Little Spit Fire: Azura
Chapter Twenty-Five
Three Weeks And Two Days Later...
The entire city of Whiterun was in an uproar, demanding answers from the two Dragonborn upon their return. Everyone had seen the fight with Alduin high above and did not miss seeing the World-Eater flee.
It had gotten to the point where Farkas took it upon himself to move his family towards Jorrvaskr in the early morning in case the crowd turned nasty. This time, Avyanna didn't argue with him as she too was a little frightened with the way the crowd had turned.
So as Avyanna returned from checking the medical stock downstairs, her face immediately tightened at the sight of one particular woman she and Lassarina hated: Delphine.
"What are you doing here?" Avyanna demanded, storming up to her as best as she could in her condition. "They're not here for you to boss around."
Delphine narrowed her eyes at her swollen belly. "Hmph, you'll condem your child to the same Daedric fate as yourself?" the Breton asked, not very impressed and Avyanna's eyes lit up in a dangerous fire.
"If it were any other Daedric Lord, I would agree with you," Avyanna said in a voice as cold as ice. "But Meridia is not the same as the others and I would appreciate it if you would refrain from talking shit about her. After all, it was you who sought the help of a champion."
Delphine's eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth to retort when a warning growl from Aela stopped her in her tracks. Both Aela and Vilkas stepped in between the two women as Farkas stood close to his wife, keeping her close and trying to calm her down.
"Insult our shield-sister once more and I will personally throw you out of Whiterun, understand?" Aela warned the Blades member who closed her mouth, lips pursed into a thin line as she glared at the woman.
"Not before I burn her ass," Avyanna snarled as Farkas dragged her away, sitting at the end of a table and rubbing her back in comfort.
"As much as I would like to see that, getting worked up will only stress the baby," Farkas kissed her hair, rubbing her stomach that carried their child within. "She'll be a little spitfire just like her mother."
Avyanna allowed herself to smile a little, looking into his grey-blue eyes. "Nay, I reckon he'll be a cabbage head like his father."
The sound of the mead hall door being slammed pulled them out of their moment and the married couple turned their heads, seeing a tired pair of Dragonborn.
Delphine wasted no time ripping into them as she marched over to them. "What happened? What did you do wrong?" the Breton demanded.
"We didn't do anything wrong," Lassarina snapped at Delphine. "We fought Alduin, just like we were supposed to."
"But you obviously didn't kill him, since the damn monster flew away!"
Einarr said something to Delphine softly before sitting on a chair, looking exhausted. Avyanna observed the siblings and knew she would have to brew something up to help them relax. Lassarina sat down as her children wandered over to her.
"Then that's it?" Delphine shouted. "You're just giving up?"
"We never said that, Delphine," Einarr growled, clearly annoyed and not wanting to deal with the Breton woman. "We're taking a day to rest before we go up to Dragonsreach."
"Dragonsreach?" Vilkas echoed his wife's words, lifting his children up as to not bother her. "Why go to Dragonsreach?"
"Dragonsreach isn't just a palace for the jarl to live in," Lassarina told her husband wearily. "It's a giant trap built for a specific purpose."
This sparked an interest for Avyanna. "And what purpose is that?" the pregenant Nord asked with curiousity.
"To catch a dragon," an elderly voice spoke up, catching everyone's attention. Avyanna hadn't noticed his presence as he camped out on a table with books surrounding him. The siblings must have recognised him as they weren't hostile. "That's what you're planning to do, correct?"
"Aye," both of them answered in unison.
"Why put it off till tomorrow when it could be done today?" Delphine argued, earning several glares from the Companions who weren't fans of the Breton. "If you say Alduin is weak, you should take this opportunity to kill him before he's at full strength."
"We're exhausted, you infuriating woman," Lassarina growled at Delphine. "We haven't slept since battling that monster. My brother and I are going to take a day to rest. Then, and only then, will we go to Dragonsreach and ask Jarl Balgruuf for permission to trap a dragon in his keep."
"I trust that won't be a problem?" Einarr added, glaring at the woman with ice-cold eyes.
Everyone watched for Delphine's reaction as she stared at the Harbinger for several moments before stiffly shaking her head. "No, it won't be any problem at all. Esbern, let's head back to the Bannered Mare. Maybe we can find some willing enough to take up with the Blades," she said, leaving Jorrvaskr with the elderly man.
As both wives were exhausted, Vilkas and Farkas took their family back to their houses. Along the way, Avyanna offered to cook for them tonight, knowing how tired Lassarina was. Something the Dragonborn wasn't going to deny her sister-in-law.
While Lassarina relaxed on the couch with Vilkas, the twins playing with Trystane near the fireplace, Farkas assissted his wife as they cooked up some creamy garlic beef stew with freshly baked bread from this morning.
Avyanna paused in her stirring as she felt another sharp kick and she winced, stroking her belly. Hearing his wife wince, Farkas looked over with an apologetic look.
"Aye, you know this is your fault," she told him as he dropped the rest of the cleanly cut beef pieces into the pot.
"Come sit then, let the ice-brain handle the food," Vilkas teased his brother who shot him a look. Avyanna chuckled, kissing Farkas's cheek lovingly.
"Nay, I'm fine," she told her brother-in-law.
Later that evening, Avyanna was battling a stubborn Trystane who refused to go to sleep as he believed there was a draugr under his bed.
"There is nothing there, sweetie," Avyanna tried to reassure him, kissing his head. "Do you want me to stay here until you fall asleep?"
"Aye," he mumbled, his eyes clearly telling her how tired he was and she smiled as she thought of something.
"Aye...hmmm..." Avyanna sang softly, running her fingers through Trystane's curls. "Dreams are like angels, they keep bad at bay. Love is the light, scaring darkness away...I'm so in love with you...Make love your goal."
"The power of love, a force from above...Cleaning my soul. Flame on burn desire, love with tongues of fire...Purge the soul. Make love your goal..."
It seemed both Trystane and the child inside her belly seemed to enjoy the song as both quietened down. Avyanna smiled, moving the fur blankets further up Trystane's body.
"I'll protect you from the werewolves claws, keep the vampires from your door. When the swords are down I'll be around with my undying, death defying love for you," she sang softly, seeing Trystane slowly fall asleep with each word she sang. Warm hands wrapped around her stomach from behind and she glanced over her shoulder, finding Farkas watching his son with a proud smile. "Love is like a spark spell...rushing in and rushing inside of me...hmmm..."
"The power of love, a force from above...Cleaning my soul. Flame on burn desire, love with tongues of fire...Purge the soul. Make love your goal..."
Farkas kissed her cheek. "Keep going," he murmured into her ear, his warm breath tickling her and she smiled, singing to him more now than their son.
"Lovers entwined define divine," she turned around, facing him with a warm smile on her face, staring into the eyes of the man she loved. "Love is danger, love is pleasure. Love is pure, the only treasure...I'm so in love with you. Make love your goal..."
Farkas gently moved them away from Trystane's crib, towards the center of the room before slowly, leading her into a soft dance. Avyanna wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing herself closer.
"The power of love...A force from above...Cleaning my soul. The power of love, a force from above, a sky scraping dove. Flame on burn desire...Love with tongues of fire. Purge the soul..."
Avyanna brought her lips close to Farkas's. "Make love your goal," she sang softly before closing the gap between them.
oOo
The Next Day...
After the siblings had explained to them their next move, concerning the peace council, there was the issue of who would accompany each of the siblings.
Avyanna obviously offered to go with Einarr to Solitude, wanting to see Elisif and perhaps soften Tullius up. She's had to deal with the man more times than she could count.
Of course, Einarr and Farkas were quick to deny her offer.
"Love, you can't go off to Solitude in your condition," Farkas told his wife who wore a stubborn expression on her face.
"I'm pregnant, Farkas, not carrying a damn disease," she pointed out as Einarr shook his head at her.
"I have to agree with him. As Harbinger and your friend, I'm telling you to remain in the city," Einarr said in a firm voice as Avyanna's face fell slightly. Farkas kissed his wife's forehead.
Seeing there was no way she could win this arguement, Avyanna sighed in defeat. "Fine, but if you want to get Tullius to even pay attention to a word you say, mention the Greybeards if they agree to hold the peace council. That'll catch his attention."
Einarr nodded, taking mental notes as they sat down. "Anything else?"
Avyanna thought hard on her past encounters of General Tullius. "The man is as stubborn as us Nords but he can't doubt that the dragons have affected his movement of the Imperial Legion. He'll probably play the 'I was sent to deal with Stormcloaks, not dragons' card then just tell him up front who you are."
"Thank you, Anna. This'll help a lot," Einarr smiled at her. "Do you want me to deliever a letter to Jarl Elisif?"
"Aye, and one from Rohan as well. I was intending to send a courier, but I'd rather you do it," she said as they heard arguements on who was to accompany Lassarina. Sighing, Avyanna turned to her husband who was frowning at his sister-in-law. "Would you go?"
Farkas looked a little uneasy at the idea. "But what about you?"
"I'll be fine, I have Aela, Vilkas and Nanine at home," Avyanna reassured him, placing a hand on his knee. "I'd rather knowing Rina was safe with you then on her own."
Farkas debated for a few moments before nodding and it was decided then. It wasn't until the siblings, Finverior and Farkas were leaving the next day, did Avyanna regret it.
"I'm going to miss you coddling me for a few days," she murmured in Farkas's arms and he chuckled. "I've packed enough health and stamina potions for the both of you and some extra supplies and-"
Farkas cut her off with a kiss before smirking at her. "Now who is the one coddling?" he asked and she scowled at him. "I'll be fine, love."
Avyanna nodded as they pulled apart and Farkas picked Trystane up from beside her.
"You be a good lad for your ma, alright?" he said to Trystane who nodded, hugging him tight. While she left them alone, Avyanna hugged both of the siblings and even wished Finverior luck.
"Make sure he comes back," Avyanna told Lassarina who nodded.
"He'll be fine, Anna," the thief reassured her before Avyanna turned to Einarr who held up the letters addressed to Elisif from both she and Rohan.
"Everything is here," Einarr told her as he and Finverior saddled up, while Lassarina paid the cart driver that would be taking her and Farkas. Avyanna gave her husband one last kiss before waving them off, along with Rohan, Kiraya, Vilkas and the twins.
Avyanna felt a tug on her skirt and she looked down, finding Faloan on her other side whilst Trystane remained in Rohan's arms. She smiled warmly, picking him up and placing him to her hip.
"Thank you for worrying about me, little one," she kissed his forehead, walking back into Whiterun with the others.
Disclaimer: I do not own Lassarina, Einarr, Trystane or the twins as they belong to Mirage159. Song in this chapter is called The Power of Love by Gabriella Aplin...so go listen to it.