Alexis reentered the house to screaming coming from Sophie's room. She hurried down the hall, and as she approached the door she could see blood, spread by the mysterious attackers hands, across the wall. She entered the room and immediately fell to her knees in grief, sobbing at the sight. Sophie's body was in the corner and her decapitated head sat in her lap. Sven was laying against the wall next to her, with an arrow in his chest, yelling out in agony.
"Sven, what happened," Alexis sobbed, kneeling to speak to him.
"I heard the horses and realized wh-what was going on," Sven began, coughing up blood. "Sophie's room is closest to mine, so I came in to help her. I told her to run far away as fast as she could toward Whiterun. After she left I created an illusion." As he said this, Sophie's body disappeared into mist. "I-I saved her. Sh-She escaped. A man, or perhaps a women, came in wearing a black hood. I protected the illusion as a distraction, and the hooded figure shot me, and then decapitated the fake Sophie. You have to go...help the rest."
Alexis nodded, wiping away tears. "Know that your sacrifice was heroic and that I will avenge you, my friend." She stood and exited, turning to head up the stairs. She followed the trail of blood on the walls to the main guest room. Inside was the hooded figure standing behind Lydia, Lucia, and Farkas, who were all on their knees with their hands tied behind their backs.
"Listen closely Dragonborn," the figure said in a deep, clearly disguised voice. "I stand here, over three of your closest loved ones. One of them will die tonight. And in time I will return and kill another, and then another. When all that you care about is gone, I will destroy you."
"You touch any of them, and I swear with the Nine Divines as my witnesses, I will grant you a slow and agonizing end. You will meet your end by my blade, Grey-mane, and you will be just another fallen enemy of the legendary Dragonborn. If you are doing this for glory, I assure you you'll not live to receive it."
"Oh please, we both know you've already guessed my identity, which means you know exactly why I wish to make you suffer, Destroyer of the Companions," the hooded figure shouted.
"True, there are no signs of a struggle, which means Farkas did not fight you. Because he would never hurt a former shield-sister. And I instantly recognised your arrows. Aela!".
"I guess there is no need for this mask then," Aela claimed, ripping it off. Her hair was much longer now, covering much of her face, including the scar that Alexis knew ran along the right side of her face, but still revealing enough that Alexis could see she no longer wore face paint. "Now choose. Which one dies!".
"Aela, you do not have to do this. Just kill me and get it over with. It's me you are after, I am responsible for the fate of the Companions," Alexis pleaded.
"Alexis, you will die, and trust me, it will be a very slow and very painful death. But first you must suffer as I did, watching all those you care about die. I trusted you to lead us as the Harbinger, just as Kodlak did. You let me down, you let all of us down and now our shield-brothers and sisters are dead, and the few who are not have scattered," Aela glared at Alexis. "Now choose or I will choose for you."
Alexis dropped to her knees sobbing. "I can't. I can't choose."
"My Thane, choose me. I have sworn to protect you and your family and I would gladly die for you. Sovngarde awaits," Lydia said bravely, though the fear in her eyes was evident.
Alexis continued sobbing as Farkas glared defiantly at Aela, trying to free his hands, while Lucia cried and prayed for help from the Nine.
"Very well. I will choose," Aela muttered. "A shame that she must die right before her birthday, but it seems you'll be making funeral arrangements for your daughter." Aela unsheathed a steel dagger and approached Lucia from behind.
"No!," Farkas yelled. "Kill me. Kill me instead or the next time I see you I'll plant an axe between your eyes."
Aela frowned. "Very well. I am sorry my former shield-brother, but you have sided with Alexis and are therefore my enemy." In one swift motion Aela ran the knife across Farkas's throat, his blood spilling out onto the floor, as his near lifeless body crumpled to the floor.
"No. Oh no!," Alexis screamed, sobbing harder than ever.
"It would seem you are not the warrior you once were. It was not that long ago that you would have shot me through the heart with an arrow before I could've done that," Aela stated. Well farewell. Next time we meet another of your loved ones will meet their end." Aela grabbed a torch from the wall and dropped it on the floor, and then proceeded exit through the nearest window, as the room lit up with orange flames.
Alexis crawled toward her husband who was rapidly bleeding out. "Farkas, I'm so sorry. You always loved me unconditionally, and I refused to love you in return out of fear that you would be hurt, and now that you are dying I realize that I do love you."
Farkas opened his mouth to speak, unsuccessfully, as more blood poured from his throat. He grabbed Alexis's hand before going limp as his skin paled and the light faded from his eyes.
Alexis's sobbing continued until Lydia interrupted. "Alexis, we need to get out of here before the entire building is engulfed."
Alexis wiped her tears and cut the ropes binding Lydia and Lucia, She then picked up Farkas's body, while Lydia opened a secret hole in the wall to reveal Astrid hiding inside with Ella. As she crawled out of the small space, she scanned her surroundings.
When she saw Alexis carrying Farkas, Astrid screamed. "No, daddy no. Please no."
"Astrid, we have to leave," Lydia said solemnly. "Alexis, you won't be able to bring the body. The horses can't carry him."
Alexis started to protest, but she knew Lydia was right. SHe set her dead husband's body back down and then, wit her head down, led Lydia and her two daughters downstairs and outside.
"Where is Sophie?", Lucia asked.
"She escaped. We'll look for her before setting off for Whiterun," Alexis spoke softly.
"My Thane, we can't stay here to look. This fire will attract all kinds of horrible creatures. We must leave now," Lydia argued.
"Lydia, I will not leave my daughter," Alexis yelled.
"Look, I care about her as well. I've watched over her for many years now. She is strong and should be able to make it to Whiterun on her own," Lydia stated.
Alexis sighed. "Fine, but if she has not reached Whiterun within three days, I will return by myself to find her. You had better be right about this."
Alexis walked the few steps to the stable, untying both horses. She helped Astrid onto Shadowmere, with Ella in her hands, then hopped on in front. Lydia and Lucia took Swift.
"Shadowmere, take us to Whiterun. I suppose it's about time we returned," Alexis said, and her trusted horse took off, heading for the city that Alexis had not visited in nearly three years.