AN OLD FRIEND

"Again, raise your arm higher shoulder length. Again!" Mikel shouted to Erin.

Weeks Mikel spent training Erin how to fight. It was customary in most nord families that the eldest child learn how to fight. Especially for a young man. Mikel learned from his father, as did his brother. Now he would have the pleasure of teaching his son all that he knew about combat.

As Erin stood several feet across from the target, he held his bow in his arms with his arrow quilled and aimed at the target. His father standing behind him whispering instructions in his ear.

Patiently he watched and waited to see what Erin would do. But secretly the boy was nervous out of his mind! While Mikel was patiently working with his son, Erin feared he would not be able to appease his father. All eyes watching him. His mother, his sister, the guards...but more importantly the God's were watching.

His mind was racing with worry and fear, and thought of running away or giving up. And just when he was about to do just that he heard his father speak to him, almost as if he knew exactly what the boy was thinking!

"Relax son. You've got this! Focus only on the mission. Ignore your surroundings. There is no one here, just you and me. And when you are ready to let go-"

*Joot*

Without even thinking about it, Erin released the shot and was amazed to find that he landed it perfectly! Dead set in the center of the target!

"I DID IT!" He exclaimed.

Serana and her mother and daughter jeered for Erin, and Mikel was proud of his son grabbing him to hug him.

"Well done son! You see?...you did it!"

"I did didn't I? I was scared I was gonna miss!"

"Impressive shot kid!" Someone said.

Mikel quickly turned around not realizing there was someone there. The guards were on high alert at the stranger and swarmed around Mikel and Erin to protect them.

His commander charged to the front and demanded the intruder name themselves at once or risk being cut down, but the woman smiled and chuckled at the men in arms. She seemed calm and unbothered by their reactions. Serana feared she might have to intervene and handed her baby to Valerica.

"What do you think you are doing Serana? Let Mikel handle this!" Valerica warned.

She ignored her mother's warning and summoned her invisibility powers rushing down there as fast as she could without any of the men noticing.

As Mikel stood there watching, he began to recognize the stranger. Her face was pale, and it had a large dark green tattoo across it covering an old battle scar. She had long red hair flowing past her shoulders, and wore armor similar to nordic armor usually found on draugr. When she spoke to Mikel, it was in a very confident yet commanding tone. As if she was in charge of him in some way.

It was then that Mikel realized who she was. It was none other than Aela the huntress. An old friend and fellow warrior from the Companions!

He was surprised to be seeing her, and upon his realization of her was eager to embrace her, welcoming her! He got nearly two feet in front of her before he stopped dead in his tracks when suddenly Serana revealed herself and held a dagger to Aela's throat, taking the Companion warrioress by surprise.

"Serana, WAIT!" Mikel shouted, but it was too late.

Aela reacted to Serana before Mikel could stop her, grabbing Serana by the forearm and throwing her over her shoulder onto the ground. There Serana was laid out flat on her back as Aela straddled the vampire princess, and to Serana's surprise the huntress managed to grab Serana's dagger switching the role of victim, to victor.

"You're not used to having company around here are you?" She quipped.

"And you're not one for announcing yourself either?" Serana replied in kind.

"Enough!" Mikel shouted rushing over to help Serana.

Out of respect for her friend she got off of his wife and raised her hands in surrender.

"I meant no harm harbinger." She said.

"Could've fooled me!" Serana replied.

"Are you alright?" Mikel asked his wife, dusting her off.

"I'll be fine." She said. "Must be a little rusty."

"I'll say! Is this the famed warrior princess I have heard so much about Harbinger? Doesn't seem all that powerful if you ask me."

"Why are you here Aela?" He asked.

"I came to see you! Been a long time since we've spoken since you left the great hall. Thought I'd stop by."

"Not that we're not happy to have visitors, but we'd appreciate it if you would le-"

"Of course you are more than welcome to come here." Mikel said interrupting Serana.

He came to Aela and embraced her in his arms. Serana was surprised to see her husband's reaction to his friend, especially after what happened!

"Mom, who is this person?" Erin asked.

"A good question honey." She replied, never once taking her eyes off her husband.

While Mikel caught up with Aela, he was unaware that his wife was watching him. An uneasy feeling washed over her as she became curious of this strange woman. More importantly, why she was there?

Later on when everyone was more relaxed with cooler heads, everyone came inside and gathered at the table to eat. Aela sat beside Mikel at the end of the table. Serana sat at the other end of the table across from her husband, watching the exchange between him and Aela.

"It's been so long since I've heard from you. What have you been doing all of these years?" Mikel asked.

"A lot has changed since you left Jorrvaskr. For a while I took over as leader and so many people came to join us. It was good at first. Kept us busy, kept our name in honor with the people of Whiterun. But after a while I found myself longing to get out. I missed the hunt!"

"So when did you leave? Who's in charge now?" Mikel asked.

"Hasn't been long. Maybe a week now today since I left. I handed the title over to Vilkas. I thought it was only right he be in charge given that he has earned it."

"I'm surprised to hear that! When kodlak gave the title to me instead of you, you didn't seem all that happy about it."

"It's true, I wasn't! Ever since Skjorn recruited me into the Companions I dreamed of nothing more than to be where the old man was. To be the best and lead my shield brothers and sisters to power! But that was a long time ago. Times have changed."

"And now you're here!" Serana said in a dry tone.

"Yes...I am!" Aela replied.

"You must be very tired from your long journey here." Valerica chimed in. "Surely you'll be needing to rest before getting back on the road."

"I wouldn't want to inconvenience anyone." Aela said.

"Nonsense!" Mikel exclaimed "You are more than welcome to stay as long as you like!"

He called Rayya into the room and asked her to have one of the servants prepare the spare room for Aela. As Rayya left to go fetch the servants, Aela crooned over the fact that Mikel had such wealth.

She remembered a time when the dragonborn was not the wealthy man he now was. When she met him he had no more than a few pieces of gold in his pocket, an old sword not sharp enough to kill a boar, and barely any coordination in a fight.

"I remember the day we met on Pelagia farm? When we fought that giant?" She asked him.

"How can I forget?" He replied.

"Dad, you fought a giant? Awesome!" Erin exclaimed.

"Your dad here got lucky! He came out of nowhere and jumps on top of it, climbing up it's back like a mountain goat! The next thing I know while me and my men were trying to shoot the damn thing, he leaps into the air and plunges his sword deep into the back of it's neck killing the beast! It fell to the ground nearly crushing me and my men!"

"And after all I did to help, rather than say thank you, she scolds me for killing it, and threatens to kick my ass if I every got in her way again!"

"I should have known then he was a trouble maker!"

A remark that both of them now could laugh at. To the children it was impressive to hear all the wonderful stories and tales of the battles Mikel and Aela shared together. Erin especially enjoyed hearing about it. It was not often that his father spoke about his past. Even more interesting to his wife as she never knew of Aela's existence until that evening.

"Children, I think it's time for bed." Serana said.

"Aww, mom just five more minutes?" Groaned the children.

But Serana was in no mood. With one look her children quickly straightened themselves and got up from the table to head upstairs. Astrid gave her father a kiss on the cheek good night, and Erin hugged his father.

Aela smiled, enjoying the exchange she witnessed from the dragonborn and his children. She was amazed to see him like this. It was a pleasantness she never thought was possible!

Now that all the adults were alone in the room, there was a noticeable silence. An awkwardness filled the energy of the room, and it didn't change until Valerica spoke.

"So Alea, Mikel tells us that you are responsible for his skills in combat."

"Indeed, that I am!"

"I am sure you are most proud of the man he has turned out to be. Often teacher's don't get credit for the brilliance their students learn from them."

"I wouldn't say that. Mikel always had the potential to be a better fighter. He just needed to be more patient. Glad to see he's passing along my methods to the little one up there."

"You keep my son out of this!" Serana snapped.

Valerica tried to calm things down, Aela sat in silence confused by what happened. Mikel got up from the table and escorted his wife upstairs, apologizing for what seemed like erratic behavior.

As soon as the door was closed Mikel scolded Serana about her behavior, offending her in the process.

"Don't speak to me like that!" She shouted.

"Like what?"

"Like a child!"

"Quiet, you'll wake the children! What is the matter with you? You're behaving as if you've lost your mind!"

"I haven't changed. But it seems strange that my husband has!"

"Just what are you accusing me of Serana?"

"Why don't you tell me? You don't think I noticed how you acted since Aela arrived here?"

"You are being ridiculous! Aela is an old friend."

"Then why am I just hearing about her? When we met each other, all that time we spent together...TEN YEARS!...And I never knew this about my own husband!"

Mikel was confused. Serana acted as if he lied to her, and in his mind he never hid anything from her. But to Serana, an omission of the truth was no different from a lie. For her husband to not tell her the truth to his powers of Lycanthropy, was just as relevant as anything else.

"I have shared every single detail of my life with you. My background, my flaws, even the most embarrassing parts of myself I bared to you! Because I love you and I trust you. When we married we vowed to always be honest with each other."

"I know!..."

"So then why now am I finding out about her?"

"Serana...I did not omit anything to you. I didn't hide Aela from you, or purposefully withhold my history. Aela and I spent a great deal with each other when I was with the Companions. She made me what I am and I will always be indebted to her for it. But as far as I am concerned when I left Jorrvaskr, that part of my life was over and I left it behind. When I met you, you became my new journey through life. Surely you must see that!"

"I don't know what I'm seeing anymore. I don't even think I knew who you are anymore."

"Very well then. Be that way." He said sharply.

Frustrated by his wife's behavior, he grabbed his things and headed for the door. Serana stopped him, demanding he tell her where he was going but he ignored her, leaving her alone in their bedroom to reflect on what just happened.

It was obvious there could be no convincing Serana that her suspicions were unfounded. Mikel believed he was transparent with his wife despite her opinions, and as he sat alone outside by the lake left only with his thoughts, he felt a fire build within him with rage.

He tried to ignore it, to push his feeling down, but there was no use. He shouted as loudly as he could out of anger, not caring if his voice carried through the valley, or if anyone would hear. The pressure building within him had to be released somehow.

"I see you're still a hot head." Commented Aela.

She had startled him, coming out from behind the bushes without him realizing she was nearby.

"I wish people would stop sneaking up on me like that." He said.

"You've forgotten what I taught you even after all these years I see."

"And just what have I forgotten?" He asked.

"Never forget your surroundings. Never assume you are alone because you're not. Anyone could be watching, and the minute you let your guard down..."

"Is the moment you have accepted death." He said finishing her sentence. "See? I haven't forgotten."

"Is everything alright?" She asked.

"I...I don't even know anymore."

"I hope I didn't cause you any trouble. Your wife seemed threatened by my being here."

"It's not you...At least I don't think it is. Ever since the baby, things have been kind of...tense."

"Want to talk about it?"

"You talk about feelings?" Mikel teased.

"Alright then, keep it to yourself. Doesn't matter to me either way."

She walked away from him towards the lake with her back turned, knowing it would frustrate the dragonborn enough to make him talk to her. He always hated when she did that to him. Of course it worked as he began venting about being frustrated with his wife over the last few weeks since the baby was born. It seemed Serana was uninterested in being intimate, and to make matters worse he was stressed about his business.

He went on and on about his troubles, his marriage, his children, and his life outside of home. They talked all about his dealings with the East Empire trading company, and how he managed to gain so much over the years retiring from being an adventurer. For Aela her life was not perpendicular to the dragonborn, as she never stopped fighting. Talking about her latest travels through Skyrim and the battles won.

"I see you haven't changed Huntress."

"And you have!" She replied.

"In what way? I'm still the same man I was years ago. Just a little older."

"And might I also add vastly wealthy. From what I hear, you're one of Skyrim's wealthiest men alive! More gold than all the jarls put together."

"Oh I see. You want something from me is it?"

"Don't make me slap you where you stand! I've never cared for money nor will I."

"Then why have you come to see me after all this time? And don't say it's cause you missed me."

"Would it be so far fetched if it turned out to be true?" She asked.

Mikel stood puzzled. His memory of Aela reminded him of how distant emotionally she was with people. With him in particular, she was never one to express concern or care for him even when he knew she did. She always kept her distance. So for her to display anything other than that was far from her normal character.

"Just what is it you want from me Aela?" He asked curiously.

"Nothing tangible, at least not monetary. In truth Mikel I grew quite fond of you during the time we spent together. And when you left it hurt. It was hard having to deal with you not being there. And for years I tried my best to deal with it."

"So what changed? Why did you leave? If memory serves, you wanted the position of Harbinger, and was angry with me for having accepted it from Kodlak!"

"I know I did. But that was then. Things have changed! I have learned so much about myself in the fifteen years we've been apart. I know more than I did before, and I have learned to stop pushing people away. I just wish..."

"Yes?..."

"I wish I had learned that years ago when we were still together. When you asked me to come with you and I didn't...I should have said yes."

"I don't understand...why are you saying this to me now?"

"Don't you get it Bjorn?! I'm in love with you!" She exclaimed.

Mikel was surprised to hear this from her. Even more surprised to find that Serana was right about Aela. As he stood there trying to wrap his mind around what was just revealed, Mikel now felt torn as to how to move forward. Listening to Aela explain herself even further.

"That day that we almost died inside of Krogstagg mine. When you jumped in front of me and attacked that frost troll without any weapon, putting your life on the line for me...I knew then how much you cared about me. No one has ever looked out for me like that. Not even Skjorn. And then the day you said you were leaving for Windhelm to join Ulfric and asked me to come with you, I wanted to!...God's know I did, but I couldn't. My heart would not allow it. To put my feelings out there was a risk I was not ready to take."

"Aela this is too much. You can't do this!"

"Mikel listen to me-"

"NO!" He shouted. "I have a wife! Back there in the home I built for them lies my three children and the only woman I have ever loved! She has done more for me than you could ever know. Has accepted me for being different when everyone else told me to hide it. Even you! I asked you to come with me then, because I thought you cared about me enough to overlook what I was. And when you said no it hurt. Cause what it said was that I was not good enough. But for her I am! So don't think that coming here changes things, because it doesn't!"

"What if I told you that it does?"

"It won't."

"But it will!"

"And why should it?" He asked.

"Because I love you too damn it! Mikel...I never meant to make you feel as if you were not enough. You were! You are enough! Can you honestly say you don't still think about what could have been? If I had said yes, where we would be?"

"No. But as I stand here listening to you I understand that things happened for a reason. Aela, I do not hate you nor do I regret what you did. In fact I thank you, because it lead me to Serana."

"I don't believe you." She said.

"I'm sorry to hear that." He replied walking away from her.

"Kiss me then!" She blurted out.

He turned around facing her, uncertain he heard her correctly. When he asked her to repeat it again she took a breath and said...

"Kiss me, and tell me you don't feel anything for me."

"You are out of your mind woman."

"Maybe. Prove me wrong."

"A simple kiss will prove nothing." He said.

"Will it? You know as well as I do how strong our bond is. Or have you forgotten that I am your forbearer?"

"What you are asking of me goes against my marriage." He said.

"Then kissing me will mean nothing. So do it. Let our powers intertwine to prove that we are no longer bound together as we once were."

He had a choice to make. He knew that by accepting Aela's request would upset Serana if she knew about it. But could he really deny himself the chance to prove Aela wrong? As he approached her slowly, he kept weighing his options. Deciding quietly what to do. By the time they were standing in front of each other, his heart made the decision for him.

He took Aela into his arms pulling her closely to him and planted his lips against hers. Their eyes closed, ignoring their surroundings. The rush of energy and lust flowing through them, spurring them on. Mikel could feel the heat building and building between him and Aela.

Flashes of the past appearing in his mind as their kiss continued. Memories of the time they once shared. Every laugh, every smile, every moment they fought together side by side. All of their emotions melted together into one, and when it was over they stood silent looking into each other's eyes. What seemed like hours was only mere moments shared between them.

"It's true." She said. "You do love her."

"Yes but...I love you too. I guess...I guess I was too ashamed of myself to admit it before. Just didn't realize how much."

"So what does this mean for us?" She asked him.

"I don't know, I-...I can't seem to think straight." he said.

"Then perhaps you need another reminder." She replied pulling him in for another kiss.

Meanwhile back at the house Serana sat alone in her bedroom frustrated. Her mother came to the room to check on her, concerned there was something wrong.

"I'm fine mother." She said.

"Hush child, I can hear you pacing all the way downstairs! Did something happen between you and Mikel?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because he's been gone for quite some time, as has Aela."

"What?!"

"I thought you knew!"

"Mother, really?!" She said scolding Valerica as she stormed out of the room.

Serana rushed to her closet to grab her jacket and charged out the front door after Mikel. She ran as fast as she could to get to him.

Meanwhile Mikel was at the lake with Aela. The two of them were locked in an embrace rolling around on the ground in a sexual tryst. Mikel atop Aela mounting her, thrusting himself inside of her deeply. Her legs wrapped around his waist pulling him in further, holding on to him for dear life!

Serana could hear faint grunting sounds in the distance and followed it, praying it was not what she thought it was. Unfortunately when she found her husband, he was doing the very thing she had hoped he would never do.

"I knew it!" She said out loud to them.

Mikel was startled to find Serana standing there and climbed off of Aela, struggling to cover himself.

"No need to hide it, I already knew this would happen." She said.

"Serana I can explain."

"Oh yes! And next you'll say this is not what it looks like."

"Oh but it is!" Aela interjected.

"I wasn't talking to you!" Serana replied sharply.

"Enough! Please, can we talk about this?" He said.

"What for? You wanted her and now you've got her! I hope you're happy."

"Serana wait, if you'd allow me to explain!"

"And tell me what! That you didn't mean to do it? That she meant nothing to you and you're sorry? Save it!"

She started to walk away from him when he said something to her stopping her in her tracks. And what she heard was beyond appalling.

"I'm in love with her." He said.

"Is that so? Well then, I hope you are happy together."

"I'm in love with you too! I love both of you, I can't...I can't leave either of you."

"And that's supposed to make it better?" She said.

"Maybe not. But I would be lying if I said I didn't want both of you. Serana, my love for you has not changed, and my love for Aela only reignited from her being here!"

"Wrong! I am your wife, not her!"

"And who says I cannot marry the both of you? Together we have built a great life. Our children are happy and healthy. We've made a wonderful legacy together."

"And you want to throw it all way to be with her?"

"I want to share it with both of you! To live on and grown with both of you at my side. I can't tear myself between the both of you, to choose one over the other. I know that now. So rather than sneak behind your back and hide my feelings, I am laying them out on the table. Take it or leave it."

He stood there waiting for her answer. She was angry at first, offended that he would ask such a thing of her. But then she had a thought. Nothing but silence between the three of them until suddenly Serana began undressing herself.

"What are you doing?" Mikel asked.

"Shut up, and kiss me before I change my mind." She said.

He did as she asked embracing her in his arms for a kiss. The passion between them building drawing Aela in to join them. Mikel turned his affections to Aela, and Serana lavished her affections onto her husband, kissing his chest, caressing him as she knelt down before him to claim his manhood in her mouth.

Aela then joined Serana, sharing the dragonborn's length with his wife, tracing her tongue against the length of his manhood while Serana sucked on his engorged balls.

Mikel's head dropped back, exhaling with pleasure. Moaning and groaning as both women pleased his manhood. His heart racing, mind whirling, his nerves tingling from his head to his toes.

Both women took great pleasure in pleasing him and when he could take no more he grabbed Serana hoisting her up in the air resting her on his shoulders, claiming her womanhood for his own.

She bucked against his face, grabbing his head as he lapped his tongue against her clitoris, cupping her firm buttocks in his hands, gently squeezing and smacking the ample flesh sending waves of ecstasy through the princesses body!

Aela continued to suck on the dragonborn's length, while gently squeezing his balls in her hands. His manhood throbbing in her mouth as he came closer and closer to climax.

Serana continued to grind against her husband's mouth moaning his name over and over again as she felt her loins well with pressure, meeting her own climax. As she came down from her husband's shoulders Mikel laid on his back allowing for Serana to straddle him while Aela sat on his face.

His hands gently moving up her body, feeling every curve, every bit of her soft skin against his hands. Her ample bosom's bouncing up and down in his hands as she grind her lower half against his tongue.

Serana placed her hands on Aela's shoulders to anchor herself as she bounced up and down on Mikel's stiffened manhood. Feeling his length stretch her out each time she raised herself up and impaled herself onto it going down.

Mikel was amazed at the responses he received from both women. He never imagined them pleasing him in such a way, and it made him want them more and more.

"Don't stop, don't stop!" Mikel moaned to Serana.

He held onto Aela lapping his tongue against her pussy faster and faster invoking grunts and moans to escape each breath she took.

She then took his finger and rubbed it against her asshole, leaning forward as she begged him to put it inside her. Eager to please his forbearer he did as she commanded, pushing his index finger inside of her anus in and out as he continued to suck and lick on her pussy.

Serana kept riding him more wildly feeling herself about to reach orgasm again, and Mikel was not far behind as the pressure continued to build, and build, and build until finally...

"UUUUUHHHHHHNNNNNNN!"

He released his seed deep into his wife's womb until she could take no more. Her body jolting as she came down from her sexual peak. She climbed off of him allowing him to bottom out of her, laying down beside her husband.

Mikel raised Aela off of his face and positioned her on all fours as he mounted her from behind. His rhythms picking up as he pounded his lower half against her backside. Serana got behind her man running her hands up his body, gently kissing his neck leaving small passion marks on his skin.

Mikel growled with fervor, turning his attention to his wife as he claimed her lips once again. She could taste the huntress on his tongue, mixed with her own essence. She pressed her body closer against her husband's, gently pinching his nipples spurring him on as they engaged in a passionate kiss.

Aela matched Mikel's movements with her own, rocking her body in tandem with him, begging for him to pound her harder.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and began pounding her warmth harder, making her ass jiggle against his flesh as she arched her back taking him in deeper and deeper, screaming louder and louder with ecstasy!

She could feel he was about to cum, and she would not be far behind. As he continued to pound her wet pussy, he pulled her closer to him so her back was against his chest. She leaned her head back to kiss him, and Mikel went back and forth between his wife and Aela, accepting their affections over and over again until finally they reached their climactic end!

The moment he came, he pulled out of Aela, and she quickly turned around and took his length into her mouth to catch his seed. Serana joined her, tracing her tongue against his cock, taking in the rest of his cum in her mouth. Mikel's body jolting as the last few spurts of his cum left his body. He then collapsed onto the grass, chest heaving in the dark as he tried to gather himself.

Serana lay down beside him to his left. Aela to his right. His arms draped around both of them as they began to drift off to sleep.

By the next morning when Valerica and the children woke up, they found Mikel and Serana in good spirits. He, Serana, and Aela sat at the table having breakfast, laughing and conversing with one another. Valerica was confused by her daughters display and demanded answers.

"Good morning mother! Care for some breakfast?" Serana asked.

"I don't think I have an appetite." She replied dryly.

"Suit yourself, we're famished!" She replied.

Mikel concurred with his wife as she fed him some of the bread from her plate. Aela joining them as she playfully caressed his hand and kissed him.

"What have we stumbled upon here love?" Commander Gregor asked Valerica.

"It seems my daughter has entered into some sort of agreement." She replied.

"I can only imagine the outcome of this one." He said.

"Indeed." She replied.

TO BE CONTINUED...