Through my Blood

Chapter XXXVII: Homebound

"Remus, get up." Serana said as he poked at the man's face.

"What is it?" Remus muttered with a hint of a little exasperation. His reaction amused the vampiress, but they really have to move.

Serana barely noticed it but the balcony was a spot for another wayshrine. The sun-like figure at the top of the it suddenly lit up.

As soon as Remus got up, so did the wayshrine rise - and from the wayshrine emerged no other than Gelebor himself.

The two stood and slowly paced to meet him.

Gelebor carefully ascended the stairs before his eyes shifted to a corner, where Vyrthur's unmoving body lie. His expression quickly changed into a cross of relief and regret.

"So, the deed is done." he calmly said. "The restoration of this wayshrine means that Vyrthur must be dead and the Betrayed no longer have control over him."

Remus and Serana shared a look before the former replied, "The Betrayed weren't to blame..."

The paladin's eyes widened in confusion. "What? What are you talking about?"

"He was a vampire. He was the one controlling them, not the other way around." Serana filled in.

Gelebor looked over Vyrthur's body one last time before his lips curled into a defeated smile. "I see... that would explain much. While I do feel regret over his death, deep inside, it brings me joy that the Betrayed weren't to blame for what happened here."

Remus' eyes quickly shifted to Gelebor. "Why?"

"Simply because that means there's still hope that they might one day shed their hatred and learn to believe in Auri-El once again."

Hearing Gelebor's words made Remus' eyes widen. He suddenly felt sick, his stomach churning uncomfortably. He cupped his hand over his mouth.

He felt like retching.

"W-What's wrong?" the paladin asked.

Serana gently placed a hand on his arm, in an attempt to provide even the slightest consolation.

"You mean... all those I killed... they could've been saved?" Remus asked weakly.

Gelebor sensing Remus' guilt, smiled. "No, you shouldn't feel this way. I, too, do feel sympathy for the Betrayed, despite my actions against them." he paused as his eyes darted towards the chapel. "But I'm afraid that they're well beyond a cure at this point. The twisted forms you've seen didn't occur overnight. It isn't a plague or a disease that ravaged our species."

Serana had an inkling of what Gelebor's getting unto.

The paladin sighed, "The dwarves may have stolen their sight, but it took many generations for them to become what they are today." He slowly walked over to Remus and placed a firm grip on his shoulder.

"Perhaps they'll never return to their former appearance, but over the centuries, I've noticed a rise in their intellect."

Remus only stared back at the snow elf as he spoke. "If a line of communication could be established with them, maybe they can find peace. It's the only way they'll discover that they weren't always malignant... that they were once a proud and prosperous race."

Little by little, the man slowly managed to recollect himself. "I'll be wishing for the best, then."

The paladin smiled once more. "It's been a long time since I felt relief and it's been long overdue. My thanks, to both of you. You risked everything to get Auri-El's Bow, and in turn, you've restored the Chantry."