I woke up right before dawn, confused by the textures around me, nauseated, in pain. Of the adrenaline rush and empowerment of the previous day, I had little left. Aggressive flashes of the previous day's events began to flood my mind: Nothing like the sight of your own charred self to remember what a dragon is and what it does: my entire left leg, from the knee down, was heavily burnt and blistered. Something had slashed me from the upper neck to the right collarbone, but I couldn't remember what. Surely I would've noticed something like that?

The shocked expressions in the faces of Hadvar's relatives were a lot clearer – but not their names. Hadvar had been unable to stand by himself, and his ankle was in such a bad shape that I had to use a healing spell for the first (smaller) fracture before the big, painful fracture could be seen to by his family. I must have passed out right afterwards, amidst winces of pain and shouts of disbelief at our dragon story. I wouldn't have believed it either, but at least they were nice enough to bandage me up and let me spend the night. Divines smile on them. What now, though?

All my supplies, alongside 8 months' worth of savings were gone. My clothes were beyond acceptable, holes burnt and pieces torn all over. The armour I'd "borrowed" was an Imperial guard armour, surely impersonating the law was asking for extra trouble?

With some luck, the previous day's loot would yield enough for a new belted tunic, and I could find honest work somewhere? This was definitely not what I came to Skyrim for – if I had been happy with menial labour, I could've stayed home; the possible scars on my legs had pretty much closed the gate at trying out mom's line of work, so at least that temptation was closed.

Ah, mom! I know you always wanted to make sure I'd be better that you, but I'm sure this was not how! I'd spent years building that stupid castle of fantasy and pretty things in my head, fancy myself something I'm not, lie, pretend and steal… only to run away and find myself empty handed once more. That should teach me.

Sunrise came and passed while I curled up with nothing but my own vulnerability, not caring if the rest of the household was waking up, until a tiny hand placed a sweet roll on my lap.

"Please don't cry. Does it hurt much? I'll tell mommy to give you a potion."

I stared at the girl. She had big, round eyes, full of curiosity and something that was definitely not pity.

"I'm Dorthee, remember? Hadvar's niece. Do you want me to call mommy? You look pale."

"No, it's fine. It doesn't hurt that much" I attempted a smile, must have been funny because she giggled. "How's your uncle?"

"Daddy won't let him leave bed. So you're from the Imperial City? Are you in the Legion too? Are you his boss?"

"No!" I had no choice but to chuckle. Kids are annoying in their questions sometimes. "I'm from Anvil, further south…" Alvor's appearance, bacon platter in tow, interrupted the naïve interrogation.

"Dorthee, please go help your mother. Sira? I hope she didn't wake you just to ask you things. How are you feeling? Can you sit up? We were really scared after you fainted" There was something reassuring and fatherly about his voice. Well, my imagined idea of fatherly.

"I am better, yes, still very lightheaded." I placed some cushions behind me, and got up slowly. "I don't think I can stand up yet, but as soon as I can, I promise…"

He placed the bacon platter straight on my hands. "Promise nothing and take your time. You lost an awful deal of blood, but I cannot forget your first priority was to mend my nephew's ankle. Thanks to you, he is going to walk again. We owe you, and he personally feels forever in your debt."

"Thank you, sir. It was nothing, considering if it weren't for him, I would've been eaten by a dragon."

"Which is exactly what I needed to talk to you about."

"Right." Was he still doubting our sanity? Surely someone else had noticed such a massive shadow, someone else had survived? "I understand it sounds impossible, I almost don't believe it myself. But yeah, there was a dragon yesterday at Helgen, and it breathed fire, and it killed."

"And did it truly show up to let Ulfric Stormcloak escape?"

Alarms rung on my conscience. Strictly speaking, I was the one about to die – but did he know that?

"I suppose he was next in line, yes. But I don't know if he escaped. Once the fires started, everyone just stopped caring, I guess. I suppose Hadvar was able to tell you as much last night."

"Actually, he said he was pretty sure he escaped. Nevermind, he is a soldier, and you're not. The dragon sounds like the bigger menace either way. I thought he was hallucinating from the pain of his injury. The town's drunkard claims he saw it fly, but most sensible people paid him no attention. Hadvar is no drunkard, and the burns you arrived with were not made by a torch."

Again, the caring undertone. If he caught on my half-lie, he was not angry about it.

"Thank you for tending to them. And the bed, and the food. I could never repay you."

"It was the least we could do."

"No, I mean, I literally have no coin…"

"It's no bother. My nephew will walk again, and that should be enough. I could use a favor."

"Anything!" He could've ordered me to kill his daughter, for all I cared. Kindness was not something I've ever been used to.

"As soon as you are strong enough to make the journey, I need you to bring word of the dragon attack to the Jarl of Whiterun. I can't leave the forge unattended, and Hadvar won't be up to such a trip for a week or two, if we want his ankle to heal completely, but the Jarl must know. He must send troops to protect the village. It's just a couple of hours east of here, but I can provide you with some supplies for the trip. I'll sharpen your blade and all, just in case."

There it was, again. The wink of complicity and trust, and the offer of a weapon. It seems like around here, there's no more natural display of regard that offering weapons.

"Consider it done as soon as I can sprint again. Hadvar is a soldier, he needs full use of his legs." Just as I said that, it hit me that I knew little else of Hadvar – and that he knew little else of me.

"Exactly. Sigrid will be back shortly to help you change your bandages. Meanwhile, eat and sleep, you need the strength."

He left half a pound of fried bacon on my lap, a sweet roll, and a task. This is why they think Imperials are too full of words.