It was early afternoon before Elanna and Farkas reached the burial site.
"No don't try, I know that you knew Kodlak was sending us back here, I saw it in your face!"
"No comment." Farkas's gruff reply was coloured with humour.
"You did, didn't you!" Elanna giggled, and Farkas gave her a wry smile.
"Kodlak says you should join the Circle, makes things easier. This is the ceremony."
"Ah." She felt a shot of guilt that she was getting this chance to ease the tension between her and her comrades rather than for her worth.
"Ready?"
"Yeah." Elanna pushed the thought to the back of her head and focused, drawing her bow in anticipation as the pair descended to the entrance of the stairs. They progressed with care and stealth, which suited the Elanna just fine but made Farkas irritable. For the most part the draugr ran head first into them allowing Farkas to roar into action, but the slower pace allowed Elanna to occasionally loose an arrow out of the dark at the distracted or sleeping; those draugr crumpled to the floor lifeless once more before the pair even got close. The two were entering a chamber when Farkas halted Elanna's steps.
"Here."
"Eh?" Elanna strained to see what Farkas seemed to have focused on.
"Watch yourself, there's danger here." He said, walking with caution for the first time in their trip.
If it's managed to make him want to be careful… A chill ran up Elanna's spine stopping her from finishing the thought, but she shook it off. She slid smoothly into an alcove, running her hands along the rough worn walls before a glint of metal caught her eye.
"Farkas! I found something!" She hollered giving the lever a tug, but didn't catch the reply before the metal gate slammed down behind her.
"I told you to be careful!" His tone made her flinch, and so he softened it before continuing.
"Are you alright?" She nodded. "I'll try to get you ou-"
"Behind you!" Elanna's eyes widened at the group of nearly ten bandits edging towards her companion.
"Well look what we have here." One snarled, obviously the leader.
"Which one is that?" A bandit said to the man beside him.
"Doesn't matter. He wears that armour, he dies." The other replied.
"Farkas there are too many…" The words came out as a whispered plea as images of Farkas skewered by swords flashed in Elanna's mind. "Don't worry about me and run, I can't- not again-"
"I'd end up dead either way." Farkas whispered, cutting Elanna short. "Just watch, whelp." He smirked at her before turning to the bandits. Elanna grabbed the metal bars and pulled desperately, forced to be a mere spectator as the room echoed the sound of cracking bones, nashing teeth and Farkas's heavy breathing. Soon the breathing turned to howling as Farkas transformed into a huge lumbering beast. He shot towards their enemies with frightning speed, clawing, jumping and biting. Any inexperienced bandits were dispatched immediately, though the others took longer it was obvious they couldn't keep up with the ferocity of the creature and fell soon after.
Eventually there was only one person left in the room apart from the beast pacing amidst the strewn bodies, Elanna herself. The gate in front of her screeched as it lifted, catching its' attention. Not its', his. Elanna corrected herself, but looking over at the creature stalking towards her she wasn't so sure. She took the opportunity to study him. Farkas still stood on two legs like a person, but was most definitely a wolf, that much was clear.
"Farkas?" She asked tentatively. "…is that still you?" He was now towering above her, and Elanna gripped leather doublet hard to keep herself from acting on the urge to grab her sword.
"Farkas…?" Her voice cracked as she watched him raise his large clawed hand and winced as it came down, only to feel him ruffle her hair lightly. Elanna burst into laughter as her tension melted.
"Jeez you scared me!" She recognised the signature smirk on his face even in wolf form.
"So how long will you be like that?" She questioned, and in response Farkas banged the wall twice.
"Two… two hours?" Farkas nodded. "Ha! Well you can take care of the draugr then! We're getting out!" She trudged away from the alcove towards the bandit bodies, looting anything useful as Farkas whined loudly at her.
"Come on! You're a wolf, not a puppy! Get to it!" She replied, a hand on her hip and the other pointing the direction of the exit. The large wolf trudged in front and snapped at her playfully.
"Yes I know, you're still the boss."
The rest of the path posed no threat as Farkas tore through the draugr with ease. They were nearing the very end when with a pained howl Farkas changed back.
"Euchblechbleh!" He exclaimed sticking his tongue out. "Draugr meat."
Elanna couldn't help but snigger at the exclamation.
"Welcome back!" He smirked as she passed him his armour and waited for him to dress.
"Sooo… werewolf?" She said, unable to restrain herself any longer.
"Yes." He said curtly, pulling his chestplate over the chainmail.
"All of you?"
"Just the Circle."
"And the bandits?"
"Not bandits. Silver Hand. Bad people that don't like werewolves. Us." He shrugged. He looked up at her after lacing his boots and added "This is a secret, Elanna."
"You wouldn't have shown me if you didn't trust me. This is what Kodlak meant? The thing that closed Sovengarde?" She said, offering her companion her hand. He nodded as she pulled him to his feet. The two said little after that before heading for the last chamber.
Elanna heard the chanting before she saw the word, but was surprised to feel the dragon locked in her chest thrumming in response. Wow, so soon? She thought, but was brought out of her thoughts by Farkas bounding ahead of her to the altar.
"The piece of Wuuthrad?" She quipped as he picked it up. The second he did, the rows of coffins they'd passed burst open and draugr surged forth.
"Great!" She shot an annoyed look at Farkas before running up to the altar to face the oncoming draugr, but that only made the chanting swirl louder in her head. She unsheathed her sword and started hacking at a draugr that staggered toward her, but the dragon dragged her attention to the wall. She watched as more burst from the coffins after the first lot fell, blocking with her shield as they battered her back-
Toor.
The dragon's spirit set aflame in her chest but she squashed the process with pure will so she could focus on the enemy in front of her. She used a shield bash to put some space between her as Farkas set off a third group of draugr-
Toor.
The dragon burned brighter in her mind and Elanna felt her control slipping, her eyes were glazing over but still she ploughed forward with her sword. She saw Farkas finish the last of the draugr by him and turn toward her before her will broke and the dragon's soul burned away, leaving only-
"yol! toor!" The words burst forth from her, incinerating two draugr heading towards her. Having regained her senses, she easily cut down the rest.
"Holy mother of Mara that was close!" She panted heavily, before stretching her arms.
"You… breathe fire…?" She caught a glimpse of Farkas's dumbstruck expression and straightened up.
"And you turn into a wolf every full moon, what's the problem?" He seemed to be eyeing her warily before accepting her response and shrugging.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. The process isn't usually so… demanding." She murmured, running her fingers along the wall behind her. Cool to the touch now; it's power having seeped out into her. The Nord looked at her curiously but said nothing, and the two left the burial site.
When the duo returned to Jorrvaskr the sun was setting painting the hall in rosy hues.Like the first day I got here. Farkas instructed Elanna to wait in the yard and disappeared to call the other Companions. She was greatful for the break, and sank onto the bench in the porch.
"Tough day?" Elanna brightened up at the sight of Aela, followed closely by Skjor, and then Farkas together with a scowling Vilkas, and finally Kodlak.
"Woman you smell like draugr. Have Tilma draw you a bath after this." Aela clapped a hand on Elanna's back and smiled. "What kind of magic allows a tiny little elf like you to spew fire eh? Tell us the secret."
"Never you mind," Elanna stuck her tongue out as she stood. Kodlak cleared his throat and beckoned Elanna and Farkas forward.
"Brothers and Sisters of the Circle, today we welcome a new soul into our mortal fold. This man/woman has endured, has challenged and has showed her valor. Who will speak for her?" He began reciting.
"I stand witness for the courage of the soul before us." Farkas recited in reply.
"Would you raise your shield in her defense?"
"I would stand at her back, that the world might never overtake us." Farkas responded, not to Kodlak but to his brother
"And would you raise your sword in her honor?" Kodlak continued the ceremony uncertain, watching the scene between the two brothers unfold.
"It stands ready to meet the blood of her foes." Farkas stared hard at Vilkas.
"And would you raise a mug in her name?"
At this point, Farkas lifted his gaze from Vilkas and turned it back to Kodlak. "I would lead the song of triumph as our mead hall reveled in her stories."
"Then this judgment of this Circle is complete. Her heart beats with fury and courage that have united the Companions since the days of the distant green summers. Let it beat with ours, so the mountains may echo and our enemies may tremble at the call."
"It shall be so." The Circle said in unison, followed by Aela's triumphant bellow:
"Aye you're one of us now! Let's celebrate!"
Elanna watched the Companions file back into the hall before sidling up to Kodlak.
"Sooo…" The old man chuckled at Elanna's tone.
"I would say something like 'you've learned of some secrets too early', but considering how many of yours we know I believe it to be only fair." He nudged her with a raised eyebrow making Elanna laugh.
"Do you want to talk about it now? The things I don't understand?"
"Yes." He smiled. "But not tonight. The night is young, and I think Aela plans to make the most of it." Kodlak smiled warmly, ushering the Wood Elf inside. The "celebration" it turned out, was Aela trying to fill Elanna with as much mead as possible.
"Come now, you're a Circle member! To not handle your liquor would disgrace us!" She roared heartily, handing Elanna her fifth bottle. It didn't even take ten minutes before she began an inebriated brawl with Skjor, and amidst the chaos Vilkas had taken the opportunity to slip into Aela's now vacant seat.
"I suppose I ought to apologise."
"I suppose you should."
He didn't apologise, choosing to quietly sip his mead. Elanna sighed and got up to leave when her grabbed her wrist.
"Elanna wait. Just hang on a minute." His voice was quiet and small as Elanna slipped back into her seat. "I'm sorry. Do you still want to explain? Because I'm ready to listen."
"Alright…" Elanna started slowly. "Where do you want to start?"
"Not now," He said leaning towards her. "Once the festivities have died down and everyone has gone to bed come to my room. We can talk freely there."
With that he got up, nodded at Farkas, and disappeared downstairs. Elanna stared fiercely at her lap; her cheeks burned while she processed what just happened. She looked across to the stairs again only to catch eyes with Farkas, who winked at her and gave her a thumbs up before Aela, satisfied that Skjor was beaten and not just letting her win, crashed back onto the bench beside her.