The job had been a dangerous one for the twins- rescue a local farmer from a clan of bandits. Nothing too demanding, but something you always had to be careful when doing, just to make sure the victim didn't get hurt because of the twins messing up somehow. They had been in and out in no time, but they still had to make it across a frozen, dragon infested Skyrim, and make sure the three of them made it back unscathed.
Vilkas and Farkas walked back in silence, the uneasy farmer jumped from every chirping bird slightly behind. The bandits had certainly found a pretty good spot for a hideout. The twins had passed it twice before looking in the crevice of two rocks and discovering an entrance. The bandits had put up a decent fight, but in the end, they were still a hoard of cut throats against two members of the circle. To Farkas, they didn't stand much of a chance in the first place. To Vilkas, his brother would get caught in some trap and that would kill him before the bandits did. Farkas never looked at the ground for a trip wire or pressure plate in the first place.
"Please, can-can you just get me home?" The farmer asked again, after nearly an hour of uncomfortable silence.
"Almost there…" Vilkas sighed. This man was afraid of his own shadow! No wonder he was caught by the brigands, he probably did not defend himself as he should. To his left, the Companion could hear the feint scatter of feet belonging to some creature. It was no wolf, but it was not a deer either. He stopped dead in the middle of the path, and looked around.
"Did you hear that?" He asked, looking over at his brother, who had stopped and looked at him with an ever-confused look on his face.
"Hear what?" The farmer demanded behind him. "What?"
"Shh!" Vilkas said. "What is that?" Vilkas looked back at his brother just in time to see his entire body clench, and his eyes grow wide with fear. As far as Vilkas was concerned, there was not a thing in Skyrim that could make his brother look like that. Vilkas turned his head, and barely had time to jump out of the way as venom from a frostbite spider shot his way. Behind him, the farmer had fled. Vilkas drew his greatsword from over his back and waited for the beast to come closer. He saw there was not one, but three of the disgusting creatures skittering his way.
"Make sure they don't follow the farmer Farkas." Vilkas said in a commanding tone. His brother did not reply. "Farkas?" He asked the silence. He turned, his brother was not there. He looked over his shoulder at the other twin, a good few yards away from the spiders, and it didn't look like he was going to get any closer. Vilkas heaved a heavy sigh, and dodged another ball of venom that one of the three spiders had spit at him.
"Seriously?" He called to his brother. "Are you…." He swung his sword over his head, and it collided with the head of the closest spider. He jumped back as the creature attempted to stab him.
"…..kidding me?" He yelled loud enough for his brother to hear. He swung his sword like a bat and it sliced the second. The third shot venom at him, it hit him the armor, but did not do any harm to Vilkas. Behind him, Vilkas heard Farkas make a pronounced sound of fright as the venom hit his brother's armor. Vilkas swung the sword again and took out the last spider. "I will have his head for this." He muttered under his breath, as he began to wipe off the venom from him.
Tired from their journey, the twins returned the farmer to his home. He thanked the immensely, and told them to give his regards to the rest of the Companions. The twins began to head back to Jorvaskr for some much needed rest. Vilkas looked at his brother with obvious annoyance.
"What was that?" He demanded.
"What?" Farkas asked.
"Running away from the frostbite spiders?"He reminded his twin. Farkas shook his head.
"I can't stand 'em." He admitted. "They're too much for me." Vilkas almost stopped dead in his tracks at his brother's words, and had to jog to catch up with his brother's wide strides.
"You're afraid of them?" He asked. "Of the spiders? Not dragons, not giants, but spiders?" It took everything Vilkas had not to chuckle at that.
"Shut up." Farkas barked. "Ever since Dustman's Cairn… I just… I can't take them!" He admitted, feeling a slight chill fall down his spine at the memory of he, and the current Harbinger fighting off those repulsive things when trying to reach the fragments of Wuuthrad. Vilkas nodded, as if he understood, which he didn't. Big as Farkas was, a frostbite spider was enough to send the man running? The thought surprised him.
I have to do something about this. He thought as the two reached the mead hall. He can't be afraid of something so small!