To Dawnstar
Sonin arched her back as the blood dragon’s soul rushed into her, nearly knocking her down. Argis, Vilkas, and Farkas watched in awe. It wasn’t their first time seeing it but they stared all the same. She stumbled backward a bit as the last portion was absorbed. It was getting easier to handle the souls now, but it still left her feeling tired and exhilarated at the same time.
The men sheathed their weapons and moved closer to her, but she pooled her magic in her hands and watched the sky. Her face was one of focus and her men instinctively drew their swords. A roar was then heard in the distance, another blood dragon. Sonin didn’t rush toward it, but let out a shout to gather its attention. They were near Morthal and didn’t want it going into the city.
Sonin gathered sparks in her hands and sent a giant thunderbolt into the beast’s belly as it flew by. She had deadly accuracy. The dragon roared and struggled to stay in the sky. It doubled back toward them, unleashing fire. Sonin cast up a ward over them all, protecting them. It landed, making the ground beneath them shake.
“Hin dinok fen drun zu'u lot zin kah,” he spoke to Sonin.
“Hin dinok fen drun zu'u Mulaag!” Sonin replied as she rushed toward him with ice spells ready.
It was unnerving to her followers to hear her speak back to the dragons in their own language. It seemed so unnatural to them. Impressive, but unnatural. They hadn’t questioned her on how she knew it, assuming it was related to her being the dragonborn. Her dragon blood did make it easier, but she had actually studied old tomes to learn it.
“Argis, I want you on the front right leg. Farkas, you take the left. Vikas, you stay with me,” she commanded.
The men branched off to their designated spots. Sonin cast a ward again to protect herself and Vilkas from the next wave of fire. Vilkas brought his blade down on its head as the fire stopped. Sonin cast more sparks at the dragon, who was having trouble focusing on one target. Sonin brought her conjured blade in her hand again, running past Vilkas who was keeping the dragon busy. She took a risk, dragging her blade down the length of the dragon’s underside. He roared fiercely as his blood poured on the snow beneath them. Sonin made it from under him as he fell, but as a final move the dragon whipped his tail. It struck her dead center of her torso. She immediately coughed up blood as it sent her flying several meters. Her landing was nearly as hard as the tail was. Her amulet broke, flooding her with just enough healing magic to keep her breathing.
Vilkas ran his blade into the dragon’s eye to his brain, making sure it was dead before rushing to her. Argis was already there when he reached him and his brother. Sonin’s head was rested on his lap as he poured a healing potion in her mouth. It didn’t go down as Sonin was too busy coughing up blood. No doubt several organs were damaged and ribs were broken. Farkas’ face was graver than Vilkas had ever seen it.
“Sonin, you have to swallow it,” Argis said calmly, trying to keep his nerves from getting the best of him. She coughed more as she tried to speak. “Don’t worry about talking, just drink.”
It was useless, she just couldn’t hold a cough in long enough to keep it down. With a shaky hand she tried a healing spell on herself. Vilkas cringed as he heard her ribs popping back into place. Farkas went through her satchel to find a potion of magicka. She always kept at least one with her.
Vilkas stroked her hair to soothe her as she winced and muffled her groans. Argis didn’t fight him on the matter, seeing how she responded to his touch. He hadn’t known it for certain until this moment, they were lovers. Argis looked to Farkas too, whose face held a similar expression.
Sonin finally stopped her coughing, downing the healing potion and the magicka potion. Argis kept her in his lap as she finished healing herself. She didn’t try to move from him. She was silent for a moment, closing her eyes.
“Are you going to be okay?” Farkas asked her.
“Yes,” she strained to speak, “We need to go ahead and make camp. Help me to the dragon so I can take its soul.”
Argis brought her right hand over his shoulder and Vilkas took her left. Farkas felt a bit left out, but his worry for Sonin drowned out any feelings of jealousy. The dragon began to crack once Sonin grew near, the soul rushing in streams of blue and orange. Absorbing a soul had a healing effect on the body, helping her gain some energy.
“Let’s make camp,” she said, “I will not be travelling anywhere in this state.”
They set up their tents and bedrolls not too far from the dragon’s skeleton. It was still in view. Sonin was alert now, sitting next to the fire and trying to ignore the pain inside of her. Every half hour she would gather her magicka and continue to heal herself. The men felt rather helpless, knowing they had no healing spells to contribute. Farkas brought back a few rabbits he caught, skinning them and cooking them on the fire. Vilkas was closest to Sonin, running his hands through her hair, which was now down from its holder.
“Are you feeling any better?” Argis asked her, trying to hide his own jealousy that was forming.
“A bit. It’ll be at least until the morning to feel up to walking,” she replied, her eyes half lidded from the pleasure Vilkas was giving her.
“I told you not to be so reckless,” Vilkas managed to keep the scolding tone out for once, “You seemed to be taking on bigger risks than normal.”
“Well, to be fair I am accustomed to doing this alone. Now that I have the three of you attacking dragons at close range, I can’t use the tactics I had developed,” She countered, “If I were to use my spells like I had been, all three of you would be harmed in the process.”
Vilkas was silent, having not considered that. She had been trying new things to see what would work. He hadn’t considered that helping her fight would also hinder her. Farkas watched the rabbits cook, taking in what her words meant.
“I didn’t mean to make you feel guilty,” she looked up at Vilkas, reading his expression all too well.
“Aye,” he placed a kiss on her forehead.
Both Farkas and Argis could taste their jealousy. Argis had grown to be very protective of his Thane, beyond that of the relationship between thanes and housecarls. He couldn’t say he felt anything as strong as love, but he could see himself getting there in time. Farkas, of course, already loved her. Vilkas did too, maybe even more than his brother.
Sonin yawned and rolled in Vilkas’ lap. She was exhausted and her mana was taking a while to replenish itself from such extensive use. All the life threatening injuries had been healed, so she didn’t fight the sleep gnawing at her. Vilkas was more than happy to have her rest on him. It was a show of dominance to Argis, who had taken a liking to Sonin. After they were all sure that she was sound asleep, they began to speak their mind.
“You would do well to keep your relationship with Sonin professional,” Vilkas said in a low voice to the blonde Nord.
“Aye? And why is that? You have some claim over her?” Vilkas’ face gave away the answer, “Didn’t think so. I didn’t see a ring and she had no problem saying my name over and over again.”
His words stung, “She already has me, she doesn’t need you.”
“If she needed you why did she leave you?” Argis countered.
Vilkas could feel his temperature rise, “If Sonin wasn’t on me I would beat you into the ground until you were begging me to stop.”
Argis snorted, “I’d like to see you try.”
“Sonin won’t like that,” Farkas reminded them.
“She doesn’t need to know about it,” Vilkas looked to his brother then back to Argis, “We could take this outside the camp.”
“Another time,” Argis replied, “I’d rather not have Sonin having to spend her energy trying to bring you back from the brink of death.”
Sonin stirred in Vilkas’ lap, snapping everyone’s attention. She just yawned and fell back to her dreams.
“We should put her on the bed roll,” Farkas commented, partially just wanting Sonin out of the way of the two feuding Nords.
“Do you hold some claim to her as well?” Argis asked him.
“No more than Vilkas holds,” he answered honestly.
“Good to know,” he stood up from his log, “I’ll see to it that she gets in her tent.”
He moved toward Vilkas who grabbed her, “I can handle her myself.”
“I’m her housecarl,” Argis emphasized his position, “I believe that gives me more claim over her than either of you.”
“I would watch yourself,” Farkas felt himself grow angry, “We’ve known her much longer than you.”
“And yet she bedded me,” he smirked.
Vilkas snarled, picking Sonin up in his arms and carrying her to her bedroll. She woke briefly as he pulled the furs over her, offering him a sleepy smile that made his heart melt. Vilkas placed another kiss on her forehead before returning to the fire. It was taking all the control he had not to let his beast out to tear Argis apart. Never before had he wanted to eat a man’s heart, until now.
“Vilkas,” Farkas had a warning tone, “You need to calm down.”
“I’ll calm down when she makes a choice,” he nearly growled.
Argis was curious about what he meant, but did not ask. He was having a hard time not brawling him for Sonin. Although he felt that Sonin wouldn’t accept the terms of their fight. The men took turns standing guard until Sonin woke in the morning. She had enough magicka at that point to finish healing herself. Farkas was the only one awake, having taken the last watch. He grinned at her, happy to see her able to move around. She walked right to him, falling into his outstretched arms. He was careful not to squeeze her too hard.
“You smell good,” he breathed her in.
She giggled at the sensation, “You’re so weird.”
Farkas grunted and captured her lips in his. Vilkas and Argis were just stirring awake, not catching the intimate moment between the two.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to stay off you next time we’re in an inn,” he whispered to her.
Sonin blushed, pulling herself away to find a bush to relieve herself in. Vilkas groaned from his restless sleep, Argis making a comment about him looking rough. He decided to ignore it since Sonin was up. His attention was on her as she returned to the campsite. Argis was already packing their tent and bedrolls up, storing them on her mount.
“So, where to next?” Vilkas asked her as she sat down to eat some leftover rabbit from the morning before.
“Dawnstar, then we’ll hit Winterhold and Windhelm,” she answered.
“Planning a trip to see Ulfric?” Argis asked.
“I don’t think so,” she gave an awkward laugh, “I doubt he’ll even be there. I’m sure he’s at some campsite helping organize the troops.”
“Why would you go to see Ulfric?” Vilkas questioned.
“He had an officer extend an invitation,” Argis answered for her.
“Really?” Vilkas replied, staring at her.
“It was a while ago,” she tried her best not to upset him, “I must have not thought to mention it to you two.”
Vilkas grunted with a frown. He was growing tired of being the last to find these things out, “Do you want to join the Stormcloaks?”
“I’m not sure. I think there may come time that we will all need to pick a side. Both make good points and both have their flaws,” she replied.
“Fair enough,” Vilkas dropped the topic.
They made it to Dawnstar with little issue. Sonin stayed on her horse for the duration of the travel. She tried to fight them on the matter, but they wouldn’t have her spending energy walking while she was still healing.
Sonin made arrangements for them at the inn. Farkas decided to make true on his word, sneaking into her room while Vilkas and Argis were eating and staring daggers at each other. Sonin was pulling off her gear at the time, but turned the sound of the door closing. Farkas didn’t give her time to speak, closing the distance in two steps and pressing his mouth to hers.
Sonin let out a soft moan, letting him taste her with his tongue. His hands ran the length of her back as he explored her mouth. He missed her smell and taste. It only took a moment for him to be at full mast. Sonin didn’t fight his advances, letting herself relax in his grip as he lifted her onto the bed. Farkas made quick work of the rest of her armor. He then removed her tunic, leggings, and boots.
Farkas brought his body on top of hers, pinning her hands above her head, both of her wrists secured tightly in just one of his large hands. She arched against him, opening her legs wide for him. He pushed her small clothes to the side and lined himself to her entrance. Farkas would normally give her plenty of foreplay to make sure she was wet enough for his girth, but it had been too long. He was too desperate to be in her. Sonin moaned as he forced himself in, bottoming out. There was an initial sensation of pain that brought out a small cry, but Sonin found herself enjoying it.
She wrapped her legs around his thick waist as he pounded into her. He gave her no time to adjust, but given the sounds she made he knew she was still enjoying it. Sonin arched her back to angle him right to that special spot. Her eyes were shut tight and her mouth slack as he drove the point home. He felt her spasm around him. She couldn’t stifle her moan since he had her hands pinned. Farkas pulled out just in time, finishing on her stomach.
Sonin relaxed as the last of her climax waves crashed. Farkas grabbed a cloth from off the table in the corner of the room and wiped his seed off of her. She mewled at the contact. He smiled at her, feeling proud of himself. He held back from marking her again, not wanting to fuel Vilkas’ already burning jealousy. Farkas felt that he could live without her claiming him back so long as he could continue making love to her, but he much preferred if she would.
Farkas helped her slide back into her leggings and tunic, smiling as he watched her walk a little strange as she made her way to the other two men. Vilkas could smell what his brother had done while Argis was oblivious to it. Sonin kept them entertained with her tales of traveling with Lydia and taking down giants, hoping to ease the tension between the brothers. In the morning, they would be on the hunt again.