A few hours went by and Farkas opened the door of Cyrena's room to check on her, finding her passed out-furs piled around her and Pumpkin curled up by her head. When Pumpkin saw Farkas coming to the bedside, he stood and stretched before hopping down from the bed- knowing Farkas would keep an eye on her. Farkas watched as the fox trotted out of the bedroom and lay down by the fire.

"He worries nearly as much as you do."

Farkas looked down at Cyrena as she gazed up at him. "Someone has to if you don't let anyone else close."

Cyrena looked away, turning on her side and facing away from him. "It's better this way, Farkas..."

"Is it?"

Cyrena sighed, wondering how she could make him understand. "The last time I let someone close, they nearly died because of me..."

"But they didn't, did they?"

Cyrena sat up and turned to face him. "They were inching away from taking their last breath, Farkas! Whether they died or not is besides the point!"

Farkas leaned closer to her, trying to egg her on. "And what is the point?"

Cyrena leaned closer to him and her eyes narrowed as she stopped mere breaths away from his face. "The point is that I refuse to allow someone else to get hurt or die as a result of my carelessness."

Farkas smirked, closing the distance between them and kissing her.

Cyrena's eyes widened and she sat back, reaching up to touch her lips. "What are you-"

"You shouldn't worry so much." Farkas chuckled, reaching up to cup her chin in his grasp. "You have friends and people who care about you, of course they're going to worry." He leaned in closer. "Besides, whether you like it or not, I have a debt I owe to you for saving my life twice now. I'm afraid you're stuck with me, Cyrena." He chuckled seeing her flustered cheeks. "Got you to think about something else now, didn't I?"

Cyrena grabbed a pillow and tossed it at him, turning away from him as he started laughing. "How can you be so light hearted in a situation like this?"

Farkas set the pillow down and looked at her. "I know things are going to be dangerous with these people around, but I look at the bright side of things."

Cyrena glanced at him when he said that. "Oh? And what might that be?"

Farkas leaned forward, grasping chin in his hand. "I get to spend more time with you."

Cyrena's cheeks burned, nearly as red as the clothes she usually wore. She averted her gaze, if only for a moment, then suddenly she sensed her atronachs disappearing one by one. She leaped out of bed and peeked through the window, seeing the moonlight catch against something shiny and green as emeralds.

"What is it?"

"They found me."

Farkas watched as she hurried to get dressed and stood. "What do you need me to do?"

"Gather enough supplies- food and water- to last a few days and be ready to leave as soon as you can."

Farkas nodded, hurrying to do as he was told.

Cyrena got dressed, grabbed her staff and hurried to her stores of herbs and medicines. Packing what she could, including bandages and her mortal and pestle, she pulled her cloak on and signaled Pumpkin to climb onto her shoulders. She looked at Farkas as he came out of the room with his pack, his greatsword, and their other supplies. "We need to hurry. This way."

Farkas followed her to the spare bedroom, watching her reach above the wardrobe and heard a click as she pressed the hidden release. Cyrena pulled the wardrobe forward, revealing a hidden passageway that led down into a tunnel. She urged him into the passageway, then hurried to pull the wardrobe closed- sealing them inside.

"We have to hurry. The barrier won't hold much longer."

Farkas nodded, following her down the stairs and through the tunnel. "Where does this lead?"

"It goes all the way through to Falkreath Hold. We'll come out at South Brittleshin Pass."

"You had this ready just in case they found you?"

Cyrena nodded. "I knew it would happen at some point. It took nearly a year to make, and luckily I was able to enlist the help of some of the residents of Riverwood."

Farkas watched as the torches lining the tunnel lit as they passed by, extinguishing once they had passed four. "You enchanted the torches, too?"

Cyrena nodded. "I wanted to make sure that if they found this passageway, they couldn't see a damn thing. I also have other safeguards that will activate if they reach a certain point." She pointed to the several fire runes placed strategically throughout the tunnel.

"How long before we reach the pass?"

"A few hours." Cyrena replied, then stopped for a moment as she sensed her barrier collapse. "We need to hurry, they destroyed the barrier."

When they reached the South Brittleshin Pass exit, they were relieved that the Emerald Hunters hadn't found them. At least, not yet.

"Cyrena, we should head back to Whiterun." Farkas said as they travelled through the pass to the northern entrance.

"I can't, Farkas..." Cyrena said, her brow furrowed. "I can't risk putting everyone in danger..."

Farkas turned to her. "You could become a member of the Companions, have the protection that comes with it. You wouldn't have to run any more."

Cyrena stopped, looking at him. "And do what? Put everyone there in danger? Do you really think that the Emerald Hunters would stop hunting me just because I have an affiliation to my name rather than living in seclusion as a loner mage?"

"Even if they didn't, you would have the entirety of the Companions at your back and ready to defend you." Farkas stepped closer to her, looking down at her. "Vilkas and Aela owe you their lives too, Cyrena. They wish to repay that debt to you as much as I do." He lifted her chin up. "Why won't you let us help you? Why won't you let me help you?"

Cyrena met his gaze for a moment before looking away and taking the lead once more. "Because I don't want you to get hurt because of me. I could never forgive myself if something were to happen to you."

"Then what do you suggest? I don't see another way, Cyrena. You can't keep running forever."

Cyrena stopped, thinking for a moment or two and realized he was right. She sighed, looking at Farkas over her shoulder. "Perhaps you're right... Let's go to Whiterun..."

"Vilkas, Farkas is back."

Vilkas hurried upstairs and into the main room of the mead hall, seeing Farkas and Cyrena waiting. "You're both safe."

Farkas looked at Cyrena, who refused to meet anyone's gaze. "They found her cabin. We managed to escape before they could find her, doubling back to make sure they didn't catch up to us."

"I'm glad to see you both here. We received word from Riverwood that Cyrena's cabin had been burned down."

Cyrena looked up at that, her brow furrowed with worry. "The apple trees?"

Vilkas shook his head. "I'm sorry, but everything was destroyed."

Cyrena's eyes teared up and she looked away. "Then I have nothing left of them... Excuse me..."

Farkas watched as Cyrena hurried outside, going into the training yard. He looked at his brother and sighed. "Isn't there anything we can do to help her?"

"If she joins the Companions, she would be protected. The Emerald Hunters only go after mages that are not affiliated with anyone- be it as a College mage or a court mage. If she stopped using her magik altogether, she could hide within our ranks as well- at least until things blow over."

"She's more afraid of us being put in danger because of her, though."

Aela stepped in at that point. "Cyrena saved our lives. We would put our lives on the line for her if it meant repaying her that debt. And the others would follow."

"I know that, but still..." Farkas sighed, rubbing his neck. "Whatever she decides, I won't leave her alone again."

Aela and Vilkas watched as Farkas went after Cyrena, disappearing into the training yard.

"Could we really accept a mage into our ranks, Vilkas? We don't use magik, not even enchanted weapons. We never have."

Vilkas sighed. "I know." He thought for a moment. "I have an idea. Could you watch over things while I'm gone?"

Aela nodded. "Of course, but where are you going?"

"To see Vignar. Maybe he can help."

Out in the training yard, Cyrena stood looking up at the sky and barely acknowledged Farkas as he joined her.

"Vilkas believes that the Emerald Hunters won't come after you if you become a member of the Companions. Even if you don't decide to officially join, you could hide amongst our ranks if you stopped using your magik altogether."

"I can't do that. Magik is part of who I am. It'd be like asking you to put down your blade for the rest of your days and never use it or any other again."

"Cyrena, we owe you our lives. We would lay them down on the line for you to repay that debt. Could it really be so bad if you just let someone help you?"

Cyrena sighed, drying her eyes. "I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me. Not ever again."

Farkas stepped in front of her and looked down, meeting her gaze. "Listen to me: people get hurt, people die. It's a part of life. You can't keep running forever, but what you can do is stand and fight to be free of those that would hunt you down like a dog and you could let those who care about you help you along the way." He reached up to touch her cheek. "Let us help you, Cyrena. Let me help you."

Cyrena held his gaze as she pondered what he said. "Why would you go through so much just to help me?"

"Aside from a debt I owe?" Farkas chuckled, leaning closer. "It's because I find myself drawn to you in ways that I've never felt before with a woman. You intrigue me and I admire you. You're so worried and sad that I want to make it better. I want to see the same beautiful, happy, mysterious woman that I've come to admire and adore again, and I will do whatever I can to make that happen."

"Farkas..." Cyrena searched his eyes for a moment, then wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you."

"Farkas, Cyrena."

They looked up as Aela hurried over to them.

"What is it?"

"Vilkas went to speak with the jarl and they may have come up with a way to help Cyrena." Aela explained. "But they need to see you right away to discuss it with you."

Farkas looked down at Cyrena. "It'll be OK."

Cyrena nodded, taking Farkas' hand when he offered it to her and let him lead her off towards Dragonsreach. 'What could they have come up with?'