U.O.T.W. Chapter 55 Second Shadow

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    Sotek and Vilkas were about an hours walk away when Whiterun had a visitor. A female Argonian clad in blackened leather armor entered the main gate then made her way to Jorrvaskr. She however completely blanked everyone’s attempt at saying hello as she walked through the city. When she reached the doors to the Hall of Jorrvaskr she shoved them open and bluntly walked straight inside.

    “Hello everyone. Has anyone seen an Argonian? His names Sotek”. Everyone turned towards her, each Companions face was equally filled with surprise although there was one exception. Aela’s eyes fixed her with a cold hard stare.

     

    She was covered in green scales like Sotek, but she was a lighter shade and paler complexion. Her throat however had the same redness as Soteks. Aela thought back about what the innkeeper said in Winterhold and quietly snarled. She stood straight up, not bothering with restraint one little bit.

    “Who the hell are you?”

     

    “Oh me? I’m his wife”. The Argonian responded in a matter of fact tone.

     

    Aela couldn’t believe what she was hearing, she almost gasped in shock as she stared at the Argonian in complete disbelief at what she had just heard.

    “You’re what?”

     

    Everyone else stopped dead, their eyes fixed on the Argonian.

    “I’m his wife, oh you are hard of hearing. Ah, I can see it from your look, he’s up to his old tricks again isn’t he?” She calmly walked over to Aela and sat down beside her. Aela was too stunned to say or do anything, all she could do was stand there and listen.

     

    “Now I take it that he said your his first? I’m guessing you because of the way your acting dear. He’s got a thing about the colour red. That’s why we got together, my throat”. As she spoke she pointed to her neck as if to emphasize her statement. “Last time it was an imperial, all because the silly girl had a red cloak”. With that she just shook her head dismissively. “The children miss him, he has such a way with children. Oh you silly girl. Nope, this is no good… I’ve come to take him home”. With that she got up and stood in Aela’s face.

     

    “Tell you he loved you did he? Tut tut”. Then she shook her head at Aela.

     

    Aela couldn’t hold back the tears, her face screwed up with anger and frustration. She tried but she couldn’t even speak.

    “Now, where is my husband?”

     

    That was the final straw, Aela screamed out with the anger and spite of a viper.

    “Who the hell does he think he is playing me? I’ll fu**ing kill the bastard!” Aela headed to the door screaming at anyone who got in her way.

     

    “Oh that’s for the best I’m sure. Have a vent dear and get it out your system… You’ll get over him, someone with your beauty and what simple mind you got. After all, he just needed to say he loved you and you bedded him. It wasn’t hard for him at all was it. Are all the Nord girls that easy? Or is it just the gullible ones?” The Argonian’s voice had a sneer like tone to it as if she was mocking Aela.

     

    Aela bit back with open hostility. Her face screwed up as she snarled at the unwelcome intruder.

    “I beg your fu**ing pardon? It wasn’t like that!”

     

    “Well of course it was… He came in acting his usual self, ‘I’m the Dragonborn, look at me’ and you dropped your loin cloth and opened your legs to him… Girls always throw themselves at him…”

     

    Aela slapped her hard across the face.

    “You’re a fu**ing liar, get the hell out, you filthy bitch!” As she yelled right in the face of the Argonian she pointed to the door.

     

    The Argonian completely blanked the hit, she just stepped up to Aela with a peculiar smile across her face.

    “What, you don’t believe me?”

     

    “No I bloody don’t, he’s not like that. I don’t know who the hell you are and I don’t give a sh*t… F**k off…” she then gave the Argonian a shove. the Argonian fell backwards but she extremely quickly regained her footing.

     

    “So you really don’t believe me? Excellent, this ways far more fun”. Then as quick as anything she kicked out hitting Aela in the stomach sending her to the floor. All the others got up but before anyone could do anything another Argonian, this one a male clad in the same blackened leather, dropped to the floor near the door. He held a loaded crossbow and aimed straight at Aela. The tip of the bolt dripped with a clear sticky poison. The female grabbed Aela by the hair, lurched her up to her knees and slapped her hard in the face twice. She then slapped her a third time sending her sprawling to the ground.

     

    The next second Sotek and Vilkas walked in. Sotek’s attention was fixed on Aela who was just getting up. Floods of tears covered her face with the marks clearly showing where she had been hit. Sotek stood there not moving but he took in the events instantly. His eyes never leaving the female Argonian.

    “Vilkas, take Aela and sit her down. All of you sit down, now!”

     

    Farkas went to move but Sotek shouted at him before he could take a single step.

    “Sit the hell down!”

     

    The male Argonian addressed Sotek as a wicked smile smothered his face giving him an evil snarly appearance.

    “So here you are, just as they were getting to know each other. That’s a shame, it was just getting interesting. Still it’s good to see you have some control over the dogs”.

     

    The female Argonian seductively approached Sotek as she whispered sensually to him although she made sure her voice still carried across the hall.

    “I was trying to explain about us my love but the whore didn’t buy it. So I’ll make it simple… Two moons, we’ll be back in two moons. Then I want your heart unconditionally. Have your fun with the slut... Two moons”. She then leant over and kissed Sotek on the cheek all the while Sotek’s gaze stayed fixed on Aela. His eyes almost burned with anger.

     

    As the two Argonians left, the male Argonian stopped as he cast a look of disdain at Aela. He turned towards Sotek as he pointed at her.

    “What the hell’s wrong with you anyway? She’s a bloody Nord for the love of Sithis”. With that the two Argonians exited through the two main doors.

     

    Sotek just stood there as his eyes searched the hall for answers.

    “How many times did she get hit?” He pointed straight at Aela as he growled out to everyone but they were all too stunned to answer.

     

    “How many bloody times!” He yelled out making one of the younger Whelps jump from the sudden outburst.

     

    Farkas regained his composure first and called back to him.

    “Three”.

     

    With that Sotek went up to the closest Whelp and snatched their sword then stuck it tip first into the fire pit without saying another word. Once it started glowing he sat on the step then burned three scars on his face above his left eye. He hissed out loudly from the pain just as two of the Whelps ran down stairs due to their stomachs which threatened to throw up from the stench of burning flesh. With his arm shaking from the pain, Sotek turned towards the doors.

    “I’ll be damned if there’s a fourth scar. Hssss”.

     

    The door’s opened as the female stuck her head inside and smirked at Sotek.

    “There’s always room for one more scar…” Then she moved her finger from ear to ear mimicking the slitting of a throat. She gave Aela a passing wink and quickly left closing the door behind her.

     

    Aela screamed at the doors with all the spite she could muster.

    “I’ll fu**ing kill you, you bitch”. She quickly turned on Sotek who received her full unbridled wrath. “Who the hell was that, you bloody bastard”. Then she slapped him across the face hard, without stopping she started pounding his chest with her fists. Sotek puffed his chest out, and lifted his head out of her way letting her for a few seconds continually punch him.

     

    He grabbed her arms forcing her away a few feet.

    “I don’t know who she is”.

     

    Sotek looked at Aela’s face she was totally distraught, her eyes were streaming from frustration.

    “You bloody liar. You bastard of a mongrel”.  She collapsed on the floor in a ball crying her heart out.

     

    Sotek lent down to her and tried to hold her despite her best efforts to push him away.

    “Aela have I ever lied to you, come on think. When have I lied to you” .

     

     

    Vilkas came over to her and held her leaving Sotek sitting there alone. All he could do was to look on at her.

    “Let’s get the bitch, we’ll find out the truth”.

     

    Sotek grabbed him by the arm and swung him around so they were forced to face each other.

    “No! You don’t touch her. You stay the hell away from her and him”.

     

    Aela saw red again. She scrambled to her feet and shoved him angrily.

    “Why ‘cause she told the fu**ing truth? You bastard. Tell me, is that why?”

     

    “Aela you bloody listen to me, you all bloody listen, every damn one of you. I don’t have a clue who the hell they are...”

     

    Aela just screamed at him in anger.

    “So why bloody protect them? Why?”

     

    “Aela, they're Shadowscales! Who they are I don’t know but that’s Shadowscale armour. The only reason you’re not dead is cause they're not after you. None of you dare try to take them out, none of you”.

     

    “But she said she want’s your heart unconditionally”. Aela’s voice was softer but she was still struggling with her emotions.

     

    Sotek managed to get her to let him hold on to her. After a few seconds she just collapsed in his chest.

    “Yes she does... Unconditionally in a bloody box. They’re after me, all this with you is just a game for them, just for fun. I’m the one who their after”.

     

    Sotek sat on the step where he usually did. He pulled Aela gently towards him as he tried to give her some comfort. There they sat silently for over a hour but during that time she just rested in his arms. Once she calmed down and took it all in, she looked at his face. Only then did she take notice of the three scars he gave himself.

    “Why did you do that?” She was still a bit upset, but she picked up a small linen wrap from a table then after spitting on the end, she started dabbing the wounds.

     

    Sotek winced from the pain, but let her carry on regardless.

    “Because I wasn’t here to protect you, so now I have a reminder of my duty”.

     

    “Your duty? To protect me? What about yourself? What are we going to do?”

     

    Soteks tail thudded down on the floor as he abruptly snapped back at her.

    “There is no ‘we’ in this. This is my problem. You’re not part of it”. With that he gently but firmly pushed Aela’s hands down away from his wounds.

     

    Aela however didn’t agree and she let her feelings known.

    “Nope this is our problem, like it or lump it”.

     

    Sotek gently pulled her face towards him so he could look right into her eyes as he spoke solemnly to her.

    “Aela, you know I love you?”

     

    Aela gulped slightly then nodded slowly as she answered him.

    Yes, yes I do”.

     

    He gave her a kiss on the forehead then held her head against his chest.

    “If you so much as think about getting involved, unless I ask you to, this goes for all of you...” As he spoke he turned to the companions. “I’ll leave...” 

     

    Aela stared at him in shock.

    “Why would you say that? You can’t do that to me!”

     

    “I have to protect you. If you can’t keep out of it, then I’ll have no choice. If you love me, and you want me to be here with you then please, please... Let me sort it”.

     

    “How the hell are you going to do that? You can’t take out two assassins”. Aela desperately wanted to help but with that threat hanging over her there was little she felt that she could do.

     

    Sotek sighed as he resigned himself to his dilemma.

    “Well the first thing I need to do to is... Stop talking to you about it”.

     

    Aela pulled his chin towards her so she could look into his eyes. A thought played in her mind so she decided to try it out.

    “I’ve gone off once before and got into trouble. Unless you keep me in the loop and let me help you then I might get the urge to go off again. This time I might get killed and that would be your fault for not keeping an eye on me. So are we in this together or shall I simply pop out for a few days and see what happens?”

     

    Sotek just sat there looking at her dumbfounded.

     

    “Ok I take that as a ‘No Aela your not helping sort this’. I’m off for a few days I’ll be in touch”. With that she got up then left Jorrvaskr as she headed into Whiterun.

     

    Sotek stared at the doorway for a few seconds then started laughing. He got up then picked up Aela’s Dragonbone bow from the table before walking towards the opposite doors to the ones which Aela had hastily exited the hall and stood by them.

     

    Aela realised instantly that she left her bow behind. She walked around Jorrvaskr then slowly opened the doors from the courtyard to find Sotek standing right in front of her holding out her bow. Sotek gave a heavy sigh as he cast his eyes upon her.

    “You do what I say when I say it”.

     

    She took it off him gingerly, then threw herself at him wrapping her arms around him.

    “Ok, I swear I will, I promise. Oh yes, I'm sorry about the slap... You did deserve it at the time though”.

     

    “No I didn’t”. He remarked defensively.

     

    “Well I thought you did, so it still counts”. With that she blew a raspberry at him.

     

    “What?” He just looked at her as he tried to work out where she was coming from.

     

    “Well I thought you used me, so there. Don’t use me or you know what will happen. First things first, you need sleep”. Without another word Aela sent Sotek off to his room. Once she was sure he had gone she approached Kodlak who was feeling uneasy about the whole predicament.  “Harbinger, I want to ask him tonight”.

     

    “Are you sure that’s wise?” With everything that happened he wasn’t so sure.

     

    “I honestly think he would, that would give him an advantage. If he said no then we got time to sort out something else. I want to do it tonight, it's right”.

     

    Kodlak tried to weigh things up in his mind then he gave Aela a slight smile.  

    “Make the arrangements”.

     

     

     

Comments

9 Comments   |   Aela The Huntress likes this.
  • Relycs
    Relycs   ·  April 1, 2016
    I would have certainly done it anyway and my emotions aren't even as destabil as hers are.^^



    First I thought they came from Red, attacking him when he tried to calm her down after a bloody fight, or something like that.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  April 1, 2016
    The trouble with that is the Whelps are about.
    I'm glad you liked the idea for the scars as I wanted them to have meaning.
  • Relycs
    Relycs   ·  April 1, 2016
    Intense chapter, Aela probably should have turned into Red to rip them apart.. Where else to put that anger?

    Good idea for the origin of the scars.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  July 16, 2015
    Double oww. Sorry 'bout that guys. Fixed.
  • Exuro
    Exuro   ·  July 16, 2015
    Time for a double head smack, second sentence after the 1st one: "The only reason you’re not dead is cause their not after you" [they're]
    Oblivion has a renegade Shadowscale, but he's not in uniform :-/
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  July 15, 2015
    You'd think I would get that right by now wouldn't you. *Smack on back of head.
  • Meli
    Meli   ·  July 15, 2015
    One correction -

    Aela, their Shadowscales!!! - should be " they're"

    It was worth waiting to read the second part of this chapter, well done :-D

    Aela blowing raspberries? Now that I'd like to see.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  July 15, 2015
    Yep, Shadowscales banging on the door, and Aela planning with the Harbinger to offer Sotek the beast blood. Incoming!!!!
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  July 15, 2015
    I imagine it would be yellow with purple polka dots. LOL, just teasing. Just making it dark is probably enough. 
    Ouch, the things a guy will do for a girl. *face hurts in sympathy for Sotek*
    A tense chapter, Mr. Sotek, with mystery and a hint ...  more