“We did help cleanse her Star,” Vilkas confessed. “Harbinger, we didn't know what else to do, we're not jailbreakers!”
“I should hope not,” Kodlak growled. But he did relent and incline his head at Aranea. “The offer of hospitality still stands, Madam Ienith. Just don't start performing any Daedric rites while you're here.”
“I think I can manage that,” Aranea promised and Athis settled down, looking much relieved at not having to fight his Harbinger over this. Erandur had remained quiet throughout, fingers clutching at the table while he glared at Athis. Elisif really needed to do something about these two, she could see this. Well, she'd be on the road with Erandur and Aranea in the morning, and Argis of course. Maybe she could arrange for them to have a bit of alone time, let them talk things over. Maybe.
The stories continued and the celebrating went on late into the night. The only down part was Elisif admitting Njada had died, and if Elisif hadn't actually killed her, they'd been on opposite sides. Jorrvaskr went quiet to hear it and at length Kodlak raised a tankard to her name.
“To Njada,” he announced. “True to her principles if nothing else and a fighter to the last. At least she died with honour. May her soul find peace in Sovngarde.”
That they could all agree on and Elisif joined the toast. Njada at least had believed she was doing the right thing, even if she'd disagreed with Elisif. Elisif wasn't entirely sure the same could be said for Ulfric. But these were thoughts for another time.
At length, Elisif made her way down to the sleeping quarters. Erandur had already turned in, pointedly turning his back on Aranea and Athis who were having a whispered conversation in Dunmeri while seated on the beds opposite. Aela had gone to her own room, Vilkas to his and Elisif wasn't entirely sure she'd not glimpsed Ria with him. Argis was behind her, impassive – at least until Farkas caught up and slapped his back like an old friend.
“Hey there. Argis. Sleeping in the quarters?”
“Where else would I sleep?” Argis growled. He'd been quiet all evening, smiling at the interesting bits, but otherwise not contributing much. An introvert clearly... but something about Farkas had got to him, and something about the irritability reminded Elisif of someone.
“Can join me if you like,” Farkas said cheerfully. “Not had any company for a while, and you're very easy on the eye. You want to share my bed, door's wide open.”
“Farkas!” Elisif gasped, not quite able to believe she was hearing this. Not only was Argis her housecarl, wasn't there supposed to be a courtship process first? Flowers or dinner or something? Had a man propositioned her like that, Elisif was fairly certain she'd stab him or breathe fire or something. Well, she would these days anyway. Argis was glaring at Farkas in such a way as to suggest one of those two things might be about to happen to him as well.
“It's all right, I didn't mean nothing by it,” Farkas said quickly. “Just – no harm in asking, right? You don't need to worry, I'd never hassle a man who wasn't interested. Just wanted to make sure you knew I was. You change your mind, come find me. G'night, Elisif, sleep well.”
With that, Farkas was gone, making his way to his own bed, leaving Elisif blushing and Argis really not sure what to make of it.
“I'm so sorry,” Elisif gasped. “I had no idea – well, I knew he liked men, but I didn't know... I'm so sorry.”
“Ah, don't trouble yourself, Brenhina,” Argis said wearily. “Kinda nice to be asked, it doesn't happen often. At least he's not being an arse about it.” Argis realised a second too late what he'd said and actually blushed. “Um. I probably shouldn't swear in front of the High Queen, should I? Sorry.”
“It's all right,” Elisif said, stifling a giggle. The poor man looked so embarrassed. “Listen, I'm going to turn in. I don't think anyone's going to sneak into Jorrvaskr and kill me, so you get some rest. Tomorrow we've got a bit of a journey and I've got to write some letters in the morning too, but tonight you do what you want.”
“I think that's mostly gonna be sleeping,” Argis said, collapsing on a nearby bed. “Thanks though, Brenhina.”
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timeasmymeasure
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 25.5
Date: 2014-03-23 02:30 pm (UTC)“I should hope not,” Kodlak growled. But he did relent and incline his head at Aranea. “The offer of hospitality still stands, Madam Ienith. Just don't start performing any Daedric rites while you're here.”
“I think I can manage that,” Aranea promised and Athis settled down, looking much relieved at not having to fight his Harbinger over this. Erandur had remained quiet throughout, fingers clutching at the table while he glared at Athis. Elisif really needed to do something about these two, she could see this. Well, she'd be on the road with Erandur and Aranea in the morning, and Argis of course. Maybe she could arrange for them to have a bit of alone time, let them talk things over. Maybe.
The stories continued and the celebrating went on late into the night. The only down part was Elisif admitting Njada had died, and if Elisif hadn't actually killed her, they'd been on opposite sides. Jorrvaskr went quiet to hear it and at length Kodlak raised a tankard to her name.
“To Njada,” he announced. “True to her principles if nothing else and a fighter to the last. At least she died with honour. May her soul find peace in Sovngarde.”
That they could all agree on and Elisif joined the toast. Njada at least had believed she was doing the right thing, even if she'd disagreed with Elisif. Elisif wasn't entirely sure the same could be said for Ulfric. But these were thoughts for another time.
At length, Elisif made her way down to the sleeping quarters. Erandur had already turned in, pointedly turning his back on Aranea and Athis who were having a whispered conversation in Dunmeri while seated on the beds opposite. Aela had gone to her own room, Vilkas to his and Elisif wasn't entirely sure she'd not glimpsed Ria with him. Argis was behind her, impassive – at least until Farkas caught up and slapped his back like an old friend.
“Hey there. Argis. Sleeping in the quarters?”
“Where else would I sleep?” Argis growled. He'd been quiet all evening, smiling at the interesting bits, but otherwise not contributing much. An introvert clearly... but something about Farkas had got to him, and something about the irritability reminded Elisif of someone.
“Can join me if you like,” Farkas said cheerfully. “Not had any company for a while, and you're very easy on the eye. You want to share my bed, door's wide open.”
“Farkas!” Elisif gasped, not quite able to believe she was hearing this. Not only was Argis her housecarl, wasn't there supposed to be a courtship process first? Flowers or dinner or something? Had a man propositioned her like that, Elisif was fairly certain she'd stab him or breathe fire or something. Well, she would these days anyway. Argis was glaring at Farkas in such a way as to suggest one of those two things might be about to happen to him as well.
“It's all right, I didn't mean nothing by it,” Farkas said quickly. “Just – no harm in asking, right? You don't need to worry, I'd never hassle a man who wasn't interested. Just wanted to make sure you knew I was. You change your mind, come find me. G'night, Elisif, sleep well.”
With that, Farkas was gone, making his way to his own bed, leaving Elisif blushing and Argis really not sure what to make of it.
“I'm so sorry,” Elisif gasped. “I had no idea – well, I knew he liked men, but I didn't know... I'm so sorry.”
“Ah, don't trouble yourself, Brenhina,” Argis said wearily. “Kinda nice to be asked, it doesn't happen often. At least he's not being an arse about it.” Argis realised a second too late what he'd said and actually blushed. “Um. I probably shouldn't swear in front of the High Queen, should I? Sorry.”
“It's all right,” Elisif said, stifling a giggle. The poor man looked so embarrassed. “Listen, I'm going to turn in. I don't think anyone's going to sneak into Jorrvaskr and kill me, so you get some rest. Tomorrow we've got a bit of a journey and I've got to write some letters in the morning too, but tonight you do what you want.”
“I think that's mostly gonna be sleeping,” Argis said, collapsing on a nearby bed. “Thanks though, Brenhina.”