Dardeh whirled and looked behind him. His heart fell, as far and as fast as his heart had ever fallen.\u00a0 He felt as if his world had ended.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/5-2-17-1.png\")
<\/p>\n
Roggi lay supine, his arms and legs splayed out to the sides and his face turned toward the circular half-wall enclosing the rooftop. When he\u2019d fallen, Roggi had been on his side, motionless.\u00a0 Now he was on his back. Dardeh could see no sign of movement.<\/p>\n
But he had to have moved to get onto his back, yes? He must have!<\/em><\/p>\n He rushed to Roggi\u2019s side and stood for yet another moment that felt like a lifetime but was only the blink of an eye, looking down at him, willing him to turn his head, open his eye, just breathe<\/em> \u2013 anything. There was nothing, nothing at all; and Dardeh knelt down, tears streaming down his face as they so often did, so easily.\u00a0 He reached out to touch Roggi, tentatively.<\/p>\n He can\u2019t be gone. Please, Talos, let this man be alive, still. Please. I can\u2019t live without him.<\/em><\/p>\n Just as his hand was about to touch Roggi\u2019s face, Dardeh heard a sound. It was barely a whisper, but it was clearly a word.<\/p>\n \u201cDra-gon\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n His eyes flew open wide.\u00a0 He leaned over, closer to Roggi\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi! Talk to me, my love. Tell me you\u2019re still here. Stay with me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI saw\u2026 a dragon.\u201d His voice was feeble, and raspy \u2013 raspy the way Edwyn Wickham\u2019s voice had been at the end. But it was his voice.<\/p>\n Dear gods he\u2019s alive.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t move, sweetheart. Wait. I\u2019ve got some potions. Hold on.\u201d\u00a0 Dardeh dove into his pack, his heart pounding, and pulled out anything that might remotely be of any use \u2013 healing potions, stamina potions, even a bottle of skooma he\u2019d picked up from the corpse of an Imperial who\u2019d been stupid enough to attack them on the road.\u00a0 He opened the first one and gently turned Roggi\u2019s head to face him, lifted his head just enough so that he could drink the potion without choking.<\/p>\n \u201cTake this, Roggi. I have more. Please stay with me.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi drank the potion, although his eyelids kept sagging shut and then fluttering open again.\u00a0 Dardeh\u2019s heart pounded and his hands shook as he opened another healing potion, this one the strongest he\u2019d packed with him, and once more lifted Roggi\u2019s head and trickled the liquid down into his mouth.\u00a0 Roggi didn\u2019t open his eyes; but he did swallow, and Dardeh watched as slowly, ever so slowly, color began to creep back into his cheeks.<\/p>\n When the large flask was nearly empty, Roggi coughed and his eyes opened.\u00a0 It seemed for a moment that he wasn\u2019t sure where he was, or who he was with, and Dardeh wailed inside to think that he might have lost his love even as he\u2019d kept his body alive.<\/p>\n Then Roggi blinked a few times, and smiled. It was a weak smile, but it was a smile, nonetheless.<\/p>\n \u201cDar.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh collapsed for a moment, sitting beside Roggi, sobbing with relief.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s this then? Skooma? You going to take advantage of me or something?\u201d\u00a0 Roggi\u2019s voice was weak, but he chuckled anyway.<\/p>\n Dardeh choked out something that was supposed to be a laugh, but was too full of tears to sound it. \u201cWell, it\u2019s a stimulant. I thought it might help.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi cleared his throat and shook his head. \u201cI\u2019ll take a stamina or two if you have them, though. I feel a little weak.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh handed Roggi all the useful potions he had and then rose and took a couple of steps away, struggling to get himself under control and silently breathing thanks to Talos that once again this hardy, wonderful man had cheated death. Even if it had been almost too late, he\u2019d been there. For once, he\u2019d been there in time. He scrubbed his eyes dry with the back of his hands and turned to find Roggi sitting up.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I\u2019d lost you,\u201d he murmured, not quite able to meet Roggi\u2019s gaze.\u00a0 \u201cI think I might have thrown myself right off this roof if you hadn\u2019t made it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI saw a dragon,\u201d Roggi repeated.<\/p>\n Dardeh shook his head in confusion. \u201cNo dragon, not that I saw. I would have noticed, trust me. I did have Dragon Aspect going. Maybe that\u2019s what you saw? You were pretty much out of it after Edwyn\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He growled, in spite of himself.<\/p>\n \u201cWait. What happened to Edwyn?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh shook his head, pondering.\u00a0 It was going to be hard to explain, truly.<\/p>\n That\u2026 thing he did. That blood disc. It was killing him.\u00a0 He was already hurt. I saw his hands \u2013 they had huge red gashes across the palms. He couldn\u2019t fight with a weapon, not even a conjured weapon. And when he cast that spell; even that much was agonizing for him. I could see it in his eyes and on his face. Whatever that spell was, it was killing him. When he spoke, his voice was dry, hoarse \u2013 like a draugr\u2019s voice. Like the voice of a soul that died a very long time ago.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDo you remember the thing he cast at you?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi shuddered.\u00a0 He nodded; then he reached for another healing potion and drank it.\u00a0 \u201cYeah I do. It felt like my blood was being taken from me.\u00a0 It also felt like the worst sword wound I\u2019ve ever had \u2013 slicing through me. But it seemed to be hurting him, too. What was<\/em> that thing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, but I think it was getting wider because your blood was adding to his. That\u2019s the best theory I have.\u00a0 By the time I reacted he hardly had a voice left. He sounded like he\u2019d pulled out almost all of the blood in his body to attack you.\u201d<\/p>\n It was quiet for a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cYou<\/em> had a voice, Dardeh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. I did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou sounded like a dragon.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh nodded. \u201cNo doubt. I was \u2013 angrier than I can ever remember being. I guess I taunted him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou sounded like Alduin, Dar.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh\u2019s gaze snapped to hold Roggi\u2019s, and he stared.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you mean by that?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi closed his eyes again for a moment, and sagged; and Dardeh panicked, thinking that he hadn\u2019t really been saved after all.\u00a0 But Roggi just took a deep breath and spoke quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was deeper than anything I\u2019ve ever heard, Dar. It sounded like your voice but with all of the dragons we\u2019ve ever fought all added in. Big. Huge. I\u2019m surprised he was able to stand there and talk back to you. I was terrified, when you asked him whether he knew his time was at an end.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh felt a shock run through him.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told him that in Dovahzul.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOk, sure. But that\u2019s what you said.\u00a0 I heard the whole thing. I would have wet myself if you\u2019d been saying it to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you didn\u2019t understand Dovahzul.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi looked up at him and smiled. \u201cAnd I thought you were making it up when you said you\u2019d been to Sovngarde and met Ysgramor. I don\u2019t know, Dar. All I can say is that I know what you told him.\u201d\u00a0 He frowned. \u201cWhere\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh sighed, and inclined his head backward toward the large pile of shimmering ash on the rooftop.\u00a0 \u201cHe was half dead already by the time I Shouted at him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo he\u2019s really gone.\u201d Roggi was silent for a long moment, and then nodded.\u00a0 \u201cHelp me up? I\u2019m still a bit weak.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh guffawed. \u201cA bit weak, says the man who was a breath or two away from going to Sovngarde himself.\u201d\u00a0 He reached out his hand and pulled Roggi up.\u00a0 It was clear that it would need some time, lots of rest, and the best of care before he would do any dragon slaying again.<\/p>\n Roggi smiled. \u201cI\u2019m a little tired, Dardeh. I might need to take some time off once we get Ulfric safely under that crown he\u2019s supposed to have. But I told you, it\u2019ll take more than that to get rid of me.\u201d<\/p>\n He leaned forward, and Dardeh found himself on the receiving end of the sweetest kiss he could ever remember having experienced.\u00a0 He lost himself in it for a moment and then pulled away as he felt Roggi begin to tremble.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you ok?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi nodded, and smiled. \u201cYeah. I\u2019m kind of weak. I figured I\u2019d be ok, though. You can always use that tail of yours to balance for both of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh stared at him.<\/p>\n That\u2026 what?\u00a0 He thinks I have a \u2026tail?<\/em><\/p>\n He stared at Roggi, trying to formulate words into some kind of coherent question.\u00a0 He was just about to open his mouth when another voice broke his train of thought completely.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Shor\u2019s bones!\u201d<\/p>\n He whirled just in time to see two figures shimmer into existence at the edge of the rooftop.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Brynjolf and Agryn both pulled the shadows in around themselves as they climbed the slopes up from the shore, to reach the base of the College\u2019s precarious bridge to the mainland.\u00a0\u00a0 Agryn had assured him that he and Vyctyna had entered this way any number of times to check in with Edwyn.<\/p>\n I surely have enough magic right now to fake it as a scholar coming to the library, I suppose. Who could ever have imagined it? Surely not Da.<\/em><\/p>\n The bridge was empty of mages or guards at the moment, which he found a bit strange; but Brynjolf was grateful for it.\u00a0 They made their way to the central courtyard and crossed it carefully, avoiding the two guards circling around its perimeter.\u00a0 Agryn led the way into the Hall of the Elements and then tugged on Brynjolf\u2019s arm, leading him to the right and up the stairs toward the Arcanaeum.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s usually up here badgering Urag gro-Shub for more information when he\u2019s here,\u201d Agryn whispered as he faded back into visibility.\u00a0 \u201cIf he\u2019s not here, he\u2019s in his quarters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope he\u2019s somewhere that we can get the drop on him,\u201d Brynjolf murmured. \u201cI don\u2019t want a long battle with him and I don\u2019t want anyone else to get hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n He heard voices as they neared the top of the circular stair.\u00a0 Agryn heard them, too; he tapped Brynjolf on the arm and cupped a hand behind an ear.\u00a0 Brynjolf nodded and focused on the sound, which grew clearer as they neared.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look like you\u2019ve seen a ghost, Urag,\u201d the woman whined, her voice nasal and abrasive. \u201cWhat\u2019s happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh, nothing really. The Archmage is having words with some visitors. He let me know that I was to back off. I guess I got a little rattled.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are they? And why were you rattled?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI, uh, didn\u2019t remember his eyes being yellow. I thought they were grey. It kind of, well, set me back a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmm. They are grey. At least I thought so, when he came to buy some spells from me. Where\u2019d you say they went?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t, but I think they went up on the roof. I think we should stay put. If they haven\u2019t come down again pretty soon I\u2019ll send some of the guards up there to check.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight. No need for us to go putting ourselves in harm\u2019s way. The Archmage has some pretty nasty spells.\u201d<\/p>\n Agryn pointed across the way at the darkened stairwells, and became invisible again. Brynjolf followed suit.<\/p>\n He was happy that it was a cloudy morning, when they emerged onto the roof of the College.\u00a0 Even so, he squinted into the light for a moment, his eyes watering as he scanned the area for signs of life.<\/p>\n On the far side of the tower he saw the familiar forms of Dardeh and Roggi, engaged in a kiss.\u00a0 He had a moment of amusement, seeing that, even though he was a bit concerned that Roggi seemed a bit unsteady on his feet. \u00a0Then his eyes fell to the tower roof between him and them.\u00a0 And his mouth followed suit.<\/p>\n There were several piles on the rooftop; it was Winterhold, after all, and snow regularly accumulated there in spite of the always-brisk, sometimes-brutal winds.\u00a0 Near the center, though, was something different. It was a sizeable pile of shimmering, pinkish ash.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Shor\u2019s bones!\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf moved across the space and knelt before the ash pile, reaching out to gingerly run his fingers through the ash.\u00a0 He was certain he knew whose ashes they were, and yet it was confirmed for him when he could sense the man\u2019s energy still lingering there. He felt his throat tighten for a moment, remembering similar piles of bright red ash, one that he\u2019d been glad to see and the other which had broken his heart.<\/p>\n He rose, slowly, shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you found him first,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cMore like he found us,\u201d Dardeh said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just happened to be in the area,\u201d Roggi added. \u201cWe were on our way back to talk to Ulfric about some of the other Jarls. We should be in good shape for the Moot.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf peered at Roggi. His voice sounds weak to me. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good to know. Are you alright, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh snorted. \u201cHe\u2019s pretty good for a guy who was about two heartbeats away from dying. It\u2019s like we all figured. Edwyn wanted my blood and wasn\u2019t going to take no for an answer. He ended up paying the price and he almost took Roggi with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEh,\u201d Roggi said, waving off their concerns. \u201cI had a dragon save me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo he\u2019s gone,\u201d Brynjolf repeated quietly, shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Good riddance,\u201d Dardeh growled. \u201cIt\u2019ll be better for the College to have someone in charge whose mind isn\u2019t warped.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd who isn\u2019t trying to take over the world,\u201d Agryn murmured from somewhere behind them. Brynjolf glanced at him; he was staring off into the distance, but not really focusing on anything, as far as he could tell. He moved to stand in front of Agryn.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n Agryn nodded. \u201cYes. He had to die. But I\u2019d be lying if I said I wasn\u2019t\u2026 sad. He was my friend, Brynjolf. For longer than all of the mortal lives in this building put together, he was my friend.\u201d\u00a0 He looked at the pile of ash and sighed. \u201cOnce, he was a good man.\u00a0 Even as vampire, he was a good man.\u00a0 He only killed if he was ordered to, or if it was absolutely necessary. He only took as much blood as he needed to survive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, lad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t right, any more.\u00a0 That good man died a long time ago now. I\u2019ll be fine, as long as I have Vyctyna. But I\u2019d be lying if I said I wasn\u2019t sad,\u201d he repeated quietly.<\/p>\n Brynjolf nodded.\u00a0 He stood staring at the ash pile himself, for several moments, feeling as bleak as he could remember feeling \u2013 except for that morning when he\u2019d found that Dagnell had left him.<\/p>\n \u201cBryn?\u201d<\/p>\n He sighed and turned to face Roggi.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi swallowed hard. \u201cIt\u2019s a bit startling to see you with those eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh!\u00a0 Damn,\u201d Brynjolf said. \u201cYou didn\u2019t know. Of course you didn\u2019t know.\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head. \u201cIt was already underway when we all talked at the house. I didn\u2019t dare say anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe would have stopped you, somehow.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf nodded. \u201cI know. So I waited. And then I went to Volkihar Castle. I didn\u2019t know how it was going to be and I didn\u2019t want you or anyone else getting hurt if it went sideways.\u00a0 But they were all with us. Edwyn Wickham killed one of the oldest and best-respected vampires in Tamriel and they weren\u2019t having it. That\u2019s why Agryn and I are here now. We were going to take care of him.\u201d\u00a0 His face fell.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he took care of himself,\u201d Roggi murmured. \u201cDar\u2019s fire breath was what took him out in the end, but he had weakened himself with a spell.\u201d\u00a0 He shuddered. \u201cHe really did almost kill me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was already hurt when he got here,\u201d Dardeh said quietly. \u201cI don\u2019t know how, but it was obvious.\u201d\u00a0 He looked at Agryn and frowned. \u201cYou were there that night, weren\u2019t you? The night Rayya died. I recognize your voice.\u201d<\/p>\n Agryn winced, and then nodded. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Dardeh. I was following Lord Wickham\u2019s orders. I didn\u2019t expect anyone at all to be hurt, much less die.\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head. \u201cI thought it was a bad idea to begin with but, well, I followed him for so long. I thought he must know what he was doing.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh stared at him for a long time, the muscles in his jaws working.\u00a0 \u201cYou know I should kill you for that.\u00a0 Rayya died because of you, in a real sense.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you won\u2019t, lad,\u201d Brynjolf said quietly. \u201cBecause it would be a real shame if you and I had to fight each other.\u201d<\/p>\n It was dead silent for a moment as they all stared at each other.\u00a0 Don\u2019t fight me, Dardeh. We have no reason to fight. <\/em>He kept projecting the thought toward Dardeh\u2019s odd-colored eyes until finally Dardeh blinked, and heaved a heavy sigh, turning away from them.<\/p>\n \u201cSayma would never forgive either one of you,\u201d Roggi said.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s not going to forgive me anyway, Roggi,\u201d Brynjolf said, shrugging.<\/p>\n Roggi\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cOh. Damn.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf nodded. \u00a0It\u2019s going to be a very long eternity. Very, very long.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAll I can do is apologize, Dardeh,\u201d Agryn said. \u201cAnd remove myself. Brynjolf, I\u2019m heading back. Will you be, um, taking over?\u201d<\/p>\n Both Dardeh and Roggi stared at him.\u00a0 \u201cTaking\u2026 over?\u201d Roggi\u2019s voice sounded weak, but his curiosity was strong.<\/p>\n Brynjolf shook his head. \u201cAssuming command. Lord of the Volkihar. I\u2019m the next male in line because of Vitus. They\u2019re all ready and waiting for me.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled at Agryn. \u201cBut, no. Not me. Tell Serana it\u2019s hers. I\u2019ll check in occasionally. If she needs me I\u2019ll come, but I have other responsibilities, as you know.\u201d<\/p>\n Agryn gave him a small smile. \u201cAnd you know where we\u2019ll be. We\u2019re not going to stay there at the castle. Well then, I\u2019ll be off. Take care, Dragonborn. For what it\u2019s worth, I\u2019m really glad that you survived this.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh didn\u2019t smile, but he did nod at Agryn.\u00a0 Agryn nodded back, and then shimmered out of sight and disappeared.\u00a0 Brynjolf wondered whether or not he would ever see the Breton and his partner again. It was likely that he would, if they moved into the Crypt; but for all he knew they would avoid him, and the association he would forever have for them with the ending of Edwyn Wickham.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess you two ought to go see Ulfric,\u201d Brynjolf said, turning back to Roggi and Dardeh.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be glad to hear when everything is settled.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are<\/em> you going to do, brother?\u201d Roggi asked gently. \u201cIt\u2019s more than a little unsettling to think of you as the leader of the Volkihar, I have to admit.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf couldn\u2019t help himself; he laughed. \u201cNo doubt. What do you think?\u201d\u00a0 He pulled back his lips to expose his fangs for a moment and chuckled as Roggi\u2019s face went pale.<\/p>\n \u201cBy Ysmir, Bryn. Put those things away!\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf chuckled again and nodded. \u201cGood idea.\u201d He gathered magic, flicking his hand out to the side and casting his illusion spell. \u201cBetter?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi blew out a breath. \u201cMuch. I don\u2019t know which was worse, seeing your fangs or seeing Dar with a tail, horns, and wings.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf shot Dardeh a confused glance. Dardeh shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi was very near to death after Edwyn got done with him, Bryn. I\u2019m not sure what it is that he saw.\u201d<\/p>\n Well I don\u2019t know what to think. But I do know that these two need time to rest. And I need time. I guess I have all the time in the world, now.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAlright. I\u2019m going to head home. Or, at least, to Honeyside. I\u2026 need to think.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi nodded. \u201cTake care of yourself, Bryn. And if you need anything come see us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope to see you soon.\u201d<\/p>\n He gathered the darkness in around him and made his way toward the College\u2019s towers.\u00a0 Dardeh and Roggi would need to decide what to do about Edwyn Wickham\u2019s ashes. He wanted nothing more to do with the man.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n He paced the deck until he was afraid there would be a permanent groove in it. He wanted nothing more than to return to the lodge in the pass, to gather Sayma up into his arms and tell her that it was over now, that they were all safe and that the four of them \u2013 he, Sayma, Chip and Qaralana \u2013 could go back to being a normal family.<\/p>\n A normal family of thieves and assassins. But a family, nevertheless.<\/em><\/p>\n My family.<\/em><\/p>\n But Sayma could only barely endure his presence. He\u2019d stopped there, at their home, to tell her that he was safely back and she\u2019d shrunk away from him with tears standing in her eyes.<\/p>\n He couldn\u2019t blame her, really. Even though she\u2019d only been raised by her parents for a few years, she was a Redguard. Childhood lessons stayed burned into your soul forever; he was proof enough of that, always telling himself how badly he failed at everything. And Redguards abhorred the undead.<\/p>\n She\u2019d told him about her experience in Coldharbour, once; how the waters surrounding the island pulled at a living being, draining the life from her like a vampire drained its victims.\u00a0 He\u2019d been hard pressed to find anything to say to that, because, after all, that was exactly what he did when he wasn\u2019t being careful to keep his victims alive.\u00a0 He was not always careful. Andante \u2013 Vitus \u2013 had been worse.<\/p>\n I had to do it. Didn\u2019t I? That was how it looked at the time.<\/em><\/p>\n Edwyn had to be stopped and I was the only one who could infiltrate Volkihar and coordinate things with Serana. <\/em><\/p>\n He frowned. He had been wrong about that. Serana had wanted Edwyn killed; that was clear enough.\u00a0 But couldn\u2019t she have recruited one of the others to help her do it? Garan Marethi, Fura, or even Orthjolf? \u00a0They\u2019d all been willing to line up behind the cause when it was time to push Edwyn out; and yet it was he, Brynjolf, who she\u2019d come to asking for help.<\/p>\n He turned and paced the deck again.<\/p>\n Maybe not. They were all pretty loyal to Harkon when he was there, and to Vitus for that little time we were there, although less so. They were likely loyal to Edwyn until he killed Vingalmo. Face it, as strong as he was, Vitus didn\u2019t waste any charisma on the Volkihar the way Edwyn did. He was far too focused on me. And he never showed his power the way Edwyn did by killing Vingalmo. They were probably drawn to Edwyn\u2019s authority just as they bowed to Harkon\u2019s. <\/em><\/p>\n Just as we all bowed to Mercer Frey for so many years.<\/em><\/p>\n I had no way beforehand to know all the rest of them were against Edwyn too. Neither did Serana. We were both working on what information we had at hand.<\/em><\/p>\n But it didn\u2019t matter, in the end. He had <\/em>turned, with Serana\u2019s help. He had done so because he wanted to be the one with power, the one to save the day, the one to take over the leadership of the clan and add that jewel to the crown of power he\u2019d been building all these years.<\/p>\n Face it. I wanted this. I wanted to be a vampire again. I was Guildmaster. I was a Nightingale. I had been high up in the power structure of the Volkihar and I wanted that, too. Maybe I just used Edwyn Wickham as an excuse. I don\u2019t know.<\/em><\/p>\n But I want Sayma more. I want my family. And she tried. I could see how much she wanted us to be together. She just can\u2019t overcome her fear. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDamn it!\u201d\u00a0 He struck out with one arm and the tankard that had been resting on the porch railing sailed out well over the waters of the lake before splashing into it with a glug. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what in Oblivion I want or don\u2019t want. I\u2019m stuck, now. Nobody needed me to become a vampire again. He\u2019s dead, and I\u2019m going to be apart from my family forever because there\u2019s no way to cure this.\u201d<\/p>\n He went back inside and stumped down over the stairs, kicking off his boots and tearing himself out of his armor. He tossed himself onto the bed and closed his eyes, muttering \u201cDamn it\u201d every so often. He hadn\u2019t really expected to fall asleep, but before long his mind quieted and the world went dark around him.<\/p>\n He\u2019d been exhausted. Tired from all the running, worn out from all the stress of worrying about Lord Edwyn Wickham, weary of the bad dreams and the self-doubt. He was more than weary of the non-stop politics. If it wasn\u2019t the Civil War and its aftermath, it was Maven Black-Briar and the continual struggle with trade, and the business of the Guild. And now there was this: the wear and tear of transformation on his body, and the soul-crushing burden of knowing he would never be himself again.<\/p>\n He slept. But even as he slept he thrashed from side to side, his dreams not allowing him the sweet escape of oblivion.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a way, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf snapped up to a sitting position, his heart pounding, and looked at the figure perched on the edge of the bed beside him. His mouth opened in disbelief; his heart pounded. And his eyes began to fill.<\/p>\n \u201cBy the Eight, lad. How is it that you are here?\u201d he managed to choke out.<\/p>\n The smiling eyes that sparkled at him were neither the vivid blue nor the vibrant gold that Brynjolf remembered, but sparkle they did. \u201cI\u2019m not, really,\u201d he said, waving a hand in the air. \u201cYou\u2019re having a dream, and this is the only way I can talk to you besides warming up that jar in your bedroom. But I\u2019m still awfully glad to see you again, loverboy. You\u2019re still just as beautiful as I remember. More, actually. I wish I could hold you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAndante, you have no idea how much I have wanted to see you again,\u201d Brynjolf whispered. Then he shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. I mean Vitus.\u201d<\/p>\n The man looked around the room and smiled. \u201cIt\u2019s fine. You can call me Andante, here in this place. This is where I was Andante. I\u2019m never really very far away, you know. I may be part of the Evergloam now but that\u2019s why I\u2019m always with you. Walk with the shadows, and all that.\u201d He chuckled. \u201cTwo children now. You\u2019ve been busy. That\u2019s the Brynjolf I know and love.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yes. But it doesn\u2019t do me much good if I can\u2019t watch them grow up,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy did you do it, Bryn?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, have another child? It just kind of happened, when, you know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Andante laughed. \u201cThat\u2019s not what I meant, loverboy. I know how babies are made; that\u2019s why I was always very careful to avoid such an error.\u201d His expression grew more serious. \u201cNo. Why did you turn again? I wanted you to be with your family. I really wanted that for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf sighed, staring at the face he\u2019d once thought would be the only one he would see when he closed his eyes. \u201cI know, lad. I did too, at least once I got over being angry that you left me. But you know I love being a vampire. You know that. There is so much about it that makes me feel\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Andante nodded. \u201cStrong. Maybe even invincible. I know. I felt that way about it, too. You\u2019re a magnificent vampire, Bryn. More than I could ever have imagined. So you have to decide, loverboy. Do you want your family? Or do you want to be the Lord of the Volkihar?\u00a0 You can\u2019t have both, not unless Sayma is a vampire too.\u00a0 You know that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat will never happen. But that\u2019s why I\u2019m so upset, lad. I don\u2019t really have a decision to make, not any more. Falion is dead, and I\u2019ll be a vampire forever. And as much as I love the way it makes me feel, it was a stupid decision. They didn\u2019t need me.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante swung his legs up onto the bed and sighed, peering at Brynjolf\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cThey always will need you, Brynjolf. Just as I needed you. You don\u2019t seem to understand that. Sayma needs you. Your children need you. But listen to me. There is a way. You can be human again and you need to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut we killed Falion.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCorrection. I<\/em> killed Falion. And I\u2019m telling you there is still a way. Pay attention. You will need to find … College \u2026 Old books. Legends.\u00a0 \u2026 done before.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf frowned. He knew it was a dream that he was in, but his dream wasn\u2019t making any sense.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026formula. I will\u2026.\u201d\u00a0 Andante\u2019s lips moved but his voice was intermittently fading away to nothing.\u00a0 He smiled, and nodded, and then sighed. \u201cI love you, Brynjolf.\u201d<\/p>\n He started to fade away.\u00a0 Brynjolf wanted to reach for him, hold him, but he knew that it was just a dream and he wouldn\u2019t be able to do so.<\/p>\n \u201cI love you, too, lad. Don\u2019t forget.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante smiled again, and then disappeared.<\/p>\n Much later Brynjolf woke, sat up, and looked around the room, shaking his head. After the dream he\u2019d slept deeply, and felt thoroughly rested.\u00a0 Nonetheless, he was confused.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did he mean? Is there a cure? Is that what it was? Something about the College and alchemy.\u201d<\/p>\n There was only one way he could think of to find out whether such a thing existed, and it was going to require him to make a trip back to where he\u2019d just been. It was time to assert his status as Guildmaster. Enthir might well think him crazy when he asked for information on a cure for vampirism, but if it was important enough for Andante to come to him from the Evergloam, he would make the trip. First, he needed to check in at the Guild, and make certain that everything was going smoothly.<\/p>\n He stopped and shook his head, and chuckled.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I am crazy.\u00a0 Maybe it was just a dream, and that\u2019s all that it was.\u201d<\/p>\n He walked up the stairs and opened the chest where he stored blood potions, pulling one out and downing it with a satisfied sigh. It wouldn\u2019t do to be hungry in the presence of all his subordinates.\u00a0 They would bow to his influence as readily as the Volkihar had bowed to Edwyn\u2019s, and he really didn\u2019t want that.<\/p>\n They follow me because they want to, not because they must. Isn\u2019t that what Vitus said to me once?<\/em><\/p>\n He cast his illusion spell and stepped out into the day, making his way briskly across the city and down the stairs to the Ratway.<\/p>\n Dardeh stood for a moment in utter shock, silent, as the shell of his Dragon Aspect power dissipated. He still couldn\u2019t quite believe what he had witnessed, and felt, and done. For that moment \u2013 only a heartbeat or two, but it felt much longer – he couldn\u2019t move. Then he started shaking. By the … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/5-2-17-2.png\")
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