Ena crosses her arms. "No. We don't know what else is there. You will wait until you're healed and mostly rested, and then we'll either keep going or turn the fuck around."

"Unlikely to be two of those," Serana points out. "Ice titans were rare already in my time, and territorial. I can't imagine that's changed."

"So we keep going," Lianda confirms, and settles in to finish healing herself.

There's a drop, later - it looks like the titan had a ladder to navigate between the two levels of the cave, but the rungs are much too far apart for them. Serana turns into a cloud of bats, resolves at the lower level, and sends the other two a thumbs up that that chamber at least is clear.

Fortunately, it's not a deadly drop, even if Ena does land in the water and have to spend the next several minutes trying to dry herself off with a fire spell before she gets hypothermia.

The next few days are comparatively uneventful - they manage to skirt around the Thalmor fort. The sentries watch them carefully, but they're left alone as long as they don't approach. Serana refuses to answer any of Ena's questions about what the fuck was with the bat-monster form, except to confirm that she's a vampire, never mind that Ena's never seen a vampire capable of doing that.

"Well, this's the closest point. Looks like they've been through here before," Serana says as they reach a rickety little dock. "There's even a boat. Someone must be out."

"...That thing looks like it'll sink if we sneeze at it," Ena says, eyeing it warily.

Serana snorts, says, "It's safe. You two coming?"

Lianda nods, and Ena rolls her eyes, supposing there's nothing for it but to follow.

The boat ride is long and miserable, and the island they're bound for is wreathed in a bone-chilling fog. Hawks circle over it - but at second glance there's something wrong with their shapes. Too thin, too dark, with a flash of white at their heads.

Serana pauses once they reach the bridge that spans the thin little gap between the island they arrived at and the enormous castle looming out of the mists beyond it. "So. Look," she starts. "Let me do the talking, okay? They should be grateful you guys helped me, but… It's just safest if I make the introductions."

Oh. Great. Moody vampiric relatives. Still, Ena nods alongside Lianda.

There's a watchman at the entrance to the keep. Serana talks briefly with him - he seems surprised and delighted she's back, and he opens the trellis before rushing in to announce their (well, Serana's) arrival.

Court's clearly in session beyond - and Ena has to fight to keep her expression blank rather than wrinkling her nose at the bloody mess they've made of the tables. Really. Ancient vampires, and they can't clean up after themselves?

Lianda looks openly disgusted. Ena suspects for her it's more of a moral rather than scrupulous objection. She starts silently urging Lianda to not start a fight. Any of these could be just as powerful as Serana, and even with Lianda's sword they're not going to win that.

The man at the far end of the hall stands from his throne, spreading his arms wide. "My daughter! Returned to me at last. I trust you have my Elder Scrolls?" he proclaims.

"Missed you too, dad. Of course I have your scroll. Where's mom?" the woman asks, crossing her arms.

"Your traitor mother stole a scroll from me and fled," he says, voice low and threatening. "If she was here, I'd let her watch this reunion before putting her head on a pike. Now, who are your companions?"

"They rescued me, and escorted me here," Serana says.

(Ena notes the partial lie - she was hardly involved in either endeavor. Still, she supposes it's the safest cover for her.)

He turns to them, then. "For my daughter's safe return, you have my gratitude. Tell me, what are your names?"

Lianda speaks up before Ena can. "Lianda and Ena at-Sharinda," she says, voice steely.

"And I am Harkon, Lord of this court. By now, my daughter will have told you what we are - some of the most ancient and powerful vampires in all of Skyrim. For centuries we lived here, far from the cares of the mortal world. All that ended when my wife betrayed me and stole what I valued most." He snarls as he speaks of his wife, his almost carefully beautiful face turning ugly.

Lianda inclines her head slightly. "And what happens now?"

He gestures broadly, voice booming as he says, "Now you must be rewarded, for you have done me a great service. There is but one gift I can give equal in value to the Elder Scroll and my daughter - I offer you my blood. Take it, and you will walk as a lion among sheep. Men will tremble at your approach, and you will never fear death again."

Lianda's jaw firms. "And what if we refuse?"

(What the fuck Lianda, don't insult the vampire - )

"Then you will be prey, like all mortals. I will spare your life this once for the service you have done me, but you will be banished from this hall. Perhaps you still need convincing? Behold the power!" And shadows gather around him, clinging, as he transforms into an enormous bat-like creature, radiating dark power. "This is the power that I offer! Now, make your choice!"

"I refuse," Lianda says icily.