A few weeks had passed since the dragon attack. All that remained of my injuries was a scar encircling my arm. After recovering for a few days under Danica's watchful gaze, I was allowed to return back to Jorvaskr.
As soon as Kodlak have me the okay, I was back to work. My fears were put to rest when I was received with open arms back at Jorvaskr by everyone.
Well, except for one person I thought glumly.
Vilkas had been extremely cold with me. Not in a cruel way; no that wasn't Vilkas' style. Vilkas ignores me like I don't exist.
Before the dragon attack, I decided I was going to go with Vilkas on a job, in hopes of finding a common ground with him; but with the dragon fiasco, I never got to do it, and I've been to afraid to ask him now.
An Imperial named Viranus, had joined the ranks of the Companions. He gets along well enough with everyone, particularly me. He always seems to be with me; while I am at Jorvaskr and while on jobs. He always accompanies me, and I usually return the favor.
Viranus is perfect; he has muscles, a nice tan complexion, and a great personality. By all means, I should be head-over-heels in love with him, but something just seems off about him. I feel as if he is hiding something from us.
Of course, Vilkas doesn't like him. At all. In the short two months that Viranus has been with us, he and Vilkas had gotten into numerous brawls over the smallest things. Each man would leave the fight a little worse for wear, but mainly their prides' would be the most injured.
You know how I said that it felt like Viranus was with me all the time? Well, it has begun to feel like I can't get away from the man! I've tried to hide from him. Yes, I have stooped to that level! It's just so tiring, not having any alone time.
Damn it! Here he comes! I thought as I dove behind some barrels behind a stall in the market.
After he had walked by, I made a beeline for Jorvaskr. I would just find a job to do, and leave before he found me. When I found Aela lounging in her room, I immediately cut to the chase.
"I need a job! I'm going stir crazy!" I said, only half lying. I was becoming tired of Jorvaskr, as I hadn't been on a job in two weeks.
"Well," she said, putting down her bow that she had been polishing, "you're in luck. I just received one. The Jarl of Falkreath has put out a bounty on a clan of bandits raiding farms in the area. We have been asked to eliminate the bandits."
When she said that, I had a bad feeling in my gut. My family's farm is outside of Falkreath!
"I'll take it." I said, with a stronger voice than I thought I could muster.
As I turned around, Aela called for me.
"Take someone with you, Isabelle. An entire clan isn't something you should tackle on your own." Aela added.
"Alright. I'll find someone before I leave." I said as I turned around and walked into the hall.
Take someone, she says? This will be the perfect time to get rid of Viranus, and I can try to work on the Vilkas situation all together! I thought with relief, and determination. As I plodded up the stairs, I could see Vilkas sitting at the table, reading a book that appeared to be on how to use heavy armor more efficiently.
I sat beside him, and saw him glance at me slowly, and then return to his book.
Alright, fine then I thought, before I grabbed the book and chucked it across the table.
With a long suffering sigh, he finally looked at me.
"What do you want?" he asked sounding as if he was being put to death.
Sarcastically I replied, "No need to get so excited." I continued, "I have a job, and I need someone to accompany me, per Aela's orders."
With a dark look passing over his face, he said, "Why don't you take Viranus? You two seem to be joined at the hip."
Letting the jab slide, I said in a calm voice, "If I wanted to take him, I would've asked him. You and I have never done a job together before, so I think it's about time."
As he sat pondering, I saw the front door open. I was met with the face of overbearing Viranus. I began to slide down in my seat, and could feel Vilkas' eyes on me.
As Viranus began walking towards me, Vilkas agreed to accompany me. In a very loud voice, might I add. At this, I saw Viranus' eyes narrow at Vilkas. I then noticed the smug look on Vilkas' face. I could feel an oncoming brawl, so I had to do something quick.
I noticed the fire roaring in the fireplace, and decided that I could make the fire spill out just a little. I could feel the fire from across the room, and took hold of it.
Perfect! I thought as I saw the flames begin to lick at the carpet near the fireplace. When it was ignited, I let the flames fall back into the fireplace. By the time I looked back at the two men, they were already in each others' faces, before I shrieked about the rug being on fire.
Both of them looked at the fire dumbly for a few seconds, before Vilkas snatched the rug up by a corner and ran to a door with it. During this spectacle, I quietly sneaked down to the living quarters to get a few of my things before I left for Falkreath.
At sunrise the next morning, I met Vilkas at the stables outside of Whiterun. We decided we would travel by foot since Falkreath was only a day's travel. We would arrive in Falkreath a bit after sunset, and would rent a room in an inn.
Vilkas was wearing his wild armor and had a big Skyrforge steel greatsword strapped to his back. I was dressed in the total opposite.
I had recently gotten enough money to pay for a pair of Apprentice Robes of Destruction. Farengar, the court wizard in Whiterun had recently gotten them from the College in Winterhold; I knew that I would have them.
Vilkas complained about the robes. He said that if I got hit, it would be the end of me since I had no armor. I know that it isn't very smart to wear no armor, but I just couldn't move in it.
The first hour or two, we didn't really speak much. This isn't going to make him warm up to me! I thought in despair. What do I do?
Feeling that the way we had been acting was stupid, I turned to Vilkas to address the problem.
"This is stupid. Why are we acting like this?" I said in exasperation. My voice sounded too loud in the quiet night air.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Vilkas said in a calm voice.
"Don't give me that crap. You know exactly what I am talking about! Is it because I use magic, or is it just because I'm not a Nord?" At this he looked surprised.
"What are you talking about?" he said, sounding truly surprised.
"You've been ignoring me, and before the the dragon attacked, you didn't particularly like me!" I yelled letting out all of my confusion.
He stopped walking, so I did too. I turned around to look at him when he began to speak. He had a cross look on his face.
"I don't know what you're talking about! I haven't been ignoring you! If you'd take the time to notice, I don't treat you any differently than Aela or Farkas. It's just how I have always been, and will be!" he said with a frustrated sigh.
What? He hasn't been ignoring me? I thought perplexed.
He continued, "You thought that I didn't like you because I didn't speak with you every second of the day? Or because you were a Breton?"
"Well, for all I know those could've been feasible reasons as to why you didn't speak with me! It wouldn't be too farfetched that someone hates me because of what I am!" I yelled at him, thinking about all of the times I had been slighted as a child for being different, as in not a Nord, to other children. And now, adults still do it. It doesn't help that I use magic regularly, which the majority of the Skyrim's population distrusts.
"Divines no! I don't hate you because your a Breton! And definitely not because of your magic. You've helped so many of our Shield-Brothers and Sisters with your healing magic. I don't trust magic unless it is in competent hands!" Vilkas yelled, like he was trying to get me to understand him.
In a timid voice, I asked, "So you don't hate me?" and added in my mind Was that a compliment?
"No, I don't hate or dislike you." he replied in a calmer voice.
"So we are all good? No more cold shoulder?" I asked still unsure.
"Yes, we are fine!" he said with an exasperated sigh.
We began back on our path, both with eased minds. After clearing the air, the tension in the air dissipated. It felt as if Vilkas had been a lifelong friend. We chatted about small, insignificant things, until we reached Riverwood. As we were walking through the small settlement, we got onto the subject of Viranus.
"I don't like him." Vilkas stated bluntly.
"I like him enough, but if feels as if he is hiding something big. I just can't tell what." I said, thinking about the sinister look that would flash in his eyes before being replaced with joviality and friendliness.
"The boy is arrogant. He doesn't give the respect that is due." At this, I giggled a bit at how Vilkas called him a boy, when Viranus had to be around our age.
"I'm sorry, but you've never exactly shown him any respect." I said logically. "Respect is given when respect is received." I said as I repeated the phrase my mother had always used before I left home.
With a noncommittal grunt, Vilkas added, "He seems to like you more than everyone else. How does it feel to have a living and breathing shadow?"
My face flushed scarlet. "It feels like I can't breathe. I can't ever get away from him. I was hiding behind barrels in the market district yesterday! It's that bad!" The words tumbled out of my mouth. I had been holding the feeling inside, and I guess I needed to vent.
I continued, "I hate being left alone with him. Something about him makes me uncomfortable."
At this, Vilkas' face turned serious. "He hasn't tried anything, has he? If he has, don't be afraid to catch him on fire." he said with a dark look passing over his face.
"You definitely don't have to tell me twice. As a matter of fact, I electrocuted an old lecher that tried to pick me up like I was a common whore when I was fifteen." I said with a smirk. I could still remember the pervert's hair standing straight up and the glazed look in his eyes after getting pumped full of electricity.
At that, Vilkas snorted in laughter. I noticed how nice he looked when he smiled, before my face blushed at the thought as we continued our trek to Falkreath.