Amaliea spent two weeks in bed before Danica was satisfied that she was healed enough to get up. She passed the time in conversation with Kodlak, Farkas, Ria, and frequently Vilkas as they took turns sitting with her. Their reactions varied when they saw the scars on her now barred arm Farkas looked surprised but didn't say anything.
Kodlak simply nodded and said, "I'm glad to see some of the girl I knew is back."
Ria looked at them and exclaimed "you've got battle scars!" then proceed to start pestering Amaliea to tell her what made them. Amaliea told her she had to guess.
When at last She was allowed to return to her normal routine she leapt into it happily. She had missed training and working the forge with Eurlond.
It was just before dinner when Amaliea saw Aela for the first time since what happened. Aela stopped when she saw Amaliea. The sleeves of her tunic were rolled up because she had been working the forge with Eurlond and it was hot. Aela's eyes locked on the scars on Amaliea's arm and her face seemed to crumple as she recognized the marks for what they were. they were in the lower hall the only ones there or so they thought.
Aela looked up at Amaliea's face then back to her arm before saying in a broken voice "oh gods what did we do."
She then turned and hurried back down the hall towards her and Skjor's rooms. Amaliea started to follow but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. She turned to be meet by Kodlak's silvery gaze.
He spoke quietly "I had wondered if they realized what they were doing while they were doing it, it seems they didn't. Vilkas told me what you said about what happened."
"I need to speak to her they didn't know and I didn't tell them," Amaliea whispered back
Kodlak shook his head "Amaliea you would forgive the snake that bit you."
"If I was bitten by a snake it would be because the snakes choose to hurt me. They did not know what they did would hurt me. They thought their actions would save their family. They were unaware that there was no danger." She spoke quietly
Kodlak just shook his head again and said "Do what you feel you must."
With that Amaliea hurried after Aela. As she approached the side hall she heard a whispered conversation started by Aela "Skjor I think we've done something horrible."
"Huh, what do you mean?" He asked
"Amaliea" Aela's voice broke
"What about her? She didn't fight the turning." He questioned
"Because she was scared" Aela insisted
"She had nothing to fear we would not have hurt her." He pointed out
"Skjor she has scars on her arm." At this point, Aela's voice was pleading
"So lots of people have scars." He said in a tone that made it clear he did not see what she was getting at.
"They're scars from a were-wolf," Aela said her voice quiet.
"What! Maybe you are mistaken." He sounded as though believing her was the last thing he wanted to do.
At that point, Amaliea reached the door and knocked lightly on the frame. Aela and Skjor both turned to look at her and she asked "Aela are you alright? you seemed distressed in the hall earlier."
She saw Skjor staring at her arm then the look of horror appeared across his face. Aela started to reach for Amaliea then stopped when she instinctively flinched away an image of the claws of Aela's wolf form flashing through her mind.
Instead, Aela said, "I'm sorry oh gods what have we done."
"It's alright Aela you didn't know I hid it from you, from everyone. I don't blame you; you were just trying to protect your family." Amaliea said it to Aela but looked at Skjor while speaking hoping he would understand she didn't blame him either. With that Amaliea turned to go up to dinner leaving them to their thoughts. She felt their eyes on her back as she left.
Dinner was already half over by the time Aela and Skjor came up took their places. They cast Amaliea glances as they sat down, but she barely paid them any heed. she was listening to Athis telling of a job he and Torvar had completed apparently they killed a cave bear. She finished the meal laughing and talking with her friends and shield siblings. Several times throughout the meal she felt someone's eyes on her and glancing up caught Vilkas looking away swiftly.
Several months passed full of training and the occasional job including another one in Riverwood. Where it turned out the request by name was to deal with someone who was harassing a woman. Apparently she liked Amaliea's threat to cut out Rikir's tongue if he didn't start being respectful. Everything was going fine. Amaliea was still not a fan of the whole wolf blood thing but until Kodlak found the cure he'd been talking about there was nothing she could do about it, so she just went on about her life. Oddly enough the blood didn't seem to affect her as much as the others. She just figured it was because she'd only turned once. Amaliea still trained with the newbies. Everything changed once more one day when Amaliea and Ria were coming in from training to get some lunch. Laughing and joking they were greeted by a surprising sight near the front doors. Farkas and Vilkas were in an all-out brawl with two brown-haired bosmer men.
It wasn't until Amaliea heard one of them shout "Oh come on it was just a joke!"
That she snapped out of her shock then groaned and muttered "My brothers are idiots!"
Ria shot her a look and asked "Those two are your brothers?"
"Yeah," She said and ran around the table yelling "Vilkas, Farkas don't kill them!"
Skjor and Aela looked at her from where they were watching the fight and Amaliea snapped "Do you mind helping me!?"
As she reached in and grabbed the first arm she could. It was Vilkas She started hauling him out of the fight and he brought Jon with him in a chokehold.
Vilkas looked puzzled and asked, "why are you pulling me?"
just as Jon gasped out "hey sis."
"Vilkas meet Jon my brother now please don't kill him." Amaliea said hurriedly. Aela and Skjor were trying to haul Farkas and Jhan apart. Vilkas released Jon who sat on the floor gasping. Then Amaliea and Vilkas turned to help Aela and Skjor. The women grabbed Jhan while Vilkas and Skjor grabbed Farkas. They got them hauled apart and Jhan was made to sit alongside Jon. Amaliea then stepped around in front of them.
Jhan shifted nervously saying "Hey squirt did you miss us?"
Farkas looked about ready to jump at him again until Vilkas whispered something and he got that oh look on his face. Amaliea looked back to her brothers and started fussing.
"What were you thinking are you trying to get yourselves killed! What are you even doing here shouldn't be back home, why in the world are you here picking fights with them! What did you even do this time you numbskulls?!"
They sat there looking at her for a minute so she added "Well!"
Jon smiled "Just making sure you're through."
The others were staring at Amaliea open-mouthed Jhan smiled now "As for why we're here, Ma sent us because someone hasn't been writing."
Jon then took up the conversation "and we weren't trying to pick a fight this time."
"Yea we just asked those two where you were," Jhan said
"They looked unsure so we described you." Jon said
At Amaliea's questioning look they continued Jhan starting "We told them you were a red-headed scrawny thing."
"Horrible at eye contact bit of a klutz," Jon said
"Tends to stutter," Jhan added
"The smaller one told us to watch our mouths about companions." Jon pointed out
"So we told him it's not rude when it's true," Jhan commented
"Then they got mad and we started fighting." Jon said
"So why didn't you write?" Jhan asked
"I got busy and never seemed to get the chance. Can't you two stay out of fights for ten minutes?" She answered
"Awe come on sis." Jon said
"You know you love us." Jhan finished again.
Then they stood up and came to hug her, She returned the gesture saying "Don't ever do that again or I will personally kill you."
"What just happened?" Farkas asked sounding completely confused.
Amaliea turned to her fellow companions plus Tilma and Brill who had come out of the kitchen and said "Vilkas, Farkas, Ria, Tilma, Brill, Aela, Skjor, meet my brothers Jhan and Jon."
A while later Amaliea, Ria and both sets of twins had gotten food and went outside to sit at one of the tables to eat.
They had half-finished eating when Vilkas finally asked "Ok how are you two not put off in the least that Amaliea just chewed you out?"
The twins smiled and Jhan started "the way we see it"
"Amaliea only yells at people she cares about."
"And the louder she yells the more she cares."
"Because she only yells when she's worried."
"Or just really fed up."
"We get the really fed up a lot."
"Only thing is,"
"If she is mad and quiet,"
"Then you better watch out"
Amaliea blushed beet red silently wished she could gag the two of them. Ria just started laughing.
A few minutes later Kodlak came outside and said "I heard there was a disturbance"
Jon and Jhan spun around then apron seeing him jumped up and put their fists to their chests ducking their heads saying "Kodlak sir!"
Kodlak chuckled and walked to a chair at the end of the table saying "Sit down you two we aren't formal here."
Even so, they waited until Kodlak sat to sit back down themselves.
Ria spoke up "would you like me to get you a plate sir."
"Aye thank you, Ria."
Ria stood up and went back inside.
While Vilkas asked, "so what was that all about?"
The twins looked offended and Jhan said "that was a sign of deepest respect!"
"Yea it's given to the village elders and others that have earned everyone's respect." Jon finished.
At Vilkas' and Farkas' puzzled looks Amaliea explained "In our village, the elders' council leads the village. They settle disputes and organize things like the guards and the harvest. There are five elders each in charge of a different aspect of the village; Eirkir is in charge of the council she settles disputes between them. Our father Garson is in charge of the village guard. Likir is in charge of the archives. Toma is in charge of farming and Atof is in charge of the treasury."
Farkas and Vilkas simply nodded in understanding.
Kodlak then turned Amaliea's brothers and asked "So what brings you two here?"
Jon spoke first "Our ma sent us to tell Amaliea to write."
"And we have letters and a package to deliver to her." Jhan added
"We also came to warn her" Jon pointed out
"Briella let it slip to Torano that you had left to join the companions." Jhan finished
"But we got him convinced him that Jorrvaskr," Jon said
"Was in either Winterhold or Windhelm" Jhan said
"Yea he's not that bright," Jon said
"We were also wondering," Jhan started
"If maybe we could join the companions?" Jon questioned
Vilkas nearly choked on his bread while Ria who had come back with Kodlak's plate looked so excited she might burst.
Farkas looked up grinning and asked, "Can I be the one to test them?"
Kodlak studied the twins for a moment before saying "Aye you two can join If you can pass the test of arms and you agree not to cause fights among your shield siblings."
"Yes sir!" they agreed in unison
Ria ran inside to tell the others what was going on and they all came out as Farkas and Vilkas got set with Jon and Jhan,
Ria sat down beside Amaliea and said, "It's too bad Njada and Athis aren't here to see this, but I guess their jobs are more exciting."
The two sets of twins were drawing their weapons to start and Amaliea put her head down on the table saying "Tell me when it's over I can't watch this."
"Why not?" Ria asked
"They're going to get themselves creamed," she answered
"They can't be that bad I mean you beat Vilkas." Ria pointed out
"I took training seriously. They spent half their time goofing off." Amaliea stated her head still on the table.
The fight began with the others cheering on Farkas and Vilkas. Amaliea still did not watch.
