Author's note: we're finally getting somewhere! Enjoy!

Glass Hearts

"Eleni? What is it?" Eleni blinked and Sahana was giving her a curious look. Her eyes were wide, brown – pretty. Her teeth, as far as Eleni could see, were normal. "Eleni?" Sahana pressed.

"A trick of the mind?" she said, but didn't sound so sure.

Sahana continued to stare at the girl. She could hear Eleni's heart racing, could smell the already dying fear. Finally, she shrugged. "You can help me with this?" she asked, gesturing to the gashes and the burn. She sounded bored, though Eleni knew that she had to be in tremendous pain.

"Yes. Let me go get some supplies." She got up and left.

Sahana sighed, pressing her fingers to her temple. Her beast had risen up quickly and unexpectedly. She had no way of knowing how much Eleni had seen. For now, Eleni seemed fine. Maybe she truly believed that it'd been a trick of the mind? Sahana could only hope.

Eleni returned, carrying a knapsack. She sat down at Sahana's side, rummaging through her bag before pulling out a multitude of salves and a small box. She started with the burn, using a soothing balm that cooled her heated skin and killed some of the pain.

Sahana released a breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She lifted her arm when Eleni began to loosely wrap the burn. "Keep that arm up," the mage girl ordered. Sahana was tempted to laugh, but only smiled. Eleni opened her little wooden box to reveal a needle and thread. "I'm going to sew your skin back together," she warned.

"Do whatever you have to do." Sahana shrugged one shoulder. She yelped a second later. "What are you thinking?" she snarled.

"I have to do it! It's too deep to be left alone!"

"That hurt worse than receiving the thing!" Her teeth snapped together audibly. "You do not have a healer's gentle hands, that's for sure."

Eleni glared at her. "I'm trying to help you," she grumbled.

Their gazes clashed. Eleni could tell that Sahana was trying to intimidate her into submission, but it wasn't going to work. She would not sit idly by when, "Your wounds should have been taken care of immediately. Infection was starting to settle in. This is the one thing that I can do and do without the fear of messing up. Let me help."

Sahana stared at her for a moment before nodding her consent. "If you feel so strongly about—"

The door was pushed open with force. Sahana looked over her shoulder and Eleni's eyes widened in shock. Vilkas had been ready to rip someone's head clean off, but now he shrunk back. Heat rushed to his face, across his neck and down to his groin.

He cleared his throat before asking, "What's going on?" He'd heard Sahana's familiar cry of pain and had reacted instantly.

"Stitching up wounds," Sahana mumbled. She jolted when Eleni started working again. She ground her teeth against the pain.

Vilkas frowned. "I did not realize that your injuries were so severe." He should've taken the time to look her over.

"I will be fine," she said. "Well enough to start our journey tomorrow."

"Huh? Where are you going?" Eleni asked.

Sahana glanced at Vilkas before looking at her, "We'll be going to the Tomb of Ysgramor, the leader of the ancient Companions, as I'm sure you've learned from Farkas." Eleni nodded and Sahana continued with, "We of the Circle will be returning his weapon, Wuuthrad." She gestured to said battle-axe.

"Oh… How nice," Eleni murmured absently. Sahana shifted uncomfortably. "Stay still for a moment!"

"You're not finished yet?" It sounded like she was whining.

"Sahana…" Eleni shook her head even as she worked. "You sound like a child."

She snorted indignantly before turning her attention to Vilkas. "You should rest. We've a long day ahead of us, yes?"

"Ah… Yes, you're right. Good night." He left the room, closing the door behind him.

"So," Sahana muttered a few minutes later, "distracting Farkas, are you?"

Eleni's eyes widened and her face immediately turned red. "Ah… I…" Sahana's smile had Eleni practically flailing her arms, denying the accusation. "We've not done anything, I swear it! Stop looking at me like that, Sahana!"

Sahana batted her eyelashes. "Why, I have no idea what you're talking about. What look are you referring to, Eleni?"

Eleni groaned. "Finally gotten comfortable, huh? Your true colors are showing now?"

Sahana lost her smile. Her eyes darkened, saddened. She looked away, staring at Wuuthrad. "Sorry," she said. "Farkas is a good man, but a little too kind-hearted at times. I don't mean to say that you are bad for him, I just want to look out for him as much as I can."

Eleni fell silent as she threaded Sahana's mangled skin. Sahana winced and growled, "Was that one on purpose?"

"What? Of course not! Don't be silly."

"I've been called a great many things," Sahana said. "Silly has never been uttered once – not in my presence, at least."

Eleni ignored her and asked, "Do you look out for Farkas because he is Vilkas' brother?"

Sahana's eyes widened slightly. "Why would you ask such a thing?"

"Farkas says that you're in love with his brother."

How could Farkas know such a thing? Sahana snorted before saying, "Who could love a man like that?"

"I've not spoken to him a lot, but Farkas always speaks highly of him. What's he like?"

"Difficult. Impossible, even. Playing with him is too much like playing with fire. He's fine one moment, and in the next he looks as though he could kill you. He's not quick to trust and he's not shy about telling you how it is." She sighed heavily. "But he's an honorable man. He can be a little self-absorbed, but will always come to the aid of someone he considers family. He's strong and courageous, a brilliant tactician." She made a face. "I could not possibly do him justice."

Eleni smiled, hummed a response. "Why not tell him how you feel?"

"Ha! Yeah, right…" She looked as though she were pouting. "My arm is tingling now. Are you done?"

Eleni couldn't believe it. This person, as beautiful and as strong as she was, was afraid of being rejected. Sahana had no reason to be insecure, Eleni thought. Of course, she knew something that Sahana did not - thanks to Farkas. "The worst of them are stitched up now," she said as she moved around Sahana. "I'm just going to apply this to speed up the healing process."

"Sure, go ahead."

"This one might sting a little."

"I'm prepared." She sat through the stinging sensation and sighed when Eleni finished applying the ointment. "Thanks a bunch," she said as she stood. She grabbed her shirt, stained with blood, and tugged it on. "I'm going to go find something to eat," she said.

"Okay. See you later."

When Sahana left the room, Vigilance and Meeko were waiting outside. They followed after her and she murmured to them, telling them a story as if they were children. Eleni smiled as she gathered her supplies. She left Kodlak's room and stood at Farkas' door before she knew it.

She knocked and the door opened. He looked tired, standing there with his disheveled hair and shadowed jaw. She gave him a small smile and he moved to allow her in. "You're leaving tomorrow?" she asked.

"Yeah," was all he said.

"Sahana said you're going to the Tomb of Ysgramor."

"Yeah," he said again. "To return Wuuthrad. It was his weapon."

Eleni hummed a response. "I talked to Sahana – about Vilkas, that is." Farkas sat on his bed, frowning. "I didn't start any trouble," she told him. "But she seemed hesitant to say anything to him directly…"

"Sahana…has her reasons, just as Vilkas does. One of Vilkas' reasons seems to be that he's completely oblivious to his feelings for her, though. It's possible he just doesn't want to acknowledge them." He shrugged, as if the whole situation was hopeless.

"He seemed pretty flustered when he saw her without her shirt on," Eleni mumbled. Farkas' eyes widened a little. "I was treating her wounds and he happened to come by. He looked scared at first, but then he looked down-right panicked. They're…odd." She shook her head, causing her hair to fall out of place.

"Hmm… Maybe. Or just wary," Farkas said, "like threatened animals." He reached up, tucking her hair back behind her ear. She met his gaze, her eyes wide and sparkling like gems. His eyes slid down to her parted lips and darkened with hunger – a dark hunger. "They'll come around eventually," he said, his voice a little rough.

She nodded a little, "I hope so." He rose up a little, and, without hesitation, touched his lips to hers. Eleni's heart raced, sang! His kiss was hard, like she knew it would be – because she'd dreamed about his kiss, she'd dreamed about his hands, his strong arms…

Her lips were as soft as silk. Plump and pink and delicious. He'd never get enough of her, he thought. He could live forever and he'd still want this small creature with her ready smile and sapphire eyes. She was a demon-slayer, when he hadn't even realized he had demons.

When she pulled away, her face red and her eyes restless, he couldn't help but smile. An innocent. A sheep among wolves. He rested his forehead against hers, forcing her to meet his gaze. His thumb stroked her scarred cheek.

"Why don't you try to sleep?" she questioned, whispering now. "It sounded like Ysgramor's tomb is quite a distance away."

Farkas shrugged his massive shoulders. She pulled away from him - his warmth - and bit into her lip. When she glanced up, he still had a gentle smile on his face. "I'll see you in the morning."

She nodded, "Yes, of course. Good night." She bowed her head as she left. She leaned against his door for a moment, touching one finger to her lips. She could still feel his mouth on hers. She smiled. The real thing was definitely better than her dreams.

Fortune smiles upon us. Yesterday, Vilkas was telling me how difficult it had been for him to give up his transformations. Until we can pursue a true cure, the twins and I have chosen not to give in to the beastblood. For me, it's provided a clearer head, but Vilkas seems to be suffering for it. Farkas seems completely untroubled. That boy continues to amaze with his fortitude.

While Vilkas was confiding, through the shadows of Jorrvaskr, I saw a newcomer approach, who wished to join our numbers. It was the stranger from my dream, the one who would stand with me against the beast.

Sahana glanced up when she knew she was not alone. Obviously, he hadn't been able to sleep. Vilkas stood on the other side of the hearth fire, staring at her. The flames flickered in his intense eyes and she quirked a curious brow before continuing to read.

Most of the time, she was acutely aware of Vilkas' every move. He sat at the table across from her and took a swig of some ale. She sighed before reaching for a green apple with her eyes still on the journal pages. She took a bite and savored…

I'm amazed that Aela thinks she can keep a secret among this drunken rabble. Sahana rolled her eyes; of course that's how he'd figured out about her and Aela going after the Silver Hand. She vowed that she'd never allow a drop of alcohol to touch her lips again.

"What was that face for?" she heard Vilkas ask. "What have you there?"

"Just a journal," she said. "And I was thinking about something foolish. I will never drink again."

"You're right. That is foolish," he said, taking another swig of his own drink.

"That wasn't what—" When she looked at him again, he was staring at her through half-lidded eyes, a barely there smile on his face. "Just a jest. Okay, then. You'll have to warn me from now on. I'm not used to you joking around." Now she smiled. He only shrugged.

"In any case," she started, rising from her chair. "I think I will head to bed now." When she walked by him, he grabbed her wrist and she yelped – mostly because he'd surprised her, but his hold was pretty strong, too. "Vilkas…?" Her eyes grew dark and her fangs lengthened against her tongue.

He seemed to sense her rising beast and his grip loosened. He was having a hard time managing his emotions and had inadvertently startled her beast to the surface. When he looked up and their eyes met, she was instantly calm. He looked troubled. "What is it?" she asked softly. "You can tell me, Vilkas."

He hated the way she said his name. Hated the way she looked at him. He hated the way she smelled and the way his body reacted to her. But what he hated most of all…was the fact that he didn't actually hate all of those things. He relished those things, in fact. Looked forward to them.

He wanted his name to be the only word to ever cross her lips. He wanted her dark, intense – haunting – eyes to be on him at all times. He'd never be happy again if he could never smell her comforting scent, and he knew that he'd never get tired of the way she made him feel.

When Vilkas realized that she looked concerned – for him – he released her. They both had too much on their minds to be bothered with this. "It was nothing," he said. "Sleep well." He turned his head away from her.

"Right... Good night, Vilkas." She walked away.

Everyone else was asleep when she entered the room that she shared with some of the other Companions. Meeko slept soundly next to her bed while Vigilance opted to sprawl out on the bed. She made a face as she removed her boots. She crawled onto the bed and Vigilance nuzzled her cheek.

"Go back to sleep," she whispered into the darkness. He licked her nose and she sighed.

Chapter end. Those bits and pieces of Kodlak's journal = not mine, of course. Thanks for reading!