Hey everyone!
I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and New Years!
So here's a new chapter and i hope you enjoy!
Sorry it took so long for me to post...
- Rosey
Chapter 23
The bitter cold of the morning was the only thing keeping me awake. I dusted away the sleep in my eyes as I walked next to Farkas along the icy path. The tomb was less than an hour away from the college, but the wind did not let down. Lockan had decided that he would stay at the college and wished us luck in the tomb, and also to get him ingredients. Lazy.
"For a Nord, you are terrible with the cold," Farkas jeered as we walked down the steep hill.
"For a Nord, you aren't very smart," I hissed.
"Aye, but at least I'm not sulking over someone," he laughed. My hands drifted to my braid, twining my fingers through it.
"Shut up," I mumbled. Of course Aela had been talking to him about it. No such thing as privacy. At least I don't mouth to everyone that she snuck off to Lockan's mages courters last night. I shook my head at the thought and glanced at the ice in front of us.
Broken ice filled the waters leading the way to the tomb. Their frozen surfaces glistening in the light of day like the stars at night. If one fell into those waters, they would be lucky that they didn't freeze to death in the water, outside the water though, highly to die of frostbite. There's that side of the deadly ice, but sliding across it would be another.
"We are going to have to be careful crossing these waters," Aela warned, taking a small step on the unbalanced ice. "We do not want to be joining them in that tomb." I looked over to Farkas, his once smiling face had turned to a frown, fear almost sparked in his silver eyes.
"Afraid of a bit of ice?" I chimed, taking a step onto the frozen water.
"Aye, especially if I might die from frostbite," Farkas grumbled, taking a shaky step onto the ice behind me.
"You will be fine big fella," I laughed, jumping from platforms of ice to the other.
The sound of my boots scraping the ice filled my ears as I made my way across, carefully placing each foot down. I was a fair way a head of the others, whom were taking their time, Vilkas especially. He was lagging behind, carrying Wuthraad for me. I had not spoken to him since last night, and he too was quiet, though I didn't understand why. Probably just worried about entering the tomb.
I reached the end of the ice with ease, stopping on a slab of it at least ten metres in length. "Hurry up all of you!" I shouted over my shoulder.
"Well sorry we aren't as nimble as you are!" Farkas shouted, a few grumbles coming from Vilkas's direction.
I waited at the edge of the ice for them. One by one they made their way onto the ice I was standing on. I turned around to walk across the rest of the ice platform, only to have an idea to swim around me.
"Hey Farkas, how much do you reckon I can glide across the ice?" I asked.
"I bet ten septims you can't," He laughed. I took that offer.
"Twenty septims that she slips," Vilkas cooed, leaning against the giant battle axe. I only smiled at him and backed to the edge of the ice.
I steadied my feet, making sure not to slip on the first run. One foot after the other, I took off and stopped running, letting my boots slide me across the ice. Cheers came from behind me and laughter. I smiled as I kept going but that smile soon faded. I was going too fast to stop myself from tripping and tumbling onto the frozen ground at the end of the ice runway, sending me tumbling and landing on my ass.
Sitting there, laughter erupted from around me. I too started laughing, placing my hands down beside me. "Looks like you owe Vilkas twenty septims Farkas," Aela chuckled, shaking her head at me.
"Aye," Farkas said, looking down at me on the ground like I was a child.
Vilkas walked up behind him, offering a hand up. I scanned over his hand, unsure if I should take it. I sighed, pushing my pride aside and took him hand, letting him lift me. "Thanks," I said softly, just audible for him. He just grunted in acknowledgement and walked on.
Looking up for the first time since I crash landing on the small island, I noticed the looming tomb of Ysgramor.
0o0
The tomb was still freezing, any signs of a door other than the one we had entered decreased. I warmed my hands over one of the braziers Aela had lit for us in the room, the shadow of the statue of Ysgramor loomed a top. His ands clutching at nothing.
"Vilkas, place the axe in the statues hands, that should open the door," Aela hissed, crossing her arms over her chest.
With out saying a word, Vilkas reached up and placed the axe into the waiting arms. The sound of stone against stone filled the air, and a door appeared in front of the statue. "Alright, who wants to go first?" I joked, pointing down into the dark tunnel. Cobwebs homed the corners and ceiling of the tunnel.
"You all go ahead." Vilkas stated, leaning against the wall, his armour reflecting the orange light.
"Um what? You're going in with us," I stated, crossing my arms over my ebony chest.
"I've let revenge rule my heart and I feel as though I have disappointed Kodlak, besides I've got something on my mind, and I do not want to be killed for not concentrating," He shrugged. I squinted my eyes at him before turning to Farkas.
"Please tell me you are going with us?" I asked.
"Aye, I thought you did this sort of thing weekly?" He sneered at me, taking a step ahead, into the winding guts of the tomb.
"Didn't say I ever enjoyed these sort of things," I growled, grabbing for my axe around my waist. I looked back at Vilkas, almost hoping he would change his mind. His eyes caught my stare in a net of silver. His raised his hand slightly before letting it drop, as though he was going to say something but let it go. I tore my eyes away from him and back onto the walls of the tunnel.
The mist of the dead and mould swelled around us as we walked deeper into the tomb. Aela's torch leading the way through the tunnels. Draugr pounced on us like wolves, bits of skin and hair falling off them as they attacked all of us.
"Why did we have to go into a tomb, of all places," I huffed, slashing at the last draugr.
"At least it's just draugr," Aela said. Shouts of horror filled the end of the tunnel. I swivelled around, finding the clearest of blue figures staring back at the three of us.
"You were saying Aela," Farkas huffed, tightening the grip on his great sword.
She just rolled her eyes and knocked an arrow, sending it flying into one of the ghosts. To my surprise, it did not go straight through; rather bounce off and onto the ground.
I raised my axe and charged, ploughing trough the ghost, the ghost of a companion. Seconds later, remains of the ghosts floated around on the ground, a sparkling pile of stars.
We walked further on, slaying anything else that got into our way. As we turned a corner, a door way of white lay in front of us.
"Sorry lass, I'm not going any further," Farkas admitted from behind Aela and I.
I growled at him. "Farkas they are just spiders, they won't even touch you."
"I'm sorry, you will have to go on without me."
"Poor excuse of a Nord," I mumbled, turning my back to him and hacked trough the wall of white.
Aela walked a head of me, sending arrows in the direction of four frostbite spiders, their venom dripping from their mouths in waves.
"Brute of a Nord, takes down draugr, helps slaying dragons and yet can't stomach a spider," I growled, pulling my axe out of one of the spiders, murky blood dripping off the edges.
"I think Kodlak babied him too much when they were younger," Aela snorted, sitting an arrow on her bow.
"Would not surprise me," I said while rolling my eyes, "Let's just get through here and get to Kodlak."
While we walked, I couldn't help but feel my stomach churning, not just from the tomb. Some part of me wished that Vilkas was with us inside this tomb. My senses ached sometimes just from catching a wisp of his scent.
I didn't know what way to choose.
The rest of the way consisted of hacking at ghosts and draugr until we came upon a large doorway.
"Think Kodlak is in there?" I asked, sheathing my axe.
"Or more draugr," Aela shrugged, pushing on the great doors.
Dry, cold air hit both of us, sending a shiver down my spine. Darkness waded around Aela and I as we walked closer to the single pillar in the room, a flame burning bright a top it. A lone figure appeared in front of us, walking closer.
"Kodlak?" Aela asked next to me, caution in her voice.
"Greetings, Shield-Sister. Of course it's me. My fellow Harbingers and I have been warming ourselves here. Trying to evade Hircine." The old man spoke, his hoarse voice echoing around the room. I glanced over to Alea, brows raised.
"Um Kodlak, no one else is here," I stammered, my brows still raised.
"You see only me because your heart knows only me as the Companions leader. You've brought honour to the name of the Companions Hana, we won't soon forget it." He bowed.
"That's very touching Kodlak, thankyou but we need to fix your curse first," I smiled, dropping the bag with the witches head contained in it.
"Aye, how could I forget. Throw the head into the fire, it will release the witches curse, for me hopefully."
I nodded in response, and with shaky hands, I raised the head out of the bag, the stink only intensified. I threw the head into the burning flame without a second thought. A scream from the head filled the air. I glanced back at Kodlak, who hunched over in pain.
I was about to rush over to the ghost of Kodlak, until a red haze erupted around him. The red haze swivelled around Kodlak, until it formed a large wolf.
"Giant spiders and now a giant wolf, of course," I mumbled before weaving around the cavern, attacking the large beast. Aela slammed more arrows into its side. The red hazed wolf snarled at us as we continued to slay the best.
The spirit ran for me, ignoring the arrows pelting into its side. I raised my shield on instinct, deflecting the blow. The force of the wolf pushed me backwards, stumbling and falling to the ground. "Aela! Get this thing of me!" I yelled, holding my shield over my body.
I glanced over to her, but her arrows did little to nothing against the beast. 'Just give it a little shove,' my wolf spirit suggested. I smiled in response. "FUS RO DAH!" I shouted at it. The red spirit vanished from in front of me, the red mist fell away into nothing. I staggered back onto my feet and shook my head.
"And so slain the beast inside me. I thank you for this gift. I must leave now for Sovengarde. Return to Jorrvaskrr and triumph your victory and lead the Companions to further glory." Kodlak spoke for the last time, before his body dissolved into nothing, leaving Aela and I alone.
I stood there shocked, my mine still echoing with his words.
"Did I just hear right? Did Kodlak just say you were to lead the Companions?" Aela asked.
I slowly turned my head towards her, my eyes wide. "I hope he didn't"
"Why? It's an honour to become a harbinger of the Companions." Aela countered.
I sat down on the cold stone, focusing my eyes downwards. "It may be a honour and all but I don't want it. I do not need two titles, being the Dragonborn is already a hassle and a half." I huffed. "I can't handle it and if something goes wrong while I defeat Alduin…" I trailed off, my voice breaking slightly.
"Aye, I see your point Shield-Sister. You have not fully accepted the title so I guess you could offer it to someone else," Aela suggested, opening a hand out for me.
I scanned over the hand before looking back at the ground. "Did you want the title?"
Aela laughed. "Nay, the only advice that I could give would be how to use an bow right." I let out a small laugh, taking Aela's hand. She pulled me up with ease. "Why don't you ask Vilkas? I am sure he would accept it."
I grumbled in acknowledgement as we walked up the stairs along the wall, towards the exit. Along the cobbled wall, a large shield rested against an old chest. I left Aela's side, walking over to the chest and picking up the shield, the weight of it unfamiliar in my grasp. "I'm guessing that would be the shield of Ysgramor." Aela stated from behind me. I turned the shield over, looking at it's dull metal.
"May as well take it, the divines can chase me if they want it back," I shrugged, strapping the shield over my back. The weight of it shifting as I straightened. The sound of stone sifting revealed a door passage, leading the way back to the entrance.
"Did you do it? Save Kodlak?" Asked Farkas as we walked through the exit tunnel.
"Aye, we did. No thanks to you," Aela scowled, rolling her shoulders, her Nordic armour shifting with her.
I looked over to Vilkas who was just staring at the tunnel we came through and back to Aela and I. "They always have exit tunnels in these tombs, don't be so shocked by it," I stated, playing with the straps on the shield.
"Aye, apparently. Now did Kodlak say anything?" Vilkas asked, his voice lowered.
I glanced over to Aela and then back to him. "Yes, he did. He spoke to us who would be the newest harbinger of the Companions." Aela informed.
"Who?" Farkas barked in, his eyes eager.
I simply rose my hand, a wince on my face. "WHAT!" The twins shouted, they're voice bouncing off the rock.
"I haven't accepted it you dummies. I don't want it, that's why I'm giving it to someone else," I huffed, narrowing my eyes at the two.
"You can't do that," Vilkas argued.
"I just did, Harbinger," I smirked at him. For once, Vilkas was speechless, no expression on his face.
I barrelled over in laughter, Aela and Farkas joining me. "Congratulations brother!" Farkas bellowed, clasping a hand on Vilkas's steel clad shoulder.
"Don't look so shocked Vilkas, you deserve it," I laughed.
"Why me? I've treated you like shit half of the time while you were in Jorrvaskrr and couldn't even work up the strength to go in and save Kodlak," He confessed.
"Because I don't want the title, or having to look after you all. I'm busy enough being Dragonborn and besides, I think if I gave to it to Farkas, well, that wouldn't work. Sorry Farkas,"
"Let's just hope that Kodlak doesn't get upset about this," Aela laughed, walking towards large iron doors.
I was about to walk out of the tomb with them but stopped. "Shit, I'll catch up with you all. I have to grab some things for Lockan." I waved, dropping my gear and running into the tunnel.
"We'll see you in Winterhold!" Farkas shouted behind me.
I searched around the tomb for anything Lockan needed or would want for his spells or anything I might like. I searched every pot I could find, usually containing a few gold pieces and maybe a jewel.
This gave me time to think. I was still getting over how Kodlak had asked me to be Harbinger for the Companions. I would never be able to live up to his reputation or any of the others, let alone live up to my prophecy as Dragonborn.
I dropped the small satchel on the ground and slid to the floor. I just wanted a break from everything. Run away from Skyrim, leave this place. Forget about Alduin. Forget about the Companions. Have a month by myself. But I still had to help M'keenz.
I groaned and slammed my head into the wall. Too much to do. I wanted out of this mess. When everything is done with Alduin, I want to travel Skyrim and her beauty. Help those who need me or just adventure through ruins.
'I'm liking this plan,' my spirit growled.
I chuckled at it. 'Of course, how could I forget you. Before you ask, yes I was be in beast form for some of it.'
'I was already beginning to like you, but now you just confirmed it.'
I don't know how long I sat there on the ground before I moved again, collecting potions and ingredients for my brother. I managed to find some ectoplasm from the ghosts, hanging moss and three potions on magica.
The coolness from the entrance wisped around me as I walked closer, the doors just ahead of me. I grabbed my bag off the floor and headed for the door.
"I thought you got lost in there," a rough voice said from behind me.
I stood there, frozen as the water outside. "I thought I said for you to all to leave without me." I stated, still facing the wall.
"Well you have a tendency of getting attacked by something," Vilkas said, a small chuckle escaping his lips.
"You still have your tendency of scowling at everyone," I scoffed, turning on my heel to face him. "You can stay in here all you want but I'm leaving." I crossed my arms over my chest. Some part of me wanting to leave, run away from this hellhole of a tomb. Nevertheless, another wanting to stay with him, breathe in every inch of scent.
Vilkas pushed off the wall he was leaning on and walked over to me, his armour shuddering at his movement. "Leave then," he gestured to the door a smirk replacing his scowl. "I want to have a look at the tomb anyway."
I stuck my tongue out at him before turning back around and pushed against the door. I opened it slightly only to have it push back against me, white wind whispering in through the gap. Snow storm. Great.
"You're going to have to stay in here for a while yet, someone upset the gods." I mumbled, glancing at the shield on my back. I dropped my belongings on the dusted ground and not long after, sat down beside them.
We both sat in silence, the only sound in the room was the whistling of the howling wind and the crackle of the small fire from the braziers. Sick of doing nothing, I grabbed out my drawing journal and started sketching.
By the time I finished, black charcoal dusted my fingers. I looked at the page in the dim light. Kodlak sitting around with everyone, the old man smiling at all of them. I smiled to myself and ripped out the picture. I stood up and walked over to the statue of Ysgramor, his large body sending a moving shadow on the ground. I placed the picture down on the bottom of the statue, along with blue mountain flowers.
I stood back from the statue and look up. I caught Vilkas's stare, unaware he must have been watching me the whole time, like I would fall into a heap any second. I scowled at him. Sick of his constant staring the whole trip since the bandit attack.
"Are you just going to keep staring at me like I'm wounded?" I spat at him, standing over to the new Harbinger.
He just sat there, still as the dead inside the tomb. I threw my hands into the air and stormed back over to my spot, falling to the ground with narrowed eyes. I sat there for minutes, praying the storm would pass any second.
As I played with dagger, turning it around in fingers, the sound of armour shifting grabbed my attention. I looked up slowly, watching as he took one step closer to me then towards the statue. Gazing over the picture, I had drawn. My legs ached from sitting down, slowly I rose and turned my attention back to Vilkas
I traced my eyes over the back of his armour as he crouched down, looking at the picture. His armour marked and beaten from various fights. The fur lining under his shoulder pads slightly charred.
"How long have you been wearing the necklace," His voice cut through the silence, a line of light through the dark.
I sat there in silence, unable to let words form in my now bone dry mouth. Had he seen it? Or guessed I wore it? "I…" I stuttered, "I.. Since the day we left." I confessed. I looked up and found him looking down at me, his silver eyes looking everywhere but my own. I lowered my head in shame. How could I have not guessed he would see it, or notice I had not yet handed it back to him. Even if my head wanted me to leave that piece of gold back in Jorrvaskrr, my heart couldn't.
Foolish.
"How long have you known?" I asked, my voice low and shallow. I closed my eye's, letting the darkness surround me, rather than seeing everything else.
A gloved finger titled my chin up, causing me to open my eyes. My eyes wouldn't catch his own as he held my head up, searching my face. "Since the attack. You're necklace slipped out from under your shirt and you didn't realise." He said, his voice soft, almost soothing. I felt so stupid. How did I not check it after that it was not showing? "I guessed you may have kept it after we left, because you didn't throw it in my face."
"Damn you wolves and you're peaked vision," I mumbled, still avoiding his gaze. A small chuckle left his mouth. My lips quivered before I said anything else. "I don't know why I put on the stupid necklace. Some part of me wanted to throw it at the wall, another wanted me to run after you and kiss you then and there." I wasn't lying either. I wanted to be with him again, more than anything but a single thread was holding me back.
"So will you give me a second chance?" He asked, his own voice quavering. I finally looked up into his eyes. They burned the brightest silver, and his war paint smudge around his eyes more than usual. His other hand was leaning against the wall, pinning me against the wall and him. "I won't make the same stupid mistake, no more blaming you for my stupid mistakes. I don't want to lose you again. I'm sorry. You can use me as dragon bate, practice your dagger throwing around me, kick my ass into the freezing sea for all I care, I want you back in my life."
I let a small laugh escape me, and letting my arms hook around him neck. My throat bobbed before I could say anything else, unsure if I should say anything. Before I could say anything, his lips lightly brushed against mine. He kissed me softly, like that of clouds. He pulled away all too quickly, surveying my face. I could feel the crimson blush creeping up from my neck and flushing my cheeks.
I locked my eyes onto his and let the last strand loose. I missed him, I missed his touch. I missed being around him, his scent, his arms wrapped around me.
I wanted him as much as he wanted me.
"I'm all yours Harbinger," I whispered before kissing him back. He must have been taken by surprise after my words, but seconds later he kissed me back. It started off slow and soft, then graduated from rushed and passionate. I groaned as his tongue slipped inside my mouth, connecting with mine or brushing over my teeth.
I caressed his hair with my hands as we kissed, pushing his kiss deeper into mine. We only stopped for breath a few times, then going back into the kiss. His hands skimmed down my armour and around the side to the buckles of my armour. I gently pushed his hands away, holding his hand in mine.
I broke away from the kiss, slightly panting and leaning my forehead on his. "Better not in here Vilkas, the others are watching," I giggled. He pulled his head away and looked into my eyes confused. I laughed. "Harbingers of old and Companions."
"Best not then," He chuckled, swooping in for another kiss. I kissed him back, more lovingly than the last. He broke away all too quickly, leaving a small frown on my lips. He chuckled softly before wrapping his arms around me, one on my waist and another my back. I wrapped my arms around him in return.
We just stood there, wrapped in one another's arms, in the silence of the tomb. The whistling from the door had ceased, lowering to a little trickle. I sighed into his chest, his chin shifting from atop my head. "I think the storm has passed," I mumbled into his armour. I didn't want to move, and I think Vilkas didn't want to either.
"Do you want to leave?" He purred into my ear.
"Kind of, yeah," I said. He unwrapped his arms from around my waist, holding my hand in his. "I don't want to be stuck in here if another storm passes over."
"Aye, we best head back to Winterhold and join the others," Vilkas said, grabbing my pack and his. I was about to argue with him that he didn't have to take my pack but decided against it.
I pushed open the giant scribed doors and into the blinding white of snow. The wind danced with my hair as we walked across to the first ice sheets. "You know, I think we should prank the others," I smiled as I hopped from one ice sheet to another.
"How so?" Vilkas questioned.
"Well, just not say anything to each other. Act like we fought again like we used to and act like we want nothing to do with each other. Simple." I chuckled, watching as Vilkas struggled across the ice.
"Have you been praying to Sanguine?" He asked, a small laugh following.
"No, just an idea." I shrugged.
As I jumped back onto dry land, Vilkas laughed. "If I means we get to piss Aela and Lockan off, than I'm all for it," he smiled down at me before placing a soft kiss on my lips.
We walked side by side up the mountain slope towards Winterhold, the grey sky above us churning darker again. I glanced over to Vilkas while we walked and took him all in. He looked so much happier than when I had seen him when we left Jorrvaskrr. His shoulders not as tensed as usual and his usual scowl blown away in the wind. If it not for being in the tomb, I would have been all over him, armour off, just the two of us twined together.
I smiled to myself just as we found the cobbled path. No one was on the single street leading to the college. The guards long retired. As we walked closer to the inn, I stopped and looked up at Vilkas with a smile. Just next to me was a bucket filled with icy water, he was going to want to kill me for what I did next. "Sorry," I said. He looked at me with a confused expression. I quickly vanished as I threw most of the water at him. He yelled in shock as the water covered him, soaking into his armour.
"You little bitch!" He growled, a smirk replaced for his scowl. I didn't realise why he was smirking, I just threw cold water at him. I wished I had been concentrating, second later he stole the bucket from my grasp and threw the remainder of the water on me. I squeeled as the water soaked down my back and through my hair, sending shivers down my spine.
"You better make up for this," he whispered in my ear, his breath tickling my neck.
"I will, eventually," I smirked before walking up to the door. I turned back to Vilkas with smile of my face before I stormed through the door, muttering complete nonsense, my smile now faded to a faked scowl.
I looked up and saw the three others standing around the fire, already having too much mead to be sober. I walked over to them and started to warm my hands over the dancing flame, orange light flickering off my now damp armour. "What the hell happened to you?" My brother asked.
I scowled at him, trying so hard not to laugh. Seconds later, Vilkas stormed through the door just as I did, his usual scowl on his face. "Finally, you didn't die out there Grumps," I smirked at him. Vilkas growled at me, anger on his face, but his eyes as soft as clouds, no anger-flooding trough them.
"if you didn't make me carry your pack, I would have been here earlier and not soaking wet," he scoffed, dumping our bags onto the ground.
"What and you expected me to be able to haul you out of the water?" I spat back at him. I glanced around the room. Aela and Farkas stood there shocked, probably not expecting us to be wanting to kill each other again.
Lockan narrowed his eyes at me and then at Vilkas, knowing that something didn't seen right. It was so hard not to laugh at all of them, and I knew that Vilkas was having a hard time too. "We can't leave you two alone without one of you trying to kill each other," Lockan sighed. I just shrugged him off and stalked over to the inn keeper, paying for a drink and quietly apologising for storming in.
"It's fine lass, there's a spare change of clothes in your room if you need them," the inn keeper smiled at me. I curtly nodded at her before walking off to my room, expecting to be sharing with Aela again, but her weapons or bag was in the room. I would have had a fit earlier but if they knew, but I sighed in relief.
I slipped out of my armour and into a pale blue warm tunic and fur lined leather pants. I let my hair fall loosely bellow my shoulders, allowing the warmth of the inn to dry in. I walked out of the room and over to my brother, throwing his ingredients at him. "Next time, if you want your precious materials, get them yourself," I hissed at him, crossing my arms over my chest. His curly hair in need of a trim and his face marked with a new scar. I would have to ask him later.
"You reek of him," Lockan stated, nodding his head to Vilkas. He was sitting with Aela and Farkas who could probably sense the same.
I bit my lip and faced my brother, his eyes narrowed at me. "I stole his pelt in the tomb. I was cold and mine wasn't doing anything to help," I lied. I would have to tell them all eventually or they would figure it out soon enough.
"Liar," he said.
I was about to argue with him but instead I erupted in laughter. Lockan just shook his head at me. "How could you tell?" I managed to say, the edges of my lips turning.
"Well you didn't throw any daggers at him for once, you didn't have a hissy fit for having to share a room with Vilkas and I saw you two walking across from the tomb together on my way here. So you're busted," he shrugged.
My mouth fell open, but quickly closed it. "Trust nothing to slip past you, brother," I sighed.
For most of the night, we all sat inside the inn chatting, the others drinking and celebrating Vilkas's new title. We eventually confessed about what happened in the tomb, earning a few laughs from Farkas.
"Where are you off next on your Dragoborn quest?" Lockan slurred, his arm around Aela's shoulder.
I laughed at my brother. "I have to head back up to the High Hrothgar and to the throat of the world."
"Is that where that cloud is? I do not think anyone has been able to see the very top of that mountain," Lockan laughed, "Say, what's up there?"
"Just an old monk," I shrugged, "He talks, a lot." The others laughed.
"Sound's a bit like you Hana," Farkas chimed, poking me in the sides.
"I'm not that bad," I whined. Vilkas scoffed next to me, earning an elbow to the ribs. "And before you ask, you cannot come with me. I pushed the Grey Beards enough as it is letting Vilkas stay up there all those months ago."
"That's a shame, I could have carried you up there again," Vilkas cooed. I rolled my eyes at him.
Lockan stood up from his seat and brushed off his cloak. "I'm heading back up to the college, if you want to have a look around in there, you can do so."
"Can you show us your magic?" Farkas asked, standing up and joining my brother.
"Aye I can," Lockan laughed. Aela shrugged her shoulders and joined the other two. "Do you two want to come along?"
"Nay, I've had my fair share of magic." I smiled at him.
"Well Vilkas isn't going then either," Aela snickered as they walked through the doors.
I turned towards Vilkas who had a smile on his face. "What?"
"The inn keeper is long asleep, the others are gone…" He purred in my ear.
I raised an eyebrow at him, soon lowered as he roughly placed his lips on mine. On instinct, I wrapped my arms around his neck and hooked my legs around his armoured frame. I whimpered at his touch, his hands skimming my bare skin under the tunic. I melted at his touch as he carried me to our room, taking short breaths between kisses.
It didn't take me long before I was unbuckling his armour, the familiar clang of metal hitting the ground in the dim room. All the while, Vilkas tugged at my tunic, his now armour free hand tracing lines down my spine.
I savoured the touch as though it be the last time. As soon as he had all his wolf armour ridden of, I slipped out of my clothes with ease and we made love. I was glad that the others had left, otherwise they would give me hell for how loud we were.
We laid there on the bed together, legs twined together like a gnarled tree. I listened to his heartbeat as I rested my head against his chest evenly breathing. His hand was wrapped around my waist, the warmth of his touch making me feel numb inside.
The others still weren't back yet, either they were having too much fun with magic or got too drunk and fell asleep in the courters.
I shifted my head to rest it on his arm and looked up at him. His hair was a mess, mainly my fault, his war paint smudged. But his eyes, shone brighter than any star. "What?" He asked, brushing a calloused thumb over my slightly flushed cheek.
"Just taking in how handsome you are," I smiled lazily up at him, his lift slightly tugging upwards.
He placed a small kiss on my forehead. "And you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," he purred, pulling me closer to his side. I smiled and traced my other hand over my necklace and frowned. "What's wrong?"
I took a deep breath in and sighed. "If we want this to work, no more telling each other what to do and no more blame games." I looked up into his eyes, his brows furrowed. "I don't want to fight with you again."
"Aye, love, anything for you. But," He paused, taking my hand in his, "Tell us where you are going or leave a note at least."
I frowned at him. I know that I have had a habit of not telling people where I go but it was all in good cause. "I don't tell anyone where I go because I don't want them to follow. If they got hurt or killed," I paused, trying to steady my breath, "I couldn't live with myself, especially if it was you or you're brother. I would have to deal with Grace then." Vilkas chuckled slightly, tightening his grip around me.
"I guess than I can understand that, just I worry that you may not come back."
"It's going to take more than one dragon to kill me," I smiled, closing my eyes. "Besides, who else is going to shout your ass to the ground." He laughed, his chest rising and falling.
"Aye, I guess that's true," he said, kissing my cheek.
It didn't take long before exhaustion waded through my body. I was about to fall asleep when Vilkas spoke again. "I love you Hana."
My breath hitched but went back to normal. Before I fell to sleep I mumbled. "I love you too."