Ancient Stones

Chapter Fourteen

Susi was already out of breath and shivering cold after trekking slowly through the valley of the mountains in the deep snow. They had left before the sun had even reached its highest point and half way through their journey the sun was already dying.

Susi had grown out of her regret quickly and she had continued walking, forcing herself to put one foot in front of the other, she need some kind of motivation to stop herself from dying in the wilderness. She cared what Skjor and Aela would think of her if she told them she couldn't go through with it, she was a warrior dammit and a warrior didn't back down from any fight. Or so she wanted to think.

They had stopped to camp as soon as they reached the peak of the mountain path; Skjor found a sheltered patch just off the beaten track and began to dig a hole for a fire. She eagerly unpacked bedrolls and set up a tent, clearly some of the stone from the land whilst Aela went off in search of firewood. She craved the warmth of a fire, her shivering bones felt brittle and god forbid her toes would need the warmth before they blackened and fell off. She had already lost the use of part of her hand, if she lost her toes she would really be the worst warrior the Companions had ever heard of.

Susi quickly wrapped herself up in a bedroll, watching Skjor and Aela light the fire and then pull out food from their rucksacks to cook. Susi had completely forgotten about food, she let out a groan realising how unprepared she was, her mind had sidetracked, damn Vilkas for distracting me. Her heart let out a sudden lurch and she frowned, her eyebrows knotting in misery, he will surely be the death of me.

For a moment she sat and watched the fire, the snow melting around it in a perfect sphere, she wondered briefly what Vilkas was doing and then quickly dismissed the thought, no more distractions.

"Here," Aela looked at Susi carefully, handing her a slice of bread and a block of cheese. Aela had watched her from the beginning of their journey, she sensed that something was wrong and she was sure that Skjor could sense her anxiety too, "Eat this." Aela had never seen her so distracted before, she looked forlorn and troubled, and Aela hoped that her friend would find solace soon, she would gladly lend an ear if it meant that she would find happiness.

Susi took the bread and cheese from Aela, giving her a faint smile and began to make herself a sandwich, it wouldn't compare to the food back home at Jorrvaskr, but damned she knew it would be good enough to eat and at least it would help to sustain her during her fight with the Silverhands. She furrowed her brow again reminded by the fact that she would have to go on a killing spree with hardly any energy and without heart. If only she had asked Aela and Skjor to change the hunt to a different day, at least Susi would have managed to get hold of Vilkas and set things straight.

Her mind sidetracked again and she wondered whether Vilkas had confronted Farkas, she was sure he had because there was no way that Susi would have been able to talk him down from doing so. She knew his anger and determination; there was no way he would back down not even if she begged it of him. She let out another grumble and finished assembling her sandwich, for now she would have to bury Vilkas in the back of her mind, she couldn't afford to make any mistakes; her life depended on it.

"We shouldn't rest for long," Skjor started, interrupting her thoughts. She took a vicious bite from the sandwich and savoured the taste before swallowing, "We'll have the element of surprise if we attack before dawn."

Susi knew that Skjor was right, they would have the shadows of the trees to fire arrows, or at least Aela and Skjor would which would give them an advantage and take out most of the guards on duty. But she couldn't help but scowl, her body ached and she needed a good night sleep, or at least a few more hours than Skjor was intending.

"Hopefully we might catch some of the bastards dozing on duty," Aela sniggered, shoving two slices of bread filled with cheese onto a stick and holding it over the fire. Susi plopped the last bite of the sandwich into her mouth and snuggled down deeper into the warmth of the bedroll.

"We can hope," Skjor smiled, a rarity for him, "Though after the several attacks we've posed on their other bases we are likely to find them fully alert and ready for us."

Susi struggled to believe that they would seriously be expecting them; they never had before so she didn't understand why they would now. She hoped for sanity's sake that they weren't prepared, she didn't want an all out brawl. Just a bit of blood and the odd corpse to dispose of.

Vilkas had taken a short nap and woken up in a cold sweat. He sat bolt upright, scratching his head and wondering where Susi was. He let out a groan remembering what Kodlak had told him before he managed to sneak away into his bedroom for some well deserved... sulking.

"Skjor, Aela and Susi have gone hunting," Kodlak stated in a matter of fact tone, Vilkas felt slightly torn at his words, he was surprised and yet not. He could have guessed that Susi would want to relieve some steam with her two most favourite buddies, the two people who poisoned her mind, "They didn't say where but they expect to be back before dusk tomorrow," The old man continued, "I don't want you worrying about her, she can look after herself."

Kodlak had known that Vilkas would be out of his mind with worry and he guessed that the old man didn't want to listen to Vilkas' whining when he could be fretting about finding a cure of the infliction. Vilkas rolled his eyes and stumbled out of bed, he knew that Skjor and Aela wouldn't have told Kodlak where they were going unless it was secret business. Kodlak had a suspicion that they were seeking out the Silverhands but didn't have the energy to ask them about it, after all he didn't strictly dictate what they did in or around Jorrvaskr.

Vilkas knew where they were going; Susi had at least admitted that to him during their last encounter. He found comfort knowing that if something were ever to go wrong he would know where to go to fight and defend the love of his life whether Skjor or Aela liked it or not. He should be able to trust her safety in their hands, he had certainly tried but she had gotten into more trouble with them than any of the other Companions put together, and that even included Torvar; the drunken one.

Perhaps Vilkas was being too harsh or over-protective but he couldn't help himself, the thought of the three of them together annoyed him and made his blood boil. He had thought once that he might have been jealous of Skjor because he was Susi's blood brother and that they shared a bond with each other that Vilkas could not, it was a childish jealousy but it annoyed him all the same.

At least Vilkas had shaken off his mood, he could face the day feeling slightly rejuvenated and he would be able to make amends with his brother, and that promise eased the worry lines between his eyebrows.

Vilkas quickly gathered up his clothes and tossed them over his body, plain linen under shirt and light beige trousers tied in a fairly tight knot to save him from an embarrassing moment. He collected his army from the corner of the room and began strapping it tightly to his frame, his hands working in their familiar routine, his mind left to wonder about the possibilities of the day. He needed to catch Farkas off guard, he knew his brother more than any other Companions and he knew that his twin would be avoiding him like the plague, and probably everyone else for that matter. He had most likely gone to Kodlak or any other senior member of the circle to ask for jobs, any jobs as long that his mind was preoccupied with killing things and gaining coin. Or just wallowing in misery in his room.

He decided that it would be a good option to check his twin's bedroom for any signs of life, if any luck he would catch him there, hopefully without a lass tangled around his legs, hung over and willing to cooperate if it meant the loud noises and the deathly blinding light of a few candles would leave him to rest. Vilkas quickly crossed the corridor and tapped his knuckles on the wooden door before allowing himself in.

"Brother," Vilkas called out noticing the sleeping form on the bed in the corner of the room. He heard loud snoring and the smell that reached him was enough to cause a sober man to become drunk.

Alcohol hung strongly in the air, and it seemed the closer that Vilkas got to the unconscious form that Farkas had brought several large bottles of ale back to his room and devoured the whole lot before abandoning all hope and collapsing on the sheepskin mattress.

"Brother?" He suddenly became aware of a lithe figure wrapped up closely into Farkas' arms. He frowned and wondered whether his presence was disturbing them, at least they weren't naked he thought quickly.

Memories of previous encounters had haunted Vilkas' mind, the days when Farkas had been a teenager, arrogant and provocative meant that he attracted the worst kinds of whores. Several times Vilkas had walked in on him on the act, even asked to join in by the woman whilst his brother was sated with the feeling of making love, though Vilkas doubted whether he considered any of it making love, just pure lustful sex with no meaning behind the animalistic motions, the gratification of it all to leave one whole and yet empty at the same time.

Vilkas was sure that it became a regular thing in Farkas' life to call the whores back to Jorrvaskr with the intent of ravening them silly, he was also certain that the familiar woman that always came back were desperate to seek out their fantasies. He had been told before by one of Farkas' regulars that she had dreamed of it with twins, and Vilkas remembered how her eyes had burned with ferocity he had never seen in anyone. He had been stupid enough to agree and he brutally remembered how used he felt, how inadequate he felt compared to his brother. The twin who had all of the experience, the charm... and Vilkas was simply a man twisted up in books.

The two bodies shifted uncomfortably before him and he turned to leave before a hand grasped onto his wrist.

"Mmhm," A gentle voice caught his attention and he looked at the girl, a dark haired beauty trying to wriggle herself free from his brother's clutches without trying to wake him.

Once finally free she quickly climbed over him with a strange ease and landed delicately on the stone floor.

"I suppose I should leave," She said in a low voice, the edges of her lips quirked to show a radiant smile. Farkas had done well to catch this beauty and he regretted that his brother wouldn't even wake up to watch her leave.

"Stay as long as you want," Vilkas found himself saying trying to figure out why she seemed terribly familiar. Her dark eyes scanned him cautiously, he was quiet and it unnerved her and he looked strangely like the man she had her way with last night, perhaps brothers? No twins she thought wickedly.

"Well if a handsome man offers that I stay," She replied in a sultry voice. Vilkas raised an eyebrow in suspicion, there was certainly something about her that he couldn't place, something off and it didn't have anything to do with her seduction, "How can I possibly refuse."

Vilkas suddenly took into account how underdressed she was, the tunic she wore was too large and hung off one shoulder revealing the milky white of her skin. He wondered if Farkas had leant it to her for the night. Her dark hair clung in dead straight tendrils at her collarbone, her dark eyes seemed like an endless journey, a deep well and he would never be able to find the bottom. Vilkas felt himself drifting towards something, he felt himself grow a little weak and it took every ounce of his strength to grasp for breath.

"Vilkas?" Farkas' voice snapped him back into reality and he felt the mist in his mind begin to evaporate. The woman was giving him a wicked grin and he clenched his jaw firmly shut. He glanced over at his brother who was wiping sleep from his eyes.

"Perhaps I shall take my leave now," The woman smiled, giving both of them a fleeting glance of something Vilkas couldn't quite place, but it was a look that caused his stomach to lurch and his heart to be plucked and played in a fast rhythm.

Both of them followed her with hungry eyes and insatiable need, her hips swaying, every inch of her a beautiful torture. The door closed quickly behind her without another look back and Vilkas could finally breathe easily.

"Come to scold me?" Farkas snapped as soon as she had left, swinging his legs out from under the blankets and tearing across the room to gather up his clothes.

"Who was she?" Vilkas breathed staring at the closed door. His mind worked quickly to work out what she was, he had never seen anything quite like her and it wasn't because of her striking beauty, hell, she had looked exactly like his lover just... colder.

"I picked her up in the Bannered Mare last night, said she wanted some loving and I promised her she would get just that," Farkas replied with a fiendish, defiant grin. Vilkas shook his head appalled, surprised and jealous all mixed into one.

Vilkas narrowed his eyes at his brother examining from head to foot, he looked pale but was sure that was because of all the ale. He watched as Farkas pulled on his armour, bending down the strap his greaves on when Vilkas caught sight of what had really happened last night.

"Uh brother," Vilkas started, smirking and recoiling at the same time, "Your neck..."

Farkas glanced over at his brother, something unusual was happening, Farkas had been sure that Vilkas hadn't gotten over what had happened, and Farkas didn't want to test just how deep the waters were just yet, hell, he had wounded pride and that would take a lot for him to get over, not that he hadn't deserved everything that Vilkas had thrown at him. He regretted that night more than ever, but also relished in the memory of how soft her lips were and how sweet she tasted, it was enough to make him collapse in on himself and turn into some friendly furry beast.

"What about it?" He asked quickly, fixing all the straps and making sure they weren't tight enough to cause chaffing.

"Bite marks," Vilkas replied, pointing at his own neck and mimicking two puncture wounds. He furrowed his eyebrows, knowing that his brother didn't understand. He reached forward to flick away some of his brother's hair so he could get a better look, "Holy Divines, what the hell was she?"

"She was a bit feisty," Farkas admitted, heat rising to his cheeks remembering exactly what had gone on last night until he had, regrettably, passed out, "Held me down for most of it, wouldn't have it any other way even though I told her I knew ways to make it feel a lot-,"

"Farkas I don't need to know the gruesome details," Vilkas insisted, a horrifying image of his brother and the woman mulling it over between the covers. He shivered involuntarily at the thought, "I don't think this was playful biting."

"What you think she was some sort of vampire?" Farkas laughed, shrugging off his twin's sincerity, what would a vampire even be doing in the city? Or even near Whiterun, they lived off near the swamps in the frozen areas of Skyrim where the sun wasn't too bright and they didn't have any fear of magically combusting in sunlight, "You're kidding right?" Farkas looked over at Vilkas and noticed just how sincere his look was, "You think I'm infected?" Farkas suddenly looked horrified and Vilkas couldn't help but let out a restricted laugh.

"Maybe," He shrugged, his eyes widening in sarcasm, "I hear the transition is unbearable to witness," Vilkas mocked, crossing his arms across his chest.

"I'm going to turn into one of those undead t-things?" Farkas' eyes widened and started to panic, "What do I do?" He stared at Vilkas in hope that his much smarter brother would come up with an idea to save his life before it ended; stupid me not being able resist such a beauty Farkas scolded himself.

"Absolutely nothing," Vilkas teased, "It's too late now," He mocked, wondering when Farkas was going to realise that his werewolf blood prevented anything like that from happening.

"So it's useless?" Farkas looked defeated and a pang of regret struck Vilkas' core, he shouldn't be this cruel to tease his stupid brother... but it was just so fun.

"I heard once that running naked through holy water helped," Vilkas retorted earnestly, "Cleans out the bad toxins, oh and stay away from sunlight for a while you might explode."

"How much holy water do I..." Farkas trailed off suddenly scowling. Vilkas let out a laugh clasping Farkas' shoulders, "You're mocking me aren't you?"

"Yes," Vilkas laughed more heartedly than before, "Yes brother of I course I am."

"I see," Farkas replied quietly, "So you're back to your old self now?" He looked expectantly at his twin whose grin had faded back into a smile filled with animosity.

"I don't think that man exists anymore," Vilkas' voice was a whisper and he patted Farkas' shoulders again to keep his hands busy, "For what it's worth I'm sorry about the other night," His voice suddenly caught in his throat and he closed his eyes to rethink tactics. The woman from before suddenly forgotten amongst it all.

Would he ever truly forgive him for kissing Susi? He thought that with time he might be able to shrug off the jealousy and accept that Susi appealed to more than just him but be thankful that she had chosen him over everyone else. Yes, that would be enough to hold off his anger, he knew that it would never happen again; Farkas had leant his lesson and surely wouldn't have the guts to do it again. Or perhaps he did Vilkas smirked to himself.

"I deserved what I got," Farkas shrugged masking away the emotion that had, for a second, been plain to see on his face. He was guilty and regretted it, but it pleased him, the sensations he felt were too complicated for him to simply dismiss. He would regret hurting his brother but never regret kissing her. She was all he wanted and perhaps it was more obvious so because she would never be his to have.

"I forgive you," Vilkas struggled to say, "Sort of," He gave Farkas a nervous smile and then nodded his head. One day he thought, one day soon and all will be forgiven.

A/N: Longer chapters better or worse? Oh boy, I just hope everyone will enjoy how this turns out x3 Vilkas & Farkas bro's fo' lyf