My brow furrowed and frown deepened. Harkon's remains glistened brilliantly in the urn. It had been so long since his death, but I couldn't let the memory of the day go. I had killed countless other beings and couldn't even remember half of their faces, yet…

Did I regret his death? Was it something else about it that bothered me? I had no idea. The look in his eyes when Serana and I brought Auriel's bow was confusing. He seemed… happy for completion of the prophecy but yet at the same time, he looked at me like he looked at Serana at that moment. Like he might have looked at Valerica.

Valerica.

Now that was a woman that had become utterly insufferable over the years. My nostrils flared and my right hand gripped the arm of the wooden chair so tightly, that the Ring of the Erudite most likely had made an impression. Even Serana seemed to share her opinion, but was never direct with me. If it wasn't for the fact that she was Serana's mother, of whom I needed cooperation from taint arrows, I probably would have incinerated her by now.

Every time I asked Serana for a small amount of blood for a few arrows or…

"My Lady?" The wooden arm of the chair definitely had a ring impression now.

"Yes, Vingalmo?" I didn't look at him. If I had, the death glare I was giving the fire before me might have ended his existence.

He shifted uncomfortably. Lovely, I thought, must be another complaint from Valerica. "Valerica would like to speak with you." Of course she would.

I merely nodded. Don't kill the messenger, I reminded myself. The she-devil waltzed in and took the seat next to me. My eyes never left the fire place.

"Are you here to tell me your opinion on the use of Serana's blood with the bow, again?" If she said yes, I might just stoke the fire with her.

"Actually," her voice was surprisingly soft, "I wanted to talk about your well-being."

To say that I was surprised would be an understatement. Sputtering was all I could muster. "My well-being…?"

She licked her lips and smoothed the pants of her armor. "When I say that you have become more like Harkon with each passing day, I meant it." My glare shifted to her. She was impervious to it. "Ever since I first saw you with my daughter in the Soul Cairne, it was as if a much younger Harkon was walking up to my prison. So full of confidence and strength, and doing what you believed to be good for others while pursuing a path of power."

I snorted. "No matter which path I've taken in life, my Dovah blood has yearned for power and always been rewarded. I never once asked for it, directly. When I first went to Dragonsreach to deliver the news that Helgen had been destroyed by Alduin so long ago, I never did it with the intention of the Jarl making me Thane later. When I joined the Companions, I didn't do it to become Harbinger. I never asked for any title I've been given. Others give me the titles, the leadership roles, the power. I suppose my blood gave others the aura that I was qualified for these roles, but they were never my goals.

My hands found themselves in my lap. "I did what I though was best for others when I went to the Jarl for the first time. I did what I thought would give me direction and friends when I joined the Companions. I didn't have skills to be a merchant or an academic. However, I could fend off draugr with merely my sword or bow. I could kill giants and sabrecats. So, that's what I sought out to be and hoped for. I never once asked to be Dovahkiin or the perks that come with it."

"You enjoy killing with your shouts and your teeth, nonetheless." Valerica replied, still in a calm tone.

"I do. I learned very early on to enjoy what I was given in life. The purpose, of course, was meant to enjoy the simple foods that gifted my table or the small home with children I might have had, but it's an idea I couldn't let go. So, I enjoy the gift Harkon gave me and look for the bright side of situations. Should I not?" My lips frowned a bit. She never came to just talk. It was always some sort of complaint or another. The whole situation was foreign right now.

She stayed silent for a moment. Her eyes drifted to the diminishing flames. I stood and put a new piece of wood into the fire. Using a metal poker, I pushed away some of the ash from underneath the embers and logs. The flames slowly kicked back up. I returned to my seat.

"It's not a crime to enjoy the gifts in your life," she finally spoke.

"Then why do you seem to spend all your time looking for an excuse to shun me or treat me as if I'm some sort of…" I waved my hand off to the side once, unable to identify the words befitting the torment she had put me through for centuries after moving back into the castle. My eyes threatened tears. When Valerica came home, I really wanted to be her friend. Serana, too. There were so many qualities I liked about them and so many things I used to look up to them for. Well, everything except when it came to Harkon. It broke my heart when they wanted me out of the picture. Never told to my face, of course, but actions spoke louder than words in this castle.

Valerica paused, as if remembering something or perhaps at a loss of what to say. "I've made the same mistakes with you that I made with Harkon." She stood up and made steps to the door. I stood as well.

"Wait. What do you mean?"

Her hand pulled on the door handle. She pause and her lips twitched like she wanted to say something, but did not. Her hand ran over her hair and stopped as a fist at her mouth as she looked at me. She shook her head. "Maybe if I had been a better wife, Harkon would still be here."

She left me in a state of utter confusion. Never once had she held anything but contempt for Harkon. Never once had she left this room without her and I in a screaming match, either. What in Oblivion was going on?

I returned to my chair. If she had been a better wife? She made the same mistakes with me as she did Harkon? I was definitely not Harkon. And, she could be a better person all around, in my humble opinion. If things took too much longer than I anticipated for them to be done, I dropped whatever it was I was trying to do. It wasn't worth going crazy over, like a riddle with no answer. But what had gotten into her? Years of experience proved that the sole purpose of her existence was to complain.

She returned to the door. "And, I suppose to answer the first question, I do think you should stop asking Serana for her blood. There's no need for you to be up during the day." She paused. "It's not pleasant for Serana to draw blood and you get overly irritable when you don't sleep for days at a time."

She left. This time, for good. Well, there was mostly the Valerica I knew, but she actually took the time to ease the tone of her demands with her reasoning, somewhat. That was a first. Perhaps she tried a little Skooma tonight. A headache seeped in at my temples and behind my eyes. This was a bit much this late into the night.

I closed the door and walked over to Harkon's coffin. Well, my coffin. It was definitely time to retire for the night. Stepping inside and closing the door, I laid my head against the side. Harkon's scent still lingered just slightly after so long. I missed him so much.

"So what kinds of powers should I expect to find as a Vampire Lord?"

He smiled gently. "Always so eager for answers. Unfortunately, you will have to find that out for yourself."

I pouted internally. He didn't take to showing me things personally, but that probably had to do with being the Lord of a castle. "May I sit, please, my Lord?"

His smile didn't waver. "Of course."

I took the chair next to him in his room. The flames danced enthusiastically in the hearth. "My Lord, I was wondering if I may eliminate the Altmer that inhabit the fort on the main shore nearest here? I've taken a liking to tracking down their little groups that walk along the main roads. They're a great deal of fun to terrorize." I smiled ear to ear.

"I'll grant you this, so long as you kill all of them. We don't need the herd catching wind that the deaths were caused by nearby vampires." He laughed a bit. No one else, aside from me, could do that. I beamed.

"Also, I brought you something," I said as I reached into a pouch on my side. I withdrew two rings. "Feran Sadri sent me to retrieve these and told me to keep them, but I thought maybe you could have one, too?"

He picked up the offered rings from my palm and looked them over with interest. "Ring of the Erudite and Ring of the Beast. These are quite the treasures. And you wish to gift me with one?"

I nodded, feeling my face flush a little pink. "I really appreciate what you have done and what you've given me; it's the least I could do."

The rings glistened in his hand as he considered my words. He moved his finger, making the rings shift how they glittered in the light from the hearth. "I haven't been given a gift in millennia…" He smiled at me. A real smile; not the ones he gives to Serana or some other vampires from his court that sometimes bring him somewhat good news on the prophecy. He gently took my right hand and slowly slid the Ring of the Erudite on it. "I accept your gift, Iola, with great pleasure." He kissed the back of my hand, lingering a couple seconds. I blushed brightly.

The other ring, he put onto his right hand. "When will you go out to annihilate the Elves?"

"I was hoping to go tonight. If not, then perhaps tomorrow night?" He nodded, his smile fading but a pleased look remaining.

"Go when you wish." He took up the cup near him and savored a small amount of blood from it.

"My Lord?" He looked over to me. "I was wondering if it might please you to come along? I'm sure it will be a great deal of fun and wanted to know if you might join me?"

His gaze drifted to the fire, a contemplative look on his face. "Although it would bring me a great deal of pleasure to hear their screams, I must remain at the castle. My daughter will surely accompany you, if you are searching for companionship on this endeavor."

Suddenly, the floor became very interesting to look at. "I was happy to bring her home when she asked me to, and she fights remarkably well, but…" I thought for a moment how to put it, "she and I are too different in a lot of ways, I guess, to venture to hostile places together. Our fighting styles are different and… I don't know." I was beating around the bush, and doing a poor job. I didn't like the way she talked about her father. I didn't like how she constantly suggested completing the prophecy behind his back so he couldn't succeed. So he could finally get past this point in his life. She also incessantly complained about everything.

The softness of his hand surprised me as he turned my face towards him. His eyes seemed to probe into my soul, looking for what I meant. Without a doubt, I'm sure he knew by the look on my face. I looked down for a brief second and bit my lip. My eyes turned back to his. "If you want me to go with her, I will. I didn't mean any disrespect or… or anything, I just…" His fingers touched my lips.

"I am sure that your loyalty will hold through despite outside influences," he said quietly. His words seemed strong, but hinted at a slight sadness. It was as if he didn't believe his own words, almost.

I nodded, daring to gently hold his hand to the side of my face. "Always, my Lord. You've given me everything I've ever wanted." I leaned into his hand, eyes closed. "I don't know if it's appropriate to do so or say so… but you are the closest person in my life I have to call a mentor or a father even and… I think of you as such. I've lost everyone I cared about over the years and I don't think I could handle losing you, too. All the things you've taught me, the gift of your blood you truly didn't have to give, and the purpose you give my life… There's no one else that has ever done that. I will do what it takes to see Auriel's Bow in your hands or whatever else it takes to make you happy." I opened my eyes, pleading he not spurn my words.

He looked thoughtful. "I hear your words and I see in your eyes you tell me the truth. I expect this kind of obedience from you, and I am pleased you are so taken to it." He thought for a moment with sadness in his eyes. "Remain this way, constant like the sun. For if you change like the waning and waxing of the moon, I couldn't forgive you."

I nodded. "Of course, my Lord."

"And, refrain from affectionate behavior outside these walls. The prying eyes of my court are scandalous enough."

Again, I nodded. "I apologize if I overstepped my bounds."

He waved off my apology. "It is to be expected. Affection, at least to some degree, for one's sire is typical."