Nero sat beside a small fire in a cold cave on a mountainside close to the border of Skyrim. Outside, the sunlight was fading as the Sun was slowly descending beneath the horizon and cold winds were blowing snow in, stopping at the edge of the illuminating moonlight.
In his hand, he held the pouch of Serana's ashes and was looking between it and the crackling fire, thinking of her. He saw her face, her emerald eyes and her old orange ones, staring back at him. It made him smile, as a single tear ran down from his eye and off his cheek.
Footsteps behind him brought his attention to Julia coming out from deeper in the cave with her bow around her shoulders.
"Uncle Farkas says that food should be ready soon," said Julia.
Nero nodded just as Julia noticed the pouch in his hands. Seeing it made her think of her mother and her eyes soon began to well up which she tried to hide.
Noticing this, Nero beckoned her over, "Julia, come here."
Julia came over and sat down next to her father and he said the words he knew he had to say to her.
"Julia… these past months, ever since what happened, I've been… distant. Towards you and… towards everyone else."
Julia listened intently.
"I believed that if I put a wall up around myself that I would be stronger. That I would be able to protect you better than I protected your Mother…"
Julia felt her heart melting and saw a slight tear in her father's eye.
"But I was wrong, Julia. I am not stronger alone, cut off from you and everyone I love. I know I hurt you when I should've been there for you."
Julia felt her walls coming down.
"I am sorry, Julia."
Julia felt her walls come down completely and she threw herself onto her father, hugging him tightly.
Nero wrapped his arms around his daughter. They stayed there for the longest time. When she eventually released him, she sunk down next to him and Nero kept an arm around her shoulder as they both watched the fire.
"Can I hold her?" asked Julia.
Nero looked down at her before handing her the pouch.
Julia regarded it for a while, "Dad… do you really think we can bring her back?"
Nero looked down at Julia and the pouch, and then at the flames for a moment, before back at her.
"Do you know how I first met your Mother?"
Julia shook her head.
"Well, down in a dark cave full of vampires and draugr and all sorts of dangers, I happened upon this ancient tomb…"
~ Years Ago ~
Nero pulled his dragonbone sword out of the last vampire and sheathed it on his back.
After travelling for a good day, he had found the cave that both Isran and Tolan were investigating: Dimhollow Crypt. Inside was no shortage of vampires, no doubt looking for this ancient weapon he'd been told about. He had fought his way through the crypt into the main cavern at the heart of the mountain where he crossed a bridge onto a large circular platform with a central pedestal. Around it was unlit braziers arranged oddly and in the central pedestal was a small pillar with a big red button.
"This has to be it," he said as he approached the centre.
The big red button looked harmless enough.
"What's the worst that could happen if I push this thing? It's just a button…"
Nero pushed the button and found out as a spike shot up from it into his hand. The immediate pain almost made him scream. The spike pulled back out and Nero grabbed his bleeding hand with a hole in the centre before he yelled out,
"FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUCK!"
With his other hand, he began to heal the hole, "I am never trusting a big red button again."
After his hand was back to normal, he looked around the room and noticed that pressing the button had caused the surrounding braziers to ignite with purple flames.
"Well that's a result at least."
Nero surmised that they were not arranged correctly and so got to work pushing each brazier (rather randomly) into the correct spot with a rumble from each one as he did so.
"What kind of weapon can this be?" he thought as he moved each brazier.
As he pushed the last brazier into place, Nero prepared for what ancient, mystical power would reveal itself. Suddenly, the floor beneath him descended and in the centre, a large stone monolith rose up from the ground.
Nero circled it for a moment, wondering what the hell was inside.
"Only one way to find out, I guess."
Nero pressed his palm up against what looked like the front of the monolith and the stone receded. Out from the monolith, a woman with dark hair fell onto Nero.
"Woah!" said Nero who fell down with her onto his back.
Nero, who was at first confused, now became transfixed as he regarded the woman. Dark brown hair fell down past her soft dark lips and gently curved neck. She looked to be in her mid to maybe upper twenties. And she was very beautiful. Very beautiful.
After a moment, she started to wake up, slowly opening her orange eyes and coming to grips with reality, and finally recognising the man whose face was mere inches from hers. Then her eyes opened fully and she began to push herself up quickly.
Nero sat up as well before getting to his feet. The pair of them regarded the other for a moment.
Then the woman began to speak, "where's… who sent you here?"
Nero, still utterly confused as to who this woman was and why she was in that stone monolith and, above all, what this beautiful woman's name was, struggled to answer.
"I… uh… what?"
"Who sent you? Why are you here?"
"I'm… I'm here looking for… well, you I guess."
The woman looked oddly at that, "me? Why…"
Then her eyes squinted, and she grew slightly suspicious, "did my father send you here?" she asked as she reached for her dagger.
Usually, Nero's instincts would tell him to reach for his own blades when someone drew theirs at him, but this time, he only raised his hands; he had no desire to hurt her.
"No! No, at least I don't… think so…" Nero tried to look for resemblance with Isran…
The woman again pressed, "who are you and why are you here?"
"I'm Nero," he waved his hand a little, "hi."
The woman shook her head, "I don't believe you."
In her free hand, she threw an ice-spike at Nero who leapt out of the way and rolled behind a pillar.
"No, Nero's definitely my name!" argued Nero.
The woman began slowly approaching, "Harkon clearly sent you!" she accused, throwing another ice-spike which shattered on the pillar.
Nero ran to the next pillar as the woman threw yet another spike which caught the armor over his shoulder, "agh!"
Nero felt his shoulder and found his armor was slightly damaged, suddenly regretting his words the other morning, "no Lydia, it's fine. Take the week off. I won't need your help on this one, I'll be fine. I can press a hand-impaling button and have a beautiful woman try to kill me, no problem!"
"You can't hide from me!"
"You sure about that?!"
The woman angrily threw another spike at his pillar.
Nero knew he needed to subdue her, but to do that he had to get close. So, he turned around the pillar and shouted,
"WULD"
In the blink of an eye, Nero dashed across the cavern and grabbed the woman's wrists, trying to aim her hands away from him.
"Can we-agh- just talk about this?!" pressed Nero who struggled against the woman.
Suddenly she yanked her arms free and grabbed hold of Nero's collar, lifting him up off the ground.
Shocked by her strength, Nero decided at first not to struggle so as not to incite anything rash.
"I'll ask you one more time, Nero. And I suggest you answer me, because I haven't eaten in a while."
As she bared her fangs, Nero put it all together and realised what she was.
"Well… I'm a little hungry myself… I could take you out to dinner?"
The woman squinted and looked as if about to go for Nero's throat when he shouted again,
"FEIM"
Nero became ethereal and fell through her hands before she came swiping and striking at him, all attacks of which simply passed through Nero's body.
"Maybe we can talk civilly now?" he asked, "what's your name?"
Suddenly though, Nero's body returned to normal, and he went white when he saw the woman come at him for another killing blow and so he quickly shouted again,
"FEIM"
Once again, the woman's attacks passed through Nero and she relented.
"Keep it up," she said.
"Oh I can go all night," smiled Nero, "but I do kind of want to see how long you'll stick at this for."
"I'm an immortal vampire. Don't you mortals have to sleep eventually?"
"Perk of being a werewolf: I don't really get tired," smiled Nero, "I can go for hours."
Nero suddenly returned to his physical state, but the woman had timed his shouts now and so struck him just before he could shout again and sent him flying across the cavern into a pillar.
"I doubt it," she said.
"Agh I should've timed that better," grimaced Nero.
The woman walked slowly towards him, summoning magic to both her hands and baring her fangs.
"Okay, last chance," said Nero as he pulled out his secret weapon.
The woman stopped, "is that… garlic?"
Nero stood, seriously holding the clove of garlic towards her, "that's right, I got you now!"
The woman blinked several times before she decided to play along, "ohhh nooo, my secret weakness, how did you know?!" she said while pedantically acting defeated.
Smiling, Nero slowly approached her, "I didn't want to have to use this, but you gave me no choice!"
"Whatever will I do?! Who's going to save me from this monster!? Agghh!"
"I don't want to hurt you, I just want to-"
The woman smacked the garlic out of Nero's hands off the side of the cavern and looked at him dumbly.
Nero looked from his hand to her and gulped a little, "…talk."
"You don't work for my father. Do you."
"I don't? I mean I don't! Yeah, I don't."
"And I don't get the sense you're here to hurt me."
Nero smiled, "wasn't on my agenda. Even after you threw me into a pillar."
The woman looked from him to the cracked pillar she smashed him into, "yeeaah sorry about that, I just didn't know if I could trust you. Let's start over," she offered her hand, "I'm Serana."
Nero took her hand and shook it, "Nero. And apology mostly accepted."
"Well I hope one day you come to fully forgive me."
"I mean you could always make it up to me and take me out to dinner…"
"I'm sorry, Nero, but I have to get going."
"Going? Going where?"
"Home I guess," said Serana, "it'll give me a better idea of where I stand."
The woman looked around and started to look just as confused as Nero, "This place isn't the way I recognise it…"
As she turned though, Nero noticed the Elder Scroll on her back.
"Is… is that a…"
Realising his reaction, Serana turned back to face him, "yes, yes it is. And it's mine."
Nero sensed a defensive air about her again and raised his hands, "don't worry, I've already got one."
"You've… already got one?"
"Yeah, long story. I was just wondering why you have it."
"That's… also a long story."
"Well how long have you had… wait, how long have you been in there?" asked Nero.
"Ummm… hard to say… who is Skyrim's High King?"
Nero sighed, "well Elisif has the support of the Empire and is waiting for the Moot to meet, although that's taking its time as there are still many in Skyrim who are loyal to Ulfric, or at least what he stood for."
"I don't know who they are… and what Empire?"
Nero looked at Serana with a confused expression for a moment, "the… Empire. From Cyrodiil."
Serana's eyes widened slightly, "Cyrodiil is the seat of an Empire? I must've been gone longer than I thought. Definitely longer than we planned."
Serana thought for a moment, "look I do have to get out of here, but… if you want to know the full story, could you help me get back to my home?"
Nero thought of Isran momentarily and what the Dawnguard would want, but he sensed no enemy in Serana, and wanted to help her.
"Sure. And I think I should catch you up on some stuff on the way."
"Sounds good," said Serana, "now which way…"
"Follow me," said Nero who led them towards what he thought was the exit.
"Thanks, I've spent my fair share of time in caves."
"As it happens, so have I. And forts. And dwarven ruins."
"You've gotten around then," joked Serana.
Nero chuckled before asking "so how did you know I don't work for your father?"
"My father doesn't tolerate idiots. And only an idiot would believe garlic actually works against a vampire."
"Ohhh… haha I knew it wouldn't work, hahaha…"
~ The Present ~
"And that's the story of how I met your mother. I could've started further back but then it might've taken me nine seasons to explain."
As Nero finished the tale, he began to notice Julia giggling.
"What?" he asked.
"Mom kicked your ass," laughed Julia.
"No! It was a fair fight! Don't you remember all the shouting and the garlic and everything? We drew!"
"Well it sounds a lot more like Mom wiped the floor with you," said Julia with another laugh.
"Hey, if I was fighting fully, she would've…" Nero trailed off as he thought of her.
"What?" Julia asked.
"It's nice to talk about her," smiled Nero, "it sort of brings her back."
Julia smiled too, "we are gonna bring her back, right Dad?"
Nero nodded, "that we are."
"So, what happened next?"
"Well, after we got out of the cave, we went back to Castle Volkihar, her family home."
"To Grandma?"
"Well… no… actually your… your Grandfather was there."
"Grandfather… what was he like?"
Nero thought for a minute about how to answer that question, when suddenly, to his relief, Aela, Farkas and Vilkas came from deeper inside the cave. Aela noticed the pair of them sat together by the fire and she smiled; it was good to see them close again.
"How about we continue the story later?" asked Nero and Julia nodded before the pair of them turned around.
"Hungry?" asked Aela.
"Starving, thanks Aela," said Nero as he stood and cast a look outside, "the Sun is nearly down."
The five of them ate as the Sun outside sank beneath the horizon and the moons began their ascension across the sky. When they were done, they killed the fire and got ready to move out under cover of darkness.
At the entrance, Nero pulled his furs closer and his skyforge sword tighter before leading them out into the cold night.
They were very close to the border of Skyrim now, although they were taking a different road that would put them out near Falkreathe; the first step of Nero's plan was to recover the elder scroll located in his vault beneath Dragons-bane Manor. They kept a sharp eye to the skies for the signs of wings and claws; dragons flying about would not be a surprise.
As they walked, Vilkas spoke up, "Nero, I have a question. We do not know what has happened to Skyrim in the time that we've been away. What if your old house has… had visitors?"
Nero knew what Vilkas meant, "I won't be shocked if the place has been picked clean. Or destroyed. Either way. But there's no way anyone's gotten into the vault."
"I'm excited to see just what kind of stuff you've got in there," said Aela.
"Well it's all the most powerful weapons, armor and magical artefacts I've collected over the years. Stuff that's too dangerous in the wrong hands."
"So, it's not just the Elder Scroll in there?" asked Farkas.
"Oh no. But we're only going for the scroll. Even with how the world is now, it's still better that they're locked away rather than out in the open."
They walked onward through the snow, across the mountains, keeping keen eyes to the skies.
It wasn't too easy to spot a dragon in the dark of night, but it equally would be hard for any dragons to see them.
A couple of hours into their journey, they were nearing the peak of a mountain range.
Nero clambered to the top and helped Julia up, feeling the sharp north wind hit them before laying their eyes on a sight like no other before them.
Skyrim.
"There it is," said Nero.
"Home," said Julia.
The others joined them on the peak looking out at their homeland.
Except, unlike when Nero had first laid eyes on it all those years ago, there were fires dotted across the land, and it was easier to see dragons flying about.
"Well… that's step 1 done," said Aela.
"Onto step 2," said Nero who led them onward.
It had taken them several hours to get to the foot of the mountain where Nero surmised they were coming out into Falkreathe Hold, and as they finally fully entered Skyrim, Nero was adamant that until they had shelter, they stay frosty.
The woods were empty enough, and gave them cover from the skies, and it didn't sound like any dragons were in the immediate vicinity.
Slowly, they made their way towards Falkreathe, from where they would take the road up towards Nero and Julia's house. As they neared the village though, Aela beckoned them to stop.
"Hang on!" she said quietly.
"What is it?" asked Nero.
"Look," motioned Aela and Nero followed her gaze.
In the town were shapes moving about but… they weren't people.
Nero focused his eyes, "are they-"
"Draugr," said Vilkas.
"Shit," cursed Nero.
"But where are all the people?" asked Farkas.
Nero looked back at him with several ideas for an answer, but none of them were good, so he turned back and tried to think.
"There's not too many of them," said Vilkas, "come on, we can take 'em-!"
"No!" Nero stopped him, "we can't be fighting any draugr! If even one of them shouts, they'll alert the dragons."
"So we gotta do this stealthily," said Aela.
"Okay… follow my lead."
Nero began to lead them around the draugr-infested town, remaining in the woods while making their way towards the road. The draugr were either stood still or walking set rounds. Patrolling.
All they had to do was sneak by them, Nero thought.
Suddenly, however, the faint sound of a shout in the distance echoed which stopped Nero and the rest dead in their tracks. Then, very shortly after, the ground beneath them began to rumble.
"Oh no," he said under his breath and turned back to the group, "hide! Now!"
They all took places behind trees as the rumbling became louder and louder, until suddenly, a great horde of draugr came running altogether through the town. Nero slowly poked his head around and saw all of them; there were hundreds, maybe a thousand. Maybe more. They raced through the town down the road while the other draugr continued standing still or patrolling. It took several minutes for the horde to pass by, until only the patrolling draugr remained.
"What was that?" asked Julia.
"If I had to guess, I think those are the draugr from the battle."
"In Whiterun?" asked Farkas.
Nero nodded solemnly.
"Now they move together as one big group," realised Aela.
"Probably to that shout we heard in the distance."
They all drank that in for a moment, "so… if one of those things sees us…" said Julia.
"It'll raise the alarm, and that horde will come. Enough shouts and probably a dragon too," said Vilkas.
Nero turned back to the road where the draugr were and tried to look for a spot where they could sneak past.
"Nero," said Aela, seeing this, "there's no way we're getting around all of them."
Vilkas noticed the horizon getting brighter, "I don't want to alarm anyone, but it's nearly dawn."
"If we don't find shelter soon, it won't be long before we're spotted," said Aela.
"We're running out of time," realised Nero and he tried to think of what to do.
"The Sanctuary," he exclaimed, "it should give us cover for the daylight. Let's move."
Nero then led them the opposite way, west, towards the old Dark Brotherhood turned Thieves Guild Sanctuary. Whatever it was now though was anyone's guess, but it would still be shelter.
They crossed over the road into the woods where a draugr was stood, motionless.
Nero signalled for them all to sneak quietly behind it which they did so.
They seemed to be in the clear, until suddenly,
SNAP
Nero turned back to see Julia who had stepped on a stick and gritted her teeth.
Suddenly, the draugr reacted by growling and turning around.
"Go, go, go!" cried Nero quietly and he began leading them quickly but quietly towards the Sanctuary.
The draugr however was investigating what it heard and the sound the group were making by rushing slightly was attracting it.
Soon enough, Nero found the door and slid down to it followed by the rest. Getting to the door, Nero realised it had been changed, no longer bearing the large speaking skull but was now more of a thieves guild style door; camouflaged but secure. Nero banged on it, trying to get the attention of anyone inside.
The draugr was closing in; they could hear it, but it didn't know exactly where they were.
"Come on, come on," said Nero as he continued banging on the door anxiously.
At long last, a panel slid sideways and a figure inside cast a look out at Nero and the rest.
"Let us in," pleaded Julia, "please."
The figure looked at Julia and back at Nero before sliding the panel shut.
Nero cursed and unsheathed his sword as the draugr closed in.
"We kill it fast. Don't let it shout."
Suddenly the door opened which Julia noticed and pulled on her father, "Dad, it's open!"
Nero followed his daughter inside along with the Companions before the same figure shut the door behind them, just as the draugr looked down where the door was and seeing no sign of life walked away.
Nero and the others panted in fear as they leaned against the walls inside. They looked at the stranger who had opened the door; he was wearing strange dark coloured armor, made for a mix of sneaking and fighting.
"Thank you," said Nero, "we owe you."
"You nearly gave us all away," said the stranger, "how do you know of this place?"
"Well, I… I've been here before. Tell me, do the Thieves Guild still reside here?"
The stranger regarded Nero's words for a moment before speaking, "follow me."
Nero followed the stranger down the stairs; the Sanctuary was as it used to be, minus the Dark Brotherhood insignia.
"Well, good to see the Thieves Guild redecorated."
"This place is not just for the Thieves Guild," said the stranger.
"What do you mean?" asked Nero.
They came into the main cavern which was now much, much bigger, and filled fully with people all slightly crammed in together. They were all races; khajit, elves, argonians, some with families, others alone. Torches dotted the great cavern here and there, but all turned to see Nero and the others walk inside and they began to grow quiet.
Nero looked across all their faces; some shocked, some indifferent, some angry, some scared.
"Who are all these people?" asked Julia.
"They're the survivors," realised Aela.
Nero couldn't tell if they knew who he was, or if they knew what had happened at Whiterun, when he shouted that shout. But many began to murmur as they moved further into the cavern. He heard some of them recognising him. He decided, if there was ever a time to tell the truth, it was now.
"Hello everyone. I'm… well, some of you might know me as the Dragonborn. But my name is Nero."
A murmur went around the crowd and Julia felt a lot more eyes on them than before somehow.
"I don't know who a lot of you are but… I have a feeling you were here when the dragons and draugr above attacked."
Aela scanned the crowd; she doubted anyone would make a move on them, but she held her dagger just in case.
"I was here too. I tried to stop them… and I couldn't. I chose to save my own daughter rather than saving all of Skyrim."
Julia definitely felt eyes on her now, especially by people who appeared to be parents, and some who no longer had their children.
"What the dragons have done to you… is because of me. I'm sorry. I wish I could go back but… even if I could, I'm not sure I could make a different choice."
A voice came from the crowd, "have you come to save us?"
Nero looked toward where the question came from but saw that everyone was looking intently, and it could have been anyone.
"I've…" he started but couldn't quite find the words, "… I've come back to do what I can. I can't promise that what I'm planning will work but-"
"So you have a plan?" asked another voice.
Nero looked towards that voice too and tried his best to answer, but his daughter answered for him.
"He does! Haven't any of you ever heard of my Daddy's adventures before!?"
Nero wanted to stop Julia from giving them too much hope, but she went off on one.
"Don't you all remember how he rode on a dragon into Sovngarde and defeated Alduin the World-Eater there? If my Dad can pull that off, then his plan will work too."
A murmur went around the crowd.
"What about the time he defeated Harkon, Lord of the Vampires by leading the Dawnguard into his very Castle!" said Vilkas to which Nero looked uneasily.
More murmurs went around.
"Perhaps none of you know that Nero too faced Miraak, the First Dragonborn, in Solstheim and stopped him from returning to conquer the world!?" said Aela.
The murmurs were growing louder and louder; people were loving it.
"Don't forget the day he sent a Thalmor army running away with their tales between their legs!" added Farkas.
People were really chatting now, and though Nero was sceptical, he started to sense slightly more trust from them. That was until several other voices spoke out.
"I lost my friend the day you let the dragons win!"
"My brother died… he was my hero…"
"My wife left to fight for you… and she never came back."
Nero looked to the third as all the murmuring died down and people began to remember their sorrow from the day of the Dragon War. The man looked at Nero angrily, and painfully.
"I lost my wife too," said Nero which silenced everyone, "I held her in my arms as she died. And worse yet was knowing that it was my fault."
The man didn't have a response for that, but Nero could feel his pain.
"I will never forgive myself for it… but I will try my best to do what I can to stop the Dragon Order. It may not work… but I want you to know I will try. For your wife as well as mine."
The people seemed to have accepted Nero and the rest and their murmurs turned positive and welcoming to the group.
Moments later, however, several figures made their way through the crowd towards him, and the people all parted around them.
Nero laid eyes on the one who led and approached him first, stopping just shy of a few metres.
"That was one hell of a speech, Nero," said Delphine.
She was clad in a strange mix of armor, the same armor the figure who opened the door to allow them inside had worn; it appeared to be a mix of blades and thieves guild armor. She still however had her classic Blades sword which was now strapped to her back.
Nero wasn't sure what to expect from Delphine here. The last time he'd seen her was in Solitude when they'd faced the Ebony Warrior together and tried to stop the Great War from starting by apprehending the Thalmor. Helping Nero had been her ticket to freedom from trial for her actions as leader of the Stormblades. Nero had never heard from her or the Stormblades since, especially as the group had been disbanded. But now, here she was. All these years later.
"Delphine… you look…"
"Old? So do you, Nero. Happens to all of us."
The air between them was slightly icy, but Nero felt it warmer than it had been in the past.
"So, you have a plan?" she asked plainly.
Nero nodded and Delphine turned around, "follow me then, we'll go somewhere to talk."
Nero and the Companions followed Delphine as she led them through the crowd.
"So, you've been rescuing all these people?"
"And giving them Sanctuary, yes," answered Delphine.
"Last I checked, this place was the Sanctuary for the Thieves Guild."
"It was… but in this type of world, stealing can only get you so far. They knew things had to change."
"They let this place become a Sanctuary for all."
"When I asked them to, yes. And not just a Sanctuary for survivors."
"Who else?"
"You'll see."
Delphine stopped when they came to a large open area and Nero looked around; people were training, with swords, bows, axes. Some were youngsters being trained by adults. Targets had been set up and were filling with arrows from little archers. Dummies had been rigged and were getting harsh punishment from new trainees.
"Welcome to the Resistance."
Julia looked about; some archers appeared to be a very good shot, even better than her. Some turned to see her, and she wasn't sure whether to hide behind Nero or give a little wave.
"You're training kids?" asked Nero.
"New recruits," said Delphine, "a lot of whose parents were lost in the Dragon War and their conquest. But we take in anyone who wants to fight."
"Where do you find them?" asked Aela.
"All over," explained Delphine, "we have several other Sanctuaries across the province but communication is hard; we send runners overnight to cross the plains but… sometimes, they haven't come back."
"The dragons," said Farkas.
"Not just them. The draugr."
Nero realised, "that horde who came running through Falkreathe."
"Yes," said Delphine, "the remnants from the army at Whiterun, plus others who fell to them. After the battle, they went all across Skyrim, killing anyone who wouldn't submit to them. Then shortly after, those newly dead rose up as new draugr. Some joined the horde, others remained where they died, in towns and villages. And if one draugr so much as sees a single sign of life about, it isn't long before the horde comes barrelling from wherever they are to that point."
"And there's the dragons that are constantly patrolling the skies above as we've seen," added Vilkas.
"The ones that are still here anyway and not out across Tamriel continuing their conquest."
Nero rubbed his brow, thinking that this was much worse than he thought.
Delphine turned to him, "that puts a little wrench in whatever your plan was, I take it?"
"Just a little, yeah."
Some of the people who were training had turned to see Nero and his company, recognising just who he was, including some of the trainers.
"It's good to see some old familiar faces," smiled Nero.
"Isn't it just," said a voice that immediately sent a shiver down Nero's spine.
He slowly turned around and recognised the speaker immediately.
"Valerica?"
"Grandma!" cried Julia who immediately ran into the woman, wrapping her arms around her and holding her tightly.
"Oh my goodness! Look how big you've gotten!" said Valerica as she picked up Julia and swung her around, "I do hope your father's been feeding you enough."
Julia laughed in the embrace of her grandmother; it had been a long time since they'd seen each other.
"It has been too long, my dear," said Valerica as she put Julia back down and faced back to Nero.
Nero wasn't sure what to say to her; a million thoughts and words were racing through his brain but nothing was coming out. He could only imagine how much anger she must have against him.
"Valerica, I-… I'm so… I don't know what to-"
Suddenly however, Nero's mother-in-law wrapped her arms around him, silencing him instantly.
"Don't say anything," she said, "I heard your speech. As Julia grew up, I've come to know how much you loved my daughter."
Valerica released him but kept her hands on his shoulders, "I know you never wanted to harm her. But I understand the want to do anything to save a daughter."
Nero managed a bit of a smile; he thought still that he could have done more. But he counted his blessings that Valerica wasn't angry at him.
"So you're part of the resistance here?" asked Nero.
"For my part, yes. I suppose times like these, people put their differences aside and band together. Even differences with vampires."
"Nero," interrupted Delphine, "this looks very heartfelt but perhaps I should introduce you to the other leaders of our Resistance. You can explain your plan there."
Nero nodded, but before he made to follow Delphine, he turned down to his daughter, "Julia, why don't you go with your Grandma, I'm sure she wants to catch up with you."
Valerica came over and put an arm on Julia's shoulder, "absolutely!"
Julia nodded and went off with Valerica as Nero watched; he trusted her to keep Julia safe.
Then he turned back, "alright, take me to your leaders."
Nero and the Circle followed Delphine up to a separate room where a large circular table lay, with a map of Skyrim in the middle, and around it were several people gathered around discussing what sounded like a plan. All of them stopped and turned however when Delphine and the rest walked into the room. Nero looked around at them.
Isran, Tullius, Thrandonir and Brynjolf all turned to see them.
"By my beard, lad," said Brynjolf who's beard had gotten longer and somewhat grey, "wasn't sure I'd ever see you again."
Nero shook his hand, "good to see you too, Bryn. Been a while."
Isran put his hands on his hips, "I thought you were dead, Nero."
"Not yet, Isran. Sorry to disappoint."
The old man smiled a little before Tullius came around the table.
"Legate. It's… good to see you still alive," said Tullius as he offered his hand.
Nero took and shook it, "General… I'm sorry about what must've happened to Rikke. To all your men."
"As long as you've come with good news, Nero."
"More than that. I have a plan."
"So, Nero, what is this plan of yours?" asked Delphine.
"Alright," said Nero who took a deep breath before starting.
It took only a few minutes, but when he was done, the expressions on all their faces were not dissimilar to the Circle when they heard it.
"Yeah, that was our reaction the first time too," said Aela.
"And you have this Elder Scroll?" asked Isran.
"Not on me now, no. It's in the Vault beneath my house," answered Nero, "if you all help me get there so I can retrieve the Elder Scroll, I'll let you use whatever weapons and armor that remain in my armory, plus anything else of use in my house."
"And what about what's in your Vault?" asked Delphine.
Nero looked at Delphine, "those are weapons and artefacts too powerful and dangerous to be out in the world. Which is why they're staying there and only the scroll is coming out."
Nero could see the gears turning in her head and guessed what she wanted, but she surprisingly dropped it. At least for now.
"And where exactly do you plan to do this… 'time-travel' reading?" asked Isran.
"It would not be a good idea at all to do it here," added Thrandonir.
"I'll need somewhere close to the mountain, that's where I'll have to head once I travel back in time. And it needs to be somewhere with cover from the dragons. I don't want a surprise once I get back."
"And then when you've returned from past to present, what will you do then?" asked Delphine.
"Then, our best bet is to regroup and plan an all-out assault on the Dragon Order."
The leaders of the resistance looked at each other and then back at Nero.
Delphine then stepped forward, "I'm coming with you. I'm curious to see what you've got in there, Nero."
"What an absolute shock," replied Nero sarcastically.
Brynjolf stepped forward too, "I think this sort of mission needs a degree of stealth."
"They all do these days, don't they?" said Isran.
"I'm in too," said another voice.
Nero turned to see a young boy who was very close to becoming a man.
"Tobias? You're-"
"Alive?" said Tobias, "yeah I sort of became one of the Circle that day."
They all looked oddly at him until each Companion realised what he meant.
"Sinding?" asked Nero.
Tobias nodded, "he gave his life to save mine."
Nero put a hand on Tobias' shoulder, "it's what he would've wanted."
"We'll round up some more Resistance," said Delphine, "we'll have to wait until nightfall though. In the meantime, you can all get some food and rest."
Nero nodded and they all made to leave. As they walked out, Nero saw Julia playing with some other kids while Valerica watched from nearby.
He turned to the others, "you guys can go get some food. I'll see you in a bit."
Aela, Farkas, Vilkas and Tobias all walked off, leaving Nero to join Valerica as she watched Julia.
"I haven't seen a smile like that on her for a long time," said Nero.
"She told me your plan," said Valerica, "you really think you can bring her back?"
Nero looked Valerica in the eye, "I do."
Valerica smiled and turned back to watching Julia, "when I first met you, I thought you were a fool. Asinine. A genuine idiot."
Nero's eyes rolled; that was the second time he heard that.
"But she thinks you're a hero. And I can see why."
Nero twisted his head and looked at Valerica, "is that… a complement?"
"Don't get used to it," said Valerica, "you're still a fool, but my daughter loved you."
Nero turned back to watching Julia, "I loved her too."
They stayed there a few moments before Nero began to feel fatigued.
"I think I'm going to turn in for the night… or day I guess. Can you keep an eye on Julia for now?"
Valerica nodded, "I won't let her out of my sight."
Nero thanked his mother-in-law and turned to leave. He was shown a small space where he could sleep; a space away from the rest. He took off his Skyforge steel sword, regarding the blade for a moment, before placing it down. He then took off his armor from the waist up and sat on his bed.
His lean body was illuminated by the dim light of candles, showing his scars and marks across his chest and muscles, including the scar from the Ebony Warrior all those years ago.
Nero took out the pouch of Serana's ashes and regarded it for several moments. As he held it, he thought of her. Then he carefully set it down beside the bed. He felt his tired body needing rest.
Slowly, he leaned down onto his back and closed his eyes. Shortly after, he turned onto his side, feeling sleep taking him.
Then, slowly, a hand reached around him under his arm, holding him. Nero felt it with his own, and turned over to see whose it was but no one was there. Then he noticed, he was no longer on the bed in the cave anymore, but rather on a grass hill. Looking up above, he no longer saw the ceiling of a cave, but a quiet sky with swirls of bright purple, green and blue flowing overhead. He knew that sky.
Nero sat straight up, recognising immediately where he was. Sovngarde.
Standing up, he looked around but there was nobody, no trace of the person whose hand had touched him. Until he heard her voice,
"Nero?"
He slowly turned around and laid eyes on her. There she was. Right in front of him.
"Serana?"
She stepped towards him, and Nero did the same. She placed a hand on his cheek and he placed one on hers. She was real. She was really there.
Then, immediately, they pulled each other in for a kiss, holding each other close, as if to never let go.
"Is this a dream?" asked Nero.
"I don't care," said Serana, and Nero realised he didn't either. He didn't want it to end, ever.
They stayed kissing and Nero felt her close to him, holding her tight.
After a long time of kissing, they looked at each other.
"I'm sorry, Serana, I'm so sorry."
Tears ran from her eyes, but Serana shook her head, "don't, just come here."
She pulled him in for a long, tight embrace and he wrapped his arms around her.
Suddenly, however, Nero began to levitate.
"Nero?" said Serana.
"W-what? No. No! NO!"
Nero began flying towards the centre of the sky and screamed, "COME BACK! NO! NOOO!"
Suddenly, he bolted upright from his bed in a cry and panting where next to him was Aela with a hand on him.
"Why did you do that?!" he asked angrily.
Aela was confused, "Nero, it's… it's time."
Nero panted a bit more before he got control of himself.
"That was… you had a nightmare?" asked Aela.
Nero shook his head, "no. I dreamt of…"
He trailed off and looked back up at Aela, "it's time?"
She nodded and he got up to throw his armor back on.
Soon enough, they joined the others; it was a group small enough to travel lightly but large enough to bring enough supplies back from the house.
Julia came forward too but Nero stopped her, "Julia, I would rather you stay here with your Grandma for this."
"No Dad, it's our home! I don't care what's happened to it, I want to see it. And you said I go where you go."
"I'll be joining you, Nero, so I can keep an eye on her as well," said Valerica.
Nero looked up at Valerica and nodded, "alright then."
They made their way up to the door which was opened quietly and they all made their way outside, into the cold dark night. Julia looked back as the door was shut behind them.
Delphine pulled her hood up, "stay close. Stay together."
Nero pulled his furs closer before stepping forward and leading them on, to Dragons-bane Manor.
Author's Notes
Okay, I know what you're gonna say. I owe you all an apology, it has taken way, way, way too long for this to come out. There were a few things that happened in my life that really took my attention away. Ended a big relationship, moved home, just a bunch of stuff which really stumped my creative side for a while. Still, I said I would get a new chapter out within 5-6 months of the last and in the end it's been a year and a half.
What I can say is that I am feeling better, definitely feeling a return to Skyrim and this fun story. If you can all remember where we're at, Nero and friends had deserted Skyrim to flee from the dragons and now they've just come back, and Nero's plan is just about starting to kick into fruition.
There were some really fun parts to this chapter to write. The return to the Dawnguard Saga where Nero actually meets Serana was definitely a lot of fun. I always felt like potentially doing that as it's own arc but it feels better incorporating it into this story, at least in little snippets. Also, cudos to whoever caught my little "How I Met Your Mother" joke in there which, if you haven't seen, definitely give it a watch! Such a fun show (even though it was very long and had that ending).
I will not comment on when the next chapter will be out. I'm feeling better but my life is very busy these days and I have limited free time. Still, I do plan to finish this. That I do promise.