The moonlight from Masser illuminated the dark pool below. All was silent but for the gentle sound of White River, slowly trickling its way down towards Riverwood. There was a soft splash as a black, hairy muzzle lowered itself into the river, opening slightly to encourage the water in. The body that belonged to the muzzle was equally as black and hairy, and was crouched over the river, ears upright and alert to the silence of the night. It knew about the girl squatting in the clump of grass behind it but chose to ignore her. She would not do harm to it. The creature stood up on its haunches and padded remarkably quietly for a being of its proportions behind a rock. From there it eyed the deer that was grazing so foolishly in the middle of the night.
Eairia had been stalking the beast for a while, watching, waiting. She hid in the bracken, fingers shaking slightly, as she reached behind her and slowly pulled an arrow from her quiver. She pulled back the string of her bow and took aim.
Suddenly the beast turned round. The grey eyes found hers and Eairia hesitated. She dared not look in those eyes any longer and yet she could not look away. There was something recognisable about the grey orbs that stared at her from across the Whiterun plains.
She shook her head. Concentrate, she scolded herself. She tightened the string of her hunting bow whilst the beast looked on, never moving.
"Eairia!" shouted a friendly voice. The beast turned round to look at the source of the sound, causing its position to shift. Alarmed by the loud and abrupt disturbance of the silence, Eairia let go of the arrow. Like a falling star it soared in the air, cutting across the black stillness of the night to bury itself deep into the forearm of the beast. It howled and turned its head towards her, its eyes filled with pain and confusion.
"Eairia!" shouted the voice again. The beast's ears pricked up. It sniffed the air, turned, and ran away, trying not to put pressure on its wound.
"Eairia."
Eairia looked up and saw Farkas strolling towards her. She stood up and almost shot him.
"Farkas! You fool. For days have I been stalking that beast and you scare it off!"
"Its good to see you again too."
Eairia rolled her eyes and walked over to where the beast had stood.
"Why do you wish to slay the wolf?"
Eairia stopped. "Wolf?"
"Yes, werewolf."
"I knew not the name of the creature," muttered Eairia, "and I did not like how close it was to the walls of Whiterun. What concern of it is yours?" she said, looking at Farkas.
She bent down and inspected the ground where the beast stood. She could see blood from its wound still damp on the dry grass.
"No concern," Farkas said, not convincingly. "You should get back to Jorrvaskr, Skjor wishes to see you."
Eairia looked out in the direction the wolf fled. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked round and Farkas was looking at her kindly.
"Leave it lass."
Eairia sighed and turned towards Whiterun. Many said Farkas was the stupid one of the brothers, but Eairia did not think him stupid.
Back at Jorrvaskr Eairia went down to her bed chambers. She would talk to Skjor in the morning. However she was covered in mud and thought she ought to have a bath.
"Have you seen Tilma?" she asked Aela the Huntress who was walking to her bedroom.
"I think she is with Vilkas," replied Aela. She entered her bed chamber and shut the door before Eairia could ask anymore.
Eairia turned around and walked towards Vilkas' bedroom. She didn't want to run into him but she may have no choice.
"I'll just wait outside until Tilma leaves his room," she thought out loud.
"Ow woman! Careful with that!"
Eairia froze in the corridor. She could hear Vilkas swearing at Tilma.
Eairia walk to his bedroom only to discover the door was open. Vilkas sat shirtless on his bed with Tilma tending a wound on his arm. From where they were sitting, they both could see Eairia as she approached.
"What do you want Dragonborn?" Eairia scowled at Vilkas. He had never bothered to learn her name. Before the slaying of the Whiterun dragon where she was named Dragonborn, he just called her "girl". It irritated her that he thought himself more important than her that he didn't need to know her name.
"I wanted to speak to Tilma actually, but I can see she is otherwise occupied."
"What is it, my dear?" asked Tilma as she dapped potion onto Vilkas' wound. It obviously stung, as Vilkas swore, causing Tilma to scold him.
"Could you draw me a bath, when you are able to?"
"Oh I'll do it now. Just take my place and clean Vilkas' wound for me will you?"
Eairia really did not want to but she could see there was no other options. She walked into the room, before she had lurking in the doorway, and took Tilma's place on the bed next to Vilkas. Tilma handed her the potion and left the room.
There was a heavy silence, broken occasionally by Vilkas hissing.
"Skjor wanted to see you Dragonborn."
"I know."
"Skjor doesn't like to be kept waiting."
"I know."
Eairia looked at Vilkas' wound. It was on his forearm, and it wasn't that deep. It looked infected though, as if it had been poisoned.
"What caused this wound?"
Vilkas froze, which confused Eairia. A few seconds later he relaxed and spoke.
"Poison arrow. The person who fired it doesn't have very good aim though," he said nastily. Eairia snorted. She was sure whomever fired the arrow was lying in pieces somewhere in the wilderness.
"Why do you snort, Dragonborn?" Vilkas growled.
"Nothing, nothing," Eairia said quickly.
Vilkas huffed but said no more. Silence fell again.
Eairia couldn't help but notice how strong Vilkas looked. His muscles ripped across his mud stained body appealingly. Eairia bit her lip and put the potion down. "Done," she said, sounding slightly strangled.
"Good."
There was an awkward pause.
"The wound must be treated again tomorrow. The poison from the arrow is strong. I shall go find Tilma now. Goodnight."
Vilkas just glared at her. Eairia glared back and marched out of the room. He was such an ungrateful bastard, she thought.
She found Tilma in the bath chamber.
"Oh I was just coming to find you, child. Your bath is ready."
A little while later Eairia sank back in the metal tub, the heat from the boiling water melting her muscles. She knew she didn't have long before the metal caused the temperature of the water to drop dramatically, but she still waited a bit before scrubbing. She was thinking about Vilkas' wound. Something about it was unsettling, but she did not know what.