The Dragonborn Comes (a Skyrim fanfiction)

Chapter Fifteen - Glory of the Dead pt. 1

A/N: this chapter includes the writings in Kodlak's journal. It's been slightly edited to fit the plot of the story and I recommend you don't skip over it...it's very important.

Vilkas and I walk through Whiterun briskly, with our heads down low and trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible. However when we get to the market there are still people staring and a few are whispering. We both do our best to ignore them and try to reach the Skyforge where the funeral for my grandfather will be held. 

"You've got some blood on your face," I stop Vilkas and wet my finger with my tongue and wipe off the dried blood on his cheek. 

"Thanks," Vilkas smiles sadly. We get to Jorrvaskr and I can just about make out the others gathered around the funeral pyre that had been built on the Skyforge.

Vilkas and I go up the steps and we take our places among the other grieving members. Grandfather is laying down on the pyre above the Skyforge and myself, Aela, Farkas, Vilkas and Marco are stood in the front row. Behind us are Vignar, Brill, Tilma, Athis, Njada, Torvar and Ria. To the sides of the funeral stand Eorlund, Danica, Jarl Balgruuf and his insufferable steward Proventus. 

"Are we ready to begin?" Aela asks, her eyes slightly puffy. 

"Aye," we nod our heads. 

"Before the ancient flame..." she begins.

"We grieve," we chant in unison. 

"At this loss..." I go second. 

"We weep,"

"For the fallen..." Vilkas says. 

"We shout,"

"And for ourselves..." Farkas mumbles, barely audible.

"We take our leave,"

Aela approaches the forge with a torch in her hand and then lights the pyre on fire. She stands back, wipes her eyes, and faces the rest of us. "His spirit is departed. Members of the Circle, let us withdraw to the Underforge, to grieve our last together,"

The crowd begins to dissipate, Danica going back to her temple,  the Jarl and his steward returning to Dragonsreach and Marco and the others going back to Jorrvaskr. Marco reaches out to pat me on the shoulder but I pull him in for a hug. 

"We're not alone, sister," Marco murmurs. "I've had access to records in Dragonsreach about our parents...I have reason to believe that they are still alive," Marco pulls away from me and follows the other Companions. 

"You coming, Skylar?" Farkas asks me.

"Can you give me a moment with the girl?" Eorlund approaches us. "There are some matters I need to discuss with her,"

"Of course," Farkas nods his head. 

Eorlund waits until there is nobody left at the Skyforge but me, him and my grandfather's burning body. "Do you have the fragments of Wuuthrad still? I'll need to prepare them for mounting again," he asks. 

"Here," I pull out a small pouch that was inside of my knapsack and hand it to Eorlund. 

"Careful with those. Don't want even more fragments, do we?" Eorlund takes the pouch. "Of course, I have a small favour to ask of you. There's another piece, that Kodlak always kept close to himself. Would you go to his chambers and bring it back for me? I'm not sure that I'm the best one to go through his things," 

"Of course," I nod my head. "I'll do it for you,"

"Thank you. I'll be here," Eorlund turns away from me and goes to stand by Kodlak. I walk away from the Skyforge and head down to where grandfather's room was in Jorrvaskr. I ignore the other Companion members, which is just as well because they're also ignoring each other.