I wasn't sure about this chapter, rewriting it couple of times and rethinking the time jump and for now scratching out one Skyrim character's meeting between him and Gyvas. But in the start this series wasn't suppose to get this long, just a short sweet story about Vilkas' and Gyvas' trying to get used to each other. But thanks to your comments, favors and follows I'm getting inspiration to take this story forward, so thanks to all of you!
guest: Well, I'm not sure about master piece, but I'm really happy about your words. Glad you like it, hopefully the truth behind Farkas' and Drust's deaths won't be too much of a letdown compared to your theories. But I would be interested to hear them after the revelation. And thank you for your words, same to you.
Guest: I'm glad to hear! Sometimes I feel the story's chapters may be too dramatic and saddening, but I'm glad you liked them.
Hopefully you'll enjoy!
Couple of weeks later...
On the Whiterun's plains there were many different creatures to be hunted, but some of them were that kind of prey that easily turned into a dangerous predator when threatened.
Like saber cats, bears and wolves, which the last one was a pack animal. And occasionally there were even trolls, but luckily these creatures didn't so often wander through the open fields nor moved in packs.
Then there was giants and mammoths.
They were easy to avoid do to their size and they were otherwise peaceful creatures, but if angered, they were a real threat, only the skilled ones able to fight back and survive through the encounter.
And then there were deer and elks, plentiful at here where the open fields with hills and streams were ideal for pasturing.
Even now, at the small distance from Whiterun's city gates, there was a herd of six deer, the herbivores lazily feeding and drinking from the small lake, late summer's sun warming from above.
Slowly and silently Gyvas first inhaled, then exhaled, adjusting herself carefully while laying flat near the herd among the short grass. The wolf hide on her was hot but hiding well her red boy tunic clothes, blending her more naturally into the environment. Though the hide was from an ice wolf, almost pure white with light grey, clearly showing from the grass.
The herbivores now and then curiously looked at the white creature. However, as it didn't move nor seemed like clear wolf do to its form, they just continued their eating.
Gyvas had an odd, mechanical weapon on her hands, holding it in front of her as she aimed with one open eye.
"Just take your time", Aela whispered next to her, dressed into regular hunting gear and green paint across her face, laying and watching as the girl hold the crossbow that Dawnguard had gifted to Drust's daughter.
The Huntress followed the arrow's tip and checked the male deer that Gyvas had chosen by herself. The deer wasn't the oldest nor seemed the weakest one, but if the pup was sure of her aim, and that one arrow could bring the animal down, then Aela would let her try.
The Huntress, just like other Companions, had started teaching Gyvas during these two weeks and the pup had shown great potential to become a skillful warrior. Not surprise when thinking that she after all was Farkas' and Drust's daughter.
And even though it was just couple of weeks, the pup had told that she already had been practicing with her parents about weapons and other skills, so she had a good start already.
And what became to this hunting in this short time, well, Aela's teaching idea was that the best way to learn is to use your skills and learn from mistakes. Only that way would you truly progress.
"Aim carefully, take a deep breath... Then let it out and shoot", she gave the last tips before letting the girl do this on her own.
Gyvas blinked, licked her lips and breath in and out. She had the target right in front of her, just where she needed it. The wolf hide weight on her and the head's fur brushing against her cheek, giving the girl confidence.
Taking another breath, then letting it out slowly, she pulled the trigger, sending the arrow flying.
Walk back to the city was not so long as the two walked along the worn road, Aela carrying the male deer on her shoulders.
Gyvas could only stare at amazement just how strong the Huntress was, able to carry the dead animal with minor struggle. Gyvas wanted to become just like Aela, strong and skillful hunter. But also as good warrior as mom and dad and unc-
"Just wait till others see what you hunted", the Huntress said with a proud smile, glancing at the pup and the crossbow. "You have become very skillful with that thing. You like it?"
The child nodded keenly, hugging the weapon tightly.
"It's the best!" she exclaimed, looking at the weapon that was made from mixed metal but still having distinctly color of gold on it. First the weapon had been somewhat heavy, despite of its light structure, and its mechanism was alien. But with Aela's help Gyvas had learned how to handle it and now the crossbow was really handy, easy to use and quick to reload and shoot! And mom had one, so it felt kinda nice.
"I need to thank Dawnguard somehow", the child said. She should make a trip to the Rift, someday, and go meet the Dawnguard. Pity she hadn't been through the whole funeral, as she had turned into her room after the burning...
Maybe that was the reason why uncle had acted so... A bit strangely after the funeral? Was he disappointed on her?
"Just don't get too used to the crossbow", Aela warned, taking a better hold of the animal's legs without halting. "You also need to practice your skills at regular bow, knives and the two handed sword. Never only one weapon."
Personally Aela didn't see Gyvas as two handed sword user, the girl was too lean to use such heavy weapons. But the pup had insisted, and maybe with time and practice her body would develop into it.
The redhead glanced at the girl who suddenly had fallen quiet, Aela seeing the girl's head drooping.
"Gyvas?" the Huntress said and the girl looked from under the hide. There was that concerned look again, the pup had been like this for about a week now, suddenly getting quiet with worried tone all over her.
"What is the matter?"
"Nothing", the pup said.
The stables weren't far anymore, but the woman still stopped, putting down the carcass and stretched her neck and shoulders. Then turning with hands on her hips she stared at the pup who had stopped with her.
"Now, that's not true."
The girl's face headed up some, looking like a scolded pup. And maybe that was the case now.
But, and this was the secret so do not let the whelps know, Aela couldn't keep up the stern attitude towards the pup for long.
Gyvas was a good pup, almost too nice even. She should be more like Drust than Farkas what came to dispute with people. Aela could already guess what made the girl worried, and it wasn't the pup's fault. Although Gyvas could be more demanding with Vilkas.
The Huntress' face softened as she crouched to be at the same eye level with the pup.
"You can trust me Gyvas, tell me."
Gyvas wasn't sure.
Had she done something wrong? Maybe because she hadn't staid through the whole funeral, or that she couldn't stay calm until the end? Or was she being silly again and overthinking it?
The child wasn't sure. But after the funeral, after couple of days of it, when she wasn't so full of sadness and anger... She couldn't shake away the unpleasant feeling once it had settled in and the thoughts planted in.
Something was different with uncle. Maybe.
It wasn't clearly noticeable. And it wasn't like she knew him very well, after all. Or that the two of them were close...
Those were the reasons why Gyvas was being uncertain of her feelings, making up reasons and ignoring her childish worries.
Dad had been uncle's brother after all, so maybe uncle was just mourning like she was, in his own way?
And uncle was the Harbinger after all, so of course he was busy. Usually closed in his quarters, doing work, meeting the jarl, giving out contracts to Companions and he seemed to have a lady friend that Gyvas had seen couple of times at Jorrvaskr, coming out of uncle's quarters.
And Gyvas had gotten better, back to her more normal self in physical level, so it wasn't like uncle anymore needed to keep close eye on her and keep company when she had been ordered into bed rest.
So... There really wasn't reason to her and uncle to...
Spent time together. Right?
It wasn't like they knew each other or were close. He hadn't been in contact with dad so there really wasn't any reason to him to spent time with-
"Gyvas", Aela's more demanding voice snapped the girl away from the gloomy, uncertain thoughts.
But in the end she couldn't keep away the worries for long, as they always found a way to sneak back when ever Gyvas tried to speak to uncle.
Maybe uncle was grumpy, and not good with kids, like Friss had once said, but uncle...
It was like there had formed a wall between her and him. Out of nowhere.
Or no, more like a rift, starting with a crack and then slowly widening without Gyvas noticing it.
And when she finally started to understand what was the uneasy feeling about, it was difficult to think how to handle it or bring it out. The change in uncle was very unnerving.
He seemed more distant than at the beginning, unapproachable even.
He didn't say or do anything precisely, but the way he looked down at her, kept certain kind of distant between them, speaking with formal voice like she was-
Like she was a stranger.
That's what it felt like at least. But why? Was she just imagining it? Being selfish by wanting attention from uncle who, after all, hadn't kept contact with mom and dad after they left Jorrvaskr?
"I don't know", the child finally answered, swallowing, trying to find the right answers to describe. "I just- He- I don't know."
Gyvas hated the helpless feeling, the frustration, the cowardliness when she backs away immediately when sensing discomfort from uncle when she tries to approach. She didn't want to make him dislike her, she really tried her best. Not to bother him, not to be useless or difficult.
Because the truth was, uncle really didn't need to take her in, right? Gregor had asked from him if Gyvas could come to live in Jorrvaskr.
It wasn't that uncle had asked her to come and... Had he even known about her before Gregor's letter?
It bothered so much how someone who was suppose to be family was completely a stranger.
Aela staid silent, just looking down at her and waited.
And Gyvas was starting to feel trapped, like wanting to run but she didn't want to act like that, dad always said you shouldn't runaway from problems unless they were something you couldn't handle alone or at that moment. So which problem was this?
Or was this problem at all?
Or was Gyvas just avoiding the problem and not wanting to deal with it, even if Aela was ready to listen to her?
Not able to bare the stare anymore Gyvas looked down, hugging the weapon with one hand and pulling the wolf's head to her face with other.
She was sweating under the animal's skin.
"...I'm not sure does uncle like me", she finally said quietly, swallowing. Her fear finally getting out. "I don't know if I'm stupid or something but... When ever I try to approach him its like... I want to spent time with him, but it always seems bad time to him or he's tired or- I just don't want to bother him. But we are suppose to be family, right?"
The child looked with uncertain eyes.
"We should be able to talk and spent time together, he's my uncle after all, but it's like there's something that makes it difficult and I don't know what."
Aela silently sighed, cursing her Shield-Brother in her mind.
This was what she had meant, when trying to tell Vilkas not to hate himself anymore and especially not let his problems affect the pup. Gyvas was maybe a child but children weren't stupid, you could say they were even more sensible than adults. And Gyvas being gentle and nice towards others didn't help the situation.
"And maybe- Maybe uncle just took me in, because he had to and- Ouch!"
Aela slapped the pup, on the head, minding the force of course but still giving a vigorous slap through the hide. Gyvas stared with a shocked face, shoulders tensed and eyes widened from the hit.
"Don't ever say that", Aela warned, her low voice thick. "Don't even think like that, because that's not true."
The situation, and the two's incapability to talk things through, was more than frustrating to the Huntress!
If there was a problem, it was better to talk through than let things get worse and worse just because of misunderstandings and pride and stupidity!
But this whole situation was something that only the people related to it should solve together.
Although Aela was in that point, where she was starting to think about dragging Vilkas and the pup under the Skyforge's into the cave and not let them out before they talked things through.
"Gyvas", the Huntress snapped, the girl nodding with full attention. Good.
"Your uncle is an oaf." And there was no denying that, just by looking how he handles this thing.
"He has the pride that is the size of the whole Tamriel, even the Nirn, when it comes to personal things. If he makes a mistake, he will beat himself for it and do everything to make it right. But if its something he had done because of deeply believing in it, it will take a whole decade to him to admit it and face the truth. That is the real problem with him, acting like a stubborn horse, then taking the longer road without any shortcuts even when it's okay to do that."
The child stared with red face, blinking now and then as the Huntress talked like that of uncle.
"But even with those flaws he is a good man, a leader and a warrior", Aela's voice calmed somewhat. "He deeply cares for the Companions and his family. That you are included, especially you."
The Huntress crouched down and placed one hand to the girl's left shoulder.
"He cares deeply for you Gyvas, never think otherwise. You are his niece, his brother's daughter. He would never dislike you, chase you away or hurt you. So even if he's acting like a dumb ox now, you just need to push harder to get through him."
Gyvas couldn't help the tears in her eyes, the little girl's mind frustrated.
"But why?" she asked, voice cracking. "Why I have to? He is my uncle so why he acts like that? What happened between him, mom and dad? I want to know!"
She was sick of this game! She wanted to know, she wanted the answers, she wanted to understand what was beneath the surface. If it affected her and her uncle's relationship then didn't she had the right to know!?
Why everyone kept their mouths shut about it?
Even the voice, that had said would help her to get the answers, hadn't spoken to Gyvas after the funeral.
And even before Aela opened her mouth Gyvas already knew that the Huntress wouldn't give the answers. Gyvas gritted her teeth, feeling the building inside her.
She was getting so angry, and it seemed to show because Aela suddenly closed her lips and gazed at her with worried look.
Gyvas wanted to yell and demand, stomp her feet even if it would be childish! She wanted to know and understand!
...But the anger was like fire, immediately put out when the sorrow pushed through the surface, the little girl swallowing and trying to hide her face from Aela. The tears wouldn't stop though, when they had already started.
"...Why won't no-one tell?" Gyvas asked with silent voice. "What was so bad that mom and dad left you?"
Aela also felt frustrated, sensing the girl's all strong emotions and yes, the Huntress wanted to tell.
Explain and tell about the fight but would that be right, when she wasn't one of the people in that mess? No, the girl needed to hear it from Vilkas himself.
"You have to ask it from Vilkas", the Huntress explained, still keeping her hand on the silently crying child. "That's the only way. And I warn you, he might not give the answers right away. And he might be angry and sad when you ask about it. But... Gyvas?"
Rubbing her watery eyes the girl looked at the redheaded warrior, who gave a light squeeze to the pup's shoulder.
"Sometimes when you need to do the right thing, sometimes you also have to hurt someone or do a bad thing. Sometimes that's the only way to help someone."
Gyvas didn't like the idea of making uncle sad. Or mad or both.
It had been hard to see dad and mom sad before the girl learned not to ask about uncle.
Just a thought about asking from uncle about the reason made Gyvas' stomach twist uncomfortably.
And... What if the truth was something really bad? Gyvas wasn't sure did she want to know after all, but at the same time she didn't want to live with uncle like this.
Him acting carefully around her and acting like she was a stranger. It hurt badly enough, that the girl nodded with new kind of determination. She didn't want to continue like this.
Aela smiled as the pup nodded, seeming to find the decision inside her. Slipping her hand between the hide and the girl's head, the Huntress pet the curly hair.
"And if things get bad, remember, that me and other Companions are ready to listen to you. And your uncle really cares about you. That's the truth."
Gyvas nodded without words, not trusting in her voice yet while still rubbing tears from her face.
Giving a moment to the pup Huntress waited, before they would continue their walk.
"Now", the Huntress said while getting up, then crouching to lift the deer's body back to her shoulders. "Let's get this kill of yours to Jorrvaskr and with Lucia's help make a dinner of it to others. You'll get the hide as your trophy from your first kill. Does that sound good?"
Smiling the little girl nodded again, placing the wolf's head better on her own before continuing with the Huntress.
The Harbinger was searching for Aela through the Jorrvaskr before getting to the backyard, where Vilkas halted and stared at the sight.
Seemed like Aela had hunted, judging from the blood, knives, meat and stripped hide.
And that there was a bloody carcass hanging from the terrace's roof, the Huntress cutting large chunks to the wooden table.
As long as she cleaned the mess up afterwards...
"Hey uncle!"
Eyebrows rising Vilkas saw Gyvas peeking from behind the carcass, blood on her face and hands as she waved with a knife on her hand.
"Hi Gyvas", he greeted back, trying not to grimace when seeing Gyvas covered on blood, even if just a bit... And trying to push away the memories of his nightmares.
"Seems like you got a deer this time Aela", he said while stepping closer to look at the carcass, feeling a slight stir from his beast as he looked at the red meat and smelling the blood.
"Oh, not me", Aela smirked over her shoulder. "Our little future Shield-Sister here hunted this one with her crossbow. She's getting really good with it."
The surprise was clear on the Nord's face, turning his gaze from the Huntress to the girl who looked shyly at him.
"Really?"
The little girl nodded, smiling with blood covered face.
Vilkas felt sense of pride while looking at his niece, crossing his arms across his armored chest. Then the spike of guilt stopped him from smiling.
"Good work", was the simple words as he turned his attention back to Aela. "After you are ready with this, and cleaned the mess, I want to see you at the Harbinger's quarters Aela."
"Something wrong?"
"...No, we just got a request from Falkreath and you, me and Athis are going there tomorrow."
Sensing the pup's stare Vilkas glanced, seeing worry in the little one's eyes. He had suspected the girl would react to this.
Later on, in the Harbinger's quarters Vilkas had handed the letter to Aela, who read it and then looked back to him.
"You believe what I'm thinking?"
"I suspect", the Harbinger corrected, taking the letter back and placing it to his worktable. "The place is near where Farkas and Drust were attacked, and the reports tell the same things, but this time the paw prints tell a whole pack did this... But what do you think?"
The redhead didn't need to think about it for long, she immediately nodded.
"It seems weird, as they are not suppose to be in Skyrim, but the evidence can not be denied. You are right, we need to get there as soon as possible and end them before more attacks happen."
Looking closely at Vilkas Aela was a bit concerned about this situation. She also wanted to meet these people who had attacked and killed Farkas and Drust, and make them pay, but the Huntress needed to know what Vilkas was thinking.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I am", Vilkas' answer however came out stiffly, his jaw clenched and his gaze wandering, before he added darkly. "...I just want to make them pay."
Aela nodded, relieved, feeling her own beast blood boiling for the exciting hunt to become and the revenge for her Shield-Brother and -Sister.
"As do I, Shield-Brother."
But, there was other things to also worry about.
"Now, I want to talk with you about other thing."
"Yes?"
"It's about Gyvas."
Maybe it wasn't the best time, as Vilkas already was more anxious than it looked outside. But Aela wasn't one to retreat easily.
"What about her?" Then Vilkas' frown turned into more worried one. "Is there something wrong with her? Has she got dizzy again?"
"No, she had been healthy after the bed rest. But she is worried of you."
Vilkas stared with confuse, brows hunching over his dark eyes.
"Me?"
"Yes. She's worried you dislike her."
Aela was relieved to hear Vilkas snorting in disbelief.
"I wouldn't dislike her-"
"She doesn't know that. To her, you seem like avoiding her and treating her like you were forced to take her in."
There was a long silence in the room, Vilkas being shocked by this. He didn't meant to make Gyvas feel like unwanted here, definitely not that. She was a good pup, he cared for her. He never meant to make her feel uncomfortable here.
"She does?"
The Huntress nodded, continuing.
"Yes, so I suggest you stop your damn self-pity, man up and forgive yourself. She's just a girl who lost her parents, she needs you."
"She doesn't", Vilkas argued back immediately. "She doesn't need an uncle who chased her parents away from their home."
"That's not what happened Vilkas. You didn't chas-"
"I did", the Nord man emphasized with cold voice that made Aela halt. "You weren't there when I spoke to them, you didn't hear the words."
"I think everyone heard you through the Jorrvaskr all the way to the Dragonreach."
"No", Vilkas shook his head with solemn voice, shamefully looking away from the woman. "I didn't shout all the words."
Frowning Aela felt like she was stepping into thin ice, not knowing what was beneath it, but it felt like something... Ugly. So she asked cautiously.
"...What did you say then?"
...Vilkas wasn't going to say. He wasn't going to repeat such words, closing his eyes from pain and crossing his arms. Again the silence fell in the room, heavy on the two werewolves.
Then, after a moment, there was a small knock on the closed doors, making the two look up and smell that it was Gyvas.
Aela glanced at Vilkas, giving him meaningful look.
"Come in", the Harbinger called and after short moment the door was opened and the child stepped in, looking at them with heavily worried look. Pondering for a moment, and trying to push his own worries away, Vilkas gestured the girl come closer. "What's the matter Gyvas?"
The little girl looked between the two before asking: "You are going away, to the Falkreath?"
They both nodded.
"...How long?"
"Hard to say", Vilkas said truthfully. "We need to deal with local problem, but we need to track and see-"
"Don't go. None of you."
The girl's demanding words surprised the two Companions, as she continued with voice mixed from worry and fear.
"Jus- Just don't go, please. You don't need to take this one, right? Just, just none of you go."
"We have to, Gyvas", Vilkas explained with confused frown, Aela glancing between the two. "We are Companions, it's our duty to help people when there's no-one else able."
"They have own guards and warriors!" the girl half-shouted, again surprising the two. "Let them handle it, you don't have to go, uncle! Please..."
The girl's watery eyes made Vilkas' heart ache and take a step towards the pup, as she said with voice full of fear.
"I don't want to lose any of you too. Not you uncle."
Vilkas sighed, feeling his decision to dissolve some. He didn't deserve this, but he couldn't harden his heart to act towards the girl as nothing else then just a guardian. She was a good pup, who's affection towards him made Vilkas feel humbled and happy after the things he said and did to Farkas and Drust.
Crouching he waved the girl come closer, which she quickly did as she tried to swallow back her tears that had risen with the panic.
Vilkas was going to hug the girl, as it felt the right thing to do to calm her, but still the guilt made him halt his hand, only to lift one to push away the wolf hide from Gyvas head. The stormy, watery eyes, grey and blue in them, stared at him as he felt a faint smile stretching into his face.
The girl's pleading, the way she looked as afraid to lose him, made Vilkas sad and happy at the same. But if she just knew...
Placing one hand to the girl's head Vilkas tried to find his voice.
"You are not going to lose anyone in here", he tried to explain to her. He should maybe tell the pup the truth, the reality. Being a Companion was dangerous, as any profession with weapons and traveling was. They had lost so many Companions in the past, first Skjor, Kodlak... Then Njada and Torvar... And many others.
The warrior's life was not easy or long.
But that wasn't what Vilkas wanted to tell Gyvas, not now, as she had just lost her parents.
"I promise. Me, Aela and Athis will come back."
The girl shook her head from side to side, closing her eyes.
"No..."
Softly sighing Vilkas looked at Aela to get some help, but the redhead headed out of the room, leaving him to deal with this. And even dared to give him a smirk while doing so!
Looking back to the pup Vilkas tried to think up something, petting the girl's head in calm manner. Oddly a certain memory of him and Farkas did come up, although he was somewhat hesitate to tell it, but a look at the over worried pup made him speak.
"You know, Farkas and me used to play this game when we were pups."
He was happy to see the girl's curiousness peeking out after that, so Vilkas continued.
"Our father, Jergen, carved two wolves from wood for both of us, and we made this game to hide each other's wolves around the city." He chuckled to the memory. "One time I hid Farkas' wolf under the bridge of Dragonreach. He was really scared that the guards would catch him and throw him into jail if they saw him sneaking there, so in the end I had to get it back to him. He paid me back by hiding my wolf statue into Skjor's room."
Gyvas maybe didn't know anything about Skjor, but the smile tugging at her lips relaxed Vilkas, making him tell more.
"Finally Skjor had enough of our game, when Farkas tried to climb up to the Jorrvaskr's roof to get his wolf statue back. So Skjor took both of our wolf statues and hide them somewhere, and with time Farkas and me forget them as we grew up."
Probably Skjor had burned the wooden dolls or they were otherwise gone after all these years. But if this would help Gyvas from worrying too much of him, Aela and Athis...
"So, while we three are away on this quest, would you look for those statues for me?"
The girl frowned a bit so Vilkas kept going.
"I'm not sure do they exist anymore, but I would really appreciate if you would try to look for them. They mean a lot to me, and I'm sure a smart pup like you would find them."
...The girl's uncertainty slowly turned to smiling one, finally giving a nod to him. And again surprising by hugging him, circling her arms around his neck tightly.
"Okay."
Vilkas stared forward in slight confuse, arms lifted on his sides, trying to think what to do. He hesitated strongly, feeling the guilt prickling inside him, heart hammering as he slowly circled his hands around the small form against him. Feeling the soft warmness inside him sparking to life.
"I'll try to find the statues", the pup spoke to him. "But you promise to come back. All three of you."
Biting back a laugh Vilkas hugged tighter, pushing away his thoughts and just enjoy of the moment.
This little pup... This pup of his brother and Drust... Was crafty one, able to come through him even when he had already decided to keep his distance to protect her. His little pup...
"I promise Gyvas. We will come back."
