U.O.T.W. Chapter 54 The Nature Of The Beast

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    The next morning Sotek awoke in his own bed but usually he would spend the night with Aela. Sometimes just because she didn‘t want to be alone, and on other nights they would just talk about the companions, her life, or even about Skyrim.

     

    However every so often she would like her own space, her room, her own company. Sotek had no issues with that, he was more than happy to go at her pace. Last night was one of those nights, she gave him a kiss said goodnight then simply went off to her room.

     

    He checked his gear, stocked up on any potions he was short of then checked out his supply of arrows. When he was ready he equipped his armor, and then headed upstairs. The main hall was empty except for a whelp finishing off his breakfast. Sotek grabbed an apple then headed outside where he saw Aela in the courtyard training the whelps with Farkas. When she saw him she came up to him seemingly happily enough except she seemed a bit on edge.

    “Hi, Vilkas asked to meet you by the main gate in about half hour. I was just about to come and wake you. You eaten?”

     

    He held up the remaining half of the apple which caused her to chuckle slightly.

    “I’ll head down there in a minute and see if he’s about”. Sotek put his arm around her giving her a slight hug. She let him but she didn’t return his affection, instead she left her hands by her side. “Are you ok?” When he looked down at her he could see a single tear form then run down on her cheek.

     

    “Yep, I’m good”. She wiped the tear away  then she stepped to the side as if to hide her face and started heading to the whelps, she half turned but not so that she facing him directly.

     

    “Sotek, listen to him, its important”. Then without another word she went off to Farkas, he took one look at her then put his arm around her as she rested her head on his chest. Sotek just stood there watching her until Farkas gave him a slight nod as if to reassure him that Aela was in good hands. Automatically losing his appetite, Sotek placed the half eaten apple on the table then headed off towards the main gate. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding.

     

    As he approached the main gate a single voice called down to him.

    “Hi”. Sotek looked towards the direction of the shout, to see Vilkas who was up on the guard tower. He was with two guards who were busy watching the horizon towards the plains. As Sotek approached the base of the platform, Vilkas came down the ramp to meet him. “The guards reckon some bandits may be holding up in Valtheim towers, so we’re going to take a look”.

     

    Sotek remembered the carriage driver Bjorlam point that location out to him. Two spires stood opposite each other, with the river running wildly between them while a single high walkway connected the two structures together.

    “How many bandits are you expecting?” Sotek was wondering whether it was more complex than it sounded, after what Aela said to him let alone how she reacted to him that morning.

     

    “Oh, only about five, they might just be a mob, unless one has taken command of the group, their ‘leader’”.

     

    “Is there a difference?” A bandit was a bandit to Sotek but the way Vilkas said it made him wonder.

     

    “Oh hell yes, expect trouble if there’s one such bandit. He’ll organize the mob, form it into a proper group. Leaders basically have the pick of the gear, so they are a lot tougher as they control the others by force and they have the best equipment out of all of them. Go careful if you face leaders”.  With that they left Whiterun behind then headed east, across the stone bridge, then set off towards Valtheim towers.

     

    As they headed towards the towers, Sotek started to wonder about Vilkas and the others. He momentary looked back over his shoulders towards Whiterun which was disappearing in the distance before turning to his fellow Companion.

    “Vilkas, I know we talked the least, but can I ask you something? It is sort of  a personal nature”.

     

    Vilkas gave Sotek a quick glance. He automatically guessed what it was about so he motioned to Sotek  to sit down by the side of the road.

    “Fire away”. Inside he felt a little relieved as he wasn’t entirely sure how he was going to raise the subject himself. He gave a silent thanks to the nines, praising them for the simple fact that he now wouldn’t have to raise the subject.

     

    “I spoke to Aela about her werewolf transformations. Is it the same for you guys?”

     

    “In what way?” He sat there hoping Sotek would make the entire conversation easy for him. Even now he had no idea what to say as he spent most of his werewolf years hiding the fact. He couldn’t comprehend how the Harbinger thought he could openly talk about it.

     

    “Well, having full control when you turn. Like only being able to change once a day”.

     

    “Yes, all of us can turn once a day. It usually lasts for anything up to a minute or so. However when we feed, it quells the change delaying it for a short period. Aela’s a bit different to us, she is ermm…” Then he paused trying to work out the best way to put things.

     

    Sotek could see Vilkas was struggling so he tried helping him along.

    “She was born a werewolf, or she is female so different  ‘rules’ apply”.

     

    “Oh both of those has major parts to play with her. Being a woman she has her ermm, monthly temper tantrums. But born a werewolf, she has a… What’s the best way to put it… A ‘seasonal’ once a year, around spring. If they both fall on the same week then everyone is in for hell”. Vilkas closed his eyes remembering a few years before, Aela could have happily killed anyone. At Various times they struggled to get her out of the way in the village before she turned and attacked someone just for accidently knocking into her.

     

    “Let’s put it this way. In winter she puts all her possessions in the Harbingers room for safe keeping. And every year we replace all her furniture. That’s why she had a big lock on her door, she can just go crazy and work through it without hurting anyone”.

     

    “Would she actually hurt someone?” Sotek couldn’t see that, sure she had a temper but actually try to kill an ally.

     

    Vilkas just laughed at him.

    “You’re kidding! Her monthly is bad enough, but her seasonal on top! Hell you got shot in the arm because she didn’t like ya, wait till she wants to kill you. Red’s 6 and a half foot solid attitude with claws. Now imagine that on a rampage. Last time it took three of us to hold her down. We were in our werewolf forms as well!”

     

    “There’s another problem…” Vilkas gazed across to Whiterun as he spoke. “But we are losing daylight, we can talk more once we are done”. With that Vilkas got up and started heading off along the track. When they drew near the closest tower, Vilkas had a quick count up on the enemy and their positions. “One bandit’s by the door and one on top of the tower. Two on the walkway and one on the other side, looking at his armor he’s the leader. I’ll tackle him”.

     

    Sotek looked across at him. He was clad in heavy Nordic armor which looked battle worn while his two handed sword had a feint glow to it.

     

    Vilkas started forming a plan.

    “We’ll take the door guy out first, move through the tower then hold the walkway. Don’t get knocked off!”

     

    Sotek looked at the towers, and the bandits positions. His mind started turning as he studied the layout.

    “How many guards would usually occupy this base?”

     

    Vilkas who was just getting ready to attack stopped and looked at Sotek giving him a funny look.

    “Why?”

     

    “Well, aww hell Vilkas look at them. The door guy can’t see anyone, the one at the top can’t be spotted by anyone else and their too spread apart”. Sotek stealthily drew his bow. “Would you  mind if I take the lead?”

     

    Vilkas looked at the towers, he thought about what Sotek said however none of it meant a bloody thing to him. He shrugged his great shoulders and nodded.

    “Ok, let’s see what you can really do. Aela and Farkas are happy to follow you, go ahead”.

     

    Sotek didn’t waste any time, his first target was the one at the top of the tower. He could see Aela there talking him through the shot like when he was targeting the apples. Taking aim he fired, the arrow flew upward perfectly striking the bandit at the top of the tower. Due to the angle, the hit in the stomach done a lot more damage than usual. By entering the stomach, the point tore into his chest from underneath having completely bypassed his armor’s protection.

     

    His next target was the one at the door. The first arrow hit the bandit in the stomach, causing him to fall to his knees. The next arrow also found its mark, resulting in the second bandit laying dead on the ground. Sotek checked the other bandits for a second to see if they had been noticed, then once he was satisfied that they still remained undetected, he whispered to Vilkas.

    Let’s move”. Soteks command was short and precise.

     

    They headed inside the first tower, then made their way to the walkway.

    “Vilkas stay here out of sight, if the leader comes, he’s yours until I can help you. Don’t worry about me seeing you change, I’m used to it”. Then Sotek started heading up to the top.

     

    “I don’t generally change”. ‘Yes I said it’ he thought to himself, he was struggling to say that to Sotek since their conversation earlier.

     

    Sotek paused and tilted his head to the side as he watched Vilkas’s face.

    “Ok, I understand… However it makes no difference, he’s yours until I can help. Is that the ‘other problem’ you spoke of?”

     

    Vilkas just nodded, then watched Sotek disappear up the tower. He slightly stuck his head around the corner watching the bandit on the walkway. The bandit turned towards him casually walking along the platform when an arrow hammered into him. He fell to his knees screaming out in pain as a second arrow sent him backwards on to the pathway. The bandit chief reacted to the agonizing cry and charged along the walkway towards Vilkas’s position. Sotek fired three arrows at him although only the one arrow actually struck him. Unfortunately it did the minimal damage due to the armor. Within a few seconds a fireball exploded just in front of the bandit then another and another. He just got to the tower when a final fireball struck him in the face. Running under the archway for cover as fast as possible, he completely failed to see Vilkas standing there. A colossal swing to his helm sent him crashing into the floor completely dazed and suffering with horrific wounds, Vilkas finished him off with a single thrust of his broadsword through the chest.

     

    Vilkas started heading along the walkway, towards the dead bandit laying in the middle of the bridge. As he neared the corpse, two bandits came charging across towards him from the other tower. One assailant instantly fell to the side falling off the narrow platform as a arrow struck him in the leg. He plummeted to his death screaming out as he fell. Vilkas raised his sword and blocked the second bandits attack who by now had drawn upon him. Then he countered, striking the bandit in the side. The bandit staggered backwards as Vilkas bought his sword down hard but the bandit managed to block it. Unfortunately by doing so, he left himself wide open. Vilkas gave a quick thrust, his sword punching a hole through the bandits old armor, killing him.

     

    Sotek went around searching each of the bandits and looted what he could find then started to share it out with Vilkas. Vilkas however politely refused any items.

    “I’m ok, I’ll just take half the gold”. Vilkas insisted much to Sotek’s surprise.

     

    Sotek looked at the amount of armor and weapons left. As he examined the pile of equipment, he quickly added the relative value which he would get once he sold it all at the various traders in Whiterun.

    “But you’ll get a good amount from selling this lot”.

     

    “Oh I generally don’t bother selling stuff, unless there’s the odd gem. Just can’t be bothered with it. I’ll help you carry it all back though”.

     

    “You said you don’t generally change, why is that?”

     

    “Let’s get back to the path, then we can talk as we rest”. As they followed the trail back towards Whiterun they soon came across an area where a few trees were growing. Sotek hacked at a fallen trunk with his axe to cut off an amble amount of branches. It didn’t take them long to set up a basic fire, as before Sotek used his flame spell to start it. They then sat down using two old logs for seats. “There is something you need to be aware of, about us all. Aela, she’s different in another way, she ermm… She needs it, sometimes it seems she isn’t a girl that can turn into a werewolf, but she‘s almost a werewolf, that can change into a girl”.

     

    “Oh I found that out the hard way”. Sotek couldn’t help but rub his neck remembering what she was like in the troll cave. “But you three don’t?”

     

    “No, no we try to fight it. The Harbinger, me, Farkas,  we are seeking a cure, we don’t want it anymore”. He couldn’t help but stare into the distance, his feelings from before he was turned, half forgotten.

     

    “If you get the choice, you should know that if we find a cure, if you choose to turn, then… It would just be you two. I wasn’t born a werewolf.  Aela, she just can’t help but be one. Hell when she’s in human form and happy you can almost sense her tail wagging” With that he gave a laugh, not a great laugh but one which was rather controlled.

     

    “Farkas feels the same?”

     

    “Yes, oh we will turn if we have to, but we try not to. We want our old life’s back, when we die we should head to Sovnguarde.  Aela’s destiny is with Hircine, his hunting grounds, I believe that’s where she wants to go. If you get the choice, and you don’t choose to be turned, don’t expect Aela to chose you over the wolf. She won’t”.

     

    “Do you regret turning?”. Sotek couldn’t help but feel they did, they all regretted it, except Aela.

     

    “Not regret, but I, myself, I’ve had enough. Harbingers getting old, he wants Sovnguarde to be his final journey”.

     

    “How does Aela feel about you guys wanting a cure?”

     

    “That’s the killer, she respects it but inside she hates the thought. You can’t chose based on this, I’d prefer not to tell you, but you deserve to know. Don’t let this influence your choice. Aela would be alone. Oh she’ll be one of us, but alone. The Harbinger fears for her, he’s worried that she might leave and look for others. Now though cause of you  and her, that’s far less likely. She was scared you’d reject her, now she knows that’s not the case she would have a reason to stay”.

     

    Vilkas looked over the horizon and noticed the evening was drawing in.

    “Times getting on, let’s get moving, unless you got any other questions?”

     

    “Just one. How likely is it to find a cure?”

     

    “Harbingers close, well we hope he’s close. Let’s get moving”. With that they gathered up their gear and started heading off. Little did they know they were being watched.

     

     

Comments

10 Comments   |   Aela The Huntress likes this.
  • Relycs
    Relycs   ·  April 1, 2016
    That would work even better, especially if you look at 'how' Kodlak talked to Vilkas about Sotek in Chapter 52, that "...he needs to know all the facts about us”.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  April 1, 2016
    I see where you are coming from Relycs.
    One possibility would be,  'The Nature Of The Beast' as the conversations about Aela being a werewolf and her werewolf itself, Red.
  • Relycs
    Relycs   ·  April 1, 2016
    Not grammar related but to me, the word "Cold" in the title doesn't really fit the dialogue (or vice versa) between Sotek & Vilkas. What I mean is that the conversation, at least the "truth part" (Vilkas' part), didn't feel cold at any time, as he was...  more
  • Relycs
    Relycs   ·  April 1, 2016
    Nice to see them visiting yet another known place in Skyrim. I mean it's really fun to read about a location that you know yourself.

    Hmm... Sotek doesn't really reveal any of his thoughts here, which acts a bit like a cliffhanger, but not in ...  more
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  July 16, 2015
    Red!!! No!!! Bad girl, don't bite... Nooo.. Aww hell get him.
    AWWOoooo
  • Exuro
    Exuro   ·  July 16, 2015
    Thanks, that makes sense.
    cough*virus*cough
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  July 16, 2015
    The way I play it is that the wolf spirit is 'born' when someone becomes a werewolf. If the werewolf's skin is taken upon death it severs the link and the wolf spirit dies. Also if a werewolf's spirit is captured in a soul gem then they can't enter the Hu...  more
  • Exuro
    Exuro   ·  July 16, 2015
    Don't leave Aela alone! Maybe if Hircine built a mead hall in the hunting grounds...
    Some questions I've had about TES is that Skyrim shows that lycanthropes have a spirit animal as well as the virus, so is the spirit immortal and passes from mortal...  more
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  July 14, 2015
    What I like is the fact that it shows the two views of the Companions as well as seperating Aela from her Werewolf Red into two entities rather than just the one.
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  July 14, 2015
    A sensitive chapter. Yes, I say this as they are killing bandits, but a sensitive chapter nevertheless. Haha, women.