Dayspring Canyon in and of itself was a new experience for Lucien, and his eyes lit up brightly when he observed the bright and colourful beauty surrounding them. "Wow... the flora and fauna of this region is most exhilarating to the soul!" He exclaimed gratuitously with arms outstretched. "If we could take a moment, I'd like to pick some of these flowers for study! Would that be all right?"
Cura saw no harm in it. She gave a warm smile to the Imperial Scholar. "Sure, go right ahead. If you discover anything useful, give them to Florentius Baenius; he knows a lot about Alchemy. Brother Adalvald, as well. In fact, maybe they could teach you a thing or two."
Lucien was new to Skyrim, and Cura liked the fact that the first thing she was able to introduce him to wasn't the dull, dreary wasteland of the Pale, or the dark, craggy Markarth, but instead the beautiful Dayspring Canyon. She hoped that once this business with the Vampires, and then the Dragon Calamity were over and done with, and provided she survive it all, she would be able to give Lucien a more formal tour of the realm.
"That sounds marvelous!" Lucien brimmed with excitement.
Serana continued walking ahead while Cura stayed behind with Lucien and helped pick a few flowers from the Canyon. "You know, Dragon's Tongue can be used for its properties of fire resistance, and when mixed with Fly Amanita, it can boost your upper arm strength-very beneficial for people who wield warhammers or other two-handed weapons. A funny thing, that."
"Interesting." Lucien scratched his chin as he considered it.
When the pair were finished grabbing mountain flowers, they walked through the palisade and into what looked like a campsite for refugees who were seeking sanctuary after their homes were destroyed by vampires.
Earlier recruits Olrod and Vori, a Nord man and woman, were on guard duty outside the Fort, and near the camps were former Vigilants of Stendarr, now geared up in Dawnguard armour, ensuring the safety of the refugees, who waved to Cura as she passed by.
Vigilant Emma, who was tending the wounds of refugees, gestured for Cura to come over. "Vigilant Cura, I have something for you!"
She handed her a Potion of Cute Disease.
"Thanks, Vigilant Emma." Cura pocketed the potion.
"Don't mention it; we can never be too careful. I'll ask Florentius and Brother Adalvald to supply us with some more." Vigilant Emma stated.
"Of course. Take care, now." Cura gave her a courtly nod and continued onwards.
"Got to keep alert. We don't want to get caught napping like the Vigilants did." Vori muttered to her partner, unaware that Cura heard what she said until the glare of offense passed her. "Oh! Er, hi, Cura! How's the leg?"
"Almost completely healed." Cura gestured towards her leg, which displayed improved motion. "And, by the way, two Vampires have already snuck into the Fort under your watch. Just thought I'd throw that out there." She called Vori out for being on night duty with Agmaer when Carcette brought herself and Inigo into the Fort, and of course, when Serana first waltzed right in. "Maybe you should pick your naps during the day."
Vori had no way to deny it and was lightly insulted. "I... guess I deserved that one. My apologies for my words, Vigilant Cura."
"Good." Cura sneered. That was incredibly distasteful. She walked past her and Lucien, who was stifled, followed her and waved a friendly farewell.
"I hope the vampires try to attack us here. A lot easier than hunting them down in their holes." Olrod remarked now that he considered it.
"Wait, let me get this straight; you are a Vigilant of Stendarr, right?" Lucien asked Cura, clearly bewildered by something.
"Yes." Cura admitted. "Why do you ask?"
"Well... I always hear them say the same mantras over and over again: 'Cavort with any Daedra, and we will hunt you down.' and 'The mercy of Stendarr does not extend to Daedra worshippers.' or something to that effect." Lucien pointed to her Spellbreaker and was confounded by its presence. "So why, oh why, are you carrying that? Is that not the Spellbreaker? Of the Daedric Prince Peryite?" Then he noticed Dawnbreaker fastened to her left hip, obscured lightly by the shield in his point of view. "And is that not Meridia's Dawnbreaker?! Can I see it? I promise I'll be careful with it!"
"We also have Stendarr's Hammer, the Mace of Molag Bal, and the Ring of Hircine." Cura stated to the scholar as she softly handed him Dawnbreaker sideways to not cut him.
"It is made of Ebony! I knew it! This is sooo cool!" Lucien enthused. "And the heat of the stars is rested within its core... how did you come upon this? This is incredulous!"
"I found Meridia's Beacon inside a Dwemer Ruin," Cura began. "and she asked me to Champion her against a Necromancer that was defiling her temple on Mount Kilkreath in the Northwest. I have no personal problems with Meridia, and I think it's absurd that she gets lumped together with Daedra like Clavicus Vile, Molag Bal, and Boethiah. Meridia's interests actually align greatly with the Vigil's and the Dawnguard's, and I wield this blade in her name."
"You're... certainly quite liberal in your views, for a Vigilant." Lucien was at a loss for words, and slowly handed the glistening blade back to her, "And how about Spellbreaker? How did you get that?"
"My friends bought it on an auction in Windhelm as a gift for my Seventeenth birthday." Cura smiled as she recalled that evening in Windhelm, right after the Thalmor Party fiasco. Inigo's silly birthday song, Mjoll and Lydia laughing the night away...
A sadness crept back into her heart.
If only they could be here right now. Mjoll wasn't far away, but she had her own personal demons that kept her enchained, and Lydia was in Sovngarde now.
She had to do as Serana said, pick up the pieces and keep moving forward. It's all she could do.
"Are you all right?" Lucien noticed the change in her demeanour. "Did I say something wrong?"
Cura shook her head. "No, it's not you. Don't worry about it. I've been going through a lot of sadness these past couple of months. I've... lost people close to me."
"My condolences." Lucien told her. "I guess even the brightest candles can burn out sometime."
Cura nodded. "Very true."
"'Candle.'" Lucien repeated the word. "Hey, I could call you that as a nickname!" He laughed. "In my friend circle back home, we often pick someone in the group and give them a fitting nickname."
"How is 'Candle' a fitting nickname for me?" Cura became confused.
"Well, you shine bright under the sun because of all your armour, you use powers of light in the darkness, your Dawnbreaker could literally set things on fire, and we met in Falkreath; the land of gloom and funerals." Lucien mused. "I think it'd be perfect! That's what I'll call you!"
Cura massaged her brow with her index finger and thumb as she exhaled. "All right, fine. I'm sure I can't stop you from doing it anyways."
"That's right, Candle!" Lucien said and proceeded to break out in laughter.
"Candle it is, then." Cura shrugged and continued up the path, and greeted Celann and Durak at the door.
The Dawnguard was really coming along, now. Brother Adalvald was giving sermons in the Chapel of Stendarr, reading from the Anuad daily.
Vigilant Tolan was performing a routine maintenance check on the Fort defenses, ensuring that the new Dwarven ballistas on the roof worked as intended. "Good for a Dragon attack, eh, Cura?"
"A Dragon and Vampires, both." Cura mused as she examined the stationary giant crossbow beside her. "I suppose this was Sorine's work?"
"Sorine and Gunmar both. The both of them have been working hardcore in the last month. When this is over, Isran had better give them a vacation, or he'll have to answer to me." Vigilant Tolan stated. "Just installed 'em last week. They can lance that mountain over there, so their reach is quite far." He pointed towards a small mountain some distance away. "Dragon or Vampire tries to fly up here, we'll be ready."
"This Fort has more defenses than the White-Gold Tower!" Lucien remarked in awe.
"Who's this?" Tolan pointed at Lucien.
"Lucien Flavius, my new charge." Cura stated. "We met not long ago in Falkreath. He wants to experience the world at a safe distance."
"Ah, I see." Vigilant Tolan said. "Well, you won't find a safer place in all of Tamriel. Welcome to Fort Dawnguard."
"Er... thank you!" Lucien looked over the castle wall and saw people below training with crossbows on target dummies. He then looked to Cura. "Wow! Do you think they'd let me use a crossbow?"
"Have you ever used one before?" Cura asked.
"Not really." Lucien confessed. "Look, I know I'm not very good at... practical things. You know, combat. I'm relying on you to win our battles, and I shouldn't. So I suppose I was wondering..." He scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment. "...do you think you could train me?"
"You know, I had that same suggestion hours ago." Cura mused. "Erandur, our Healer, told me that recruits wanted to learn from me." A look of excitement slowly began to draw itself upon her face. "You know what? Lucien, I have a task for you. Go about the Fort and ask the recruits to meet me in the main hall. I'm going to start my first lesson in an hour."
"Fantastic! Can't wait to get cracking!" Lucien exclaimed as he hurried outside to find people in the yards.
Cura walked downstairs into the main hall and noticed Serana sitting on the dado of the brick wall. She waved to her and the vampiress walked over.
"How do you feel?" Cura asked her. "It's a little tighter here these days."
"I feel like the meat in a sandwich, but other than that, I'm all right." Serana stated. "I see you got the pixie off your trail."
"Oh, don't be mean." Cura chastised her. "He's a Greenhorn. He's new to the world... I understand how he feels completely. I was once confined in my home, too. Then fate pried me out."
"So do I, to be honest." Serana stated. "The world feels so... different from what I remember."
"We'll all need to be adjusted." Cura told her with a reassuring smile. "Let's make Skyrim a safer place for everyone."
Inigo was continuing his work in the workshop, being tutored in the ways of Smithing by Gunmar and Sorine. He made his own custom adjustments to his lucky Ebony Sword and kept Me. Dragonfly nearby on his bench, for lonesome conversation. "Yes, Mr. Dragonfly. I know I tightened the handle too much! Sheesh!"
Florentius Baenius settled into the Alchemy lab upstairs almost immediately upon entry and would begin brewing potions of all kinds. It would take some time for him to be up and ready, but he assured Isran that his presence there would be useful. He also would help Erandur in healing the wounded.
The Dawnguard was growing in strength as the Vampires were beginning to diminish.
Carcette and Dexion waited until nightfall to continue their trek through to Eastmarch. Being a Vampire had benefits, but day travel was not one of them. Dexion was a little hesitant on the idea of Fast Travel, as it was known to have adverse effects on people, though Carcette insisted that it wasn't as bad as people made the ancient art out to be.
The pair narrowly escaped a harrowing death at the claws of a Dragon when they crossed the threshold between the Pale and Winterhold.
Ducking into a cavern, the pair waited until sundown before continuing their dark voyage to Dayspring Canyon.
Carcette was ready to attempt a Fast Travel and beckoned to Dexion, who still rebuked the idea. Though, with the dropping temperature and the chill of the midnight gale on the frozen hillside, it was becoming more and more of a tempting proposition.
That was when they were assailed by ten Vampires. A low growling noise was heard around them, and Dexion began to grow anxious. Carcette clenched her Warhammer, ready to fight as the Moth Priest readied some Fire Spells.
"You're dead!" one of the fanged foes shouted with rage, sword brandished.
"Oh, dear!" Dexion exclaimed in shock as the enemies seemed to pour in from all directions.
Carcette butted the first attacker with the shaft of her Hammer and parried him upwards in an arc and followed-up by dashing ahead and slamming him down onto the ground. Another vampire rushed at her from the left flank, and another assailed the old Moth Priest.
"Get him!" Another ordered the assailant, who grabbed the Mother Priest by the collar.
A loud growling noise below their crag grew louder as the larger group of vampires approached to join the fray. And then, as if from nowhere, a hostile Husky dog ran from its burrow under the snow and ice and sunk its teeth into one of the Vampire that was grabbing Dexion's legs.
As the vampires became distracted by the dog gnawing on one of their legs, Carcette brought her hammer down on his skull, and then turned to the next.
Dexion began to hurl fireballs at the others, and like cowards, the weaker Vampires decided to flee, scattering to the winds. One was less fortunate and was caught in the back with a fireball, and fell to the floor, rolling in futility with the hopes of extinguishing the blaze.
The Husky leaped through the air and dashed towards the fiend and pinned her down, throttling her left arm as she writhed in agony. Carcette quickly made her way over and raised her hammer over her head, and whistled at the dog, to warn it to escape.
As soon as the Husky released the vampiress and ran some distance, Carcette brought her warhammer down with the fury of a god, smashing the vampire's skull entirely and creating a bloody canvas on the ice crag.
Dexion huffed and heaved for oxygen. The old man was not used to this kind of life. "B-blasted... Vampires! Puff... huff..."
"Are you all right?" Carcette laid a hand on his upper back to help the elder catch his breath.
"I... I will be... just... a moment..." Dexion was heaving over.
As Carcette kept a gentle hand on the elder's back, she turned to face the brave Dog that came to their aid. The Husky approached the two of them and barked in a friendly manner.
"Kynareth save us..." Dexion caught his breath. "A Husky that can fight Vampires... now I've seen it all!"
Carcette smiled and went down on one knee and extended her hand for the Dog to smell her. "Come here, Dog!" She commanded and strangely enough, the Husky obeyed, and smelled her hand. Then the Husky sat down in front of her and Dexion, and began to pant in a friendly manner.
Carcette gently stroked its fur and marveled the brave and wonderful creature that came to their rescue. "Why are you out here? It's so dangerous and cold for a sweet little hound..."
Dexion noticed how the Dog seemed to appreciate Carcette more than himself. "His previous owner must have been a Breton, I guess."
"Perhaps... or perhaps he was sent by the Divines to help us in that moment." Carcette mused. "Now that the area is clear, we can Fast Travel."
Dexion scoffed and rolled his eyes but relented his condition and ultimately agreed with it. "I'm sure you could have handled those Vampires." Dexion told her. "Whether the dog was there or not..."
"I could have, yes, but there's no telling what could have happened to you." Carcette called attention to the tired elderly man that Dexion was. If he would have had a heart attack or have been killed easily by the vampires while she was preoccupied, they would be sunk. Perhaps it was for the best.
Dexion conceded her point and continued to watch as the dog stood up and walked in a circle around Carcette, even jutting his head under her hand. "You may be right. Perhaps Kynareth or even Stendarr was looking out for us."
"Stendarr's Little Helper." The former Keeper smiled. "I think that's what I'll call you!" She stroked the Husky's forehead gently. "Come with us, to Dayspring Canyon! I'm sure you could be a great help there! And I know someone else who would love to have you around."
"Candle, before we get started, I have a question to ask you." Lucien stated before the group of juniors.
"Yes, what is it?" Cura asked, crossing her arms reflexively to her cringey new nickname while the recruits chuckled amongst themselves.
"I hear rumours that you're Dragonborn. Is it true that if you raise your voice even just a few octaves, you could shatter this room?" Lucien wondered.
"Without question." Cura assured him.
"Can you teach us how to do that?" Ingjard, a female Nord recruit asked. "To use the Thu'um? Could be quite useful."
"I..." Cura tried to explain to the best of her ability that being Dragonborn was not something that could be practiced, and that it was a draw of Divine straws essentially that gave her this gift. "I can't teach it to you. You'd have to study for decades under the Greybeards. Unfortunately, we don't have that kind of time."
"She's training them?" Isran turned to Erandur when he heard others clamouring about 'the Dragonborn' and what a 'cool fighter' she was, and how she 'survived vampires and killed Dragons'. He looked over the balcony railing in the main hall and watched as Cura called Lucien forward.
Agmaer, Beleval the female Bosmer, Ingjard, and Mogrul the Orc all watched in amusement as the anxious Lucien approached Cura.
"Don't be afraid, it's only a demonstration." Cura assured him.
"All right, what are we going to practice?" Lucien asked.
"Well, I think it would be good to learn a little about Blocking. A shield is quite cumbersome to those who aren't accustomed to it, but once you're used to having it, it will become like an extension of your left hand. Blocking will be second nature soon enough." Cura smiled and turned to face Lucien proper. "So, Lucien, are you ready to learn how to block?" She retrieved a Dawnguard shield for him and handed it to him before assuming position.
"Great! Wait, you're not going to hit me, are you?" Lucien adjusted the awkward plate of steel in his left hand.
A gleam in Cura's eye was enough to discern his fate.
WHAM!
"Ow."
BAM!
"Ow."
CLANK!
"Ow."
SMACK!
"Ow."
CLUMP!
"Ow."
Serana sat over in the corner of the room and held a hand to her mouth, trying not to let a snicker escape, but the rest of the recruits began to laugh as Lucien whined and held his left wrist in pain.
"Owww... must you hit so hard? I'm only a beginner!" Lucien complained.
"I went easy." Cura raised a brow with concern. "I'm sorry. Are you all right? Let me look at that." She approached and held his forearm and examined that it was cut from impact with the metal. It appeared that his bone was tender as well.
"Yep. That's a fracture..." Cura clicked her tongue. "I'm very sorry, Lucien."
"It hurrrts..." the Imperial whined.
"Well, now I can demonstrate another very important skill." Cura informed them all. "In training, this will come very handy. And in real battle, it's a godsend. Restoration." She held up Lucien's arm so they all could see. She pressed her other hand on the wound and cast Healing Hands upon it, and the blood seemed to slowly vanish.
"Hehe! That tickles!" Lucien chuckled as the searing pain was replaced with a warm, tingly sensation.
Cura closed her eyes and gave a serene smile. This was what she liked. Helping others, healing the injured, teaching others. Why couldn't her quest have more of that in it?
Isran continued to watch from above. "Her technique has certainly improved with time. She no longer swings in wide, open arcs. She's learned her lesson."
Erandur watched the spectacle for a time and then called out to Cura. "Hey, Cura! Leave some for me, all right? I'm supposed to be the Healer here."
Cura rubbed the back of her neck. "Oops. Of course, Erandur. But everybody should know at least some basic Healing Spells."
"Fair enough." Erandur could not complain, for it was the truth.
"So, anyways, practice blocking." Cura told the recruits. "And don't worry about breaking limbs, because Erandur and I are here."
Beleval and Ingjard both turned to face their orc compatriot and Mogrul readied his heavy shield for practice.
Agmaer turned to face Lucien with a mischievous grin.
"Oh, come on!" Lucien complained. "I just got injured!"
"Round two." Agmaer readied his war axe.
In that moment, Lucien realized that he was beginning to regret his life choices.
A couple of hours of supervised training occurred, and Cura began to instruct the attackers on methods of breaking a shield block, and how to parry a guard break for the defenders.
"The trick is to push back the moment contact is about to be made." Cura stated. "Once you become used to it, it will feel as though the world itself slows down around you as you focus."
"Candle, I really need to rest..." Lucien whined. "I'm a big city boy, and this is too much, too quickly."
"Milk-drinker." Agmaer hung his war axe on his hip, unimpressed.
Cura elected to show him mercy. "All right, Lucien. You can sit on the side for a while."
In that moment, Celann came running inside, alarmed by something. "Where's Isran?" he asked Cura.
Cura pointed to the balcony above, and Celann looked up to meet him.
"What is it, Celann?" Isran called down to him.
"It's... it's... Keeper Carcette!" Celann exclaimed. "She's insisting upon entry and has a Dog with her..." he pointed to a big bite tear in his pants.
Cura's eyes widened.
Carcette has come? On the one hand, Cura was joyful at the thought that she'd come to make amends, but deep down she felt a shock of terror. She wasn't ready.
The hammer crushing her right arm, splitting her left leg, the blow to her stomach, the blows to her head.
Cura was beginning to shake as the horrors returned to her.
No, not this. Not now.
The Breton clenched her right arm tightly as the chills consumed her.
"...And she has a Moth Priest." Celann finished.
Serana, who sat by the wayside was surprised, and slowly stood up and looked around.
That sold it.
"Hmph. Fine, let her in." Isran stated as he began to head towards the stairs.
Celann opened the door and hesitantly allowed Carcette, Stendarr's Little Helper, and Dexion Evicus to enter.
As soon as Carcette came into view, she and Cura locked eye to eye and Cura began to tremble uncontrollably.
As soon as the former Keeper took a step forward in her direction, Cura's body acted on its own in response to her arrival.
"FUS RO DAH!" Cura Shouted, blasting her former mentor against the wall with a mighty gale by instinct. Caught off-guard, Carcette crashed into the brick and dropped to the ground, but quickly began to pull herself back up. Everyone who was present looked on in shock and awe at the spectacle.
Cura readied her mace and shield and Isran quickly pulled her back by the shoulder. "What do you think you're doing, child?!"
She had to defend herself! She would try to kill her again! Cura was barely breathing, but she stood there like a shaking statue. Her heart raced and she was either to fight or escape. Slowly, but surely, her eyes took time to readjust, and she realized she was only in Fort Dawnguard. "I..."
After the fearful stupour wore off, Cura shuddered when she looked at the former Keeper, who was already back on her feet and glaring at her, and the Dragonborn quickly sheathed her weapons and fled the area.
The recruits were confused, and Lucien hurried after his new guardian, and Serana followed after Cura, as well.
Stendarr's Little Helper barked in Cura's direction and Carcette calmed him with a hand on his back. A profound sadness overcame her, but she knew there were bigger things at hand.
"Why did you come here, Carcette?" Isran asked. "I thought you were trying to trip up the Volkihar court."
"I'm finished. My business is concluded." Carcette told him. "They had plans to use an Elder Scroll for the nefarious purpose of a prophecy that would allow them control over the Sun. They were going to hypnotize this Month Priest and force him to read the Scroll..."
"So, what it said was true, then." Isran scratched his chin while he considered Serana's words. "Serana has the Elder Scroll here."
"Good girl." Carcette sighed with relief. "I risked life and limb, betraying Harkon openly... but it will be worth it. Where is she?"
"She just left with Cura." Beleval stated, pointing to the Eastern Hall.
Carcette nodded and ordered Stendarr's Little Helper to stay put and she beckoned for Dexion to follow her.
Cura was in the Chapel of Stendarr, and she sat on one of the pews, with her hands clasped together firmly, and she buried her face in them as she tried to keep herself together.
"Well, I think that was a little bit of an overreaction. No offense." Lucien stood by the wall and Serana kept a distance from the Shrine.
Carcette entered the small Chapel and was awestruck by the simple beauty of it, and by the austere statue of Stendarr himself at the end of it.
Dexion entered, as well. "Lovely." he whispered softly, admiring the craftsmanship.
"Cura?" Carcette softly called out to her from behind, but Cura would not respond.
Lucien tried to speak up for her, heading over to the center walkway, effectively acting as a roadblock. "Look, I don't know what's going on, but I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to see you."
Carcette understood that much, but still felt that she owed her protege an explanation. She glared at Lucien and snarled, exposing one of her fangs and intimidating the obstructor of her path into stepping out of it. "I'm sorry, Candle. I tried." Lucien held his hands up and backed away from the vampiric Breton in terror.
Carcette slowly approached the Pew and pulled herself a seat beside her protege. She had rehearsed in her mind for weeks what she had planned to say, but now it all came out clumsily. "Cura, I'm so sorry, for everything. I never wished to harm you."
Cura continued to keep her face turned away. "I can't even look at you right now. I wasn't ready." She admitted somberly.
"It was all my fault." Carcette admitted her shame. "I thought we could handle it. I was wrong. I lost the Vigil. I was turned, against my will. Right there, in that wretched Castle. If I'd had a dagger, I would have cut my throat first and spared us all the heartache."
Cura slowly, and cautiously turned to look at her. "And you've... been masquerading as a vampire convert. You tricked me into believing you were on their side."
"It killed me inside to do it, Cura." Carcette confessed. "Hurting you like that in the Court, and then our encounter at the Redwater Spring... were the hardest decisions I've made in my life."
Cura sat there in silence for a few moments, and then decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. "And now you're on our side? Just like that?"
"Just like that." Carcette confirmed. "I never left your side. Not for a minute. I needed Harkon to believe otherwise. Now, he's killed one of the highest-ranked members of his court, and he's lost his daughter, the Elder Scroll, and the Moth Priest required to read it, and the Bloodstone Chalice has been rendered worthless for the next hundred years."
"You caused all that?" Cura asked, impressed and yet mildly disbelieving.
"You know what they say about Bretons and politics." Lucien chuckled, only to be met with an odd stare from all sides. "...Er, I'll see myself out. Pardon me." He slowly slunk out of the Chapel.
Carcette promptly and gently took Cura's hands into her own. "I would never have harmed you like that if I wasn't certain it would buy us an advantage against those demons. I... hope you can forgive me." She looked into Cura's eyes, searching for a sign of grace.
"How do I know you're sincere? How do I know this isn't a mind game of some sort?" Cura leaned away from her as uncertainty wedged between them.
"Because she protected me from the Vampires, using Stendarr's Aura." Dexion proclaimed. "If the God of Mercy sees her worthy of protection, even in this state, I believe she should be heard."
Cura fell silent, and her hands shook lightly from the stress.
"Cura..." Carcette said her name sadly. "For all your life, I've looked upon the world and seen many things that could hurt you... I should never have become one of them."
Serana looked towards the western wall wistfully, remembering her own family. She hoped for Cura that she could put this all behind her, as she herself had to with her own familial troubles.
Cura took light breaths and looked Carcette back in the eye, searching for deception, but finding none. Her eye may no longer be brown, and instead be glowing like the fires of Coldharbour, but it was unmistakably the Keeper's. Though, it was warped; like staring into the eye of a predator.
Her face, as well. It still resembled Carcette, but her lips were dark red, and her face was more gnarled and her wrinkles more pronounced. And to top it off, she had a black groove under her nose and under her mouth. Ugly.
Vampiric.
Pale skin, frozen to the touch. Her blonde hair more ashen than normal.
The look of living death.
It disturbed Cura to her core, and she could barely stand to see her like that. The woman who she'd looked up to and loved for her entire life was blasphemed, corrupted like this, and her extended family killed by the culprits. Cura hated these Vampires.
Cura turned her face away sadly once more, unable to keep a fixed glare. "I don't know what to say, Keeper. I... want to forgive you, but I don't know how." Truly, it was a sad situation they were wound up in. Though, Cura being out of commission for six weeks helped her recover physically and fooled the vampires into believing her dead. Unfortunately, though, simple rest was not enough to heal her many scars; physical, mental, and spiritual all.
"Perhaps there is something I can do to reconcile us." Carcette smiled with a hopeful proposition, to encourage Cura. "I'm going to help you on your journey."
"What..." before Cura could speak, Carcette held a finger to her lips, hushing her. She needn't be interrupted here.
"I've heard it all, Cura. I know of the horrors you've faced." Carcette informed her. "About Joile, about Cidhna Mine, about Lydia. About Vigilant Tyrannus."
Cura fell silent. It was all painful. She wanted to forget it all, but it was impossible.
"Poor child. You've taken so much suffering for everyone." Carcette stated. "You recklessly throw yourself into any dangerous situation that presents itself. Why?"
"I try to do my best to help Skyrim, but it never seems to be enough." Cura spoke up disheartenedly. "The entire world has been dumping crap on me and I just can't deal with it all."
"You don't have to deal with it all." Carcette placed a hand on her shoulder. "You have allies. And you have me. Especially now, since the Volkihar clan is going to want to get even with me for this."
It was true. Now that her ruse was up, the former Keeper of the Vigil was in greater danger than ever before. She was fortunate that the Vampires that attacked herself and Dexion were weaker ones that time, but surely Harkon would be sending stronger ones after her soon enough. He would not forgive her making a fool of him and getting Vingalmo killed by him.
The Dawnguard was her last chance at survival. Sending Adalvald, Tolan, and giving the option out there to the other Vigilants to join up was a smart move, the more she considered it in retrospect.
Cura worried for her. "Keeper... you are in a dangerous position." She acknowledged the facts now that her mind was clearer.
"Not 'Keeper' anymore, Cura." Carcette reminded her. "You don't have to refer to me by title any longer. Just 'Carcette' now."
"Oh..." Cura was floored by the sudden change. "All right. Whatever you say, Kee-Carcette!" She slapped herself in the face at her immediate blunder, and the older Breton simply laughed at the situation.
Seeing Carcette laugh was something new in and of itself, and it caught Cura by surprise. How could she, of all people, laugh at a time like this?
"Give it time. You'll get used to it." Carcette reassured her.
"I can't believe it." Cura seemed to have lost contact with her previously-felt sorrow in favour of ponderance. "This really is the state of affairs now. What's going to happen to the Vigil now?"
"The main Order in Cyrodiil is going to send for a new Keeper." Carcette informed her. "And I want you to treat them with the same respect you did me. Got it?"
Cura nodded. "Understood."
"I won't take 'no' for an answer, Cura. I'm going to accompany you." Carcette gave her a gentle push on the shoulder, and turned to face the Moth Priest while Cura awkwardly shifted. "Now that that's all cleared up, Dexion, I think it's time you read that Elder Scroll."
The Moth Priest was staring at the Scroll-bearer, Serana with a fixed gaze. "She's a..." Dexion noticed the glowing eyes.
"A vampire, yes." Serana admitted, her tone exhausted. "There's one for the Courier."
"If my knowledge of history serves me, I recall that the Dawnguard was an ancient order of vampire hunters." Dexion mused in light surprise.
"There are a couple who have vested interest in keeping the world alive." Serana said. "Now, the Scroll?"
"I will be happy to assist you with your Elder Scroll. Just tell me where I need to go." Dexion accepted the circumstances.
"Let's go out to the main hall so the others can hear it too." Cura insisted. She stood up, and Carcette followed behind her.
Things were going to change, and Cura felt it strongly. With Carcette deciding to be her shadow and having the time to do it, the pressure was certainly very real. Every little mistake she makes would be scrutinized.
The young Breton sighed at the convenient inconvenience.
"What do Moth Priests do, exactly?" Cura asked Dexion en route, in hopes of derailing her thoughts.
"It is our sacred duty to study the Elder Scrolls. We read these ancient scrolls of prophecy in order to divine the future, and we use that knowledge to aid the Emperor." Dexion stated. "Sometimes we venture out into the world in search of more scrolls for our library at the White-Gold Tower. That is the very purpose that first brought me to Skyrim."
Carcette nodded. "Because Harkon planted the rumour." She recalled his scheme.
"What do you know about the Elder Scrolls?" Cura was curious to learn. Being able to meet a Moth Priest in and of itself was a privilege. Now, she wanted to know even more.
"Not as much as I would like." Dexion halted that stream. "Even after spending decades of my life in study of the Elder Scrolls, they remain a great mystery to me. It's true for most of my brothers in the order as well. We don't really know where the scrolls came from or who wrote them. What we do know is that some are born with the special gift to read the Elder Scrolls." He began to conduct with his hands in the air as he articulated. "These chosen few can divine events of the past and future within the scrolls, though in time, it drives us to blindness. I'm afraid there's not much more to tell. Even today, the Elder Scrolls remain a great enigma."
"Are you prepared to read the Elder Scroll?" Serana asked him. "Are you able to do it?"
"Oh, most certainly!" Dexion beamed proudly. "Let's find out what secrets the scroll can tell."
They entered the main hall, and Isran quickly approached Serana. "Give him the scroll. Now."
"That's the idea." Serana narrowed her eyes at the commanding Redguard as she handed it to Dexion.
Lucien, who was by the doorway, spoke to Cura. "You know, Candle, I could have become a Moth Priest, but I didn't like much the idea of being cloistered up in a dingy old tower with a bunch of old bearded men."
"You won't like High Hrothgar, then." Cura responded with a smirk.
Inigo peered over the balcony and watched the spectacle, beside Vigilant Tolan and Brother Adalvald. Sorine Jurard and Gunmar, beside Florentius and Erandur, entered as well when they heard what was going on.
"He can really read it? Never thought I'd see a Moth Priest at work before." Agmaer admitted. "Not that I know much about them anyways."
"You country bumpkin!" Lucien exclaimed. "You've truly never heard of Moth Priests before?"
"Neither have I, until recently." Cura chimed in, and Lucien held a hand to his mouth.
"Err, no offense to you, Candle." Lucien was quick to redact.
"Now, if everyone will please be quiet, I must concentrate." Dexion took the scroll from Serana's hands and held it upright, slowly unravelling the mystic artifact. Once it reached its length in his grip, a brilliant flash of stellar blue light consumed the area, transporting Dexion's mind into another dimension before the Dawnguard. "I see a vision before me, an image of a great bow. I know this weapon! It is Auriel's Bow!"
Brother Adalvald's eyes widened in awe when this was revealed, and the others looked on, slack-jawed.
Dexion continued. "Now a voice whispers, saying..." He paused to allow the words to sink in. ""Among the night's children, a dread lord will rise. In an age of strife, when dragons return to the realm of men, darkness will mingle with light and the night and day will be as one.""
Cura, Carcette and Serana exchanged glances of concern, while Sorine and Gunmar showed terror. Isran muttered something under his breath and walked over to the wall near Dexion, almost trying to catch a glimpse of the Scroll for himself.
And finally, Dexion continued. "The voice fades and the words begin to shimmer and distort. But wait, there is more here. The secret of the bow's power is written elsewhere. I think there is more to the prophecy, recorded in other scrolls." A slow revelation flashed before his eyes. "Yes, I see them now... One contains the ancient secrets of the Dragons, and the other speaks of the potency of ancient blood."
"Secrets of the Dragons?" Cura asked aloud, and Inigo looked down at her from the balcony above, meeting her confused glance.
Dexion quickly rolled up the scroll and closed his eyes, bearing them in his hands in avoidance of light as black speckles filled his retinas. "My vision darkens, and I see no more. To know the complete prophecy, we must have the other two scrolls."
Isran placed a gentle hand on his upper back and ushered Dexion towards the sleeping quarters. "Come on, old man. You should get some rest."
"Find the Scroll of Blood." Dexion informed Cura as he was being walked away. "Within the Scroll of Blood you will find the Bow! But remember also the Dragon Scroll... in the future."
Cura would note that.
The rest of the Dawnguard elected to return to their purposes, and Cura stood in the center of the Main Hall, dumbfounded. "What have the Dragons got to do with the Vampires?"
"It's no coincidence then, Candle." Lucien wondered. "You're Dragonborn, aren't you? Maybe the second Scroll talks about you?"
"I don't know." Cura was trying to piece it all together. "But a Dragonborn..."
"Perhaps this was what fate had in store." Carcette mused. "That a Dragonborn would be delivered unto our ranks. Perhaps you will be the one to end that Prophecy and save all of Tamriel-not just from the Dragons, but from the Vampires, as well."
"Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin, naal ok zin los vahriin, Wah dein vokul mahfaeraak ahst vaal! Ahr fin norok paal graan fod nust hon zindro zaan, Dovahkiin fah hin kogaan mu draal!" Serana began to sing lightly.
Cura immediately looked in her direction. "Did you just... was that Dovahzul?"
"It was an Ancient song the Nords used to sing, in my time." Serana stated.
"'Dragonborn, Dragonborn, by his honor is sworn, To keep evil forever at bay! And the fiercest foes rout when they hear triumph's shout, Dragonborn, for your blessing we pray!'" Vigilant Adalvald translated as he approached the group. "It's a very old song." He smiled as he recounted the old melody from his childhood. "Hearken now, sons of snow, to an age, long ago, And the tale, boldly told, of the one! Who was kin to both wyrm, and the races of man, with a power to rival the sun!"
"Maybe there is more to these old songs than just tradition." Lucien scratched his chin.
"Maybe so." Brother Adalvald mused.
Inigo came running downstairs. "Boy, have I missed out on some things! Why is she here?" He pointed at Carcette. "You are not welcome here! The power of S'rendarr compels you! Get out! Get out!" He grabbed Cura's Amulet and yanked it forward to face Carcette, pulling Cura along with it.
Carcette shook her head and sulked, unamused.
Stendarr's Little Helper ran forward and clamped his teeth down on Inigo's backside, causing the blue Khajiit to yelp. He began to run in circles, trying to shake the Dog off as the others chuckled in amusement.
Inigo eventually threw the husky off of him and snarled viciously at the pooch, causing him to run away. "Stupid dog!"
Cura was quick to use her Healing hands on Inigo, sealing up the bite wound. "Inigo, it's okay. Keeper Carcette is here to help. She wants to make up for everything."
"Oh, no. No, no, no!" Inigo protested. "I do not want to be at arm's length with that one ever again. She will rip out my larynx!"
"No, I won't." Carcette shook her head. "Your tongue, perhaps, but not your larynx, I assure you."
"Why can you not stay at Fort Dawnguard?" Inigo asked.
"I don't want to attract the Volkihar Clan here." Carcette told him. "The Dawnguard still needs time, and Cura could use some help. Now that I'm no longer tied to a Shrine for most of the day, I would be more than happy to accompany her."
"So, let me get this straight..." Lucien expressed nervously. "We're going to be traveling with two Vampires?"
"Yes." Cura confirmed.
"I thought we specifically agreed upon you protecting me from harm." Lucien recounted the bargain.
"Serana and Keeper Carcette won't hurt you." Cura reassured him.
"Cura." Carcette placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're already reverting to form."
"I don't think I'll ever get used to not calling you Keeper." Cura struggled to explain.
"In time." Carcette smiled. "I'm glad to be rid of it, truthfully. I haven't felt so free in over twenty years. It's like removing shackles I hadn't realized I was bound with."
Serana nodded. "I'll bet. Honestly, Cura, being with you and your friends feels the same way. I hadn't realized how lonely I was until spending weeks here, getting to know you, and Inigo."
Cura smiled. "I'm glad we could be friends. It's not every day a Vigilant could claim friendship with a Vampire." She chuckled, and Serana did, as well.
Serana concluded and returned to the issue at hand. "Anyways, that Moth Priest, Dexion. He said we needed the other Elder Scroll - the Scroll of Blood. I think I know where we can start looking."
"Why didn't you say something earlier?" Brother Adalvald asked.
"Half the people in your little crew would just as soon kill me as talk to me. That doesn't exactly make me want to open up." Serana noted the rest of the Dawnguard, who were not as accepting as Cura and her immediate friend circle. "I got a warmer welcome from my father, and that's saying something."
"Isran was quite cold to her." Cura recounted their first interaction. "I understand her hesitation."
"Does Harkon even care about you anymore?" Carcette asked Serana sadly. It really seemed as though she was but a tool to him, especially on that first greeting, when Cura presented her to the court.
"You know, I've asked myself the same thing. I thought... I hoped that if he saw me, he might feel something again. But I guess I don't really factor in at this point." Serana shook her head sadly. "I don't think he even sees me as his daughter anymore. I'm just... a means to an end."
"That's really sad..." Lucien sympathized. "I'm sorry to hear that."
Cura shook her head. "It's a crying shame. He's missing out, not you."
Serana smiled lightly. It was a consolation, at least. She found some people who did seem to care.
"So where is this Elder Scroll?" Brother Adalvald got back to the point.
Serana was happy to follow him. "We need to find my mother, Valerica. She'll definitely know where it is, and if we're lucky, she actually has it herself."
"But she vanished!" Carcette exclaimed. "Not even Harkon knows where she is. Thankfully."
"The last time I saw her, she said that she'd go somewhere safe... somewhere that my father would never search. Other than that, she wouldn't tell me anything." Serana shrugged. "But the way she said it... "someplace he would never search." It was cryptic, yet she called attention to it."
"Maybe your mother didn't trust you either." Inigo wondered.
"That's always a possibility." Serana admitted. "She was almost as obsessed as my father by the time she shut me in. But I can't worry about that now. We need the scroll, and she's our only lead. Besides, I can't imagine a single place my father would avoid looking."
"Maybe in time we'll figure it out. If Harkon were even close to, he would have had millennia to do so." Lucien stated.
"There you are, Dragonborn! I've been looking all over Skyrim for you!" A commanding voice bellowed after Cura from the entrance door behind her.
Cura shivered, recognizing who it was immediately, and slowly turned to face Delphine, the clearly very unhappy Breton, who stood expectantly against the doorframe.
"Oh, no... not her." Cura muttered under her breath. Carcette took notice of it and stood beside her.
"What in Oblivion are you doing here, starting a social club?" Delphine chastised. "Don't be an idiot. You were supposed to meet me at the Inn over two months ago!"
"I was going to, but I got pulled in many directions." Cura stated.
"Yes, it was quite the ride!" Inigo confirmed her story. "Would you like me to tell you in song?"
"Zip it, cat!" Delphine snapped at him. She marched right up to Cura. "I don't give a damn about your little Guild, here. You owe it to the Blades to come with me. Right now!"
"She owes you nothing!" Carcette interceded, stepping up to Delphine. "There are pressing matters at hand. You can wait another two months."
"Get out of my face, Breton." Delphine turned her face to the side to draw some distance from herself and Carcette. "You don't know what's at stake!"
"Clearly you don't, either." Serana snarled, coming up beside Cura, as well.
Inigo stood to Cura's right and glared at Delphine. "You know, I must commend your dedication, searching far and wide to locate Cura, but you will have to wait your turn."
Delphine pushed Carcette out of her way and grabbed Cura's right arm, causing her to wince. It was still tender from the injury. "I don't have time for this. We need you to get to Sky Haven Temple."
Carcette grabbed Delphine's arm and wrenched it off of Cura, and gripped it tightly. "Touch her like that again and I'll kill you."
Delphine furrowed her brows and tried to pull her arm back to no avail. "Let go of me or you're not gonna like what happens next."
"Make the first move, please. I insist." Carcette goaded her.
Inigo gestured a cat scratch with his hand and made a small "Rawr!" sound, making Lucien laugh.
"Sky Haven Temple?" Cura asked. "What's that?"
"An ancient base of operations created by the Akaviri, in ages long passed. It's in the Karthspire." Delphine informed her. "Guarded by Forsworn. I hear you have a... relationship of some kind with them."
"I'm sure that relationship will still be there when I'm through with the Vampire menace." Cura stated.
"Oh, great. Vampires?" Delphine's tone dropped with sarcasm. "Such a grand threat next to Alduin."
"Have you seen Alduin lately?" Cura asked Delphine, sternly. "I think he's biding his time, waiting for my next move."
"And what is your next move going to be, Dragonborn?" Delphine snubbed her. "Play hide-and-seek with Vampires until the world is consumed?"
Cura fell silent at this, and looked to her friends. "What do you all think? Should I prioritize the Dawnguard, or the Blades?"
"The Dawnguard." Inigo stated. "They are your family, and your friends. Delphine is a big pain in the backside."
"But the Dragons are a threat..." Cura admitted.
"I haven't seen a single one since I got here." Lucien stated.
"The Vampires must be stopped, now, while their court is confused." Carcette insisted, finally releasing Delphine by throwing her forward and knocking her off-balance.
"My father will not stop until he has the Scroll." Serana stated. "Cura is right about Alduin hiding his time. This is more important."
Delphine noticed other Dawnguard recruits glaring at her and one even had his crossbow pointed her way.
"We need her here." Agmaer stated threateningly as he pushed the point of his crossbow against Delphine's back. "You can deal with Cura after this mess is sorted out."
Delphine began to look around, only finding unfriendly faces. "If I were only 30 years younger, I'd slaughter the lot of you." She especially sneered towards Carcette. "We need Cura's help for one little thing, then. Can you just get us to Sky Haven Temple? The Thalmor have been pokin' around Riverwood. We need a secure hideout."
Cura relented. "I can do that, but don't expect me to drop the Dawnguard and join the Blades."
Agmaer raised his crossbow, and docked it on his shoulder.
Inigo and Serana exchanged glances, but Lucien was excited to see this place, regardless.
Carcette turned to Cura. "Are you sure about this? With the Forsworn there?"
"I'm not worried." Cura stated. "I'm on good terms with them." She addressed Delphine. "All right, I'll help you with that, but I'm coming right back to Fort Dawnguard."
"Why do you have to make everything so difficult?" Delphine asked as she headed to the door, leaving them to follow.