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Dragonheart: Of Black Wings Unfurled	By : Lady_Kae Category: +A through F > Elder Scrolls - Skyrim Views: 15055 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters used from the game TES: Skyrim. All characters and game related material, save for original content, is property of their respective owners and no money is being made from this fiction.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
Chapter 13: Quell

Farkas was shaving down a piece of wood that would replace the downstairs bedroom door. It looked like Alesan had shoved Lucia into the room and had told her to fire volley after volley if anyone besides he and Lydia came through. Well, that had certainly been the case, as an assailant had destroyed the door, but Lucia had turned them into a porcupine. He would have to ask her how she had fired so many arrows to achieve that result. A small smile crossed his face that his daughter was very much like her late grandmother, and his brow furrowed deeply into a scowl. Try as he might, he couldn’t keep his thoughts from straying to all the information Tilma had given he and Vilkas a couple days ago. Worst yet, that was on top of everything else that had happened since the last of the Silver Hand had crawled from their pits.
He would have been done sooner if a dragon hadn’t attacked yesterday. And bandits the day before. Farkas thought, grunting a little in agitation as he continued running the wood plane to and fro. It was needless to say that all the repairs to Breezehome had fallen to the wayside in light of everything. Farkas stood straight after a moment, and he grabbed a cloth from the nearby bench to wipe the sweat from his brow. He and Vilkas had finally gotten to learn more about their mother, after nearly thirty years of not knowing anything, but nothing more than the other faction Jergen was a part of. Tarrowlyn had had dealings with the Blades lately…
A smaller, nervous scowl crossed his face at the thought of trying to ask Tarrowlyn anything right now. It seemed as if she hadn’t be able to do anything but run between the palace and Jorrvaskr in the midst of all the fighting. Farkas didn’t want to add on to the stress that Tarrowlyn was undoubtedly feeling on top of trying to organize Lydia’s funeral and get the four of them safely sequestered in Breezehome. Last that Alesan had told him when the boy had passed the house to head out onto the tundra earlier, Tarrowlyn had been summoned up to Dragonsreach…
Again.
“ I will NOT accept another housecarl, Balgruff! How dare you try to appoint one when I haven’t even buried Lydia yet!” The thunderous echo of Tarrowlyn’s thu’um boomed through the village and Farkas paled when he heard it. The jarl had been trying to force Tarrowlyn into taking another housecarl since the news of Lydia’s death had reached the palace. And from the sound of it, she wasn’t having any of it.
Damn the jarl’s timing in all of this. On the same note, Farkas completely agreed with Tarrowlyn’s unspoken statement. It was rather insensitive of the jarl to try to appoint her a new housecarl when she hadn’t even had a chance to mourn.
“ He’s asking to get her boot up his ass…” Farkas muttered to himself as he plucked a ladle full of water from the basin. There was more work to be done and he and Tarrowlyn still had to go find the cedars for Lydia’s pyre. His brow pinched in worry as he chugged as much water as he could stand and Farkas rolled his shoulders a little bit as he walked back over to his workbench.
Things would happen the way they were supposed to. Tradition dictated that Lydia’s funeral be tomorrow, and yet they were nowhere near where they needed to be getting everything ready. Farkas looked about the house for a moment, and his brow furrowed as he looked at the layout. Maybe the slight expansion that he and Tarrowlyn had been talking about wasn’t such a bad idea, it would afford more room for the four of them in the long run. Let’s face it, we’re all used the space that Lakeview Manor gave us. he thought with a wry smirk.
Alesan was getting old enough to warrant his own room. It was hard to believe that the boy was turning fifteen soon, as he had been nearly twelve when Tarrowlyn had adopted him to begin with. It had been in Tarrowlyn’s first year in this time that she had taken him in. Yet they were about a quarter a year away from Evening Star, when the end of the year would be. Their wedding was supposed to be in Second Seed. They were currently smack dab in the middle of Hearthfire. Farkas couldn’t help the smirk that split his face when he thought of what Tarrowlyn had said about their honeymoon.
In all honesty, hunting down Alduin’s scaly ass was the perfect idea for the two of them.
His hands were working out of instinct, shaving the door smooth enough for him to put the sealant on and then he’d take it over next door so that he could borrow Adrianne’s forge so that he could hammer in the supports and hinges to finish it off. From there, it was only a matter of hanging it up. Farkas thought about what he wanted to talk to Tarrowlyn about and his brow furrowed nervously. She would still be pissed off by the time she got here, meaning that it might not be a good idea to approach Tarrowlyn to ask Delphine more questions. He had no guarantee that Delphine would tell him anything. She only wanted the Dragonborn after all.
“ Dammit…” Farkas grumbled under his breath. He ran his hand over the wood and he took pride in knowing it was smooth, but his mood was still a bit sour.
“ You too?”
Farkas nearly jumped in surprise. He hadn’t even heard Tarrowlyn come into the house. “ In a way, yeah.” he replied as his intended came up behind him. Her arms wrapped around his waist as her head came to rest between his shoulder blades. “ I daresay you got your point across to the jarl…” A small, barely amused snort reached his ears and Farkas put the wood plane down to turn towards her. “ I heard you clearly all the way down here. You were right to tell him off however. Let’s just hope he’s not deaf as a result.”
“ That inconsiderate dumbass hasn’t even given me a chance to mourn Lyd’s passing properly.” Tarrowlyn grumbled. Her grip tightened a bit and Tarrowlyn let out a very draconic growl that made her lover nervous. “ You almost done with the door? Vilkas told me that that he and the rest of the companions found two of the cedars for us. I want to get the last one found so that we can get them split tonight and get the last of everything ready for tomorrow.”
“ I’ll be done soon. Safe to assume that you got as many of the preparations done as possible at Jorrvaskr?”
Tarrowlyn nodded as she relinquished her hold on Farkas as she grabbed one of the mugs from the cabinet nearby. “ Between getting pulled to and fro over to the palace and with everything else that’s happened in the last three days, not yet, but Lucia’s picking up the last of it from the market today.” She poured some water from the basin into it and Tarrowlyn took a deep drink. “ How about you? What’s on your mind, darling?”
Farkas grunted a bit as he checked the rest of the door and he turned to his work bench to grab the sealant. “ You said Delphine was one of the Blades, right?” he began.
Whatever Tarrowlyn had been expecting, it wasn’t that. It piqued her interest in an instant. “ Yes, I did mention it in passing a while ago. Why do you ask?”
“ Turns out my father was grandmaster of the order at the time of the war thirteen years ago. I was hoping Delphine might have more information on him. I...I need to know more so that I don’t make the same mistakes he did. I don’t want…” Farkas sighed heavily as he ran the brush in even strokes over the wood. “ Now that I have Alesan and Lucia in my life too. I don’t want to...I won’t do to them what Jergen did to Vilkas and I.”
Tarrowlyn’s bitterness at Balgruuf settled for a moment as she smiled softly. “ We’ll head by Riverwood later while we’re looking for that last cedar we need. This way we can get Delphine to tell you if she knows anything. We can set up Tanaris and Thunder with a cart to haul it back for us if anything. No matter what though, one way or the other, you’re getting the answers you need, Farkas.” the dragonborn said sweetly.
Farkas paused his movements with the brush to lean over to give Tarrowlyn a quick kiss on her lips. “ You’ve got enough on your plate, and you’re still taking out the time to help me with this. How did I get so lucky to have someone like you by my side?” he asked her softly.
Tarrowlyn took a moment to kiss him deeper, with more feeling, and she smiled when she heard Farkas groan in appreciation. “ We both got lucky to find one another Farkas. Finding out more about your father is as important to me as you helping me with Lydia’s funeral. This is a partnership. Both sides need to work together to make it work. Let’s get this door done and hung up. Then we’ll head over to Riverwood. If Delphine tries to get me to do anything else, well, she’s going to wait until everything here is settled and done with.” she replied with a smile. “ If we’re lucky, we’ll be back in time to have supper with the kids.”
Farkas nodded silently as he got back to work. He wanted to make this quick after all.

Lucia was sitting on a bench near the Gildergreen, smiling softly as she hand stitched the sleeve onto a new dress that she had been working on for a few days. It was to replace the one that had been ruined after she had been injured the other day and a small scowl crossed her face.
She had never realized the amount of danger that Tarrowlyn and Farkas put themselves into until recently. But even then, Lucia couldn’t be prouder of her parents. They came back every single time after all.
“ If it isn’t lilly-livered Lucia.”
Lucia’s brown eyes narrowed even further. She didn’t even need to look in the direction of the voice to know who it was talking. “ Braith, still as uncouth and ill tempered as always I see.” she replied coldly.
If she tries to intimidate you, you have my permission to deck her. Someone needs to put that brat in her place.
Tarrowlyn’s words rang through Lucia’s mind as she set her sewing to the side to stand up. More than likely, Braith was going to try asserting dominance over Lucia again like she used to before the young girl had gone to live at Lakeview Manor. Lucia wasn’t about to let it happen again. Her mother was the Thane of Whiterun. Her mother was the Harbinger of the Companions.
Lucia was the daughter of the Dragonborn, and she would be damned if she was treated otherwise.
Braith spat into the grass nearby as she stomped over. “ What did you say to me?” she hissed. Her eyes were narrowed and she went to grab Lucia by the collar. Without warning, Braith’s hand was smacked away.
Lucia were narrowed into fine slits with a glare that could have stopped a timid wolf in its tracks. “ What I said was that I am in no mood to deal with you Braith. It’s been a rough couple days and I’m trying to help my ma get things settled with Lydia’s funeral. So do me a favor and take a hike.” the twelve year old warned.
Lucia hadn’t realized just how much she had grown in her time away from Whiterun. She had been nine when Tarrowlyn had adopted her, and had been smaller and skinnier than Braith back then. The last few years had made her taller, a bit stockier than she had been in the past, but she was also much stronger than she had been then.
Braith’s gaze filled with a venom that would have sent Lucia scattering years ago, but not now. Who in oblivion did this girl think she was? Braith was the one in charge of these streets! Not anyone else! Maybe I just need to remind her of her place. the young redguard thought with a nasty grin. “ How ‘bout this? Give me all the coin you’ve got, orphan trash.” Braith closed the distance between them and she got nearly nose to nose with the other girl. Any second now and she’ll remember who’s on top here.
It took everything inside of her to keep from gnashing her teeth in irritation. Lucia has done at this point. If if got physical, Braith was making the first shot and Lucia would kick her ass afterward. “ What part of helping my ma don’t you understand? I’m not an orphan any more Braith.” Lucia hissed. “ And as for my coin, you can forget it. I need to head by the market later for a few things that my parents asked me to get. You can shove off for all I care.”
The two girls stood silent, their gazes locked and burning with anger. The noise around them seemed to die down, but that could be because Lucia was putting all her focus on Braith. She was tensed, poised, ready. Let this insufferable brat try it!
She was Lucia Dragonheart!
Braith could feel her temper bubbling over. “ I said…” she began furiously and her hand rose to grab Lucia by the collar or her dress again. “...give me your damn coin. I won’t ask you again.” She was just about to close her fingers over the fabric when Lucia shot her hand back down again by slapping it away.
“ And I said to bugger off! You don’t get a damn septim from me, Braith, and you’re not going to bully or intimidate me! You don’t scare me anymore!” Lucia shot back powerfully.
Braith was stunned for a solid minute. She wasn’t used to the other kids not being scared of her. This was unprecedented. This was inexcusable. She wasn’t going to stand for it, not now! Not ever! “ I’ll put you in your place, orphan!” she screamed out. Her fist flew up, ready to connect into a right cross, but Braith was stunned when Lucia caught it and she was sent towards the Gildergreen with her own momentum.
Lucia roared her displeasure as she whipped Braith around, and the young Dragonheart released the other girl to send her stumbling off. Braith got her balance back soon enough and she launched herself at Lucia with a blood curdling scream.
Vilkas was walking down the steps from Jorrvaskr when he heard Braith scream as she went for Lucia and he paused to watch. As a nord, he would not interfere in the fight unless it got ugly, and even then, Vilkas had seen first hand that Lucia was more than capable in a pinch.
Sure enough, as he watched with an amused smirk, Farkas’ hand to hand style came into play when Braith went on another offensive. The young redguard girl had yet to land a hit on his niece, and Lucia was guiding her to where she wanted. A crowd started gathering around the girls, curious about the fight.
Lucia ducked for a moment, all to aware that she was being penned in by the onlookers and her head snapped to one side when Braith managed to land a single lucky punch against her cheek. Wet warmth blossomed from the attack and Lucia’s gaze narrowed in rage. So Braith didn’t pull her punches at all?
She was going to wish she did by the time Lucia was done with her.
Lucia spun in place, both fusing and shifting tactics that she had been taught by both her parents. Vilkas caught the shift instantly, as Tarrowlyn’s fighting style was both impressively elegant and much too efficient for him to miss. Three strong punches landed against Braith’s abdomen and solar plexus muscles, forcing the breath from the girl in a mind boggling instant. A left hook pounded into Braith’s right orbital socket, forcing the eye closed from the force of the blow. A right cross followed and Lucia smirked with pride when it connected to Braith’s nose and blood erupted. “ I can go all day, Braith. I spar with my ma, my pa, and my brother on a daily basis. I’m two and a half years younger than my brother and I win a good amount of our bouts when they get physical. You got one good hit in, but I promise you that I’ll have you down for the count in three more punches if you keep it up. Back off and let me be. Simple as that.”
Braith spat, this time to get the taste of blood out of her mouth and she glared daggers at Lucia while weighing her options. This brat had learned how to properly fight in the last two years that she had been gone from Whiterun and as much as it killed Braith to admit it, she couldn’t beat Lucia. The girl was fearless and unrelenting. “ Fine…” she hissed. “ Damn brat.”
Lucia gingerly touched at her cheek as Braith did a walk of shame to her home. She winced when she felt the sting of an open wound and blood came back on her fingertips. Damn it all, she was going to have to ask Tarrowlyn to heal it for her. Danica and the other acolytes had needed to travel to Solitude and the temple of the Divines on some sort of business over this week. Tarrowlyn had assured the jarl; in one of her many trips up to Dragonsreach, that she would be able to help heal any injuries that came up.
It wasn’t as if her ma didn’t have enough on her plate. Now Lucia had to add this into the mix.
“ You’ve done well incorporating both Tarrowlyn’s and Farkas’ fighting styles, Lucia.” Vilkas said, his voice full of pride and praise.
“ Thank you, Uncle Vilkas. Are there any healing potions inside the mead hall? I don’t want to disturb Ma from whatever she’s doing just to heal this for me. It’s too big for a bandage.” Lucia grumbled a little the more that she tried to think of what she would need for a disinfecting paste. What was that recipe that Rayya had taught them? Snowberries, blisterwort...Not the time to be drawing a blank on this Luce...she thought, chastising herself all the while for not paying better attention.
Vilkas got to one knee and he gently tilted Lucia’s chin so he could see the cut a little better. “ Braith landed a solid hit there, but you got better ones in. Did you break her nose with that last punch? Close your eyes a moment, Luce. This will take but a moment.” The humor in his voice was too hard to miss. Not only that, Vilkas had a large grin in place as he wove the spell he needed.
Lucia couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled forth. She found it hard to comply with his gentle directive because of it. “ No, Uncle Vilkas. Only punched her hard enough to bloody it to prove my point. She tries it again, I might just do that.” A soft, warm light caused her left eye to close and she sighed happily at the feeling. That explained why he had told her to shut her eyes then. He hadn’t wanted to blind her. “ I didn’t know you knew how to use magicka.”
“ Only healing magicks, at my behest. It’s come in handy over the years. Why don’t we go find your brother and go hunt something down together? Tilma’s in need of a couple of deer or even an elk for the mead hall. You have remarkable talent with a bow for your age.” Vilkas pulled a clean cloth from under his gauntlet and he gently wiped the blood away from Lucia’s face.
“ Thank you, and that sounds great. Alesan mentioned wanting to head out onto the tundra for a bit anyways so he may already be there. He said something about a dilapidated old house near the watchtower. He might be exploring over that way already.” Lucia was already dashing for the stairs leading up to the mead hall so that she could grab her bow and quiver.
Vilkas chuckled at her enthusiasm as he walked over to the foot of the stairs to wait. His niece and nephew were a riot to be around. It wasn’t just himself that had enjoyed getting to know them. The rest of the Companions had enjoyed every moment the two had been staying in Jorrvaskr with them. Alesan had already made quite the impression on some of the newer whelps when he had sparred with them the other day. The boy was good with a blade. He had more skill than Vilkas had seen the other day when the Silver Hand had launched their attack, and it was fairly obvious who had taught him everything he knew.
Like Lucia had done with her hand to hand, Alesan had found a way to meld the swordplay styles of both his parents. If he had actually had a chance to apply this skill set without the panic of what had happened during the Silver Hand’s attack the other day, it would have been to devastating effect.
Vilkas’ wolf perked for only a moment. Everything had gone quiet down below for a moment, almost eerily so. He turned towards the staircase leading down to the market and the Bannered Mare, feeling a sudden sense of foreboding. Vilkas focused on his hearing, hoping to hear more before he took Lucia down that way to look for Alesan. Where had this oppressive atmosphere come from? Lucia’s ascent up the steps had slowed, and then she paused for a moment before returning to his side.
“ Uncle Vilkas? What’s wrong?” she asked. Lucia didn’t want to admit it, but she had picked up on the suddenly tense air taking over the town and she wanted to feel safe.
Vilkas carefully looked down towards the market and he bit his lip in his nervousness. “ There’s no need to go looking for Alesan out on the tundra, Lucia. He’s back with his catch already.” he told her. She had already dealt with enough violence today and he didn’t want her mood to sour if things down below went south. It certainly felt as if they were about to. “ Do me a favor and go grab some extra arrows from Eorlund for me. Use some of the coin your parents gave you and I’ll reimburse it when we return.”
Lucia looked between her uncle and the stairs with trepidation. It was clear he was meaning to break up a fight if one started and he wanted her safe. “ Yes Uncle Vilkas.” she whispered before whisking up the steps towards Jorrvaskr and the Skyforge once more.
Vilkas walked down the steps intently once he knew Lucia was far enough away and he narrowed his eyes on the man staring down his nephew.
“ Your mother is nothing but a menace to this city. Vampire attacks, bandits, dragons. What’s next hm? A horde of the undead that only she and the Companions can put an end to?” The word Companions was spat like a swear and to his credit, Alesan didn’t flinch at the spittle landing on his face.
Alesan couldn’t stop the smirk that plastered itself on his face. “ Vampires are the undead, you milkdrinker. And as for my ma and the companions? They don’t claim to be the city’s only salvation. It’s just her luck that the jarl turns to her, and ostensibly the rest of her shield siblings, to help deal with the matters. Do us all a favor and get over yourself and your clan’s name, Idolaf. Besides, I thought you had a war to fight in.” Alesan moved to shoulder past the man, as his catch was starting to weigh on him and he wanted to get it over to Jorrvaskr while he could for Tilma.
Idolaf snarled and he violently turned the boy around in order to show him why the name Battleborn carried the weight it did, but without warning his wrist was on the verge of breaking from the grip on it. That grip belonged to a pair of ice blue eyes that were currently scowling at him for his actions.
“ Touch my nephew again, Idolaf, and you’ll be praying to the gods for mercy by the time I’m done with you.” Vilkas snarled. If it had been Tarrowlyn or Farkas to get into it with Idolaf, Vilkas wouldn’t have dared to interfere. Alesan, for as skilled as he was, was physically no match for the eldest Battleborn child.
Idolaf wrenched his hand from Vilkas’ grip and he stalked off, muttering darkly about his utter disdain for the warrior group that called the city home.
“ Thank you, Uncle, but I could have handled him.” Alesan said confidently as he shouldered his burden once more. It had slipped off in the kerfuffle and had nearly fallen to the ground.
Vilkas’ brow rose silently as he leveled his gaze on his nephew. Alesan was still growing, but he would easily be as tall as either Farkas or Vilkas himself once he had hit his peak and Tarrowlyn and Rayya had done an admirable job in putting some meat on his bones. Knowing that Alesan was adopted, it wasn’t hard to figure that the boy had more than likely been terribly scrawny when Tarrowlyn had first met him. Alesan, if he stuck to his diet and training regimen, would grow to be a fierce looking man when he hit his prime. He was nowhere near ready to take on a trained soldier of Idolaf’s skill and size at this time though, not when he was still such a wiry little thing. “ How?” It was the only thing he needed to ask.
Alesan looked his uncle in the eye as he rose his arm enough for the sleeve to fall. Sure enough, there was a harness; of neither Tarrowlyn or Farkas’ make for that matter, attached to his arm where the ebony dagger that Vilkas had given to Tarrowlyn rested. It would only take a quick flick of his wrist to unsheath it. “ He would have either come very close to having this go through his hand or sitting at his throat. I’ve dealt with my fair share of poachers living out at Lakeview, though I never told anyone. I’m pretty sure that Farkas, Rayya, and Sinding knew however, if I asked for a healing potion or something of the like upon returning to the manor. I took care not to ask my ma because both of us know that she would have gone into conniptions about any altercations. I may be young, but I can stand up for myself.”
Vilkas smirked even as he ruffled the boy’s coal colored locks. “ I shall be sure to bear that in mind if it happens again then, Alesan.” Vilkas acquiesced graciously. There was only so much he could do after all and the boy had a right to defend himself on his own terms.
Well, if anything serious happened next time, Vilkas would try to refrain from saying ‘I told you so’ while patching his nephew up.
“ Let’s get your catch to Tilma and from there we’re going to help your sister gather what your mother asked her to get . After that we’re going back out to the tundra. If both of you can follow my directives to the letter, we’ll hunt down something just a little bigger and meaner than a deer or elk.” Vilkas whispered with a wink. He already liked the fact that he could get his brother’s children into all sorts of devilment and they technically wouldn’t be the ones to get in trouble for it. The blame would fall squarely on Vilkas for even thinking of it in the first place.
“ You have yourself a deal, Uncle Vilkas. Ma and Pa won’t let me run down anything but deer, rabbits, and foxes.” Alesan remarked happily as Vilkas took the deer from him before they began walking up the steps.
Vilkas couldn’t contain the proud grin that crossed his features as they climbed the hill to Jorrvaskr. Alesan and Lucia were most definitely Dragonhearts where it counted.

Tarrowlyn was smiling sadly as she entered the Sleeping Giant with Farkas not far behind her. Word had reached the hamlet of what had happened and Lod had painstakingly chosen a cedar for her and he was in the midst of having it loaded for them transport back to Whiterun. It worked out in the long run, as this was undoubtedly going to be a long conversation.
If Delphine decided to be forthcoming that was…
Delphine nodded brusquely in greeting when she met Tarrowlyn’s gaze and she did the same to Farkas as he joined her. “ Thane.” she said as the two approached the counter. Orgnar was in the midst of cleaning a few glasses, though he smiled when he saw Farkas and Tarrowlyn.
“ Good afternoon, Delphine. I was wondering if Farkas and I could speak to you about something.” the dragonborn said kindly.
Delphine’s brow rose in curiosity. “ What kind of something are we talking, Tarrowlyn? Is it in reference to what we did in Kynesgrove a while ago?” the innkeeper replied in turn.
“ Yes and no, Delphine. It would be better if we had a more private setting to talk in.” Tarrowlyn’s eyes flicked over to the open door leading to Delphine’s room where the secret door to her hidden room was.
The miniscule motion was not lost on the other woman. “ I see. Orgnar. I’m going to grab some food. Can you take a small keg of ale into the other room? Tarrowlyn, you can go ahead with Farkas. I’ll be right there.”
Tarrowlyn nodded as she opened the door to Delphine’s room and then closed it behind them. “ Keep quiet for a moment.” she whispered. She walked over to the wardrobe and triggered the release to open the secret panel. Silently, Tarrowlyn motioned for Farkas to follow her down the steps.
Within moments, Orgnar was bringing down the small keg that Delphine had asked of him and Farkas silently slipped him some gold to ready another. He wasn’t sure how well he’d take whatever it was that she might say and he’d rather drown himself in some drink to help numb the pain this was sure to bring.
“ Understood.” Orgnar whispered with a sad grin.
Tarrowlyn was already pacing as they waited for Delphine and she quickly hurried up the steps when she smelled a multitude of food. “ Let me help you with all of that, Delphine.” she offered.
Delphine smiled as she handed Tarrowlyn a few plates and she gathered up the rest of what she intended to bring down. Shutting the wardrobe doors and triggering the false panel into place, Delphine sighed rather heavily as they made their way down the steps. She knew Tarrowlyn had quite a bit on her plate as it was, but it was time to think of the next move they needed to make. It was possible that the Thalmor were behind the sudden resurrection of the dragons and they needed to put an end to it as quickly as they could. “ So what is it the two of you need?”
Tarrowlyn smiled as she reached over and tenderly rubbed Farkas’ forearm supportively.
“ Tarrowlyn let’s me know everything that happens, Delphine. That being said, I know you’re one of the exiled blades. I just wanted to know if you knew anything about Jergen. It’s been nearly twenty years since he left to finish the Great War. Do you know…”
Delphine held her hand up to stay his impending ramblings. “ Jergen survived the war. In fact, he’s the one that ordered us all to splinter for now. I don’t know where he is, or if he’s still alive, but I know that he wasn’t killed on the battlefield.” Delphine said softly before she met his eyes with a smile. “ So you’re one of Jergen’s boys then? What a small world this is...All he could talk about was the two of you. He loved you and your brother more than anything in this world.” Delphine scoffed a little as she shook her head. “ I had forgotten that Jergen was a companion…” Her gaze rose up once more and she gave Farkas a sad smile. “ What did you want to know, Farkas?”
Farkas leaned forward on the table for a second. “ Everything that you can tell me.”

Tarrowlyn was smiling as she and Farkas led Thunder and Tanaris back down the currently winding riverside road. “ She had more to tell you than I thought she would.” she said softly.
Farkas chuckled as his free hand slid over her shoulders to draw her near. “ That she did. At least I now know that he did everything he could to save his order. I can tell Vilkas the reason Jergen didn’t return was to protect us…” Farkas’ face grew dark as a scowl took the place of the grin he had been wearing. “ I’m not comfortable with what Delphine’s asking you to do.”
Tarrowlyn sighed heavily as she brought Farkas and their mounts to a stall. After her lover had gotten all the information he had wanted from the incognito Blade, Delphine had asked Tarrowlyn for her help in the next phase of their reconnaissance.
The worst of it required her to go into the viper’s nest as it were.
Farkas looked away for a moment. “ Do you ever wish it was someone else? That you didn’t have to carry these burdens? That you could just go about your life as you please?” he whispered. His gaze was brought back to hers as Tarrowlyn cupped his cheek. Her lips pressed to his in both a show of affection and strength.
“ Farkas, Delphine’s right to send me to this party. I’ve been doing favors for quite a few of the jarls, Elisif included, so I won’t be too out of place. With as sneaky and resourceful as I am, I stand a good chance at not getting caught to begin with. There’s nothing I won’t do to make sure I come back to you and the kids.” she told him gently. “ That being said, yes. Sometimes I do wish it were someone else. But then I think, what if they used a power like this for their own gains? What if they did nothing to help stop the dragons, or what’s going on with the vampires now? Felt it wasn’t their problem? Just stood aside and let all this evil roam through our world? I can’t do that.” she admitted. She looked towards Whiterun and she smiled when she saw three figures walking towards the gates. It was undoubtedly Vilkas with Alesan and Lucia. She knew the gleam of her shield brother’s blade anywhere. “ I want a safe world for Alesan and Lucia to grow up in...The same with Sinding and Rayya’s little one. I want to be able to say that I did all that I could to help with this power…The divines gave it to me for a reason, though I don’t know why. The only thing I can do now is use it for what I feel to be the right reasons.”
Farkas kissed her lips tenderly and he sighed heavily. “ As always, you’re right. It’s not about just us or the kids. It’s about everyone else too. You’re a brave woman, Tarrowlyn. But I already knew that. This is why Kodlak named you Harbinger. You’re a light in the dark times. If anyone could make the Thalmor tremble in their boots, it would be you.” Farkas said with a wry grin. He couldn’t shake how uneasy he felt about all of this however. The Ice Wolf of Jorrvaskr was terrified to lose the woman he loved, though he knew he was powerless to stop whatever the gods held in store for his bride. His azure gaze roamed her face, burning this moment into memory. He would never forget the loving, hopeful stare that met him as it shone brightly from the verdant depths of her eyes, the small part of her lips, or how her hair gently swayed like a living flame on the breeze. Farkas closed the distance between them once more, claiming her lips with a sweetness that made Tarrowlyn gasp prettily into his mouth and tighten her hold on him all the more. “ I love you.” He whispered thickly, resting his forehead to hers. “ I’m afraid, that even with your strength and valor, that there might be one time when you don’t come back. That I’ll lose you like we lost Lydia, like we almost lost Rayya and Sinding...The kids...I don’t know what I would do if that happened, Tarrowlyn.”
Farkas was unable to say another word as Tarrowlyn’s mouth met his passionately. His fear and doubt dissipated the longer she held the connection, causing belief and hope to blossom within him. Farkas groaned in appreciation as he hauled Tarrowlyn into his arms fully, guiding her legs to wrap around his waist. He walked over to the nearby tree line, knowing they would be safe for a small amount of time. While they weren’t nearby at this point in time, he could smell a few wolves on the wind. They were further up the mountain, for now at least. Farkas could only hope that the smell of not one, but two weres nearby would deter any pack or loner from coming closer.
Right now, however? He needed Tarrowlyn more than life itself.

Tarrowlyn was laughing as she walked into the marketplace with Alesan. They were heading over the the Bannered Mare to grab some supper for the four of them, as everyone was too engrossed in the final preparations for Lydia’s funeral to do any cooking. Farkas was currently splitting the cedars while Lucia was nearby weaving the final snowberry wreaths that would be hung on the stonework of the Skyforge. Alesan was telling currently regaling her with the devilment that his uncle had gotten he and his sister into. Granted, Vilkas had already told her, and the praise that he cast on Alesan’s swordwork was a bit surprising. Vilkas was a master swordsman himself, and it wasn’t like him to gush the way he had.
Just when had her son become as proficient as he had? Had Tarrowlyn not paid any heed to his progress because all she could see when she looked at him was the little boy she had adopted? It only proved one thing in the end. Her son was growing up and had the makings of a fine man in him. If she could blow her own horn a little, she had done pretty damn well as a mother since taking him in.
“ So we found a den with a sabercat, and Lucia is hanging back with her bow. Uncle Vilkas and I are already charging…” Alesan paused when he realized that his mother wasn’t listening any longer and one look at her face showed her displeasure. Her mouth was drawn into a tight frown and her brow was deeply furrowed. Silently, Alesan followed her gaze.
He bristled in an instant when he saw Idolaf Battleborn standing with who could only be his father, Olfrid. To make matters worse, they were in front of Miss Fralia’s stall and it sounded as if things were getting heated. Alesan looked up at his mother once more, now worried for Idolaf considering how the man had treated him earlier. Vilkas didn’t spare any detail on that matter.
Shit. What if his mom challenged him because of it?
Tarrowlyn looked down at Alesan for a brief moment and she motioned for him to stay put. He was safer next to Belathor’s store than beside her at the moment. Once she was sure that Alesan wouldn’t be in the way, Tarrowlyn began walking over to Fralia’s stall. She would be damned if these two felt that they could bully a grieving mother.
“ You foolish old woman! You know nothing! Nothing of our struggles, our suffering!” Olfrid began, unaware of just who was coming up behind him.
“ Oh yes, the suffering of working your hands to the bone on your farm, or seeing your son return from Solitude on a daily basis?” Tarrowlyn spat angrily as she took up stance beside Fralia. She went to say more, but the older woman stopped her with a gentle hand to her shoulder.
“ You’ve got enough going on dear. You don’t have to help me fight this battle. I can handle them on my own, Tarrowlyn.” she began softly, giving the young Harbinger a small smile that spoke volumes of happiness that she wasn’t alone after all. “ Nothing of your suffering, Olfrid? And what of my son, hmm? What of Thorald? Is he nothing?” Despite how hard she tried, tears still spilled down her wrinkled cheek as she thought of her beloved son. “ Don’t talk to me about suffering!” she spat, her gaze narrowed into fine slits.
Idolaf’s gaze settled on Tarrowlyn for a moment and he puffed his chest out. “ Your son chose his side, and he chose poorly. Now he’s gone. Such is the way of war, and the sooner you accept his loss the better.” he growled out. He was beyond infuriated that Tarrowlyn was there, much less offering support to the Grey Mane matron. Tarrowlyn’s gaze narrowed and she crossed her arms, a silent challenge to verbally accost her as well.
Fralia nearly snapped at that last statement, and Tarrowlyn hurriedly grabbed her hands before she chucked a rather sizable and weighty candlestick at Idolaf’s head. “ I will NEVER accept his death! My son still lives!” Fralia’s voice cracked with raw emotion and she pulled at the fabric of her dress sharply. “ I feel it in my heart that he is still alive! So tell me, Battleborns! Where is he?! Where are you holding my Thorald?!” Tears coursed down her cheeks in rivers as the young thane held tight to her, and Fralia was happy for that much. It kept her from collapsing to the stone below.
Olfrid laughed patronizingly, though Idolaf looked mildly uncomfortable. This didn’t go unmissed by Tarrowlyn in the slightest and her brow furrowed even further with a soft snarl. Wait until she got a hold of that stupid soldier. “ Do you believe this old hag, Idolaf? Holding him?” Olfrid began, still in conniptions all the while. His smile turned into a nasty, curling sneer as he leaned forward a bit, slamming his hand down onto the counter of the little jewelry stall. “ Why, I’ve got him in my cellar Fralia. He’s my prisoner.” Before Tarrowlyn could stop him, Olfrid scattered the jeweled goods to the ground below and he got out of reach before the dragonborn could grab him by the collar. “ Face it, cow! Your stupid son is dead! He died a stormcloak traitor. And you...” His gaze grew dark and menacing as he leveled it on Fralia. “...you best keep your mouth shut before you suffer the same.”
Dark brown met emerald green as Tarrowlyn put Fralia behind her protectively. Movement behind her clued her in that someone was helping the older woman to pick up the mess that had been made. “ I would watch who you threaten, Olfrid.” she said warningly. She opened her mouth to say more, but Idolaf interjected at that moment. It seemed as if that was even too much for the eldest Battleborn son.
“ Come on, father.” he began, looking over at Tarrowlyn for the briefest of moments. He held no delusions that she didn’t know that he had nearly accosted her son in the marketplace earlier. In fact she looked both ready to punch his lights out and interrogate him. Not much got past the woman from what he noticed so far to date. “ There’s nothing more to be said here.”
“ There isn’t my ass.” Tarrowlyn snarled under her breath as she turned. It had been Alesan who had arrived to help Fralia gather up the lovely bits and baubles from the stonework and she shook her head silently. “ I thought Eorlund said he was gone Fralia. Killed out in the field. That was shortly after I first arrived in Whiterun a few years ago.”
Fralia sniffled and she wiped her tears away. “ I know, deep in my very bones, that my son lives Tarrowlyn. Please...Come to my home...I can explain more there.” she pleaded.
Tarrowlyn nodded and she looked back up for a brief moment to watch Idolaf’s and Olfrid’s retreating backs. There was something Idolaf knew that he hadn’t told his father. Her maternal instincts were telling her that much. “ Let’s get the stand locked up and we’ll do just that. Alesan…”
“ I’m coming with you, Ma.” the anger in his tone was palpable. “ I don’t care if you go to the gates of Oblivion itself, I’m going to be at your side and nothing is stopping me. Not even you.” Alesan’s sapphire colored gaze was as hard as the gemstone it was named for as he met her eyes. “ Those Battleborns are going too far with this.”
Tarrowlyn sighed heavily. She knew damn well Alesan would only tail or track her if she tried to leave him behind in this. “ I’ll have a word with your uncle first and father first. I’m certain you followed his every directive from what he told me earlier, but there’s more to fighting beside someone than just listening to instructions.” Tarrowlyn acquiesced. It wouldn’t just be the twins that she spoke with.
It would be the entire Circle. For the first time since she had adopted him, Tarrowlyn was seeing the young man that her son was growing into, not just a boy any more. If he wanted to go down this path, then there needed to be measures taken to guide him.

Tarrowlyn and Alesan were seated at the Gray Mane table with Eorlund, Fralia, and their eldest son Avulstein. The mood was tense in the house as Tarrowlyn listened to the younger man, and her brow was furrowed.
“ I need definitive proof Avulstein.” she said, meeting his stony gray gaze.
“ Listen Tarrowlyn, I know that Thorald's not dead! I just know it. The Imperials have him, and are keeping him somewhere. But I don't know where. Those damned Battleborns...they know something. They're hiding it. They practically taunt us with it. They must have some sort of proof! There's got to be something in that house of theirs. I just know it. I don't dare leave the house myself. So I need your help.” Avulstein countered passionately.
Tarrowlyn thought back to how uncomfortable Idolaf had looked earlier during their altercation with Fralia. If anything, it was Idolaf alone who knew what was what with Thorald and no one else in House Battleborn. “ Alright then. Alesan, take this coin and go grab supper like we planned from the inn. I’ve got an imperial soldier to interrogate or a house to break in to. I won’t be able to come back tonight or tomorrow all things considered, Avulstein. Is that acceptable?”
Avulstein nodded. “ It is. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now, and I am thankful that you’re taking the time to help us with this, Tarrowlyn.” he replied. “ Go have supper with your family. It can wait a few days.”
Tarrowlyn nodded and she stood, and Alesan rose to his feet behind her. “ I appreciate that you’re willing to be patient for a few more days. I will get back to you on this once time permits.” she replied wearily. With the weight of the world feeling as if it was on her shoulders, Tarrowlyn bid her goodbyes to the Gray Mane family and escorted her son out the door.
“ Head to the inn, Ma. I’ll meet you at the house shortly.” Alesan said, readying to take off over to house Battleborn himself. He yelped in surprise when Tarrowlyn grabbed him by the ear with a scowl.
“ Oh no you don’t, young man! You’re not going anywhere near that house after everything that happened between you and Idolaf today. The guards would throw you in a cell for a week, considering your my son, and I would get my ass chewed by the jarl if you were to be caught. I understand you want to help me, Alesan, but we do this on my rules. Understood?” Her tone did not brook for any opposition, and her emerald gaze was aflame as she glared at her son.
Alesan couldn’t help but feel small under that gaze despite the fact that he was as tall as she was now. “ Yes Ma.” he acquiesced, his voice soft.
Tarrowlyn smiled as she cupped his cheek fondly. Her mother would be so proud to have a grandson like Alesan. He embodied everything that a Dragonheart was and more. “ Good. Let’s go get our supper and once we’re all done you and I will need to help your father in splitting the logs and getting them up to the Skyforge. We’re already running behind because of what happened in the marketplace.”

“ Running behind because of what happened in the marketplace? What devilment is she getting into without me or Ma to rein her in?” Mikhail whispered. The mirror had grown very warm out of nowhere, as it was wont to do when he stumbled on a place rich with Tarrowlyn’s memories. The young man, as he had come to learn, was his adopted nephew Alesan and he couldn’t help but wonder what they were up to now. Hopefully something that he would be able to keep up with if they had left the city. “ What are you doing little sister? Take me on another adventure, please…” A wide smile was on his face as he watched Alesan and Tarrowlyn walk into the Bannered Mare.
Mikhail’s smile broadened when the image in the mirror shimmered and changed, showing his little sister walking up behind a large man dressed in imperial leather armor in the dead of night. The look on her face was one he had seen throughout both of their lives.
Tarrowlyn was planning on kicking this guy’s ass.
If he hadn’t been holding the mirror, Mikhail would have rubbed his palms together. Tarrowlyn was something else in a fist fight, as he knew first hand. He and their brothers had taught her everything she knew for a long time about how to either defend herself or how lay them flat on their backs wondering what happened. “ Oooo, get him little sister. Get him good.”

“ Idolaf! I want a word with you now, if you mind.” Tarrowlyn bellowed as she walked briskly up to the soldier. Her brow was narrowed in anger and there was something clutched in her hand.
Idolaf turned and met her gaze a moment before he saw what was in her grip. His eyes went wide and he hurriedly pulled Tarrowlyn to an area behind and between Arcadia’s Cauldron and Belethor’s Goods. “ Where in the sixteen planes of Oblivion did you get that?!” he hissed.
“ Lars let me in and I searched the home from there. How dare you and your father taunt Fralia the way you did!” Tarrowlyn seethed. Her verdant gaze was glittering with the flames of malice as it leveled on the nord before her. “ You knew all along that Thorald was taken by the Thalmor!”
Idolaf’s face scrunched up and his hands flew to either side of his head as if he was trying to ward of the voice of his own guilt. It had been nagging at him for far too long for him to ignore by this point. “ I knew, yes! Thorald was my friend once, so I looked into his taking.” Idolaf sighed heavily as he rubbed the back of his neck and he shook his head. “ It would have been kinder for Fralia to believe her son to be dead. The Thalmor got him then. It’s been three years, Tarrowlyn. He may as well be now.” Idolaf stalked off back into the night. He made it clear that he was done.
Tarrowlyn glared at his retreating back with anger still burning brightly in her verdant gaze. Lydia’s funeral had thankfully gone off without a hitch. At dawn, she and Alesan would go right over to House Gray Mane and give Avulstein the news. From there, Tarrowlyn would be going to Solitude with Alesan. She had business to attend there before they could scope out Northwatch Keep. Maybe I could ask Hadvar to keep an eye on him while I attend this gods forsaken party at the embassy. Tarrowlyn mused. It wouldn’t be a bad idea in the long run, she realized the more she mulled it over. Hadvar would be sure to keep Alesan busy training throughout the day, and she could ask Tullius for a favor at the same time.
One thing was for certain however. Whether this endeavor would be a rescue mission or reconnaissance was yet to be seen.

Tarrowlyn closed the door to her bedroom to see Farkas polishing a greave by candlelight at the table. “ He got it done?” she asked.
Farkas nodded with pride as he held it out for inspection. Adafing had crafted it, while telling Alesan that Eorlund had wanted to see how he fared in making armor before agreeing to apprentice him. The young man had done not just a speedy job, but a very thorough one as well. “ Are you sure about this? We told Alesan a few years ago that he needed to be sixteen to join the Companions. Granted, Vilkas and I were only ten when we joined on fully, but there were extenuating circumstances. Kodlak wanted us to earn our gold, not beg for it.”
“ This will only be the first test , Farkas. All of us in the Circle agree that he has too much talent to just keep cooped up any longer and so all of us will find someway to measure if he’s truly ready to join the Companions. The more we try to keep him sequestered, the more he’ll try to break away. I figure that if the Circle put him through a series of tests first, that’ll appease the rest of the whelps so that they see that we’re not casting favoritism on him just because he’s our son. This first test, allowing him to accompany me on this mission, will judge just how he actually is in battle. We have yet to see it for ourselves, you realize.” Tarrowlyn answered, nodding in both approval and pride at the quality of the steel. “ Eorlund was right to take Adafing on. Sturdy enough to protect, but light enough that it won’t get too cumbersome for him. If I’m impressed, Eorlund must be elated to finally have a worthy student.”
Farkas smiled as he stood, grabbing his bottle of ale at the same time to take a long drink from it. “ I’m taking it to the temple first thing in the morning to have it blessed. I’d rather not take any chances that something happens to him, even though I know that the fury of Dagon won’t hold a torch to yours if he gets so much as a scratch.” Farkas said with a melancholy chuckle. A completed set of armor was in an untidy pile on the other chair, and he took in a deep breath. “ Seriously though. I can’t help but worry for both of you, but I have faith too.”
Tarrowlyn smiled softly as she wrapped her arms around his waist and settled her head against his chest, just listening to Farkas’ heartbeat for a moment. His free hand pulled her in tight against them as they both relished in the contact. “ Thank you darling. If things are getting too hairy, I’ll get him out of there, but I’m not coming back empty handed, be it information or Thorald himself.” she replied.
“ I know. You have a penchant for going above and beyond, Tarrowlyn. This time is no different.” Farkas quipped comically. He leaned down, placing a sweet kiss against her brow. “ The two of you have an early morning. We should probably both get some sleep love.”
Tarrowlyn couldn’t help but smirk. “ You say sleep, but you have a penchant for the opposite.” she remarked.
Farkas gave her a rather wolfish grin, and his eyes gleamed almost silver in the candlelight. “ I was going to give you reprieve until you said that.” he said with the slightest tinge of a growl in his voice. He knew for a fact it didn’t scare Tarrowlyn, and her delighted shiver emboldened him as he scooped her into his arms.
There was no telling how long both she and Alesan would be gone after all.

Alesan made a fist in the gloves that Adafing had crafted, his eyes shining in his excitement at the thought that he had his own armor now. He wouldn’t stay in this one long, he was still growing after all, but it was still his first set. Farkas had started a set at Lakeview, but the Silverhand had ruined all of it when they had ransacked the manor. Not only did he now have a new set of armor, but his mother’s blade sat on his hip and Eorlund had gifted him with a bow as well as arrows. He was setting out on an adventure with his mother, the Harbinger!
It was the closest he would get to actually being part of the Companions. He still had some time until he turned sixteen and he had been told the age restriction the first time he had met Farkas and Tarrowlyn. Nonetheless, Alesan could barely contain his excitement. He only had another year before he met one requirement. It would probably take more time to get the experience that he would need if only to prove to the rest of the whelps that his parents didn't just let him join. I don't want anyone claiming that I got in soley because I'm the Harbinger's son. I will join the companions because I've worked hard and deserve it...Not the other way around. Alesan thought, brimming with determination all the while.
Tarrowlyn came down the stairs, and she smiled tenderly when she looked at the way Alesan was adjusting his armor to where it was comfortable. Her eyes were just barely wet as she crossed the room and she placed both hands on his shoulders while leaning in to touch her brow to his. “ By the gods, you’re growing too fast.” she whispered. “ I remember when you were smaller than this…”
“ Don’t go praying to Akatosh to freeze time, Ma.” Alesan joked. He straightened, giving her a quick kiss on her cheek. “ We need to get going. I’ve already said my goodbyes to Pa and Luce. I packed both our rucksacks last night as well.”
Tarrowlyn nodded and she patted Alesan’s neck affectionately before grabbing two cloaks from near the door and then a scarf. “ We’re heading to Solitude first. I’ve got some business to attend to there and once I complete it, we’re going to the keep. What ever isn’t covered by your helm, you cover with this. I anticipate that I’m not coming out of this on the good side of the Thalmor and I won’t stand for any of them learning what you look like. Also, from the time we leave this door to the point we return, you will address me by either my given name or Harbinger. We can’t risk someone hearing you call me Ma, and using that against us.” she told him seriously.
Alesan nodded in understanding and he gave her a tight hug before taking the scarf from her. “ Seeing as how I won’t get to do that for a few days.” he said by way of explanation and Tarrowlyn smiled ruefully. He knew she didn’t like how dangerous this was, but she was still bringing him along to help her. Alesan would take what he could get. It’s not like he was able to go out on his own right now as it stood. After everything that had happened, Tarrowlyn was sure to keep both his and Lucia's movements restricted to the town itself unless one of the Companions joined them for anything. Again, Alesan would take what he could right now. He hadn't been on an adventure of sorts with his mother since the time that she had rescued him from the Forsworn. This time, they were going to fight together. He quickly wrapped his face to where he could still breathe before putting his helm on. “ I’m ready, Ma.” he said, his voice muffled.
They left out on horseback, and Alesan couldn’t contain his smile as Thunder raced alongside Tanaris. He always thought it would be years before his mother would bring him along with her. He wasn’t sure what he had done to please the gods for this fortune, but Alesan would make the most of it while he could. There was so much he could learn from her just during this trip alone.
Thunder knickered for a moment and Alesan quickly soothed him before looking around. The soft sound of a twig snapping reached his ears and his brow furrowed in nervousness. “ Harbinger?”
“ Yes?” Tanaris came to a pause and Alesan nearly scowled at the look on his mother’s face. She knew damn well they weren’t alone and the smile on her face said as much.
“ I’m pretty sure I just heard something. Thunder’s getting a little uneasy.”
“ If you’re certain, whelp, then check the area. I won’t be too far away should you honestly need help, but just bear in mind this trip is as much for me as it is you. I’ve watched you practice many times, but I have yet to see how you handle yourself in an actual fight. Vilkas had nothing but praise for you when we spoke. You want to be a Companion? Show me the same fire and spirit you showed him.”
Alesan nodded and he lowered himself to the ground from the saddle, drawing the skyforge steel blade from his hip once his feet were flat. He walked towards the copse of trees that was nearby, and he scanned the area carefully. He brought to mind every hunt that he had made in the forests of Falkreath, and he kept the borrowed sword at the ready. Another twig snapped and his eyes flitted over to the sound. A small hare ran from the brush a second later and Alesan relaxed. If all he had heard was the rabbit, then he had stopped them for nothing.
Alesan turned around to head back over to where Tarrowlyn was with their mounts, and he sighed heavily while sheathing the blade in his hand. Maybe his adrenaline was running just a little too high and he was spoiling for a fight. His chance would come, he was sure, but Alesan was being impatient about it. That just shows I’ve got much more to learn before I can become a Companion. he thought to himself.
He was about to give Tarrowlyn the all clear when something slammed into him from behind and Alesan’s vision swam and his ears rung at the loud TWONG of something hitting his helmet. He instantly turned over in an effort to throw what ever was on him and he flicked his dagger into his hand.
His color nearly blanched when he saw a small frostbite spider over him and Alesan bit back a scream of both disgust and surprise. Ever since Farkas had told him about what happened to him in Dustman’s Cairn, Alesan had a very severe dislike of the large arachnids. At least this one isn’t a monstrosity like the one he told me about. he thought. Alesan shoved the dagger into the cephalothorax and he pulled it upwards, hard, rending the flesh from the middle right up to the mandibles.
The spider trembled for a moment before collapsing, dead, to the ground and Alesan shoved it off him so that he could get to his feet. No sooner than he had, Alesan did shout as another smaller frostbite spider leapt at him and he dodged, all the while drawing the sword on his hip this time.
“ You’ve got five more coming! It looks like a small clutch, whelp. Just hurry up so we can get moving already.” Tarrowlyn called out to him. The mirth in her voice was hard to miss, and Alesan growled in his displeasure.
She was getting a kick out of this…
Of course my mother would laugh at my misfortune like this...he thought grimly as he went on automatic. He dodged another lunge, then tackle from another spider, and Alesan cut into the legs on one side of the one closest to him. It toppled with a shriek that he had never heard before, and he sent the tip of the blade through one of its eyes before turning and cutting the other twain when it attempted to ambush him from above.
“ Four more! C’mon! We need to get to Solitude before the hour gets too late, you know!”
Alesan stood waiting and he listened intently, hoping to hear something, anything. A small rustle of leaves behind him launched him into action and he went to stab the spider, only to find it wasn’t there after all. A few leaves fell from above and Alesan quickly sliced in an arc as another spider tried to ambush him from behind.
Three of the four spiders that Tarrowlyn had warned him of were all falling right above him and Alesan barely had time to get out of the way before they crushed him under their combined weight. Getting some space between them, Alesan sheathed the sword and drew the bow Eorlund had gifted him. Three shots were fired in rapid succession and Alesan drew another, looking everywhere in an effort to find the last spider.
A blow from behind rocketed him forward with a scream and Alesan sputtered as the breath was knocked from his lungs. A small hiss was heard and he grunted as he lifted his head to look at what had attacked him. It was a much larger spider compared to what had just attacked him and Alesan groaned.
Those had just been juveniles. This one was definitely an adult.
Tarrowlyn had her bow in hand just to be on the safe side, but she was watching intently. Alesan wasn’t doing bad, but she knew he could do better. If he felt rattled just because she was there, that was something that he was going to need to get over and quick. He needed to think clearly, needed to anticipate every move that was being made in an effort to kill him. If her cajoling was distracting him, that was another thing he need to learn to tune out. Every single one of his senses needed to be hyperfocused on one thing and one thing only.
His enemy.
He still had a lot to learn, but she could definitely see shades of what Vilkas spoke about. Alesan had the talent, but he lacked actual combat experience and this trip would be a good way to get it. As much as Tarrowlyn didn’t want to admit it, both the kids had lost some measure of innocence last week. Both had killed in order to stay alive, and their hands thusly were now stained by the blood of their foes. Now that the word was out and would more than certainly spread like wildfire that she had children, Tarrowlyn had to be sure that Alesan could protect himself as he was likely to be off and about more than Lucia was. She didn't want any political enemies using him as a means to get to her.
Alesan growled under his breath as he got to his feet and he looked at the spider as it crept closer to him. His bow was still clutched tightly in his hand and he drew two arrows in preparation. His sapphire eyes narrowed in anger, and he drew a deep breath in through his nose in an effort to calm himself. Losing his cool wasn’t going to help Alesan finish this fight. Farkas taught you better than that...he thought, chiding himself.
Noise erupted from around him and more juveniles could be heard skittering closer to his location. Just great. I stumbled across a bigger clutch than we thought, and she knew it the entire time. Alesan thought before casting his mother a dirty look. “ Shit!” he swore and he heard Tarrowlyn snort for a second before dissolving into conniptions. The sooner he felled this one, the faster he’d be able to take out the smaller ones drawing closer. He loosed both arrows at once, and they hit true into the main part of the spider’s body. Alesan drew with astounding speed, not once letting up in his barrage, though he took better care to watch where he was aiming. Three more arrows struck true in the eyes, permanently blinding it, and Alesan holstered his bow to draw his sword for the kill.
He didn’t want to keep the Harbinger waiting after all.
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Dragonheart: Of Black Wings Unfurled