A special thank you goes to Lydia, my most faithful reader! (that comments ) Thank you for your support, I shall most definitely use your ideas! :) I am going to make up some of Vilkas's childhood in this chapter, so I hope my ideas don't go against any of you people's. Enjoy. Reviews are always welcome, and appreciated. This is an emotional chapter, I hope no one cries.

Chapter 11:

The trip back home was awkward, we didn't talk the entire way back. I hope that I didn't ruin our relationship. We arrived back at Jorrvaskr a day and a half later, we immediately went our own ways once we entered the building. I went out to the training yard to hopefully work out some of my emotions by fighting someone. Athis was the only one outside, I hate that cocky elf! I don't hate him because he is an elf, I just hate his attitude, he would be perfect to fight, trash his over-sized ego! I walked over to him, he looked up from his tankard of mead, a smug grin on his face.

"Athis, I was wondering if you'd care to spar with me?" I asked as politely as I could manage.

"Sure, sera." He answered and we went over to the space in front of the training dummies. We both drew our swords, I with my great-swords and Athis with his small one-handed iron sword. We stood opposite from each other and glared into each other's eyes.

I made the first move, I lunged towards his unprotected side. Most of his torso isn't protected anyways, he only wears a simple fur kilt and leather straps. And leather strips do protect worth a damn! He surprisingly dodged it! He rolled over to the side and charged at my left, I easily moved out of the way. Most of the fight continued on like that, I lunged and struck a few times, he lunged and didn't hit me at all. It ended with him on the ground and his sword a few feet out of his reach. My sword was pointed towards his throat, he seethed.

"Dead." I announced with pride. He continued to glare and mumbled something about he will best me some day. Ha! No he won't. That stupid elf!

I offered a hand to help him up, but he refused it, and got up. He walked away, still grumbling to himself. Oh well, he'll get over it. I accomplished what I set out to do, I trashed his pride! Yay, Vilkas! I went inside feeling much better that I got some of my pent up emotion out. I went and sat at the table to down a few tankards of ale.

After about two-and-a-half drinks later, Loranna came inside and plopped herself down next to me on the bench. She was all smiles. Obviously not upset at me anymore. She looked sort of nervous.

"Vilkas, would you like to join me for a walk?" She asked nervously.

"Of course, I would love to." I answered relieved. We both headed through the town, she told me that she had some errands to run and was wondering if I'd like to accompany her on those as well. She stopped at Fralia's market stall and was browsing the various pieces that were lain out for sale.

She was eyeing up this golden necklace with a sapphire in the center. After inspecting it for a while she asked what was the price, but as soon as she found out how much it was, she put it down sadly. She must have really wanted that necklace, I should keep that as a mental note. She just might get it as a gift some day.

After she finished her errands, we headed out of the city gates. We walked to the fields just past the walls and she led me to a little creek. She sat down on the ledge protruding above some of the pool of water.

"Vilkas, I actually asked you to join me here for a serious reason. No, you aren't in trouble, quite the opposite. I'm just curious about you." She said not unkindly.

"What's troubling you?" I asked, suddenly concerned.

"Oh, nothing, I was just wondering a few things about you." She answered.

"Ask and I will answer what I can." I responded.

"How old are you Vilkas?"

"I am going to be twenty-three this fall."

"I'm only twenty. How long have you been with the companions?"

I sighed at the next question. "Farkas and I have been with the Companions since we were young boys."

She was surprised, it was obvious by the look on her face, "That long! Really?" She exclaimed that rather excitedly, but I remained somber.

"Yeah, that long. Our father, a man by the name of Jergen, he brought us to Jorrvaskr when he decided to leave to fight in the Great War. When he left, he never returned."

"Oh, I am so sorry Vilkas." She looked stricken with grief.

"Don't be. It's nothing that you have caused."

"Vilkas, were you and your father close?" She asked while staring at me with big, sparkly eyes.

"Not as close as he and Farkas were. But yes, we were close. He used to read me to sleep, he knew how much I liked to read. When Farkas was busy killing pretend monsters with his pretend swords, Jergen was telling me stories and was teaching me about a wide varieties of subjects." My eyes were starting to glisten a little bit. She moved closer to me, and hugged me.

"It's okay, Vilkas. I know what is is like to lose someone close. I lost my entire family during the Great War. A group of Thalmor decided to visit my family's home and destroy everything. They used their magic to literally burn them alive." She started to cry. I instinctively held her close as she started to break out into sobs. She snuggled close into me, and I rubbed her shoulder and arms and back reassuringly.

After a while she calmed. And then she pulled back, "I'm sorry for that Vilkas. I'm sorry."

"No, its okay. You needed to let that out. If you ever need someone to talk to, you know you always have me."

"Thanks Vilkas. I love you." She leaned in and kissed me.

We spent the rest of the afternoon cuddling and swapping stories.