ch 6 Proving honor
"Thane Bryling, what do you have to report about the state of Haalfingar's defenses?" Elisif addressed her Thane dutifully as the council convened and everyone took their places- The royal council consisted of herself, her two Thane's, Bryling, and Erikur, the court mage, her steward- and her personal housecarl, Bolgier.
"The news is the same as it has been for the rest of the war, your grace." Bryling answered formally. "Our borders are secure, but at the cost of guards for our villages and roads." Bolgier nodded resolutely as she spoke- Tullius had steadily been draining the Capital of all its defenses in his efforts to corner Ulfric Stormcloak, something he had not failed to notice in the weeks since Torygg's death...
"I don't see any reason why we'd need them- as long as those dogs stay out of our borders, were fine." Erikur retorted confidently, unconcerned with the rabble of rebel's that seemed to be growing by the day. Bryling gave the man an contemptuous look, annoyed by his blatant disregard for anything that didn't concern his personal benefit.
"The Stormcloak's are far from the only threat to the hold, Erikur." She pointed icily. " The roads are beset by bandits and beasts, and now there is even talk of bloody dragons!" -It was true that there had been a few reports of people claiming to have seen a Dragon within the hold, but thus far they had dismissed them- Dragons had been dead for centuries, killed off by the blades in the first Era...
"My dear Bryling," Erikur replied to her concerns with feigned warmth. "barring any...fancy or folly...the good people of Haalfingar are surely capable of dealing with the odd highwayman or stray dog."
"Trouble on the roads means less trade and commerce. less trade and commerce means less money and more starving people- and that means more crime!" She argued vehemently, hoping that at least Elisif would see the reason for concern- something had to be done! Erikur remained unmoved though, letting out a haughty snort of derision.
"That's only a problem for people who cant hire their own security." he retorted arrogantly, unconcerned- Bryling fumed from her position a few paces away, and Elisif quickly interjected to diffuse the situation before either of them decided to draw their blades...
"That may well be our only answer- it will be Falk's duty to seek out capable individuals to secure Haalfingar's roads." She declared, looking to her steward pointedly as she spoke, who nodded cordially in affirmation. "Thank you my Thane's."
Bryling gave her queen a respectful bow, grateful for her support as Erikur kept a level expression- just then, the door to the great hall below opened, and moments later General Tullius appeared atop the winding stairway to stand before her, accompanied by his ever faithful personal guard, Legate Rikke, whom had been his constant companion since he began his mission so many months ago. Due to her personal experience fighting with Ulfric Stormcloak and his general on the battlefield during the great war, her presence was quite helpful to their cause.
"General Tullius!" Erikur exclaimed in surprise, as nobody had expected him for another three days at least- Helgen was over a fortnight away on horseback at a normal pace- and that was if the weather was kind...
"General, we did not hear of your return." The queen had told him, relieved to have him back within the capital, and eager to hear the news of Ulfric's death and the end to the rebellion.
"I just got here" he admitted, looking stern as ever. "Damn near killed my horse to make it this quick- I'm afraid I have disturbing news to report." Elisif swallowed hard, feeling deflated as the hope she had harbored since his last letter fled from her before he even began...
"Than speak it, and get it over with." She ordered, suddenly feeling very tired. He nodded curtly, looking bothered as he prepared to deliver his recount of events in Helgen. Tullius was a prideful man, and didn't like to admit his failures- and he very much counted Helgen among his short list of blunders.
"The ambush was a success- we captured Ulfric Stormcloak outside of Darkwater Crossing with a group of about a dozen rebels, and arrived in Helgen three days later to join the garrison there, and carry out the execution..." he paused then, groping for the words to accurately explain what had happened next. The council was silent as everyone waited, listening intently. " We had them all lined up and ready for the block, but then, before we could finish the job...A dragon attacked."
The room was silent for a few moments as everyone absorbed the information they had just been presented with, before erupting into exclamations of shock, disbelief, and urgency as the General gave eye witness testimony to the frightening allegations of Dragons being sighted alive and well within Skyrim.
"Harbingers of the end... Nobody is safe!" Bolgier exclaimed superstitiously.
"That's impossible- Dragons have been gone for centuries!" Erikur protested in disbelief, unable to comprehend the truth.
"What do we do? How does one fend against a Dragon?"
"Please!" Elisif called out above the sudden commotion. "The general is speaking."
The room fell silent once more, and Tullius nodded respectfully before continuing his report. "I immediately mounted a defense and tried to rescue the citizens and fight it off, but I was unsuccessful- The village was burnt to the ground, and most of the citizens perished. The soldiers who fought were reduced to ash, and those who went to recapture Ulfric were defeated... Myself, My captain, and a single survivor retreated, escorting the Thalmor Ambassador Elenwyn in haste back here, to the capital."
Elisif's heart felt heavy as she imagined the horror he must have witnessed as men women and children were slaughtered and burned alive all around him...An entire village. gone.
"What was the Thalmor doing in Helgen?" Falk wondered aloud, suspicious of the empires former enemy- he blamed the third Aldmeri dominion for the current conflict that plagued Skyrim, believing that they were trying to divide the Empire before declaring war again.
"She had insisted we turn Ulfric over to the custody of the Dominion for questioning." He revealed, remembering her persistence in trying to bend him to her authority- where Ulfric would likely "escape" to rejoin and continue the fighting.
"I'd wager they are pretty relieved he managed to escape then." Bryling exclaimed dryly, echoing the general's own thoughts.
"That's ridiculous- The elves benefit from peace just as much as we do!" Erikur contradicted her passionately- Deals with the Aldmeri Dominion had served him quite well in the past years, and he liked to believe that he had proved mutually beneficial in turn.
"General Tullius," Elisif addressed him again, silencing them. "You have had a hard journey, and must be weary. If there is nothing else you need to say, you may be dismissed so that you might recover from your travels."
"Thank you, your grace." He told her graciously, truly thankful as he bowed with respect. "I will be petitioning the Emperor tomorrow for additional men to defend the Capital, and fight in the field." He informed, before turning to take his leave, with the legate on his heels- Elisif tried to quell her unrest as the doors to the hall closed behind him once more, but her mind kept repeating his words in her head long after he was gone.
"Are there any more matters to discuss?" She asked the council reluctantly, hoping to conclude the days meeting, so that she might retreat to her courters- and her wine decanter.
"Aye," Falk spoke up then with an apologetic expression, stepping forward to hand her a letter with a broken seal. "You have received an invitation to the wedding of Vittoria Vicci- cousin to the Emperor. She is to wed Asgier Snow-Shod." Elisif blinked, surprised by the invitation, and the news of a happy event in the midst of such a dark hour.
"That's an unlikely match if ever i heard one." Bryling observed, sounding well surprised herself- and for once Erikur agreed.
"Aye- Snow shod is a nord, from Riftin, and his house is declared to Ulfric Stormcloak- also, he is rumored to be a business partner to Maven Blackbriar." He told her matter of factly, brows raised. Erikur was a man of business, and had had dealings with Maven and Snow shod in the past- he didn't tend to discriminate when it came to matters of coin, and as a result he had formed connections on both sides of the war, making him privy to many sensitive bits of information he oft chose to doll at his discretion- or for his benefit.
"Vittoria is quite the business woman herself- she works for the East Empire company under Aquilius Aeresius- Admittedly, as unlikely as they may seem, they would make a smart match."
"The Stormcloak's aren't going to like it- one of their own choosing to join with an imperial?" She replied- and Elisif was relieved to see her Thane's were capable of agreeing on something.
"Well, they are just going to have to deal with it." Elisif declared haughtily, surprising everyone. " I want extra security put in place to ensure this wedding goes through- They need to be a symbol to the people. We have to show them that we can all get along!"
"I will make the arrangements." Bolgier told his jarl, glad that he could do something to please her. She gave him a radiant smile in response, dazzling the nord warrior momentarily.
"Than its settled- Now, I think that's quite enough for the day. You may all be dismissed to continue your normal routine..."
once they had all gone, Elisif allowed herself to return to the quiet of her chambers, where she instructed a hand maiden to draw her a hot bath as she poured herself a goblet of spiced wine, and allowed herself to despair slowly over her lost revenge...
. . .
. . .
Idrissa's first assignment as a Whelp had come to her in the mead hall, as she sat at a table in the far corner of the room, separated from the rest of the new members, Ria, Athis and Torvar- it wasn't that she disliked them particularly, she just felt as if she would be intruding. Their hushed conversation and teasing laughter had halted abruptly, as Aela the huntress came before them at breakfast, holding a contract in her hand as she regarded each of them coolly with burning amber eyes, made all the more striking by the black war paint she wore smeared across her face. Each member gave the woman their full attention, waiting for her to speak.
"The Jarl of Whiterun has asked for our help," She informed sternly. "It seems that predators have taken up residence within the hold, and have been attacking farmers and travelers- he has requested our aid in keeping the holds roads secure for trade and commerce- I need someone brave to head out there and take care of these beasts."
"Bah!," Ria, the newest recruit, whom Idrissa had met outside of Whiterun on the first day of her arrival, snorted in response. "Little honor in killing mindless beasts on the side of some dusty road- that's Whelp work!" She exclaimed as her peers nodded and spoke their agreement- by now, they were all sick of the same, repetitive contracts dolled out by the guilds superior members, desiring harder work for better pay. Idrissa wasn't picky though, and had a fresh desire to please- so, she stood, gaining Aela's attention from across the hearth.
"I'll take the job." She offered easily- having grown up hunting in the forests of the Rift with Brinjolf, she couldn't have hoped for a better opportunity to prove herself.
"I knew we could count on you," Aela told her, rewarding her diligence with respect before her peers. "Get it taken care of right away- and be careful. Beasts are not as predictable as men... give them a quick death." Idrissa nodded, ignoring the feeling of the others eyes on her, and wasting no time in racing down the steps to the living quarters to prepare herself for the hunt.
. . .
After picking up the trail of the beasts in question along Whiterun's southern road, Idrissa tracked them for three days into the forests of Falkreith hold, sleeping beside a fire in the woods by night on the ground, and foraging for food along the way as she followed the trail in the light of day- until at last she came upon the den where her prey resided. Upon her return, covered in dirt and grass stains and smelling of smoke and sweat, Idrissa found Aela in Kodlak's study, overhearing another particularly strange conversation before she could make her presence known.
"You wanted to see me?" Aela had been asking the Harbinger as Idrissa approached from the hall.
"Aye- I worry that you have been spending too many nights out..." Kodlak voiced his concerns carefully, so as not to wound the huntress's delicate pride. Idrissa stopped, listening intently- Mercer Frey had always told her growing up, that one should strive to learn all there was to know about the people around them, because knowledge was power, and even though the thought of the man left a bad taste in her mouth, she couldn't deny the potency of his advice.
"Where i go is my business," Aela bit back indignantly. "If you have any concerns about my honor, bring them before the circle." There was a challenge in her tone, and Kodlak felt something inside him stir at it.
"You forget yourself, young one." He growled back in response, subtly reminding her to whom she spoke.
"I'm sorry- I didn't mean to snap. It's just...with these hunters about, We're all on edge." Idrissa's brows furrowed at the mention of hunters- She had no idea what the woman was talking about. Had something happened while she was away?
"That's why its best not to mistake foolhardiness with bravery...Anyway- since you have insisted upon going against my good advice, How goes the hunt?" He asked her conversationally, tip toeing around the subject of the hunters expertly as he diverted their conversation back to its former focus.
"Skjor's heard rumors of a bear the size of a mammoth in Hammerfell- we're going to seek it out, when the time is right." The excitement of their plans was evident in her tone.
"What glorious prey," He admitted, allowing a chuckle to escape his throat. "Come back alive, with stories to tell."
"Always."
Idrissa knocked on the door then, before poking her head into the study. Both pairs of eyes lit up upon seeing her, and Kodlak waved her in quickly. Curious, Aela eyed the bundle in Idrissa's arms closely, seeming to sniff the air as she entered the small candle lit room.
"I've cleared the beasts lair." Idrissa declared, kneeling as she set a bundled up boar skin pelt, clasped together by its own tusk on the floor by the huntress's feet. Aela's eyes lit up at the gesture, and she knelt to inspect the offered pelt with obvious pride- Idrissa watched the corners of her mouth lift with bated breath, reveling in the sight of her smile.
"Good work- those mindless cretins didn't stand a chance." She told her, graciously accepting the offering.
. . .
Idrissa's next assignment had come the very next day, from Farkas. He had appeared in her doorway when she was alone, organizing the few possessions she had within the lock box under her bed idly so as to avoid the other new bloods up in the mead hall- Ria in particular. The young imperial had shown a willingness to accept her at first, but since her return from her hunting trip for Aela, the girl had taken to leering at her with unfriendly eyes whenever she was in sight.
"Hey there- couldn't help but notice that you've organized that lock box more than a few times today- so, if your looking for something to do..." His words trailed off suggestively as he leaned casually against the wood frame while he spoke. "We've got trouble right here in Whiterun- nothing you cant handle."
She had looked up at him with a knowing smile, hearing the hopeful tone hidden within his words- and once more Farkas saw a flicker of that genuine kindness he had first seen within the depths of her blue green gaze when she first arrived. Idly, he wondered how his brother could dislike her so much, when she was so interesting and pleasant to be around...
"What is it?" She asked curiously as she shoved the near empty box back under her bed, brows knitting together at the look in his eye. Farkas blinked, remembering himself, and clearing his throat awkwardly before he spoke.
"Just a rowdy local down at the Bannered Mare." He informed matter of factly, pretending to misunderstand her question. "We've been asked to rough him up a bit- you know- send him a message. Nothing extreme."
"Okay, sounds easy enough...So, whom shall I be bludgeoning?" She inquired lightheartedly, giving him an ironic smile. He grinned back easily in turn, honoring her jest with a low, rumbling chuckle before answering her question.
"A bard by the name of Mikael- beyond that, I don't know. Its not our business." he stressed, looking both ways down the hall before continuing. " The contract however was given to us by Carlotta Valentia, a merchant down at the stalls...Do with that information what you will."
Understanding immediately, she gave him a curt nod before rising to take her leave.
"I'll get right on it." She affirmed seriously, eager for yet another chance to please- this particular task was right up her ally as well. As a former thieves guild member, delivering threats, conducting shake downs, and making examples out of people had been her specialty- it would be nothing at all for her to stroll down to the plains district to visit the local watering hole and find the rowdy bard in question...But first, she might as well find out what the squabble was all about- Maybe she could solve the matter in a less...violent way? after all, she had left the thieves guild for a reason.
"And I mean it Idrissa-" Farkas had called after her before she could ascend the stairway to the mead hall, giving her a stern look when she turned back to face him. "I just need you to go out there, look tough and scare this milk drinker into submission...No more than that- I don't want to hear about any unnecessary killing, you understand?"
"Of course." She had replied fervently- It wasn't just her own honor and reputation her actions affected now. It was all of theirs, and she understood that...
. . .
. . .
Carlotta Valentia was a hardworking Imperial woman, who sold fruits and vegetables at her stall in the market of the plains district. She was tall, and shapely, with clean, smooth sun kissed skin draped in a modest, yet fine maroon dress of silk and cotton. Idrissa's first thought, was that she must have been a hard worker indeed- or at least had a wealthy husband, to afford the quality of both her clothes, and her stock...Her second, was of the great beauty she possessed.
The stall keepers deep chestnut hair was long and thick, restrained by a loose kerchief at the top of her head, keeping it away from her face, yet allowing the silken tresses to cascade loosely about her shoulders and ample breasts. Dibella had also seen fit to bless the woman with large, mature green eyes and thick, pouting mauve lips Idrissa couldnt help but envy- and as she descended the staircase, a little girl ran passed, taking the stairs three at a time in her haste to reach Carlotta's stall, nearly nocking her over in the process.
"Can you close up the shop early today mama?" The little girl nearly begged the woman, breathing hard to catch her breath as she moved her thick, windblown curls out of her delicate, dirt smudged face. Carlotta smiled apologetically in response, bending down to wipe the dirt from her daughters cheeks with the hem of her loose white sleeve.
"I'm afraid not, little fairy- the fruit has another day before it spoils, so we've got to sell as much of it today as we can." She explained in answer. The child pouted, huffing exaggeratedly in protest.
"That's what you always say..."
"Because its always true." Carlotta insisted gently, playfully poking the tip of her daughters nose before standing back up. Idrissa smiled as she watched the affectionate interaction, wondering idly if her own mother would have been so loving, had she lived to see her grow...
"...Can we at least go to the tavern tonight for supper?" The child bargained hopefully, looking doubtful as she prepared for another 'No'.
"Oh tsk! and to think, i was going to feed you apple cabbage soup again tonight!" Carlotta responded playfully, feigning indignance. "-Yes little fairy, we can go to the tavern for supper."
"Yay!" The girl cheered happily, face lighting up as she jumped for joy. Both women watched her run away with similar expressions of warmth, before Carlotta cleared her throat, finally noticing her customer as she stood by, waiting quietly a polite distance away.
"...Can I help you?" She asked then, brows furrowing in question.
"Oh- forgive me for starring, beauty such as yours is rarely found outside the capital." Idrissa flattered coyly, blushing bashfully at the other woman as she looked up at her from beneath her lashes. " you must get a lot of attention from the men around here..." Carlotta sized her up, taking in her small frame and childlike features critically- She had seen the silver haired stranger pass through several times, on her way to and from the wind district as of late, but nobody had seemed to know who she was. Still, she seemed friendly enough...
"You've got no idea." She exclaimed passionately in answer, after a brief moment of deliberation. "Half the men in Whiterun have proposed to me- Some weren't even single! They'll never understand. No amount of flowers or honeyed words are going to change my mind- Right now, all that matters is my daughter, Mila... No man is going to get between me and my little girl." She declared haughtily, looking thoughtfully in the direction her daughter, Mila, had run off.
Hearing the genuine adulation the woman felt for her daughter in her voice, Idrissa felt a rush of admiration for Carlotta- she was a good mother, and she felt that she and her daughter deserved some peace for all her honest, hard work...
"I see- that's very admirable. Most single mothers don't get on well without a man to support them- i imagine it must be very hard."
"Aye..." She agreed, sighing heavily. "Life is hard enough without all these men propositioning me- but that bard is the worst!" Ahah- Idrissa had hoped she would be the one to bring up the subject- she didn't want Carlotta to know she was with the Companions...Not yet at least.
"Bard? is someone giving you trouble?" She questioned lightly, trying not to look too concerned.
"Aye, Mikael is begging for a dagger against his throat, the way he keeps going on about me- I've heard him boasting at the bannered mare, saying he would 'conquer me the way a true nord conquers any harsh beast'...hmph." She scoffed derisively, looking toward the inn with obvious contempt. " Maybe that's the kind of man Ysolda desires, but not me..."
"I'm sorry to hear that- what if someone were to talk to him for you?" Idrissa inquired helpfully, raising a brow in question.
"Its okay, I can take care of myself- a Whiterun woman learns how to handle a few idiot men early in her life...If anyone wants to try though, their welcome to- i doubt if anything could get passed that thick skull of his..." Carlotta had already petitioned Kodlak, up at Jorvaskrre, after numerous attempts at putting off the persistent bard- it was her hope that one of them might be the one to take up her plight, but so far, she had had no answer, and no action had yet to be taken- and surely the young girl standing before her, was too small to be of any real help...
"I'll see what i can do." Idrissa had insisted though, much to her surprise- The vendor gave her a horrified look, giving her small body another long, doubtful once over before voicing a weak protest.
"What- You will? I dont want anyone to get hurt on my behalf..." But Idrissa only rolled her eyes, giving the woman a confident smirk as she turned on her heel, in the direction of the bannered mare.
"Dont worry- I wont hurt him." She reassured her jokingly, leaving the woman to stare after her in stunned silence. "...Much."
. . .
The bard had been more than a few flagons into his night, and in his drunken state had called her out on her threat immediately, raising his fists in preparation to fight. Idrissa had waited for him to swing, and then leaned back to avoid his punch, resulting in the man loosing his balance and very nearly falling into the center hearth fire- pure luck on her part. The barmaid, Hulda, had put a stop to the brawl at that point, threatening to kick him out indefinitely if he didn't conduct himself properly from then on.
"You should know Mikael," Idrissa had told the lout gallantly, before taking her leave. "The companions don't make threats- They make promises."
. . .
At the end of her first week, as the sun began to fade over the city walls, Idrissa sat on the steps of the stone porch in the training yard, idly sharpening her blade with a wet stone as she watched and listened to Aela and Njada converse as they practiced in the yard- Njada Stone-Arm was the nord woman that Idrissa had witnessed brawling with the elf man, Athis, upon her arrival at Jorrvaskre. Idrissa might not have been there long, but she had learned to give Njada a wide birth- As she was a particularly outspoken individual, with a hot headed temper and a mean punch to go with it.
"How do you manage to hold your ground like that?" Aela was asking her as she withstood a particularly heavy blow.
"You have to remember- its not about strength, its about leverage." The usually brisk younger woman told the huntress helpfully, relishing the adrenalin rush that came with a good sparring match.
"But strength doesn't hurt." Aela countered simply, not knowing much about using leverage in battle. To her mind, the stronger you were the harder your punch, and the harder your punch the better you fight- an ideology she seemed to share with Farkas.
"Well no, im just saying that there is more to defense than muscle." Njada amended, shrugging. "Take Vilkas for example- he is half Farkas's size, but who is the better warrior?" Idrissa's stomach knotted at the mention of Vilkas, who had taken to simply ignoring her presence within his home, as if she were a dog he didn't like. soon enough, she found herself retreating from the yard into Jorrvaskre, seeking out the comfort of her bed and wishing she had more privacy.
As the Gods would have it, in her haste to find solace, she ran straight into Vilkas on the steps to the lower hall as he was about to emerge. Reactively, he had steadied her as she stumbled back to avoid him, catching her with an arm around the waste as his other arm supported them against the wall- so close she could feel the heat from his body, and smell the scent of his freshly washed skin.
Vilkas looked down at her, his tousled hair dripping wet, with an expression of shock that mirrored her own for just a moment, before remembering himself- and Idrissa despaired internally as the blood rushed to her cheeks and his handsome face fixed her with the same expression of disgust he had regarded her with upon her arrival. quickly, she looked away, and he removed his arm from her body as if he had just touched something dirty.
"Watch where your going, Whelp." He growled, scattering her already tumultuous thoughts. Idrissa stammered over her apologies, only embarrassing herself further- and for some reason, she had a hard time meeting his gaze when he was standing so close. The smell of fresh lavender soap clung to his body like perfume as water droplets fell from his damp, ebony locks onto the collar of his belted cream tunic- her brain couldn't seem to process quick enough. How was it, that he could be just as stunning in cotton and wool, as he was his splendid skyforged wolf armor of steel and fur? Like a Daedric Prince, he was sinfully attractive...
And he hated her.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" He asked rudely, annoyance clear in his tone.
"...No, not exactly..." She mumbled timidly in response, disgruntled by the negativity rolling off of him in waves- roughly, he pushed passed her then, forcing her against the wall of the narrow stairwell to allow him through, before stopping at the top of the steps to admonish her once more.
"You think you can just wander in here and join us?" He asked, eyes hard as he looked down to where she stood at the bottom of the steps. "That you can just come in, batting your eye lashes, using your honeyed words, and just become one of us? I don't know where you came from, but you are nothing more than just another ambitious visitor here." He told her, sneering down at her soft, pretty face, reveling in the way it crumbled at his words.
Vilkas's insides stirred as she lifted her chin in defiance still, those vivid blue grey eyes looking up at him from under her impossibly long lashes to challenge his authority silently even as tears welled up, making his blood boil. Idrissa made no attempt at a reply, so after a moment, he moved on to find himself a drink, frustrated with himself and his own lack of self control- he had promised himself that he would ignore her, and remain indifferent, but every time he looked at her, his insides stirred with a deep unrest- He knew nothing about her- nobody did. She had wandered in out of the white- a little girl wanting to play at being a warrior...but to what end? Where had she come from and why had she left it all?
Sleep was hard to find for Idrissa that night, with his words echoing in her head repetitively- At first she was discouraged by them, but the more she replayed the scene in her minds eye, the angrier she got- and the angrier she got, the more determined she felt to prove him wrong. Tomorrow was a new day- another chance to prove her worth in his eyes...
. . .
"keep your shield up, or your going to hit your head." Farkas advised as they faced each other in the yard- he had offered to spar with her, and give her a few pointers so she could improve her swordplay. Since her current weapon was one handed, he had her practice with a shield too, to strengthen her other arm.
"That's it- your doing great!" He encouraged after she had successfully dodged, and blocked a barrage of hard blows from Farkas's two handed great sword. Even in a friendly duel, the big mans blows were heavy and hard enough to nearly knock her over- she could only imagine what it would be like to fend against him in a real battle. Switching up suddenly, he rammed his shoulder into her shield as she raised it, catching her off guard as she began to anticipate his moves- Her small body couldn't withstand the force, and it knocked her firmly onto her backside, where she landed heavily in the mud.
"Lorkhan's breath, Farkas- are you a man or are you a bull?" She asked him incredulously, holding her shield shoulder tightly as it ached from the impact. He only dimpled at her in response, holding his hand out for her to take as he gave a wolfish grin. Grateful, she took it, and he pulled her up quickly- so quick that she stumbled, and he had to hold her close to steady her.
"Apologies," He told her, grin softening as he inhaled her scent slowly. "sometimes I don't know my own strength..." She blushed at his sudden closeness, acutely aware of his heat as he held her protectively to him, looking down at her with those unsettlingly bright eyes and pretty features that reminded her so much of his brothers- though there were distinct differences between them. Farkas's eyes were kinder, his features broader, yet more relaxed by far, padded by a healthy layer of fat over his inflated musculature...
"I hope im not interrupting." Idrissa backed out of his embrace abruptly at the sound of Vilkas's voice, embarrassed by his sudden intrusion. once more, her face heated, and for some reason she felt a queer sense of shame, as if she had just got caught doing something bad- Sure enough, when she looked up, Vilkas was looking down at her from his spot on the porch with a black expression- as if she was a bug that needed to be squashed.
Quickly.
"Skjor needs you in the mead hall- it seems your time has come." He told her, voice as hard and unforgiving as ever. Beside her, she felt Farkas light up with excitement, oblivious to the sudden tension in the atmosphere.
"Go on, its best not to keep him waiting- I know from experience." He advised, grinning as if he knew something she didn't. Idrissa looked between them suspiciously before proceeding passed Vilkas, whose gaze was ice as she passed, making her insides squirm as she entered through the heavy doors to the mead hall.
. . .
"Ah, there you are." Skjor called out to Idrissa as he caught sight of her approaching across the hall. He was seated at the far end of the long table that wrapped around the center hearth- Aela was with him, standing not too far away, leaning against a wooden support beam as she listened with veiled anticipation- Also in the room was old Vignar Graymane, his man servant, Brill, and the Harbinger himself, Kodlak Whitemane, who also had taken a seat at the long table with them... Farkas and Vilkas entered the hall behind her, Farkas choosing to remain supportively close to her, while his brother opted to melt silently into the shadows to watch events unfold.
"You wanted to see me?" She asked timidly, trying to ignore all the eyes in the room- they were like a physical weight, boring into her back as they waited with bated breath for...something.
"I did," He affirmed sternly. "It seems, your time has come."
"What do you mean?" She asked quickly, brows knitting together in confusion- and for a minute she fretted, thinking they meant to kick her out. Skjor grabbed a ripe green apple off the fruit platter on the table close to him, releasing his dagger from its holster as he began to peel it idly, absorbing her reaction.
"Last week a scholar came to us. He said he knew where we could find another fragment of Wuuthrad- he seemed a fool to me," Skjor explained carefully as he spun the apple around, letting the peelings hit the floorboards by his feet, not looking at her while he spoke. "But if he is right, the honor of the Companions demands we seek it out." Idrissa's features lit up at the mention of Wuuthrad- Ysgramor's legendary axe- but she still wasn't sure how it related to her in particular.
"What does this have to do with me?" She allowed herself to ask, feeling her cheeks heat up with embarrassment.
"This is a simple errand, but the time is right for it to be your trial," He revealed sternly, at last, finally looking back up to meet her gaze. "Carry yourself with honor, and you will become a true Companion."
Each person in the room watched Idrissa's face carefully as the wheels in her head turned and she pieced together the information quickly.
"I would be honored to retrieve it." She told him, working to keep her facial expression level through her nerves- and she wasnt fronting; She was grateful for the opportunity to prove herself worthy at last, and to touch with her own hands a piece of the very weapon wielded by Ysgramor himself after his return from Atmora with the first five hundred Companions- A tangible fragment of Skyrims own history.
"There's a fine line between respect and boot licking, new blood- but I like your spirit." He told her approvingly as he leaned back in his seat, allowing his stern expression to relax as he regarded her with his one good eye. "We have all decided this will be your trial- do well, and you will officially be counted among us. Farkas will be your shield sibling on this venture- he'll answer any questions you have. Try not to disappoint- or to get him killed. He may have the strength of Ysgramor, but its his brother who has the smarts." He warned.
At the mention of Farkas's brother, Idrissa's eyes flashed up to scan the dimly lit perimeter of the mead hall, until she found Vilkas seated at one of the small rounded tables in the corner, watching her with a heated expression that caught her gaze- and once their eyes found each other, they locked, and she swallowed hard as butterflies erupted in the pit of her stomach at the way they smoldered at her like quicksilver from the shadows...
Farkas came to stand beside her, interrupting their silent stare off, looking excited- it had been a while since he had been out on a mission as exciting as retrieving another fragment of the axe, and he had begun to feel restless- something inside him stirring, longing to break free.
"I hope your ready." He told her, breaking out into his familiar, comforting wolfish grin. "Lets see if you impress."
. . .
"So," Idrissa started conversationally, following close behind Farkas as they took the western road outside of Whiterun, bound for a place he had called 'Dustmans Cairn'- An ancient nord barrow that promised to be filled with all manor of spiders, cobwebs, and bones- and hopefully a fragment of Ysgramors legendary battle axe, Wuuthrad. "Who was this scholar who located the fragment?"
Farkas only shrugged, bright grey eyes scanning the rolling hills around them cautiously as they travelled at a languid pace, passing the western watchtower- the sun was high in the sky by then, and he knew that if they continued at their current pace, they may not make it to the Cairn before nightfall.
"A smart man came and told us about a blade piece- Skjor thinks you should find it, and i just know im supposed to watch you." He informed indifferently, unworried about the details- A soldier at heart, Farkas was content to simply carry out his orders without question, preferring to leave the deep thinking to his betters.
"What do you mean by 'watch'?" She inquired nervously, hoping for further clarification- ahead of her, Farkas answered absently, eyes never leaving the road ahead of them as he spoke.
"Above all else, a true member of the Companions must fight with honor- If I find that you are both honorable and strong, than i can call you sister." He obliged carelessly, unworried by the prospect of her honor.
Idly, Idrissa wondered then what it truly meant to "fight with honor". All her life growing up being trained by people like Brinjolf, Mercer Frey, and Vex, she was constantly reminded through her drills and sparring lessons that "there is no honor amongst thieves"- Honor didnt win battles. Honor held you back, and got you killed.
could she fight with honor?
That night, they bedded down in an abandoned shack on the roadside, a short distance from fort Greymoor- The huts thatching had long since rotted away, but most of the walls still held, providing them enough shelter from the wind to build a much needed fire, and stave off the bitter cold. In the morning, they would continue to the fork in the road just outside the fort walls, where they would then turn right, heading southward toward Dustmans Cairn...
. . .
Farkas woke Idrissa early, when the plains were still shrouded in a low hanging cloud of mist, and the stars were still twinkling in the pre dawn sky. Both still tired, they packed their bedrolls robotically in silence, re-shouldering their burdens before returning to the cobbled pathway just beyond the shallow dirt walk from the hut. Groggily, she found herself absent mindedly starring out across the plains, wondering at the way each individual blade of grass sparkled iridescently in the sunlight as the warmth of the sunrise began to melt the frost clinging to each piece.
"...Come along, no more stops- we need to get to Solitude before the wedding..."
Farkas stopped abruptly, extending an arm to bar her way as he peered ahead of them into the mist, where they could just make out the form of an ancient stone bridge, barring weathered, broken sculptures that were so old, they couldnt make out what they once represented anymore. Somewhere within the mist, voices carried over a craggy scar in the land, where the sound of a stream could be heard bubbling somewhere below...
"Why are we even going to a wedding, at this far flung end of the Empire, anyway?" Another voice protested in the distance.
"...Travelers?" Idrissa guessed, judging by what little they had heard. Farkas cocked his head, straining his ears to hear more- he didnt like not being able to see.
"- I told you! Its the wedding of Vittoria Vici, and extremely well connected merchant within the East Empire Company- You know, The emperor's cousin?" The first voice continued, exasperated voice echoing obnoxiously through the fog, reverberating off the eroded sides of the shallow, rocky canyon below them as they braved the perilous crossing. "Hopefully these gifts will put us in her good graces- secure that import deal, and lead the way to an audience with the Emperor..."
As the pair watched suspiciously, three figures emerged from the fog- A Noble couple of Imperial heritage, wearing fine robes of velvet and fur, embroidered in richly colored silk, being lead by a single guard clad in rusty banded iron armor from head to toe- the woman held the reigns on a modest mule, carrying a haul of choice goods strapped to its strong back...
"If i were a foreigner traveling on foot across the province with an Ass load of riches, Id hire more guards..." Idrissa stated dryly as they stepped aside to allow the travelers passage on the narrow cobbled road.
"Aye." Farkas nodded in agreement, shaking his head as he watched the ill fated group continue the way they had come. " They'll be set on by bandits before nightfall, to be sure..."
"...Your not gonna go after them, are you?" She asked him smugly, grinning at the worried look in his eyes- no doubt, he was considering it even as she spoke. " Come on- Wuuthrad, remember?"
"...Yeah, right- Wuuthrad." He remembered, reluctantly returning to their original coarse, a dissatisfied set to his jaw...
. . .
At the base of the hill bordering their destination, a tipped over cabbage cart marked the overgrown path leading up to the Cairn.
"What do you suppose happened here?" She asked conversationally, as they examined the mess of wilting cabbages littering the curb.
"I dont know- but whoever left these, left them in a hurry..." Casting his gaze upward, toward the top of the grassy hill, Farkas pointed. "Thats where the site should be...You first." He instructed lazily, adopting his familiar, lazy grin.
Soberly, Idrissa obeyed, leading the way up the steep hill, fascinated to find that it had been completely hallowed out, tons of displaced dirt from centuries of erosion having been cleared away to reveal the ancient, smooth polished stones of the winding staircase that would lead them down to the barrow entry- a heavy, carved ebony doorway that served as a barrier between them, and the dead... silently, both eyes noted trace amounts of blood spatter staining the rocks by their feet.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Idrissa looked to Farkas for reassurance, to which he readily provided with a smile of encouragement as he nodded her forward.
"Dont worry- I'll watch your back." He promised wholeheartedly, looking amused. She gave him a withering look, before forcing herself to push open the heavy black doors and take the first wary steps inside- entering the tomb, it was immediately clear to her that the area had been recently excavated. Pick axes and shovels littered the dirty floor of the chapel, illuminated by a pair of large, lit braziers- one of which was tipped over, its still glowing contents spilling out across the dirt covered floor harmlessly as she tip toed around it. At the end of the narrow walk between rows of ancient pews, a single book sat on the dusty pulpit, labeled "The battle of Sacre-tor", next to a roughly drawn map of the catacombs below- most likely drawn up by the excavation team.
"Someone's been down here recently." She observed, investigating the relatively clean, well bound tome carefully as Farkas did a quick sweep of the room.
"Aye- It looks like someone's been digging..." Farkas agreed amiably, stating the obvious. "Tread lightly."
Idrissa nodded, smiling to herself as they both unsheathed their weapons. Taking the lead, she wandered forward toward the mouth of the narrow tunnel, where a steep stone stairway lead them into a network of dark, damp subterranean corridors lined on either side by heavy, carved Nordic sarcophagi, and layers of shallow dirt dug graves. Some were empty, their occupants dispatched unceremoniously on the wet, mud caked floor, overgrown with all manor of roots and ivy.
"Careful," Farkas warned her as they passed over an ancient carcass clad in brittle, broken iron armor- the first of many that would litter their path along the way. "The dead are restless here."
"It looks like whoever dug this place out took care of most of them..." She observed appreciatively, examining the dried up, spent corpses littering the tunnel as she padded silently around them, making sure not to disturb their bones- She wouldn't admit it to him, but she was glad that whoever had come before them had taken care of the undead soldiers- She hated Draugr.
"No matter- Watch yourself around the burial stones. I don't wanna have to carry you back to Jorrvaskre on my back..." Too busy looking at his surroundings, Farkas neglected to notice that Idrissa had stopped at the threshold of another set of corridors, huffing as he collided with her backside.
"What the-"
"Shhh..." She told him, ears pricking as the vibrations of far off movement prickled her ear drums- Farkas's head cocked sharply to the side as he peered into the dark ahead of them, also having heard the noise. His hands squeezed and gripped the hilt of his great sword restlessly in anticipation of battle, and Idrissa could almost feel it rolling off of him in waves- it made her nervous, and she prayed silently to nocturnal that he would not blow their cover should they spot resistance up ahead as they crept onward through the narrow, dusty tunnels filled with thick swatches of spider web, and damp dangling tree roots- it smelled the death here. Death, and dirt...
Eventually, the trail of bodies and the muffled sounds of the voices up ahead lead them to a relatively clear chamber- a wide, open embalming room, where bodies still lay upon the stone preparation tables skewed with all manor of horrific tools used to cut and extract- Idrissa found herself looking at the tools curiously, her fingers running over their dusty surfaces to feel the cold, rusty metal...
Farkas watched her carefully, seeing the unbridled awe in her eyes as they scanned the room slowly, noting the way her curious hands touched everything as she wandered around the room, appreciating the history that surrounded her- he found that it reminded him oddly of his brother, and how he too had often reacted when exploring the old places they had been obligated to enter.
Her aimless search lead her into a wide alcove, where the glinting light of several small soul gems caught her attention as they lay, scattered amongst a few dusty potions and stiff, illegible scrolls around an ornately decorated lever- and Farkas's heart leapt as her curious hands touched it, pushing it before he could warn her not to touch- Idrissa gasped as the rusted out, barred iron door to the alcove fell down with a loud, metallic groan, trapping her inside.
Quickly, she flung herself against the barred door, gripping the rusty bars and shaking them with all her might, terrified that she may have just trapped herself within the tomb forever. Farkas moved quickly to the other side, giving the bars a shake himself to test their strength, before letting out an amused chuckle.
"Now look what youve gone and gotten yourself into," He teased, relieved that she hadnt set off a fatal booby trap resulting in her becoming a human pin cushion- he had seen a Whelp die that way once, and he didnt think he'd like to see it happen again. "No worries, just sit tight- I'll find the release." He told her, offering his usual relaxed grin.
Idrissa's eyes caught sight of movement in the shadows behind him, and she gasped as four armed warriors quickly surrounded the perimeter of the room, blocking any escape routes. Alerted by her reaction, Farkas whirled around to face the enemies as they closed in, leaving her to watch in horror as they began to engage him.
"We knew you'd come." One of the warriors exclaimed, brandishing a broad gleaming silver longsword.
"Which one is that?" A female voice asked curiously, looking nervous as she hesitated forward toward their victim- Idrissa threw herself against the bars again, desperately trying to break free to help her shield brother.
"It doesnt matter- He wears that armor, he dies." Another answered the question strictly, indicating to Idrissa that this was no random hostile encounter- it was an ambush.
"Killing you will make for an excellent story..." The first Warrior declared as they all moved into position around him, poised to attack, four against one...Farkas took a deep breath, preparing himself for what was to come.
"Too bad none of you will be alive to tell it." He responded, releasing the thing inside him that had been crawling beneath his skin, stirring against the back of his mind and begging to be let out- Idrissa watched in horror as his muscles shifted and his body grew, bursting out of his clothing and armor in a furry explosion that left her watching in speechless wonder, just in time to catch the first warrior who lunged at him, hitting him with a swipe of a paw that sent him crashing fatally against the stone wall to the right- The rest fell to his horrific strength swiftly as he tore through them with a few more heavy swipes from his taloned paws, and a gnashing of giant teeth, letting out a soul piercing howl of victory when he stood over their bloody corpses at last in full wolf form.
As the blood lust wore off, Farkas remembered himself and looked back to where the Whelp stood, still trapped behind the old rusted bars- he could smell the fear rolling off of her from across the room, and immediately, he felt shame. Unable to bare the look in her eyes, he retreated into the shadows in search of the release lever that would free her from her temporary prison, forcing himself to lock the wolf away and shift back to normal as he found it.
Idrissa's heart pounded as the heavy iron doors lifted once more, and when she saw Farkas move out of the shadows into her view, at first she was terrified- He approached her cautiously, arms outstretched and eyes pleading as he got closer. his armor and clothing hadnt survived the change, leaving him naked as the day he was born as he tried to comfort her after what she had witnessed. She didnt move, standing frozen and trembling, watching his bloodied hands with a strange expression as she tried to register what she had seen.
"I...Hope i didnt scare you..." He told her, feeling sick when she flinched at the sound of his voice. After a moment though, Idrissa relaxed as his words registered, and she accepted that his outstretched hands were meant to comfort, finding her voice,
"What was that?" She asked him, the shock still evident in her wide eyes as she looked at him suspiciously, as if he could change again at any minute- she didnt even care that he was naked.
"It is a blessing given to some of us...We can be like beasts- Fearsome." He told her, still watching her expression closely for any signs that she may become hostile as she connected the dots.
"The companions are Werewolves?" She asked incredulously, feeling overwhelmed as all the strange whispered conversations she had overheard since her arrival replayed inside her mind, suddenly making so much sense...
"Not everyone- just those within the circle have the beast blood...It's a secret to everybody else." He told her lastly, eyes pleading with her- If the others found out she knew, he had no idea how they would react. Idrissa felt as if she needed to sit down suddenly, feeling dizzy- First she had survived a Dragon attack, and now she was standing in the presence of a real live Werewolf.
"Dont worry, I wont tell anyone," She told him quickly, knowing it was best to placate him- the minute he suspected she may betray his families secret, was the minute she suspected he would dispatch her as easily as he had his attackers. "Your secret is safe with me."
Farkas relaxed a little then, allowing himself to let out his pent up breath and turn to investigate the corpses of the warriors who had so brazenly attacked him- Idrissa noted that each wore a cape tied together with a little silver broach decorated by a white hand print, and carried a sword decorated with the same symbol at the base of the blade.
"Who are they?" She asked him as he began to remove one of the fallen warrior's fur kilts to clasp around his own exposed lower regions- Idrissa had been trying hard to ignore his nakedness, but he could tell from the blush creeping up her cheeks and the way she kept averting her eyes, that she was growing increasingly uneasy about his level of exposure.
"The silver hand," He explained, pulling the mans fur lined leather boots onto his feet and wriggling his toes around inside. " They are bad people who dont like werewolves, so they dont like us either." Idrissa was silent then, as she watched him stand and adjust the ill fitting attire on his body- it was small on him, as he had been broader than the warrior by far.
"You arnt going to turn me into a Werewolf, are you?" She asked him then, unable to mask the worry in her tone. Farkas felt a lump form in his throat as he looked at her wide, worried eyes, but he forced himself to look unworried as he gave her a reassuring smile.
"Oh no- It's like i said before," He lied smoothly, knowing that circumstances were different this time. "Only members of the circle have the beast blood. Prove your honor to be a Companion- Eyes on the prey, not the horizon." he joked- and Something about the way he said it rang false to Idrissa, but Farkas hadnt ever demonstrated himself to be anything other than truly genuine and kind before, so she told herself it was paranoia and accepted his explanation, allowing him to take the lead as they moved to continue into the bowels of the barrow.
"Alright, this has turned into more than just a simple trial to prove your honor..." He began telling her as they wound through the labyrinth of narrowly dug out tunnels. "The foe here is beyond your ability, so your going to want to keep close to me if you expect to make it out of here alive..."
"Oh please," She told him, rolling her eyes for the second time that day. "They are only beyond my ability if i face them head on all at once like you." Farkas looked at her strangely as she spoke, with a lopsided grin decorating his features.
"Is there any other way to do it?" He asked in retort, bright eyes twinkling mischievously at her in the darkness as they reached the mouth of the tunnel, where it opened up into a wide, craggy cavern- light from somewhere far above them filtered down, illuminating the curtains of thick, sticky spider webs that draped over the craggs and stuck to the rocky walls above them.
"Aye- A wise warrior would take a place in the shadows, and pick each foe off individually with a ranged weapon from afar, to even the odds." She advised him fervently as his eyes scanned the area, noting the egg sacks and web wrapped victims that littered the floor... He turned to her with a grin when she finished- and she knew right then and there that he had no intention of heeding her words.
" Skjor always said I had Ysgramor's strength- but it's my brother who has his smarts." He told her, winking as he prepared to charge into the spider infested cavern. Idrissa sighed as he brandished his weapon, drawing her bow and following him reluctantly into the fray as they made a break for it across the rocky passage as the giant arachnid's ascended from their webs to claim them. he hacked and slashed ahead of her, and she used him as a barrier between her and the targets as she shot from behind him, dealing the finishing blow as he crippled them with his brute force until they made it to the carved out steps that would lead them up, where they crossed a very old, unsteady looking rope bridge across the chasm into another set of tunnels lined by ancient nordic sarcophagi.
As they entered the next open chamber, they were forced to sneak across an ancient, rusted iron bridge over an expansive room, where members of the Silver hand were engaging in battle and being overwhelmed by the forces of undead draugr below- they could hear the metallic singing of metal on metal as weapons clashed, and the shrill screams of the dying that echoed through the labyrinth of catacombs.
"We should let the enemy deal with each other before we enter the battle field." She cautioned Farkas once more as he reached the other side of the ruins and hung around the corner, taking the stairs two at a time in his eagerness to fight- but it was too late. As soon as they reached the landing, they were spotted by the remaining draugr as they finished off their previous opponents, and Idrissa watched in awe as Farkas brought his sword down on one of the draugr's weapons so hard, that it crumpled into a heap of bones at his feet upon impact. She knocked an arrow quickly from her quiver as he engaged the second offender, dispatching the third with an arrow between the eyes that dispelled whatever dark magic moved them.
As they moved deeper into the room, more ascended on them, and soon Idrissa had to draw her own sword, keeping close to Farkas as they tore through the opposition slowly but surely. Swing. Thrust. lunge- Duck! parry. swing. lunge. slash- counter! She drilled herself over and over in her mind as they danced around in a deadly circle, until at last no more stood in their wake. Her muscles burned from the weight of the unfamiliar weapon in her hands, and she huffed heavily as she struggled to catch her breath. Behind her, Farkas let out a victory shout that echoed through the tombs and made her insides shiver.
. . .
Beyond the last heavy wooden door deep within the maze of deadly tunnels and crypts, they came upon the inner sanctum- the burial chamber for the elite warriors stationed there after death to defend the treasures of their master. They moved quietly into the room, waiting for the dead to rise as they climbed the tiered stairway to the top of the platform, where the blade fragment of Wuuthrad lay innocently upon a stone dais- but the caskets remained still.
"Do you hear that?" Idrissa asked Farkas strangely, as she began to hear a soft chanting- it almost sounded far off at first, like she could barely hear it, but then it grew louder with each step she took up the multi teared staircase up to the alter.
"hear what? I dont hear anything." He told her, brows knitting together as he watched the expression on her face as they reached the top, standing before the black alter placed ceremoniously before an ancient word wall decorated with the ancient language of the Dragons that once ruled Tamriel.
The chanting was loud now- it filled her mind and blocked out all else, and she followed it blindly toward the word wall as a single sequence of characters written in its center began to glow. Farkas followed her, a strange feeling in his chest as he watched her walk slowly to the wall and kneel before it, placing her hand upon the cold stone surface.
"What does it say?" He asked her, worried. She was silent for a moment as she peered at it intently- like she was struggling to translate it in her mind.
"Yol..." She said strangely, repeating the word as it echoed through the walls of her mind like thunder. "It means fire." She told him, unsure of how she knew.
"How do you know that?" He asked, awed- he had seen many of the ancient walls in his years, but he had never met someone who could read them.
"I dont know...It just came to me." She admitted, still unsure. Farkas shook his head, unable to make head or tails of the situation and deciding it was best to let it be. Simultaneously, they turned around the face the alter, where the fragment of Wuuthrad lay covered in dust and cobwebs on the raised dais. Farkas gestured to her to take it.
"Its your mission." He told her, once again fixing her with his friendly grin. She dimpled back at him, reaching out and taking the still sharp old shard of the once great kings war axe eagerly, and placing it in the satchel fixed to her back.
"Alright- now where do you suppose is the exit?" Idrissa asked absently- and no sooner had the words left her mouth, before the caskets lining the marble walls began to shift and shake as their inhabitants began to break free two by two and three by three.
"I knew it wouldnt be that easy." Farkas admitted, once again brandishing his weapon with an excited spark in his eyes. Idrissa inwardly sighed as she drew her own blade, wishing that for once it wouldhave been.
. . .
. . .
Farkas's stomach felt tight as he stood before the warm center hearth in the mead hall, waiting for the rest of the circle to convene to determine the honor of their newest Whelp, Idrissa- He had instructed her to go to the Bannered Mare for a drink, to allow them time to deliberate. Skjor and Aela were already in the hall when he arrived, and were the first to greet him and ask questions- but he denied them the answers they sought, hoping to get it all out at once, with everyone present. So, he waited patiently for the others to join them, knowing they had heard his arrival and would be headed his way post haste.
Old Vignar was the first to arrive, making his way in diligently to take his seat at the longtable before the hearth, followed closely by Kodlak and Farkas's own brother, Vilkas- Usually, Farkas could relax in the presence of his twin, but knowing that Vilkas wouldnt like what he had to say about the girl- or what she saw- only wound his nerves tighter.
Once they had all taken their seats at the long table, Farkas reached into his pack and pulled out the shard of Wuuthrad- a fragment of Ysgramor's own war axe, used to take Skyrim from the snow elves early in their history. Carefully, he held it out in his hand for his shield siblings to see- The metal caught the fire light, gleaming prettily like a piece of jewelry as they observed it, making exclamations of pleasure and awe as they beheld a tangible piece of their founders legacy. Even in pieces, the quality of the craftsmanship was obvious- it was thick, folded steel, as wide as Farkas's palm and lengthy enough to cover the span of his hand- and even after thousands of years, it was still sharp enough to cut...
"The Scholar was right after all, it seems." Kodlak concluded pleasantly, eyes alight with pleasure as he beheld the shard, pulling absently at the length of his silvery beard. "what say you on how the Whelp did? I trust that she did not disappoint?"
"She did well enough- nerves of steal, that one. handled Draugr and the creepy crawly ones fearlessly." Farkas answered honestly, bracing himself for the worst. "Held her own against a number of the Silver hand too."
All eyes snapped into focus, and if he didnt have their full attention before, he did now. Their expressions sobered at the mention of the werewolf hunters, and more than a few snarls were issued in response- Farkas sucked in a deep breath as his stomach twisted anxiously again, willing himself to keep his body language and expression relaxed despite his inner turmoil.
"Quit beating around the bush and tell us what happened!" Skjor insisted loudly, standing and placing his hands on the table as he snarled at the younger man. Farkas's inner wolf stirred within him in response to the hostility, but he held himself fast, knowing it wasnt directed at him- in the passed six months, the silver hand had mercilessly wiped out three other packs- something Skjor took personally, due to his closeness with his inner wolf. Farkas had known that after he told him about the ambush at Dustmans cairn, the older man would at last have a real reason to go on the offensive and retaliate against the Werewolf hunters- soon they would be at war with each other.
"Peace, brother..." Kodlak chided the younger man, before fixing Farkas under his calm, patient gaze. "...Farkas?"
"Well," Farkas began nervously, brows pinching together as he tried to recall all of the details. "when we got there, we could tell someone had been digging recently- the dirt was still damp and upturned. inside, we noticed a lot of dead draugr right away- someone had been piling them up from chamber to chamber, but we didnt meet any resistance until Idrissa tripped a lever that released a trap door, cutting us off from each other..." Farkas shifted his weight nervously as his brothers facial expression changed- his worst fears having come true. "right after, I was surrounded by them- but it was nothing i couldnt handle by myself-"
"It was a set up!" Vilkas declared, cutting his brother off as he stood from his seat and began to pace, furious and nervous at the same time as his mind lept to conclusions. "From the beginning it was a set up- they sent the scholar to lure us in- and that wench was probably in on it too! A spy sent to watch us and send them our weaknesses and wherabouts- To get us out in the open alone..." Farkas shook his head vigorously, raising his voice to be heard in the midst of his brothers irrational outburst.
"Vilkas, after i took care of the ambush and released her, She fought Valiantly by my side the whole way, cutting down at least a dozen of them by herself alone- She's no spy!"
"Would you stake your life on that? all of our lives?" Vilkas asked seriously, whipping around and fixing the full weight of his stare on his twin as he held his arms out, gesturing to the gathered members of the circle around them- their family.
"Aye." He retorted boldly, chin raised in defiance as he defended what he knew was right. a moment of charged silence passed between the two as they starred each other down, neither willing to give up ground where Idrissa was concerned.
"Than its settled!" Kodlak interrupted, the finality in his tone telling them that he had made up his mind. All eyes turned to the harbinger as he straightened, regarding his pack with the authority of an alfa as he silently dared someone to object. "She has passed her trial. We will now begin the ceremony and name her Shield Sister- speak no more of this business with the Silver hand tonight." he ordered, giving them a long, hard look before turning on his heels and striding out into the yard. Vignar gave the younger members of the council a lingering look of challenge before following the old man out, leaving them in silence- a faithful dog if ever there was one.
"Farkas!" Skjor called after him sharply as he began his attempt at a hasty retreat from the hall. Farkas gritted his teeth as he came to a quick stop, trying to look calm as he turned back toward the rest of the group. "You didnt exactly explain how you single handedly fought off an ambush of experienced werewolf hunters..."
Aela and Vilkas quickly caught onto Skjor's meaning, looking from him to Farkas with similar expressions of alarm as they understood the implications. Farkas hesitated, knowing his shield siblings knew him too well to believe a lie- so he did what he knew was right, revieling the awful truth..
"I...I shifted." He admitted finally, sighing heavily in shame. "I had to." his revelation was punctuated by a series of groans and hisses of exasperation from the others.
"In front of her!? Farkas...how could you be so stupid?" Vilkas asked, despairing as he allowed himself to fall into the nearest chair, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger to ease the throbbing in his temples. " I told you we shouldhave never considered her- i told you she would be a liability from the start, and now she knows our secret... What if she tells someone?"
"All i was thinking at the time, was that id like to get us both out of there alive- and she wont tell anyone. She gave me her word." He defended, wishing his brother could see what he saw in her- but fear and anger seemed to be blinding him, just as Kodlak had taught them growing up.
"Aye, the word of an ambitious stranger- thats comforting." He bit back sarcastically, shaking his head and letting out an incredulous chuckle at his brothers naivety. "We dont know anything about her- how can you be certain she wont betray us?"
Like a scolded child, Farkas clenched his hands into fists at his sides as he forced himself to stare down at the freshly swept floorboards at his boots, unable to come up with a solid argument- which only frustrated him more. Somehow, Vilkas always found the words to make him feel stupid, even when he knew he was right.
"You know what needs to be done now." Skjor spoke up then, his expression serious and his tone heavy with regret as he looked between the two. "We cant take any risks."
"Your not suggesting we force her to undergo the change, are you?" Vilkas growled then, turning on his shield brother quickly with a furious light in his eyes- as a Companion and a member of the city guard, his honor would not allow him to go along with such a plan- even if it was to protect his family. Becoming a Werewolf was painful to say the least, and some people didnt live through it...Idrissa was young, and she was small- the idea of cornering her and biting her- forcing her to endure something that would almost assuredly end in her death, was somehow repulsive to him, despite his reservations where she was concerned- at the moment, she was still an innocent.
"Its the only way we can be sure she will keep her mouth shut- short of slitting her throat that is." He pointed out, raising his hands incredulously. Vilkas's hand moved to the hilt of his sword at the mention of murder, putting Aela on the defensive. The auburn haired huntress snarled viciously, moving between Vilkas and Skjor, barring her teeth as she shielded him. Skjor held his ground, unwavering as he regarded his shield brother with cold determination- silently daring the younger man to attempt to strike him.
"There's no way Kodlak is going to allow any of this." Farkas reminded them, nervously hesitating with his own hand over the hilt of his blade, hair standing on end as the hostility grew thick in the atmosphere.
"Thats why we arnt going to tell him." Skjor insisted stubbornly, his jaw set as the vein in his temple throbbed with tension. slowly, he reached for his own weapon, preparing to fight as Vilkas's inner wolf snarled and writhed within him, brushing against the surface of his mind- they could see he was close to losing control.
"Because you arnt going to touch her." He growled in response, his armor beginning to rattle as his muscles shuddered and spasmed with the effort it took to restrain the beast inside- he had been stuffing it down for so long, he wasnt sure if he could hold it any longer- or if he even wanted to.
"Why are you fighting me so hard on this?" Skjor asked his shield brother fervently, frustrated by his obstinance. " You were the one who said she was a threat! Im trying to do something about it, and now you want to protect her?"
"You want to attack a little girl, inflict her with a dangerous curse and unleash her on the people of Whiterun- if she cant control herself and something happens, it'll be our skins anyway!" Vilkas bit back with equal fervor, irrationally groping for reasons to spare another soul from the exhausting inner turmoil that came with the beast blood.
"You dont give her enough credit Vilkas," Aela defended, finally speaking up. "She is hardly a child anymore, regardless of her stature- and In the small amount of time she has been here she has already shown more promise than any of the other Oaf's sleeping in the Whelps den currently..." If anyone could handle or embrace the gift as they had- Aela was sure it was Idrissa.
"What are you proposing?" Skjor asked her, getting the feeling she had something in mind. Aela kept her arms out, fearing their testosterone would still get the better of them- Vilkas was still quaking, struggling to stay in control as the rage boiled inside him.
"Simple- None of us had to be forced to become what we are." She reminded them carefully. "We were given a choice- join the circle and gain the beast blood, or dont. I say we offer her the same choice." She suggested, looking hopefully between the stern faces around her.
"She hasnt even been named a true companion yet, and you speak of allowing her into the circle?" Vilkas asked in scathing tones, starring at his shield sister with an accusing expression. "No."
"Vilkas-" Aela started as he turned on his heel to shoulder roughly passed Farkas, determined to make him see reason- she had known him for years, and his behavior was uncharacteristically irrational as of late, since Kodlak had asked him and his brother to forsake the urge to shift into their beast form. He needed to let it out- and soon- or she feared he would lose the control he was trying so desperately to cling to.
Skjor grabbed her wrist as she moved to follow him though, giving it a meaningful squeeze and a look that told her to be silent, and let it be. Vilkas stormed out of the meadhall into the yard, and like usual, his brother followed after him, looking dejected, leaving her and Skjor alone once more, starring after them in silence. The huntress sighed, shaking off the heavy tension that had grown so quickly in such a short amount of time.
"What are we going to do?" She asked him softly, a knot of unease forming in her gut as she thought of all the threats they were suddenly facing.
"We'll allow Vilkas some time to calm down, and once he isnt on alert anymore we will take the whelp to the underforge and do what we have to." He told her firmly, still determined. Aela looked up at him with sad, pleading eyes- displaying a vulnerability he wasnt used to seeing in her.
"If we give her the choice, i know she will accept the gift." She said softly, attempting one last appeal to his soft side. "We dont have to force her." Unwilling to risk her safety, or his own, Skjor only shook his head sadly, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder before reiterating his stance.
"We cant take the risk."
. . .
When Idrissa finally arrived back at Jorrvaskr, the sun was beginning to set over the distant planes beyond Whiteruns crumbling wall. Approaching the steps, she was surprised to find it was Vilkas who awaited her, brooding as he idly ran a whetstone over the edge of his skyforged sword- something he did alot in his freetime, she noted, dismissing it as a coping mechanism he used to keep his hands busy when his mind was otherwise occupied.
At first, her heart sank upon seeing him, until his silver eyes flashed up at her with an expression of reluctant acceptance that dared her to hope. Vilkas straightened as she hesitated at the base of the steps, pushing himself up into a standing position to tower over her silently as he sheathed his weapon, looking down at her with eyes so cold she knew that she had made it in.
swallowing hard, Idrissa forced herself to look back up at him from under her lashes as her heart thumped erratically against her ribcage and her stomach did anxious flips, starring him down like she would a wolf in the wild as he fixed her under his cool quicksilver gaze once more- and like the wolf in the wild, after a moment, he turned away from her gaze and continued up the steps, not looking back down at her until he had fully crested the top.
"Come." He told her simply, before turning and continuing to skirt the ship shaped building toward the training yard as the golden rays of the burning sunset reflected off his steely armor. Unsure, Idrissa scampered up the steps to catch up, keeping a careful distance as she fell into step behind him, following him to the training yard where the others waited patiently for them to join.
As she entered the yard and saw the gathering, the anticipation and excitement that permeated the air grabbed hold of her slowly, making her heart pound and her pulse race- the other new recruits were watching silently, gathered around the senior ranking members of the guild to watch the Harbinger conduct the traditional ceremony- and perhaps make history as they welcomed another new member into the fold.
Aela, Skjor, Farkas, Vignar, and Kodlak all stood to form the inner circle, leaving a small clearing in the center of the crowd. The surrounding witnesses parted as Vilkas approached, giving him a wide birth as they passed, allowing them to take their assigned places in the circle- She followed him into the throng shyly, keeping her eyes down so she couldnt see them watching her as she blushed.
Vilkas turned back to her before assuming his position, using one, strong arm to push her- none too gently- into her own designated spot at the very center of the circle for all to see, with Kodlak standing directly behind her, and Farkas straight in front of her.
"Brothers and sisters of the circle." Kodlak began, speaking up so everyone could hear. "Today, we welcome a new soul into our mortal fold. This woman has endured- Has challenged, and has shown her valor... Who will speak for her?" There was a moment of charged silence as the recruits looked curiously at each of the superior members, waiting for one of them to speak out on her behalf- but Idrissa knew who it would be before he could even begin.
Ever a true friend, Farkas stepped forward with a determined expression, reciting the words he must speak over in his head, both excited and anxious as he prepared to play his part and see what he had started through to the end.
"I will stand witness to the courage of the soul before us." He declared, trying to hide his anxiety behind his usual bravado.
"Would you raise your shield in her defense?" The older man challenged, addressing him as he stood for their new recruit. Farkas looked down at Idrissa then with a strange, sure expression that made her belly tighten before nodding an affirmative.
"I would stand at her back, so that the world might never overtake us." He promised, reciting the age old line with confidence as the ghost of a smile played on Kodlaks lips.
"And would you raise your sword in her honor?"
"It stands ready, to meet the blood of her foes."
"And would you raise a mug in her name?"
"I would lead the song of triumph as our mead hall reveled in her stories." Idrissa swelled with pride as she watched her friend speak, moved by the confidence with which he regarded her- and in that moment, she wondered silently what she had done to deserve a friend so true.
"Than the judgement of this circle is complete." The harbinger declared at last. " Her heart beats with the fury and courage that has united the Companions since the days of the distant green summers- Let it beat now with ours, so that the mountains may echo, and our enemies might tremble at our call..."
A slow grin spread out across Farkas's chiseled facial features as Kodlak spoke the last lines of the speech, and as his familiar dimples revieled themselves, Idrissa too allowed herself to grin back- forgetting the rest of the world briefly as they relished the moment together, losing themselves in each others eyes.
"It shall be so!" Aela, Skjor, and Vilkas all shouted in unison, as tradition demanded. Their words were punctuated by a round of raucous cheers from the other new recruits, telling her the formalities had at last run their course. feeling someone approach behind her, she wrenched herself away from his gaze, releasing Farkas from the spell he had been under as she turned to see Kodlak approach.
Taking a deep breath to settle the lingering butterflies fluttering inside him, Farkas remembered himself, becoming acutely aware that his brother was watching him, with a look that was a combination of both disgust and despair as the circle dispersed around them- but before he could even speak, Vilkas turned on his heel and followed the rest of the excited rabble into the meadhall, wanting only to find something to drink- Heaving a heavy sigh, Farkas turned his attention momentarily to Idrissa as Kodlak addressed her officially as a member of the guild, before forcing himself to follow after his brother to allow them a private moment to speak.
"well girl, your one of us now." He affirmed, making it official. "I trust that you wont disappoint." Idrissa smiled up at him brightly in answer, feeling as though she might still burst with pride in the wake of her accomplishment- the firey sky had bled into the muted colors of twilight by then, and the moons were becoming more visible as they loomed in the diamond studded Aether. With renewed vigor, She breathed in the fresh air- and in that moment, everything in her life might have been perfect, if not for the dark, dangerous secret she had been unfortunate enough to witness earlier that day...
Kodlak saw the shadow of her thoughts cross her expression, and his brows furrowed as he regarded her with wizened eyes.
"What troubles you child?" He asked dutifully as her smile faded. She blinked up at him, surprised by how well he could read her, until at last she sighed, the stress reclaiming its usual spot in her chest and diminishing her short lived sense of elation.
"Is it true that the members of the circle are Werewolves?" She forced herself to ask, bracing herself for whatever his reaction may be. The old mans eyes widened at the mention of their carefully guarded secret, but he didnt become hostile or defensive as she had feared- instead, he only sighed, shaking his head sadly as he looked up to the sky, as if searching for answers.
"I see you have been allowed to know some secrets before your appointed time." he observed, sounding disappointed. "no matter- it is true. the members of the circle all share in the beast blood. Some take to it more than others."
"What about you?" She asked curiously, hearing a note of disdain in his voice as he spoke of the moons curse- Werewolves were regarded by most of Skyrims populace in the same light as those suffering from Vampirism- a plague onto the community. Good men could contract either disease, and eventually the nature of the beast would drive them mad with blood lust, until nothing remained of the person they used to be- and it was the duty of any honorable warrior to put them down before it could come to that.
Idrissa had never believed in the moons curse before witnessing Farkas explode into a hairy mass of muscle and claws, having never witnessed the affliction for herself- and now, knowing what she knew, it seemed narrow minded to assume that all Werewolves should be killed- By all standards, the Companions were heroes- so did they deserve to die, just because of their affliction?
No- she didn't think so.
"well, I grow old. My mind turns toward the horizon- toward Sovngarde... I worry that Shor will not call an animal to glory as he would a true nord warrior. Living as beasts draws our souls closer to the Daedric Lord, Hircine." He admitted, sounding regretful. "Some may prefer an eternity in his hunting grounds, but i crave the fellowship of Sovngarde."
Idrissa thought about his words carefully, realizing that she herself had never given much thought as to what would happen to her soul upon death- As a nightingale, Nocturnal traditionally would claim her soul to serve as a guard to the twilight sepulcher...If she forsook her duties as a nightingale in life, would she be allowed to enter Sovngarde upon her death?
"So, you would cure yourself, if given the opportunity?" She asked, remembering the light of exhilaration that had ignited Farkas's eyes after he had allowed the beast to take over, and the pleasure with which he spoke when describing the power he felt when allowing the beast control- she doubted he would give up the blood, if she had asked him the same question.
"Yes." He told her without hesitation. " but, its no easy matter- and you don't need to share in the worries of an old warrior... this day is to rejoice in your bravery! You should go speak to Eorlund, and have him forge you a better weapon then...erm, whatever that is." He scoffed humorously, nodding toward the rune inscribed, dull hunk of metal strapped to her hip with a sly smile as he skillfully changed the subject.
Distracted, Idrissa blushed and giggled nervously as she eyed the old steel sword- it was true, it was a relic of a weapon- heavy, unbalanced and clunky...no better than the ancient blades the Draugr still carried around in their dusty old crypts. honestly, She was looking forward to replacing it with something fresh and shiny- one of the few traits she shared with other females of her kind.
"Thanks, I'll do that." She told him, grinning as he gave her a wink before making a slow, stiff departure. Idrissa allowed herself a minute of peace in the cool dusky air before taking a deep breath and forcing herself to join her fellow Companions in the mead hall for the feast, trying hard to quell her deep sense of unrest and find her earlier sense of elation- Farkas may have spoke for her and trusted in her abilities, but the rest of her new shield siblings still needed convincing...
. . .
Joining the rest of her new companions inside, she was struck by how familial they all looked, gathered together in the mead hall to feast. The circle members all dominated the long table, with Kodlak at the center- Vilkas at his left and Skjor to his right. As usual, Farkas claimed the seat next to his brother, and Aela took the seat next to Skjor. The newest recruits- her, Ria, Athis, Torvar, and Njada, were served at the smaller tables nestled in the corners of the pit- as befit their position in the guild hierarchy.
Idrissa took a quiet seat next to Ria, who gave her a withering look as she sat down. Politely, Idrissa looked away, before turning to observe the others by the hearth, where they conversed pleasantly while sharing meat and mead.
"You can look as long as you want- you'll never be one of them." Ria murmured softly, following the silver haired nords gaze knowingly- Idrissa looked away then, embarrassed that she had been read so easily.
"Oh?" She responded quickly, sensing the other womans subtle challenge. " How long did you try, before deciding it was in vain?"
Bitterly, Ria's jaw set and she tore her brown eyes away from the high table to look at Idrissa, meeting her vivid blue green stare head on.
"Who says I've given up hope? I've dreamt of being with them since I was a little girl- since I heard the stories of Kodlak and Skjor fighting off a hundred and one Orc Berserkers single handedly in battle...Skjor says it was more like forty- but hes just being modest. Where else would I want to be but here? Learning from them, fighting at their sides? No...I've not given up hope- but you...You don't stand a chance im afraid." She shook her head, scoffing condescendingly as her thin lips twisted into a smirk.
"Me? I am a nord- a true daughter of Skyrim, born and bred. I have as much a chance as you, or anyone else for that matter, at sitting at that table some day!" Idrissa bit back defensively, allowing the other woman to bait her. Ria's smirk only grew, and she snickered to herself.
"I admire your spirit- truly." She admitted mockingly, looking at her with eyes full of pity. "But here, it doesn't matter- dark elf, Nord, Imperial...We're the children of Ysgramor- not Skyrim. We've brought nothing but glory to his name, since his day to our own- and to be counted among that line is to be granted a bit of immortality. Even if I never see Sovngarde, that would be enough for me...Perhaps you should have joined Ulfric Stormcloak, and his thrice damned rebellion, if that is what you truly hold to."
And with that, the young Imperial woman stood, raising her flagon of ale in a mocking salute before turning on her heel to join Athis and Torvar at their table a short distance away, where she was welcomed warmly into the fold. Exhaling deeply, Idrissa closed her eyes, willing herself to face away from them and ignore the display, knowing it was meant only to further discourage her. When she opened them, she was surprised to catch Vilkas's disconcertingly bright stare from his spot beside Kodlak on the sprawling high table surrounding the hearth- he was watching her face, studying her closely with an intense, puzzled expression, as if he had heard every word that had transpired between the two, and was now trying to piece apart her reaction even as she watched...
Breath catching, the scene of Farkas's transformation replayed inside her minds eye, and she swallowed hard against the lump that was forming in her throat as she maintained eye contact with his twin across the pit- and as Vilkas watched the color drain from her face, his own expression hardened. He knew what she was thinking- What she knew...in a sick way, he would have preferred it if she had been a spy for the silver hand after all- at least then they could dispatch the threat she posed to them without conscience- but now...now her innocence was all but confirmed, and it would make her fate that much more hard to swallow.
He still didn't know if he could just stand by and let it happen.
