Chapter 17: A Night in Solitude

Bang, bang, bang!

Mimzi pounded on the doors of Fort Dawnguard with spite. Serana held the Elder Scroll in her clasp, resting on the side of the entryway in boredom. Mimzi cursed, "Damn it, what is going on?! They never keep this door locked."

"Maybe they're all dead."

Mimzi flinched at Serana, who took her time in realizing it, "What? Who knows what happened? Maybe the vampires came back and cleared the house?"

Mimzi hissed, "Can you… shut up."

The doors rattled and shifted, as if a bar was being lifted from the other side. Mimzi and Serana stood attentively and the doors creaked open, revealing Dexion Evicus. He took notice of the two women and sighed in relief, "Oh thank the Eight, I was certain you were vampires who'd come to the fort to take me…"

"Where is everyone else?" Serana asked to Dexion.

"Well, they left," he replied timidly, "Something about a 'vampire threat' in need of purging. Didn't say much besides I needed to barricade the doors and not accept entry to anyone. As soon as I heard you two, I knew your voices… so, here we are."

"Did they say where they were going?"

"Sadly not," Dexion divulged, "These vampire hunters aren't the most welcoming and clairvoyant individuals… as I'm sure you know."

Mimzi groaned loudly where Serana added, "Okay, we have a scroll, and need to keep it safe till we find the last one. You being the Moth Priest, it only makes sense you hold onto it till we get back… would make me feel better if they were here to protect you."

Dexion eagerly grabbed for the Elder Scroll in excitement. He marvelled at the beauty of it and smiled, "Oh yes, I will protect this with my life. For my own curiosity, may I ask where you found it?"

Mimzi sighed and explained, "College of Winterhold… it was actually pretty easy."

"Ahh, I digress, so what is next?" Dexion inquired, holding the scroll under his arm.

"Now you read it…"

"Excuse me?" Dexion balked before he calmed, "Oh, no, absolutely not. I've just read the other Elder Scroll a few days ago. I will need some time to heal and recover my sight before we can continue. At least this gives you both time to find the last scroll."

"You need to heal from your last reading?"

"Yes," Dexion sighed, "I was under a spell giving no time to prepare safely for an Elder Scroll reading. My mind and sight are quite frayed at the moment. The loneliness of this fort is certainly not helping matters. If I read this next scroll without proper preparation, it could blind me, or worse, drive me to complete madness."

"How long will it take for you to heal?"

"A few more days. I just need to grant myself the time to heal. Lots of bed rest and warm tea— absolutely no reading or watching thunderstorms. Quite a shame, really. I love thunderstorms."

Mimzi and Serana exchanged disturbed looks, "Anyway…"

"So what's our next move from here then?"

Mimzi condescendingly smiled up at Serana and asked, "Yes, Serana… what is our next move?"

Serana stammered, "Uhh… well… I need to find my mother. Or we do."

"You make that sound so easy."

"She's not dead, she's one of the strongest vampires alive. There's no possible way she could be dead. I can think of a few places she'd hide… but I'm not really sold on any of them."

"Like what?" Dexion asked, "Sorry, my curiosity has been struck again."

Serana began to suggest while looking up in thought, "Uhh… somewhere in plain sight. Somewhere she knows my father would never look…"

Mimzi scoffed sarcastically, "Well that narrows it down. You think she's hiding out in Castle Volkihar? Just living her life in the undercroft?"

Serana almost rolled her eyes, till a sudden thought struck and she went aghast, "Wait, that almost makes sense!"

Mimzi chuckled, "Nice one…"

"No! I mean it," chirped Serana excitedly, "My mother had this vast laboratory down there. I mean, a lot of the castle was sealed off, that I noticed. Probably due to my father during a burst of rage when he discovered we fled. It's not too far-fetched she's hiding out in those secret passages, the ones my father disregarded as 'abandoned'."

"You want to go back there?!"

"It'll just be the two of us this time. We'll sneak in, we're good at it."

"You're good at it, you mean."

"Not from what I've seen."

Dexion confounded, "Castle? What is this castle?"

Mimzi groaned, "A death pit we almost died in!"

"Mara's mercy," Dexion gasped, "Why ever would you want to go back?"

"Because the scroll is there," Serana concluded sharply, making Mimzi roll her eyes.

"Oh!" Dexion said, "Then yes, going back to the castle is a fine idea."

Serana looked to Mimzi and said, "See? Even the Moth Priest thinks it's a good idea."

Mimzi's eyes dwindled in fear, regrettably accepting the toll of the quest she had before her. Serana still consisted, "I will be there every step of the way. I promise it won't be like last time, I know that castle and every hall and crevice. I know my mother is there. You just have to trust me, Mimzi."

She sighed and replied, "I trust you."

Serana smiled down at her then looked to Dexion, "We'll be back. Hold onto the scroll and protect it. We'll have the other one before you know it. You should… barricade the doors when we leave…"

Dexion nodded, "Certainly. Be safe out there, both of you."

Mimzi and Serana left the fort, with Dexion closing the doors shut behind the two.

Mimzi and Serana took the passage through the east of Skyrim, up north through volcanic wastes. Sunshine's legs sprinted like the gusts of strong winds. The whooshing of air flurried passed their hair and chilled their cheeks. Serana kept holding onto Mimzi's waist. She bent her knees and pulled up on the reins, keeping a keen eye on their path.

They would rest shortly for Mimzi to eat and catch a few winks of sleep, then progress to Solitude again. Days fluttered away like hours. By the third day they reached Hjaalmarch. They passed bushes of death bell, entangled dead trees, and frosted marshlands. The peaks of Solitude could be seen ahead in the horizon. The hours of fast riding crept to a chilly night. Mimzi insisted to ride through without rest. Serana could not stale her worry on what awaited in the dead of the midnight marshland. She looked back to the marshes behind them where a pitch-black forest remained. However, the illusion of being alone was unconvincing. She looked back to the woods again, and shuddered at the sight of white eyes coming into the dark in sprints that almost equaled Sunshine. The white eyes belonged to death hounds. They spread out and attempted to ambush the three, with death hounds racing to their sides. Sunshine began to run faster, almost urgently so.

"Mimzi!" Serana shrilled, "Mimzi, faster!"

Mimzi shot a glare back at the pursuing death hounds catching up quick. She looked back to their path in a panic, "Go, Sunshine! Go! Come on, girl!"

She thrashed the reins for Sunshine to speed up, who whinnied and galloped harder through the thick tundra, picking up a racing pace. The death hounds endured the chase. Their snarls and demented barking could be heard now, and the marsh began to give way to open groves. All that could save them from the snare of the creatures was the sprint of a Skyrim horse; known for their brawn and endurance— but known seldom for speed.

One death hound came up to Sunshine's right flank, nearly gnashing its teeth into her haunches. Sunshine began to shrill fearfully, with Serana and Mimzi squalling in panic.

"Serana, do something!" Mimzi blurted, "Magic! Use your magic!"

Serana turned back to the creature, releasing her right arm from Mimzi's waist. The swift and strong jaunting of Sunshine's sprint made Serana's balance intangible. She could only release for a moment and impulsively shot an ice spike to the back, then quickly held onto Mimzi again before being kicked off the back of the horse. The spike missed the creature by inches, more death hounds began to catch up.

Serana shot again, blasting the ice spike into the death hounds head. It spiralled into the ground behind them, colliding with another monster and into a thick cloud of dust. She jolted to the side— nearly sliding off Sunshine's back. Serana screamed before her arm was grasped by Mimzi, who held her over the speeding marshes beneath them.

"Hold on!" Mimzi screamed, then roared as she pulled Serana back up Sunshine's saddle. Serana panted heavily from nearly falling off the horse. Mimzi cried to Sunshine, "Don't stop! Keep going! Don't stop!!"

They came up to a decline off a cliff, a bitter dead end. The cliff had an adjoining slope to the far side over a steep trench into jagged rock. It was a far leap to the other side. Mimzi screamed, "We're gonna jump!"

Serana shrilled, "WHAT?!" Sunshine did not hesitate, she kept running and almost picked up more speed to the cliff edge in preparation.

Mimzi screamed and held onto Sunshine's neck, "GODS! NOW! HOLD ON!"

Sunshine neighed loudly as she galloped to the edge of the cliff. Mimzi and Serana screamed and clenched their eyes shut. Mimzi opened them again in wide-eyed horror as Sunshine buckled and shot up over the steep and deafening abyss. The space of the trench over ten feet long to the other side, and the weight of their bodies lifted into the air as they sprang over it. Serana clamped her arms over Mimzi, not daring to open her eyes, but Mimzi kept her eyes shot open; still a mortified scream cracking from her throat. Sunshine's leap began to decline before they reached the other side, but the mare kept her front legs up. As they came down to the slope, Sunshine pressed her front feet into the ground, but her back legs dangled off the cliff edge. Serana nearly fell back into the ravine, until Mimzi clawed her hands into Serana's forearm, keeping her hanging to Mimzi's waist. Serana screamed again and kicked her feet up Sunshine's backside. The mare bucked her feet up the slope, which began to give way and crumble at the weight. Sunshine leapt again and jumped up the cliff to the other side, letting the edge of the cliff slide into the abyss. Mimzi and Serana sharply took in gasps with Sunshine continuing to run through the marsh. The death hounds collided into each other at the cliff, falling off into the abyss, with others fortunate enough to stop before in time. The menacing barks fleeted behind as they made their narrow escape.

They ran into the night continuously, not wanting to stop or slow down in fear the creatures will have caught up to them. As they neared the incline up to Solitude's city, Mimzi began to heed on Sunshine's reins before Katla's farm. As Mimzi did so, Sunshine immediately heeled into the ground to stop herself. She petulantly rattled Mimzi and Serana off her back, with exhaustive huffs from her muzzle. She buckled her legs and neighed painfully as she collapsed onto her side; throwing up her legs in fatigue. Mimzi and Serana pried off the ground still in panicky breath. They allowed Sunshine a moment to rest. Solitude torch light impeaching on them, the bell chimes and waves of the harbour, gave a seldom comfort. Guardsmen and people seen in silhouettes up the incline, unbeknownst or caring to Mimzi and Serana.

Mimzi breathed and smiled with her hands on her hips, "That horse," she grinned, "…is amazing…" She looked down to Sunshine, grateful for the creature's strength and endurance.

"Let's get her to Katla's farm," Serana said, "Wait out the night. It's way too dangerous to be travelling in the dark, we can't, we'll rest in Solitude."

Mimzi nodded in agreement, "Okay… fine. Just… help me with her."

They coaxed Sunshine off the ground with apples from Mimzi's satchel. The horse lazily crawled up, still huffing against the aches from the chase. They led her into Katla's stable, and left the horse with the other steeds (unbothered by the additional company). Mimzi impulsively dumped the bag of apples and carrots over the ground before Sunshine, who happily yipped and chomped down the goods, with the other horses enjoying a morsel.

"You earned a feast, girl! Get fat!"

The empty satchel fell back to Mimzi's waist who followed Serana out the farm and up Solitude's incline. Serana casted her illusion spell again. They came up to the gates of Solitude, where guests were entering the city. Mimzi and Serana slipped in with the visitors into Solitude's streets. The main market was empty, but cheers and clapping could be heard deeper into the city walls, echoing off the tall infrastructure.

Mimzi looked to Serana with a raised brow and asked, "You hear that?"

Serana nodded, "Sounds like a good time. Want to go check it out?"

"Shouldn't we go to the Winking Skeever and get a room? I know you don't sleep or anything, but I still do… in case you forgot."

Serana scoffed at Mimzi's sarcasm, "You're not even the slightest bit curious? You hear that? I hear music!" Serana lit up a beaming smile at the sounds of flutes and lutes serenading through the streets. She chirped, "You know how long it's been since I've heard lively music? It sounds amazing! Come on!"

"Wait- Woah!" Serana clasped Mimzi's hand and pulled her into a run. Mimzi wanted to rip her hand away, but relented and ran with her upon hearing the lively music and merry villagers scattered along the Bards College. The music rang loudly from within the yard of the college, and chatter and laughter along with it. The enticing scents of freshly roasted meats, pies, pastries and roasted vegetables was strong, and a warm glow of orange speckled off the stone and pathways from the yard. Mimzi and Serana investigated and delighted at a gathering in the yard. A large bonfire and stuffed rag doll depiction of a king overtop the fire. The villagers were in crowds, all sharing stories and enjoying the foods and mead. Bards sang beautifully and strummed their instruments for all the gathering to hear.

Mimzi perked a smile, "It's the Burning of King Olaf."

Serana tore her delight from the festival and asked Mimzi, "What is that?"

"King Olaf- a traitor and coward, the King of Skyrim a long time ago. Every year Solitude throws a festival in 'burning' the False King, and reciting the poems and elegies left behind."

Serana irked, "That's… grim."

"What do you expect? This is Skyrim. All that matters is free food and drinks. I can't believe I'm actually… here while it's happening!"

"Hello, young maidens!"

A loud, matronly voice cracked behind Serana and Mimzi, making them jolt. An elderly woman in sky blue robes and silvery hair smiled and offered, "Would you two be interested in new dresses for the festivities? Free of charge! I just wish to share my talent. Quite the opportunity at a gathering like this."

She held up two dresses, one blue with frills along the shoulders and neckline, another crimson red and embroidered in shimmering gold patterns without sleeves.

Serana perked a smile and agreed, "Yes, of course! I love the red… it's beautiful."

She admired the craftsmanship and took the dress in her hands happily. Mimzi was handed the blue dress, feeling a seldom excitement in putting it on. The woman bowed to the young women and left to offer more of her dresses to young ladies attending.

"Let's go!" Serana said excitedly, "I'm dying to put this on."

Mimzi stayed hesitant, "We should… probably get some rest?"

"Mimzi, we've been on this whirlwind of constant danger and constant disappointment. You think it's in your nature for at least one night to just let all of the pain go, and have some fun? Are you capable of that?"

"I'm capable of fun! I'm very fun. A lot more fun than you."

"Then prove it," Serana said smugly, "For a twenty year old woman, you're acting like a dried up old prune."

Mimzi's eyes went wide, "A dried up— What? Fine! I'll go get this stupid dress on. I know how to have fun. Let me show you." Mimzi heatedly walked away from Serana's jibes to find a recluse place to change.

Mimzi left her things in a satchel hidden behind tables, and came out wearing her blue dress that hugged snugly to her waist in a soft bodice. The blue cloth dangled freely off her legs. The music played proudly, bringing back the light and vivaciousness she felt at the New Life Festival. She looked along for Serana, but couldn't spot her in the crowd.

A man came up behind her. He was head-to-toe in tailor made clad. Jewelled pendants boasting along his neck. He asked behind her, "You come alone?"

Mimzi already knew his interest, "Go roll in mud with the pigs."

Before the man could sputter a reply, Serana came sprawling to Mimzi's side and growled to the man, "We'd eat you alive. Count your blessings, little man," Serana pulled Mimzi, leaving the man aghast in shock and rejection.

Serana chirped in Mimzi's ear over the music, "He wasn't too bad looking. Why not let him buy you a drink? I thought you said you were 'fun' or something."

"When did being fun require drinking swill with creeps?"

"Suit yourself. Are you hungry? You're probably starving. Go eat! I want to go check out those spiced wines."

The music began to change tune and shift into a coda then ended. Moments later, a melody of fiddles and a lute began, somber yet enriching. The music held meaning, and pulled at the strings like a song that needed an answer. Mimzi smiled warmly and looked off to the band, "I'm not hungry…" She looked to Serana with mischief then took her by both hands and pulled her into the centre of the gathering.

Serana fumbled, "What are you doing?" Mimzi began to sway with Serana slowly but to the rhythm of the fiddles.

"I'm dancing. You can't dance, can you?"

Serana nervously squeaked, "I never once said that." She stood in such discomfort she felt out of place in her own body. Mimzi persisted and became more spritely with her swaying. She released Serana's hands and twirled. Her dress blossomed, then fell flat. People began to gather and stare at the dancing from Mimzi, which only made Serana feel more anxious.

Mimzi chirped, "Then prove it!" She added, "Dance with me!"

Serana looked along the faces of the crowd and shook her head, "I… don't…"

"Don't look at them," Mimzi stated, still dancing gracefully, "Tune them out. It's just you and me, right?"

Serana looked up to Mimzi, who held her hand out for Serana. She reached her hand to Mimzi, and they began to circle each other slowly, swaying to the music. Taking timely steps to the clack of the drums. They exchanged small smiles to each other, an exhilaration building as the music carried stronger. Serana then pulled away from Mimzi and skipped her feet to the escalation of the fiddles. Her velvet black hair carelessly bounced to her face. Mimzi stood in delighted shock at Serana's talent in dance, a gift she never would have guessed.

"You can dance!"

Serana did a spin and smiled, "I'm thousands of years old, Mimzi. Of course I know how to dance!"

The girls shared giggles, then reunited their hands and entangled their arms together. Their smiles grew and the music began to shift and stop, startling the two women. People cheered and clapped as the band carried far more vivacious and spritely fiddles and lutes. The music crept up to a fast pace, challenging Mimzi and Serana to keep up.

"Okay," Mimzi shook her shoulders, "... so you can dance, but…" She sprang back from Serana whilst hiking her dress up, "But can you jig?"

The fiddles began to play freely and Mimzi kicked her feet against the cobblestone into jigs. Her red hair bouncing and dress swishing from one side to the other. The villagers began to cheer and clap.

Serana promptly held her dress up to kick her feet, as well, "Like a drunken sailor!"

Her dances were precise and elegant, yet free-spirited, and became more vivacious with the joining of melodies. Mimzi began to leap in one place excitedly to Serana and clap her hands in a chortle.

The two girls joined in with their jigs, adjoining their arms and merrily skipping. Their laughter carried louder, and villagers began to join in, creating a frenzy of clapping and dancing that surrounded the two.

Mimzi turned herself around and Serana did the same, locking their arms and prancing the other way. Mimzi then clasped Serana's elbows and began to spin fast in squealing laughter. They spun so fast they could only hold onto each other without falling. Their hair flew into their faces and Serana's unbridled laughter sweetly greeted Mimzi, who could never think to hear Serana laugh as she was. Mimzi screamed and held on tighter, still spinning with Serana then screamed, "Faster!"

"We're flying!"

They slowed and began to prance with each other again, joining arms with other villagers in a dancing circle. Serana and Mimzi locked arms again. A euphoria gripped the two. Where safety and kindred friendship was all they felt in that moment, oblivious to the dangers and quest they faced. Their cheeks ached from smiling, and voices hoarse from rambunctious laughter. The fiddles played so loudly, like the music of childhood play and horses running freely in meadows. Every scent was heightened, colours glowed brighter. As the music abruptly stopped after its coda, Mimzi and Serana collapsed into exhaustion onto the ground, their arms falling lazily over each other. They breathed hoarse and heavy, but still spilling laughs. They were oblivious to the others or the self-consciousness they would possess in any other time but this.

Mimzi and Serana spent the next quarter of their evening drinking from the free stocks of beers and meads offered at the festival. Mimzi was already at a climax of inebriation, where Serana was just starting to feel it. They walked down the empty streets in midnight air through Solitude.

Mimzi hiccuped, "Do vampires even get drunk?"

"Yes, we still get drunk. Get tired, get sick… we just might not get as bad as mortals do, but yes. I've had just about as many drinks as you have, maybe another toll of it and I'll be a slurring mess like you." She nudged Mimzi's shoulder who giggled in response.

Serana used the green illusion spell over her head again, knowing it would wear off soon. Mimzi caught notice and snatched Serana's arm, "I want you to teach me…"

She replied warily, "Uhh, you're not a vampire, Mimzi. Can't really teach you a spell you don't even need."

"No! I want you to teach me how to use spells. I want to throw an ice spike… or a fireball… or lightning bolt. I want to cast a ward so hardy not even a archmage can bring it down. I… I…" Mimzi stumbled then resolved, "I want to heal. I want to heal myself and others. If you get hurt, I want the chance to be able to heal you, especially if you can't heal yourself. Can you teach me how to heal?"

Serana looked around and back to Mimzi before clarifying, "You want me to teach you a restoration spell?"

"Yeah, sure, that."

"I thought you said you weren't interested?"

Mimzi sighed and continued to stumble towards the Winking Skeever with Serana, "Yeah I did. I mean. I used to not like you very much… or trust you. But…"

"Wow…" Serana groaned hurtfully.

"I said used to! So, I was... kind of a bitch. I can admit that."

"You admitting to being anything is pretty amazing. Yeah, you were. I thought you were, but… you're not so bad. So sure, I'll teach you."

"So weird, it's like we are… friends."

Serana cackled, "I know, right?"

They ambled into the Winking Skeever, where drunks slept over the bar stools, and only one man attended the counter. He greeted the two women with a smile, "Welcome to the Winking Skeever, my loves! A night of drink for yourselves as you await the dashing sailors? They are sure to dock in a few hours."

"No, thank you. We are actually looking for a room."

The bartender said remorsefully, "Apologies. We only have one room for rent as of now."

"That's fine."

"Well then, it'll be ten gold. Room is down the right hall and up the flight of steps."

Mimzi set the coins onto the counter and continued with Serana to the room. Once inside, Serana went to the window over the bed and opened it. She looked down to the city streets and harbour in awe, slouching over the window ceil. Mimzi plopped down onto the bed and asked again, "So, can you teach me?"

Serana looked back to her and leaned off the window ceil, "I can try. Do you know anything about restoration spells?"

"I don't know jack about any spells…" Mimzi slurred, "Besides the ward and flame spell, which I barely know."

Serana sat down on her bedside and explained, "Okay, well, restoration is pretty easy. A lot of it is feeling. There is a calm you need to have, and the intention of healing. It's easier to heal others before mastering healing yourself."

"So, how do I do that?"

Serana thought for a moment and reached for a dagger from her boot. Mimzi startled, "What are you doing?!"

"Relax." She took the knife and opened her left palm. She slowly dug the blade in and sliced down, cutting through her skin.

"Are you insane?" Mimzi said in an aghast glare.

"Heal me."

"Just like that, huh?"

"Why not? What's the worst that can happen? At least try." Serana encouraged still holding out her bloodied palm.

Mimzi warily held her hand over Serana's, where Serana snatched Mimzi's hand and pressed it down to her cut. Mimzi grimaced at the feeling of Serana's blood seeping through her finger webbing.

"It's fine, just calm down. Think about the cut and think about the pain you'd feel if you had the same injury. Imagine the relief you'd need to chase the sting away."

Mimzi still remained doubtful, "Okay…"

"Maybe close your eyes, it'll help."

Mimzi did as asked and kept her grip over Serana's wound. Minutes passed by, no words spoken, no other sound but the exhales from their nostrils. Mimzi's impatience slowly dissipated the longer they sat together, and was relieved by a calm. She kept her eyes closed in concentration, trying to imagine the cut into Serana's hand. The blood against her hand unbothered her now, but the sting of the cut vividly imagined. Mimzi could understand the relief she would have if the pain dwindled away. She could feel it more presently, and Serana gasped.

Mimzi opened her eyes and gasped herself at the golden ribbons. A gentle chime rang from the pulses of magic swirling along Mimzi and Serana's hands. Mimzi looked deeply into the orb of light of her own making, her first time honing a restoration spell. She could feel the pain of the cut into her hand, and slowly the pain eased. The golden swirls left them, and Mimzi felt a slight rush of fatigue.

Serana slowly took her hand away from Mimzi's, and the cut into her hand was now a sealed pink scar. Mimzi gasped and covered her mouth in shock.

"You just healed your first injury. In time, the next injury you'll heal will be your own."

Mimzi mumbled, "I did that? How did I... do that so easily?"

"I don't know. Some people need weeks of study and tomes to learn one spell, others learn a lot easier. You may be one. Your connection to Aetherius is just stronger than others, probably,"

"Aetherius?"

"Well, you're a Divine worshipper… you should know."

Mimzi rolled her eyes, "Yeah I know what Aetherius is. I mean how can I be closer to Aetherius while others are not?"

"No one really knows. I used to worship a Daedric Lord… so I'm not a genius with these things."

Mimzi began to wipe away the relinquished blood of Serana off her hand and asked again, "How did you learn all of this?"

Serana did the same to her own hand and replied, "My mother, mostly. Everything I know is from her. Believe it or not, my mother and I used to actually be close before all of this… 'prophecy' madness started."

"Define 'close'."

"We were just… we were… a family. Well, my father was always pretty distant from myself and mother but we were the best of friends. I told her everything and anything, I'd ask her anything, and she'd usually give me the answer. Things were transparent and clear with her. When the confusion started with my father, we stuck together. Until things got out of control and my mother… I think she went down the rabbit hole, too, but in a different way. She wanted to stick it to my father, she wanted to beat him. It was centuries of watching the two of them delight in how the other got it wrong, or scheme against one another— like a game. And I was just…"

"… Stuck in the middle?" Mimzi asked, listening intently.

"For the lack of a better word… yeah," Serana gloomed into the floor, "I spent a lot of my time hiding. That castle is big, so you can imagine how loud a voice can carry when yelling. Make that two screaming voices. After a while, it just became all I knew. When my mother stole me away to that monolith, it was almost a relief, getting some peace and quiet for once."

"Wow…" Mimzi mumbled. Serana glanced to her expecting an array of judgment until she said, "You make me glad I didn't have parents."

Serana resolved from a glare to amused laughter, with Mimzi joining in. They both chuckled for a while, lazily slouching over the bed. Serana looked to Mimzi more earnestly, "You didn't have parents?"

"Nope."

"Did they die?" Serana asked, then she flinched, "Sorry if that's a sensitive topic. You don't have to answer…"

"They didn't die," Mimzi stated, "I didn't know them. I believe they are somewhere now living comfortably without children, sipping from expensive ales or mead, thanking their lucky stars they left their baby in the woods to die. I was found by a dark elf, dropped off at an orphanage… in Dawnstar. I bet if they knew I was alive, it would be their worst nightmare. They didn't want me."

"Is that supposed to be comforting for you?"

"A lot more comforting than anything else I could think of. I'm used to not being wanted so I'm okay with it."

"So more comforting than knowing your parents are out there scouring all of Tamriel for you, or…"

"Dead?" Mimzi interrupted, "Yeah… I've thought about it. Too much in too much detail. I was left in the woods, if it wasn't for that elf I would have died. Supposedly I almost did. Someone had to have brought me there. Figured I was more trouble than I was worth. I was just starting to walk, so I trekked along the woods for a while. It was the dead of winter. I don't remember any of this, just from what I've been told. I was the talk of Dawnstar for years. The baby girl that nearly died in the woodlands of the Pale, abandoned by her parents. I was left at Whiffet Hall, became an orphan. I was there for years ten years. In all that time I was there, just a league from where I was found. I went into those woods as a child, scared I'd stumble across their skeletons. I was so stubbornly focused on finding some kind of proof. But there was nothing. I used to sit up at night praying they would come back for me, but they never did. So, as far as what I can understand from any of it, they left me. They didn't want me. I've made my peace with it."

Serana breathed out through her nose, "Well, they were damn fools to think you were more trouble than you were worth. They missed a lifetime with you, and that… quite frankly… is unbelievably foolish to me."

Mimzi looked up at Serana with a slight smile, which broke into a grin. She continued, "I went an eternity not knowing you, and now that I do, I couldn't be more grateful. It's a gift to know you, Mimzi. I guess some mere mortals aren't worthy of it."

Mimzi pressed her lips and smirked, "Am I supposed to cry?"

"Would be nice, I just bore my soul to you here."

Mimzi and Serana started in laughter, warm and soft, just loud enough for each other to hear. They sat in silence for a bit, both distant in thought with their eyes looking into corners of the room. Mimzi couldn't remember the last time she felt as comfortable and herself as she had now. As Serana sat to Mimzi's side, she too was calm and content with her company. A constant wave of anxiety the two were far too familiar in had faded.

Serana looked back down to Mimzi and asked, "You tired?"

"Not really."

Serana smirked and grabbed ahold of Mimzi's arm and pulled her up. The two women fled out the inn and into the late night once more. Except this time they were not travelling aimlessly, they ventured up to the higher quarters of Solitude. Sneaking passed the guards to the patrolling tower walls along the city's training yard. Their lungs filled more the higher they climbed to the pier. The reached the tallest tower over Solitude. It was as quiet as space, and the stars and aurora danced closer to them at the peak.

Serana looked over the view of mountain tops of boreal forest and rolling hills, "Good enough spot?"

"I have a thing for tall views, works for me."

Serana prepped a spell in her hand, the ice spike spell, "Your turn, use your fire spell."

Mimzi brought a flame to her finger tips, but had a difficult time keeping the fire steady. It would flicker and dim as she attempted to channel it. Serana advised, "Calm down, you're making it harder than it needs to be. Just breathe and keep it focused. You're going to focus that flame. Bring it to your palm like a punch. Then, when it's raging in your hands, throw it at me. I'll deflect it."

"Like a fire ball?"

"Exactly," Serana smiled, "Throwing flames is child's play, but wait till you see what a burst of flame can destroy. Now, do it."

Mimzi gritted her teeth and channeled all the magicka in her blood to her right palm. The flame began to rage, then dim, where Mimzi let out a growl and curled her fingers. The flame pulsed and twisted. It grew brighter and the heat from Mimzi wafted to Serana, lighting the tower up in orange hues.

"That's it! Now throw it, I'll ward it!"

Mimzi pushed her right palm forward, and the flame did not spray from her palm as it usually had. It combusted into an orb, casting towards Serana. She flung a ward spell to block the incoming fire bolt that dissipated at impact, creating a large crash.

"That was it! You just threw your first fire bolt!"

Mimzi stayed stunned for a while then leapt into the air, "Damn right I did!" She squeaked, "That was amazing! That was…" Mimzi wobbled and disorientated before leaning against the side of the wall. Serana ran over to assist.

"Woah… it's okay," she helped Mimzi to stand, "That was powerful magic. You likely drained your capacity for a while. Don't worry, the more you use it, the more your will can take. You'll be throwing dozens of fire bolts before you get like this. We just need to keep practicing."

Mimzi's eyes were heavy. She smiled through the malaise, "Thank you… really, I can't believe I did that, and I wouldn't have without your help. Thank you…"

"Anytime…"

"I wanna keep going. Can we keep going?"

Serana scoffed a smile, "Of course, take a minute to rest and we'll start again."

The two sat together for a while, still chatting before Mimzi had the strength to continue her training. For hours they practiced her capacity with magicka. The fire bolt spell, in particular. She would continue to throw fire bolts in spurts of two or three, where Serana would easily deflect with her ward. When Mimzi would reach her intolerance, they would sit together again, talking amicably.

"Okay, you sure you're ready?" Serana asked again with the sunrise just starting behind her head.

"Oh yeah, I'm doing five this time. Just watch."

Serana readied her ward, where Mimzi pressed in concentration and focused the fire to her palm again. She threw her hand up casting one fire bolt after the other at Serana. She deflected the bolts, and Mimzi's face began to strain as she hit her fourth fire bolt. Mimzi winced for a short second, then clenched her teeth and roared as she channeled another, making five fire bolts thrown from her palm in a spurt. Mimzi breathed out a smile before collapsing to her behind.

Serana happily clapped and praised, "Woo! You did it! Yes! That was fantastic."

Mimzi rested her head up to the sky as she breathed out the exhaustion and headache that followed. The pain in her head was nauseating, but her giddiness from being able to throw fire bolts in rows of five and four was so gratifying it made the pain dismal.

Serana came over and Mimzi huffed, "Fantastic is a stretch… it was only five…"

"You couldn't throw a single one four hours ago… now you can. So yeah, it's fantastic, Mimzi. You're fantastic."

Serana helped Mimzi to her feet who said, "No… you are. You taught me. It feels good. It feels… great. It's almost addictive…"

"It's like candy, isn't it?" Serana agreed, "Magic… there ain't nothing like it. A lot of Nords don't know what they are missing…"

Serana took notice of her fatigue and advised, "Let's get back to the room. You need to sleep, you're exhausted."

"No… I can do it. I wanna do six…"

"No. You have done so much in such a short time. Even an archmage needs to rest their abilities if they want to get stronger. Let's go, don't push yourself."

Mimzi reluctantly allowed Serana to help her back to the Winking Skeever. They walked back to their room and Serana helped Mimzi to the bed. She wasn't verbal and still fatigued. She closed her eyes as Serana pulled the blanket to her cheek. Serana settled to a chair near the bed where Mimzi lay, and pulled out her book from her satchel. As Serana began to read quietly, Mimzi opened her eyes, "What are you reading?"

Serana didn't look up from her book, "You should be sleeping."

"What is it?"

"The Trials of St. Alessia…" Serana flipped a page.

"What is it about?"

"A slave of the Ayleids… the first Septim. She freed her people from suffering and went on to rule Cyrodiil," Serana explained, "A woman from nothing. Chosen by Akatosh for a higher purpose… Sounds amazing, right?"

"Yeah… can you read it to me?"

Serana obliged, "Yeah…" She looked down to her pages and began to read clearly for Mimzi to hear, but still keeping a soft voice, "Akatosh made a covenant with Alessia in those days so long ago. He gathered the tangled skeins of Oblivion, and knit them fast with the bloody sinews of his Heart, and gave them to Alessia saying, 'This shall be my token to you, that so long your blood and oath stand true, yet so shall my blood and oath be true to you. This token shall be the Amulet of Kings, and the covenant shall be between us, for I am the King of Spirits, and you are the Queen of Mortals…"