"Right after," Vilkas growls. Farkas gives him a short, sharp nod, and then they both walk out to perform the ceremony.
"Brothers and sisters of the Circle," Skjor intones, and Vilkas watches as Farkas vouches for Miri. Though she still looks unsure, as Skjor notes her list of accomplishments, she smiles proudly, and it grows wider as the traditional words are spoken. So she's shaken, but not deterred.
Good, Vilkas thinks, relieved, as he joins in the echo of 'It shall be so,' completing the ceremony. Good.
Aela bounds over to congratulate her, Miri holding up a firm hand and gesturing to her ribs as she gives Aela a lopsided grin, apparently fending off one of the huntress's bone-crushing hugs. As Farkas pulls Kodlak aside, Skjor follows, and though Vilkas refrains from eavesdropping, the two appear stone-faced as they take in Farkas's story.
At loose ends, Miri's full attention taken by Aela and the others deep in conversation, Vilkas decides to go inside and inform the pups that they officially have a new shield-sister. Farkas will likely recount exactly what happened when he finishes with Kodlak and Skjor, and his congratulations for Miri can wait until Tilma's banquet tonight.
...
With Miri having come home successful, the banquet hall is draped in celebratory banners, and everyone takes the opportunity to get out of their plate and mail and into some casual clothing.
It's always strange to see any of them out of their armor--the sight of Skjor in a tunic and leggings is enough to throw anyone off--but today the biggest surprise belongs to Ria and Miri, who walk out of the hall and take their seats next to each other in long, informal dresses.
Ria looks beautiful and composed as always, confident and comfortable in her deep Imperial red, but he's seen her dressed up before, sometimes even for missions. It's Miri who knocks him off his feet. Her hair falls in loose, tumbling waves, and her dress is a rich blue that does wonders for her--and clings in all of the right places, Vilkas is embarrassed to note. By the gods.
A loud chorus of cheers and whooping starts up, and Vilkas joins them, hoping the smile he gives is warm enough. In all honestly, he's still trying to scoop his jaw up off the floor, but he gives it his best effort.
"No one told me we were expecting ladies of the Court," Torvar jokes, grinning widely. "If I'd known, I'da dressed nicer."
"Shut up, Torvar," Ria says cheerfully. "I'm just glad I could finally talk someone into dressing up with me." She grins at Miri. "She looks beautiful too, doesn't she?"
"Hey," Aela says. "You never asked me, I'd have worn something with you."
"I've seen you wear dresses," Ria retorts easily, as she begins to make herself a plate. "You scowl and look like you're a second away from ripping it off and fighting it."
"True," Aela concedes. "And we all know what Njada would say."
"Not for a million septims," Aela, Ria, and Njada all echo, and grin at each other. "I hate the stuff," Njada says. "Won't touch it with a ten-foot staff."
"So as you can tell, it's just you and me," Ria says, linking her arm through with Miri's, who laughs. "And I appreciate the company."
"It's a little odd," Miri admits, "but a good odd, I think. It feels like something I used to know how to do...but," she sighs, "I guess whoever I was before doesn't really matter, does it?"
"We like who you are now," Vilkas interrupts. When she turns to him, surprised, he shrugs. "Maybe you're different from how you were before. But you're already different from the person you were when you first came to Whiterun."
"That's true," Aela agrees. "You've met new people, seen new places. Gotten stronger."
"And we know one thing about you," Athis says. "Your past aside, you were always born to be the Dragonborn." He grins. "I know getting concussed never made meable to swallow a dragon soul."
"In my experience," Kodlak adds, "Destiny has a way of working out. You have a home with us, and no shortage of those who consider you family, including the ones sitting at this table with you."
"I--thank you," she says, voice cracking on the last syllable. Ria puts an arm around her, and Miri leans sideways into the hug, smiling faintly. "It means a lot to me that you all do."
FILL: Vilkas/F!DB: "Lovers' Knot" 16/?
"Brothers and sisters of the Circle," Skjor intones, and Vilkas watches as Farkas vouches for Miri. Though she still looks unsure, as Skjor notes her list of accomplishments, she smiles proudly, and it grows wider as the traditional words are spoken. So she's shaken, but not deterred.
Good, Vilkas thinks, relieved, as he joins in the echo of 'It shall be so,' completing the ceremony. Good.
Aela bounds over to congratulate her, Miri holding up a firm hand and gesturing to her ribs as she gives Aela a lopsided grin, apparently fending off one of the huntress's bone-crushing hugs. As Farkas pulls Kodlak aside, Skjor follows, and though Vilkas refrains from eavesdropping, the two appear stone-faced as they take in Farkas's story.
At loose ends, Miri's full attention taken by Aela and the others deep in conversation, Vilkas decides to go inside and inform the pups that they officially have a new shield-sister. Farkas will likely recount exactly what happened when he finishes with Kodlak and Skjor, and his congratulations for Miri can wait until Tilma's banquet tonight.
...
With Miri having come home successful, the banquet hall is draped in celebratory banners, and everyone takes the opportunity to get out of their plate and mail and into some casual clothing.
It's always strange to see any of them out of their armor--the sight of Skjor in a tunic and leggings is enough to throw anyone off--but today the biggest surprise belongs to Ria and Miri, who walk out of the hall and take their seats next to each other in long, informal dresses.
Ria looks beautiful and composed as always, confident and comfortable in her deep Imperial red, but he's seen her dressed up before, sometimes even for missions. It's Miri who knocks him off his feet. Her hair falls in loose, tumbling waves, and her dress is a rich blue that does wonders for her--and clings in all of the right places, Vilkas is embarrassed to note. By the gods.
A loud chorus of cheers and whooping starts up, and Vilkas joins them, hoping the smile he gives is warm enough. In all honestly, he's still trying to scoop his jaw up off the floor, but he gives it his best effort.
"No one told me we were expecting ladies of the Court," Torvar jokes, grinning widely. "If I'd known, I'da dressed nicer."
"Shut up, Torvar," Ria says cheerfully. "I'm just glad I could finally talk someone into dressing up with me." She grins at Miri. "She looks beautiful too, doesn't she?"
"Hey," Aela says. "You never asked me, I'd have worn something with you."
"I've seen you wear dresses," Ria retorts easily, as she begins to make herself a plate. "You scowl and look like you're a second away from ripping it off and fighting it."
"True," Aela concedes. "And we all know what Njada would say."
"Not for a million septims," Aela, Ria, and Njada all echo, and grin at each other. "I hate the stuff," Njada says. "Won't touch it with a ten-foot staff."
"So as you can tell, it's just you and me," Ria says, linking her arm through with Miri's, who laughs. "And I appreciate the company."
"It's a little odd," Miri admits, "but a good odd, I think. It feels like something I used to know how to do...but," she sighs, "I guess whoever I was before doesn't really matter, does it?"
"We like who you are now," Vilkas interrupts. When she turns to him, surprised, he shrugs. "Maybe you're different from how you were before. But you're already different from the person you were when you first came to Whiterun."
"That's true," Aela agrees. "You've met new people, seen new places. Gotten stronger."
"And we know one thing about you," Athis says. "Your past aside, you were always born to be the Dragonborn." He grins. "I know getting concussed never made meable to swallow a dragon soul."
"In my experience," Kodlak adds, "Destiny has a way of working out. You have a home with us, and no shortage of those who consider you family, including the ones sitting at this table with you."
"I--thank you," she says, voice cracking on the last syllable. Ria puts an arm around her, and Miri leans sideways into the hug, smiling faintly. "It means a lot to me that you all do."