Shrimpeater: Lol. I always laugh reading your reviews. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

HeidiFox: Yes. I am a brat! XD

Nyarghh: Vincent is mucho suck? XD wow. I assume you meant sick, Lol. I'm glad you like the story. I will do my best to continue.

TheNightMother: Well, who could refuse internet cookies from the night mother? Not me.

BlitzSneak: I'm glad you like the story dear and you have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that Vincent isn't a Mary-sue. They are truly the devil and I'm glad I was able to avoid it. Thanks for reading!

EvilSmiley: I did, didn't I? I was never very happy with the marriage system in Skyrim. They could have done so much more. I wanted to show a side to Vilkas that many don't see. He strikes me as very possessive for some reason. You'll see what's wrong with him soon.

Kogouma: Thank you so much for loving the story! Your reviews made me happy and I'm very pleased by the turn out so far. I hope I can live up to expectations!

Alright, let's get started.

The disclaimer, I no own it.

Chapter 8: Ever the Same

We were drawn from the weeds
We were brave like soldiers
Falling down under the pale moonlight
You were holding to me
Like a someone broken
And I couldn't tell you but I'm telling you now

Just let me hold you while you're falling apart
Just let me hold you and we'll both fall down

-"ever the same" by Rob Thomas

"He's really sick." She admitted. "We did the ritual…He didn't change."

Vilkas shoved Farkas off him and pushed past Aela and into the under forge. His heart was beating in his throat and he couldn't think properly. With each step he took, his worry escalated.

"Be okay…please be okay."

He ran out into the ceremony chamber and saw Skjor leaned over a still figure on the ground. He instantly recognized the pastel colors of Vincent's coat and felt his rage mix with his worry. Skjor looked up, expecting Aela but saw Vilkas instead. The color drained from his face for a moment and guilt instantly flooded his features.

"Vilkas…Listen-"

"Move."

"Vilkas, we-"

"I SAID, MOVE."

Skjor backed away from Vincent and put himself behind the alter, still filled with some of Aela's blood. Vilkas ran over to Vincent and hoisted the mage into his arms. His head lolled to the side like a lifeless rag doll and Vilkas spotted the blood running from his mouth and down his chin. His blood ran cold as his dream pressed against his memory. In a panic he put his head against Vincent's chest and was relived to hear him breathing, however faint it was. Maybe he wouldn't be smote with magic in a minute after all.

Vincent's lack of movement was startling however and it made Vilkas that much more nervous about the welfare of his mate. Words could not even describe the immeasurable amounts of worry and rage he was feeling at the moment so he choose to try and ignore both impulses for now and worry about getting Vincent somewhere safer.

He stood up, carrying Vincent like a bride out of the under forge without even a word to Skjor, Aela or Farkas. He went right back inside, ignoring Torvar when he asked if Vincent was alright. Vilkas bit back his sudden possessiveness and just kept walking. He called for Tilma as he passed the common room and went down the steps to the liking quarters. . He brought the unconscious mage back to Vilkas' own room and laid him on the bed.

Tilma showed up a moment later and helped Vilkas clean the blood off Vincent's lips and chin. She pulled Vilkas' blanket up over him and put a hand to his head.

"He's running a fever. Does he have a history of being sick, Vilkas?"

"He coughs a lot some days…"

"I'll go get him a wet rag. Stay with him."

She scuttled out of the room as fast as her old body could go and returned a moment later with a water basin and some rags. Vilkas paced about his room nervously as he watched Tilma clean him up and inspect him. A part of him wanted to shove the old woman aside and just hold Vincent until he opened his pretty eyes, but he pushed that thought quickly away. She was just trying to help and he needed to accept it. He was glad she didn't ask about all the marks on his neck…

"What is all the commotion?"

Vilkas looked up and saw Kodlak standing in the doorway with Aela, Skjor and Farkas. Vilkas instantly growled in anger. Kodlak walked casually in and leaned over Tilma to inspect Vincent. After a moment he stood upright and sighed heavy.

"What happened here?"

"Vincent performed to ritual to become a member of the circle, Kodlak." Skjor spoke up, his eyes on Vilkas however. "He accepted the gift and things went…wrong."

"Accepted?" Vilkas spoke up, his hands clenched into fight fists. "You probably tricked him!"

Skjor seemed glad that Kodlak stood between him and Vilkas because he was sure Vilkas wanted to lash out. A slightly guilty look did cross his face however. "I offered him the protection of being a circle member. He agreed."

"Did he?" Vilkas stormed up but Kodlak put a hand to his chest to stop his advance. "You betrayed me Skjor! I told you I didn't want Vincent to be like us but you just HAD to keep pushing it!"

Tilma took this moment to excuse herself and whispered something in Kodlak's ear before she left. Kodlak cleared his throat to the bickering men and they quieted down.

"Tilma said the boy will be fine with bed rest. Relax Vilkas."

"Relax? They almost killed him!"

"We did not!" Aela piped up. "He could have walked out of the under forge when we offered the blood! He didn't need to stay!"

Vilkas glared daggers at Skjor. He was shaking in anger but attempted to keep his voice level. "I trust you not to lie to me Skjor so I want you to tell me right now…What did Vincent say when you offered him the gift?"

Skjor sighed. "He…rejected it at first. Told us he didn't want to be a werewolf…"

"Skjor!" Aela had a minute of panic to her voice but Skjor hushed her.

"I told him he couldn't be in the circle unless he accepted the gift. I had filled his head with all the safety and new family he would have if he accepted…so he changed his mind and drank it. Then…he…" Skjor swallowed hard. "He…suddenly convulsed and threw up all the blood. I stayed with him and sent Aela to go find you. That's it."

"That's it?" Vilkas was trembling in pure unadulterated fury. "THAT'S IT? YOU PRESURED HIM INTO IT?"

"Vilkas, please listen-"

"NO!" Vilkas spat angrily. "You lied to him and to me! For someone who claimed to have spent so much time with him, you didn't know he was sick!"

Skjor's eye widened slightly. "Vincent is sick?"

Vilkas threw his arms up in exasperation. "I can't believe you! Either of you!"

Aela and Skjor did look ashamed but Vilkas didn't care. He wanted to actually hurt the people who had been like family to him all these years. He found the ability to stay mad at Aela and to hate Skjor all at once.

"Hey…"

Vilkas stopped. His anger suddenly left him in a great hurry and it was instantly replaced with worry. He glanced down at the bed to see a feverish Vincent awake.

"Vincent…"

The mage gave a weak smile. "What's with all the shouting?" His voice sounded raspy. "I'm trying to sleep, here."

A sudden relieved silence filled the room and Vilkas backed away from the others in favor of kneeling by the mage's bedside. Kodlak seemed to suddenly remember that he was supposed to be the one in charge and cleared his throat.

"Alright you lot. Lets clear out and let Vincent get some rest. When he is feeling better we will convene again and discuss what will be done." His last words had a note of grim to them that made Aela and Skjor flinch. They must be expecting punishment.

Everyone slowly filled out, except for Vilkas. He grabbed a chair from the corner of his room and seated himself by Vincent's bedside. He was glad that Tilma left the rag and water basin behind, then again the woman usually thought of everything. He dipped the rag in and then wrung it out before placing it on Vincent's forehead.

The Mage's eyes were still open and he gave Vilkas a tired smile. "Thank you."

"I'm not very good taking care of others." Vilkas admitted.

"You're doing just fine…"

Vilkas let his hand run down the cloth and onto Vincent's face. Despite the fever, his skin was slightly clammy and cold. "What happened?" He couldn't keep the rage from his voice even though he had desperately tried.

Vincent's eyes were slightly tired and ashamed. "I accepted the gift Skjor offered me. It's all my fault."

"Don't lie for him." Vilkas soothed while stoking his cheek. "You don't need to protect him."

"It was as he said, Vilkas. I could hear you arguing, you know… how I got here is still a bit of a blur but when you started yelling I think I came to." The redhead took a deep breath. "They offered me protection in the circle…Said that we'd be like a family. I'd forgotten what it was like to be part of a family…" he paused to cough. "…I wanted to belong somewhere again."

Vilkas hushed him. "You do belong here." He took Vincent's hand in his own. His grasp was slightly limp but he tried to give Vilkas' had a squeeze. "I'm glad the curse failed. I wouldn't want to condemn you to such a hell…and curse or no, you WILL be part of the circle."

Vincent weakly laughed. "I thought you didn't want me in the circle."

"I didn't want you in the circle because I didn't want you to have to take the beast blood. I didn't want to condemn you to this misery."

"Vilkas…"

"You will be a member of the circle. Beast blood or no, Vincent. You earned it."

Vincent fell silent for a moment. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Now get some sleep."

"Okay….but do me one favor?"

"Sure."

"Will you go get my bag from the room?"

"Okay." Vilkas stood up and reluctantly left Vincent's side. He went into the area all the whelps slept and picked up Vincent's knapsack from the floor. He made sure to close it so none of the contents would spill out and walked back to his own room with said item in tow.

Vincent smiled gratefully and struggled to sit up. "Can you hand it to me?"

Vilkas did as he was asked and watched the redhead shuffle through it. He wasn't surprised when Vincent pulled out the small red vial and uncorked it with some difficulty. Then he downed it all without a second thought and gagged at the taste. Then he placed the empty bottle and cork into his knapsack and set it aside.

"Thank you, Vilkas."

"What was that?"

"…My medicine."

"Vincent…" Vilkas sat back down near him. "Are you really so sick?"

Vincent's mouth set itself into a grim line. "Yes."

"With that sickness you mentioned? The one your father and Sister had?"

"…Vilkas. Can…we talk about this another time? I'm very tired."

"…I guess so. Get some sleep, alright?"

Vincent gave Vilkas' hand another squeeze, this one slightly stronger then the last one. "Okay."

The next week passed Vincent was seated up and eating normally again. The last few days had been torturous for Vilkas. He didn't know if Vincent was going to make it. Some days he slept the whole way through and did not wake until the following afternoon. Vilkas noted that in a three day rotation, Vincent would take the foul smelling medicine of his. Vincent didn't bring the subject up so Vilkas decided to let him have his privacy at least for now.

At the end of the seven day rotation, however he was sitting up in bed and resumed some normalcy. He was well enough that Kodlak called for the meeting in Vilkas' room so they wouldn't have to move Vincent to another location.

The harbinger and the rest of the circle piled into the room, all greeting the recovering mage with some relief.

"Now that this has had some time to linger, it is time we spoke of what had happened like calm and mature adults." Kodlak began and cleared his throat before continuing. "Skjor had admitted his guilt and for that I am proud of him. I will let him speak first."

Vilkas tried not to growl at the old man's words but respected him enough that he would not disagree with his statement. Skjor stepped forward, looking toward the mage in the bed with a slightly guilty look in his good eye.

"Vincent, I am so sorry for what happened to you. If you hadn't made it…I would have never been able to forgive myself. I pressured you into something he didn't wish to do and for that, I apologize."

"It's okay, Skjor. I forgive you."

Vilkas' hands tightened into fists at his side and tried to keep a cap on his rage. Especially when Skjor turned to him and made a similar sentiment.

"Vilkas. I'm sorry that-"

"Don't." Vilkas interrupted him, unable to listen to the lame excuse. "Just don't, Skjor. Vincent forgives you. Drop it."

"…As you wish." He backed away and to Kodlak's side where he was temporarily safe from Vilkas' wrath.

"Now that that's out of the way, I think we need to discuss what is to be done about Vincent's circle nomination."

"Nomination?" Vilkas scoffed. "He's in the circle. There is no nomination."

"He's not like us, Vilkas." Aela decided to finally speak after being silent for so long. "The gift would not accept him. He cannot be in the circle."

Vilkas eyes widened in disbelief for a moment. "Are you serious?"

"Very." Aela crossed her arms. "I have nothing against Vincent but we are all supposed to be gifted with the blood of the beast."

"It is no gift!" Vilkas snarled. "It's nothing but a curse that you and Skjor hide behind! You put Vincent through hell and almost killed him, now you're going to deny him entry to the circle!"

"Please understand where Aela is coming from, Vilkas." Skjor interjected. "It is dangerous to have someone in the circle that is unlike us. They do not understand the struggle of hiding the wolf from the eyes of the world and may not take the struggle as seriously."

"Farkas!" Vilkas looked up at his brother's sad face. "Do you agree with this?"

Farkas shifted slightly. "Not really."

"Lets vote on it then, since we are so divided…" Kodlak sighed. "Vilkas. You first."

"Vincent should be allowed in the circle. That's my vote."

"Good. Aela?"

"I do not think he should be allowed in." She answered quickly and looked anywhere but Vincent's face. She would have been better off though. Instead she met Vilkas' angry blue eyes.

"I see. Skjor?"

Skjor sighed. "I want to permit him to join…but it's no much of a risk. I agree with Aela. I'm sorry Vincent."

Vincent just bowed his head, his face wearing no angry expression. Vilkas was furious enough for both of them…

Kodlak wore a slightly displeased look. "Farkas?"

"…I think Vincent should be allowed in."

Vilkas could have hugged him at that moment. He gave his brother an approving smile and Farkas returned an uneasy one. Kodlak sighed and looked around the room.

"So it falls to me to break this indecision." He walked over to Vincent's bedside and put a hand on his shoulder. "How are you feeling, boy?"

"Better." Vincent nodded.

"Good enough to be up in three days time?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you want to join the circle?"

Vincent thought about it for a moment. "I like what the circle stands for but I understand if I cannot be a part of it."

"Good answer lad." Kodlak backed up and headed for the door. "Vincent is in the circle. We will coronate him in three days time. I will hear no more on this." And then he left.

Short chapter I know but the next one will be longer. Promise. I Didn't really have time to proofread it fully. Forgiveness, plz.