Chapter Text
I returned to Jorrvaskr my heart heavy. Kodlak's spirit now at peace in Sovngarde and I the new Harbinger. I wound my way through the lower quarters to Kodlak's chamber…no my chambers now. The room was just as he had left it. I sighed and sank into the side of the bed.
"Why me?" I wondered. "Wasn’t it enough that I was the Dragonborn?" That responsibility already weighed heavily on my shoulders, not to mention the demands from the College of Winterhold and being the Thane of several settlements. Was I not already spreading myself too thin? Now I carried the responsibilities for the Companions. What had Kodlak been thinking?
There was a heavy knock on the doorframe; I looked up to Farkas' solid form blocking the whole doorway. "Vilkas said you were the new Kodlak. I don’t know what that means but I thought it might mean you would be in here." His eyebrows knitted together as if the thought had pained him.
"I guess, saying I am the new Kodlak might be the easiest way to describe it." I shook my head, Farkas' twin brother Vilkas could be such an ass sometimes. Just because his brother did not understand things the way everyone else did, did not mean he did not understand at all, "Your brother was just saying I am the new Harbinger, the new leader of the Companions now that Kodlak is in Sovngarde."
He stared at me, his eyes blinking slowly, "Oh." He then turned and walked away without saying another word. Tired I rubbed my eyes, I needed sleep and I would have to return to my old bed and find my chest before being able to rest for the night. The thought made me even more tired.
"Milady?" Tilma called from the doorway, her grey covered head peaking into the room.
"Yes?"
"I had the linens in here cleaned after we received word of your new status. We also had your chest placed at the end of the bed. I didn’t have any of Kodlak's things moved in case you wanted to go through them."
I nodded my head, "Thank you Tilma."
"Will you need anything else this evening, my lady?" she asked.
"No, wait actually, could you have a glass of mulled wine and some bread and cheese brought to my chambers? It's been a long night and I don’t feel much like joining everyone in the main hall."
"Yes mistress," She smiled. "I've also brought you a jug of hot water to cleanse yourself with. I'll just put it over here."
I nodded, giving her my thanks, while she put the jug next to the cleaning basin and left the room. Tired, I slowly removed my boots and armor hanging them on a stand for cleaning and polishing later.
Clad only in my undergarments, I filled the basin and began to wash. The water turned muddy red from the blood and grime coating my skin. At that moment, I wished for a real bath, but it was too late in the evening to call for one. My shoulder length raven hair clung to my freshly scrubbed skin and I gave in and washed my hair. Using the remaining water with some lavender and lye, I scrubbed the dirt and other things from my tresses.
Once finished, I crossed to my chest and pulled out a white nightshift and a pair of slippers. It clung to my long tan frame. Taking a wide wooden comb through my locks of hair for a moment, I forgot about being a warrior and all my other responsibilities and focused on being a woman instead.
There was a soft knock on the door and I called out for them to enter, assuming it was Tilma. I turned around my eyes going wide, Vilkas stood just inside the doorway with my dinner tray in hand. His eyes traced the curve of my body from my feet to my eyes, his expression growing dark and heated.
I crossed my arms over my chest trying to cover myself, "May I help you Vilkas?"
He cleared his throat, a blush creeping up his neck, "Um…yes, Tilma had to help in the kitchens so I offered to bring this to you." He sat the tray on the desk turning his back to me.
"That was kind of you," I said turning my back to him and grabbing a dress from inside my chest , sliding it quickly over my head. Unfortunately, I was not paying attention to what I had grabbed and discovered the dress had laces up the back.
"Let me help you with that," Vilkas offered his voice thick as his large calloused hands deftly tightened the laces before I could decline his offer. When he finished he turned me slowly in his hands so I was now facing him.
This close to him I could feel the warmth of his breath caressing my face. His strong hands held my arms gently, the heat of his skin warming the coolness of mine. His pale blue eyes stared intently into my amber ones. Despite how much he and his brother looked alike, I was always able to tell them apart even without them speaking. To me, they were as different as the night and the day, complete opposites in everything except how they both could make my heart flutter and my knees weak.
Vilkas reached up and brushed a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "You're not exactly what I would have expected for our Harbinger but I respected Kodlak and I will respect his choice," His crass words cut the tenderness of the moment.
Taken aback by his words I stepped back away from him, "Thank you for your honesty and for bringing me my dinner. You may leave now."
Dumbfounded he reached for me, "Arianna wait, please, that came out wrong."
"I get it Vilkas, you expected Kodlak to hand the reigns' over to you. Hell everyone did, you were his protégé his closest companion this last year. If anyone should have filled his shoes, it should have been you. Unfortunately, it is not. It's my job now, I get that you all think I'm not fit for it but here we are."
"Now wait just a damn minute woman," he said wrapping his long fingers around my wrist and pulling me into his arms. "What I meant was just because you aren't what I expected didn’t mean you aren't what we need. You're strong, smart, brave, kind, fair, firm and wise; everything we need in good leader." His gaze searched mine, "And beautiful…so beautiful." His lips descended down on mine slowly. The touch was so gentle it surprised me; my mouth opening and a small "oh" escaping just before his tongue slid against mine. His hands held my face firm but delicately as the kiss deepened. I pressed against him my body aching for his touch. His hands slid down my body pulling me as tight against him as possible. My fingers found their way into his shaggy brunette hair. I moaned against his mouth as his fingers found my nipples through my dress.
Vilkas tore his lips from mine, his breathing ragged. I watched him through half-open eyelids, my body burning against him and his stupid armor that was in my way. His hands released me and he turned curtly away from me. Frowning, I reached for him but he left the room with nary a word. I sank into the desk chair my hand on my swollen lips.
'Had I done something wrong?' I pondered taking a long drink of wine. I know my experience was limited in this area but I just could not see where anything we had done was wrong. I touched my lips at the memory of his on mine. A wave of raw desire surging though my loins, every fiber of my being wanted him to come back but I just could not bring myself to go after him.
I sat there in confusion, eating my food slowly the movement automatic. I was finishing the last of my wine when I heard a soft sound from the doorway. I still had not shut it from before and Vilkas stood there freshly washed, no longer in his armor. Instead, he wore a tunic and breaches.
"Forgive…?" he started but could not finish for I had launched myself into his arms. My mouth fused to his our tongues dancing against each other. His arms locked around me lifting me against him. The door shut with a loud slam, he pinned me between the door and his body. His hips holding me as his fingers slide the lock into place.
"Arianna," he murmured against my full lips, his fingers sliding up my thigh and pressing against the sensitive spot between my legs. I cried out in pleasure, wetness pooling between my thighs.
"Mine," he growled against my neck, tearing my undergarments off and dropping his breeches. I felt the cold rush of air, and then his body pressed against mine, he bite my neck and slid into me. I cried out both in pleasure and pain. He froze lifting his head to look me in the face.
"You’re a maiden?" he asked incredulously.
I took deep breaths trying to focus on his question, "Um, yes." The pain began to subside.
"Ach, lass you should have told me. Are you all right? Do you want me to stop?" he asked softly.
"Please," I begged kissing him softly on the lips and rolling my hips against his.
"Lass," he groaned pulling out of me slowly fighting against my legs locked behind his back. "Love, I'm not stopping but you're going to have to loosen your grip so I can move."
"Oh!" I exclaimed unlocking my ankles. He chuckled softly and I groaned against him arching my hips. He stopped laughing his expression going dark. His fingers tightened on my hips, pulling me on to him sharply. His mouth found mine, his tongue moving in and out of my mouth as he moved in and out of me. Each thrust of his hips pushed me closer to the edge. My legs began to quiver and his pace quickened.
"You feel so amazing," he murmured kissing my neck. My breath hitched in my throat. It was too much, the sensations overwhelmed me and I came hard thrashing against him and the door. I cried out and let the waves of pleasure crash over me. I heard Vilkas cry out in ecstasy as he pumped himself into me.
I sagged against him spent. He used the last of his strength to maneuver us on to the bed my legs still wrapped around his waist and him still inside of me I drifted off into oblivion.