Part 2: Moonlight
Chapter 20: Sunrise
A/N: Hello, all! Are you still reading this? If so, I LOVE YOU! If not, well, you aren't here anyways. Listen, I'm so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry for all of this, really! I had a few major computer problems. Basically, my computer crashed and then I couldn't get a new one for a while because I need money for college. Luckily, I write these from my iPad, so I could continue writing, but not post them. Luckily, I have nearly finished this story (I know, I should be finished by now, but I'm not because I had college applications to get in and I had to try in school and then there's this thing called a social life which I was kinda forced to have for some strange reason, so...yeah.) Hope you enjoy these chapters and, if I can get it all written and finished (remember, I have an extremely detailed outline for all of this), I will write an continuation taking place after the events of this and in a sort of post-main-questline thing. You'll see what I mean! I haven't given up on you, my darlings! I promise!
"We need to talk, gents," Veri said and motioned for the brothers to follow her. Farkas had just returned home and felt fine. Some might say that Veri should have left him and Vilkas together for a least five minutes, but she couldn't. What was ahead was far greater than them.
She led them to a corner table in the hall and they all sat. She took a deep breath and then began. She leaned forwarded. "Farkas. Vilkas. I think that, perhaps, a few things need to be talked about. Actually a lot of things need to be talked about. But right now, lycanthropy take precedent. After what happened the other day I think that it's safe to say that this is going to soon get out of our control. It's stopped being a gift in any sense and instead is acting like a plague. A curse. I think that I would be best if we were all to cure ourselves."
"Aye. You're right, love," Vilkas said, "I'm all for it."
"If Vilkas cures himself, then I will, too," Farkas stated.
"Good," Veri replied, "Then it's settled. I think it's best I've leave as soon as we can. Tonight would be best. I have the witch heads with me already. It won't take long, I promise. I cured Kodlak and I'll cure us. Just be ready tonight. We'll meet outside the tomb."
"Why not leave right now?" Farkas asked.
"I was planning on doing something today. I'll meet you at the tomb at midnight. Sound good?" she asked.
Farkas looked at Vilkas who just shrugged, not sure what she meant, either. "Sounds good," Vilkas replied, "Come on now, brother, let's train in the yard. Best prepare yourself for tonight."
Both of them rose and began to walk towards the yard. Before he left, Vilkas bent down and kissed Veri on the top of her head. Then they both left her to her thoughts.
Veri put on her armor and grabbed Skyforge steel sword that Vilkas had given her. At sunset, she set out on horseback deep into the countryside of Whiterun Hold. There, what had once been farmland but was now overgrown with vines and weeds, lay a small house with three bedrooms and a living area. Only the outline of the rooms still remained. The walls had been burnt down many years ago, but the ground was covered in ash. Three large rocks had been placed in the center of a ring of pebbles all lying in what had once been the fireplace. Engraved into the stones were three names. Silas Nocturne: A wonderful father and loving husband, His Wife, Catalina Durant Nocturne: A beautiful mother and darling wife, and Valiant Nocturne: Who had dreamed of being a soldier since he was a boy. Each had been carved out with great care and a gentle hand.
Veri knelt down in front of them and placed a bouquet of mountain flowers in the circle. Then, from under her shirt, she produced a folded letter. She took a deep breath and opened it.
Silas and Catalina Nocturne,
It has been such a long time since I have had the time to write and visit you. I just wished to let you know that I am doing just fine. More than fine, I should say to you. I am, in fact, the happiest I have been in a very, very long time. In a few hours, if all goes well, I am going to once again be human. And the timing couldn't be better! I am getting married!
It's true! Not soon, but I have a fiancé. He's a wonderful man, mum and pa, he really is. He respects me with the honor of a Nord and treats me with the love I think you'd say I'd deserve. I know I have told you about getting married in the past and how that last one ended. But I can assure you that this one is different. I am unconditionally in love with him.
His name is Vilkas, and he is certainly an honorable man. Father, I'm sure that you will be glad to hear that he is a Companion, a group quite parallel to Cyrodiil's fighter's guild. And mother, he is excellent with children, just like you told me I should look for in a husband.
And that brings me to my next point. I have adopted a little girl. Her name is Runa. She is a darling little thing, and I do love her ever so much. She calls me "momma" already and has seemed to begin calling Vilkas "Pa." It's awfully sweet. So I guess that means that you're grandparents.
Well, this letter is far too long already. I'll have to close it now before I run out of room. I love you both very much and I promise that I'll write again at this same date and time next year.
With my most sincere regards and all my love,
Your daughter,
Verienne Elizabette Nocturne
She took a hand and summoned flames to it. She held the edge of the note to the fire and allowed it to burn. She dropped it on the flowers and they, too, caught fire, creating a sweet aroma that twisted into a cloud of smoke into the air and lifted the words up to the heavens above.
And then it began to rain.
A Journal Entry
Is it possible to love someone so much, and yet hate them at the same time? I fear that this might be the case with Ulfric. The way I feel about him is ripping me to pieces and I know that he is going to hate me after the events of today.
We stormed into Markarth, but Ulfric held us all back. We were ready for a fight, but a thunderous shout ripped its way from him and simply took down the majority of the Bretons. He then gave the order to kill every single last one of them. And so the men did so. I trembled as I watched them viciously murder those in the city who hadn't been killed by Ulfric's voice. The battle began, but it was something more of a bandit raid.
I dropped my sword immediately and fell to my knees. Fire rained from the sky either from our catapults or from the Breton magic. At some point, several barrels of oil were poured into the river that rushed though the town. I know this because that oil caught fire and set the waterfall ablaze as if it had come right out of Oblivion itself.
I fired one shot today. And that shot was to save Ulfric. I don't regret it. I can't. But coming here was a mistake.
Afterwards, when all of the men were praying in the new temple of Talos that had been reopened and cleaned up, I found myself sitting on a roof, gazing up at the twin moons of this beautiful planet. I hardly realized that I was crying until the tears ran down my neck. I found myself asking my father for help.
And then the rain began. I couldn't help but feel like he was listening. My father always knew that I loved the rain.
"Veri? Are you alright?" came a voice that I knew was Ulfric. I didn't turn to look at him. I kept my eyes to the moons.
"I'm alright. I was simply thinking about the events of today," I replied.
"Come inside. It's pouring," he said, sounding almost desperate.
"I'm alright. I like the rain. The rain falls and cleanses us of our stains."
"Yes, but should you fall in the rain, the mud only with further stain you."
"I suppose that's correct. I'll just have to watch my step."
"Cleansed or not, Veri, for you to catch an pneumonia would certainly stain me."
I laughed. "I'm a vampire, Stormcloak! I don't think that's possible. Besides, I'm not much of a Talos worshipper. I don't really believe in your Nord god."
"Is that so? You know, he's not simply a Nord god."
"That may be true, but I don't believe in him."
"Then what do you believe in, Miss Nocturne?"
I was silent. I didn't really know how to answer that question. I believe in the Eight, that they guide us and watch over us, but I do not believe they can help us achieve glory. I believe in destiny, but not that it will simply carry us to fortune. I believe in love, but not that it shall come to me so gently and support me in my pain. I took a breath. "I believe in myself. My actions, my decisions, and my dreams will lead me to my future. Not the gods. Not the country. And not a prayer. I believe, however cold it may sound, that I am on my own in this world."
"You are not alone. You have led me to what very well may be the death of us," I looked at him now as I stood up, "You think the Thalmor are simply going to dismiss what has happened here today? You think that they will allow it to continue? If you do, then you are a fool, Ulfric Stormcloak."
"We will fight, then. This is our land. They have no right-"
"They have every right! It is written on a document signed by the emperor! They have every right to arrest you, and even to kill you! It may not be fair, but it's just how things are. I'm sorry, sir, but I think that I have to leave you."
"You can't mean that."
"Of course I can! I'm not going to sit idle and allow myself to be arrested for something I don't believe in! I'm going to walk out those doors and return back to Whiterun. If you want to stop me, then your only choice is to kill me."
"If you walk out those doors, then you're a traitor!" his voice rose in anger he stepped closer to me and began to jab at my chest with his finger as though to emphasize his point, "If you walk out those doors, you will have betrayed us! Betrayed me! You've stood by my side for so long. Through the years of war. You tried to find me when I had been captured. What we shared was something I never would have shared with anyone else. And you're going to throw that all away? Then you're nothing better than a traitorous vampiric tramp. I hope you live long enough to see the world burn down around you. I hope all you love withers before you in agony while you stand helpless before it and watch it die. And then you'll know how it feels for all of us who love Talos. Then you'll understand what you never could before!"
"Fuck you!" I slapped him across the face. Hot tears streaming down my face. "I hate you, Ulfric Stormcloak! Enjoy your mead while you can. I hope you drown in it. When the Thalmor come for you, I won't be there. Not this time and not ever again!"
I left the city that night. I took my horse and road it all the way to Whiterun. What I call today must have really been yesterday because I am now all alone in an inn just outside of the city writing this. My horse is fast, but the sun is now rising.
I am tired. So very tired.
4E204
By the time they had made it thought the chambers of the tomb, it was early morning. The sun would soon be rising, but in the damp darkness of the tomb, none of them would be able to to tell.
They all approached the flames, each carrying a witch head.
"I think it's important," Veri began, "that we all slay our own wolf. And it's probably for the best that we each do this one at a time. Who's first?"
The boys nodded in agreement, but neither volunteered.
"Very well. Step aside, gents, things are about to get messy," Veri said. They steped back to a safe distance and then watched as Veri carefully, with a trembling hand, placed the head on the flames. Not a moment later, a monstrous, ghostly wolf erupted from her. She drew her sword immediately and ducked backwards to avoid the slashing claws of her wolf. Then she kicked it in the jaw and slashed it across the chests. It howled in pain and she jumped back to avoid its snapping jaws. She drew her dagger from her side and threw it at the wolf. It missed its head and lodged itself into it's chest. The wolf yelped, but growled in murderous fury. It began its gallop towards her. It leapt up with its jaws ready for a crushing blow. She ducked down and stepped forward towards it. Her sword founds it way into its belly. The wolf went stiff for a moment and then fell to the ground and disappeared.
"Well," Veri said, "That was fun. Alright, next?"
The brothers looked at each other. Then Farkas stood up. Veri winked at him and took a seat beside Vilkas.
"I like this," she whispered to him, "It's like watching the warriors fight in the Arena in Cyrodiil...but we're not betting and...and you don't really know what I'm talking about."
Vilkas shook his head. Veri could practically hear him shivering. It was strange to think of him as being afraid.
Farkas' fight wasn't long. The wolf pushed him back and then lunged at him, but he got his sword up in time. It was over and Farkas walked out with simply a bloody forehead.
And then it was Vilkas' turn. He rose slowly and wiped his sweating palms off. Veri reached up and touched his arm as if to say "don't worry." he only nodded at her and continued to the fire. He took a deep breath and then tossed the witch head onto it. The wolf erupted from him and immediate knocked him across the room. He didn't even have time to draw his sword. The huge creature, far larger than the other two, pounced on him and bit down hard into his shoulder. Vilkas cried out through clenched teeth as his armor began to be pierced by the teeth of the wolf. He struggled to draw his sword that was now trapped beneath him
Veri gasped and stood in an attempt to help, but Farkas just pulled her down. "This is his battle, Veri. Not yours."
She grit her teeth, but stayed in her place.
Vilkas kicked the wolf hard in the leg. It yelped in pain and let go of Vilkas. Vilkas rolled out from under it and finally managed to draw his sword and stagger to his feet. Then it was a stand off. The wolf glowered at him and growled. They circled each other. Then the wolf made its move. It raced towards him and lunged. Vilkas ducked and slashed at it down the belly with a grunt. The wolf landed on its side and slid until it hit the wall. Then it disappeared.
Vilkas stood with his sword drawn. He was drenched in sweat and panting. His heart beat in his ears. The sound was so loud he could hear nothing else. He was snapped out of it when two soft lips collided with his. He flinched and his eyes widened, but soon he allowed himself to be pulled into her and just enjoyed the moment his sword clanged against the ground as he dropped it to wrap his arms around her. Their passionate moment was disturbed only when Farkas cleared his throat uncomfortably.
Veri pulled away and giggled. Vilkas only grinned.
"Come on," Vilkas said as he put his arm over Veri's shoulder so as to lead her, "Let's get going. The world is a far different place now that we're human again. And I'm exhausted!"
"Well, I'm not," Veri stated as they walked out of the tomb and into the crisp morning air. The sun was just beginning to rise. "This is the first sunrise I've seen since in over thirty years. And I'm going to enjoy every last moment of it! I'm going to enjoy the sun!"
Vilkas smiled down at her, the colors of the sunrise gleamed off her hair, so shiny and smooth, it was practically a mirror, and illuminated her dazzled face. She smiled up at him and then he leaned down to kiss her again. It seemed a crime not to in that moment.
It was to be the first of may sunrises they would watch together.