Chapter 11
Vilkas sat across the room of the whelps shared bedroom watching over the women he had secretly fallen for. Kili had been asleep for two days now, as to he hadn't slept at all. It wasn't like he hadn't stayed up nights before; he just hadn't stayed up all night watching someone he cared for since Farkas was first sick with a fever and that of course that was ages ago.
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose for what felt like the hundredth time. Gods, the habits he was developing.
"Brother?"
He looked up from rubbing his face at his twin standing in the door way, "Yes Farkas…?" his voice was rough from the lack of sleep.
"You've been watching her for two days now…Kodlak said to take you hunting." Farkas said softly as he approached his brother.
"Oh…" Vilkas whispered as he raised an eyebrow at his larger twin.
Farkas just shook his head and hoisted his smaller twin by his arm, "Come on, and get dressed, or I'll drag your sorry, hopeless romantic ass out myself."
Vilkas couldn't help but chuckle at his brother's threat, but he didn't change his meaning. "I distinctly remember you becoming pretty pathetic yourself when you betrothed deemed herself unworthy for you."
Farkas gave his brother a part warning, part playful growl, "Don't push it lover boy,"
Kili groaned and found herself in a bed staring up at a ceiling. She smiled at remembering the conversations the two dragons had in her soul now. The newest dragon was a female and her name was too long to say let alone remember the name.
Finally rolling over on to her side she pushed up and sat on the edge of the bed. She pressed her injured foot on the ground to see if she could walk on it. There was slight pain, but she could manage.
Kili glanced around the room and saw a quilt lying against one of the chairs in the corner. She pushed the random thoughts of who could have possibly used a chair instead of a bed while she was out cold, and went over to the dresser to change out of her old clothes.
Kili quietly walked up the stairs to the mead hall of the ancient building. She expected that she would have to explain herself to everyone, and she was not looking forward to it. With a heavy sigh she pushes herself forward and began to look for everyone. Of course Roxanne was the first to see her enter the room, greeting her with a bolting hug.
"Praise Talos you're awake!" Roxanne shouted as she hugged her friend tightly.
Kili couldn't help but chuckle and hug her friend back. "Where is everyone?" she asked softly.
Roxanne stepped back a bit and looked up at Kili, "Farkas and Vilkas stepped out to go hunting, Kodlak is in his study, and everyone else is outside training,"
Kili nodded then asked, "How long was I sleeping?"
"Two full days and nights." Roxanne stated with slight worry laced in her voice.
The two females sat down at the end of the table. Kili sighed and placed her head in her hands.
"I suppose I have some explaining to do…" She muttered in grief.
"Yes…but only when you are ready…" Roxanne whispered softly as she rubbed Kili's back.
Kili groaned and rubbed her temples with two of her fingers, "So…who watched over me? While I was out?"
A sly smirk formed on Roxanne's furry face, "Vilkas."
Kili jolted up and stared at her friend wide eyed, "What?"
Roxanne hummed out a response and nodded her head, "He wouldn't leave your side, and Kodlak made Farkas take him out hunting."
Kili's jaw dropped open slightly, finding it hard to believe Vilkas watched over her. "You're joking…"
Roxanne shook her head, no. "It's true, I think he fancies you."
Kili snorted, "Not after what I did…"
Roxanne watched emotions flash across Kili's eyes as she stared at the fire. 'Maybe making that pie would help,'
"So…still want to help me with that pie…?" Roxanne asked, "May help you calm your nerves,"
Kili turned back to her friend with a small smile on her face, "I'd like that…"
After throwing flour at each other and smacking each other with spoon to stop the other from eating the snowberries, the pie was finally finished. Naturally, just in time for lunch.
"Are you sure Farkas will like it…?" Roxanne asked not even bothering to hide her fear from Kili, it was impossible to hide anything from Kili anyway.
"Roxanne, Farkas is just going to be happy you make it for him. Him eating it and enjoy the pie is bonus." Kili said as she licked some the extra filling off her fingers, "Now we to hide this so the others don't get any ideas,"
Roxanne giggled and scurried off the hide the pie. Kili shook her head and headed back into the main hall.
"Kili?"
Startled from someone saying her name, she jolted back a step and looked up at Ria who had just walked in from outside with the others.
"The one and only…as far as I know…"
Ria giggled and sprinted over to her and wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug. "We were all so worried about you,"
Kili returned the imperial woman's hug just as the others were coming in as well, "I didn't mean to be a bother…" she muttered as she let Ria go from their hug.
"Then only bother is that you lied to us, Dragonborn" Njada interjected harshly.
Kili turned her gaze to the ground in shame at Njada's words.
"Hold your tongue Njada," Skjor ordered, "This is not the time for your pointless words,"
Roxanne walked in and heard what was going on, and placed her paw on Kili's shoulder. Kili gave a sad smile in response, ignoring Njada's grunts and mumbles.
"Roxanne, when did Farkas say he and Vilkas would return?" Aela asked, trying to rid the silence of its awkwardness.
"A little after lunch," Roxanne answered quietly.
"Then I will go get Kodlak and we wait for them, so that they can all hear Kili…explain her…story." Aela said as she headed down stairs to get their leader.
Kili gulped at Aela's words, 'What if they ask me to leave…? Then what will I do…?'
Panic ripped through Kili's body like a blade through leather. She barely had enough money to fix her armor, let alone find some place to stay. On top of that, she still had to make a trip to Riverwood to figure out who took the Greybeards' horn and what they wanted. Oh, Talos, she could take this…just not now.
"Kili…"
She gasped as Roxanne's voice snapped her out of her panic attack. Roxanne rubbed her shoulders again to calm her down. Then hearing footsteps they both turned to see Kodlak walking up the steps.
"Ah, Kili, you had as all worried girl," the elder man said as he walked up to her.
Kili gulped, "I'm sorry…"
"Talos, girl calm down, you're shaking like a leaf in winter wind. You have done nothing wrong." Kodlak said softly, "Take a seat, and relax."
Kili nodded and did as she told. Kodlak sat to her left and Roxanne sat to her right and grabbed her hand gently, and gave her a smile. Everyone else took a seat and either gave Kili a smile or like Njada, a curl glare. Kili couldn't help but glare back at the other Nord female.
As if on cue Farkas, and Vilkas stepped in though the back doors. Farkas growled something to his brother about not paying attention and Vilkas just scoffed and didn't reply. Kili watched as Roxanne's ears perked up and ran had hugged her betrothed, cutting off whatever rued comment he had next for his brother with a sweet kiss.
Kodlak chuckled and shook his head, grabbing Kili's attention for a second. When she turned her attention back however, her gaze was caught by Vilkas'. She saw relief as plain as day written in his eyes, as well as something else, but Kili could not figure out what the emotion was. Then Vilkas gave her a simple smirk and she blushed, tearing her gaze away with her heart racing wildly.
'What's wrong with me…?'
"Well, now that we are here…Kili, is there something that you would like to tell us?" Kodlak said softly and all eyes turned to Kili.
Kili took a deep breath and looked back at everyone, "I suppose I should start with obvious…I am the Dragonborn…"
To be continued…
