The War of Domination

Haunting under the Ice

"SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!" Kumeron yelled as he dove over a fence face first into snow.

Lightning and fire flew over him as he stuck his head up and shot fire back. Then he quickly stood and ran towards a building.

The battle for Dawnstar was chaotic as buildings burned, magic flew everywhere, and soldiers fought in the streets.

He ran behind a burning building and slammed into armor. In his blur of vision he reactively shot lightning. When his vision focused, there was an Imperial soldier twitching on on the ground.

"FUCK!" Kumeron yelled as he ran again.

He sprinted into an open area as Dominion and Imperial mages fought. Two of them stood shoulder to shoulder with him holding up wards. Kumeron then held a ward as well and started casting. The battle was intense as conjured atronachs appeared behind them.

Both organized lines were broken into sporadic groups trying to survive. Kumeron shoved allies aside, blocked incoming magic, and burned a couple soldiers until the chaos subsided only slightly. A large ball of fire fell from the sky giving him a spilt second to get a ward up before it exploded.

He rolled down a hill with ringing ears. The snow patted against his stinging skin as he slammed into something hard, knocking the breath out of him. He laid there watching the slew of blurry colors. He couldn't tell how long time passed before a red color appeared. Kumeron felt hands pick him up then threw him over something. His vision darkened to the image of boots and snow.

***

The passage of time was felt heavily with a headache as he woke up and vomited. A second time, then a third after. Several groans and a horse's neigh were heard as he fell into the snow. What little strength he had left, Kumeron used a strong healing spell. His head stopped hurting but slight pain lingered as exhaustion set in, he closed his eyes.

"Still alive master?" A familiar voice asked.

He saw Pieenie wrapping bandages around his leg. They were in under a thatch roof with stone walls around them.

"I wasn't able to practice Restoration as a vampire." She said tying a tight knot.

She stood and held out her hand to him. Kumeron took it and was pulled up, he felt lightheaded as spots appeared in his eyes. The spots faded as he blinked and looked around. Nothing but open ice fields. Next to them was an old stone wall. When he stepped out he saw it's cylinder form.

"What's a lighthouse doing this far inland?" He thought to himself just as the door to it opened.

Rayan stepped out clutching his side, limping slightly, and covered in black varicose veins.

"Good you're awake." He said when suddenly his face grew emotionless as he fell forward.

The two mages rushed to grab the fainted Dawnguard. Kumeron groaned as he took most the weight and nearly collapsed himself. He shifted most of his friend on to Pieenie and held opened the door.

Dim light and warmth from the hearth. A candlelit room grabbed his attention with a bed being the highlight. They dragged Rayan over and carefully laid him down. After a breath and a quick diagnosis, Kumeron stretched out his hand as golden light appeared from it. The light surrounded Rayan only for a moment as more exhaustion killed any strength he had left.

Kumeron was quickly steadied by his student as she lead him to a neighboring bed. He sank into the soft furs, fighting the urge to close his eyes. It was only when he sat up he saw what Pieenie went through in the battle. Her robe was stained with blood across her back, her sleeves torn and singed, and she had a dirty bandage poorly wrapped around her head.