Running with Wolves ~3

Running with Wolves ~3
Skyrim Fanfiction
Female Dragonborn and Farkas

Vilkas growled to himself as he marched back toward Jorrvaskr. How dare that whelp keep something of such importance hidden from us! Something like that it’s- he shook his head as his gloved fingers dug into his palms in tight fits. All this time she has had this power and never spoken a word about it. Had it been any other whelp, Vilkas would have been shocked and honored (still a little irritated), but something about it being Sova—he was furious. The wolf inside him growled and bristled with rage. He could feel the fangs protruding from the spirit’s jowls, and forced his lips shut tight around his own teeth. He couldn’t risk his wolf getting the better of him in broad daylight. He swallowed what anger he could and continued his march toward the great halls of the Companions.

Aela was waiting for him outside the mead hall when Vilkas came storming up the steps. With a half-smile, she asked, “Find out something unpleasant Vilkas?”

He stopped before her and gave a low growl, “Where are the others?”

Slightly shocked by his demeanor though not in the slightest intimidated, Aela answered, “Skjor and Njada just returned from a hunt. They’re washing up below. Everyone else is in the mead hall.”

“Go get them,” Vilkas ordered, “bring them to the Hall.”

Aela’s brow fell as he frowned. “Vilkas, what’s-“

“Just go!” he barked as he stormed passed her and into Jorrvaskr.

~❅~
Farkas stared at Sova for a long time. His face was blank and unreadable. His eyes scanning her face intensely. The grip he had on her shoulders loosened slightly. He could see the fear in her eyes still, tears formed in the corners. His mouth fell open, unable to say a thing. Farkas’s shoulders slumped as his mind tried to make sense of what Sova had just revealed to him. Dragonborn… She’s Dragonborn. . . ?

Sova’s head suddenly dropped as she cried, “Farkas, say something dammit!” Farkas blinked as the cry seemed to wake him from a trance. He could feel the woman’s body tremble in his hands, and above the howl of the wind, he could hear the small sobs escape her throat. Farkas couldn’t understand. Why was she so afraid?
~~

Sova couldn’t stop the tears from breaking through. She couldn’t look at Farkas anymore; she couldn’t watch him stare at her, judging her, trying to figure out what to make of her now. She couldn’t take his silence. She started to shake. Please Farkas just… say something. Anything!  Suddenly Sova felt herself being press against Farkas’ chest plate. Farkas’ arms wrapped around her with a reassuring fierceness. His face nuzzled softly into the side of her head, burying his nose in her hair. “Farkas…!”

He let out a small huff of breath past Sova’s ear. There was almost a chuckle in his voice when he spoke next. “That’s it?” he asked. “Gods, Sova. Don’t scare me like that.”

Sova could hardly believe it. Farkas didn’t… He- “Farkas. . .”she whispered as tears flowed silently down her cold cheeks. Slowly her arms came up and around her companion’s waist. “Thank you.” As the wind whipped and hollowed around them, Farkas and Sova held onto each other. As their warmth warmed each other’s skin and Sova’s tears slowly ceased to flow, a reassuring calmness filled Sova. Farkas wasn’t like the rest.
~~
Sova wrapped a fur pelt around her shoulders as she sat once again before the roaring fire. She watched Farkas as he unrolled another bedroll before the hearth. Once he was satisfied with it, Farkas sat beside her on his own bedroll. After a while he finally asked, “So, when did you find out you were the Dragonborn?”

Sova smiled as she gazed into the fire. “It was totally by accident of course,” she said with a small laugh. “The Jarl had sent me with his housecarl to the western watch tower to help take care of a dragon. There we fought a dragon and I killed it,” she explained. “Then when the dragon died, its scales and flesh burst into flames and withered away! I felt an energy fly into me, empowering me with some new kind of power. I suddenly felt a force growing in my throat along with a word: Fus. Both came crashing out of me like thunder and it was a shout!” She looked at Farkas to see if he was still following. The look he was giving her was that of pure focus, thus she continued, “One of the guards there ran up to me and started rambling on and on about Dragonborn this and Dragonborn that. I really didn’t know what to make of it at the time but when I heard the Grey Beards call me from the Throat of the World I knew something must have happened. The Jarl then told me I must be Dragonborn. He said the Grey Beards were summoning me.”

“Why?” Farkas asked. He was trying his best to keep up with Sova. He understood the jist of what she was saying but the details slipped past him from time to time.

Sova shrugged as her gaze fell back onto the fire. “I don’t know,” she answered. “They must need me for something. Perhaps they wish to teach me.”

“Teach you what?”

“They’re masters in the ways of the Voice,” answered Sova. “If anyone could teach me to use this power, it would be them.”

Farkas nodded. He knew those Grey Beards sounded familiar. “I heard that call,” he stated, “that was over two months ago. Why haven’t you answered their call yet?”

Sova’s smile slipped away as she pulled her knees up to her chest. She carefully rearranged the pelt to cover her legs before answering, “I wasn’t ready.” Farkas studied her eyes as they stared into the flames. They shined with the flickering flares of light but also held a mournful glaze. Her voice was soft as she spoke, “I was still trying to figure out who I was—and I still am—but back then, I was lost. I had nowhere to return to, nowhere to call home. Sure I love the life I’ve lead as an Adventurer, but at the end of the day, I felt… disquiet in my heart. I was alone and I had no proper reason for my existence. Sure I had Lydia, but that’s not the same,” she shook her head. “I didn’t belong anywhere. I couldn’t go to the Grey Beards until I had something to return to, someplace I belonged. That’s why I joined the Companions.”

Her eyes met his, big, bright, and suddenly joyful. Farkas’ breath caught in his chest as he stared into her eyes. A smile formed on his lips as he stated, “I’m glad you did.”

Her eyes left his, breaking the spell that had trapped him. “Thank you,” she said softly again.

“So,” he cleared his throat, “when do you plan to visit the Grey Beards?” Sova stared into the fire as she thought. It was some time before she could give Farkas an answer.

~❅~
Kodlak shook his head as Vilkas finished his rant. While others stared in awe and confusion at the younger companion, Kadlak just stared quietly into the flames of the great fire pit before the table which he sat. He picked up his mug of mead and took a swig. As the sound of his mug being set down echoed in the silence, all eyes turned to the Harbinger. “Tell me Vilkas,” he said, “what made you believe it was your place to reveal secretes that are not your place to reveal?”

Vilkas stared in confusion for a moment at the old man. Their eyes met and Vilkas could feel the fire and disapproval in his gaze. His jaw set and his hands formed fists at his sides. Finally, Vilkas answered with venom on his tongue, “This was valuable information, Harbinger. If she has this kind of power, we have a right to know. After all she-“ Vilkas stopped himself and glanced toward the cluster of whelps on the far side of the table, “-she is an unknown. We know nothing about her or where she came from.”

“We do not ask their stories, we ask for their swords,” Kodlak retorted. “When Sova and Farkas return we will return to this issue, until then,” his gaze swept across the room. All could feel the sharp gaze fall on them one by one, returning to Vilkas with an unyielding force. “I will hear no more of this. Is that clear.”

“Yes, Harbinger,” all answered.

“Vilkas?” Kodlak raised a brow toward him.

Vilkas trembled with rage and confusion. He felt he was in the right. He had done no wrong against them, Sova had, yet he was being punished! He swallowed what rage he could and answered bitterly, “Yes, Harbinger.”

Kodlak nodded. Satisfied, he rose and addressed the crowd, “Now I’m sure you all have something you should be doing, and if not I can find something real quick for you to do. Thus with that the room cleared rapidly until none were left except for the members of the Circle. Aela looked at Skjor across the room, and Kodlak saw the gesture. He sighed and placed his palms on the wooden table top before him. “I understand your concerns,” he said, sounding suddenly old and tired, “but I truly do not believe this is a matter worth being worried about.”

“Kodlak,” Skjor folded his hands before his chest, a sour look on his face, “even you must agree, being Dragonborn is vital information. Something she should have shared with us-“

“Don’t you think she would have if she believed it was necessary,” Kodlak stated. “Don’t you think there is something keeping her from telling us?” He sighed again. “Enough. We will confront her when she returns. Until then, there will be no more discussion on this.”
~2 Days Later~
Sova stopped that the base of the stairs before the Halls of Jorrvaskr. She watched those quiet stone walls as white clouds drifted peacefully in the Skyrim sky far overhead. She had expected a welcome party to judge and ridicule her, but there was no one. There wasn’t a soul to be seen nor a sound to be heard anywhere in the Companion’s hold. Farkas stepped in beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. He smiled at her and started his climb toward the mead hall. She watched him for a moment then closed her eyes and mustered her courage. She has faced dragons. These people would not frighten her away. She started her climb.

The worse that could happen, so Sova thought, was that she could be kicked out of the companions. However, that was torment in itself. In the short time she had been with them, she had grown fond of the warm company, hot meals, and safe roof. It felt like the beginning of a home, a place she could belong. Without the companions, she would be alone. Her gaze fell on Farkas as they climbed toward the hall. Then again, would they let her leave with the secrete she knew. Would Farkas allow them to hurt her? Her gaze fell again. There was only one way to find out.

Farkas opened the doors wide as he entered the hall. Warm, mead spiced air drifted into Sova’s nose, and she gave a little smile. But when Vilkas came into view, the smile fled. Surprisingly, Sova didn’t hesitate to step forward and past Farkas into the hall. Her gaze met Vilkas’ with a certainty. He rose hastily from his seat at the table across from the door and glared at the woman. A silence had fallen over the faint chatter of the room as all eyes turned toward the door and the woman who was the Dragonborn. The tension was so intense, it took a great deal of effort of both parties not to engage.

The click of a door radiated through the thick air then the fall of heavy footsteps came from the lower levels of the hall. Out of the corner of her eye, Sova saw Kodlak emerge from the stair case. He seemed to ignore the duo facing off across the fire pit and addressed Farkas with a cool business-like demeanor. “Ah, Farkas! Good to see you’ve both returned safely. I imagine the mission was a success?”

“Ah- Yes Harbinger!” Farkas stated as he pulled himself from the tense scene before him.

Kodlak nodded, “Good. Now then,” he stepped closer to Sova and gave in a commanding cry, “That’s enough, the both of you!” Sova ripped her gaze from Vilkas’ and turned toward the older man. He gave a curt nod and turned toward Vilkas. “Something you’d like to say Vilkas?”

“We know, Sova,” he growled, “you’ve been keeping secretes from us.”

Sova’s gaze glided back toward the werewolf, forcing herself not to glare at him again; however, she couldn’t stop the poison in her voice. “And what is it you think you know?”

“We know you’re the Dragonborn!” he spat at her, “We know you’ve been keeping this from us. We-“

“And what of it? I don’t see how that’s important to you. I wasn’t hurting anyone.”

“Nor were you helping by keeping that from us. That is important information, Sova. You could be a danger to all of us,” Vilkas hissed. His body was so rigid and radiating anger Sova could almost see the wolf starting to emerge.

“Danger? I-“

“There are rumors, Sova,” Skjor interjected, “that some people—powerful people—want you dead simply for being the Dragonborn. They don’t know you by name but they know you.”

“You are all capable warriors,” Sova looked around at those gathered in the hall, “surely you can take on anything that comes your way.”

“That’s not the point Sova,” Kodlak stated.

“Would you have allowed me to join if I you knew I was the Dragonborn?” Sova asked, looking at Kodlak with great sorrow and strength. “Or would you have allowed me to join on the spot, no questions asked?”

Vilkas opened his mouth to speak, but Kodlak answered first, “I already knew.”

A thick silence fell over the hall. Sova found herself searching the elders face in utter disbelief, mouth hanging open unable to speak a single word. Kodlak met her searching gaze with a calm sincerity that Sova could not understand. Her shoulders slumped and her arms began to shake, whether it was from fear or anger, she could not tell. In the end all she could mutter was a small whisper that almost could have been lost over the crackle of the fire, “What?”

Farkas was the first to disrupt the heaviness of the room as he asked, “You knew? How?” His voice held more wonder than shock or disbelief. His brother on the other hand seemed to be worse for wear as Vilkas glanced at him stiffly.

Kodlak shifted his gaze to the young werewolves, smoothly shifting his calm look between the twins. “My boy, what do you thing the Jarl and I discuss during our weekly visits? Did you think we only boast about past glories or war events?” He gave a chuckle as he shook his head, “No, I knew about Sova almost as soon as she came stepping into Dragonsreach.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Vilkas said it in almost a whimper as he found his voice once again. Sova could see the weight of shame on his shoulders and submission in his eyes and Kodlak stared him down with a gentle expression but fierce gaze.

“I had not known it was the Dragonborn that had stepped into my hall that day, nor when I realized whom it really was feasting at my table did I see it necessary to reveal it to everyone.” Kodlak looked back toward Sova.

Finding her voice again, she wondered, “Why? Why didn’t you say something—to me at least?”

Kodlak crossed his arms as a ghost of a smile fluttered on his lips. “I knew you didn’t tell us for some reason more than ‘it just slipped my mind’ or ‘it didn’t seem important at the time.’ I also believed you would tell us all in time.” He rolled his shoulders has a rumble vibrated from his throat in a laugh as he added, “Besides, it’s not the worst secrete you could have kept from us! Gods, you could have been a vampire or something!”

A sliver of relief found its way into Sova’s spirit at the sound of the Harbinger’s laugh. Then as the tension seceded from the hall, many of the others began to depart from Jorrvaskr. Soon it was only the members of the circle and Sova. They stood in a loose circle before the main doors of the mead hall, all calmed and serious once more. Sova was the first to speak, “So, now what?”

Vilkas answered, “Just answer me one question, Sova.” She could still hear a bit of edge on his voice but did not feel the need to bristle at his tone. She watched him gently, noting he seemed unable to look her in the eye. He kept in eyes low, as if the wolf in him was apologizing itself not Vilkas. She waited patiently for him to speak again. “When were you going to tell us?”

“When I had earned your loyalty and respect on my own and not because of my power. I wanted you to know me as just another Companion, no more special or different than any other whelp to come through your doors,” she answered. Her eyes glanced around at the others and they watched her then fell to the floor. Her brows creased inward as she frowned, “Others I had met whom I had told I was Dragonborn or had already known looked at me as if I was a god. They treated me differently—harsher in some cases and like royality in others—but they weren’t interested in knowing me. They only cared for the Dragonborn.” She looked up at Vilkas again. “I was going to tell you,” she said, “and I figured you’d be upset but I hadn’t thought it would be like this.” Sova looked around at the others as she said, “I am sorry.”

Vilkas nodded, satisfied with her answer. He didn’t have to look up at the Harbinger to know his eyes were on him, expecting him to say something apologetic. He sighed and forced himself to meet Sova’s eyes. “I am the one who should be sorry. I should have confronted you first instead of going behind your back like this. It was unworthy of me.” She accepted his apology with a small nod.

Kodlak spoke next, “Now, are there any other issues we need to take care off?” His gaze fell on each Companion in the circle. Seeing no one raise on objection Kodlak stated in a commanding tone, “Very well. Back to your duties.”

As the others dispersed, Sova turned to the Harbinger and said, “Thank you, but there is one thing I wish of you.” He crossed his arms expectedly as she continued, “I believe I am overdue for the Greybeards summon. With your leave I wish to take the journey up to High Hrothgar and learn what they have to teach me.”

Kodlak nodded. “By all means girl, you have my blessing. On one condition,” he said as he held up one finger, “You take a Shield Sibling with you when you go.”

“Yes Harbinger.”

~❅~
Later That Night

Sova dropped her pack on her cot with a loud thud. She sighed and groaned loudly as he stretched her tired muscles. She was the first of the whelp to retire for the evening as the rest were still zealously drinking that night away above in the mead hall. She sat on the cot began undoing the laces of her leather boots. She began thinking of the task ahead of her. She wondered about the journey up the seven thousand steps and what the Greybeards would be like. She wondered about the knowledge they could give, what insight they could tell her. What does it mean to be Dragonborn? Did they have the answer? Is there even an answer?

She wondered all these things as she removed her leather chest piece and undershirt. She was so distracted by her own thoughts she never heard the door of the living quarters open and fall shut with a hard bang. Therefore she was greatly startled when the doors of the whelp sleeping room were thrown open. She spun around at the noise, a fire ball instinctively flaring up in her left hand as her right clung to a shirt over her chest. The flames in her hand died as she released the spell seeing the familiar face before her.

“Vilkas! By the Nine, don’t do that!” She let out a hard breath as she attempted to calm her nerves, “I could have set you ablaze!”

He gave nothing but a low rumble as he stared her down. Even in the dim light he could see her squirm slightly under his gaze. He could only watch her for a long moment, the wolf in him bristled and growled lowly as if staring down trapped prey. He took a step into the room and closed the door behind him. In the candle light he could see the caution on Sova’s features. “Farkas won’t be going with you tomorrow,” he said bluntly as he closed the distance between them.

Sova tried to take a step back from him only to have her calves hit the edge of the cot behind her. She met his dark gaze with a fierce and warning glare, trying hard to hide the alarm she felt in her chest. “And why’s that,” she managed to say in a level tone.

“Because I’ve already talked to him, and I’m going in his place,” he answered as he stared down at her. He saw a shudder as his eyes moved down her neck to her exposed shoulders. The muscles in her bare arms flexed as she clenched the shirt to her front. His eyes met hers once more as she spoke again.

“That’s not exactly your place to decide that is it?” Her tone radiated a controlled growl.  “Besides why would you want to come with me anyway?”

He couldn’t hold the scowl back as he snarled at the woman, “First of all whelp it is my place and secondly,” he paused and took a step back, letting a long, controlled breath out of his flared nostrils, “I want to go with you.” At the confused look on her face Vilkas continued, “Look the Greybeards must have a vast number of history and knowledge up there and I’m not going to miss out on it just because we had a fight. I’m going. Besides, Farkas would just be bored up there, nothing to hit and all.”

Sova was surprised by the sudden change in character Vilkas was showing her. He seemed so threatening only seconds ago and now he was almost approachable. She pondered this for a moment before nodding. “Alright, but I suppose I have very little choice in this matter anyhow.”

Giving her one last glance over before leaving, Vilkas smiled cruelly and said, “No, you really don’t.”