Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

Dragonheart: Of Black Wings Unfurled	By : Lady_Kae Category: +A through F > Elder Scrolls - Skyrim Views: 15136 -:- 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
- 4
- 5
- 6
Chapter 5: Unwelcome Tidings

It had been a while since he had been able to sleep this well, Vilkas drowsily mused as he pulled the fur blanket a little tighter over his shoulder. Then again, his mind was weary from all the information that he and Tarrowlyn had been going over for the last three days. It even made Van, his wolfen half, quiet his normal rumbling. Van was like Vilkas in many a respect, he was a tactician, he valued knowledge over brawn, and he appreciated a the dry wit Vilkas had to offer when the two did have to speak. Vilkas could admit that he would have been dead quite a few times over if not for his ever present companion.

Without warning, the door to his room hit the stone wall with a resounding crack. Vilkas bolted upright at the noise, feeling confused as to what was going on.
“ Get your blade and meet me outside! Hurry!” Farkas demanded as he quickly went right back the way he had come. What in oblivion was going on?
He groggily pulled on his pants and belt at the same time. He slept in as little as possible whenever he could, and it was morning’s like this that made him curse the fact that he had not anticipated something going wrong. He sat down to pull on his boots, and thunder crashed outside, though instinctively he knew it wasn’t real thunder that had caused such a noise. Vilkas was moving much faster the moment he heard Tarrowlyn’s thu’um echo from inside once again. It was either the vampires or a dragon, as Tarrowlyn didn’t rely on the voice in battle that much. She often tried to avoid it. “ Jonna! Barricade the door behind me!” Vilkas ordered the innkeeper as he rushed through the door to his siblings aid.
Tarrowlyn’s eyes were alight with fury as she took a deep breath inward. “ YOL TOOR!” she bellowed, and Vilkas looked on amazed at the stream of fire flowing from her. It was rare to watch her use any of the dragon shouts, and it was a treat to see them in action every single time. Her sword swung in a upward arc as one flaming, screeching opponent came within range of her steel and Tarrowlyn turned just as swiftly to block another attack from behind.
Vilkas and Farkas were fighting in tandem by this point, and the sight almost distracted the young Harbinger with the moving art presented to her. Their teamwork was flawless, impeccable. It didn’t matter what kind of blade was in their hands; though she knew that in her early days in the Companions that both twins had favored a two handed blade, they were a twister of death and metal for the vampires attempting to swarm them. Tarrowlyn took to the railing of the bridge, and with a hair raising battle cry, leapt into the fray.

Farkas was breathing heavily as he sat against the stone, both of his arms hanging limply over his knees. Twenty seven of them! Almost thirty of those bloodsucking cretins had attacked! Just how big was the clutch that the jarl wanted them to hunt down?! His silvery blue gaze was hard as he followed his brother and the struggling vampire in his grasp. Tarrowlyn was cleaning her blade off, and her golden gaze shot to the vampire as Vilkas hauled her over.

A breton? Tarrowlyn mused with a small snort. She was such a tiny little thing, yet putting up quite a fight. “ Where’s Movarth’s lair?” she growled out dangerously.
“ Out in the swamp! I swear I was trying to leave him! I want nothing to do with what he and Harkon are trying to do!” the vampire pleaded desperately.
Tarrowlyn’s eyes went wide at the name Harkon. That was Serana’s father. “ Just what are they planning?” she asked coolly, sheathing her blade all the while. She looked to Vilkas who was holding a blade to the girl's throat and she motioned for him to loosen his grip a little.
The vampire shook her head in fear. “ I don’t know all of the details, but people are going to die! Especially if they find the elder scrolls they’re looking for!” Her eyes looked eastward tearfully as the sun began climbing over the mountains. Gods, she was going to die here!
“ Vilkas, release her please.” Tarrowlyn looked over to the skyline. “ What’s your name, girl?” She couldn’t be older than fifteen or sixteen, she mused as she shook her head. She would have to ask Falion if there was anything he knew about the stone circle that she had seen mentioned in the jarl’s books. If it truly was a way to cure vampires, then it was definitely a route worth considering.
“ Marri.” she answered meekly. She looked confusedly at the three companions. “ You’re not going to kill me?”
Farkas smirked a little at the question. “ Not unless you honestly wish for a one way trip into Aetherius.” he replied to a wide eyed and fearful Marri, only to be socked in the shoulder by his intended.
“ Farkas, don’t terrorize the poor girl.” Tarrowlyn scolded. “ I would like to sit down and talk to you inside. Can I trust that you’re not going to attempt to do any harm? Otherwise I will not hesitate as I’ve done so far.”
Marri looked as if she paled even more than was possible. “ No. I never asked for this...I never wanted…” Her bottom lip trembled as she stared at the ground. Marri had been bitten only a year or so ago, but she hated living like this. More than that, she hated blood! Hated the fact that she now needed it to survive! That she had to kill in order to sustain her own existence like this! She missed sweet rolls, her mother’s stew, the taste of fresh fruits and vegetables! There were so many things Marri would give to eat again. “ I should just let the sun take me…” she whimpered. “ I don’t want to live this way any longer…”
Vilkas’ gaze went from skeptical to soft in an instant. There was no faking that level of self revulsion. “ We should get her inside and fed, Harbinger. At least then we can get as much information from her as possible.” he advised.
Tarrowlyn nodded. “ The two of you get her down into Jonna’s cellar. I’m going to get Falion before we continue this chat.”

Marri was nervous as she stared at her boots. She had heard a little of the Companions, though the stories she had heard did not do them justice. There was something to be said about how deadly graceful the warriors were in battle and to seeing it first hand.

“ How old are you, girl?” Vilkas asked her, shattering the silence.
“ Seventeen. As of Last Seed anyways.” Marri replied glumly.
Vilkas smiled as he took up post beside her. Farkas was upstairs trying to find something either raw or cooked quite rare for Marri to eat. “ Tarrowlyn’s birthday is also in Last Seed. You wouldn’t believe it looking at her, but she turned twenty two this year.”
Marri was a bit shocked. “ How did one so young become the Harbinger then?” she blurted out, though she immediately regretted the question when Tarrowlyn came down the steps with a redguard man in wizard’s robes.
“ I was appointed by Kodlak Whitemane, though he didn’t think I would be assuming the mantle as soon as I did. He wanted to give me time before it was brought up, but life has a funny way of getting in the way of the best laid plans.” Tarrowlyn said with a soft smile. “ You’d never know it looking at Vilkas, but he and Farkas aren’t much older than I am.” The smirk on her face spoke volumes.
So did the glare Vilkas cast her way for her cheek. “ Say another word and I’ll find a way to make the rest of this trip miserable for you, Tarrowlyn.” he warned.
Tarrowlyn had learned that the twins were only three years older than she was, making them twenty five in Sun’s Dusk. She had always figured they weren’t much older than herself. Her smile was impish. “ We’ll see about that.” she retorted. “ Now Marri...Before we get down to business, I want to know if you were sincere about what you said earlier. That you never asked to be changed into this.” Her green gaze leveled on the breton girl before her. Despite how keen it was; the danger that Marri could see roiling below the surface, there was compassion there as well. Compassion, and kindness.
Marri nodded. “ I never wanted to be like this...I was bitten almost a year ago when Movarth came through my village near Evermor…” Tears glistened in the candlelight as Marri thought of her home. Her mother was hopefully still alive, but Marri’s father was dead. He had been killed by Movarth’s very hand when he had sought to acquire her. “ I want to go home to my mother again, to be able to work the farm with her again. I miss the sun.” The tears slid over her cheeks and she soon felt a warm thumb brushing them away. Tarrowlyn was right in front of her now. Funny, she hadn’t even heard her move.
“ Then lucky for you we can send you home then.” Tarrowlyn replied with a small smile.
Marri’s eyes went wide in surprise and she felt her bottom lip tremble again. More tears, though they were happy ones this time, sprung forth. “ All I can honestly tell you is that Harkon and Movarth are looking for Harkon’s wayward daughter. She apparently ran away recently and took an elder scroll from him that he needed.” Marri said with conviction. “ I overheard all this when he sent two of his cronies, Vingalmo or something like that...He was an altmer, to recruit Movarth and the rest of the clutch to his cause. The other was a nord woman named Hestla.”
Both the twins seemed to go on point when Marri said this. It didn’t help that Farkas had just entered the cellar with something for Marri. It wasn’t much, but a couple bloody cuts of beef should be enough to hold her over until she was cured.
“ You’re certain her name was Hestla?” Vilkas asked her, though his voice was shaky.
Marri nodded as she looked to him. “ Yes. I doubt I’d ever forget a braggart like her.”
Tarrowlyn looked on curiously as both brother’s exchanged a silent word with one gaze. There was something important about that name, and she was going to find out why. But first things first, she had a master vampire to kill now that the sun was starting to ride into the sky. “ Marri. Falion here is going to help you. Vilkas and I have been here researching vampirism anyways, and we recently found mention of a stone circle in the marshes. Falion says that he can cure you there.”
Marri smiled brightly at the Harbinger, and she covered her mouth to stifle her happy sobs. She wasn’t going to be a vampire any more? She was going to be able to go home?! “ By the gods…” she whispered. “...Thank you. Thank you so much!” She threw her arms around Tarrowlyn in her jubilation, and Marri felt her hand run through her hair as she continued crying joyfully.
Vilkas watched the exchange with mixed feelings, though he knew Farkas was going through the same thing. The revelation that Hestla was alive after all this time…
“...ady to go?” came Tarrowlyn’s voice.
Vilkas shook his head to clear his thoughts, and he looked to the Harbinger apologetically. “ My apologies, Tarrowlyn. What was that?” he asked.
“ Do you feel like you’re ready to go? I want to make good time there if possible. Now that Marri’s given us an exact location, I would like the three of us to head out.” Tarrowlyn repeated. She was moving for the stairs now, a sure sign that she was itching to go and deal with this menace.
“ Aye. I can be ready in as little as half an hour. You know this.” Vilkas replied tightly. He wasn’t intending to be as cross as he was with her, but that kind of shock was unwelcome.
Tarrowlyn looked between the two as she got to the top of the stairs and her green eyes narrowed on them. “ I want answers when all this is done.”
Farkas nodded before Vilkas could say anything to the contrary. “ One thing at a time.” he agreed.
The three companions made good time, if Farkas could brag a little. The smell of blood had grown very strong near the entrance to the cave that Marri’s directions had led them too, and Farkas felt his stomach turn a little at the rich coppery smell. How did vampires live like this? Tarrowlyn was ahead of him while Vilkas brought up the rear, a point he was used to taking most of the time due to his size. Tarrowlyn had wanted him in the back because despite Vilkas’ prowess in battle, his choice of weapon was large and slow for the most part. Even now, she had her crossbow out and both the twins knew not to move until she fired off a shot. Farkas looked about alertly as they made their way deeper into the cave, and he suppressed a shudder when he saw rich, thick webbing lining the cavern walls. Gods no. Not spiders! Why in Stendarr’s good grace did there have to be spiders here?!
The thoughts didn’t stay long as Tarrowlyn fired off the first volley from her crossbow, and the bolt sank true into the carapace of a gigantic frostbite spider in their path. Another soon came closer and Farkas had to resist tremors taking him over even as he swung his blade to take out the beast before them. Vilkas dispatched it as he came flying in from above, and his blade sank deep into the unguarded back.
“ You alright?” Tarrowlyn asked apologetically. She knew how terrified of them he still was because of what had happened during her trial.
“ I will be.” Farkas replied tightly. “ The sooner we get this done, the better. I hate the damn things.”
Vilkas only chuckled a little at his brother’s obvious discomfort. “ I never thought you’d be afraid of spiders, Farkas.” he teased gently.
“ Almost getting turned into dinner has a funny effect like that.” Farkas growled in return. He was about to continue when Tarrowlyn’s hand flew up, silencing both of them in an instant. Farkas’ brow furrowed after a few moments. “ One straight ahead, but I can hear more than that deeper in the cave.”
Tarrowlyn and Vilkas both nodded in agreement. “ You both ready? We’re probably not going to be able to keep stealth on our side soon enough.” she replied. Both brothers gave her a matching roguish grin as if to say ‘We’re always ready’ and Tarrowlyn shook her head a little even as she returned the smile. “ Time to show them what the companions are made of then.”

Movarth was tapping a clawed hand agitatedly against the wooden table. None of the force that he had sent into Morthal to avenge Alva had returned, which worried the master vampire more than he cared to admit. Not only that, Marri had somehow snuck away in all the confusion. She had nowhere to go however. Any vampire killer worth his salt would end her just for existing. He had hoped the girl would come to love him over time, as his vampiric allure had never worked on her when she had been mortal. He had been trying to garner her attention for the longest time too, as Marri looked like the young woman he had been madly in love with before he had been turned. She was like a living doll, so small and delicate that Movarth had wanted to preserve her, but she had constantly turned him down. That changed when he decided he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

“ None of the guards would have stood a chance.” he grumbled under his breath. Not against a force of that size. They were supposed to have slaughtered everyone in the hold. If he wasn’t going to have a village of thralls at his disposal, then he would get rid of everyone, be they man, woman, or child. Age mattered not to him. He was just getting ready to say something when Branson cried out in anguish, only to crumple to a dead heap on the floor.
“ I can promise you that you’re no match for us…” came a voice from everywhere and nowhere all at once. “ The vampires you sent into town didn’t stand a chance either, and all of them are dead.”
Movarth bristled at this. “ So the Dawnguard has come then?!” he bellowed.
A sinister chuckle swam hauntingly in his ears. “ You only wish the Dawnguard was responsible.”
Movarth turned around every which way possible, though he couldn’t see, hear, or feel anyone nearby. “ You’re going to beg for death by the time I’m through with you!” A low growl forced Movarth to turn to his left and a feral sneer crossed his face. Finally! He lengthened his claws on one hand and moved to slash, but he met nothing but air.
“ You’re going to die a slow and painful death for even making such a comment to my wife.” came the growl again, only much more menacing and darker this time.
Movarth turned to his right and the breton paled at the sight that met him. A werewolf was towering over him now, his hackles raised and his golden eyes burning with fury. By the gods, was this what the voice had meant? He had heard of the viciousness of the Dawnguard, but had never seen how deadly a werewolf could be.
The only thing Farkas had seen flash through his mind at that comment was how he had found Tarrowlyn in Bloated Man’s Grotto almost a year ago, how she had probably been wishing for death as her body had been ravaged. He knew there was a point after that Tarrowlyn had wanted to die more than once. While she had been able to meet justice on those who had wronged her, Farkas would not stand idly by and allow another man to threaten his beloved like that ever again. He hadn’t meant to transform either, but in all honesty Farkas would much rather take a few vampires out like this than to have them recognize any of their faces.
Tarrowlyn winced as Farkas pounced on his prey, and she shook her head with a small smile when an arm went sailing through the air. That definitely brings back memories of Dustman’s Cairn. she thought, though her attention was quickly diverted as a few more vampires came pouring into the makeshift dining hall. Vilkas was down there with his brother while she was perched up high taking out the blighters with her crossbow. So far, her aim had been nothing but deadly accurate.
“ All clear!” came Vilkas’ voice after a few minutes. It looked like Movarth had sent the majority of his clutch into Morthal. He could no longer smell or hear any of them in the tunnels. “ These were the last of them by the look of it, Tarrowlyn!”
“ Good.” came Tarrowlyn’s soft response.
Farkas’ transformation waned and he resisted the urge to spit on the dead vampire’s corpse as he came back to himself. He had satisfied his need to protect his mate enough by ripping that ass apart limb from limb. “ We need to get back to town now that they’re dealt with.” he said , though his voice still held a little agitation from what had happened.
“ That we do.” Tarrowlyn replied as he dressed in fresh clothing. Vilkas was already handing him his armor where it had been hurriedly discarded. She wouldn’t admit it now, but she was worried for Farkas. What if he was losing control over his transformations like Sinding had? She thought back to the heads that were still sitting in the Underforge. While now was not the best time to rid all of them of the beast blood, the talk was soon coming. Vilkas’ worried blue gaze met the harbinger’s verdant one as he looked up to her. Yes, he saw it too…
The need to make their blood pure again was starting to become a necessity more than a want.

Idgrod the elder breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Tarrowlyn and the two companions that had joined her walk into the hall. “ Morthal is safe then?” she asked as she sat up a little straighter in her throne.

“ Aye, my jarl. It is. As you know, vampires attempted to attack the town this morning before we left. They were from Movarth’s clutch and it has since been decimated.” Tarrowlyn replied softly. “ I also appreciate your help with the endeavor of helping to restore Marri.”
Idgrod waved off the sentiment. “ The girl is an innocent in all this. If it is in my power to do as such, I will. Simple as that.” the jarl said sagely. “ Here is but a paltry offering to the services you have rendered me, and my people Harbinger. I wish there was more we could give you.”
Tarrowlyn bowed even as Aslfur handed her a rather hefty pouch of gold. “ I thank you, my jarl. As I stated though, Farkas, Vilkas, and I would have willingly done it even without the promise of coin. The safety of the innocent draws our blades first and foremost.” she responded in turn.
Idgrod looked to the two men standing just behind the Harbinger and they both nodded in agreement. A small smile crossed her face at the thought of such noble heroes as they had proven to be. Ysgramor was sure to be proud of the accomplishments they had made in his name. “ There is actually one reward I can think to offer you, Tarrowlyn Dragonheart. You have helped my people, saved them from a fate worse than death really, and I do have room in my court for a thane.”
Farkas smiled a little even as he thought to add another weapon’s rack to the front hall back home. Tarrowlyn had the blades of Falkreath and Whiterun proudly on display there, along with the shattered pieces of the iron blade she had been using, the bow that Faendal had gifted her, and the sword now sitting on her hip. Farkas knew that her mother and brother would be proud of Tarrowlyn if they could see her now.
Tarrowlyn smiled even as she took to a knee before the jarl. Before she bowed her head in deference, the Harbinger unsheathed her blade and laid it on the stone before her. “ Jarl Idgrod the Elder, the honor would be mine to be named as thane of your hold.” she said softly.
Idgrod stood straight even as Aslfur rushed back into the room with a sword in hand. “ Then by my right as jarl I hereby name you, Tarrowlyn Dragonheart, thane of Morthal.” she said kindly. She looked to her right and she waved over a large burly nord. The man was nearly as big as Farkas was! Easily! “ I name Valdimar as your housecarl from henceforth as well. He will protect you, and yours, for so long as he draws breath.”
Tarrowlyn looked over and then up at Valdimar and if she was shocked at his size, she did not show it. “ I thank you my jarl. Valdimar, you may as well join the twins and I. We’re going to be drinking tonight, and then I’ll be heading out first thing in the morning for Ustengrav.”
Vilkas and Farkas smirked at the thought of all of them drinking. More than likely Tarrowlyn was going to do what she always did.
Drink the two of them under the table again.

Valdimar drained his tankard with a contented sigh. His thane certainly knew how to pack the mead away, you would never know by looking at her! She was such a tiny little thing!

“ No worries friend. You’ll learn the easy way never to get into drinking contests with her. So far the only ones who have beaten her are Aela, and the former Harbinger Kodlak Whitemane.” Vilkas said with a small chuckle. However, it still looked as if his brother had yet to learn his lesson.
“ A tip I will not be forgetting, of that you can be sure.” Valdimar chortled. “ My tha…”
“ Bah! None of that nonsense, Valdimar! I do the same with the other housecarls. Call me by my name, not my title.” Tarrowlyn corrected. The faint flush on her cheeks was very becoming of her, and the way her hair tumbled in the firelight made it look as if it were a dancing flame itself.
Farkas smiled behind his mug when he saw the jealous stare he got from the housecarl. He had already been apprised that the two of them were getting married. It was moments like this where Tarrowlyn’s beauty shone through and attracted any man worth his salt like a moth is drawn to flame. And what a flame she is too...Farkas mused with a small sigh, though his brow creased a bit in his worry after a moment. It had yet to be seen how soon Valdimar would be told about the children. Especially considering that they hadn’t even told Vilkas yet, and Vilkas was Farkas’ twin brother.
Guilt was eating at him, raw and aching, for withholding such important information from his brother. Until he and Tarrowlyn were certain that no harm was going to come to Alesan and Lucia, he would not breathe a word of them to anyone else. Hopefully soon they would be able to tell Vilkas. This way he could stop feeling as if he had kicked a puppy.

Valdimar groaned as he held his head in his hands. Against his better judgement, and the warning he had been given by Vilkas for that matter, all three companions had drunken him under the table last night. By the gods, were all of them this good at holding their drink? Valdimar could easily see himself getting into trouble if he were to ever join his thane at Jorrvaskr for anything. He blinked against the early morning light, and he saw both Farkas and Tarrowlyn standing on the bridge. Tarrowlyn was wearing her full armor, making for quite an imposing sight indeed, but her intended was dressed in a shirt, jerkin, pants, and leather boots. The tall man dipped in slowly to capture her lips, and Valdimar smiled a little softly at the sight. Farkas really was a lucky man to have landed Tarrowlyn as he had.

After a while, Tarrowlyn turned toward the marshes to go to Ustengrav while Farkas came back into town. Valdimar met him in the middle as Farkas turned again to lean against the side of the bridge. “ How long do you think she will be?” the housecarl asked.
“ She’ll be back just after midday.” Farkas replied with certainty. Tarrowlyn had more than earned her reputation for being the fastest of the companions when it came to dungeon crawling like this.
Valdimar’s brow rose high in surprise even as he whistled. “ She’s honestly that fast?”
Vilkas’ chuckle from behind joined them. “ You have no idea. She earned the name Crimson Lightning quite justly.” the elder of the twins said with a chortle. “ You alright over there Farkas?”
Farkas nodded silently. As much as he loved the sunrise over the lake, there was something so peaceful and tranquil about watching the first rays hit the crag Solitude sat upon. He would have to see if the kids wanted to chance living here.
“ There’s a property here in the hold for sale, you know.” Valdimar said softly. “ While isolated from the other holds, Morthal has a haunting beauty to it that leaves me in awe every time.”
“ You could always surprise her with the steading here as a wedding gift.” Vilkas added. Even he could see the appeal of having a home here. It wasn’t that bad an idea in all honesty. If he had an opportunity to follow his brother’s example and looking into settling down, Morthal was not that bad of an option. Then again, Vilkas knew that he would be hard pressed to find a woman that would willingly put up with his ways.
As if the thought of women stirred his subconscious, Serana came floating into his mind’s eye. That was odd, Vilkas noted. He hadn’t thought of her for most of the week! Where had that come from? His brow furrowed even as he shook it off. Bah. Women were more trouble than they were honestly worth.
Farkas was too caught up in his own musings as well to pay attention to his brother. Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad idea. This way, he could surprise Tarrowlyn with somewhere where they could have a honeymoon. He could even get Valdimar and Vilkas in on it.
“ Go speak to Aslfur. I’m sure he could tell you how much the steading will cost. There’s also the iron and steel ingots you’ll need to look in on along with lumber.” Valdimar was ticking off the list of things that they would more than likely need for building. He was sure there would be clay and stone that they could find nearby.
Farkas nodded, but he knew that he would be able to procure the metals they needed with ease from Lakeview. All that was left to be seen was how much the lumber would cost them. “ What time does the steward normally rise?” he asked, his tone conveying genuine curiosity.
Vilkas and Valdimar both looked at one another before smiling. “ Aslfur normally rises with the jarl around six thirty or seven in the morning and they begin their duties at around eight.” the housecarl said with confidence.
Farkas smirked a little. “ Suits me just fine. Besides, seeing as you two have made yourselves my accomplices, the three of us can start talking about how we’re going to build this steading while keeping it secret from Tarrowlyn.” he replied with a grin.

Tarrowlyn was fuming by the time she returned from Ustengrav. The whispers that she had heard from the marshes had not been the horn after all, but from a dragon wall where she had learned a new word to a new shout. Worse yet, her traveling companions and her housecarl were nowhere to be found. Not even Jonna was able to tell the dragonborn where the three men had gotten off to.

Tarrowlyn was looking over the letter that she had found in place of the horn and her eyes narrowed a bit. Whoever it was that had taken it had settled themselves in Riverwood. Hopefully they weren’t causing the residents of the village any grief.
“ The word about you travels fast, Harbinger.” came a voice from behind her.
Tarrowlyn immediately went on point when she heard it, though she immediately felt Tala’s mere annoyance with the man now. Well, it was better than hearing how much the wolf wished to bite the man in twaine. “ Isran.” the dragonborn whispered in greeting.
“ What happened at Dimhollow?” the grandmaster asked as he took a seat with her. “ I won’t infringe upon you long, I promise. I only came when I heard that there may be a clutch hiding out in the marshes here.”
Tarrowlyn’s throat grew tight. “ Tolan died there, but not before managing to somewhat avenge his comrades. As for the rest of it…” Tarrowlyn sighed. She knew the redguard was probably going to flip his lid once he heard the rest of it. Especially about Serana. Well, at least from what she had heard from Marri that Serana was no longer at Volkihar Keep.
“ I don’t suppose you have good news for me?" Isran muttered. Jonna had already brought him over something to drink and he took a deep swig. That certainly hit the spot after riding in the back of a carriage all night just to come here. Isran was lucky to have found Tarrowlyn still here.
Tarrowlyn rubbed her neck nervously. " I have news, but I wouldn't call it good per say." she answered obtusely. She was not going to give him more information than necessary.
Isran's brow furrowed a bit at the reply. " Damn. What do we know then?" He asked her. It was Tarrowlyn's turn to drink deeply from her tankard and he sighed. What ever she had to say probably wasn't good.
" First you should know that the vampire den has already been dealt with. Two of my shield siblings and I cleared the place when they poised threat to Morthal and it's residents." She said carefully. " Back to Dimhollow however, the vampires were looking for a woman that had been trapped there."
Isran had the grace to look shocked by that answer. " A woman? Trapped in there? That doesn’t make any sense. Who is she, more importantly, where is she?" His agitation with the whole situation was getting the better of him. Especially with what had happened at Fort Dawnguard before he left to come here.
Tarrowlyn scowled a little. It seemed as if not mentioning Serana wasn't an option. Well, it had been worth a shot. " She wanted to go home, so I took her there." The dragonborn replied obtusely again. The redguard across the table from her was scowling at her openly for her reticence. Tarrowlyn couldn't help but smirk at how easily she rankled Isran's normally collected demeanor.
" I'm waiting to hear what this all means." Isran grumbled, though he was eyeing the harbinger rather keenly.
Tarrowlyn scowled and she looked over her shoulder. " Jonna? Could my contemporary and I have a moment alone?" She asked.
" Of course. I'm going to check on Marri anyways. She's over at my brother's right now." Jonna replied with a kind smile.
Tarrowlyn waited for the door to close and the for Jonna's footsteps to go down the stairs. At least she would be able to hear her when the innkeeper began making her return.
" Well?" Isran deadpanned.
" The young woman I returned to her home was none other than the vampire lord Harkon's daughter."
Isran chuckled. " I figured as much. She's already at Fort Dawnguard. She approached me earlier this week and I've been attempting to pin you down so as to talk to you about her."
Tarrowlyn couldn't hold back the sigh of relief that escaped her with the knowledge that her friend was currently safe. Well, as safe as she could be considering she was sequestered with a whole bunch of vampire killers. " Why didn't you say anything sooner then?" She asked him, if just a bit irately.
Isran smirked. " Probably for the same reason you were purposely trying to skirt around mentioning her." Isran retorted.
Tarrowlyn chuckled at first, and then it turned into a full on belly laugh. He had done it just to ruffle her feathers. " Very well then. How are we going to handle this Harkon business then? We know he needs the elder scrolls for something." She chortled.
Isran's smirk faded into nothingness. " I'm not sure yet. This is obviously more than you and I can handle." He took another deep drink from his mead.
Tarrowlyn's piercing green gaze leveled on the grandmaster before her. " So you're just going to quit?" She goaded, knowing exactly the response she was going to get from him. If he had lost his conviction with the seemingly insurmountable odds stacked against them, she was going to wash her hands clean of all this and do as she told Serana she would do to begin with. Have Farkas and Sinding hollow out part of the mountain by her steading and from there Serana would be free to live her own life.
Fury burned hot and bright in the redguard's eyes. " When did I say that? We just need…" Isran sighed heavily even though he knew it was the right course of action at this point. "...We need help." He admitted. " I know a few contemporaries of mine who I know I can enlist to the cause."
" If Tarrowlyn is standing with you, you can count Vilkas and I in as well." Farkas said, forcing Tarrowlyn to turn around in shock. She hadn't even heard either of the twins enter the inn.
" How long have you been standing there?" She asked.
" Not long, but long enough to know that you're going to need help too by the sound of things." Vilkas said in reply. A slight smile was on his face as he and Farkas took the other seats at the table.
" Any particular reason why?" Isran asked.
Realization dawned brightly on Tarrowlyn. " This is about that woman Marri mentioned, isn't it?" She asked the twins. She raised her hand to silence Isran, as the old redguard had been about to launch into a whole slew of questions. They would get their answers if they listened.
Farkas' head fell a bit at the mention and Vilkas swallowed hard even as he nodded. This would not be an easy tale to tell. It was the only reason why both he and Farkas hated talking about their days as whelps in the Companions. " Where to start..." Vilkas murmured as he ran his hands through his shoulder length ebony locks.
" The beginning works best for this Vilkas." Farkas said softly. He was refusing to meet Tarrowlyn's eyes so far, and he saw her hand slide over the table to his own to give him comfort. His fingers laced with hers automatically, though Tarrowlyn noted that his grip was like a vice.
Vilkas drew in a deep breath as he mulled over Farkas' words. Tarrowlyn was owed an explanation considering the circumstances. " Hestla was a whelp at the same time as Farkas and I, though she had joined later than the two of us had. As you know, Farkas and I are the youngest companions to join to date. Not even Vignar can remember whelps younger than we were. The three of us did much of everything together, though I preferred the company of my books more at the time when we weren't taking on requests from the circle. We were only in our late teens after all...
" Hestla wanted to find a way to prove our worth to the circle, to show them that we were all more than worthy of being counted amongst their ranks. At the time it was Aela, Kodlak, Skjor, Dungun, and Jasina..." Vilkas watched as Tarrowlyn rose from her seat a moment and she brought over a few fresh mugs of ale. Two apiece were placed in front of the twins, while she only set one in front of the redguard seated with them and then herself. Farkas had both of his knocked back by the time she had taken her seat again. " Thank you. As I was saying...Hestla wanted the three of us to show the circle we were more than ready, though in all honesty we had a long ways to go. So much more we had to learn before our time came."
Vilkas' throat felt so tight as he thought of that day and he loosened his shirt a bit. There was a scar traveling over his shoulder, down his collarbone and over his chest. Tarrowlyn had seen it a few times in the rare occasion where Vilkas had removed his shirt completely due to her splashing him with water when they had gone to sit by the river to read and debate. That had been so long ago it seemed. " There used to be a thalmor base on the shores near Solitude. Hestla said killing all of them would prove our worth to the circle. We were stupid to believe that." Vilkas' head hung low in shame as he recalled how close he and Farkas had come to honestly dying that day. " We were all sorely outmatched, Hestla especially. She always had had trouble with the jobs she took on her own. In the end, Kodlak and the rest of the circle somehow had found out about our undertaking and came to our rescue.” Vilkas’ shoulders shook a little, as were Farkas’. “ It was not without casualties. Dungun and Jasina died that day. Dungun when he threw himself before a blade that would have cleaved me in two; as you no doubt see the aftermath here...Jasina took responsibility for what happened, sacrificing her life for ours, and so that Kodlak would be free to continue to lead the companions to further glory. Hestla…
“ Hestla did not react well when they killed Jasina. She launched another offensive at them, though Kodlak kept the rest of us from joining her this time. In retrospect, he saved the companions with that gesture. We thought she was killed when she fell into the ocean off of the dock after being shot.” Vilkas whispered finally. He took a deep drink from his mug and finally he slammed it to the table. He hated recalling how badly the three of them had screwed up, how many lives had been needlessly lost because of their arrogance.
“ It’s more than that, Tarrowlyn.” Farkas piped up.
“ Brother, you don’t need…” Vilkas began, rising to his feet as if it would stop Farkas.
“ What Vilkas didn’t say out loud was that Hestla and I were…” Farkas interrupted, and his fingers gripped her hand so tightly Tarrowlyn was worried. Not for her, but for him. He still hadn’t looked up from when Vilkas had begun his story. “...Hestla and I were involved..." He swallowed, but the knot in his throat would not be budged. "...Romantically."
“ We didn’t come to realize until later how much Hestla was using both of us. For status, for fame, gold…We were such fools back then.” Vilkas added as he sat back down again. He was casting a glare at his brother for reopening that particular wound on his own considering the happiness he had now. “ Quite frankly the two of us owe her big time.”
Tarrowlyn nodded even as her eyes narrowed. “ Only if I don’t get to her first.” she growled out menacingly. She gave Farkas’ fingers a harsh squeeze and he winced a bit at the pressure.
“ No Tarrowlyn…” Farkas whispered and his silvery blue eyes finally met hers. They were full of emotion; shame, sadness, betrayal. “ This is a ghost from my past, not yours. I need to meet it head on.”
Tarrowlyn smiled supportively. “ You won’t be alone either.” she promised. She sighed heavily as she got to her feet. “ I have to be leaving today, gents. I was hoping that we would have been able to have some down time, but alas…” She shook her head in her melancholy. “...Duty calls.”
Farkas smiled supportively. “ No worries. Vilkas and I are going to stay in Morthal for a bit longer. Probably another week. It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to get away like this.” he admitted.
Vilkas smirked even as Tarrowlyn rolled her eyes. If she only knew what the three; that was including Valdimar of course, of them were up to.
Tarrowlyn looked between the twins as they shared an identical look. Those two were up to something and she was going to find out what. “ Regardless...Isran, I’ll meet you at Fort Dawnguard in a fortnight. I have a few other things I need to see to before I can return there. Vilkas, Farkas, I’ll be stopping at Jorrvaskr for the next week so as to get things settled there. Poor Aela’s probably going mad at the moment.” she said.
Isran chuckled a little. “ That’s more than permissible, Harbinger. Just don’t forget that there’s…” the grandmaster’s brow furrowed at the thought of having to refer to the vampire as a person. “...Someone who wishes to speak to you as soon as possible.”
Tarrowlyn nodded in acquiesce. “ Again I do have other duties to attend to.” she replied tightly. If this bastard thought he was going to force her hand before she saw her kids, he had another thing coming. Her eyes met Farkas’ and he only nodded silently. He knew that she had meant their children with that statement. “ I need to speak with you in private before I leave as well Farkas.”
Vilkas smirked. He was sure there would be little talking if his brother was looking at a bit of a dry spell. Then again, he mused as he cast another glance towards Tarrowlyn, she looked as if she were ready to get down to business.
“ The same goes for you Vilkas. I need to speak with both of you before I set out.” Tarrowlyn said imperiously. Definitely business, her demeanor was much too serious to allow any advances. “ It’s about the way things are in the Circle right now.”
Both Vilkas and Farkas nodded in understanding. It might very well be something important enough that it might put their project on hold.
Tarrowlyn was shouldering her rucksack to even out the weight a bit and she walked down the steps into the cellar. Jonna had been kind enough to allow the three of them to use it as a conference room of sorts. Both Farkas and Vilkas were there waiting for her and they were talking about something in the marshes. Had the two gone hunting while waiting for her to return from Ustengrav?
“ I have to ask you both something very important.” she began even as the three of them took a seat. “ Especially with recent happenings, how do both of you feel about the beastblood?”
Vilkas sighed heavily. “ Kodlak was right to want to rid himself of this. Now that we know that there is a cure, I know the days are numbered until I can finally know peace.” he replied softly. Van knew this as well, and his only desire was to be free to run Hircine’s hunting grounds again.
Farkas’ eyes narrowed as he thought of what had happened to him personally due to the beastblood. The ever constant fighting with the Silver Hand; thank the divines that they were no longer an issue, the deaths of Kodlak and Skjor...Most importantly what had happened during Tarrowlyn’s trial two and a half years ago. When Hircine had managed to take control of Forlan and thus forcing his hand with Tarrowlyn. Despite having come to terms with what had happened, the thought of that night still hurt his heart a bit. “ Gifts don’t hurt the ones you care for.” Farkas whispered. He and Forlan had been at odds ever since that night, which made it difficult to hold off his transformations anymore. He was surprised that he had been able to hold back as much as he had.
Tarrowlyn’s eyes softened at the thinly veiled mention of Dustman’s Cairn. “ I guess the three of us are in agreement then. I want to appoint two members to the Circle, but I need to stress to Aela that bearing the blood is no longer to be a requirement for such standing. If I have anything to say about it, she will be the last companion to ever have the blood. Especially if the three of us will be cleansing ourselves.” she said seriously.
“ I told Kodlak this, and I now say the same to you. You have Farkas and I.” Vilkas agreed. Farkas was nodding silently as well and the twins stood. “ We may as well join you to Jorrvaskr then. Farkas, didn’t you wish to speak with Valdimar before we left?”
“ Yeah. I’ll go take care of that now.” he answered, though he now had a wry grin on his face.
Tarrowlyn looked at Farkas’ retreating back as her lover shot up the steps. “ Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” she deadpanned as she turned her emerald gaze to her shield brother.
Vilkas laughed a little. “ What is there to tell? Valdimar is a kindred spirit, much like your other house carls. Farkas, Valdimar and I were only planning a hunting trip together if we could truly find the time.” A white lie at best, as the three of them would have to hunt their own game for food while building the steading. Tarrowlyn didn’t need to know that right now of course.
Tarrowlyn didn’t buy it for a second, and she shook her head. “ Go pack your things if you’re going to join me at Jorrvaskr.” she said, though her tone was fairly bland. She doubted either of the twins were going to be forthcoming about what they were up to. At least she now knew that Valdimar was in on it now. Maybe she could get him to squeal. A smirk split her mouth a little as she began making for the stairs. “ You know…” she began, and then she looked to Vilkas with a small smile on her face. “...I really appreciate you and Farkas putting this trip of yours on hold for now to lend me your support. While I’m sure Aela would listen in time, having both of you there when the topic is finally broached will hopefully convey how serious I am about this.”
Vilkas returned the smile and his hand clapped her shoulder through her pauldron. “ That is what family does, little sister.” he replied even as he gave her an affectionate kiss on her forehead. “ You may as well get Farkas’ things together. I’m almost packed, so I’ll help you in a moment.”
Tarrowlyn nodded as she began climbing the steps in earnest. Yes, family supported one another. Provided strength if a burden could not be shouldered alone. Vilkas and Farkas were family now, as were Alesan and Lucia. Her face fell a little at the thought of the kids. More specifically that the man climbing the steps behind her had no knowledge of his niece or nephew.
By the gods! How in oblivion were they going to tell Vilkas?!
- 4
- 5
- 6
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Dragonheart: Of Black Wings Unfurled