Anger was a rare shade on Elriah, though as the Companions left the camp, the harbinger was all but bathed in it. He was silent. Tight lipped smile, and tighter hands, the Harbinger led the way into the depth of the forest, just far enough to avoid the others overhearing.

"Where did you find him?" Elriah demanded. His tone wavered.

Aela had already given her report, but from the tone of his voice Vilkas knew better than to point it out. "Gallows Rock, in the prisoners quarters. But enough of where, I want to know what was with him giving you his damn arm!"

Elriah pinched the bridge of his own nose as he sighed; trying to suppress his annoyance. It wasn't Elriah's fault that Husk had been so willing. Guilt followed on the heels of his anger.

"I did not mean to question you, Harbinger," he apologized.

Elriah merely shook his head as he let go of his face. "Was there anything odd just lying around near him? Did anything outside the cell look out of place, glass bits, other junk, vials perhaps?" Elriah simply let go of the fact Vilkas had snapped with a sigh.

"Not that I remember." Vilkas's brows furrowed with thought. " Nothing but dust, dried blood, shit, and corpses. Aela found a potion off a ways. Unless you're asking about the dead werewolves in the rest of cells, nothing else stood out." He paused. "Or up."

Elriah shoulders fall slightly. "Except for your friend," he smiled.

Vilkas echoed it. "Aye."

It was difficult to toe the line of family and work. Especially when it came to moments like this. Had Elriah not been his brother's husband, Vilkas could easily accept orders without thought. However, as family Vilkas always had the urge to tease and taunt. Clearly Elriah felt the same as the Harbinger relaxed further.

It didn't take a genius to know that Elriah had expected to hear something worse. He looked back at the camp, making sure no one had heard them. The hand that had rested around the satchel's strap relaxed.

"So, how have things been?" Vilkas huffed in disbelief. Elriah held up his hands. "No, I'm actually asking! You've been missing for days on end with a stranger," he pointed out. "Can't a man worry about his family?"

"I suppose," Vilkas yawned. After hunting the buck, followed by the bandits, all the Companion wanted to do was sleep. "To be honest it's been rather boring. Between hunting and making sure Husk is doing alright, there's not much to say."

"So what you're saying is you've been perfectly safe." Elriah threw his arms out. "We've been worrying about you all this time," he ranted, "And you've been having a get-away!"

Vilkas actually found himself chuckling. "Aye, I have." A slow grin grew. "Then you three showed up to ruin it."

The harbinger rolled his eyes, but was smiling despite himself. "...Would you mind if we joined you? I'm sure Whiterun won't burn down too quickly without us." The question had been in jest, of course, but soon they were shaking hands. As if they'd truly struck a deal.

"I think that can be arranged," Vilkas' smile fell into seriousness as he let go. Elriah's hand dropped to his side. "For the price of an answer."

"Then I suppose I have no choice," Elriah hummed. "Ask away."

Vilkas drew in a sigh. He couldn't afford to lose his tongue and break what restraint Elriah had put on his anger, but the question burned in the corner of his mind with a morbid curiosity.

"...Were you planning to poison Husk?" Vilkas wasn't daft. He'd watched as Elriah's hand had chosen a different vial once Husk had reacted.

"If I was about to poison him do you really think he would give me his arm so willingly?" Elriah pointed out. The smile had faded into an expression far too calm for Vilkas' liking. "And if I was, your job would be to leave it be and accept my decision."

The time of familial banter had ended. With an almost sickening click, the tone shifted so visibly that Vilkas could almost feel it.

"Now Vilkas, I need you to answer me truthfully. Your honesty won't make me decide one way or the other about Husk's fate, but it will help me decide how we will go about helping him should we decide to." Elriah's face was grim as he spoke slowly. Each word was heavy with seriousness. "Were there any other Silver clasps or collars on the other dead werewolves?"

Had there been any others branded besides Husk? Vilkas's mind went blank. He hadn't paid much attention to the dead - at least the one indoors. But he was a warrior, one who was trained to notice anything out of place. There was no possible way he wouldn't have seen their sinister gleam in the Gallows prisons, he decided.

"No, Harbinger." His leader, not his brother-in-law, stood before him. "Only on Husk."

Elriah did not reply as he leant against a nearby tree, watching Vilkas carefully. He changed the subject before Vilkas could ask why. "Husk knew exactly what those vials were for. He did what he was supposed to. Without needing to be told." It was such a casual statement said in an easy manner, as if he had just mentioned the weather instead of the poisons. "He's used to injections, Vilkas."

Vilkas wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean. If not poison, what else could it be in that bag of death that Husk had recognized? A lurch of protective anger made him scowl.

"I don't know exactly what they put in him, but my best bet is that whatever it was isn't good. I don't think the Silverhands would be as nice to drug him before flaying him open like that." The harbinger huffed bitterly. "Then again I don't know how much poison they'd use on their prisoners"

"Even if they did," Vilkas's scowl deepened. "It wouldn't explain why Husk was willing."

"No, I suppose it doesn't."

Silence fell over their section of the woods.

Elriah paused as he looked Vilkas over thoughtfully. His fingers tapped in a steady rhythm against his arm. "...Aela filled Farkas in for me about what happened-"

"Wonderful ," Vilkas cursed.

Elriah ignored him. "I'm not going to ask why you stepped in their fight but I do want to know why you saved Husk in the first place."

"Because he was a prisoner!" Vilkas stared, enraged. "It's what Companions do!"

Eriah breathed outwards in frustration. "Yes, but when you found out the truth-"

"You're asking me why I didn't kill him myself."

"Exactly that."

Vilkas's throat tightened. Without warning, the very question he had dreaded was out in the open. There was no backing down now. He had hoped to have a few more days at least to find a way to word it, but now that Elriah had found him the option no longer stood.

Elriah's leveled gaze held fast. There was a caution in his eyes as he looked over the fellow Companion. A muddled corner of bandages managed to peek from underneath Vilkas' armor. Vilkas had been hurt. By the claws of the very man he'd saved. Elriah watched him carefully, old anger smothered deep down beneath the authority of a well trained Harbinger.

Vilkas would never lie to his brother's husband if he could help it, but damn if he didn't wish he could. The truth was just as damning as any trial.

"...I saw that he had fought to survive," Vilkas started. "Back in the cells. Even when he spat growls at us, there was just something still…. Human about him. I saw a fellow Nord."

"Half Elf," Elriah corrected.

"Aye," Vilkas grumbled. " That ."

"So you saw he still had humanity, and that was enough for you to side with him?"

"Killing him wouldn't have been putting him out of his misery - it would have been making everything he'd suffered through meaningless . He deserved it to be worth something ."

Vilkas was a Companion. It was his very job to save and help others. But… As Elriah stood waiting for him to continue, Vilkas was struck with the realization of just how far fetched his plan wass. How was he supposed to defend bringing back a prisoner that tried to kill their shield sibling? The idea of leading Husk to a prolonged death was enough to pick up his heartbeat into a rapid, painful drumming.

Elriah nodded as he hummed, mulling over what had been said. Whether he believed him or not was unclear. "And what exactly were you planning to do if you got him back to Jorrvaskr? It may have been Aela's idea at first but you were the one who kept it going after she changed her mind." Elriah sighed. "In my opinion Vilkas, you and Alea should have put him down on the spot and spared him from all this." There was no malice in his voice, just calm truth. "Suffering needlessly, or not."

He held a hand up as Vilkas started to protest.

"He may not be one willingly, but he is Silverhands, Vilkas. That collar isn't for show. It's a statement . You that know just as well as I do." The harbinger's hands came together, fings pressed into a steeple. " ...There is a risk involved because of that."

Vilkas ground his teeth together, biting back a snarl. "Husk is a good lad; there was no reason to kill him! He didn't rot in that cell for gods knows how long before he was rescued just to get himself killed before even a week!"

Elriah tried to placate "The Silverhand-"

"Damn the Silverhand !" Vilkas felt his hands tighten into fists. "I refuse to-"

Elriah sighed shortly and terse. "All you're doing is possibly giving him false hope! Do you really want to put him through that? Did you even think about what trying to save him would put him through?" For once the Harbinger's voice rose - as did his finger as he jabbed it into Vilkas' chest. "If he turns on another Companion we'll have to put him down, and that's going to hurt him a hell of a lot more any torture ever could. And for what! "

Vilkas hadn't thought about that. He refused to think about that. Husk had let him into the cell and had trusted him since the moment they met. Vilkas knew he was going to regret saying what he was about to, but there was no other choice. Elriah was a good man, a damned good leader, but he was fishing for something that simply wasn't there. Husk was no monster.

"I wanted to make him a Companion!" Vilkas blurted. His voice shook as he looked his Harbinger in the eyes. Elriah's finger withdrew. "Not many can survive what he did. Husk has a real fighters spirit!

"…a Companion," Elriah echoed, voice thoughtful.

Vilkas nodded sharply. "Aye! If he's served the Silverhand for all those years, then he knows everything that we need to know to defeat them! He'd fit in our ranks perfectly." The companion spoke confidently, shoulders tense as Elriah's face clouded with thought. "I personally vouch for him. But if you're right, and he goes feral…?" Vilkas swallowed, remembering the same promise he'd made to Aela. "I'll put Husk down myself."

"And you can live with that?"

"I'll have to." Despite his words, Vilkas' voice wavered. " Any chance at freedom is better than none."

"...I see," Elriah sighed. His mouth twisted in a grimace as the notion rolled around in his head. "I've never seen you this stubborn before Vilkas, at least in a decent non-lethal way. Last time you wanted to kill all of the silverhand, and now you're trying to save one to keep it!"

Vilkas's jaw tightened at the comment, biting back words he knew would do no good.

"...Do you really mean what you say about Husk?"

Vilkas nodded and straightened his posture more. "Every word. He has a spirit I've never seen before in anyone else. But should it need to be done, I will send him to the hunting grounds myself with no regret, because at least he was free among his own kind. For however short the time might be."

Elriah watched Vilkas carefully as he remained standing, watching for any sign of a lie or uncertainty. There was no trace of either. Only pure determination and loyalty to the werewolf.

The silence returned thickly as the Harbinger stared him down. Vilkas could hear his own heart beating as the result of the mock trial was decided. His mouth tasted like bile. If Elriah were to order Husk's death now, he would have to follow his orders.

"...Well then, I guess we should get back and patch up the newest possible shield-whelp!" Elriah shrugged as he pushed himself up from the tree's trunk. His hands came together in a single clap.

"…What?" Vilkas stared in disbelief.

Elriah wearily raised a brow and gave a half hearted smile. "I said we need to patch up Husk. ...I don't agree with you Vilkas, I feel like you are making a terrible mistake, but there is no doubt that he does at least deserve the chance to live."

Vilkas let out a breath he hadn't even known he was holding. He couldn't tell if Elriah had been sarcastic about Husk being a possible Companion, but found he couldn't care. At least now Husk had a chance .

Farkas had already pulled the bedroll from the tent and had Husk lying chest down on top of it. Husk was barely awake as he groggily looked up to see the Companions return.

Vilkas swallowed hard as Elriah beckoned for him and Athis to assist.

Deep shadows settled in the gaps between Husk's ribs. Vilkas swore that Husk had looked more alive not only hours ago, yet out in the light outside of the tent there was no debating how ill he really was. Now he understood Elriah had meant. Or so he thought.

Farkas had taken his place kneeling next to Husk's legs, hands lightly holding them down. Elriah was by Husk's side with Athis on the other. Elriah directed Vilkas to sit by Husk's head with a shallow jut of his chin.

Husk's head rolled to the side as he peered up at Vilkas, looking positively inebriated. He mumbled something, though the words couldn't be made out. Even as Athis began to cut away the stitches on his back, Husk made no reaction.

Although the tips of the stitching had remained somewhat clean, they soon became putrid. Dark clumps of blood and flecks of scabs clung to the fibre as they slowly slid free from the puckered needle marks.

Elriah scrunched his nose as the smell began to creep through the air around them. Rot surrounded them as more of the stitches were tossed to the side.

Athis turned his head to the side and spat in disgust.

Soon the stitches were gone, leaving Husk's wound open to the air.

Elriah carefully pulled back the scarred skin, revealing the full extent of the supposed axe's strike.

"By the divines," Elriah swore under his breath. He too turned to spit as the wound stared at the Companions. There was puss everywhere. Infection had begun to eat away internally at the wounds' sides - rendering it almost to the very same state as it had started.

"Well then, this is going to take some time. If anyone needs to take a piss do it now," Elriah mused humorlessly. No one laughed at the joke, nor did Elriah smile as he said it aloud.

"If there are no complaints," he glanced over at Vilkas, "or unless anyone has changed their minds, then it's time to start getting ready to hold him down."

Vilkas took hold of the arms without a word.

The next part was sure to hurt like Hell if the look on Elriah's face said anything. He looked down into the wound, then away, sighing as he stood. However, instead of starting on whatever he planned to do - Elriah stood. He went straight to the deer's skinned remains.

The Companions watched, confusion clear as they waited for an idea of what Elriah was doing. The Harbinger took one of the buck's antlers in hand.

"Last chance Vilkas," He warned. "Do you really want to put him through this?" Elriah's shoulders were tense and as he waited for an answer.

"Aye."

Elriah stiffened. "You realize this will be rough on him, don't you?" He accused. "Should he manage to survive, he'll be miserable until it's finished healing."

Vilkas swallowed hard. "Aye."

Husk had already survived worse. More pain was nothing if it meant survival.

Elriah shook his head as he broke the antler with a resounding snap. He turned it over in his hands wearily before walking back over and handing it to Vilkas. "Make sure he bites down on it then. We don't need any screaming bringing in any curious eyes."

Elriah was stern and made sure to look Vilkas in the eyes as he spoke. His harbinger was testing him to see how far he would really go, but there was no masking the guilt on his face or hope that Vilkas would agree to let him relive Husk.

Vilkas felt his stomach turn. Husk was drugged; he shouldn't feel most of what would happen. Or at least that's what he hoped.

Carefully Vilkas put the antler against Husk's lips. He mumbled, coaxing Husk to open his mouth. Husk bit down, sealing his fate.

Elriah uncorked a bottle of mead from his bag as Athis held the wound open.

Husk shrieked.

The antler did nothing as the alcohol was poured into the wound. Vilkas suddenly found himself putting most of his effort into holding down his arms as Husk began to thrash against the pain. Even drugged he was still difficult to hold down, if only from the fact that Farkas and his brother were reluctant to put too much pressure on fragile bones.

"Hold him down! The more he moves the worse it'll get!" Elriah ordered.

Husk whined as his head fell back down, pressing hard against the furs as a long keening noise left his throat. The sound far too canine as it escaped. His breathing erratic as he gave into light whimperings and shivers. His eyes were pressed shut while sweat dotted his brow. Desperation and pain wafted off him in equal measure.

Starting with a rag, Elriah began to clean out the wound, pulling out clumps of pus. The other Companions gagged. He reached into the wound, his fingers deeply rooted. The stench was awful. Not even the smell of mead managed to cut through the overpowering smell.

Blood bubbled up, turning the infectious gunk red. Elriah threw the putrid pus into a nearby bucket as soon before returning for more.

Husk's teeth sank deeply into the antler. To feel someone's hands rummaging near your spine…Vilkas couldn't begin to comprehend how painful it must have felt; even with Husk being numbed. It feels like torture, the ratinal part of his mind mumbled. Vilkas shoved the thought away as quickly as it had come.

Husk didn't fight against them now- though if that was from exhaustion or the sedatives, Vilkas wasn't sure. However, that didn't mean that Husk's cries or shaking was less than before.

The Antler only helped muffle him so much.

Husk trembled under Vilkas's hands, and it took all of Vilkas's control to not look down at the eyes that were pleading for it to stop. He didn't want to see the tears that had begun to fall from the pain. He continued to hold Husk's arms, though somewhat lighter. Husk was too tired to struggle against his help anymore.

As soon as the wound was thoroughly cleaned, Elriah took his satchel into his lap, pulling out another vial. It was slightly bigger than the rest. It smelt earthy though burned to breath in, making Farkas grunt and Athis scrunch his nose.

Soon the once red gouge was coated in greenish paste. There was no longer any visible infection, all of it smothered under the medication.

"How's he holding up?" Elriah asked.

Vilkas had avoided looking down, but as he did he realized that Husk was no longer conscious. "He's out."

"…That's probably for the best," Elriah sighed in defeat. A needle and thread soon followed.