The next morning things got much closer to normal. Farkas and Vilkas were outside in the courtyard training whelps. Aela was outside as well but she was just resting on the ground against the wall in the sun huddled under a few animal furs for warmth while she watched the others train. Even the Harbinger was outside taking in the day’s sunrays as he watched over the whelp’s progress. Sotek was out there also; however he wasn’t participating, just watching like the Harbinger and Aela. He sat on a bench where he spent the nights before, silent and still but his eyes were everywhere.
The next few days consisted of the same routine. Aela was gradually building up her strength, even spending the odd hour practicing her archery, although the priestess insisted that Aela had to use a much weaker bow than her own one. Which she did so grudgingly as it done its utmost to ruffle her feathers as it were. The other companions spent their days training the whelps, but everyday Sotek would sit there and watch them all train, never actually taking part. Aela could feel there was a rift, everyone was together but something just wasn’t right. It just didn’t feel the same.
Sotek felt the same thing, everyone did. That late afternoon Sotek blanked out everyone for a few hours as he set his mind upon the task of sorting out the problem. The three nights when he sat by the Skyforge between his nightmares he slowly worked out a way to make amends but now he realized it was far more necessary than he initially had thought. A few hours later everyone headed inside but Sotek stayed there sitting on the bench. He felt he had made good progress towards his plan, but there was one element missing. He heard the sound of a hawk cry out overhead. Instinctively he looked up as it flew off towards the horizon. That’s when he saw it, the final piece to his problem. The two moons had started their climb, gradually gaining height as they lay dominance over the evening sky. He allowed himself a slight smile then after opening the doors he headed inside. Sotek made his way to the Harbinger and asked to speak in private. The Harbinger complied with his request and lead Sotek to his private study where they could talk openly.
“Harbinger, there’s a problem. You can feel it just the same as everyone else. It’s caused by me and Aela… It needs correcting”.
“Yes, but in what way? I hope you’re not thinking of just leaving us”. Although it wasn’t what he wanted, he started to think Sotek was preparing to say he was leaving. The Harbinger was hoping that wouldn’t be the case but due to everyone’s emotions over the course of the last few days that was where he felt everything was leading to.
“I may have to, things can’t stay like this…” Sotek wasn’t planning on this but like he said, he felt unless something happened he would have no other option. “I have been thinking on ways to try to fix everything to get things back to normal. If I can’t fix them then I’m afraid I will have little choice”.
“I can’t help but think you have already decided to go… Is that the case?” Kodlak’s throat felt dry. He took a sip from his flask to try to quench it but the water did little to help.
Sotek solemnly shook his head.
“This is my home in Skyrim, my family... They all look to you for spiritual guidance. Generally I don’t, I try to sort things out here”. As he explained he tapped himself on the temple. “I don’t run, it’s just not my nature”.
“You don’t run? Really? We would never have guessed”. The Harbinger laughed a little, causing Sotek to smile a bit.
“My problem is that I can sort this out but I can’t start to sort it out. Aela must be the one to start... I have an idea which I feel could fix everything, but she won’t come to me to fix it”. Then he looked straight at Kodlak. “She comes to you… So I was thinking you could do it on my behalf without her knowing”
“Do what on behalf exactly?” Kodlak didn’t even bother to try to read Soteks face, however he certainly was intrigued.
“People feel that matters have not been resolved. A debt if you like, of blood. Now if there was say an ancient custom where I would have to repay her somehow, say maybe completing tasks or something then after hopefully everyone would feel the debt has been paid and honor would have been settled”. Sotek spoke slow and precise, giving the Harbinger no doubt at all that Sotek had thought this through very carefully.
“But there’s no ancient custom”. For a scant moment the Harbinger thought it would work, but such a custom was unheard of.
Sotek quietly laughed.
“Now that surprisess me, I would have thought you heard of ‘Lapsa Luna’, after all you are the Harbinger”.
The Harbinger’s face surrendered to complete confusion.
“What? I’m sorry?”
“Oh the ancient custom of settling spilled blood in the companions. If someone has spilt blood then they have to do tasks or such to make amends. I thought all the Harbingers since the start of the Companions knew about ‘Lapsa Luna’. It means ‘Fallen Moon’”. Then Sotek chuckled to himself.
“What makes you think she will come to speak to me about it?” The Harbinger was in no doubt it probably would work but if Aela didn’t come to him then what.
Sotek nodded slyly to himself as if he could read the Harbingers mind.
“That’s the best part. Even if she doesn’t come to you, then you can go to her.” Then he acted like he was the Harbinger and spoke in a deep Nordic voice. At least the best impression he could muster. “Aela, I need a word. All this business with Sotek, you need to sort it. So Aela, here’s what you need to do”.
“Just how long have you been making this plan up?” Kodlak had to hand it to Sotek, the plan was simple but it certainly would prove extremely effective.
“Oh over the three nights spent sitting by the forge keeping warm”. With that he smiled and left. The Harbinger couldn’t help but wonder just how sharp Sotek’s mind really was.
The next day things were still the same as the day before. The two ‘Brother’s’ of Aela’s trained the Whelps while she built up her strength. Sotek as usual just sat there on the wooden step as he watched everyone else. But still the dark cloud hovered above everything. Today though there was one difference, Aela had enough. She decided to speak to the Harbinger.
“I’m troubled… There’s something wrong. It’s still hanging in the air. I was hoping it would clear but it’s never going to, is it?” As she spoke she had a faraway stare.
“Troubled? With what may I ask?” Kodlak knew the problem. Then again that was expected after all you didn’t get to become Harbinger without knowing the family. What Aela didn’t realize was that thanks to Sotek, he knew the solution as well.
“Since that day when I… Got injured... I’ve talked to Sotek but he just smiles like nothing’s wrong but it is… Everyone can feel it! The air, its stale”.
“So what are you going to do about it?” The Harbinger asked.
With that she slumped down in the chair and shrugged her shoulders pathetically.
“I don’t know”
“You were hurt Aela. Regardless of actions, so evoke your right”.
“What right? Revenge isn’t gonna fix this”. She was angry, mostly at herself but frustrated just as much.
“Oh no this is hard enough without revenge. I was thinking of right to evoke Lapsa Luna”.
Aela’s feelings immediately dispersed as confusion rapidly took their place.
“What’s that? I’ve never heard of it”
Kodlak chuckled to himself as he thought back to Sotek’s grinning snarl.
“It’s from ancient times of the companions. When one Companion causes another serious harm. Like you were hurt when you were carried to the temple… When that happens then the Companion can evoke Lapsa Luna. It means fallen moon. Every day you spent away Sotek must be given a task publicly given to repay the spilt blood. Evoke your right”
“I don’t want that, I want to fix it”.
“You’re not doing this for you! You caused this, you know that. You’ve even goading the others! So you do this. You evoke Lapsa Luna, but for his sake not your own. Do it tonight…” As he spoke he rested a hand on Aela’s shoulder but he couldn’t help but wonder if the plan would work.
That evening when everyone was in the main hall, the Harbinger stood up and raised his hands for silence. Aela for the first time felt nervous, she wasn’t one for public speaking, not like this. The Harbinger nodded to Aela, so she stood up and turned to Sotek.
“Sotek… You caused me harm. I evoke the right to Lapsa Luna. three days I spent away so three tasks you must do. Do you accept this charge?”
Sotek got up from where he was sitting in the corner. Aela hadn’t even realized up to this point that he wasn’t at the main table. If Sotek was nervous, he certainly didn’t show it.
“Yes I accept”. His voice was strong and clear as his eyes fixed on Aela’s. “What is first task?”
She looked at him for the first time properly in days. He stood solid, proud, ready to do her bidding.
“Ermm I’ll get back to you on that”. Then as quick as a flash she sat down feeling embarrassed. She wished she thought it through a bit more than she had.
Sotek sat down calmly and patiently waited for his plan to bear fruit. The Harbinger sat there watching everyone. He couldn’t help but feel that the air started to clear already, sensing that others were far happier knowing that Aela’s debt was to be settled.
That night Sotek had the same nightmare. He awoke to find his entire body was soaked in sweat. As he reached out for a glass of water, his hand shook uncontrollably. The dream was so vivid. They always were every night. The same nightmare… He dreamt once again that he could see Aela standing there facing him. In a blur he shot towards her, slamming in to her. He could hear the bones breaking as if it were in slow motion. He was forced to look down at Aela lying on the floor. She was dead. Puddles of blood lay everywhere while he himself was covered head to foot in the thick red life giving liquid. Even the very walls of Jorrvaskr were painted in blood.
He hadn’t slept properly since that incident happened. It was always the same nightmare which waited patiently for him to sleep. Aela died and he could do nothing to prevent it. The first night he dreamt it he made himself a solemn vow. He was never going to raise a weapon to any of them ever. Even during training sessions. He just couldn’t bear himself to raise arms against them. As for Aela, he was never going to be able to confront her again. Seeing her lying there on the ground in the dirt, covered in blood made his stomach hurl and his whole body shake with fear. Even though it was days ago, sweat poured off him as the air became practically un-breathable with just at the thought of her lying there.
Comments
Sometimes the blog plays up a bit. I appreciate the thought
Thanks for spotting that mistake Idesto. I appreciate it.
A little typo: "thought you heArd of ‘Lapsa Luna’ ”
Good stuff Sotek