U.O.T.W. Chapter 74 Descent into Hell

• Posted by Sotek August 29, 2015 - Filed in TSC: CB Story - 1,082 views

  The two moons had just dipped below the skyline when Red started crying out as if she was a wolf possessed. Both Kodlak and Tilma’s eyes suddenly opened from the horrific noise to find both Farkas and Vilkas sitting at a table with a pack of playing cards evenly divided up between them both.

  “What in all of Tamriel is she doing?” Yelled Tilma as she covered her ears. “Do something, we have to quieten her down”.

  Farkas grinned as he peered over the top of his cards.

  “You can’t hear her outside, we’ve checked”.

  Vilkas added to the discussion as he glanced across to the stairwell. “She’s been restless for the last hour or so. We’ve been listening to her prowling around. She spent a while at the door”.

  Kodlak sighed as he slowly walked with a sense of foreboding towards the stairwell.

  “Clawing at it again no doubt”.

  Farkas lightly threw his cards on the table as he rose to his feet to join the Harbinger’s side.

  “Sniffing at it actually”. Just them a heavy ‘Snorting’ could be heard from under the doorway.

  With no warning what so ever, Red started howling out again for all she was worth. The howling which forced Kodlak to cover his ears seemed to get louder and louder as it rose in pitch. Suddenly Kodlak’s face filled with urgency as he heard Aela cry out despairingly.

  “She’s changed... Quickly, help me move the furniture”.

  Vilkas strode over towards them and took a chair from Farkas who was passing up various pieces of furnishings which they used to barricade the doorway. Meanwhile Tilma looked on helplessly as she called down to Aela whom they could all hear as she screamed at the door to get out. In just a few minutes although it seemed like hours, Kodlak finally pulled at the door to have Aela throw herself in his arms. The stench of her and the Under Croft was overwhelming. Kodlak quickly closed the door as Aela collapsed on a step.

  “Bloody hell, what a stench”. Farkas stated as he covered his nose.

  Tilma however took command of the whole situation as she barked out her orders.

  “Farkas, shut up. Kodlak, get that large tub I use for washing up and place it by the fire pit. Vilkas, Farkas start filling the buckets with water. She needs a bath and clean clothes, not you three pulling faces and gawping at her. Once the baths filled you can make yourselves sparse and head over to the Inn. Vilkas give her half an hour then bring a hot meal back for her”.

  She then headed down the steps with a few large thick linen cloths in her arms. “No good you sniffling either. Get that gear off and wrap yourself up in this. Sit by the fire pit until your baths run”.

  “Than... Thank you... Harb... Kodla... I’m..” Aela tried to look up the stairway but the fear of reprisal for Red’s actions and the embarrassment of her predicament made it impossible. A large metallic thud rang out then Kodlak appeared at the top of the stairwell.

  He wrapped his arms around Aela tightly as he rested her head against his chest. He went to kiss top of her head but quickly turned away due to her stench.
  “It’s not your fault. Your not to blame yourself or Red... Do you hear me?”

  Aela looked up at him as fear filled her face with dread. She started talking way too fast and her demeanour soon changed to hysterical rather than one of a shaken girl.

  “Sotek? What of Sotek I bit him, Red bit him... Where is he? Is he ok? Why isn’t he here?”

  Tilma pulled her gently away from Kodlak and led her up the stairs. She literally dragged Aela to the fire pit where the ‘bathing tub’ was rapidly filling up with water thanks to the effective relay system Aela’s two brothers were implementing to pour as much water as quickly as they could into the metal tub.

  “Sotek’s in the temple. There’s no putting it mildly so you might as well hear it now. His shoulder’s been broken... Now you listen and you listen well. Kodlak’s told the temple that a Sabre Cat did it. That’s the story”.

  “To hell with the bloody story!!!” Aela screamed as her legs finally gave way causing her to collapse to the ground in exhaustion.

  Kodlak knelt alongside her as he tried to give her as much reassurance as he could.

  “He’s hurt yes, but it could have been much worse. You’re no help to him in this state. Get yourself cleaned up, eat something then I’ll take you to see him”.

  He then turned towards Farkas and gave him a new task which caused him, Vilkas and Tilma to cast strange looks back at Kodlak. Wisely though they said nothing.

  “Farkas go to the temple and tell the priestess that Aela is back. Sotek will want to know she’s ok. She’ll visit him in a few hours. Let him... Give him a chance to wake up properly before she sees him”.

  Farkas paused for a few seconds as he gawped back at the Harbinger until Vilkas gave him a nudge in the side.

  “Shift yourself”.

  “What? Oh yea right... Won’t be long” He stated as he headed to the doors.

  However he was stopped in his tracks due to Tilma who called out to him.

  “Yes you will. You three get out She’ll catch the death of cold while she waits for you men to disappear. Don’t forget her meal either”. The next moment she started shoving Kodlak towards the doorway.

  Once the doors were locked, Tilma pointed to the tub which had initially been filled with icy cold water. Kodlak’s method of warming the water was simple and extremely effective. He pulled out a few red hot iron ingots from the fire pit with a pair of metal tongs and simply dropped them in the water. Now the water was hot to the touch which Tilma tested with her hand.

  “It’s not perfect but it will easily suffice. In you get. Don’t concern yourself with me I’ve seen it all before”.

  As Aela sank beneath the water, Tilma threw in a bar of soap which immediately submerged itself and disappeared in a cloud of soapy water. While Aela hunted for the bar, Tilma used the tongs to pick up the towel Aela had wrapped herself up with and placed it in a basket along with the rest of Aela’s cloths and armor which she had been wearing when she changed into Red.

  “How is Sotek? Is he... Is he going to be ok?” As Aela asked, her head slightly turned towards Tilma but she couldn’t bring herself to look straight at the maids face.

  Tilma knelt down on the floor alongside the tub and filled a large jug with bathing water. She poured some thick soapy liquid onto the top of Aela’s head and started pouring the water over her while she spoke.

  “He’ll be fine, you’ll see. Stop worrying about him for a moment. Lets concern ourselves with you shall we?”

  Once Tilma had washed Aela’s hair, Aela laid back against the edge of the tub and tipped her head back as she soaked in the water while Tilma gathered together a pair of Sotek’s trousers and one of his shirts which she had stored in another basket at the side of the hall.

  “Here, put these on when you get out... Aela? Aela!!! Wake up you silly girl, you’ll drown yourself... That’s all we’ll need”.

  Aela’s eyes flicked open to see Tilma shaking her head at her.

  “Sorry, so tired... Awwaoo”. She covered her mouth as she yawned.

  Tilma chuckled slightly as she handed Aela a towel.
  “Even your yawns sound like howls. Now what you need to do is get yourself at the table. Farkas will be here in a minute with a hot meal. At least it better be hot”.

  Aela dabbed herself down with the towel then rapidly threw on the trousers and shirt while Tilma turned her back to her. Once she was dressed she sat by the steps and dried her hair. Moments later there was a loud knock at the door.

  Tilma opened it expecting to see Farkas with a tray of food but instead she was greeted by Irileth. The Dunmer Elf peered inside the hall as she demanded an explanation regarding all the noises which the guards had described to her earlier.

  “There have been reports of ‘Howling’? More than Aela’s ‘usual’ and considerably louder... Aela, your back?”

  Aela stared at her with wide eyes as her tired mind fell blank.

  “I ermm”.

  At that moment from behind Irileth, the Harbinger’s voice called out.

  “Ah, am I glad to see you... The damage is far more extensive than we thought. Earlier the plumbing exploded. It made one hell of a rumbling... Surely you must have heard it? Here you go Aela... Sit up and eat. Then we’ll go and see Sotek, see if he’s awake”. As he spoke he beckoned Aela to the table as he placed the plate in front of her.

  Just as Aela started eating however, Irileth accidently threw a blacksmith’s hammer in the works.

  “He’s awake? By the nines I didn’t think he would ever come out of it”.

  Aela threw the fork onto the plate as she stared hard at the Harbinger. “What? What the hell does she mean, come out of it? You told me he was sleeping...”

  Kodlak face palmed himself as he tried to calm her down. “No... Not exactly. I said we’ll see if he’s awake”.

  Aela rose angrily to her feet and briskly walked towards him as she raised her finger accusingly at the Harbingers face.

  “You made me believe he was ok.. How bad is he? Tell me damn it you bastard!!!”

  Tilma slammed her hand down on the table then instantly regretted it as she started rubbing her fingers.

  “Hey that’s enough madam. Damn it... You mind your place. What were we supposed to tell you? The truth?”

  Aela hollered back at her as the Harbinger grabbed her arms to stop her nearing Tilma.

  “Damn right you’re supposed to tell me the truth you old cow!!!”

  This time Kodlak stepped in and chastised her for the outburst.
  “Aela!!! That is enough... Now I’m telling you... Stop it, right now and you calm down...”

  Irileth jumped back slightly at Aela’s eruption and made her excuses as she left the hall.
  “I’ll ermm I’ll let Jarl Balgruuf know of your situation. I ermm”.

  Aela stormed over towards the stairwell to head down to her room but froze as soon as her eyes fell upon the very first step even before she was near it. She stood there like a statue as her mind tried to place everything in some sort of order, a pattern which she could understand and make some sort of sense from.

  Slowly she turned back to Tilma and whispered across the room to her. Her voice was barely auditable despite the quietness of the hall.

  “How bad is he? Tilma, I’m sorry but I need to know... I...” She promptly started crying then felt a pair of strong but gentle hands pull her close to a warm loving torso. Kodlak gently swayed her to and fro as he done his best to reassure her.

  “Aela, Aela, Aela... Hush now... He’ll be alright... His shoulder’s hurt, you know that. I can see in your eyes that you remember... He’s unconscious but he will wake up, you’ll see. You need to rest then we’ll go and see him. We’ll see him together”. Kodlak then did something which he hadn’t done in years, he picked her up in his arms and carried her to a pile of furs. She tucked her arms into her chest as she leaned into him. Distant memories flooded her mind from when she was far younger. It only took a minute for the Harbinger to carry her to the furs but by the time she was gently laid down, she was half asleep. Her eyes briefly opened just for her to feel the Harbingers hand softly pull her eyelids down as it slid across her face. She curled up in a human ball and fell into a deep and much needed sleep.

  A few hours afterwards Farkas and Vilkas entered the hall to see Aela’s head sticking out from a pile of furs. Vilkas quietly sat next to her and rested his hand on her shoulder as he quietly spoke to the Harbinger.

  “How is she?”

  Kodlak smiled warmly as he slowly nodded his reassurances to Vilkas.

  “She’s fine. Tired and emotional but her spirit burns brightly as it has always done. Now where are the whelps?”

  “Just outside as you instructed”. While Farkas answered, he approached the door as if he was going to open it but Kodlak steadied his hand.

  “Hold on... It’s not that simple Farkas... The Whelps can’t see any traces of Red down there. Let’s see what we’re looking at first shall we...”

  As he headed over to the stairway, Tilma approached him and handed him half a lemon.

  “Rub it under your nose. It will help”. She then passed the other two Companions half a lemon each before she followed Kodlak down the stairs.

  The moment Kodlak opened the door, he gasped for air.

  “Oh by the nines... What a stench...” As he stepped through the door the echoing sound of his boot bought his attention to the floor which was smothered in stagnant mead and Ale. Although he stopped and just stared blindly down the corridor, Tilma pushed past him and walked into the storeroom to see it completely trashed.

  “Oh by the nines, that devil of a bitch has been through everything. She’s, oh Kodlak she’s broken into both barrels. The meat racks!!! She’s chewed them to death.. Wait a minute? What the hell in Oblivion has she done with the racking? It’s all destroyed... Everything, even the shelving”. She picked up a large saucepan then promptly dropped it in disgust and wiped her dribble smothered hand on her apron. As she gazed back down to the saucepan, she noticed that the handle was half chewed off.

  They bypassed the living quarters after Farkas took a peek inside one random room to see everything had been trashed. If it wasn’t broken then it suffered from a multitude of fang and claw marks. Kodlak led Tilma inside the bathing room which had suffered the least amount of damage as it was only the one bath which drew Reds attention. Tilma turned a stopcock which cut out the water to the taps. Instantly the gushing water came to a rapid stop. Only then could the drainage cope with the excess water which was three inches high.

  Kodlak once again rubbed his half of lemon under his nose before he heard Farkas and Vilkas both equally cry out in despair. Kodlak and Tilma hurriedly exited the bathing area and headed straight towards Farkas and Vilkas’s rooms. They were both standing in a large puddle of mead with expressions of shock and horror as they gazed into their respective rooms.

  Kodlak glanced over Farkas’s shoulder while Tilma did the same with Vilkas.

  “Ahh mead and Red don’t get on... She vomited all over his bed... And crushed it... All this will have to go Kodlak”.

  Farkas glanced over his shoulder to the Harbinger as his face screwed up with anger.

  “I’ll kill her... I’ll bloody kill the bitch... Look at it!!! Everything’s ruined”.

  Kodlak shook his head disappointedly as he sighed.

  “It’s not her fault... It’s down to me. I should have insisted that Eorlund fixed a lock on Aela’s door...”

  A few moments after Vilkas walked away in disgust, he called back down the corridor to the others but not before he hurriedly stepped out of Kodlak’s study.

  “Ermm Harbinger, I’m glad you said it’s your fault. Your ermm bedroom... Crap!!!”

  Kodlak’s eyes filled with horror as he rapidly approached the doorway to his study. He quickly stopped as he held his nose.

  “Oh what a stench... What has she done...”

  Vilkas didn’t bother even re-entering the room, he just called out to the Harbinger instead.

  “Like I said, crap”

  Farkas took one step inside to access the damage but he quickly exited and hid behind Vilkas as if he would offer some protection from the smell.

  “Oh shit!!! A tonne of it... Literally”.

  Kodlak stepped back outside and slowly headed off towards the stairwell as if he was in a dream. With every step he muttered to himself.

  “I’ll wring her neck. I swear to the nines. I’ll bloody skin her...”

  Farkas started laughing as he slapped Kodlak on the back.

  “That’s what happens when you have a bitch of a devil for a daughter...”

  Kodlak stared at the grinning twins for a few seconds before he nodded to himself.

  “Right we’ll have to gut the place. Nothings salvageable. The stench is too deeply set in and the risk of disease is too great. We burn everything. And you two apes can start in my room... Get a bucket you’re going to need it”.

  He then gave the two brothers a false broad smile as a way of trying to wind them up as he headed to the main hall of Jorrvaskr. Aela was awake sitting on the steps and watched them appear one at a time. She finally managed to clear her throat as she called out somewhat dryly to Kodlak.

  “How bad is it?... I know it’s bad... But, I’m sorry”.

  Her eyes started watering as Farkas gave her a big much needed hug.

  “There’s nothing a coat of paint won’t fix... Along as there’s new furniture to paint. Hahaha. Red certainly went to town down there...”

  Kodlak gently pulled Aela to the side as he pointed to the yard.

  “We’ll take it as an opportunity to rearrange the Under Croft... Everything is to be gutted... I want you to...”

  Aela instantly butted in as she stared at the stairwell. She shook her head violently whilst she took a step backwards away from the under Croft.

  “I can’t go down there... I can’t face it...”

  Farkas groaned until Vilkas punched him in the shoulder.

  “What? And you expect us to? You did all that mess down there... What?”

  “She didn’t cause it, Red did. She couldn’t help it you know that. Besides look at her brother... She’s not saying she won’t help, she can’t go down there... Poor bitch is shaking like a leaf”.

  Kodlak raised his hand then shouted out for silence. Once he regained control, he quickly organised them in their perspective groups.

  “Farkas, Vilkas with me downstairs. Tilma, bring your chemicals. We’ll be needing them. Aela, Farkas and Vilkas will bring the furniture upstairs and dump it in the yard. You organise the whelps and have them throw everything over the wall. We’ll burn it all where it falls... We’ve a lot to do and a short amount of time. Get to it”.

  In less than ten minutes furniture started to appear in the yard. Kodlak had Aela explain that the waste system became flooded when the water pipe burst due to the fire. Even Irileth seemed happy with the explanation except the fact that no one knew how the fire had started in the bathing room and blew up the plumbing.

  Gradually furniture, damaged timber and foul smelling baskets full of dirty stinking clothes found themselves being thrown over the wall by the training yard. Several hours later, Tilma turned back on the water and swept all the remaining debris and animal waste down the drainage in the washroom before she could go about mopping the floors with her chemicals of liquid soap made from animal fat and ash.

  By the evening the whole of the Under Croft had been emptied. Tilma’s hands were covered in blisters as well as Farkas’s and Vilkas’s hands. Kodlak gave them a bowl each and poured in a soothing balm while Aela watched on quietly. They all knew she was withdrawn from her time in the Under Croft and they were fully aware that she blamed herself despite everyone’s assurance that it wasn’t her fault.

  Tilma cooked a pile of potatoes in a brazier in the training yard using wood from the fire pit while everyone watched the furniture and damaged wood along with all the clothing from downstairs burn in a great roaring fire. The flames reached up the side of the hill by at least twenty feet and shone like a beacon. While all this was going on Aela sat on the overhang at the Skyforge and stared quietly at the temple. Desperately, she pleaded to every Divine she could think of in the hope that Sotek would awaken and step outside to meet her gaze.

  Proventus approached the Harbinger who pulled him aside so they could talk privately.

  “I have good news... I have secured Beds, wardrobes, tables and chairs. There’s even chests of draws and a display cabinet”

  Kodlak turned his back on him for a second as he stared into a bucket of gold coins. They had been washed a dozen times but he could still smell the stench of Reds bio waste on them.

  “That’s splendid news... Splendid... How many beds have you got?”

  Proventus wearily smiled as he shrugged his shoulders.

  “One...”

  Kodak slowly turned towards him before silently counting the Companions and Whelps despite the fact that he didn’t need to.

  “One bed? Wardrobes?”

  “One... One of everything... Except chairs...” While Proventus worked out the cost, his nose screwed up as his eyes fixed with more than mild concern at the bucket of gold.

  “We have no chairs... You’re not paying me with that gold are you. Don’t tell me that’s all you have?”

  Kodlak face palmed himself as he called over Farkas and Vilkas.

  “We’ll find your gold Proventus, don’t you worry about that. Farkas, Vilkas, I have a task for you both... Don’t get excited... None of you”

  Shortly afterwards they had a vote as to who would receive the bed. It was virtually unanimous that Tilma should be given it. In actual fact there was only two Companions who didn’t vote for her to lay claim to it. Sotek, who remained unconscious, and Aela who hid away in shame...