Getting to Know the Harbinger

The New Harbinger

Vilkas sat at the entrance of Ysgramor's tomb feeling at a loss. He had failed Kodlak. He had failed to protect him, and then he had failed to control his temper... he'd delayed Kodlak's funeral, making all of Whiterun wait for him to return from taking their vengeance on the Silver Hand.
He'd even yelled at their newest Circle member and then dragged her off on his revenge trip even though she'd just returned from another mission.
He wasn't worthy to enter the tomb... he wasn't worthy to be in the presence of the ancient Companions... he wasn't worthy to stand before Kodlak again... he wasn't worthy for much of anything beyond sitting and sulking.

Moments later, Vilkas was pulled from his self-loathing thoughts by the sound of his brother walking back to the entryway. He looked up at Farkas in concern and confusion.
"Didn't feel right facing the old Companions... like I am," he shrugged sadly.
"Ah," Vilkas nodded. Add another thing to his list of things he was ashamed of; the beast blood. Vilkas just sighed.
"I hope you didn't say something that will make Kaya too ashamed to go on as well," Vilkas added a moment later, thinking of their newest member. He knew Aela was proud of her beast blood, but Kaya had seemed to accept Kodlak's advice on the matter... unfortunately, after she'd already accepted the blood.
"Nah, thought of that," Farkas shook his head, "told them I was afraid of the big spiders and couldn't go on."
Vilkas snorted. His brother was not afraid of spiders... neither of them particularly liked the crawly things, and Farkas found the little ones that could fit into tiny crevices to be creepy, but he definitely had never had a problem facing off with the big ones.
"Aela bought that?" Vilkas asked in disbelief.
"Yeah... she doesn't know me anymore," Farkas grumbled, and Vilkas could hear the sadness in his brother's voice. "Ever since she started runnin' with Skjor I've just been 'icebrain' to her."
Vilkas raised an eyebrow at his brother... he knew Farkas had been sweet on Aela when she first joined when they were all whelps, but it had never grown into anything beyond a trusting friendship... then when he and Farkas had agreed to take Kodlak's advice and give up their beast forms, Aela and Skjor had taken it as a personal insult and their friendship had been strained at best ever since. He thought Farkas had gotten over that years ago, but now he wondered.
"She did agree to help cleanse Kodlak's soul," Vilkas reminded him, "I hate to say it like this, but without Skjor she might come around still."
Farkas just shrugged and grunted as he sat down beside him in front of the statue. "Not sure what difference it makes now," he sighed.
"What makes you say that?" Vilkas asked, eyebrow still raised.
"Skjor," Farkas replied with another shrug.
"Aye, she was close to him, and he was a fine warrior... but... he's dead brother..."
Now it was Farkas's turn to raise an eyebrow at his brother. "She takes too much to the blood," he replied as if it were obvious, "she's not gonna pick a new mate."
"Ysmir's beard brother," Vilkas shook his head, "you don't actually believe those rumors do you?"
"You don't?"
"He was nearly twice her age," Vilkas shook his head. "They both denied being anything beyond friends every time it was ever brought up and they never sounded dishonest. I even over heard her tell Njada he was more of a mentor, I think Njada was the one who was sweet on him, not Aela."
"They went out 'hunting' together almost every night," Farkas reminded him.
"Aye, but they never came back scented of each other like mates would," Vilkas pointed out. Farkas looked up suddenly and Vilkas watched as he thoughtfully processed that information. Farkas was plenty smart, but Vilkas thought he may have taken one too many hits to the head; he could be awfully slow sometimes.
"They weren't mates..." Farkas said slowly.
"No," Vilkas chuckled. "I think she started calling you 'icebrain' for never admitting your feelings for her."
"She never knew I—"
"Please brother, your feelings were as obvious as Torvar's are for Ria," Vilkas teased.
"Kinda like your feelings for Kaya?" Farkas shot back.
"My what?!" Vilkas snapped. "I don't know what you're talking about," Vilkas grumbled, feeling a flush creep up his face. And he really didn't... did he? Kaya hadn't struck him as anything special until she helped him annihilate the remaining Silver Hand to avenge Kodlak... but since then...
"Sure brother," Farkas chuckled. "You've been watchin' her differently ever since you came back from Driftshade."
Damn it, maybe Farkas wasn't as slow as Vilkas thought...
"She impressed I take it?" Farkas prodded when Vilkas said nothing.
"Aye," Vilkas nodded. At least that was something that was safe to admit... she had impressed him... "I went for vengeance, and she came to make sure I didn't end up like Skjor," he sighed in embarrassment. "Talos knows I probably would have..."
"She's a good woman," Farkas nodded, "you could do a lot worse than be sweet on her."
"Damn it brother, I'm not sweet on her," Vilkas snapped. Farkas burst into a full laugh that echoed way too loudly through the tomb. "Shut up!" Vilkas hissed, smacking Farkas across his armored chest and shoulder plates. The clank of their armors echoed around them as well, but at least Farkas began trying to laugh more quietly.
"You never could lie to me brother," Farkas grinned when he finally settled down from laughing. Vilkas just sighed and dropped his head into his hand.
"She's too secretive," Vilkas grumbled a moment later, "I hardly know anything about her."
"She's honorable," Farkas shrugged, "she likes helping people, and she fights good. She doesn't have to tell us everything, I trust her."
"Then why aren't you sweet on her?" Vilkas growled. He regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth... he suddenly realized he didn't want Farkas trying to win Kaya's attention... Damn it...
"Think you already called me out on that reason," Farkas admitted a little sheepishly. Vilkas just sighed, half in relief, half in embarrassment of the fact he was relieved by that.
"You going to finally do anything about that?" Vilkas asked, hoping to divert his brother's attention off of Kaya...
"Probably not," Farkas shrugged sadly, "like I said, I'm just 'icebrain' to her now."
Vilkas sighed. He wanted to encourage Farkas but he wasn't sure he had anything more to say than what he already had.
"We're both a fine mess, aren't we?" Vilkas grumbled instead.
"We are," Farkas sighed.
They sat in silence for the next couple of hours, and Vilkas let his thoughts drift back to their newest Circle member...
Kaya...
Vilkas was doing his best to deny his attraction to her, but he was realizing that might be futile.
She was a worthy warrior... she was sharp witted, and kind hearted... and a damn good fighter.
It also didn't help Vilkas's case that she was fascinating to look at... she was of mixed heritage... the most obvious of which was Nord and Redguard. She had what one could call a button nose, and full lips that had a natural red tint... but their was something about her slightly high cheekbones and red tint to her warm brown eyes that suggested she had at least a little bit of Dunmer in her ancestry too. She was a little on the short side for a Nord, but tall for a Redguard; the top of her head came just to Vilkas's chin. She had the toned musculature of a Nord, but with a bit more curves; and honey-brown skin, with soft brown hair that hung to her chin in kinked, tight curls. Since she'd caught his attention the other day, Vilkas had a few times found himself thinking of what it would feel like to run his fingers through her springy looking hair...

Before their tragic run-in with the vile group of werewolf hunters, Vilkas had been training her to use two handed weapons... he hadn't realized how competent she was with one handed weapons until he'd dragged her off to avenge Kodlak... her skills and ferocity in battle had surprised him. Most of her time at Jorrvaskr had been spent awkwardly learning to use a great sword and heavy armor; she'd turned into a completely different warrior with light armor and dual wielding short swords. Watching her fight had been impressive... and honestly, a little arousing.

Vilkas was suddenly pulled from his thoughts by the sound of stones grinding together somewhere deep in the tomb. He got to his feet turned to look toward the sound. He couldn't see anything yet, but he could hear footsteps. He assumed that had to be Aela and Kaya...
Farkas had gotten to his feet and was watching and waiting as well.
"I'm sure our girls are fine," Farkas said with a smile and Vilkas felt his brothers gauntleted hand clank onto one of his steel shoulder plates.
"Aye," Vilkas nodded.
"Stop lookin' so worried," Farkas chuckled.
"I'm not," Vilkas grumbled. To his irritation, Farkas just gave short laugh at that. Vilkas was about to snap back at him, but then the sound of grinding stone caught their ears again, and suddenly the side wall was moving. Vilkas just stared as a doorway opened and Aela walked out followed by a very subdued and nervous looking Kaya.
"Kodlak's been cleansed. His soul has departed for Sovengarde," Aela announced proudly. Then she glanced back to Kaya who still said nothing. "And he named the new Harbinger," Aela added, nodding pointedly at Kaya.
Kaya looked up at the two brothers nervously at that. Vilkas was simply frozen in place, staring at Kaya in surprise.
His mind ran back to the year before, when Kaya first came to them...