Skyrim's Saviors

36: Red Meridwulf

I am alone for two days before Vilkas comes in. He has a sour look on his face. And I brace myself for the next words to come from the twin of Farkas's mouth. He hates me. Always had. And now.... now I just don't know what he's going to say or do. So I sit up and look at him.

Neither of us speaks for a moment, but then, he breaks the silence. "How did he die?"

"He died fighting."

"How did he die?" he growls.

"Liethel slit his throat. She had no choice. The Silver Hand had given us no choice, and he told us that we were the ones who had unfinished business. So he told me to kill him, but I couldn't. You see, they wanted only two of us to live. Farkas chose me and Liethel to live, not him."

"Why? What's so special about you and Liethel?! Why didn't you kill her and save Farkas?" he demands.

I sigh. "Vilkas, she needs to avenge her father's death. And I.... not only am I the Harbinger, but .... I'm pregnant."

His eyes widen. "You're joking."

I stand up and walk over to him. "You're still a werewolf. Can't you scent it on me?"

He takes a few deep breaths and looks at me. "By the Eight."

I just nod, ignoring the fact that he seems to not acknowledge Talos, but whatever. He looks at me. "How ... how far along are you?"

"My new friend Taaren said I'm a month and a half. I honestly don't know how I didn't know beforehand. I wish Farkas knew before.... that it's his."

Vilkas's face shutters. He turns away, walking to the door. I sense the tension rolling off him. I watch him as he walks from the room, slamming the door behind him.

I sigh and sit down again.

I am not sure how much time passes, but then, after a while of me staring off into space and thinking about the trek to Ysgramor's Tomb, when the door opens. Aela walks in the room, and she smiles softly.... but it does not reach her eyes. She simply sits down beside me, and hugs me once again.

"I'm sorry about Vilkas. He shouldn't treat you like that. And again, I'm sorry for Farkas's death."

I sigh again. "We need to take a Glenmoril witch head to the tomb where we saved Kodlak. Farkas wanted to be cleansed. Cured."

"But do you?" She asks.

"Do I what?" I ask.

"Do you want to be cured too? Because if you do, that's fine. But .... you need to make sure it's what you want. At the same time, though, you will not see him in the afterlife if you aren't cured like he was."

I swallow hard. I am a Nord. I should want to go to Sovngarde. But do I really want that, or do I want to go to Hircine's Hunting Grounds? And will I ever see Farkas again if I choose to keep the beast blood?

I sigh. "I just want to talk to him again. I miss him so much and I wish he was still around. Who knows, maybe Vilkas was right. But maybe it should've been me."

"No," she says sternly. "He's not right. It shouldn't have been any of you. You're all given an impossible task. You had to decide who would die, and who would live."

"I just can't handle this. Farkas shouldn't be dead. He's.... he's the father of my baby. Why can't I just get a happy ending? Why can't I find a way to get him back, giving him a second chance?"

She hums. "Maybe bargaining with Hircine would help."

"Wait what?" I ask.

"There's a guy in Falkreath prison. He is a werewolf, and he killed a young girl. Word is, he stole the Ring of Hircine, and that causes him to become a werewolf at the worst times. I'd bet that he would like to see someone who would help return the ring to Hircine. Maybe then, you could make a bargain with the Daedric Prince."

"Do you think you could come with me?" I ask her, my heartbeat quickening.

Aela nods. "Of course, Harbinger. I'd be honored."

I smile and hug her. She hugs me back, and then, we stand up and head out towards the Whiterun stables.