This chapter features the song "Artio" by Eluveitei.

A group of Companions were out in the fields just outside of Whiterun, dealing with a giant. They were beginning to get a bit overwhelmed, something none of them were surprised of considering it was a giant.

"Aela, I don't know how much longer we can hold out!"

"Stand your ground! We can take this monster!"

They continued to struggle against the giant, then out of nowhere a young woman with long raven black hair jumped into the fray. They stood back and watched with awe as she dealt a few decisive blows to the giant, felling it. Sheathing their weapons, they looked at the strange young woman.

Aela, a slender ginger haired woman with green eyes and green warpaint, approached the young woman- noticing she had one blue eye and one green.

"You handle yourself well. You could make for a decent Shield-Sister."

The young woman merely nodded, sheathing her sword as she turned towards Whiterun and left the Companions in the fields of Pelagia Farms.

Aela looked at the others, shrugging. "Let's get back."

Aela and Farkas returned with their Shield-Siblings, Aela joining Skjor while Farkas went to report to Kodlak Whitemane- the Harbinger of the Companions. He made his way down into the living quarters, nodding as he passed by his brother.

"Ah, Farkas!"

Farkas looked at Kodlak, then noticed that he had company- a beautiful young woman with long raven black hair, fair skin, silver pink lips, and one blue eye and one green. "You're the one from earlier."

"I see you have already my granddaughter." Kodlak said, smiling.

"I didn't know you had children of your own, Kodlak, let alone grandchildren." Farkas said, surprised.

"Indeed I do. This is Rinsly Laggard, or just 'Rin'." He looked at the young woman. "Rin, this is Farkas. He is to be your Shield-Brother."

Farkas looked at Rin as she stood, bowing to him. "You're handy in a fight, strong too."

Rin looked at him. "I must apologize for my rudeness earlier. I was in a hurry to reach Jorrvaskr, but I couldn't just leave you to defeat that giant alone."

"It's fine. Your help was appreciated."

"Grandfather, should I leave you to business?"

Kodlak nodded. "For now, yes. I will come find you later. Feel free to look around."

Rin nodded, bowing her head to Farkas as she passed by him.

Farkas watched her leave, her long hair unique to only her as no one else he had ever met in Skyrim had hair longer than their shoulders.

"She's grown up to be quite the beauty." Kodlak said, sighing. "It's a shame that she came to us under such dreadful circumstances."

Farkas looked at him, taking a seat across from him. "What happened? She seems too quite."

"Her younger brother was killed recently. She had nowhere else to turn and her journey here was rocky and tumultuous." Kodlak looked at him. "I want you to mentor her, or at the very least keep an eye on her. Go with her on jobs, keep her company."

Farkas nodded.

"Now, how did it go with the giant?"

"Did you know Kodlak had kids?" Aela asked, leaning towards Skjor as they watched Rin trained in courtyard.

Skjor nodded. "He's mentioned a son before. I think he was a merchant, lived in Hammerfell with Kodlak before he left to return here as the next Harbinger. He doesn't talk too much about his family, though."

"Why would she come here alone then? Do you think something happened?"

"Perhaps. It's not our place to say, however. Kodlak wants her to join the Companions, so it's our duty to help her just as we have with every other new blood."

Rin spun and swung her sword at the dummy, decapitating it. She stood back, sheathing her sword before she went to pick up the dummy's head. She reached into her pack and pulled out her sewing kit, situating the dummy's head in its place and stitching it back to the rest of the body. She stepped back, returning her kit to her pack before shouldering it and heading towards the Skyforge.

"She's really something, I'll give her that." Aela said.

Rin woke in the dead of night, drenched in sweat. She looked around, seeing that she was still in the living quarters of Jorrvaskr. Everyone around her was still asleep, but she had yet another nightmare of what happened at Helgen.

She got out of bed, making her way quietly to the training yard outside with her sword in hand.

Inside, as he lounged on one of the benches near the firepit, Farkas looked up to see Rin making her way outside.

'What's she up to this late?'

Getting up, he followed her outside to the training yard and stood against on of the posts, watching as she got in some training.

Rin struck at the dummy before her, hopping back to catch her breath. As she stepped back, she heard a rustle behind her and spun with her blade ready- the steel catching against Farkas' sword.

"Farkas? What are you doing out here? It's late." Rin stepped back, lowering her sword.

"I was relaxing in the common room, saw you come outside." He lowered his sword and looked down at her. "Is everything alright?"

Rin turned away, turning her attention back to the dummy. "I'm fine, Farkas. You don't need to worry about me."

Farkas sighed and sheathed his sword, crossing his arms. "Rin, I can tell that something's bothering you. Your grandfather asked me to be your Shield-Brother, to keep an eye on you. I can't do that if you don't tell me what's going on."

Rin sighed, sheathing her sword. "It's really nothing, Farkas." She looked at him as she passed by him, going up to the Skyforge.

Farkas rolled his eyes and followed after her, coming to stand next to her as she looked out over the city. "You're a horrible liar."

Rin shrugged. "I've never been a good liar to begin with. I'm alright, Farkas, so don't worry."

"Rinsly, cut the crap."

Rin looked away as she made her way to the wall. "I'm sure Grandfather already told you, so what difference does it make?" She stepped up onto the edge.

Farkas watched as Rin jumped down from the wall, landing on the ground outside of the city. He watched as she headed east towards the river, sighing as he turned towards the nearest gate out of town and made to follow after her.

Rin honestly didn't care if he followed after her or not. Just wanting to get away from the city and enjoy the peace and quiet of the wilderness outside of Whiterun, Rin crossed over the river and headed towards a large hill. She stood on the hill, looking out over the landscape before her blanketed in moonlight.

"Robouas uet magnei. Noue pepoisas cridiion imon. Noue pepoisas geliiin. Supritiia tiresos sondi. Noue pepoisas abalon. Blatus suadiius areuoclouiuspe. Noue pepoisas clounis Nantaroriias. Blatusagiiet samali sepont." She lifted her face to the sky, singing an old tune her mother had taught her. "A boua uer magnei. Etic pepoisa cridiion tuon. A pepoisa geliiin. Spritiia tiresos tui."

Behind her, Farkas had caught up to her- having lost her scent once she crossed the river but catching her voice on the wind. He stood there, listening to her singing. 'Amazing...'

"A pepoisa Brenoduron senon. Uolugatus suadiius geliiuspe. Etic pepoisa cridiion ansron. Etic blatusagiiet samali sepont." Rin let the wind blow around her, her raven black hair billowing around her. She sighed, bringing her arms around herself. "I'm sorry, Mother, Father... I failed you... I couldn't protect Sigfus..." She looking up at the stars.

"Rin?"

Rin turned to find Farkas standing there behind her. "How long have you been there?"

"I just got here. Rin, what's going on?"

Rin looked away.

Farkas stepped closer to her. "Rin, whatever it is, you shouldn't keep this to yourself. It doesn't show how strong you are, it shows that you don't trust the Companions."

Rin shook her head. "That's not true. Grandfather only chooses the most trustworthy and strong. I would trust all of you with my life."

"Then why hide this?"

She looked at him. "It's hard to talk about what happened."

"It's harder to not say anything. Keeping it bottled up for too long will never result in anything good."

Rin sighed, turning away. "My brother and I were young when our parents died. They were killed a few years after Grandfather left Hammerfell. They got caught in the middle of a clan war and were the first casualties. Sigfus and I were left orphaned, with nowhere left to go. We ended up travelling on foot, trying to take jobs wherever we could. Then Sigfus got sick one day and couldn't work, let alone continue travelling. I spent every last coin I had to try and help him get better, but it was no good. Then a healer from Cyrodiil happened to find us and took us in, made sure that Sigfus was well enough for travel before having to depart back home. The healer left us at the border so that we could cross into Skyrim, but as we crossed the border Imperials were ambushing Ulfric Stormcloak and his men. Sigfus and I got caught up in the middle of it, but while I was captured and taken prisoner Sigfus was not so lucky and was among the first to fall in that skirmish. The Imperials took me to Helgen with the others and I was to be executed, but then a black dragon came and attacked. In the panic, I was able to get out and ran. I searched for the only man I knew could help."

Farkas remained silent, processing the information.

Rin turned towards him. "I found my way to Whiterun and to my grandfather, the only person I have left in this world. I failed my parents, I couldn't protect my brother, and it's only by some divine luck that I haven't failed as a Companion. And everyone night, nightmares of what happened that day plague me." She sighed, making her way down the hill. "Thanks for listening, Farkas. I'll... I'll see you around..."

Farkas watched as Rin made her way down the hill back towards Whiterun, unsure of what to say or do next.