Eyes Opened

The Trial

"Are you nervous?"

Farkas' words were heard, but not processed for a few moments. You shook your head, looking at him. "Nah. I mean, you're with me, right? I know you're just supposed to watch but if I'm in real danger you wouldn't just let me die."

"Well- you're not wrong, but my brother really wants you to pass."

You blinked for a moment. "Why would he care if I pass?"

Farkas stood there with a blank stare for a moment, before shaking his head. "I'm not supposed to say."

You narrow your eyes. "Well that makes it seem so much more suspicious."

Farkas blinked. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's just- if you were an actual companion you wouldn't have to keep going to Arcadia or Dragonreach to work. We'd pay for a few tables in the yard, you could enchant while we train. It would give you more of a reason to be home with us, instead of out. Eorlund also said it might be nice to have you enchant things for his shop, giving you a bit of the profits."

Your joy was splashed across your face. It sounded so nice, being able to watch them train, pick up forms and techniques while working. Having them help pay for your own tables, talking to Aela as you work, teaching Ria a bit. "So what you're saying is that you miss me when I go to work?" You giggled with a covered mouth, before Farkas looked at you with wide, surprised eyes.

"Hey now... I didn't mean. That is to say. Not me. Not really." He walked past you with purpose, towards the crater in the ground that had stairs leading down to a door. You rushed up with him.

"Hey, wait!" You huffed as your hand reached out to the man but he was already down the stairs. You started down, only to have him once more a step ahead of you, through the door. You finally caught up to him in a large chamber. Turning him to face you, your eyes locked with his. That only lasted for a moment until you saw something move. You pulled your bow, stretching out your leg to crouch down towards the ground. You pulled an arrow holding it for a while as you swept the chamber. The arrow flew after a moment, hitting a dusty wrinkly skinned figure in the distance. You pulled another arrow as the figure started towards you both. "Farkas, don't. Stay here." You words were a whisper, but enough to make him hang back. You let loose another arrow, bringing the figure down to his knee, before falling over entirely. You smirked before standing up slowly, Farkas watching with a bit of pride. You glared at him for a moment. "Don't think I forgot." The smug look on his face slowly fell by the wayside. "You said not you, not really."

"Well I do miss you a little." He admitted in a chipper tone.

"So who? If it's not you that means you've implied that it is someone else."

"I can't tell you. Even if I did you'd just focus on that and not your test. " He folded his arms. "Just go."

You whined slightly before nodding. Keeping the bow in your hand you pressed on. It took some time, but you stumbled upon a dead end, a round room with a gate that seemed to be stuck. You hummed before starting to look around the room. "There's got to be a way to keep going. Skjor said a fragment of Wuuthrad is here, it didn't slip through the bars on it's own."

You smiled as his humor, the man wasn't super intelligent, he let things go, more than he should without a thought. He didn't know it but he'd given you a bit of hope tonight. You saw an alcove with a lever nearly shining inside of it. You narrowed your eyes, knowing that looked too good to be true but you had a choice. Pull it and chance things or give up. No matter what, Farkas was here, you had to trust he would do what he could. Without a second more of thought you had made up your mind, walking into the alcove and pulling the lever. A few sounds clicked far off, you turned around, took a step but had to jump back as a gate fell over the entrance of the alcove. You had grumbled, knowing you walked right into this. "What did you do?"

"I just pulled the lever. I had to trust you, that's part of being a companion."

"You knew it was a trap, girl?" You nodded at his words. "And you've learned by watching us that much?"

"I'd say I had help. Vilkas loves to hear himself talk." You smirked, Farkas hid a laugh before shaking his head.

"Alright, hold tight, I'll find a way to get you out." He looked at you with a smile on his face. "And yes, my brother does. He really loves to talk t-" You noticed people flooding from just out of your view, making a dome around Farkas. Your eyes widened and he noticed. Looking behind him, the man sighed. "Really? I was talking to my friend."

"People like you shouldn't have friends, dog." It was an Orc, he was sneering at Farkas. You opened your mouth to speak but Farkas held a hand up, almost sensing you about to say something.

"I'm a person. She's not in this fight."

"All who wear that armor, die. This will make a fine story." The orc laughed.

"Yeah? Well too bad none of you will be alive to tell it." Farkas' words struck fear into your own heart, as his voice grew deeper in a rough growl. You took steps back pulling an arrow out into your bow. While you were judging how thick the bars were your eyes hit a sight from a story children tell to one another at night. Your arm eased watching as Farkas doubled over, slowly hearing his bones snap and change. Your eyes widened as he grew hair, his nose grew you swore you saw red eyes. Your spine tingled, your legs quivered and you fell back on your butt, watching now as he sprung into action. The shadows of a large Farkas literally ripped them apart with jaws and claws. There was even a bit of blood splatter, hitting the bars and slipping through. The warm sticky heat of another's life force freckled your face. You couldn't help but feel your eyes water up, leaving you in a fragile state. Even as the bars opened, a human Farkas walked into the alcove, parts of him covered in blood, but still seemed oddly clean. "Oh, [Y/N]... I..." You looked up to him, Farkas biting his bottom lip. "I scared you... I was hoping I didn't." He held out his hand to help you up, your eyes just on it for a moment. He cleared his throat, you looked up to him. "I'd never hurt you. Ever. You have my word."

Thinking about it for a few moments you nodded slowly. Taking his hand, he pulled you up slowly. You gulped softly. "There was blood... everywhere... You turned... a werewolf you're a werewolf... how... when... why?" You were speaking too fast.

Farkas rubbed the back of his neck. "Whoa... I'm sorry I got blood on you. Let's calm down for a moment. Eh, I wish I was Vilkas, he would of had you calm already."

You took a deep breath, counting to four as he stood before you, now wiping himself clean with a cloth. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overwhelm you. I'm just... it was a shock." He nodded slowly.

"You were never meant to find out this way. Stupid silver hand."

Looking to him, you nodded slowly. "The Silver Hand. Werewolf hunters, I presume?" He nodded. "What an original name." This made him smirk. "I was never meant to find out this way, so I was meant to find out. Which means there was a plan in place. Farkas, are you the only one? He said the armor..."

"No, I'm not the only one. Just the inner circle is though, so we're not going to turn you, don't worry. You also turned around quickly."

You wiped the tears from your cheeks, looking to him. "You said you'd never hurt me. Ever. I trust you, Farkas. You helped make me what I am. You've always been so nice. I'm still anxious around you, I know how powerful werewolves are... But I also know you can control yourself. You won't hurt me. I have your word, that's enough." You took a moment, before looking to him. "So the whole circle is, huh? Kodlak has been nothing but kind to me, you are sweet as well. Aela and I have become fast friends, Skjor is sweeter than his appearance would suggest and... Vilkas...." You smiled when your lips formed his name. "He's a wolf. That explains a lot. I don't think he'd hurt me either, no matter how much I annoy him."

Farkas grinned, before pulling an arm around your shoulders. "Yeah... I don't think you annoy him half as much as you think you do. Vilkas is always a little grumpy." You both laugh before going further into the tomb.