The following two weeks passed mostly uneventfully, as Adara had barely had time to do anything else but train: just as Farkas promised, it became much harder and harder every day. She still spent most of her time with him, but by now, she practiced with the other Companions as well. She knew it was useful, but she didn't like at all when Vilkas gave her lessons; he had a tendency to be too blunt and mean, managing to take away all of her self-confidence within a few minutes. Beside Farkas, Adara loved the most to train with Aela. Even though the Huntress couldn't teach her anything new about archery, she still gave her good advices and useful tips. And the fact that she was kind and encouraging also helped a lot.

She bought herself a longbow and a quiver of steel tipped arrows. It wasn't anything special, not like the one she left in Winterhold. For a while she was thinking of sending a courier for it, but in times like these, she didn't want to risk it. Couriers had been robbed and killed for less nowadays.

Both Adara and Farkas thought a lot about the prophecy after that night, but none of them said anything—for different reasons. Farkas, because he sobered up and by the morning, it seemed stupid, absurd, probably just a crazy coincidence, and he spent days with trying to convince himself he was just too drunk. Why he should believe in something that was written centuries ago, a so-called prophecy that no one talked about before, and only a girl was trying to confirm it who had been raised by mages? No, that was just stupid.

Despite the fact Adara spent twelve years in the College of Winterhold, including those years when she was the most vulnerable and easily influenced, she was always careful and more sceptical than the others. Maybe that's why she never payed much attention to Farengar, when he talked about the prophecy to her. But after she saw a dragon with her own eyes, she quickly learned to change her point of view. Now every word in the prophecy was too scary, too menacing, and she wished she could talk to Farengar.

She went to search for him every day after she read the book; he still didn't return, but she didn't give up. By the end of the first week, the guards already informed her at the door that Court Mage wasn't there – she didn't even need to ask.

It had been weeks since he left, and she started to worry. Wherever he went, he should have been back by now. What if something went wrong? Did Balgruuf send anyone after him? He was his mage, after all. Adara just climbed out of the bed, deciding she will go to talk to him, when she heard a knock on the wooden door, and Ria peaked in,

"Morning. The Jarl's mage is looking for you."

"Farengar," she whispered, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Thank you, I'll be up in a minute," she said, and after Ria left, she quickly put on a pair of woollen stockings, a tunic, then hurried up to the hall. She realized, with a frown creasing her brows, that the mage was talking with Farkas.

"Where have you been?!"

Farengar startled at the girl's sudden outburst, but when he turned around, he was smiling. "It's a pleasure to see you too."

She hesitated, now she had a closer look at him. He looked exhausted with the dark circles under his red eyes, a half-healed cut on his left cheek. "Sorry. I was just looking for you—"

"Yes, the guards informed me you were very persistent," he said. "I hope it can wait, because, well… I was just telling to your friend here I would like to ask a favour."

As Adara merely frowned, Farengar went on. "You see, I was away trying to find some answers that would help a lot with my dragon-research."

Adara noticed he didn't mention he wasn't alone. "And did you and your friend find anything?"

The smile on Farengar's lips was faint this time. "Yes, a few. But we're stuck now, and I'd be more than happy if you could fetch something for me."

Adara narrowed her eyes, trying to understand him. Usually, he was more forthright about what he wanted. "And when you say fetch something…"

"I mean delve into a dangerous ruin in search for an ancient stone tablet that may or may not actually be there."

Before she got a chance to say anything, Farkas spoke up. "We're in."

"I beg your pardon?" Adara's eyes widened and she stared Farkas now, but he just shrugged, grinning.

"It's about time to practice out on the field, don't you think?"

She had to admit Farkas was right, even though she was still afraid to go out to Gods-know where, but this wasn't that concerned her the most at the moment. "But what an old piece of stone has to do with dragons?"

"Old piece of—"Farengar winced at the phrase, but he decided to let it go. He took a deep breath, then slowly released it. "It's called Dragonstone, and it's a map for dragon burial sites."

Farkas was rocking on the balls of his feet, clearly bored of this part of the conversation, but Adara stayed suspicious. "Why is that important?"

The Court Mage heaved a sigh. "Listen, I can't say more for a now—I will, I promise. But we need the map first."

Adara had so many questions to ask. Did he know what the last line of the prophecy mean? She was quite sure he did, or at least had some ideas, and she needed to know it too. And now, as she saw Farengar, she remembered something she almost forget it happened: the accident on the courtyard when she somehow pushed Farkas away with some kind of invisible force. She wanted to talk about it so desperately when it happened, but days passed, then weeks, and as it never happened again, it didn't look so important anymore. Until now, at least. But once again, she had something more important to do.

"So where's this Dragonstone?"

"Bleak Falls Barrow," Farengar nodded. "Your fellow Companion here could lead the way there."

Farengar left after he gave them an old, worn map about the place. They sat down by the table before Farkas said, "We can go tomorrow. It isn't far away, but we should get up early," his voice dropped, never sounding happy about the idea he need to be up before the sun. "Since I'll probably oversleep, just come into my room and wake me up."

Adara nodded with a smile on her lips, eyes still on the map. "Okay."

"Okay?" Farkas frowned, his dark eyes narrowed; she looked calmer about this than he expected. "Aren't you afraid? We're about to break into an ancient tomb."

"Are you joking?" Adara sounded as if Farkas just asked the stupidest question. "These places are full of history! I can't wait to see it."

After he let out a long breath, Farkas smiled. Even after more than a month, talking with her still felt like she was living inside a bubble. Sometimes it was amusing, but sometimes he just wasn't sure he should make the tiniest damage on that bubble.

"I really don't want to discourage you, but it's probably also full of draugrs," he said, and she finally looked up, her smile disappearing. "Don't worry, though. They aren't that hard to kill."

She spent the rest of the day outside with Aela in the woods nearby, hunting. It helped to clear her head and distract her thoughts; she didn't really want to think about undead Nordic warriors. They only returned to the city when the sun almost set down, and after a hearty dinner with roasted meat, fruits and cheese, Adara drifted to sleep quickly on that night.

Which was fortunate, as she needed to wake up early in the next morning. She rolled out of the bed, washed her face in cold water; before she took her leather armour on. She packed some healing potions too, knowing Farkas wouldn't be happy to see if she casted healing spells. Or any kind of spells. Once she was done, she stopped at her door, bow on her back, watching her bed for a few seconds in silence, before she went back and leaned above it. She quickly found what she was looking for: her father's necklace still hidden under her pillow. Without looking at it for too long, she put it around her neck, hiding the pendant under her clothes.

When a few seconds later she knocked on Farkas' door, she was genuinely surprised she got an answer.

"Come in."

How he managed to wake up so early by himself, it was a mystery. But Adara stepped into his room, eyebrows still raised, finding Farkas gathering his undergarments from the floor, naked like the day he was born.

Adara stared him for a couple seconds, speechless, before she spun around, facing with the door and blinking fast. "You are naked."

"Yes."

"Why did you say "Come in" while you are naked?"

"Because you knocked and I have nothing to hide," he replied, and even though Adara couldn't see his face, he could practically hear the grin behind his words.

"Okay," she nodded, clearing her throat. "I'll just wait outside."

She'd already open the door, but Farkas quickly said, "No, wait! I want to give something to you."

Adara turned around slowly, seeing with relief at least his lower half was covered now. He caught her eyes and said, "Not that. I mean, if you want it—"

"You are very… frisky in the morning."

"Always."

She chuckled, but turned around again. While he was taking his armour on, she was looking around in his room but didn't really see anything; the image of a naked Farkas etched itself into her brain too deeply. By the Nine, she'd never forget this. She couldn't help but watching him from the corner of her eyes from time to time, only hoping her cheeks weren't as flushed as she felt they were, or at least Farkas didn't notice it.

"What are you smiling at?"

Adara startled. "Nothing. It's just a very nice…" she said, trying to find something, anything, but she was standing in front of an almost empty small table. "Hagraven feathers. Did you kill hagravens?"

She looked up at him with innocent eyes, and Farkas chocked back a laugh at her poor attempt to lie. "Yeah, a few. Twisted creatures, you don't want to meet them."

He walked into the back of his room; there was a sword in its sheath, leaned against the stone wall. "I wanted to give this to you later, but considering you don't have a sword…"

Shocked by the fact he got something so valuable for her, Adara wasn't sure what she should say, but she didn't protest; not until she pulled the sword out of the sheath. She looked up at him, "Elvish work! Farkas, I can't—"

"Yes, you can. Don't worry, I have this for years and no one around here would use it."

Of course, because it was made by Elves, not Nords, Adara thought bitterly, but the bitterness passed within seconds as she made a few swings with her new sword. It was so easy to use it; she was in awe.

"I thought it'd be perfect for you. It's light. Too light, if you ask me. I couldn't wield it."

"Have you tried?" she asked, sheathing the weapon, before she buckled the sword belt around her waist.

"Yeah," Farkas said, and looked like he was thinking back about an old memory, then shrugged. "I accidentally throw it away."

Adara chuckled, before put a loose strand of hair behind her air. "I don't even know what to say. Thank you."

"That'll do," he nodded with a smile, but it faded away after her question.

"You said you had this for a long time. Where did you get it?" He didn't buy it, no; most Nords like Farkas would never spend money on weapons made by Elves.

"You never miss the details, do you?" Farkas sighed. "It was the boy's I trained before you."

Her lips slightly parted; she didn't expect this answer. She had to realize it soon that it was a sensitive topic; Farkas never talked about him. Until now, she didn't even know it was a him. He avoided her eyes, taking his black cloak on, scraping non-existent dirt off it. The question fell quietly out of her lips, "What happened with him?"

"He died."

Adara opened her mouth to ask how, but before the word could pass her lips, Farkas walked past her and opened the door. "We should go."


Reaching the foot of the mountain was smooth and easy – it wasn't far away from Whiterun, barely an hour of walk. The crisp morning air gently bit their cheeks; it was refreshing, and it helped to Farkas to wake up easier, too. For a while, they didn't talk about anything. Adara was still thinking of what he said about the boy (boy? how old was he?), and now she was anxious to know more, but she had to respect his decision. If he feels ready to talk about it, he surely will. At least, she hoped… She didn't always liked how secretive he was about some topics.

"What your name means?" she asked suddenly, trying to ease the awkward silence that settled between them. They walked through the wet grass and thick weeds. "I've never heard it before."

Farkas arched an eyebrow. "Are you such an expert of names?"

She shrugged. "Spend twelve boring years in the college and you'll be an expert in a lot of things."

He nodded with a smile, then started his story. "My father was the kind of Companion who travelled a lot, even outside of Skyrim," at this point, it didn't surprised Adara he referred Jergen as his father. "He went to a lot of places, learnt a lot of different languages… and there was this small group of people. I don't know who they are and where they live, I only know my father spent a lot of time with them. And that they were remarkably good archers," he said with a smile. "In their language, Farkas means wolf."

"Oh," Adara said, surprised. "Why did he choose that?"

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but he shrugged. "Who knows?"

They walked without a word for a while again. Adara broke the silence again. "Did you know wolves that mate stay together for life?" she asked with a smug smile, referring Farkas' not-so chaste lifestyle.

He laughed. "Yeah, I guess it wasn't the best choice of a name for me. But what about you? Adara isn't a very common name."

"I don't have any story behind it," she shrugged. "But I know the most common meaning is fire. At some part of Tamriel it means virgin."

"That is a very dangerous pairing."

Their walk up to the Bleak Falls Barrow wasn't any harder – they didn't meet any trouble on the way. Fresh snow cracked under their feet soon, and they knew they were close to the top of the mountain. It was windy up here – no trees or walls, just thick, white snow covering everything. Farkas' lycanthropy prevented him from getting cold easily, but it surprised him Adara took it so well too; she didn't even pull her cloak closer around her body when snow started falling.

"I grew up in Winterhold," she said after Farkas questioned her about it. "Believe it or not, being a mage isn't just about reading books and murmuring spells in a warm and comfortable castle."

"Yeah," Farkas shrugged, looking at her from only the corner of his eye. "It's also about blowing up that warm and comfortable castle and the whole city around it."

Adara heaved a long sigh. "Listen—"

"Wait," he shushed her suddenly, holding his arm out in front of her to make her stop. He didn't move, but his eyes were moving from side to side, like he was trying to concentrate on something. Adara looked up; she could see the top of the barrow just around the corner.

"Fuck," Farkas said, lowering his arm. "There're bandits up there. Two for sure, maybe three."

Adara's eyes widened; she wasn't sure she heard it right. "How could you possibly know that?"

Shit. Farkas get used to thinking out loud near to the Circle, but the whelps didn't know about their little secret. He swallowed hard, trying to think of some excuse, but then an arrow clipped on the tree next to him, inches from his head.

"Well, let's dance."

They climbed through the snow covered ruins, arrows still flying towards them. Adara held her bow in her hand. "I can't see them."

"Me neither. They're hiding behind the pill—"

A low grunt rumbled his chest and he staggered, an arrow stuck in his arm where the armour didn't cover his body.

"Are you okay?" Adara asked worriedly, though she didn't need to be worried at all; Farkas grabbed the arrow and pulled it out quickly, barely wincing in the process. He looked angry—no, he was furious.

With fast steps, he reached the top of the stairs quickly, while Adara stopped around the middle. She saw a man in mismatched armour, aiming at her with his bow and arrow, but she was quicker and before he'd realize, she shot an arrow through his palm. The pain made him scream and he dropped his weapon, drawing his sword out with his unharmed hand. Adara put his bow back on her back, then pulled her sword out from the sheath too, trying to ignore the way her arm was shaking.

It all happened fast. They reached each other soon and he attacked immediately, and even though he was a little clumsy with his left hand, Adara barely managed to block his hits. She felt her mind was blank, and she could think nothing of Farkas thought her. Everything just came from reflex.

She pierced his chest through the light armour, plunging all the way between two ribs, and Adara's eyes were wide. She pulled her sword out, the shiny golden blade now drenched with dark blood and the man before her collapsed. The expression on his face burned itself into her mind; it wasn't fear. He looked like he couldn't quite believe this was the end.

She still heard him choking on his own blood when Farkas stepped to her—he looked unharmed. Behind him, two dead bodies lied on the snowy ground. "Are you hurt?"

"No," Adara shook her head slowly, her voice hoarse.

"You're bleeding."

Now he mentioned it, she started to feel as something hot was slowly steaming down on her cold, rosy cheek. She wiped it away with the back of her hand. "Just a scratch."

Still trying to catch her breath, Adara avoided his dark eyes. He looked at the man on the ground again, still dying, before Farkas pierced his blade through his heart and ended his mystery. She looked away again.

"You've never killed a man before, have you?" Adara shook her head as a no, still finding hard to speak. "Well, you take it well. I threw up and almost fainted the first time."

She smiled a little, trying to ignore the fact she felt she could throw up any time, too. She didn't thought it would be so hard.

"Do you need a minute before we go inside?"

She cleaned her sword in the snow, trying to breathe in and out slowly. Gods no, she wasn't sure at all she could do this again.

"We can go."

The enormous doors opened and closed loudly; it was still echoing in the grand, open space when they walked further inside. A campfire burned at the other side of the room, along with some torches, giving an eerie light to the place. Rows of opened, empty tombs lied by the walls; above them, ancient Nordic carvings decorated the inside of the mountain. It looked beautiful and haunting at the same time, but at least it drifted Adara into a blissful oblivion for a while.

"The three bandits out there guarded the entrance," Farkas said, as they soon reached the little campfire. "There must be more of them."

Adara nodded and swallowed hard, before they continued their way down, deeper and deeper into the barrow. A few torches lit most of the chambers, so they didn't need to bring one with themselves. It was silent, still, yet their steps were slow and careful. One could never know what they might find in these chambers.

Except a few skeevers, they found no sign of life. Dead draugrs, dead bandits. They collected old jewels, gems and golds, but Adara's attention was more on the ancient runes and carved stones, though Farkas doubted she knew the meaning of any of them.

She was lost, staring the walls while Farkas followed her close. She didn't watch her feet and stepped right on a pressure plate, which activated a set of swinging blades. They were moving from one wall to another, and Adara's only luck was that Farkas was quick enough to pull her back. Otherwise, she'd walked right into them.

Still staring the blades, she released her breath that was stuck in her throat; Farkas' arms still wrapped around her protectively. Though he wouldn't admit it, it scared him to death as much as it scared her to death, too.

She slowly turned around, his arms finally falling off of her. "Thank you."

"Watch your steps. These traps are deadly," Farkas said. "And now you cut off our only way."

Adara walked closer again, trying to see through the swinging blades. "There's a handle on the other side."

Farkas heaved a sigh. "And how do you plan to reach it without getting cut in half?"

She bit down her lower lip. She could shot an arrow at it, but it wouldn't be powerful enough the move the handle away. She could only think of one thing.

"Close your eyes."

"Uhm… no."

"Please," she sighed. "I promise I'm not going to do anything stupid."

Despite of he liked her, Farkas wasn't sure blindly trusting her was a good idea. Yet with another sigh, he closed his eyes, and waited. "Last time I did this with someone, I got a kiss."

Adara rolled her eyes. "Would that shut you up?"

"Depends on where you'd kiss me."

And there was the mental image of naked Farkas in front of her inner eyes again. After a few, long breaths, she fought back her smile and tried to concentrate again. Farkas' eyes were still closed when she turned her back at him.

She reached her hand out, like she was reaching for the handle. Then grabbed the thin air, like she was grabbing the handle. Her arm was shaking, and it felt like she was lifting heavy rocks up from the ground, but a few seconds later the handle moved down, just as her own hand, and the blades stopped. Farkas' eyes fluttered open at the sudden silence.

"What did you do?"

She gave a small shrug. "I stopped them."

They walked through the narrow corridor in silence. As they left it, Farkas shook his head with a tiny smile, "Well, I have to admit you got some nerve. Even though we told you repeatedly that you can't do magic, you still don't give a shit."

She rolled her stormy blue eyes at him again. "That was the first time I've done anything since I'm with you."

Farkas decided he won't bring it up that other time right now. "Are you feeling alright? You look pale."

"Yeah," she nodded. "Telekinesis was never my favourite. It draws out too much energy, you know? I feel like I'm being at two places at once."

Farkas winced. No, he didn't know, and he didn't even want to know. But then, they heard a blood-curdling scream from the distance. They exchanged a quick glance before they hurried down on a few stairs, through a long corridor, then into another room, but Farkas quickly turned on his heels and left the chamber before Adara even had a chance to follow him.

"Oh, no, no no," he panted. "No way."

She frowned and looked at the entrance at the room. They still heard as someone was shouting for help. "What is it?"

Farkas looked his feet, pacing up and down.

"What is it?!" Adara repeated loudly, and now she started to panic, too.

He stopped. His head was red and his heart racing as he cleared his throat. "There's a spider."

After a few seconds of silence, Adara burst out into a loud laugh. Then, seeing Farkas' dead serious face, she stopped. "Wait, are you… you're joking, right?"

Since she got no answer, Adara peaked into the room and there it was indeed, a giant spider. She stepped back. "You're afraid of spiders?"

Farkas let out an annoyed sigh. "Everybody is afraid of something, okay? Now let's go and kill that beast."

Adara shot an arrow somewhere between its eight eyes. It gave a loud, ear-splitting screech, but didn't stop it from attacking them.

"Oh, shit," Farkas said under his breath, sweating and shaking while he cut one of its legs off. "That's good," he said, than shouted to Adara. "Try to cut its legs off!"

They were attacking it from both side, trying to wound the creature as much as they could while it was kept turning around, until Adara found herself pushed against a wall. She saw venom was dripping from its fangs, and she barely managed to crouch down before it would bite her. She got under the spider and before it could move away, she stuck his sword into its abdomen. Another screech, and Farkas pulled her out from under the spider before it would collapse on top of her.

"Are you okay?" he asked, out of breath.

"Hey, cut me down!"

Only now they saw a Dunmer, hanging off the wall, bounded in webs at the door. Farkas walked closer suspiciously. Judging by his clothes, he was either a bandit or a thief.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

The Dunmer sighed. "Just cut me off please. I mean no harm."

Farkas hesitated a bit, but cut the elf out of the spider web with a knife. He fell on the ground, and as he did, a golden claw rolled out of his bag. He looked up for a second; they all froze as their eyes met, then quickly grabbed the claw and scurried away.

"Hey—stop!" Farkas shouted at him while they run after the thief. "Shot an arrow at him!"

Adara gave him an angry look. She isn't going to kill him just because he wanted to run away from them. But the golden claw was a key, and she knew they needed it…

She aimed, and shot an arrow through his thigh. The dark elf fell on the ground with a shout, hands on his injured leg.

Farkas stepped on his chest with one leg, while Adara crouched down next to him as they reached him. "Give me the claw, promise you'll leave, and I'll heal your leg."

Farkas sighed. "Seriously? He's a thief. He'd happily give both of his legs for some gold."

"I just wanted the treasure," the Dunmer cried in pain, then dropped the bag with the claw closer to them. "Here. Now let me go. I can heal myself."

Just as he promised, after he casted a healing spell, he left. Farkas shook his head as they continued their way. "You're being too generous."

"Maybe. But I won't kill anyone without any good reason."

They fastened their steps on the rest of the way. They were deep in the mountain now, and they met more and more draugrs, too. As Farkas said, they were really easy to kill; in fact, it was a good practice for Adara. They were slow and weak.

A loud gasp left Adara's lips when they stepped into the Hall of Stories. She went closer to examine every one of the carvings on the walls; they were all so detailed. "This is amazing."

"Yeah, now tell me how we open this."

Adara walked to the circle puzzle door and stopped next to Farkas. She watched the symbols, then went back to the other side of the room, watching the cravings again.

"See the first one? It tells the story of Tsun. He usually represented by a bear," she said, then walked back to the door to switch the ring to the bear symbol.

"And this one is Dibella. Goddess of beauty and love. She's represented by a moth. And the last," she said, examining this one a little longer, "Julianos. The owl."

She turned the other two rings, then took the golden claw out of Farkas' hand, who still looked stunned.

"Wait, wait, wait. Are you sure about this?"

Adara furrowed her brows. "Yeah? That's obvious."

She put the claw into the holes and turned it around a little; it gave some loud noises, before it slowly stared to slide down. She looked at Farkas, smiling.

"Honestly, you're scary."

She laughed, but walked down with Farkas on a few stairs, which lead into a huge cave. Despite of the few tombs there, it looked beautiful with the waterfall, natural light that came from above, and… a Word Wall?

One more thing Adara thought it was only a legend, but now she was walking closer to it, and it stood there. She recognized the runes, it was dohvazul—she saw it in some books, but unfortunately, she couldn't read it.

"What is it?"

"What?" Farkas asked, and walked next to her. They looked at the same thing, but while he only saw ancient runes carved into a stone wall, for Adara, one of the words was gleaming with a blunt, blue light. Suddenly, she was sure what that word meant. Fus. Force. She felt dizzy for a few seconds, then the light disappeared, and in the next second, everything went black.

Adara wasn't sure she was out for a minute or for days, but when she opened her eyes, Farkas was fighting with a draugr. Clearly, it was much harder to deal with, but by the time Adara managed to sit up, her vision still blurry, the draugr lied dead on the ground.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Farkas asked as he went closer to her, sitting down next to her on the cold, dusty stone.

Adara shook her head. "I'm okay, but I'm not sure what happened," she drank some water from her waterskin, then leaned her back against the Word Wall. "What about the map?"

"It's in that tomb," he nodded his head towards the ornate grave. "Do you think you can walk?"

She nodded. "Yeah, just give me a minute." She closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath and collecting her thoughts. What the hell just happened?

Meanwhile, Farkas watched her. First in worry, but then he saw something that made him curious. He remembered right; Adara acted like she knew nothing about the Thieves Guild. So what she was doing now with a Shadow Mark around her neck? Oh, we're going to talk about this later.

"Come on," he said, helping up on her feet. "Get that stone and let's get out of here."

Farkas grabbed the Dragonstone and soon, finally, they stepped out into the fresh air. The bright light of the setting sun hurt their eyes, yet they were never been happier to see it.