HUZA! I'm not dead. Just slack to do chapter for the story.
Right so I have to say that i am sorry that i haven't uploaded in a while and that may continue for a few more weeks but i will make and effort.
I have good news though, I am thinking of making a sequel :3 and i think you while understand what questline it takes on in this chapter. It isn't definite so far but with more chatting with my kinda co writer (ideas woman) it will probably be released about a month or two after i finish this one and i might make it first person instead on third person. This is way to hard to type XD
Anyway as usual, enjoy the chapter and feel free to review!
-rosey ❤❤
Chapter 21:
Hana's eyes would hardly open, crusted with sleep. She couldn't figure out where she was as she looked around through the small gap of her eyelids. Her head was throbbing and stomach was growling like a hungry wolf.
She groaned as she opened her eyes fully, not aware of how bright the room was. How long had been asleep for? A few days? A few weeks? A few hours? The only thing she could remember was up to getting the Elder Scroll and her dream. Everything was a blur between then.
"Look who is finally awake," a familiar voice echoed from the other corner of the room. Hana looked over to the corner, seeing Grace. She looked like she had not slept in days. Her hair and clothes were a mess.
Hana tried to speak but only let out a croak from her lips. She clutched her throat, for an indication of water. Moving from her position, Grace walked to Hana with a mug of water for her. Hana took the mug with shaking hands and raised it to her lips.
The water instantly cooled her throat, making her sigh. "How long? How long have I been asleep for?" Hana croaked, still taking small sips from the mug.
"About two weeks. If you hadn't woken up, I would have to try to convince Torvar you hadn't turned into a draugr." Grace scoffed, sitting down beside her friend.
Hana just nodded and kept her eyes low. She had been asleep for two weeks, how could that be? Her dreams felt like they only lasted an hour or less. Hana swung her legs over her bed and tried to stand but fell back onto the bed. She looked down at her legs and saw how pale they had become, her muscle slowly diminished.
"Easy Hana. You don't expect to be walking the roads of Skyrim tomorrow I hope," Grace said as she eased her friend up onto her feet and towards the chair Grace had been sitting in. Placing Hana down on the chair rather quickly and awkwardly, Hana nodded her thanks to her friend.
"How the heck did I get back here?" Hana asked.
"You can't remember anything can you?" Grace stated, pulling another small chair beside Hana, passing her the plate.
"Nay, the only thing I can remember till was going into the Dwemer Ruin." Hana sighed, picking at a small piece of bread.
"Thank the gods you didn't then. You completely lost it." Grace said.
"Lost it?" Hana winced.
"Yeah, you completely lost your mind. When you came up from the ruins, you looked like shit and started mumbling. Farkas and I pushed Vilkas in there to help you but you just attacked him and tried to kill him."
Hana buried her face in her hands, completely shocked by her own actions. How could she have not remembered that?
"What else happened?" Hana asked.
"Well after that we dragged you down to Winterhold, your brother gave you a potion to hopefully stop whatever poison was running through you. The whole time you still tried to kill Vilkas." Grace shrugged as if it was not a big deal.
Hana just shook her head and stuffed a piece of bread in her mouth. She could not remember anything since entering the ruin, but she did not want to remember. Knowing that she attacked her ex-lover, she could not stomach it.
"Anything else?" Hana asked in a soft voice.
"Well, while you slept, you were tossing and turning for a whole hour. At one point you ended up screaming. Care to explain?" Grace raised her eyebrow at Hana.
Hana wished that she could just jump back into the darkness, not wanting to talk about it. "It felt so real. You were there, Farkas, my parents and Vilkas…" Hana trailed off, keeping her eyes on the ground. The mention of his name made her think back to her vision, his body burnt to a crisp, a terrified expression claiming his face.
"What was?"
"My vision. It seemed so real and I couldn't do anything. It began at my parents cottage before I left, I didn't even get to say good bye to my mother." Hana said keeping her voice low. " Then I came back to Jorrvaskrr, and everyone was there including Kodlak and Skjor."
"What about Vilkas?" Grace ushered on.
"Aye he was there. Alduin too. At the end he explained that this would be my fate and I couldn't change it," Hana sniffed, recalling her visions. "I don't want to talk about it anymore."
"Oh Hana. That's just a dumb dragon that thinks he can control everyone. When your better, you will woop that dragons ass and send him to his death," Grace sassed, placing a hand on Hana's shoulder.
Hana let out a small giggle and smiled at her friend, but soon vanished when she remembered she had another problem. She was back in Jorrvaskrr, back in the same hall as Vilkas.
"Is Vilkas still here? In Jorrvaskrr?" Hana asked rather quickly, almost spilling her plate.
"Aye he is, and I'm not having anything to do with you two. You have to sort it out yourself," Grace huffed taking the plate away from her friend. "Did you want to head up to hall?"
Hana nodded stiffly and tried to get up herself. She managed to stand by herself but as soon as she took one step, her legs gave out from under her. "By the nine Hana, give it a few days before you can walk by yourself, maybe one if you have enough health potions." Grace barked as she caught her friend.
"Sorry," Hana sighed, putting her weight on her friend as they left her room. As much as she didn't want to be back in the halls, she really did miss it. Laughter boomed from above Hana, echoing off the stone. Nothing had changed.
It was an effort to get up the stairs but as they reached the top, the whole hall went dead silent, staring at Hana. Hana could feel her face about to go red from the sudden attention.
"Finally! The great Dragonborn has awoken!" Torvar yelled out, breaking the silence. Hana scanned around the room at every one's faces. Aela and Farkas were smiling, Aela coming over to help Grace out. Torvar was still sitting drinking his mead with Ria, Athis and Njada at the other end of the room.
As Farkas approached her she just smiled but couldn't help wonder where his twin was. She hadn't seen Vilkas in the hall and was glad for it as she wouldn't know what to say to him.
"How are you feeling lass?" Farkas asked as they escorted Hana to one of the seats.
"I feel like shit," Hana groaned as they sat her down on a chair, her head slightly spinning.
"Just take this would you?" Grace sighed passing her a red bottle. A healing potion.
Hana just scowled and uncorked the bottle, sculling its contents. The bitter liquid ran down Hana's throat and slightly burned her sore throat for a few seconds. Soon after her headache diminished and could think straight again.
"Any better?" Aela asked, taking a seat next to Hana.
"Much," Hana replied, placing her hands on the table.
"So what's with the scroll Hana?" Farkas asked, earning a few dirty glares from Aela and Grace.
"Dam it Farkas. She just woke up and you're asking her that?" Aela hissed.
"It's fine Aela. I had to get it for a shout I think. I have to take it to Paathurnax, the Grey Beards leader I guess you can say." Hana sighed, holding a mug of water.
"Leader? Is he as old as they are?" Ria asked from across the room.
"You could say that," Hana laughed slightly, not wanting to move too much. Hana couldn't tell what time it was while she was in the hall but didn't really care, she was just glad to be back.
For most of the time in the hall, she spent it listening to what everyone had been up to since she had left after Kodlak's death. Apparently Torvar had managed to get into a large amount of trouble in the Bannered Mare, having a little bit too much mead.
They had Kodlaks funeral a few days after she had left, leaving the place gloomy since.
"So Hana, you planning on staying here again? Still be a Companion?" Aela asked next to her.
"Of course. I couldn't leave this place. I'm sorry about leaving but I couldn't stand Vilkas then and there," Hana said, rolling her eyes.
The doors from the back patio of Jorrvaskrr opened, letting blinding light fill into the hall. Hana shielded her eyes from the light, trying to picture who just came through the door. As the door closed, Hana lowered her hand, glancing at who just entered.
Covered in sweat, Vilkas stood at the door, his great sword attached to his back. He hadn't changed, still having a scowl on his face. He hadn't noticed Hana yet , and she glad about it.
"Brother you're back! How did the job go?" Farkas boomed from across the hall.
"Aye it went fine. Just another kidnapping, nothing out of the ordinary," Vilkas grumbled, placing his sword against the wall.
Hana had one a quick glance up at Vilkas, now regretting that she had. His silver eyes staring down at her, trained on her features. A shiver ran down her spine as she broke eye contact with his, looking down at her hands in her lap. Her face flurried in heat as she tried to ignore his presence in the room.
"Grace, you reckon I should be able to walk outside?" Hana asked her friend. Grace just passed her another potion in which Hana drank. Feeling the strength back in her legs, she stood from the table and slowly made her way out of hall towards the training yard. As she walked by herself, she passed Vilkas who just stood there, watching her as she passed.
She couldn't stand being around him, and if she had to live with him back in Jorrvaskrr, it was going to be hard.
Opening the door to the training yard, Hana had to shield her eyes again from the bright light. It had to be midday, as she could just hear the shouts of the markets in full swing. Her senses overwhelmed her as she sat down. Winter had just passed and spring was on its way.
"So you're just going to sulk out here then?" Grace's voice erupted from behind her.
Hana just kept looking forward, not bothering to look at her friend. "I wouldn't call it sulking Grace."
"Then what is it?"
"I just don't want to be around him at the moment," Hana sighed, looking back down at the ground, memorising each crack on the patio.
"Still sounds like sulking to me." Her friend chuckled and sat down next to Hana.
A cool breeze shifted Hana's hair. A rotting smell filled Hana's nose making her almost wanting to gag. "What the fuck is that smell?"
"That one is on you. It's those heads that you decided to leave here. We put them into the under forge so they wouldn't smell too bad to others. I guess you can probably smell it better with your wolfy senses," Grace mocked.
"Right, I forgot about that." Hana shook her head. How could she forgot about Kodlak's curse? She would have to get to the tomb, and hope that she wasn't too late.
"I hope that as soon as your better you get rid of those damn things. I may not be part wolf but damn those things are feral." Grace grimaced as she got out of her chair.
"Aye." Hana responded.
She just had to stay in the hall for a week with Vilkas's constant staring and attempt to talk to her. Great.
0o0
"Hana! I swear to the gods if you don't drink this, I'll lock you in a room with Vilkas!" Grace scowled at Hana.
Everyone else in the hall had gone on errands around the city while Hana and Grace stayed behind. Hana shook her head, refusing. "I am not drinking another of those Skeever tasting potions!"
It had only been five days since Hana had woken up and she was only just recovering. She was weaker and had lost condition while she slept. Muscles in her legs felt as though they had turned to mush as well as her arms in the first few days.
"Do you even know what Skeever tastes like?" Grace huffed, placing the bottle down on the bench.
"Aye, you tend to eat what you can while you're stuck in the woods for a week," Hana scowled. Not the fondest memories of being in the woods while travelling back to Skyrim.
'What is wrong with Skeever? They're crunchy and chewy and full of goodness,' her wolf spirit laughed.
"Enough about Skeevers!" Hana shouted.
Grace just looked at her friend with a puzzled face. As much as Hana enjoyed having Grace help her out, she didn't like being babied all the time. She could now walk by herself but couldn't run just yet.
"Wolf spirit?" Grace asked, sitting down next to friend, watching the birds circle on the plains. A cool breeze whirled around them in the training yard, dust slightly being knocked around.
"Sadly. Although it helped me escape my vision." Hana sighed, standing up from her seat and walking towards the weapon rack.
"Still don't want to talk about the visions?"
"Aye." Hana said, picking up steel axe, straining to lift it up. She placed the weapon back down and picked up the wooden axe and shield, still heavy but easily workable.
"Please don't hurt yourself while I'm gone," Grace sighed, standing up from her chair and walking past Hana.
"Where are you going?" Hana asked, raising an eyebrow at Breton friend. "Please don't leave me."
"I got a letter from the guild. I think that explains enough," Grace said with a wink. "I should be back maybe by midnight or so."
"Aye, be safe. I don't want to pick up your ass from the Whiterun jail." Hana laughed while Grace walked around the corner of Jorrvaskrr.
Finally, she was alone for once. The sound of wolves filled Hana's ear from over the wall, into the plains. Probably Aela chasing after some bandits. Hana chuckled at the thought and walked over to the training dummy.
It took some effort for her to swing at the dummies without missing completely but after a few minutes, she got back into her usual stance, hacking at the dummy.
SO many thoughts were racing through her mind while she assaulted the dummy. Why she had bothered to stay at Jorrvaskrr was one of the main questions that constantly filled her mind. She enjoyed being back in everyone's company amongst The Companions, except for Vilkas. He was the main reason she wished to leave, but she knew she would break everyone's heart if she left for good.
Over the past five days, Vilkas had tried to talk to her but she outright ignored him. She could not even stand being in a room with him for ten minutes. She did not know if she could forgive for what he said to her when she came back from Kodak's biddings.
Sweat dripped down her face like rain as she continued to beat up the packed straw. The thought of Vilkas made Hana so ashamed that she had been his lover, allowing him to be here lover. Rage filled her stomach as she continued to swing. Her arms felt weak and her legs battled to stay upright as she continued.
When she finally stopped, straw had fallen onto the ground from the dummy. It's mesh skin had been torn apart from the wooden axe, leaving rips in the fabric.
She could feel the anger burning in her throat as she walked away from training yard. Her vision of her and Vilkas getting married flooded across her mind as she was about to walk back to the patio. Her throat burned stronger as she stood there, trying to shake the memory away.
She spun around at the dummy she had attacked, staring at it, snarling. "YOL TOOR SHUL!" She shouted. Fire erupted from her mouth and shot straight towards the target. As the fire dissolved from her mouth, the burning in her throat had left her. The dummy was now a pile of burning scraps, the wall marked black. Grass in front of her had now been burnt, along with a few of the other unlucky targets in the way.
Hana just huffed as she walked to the patio, the smell of smoke wisping around her.
As she was about to place the worn axe down, footsteps sounded from behind her. She just rolled her eyes, thinking Grace had probably forgotten her lock picks.
"By the nine woman! Did you have to do that?" A voice barked from behind her, meanwhile another was snickering.
Hana flinched from the sound and spun around, her grip strong on the axe, and hauled it towards the voice.
Vilkas stood in shock as the axe flew past him, clattering to the ground. Hana stared him down from the porch, a scowl on her lips. The adrenalin rushing through her veins was the only thing keeping her from falling to the ground.
She broke eye contact from Vilkas and looked over at Farkas, who was trying to not to fall to the ground in a laughing fit.
Hana rolled her eyes and went back to the porch and placing down the shield she had been holding.
"Farkas is you are after Grace she left not too long ago, you might be able to catch up to her," Hana shooed at Farkas. The sound of armour shifting sounded and slowly faded away, leaving her and Vilkas alone on the patio.
"You seem a lot better," Vilkas said to her as he walked past, stopping to lean against one of the pillars. "You can throw your axe still but can't aim."
"Aye," Hana spat as she took a swig from a mug of water.
They just stood there in silence, Vilkas watching her every moves.
"What do you want Vilkas?" Hana huffed, leaning against the table staring him down.
"I.. I just want to talk to you. Is that too much to ask?" Vilkas sighed, looking down at the ground.
"Yes. Yes it is." Hana snarled.
"You haven't even said anything in the hall or elsewere. You're doing a spectacular job at ignoring me," Vilkas scoffed.
"I wonder why Vilkas. So if you would, and I will only say this once, fuck off," Hana growled, pushing off from the table.
A hand latched around Hana's wrist, forcing her to look up into pale, silver eyes. "Please. I just want to sort this out."
"Vilkas. Fuck. Off." Hana growled at him again, pulling to free her wrist.
The grip around her wrist loosened, allowing her to slip her hand free. Hana took one last glance at Vilkas before walking through the doors into the hall. His face had gone pale and a frown replaced his usual scowl.
As she walked down the stairs towards her room, she could feel her heart sinking further into a pit. Hana knew she wouldn't be able to keep this act up for long without breaking. Sure, she was still pissed at Vilkas, but here heart felt otherwise.
As she entered her room, she noticed a small note had fallen onto the floor. 'That wasn't there before,' Hana sighed to herself and picked up the letter, cringing as she stretched out her back.
Hana looked over the note, nothing out of the ordinary. 'I can leave that for now,' she mused to herself and sat it down on the dresser next to her bed. Sitting down on her bed, she rested her head in her hands, thinking over the days to come. She would be visiting Kodlak again if it was not too late and free his soul. The trip would take well over three days of full travel, five if they stopped.
Hana groaned as she fell back into her bed, creaking from the sudden weight shift. Eyeing down the piece of folded paper on her desk, she rolled her eyes and grabbed it.
It must have been delivered to her earlier that day, probably when she was bashing the dummy up. Probably just some farmer needing help Hana scoffed, opening the piece of paper, reading the inked mess of words.
Hello.
Hopefully is you are reading this it made it to you! Either that or your the nosy courier that I asked to deliver this, peel your eyes away mister! Right anyway…
I doubt you would remember me but let's just say that we are, well were, good friends. Buddy. Chum. Pal?
Any who, I am writing to you because something is wrong here and I need your help. Things have gone Skeever shit crazy and my little monkey friend already served the worst of it. I understand that if you do not wish to help, that is fine but as my closest long lost friend twice removed (Ha not really), my friend the Dragonborn would consider the offer.
There have been strange people wondering around these lands and are creeping me out all the way to Oblivion. Keep your eyes open in case they are to soon venture to Skyrim
I do not own much over here but would be ever so greatful if you could lend a hand. Remember that hand I once controlled when were camping? The good old days…
Right back on track, please we, I , need your help. Please come at the latest of next Winter, although earlier would be so much better.
Sincerely
Your friend
M'keenz
p.s. The golden meatball was a lie! And if you have any spare trolls fat and daedra heart could you please bring it over! Thanks sped!
Hana could barely register what she had just read. M'keenz was alive. Hana scrambled out of her bed and towards her desk, searching for a piece of paper and ink.
Dear M'keenz
Where the hell have you been the past four years?
I was beginning to think you died after looking for that tomb. You will have to inform me what in oblivion as happened.
I will try my best to help you when I can but first you may want to help by telling me where you are! But I last recalled you should hopefully be in Solsthiem, hopefully. Please stop getting so distracted every time. Knowing you, you probably ended up chasing a fox and got lost, again.
As soon as I can I will help but I have my own problems here, a fucking high and might flying lizard is trying to kill us all here and I have to kill him. You know of Alduin right? Well yeah he tried to kill me and everyone else so I need to deal with him first.
I will send a letter to let you know when I will be able to join you.
And stop looking for the meatball, it never existed in the first place. And no I don't have any daedra heart spare! I don't hunt them down when I'm bored, don't be ridiculous. I hunt mud crabs instead.
Regards spud,
Hana.
Hana raced up from her chair and into the hall, going as fast as her legs could take her. She had to find the courier that delivered the letter. Her best bet was in the Bannered Mare. Running up the stairs to the mead hall, she did not notice Aela walking down at the same time, crashing into the Huntress.
"Woah easy there Hana. Where are you off two," Aela hissed, letting Hana pass.
"Delivering. Letter. Have to go! Bye!" Hana breathed, racing across the hall.
"When you have slowed down a bit and come back I wish to talk to you!" Aela shouted from behind her.
Hana just let the comment slip through one ear and out the other. Probably just going to get a talking to by Aela for barking at Vilkas earlier.
It was an effort for her not to run into people as she bolted down the cobble streets of Whiterun. Everyone seemed to be outside enjoying the warmer weather, making it harder for Hana not to crash into everyone. "Mind yourself," some said, others not so polite.
Hana just shrugged them off and raced up the stairs and into the inn, hoping the courier was still there. There was hardly anyone in the inn, Hana silently prayed to the gods the messenger boy was here or left not too long ago.
"Hi. Is there a courier staying here by chance or seen him?" Hana asked a fine featured Red Guard woman, her amber eyes full of confusion.
"I believe so, I think he is currently sleeping, so if you wanted me to deliver something to him I can let him know," the woman said, placing down a platter.
"Aye. Here hand him this letter and this pouch, should be roughly one hundred and fifty coins in there for him. Make sure that he gets it," Hana warned before turning on her heel and leaving the inn.
As she walked back, many citizens were giving her a dirty look, she just smiled and waved back, the best thing that she could do. She would often do that when she was younger, pissing off people she annoyed. Why couldn't her life be so simple back then?
As she entered Jorrvaskrr, shouting emerged. Hana frantically glanced around the room to see what was going on. Farkas and Vilkas were throwing anything that was near them at Aela, who was taking cover behind a post, avoiding tankards and plates being thrown at her.
The other Comapanion members just sat there, watching the show continue.
Everything that had happened that day had already given Hana a head ache, this was pushing her to change. "What the fuck is going on!" Hana shouted over everyone. The sound of falling plates hitting the ground ceased, all eyes on Hana.
"She started it!" Farkas argued, pointing at Aela who had emerged from behind the pillar.
"I don't give two shits if she started it! You're causing more mess for Tilma to clean up! I swear if you don't clean this mess up I'll personally deliver you to Alduin so he can eat your souls first! You're fucking members of the Companions, let alone members of the Circle! Fucking act like it!" Hana growled, storming past the twins. She walked over to Aela, nodding down towards their sleeping chambers. Hana turned around and was going to give a final scowl to all of them, but was cut short as a tankard was flying straight for her.
Catching it just in time before it contacted with her face, Hana had to stop herself from shouting and turning the hall to flames.
Farkas stood there, shock in his eyes. "Farkas. Sweet heart. I SAID CUT IT OUT!" Hana barked, pegging the cup back at the culprit, colliding just above his eyebrow. Curses filled the air but Hana couldn't care as she trudged back down the stairs towards Aela's room.
"Thank you for before Hana," Aela stated as she opened up the her room. Hana just rolled her eyes and stalked in, wishing her headache would leave her be. "You sounded like Skjor before, I haven't seen those boys be so shocked since he passed."
"Aye, well I am not in the mood for people to be throwing shit around," Hana sighed, pulling out a chair and sitting down, rubbing her temples. "What the hell did you even say to piss them off?"
"I just stated that they both had the strength and brains of a carp," Aela laughed, sitting down on her own bed facing Hana.
"Well you aren't exactly wrong. I think Farkas may have been the smarter one out of the two," Hana laughed.
"Aye. I heard about Vilkas and you earlier. Got told that you almost knocked him out with an axe and told him to fuck off."
"Aye, no denying it. He was lucky he didn't end up as the practice dummy."
"You know he is truly is sorry. About Kodlak's death." Hana narrowed her eyes at the Huntress, almost wishing she didn't save her from the onslaught earlier.
"So what you're on his side now Aela?" Hana growled, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Look, she-wolf to she-wolf. I'm not picking sides, he really does feel bad about what he had done. The whole time that you left, and when you disappeared, he was worried sick and now he feels worse than before, not even from Kodlak's death. I'm not saying you should throw yourself back at him, just give him time and give him a chance."
Hana kept her gaze low, thinking over what Aela had said. It was true that she hasn't given him a chance to formally apologise or even have a proper conversation with her, but her heart still felt broken.
"Right well, I didn't ask to talk to you about your love life. We are to be heading off to Yrgramors Tomb tomorrow. Eorland should have finished putting the final piece of Wuuthrad tonight. As soon as dawn break we will be leaving." Aela stated, jumping up from her bed.
"When did you get the pieces back?"
"The other whelps and I headed off to grab the shards the day after you left."
Hana nodded and stood from her chair, stretching her back. "So will it just be you and me heading off then?"
"Aye, and the other circle members too."
"That's it. I don't feel like going." Hana huffed, walking over to the door.
"Hana. You are coming with us. Just give him a chance," Aela stated again, leaning against the wall of her room.
"Aye. Maybe," Hana replied before walking down towards her room and slamming the door shut behind her. With a heavy sigh, she leaned against her door and sunk down to the floor, her hands holding up her head.
Everything was a mess. She just wanted to sink into the darkness of the room and never come back out.
Voices outside her room made her jolt back to reality. Pressing her ear to the side of the door she could hear the voices crystal clear.
"So did you say anything to her?" Vilkas's voice echoed from across the hall. That son of a bitch.
"Vilkas, leave me be you already gave me a headache from throwing that plate at me." Aela hissed.
"Aye I'm not apologising for that but did you say anything to her?"
"Aye I did, for her to take her time and give you a chance. Now if you want to talk to her, she is right over there now piss off ice-brain," Aela hissed again and a slam of a door concluded the conversation.
Footsteps came close to Hana's door, and stopped. Two shadows came from under Hana's door and she froze, knowing who exactly it was.
Vilkas stood there on the other side of the door, contemplating if he should bother her or not. She already threw her axe at him, shouted at him and then again not long ago. Maybe it was better if he left her alone. He let out a heavy sigh and placed a note just at the front of her door, hoping she would see it when she opened her door.
Hana sat there in the quietness of her room until the footsteps disappeared before she moved to own bed. She would have long journey ahead of her tomorrow, and having ample opportunities to throw something at someone.