Welcome back again, I hope you enjoy this chapter as it is in Vilkas's perspective.

Shoutouts:

midnightandcounting: I copletely forgive you if I never see another review from you again, I preordered Skyrim 3 months early and I played it nonstop, I have only just given it a break, but I still play it at least once a day. I used to play it constant, the only reason why I wouldn't be playing is if I was at work, and when I was at work, all I could think of was Skyrim. I hope you love the game at least half as much as I do, and I'm so glad that you love my story!

'I'll never forget': I laughed and blushed when I saw the name you signed with your review, and I'm so glad you think my story is epic. You get a cookie for signing your review after my story because it made me smile to see that.

Fallon-Idalia: I was smiling my face off when I opened my inbox and saw your pile of reviews, I sure hope you keep that up. Your reviews are the type of reviews that I love, my favorite kind of reviews. They express interest for the story, show criticism where it's needed and offer an opinion. I am curious on what your name means, I hope you're willing to tell me in your next review. I'm too lazy to Google it. I also promise I'll try to improve my capitalization.

It is named after Zenithar: the god of trade, the god who always wins.

Read, Review, and as always, Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Zenithar

Vilkas had not seen her in days; it worried him in a sense. Jorrvaskr was silent without her old song that filled the halls and his heart felt much heavier without her help to lift the burden.

He remembered the day he asked her to marry him, he was only a boy but the words counted, he had barely lived to see his twelfth year but the day was clearer to him than sunlight.

She sat under the Gildergreen reading a book, he did not really care what she was reading but seeing the young girl amongst the deep purple blossoms made his heart ache.

"Vilkas" Her smile widened when she saw him approaching, "What do I owe this pleasure?"

Her words were so formal, as always, she had the polite manner that most saved for royalty but she treated every man the same. Her white skin was like snow and the blood that filled her cheeks was like a glorious stain of red flowers peeking through the ice. Her black curls were knotted into a braid, he hated to see the beautiful threads tucked away.

"I just wanted to see you." He smiled and sat near her, leaning against her arm and draining some of her warmth. "You're always so fun to be around."

"Doesn't Farkas want to play today?"

"Farkas only ever wants to wrestle, he won't talk to me, I miss conversation."

She laughed, her voice like a bell, and he watched her. "You're always welcome to talk to me if you ever feel lonely."

Her eyes... although they looked like they formed from ice glaciers, they held more warmth than the breath of a flame, he wished to touch them but held back, knowing it would be unwelcome had he brushed his fingertips against her long thick lashes. "I always feel lonely when you're not around."

Her eyes widened in shock, "Vilkas... I'm not sure I understand."

Then he kissed her, some townsfolk stopped to feel their heartstrings tugged as the two innocent children discovered the blessing of Mara.

"Vilkas... I have to go; I have to find out what happened to my father." She sighed and rested her pretty head on his shoulder. "I'll miss you though."

"I'll only let you go if you make me a promise." Vilkas smiled, "You have to promise me that you'll marry me when you return."

She then laughed, "Of course I will," She twiddled her thumbs, "I promise to love you forever"

He kissed her again and when she pulled away, it was not to cut him with words of goodbye, it was to act like the children that they were, to play and laugh until day's end.

Vilkas smiled at the memory, his heart ached wishing she were still at his side, he was angry that she broke her promise, she no longer loved him, she had completely forgotten him.

The companions knew no more perfect lovebirds, ripe from a young age.

They completed the ritual together, taking the blood of Hircine into themselves; he wondered whether the gods removed her curse. If they had, it would be another thing to remind himself that she was not his any longer.

Farkas walked into his bedroom, "Brother, you can't sulk forever."

Vilkas sighed, "surely you understand, you too felt the ache when she walked by, you too watched her lips move. We were children but your love was just as passionate, but even more shy than my own."

Farkas blinked and turned his head, "I left that past behind, she was your woman all along and I knew that. I won't forget that."

Vilkas smiled at his brother, "You sacrifice everything for my smile brother, you truly understand more than any of us about Mara, but you no longer need to, she's not the woman I love but you still feel the pain in your chest, don't you?"

His brother sighed, staring at the rug, "My heart doesn't change its tune because the gods will it, I won't forget the girl we loved, but I won't throw away the woman we have now because the gods changed her."

Vilkas smiled, "She's no longer mine brother, and she could always be yours." The words saddened him, they were far from the truth, had Vilkas seen any man touching Nasilda he would slit their throats, the only man who he deemed worthy was his brother, but even then flowers of jealousy bloomed.

"I hate hearing you lie through your teeth. You'll find her and you know it, I'll be here to pick up any pieces you may break."

Vilkas laughed, "I still don't know how you always find out when I'm lying."

Farkas chuckled deeply, "Your smile doesn't reach your eyes and you blink alot."

Vilkas laughed with his brother for what seemed a while but was in fact, moments, Farkas was not one for talking, but when it came to his brother, and he was incredibly passionate. The twins cared for one another more than most cared for their siblings but for a long time before they joined the companions they were all each other had.

"Come brother, let us go drown ourselves in mead until we hallucinate." Vilkas chuckled

"Sounds like a plan to me."

Several hours later, Vilkas woke to find himself not far off Ivarstead, he was naked but he found his gear in his bag near where he woke.

He shivered, looking up at the sky; it must be around two in the morning.

He quickly put his fingers to his lips, before drawing them away to inspect. No blood. Thank the divines he didn't kill anyone tonight.

But his rejoice was short lived when he heard the growl of a bear.

Had he been wearing his armour the fight would have lasted moments.

Had his sword been closer it would have lasted seconds.

But none of the above factors helped him now, he reached for his sword which at the time felt like a mile away as the bear slashed him with his claws and snapped at his limbs with its jaws.

He felt a sudden pain as its claws dug deep into his back, just missing his spine. He was thrown against a tree, feeling his ribs break inside of him, he cried out for Stendarr to hear him.

But then he heard something, at first it seemed far off, it probably seemed unimportant as the bear drew closer again, this time its claws were aiming to kill rather than wound.

He closed his eyes and prayed that the hunting grounds were not so bad.

"Down you dirty beast!" A woman cried, he heard the slosh of blood and was grateful it was not his own. "Are you hurt?" The woman asked.

When he opened his eyes, she came into vision, "Nasilda... what are you...?" But he was cut off when he coughed, blood spilling from his lips.

"Oh divines..." She breathed, kneeling over his naked form, her pale cold fingers touched his torso and he felt the stab of pain rush through him. "You're more than hurt. We must get you to a healer."

Another girl joined them, "Shall I call for one, my thane? He cannot travel in this condition."

Nasilda thought, "Yes that should be fine." The girl nodded, "Lydia, you may need this."

She threw a bag of coins to the girl, "What for?"

Nasilda laughed, "It'll no doubt take some convincing to get a healer to travel this far for one patient."

Lydia laughed before pocketing the gold, "No doubt." She then ran to the edge of the field where a fine black horse tied to the fence stood ready.

"You'll be fine" Nasilda smiled briefly. "Just a few broken bones and scratches, from what I can see."

He laughed and it hurt. "It feels much more like I've been torn to pieces and put back together by a man who doesn't know where the pieces belong."

She smiled and opened her bag to pull out a thin blanket, "Where are your clothes?"

"They are in a bag over there..." He nodded towards the bag that lay a few feet from the bear's corpse.

"And why aren't you wearing them?"

He sighed, "That may take some explaining."

She giggled and grabbed his bag, pulling out a thin cotton shirt and some slacks. Leaning over him, she pulled the shirt over his head while he complained loudly that he could take care of himself.

He growled as she pulled his slacks on, she was mindful to look away as she did, but her hands came close, close enough that he felt blood flooding towards the area in anticipation.

"I am a full grown man, you know." He sighed, giving up, "I can dress myself."

"Not at the moment." She then pulled him up, his torso cried in protest and he felt tears running down his cheek. The pain was almost unbearable, but she knew that, yet they couldn't stay in the field sitting in his and the bears blood. "I've paid for a night at the inn, if we need to, we'll stay a few more nights, I imagine that being the case."

"I hope the healer brings a carriage then. I don't really want to stay here on your tab."

She smiled softly, "I don't mind."

Through great effort , they reached the inn, she pulled him into the bed and fell to the floor, exhausted.

"So what were you doing running around at this time in the morning...?" Vilkas asked quietly, knowing most of the inn was asleep.

"I couldn't sleep, when I was walking with Lydia we heard your cries and came running." She smiled then, "but I could ask the same of you."

"I wasn't looking for you."

"Of course not."

She slipped into the sleeping bag Lydia left the previous night, he watched her thoughtfully. "You know, it's bad manners to allow a woman to sleep on the floor when a mad takes her bed?"

She snorted, "You'll be more than uncomfortable down here."

Although she was mystery to him, the Nasilda he knew was soft and caring, the only reason why she was in the companions was that she was Kodlak's adoptive daughter; she couldn't hurt a fly and could hardly lift a blade. However, the woman the gods changed her to was so different it was astounding.

She took on that bear and in moments, its throat was open and empty. Men were calling her dragonborn and witnessed her slay a dragon, her attitude had changed, she hardly cared what others thought, she smiled and drank with the men and she seemed carefree. Perhaps her memories burdened her and she released from them.

The woman she was intoxicated him, her kindness was known to all and her kitten like timidness made her irresistible. But the woman she has become made him blind with passion, she still had the same traces of kindness but she was no longer shy, but braver than many men who called themselves a warrior. She no longer blushed under pressure and hid from nervousness but now she blossomed in the limelight and proved to the world that she was more than a woman.

"Vilkas?"

"Yes...?"

"I don't know what you're doing here, but I'm glad to see you again."

He remembered that strange sting in his chest, it wasn't from the wounds but it was his heart beating so quickly it threatened to burst out.

He reached down, wincing at the pain he felt when he moved, and took her wrist into his hand, he pulled her towards him slowly, hoping not to hurt her with his grip.

But she wasn't a china doll anymore, although her skin seemed to be made from porcelain it was tough, and she wasn't shy when he pulled her mouth over his and kissed her surprised lips.

He could get used to kissing her again, but these kisses were not what he was used to, these kisses were feverish and almost unexperienced, raw in their fiery nature and needy.

He felt the blood rush again and his heart thumped in his chest. "Nasilda..." he moaned into her mouth as his hair stroked those silky curls that fell from her head.

She then stopped. "I don't want to hurt you." She said quietly before pulling away.

His heart went with her as she let him go, "At least sleep with me tonight."

She smiled in the darkness. "Maybe when you're better, I'll think about it."

He sighed, "I suppose you've thanked me properly now, I saved you and you saved me."

Nasilda tangled her fingers into his, "I don't want to think of it like that, you're alive and that is what matters."

He smiled. He hoped to feel her warmth against his but his body was against it, he damned the bear and its marks but then, had it not been for the bear he wouldn't be in this situation.

As she sighed and fell asleep, her fingers slipped from his hand to the floor, it was pitch black but she was more beautiful than ever.

Then he truly realised that he was in love with her still, even more so than before, although his Nasilda was just a kitten the woman who she is now was a full-grown predator and she had him in her claws. She was more than reborn she was exciting and enchanting and he was hers completely.

He damned Zenithar who must be in leagues with Mara. Why must they always win?

So I have decided to throw out a poll of sorts, you guys should review me and tell me what Aedra or Daedra you want for the next chapter. I don't want to see too many 'Mara' reviews because that's cheating. Remember, 3 reviews and you'll see the next chapter in 24 hours or so.