"All of this for a little piece of paper," Danny mumbled, looking on the list in his hand.

"You yourself wanted nothing more than that," noted Serana.

"Yes, but you could ask for something else," Phantom continued, as they walked up the road.

The group had decided to replenish supplies in Whiterun before finally going to their destination. Understandable, they traveled lightly, and could cover enormous distances at the whim of the half ghost. It came in handy, Dave admitted. He would miss such opportunity in the future once the lad left. Fast travel, the half ghost called it. But the walk to Whiterun was on legs, because it wasn't far, it could be seen from their spot the second they had stepped out of the ruins.

As they were going there, Serana seemed to be extremely happy. The hood was gone and she bathed under the sun, her pale skin being protected from the shining orb. Danny had helped to renew the sunblock after they exited the tomb. It looked like a very intimate moment, but Phantom was quite calm about the audience, as it had been nothing shameful. Serana wasn't sure what to think, but she was still excited. But they both felt the bonding moment as they held each other. It was sweet.

The road went just fine, without any hinderances. The climate of central Skyrim was milder than its north, if you don't count the territory higher in the mountains, like where Korvanjund ruins lied. The snow beneath their feet was gone, replaced by pale green and hard grass. The road the group had taken was made well, considering it even existed. Stone path was hardy, and one cart passing by the team was a proof. The guy riding it, though...

"Hey, watch it!" He exclaimed angrily.

Serana glared at the dark skinned man in the traditional redguard outfit.

"You almost ran me over!" She responded.

There was also a girl in a hooded dress sitting near the man. She crossed her hands.

"So what? The cart can't be turned aside easily. Your fault. Now move."

Danny glanced at Dave, who was unsure. Phantom, however, obviously was going to take his girlfriend's side. He was about to say something, before his attention was caught by something. The girl's orange glowing eyes. It could only mean one thing. Serana seemed to have come to the same conclusion.

"I will move," she announced, suddenly her noble pride surfaced. "After you apologize, you little fledgling."

It seemed to stun the girl and her companion. Dave put a hand on his blade. The situation was getting heated.

"What do you..."

"Please, it takes a vampire to recognize one."

"You?"

The girl sized Serana up and down. It caught her off guard. To see a fellow vampire openly walking under the sun without a trace of discomfort...At first the girl thought that Serana was lying, but the eyes were a dead giveaway.

"Impossible," the girl mouthed.

"Oh, yes it is," Danny knew exactly what she implied. "A little bit of alchemy, you may say," Phantom pointed at his girlfriend.

"Babette, we've got to keep moving," the redguard urged his companion. "Don't get distracted."

"Just where a man can travel with a lass vampire?" Dave asked, glancing inside the cart. "Transporting a coffin, no less."

"This does not concern you."

Although the coffin was quite peculiar, it was made of metal, god knows how heavy the thing was, the cart was obviously being pushed to the ground. It was engraved, with an image of a screaming head on top. The top if you put it vertically, of course.

"Jeez," Danny whistled. "I am suddenly reminded that my parents have a dungeon."

He shuddered at the memory of that place deep underground. Jesus, how come that that thing had even been allowed to be built? The more interesting question was why. Danny never knew that, and he never wanted to know. Everyone looked at him in question, but it quickly passed. Phantom was going deeper into his halls of mind in the meantime. The silence didn't last long, as the redguard just whipped the horses and the cart started moving.

"What a bunch," Serana mumbled.

"Yes," Dave agreed. "We could have prevented a serious crime right now."

"What makes you think so?" Asked Danny.

"We have met a vampire and a shady looking fellow transporting a coffin. Wait a second...I think I saw that thing before!"

"Where?"

"Last time I encountered this very coffin on the road to Dawnstar. It was driven by one crazy jester."

"Jester?" Serana asked as they continued their path.

"Indeed. All in the clothes of the colors which would make you want to tear your eyes out."

"Why does this sound so ominous?" The vampire asked.

"Because clowns are like that," Danny responded. "Creepy and annoying. Although if done professionally it is an art."

The group continued their way. The stone road took them to the city after several hours, a little bit after noon. The defenses of the settlement were admirable, but flawed at certain places. The wall surrounding the city was thin for a city of this size. It had no towers or battlements, only small open spots from which the archers could shoot. The guards up there could be seen from the outside. Whiterun was based on the heightened ground, and the Jarl's keep was even higher. That compensated the weak walls, no siege tower would be able tp get up the hill, except for only one road, used to enter the city.

Phantom and Serana were ogling around, very curious about seeing the new settlement. The group approached the gates using the serpentine road. On their path they saw many people: Khajiit caravans filled with different goods were stationed outside of the walls near their fur tents, many other traders were going on their carts to the city gates, eager to earn their share of coin in the most prominent trading city of Skyrim. There were also people who had an air of poverty around them, families in rags or damaged clothes.

The attention was also caught by a cohort of Imperial legionaries, walking in a long line stretching for several hundred meters. Needless to say that the endless stream of populace was not happy that they were slowing everyone down.

The guards in the standard armor with yellow markings were standing near the entrance. Dave calmly approached them, and got a reaction. They immediately stood straight.

"Greetings, Thane," one of them said as they bowed slightly.

The undead couple blinked. So the Dragonborn was also a nobleman in that hold. Refreshing, but quite fitting.

"I hope everything is alright?" Dave inquired.

"Well, sir, the city is getting overcrowded, see for yourself. The refuges are a trouble sometimes."

"And the legionaries?"

"You will have to ask the Jarl about that," another guard commented, having appeared from the crowd. "Rumors say that Ulfric is about to attack the city. That's why the Jarl has accepted General Tullius' offer."

"What a time," Serana mumbled.

"Just our luck," Danny cursed. "Maybe we should finish everything quickly. Don't want to interfere again."

Dave nodded, before telling the guards that the two were with him. The group was immediately admitted inside the city.

Whiterun was a city which had an air of Scandinavia. Some wooden houses had engravings on the tops of their roofs, or dragon heads carved there. The streets were surprisingly wide, and as the group was going deeper, Dave explained that Whiterun was split into different districts. The Plains District of Whiterun was home to the city's shops and market, while the Wind District a bit higher was mostly a residential district. The Jarl's palace, Dragonsreach, dominated the Cloud District - the elite part. The team decided to do the shopping in the market place. The place was crowded, cramped and loud.

"Here you can buy pretty much everything," Dave told as they passed the stall full of prey meat owned by the short wood elf.

Danny and Serana kept looking around in curiosity.

"Where are we going?" The latter asked.

"Belethor. This guy buys everything I find. First we visit him and then do the shopping."

As they were going deeper into the market, the group stopped near one of the houses. There was a sign 'Belethor's General goods'. The shop was very tidy, several shelves near the walls were bursting with all sorts of things, starting from goblets and plates, ending with carefully combed enchanted robes. At the other end was a stand, behind which was a Breton male looking at them. The sleazy looking guy had slick raven hair tied in ponytail, and was wearing a green shirt, which showed his hairy chest.

"Welcome, Dragonborn!" He greeted, pulling the smile of a man who was eager to sell some junk to you for hellish price. "Not a moment too soon. I take it you have some more things for me?"

"If you are willing to pay the usuals," Dave put a small bag on the desk.

"Hm, well, let's see it then."

Dovahkiin emptied the bag full of his loot. Several gems like emeralds or garnets, a couple of other valuable looking items, some pieces of jewelry. Everything which had a value and could be carried around.

"No dragon bones this time, eh?" Belethor asked, sizing the gem with a special glass on his right eye.

"I could bring more."

"No need, my whole basement is filled with them," the Breton snorted. "Even though the blacksmiths are ready to pay for them a fortune."

"Why would they?" Danny asked.

"Oh, I see you got a new companion. Two actually," Belethor looked at the undead. "You see, lad, dragons are tough. Their bones, too. They make a wonderful smithing material once you learn the method."

"And I am still waiting for it to be made. For a month now," Complained Dave. "Will be fitting for the likes of me. Actually, do you know anything?"

"Nah, you'll have to ask Eorlund, not me. So...while I'm examining these findings you may take a look around," Belethor smiled. "Everything is for sale."

The group followed the advice of the shopkeeper and looked around. There was indeed a lot. Mostly unneeded junk, from Danny's perspective. Serana, however, was far more eager for some reason. She gasped at seeing a tiny basket with crimson berries.

"Where did you take those?" Serana asked the shopkeeper.

"Oh, just from the Khajiit caravan. Maybe someone would want them, I just thought these were tasty."

"You are lying," the vampire calmly stated. "If you have eaten those you would be dead. These are chokeberries."

Belethor paled.

"I want to buy them."

That sweet smile of hers gave Danny shivers. He knew perfectly well why she needed those. The purchase had been committed and Serana put the berries in a small purse. Phantom helped her gather some other stuff she needed, even if it wasn't an alchemist's, there was plenty of the ingredients. That's not how the half ghost imagined shopping with a girlfriend. Then again, he hadn't expected his lover to be a vampire.

Meanwhile Serana was happy to tell him more about the alchemy. Each organic item, and that was the term Danny had suggested, had own properties. Usually it came to four. They only uncovered their potential when combined with an item of the same properties. So, there was plenty of stuff they took. Nasty things, except for flowers. They smelled nice, and several good potions could be made from them.

Belethor finished examinations.

"Well, for all of this I can give you...eleven hundred septims."

Dave hummed. "Good enough," he mumbled. "Found anything useful, lads?"

Serana nodded, putting a basket on the desk. Agreeing on the price after a bit of haggling, seventy septims went back to the Breton.

"Pleasure having business with ya!" Belethor called. "Come by again!"

After exiting the shop, the group decided to split up in order to buy everything quickly. Of course, Danny and Serana stayed together, ordered to buy some adequate food and drinks. Divines know where Dave went. The couple proceeded to the marketplace around a big well. Danny smiled at his girlfriend and chuckled, seeing how unused she was to the big crowds. It isn't that crowded at night. She still was getting used to the new opportunity granted to her. Phantom just hugged her with one hand. Serana perked up in surprise, but didn't pull away.

They passed several stands, stopping near the one in front of a woman in her late twenties. She was selling fruits and vegetables. Danny and Serana were already putting the buyings in a leather bag with care, when a man appeared out of nowhere. He was a dark skinned redguard, dressed in the brown rich clothes, was bald.

"Oh, ready to poison more people, Carlotta?" He asked.

It caused Carlotta to glare at the man. The couple just shrugged at each other.

"I don't see YOUR stand anywhere, Nazeem," the woman retorted.

"Why would I need to stand near my products in this lowlife quarters?" The man sneered. "Do you get to the Cloud district very often? Oh, what I'm saying, of course you don't. Well, no bother for my eyes up there."

"Just get out of here, you prick."

"Oh, of course, I'm going to the Jarl today, better not keep him waiting."

That was when Danny decided to put in his nickel.

"You better hurry," the half ghost said. "The Jarl just said that he is looking for his jester. Better go before he gets angry at ya for slacking the job."

Nazeem seemed disgruntled at the phrase while the people around laughed. He obviously wasn't well loved around there. Nazeem only huffed and went off, while Danny and Serana snickered. That was a good one. After a couple of more minutes, the two, with heavy baskets Phantom was carrying, went to the alchemist, where, after half an hour of meticulous brewing on the given alchemy stand (free of charge), Serana made a couple of small potions in little vials, as well as one of the most potent poisons. She also bought what Belethor hadn't been able to offer, as it was now a specialized store. The lady at the stand was weird, telling them of the imminent death from the disease the two carried, but was kind enough to let them use the instruments in the first place.

Then they went to the arranged place of meeting - a huge tree in the center of the city. What they saw there, stunned the two, as Dave had obviously decided to change an outfit.

Gone was the old iron armor, as the Dovahkiin was now wearing a suit made entirely out of bones of different shapes. It made him look very bulky, the couple wouldn't have recognized the man if he had worn a helmet. The Nord noticed them first and smirked.

"Ah, there you are, lads!" He called. "What do you think? I killed this dragon myself, so you know," Dave added quietly, but smugly.

"Neat," Phantom whistled. "How does it feel?"

"Heavier, but nothing I cannot handle. And its hot standing for too long in the open like that."

Serana coughed. "If you are done admiring the remains of a giant lizard, we should really go."

No one had objections to that.

"You do remember the directions?"

Phantom huffed. "Of course I do. That Elder Scroll burned the image into my mind. Hold tight and..."

"Hey, I've been looking for you."

Everyone jumped in surprise at the sudden voice. There was the same courier from before, and once again he had appeared out of literally nowhere. The guy just shoved the letter into Dave's face, before running off without uttering a single word afterwards. Grumbling under his nose, Dovahkiin unfolded the letter and scanned it.

"Hm...Balgruuf wants to see me."

Danny and Serana groaned.

"Are we ever going to get to that cursed cave?" The latter grumbled.

Dave sighed. "You know what, just go ahead. Don't forget to pick me up later, though."

The couple looked at each other. It sounded reasonable.

"Okay," Phantom said. "Stay safe out there. Remain in the city, please. One, two, three!"

And with this they vanished, much to the surprise of the people nearby. They stepped on the sharp pale grass, deep in the mountains once again. Very little had changed since the last time they were in that region - same rocks, same barely walkable path. It must have been cold, as there was a very thin snow on the branches of the nearest lonely juniper bush.

"Alright, everything here?" Danny asked.

"It seems so," Serana once again checked the contents of her shoulder bag. "Enough dried meat to last for a couple of days...water is more complicated, though."

"Why they don't sell any bottled water, I do not know," Phantom responded. "Okay then, this shall be enough. Do you need me to..."

"Thanks for being so chivalrous," the vampire said dryly, but thankful. "But I'll do just fine. I don't need you to carry my stuff around."

"Aw," Danny smiled, before kissing his lover. "That's why I like you so much."

Serana blushed, but chuckled too.

They began their trip. The cave wasn't far, it could be seen from their initial point. The entrance wasn't inviting at all. Dark, cold and smelly for some reason. The odor was strange, but it wasn't enough to ward the two away. Phantom ignited his palm with green light and they went inside. The silence of narrow passes between rocks was only interrupted by the sounds of water droplets hitting the rocks and small puddles. The couple were holding their hands, so as not to trip and fall to the death. Danny was ahead, lighting the place.

Not only the place was dump, it was warm. Serana spoke her mind on this matter, while they turned around another corner. They hadn't bothered marking that labyrinth.

Danny didn't wait long to respond. "Yes, there must be hot underground streams somewhere. It makes me wonder."

"Why?"

"If there are hot streams, then there is a source of heat. With how this world came to be, I expected something different from its molten core. Maybe there is a source of magic."

"Underground?"

"Yes. Very deep. You will have to dig under yourself for hundreds of miles. Even then you will die from how hot there is. In my world it has to do with how planets come to exist, but your world is too confusing."

"Yours is too."

Danny snorted and chuckled. "That I cannot deny..."

Then the conversation came to an abrupt stop. They saw a dim light on a distance, which could only come from the fire. Carefully the undead approached it, but once they did, they regretted that. It seemed like a small encampment of a party of adventurers. Several sleeping bags, the almost burnt off campfire, a few bags filled with everything needed for journey. Mead bottles were lying across the floor.

"Look at what happened to those people," Serana said grimly and with empathy.

She pointed at the corpses. A man and a woman, dressed in leather clothes, in the puddles of their own blood. Their faces were that of shock and horror, frozen in eternal slumber. Danny and Serana wondered about the reason of their death, first assuming it was a frost spider. They were a commodity in the caves of Skyrim. But then one thing distorted all assumptions and led to the only possible one. Once Danny lit the place again, from the shadow emerged the rest of their bodies. Arrows. The last time they checked, the spiders did not use bows.

Phantom kneeled and took the edge of one of the arrows. Turning it intangible, he easily took the thing out. It was purple, forked at the end and covered in some disgustingly looking green bulbs which looked like pustule. Serana's glowing eyes widened.

"Falmers," she whispered.

"Who?"

"It's a long story. The point is, their race lives beneath the ground."

Danny looked at the campfire. It was still fresh. "They have been here recently. We've got to be careful."

Serana nodded in agreement. Then she put her hands together. A familiar ball of light appeared above her head with a quiet ignition sound, like that of a sulfur match.

"It never would be too much light here," she smirked.

They continued going lower. No sign of these Falmers, which was unsettling. How could they traverse so swiftly and without a trace? Soon both Danny and Serana heard some sounds. The splashing of water. There must have been an underground river, and a big one judging from how loud it was. Their assumption was correct, and soon they saw it far beneath. Beneath a hanging bridge over the hole.

The rope bridge didn't look very assuring.

"Who comes first?" Danny suggested jokingly, already going ahead. So he had volunteered.

"Careful," called Serana in concern, following him.

The two were slowly going from one rotten plank to another. The creaking was off-putting, but to they got to the middle of the bridge safely. The couple kept distance, so as not to put too much pressure. Occasionally it shook and they had to grip the edge of the bridge. Then Danny hit himself in a forehead with his free hand and laughed.

"Oh, I am an idiot."

Before Serana could ask what he meant, Phantom simply floated near her with a childish grin. Yeah, he really should have used his power before. Suddenly the loud crack followed, and in a split second the bridge collapsed beneath the vampire. With a scream she pummeled downwards, much to the half ghost's horror. Without thinking he dived in the water after her.

The powerful stream was pushing them deeper inside the cave. Complete and utter darkness made it impossible to see anything. Being intangible protected Danny from hitting something, but he was frightened for his lover's safety. His ears were at their peak, and through the darkness and the loud noise of the merciless stream was he able to spot Serana's shouts for help. He followed the directions like this, careful not to miss her while still being untouchable. After gods know how long, his now tangible hand grabbed hers in an iron grip. A few seconds later they were launched   Towards an open space, as it was some inner waterfall. Danny held them afloat in the air.

Serana coughed out the water and panted for air, holding him for dear life. Phantom held her tight to his chest. She had almost suffocated there, her clothes were a torn mess, ruined by the sharp rocks. That spots were bleeding, blood dripping into yet another dark pit below them. This place was lit by some strange glowing blue mushrooms. At least now they could see each other properly.

"Thank you," Serana rasped, coughing.

Her hairdo was loose and now her neck long hair were free. Danny smiled at her and chuckled.

"No need. I should have caught you sooner."

"No, you are not guilty."

The silence between them followed, before Serana asked a question.

"Are you tired?"

"From holding you? I held a truck for good ten minutes. You are much lighter."

"Where should we go now?"

Danny looked around. There wasn't any indication where to go. He sighed.

"I guess we will have to go deeper. Hold tight and don't worry. This time it will be easier."

Phantom shifted a hold on her, careful not to touch any of her wounds. Serana just wrapped her hands around his neck.

Then they flew downwards, slowly, after casting that light spell again. Making themselves intangible, they were easily going through the water, with enough air to keep moving. The stream was just going through them. This trip through the endless twisted turns the water had made over the centuries lasted for good ten minutes. But finally, they ended up in a vast underground cave, which housed a lake just as big. It was lit by the same mushrooms as before. Carefully putting his girlfriend on the dry land, Danny fell near her. Serana noticed that he had changed into ghost form on the way. Probably to avoid any surprises. His glowing form also gave additional light.

"Are you okay?" Danny asked.

"I don't know, I just took a ride which will leave scars, both mental and physical," the vampire glanced at him with a dry look.

Phantom phased her bag off her and took a look inside. His neon eyes widened. "Wow, can you imagine? Your potions have survived!"

"Really?"

Danny took a red vial. "I guess you should drink one. We don't have anything else to treat the wounds with."

Serana examined the vial first, taking a sitting position. "Alright, so you haven't mistook it for some other potion."

"I'll take it as compliment," Phantom smirked as she drank the contents. But then his look turned serious. "Can you walk?"

"I don't know..."

She attempted to get up and succeeded in doing so, albeit shakily. Danny helped her with one hand, wrapping the bag around his own neck. Until she fully healed, they would need to walk like that. Not that Phantom minded.

The well lit place showed that there was a way out of the cave, and the two went just there.

"You know, this place is nice when it doesn't try to murder you," Danny said.

"I've spent enough centuries in a cave," Serana grumbled. "I'm not very eager to return to one of these."

Phantom chuckled. "You know, it would have been romantic if I came a bit sooner. Maybe I just watched too much of this kind of stories. But they were still good enough."

Serana chuckled at his rambling. He always could brighten the situation. "Well, if it helps," she kissed his cheek and leaned more on him. "I will be your damsel for this short while."

Danny narrowed his eyes playfully. "Is it just an excuse so I would carry you entirely?"

"Don't tell me you wouldn't like that."

Phantom's answer was picking her up bridal style. She yelped out of surprise and glared at him just as mischievously.

"You know me too well."

They kissed once again on lips, both soaking wet. One thought later the water splashed down from them, leaving the two completely dry. Danny had to admit, Serana looked far more beautiful when her hair was free. The undead couple went through another dark corridor, as the vampire played her role just fine, snuggled against Danny's chest, much to the content of both. Then, the darkness once again faded, and the two were greeted by an unusual sight.

In the center of the place stood a small structure made of white stone, with a golden sun atop of it. And speaking of which, it seemed that the actual sun rays were reach through the holes in the ground, getting to the golden statuette. Then, there was an actual person standing near it. His back was turned, but he obviously heard them.

"Come in, come in, dear visitors, you have nothing to fear here," he said in a low, wise voice, turning around.

He was an elf, that much was obvious from the sharp ears. He was as tall as an Altmer, but his skin was snow white, just like his fuzzy hair and eyes. He was dressed in a white sleeveless armor, with brown patterns drawn on it. Same applied to his poots and gauntlets. A mace on his belt looked quite menacing.

"You sound like you have expected us," Danny noted, as Serana stepped on the ground, eyeing the elf with wide eyes.

"I have not, but the other inhabitants of this cave would have tried to attack, instead of talking. So now, I welcome you here."

"What is this place?" Serana asked.

"Before your eyes you see what used to be the shrine of Auri-El."

"Auri-El? I thought that was spelled together," Danny said in confusion.

"Auriel, Auri-El, Akatosh, the patron of Snow Elves has many names."

"Snow Elves?" Serana asked. "You mean Falmers?"

"I...would rather you called me by the term men gave us. What you call Falmers, I call the Betrayed."

"Why?"

"It's a very long story. I suggest we sit. Please, it's been so long since I've had someone to talk with, except for our Lord."

They went a bit to the side. There was a living space, consisting of a long worn out sleeping bag near a campfire. There was a small pot steaming atop. The place was looking very humble. Danny and Serana sat on the big rock, while the elf attended his cooking. It smelled surprisingly well.

"So, what are your names, young ones?" He asked.

"I am Danny, this is Serana," Danny made an introduction. "And you are..."

"Knight-Paladin Gelebor. Pleasure to meet you. Are you hungry?"

"Uhm, and what is there?"

"Just a vegetable stew. The light gets here, plenty of water, the blessing of the divine...I get enough food to come by."

"If it won't be of bother..."

"Not at all. Here, take some."

They started to eat from the deep plates. No spoons meant that they just drank it. It was very tasty for something made deep in the cave.

"Why do stay here, though?" Phantom asked. "Even with all ends met, it's not the best place."

"I've made it my purpose to guard this shrine. And for that I have been given a long life by Auri-El. I'm more than one thousand years old. Even for the elf this is an extreme life extension."

"Not the biggest, though," Serana noted.

"I never claimed so," Gelebor said in amusement and made a sip of his stew.

"Are there any...like you?"

"You mean those who have not been corrupted? There is one, but I fear the worst."

"And what about these 'Falmers'? I keep hearing the name, but I am unaware."

Gelebor's look saddened as he looked in the dark part of the cave. "They are the most horrific disaster our people have encountered. We, the Snow Elves, used to rule the entirety of Skyrim. Before the first men stepped on the ground of Tamriel. At first our relations were peaceful. But then, in the first settlement of theirs, called Saarthal, the humans found an artifact of tremendous power. We had to safeguard it."

Danny and Serana's eyes widened as they looked at each other. "The Eye..."

"How do you know?" Gelebor asked.

There wasn't any malice, just curiosity in his voice.

"The world was nearly destroyed by it. One stupid Altmer almost unleashed its power."

"And I absorbed some of it," Danny grumbled. "It burned off quickly, though. I miss the opportunity."

"And what happened?"

"Psijics took it. They are guarding the Eye now," told Serana.

"Then I am calm. But back to the story...my ancestors took the measures too drastically. Nords did not take lightly to the offense and a huge war began. The war we have lost."

"Nords were killing us wherever they went, but me and my brothers and sisters in priesthood were guarded by the mountains. We have managed to hide. But the rest of our kin was not that lucky. They asked our meric brothers - Dwemers, to help us, to give us home in their underground cities. They agreed, on one condition. We had to be their servants. There was little choice. We didn't know what they had in mind."

Danny started to pity the elf in front of him. He really sounded pained. Serana shared his feelings.

"They gave strict rations to us. I don't know of what they were made of, but eventually, several generations later...it made our people blind. They degraded in terms of culture, morals, and basic understanding of the world around them. Even the language became nothing like what I still can speak. They are what you call the Falmer. But this story is why I give them a different name."

"But what of your brothers?" Serana asked. "Why aren't there any left if you have lived in seclusion?"

"Eventually, the Betrayed have found the way here. We tried to repeal them, but we aren't warriors for the most part, there were too few paladins, no match for their sheer numbers. Now they have the outside of the chantry in their disposal. The entrance has been sealed. I know why you are here. You need Auri-El's bow. But to do that you need to get to the chantry."

"How do we do that?"

"You will have to walk the path of Piligrimage. Only then the gates shall open. Let me show you."

They got up and went back to the stone construction.

"But first...I want to ask you for a favor, once you get there."

"Sure. What is it?"

"I need you to kill Arch-Curate Vyrthur...my brother."

To say that the couple was surprised would be an understatement. He seemed like a nice fellow, why would he want such thing?

"Why would you want to kill your brother of all things?"

"The kinship between us is long gone. I don't understand what he's become, but he is no longer the brother I once knew. It was the Betrayed, they did something to him, I just don't know why Auri-El would allow this to happen."

"Why do you think the Betrayed have something to do with it?"

"Because they broke into the Inner Sanctum, where Vyrthur was."

"You don't even know if he is alive," Serana said.

"He is alive. I've seen him. But something is wrong. He never looks like he is in pain or under duress. He just...stands there as if...waiting."

It really sounded ominous. But they had to get to the chantry nonetheless.

"Why didn't you go there?" The vampire narrowed her orange eyes suspiciously.

"Leaving the wayshrines unguarded would be violating my sacred duty as a Paladin of Auri-El. And if I go there alone, it would only result in my death."

"Wayshrines?"

"Let me show you."

Gelebor stood near the construction. His right hand glowed with golden light, and once released, the spell did something. The thing turned out to be a roof of the small building, which emerged from the ground by magic force alone. Inside were several engraved archways, and a basin in its center.

"So this is snow elf magic," Serana mouthed near Danny. "Incredible."

"This is a Wayshrine. They were used for meditation and transport when the Chantry was a place of enlightenment. Prelates of these shrines were charged with teaching mantras of Auri-El to the initiates."

"And what about the basin?" Danny asked.

"Once the initiate completed his mantras, he'd dip the ceremonial ewer in the basin of the wayshrine and proceed to the next one."

"So, these initiates had to lug around a heavy pitcher of water. Marvelous," Serana noted dryly. "How long would they have to do that?"

"Well, once it is done, he'd bring the ewer to the Chantry's Inner Sanctum. Pouring the contents of the ewer in the sacred basin would open the gates, and the initiates would be able to converse with the Arch-Curate himself."

"All that just to end up dumping it out?" The vampire raised her eyebrow.

"Makes no sense," Danny mumbled. "Although there must be some meaning."

"It's indeed symbolic. I don't expect you to understand," Gelebor said, sounding offended.

"So, let's get this straight. We need to do all this nonsense to get into the temple so we can kill your brother and claim the Bow?"

"I know how it all sounds, but if there was another way I'd have done it long ago."

"And how many shrines are there?"

"Five in total, spread apart."

"Great," Danny said with sarcastic enthusiasm. "More caves!"

"Caves? Oh no, the Chantry encompasses more than a few caves, as you'll discover soon enough. Here, take the ewer from there."

Gelebor pointed at the platform, where the ewer was standing. It was purely white, with many patterns and scale-like composition. Danny pulled it into his hand, trying its weight. Like expected, like a feather.

"We will be off then."

"May Auri-El watch over you," Gelebor nodded.

Danny and Serana went inside the shrine, and the engraved archway glimmered like a mirror, before showing the image of some dark passage. It was a portal.

"Ready?" Danny asked, taking her hand.

Serana only nodded, before they stepped through.