Disclaimer: Alas, Skyrim is not mine. Characters you do not recognize were created by me for the purposes of this tale. Some quests/dialogue have been changed, so do not expect a word-by-word account taken completely from the game. Rated M for potential violence and gore, sexual themes and much more. Thank you for all of the lovely and encouraging reviews! They certainly keep me motivated ;) - Fallon.

Chapter Seven

The walk to Riverwood was quiet enough. Idalyn would make a comment once and a while about the Companions, the weather or the current assignment they were on, but she said nothing about the dragons.

Vilkas answered her questions or offered her the occasional head nod when necessary but did not know what to say otherwise. Between himself and Farkas, many would say he was better with words, yet somehow nothing was coming to him now. He had seen Farkas talk with her in length on numerous occasions and feared there was something amiss with himself for not being able to do the same.

He was more confident than ever that some magical trickery was involved.

"We should probably attack the cave at night, catch them off guard." Idalyn suggested after a long moment of silence.

Vilkas nodded, seeing the wisdom in her plan and quickly smothering the grin that was threatening to appear on his lips, "Aye, it's fine by me."

"We're almost there," Idalyn stated, pointing to the bridge ahead.

Just over it laid the small village of Riverwood, the first settlement she had encountered after fleeing the dragon in Helgen. She liked it well enough, if only because it was nestled on the edge of the woods, but found it a little too small for her liking.

Only a hand full of people called Riverwood home and it had no walls around it to shield it from attacks. That was one of the reasons it required the aid of Whiterun with the dragons – they literally had nothing to defend themselves with.

Even now, Idalyn saw vulnerability in the village.

"What's got you so worried?" Vilkas asked quietly, having sensed something was amiss with her.

Idalyn sighed, "There are dozens of small towns like this spread across Skyrim – what's protecting them from the dragons? A few extra guards and some watchtowers? No, things aren't well for villages like these..."

"You can't go and worry about everyone, whelp," he assured her as they crossed the bridge, "at some point you have to trust that others can protect themselves."

"And what is that point, Vilkas? When they've run out of coin to buy aid?"

He was about to tell her how wrong she was when a Nordic man spotted Idalyn and hurried over. They greeted each other with smiles and the man pulled her into a consuming embrace.

Vilkas snarled quietly to himself, already certain he didn't like the man.

"Vilkas," Idalyn said as she turned back to him, "this is Ralof, he helped me escape Helgen."

He reluctantly shook the man's hand, but said nothing.

"What brings you back to Riverwood?" Ralof asked her, his hand still on her arm.

"I've joined the Companions and have an assignment to clear out a nearby cave of bandits."

To Vilkas's amusement and slight horror, Idalyn didn't seem to notice the lust-filled look the Stormcloak solider was giving her. His eyes were focused solely on her and his grin had yet to fade. Vilkas bit his tongue, cursing his beastblood for making him so aggressive.

He told himself he did not care about the Stormcloak solider or whatever feelings he had for Idalyn, but the anger remained.

"Vilkas is here to make sure I'm a solid enough fighter to keep myself alive long enough to make gold for the Guild," Idalyn explained to Ralof as she smiled at Vilkas.

Ralof glared at him, "She's a fine fighter, I'd not have gotten out of Helgen alive without her. I could vouch for Idalyn."

"With all due respect your opinion matters little to me," Vilkas spat.

Ralof's glare grew more intense, "You -"

Idalyn stepped between the two men, urging Vilkas away, "I'll see you later, Ralof. It was good talking to you."

Ralof waved, smiling at Idalyn but shooting daggers with his eyes at Vilkas.

Once she was sure they were alone, Idalyn stood on the tips of her toes and swatted Vilkas on the side of the head. It wasn't nearly hard enough to do any real damage, but it infuriated him all the same.

He growled, "What was that for?"

"I could ask you the same, Vilkas. Have you met Ralof before? Or are you always so miserable when meeting someone?"

Vilkas took a step closer to her and fought the urge to shake her. Instead, he leaned down and spoke in a whisper, "I came here to complete an assignment with you, not so you could catch up with your lover!"

Idalyn gasped, "He is not my lover, you fool! I came here to do a job."

"Then you'd better tell him that," Vilkas sneered, "because he's got a mind for something else!"

Idalyn couldn't believe his nerve. They had actually managed to be pleasant to one another on the road, but it seemed that was all for nothing. Vilkas was still the aggressive, rude brute he was before they left Whiterun.

She pushed him with all her might and ignored the fact that he barely moved, "You're pathetic! A village drunk has more manners than you!"

Vilkas pushed past her, stomping back down the path she had corner him on.

"Where are you going?" Idalyn demanded, no were near finished with speaking to him.

"I need a drink!" Vilkas shouted back at her.

Idalyn stormed after him, "Just like all true sons of Skyrim -"

Vilkas spun on his heels in the blink of an eye and closed the distance between them. He roughly grabbed the neckline of her dress and balled the fabric up in his fist, hoisting her up by it and pinning her to the rocky ledge behind her. He saw the raw panic in her eyes, but was too out of control to stop himself – the beastblood was boiling over.

"You damned elves are all the same! You look down on us, mock us and ensnare us with spells! You think you could take me, elfling?"

Idalyn couldn't get her lips to form words, she was too stunned, too scared. He held her up so high she could not find the ground with her feet.

He pushed himself up against her, the beastblood causing a wave of pure lust to cloud his eyes. Vilkas wanted to tear the clothes from her body and caress every inch of her until she begged for more. He wanted to claim her without kindness, to dominate her until she ached with a fierceness she had never experienced.

By the Gods, he wanted her!

The jagged edges of his armour dug into her, causing her to yelp.

Vilkas was panting, fighting to subdue the beast inside of him before he'd do something he'd regret. It burned in him like a wildfire, all consuming and all destroying. He knew it would lead him down a destructive path, so he fought it like he would any enemy.

Idalyn saw that fight happening in his eyes.

"V-Vilkas?" She managed to gasp out.

The sound of her voice so soft and fearful caused the beastblood to die down and allowed him to regain control. He abruptly pulled away from her and she fell to the ground in a heap.

Still panting, he looked down at her with wide eyes.

"The beastblood...it was the wolf..." he struggled to explain, knowing nothing could wash the fear from her eyes.

She had seen him for what he truly was – an unpredictable monster.

Idalyn scrambled to her feet and took off down the path in a sprint.

He didn't chase after her, but instead took to the woods, hoping some larger beast was there to end his life.


Ralof found her standing on the bridge looking out in the direction of Whiterun.

"You look weary, my friend." He said softly as he approached her.

She turned to look at him, a profound sadness etched across her face, "Hello again, Ralof."

He stood beside her, "Is something the matter?"

Idalyn bit her lip.

Vilkas had gone...feral. He had attacked her, pinned her to the wall and made her feel helpless. Her hated of him, if anything, should have grown, but it didn't – she feared for him. She saw the battle waging in his eyes and guessed that struggle had more to do with how he'd been treating her than anything else. But she didn't want to say anything to Ralof for fear things would only get worse. She'd speak to Kodlak once she completed her assignment and returned to Jorrvaskr, surely he would have advice worth listening to.

"I'm fine, just weary from the road I suppose."

Ralof huffed, "It mustn't be easy dealing with him all the time."

She shrugged, "He is a fine warrior."

He laughed, "That's a yes!"

She found herself laughing too and was surprised by how good it felt.

"You are a fine friend, Ralof."

He grinned, "As are you."

"I left," she said flatly, "how does that make me a good friend?"

Ralof swallowed hard then reached out to touch her face. He ran his fingers hesitantly across her cheek, then pressed his palm to her flesh.

"Because you are an intelligent, compassionate and stunning woman, Idalyn. Any man would be honored to have you as his. You fight with both your sword and your tongue, your magic and your heart – you are...very dear to me."

Idalyn searched for something to say, but could only stare at him blankly in shock.

Ralof leaned in, placing a firm and needy kiss upon her lips.

His lips were chapped and rough, catching her off guard in more ways than one. She fought the urge to pinch herself, certain she was dreaming. His lips moved against her's, encouraging her to kiss back, but she pushed him back instead.

He looked at her with hurt in his eyes and she knew then that she had driven a wedge between them. She touched her lips and hurried past him.

"Idalyn, wait!" He pleaded as he started after her, "let me explain!".

She looked back at him and shook her head, "I've got to finish what I came here for...please excuse me, Ralof."

Idalyn took off toward the village, leaving Ralof behind.

She did not see Vilkas hiding in the bushes nearby.