Harbinger Hardships.

(Fanfiction based on my character in Skyrim, Minos. Pairing is of Minos and Vilkas. I do not own Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It is owned by Bethesda.)

The night gently blanketed over the Skyrim skies, the city of Whiterun silenced from its sounds of daily citizens. The fires of the forge were out for the night, the stores had their doors closed.

The companions too had retired to their beds, it was a time to take in the comfort of slumber. However, there was one who was unable to have such a pleasure so simple as that. In his study was Minos Vas' Abbadon, a man who wore many hats. Dragonborn of Skyrim, Survivor of Helgen, Stormblade of the Stormcloaks, Slayer of Alduin the First, some days he wished he never had to count how many names he had. His most important title to him, was Harbinger of the Companions.

Minos clearly remembered the day he walked into the doors of Jorrvaskr. How he had to prove himself to other members, who never once called him by his name. It was either "Whelp" or "New blood", which was given to the other members as well. The looks on their faces when they heard of the feats he had accomplished. He remembered Aela's expression when she heard Kodlack declare Minos as the new Harbinger. Only to go even further when they learned he was Dragonborn and the slayer of Alduin.

Minos could care less about being Dragonborn. Its been a year since he has saved Tamreal from the world-eater. Then being told he had to avenge the ancestors of the Blades by killing the master of the Graybeards, simply for his role in the past.

Minos couldn't do it. Parthonax may have served Alduin in the past, but so did all dragons. He was able to learn what he needed to know thanks to the elderly dragon. Sometimes Minos would stop whatever he's doing or whenever he hears the roar of a dragon, he'll wonder how his friend from the mountaintop was doing. As much as he wanted to keep Delphine as a friend, she was simply to hell-bent on hatred. The way she looked at him for what was the last time, still haunts him to this day. Her eyes held the look of betrayal and hurt. No matter how hard he tried, the dragonborn wasn't able to find any words to try and make her see reason.

Safe to say, he doesn't dare walk the steps to the Sleeping Giant Inn when he visits Riverwood. Focusing on his tasks as Harbinger, Minos would always feel the tension from other members. He trusted them, but perhaps they resented the fact that someone who walked in their home would become the Harbinger in not even a month.

He cant approach any of the Companions without paranoia irking him.

"Do you have guidance for me, Harbinger?"

"So, youre in charge now?"

"What guidance could you offer me?"

"Vilkas says you're the new Kodlack."

Just hearing what sounded like venom in their words to him made Minos want to just kill them. But he knew better, he was Harbinger but not Jarl. Minos thinks that if he has it bad just imagine what it must be like to run Whiterun day in and day out? Thank the divines he isn't.

"Harbinger?" Vilkas' voice spoke through the other side of his door. Vilkas, the only person besides Telma who didn't give him a hard time. "Come in, Vilkas." Minos said, closing his book of The Wolf Queen. Closing the door behind him was the Circle member, still in his armor.

"You are still awake at this hour?" Minos asked. Minos tried avoiding looking at his eyes, sometimes he'd either find himself thinking about them or fantasizing about them. From his body to his voice, Minos was madly in love with the man. Talos strike him down if he ever found out and mocked him. "I was about to ask the same question. Is something troubling you?" The companion asked in a worried tone, which surprised him. Then their eyes made contact and immediately Vilkas' own became the size of dinner plates. Another reason why avoided any eye contact not just from the other man, but anyone in particular, he has hardly slept well in well over a year now. Minos didn't have to ask, he already knew what startled the man. He already knew of the dark bags which clung to his eyes, swollen and pleading to stay awake with a desire to rest. Minos' gaze quickly looked away as he opened the book back to the bookmarked page. "Minos... By the eight... What has happened?" Vilkas asked, but Minos shunned away from him.

"Minos. Look at me." He asked again as he slowly took the novel away from the harbinger's hands. Minos gave in and met Vilkas, who was appalled by what he saw. Vilkas was speechless as his mouth was as dry as Solsthiem sand. "I haven't been sleeping." Vilkas heard this but still comprehend it. This was a man who saved the world, who apparently could reach any lengths. But he cant sleep? If he couldn't do this, it must be caused by something serious.

"Why have you denied yourself sleep?" Vilkas asked trying not to alarm everyone in the area. Minos took a minute before asking, "Vilkas, what am I to you?" The white eyed warrior couldn't make heads or tails of why he was being asked this question. "You're our-"

"No, to YOU. Not the Companions, not the Circle. YOU." Vilkas was taken back by what he had heard, Vilkas dared not speak of his desire for the harbinger. The rejection would be a pain no restoration spell or potion could help cure. But then he saw a tear run down the man's face and it was something which he never seen the other man do for as long as he has known him. The man was calm, maintained, with a warm smile and laugh. It pained Vilkas to see him at the point of tears. Vilkas decided it was now or with the grave.

"Harb- No. To me, you are beyond a harbinger. You are strong, wise, and just. You inspire everyone, myself included to push myself to surpass my limits. You mean more to me than you could ever imagine..." Vilkas watched as Minos looked at him with those red eyes and ask, "What do.. You mean?" Vilkas took Minos lips to his own and the dragonborn knew he wasn't dreaming, he would never allow it.

'By the eight...' Minos melted into the embrace as Vilkas broke off and looked into his eyes. "I love you." There. Vilkas said it. Minos, for once in such a long time finally allowed a smile, a real smile to reach his lips. "I love you too, Vilkas." The two were brought into a heated kiss as their passion grew. The men shared that night together with their love making for the first time.

The next morning, Vilkas was the first to awaken. He simply took in the sight of a sleeping harbinger and now lover, fast asleep on his chest. Vilkas gently stroked Minos' short black hair and tried to not wake him up. The sudden sound of the door opening and seeing Farkas in the doorway frozen and stunned thwarted his intention. "Farkas? Is something wrong?" Minos asked but Farkas wasn't able to form any sentences. "Brother... Harbinger? Should I.. I should go..." Farkas stated closing the door quickly shut behind him. "Come. Let us return to sleep." Vilkas said planting a kiss on Minos' temple. "I'll only sleep if you stay." Minos retorted. Vilkas smiled, "I can not say no to you." Vilkas replied grabbing the sheets as he pulled them over he heard his lover say, "You're not supposed to." The two chuckled as their arms wrapped around each other and returning to the realm of sleep once again.