Lutetia Catacombs

There was a change in the air, a new pair of figures dawned upon these catacombs that look like they had not seen traffic in a few many years. The air was right, the scent of corpses nonexistant and it felt like it could be home and harbor away from the tyranny of the sun. Their previous home had served them well but her mate desired a new change, a new place with which to call home. Somewhere closer to their food and with greater numbers of which they could thrive upon. Of course, who was she to argue with perfection? Despite she owned her.

So the two moved in lockstep down the stairs of the catacombs, the first one carried down with her all of the things of home: Their candles and books and various alchemical ingredients all loaded up into two coffins. One looked fairly new while the other looked absolutely ancient, made of stone and weighing more then what a girl could normally even dream of carrying. Driselda smiled while looking around their new home.

"The Huntress is pleased with her mate, finding us a new den with which to play and feed. These catacombs do not reek of corpse, there is food aplenty above and here we can be a bit warmer under these streets. Sure there is noise but we could tune it out after a time. Lead us on beloved. Find us a nice little corner where we can go to roost" Driselda moved herself so she could give her mate a peck on the cheek and a nip on the neck with her fangs.

This one was being very affectionate, something she rarely, if ever, did. There was a mirth in her eyes, that frozen heart of ice and snow had been melted by her mate's fire and she seemed more...alive then before.

It had been indeed a long time since they had been in any city. The business with Vankoryth Detente had soured her beloved to anything like this. Thus she had constructed what could be classed as an ultimate Ice Citadel. A labour of pure love, but as days turned into months, and months into years she had found rather than being warmed by being around a place that was recognizable instead she had felt homesick. At first the Falmer now Vampire had ignored it, but it dug itself deep, tormenting her, until she finally decided she could not be in a place that was so remiscent of Skyrim. For better or for worse, she had travelled through the night to attempt to find a place.

It had taken time, it had taken diligence but she eventually discovered on the continent of Issunar a perfect haven. A place called Lutetia, it was almost remiscent to her home minus the cold. Of course she had never lived in cities like this so it would be perfect, but with fear of werewolves, vampires and other supernatural horrors this place was utterly perfectly. Yes folks were more active against them but they were far easier prey. In fact before leaving she had discovered a couple that had been trying to get alone time. Tiaan was merciful she broke both their necks before sinking her fangs into the neck and drinking deep of the dark ambrosia. Of course it had reinvigorated her, her eyes glowing crimson, feasting aggressively upon them both before setting them together side by side hands held.

She was a hopeless romantic, she could not help it.

After that she she had told Drisela and they had moved, of course Tiaan could not quite take the heart to destroy the Ice Citadel, thus it remained. Let someone else find a home in it.

Back to the present she found a spot placing them down before gently gesturing with her fingertips, a coldness echoed and formed into foundations, before eclipsing in solid ice pillars down each hallway with statues of them in congress for a centrepiece. Tiaan being a Falmer that of a snow elf had a talent for using Ice, her Magical Ice was stronger and even more hardy than normal ice. Thus the intricacies she built up with her powers were more like polished marble than Ice.

With that done she beamed her fangs showing. It was hard to believe such gentle features had what amounted to a dark cruel monster, but despite being now something she had once abhorred, Tiaan had kept her nature. It was probably one of the reasons Drisela had softened, since Tiaan Shyrias was very much tender in her speech. There was conviction. Tiaan had once been a politician for Religious Caste, but she was also exceptionally learned. Thus she understood there was more deities than ones she had heard of in the cities of Falmer.

Tragically Tiaan was adift much of her people had become monsters twisted and abused by a race they had trusted. The Dwemer. Tiaan bear these scars, but she hid them with glamor. There was much depth to her and though submissive in how she acted, she was a secret dominant. For Drisela she was a switch. A powerful fire raged in her, oddly enough. It had not been a difficult choice to become a vampire, it had been more difficult to forget her love before though... Kat...

Sometimes she would find herself thinking back to those lost moments.

Right now Drisela would likely see her beloved deep in thought, maybe even reading her mind. A victim, a survivor, someone who cared... someone who loved... someone who tried to do right thing... her graceful features and pale blue skin, so inviting. Alluring. Yet even Drisela knew she still had regrets and wished she could have done more to save her people...

While Tiaan worked her magics upon their small section of the Catacombs, Dris worked to find a place where they could set their coffins and could be in relative safety. They had to be careful, despite this city being smaller, there were dangers lurking around every corner. She had to ensure that she and her mate could sleep in peace without fear of an attack during the day. She turned a few corners and spied a decently sized basin within the back, it seemed that a hole had been made with the passage of time and it connected into a large basin of the sewers. The smell was not that foul to her nose as it seemed this section had long since been cut off. Some work would make this place an ideal location for their crypt.

With a heavy grunt, she set down the two coffins and began her work of removing the items from the coffins and set them around the room. With a meticulous eye, she placed each and every item just as it was meant to be. Books in one place, a small table in another with her alchemical ingredients all being placed in another. She had no furniture but that was something that could be fixed with relative ease. She could make trips back and forth from the Citadel to here and make everything like new. But that was not on her mind. Right now, other things pressed at her concious thoughts and, soon after placing the things, she headed out of the crypt to find her beloved.

"The Huntress sees her mate in a state of somber thought and reflection. The huntress sees her thoughts through her eyes and she wants to know what is wrong"

Driselda moved behind her and wrapped her arms around Tiaan's waist to hold her. Driselda, despite being so ancient, looked rather haggard at present. She had not been feeding as much as she should have been. Not due to a lack of desire but for more selfish reasons. Driselda had indeed grown soft, once reveling in the hunt now enjoying being fed rather then hunting and feeding herself. She enjoyed the idea of having her mate bring her food and comfort. After all, she has grown so old and perhaps, things are becoming boring for her. It is amazing to have another bring you what you need to survive. The dominant air about her was dropped, that cold facade of superiority failed utterly when Tiaan was near. All Driselda desired to do was to hold her, comfort her and give her whatever peace of mind she could offer. She rested her head down onto Tiaan's shoulder and leaned in to kiss her neck near where the holes were where she had Kissed Tiaan.

The Daughter of Coldharbor took in her scent and offered her a warm rub of her stomach "Tell me whats on your mind. Let me ease your burdens as much as I can. Surely you could tell me anything if you so truly desired"

At first she said nothing, as if she had not heard before raising her head and forcing a smile on her face before replying, "It's nothing Drisela, thanks for respecting my privacy though and not trying to find out..." a short prolonged sigh before she continued, "It just I am thinking. I know you keep saying I did not know the Dwemer would be such monsters? But still... it was my vote in the end that sealed my people's fall... We were arrogant and maybe we even deserved to be humbled... but I lied to myself for so long I was never part of that choice... when in reality I was... I guess I lied to remove the guilt..." she paused seeming deep in thought her eyes focused before she went on, "I told you the choice leave Skyrim or trust the Dwemer... how could we imagine they would enslave us... They would rape our cultures and steal our architecture. I never imagined anyone could be worse than the Nord? Was I wrong? Was I wrong to think that no one could be worse?"

Sighing gently she mewled in response to the ministeration but nonetheless continued, "How could I ever have made the choice to completely leave where we were all born? Maybe we could have survived, but after the death of our Prince we were being hunted down, We needed allies, we needed hope... Could I have handled it better?" her grew heated and depressed, "I have two regrets that vote and Kat... Kat I at least can understand was not my fault... but my race... I feel like the architect to what destroyed them? It burns, the whole implication I did that to them..." pausing she stared her beloved straight in the eyes as she wailed, "Don't lie Drisela, you seen what I did? What I caused, my people blind and feral? In my eyes they are worse than what I am now? Vampires at least keep their personality their thoughts. My people were turned in aberrations... You no doubt killed some if delving in areas with them... You can feel the bitterness... I did that... I trusted the Dwemer... I trusted them and because of this... I doomed my race... If I was anything like them it would be justified, but I survived..."

Teardrops eveloped her eyes, the soft features full of years of utter remorse and regret, "I am more a monster than you will ever be... Drisela don't lie to me... I don't want sympathy... I just want to know one thing... Did I make the right choice?"

This didnt so much take Driselda aback but there was a look of semi shock on her face while she listened to her speaking. Every syllable hung in her mind while Driselda continued her ministrations to help her keep calm while holding her against her body. Driselda didnt speak for sometime as she thought about her answer then simply kissed Tiaan's lips in a gentle kiss. The Ancient reached up to cup her cheek then stroked it with her thumb as she answered.

"You made the best possible choice at the time. The Atmorans were going to keep killing no matter what you might have done. Trapped between two rocks and backed into a third you made the only possible choice you could have made. Yes I have had to kill Falmer before, both during the War and when they had devolved. I know the beauty of your people well and I admire it every day when I look upon you creations. Even the very wise cannot see all ends"

Driselda reached up to wipe away Tiaan's tears with her finger and flicked them away before continuing.

"What the Dwemer did was not your fault. You made the choice but you had no idea of the Dwemer's plan. And in a sense, the Falmer live on. One day, they might become free again. One day, with time and patience. Remember, the Dwemer used poison to do this to them. Eventually, it will work it's way out of the Falmer and your people might become pure once again. Who knows? Perhaps you and I will live to see it"

Driselda, moved her hand up and pushed some of Tiaan's hair from her face and curled it around her ear while she began to pull her towards the makeshift crypt. Inside there, she opened up the large stone coffin and laid down inside it while patting the space where Tiaan slept with her.

"You must not blame yourself for another race's actions. In the end, the Dwemer got what they deserved. They are gone, utterly. Their arrogance, their hubris gone with them and forever more, their stain will no longer contaminate this world. In the end, they got their just desserts. The Falmer, despite being what they are now, are at least alive. Blessings come in many shapes and sizes. Come here and lay with me. I am very weary, the hunger has taken a toll and lifting these possessions has sapped my strength. I no longer wish to stand"

Driselda's yellow and red eyes looked up at Tiaan with warmth, but with hunger in them. Tiaan knew this routine well, Driselda had been doing this for several months now, banking on a year. She would work herself to the point of near exhaustion from effort and lack of eatting. Then she would give Tiaan that look that spoke 'I am hungry'. Driselda would be utterly elated at being brought food and would be like a girl in Winter. It was a dance Driselda had grown accustomed to.

It made a great deal of sense, after all Drisela been alive longer, still she found herself asking, "I made the right choice, yet you saw them... they did that... I was horrified to see what became of my people I no longer could live in Nirn. It hurt, it utterly ruined me. I understand what you mean, but Drisela just was there ever a third choice? Did I miss something? I know you mean well and you try so hard to understand my pain... but these people trusted me... Trusted me to make the right decision..." finally her gaze looked up, "I am sorry Drisela it has been too long, of course." she carefully stood up and lay with her beloved in the crypt, "I am happy, I don't want you to think I am not... I would tell you if I was not... just truly one day I hope I can see my race return... If that happens I will be there to drive the Nord out of our land for good. If genocide must be the choice, then it will be."

There was the rage as she traced her hand over the Drisela face before falling upon her lips and kissing deeply with passion. Two major regrets, but not once had she regret taking the deadly kiss.

Not once.