Honor of the Dragonborn

After Miraak

For hours Vilkas watched and waited. The snow began to fall heavier and the sun set, and still Vilkas waited. A few of the villagers had tried to tell him to come inside, but he couldn't move Krinna so he declined. One of the older Skaal women brought him a large bearskin cloak shortly after sundown which he accepted gratefully.
Close to midnight, Frea came outside excitedly.
"I can feel it, the Tree Stone is free," she told Vilkas. "It must mean your wife has been victorious!"
Then, finally, the book snapped shut and dropped to the snow. Vilkas darted forward and caught Krinna in his arms as her knees buckled.
"Are you alright my love?" Vilkas asked, trying to look her over in the dim light.
"Shit," was all Krinna said for a moment as she just leaned her head against Vilkas's chest plate. Then with a deep breath she added "I'm fine... I'm exhausted, and I nearly hurled on a dragon's head, but I'm fine."
"Hurled on a dragons head?" Vilkas repeated with raised eyebrows.
"Yeah," Krinna sighed, "I thought standing on those damn moving platforms was nauseating... riding a fighting dragon is much worse."
"Ah," Vilkas nodded. "Come on love, let's get out of this blizzard and rest. You can tell me about it in the morning," he said feeling relieved as he led her back to the chieftain's lodge.
"The Oneness of the land is restored again," Frea said looking to Krinna in awe as they approached. "Does that mean... is it over? Is Miraak defeated?"
"It's over. Miraak is dead," Krinna nodded tiredly.
"Then my father's sacrifice... it was not in vain. He died to free us. Tell me... was it the only way? Did he need to die?"
Krinna sighed, "I couldn't have defeated Miraak without Storn's help." Vilkas noticed Krinna hadn't directly answered Frea's question, but he thought it was probably the answer that Frea needed to hear.
"Then... it was the All-Maker's will, as he said," Frea replied in relief. "I know I should not doubt it. But it is good to hear, all the same. Thank you."

Vilkas helped Krinna inside and she was asleep only minutes after laying down. Vilkas contentedly wrapped his arms around her and bundled them both under the fur cloak for the rest of the night.
In the morning they bid farewell to the Skaal and made their way back to Raven Rock. Krinna told Vilkas all about her ordeal fighting Miraak on the way. They got lunch at the Retching Netch, and then, finally, they were catching the ship home to Skyrim.

As they got out into open water the boat ride didn't agree with Krinna. Vilkas gently held her hair back as she heaved over the side of the boat again and again. Finally, she glanced appreciatively back at him and just leaned tiredly against the side, letting the sea spray cool her face. Vilkas stayed beside her and rubbed her back. It occurred to him she hadn't had this trouble when they'd left for Solstiem... it was probably the lunch they'd had at the inn disagreeing with her...
"Any better, my love?" He asked gently. She didn't answer, she was staring out at the waves looking deep in thought. "Krinna?"
She blinked and looked back at him, her brow furrowed in thought. Vilkas raised his eyebrow at her, waiting for her to tell him what was on her mind. She looked down again and Vilkas saw the expression that told him she was doing calculations in her head. She raised her hand and a spark of purple light appeared briefly and her eyes widened... a surprised smile slowly spread across her face. Vilkas's heart began to pick up speed in his chest as she smiled back at him, excitedly, and he began to process what he hoped that could mean...
"Vilkas," she said barely above a whisper, "I'm pregnant! I'm actually finally pregnant!"
It was the words Vilkas had dreamed of hearing when they'd first gotten married, but he'd all but given up on them now. He let his surprised excitement show plainly across his face.
"That's wonderful love!" He replied, trying to stay quiet as well, they didn't need the whole ship knowing their business. "You're sure?" He added.
"Detect Life spell," she nodded. She cast it again and then looked down and placed her hand across her lower abdomen. "A tiny new life, right here..." She raised an eyebrow suddenly and cast the spell again, looking deep in concentration. "Two of them," she added a moment later, "the twins from my vision," she realized excitedly.
Vilkas couldn't help but grin proudly. He was already a father; he wouldn't love these children any differently than he already loved his adopted children... but now he and his love had created new life... two new people coming into the world as a result of how much he and his wife loved each other... it was amazing. And after the years that Krinna had been unable to conceive, it was a miracle.
"It's amazing, love." Vilkas placed his hand gently atop hers and leaned in to kiss her forehead.
"I guess it explains why I've been so motion-sick the last few days," Krinna sighed.
"Aye," Vilkas nodded. "Any idea how far along you are?" He asked, trying not to think about the fact that he'd just let his pregnant wife go to Apocrypha and ride a dragon into battle...
"Not really," Krinna shook her head, "I've been too irregular for my cycles to tell us anything. They do look really tiny when I cast the spell..."
"When did you first start having trouble with motion-sickness?" Vilkas asked thoughtfully.
"Sometime after we got to Solstheim," Krinna shrugged. Then a moment later she chuckled and added, "I guess it would figure, my body does nothing for so long and then suddenly two at once."
Vilkas laughed at that. "So tell me about the twins in your vision love," he requested a moment later with a grin.
"Well, they were a girl and a boy, both clever and fearsome warriors..."

They spent the rest of the trip quietly and excitedly discussing the future. Vilkas couldn't wait to get home and tell Sofie and Blaise. They were going to be so excited.

The ship docked at Windhelm and Vilkas was relieved to set foot on solid Skyrim ground again. Krinna was relieved just to get off the moving ship.
They got a room at Candlehearth Hall for the night. Vilkas was hesitant to suggest much dinner, remembering the trouble Lydia had had early on in her pregnancy, but now that they were off the moving ship, Krinna was feeling much better. She was tired, but was still able to enjoy her dinner.
The night passed uneventfully, and they set out for home in the morning.
Vilkas suggested they take a carriage, but in her current state Krinna wanted nothing to do with a moving vehicle so they set off on foot.
They stuck to the roads, and Krinna didn't rush ahead, so the trip took longer than they were used to.
As they walked down the road, it occurred to Vilkas that he was not only immensely happy that he had married Krinna, he was relieved. Aside from the fact there was definitely no other woman for him, he didn't think his nerves could have handled the thought of a less skilled fighter being pregnant with his children. Even as confident as he was in Krinna's skills, he was extra nervous every time they happened upon a pack of wolves or the one time they ran into group of bandits on the road. He was relieved she was able to handle most problems from a distance now. Actually, with the stronger shouts she had learned in Solstheim, Vilkas had hardly needed to use Wuuthrad either. With Krinna's powers, and Vilkas wielding Auriel's Bow, very few enemies were able to get close to them.
After a couple of days, Whiterun finally came into view. They were home just in time for dinner.