Vilkas' face began to ache from smiling so much as Farkas eagerly replayed their meeting with the bandits.
"Your friend here pretended to be a vampire, even did the fang thing!" Farkas motioned to Husk, who smiled openly. The very same fangs peaked out, which Farkas pointed at. "He did a real good job at it too, he almost had me convinced! Anyways, after I took out the other two he sprang up. He took him out no problem - dead before he even hit the ground!"
Husk flustered at the praise. He looked down, taking fake interest in the carcass before him. A startled blush claimed his burnt cheek. The deer, which had been dragged to camp bloody and torn up, but Vilkas had refused to answer why. In the end, Farkas gave up asking and they set to work. The two brothers sat side by side as they skinned it. Husk had offered help, which was quickly refused, leaving the werewolf unable to do anything but sit across from them.
Vilkas could read him well enough though from the small glares his way, however. He'd been clearly miffed at not being allowed to help the men who had saved him, despite the lack of argument.
"It's good to hear you're familiar with a weapon at least," Vilkas admitted. "Though I wish I had been there to see it."
Husk huffed in amusement.
Farkas laughed easily as he picked up a stick wielding it like a dagger. He set his butchering knife aside. "Hey, I said he killed good, not that he knew what he was doing. He was holding the dagger like this, see?" The mountain of a Nord began to stab the air awkwardly. "He knew to stab with the pointy bit... but that's about it. Even used both hands."
Husk's brow drew to meet the burn as he looked down at his dagger. The drying blood stood dark against the intricately carved and polished steel. Without hesitation he ran the knife through the grass by his side, painting the soft green with half dried crimson.
"How are you supposed to do it then?"
Vilkas blinked at the unexpected question. It had taken over a day to get Husk to ask him about anything, but here he was already chatting with his brother in mere minutes. Bloodshed or not, Husk seemed unfazed. Vilkas supposed it was a step in the right direction.
Farkas grinned and he began to slash the air again. "First of all you only need to hold it with one hand, not both. It's no great sword. Second, you use your entire arm, not just your wrist. Puts more strength into it that way and isn't as easy to lose grip on." The warrior spoke as he would to any new whelp.
Following the verbal lesson, Husk began to echo Farkas. He changed grip more than once as he tried to balance out the feeling of his hands. Farkas held up his stick in example. Husk nodded, fingers splaying further.
"There you go; you've got the hang of it!"
Vilkas made a small sound of approval as the lesson continued. The on hard edges of his face softened as proudly as Husk handled the dagger. He lifted another bottle of mead to his lips, hiding his smile from view.
Husk was all but glowing with pride.
"You don't seem like a bad whelp," Farkas praised. "I can see why Vilkas decided to keep you."
Vilkas choked on his mead. After recovering, which consisted of coughing up half of his drink, Vilkas snarled and punched his brother's arm. "I didn't decide to keep him! I helped him get away from those Silver bastards." He shook his head. "There's a difference. We both know you would have done the same."
Farkas gave his brother, and Husk, an apologetic smile and put up his hands, but said no more as he returned to skinning the deer. It did little to soothe his brother, but after a small moment, Husk laughed quietly.
"If it helps any, you'd certainly be the nicest one i've dealt with." The half elf smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
Farkas smiled, blissfully unaware of what had truly been said. Keeper. It was all but voiced, though both of the other men knew it lingered just below the surface.
Vilkas refused to look up from his task. Husk didn't need to worry about anything more than healing - or that Jorrvaskr was another cell to be forced into. There was nothing he could think to say, so he simply stayed quiet.
By the time the buck was halfway finished, someone finally managed to speak. "Not a bad looking deer you caught there," The warm carefree voice pointed out. "Bit scrawny to feed our small army, though."
"There you guys are!" Farkas lit up as Elriah and Athis appeared from the underbrush. Though from the looks of it, the Harbinger wore half of the shrubbery on himself. His robes were utterly riddled with twigs and thorns to the point the garment could almost serve as armor.
Athis flicked a bit of wood from Elriah's shoulder.
If the sight of the Harbinger hadn't been enough to worry Husk, the sight of Athis was certainly the tipping point. Scarred legs tensed, preparing to bolt if needed. However, he was frozen in place. Red elven eyes sneered as they eyed him over; neither impressed nor amused by his presence.
Husk starred.
The elf scoffed. It was as if Husk had offended the elf by being in his line of sight.
Unwilling to let the stare down continue any further, Vilkas forced a cough. Husk warily took his gaze off of Athis, just long enough to catch the encouraging smile that Vilkas gave. However, the Companion felt anything but encouraged to see his leader. There was a tightness around Elriah's smile that Vilkas knew all too well. He was there to judge.
A damaged Companion was cause enough.
"Husk, this is Elriah, Harbinger and leader of the Companions. The living stain over there is Athis." For the first time, Athis looked away from Husk to glare at him instead. Vilkas ignored it. "If it helps at all, Elriah is my brother in law."
"Yeah," Farkas added helpfully. "And I don't marry assholes."
Vilkas hadn't overlooked how startled Husk had grown, even as he gave a shaky but amused laugh at Farkas' words. The way his legs twitched and fingers dug into the earth was clear enough. Even with the words of encouragement, only the forceful grip of his hands lessened.
"I'd certainly hope not," Elriah countered. "But I'm starting to think I did ."
The large warrior somehow managed to chuckle softly, happily accepting Elriah to his side as they came to sit together. The dagger-stick was tossed aside. Elriah greeted his husband with an affectionate pat on the shoulder, though was quickly drug into a one arm hug.
Athis lingered at the edge of camp to keep watch.
Ever so slowly, Husk set the dagger on the grass. His gaze fell solely on the Harbinger.
Elriah's lips were pressed into a thin line. His eyes traced the wounds on his face and arms, frowning further with each discovery. Watching or not, Husk refused to look him in the eyes.
Vilkas cleared his throat. The tension of the camp vanished.
Elriah turned to Vilkas, eyebrow arched in question as he waited for the nervous warrior to speak. "We'll need to take a look at you next with all that coughing you're doing Vilkas," he warned.
"Just some dust, Harbinger."
"Somehow I highly doubt that," Athis sniffed.
Vilkas shot Athis a glare. "I am glad the three of you arrived safely," he ventured. "Husk and I had a couple of run ins with bandits." He didn't admit that Husk had been unconscious the entire time. "Nothing we couldn't handle, though."
"Well, that does explain the camp." Elriah surmised.
Farkas shrugged. "Better than Highwaymen. Now those bastards are annoying. At least bandits try to kill you instead'a taking your gold."
Vilkas found himself shaking his head fondly.
"I'm sure we can all agree to that." Elriah hummed. "But as it stands there's something a bit more important to deal with right now."
Vilkas watched as Husk's eyes went wide with worry. "I'm not sure what Aela's told you, Harbinger," he rushed. The burnt werewolf sagged in utter relief. Vilkas refused to let the decision of Husk's life be something so cut and dry. "But Husk-"
"-What my brother is saying is Husk needs a healer, and bad."
Elriah glanced to his husband in surprise, only to be met by a fierce protective frown.
"Sure, let's have our Harbinger stick his hand near the killer werewolf!" Athis scoffed from the shadows.
"Would you mind letting me get a look at you?" Elriah ventured. There was no sign that he'd heard the elf - or the resulting warning Vilkas all but snarled. "I'd like to help you if I can. But I need your permission to do so."
Bewilderment shook away Husk's apprehension, if only for a moment. He eyed the Harbinger cautiously.
"Elriah here is a fine man and an even better healer. I mean it when I say that he knows what he's doing." Vilkas motioned to the Companions around them. Farkas puffed with pride as he pointed at the worst of his old scars. Vilkas did the same, revealing one that rested just under his hairline. " None of us would be here today if it wasn't for him."
"He even fixed my arm after a bear shattered it!" Farkas claimed as he flexed it. Myriads of scars muddled which one had been in result.
Husk's shoulders began to relax.
"He did real good too," Farkas continued. "I only passed out twice!"
His shoulders were no longer relaxed.
An audible slap echoed in the camp as Vilkas held his own face with a groan. Even Athis muffled a snicker. Elriah floundered.
"...It was a fairly bad break," Elriah hesitated. He cleared his throat, casting his husband a rather tired glance. "Borderline shatter if we're honest about it. I'm certain whatever you're going through isn't nearly as extensive as-"
"-Didn't Aela say something about seeing his spine? Sounds pretty extensive to me."
" Athis! " Vilkas snapped.
" What? It's the truth!"
Husk was all but subtle as he slid ever so further away from the campfire.
Vilkas' body shook as he let out a long, much needed sigh. No one was supposed to find them. The plan had been simple enough; get Husk stable, and then take him home. All while slowly easing Husk to the very idea of the Companions. Small steps and even smaller stories that would prevent the poor bastard from being scared out of his skin. As he was now. Husk had yet to leave, but he refused to entertain the chance. Vilkas scrubbed his face.
There was only one thing left to do.
"I understand if you don't trust Elriah, Husk. I know I didn't for the first damned year ," Vilkas began. The soft voice fell away into that of the third in command. Unyielding as his gaze, the Companion commanded Husk's attention. "I'm not asking you to trust him, but if you trust me you'll let him."
Mistrust melted away into guilt as Husk's face fell. He stared as if struck.
Vilkas didn't want to dwell on why - he fucking knew why. The fact that it had been an order, even after promising his freedom. Or like Aela, how he'd called something of Husk into question and had used it against him. The very thing that Husk had gifted him since they'd met. His Trust .
Wordlessly, Husk looked away. He gave in with a single nod.
Vilkas sighed, but it was far from relief. He forced a nod of thanks. Husk returned it, though his gaze remained lowered.
Elriah grunted as he stood. "I'll try to be quick about it…." He paused mid promise. "...er, Husk, wasn't it?"
"It is." Husk didn't bother to say more before removing his shirt.
"Hircine above, how did you manage to get that ?" Elriah's eyes were wide as he scanned the injury. Thick stitches crossed every which way, dark and profound at their crusted bases. It left Elriah wincing from the mere sight of it.
Husk remained quiet as Elriah knelt down behind him. Neither Elriah, nor the fellow companions, had missed the way Husk had lifted his head when he heard the daedric name. For a brief moment he looked as if he wished to speak - only yet again looked away.
"That's nothing compared to when we found him. Damn flies were practically crawling around his insides!" Vilkas visibly shuddered. The memory alone was enough to make his stomach turn.
Farkas made a sound of disgust next to his brother as he shuddered. Athis remained quietly keeping post, though his elf ears twitched at the comment and his lip turned up in a scowl.
Elriah grimaced. His long calloused fingers were gentle as they prodded along the edge of the wound. His voice was even softer. "How did you manage to get a wound like this…?" It was followed by an apology as Husk hissed in pain.
"An axe."
It had been said so quietly Elriah had barely heard it. He raised a brow. "An…Axe? This looks like a bit more than an Axe strike, Husk."
Husk shifted uncomfortably. "...It was a Silver Axe. They wanted to see how well it would work."
Elriah could only shake his head in amazement, and displeasure. It was a blatant lie. Husk looked away again, nervousness curving his lips. The Harbinger lingered, but in the end decided not to push further. Instead he chuckled humorlessly in an attempt to break the ice. "Whoever did those needs to learn how to use a bloody needle correctly! I've seen rags sewn up better than this!"
"Aye." Vilkas cleared his throat yet again. "But I did what I could. Found the supplies in the camp, didn't have a lot of time to spare."
Elriah hummed in thought. Eventually the healer's attention moved to Husk's face as he took a seat in front of him. Bulbous and deep, a blister had claimed a home just above his non burnt brow. He hissed at the sight. "Someone certainly did a number on you, didn't they?"
Husk nodded with a nervous smile- only to find his chin stopped as Elriah took hold of it with forefinger and thumb. Elriah gently tilted his head to the left. Husk said nothing and complied, moving his head as it was directed with only a startled blink.
A chill crept down Vilkas's spine. Almost familiar with the action, Husk moved easily wherever the Harbinger pleased. What was worse was just how calm Elriah was about it. The leader didn't seem to think anything of it as he looked at the blistering cut in the firelight. Even Husk went along.
"Now, what happened to your forehead? And don't say an axe," Elriah warned teasingly.
Husk rolled his eyes, but made no move to respond.
"It was from Aela's boot," Vilkas cut in.
Elriah frowned as he continued to move Husk's head. He brushed a bit of Husk's hair aside. "I take it you got it during the fight then?" The harbinger utterly ignored the companion.
Athis scowled as he eyed Husk, only to be eyed right back with uncertainty. "Aela said she fought him while he was a beast. Fearless or not, I can't imagine her kicking a werewolf in the head." The elf huffed. "She's headstrong, not stupid ."
"Stupid enough to set off an injured werewolf," Farkas mumbled under his breath.
Worrying the inside of his cheek with his teeth, Husk yet again refused to answer. Even as Elriah waited patiently.
"Looks like he takes after your husband," Athis pointed out. "Certainly talked enough before we got here. Wonder what changed."
"Hey, if he doesn't want to talk then don't make him." Farkas frowned protectively. "Poor bastard looks exhausted. He doesn't need you griping at him."
Vilkas would have normally agreed, easily, but things were too serious to be silent over. His hands tightened around the skinning knife. He went back to work, cutting into the meat with more force than necessary as his anger threatened to boil over. Didn't Husk realize that this was what saving him was supposed to lead up to? Elriah was the Harbinger! The very person who even Aela had wanted him to meet!
But more importantly, Elriah was the very person who would decide if he'd even be allowed to survive .
Forced, Vilkas found himself speaking for Husk yet again. "It was after the fight." He refused to explain the way Husk had defiantly stared her down, even as he shifted back. "He's…. had some troubles since getting that."
"Troubles?" Elriah inquired.
"Aye. I'm not happy to say it but he had..." The word escaped him. "He did what Kodlak did. With the shakes." He clarified. "Wouldn't surprise me if that's what caused it."
Elriah went quiet as he let go of Husk's chin. The information was catalogued away as the Harbinger sighed something just quiet enough to be unclear. "I'd appreciate it if you could let Husk speak for himself, Vilkas."
Vilkas cleared his throat in embarrassment.
Elriah looked to him pointedly as he yanked a rag free from his pocket and soaked it with his waterskin. "Clear your throat again and I will be forced to take a look." Distracted by scolding his warrior, Elriah accidentally jabbed the blister as he went to wipe the wound. Husk recoiled, hissing in pain.
It was followed by a growl.
Vilkas' stomach dropped .
All eyes fell on Elriah as the camp fell into silence. The campfire crackled. The healer regarded the werewolf as Husk sat straighter - frozen in realization of what he'd done. Without missing a beat, Elriah gave a quiet laugh and set about cleaning the wound anyways. "Easy now, Husk. I just need to see what I'll be working with." The harbinger's eyes crinkled at the edge as he smiled. "No need to act so unruly."
For the first time since Elriah had come to the camp, Husk finally met his gaze. Soft and without judgment, the Harbinger was gentle as he tended to his task. He smiled further, unperturbed as he greeted the man who had growled
Husk's shoulders slowly eased. "I suppose not," he finally managed.
Elriah's smile grew.
While Elriah continued to survey Husks' wounds, Vilkas was left to watch warily. Even in the Silverhands cell Husk had been anything but meek, nor had he avoided eye contact. He'd been the one to initiate it. Even after Aela had interrogated him, Husk had still met her gaze defiantly and without any hesitation. But he'd avoided Elriah. Something wasn't right, Vilkas decided, but he had no choice but to ignore it for now. Husk was already on edge enough without him adding to it.
Farkas elbowed his brother, breaking him from his thoughts. "Told you so." Vilkas's eyebrow raised in question. "You shoulda let Tilma teach you how to sew. I was right." Farkas all but beamed at finally having something to hold above his brother.
Athis sneered in amusement, no doubt at the thought of Vilkas stitching a quilt like a grandmother.
Tilma had raised them like her own, even teaching Farkas how to mend his own clothes. But Vilkas, filled with the arrogance only a child could have, had turned the offer down. That in itself would have been understandable to some degree - had he not curtly said that was a wife's duty. He'd promptly ended up in the corner.
" Any practice would have been better than this, Vilkas." Elriah scoffed in partly amusement. "Remind me to brush up on your field care. Which, speaking of, I do believe I have something that could help…."
Elriah pulled his bag from his back before sitting it between himself and Husk. Soon small supplies were stacked around him as he continued to shift through the contents. Miniature jars of salve and tightly bound linen rolls appeared in droves. Elriah handed Husk the latter to hold.
Soon Husk's eyes were as wide as dinner plates as he watched as even more supplies were summoned forth. Eventually the sides of the bag were left limp, devoid of anything left.
Athis turned to watch, taking a quick moment from his duty. There was no masking his curiosity as his leader continued to fumble with something in the bag.
"There we go!" Elriah grinned triumphantly, "That damn lock sticks whenever I need it, I swear..."
With a quick pull, a small bit of fabric came free. Followed by a leather satchel. Deep wrinkles gave way to the original mammoth hide, worn and faded with years of use. The latch was a simple claw of some beast of yore that caught light as Elriah's nimble fingers pushed it through the loop holding it shut.
Vilkas's mouth dried as the satchel was opened.
Unaware, Husk gave it no thought and helped hand Elriah back the bandages.
Farkas wrapped his hand around Vilkas's wrist before he could interrupt. He would have argued, but as he turned to do so, he only saw his brother echoing the same expression. "Elriah…" Farkas warned, his tone dark with worry.
Elriah didn't hear his husband, or if he did he gave no heed. His attention was solely on the wolf in front of him. Husk's nose twitched as he watched as Elriah opened the satchel; though it was not the herbs that seemed to have caught his attention.
Small clear vials were carefully lined up, filled with many different colored fluids. They resembled Skooma with their sloping shape and tall necks. An incredibly thin shiv like contraption was nestled in the middle of it all. Intricate carvings of the Dwemer runes and figures danced on its golden hue.
Elriah's hand hovered over one of the Vials, but stopped as Husk squinted, as if trying to place where he had seen them before. It didn't take long for recognition to appear. His eyes widened anxiously as soon as the instrument was taken out. Elriah selected a vial. Holding it up for Husk to inspect. The change in Husk was almost instant. The fear ebbed away as he began to watch Elriah's hands instead.
"I'm going to need to use this," Elriah explained, his tone even and calm."If we're going to get you patched up I'll need you calm while I work. Now, this won't put you to sleep but you won't feel like doing much." The contraption clinked as an empty vial slid free from its hilt. "Do you understand, Husk?"
For once, Husk didn't look to Vilkas for confirmation.
Nor did he notice Vilkas's panic as he presented his arm, the softer underside flesh up to the air. Farkas on the other hand did, and quietly put his hand on Vilkas's shoulder pulling him back sharply to stop as Vilkas tried to stand quickly. Intervening or not, Farkas was none too happy either. He silenced whatever words Vilkas was about to speak with a worried shake of his head.
Elriah was perplexed as he carefully adjusted Husk's arm. "Good, thank you. Now Husk, can you stay still? I'm going to give you something to take the edge off before I go any further."
Husk's lip twitched nervously as he answered, the rest of his face growing slightly pale. "Yes sir."
Elriah replaced the empty vial. He held the tool in his left hand as his right took hold of Husk's wrist as he gently stretched his arm out straighter. The needle gently prodded the skin in different areas before finally coming to rest near the crook.
"I'll try not to fight back," Husk promised quietly.
With the lightest twitch of the hand, Elriah stabbed the tip into Husk, sending the liquid into his veins. Husk hissed. Elriah was quick to pull the dwemer syringe back out before slipping the satchel back in it's bag. Husk blinked slowly as Elriah let go and let his arm. It fell back to his side.
Elriah stood up before landing his eyes on Farkas. His husband did not look happy, but there was an understanding nonetheless. Farkas nodded grimly as he moved to sit down next to Husk. With practiced ease, Farkas began talking quietly to Husk as he helped him stay sitting up despite the way he'd begun to sway.
Vilkas's view was cut off. Elriah's face was painted in deadly calm as he stood before the warrior. "You and I need to have a talk. Now ."
Vilkas stood, unable to look his Harbinger in the eyes as he was led away.