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Dragonheart: Rise of the Harbinger	By : Lady_Kae Category: +A through F > Elder Scrolls - Skyrim Views: 9483 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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
- 6
- 7
- 8
Chapter 6: Fallout

"Can I trust you to keep objectivity?" Tarrowlyn said sharply. Her tone was very terse as the two of them continued through Dustman's Cairn. Her bow was drawn and at the ready, and her green eyes were sharp as she took in her surroundings.
" Yeah. It's not like I wanted things to spiral out of control the way they did." Farkas grumbled in response.
" Watch out for that pressure plate there." She whispered. " I didn't want things to happen that way either, you know. But..."
" Just drop it, Tarrowlyn. Let's just get the shard and get back to Jorrvaskr." Farkas snarled. His eyes had flashed golden for a brief moment, though Tarrowlyn looked unrepentant in what she had been about to say. In fact, if he knew the determined square of her jaw as well as he did, Farkas would wager she had nearly punched him a moment ago for his tone while speaking to her. It was scary how much she reminded him of Kodlak at that very moment.
" Fine." She hissed in return. Tarrowlyn felt beyond hurt at that point. How had things changed so drastically in the course of eight hours? They had been so carefree, so happy, and flirtatious earlier. Now that they had slept together, had that changed how Farkas felt? She wanted to get through to him that she didn't think him a rapist. Tarrowlyn had learned that day that she didn't mind the way he had bound her wrists, how Farkas had roughly taken her in his wolf form. She had loved the way she felt, helpless, completely and utterly at someone else's mercy. Despite the ire and sadness she felt, Tarrowlyn felt her belly pulse at the erotic thoughts. She knew Farkas wouldn't be the same toward her ever again. His attitude toward her told her as such.
It didn't give her a lot of hope for the future either.
The two were as silent as possible as they continued their trek through the old tomb, and Tarrowlyn paused for a brief moment as they approached a new series of vaults.
" We're stopping. What is it?" Farkas whispered to her. His blade was constantly at the ready and he had stayed fairly close to her the entire time.
" This webbing..." Tarrowlyn replied as she knelt down to the floor a moment to gauge it. " It's too thick to be just cobwebs. There might be a clutch of frostbite spiders in here." She shuddered a little at the thought and she put her bow back to the ready. She was just getting ready to say something as she turned to face Farkas and her face paled at the same time she screamed.
Farkas turned around and not a moment too soon as a gigantic frostbite spider; bigger than he had ever seen one before, made to bite him and he grunted as he was knocked to the ground and pinned by the huge, hairy legs of the beast. A pained scream from Tarrowlyn met his ears, as did a harsh clang and thud, and Farkas turned his head towards her a moment in an attempt to see if she was okay. He had to put his attention back to the beast as it reared back and swiftly brought it's fangs, dripping with venom for a quick kill, down to him. Farkas caught it at the mandibles and not a moment too soon or else they would have pierced his armor right above his heart. All he could see was the spider's disgusting mouth, the fangs that seemed to be inching closer and closer to his face...
A battle cry from Tarrowlyn drew the spider's attention as she dashed in with her sword in hand and she leapt onto the behemoth's back, plunging the blade in as far as it would go. Farkas took this moment to roll out from under the spider while he could and a screech alerted him that their foe was now wounded. He never knew spiders could make that noise. The spider reared back in an attempt to throw Tarrowlyn, in which it was successful as she hit the stone wall hard once again, and it looked back to Farkas.
Farkas' eyes flitted to Tarrowlyn a moment and they nearly went gold in his rage. She was laying unconscious on the ground, the cause of her state a nasty gash across her brow from where she had been sent into the stone. She groaned pitifully a moment as she began rousing and Farkas calmed a little as she began pushing herself from the ground. He looked back to the spider, who was moving a little slowly with Tarrowlyn's sword still embedded in its carapace, and he lifted his blade in preparation. It was going to move in for an attack soon, a last ditch effort to kill him and then it would go for Tarrowlyn as she was wounded.
The spider did indeed lunge for him and Farkas was ready. His blade slid into the soft section between it’s mandibles, and Farkas felt his sword hit something inside the beast as he shoved the blade in as far as he could. The spider shuddered one last time before collapsing to the ground and Farkas shivered a little as it seemed all seven of those coal black eyes were on him.
Tarrowlyn slowly got to her feet, and Farkas saw her left hand flare with a brilliant white light as she set to healing herself. He rushed over to her side to steady her and Tarrowlyn blinked a few times to clear her vision. “ This…” she began, rubbing her head a little to ease the pain that had persisted. “...is why I hate spiders.” she groused.
Farkas nodded silently in agreement and he let her go once he was sure she could stand on her own. “ You gonna be alright?” he asked her.
“ Oh yeah. Been through worse than this with those damn dragons. At least I was able to cast a healing spell this time.” Tarrowlyn replied wryly. She was going to have a headache for the rest of the time they were here it seemed. She walked over to the spider to pull her blade and she began cussing up a storm when she realized it was broken. It seemed the object Farkas had hit was her sword, and the iron had not stood a chance against the steel of the Skyforge. In fact, it had cracked where she had noticed the notch against the metal. Grumbling under her breath, Tarrowlyn reached into the carapace to pull out the rest of her sword and she nearly wretched at the feeling surrounding her hand. It was beyond disgusting and she had the willies now on top of that! She would have left it, but she needed to fight after all. If she couldn’t repair the blade with what she had on hand, then it looked as if she was going to be relying on her bow rather heavily for the rest of the time they were here. “ Let’s keep moving alright?”
Farkas nodded. The sooner they got this done, the better.

It was daybreak when the two emerged from Dustman’s Cairn with the shard of Wuuthrad in hand. They were both talking animatedly about the final battle they had just been a part of. The two of them against what had been nearly thirty draugr! The battle had been so thrilling that Farkas had temporarily forgotten his misery about what had happened between them. As they neared the gates of Whiterun, his guilt came to the fore again when he realized that he had to tell Kodlak what had happened. It was almost sundown now. At least they would be able to get the ceremony out of the way and then Farkas could pull the Harbinger aside.
Tarrowlyn could sense the change in Farkas’ attitude the closer they got to Jorrvaskr. She just wanted him to move past it, wanted to see him smile the way he used too. This was not the man she had come to know. Damn it all. There had to be something she could do.
All thoughts were quickly driven from her mind as she and Farkas turned into the yard and he took his place beside Vilkas. The other members of the Circle were present as well and Tarrowlyn stayed silent. She wasn't sure what to expect.
" Members of the Circle. Today we gather to accept another soul into our mortal hold. Who will speak for her?" Kodlak intoned.
" I stand witness to the soul before us." Farkas said, his blue eyes meeting hers a moment.
" Would you raise a shield in her defense?"
" I would stand at her back so that the world might never overtake us." His eyes had not once wavered from Tarrowlyn’s as he spoke, and Tarrowlyn felt her heart hammer in her chest. Only Farkas would make this sound as if he were reciting marriage vows. Tarrowlyn blushed brightly in the darkness at that thought, though she doubted anyone but Farkas could tell. Of course, only she would ever liken this ceremony to that. Tarrowlyn refused the urge to smack herself in the head. She needed to get through the rest of this ceremony first.
" Would you raise a blade in her honor?"
" It stands ready to meet the blood of her foes."
" Would you raise a mug in her name?"
" I would lead the song of triumph as our mead hall reveled in her stories."
Tarrowlyn felt very honored at that very moment and that blew the awkward feelings that she had been trying to battle right away. She had heard this oath given when her brothers had all joined, and it was amazing how little everything had changed since this time and that.
" Then the judgement of this circle is complete..." Kodlak began, finishing the last of the ritual. Tarrowlyn didn't hear the rest as her eyes had settled on Farkas a moment and he looked away from her. Her heart clenched at the obvious sorrow in his silvery blue orbs and her face fell. It was because of her that he was like this.
" It shall be so.." the rest of the circle intoned once Kodlak had finished speaking.
" Harbinger...A word if you please." Farkas said softly.
There was something in Farkas' voice that threw Kodlak for a moment. In all the years he had known the twins, Farkas had never sounded so defeated. He looked over to Tarrowlyn a moment, who was animatedly recanting parts of their adventure to Vilkas and Aela, and the old man turned back to Farkas. " Of course lad. Did you want to pull your brother aside?"
Farkas shook his head in the negative. It was right then that Kodlak knew something had happened. " Come on then. We'll talk in the underforge."

Farkas was nervous as he stepped into the cavern, but there was nothing for it. He had to let Kodlak know what had happened, not just with him and Tarrowlyn but appraise him to the events prior with the Silver Hand. He began speaking, being careful to not omit anything, and Kodlak listened intently as Farkas relayed the ambush, the tender moment that he and Tarrowlyn had nearly had, his near transformation, Tarrowlyn’s bravery and willingness to go far beyond the call of duty, and then the full claiming of his shield sister once Hircine had managed to take control of him due to the blood in his veins.
Kodlak bristled slightly when Farkas began telling him what Hircine had done to him and Farkas suddenly fell silent. He had watched as Kodlak's hand settled over the hilt of his blade. " Does that daedra's depravity know no bounds?" The harbinger growled as he slammed his fist into the stone wall. Drawing his blade here would be useless. " How does Tarrowlyn feel about this?"
" She told me that she doesn't blame me, but I can't…” He paused a moment as regret and self-loathing clearly wrote itself over his face. “ ...I have no right to talk to her, to even look at her for what I’ve done, Harbinger.” Farkas whispered. His head hung low in shame and Kodlak shook his head. “ I deserve much worse than the guilt I am feeling…”
" That's enough of that, Farkas." Kodlak hissed. The boy's heart was much too kind sometimes. “ It sounds to me as if she accepted everything…”
“ It’s more than that. Why her? I can’t deny that I care for her, and that I desired her, Kodlak. Why did Hircine want me to mark her?”
“ You said she was able to break his influence even if for a bit?” Kodlak questioned. His brow was furrowed in deep thought.
“ She blatantly defied him not once, but twice. The first time being when she soothed me using her thu’um, the second when she all but told him to watch her break his calling.” Farkas said, his own brow now knitting as he thought everything over again. “ At first he only told me to claim her, it wasn’t until after she challenged him that Hircine commanded my wolf to mark her. I’m just glad I was able to wrest control away from him before that happened.” Farkas whispered this last part as if pained and he shook his head to clear it.
“ It’s possible Hircine ordered you to mark her because of her defiance. More than likely he wanted you to break her, though as I saw that wasn’t the case. A woman with a will like hers cannot be broken that easily. You should be thanking the gods for small favors, Farkas, not condemning yourself if Tarrowlyn truly feels that you are not to blame.” Kodlak said sagely. He clapped the younger man on the pauldrons and he began walking towards the entrance of the cave. He wanted to hear Tarrowlyn’s side of things if possible tonight.
“ I’m going to be leaving in the morning, Kodlak. I need some time to myself, to sort this…” Farkas paused a moment as he tried to find the right words and he shook his head again. “...I’m sure you get the gist.”
Kodlak nodded. There was nothing he could do to stop him. Every man and woman was their own here. Vilkas wouldn’t be too happy about it, and Kodlak would be hard pressed to keep the elder of the twins from blaming their newest member for his brother’s departure. “ Just be sure to talk to Vilkas before you leave. He deserves to know why you’re leaving.”
“ And have him blame Tarrowlyn? I don’t think so. I’ll just tell him I need some time to myself.” Farkas retorted, echoing Kodlak's exact thoughts. He began walking to the entrance of the underforge and he looked back to Kodlak. " Just make sure she doesn't get herself killed, will you?"
Kodlak nodded. That would be easier said than done of course.

Vilkas and Tarrowlyn were in the midst of a drinking contest when Farkas walked into Jorrvaskr, and he couldn't hold back the chuckle that bubbled forth as Tarrowlyn tried to drain her mug as fast as his brother was. If she kept that up, she was going to be rightly hammered in a couple of hours. He began walking towards the living quarters to head to his room. He needed to gather everything he would need before morning after all. He barely heard Vilkas exclaim his victory, though he and Tarrowlyn were laughing loudly.
" Farkas! Get back here and drain a tankard or two with us!" Vilkas called after him. " This is as much a celebration for you as it is for our newest shield sister here."' Any time that any companion returned safely was a cause for celebration.
Farkas paused a moment and his eyes met Tarrowlyn's before he got too far down the steps. She looked happy despite what had transpired between them last night. " Some other time, Vilkas." He said obtusely. He began making his way back down the stairs when he was stopped at the bottom.
" Come on, brother. I won't let you turn in so soon." Vilkas said, pulling Farkas back up the steps.
" Vilkas, honestly." Farkas growled under his breath. He wasn't too sure about being around Tarrowlyn with as low as he was feeling. He glowered at her a bit a she shoved a mug of ale into his hand and she shrugged her shoulders.
" To friendship...May the bonds we forge never be severed." She said sincerely. If Farkas wouldn't accept that from her, Tarrowlyn didn't know what she would do. She already missed the closeness they had shared before.
" May we always emerge victorious in battle." Vilkas added.
" And may the mead never run dry." Farkas ended with a smirk. If they were going to force his hand, he may as well enjoy himself. Just a mug or two...No more than that. He absolved silently. The three of them laughed as they clanked their tankards together in their toast and they knocked back the contents of their glasses.

Farkas groaned a bit as he began rousing. One or two mugs had turned into a hell of a drinking contest between himself, Tarrowlyn, and Vilkas. He groggily remembered something about a drunken wager between he and Tarrowlyn, though all thoughts were immediately wiped from his mind as he felt an arm pull him closer. The smell if dragontongue and lavender met his nose and Farkas hurriedly looked to his left. Sure enough, Tarrowlyn was right beside him, sandwiched between himself and the wall.
Farkas groaned miserably. By the gods, what in oblivion had happened last night?! Slowly, things came back to him with astounding clarity. The two of them talking in the mead hall once Vilkas had drunkenly retired to his room, the impassioned kiss that Tarrowlyn had laid on him when he tried to warn her off. Both of them wildly ridding each other of their armor and clothing once they were sequestered in his room. Even now he could feel his arousal building at the thought of how amorous they had been. Tarrowlyn had been nothing short of voracious in her appetite for him, and Farkas could still vividly see her bouncing in his lap, her emerald eyes glittering and full of acceptance. Farkas tried to move once more, and in doing so he roused Tarrowlyn. The smile on her face as their eyes met was one that made his heart clench with the tenderness he saw there.
" Morning." She said softly, her hand coming up and stroking his jaw sweetly.
" Morning." Farkas whispered. He was rooted to the spot it seemed for every moment Tarrowlyn's green eyes stayed connected to his.
" And here you were worried about hurting me." She purred, pressing her body invitingly against his. " You didn't hurt me then either, Farkas." Her lips pressed sensuous kisses into his neck, eliciting a low hiss from the man beside her.
" We shouldn't be doing this..." he protested weakly. Damn her for learning all of his erogenous zones so quickly. Then again, Farkas had learned Tarrowlyn's just as fast.
" We're both consenting adults." Tarrowlyn countered, her hand now trailing down his chest in a gentle caress. " And before you even think of saying it, it was consensual then too. I initiated it, not you. I wanted everything you did to me, even after Hircine made you transform. I wanted you to claim me, and you did. I don't fear you, Farkas...I desire you. More than that even." Her fingers brushed against his swollen manhood and Farkas groaned at the gentle caress. She closed the distance as she pressed her lips to his, drawing his bottom one between hers a moment before Farkas crushed them in a bruising kiss.
Tarrowlyn pulled him over top of her, relishing in the feel of his strong body over hers and she gasped as Farkas ground his length against her. Her legs wrapped around his hips as he positioned himself to enter her and he did so with a thrust that filled her to the max on the first go, causing Tarrowlyn to cry out softly as she gripped his shoulders tightly.
Farkas felt his jaw drop as she enveloped him and he groaned his pleasure as her hips rose to meet his in an unhurried tempo. Her soft cries in his ear were intoxicating beyond belief as he pressed himself as deep as he could inside of her. She was much too accepting, much too forgiving of what had happened in Dustman's Cairn, of him. His lips found hers again and Tarrowlyn gently fisted his hair as their tongues entwined like their bodies. Despite the circumstances, Farkas could not deny Tarrowlyn or himself this. He wanted to feel her acceptance, her passion. Everything Tarrowlyn had to offer him, Farkas wanted of her. And in turn he would give her everything that he had in him to give at that very moment.
Tarrowlyn panted breathlessly against his lips as Farkas kept his slow, gentle possession of her. Her verdant eyes looked like liquid emeralds as they locked onto Farkas' silvery blue ones and he burned the look in them into his memory. So many emotions were in that sweet, loving gaze that Tarrowlyn was affixing him with. Farkas groaned as quietly as he closed his eyes, and he buried his face in the crook of her neck. If he kept looking into those eyes, he was going to lose his resolve to leave Jorrvaskr. To leave her...he thought, and his chest tightened painfully. His lips latched onto the side of her neck and Tarrowlyn gasped prettily as he suckled her sensitive skin,
" Farkas!" she whimpered. Her arms were holding to him tightly as he kept rolling his hips, pressing himself in as deeply inside of her as he could, and then drawing out almost completely before repeating his motions. Every thrust felt as if it was done with the intent of driving Tarrowlyn wild, and if they were, well Farkas was doing a damn good job of it. Her world suddenly switched directions as he pulled her up and she hissed as her back hit the cold stone next to the bed. That hiss was turned into a heady groan as Farkas kissed her deeply, his tongue dancing with hers and Tarrowlyn gasped as both hands were pinned to the wall with one hand. Her temperature flared, as it instantly brought back the memory of Farkas doing that in his beast form. She almost screamed into his mouth in her pleasure at him doing such a thing and Farkas moaned into hers in return. His eyes were still shut, as he was absorbing everything with his other senses now.
Tarrowlyn was going to be a physical memory Farkas would never forget.
" Say my name again, Tarrowlyn." he whispered sexily. Despite the guilt he felt, Farkas couldn't help but immerse himself in everything Tarrowlyn was giving him. It was like a balm over the wound, but that balm wouldn't last long. His hips were moving on their own now, snapping against hers with enough force to make her gasp, but not enough to hurt her. Farkas never wanted to hurt her.
" Farkas!" she gasped sharply. She had to be careful about her volume. Sure, it was well before daybreak, but Tarrowlyn didn't want to appraise everyone to what they were doing. They had probably already woken Vilkas up. Her head flew back with a throaty moan and Farkas growled delightedly at the sound.
" Don't get too loud now, Tarrowlyn." he growled huskily in her ear. " You won't want to wake everyone up if you start howling..." Farkas caught her earlobe between his teeth and Tarrowlyn keened a little as he worried the sensitive piece of flesh. " Or is that what you want? Do you want me to put it to you good enough that you scream in your rapture? Make everyone hear you? Vilkas can probably hear every single thing, probably knows that you're mine right now...." Farkas growled as he said mine and he gave Tarrowlyn a hard thrust at the same time.
Tarrowlyn had to bite down on her lip to keep quiet, but by Dibella, what Farkas was doing to her was too damn kinky .
A sultry chuckle made her tremble in his grasp, but Farkas wasn't stopping. " You're enjoying this." Farkas purred this time. That warm bass of his was so sultry, so enticing it was wicked. " Lucky for me then, because I like doing it. You know what else I like doing?" Farkas licked at the fevered flesh of Tarrowlyn's neck. Her head was lolled over to the side, giving him better access and Farkas growled deep in his chest. She wouldn't know it, but that was a sign of submission, that a female wanted to be marked as a male's mate.
Tarrowlyn cried out in surprise as Farkas pinned her back down to the bed again, though he was nipping against her neck this time. Every time she felt those teeth come against her skin, she shuddered responsively. She didn't know why, but she wanted him to bite down as hard as he could. Their hips were meeting at a faster pace now, almost erratic, and Tarrowlyn's voice grew higher as Farkas kept bringing her closer and closer to climax. " Farkas...Please I...I...Ah! AH! OOOOmmmmmmm!" Her final cries were drowned as he hurriedly covered her mouth with his own and Farkas groaned in tandem as his own release peaked.
They slowly returned to nirn as they came off the high their love making had induced, though the passionate kiss Tarrowlyn was getting wasn't easing at all. Her eyes were closed in her delight as her mouth and tongue moved sensuously against Farkas' and her hands were buried tightly in his ebony locks. " Farkas..." she whispered against his lips. " I..."
" Shhh..." Farkas interrupted. If she said what he thought she was going to, Farkas knew that would completely crumble his resolve. He needed to leave, needed to sort this and himself out on his own. Tarrowlyn would only prove to be a distraction, a very pleasurable and satisfying distraction, and Farkas knew he wouldn't be able to move on otherwise. Even now, he was reminded of what he had done to her, despite her assurances that she had wanted everything he had given to her as both man and beast. His tongue plundered her mouth, memorizing that wonderful, unique flavor that was all Tarrowlyn Dragonheart.
Farkas couldn't let her say those words. Not now at least.

Farkas was dressing silently as he looked over his shoulder to Tarrowlyn. She had fallen asleep shortly after they had finished. That, Farkas mused, was how he had wanted things to happen the first time, not in a dusty old crypt with the corpses of their fallen foes as audience. His eyes shut tightly at that thought, his heart and soul still feeling the remorse of Dustman's Cairn. He needed to leave now before she woke again, or Farkas knew he would never do so. He had a lot of soul searching to do, a lot to reflect upon before he could let go of the self revulsion that seemed to have taken up residence in his mind. At least he now had better memories to occupy himself with on the lonely nights that were ahead of him. If she was with child when he returned, Farkas would take responsibility. He wouldn't deny his own flesh and blood after all. Farkas looked one last time over to Tarrowlyn as he shouldered his pack, and he crossed the room over to her where she lay sleeping. She looked as innocent as a babe laying there beneath the blankets, though her hair was definitely mussed from their earlier activities. She had a smile on her face, one that spoke volumes of supreme satisfaction, and he couldn't help but grin at the fact that he was the cause of it. Kneeling at the bedside, he tenderly brushed a stray lock away from her face and he laid a soft kiss against her brow.
" Take care of yourself." He whispered. Farkas got back to his feet as Tarrowlyn sighed in her repose and he walked from the room.

" And where do you think you're going without saying goodbye?" Came Vilkas' voice as he leaned against the pillar near the door.
" I can't stay here right now, Vilkas." Farkas replied as he reached for the handle. " I need some time away is all. I..." Farkas sighed deeply in his melancholy and he looked his twin in the eye. " There is a reason for it, one I don't wish to talk about. I don't know how long I'll be gone."
" Just take care of yourself. I don't want to hear that you got yourself killed." Vilkas said softly. " Keep in touch if you can."
Farkas nodded as he opened the door and Vilkas chuckled.
" She's going to be very cross with you when you do come back, you realize." Vilkas said as he followed his brother from the building. He was going to see him off at the gates at least. He would need to head Tarrowlyn off before she left in search of her new lover. " Don't think I didn't hear the two of you this morning, though I will admit it was just barely for a while there. I didn't think you could be that quiet."
Farkas smirked a bit as he looked to his left. " It's not like we wanted the rest of Jorrvaskr to hear us after all." Farkas replied. Admittedly he did feel a sense of pride at having satisfied Tarrowlyn so thoroughly and it showed a bit in the way he was looking at his brother. " I asked Kodlak the same thing. Make sure she takes care of herself..." Farkas' voice was soft and his chest tight. Just the thought of leaving Tarrowlyn was starting to hurt, but he knew in the long run it was for the best. Things had spiraled completely out of control and Farkas needed to regain some semblance of normalcy, even if it was on his own.
" Is there anything you want me to tell her?" Vilkas asked. They were almost at the gates now and Vilkas knew this would be the last he saw of his twin brother for a long time coming. This would be the first time in almost seven years they would be apart for a long period of time.
Farkas nodded. " There is..." Farkas began as he paused in front of the gate. He could only hope Tarrowlyn would hear Vilkas out.

Tarrowlyn bolted up in the borrowed bed, suddenly and very keenly missing Farkas' warmth. Something, whether it be intuition or instinct, told her she needed to hold the blanket to her.
" I had a feeling you'd wake soon." Came Vilkas' voice. He was sitting at the table in the corner of Farkas' room and he looked as if he had been working on whittling something.
" Where's your brother, Vilkas." Tarrowlyn demanded softly. She sat up fully while holding the blankets tight to her chest and her green eyes met Vilkas' icy blue ones. It was amazing how different the hues of their eyes were despite being twins.
" He left on a journey this morning. Not too long ago in fact. I only just returned to Jorrvaskr about half an hour ago after seeing him off at the gates." Vilkas stood up and he came to sit beside her on the bed. There were already tears forming in her eyes and he gently patted her shoulder. He had to admit, the girl had grown on him in the last few months. Not only that, she had gone toe to toe with he and Farkas last night and in the end had drunken both of them under the table. Vilkas was cursing himself for not being more supportive when Farkas started showing interest in her, as Vilkas knew that it was himself that had held his twin back. " Don't lose heart, Tarrowlyn. As I've said before, and mind you I love my brother, but his brains are not his strong suit. But he is following his heart and I am happy with that. He'll be back soon enough, I'm sure."
" This is all my fault..." she whispered. Her shoulders were shaking in an effort to stem her tears and Tarrowlyn felt Vilkas pull her into a consoling hug. She felt used! Had he only taken her because he knew he would be leaving this morning, had known that he might not be able to satiate those urges as often? That thought hurt the most, and she felt sullied all of a sudden. She hadn’t even felt that after their interlude the night before.
" Something happened during your trial, I'm assuming." Vilkas stood a moment and he turned his back to Tarrowlyn in an effort to allow her to dress herself. Most of everyone was still sleeping and it wouldn't bode well if the two of them were found in Farkas' room with him not there.
Tarrowlyn didn't bother pulling her armor back on, and she strode from the room with Vilkas in tow and her armor in hand. She wanted to grab her supple leather boots from the whelp’s quarters as opposed to wearing her steel ones about. " You're not letting me leave Jorrvaskr or Whiterun, are you?"
" Not for at least two days, maybe three. You could use the down time. It's not healthy to be constantly fighting. While it is what we do, training and reflection are what keep us sharp as warriors." Vilkas watched as Tarrowlyn grabbed her boots from under the bed that she normally slept in and she pulled her quiver and bow out as well. Well, it looked like they were heading to the yard then, Vilkas mused.
Tarrowlyn's brow furrowed. " What did he tell you?" She tugged her boots on as fast as she could and she swore when she reached for her sword, though she still pulled the broken blade out from underneath. The iron was too soft to reconnect and reforge as she had come to learn last night. If she ever tried to do that with this sword again, it would undoubtedly crack on her right in the middle of the reforging process. That was not something she needed to happen with all these dragons she was getting into fights with as of late. Now she didn’t have a choice. Tarrowlyn would need to talk to Eorlund about buying one of his blades, and she was short on coin.
" Not much of anything to be honest.” Vilkas replied. Tarrowlyn was striding strongly for the yard, just as he thought she would. It was still early yet, maybe seven or so in the morning, and most everyone would be hung over once they did wake. Now would be the best time to find out what happened between the two of them. It was confusing to Vilkas, as he knew the two were very much attracted to one another, and yet something had transpired between them to drastically alter his brother’s mood, and his attitude towards Tarrowlyn for that matter. It was not lost on Vilkas how distant Farkas had tried; and failed for that matter, to keep from Tarrowlyn last night, both physically and emotionally. Vilkas took a seat on the ground next to where Tarrowlyn decided she was far enough from the targets and he looked at her skeptically. She had to be nearly one hundred paces from the archery targets. Vilkas was no slouch with a bow; Aela had made certain of that for both he and Farkas, and even he would have trouble hitting the bull’s eye from where Tarrowlyn was standing. The only person in Whiterun with that kind of skill was the Huntress of Jorrvaskr herself. “ Tarrowlyn, I’m not leaving you be until I find out what happened. You may as well just get it off your chest. How is his leaving your fault?" Do not judge her too harshly, Vilkas. Farkas is as much to blame if not more so than she is. He's practically running from her. he thought to himself. Vilkas had to keep reminding himself that there were two sides to every story, and through Tarrowlyn's, he might be able to piece together why Farkas had left so abruptly.
Tarrowlyn notched and loosed her first arrow, desperately trying to sidetrack her mind from the misery she felt. She could already feel tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. “ Farkas and I were ambushed by the Silver Hand while in Dustman’s Cairn…” she began, notching and loosing another arrow with practiced, but clumsy precision. Slowly, she volleys became fewer and fewer as she began telling Vilkas about what had happened, and she had sunk to her knees in tears by the time she finished recanting the tale.
Whatever Vilkas had been expecting, it wasn’t that. He had figured the two had gotten into a very heated argument; which was likely to happen as Farkas was not only stubborn, but he had the tendency to be impertinent as well, and that last night had been the way that they had made their peace. The tension had been fairly thick between them for the last few months now. “ That makes more sense than what I had thought had happened.” He said, pulling Tarrowlyn against him into a brotherly embrace. Her back was against his chest and Tarrowlyn was reminded all too quickly how Farkas had held her the same way in Valtheim Towers. “ If I know my brother as well as I do, Farkas feels guilty that the sacrifice you made was in vain. That he wasn’t strong enough to hold Hircine at bay. On top of everything else, you were forced to lay with a werewolf, him in that form more specifically. That’s one of the taboos for us in the Circle, Tarrowlyn, laying with a clean blood like that. You see...Kodlak, Farkas, and I, we only transform if it is necessary…” Vilkas began explaining things to Tarrowlyn, seeing as now she knew their secret, so that she would be able to see things a little easier from Farkas’ perspective.
Tarrowlyn wiped away her tears as Vilkas finished speaking while nodding. “ Did he have a message for me? Anything?” Oh she was going to give that man a good, strong sock in the jaw when she saw him again. How dare he not even tell her goodbye at least! He could have woken her up, could have explained his actions himself and Tarrowlyn would have; albeit tearfully, accepted his decision. She wasn’t his wife, or even his lover, though she couldn’t deny that she wanted to be. Now that wasn’t even an option. Not unless Farkas still wanted her when he came back. Even Farkas wasn't sure how long he was going to be gone, how long he was going to leave Tarrowlyn waiting for him. And she would wait, there was no one else who moved her the way Farkas did.
“ Actually yes.” Vilkas said. Farkas had told him about he had been sure Tarrowlyn was about to tell him that she loved him. Sure courtship in times like these was short, but Tarrowlyn needed to be sure of her feelings as opposed to saying something in the heat of the moment. “ He asked me to tell you that if what you hold in your heart for him is still there when he returns, he’s yours. Simple as that.” Vilkas sighed a little as he shook his head. “ He also told me that you’ve managed to do something no other woman has ever done before.”
“ What’s that?” Tarrowlyn scoffed. Her mind was running a million miles a minute it seemed. Would it be better in the long run for her to think of all this as just another lesson in life? Just move on and try to see if another man struck her fancy? Good luck with that, Dragonheart. You know that man is one in a million. She thought derisively. “ Bed the same woman more than once?” She said bitterly.
“ No, you got under his skin, Tarrowlyn. Made him second guess himself. Even standing at the gates, it was clear he was torn between leaving and staying here with you.” Vilkas said with a smirk. His hands gave her a supportive squeeze. Vilkas would have never thought he would been in a position such as this considering how he had been towards her since her arrival in Whiterun. “ In all honesty though, little sister, I think he needed to take this trip on his own. His mind is muddled with not only thoughts of the hunt, but the confusion and regret of Dustman’s Cairn. No, it’s for the best that you both have the distance he’s getting. It gives you both time to reflect and grow from the experience. Think of it as a fight that you both could have gone about differently in order to come up with a different outcome. That's one of the things we do as warriors.” He heard Tarrowlyn snort in disgust and he nudged her shoulder gently. “ Honestly, Tarrowlyn. You’ve only been in Whiterun a few months, the Companions only a month or so, and you only recently saw Farkas on a daily basis. Is that really enough time to know if you honestly love someone? Farkas is an honorable man, Tarrowlyn, and he is bound to love another as earnestly as he wields his blade. It is something he won’t take lightly. That being said, I can assure you that Farkas cares a great deal for you. If anyone could be certain in saying that, it’s me…” he added when he saw the glare Tarrowlyn cast his way. “ Don’t lose heart. If you care about him as much as I think you do, you won’t give up on him. Besides, I was also asked to relay one other piece of information to you, but that can wait until I’m certain he’s had enough time to keep you from tracking him.”
“ You’re right about him being a good man Vilkas…” Tarrowlyn smirked a little as she looked to her right. “ You do realize I’m going to probably hit him once he comes back.” She said warningly. It was probably better that Vilkas knew that now as opposed to finding out when she did it.
“ Believe me, I’m counting on that.” Vilkas laughed, patting her on the shoulder. “ He should know better than to do what he did to a woman of your caliber, Tarrowlyn. That sort of behavior is alright for tavern wenches and the like, but a fellow warrior…” Vilkas laughed once more as he shook his head. “ I did try to warn him.”

Kodlak found Tarrowlyn and Vilkas talking in the yard and the Harbinger shook his head. If the tears on her face were any indication, Farkas had indeed left that morning after all. It was a shame as well, as the old man had been interested to see if things were going to escalate between them. Well, Kodlak realized in retrospect, things had escalated between them, but not in a good way. Kodlak walked over to them and he silently took a seat on the other side of Tarrowlyn. “ I never had a chance to congratulate you last night, little sister. That being said, I’m sure you’ll bring not only honor to yourself, but to the Companions as well. And be sure to go see Eorlund about a new blade.” His face was screwed up into a grimace of disgust as he looked at the broken iron blade. “ Anything is better than whatever that is.”
Tarrowlyn and Vilkas both laughed at this and the young woman gave the Harbinger a small smile. “ I’ll do that as soon as that old smith gets to his forge. You can rest assured that I’ve been eyeing one of his blades since I first started in on my armor.”
“ There is no steel better in all of Tamriel than Skyforge Steel.” Kodlak said knowingly.
“ Kodlak…All the members of the circle…They’re werewolves?” Tarrowlyn asked hesitantly.
“ I see you’ve learned some of our secrets before your appointed time.” Kodlak said, though he gave her a soft smile. It wasn’t her fault or even Farkas’ that he had transformed to save both of their lives. Kodlak would rather it be for a noble reason like that as opposed to what Aela and Skjor would do. “ Yes, it’s true. Not every Companion, no, only members of the Circle all share the blood of the beast. Some take to it more than others.”
" I see." Tarrowlyn replied softly. Considering what Vilkas had told her, that only left the other two members of the Circle. Skjor and Aela...Should I be wary of them? Should I tell them I know? What am I going to do? she thought. " What about you?" She couldn't keep herself from chuckling as Vilkas moved to chide her for asking such a thing. He was really starting to act like Mikhail had to her. Until now, Tarrowlyn hadn't realized how similar her older brother and Vilkas were.
Kodlak laughed himself as he rose a hand to stop Vilkas. " As I grow old, my mind turns to Sovngarde. But do not trouble yourself with the musings of an old man, Tarrowlyn. There will be time later to talk again I am sure."
Tarrowlyn nodded as she got to her feet. Eorlund was just now getting up to the forge. " If you both will excuse me." She said, shouldering her bow. She was excited at the prospect of being able to finally wield one of Eorlund's blades.

Three months passed quietly, though Tarrowlyn kept busy through it all. She and Vilkas oftentimes went hunting together and he taught her quite a bit about how two wield a two handed weapon if she ever found herself in a predicament with only such at her disposal. In turn, Tarrowlyn began teaching him a little restoration magic in the event that he was too wounded to make it back to Jorrvaskr or to the nearest apothecary.
Tarrowlyn was gobsmacked shortly after Farkas' departure however. As a gift; and possibly an apology as well, Tarrowlyn had learned that Farkas had purchased a horse for her. She was a beautiful black mare that she had named Tanaris and she was faster than any steed Tarrowlyn had ever ridden in her life. It helped to soften her ire at him for his abrupt departure from Whiterun, but not by much. Tarrowlyn was still of the mind to punch his lights out when she saw him again.
She had been running jobs for the other three members of the Circle and had made quite a name for herself in how quickly she finished her work. She relished in every fight, every victory. They made her feel more alive every single time. That’s not to say she didn’t earn every septim, though she did tend to earn more on the side by placing bets with the rest of the guild on how quickly she would get done. Vilkas and Kodlak were the only ones who never bet against her. It was well and good. The profits from the wagers placed against her had afforded her enough gold to start gathering the ore she needed for the blade she had been designing. She needed extra because she knew she wouldn’t get it right on the first go. Or the second, third, and fourth times either. No, Tarrowlyn knew she was going to go through a lot of metal trying to blend the two ores together.
It had gotten to a point where Vilkas and Kodlak had both agreed that all the extra ingots needed to be stored somewhere, and so Tarrowlyn had been given use of Farkas’ room while he was gone. There were at least three chests that hadn’t been there before now full of ebony and corundum.
Tarrowlyn walked into Jorrvaskr with a bright smile on her face. She had just returned from Hjaalmarch on a job for Aela; the killing of a couple of bears that had taken up residence in one of the homes there, and she had the hides strapped to her pack as she began making her way to where the Huntress of Jorrvaskr was seated.
" I was wondering if you were going to break your record." Aela said with a laugh. She handed Tarrowlyn her payment and the younger woman tied the pouch to her belt. Farkas had been right that the pay was quite lucrative indeed. " You only just left this morning."
" A couple of bears, Aela?" Tarrowlyn chortled. " I've had worse fights with my hair."
Aela laughed loudly at that comment and she pointed over to where Skjor was talking with Njada, more than likely getting tips on blocking with his shield. " He wanted to see you when you returned." She said. There was a gleam in her eye that Tarrowlyn caught.
What in oblivion did Skjor have planned for her?
Skjor found Tarrowlyn outside sparring with Athis that afternoon, and the dunmer was peppering their actions with commentary. He nodded in approval at the sight. Tarrowlyn had been working hard not just on the jobs she took on, but her training as well. She could often be seen with any of the other Companions keeping up on and improving her sword work. " Get over here whelp."
" Keep your boots on old man!" Tarrowlyn grunted as she blocked a swing from Athis. Their blades deadlocked and Tarrowlyn brought a booted foot up to kick him in the chest only to have her other foot swept out from under her. She raised her chin as Athis set his blade to her neck and her green eyes flicked over to him.
" Try to avoid leaving yourself open while deadlocked. A headbutt would serve you much better as opposed to a boot." Athis advised as he helped Tarrowlyn to her feet.
" Thank you." She replied with a nod. She looked over to Skjor as she sheathed her blade and they both met near the stairs. Tarrowlyn had taken to training without her armor as of late in the event that she might be caught off guard around town. " Aela told me you were looking for me earlier, but you were busy with Njada."
Skjor nodded. " I was. I want you to meet me by the underforge tonight after dark." He replied.
Tarrowlyn’s brow furrowed. “ The Underforge? I’ve heard a whisper here and there about it, but have never seen it myself, Skjor.”
" My apologies. I keep forgetting how relatively new you are here still.” Skjor said with a chuckle. “ Meet me out here tonight and I’ll lead you there.”

It was nearly ten in the evening when Tarrowlyn joined Skjor in the yard and she looked up at him curiously. “ I don’t know whether to be thrilled or worried about what you may have in store for me, old man.” She grumbled. She was tired and Vilkas had been teasing her incessantly most of the night. Well, in retrospect Tarrowlyn shouldn’t have made mention of cages or traps. Vilkas had taken it upon himself to never let her live that moment down it seemed. It’s not like Farkas is here to do it himself. She thought ruefully. She honestly did miss his presence, and had snuck into his room every now and again so that she could relive the memory of how he had taken her that morning. He had been thorough, by the Gods had Farkas been thorough, but he had been everything Tarrowlyn had hoped he would be. He hadn’t just taken her body to satiate his own. They had made love that morning. Though Tarrowlyn was hesitant to admit it to Vilkas, she felt as if she honestly loved his brother. The time apart had indeed helped her to look at things clearly, and while things had progressed faster than she or Farkas would have wanted, Tarrowlyn knew that it would have been him no matter what. He had captured her heart without even trying.
“ No worries, whelp. This isn’t a test…” Skjor said as he pushed the stone entrance inward to allow them passage. “…It’s a gift.”
Tarrowlyn walked in behind Skjor and her eyes fell on a werewolf with deep red fur. “ Aela?”
“ Glad to see you can still recognize her even in this form. The time has come, sister, for you to join your spirit to the beast world.” Skjor began, walking over to where Aela was watching them intently. “ It has been too long since we have had a heart like yours among our ranks, Tarrowlyn. That pitiful ceremony behind the hall…”
“ I’ll have you know I was beyond honored to take part in that.” Tarrowlyn spat impertinently. Her green eyes leveled on Skjor and she looked between him and Aela a moment.
“ My apologies then, friend. Aela has agreed to be your forebear. What will it be?” Skjor replied.
Tarrowlyn began thinking everything over. She had known about the Circle since her trial, and even Kodlak and Vilkas had commented that she could more than likely join the Circle soon. The only problem was the beast blood. Vilkas had told her when she asked for his perspective that the beast blood was more curse than boon, but Aela and Skjor had always praised it as a gift.
“ Farkas might feel more comfortable about pursuing you if you both are the same.” Skjor purred temptingly.
“ I have no desire to hurt you, Tarrowlyn. I’m a manbeast, and you’re clean. I don’t want to take the chance of waking up to find that you were brutalized by me in my beast form again. That Hircine managed to break both of us in one fell swoop.” Those words, despite how drunk both of them had been, still echoed in Tarrowlyn’s mind hauntingly. Despite Farkas’ claim that he would be hers when he returned if she still felt the same, he might have very well changed his mind. He had been gone almost four months after all. If she took on the blood of the beast, the argument was moot.
Her green eyes met Skjor’s gray one and they burned with a determination that was all too obvious to see. “ I’ll do it.” She whispered. “ I’ll take on the blood of the beast.”
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Dragonheart: Rise of the Harbinger