"The Dawnguard have headquarters in a large fort in a remote pass between the Velothi and Jerall Mountains," Serana explained as they continued on their way east from the little shack they found her in.
Bishop and Aeyrin explained everything to Dexion after she left the cave and he was just as disturbed about the prophecy as they were. He was also disturbed that he had just read a Scroll and didn't remember it, but Bishop reassured him that he wasn't the only one who got charmed by Serana.
They brought him back to Sky Haven Temple safely while discussing the next steps. He was going to concentrate on talking strategy with Esbern while Serana did her own thing. She would reach out when it was time.
For now, it was for the best to keep Alduin's return in mind too. It was a little much to have two disasters of world-wide proportions looming over them.
But they still had to hold up their end of the bargain and help Serana further. They picked her up the very same day at nightfall and headed east where she ushered them.
They did alert her that they would need to rest eventually. Which was a problem. Neither Aeyrin nor Bishop were comfortable resting near her while she was awake. If she was awake. Them being both asleep was just not an option. They could take shifts, but Serana seemed to be in a hurry.
No wonder, when this fort was at the other end of Skyrim.
"I've never seen a fort there," Bishop scowled. He knew the Rift through and through. He would have noticed if there was a 'large fort'.
"You wouldn't. It's well hidden behind some cavernous passes. It can't be seen, lest you climb some specific mountains, I assume. And those mountains are hard to climb," she smiled a little. She had a point. Bishop knew of only one pass over the Velothi mountains and it was in Eastmarch. And it was fucking difficult to get through. He used it on his hunting trip to Morrowind. It was a pain. The passes in the Jeralls were more numerous but no less painful to get through. The clearing of Gromm's Pass could not be finished fast enough. It was the only illegal pass that didn't take days or weeks to cross.
Then Bishop could kidnap Aeyrin back to Cyrodiil whenever things got too shitty here.
Though if now was not the time, he had no idea when.
"So it's an actual fort? With a… big group of people? How has nobody heard about them?" Aeyrin shook her head. This seemed all news to her, but the way Serana was telling it, there was some strange war between her clan and these hunters for centuries.
"The wars fought in secret often last the longest," Serana sighed. "The Dawnguard order always tried to remain covert in order to weed out spies. Apparently, they were quite open about their purpose once, but they got infiltrated by vampires and slaughtered in large numbers. Then they began 'checking' their members with their spells, but my clan began to use humans for the infiltrations then. The result was the same. Now they are much smaller. And much more careful. Father had no idea they were recruiting for a long time. And clearly nobody else did. They got a lot of information on those they approached beforehand. Sending a spy in there was apparently a years-long effort for father."
"How long has Dawnguard been recruiting?" Aeyrin raised her brow. That was a strange covert operation.
"Over fifteen years, I'm led to believe. Father only managed to learn of the Scroll's location and retrieved it several months ago. I was woken up after that. The world seemed the same, but I was caught up on some events that I didn't expect. But the concerns of the common people were never really a priority in our clan. Nobody cares about the dragons. Nobody cares about the war. They only care that there's enough to eat and they care about Dawnguard not hounding them. And of course, the prophecy."
"Your whole clan wants it to happen too?" Aeyrin questioned her. Serana said she had no allies in this.
"Not all of them know. Our bloodline is large and one of the most powerful ones out there. There are many of us, perhaps even a hundred, hiding all over Skyrim. But only those with the strongest blood in them, those turned by my father, are living in the Castle with us. Those are the only ones who know. And if some of them disagree with my father… they will not speak up out of fear. Just like me," Serana said almost matter-of-factly. For someone claiming to be afraid, she was always so calm. The only time she showed more emotion was when she was talking of her rebellion against her father. Or back when she was aggressively snarling at them.
"You have a castle?" Bishop raised his brow. Where? Where the fuck were these places? He had seen most of Skyrim. He would fucking notice a damn castle or a damn fort!
"You wouldn't find it," Serana actually let out a little chuckle. A somewhat mean one, as if she enjoyed Bishop's outraged ignorance. "Only if you sailed to a remote bay surrounded by the peaks of the Haafingar and Druadach Mountains."
Bishop only grumbled in response. He really prided himself on knowing most of the major landmarks, but now he heard about these apparently huge structures he had never even seen from a distance. It was still hard to believe that a large fort or a castle could be so well hidden. But maybe he was better off not knowing them before. He kinda wished this mess stayed secret. But when that asshole vampire wanted the prophecy to come true, it was impossible to ignore. Yet there was still one thing that bothered Bishop.
"So your father spent how long looking for the Scroll that the Dawnguard had?" He questioned Serana. "And why does he feel like he should wake you up now? You said he needed three. Why does he think he can get the last one faster?"
"He knows who has it. He was just… postponing trying to get to her. A lot of bad blood," Serana let out a soft sigh.
"Wait, so this is actually kind of… pressing? He can really get all the Scrolls right now?" Aeyrin's eyes widened. She thought, since Serana talked about all these years of silent wars, that there was time to prevent this.
"And where the fuck are all these Scrolls coming from? We had to jump through so many fucking hoops to get one random one. And you have specific ones all gathered up somewhere," Bishop threw his hands up in exasperation. If they met Serana a little sooner, they could have avoided Blackreach entirely.
Then again, he would never want them to have avoided Blackreach. Not in a million years after what happened there.
"Remember that this all has been centuries in the making," Serana shook her head. "These Scrolls were all kept even from the Imperial Library to be guarded against my father. Or guarded by my father."
"So the whole disappearance of them? That didn't happen to these three Scrolls?" Aeyrin pondered, though she realized now that Serana was entombed during that. So it couldn't have happened.
"The what?" Serana raised her brow. She clearly didn't know this historical tidbit.
"The Scrolls all disappeared from the Imperial Library one day, it was while you were… asleep. And they were all scattered around the world. Nobody knows where," Aeyrin explained.
"Ah. I understand your discontent then. You didn't get yours from the Library?" Serana asked and Bishop and Aeyrin only shook their heads.
"We had to search ancient Dwemer crossroads to find it. It was our only lead," Aeyrin explained.
"It sounds unpleasant. I could have tried to give you one of ours if I knew, at least for Dexion's reading at the mountain," Serana nodded thoughtfully. "But it might be for the best. I doubt father will let me borrow them again after I come back without the priest. I'll have to figure something out."
"Did you think about what you're gonna do with the spy at the fort too? You can't go ratting on your father with the spy there, right?" Bishop pondered. There was no point in discussing the Scrolls anymore and that spy thing would not end well if it wasn't resolved.
"I know who he is. I will tell the Dawnguard as a gesture of good intent," Serana explained. "And… what we talked about before… the Scrolls. It's not… that immediate. Father won't have an easy time finding the last one. But… I need it too. And my chances are better. I just hope I will be able to somehow hide it until I can take the other two. And even if he found out the entire prophecy, that doesn't mean he would be able to make it come true immediately."
"Right. But it's all a possibility if things go tits up," Bishop grumbled. He knew how this shit tended to get fucked in a matter of a moment – hadn't they just seen this in Rorikstead? One moment, one chain of events, and everything changed. All the carefully held secrets were revealed.
"Isn't that always the case?" Serana smiled the tiniest bit. "What else is there to do but attempt to prevent it?"
That was a fair point.
Serana was so surprisingly forthcoming, but she still felt like a mystery. Someone to be approached with caution. The hour was already late and Bishop and Aeyrin were getting tired after the long day, but was it really smart to camp?
Then again, they could not cross the whole of Skyrim without sleeping.
They could stop in Morthal though. But could they, with Serana?
"We are nearing a city," Serana mentioned, as if she was thinking the same thing. "Do you want to rest? I can find a place nearby to wait, though I would prefer to travel at night." She pulled her black hood a little more into her face. It served to hide her eyes for the most part on the road, just in case, but it was not enough to hide her in a civilized area.
"You don't use illusion magic to hide your vampirism?" Aeyrin asked curiously. Many vampires did that.
"No. I am not proficient in illusion magic," Serana shrugged. "And I never had the need to travel like this. Not to travel without my clan and outside the more hidden remote areas."
"We didn't have to take the roads, you know?" Bishop raised his brow at her. They could handle walking through more hidden areas.
"Roads are faster," Serana sighed. It was clear. She was nervous about dallying so much and not getting back to report to her father in a timely manner. Especially without the priest. Right now she was without the Scroll too, but they knew she just hid it somewhere like they advised her to.
"Don't vampires sleep?" Bishop scowled at her. She made it sound like she wasn't going to rest, wherever she went.
"Of course we do. It's only in some legends that we are beyond all mortal needs," Serana smiled again, amused. "I'm just used to sleeping through the day. Traveling at night is easier. I will try to rest now too though. We can't waste time with two sleeping shifts."
That was very true.
And with some luck, they might actually make it to the Rift in two more days.
…
"So, you never go into the cities? You never use carriages or talk to people on the road or stop at an inn?" Aeyrin asked Serana as the three of them sat around the fire.
It was their first night in the wilderness together when they were going to rest. There was no way around it and it felt strange anyway to chase Serana away while they sought shelter in civilized areas. But this time they were cutting their jouney short by crossing the Pale mountains. The most convenient place to camp they found was very near the lift to Raldbthar. It was the peak where they fought a dragon and a dragon priest at once right after their ordeal in the Dwemer ruins. But now it stood empty. And the Word Wall there provided the perfect shelter against the snow and cold winds. Since spring was in full swing, the snow wasn't nearly as bad as it usually was and the peak was not even completely snowed under.
In fact, the small patch of ground by the Wall was now blooming with flowers, although they were slightly frosted. It was a nice place to set up and keep to themselves this way.
It was a good idea to establish some better resting practices between the three of them. Especially since it was clear they wouldn't make it to the fort the next day. They would have to spend the following night in the wilderness too. And this time it would really have to be in the wilderness. It was unlikely that what was going to happen would escape Serana's notice.
"I never had the need to see the cities. We were mostly reclusive," Serana noted. "Sometimes I did though. Sometimes I covered myself as best as I could and walked around the cities and settlements. They change so much over the years. The Castle never changes."
"Why not learn illusion magic and see everything safely?" Aeyrin cocked her head. Serana seemed to be interested in the world outside the Castle. Why not?
"I suppose I could have done that in secret, but my studies were dedicated to other schools that helped me protect myself and… to pursue different kinds of research," Serana shrugged. "Father never liked any of us using illusion magic. He claimed it was weak to try and look like mortals. We are the superior ones after all and we should not hide it. Everyone should know."
"So that they attack you on sight? Nothing superior about dying," Bishop scoffed. What kind of fucking logic was that? It kinda reminded him of the bullshit his own family was convinced of. The whole fucking 'superior blood' mess he had to deal with. It was always just idiotic.
At least he knew that survival was more important than pretenses. And Serana seemed to have an inkling of it too, judging by her outfit. It did look like an ordinary traveling outfit, but the cowl on her head ensured that she could have her eyes hidden if she met someone. But they were still fucking glowing! She should really try harder and learn some illusion magic. Even if she stayed locked in her castle, it was a good contingency plan.
"I know. It's something to think about. Skyrim is… much more populated now than I'm used to. I was only roaming its lands in the Second Era and during the Crisis and… well in the latter it wasn't really people around, but Daedra," Serana shook her head a bit. "If I'd known things would be like this, I might have dedicated some of my time to illusion, but since I awoke, I could hardly do anything but think about how to stop my father."
"You still think that approaching your mortal enemy is the best way to go?" Aeyrin looked at her in concern a bit. Serana's words made her apprehensive. If her father was as awful as she painted him to be so far, it was likely that the Dawnguard would get instantly aggressive. Maybe Aeyrin should go in alone and explain before they would take Serana in too.
"They're the only ones who know about the prophecy and who can tell me more. They're the ones who are invested in stopping it as well. And… they have the means to… they are effective in what they do," Serana looked into the fire from which she sat quite a distance away. Maybe she didn't like to feel the heat on her skin.
"You mean: 'They have the means to kill your clan'?" Aeyrin looked at her in concern. Was that what Serana wanted?
"If it comes to that. If… if they stand in the way, what else is there to do? We can't allow this prophecy to come true," Serana nodded in determination.
"Aren't you close to them?" Aeyrin gave her a surprised shake of her head. She seemed so willing to let her 'family' die.
"'Close'? I was never really close to anyone. I don't think you realize how much of a role hierarchy plays in our society. I am superior to them in what I am and they treated me accordingly," Serana spoke almost dryly. "I do not wish them to die, but stopping the prophecy is more important."
"Well… you're very… dedicated," Bishop only shrugged. Serana still made him uncomfortable. A lot of what she said made sense and a lot of it was actually good, but he just couldn't shake his apprehension. How could he? He would probably never fully trust a vampire again. And she had charmed him once already!
"Aren't you too?" Serana looked at the two of them. "You must be, with things on our shoulders like these, right?"
"Are you kidding? If it didn't end the world, I would have kidnapped her and hid somewhere in the Elsweyr jungles years ago," Bishop scoffed and Aeyrin only let out an amused chuckle at his joke. It wasn't a joke though. He really fucking wanted to do that.
"It's… difficult to keep thinking about it," Aeyrin admitted after her somewhat forced laugh died down. "I wish it wasn't on me, but it is. And I can't turn my back to it."
"Hmm-hmm, I agree," Serana smiled a bit. "I would have enjoyed spending my time studying magic and alchemy or just seeing more of Skyrim, of the remote and lost areas that nobody steps into for centuries. But there will be none of that if the prophecy comes true. The places will lay barren, and while the books might last, my nourishment will not. And I have no intention of dying."
"Speaking of dying," Bishop sighed. "We need to deal with this. How do we sleep?"
"What do you mean?" Serana raised her brow at him curiously. Alright. This would get uncomfortable.
"Uhm… well… we barely know each other and we'll be kind of defenseless in our sleep…" Aeyrin bit her lip, trying to explain as gently as she could. Was it odd to be nervous to be sleeping next to a vampire? They should keep watches, right?
"I realize I haven't been human for a very long time, but I do not remember close proximity requiring any more… touching than necessary," the vampire shook her head briskly with a somewhat disturbed look on her face.
"That's where your mind went? Really? We don't trust you enough to sleep next to you," Bishop sighed. There was really no reason to dance around this shit.
"You think I'll kill you?" Serana scoffed. "If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so already. Or do you think that somehow a thousand year old vampire has not learned to control her cravings?"
"Yeah, right, the whole 'I could have killed you already' thing," Bishop grumbled. He didn't exactly find this excuse comforting.
"Well I could have. Dragon or not, I can incapacitate you for a while with my charm," Serana nodded meaningfully at Aeyrin. "I can charm you," she looked at Bishop, then back at Aeyrin. "And then I can use my magic to weaken you and kill you then."
Bishop and Aeyrin only blinked at her incredulously. She actually had it thought out?
That wasn't disturbing at all.
"You've… thought about it," Aeyrin let out a nervous chuckle. That answer was way too quick for improvisation, wasn't it?
"I have. I think about it every time I allow anyone close enough to me to strike. I have to. You think you're the first ones thinking this way? People don't always just come out and voice their suspicions. They attack preemptively," Serana sighed. "I need to think of this so that I can act if I need to."
"So you don't have a problem sleeping while we're right next to you after this speech?" Bishop narrowed his eyes at her. Or was she not going to sleep? That would be even more uncomfortable.
"I trust you enough not to kill me," Serana smiled a little. "Personal impressions aside, there is logic in it too. You can't kill me. You don't know where I hid the Scroll."
That was… true. If they wanted to get rid of her and pawn off this prophecy on the Dawnguard or take it upon themselves, they would be missing Serana's Scroll. It was clever of her to demand it back.
"Then we just… sleep?" Aeyrin kind of asked a question, but she didn't expect an answer. None of them had a reason to kill the others, but that didn't make it any less uncomfortable.
But first, it seemed like it was time for food. The whole time some venison had been roasting on the fire. Serana assured them that vampires do eat, unlike other undead. She was even uncomfortable with being called 'undead'. She didn't see it that way. And it was possibly… debatable. She didn't actually die, she just… contracted a disease, right?
In any case, Aeyrin couldn't wait for the food.
"Is it done yet?" She gave Bishop a hopeful look.
He poked the meat with a fork, but then shook his head in response.
Dammit.
"Ugh, I feel like I've been tasting metal the whole day or two," she sighed. At first she had no idea why but then she remembered. "I think that's from that charming thing you did to me," she grumbled at Serana, though she wasn't exactly being accusatory, just grumpy from the taste in her mouth.
"Well I didn't aim for that reaction," Serana smirked a little, though she still studied Aeyrin curiously as if she could see that way how it was that the charms never worked on her. She herself wished she knew for sure.
"See, another thing that'll make people uncomfortable," Bishop grumbled. The knowledge that she could make him a drooling slave with one look made him really fucking wary.
"It's a tool at my disposal. I will not gouge my eyes out to make 'people more comfortable'," Serana scowled.
"I know, it's just fucked up that you can just… do that," he growled. He knew there was nothing he could do about it.
"You can do things that worry me. Every time we pass people, I worry you will pull down my hood and reveal who I am," Serana shrugged. She seemed almost disinterested in the statement, but without her tone, it would have sounded so vulnerable.
"Why would we do that?" Aeyrin blinked at her. "We already established we can't kill you. Why would we expose you to people so that they might try to do it themselves?"
"I don't know. Why would I charm him when I need nothing but escort to the Fort? Which you are providing," Serana shrugged.
That was… true.
"I understand the apprehensions and worries," Serana sighed. "I can promise you that I will not charm him unless my life is threatened directly. But if you think me a liar, I don't know what my promise is worth."
"No," Aeyrin shook her head a little guiltily. "I believe you. I mean… I want to believe you. But…"
"But I am a vampire and you will always have some suspicions. You are dangerous too, you know? I know what the Dragonborn are capable of," Serana scowled a bit.
Aeyrin flinched at her words. She was right, of course, but she still hated to hear it – how dangerous she was. And Serana didn't even know the full truth.
"I'm sorry," Aeyrin sighed. "I know. It's just sometimes hard to think of it that way. I was never really taught to think of people like you as…" People. She didn't want to say it outright.
Serana's eyes focused promptly on the amulet of Stendarr around her neck. She must have noticed it before and now she was making the connection properly.
"I know people like you all too well," Serana nodded. "Have you never met someone like me that didn't attack you outright?"
"Not a vampire… not really," Aeyrin shook her head. Should she tell her? She wasn't sure. But if there was anyone who would not judge her, it was Serana. And maybe it would help ease this mistrust a little. Or it would make it worse. But Aeyrin really hoped not. "But… I've met lycanthropes who were… well… I am one too now," she lowered her gaze in shame. She couldn't help the reaction. She would probably never be able to admit it without shame.
"You are a lycanthrope?" Serana raised her brow. "I didn't know. You… chose this, despite the…?" She pointed to the amulet.
"I didn't. It was something done to me, but… convincing myself that I'm not the monster I thought all of them were… well it's still a process," Aeyrin sighed.
"You are what you make of yourself. Forces like these, they don't rule you. They are useful, but they don't have to define your actions. Everyone would think someone like me would just go along with my father's plan, but I make my own decisions," Serana shook her head in determination.
"You're right. But… it's not that easy. It can rule you. I… I still can't be sure that I can control it. I still have to take precautions. I still have to chain myself during full Secunda not to hurt anyone," Aeyrin sighed. She wasn't sure if she could ever let herself turn without that. Not when she remembered nothing.
"You do what? You 'chain yourself'?" Serana gaped at her. Was she really so horrified by it?
"You let yourself be entombed voluntarily!" Aeyrin scoffed. She was really one to talk.
"It was for my own protection," Serana retorted promptly.
"Well I'm also concerned about harming others, not just protecting myself," Aeyrin huffed. It wasn't about her. She didn't think she'd get killed if she skipped the chaining. She was worried she'd kill someone else.
"So am I. Otherwise I wouldn't be here at all," Serana said. "But I suppose it is about self-preservation too and the idea of a world without humans. Still, I am stronger than my cravings."
"You are yourself all the time," Aeyrin scowled. It was different. "I don't remember anything after I turn back. I don't know what I did. How can I trust myself then?"
"It sounds like your mind attempts to deny your situation," Serana pondered. "Learning to live with it may help."
"You act like I'm not trying," Aeyrin pouted. She wanted to come to terms with it. Maybe if she didn't know about the cure, she would have tried harder, but it was difficult not to keep imagining that she could be… normal again.
There was a brief lull in the conversation before Bishop interrupted it.
"Were you really entombed 'for your own protection'?" He looked at Serana dubiously. Was it her decision or her father's? Did she agree with it?
Serana only looked into the fire again and didn't answer. Her face didn't really provide more answers either aside from the fact that it was obviously not as clear-cut as she made it sound.
After a while, she merely changed the subject with the first thing she could think of, clearly.
"Is the meat done yet?" She inclined her head towards the slab of venison.
They could as well drop this subject.
It was not making the tension any better.
…
The next night had come all too soon and Bishop and Aeyrin made sure to explain to Serana what was going to happen.
Full Secunda's time came once again and Aeyrin needed to be chained up during their stay.
They were in the Rift by now and they could have made it to the Fort in only a few more hours. Serana wanted to continue, but Aeyrin adamantly refused. She would turn no matter what and there was no way she was risking getting stuck at that fort when it happened.
So they set up their camp once more, but surprisingly enough, Serana did not look like she was about to leave, no matter how many times they'd insinuated that she should.
When Bishop actually spelled it out for her though, she outright refused to leave. She said she was curious and that she would be no bother.
There was really no reason to get her away. Aeyrin still felt uncomfortable with someone there for the transformation, but she had no arguments against it. Bishop didn't seem thrilled either, not even if it meant he would have company for the night.
Truth be told, he was content with the werewolf's company alone. They had a rapport – a relationship. And someone intruding on it felt… like a strange breach.
He didn't want anyone else there.
But he had no valid arguments either. And Serana had a point when she presented her own – it took precious time from them to be searching for each other in the morning and wasting time on two different camping spots.
Maybe it wouldn't be that bad.
When Serana went to a nearby pond to wash up, Aeyrin took off her clothes and jewelry to hide herself in her blanket. It may have been a more minor concern, but being there chained and naked in front of a veritable stranger wasn't exactly comfortable either.
"Oh. Really?" Serana blinked as she returned and saw Aeyrin chained up like this.
"I don't really have a choice," Aeyrin growled.
Bishop held his tongue. He honestly thought it was completely fine for her to dispose of the chains already. But he knew she would never agree to it, especially with Serana here.
Then again, who knew how the werewolf would react to the vampire? Maybe it was for the best.
"So, when is it going to happen?" Serana inquired.
"Soon," Bishop answered as he looked up at the moons. "Half an hour maybe."
Serana sat herself down by the fire some distance away again with a curt nod. When she was done observing Aeyrin curiously, she looked over to see what Bishop was doing.
"You're cooking again?" She raised her brow. It wasn't that long since they'd eaten.
"Yeah, it's for her," Bishop smirked. "Calms her down."
"Of course it does," Serana chuckled a little. She didn't usually show much emotion, so even her laughs seemed subdued. "Are you sure you have enough?"
"Honestly, Aeyrin herself could eat more than her werewolf form," Bishop laughed, earning a glare from Aeyrin, though a somewhat amused one.
"Hey! It's your fault."
"Hmm? Why?" Serana raised her brow.
"Because his cooking is too good," Aeyrin grumbled, though she couldn't really complain about it.
"Ah. Yes. We rarely pay much attention to the quality of food at the Castle. Everyone's more concerned about… other nourishment," Serana nodded thoughtfully.
"So… what do you do? Hunt bandits and such?" Aeyrin asked carefully as she huddled herself more into the blanket. Did she even want to know?
"Sometimes," Serana merely shrugged. That was probably all she was going to say about that and maybe that was for the best.
Silence fell onto their camp as the campfire crackled in the night. Bishop only prepared the meat to cook it later and he moved to secure their camp with traps. Serana asked about it before and they explained that it was just a security measure against potential enemies. She didn't question it further, but she would probably not be intimidated by the Brotherhood anyway. In fact, her presence could be a nice deterrent for the assassins.
It only took several more minutes before it happened.
Secunda ascended to its highest spot and Aeyrin let the blanket fall from her body. She remained curled onto herself though to preserve her modesty. It was merely a second before she turned anyway.
The werewolf growled instantly. She hadn't done that in a while now, but now she was almost as bad as the first time, rattling her chains and baring her teeth – concentrated on Serana.
Fuck. This was what Bishop was afraid of. It was like Karnwyr when he reacted to vamps. It was a good thing he didn't try to convince her to dispose of the chains.
He stood up from their bedroll and walked over to her steadily. When she wouldn't stop thrashing, he decided to speak.
"Hey! Look at me," he tried to sound commanding and Aeyrin really did turn her black eyes towards him.
She was still growling, but she stopped thrashing for a while, as if she was giving him a signal that it was alright to approach.
He didn't hesitate. He was not even a little worried anymore. He took a few steps before he stood in front of her fully, completely within distance to get mauled. He reached out with one hand, handing her the silver wolf-head ring, and with the other he reached out to her face and began to gently rub behind her ear.
Aeyrin let out something that could only be called a purr. Heh. So fucking cute. He continued to rub her comfortingly as she clutched the necklace. Her eyes fastened onto Serana again and she growled, but she didn't move.
"It's alright. She won't harm us, remember?" Bishop spoke reassuringly.
Aeyrin let out a soft whine and then she let out a much angrier growl. Bishop looked over his shoulder only to see that Serana moved closer to the fire.
What was she doing?
She tentatively put the pot with the meat on the fire to have it cooked. Was Aeyrin protective of her food too? It wasn't really that surprising.
"Don't worry, it's still all yours," Bishop chuckled and, fortunately, she looked back at him.
"Come on, love, calm down, sit," he commanded her once more. She seemed… reluctant. But as he kept looking at her intently, she eventually obeyed. He could barely even remember how hard it was to interact with her in the beginning. It was such a stark difference.
Bishop sat down as well and he positioned himself to lean his back onto her chest with a comfortable sigh leaving his lips.
"She made it sound like she's a real danger," Serana scowled a bit.
"She is. Just not to me," Bishop smiled smugly. "It took a long time for her to let me approach though. Let alone to do this," he sighed as he began to stroke soothingly over her furry arm.
"She's getting more control over her transformations," Serana nodded thoughtfully.
"Yeah. And I'm good with wolves too," Bishop grinned.
"Clearly. I admit, I don't really know many lycanthropes. I think this is the first one I'd seen in both forms. Except those that turned back when slayed," Serana pondered. "I think I understand the difficulties to see someone as a… person when that is all you know."
"Yeah. And we never really had any good experience with vampires either," Bishop scoffed. "Every single fucking time we encountered some it was such a mess."
"Hmm. Many choose to let their disease progress further for the power it provides," Serana explained.
"Not your father? It seems like something he would do, from what you told us," Bishop wondered.
"No. Out bloodline's powers are superior to many other vampires' already. And he always says that the feral vampires are only lying to themselves that they do it for the power. Real power comes from keeping your mind and cunning intact. Real power is presented by always having enough nourishment to keep ourselves from deteriorating. Those that can't are just bad hunters."
That made sense, actually. He didn't know much about the disease, but he knew that those that let it progress too much without feeding often lost their rational minds. At least those were the rumors.
"So you have different powers than other vampires?" Bishop asked curiously. What did that mean? He only saw those nasty vampiric spells in action before. And the charming.
"Yes. I'd prefer not to go into too much detail though," she shook her head.
Fair enough.
Bishop nuzzled himself more into Aeyrin's embrace and watched as Serana finished preparing the meal in comfortable silence.
"Do you think she'll let me give it to her?" Serana looked at him curiously.
"You can try. But be careful," Bishop nodded. He didn't like that idea much. Truth be told, he didn't like the idea of anyone else approaching her and not spurring an attack. That was weird. He wanted her to control herself better, right? But the private bond they shared apparently awakened his jealousy.
Serana left the meat simmer for a while longer before she removed the pot from the fire and took one of the slabs into her hand. She promptly dropped it again with a hiss though.
"Heh, not a fan of heat, huh?" Bishop smirked at her meanly.
"You even have to ask?" Serana grumbled.
She waited for a while for the meat to cool and then she grabbed a piece once more. She approached very tentatively and once she got closer, Aeyrin let out a warning growl.
"Shh, it's alright. Just food," Bishop stroked over her fur slowly. That seemed to calm her down.
Serana stopped, uncertain, but Bishop nodded for her to move forth. She did, but that only elicited another growl from Aeyrin.
"Love, look at me," Bishop ordered her intently and she did. He could see the struggle in her as she undoubtedly saw Serana in her peripheral vision getting closer and closer, but she focused only on Bishop.
Only when Serana outstretched her hand towards Aeyrin, presenting the meat, she looked back at her.
Aeyrin snapped her jaw at Serana instantly, grabbing the meat between her teeth. But by how quickly Serana pulled back, that wasn't her only intention.
Aeyrin had the meat between her teeth, but she let out a very intimidating growl. It seemed that Bishop didn't even need to tell Serana what to do and she promptly backed off towards the campfire.
Good. Aeyrin calmed down again and focused on munching on the meat.
"Well, that was more than I managed the first time," Bishop shrugged.
"Only thanks to you, I imagine," Serana nodded thoughtfully.
Yeah, that's right.
"It might be best if I leave the rest to you," Serana smiled a little as she sat down by the fire again. Smart. But she wanted to try and she did.
It was going to be a long night. Bishop would need to stay awake tonight, in case the werewolf wanted to harm Serana, but that was alright. They were almost at the Fort and they could sleep in until noon or such.
And he was very comfortable in Aeyrin's arms anyway. The longer the better.
"So… what are you planning once we get to the Fort?" Serana asked idly. He wasn't sure if she was trying to make small talk or to get some reassurance.
"Try to convince them not to kill you," Bishop smirked. Hopefully the hunters wouldn't be as zealous as the Vigilants. Then again, even Vuaerion was convinced in the end.
"I know that," Serana nodded. "I mean… will you leave after? You have your own prophecy to worry about."
"Probably. We'll see what happens. But if the Dawnguard are gonna work with you, we do have enough shit on our shoulders, true," Bishop nodded thoughtfully. "We were gonna go to Dawnstar. Maybe Aeyrin will want to see Therien first…" he mused, now mostly to himself. They were almost done with this detour and they should make plans for where to go next.
"'Therien'?" Serana asked. Bishop almost forgot she was still there when he mumbled to himself. And Aeyrin seemed to almost relax more against him when she heard the word. Or did he imagine it? If not, it was so fucking cute.
"Her… father," Bishop explained curtly. There was no need to get into details. This was the best label for him anyway, even if Aeyrin didn't use it.
"I see," Serana nodded thoughtfully. Her brows creased as she looked into the fire intently for a moment. She seemed to be hesitating to speak, but then she did. "A… good man?"
"Yeah. Definitely," Bishop confirmed. There couldn't even be a question about it.
"Good. That's… good," Serana kept staring at the fire thoughtfully. Bishop had a hard time reading her. She was always so stoic. But she did seem a little sad to him just then. He wasn't sure why. Not even when she spoke again. "What of your father?"
Maybe she was thinking about her own father and his insane plans. She didn't seem to be too sad about it before. More determined and passionate about stopping him. Surprisingly passionate, given her general stoicism.
There was no reason not to indulge her question though, if only a little. He still didn't like to talk about this, but maybe Serana would appreciate it.
Fuck, why was he trying to reassure her? He wasn't even sure she needed it. Fuck, he didn't even really know her! What the fuck has Aeyrin's influence done to him?
Ah well… maybe they could commiserate about insane parents.
"My father was a fucked up asshole that deserved worse than he got. I killed him ten years ago," Bishop nodded resolutely.
"You did?" Her eyes widened at him with strangely hopeful intrigue. "Why? Was he planning something that would harm you?"
"When was he not?" Bishop scoffed. "He was always beating the shit out of me and my siblings and getting us mixed up in his fucked up schemes that would get us arrested at best."
"I see," Serana appeared thoughtful again as she turned her gaze back to the flames. "You are better off. Your own."
"No master to serve. Or pretend to," Bishop nodded at her knowingly. She would be better off too. And hopefully fucking soon. "Blood is life, for people and your kind too. It's not a bond."
"Yes," she nodded absentmindedly, still staring into the flames. She didn't seem talkative anymore, but that was fine. Bishop was happy enough to rest in Aeyrin's arms.
That was the only family that mattered.
…
"Bish, Bish, wake up," Aeyrin quickly shook him with her hand on his chest.
What? What happened? He instantly panicked.
He unchained her a while ago and moved them to the bedroll. Serana was already asleep by then.
His eyes snapped open, but when he managed to focus, he saw a somewhat excited expression on Aeyrin's face. Nothing bad then.
"What is it?" He mumbled groggily.
"I remembered something," she beamed. "Not much. Just… I remember a weird smell that made me angry and afraid."
A smell? Was it… Serana? Did she smell the vampirism?
"Then I remember you. I remember you smiled at me and said something, but I don't remember what, but I know you touched my ear and it made me feel better," she smiled at him affectionately.
"Yeah," he chuckled. "You were a little riled up from Serana being here, but you calmed down when I rubbed your ear.
She didn't say anything more, but she nuzzled into his embrace lovingly. It was probably the first time she didn't panic even a little when she woke up.
"Hmm… what's happening?" Serana's tired voice rang through the campsite. The talking must have woken her up.
"Nothing, don't worry. Go back to sleep," Bishop answered, but he could already see her getting up from the ground. She didn't have a pack, but they lent her a blanket and Aeyrin's fur cloak for sleeping. She traveled light, apparently. She said she didn't mind sleeping just with nothing to cushion the ground – no wonder after her slumber in a tomb – but Aeyrin insisted, of course.
"It's… around noon," Serana gazed up into the sun, but she quickly averted her gaze again with a soft hiss. "We should make some food and get going."
Well, she was clearly eager.
It was probably a good idea to get this over with.
…
The enormous fort spread out before their eyes after a few more hours of traveling.
It was staggering. Something so big and impressive – how was it hidden so well?
But the pass was really long and mostly under the mountain. Only now they could see what lay in the canyon.
And it was clearly occupied.
There was a palisade between the mountains with a man in that familiar armor up on it. And the second he spotted the three travelers, he readied his crossbow.
"Identify yourselves! We're not expecting anyone," the man called out to them.
Alright. This was her cue.
Aeyrin raised her hands in surrender and she took a few steps forward.
"My name is Aeyrin. I'm the Dragonborn," she answered and she did notice the man lower the crossbow just a little. "We bring important news to your leader about the prophecy."
"The… Alduin prophecy? We already know. There are other matters people need to concern themselves with. We cannot lend our forces to you to deal with the dragons," the man shook his head promptly.
"Not that," Aeyrin responded. "We… we bring Harkon's daughter with us. She has important information for your leader."
Serana told her her father's name. It was important to relay this right away. They would notice that there was a vampire among them soon and it might not be pretty if they tried to keep it a secret.
"What?! What the fuck?" The man instantly aimed his crossbow at Serana – it must have been clear it was her with the cowl and her outfit.
"No! Stop! I swear to you, if you want to stop Harkon, you need to listen to her!" Aeyrin tried to step into the trajectory of the aim.
"Fuck!" The man cursed. He seemed so conflicted. But he did disappear from his post soon, descending from the palisade.
He opened the wooden gate next and then nothing else happened. So Aeyrin stepped forth and through the gate.
The man waited, still with his crossbow ready, but he didn't aim at her. He waited until Bishop passed and then Serana. He aimed at her.
"Don't try anything, bloodsucker."
"I am here to help," Serana retorted. "Keep your weapon trained at me, if it makes you feel better, but you need me alive. And make sure nobody escapes your fort when they see me. You have a spy here."
"What?!" The man sputtered. Poor guy. He was getting a real shock treatment just then.
He promptly closed the gate with one hand and locked it with a key. Then he focused on aiming at Serana again.
"Alright. Go. I'll take you to Isran. But one wrong move…"
"Understood," Serana sighed. This was expected.
But at least the man didn't try to shoot her yet.
…
"Unbelievable," Isran shook his head incredulously.
They spent quite some time in a small room of the Fort. Serana was watched constantly and two people were aiming their crossbows at her all the time. But their leader – a tall bald Redguard with an impressive beard and numerous silver earrings decorating both his ears, Isran – listened to her carefully and with surprising calm. He was more reasonable than they had anticipated.
Serana explained everything that she had already told Bishop and Aeyrin. She told Isran who the spy was and she asked him for help in stopping her father. She explained her reasoning, she explained what she knew would happen if the prophecy came true and she explained that she had no desire to let it come to pass.
And through it all, Isran didn't even call her slurs for her vampirism. He really had a surprising aura of calm about him. Much like Serana often did, actually. This… measured rationality.
"Where is the third Scroll then? You said your father knows who has it," Isran stroked his beard with interest.
"I can't reveal that. Not just yet," Serana shook her head. "I can't have their safety compromised yet. We need to talk about other things first. I won't compromise myself yet either. My efforts are still for my father's benefit, officially."
"I understand," Isran nodded. "We will discuss our cooperation in detail, I assure you. And as long as you do not give us a reason, my men will not harm you," he inclined his head towards the two people with crossbows and they finally lowered them completely.
"You don't mind working with a vampire?" Aeyrin wondered. It may have been a rude question, but Serana said they were vampire hunters and he seemed very reasonable for one. She wished Vuaerion needed as little convincing as him.
"Vampirism is a… blight," Isran sighed. "They are dangerous and cunning, but so are many mortal men. I used to be a Vigilant of Stendarr, but I didn't like the way they operated. They hunted those living in civilization or seclusion, those unfortunate ones turned against their will and trying not to harm innocents. We know there are cures. And we know circumstances are different for each one. The Volkihar clan… they are the real enemy. Harkon and his prophecy. My predecessors knew that and so, when the Vigilants laughed me off for telling tales and legends, I knew there was only one way – to revive the order of my ancestors. The Dawnguard. We may be 'vampire hunters', but in reality, we are those that know of this prophecy. Those that are here specifically to stop it. No matter how."
That was… astonishingly understanding. But living with the tales of this doom looming upon the world, it must have set one's priorities straight.
"Lady Serana won't be harmed as long as she proves her intentions," Isran nodded at her surprisingly respectfully. "If we are really after the same goal, I would be a fool to refuse her help and insight."
"You are… different than my father claimed," Serana raised her brow. "'A rabid dog blinded by jealousy of our power'."
"I am sure that Harkon sees himself differently than we describe him too," Isran scoffed. Then he turned his gaze back on Aeyrin and Bishop again. "We are always in need of capable allies. I understand though that Harkon is not the only threat out there."
"If you or Serana ever need our help, we will try to help. We realize how dangerous this prophecy is, especially after…" Aeyrin stopped herself in the middle of the sentence. Should she tell them? Then again, why not?
"'After'?" Isran raised his brow.
Aeyrin looked at Bishop for confirmation. It was almost an automatic reaction by now. But he clearly saw no reason to keep this to themselves either. It was a little impressive that he always knew what she wanted to say.
"Jarl Idgrod in Morthal sometimes shares her visions with us. She mentioned that… while the dragons ravage the land, there is another… thing. A darkness," she explained.
"Like an eternal night?" Isran nodded thoughtfully. "I do hope the vision represents the threat and not it coming to fruition."
"If we find out what the prophecy is, we can stop it somehow," Serana said in determination.
"Even if it means…?" Isran gave her a challenging look.
"If you think I have qualms about killing my father, you are mistaken. I have spent centuries with this thought already. I know what must be done. He is not one to stop even when defeated," she sighed.
"Yes. We have… a lot to talk about," Isran nodded. "Perhaps privately would be for the best," he looked at his men meaningfully.
"Are you sure, Isran?" One of them scowled.
"Yes. You can leave me with her. I'm not defenseless," Isran chuckled a little.
After the two men left, Serana looked pointedly at Aeyrin and Bishop.
Oh. This was their cue too? They were going to leave her to it, but it still somehow felt a little risky.
"Are you sure?" Aeyrin asked the same question Isran's men did.
"Yes. I am not defenseless," Serana's lips quirked up into a smile, earning another chuckle from Isran. "Besides, you know he can't kill me. He doesn't know where I hid the Scroll."
True. She still had that card up her sleeve.
"Thank you for bringing her to me," Isran rose to his feet from his chair and extended his hand to shake each of theirs. "We will do everything we can to stop Harkon."
"Yes. Thank you for everything. And I will be in touch for when we need Dexion's sight," Serana nodded.
"We'll keep Dexion safe. Good luck," Aeyrin smiled a bit.
"Yeah. You're gonna need it," Bishop smirked. "Don't let that asshole take away our sun. She'll be the first to freeze to death and then there will be dragons enslaving everyone," Bishop inclined his head towards Aeyrin with a mean grin, earning a playful punch to his bicep.
It was still a concerning feeling to leave, relying on almost strangers to handle this.
But these strangers knew much more than they did.
Hopefully this mess was in good hands now.
