The next several weeks seemed to go by peacefully for the Companions. Kaiah had taken several jobs since her Trial with Farkas, and had even been on some with Ria. She had grown very close to her since her arrival at Jorrvaskr and they were becoming fast friends. The Redguard seemed to be settling into some form of normalcy despite her knowing the Circle's secret. She tried to avoid the topic as much as possible, and live her life normally. Training sessions with Vilkas were awkward, but they both tried to appear as normal as possible to others.

Tonight was a night of celebration. The Festival of Lights was being celebrated all over Skyrim, in which small candles were given out by local temples. Kaiah loved this holiday, as it was a sacred holiday in Hammerfell. There would be dancing and drinks while people lit lanterns and candles. She realized that the people of Skyrim celebrated the holiday a little differently, however. Regardless, the locals of Whiterun were setting up and decorating for the occasion.

Ria and Kaiah wandered the city and admired the beautiful decorations. They wanted to buy some food for Tilma so she could cook a large celebratory feast. Kaiah also wanted to pick up some candles so she could bring them back to Jorrvaskr. The two women brought back knapsacks and baskets of food as well as wax candles.

Aela gave them a grin as they both walked into the mead hall. "You've done quite a bit of shopping today."

"Of course!" Ria exclaimed, "Today is the Festival of Lights. We had to bring back a little something to celebrate."

"Looks like you've brought back the whole market." Skjor stated, walking up behind Aela. Kaiah rolled her eyes. "You don't seem very excited."

He shrugged his shoulders, "It's a holiday about lights."

Kaiah set the basket on the table. "It is about more than just "lights". It's about celebrating new beginnings, and letting go of the past. It's a beautiful holiday."

Kodlak came up the stairs and heard the four talking. He smiled as he approached them. "Kaiah is right. We should be honoring this holiday and celebrating together."

Kaiah gestured to the old warrior. "Thank you, Harbinger." Skjor shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever you say."

Kaiah and Ria helped unload the food that they bought from the market. They brought it down to the kitchens and put them away for Tilma. She had already started cooking some of the meal already so it would be ready for the evening. As the women were prepping the food, Farkas came through the doors. Tilma looked at the Nord curiously. "What are you doing here?"

It appeared, like most of the other Companions, that he was wearing a casual tunic and trousers. There was no training today due to the celebratory circumstance, so many of the Companions opted to lounge in casual clothing. He shrugged his shoulders innocently. "Just seeing if ya' needed any help."

Ria's face brightened, handing him a nearby woodcutter's ax. "You can chop some wood for the fire." He grabbed the ax and shrugged. "Alright." He walked out of the kitchens and Kaiah chuckled. Ria gave her an innocent look. "What? Less work for us."

Farkas went upstairs and went outside to chop some firewood. As he was doing so, he was approached by his twin brother, who gave him a curious look. "What are you doing?" Farkas wiped some of the sweat from his forehead. "The ladies said they needed some help chopping firewood." Vilkas looked towards the doors of Jorrvaskr. "Ya' know," Farkas started, "You should see if they need help with anything else."

He opted for his brother's advice and went inside Jorrvaskr to see if they needed more help. He walked into the kitchens and saw the three women prepping for the evening meal. Ria was wearing her scale hide armor but bore no sword and shield. Kaiah was wearing a long maroon colored dress with a dark brown corset cinched at her waist. Her long and thin dreadlocks were pulled back in a loose low ponytail. She looked over from chopping some carrots and saw him standing by the door.

He cleared his throat, "Farkas said you might need some help."

Tilma walked over from behind Kaiah, placing a soft hand on her shoulder. "You can help Kaiah chop these carrots and leeks. We'll need a lot for the stew that I've been brewing. If you'd be so kind."

He looked at Kaiah and then Tilma nervously, "O-of course." He walked over beside the Redguard and grabbed a knife and leek. He started chopping silently, trying not to start an awkward conversation between them. Kaiah was chopping quickly, more so than he was. He had to admit, he wasn't very good with cooking. He never needed to learn much, and Tilma had always cooked for everyone. Kaiah looked over and saw him struggling with cutting consistently.

She let out a sigh and put down her knife. "Here," she said, gently grabbing the knife from his hand, "if you hold it like this, you'll be able to chop faster and more evenly." She held his knife and chopped the leek with ease. He tried to observe the technique, but found himself staring at her face. She looked so focused on what she was doing, biting her lower lip as she cut. He noticed she had a small scar along her left cheek, and she had small imperfections on her skin.

She looked beautiful.

"See?"

He snapped out of his trance and looked at the Redguard with confusion. She gave him an unamused look. "Were you even paying attention?"

He let out a nervous chuckle, "Of course!" She glared at him as she handed him back the knife. She then grabbed her own knife and started chopping her own food again. Vilkas grabbed another leek and tried cutting again, a little faster this time since taking her advice. They kept to themselves for a while until Kaiah spoke up.

"So, how long have you been with the Companions?"

He looked over and gave her a curious look. "An odd question." She shrugged her shoulders, "Not really. I'm genuinely curious."

He let out a long sigh, still looking at the leek as he was chopping, "To hear Farkas tell it, we were brought back by our father, raised as happy little pups. Running around, biting knees." She continued chopping her food, but still listening to the Nord. "But that's not entirely what happened. Our father, Jergen, was a Companion. He left when we were lads to fight in the Great War. He never returned."

Kaiah stopped cutting and looked up at Vilkas, who kept his gaze at the table. "Farkas and I grew up here. It's all we ever knew. I learned how to read, write, wield a blade… Farkas was never one for books though. I love him, but brains were never his strong suit."

Kaiah gave him a soft smile. "Looking at your collection, you seem to love reading a lot." He let out a light chuckle. "Truly, if I wasn't the Master of Arms I would spend my days reading instead."

Kaiah looked at the table and saw that they cut all the carrots and leeks that Tilma needed. She then took the two bowls and brought them over to Tilma. "Finished already?" She exclaimed. "Well that's all I need for now. The meal will be ready soon." Ria piped up from behind them. "I'll see if Farkas is done with the firewood." She walked out of the kitchen and left Vilkas and Kaiah alone with Tilma. The old woman smiled at them, "You both don't need to stay, I'll call when everything is ready."

Kaiah and Vilkas both left the kitchen and walked into the mead hall. They saw Torvar and Athis drinking at the long table. Torvar saw the two of them and raised his mug, "Come over and have a drink!" Kaiah put her hands on her hips and gave him a skeptical look. "Shouldn't you guys be helping set the table?"

"We are!" Torvar slurred, "We're just… taking a drinking break." Athis perched his head, "I brought out my lute for the music, sera."

Kaiah rubbed the bridge of her nose before suddenly looking around the room. "Where's Njada?" Torvar took a sip of his ale. "She went out with Skjor and Aela for sum', I don't know."

"Of course she did," Kaiah muttered under her breath. She turned her attention towards Farkas and Ria, who busted through the doors carrying heaps of firewood. Ria was carrying significantly less than Farkas, but was struggling much more than him. Kaiah rushed over and took some of the load off Ria. "Gods, these are heavy," Ria huffed. Torvar laughed, "You're barely carrying anything!" The Imperial glared at the drunken Nord, "At least I'm helping!"

Vilkas approached the two whelps at the table. "C'mon, get up. The old man wants everyone to celebrate together and we're going to honor his wishes. So get off your lazy arses and help."

Athis and Torvar nodded as they both begrudgingly got up from their seats, resuming their task of setting the table Tilma. Ria, Kaiah, and Farkas set down the firewood on the side of the fire pit in front of the long table. Kaiah looked around the hall and saw everything coming together. It would be almost mealtime for the Companions and everything seemed to be going smoothly. Athis and Torvar finished setting the table and Farkas finished chopping the firewood.

The hall was finally ready for the evening meal. Skjor, Aela, and Njada made it back just in time for supper. The whelps and members of the Circle took their seats at the table as Tilma brought out their meals. Kodlak made a comment on how amazing the food smelled, and Torvar immediately started digging into his plate. Ria laughed as she started eating her food as well, humming with gratification as she felt the hot soup travel down her throat. Aela and Njada took their seats next to other female Companions.

"Where have you guys been?" Kaiah inquired, taking in a mouthful of food.

"None of your business, Redguard," Njada snapped back.

Aela rolled her eyes, "It was just a simple job outside the walls, nothing exciting."

Kaiah glared at Njada. Gods, she wanted to punch her in the face. She had been nothing but rude and hostile to her since she arrived, and she wanted nothing more than to take a hot bowl of soup and throw it in her face. But out of respect for Kodlak, she decided not to.

The Companions ate and drank, talking about all their most recent jobs. Kaiah shared some interesting stories about her time in Hammerfell. Kodlak had been the only other Companion to have been to Hammerfell, and he jumped in on occasion to share his own stories of the desert. She admitted that Skyrim was much colder and drier than her homeland, but she was glad that she was able to meet such loyal people she could call her friends. Ria was practically begging Kaiah to take her to Hammerfell, but the Redguard insisted it wasn't a good idea. Simply for the fact that she was considered a runaway by the Alik'r warriors.

But she wouldn't dare admit that to the Companions.

In fact, she had kept her Alik'r history to herself. While the Companions seemed to have secrets of their own, she never found it relevant to mention her past. All of her stories had been mostly downplayed or dramatized without the secret slipping. In truth, she wanted to be honest, she didn't enjoy lying to her friends, but she knew for their safety and hers, she had to keep the Alik'r in her past, where they belonged.

Kodlak stood up from his chair, tapping his glass with a butterknife. "I just wanted to take a few moments and appreciate the people sitting beside me." Everyone stopped eating and sat in silence, listening to their Harbinger. "I have been a part of the Companions for many years, and I have had the pleasure of fighting alongside almost all of you. There is truly no one that I would trust with my life, than the men and women before me. I am proud of each and every one of you, and I hope that we will continue to make stories and revel in our glory."

Everyone at the table clapped and cheered for the Harbinger as he sat back down in his chair. Torvar stood up from his chair and raised his mug.

"To the Companions!"

Everyone raised their mug to join him. "To the Companions!"

After they finished eating, Athis took out his lute and started playing a Nordic tune. Ria, Farkas, Torvar, Kaiah and Aela all got up to dance in the hall. Kaiah and Ria danced together before switching partners with Aela and Farkas. They all seemed to be merry and planned on dancing until their legs gave out.

"Kaiah," Ria huffed, "How do they dance in Hammerfell?"

Kaiah let out a snickered laugh, "Unlike the Nords," she rolled her hips side to side, "we dance with our hips." Torvar called to her from the other side of the floor, "Why don't you show us some moves?"

Kodlak laughed, "It's been a long time since I've seen a traditional Redguard dance."

Kaiah felt her face grow hot from the alcohol. "It's been a while, but I think I've still got some tricks up my sleeve." She pulled Ria's hands towards her and then released. "Watch this."

The Redguard started by rolling her hips, holding her arms in the air on her sides. She then started moving her chest up and down simultaneously with her hips. She then started to move her feet up and down, tilting her body side to side. She took a moment to turn and kick her right in the air as high as she could, allowing her head and shoulder to fall back behind her hips. She stood up straight again before turning and flicking her wrists away from her arms. She repeated this a couple times before doing a backwards aerial. She could hear Ria and Torvar cheering for her as she continued dancing.

In truth, the other Companions had never seen dancing quite like that. The Nord never moved their bodies in such an elaborate way. Kodlak, Skjor and Vilkas all watched from their seats in awe as the Redguard danced. Vilkas couldn't seem to keep his eyes off of the beautiful woman. The way she moved her hips, and how she moved so gracefully, he suddenly realized where her fighting style came from. Before he knew it, Kaiah was behind his chair, placing two delicate hands on his shoulders. She flinched at her touch, and felt a warmth radiating from her fingers all through his body.

"You should come dance, Vilkas," she whispered in his ear.

He cleared his throat before looking at his drink coldly, "I don't dance."

"Not even with me?"

He choked on his drink. What was she doing? And why was he feeling aroused?

She placed her hands on his wrists and guided him out of his chair, towards the dance floor. Skjor let an amused laugh. "Atta' boy, Vilkas!" He glared at the old Nord before looking at Kaiah. She still had his hands in her, waiting for the right moment to start dancing. She placed a hand on his shoulder and held his other hand in hers. She started guiding him along in a dance that the others had started. Athis picked up the pace with his lute and soon everyone was dancing in circles around each other. Kaiah let out a loud laugh as she bounced around the floor with Vilkas. He couldn't help but chuckle at the seemingly tipsy Redguard.

He suddenly felt a strange warmth in his chest. 'What is this I'm feeling?' As he looked at her large blue eyes and red tinted cheeks, he couldn't help but feel… entranced? Her dark complexion certainly made her rosy cheeks less vibrant, but he still found it uniquely beautiful nonetheless. And her lips. Her plump lips curled into a wide smile and she started showing her teeth. She had the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.

The slowed the pace and Kaiah started panting a little heavily. For Vilkas, he could smell the stew and mead in her breath and hear her heart beating faster by the second. He lowered his hand from her waist to her hip, pulling her closer ever so slightly. Kaiah was not that much shorter than Vilkas, maybe a head or so, and she looked up at the Nord with eager eyes. Vilkas stared at her lips and so desperately wanted to kiss them. But he smelled the alcohol in her breath, and the way she had been acting was so unlike her.

'It would be wrong to kiss her.' Right?

Kaiah looked at his silver eyes and then his lips. She started to slowly lean in, closing her eyes. Vilkas almost did the same. 'Idiot! What are you doing?' He then gently pushed her away, letting out a slight chuckle. "I think I'm done dancing for a while." He then stepped away from the confused Redguard and let go of her hand, returning to his seat. He took a big drink of his ale and Kodlak patted him on the back.

Tilma suddenly came out from the living quarters holding a platter of unlit wax candles. "Alright, everyone! Time to light the candles!"

Everyone scrambled around the old woman, grabbing a candle. They then made their way outside to the training yard. On the tables were some paper lanterns, one each for every man and woman who lived at Jorrvaskr. Kodlak's eyes widened. "What are these?"

Kaiah turned around and gestured to the lanterns. "I know the Nords don't celebrate this way, but in Hammerfell we light our candles and put one of these lanterns on top of it and then release it into the sky. It's supposed to signify letting go of the past and embracing the future."

"What a beautiful tradition, Kaiah," Kodlak smiled, walking over and grabbing a lantern. He lit his candle with a nearby match and placed his lantern over it. He then walked out to the training yard and released his lantern, watching as it slowly went higher into the sky. The rest of the Companions followed suit, lighting their candles and placing a paper lantern over them. They then all stood beside their Harbinger, holding their lanterns tight before releasing them.

They all watched in awe as they saw their lanterns go up higher in the sky, traveling over the wall. One of the lanterns started faltering over the wall, slowly falling towards the ground. "What!" Torvar yelled. "Not fair! My lantern didn't fly long at all!" The rest of the Companions laughed loudly at Torvar's whining. "That means you didn't let go of your past," Kaiah inquired, poking her head around the others. He crossed his arms and scoffed, "What do the dumb lanterns know anyways…"

Vilkas looked up at the sky, never taking his eyes off his lantern. He watched as it floated east with the others. He truly wanted to let go of his past, and all the mistakes he had made, and it made him wonder if that's why his lantern didn't falter, like Torvar's.

He suddenly felt someone grab his hand. He looked over to his right and saw Kaiah, who was holding the Harbinger's hand as well. He looked down the line and saw everyone beyond holding hands. He then looked to his left and saw his brother, whose hand grabbed rather hesitantly. Farkas realized what they were doing and then grabbed Ria's hand, and then she grabbed Njada's.

They all stood before the moon in the sky and looked at the lanterns that now dotted the night sky. Kodlak felt a small tear run down his cheek, so grateful for the beautiful tradition that he participated in. Vilkas looked at the Redguard beside him, who was still looking at the sky in total awe. He looked up and saw the aurora borealis beginning to form along the sky. He couldn't believe that the sky was capable of creating such a beautiful thing.

Unbeknownst to Vilkas and Kaiah, the lanterns they had released were floating together in circles, wandering through the open sky of Kyne's breath.

Author's Note: I enjoyed writing this chapter so much! Although I will admit I suffered from writer's block along the way. Anyways, the Festival of Lights is a holiday celebrated in Skyrim in which the locals light candles. In Hammerfell the Redguards celebrate something similar called the Day of Lights. I'm not sure if they light lanterns, but I thought the idea was cute so I decided to include it in the story. While I try to remain as true to the canonical lore of the Elder Scrolls as much as possible, I like to add my own little twists here and there.

I think someone is catching feelings though...