Vilkas woke up in the late evening to find his brother in his room once again. Farkas was sitting in a chair, polishing a sword. He was obviously waiting for his brother to wake up. As soon as their eyes met Vilkas knew something was bothering his twin and he already had a fair idea what that something might be.
„Slept well?"
„As well as the beastblood allows."
Vilkas sat up and stretched, never taking his eyes off his brother. Farkas' eyes were clouded as if he had been drinking, but his brother could not smell any alcohol. After a while Vilkas started speaking.
„What is going on, brother? I have not seen you like this in a long time."
The bigger man sighed. „I don't understand it myself. Something is... odd. I am odd. I am acting odd, feeling odd. I cannot explain it." He looked confused and as so often at a loss. Words never came easily to him, so even if he wanted to explain his emotions, it was always a struggle for the tall Nord.
„It's the girl, is it not?"
Farkas nodded. „Yes. I really don't know how to explain this."
„Where is she now?" Vilkas asked.
„Talking to Kodlak. She thinks we'll kick her out once we have answers."
His brother shrugged. „We cannot keep her here."
„I know that... but what will become of her? It was our kind that did this to her, Vilkas."
„So you're feeling guilty? Is that it?"
Farkas shook his head exasperated. „That is not it. I thought so too, at first. There is something about her. I have not really spoken to her much. But... I like having her around. I'd like her to stay."
Vilkas quirked an eyebrow. „Excuse me?"
Farkas ran his hands through his hair, not knowing how to explain what he himself did not understand. After a minute of silence it was Vilkas who spoke.
„So you are telling me you have fallen for this stranger? That hardly sounds like you, brother."
„I don't know if I have fallen for her. It is almost like some power that draws me to her. I don't understand it. All I know is that I cannot just send her away."
Vilkas' eyes pierced his brother's. Something smelled ratty. He'd have to talk to that girl and see what she did to his twin.
„Farkas, why don't you go hunting?"
The bigger man was taken aback by this sudden request. „Hunting? Now?"
His brother shrugged. „Maybe some fresh air will help you clean your thoughts. You are obviously not yourself." And I will get a chance to talk to that girl he thought to himself.
„You are probably right. You are always right. You wanna come?"
He shook his head. „Not without my ring, sorry. Maybe Aela or Skjor will join you."
Farkas nodded. „Aye, I'll go and ask them. Thank you, Vilkas."
„That's what I'm here for. Take care!"
As his twin had left the room, Vilkas finally got up and put on some comfortable clothes. He was not looking forward to this conversation. He too felt some sort of guilt for what the girl went through and he understood that his brother might have fallen for a pretty face. But there were plenty other beautiful women in Whiterun and Farkas never acted strangely because of any of them. So why should this one be so different?
Something in his gut told him there was danger ahead, but Vilkas failed to understand what exactly this danger should be.
He left his room and waited for Kodlak to finish his conversation with their guest.
For the citywatch it was a night like any other. With the thievesguild located in Riften, only very few crimes ever happened in Whiterun. The only problems were occasional barfights or brawls between the Battle-Born and the Grey-Manes, but these were none of the watchmen's business. The older of the two men stationed at the Whiterun gates that night yawned while the younger one, almost a child, watched him carefully. He was still eager to protect his town and very proud to wear his uniform. The old man smiled. He remembered how he felt when he was first allowed in the city watch, proud and confident, as if he could take on the entire world. And then reality hit him.
„Nothing ever happens in this shithole" he grumbled into his beard. The younger man obviously felt offended as he replied „That is because we protect Whiterun! Nobody would dare doing anything bad while we are on watch, right?" His comrade just grunted. „My cousin is out there fighting dragons, and I? I'm on city watch."
Their discussion was interrupted by someone clearing their voice. As both men looked up, they noticed a petite figure standing before them, clad in dark clothes, face covered by a hood. The voice betrayed the creature to be female.
„Excuse me, is it possible to gain access to the hold?"
The young guard gave the woman an evil glare and shouted „Don't you know what time it is? Do you really think we leave the doors open all night long for dodgy folk like you to come and go as they please? Come back in the morning, girl!" with a cocky grin he looked at his elder comrade for affirmation, but the other man just looked at the stranger in shock. His face was pale and covered in sweat.
„Please, forgive my friend. Enter, mylady, enter!"
The woman replied with a sarcastic tone in her voice. „How very kind of you, thank you."
The young guard was just watching their exchange flabbergasted as his comrade unlocked the gate for the stranger. „What are you doing? We have our orders, remember?" The older one gestured him to be silent as he let the stranger into the hold.
As soon as the gates had been closed behind her, the older man grabbed his younger comrade by the collar. „Are you mad? You do not ever reject her kind if you value your life, do you hear me?" The other man did not expect his friend's outburst and tried to struggle free from his grip. „Her kind? Why? What are you talking about"
The other man let go of him and looked him into the eyes. „Did you not see her clothes? She is an assassin. These were the robes of the brotherhood!"
Vilkas was fuming. Something was wrong, and he would find out what it was. The girl had been in Kodlak's room for more than an hour and he was getting impatient as he leaned against the wall opposite the Harbinger's quarters.
She better have some answers for him, and for Kodlak of course.
His brother had never before acted so strange. Sure, the girl was pretty, but nobody ever had such a hold on Farkas after such a short time.
His thoughts were interrupted by the creaking sound of a door opening. The girl, finally clean and wearing fresh clothes, looked up at Vilkas as she exited the Harbinger's quarters.
His heart beat faster as he looked into her green eyes. Was he nervous?
She gave him a warm smile that made her eyes sparkle but Vilkas just glared at her. „We need to talk." Ignoring her bewildered look, he nodded his head in the direction of the door. He heard her footsteps behind him as he left Jorrvaskr and went up to the Skyforge. It was almost midnight so he hoped they would be alone.
As they arrived at the Skyforge Vilkas finnaly turned around to look at her and was speechless at what he saw. The moon shone behind her, illuminating Mahri's slender frame. Her red locks once again looked as if they were on fire and her green eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at him. Vilkas' mouth was dry all of a sudden and he almost forgot why he had brought her here. It took him a moment to gather his thoughts before he finally spoke to her.
„I wanted to talk to you about my brother." She lowered her gaze, almost as if she was ashamed, as he mentioned Farkas. „I think... I think he likes me..." her voice was very quiet and she avoided looking into Vilkas' eyes. „And what if he did?" His heart was beating faster than he ever remembered. Why was he so nervous? Why did he even ask this question? And why was he so anxious to get an answer?
Mahri looked up and their eyes met. She looked confident and proud, entirely different than just a day before. „Then I am sorry. He is not the one my heart is craving for."
Vilkas could hear his own heartbeat. The way she looked at him... was she implying what he thought she did? But why? How? They had only met a day ago. So why did he get excited at the mere thought of her affection? Why did he want to touch her skin, grab her hair and press his lips against hers?
Before he even knew what was going on, she had come a step closer. Just inches seperated their bodies from each other and he could not tear his eyes away from her.
Her scent aroused him and his hand moved towards her face, softly caressing her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. Vilkas had to smile as he heard her moan softly. Just a few more moments and he would lose control.
All of a sudden he felt her hands pressing against his chest as her face came closer and closer to his.
Vilkas expected to feel her soft lips on his any moment when all of a sudden he spotted something from the corner of his eye. He awoke from the trance he was in and grabbed Mahri, pulling her to the ground just a moment before an arrow shot past the spot where her head had been.
The girl did not understand what was happening as Vilkas drew his sword and jumped up at the rocks behind the Skyforge. All of a sudden Mahri realized there was someone. Someone with a bow, and something that looked like a dagger. It was hard to see in the darkness, but Vilkas was chasing the attacker who was obviously trying to flee.
The girl was lying on the ground, still dazed and confused, when she heard Vilkas shout. „Come out and fight like a man, you coward!"
But Vilkas was the only person she heard. Wherever the stranger had been, now he was gone. Disappeared into thin air.
Vilkas spent a few minutes looking for the stranger, listening and sniffing into the night, but there was no sign of anybody. He finally returned to the shaking girl that was still sitting on the floor and looked as if she had just seen a ghost. „Mahri... are you hurt?" She shook her head and accepted the hand he offered her to get up. „What happened?" Her voice was shaken and she was paler than he had ever seen her. Vilkas looked around „We were attacked." You were attacked he thought.
He went over to the spot where he expected to find the arrow the attacker used, and indeed, he picked up the shards of what had once been a barbed arrow. It took him a few moments to realize where he had seen these before. His eyes widened as he looked at the girl in front of him.
„Can you think of anybody who would like to see you dead?" Mahri shivered as she shook her head. „Nobody except for the Silver Hand, and they think I am already dead."
„Aye, and the Silver Hand don't hire assassins."
The girl took a deep breath. „Assassins?" Vilkas nodded. „The Brotherhood. The arrow proves it. Someone wanted one of us dead."
Vilkas was convinced whoever was attacking them was not after him. The shot was flawless and would have hit the girl straight in the throat.
„Let us get inside, it is not safe out here."
Mahri just stared at Vilkas. She was as pale as death and seemed close to fainting. „You must be wrong! They are after you for sure, I do not have any enemies!" He just looked at her. Just minutes before he wanted to hold her in his arms and never let go, and now he wanted to be as far away from the girl as possible. What was going on? And why did she seem to be more afraid now than even when they found her?
„Let us go inside."
He took her arm and guided her down to Jorrvaskr, always keeping his eyes and ears open. That night he had sought her out to look for answers, and all he got was more riddles.
Thank you all for reading my stories! Sorry the update took me so long but I had been gone for a few days.
Thank you poopadoopadoop for your nice comment. I'm very happy you like it so far! I hope this chapter explains a little bit why the girl lacks personality and why Farkas acts the way he does. If it is not yet clear enough it will surely be after another 2 chapters. Not all is what it seems to be. I'll try to keep Farkas more in character, which is not very easy for me to be honest. I love him to bits but it is hard for me to write him the way I see him.
Thank you too, EspadaScream. I'm glad you like what you've seen so far :) I hope I won't disappoint you with the rest of the story.
I'm always grateful fol reviews. favs and comments. Update soon! (I hope)