Wounds

The rest of the quest was fairly simple. Draugr, a lone Silver Hand, human. I took some shots but got no kills until we reached the fragment and we had to face down the remaining twenty or so dead protecting the area. Farkas was impressed that I could even stand with the blood loss sustained, let alone aim and kill. To be honest, so was I.

When we finally got back to Jorvaskr it was after noon and I felt like I might just pass out before we got to the entrance. I had begun to rely heavily on Farkas for support. Skjor, Vilkas, and Aela were waiting just outside, watching our approach. I stopped leaning on Farkas and presented him with the shard, wrapped in old linen.

He looked at it and passed it to Aela standing beside him, who took it inside. Skjor's eyes scanned me, lingering on my neck.

"Come here, girl," he said.

I resented being called girl but was too tired to argue about it. I stepped forward. Quickly Skjor reached out with his left hand, holding my jaw steady to the right, exposing the mark more for him. I struggled weakly against this treatment, but he ignored me. He brushed his hand over it and I bit my lip so hard it bled to avoid making noise at his rough touch.

"Skjor -" I heard Vilkas say.

"They marked her," Skjor said, not letting me go still.

"She isn't one of them," Farkas said. "She took the antidote."

"But they marked her."

"Let go of me," I said.

He did and I stumbled back, Farkas catching me by my arms.

"We must discuss this," Skjor said, eyeing Farkas.

"She chose not to be one of them," Farkas insisted.

"It doesn't matter," Skjor replied. "Vilkas, take her inside, get her something to eat. Sit her down. We have much to discuss."

Vilkas nodded, watching me wearily. Farkas steadied me before heading out with the scowling elder. Angry but too tired to really let it show I looked at Vilkas. He didn't offer help and I didn't ask. We walked inside but as soon as we'd passed the entrance another wave of dizziness came over me and I hit the floor hard.

Vilkas was there, quicker than the blink of an eye. Without any words he pulled me completely off my feet, cradling me in his arms as his brother had what felt so long ago but where his brother's hold had felt secure, friendly, Vilkas felt as icy and cold as ever.

"Tilma, can you have some food prepared and delivered to my room?" Vilkas asked roughly, but not unkindly.

"Of course sir," she said, not sounding at all pleased with the request. She hated it when people ate outside the Hall.

Neither of spoke as he took me downstairs, to his room, and laid me down on his bed, shutting the door behind us. He firmly but gently turned my head to the left and inspected the mark on my neck before cleaning it once more with warm water, poultrices, and finally a bandage.

"Do you have other injuries?" he asked sternly.

"I'm a little bruised in the ribs and arms...lower back too I think, but it's fine," I said.

He huffed in disproval and prodded my ribs once sharply. I inhaled quickly and glared at him. "You should be treated," he said as way of explanation.

I glared at him some more.

"You can either let me look at them or I can force you to let me look at them," Vilkas said.

"You're kidding," I said. I knew he wasn't.

"Just do it. Do you always have to be so difficult?"

"Me?" I asked, leaning up on my elbow to get a better look at him.

"Yes, you."

I rolled my eyes, lying back down. "Whatever."

"Show me your injuries," he said, slowly, losing patience.

"Why? I'm not your responsibility. You got what you wanted. Skjor won't make me a Companion now that I've been marked by a vampire," I said, snorting. "So much for taking the antidote. I guess Farkas could have just left me there."

Vilkas leveled a long glare at me. "Done?"

I sighed, sitting up. "Yeah. Still don't see why he's so upset."

"Vampires tend to...come back for those they've marked. If he's dead, it's possible his Maker or those he's Made could come looking for you," Vilkas said. "That is also a concern Skjor has."

"He's worried they will attack us?"

"We could handle them. His main concern is whether you would show the unswerving loyalty it would take to fend off repeated offers," he explained.

"I think I've already taken a few for the team," I said. "I wouldn't betray you now."

Vilkas said nothing in reply to that, simply ordered me once again to show him my injuries. I lifted my shirt showing him my ribs. He inspected them, running his hands over them. "Nothing appears to be broken so you won't need a poultice."

"Of course not," I said.

He glared, "See? Difficult. Lay on your stomach."

I laid down on my stomach, uncomfortable with all the bruising but no worse than lying on my back. He pulled at the edge of my trousers and I pulled away from him, glaring.

"You said your lower back was injured," he said. "It's not like I enjoy this."

I snorted. "Thanks."

He took a deep breath and I laid back down, watching his face as he took in my lower back. I watched his brows furrow, his hand running much lighter there than anywhere else. I knew it must be pretty bad to illicit such a response from him.

"That vampire...what did he...they do to you? Exactly?" Vilkas asked, leaning over to pick up a poultice and apply it directly to my back.

"Threw me around a bit. Drank my blood. Offered me eternal life. You know, the usual," I said.

He snorted and I sighed as the poultice started cooling my back. "Nothing else?"

"No, I said that didn't I?" I snapped then looked at his face. Comprehension dawned on me what he'd meant by asking, feeling horrified and awkward. "They didn't...do they...usually?"

Vilkas looked into my eyes, "Eventually. Some of them."

I didn't know what to say to that so we fell into silence as Vilkas refocused on my injury.

"You turned them down," Vilkas said finally.

"You know that."

"Yes I do. Why?"

"It's...not what I want," I said.

"Why not? They're powerful, well connected, immortal. Your reflexes would quicken beyond your wildest imagination. Why wouldn't you want that?" he asked, a test.

"I'm where I want to be," I said, meaning it for the first time in a long time. He nodded and started putting away the medical supplies. "At least for now," I added quietly.

"For...what it's worth, I didn't not want you to be a Shield Sister," Vilkas said.

"Thanks I think."

"You're a good fighter," he said, justifying himself.

"You don't have to do this."

Vilkas looked at me and something in my stomach tied itself into a knot for reasons I couldn't comprehend. His eyes were so much like Farkas's but the face they belonged in was so different. Farkas was happy, simplistic, grateful for everything he had and it showed. Vilkas's face was serious, drawn and stiff from years of worry and hardship. I could see then just how difficult it would be for Vilkas to just relax, to let go. He had a chip on his shoulder, sure, but it was more than that.

"You asked for food, sir?" Tilma said, knocking on the door.

Vilkas opened it as I sat up. He placed it on the bed beside me, and to my surprise sat back down across from me.

I ate slowly, feeling a bit better with each bite.

"I don't think Skjor will reject you," Vilkas said. "I assume you know what we are. You'd be too dangerous left outside the Companions."

I stopped eating and looked at him. "I don't think...that's not better."

Vilkas didn't say anything and I started eating again. Finally he said, "I would have approved you."

"Because of what I know?"

"No."

He gave me another long steady look and I took a deep breath as my stomach twisted again. I pushed the food aside.

"Are you feeling well?"

"Uh, yeah," I lied.

He raised an eyebrow as the door opened with no knock and Aela stood above us.

"Are you able to come outside?" she asked, sounding oddly formal.

"Yes," I said, hoping I was right.

"Then come with me, the decision has been reached."

I nodded and then looked at Vilkas. "Aren't you supposed to help decide?"

He gave me a small smile, looking at something in the corner of his room. I turned to see what he was looking at, and there on a pike was the giant's head I'd rolled in last night.

I looked back at him.

"I already did," he said.