Chapter 13

*I do not own Skyrim, but I do own Juheena and Juheena owns Farkas.*

Astrid hated dealing with Delvin Mallory. He just couldn't seem to keep his grimy hands to himself, which is why she usually sent someone else to transact with him. Scowling at the passerby that stared too long at her black and red leather armor, she made her way to her last stop before she returned home to the Sanctuary. Her nice, quiet, fur-free sanctuary.

She let out a cold chuckle at the thought of Juheena still being missing. She left out on a contract, then sent a letter saying she would be kept a little longer than expected. That was a month ago. The sanctuary was very nice without the skanky little furball undermining her authority, and stealing the glamour and attention. She was the leader, her word was law. Yet everyone seemed to admire and love the stupid cat, while Astrid wanted nothing other than to turn her into a nice rug.

But she knew better. Arnbjorn wouldn't hesitate to wrench her arms from her torso and choke her with her own hands (his own wife!) if she made a move towards his 'daughter'. It was outrageous. He was a werewolf for Sithis's sake, what did he need with a child? Much less a Khajit?

She wished she could have given him a child of her own. That way he wouldn't have had to go pick up a stray. But alas, she was unable, something she was eternally resentful for. Not that she figured that Arnbjorn would have cared as much about a child of her's. Ever since she had become the leader of the Brotherhood, she had grown exceptionally more hostile, and her marriage had grown farther and farther apart because of it. None of the other brothers and sisters seemed any different. But she did. She felt herself changing, becoming colder, crueler, and more malicious. Even towards her husband, and her family. And especially the cat. But this was before Juheena came along…

But for now, she was content with the cat's absence from her home.

XoXOoOoOXoX

Farkas woke up at an odd hour in the morning, sometime around 3 or 4, he guessed. Juheena's legs were intertwined with his as a result of their night full of love and passion. They had loved each other time after time after waking from sleep, causing them to become quite tired. He had only slept for a few hours, but the sight of his beloved fueled him plenty enough. He propped himself up on his elbow and watched her sleep.

There was red war paint matted under her chin, he noted with a silent chuckle. He gently rubbed it off, as not to wake her. Her long eyelashes danced, evidence of an exciting dream playing in her head. She was so animated, even in sleep. Though Juheena had no eyebrows per se, she had prominent brow bones, one of which the skin was scarred subtly from a former piercing.

I could stare at her making observations all night, he thought to himself. She's so lovely… Farkas honestly couldn't tell you how he came about such a treasure. But he would guard her with his life, he knew without a doubt.

Farkas found himself parched from working so laboriously all night, so he crawled over her as quietly as he could, which found quite difficult considering his size. As he put on a loose tunic, he gazed at her bookshelves. They were absolutely full of fat, skinny, blue, purple, leather, fancy, plain…. Every kind of book you could think of. It almost made him want to take out a few and gaze over them. He decided that he would later that night when lying in bed with Juheena. No doubt she would want to read too, she could possibly help him. He knew how to read somewhat, just what he needed to get by. He wasn't good at it, but he could do it.

He opened the iron door and slipped through quickly. He shut the door behind him so the roar of the water fall wouldn't wake Juheena. He walked on the cold stone around the pond and climbed the stairs. He got lost and accidentally wandered into the alchemy room, and then someone's empty bedroom, and then the alchemy room again. But finally he found the dining hall.

Sitting in one of the chairs sat Arnbjorn, nursing a pint of ale in one hand and holding his side with the other. He was bandaged up, though he still looked in quite a bit of pain.

"Can I join you?" Farkas asked, dipping some cold water out of an aqueduct that led from the near-freezing waterfall.

"Of course." Came his reply, and he patted the chair next to him. Farkas claimed it, resting his elbows on the table. He sat there for a few moments, trying to find something to say. What does one say to his injured darling's father?

Luckily it was the older werewolf who broke the silence. "Have you ever been caught by the Silver Hand?" He almost whispered; it was as if he were loathe to speak of the assemblage and their motives.

"Yeah… once. It was before I met Juheena." He paused, then added, "I'm glad too. I'd never want her to see me like that.. strung up and tortured. Would be hard on her, y'know?" He couldn't imagine his poor Juheena having to suffer at his expense. He never wanted her to suffer.

"You're a good man. Wolf, I should say." He corrected himself. "I'm proud of you, and my lovely little ham hock."

"Why do you use meats as nicknames?" Farkas inquired. It was an odd practice, one had to admit.

He chuckled. "Just a habit I suppose."

Juheena wandered in right then, rubbing the sleep out of her luminous orange eyes. She blinked a few times, then commented, "Well, if it isn't my two favorite werewolves in one room." She hugged her father gently as not to disturb his wound, then pulled up a chair in between the two men and grabbed Farkas's hand.

Soon, others milled in for breakfast. Apparently assassins were early risers. Babette, however never slept at all, so she was probably up making potions all night.

"Wait, everyone! Don't get any food out yet!" Festus called out. "I have finally put the finishing touches on a new spell, and you shall all be my guinea pigs!" There was a collective groan. Ignoring the lack of enthusiasm, he rubbed his hands together exaggeratedly, before mumbling his spell almost silently into them. A blue fog radiated out for a few moments, before he waved his hand, gesturing widely for the table. Cabbages fell from nowhere, pelting everyone in the room in a green, leafy rain.

"Uh oh… maybe I left out a word or two… back to the drawing board." He rushed out of the room before he could face the wrath of angry children, Nords, elves, and Werewolves. Veezara hid under the table before Festus casted his spell, sensing the outcome.

Irileth kicked a cabbage, sending it flying over the table and into a cooking pot in the corner. She laughed triumphantly, causing Cicero to pout. "You cheated! Cicero knows you cheated!"

"How could I possibly cheat?"

"Cicero is not sure… but he will find out, oh yes he will!" He walked around gathering up armfuls of cabbage, and throwing them up into the air. They fell back down as carrot cake sweetrolls.

"This will make a nice breakfast.." Juheena said appreciatively, biting into one of the treats.

"So, what is our mission? I heard that I was needed here, that there was something important."

"The Listener is always important!" Cicero piped in.

"It's the Night Mother. She wanted to speak with you. Don't ask how we know that. We really don't know either…" Nazir filled her in.

"Is it a contract? It must be very important for a dragon to send us to find out what it is…" Irileth said.

"A dragon… Sent you? You mean it didn't eat you?" Arnbjorn asked his daughter incredulously.

"Juheena makes friends with everything it seems." Babette replied.

"That's true. I have friends in the sky, in the mountains… in cavernous underground secret assassin hideouts…" She teased.

Breakfast went off without another magical incident, and Nazir and Babette both went off to fulfill contracts that were long overdue.

Arnbjorn pulled Farkas aside after everyone had left. Juheena smiled as he handed him a package. "This is for you. It may not be as good as Eorland's Skyforge steel, but it will keep you safe if you ever need it." Farkas pulled the object out of its leather wrapping, revealing a beautiful Ebony sword, just like Juheena's.

"Wow…. Thank you. I don't know what to say… don't comment on that Juheena." He said, effectively shutting her mouth. She smiled at him.

"Now we match, my love."

"Thank you. I will treat this beauty with the respect she reserves." Farkas said, causing Arnbjorn to raise an eyebrow. "And the sword too of course…"

They shared a laugh, then made their separate ways. Anja and Irileth joined them, and they discussed their game plan.

"I would appreciate it if you went with me to speak with the Night Mother tonight. I will be going at midnight, seeing as there is a full moon tonight."

"Of course we will join you!" Anja said enthusiastically. Irileth seconded the motion.

"Where you go, I go, love." Farkas said, kissing her hair.

"It's settled then. At midnight."

*Author's note:

Thank you all for reading! I love all of you fans!

Kudos to all of my Aussie fans! Its awesome having people from all over read your work. It makes me so excited!

Please leave a review and tell me what you think! Seeya next time :D