At their Ma's request, Jon and Jhan told of the group's fight with the dragon, thankfully without exaggeration, and afterward, most of the conversation was kept up by Mareia, Briella, Athis, and the twins. In all honesty, Amaliea wasn't really paying attention to the flow of it until Briella said
"You timed your arrival really well, the spring festival is tomorrow!"
At the guest's puzzled looks she didn't pause to explain continuing her usual stream of conversation, Amaliea was frankly contemplating that if they put Briella and Ria together they could just talk all the bandits in Skyrim to death.
When they finished eating Mareia looked to Briella and said "Briella since you weren't here to help set the table you can do the dishes, Jon and Jhan can help you."
The three of them made faces but didn't argue starting to gather dishes, as Garson went back out to his forge, Mareia to her alchemy lab and the rest went back upstairs. As Amaliea neared the top of the steps Vilkas touched her shoulder she turned and he asked
"Want to go for a walk down by the river?"
She nodded "Sure just let me grab my swords."
Once they had both collected their weapons they slipped out the back door and down towards the river. As they were walking alongside the bank Vilkas held out his hand and Amaliea took it smiling softly.
"So what do you think of the rest of my family?" she asked teasingly
"They are like you in some ways and yet in others…" he trailed off smiling back at her
"In some ways, we are nothing alike." She finished for him and he nodded
"So what did you make of my Pa?"
"He is an….. Intimidating man especially with that hammer of his, I did not think Bosmer could be that big." He grinned nervously and Amaliea laughed
"Pa is only 3/4 bosmer his grandfather was a nord," she told him
By this point, they were passing by the training grounds and Vilkas asked "Is that where you trained?"
"No not really want to see where I did?"
"Aye."
Amaliea lead the way into a grove of trees not far from her home that sat on both sides of a stream that flowed into the river. In the center of the grove was a clearing about half the size of the yard at Jorrvaskr, all around it were few leather training dummies and a lot of targets including ones hanging from trees on lines so that they could swing. The sun was setting and the stars starting to appear through the branches that formed a cathedral over their heads. Vilkas looked around before saying
"It's peaceful here."
"That's why I've always liked it that and the view at night" she turned to look at him
"View?" he asked his brow furrowed in confusion
She released his hand leading the way to an old tree whose branches were perfect for climbing and started up, She could hear him following her. About halfway up the tree was a platform of branches, Amaliea stepped to one side as Vilkas hauled himself onto the platform breathing heavily. As he stood she took his hand and lead the way around the trunk of the tree and down a narrow walkway. It lead them to a second platform in a tree at the edge of the grove, Amaliea sat down pulling Vilkas with her putting them at eye level with a space in the branches. they looked over the village that as the sun dropped below the mountains began to sparkle with lanterns and candles being lit in the houses. Without saying a word Vilkas let go of her hand to wrap his arm about her shoulders and she slipped hers around his waist leaning against him as they watched the lights flicker on one by one and the stars blaze to life. She could feel herself smiling completely content to stay in that moment forever, then Vilkas spoke
"You know I'm lucky."
"How so?"
"My favorite sight isn't a place." He answered softly
"Oh? What is it then?" she asked curious
"You when you smile it's the most beautiful thing I've seen," he answered
she jerked her head around to look at him blushing when she saw his eyes were locked on her face. He reached out his other hand to cup her face and leaned closer kissing her, she wrapped her other arm around him and kissed him back knowing in that moment that she still didn't know if she was right on not but, she was pretty sure what she felt for this man was love. Amaliea didn't know how long it was before they stopped but once they did they sat in silence for awhile content to just be together. After awhile Vilkas asked
"So what's the spring festival your sister spoke about?"
"The spring festival is basically a big reveal to celebrate nature's rebirth, there's competitions, games, music, and a feast,"
"So it's a special day for your people. Are guests allowed to attend?"
"Of course only people we trust are brought to the village"
After a while longer the couple headed back to her parents' house holding hands, only to open the door to be greeted by the twins belting out an offkey Ragnar the red while Farkas and Athis were laughing so hard they were gasping for air.
The pair walked into the main room where everyone was gathered and Briella looked up smiling from a card game she was playing with Garson to say
"The twins and Farkas were telling us about your first intimidation job sounds like you had quite the time."
"It was interesting. Vilkas why don't you tell about the twins trial?" Amaliea answered thinking 'can't the twin refrain from trying to embarrass me for one day.'
So he did much to the twins embarrassment though he was nice and left out the part about them getting into a drinking contest with the resident drunk, Ma was clearly disapproving of their fooling around while Pa was openly laughing at their antics. Then the twins pointed out that three of their numbers were members of the circle and told them to try to guess and that they had three guesses.
"Vilkas obviously if I remember correctly Kodlak mentioned that Circle members took new recruits for their trials." Ma said
"Aye, you would be right ma'am," Vilkas answered
Pa was silently observing the remaining five of them as Briella asked "Is Farkas one?"
"Aye, I took Amaliea on her trial, as well as helped Vilkas with the twins' trial." Farkas answered
"Oh, can you tell us about Amaliea's?" Briella asked
"No!" Amaliea hurried to say preferring to not talk about what happened in Dustman's Cairn
After a few minutes of Briella pouting, she asked "Athis?"
Athis shook his head and Vilkas told it "Amaliea is the third."
Briella squealed excitedly and Ma looked surprised, but Pa just smiled proudly and asked
"What brought about her advancement?"
"She was officially named to the Circle after she saved Kodlak's life during an attack on Jorrvaskr, then went on to retrieve the fragments of Wuuthrad that had been stolen during the attack." Vilkas answered
Amaliea's parents looked surprised at that and Pa asked "There was an attack on Jorrvaskr, was anyone hurt?"
"No one majorly," Jon said
Ma looked at her children "I hope all of you are being careful."
"Of course we are Ma." they chorused
Then Briella asked, "So are you guys going to compete in the games, you would probably do really well?"
"Games?" Farkas and Athis asked
"The games are competitions at the spring festival there's wrestling, archery, sword work, and other stuff like that It's really fun!" Briella answered practically bouncing in her seat
Before any of them could answer Ma commented, "Alright I think it's time for us all to go to bed especially if you're planning to compete tomorrow." With that, they all began to disperse to their beds.
While Amaliea and Briella were getting ready for bed she asked "So are you and Vilkas together?"
"yes." Amaliea responded for the first time sure of her answer
"Told you paying just a little bit of attention to your looks would get you a guy."
"Actually I didn't do anything differently, he likes me for me though it probably helped that I knocked him off his feet the first time we meet,"
"You must have looked really good then."
"No I literally knocked him off his feet, Kodlak had him test my weapon skills to see if they were up to par and I beat him,"
"Uggh!" Briella groaned melodramatically flopping across her bed "What am I going to do with you!" she moaned.
AN: Next chapter the games begin please read and review thanks for reading!
