Damn son, two reviewers. I feel so happy ^_^ Thank you to you two people (you know who you are) for being nice reviewers and not flaming. Just so you all know, I'd written this Fanfiction before posting so there's only so much editing I can do without completely re-writing the chapter completely. Thank you or sticking with me anyway you crazy people...

Remembering

Kodlak wakes up with a start in a cold sweat. He runs his hands across his face and lies down once more on the large bed. This was the third dream he'd had about Mila dying for the week they've been in Solitude. He shakes his head to try and get the image out of his head but he can't.

He slips himself into the plain tunic he had picked out himself, choosing it willingly over the fine and extravagant clothes Svari had bought him. Whenever he walks out of his bedroom. On his way out of the house he sees the mannequin with his mother's old Brotherhood armour on it and it makes him shudder from bad memories of the Brotherhood trying to kill his father and himself. Kodlak walks out of the manor house, ruffling his short hair slightly to make it look decent. He climbs to the top of the Emperor's tower to find someone he was not expecting to find. Minette. Kodlak sits next to her and turns his head to smile lightly. Minette rarely talks around Kodlak yet according to Svari, she is the loudest of the group in front of them.

"Are you unable to sleep too?" He asks, purely out of curiosity.

"Yes. I have vivid nightmares of losing my brother."

"Strange, I have similar night terrors."

"You do?"

"Yes. There was this girl back in Whiterun who I have been close friends with since the day of my birth, I have recurring nightmares of her death and I have lost much sleep over it."

"Were you two courting?"

"I... No."

"What?"

"I loved her, Minette. I did. Ay, she was wonderful but she never returned my feelings. Still we remained friends until the last. She has not written yet."

"It seems like you two had a wonderful life in Whiterun and friends that would support you while you mourned. Why did you leave?" Kodlak pauses for a moment. Was he going to tell her? From what he has gathered over the past week, Minette seems trustworthy enough. The only problem is that Kodlak himself does not know if he could handle retelling the tale of how he and his mother ended up in Solitude.

"My father and my grandmother were murdered by the Dark Brotherhood. My mother was determined not to move but I believe that the needle in the haystack was when the Jarl's daughter tried to force herself onto me. We left, telling only Mila and my mother's closest friend where we were going." When Kodlak finishes, his voice breaks a little, showing his weakness for his family. Minette tilts her head slightly. She has never seen the more innocent side of Kodlak and she likes it. She looks him in the eyes for a second before glancing down at her hands. He puts a finger under her chin and pulls it up. "Sorry Minette, but you must understand that I cannot love another."

"I understand. Write to her. I will not object." A grin lights up Kodlak's face. He hugs her before quickly dropping the hug after realizing what he just did. Then he runs down the stairs excitedly, leaving Minette with a bright smile on her face.

By the time Kodlak has returned to Proudspire, he finds his mother waiting for him.

"Kodlak Steelheart what are you doing?"

"I must write to Mila. I have to-" Niki interrupts him by grabbing his upper arm. She shakes her head, her eyes glowing a dull red.

"Nobody can know we're here. Couriers can be bribed. Sorry Kodlak."

"Mother, why are your eyes red? It makes no sense since you aren't a vampire."

"Actually I was born half vampire on my mother's side. Naturally, she cured me as soon as possible but the eyes remained the same colour."

"I want to go back to Whiterun. I miss Mila and the Companions and heck, even Lars. The friends I have made here are blessings but I wish to return home."

"I understand, my son. I will talk to the Brotherhood and arrange some kind of peaceful negotiation." With that, the woman leaves, sparing a pitiful glance at her son before sitting down at a desk with a parchment and pen. Kodlak himself simply returns to his bed, pondering over the day's events. Or rather, the night's events.

"I am sorry, my Listener."