Disclaimer in Ch. 1
Thanks for all the lovely reviews. Seems that Vilkas is finally getting his act together.
Elise shifted atop the stone wall behind Jorrvaskr, leaning against a pillar and staring out over the fields of Whiterun hold. Thoughts flitted through her mind as quickly as the torchbugs that were starting to wink over the crops as the sun sank lower in the sky.
A smile crossed over her lips as she heard the door open and Vilkas stepped out. It had been two months since she had cleansed herself of the beastblood, but she could still sense when he was near. She did not turn as he walked over and leaned against the wall, looking up at her. "You look very far away," he commented after a time.
She turned her eyes from the darkening land and graced him with a small grin. "A lot on my mind is all," she responded.
"I have heard that it helps to talk about things," he shot back, raising an eyebrow at her. She bit back a laugh as he threw the words at her that she had used on him a month ago when he was having a hard time deciding if he wanted to travel back to Ysgramor's Tomb and cleanse himself.
She hummed under her breath and swung her legs over so that she faced him. They stayed like that for several moments, her sitting on the wall staring down at him and him looking up at her, one arm on each side of her legs where they hung. He waited patiently for her to speak, a small grin on his face while he watched the emotions dance so openly over hers. Finally she sighed and closed her eyes before saying, "I am going to have to leave Jorrvaskr for a while."
She peeked her eyes open when he did not answer and saw him frowning at her in concern. "Why?" he asked simply.
She reached up and rubbed the back of her neck, shrugging one shoulder. "You have noticed the surge in vampire movement?" she inquired.
"Of course, almost half of our contracts now are to eliminate vampires. What does that have to do with you leaving?" His eyes bored into hers and she turned her head away, unable to meet his gaze.
"You have also heard the rumors of the Dawnguard reforming?" He inhaled sharply and she braced herself for the rant that was sure to come.
He surprised her by pushing away from the wall and turning away, running both hands through his hair. "I should have known," he said finally, turning back to look at her. "I had hoped that you would not get a notion in your head to run off and join them. It appears I was wrong."
"You expected this?" she asked, eyes wide in shock.
He smiled wryly. "You are the Dragonborn. Saving the world is in your blood. Literally," he answered wryly.
She laughed and shook her head at him. "So you will be Acting Harbinger while I am gone?" she inquired.
"Are you sure you want me to do it?" he questioned.
"I have given it a lot of thought and I think you would be best. Besides it is only until I am able to return. I do not know how long I will be, hopefully only a month or two," she stated. "I need to meet with the rest of the Circle, but I wanted to speak with you first."
He walked up near to her again and peered up at her, chin almost touching her legs. "Why me first?" he asked.
She glanced away from him for a moment. "Because," she answered finally. "Just because."
He snorted but did not push the issue, instead reaching up to help her. She slid off the wall, his hands moving lightly against her hips until they gripped her waist and guided her down to the ground. Her hands fell to his shoulders to steady herself and as her feet touched the ground she looked up at him, breath catching at their closeness. They stood there for several moments until a loud crash from inside Jorrvaskr caught their attention. Vilkas released her and took a step back, turning to the door. "Come," he said, "I will make sure that nothing important is broken and you can round up Farkas and Aela for a meeting."
Several hours later found the four of them sitting around the table in the rooms that were once Kodlak's, a collection of empty mead bottles between them. "You do know you can hunt vampires here just as easily as you can with the Dawnguard," Aela commented.
Elise laughed. "I know," she answered. "From the information I have been able to gather though, the Dawnguard are actively investigating where the vampires are coming from, not just hunting them. I plan on going to the fort to join them and help them eliminate the source."
"Let them worry about the source," Farkas cut in, "We keep killing off the vampires and eventually there just will not be any more left."
"You do have a point," Elise mused, tapping her chin in thought. "But I think it would be quicker to help find the source. You can keep fighting the good fight out here and I will do all the dirty work there. Deal?"
Farkas raised his bottle of mead and Elise clinked hers against it before taking a long drink. "I have two other favors to ask of you all," she started. All three turned curious eyes to her and she fidgeted with the bottle. "I am going to be bringing my children to Breezehome," she said.
"Children!" Farkas gasped.
"We are not babysitters," Aela growled.
Vilkas said nothing but his eyebrows rose in question. Elise held her hand up to quiet them. "Yes, children," she responded. "I have two. I adopted them after defeating Alduin. They currently live on my estate near Falkreath. And I do not intend for you to be babysitters." She sighed and looked down at the table. "I want them somewhere safe. My steward has reported an increase in vampire activity in the area down there. I feel that they will be safer within the walls of Whiterun. Unless," she paused and leveled a serious look at them, "Unless Ulfric gets it in his bloody head that he should attack Whiterun."
"What do you want us to do?" Vilkas interrupted. "You know we are neutral in the war."
"I do, I know that and I am glad for that," Elise answered. "I simply ask that if Ulfric makes a move to attack the city you bring the children, not just my children but all the town children, here to Jorrvaskr and keep them safe. Will you do that?"
The twins and Aela shared a look and Vilkas finally said, "Yes. We will do that. There is no reason for the children to be caught in this conflict."
Elise exhaled in relief. "Thank you," she breathed out. "Thank you all so much."
"The second favor?" Aela asked.
Elise pushed away from the table and walked around the room, hands running through her hair. "Before I tell you, I want you all to know that I have given this a lot of thought and I believe this will help me with my quest." She turned to face them, reaching up to fidget with the tip of her right ear nervously. "Aela I need you to turn me again," she said finally.
As Aela grinned and nodded, Vilkas pushed away from the table and stood. "What?" he asked. "You willingly go back to that? What if you are not able to turn back?"
Aela snarled at Vilkas and Elise let go of her ear, frowning at him. "Yes, I willingly go back. The heightened senses will help me with the hunt against the vampires. And I still have three of the witches' heads. I can go through the purity ritual again when my quest is over."
"And if you die before then you go to Hircine's hunting grounds," he growled, hands slamming down on the table and sending the bottles rattling.
Elise flipped her hand dismissively. "If I die Hircine will have to battle at least four other Daedric princes for my soul. If nothing else it will be amusing to watch."
Vilkas pulled up in shock and Farkas and Aela blinked at her in surprise. After several minutes of silence Farkas cleared his throat. "I believe that decides it," he said. "Vilkas will be Acting Harbinger while you are gone, if Ulfric attacks we will protect the town children and Aela will grant you the gift of the beastblood for your quest. Is there anything else?"
Elise shook her head. "I really do appreciate this. I cannot explain it but joining the Dawnguard, eliminating the vampires, it is something that I have to do. I thank you for your understanding." She turned to the door and then paused looking back at Aela. "I would like to bring the children here before I turn. I should be back within the week and we can do it then."
"It would be an honor, Sister," Aela responded, raising her bottle in a toast to Elise. Elise smiled tightly and glanced at the twins. Farkas was looking at her with mild concern in his eyes and Vilkas was glaring at her so coldly that she shivered. She nodded goodbye to the room in general and moved quickly up the stairs and outside.
Vilkas caught her at the bottom of the stairs to Jorrvaskr and grabbed her arm, tugging her behind a nearby house. "The blood?" he hissed. "What are you thinking?"
She pulled her arm from his grip. "You know as well as I do that it will help me in this quest."
"I thought you agreed that it was a curse. That we are better without it," he said.
"I do," she snarled. She looked up at him and saw the concern in his eyes and the anger died inside her. "I do," she sighed. "I completely agree that it is a curse and I did not make this decision lightly. You know that it will help me."
His face softened and he sighed also. "I know," he said gruffly. "I know but I do not like it. What if something happens?"
"It will not," she said confidently.
"And if it does?" he pressed.
She reached up and placed her hand on his cheek. "Then you take one of the heads from my trunk and go to Ysgramor's Tomb and purify me like we did for Kodlak. Would you do that for me?"
His hand came up to cover hers. "I promise," he vowed.
"Thank you Vilkas," she murmured and placed a quick kiss on his cheek before she turned and disappeared into the night.