Child

Another scream escapes my throat, like the sound of a strangled rabbit. I squeeze the life out of Hadvar's hand and push again. Why did nobody warn me that childbirth hurts?

"Now please, once more. There's a head peeking out." The warm voice of the Priestess of Kynareth instructs wisely. I scream once more, a battle cry. When Hadvar's hand leaves mine I stop pushing and I see something small squirming in Danica's arms. She passes the child into the arms of Hadvar who seems to stare at the baby like it was made of diamonds. He then passes my baby to me in a small blanket. I smile warmly at the blessed creature in my arms and notice that the pain has stopped. After Hadvar and I have a bit of an emotional moment, Hadvar leaves to deliver the news and Danica shows me how to breastfeed. Once the baby has had enough I tell Danica that she can let people in. The Companions' inner circle and Hadvar are the first in. Aela slaps me on the back.

"Congratulations, sister." Hadvar seems to pick something up from the floor and he gives it to me. The letter has my name on the front so I open it.

Niki

Congratulations on the baby

Thank you for letting me live.

Nazir and Cicero have gone crazy.

They want your husband dead and they say that I should have killed you to get to him.

Don't come back to the sanctuary.

For your own sake.

~Babette

A tear falls onto the sheet of paper. Hadvar crumples it up and throws it into the fire.

"My family has disowned me." He kisses me deeply.

"This one hasn't." I look down into the large, round eyes of my child. He has Hadvar's eyes.

"What have you called him?" Farkas asks.

"Kodlak." Vilkas' eyes seem to well up with tears. After a long morning of informing everyone of Kodlak's birth I'm allowed to go home. On the way back home we stop by at Carlotta's house. Her husband died last week and she needs some good news. She opens the door, Mila clinging onto her leg and a large smile lights up her face.

"Congratulations!" She practically shouts at me. "What's his name?"

"Kodlak." I inform her, my expression showing all of my gratitude to her for the past few moons where she looked after me. "I was just wondering if we could perhaps borrow your cot now that Mila sleeps in a bed?"

"Of course! Hadvar you can grab it. It's right there. Mila would you like to help?"

"Yeah yeah yeah!" The two year old cries with delight. Carlotta carries her daughter down the steps back to the Plains district. Mila opens the door for me and Kodlak and she giggles as she sees the baby. "Mama he looks funny!" I smile at the eldest baby and Carlotta laughs. I hope our children become friends.

6 years later...

Kodlak bounces around happily, carrying the wooden greatsword behind him. By his age I was lugging an ebony dagger around, hating everyone and everything. Fortunately, his upbringing has been better than mine. Instead of spending his free time with murderers as I did, he trains with the Companions.

"Can we go to market today Mum?" My boy asks me. Him and Mila have become close friends and they're together almost every day.

"But you go to the market everyday. Come, we're going to visit some other people."

"If by that you mean Lars or Braith then I don't wanna go."

"No my son, I'm not that mean. We're going to the cloud district today." His eyes seem to light up at the thought. I've never taken him to Dragonsreach before as I do not wish for him to become involved in some kind of arranged marriage with the Jarl's girl. I hold his hand and leave Hadvar behind with a quick peck on the cheek.

By the time we get to Dragonsreach I'm carrying Kodlak because he got tired halfway up. When we enter the ancient building I stop walking for a second to take in the atmosphere. I drop him to the floor and he sees Dagny and Frothar, the Jarl's eldest children. He runs off to go and introduce himself while I go straight to the Jarl.

Kodlak's P.O.V

By the time Kodlak has caught up with the two older children they are both aware of his presence. The boy stands forwards and extends his hand.

"Hi. My name's Frodnar and this is Dagny, my sister."

"Kodlak." The youngest boy introduces himself.

"You look really strong. I bet you could beat Frodnar in a fight." In that moment Kod remembers what his mother told him.

"My ma always told me that brave men don't fight." Dagny seems to pout a little, putting on her best begging impression.

"Come on Kodlak. We could go on the balcony where nobody would see us."

"Alright then." Kod sighs. The children all race to the balcony and Dagny comes last so she begins to strop.

"Oh no. Here comes the waterfall." Frodnar sighs.

"Hey, don't cry. Crying ruins the way your face looks. Besides, you look kind of pretty when you smile." The girl then stops crying in time for Kodlak to then start wrestling with Frodnar. After Frodnar ends up on the floor they decide that Kod is the strongest of them. Dagny becomes rather clingy as the afternoon comes on and she starts to cry as the doors close behind Kod and his mother.

On the way back home, mother and child encounter Mila and Carlotta. The women begin to talk while Mila and Kod run off together.

"Kod did you go to the Jarl's palace today?"

"Yeah! It was really great! I met this guy called Frodnar and this girl called Dagny and they both really liked me. I wish you could've been there Mila. I really do."

"Dagny liked you?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"She seemed to hate me..."

"Maybe she just doesn't like talking to girls." Kod suggests. "Still, I really liked her too. She was nice to me." Mila smiles but she is actually hurting inside. Kodlak is HER friend yet he goes to see that Dagny girl for one day and comes back completely oblivious to Mila.