"What were you thinking, challenging Skjor like that! You don't stand a chance against him! He could have easily beaten you and left you with serious injuries! Or worse, he could have killed you!" Farkas growled.
"Why did you stand against him? He could've beaten you in a fight too!" Aela snapped back.
"That's why I submitted! Any longer and Skjor would've taken it as a challenge!"
"Why are you blaming me? I didn't start the damn fight! If Vilkas had just let Skjor's comment slide, it all would have been avoided! Skjor wasn't even trying to start a fight! He was just saying what we were all thinking!" Aela snarled.
"You didn't need to join in!"
"And neither did you! Why do you care so much anyway?" Aela looked away from him.
"Aela, I- Aela, what's on your face?" Farkas said softly.
Aela looked at him in confusion.
"There's nothing on my face." She snapped.
Farkas gently gripped her chin and turned her face aside. He exhaled sharply.
"He hit you, didn't he?" Farkas whispered.
Aela shook him off. "Who?"
"Skjor. The bastard!" Farkas spat.
"It'll bruise and heal up. What's so bad about a bruise?" Aela said quietly.
"His ring grazed your cheek. There's a cut, along here." Farkas traced a line across Aela's cheek. Aela flinched.
"See?" Farkas showed Aela his fingers. Blood shone on one.
"It's just a scratch." Aela said flatly.
"Maybe you should've submitted. It would have saved us a lot of trouble."
"Maybe you should've submitted! You too, Vilkas!" Aela growled and stormed off around the other side of the mead hall.
"Leave her, brother. Give her some time to cool off." Vilkas advised.
"If you hadn't argued with Skjor in the first place, none of this would've happened!" Farkas growled.
"And you and Aela aren't just as much to blame? If you'd both just kept your mouths shut, the argument would've stayed between Skjor and I." Vilkas said calmly.
"You didn't need to say the blood is a curse. You could've just let what Skjor said go." Farkas hissed.
"Skjor could've let what I said go."
"Skjor's the Alpha. He can't let you oppose him like that."
"Why did you and Aela stand up to him then? Skjor nearly took Aela's defiance as a challenge. A moment longer and he would've fought her!" Vilkas said.
Farkas fell silent and looked at his feet.
"He hit her." The giant Nord mumbled.
"What?"
"He hit Aela across the cheek."
Vilkas sighed and put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I'll talk to her later. First, we need to make sure Tiaan hasn't somehow disappeared again. She was seriously considering it."
"I'll find Aela." Farkas said.
Vilkas stopped him with a shake of his head.
"Aela." Vilkas called.
"What?" Was the wavering answer.
"We're going drag Tiaan out of the Underforge. Come if you want."
Aela appeared around the side of Jorrvaskr, glaring at both twins. A smile lurked at the corners of her mouth. "This should be fun."
"Aela, I need to speak to you for a moment." Kodlak said as Aela went by.
Aela shrugged, wincing at the painful twinges in her shoulder. She leaned against the doorframe.
"What do you want? Is something wrong?" Aela said.
"I need to speak to you. What happened to your cheek?" Kodlak asked gently.
"A few friendly fights." Aela said flatly, knowing full-well Kodlak would see right through the lie.
"I have delayed too long." Kodlak muttered. He held out a folded and sealed letter. "It's from your mother. She entrusted it to my care before she died and instructed me to give it to you when the time was right." Kodlak said solemnly.
"M-my... m-mother?" Aela whispered. She folded her arms to hide their shaking.
"Yes, your mother. She said it was important. I should have given it to you much sooner. She told me to warn you. It holds many answers to questions you will have never asked but also holds many more questions. She said you may be happier never knowing. What, she never said. It is your choice. Decide carefully." Kodlak warned.
Aela took the letter with shaking hands. She muttered her thanks and returned to her room. She stared at the letter a moment before putting it on a shelf and leaving the room. She went up into the mead hall. Vilkas was sitting on a bench with a mug of ale. He looked like he hadn't slept either. Aela avoided looking at him as she sat down. Her, Vilkas and Farkas had fought again after returning from the Underforge. Tiaan had been asleep and no one had wanted to try waking her. Vilkas had said something and the two brothers exchanged a few insults. Aela had recklessly lashed out at Farkas after a particularly spiteful remark from the man, leaving Farkas with a large bruise on his shin and left boot in need of repair. Farkas retaliated by punching Aela's sore arm and throwing a bottle at her, leaving a piece of glass in her arm. Farkas had then stormed off in a rage and the argument between Aela and Vilkas had only heated further until they came to blows. Aela had a bruise down one side off her face, along with a nasty cut and graze, from Skjor and another bruise below her eye from Vilkas. She had other bruises on her arms as well. Vilkas had a black eye and numerous smaller bruises, as well as what was probably a broken finger or two.
"So... How are you after last night?" Vilkas said hesitantly.
"Vilkas, be quiet." Aela growled. She kicked a bottle out of the way, smashing it against a wall. Things were scatted over the floor from their fights. Bottles had been broken and Aela had spent a good hour picking a piece of glass from her leg and stitching the wound after having numerous bottles thrown at her by Vilkas. Aela dodged them all but a shard of glass lodged itself in her thigh.
The door opened and someone whistled. Aela turned around to find Kijora, armoured and ready for training.
"Someone's been having a good time. What happened here?" Silence. Kijora shrugged and sat down.
"Oh, yeah. I got a message for you, Vilkas. Hakon, Cal and Lydia got back last night. They'll be over for training. They're bringing someone else with them to train. Don't worry. She's not some weak-necked, milk-drinker. She can handle me at any time of day and a sword." Kijora said.
"Must be some woman." Vilkas grunted.
"Watch it. She's my sister." Kijora warned.
"Consider me warned." He said.
Kijora muttered something and uncorked a bottle. Someone else came into the mead hall.
"Aela... About earlier..." Farkas began.
"Shut it." Aela warned.
"It's just that... I'm sorry-"
"Shut it, before I hit you. Why do you care anyway!" Aela growled.
"Couldn't have said it better myself!" Kijora snorted.
"Kijora, shut up." Aela snapped.
Kijora was wise enough to take the warning. Aela stood up and stalked outside to the training yard. Kijora whistled again.
"What went down last night?" She muttered.
"Take Aela's advice." Vilkas suggested. Kijora nodded and took a long draught from her bottle.
Echo came upstairs.
"Tense." She murmured.
"Echo." Vilkas warned.
"Just saying!" Echo protested.
"Then don't say."
"Fine." She grumbled and sat down, shifting nervously. She stood up again, fingering the hilt of her dagger.
"I'm outta here 'til training. Too tense for my liking." Echo said and walked out.
She pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and read through it. She folded it back up and made for War-Maiden's.
"Wake the whelps. You sorry milk-drinkers, training yard." Skjor ordered. Hakon, Gormlaith, Calder, Lydia and Kijora hurried outside. Echo stayed where she was.
"Out." Skjor barked.
"Farkas, with me. Not a word." He turned around and saw Echo leaning against the wall. "Echo! Get out!" He yelled.
Echo ran outside giggling. She dropped her weapons in her usual spot and looked around. Aela was sitting on the wall. She smiled tiredly down at Echo. The girl ran at the wall and scrambled up. One side of Aela's face was a big black bruise with a cut in the middle. There were other bruises covering her arms and legs and a small gash on her arm and another on her leg.
"What happened?" Echo said as Njada came out into the training yard.
"We got into a friendly brawl." Aela said. Echo nodded.
"Did you win anything?"
"We weren't betting."
"Then that was stupid." Echo said.
"I know. I talked to Lief yesterday about his sword. He said he guarded it so it wouldn't cut you. You'll be working with Lief and one of the other whelps with a similar style today."
Echo was about to reply when Skjor called them into line. Echo ended up between Shadow-Killer and Calder. Skjor stood in front of them, with the rest of the Circle, bar Tiaan who was still missing, lined up behind him. Vilkas had a black eye. Farkas leaned most of his weight on one leg and walked with a slight limp. One of his steel boots had a large dent in it. Aela had definitely come off worst. The three refused to look at each other or Skjor.
Skjor turned to the whelps and began, "Hakon has dragged along another friend. I'm told Gormlaith can handle a blade. Today, we will test your teamwork and see how you deal with being outnumbered. Groups are as follows..."
"You all worked well together today. Echo and Kijora, your behaviour was marginally better. Shadow-Killer, don't sleep in again. Are there any questions?" Skjor said. Torvar raised a hand. Skjor nodded.
"Where is Tiaan? The rumour is-" Skjor cut him off with a raised hand.
"The rumour is most likely based on true facts that have been twisted beyond recognition." Skjor looked back at the rest of the Circle but only Aela met his eyes and it was with intense hate. Skjor shook his head warningly.
"You've probably heard that Tiaan is missing for some reason or other. Late last night, Tiaan stumbled into Jorrvaskr half dead and drunk. We were going to take her to the temple for healing but the moment we turned our backs, she disappeared. We do not know what happened. Any other questions?"
"Yeah, how hard did you have to fight her for the mead?" Njada said, pointing to the twins and Aela.
"Njada, you can join Kijora, Echo, Torvar and Shadow-killer. Dismissed." Skjor said. The whelps assigned laps began to run, the fitter ones quickly leaving Shadow-Killer behind.
"I think Farkas and Vilkas fought over Aela. I knew it was only a matter of time." Torvar said.
"Then why does Aela have more bruises than both of them together? If anything, Aela fought with them. Echo, you're our rumour collector. What have you heard?" Njada asked.
"Aela told me they got in a friendly brawl." Echo said.
"That's believable." Kijora scoffed.
"It actually is. The twins and Aela wrestle all the time to test themselves." Njada said.
"It still doesn't explain why Aela is so pissed at the rest of them." Kijora said.
"Skjor probably broke them up and Farkas and Vilkas kept saying they won and Aela lost. That's what usually happens." Njada said and ran ahead. Kijora shot a look at Echo and Torvar and ran next to Njada.
"I'm not sticking around with those two." They heard her say.
"Echo and Torvar. Where do you think you're going?" Vilkas said.
"Out on a job." Echo said evasively.
"Where are you going?" Vilkas repeated.
"To find Tilma." Echo said in defeat.
"Better. Tilma, they're yours for as long as you want." Vilkas called.
"Good. I have some deliveries that need picking up and then you can help Shadow-Killer and Lief clean this place up." Tilma said. Echo looked around the mead hall and back up Torvar.
"This is going to take a while." She muttered. Torvar nodded agreement
"Maybe now you won't answer back in training." Farkas said.
"Hm... Probably not. Cleaning is boring, unless- Nope! I'm not falling for that one!" Echo giggled.
"Not falling for what?" Farkas asked in confusion.
"I'm not telling you what makes cleaning fun so you can make it boring again."
"Smart." Farkas said with a nod.
"Smarter than you." Echo snapped.
"I wouldn't count on it."
"I would. Can you even count?"
Farkas hit her across the head.
"Definitely stronger." Echo muttered. "What happened last night? Why were bottles and things all over the floor? Why do you, Vilkas and Aela have bruises?"
"Keep your nose away from where it doesn't belong, before it gets bitten." Farkas advised and went to talk with Kodak.
Echo looked around for someone else to annoy but the rest of the whelps were gone and she didn't want to try her chances with the Circle. Echo fingered a piece of paper in her pocket, torn between staying in the mead hall or leaving. Echo pulled the piece of paper from her pocket and read through the neat handwriting.
"Torvar and I will help you with those deliveries." Echo announced.
"We will?" Torvar said in confusion. Echo pulled him closer.
"You wanna be stuck in here for half the day?"
"We'll do the deliveries." Torvar agreed.
"It's mainly food. You boys keep cleaning." Tilma said and lead them out into the city. Echo grinned. Soon her empty pockets would be full, and it wouldn't be the shopping weighing the down.
"Did Echo behave?" Farkas asked when they came back from doing the shopping. He was looking for an excuse to punish Echo for her remark about him not being able to count. Echo smirked.
"Exceptionally. Echo was very helpful. I don't think I heard her complain once." Tilma beamed.
"Echo? Well behaved and helpful? Are you sure she didn't say anything at all about being bored or hungry?" Vilkas said from where he was cleaning his sword.
"Not a word." Tilma said.
"I don't believe it." Farkas said, shaking his head. Tilma left to check up on the other whelps and Echo walked up to Farkas.
"You better believe it. And it's true. I wasn't bored for even a second." She snatched the apple Farkas was holding and bit into it. "But I am hungry."
"Watch it." Farkas pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket. "I have a job for you. Someone in the city needs to be taught a lesson. Do it properly." Farkas warned.
Echo considered it for a moment before snatching it from his hand.
"Consider it done. Just don't expect me back for a while. I'm going for a walk afterwards." She announced, pulling her hood up.
"We all believe that's the only thing you do." Vilkas muttered.
Aela shot him a seething glare and cracked her knuckles. Vilkas rubbed his fingers nervously and glared at Aela. A low, warning growl came from where Skjor was sitting. Vilkas turned his gaze downwards to his sword, but Aela glared directly at Skjor.
"Aela." Kodlak warned. Aela growled and turned away. "Now I think I see what happened last night. You challenged Skjor for leadership."
"No. Skjor didn't touch me." Aela said, shooting Farkas a warning look.
"Then who gave you all those bruises?" Kodlak asked.
"We went drinking at the Bannered Mare. Like I said, a few too many friendly fights." Aela said.
"She's telling the truth. Some of the patrons were a little too drunk." Farkas said.
Kodlak nodded, satisfied and went down to the living quarters.
"Thanks for looking out for my sorry skin." Farkas said.
"I wasn't trying to save your hide. I was looking after my own." Aela snapped.
"Control yourselves." Skjor warned.
Aela took a deep breath and fought the urge to break something. She pushed her beast down. She could wait until Skjor and the twins were in the living quarters.
"I'm going to meet up with an old friend and if I find you lot have so much as said a word to each other, I will be more than disappointed." Skjor warned.
"I think they learned their lessons last time." Aela said.
"We learnt our lessons? What about you? Who came out with the most bruises?" Vilkas said.
"Vilkas, how's your finger?"
"Aela. What's done is done." Farkas growled.
"I will gladly kick your other boot in, Farkas." Aela spat.
Skjor was about to say something when some clapped slowly and sarcastically.
"Kicking in a steel boot? That's some heavy footwork." Tiaan said mockingly.
"And you have experience." Farkas muttered.
"Why, yes Farkas, I do. Lots of experience, kicking things far harder than steel. Starting a fight without me? That's just rude. Oh well. We're all here now." Tiaan limped down to the fire and sat cross legged in front of it. Being Dunmer, the heat didn't get to her.
"I'm glad your here," Skjor said reluctantly, "Those three are intent on fighting. I could use the help dealing with them."
Tiaan laughed. "And why would I help stop a fight when I can join in? No, don't worry, Skjor. I'm not going to challenge your leadership. Yet." She added in a whisper, almost too quiet to hear. Skjor growled.
"I'm not much of a threat the way I am right now. It took most of what little strength I had to get here from the Underforge."
"And no one saw you?" Farkas said.
"No, bone head. I'm not a heavy-footed mammoth, unlike some people. I've been sneaking out since I was twelve. Mother never knew a thing."
Tiaan stared into the fire, hair hiding her face. She murmured something and a thin rope of fire arched up from the hearth and into her hand. Tiaan twisted the stream around her fingers, the fire flowing over hands like water. She twisted it into shapes, never settling on something long enough for anyone to see what it was.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you not to play with fire?" Vilkas said uncomfortably.
Tiaan flicked her fingers and sent the fire running towards him in the shape of a wolf no bigger than her hand. The tiny animal suddenly stopped halfway between them. It strained, as if against a rope.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you dark elves like fire? If I wasn't so weak right now, I could make this little piece of fire dance around you like a pup." Tiaan said.
A look of confusion crossed Vilkas' face. Tiaan laughed harshly.
"No Vilkas, this isn't some strange version of my Ancestral Wrath. I can do that too."
Tiaan flicked her wrist and the fire shot into her hand. It writhed over her fingers and flowed back into the fire at her feet. Tiaan's shoulders sagged.
"How weak are you really, Tiaan? Shouldn't you be resting?" Skjor said.
Tiaan sighed. "Weaker than I'm willing to admit. I doubt I could even walk down to the living quarters right now. That little bit of fire may have been to much."
"I've never seen Athis do anything like that. He's used magic before but nothing of that kind." Farkas said.
"That's because he can't. It's a rare thing. Don't go telling everyone or I may have to... deal with you. That's the nicest way of putting it." Tiaan said with a feral grin. The firelight glinted off a small object as Tiaan tossed it in the air.
"What do you have there?" Farkas said.
Tiaan caught the object silently. Farkas was about to turn back to his drink when she answered in a whisper, "Many things."
Tiaan untied something from around her neck and ran it through her fingers.
"Everyone is finally here together and all we hear is silence and growling. The cat is out somewhere doing divines knows what. We need to play man or milk-drinker." Vilkas said.
"The very name of the game is sexist." Tiaan muttered.
"I agree with you, shield-sister." Aela said.
Vilkas found five tankards and set them on the table. He threw one across the fire to Tiaan who caught it with a curse. The three men seated themselves around the table.
"Are you joining us?" Farkas asked, "Aela? Can't you just let last night go for a few hours?"
Aela pushed herself off the wall she'd been leaning against and made her way down to the table. She took a seat as far away from Skjor and Farkas as she could get. Vilkas passed her a full tankard.
"This changes nothing." Aela warned.
"We figured. Tiaan, you can start. Man or milk-drinker?" Skjor asked.
"Someone ask me a question. I really don't have the patience to tell you a thrilling tale." Tiaan said.
"Then hurry up and get drunk!" Farkas said.
"Farkas, in the past ten years there have been very few nights when I have wanted to remain sober as the day I was born." Tiaan said darkly.
"If you don't want to stay sober, then start drinking!" Farkas encouraged.
"Bone head." Tiaan muttered.
"What did you miss the most about Jorrvaskr?" Skjor asked.
"The fact that no one knows how to play a good game of man or milk-drinker properly. I tried to teach them but they just seem to be unable to grasp the meaning of the game. Although... I do remember something about playing a particularly enjoyable game of it with the Thieves Guild. Vilkas, don't bother. It's the only thing I remember. I found out about their dead little thief in that game. Aela, man or milk-drinker?" Tiaan asked.
Aela stood up, pointing to one of the many scars on her body.
"Not this one again!" Farkas groaned.
Aela shot him a warning look, "This one you haven't heard." Aela told them a story of how a Spriggan had surprised her while she hunted.
"Tiaan, man or milk-drinker?" Skjor asked when it came back to Tiaan's turn.
"Man." Tiaan said absently.
"I'm guessing you want another question." Skjor said.
Tiaan blew a strand of hair from her face, "Correct."
"Hm... What happened ten years ago? You often say things about it. Earlier you said there have been few times in the past ten years where you've wanted to stay sober. Was it Kayda?"
Tiaan's head snapped up. Her eyes burned with a fiery hatred. The fire bathed her face in an eerie glow and her hair flashed as if fires sparked in it.
"Never say that name so carelessly. If a name has power, it is Kay's. If only what happened all those years ago was her. It was something far worse than that little bitch. It was someone I would have given my life to protect, someone who gave their own life to protect mine." Tiaan whispered.
