The days and nights all sort of bled together in Vilkas's mind as they settled into a routine. He was grateful for all the help they got from Sudia, Lydia, Farkas, and Frailia. Twins were exhausting.
Then one evening, after they'd gotten Hakon and Gormlaith to sleep again and Vilkas had gone downstairs for a drink, he came upstairs to find Krinna sitting up in bed, reading an old looking letter with tears in her eyes.
"Are you alright my love?" Vilkas asked worriedly sitting down beside her and putting his arm around her shoulders.
"Yeah," Krinna sighed, trying to blink the tears away. She put the letter down and wiped her eyes. "I just remembered that Sudia brought me this letter from my Ma."
"What's it say?" Vilkas asked in concern. He recalled that Sudia had said it was her final prophesy... he didn't like that it was making Krinna teary-eyed.
"It's... it's really not bad..." Krinna said with another sigh. "It's just..." she paused and sighed again, "do you want to know how you die?"
Vilkas looked back at her a bit startled, he wasn't sure... that wasn't the kind of thing he had ever thought about wanting to know... but now he was curious... if he could know, he realized, he did want to.
"It's really not bad, you say?" He repeated worriedly.
"It's really not," Krinna shook her head, "just... I don't know, I'm not sure I wanted to know."
"Well, love, that's not a burden I'd have you bear alone," Vilkas decided. "If you know, I guess I want to know."
Krinna looked back at him with a loving and grateful expression, and Vilkas realized he loved that he knew her well enough to read those emotions in just her expression. Wordlessly, she handed him the letter her mother had written so many years ago...
Nervously, Vilkas took a deep breath and read:My dearest daughter,
By the time you should be reading this, I know you will have grown into a strong warrior, a loving wife, and a proud mother. I want you to know first that your father and I love you, and we are very proud of what we know you will achieve.
Even though we will be gone before any of this comes to pass, your father and I are happy to know that you will help your brother reunify Skyrim. Your brother will become a General in the Imperial army, and you will become the Harbinger of the Companions.
-your father was especially proud when I told him you would marry the Companions' Master-at-Arms. I do not know his name, but I have seen his face in my visions and I know he is a worthy husband for the Dragonborn.
But these are things that have already come to pass if you are reading this at the proper time.
Now for the future I feel it may be helpful for you to know;
Your warrior days are behind you, for a time. You will serve the Companions as Harbinger for many years in relative peace as you raise your family.
Your adopted son will leave for a time to study magic. He will surpass all of the other mages at the College of Winterhold. He will save the college from a great threat, and be named Arch Mage before he returns home to rejoin the Companions.
Your adopted daughter will stay close to home, marry a fellow companion, and succeed you as Harbinger when the time comes.
Your first born, a daughter, will be the most fearsome warrior of her time, earning the title 'the Undying' for her skills in restoration magic will make her foes believe she is invulnerable to their attacks. Many battles will be ended just by enemies fleeing at the sight her.
Your second born, a son, will succeed his father as Master-at-Arms. He will come to be known as the best combat instructor in Skyrim, and the Companions will increase in number, just from adventurers hoping to learn from him. Many mercenaries will turn to the path of honor after his instruction.
Your niece will be the most skilled and powerful healer in the Temple of Kynareth, but will march into battle with the Companions, becoming one of their most valuable assets on the battle field.
And your nephew will grow to be a Companion as big as his father, as clever as his uncle, and nearly as fearsome in battle as your daughter, making their generation of Companions the most feared group of warriors in all of Tamriel.But you, my daughter, will only see some of this come to pass. You and your husband will see Sovengarde before Skyrim truly knows peace and freedom.
The next Great War will be the one to drive the Thalmor out of Skyrim for good, finally finishing what Ysgramor and his Companions began.
You, your husband, your brother-in-law, and your sister-in-law will storm the Thalmor stronghold yourselves, despite being advanced in years by then. You will exhaust all of your strength, stamina, and magica, but the four of you will secure an otherwise impossible victory for Skyrim. The four of you will go to Sovengarde together, knowing that because of your sacrifice your children will free Skyrim from the Aldmeri Dominion, and your grandchildren will live in relative peace in a free Skyrim.
The four of you will be entombed in a great momnument that will be built where the Thalmor embassy once stood, memorializing your victory over our oppressors. It will be a magnificent monument, built to last through the ages.
There will be a great feast in the Hall of Valor when the four of you at last arrive, and your father and I will be happily waiting to greet you.Until then, enjoy your family, raise them and love them well, for you will leave them a great legacy, and they will live up to it.
Until we meet again,
Your loving motherVilkas said nothing for several moments, and reread the letter as it's meaning slowly sank in. He was going to die old, victorious in battle, with his love beside him... with his brother and his love as well... and they would all see Sovengarde...
Vilkas set the letter down again and wrapped Krinna in his arms.
"It's the best ending a Nord could hope for my love," he whispered happily. "We'll go to Sovengarde with honor and glory, and our children will all be amazing. I can't ask for anything more."
"I hoped you'd think so," Krinna replied, her voice was muffled with her face tucked into the crook of his neck. Vilkas could feel her smile, but he also felt tears.
"Are you alright my love?" He asked gently leaning back to look down at her.
"Yeah," she smiled, "I'm just... happy."
"Aye, me too love," Vilkas smiled before leaning down to kiss his wife.
Vilkas thought they should probably tell Farkas and Lydia about the prophesy when it came closer to the end. He knew Farkas would be just as happy as he was with the life and ending described in the prophesy. It was more than either of them had ever dared to dream of when they were younger... not that they're ever thought much about how they wanted their stories to end, but now that he knew, Vilkas couldn't imagine a better ending.
YOU ARE READING
Honor of the Dragonborn
FanfictionThird story to "His Harbinger," sequel to "Something to Protect." Everything makes much more sense if you at least read "His Harbinger" first. Vilkas x Dragonborn (established) Farkas x Lydia (also established and a bit background) Based on my play...