Four days later, Lakeview
The closer they got, the tighter the knot in her belly.
It's going to be alright. Right? They won't throw me out...will they?
She and Vilkas were sharing a horse. Everyone else rode on their own. His arm wrapped around her waist was the only thing keeping her from fleeing.
The path to Lakeview had been widened some time ago, and its palisade had grown into a half stone wall.
"Still growing, eh?" Erika looked at the houses built beyond the wall.
"About a hundred houses," Mori mumbled.
"A hundred already?" Helgi whistled.
"Yes, but that's just here. There's also Lakeshore and Woodward..."
"Is thane Bjorn trying to outgrow Falkreath?" Farkas mused.
"Given the location of the job, I bet this is the safer part of the Hold," Erika commented. "No wonder lots of folks are moving here. Helgen is also quite big, partially because it has a stationed fortress."
Erdan the gate guard recognized them right away. "Welcome, Companions," he stepped to the side. "You're just in time, the sun is setting. We have a new inn, right over there-lady Mori? Didi?"
Deirdre grinned. "Hello, Dan. I've come for a visit, are you happy?"
"Of course I am! But," he collected himself, "duty first. My shift will be ending soon, how about I go find you at the inn later?" After Deirdre's nod, he turned to Mori, all hunched into herself. "Lady, do you wish me to accompany you to the manor? I'm sure they-"
"I'll go with Vilkas, thank you," Mori managed a bleak smile.
"Are you going to join us later? Or will you be staying at the manor?" Farkas called out.
"No idea," Vilkas responded over his shoulder. He dismounted, then helped Mori down. His hands remained on her shoulders.
He knows I'm tense. Of course he does.
After Farkas took their horse and all of the others turned to the inn, Vilkas gave her a reassuring smile. "Let's go?"
She took a deep breath and nodded.
Someone must have brought word. Owen probably saw them coming long before they arrived at Lakeview and immediately reported to Falco. They entered the main hall and found it empty, save Bjorn, Falco and Yvaine.
Bjorn's face warmed up with a wide smile. "You made it back, kitten!"
Mori's eyes lit up. She was about to smile.
Then her gaze darted to Falco and Yvaine.
Their expressions were grim.
"Did you have a nice time in Whiterun? So much so you couldn't even send a letter?" Falco's voice remained civil, but it cut like a knife.
Bjorn shot a look at him.
Mori whimpered and hunched down.
"Aren't we even worth the afterthought to let us know...I don't know, that maybe you aren't dead?!"
"I didn't-"
"I know you didn't! That's the problem!" Falco exploded. "What did you think you were doing? Coming here, not listening a to a word I say, throwing at me that you will probably die, then fucking off and just having some fun in Whiterun?"
She flinched.
"Enough," Vilkas stepped to the side, blocking Mori from Falco.
"Step aside, boy," Falco hissed, his eyes narrowing, "this is none of your business." He was shaking, as much as he tried to hide it.
"It is my business," Vilkas remained standing where he was, voice steady. "You are attacking my woman without letting her say a thing."
Before Falco could react, Yvaine did. She took a step forward, pointing at Mori angrily. "You...you are so damn selfish! You didn't tell me anything!"
Mori could see the terror deep within her eyes. The fear of being left alone. But it was covered by so much vitriol she couldn't muster the energy to address it.
She tried nonetheless.
"You knew what-"
"I didn't! I thought you would go get healed! Orgoch can heal anything, can't she?"
Vilkas tensed, Mori could see that in his posture, as miniscule as the tell was.
"She couldn't, because the dagger-"
"Well, you said you would figure something out! Not go off and prance about waiting to die!"
"That's not-"
"You don't care about me at all, do you?" Yvaine sobbed angrily. "Everything you do is for him!" she stabbed her finger against Vilkas. "You left Orgoch for him, not me. You stuck around for him, never me! And now, you also go see him, NOT ME, when you think you're going to DIE!"
Mori closed her eyes, shaking.
Tears, up until now only stinging in the corner of her eyes, rolled freely down her cheeks.
She could hear a wolfish growl rise in Vilkas' throat.
And then a wave of anger and power, as Yvaine rushed in to hit her.
XXX
He managed to catch the little monster.
He had to brace and even call on the Beast. She hit like a pile of rocks, shrieking wildly.
Are they out of their minds?!
"Enough!" he growled, swapping his grip onto Yvaine's flailing arms. She was still trying to get behind him and scratch Mori. "Are you trying to kill her?"
"Let me go you MUTT!"
As she shrieked, her arms turned bright red, singing his hands. He gritted his teeth, refusing to let go.
"Now listen to me, both of you," he said, carefully controlling his voice to remain calm, "Mori didn't go prancing around or looking for me. She did what she pledged to do. She revived the Gildergreen. Then she collapsed. My shield-sisters saved her. They nursed her back to health. Then the jarl decided he absolutely HAD TO talk with her. So she went, just the next day after waking up from almost dying. She went, so weak I had to carry her up to Dragonsreach. And then, because she wanted to get home, we immediately set out here. A letter wouldn't be faster than us."
He let Yvaine go, shaking his burnt hands. "And now you lot, her FAMILY, are attacking her like rabid dogs. Shame on you!"
He caught a shadow of a smile on thane Bjorn's face. Well, seems he's not absolutely rotten. But still, he didn't step in.
"And why do you think you have any say, sister-thief?!" Yvaine spat at him. Gods spare me dealing with teenage girls. Did we treat Skjor this way?
Quick look over the shoulder confirmed his worries. "Because I'm not the one making her disappear in tears," he turned on his heel, marching towards a door. He had no idea where he was going, but he could smell her scent that way.
He was itching to sink his fangs into something. Or at least punch a wall out and then claw it to splinters.
My eyes must be red.
They know about the Beast anyway. No harm no foul.
The manor was not that large. Soon he found his way to a slightly distanced wing, tranquil and smelling of herbs. He had to walk through a small reading space, fitted with pelts, cushioned seats and decorated shelves filled with books, to uncover a hidden door.
Or rather a heavy curtain acting as a door.
Bead curtain hung in front of the forest green cloth and herb bundles decorated the doorframe.
He knocked on the frame, wincing as the burns reminded him of their existence.
No answer.
"I'll come in, alright?" he called out softly. "Last chance to tell me to bugger off."
He entered after waiting a little. The room was small, but cozy, filled with various treasures, spanning from a feather to a beautifully carved golden ring, all of them placed neatly around the room. The light-wood furniture contrasted nicely with the dark wood used for construction and the ever present forest green curtains.
Mori lay curled in the middle of a surprisingly large and sturdy square bed.
Just about big enough to comfortably fit a leopard and then some...
He sat down. Trying not to put too much weight on his hands, he moved right next to her. Moving her hair out of her face revealed she had been quietly weeping.
And more tears continued rolling down.
He laid down and opened his arms. After a short consideration, she scooted close, curling into him. He held her as best he could without causing himself too much pain.
They remained so for...who knows how long.
No one came to disturb them. Thane Bjorn's doing, if I should hazard a guess.
"Show me your hands," she nudged him weakly out of nowhere, trying to dry the tears. New ones just formed.
He obliged.
"Did Yvaine burn you?" she asked after examining closely. Not waiting for an answer, she rose, moving to the edge of the bed. She opened a drawer and pulled an ointment bottle out.
"Aye."
"I thought they would be happy to see me," she sobbed while putting the ointment on.
"They are, as far as I can say," Vilkas sighed. This was not going to be an easy conversation. "It's...I think it's been too much strain on the two. It's not good what they're doing, but they're probably just venting that anxiety on you."
"But why wouldn't they hear me out? What else was I supposed to do? Just...sit them down, talk to them and die?"
"Of course not," he kissed her head. "Emotions are running wild right now. Give it some time."
"But she ran to hit me," Mori's hands lit up. The magic was so faint it made Vilkas worry. Before he could inquire about it, she continued: "She was so...uncomfortable and stunned when I said I'd go ask Orgoch for advice, and now...now she's acting like her."
Right. I will also need to ask about that...later.
"She probably internalised Orgoch's behaviour. Parts of it, at least. There were no other parental figures in your lives, correct? She's mimicking what she saw as a child. That and no one corrected her behaviour."
Mori shrunk. The healing spell used up all the ointment, leaving pristine skin behind.
"Don't blame yourself like that," he hugged her properly now, "you're not the only one around her. Besides...parents should guide their children. What were the two doing?"
"It was better when there was just the manor," Mori sighed into him. "Nowadays they don't have much time for either of us. My wandering nature probably helped cement that."
"They should accept who you are and love you regardless," he huffed. "As long as that is nothing horrendous, which your wandering isn't."
"I want to leave, Vilkas," she looked up at him. "I don't feel welcome here."
"We can-"
"Will you come with me? Stop being a Companion and come wandering with me?"
"What?"
"I don't want to worry about your life," she grabbed his arms. "I see now that brings only discord. So we should stop this life. Get a different one."
"Mori..."
Her eyes turned desperate. "I can make enough money with herbs and poultices. That's safe. We can wander around, not get involved in trouble-"
"I can't do that, Mori," he looked her in the eyes.
"So...so...so you're also throwing me away?" she recoiled.
"No, that's not what I said-"
"Why else wouldn't you want to come with me? Don't you...don't you...you don't love me, do you?"
"Mori! Listen to me," he tried to turn her head. She fled from his touch. "I do. I can't lose you. But what you're asking...I can't do that. It's-"
"It's more important, huh?" she let out a sad chuckle.
"No. Remember, at the start, you told me you can't not be yourself? The same applies to me. I am a Companion."
"But it's nothing that is part of your body, your nature!" she snapped. "It's different! Why don't you want to go with me and stay safe with me?"
"But Mori, you aren't safe either. Would you stop what you love doing? Wandering and helping the spirits?"
She shook her head.
"You almost died doing just that, it's no different than-"
"Are you also going to scream at me?!" she cried and pulled away.
"No-" he reached out, but pulled back mid-movement.
"You can take any wisdom and scoldings you have and GO CHOKE ON THEM!"
His throat constricted.
Panic flashed through his eyes. I can't breathe!
He tried to gasp for breath. His body wouldn't let him. His lungs burned with a painful desire to take in more air, but no matter how horrible it felt, he just. Couldn't. Breathe.
A whimper broke through his panic.
The pressure lifted. He gasped. As he did, he heard rustling of cloth and then flapping of wings.
He didn't realise he bent in his attempts to get some air earlier. He shot up with another breath.
He saw white plumage disappearing out of the window.
"Mori! Wait!" He grabbed the pile of clothes she left behind and vaulted through the window after her.
The sky had darkened in the meantime. He landed in a serene garden, full of plants, a lot of them poisonous. The forest was just outside the wall.
No white crows in sight.
He called the Beast. Jumping wouldn't be as easy as if he had fully shifted, but he should have no problems making it over the wall. Improved senses will help him find her faster too.
He ran up a fallen log, leapt at the wall, used the energy to propel another jump and vaulted over.
XXX
Mori perched on a branch. She was trembling.
What have I done?
I harmed Vilkas. I...I harmed Vilkas.
I harmed him.
What have I done?!
Not long after hurried steps interrupted her sobbing. She felt his presence nearing before she saw the glowing red eyes.
She grew quiet.
I don't deserve his love.
She remained completely still, subtly spreading the little of her magic that regenerated during the past few days.
He shouldn't be able to see nor smell me now...
Quiet like a grave, she watched as he rushed to the cluster of trees she had been hiding at. Confusion mixed in with the desperation in his face once he stopped close to her, almost under the branch she was sitting on.
He was panting from the run, clutching her robes in both hands.
After looking around wildly, he sniffed the air. He walked from spot to spot, always returning to the tree.
The spell is not strong enough. My scent must be beyond the area I can cover. Just go...I'm not worth it.
"Mori!" he called out.
She flinched. His voice is full of pain.
"Mori, please!"
He looked around some more. To no merit, of course. The one he had been searching for sat right above his head, hiding behind a spell. He covered quite the area, even disappearing beyond the range she was able to detect his presence several times, but always returned to her hiding spot.
Mori was unsure whether to curse or praise her exhaustion, tying her to this particular branch.
She watched him slide down the tree trunk and drop on the ground. He groaned and hid his head in his hands, running them through his hair a few moments later.
Her heart ached at the sight.
Maybe...maybe I should...
Footsteps neared. Vilkas jumped to his feet, his eyes blazing red.
Must be Bjorn. He has this special way of being noisy when he's trying to announce his presence.
"No luck, lad?" it was indeed Bjorn who stepped into the area, a small pendant enchanted with light in his hand.
Vilkas narrowed his eyes and put on the usual stony expression. The light must have blinded him. "No."
"Give her time," he stopped close enough to make a friendly atmosphere, but far enough to not intrude into Vilkas' personal space. "She's a scaredy little cat. Likes to hide and sulk."
He looked around. "Is this where you tracked her to?"
"...aye."
Bjorn looked up into the branches. "You know, I'm not mad, kitten. Come back when you feel like having a hot drink and some chats." He looked back to Vilkas and motioned for him to follow. "Come now, lad. Let's get you warmed up and fed. I don't like how hungry those red eyes look."
Vilkas hesitated. He looked around once more. Bjorn waited patiently, a knowing look on his face. Finally, Vilkas gave up. With a sigh, he followed after Bjorn.
Mori hopped into the air after a while, following on silent owl wings.
XXX
"So how does it work? Can you turn the eyes off?" Mori heard Bjorn asking before getting too close to Lakeview.
"Aye," Vilkas grumbled. The red glow of his eyes faded, leaving behind the piercing grey.
"Splendid! We can go in now, then," Bjorn rubbed his hands together and turned back to Lakeview. "Do you like venison? I have some venison. It's the perfect time for a light midnight snack."
To Mori's surprise, he led Vilkas to his and Falco's room.
Mori landed on the window frame of the single window left open. She had a hard time catching her breath.
Bjorn seated Vilkas at the table in the room. He started fire in the small hearth, installed mostly to keep Falco warm during cold northern nights.
And now to heat up Bjorn's food, seems like. He is rounder than he used to be.
He hung a pot over the flames and sat down across Vilkas. "Wine?" he reached for a bottle.
"I...prefer to avoid alcohol when I'm...agitated."
Bjorn nodded while he poured himself a full cup. "I also have cocoa."
Vilkas gave him a look.
"Come now," Bjorn grinned over the edge of his cup. "I swear I have no ulterior motives. I just want to chat and make sure Mori finds you in pristine condition when she returns."
Vilkas reluctantly got up and poured himself the offered drink while Bjorn pointed out where to find it.
"Your name was Vilkas, right? I'm Bjorn. Call me Bjorn. No thanes."
Vilkas arched an eyebrow.
"I'm not too fond of the title-calling," Bjorn explained himself, getting a generous gulp of wine. "Especially from my daughter's lad."
Ah Bjorn. Blunt like a rock to the face.
"Don't give me that look. I'm just curious about the man she likes. Is it a bad thing to try to get to know you, since you'll be sticking around?"
Will he?
Vilkas stared at him for a bit, then relented with a little sideways bob of the head. "That's fair."
Bjorn leaned forward, resting his chin on his entwined fingers. "Is alcohol making it harder to control the shifting?"
Vilkas grimaced. "Sometimes."
"Mhm. And what does this do?" Bjorn took a small silver pendant shaped like a crow out of his pocket.
"Discomfort and a slight headache."
"And it has no effect if I hide it?" Bjorn put the pendant away.
"No."
"Interesting," he pulled at one of his braids.
Vilkas gave Bjorn a look. He leaned forward on his elbows. "My turn. Why didn't you say anything in the hall?"
"I wanted to see if Yvaine would have anything worthwhile to mention. Falco had a point. Not well delivered, but still, she needed to hear it. And then you stepped up. Gotta respect that. Why take your thunder away? It's not like she would allow me to go console her after," he shrugged.
What point? That I didn't send a letter?
How was I supposed to send one? Oh. Maybe contact one of the three agents in Whiterun...they do have the birds I trained with them.
Or...that I just flew by and dropped such a heavy topic?
A flash of shame crossed her eyes.
"You should still make it up to her," Vilkas grumbled. "You might remember it just as a point she needed to hear, but she's going to remember the rejection and harshness."
"Speaking from experience?" Bjorn's expression turned unreadable.
"Aye."
"Don't worry about that. I've had my lesson on how to treat my dearest kitten," Bjorn made a face, "but now on a different topic, are you leaving with the other Companions tomorrow?"
"No."
"We'll have more time to chat, then. Great!" a grin spread across Bjorn's face. "Maybe spar? I haven't had a proper sparring partner for ages. All I do these days is deal with running the place, running the horse business and training guards. Oh. And organizing the market. Solving stupid farming disputes. Let's not forget those," his grin melted into a sour grimace.
"We can spar," Vilkas allowed carefully, "but I can only use my left arm at the moment."
Bjorn's brows went up.
"Dangers of the trade," Vilkas shrugged.
The silver wound...is it still so bad? I'll need to have a look at it myself.
"I can ask Yva-"
"Not necessary," Vilkas raised both his hands and shook his head, "I don't feel like risking her wrath."
She would, he's right. What did she call him? Sister-thief?
But it was her who brought him to me. And...it's not like she wanted to spend much time with me lately anyway. Whenever I was here, she would spend about an hour around, then go do something more interesting with Marishka.
Mori spent some time lost in her own thoughts. When her attention returned to the men, Bjorn was just putting the venison stew in two bowls.
"So how do you like your meat?" he quipped at Vilkas when he put the bowls down. "I forgot to ask before. Rare or well done?"
He had that shit-eating grin of his on his face.
Of course he would.
Vilkas gave Bjorn a look. As much as his face wouldn't betray his emotions, his eyes were very expressive.
"Bleeding, in fact," he remained as calm as ever, pulling the bowl closer to him. "Best if it throws curses at me, then pleads for its life and then crunches between my teeth."
Mori almost gave her hiding spot away. Her belly hurt from the held-in laughter itching to get out - Bjorn's face blanched for a moment as several variations of shock, disbelief and suspicion quickly took turns running across his features.
In the end, Bjorn chuckled, leaning forward on one elbow and shaking his hand as he pointed at Vilkas. "You got me, lad."
A tiny smirk curled Vilkas' lips. Mori had already learnt to recognize some of the tells in his eyes, and the sheer satisfaction and mirth she saw warmed her heart.
I love this man.
Sadness flooded back in. But...does he? Maybe I did too much...
I'm...I'm going to talk to him. In the morning.
XXX
Bjorn had kept Vilkas for quite a while, clearly interested in chatting. After he sent him to sleep in Mori's room and closed the door, Bjorn turned to the window.
"How much longer are you going to sit there, hm?"
Did he know? What did I miss?
Or is he bluffing?
She cancelled the spell. Bjorn smiled. He turned and picked a light blanket off of the bed while she jumped in and turned into a woman.
He put the blanket around her shoulders. "It's not polite to eavesdrop."
"Like you'd ever let that stop you," she scoffed, his presence and cheerful attitude easing her worries.
"Of course not," he shrugged. "Cocoa?"
While he poured her a cup, Mori sat on the bed, pulling the blanket closer around herself.
"So why aren't you mad at me?" she looked down.
"You did what you had to," he made himself comfortable in a massive carved seat, cushioned and covered in white fur. "Why should I fault you for that?"
"But-"
"The one thing Falco doesn't want to acknowledge is that you will never be an indoor cat, like Yvaine. He's scared and his mother hen instincts are making him believe trying to tie you down is the solution."
He sighed. "But you're a wild beast, not a housecat. He needs to come to terms with it. Don't look at me like that, I also don't like the idea of you prancing around with death behind your paws. But...I know it can't be helped. Your lad understands. Keep him close, he seems a good one."
Mori hung her head.
"Come now, what's weighing on your heart, kitten?"
"We argued...I harmed him. Unintentionally. With my magic..." her voice trailed away.
"I thought the things you do on instinct don't work on-oh. It's the werewolf schtick, huh?"
She nodded.
"What happened?"
"I was...I was angry," she started twiddling her thumbs. "And then...I told him to choke on what he was saying. And he did."
Her eyes began to sting.
"I stopped it. Immediately. But I did it."
"Don't worry, kitten. It's going to be okay-"
"But how? I hurt him!"
"Kitten, relationships are never easy. Do you think Falco is all rose bathwater and sweetcakes with me?" Bjorn pulled his shirt up to reveal a dagger scar on his side. Clean, precise, deadly looking. "He did that. Never forget I pulled him from prison's death row. He almost killed me." He let the shirt fall back down and leaned back in the seat.
"His favourite method to curb my...battle frenzy...was to stab me with a poisoned dagger. Just paralyze poison. But still. He stabbed me. With a dagger. More times than I'd like. Does it make me love him any less? No. It just means there were conversations to be had. From what I saw, Vilkas is itching to have that conversation instead of running away. Bolden up, apologise, promise to never do it again and never do it again. I'm sure he'll wag his tail."
"Bjorn!"
"What?" he grinned. "Don't tell me you wouldn't like to see him all wolfish, rolled belly up on the ground and wagging the fluffer. Sounds right up your alley, kitten."
While Mori's cheeks burnt hotter and hotter as she stammered for words, Bjorn rubbed his chin, turning thoughtful eyes to her. "Or maybe not? He does have a nice build. Tall enough, too. You definitely won't have to bend and lean to slap his ass."
Her jaw dropped.
Bjorn grinned wickedly, clearly enjoying himself. "Did you climb him like a tree yet? When you do, don't forget to squeeze your thighs. He'll like that. Do you want me to point out sensitive spots? The family jewels, but everyone knows that. You shouldn't forget about the chest berries, though-"
"Shut up!" Mori, beet red, reached forward and covered Bjorn's mouth with both hands.
He made a placating gesture, laughing.
She released him with an indignant hmph. "You went into my girlish secrets getting a raise, now I want to hear about your boyish ones. How come you 'pulled Falco out of prison'?"
"That's a long, long tale, kitten."
"I have time."
"Hm...alright, you deserve some of it, at least. Back in the day, I was freshly named captain of a special unit in the legion. You know, when the Dominion was marching on the City and-"
"What's the Dominion? And which City?"
"Ah. Of course. Pardon me, kitten. The Third Aldmeri Dominion, a hellish reign over in the Summerset Isles, where the Altmer live."
"The yellow elves?"
"The yellow elves," he chuckled and nodded. "The City would be the capital of Cyrodiil, the Imperial City."
"The one with the tower?" Mori perked up.
"Oho?"
"I saw it in Vilkas' books," her cheeks reddened.
"He's getting you to read? I'll have to commend him," Bjorn grinned.
"He mostly read things for me," she shied away, "but...I did try to get better. I read a whole story the other day."
"Good job, kitten," he patted her on the shoulder.
"Back to the story, please."
"Always ready to pounce, aren't you...well...there was a war. You know about it?"
Mori nodded. "Basics."
"Up to the point of the siege, I was just a soldier. Then they started picking expendable but capable people for tasks you couldn't give to the nobles and military leadership you wanted to keep around. So they picked me for one such captain's position. I got a pick of the best misfits, including prisoners on the death row. The officials gave a choice to anyone in prison, actually - fight for us, or you can die in here. No matter their crime."
"And Falco was there why?"
"He used to run with a crime syndicate, that little street rat," Bjorn threw one leg over the other and made himself comfortable. "They got mostly wiped not long ago before this. He was one of the lucky ones who got caught instead of killed."
"Was that really lucky?"
"Well, he's alive, happily complaining about everything here, isn't he? And he gets to sleep with me," Bjorn gestured to all of himself with a cocky smile.
Mori snorted.
"Long story short, I picked a squad, and requested Falco specially - he had the skills and knowledge I needed. Our troop ended up doing all sorts of nasty stuff. At one point, the Dominion broke through and forced the legions out of the City. We stayed behind, trapped," the cocky smile disappeared and darkness crept into Bjorn's usually bright eyes.
"We remained in the City all the way up until the Legions took it back. Don't ask me about the details, kitten, those were...bad times. We weren't the only ones, but...we did best of all the groups we encountered, all of that thanks to Falco. Well, after he tried to murder me and give it a slip."
"Why didn't he?"
"Must have been my charm. He came back not long after stabbing me and leaving me to bleed out on the floor. I don't remember much, because I WAS bleeding out on the floor, but he was mumbling and grumbling. Quite angrily. He patched me back up and we continued on our merry way, trying not to get skinned by the Dominion soldiers while doing damage and saving civilians wherever possible."
Some mirth returned to his face. "And that's the story of how I got my little spitfire of a fox. After the war we both wanted some peace, so we made our way here. Even got cubs out of it," he flashed her a small grin.
"Thanks for sharing, Bjorn. I'm glad you made it here, you know? I now have a definitely-papa and a dad," she poked him in the shoulder.
Stunned silence filled the room.
Mori got up and gently scratched him in the red mane of hair. "I'm tired. Good night and thank you for everything."