Disclaimer: I do not own The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, Bethesda does.

Massive thank you to Lorrain for Beta reading, you rule! Any remaining errors are on me.

Next update will probably not be until next weekend, there's just a lot at work right now. Doesn't work always seem to keep you from the important things in life?

21

They were back at Jorrvaskr and Keilah was sitting opposite Kodlak in his room. It was just the two of them and she noticed that the old man had a glow in his eyes that she hadn't seen before.

"Are you sure about this, Keilah?"

"No, there's no way to be sure, but it ads up. If we compare the information you've had and what I've found, this should be the answer."

"There are still some things we need."

"Do you know how we would be able to enter Ysgramor's tomb? Or even where it is? As far as I can see that is where your spirits rest, hence the place where the spirit of the Companions is the strongest. It would be the best place to do it."

"So you don't think it would be possible to persuade the witches to give us the cure to lycanthropy? We would actually have to cut of one of their heads and then fight the werewolf spirit? That would be the only way?" Kodlak didn't sound too happy about the idea.

"I don't know, I guess I could try. I have talked to Urag about it. The Glenmoril Witches are not pleasant people. He said there were two other ways to cure it. One requires that the werewolf slaughters an innocent, the other - he didn't know what it was. I also have the feeling that just walking into one of their covens would be reason enough for them to attack me. I could try to talk to them. But I think we are left with the third option anyway."

"No, they would probably kill you before you even finished the sentence. I know where the tomb is, but to open it we need all the shards of the Wuuthrad."

"Are there many pieces missing?"

"No. That would be the upside of Aela and Farkas raids against the Silver Hands, they found the last shards. We have all of them and I'm sure Erlond can mend the ax."

Vilkas had told Keilah about the raids and she was glad that something really good had come out of them. Something good other than Aelas peace of mind, but she wasn't sure Aela regained that yet.

"We would need one head per person. And to do it one at a time, I would think that one werewolf spirit at a time is quite enough even if there are several of us."

They were both sitting quiet for a while.

"I heard that you had told Vilkas that you were helping me."

"Yes."

"Have you told him that you might have found a cure?" She hadn't, they had actually only talked about him being a werewolf once.

"No. I'm not sure I'm the right person to do it, Kodlak"

"Why wouldn't you be?"

"We had a discussion a while back. He seem to have thought that I found it... uncomfortable that he was a werewolf."

"Uncomfortable? Was that really the word he used?"

"Hrm, no, he used the word 'repulsive'."

"Oh."

"We talked about it, I told him that it didn't matter to me. But I'm afraid that if I tell him about the cure, and keep in mind we're not sure if it works yet, that he'll feel pressured to do it for my sake."

"I see what you mean. There is probably no point in mentioning it until we know for sure. We need to find the Witches and get the heads. I'm not too keen on sending you alone though."

"I don't mean to be rude, Kodlak, but I don't think you should come with me." He might be a warrior of great renown but he was also a very old man. She would prefer not to bring someone she would be worried about.

"No, I wouldn't be much use. But I was hoping that you would take someone with you."

"If we're not supposed to tell anyone it would be very hard to explain why I suddenly have the urge to collect witch-heads."

"Yes, I know."

She thought about it for a moment, but she couldn't think of anyone to bring. Someone who didn't ask questions.

"I'll be fine Kodlak. I'll just take one head and then get out as soon as possible. If it works, we can always go back for more heads with more people. By then there won't be a need to keep it a secret. Besides, I'm not sure I want to store them for any longer periods of time."

A sudden knock at the door startled both of them, then Kodlak yelled.

"Yes?"

The door opened and Aela came in.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to disturb you two."

"It's ok, Aela," Keilah said. "I'm on my way."

She gave Aela a smile as she walked by, just when she passed, Aela said. "Vilkas is looking for you."

She walked out and stumbled into Njada. 'Oh great, just what I needed." she thought to herself. Her least favorite person in the world.

"So, done sucking up to Kodlak now?"

Keilah was usually not a person who avoided confrontations with people. If someone was rude or mean she pretty much told them what she thought of them. But Njada was a whole different story, she knew that whatever the problem was, an argument wasn't going to fix it. Njada wouldn't like her any better after the argument and would still be rude because she simply enjoyed tormenting Keilah. So she had just stuck to the tactic of avoiding her all together, which had probably made Njada think that she was afraid of her.

This time however, Keilah was not in the mood to avoid her.

"Why don't you just shut your ugly face Njada."

"Vilkas didn't think it was that ugly when I was comforting him." Keilah was mostly surprised that Njada hadn't tried to use that trick with her earlier. There had been mores subtle hints before, but this was the first time she had said it, more or less, flat out.

"I really don't care what goes on inside your head."

"Oh, it wasn't in my head, he was all heartbroken and pathetic when he found out you had been whoring around in Windhelm, so I helped keep his mind of things." She had a very smug smile and suddenly Keilah wasn't too sure. According to Farkas, Vilkas actually had been a mess at the time. Not mentioning how angry he had been with her when she came back. On the other hand, there was no way she would let this bitch see that she got to her.

"Well, now I just feel insulted. If I had known his taste was that bad I would have stayed away." And the she bit down in her cheeks and walked out. She was not going to let Njada see how upset she was.

Njada screamed something after her but Keilah wouldn't turn around. She walked up to the wall and found her usual ledge.

She knew she didn't really have any right to be upset about it if it was true, and she still wasn't convinced it was. But if it was true it was down right hypocritical of him have been angry at her about those stupid proposals.

Vilkas saw Keilah walk out and towards the wall. He knew she used to hide there sometimes but he didn't know where. She looked extremely upset and he doubted that it was Kodlak who had done that to her.

"Vilkas." He turned around and saw Ria looking at him with an anxious expression.

"Hi Ria, you ok?"

"I know this isn't really my business..." Vilkas sighed, if he had received a golden coin every time someone in the Companions had said that too him, he would be a filthy rich man.

"What?"

"I was in the sleeping quarters and overheard a conversation between Njada and Keilah."

That would be the explanation to Keilah's upset expression. Sometimes he just wanted to kill that whore. Couldn't she just leave Keilah alone?

"Yes, and?"

"Njada said that you two had been..." It took Vilkas a few seconds to understand what she was implying.

"What! When?"

"When you were upset about the marriage proposals, she said she, hrm, comforted you."

"That stupid slut."

"Keilah seemed ok, she just said that if she knew that your taste was that bad she would have stayed away. I don't think she meant it but I think she might be more upset than she let on. I just thought you should know..." Vilkas interrupted her.

"Do you know where Athis is?"

"What? Athis?"

"Yes, Athis, the elf!" He continued impatiently, how hard was that question?

He needed Athis because he knew that Athis had talked to her when they fought about her locker - she had mentioned it later. He really wanted to talk to her now and Athis was the only one who knew where she was.

"Oh, yes, he was sleeping, he was out late last night chasing that escaped prisoner." Vilkas was on his way downstairs before she even finished the sentence and yelled "Thank you, Ria" over his shoulder. He would have to thank her more properly later.

He ran into the bedroom and over to Athis bed, shaking his shoulder Vilkas said, "Athis, wake up, I need your help."

Athis just turned around to face the wall. "Later Vilkas, I was up half the night."

"Please, Athis, I need to find Keilah. Where is it she usually hides? I know you know where it is."

Athis sat up in the bed and with a sleepy look. "Have you been fighting again, because if you have it is probably better if you just leave her be for a while, she'll be back."

"No, no, that's not it, I think Njada upset her and I need to talk to her."

"Bitch!" Athis had never had much love for Njada, they were usually constantly at each others throats. Vilkas had a suspicion that Athis liked Keilah more for the fact that Njada didn't, rather than because he thought she was a nice person.

Athis got up, "I'll show you."

They walked up to the wall, he pointed and said. "Over there, there's a ledge if you look down, that's at least where I found her the last time. It's just a few feet down and pretty big so you'll be able to climb down there as well."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

He looked over the edge to where Athis had pointed, he already knew she was there, he could smell her. She was sitting with her knees under her chin, leaning against the wall. When he climbed down she twitched and looked up at him.

"Hi girl."

"Hi." He saw her drying her cheeks with her sleeve. He was going to smash that whores head in when he got a hold of her.

"Ria told me what Njada said to you. I know you go here when you want to be alone and I promise to never disturb you here again but I really needed to talk to you."

He sat down next to her and felt very relived when she leaned her head against his shoulder.

"It's not true." That was the only thing he could think of at the moment.

"Ok."

"Do you believe me?"

"Yes."

"She did try, while I was upset, but I told her I wasn't interested."

Keilah looked up at him. "Bitch." He put his arm behind her and pulled her closer.

Keilah did believe him. It was very much Njada to say something like that too her and she wasn't sure why she even for a second thought it was true. Maybe because it was something she was afraid of, that he would get tired of her and leave her for someone who didn't have relationship issues.

But she should have remembered that it was one of the things he had yelled at her, that time when they argued, that he had stayed faithful to her. Considering how angry he was it would have been more likely that he had yelled the opposite if it had been the truth.

"You shouldn't make promises that you can't keep, you know." He looked at her and frowned.

"When have I done that? I will stay faithful to you." She smiled at that, he had never actually promised that, but she liked to hear it.

"I know, that's not what I meant. You said you wouldn't come look for me here again. You know as well as I do that next time we argue and I walk away this will be the first place you look."

He laughed. "Probably. It would be safer for you to find some other place."

"I already have another place."

"Sneaky." He kissed her on her forehead.

"You said Ria told you what happened."

"Yes, remind me to thank her properly later, I just ran off and she deserved better than that."

"I will."

Later that evening Keilah walked up to Ria during dinner.

"Hi, is it ok if I sit here?" She pointed at the chair next to Ria.

"Yes, of course."

Keilah sat down on the chair. She wasn't really sure where to start. She had never been very close to Ria, she liked her, but since she started to study at the college, she had lost contact with some of the other Companions. There just didn't seem to be enough time for all of them. And when she was in Whiterun she spent most of the time with Vilkas.

"I just wanted to say 'thank you', for talking to Vilkas today."

Ria looked surprised.

"Oh, you're welcome. I knew she was lying, I was there when she did her very best to get him into bed. So, if you're still unsure, I can tell you that nothing happened."

"Thank you."

"Besides, I don't like her." Ria said with a smile. "You know, she warned me when I became a Companion. Told me to stay away from Vilkas."

That made Keilah smile. "She warned me too."

"Bitch. I'm glad you caught his eye. It must have been driving her insane." Ria was giggling by the time she finished the sentence. "Probably still does."

"I'm sorry I haven't talked that much to you. It's just..."

"I know, you're always busy. Besides, whenever you are here Vilkas is never far away. That must be driving Njada insane as well."

"You really don't like her."

"She's impossible to like. She has never even talked to me. She's completely ignoring me."

"I think that might be better though. I would prefer it if she ignored me too."

Vilkas walked up to them. "Hi."

"Like I said, never far away." Ria laughed and the comment made Keilah laugh as well.

She wished she had made more of an effort to get to know Ria, she was really nice. Then she suddenly got an idea. Ria wasn't the kind of person who asked unnecessary questions, but she would still have to talk to Kodlak first.

"I'll talk to you later."

"Ok. I look forward to it." Ria smiled.

Definitely a nice person, Keilah concluded. She took Vilkas hand and they walked off.

"What was that about?" Vilkas asked.

"The laughter?"

"Yes."

"I thanked her for her help and then I said I was sorry that I haven't really talked to her. She said it was ok, that I was always busy and whenever I was here, you were never far away."

They were on the stairs, Vilkas was one step ahead when he turned around. Even though he was below her, she was still shorter than him, that made her laugh.

"What now?"

"It's just, you're so tall and I'm so short. Even now I'm still shorter than you."

"I like your size."

"Good, cause I don't think it's going to change much." She kissed him.

"Does it bother you that I'm never far away?"

"No."

"Good." He said with teasing eyes. "Cause I don't think that is going to change much either."

They were lying in bed, Keilah on his arm with her arm over his chest. The arm she was on was carefully stroking her back. According to Aela, the best time to bring up things men didn't like was after sex. Aela had been right about a lot of other things when it came to men so she was going to test that particular statement now.

"I need to tell you something." He turned his head to look at her.

"Hmm, you have that voice. I'm not going to like this, am I?"

"No."

"Ok, tell me."

"I need to leave for a couple of days, there's something I need to do, for Kodlak." Vilkas had very watchful eyes.

"And I can't come with you." It wasn't even a question. She sighed.

"No."

"Are you going alone?"

"I was actually going to ask Kodlak if I could bring Ria."

"Ria?"

"I like her and I would like to get to know her better. But also because she's not the kind of person who asks questions if you ask her not to."

He turned towards her and put his other arm around her as well, his face was very close to hers.

"You were right."

"About what?"

"I don't like it."

"Are you going to argue with me now?" She really hoped he wasn't, she didn't want to argue. It wouldn't change anything anyway. She would still go and he wouldn't come with her.

"No."

"Are you going to ask me a lot of questions and demand to know what I'm up to?" She wouldn't answer any of them anyway. But she had expected him to try.

"No, not if you do me a favor." She noticed the very teasing look in his eyes and had a feeling that the favor might be something she liked as well.

"Really? What favor?" He pushed her on her back and was on top of her with a very triumphant smile. She was sure she was going to like this.

"You could let me move your locker in here while you're away." And before she could say anything he kissed her. Then he started kissing her neck and collarbone, all the way down to her breast.

"You're not playing fair." He let go of her nipple and looked at her.

"I know. But neither are you, I really doubt you told me about this just after sex by coincidence." His statement made her blush. Darn, she should have known he would see through that.

"No." He kissed her again.

"So tell me, who's teaching you all of these nasty tricks?"

She pulled him down for another kiss before answering. "Aela."

"I had a feeling it was her." He laid down next to her again and hugged her. "I'm going to miss you, even if it's just a couple of days. Let me know what Kodlak says about Ria, I would feel slightly less agitated if there was someone with you."

Vilkas sighed, he didn't need to ask what it was about. As far as he knew there was only one thing she was doing for Kodlak. He didn't want to pressure her, if she wasn't telling him what she was doing, and admitted she wasn't telling him what she was doing, she probably had a reason. He still didn't like it.

"Vilkas." He looked down at her and kissed her nose.

"Yes."

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For not going crazy about it, for not asking me questions you know I can't answer."

"You should probably thank Aela for that." To himself he admitted that he should probably thank Aela as well. They might have argued, but the result would still have been the same. Keilah wouldn't have told him anything and he still would have been left behind, he knew that.

"I know, but thank you anyway." As a response he hugged her closer.

"Go to sleep now, I'll read to you." He reached out for the book he was currently reading to her and started.

Suddenly he heard her heart beating faster and he felt her moving and looked down at her. She was watching him with the strangest face.

"You know, you won't fall asleep with your eyes open." She smiled but still had the same strange look.

He frowned.

"What?" She shook her head. "Tell me!" This was very odd but he wasn't annoyed, merely confused.

She got up on her elbow and put her hand on his cheek. "I just..."

"I won't get mad, just tell me." She leaned in and kissed him for a long time, still with her hand on his cheek. He put down the book on the bed pulled her closer. Then she looked him again, straight into his eyes and smiled.

"I love you too, Vilkas."

He froze and then felt a smile spreading over his face, he looked into those beautiful black eyes that sometimes took his breath away and kissed her again. She broke the kiss and hugged him.

"And yes, you can move my locker in here while I'm away." That made him laugh.

"Good, I would have done it even if you hadn't said that I could."

"Keep reading now."

"Ok." He kissed her on top of her head and picked up the book again.

Thank you, again, for the favs and alerts!

I don't know who's in charge of it but a huge thank you to whoever added Vilkas to the Character-list!

Temerice: Kiitos! I hope you enjoyed the rest of the story as well and that your plans worked out despite the late night.

SharonH: I didn't have a Beta for quite a few of the chapters, the one I have now have gone through the entire story, but I haven't done the updates yet. She's a lot faster and more efficient than me. Thank you though and I hope you like the rest.

ninja awesome monkey (I just love to write that name): You really should try, make sure you're somewhere really quiet so that you can hear them as well. I sort of skipped the traveling, sorry, there will be more chances though.

Mysteriousblade: Thank you, that is so sweet of you! And you are welcome, I love writing it so it's nice that others like it as well.