Stopping before he entered into the mist, Nathan slowly turned around to see if they were done with their reunion yet. He wasn't opposed to them showing affection but was now really the time? Nathan eyed how they held hands and headed toward him. Jack seemed oblivious to the tension between himself and Mark. While Jack shouted to clear the path ahead, Mark locked eyes with him, puffing his chest up. Nathan just stared back at him with a neutral expression. It always amused him that people found Bards so threatening. Often the spouses strayed due to their unhappy marriages. He felt like if the significant other was a better lover, then they wouldn't stray. They'd have nothing to fear. However, that was never the case. The Bard was easier to blame. Giving Mark a shrug after an uncomfortable minute, Nate casually blurted out to Mark. "I'm just being honest. This new hearing is both a blessing and a curse." Mark acted like he was going to say something, but Jack slipped between them, putting a hand on both their chests as he said coolly. "Let's go, guys." Jack glanced at Nathan and Nate gave him a small smile. Which prompted Mark to pull Jack closer to himself as he quickly led him away. Nate could only roll his eyes.

To keep the peace, Nathan kept his distance from them. It wouldn't win him any points with Jack to fight him after just finding him. He needed Jack on his side to make stealing him away that much easier. They ventured on down the road in silence, staying alert to whatever they could. Until they finally came to an open clearing that was untouched by the mists. Just ahead was a massive castle made from the finest woods and it had the most beautiful arched windows. The castle sat upon an island just big enough to hold it above an abyss filled with thick fog. The only way over to the castle was by crossing a bridge made up of a massive creature's skeletal remains that Nate didn't recognize. Inching up beside Jack, Nathan stared at the place a little disappointed. He'd imagined Shor's Hall to be so different. He hated when the stories he'd been told as a kid were wrong. He'd been hoping for a mead hall built on an island lake of the finest Nordic Ale. With fountains of endless wine and a party to rock the foundations of the earth. This was... a typical castle in Skyrim. Boring to look at. Poorly constructed. Doom inducing. Probably haunted. As dead as the people in it. It was just sad.

Jack nudged his ribs, excitedly telling them. "This must be it. We should cross quickly." Nathan exhaled silently, dragging his feet to walk after him. Jack jogged through the grassy field and scampered up the stone steps to the bridge. Nathan couldn't wait to hear Jack change his mind after seeing the abyss he would have to cross. Instead, Jack skidded to an abrupt halt as an unseen mountain of a man stepped out from around a large bone. Mark jogged over to Jack, but Nathan continued to walk casually over. He was having trouble picturing how this man's parents got together. The guy had to be part giant. Just had to be. However, he feared what a male giant would do to a poor human woman. She'd be ruined. He didn't even think he could compete with this guy. The guy was at least seven-foot-tall with impressive muscles. Defiantly of Nordic decent from the strong square features he had. The man removed a large Nordic battle axe from his back, holding it proudly before him as he asked them in a deep burly voice. "What brings you, Wayfarers, to wander here, in Sovengarde. To the Souls-end, and Shor's gift to the honored dead?"

Nathan rolled his eyes. Defiantly a Nord and defiantly part giant. The guy was big dumb and clearly a deep thinker. How was this even a question that he'd ask dead people? It sounded like an insult. It wasn't bad enough that you died... Now you had to find out the hard way if your death put you in the VIP line for most honored dead guy or not. If that wasn't the case, then how many living people did this guy have trying to wander in without a reservation? Nathan could barely hold back his sarcasm and disrespect when he shrugged out swiftly. "Just passing through. Thought we'd stop in for an ale?" Nathan flashed the man a fake smile, but stopped when Mark swatted him in the ribs, growling out threateningly. "Don't you know who that is?! Show some respect!" Nate blinked, raising an eyebrow in return when his sarcasm burst from him in return. "That was me showing respect." Jack wedged himself between them to push them out of arms reach from each other, telling the man more honestly. "We are here in pursuit of Alduin, The World-Eater. We were hoping to gather assistance from the heroes of old?"

The man took on a casual defensive stance, gripping the handle of his battle axe tighter as he said aloud to them. "A faithful errand. No few have chafed to chase the Wyrm, since first he set his soul snare here in Sovengarde's threshold. But Shor restrained our wrathful onslaught. Perhaps deep counseled... your doom he foresaw." Nathan shifted on his feet, uttering out under his breath. "Ugh... Who talks like this...?" Mark glared at him with daggers for eyes, his low rumbling growl audible to Nathan's sharp ears. Staring back unfazed at him, he uttered out low enough for Mark's good ears to hear. "That's more like it. Keep growling, Daddy. I'd rather listen to you purr." Instantly, Mark stopped growling, his expression changing to one of stumped concern. It almost made Nate laugh at how he'd pulled the rug out from under him. Jack suddenly turned to look back at Mark with a worried look of his own, causing both Mark and Nathan to snap into focus. They hadn't been paying attention to Jack or the man's conversation. Mark looked the most concerned about not catching why Jack looked so uneasy. Jack turned back to the man though, saying in a hopeful voice. "We seek entrance to the Hall of Valor."

The man took a step back, lifting his axe at the ready when he told them all seriously. "One of you can try. But as for the rest, you are no shade. As you are living, you dare the land of the dead. So, by what right do you request entry?" Jack stepped closer to him, bracing his staff on the stone ground as he proudly stated aloud. "By the right of birth. I am the Dragonborn and the Archmage of Winterhold College." Moving up beside Jack, Nathan gave him a swift little bow as he told him with a self-assurance that word about him had reached even those that had passed on. "I'm Nathan Seppa. Perhaps you've heard of me? No...? Warrior of the Dawnguard? Ok... How about Ward of Lord Harkon and self-proclaimed prince of the Vampires?" The man just raised an eyebrow with a blank look. All the air left Nathan's body in defeat, when Mark started to laugh and jabbed back at him. "HA! He's never heard of you. That must sting." Turning to look at Mark, Nate stated back passive aggressively. "Not as much as my fangs will after they pierce your throat." Jack waved a hand between them, shushing them as the man carried on to tell Jack. "Ah! It's been too long since last I faced a doom driven herald in a fight."

Jack sighed a bit heavy now, like even he was getting tired of this conversation, upon asking the man impatiently. "Can I enter the Hall of Valor or not? The longer we wait the more powerful Alduin gets." The man gave Jack a broad shrug, telling him firmly. "Living or dead, by the decree of Shor. None may pass this perilous bridge, until I judge them worthy by the warriors test." Nathan noticed how Jack's hand gripped his staff tightly before mumbling out dryly. "You have to fight us...? Great. Is it to the death?" A snort left Nathan before he could resist the urge, blurting out as he looked back at Mark. "Some of us already are..." Mark locked eyes with him, muttering out under his breath for Nathan to hear. "Speak for yourself, you living dead reject." Jack narrowed his eyes on him and then Mark. He looked like he might scold them, until both himself and Mark started chuckling softly. It was the first time he heard the guy laugh. The man hefted his battle axe more, stating aloud for them all. "No. You each just have to best me. One on one. Prove your metal." Letting out a low unimpressed chuckle, Nathan dashed forward with human speed, bursting into a swarm of little bats just incase the guy even tried to swing at him.

Gathering himself up seconds before he made contact, Nathan punched the guy with every last bit of strength he had. His hopes were to kill him... again. Instead, Nathan winced when he hit the man's bare abs. It was like his torso was made of iron! His hand should have gone right through him, but whatever this guy was... he only took the form of a human. The man staggered back a single step from the powerful blow with a deep groan. Slowly the man straightened up, his eyes locking with Nathan's. Nathan for the first time, he saw something ancient and frightening behind those eyes. While staring into his eyes, Nathan heard the man's voice state out into his head. "Your kind does not belong in Shor's Hall. I should give you a true death... but Shor stays my hand for reasons I do not understand." After regaining his posture, the man told him coolly. "Your speed is greater than I. Permission Granted." Stepping around the man, Nathan lost himself in his thoughts for a long moment. Why was he given access? What was this guy? A god? Or something else entirely? It unnerved him to have more questions than answers. By the time he turned around, Mark was finishing his fight with the man. Bringing his blade to the man's neck, Mark waited to hear what he'd say to him.

The man made a fist in response and banged it against his bare chest as he bowed his head to him. Mark tipped his head in return, then lowered his blade. Mark stared at Nathan for a long moment, before standing beside him. Turning his attention quickly back toward Jack though, Mark called out with encouragement. "You can do it, Jack." Nathan heard Jack gulp as he approached the man, prompting him to tell Mark very softly. "A hundred gold coins on the big guy." Mark turned dark eyes on Nathan, before lightening up to smirk out. "You're on. You'll regret that bet. He's small but he's not weak." Nathan flashed Mark a grin, stating out honestly. "I didn't say he was. I'm saying this guy is stronger." Mark shoved him a little, growling out lightly with a bit of worry in his voice. "Fuck off... I know Jack can take him." Jack lifted his sword up at the ready, but shakily asked the man. "You're immortal... aren't you?" The man took a ready stance, answering expressionlessly. "I am. Fear not. Your magic will not kill me." Nathan eagerly waited for the fight to start, but Jack stalled by asking the man hopefully. "Well, why not help us kill Alduin? We could use a guy that can't die?"

Nathan groaned a little, but Mark shushed him without taking his eyes off Jack. Nathan didn't want to be rude, but he was a little eager to win coins. The man shook his head though, answering Jack swiftly. "I cannot. It is not my destiny. I can only keep Alduin out of the Hall. There would be no honor in it for me. Now. Are you ready?" Nathan nodded, prompting Mark to elbow him in the ribs. Jack shook his head but raised his staff at the ready. Both Mark and Nathan tensed as Jack started off the fight by blasting the man with a Frost spell from the mouth of his staff. Nathan smirked, shaking his head. Jack didn't get it. Magic wasn't going to do anything to this guy. He had a rune tattoo on his neck to protect him. The runes were rare, but he'd heard about them very faintly in the Mage guild. The magic was old and designed by Shor to bless his favored warriors to level the playing field against creatures like Daedra and Dragons. Mark winced and whined as the man swung at Jack with his large axe, forcing Jack to retreat from him. Nathan could imagine that it was killing him to sit back and watch. After seeing how they fought it made sense. Mark was the buffer between Jack and the enemy.

Jack tried shouting at the man, but it did nothing. The guy was winning and knocking Jack around like a rag doll. Nathan's love for gold faded as he started to debate about jumping in to help him too. Jack wasn't going to win this. He didn't have enough hand to hand combat experience to take on this guy at his best. Getting knocked off his feet and into the grass, Mark started whining louder as the man closed in on Jack. Jack got a few hits in, but the man eventually grabbed Jack's throat. The man slowly lifted Jack off the ground by his throat, prompting Jack to blast him with fire from his staff. However, the fire did nothing to the man. It rippled off his skin without even reddening it. Mark started to run forward, but Nathan grabbed his arm to stop him. The match wasn't to the death. Jack just needed to secede from the fight. Jack started to choke, desperately clawing at the man's wrist as he gasped for air. Nathan released Mark in shock. Would this guy kill him? He didn't show signs of stopping. Mark reached the edge of the steps with a loud snarl but halted when the man dropped Jack with a sharp yelp of pain.

Nathan perked up in shock, watching as Jack gasped for air on the ground. While Tiidgein crawled out from Jack's hood and onto his shoulder with an aggressive hiss. His tiny teeth were bloodstained and his was posed like an angry cat. Jack glanced from Tiidgein to the man with a strange look. Nathan wondered if Jack understood it now, when Jack got to his feet and tossed his staff to Mark. Mark caught it and Jack withdrew a pulsing Katana blade. Seeing the blade come out, the guy nodded with approval and then charged him. Nathan couldn't take his eyes off of Jack. Jack wasn't retreating or running from the man. Then with a single shout, Jack dashed with inhuman speed to get behind the man and pressed his blade to his spine. Instantly, the man stopped and straightened up to his full height. Glancing over his shoulder, he told Jack with a grin. "You fought well. I find you too worthy. It has been long since one of the living has entered here. May Shor's favor follow you to your end." Jack sheathed his blade, causing both Mark and Nate to exhale in relief. Nathan's relief was short lived, when Mark told him with a devilish grin. "You owe me a hundred coins." Nathan rolled his eyes, watching Mark embrace Jack in a tight hug when he trudged up the steps toward him. Nate couldn't help but smile to himself though. He was glade Jack was alright. He didn't want to lose another friend. To Be Continued...