Hey everyone! If anyone has any suggestions as to where they want the story to go, feel free to just pm me or review! Anyway, heres another chapter.

The clang of metal against metal resounded through the courtyard, echoing off of the tall stone walls. Both males grunted as their weapons met each other again, grating against each other as they battled with their strength. Vilkas clenched his teeth, struggling to keep his ground. He knew his brother was strong, but had he gotten stronger?

"By the nine Farkas, have you been having secret training sessions with Aela again?" Vilkas grunted, hands slipping on the handle of his broadsword. Farkas grinned, and with one final wave of strength he pushed his brother down, laughing as he fell.

"They wouldn't have to be a secret if you would lighten up bit." Farkas replied, extending his arm to help the other man up. Vilkas begrudgingly accepted his arm, picking up his fallen sword from the ground next to him.

"I'm sorry brother, but I don't think having you climb halfway up the throat of the world with boulders attached to your back counts as training." Vilkas gave a pointed look to his twin. "That's torture in my book, But I don't think Aela knows the difference." Farkas shook his head. He loved his brother, but sometimes he was too much of a mother hen for his liking.

Not wanting to be lectured any longer, Farkas tried to change the subject. "Are you okay, brother? You've been even more uptight and stiff since that raid on the Silverhand base." Vilkas became flustered.

"I am not uptight!" His response made Farkas laugh boisterously.

"Brother, uptight is the one word I would use to describe you!" Farkas clapped his brother on the back, still laughing. "Now come on, you can tell me your troubles over a nice mug of mead."


The fire in the center of Jorvaskr burned bightly, crackling loudly. The fire had always calmed Vilkas' nerves, ever since he was a pup. He and Farkas sat towards a corner of the hall, as Vilkas didn't want anyone to hear what he was saying. It's not that he didn't trust the other companions, he just didn't want to bother them with something so trivial.

"It was just odd. That thief was the reason that we weren't opposed that night, aside from the odd straggler. But the weirdest part is that she knew me." Farkas, who was gulping his mead vigorously, started to choke.

He coughed, Vilkas slamming his back in the hope of clearing his throat. Faras looked incredulously at his brother, still clearing his throat. "She knew you? How? You're not conspiring with the Thieves guild, are you?!" Vilkas shook his head.

"No, brother! She knew I was a companion, not who I was!" Farkas calmed, glad to know that his brother wasn't doing shifty deals with thieves. Farkas knew he wasn't the brightest, but even he could tell thieves were trouble.

Still, Farkas was confused. It was just a thief, so why was his brother so occupied? "I still don't understand, brother. Why has this thief got you so flustered?" Farkas' words made Vilkas stop. He was right, that girl meant nothing to him, so why couldn't he get her out of his mind.

Farkas chewed on a hunk on bread, silently watching his brother muse. A thought suddenly crossed his mind, bread falling out of his mouth as he stood and slammed his hand on the table. "I think I get it now!It's because she was beautiful, wasn't she?" Vilkas, who had paused his musing to take a sip of mead, inhaled quickly. Unfortunately, this landed him in the same situation his brother was in earlier.

Gasping for air, Vilkas meekly responded. "What makes you think that?" Farkas grinned widely.

"Because brother, not once have I seen you pay any girl any attention, so this one must be special! Did you happen to learn her name?" Farkas was excited. Maybe his brother would finally get together with someone!In the past, when he had asked his twin about girls around town, Vilkas had responded quickly.

"They're all too boring. Not one of them has an individual thought in their head. If I ever decide to marry, it will be with someone capable of holding a weapon or speaking for themselves. You can quote me on that." Vilkas was smart, very smart, so of course he would want someone who would be capable of holding a conversation, someone to keep up with him.

Vilkas snapped his fingers, trying to get his twins attention. "Farkas! Get those thoughts out of your head!I am not- and never will be- sweet on a thief!" Vilkas was agitated, even more so when Farkas laughed in his face.

Taking another swig of mead, Farkas slammed a fist on the table. "Do not worry brother, your secret is safe with me!"

"Boys!" The twins were called to attention by Aela, who was motioning them towards the stairs to the lower level of the hall. Composing themselves, the boys hurried over towards her, Farkas still laughing a bit at his brother. Aela was silent as she glance between the two, coughing to get their attention.

"Kodlak wants to talk to us. He's got a mission for the circle."


"I've recently been contacted by Maven Black-briar about some security work. She has been having more and more trouble with bandits lately, and would like some extra muscle." Kodlak spoke to the assembled circle.

"You mean... go to Riften?" Vilkas asked rather hesitantly. Kodlak glanced at him, confused as to why he seemed so quiet.

"Yes." Kodlak replied curtly.

"Isn't this work for mercenary's?" Aela asked, her brow furrowed. Kodlak grew more irritated.

"Normally, yes. But the Jarl of Riften has asked me personally. Black-briar meadery brings in a lot of revenue for the town, so that makes its safety top priority. Now, pack your bags, you're going to Riften."

The circle nodded, leaving Kodlaks office. Farkas elbowed his brother on their way out. "Well, brother, looks as though your reunion with the little thief is going to happen sooner than we expected."