It had been several weeks since Skjor's death. The Companions held a memorial for their fallen comrade, in which afterwards they feasted in honor of his death. They told stories of his adventures and bravery and raised their mugs in his honor. The Companions did not mourn their dead like most others, they held feasts and celebrated the life that they had once lived. Even though Skjor would never see the halls of Sovngarde, he was ready to join Hircine in the eternal Hunting Grounds upon his death.
Kaiah had been mostly running jobs for Farkas the last couple of weeks. She didn't want to speak to Aela after what had happened, and she honestly felt it best to just give her space. After the night of Skjor's death when she had been comforting Vilkas during his grief, she had not spoken much to him either. She had spent a lot of time with Ria, her closest friend. Though when she wasn't spending time with her or training or running jobs, she was writing home to her parents.
They had exchanged only two letters since Kaiah had been in Skyrim. She told them that one of her comrades had passed away, and they were grieving his loss. She also spoke of Ria and Farkas, and their seemingly blossoming relationship. She didn't mention Vilkas much in her letters. Truthfully, she didn't want her parents getting the wrong idea, mainly her mother. She always wanted Kaiah to settle down and have a family, continuing their silver-smithing traditions. And while Kaiah had thought about one day having a family of her own, she certainly wasn't ready for something like that now.
In truth, her relationship with her mother had not been great. Most of her childhood was spent being scolded by her mother and being trained as a silver-smith, even though she had her own dreams of becoming a warrior. While her father did try to encourage her mother to let her pursue her own dreams, it was to no avail. Sometimes Kaiah wondered if she got her stubbornness from her mother instead of her father.
Kaiah was on her way to the main hall from her quarters when she was stopped by Aela. The Nord woman tugged on her arm and looked at the Redguard. "I need to speak with you, follow me." Kaiah was surprised with her polite and almost quiet tone. She had thought that Aela was still angry with her.
She followed the Nord to her quarters and upon entering, saw Vilkas leaning against the dresser with his arms crossed. Kaiah was definitely confused. She had no idea why Aela would need to speak with her and why Vilkas of all people had to be present as well.
"Alright, Aela, we're all here," Vilkas started, "What's going on?"
Aela closed the doors behind them and stood between the two. "I want to assault Treva's Watch and steal the Silver-Hand's plans."
'Well that was straight to the point.' Kaiah thought. Vilkas looked at the Nord like she was crazy for even proposing such an idea. "Are you mad?" Vilkas scoffed, "Treva's Watch is one of their largest bases, it would be suicide."
"And I can't do it alone," Aela admitted, "That's why I am asking for your guy's help."
Kaiah raised her brows and stared at the Nord woman, "You want me to help?"
Aela scoffed, "Kaiah I am not blind. You are one of the most talented warriors we have. I need the best of the best to help me assault their base."
"Woah, woah, woah," Vilkas stopped her, standing up from the dresser, "We haven't agreed to help you on this suicide mission."
"Vilkas," Aela pleaded, "Don't you understand? Stealing their plans will give us the advantage. Slaughtering them would just be a bonus."
Kaiah stepped forward, "What if we don't have to kill them?"
The two Nords looked at each other and then at Kaiah, confused at what she was insinuating. "Aela, killing them is not going to bring Skjor back. However, I agree that having their plans would be beneficial to us."
Vilkas was about to speak before Aela interrupted him. "They need to pay for what they did."
"You already killed the man that killed Skjor. Killing more Silver-Hand will just anger them. We don't need to invite a war with them on our doorstep." It appeared Kaiah was successfully convincing the Nord that assaulting the base would be a bad idea. Though Aela had no quarrels with bringing a war with the Silver-hand.
"So how do you suggest we steal their plans then?"
Kaiah smirked and stepped closer. "During my time in Hammerfell, I was a part of an… organization. Most of my missions consisted of disguising myself and infiltrating courts and guilds to acquire information for clients." And by clients, she meant the Thalmor. Even thinking about it made her stomach churn. She was young and stupid. Young and stupid. "I can sneak into their base as a common wench, soften them up, lower their guard, and steal their plans before they even catch my name."
Aela grinned and nodded her head, quite intrigued with the plan that Kaiah had proposed. Vilkas, on the other hand, gave her disapproving look. "Absolutely not!" he protested. Kaiah looked at him and scoffed, "I have been doing this for years, trust me Vilkas, I know what I'm doing."
"We do not sneak around," he glared at her, "That's not how we operate."
"Do you have a better idea?"
Vilkas opened his mouth but retracted. He truly had no better plan than to storm in there just hoping that it would catch the Silver-Hand off guard. Aela chimed in. "I don't feel right sending you in all alone. Not after…" The two knew she was talking about Skjor. His death was a terrible reminder of how important it was to have a shield-sibling with you no matter what. Kaiah approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "I won't be going alone. You both will be there," she looked at the two Nords, "You can both remain outside the walls, waiting for my signal. If the Divines forsake me, I'll call for both of you."
The two Nords looked at each other. In truth, they had never carried out a mission quite like this. They had no experience in sneaking around in disguise. But Kaiah had a way with words, and she could persuade people to get her what she wanted. Aela was not worried, she didn't doubt her shield-sister's abilities. Vilkas, however, was worried. Not because he doubted her talent, but because the Silver-Hand were ruthless. They were no better than bandits. And to think of what they would do to Kaiah if she was caught…
It made his blood boil.
"We'll leave tonight," Aela said. Vilkas snapped out of his thoughts and protested angrily. "I never agreed to this!" Kaiah approached him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Vilkas, I can't wander blindly into enemy territory without knowing that I have a strong and brave man to protect me…"
Aela snickered loudly, and Vilkas glared at Kaiah. "You're not as amusing as you think you are."
"I thought it was amusing," Aela admitted, shrugging her shoulders with a snicker. Kaiah smirked as she punched Vilkas in the shoulder before turning her foot and following Aela out the door. "We'll meet out front of Jorrvaskr tonight," Kaiah sang as the two women took their leave. Vilkas was left alone in his shield-sister's room, flustered as Kaiah always seemed to leave him. He did not like the Redguard's plan at all. But, he couldn't allow her to be thrown into the wolf's den without backup.
Especially since the wolves they were going up against bite.
The moons were just beyond the east when Aela and Kaiah were waiting outside the hall. The Gildergreen was blooming and the basins around the park were recently lit by the roaming guard. Kaiah took a deep breath as she started into the beautiful starry sky. She never understood how Skyrim's sky could be so beautiful.
Vilkas finally made his way through the double door, a large knapsack strapped to his back, along with his Skyforge Steel Greatsword. Though he came prepared, with a dagger strapped to his waist and another to his boot. He wasn't about to go anywhere near the Silver-Hand without extra blades to cut them. Aela donned her staple Ancient Nordic armor, with her steel dagger strapped to her hip and her longbow and quiver of arrows slung around her shoulder. Kaiah was dressed in her homeland garbs, with her scimitars holstered to her hip and a smaller knapsack on her back. She had to bring a change of clothes, of course.
"Gods, Vilkas, you know it's rude to keep a lady waiting," Aela grinned, crossing her arms across her chest in a disapproving manner. Vilkas was unamused with his shield-sister, "Unlike you two, I actually like to be prepared for suicide missions."
Aela scoffed, "Don't be so dramatic!" She turned her heel and gestured to her two shield-siblings to follow her, "Let us not waste anymore time!"
The three Companions began their journey to Treva's Watch. It would be a long trip, about three days on foot, so they opted to take a carriage instead. Whiterun's carriage driver, a middle-aged Nord gentleman named Bjorlam, was not too keen on taking the warriors so late at night. But, of course, gold was always enough to make him comply.
They all sat inside the wooden carriage. It was rather small for the two Nords, since they were obscenely tall compared to the other human races. Kaiah seemed to have no issue with the space, though she was more nimble and flexible than her two shield-siblings. Kaiah and Aela sat
next to each other on the same side of the carriage, while Vilkas sat in the middle on the other side, a scowl across his face. He would have much rather walked, but the women insisted on a carriage, claiming they needed all the rest they could get before they got to Ivarstead, where Bjorlam would drop them off.
Kaiah had fallen asleep about two hours into the carriage ride, her head leaning against her knapsack that she placed by her neck as a make-shift pillow. Aela and Vilkas were not tired yet, so they sat silently, trying to make themselves comfortable in the small carriage.
Hours went by and Aela had eventually found sleep, propping her feet up on the seat across from her. Vilkas leaned his head back with his eyes closed, but he was not sleeping. He couldn't. Not that his beast blood made it any easier to sleep peacefully, but the curse wasn't all to blame. He was worried about this mission. It was reckless and dangerous, something that they had never done before. Kaiah assured him everything would be fine, but it did not ease his worries. In fact, it amplified it. Her confidence would surely turn into cockiness, and she would get reckless and get herself killed.
But he trusted her.
The sun was rising and they found themselves rolling into Ivarstead. The bumps in the road shook the carriage and the two women woke up from their slumber. They both rubbed their stiff necks and stretched, readying themselves to hop out of the carriage. Bjorlam stopped at the stable on the edge of the village and let the warriors out. The three jumped out and handed the Nord a generous amount of gold for the trip.
The inn was their first stop for food and drink. They wandered into the modest inn and were greeted by a happy Nord man who was tending to the bar. Vilkas approached the innkeeper and ordered food and water for himself and his companions. They then all sat patiently at the three wooden chairs that were placed by the fire pit.
"So," Aela started, "Let us go over the plan one more time."
Kaiah leaned forward in her chair, placing her knapsack on the ground next to her feet, "Okay, here is the plan," she rested her elbows on her knees, "We will make a silent camp a few yards away from the fort, waiting until sunset. I will change into some commoner's clothing to appear as a lost traveler. I will beg for their hospitality and shelter. They will comply. Afterwards I will gain their trust, lower their guard, appearing harmless. When they fall asleep, I will steal the plans and sneak outside, hopping over the wall."
"What makes you think they will comply?" Vilkas inquired, not exhibiting much faith in her plan. Kaiah gave him a sultry smirk, "You underestimate my abilities to persuade men into fulfilling my every wish and desire."
The Nord felt his face grow hot and he shook his head, trying to brush off her promiscuous comment. He did not doubt her abilities. And in truth he was glad she never used her "tactics" on him, as he knew he would have fallen under her spell easily. Vilkas was a man of many words, but he seemed to have little to none when thinking about his Redguard companion. Even when she didn't try, she always got under his skin. And in a good way.
"What happens if your plan runs awry?" Aela asked. Kaiah slumped back into her chair, letting her legs part casually, "I'll yell for you. You both have strong hearing. Besides, this will work. I have been doing these kinds of missions for years." She said it with so much confidence she almost fooled them both, but Vilkas was still skeptical, as was in his nature. This was suicide, he kept repeating in his head. Though nothing he could say would get the Redguard to change her mind to opt out of the plan. She was stubborn like any Nord, which she begrudgingly inherited from her father, a son of Skyrim; figuratively speaking.
The three ate their warm meals and replenished their waterskins. Aela and Kaiah swapped stories about their younger years, though Aela was considerably older than the Redguard. It was quite impressive how strong-willed the Nord woman was, though she probably had the beast blood to thank for that. Kaiah kept her stories intentionally vague, not wanting to share her previous alignment with the Alik'r. So far, she hasn't heard any word from Sentinel, and she has yet to run into any Alik'r in Skyrim. She was attempting to keep a low profile with the Companions.
It was now evening and the three Companions set out for Treva's Watch. It was not a long walk from Ivarstead so they made it just before nightfall. They set up a small make-shift camp just beyond the spruce tree line west of the fort.
Kaiah set her knapsack down and took off her belt holding her scimitars. She placed them gently on the ground before turning around to face Vilkas. "Okay, turn around." He gave her a strange look, "Why?" She looked at him with an unamused look. "Because I am about to change my clothes, pervert."
The Nord rolled his eyes and cursed under his breath before turning around, facing away from the Redguard. Kaiah took off her armor quickly and threw on her wine-colored dress and brown boots. She took her dagger and cut the bottom of her dress, tearing it. She picked up some dirt off of the ground and rubbed it all over her dress and exposed skin. She took her long dreaded hair out of a ponytail and let it fall on her shoulders.
"Okay," prompted Kaiah, "How do I look?"
Aela tried to contain her laughter while Vilkas turned around, his eyes widening at the Redguard. "You look like a whore," Aela snickered. Kaiah gave her an incredibly amused grin, "Perfect, exactly the look I was going for."
Vilkas swallowed the lump in his throat, "Why are you dressed like this?"
"Because, Vilkas, if I am going to pull off the "damsel in distress" I need to look the part. For all they know I was a lonely traveler who was attacked by wolves."
He shook his head slightly in disapproval. "Actually," Kaiah muttered before grabbing her dagger and cutting the fabric in different areas of her dress. She didn't care if the blade left any scratches, it would actually make her facade more believable. Finally, she grabbed an old brown cloak that she looted off of a bandit during one of her previous jobs. It was already bloody and dirty so she didn't need to do much to it. She wrapped the cloak around her shoulders and dropped her dagger to the ground.
"Are you going in unarmed?" Vilkas asked, gesturing to the dagger on the soil. She nodded her head. "I have to appear as a helpless traveler. I won't look so helpless with a dagger strapped to my thigh. Besides, I can defend myself without a weapon." She tossed her armor into her knapsack before standing up to face her Nord companions. "I'm ready."
Aela placed a hand on her shoulder, "Be careful, sister."
Vilkas scowled at the Redguard. She gave him a toothy grin. "You know, if you keep scowling like that it will become permanent?" Kaiah inquired playfully. Vilkas didn't respond, instead crossing his arms and glaring at her, making it known that he did not approve of this plan. Kaiah turned her heel and took off towards the fort. She slid down the steep hill that led to a river bank that divided the Companions and the fort. She jumped across some rocks that poked out of the bend and made her way closer to the fort.
Vilkas and Aela could no longer see her.
Kaiah took a deep breath before exhaling. 'I need to get into character.' She started faking a limp as she approached the front gate, which was closed shut.
"Help!" She cried out, careful not to place her hands on the gate, "Is anyone there?"
In the distance she could see two Nords, a man and a woman, standing by a make-shift blacksmith's forge. They both turned their heads and approached her rather quickly, the woman holding a burning torch. She got a good look at their faces. Definitely Nordic, with long and ragged hair and pale skin. The man was tall but was on the leaner side. The woman, however, was just as tall and had a thick layer of muscle. 'She'd look fun to brawl.' Kaiah thought amusingly in her head.
"Well, well, well," The Nord man trailed, grinning, "Look what stumbled in."
"You're trespassing," the Nord woman deadpanned, glaring at Kaiah.
Kaiah frowned and furrowed her brows, "I know, I know, b-but I was attacked in the woods and I lost all of my things, i-including my bow and I need help!"
The man looked at the woman next to him and raised a brow. He then looked at the Redguard and grinned. "We're always eager to help a lady in need." Kaiah refrained from grinning. They were falling for it.
The male Nord pulled a metal chain next to the wooden gate and it started to open for her. Kaiah kept her fake limp and she slowly entered the fort, trying to appear as helpless as possible. Just as she came inside the walls she heard a man yell out from a distance. She looked up and saw a large man with shining steel armor and a fur cloak around his shoulders. A large silver warhammer was strapped to his back. His armor was so polished you could see the moonlight reflecting off of it.
"Why are you opening the gates!" the man barked. The Nord beside Kaiah trembled and began to stutter, "T-There was a woman who needed help, sir."
Kaiah kept her face of innocence as the larger man approached her. As he came into the torchlight, she noticed that his features were nearly mangled. His nose was crooked and he had a large claw-like scar across the left side of his face. His dark brown eyes pierced her soul, but Kaiah didn't falter. He eyed her body and a large grin appeared on his face. "Now what is a pretty little thing like you doing out here?"
The Redguard wanted to gag but it took nearly every fiber of her being from doing so. "I-I was traveling the roads to Ivarstead when I was attacked by a pack of wolves. I tried to fight them off but… I ended up running away instead. Now I'm lost and all of my belongings are gone…"
"Don't fret m'lady," the man grabbed her hand gently and placed a kiss on her knuckles, "My people and I will take good care of you." He said it with an amorous tone in his voice that made Kaiah want to shudder. 'Being a woman is a blessing and a curse.'
The larger man gestured to Kaiah to follow him. She complied and once she was inside the fort she was greeted with suspicious stares from the other Silver-Hand. The man repeatedly scolded them to mind their business, leading her further into the fort. Going up the stone spiral staircase they walked into his private quarters. Looking around, Kaiah noticed that there was a large double bed and dressers, a fireplace, and a desk with bookshelves to complete it. Next to the desk was a large wooden chest with a lock.
"This is my personal quarters," the man exclaimed, gesturing to the large and open room, "make yourself comfortable."
Kaiah couldn't resist the urge to smirk, knowing full well that the first part of the plan went swimmingly.
She was in.