The next morning, Diamond awakens and stretches her limbs. Her toes brush up against a pitcher on the end table and she sighs. Fluttering her eyes open, Diamond gazes up at the ceiling, still thinking about what Kodlak had said.
Does she really still care about Libby, even after everything she had done? Of course she can deny it, but at the same time, there is that little tug in her chest that argues otherwise. It's just little things: the thought of Libby hauling Diamond to shore instead of leaving her to die on the Emperor's ship, Libby teaching Diamond about self-defense, how to wield other weapons instead of just her Warhammer, Libby bailing Diamond out of jail time and time again, the two of them sharing a pint of ale on the rooftops of Solitude, the two of them in combat; they were unstoppable.
It's despicable, but Kodlak did say it was her decision. And Libby made hers long ago, and didn't hesitate.
And the next time she meets Libby, it will be the last. And she won't hesitate.
Sighing, Diamond rolls out of bed and sluggishly makes her way towards the cupboard she shares with Ria. Diamond's drawer was the top one, and Ria's was the one below that. Rummaging through her shirts and tunics, Diamond finds her oldest one – fresh and clean – and shrugs it one, then one by one, she adds the belts and pieces of her iron armor before finally slinging her glass Warhammer over her back. Yeesh, the outfit alone is enough to weigh anyone else down, thank goodness her own body had grown accustomed to it. Now she run with ease while in it.
Finishing adjusting the straps of her belt, Diamond looks up and finds Torvar walk in with a goblet, no doubt already filled with mead. Sighing, Diamond walks over and immediately takes the goblet from him as he's about to take another sip.
"It's a little early for you to be drinking, isn't it?" Diamond says as she walks over to the potted palm at the corner of her room and dumps the contents of the drink into the dirt.
"Hey!" Torvar shouts. "That was part of my morning ritual." He whines.
"I just saved you. Watch, this plant is going to be dead by nightfall." She says as she sets the goblet back into Torvar's hand.
Torvar simply glances at the goblet before tossing it aside. "Well, now you at least owe me a slice of your ham tonight at breakfast."
"Get lost!" Diamond chuckles as she shoves Torvar as they head for the doors leading up to the main floor.
"I need to protein." Torvar chuckles.
They pass through the double doors and up the steps, passing Tilma with a smile and wave. Most of the Companions members are already up, but the first thing that strikes Diamond upon immediately entering the room . . . is the quiet. And it's not complete silence, there is silent murmurs and whispered conversations, but even that is considered silent when living with the Companions, where a fight breaks out at breakfast over the last piece of a sweetroll. Torvar seems to notice the silence as well as they approach, keeping close to Diamond.
Surveying the table, Diamond can see Aela sitting next to Skjor as usual, the twins together sit along the length of the table, Ria, Njada are sitting or standing on or bear a bench near the table, Athis sitting along one width of the table, ushering Torvar and Diamond over.
As they sit down, Diamond finally looks at the rest of the table, and her heart jumps in her throat.
Kodlak is standing across other end of the table, a person – whose face was concealed by the hood of a cloak – shrouded in a bright violet fabric sitting next to him. Diamond doesn't immediately assume it's the Faceless, as the cloak color is deep instead of dark. Almost like the color of an amethyst gemstone with gold embroidery along the folds. From what Diamond could see by the firelight, whoever this girl is, is about her age but appears older –more like a woman than a young girl. She had rose-red lips, and skin as white as snow, but her rounded face helps to show her youth and innocence. Whatever clothes she wears, it is hidden well by the cloak, and she keeps her head down.
But when Diamond turns to Kodlak, she feels her anger fear and confusion wallow in her like tar.
Kodlak's usual armor is gone, only wearing a grey tunic with short sleeves revealing the already tainted bandages around his bicep. They look recently changed since the blood spots are already still permeating underneath. And by the way he holds his sternum, there must be more bandages underneath. From her years as an assassin, Diamond knows how to tell were a certain injury can be located something Veezara had taught her when trying to gain an advantage in battle against multiple opponent.
And then Kodlak's throat . . . By the Eight, his throat is deeply bruised and – and in the shape of a handprint; the fingers stretch around on side, the heel ending on his Adam's-apple.
Diamond can see a couple other thin cuts that have already clotted, not as serious, but nonetheless, she is concerned but more importantly angry. Where did he go? Who did he battle against that gave him those injuries? And most importantly, where can Diamond find them so that she can gut them alive? Slowly.
Kodlak's head then turns to Diamond so suddenly that she flinches slightly, feeling as if she had been spying on him. He gives her a gentle smile, and she can see the exhaustion wallowing inside from the bags under his eyes and the look of weariness.
Carefully, Diamond flares her nostrils, catching Kodlak's scent; slight perspiration around the neck, and his heartbeat is steady, with little tippets every time he inhales. Nervousness. Aela and Vilkas whisper to one another, and Farkas simply stares at the young woman in wonder.
Once everyone has been accounted for, Kodlak clears his throat, but then he speaks, his voice is still very hoarse and low and the Companion members – those without the hearing senses of a werewolf – all need to strain to hear.
"Welcome, my Companions. Good morning." Kodlak coughs a little. "I apologize for my voice, it's not quite with me this morning."
"Caught a bit of a bug, Kodlak?" Torvar immediately speaks, earning him glares from members of the Circle, and a kick from Diamond underneath he table. She kicked him hard enough that he has to bite his lip to keep from barking in pain.
But Kodlak chuckles low. "Something along those lines, Torvar. I appreciate your concern."
"Master, perhaps you should rest." Vilkas suggests.
"I am fine, Vilkas, just need to do a few good coughs." Kodlak waves. "Besides, today is a special day, and I wanted to make sure everyone was present today."
"What's going on, Kodlak?" Skjor says, eyeing the young woman as well.
"We have a new member joining us today, and I wanted everyone to welcome her here today."
Diamond's throat inexplicably goes dry, and she nearly coughs.
"New recruit?" Farkas says. "You've never done this before for any of the others."
"She must be special then." Aela says wearily.
"Indeed." Kodlak nods. "Please, everyone . . .
His voice suddenly grows distant as Diamond watches his hand lift and reach towards the woman's hood. There's a flash of that memory, and Kodlak briefly becomes Zusa, reaching for that hood, the young woman . . .
What . . .?
Kodlak's hand reaches the hood and pinches the fabric. "Everyone, please welcome . . ." he pulls the hood down, and – "Libitania Desidenuis."
Slowly, Libby opens her eyes, blinking a few times as she lifts her head to face the other Companions, her chin high.
Silence. Absolute silence and shocked stares.
She was different. By every means there was.
Her face has become more distinct, sharper; her hair has been cut to her shoulders compared to the long braid that always reached down her back. And her eyes – Diamond had always known them as a mixture of green and brown, depending on the season determined which color you'd see more, but now . . . now her eyes are completely green, and the brown has now become a ring of gold around her pupil. That could not have possibly happened just from puberty and development.
Libby's eyelashes bat as she keeps her stare directly on Diamond.
The anger boils.
Before she even realizes it, Diamond springs up from her seat while slamming her palms against the table, rattling its contents. "No!"
Vilkas immediately shoots Diamond a glare assuring that he will teach her how to keep her mouth shut in the future. Torvar grabs for her, tugging her towards her chair, but she shakes him off.
"No?" Kodlak draws out the word with deliberate intent, Libby looking over to him before turning head back to Diamond, but her eyes scan the entire table. Her face is neutral, even looking bored.
Diamond's voice shakes. "She's not . . . I can't be . . . This is crazy."
"What she means," Aela interferes. "is that this is very unexpected, Kodlak."
"Quite," says Skjor, his anger just as rowdy as Diamond's, only he has the control to give it a more professional voice. "What exactly brought up this sudden decision, Kodlak?"
"Last I checked, we had a few empty beds in Jorrvaskr for those with a fire burning in their heart."
"But her fire is plagued by darkness." mumbles Athis. Libby turns her head to him and gives him a feline grin. Even with his grey-toned skin, Diamond can see him turn pale.
"Apologies, Master, but you're not truly considering accepting her." Vilkas says.
"Not after everything she's done." Skjor bites, glaring at Libby as if he can set her on fire.
"Sometimes the famous come to us. It makes no difference. I understand that Libitania is like wildfire - deadly and uncontrollable." Libby gives a soft, feminine chuckle. "But perhaps, we can use that fire to our advantage. Forge her heart."
This can't be happening. Diamond doesn't stop staring at Libby. What has she done to him? Blackmail, bribe?
"But what will everyone in Whiterun, in Skyrim, think of us knowing we took in an assassin?" Farkas says.
"She won't be joining us as Libitania Desidenuis. She will be joining under an alias." Kodlak continues.
"Why?" asks Vilkas.
"Because what would people think if they found out I was giving up my extravagant lifestyle of gold and daggers for the means of a pathetic warrior guild." Libby purrs, her voice is so soft and feminine but laced with defiance and challenge.
Many of the Companions put their hands to their weapons, some of them slowly rising form their seats. They snarl at Libby until Kodlak lowers them with his hands up palm forward, as if such a motion somehow holds the power to still the room.
"Now, now." he partially turns to Libby, the notion alone nearly making everyone reboot up from their seats. "Miss Desidenuis, I ask that you treat our organization with the respect it holds."
"You'll get my respect when you earn it, Harbinger." Libby says, but this time, when directed at Kodlak, her voice isn't as sharp. Good. A least she has enough sense on when to be respectful. "The way I see it, your faction isn't that different from the Thieves Guild."
"How dare you –!" Aela begins to rant.
Libby holds up her hand, as if silencing her like a noble would a peasant. Aela nearly leaps across the table. "You simply do jobs that supply the most coin. I fail to see the difference between such matters."
"Enough." Kodlak snaps, snapping his head towards Aela.
"The difference is that we still hold honor!" Aela growls as she shoots to her feet.
And Libby laughs, shaking her head. "Says the words of a misguided mercenary."
Skjor immediately grabs Aela's arm as she continues to snarl at Libby, animal enough that Diamond could've sworn she saw Aela's teeth curl into the fanged canines of her lycanthropic form.
"I said enough."
If Aela takes one step towards Libby, draws her dagger a fraction of an inch, that concealed dagger in Libby's sleeve will find itself a new home in Aela's neck.
Kodlak moves fist, grabbing Aela's chin in one hand, forcing the huntress to look at him. "Check yourself, or I'll do it for you, girl." He murmurs. "You're a fool picking a fight with her tonight."
Eyes are wide, and Aela suddenly looks like a young child being lectured by her parents the way her eyes soften in hurt. Her mouth slightly agape in surprise, and everyone watches them with bated breath. How could Kodlak say that . . .?
Libby bites down her reply. She can handle Aela today – or any other day, for that matter. If it comes down to a fight, she'd win – she would always beats Aela.
But Aela releases the hilt of her dagger. After a moment, Kodlak removes his grip on Aela's face, and steps away. He walks back over to Libby – who still has barely moved an inch – and stands at the side of her chair. "Now for the matters of your alias, Libitania."
"Yes, now who, exactly, am I to be, if not a ruthless killer?" Libby says coyly. A concealed edge lingers beneath her voice.
"To everyone in Whiterun and Skyrim, your name is Lilian Camobrook. Your mother is dead and your father is a wealthy merchant from Cyrodiil. You are the sole heir to his fortune. However, you have a dark secret: you spend your nights as a jewel thief. I met you this summer after you tried to rob me while I was vacationing in Cyrodiil, and I saw your potential then. But your father discovered your nightly fun, and removed you from the lure of the city to a town near Karthwasten. With the vacancy in Jorrvaskr, I traveled to find you, and brought you here as a new recruit. You can fill in the gaps yourself."
Libby raises her brows. "Really? A jewel thief?"
Farkas snorts, but Kodlak goes on. "It's rather charming, don't you think?" When he doesn't respond, he claps his hands together. "Alright, I think that covers things for today. We shall resume the day as normal and –"
Diamond finally snaps from her still trance of listening and blinks, shaking her head. "Wait, Kodlak, are you serious?!"
Heads turn to her and despite the warmth flooding her cheeks, Diamond stares only at her Harbinger and Libby.
"Kodlak, this is folly! You can't just pluck her off the streets and let her in; not after everything she's done to you, to the Companions! Kodlak, please, don't do this. She has done horrible things . . . s-she has killed people!"
"So have you, Diamond." Vilkas suddenly chimes in. Diamond snaps her head towards him, betrayal coursing through her and hurt flooding into her eyes.
When she looks back at Libby, she finds the assassin . . . smirking. The right corner of her mouth, turned upwards and a brow raised in victory; as if to say: I already have them on my side.
Libby . . . is smirking . . .?!
The anger snaps. Snaps so loudly that Diamond is surprised that no one else had heard it.
Gods damn it all to Hell!
Before she realizes what she is doing, her mouth contorts into a viscous snarl and she is already reaching over her back to grab her Warhammer. Dishes and goblets clink and crash to the floor in diamond-shaped shards, and food soils her feet as Diamond has hurled herself atop the table, ready to make her way across the length and smash the head of her warhammer into Libby's smirking face – until someone wraps their arms around her waist and holds her back.
Diamond immediately thrashes against the arms, beating her fists against it, still careful of her Warhammer swinging with her hands.
The smell of ale and mead hits her before he speaks. "Alright Diamond, how about we step outside." Torvar grunts as he lugs her off the table. Diamond thrashes against him, keeping her gaze on Libby – who is still smirking victorious – as she screams and hollers at Torvar to release her and to let her get Libby. But all he replies with is: "H-Hey, I think I smell the honey of Meadery. Why don't we head outside and see what they're serving?"
More dishes and food and wine bottles go flying as Diamond's feet kick viciously as she's lugged off the table and Torvar drags her towards the backdoor of Jorrvaskr. His arms crush her waist, but Diamond barely feels the pain as she continues to thrash, still screaming profanities at Libby as Torvar shoves the door open with his shoulder and hauls her ass outside to the sparring courtyard.
Shutting the door behind him with his foot, he releases Diamond; or more rather pushes her forward to prevent her from whirling around and barging back inside.
The moment Torvar releases her, Diamond's breathing is quick and she huffs as she grips her Warhammer and hurls it down onto one of the small tables on the dais. The piece of furniture shatters into small planks of wood. Diamond then moves on to the chair sitting right next to it, shattering it into splinters, and then it's the other chair, and then it's the table, and then it's another chair and another table.
Torvar simply leans against one of the wooden pillars of the pergola, watching the young Companion destroy everything. He catches an apple that happens to fly up towards him as Diamond destroys a bowl of fruit. Catching it with one hand, he polishes it on his vambrace before taking a bite.
Diamond destroys the furniture all the way until she reaches the actual practice dummies at the very back of the courtyard. Profanities that would insult the Divines themselves fly from her mouth, screaming loud and echoing across the perimeter of Jorrvaskr.
Even with that, Diamond keeps hacking and chopping away at the dummies until they are nothing more than ripped and tattered piles of hay. Still does Diamond continue to chop until she creates an indentation in the stone and the vibrations of her hammer hitting the ground makes her grip loosen.
The head of the hammer drops to the ground and Diamond stays hunched over, heaving as if she had just done a full sprint around Whiterun Hold. Torvar still leans against the wooden pillar, finishing his apple.
After tossing the core into the nearby bushes, he asks. "Feel better?"
Diamond glares at him from over her shoulder, but doesn't have the energy to give a snippy remark. Instead, she stands tall, leaning her head back and letting the sun warm her face. Taking a few deep breaths and despite the ache in her arms, she slings her Warhammer back its sheath. When she turns, her own eyes widen at the sight of the glass and smashed fruit and splintered wood that scatters the dais of the backyard.
She merely looks to Torvar, cleaning his nails with the tip of his dagger. She sighs and approaches him, carefully navigating up the two steps to avoid bits of glass and splinters. "How could he do that?" Diamond speaks, her voice pitched from her raw throat. "After everything she's done."
"Diamond, it's his decision. He's the Harbinger." Torvar says with boredom.
"She had to have bribed him, somehow." Diamond counters.
"No."
"You saw the injuries on him, Torvar! Who else could have done that to him but her! She's lucky no one skinned her alive the moment he pulled of her hood. How? How?!" Diamond raises her arms in the air as if asking the Divines themselves as to how this could have happened? "She had to have tortured him, blackmailed him or something –!"
"Diamond!" Torvar barks, clapping his hands on her shoulders. "Kodlak is not being bribed, he is not being hypnotized, he is not being crazy. This is his decision, and his reasons why are his own, and we are to respect that – not matter how much we may all disagree." He mumbles at the end.
"This is folly! This is delirious! He knows what that gods-damned woman has done to me! She has destroyed everything I loved; everything that I was!" Diamond hollers. "Why would he just bring her here?! To the one place that I have finally called home! When she was hired by someone to kill him?!"
Diamond begins to pace back and forth, scouring the dais for something else she can smash. She grinds her teeth and resorts to biting on her gloved hand.
"Just watch, she's going to ruin this too. She's going to kill him and then I will have no one, just like before." Diamond starts to babble. "I will have nothing, absolutely nothing, left in Skryim. If you thought I was in bad shape when he brought me here before, oh –" she manically giggles. "– it will be worse if that bitch does something to him."
"Diamond –"
"She might even try to kill him tonight. I'll need to be up all night, check every shadow –" her steps quicken as she continues to pace in the tarnished space.
"Diamond."
"It'll be tricky, I've got to make sure that she doesn't escape before I even find Kodlak –"
"Diamond!" Torvar once again grasps her shoulders to stop her pacing and tugs her close. "Look, I know you're worried and trying to help – in your own paranoid way – but you really need to get a grip. You're already unraveling."
After a moment of silence, Diamond's eyes calm and her shoulders droop. She sighs as she rubs her hands on her face. She runs her fingers through her hair, inhaling and slowly exhaling. "Okay, okay." She sighs. "Look, I just don't trust her."
"No one does. They're going to be watching her and Kodlak just as much as you will." Torvar insists.
"How can you be so calm after what Kodlak had just said? He let an assassin into our guild." Diamond says, trying to keep her tone calm. "And already people are defending her against me! She always does this!"
"Look, people are only following Kodlak's lead because he is the Harbinger, and they are forced to respect his decision, even if we might not all agree."
"Kodlak always said that he is no one's master, no one's leader. I feel like if we're all against it, he should respect that."
"Diamond," Torvar sighs. "You're missing the point."
"And what is that?"
"He's trying to help her, Diamond."
It takes a moment for the words to sink in. Diamond tilts her head back and laughs. She cackles loud enough that a couple guards turn their heads. She turns to Torvar. "You think Kodlak is trying to help her?" Torvar simply stares at her with damning annoyance. "There is no helping that woman, Torvar. None! She has been abandoned by the gods and forever condemned of the Daedra."
"But even you can see how . . . there's just something, off about her."
"Probably in her sanity."
"But you didn't deny it." Torvar retorts.
"Of course I won't deny that there's something wrong with her! She betrayed me and lied to me! About everything! I don't even think our friendship was ever real!" Diamond argues.
"Diamond." Torvar says, warning her to lower her voice.
Sighing, Diamond runs her fingers through her hair again. "I just . . . I don't trust her, I don't like her, I don't want to even speak to her or see her –!"
Diamond nearly wants to rip out her hair.
"What does he see in her anyway?"
Torvar is so silent that Diamond worries he left, but when she turns to face him, he is simply staring at her with sad eyes.
"What?"
Torvar sounds a thousand years old when he speaks. "He sees what you've lost sight of."
Too stunned to answer back, Diamond simply stands there with her mouth agape as Torvar sighs and turns before walking back in to Jorrvaskr.
Alone outside, Diamond is still shocked as she rakes through the meaning of Torvar's words. He probably had too much mead. But he was so serious, for once.
Gods damn it all!
Diamond just feels like banging her head against the wall. Libby is going to ruin everything. Diamond knows she will. She'll have to keep an eye on her while watching out for Kodlak as well. Libby is going to destroy her life and her home once again.
He sees what you've lost sight of.
Whatever Libby and Diamond had, if they had anything at all, it is over. And Diamond knows Libby is going to try and carry out her contract to kill Kodlak.
But this time, Diamond is ready. Ready to protect this family. She's worked too hard to get a family again, and she won't lose it now. And this time, she won't hesitate.
It doesn't matter what Torvar thinks, or what Kodlak thinks he's trying to do. Libby is now evil, and rude and selfish and a liar –
The back door to Jorrvaskr opens and Ria's head pops out. "Diamond, we need to retire for the night –"
Her eyes widen when she sees the desecration of the entire deck.
"Just leave it, leave it alone." Diamond says as she gives a nonchalant wave towards the mess. She doesn't say a word as she passes by the Companion and into Jorrvaskr once again.
Inside, things seem normal, Kodlak and Libby are gone as well as a few other memebers. Aela and Skjor are over in their own corner talking, Athis and Torvar seated at the table.
Libby –
Diamond quickens her steps, trying to walk slowly to retain as much of her dignity from before. She makes her way down towards the living quarters and stops dead in the threshold when she finds the assassin half-naked and standing over Diamond's – unofficial – bed. Her shirt is off revealing the thing white band that covers her breasts and . . . gods . . . Three enormous lines run down her back. The way they look slightly diagonal and the way the skin rises, Diamond knew they are whipping lashes.
Suddenly Libby speaks, without even having to turn around. "If you're going to stand there and gawk then at least have the courtesy of letting me get my shirt on."
Diamond doesn't say anything, only widening her eyes when Libby turns to her. She gives Diamond a feline grin. "I didn't expect the rooms to be so . . . crowded. I figured your faction would at least have the decentcy to divide the rooms by gender."
Grinding her teeth, Diamond lets her hand drift to the hilt of her dagger as Libby shrugs on an extravagant tunic; a deep blue one with silver beading along the hemline. A little flashy, for the Companions.
There's no way Diamond can share a room with her –
"Oh don't worry. There's no way I'm staying here." Libby continues, not caring of Diamond's lack of response. "I can only take so much of sweaty bodies and the stench of metal and mead. I'll be living at my mansion for most of the time. That way I still have contact with a civilized group of citizens."
Diamond's fingers wrap around the hilt. One fling, and Libby can be dead. Or maybe she'll block it and stab Diamond before Diamond can even draw her blade a quarter of an inch.
"But unfortunately my mansion is under renovations, and so I'm afraid this, pelt pile, will have to do. But really you'd think you would have better beds. I didn't know that you sleep with the same prey you kill. Even the Bannered Mare has actual sheets."
One flick of the wrist . . .
"I took the bed in the corner, I saw a few of your things, but Farkas said to pick a bed and fall in it when tired." Libby turns and starts to gather the few tunics Diamond had, all tossed sloppily onto the chair located next to the wardrobe she shares with Ria. Libby slowly walks over to Diamond. She stops dangerously close. "So, I pick this one." Libby shoves Diamond's shirts and pants into her arms. "I knew you wouldn't mind." She says, giving Diamond the brightest smile, laced with taunt. A challenge.
Diamond is shaking from rage.
Libby sighs and gives aloud sniff. "Mm, I'm hungry after that wonderful meet-and-greet. I think I'll get some mead." Libby brushes past Diamond. "Come join me, Shield-Sister."
And with that, Libby walks away and Diamond just stares ahead, trying her best to control her rage as she hears the doors to the living quarters close.
SCREW THIS!
That night, while Libby took her place in the sleeping quarters, Diamond had grabbed a couple pelts and blankets and posted herself outside of Kodlak's sleeping room. She tried going to him and to Aela, and Skjor and the twins, insisting that she is not, under any circumstances sleep in the same room with Libby. But they all denied her, or brushed her off.
She preferred sleeping on the floor anyway. It was so much more comfy. Great for her back too; but the glowing sconces over Kodlak's desk did make it a little difficult to fall asleep, and the pillow she crafted out of deer and wolf pelts does feel a little flat.
But it still beats sleeping in the same room with Libby.
Just as Diamond is about to fall asleep, the doors to Kodlak's bedroom open and Diamond ends up rolling a couple before bumping into a pair of armored boots. She ends up on her back and staring at Kodlak's amused, but exhausted face. She tries to think of an explanation, but Kodlak speaks before she can think of a valid answer.
"You always were a stubborn one. Well, come in. come." He ushers her up. Diamond shakes her head, but Kodlak speaks over her. "I insist, I'm not that tired anyway. I have some research that needs to be done, anyway."
Without waiting for her to answer, he walks out, relights one of the sconces over his desk and sits down.
Diamond stands, still wrapped in her pelt blankets. After a couple heartbeats, she sighs through her nose.
She crawls into the bed, sighing as she feels the plushness of the mattress beneath her. Resting her head on the pillow, Diamond turns on her side so she can see Kodlak, hunched over at his desk, scribbling something with a feather pen.
After a few blinks of her eyes, she is fast asleep.