Raised by Wolves: Chapter 20

I stood in front of my door for a full five minutes, my heart thudding loudly in my ears. What was going on around here? My brain had officially hit overload; if anything else were to happen, I would just shut down and no longer function. This had to be one of the longest and strangest weeks of my life. I shook my head to snap out of the stupor I was in and entered my chambers. Noticing a letter on the floor, I scooped it up as I shut the door behind me. My fingers slipped open the envelope and pulled out a single piece of parchment.

I had barely begun to read the note before the sight of Lydia in her formalwear distracted me. She stood in front of the mirror, smoothing her dress down. Her chestnut brown hair was pulled back into a twist and pinned into place with a gold clip. Her dress fluttered around her long legs as she twirled, her face lit up like a child’s. You could see by the glee upon her face she was enjoying her outfit for the evening.

"Oh Lydia, you look so beautiful," I gushed.

The dress was stunning; blue and gold swirled throughout the fabric, shimmering like fire in the light of the room. The neckline reached to her chin but had a diamond cut out over her breasts. The sleeves were cropped short, leaving her impressive arms bare. The dropped waist clung tightly over her hips then opened into a full, billowing skirt just past the top of her thighs.

She grinned girlishly as she took a seat at the table. The sight of her had pushed Ulfric's proposal to the back of my thoughts, but it resurfaced quickly. As I opened my mouth to ask her advice, she interrupted with a question about the letter in my hand, which I had forgotten about. I turned my gaze downward to the parchment, my smile fading as the words blurred behind my tears.

Lydia was on her feet in an instant, rushing to my now shaking form. She took my ice-cold hands in hers and led me towards the fire, pulling a chair up behind me to sit on. She spoke softly, but I could not comprehend what she was saying. I felt her pry the letter from my grasp, her sharp intake of breath as she hurriedly read the letter.

“My lady,” she cooed soothingly, the letter slipping from her fingers and fluttering to the ground. “My thane, I am so sorry.” She hugged me to her chest, smoothing my hair from my face with her hands and calling urgently for a servant to bring Aela to my chambers.

I sat in silence, only the sound of our breathing in the air. The only movement was the fire crackling in the fireplace and Lydia running her fingers through my hair like she would a child. The door opened quietly and Aela entered into the room. She bowed, crossing her arm across her chest. “Harbinger.”

I turned my head slightly, acknowledging her with lifeless eyes. Her normal deadpan expression left her face as she stared into my eyes and approached. “Arianna, you look like death. What has happened?”

“Ulfric proposed,” I whispered through dry lips.

She snorted. “You speak as if that is the end of the world.” She brushed a stray length of hair from her face and continued. “Tell him no if you do not desire to marry him.”

Lydia pointed to the letter on the floor. “There’s more than just a proposal.”

Aela scowled at Lydia but picked the letter off of the floor. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the parchment.

“What is this?” she demanded.

“Our lady has until midnight to tell Jarl Ulfric she will be his bride, or Vilkas and Farkas will be executed.” Lydia frowned. “Where is Farkas, Aela?”

She paled. “I—when we felt Arianna’s call, I had to drug him so he wouldn’t fight, but he was still asleep in our chambers just before I was summoned here.” Aela’s eyes narrowed as she turned her gaze towards me. “Where is Vilkas, shield-sister?”

“He has been missing since this morning,” Lydia responded for me.

“Aela, Lydia,” I whispered, “take me to Farkas.”

Both women nodded, and Lydia held my arm as I stood. My mind remained numb as we hurried through the corridors. Aela reached her doorway first and threw open the door.

The room was in disarray. Aela’s bed was overturned. Farkas’s bed was empty; his frame was tipped over on its side. Olivia lay in a crumpled heap on the floor next to where her brother lay sleeping. There was a sign of a struggle, but not a fight, there was no blood anywhere.

“No,” I moaned, falling to my knees. I might have survived the loss of one of the brothers, but having both of them gone would shatter me.

Lydia went to Olivia’s side, checking her over for injuries. I pounded my fists on the stone floor, trying to feel something other than the vast emptiness inside. There had to be something I could do, some way to find them, to save them. I stood slowly, gathering my wits about me. There was a way out of every situation. I would not be played this way, and I would not let anyone threaten me and mine. I was the Dragonborn! The days of being kicked down were over.

“Is Olivia all right?” I asked.

“She’s breathing; she appears to have been drugged.”

I nodded. “And the boy?”

Lydia turned her attention to Eldar, who cracked his eyes open. His mouth moved silently, but his gaze penetrated mine. I found myself next to him instantly. Kneeling beside his still form, I lowered my ear to his lips. He cleared his throat several times before he was able to whisper into my ear.

I pulled back and smiled down at him. “Thank you, brave one.” I held his hand gently in mine and spoke to Aela. “These two are under my protection while Lydia and I are at the celebration. As soon as Olivia is awake and Eldar can move, send her to my chambers, and then I want you to take a carriage back to Whiterun with the boy and take him to my home. You are responsible for his care until I return, Aela.”

“What are you planning my thane?” Lydia asked.

“I am planning on attending a celebration in my honor.” I stood, heading towards the doorway. “And if it is a queen they want then I shall give them one they shall never forget.”