William : A tale of mercenary and vampire Chapter 5 : Beyond death and love

4e 202, inside the tower ruin of the Volkihar castle, William and Serana faced the portal that lead to the soul cairn, William start walking downstair to the portal entrance when suddenly a violent pain made him flinch as Serana, in panick, run to him and drag him back upstairs (see screen 1).

Serana : Are you alright ? that looked painful.

William : It was. What happened ?

Serana : Now that i think about it… I should have expected that. Sorry. It's hard to describe. The Soul Cairn is… well, hungry, for lack of a better word. It's trying to take your life essence as payment.

William : So there's no way in, then.

Serana : There might be, but i don't think you're going to like it. Vampires aren't counted among the living. I could probably go through there without a problem.

William : Are you saying that i need to become a vampire ?

Serana : Not your first choice, i'd guess.

William : There has to be another way.

Serana : Maybe. We could just "pay the toll" another way. It wants a soul, so we give it a soul. Yours.

William :But wouldn't that kill me ?

Serana : My mother taught me a trick or two. I could partially soul trap you, and offer that gem to the Ideal Masters. It might be enough to satisfy them. It would make you a bit weaker when we travel through the Soul Cairn, but we might be able to fix that once we're inside. Maybe.

William : Those are my only options ?

Serana : I'm sorry. I wish i knew a better way, something that would be easier for you. Just know that… whatever path you choose, i won't think any less of you. Sometimes things just have to be done. I know that better than anybody.

William think about the options for a few seconds.

Serana : Have you made up your mind ?

William : Yes. Soul trap me. I won't feel right as a vampire.

Serana : Are you sure ? i'm willing to do it, but you need to think it through. You'll remain mortal, but you'll find yourself weakened within the Soul Cairn.

William : I'm ready.

Serana : I know this is difficult for you. I hope you trust me. I'd never do anything that could hurt you.

William smile to her as she smile back to him.

William : I know. I trust you completely.

Serana : Thank you. Let's not waste any more time then. I promise to try and make this as painless as possible. Hold still.

Serana start casting a spell in her right hand while holding a black soul gem in her other hand, a purple light start glowing weakly from her right hand as she put it on William's chest, a small purple light orb escaped from William's chest and enter into the soul gem as William suddenly start feeling weaker.

Serana : That should be enough. Let's enter and find my mother.

William nod silently as they both walk downstairs toward the portal, William take a deep breath and closed his eyes as he walk toward the portal.

Serana : Is everything alright ?

William : Yes don't worry, it's just i always hate portals.

Serana : Why if it's not too indiscrete.

William : Because portals are practical to made great distances in a second but i know it's dangerous, one tiny mistake or malfunction and you ends up cut in half, with a missing limb or at the wrong place, if not dead. That's why i will always prefer spending few weeks of journeying on Alfie's back to go at the other end of Tamriel than taking a portal.

Serana : Saying like that, i can understand.

William : Well, let's go inside that thing and finding your mother.

Serana : You're right, let's go.

They both enter into the portal and emerge into a desolated land, bathed in a dark, purple sky with many rocky structure visible further away and crystalline structures floating in the air (see screen 2).

William : This place is really… i didn't even know wich words could fit to describe it.

Serana : I agree, I'd heard stories about the Soul Cairn, but never thought I'd see it myself. So far it's… about what I imagined. You'd think a vampire would be right at home in this place. You'd be wrong. Let's just find my mother and get out of here, quickly.

William : Couldn't agree more with you, the sooner we find your mother and the scroll and get out of here, the better i'll be.

They walk down the stairs and start following a path, numerous ghostly shape can be seen around them, probably the souls trapped here.

William : Do you know anything about this place ?

Serana : Just what my mother told me. I've also studied a little bit on my own, but there's not much. When something is trapped in a soul gem, and then the energy is used for powering an enchantment, the remnants are sent here.

William : Any soul gem ?

Serana : Well, i think it's specifically the black ones. I don't know if the Soul Cairn takes just any leftovers.

William : Does anything live here ?

Serana : Look at this place. Do you think anything would want to live here ? The only things that can survive here are the Ideal Masters, the undead and the souls themselves. Well, if you want to call that "living."

William : Do you think we'll meet the Ideal Masters ?

Serana : I don't think anyone's ever met the Ideal Masters. I'm not even sure anyone knows what they look like. They could be underground, flying above us… They might be the ground. I have no idea.

William : Why are they collecting these souls ?

Serana : Lots of theories. Some say they feed on them like i feed on blood. Others think they use them as payment to an even higher power… almost like a currency. A very strange currency. Whatever they're doing with them, they've been harvesting for millennia. No telling how many souls are trapped here.

William : Why would a necromancer want to deal with them ?

Serana : Look around you. There are some extremely powerful undead here. Even a necromancers as seasoned as my mother would be willing to spend years trying to gain access to them.

William : Summon them you mean ?

Serana : Exactly. It's a lost art. Most necromancers just raise up whatever bodies are nearby. A simple trick, really. Child's play. But bringing something from the Soul Cairn gives you something much more powerful.

William : How do the necromancers communicate with them ?

Serana : Well, that's usually the trick. It's possible to do it through a simple portal. But to finalize the deal, you have to travel here yourself… and most of them never come back.

As they walk, William see a soul, yelling to someone.

Soul : Arvak! Arvak, where are you? Arvak, please come back ! Come back !

Upon seing William and Serana, he suddenly turned and walk to them (see screen 3).

Soul : You ! you must help me find my Arvak. He doesn't deserve to be in a place like this !

William : (confused) Uh… who is Arvak ?

Soul : Arvak. My horse. We came to this horrible place together. We were attacked by monsters, so i told him to run. Please, he's such a loyal creature, and he's been running for so long. You have to save him ! A place like this will change you…

William : How can i save him ?

Soul : You have to find his skull, he's somewhere in this place.

William : Do you know where it is ?

Soul : Arvak ! Arvak, where are you ? Arvak, please come back ! Come back !

He suddenly vanished, William look at Serana with a confused expression.

William : They can see us ?

Serana : Apparently. You really planned to find that skull ?

William : Why not, an horse could be useful to move faster in this place. Plus, i understand that soul, Alfie isn't only an horse for me, it's been almost a decade he's my trustworthy companion so i'd probably did the same if i was in this soul shoes.

Serana : You're not wrong. Now let's continue. My mother must be waiting on the other side of that thing.

They resumed their walk, passing by the other side of the arch structure, allowing them to see a building further away.

William : Are you sure Valerica has the Elder Scroll ?

Serana : No, but there's no way she would have left it in Tamriel. She wanted to get it as far away from my father as possible. I can't imagine a better place.

William : And if she doesn't ?

Serana : Then we find out where she hid it. If she's still alive… well, as alive as she was before. Or is now. Or… you know what i mean.

William : Why not hide it in the Soul Cairn and then return ?

Serana : Probably to avoid whatever my father would do to her if he could get his hands on her. Or maybe her plan was to come back, but she was stuck here. We won't know until we find her.

They finnally reaching the building and walk up the stairs, facing a magical barrier that prevent them from entering, on the other side of the barrier, a woman is visible, her back to them, bending over an alchemy setup and preparing potions. She has ravenblack hair attached in 2 bun, pale skin and wear a similar outfit to the one Serana wear. Probably Valerica.

Serana : Mother ? Mother !

The woman turned back and look at Serana, a mix of fear and disbelief can be see on her face.

Valerica : Maker… it can't be. Serana ?

Serana : Is it really you ? i can't believe it ! How do we get inside ? We have to talk.

Valerica : Serana ! what are you doing here ? where's your father ?

Serana : He doesn't know we're here. I don't have time to explain.

Valerica : I must have failed. Harkon's found a way to decipher the prophecy, hasn't he.

Serana : No, you've got it all wrong. We're here to stop him… to make everything right.

Valerica look at William, a mix of contempt and disdain on her face.

Valerica : Wait a moment… you've brought a stranger here ? Have you lost your mind ?

Serana : No, you don't…

Valerica : You. Come forward. I would speak with you.

William made a step forward (see screen 4).

Valerica : So how has it come to pass that a vampire hunter is in the company of my daughter ? it pains me to think you'd travel with Serana under the guise of her protector in an effort to hunt me down.

William : I've saved her from your foolish plan.

Valerica : I find your choice of words quite interesting considering that Serana is in far more danger now than she was following my "foolish plan." Serana has sacrificed everything to prevent Harkon from completing the prophecy. I would have expected her to explain that to you.

William : That's why i'm here for the Elder Scroll.

Valerica : You think i'd have the audacity to place my own daughter in that tomb for the protection of her Elder Scroll alone ? The scrolls are merely a means to an end. The key to the Tyranny of the Sun is Serana herself.

William : What do you mean ?

Valerica : When i fled Castle Volkihar, i fled with two Elder Scrolls. The Scroll i presume you found with Serana speaks of Auriel and his arcane weapon, Auriel's Bow. The second scroll declares that "The Blood of Coldharbour's Daughter will blind the eye of the Dragon."

William : How does Serana fit in ?

Valerica : Like myself, Serana was a human once. We were devout followers of Lord Molag Bal. Tradition dictates the females be offered to Molag Bal on his summoning day. Few survive the ordeal. Those that do emerge as a pure-blooded vampire. We call such confluences the "Daughters of Coldharbour."

William: Coldharbour ?

Valerica : It's what some call the domain of Molag Bal. His place in Oblivion.

William : Serana underwent this ritual willingly ?

Valerica : It was expected of her, just as it was expected of me. Being selected as an offering to Molag Bal is an honor. She wouldn't have dared turn her back on that.

William : So you mean the Tyranny of the Sun requires Serana's blood ?

Valerica : Now you're beginning to see why i wanted to protect Serana, and why i've kept the other Elder Scroll as far from her as possible.

William : Are you saying Harkon means to kill her ?

Valerica : If Harkon obtained Auriel's Bow and Serana's blood was used to taint the weapon, the Tyranny of the Sun would be complete. In his eyes, she'd be dying for the good of all vampires.

William : I would never allow that to happen.

Valerica : And how exactly do you plan on stopping him ?

William : I'll kill Harkon.

Valerica made an arrogant and snarky laugh at William's answer.

Valerica : If you believe that, then you're a bigger fool than i originally suspected. Don't you think i weighed that option before i enacted my plans ?

William : And Serana's opinion in this ?

Valerica : You care nothing for Serana or our plight. Whether or not you've become one of us in order to survive the Soul Cairn, you're still a vampire hunter at heart. You're here because we're abominations in your mind. Evil creatures that need to be destroyed.

William : Serana believes in me, why won't you ?

Valerica : Serana ?

She turned to Serana.

Valerica : This stranger aligns himself with those that would hunt you down and slay you like an animal, yet i should entrust you to him ?

Serana : This "stranger" has a name, he's called William if you want to know, and he did more for me in the brief time i've known him than you've done in centuries. (at this moment, Serana's hand touch William's one, who take it into his own as Valerica noticed it, her face changing from a disdain and contempt one to a surprised one) He show more caring, concern and understanding toward me than you or father ever did, he even saved my life not later than 2 days ago when he could just let me die in the middle of the road.

Valerica : How dare you ! i gave up everything i cared about to protect you from that fanatic you call a father !

Serana : Yes, he's a fanatic… he's changed. But he's still my father. Why can't you understand how that makes me feel ?

Valerica : Oh, Serana. if you'd only open your eyes. The moment your father discovers your role in the prophecy, that he needs your blood, you'd be in terrible danger.

Serana : So to protect me you decided to shut me away from everything i cared about ? You never asked me if hiding me in that tomb was the best course of action, you just expected me to follow you blindly. Both of you were obsessed with your own paths. Your motivations might have been different, but in the end, i'm still just a pawn to you, too, this "stranger" like you called him, at least never forced me to do annything nor following him blindly and actually listened to me. I want us to be a family again. But i don't know if we can ever have that. Maybe we don't deserve that kind of happiness. Maybe it isn't for us. But we have to stop him. Before he goes too far. And to do that, we need the Elder Scroll.

Valerica's expression softened, as if she realized something.

Valerica : I…i'm sorry, Serana. i didn't know… i didn't see. I've allowed my hatred of your father to estrange us for too long. Forgive me. If you want the Elder Scroll, it's yours.

She turned to William again.

Valerica : Your intentions are still somewhat unclear to me. But for Serana's sake, i'll assist you in any way that i can.

William : Thank you. Do you have the Elder Scroll with you ?

Valerica : Yes. I've kept it safely secured here ever since i was imprisoned. Fortunately, you're in a position to breach the barrier that surrounds these ruins.

William : What do we need to do ?

Valerica : You need to locate the tallest of the rocky spires that surround these ruins. At their bases, the barrier's energy is being drawn from unfortunate souls that have been exiled here. Destroy the Keepers that are tending them, and it should bring the barrier down.

William : Alright. We'll return soon.

Valerica : One more word of warning. There's a dragon that calls itself Durnehviir roaming the Cairn. Be wary of him. The Ideal Masters have charged him with overseeing the Keepers, and will undoubtedly intervene if you're perceived as a threat.

William : Don't worry, it wouldn't be the first dragon i fight.

Valerica : Be careful, and keep my daughter safe.

William made a silent nod as him and Serana turned back and walk away, taking the stairs down and walking toward one of the rocky spires as William turned to Serana (see screen 5).

William : Serana, can i ask you something ?

Serana : Of course, always. What is it ?

William : How are you feeling after talking to your mother ?

Serana : Relieved… i think. All those things had been building for a while. You have no idea how long i wanted to say that to her.

William : Why did you ever agree to her plan ?

Serana : Look, i loved my father, but when he found that prophecy… that became his life. Everything else, even me and my mother… we just became clutter. I was close with my mother, but she just kept feeding me her opinions of him, and eventually i started believing them.

William : She doesn't seem too fond of him.

Serana : The moment we gave ourselves to Molag Bal, things got really icy between them. They were both drunk with power, and pulling in different directions. Then he found that prophecy, and… that was it.

William : And you were caught in the middle.

Serana : I was. Honestly, it took me up until now to figure out that my mother was really just as bad as he was. He was obsessed with power. She was obsessed with seeing him fail. It was just so… toxic. Maybe i could have seen this coming. We could all be better off now.

William : It sounds like they were both being selfish.

Serana : Oh, they definitely were. I just wonder if that meant it was my job to be giving.

William put a hand on her shoulder and look into her eyes.

William : You shouldn't blame yourself for your parents acts, they are both adults that act in all knowledge of what they did.

Serana put her own hand on William's hand that rest on her shoulder, smiling at him as she interlocking her fingers into William ones.

Serana : I know that in my head. But i just can't help feeling bad about… the way things are. Sorry, i know you're trying to help. Thanks. I'm glad you're here. I don't think I could be doing this alone.

She come closer to William and hug him, in a very tender embrace, lowering her head and letting it rest on William's chest as they both remained in that position for a couple of seconds.

William : No need to thanked me, you could always count on me, i would never abandon you.

Serana : I know. Let's kill those… Keeper things and get back to the prison.

William : I'm right behind you.

They resumed their walk until William noticed what looked like a small pedestal with an horse skull on it, surrounded by 4 souls (see screen 6).

William : Did you see that ?

Serana : Yes, do you think it's the skull that soul asked us to retrieve ?

William : I'm almost sure yes. I go take it, stay behind and watch out.

William made few steps toward the skull and touch it while Serana unsheathed her sword. At this moment, the 4 souls who were gathered around it suddenly turned into some kind of floating legless skeletons, 2 of them rushed to William while the others toward Serana, who strike one with a powerful lightning spell before he can even approach before dodging the strike of the second one by turning into a swarm of bats and reapear behind him before severing it in half. Meanwhile, William deflect the strike of the first one and strike it in the head, splitting it's skull open before using his flammes arc spell on the second one, who suddenly melt and fell to the ground in a flask of black liquid. With no other threats, they both sheathed back their weapons as William take back his breath.

Serana : Are you alright ?

William : Yes, i just need to take my breath back, besides my claymore feel heavier than it usually is.

Serana : It's probably the result of having partially soul trap you. I promise you we'll find a way to fix that before leaving.

William : I know, i trust in you.

They both smile to each other as William take the skull and turned back, seing the same soul that tell him to find the skull appear further away, he walk toward him and hand him the skull (see screen 7).

William : Here, i retrieve the skull of Arvak.

Soul : Arvak…You saved him ! His soul is free, i can feel it ! He's such a loyal beast. Here, i'll teach you how to call him to you. He'll help you get around this wretched place, but I'm sure he'd be much happier someplace sunnier. Goodbye, hero ! take good care of Arvak for me ! he's such a good horse…

He put a finger on William's forehead as a white light glow weakly from it, showing a mental image of how summoning the horse into William's mind, before he vanished.

William : Well, let's try.

William lift his hand in the air and start casting a spell, making Arvak appear. They both get on Arvak back and continue their road until reaching the foot of the rocky spire but see no access, only a small stone wall circle filled with a purple pulsing liquid.

William : Alright, we find it but how are we suposed to climb ?

Serana point to the stone wall circle.

Serana : Maybe that thing is the access. Let's try.

She walk to it and put a feet inside, at the moment her feet touched the purple liquid she's suddenly engulfed by a black liquid and disapear.

William : Damn ! Serana ? Serana ?

Serana : I'm here !

William look up and see Serana, looking at him from a kind of balcony 10m over him on the rocky spire.

Serana : Come on, touch it !

William : By thalos, first the portal and now that. Damn, let's hope it didn't malfunction.

William made a step forward and touch the purple liquid with his hand, his view blurred for a second before he find himself in front of Serana on the spire balcony, he then start looking down at his upper body and arms, Serana look at him and made a small giggle.

William : What ? it malfunction ?

Serana : Not at all don't worry, you're in 1 piece and everything's at the right place. It's just, i witnessed you fighting vampires, frostbite spiders, death hounds, trolls and other monsters that would made most of the other peoples flee in terror without you ever flinching, so i just find it a bit funny to see you being that much affraid by such a common thing as a portal. Sorry, i hope you don't take it bad.

William : Well, everyone has his weakness, for some peoples it's spiders, for others it's cats or daedras, and mine is portals. That's just how it is. Anyway, let's go finding those keeper, he's probably at the top of that place.

Serana made a complicit smile.

Serana : I'm right behind you.

They both taking the stairs and walk until reaching the top of the spire, where a giant humanoïd creature with no head, save for a pair of glowing blue eyes set within a cloud of black smoke, is visible, sitting on a bone made throne and wearing an heavy armor and a great axe that both looked like to be made of dragon bones. Probably one of the Keepers Valerica mentionned. Upon seing them, the creature suddenly get up and grabbed the axe before starting to walking slowly to them. Serana cast a lightning spell and strike the creature with it, it barely flinch but suddenly rushing, surprisingly fast for it's size, to William, who jump forward between the creature's legs, landing in a roll behind it as it's axe strike the ground where he was a second ago, making the stone ground shaking around them as William used that oportunity to strike with all his strenght at the creature back, between 2 bone plate of it's armor, the creature barely react and turned back, trying to strike William with her hand as William, taken off guard by the creature speed and lack of reaction, reflexively raised his claymore to shield himself, managing to blocked the strike but the creature superhuman strenght thrown him few meters away against a black stone made wall in a grunt of pain, stunning him in the process. The creature suddenly rushed to him and lift it's axe in the air, ready to cut him in half before Serana turned into a swarm of bats and rush to the creature, reapearing behind it and using her vampire enhanced strenght as well as her speed movement inertia to brutally slam the creature, sending it crashing on the ground few meters away, near the border of another balcony, making the ground shaking around it as William hardly get up.

William : Serana, move !

Serana, upon realizing what he's about to do, turned into a swarm of bats and reapear behind William as he lift his hand, casting his kinetic blast spell, this knock the creature backward at the edge of the balcony before Serana turned into a swarm of bats, rushing again to the Keeper and punching it as hard as she can, making it lost it's balance and falling off the spire as it crashed 50m underneath against the rocky ground around the spire, making it explode into a flask of black-ish liquid that vanished after a few seconds. Serana turned to William.

Serana : Are you alright ?

William : Yes, don't worry everything's alright, i was just surprised by it's speed and strenght, more fear than harm.

Serana : Good to know it. You should be more careful William, remember you're weakened within this place until we find a way to fix that, so don't overdoing yourself. Besides, what would i do without you ?

William : You'd be lost without me.

Serana made a giggle and smile to him.

Serana : That's not true !

William smile back to her.

William : Yes it is !

Serana : Fine, you're right. Glad to see the soul trap didn't changed your usual playful attitude.

William : That's a good thing, considering you'll love it.

Serana made a giggle and smile to him.

Serana : Maybe. Maybe not

William laugh.

William : Come on, i know you'll loved that !

Serana made a knowing smile.

Serana : Alright, maybe a little.

They both look at each other eyes for a few seconds, an heavy tension can be feel between them.

Serana : Well, we should continue, we still have 2 other of these things to kill.

William : You're right, let's go.

They both go downstair to the portal and leave the spire. They both resume their progression, meeting with the 2 other Keepers, wich they struggling to eliminate but managed to do so before going back to the ruins where they met Valerica. Upon arriving, they noticed the barrier is gone as Valerica walk to them (see screen 8).

Valerica : You're back, and the barrier is gone, wich means you killed the 3 keepers. I must say i'm quite impressed, killing such creatures aren't in the range of every mortals. Maybe i underestimate you.

William : Are you able to give us the scroll now ?

Valerica : Yes. Please, follow me. Keep watch for Durnehviir. With the prison's barrier down, he's almost certain to investigate.

They all start walking slowly to the gate that lead inside the ruins.

William : If it's not too indiscrete, how did you become imprisoned here ?

Valerica : When i entered the Soul Cairn, i had intended to strike a bargain with the Ideal Masters, the custodians of this place.

William : What was the bargain ?

Valerica : I requested refuge in the Soul Cairn, and in exchange, i would provide the Ideal Masters the souls that they craved. If i had foreseen the value they placed on my own soul, i would never have come here.

William : They tricked you.

Valerica : Yes, the Ideal Masters unleashed their Keepers and sent them to destroy me. Fortunately, i was able to hold them at bay and retreat into these ruins.

William : You became trapped.

Valzrica : Unfortunately, yes. Since the Keepers weren't able to claim my soul, they had their minions construct a barrier that i'd never be able to breach.

William : You mean you've been imprisoned here for all this time ?

Valerica : Time has very little meaning to me. Consequently, it has little meaning to the Ideal Masters as well. I suppose you could call this the ultimate waiting game, each watching the other to see which will give in.

Valerica opened the gate that lead inside the ruins as they continue walking slowly toward a great court visible further away (see screen 9).

William : Who are the Ideal Masters ?

Valerica : I know very little about them. They're mystic entities that lord over the Soul Cairn, controlling every aspect from its fabric to its appearance.

William : What do they resemble ?

Valerica : Well, some necromancers believe they are the crystalline structures dotting the Soul Cairn. I believe there's more to it than that.

William : How so ?

Valerica : I think they transcend what we perceive as a physical form. Perhaps they were once corporeal beings, but they've obviously reached a point where they no longer require a tangible presence.

William : And the crystals ?

Valerica : Conduits through which the Ideal Masters speak to their underlings and feed on their victims.

William : Why would they require sustenance ?

Valerica : The Ideal Masters's weakness is their insatiable hunger for pure souls. It's the reason for the Soul Cairn's existence, and the only leverage a necromancer has when bargaining with them.

William : What do the Masters provide in return ?

Valerica : The ability to summon powerful undead guardians as one would conjure an atronach or daedra. However, the majority of necromancers that are foolish enough to enter into a bargain with the Ideal Masters wind up here… as harvested souls.

They finnally reach the great court of the ruins when suddenly a distant growl, coming from the air, can be heard.

Serana : Do you heard that ?

William : Yes, too oftenly to not recognized it.

Valerica : It's Durnehviir… he's here ! Defend yourselves !

William, Serana and Valerica unsheathed their weapons as a massive dragon with dark scales fly over the court and land in a structure in front of them at the other end of the court (see screen 10).

Durnehviir : Mal mey ! hi mindol hi ronit zu'u ? ("Little fool ! you think you match me ?" in dragon tongue)

He made a powerful shout, ptojecting a purple light ray to the ground before flying away as 4 of those floating legless skeletons emerged from the ground and rushed to them, William shoot at one with his crossbow, striking it right through the head before he quickly drop it and unsheathed his claymore, blocking the strike of the second one before cutting it in half. Meanwhile, Valerica fired a powerful lightning spell to the third one, turning it into a black-ish liquid flask that quickly vanished while Serana launch a series of ice pick to the last one. Durnehviir, seing all the skeletons destroyed, start diving down toward them, it's maw wide open, Serana and Valerica turned into a swarm of bats and rush outside of range while William slowly walk in front of the diving dragon.

Serana : William ! what did you do ?

Valerica : Have you lost your mind ?

William ignore them and continue walking as Durnehviir get closer at great speed, his maw aim directly at William. Durnehviir now being only 60m away from William, he suddenly shout.

William : JOOR ZAH FRUL !

Suddenly, a powerful sound wave emanating from William's mouth and strike Durnehviir, making him lost his balance and crashing loudly on the ground a few meters away of William, in complete surprise and disbelief as William used that oportunity to quickly striked it in an eye, blinding it, before he climb on it's head.

Durnehviir : D-Dohvakiin ? NOOOO !

Durnehviir try to fly back as William stabbed his claymore right through his head vertically, Durnehviir fell back to the ground before his body fell motionless to the ground. William get down from it before Durnehviir's body suddenly vanished. When he turned back, William see Serana and Valerica coming to him, both in complete disbelief of what happened (see screen 11).

Valerica : Forgive my astonishment, but i never thought i'd witness the death of that dragon.

William : What makes you say that ?

Valerica : Volumes written on Durnehviir allege that he can't be slain by normal means. It appears they were mistaken. Unless…

William : Go on.

Valerica : The soul of a dragon is as resilient as its owner's scaly hide. It's possible that your killing blow has merely displaced Durnehviir's physical form while he reconstitutes himself.

William : How long will that take ?

Valerica : Minutes ? Hours ? Years ? i can't even begin to guess. I suggest we don't wait around to find out. Now, let's get you the Elder Scroll and you can be on your way.

She turned back and lead them to a small room at the right side of the great court, filled with few books, an improvised bed, an alchemy setup and ingredients on a single table as well as a long and thin chest, she unbutonned one of the button of the grey outfit she wore underneath her dark leather corset and exiting a necklace with a key attached to it from inside her cleavage before using the key to open the chest, revealing the elder scroll (see screen 12).

Serana : Finnally, we get it.

She take the scroll and put it inside the cylinder into her back alongside the other scroll as Valerica turned to William (see screen 13).

Valerica : Now that you've retrieved the Elder Scroll, you should be on your way. If there's anything i can do before you depart, you must let me know.

William : Yes, it has something in fact. To be able to enter here, Serana has partially soul trap me and offer it to those Ideal Masters, can you help get my soul back ?

Valerica look at Serana with a smile.

Valerica : So my daughter applied some of the lessons i taught her about necromancy, did she ? don't worry, i think i can help you.

William : Good, i could use all the help i can get.

Valerica : Your soul essence was trapped inside a gem. When you and Serana entered the Soul Cairn, it was "given" to the Ideal Masters as payment. You simply need to retrieve the gem. The moment you touch it, your soul essence will be restored.

William : Any idea where it could be ?

Valerica : There's an offering altar not terribly far from here. I'm willing to bet that the gem you're looking for is there. And take that while i think about it (she hand a flask with a silver color liquid inside to William, who take it and put it into his pouch) it's a concoction i created thanks to the soul husks that grown here, you'll need to drink it before approaching from the crystalline structures that will probably kept your soul or else they will deplete what remained of your soul.

William : Thanks.

Valerica : Is there anything else ? could be your last chance.

William : Yes, just a question i ask myself. Why haven't you pursued the prophecy ?

Valerica : Harkon's vision is a world plunged in eternal darkness where the vampire can flourish and never again fear the "tyranny of the sun." What he fails to realize is how much attention would be called to our kind if the prophecy came to fruition.

William : What sort of attention ?

Valerica : If eternal night fell, there are many who wouldn't stand for it. They would raise armies in attempts to return things to normal. The order of the day would be our destruction until every last vampire was hunted down and eliminated.

William : I see. So you prefer living in the shadows.

Valerica : I do. It's how the vampire has survived for millennia, and the only way we can continue to survive in the future.

William : You're staying here?

Valerica : I have no choice. As i told you before, i'm a Daughter of Coldharbour. If i return to Tamriel, that increases Harkon's likelihood of bringing the Tyranny of the Sun to fruition.

William : Alright. We'll return for you when we can.

Valerica : I appreciate your concern for me, but Serana is all that i care about. You must keep her safe at all costs. Remember that Harkon is not to be trusted. No matter what he promises, he'll deceive you in order to get what he wants. And promise me you'll keep my daughter safe. She's the only thing of value i have left.

William : Count on me, i'll never let Harkon doing annything to her.

Valerica : I know. I can see it in your eyes.

They both turned back and walk away before exiting the ruins. Outside, William and Serana faced Durnehviir, who ends up rematerialize, they both unsheathed their weapons.

Durnehviir : Stay your weapons. I would speak with you, Qahnaarin.

William : I thought you were dead.

Durnehviir : Cursed, not dead. Doomed to exist in this form for eternity. Trapped between laas and dinok, between life and death.

William : Didn't you try to kill me ?

Durnehviir : The hostility was necessary. I was bound to an oath.

William : Why are we speaking ?

Durnehviir : I believe in civility among seasoned warriors, and i find your ears worthy of my words. My claws have rended the flesh of innumerable foes, but i have never once been felled on the field of battle. I therefore honor-name you "Qahnaarin," or Vanquisher in your tongue.

William and Serana both sheathed back their weapons (see screen 14).

William : I found you equally worthy.

Durnehviir : Your words do me great honor. My desire to speak with you was born from the result of our battle, Qahnaarin. I merely wish to respectfully ask a favor of you.

William : What kind of a favor ?

Durnehviir : For countless years i've roamed the Soul Cairn, in unintended service to the Ideal Masters. Before this, i roamed the skies above Tamriel. I desire to return there.

William : What's stopping you ?

Durnehviir : I fear that my time here has taken its toll upon me. I share a bond with this dreaded place. If i ventured far from the Soul Cairn, my strength would begin to wane until i was no more.

William : How could i help ?

Durnehviir: I will place my name with you and grant you the right to call my name from Tamriel. Do me this simple honor and i will fight at your side as your Grah-Zeymahzin, your Ally, and teach you my Thu'um.

William : So i just call your name in Tamriel ? that's it ?

Durnehviir : Trivial in your mind, perhaps. For me, it would mean a great deal. I don't require an answer, Qahnaarin. Simply speak my name to the heavens when you feel the time is right.

William : Alright, i'll do it.

Durnehviir made a little move of agreement with his as he fly away and disapear while William and Serana take the road to the offering altar. Upon reaching it, William see a crystalline structure floating over a chest, he take the potion Valerica gave him and drink it before approaching from the chest. As he get closer, he heard a faint sound coming from the crystalline structure but nothing happened, William then open the chest, finding a soul gem inside (see screen 15). He touch it and suddenly feel all his strenght coming back into his body.

Serana : So, did it worked ?

William : Yes, i feel myself again, now let's get out of here. I can't wait to going back to Tamriel.

Serana : Then we're two.

They both walk away to the entrance portal and climb the stairs before finnally exiting the soul cairn (see screen 16), going back to the tower ruin.

William : Fresh air finnally.

Serana : Now that we have 2 scrolls, we only need to find the last one, but i have no idea where it could be.

William : I know where it is. At Breezehome.

Serana look at him with wide eyes.

Serana : It was here all this time ? why didn't you say something earlier ?

William : Because i want to keep it hidden until we find the others, just in case something's turned bad, that way, even if in the worst case your father find us and take us the scrolls, he'll have only 2 instead of having them all. Sorry for not warning you earlier.

Serana : No need to apologize, it's very clever in fact. Then let's go to Breezehome, finding it and going back to the Dawnguard.

William : I'm right behind you.

They both leave the tower ruin and the castle by the same passage they enter. Once outside, they leave the dock and walk to the wooden bridge where they left the boat, determined to get the last elder scroll at Breezehome and going back to the Dawnguard fort.