U.O.T.W. Chapter 136 A Spider's Web

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    Aela was sitting on the steps of Jorrvaskr impatiently waiting for the ‘delivery’ of her ice wolf. Her foot’s tapping had been constant for twenty minutes and had now started to grate against the Harbinger’s nerves as it seemed to drown out everything else, especially when he only came out to check on her in the hope that there was news of the others.

    Kodlak’s boot lightly pinned Aela’s own foot to the ground, bringing a peaceful calmness to the air although he did earn a stern look from the foot’s owner. He was about to tell her to stop fidgeting when she suddenly sprang up and excitedly pointed towards the main gate.

    “Ah, here they come. Move it you lazy dogs!!”

    The three Companions could clearly hear her despite being the other side of the town. The hustle and bustle of the market did nothing to drown out Aela’s cry although the town’s folk did impede their progress. Everyone stopped where they were and stared at the cart. Some of them had never seen an ice wolf and in no time at all a small gathering formed around it. Several children pushed their way to the front to catch a glimpse of the giant wolf. Some of them began daring the others to touch it, fearful that it might spring to life and bite them.

    Once Sotek and the others reached the steps heading to the Wind’s district, the cart ran out of its usefulness and was abandoned by the fruit stall where Mila claimed it as her own. Farkas bore the bulk of the weight of the animal by carrying the middle section of the wolf while Vilkas aided him by holding the hind section. Sotek took the head and lead them up the stairs albeit at a slow pace so they wouldn’t trip or drop it.

    The moment Farkas felt level ground beneath his feet he relaxed his concentration and yelled back at Aela, returning her ‘greeting’.

    “Do you want to come and get it?”

    Aela chuckled and shook her head while she pointed at them all.

    “Yes like hell! I don’t keep a dog to bark myself. I told Sotek that already”.

    Vilkas sniggered to the other two Companions taking care that his comment wouldn’t be heard by a certain sibling.

    No, she just howls”.

    All three of them started laughing to the point where they had to stop else they would have dropped the wolf in the middle of the plaza. The children were still buzzing around them like flies and if they did actually drop the animal then the screams and resulting panic would be beyond anyone’s control.

    Aela’s foot started tapping again causing Kodlak to groan and move away from her, removing the temptation to stamp on her toes. Ignorant to what the Harbinger was thinking, Aela glared down the steps of Jorrvaskr and scowled at the three Companions, demanding to know what their source of amusement was.

    “What’s so bloody funny?”

    Sotek was quick to answer along with a question of his own, preventing Aela from following through with her interrogation.

    “Nothing. Where shall we lay him Harbinger?”

    The Harbinger gave the ice wolf a quick look over as they brought it past him.

    “Well that’s a nice specimen, you did well there Aela. Settle it down by the Skyforge then get yourselves sat at the porch. Tilma’s prepared a few flasks of mead and some food for you all. The three of you must be worn out by now”.

    Aela moved alongside Sotek and affectionately ruffled the fur on the wolf’s head as the group walked up the path to the Skyforge. Eorlund had a wooden platform set aside for where the animal was to be laid down. Once the Companions were free of their burden, they headed straight to the awaiting ‘bounty’ of mead and meat filed rolls.

    Aela picked up a flask and filled it from one of the jugs then passed it to Sotek for him to drink from. Once he had sat down, she returned to the Harbinger and replied to his statement about the specimen she had hunted.

    “I am pleased with the wolf. He’s a nice size and he’s somewhat old. A good replacement for Omega. However, I’m sorry to say Sotek didn’t do as well as I had hoped”.

    Sotek just closed his eyes and blindly swallowed the honey based liquid. Despite the sweetness of the drink, it tasted bitter. He looked up at the Harbinger who was quietly watching him.

    “Should we be talking so openly about this? Where are the Whelps?”

    Aela’s arms folded across her chest as her eyes bore into him.

    “The Whelps have been sent out in a group to patrol the farms so yes; we are free to talk about this and no; you’re not getting out of it. You were bloody useless!”

    The Harbinger looked at Aela in surprise at her seemingly hostile outburst. He expected Sotek to say something back as the two Companions would often go toe to toe against each other. He had wondered if it affected their relationship until he realised it was due to the relationship. Both had dominant characters although Sotek was more controlled and this was one of their ways to fight for the Alpha status between themselves. The fact was though that Sotek didn’t respond at all. Instead he sat on the step with his tail between his legs.

    “Oh? In what respect?”

    Aela stood next to the Harbinger, but not once did her eyes lose their intensity nor did she avert her gaze from Sotek’s own.

    “He’s slow, his running speed is crap! His fighting skills are awful and sluggish and on top of all of that he’s as sure footed as ermm…”

    Farkas interrupted her by banging his fist on the table while he laughed uncontrollably, drawing everyone’s attention to him.

    “As Aela when she’s drunk?”

    Aela’s retaliation was swift and loud as she hollered across the yard at him.

    “That’s not funny, Ice brain”.

    She threw him a disdainful glare then took a step towards the Nord but Kodlak swiftly held her by the arm and pulled her back. He lightly turned her around to face him so he could look at her.

    “Aela, control your temper. Now, Farkas may be acting the fool but is he right?”

    Aela, feeling disgruntled, pulled her arm away from the Harbinger, breaking his grip. Now that she was free, she straightened up her armor and stood to the side of him so she wouldn’t have to look at his face. She ended up watching Sotek’s tail as it flapped about, causing a lump to form in her throat when she answered the Harbinger’s question.

    “Sotek fell in the mud when he tried to jump a stream”.

    The two brothers fell about hysterically, completely exaggerating their laughter just because they knew it was winding Aela up. Vilkas, determined to go a step further, pointed to the perimeter wall.

    “Oh yes! It’s true. Aela, you remember that night when we were all drinking out in the courtyard? You were sitting on the wall when the Harbinger was talking to you?” He started talking to Sotek as he pointed to his shield sister. “One minute she’s there drinking away, and the next thing we all hear is a drunken scream as she fell off the wall”.

    Aela’s discomfort on the subject was easily noticeable as her cheeks started to redden. She threw a quick glance at Sotek then turned away shyly before he could catch her eye. Sensing her vulnerability, Farkas called out to the group.

    “Yes, we all ran to the wall just in time to see her tumbling down the hillside. She didn’t stop rolling until she reached the farmstead”.

    Vilkas laughed out even more.

    “We didn’t get to her for five minutes. By that time, she was on her hands and knees, throwing up like a sick puppy”.

    Farkas creased up laughing as he recited the rhyme they made up.

    “Aela the Huntress sat on the wall”.

    “Aela was drunk so she had a great fall”.

    “All the Companions ran down the hill”.

    “Where Aela was green from being so ill”

    Aela yelled across at Farkas, shaking her fist at him as she shouted.

    “Why do you keep going on about that? Every time I pick up a bottle we have to hear about it. Get it out of your bloody screwed up system then shut the hell up! This is important. You two apes are fine out there, he isn’t. He can’t even fight like he used to”.

    Farkas held his hand up with a question. He seemed serious until he opened his mouth.

    “Wait a minute, since when could Sotek fight?”

    Kodlak groaned as he covered his face with his palm. He expected a rebuke from Aela but she had fortunately chosen to ignore her sibling’s comment. After he counted away several seconds, he decided to enquire about Sotek’s skill set directly at its source.

    “Sotek, is this all true?”

    Although Sotek knew the whole scenario was serious, he couldn’t help but give a cheeky grin as he answered.

    “I don’t know; I wasn’t with the Companions when Aela fell off the wall”.

    A seething angry hiss snatched his gaze. He could see Aela wasn’t impressed with his comment despite the two brother’s disruptive laughter. Sotek gave her a slight smile before he answered Kodlak properly.

    “Sorry Harbinger. Yes, Aela’s right. I don’t know why though. I can’t keep up with Aela like I used too, fighting seems awkward and sluggish”.

    Having triggered no reaction from his earlier comment, Farkas tried a second time. He blurted it out for all to hear, giving little regards to his victim’s emotions.

    “I know what the problem is! He said it himself; he can’t keep up with Aela. She’s burnt him out in the bedroom”. Aela walked towards him with a calmness neither Farkas nor the Harbinger had seen before. She stood right in front of her ‘brother’ who had puffed up his chest which seemed to add to his bulk.

    Aela gave him an evil smile then promptly kicked him in the shin. He yelled out and hopped around as he held it. He fell backwards on a chair then franticly stared rubbing the leg where a bruise had already started to form.

    “Oww! Damn it that hurt”.

    Aela unsympathetically threw her head to the side and stuck her tongue out at him as she walked back towards the Harbinger.

    “Serves you right. Don’t you agree Harbinger?” She raised her eyebrows at Kodlak, daring him to adversely comment on her actions.

    Vilkas, who felt far safer as he was the other side of the table, laughed as he watched Farkas’s scolding look due to the kick he had received.

    “Well that explains why she’s been quiet for the last few days”.

    Aela cried out loudly. Her hands tightly grabbed her own hair and started tugging on it in frustration until Sotek intervened by pulling her towards him, disrupting her attempt at yanking out her hair by the roots.

    “Hey, stop that, you’ll make Red go bald and I like her the way she is”.

    Before Farkas or Vilkas could respond, Kodlak interceded, preventing them from goading Aela any further. He could see her being pushed beyond the line which was something she always seemed to stand so close to during the best of days.

    “Farkas, Vilkas, that’s enough. The games are over, understand? Now, everyone inside. Aela, we’ll put Sotek through his paces tomorrow and see what’s going on, but calm down”.

    Aela nodded as she threatened to slap Vilkas. Her glaring eyes warned him to keep out of her way let alone the ranting tone in her voice.

    “Well!! They get on my nerves”.

    Farkas walked up to her and gave her a hug, breaking the atmosphere. He decided Aela had suffered enough at their hands. The trouble was he hadn’t finished with the tomfoolery so he decided to start on Sotek.

    “Oh yes, speaking of getting on people’s nerves. When are we going to see the troll? Oops sorry Aela. Sotek’s new werewolf form?”

    The moment Aela heard the word ‘troll’, her face scrunched up and her hands tightly gripped the fringe of her armor to prevent them from lashing out. Her whole attitude seemed to change with the words ‘new werewolf form’. She knew they were on about Scarface and she easily guessed they presumed his transition would be to something similar to Omega’s.

    There was nothing farther from the truth than Scarface though. Seeing an opportunity for revenge, Aela grabbed it with both hands. One thing she was cautious with though was eagerness. Being the Huntress wasn’t a title she easily earned. Patience was a massive factor in hunting yet it was Sotek who taught her to be patient with pranks as well, ‘patient as a spider in a web’. She remembered when they placed a bucket of water above Farkas’s door. Sotek never waited for him to return, he just walked away and insisted on Aela following him. Had they hung around the corridor in the Undercroft then Farkas would have been suspicious.

    She played a different game here but the rules were the same, don’t appear eager, act as you always would. Aela did just that and snapped at Farkas despite wanting him to see the beast that lurked beneath Sotek’s scales.

    “Not today ‘cause you’re mean and nasty”. Then she evilly looked across to Sotek and flashed her eyebrows at him.

    Sotek gave himself a quiet laugh and discreetly nodded to Aela. She allowed a faint smile when she listened to what he said in response as she knew he cottoned on.

    “Well they have to see it so it might as well be now”.

    Aela shook her head at him but as she spoke she felt an urge to laugh. Barely holding in an attack of the giggles, she turned around so all they could see was her back and her shoulders which started shaking as she tried to contain her laughter.

    “No, don’t. They will take the piss like they always do”.

    Unaware of Aela’s actual emotional state, Kodlak reprimanded her for her poor choice of words before he tackled the bigger issue. Sotek and his new werewolf transformation.

    “Aela, language. I’m getting tired of telling you girl. Tilma has an idea which will stop you and your mouth running off; it might be time to implement it. Anyway, I can’t see the harm if Sotek’s happy. I doubt he will face the same amount of ridicule from these two as he did before. He did handle their jesting well and it’s about time a certain member learned from their ermm, partner”.

    Sotek’s face filled with annoyance at the Harbinger’s poor choice of words. Something he was quick to rectify with a low threatening ‘hsss’.

    “Partner? Partner’ss are people who make dealss and go into businesss together. We do not have a bussinesss deal. Hsss”.

    His eyes shone in defiance and bored into Kodlak’s own while an awkward atmosphere filled the void between them until Aela stepped in front of him, breaking his gaze.

    “Oi, don’t stare down the Harbinger. That’s my prerogative”.

    Sotek peered over her shoulder and glanced at Kodlak. He gave an apology along with a quick explanation on how he saw their relationship.

    “We’re mates. Lovers, partners and the like which you all seem to use as a way of portraying your relationships are all short term. Meaningless to the grand scheme of things. We are ermm, more eternal?”

    Kodlak nodded, accepting the Argonian’s apology and explanation while he gave one in return.

    “I accept the reason for your sharpness and retort. I however fear I must add my own apology. It’s easy for the rest of us to forget you and Aela are bound together in the next world as well as this one. As I have told Aela and the other Companions, just because something is easy, that doesn’t mean it is right”.

    Sotek smiled back in agreement. The last thing he wanted was to fall out with the Harbinger over a ‘misunderstanding’.

    “Wise words Harbinger. I’ll try to keep them in mind as well. Let’s get this over with. There is no point delaying the inevitable”.

    Kodlak approached him and gripped his shoulder firmly in his hand. He pointed towards the doorway and directed everyone inside.

    “It’s best if we all head downstairs. My study would be suitable”.

    Aela walked up to Sotek and wrapped her arms around him. She pushed her face into his chest to hide her cheesy grin from the others so they wouldn’t become suspicious.

    “They will take the Mickey. Leave it, it serves them right”.

    He gave her a reassuring squeeze, despite knowing full well she was giggling at the whole situation.

    “I’ll be alright, let’s go”.

    Farkas laughed as he tugged on Aela’s arm, pulling her away from Sotek to separate them.

    “Yes, he’ll be fine with us. Anyway, afterwards we’ll do what we said and take him with us”.

    Aela stopped dead in her tracks and looked straight at Sotek. Her old attitude was back in an instant.

    “Take him where?”

    Vilkas roared with laughter as he watched the color fade from Sotek’s scales. He could have sworn Sotek was turning more and more yellow with every passing second.

    “Oh she’s jealous already and he hasn’t even been there yet”.

    Aela stormed over to Sotek and grabbed him by the collar. He found himself being pinned to the wall while Kodlak looked on in surprise as he had no idea what was going on. This was something which he had in common with Aela but she was fully intent on finding out.

    “Been… where?”

    Sotek could feel her hand tighten its grip while his tail slid between his feet. He tried to pull her hand away which resulted in an automatic response from Aela; a fast punch to the chest. He desperately pleaded with her in an attempt to get her to release him.

    “Nowhere! They are just pulling your leg. Let me go!”

    Farkas gasped in shock at Sotek and acted as if he had been insulted. His finger singled the Argonian out as he pointed at him accusingly.

    “Nowhere? The outrage! Why we said well take him to the inn where the girls charge ten gold for the evening. You can’t accuse me of messing about to cover your tracks you lying lizard”. He looked straight at Aela and sealed Sotek’s fate.

    “He only went and said ‘yes’. Ask Vilkas if you don’t believe me”.

    Sotek interrupted him as quickly as possible in an attempt to mitigate the damage. He hollered out at him as visions of Aela pinning his scales to her wall filled his head.

    “That’s not what I meant and you bloody know it”.

    Aela’s voice changed into a growl as her interrogation continued.

    “So what was it you meant?”

    Vilkas, who was still laughing, went up to Aela and tapped Sotek in the chest. His words only added to Aela’s rage which was close to seething.

    “We said we could introduce him to the blonde for ten gold and he said yes”.

    Sotek started pleading with him, knowing full well Aela was nigh on unapproachable. As much as he hated it, he was dependant on the two brothers to save him.

    “Damn it Vilkas! I’m going to get killed here, will you quit winding her up”.

    Aela shoved him backwards while she maintained her grip on his collar. The two doors to the training yard were thrown sideways from Sotek’s body as Aela had used him as a battering ram.

    “To hell with Vilkas. You got five seconds to explain slug! I’m on three already”.

    The ‘slug’ just managed to keep his footing by holding on to a table to steady himself. He became flustered and crumbled under Aela’s wrath.

    “Well what was actually said was…”

    He had hoped Aela would listen but she was beyond such things as understanding and patience. She was now in the realms of violence which came apparent when she pulled out an arrow from a quiver which was laying on one of the tables. She waved it in front of Sotek’s face and continued with the count.

    “Four”.

    Sotek raised his hand to her in an attempt to force her to back off.

    “Oi, don’t you bloody dare”.

    Aela whacked his knuckles with the arrow, knocking his hand to the side.

    “Talk faster you bloody worm”.

    Sotek hissed whilst he nursed his hand. He shouted back at the Companion in the hope of ending the situation before it escalated any further.

    “Aela stop threatening me will you! They were winding me up earlier, saying about dragging me off to the Inn. Ask them”.

    He had hoped that the two brothers would know to stop but such hopes were dashed when Farkas entered the Courtyard and added to Sotek’s growing list of problems.

    “Yes, ask us what he called you when we found him with the ice wolf”.

    Sotek groaned loudly as Farkas’s words rang in his ears. If he was close enough he would have punched the Nord regardless as to whether he was hiding behind a full set of armor or not.

    “Oh for the love of the nines Farkas! Help damn you, don’t make her any bloody worse”.

    Aela held an arrow against Sotek’s throat and growled at him.

    “Oh this is perfect. Come one worm, what did you call me?”

    Sotek took a step back and bashed against a table, which literally cut off any chance of retreat. Finding himself with nowhere to go, he faced the fact that he had to answer her. His voice was nothing but a whisper as he cringed under her onslaught.

    “I called you a bloody bitch for not telling me you were sending help”.

    Aela was used to sensing fear and although she knew Sotek wasn’t actually afraid, she was fully aware he was starting to crack. She increased the pressure and continued with her interrogation, determined to get to the truth.

    “And what about the Inn?” As she spoke she prodded his neck with the arrow.

    He felt the tip just start to dig into his throat, giving him no choice other than to continue. He tried to redirect her anger at the two brothers as everything was their doing.

    “That was them, trying to get me flustered. Then they started saying all that to you, trying to get you to bite, which you did I might add. Look at them Aela! They’re laughing their bloody heads off at us. You’re doing their work for them”.

    Aela spun her head around and saw Farkas and Vilkas laughing as they watched the two Companions.

    “Sotek’s right about one thing. You’re both laughing like a pair of hyenas. Fine, I’ll get the truth and I’ll do it my way. As for you snake, get your ass inside, move!”

    Sotek stood his ground and stepped closer to her in an attempt to intimidate her into backing away.

    “I’m not your bloody dog you know”.

    Aela’s reply was to stab Sotek’s leg with the arrow. It had the desired effect as he yelped out then hurried back inside. As he disappeared through the doorway, he turned towards Farkas and Vilkas who were both laughing at him.

    “Thanks you pair of idiots. You both done an excellent job of winding her up, well done”. With that comment they both bowed down to him.

    The moment Aela stepped inside the hall, the Harbinger called out to her.

    “Aela! Have you been stabbing Sotek with arrows again?”

    Aela threw the arrow into a corner of the hall like it was a throwing knife. It whooshed through the air and embedded itself in a pillar. She shook her head while she checked Sotek’s leg for any signs of blood.

    “No Harbinger, whatever made you think that? You told me not to; remember?”

    Kodlak eyed her suspiciously before turning his attention to Sotek.

    “Oh I remember, but do you? Sotek, do you still want to show us your werewolf form?”

    Sotek nodded to the Harbinger while he snarled at Vilkas.

    “Now might be a good time, yess”.

     

     

Comments

6 Comments   |   Aela The Huntress likes this.
  • Exuro
    Exuro   ·  May 23, 2016
    No wonder Kodlack has white hair...
     Come on twins: bros before hos
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  May 22, 2016
    “Aela! Have you been stabbing Sotek with arrows again?” Lol.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  May 22, 2016
    Next chapter honest. It was supposed to be this one but the chapter was too long for me. 7500 words so I had to split it. Next chapter's going up tomorrow.
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  May 22, 2016
    Those twins. *sighs*

    Sotek the blogger is a tease. How much longer, eh??

    Lol.
  • Ajani
    Ajani   ·  May 22, 2016
    uh oh, aela is pissed as shit
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  May 22, 2016
    Screenshot to follow tonight.