Dragonborn Rising Ch. 43

Chapter 43 -- The Friendly Vampire

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My time with Aela and Mirabelle lasted only a matter of days before the College received a visitor and not one I was expecting. I was in the courtyard, going through some practice drills to keep me sharp, Aela and Mirabelle sitting together, watching me work, when a stranger walked through the gates. Mirabelle rose to her feet to greet them and both soon approached me.

"Ragnar the Dragonborn?" the man asked.

"Aye. Who are you?"

"Vigilant Tolan. You would have seen me at the Dawnguard fortress when you arrived a while back."

I shook his hand. "I remember. Isran gave you a rough ride."

"You get used to his demeanour but his heart is usually in the right place."

Gesturing for us to get warm, we headed to Mirabelle's quarters, Aela also following us inside. Once sat at a table with mug of ale in hand, Tolan explained what he was there for. It wasn't a particular surprise. "But why come all this way?" I wondered, "Lydia and Delphine..."

"Are currently engaged with another mission. And Isran wanted the Dragonborn to handle this. Something has the vampires searching the length and breadth of Skyrim, and the fact they are so focused on this place has him concerned. He wants us to head there immediately and find out what has their interest."

"Okay, not a problem. Where are we headed?" Finding a map, he indicated where it was. It would be quite the journey without any real direct route. "I'll need time to prepare."

"That won't be a problem. I can meet you there. When can you leave?"

"I'll leave at dawn tomorrow. Do you wish to stay here?"

"Thank you but no. I will visit the old hall and pay my respects to the dead before heading to the cave. There should be a spot or two around to make camp."

He departed almost immediately and I started to put some things together as I knew the region. It was nothing but mountains, deep snow and bitterly cold winds. Add to that the fact wherever we were heading would likely be infested with vampires, I went so far as to make sure all my weapons and armour were still enchanted. Mirabelle giggled at my concern and assured me everything was fine.

I slept early that night in preparation for departure at dawn, sharing a bed with my two loves but all we did was snuggle, chat and eventually go to sleep. I woke before first light, trying not to wake either of them, though both did, and I gave both of them a kiss and told both how much I loved them before I wandered outside.

It was a bitterly cold morning. Most were this far north in Skyrim, ensuring my furs were wrapped tightly to my body over my armour. It was at times like this that you were thankful horses in Skyrim were such hardy beasts. While man would suffer in the cold, a horse could keep riding all day if you didn't push it too hard.

For once I headed south then west in the direction of Dawnstar, though eventually turned south again. The route did take me close to the Hall of the Vigilant, so rode past it to inspect the damage. There was little left of it, and bodies still lay frozen in the snow, Vigilants and vampires alike. Finding the path that led up the mountainside, I checked the map and knew I was in the right place when I found signs of a camp, but no Tolan.

"Where is he?" I muttered to myself, "Hope he hasn't decided to head in alone."

After dismounting and securing my horse to one of the only trees around, I unsheathed my sword and headed inside. My fears were soon realised as I found Tolan dead after I'd killed a couple of vampires on patrol. Checking his body, I found nothing on him except a Necklace of Stendarr, a couple of potion bottles, and his sword at his side. He'd gone down swinging, as there were at least three other vampire bodies around. I rested a hand on his chest and said a short prayer to the gods.

Heading further in, it became apparent that this was no cave but possibly an ancient crypt. The only difference is that there were no draugr about so I had no idea to who it would be for. I found more vampires within, and as I passed through a graveyard, a few skeletons decided to wake up as well. Killing them was easy, the vampires not so much, always careful not to take wounds lest I be infected, though I wasn't sure if the beast-blood still flowing through my veins would prevent that.

I'd been through enough crypts and ruins to know what to expect, and not to stumble into any traps, my eyes always alert to danger. I ran into a few more skeletons and far stronger vampires, the sort that wouldn't go down without me nearly requiring hacking them to death. No idea how many of the bastards I'd killed already but it was obvious to me that they'd come in force, so whatever they were searching for must have been of vital importance. I had listened into conversations but had learned little so far.

Entering a new chamber, this one was quite simply enormous, the architecture completely different to anything I'd seen before. A few more vampires were about, so I took care of them first, finding the body of another Vigilant. Checking him as well, it was obvious he'd been tortured before his death, closing his eyes with two fingers and whispering a short prayer again.

Heading into the main feature of the grand chamber, it wasn't too difficult to figure out the mechanism to unlock whatever was hidden, with a giant stone monolith eventually appearing out of the floor beneath my feet. Opening the lid was quite easy, and I was awestruck when... She was absolutely gorgeous and appeared to be fast asleep. I also knew she was a vampire immediately but when she fell forward, I couldn't help but catch her, hearing her surprise as she woke up.

"Oh..."

"Um..."

I let her go, feeling slightly embarrassed for both of us, as she gently pushed herself back. I looked at her face and I knew, then and there, I was in trouble. If she knew I was gazing at her, she ignored it as she simply asked, "Who sent you here?"

"Who were you expecting?" I wondered.

"I was expecting someone like me, at least."

"No, I was sent here by another group, called the Dawnguard."

"And they are?"

The question made me uncomfortable. "Um..."

"Vampire hunters?"

"Aye..."

"So what will you do with me then?"

"I won't kill you. Though I do wonder why I found you in there? I was expecting... Well, to be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect."

"It's... complicated. And I'm not entirely sure I can trust you yet. But if you want to know the whole story, help me get back to my family's home."

I can't believe I was about to agree to helping a vampire get home, but I probably wasn't thinking straight. She might have known that and immediately taken advantage of it, but remembering what Mirabelle had told me a few days before, I guess I'd just found a third. I didn't even know her name, but she was beautiful, obviously friendly, considering what she was, and her voice was silk.

"My family used to live on an island to the west of Solitude. I guess they probably still do."

"Bit of a long ride but it's doable."

She offered her hand. "My name is Serana."

I grasped her hand. She had very soft, almost delicate hands, but you could feel the lack of warmth. "I'm Ragnar. Nice to meet you."

That made her smile and I damn near collapsed. "Nice to meet me?"

I know I blushed and her smile increased. Yep, she was definitely going to take advantage of me. Good thing I was sent here. If it had been Isran, she'd already be dead. I suggested we should move, unsheathing my sword, immediately letting me know that she had magical talents. Wasn't a particular surprise but I was interested to see how powerful she was.

I'd noticed the Scroll on her back but didn't mention it. As we made our way forward, killing the occasional vampire or other monster, surprised she didn't mind killing her own kind, we did chat about herself, as I was wondering how long she'd been hidden away.

"Good question. It's hard to say. I feel like it was a long time. Who is Skyrim's High King?"

"That's actually a matter of debate. There's been a war for a while now."

"Oh, wonderful, a war of succession," she stated sarcastically, "Good to know the world didn't get boring while I was gone. Who are the contenders?"

"The Empire supports Elisif of Solitude, but there are many in Skyrim loyal to Jarl Ulfic Stormcloak of Windhelm."

Whatever I said made her stop and ask, "Empire? What Empire?"

I could only look at her, now wondering how old she really was, as I said slowly, "The Empire from Cyrodiil."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Cyrodiil is the seat of an Empire? I must have been gone longer than I thought." I added up in my head how long she could have been gone. I knew the First Empire was at least four thousand years ago so that made her... positively ancient. "Yes, I've been asleep longer than planned. I need to get home and figure out what's happened."

We moved on, continuing to chat but it was obvious Serana was keeping most secrets close to her chest. I didn't mind as I certainly hadn't done anything to gain her trust yet. But I think she liked someone to talk to, so I told her little bits about life in Skyrim though kept my own secrets for the time being. As we walked along, Serana was bright and chirpy for a little while before she started to fade.

"This feels like the right way. I was starting to worry. Does the air feel..." She came a stop, leaning against a wall. "Does it feel heavy down here? I'm a little woozy, but it might just be from waking up."

I immediately stopped and was by her side in an instant. "Are you okay?"

My concern earned a smile. "I've been asleep a long time, Ragnar. Guess the body is just catching up."

"Take your time. Few deep breaths."

"Dealt with vampires before?"

I heard the humour in her tone. "Well, I've met one or two in my time. They haven't always been as friendly as you."

"Glad you think I'm friendly."

"Well, you haven't tried anything with me yet, so we're good for now."

We moved on, dealing with a few more enemies along the way, but as we entered a tunnel, I soon felt a light breeze, and the temperature certainly dropped from that felt deeper in the cave. Exiting the cave, I certainly took a deep breath of fresh air. I wasn't sure if Serana was breathing or not, and wasn't dumb enough to ask. My question was answered when she exclaimed, "Ah, it's good to breathe again!" I must have given her a look as she actually giggled at my reaction. "Even in this weather, it's better than the cave."

Finding where my horse was waiting wasn't too much of a problem, but I'd been in the cave longer than anticipated, as it was already growing dark, and the weather was closing in. Mounting my horse, she climbed on behind me, holding me around the waist as we started our descent down the mountain. "We'll have to camp for the night," I stated over the howling wind.

"That's fine. I don't really feel the cold."

"Oh, right."

I kept riding until it was simply too dark to see and we simply had to make camp. The wind was still howling, but I managed to put up the tent, while Serana used magic to light a fire. We made sure it was big that I wouldn't freeze while she didn't mind the warmth either. I'd brought some supplies with me, figuring I'd be on the road a few days at least. She didn't want anything, so I snacked as we sat by the fire.

"So who are you, Ragnar?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because I know you're not just this Dawnguard vampire hunter person."

I glanced at her beside me before replying. "You're right, I'm not. Ever heard of the Dragonborn?"

"No. Who or what is that?"

"Apparently someone destined to save the world."

"What else?"

"According to lore, they are someone born with the blood and soul of a dragon, bestowed upon them by Akatosh. My role is simple. I am the Last. My fate is to save the world from Alduin, the World-Eater. Not exactly going to plan right now for reasons outside of my control."

"You sound... I'm not sure..."

"Well, I guess I can honest. I'm not a particularly good man, despite trying to live with honour these past few months. I have done many things which, if learned by the ordinary folk, would lead to either a scaffold or chopping block. I have done my best to live a good life recently but... Temptation is always around."

"You've already accepted me despite what I am, Ragnar. I think that is the sign of a good person."

"Helps that you're cute," I stated bluntly, glancing in her direction. She gave no reaction, or at least one that I recognised. "And I'm not a complete bastard," I added, "Most people that I kill deserve it."

"So you don't just kill vampires because of what they are?"

"To be honest, no. I had to deal with an issue just recently. I let one live as she was an innocent victim in events that took place. I gave her a warning then let her go."

"Another female vampire, Ragnar?"

I glanced in her direction again. This time she looked at me with a smirk. "I'm a sucker for a beautiful woman." I'm not sure if she was capable of blushing, but the smile broadened and she had to look away. "Anyway," I looked up and gestured, "This just gives me an opportunity for some star gazing. Have the two moons and millions of stars to feast upon. Nights like this can't be beaten."

She shuffled closer to me. "What do you think about when looking at them?"

"I'll be honest, not a lot. Though one can't help wonder at the size of the cosmos above us. Are we all there is or are there other worlds out there?"

"And here I thought you were just some dumb brute." I glanced at her again and the smile remained. I couldn't help return the smile. "You should get some sleep. I'll stay up."

"You sure?"

"Ragnar, I've been asleep for a long time. This is the first time I've seen the night sky in however long. Get some sleep. I'll wake you at dawn." As I lay down, she added, "And don't worry, I won't bite during the night."

I had to resist retorting with one or two suggestive comments, just bidding her goodnight instead.

We continued to chat away the next day as we rode westwards, leaving the snow and bitterly cold winds behind. I kept to the main roads, and Serana covered herself though the sun wasn't exactly shining. It took most of the day to finally make the small dock she told me about, finding the boat hidden within some rocks. I checked it for any leaks before we climbed aboard and I rowed us across the channel.

Tying the boat to the dock on the island, I couldn't help but gaze up at the castle. It was enormous. "You actually live here?"

"Aye, this is it. Home sweet... castle." I just whistled my appreciation, which made her smile again. "Come on, we should head inside."

I knew she was a vampire and I guess I should have figured it out before she needed to tell me. Grabbing my forearm, she brought to a stop. "Listen, Ragnar, before we go in there..."

"Are you okay?"

The same smile appeared, the one I was already falling for. Even as pale as she was, there was no doubting her beauty. And, for some reason, I found her red eyes... captivating. "Thank you for asking, Ragnar," she replied softly, "Before we go in, I just wanted to thank you for getting me this far. But after we get in there, I'm going to go my own way for a while." My face definitely dropped in disappointment. "I know your friends would probably kill everything in there. I'm hoping you can show more control than that. Once we're inside, just keep quiet for a bit. Let me take the lead."

Crossing the drawbridge, the gate was opened as we approached, the watchman calling out that Serana had returned home. I noticed him look at me, and I had to consciously keep my hand away from my sword.

Heading inside, I was greeted by a scene of horror. Serana looked unaffected by all the blood, the room full of her kind. But unlike her, most of them were ghastly and fucking ugly. I definitely grabbed their attention, some hissing in my direction, though once they realised it was Serana who had returned, they obviously waited for the reaction of whoever was in charge.

Walking down the stairs to the dining room, I was thankful I couldn't see any fresh corpses, and I was doubly thankful to be with Serana, though if required, I would have just used my Thu'um and cut my way out. A well-dressed vampire stepped forward with arms stretched out to his side.

"My long lost daughter returns at last! I trust you have my Elder Scroll?"

I had to bite my tongue as I was about to... "After all these years, that's the first thing you ask me?" Serana retorted, before sighing, "Yes, I have the scroll."

"Of course I'm delighted to see you, my daughter. Must I really say the words aloud?" I had to bite my tongue again. "Ah, if only your traitorous mother were here, I would let her watch this reunion before putting her head on a spike." His eyes then fell on me, and I knew this wasn't going to end well. The eyes gave him away. "Now tell me who is this stranger you have brought into our hall?"

"This is Ragnar, my saviour. He is the one who freed me."

"For my daughter's return, you have my gratitude, Ragnar. I am Harkon, lord of this court. By now, I'm sure my daughter will have told you what we are."

"Hard to miss, but yes, I know what you are."

He then went on a long ramble about how powerful his court was, blah, blah, blah. I feigned interest but all I wanted was out. That was until he suggested I be rewarded for returning Serana, and offered to turn me into a vampire. I had to swallow down the laugh at the ridiculousness of it. He mentioned he could sense I was already a werewolf, and transformed into a rather demonic looking vampire as apparent proof of his greatness.

"No thanks. Don't particularly want to a remain a werewolf. You do you, but I'm not interested."

Things happened very quickly. There was a cry of 'Seize him!', I unsheathed my sword, and swivelled as a number of vampires moved in my direction. Serana cried out that I should be let go. That gave Harkon pause. "You wish to save this mortal?"

"He saved me, father, and brought me home. He at least deserves to walk out of this castle and to return home."

The vampires had stopped, obviously waiting for orders. He made everyone wait before stating, "Very well. You will live this day, Ragnar. But consider yourself warned. You return to this castle again, you are prey. Understand?"

"Have no desire to return anyway but I hear your warning."

"Good. Then you had better leave now. Some of my underlings are getting hungry."

Keeping my sword in hand, I walked backwards out of the hall. The door was at least opened for me so I could walk out. Only when it was closed did I turn around, the watchman echoing the warning about ever returning. I didn't sheathe my sword until I was beside the boat, and was ready to just cast off and start rowing when I heard someone call my voice.

Turning around, I noticed Serana jogging in my direction. The first thing she did was hug me tightly. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" I asked as I completed the embrace.

"For what happened. I didn't really believe he would try and do that."

"I'm still alive and breathing. Thanks for stepping in to stop him."

She looked up at me, those same red eyes. "Thank you, Ragnar," she said softly.

"Not a problem. Not every day I get to escort a rather..." I cleared my throat. "Well, at least I got you home safely."

She rested her head on my chest and gave me a squeeze. "You never know; I might see you around again someday."

"And a whole lot of me would like that."

She let me go and took a step back. "Be safe, Ragnar."

"I will. Good luck with your father."

She sighed. "Thank you. I'm definitely going to need it. Hope to see you again." And with those final words, she turned around and started to walk back to the castle.