Without realizing it, Thales straightened her back as soon as she heard the metal door move as someone swung it open. It was Galmar. He took his time to talk to them about how important it was the task they had completed, and how the rest of the soldiers (those who survived) were being taken care of by healers. Minutes went by with him explaining to her, Ralof standing next to her, what it is to be a Stormcloak, to serve Ulfric and the people fighting against oppression. She realized, that even though he took the sack with the crown in it, weight never lifted off her shoulders.
She had expected for Ulfric to meet them. To meet her, with his precious crown on her hands. But he didn’t and she wasn’t surprised. At this point, she’s past being surprised by anything really, why she expects to be is beyond her.
How silly of her, to want to feel human, normal. A daughter.
~
“You’ve been silent. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I miss you making fun of my fighting.” Sapphire spoke as she bit into an apple, Ralof smiled behind the cup against his lips.
“Yes? Sorry about that. It’s a side effect from training with the Companions.”
Sapphire rolled her eyes but reached out to her nonetheless, her fingers squeezing her shoulder gently. “I will regret this, but I’m here if you want to talk.”
Shaking her head, Thales turned her body towards her friend and raised an eyebrow at her. “How comforting, you’re an exemplary friend, the best out there I tell you.” The sarcasm didn’t go unnoticed as Ralof chuckled from the other side.
“Not even battered from a deadly fight do the two of you stop bickering.”
“What can I say, that’s how I express my love to others—”
“Divines, stop that! Next time we’re back home, you’ll be braiding Vex’s hair and singing lullabies.”
The thought made both women laugh, albeit Thale’s was more wheezing than anything else. Someone should tend to her ribs soon.
“Is this before or after she feeds me to the rabious wildlife around the city?” Ralof shook his head at the question and proceeded to finish his meal.
“Shut your mouth. You know she’s just jealous of the attention Brynjolf bathes you with. If it weren’t for Brynjolf, you and the cranky-pants bitch would be riding off into the sunset, running idiots over with your horse and breaking hearts along the way.”
“What?” The blond pipped in, almost choking on the bread he was chewing.
“Don’t mind her. I know what she’s talking about yet I’m very much confused.”
Both stared at each other before turning to the older woman, but then moved their sight towards the other side of the room, where Sapphire was staring intently at.
Oh.
Vilkas, Farkas and Brynjolf were standing in all their Nord glory, snowed on and not even shivering from the flakes on their hair. They all shrugged their light coats and piled them on the chair by the stairs of the inn before walking towards them.
She was not prepared for this. The uncontrollable feeling of wanting to leap to his arms and breath in his presence. Their eyes met, her heart skipped a beat, but she wonders if it’s because he might still be mad at her, or because he’s here. He came here, for her, maybe.
“Hello,” Brynjolf as charming as ever got closer first, placing each hand on top of her and Sapphire’s head, messing their slightly damp hair (thank the Divines they took a bath before eating) “care to introduce us all, Thales?”
Clearing her throat, she sweeped her eyes at everyone and started pointing fingers and calling names. The silence that followed the introductions almost turned awkward if it hadn’t been for Brynjolf’s easygoing personality. The newly arrived men grabbed chairs and joined them with dinner, and as they were all sitting, the redhead caught her eyes with his and then winked at her.
THALES ~ 12b
She had expected for Ulfric to meet them. To meet her, with his precious crown on her hands. But he didn’t and she wasn’t surprised. At this point, she’s past being surprised by anything really, why she expects to be is beyond her.
How silly of her, to want to feel human, normal. A daughter.
~
“You’ve been silent. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I miss you making fun of my fighting.” Sapphire spoke as she bit into an apple, Ralof smiled behind the cup against his lips.
“Yes? Sorry about that. It’s a side effect from training with the Companions.”
Sapphire rolled her eyes but reached out to her nonetheless, her fingers squeezing her shoulder gently. “I will regret this, but I’m here if you want to talk.”
Shaking her head, Thales turned her body towards her friend and raised an eyebrow at her. “How comforting, you’re an exemplary friend, the best out there I tell you.” The sarcasm didn’t go unnoticed as Ralof chuckled from the other side.
“Not even battered from a deadly fight do the two of you stop bickering.”
“What can I say, that’s how I express my love to others—”
“Divines, stop that! Next time we’re back home, you’ll be braiding Vex’s hair and singing lullabies.”
The thought made both women laugh, albeit Thale’s was more wheezing than anything else. Someone should tend to her ribs soon.
“Is this before or after she feeds me to the rabious wildlife around the city?” Ralof shook his head at the question and proceeded to finish his meal.
“Shut your mouth. You know she’s just jealous of the attention Brynjolf bathes you with. If it weren’t for Brynjolf, you and the cranky-pants bitch would be riding off into the sunset, running idiots over with your horse and breaking hearts along the way.”
“What?” The blond pipped in, almost choking on the bread he was chewing.
“Don’t mind her. I know what she’s talking about yet I’m very much confused.”
Both stared at each other before turning to the older woman, but then moved their sight towards the other side of the room, where Sapphire was staring intently at.
Oh.
Vilkas, Farkas and Brynjolf were standing in all their Nord glory, snowed on and not even shivering from the flakes on their hair. They all shrugged their light coats and piled them on the chair by the stairs of the inn before walking towards them.
She was not prepared for this. The uncontrollable feeling of wanting to leap to his arms and breath in his presence. Their eyes met, her heart skipped a beat, but she wonders if it’s because he might still be mad at her, or because he’s here. He came here, for her, maybe.
“Hello,” Brynjolf as charming as ever got closer first, placing each hand on top of her and Sapphire’s head, messing their slightly damp hair (thank the Divines they took a bath before eating) “care to introduce us all, Thales?”
Clearing her throat, she sweeped her eyes at everyone and started pointing fingers and calling names. The silence that followed the introductions almost turned awkward if it hadn’t been for Brynjolf’s easygoing personality. The newly arrived men grabbed chairs and joined them with dinner, and as they were all sitting, the redhead caught her eyes with his and then winked at her.