4e 202, inside the tower ruin of the Volkihar castle, William and Serana faced the portal that lead to the soul cairn, William start walking downstair to the portal entrance when suddenly a violent pain made him flinch as Serana, in panick, run to him and drag him back upstairs (see screen 1).

Serana : Are you alright ? that looked painful.

William : It was. What happened ?

Serana : Now that i think about it... I should have expected that. Sorry. It's hard to describe. The Soul Cairn is... well, hungry, for lack of a better word. It's trying to take your life essence as payment.

William : So there's no way in, then.

 Serana : There might be, but i don't think you're going to like it. Vampires aren't counted among the living. I could probably go through there without a problem.

William : Are you saying that i need to become a vampire ?

Serana : Not your first choice, i'd guess.

William : There has to be another way.

 Serana : Maybe. We could just "pay the toll" another way. It wants a soul, so we give it a soul. Yours.

William :But wouldn't that kill me ? 

Serana : My mother taught me a trick or two. I could partially soul trap you, and offer that gem to the Ideal Masters. It might be enough to satisfy them. It would make you a bit weaker when we travel through the Soul Cairn, but we might be able to fix that once we're inside. Maybe.

William : Those are my only options ?

Serana : I'm sorry. I wish i knew a better way, something that would be easier for you. Just know that... whatever path you choose, i won't think any less of you. Sometimes things just have to be done. I know that better than anybody.

William think about the options for a few seconds.

Serana : Have you made up your mind ?

William : Yes. Soul trap me. I won't feel right as a vampire.

Serana : Are you sure ? i'm willing to do it, but you need to think it through. You'll remain mortal, but you'll find yourself weakened within the Soul Cairn.

William : I'm ready.

Serana : I know this is difficult for you. I hope you trust me. I'd never do anything that could hurt you.

William smile to her as she smile back to him. 

William : I know. I trust you completely.

Serana : Thank you. Let's not waste any more time then. I promise to try and make this as painless as possible. Hold still.

Serana start casting a spell in her right hand while holding a black soul gem in her other hand, a purple light start glowing weakly from her right hand as she put it on William's chest, a small purple light orb escaped from William's chest and enter into the soul gem as William suddenly start feeling weaker.

Serana : That should be enough. Let's enter and find my mother.

William nod silently as they both walk downstairs toward the portal, William take a deep breath and closed his eyes as he walk toward the portal. 

Serana : Is everything alright ?

William : Yes don't worry, it's just i always hate portals.

Serana : Why if it's not too indiscrete. 

William : Because portals are practical to made great distances in a second but i know it's dangerous, one tiny mistake or malfunction and you ends up cut in half, with a missing limb or at the wrong place, if not dead. That's why i will always prefer spending few weeks of journeying on Alfie's back to go at the other end of Tamriel than taking a portal. 

Serana : Saying like that, i can understand.

William : Well, let's go inside that thing and finding your mother.

Serana : You're right, let's go. 

They both enter into the portal and emerge into a desolated land, bathed in a dark, purple sky with many rocky structure visible further away and crystalline structures floating in the air (see screen 2).

William : This place is really... i didn't even know wich words could fit to describe it.

Serana : I agree, I'd heard stories about the Soul Cairn, but never thought I'd see it myself. So far it's... about what I imagined. You'd think a vampire would be right at home in this place. You'd be wrong. Let's just find my mother and get out of here, quickly.

William : Couldn't agree more with you, the sooner we find your mother and the scroll and get out of here, the better i'll be.

They walk down the stairs and start following a path, numerous ghostly shape can be seen around them, probably the souls trapped here.

William : Do you know anything about this place ? 

Serana : Just what my mother told me. I've also studied a little bit on my own, but there's not much. When something is trapped in a soul gem, and then the energy is used for powering an enchantment, the remnants are sent here.

William : Any soul gem ? 

Serana : Well, i think it's specifically the black ones. I don't know if the Soul Cairn takes just any leftovers.

William : Does anything live here ?

Serana : Look at this place. Do you think anything would want to live here ? The only things that can survive here are the Ideal Masters, the undead and the souls themselves. Well, if you want to call that "living."

William : Do you think we'll meet the Ideal Masters ? 

Serana : I don't think anyone's ever met the Ideal Masters. I'm not even sure anyone knows what they look like. They could be underground, flying above us... They might be the ground. I have no idea.

William : Why are they collecting these souls ?

Serana : Lots of theories. Some say they feed on them like i feed on blood. Others think they use them as payment to an even higher power... almost like a currency. A very strange currency. Whatever they're doing with them, they've been harvesting for millennia. No telling how many souls are trapped here.

William : Why would a necromancer want to deal with them ?

Serana : Look around you. There are some extremely powerful undead here. Even a necromancers as seasoned as my mother would be willing to spend years trying to gain access to them.

William : Summon them you mean ?

Serana : Exactly. It's a lost art. Most necromancers just raise up whatever bodies are nearby. A simple trick, really. Child's play. But bringing something from the Soul Cairn gives you something much more powerful.

William : How do the necromancers communicate with them ?

Serana : Well, that's usually the trick. It's possible to do it through a simple portal. But to finalize the deal, you have to travel here yourself... and most of them never come back.

As they walk, William see a soul, yelling to someone. 

Soul : Arvak! Arvak, where are you? Arvak, please come back ! Come back !

Upon seing William and Serana, he suddenly turned and walk to them (see screen 3).

Soul : You ! you must help me find my Arvak. He doesn't deserve to be in a place like this !

William : (confused) Uh... who is Arvak ?

Soul : Arvak. My horse. We came to this horrible place together. We were attacked by monsters, so i told him to run. Please, he's such a loyal creature, and he's been running for so long. You have to save him ! A place like this will change you...

William : How can i save him ?

Soul : You have to find his skull, he's somewhere in this place.

William : Do you know where it is ?

Soul : Arvak ! Arvak, where are you ? Arvak, please come back ! Come back !

He suddenly vanished, William look at Serana with a confused expression. 

William : They can see us ?

Serana : Apparently. You really planned to find that skull ?

William : Why not, an horse could be useful to move faster in this place. Plus, i understand that soul, Alfie isn't only an horse for me, it's been almost a decade he's my trustworthy companion so i'd probably did the same if i was in this soul shoes. 

Serana : You're not wrong. Now let's continue. My mother must be waiting on the other side of that thing.

They resumed their walk, passing by the other side of the arch structure, allowing them to see a building further away. 

William : Are you sure Valerica has the Elder Scroll ? 

Serana : No, but there's no way she would have left it in Tamriel. She wanted to get it as far away from my father as possible. I can't imagine a better place.

William : And if she doesn't ? 

Serana : Then we find out where she hid it. If she's still alive... well, as alive as she was before. Or is now. Or... you know what i mean.

William : Why not hide it in the Soul Cairn and then return ?

Serana : Probably to avoid whatever my father would do to her if he could get his hands on her. Or maybe her plan was to come back, but she was stuck here. We won't know until we find her.

They finnally reaching the building and walk up the stairs, facing a magical barrier that prevent them from entering, on the other side of the barrier, a woman is visible, her back to them, bending over an alchemy setup and preparing potions. She has ravenblack hair attached in 2 bun, pale skin and wear a similar outfit to the one Serana wear. Probably Valerica. 

Serana : Mother ? Mother !

The woman turned back and look at Serana, a mix of fear and disbelief can be see on her face. 

Valerica : Maker... it can't be. Serana ?

Serana : Is it really you ? i can't believe it ! How do we get inside ? We have to talk.

Valerica : Serana ! what are you doing here ? where's your father ?

Serana : He doesn't know we're here. I don't have time to explain.

Valerica : I must have failed. Harkon's found a way to decipher the prophecy, hasn't he.

Serana : No, you've got it all wrong. We're here to stop him... to make everything right.

Valerica look at William, a mix of contempt and disdain on her face. 

Valerica : Wait a moment... you've brought a stranger here ? Have you lost your mind ?

Serana : No, you don't...

Valerica : You. Come forward. I would speak with you.

William made a step forward (see screen 4).

Valerica : So how has it come to pass that a vampire hunter is in the company of my daughter ? it pains me to think you'd travel with Serana under the guise of her protector in an effort to hunt me down.

William : I've saved her from your foolish plan.

Valerica : I find your choice of words quite interesting considering that Serana is in far more danger now than she was following my "foolish plan." Serana has sacrificed everything to prevent Harkon from completing the prophecy. I would have expected her to explain that to you.

William : That's why i'm here for the Elder Scroll. 

Valerica : You think i'd have the audacity to place my own daughter in that tomb for the protection of her Elder Scroll alone ? The scrolls are merely a means to an end. The key to the Tyranny of the Sun is Serana herself.

William : What do you mean ? 

Valerica : When i fled Castle Volkihar, i fled with two Elder Scrolls. The Scroll i presume you found with Serana speaks of Auriel and his arcane weapon, Auriel's Bow. The second scroll declares that "The Blood of Coldharbour's Daughter will blind the eye of the Dragon."

William : How does Serana fit in ? 

Valerica : Like myself, Serana was a human once. We were devout followers of Lord Molag Bal. Tradition dictates the females be offered to Molag Bal on his summoning day. Few survive the ordeal. Those that do emerge as a pure-blooded vampire. We call such confluences the "Daughters of Coldharbour."

William: Coldharbour ? 

Valerica : It's what some call the domain of Molag Bal. His place in Oblivion.

William : Serana underwent this ritual willingly ? 

Valerica : It was expected of her, just as it was expected of me. Being selected as an offering to Molag Bal is an honor. She wouldn't have dared turn her back on that.

William : So you mean the Tyranny of the Sun requires Serana's blood ? 

Valerica : Now you're beginning to see why i wanted to protect Serana, and why i've kept the other Elder Scroll as far from her as possible.

William : Are you saying Harkon means to kill her ? 

Valerica : If Harkon obtained Auriel's Bow and Serana's blood was used to taint the weapon, the Tyranny of the Sun would be complete. In his eyes, she'd be dying for the good of all vampires.

William : I would never allow that to happen. 

Valerica : And how exactly do you plan on stopping him ?

William : I'll kill Harkon.

Valerica made an arrogant and snarky laugh at William's answer. 

Valerica : If you believe that, then you're a bigger fool than i originally suspected. Don't you think i weighed that option before i enacted my plans ?

William : And Serana's opinion in this ?

Valerica : You care nothing for Serana or our plight. Whether or not you've become one of us in order to survive the Soul Cairn, you're still a vampire hunter at heart. You're here because we're abominations in your mind. Evil creatures that need to be destroyed.

William : Serana believes in me, why won't you ? 

Valerica : Serana ?

She turned to Serana. 

Valerica : This stranger aligns himself with those that would hunt you down and slay you like an animal, yet i should entrust you to him ?

Serana : This "stranger" has a name, he's called William if you want to know, and he did more for me in the brief time i've known him than you've done in centuries. (at this moment, Serana's hand touch William's one, who take it into his own as Valerica noticed it, her face changing from a disdain and contempt one to a surprised one) He show more caring, concern and understanding toward me than you or father ever did, he even saved my life not later than 2 days ago when he could just let me die in the middle of the road.

Valerica : How dare you ! i gave up everything i cared about to protect you from that fanatic you call a father !

Serana : Yes, he's a fanatic... he's changed. But he's still my father. Why can't you understand how that makes me feel ?

Valerica : Oh, Serana. if you'd only open your eyes. The moment your father discovers your role in the prophecy, that he needs your blood, you'd be in terrible danger.

Serana : So to protect me you decided to shut me away from everything i cared about ? You never asked me if hiding me in that tomb was the best course of action, you just expected me to follow you blindly. Both of you were obsessed with your own paths. Your motivations might have been different, but in the end, i'm still just a pawn to you, too, this "stranger" like you called him, at least never forced me to do annything nor following him blindly and actually listened to me. I want us to be a family again. But i don't know if we can ever have that. Maybe we don't deserve that kind of happiness. Maybe it isn't for us. But we have to stop him. Before he goes too far. And to do that, we need the Elder Scroll.

Valerica's expression softened, as if she realized something. 

Valerica : I...i'm sorry, Serana. i didn't know... i didn't see. I've allowed my hatred of your father to estrange us for too long. Forgive me. If you want the Elder Scroll, it's yours.

She turned to William again. 

Valerica : Your intentions are still somewhat unclear to me. But for Serana's sake, i'll assist you in any way that i can.

William : Thank you. Do you have the Elder Scroll with you ?

Valerica : Yes. I've kept it safely secured here ever since i was imprisoned. Fortunately, you're in a position to breach the barrier that surrounds these ruins.

William : What do we need to do ?

Valerica : You need to locate the tallest of the rocky spires that surround these ruins. At their bases, the barrier's energy is being drawn from unfortunate souls that have been exiled here. Destroy the Keepers that are tending them, and it should bring the barrier down.

William : Alright. We'll return soon.

Valerica : One more word of warning. There's a dragon that calls itself Durnehviir roaming the Cairn. Be wary of him. The Ideal Masters have charged him with overseeing the Keepers, and will undoubtedly intervene if you're perceived as a threat.

William : Don't worry, it wouldn't be the first dragon i fight.

Valerica : Be careful, and keep my daughter safe.

William made a silent nod as him and Serana turned back and walk away, taking the stairs down and walking toward one of the rocky spires as William turned to Serana (see screen 5).

William : Serana, can i ask you something ?

Serana : Of course, always. What is it ?

William : How are you feeling after talking to your mother ?

Serana : Relieved... i think. All those things had been building for a while. You have no idea how long i wanted to say that to her.

William : Why did you ever agree to her plan ?

Serana : Look, i loved my father, but when he found that prophecy... that became his life. Everything else, even me and my mother... we just became clutter. I was close with my mother, but she just kept feeding me her opinions of him, and eventually i started believing them.

William : She doesn't seem too fond of him.

Serana : The moment we gave ourselves to Molag Bal, things got really icy between them. They were both drunk with power, and pulling in different directions. Then he found that prophecy, and... that was it.

William : And you were caught in the middle.

Serana : I was. Honestly, it took me up until now to figure out that my mother was really just as bad as he was. He was obsessed with power. She was obsessed with seeing him fail. It was just so... toxic. Maybe i could have seen this coming. We could all be better off now.

William : It sounds like they were both being selfish.

Serana : Oh, they definitely were. I just wonder if that meant it was my job to be giving.

William put a hand on her shoulder and look into her eyes. 

William : You shouldn't blame yourself for your parents acts, they are both adults that act in all knowledge of what they did.

Serana put her own hand on William's hand that rest on her shoulder, smiling at him as she interlocking her fingers into William ones.

Serana : I know that in my head. But i just can't help feeling bad about... the way things are. Sorry, i know you're trying to help. Thanks. I'm glad you're here. I don't think I could be doing this alone.

She come closer to William and hug him, in a very tender embrace, lowering her head and letting it rest on William's chest as they both remained in that position for a couple of seconds.

William : No need to thanked me, you could always count on me, i would never abandon you.

Serana : I know. Let's kill those... Keeper things and get back to the prison.

William : I'm right behind you. 

They resumed their walk, in the seek of the Keepers. 

William : A tale of mercenary and vampire Chapter 5 : Beyond death and love