Stendarr's Dragon

by Midnight Coffee 64

I've decided to write a story based on my very first Dovahkiin, the Breton Paladin Cura! Raised in the Vigil of Stendarr, she goes on to save Skyrim in times of crisis in a Season Unending! Humble and meek by nature, Cura finds her values and general disposition challenged by the brutal world around her. *Decided to write this since Skyrim's 10th Anniversary! :)*

69. When Darkness Falls Part 11

Cura and her allies returned triumphantly to the Fort, and were greeted by Celann and Durak at the front door. The Breton and Orc Dawnguard members were both surprised, and very elated to witness their return.

"Cura! You have the Bow?" Celann wasted no time in getting down to the point as he took a couple of steps down.

"I do." Cura revealed the silver arch from within her bag.

"Good! Maybe now we can finally put an end to this Vampire menace before they tear the province inside-out." Celann stated. "Gunmar has his Trolls at the ready, and the Hounds are just itching for blood. Let's put an end to Volkihar's antics."

"What do you mean? Has something happened while we were gone?" Serana asked out of concern, and Cura seconded the notion.

"Your Father's minions attacked the city of Solitude, led by Fura Bloodmouth. I made short work of her before she could kill her mother and cousin." Durak beamed proudly at his sharp shooting skills. "Unfortunately, there was a lot of property damage, and more than a few people died in the assault. We've sent men over to help rebuild the city."

Serana sighed and gripped tight her left arm. "He's really doing this... inviting war with Tamriel. What an idiot..." Her tone was laced with sadness, while Cura seemed more concerned for the townsfolk.

"And another Vampire came. Says he doesn't want to be a Vampire anymore. Wood Elf, not very useful. We locked him in the cage under the Fort. Maybe you should see him and decide his fate." Celann informed Cura.

"I'll see Isran first. The vampire can wait." Cura stated as she passed through the doors.

As soon as they entered the Hall, Lucien picked up one of the new Silver Crossbows lain on a barrel in front of the entry door. He held it up to Inigo. "If I hit enough targets with this, do I get upgraded to a gold crossbow? Because that sounds fabulous!"

Inigo chuckled. "Unfortunately I do not think gold works as well against vampires."

"Fair enough." Lucien shrugged as he placed it back on the barrel. "I think I'll stick to my Dwarven crossbow. I don't plan to get close enough to beat a vampire over the head with the thing."

The Main Hall was bustling; Gunmar's armoured Trolls were out of their pen, and lined up in a row against the western wall. Bran and Sceolang were out of their enclosure as well, sitting near the door. It seemed the battle preparations are ready. They must have been anticipating her return.

Cura immediately scoped out familiar faces: Carcette seemed to be speaking with Agmaer, Sorine, Gunnar, and Florentius. Gunmar was supervising his trolls and Sorine seemed to be explaining to Carcette why they prefer the use of a Crossbow over Warhammers, but can understand the brutal necessity of crushing a Vampire's skull just the same. Carcette assured her that the reason they relied on Warhammers and Maces was actually more of ceremonial reason with more to do with Stendarr himself.

Gunmar interjected. "If you do it because Stendarr did, why not use a Chalice as a weapon? Maybe you could blind your enemies with the liquid." No sooner did he say this than he and Sorine began to chuckle at the absurdity of it.

Carcette was unamused.

Further back, Erandur was treating injured Dawnguard members who had just reentered, themselves, in the main Hall's ground floor. Bringing Mara's love to these dark times, it seemed.

Isran was perched on the balcony above, speaking with Vigilant Tolan and Brother Adalvald as Cura entered the main hall.

The sounds of murmuring and footsteps ceased as she entered and all eyes fell upon the Breton.

Inigo, Lucien and Serana entered silently and Celann and Durak followed in from behind, closing the large doors.

"Hey, look who's back!" Vigilant Tolan exclaimed as he peered over the railing.

Cura's eyes were filled with fiery determination. "I have Auriel's Bow!" she announced as she lifted it from her bag and held it up in the air.

Everybody fell silent for that ephemeral moment in time, and Isran quickly descended the staircase and reached her.

Vigilant Tolan, Brother Adalvald and the former Keeper Carcette quickly surrounded her.

"By Shor, I don't believe it!" Isran followed suit and rushed up to her in slackjawed awe. "The bow... You have Auriel's Bow! I've heard it described in tales, but I could never have imagined its beauty."

"Once again, the Elder Scrolls have proven their value." Dexion announced proudly as he crossed his arms.

"Now, we're all set." Cura said plainly.

Isran agreed with her. "Indeed. The day hasn't been won while Harkon still walks Tamriel. But what of Serana? Can she be trusted to lift a blade against her own kind? Her own family?"

Cura looked over her shoulder with sympathy at Serana, who held a mournful visage some distance away. "I trust her. It won't be easy for her, but I think she will."

"I suppose that's as much as I can hope for." the Redguard sighed. Trust never came easy to him, but in this case he hadn't much of an alternative. "Let me address the Dawnguard, and then we'll be off. The men deserve to know that we've finally gained the upper hand." Isran was just as nervous as one would expect, and his stoic face revealed that, beneath the assurance of them having the Bow.

Vigilant Tolan placed a hand on the top of Cura's head and moussed her hair in a jovial manner. "You did it, kiddo! I knew you could! Never doubted you for a second!"

Carcette flashed her a smile of serenity as she approached and tightly embraced her protégé. "I'm happy you're all right, Cura. You've done well. It wasn't too taxing on you all, I hope?"

"It wasn't easy, but I can still fight." Cura informed her. "I'm ready for it."

Carcette nodded and took Cura's hands into her own. "This is the moment we've all been waiting for. Today, the Hall of the Vigilant will be avenged upon those monsters. After all that we've been through to get here, to reach this point... it's all gone into this. We must succeed, at all costs."

Cura agreed. "I won't let you down, Carcette. I promise."

"I know you won't." Carcette responded optimistically. "We fight together, Cura. Be strong, be courageous, and most of all, be blessed."

"She has good friends, too." Brother Adalvald smiled as he acknowledged her partners. "And I expect to hear some tales from you later down the road, Cura. I want to know all about Darkfall Cave."

"Actually, you could take a look at my notes." Lucien volunteered. "I jotted down as much as I could!"

"I'll look forward to it." Brother Adalvald took him up on his offer. It imparted more incentive for him to live through the coming battle.

"Okay, so what is next?" Inigo asked. "Do we go in charging? Blow up the castle, maybe? It could be lots of fun!"

Isran nodded and leaned towards Celann. "I want everyone here. Get the stragglers over here. I have a speech to make."

"Right." Celann hurried off to gather other members of the Dawnguard.

Agmaer sighed with relief as he approached the Dragonborn Vigilant. "Well, Cura, I'm not fully blind, but I'm relieved just the same that the Scroll amounted to something!"

"Not fully? What do you..." No sooner did Cura ask the question than she saw his glassy left eye. "Oh, no..."

"It was unavoidable." Dexion, who was still blindfolded, stated sadly. "Especially for one inexperienced reading it."

"I... I can still use my right eye, like Carcette said." Agmaer resolved to look at the bright side. "You got the bow. Now we can defeat Harkon. It was worth it."

"I'll make sure of it." Cura promised him.

"Everyone! Gather round! Come on then, we haven't got all day!" Isran gestured towards the other members of both the Dawnguard and the Vigil. "For too long we've allowed these vampires to poison the night and kill our people! Now, we finally have the means to strike back! Thanks to Vigilant Cura and her allies' efforts, we now have Auriel's Bow."

Cura held up the Aedric artifact as evidence to back his claim as she stood beside the brooding Redguard. Other members of the Dawnguard looked on in awe as the silver bow shone in the air.

Isran pointed to the bow, and then directed his people. "The gods themselves have favored us and we must answer with action! The time has come to finally put an end to Harkon and his unholy prophecy! We will march on their lair and destroy those wretched abominations so they can no longer corrupt our world! This is our fight and this is our fate! This is the time of the Dawnguard!"

Florentius threw up his hands. "Burn them all!"

Carcette clapped her hands with great expectation. "We're going to make them pay for all that they have done! Every last life taken will be avenged sevenfold! Stendarr's justice decrees it!"

"They brought this on themselves!" Brother Adalvald shouted over the crowd.

"I'll ground their bones into dust!" Vigilant Tolan roared, throwing up a vicious fist.

"FOR THE PROTECTION OF SKYRIM!" Cura exclaimed, also throwing up a fist.

"By Mara's grace, they will face their reckoning!" Erandur held up his mace.

Celann punched his left hand with his right. "Kill the abominations!"

Agmaer jumped with elated energy. "Victory to the Dawnguard!"

Sorine goaded the troops around her and waved her crossbow. She turned to Inigo and winked. "Give him a crossbow bolt between the eyes for me!"

"Pin the stake on the vampire!" Inigo shouted humorously.

Beleval laughed sardonically. "Send the troll after them!"

Gunmar roared with fury. "Send them to Oblivion!"

Florentius clapped enthusiastically. "Praise Arkay!"

Durak laughed. "The prophecy is no more!"

Lucien felt his heart rushing with excitement with the crowd surrounding him. "Time to see what really makes a Vampire Lord tick! ...For science!"

Serana remained silent, as she could not bring herself to cheer on the massacre of her own family - however necessary it may be.

Isran turned to Cura firmly. "It's time we take the fight to their door. Gather your things and rest well, my friend. We meet outside Castle Volkihar."

Cura nodded. "Of course." She was more surprised at hearing Isran refer to her as his friend than anything.

"How are we going to organize this?" Vori asked Isran. "There are a lot of us."

"We're going in teams." Isran explained before the lot of them. "I will lead the Dawnguard into battle." He then turned his face to the former Keeper of the Vigil. "Vigilants, you will follow Keeper Carcette." He pointed to the blonde Breton, catching her by surprise.

Adalvald and Tolan nodded in agreement, and some of the other Vigilants raised their maces in a show of allegiance. They would have it no other way, especially given what happened to their organization over the last half-year.

Carcette was taken aback by the order and quickly objected to it. "Isran, I'm no longer the Keeper. As a Vampire, I hold no authority-"

Isran shook his head, dismissing her Vampiric condition and reasoning for her quitting. "No, you are. Vampire or not, they need a leader that hey know and respect. And until your replacement sets foot over the Jerall mountains, you are still their Keeper. Besides, this'll be like old times, wouldn't you say?"

Carcette was surprised by his support, but moreso by his appeal to nostalgia. The Breton closed her eye and lowered her head in a polite gesture. "Like old times, huh? It would be my pleasure to fight at your side again, Isran."

She remembered the old days when she first worked under Moric Sidrey, just come over the mountains from the Reach, and her partners were Vigilant Tolan, Brother Adalvald, and Isran. How many years had it been since they slayed the Daedra-worshippers in the Reach? The Forsworn, the Witchmen of Eastern High Rock, many a Vampire and Werewolves?

Over twenty years.

Carcette, if she were mortal, would be in her early forties, and Isran himself was, as well.

They were all much older, now. Could they still manage as in the past?

Likely not, but they thankfully had allies among them, and the Dragonborn herself. They had a fighting chance.

Celann clapped his hands together. In a strange way, it felt like an old friends' reunion.

The Keeper of the Vigil and the Leader of the Dawnguard, Carcette and Isran, working together to fight their common enemy. Their objective: destroy the Volkihar Clan.

"Florentius and Erandur." Isran turned to the Imperial and the Dunmer priests. "You are going to act as support. We could use as much Divine help as we can get. Stendarr is with us, but something tells me Arkay and Mara may want a piece of Harkon, as well."

Erandur nodded solemnly. "Lady Mara feels very strongly about Lord Harkon and his court. He has angered her in some great way."

"He used to follow her." Serana confessed, breaking her silence. "Then, he... he fell sick and feared dying after all the war he'd waged. He struck a bargain with Molag Bal and slaughtered a thousand innocent people in his name. He destroyed Mara's shrine because he couldn't bear to see it anymore."

Erandur opened his mouth in shock as she recounted the tale. "Ah, I see. Your clan was built on blasphemy."

"I guess you could say that." Serana awkwardly shifted in place. "Cura tried to make it right, by fixing her Shrine, but I guess the Goddess of love is still out for blood."

"It is not the destruction of her shrine that upset her, child." Erandur explained as he seemed to be looking off into an incalculable distance. "It was his slaughter of the innocents. His desecration of his family. His turn to power and evil over love and mercy that angered her. What Molag Bal violently inflicted upon his wife, and upon you, to make you what you are... it was by Harkon's decision to turn against Mara's benevolence."

Serana looked away sadly and gripped hold of her left shoulder. "I know. I just... sigh... I just want this to be over."

"If it makes you feel any better, I was once a member of a Daedric cult as well." Erandur tried to offer consolation. "We worshipped Vaermina. Lady Mara found me, lost and broken. I have no doubt in my heart that she's willing to accept you back, as well."

Serana closed her eyes and held a hand to her chest. Would she, really? Even a Daughter of Coldharbour?

Carcette glanced at Cura with the corner of her eye and realized something. Erandur was a Daedra worshipper, once, but Cura trusted him just the same. It was the right decision in this matter, as Erandur was a very helpful addition to the Dawnguard.

Lucien raised a hand. "Ahem! Er, excuse me? I have something to ask; is it really a good idea to bring both Serana and Auriel's Bow to the castle? What if Harkon gets the bow? Couldn't he just... I don't know... get her blood and curse the sun or whatever?"

"That's Cura's job, to ensure that he doesn't." Isran stated firmly. He then turned to the Breton. "And, Cura?"

"Yes, Isran?" she responded, feeling the weight of her responsibilities creeping up on her.

"You're leading the charge." Isran appointed her. "You're going to be in the very front, with your friends. Lead well, and maybe Shout down the front doors, all right?"

That was more like it. Cura accepted her tactical role with a fierce gaze. After all she had been through, she felt more than a little eager to exact justice upon the Vampires. She could feel Dawnbreaker pulsating on her hip, waiting in anticipation to be coated in undead blood; waiting to purge the unholy.

Inigo clapped his hands with excitement. "I always wanted to be the leader in 'Follow the Leader!' My friend, you are making my dreams a reality!" He squeezed Cura in a tight hug, causing some members in the Fort to chuckle.

Cura slowly wriggled out of his grasp. "Er... glad to hear it! Let's bring the fight to the wicked."

Vigilant Tolan gripped the handle of the Dawnguard Warhammer he was wielding. "Hear, hear!" He gave it a twirl. "Let's get going!"

Cura began by stepping outside and Fast Travelling with her allies, and Isran and Carcette did so as well, with their respective groups. Erandur and Florentius followed suit as well.

The Dawnguard faction reached the isle of Castle Volkihar, and some were shaken upon seeing the castle in its entirety. Sorine Jurard turned to Isran directly. "I'm going to ascend the watchtower; maybe I can get a good shot in if things turn ugly."

"Do what you have to." Isran responded, waving the Breton over to the tower, and sending two others with her in the event of a potential vampire along the way up.

Isran walked beside Cura and tapped her on the shoulder. With a firm and confident hand, he addressed her once more. "I'm glad to be fighting by your side, Dragonborn. Do us all proud." He slowly took a step back.

Keeper Carcette, Vigilant Tolan, and Brother Adalvald all stood behind her to her left, and Carcette was the next to address her protege. "Cura, we're with you all the way. Know that."

"I do." Cura turned her face and smiled to the Keeper, and to her friends, who were directly behind her.

Lucien shifted nervously, Inigo was raring to go, and Serana exhaled silently.

Vigilant Tolan spoke up loudly. "All right, Cura! Declare the Rite of Execution! Let's get those heads rolling!"

Cura adjusted her right arm, giving it a twirl as she felt her muscle crack. "They're not getting away with all that they've wrought. In the name of Stendarr, the god of mercy and justice, I evoke the Rite of Execution upon Harkon and the wicked members of his court. They shall face our Lord's justice upon this day!"

"We're done with this when none of them are left standing. Let's go." Isran added in. "For the Dawnguard! For Skyrim!"

"CHAAAAARGE!" Cura roared like a beast as she thrust her mace forward and raced towards the bridge, steel boots stamping the ground and stone.

The vampires had been expecting them, as legions of the night creatures came swarming up from under the bridge and down from over the castle wall.

Cura immediately drove her mace through one of their heads and lurched forward towards the large crowd before her. "FUS RO DAH!" Her Shout scattered the crowd of undead like bowling pins, and Tolan rushed through the open horde like a madman, splitting skulls and shattering bones.

Keeper Carcette stood at Isran's side, and the two smashed the Gargoyle statues in front of them, causing the demons to manifest.

Other Vigilants poured past the fighting in the rear to join the two of them in taking down the Gargoyles.

"Skyrim will be purged of your filth!" Isran shouted as he countered a claw attack with his Warhammer. Thinking of his deceased family, he mustered up a vengeful fury that overpowered his caution, and he smashed its head into the ground.

Carcette rammed into the one to their right head-on and sent it flying over the bridge before it could attack Isran's back. She dashed ahead and drove it down into the ground below.

"YOU'RE ALL DEAD!" Vigilant Tolan roared as he was blocked by a vampire with a steel shield. Gritting his teeth, the large Nord man headbutted the vampire with a forward lunge, and used his Warhammer to sweep him up into the air in an arch, and Serana took to the air, ramming the foe into the castle wall.

Inigo hacked at another fiend with his sword, clashing blade for blade with his back pressed against the stone halfwall along the bridge. He hadn't counted on the tight space to make his life this difficult, but he was pressed up against stone and a horde of allies and enemies on either side of him.

Sorine Jurard launched a piercing crossbow bolt from atop the small watchtower at the foot of the bridge, piercing the vampire's forehead before he could sink his teeth into the Khajiit.

Inigo looked in her direction and gave her a quick thumbs up before cartwheel-dodging a swooping attack from a vampire overhead.

Vori, Beleval, Tilde, Agmaer, Mogrul, Ingjard, Olrod, and the other recruits defended the back of the platoon, as vampires came from the waters below the island and allowed Sorine Jurard to descend the watchtower to back the group from the midway point with Durak; averting the fiends' attempts to swoop down upon their numbers.

Gunmar's army of Armoured Trolls provided shelter against the Gargoyles higher up the bridge, who they locked into combat with. The ferocious three-eyed beasts clawed the batlike monstrosities deep into their chest cavities.

Cura rushed past the flurry with Lucien covering her back, leaving a trail of flames in his wake as he casted the spell to obstruct the vampires who chased them. They managed to procure some distance between themselves and the fighting behind them. A vampire dropped down on Cura, but she hid beneath her shield, which she held up like a cover. The fiend stood atop it and attempted to reach down and claw at her back, but Lucien was having none of that. He loosed a bolt in the fiend's head, finishing him off nice and clean.

Isran activated Stendarr's Aura around himself, and the light guarded his person from hands that would have grabbed him as he continued to break into ribcages, skulls and limbs.

However, Isran's carnage was nothing in comparison to that of Vigilant Tolan, who was deliberately, and very cruelly crippling his enemies before bringing their lives to an end. The large Nord enjoyed every second of the torment he pushed onto the vampires. "This is for all my fallen brothers and sisters!" he cried before driving his warhammer through a vampire's head and through the stone halfwall of the bridge.

Keeper Carcette lapped about the air, hitting down vampires who attempted to attack Florentius and Erandur as they healed soldiers mid-battle, allowing them to continue unhindered.

Serana flew about the air and wrestled with another unholy terror mid-flight before releasing them and causing them to fly into a sharp edge on the castle roof, impaling them.

Gunmar assisted Tolan and Adalvald in pushing through the swarming horde. Where these vampires were coming from was anybody's guess.

Perhaps they were sucked in with the promise of luxurious castle life.

Either way, they wouldn't taste it.

Brother Adalvald cast Stendarr's Aura as well, which, with vicious light, consumed the dark entities and caused them to resort to fleeing from him and those bathed in his light nearby.

Cura was attacked by the doorman as soon as she approached the gate at the end of the bridge.

"I told you to treat Lord Harkon with respect." the doorman hissed angrily as he attempted to impale her with his steel sword. He was no longer the human she had first encountered, it seemed.

Cura parried the attack and drove Dawnbreaker into his chest. The burning shockwave rushed through the immediate area, catching closer fiends ablaze, and his body burnt in place.

Fortunately, Serana and Carcette were both out of reach of the shockwave.

The Keeper noticed the flash and felt a boost in morale, knowing that Cura had it under control further ahead.

Cura wasted no time in pushing his burnt corpse out of her way as she slammed through the doors and broke inside.

The Dawnguard Legion came pouring in behind, crossbows in arms. Isran and Keeper Carcette returned to the front and led their respective factions in behind Cura.

The Vigilants descended the staircase to the right, and the Dawnguard followed Cura down the left.

"Storm the halls," Carcette ordered. "and head to the east prisons; free the Thralls! Hurt none of them. Cut down any vampire in your path!"

"You'll do nothing of the sort, you holy pigs!" exclaimed Rargal Thrallmaster as he lunged forward and struck down a Vigilant in cold blood.

The other holy warriors witnessed this and were overcome with fury.

Rarhal immediately locked eyes with Keeper Carcette. "Ah, Carcette... I was waiting for you to show your ugly, one-eyed face here again. In fact, we all were; it's so good to see you, and to finally do what I wanted to on day one."

The Vigilants looked to their leader, and to her insulter with hatred. They did this to her, and now have the gall to make a mockery of it? Unacceptable. Cura herself grit her teeth angrily, and Tolan spun his hammer over his shoulder.

Keeper Carcette was unmoved by his insult, and responded accordingly. "My Hammer was waiting to become acquainted with your own hideous face. Perhaps Stendarr can give you the makeover that your mother failed to do."

Inigo, who was some distance away, released an audible "HAH!" in response.

Lucien covered his mouth. That was good. That was actually good.

Cura's jaw dropped. Maybe all that time spent travelling with Inigo influenced the Keeper in some way. She never would have talked like this in the past. She was 'above' petty insults, after all.

"DIE, ALL OF YOU!" Rargal shouted as the other vampires in the area took to the offense.

Hestla gripped her greatsword firmly in her hands as she stood by the doorway leading to the forge. There's no way they didn't kill Ronthil. she thought to herself.

Celann ran forward and immediately was met with Garan Marethi. The two clashed blade for blade, and Celann was pushed into one of the tables with great force, sliding across it and dropping to the floor with bloodied plates, body parts, and chalices flying off with him.

"We've just about had enough of your kind." Garan Marethi snarled.

Dawnguard members continued to fight, as well as Cura's allies, against more and more vampires, crept in from the province abroad to aid the powerful Lord.

Cura smiled. She was enjoying it. One by one, she soaked Dawnbreaker in their blood and ignited them like a lantern through oil.

Inigo too fought fiercely, aiding Sorine, Gunmar, Florentius, and Erandur as they fought Feran Sadri and his new allies.

Cura managed to slip through the crowd, and tagged Isran's shoulder. "I'm going to get Harkon!" She yelled over the loud screams and clashing of blades as she ran ahead.

"Stendarr be with you, Cura!" Isran shouted above the clamour.

Carcette and her faction cut through the fiends and entered the kitchen and then the Thrall chamber in search of people to rescue, only to be attacked by mindless ghouls in roughspun tunics.

"No..." the horrible reality of the situation made itself known; the Thralls were turned for the battle.

Unable to be saved, they instead would be slain.

Rargal Thrallmaster lay dead and bleeding in the main hall with Stendarr's Hammer's flames consuming his body, but his work stood now before them, and attacking them.

Once helpless victims were now killers, thirsting for blood.

Carcette would defend her Vigilants, and moved in quickly, slaying two of the eight with a vicious swing of her hammer that took off two of their heads.

The Vigilants rushed past her and cast Stoneflesh on themselves so as to avoid being bitten, and overpowered the weapon less Thralls.

Isran pushed Namasur backwards and buried his hammer in his skull, and then proceeded to yank it out with some difficulty.

Modhna leapt down from the ceiling on top of Beleval, and but down deeply into the Bosmer's throat, and tore out her jugular vein. The Bosmer's loud gasp resonated through the hall and she held a hand to the wound in attempt to halt the bleeding, but fell to the ground and bled out onto the floor.

Agmaer saw this and looked in horror. "BELEVAL!" he exclaimed as he leapt over the table and onto Modhna.

He wrapped his arms around the violent vampiress' neck and pulled to one side in attempt to snap it. Instead, she dug her claws in his gauntlets as she attempted to pry him off.

Celann fired a crossbow bolt into her chest from across the room, and Modhna screeched bloodcurdlingly on impact. Then Agmaer grabbed his axe and drove it across her throat.

Celann smiled as he saw the enemy go down, and clenched the bleeding wound in his side and then collapsed to his knees, and fell to his right side, slipping ever-so slowly into the arms of Stendarr.

I did the best I could... Celann thought to himself, though his mind was growing cloudy. I... wish I could have done more.. farewell, my brothers and sisters...

And with that, his vision went dark. The brave Breton lay on the cold stone tiles beside the Head table, in a pool of his own blood. Garan Marethi lay against the wall adjacent to him, gripping his chest as the Holy Water that coated Celann's blade burned its way into him slowly.

"Celann!" Sorine cried out in terror as she witnessed him hit the ground some distance away. Hestla leapt towards the female Breton and brought her greatsword down upon her, though thankfully, Florentius was there to deflect it with his mace, leaving the blade to graze her left shoulder.

Florentius then used Vampire's Bane to fire sunlight directly at her, bringing Hestla to her knees on impact.

She thought to Fura and how she died, and built up enough fury to drive her blade forward and impale Florentius in the gut before he could attack again, and searched the crowd for the Orc that killed her friend.

Now was her chance to avenge her!

Mogrul was blocking an onslaught of attacks, respecting the way Cura had instructed them all, and parried the foe ahead of him, and proceeded to cleave her head off with his waraxe.

Hestla, however, rushed up from behind him and impaled him through the back of his head with her sword, killing him immediately. Vigilant Tolan saw this from some distance away and grew enraged, though he could not reach the bitch due to the large crowd and table dividing them.

Brother Adalvald held his own while he stood in combat beside his Vigilant allies and the Dawnguard. He kept those nearest to him alive through casting Healing Spells upon them.

Gunmar's trolls paved a path through the interior battlefield and he leapt towards Hestla, and hacked her left arm off. She quickly grabbed him with her right hand and tossed him backwards. "I WAS A MEMBER OF THE COMPANIONS! DO YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ME THAT EASILY?!"

"A Companion doesn't kill people from behind." came Cura's voice as the Breton ran around Gunmar and smashed her skull in. Having been with them herself, Cura knew the Companions would abhor such cowardly behaviour.

With the great force of impact, Hestla could feel her life slip away and her vision went black.

Perhaps she should have done as Ronthil, and left when she had the chance.

"That... fool..." were the last words to escape Hestla's mouth as she began to dissolve into ash mid-fall. When the vampiress collapsed to the floor, Cura rushed over her body and continued forward.

Sorine shouted to Cura over the clashing steel. "Find their leader and kill him! Kill him dead!" she called out as the Dragonborn passed her by.

Durak locked blades with Malkus the orc. "You're a disgrace to our kind!" he snarled as he pushed against his larger enemy.

Malkus pushed back, bringing Durak down to his knees. "You're right where you belong!"

"So will you be in a few seconds!" Durak snarled through his underbite fangs. With a clever maneuver, Durak kicked him in the knee, causing the vampire to stumble, then sliced off his head.

Inigo ducked under Feran Sadri's sword thrust, and the vampire hissed angrily. "You'd make either a fine slave, or a fine rug, Cat!"

"And you would make a fine powder dust!" Inigo parried his next attack and lunged forward, embedding his blade in the Dunmer Vampire's chest.

The vampire tried to bite him, but was impaled through the back by Lucien. "You... are not going to kill my friend, you... you... over-glamourized corpse!" He pushed the blade in further, causing Feran to grunt. The vampire tried to swat the Imperial, but Lucien placed his hand on top of his head and cast a flame spell. "Fine powder dust coming up!"

"HRAAAAGH!" Feran Sadri cried as he was being immolated.

Inigo laughed at Lucien's comedic timing as the scholar combusted the fiend. "Skip the service and straight to cremation, eh?" Inigo stated as the vampire fell to ashes on the ground.

Serana flew above the raging crowd and spotted Cura heading up the stairs northwest. She saw Lucien back-to-back with Inigo, teamed with Sorine and Gunmar, fighting fiercely against the enemies, and decided to follow Cura.

She landed beside her Helf-Elven friend and the two ducked into the corridor. "He's in the Cathedral." Serana informed her. "I just know he is. At a time like this he would be nowhere else." She pointed to the now ungated portcullis before a flight of stairs that led up to very large, ornate double doors.

"It's time, Serana." Cura told her. "It's not going to be easy, but I promise that I'm with you all the way." She firmly grasped Serana's hand in her gauntlet to usher a boon of comfort and confidence.

"I'm with you too, Cura." Serana confirmed. "Let's just... get this over with."

They headed up the stairs and Cura immediately pushed open the double doors.

The cathedral was dim, cold, and damp. There were raised platforms with cracking parapets on either side, surrounded with broken columns, and dead bodies. Many, many dead bodies. A graveyard's worth of bones lay scattered throughout the floors. Gargoyle statues were positioned along the floor and on the celing rafters and on the platforms.

The more Cura looked around, it dawned on her: these bones... the Shrine... was this where Harkon sacrificed a thousand innocents? Were these their remains, cruelly displayed here for all time?

Harkon stood before the blood-spewing altar of Molag Bal at the apex of the room with his arms behind his back, and his back to the door. As soon as he heard the sound of footsteps, he turned around to face his daughter and her friend. With a snap of his fingers, the door slammed shut behind them, locking them in the chamber with him. "Serana, my darling. I see you still favour keeping a pet."

Cura shook her head in irritation at his remark concerning their relationship. She was no one's "pet".

Serana brushed off his sarcastic remark and walked forward into the dim light and past the piles of bones and corpses littering the floor around them in the geometric chamber. "You know why we're here."

"Of course I do." Harkon's voice dropped. His tone was one mixed with sorrow and laced with disappointment and anger. "You disappoint me, Serana. You've taken everything I provided for you and thrown it all away for this... pathetic half-breed."

Cura took a step forward. "All you've done-"

Serana interrupted her friend and lashed out in anger. She was finished keeping silent in the face of her father. "Provided for me? Are you insane? You've destroyed our family. You've killed other vampires. All over some prophecy that we barely understand. No more. I'm done with you. You will not touch her."

Harkon was unamused. He scratched his beard and looked up to the ceiling with exasperation. "So, I see this dragon has fangs. Your voice drips with the venom of your mother's influence. How alike you've become."

"No... Because unlike her, I'm not afraid of you. Not anymore." Serana admitted as she unsheathed her ebony dagger.

This was it. It was now, or never.

She stared at her own father - no, her immortal nemesis. A madman. A despot with an unquenchable thirst for power, brought to the edge of his rule.

Harkon hatefully snarled at Cura. "And you..."

The Dragonborn held up Dawnbreaker and Spellbreaker. Daedric weapons to aid her against a Daedric being. The irony was lost on nobody, least of all Harkon, who was beginning to think that this Vigilant before him was noncommittal to her own cause. However, she was still his enemy, and had much to answer for in his eyes.

"It appears I have you to thank for turning my daughter against me. I knew it was only a matter of time before she'd return with hatred in her heart." Harkon said with disgust.

"Your kind is a blight on this world." Cura addressed Harkon with the eyes of a Dragon.

"Yes, yes. Always the noble vampire hunter. And what happens when you've slain me? Is Valerica next? Is Serana?" Harkon crossed his arms mockingly.

Serana turned to look at Cura, a little confused to her response, and a little concerned, considering that it didn't match up with the majority of what she advocated for. Cura seemed to the onlooker to be a champion for the misjudged.

"No. When I say your kind, I don't mean Vampires. I mean insane, violent, uncaring, cold, power-hungry tyrants!" Cura clarified.

"You and I are not so different, then." Harkon laughed. "Perhaps you need a bigger wall to project yourself onto. It matters not to me. From what I have heard of your exploits, you've been quite "insane, violent, uncaring, cold, and power-hungry", yourself. Though not much of a tyrant, as you lead no notable legion." Harkon stated with a patronizing laugh. "Is it all right for you because you do it in the name of protecting your own kind? Or because you do it in service to a Divine? Allow me to confess; I too have once served them, and they will only hinder you. The Divines fear mortals with the potential for power, and would sooner see us all destroyed."

Cura shook her head. "Do not try to brainwash me, fiend. I know about what you did. You dishonoured the blessed Mother. How could you?"

"What has serving her ever brought me but sickness and failure?" Harkon clenched his fist and looked away from the inquisitor. "Love cannot make a kingdom. Charity only leads to weakness and decadence. No... a kingdom needs strength to exist! Power eternal, to be sustained!"

"And where has your kingdom gone, Harkon?" Cura poked holes in his pride. It was plain for all to see that Skyrim's only rulers in this time were the Jarls and the Empire; whether that changes or not remains to be seen, but one thing was certain: Harkon held no territory. "Where is it? This castle? The feral vampires hiding in burrows that you'd no sooner kill than have serve you? No, your reign ended millennia ago. You've only succeeded in damning yourself."

Harkon turned his attention back to his wayward daughter. "Serana, she will kill you the moment I'm gone. They all will. Surely you are not so blind-"

"I would never harm Serana!" Cura asserted defensively. "She's too important to me."

As soon as she said it, Serana turned her gaze upon the Vigilant. "Cura..."

Cura looked back at her and nodded. "You can always trust me, Serana. You're my friend; I would never do such a thing!"

"I know." Serana smiled and nodded, reassuring the Breton.

"Then my daughter is truly lost. She died the moment she accepted a mortal into her life." Harkon shook his head with disdain.

"At any rate, surely you must realize that this is about more than killing vampires." Cura was growing frustrated with Harkon's mind games.

"Ah, of course. The prophecy. You've come here to stop me from taking Auriel's Bow and shrouding the world in darkness." Harkon stated.

"You're only a relic of an age long passed that refuses to die!" Cura exclaimed wrathfully. "And I think we've all had just about enough." Cura thrust Dawnbreaker forward in his direction.

"Yes, quite. I'm growing weary of speaking to you and my traitorous daughter. I'll give you a single chance to turn over the bow to me. There will not be a second." Harkon held out his hand, expecting the weapon.

No... not entirely. His eyes were glowing purple, and he seemed to be attempting to usurp control of Cura's senses. The Breton slowly began to reach for the bow on her back, when Serana realized what was happening. "CURA!" She shouted, snapping her friend out of the trance.

Cura quickly removed her hand from the Bow and bit her lower lip. "You're only getting this bow if you kill me."

"I assure you, that can be arranged." Harkon slowly began to levitate. "I fear not you, nor your pitiful allies. We both know that a band of fools with crossbows is no match for a scion of the ancient blood. I admit, I do not entirely understand your sense of humor." Harkoon scoffed. "Once I've killed you, I am going to make short work of the lot of them. And when I find your Keeper..." He scoffed with dark delight. "I am going to rip her apart from the inside out for all that she's caused me."

Cura grit her teeth very tightly upon hearing this. Though, it was only beneficial. This was exactly what she needed to hear to kindle her flame.

Author's Note: For the battle ahead, listen to "Tues Deus Meus" from Castlevania Dracula X Chronicles. It's quite awesome ^^

"You can't stop the prophecy!" Harkon laughed menacingly as he slowly levitated towards the ceiling. Suddenly, he began to enshroud himself with darkness and blood, and reemerged in his demonic, blue batlike form. With a twist of his body he transformed into a swarm of bats and rushed at Cura.

Saint Pelin, pray for me! Cura spoke in her heart as she leapt out of the way of the swarm. They manifested on the stairway to her right and she immediately rushed up the stairs and lunged at the demon with Dawnbreaker, cleaving his chest and causing a blue flame to scorch him.

Though, it did not do as much as she had expected.

Harkon extended a blue, clawed hand, and immediately pulled Cura into a powerful gravitational lock. "I'll rip the Dawnguard apart! Starting with you!" He blasted Cura over the railing and several feet down onto the hard floor, and through a pile of bones.

"GAH!" Cura cried out on impact as she felt her ribcage rattle from within her armour. She slowly managed to steady herself.

Serana roared with unbridled rage and allowed herself to be consumed in shadow and blood as well, and quickly emerged in her complete, powerful form: as a Vampire Lady. She was adorned with a golden crown and jewelry, and donned a red cape, much like her Father in this form. She blasted him with a ravenous torrent of ice as he attempted to fly down at the recovering Cura.

"You dare defy your father?!" Harkon shouted as he held up a mystical shield to guard himself against her magical attack.

When Cura noticed what Serana had become, a look of shock overwhelmed the Breton. Though Serana simply gave her a reassuring nod, to remind her that they were still friends.

"I should have killed you and your mother long ago!" Harkon shouted at Serana as he quickly dashed through the air and slammed her through a column on the west side of the cathedral, alarming and awakening two stone Gargoyles, who called upon the others along the ceiling and on the balconies, who all began to shed their stony outerskins.

The Breton clasped her hands together and bowed her head. "Blessed be the name of Stendarr, the God of Mercy. He strengthens and unifies his Resolutes through his wisdom and blessings..."

Serana pushed Harkon back and clawed him across the face, and then proceeded to tackle him down the stairs.

"He calls us by day to train with sword and shield to strengthen our might; and by night to pray in his name to strengthen our souls..."

The Gargoyles snarled and looked at one another with great trepidation.

"He takes pity upon us, his humble servants, and grants unto us mercy."

Harkon scrambled back up and turned into a mist, and travelled to the other side of the cathedral, and Serana chased him.

"His holy light of truth will cast out the forces of darkness and rain justice upon Daedric abominations."

A golden light began to manifest before Cura.

"Glory shall be his, forever."

A blinding flash of light burst through the area, emanating from Cura, and disintegrated the Gargoyles in the surrounding area, tearing them apart, molecule by molecule, until none remained.

Harkon roared from some distance away, having escaped the light through being behind one of the columns. "I despise your presence, mortal! Your blood will be mine!"

Serana was severely weakened, however, as a consequence of this, and Harkon quickly grabbed her by the jaw and lifted her into the air. "I'll make you pay for this, daughter!" He began to apply pressure, and Serana began to grunt and claw it him in effort to be released. She slowly began to revert to her normal, humanoid form as she became weakened in his fiendish grasp.

Cura's eyes widened and she scrambled up the stairs. With her mace in hand this time instead, she bashed Harkon in the face after coming around the column and getting him by surprise.

The Vampire Lord dropped his daughter and staggered backwards. He attempted to cast a Drain spell on Cura, but Spellbreaker drank it in instead. She responded with an acute shield bash to his head, causing the monstrous batlike demon to fly backwards into the wall. Then Cura responded by whacking him several more times with her mace.

"Serana isn't yours, she's mine!" Harkon roared with fury as he caught Cura's next swing and flew her up into the air, holding her afloat by her cudgel. "You've turned her against me!" He spun around and launched her across the room, and she smacked against the other balcony and dropped to the floor like a rock.

As Cura slowly pulled herself back up, Harkon levitated downwards. "First you die, then Serana suffers!"

Hearing that enraged the Dragonborn. She raised her face to him. "YOL TOOR!" A whirling inferno blasted the Vampire Lord and caused him to flee the flames.

Hurrying towards the Shrine of Molag Bal, Harkon levitated above it, and prayed to the Lord of Domination. Suddenly, a red forcefield surrounded him and he was becoming flooded with power.

Cura knew instinctively what she needed to do. She drew Auriel's Bow from her back and knocked one of the Sunhallowed Arrows. Releasing her grip, she loosed the golden-glowing arrow and watched it shoot through the air like a white comet and crash into Harkon, tearing asunder his forcefield and wounding him grievously.

An audible gasp escaped the Vampire Lord as he sunk to the ground, drained of much energy.

Before Cura could react, he fired a firebolt at the Breton's hand, disarming her of the Bow before dashing forward and slamming her against the double doors. He swung his claws, and Cura quickly ducked underneath the attack and rammed him in the chest using her head.

With another swing, he managed to catch Cura with his claws across her face, and ripped her hood off.

The Vigilant began to feel a harsh, burning sensation deepening from the wound and spreading throughout her body. "Wh...what..."

Harkon licked her blood off his claws. "My claws are poisonous. You won't last for much longer, mortal."

Cura attempted to run and gain some distance, but stumbled across the floor as she held her cheek in one hand. The searing pain was unbearable. She tripped over a stray stone and fell to her knees. An arrow slipped out of her quiver and slid across the floor.

A purple corruption began to form from the scratch as flesh was being poisoned. Cura cast a Healing Spell in attempt to undo the damage, but Harkon responded by kicking her.

"No, you're not going to Heal! It's over for you, Vigilant." Harkon spat as he levitated above Cura, readying his Draining spell over her.

"No, not while I'm here." Came Serana's voice from some distance away. The vampiress emerged from behind a column, awakened once more, with Auriel's Bow in her hands and the stray arrow knocked and ready to be fired at Harkon.

"You would really kill me for this mortal?" Harkon spoke with disbelief in his voice. "Come to your senses, you fool!"

"I have come to my senses. A very long time ago." Serana moved closer. "That's why I realized that you needed to be stopped. What you plan to do, not only will it kill everything in the world, but if you kill her on top of it all - you would doom everything in Skyrim, even in the afterlife. You need to go."

"Serana, wait..." Harkon raised his hands. "You've never been able to see things from my perspective; you were always an ungrateful brat!"

"I loved you, once." A tear ran down Serana's cheek and her lip quivered. "I really did. You and mother. I loved you both. Even though we didn't spend much time together, I never would have wanted it to end like this."

"Serana..." Harkon backed up, and reached the apex of the room, and had his back pressed to the Shrine of Molag Bal. He held out his hands cautiously.

"Goodbye, father." the tears running from her eyes became blood, and she loosed the Sunhallowed Arrow straight into her father's chest. A mighty bolt of solar energy illuminated the room and the flames spread over Harkon's body.'

"No... Serana... your own father...!" Harkon wailed in anguish as the realization set in. He attempted to turn into a swarm of bats, but the fire was consuming him.

In a pure instant, Cura scrambled to her feet with the ferocity of a lioness. She took Dawnbreaker into both hands and drove it into his heart as the sun's fire consumed him. With one final cry, Harkon was banished to eternity in Coldharbour, and his ashes and blood spread into a pile on the floor before the dark Shrine. The swarm that was summoned around him fell to the ground and struggled about before dying, one by one and melting into splashes of blood on the stone floor.

What was left among the ashes was Harkon's sword and armour.

The darkness in the air was lifted and calmness took its place.

Serana stood there, shaking with the bow in her hands, before the weight of it all was too much for her and she collapsed to her knees. She looked to the ground and began to cry loudly.

Cura drank a potion to cure herself of the poisoning and rushed over to her vampire friend's side. "Serana, I'm so sorry..." She placed her hands around her and pulled her into a tight embrace as Serana mourned her father's death.

They knew it wouldn't be easy, but Serana had no idea it would be this painful. A pair of black claws wrenched her heart and a block welled up within her throat. Sobs emerged like painful hiccups and blood leaked from her eyes and onto the floor. She clenched her friend's arm tightly for support as her world came crashing down around her.

This was the price she paid for being good.

Though, she knew it in her heart, that if she were evil, she most likely would be a pile of ashes beside her father, instead.

She again cursed the Arch-Curate for spreading that prophecy. She cursed him with every fiber of her being; from her flesh, down to her blood and her soul. She hoped that wherever in Coldharbour he was, that he was having a large, flaming pike stuck up where the sun diddn't shine.

Slowly, but surely, Cura helped her friend stand again, and Serana wiped her tears away. When she left Cura's warm embrace, she headed over towards her father's ashes and lifted his Sword from the remains. She placed it on her hip and stared at him.

The curse over the double doors subsided, and Isran came barging in with Carcette and Vigilant Tolan.

As soon as they saw the bloodied ashes on the floor, Isran lowered his warhammer and exhaled with deep relief. "It's over. He's dead, and the prophecy dies with him."

Keeper Carcette immediately rushed over to the wounded Cura, and pulled her into an embrace. "Cura, you did it! You've saved us all!" She planted a kiss on her student's cheek, borne of the relief and joy in seeing her still alive.

"So... that's it, then?" Vigilant Tolan hung his warhammer over his right shoulder disappointedly. "Damn it. I was hoping to get a crack at him as well, but I guess this is fine on its own. We've been avenged."

"I couldn't have done it without Serana." Cura gestured towards her friend, who seemed to be in a state of shock as she stood there, staring at the pile of blood and ashes that was once her father.

Isran cleared his throat and he walked towards and addressed Serana. "I... I suppose this is difficult for you." The leader of the Dawnguard began to feel some sort of empathy towards the vampiress, having known the pain of the loss of a family, as well. He could assume she may be feeling the very way he had back in those days.

Serana wiped a tear from her eye and sniffled before turning around to face the softened Redguard. "I think my father really died a long time ago. This was just... the end of something else. I did what needed to be done. Nothing more."

Isran shook his head, and extended a hand towards the vampiress for a shake. "I think perhaps... I think you did more than that. You have my thanks."

Serana advanced cautiously at first, though gained confidence as her hand locked with his and she gave it a firm shake. Isran appeared to be genuine in his gratitude, and, oddly enough, compassionate.

"So, the beast is destroyed. Not only that, but Auriel's Bow is in safe hands." Isran stated as he turned his attention to Cura. "The Dawnguard will now be dedicated to safeguarding it, making sure that prophecy will never come to pass."

Cura agreed. Though with Vyrthur gone, and with Harkon no more, the likelihood of the prophecy gaining traction again was severely hampered.

"Vigilant Cura, I have some words for you, too." Isran garnered her attention, and began to speak his piece. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as he searched for the right words. "You've served Skyrim well. Even with these vampires gone, the fight isn't completely over. Once we're settled back in at the Fort, there will be more work to do. We'd be honored to have you join us."

Cura considered it, but ultimately declined. "Not immediately, but I will definitely visit from time to time. I have other duties that I have to tend to, as well."

"Ah, right. You're the Dragonborn." Isran stated. "I'd almost forgotten." After a moment's pause, he evoked old sentiment. "You've grown into a fine warrior, Cura. I remember when you were knee-high and couldn't hit a target to save your life. You've come a long way since then, and I'm proud to say that I had a hand in it."

"I'm proud to have called you teacher, Isran." Cura smiled to the Redguard. "I always admired your strength, even if it was overbearing at times."

"That's putting it mildly." Vigilant Tolan rolled his eyes.

Isran let that remark slide, and faced the group. "It's time to round up the dead and return to the Fort. I'll see you all later."

Vigilant Tolan and Keeper Carcette decided to let Cura and Serana have a moment together, and followed the Dawnguard leader out.

Cura stood before her friend. "It's over, now..." she exhaled a deep breath, and with it, much of the stress she had endured over the last many months. "The province is saved."

"So it is." Serana confirmed, and the pair remained in silence for a few moments.

"Thank you, Serana. For everything." Cura expressed her gratitude.

"Your face..." Serana pointed at the nasty gash across Cura's nose, ending under her left eye. Her father's handiwork, and a souvenir of the fight.

"It's deep, isn't it?" Cura grit her teeth as she pictured it in her mind. She could only hope she wasn't disfigured.

"It's pretty deep, but not down to the bone." Serana reassured the coy Breton. "You're still pretty; not maligned. Don't worry about it."

Cura was relieved to hear it. "Good, that's good."

Another moment of silence passed them by.

"Well... now that's done." Serana exhaled, remarking on the removal of a large weight from their shoulders.

"What will you do now?" Cura was a bit concerned for her friend.

"I'm not sure." Serana admitted. "I'll probably stay with the Dawnguard, for as long as they'll let me. They're respectable fighters, and I think they see the benefit of having a vampire on their side, now." She had nowhere else that she could call home, after all. Though, she had to prod Cura a bit. "Of course, if you have any more adventures planned..."

A big smile found its way on the Breton's face. "I promised I'd keep you as a companion, and I meant it. I'd love to have you along."

Serana was elated. "That's what I wanted to hear."

The pair walked out of the dark, sullen cathedral, and were met with Erandur outside.

"There you are." the Dunmer called out to Serana as he approached her. "My daughter, I must have a word with you."

"What is it, Erandur?" Serana asked as the Dark Elf quickly took her right hand into his hands.

"Lady Mara would like me to bestow upon you her grace, once more." the Dunmer blessed the vampiress. "May her comfort fill you with consolation and clarity in the rest of your days." A golden light surrounded her, and Serana felt a tender, and very gentle feeling overcome her, replacing her great sorrow.

"Mara..." she called out to the goddess as she felt her warm embrace.

"And you have done well, too, Cura." Erandur told the Dragonborn. "Mother Mara is most pleased with you, as well. You have spared this land a great deal of suffering. She will call upon you again someday, she says, so be ever vigilant in your battle against the forces of darkness."

Cura bowed her head humbly. "It would be my honour to serve her again."

She and Erandur shared a bow. "Go in peace, Vigilant." he blessed her.

Cura looked to Serana. "Well, Serana, I will catch up with you after; I want to see how the battle went." A part of her dreaded the outcome, but she needed to know the casualties.

Serana nodded. "All right; I'll go outside for some air." She and Erandur went their separate ways, and Erandur went around to sanctify the halls.

The entire castle was silent, save for the sound of footsteps and whispers of speakers some distance away. Cura looked at the blood soaking her robes, as usual. She was happy to be alive after it all.

It was all over, now. The Volkihar Clan would trouble the province no more, even if they left a black clawmark on the province on their way out.

It all began when Cura believed her family had died, and it now ended with Serana knowing hers had. When the darkness fell, only the light remained standing, garbed in the morning sun.

The day was won, and the Dawnguard had cause for celebration; though they had won with many casualties on their side as well. Florentius roamed the halls, imparting blessings upon the deceased in the name of Arkay, while Erandur evoked Mara's name to grant peace to the halls. Brother Adalvald was scouring the library, looking for useful knowledge that he could bring to Stendarr's Beacon.

As Cura roamed the bloodsoaked castle halls and entered the condemned Dining Hall, she mourned the loss of Celann, a Brother in arms. A Vigilant of Stendarr grown dissatisfied with the Order. She morosely squatted down before his body and gently closed his eyelids. Lowering her head, Cura said a prayer over his body and readjusted his position, laying him on his back and placing his Amulet of Stendarr interlocked in his hands, in prayer position.

Keeper Carcette walked over to Cura and squatted down beside her. She placed a hand on her wounded protege's shoulder. "He is with the gods, now." the older Breton reassured her. "Celann was a good Vigilant. A bad subordinate, yes, but a Vigilant until the end. He remained true to our values, and ultimately proved himself to Stendarr as a great guardian of the light."

Cura nodded. "I know, it's just..." he was alive, just earlier. And a little more than a year ago they were under the same roof together. His leaving kickstarted her entire journey, and now he wouldn't even get to hear the end of it. She was looking forward to later catching up with him and telling him about her exploits as Dragonborn. She wanted to be able to look back on this war with him and maybe hold a philosophical discussion on the similarities between the Vigil and the Dawnguard.

But none of that was going to happen now.

"So many dead..." Cura expressed sadly as she looked around and saw many dead Dawnguard recruits and Vigilants. Among them were Beleval and Olrod. Vori stood over Olrod's mutilated body, and wept for her fallen ally, unable to hide her tears as she usually would.

Other Vigilants were saying prayers for the dead among their ranks.

Mogrul lay on the ground with blood leaking from his head all over the floor tiles, and Agmaer and Durak looked upon him sadly.

"Wait... Inigo?! INIGO! LUCIEN!" Cura snapped into the reality that she hadn't seen her friends in a while, and quickly looked around.

"It's all right, they're outside, getting fresh air." Carcette reassured Cura, seeing the early onset panic approaching. Cura's been through enough, as it is, she figured.

Cura sighed with relief in that moment. "So... I guess we're going to hold a vigil for the dead in Dayspring Canyon?"

Carcette nodded. "Yes, very soon. We're... uh..." her attention was being tugged at and pulled by the blood around her, and the very deep puddle before her.

Cura took note of her vampiric gaze, and waved a hand in front of her face. "Keeper, not here. Please?"

The vampiric Breton snapped out of her trance and held a hand to her forehead, and stood upright. "I've got to get out of here. It's too much." She hurried past the other Vigilants and Dawnguard, and walked outside. The other Vigilants took it as a cue to leave, and followed her.

As soon as Cura stepped outside, she could see corpses littering the bridge. Further down on the island, she could see Inigo and Lucien waving to her, Inigo jumping up and down excited to see her. Nearby, Agmaer and Tolan were rounding up some of the dead and Fast Travelling them to the Canyon.

Closer to the watchtower, Gunmar was embracing Sorine and the two were recuperating from the madness they'd survived. Keeper Carcette and the other Vigilants were talking amongst themselves near the icewater jetty.

Cura smiled and raced down the stone bridge and Inigo raced up towards her, and the two met in a firm embrace, where Inigo lifted her up off the ground with a joyful spin. "My friend, you did it! You killed the evil Bat-Man! You are officially more insane than me!"

Cura laughed with tears welling up. "You're okay! You're both all right! Thank Stendarr!"

Lucien approached gingerly, and Cura pulled him into the embrace. "Whoa, Candle! It's good to see you, too!" Lucien squeaked.

"Lucien lit one of them up like a fireplace! I thought his Dunmer heritage would have protected him from the fire, but apparently his vampirism took precedence." Inigo stated.

"Nah, I coated my sword in a Potion of Weakness to Fire!" Lucien laughed. "I have a way of going unnoticed, sometimes."

"That... is pretty clever." Cura admitted.

"No need to throw me flowers, Candle." Lucien laughed. "I know I'm brilliant."

Serana came outside, and faced the sunlight. It felt strangely gentle, as opposed to exhausting.

"Serana! There you are! Come join the group hug!" Inigo opened an arm to allow her entry. "We are all coated in blood, so it does not matter if we get any on our clothes!"

Serana smirked and walked down the bridge, and joined in with the others.

For the first time in ages, she felt like she had a family.

---

Hours later, everybody was returned to Dayspring Canyon, and Florentius bid farewell to all who had fallen in the battle against the Vampires. He listed many of the Vigilants, and many recruits. "Celann. Beleval. Olrod. Mogrul." he finished the list. "May you all find yourselves in Arkay's warm embrace, and may we remember that one day, we too will join you in Aetherius."

Everybody stood silent under the cloudy sky and kept their heads down as the final blessing was administered, and once it finished, they headed inside the Fort.

Afmaer placed a hand on Cura's shoulder. "It's over. It's finally over. We can't rest just yet, but I don't care. I'm taking a long, warm nap. With Snow." As he headed inside, Bran and Sceolang followed him into the Fort.

Cura felt a little down, seeing only Durak guarding the entrance, and Vori walking alone along the path. Still, she kept her head held high and walked inside.

That evening, Cura and her allies caught up with the other members of the Dawnguard, and enjoyed a fine meal. Cura enjoyed a warm bath and some rest, and prepared herself for her next voyage, the next morning.

As Cura entered the main hall, she was immediately greeted by Gunmar and Sorine.

Gunmar shook Cura's hand. "You've earned a well-deserved victory, friend."

"We have." Cura corrected him. "The Dawnguard played a big part. A huge part."

"It's a shame Celann isn't here to celebrate our victory with us." Sorine lamented. "He and Durak played a big role in assembling us all together,"

Cura nodded fervently. "Absolutely."

Nearby, Isran was walking by with the Keeper beside him, and Cura noticed them.

"What's your next plan, Carcette? Are you going to redact your resignation from the Order?" Isran asked the Breton.

Carcette shook her head. "No; we both know the law, Isran. A Vampire cannot be a Vigilant. A Vigilant cannot be a vampire."

Isran nodded. "I understand, but know that they had no qualms with being led into combat by you. You've done an impeccable job at maintaining your control for all this time. It's... respectable."

Carcette shook her head. "No, no I haven't, Isran. I came very close to breaking that vow." She looked away sadly. "Until I'm cured of this, I'm dangerous. I'll... I'll go into self-imposed exile."

Isran shook his head. "That's not necessary. It'd be a lot smarter if you stayed with us; we can continue to provide you with animal blood..."

"It's no longer enough, Isran." Carcette confessed. "It doesn't quench my thirst as well as it did at the beginning any longer. I'm doing well now because I had a lot earlier, but... that was an entire keg's worth of it. The next time the thirst grows unbearable, I don't know if it will be enough to stop me..."

"So, what does that mean?" Vigilant Tolan asked, as unease hung over them.

"I need to be locked away, or killed." Carcette stated.

"The dungeon below the Fort! It was built to house a Vampire, right?" Cura suggested as she hurried over to the two of them. "Lock her in there! Don't kill her!"

"It's the Keeper's choice." Isran said as he looked to Carcette for an answer.

The Breton looked into Cura's pleading eyes, and made her decision. "Imprison me beneath the Fort. Until some way, somehow, I'm able to be cured."

Isran nodded. "It will be done. I'm sorry it had to be this way, Keeper."

"So am I." Carcette responded as she headed down the stairs and through the underground with Isran and Cura by her side.

Ronthil remained in the cage, and Isran noticed him there. "You!"

"Sir!" Ronthil stood up straight, intimidated by Isran's presence.

After awkward silence passed, Ronthil had to ask. "So... I guess it's done, then. You destroyed the castle?"

"The Volkihar clan is no more." Isran informed him before looking to Cura for judgment. "Your call, Cura. Do I kill him, or do I spare this bloodsucker?"

Cura looked at the pathetic Ronthil, and came to her conclusion. "Let him live. He's not much of a threat."

"You hear that, freak?" Isran opened the cell door. "You get another chance to live. Don't make us regret it, or you'll join the Volkihar court."

Ronthil stood there like a deer caught in headlights, and stared at them all. "Wait... you're... you're really letting me go?"

"Why? Are we making a mistake?" Isran tilted his head.

"N-no! No, sir!" Ronthil shook his head. "I'll help out around the Fort, I promise. You'll never see a speck of dust again!"

"Then get a broom and get started." Isran pointed to the door, allowing him to leave.

On the way out, Ronthil bowed to Cura, and to Carcette. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" he exclaimed as he hurried up the stairs.

Carcette placed her hands on Cura's shoulders and turned her towards herself. "This is it, Cura. I think that we probably won't be seeing each other for a long time... and once we do, I can't guarantee that I'll still be sane by then."

Cura looked away sadly, and the Keeper took her by the chin and turned her face back towards her. "...I want you to listen to me very carefully. I don't want to wait and take a chance at not being able to say this to you. I'm grateful to have had you as my Protégé, Cura. You've made me very proud. More than you will ever realize. And no matter what happens, I will always love you. Never forget that."

Cura smiled bittersweetly. "I love you too, Keeper. Please, keep sane. I might want to train my Restoration a bit more..." she chuckled sadly.

"You already know all that I know." Carcette informed her. "You'll be better off going to the College of Winterhold if you want to attune your magicka. Colette can help you hone your Restoration skill further. Tell her I sent you, and for Aetherius' sake, don't be shy about it."

"I will." Cura assured her. "Take care, Carcette. I'll definitely come back to visit. Please keep your wits about you until then, all right?"

"I'll do my best." Carcette promised her as the two embraced.

Cura, the young Vigilant. The brat about the Hall.

She was grown up, now. And far stronger than they would have thought back in the day.

Skyrim was in good hands, they were sure of it.

Carcette slowly detached from the hug and gave Cura a final kiss on the forehead as she voluntarily walked into the prison cell. As she stepped behind the bars, Isran closed the cell door and locked it firmly.

"Don't worry about her." Isran told Cura. "I'll make sure nothing happens to her. I promise."

Cura nodded, and pulled Isran into a quick hug, as well. "Thank you, Isran. For everything."

"I should be thanking you." Isran asserted. "You were instrumental in this battle. We literally couldn't have done it without you. I wish you the best of luck out there. Give that black dragon hell."

"I'll do my best." Cura expressed as she withdrew Auriel's Bow and handed it to him. "Here, Isran. For safekeeping."

Isran pushed the bow back into her hands. "Keep it until you don't need it anymore. I said the Dawnguard was going to keep watch of it, and you're part of the Dawnguard."

Cura considered the fact, and ultimately mounted the bow back on her person. "All right." She turned around to head up the stairs. "Take care of yourselves, all right? Please."

The Dragonborn headed back upstairs to the Main Hall, where Dexion Evicus met her. "Harkon's short-sightedness was his undoing. In his lust for power, he failed to see the full extent of his actions. Can you imagine it? A world without a sun... we would all have been doomed, vampires and men alike."

Cura nodded. "It wasn't the best of ideas."

Nearby, sitting on the ledge of the walls, Lucien was showing Brother Adalvald his journal nearby and describing all that they had encountered, and Inigo too was chiming in.

Serana approached Cura and Dexion, when the Moth Priest cleared his throat. "If I may ask, what do you intend to do with the Scrolls now?"

Cura paused momentarily. She hadn't thought about that. "I'm not sure. Do you have anything in mind?" She asked.

"I did, in fact. Quite perceptive of you." Dexion lined his tongue with silver. "I'd very much like to have those scrolls. Someday I may be able to return them to their rightful place in the Imperial City. How would you feel about turning them over to me?"

Cura considered it. If anyone should have the Elder Scrolls, it would only be right if it would be the Moth Priests. She nodded. "I'd be happy for you to have them. Here you are." the Breton gently reached into her satchel and took out the two mystical scrolls, and handed them to the Moth Priest.

"Thank you!" Dexion exclaimed joyously as he received them. "You're too kind." He placed them in his satchel, eager to return them to Cyrodiil as soon as possible. Thanks to the Dragonborn's benevolence, he didn't have to return blind and empty-handed "This has been quite the adventure, hasn't it?" Dexion made light of his situation.

"It has. Take care of yourself, Dexion." Cura wished him well, taking his hands into hers.

"Skyrim is very fortunate to have such a kind soul as you." Dexion remarked. "Be well, Dragonborn."

Vigilant Tolan entered the hall at that moment. "Hey, you're planning to just leave without saying goodbye?" He asked, a little insulted.

"Actually, I was hoping to find you and Brother Adalvald." Cura told him. "I'm going my own way for a little while, and then I'm going to study at Winterhold."

Vigilant Tolan smiled. "All right, then. I was gonna say that if you're ever in the Rift, come on over to the Beacon. We'll be there."

Brother Adalvald emerged from behind him, having heard what they said. "Yes; we'll have to repair a few things, but we're going to be there for the meantime. We've also considered starting work on the ruined temple in Stuhn's Ravine. I found Moric's plans under the desk. We've got a few ambitious projects underway. And after this, I think we can convince the Jarls to patron us."

"That's excellent news!" Cura exclaimed.

"Aye." Tolan nodded. "Where's Keeper Carcette? I've got to tell her the news."

"Downstairs, in the dungeon." Cura informed him.

"We just defeated our enemies, and she wants to be locked up like a dangerous animal?" Vigilant Tolan exclaimed angrily as he stormed off.

"I suppose you're leaving now, huh?" Brother Adalvald asked Cura. "I hope you'll be thinking of us on your quest. I'll never stop praying for you."

"Thank you, Brother Adalvald." Cura gave him a quick hug.

Lucien, Inigo, and Serana got up to join Cura, and she waved goodbye to Brother Adalvald and the others. "It's been a great and tough experience, but now I've got to move towards other things. Farewell, everybody! Take care of yourselves."

The other Dawnguard members responded in kind, waving to her as she left for the canyon outside.

As Cura descended the stairs of the Fort, Serana, Inigo, and Lucien all stood by her side.

"Where to now, friend?" Inigo asked her.

"To Windhelm. I want to see that house." Cura stated. "We can rest there for a while."

And with that, Cura and her allies continued moving forward.