I was fidgeting with the strings of a lute that lay beside me. As I waited for Serana to return. I must admit to myself it was taking quite some time, and it made me a bit worried. Suddenly I heard the door of the hall opens, and I shot upright. As I felt the cold wind of outside come in the hall.
I heard the gasps of a few nobles and decided to check it out. As I stumbled out of bed, I limped towards the door of the room to open it.
I walked towards the balustrades, and my mouth opened wide in shock as I saw Serana stand in the middle of the hall. Covered in blood holding the decapitated head of Alva in her bloody hands.
*I don't even want to imagine what went down in that cave...* I thought to myself, as images of Serana going completely beserk flashed through my mind.
"Your vampire problem is solved," Serana spoke up with a stoic tone as she threw the head at the feet of the Jarl.
"Thank you, Serana. You've done Morthal a great service." The Idgrod told Serana.
Serana just nodded.
Serana began to stumble a bit as she walked over to the stair that was leading up to my room.
*I drained myself too much. I need to feed...* she thought to herself as she felt extremely light-headed.
I looked down at Serana and saw that she was having trouble standing upright. *So she must have drained herself back there. * So I thought to myself as I slowly made my way down the stairs.
"Are you okay?" I asked her with a worried tone. Serana looked at me with a small smile. "Yeah, just a little drained, that's all." She said with a weak smile on her face. "I told you I would come back."
"I didn't doubt you for a minute, now let's get you cleaned up," I said as I led Serana to the Jarls bathing room.
I locked eyes with the Jarl.
"I expect you to hold your end of the bargain," I said with a monotone voice.
The Jarl nodded as she looked at us with an understanding look.
Serana and I proceeded to go into the room and wash all that blood off her. Serana smiled at me as I placed her on a chair. I then grabbed a knife and cut my wrist. Serana happily accepted my offer as she dug in.
After a little while, she was completely back to her energetic self.
"Thank you, Dracar." She said as she gave me the sweetest smile.
But, *damn, even when she is covered in blood, she is attractive.* I thought to myself as I looked at her.
She then shooed me away.
"Now give a girl some privacy, will you." She said as she winked at me. "Or do you like to watch me?" She said as she looked at me seductively.
I became flustered as I hurried out of the room. "Noo, thank you." I stammered.
"You are no fun, Dracar," Serana said as she pouted at me.
I closed the door behind me as I felt my heart rate rise. Images of Serana washing herself clouded my mind. I quickly shook my head and decided to walk it off.
*damn that woman and the effect she has on me.* I thought.
I noticed the pain had all but faded as I softly touched my stomach.
"Must be my dragonblood that is quickening my regeneration. " I spoke to myself as I inspected the now healed wound.
The Jarl made me stop in my tracks as she looked at me dead in the eye. Her expression scared me a bit.
"Your fate is intertwined with suffering and death... you will face many powerful enemies, and death will be lurking around every corner. Yet, you will save this world from its demise." She said with a mysterious tone as her eyes seemed to gaze right into my soul.
"Well, that is something to look forward to," I remarked.
The Jarl scratched the back of her head as she uttered an apology.
"Sorry, Dracar, I have a certain set of abilities that let me see someone's faith. And in your path, I see loads of anguish and pain... So you need to be careful, or the path the divines have bestowed upon you will get you killed." Jarl Idgrod stated as she looked at me with a sad expression.
I cursed my luck again as I was once again confronted with the cruel ways of the divines. I never asked for this...all I wanted was a peaceful life with my family.
*sadly, I think I will never find true peace...* I thought to myself as I gritted my teeth.
"Curse the divines and their wicked sense of humor," I replied to the Jarl. " I never asked for this."
The Jarl looked at me with a sympathetic smile. "Sadly, none of us do..."
I just nodded.
"Now, how about that location of Ustengrav?" I asked the Jarl.
"Do you have a map?" She asked.
I showed her the map, and she pointed to an unmarked area on the map.
"That is where you will find the Ustengrav." She told me. "Watch your back in there. Draugr are no pushover."
I sighed.
"Believe me, I know..."
After walking for a few hours, I cursed our luck as we were caught by a raging snowstorm. We couldn't even see a few feet in front of us. Well, at least I couldn't Serana didn't seem to have any problems with her vision.
"We should be closing in on the location," I yelled to Serana, trying to shout over the sound of the storm.
"Yeah, I can see it. It is about a hundred feet away from us," Serana replied.
"Good! I hope it will be warmer in there." I said as I shivered from the cold.
We walked over and were greeted with a tiny campsite. As the stench of rotten bodies filled my nostrils, I almost puked.
"Poor souls, they were probably killed by the Draugr," Serana said as she examined their wounds.
"Yeah, let's not linger around here then," I said as we made our way down a staircase in the crypt.
Once we got in there, we left the cold, harsh storm behind us. I lit up a torch with the flames of a lit brazier.
*who the fuck lits the brazier in these crypts.* I pondered as I scratched my head.
We walked further inside the crypt as the air turned heavy and stale as we advanced. Suddenly Serana stopped me by pulling on my collar.
"What are you doing?" I asked her, surprised.
Serana just shook her head. " really? I can't figure out how you lasted as long as you did without me. See that thing over there?" She said as she pointed towards a small pillar with a soul gem floating inside between two triangle spikes.
"Yeah, what about it?" I asked her, confused.
Serana slapped the back of my head as she sighed. She grabbed an urn and threw it in front of the gem.
I was dumbfounded as a fireball shot out of it, shattering the urn to pieces.
"What the fuck!?" I yelled. "How do they do that?"
Serana sighed once more as she shook her head. " you are indeed an idiot... It's pretty simple, really. After trapping a soul in there, you enchant the gem with a magical spell. And it will fire that spell when activated. Just watch your step. Okay, I don't want to see you get roasted." Serena said as she explained how it worked.
She zapped the gem with a lightning bolt. It shattered to pieces, and we proceeded to walk further.
We came across a few draugr, but nothing nightbane or a few fire spells from Serana couldn't handle.
"Well, after our other fights, this seems like a walk in the park," I remarked.
Serana nodded as she looked around. We now found ourselves in a colossal cavern. There were a few ancient Nord structures and what seemed like a ravine in the middle of the cavern.
"Yeah, but it's best if we keep focused. You never know which dangers can lurk in here," Serana replied.
The sound of shambling bones and bare footsteps alerted us to the presence of a few draugr and skeletons. They were walking around aimlessly, occasionally bumping into things.
*they really are weird creatures.* I thought to myself.
We proceeded to run towards them. I swung nightbane at an unsuspecting draugr burning it. As Nightbane connected to its undead skin.
Serana made quick work of the skeletons with a few lightning bolts. As I fend off a few draugr killing them one by one.
We came across a locked gate with no lever or chain nearby, only three weird boulders lying in front of it. All spread a few feet apart.
"What now?" Serana asked as she took a look around the cave. "It doesn't seem that there is a lever anywhere near."
I began to think as I looked around. I walked up to one of the boulders and looked at the carvings on it.
To my surprise, the boulder lit up with a strange red glow as it seemed to radiate. I backed away from it and heard one of the farthest gates open up.
*clever* I thought to myself.
"Maybe you need to activate them all," Serana remarked.
I gave Serana a big smile.
"That is just what I was thinking, Serana. "I said excitedly.
She chuckled a little at my enthusiasm. "Now, look at you being smart." She said, teasing me. I shot her a look of annoyance which made her giggle. "Sorry, couldn't help myself." She said with a smile on her face.
I walked towards the first boulder and began to run in between them. As I sprinted, I saw them light up one by one.
* hey! this might work.* I thought to myself, but being lost in my thoughts, I failed to notice the first gate had already closed.
I slammed headfirst into the first gate, making me fall on my back. I looked over towards Serana. She didn't say anything, but she had an amused grin on her face.
"Yeah, keep smiling! You love my misfortune, don't you?" I said to her with an irritated tone.
"Hey! I didn't even say anything.." she replied innocently.
"Yeah yeah, we both know what you are thinking right now," I replied.
"Maybe use that shout that makes you go really fast," Serana replied blatantly.
I began to think to myself that what she said made sense. If I made enough speed, I would get through on time.
" but what about you?" I asked.
"That's simple. Just activate them one by one, so I can make my way through. Then you can follow after." She replied.
We prepared for it as Serana made her way through it after activating the boulders one by one.
After she was through, I positioned myself in front of the gate. Making sure I was aligned perfectly. *steering is a bitch at that speed.* I thought.
** wuld Nah kest ** I shouted.
As I was propelled forward with immense speed. Almost flying through the opening gates. Serana was waiting on the other side of the gates, and after we were reunited, we made our way deeper into the crypt.
After a while of walking, we found ourselves in a vast room. In the middle was a path leading up to an ancient crypt. On both sides of the walkway was an artificial river.
As we walked over the walkway, the room began to shake violently. As six statues were rising out of the water. And braziers began to lit up, illuminating the room.
"I don't like where this is going," I said as I readied my sword.
Serana nodded as she conjured up destruction spells in both hands.
Giant coffins on both sides sprung open, and draugr walked out of them. We looked in front of us, and the crypt burst open as a heavily armored and dangerous-looking draugr stepped out of it.
"Well fuck!" I yelled as we were being surrounded.
Bright blue light illuminated the room as Serana fired bolt after bolt. I began sprinting towards the hulking draugr. Killing every draugr that stood in my way.
The dragon opened its mouth, and my eyes went wide in shock.
Then, **fus ro dah** it shouted with a loud voice.
I acted quickly and shouted myself.
**fus ro dah**
I shouted as the shockwave left my mouth.
The two raging shockwaves hit each other and blew everything of its feet. Then, by the sheer power, it emitted through the room.
I stumbled to my feet as I glanced at Serana with a panicked expression.
"Can they do that?! I didn't know they can do that!" I yelled as I just barely evaded a sword slash from a draugr.
*pfiew! too close for comfort.* I thought, grimacing at how often I had near-death experiences.
"Can you just deal with it quickly, please!" Serana replied as she was nearly overwhelmed by the draugr. Putting up a defensive ward deflecting the ice bolts that were shot at her. While also fighting of draugr with her knife.
I nodded as I got back up on my feet, charging the hulking draugr once again. It was preparing to shout another time.
As it did, I raised up my shield.
**fus ro dah**
I was flung back with great force. My feet slipping on the ground as I tried to stay upright as the immense pressure pushed me backward. *damn that sheer power.* I internally cursed as I slid towards Serana at immense speed.
I looked backward and saw Serana come closer and closer. Our eyes met, and she looked at me with a surprised and shocked impression.
"Stop, idiot!" She yelled.
"Does it look like I can!" I yelled back.
"Well, fuck..." I yelled as I collided with Serana. Which made us tumble backward. Then, as our backs crashed into the far wall, the air was pushed out of us.
Serana glared at me as she slowly got up.
"What!" I yelled
She looked at me, angry, as she extended her hand. "You fight literal dragons but can't even defeat one corpse who can shout!"
I looked up at her with an irritated expression.
"Well, I didn't know they could shout, okay! Just a tad bit surprised at that fact, smart-ass." I shot back as I got up.
The draugr's stayed back as the hulking draugr marched in front of them.
**you tuur shull**
It shouted.
My eyes went wide as literal fire shot out of the corpse's mouth. I looked at Serana which looked as surprised as I was as she made a remark.
"A walk in the park, right? That's what you said, right." She said with a sarcastic tone.
"Well, I might come back at that remark..." I sheepishly said.
"Deal with it, Dracar! I can't shout!" Serana said as the inferno closed in on us.
I turned towards the inferno as I felt my dragon blood boil. A wicked smile graced my face as I began to laugh.
* It can't be that I am enjoying this? Right?* I thought to myself, as the dragon blood in my body began to boil more fiercely.
"OKAY, ENOUGH!" I yelled
**fus ro dah**
The shockwave instantly made the inferno disintegrate. As I readied myself to shout again seeing an opening.
**wuld Nah kest**
I shouted as I propelled forward. My shield in front of me and sword pointing straight at the draugr. It tried to evade me, but it was too slow as I pierced his chest with Nightbane disintegrating it as. The powerful enchantment burned the draugr to a crisp.
I turned around, and with a few fast slashes of my sword, I made short work of the other draugr. Then, as they all burned to a crisp, the smoke of their dead bodies twirled around me.
Serana looked at my display of power, awestruck by my sheer ferocity. As she remembered the fight with me last night. She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she liked this savage part of him. She actually felt quite aroused by his power. Of course, she knew it was wrong. But she was powerful as well, and vampires enjoy fighting. So it was only natural that she felt attracted to the man in front of her.
*damn, he is hot when he fights so ferociously.* Serana thought to herself as she looked at me standing there. My chest was perked out, standing tall and mighty with my sword hanging to my side.
A slight blush appeared on her face as she looked at me.
I glanced over at Serana and saw her staring at me.
"Like what you see," I said seductively.
Serana shrugged as she walked past me.
"Took you long enough." She said with a playful smile on her face.
I nudged her, and we made our way over to the crypt. I raised my eyebrow as I saw a note pushed between two hands on top of the coffin.
"What the heck! Where is the Horn?" I said, confused.
Serana looked at me with a dull expression on her face.
"Well **obviously** someone has taken it smart-ass." She replied. "Read the note."
I facepalmed as I spoke up with a highly irritated tone.
"You've got to be kidding me... we went through all this trouble for a **fucking** note!?" I yelled. "I AM GOING TO KILL THE PERSON WHO DID THIS."
I was fuming with anger as I snatched the note forcefully out of its place.
I began to read the note out loud.
"I need to speak to you. Urgently.
Rent the attic room at the Sleeping Giant Inn in Riverwood, and I'll meet you.
Delphine"
We both looked at each other with irritated expressions on our faces, seemingly thinking the same thing.
" Well, let's meet this delphine person," Serana said.
"Yeah, and kick the shit out of her," I said, still fuming with anger, on all the time we just wasted getting through this damned crypt.
Serana Chuckled as she patted my back. "Calm down, we are the *heroes*. Remember." She said with an amused grin on her face.
I gritted my teeth as I nodded. We soon had found an exit out of the crypt and made our way back to Morthal. But, first, to hire a carriage to get back to Whiterun.
As we walked alongside each other, I spoke up.
"Searching for those elder scrolls really make us go on a wild goose chase all over Skyrim." I proclaimed as I sighed heavily.
Serana looked at me with an understanding look on her face.
"Yeah, two adventures in search of the elder scrolls." She said, amused.
"Two adventures taking on the world." I corrected her. Serana looked at me with a slightly shocked expression. Before she curved her lips into a beautiful bright smile. As she repeated the words, almost as if to imprint them on her mind.
After a while, Serana began humming a song again. As the delightful sound filled my ears, I started smiling. But, that seemed to make time fly as, within no time, we were back in Morthal.
We hired a carriage and were on our way towards Whiterun again. As daylight slowly began to fade, I turned towards Serana.
"I think I'm going to get some sleep. Is that okay?" I asked her, she nodded and what she did next surprised me a bit.
She pulled me down to rest my head on her lap as she slowly began to stroke my hair with her fingers.
"What...what are you doing?" I stuttered.
Serana didn't reply. Instead, she just smiled at me as she began to hum her song again. That together with the carriage softly rocking back and forth and I felt slumber take me. As my eyes felt heavy, I was sound asleep within no time.
"You had a tough couple of days, Dracar.. now you get some rest." She whispered to me as she looked at me with a caring smile on her lips.
As she continued to stroke my hair, she felt a soft pang in her heart.
*am I falling for him? No, I can't! He is a vampire hunter, and I am a vampire...we can't be together. Besides, he hates my kind...* she thought to herself as sadness filled her heart.
A few hours went by as the carriage was nearing Whiterun. It was well past midnight now as Serana shook my head slightly.
"Dracar, wake up. We arrived at Whiterun." She said.
I slowly opened my eyes and was met with the beautiful sight of Serana looking down at me. Her hair was slightly hanging in my face giving me another chance to smell that intoxicating sweet scent.
I slightly blushed as I slowly got up. I cursed the fact that I had to leave that comfortable position.
"What should we do, Dracar? Do you want to rest here or push on?" Serana asked me.
I stretched out my arms as I yawned.
"Well, I am feeling quite rested. I think we should push on. We can rest when we obtained the Horn." I remarked. Serana nodded her head. " That makes sense."
We made our way towards Riverwood. It was a short walk from Whiterun, so I couldn't be bothered to stop here.
After walking for another half hour, we finally were at our destination. As we stood in front of the sleeping giant inn.
I remembered my first few days in Skyrim as I came here after getting the golden claw back from Bleak Falls Barrow. It put a smile on my face as I was excited to see Lucan and Camilla, not forgetting the friendly innkeeper.
*I do wonder are Feandal and Sven still fighting over her.* I thought, which made me smile widely. Images of the wood-elf and the Nord rolling over the floor fighting almost made me burst out in laughter.
Serana looked up at me with a quirked eyebrow.
"What's so funny ?"
"Nothing much, haha. I just have fond memories of this place. You will see why I am laughing soon enough."
We walked through the door, and we were met with the warm surroundings of the inn. I breathed out in relief as we got out of the cold Skyrim night.
The large brunette innkeeper looked at us and smiled widely.
"Ah, if it isn't the brave hero who killed all the Draugr in Bleak Falls Barrow." The man yelled excitingly. "Got any more great stories, Dracar? How has life been treating you?" The man said as he embraced me.
Serana looked at the display with an amused smile. * I've never seen him so relaxed and carefree he must feel comfortable here.* she thought.
"Well, actually, I have loads of stories now, Orgnar! But alas, little to no time to tell them now... how about another time?" I told the man as I matched his embrace, patting him on the back.
"I will keep you on that promise Dracar. Now that I am old, I can't go on grand adventures like you anymore." He said, almost commanding before he turned his attention towards Serana.
"And who might this fine lady be. You really are a lucky man with a woman like that, Dracar! Really some guys have it all, haha." He said as he nudged my shoulder.
Serana blushed slightly at the man's remark of her being Dracar's woman. She looked at Dracar, which had the same red tint on his cheeks.
"Well.. actually, she is just a friend." Dracar stuttered out.
Orgnar grabbed my shoulder as he turned me away from Serana as he hunched in closer. "What are you doing, idiot? Make work of it a fine woman like that you don't find on any street corner. " Orgnar whispered at me.
"You know its bad manners to whisper in company," Serana spoke up with a dangerous tone as she approached us. Which made both Orgnar and me jump up a bit.
"Sorry, miss!" we said in unison.
Serana smiled. "Now, where are our drinks? I am thirsty." She said while looking at me intently. I gulped as I couldn't get myself to break eye contact with her.
"Coming right up, lady."Orgnar yelped as he filled up two mugs with mead.
We seated ourselves down and thanked Orgnar for the drinks. Serana looked at me with a smile.
"You know it is a refreshing sight to see you so relaxed and carefree. You must enjoy being here."
I smiled back at her as I took a big sip of my drink.
"Yeah, when all this is over, I am thinking to maybe build a house here. I don't feel comfortable in the big cities as that reminds me too much of back home in Cyrodill... so a place like this would be perfect! And I like the people that live here, so that is a plus." I said as I was playing with my mug. A small smile crossed my lips at the thought of finally settling down again after I took my revenge.
"What about you, Serana? What will you do when all this is over?" I asked serana. My question seemed to surprise her a bit. As she began to ponder about it for quite a while.
"Well, I haven't really thought about that yet... Maybe I would like to set up a shop. Full with curious items and artifacts." She said as she began to smile.
"Hmmm, you with a shop. I have a hard time imagining that," I said with a smile on my face.
Serana looked at me as she twirled a lock of her hair.
"But settling down wouldn't sound so bad to me either..." She said as she tried to hint something at me.
I looked at her with a smirk on my face.
"You settling down seems even more ridiculous, haha," I said as I laughed. "Where do you want to live?"
Serana had an irritated look on her face.
"Well, maybe I will decide to build my house next to yours. So I can wipe that smug smile off your face and tease you endlessly." She told me as a playful grin came to her face.
" owh, the horror! I would have to move out." I exclaimed as I waved my hands in the air.
"As if I would let you... maybe I will just move in with you. To torment and tease you till the end of times." She remarked as she got in real close. Licking her lips slowly and seductively, making sure I saw it.
"Don't go threatening me with a good time now," I said as I matched her seductive gaze. This took her back a little as her cheeks began to glow a bright red.
"Now who is teasing who now, huh." I laughed as I nudged her shoulder.
"Yeah yeah, have your fun while it lasts." She said, rolling her eyes. But still looked at me playfully.
"Shouldn't we be searching for that Delphine person?" Serana asked.
I looked at her as I shook my head.
"Fuck that let us have a good time and ask about it in the morning," I said as I began to tap my feet.
We began drinking a few drinks, and after a while, Feandal and Sven went at each other's throats, arguing about who deserved Camilla more. I burst out in laughter as I saw them rolling around the floor.
*JUST AS I PREDICTED HAHAHA* I internally laughed.
I turned towards Serana which was looking at me confused. "This is what I was talking about. Do you see that Imperial woman over there?" Serana nodded as I pointed towards the embarrassed imperial woman. "Well, they got a little love triangle going on, haha."
Serana began to chuckle as she watched the display with amusement.
"Can't blame them. She is gorgeous." She said with an amused smile on her face. I just took another sip from my drink as I watched the display unfold. The two guys soon tired each other out and went back to their seats, glaring daggers at each other.
The imperial woman, however, noticed that I was pointing at her and began to smile widely. As she made our way over to us.
"Well, hello, Dracar, it is good to see you again." She said with a smile on her face.
I smiled back at her, which didn't go unnoticed by Serana.
"Yeah, it's good to see you again! Where is Lucan?" I asked her as I took another sip from my mead.
"Yeah, it's certainly is. Every day is a fine day with you around..." She said with a playful smile as she softly narrowed her eyes seductively. "Owh and Lucan is asleep at home. He had a rough day in the shop."
"What a shame I would have liked to see him as well," I said, totally missing Camilla's attempt to flirt with me.
Camilla wasn't one to give up quickly.
"Care to dance with me." She asked as she extended her hands towards me.
I wanted to reach for it, but before I could, Serana grabbed hold of my hand tightly.
"Actually, we were just about to do just that." She said as she glared daggers at the imperial.
Camilla matched Serana's gaze as she spoke up.
"He seemed to reach his hand out to me instead ! maybe you should sit back again and let me have a dance with this fine man," Camilla replied as she looked at Serana with a fake smile
*owh shit...* I thought as I was now between two outraged women who apparently were fighting over me. I gulped a little as I could feel the atmosphere getting cold.
"Well, maybe **you** should know your place and back off," Serana replied, spitting venom at Camilla.
"He is clearly more interested in me, or he would have asked you to dance sooner." Camila spit back. "Now hurry away and let me dance with him."
"I don't think so," Serana said as she lowered her voice dangerously. And pushed me behind her.
*shit, this is going to go out of hand.* I thought as I gulped again
"Uhm, ladies..." I stammered. "How about we all sit down and drink some mead?"
Serana and Camilla turned to me, both glaring at me.
"Don't get involved, Dracar! let me put this bitch in her place." Serana angrily told me.
Camilla scoffed. "I would like to see you try! Come at me bitch."
*Camilla shouldn't have said that fuck...* I thought to myself. As I sensed Serana's killer instinct.
"What did you call ?! me, you whore!" Serana angrily replied as she launched herself at Camilla. I managed to catch her as I pulled the raging vampire away from the equally angry imperial woman.
I now found myself holding back two furious females. I looked over at Orgnar with a pleading look of *help me please*
A few patrons in the inn began to chuckle at the sight. As Orgnar came to my rescue and dragged Camilla away from Serana.
"Now, you stay here and behave, or I will kick you out! The same goes for you, woman." He said as he scolded both women. They glared at each other at first but then turned away from each other, nodding in defeat.
I sat myself down next to Serana again with an amused grin on my face.
"What!?" She said agitatedly.
"Could you have been jealous at her asking me for a dance? The mighty female vampire-fighting over a man." I said as I hummed, clearly very amused.
Serana glared daggers at me.
"I am not jealous!"
I just began to laugh.
" Uhu, I believe you," I said, looking at her with a mocking smile.
"Argg, I hate you..." She said as she sighed loudly.
"Hmm, I don't think you do," I said, the smirk never leaving my face.
Serana rolled her eyes as she gulped down her entire mug of mead. "Let us go to bed." She said as she punched me in the shoulder.
"Auch," I said as I gritted my teeth.
"Serves you right for mocking me." She said as she walked towards Orgnar, asking him for a room.
We both walked into the room but didn't notice the entire time we were in the inn. We were being watched by a hooded figure.
So, guys, another chapter is done. I really hope you like this one. I had so much inspiration for this one!
As always, leave a response if you liked it, and I will see you guys again in the next chapter.
By the way, would you people like longer chapters, or are these lengths long enough ? Please let me know :)
Have a good one!