… for me. Not so much for a vampire."

"How so?" Serana and Helskr, both Nords, seemed unaffected by the cold; something I envied deeply.

I pulled my bear fur coat a bit tighter around me. Divines help me, I hate being a desert-loving Redguard in the frozen lands of Skyrim! "The town was under siege by a very old vampire about two weeks ago," I explained, trying to keep my mind off of my misery. "I was responsible for killing half the entire brood."

Serana's steps faltered before continuing. "I see…"

"We can get Helskr into a cell and free him… but you will not be safe in the town walking around in the open. Everyone will recognize the signs and react with immediate violence."

"I am not interested in being 'freed,' Redguard," Helskr growled. "My concerns are for my mistress, and the fact that you plan on dragging her into a town that will be out for her blood!"

"We can't go back, Helskr," Serana's voice shook only a little. "The storm isn't one that I would be too keen on facing down, even being a Volkihar vampire. It will kill humans. Even Nords." Serana stepped forward so she could look at me eye to eye, "I take it you have a plan."

I took note of Serana's mention of being a Volkihar vampire but did not question her further. I stopped, meeting her gaze, and tried to ignore the hard blast of wind and snow that rocked me on my feet. "I do, though I doubt you're going to like it. Oblivion, I don't like it myself. You'll go in as a mage."

"Are they… fond of mages in Morthal?" Serana asked, doubt clear in her voice.

I held up my index finger and my thumb a tiny span apart, "Only a smidge more fond of mages than they are of vampires." I made a face, "The town has one mage; a Redguard named Falion. They don't like him much, even though he is wholly dedicated to protecting the town and the people in it."

"Great…" she pinched the bridge of her nose, equally despondent.

"The one thing that we have going for us is my reputation within the town. I am a major local hero to the people there." The wind and snow were beginning to get worse, so I turned back to the road and started walking again. I was starting to have to squint against the icy crystals that stung my face. "They won't exactly welcome a mage with open arms, but they'll accept your presence as my companion and partner. As long as we don't push our luck, we'll be safe enough. You'd have to keep your hood low and your fangs out of sight though."

"Mistress, please, this is too risky," Helskr pleaded, shooting me a sideways dagger glare. "You can't be thinking of putting your life in the hands of this… this vampire murderer. One word from her is all it will take, and they'll kill you!"

"He is right," I agreed, earning a look of startled gratification from the man. "The risk is incredibly high. I know I'm asking a lot, considering how little we know of each other. You'll be riding entirely on my reputation... and goodwill."

Serana was silent for several minutes as we passed Stonehills. Any other time, it was a good place for temporary shelter. Unfortunately, it didn't have a jail. I wasn't keen on Helskr popping free of Serana's Seduction spell and unleashing the usual burst of violence that came with a thrall's freedom. The poor miners didn't deserve to lose furniture, and it would be more difficult for them to replace than it would be for Morthal.

"Look," I called into the whistling winds, "if we continue past Morthal, we'll break free of this lovely Skyrim weather. If we keep going, Dragonbridge is a few more hours beyond it. If that's what you want, we can go there instead…"

I certainly didn't want that. The icy wind was cutting through my clothes like they weren't even there at this point. I fumbled a potion of Resist Cold out of my pack and downed it, all but groaning in relief as heat suffused me. All I wanted was to get into Joana's inn, sit my frozen rump right on the rim of the hearth, stick my feet into the coals, and devour something scalding. Slogging along the roads for several more hours to reach Dragonbridge sounded about as appealing as playing tag with a starving wolf.

But… it didn't feel right to drag Serana into so much danger without giving her all the other options. She had been honest and honorable with me so far, and I was asking for a lot of trust in going into Morthal. I would do the right thing and let Serana choose.

Serana gazed at me with her exotic amber eyes. "Do I have your word that you'll do your best to protect me with this plan of yours? Do I also have your word that you will defend me and protect me should things go sour?"

Helskr's squawk of protest was all but whipped away by the growing wind and snow.

I stopped, turned, and met her gaze squarely, "You have my word, Serana."

A very tiny smile curved the corners of her mouth upward, "I don't know why, but I feel like I can trust you, Lasirah. Let's get into Morthal. And... let's get indoors. I'm no fan of the sun, but it would be better than this."

.

"Hail there, friends! You two will be the last travelers we're expecting from that direction for a long time," a guard called to us as we hustled into town.

I looked up from where I had bent against the wind, and saw a familiar face. "Benor! You made it into the town guard!" I greeted the man.

Benor had been instrumental in helping me save the town from Movarth Piquine. The ancient vampire had planned on converting half the town into vampires, and the other half into cattle to feed upon.

"Lasirah!" he greeted me in return. He crossed the distance in two strides and pulled me into an embrace. "Good to see you!" he laughed as I stumbled, and clapped me on the back. "Aye, I handled Hroggar so discreetly and efficiently that the Jarl placed me on the guard a few days after you'd left." His gaze grew somber, "I'm glad to see you coming alive and well out of that muck." He nodded at the black skies behind me.

Despite the falling snow, I was happy to stop for a few minutes to have a friendly word with the local man. "The sky is black as far as the eye can see. We came out of a cave we were, ah, adventuring in and felt it would be wise to head into town. What's the word?"

Benor seemed more than happy to share the gossip. "This morn' we got a courier alerting us that all roads heading north are closed. Roads to Dawnstar and Winterhold are impassable. Windhelm has reported being on the edge of it, and they're closing down that city too. Mount Anthor and the mountains are partially shielding the city from the worst of it. It's still strong enough to be dumping quite a bit of snow in the area, so the city is closing its gates. There's a strict edict against going outside unless necessary. We seem to be on the edge ourselves, and we're already breaking out the shovels and preparing for an endless task."

"Dawnstar, Winterhold, and Windhelm?" I said, appalled, "Skyrim is experiencing a Three Hold Storm?"

"Aye," he nodded knowingly at my shock. "Haven't had one of those in over a century. What little word we have says that the winds are fit to blow a man, his horse, and his carriage, clean off the nearest cliff. Weather mages report that there are no signs of it stopping for at least two weeks. The warmer air from the south is reacting badly to the icy air of the north they say. Autumn's come early."

I shuddered, "Divines guard the holds."

His expression was grim as he nodded, "Aye, pray for them all; they'll need it. Best get yourselves to the inn as soon as you can. I take it you only caught the edge of that monster, but I'd wager a month's pay that you would like someplace warm to bunk for the night." He nodded to the building with welcoming lanterns hung by its door.

"That would be a wager you would win, friend," I agreed.

"Jonna would be more than happy to have you. She blesses you every day, you know?" Benor said in a playful stage whisper, "Something about you being the… ah, 'first shine of good luck,' or some such. Once our little vampire problem cleared up, we started getting a small stream of visitors."

Serana tugged her hood a bit lower over her eyes.

"We'll never be a bustling hub like Solitude," he admitted, blithely missing the nervous reaction. "But people aren't disappearing before they get to town now."

"I'm glad to hear it," I told him with genuine warmth. "Actually, I have to make a request... Would your guard station have an empty cell we could borrow for a day?"

The man looked sharply at me, remembering the last time I had needed a cell. I confirmed his thoughts, summing up Helskr's past and how my 'mage friend' was keeping him under a Pacify spell.

"Vampires, aye? Another poor thrall." The guard muttered darkly, shaking his head.

Helskr, thankfully, kept quiet. Serana shifted and pursed her lips closed to keep her fangs concealed. I was grateful that mages were prone to wear their hoods low, so it would not arouse suspicion.

Benor continued, "Poor man. Well, we have plenty of cells for him to wait in; take your pick. Just alert the captain that we're about to hear some screaming and swearing sooner or later." He looked at Serana with a small frown, "Since Lasirah can vouch for you, you'll be welcome enough in town, mage. Just… don't go setting anything on fire, all right?"

"No problem," Serana murmured and that satisfied the man.

The captain was quite agreeable to loaning us a cell after hearing who had requested it. Serana ordered Helskr into the cell and told him to wait for our return. He obeyed, but not without a low protest about her being alone with me.

After some low, fervent reassurances on her part, we made our way to the Moorside Inn. Jonna greeted me with a glad cry and a welcoming hug. "Now here's a woman I'm glad to see! Come in! Come in! I'll stoke the fire right away. Take a seat and get the cold out." She hustled us into a warm corner near the back of the inn. "I'll have some stew ready for you in a moment, Lasirah. And you, miss? What would you like to eat?"

A somewhat bemused Serana ordered some beef, cooked rare of course, and some bread and cheese. Jonna didn't bat an eye, as many Nords liked their meat half ready to moo in protest at the sight of a fork and knife. It wasn't long before she had our food ready.

We were halfway through our meal when a warm hand came to rest firmly on my shoulder. I looked up to see a familiar face within the hood he always wore, and smiled. "Falion! Great to see you."

"Good to see you too, Lasirah," the man said, not taking his eyes off Serana. "Can I speak with you for a moment? Alone." The last word held menace.

I blinked then felt the food in my belly turn to stone, "Er, sure, as long as nothing happens to my companion while I'm gone."

The frown on his face deepened, "Nothing will happen… yet. We simply need to talk."

Serana went rigid in her seat, but made no other move as Falion all but pried me out of my seat. We headed into the open space behind the inn's bar.

"Lasirah, I take it you know what that woman is?" my fellow Redguard asked in a very low growl.

"Yes I do," I said, keeping my voice as low as his own. "It's okay, Falion."

"'It's okay?'" he repeated dubiously. "Do tell. Tell me about her. Tell me all about her."

I let out the breath I hadn't even known I'd been holding, and closed my eyes in relief. He was going to see whether I had been enthralled before he acted. He respected and trusted me enough to let me prove that I was all right before he leaped in. I told him the short of it, admitting to my doubts and her reserved nature, but also telling him about our compromise and decision to travel together. At this, he relaxed. My account was straightforward and blunt, with no fawning adoration.

He finally sighed. "Divines, Lasirah, if I didn't trust your judgment…" he shook his head. "All right. I won't say anything about your companion, as long as no one wakes up a tankard lighter in the morning." He gave Serana a reluctant nod of acceptance and left us alone.

I returned to the table and reassured her that we were, indeed, all right. The tension leaked out of her bit by bit as the evening went on and no one came after us.

The room I rented only had one bed, and despite my invitation to share, Serana declined. Instead, she took up a position with only my sleep roll between her and the cold stone floor.

The next day, the horizon to the east was still black, and the occasional wind that escaped the storm was chilling. Even at this short distance, Stonehills was almost completely blocked from view by the falling snow. I knew that the mining community would need to borrow the guards from Morthal to get the roads shoveled.

I made a quick visit to Jarl Idgrod to pass the word, leaving Serana just inside the front door and out of the weather. The Jarl thanked me and promised to send a contingent of guards to the settlement once a day to help do so. Her usually half-vague expression was gone today, and her gaze was sharp and penetrating as she looked at me.

I didn't need her to say anything; the words she had said to me as I had left Morthal still rang in my ears; "I fear dark days approach and all of your strength will be needed. Please… Tread wisely in your days ahead… I fear something sinister lies on your horizon." and "I know only that a great darkness lies before you, beyond the borders of our town. Remember your promises. All of them. Remember what you have sworn, and to whom."

I had no intention of betraying Serana's trust. I wasn't sure what other promises I would be keeping, but Jarl Idgrod's intense stare was a solemn reminder of my future. I met her eyes and nodded, reaffirming that her advice had not been forgotten.

To my surprise, Falion had gotten over his reservations about Serana's status as a vampire. The two were having a lively discussion about conjuration.

Falion gave me a half wave, before launching into a lengthy warning about 'permanent Magicka burn.' Those words made my skin crawl even as I didn't understand the whole of it. Serana countered animatedly about a soul siphon and 'maintaining fields of harmonic energy in the reagent,' which started the beginnings of a headache right behind my eyes. This was not a conversation I needed to try to join.

I had never been one for magic; outside of my one healing spell, I avoided it. After trying to pick up a basic Flame spell, I ended up closing the book again after the third or fourth paragraph. Reading about the horrible things that happen to spellcasters who lose their concentration was more than enough to put me off the idea of wielding magic against vampires. Dawnbreaker served me perfectly well with its enchantment.

Give me a good weapon and a clean fight any day. I could teach the world's biggest fumble-fingered farmer the basics of self-defense. Reaching for power required more than a powerful will and concentration. Magic, and magical theory, required a mind that could handle complicated theorems.

Since Serana and Falion seemed to be enjoying themselves, I left them to their discussion. I headed out to replenish our supplies, and packed a bag for both Serana and Helskr.

Remembering what Serana had mentioned back at the cave, I visited the local alchemist. At her recommendation, I bought a small supply of potions and ingredients.

Thanks to the renewed flow of travelers, furs had begun to come through the town. Everyone had new winter clothes, and the town even had some extras for travel supplies. Jonna was able to sell me two sleep rolls and two travel packs. It ate into my supply of coins, but I was soon content that all three of us were well taken care of in the days ahead.

Late afternoon had Serana and I returning to the jail and standing outside the cell where Helskr was being held. He was pacing, eyes darting. "Mistress," he pleaded when he spotted Serana, "I can feel it. Your magic is waning. Please, recast the spell."

The vampire shook her head, expression gentle but firm, "I'm sorry Helskr, but no. I promised you that I would release you."

"But I don't want to be released!" He gripped the bars between us, "Please, Mistress! I don't want to be separated from you! I don't want to lose the connection we have. I would happily die for you, if you would but let me."

My mouth dried, and a cold sweat trickled down my spine. Every word out of the man's mouth was familiar to me. The need. The desperation. The fawning servitude. It was why having his hand skewered hadn't broken Lokil's hold on him back in Dimhollow. It was why Helskr had leaned over that horrific contraption to make it easier for Lokil to slit his throat. It was why he had been so enraged at me for killing his master, even knowing that Lokil would have murdered him without a second thought. Vampire Seduction stripped him of everything but blind obedience.

Yep. This was all too familiar to me.

"I don't want you to die for me," Serana reached out and cupped the man's face. "I want you to live. I want you to have a life. Preferably without a vampire meddling in it."

"But Mistress..."

"Hush. A few moments more, and it will be over."

Helskr obediently fell silent, but stared at the vampire with desperate, pleading eyes. Then, with a magical pop, the spell ran out.

Serana released him and stepped back quickly, as the man blinked. The desperate, whipped-puppy look bled away, replaced by rage.

"SON OF A SAILOR'S WHORE!"

I winced at the volume of Helskr's profanity. I had met heralds with less lung power. He spun away from us and seized the nearest object, a wooden chair. With a familiar roar of rage, he threw it against the far wall of his cell, where it smashed to pieces. Yet another chair, sacrificed in the name of freedom. I grimaced an apology at the guard at the end of the hall, but she waved a dismissive hand.

Considering that the whole town knew how thralls behaved once freed, there wasn't going to be a lot of reaction to the racket. One of the town's own, a man named Hroggar, and several other thralls, had done the same. That and gossip would have made its rounds. If someone didn't know what was going on by now, they were either in a coma or dead. Still, as a gesture of goodwill, I would give a few coins to the captain to replace the chair that the former thrall had destroyed. Hroggar and Helskr. What a pair.

Thankfully Helskr's initial fury was now spent, and the Nord stood in the middle of his cell, chest heaving for several breaths.

Turning back to the man in the cell, I said, "Helskr."

The man whirled around at my voice, then let out a very long, very relieved breath. "You…" his voice was quieter now; calmer. His eyes welled with relief and gratitude, "You're the one who saved me from Lokil, and healed my hand. Lasirah."

"That's right." At my confirmation, he reached through the bars to me, and I clasped his extended arm warmly. "I'm glad to finally meet the real 'you,' Helskr." I paused, then asked, "You are free, right? No need, or wish, to go back under?"

Helskr's face twisted in revulsion. "No," he growled, "No, I do not want to be under the sway of another vampire."

I murmured in relief, and his eyes shifted over to Serana, who had faded back against the far wall, eyes on us nervously.

"You," he said, his expression conflicted, "You're Serana. I remember that you promised to release me. I am… grateful to you, more than words can say, that you kept your promise. But I hope you will forgive me if I also say that I have no wish to remain in your presence."

"No offense taken," Serana's voice was casual as she gestured her lazy acceptance, but I could see the tension in the set of her shoulders.

Her unease was quite understandable: the man was likely to go through a lengthy period of aggression toward vampires. It was also going to be quite personal.

"Helskr," I brought his attention back to me as I unlocked his cell, "Do you have anywhere to go? Any place you can call home?"

"No. I am… I was… a mercenary before the vampires took me. It takes time to build a successful reputation, and build wealth until you can buy land for yourself. I didn't have more than a few notches in the handle of my war axe when I was captured."

I smiled kindly at him, "Then maybe I could give you a direction to take, now that your life is once again your own?" He nodded as I handed him the pack, "If you go southeast of Riften, there's an unassuming cave entrance. It leads to a place called Dayspring Canyon. There's a fortress; Fort Dawnguard. You'll find people there. Warriors. Vampire hunters. They'll welcome you with open arms if you are willing to join up."

His face lit up, "Thank you Lasirah. I'll take you up on your advice. Is that where you're from? Is that where you're going?"

"Yes to the first; in a little while to the second," I allowed, "I have… a few things to do before I can go back. But I hope to see you there."

I handed him one of the packs and bed rolls, and the Nord swore on his honor to repay me the spent coin. We said our farewells and watched as he began his journey on the road to the southeast before Serana turned back to me. "So…" she started, then hesitated.

"Yes, I'm still taking you home. I haven't forgotten," I reassured her, hefting my bag onto my shoulders and handing her her own.

Her surprise and pleasure at finding the travel pack, bags for alchemy ingredients, and her own sleep roll was gratifying. I led the way along the road to the west of the city, Serana still following me like an obedient little lamb.

It took us a few days to leave the swampy mess of Hjaalmarch and travel through the more rocky province of Haafingar. During that time, I spotted Serana slipping away at night to feed. The fact that we weren't bothered by roving bands of bandits, once the sun went down, was telling. The storm faded behind us, and soon the days and nights turned from freezing to chilly.

Serana was a pleasant companion to have around, all things considered. I learned that she loathed both sunny days and snowstorms. But she had an appreciation for the natural beauty of the wilder countryside. Her soft exclamations about the beauty of nature made me pay attention to things that I usually ignored as mundane. I soon found myself appreciating nature through the vampire's eyes. Waterfalls, little glens, a scenic spot at the top of a cliff to view the landscape… We developed a small habit of taking short breaks to appreciate them. Her small cries of delight at spotting this or that plant brought a smile to my face. Even though I had no background in making potions, her enthusiasm and genuine love for the subject made it a pleasure to listen to.

I also kept getting small jolts of surprise with little reminders of her vampirism. It was far too easy to forget what she was. Vampires tended to be aristocratic and aloof at the best of times. At worst they were more often cruel and depraved in creative ways. Living for centuries as predators gave them quite a superiority complex.

But Serana wasn't on either end of that scale. Our little stops turned into small, quiet moments where she seemed to completely relax and just… be.

That was something that seemed so... off to me. She was a vampire: powerful and dangerous… but she kept deferring to me to take the lead in a lot of things. Of course, she helped set up camp and did her fair share of the work. But it was like she had deeply ingrained conditioning that she was not the biggest and toughest wolf in the pack. Even in the presence of a vulnerable human, she did next to nothing to take the lead of her own volition.

She still refused to open up about her past, but even that was painting a picture that I did not like. Her father and her submissive behavior were at the center. I decided it was best not to press her on the issue of opening up, but I also silently plotted to throw her father's disemboweled corpse to the flames of the nearest pyre I got my hands on.