The visit to see Ulfric had not gone well, at all. After yelling at me, he took the time to also yell at Dorn, no doubt for coercing a young woman into risking her life to travel around with him. That, combined with who and what I was, it was no doubt likely to cast doubt on Ulfric's campaign as high king. In all honesty, I was surprised he would even be bothered by this arrangement; But I was not about to let him stop me from following my ambitions.
When Dorn left the war room (which, in hind sight, was an excellent place for two miserable men to have a shouting match), he seemed indifferent. It was clear he had been angry, but he didn't so much as glance at me as he ushered me out of the palace. When I asked him what happened, he muttered some response about the Candlehearth Hall, and I figured he needed time to decompress after one of Ulfric's infamous fits. The night was cold, as per usual, and snow gently fell all around us, muffling our feet as we shuffled angrily to the tavern.
'He is such an insufferable ass sometimes,' Dorn finally spoke, though I could barely hear him. I laughed but didn't respond. He guided me into the Hall, and told me to claim a table upstairs. As I waited for him to return, I almost suspected Ulfric had talked him into leaving me behind, and he had actually been on his horse, headed back for Falkreath Hold. Perhaps he would have been doing me a favour, but there would be no point, since I knew where he lived. I almost invited the chance to have him let me track him down, just to show him yet another one of my skills. Maybe I'd even give him a day's head start. However before I could entertain the idea any further, he came skulking up the stairs, a large jug of mead in hand, and two flagons.

'You should have told me Ulfric was your father, he spoke so quietly, I could barely hear him over the hum of the Hall.

'Would you have believed me, anyways?' I asked him in an equally hushed tone. Dorn shrugged, and I'm sure he knew he wouldn't have. He poured us each a drink, leaned back into his seat, and drew a deep breath.

'Well, the way I see it, we have two options. Either we let him have his way, and you go back to your mother; or we disobey him and you continue on with me for a time.'

I shrugged, as if the answer was obvious. Which is was.
'Have it your way, then. But knowing what I know now, I strongly believe you shouldn't fight this war with me.'

'Oh, shove it up your arse, old man. I'm going with you, and that's final.'

'Old man?'

'You may not think so right now, but you're going to need me.'

Dorn folded his arms, and raised his brow at me. It was almost the same look he gave me outside of Solitude, the first time we met. While we were sober, anyway. 'Is that so?'

'Yes. Your life is obviously a mess. You're always alone, the house you live in was an absolute disaster, and you purposefully push people away.'

'Listen, I have-'

'And don't think I haven't heard the stories about how you are a drunk, which I can clearly see for myself, and also how promiscuous you are. I can see right through you, Dragonborn, and the truth is, is that you are miserable, lonely, and in need of something bright and consistent in your life.'

'I see,' Dorn spoke over his tankard. 'And is that supposed to be you?'

I nodded to him, then took a healthy swig of my own drink. In truth I was not a seasoned drinker, and I really should have been taking it slow, lest I get too drunk, and tell Dorn what I really thought of him.

'Well, aren't I lucky.'

After an uncomfortably long silence, of listening to the bard howl the night away and another drink or two, I figured Dorn's lips would be loose enough to tell me what happened between him and Ulfric.

'The relationship I have with Ulfric is complicated. And perhaps one day I may even tell you more about it, but for now you just have to trust that l am not doing this to spite you, but to appease him.'

I couldn't help but scoff. 'Maybe if people stopped appeasing him, they would see him for the horrible man he really is.'

Dorn shrugged. 'That is neither here nor there. The point is, he has your best interests at heart, and you should appreciate that. At least acknowledge it.'

I watched Dorn closely as he finished another round of mead, but before he got up to refill the jug, I grabbed his arm to stop him. 'Is he bribing you, or something? Did he pay you?'

Dorn shook his head, and pulled his arm away. 'He is trying to be a father, and that is all.' He then went back downstairs, and I was left alone to stare at the bard, and listen to his awful rendition of Ragnar the Red. Trying to be a father… What rubbish. He couldn't dictate my life any more than my mother could, despite her best efforts. She may be content to tend to a house all day, and have people work on her farm, but I am not. I'm not someone who can stay in one place. By the time Dorn came back, I had succumbed to a more drunkenly manner, without realizing it.

'Listen, Dorn, I don't want to be a farmer, or a hunter.'

'Alright,' he said, pouring himself some drink.

'The time to venture is now, while I am young and strong!'

'I agree,' he seemed to be staring hard at me, but I couldn't figure out why.

'And I don't want to live a mediocre life, tending to farm animals and skinning dead wolves, and foxes, and deer, and-'

'Okay, no skinning. I understand.'

'And I will be damned if I have to crack open another damn mudcrab!'

'No mudcrabs either. Duly noted.' Dorn laughed as he took a drink from his cup.

'I just want to be like you. Why can't I?'

'Trust me, love. You don't want to. But that is a conversation for another time when perhaps you are not so drunk.' He winked at me, and held out his hand. 'Let us dance!'

I let Dorn pull me up from the table, as he asked for a song he could dance to. I was unfamiliar with the music, but I danced along anyway, and even some other patrons joined in. It felt like I was being thrown around, twirled by Dorn and some of the other dancers, and only then did I realize I has never really danced before. When I mentioned it to Dorn, he laughed at me.

'This is what I mean! I've never danced with people like this before. And I probably never would, were I not with you!'

After a hearty chuckle, Dorn pulled me in close. 'Well, don't expect this often.'

'The dancing, or the drinking? Because from what I've seen, half your nights are spent-'

'Yes, I know.' Dorn cut me off as he twirled me again. When he pulled me back in, he had a stupid grin on his face. 'So have you really heard of my promiscuity? Or was that you just trying to inflate my ego?'

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him, but I didn't respond.

'What are they saying? Have you heard I was well endowed? Do I love like… perhaps with the intensity of a dragon?' He could barely talk as he stifled a childish giggle, but again I refused to inflate his already too-large ego.

'I think, not.'

Dorn groaned, as he took a step back. 'I think you're lying, little one,' he pointed an accusatory finger at me, still sheepishly grinning.

'Still, I think not!' I thought I might have been grinning back, so I turned away and returned to my seat.

'Don't be a prude,' Dorn followed me back to the table. 'Are you bashful?'

'Not so much, but I am a lady, and as such I never spread gossip. Particularly when I believe it to be false.'

'Rude,' Dorn laughed again, as he poured another drink. 'I am a sensitive man, Miri. You should be nice to me, and compliment me.' He stood next to me as he drank some more, almost slamming the tankard down on the table as he stumbled.

'Then I shan't tell lies, if only to spare your delicate feelings.' I laughed at myself, believing myself to be witty.

'Well then. Had I the chance, I would gladly prove you wrong, but I am a gentleman. And as such, I should respect you as a lady, and not tarnish your spotless reputation.'

I scowled at him, but I was almost relieved that he was admittedly unlikely to seduce me. I would rather not be just another one of the girls in his harem.

'Chastity suits me just fine,' I said over my tankard.

'Chastity!' Dorn bellowed in laughter. 'So, you are a prude!'

'I'd rather be chaste than a slut. On a woman, it doesn't have the same appeal.'

'I bed to differ,' Dorn said. Just then, I noticed he had caught the eye of a young Nord across the room.

'Off you go, then,' I said, waving him off.

Dorn shrugged, and finally sat down next to me. 'I'd prefer to continue to converse with you, dear Miri. You provide much better entertainment.' He elbowed me in the side, in a joking manner. It was more familiar with me than he'd ever been, but I hadn't noticed at the time.

'You're harassing me, not conversing with me,' I said, elbowing him back. 'I need to rest, anyway. We've had a long day.'

Dorn poured me more mead, pulling me back down as I stood to find a room. 'You shouldn't let me drink alone. Last time that happened, I ended up with an apprentice who won't leave me alone.'

'Oh, is that so?' I asked, folding my arms.

'Indeed. She harasses me, you know. Picks on me for remaining pure at heart,' he giggled again, and I couldn't help but punch him.

'Perhaps it is time for you to retire, too. All this drink and dancing clearly has you confused.' This time, I was the one to pull him up from the table, and away from all the fun.

By the time we paid for and found our room for the night, my level drunkenness had lowered, but his had not. I had to fight him to get out of his armour, as he insisted I was trying to seduce him. I laid him on the bed, as he commented on how flattering it was that I would help him.

'Well, don't read too much into it. I'm only doing this so that we may both fit on the bed. The floor is too dirty for even you to sleep on. It isn't ideal, but I'm not so cruel.'

Dorn huffed, as he watched me remove my armour, and lay next to him. 'Why do you want to escape so badly? Do you have a death wish? Or perhaps something even more morbid?'

'Not at all. I just can't seem to fit in anywhere. I figured you would understand.'

'Hardly.' Dorn sighed. Suddenly, his gaze intensified, and he frowned. 'I would give anything to just have normal, quiet life.'

'Well, with the threat of the dragons gone, why don't you? You don't have to be a hero anymore. You've saved us all.'

Dorn seemed to think on it for a moment, and rolled to his side to face me. 'Because it's expected of me. Even you are a prime example. You would not have come to me, were I not known for a life of adventure and heroism.' He sighed, narrowing his eyes. 'When you look at me, you see the dragonborn. A warrior. A brave individual who stares death in the face. Everyone sees that. They don't see a man, but something between a man and a dragon.'

Guilt washed over me then, because he right. I never saw him for just a man. He looked tired, more tired than he ever had before, and I meant to console him, but I couldn't find the words.

He took my hand in his and smiled then. 'Don't feel guilty. Everyone does. The trick is to show people I am more than just a weapon.'

'I suppose so,' I spoke carefully, unsure of if he would even remember this conversation in the morning. I decided to take advantage of his sleepiness. 'What did Ulfric say to you? Why would you ask me to leave, when we already decided I would stay?'

'Many reasons. He wants you to be safe. He still loves you I think. He also doesn't want people to know he has a half elf child, because of all people to lay with an elf, one would not expect Ulfric Stormcloak.' Dorn laughed. 'He also is afraid of how you would be treated by the other soldiers. And also… Because he believes I had other intentions. Knowing me well, he wouldn't allow me to spoil you, I guess. There are many reasons.'

I scrunched up my nose. 'And did you?'

'At first, I did. I guess I didn't expect you to be a decent fighter. But I can see now that you would be a good companion. You might even save my life,' he laughed wryly, and this conversation was clearly starting to bore him. His eyes fell shut, so I said goodnight to him. After a few moments, he opened his eyes again, and tapped me on my stomach.

'Don't let that go to your head though. You still have much to learn.'

'Do you promise not to send me away?'

'As long as you don't annoy me too much,' Dorn smiled sleepily, drifting back off into sleep. 'Thanks for trying to be something bright in my life. But tomorrow, we're going to work on your fighting skills. Just because you're sweet and all that, doesn't mean you are off the hook. You're lousy in hand to hand combat.'

'Charming as always, Dorn.'

Dorn laughed softly. 'I know.' He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me in as he sunk further into sleep. 'Rest up, little one.'

'Stop calling me that.' He felt like hot coals next to me. I wasn't used to sharing such a small space with someone. I pushed him away, and he rolled over to face the wall.

'Okay, little one,' he said, only half conscious.