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Dragonheart: Of Black Wings Unfurled	By : Lady_Kae Category: +A through F > Elder Scrolls - Skyrim Views: 15055 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters used from the game TES: Skyrim. All characters and game related material, save for original content, is property of their respective owners and no money is being made from this fiction.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
A/N: Welcome back! I know that it's late, but HAPPY NEW YEAR! It took a couple months but I finally managed to get this chapter out. Writer's block is an utter bitch sometimes, on top of the fact work barely gives me any free time any more. Add my kids into the mix...Yeah...Nonetheless! I'm happy this chapter's finally complete and I hope that soon I'll get this story back on a good roll again. Considering my hours are changing soon, I shouldn't have too much of a problem any more. Without any further adieu, enjoy! Please be sure to leave me some comments or critiques!

~Kae

Chapter 10: Coming to Grips with Nature

Tarrowlyn pulled Tanaris’ reins tightly to get her to stop. She, Vilkas, and Serana were coming up on Dragon Bridge, a small village to the southwest of Solitude that overlooked the Karth River, and a chill had suddenly settled over her. Farkas had broken off towards Morthal, as he had apprised Tarrowlyn of a few days prior, though she wished he was still here. She looked over her shoulder where Vilkas was riding Shadr with Serana, and the mirth that she felt knowing that he was utterly smitten was gone in a flash. “ Do you smell that?” she asked Vilkas softly.
Vilkas nodded as he scowled blackly. “ Aye, little sister, that I do.” He replied. He dismounted smoothly at the same time as Tarrowlyn, and Serana followed a moment later. “ They’re crawling all over the area. They don’t smell like the vampires from Morthal though...They smell much older.”
Serana flipped her hood up as she looked around. She wasn’t too keen on being recognized at the moment. Granted, her father already knew she had betrayed him. “ That’s because they are older. My father’s vampire coven predates the empire, so I’ve been told.” Serana added.
Tarrowlyn snorted. “ You were the one who wasn’t aware that Cyrodiil is the seat of the Empire.” she quipped nervously. “ Vilkas, I’m sending the horses off…”
“ Let’s make sure we have everything we need then.” Vilkas replied. They began grabbing everything of note that they needed from the saddle bags and Vilkas gave Shadr a quick slap to get her moving. “ Head home girl! I’ll see you in Whiterun!” he called out to her.
Tarrowlyn followed suit with Tanaris and she looked at her traveling companions with a shrug. “ We best start hoofing it for the inn.” she said simply.
When the three entered the town, it was as if a weariness settled over them. Vilkas looked at the guards specifically. They were lethargic, as if they had recently seen too much than could be comprehended. Most of them looked pale beyond belief, their palor nearly as white as snow.
Serana inhaled sharply as she followed Vilkas’ gaze. “ They’re turning…” she whispered. “ These men need either a restorative potion or they need to get to a shrine before it’s too late.”
“ There have been at least three attacks in the last week…” Tarrowlyn piped up, her sad green gaze looking at the buildings that were in disarray. “ Serana...Harkon’s making a move for the capital, isn’t he?”
Serana thought it over as she looked around again. “ It would be safe to assume that. Gods...This is horrible.” A sudden weight fell on her shoulder, giving it a soft, supportive squeeze, and Serana looked over to it. Vilkas was looking off to the side as he took in their surroundings, and he gave her another soft squeeze in a silent attempt to comfort her. Serana smiled softly; if not just a bit shyly, as she patted his in turn, giving him a silent thanks.
Vilkas jumped at the touch, as if he hadn’t realized what it was he was doing and he pulled his hand away after another moment. “ Is there anything we can do to help them, Harbinger?” he asked.
Tarrowlyn looked around sadly. “ Serana?” she inquired, deferring to her friend for guidance.
Serana was just about to open her mouth when a high scream echoed through the small village.
“ No! Stop it! Let go of me!”
Tarrowlyn’s gaze went golden instantly as those desperate cries brought back every internal scream that she herself had made back in Bloated Man’s Grotto. That had been only a little more than two years ago. Dropping her knapsack without so much as a care, Tarrowlyn followed the sound of the woman, guided more by the sound of the victim’s frantic heartbeat than she was by the terrified, now muffled screams.
Serana noticed that Vilkas made no move to follow Tarrowlyn. “ Shouldn’t we…?” she began, but the question died on her lips.
“ She’s on the verge of a nasty turning. Tarrowlyn…” Vilkas swallowed hard as he remembered that night. The countless hours waiting, seeing all that blood… “ She had something similar happen. She’s since gotten justice on the men who wronged her, but hearing something like this makes her relive that night all over again. Can those men be saved if we get them to Solitude by daybreak?”
Serana shook her head. “ Some of them will be full vampires by morning.” she admitted as she watched a girl come running out from between a couple buildings toward the inn.
Screams and snarls suddenly echoed into the night, and Vilkas winced as he heard a series of bones pop much too quickly for it to be healthy. The scent of wolf was over taking the smell of human by now too.
Vilkas shuddered a little. His sister was scarier than some daedric princes when she was pissed off.
Serana’s gaze softened as she looked toward the alley that Tarrowlyn had disappeared into. By the sound of it, she was not going to give these men an easy death. She turned her ruby tinted gaze over to Vilkas, full of sympathy as he could hear everything that was happening. “ Do I want to know?” she asked.
Vilkas shook his head as he dry heaved a little. “ Trust me. You don’t. We’re better off going on our own at this point. She’ll be stuck like this for most of the night.” he replied as he turned both of them towards the inn as well.

Serana was looking at her food with disinterest while Vilkas spoke to the innkeeper. She actually missed regular food. It still smelled wonderful, at least until she put it near her mouth. She couldn’t help but wonder if werewolves had a similar problem. After what seemed like an eternity, Vilkas resumed his seat beside her. “ Any word on our moth priest?”
“ He was on a wagon headed south towards Morthal. He had two imperial guards with him. You know what my gut says?” Vilkas looked around at the near empty inn and he turned his icy gaze back to Serana. “ Definitely a trap…We need to get moving.”
Serana got to her feet reluctantly. “ Now hold on a moment! What about Tarrowlyn?!” she hissed under her breath.
Vilkas turned to Serana, nearly getting nose to nose with her. It would be so easy to close the distance to...Vilkas growled, as if to force those musings away. He couldn’t afford to be distracted. Especially not because of a woman!
Even if she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen on two legs, gazing petulantly with those wide, expressive ruby colored eyes and those soft, sweet lips just barely open...
“ Tarrowlyn will have enough sense to find us when Tala finally relinquishes her hold. I’m absolutely serious about us needing to leave this village. Your moth priest is in mortal danger and we need to find him. You see better in the dark than I can, but you can’t beat a werewolf’s nose. We know they went south, so please sweetness, let us leave while we still stand a chance at this.” Vilkas countered, almost pleadingly.
Serana colored slightly at the term of endearment that fell from Vilkas’ lips even as she weighed his words. More than likely, Tarrowlyn would track them once she came back to her own mind.
At the moment, her russet headed friend was nothing more than a demon of vengeance.
Serana nodded as she followed Vilkas out the door of the inn and the two began making a brisk pace down the worn path. Serana led the way once the light from the lampposts faded into inky pitch and she looked skyward with a scowl. Both moons were new and the sky was clouded over with the makings of a storm, otherwise Vilkas might have been able to see better. She looked over her shoulder at him and she smirked slightly. His eyes had turned golden in an attempt to utilize his senses better.
“ Did Tarrowlyn ever mention the curious thing about the eyes of those with the beastblood?” she inquired, her tone light. Serana stopped for a brief second, bringing pause to Vilkas as she kept him from tumbling ungracefully into a pothole. She grasped his hand, tamping down a delighted shudder as a sensation akin to sparks radiated from their joined hands through her body.
Vilkas’ breath caught slightly as well as he felt his blood race a little faster. “ I don’t think she did. What is it? I’ve been trying to keep note of all the changes our bodies go through when we took on the blood.” he answered, a little more tightly than he would have liked. It had been been an effort to keep his voice even, as Vilkas had been sure it would have cracked otherwise.
Serana either didn’t take notice, or she paid it no heed. “ Your eyes change in unfavorable conditions like this without notice. They’re gold right now, not blue.” She guided him around a set of stones that he would have tripped on without fail. “ What other changes do the moonborn go through?”
Vilkas chortled slightly. “ Greater strength and stamina for starters. The males more so I’ve noticed, though Aela is an exception to that. She can run leagues longer in her human form than Farkas and I easily. Her eyesight is also the sharpest of us all, that’s Tarrowlyn included. Not to say that the…” Vilkas paused a moment and he stopped completely.
Serana went on point as she began looking around worriedly. “ What is it?” she whispered.
Vilkas was sniffing the air, and he looked directly in front of them. He couldn’t see a thing, but he could all but taste the coppery tint on the air. “ Blood, lots of it Serana. Can you see anything?” he asked her. He released her hand and Vilkas reached over his shoulder for his blade. While he couldn’t see, his hearing was as sharp as ever. He reached out with what was left of his senses, though Vilkas couldn’t hear anything more than mice scurrying in the grass.
Serana looked around, going back to back with Vilkas in an instant and the two turned together. “ I see nothing...If they’re vampires like me, they’re not confined to just a single form...They can fly Vilkas.” she whispered. “ Good thing to note that their hearing is not as sharp as yours.”
Vilkas laughed wryly at that statement. “ I can’t hear them if they’re not using normal means...” he replied softly. The wind was blowing downwind, meaning he wouldn’t be able to pick up any other scents than those that were in front of them. For all Vilkas knew, it was just his imagination getting the better of him. He moved to put his blade away, and Vilkas turned to Serana. “ It might have just been an owl tha…”.
Something slammed into him from behind with all the force of a saber cat and Vilkas was sent face first into the ground. He barely heard Serana’s frightened cry at the sneak attack and Vilkas grunted in pain as a blade was embedded under his ribs. He pushed up, throwing his assailant off, and pulling the dagger away in a smooth motion. His left hand flared with white magick, the lessons that Tarrowlyn instilled in him years ago coming to the fore. Vilkas tried to see if he could make out how many there were before the spell ended, but the radiance he was casting off didn’t reach but a few feet in front of him. He heard blades clashing nearby in the pitch darkness, and Vilkas pulled his blade again.
Sparks flew skyward in the darkness, and Vilkas centered on that. He took a deep breath through his nose, closing his eyes to graft a mental image of their surroundings. He could hear two in front of him, one of them Serana. Another deep breath in made his nose scrunch in distaste. There it was, the smell that he had caught back in Dragon Bridge. There was two...No three other vampires attacking.
A soft whoosh from behind tickled his ear and Vilkas instantly swung toward it, smirking ferally when his sword bit into flesh. An anguished scream followed shortly after along with a heavy thud. They had hit the ground. Vilkas rose his blade above him, and he brought it down in a sharp arc that sliced into his foe again, killing it this time.
“ Vilkas! Behind and above! Eleven o clock!” Serana called out to him.
Vilkas reached into his boot as he brought his foot up and he pulled his dagger from its hiding place. He threw in the direction that Serana had instructed, using the momentum he had gained from his turning, and he smirked confidently when he heard it find purchase in flesh.
“ Twelve o clock! He’s coming down...Now!” Serana called out again, though she screamed in anguish right after.
Vilkas dashed forward, killing the other vampire that he had stabbed with his dagger, and he looked around wildly for Serana. “ Serana! Where are you? What happened?!” he cried out, instantly worried for her wellbeing.
A self satisfied chuckle, decidedly female, met him and Vilkas fought to keep his heart from racing too quickly. He was at a definite disadvantage here, and by the sounds of it, Serana wasn’t able to offer any further guidance. Had this bitch killed her?! The urge to shift suddenly burned through him, and Vilkas tamped it down. He wouldn’t be of any help if he were to go on a murderous rampage in beast form. He focused harder on his surroundings and he heard two different heart beats after a moment, one slower than the other.
Thank the divines, she was alive.
“ You’re much more skilled than Hestla told us you would be...She was sure that you or your brother wouldn’t even take one of us out.” the other vampire purred nastily.
Left...Vilkas thought, though he didn’t move. He closed his eyes, falling back on his nose and ears. He could only smell blood at first, but then he caught wind of the bitch coming closer. She reeked of murder and decay. He could hear the faintest of eddies swirling around her, keeping her airborn. She was circling around him to ambush Vilkas from behind…
“ Hestla doesn’t know a damn thing about either of us.” Vilkas snarled. Farkas had better not have been attacked or the wrath of Mehrunes Dagon would pale in comparison to the terror that Tarrowlyn Dragonheart would wreak! She would undoubtedly storm their stronghold; with every single Companion behind her no less, and slaughter as many as she could before she fell, if it happened at all. Vilkas knew with certainty that if Farkas were killed before they could cleanse themselves, Tarrowlyn would follow him willingly into the very jaws of Oblivion. Even if it meant an eternity under Hircine’s rule. “ Much less how much stronger we’ve gotten over the years.” He had to force himself still, force his heartbeat to slow. Vilkas needed to allow this vampire to think that she had him where she wanted him. She was nearly in reach of his blade…
" She was sure that your Harbinger, Kodlak I believe his name is, would have taken this job himself. A rather clever trap if I do say so myself.”
Vilkas laughed darkly even as he looked left and right, giving off the appearance he was searching even though his eyes were shut. “ She hasn’t heard the news yet? Divines rest his soul, but Kodlak is dead and gone. We have a new Harbinger, and she knew from the get go this was a trap. Not as clever as you’d like to believe.” Vilkas taunted. “ Hestla’s brains were never her strong suit.”
The vampire behind him audibly bristled at the jibe. They apparently were fond of his old comrade. “ I’ll kill you for that!” she screeched, rushing in.
Vilkas turned, swinging his blade hard, and he cut the vampire in twain. “ Not very likely…” he whispered on the wind.
“ Vilkas?" Serana gasped out, only to sputter a second later. She had been stabbed right through the lung.
Vilkas followed the sound and smell of her to find Serana, and he took a knee once he reached her. “ Are you alright?” he asked worriedly. His hand flared with his healing spell, and he let it flow over her.
“ Won’t lie...She got me good…” Serana groaned. Her eyes glowed a little as she focused on the pulse point of his neck and she inhaled sharply as she looked away in shame. “ I need…” she began, putting distance between them. “ I need to find a bandit or something...I can’t…”
Vilkas caught on quickly. She needed to feed and fast if she were to heal completely. “ Does it have to be because of a bite?” he inquired. He hoped not. Vilkas wasn’t in the mood to explain the giant hickey that would undoubtedly surface if that were the case.
Serana went still in shock though she gathered her wits after a moment. “ If I were to bite you, Vilkas, you’d become a vampire. I can’t control passing it right now and I’m not going to feed from you if I can help it...I won’t pass this onto you.” she said softly.
Vilkas nodded slightly and he pulled his rucksack off. “ Plan b it is then.” he murmured, inwardly thankful that wasn’t the case. He found one of the tin mugs that he, Tarrowlyn, and Farkas always had on hand, and Vilkas began undoing the ties to his gauntlet. “ How deep do you need to feed?”
Serana groaned in exasperation at his stubbornness. He and Tarrowlyn were too much alike in that respect. She couldn’t help but wonder if that’s where her friend got it from. “ I’m not feeding from you!” she growled out in frustration.
Vilkas didn’t pay her any mind as he plucked another dagger from his other boot and he pressed the blade against his skin, trying to find the vein. “ You’re not going to feed from me directly, sweetness.” he purred out in retort. “ One mug or two? I think that’s all I can manage under the current circumstances.”
Serana did not want to admit just how much his voice alone affected her, hearing his warm, normal tones so sinful like that. Then it dawned on Serana that Vilkas was doing the same thing Tarrowlyn had done the first time they had met. Was self sacrifice a defining trait of the Companions or did it apply to only a fair few? “ One should be fine.” she replied softly. She winced when she heard the metal ring for a moment, and the sweet smell of blood filled the air. “ You don’t have to do that…”
Vilkas was silent as he listened to the cup fill, and he healed the gash once he had determined that it was full enough. “ If the roles were reversed, you’d do the same for me Serana.” he countered, his voice rich in kindness. He took three steps towards where he remembered her being, holding the cup out for her to take. He felt lighting shoot up his spin when her bare fingers caressed his to grasp the mug. “ Drink up. I can’t exactly go anywhere without you.”
Both chortled a little at the joke, and Serana took a tentative sip. While she hadn’t had much of a choice last time, the taste of Tarrowlyn’s tainted blood had been a little off putting. Vilkas’ on the other hand?
Oh, divines...She could get addicted to that taste. His was like a fine, aged wine, one tempered with experience and knowledge. Serana drained it quickly, her ruby eyes alight as she met Vilkas’ golden gaze. They weren’t aglow with the need to feed any longer, but iridescent for another reason entirely.
Vilkas swallowed hard, unsure of how to gauge the situation. “ Better now?” he asked nervously. He wasn’t afraid of Serana per say, but of what that look could mean. It was lust, he knew that easily enough. Whether it was a blood lust, or carnal was what he was unsure of.
Either way, Vilkas would be in trouble.
The glow seemed to leave Serana’s eyes after a moment as she nodded silently. Dear Mara, Dibella, and Kynareth...His blood was like a drug, far more potent than skooma she was sure. “ We should get moving again. We’re losing time...If the overcast stays after daybreak, I should be able to keep moving comfortably.” she replied as Vilkas helped her to her feet.
Vilkas nodded as his hand seemed to linger a little longer than necessary over hers. “ Let’s pray it doesn’t come to that. Don’t forget, I smelled blood nearby before we were attacked.” Vilkas felt her move away a moment and a soft clink was heard.
“ You’re going to need this then.” Serana chortled, handing him his discarded gauntlet.
The two were silent for the most part as they continued on their way, though it was broken once they reached a fork in the road. Vilkas covered his nose, his features harsh at the stench flooding his nose. Serana sharp gasp was more than enough to tell him that they had stumbled across a gruesome scene.
“ Let me guess, the wagon and two dead soldiers?” Vilkas said dryly.
“ Right on the septim.” Serana whispered in reply. She looked around, her keen gaze carefully scrutinizing every detail. “ Wait a second! There’s another body! Vampire...I need to…” Serana quickly took a knee by the dead creature and she began looking through the pockets. Finally she found what she was looking for and she held it triumphantly in the air. “ Just as I thought! Written orders! Vilkas, can we get a small fire going for a brief moment?”
Vilkas hurriedly made a small torch, only big enough for them to be able to read by and he looked over Serana’s shoulder. “ I have new orders for you. Prepare an ambush just south of the Dragon Bridge. Take the moth priest to Forebear’s Holdout until I can break his will? Wait a moment! I was just at Forebear’s Holdout a few months ago, a citizen of Hjaalmarch had been kidnapped and held hostage there. Torvar and I made the rescue. It’s not that far from here. You should try to feed while you can. I’m going to go hunt down a deer myself.”
Serana nodded and she turned away as Vilkas began stripping away his armor, though she couldn’t help but catch a glance or two while he was distracted. He was a beautiful specimen of a man, toned in all the right places and...Serana’s eyes went a little wide even as she turned away.
He was built to please…
One corner of Vilkas’ mouth turned up when he saw Serana’s reaction when his small clothes fell away. It was endearing in all honesty, knowing that for as ancient as she was that she still acted as if she were a young woman near his age. His eyebrows raised a little in his mirth, for in the faint light of the fire he could see a slight tinge to those porcelain cheeks.
Vilkas could only hope that she liked what she saw.
“ I shouldn’t be gone long. There’s a decent sized elk nearby and I should be able to chase him down easy enough. This way, both of us have the chance to shore ourselves up a little before we go to Forebear’s Holdout. Are you going to need a lot?” Vilkas asked as he loosened up a little. This was the first voluntary transformation he had done since Kodlak had approached he and Farkas about weaning themselves away from the power the beastblood offered. If Van wasn’t as uninterested as he was about being freed into the mortal realm all that often, Vilkas would worry that his wolfen half would take over in a moment’s notice. His beast’s curiosity was only piqued; rather highly though, by Serana’s presence.
In all the years that Vilkas had carried the blood, Van had never made such a fuss over a single woman.
Serana shook her head as she attempted to keep her gaze averted. “ I think I’ll be fine after another cup full. I haven’t been starving since Tarrowlyn released me after all.” came the soft, obviously shy reply.
Vilkas’ chin tilted upwards a little in pride even as his grin grew broader. Depending on how closely to Companions worked with the Dawnguard, Vilkas figured he could probably use it to spend more one on one time with her. While lust was coursing through his veins, strong and heady, Vilkas prefered the gentleman’s approach to a woman. Courting her, preferably at least, before bedding her. His features softened a little even as he thought of possibly making love to the woman near by.
Despite its newness, the attraction Vilkas felt for Serana was sincere. He wanted to know her mind before he knew her body, to learn every nuance of what made her laugh, or drove her to anger first. Vilkas very much wanted to pick her memory, all the while getting Serana up to speed in exchange, as he wanted to know what Skyrim was like before the time of the Empire. Was she around in Ysgramor’s time? It didn’t matter that she was a vampire, not completely at least. Visions of the future flitted briefly through his mind before he cast them off. Vilkas couldn’t afford to be distracted by those thoughts right now, most notably the ones at the forefront of his mind.
Would she cast off her immortality to live a mortal life beside him? Or would Vilkas join her in the undeath so as to never leave her side?
Vilkas’ ice blue gaze was aquamarine as he as one last glance towards Serana before surrendering himself over to the beastblood. Only time would give him the answer to those questions.

Farkas was riding hard and fast through Haafingar. No sooner than he had reached Morthal to appraise Valdimar of what was going on, Farkas had been beset by three different vampires and their thralls. Valdimar had instantly joined the fray, giving just as damn well as he got. Farkas had pushed him out of way a few times, taking hits meant for the housecarl to keep him from contracting the vampiric disease. Once the battle was over, the two had found orders for him to have been attacked and killed and for the Harbinger and the others to be ambushed just outside of Dragon Bridge. Farkas was sure that Tarrowlyn would never allow any harm to come to Vilkas, the two were too close for her to do anything but. As the Harbinger however, she would put herself in more danger to protect her shield siblings, even if it possibly meant death. That worried the Ice Wolf of Jorrvaskr to his very core.
Farkas pulled Thunder’s reins hard as he entered the little village. There was blood spilled here, vampires were crawling all over the area, and worse yet, he could smell Tarrowlyn’s beast. He couldn’t stop the string of swears that flew from his mouth when he found Tarrowlyn’s knapsack lying on the ground near the inn. What in oblivion had happened to cause Tarrowlyn to act like this? Shifting? Killing local guardsmen? That wasn’t anything like the woman he knew! The Ice Wolf of Jorvasskr took a deep calming breath in a effort to both settle his nerves and catch a hint as to where Vilkas and Serana might be at.
Farkas could barely make out Vilkas’ and Serana’s scents, they were at least a few hours old by this point and the smell was fading towards the south. Nodding to himself, Farkas silently applauded his brother’s wisdom to not sit around and wait for Tarrowlyn. More than likely, the two were off on their own to save that scholar Tarrowlyn and Serana had been going on about needing.
That freed him up to look for his fiance…
Farkas ran into the inn, paying the boy there to walk his steed a little to cool him down before fixing the reins to a post or something until he returned. Once that was done, Farkas began following his nose. He was sure he’d find Tarrowlyn one way or another.

Vilkas and Serana crept through the tunnel leading them to the main cavern of Forebear’s Holdout. While he could definitely see better, he allowed Serana to take point and he guarded the rear, his nose being the better asset to keep them from being ambushed from behind. Serana came to a pause upon entering the crag, and Vilkas took the time to evaluate the surroundings.
“ I’d never thought I’d wish for Tarrowlyn and her bow…” he murmured, his eyes falling on the statues perched atop the wall surrounding the defunct courtyard for a moment before he shivered imperceptibly, despite the warmth that radiated throughout the chamber. There was something very off putting about those things, though Vilkas could not put his finger on it at the moment. At the center of the courtyard was a large bonfire there, burning strongly, casting off more light than either of them needed for this stretch of their current mission. Serana and Vilkas both would have preferred if things had been just a little dimmer, making an ambush all the more easy. Vilkas’ head snapped back to one of the statues, for movement on the wall had drawn his gaze again. He was fairly sure he saw one of the statues shake their head as if loosening tension, but he played it off as a trick of the light.
“ There, in the very back where the ruined tower is.” Serana whispered to him, pointing all the while. Vilkas followed her direction and his eyes caught the eerie glow of magicka instantly. “ We need to hurry before his will is broken. He’ll be more worse off than a thrall if that happens.”
“ Let’s make this quick then.” Vilkas finalized. He pointed to their left. “ There’s two of those...Hounds...Patrolling over there. I can hear at least two or three thralls in the courtyard, and that’s it right now. I can’t tell you how much security the priest might have around him. Well…” Vilkas motioned towards the barrier in the back with a small chortle. “...besides the obvious of course.”
Serana smiled a little even as she shook her head. “ I’ll get the hounds while you get the thralls in the courtyard. Just be wary of the gargoyles. Don’t get too close.” she advised.
Vilkas looked back to the statues lining the outer wall again, filled with a little apprehension and a lot of curiosity. That’s what those were? He had only ever read about them in books, they were supposed to be a thing of fiction. “ I’ll keep that in mind.” he answered, pulling his blade from his back. “ You ready?”
Serana nodded, her lips drawn into a thin line. “ Let’s get this done and over with.” she said flatly, readying her magicka in her off hand as she pulled her blade free of its sheath.
Vilkas made quick work of the thralls, keeping one barely alive to be on the safe side should Serana need to feed again, and Serana met him in the courtyard in decent time herself. She was sporting one nasty looking bite that had torn the sleeve over her left arm, but it was healing quickly on its own. He nodded to himself as she motioned for them to get to the stairs, and Vilkas began following her lead.
“ Malkus! This ends now!” Serana bellowed, her ruby eyes narrowed.
“ Ha! I’ve only just begun Serana! Your father will be delighted to see that not only have I brought the moth priest, but you as well!” the vampire replied and the two clashed with a strength that made Vilkas drop his jaw. Serana turned in mid air, using his momentum against him to throw him into and threw some stone pillars nearby. The stone crumbled under the force of the blow and Serana lept right in to keep on top in the fight. Vilkas was still standing in stunned awe. Even as a werewolf, his back would have been broken if he had taken the hit Malkus just had. “ Vilkas! Find the focus for the weystone! It has to be around here somewhere!” Serana called out to him as she partially shifted one hand when Malkus knocked her sword to the ground.
Vilkas began searching frantically, forcing himself to keep focused on his task as opposed to keeping his sight on the fight behind him. He ran to the second level, throwing open every single barrel and box that he could find. Vilkas heard a small scream issue from upstairs and he swore under his breath as he kept looking. Malkus could have an edge on her for all the companion knew and it hastened his movements. “ I’m not finding it Serana!” he bellowed upwards, hoping that she could hear him.
Malkus snarled hatefully as he pushed Serana’s chin harshly to one side and she looked up, currently unable to answer. The weystone was right within her reach, but all her strength and focus was going to keeping Malkus from killing her. “ I could use a little help!” she shouted, though it was garbled.
Vilkas cleared the top of the stairs again, having been unsuccessful in his attempt to find the item Serana needed, and he looked up to where the vampires were having it out. His eyes turned golden while he snarled, enraged that someone would willingly dare lay such a hand on a lady. Vilkas pulled his remaining dagger from his boot, and he threw it in a single smooth motion, though both heard the blade whistle as it tumbled hilt over tip to its target. The blade seated itself between the vampire’s eyes, making Malkus’ head bobble slightly before he slumped to the ground dead.
Serana choked for a moment, but she quickly set to rummaging through Malkus’ pockets for the weystone focus. Thankfully the moth priest hadn’t been subjected to the full depravities this bastard was known for when creating his thralls and they should be able to break the dead vampire’s hold rather easily now. She tossed it slightly when she finally found it and Serana hurriedly plunged it into the depression where it was supposed to fit and the magicka surrounding the priest finally began falling away.
Vilkas turned towards the priest, ready to offer an explanation when he saw the older man pulling his sword from its sheath. “ Now, now old man. We have no quarrel with you. We just saved your life.” he reasoned, his voice stern and commanding.
“ My master is dead, but his enemies will pay…” the priest said hollowly, his eyes devoid of any life or will.
“ Vilkas! Behind you!” Serana shouted. She hadn’t seen the fledgling until it was too late and Serana plucked the dagger from Malkus’ dead head. She threw it, and the blade whistled shrilly as it tumbled tip over hilt before finding purchase in the back of the neck of the vampire attempting to ambush Vilkas.
Vilkas didn’t even see the vampire until it crumpled in a heap and he threw Serana a quick smile before parrying almost lazily. “ Do you know how to break the hold over him? Tarrowlyn will kill me if I hurt him in any way!” he asked her over his shoulder.
“ Honestly? Knock him upside the head! If Tarrowlyn tries to give you any grief, I’ll interv...Oooo...That’s gonna leave a mark.” she whispered sympathetically as Vilkas hit the priest with the pommel of his sword upside the back of his head. Serana hopped down from the stairs, walking over to where the Black Wolf of Jorrvaskr was working to remove his armor. “ You alright?”
Vilkas swore under his breath as his gauntlet fell to the ground and Serana winced at the nasty stab that had pierced his arm just above the elbow through his armor. “ Help me get the breastplate and leathers off.” he hissed through clenched teeth. He cast a somewhat cold glare in the direction of the priest. The only reason that he had hit the man as hard as he had was because of the injury Vilkas had received. The coldness left his eyes the moment Serana’s fingers began fighting with the catches of his armor. There was a slight glow to her eyes, more than likely from the smell of blood from Vilkas’ wound, but it did nothing to halt the stirring that he felt in his loins.
Serana unconsciously licked her lips as Vilkas’ bare neck came into view and his pulse point throbbed softly in a steady, comforting tempo. The smell of his blood lingered in the air between them, sweet and beckoning her for another taste. Serana wanted to lick it away, sampling not just the crimson colored liquid, but the taste of his skin as well. It sped up for a few moments as she kept helping him to remove the leathers and linens over his shoulders and arm, acting like a siren’s call to the vampiress. Serana couldn’t deny that all she wanted to do as to kiss and nibble at that point while her hands did a much more detailed exploration of the nord man before her. Their eyes met briefly as Serana’s fingers seemed to linger all the more longer over his bared skin, and she worried her bottom lip a little as timidity rose at realizing her bold behavior and thoughts. They had only just met a few days ago! Why was she even entertaining such thoughts as these?! Serana stepped away, intent on putting some distance between them so that Vilkas could tend to his wounds. Being this close to him was far too tempting for her when she wanted to partake of his sweet, addictive blood again. More than his blood, she wanted him…
The look in her eyes was driving him crazy. They flickered with their own spectral luminescence as Serana tried to hold back. He didn’t want her to do that, not when it was clear both of them were interested like this. How did he think he could just shrug this off to be addressed later? Life was too short to leave to chance! Farkas and Tarrowlyn had taught him that! Vilkas shook his head, unwilling to allow this moment to just pass them by, as he closed the distance between them, claiming her mouth and drawing her bottom lip between both of his. By Kynareth, Mara, Dibella...Her lips were softer than silk, sweeter than honey. Vilkas couldn't keep his heart from hammering wildly as she kissed him back, and his other hand settled at her hip to keep her a respectable distance from him. Vilkas would be damned if he didn't court her before bedding her dammit! Serana gasped slightly against his lips as he begged her for permission to deepen their connection, but it turned into a sigh as her tongue caressed his intimately. Oh damn! The way Vilkas was kissing her was foreplay in its own right, and her fingers grasped both of his forearms tightly as she tried to pull him even closer. She wanted no space between them whatsoever! Vilkas hissed in pain against her teeth when the wound in his arm throbbed, and he forced himself to pull away from the sweetest lips that he had ever kissed. Damn it all! The taste that Vilkas had gotten of her was much too brief for his liking, but there was nothing to be done for it. The priest was rousing to their left and he needed to heal both their wounds before they ventured somewhere safer than this.
The only question was where?

Farkas gulped down air as he looked around. He had followed the trail in a slight north easterly heading and Tarrowlyn’s scent was strongest here, but it wasn’t back to human. Had she not broken her bloodlust yet? What caused Tala to blow up as it stood? “ Tarrowlyn? Where are you?” he called out to her.

A low growl echoed from his right and Farkas willed his sight to adjust better to the less than fair conditions. There was a large statue nearby, no telling of what or who, but that didn’t matter.
“ Tarrowlyn, love...It’s just me. It’s Farkas.” he said soothingly as he turned fully to face the copper furred werewolf.
Slowly, the were exited from the shadow, her fur soaked and matted from all the blood in it and her eyes were a muddy golden color that forced a surprised gasp from Farkas. The closer she got, the clearer her eyes became however, meaning that his presence was the key to getting her back to normal.
“ Farkas?” she whined, all the while looking around in confusion. “ What happened? How...Where am I?” Tarrowlyn’s golden eyes gauged her surroundings and they furrowed after a few minutes. “ Mount Kilkreath?”
“ Sounds about right, considering how far we are from Dragon Bridge.” Farkas replied. “ Can you shift back yet? I’ve got your pack and I managed to find the majority of your armor. The only thing I could find was your gauntlets.”
Tarrowlyn came to a stop beside Farkas as she sniffed him a bit. “ Not yet. Soon, but not yet.” she replied. She looked towards the west and she shook her great furry head a little. “ There should be a pond or something nearby. I’m gonna need to bathe once I shift back.”
Farkas nodded as he followed his fiance at her side, allowing one hand to rest on her back as she walked at his pace. He knew better than to press her for information. Tarrowlyn would come to him when she was ready to explain, Farkas was sure about that. “ From there we need to find Vilkas and Serana.” he added softly. “ Hopefully they found the scholar you two needed.”
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Dragonheart: Of Black Wings Unfurled