AN: DO NOT SKIP PAST THIS!

Okay, so some of you have been making comments that indicate a fear that I'm ending the tale of Serana and Ketar with this story. I AM NOT. Just decided that I don't want to write another Lord of the Rings trilogy in one story like I did with Angel. Besides, this is pretty self-contained, but with some loose ends to keep you guys coming back. So, even when this story is done, keep an eye on my author page for a new story, titled, Children of Akatosh. That'll be the next entry in what I'm now calling the "Dragonborn Saga." Or better yet, follow me as an author, and you'll be notified by e-mail the second I publish the new story.

And with that, let's get into the final chapter.

To say that Serana's mind was clouded over with euphoria would not have been an understatement. To say that her exhilaration was quickly and annoyingly killed by the bright sunlight blaring in through the cathedral's now-open far wall would also not have been an understatement. She winced and pulled away from Ketar's lips with a grimace, putting one hand to her head.

"Ow," she voiced.

Ketar blinked rapidly. "Sorry."

She snorted a laugh and smirked. "Not your fault." Her features sharpened. "Wait—yes it is. How the hell did you even do that?"

He chuckled and helped her to her feet with one hand as he pulled Nocturnal's Embrace off his chest with the other. "Long story short: Gelebor and I had a very productive discussion. I'll tell you the details later."

Her brows furrowed. "Why lat—"

The massive double-doors of the cathedral opened with a loud creak and whine, permitting Isran, Gunmar, and Agmaer into the room, flanked by several armored Dawnguard with full helmets that concealed their features. Isran's gaze flickered around the utterly destroyed room with no small amount of shock. Eventually, all eyes went to the couple currently holding each other, roving over the scores and char-marks on Serana's armor, and the many visible injuries on Ketar's leather-clad form.

Agmaer slowly lowered his crossbow. "We missed something, didn't we?"

Serana arched an eyebrow and waved her hand in the direction of the missing wall. "You think?"

Isran's gaze flickered to a small pile of glowing red ash on the far side of the room, near the stone stub that had once been Molag Bal's altar. "Is…is that—"

"Yeah," Ketar interrupted. "He's gone. For good."

The Redguard's lips pursed and he nodded tightly. "Then it's finished. Even if any of his vampires escaped the purge, without his leadership, they'll be scattered and disorganized, and therefore a significantly lesser threat. Easy enough for the Dawnguard to mop up." He looked to the ash pile. "Harkon is dead, and the prophecy dies with him." Isran turned to Serana, stowing his warhammer and approaching her with measured steps. "I...I suppose this is difficult for you."

Ketar was about to scold Isran for his drastic understatement, but stopped when he saw Serana stare at Harkon's ashes impassively.

"I think my father really died a long time ago," she said. "This was just...the end of something else." She turned back to Isran. "I did what needed to be done. Nothing more."

Isran frowned and glanced at Harkon's remains. "I think perhaps..." he closed his eyes briefly with a sigh, "I think you did more than that." Isran held out his hand to her. "I owe you thanks…and an apology."

Serana stared at his hand for a moment before returning her gaze to his eyes and shaking it. "No thanks needed." She looked back at Ketar with a smile in her eyes. "I didn't do it for you."

Isran frowned and nodded. "I know, but all the same…thank you…Serana."

She smiled briefly. "You're welcome."

Isran's attention turned to Ketar, who was rising from where he'd recovered the discarded Bow of Auriel. "So, the beast is destroyed. Not only that, but Auriel's Bow is in safe hands. The Dawnguard will now be dedicated to safeguarding it, making sure that prophecy will never come to pass. You've served Skyrim well." He held out his hand to receive the weapon, jaw tightening when Ketar didn't so much as twitch. "Dov?"

He wasn't paying the hunter any attention. At least, not for a while. Instead, all his focus was on the bow, gaze intense as it flickered from the weapon to the shattered wall.

Ketar's mouth twitched and trembled. "Serana and I are the only ones who have seen this weapon used firsthand, and now that I have…" He frowned deeply. "I don't think…" he faced Isran and the Dawnguard, "I don't think the power of Auriel's Bow is something that should remain in anyone's hands."

Isran's features hardened. "And does that blanket statement include yourself?" he asked sharply, hand drifting dangerously close to his weapon.

Ketar's gaze shifted to Auriel's Bow, then to Serana, who'd nearly been killed by its power just minutes earlier. His blood ran cold at what might've been for just a moment before he returned his focus to Isran. "Yeah…I think it does." He opened the rift and began to store the weapon. "I'll return it to its resting place. There's a man there, a paladin of Auri-El, who's been keeping watch over the bow for centuries. It'll be safe with him." His gaze turned to Isran. "Is that agreeable to the Dawnguard?" The fire in the depths of his cerulean eyes dared the Redguard to disagree.

To his surprise, he didn't. "If he's kept Auriel's Bow out of the wrong hands for this long, I don't see why not. Just make sure it gets there."

Ketar bowed his head slightly. "You have my word."

Isran snorted. "I suppose that'll be enough. After all…" he smirked and turned for the exit, "I know you're good for it."

One by one, the Dawnguard silently followed their leader from the cathedral, all except one, who stowed his crossbow and approached the pair with hesitant steps.

Serana smiled at his approach. "Glad to see you made it, Agmaer."

He chuckled. "Almost didn't." His eyes turned to Ketar. "But that housecarl of yours is a real handful. Saved my life more than once."

Ketar frowned. "Where is Lydia?"

Agmaer shrugged. "Oh, I'm sure she's around."

Serana's head cocked in confusion. "How did she even get in?"

"You know, I asked the same question, and apparently she got in the same way you and I did."

"The cistern?" she asked incredulously.

He nodded slowly, wide-eyed. "Sprinted the whole way across the island, in full armor, and still had enough strength to wrestle a vampire off me barehanded."

Serana's eyebrows hiked upward, but Ketar just grinned and shook his head.

"That's Lydia," he chuckled. "Always going above and beyond."

"I swore to protect her, didn't I?"

The three turned toward a new voice from the open doors, spotting a bloodied and bruised, but intact Lydia. Her plate armor, on the other hand, was not so lucky. Ketar actually winced at the money he'd have to drop to have it repaired (he enchanted the living hell out of it after the fight with Alduin went sideways). The woman herself grinned like the cat who ate the canary and held Chillrend high like a banner.

"Here I am, master!"

Ketar groaned and rolled his eyes, facepalming audibly. "Too little too late, Lydia." He smiled. "Though I appreciate the effort."

Lydia snorted and sheathed her sword, then crossed her arms defensively. "You try keeping up with a woman who can melt around iron bars."

He arched an eyebrow at her.

Lydia blinked and giggled. "Oh. Right."

They all had a small chuckle over that before the room fell silent and Agmaer sighed.

"Well," he said, "I should probably get going with the others." He held out his hand to Ketar, who took it without hesitation. "I'll miss working with you."

Kay smirked. "Don't count me out just yet. There are still some very dangerous fiends left out there. Harkon vanishing overnight won't just pass without consequences."

"He's right," said Serana with a frown. "With my father gone, there's going to be a considerable power vacuum among Skyrim's vampires." Her eyes turned to Ketar. "And I'll give you three guesses as to who's going to try and fill it."

He snarled. "Vingalmo."

She nodded slowly. "We'll have to be extra careful now that Harkon's gone."

"Because now there's no one left to keep his ambitions in check," Ketar added.

"Exactly."

"We'll be ready," declared Lydia. "Won't we, kid?" she asked Agmaer with a grin and punch to his arm.

The young Nord blushed and laughed uncomfortably. His eyes eventually turned to Serana. "Listen…" he sighed, "Isran was right, about me."

Serana blinked.

Agmaer shrugged. "I knew from the start that…it would never work out between us." His gaze flickered over Ketar's carefully neutral expression.

"Perhaps," she conceded, "but it was never because of what you did—or didn't do."

Agmaer looked down, averting his eyes in shame.

Serana approached him and placed a hand on his cheek, forcing him to meet her gaze. "And it's not because you're not enough. Sometimes…what we want just isn't right for us. It can…blind us to what's best for us in the long run…" she turned her head to fix Ketar with an adoring look, "to what we really need."

Kay smiled slightly.

She turned back to Agmaer. "So, trust me, there's a girl for you, waiting out there somewhere, who you are going to make very happy someday." She smiled. "Just make sure, every day, that you work to be the kind of man who can do that for her."

Agmaer smiled back. "Always, Lady Serana."

He held out his hand, but found it ignored when he was pulled into a tight hug by the woman in front of him. He barely had time to reciprocate when she pulled apart and laid a light kiss on his left cheek. Agmaer's face burned bright red, eyes wide as Serana laughed and stepped away from him. He cleared his throat with some effort and forced himself not to look at the highly amused vampire. Instead, he turned his attention to Ketar.

"With that said, if you ever need help in the future, either of you—" his lips pursed, "—I hope you'll think of me."

Ketar smiled and nodded firmly. "Rookie or no, far as I'm concerned, you are the best the Dawnguard has to offer."

Agmaer smiled. "I can't say I agree with you there." He bowed in deference to them. "But I look forward to the day when I can. Blessed journeys, you three."

"And to you," replied Lydia.

The boy gave them all one last nod before leaving the cathedral and the three companions in silence.

Serana's eyes lit up a moment later. "Kay—" her head snapped to the glowing red ashes briefly, "—if Harkon is—that means—"

He smiled. "Yeah. We can bring Valerica home."

"Your mom?" Lydia asked Sera. "Where is she?"

"Somewhere you can't follow, I'm afraid," Serana replied.

"With that said," Ketar added, "I think you should head back to Whiterun."

Lydia crossed her arms and gave them a deadpan look. "If you two just want an excuse to be alone so you can hook up—"

"Nope," he interrupted flippantly, "the Soul Cairn just sucks. A lot. And by suck, I mean your soul."

Her eyes widened, one brow arched in horror. "O…kay. Well, in that case—"

"In that case, you should go check on Brynjolf. Make sure the jarl hasn't arrested him yet. And if he has, help him out."

Lydia groaned and rolled her eyes. "Yes, Lord Dov," she drawled unconvincingly.

Ketar chuckled. "I love you too."

A pronounced silence followed that particular declaration for a good long while before Lydia turned to him with a smile and nod. She left through the cathedral doors a moment later.

Serana sighed hard once she was out of earshot. "Well…guess we better start climbing then." She waved out the open wall. "It's a long way up."

Ketar smirked and headed for the gap. "I've got a better idea. Dur-Neh-Viir!"

An eruption of violet energy split the air just outside the castle walls, the rotting form of their dragon ally appearing moments later and spreading his wings long enough to dig talons into the stones. Firmly anchored, his head poked through the ruptured wall and gazed around inquisitively. His serpentine gaze eventually landed on Ketar, one scaly brow arched in question.

"Well…you've been busy."

Ketar chuckled. "Yeah, you could say that."

Durnehviir smiled. "Is there something I can do for you, Qahnaarin?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. Would you be willing to let Sera and I ride you to the balcony of Volkihar Tower?"

His head bowed. "It would be my utmost pleasure." He laid his head down on the stones. "Climb onto my neck, and hold on tight."

They did so, Ketar going first and helping Serana aboard the wyrm's scaly neck. She held onto him tightly as Ketar gripped Durnehviir's horns, the drake gently backing up out of the hold and flapping his wings to gain some distance between him and the castle wall. Ketar's stomach did a sharp flip at the sight of how far up he was before stabilizing and quickly turning to euphoria as Durnehviir propelled himself through the air with smooth, powerful movements. Kay cheered and whooped as he and Serana rode Durnehviir in a wide curve around Volkihar Island, the small balcony of the tower quickly coming into sight as the dragon slowed his approach. Gently, Durnehviir gripped the tower's parapets on either side of the balcony, lowering his head and allowing the pair to climb off his back.

"That," Ketar gasped, "was awesome." He turned to Serana, who was wide-eyed and looking a bit paler than usual. "Sera?"

She held up a hand. "Just…give me a minute."

He frowned and furrowed his brows. "Are you…motion sick?"

Serana shot him a look as she held onto a nearby rail for support.

"But you fly all the time!"

"Yeah, on my own power. Little different when I'm not the one in control."

He huffed. "Apparently."

Durnehviir, on the other hand, was chuckling lightly, which snapped Ketar back to reality.

"Durnehviir, there's something I need you to do." He frowned. "Sera and I are returning to the Soul Cairn. We need you to stay here."

Serana blinked. "What? Why?"

"Because once we go through, the Ideal Masters will no doubt try to mobilize their forces against us if we're found. And if they do, they will undoubtedly try to force Durnehviir to attack us." Ketar frowned up at the dragon. "Immortal or not, I don't relish the thought of having to put you down again."

Durnehviir winced. "A sentiment I share. Very well. I will remain here as long as I can, though without your presence, I'm unsure how long I'll be able to maintain my presence in Tamriel."

Ketar's head shook. "Any time at all would be great, but don't strain yourself."

The dragon's head bowed. "In the meantime, I will roam the skies of Nirn, as I once did. It will be…sweet to be able to do so without the constraints of battle." He jolted. "Speaking of which, I neglected to teach you the next word of Soul Tear when last we met."

He chuckled. "We were in the middle of a fight, so I think I can excuse that one."

"Nevertheless, you have kept your side of the bargain, now let me fulfill mine, and teach you the last word as well." Durnehviir drew himself up and took a deep breath. "Vaaz." His Voice etched the word of power into the stones of the balcony, and he waited for a moment as Ketar's mind absorbed the meaning of the word. "To tear your enemy's soul from its living vessel." He waited for a few more seconds before Speaking again. "Zol." Another glyph appeared next to the first. "The unlife that results when a soul is imprisoned in dead flesh."

Ketar stared into the glowing runes as his vision faded for a moment before sharpening and returning to normal, the chanting of the Thu'um pervading his mind and slowly calming until it faded into the back of his consciousness. "So…basically…Soul Tear is a much more effective, more forceful soul trap spell."

"That, if lethal, will resurrect the victim's body to fight for you," Durnehviir added.

Ketar grimaced. "I appreciate the knowledge, but this…isn't the kind of power I'd ever want to use."

"You may yet be surprised," said the dragon in a strange, pensive tone.

His eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Durnehviir smiled. "It means that my years of life and unlife have taught me that coincidence is a myth. You were sent to the Soul Cairn for a reason, you found and defeated me for a reason." He drew himself up on his hind talons, which were anchored to the bottom of the balcony's supports. "Whatever you do or learn has a purpose, Dovahkiin. And only time can tell what that purpose may be." He bowed his head slightly. "I wish you good luck in the Soul Cairn, Qahnaarin."

And with that, Durnehviir took to the skies and roared his goodbye.

"Well, that was…weird," said Serana.

"Yeah." Ketar's lips pursed. "Anyway, we should go. No telling how long Durnehviir will be able to maintain his form here."

"Agreed," she replied, pushing open the door to her mother's lab. "Shall we?"

He caught her arm and drew up short. "Ehh…is this going to work? I mean, I have my soul back, after all, so…will I have to split it again just to go back in?"

Serana frowned and shook her head. "I don't think so. After you retrieved your soul, I sensed something different about you, a small gap that was there before, after I soul trapped you. But, it was filled with something unusual. I think a small part of the Soul Cairn itself imprinted itself on you when you bested their Keepers. So, you should be fine."

"…should."

She grinned and grabbed his hand, then pulled him toward the portal. They passed through without incident, though Ketar felt the same vertigo as last time and landed on his knees once again.

"Ugh," he groaned, "never get used to that."

Serana arched an eyebrow as she helped him up. "Well, hopefully we'll never have to come back here after today."

Ketar nodded his enthusiastic agreement, thanking Akatosh that he no longer felt the same crushing weakness as last time, then took off down the stairs and slid to a stop at the bottom. He looked back up to see Serana descending with a wary eye on their surroundings, waving her forward and falling into a cautious march down the road to Valerica's castle. It was a few minutes before he realized how tense Serana was and turned to see her frowning at the road. Ordinarily, he'd have chalked it up to how dangerous this place was, but even their first time through, when their uncertainty was doubled, she'd been a great deal more chatty than now.

"Something wrong?" Ketar asked.

Serana blinked and glanced over at him. "Yeah. I'm just…" she frowned deeper, "thinking about Valerica…" her jaw tightened, "it reminds me of—"

"What I did at the gate."

A silent nod.

Ketar just sighed and kept walking.

"…Kay, we need to talk abou—"

"I know," he interrupted firmly. "I owe you that—but not here." His eyes drifted across the dead landscape. "Too many eyes, too many ears." He glanced at her. "Too many things that want to kill us."

Her lips pursed tightly as she shrugged. "Fair enough. On the road to the Vale then."

Ketar nodded, and they fell into silence after that.

…

A distant, familiar voice snapped Valerica's focus from a delicate titration she was working on, a sharp curse muttered under her breath when a highly corrosive liquid dripped onto her workstation and burnt partway through the stone. Still, if her ears were correct—

"Mother!"

She grinned. Totally worth it.

Valerica dropped what she was doing and took off toward the castle's entrance at a run, coming to a stop at the top of the same set of stairs where she and Serana had first reconnected. Where she had first met him. Speaking of whom—

"Valerica," he called out. "A pleasure to see you again."

The elder vampire's lips pursed tightly. "Dov." Her eyes softened when they alit on her daughter. "Serana." She glanced between them. "I sense you aren't here for a social visit."

Ketar stepped forward. "Harkon is dead."

Valerica's eyes widened as her mouth ran dry and hung open in disbelief. "What? A-Are you certain?"

He shrugged. "Well, I hit him with a portal to Aetherius—which is to say a miniature sun—and fired Sunhallowed Arrows into it from Auriel's Bow, which effectively shattered the magical barrier between their world and ours and basically disintegrated him with Auriel's wrath."

Valerica stared at him for a few moments, willing her brain to catch up with him. "So…yes."

He nodded slowly.

A profound sigh of relief left her throat as she closed her eyes and smiled. When they opened again, her gaze shifted from Ketar to Serana and back. "Then I see nothing preventing my return to Tamriel. Allow me to gather some of my things and I'll head back to Castle Volkihar. And from the bottom of my heart, I thank you."

Ketar bowed his head.

Serana stepped forward when her mother headed back toward her alchemical setup. "Is there anything you need help carrying?"

"A few things, yes," she replied, noting that Ketar still dutifully followed her daughter around and smirking at that.

He came to a stop halfway to her dwelling, pointing at something near the pavilion. "What…is that?"

Valerica blinked and smiled. "That is Arvak, my horse."

"…you have a horse?"

"Yes."

"Since when do you have a—never mind." He frowned. "Wait a minute, if you have a horse, why are you asking us to carry your things?"

She whirled on him and glared protectively. "Arvak is my loyal steed, not some mule you can load up at a whim. He is for passengers, not cargo. And he will be returning with me to Tamriel."

Ketar's eyes went wide as he held his hands up in surrender. "Okay. My mistake."

Valerica caught Serana restraining laughter from the side and had to chide herself for the outburst. Such sentiment, and for a non-sentient creature that was already dead. Gods, she was going senile, wasn't she?

…

"What will you do now?"

Valerica turned toward Serana, who was helping her unpack a large trunk of clothes and alchemical materials. "Well, I think it's time I got back to my work as an alchemist." She waved at the open portal in the center of her lab. "The Soul Cairn will offer a unique opportunity to continue my studies, and I intend to complete my research." Her gaze turned to Ketar, who was pulling the last of her possessions out of the rift. "In the meantime, if there are any potions you might need, feel free to help yourself."

"Much appreciated," he replied. "Burned through most of my reserves during the battle."

Valerica snorted derisively. "Must not be very talented at not getting hit then."

Ketar shot her a look. "First off, did you ever go full-on toe-to-toe with Harkon? And second, I meant my magicka potions."

She arched an inquisitive eyebrow at him until Serana spoke up.

"He found a way to lift his natural limits and burn through all his magicka," she explained.

Valerica's eyes widened as she stared at Ketar. "That's incredibly dangerous."

"I know."

"He knows."

Serana shot Ketar a peeved look, which he returned for a while before rolling his eyes and making for the door to Volkihar Balcony. They'd managed to leave the Soul Cairn without incident, thank the gods, and Arvak was loving his new quarters, though the vampire matron was quickly realizing that the horse would need slightly larger chambers if he was going to avoid boredom. Valerica watched him follow Ketar out the door, then slowly turned her gaze to Serana, who was frowning and busying herself putting the alchemy equipment in order.

"Serana."

The girl stopped and looked up at her mother.

Valerica's lips pursed as she backed up and sat herself on a stone table. She patted the space next to her. "Come."

Sighing, Serana strode over and pulled herself up to sit next to her mother, chin resting on her palms as she slouched over. Valerica took a deep breath and hesitantly put a hand on her shoulder, taking advantage of Serana's distraction to look her daughter over. Time had been kind to the girl, far kinder than it had been to anyone else in their family. Granted, as vampires, they never aged, but still. There was something about her eyes that spoke of a youthful vigor and hope that Valerica had long lost.

"Serana…I know I haven't been the best mother. Point of fact, my parenting has been rather appalling for most of your life."

The girl sighed and glanced up at her. "Yeah, but…you were there, at least."

Valerica's head shook. "That's no excuse for the way I've treated you, or the callous, cold attitude I adopted all those years ago. Family was…is the most important thing in my life. I just couldn't see it until I spent a millennium apart from mine." She gripped her shoulder tighter. "I know how much my detachment hurt you, Serana, how our feud tore you apart, made you grow cold and cynical on the inside. Though you hated me for it for a time, in a way, I'm glad you weren't awake for the last thousand years. I shudder to think that were it not for that slumber, I might've met a copy of myself a few weeks ago."

Serana chuckled ruefully. "Funny. Ketar said just about the same thing before we came to find you."

Valerica smiled. "Then he is far wiser than his years."

She snorted. "Maybe. Still pretty stupid at times, though."

Her mother laughed. "Yes, well, part of that just comes from being a man." Her gaze intensified. "A man who loves you."

Serana's eyes widened as she turned to face Valerica. "Y-You know? How? Did he tell you?"

Valerica tilted her head and gave her daughter a look that said "really?" "As if he'd have to." She smiled wistfully. "You forget, I was in love once, with a man just as powerful and passionate. The difference is, yours does not see power as something to be grasped and coveted." Her voice quieted and head shook slowly. "No, he values you far above all that. And that gives me hope."

Serana gulped. "Hope for what?"

Valerica smiled and gently laid a hand on her daughter's cheek. "That my only child will have a life far better than mine."

Serana's jaw and throat worked as her eyes flickered with emotion. Silent tears slid down her face as she embraced her mother, face pressed into her shoulder and arms tight around her back.

"I love you," whispered the girl.

Valerica smiled and held her tighter, vainly fighting back tears of her own. "I love you too, Serana."

…

Ketar stared out at the bay surrounding Volkihar Island with a brooding look on his face for some time before he realized something. Namely, that the afternoon sun was shining down on the castle, free and clear of any and all cloud cover, for the very first time. It brought a smile to his face. The door creaking open to his side snapped his attention away from the sky's reflection on the water and back to the mother and daughter about to join him on the balcony. Ketar jerked a thumb at the undead horse currently rolling on his back.

"I think he's got an itch," he declared.

Serana arched a brow. "Oh? What tipped you off?"

He smirked. "Maybe the fact that he's been doing that non-stop for the last five minutes."

The pair exchanged a small laugh and watched in muted awe as Valerica crouched down and lavished much more affection on the creature than was characteristic for her. It was almost frightening, to be honest. The matron rose and turned to fix Ketar with an intense stare.

"You."

He sighed. "Me."

Valerica's severe features softened. "Treat her well, Dov. My daughter is the most precious thing I have left in this world," she grinned and showed her fangs, "and now that there's no more Harkon—"

Ketar's eyes widened in mild horror. "Nothing to keep you from coming after me." He smiled uneasily. "Got it."

Valerica kept grinning. "Just making sure." Her smile thinned out to a small curve as she turned to Serana. "Stay safe, both of you. I may not be traveling with you, but if you ever need my help, you'll know where to find me."

Serana smiled and took her hands. "We'll keep in touch, Mother. Don't worry."

"I hope to see that garden of yours back at full strength when we return," Ketar added with a smile.

Valerica's eyes widened. "Shor's breath…I forgot all about the garden."

Serana chuckled. "Yeah. Going to be kind of hard to resume your experiments without materials."

A glint of excitement entered the matron's eyes. "Well then I'll have to remedy that." She glanced between them. "Goodbye, you two."

"Goodbye, Mother."

"Goodbye, Valerica."

A mischievous flash entered Ketar's features as he grinned from ear to ear, then grabbed Serana, pulled her to his chest, and Shouted, "Feim-Zii-Gron!" just before leaping off the balcony with her.

Valerica's shouts of indignation and threat followed them all the way down, drowned out by the volume of Ketar's laughter.

…

A minute after they reached the mainland, Ketar was about to call for Stormbreaker when Serana grabbed his arm with a frown.

"I thought maybe we could walk this time," she said.

Ketar frowned and nodded in understanding. He didn't have to do anything more after that. His horse knew to go to the closest safe settlement if he wasn't seen for more than a day. Thus, they leisurely started off toward Darkfall Cave, not walking hand-in-hand for the first time in weeks. It was almost five minutes before someone finally spoke.

"I'm sorry."

Serana turned her eyes to Ketar.

He frowned deeply. "You were right. I was a hypocrite back at the castle. It was stupid and reckless."

She smiled a little. "Glad you're man enough to admit it."

Ketar's lips quirked upward. "Me too." His frown returned. "But I'd do it again."

Serana stared at him in silence for a few seconds before exploding. "What?! Have you learned nothing?!" She grabbed his arm almost painfully, bringing them to a stop. "Fighting alone is too much of a risk to take, especially against someone like Harkon."

"There," he replied, pointing at her. "You did it again."

Her orange eyes narrowed. "Did what?"

"You called him Harkon."

She stared. "That was his name."

"Yes. But there was a time where you called him father."

"He lost the right to be my father ages ago, Kay. You know that."

"I know that, and you know that, but your heart—that's another story."

She huffed. "The hell is that supposed to mean?"

Ketar sighed and rubbed his temples, pacing.

Serana shook her head slowly, a sardonic smile slowly growing on her features. "I get it now. I'm the damsel in distress."

His head snapped up. "What?"

She waved her arms around dramatically, her tone mocking. "You rescued the beauty from an unending sleep and brought her back to her castle, only to find out that a monster had taken her home. So you set out on an epic quest to save her from men and monsters and getting—"

"Serana, stop it! You know it's not like that!"

She held her arms up. "Then what is it? Huh? You trusted me to help you in the Soul Cairn, when you were so weak you could barely even stand, and insisted you come with me to help fight in that condition. Then, when I'm at full strength, at the doorstep of our greatest enemy," she pointed an accusing finger at him, "you leave me behind." Another shrug. "So what the hell am I supposed to think?"

Ketar's jaw tightened. "I was trying to protect you—"

"From my father, I know."

"No, that's not what I—"

"You tried to take on all the weight." Serana started spinning in a circle, motioning wildly, her eyes ablaze with anger and frustration. "Like you're Ysgramor or Talos or some other gods-forsaken hero from legend. Like you're a god whose job is to hold up the world, and I'm just some pretty thing you need to lock in a box and keep safe from the world."

Ketar's gaze hardened. "That is not what this is."

"Then explain it to me!" she shouted, gesticulating even harder. "Explain to me how you're not making the exact same mistake my mother did. She wanted to protect me from Harkon too, and I forgave her for that, but here you are, willing to repeat that mistake."

"It's not about Harkon."

"I know," cried Serana, "and that's the worst part!" Her eyes turned desperate. "You did all that for me, put your life on the line, risked certain death, all to protect me from a mad dog who should've been put down centuries ago."

Ketar finally lost it. "I wasn't protecting you from Harkon!" he roared, jabbing a finger into her chest. "I was protecting you from yourself!"

Serana was stunned into silence for a while, her reply coming out weakly. "What?"

He sighed hard and scrubbed a hand over his face, pacing again. "Okay…okay." He took and released a few deep, heavy breaths, hands on his hips, before he slowly turned to face Serana. "You were right, when you said that Niel was family. He and Katja were probably the closest thing I'll ever have to a father and mother. And I lost both of them. My actual parents abandoned me. Lost them too." He smiled sardonically. "So, I'm an orphan. First time, I didn't have a choice. I was a baby. Couldn't have held onto them if I wanted to.

"The second time, the Thalmor came to Cloud Ruler Temple and forced us to flee in different directions. I haven't seen Katja since. And when Niel and I were cornered, he knocked me out and threw me on Stormbreaker's back while he stayed behind and got butchered by the Thalmor to protect me. No choice." His features shifted with an echo of grief. "That didn't make me feel any less guilty when I found his file." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "How much more would you feel, if you were the one to slay Harkon?"

Serana blinked up at him, ice in her eyes. "He wasn't my father anymore."

Ketar arched an eyebrow. "No? Then why, in the Soul Cairn, did you tell Valerica he was?"

Her jaw dropped open.

He sighed hard, jaw working. "I've seen you in pain before, Serana. I've seen you suffer. Often because of the actions of others, but also because of your own. Because given the choice between allowing someone to face pain and taking that agony yourself, you choose the latter. I know because I've seen you do it…and because I'm the exact same way." His voice became brittle and delicate. "And when you hurt—" his face twitched with pain, "—when I see you suffer…" his eyes stung and filled, clouding his vision, "it hurts me. It hurts me in ways that…I don't know how to explain." His head shook slowly, eyes spilling over. "Ways that…I don't think I fully understand."

Serana gulped as she averted her eyes from his intense gaze.

He placed a hand on her chin, tipping her head back up to meet his softened eyes. "Sera…I didn't drop that gate because I didn't think you could handle yourself against your father, or that you couldn't take the burden of ending his life." He placed his palm against her cheek. "I dropped the gate because I didn't think you should have to."

Her lower lip trembled.

Ketar's throat closed briefly before he swallowed his way past the lump to finish. "I did it because I love you…so much more than my own life."

They stared at each other for a long time, Ketar's expression nothing less than pleading, while Serana seemed like she was teetering on the edge between wanting to scream and wanting to cry. In the end, she let out a small burst of both. A quiet, desperate sound that was half-sob, half-frustration came from her throat as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Gods," she cried, "what a mess we are."

Ketar let out a watery laugh and held her close, gently stroking her hair and accidentally pulling her braid loose. Her long black locks fell loosely around her neck, down to the red cloak around her shoulders. After seeing the condition her armor was in, Serana had switched back to her usual attire, repaired with the breastplate and tunic of the male royal armor Ketar kept in his rift. So there was no hard metal to keep him from holding her tightly and squeezing her shoulders. She gently pushed away from him a few moments later, sniffling and coughing a bit.

"We should…we should go," she stuttered, wiping a hand over her features.

He nodded slightly, frowning a bit when she turned back to the road and started walking. Ketar came up alongside her and slipped his hand into hers, smiling in relief when she held it back tightly and interlaced her fingers with his.

…

The Forgotten Vale was just as they'd left it: eerily quiet and like a slice of another world. Upon further thought, Ketar realized that due to its far-removed western location, the Vale wasn't actually in Skyrim, but in High Rock. Was it coincidence that he learned some of the most powerful magic he'd ever cast while in the home of the Bretons? Perhaps, but if recent events had taught him anything, it was that coincidence was rarely just that. He was snapped from his musings when they stepped into the Wayshrine where they'd first met Gelebor and teleported all the way to Auriel's Chapel, or what was left of it.

The Elf himself was carving something on what looked like a large slab of slate and glancing out at the mountains in the backdrop every couple of seconds. Upon a closer look, Ketar realized he was making a slate etching of the Jerall Mountains around the Vale, and a rather accurate one too.

"Pretty impressive work," Ketar admitted.

Gelebor blinked and cast them a brief glance, lips quirking upward. "Thank you. Spending centuries in solitude tends to inspire the development of some eccentric hobbies, and since canvas isn't exactly common around here—"

"You thought you'd go with slate." Kay nodded slowly. "I'd pay for it."

The paladin laughed and laid down his carving implement, a repurposed iron chisel, dusting his hands off and turning toward the couple. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?"

Ketar frowned and summoned Auriel's Bow from the rift, taking it in both hands and extending it to Gelebor. "It's too much power to remain in the hands of mortals."

The Elf's lips pursed as he stared down at the weapon, eyes flickering to Serana for a brief moment before focusing on Ketar. "I cannot take it."

Ketar frowned. "What?"

"You may be right about the bow having too much power. Auriel knows that enough people have fought over it to make one wonder whether or not it should even be here, but that isn't our decision to make." He reached out and pressed the bow back toward Ketar. "Auriel chose you to be his champion. He is the only one who can relieve you of that burden."

The Dragonborn blinked. "Then…you mean…the wayshrine?"

Gelebor nodded. "It is the only way to return it to his care. Unless you use the rift, of course, but that would still put the bow within your reach."

Ketar nodded slowly, turning toward the wayshrine and pursing his lips. He glanced at Serana, who gave him a reassuring smile, then headed toward the shrine and the altar within. Slowly, he held out Auriel's Bow in his extended hand, the light glinting off its golden surface intensifying the closer he got to its original resting place. Suddenly, the same blinding flash of light that had engulfed his vision when he'd retrieved it returned—amplified by a thousand.

And this time it lasted.

…

Ketar blinked several times, realizing after a few seconds that he wasn't being blinded, but that his environment was just that bright. His eyes widened in realization and recognition at the bright golden glow of his surroundings, gaze darting about to see that Auriel's Bow had left his hand, and he was currently standing on nothing, in the middle of an indescribable golden plane of existence.

A pronounced sigh left his lips as he closed his eyes and shook his head. "I know you're there. Might as well just show yourself."

A low, deep chuckle came from the Aether as the gold of his surroundings coalesced into a tall bearded man with pointed ears and a golden crown. His body was clad in armor plates of golden dragonbone, his eyes the same color, but shifting like the surface of the sun. And he was smiling, ever so gently.

Ketar stared at him agape. "Father."

"Son," he replied, voice booming and echoing throughout the Aether. He looked around, waving to their surroundings. "It's been a while since you've visited this place."

Kay frowned deeply. "After last time, I had hoped I'd never have to." His eyes widened in horror. "Wait—am I dead?"

The manifestation of Akatosh laughed warmly. "No, not at all. That altar is deeply connected to me, and adding my bow to the mix created a…well, a rift through which we are able to speak."

He blinked. "So…I was teleported to Aetherius?"

Akatosh smirked. "Not quite, but…for simplicity's sake, let's go with that."

Ketar let out a hard breath, pacing as his mind struggled to catch up to his circumstances.

The Aedra god gave him a few moments, hands clasped behind his back and a smile on his face. "You've had quite the ride of late, no?"

Ketar barked a laugh of agreement. "Traveling to other realms, killing ancient vampires—"

"Falling in love."

The silence that followed was…awkward, to say the least. Ketar hesitated for a while, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah…about that…"

The Aedra arched an inquisitive eyebrow.

Ketar took a deep breath and set his jaw firmly, meeting his father's eyes. "I love Serana…probably more than I've loved anyone. And there isn't a thing you or anyone could say or do to change my mind about it."

Akatosh blinked owlishly, staring at him blankly for a while. And then something happened that Ketar had not seen coming in a million years. He started laughing. Just small, quiet chuckles at first, but soon the entire plane was booming with his cackles, which, for some reason, made Ketar want to laugh. Just a little bit. Mostly though, he was just confused at why a statement of what was basically defiance was nearly driving his divine father to tears of mirth. He eventually got his answer, when Akatosh finally calmed enough for coherent speech and turned to face his son.

"I apologize," he chuckled. "It's been quite a while since I've had something to laugh about like that."

Ketar just gaped at him in confusion. "I don't understand."

Akatosh let out one last chuckle. "You think that I care about the fact that she's a vampire."

"…you don't?"

His head shook as he grinned.

"But…" Ketar frowned, "but Vyrthur said—"

"Vyrthur's mistake was believing that he understood my intentions."

Ketar's head shook slowly. "I still don't understand."

Akatosh sighed. "Too many mistake my duty when it comes to Nirn. Tell me, what aspect of reality do I represent?"

He blinked. "Time, of course."

"Yes," the Aedra confirmed with a nod. "But time only exists because of Nirn. As immortals, Aedra and Daedra are immune to its effects. Therefore, it is the existence of the mortal world, your world, that gives time meaning. Without life on Nirn, my duties would cease to be relevant. Therefore, my true mission is…?"

Ketar's eyes widened in understanding. "The preservation of life."

Akatosh smiled. "Exactly. And I care not what form that life takes, so long as it abides by the terms of my mission." He frowned. "Vyrthur's problem was never his vampirism, but a condition that existed within him long before he was turned. Becoming an immortal vampire just gave his true taint time and condition to manifest on an even greater level."

Ketar's features shifted as more pieces began to fall into place. "His arrogance."

Akatosh nodded slowly. "Vyrthur lost sight of what it truly meant to be my Arch-Curate. He saw his power and position as something to be grasped, and as a result grew to lord himself above all others around him, so I allowed a situation to arise that would test the veracity of his faith in me."

"You let him be turned by one of his own initiates."

"Thereby forcing him to recognize his inadequacy and lean on me more than his own strength."

Ketar frowned. "But he didn't."

Akatosh sighed and looked down. "No. He did not. Instead, he allowed the very flaw I attempted to correct to consume him, thereby missing the whole point. His presumption of my intentions was colored by his inflated sense of self-importance, and led him down a dark road that consumed everything in his path."

"Including most of what could be the last Snow Elves in existence," Ketar added testily, "your devoted followers. If you're the god of time, how did you not see that coming?"

Akatosh's lips pursed. "Because time does not follow a single path. It is a river, with many branches and tributaries. Your study of the Dragon Breaks taught you that. As god of time, I cannot see the definite future, only possibilities, and how likely each is to occur." He waved to the side, where a window appeared in the Aether showing various moments from Ketar's life. "In your life alone, there are thousands, millions of different branches that lead, in many cases, to drastically different outcomes. This is how I can guide the lives of the mortals under my protection—influencing and supporting them to nudge them toward one tributary or another."

"You say that like it's a game of chance."

A sigh. "Unfortunately, that's far more accurate than you know. My influence on your world must always pass through a medium, whether that's a person—" he waved to Ketar, then held out his hand and pulled his bow from the Aether, "—or an object." He waved the bow away and strode toward Ketar. "My point is that Vyrthur could have gone in either direction. Both possibilities were almost equal in probability. The bad was higher, but over time, I've learned to have faith in mortals, same as you. Without that, cynicism creeps in and saps the hope from your soul. And for a god, that has disastrous effects on your world."

Ketar sighed and looked away.

"Believe me, I spent years wishing that I could change Vyrthur's course, and all the pain he's caused, but I can't. And ultimately, what he destroyed, what he tried to corrupt, you saved." Akatosh smiled. "You have become…far greater than even I could have hoped." He placed his hands on Ketar's shoulders. "I could not be more proud."

Ketar's lips pursed tightly. "Even when it comes to Serana?"

He smiled wider. "Ketar, you and I are a great deal more alike than you think. To me, actions speak far louder than words or blood, and every step she has taken since you woke her has been in the service of life. Serana may be a child of Molag Bal, but her actions speak of loyalty to my mission."

Kay blinked a few times. "But the sun—"

"Does a hot stove cease being a hot stove because you are a good person? The sun is what it is, and does not discriminate between good and bad, but shines its light on all." Akatosh's eyes warmed. "So, if your only hesitation was the question of whether or not I would approve, you can put your mind at ease. Your lover is nothing more or less than a hero."

He gulped and smiled, eyes misting over. "Yes…yes she is."

Akatosh arched an eyebrow and nodded to him. "She had a very good example."

Ketar blushed and averted his eyes.

The Aedra chuckled again. "To be honest, if you'd chosen anyone with lesser strength of character, we would be having a very different conversation."

Ketar shared in his father's laughter for a few moments. "Then…you approve?"

"Serana defends the innocent, and you love her. She makes you happy." He smiled. "How could I not?" A laugh. "Well, that and Mara would be very cross if I decided to start trouble over your relationship."

"Eh?"

His head shook slowly. "Long story. Suffice to say that my siblings have been…less than approving of your immense workload of late. Mara especially. 'Too much work, not enough play,' she says."

Ketar's lips quirked with a wry smile. "And Arkay?"

Akatosh groaned and scrubbed his face. "Ugh, don't get me started. He's been oscillating between spewing disgruntled comments about Serana and praising you to the skies for your heroism."

Ketar laughed. "So Florentius isn't so crazy after all."

Akatosh arched an eyebrow. "Oh no, he is. He just also happens to be telling the truth."

The Dragonborn shook his head slowly. "I honestly can't believe how strange my life has become."

The god frowned a little. "Well, keep your mind open, Ketar. Because it will become stranger."

"Oh?"

He nodded slowly. "On that note, I have a gift for you."

Ketar smiled. "Knowing you approve of Serana is gift enough for me, but…" he shrugged, "I'm too polite to refuse."

Akatosh smiled as well, then took a deep breath and Spoke, his form shimmering with a much larger, draconic silhouette for just a moment. "Mul-Qah-Diiv."

Ketar's eyes doubled in size as his father's words were imprinted, not on stone or any solid surface, but directly on his mind. The whispers and echoes of the Thu'um remained in his head for some time, flowing through his mind like gently rushing water until finally, they settled in place of a void he hadn't known existed, like a piece of himself that had been missing all his life.

Ketar blinked several more times, eyes eventually shifting back to Akatosh. "What was that?"

"That…was the final piece of your heritage. The final aspect of your dragon blood, and the key to unlocking your ultimate potential." He nodded to Ketar. "You will need it."

Ketar huffed absently in thought, then barked a small laugh. "You hand this gift to all of your children?"

"There was…one other who learned that secret, a long time ago. One who may yet have a role to play in the days to come." He frowned, voice darkening. "But he did not learn it from me."

Ketar's eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"

Akatosh's lips pursed. "You'll see soon enough. But for now, rest. Enjoy your time with Serana." He smirked. "Get Mara to stop yelling at me." They both laughed, Akatosh's expression sharpening as they calmed. "But remain wary and alert. No matter how many battles you fight, Ketar, the world will always be a dangerous place. But continue to serve life," he placed a hand on the Dragonborn's shoulder, "and you will never have to face it alone."

Kay smiled and nodded. "You have a deal."

He patted Ketar's shoulder and smiled. "Good man. Now, go back and join your lover." He winked. "It's almost sunset, after all."

Ketar chuckled and nodded.

Akatosh's expression sharpened. "I sense we won't be speaking again for some time, so…stay safe, and good luck."

He smirked and fingered the Nightingale amulet in his back pocket. "Don't think that'll be a problem."

A gentle smile. "Goodbye, son."

"Goodbye, father."

…

Ketar's hand left Auriel's Bow a split-second before his vision cleared to see the weapon sitting right where he'd first found it: pretty and golden on the altar of the final wayshrine. He frowned for a moment before realizing there were two pairs of eyes on him and turning to see Gelebor and Serana standing there. He glanced between them confusedly when he saw they weren't freaking out.

"How long was I gone?" he asked.

Serana and Gelebor exchanged a look before the latter turned back to him and blinked in confusion.

"Gone?" asked Gelebor. "You just laid the bow down and stepped away."

Ketar blinked. "Like…right now? Right this second?"

Serana arched an eyebrow. "Yeeees?" She frowned. "Are you feeling okay?"

Ketar looked at her, then back at the bow, and smiled. "Yeah…better than I've felt in a while."

"…well okay then."

He opened his mouth to say more, but felt a pulse in his back pocket and stopped short.

Serana noticed the violet glow coming from his belt and smiled when he gave her an apologetic look. "Say no more," she said with a raised hand.

Ketar smiled in thanks as she and Gelebor split off in separate directions, him toward his slate, her toward the balcony where she'd taken a nap last time, leaving Ketar at the wayshrine to answer the call from his amulet.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Heard about your victory from Lydia," said the voice on the other end. "Good for you, lad. Though it makes me wonder how exactly you managed to tear down an entire castle wall…"

Ketar's eyes rolled. "It was part of a castle wall, and—you know what? It's not important. Is there something else you wanted to talk about, or was it just that?"

Brynjolf's voice took on a familiar tone of pure mischief. "Jarl Balgruuf didn't arrest me."

Immediately, Kay's attitude shifted. "You showed him the letter."

"And explained everything in detail—except your involvement, of course."

"And?"

Brynjolf started cackling maniacally. "You should've seen the look on his face, lad. Think of your reaction to her plot, then add screaming, yelling, and drawing a sword out of principle."

Ketar's eyebrows made a valiant effort to join his hairline. "So…he's on board?"

The thief kept laughing. "He was a hairsbreadth away from going to war before his housecarl—what was her name—"

"Irileth," Ketar supplied.

"Irileth, that's it—before she reminded him that would break the treaty you so painstakingly worked out."

His head shook slowly. "Geez…don't think I've ever seen him like that, even when a dragon was threatening to burn down Whiterun."

"He took it very personally."

"Good," replied Ketar, "means he'll be the one to deliver Maven to when the time comes."

"Deliver her?"

"You said it yourself, Bryn. We can't kill her. She's too important to too many people, not the least of whom is Ingun. The Stormcloaks have no quarrel with Maven, Riften's jarl is utterly oblivious, and Maven has the Empire eating out of her hand. Balgruuf is neutral ground, too uninterested in politics to be beholden to either side, and too stubborn to bend to anything less than lawful interference. And now that Maven's threatened his Hold, he's gonna make sure the full weight of the law lands squarely on her shoulders."

"…okay then. Sounds like you've got all this figured out. Just a matter of freezing her assets now."

"And extraditing her to Whiterun."

"Aye. I've got people who can handle that, but separating her from her guards will be tricky."

"Leave that to me," Ketar said malevolently. "I've been aching to take that bitch down since the day we met."

"Now we're talking. See you soon then?"

"Yep. But right now…" Kay turned to the side, eyes widening when he caught sight of the sunset—and the person between him and it. "I'm staring at the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on."

Brynjolf chuckled. "Then go tell her."

Ketar smiled. "I will. Tell Lydia I said hi."

"You got it, Ketar. Get back safe."

"I will. Goodbye, Brynjolf."

And with that, Ketar returned Nocturnal's Embrace to his belt and made his way toward the balcony.

…

Serana was staring out at the horizon, a few degrees off from the sun (so as not to blind herself) when she heard familiar light steps approaching from behind. She turned to see Ketar approaching from the steps, a small smile on his face. The vampire smiled back and held out her hand, gently taking his and interlacing their fingers. They both turned to face the horizon, Serana leaning her head against the side of his chest. They were silent as they watched the sunset, for a good long while, the sun sinking noticeable bit before one of them spoke.

"I've never liked the sunset."

Ketar blinked and looked down at her.

Serana shrugged. "Even before I was a vampire, I've never liked this time of day. During the day, the sun is fine, really. But around dawn and dusk it gets…really bright, blindingly so, in fact. Too bright." She wrapped her arms around his torso and hugged him sideways, eyes still on the horizon. "The colors are nice, but the sheer amount of light has always been off-putting to me." Sera looked up at him, eyes and voice soft. "But traveling with you, getting to know you…I think I've gained a greater appreciation for it."

He blinked again and cocked his head slightly. "Why's that?"

Serana's lips quirked upward as she turned to face him fully, stepping between him and the horizon and clasping her hands together around the back of his neck. "Because I found a different direction to look."

"…huh?"

Her smile widened slightly. "See, I thought the only direction with anything worth seeing, even if too bright, was to the west." Her head tilted to one side. "But I was wrong. There's something…mysterious and…appealing about the eastern sky at dusk. Something that tells of unexplored depths and untold beauty." Her right hand drifted up to stroke his cheek as her eyes roved his face. "And…" she gently tapped his face with her pointer, "nowhere do I see that more than when I have this view, right here." Her eyes shone with pure adoration. "Did you know that your eyes aren't just the color of the ocean? They also mimic the sky at dusk. And when I look into them, like this…" she shuddered, "I'm lost. I can't even breathe." She gulped and looked down briefly before returning her gaze to his. "So…" Serana smiled delicately, "I guess what I'm saying is, your eyes at sunset overwhelm me too."

Ketar stared at her, lips parted slightly in a way that made Serana want to kiss him, hold him, and devour him all at once.

So she did all three.

A short lunge forward and upward eliminated any remaining distance between them, as she'd intended. There was no hesitation, no gentle build, only the ferocious passion that came from a deep-seated hunger she didn't even know she had. More than blood, more than affection, more than anything she'd ever consumed; there was something there, just under the surface that she craved more than anything in her centuries of life. But no matter how hard she tried, no matter how deep she dove, she just couldn't seem to get it, to take it. And then, a full minute of lips, tongue, and not breathing in, she realized that, perhaps, it wasn't about taking anything, but giving.

Serana pulled away from him, the taste of his touch still on her lips as they both breathed hard and she opened her eyes to see his nearly overcome by a pair of fully dilated pupils. His heavy breathing washed over her, sweet and hot and enticing. His gaze warmed her to the bone, those impossibly deep, dark eyes of his holding so—much—emotion. They held affection, and care, and promise, both to protect her and to destroy anyone who so much as touched her wrong. They held peace, and life, and…

"I love you."

The words passed from Ketar's lips to her ears like sweet balm, sending a spike of something sharp and visceral through her body while at the same time gently pushing at the void she so desperately wanted to fill, but couldn't for a wall long erected.

Kay blinked and pursed his lips, eyes so soft and vulnerable. "Does that still frighten you?"

Serana's breathing shuddered as she held his gaze. The wall pushed back against a harder shove, but cracked all the same as she quietly uttered, "Yes."

His eyes flickered with a small stab of hurt, but remained tender.

She gently bit her lower lip, her walls starting to fray and crumble. "But…that's okay."

Sera closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the hunger inside fighting to get out as Ketar's love pushed its way in. When they opened, her gaze locked with his, and she lost the ability to breathe as the wellspring of his heart broke free and poured out through those portals to his soul. With a small shudder and gentle intake of breath, there was one final push from inside—and the wall utterly disintegrated.

"Because I think I love you too."

…

A complete and utter silence occupied the immediate moments that followed. It was as if the whole world had stood still, because neither of them could move. Not a sound passed between or around them. No chirping of birds, no whisper of wind, not even their breathing. A spell cast without magic took hold of them, two abandoned children, buffeted by life, molded by tragedy, separated by centuries yet brought together by an impossible twist of fate. One, a Son of Akatosh, the other a Daughter of Coldharbour; the unlikeliest of friends, yet they had become so much more, and endured so much together, saved each other in far more ways than one.

And together, they saved the world.

So, to say what he had, and to hear those very words pass her lips in return…how could he not have held her like the most precious stone in existence and proceeded to kiss her senseless? He must have overdone it a bit, because he was pretty senseless too just a few seconds in. Somewhere between the lack of air and his racing mind's recounting of the last couple of minutes, a laugh bubbled up deep in his chest and forced him to break away from her just a bit, their foreheads still pressed together.

Serana let out a few heavy breaths before asking, "What is it?"

Ketar's dark blue eyes slid open to gaze into hers to see an incredible love and affection dancing in their depths. And then he remembered the reason for stopping and began chuckling.

She blinked and pulled back a bit more in confusion. "What?"

He let out another couple of chortles before giving his reply with a wry smirk. "You 'think'?"

Sera stared up at him for a few seconds before groaning and faceplanting into his chest, her hands pressed against his pectorals. "Damn it, Kay…we were having a moment."

That just made him laugh harder. "I'm so sorry!" he managed between uncontrollable cackles.

"No you're not," she mumbled into his chest. "You ruined it…"

Ketar's laughter slowed to a stop, a wide, warm smile taking over his face as he held her a small distance off and gently tipped her head up to meet his eyes. "Did I?"

Serana's lips pursed tightly, one of her upper fangs visible when she sucked her lower lip into her mouth. "Stop doing that."

The corner of his lips quirked upward. "Doing what?"

"That. That adoring gaze that makes me not be mad at you."

Ketar chuckled. "Now why would I ever put away such an effective means of defending myself?"

She pouted and gave him a deadpan look.

He grinned and pulled her close, pressing a gentle kiss to her pouting lips and immediately deflating her. Ketar drew back just enough to glimpse her eyes, which were soft and beautiful and more vulnerable than he'd ever seen. And the very sight of them forced him to speak.

"I love you, Sera," he said softly, voice deep and smooth and filled with every emotion he could pour into it.

She smiled widely, forehead pressed against his, and breathed her answer against his lips. "I love you too, Kay."

…

And for those two, that was all the time their words were given. The only sounds that echoed across that balcony were the gentle, sweet embrace of their lips, and the rustling of their clothes as they held each other closer. Ketar cradled Serana to his chest, his entire body, shoulders, arms, and all; molding itself around her smaller form. Her arms wrapped tightly around his midsection, hands pressing into the hard leather protecting his back and the steely cords of muscle she knew from firsthand experience were buried underneath. But there was no true physicality there, no mischief or humor or carnal desire.

No hunger.

The only thing that remained were two scarred souls, wrapped in each other's warm embrace, no longer victim to the crushing loneliness so common to an extraordinary existence. Ultimately, they knew their fight wasn't yet over. Monsters like Vingalmo and Alduin remained in the world, and as long as they did, they would never be done. But for the first time in a long time, the future wasn't something to be feared. For the first time in a long time, they allowed themselves pleasant flights of fancy, visions of waking up to a life with more than just their own incredible talents to keep them company, to a life where they were challenged and pushed by another who they considered their equal.

An equal who wasn't afraid to be strong or show their vulnerability. How exactly that would work in the long run, neither could possibly have known, but they had the rest of their lives ahead of them to figure it out. Would they or their relationship survive that far? Only time would tell. For Ketar Niel Dov, where Serana Volkihar was concerned, he was all in. And as the sun sank behind the snow-capped Jerall Mountains, he knew she felt the same way.

At that particular moment, that was more than enough for him.

AN: A little under five months ago, I started this story expecting not to get far before losing inspiration because I was coming off almost half a year's worth of virulent writer's block. Boy have I never been more wrong. I think that's the fastest I've ever finished a story since Transformers: Partners. This makes a grand total of three stories I've ever finished on this site. What I'm trying to say is: I love this story. I loved every second of writing it, even if it made my hands hurt and my shoulders cramp up like nothing else.

But most of all, I loved seeing how you guys responded to it, how it affected you and lifted spirits all around. That, right there, that is why I do this even when I'm exhausted off a long week and cramped in more places than anyone should be. And that's why I'll continue to do it into the future, as long as I have the strength and inspiration.

On that note, I'm hoping to get the next story started soon and keep it going as long as inspiration holds. Like I said earlier, I'll be calling it Children of Akatosh, so keep an eye on my author page and be sure to follow me so you know when it comes out.

In other news, since I mentioned LOTR at the beginning of the chapter, this story, end to end, has more words than The Fellowship of the Ring. So…hehe…good company?

Thank all of you who stuck with me long enough to reach the end. I know my stories are longer than most novels, and a serious time and attention commitment, so…thanks. And I hope you stay with me for more in the future.

From all of us here on the East Coast, happy sunsets.

Drake out.

Musical Inspirations:

Resident Evil 6 - Trouble with Women: start-1:17—the wall crumbles/outpouring of affection, 1:17-end—"I love you"/final sunset/finis

UPDATE - 7/27/17

Children of Akatosh is now up on my author page. If you want more of Ketar and Serana's story, head on over and check it out!