Fire And Fangs

Chapter 28

Lord Harkon took a decent swig from the blood filled bottle before meeting the gaze of the low-ranked vampire that was looking at the table instead of his eyes. He smirked at that before clearing his throat, succinctly telling her that she could tell him now openly.

"My Lord, I have news about...Lady Serana."

Harkon smiled. It was about time someone had news concerning his rather annoying daughter. He had given her and her mother a great gift in pledging them to Molag Bal, and in return, they had betrayed him in their own ways. Valerica had disappeared and had stolen one of the Elder Scrolls with her. And now Serana was hidden somewhere in Skyrim and none of his Court seen or heard from her for weeks.

In fact, the last time he had heard about Seranas whereabouts and what she was up to, the news had been rather...disconcerting. For Serana had sired none other than the Dragonborn herself and had given her the gift of the Vampire Lord. Harkon had flown into a blood filled rage at that news, and the Court had scattered for a full week before he had calmed down enough so that they could return safely...it wouldn't do to kill his Court members out of just rage alone.

"You have news, Modhna?" he asked as she finally met his gaze.

She was not an ambitious vampire. She was content to listen to the ranting and fighting between his two Court Advisors, Orthjolf and Vingalmo. But if she had news that was important enough that she was eager to meet him in his own quarters, then maybe she had been biding her time.

"I do, My Lord."

"Speak."

Modhna took a moment to compose herself before replying.

"The Dragonborn and the Lady Serana are...courting, My Lord. And they were also the reason for the deaths of the Imperial general Tullius and the Thalmor ambassador to Skyrim, Elenwen." Modhna said softly.

"Indeed? It's a shame Serana has chosen to sire a half blood vampire but she does exhibit traits of her mother after all. Anything else to report?"

"Yes, My Lord. The Dragonborn and the Lady Serana were also involved in the battle for Whiterun, and it was them that caused much of the destruction during that fight. It seems they are against the Stormcloaks and the Thalmor...and no-one has heard from the Dawnguard since their leaders death."

"Yes, I had wondered about the whereabouts of that infernal group of mortals." Harkon replied, looking at the bottle of blood in his hand before meeting the gaze of the young vampire before him.

"Anything else?"

"That's everything My Lord."

"Very well. You did well Modhna. You also did well to not tell anyone else about this. I have a new task for you, and it's a very important one. Are you prepared to begin immediately?"

"I am, My Lord."

"Good. Your task is simple. You are to observe what my runaway daughter and her new plaything are up to. You are not to be seen, nor are you to attempt to kill either of them, even though it might things easier one day to do just that. Understood?"

Modhna nodded and she scurried out of the room as fast as she could. Harkon chuckled for a few moments. It was good that at least one of his Court had the courage to tell his any sort of news, let alone news that was important. He had been waiting for many centuries to see his prophecy be realised...a few months wouldn't make much difference.

He stood up and drained the bottle of blood, savouring the taste of the liquid. It had been taken from a Thalmor patrol that morning...the fools had seen the castle in the mist and had ventured across the icy water to investigate...and had been captured the moment they set foot on the shoreline around Castle Volkihar.