Vilkas turned the page of his book gingerly. His hands had been healed days ago, but while the bones had be mended there were still bruises from the damage he had caused. They would have gone away by now if he had rested them but Vilkas needed to keep his mind and hands busy.
Instead he opted to wrap them each day before he went out on jobs. The pain didn’t concern him even though it was there with every swing of his sword. He flexed his fingers and his hand seared in pain. Beneath the bandages his skin was a sickly purple. The healer at the temple had told him to rest for at least three days but he hadn’t been able to do that.
Even at night when he wasn’t working his head would swim and he couldn’t sleep. His wolf was even more restless, angry, at the loss of the alpha. Vilkas shook his head and concentrated on his book. The content was dull and even though Jorrvaskr’s history was a favourite topic of his he couldn’t concentrate on it. It wasn’t enough to hold his attention, not when his mind kept wondering.
He heard a light tap on the door before it opened. Ariella pushed the door open balancing quite a number of scrolls and books in one arm. Vilkas jumped up and took some of the scrolls and books from her before it all toppled. He hissed at the pain of picking the things up.
He hoped she wouldn’t notice but she did, of course she did.
She put everything down and Vilkas set down the things as well. He sat back down on the bed and resumed reading. Ariella sat beside him quietly, flipping through the pages of a book.
“You should stay here tomorrow.” Ariella said breaking the silence.
“Farkas and I have to clear out a cave of bears.”
“Athis and Aela are going to be going instead.”
“Aela?” Vilkas said skeptically. “Do you want my brother getting killed?”
“Vilkas.” Her voice was a warning, he had crossed a line. “Athis is going as well, you know just as well as me Farkas and Athis alone would be more than enough to deal with bears. Aela needs to start working again and you need to be resting.”
“I don’t need to be resting.” He shut his book and tossed it aside. Ariella placed her book aside as well and held her hands out.
“If you don’t need to be resting then let me see.” Vilkas didn’t move for a moment and Ariella cocked a brow at him. Her attitude seemed different lately, but not in a bad way. He had no intention of fighting with her, she had certainly been the most stable force in his life for the past few days.
He placed his hands out and the Breton began unbinding them. His bruised hands felt better now that they were released but it was a painful release.
“Vilkas…”
“I know.” She turned his hands in the same way she had done while they were broken; her fingers delicate and her touch light.
“Stay here for a few days. Let these get heal, please.” She was practically begging him. He nodded and she gently pressed her lips to his hands, which despite a slight pain made him feel better.
“Perhaps you can help me with some Dragonborn things?” She asked, Vilkas nodded and suddenly felt very tired. “We can do that in the morning though.”
Sleepless - Part 75/?
Instead he opted to wrap them each day before he went out on jobs. The pain didn’t concern him even though it was there with every swing of his sword. He flexed his fingers and his hand seared in pain. Beneath the bandages his skin was a sickly purple. The healer at the temple had told him to rest for at least three days but he hadn’t been able to do that.
Even at night when he wasn’t working his head would swim and he couldn’t sleep. His wolf was even more restless, angry, at the loss of the alpha. Vilkas shook his head and concentrated on his book. The content was dull and even though Jorrvaskr’s history was a favourite topic of his he couldn’t concentrate on it. It wasn’t enough to hold his attention, not when his mind kept wondering.
He heard a light tap on the door before it opened. Ariella pushed the door open balancing quite a number of scrolls and books in one arm. Vilkas jumped up and took some of the scrolls and books from her before it all toppled. He hissed at the pain of picking the things up.
He hoped she wouldn’t notice but she did, of course she did.
She put everything down and Vilkas set down the things as well. He sat back down on the bed and resumed reading. Ariella sat beside him quietly, flipping through the pages of a book.
“You should stay here tomorrow.” Ariella said breaking the silence.
“Farkas and I have to clear out a cave of bears.”
“Athis and Aela are going to be going instead.”
“Aela?” Vilkas said skeptically. “Do you want my brother getting killed?”
“Vilkas.” Her voice was a warning, he had crossed a line. “Athis is going as well, you know just as well as me Farkas and Athis alone would be more than enough to deal with bears. Aela needs to start working again and you need to be resting.”
“I don’t need to be resting.” He shut his book and tossed it aside. Ariella placed her book aside as well and held her hands out.
“If you don’t need to be resting then let me see.” Vilkas didn’t move for a moment and Ariella cocked a brow at him. Her attitude seemed different lately, but not in a bad way. He had no intention of fighting with her, she had certainly been the most stable force in his life for the past few days.
He placed his hands out and the Breton began unbinding them. His bruised hands felt better now that they were released but it was a painful release.
“Vilkas…”
“I know.” She turned his hands in the same way she had done while they were broken; her fingers delicate and her touch light.
“Stay here for a few days. Let these get heal, please.” She was practically begging him. He nodded and she gently pressed her lips to his hands, which despite a slight pain made him feel better.
“Perhaps you can help me with some Dragonborn things?” She asked, Vilkas nodded and suddenly felt very tired. “We can do that in the morning though.”