Part 2: Moonlight
Chapter 12: A Cure
A/N: So, my darlings, I know that the last chapter was so terribly sad, but it will get better! One day...maybe...But until then, enjoy this darling little chapter!
Alice Shadowrunner01 - So sorry I dint get to thank you in my previous chapter! I posted the new one right after your review! Thank you so much! Yes, I absolutely will continue to show you wonderful readers much more of Veri, because I love her so much! Thank you and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!
MissFabulous09 - Thank you and I'm sorry, but I think that the sad chapters can be beautiful, too! They make the happy moments so much better! And thank you for the birthday wishes! I'll be sure to have a fabulous birthday!
mia - Yes, such a sad chapter :( but that means that it can only go uphill from here, right? Maybe. And of course I would never leave you wonderful readers hanging right there and have to suffer through not knowing! Here's another chapter, I hope you enjoy it!
CompanionWolf12 - Thank you so much! So glad that you like it! :) I promise to make the rest just as addictive and I'll get it up just as soon as I can! (well, I need some time to write it!) Anyways, super happy to hear that the journal entries are working out (I needed a way to tell her history since she is 68 years old after all!) and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story just as much!
It had been a month since Veri and Vilkas' argument. It was obvious to every, it seemed except those two, that they couldn't stand to be away from each other. They spent their afternoons and evenings together searching for a cure to vampirism. They even took a week to go to the College of Winterhold to scan through the hundreds of books there on vampire myths, legends, facts, and theories. But it seemed they were looking in all the wrong places. When they thought they were getting close, they would abruptly hit a dead end. But the Mage's College seemed a good place to work and a probable place to find their answer. Veri suggested that the Bard's College might have more information for them and suggested that they head to Solitude one day and do some research.
One day, as the two were sitting in the hall of Jorrvaskr and attempting to translate an old passage from a book, Aela and Ria could help but watch them.
"Do they not realize they are in love?" Ria asked.
"She doesn't, that's for certain," Aela replied, "But I know Vilkas well and I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at her. I think he knows he is."
"How can Veri be so blind?" Ria asked, "The way he looks at her, the way he leans towards her and gazes into her eyes...he smiles so kindly as he listens to her, as if her voice were a drug. And even they way they talk to each other..."
"They argue like lovers," Aela remarked.
Across the room, they heard Veri raise her voice. "No, no, no! Vilkas, are you trying to pay attention? Get your head out of the clouds, this word is 'bliss,' see?" she flicked the page.
"Don't do that! This book is old! It tears easily!" Vilkas snarled.
"I'll do whatever I want! I'm probably older than the stupid book, anyways!" Veri snapped.
"Probably, and you wouldn't like it much if I flicked you like that, would you?" Vilkas replied. They paused and just stared at each other. Then they began to laugh and got back to work.
Ria shook her head, "I mean, come on!"
During the nights, Veri would assist Aela in her attack on the Silver Hand. They had gone to many different camps and (literally) cut the head off of the great leaders. Word of the vampiric femme fatal had spread throughout the organization and they had began to take steps against her. Some of these steps were unnecessary and only myths, such as the men who tried to kill her by throwing garlic at her. Aela couldn't help but tell the story over and over again to those she believed wouldn't tell Kodlak of their missions.
"So the guys have a bucket of garlic and Veri kicks open the door. They threw all the garlic right at her and then Veri just froze and glared at them. Then there was a moment of silence. Then Veri just said, 'You can't be serious, right?' and slashed them to pieces!" then Aela would begin to laugh so hard that she once fell out of her seat. This, not her poorly told tale, was what got a laugh out of her friends.
But running her mouth like that wasn't the best idea. Aela was a smart girl, and she realized that Kodlak was catching on. Late one night after Veri had finished her session with Vilkas, Aela pulled her into her room.
"Yeah?" Veri asked, expecting another quest, "What's up this time?"
"We're in some pretty deep shit, Veri. I think the old man is catching on," Aela replied after she closed the door tightly.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because he's asked to see you."
"What does he want?"
"I don't know. But whatever it is..."
"I'm not going to go blaming everything on you. I promise. I wanted to do this just as much as you did. But..."
"What?"
"We may have taken it a bit too far. I'm afraid we've begun a war."
"It was already a war. We only brought the battle to them."
"Yes, but they've never directly attacked us."
"It was going to happen sooner or later. Better that we made the first move."
"I only hope you're right."
"I am. Trust me."
"Maybe we should be ready, just in case. Tell the others-"
"Veri, we've dismembered the Silver Hand. There's no way that they're going to try anything for a while. Believe me, they couldn't possibly pull together a force large enough to even get through the gates or Whiterun, let alone get through us!"
"I truly hope so, Aela. I truly hope so."
Aela gave a soft smile. "Kodlak's waiting for you."
Veri only nodded and sadly smiled. Then she turned and walked from the room. Adjusting her clothes and running her fingers through her charcoal hair, she rapped at the door of Kodlak's study.
"Come in," Kodlak called gently. She opened the door slowly and her glowing red eyes met his and she had to look away. The serious expression chiseled into his face told her that he knew. "Take a seat, lass."
She did as he instructed, but she could not say a word to him lest she reveal her deep shame.
"I hear you have been busy as of late," he said to her.
"Yes," she hoarsely answered with her head hung low. Then she cleared her throat and sat up straighter, looking at him, "Aela and I were avenging the fall of Skjor."
"Aye. But his death was avenged long ago, and you know that. More lives than necessary were taken, and I fear the cycle will not end so soon."
"I understand, sir."
"Don't you 'sir' me like that. I am here as an advisor. And a friend, child."
She laughed slightly.
"I know, what you're thinking. We're probably the same age, you and I."
She nodded. "And yet I act so young and foolish."
"Young, perhaps. But not foolish. And young is not always a bad thing. Your mind is sharp and you're full of energy and determination. And that is why I have a task for you."
"What would you have me do?"
"Have you heard the story of how we became werewolves?"
"Vilkas said it was a curse passed down from the Companions of old."
"Aye, the boy has a nugget of truth, but the reality is more complicated than that. It always is. The Companions are nearly five thousand years old. This matter of beastblood has only troubled us for a few hundred. One of my predecessors was a good, but short-sighted man. He made a bargain with the witches of Glenmoril Coven. If the Companions would hunt in the name of their lord, Hircine, we would be granted great power."
"And they became werewolves."
"They did not believe the change would be permanent. The witches offered payment, like anyone else. But we had been deceived."
"So we seek vengeance?"
"As it seems, yes. But killing them alone isn't enough. The disease, you see, affects not just our bodies. It seeps into the spirit. Upon death, werewolves are claimed by Hircine for his Hunting Grounds. For some, this is a paradise. They want nothing more than to chase prey with their master for eternity. And that is their choice. But I am still a true Nord. And I wish for Sovngarde as my spirit home."
"Is there any way to be cured?"
"That's what I've spent my twilight years trying to find out. And now I've found the answer. The witches' magic ensnared us, and only their magic can release us. They won't give it willingly, but we can extract their foul powers by force. I want you to seek them out. Go to their coven in the wilderness. Strike them down as a true warrior of the wild. And bring me their heads. The seat of their abilities. From there, we may begin to undo centuries of impurity."
"It will be done."
"Good, now move quickly. Don't leave any of them alive. Talos guide you, lass."
"Thank you," she said and stood up. Dashing to her room, she threw on her armor and took with her the sword Vilkas had insisted that she keep and a dagger. She was out of the hall before anyone noticed.
It had been six days since Veri had fed, but she wouldn't have time that evening. She could always do it when she returned. In fact, she would have to, since the sun would be deadly by the next morning.
A Journal Entry
4E175
7 Rain's Hand
Ulfric has changed so much. Sometimes, that change is good. He has matured so much. He is a gentleman and a lead. But then there's the part of him that now despises the elves and most other races. He has little against the Imperials, luckily, but still believes that most races are inferior to Nords. Childish as it is, I can't help but feel a certain sympathy. He was held prisoner for so long by the Thalmor and tortured for such a long time that the awful memories he now has must cloud his vision.
He is still so kind to me, though. I feel like I could be a princess when he has me take his arm when we walk through the streets of town. And his father is so very sweet when he talks to me, I often forget that I'm talking to a Jarl. It just seems so casual and genuine. And, of course, when Ulfric kisses me, I am lost in his love. There are many days when I see glimpses of the old him. The man who held me in his arms when my father died. The man who cried into my shoulder when we lost our darling medic. That, I think, is when I love him the most.
4E203
Getting the heads from the witches was all too easy. Veri had beaten more difficult creatures in the past. She gathered four heads and then packed them into the saddle bag of her horse.
She thought it would be fine from there, but as she was riding back, she heard that all too familiar thunderous roar. A monstrous shadow passed over her, blocking out the light from the moon.
"Shit..." Veri hissed and pulled the reigns back hard, stopping the horse in its tracks. With a swift motion, she glided her leg over the saddle of the horse and landed on her feet. She drew the sword that was still stained with blood from her hip and dashed into an open field, ready to fight.
The dragon's tiny black eyes glared at her. A challenge, it seemed, was what the dragon was seeking from the Dovahkiin. It swan-dove down from the sky swerving up about ten feet from the ground. From it's great dragon mouth, it spoke the word 'yol' and the inferno of the thu'um carved a blackened trail into the frozen field. Veri stepped into a side roll to avoid the flames, but she could feel the heat, and that was enough to do damage in her current vampiric state. She yelled out as the agony coursed through her body and she forced herself to hold onto her sword and stay on her feet. Clenching her teeth. She stood tall and faced the dragon as it circled back around, getting closer to the ground. It wanted to be sure not to miss her this time.
Veri braced herself, but knew that it would not be able to shout again for another few moments. It soared toward her, and she had to hold her ground. As it reached her, she made her move.
Had anyone been watching, they wound have seen the dragon fly straight towards the girl who, to it, must have looked like a tiny bug. Then, they would see the dragon fly right over her, seeming to go for a landing, but violently crash into the icy ground, creating a huge crater and sending a wave of dirt thirty feet in front of it. It happened so fast, only Veri really knew what happened. And what happened was a simple duck and stab into the throat of the dragon and hold it there until she sliced it down the belly, a fatal blow and all to easy to accomplish on such a weak dragon.
As the dragon soul wrapped around her and blessed her with power, she could only think about her fate. She was born to face her worst fear. If she closed her eyes, she could see the piercing red eyes and black wings of a dragon who had saved her life for the soul purpose of killing in a terrible way later. And then she was told that she would one day be the only one to stop the dragon from enslaving all of humanity.
Why was it that the one thing she feared the most she was destined to be locked in mortal combat with? So many nights she had awoken in one of the chambers of High Hrothgar with the vision of a terrifying creature haunting her dreams. Not even war had frightened her so.
Veri opened her eyes. She did not have to face Alduin now. She could worry about that later. Currently, she had to help Kodlak. She mounted her horse and galloped off into the midnight.
A Journal Entry
4E175
12 Rain's Hand
Today, Ulfric gave me a locket. He had it custom made for me. It is inscribed with strange words that I believe to be in the dragon tongue (Ulfric did spend many years with the Graybeards, after all), but he refuses to tell me their translation. He says he wants me to prove my love to him. I can only roll my eyes at that man sometimes. Why more does he need? I have put up with him for this long! But I do love him. He'll know it one day.
4E203
The moment Veri entered the city, she knew that something was wrong. A silence had fallen. It was the silence she heard when people learned the news of the Markarth being taken over or the silence of Svett's death. A horrid silence that only pointed to a violent tragedy for provocation.
As she ascended the steps that led to the wind district, she she could see the crowd below Jorrvaskr. And she froze. If she had a heartbeat, she knew it would be beating violently.
After a moment, she ran. She pushed through the crowd and saw what she feared the most. Silver Hand warriors. They had attacked. Aela was standing over one with he sword bloodied, he hands shaking with rage.
"Aela!" Veri screamed, "What happened?"
Aela looked at her for a painfully long moment. Then, she only whispered, "You were right, Veri."
With only a vague answer to help her, Veri ran up the stairs and burst through the doors of Jorrvaskr. She came to a halt when she saw what was waiting for her.
"No," she breathed and a hot tear streaked down her face. She dropped to her knees. "Kodlak."
In front of the long table thats feast had been strewn across the hall lay Kodlak. Naked. Vulnerable. Disrespected. He could have been sleeping. He looked so peaceful. And there was hardly any blood. But he was dead. No, worse than dead: murdered.
Abruptly, Veri was pulled up the her feet and backed against the door. Snarling with the furious expression of a rabid dog, Vilkas' face was held only an inch from her own. "Where were you?" he growled.
"Wh-what?" she breathed.
"The Silver Hand attacked us! They stole the fragments of Wuuthrud and butchered the old man! And where were you? Not here with your brothers and sisters as you should have been!"
"I-I-I," she was now truly terrified of Vilkas now, "Kodlak sent me on a person mission for him. Vilkas...you're scaring me."
His expression changed and he let go of her. Backing away, he looked like a whipped dog. He walked over to where Kodlak lay with Njada and Farkas by his side. Farkas looked up at his brother, as if seeking guidance of some kind, but Vilkas could give him none. He only rested a hand on the top of Farkas' head. Slowly, he turned back to Veri and walked to her.
"It should never have been like this," Vilkas said, "We're going to finish this. And we're going to do it right this time. You and me, we're going to get back what was ours. Come on."
With one final look at Kodlak's body, Veri turned and followed Vilkas. This time, they would finish it.
