Chapter Seventeen - A Vision



"You doing okay Farkas?" I glance over at him. He's curled up in a fetal position, looking like he'd rather be dead than be here.


"Ughnnnff," he groans.


"He'll be fine," Vilkas rolls his eyes.


We had spent the past hour destroying our wolf spirits and freeing ourselves from lycanthropy, something that had taken a lot of stamina and health potions. We were all exhausted but I think Farkas had had the most trouble with it. He was the biggest out of us all, and the most kind-hearted, so his wolf spirit had almost destroyed him when it came out of him. Vilkas's wolf spirit was perhaps the most difficult to destroy. Like Vilkas, his wolf spirit was smart and cunning and wasn't so easily killed by myself and Farkas. Meanwhile my own wolf spirit had been a small little thing but incredibly fast on her feet and had worn the twins out.


"It's getting quite late. We should head back to Winterhold and then make our way home in the morning," I suggest.


"You're the Harbinger," Vilkas helps his brother up. "Come on, brother, there's a steaming tankard of spiced ale waiting for you,"


It had been almost a year since we had last come to Ysgramor's Tomb. In that year the Companions had expanded and had earned more coin than ever. Also in that year Ulfric Stormcloak's rebellion had effectively pushed the Imperials and the Thalmor out of Skyrim, so we were all under Ulfric's rule now. How long that will last, I can't say. But something deep inside of me knows that the Thalmor will be back soon.


***


"I'm sorry, but we only allow members of the College into the grounds," the woman at the gates to the College of Winterhold says, clearly frustrated with me. "Or unless you can prove yourself to be exceptional at magic,"


"My brother's a student and I'd like to see him," I try to persuade her. "Marco. Marco Whitemane,"


"Whitemane? You don't look a thing like him. His sister is the Dragonborn-"


"Lok...va KOR!" I look up to the snowy skies and the clouds and snow clears, revealing a pink evening sky.


"I-I, forgive me. I didn't realise who you were...please, come in," the woman stammers.


"He comes with me," I gesture at Vilkas. Farkas had collapsed in the inn after having a few too many drinks and we had bundled him into the bedroom we had rented for the night.


Vilkas and I trudge up the steep walkway to the College and we go across an unstable-looking stone bridge. The gates to the courtyard of the College creak open slowly and I see Marco reading a book by a statue of some wizard. Vilkas and I approach him slowly and he looks up and smiles at us.


"It is so good to see you again," Marco hugs me and shakes Vilkas's hand. "I cannot stay long, unfortunately, for I am about to make a small journey to the Shrine of Azura,"


"Azura? How come?" Vilkas raises an eyebrow.


"Azura has the gift of foresight, as do her followers. I have reason to believe that there is a priestess there who may be able to be of some assistance to my quest to find the rest of our family," Marco explains. "I am also doing some research into soul gems,"


"Well we know where Madanach is - Cidhna Mine," Vilkas points out. "Kodlak, Divines bless his soul, is in Sovngarde,"


"Belethor is in his shop and Elenwen in prison in Castle Dour," I add. "Ulfric wants to keep her hostage,"


"I would assume that our parents are also in Cidhna Mine with Madanach but I feel that I may be wrong...I cannot explain it," Marco frowns. "I've tried almost everything possible. I even went to Markarth once, an experience I never hope to repeat. They would not let me into the Mine to see Madanach or to see if our parents were there,"


"You don't want to be going into Cidhna Mine," I say quickly. "You wouldn't have lasted a second,"


"Thank you for your confidence in me, sister," Marco rolls his eyes. "I assume this is only a short visit?"


"I'm afraid so," I nod my head. "We left a very drunk Farkas in the inn and we shouldn't leave him for too long," 


"A shame, but there is always plenty of time to see each other," Marco hugs me once more and shakes Vilkas's hand again. "It has been wonderful seeing you both again,"


***


A week or so later, I sit in the Bannered Mare with Lydia and Vilkas. The two of them both have tankards of mead but recently I've found that mead makes me feel sicker than usual the next morning so I've taken to cutting it out of my diet for a while. I've also had to cut out milk and honey as that also makes me feel incredibly ill and I've had unexplained cravings for potatoes. 


"Perhaps it's because of your monthly bleed?" Lydia suggests when Vilkas leaves to get more mead for him and Lydia. Lydia has been training vigorously with the Whiterun Guard and has guard duty in Dragonsreach but today she was able to get the evening off. I'm planning to accept the Jarl's Thaneship soon enough and then Lydia will become my housecarl. Not that I need one but serving as Thane to Whiterun is an honour I can't refuse for much longer. Or perhaps it's my power-hungry need to dominate that I can't always quite control. Probably both. 


I shrug. "I'm not sure. It'll pass eventually though,"


Next to me is a relatively new Redguard family that moved to Whiterun a few months ago. I've hardly seen the woman leave the house but the man, Amren, was a client of ours a week or so ago. I sent myself and Athis into Redoran's Retreat to get a stolen family heirloom of his and in exchange he showed me a few blocking techniques that were special tricks in Hammerfell. 


"I don't care what you think, Amren, the old lady is crazy and we are not having anything to do with her," Amren's wife hisses at him and then spoon feeds some soup into their toddler's mouth. 


"What are they talking about?" I ask Lydia. 


"Oh, I think they're talking about Olava. I'm sure you've come across her, she's the old lady that can apparently tell the future," Lydia explains. "She never does it though,"


"We should go try," I grin. "Farkas is coming here soon to join Vilkas, let the boys have some drinks and we can go and get our fortune told,"


"She won't do it," Lydia says. "But, alright, I'll go with you,"


When Vilkas returns we explain our plan to him and then we leave the inn. Lydia apparently knows where she lives and we head towards her house, which is a very small building directly behind a place called Breezehome, which has been unowned for years. 


"Hello, ma'am," Lydia greets the elderly lady sitting on a bench outside of her house. 


"If you're after a fortune, I'm afraid I haven't quite got the energy for it today pup," Olava apologises. "Perhaps another time,"


"Of course," I try not to show my disappointment. "We-"


"Excuse me a moment...but am I mistaken in thinking that you are the Dovahkiin?" Olava looks at me in awe. 


"Yes. Skylar Whiteman, at your service," I smile. 


"Then I could perhaps make an exception for you. It won't be a very specific one as my energies are low but I can get you a reading nonetheless,"


"That would be wonderful," I sit next to her and Olava takes my hand and closes her eyes. 


"Oh...there is a Darkness surrounding your family. Yet in this Darkness, there is greatness. The eldest will be guided by shadows but will follow a great path. The middle will find dark secrets in books and the youngest...the youngest is a Champion," Olava opens her eyes. "I'm sorry dear, that's all I can see for now. It is getting so blurry,"


"I don't understand!" my hands feel cold. "What eldest? What Darkness?"


"I'm afraid I can't see in that much detail. We will have to let the events of the future run their course," Olava shakes her head. "I will be sleeping now...my energies are very low. Goodnight, dearies,"


Olava stands up and walks inside her small home, locking the door behind her. I look up at Lydia, who looks equally as confused as me. 


"Oh. Oh, I get it!" Lydia grins. "She's talking about your children,"


"What children?" I scoff. "Do you see any mini Skylars running around the place, Shouting us all into Oblivion?"


"Well what else could she mean? Your eldest child will be guided by shadows, your middle will find dark secrets in books and the youngest is a Champion,"


"Champion of what? A Daedric Prince?" I roll my eyes. 


"Obviously not," Lydia rolls her eyes. "Probably of Jorrvaskr or something. If your youngest is surrounded by books then they'll probably end up being exactly like Vilkas and-"


"And the oldest being guided by shadows? What are they, a vampire?" I laugh. "It's all rubbish, this forseeing business,"


"I suppose," Lydia doesn't sound convinced. "Let's go back to the inn,"


As I stand up, a wave of dizziness hits me and my stomach suddenly feels like it's on fire. I groan and try to clear my head. 


"We're stopping by the Temple and I'm going to buy a healing potion from Danica..." I murmur to Lydia. "Arcadia's is probably closed,"


"Okay...are you sure you feel fine? You look awful," Lydia gently puts her hand on my arm. 


"I am perfectly okay," I nod my head. "Let's just...let's just get there quickly,"


Lydia doesn't take her hand off my arm and leads me through the quiet town and we reach the Temple in record time. As soon as we step into the Temple, the nausea hits me again and I turn around and retch into a nearby washbasin. 


"Better out than in," Lydia says soothingly and holds my hair back for me. 


"By Kynareth, what is going on here?" I see Danica appear from her bedroom, looking alarmed. "Skylar? What has happened now?"


"This sickness has been going on every morning," I moan after I finish retching. Danica instructs me to sit on one of the beds and instructs one of the other healers to deal with the soiled washbasin. 


"I see," Danica purses her lips. "And tell me, have you been gaining weight?"


"Yes," I nod my head. "I really struggled to get into my armour today. But I don't understand, I train everyday-"


"Have you and Vilkas been engaging in relations?"


"Well obviously," I nod my head. 


"And your monthly bleed? Has that been coming regularly?" Danica narrows her eyes. 


"Yes...wait! No...I missed last month and this month is a week or so late," I frown. 


"I see," Danica nods her head. "Well, congratulations Skylar...I believe you're with child!"


"I'm what!?" my mouth falls wide open. 


"Congratulations!" Lydia exclaims. 


"Are you certain?" I feel as if I am about to faint again. 


"If you want me to do an official check I can do so tomorrow morning...but there is no need for it. You're displaying most of the symptoms, especially the missing your monthly bleed. Congratulations Skylar,"


***


"By the Divines, what am I going to do?" I ask Lydia as she walks me back to Jorrvaskr, in a panic. "I can't be a mother...I'm not good enough for it,"


"Don't be ridiculous, you'd be a wonderful mother," Lydia tries to comfort me. 


"I'm too young, I'm just nineteen," I put my hands on my stomach, feeling my anxiety building up again inside of me. 


"The average age for motherhood in Skyrim is twenty," Lydia points out. "Most girls in the smaller villages or on farms are married at seventeen and with child the next year. I just got lucky because I was strong enough to pick up a sword and have understanding parents,"


"I have a Guild to run!" I exclaim. "I have a Hold to be a Thane of soon! I've got dragons to take care of! I've got-"


"A loving and supporting-"


"A loving and supporting man who is not my husband," I point out. "Oh gods, what about Vilkas? I don't think he even wants children?"


"Well you can talk to him about it later," Lydia nudges me. "He's inside Jorrvaskr with his brother,"


I can just about see him and Farkas through the windows and they're laughing with Athis and Torvar. Ria, Aela and Njada aren't in Jorrvaskr as they're currently in Haafingar looking into some pirate robberies with the East Empire Company. 


"Wish me luck," I sigh. "I'll tell him when we go to bed,"


I bid Lydia goodbye and step into Jorrvaskr and the warmth of the place calms my nerves a little. Vilkas grins at me when he sees me and hugs me tightly and I wince, thinking of the baby growing inside of me. 


"You look exhausted love...and ill. Are you okay?" Vilkas asks me worriedly. 


"Yes," I nod my head. "I'm just tired...come to bed?"I ask him pleadingly. 


"Of course," Vilkas kisses me on the forehead. "Goodnight, brothers," Vilkas calls to Farkas, Athis and Torvar. Then Vilkas sweeps me onto my feet and carries me downstairs into the living quarters, through the long corridor and then gently places me on our bed in the Harbinger's room. He climbs on top of me and starts kissing me, but I can already tell that he's got a lot more than kissing on his mind. 


"Vilkas, we need to talk," I try to push him off of me. 


"Of course," he stops and then sits himself down next to me. "I have something I need to ask you too,"


"Oh...you go first," I nod my head, expecting him to ask me about when we can bed each other again or if we've got anymore glorious battles to fight. Instead he takes out an Amulet of Mara and places it around my neck. 


"An Amulet of Mara?" Vilkas pretends to be shocked. "You're not married? Surprising," 


Oh. 


My.


Gods


"Interested in me, are you?" I can't stop the grin from creeping up onto my face, despite my worries. 


"I am," Vilkas kisses me. "Skylar Whitemane, I'd be glad to stand by your side until the Divines take us,"


"I will then," I take his hand. "Together then?"


"Together," he presses his lips against my hand and then pulls me close. "Gods I've been wanting to ask you that since the very moment we kissed. I love you so much Skylar,"


"I love you too Vilkas," I feel tears well up but I try to blink them back. "There is...something that I need to tell you,"


"Oh?" I feel Vilkas tense a little. "What is it?"


"I'm with child," I say bluntly. 


There's a silence in the room and my heart starts racing. What will he say? Will he be angry? Vilkas sits up and rearranges himself so he can see me. "That's wonderful,"


"You...you mean it?" I feel like a weight has rolled off my shoulders. "You actually mean it?" 


"Of course I do!" Vilkas kisses me again. "It's wonderful...we'll have a child," 


Vilkas lays back down and I rest my head against his chest and he begins to stroke my hair and I feel myself beginning to relax. As long as I have Vilkas by my side, I can do anything. 






A/N:


So sorry this took ages to upload! I had very bad writer's block but I'm okay now. 


Before anyone complains...the setting of Skyrim is very medieval/dark ages, which is why so many of the characters are very young. Skylar is seventeen at the beginning of this book because most warriors or soldiers would have actually been seventeen in the time of Skyrim. Women would have been married off at thirteen or fifteen and have children in their mid to late teens. I do NOT support this at all, and people should have children when they're mature adults and can raise the child in a stable and loving home. 


However, I'm trying to stick with some historical realism. If Skylar and Skyrim were real then it's very likely that she would be pregnant at around nineteen/twenty and the leader of a guild at a young age. The same goes to characters like Ria and Njada, who are also in their late teens and early twenties, respectively. That's the age that people would be marrying and having families. 


ANYWAY, now that that's out of the way, don't forget to comment and vote, every single one of them is appreciated. Thank you!!

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