Vilkas and Ria returned from their week long job of clearing out cave bears to find Jorrvaskr in a state of celebration. It didn't take them long to realize why – Cyréne was home. Neither of them was thrilled about it. They trudged to their rooms, tired from their journey.

Farkas wasn't long in coming to retrieve his brother. "We're all headed to the Bannered mare for dinner and drinking, join us."

Vilkas was about to decline when he heard Ria's voice in the hall. "I don't know what there is to celebrate," the Imperial sniffed. "I'm staying here. I'll keep Vilkas company."

Vilkas rolled his eyes in irritation and accepted his brother's invitation. Ria was nice enough, but they'd been spending too much time together and everything about her was starting to grate on his nerves. "Just let me get cleaned up first."

Farkas nodded and followed his brother down the hall and through a doorway, down a second flight of steps.

The natural hot-spring that ran under Jorrvaskr was one of the mead hall's best kept secrets. The hall's basement was about half the size of the sleeping quarters and consisted of storage space for extra weapons and a huge room built to take advantage of the constantly flowing warm water. The bathing room was partitioned into several sections separated by low stone walls topped with screens. Low walls were built up around several small secluded pools, each several feet deep and big enough for two or three people. There were also two deeper, larger pools separated by a full wall.

Shelves were attached to the various screens and they held towels, soap and other bathing implements. Vilkas veered to left and stripped off his armor behind one of the screens. He eased himself into one of the larger pools with a sigh. Farkas had just retreated behind one of the screens to fetch some soap when Ria came in. She searched the room briefly, before locating Vilkas.

He was stretched out with his arms resting on the edge of one of the walls. Wet hair was slicked back from his face and his eyes were closed. She licked her lips unconsciously as her eyes traveled down what she could see of his lean form. He was all battle-hardened muscle dusted with dark hair. Even in his relaxed state he looked dominant and commanding. The man practically dripped sex.

She let her eyes wander down to the slightly stirring water. Oh my . . . he's not even aroused and . . . OH MY! Ria licked her lips again and unfastened her armor. "Mind if I join you," she asked.

"I don't really think that's appropriate," Vilkas said without opening is eyes.

He heard her step into the water and move toward him. "I won't tell if you won't," she purred.

Vilkas opened his eyes with a tired sigh. "Ria," he started. She was standing before him, waist deep in the water, completely nude. He averted his eyes immediately.

"What's wrong?" she asked with feigned innocence. "Don't you like the view?"

"I certainly don't mind it," Farkas said from the corner of the room.

Ria gasped and dropped into the water red-faced.

"That's clear water. I can still see everything," Farkas chuckled.

Ria made a strangled sound and scrambled to snatch a towel. She covered herself and stomped from the room with a screech.

Vilkas smirked at his brother. "I may have to bed her just so she can get it out of her system."

Farkas laughed and shook his head at his twin. "She's got nice tits, but talk about asking for trouble."

The twins walked into the Bannered Mare half an hour later to find the rest of the Companions crowded around a corner table.

"Help yourself!" Torvar called when he saw them, "Drinks are on Cyréne!"

Hulda added Farkas's mead to the tab she was running. Vilkas paid for his drink and the two of them made their way to the table. Njada pulled up two extra chairs. Vilkas sat down and drained half his mead before he bothered to look around.

Cyréne was sitting on Brand's lap. He had his feet propped up and she was reclined against him sideways engrossed in a conversation with Athis. He'd never seen the two of them together and their obvious comfort around each other caught him off-guard. There didn't seem to be anything sexual to it, but the familiarity cut him. He also was not expecting her outfit, at all. Tight buck-skin pants hugged her long slim legs (has she always had those legs?) and disappeared into leather boots. The ¾ sleeve tunic she wore wasn't low-cut, but something about the way it was fitted drew his eyes. The leather vest she wore over it, served only to aggravate him. Her honey-blonde hair hung in a low ponytail halfway down her back or would have if it hadn't been wrapped around Brand's hand several times. Vilkas didn't realize he was staring until Brand cleared his throat and met his gaze with a knowing smirk.

Cyréne laughed at something Athis said and turned to sip her mead. Her smile faded just slightly when she noticed Vilkas. "Brother," she said in greeting.

He narrowed his eyes and gave her a clipped nod.

"Where is Ria?" Cyréne asked. "Wasn't she out with you . . . clearing out bears or something?"

"She's recovering from our journey, no doubt," Vilkas said. He sipped his mead and regarded her with half-lidded eyes. "It was . . . arduous," he said suggestively.

Cyréne shrugged, and turned her attention back to Athis, but he didn't miss the flash of . . . something in her eyes.

After a few rounds Brand stretched and looped his arms loosely around Cyréne. "I should get back to Jorrvaskr," he said to her. "Not that I want you off my lap," he added playfully, "but, Farkas and I have quite the mission ahead of us tomorrow."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Farkas cut in, "A smart man came to see Skjor and said he located a fragment of Wuthrad, we're going to retrieve it."

Cyréne's eyes lit up. "Really? I'd like to join you on this mission if—"

"You can't," Vilkas interrupted. "it's the new blood's trial. Farkas is only going to observe and make sure he's honorable."

The look Cyréne gave Brand made Vilkas want to hurl his tankard across the room.

"Congratulations," she said softly. "I'm sure we'll be welcoming you back victorious soon. I can't wait to call you 'Brother'."

"That remains to be seen," Vilkas said stated casually.

Brand didn't take the bait. He was too busy grinning at Cyréne. "Now that you're here, I'm confident everything will go well."

"I'll drink to that!" Farkas said before Vilkas could make another comment. "Welcome home, Sister and welcome home, Brother," he said elbowing Vilkas.

Brand and Farkas were scheduled to leave early the next morning. Cyréne was up to see them off and Brand caught her in a hug on the way to breakfast.

"My things seem a lot more magical this morning," he said pointedly.

She bit her bottom lip and gave him a shy little grin. "I know I should have asked you first, but I wanted to surprise you for your mission. I hope you don't mind the enchantments."

Brand grinned. "Don't play coy, you know I appreciate it – tell me what you did."

"To which piece?" she smirked, "and before you ask, I didn't mess with your weapons, only your apparel."

His eyebrows rose. "Armor"

"Fortify both health and stamina"

"Boots"

"Carry-weight and one-handed"

"Helm"

"Archery and lock-picking"

"Gauntlets?"

She smiled at him. "I'm proud of this one – they fortify unarmed combat and heavy-armor skill."

Brand ruffled her hair affectionately. "Honey, you're something else."

Soon she was walking them to the gates. "There is one more thing," she said to Brand with a grin.

"What is it?"

She handed him a bag full of small soul gems and a steel dagger. "Stab some bad guys with this and charge some gems up. I'll show you how to enchant something when you get back."

She looked over at Farkas who was pouting slightly. "What's wrong Farkas?"

"You didn't make me anything."

"Who says I didn't?"

His expression brightened and he shouldered Brand out of the way. "Whad'ya get me?"

She looked up at him. "You know, I would have enchanted something for you, if I'd known you were interested."

He shrugged. "I don't know about all that magic stuff."

She handed him a small pack. "Well, how about a delicious lunch, some strong health and stamina potions and a big white bottle at the bottom just for fun?"

"What's it do?" he asked, instantly curious.

She pulled the bottle out and turned it upside down for a moment, before righting it and popping the cork. She licked the cork and suddenly disappeared."

"Hey, where'd you go?"

He jumped when she pinched him, and a moment later she reappeared and handed him the bottle.

After they left she sighed and turned back toward the city.

"You know," said a familiar voice, "I could be in the wrong line of work. You seem to be surrounded by muscle-bound Nords I wouldn't mind riding for a few miles."

Cyréne laughed out loud and looked around. A moment later Shaye stepped from the shadows of a nearby building and Cyréne embraced her.

"Oh Shaye! It's so good to see you. How are you?"

The petite assassin smiled and her blue eyes sparkled. "I'm well, although I admit I find it rather annoying the way you've managed to make a friend out of me."

"Too bad," Cyréne said flatly, "you're stuck with me now. Have you had breakfast?"

"I have actually."

"What brings you to Whiterun?" Cyréne asked and then held up a hand. "If it's business, I don't want to know."

Shaye linked arms with her friend and they headed toward the market. "I was just passing through actually. I stopped to see if you were here, and here you are. I thought I might spend a day or two."

Cyréne smirked. "You mean, you stopped by to see if you could get in Brand's pants and now he's gone, so you might wait it out?"

Shaye snickered. "Or that . . . how about you show me where they make that legendary Skyforge steel?"

A few hours later they were laughing together as they walked down the steps of Skyforge. Somehow, Shaye had charmed a free dagger out of the always crabby, always hard-nosed Eorlund and Cyréne couldn't get over it.

Shaye stopped suddenly and put a hand on Cyréne's arm. "Who is that?"

Cyréne stopped walking and followed her gaze into the training yard. Her heart sank. "That, my dear, is Vilkas." She barely stifled a giggle as Shaye pulled her down onto the steps and they peeked over the edge.

"Muffle us or something," Shaye said impatiently.

Cyréne shook her head, but silently cast a quieting spell.

Shaye looked from her friend to where Vilkas was warming up in the yard and then back to her friend. "Cyréne," she squeaked, "that's a seriously delicious piece of man-pie down there! Shit!"

Cyréne sighed. "Yeah, I know."

"Nooooo," Shaye said with a slow shake of her head, "I don't think you do. He is . . . he is . . . HOT!"

"You should see him without the armor," Cyréne couldn't help but whisper.

Shaye smirked. "It would not do for me to see him without the armor. I would rape him."

Just then Ria appeared in the courtyard and approached Vilkas, hips swaying.

"Who is that?" Shaye hissed.

Cyréne rolled her eyes. "Ria, ugh!"

Shaye watched her for a moment. "She's making a move on your man."

"Yeah, well it's tricky."

"How so?"

Cyréne sighed. "Vilkas is an asshole. He would absolutely bed her just to spite me."

Shaye gasped and drew back comically. "Shit! That makes him hotter somehow, but this isn't happening."

Cyréne's eyes widened. "What isn't?"

Shaye waved her hand at the scene below. "This foolishness – you want him, which means I can't have him, which means that bitch definitely can't have him! We're going to fix this," she said with an evil smile.