As Sotek entered Aela’s bedroom, he dropped his pack in the corner on the floor then started removing his armour. Aela sat on her bed and kicked her boots off then looked over to him. She could see he was tired; his tail gave it away all too easily. Aela removed all her armour then walked over to him and helped remove his. Sotek intended to give her a quick glance but then he found it hard to turn away from her. She was standing there, helping him with his chest armour, wearing nothing except her loincloth.
“You want to borrow a shirt?”
She shook her head as she placed his armour on the table.
“Nope, I want to feel you next to me, I like the feel of your scales against my skin. I know you’re tired, that’s obvious. Tomorrow, do you think we could have a few hours to ourselves? I have needs, and you Mr Argonian haven’t been seeing to them lately”.
Sotek nodded as he rested his head on her shoulder.
“That sounds good, just us two for a few hours. I thought we saw to your needs last night?” He looked over to the other side of the room then groaned. “The bed… It’s so bloody far away”.
Aela laughed at him.
“We saw to your needs, not mine. The beds less than ten feet away, come on”. A few minutes later they both heard a soft banging coming from the room opposite. Aela smirked as she backed into Sotek more and wrapped his arms around herself.
“Kul-et’s not taking your advice and getting sleep. By the sounds of it she’s getting something else instead. You are going to go easy on her tomorrow, aren’t you?”
Sotek kissed her back between the shoulder blades then whispered softly to her.
“Yes, as long as she listens and tries. But she’s got a lot to learn. We’ll see”.
Aela laid down with Sotek in her arms. She felt his breathing relax more as he fell asleep. She smiled as she listened to Kul-et and Veezara, they were both now talking softly, but in the quietness of the night she could hear them both. Not what they were saying, but she could tell Kul-et was happy by the tone in her voice. Aela stared at the ring of Hircine which was on her index finger, then started playing with it by rolling it around.
She gently pulled it off then for some strange reason placed it on her ring finger. She laid there studying it on her finger as she got the feel for it. It felt strange initially but quite quickly she found it wasn’t uncomfortable. She smiled to herself as she whispered quietly.
“Aela the huntress, a bride”. Moments later fear stepped in and settled at the forefront of her mind. “Us, husband and wife? I don’t think so, you’ll be getting me a pet dog next”. Only then did she cast a quick look in the corner. Fang who was now three times the size as he was when she first picked him up out of the box, was asleep on a fur. Aela gasped but just managed to stifle it. “By the Nine, we have a dog!! We have a dog? Oh, by Hircine, we’re a family”.
A good hour or so before dawn was breaking Aela semi consciously became aware of being gently rolled on her back. She felt one of her knees pulled slowly upwards parting her legs. She then opened her eyes as she felt Sotek kissing the side of her neck softly as he slowly grinded against her. She smiled as their eyes made contact then she started kissing him on the lips.
“Morning, someone’s in a happy mood, and you seem happy as well”. She reached down between his legs then offered herself to him. They kissed several times in a row as her heels dug into his back.
Half an hour later, Aela was laying there on her side with Sotek tucked in tight behind her. As she played lovingly with his fingers Sotek leaned across her and kissed the side of her face. He whispered softly in her ear.
“It’s far better when it’s like this”
She smiled and rolled around then kissed him back.
“Yea, god I needed that. Hang on, better than what?”
“Better than when I had to pay you the thousand gold for sex, that was pricey you know. But I’m glad I get it for free now”.
Her face broke out in a horrified expression as she slapped him across the face lightly.
“You stinking reptile”. The next moment all hell broke loose as they both started fighting each other. Sotek suddenly hollered out as Aela bit him on the tail, but the next moment she screamed out even louder.” My arse! You bastard, you bit my arse”.
Moments later Farkas banged on Aela’s door.
“Oi keep it down, we don’t want to hear your perverted sex games. Sotek, Kul-et’s upstairs waiting for ya”.
As they both stopped their roughhousing and got up, Sotek reached over to her and gently pulled her towards him. He rested his head in her breasts as she held him lovingly in her arms, while he gently slid his hands down Aela’s naked back. He lifted his head up slightly then spoke softly.
“I could do with your help with Kul-et’s training, and Reds help as well”.
“Sure, you know I’ll help. What would you have me do?”
“Oh, not much, just help with examples. I might be wanting Red as well though”.
“Yep, no worries. But before any of that, I need breakfast. Come on you”. She eyed him up evilly then slapped him hard on the backside.
“Aww. Oi that bloody hurt”. Sotek screwed his face up as he turned to face her, so he could keep an eye on her.
Aela laughed at him while she continued to get dressed, stealing Sotek’s scruffy shirt in the process.
“Aww shut up, you wuss. Thanks for the shirt, haha”.
Soon afterwards, they both entered the hall. Kul-et was sitting nervously next to Veezara. She watched Sotek as he headed over towards the table.
“When are we starting?”
Much to her relief, Sotek’s voice was its usual softness and calm. She couldn’t detect a single trace of the attitude he displayed yesterday.
“As soon as I’ve grabbed an apple”.
Ebony jumped up like a shot.
“Here, let me, I’ll get it. You prefer them uncut… Don’t you?” She literally ran to him and held the apple to him.
Sotek slowly took it from her grasp as he watched her carefully. Then he walked past her and headed to the training yard.
“Yes, thank you Ebony. Oh rats, I’ve forgot my pack”.
Before anyone could say anything, Ebony started running towards the stairwell.
“I’ll get it You stay there, I won’t be long”. Then there was a bang as the door to the living quarters hit the wall.
Sotek and Aela just stood there staring at each other. He couldn’t help but ask Aela about Ebony’s actions.
“What is it with her lately?”
All Aela could do was shrug her shoulders. A few moments later a sheepish looking Ebony stuck her head up from the stairwell.
“Sorry, I can’t find it. Where is it?”
“It’s on the table in...”
“Won’t be long”. Instantly Ebony shot down the stairway again despite Sotek trying his best to call her back.
She searched his room high and low and even the table twice, even though it was cleared of everything.
“By the Nine, I wish Farkas was this tidy”. She muttered to herself. She ended up sighing then headed back upstairs. “Sotek I’m sorry, I can’t see it there”.
Sotek shook his head at her, then took a bite of the apple.
“What in Oblivion is up with you? It’s not in my room, I tried to tell you that. It’s in Aela’s room on the table.
“Ahhh, sorry. Ermm… I can’t get it, we’re not allowed in there. Aela, she once ermm…”
Aela grabbed her by the collar and held her fist up to the Whelp’s face.
“Don’t you dare touch anything else. Hurry up”.
Ebony fearfully stared at Aela like a deer transfixed by a hunter’s torch, then she turned and ran down the stairway. She opened the door to Aela’s room and cautiously stepped inside. Instantly Fang started growling at the unwelcome intruder.
“Fang, no. It’s me, you remember me, don’t you? You know me, Fang stop!!” Fang still slowly approached her, with his fangs showing as he snarled at her. But she grabbed the bag from the table then ran out the room slamming the door as Fang snarled and clawed at it. “That ungrateful bastard, only last week I took him for a bloody walk”. She returned to the hall to find Aela and Sotek sitting at the main table with the others. She gave Sotek the pack, then mumbled at Aela. “That dogs a bloody menace, last blinking week I took him out. He went for me, seriously, you got to train him better”.
Aela simply shrugged at her.
“I like the way he is, he knows my territory and he defends it. But then in one way you’re right. Sotek, at some point we’ll have to visit the guards tower, see what else Fang can learn”.
Sotek nodded, but he couldn’t help but feel some sympathy for Ebony, she looked a bit pale from getting his pack.
“What did Aela once do in regard to a whelp entering her room?”
Aela sat there tapping her fingernails on the table, glaring at Ebony and the others at the same time.
“Tell him”.
Vilkas took a deep breath then slowly breathed out, when he was ready, he told the tale.
“She found out once that someone went into her room. She tracked him down to the washroom where he was having a bath. She went right up to him and… held his head under water for several seconds. Only Tilma can enter her room, even then she knocks first”.
Sotek cast a quick scrutinizing look at Aela then he turned to the others. The look on her face told him that Vilkas wasn’t joking. He meant every word.
“Who in Oblivion did she do that to?”
Vilkas looked deadly serious as he answered.
“Kodlak”.
Sotek’s heart practically came to a shattering stop.
“The Harbinger? You held the Harbingers head underwater in his own bloody bath? You’re a bloody maniac. What’s wrong with you?” As he looked at Aela, he could tell it was true. Every face in the hall backed the story up.
Not giving one ounce of remorse, Aela tapped Sotek in the chest with her finger and laid out a threat.
“My room, my territory. So, you remember that. Just because I allow you to go there, doesn’t mean you have the right to go there uninvited. Consider yourself warned”.
As she prodded him, she noticed her hand.
“Oh, fucking hell”. Instantly Aela screamed as she shoved her hands under the table. She spent a good minute swearing and bashing the underside of the tabletop. “Oww fuck that was my bloody elbow. Damn it, where’s the Harbinger?”
Everyone including Sotek stopped what they were doing and just sat there and watched, even Ebony sat on a chair and watched Aela wrestle with something under the table top. Farkas went to bend down and look under the table until Aela stopped him.
“You fucking do, and I will kill you; literally. Piss off”.
The next moment she climbed out of her chair tipping it backwards onto the floor and ran to the stairway with her arms tightly folded in her chest. She shoulder barged the door to the living quarters and ran to the Harbingers study. Everyone upstairs could hear her screaming and kicking his door.
“Harbinger, Harbinger. For fuck sake open this bloody door”.
He opened the door to get pushed aside as Aela burst in his room then there was a loud ‘bang’ as it slammed shut.
“Aela, whatever’s the matter?”
She looked over to the Harbinger’s bedroom to see Tilma wrapping a dressing gown around herself.
“Tilma? What on? Never mind you, it won’t come off!!”
Kodlak looked over to Tilma then back to Aela, obviously confused and a bit shocked at her finding Tilma in his bed.
“What? Wait! Aela, get out... What won’t come off?”
Aela was rapidly getting frantic and started pulling at the ring again as she nearly screamed at him.
“My ring, this ring... This stupid blasted fucking piece of crap that bastard reptile gave me, I can’t get it off. Get it off me!”
Tilma grabbed Aela by the arms and sat her in a chair, then whilst she held Aela’s arms she spoke softly trying to calm her down.
“What are you on about?”
Aela’s temper flared right up. She growled out at them both loudly.
“Gggrraahhhh... This fucking ring here on my finger, look at it. It’s stuck” She thrust her hand out in front of herself so Kodlak and Tilma could look at it.
Tilma was a bit confused as she tried to make sense of everything.
“Aela why is the ring of Hircine on your wedding finger?”
Aela snarled out at her, pulling her hand away. Within moments she was getting worked up and frantic. Her voice was a low heavy growl which was more suited to Vilkas or Farkas.
“I don’t have a bloody wedding finger! I have two fingers, the right one and the wrong one and it’s on the fucking bloody wrong one and it won’t come offff!! Harbinger, don’t just stand there, get it off!” her voice trailed off in a long snarl.
Kodlak gently held her hand then looked at the ring, he easily saw what the trouble was.
“You’ve bruised the knuckle by tugging it. Your fingers swollen. We’ll get Sotek to cast a basic healing spell on it”.
Aela’s eyes went wide in horror. She shook her head franticly.
“No, not him. Please, not him, I’m begging you. Cut it off, I’ll lose the finger. Don’t get him”.
Kodlak smirked at the suggestion.
“Cut it off? That’s a bit drastic isn’t it? Come to the wash basin. Cold water will help”. He held her hand in the water as he sat her next to it. “Stay there for a few moments. Oh, you do get yourself in a state, don’t you?”
Aela waited for a few seconds then started yanking on the ring again.
“It’s not shifting! Harbinger? Damn it”.
“Aela, wait”. He shook his head as he walked back over to her and picked up a bar of soap. Once he made a lather up in his hands, he rubbed it all over Aela’s finger. Then he started twisting the ring. As the soap worked under the ring, it started moving. Soon afterwards the harbinger managed to get it to slide off.
As soon as it came free Aela stepped back and yelled.
“That bloody hurt, damn it. You took your time didn’t ya?” She went to the Harbingers chair and flumped down hard on it as she held her finger. “Keep the blasted thing. Damn, my finger hurts”. She sat there for a few seconds in silence while the Harbinger and Tilma stood there gobsmacked.
Moments later there was a knock at the door. Tilma opened it to see Sotek standing there.
“I gather from the yelling, the screaming, cursing and swearing that Aela’s in here? Do you mind if I came in?” Without even waiting for an answer, Sotek gently moved Tilma to the side then walked past her.
He went straight up to Aela who stood up and started yelling at him.
“You can’t just walk in here, I was seeing the Harbinger. What in all of Skyrim do you want?”
Sotek gently held her cheeks in his palms then tipped her head forwards. He planted a kiss on her forehead then tenderly moved her arms around his waist. Then, once her arms were secured around him, he held her in his arms after tucking her head under his chin. He kissed the top of her head softly then slowly rocked her side to side. Sotek then lovingly whispered in her ear.
“Is my wolf girl having a bad morning?”
Aela looked up at him then tucked her head back under his chin as she snuggled into him.
“Yes, she is. She’s having a very bad morning”.
“Well, she wasn’t earlier, so what happened? Is she ok?”
Aela held her eyes shut then shook her head.
“No, she hurt her finger… Look”. She showed him her hand, which clearly showed heavy bruising on the knuckle.
“You jam it in a door or something?”
“Yes, it hurts”.
Sotek cast a light healing spell on her hand the kissed the finger.
“All better”. Then he lifted her up in his arms and carried her outside to the corridor.
As they made their way towards the stairwell, Aela got him to stop. “Wait, I need something”. She went back to the Harbinger and gave him a hug.
“Thanks for that, ermm where’s my ring?”
Tilma handed it over to her, which she took gratefully.
“Thanks. Ermm the Harbinger’s bed business, I don’t know anything about that”. Then she placed the ring on her index finger and walked out to the corridor. She broke into a run and jumped up at Sotek. “Catch meee!” Sotek caught her and spun her around. Moments later the Harbinger and Tilma watched as Sotek and Aela held each other in a lovers embrace.
Kodlak shook his head as Tilma spoke quietly to him.
“That’s unbelievable”.
“What is?”
She pointed to them both up the corridor. “
Those two hounds. I still find it odd how she calm’s him down so fast and he does the same with her. He literally stopped her dead. If they ever both lose their tempers, even the divines had better watch out”.
Kodlak smirked slightly.
“I can’t help but wonder why she wore it on that finger to start with.”
Tilma gave him a slight shove.
“Don’t be so naïve. That’s obvious even to the likes of you. A certain someone was playing at being a bride. She was thinking about them being married”.
At that moment there was a crash as Aela accidently kicked a jug off a table while she was being swung about by Sotek. They both stopped where they were in total silence until Sotek called out.
“Tilma, someone’s broken a vase here. It’s a good job we saw it else we could have hurt ourselves. When you got a second, can you clear it up?”
Both Aela and Sotek ran for the stairwell when they heard three ominous words echo along the corridor.
“Where’s my mop?”
Comments
and [Red's] help as well”.
“Harbinger, Harbinger. For [fuck's] sake open this bloody door”.
["]Those two hounds. I still find it odd how she ... more