Dragonborn Ascendant (14)

A/N: I realize I can't really keep my word on the publishing schedule on QQ,  but eh, work, can you do?

In any case, thanks for everyone supporting me and motivating me to keep on with this.

-x-X-x-

“My thane!” Lydia happily exclaimed, rushing down the stairs to meet Farkas and I and take a helpful load off our shoulders. “You’re back!” The housecarl practically squealed with giddiness, completely unlike the serious warrior persona I expected her to masquerade as.

“I did say it would be quick,” I smiled at the brunette who opened a little smirk in response, a gentle nod bobbing her head.

“Aye, you did,” she said in a low voice as we ascended the steps to Jorrvaskr. “I just didn’t expect you to be-”

“You’re early.”

Aela’s deadpan voice got a laugh out of me, especially when I turned and my eyes looked up to meet hers on top of the stairs. There was a neutral expression on her face, one that I was fairly sure was there only because she didn’t know how to react to our untimely return.

A smirk crossed my face. “I missed you too, dear.” I said, smile stretching at the sound of Farkas’ snort.

Aela took a step forward, eyes narrowing as I stepped in front of her and she was forced to tilt her head back to look up in my eyes. With a huff the redhead crossed her arms under her chest. “Well,” she sniffed, raising an eyebrow in my direction. “At least we can get this over quickly.” She said, turning on her heels to swirl around and go into Jorrvaskr’s direction. “Go to the backyard and wait for us there. I will call Kodlak and Vilkas to start the ceremony.”

Two sets of snickers reached my ears then, as the door closed and I finally teared my eyes away from those swaying hips of hers.

My eyes narrowed at Lydia for a moment, but ultimately I decided to leave her be. So I glared at Farkas.

“What are you laughing at, jester?”

“You and Aela,” the bastard had the gall to laugh, an ugly sharp smile on his face. “I thought Eorlund had been joking with me when he said he and his wife met at an inn fight, and that they acted how cat and dog treat each other before their first son.”

“Aela and eye aren’t lovers,” my eyes narrowed at his obvious implication. “We haven’t even shared a bed!” And I wasn’t going to count the Sleeping Giant!

“Could have fooled,” the Companion shook his head. Then, with a teasing tone he continued. “Maybe that’s why she’s such a bitch around you. Maybe she’s trying to get you to fuck her rough and hard, rut like animals, eh?”

There was a sputter.

“F-forgive me, m-my lord.”

We both turned just in time to see Lydia hurrying her steps heading towards the Jorrvaskr. “I-I’ll put these items i-in your room.” The brunette stuttered, not meeting our eyes and ducking inside the meadhall, a red blush on her creamy face that made her look like a young maid, the tip of her ears burning a bright pink.

I felt my face hot, expression twitching as Farkas laughed and slapped me on the back.

When Kodlak and Vilkas came out a few minutes later, Aela came out following the two older men surprisingly enough not wearing her normal revealing attire, but rather what looked to be a custom piece of Wolf Armour that was both lighter and more form fitting than the male’s counterpart. Her eyes narrowed immediately when our gazes met, and for some reason, my mind returned to Farkas’ words.

I… wanted him to be wrong. That she didn’t like me simply because she didn’t, and that our little adventure must have changed her opinion on me to have her tone her snipping comments down. But the other part of me, the less rational and more hormonal, wondered anyway.

Aela, she didn’t really like me, that one was obvious from the very beginning. At least, she didn’t like me at first, and though I never really knew why, I also didn’t really blame her. Ever since we returned from Bleak Falls, however, she seemed to act more differently. Her remarks weren’t as aggressive as before, and she didn’t seem particularly keen on snarking or trading barbs for no reason. That didn’t mean she had stopped, only that her hostile behaviour seemed to have been subdued, and my mind couldn’t help but return back to that short talk in the bed we shared at the Sleeping Giant.

I couldn’t really remember what I said, but I felt that her change in attitude must have been coming in part from there, even if all I could really remember were short moments and exhaustion.

“Brothers and Sisters of the Circle,” Kodlak’s rough voice echoed. He stared directly at me, with Vilkas, Farkas and Aela positioned in a semi circle. “Today we welcome a new soul into our mortal fold.” He said, voice strong and filled with a mixed lace of pride and joy.  “This man has endured, has challenged and has shown his valour. Who will speak for him?”

“I stand witness for the courage of the soul before us.” Farkas stepped forward, repeating the lines of what was clearly a recited ceremony.

He offered me a nod.

“Would you raise a shield in his defence?” Kodlak asked.

“I would stand at his back, that the world might never overtake us.” He answered.

“And would you raise a sword in his honour?”

“It stands ready to meet the blood of his foes.”

“And would you raise a mug in his name?”

“I would lead the song in triumph as our mead hall revelled in his stories.”

“Then this judgement of this Circle is complete.” Kodlak nodded. “His heart beats with fury and courage that have united the Companions since the days of the distant green summers. Let it beat with ours, so the mountains may echo and our enemies may tremble at the call.”

“It shall be so.” Echoed the Companions.

A smile cracked on the Harbinger’s face.

“Well, boy, you have finally become one of us.” Praised the grizzled warrior. “At long last.”

“Indeed,” I laughed. Sadly, however, it was a short-lived one. "So, werewolf, huh?"

His face twitched.

"I see you've become privy of secrets you were not yet allowed to know," grunted the Harbinger, shooting a dark glare at the back of the retreating Farkas who shrank. His eyes then turned, meeting Aela's for a moment but the redhead stood firm, taking a step closer. He sighed. "No matter, I would have eventually told you regardless." He shook his head. "Yes, the Companions of Jorrvaskr are werewolves, but only us, members of the Circle. I would offer it to you too, if you wish to share the beastblood."

"Pass," I grunted. "I don't want a crutch like that, much less one coming from a Daedric Prince."

"Beasthood is no 'crutch'," Aela frowned, looking almost offended. "It's a blessing. It lets us become better warriors than we were before."

"And this power is yours?" I raised an eyebrow, meeting her eyes challengingly. "I bet the original Companions didn't need a gift from Hircine to become the most feared warriors of this land, only the might of their arms and the strength of their magic. Then why do you need it when they did not?"

"Easy there," Kodlak stepped between us. "There's no need to fight over this." He said, and Aela swallowed her growl to nod stiffly.

"You have to understand, Magnus, that some quite enjoy their beasthood," the white haired warrior said. "To them, the promise of the eternal hunt on Hircine's grounds seems like an exciting prospect."

"I figured as much," I sighed. "Woman doesn't look like she cares about anything else other than hunting."

"I can hear you perfectly well, Magnus." Said woman growled another time.

"I know that," I nodded, and then grunted when she punched my shoulder. Hard.

"Children… Don't fight over this." Kodlak shook his head exasperated. "In any case, how did you even come to know this?"

"We were attacked on Dustman's Cairn," I answered. "Some Silver Hand grunts ambushed us. Tried to, at least. They were also looking for the fragments of Wuuthrad. In fact," I grabbed the journal. "They're already in the possession of the remaining pieces."

"That is… rather troubling news." The Harbinger grumbled. "Honour demands that we retrieve them, but…"

"You don't think it would be wise."

"No," he sighed. "No, I don't think so. This band of werewolf hunters might be weaker than the Companions, but they should not be underestimated regardless."

"We could crush them if you allowed us, Harbinger," Aela voiced her opinion. "Let us do this."

"No, Aela," he shook his head. "I… I grow old…" he sighed, a heavy and weary sound that carried the years and burdens of his long life. "My mind turns towards the horizon. To Sovngarde, craving for the fellowship of the gods. But I worry that Shor won't call an animal to his halls as he would a true Nord warrior."

"You are looking to cure yourself," Aela whispered. "Why?" She questioned. "Did you… did you not want this?"

"I did, lass, I did," the grizzled warrior sighed. "But I was young then, rash, and prone to act without thinking and making short-sighted decisions. Becoming a werewolf might have been a boon to me, as a warrior, long ago, yes, but age has made me learn to regret this decision."

"I could not sire children of my own and raise a family, even if in my heart you are all my children anyway," he said. "I could not rest a full night of sleep, and now in my twilight years I think I will not be able to join my family, and the brave men and women I had the honour to call brothers and sisters."

"You know you will always have my help if you ever find a cure," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're a good man, Kodlak, and I think you deserve to at least choose where in Aetherius your soul will be going."

That got a weak smile from the man.

"Perhaps, lad. Perhaps," he patted my hand. "I'll be sure to tell you if I ever discover something. Now go, you shouldn't be worrying yourself with the dreams of an old warrior."

“They are dreams only so long as you let them, Kodlak.”

-x-X-x-

A/N: A last note here, next week we'll have double chapters, chapter 15 and 15.5...? I haven't really decided on the numbering yet. In any case, this extra chapter will be the first smut chapter for this story and the actual first smut scene I've written in... well a long while.

Well, I hope it's a good enough scene to make you guys entertained.