U.O.T.W. Chapter 28 Soul's Apart

• Posted by Sotek May 27, 2015 - Filed in TSC: CB Story - 1,118 views

   

  

   

  As soon as Aela walked into the Harbinger’s chamber, Vilkas slammed the door behind her. She jumped due to the sudden and unexpected crash as the heavy wooden door banged against the oak frame. Before she could even catch her breath Vilkas leaned in her face as he accusingly waved his finger right under her nose.

  “Have you told him about us?”

   

  Being caught completely unaware, Aela stammered as her mind reeled from the rapid change in events and the sudden transformation from the calm atmosphere to the current hostile one which she now found herself in.

  “N… No”.

   

  Farkas joined in the verbal attack giving Aela no chance to defend herself or even try to recover from her initial shock.

  “You bloody well have, haven’t you?”

   

  The color drained from her face giving her a pale look which both Farkas and Vilkas mistook for guilt. Her stomach turned causing her to feel sick as her head started to crumble from the unprovoked attack. Deep inside her, something stirred.

   

  Aela’s face changed color within a few seconds from an off white to a deep red almost like she was blushing. Kodlak looked worried as he saw the signs in her immediately. Before he could intervene though Aela stopped being the other Companions victim and turned her attention to attacking them instead.

  “No I bloody well haven’t!!!! Harbinger I haven’t… I swear I haven’t”. Her face was full of desperation and anger at being accused.

   

  The Harbinger tried to regain an air of control before things escalated which he could see was rapidly going to happen.

  “Farkas, Vilkas please… Give her a chance”.

   

  Farkas ignored him. He was too fired up as fear of the discovery of their terrible secret coaxed him on.

  “What was that howling about then?” He stood over her alongside Vilkas demanding an immediate answer.

   

  Aela shouted back at them with just as much anger as they had shown her.

  “A private matter that’s none of your bloody business”. She felt judged and it hurt her deeply. A few tears ran down her cheeks before dropping onto the stone floor.  “I didn’t tell him”. She wiped a single tear off her face with the tip of her finger and watched it sit there for a moment before flicking it away like a piece of unwanted trash. Suddenly she saw red and snapped back to the attack, “You bloody bastards!!! Nearly every night your down the tavern with the maids, you tell me once, just bloody once when I accused you of telling them”. Within a second she drew her skinning knife and savagely lashed out at both Farkas and Vilkas effectively forcing them back away from her, thus giving her the much needed space. Kodlak closed his eyes as the daggers blade flashed in the lamp light to find itself thudding into the top of a small table.

   

  “I haven’t told him, he doesn’t know”. As she spoke she glared at the other Companions.

   

  The Harbinger put his arms around her to give her some comfort and at the same time try to calm her down.

  “That’s enough, She says she hasn’t and we all know she don’t lie”. She fought it but she couldn’t stop her eyes watering due to her frustration and anger. A few tears trickled down her cheeks which the Harbinger wiped away with his hand. He gently rocked her side to side as he whispered in her ear. “Aela..Aela..Aela..Shussssh”.

   

  Farkas and Vilkas only needed the one look at Aela to realize they overstepped the mark just like they all had done with Sotek weeks ago. Vilkas reached out a hand to her in the hope Aela would see it. She lifted her head up slightly to catch him in the corner of her eye. He could see the hurt they both caused, It was obvious to everyone she was desperately trying to hold back the tears. Inside her anger and frustration threatened to boil over. The strain was clearly shown on  her face.

   

  He gently put his hand on her arm and slowly pulled her towards him. Aela took a deep breath to reestablish control of her emotions to end up throwing herself into both Farkas and Vilkas’s arms. She clung on tightly as she stood between them. All the while they both held her like she was their little sister. Her voice weak and frail as she whispered.

  “I didn’t tell him, he don’t know”.

   

  Farkas whispered back as he brushed his fingers through her hair.

  “It’s ok, it’s ok… We went too far”. He gave her a kiss on the forehead while she just clung onto the pair of them, her brothers.

   

  Kodlak sat Aela down in his favorite chair before dismissing both Vilkas and Farkas from his chamber.  

  “She hasn’t said anything to him. What is going on I don’t know but what we do know is that we can trust her. Wait for her at the end of the corridor then take her upstairs”. With that the two Companions left the room leaving Aela and the Harbinger alone in his study. left the room.

   

  Once he closed his door, the Harbinger inquisitively asked her about what happened outside in the courtyard.

  “What’s the private matter about?”

   

  Aela shook her head as she begged him to leave the matter alone.

  “No…. Please…”

   

  Kodlak nodded slightly as if he understood her fears.

  “Ok... Do I need to know?” He asked. She just shook her head slowly in response.

   

  After sighing to himself the Harbinger sat beside her in a second chair and reached out to hold her hand. She stared at his fingers as they held her tightly like he used to when she was little.

  “If you need to, will you talk to me?” With that she gave the slightest of nods.

   

  As Aela went to leave the room, Kodlak called out to her.

  “Aela, Farkas and Vilkas spent a lot of nights in the Inn with the maids. We all know this. What about you?”

   

  Aela turned her head around sharply as confusion filled her face.

  “I only got the inn when we’re all drinking there. I haven’t been there lately”.

   

  Kodlak nodded as he gave her a knowing smile.

  “Oh I’m fully aware of that. I am however somewhat curious”.

   

  Aela turned around so she was facing him while her eyes narrowed as she tried to work out where the Harbinger was heading with this conversation.

  “Curious about what?”

   

  “Oh I know you haven’t spent much time at the Inn this last week. Then again I know you haven’t spent much time in your room either… Have you?”

   

  Aela’s face dropped to the floor where she stared at his feet for a few seconds before she opened his door and headed down the corridor where Farkas and Vilkas were waiting.  

   

  When Aela Farkas and Vilkas rejoined the others in the hall, Sotek expected Aela to sit at the main table but instead she moved to a small table by herself. Sotek could see she had been upset but as he turned towards Farkas who was at the large table, he found himself under scrutiny from both Farkas and Vilkas. Glancing back at Aela, he could see she was withdrawn so he went and sat next to her. As he picked up an apple from a wooden blow that sat between them,  his hand slid under the table and discreetly wrapped around Aela’s  fingers.

   

  Aela was somewhat startled by Sotek’s gesture. Her head snapped up to see him smiling at her. He turned his head slightly and could still see the others were watching both him and Aela suspiciously. He deliberately turned around slightly so he was facing the training yard door then somewhat unexpectedly, he started laughing.

  “You should have seen your face when you tried to pick up your bow”.

   

  Aela’s eyes fell into their typical glare pose as she snarled jestingly at him.

  “That wasn’t funny. You made me look stupid”. Seconds later she started smirking at the thought of the bow sliding across the ground.

   

  Sotek gently rubbed her chin with his finger drawing her face around so she was looking straight at him.

  “You know, you should really make sure your holding a bow when you try to fire off arrows. I’m told it helps”.

   

  Aela’s eyes narrowed then her fist shot out punching Sotek in the shoulder.

  “Asshole”.

   

  Sotek grabbed the ‘wound’ with his hand as he acted like he was shot by an arrow, all the while he cried out in agony.

  “Owww. I’ve been hit. Argonian down, priestess, anyone help!”

   

  Aela burst out laughing as she watched him squirm on the chair.

  “You wussy”.  

   

   A short time later she stated that she wasn’t feeling well then headed to her room. As she left the table she whispered to Sotek basically telling him not to worry about her.

   

  A while later the Harbinger entered the hall to find Aela wasn’t there.

  “Vilkas, where’s Aela?”

   

  Vilkas paused as he glanced over to Sotek who was now sitting on his step by the fire pit. Sotek answered on Aela’s behalf.

  “She wasn’t feeling too good so she went to lay down for a while. She seemed upset since she followed you three downstairs. What happened down there?” As he spoke his eyes fixed on the Harbinger causing a slight shudder to shoot down Kodlak’s back. Sotek suspected his relationship with Aela had been found out but he wanted to see what was actually known before stating anything about it.

   

  The Harbinger blanked Soteks question by pointing towards the stairwell.

  “Sotek, can you check on her please?”

   

  Sotek just nodded then headed across the room. When he reached the steps he paused as he studied the Harbinger for a few seconds before making his way to Aela’s room. The first thing he noticed amiss was the simple fact that Aela’s door was ajar. He knew that in itself was odd because she would always close it. Whether she was in her room or not. As he pushed on the door, it met resistance from something blocking it. He stuck his head around the doorway to see her there lying on the floor in a crumpled heap. Her breathing was fast and heavy, while her heart hammered like a drum. He tried to wake her up but she just lay there, motionless except for her rapid breathing. He called out for help, in the few seconds he yelled, a whelp came running in.

  “Get the Harbinger. Now damn you!!!” The whelp froze for a few seconds before she went running upstairs.

   

  Within moments Sotek could hear the heavy footsteps of the Harbinger, Farkas and Vilkas as they ran  down the corridor towards Aela’s room. Kodlak was the first to pass through the doorway but stopped abruptly due to Sotek still kneeling down just inside the room besides Aela’s body. He was still cradling her in is arms as he turned towards the Harbinger.

  “What the hell’ss up with her?”

   

  The Harbinger only needed the one look at her to know that particular answer.  He spoke with a steady authoritative voice in the vain hope of calming the situation down.

  “Sotek, take her to the temple. The priestess might be able to help”. Although he sounded confident, inside he knew it was an entirely different matter. Within seconds Sotek was up off the floor and heading along the passageway with Aela in his arms. He hurriedly carried her over to the temple, pushing past anyone too slow to move out of his way.  Upon entering the main section of the sanctuary he gently laid her down on one of the stone slab beds. She flumped down like a corpse apart from her breathing which echoed around the vast shrine’s hall. As she rested on the block of stone everyone could see her heart pounding in her chest like it was going to burst at any moment. It was almost like she was actually running… Running for her very life.

   

  The priestess came over to Aela and felt her check with the back of her hand. She mumbled under her breath as she chanted various prayers of the nines. She tried to explain the situation in the best way she could while she sympathetically rested her hand on Aela’s temple.

  “I’m sorry… We can’t help” She stood there shaking her head, feeling useless.

   

  Sotek went up to her face, inches away from her demanding an immediate answer.

  “What the hell do you mean you can’t help, if not you then who?” Due to his throat and mouth feeling dry, his voice sounded like it came from an angry frog. However what was perfectly clear was his anger and blatant disregard to the Temple as a place of worship. The priestess tried to back away but she quickly found herself hemmed in.

   

  She gave up trying to move away from Sotek and decided to change tact. Instead of any attempt at avoiding his anger she met it face on. Her eyes shone with empathy at Sotek’s and Aela’s plight as she slowly but reassuringly rested a  hand on Sotek’s shoulder. She looked at him right in the eyes as she calmly spoke to the group who stood before her.

  “Sotek, its Daedra”. Her voice full of sympathy.

   

  Sotek just stared blankly at Aela as he cupped his hand around her cheek.

  Losing any and all restraint, Sotek snapped back at her angrily as if he was fully prepared to tackle the very gods themselves. His eyes narrowed as he leaned in towards the priestess.

  “Who?”

   

  “Sotek!” The Harbinger yelled at the top of his voice as a means of distracting him so the priestess could move around the stone bed where Aela lay as if she used it as a barrier between her and Sotek’s wrath. “What you going to do? Go to every Daedra shrine demanding to know who did this? Calm down... That won’t help”.

   

  Sotek stood over Aela as he shouted out to vent his frustration at Kodlak.

  “What the hell happened downstairs earlier!”. Both Vilkas and Farkas jumped. They took a step back away from him, both equally relieved that they didn’t cause this. The one picture they both couldn’t get out of their heads was of the target dummy. As one the two Companions found themselves staring straight at Sotek’s axe.

   

  The Harbinger spoke solemnly as he pulled Sotek aside away from the Priestess’s ears.

  “We need to speak with him. Come with us”.

   

  As he lead Sotek away from the temple, Farkas reached out a hand blocking Soteks path.

  “Harbinger?” He turned to face Sotek glaring at him, and instantly lowered it as  he stepped back out of Sotek’s way.

   

  The Harbinger cursed under his breath.

  “Oh, he isn’t one of us Farkas, but surely even you can see he’s going to be”. With that they headed to Jorrvaskr. Sotek threw open the doors which slammed into the sidewalls with a crash. The Harbinger quietly muttered at him, but he himself decided not to chance saying anything. Tilma started pacing towards the Argonian but Kodlak held his hand up to her effectively stopping her in her tracks.

   

  Oblivious to everyone staring at him, Sotek drew out his axe as he walked over to a chair and tossed his axe on the table. It landed with a loud ‘crash’ which was fortunate as the noise hid everyone’s sigh of relief that Sotek threw it instead of slamming it down. After the destruction of the target dummy, the last thing Kodlak wanted to do was replace a table as well. Sotek then sat down on a step with his shoulders hunched over. He stared at the fire pit for a few moments before for the fleetest of moments glancing up at the Harbinger.

   

  “I feel so bloody useless”…With his hand resting in his pocket he turned back to the fire pit despairingly. “Ok, we’re here! Now what are we ssupossed to do? You ssaid we need to sse someone... Ssee who?”

   

  His voice was a lot calmer but it was still tainted with the frustration which was clear to everyone as they all knew he hissed when he was under pressure and stressed.

   

  “Now we wait until the whelps are down, and the moon is up”. The Harbinger replied. As he spoke he pointed to Sotek for emphasis. “Get some rest”. Sotek sat there watching the fire pit staring at it. Inside, his heart tore at him like it was trying to escape his chest. All the energy he spent took its toll and over the next fifteen minutes, without even realizing it was happening, he fell asleep.

   

  While he lay against a pillar by the steps,  Farkas spoke quietly to the Harbinger and Vilkas.

  “I get the fact that everyone’s worried, but isn’t he acting way over the top of this? Is he going to be able to handle it?”

   

  Vilkas joined in.

  “Yea, hell a few weeks ago he nearly kills her. Before that she wages her private war against him… And now this?”

   

  Kodlak gave a sigh as he signaled at them to be quieter.

  “Since the incident, and especially since that night on the plains, they have become quite close. Argonians defend their friends with their lives if necessary. He’s just upset he can’t help that’s all”.

   

  Tilma tugged on his arm and led him away from the others.

  “Are you going to bullshit me like you did them?”

   

  Kodlak smiled as he shook his head.

  "Would there be any point if I did?”

   

  Tilma nodded slightly in response.

  “Only my broom handle. Here, you were right. Red hairs… Aela’s”. Tilma discretely held her hand open to show the Harbinger what she had found. In the palm of her hand she held several long thin strands of hair.

   

  Kodlak nodded as he secretly glanced over to Sotek. “And where did you find them?”

   

  Tilma huffed slightly as she started walking away from him.

  “You know where… Sotek’s room… His bed”.

   

  Later that night Vilkas shook Sotek, waking him up.

  “It’s time”. The Harbinger lead them all outside to the rock face underneath the Skyforge. In the rock wall there was a glowing symbol but Sotek never noticed it before. The Harbinger rested his hand on it then a secret door opened revealing a dark chamber. When they entered Sotek looked around, there were three empty circular shrine bases surrounding a stone bowl carved out of the rock. In front of it stood a small statue of a Daedra. Sotek recognized it instantly. 

   

  He  walked up to it angrily and hissed his defiance.

  “Hircine…What the hell have you done to her? You basstard, Hsss”.

   

  Everyone stopped dead in their tracks, not one of them thinking he knew of the Daedra, let alone what he really knew.

  A voice boomed out from nowhere as a white stag appeared before them all.

  “You dare come here! To my very shrine!”

   

  “Oh I dare, I dare like my forefather dared... I know you... I’ve known you all my life”. Sotek then turned to the others standing there, not even the Harbinger knew what to think. “Many moons ago my forefather joined his great hunt at the time of the blood moon”. He then pointed an accusing finger at Hircine. “He granted three boons to my forefather, making him faster, stronger. Claws that cut through armor like it was paper”.

   

  He leaned towards the stag almost thretengly as he snarled in hateful anger. “But you wanted the greatest hunt of all, so you called your great hunt and went after him. He killed them, then he came for you!!! He beat you, banished you and laid to waste your great hunt”.

  “Give her back, or I swear on my ancestors. I’ll kill ‘em... I’ll kill them all”.

   

  Sotek then turned to the others and shouted out at anyone who would listen.

  “He knows I speak the truth. He cursed my family for generations. We would all feel the need for the hunt, but because of his fear, we could never be turned. His fear for what my ancestor did, what we could do stops us from joining with the beast”. Sotek then slumped down next to the carved pillar unable to carry on.

   

  He sat there with his eyes closed, then his voice which was now a whisper, hissed out quietly.

  “Just… Give… Her… Back… Hsss”.

   

  Hircine’s voice boomed once more around the cave.

  “She‘s mine! She always was”. Then Hircine spoke quieter, like he was almost afraid other Daedra could hear him. “She has been taken from the hunt, by another. Find her, return her to her rightful place...”

   

  Sotek started to speak but the Harbinger held his hand up to him, stopping him in his tracks. Kodlak then spoke to Hircine directly. “Who has her? Where’s her rightful place?”.

  “Sheogorath has taken her”.

   

  Hircine whispered softly, almost like he didn’t want Sheogorath to know he was sending agents of his own.

  “There is a spell, an illusion cast by Sheogorath himself on his agents.  They are all Aela, her scent,  her mind , her very soul. All are perfect clones, perfect copies. Prove you’re worthy of the hunt, return her to me and kill the defilers”.

   

  He moved like a ghost walking through the stone bowl in the middle of the cave and stood right in front of Farkas, Vilkas and Sotek.

  “I will grant each of you three hunters a boon. What is the greatest gift for a hunter stalking in the night?”

   

  Farkas looked up at the stag, after giving it the most basic of thought he answered.

  “Speed” Slowly green tendrils floated up from the ground surrounding him until they were absorbed by his body.

   

  Vilkas turned to his brother Farkas, and replied.

  “Strength”. A red mist appeared from nowhere smothering him. With every breath he took, the red vapor poured down his throat.

   

  Sotek walked right up to Hircine as defiantly as he was earlier. His eyes shone full of anger and fury.

  “You know what I want”.

   

  Hircine laughed and stood an inch closer to Sotek.

  “You ask for what you can’t have. Just as you take what isn’t yours to take hmmm? But perhaps you may yet prove your worth, perhaps… You will have the boon of the blood, hunter. Let’s see if you can indeed be useful, let’s see if you can be trusted… Find her”.

   

  The next moment a near black spectral wolf appeared and savagely bit Sotek on the hand, making him yell out although it was more so from surprise and shock than actual pain. Within moments the wolf had vanished completely, leaving Soteks blood dripping on the floor as the only indication that the spectral beast was ever there.

   

  Sotek flexed his hand, the wound was still clearly visible but it had stopped bleeding. He glared at Hircine as he hissed viciously. “How the hell are we ssupposed to find her? Hsss”

   

  Hircine stared at Sotek. His eyes cut into him making him shudder.

  “You track her, follow her scent as a wolf does his prey. After all she is your prey is she not, hunter? And you know her scent oh, so very well…”

   

  Both Farkas and Vilkas looked oddly at each other, while the Harbinger covered his face with his hands. Farkas tugged on Sotek’s arm for the simplest of explanations.

  “What on earth does he mean by that”.

   

  Sotek and Hircine however both stood there facing each other, Hircine gave Sotek a knowing smile then he vanished leaving them alone once more.

   

  Farkas repeated himself.

  “Well has anyone got any idea as to what Hircine was on about? Sotek? Harbinger?”

   

  Both Kodak and Vilkas shook their heads, but Sotek just stared at him. Seconds later a white mist filled the cave, swallowing the three of them. The walls disappeared as a blue sky broke through the mist. Lush tall pine trees appeared where the cave walls once were.