-Volfir's POV-
Many months have passed since that weird bloodlusted state in the caves and their consequent clearing. I guess I earned some respect or interest from most of the Companions and even more clear jealousy and other negative feelings from others that find themselves learning under them
The constant overlooking from both Aela and Skjor painted a rather big target on my back I guess, but I barely could find the time to contemplate on such things, their teachings taking up half of my time, while the rest was occupied by completing quests in the Whiterun Hold
I take a swig of Black-Briar mead, the taste oh so sweet that I find myself feeling a smile forming on my usually expressionless face
Sounds of repeated thuds echoed inside the great hall of Jorrvaskr
Watching the constant fights that occurred in the hall was always pleasant, especially when it was the inner-circle members battling. Their fights always end within minutes, but each time I ponder about their moves for days to come
Boisterous laughter followed after one of the opponents fell on their bottom
"Heh" I let out a small chuckle as well, feeling that the atmosphere was more intoxicating than the cold mead bottle in my hand
So much has changed as the harsh Skyrim winter passed the fastest I have ever noticed it do so, through my eyes scenes of training passed by like a play in one of the Cyrodilic theatres, and as they did, I found myself getting progressively frustrated
'Your weapons are just an extension of your body, the most important thing is your eyesight, it doesn't matter if you wield a bow or a sword, you will die if you don't see a strike aiming to behead you' Aela's sweet and sadistic voice surfaced inside his mind as he remembered her stepping on his neck after a particularly harsh training session
'Your body IS the weapon, I will drill every single move you need to know INTO you! Your muscle memory and instinct is what will save you in most battles against beings of higher proficiencies than you' the scene in my mind changed into Skjor beating me up, while he was distracted thinking about something else
It didn't really make any sense, their words were different and similar at the same time, but then again I felt like they were trying to shape me to become more of a feral beast than man… so frustrating…
GULP
I took a large sip of the mead in my hand, finishing the bottle, tossing it aside and grabbing a new one, my eyes looking at a new battle that ensued inside Jorrvaskr, but my mind continued being elsewhere
I felt my shoulder being grabbed, so I left my reverie and looked to my right to find the local sadistic and wild sweetheart looking at me with a grin
"Why so focused on their fight? Wanna get your milky ass beaten up instead of them?~" she spoke with mirth, a slightly disturbing smile gracing her war painted face
I grunted in answer, trying to shake her hand off, but I felt the grip tighten even further bringing along the pain as well
"Don't dismiss me whelp or I'll bash your head in~" she cooed and I furiously nodded, earning a chuckle from her
"You seem to be in a good mood?" I stated more than asked, but it was still better than my previous attempts at starting conversations in the recent past
"The full moon brought me on a good hunt this time" she slumped into a seat beside me, taking a free bottle of mead off the table in the process
"When will I go on full moon hunts with you all?" I asked, interested in the inner circle's full moon adventures
"As per tradition, only when you become an inner-circle member" she dismissed me once again, it was not the first time I asked the question, but it seems that the alcohol made me hopeful for a different answer this time around
"The Harbinger doesn't go out on night walks, why is that?" my question made Aela's eyebrow twitch in an unexplainable emotion
"Don't concern yourself with these matters, when the time comes you will naturally learn of our sacred secretes" she looked at me, her eyes gaining a serious glint, letting me know that the topic is finished
"Okay I guess… Then when will you take me out on another hunt?" I changed topic
"You can hunt by yourself, why do you only do so in my company?" She asked with a mocking smile, making my face a bit more red as I reached for the back my neck to rub it
"...Haha… I don't know?" I winced as I said these words, knowing that my hole has just been dug even deeper
"Eh?~ You don't know?~" Her voice turned seductive as she yanked my closer to her, closing her eyes in the process
Sniff
She took a couple of sniffs close to my burning with embarrassment face
"Hmmm… The night is young and you smell delicious~" she opens her eyes, which were so close to mine I could clearly see my lost expression in them
"Pffft! Hahahaha! Sorry whelp, not interested, besides relationships between Companions shouldn't happen~" my face darkened as I felt my heart break, taking my soul out my body in the process
"Don't look so gloomy Volfir, you can find a good wench in any respectable tavern or inn~" Aela continued making fun of me
I shook off her hand which yanked me closer to her in the first place and slumped even further in my chair, feeling dead tired
"What a good day it was until you decided to ruin it" I voiced my thoughts and she slapped my back, taking the air out of my lungs with her unnatural strength
"Oh forget it, maybe once you become a respectable hunter of my level I'll consider straddling your cock" her unfiltered words made me wince as I put my hands to my face, furiously rubbing it
"Crushes come and go whelp, focus on gaining strength, then you can have any Nord woman you want~" Aela continued making fun of me, placing her hand on my thigh, dangerously close to something that was rising and falling throughout our conversation
"GAH! AELA I HATE YOU!" I shouted out, shooting up from my seat and running away outside, much to the amusement of everybody present
-General POV-
"Why do you continue to torture the poor boy?" an old and tired voice interrupted Aela's amused chuckles
"Kodlak" the huntress said his name with respect, turning her attention to him, but did not answer the question
"Haaah… whelps these days… back in my time…" the old man started rumbling about something under his breath from his honorary seat behind the table
"He is like a Breton maiden in love is why!" a suave voice joined in on the conversation
"Volfir finally found calm in his life, as much as mercenary work can be that is… don't make so much fun of him brother" a gruff and disappointed voice reprimanded Vilkas
"Oh come off it Farkas, can't a man have his fun at the extent of misery of others?" the suave voice bit back with no real heat, just brotherly talk
"Aela is indeed beautiful and she is a big part of his life as an instructor, it's natural he developed his first feelings for her" Skjor put in his own words, making the others turn a bit still as they thought about his opinion
"Unnecessary feelings, they cloud his mind and judgement, so it's becoming a problem" voiced Aela
"You have been a whelp yourself Aela and the boy is growing, already considered an adult" said Kodlak
"I have no interest in making him a man if that is what you are saying, the problem lies in his intent" she answered to the unasked question
"And what is this intent?" asked Skjor
"He is bent on earning my affection, claiming me as his woman, while disregarding his building needs, he isn't even interested in the wenches, just me" she continued with a tired sigh
"A faithful Nord is a good Nord" said Kodlak
"But we are not in a relationship" deadpanned Aela
"You wouldn't understand" Farkas shared his mind on relationships, surprising those in the close proximity to the very interesting chat
Aela frowned, but immediately waved off the comment as it wasn't far from the truth. She really didn't understand and probably never would
"Why lead him on then?" asked Vilkas
"As a lesson" Aela's voice became rather harsh as she was confident in her actions
"I think you are doing more harm than good, give him a definitive rejection, instead of belittling and then instantly enlarging his hope" spoke Skjor somewhat disappointed with how Aela was handling things
Aela slightly winced and closed her eyes with a deep breath, gaining a contemplative aura that spoke she didn't want to be disturbed anymore
"Whatever, let the whelp find a solution on his own then, training can wait a bit" Skjor put an end to the topic, earning nods and sounds of affirmation from those present
-Volfir's POV-
I found myself sitting on the edge of the rocky hill on top of which the Skyforge was placed, looking outside the city walls at the serene view of the boundless farms that fed most of the province, a piece of parchment and coal in my hands
Painting sketches of the views I like always brought my mind to ease, I have tried many other things as hobbies, but I couldn't sing well and didn't find enjoyment in playing musical instruments, although I have become a better cook, but it was more out of necessity than wish
"Hm, hm, hmmm~"
I shuffled my legs in a rhythm as I hummed a song, the name of which I keep on forgetting
"Haaaah…"
I put away the piece of coal as I breathed out, letting my new painting bathe in the unnaturally bright moonlight above my head
"It turned out pretty well" I spoke aloud, something I have started doing more and more recently
Putting away the parchment into one of my satchels, I lay down on the cold rocky floor, putting my hands below my head
'Aela is so annoying… why does she keep on acting that way…' I felt really betrayed since she kept on playing with my evident feelings. It was the first time I have felt such warm affection towards somebody, especially of the opposite sex, but I keep on thinking that Aela is just amused by all of these actions of putting me down and giving me slight hope later
THUD
I hit my head against the cold floor in exasperation, a lone tear escaping one of my eyes, I understood that I wouldn't be able to embrace the woman, I just want her to hold me in her arms, but it seems like this wish will remain a fantasy of mine
'Be content with what you have, ambition doesn't do any of us simple men good' my father's words resurfaced in my mind
I closed my eyes and brought myself back to much more simple times, when my lovely mother was a housewife and my strict father kept order in our little house in Helgen. Unfortunately all that changed when some kind of Daedric Cultists tried to kidnap me straight from our home
I felt my anger rising, clenching my fists hard enough for my knuckles to whiten
They were quick in killing my mom, I saw the scene pass my mind evidently, her surprised and frozen expression engrained deep into my memories, as blood gushed out from her slit neck
I remember father's grip as he threw towards the backdoor, shouting for me to run away, as he engaged with the intruders with simple clothes and an iron axe, but most importantly his raging anger
I winced as I went through the memory of me trying to run away through the backdoor, screaming for help, only to freeze when a figure wearing the same chitin and leather armour as the others, his face obscured with some kind of fabric and his eyes covered by some kind of goggles, was waiting for me to push through the door with open arms
"Come n'wah, mistress calls for you" the figure's sweet female voice called out to me, instead of the awaited male voice, as she reached closer to me, only for a wooden plate to unexpectedly hit her dead in the head, making her rebound slightly in shock
That was when I bolted through between her legs into the eerily empty streets of Helgen, no guard or other resident in sight
"Bloody n'wah, come here you s'wit, nobody escapes the Plot-Weaver's plans!" the female attacker shouted out as she leaped towards me
I remember seeing the fanaticism inside one of her eyes which was revealed through the broken goggles
"-Volfir!"
My thoughts broke as I felt somebody kick me in my side, probably to get my attention, so I turned my displeased face towards the newcomer only to see the same red head that was the result of my foul mood
"Fuck off Aela, don't kick me again" I growled out, making her frown
"Don't ignore me whelp" she said
"Stop being overbearing and tell me what you want" I bit back with some force, my displeasure never waning in front of her, making her pause
"Tsk, I wanted to say sorry, but you are making me want to bash your head in instead" she growled back
"Just leave me alone woman" I shot straight up from the floor and started walking away. Her penetrating gaze didn't leave my back until I disappeared from Jorrvaskr's grounds