They continued on through traveling back to Whiterun the next day. Alexandra was surprisingly happy and talkative. On the outside Vilkas seemed to act as normal but she didn't notice how tightly he was gripping the reins of his horse or how he'd hold his breath every time she looked at him.
A couple.
He would be lying if he said he wouldn't be happy if he could make her his. To lavish her and cherish her. His mind thought back to her laughs the night before. He wanted to be able to be the only man to make her smile like that.
He tightened his grip on the reins even more. She had cured the wolf with in him. Yet it seemed that his yearning for her had been awakened. He supposed he could thank the cub for that one. Because of him Vilkas saw her in a new light.
" Vilkas?"
He looked up at her in shock.
" What?"
Alexandra frowned slightly. " Are you alright?"
" Yes, I just spaced out for a moment. I didn't hear what you said."
She eyed him and he forced himself to take a deep breath. Why was it he was noticing such details of there that he had never noticed before?
She gave a small smile and shook his head.
" It's alright. Don't worry about it. We should keep going if we want to make it home on time."
He nodded and watched her turned back around. She was perfect. Flawless even. No, not flawless.
His hands followed her hands as she raised them into the air to stretch. The only thing that would make her flawless would be a ring on her finger, making her his.
A few days later they had made it back to Whiterun safe and sound. The members greeted them happily, none of them upset over what they had done. In fact no one had mentioned it.
As everyone stepped inside Vilkas turned and kept his eyes locked in the direction of Whiterun's gate. In his pocket the papers from the orphanage grew heavy in his head.
She should only be a day behind them, if all had gone well. That meant he only had a day left to think of the rest of his plan.
" Vilkas! Are you just going to stand there or are you coming inside?"
He turned and saw Aela calling out to him with Farkas by his side. Farkas didn't say a word but he knew better than to fall for the smile his brother gave Aela as he gave her a smart remark. His brother had something on his mind. He was a mess of emotions. Sadness, excitement, but most of all, fear.
Farkas furred his brows together. Just what exactly did his brother have planned this time?
Early that next morning Farkas woke to the the sound of the floor creaking slight. He rose from his bed and made his way up stairs, catching a glimpse of the person as they made their way outside.
Farkas checked to make sure he wasn't followed then stepped outside.
It was still fairly early in the morning but the stall vendors were beginning to set up shop while the guards switched patrols. He made his way down the the main section of town, pausing at the stairs.
There he saw Vilkas standing at a stall. The woman listened to him intently as he spoke then nodded before disappearing behind her stall. When she returned she had brought up a small case and unlocked it.
Farkas squinted in hopes to see what laid inside but the sun was much too blinding. He watched Vilkas's face contort as he thought. He had never seen Vilkas concentrate so hard in his life. It was as if it were a life or death situation.
The woman spoke again and Vilkas peered up at her. As she continued on with talking Farkas could see his brother grow flustered with embarrassment. He turned his face and replied to the woman.
Farkas grew more and more confused with each second. The more Vilkas began to talk to the woman the more comfortable he grew. He motioned to the gate a few times and off to his side. The woman laughed and held out her hand. Immediately Vilkas stopped his words.
With a soft smile she asked him a question. Farkas watched his brother stiffen then hang his head in defeat. He gave a small nod and mumbled something back. She reached across the stall and placed a hand a reassurance on his shoulder. He glanced up, taking a deep breath. Then she pushed the case closer to him.
Farkas stayed hidden as well as he could, watching his brother go back to looking. He wasn't sure how long he stayed there but it was long enough to make him debate turning around and heading back to bed. Then Vilkas seemed to make his decision.
Farkas felt his mouth fall open slight with surprise, a small gasp escaping him as he realized what his brother held in his hand. No, he must have been seeing things. The sun was blinding him. There was no way that Vilkas would . . .
Then he smirked and crossed his arms. He gave a small shake of his head as turned and headed back home. No, he was just being silly. In fact, he was happy for his brother. Proud even. To think the time had finally came . . . well that made him smile all on its own.