Nathan rubbed his ribs and groaned sharply as he felt them pop back into place. The pain was so sharp that he dropped to his knees. As brief as the pain was, the lingering sore ache remained. Escher strolled over to him, asking as he put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You alright?" Nodding, Nathan grumbled out to him. "Ya. Just been while since I've felt so much pain." Escher's fingers brushed over his cheek lovingly as he whispered to him. "I'm impressed. Maybe playing with the Dragonborn did make you stronger." Nathan huffed, taking Escher's hand to pull himself back up onto his feet. Once he was up, Escher leaned into him and kissed his neck. It was a light gesture, but it meant a lot to him. Serana inched over to them, clearing her throat before telling him coolly. "Come on. She's leading us to the Scroll." Pulling from Escher, Nathan ran his hand along Escher's hips before following Serana over to her mother. Her mother stood in a nook within the arena. Upon turning to face him, she exhaled out in the nicest tone that he's heard from her. "You'll have to forgive my astonishment. I never thought I'd witness the death of a dragon. Let alone... that one."

Nathan shrugged, asking just a little perplexed. "That one? What makes you say that?" She stared unblinking into his eyes when she informed him seriously. "I've read volumes of text written about Durnehviir. Allegedly he can't be slain by normal means. It appears they were mistaken." Nathan gestured back to the vanished body, retorting nervously. "Nothing about that felt normal and I fought Alduin. This is the Soul Cairn. If his soul is here and he is the guardian... He can die and come back." She nodded to him lost in thought now when she uttered out. "Yes... The soul of a dragon much be as resilient as its owner's scaly hide. It's possible that your killing blow has merely displaced Durnehviir's physical form while he reconstitutes himself." Nathan shifted on his feet, telling her promptly to bring her out of her thoughts. "My thoughts exactly. We could have minutes, hours, or years before he does that. I really don't want to be here when he does. So...? The Scroll?" Straightening herself up, she reluctantly said aloud. "Yes. Of course." Turning to walk into the nook, she removed stacked books and scrolls to reveal a long box with ancient carvings on it.

Using her fangs to nick her palms, she pressed her blooded hands to two enchanted spheres on the side. The grey spheres glowed a soft red, then the box clicked and opened. Moving aside, she gestured to the box with a hand that was healing. Creeping up to the box, Nathan took a deep breath and reached in to remove the Elder Scroll of Blood. He could feel the power vibrating through it and tried to calm himself. With it, he only had one last scroll to collect, and he was dreading it. Beside him, Serana's mother told him softly. "I truly hope you know what you are doing. Those Scrolls are older than the world and uniting them... could spark a war." Gripping the Scroll tighter, Nathan told her seriously without looking at her. "The Scrolls will go missing once again when this is done. I assure you." Turning around, Nathan met the eyes of Serana's mother as she stepped into his way, telling him firmly. "Now that you have retrieved the Elder Scroll, you should be on your way at once. That Scroll is a magnet for dark forces, and I doubt the Ideal Masters will want it out of here." Serana grabbed her mother's arm then, asking a little brokenhearted. "You're not coming with us? Mother..."

Her mother raised a hand to stop her, before honestly replying. "I have no choice. I'm a daughter of Coldharbour. If I return to Tamriel, that only increases Harkon's likelihood of bringing the Tyranny of the Sun to fruition." Nathan gave her a nod, telling her nicely. "When this is over, we'll return for you." She grabbed his arm now, almost hissing into his ear as her grip tightened on his bicep. "While I appreciate your concern for me... Serana is all I care about. Keep her safe at all costs, Dawnguard. Because if anything happens to her... There is no place far enough for you to run from me. Understood?" Looking into her eyes, he nodded more subtly. Her grip loosened just a little, when she added to him. "Remember this. Harkon is not to be trusted. No matter what he promises you... he WILL deceive you in order to get what he wants. And if he learns that Molag Bol plans to replace him as his Champion with you..." Her eyes darted to Escher before meeting his again to say in a lower whisper. "Then I wouldn't want to be anyone involved with you. My daughter is the only thing I have of value left... Don't get her killed."

When she finally released him, Serana cleared her throat and told him. "Come on. Let's take the Scroll to Dexion." Stuffing the Elder Scroll into his bag, Nathan told her firmly. "No. The Scroll is staying with me until I can retrieve the Scroll from the Dragonborn." Escher huffed, stating out bluntly. "And how do you plan to get it from him? You tried and failed before." Walking past all of them, Nathan muttered out under his breath. "Because... I'm gonna do something crazy." Serana and Escher shared a look before rushing after him. While opening the door to leave the arena, Escher asked him sternly. "Nate, what are you going to do? We have to think this through. If we make the wrong move, then it could ruin everything." Stopping halfway out the door, Nathan told them openly. "I understand that. Which is why when we get back... I'm stealing Dexion, collecting the last Scroll... and going to the Dawnguard for help." Escher's jaw dropped before he snapped out loudly. "ARE YOU INSANE?!" Shrugging, Nathan chuckled out. "It's not all that insane when you think about it." Serana let out a sarcastic laugh, blurting out. "Yes. Yes, it is in fact. The Dawnguard KILL vampires! Have you seen yourself in a mirror lately? Because you are NOT human anymore, Nathan! They'll kill you! Why would you go to them?!"

Escher almost talked over Serana when he told him flatly. "If Harkon learns of this, he is going to lose it! He'll kill ME for not reining you in! Why would you do this?!" Whirling around to face them, he told them as bluntly as he could to stop them from bombarding him with questions and accusations. "Look! Harkon is one of the most powerful vampires in the world. As much as I'd like to kill him on my own. I doubt I have the attention span to train for it. So! By taking Dexion away from Harkon, I can learn about the prophecy on my own and give him only the details that I WANT him to know. While claiming to be ironing out the details to give him what he wants. Doing this also will hopefully put the Dragonborn on my side in order to use his Scroll. He won't give it to me otherwise. THEN by going to the Dawnguard, I'm hoping to sway them just enough to help us get rid of Harkon and the council that wants us all dead anyway. We start a new coven, and we make the Dawnguard disband for lack of usefulness. Or we kill them, but I haven't gotten that far. Any questions?" Serana shifted on her feet and crossed her arms but said nothing.

Escher tossed up his hands, telling him in a low worried tone of voice. "Nathan... Harkon will not like this. You'll be taking all three Elder Scrolls and Dexion from him and feeding him info through a spoon. He's going to want full control and when he doesn't have it... He'll kill me because I helped you. Nathan, you upset Harkon before when you didn't do your job fast enough. This will NOT go well... I'm begging you to reconsider this." Nathan cupped Escher's face, purring to him lovingly. "You let me deal with Harkon. All I want you to do is pack your things... because you're coming with me." Escher groaned, telling him grimly. "You know I can't. Harkon has a hold on me. He'll just-" Nathan kissed him briefly to silence him, then told him seriously. "You're coming with me. Valerica is right. Harkon won't keep his promise to me... or you. So, we have to start taking control of this game... or we'll lose." Escher shrugged, starting to say. "You can't break the bound between me and-" Nathan pressed a thumb to Escher's lips, smirking out in a hopeful voice. "No. I can't. But the Dragonborn has a mentor... and I believe he can."

Serana cut into their moment, but suddenly stating out in a panic. "Guys! Look!" Turning around, Nathan watched as the roof of a broken building set before the stone steps of the outside the arena caught fire. The purple flames rippled and shimmered the solid form of a dragon to life. They all reached for their weapons, until the dragon's deep voice bellowed out so mournfully to them. "Stay your weapons. I would speak with you, Qahnaarin." Serana and Escher didn't lower their weapons, but Nathan did. Sheathing his sword, he gestured for the others to stay back and slowly walked up the edge of the steps to see him better. Keeping his voice level and calm, Nathan said aloud. "I knew you weren't dead." Durnehviir's lips curled into a slightly amused smile, but it faded when he told him grimly. "Cursed, not dead. Doomed to exist in this form for eternity. Trapped between laas and dinok, between life and death. Much like yourself, I see." Nathan bowed his head as that sank in. He had avoided thinking about it like that but couldn't deny it. Looking back up at him, Nate asked nicely. "Didn't you try to kill me? Why speak with me now?"

Durnehviir bowed his head a little in shame, before reluctantly regaling aloud. "The hostility was necessary. I was bound to an oath. I speak to you now, because I believe in civility among seasoned warriors. I find your ear worthy of my words. My claws have rended the flesh of innumerable foes. I have never once been felled on the field of battle. Until now... I therefore honor-name you 'Qahnaarin.' It means Vanquisher in your tongue." Feeling a little bashful, Nathan bowed to him like he'd seen Jack do so often with them and politely told him. "I found you equally worthy. To raise the dead like you can. It's impressive and the blow you dealt me... has been my hardest yet. I'm still sore." Durnehviir blushed, shying away a bit as he told him warmly. "Your words do me great honor." When his massive head turned to look back at him, Durnehviir added a bit more cheerful. "My desire to speak with you was born from the result of our battle, Qahnaarin. I merely wish to respectfully ask a favor of you." Straightening himself up, Nathan asked a bit worried. "What kind of favor?"

Durnehviir shifted restlessly, but almost pleaded with him as he said. "For countless years I have roamed the Soul Cairn in unintended service to the Ideal Masters. Before this... I roamed the skies above Tamriel. I miss the bright blue endless skies... The clear fresh wind. I desire to return there. I ache for it..." Raising an eyebrow, Nathan shrugged out. "What's stopping you? A strong dragon like yourself." Durnehviir's head bowed solemnly, before he uttered out in deep sorrow that pulled at Nathan's core. "I fear that my time here has taken its toll upon me. I share a bond with this dreaded place now... If I were to venture from the Soul Cairn, my strength would begin to wane until I was no more. I'd never reach Tamriel and see its skies before I am reduced to nothing. That alone pains me more than simply remaining here." Nathan didn't quite understand, which prompted him to ask. "How can I help you?" Durnehviir perked up, his eyes glinting as he told him with barely contained hopefulness. "I will place my name with you and grant you the right to call my name from Tamriel. Do me this simple honor and I will fight at your side as your Grah-Zeymahzin, your ally, and teach you my Thu'um."

Thinking it over, Nathan asked curiously. "I'm not the Dragonborn. I don't think I can use a Thu'um... Can I?" Durnehviir's lip curled into a smirk, before he told him confidently. "One does not need to be a Dovahkiin to learn to use a Thu'um. It merely takes years of training. However, I will grant you my knowledge in this to make calling my name easy without training." Nathan smiled with excitement, he kind of liked having his own dragon friend. Shrugging, Nate stated to confirm what he wanted. "You just need me to go to Tamriel and call your name? That's it?" Durnehviir let out a deep throaty chuckle, before telling him coolly. "Trivial in your mind, perhaps. For me, it would mean a great deal. I don't require an answer, Qahnaarin. Simply speak my name to the heavens when you feel the time is right. That will be all the answer I need. That way should you choose not to... I will not know." Durnehviir lowered he head down to the ground and blew a strange ethereal breath across the ground. Nathan watched as strange symbols began to glow on the stone walkway. Cautiously making his way down the steps toward the symbols and Durnehviir, Nathan nervously asked him. "Why do you call me Qahnaarin? Is it simply because I vanquished you?"

Durnehviir was far more intimating up close. He didn't mind the smell of death that clung to him but compared to the other dragons that he had seen, he seemed more battle worn. Knowing he was undefeated until now unnerved him. He didn't understand how he'd managed to pull it off. Durnehviir turned his nose to eye him with one large golden eye, upon answering. "In my language, the Qahnaarin is someone who has bested a fellow dovah in battle." Nathan stopped short on the last step, blurting out. "Fellow dovah? But I'm not a dragon. Nor am I the dragonborn. I told you that." Durnehviir's lips pulled up in a small smile that revealed his sharp stained teeth, upon answering wisely. "Even in the Soul Cairn, the defeat of the world eater has reached my ears. Including those that brought him down, Qahnaarin. No easy task. You may not be dovah, but the defeat of Alduin earns you the right of title. Since none have yet to give you one, I hope the title I give you is acceptable. Since you are a vanquisher of life in your undead state. Such as I." Nathan didn't know how to answer that. Avoiding the topic, Nathan approached the words and moved around them to see them from Durnehviir's positioning.

As he did, the symbols shimmered to something that he could read. He saw Durnehviir's name spelled in the dragon tongue and then it shifted to his own to reveal it meaning 'Cursed-Never-Dying' in his language. Nathan's vision blurred and he winced as the words faded from the ground and seared into his mind. Covering his eyes, Nathan groaned as he felt like his head was splitting. Behind him, Durnehviir pressed his nose to his back and Nathan jerked as the pain lessened. Knowledge about the name flooded into his mind and the pressure of it eased to nothing. He felt the powerful magical training it required suddenly ease and mix with his own power. He didn't realize that a dragon's name carried such a weight. Turning to face Durnehviir, he smiled and thanked him. Durnehviir tipped his head to him telling him seriously. "You are the first of your kind to know my name. Don't forget it." Running a hand through his hair, Nathan chuckled out excitedly. "Are you kidding? You'll get sick of hearing it when I'm done." Durnehviir let himself laughed though there was still a sad tone to it like he didn't believe him.

Nathan planned to show him that he'd honor it. He had been kind of jealous that the Dragonborn had Paarthurnax and even raised a baby dragon. Now he couldn't wait to show Jack his. He just hoped that he wouldn't have to use him against Jack. He'd rather save him as another alley against Harkon. To Be Continued...