Interlude: Alduin's bane

After the event the world would call 'Alduin's doom.' Skyrim as a whole learnt to both respect and fear the man named Lucius Frey. For his mastery over the mystic arts, knowledge of the unknown, but also his reflective personality of subtle deference.

Little was known about him but the keen-eyed traits. His hair and eyes that gleamed past any dark was the first mentioned in any a tale or song. The peopled adhered to the stories of his triumphs; of clearing the land of its filth, stopping any raging dragon, or more recently the attacks of the night by creatures of shadow.

Yet, in all these stories, tales and songs of varying praise or falsehoods. There was always one constant. A woman, of ashen locks and emerald eyes. A women who would cut apart the field of foes in but a blink of ones eye.

Many of such tales reached the ears of the worlds powers of course. Some scoffing in delusion in their own world, and others cursing a half breed for reaching such power. Lucius's name was all Skyrim could talk of for weeks. It didn't matter how weak or helpless the factions were, or how much they disagreed on. All sides were thankful of one truth... That the dragonborn of old was a neutral force in political affairs.

And so, the war raged on without the duo's influence. Still pushing back and forth, gaining nothing but reducing the Thalmor's resistance in their eventual wars of conquest.

In the coming months after Alduin's defeat, Lucius and Ciri decided to settle in the small settlement of Riverwood. A moderately sized home for the pair to adventure from, and relax in. Lucius with his books, smithing and research, Ciri with her sword and alchemy. Each bouncing off each other effortlessly with their pursuits of the mind or body.

Him with her alchemy, and her with his swordplay. Which Ciri hounded at him when he forgot the promise of exchange. Hounding him to such a degree he decided to make his very own forge and craft the necklace she desired.

A silver wolf with ruby inlaid eyes. Enchanted as an apology for his late work to increase her sense of magic and stamina.

Lucius spent day and night examining his gift from the prince of dusk and dawn, Azura. He found nought but the enhancement of his own powers, as if she made it for him, and him only. A mystery he didn't have the effort to face in the wake of completing the prophecy of dragons, but something that gnawed at the back of his mind throughout the weekly sweeps of bandits and the growing numbers of vampires.

Ciri's alchemy had progressed steadily to make human safe variants of some Witcher potions. Her focus was mainly on 'black blood' and 'swallow' which Lucius then learned was a nickname of her's. Lucius continued his ventures of smithing, this time heading more into blades and daggers instead of his jewellery collection, with the intention of creating a sword focus for his magic.

Something he has yet to achieve in all his toil and struggle.

"Luci~!" A childish voice called from the entrance to the cozy house.

"Dorthe?" Lucius opened the door, rubbing his eyes. "What's wrong, kid?" He asked.

"Papa's gone missing, mama thinks it's the vampires." She wailed, as a curious Ciri poked her head around the corner.

"Didn't we just kill a cave of Vampires?" Ciri asked. "When did you last see him, little one." Ciri rushed over to the crying girl.

"We did. Huuh~ Another group, huh?... Something's stirring behind the scenes here, Ciri." Lucius held the bridge of his nose. "Let me gather my gear and we'll come help. How's that?" Lucius kindly smiled and pat the distressed girls head.

"Y-yes! Thank you, Luci!" She mustered up a smile, and ran back to her mother who came charging through the gates.

"Dorthe! Don't run off like that again." Sigrid scolded her daughter.

"I'm ready. Just waiting on you... Luci~" Ciri teased, strapping her newly made sword to her back.

"Alright, birdy. I have a soft spot for kids, bite me." He strut of to get his sword.

"Mhm~ Don't tempt me." She grinned.

"I'm sorry about my daughter. You've done so much for us already, it's not fai-

"It's fine, we like helping people." Ciri interrupted and smiled at the mother.

Lucius came back to the door with his gear. The same sword from Sky Haven Temple on his belt and the necklace from Azura around his neck.

Black phases of a faded moon wrapped around the base of his neck, black diamonds cut finely into each shape of the turning moons.

"Alvor let me use his forge without even knowing who I was. The world needs more people like him." Lucius said as his knife fingered gauntlet clanked its way onto his hand. "Let's go?" He asked, turning to Ciri.

.

.

.

After hours of Ciri tracking the way to where the vampires dwell. Lucius and Ciri came upon a cave.

"It's always caves with these fucking vermin." Lucius spat, the falling snow melting at the short spew of fire leaving his throat.

"Relax, Lucius." Ciri held his hand. "We need to be calm if we're to save him." She spoke softly.

"You're right, sorry." Lucius apologised, and made ready to enter the cave.

"Don't apologise, just use that anger when we kill the twats, cmon." With a final squeeze of his hand she entered the cave.

Dark and dreary was the cave. The slow and echoing drips of condensed water as they slithered down each stalactite of the caves roof, the distant howl's of the raging wind, and hushed murmurs was all the cave permitted to sound. The air was thick, so thick that it laboured each breath of the entering pair. The cloak of darkness so heavy any weary traveller wouldn't be able to see their own hand.

"Pst, Ciri. Drink your night vision." Lucius whispered to Ciri, putting out his torch as the faint murmurs got louder.

"These vigilants never know when to give up. I thought we'd taught them a lesson at their hall..." An arrogant voiced bounced of the caves wet walls.

"To come here alone... A fool like the rest of them." A sultry voice sneered.

"He fought well though, Jeron and Bresoth were no match for him." The arrogant voice countered, the smile evident in his tone.

"Ha, those two deserved what they got. Their arrogance had become insufferable." At the woman's comment Lucius and Ciri shared an amused look.

"All this talk is making me thirsty, perhaps i'll visit our prisoner...Even if I prefer the taste of women." The arrogant voice declared.

"That must be Alvor." Ciri whispered.

"I wish Lokill would hurry up, I have half a mind to return to the castle and tell Harkon what a fool he's entrusted this mission too." The arrogant voice continued.

"And i have half a mind to tell him of your disloyalt-" The females voice was stopped by a large spike of black ice piercing her throat and pinning her to the wall she lent on.

Ciri blinked to cut the other vampire in two just as the ice spike hit its mark.

Lucius bent down to follow a small trail of blood on the stone tiled floor with his gloved fingers. "It's crimson, means they cut an artery. We need to find him quick." Lucius urged, and hastily followed the trail deeper into the cave that slowly turned into a nordic crypt.

The trail led the pair through the crypt, littered with draugr and vampire alike until they reached a small and ancient wooden door.

"The architecture has changed... These stones look thousands of years old, but haven't aged a day, weird." Ciri commented, running a hand across the black stone brick.

"This must be what that Lokill is looking for. But, why take Alvor down here?" Lucius pondered aloud, opening the door for Ciri.

A cavern of shadow, lit only by the small crack on the rocky ceiling, letting a small ray of sunlight worm its way down through the tiny opening. That little shift of rocks allowed the illuminating line to brighten the area just enough to see whats needed, but hide the unknown dangers that may well linger in the remaining veil of shadow.

Ancient pillars and arcs surrounded a circular platform with bowls of gleaming silver in the centre. Grooves and carvings lined these perfectly sculptured ruins, each curl and twist giving off a sense of long slumbered dread.

The natural music of free flowing water bounced of the damp walls of the cavern, contrasting the rooms feel and providing a sense of much needed serenity to the nightmarish decor.

"This place screams vampire." Ciri muttered under her breath.

"A dark cave with a stone...ring?" He wondered.

"Seems about right. A ritual site?" She replied.

"A ritual site with a stone ring it is." Lucius nodded. "Stop. There's people down there, Ciri." Lucius announced, pulling Ciri behind a stone wall.

"Are you sure that was wise, Lokill. He still may have told us something." A female voice rung out. "We haven't got anywhere in week."

"He knew nothing!" A sharp male voice snapped. "He served his purpose bringing us here. Now, it's up to us to get the prize." He rasped.

"Of course, Lokill. I just hope you don't forget who brought you news of you discovery." The female replied.

"Orthjolf and Vingalmo will make way for me after this!" Lokill gleefully sung to the shadow.

Lucius looked at Ciri. "Vampires again. That one isn't normal." He finished pointing at Lokill.

"Oh, shit." She cursed. "I hope they're nothing like the ones in my world." Ciri mumbled a short prayer. "What about Alvor? Any sign?"

"There's a dead vigilant and another prisoner by the ritual stone, It looks like him, a lot of blood." Lucius whispered.

"Let's hurry up then. There's only three of them...Um, quick question. These type of vampires can die right?" Ciri asked hope evident in her voice.

"Of course they can. Why?" Lucius looked at her weirdly.

"Don't worry about it." She smiled. "Just attack like usual then? You said one of them was different, in a good or bad way?" Ciri finished.

"It won't matter since i'll target him. Vampires fall under the 'undead' category so my existence is basically a huge 'fuck you' to him." Lucius tapped her nose with a grin. "Are you ready?"

"One moment." Ciri said, and drank a potion of black liquid. "Still tastes of shit." She smiled, black veins appearing by her eyes. "Let's get started." She said.

'Black veins...Weirdly attractive.' Lucius shook off his musings and jumped over the stone wall.

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First time writing one of these chapters.

Lemme know, what'd you think?

Have a good one,

Your "patently evil" Author ;)