Valerica led me to a small alcove, where a long wooden chest awaited us. Inside was the long, familiar white tube of the Elder Scroll.

Serana carefully lifted it from its resting place and slung it across her back with a small smile at me. It settled into the position the previous two had with an air of familiarity. I smiled back, remembering my first glimpse of her in that stone coffin. I had thought of her as beautiful then. Knowing more about her; her past, her strength, and her growing trust despite that past; I felt as though we were well beyond mere physical attraction.

Valerica watched us share the tiny moment with bemusement. She cleared her throat, "Well, now that you've retrieved the Elder Scroll, you should be on your way. If there's anything I can do before you depart, you must let me know."

I paused, then said, "Can you help get the missing part of my soul back?"

Valerica smiled a little, flicking a slightly proud glance at Serana. "So my daughter applied some of the lessons I taught her about necromancy, did she? I had wondered how you had gotten here. Don't worry, I think I can help you."

I nodded in relief, "I could use all the help I can get."

"Your soul essence was trapped inside a gem. When you and Serana entered the Soul Cairn, it was 'given' to the Ideal Masters as payment." Valerica explained, "You simply need to retrieve the gem. You only need to touch it, and your soul will be restored."

"Any idea where it could be?" I asked.

"There's an offering altar not far from here. I'm willing to bet that the gem you're looking for is there." The vampire matriarch gave us directions. "Anything else?"

"Oh, Mother, I found these soul husks when we came in. Do they have any alchemical properties?" Serana pulled out the cone-shaped fungus and showed Valerica.

"Ah, the soul husks. No, I'm afraid there's no value in mixing them with other ingredients; I've tried to use them extensively while waiting here. However, five of them make a good extract if you give me enough time. They are very good at protecting you from the soul-draining effect that those large crystals have." Valerica gave me a keen look. "I suggest you eat one when you leave, so that the protective effect is suffused through your body by the time you reach the altar."

I shuddered and accepted a large fungus cone from a horrified Serana.

Finally, Valerica sat back and looked at us both steadily, "Is there anything else? Could be your last chance."

I blinked at her, "You're staying here?"

She shook her head, a little regretfully, "Even if I could, going back would only serve to hinder your efforts. Word would get back to Harkon, sooner or later, that I had returned to Tamriel. The last thing you need right now is a trail for him to follow."

I glanced at Serana and asked cautiously, "And if Harkon... fails? Will you come back?"

Valerica's eyes were ancient and tired, "No. That would not be good enough. The only way I'd even consider returning to Tamriel was if Harkon were not only to fail, but to be destroyed."

"So there really is no hope of redemption for him." I spoke the words, even though I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that we were well beyond that point. Harkon deserved his death a thousand times over... rather literally. But Stendarr was big on being merciful and not striking out in anger. I was also standing in the presence of his wife and daughter. It was rather tasteless to talk too casually about murdering a family member.

A trickle of understanding went through Valerica's expression and she spoke with the same tone. "You must understand; he's no longer the man I married all that time ago. He's obsessed... insane. Everyone around him fears him as they would a rabid dog. Harkon chose this path, and immersed himself in it willingly, and even eagerly. For this to end, he must die. The ritual required to give us immortality was but one of his many atrocities."

I kept my tone kind. "If I understand what you both have told me, then you both underwent this ritual. But not, I think, entirely willing."

Bitterness washed through Valerica's face, "It was expected of us both. From the very beginning of our worship as priestesses of Molag Bal, we were prepared for that role. Being selected as an offering to Molag Bal is an… honor." Valerica's expression said that it was quite the opposite. "Neither one of us dared turn our backs on that, for fear of the punishment that would come with refusing."

"Let a monster have his way with you, or be punished?" My words were quiet but horrified. "Coercion is still rape, Valerica."

Anger returned full force to Valerica's eyes and body language. Having to discuss being Molag's plaything with a vampire hunter did not please her in the slightest. "I know! Why do you think I turned on Harkon in the first place?!"

I met her angry gaze with my own, and I watched the fury gutter and die in her eyes as she saw my expression. "Valerica, I gave an oath to Stendarr that I would dedicate my life to protecting people who would be, or have been, the victims of vampires. What your husband did falls within that oath, even if he wasn't a vampire at the exact moment of his betrayal."

I let silence fall between us for a moment as Valerica eyed me with that swirling mixture of emotions once again.

After all my initial negative thoughts about Valerica, it felt strange to feel sympathy for her now. But those emotions that kept flashing over her face were very like Serana's, especially during her vulnerable moments.

I took a deep breath, "My oaths are promises to help people. That can include you, ma'am, if you're willing to choose a better path for yourself. To stop hurting people... including yourself."

Valerica flinched, and when she spoke again her words were tightly closed off from emotion. "Vampire hunter... Lasirah, was it? You have a good heart... far kinder than any other I have ever met, human or otherwise. But you should not waste that kindness on me. What has happened, what I have done, what I had to do... It's far too much. Did my daughter not explain that we exist because a thousand lives were destroyed?"

I nodded solemnly. "I was told of Harkon's schemes, and of the harm, he and Molag inflicted on both of you."

"Then you understand why your kindness should be saved for others more worthy."

"Serana said something similar, so I'll tell you what I told her; you are not responsible for Harkon's actions."

Thunder crashed a little nearer than usual, and it snapped me back to the situation at hand. I took a slow breath, then spoke carefully. "I won't lie, you're not my favorite person in the world, but are you sure you won't come with us? Even you probably don't want to be here when that winged nightmare puts himself back together."

The corner of her mouth lifted in a small sardonic smirk, "And... I appreciate your concern for me, but Serana is all that I care about. You must keep her safe at all costs. Remember that Harkon is not to be trusted. No matter what he promises, he'll deceive you to get what he wants. Promise me you'll keep my daughter safe."

"I'll do my best, but I hope you understand that there is always that chance of failure. We may never come back."

The vampire matriarch dropped her eyes, "You may win, and choose not to return anyway. After what I've put Serana through… sealing her in that hole… giving her no choice in the matter... I would understand if she never wished to see me again. I leave that decision in your hands."

"No. Leave that decision in Serana's hands. It is time for her to have a say in such things." I let those be the final words I said. I turned to leave the courtyard, with Serana trailing behind me in deeply thoughtful silence.