Still-Born Shout [#wattys2017]

Chapter Fourteen

The Companions did their best to stay out of Skyrim's public affairs. They swore to be neutral, they swore not to take sides in any situation. However, when the news came to Whiterun that the Stormcloaks had taken Solitude and declared Skyrim's independence, Farkas couldn't suppress his curiosity. He became even more curious when he heard that Sif, the Dragonborn woman, had lead the army to victory and slaughtered Tullius's right hand Legate herself. He couldn't resist mentioning the fact to his brother one morning, as they broke bread together next to Jorrvaskr's ever-burning fire.

"Did you hear about the Stormcloaks?" Farkas asked, rather pointedly. His brother raised an eyebrow as he chewed throughtfully.

"All of Skyrim is talking about Solitude. I heard the news from Vignar the day before yesterday," Vilkas said, continuing to stare at his twin with interest. When Farkas didn't respond, Vilkas spoke again. "Why do you ask, brother?"

Farkas shrugged. "I thought it was interesting that the Dragonborn lead them to victory."

Vilkas didn't respond at first. Farkas wasn't terribly intuitive, but he knew when his brother was preparing to say something thoughtful. He could almost hear Vilkas organizing his response.

"She did say she was going to fight a battle before she left," Vilkas mumbled, shrugging. "Of course, it had something to do with the rebels. I'm not sure if there's any truth to the rumor of her leading the army. I'm sure that would be Ulfric Stormcloak's job.

"Do you think she'll be back soon?" Farkas asked, as soon as Vilkas was done speaking. Vilkas's eyes locked onto his twin's.

"I don't know, Farkas," Vilkas said in an even, clipped tone. Farkas's questions were starting to bother Vilkas; he could tell. Of the few times that Vilkas had reprimanded Farkas, they usually had to do with Farkas asking too many useless questions.

Farkas didn't think his question was useless. He wanted to know when the Dragonborn, when Sif, would be returning to Jorrvaskr.

"Ice-brain," Aela called as she came up from the rooms below. She was addressing Farkas; he didn't bother to turn around. "What's this about the Dragonborn?"

"We were just talking about the Stormcloak battle in Solitude," Vilkas answered before Farkas could, cutting him off right away.

Farkas didn't want to speak, anyway. He preferred to be alone with his thoughts when his brother was being obstinate; which seemed to be quite often as of late.

Farkas hadn't been able to focus on anything since Sif left Jorrvaskr last week. She had left in a hurry, like something was bothering her, but Farkas had no idea what that could've been. He wished he knew. He really hoped it hadn't been something that he had done. Even since she left, all he could really think about was what it would be like when she came back. Would she remember him? Would she still look the same?

He thought about the way she looked more often than he would've admitted to anyone but himself. He often thought of the scar through her lip; how it tugged the corner into what looked like a full smirk. He thought about how the corner of her eye was pulled slightly upward by her second facial scar, giving her right eye a more narrowed appearance than her left. It added to her unique expression, Farkas thought. He also thought of her hair, blacker than midnight, and her skin, paler than a full moon. He remembered her eyes to be a haunting yellow-golden color; they had been glowing after she had absorbed that dragon's soul.

He imagined what it would be like if he revealed his true form to her. He mused that she would probably shrug and turn in the other direction, as if nothing had changed about him at all. He imagined that not much frightened her. If she could slay a dragon so fearlessly and without help from anyone else, she could probably do anything Farkas could imagine. He often wondered if she was smarter than Vilkas and stronger than Kodlak.