A.N. Alright people we're finally getting to the good stuff. As usual I don't own anything but a ps4, any words in bold is dragon tongue italics are elvish and I cannot stress enough that you check out Lullaby for a stormy night on what ever it is you listen to music on, it is so calming. Enjoy.
Katrine not usually one to be cowed by a stare met the old man's gaze impassively, though on the inside her thoughts were running rampant, how did he know she was the Dragonborn, was it the strange sense of power that she felt coming of him that stirred something deep inside her as the wall in Bleakfall's had. But there were more important answers to be had.
"You call me Dragonborn, what does that mean?" she asked.
"First let us see if you truly are Dragonborn, let us taste of your voice,"
Us, thought Katrine, she glanced behind the man and noticed several other men in the same hooded grey robes, they must have come in while we were talking.
She turned back to the man standing in front of her "Let me get this clear you want me to shout at you? Because I have seen healthy young men fly back from being hit, only when they have given me no other option of course," Katrine knew of the Grey beards vow of non violence and couldn't imagine they would approve of her use of the voice. The old man chuckled "Yes, but they were not trained in the voice, I am, I would be surprised if your th'um could even cause me to stumble,"
That made sense, sort of, thought Katrine "Alright, FUS!" her shout echoed around the ancient hall and Annika, Anwen, Lydia and Tomas all had to cover their ears, the Grey beards however barely flinched at the sound. The Grey beard that was hit stumbled slightly.
"Dragonborn, it is you, welcome to High Hrothgar, I am Master Arngeir, I speak for the Grey beards,"
Katrine stepped forward to clasp his hand in greeting. "I am Katrine Kvatch, this is my mother Annika Hanson, My older brother Tomas Kvatch, my fathers wife sorry I mean widow Anwen Kvatch of house Laurë," Katrine continued on pretending she didn't see Anwen flinch at the word widow, but felt immensely guilty, "My housecarl and friend Lydia and lastly Oddok,"
"I am sorry to you all for your loss, judging from your slip up it was recent," said Arngeir in a comforting voice.
"Very," said Anwen heavily.
Arngeir turned back to Katrine, perhaps deciding it was to painful a subject to continue with.
"Tell me Dragonborn, why have you and your family come here?"
"I want to know what it means to be Dragonborn and my family wants to know what it would mean for my future," answered Katrine.
"Unfortunately we cannot say what your future will bring, challenges certainly, hard decisions most definitely, but rest assured that the Gods would not have lead you to this path if they did not think you capable of walking it, as to what it means to be Dragonborn, we are here to guide you in that pursuit, just as the Grey beards have sought to guide those of the dragon blood that have come before you," explained Arngeir.
"Am I the only one?" asked Katrine, wondering about her brother, surely if she was of dragon blood he should be also.
Arngeir seemed to know where Katrine's thoughts were, for he glanced at Tomas as if sizing him up. "You are not the first, there has been many since Akatosh first bestowed the gift on mortal kind, whether you are the only Dragonborn of this era, we cannot see," He shook his head as if to clear it.
"We are honoured to welcome a Dragonborn to High Hrothgar, we will do our best to teach you how to use your gift in fulfillment of your destiny," "What is my destiny?" asked Katrine. "That is for you to discover, we can show you the way but not the destination,"
Katrine took a deep breath "I am ready to learn,"
Arngeir nodded and bade them to follow "You have shown that you are Dragonborn, that you have the inborn gift, but do you have the discipline and temperament to follow the path laid out for you? Well that remains to be seen, as I believe the Grey beards have never had a student as young as you appear to be," he paused and looked at Katrine for confirmation.
"Oh I will be Fifteen winters next Second seed," said Katrine.
Arngeir nodded "However without proper training you have already taken the first steps to project your voice into a thu'um, a shout," he stopped standing next to another Grey beard.
"Now let us see if you are willing and able to learn, when you shout you speak in the language of the dragons, thus your blood gives you an inborn ability to learn words of power," Arngeir explained.
"Is that what this is?" asked Annika, speaking for the first time in the presence of the Grey beards, as she passed the man a copy of the lettering that had defied translation.
"Where did you get this?" Arngeir asked, staring down at Annika's writing with fascination.
"I went into Bleakfall's Barrow, there was a large wall with markings carved into it," explained Katrine "As I looked at it the carvings changed into that lettering, but only to my eyes, the people with me still saw only carvings,"
"Interesting, yes this is what the dragon language looks like if written in the common tongue lettering," said Arngeir as he handed Annika back her journal "I will begin to teach you how to translate it into the common tongue tomorrow, but back to what I was saying, all shouts are made up of three words of power, as you master each word your shout will become progressively stronger," Arngeir explained. "Master Einarth will now teach you RO! The second word in the unrelenting force shout," he said gesturing to the man beside him "RO! Means balance in the dragon tongue, combined with FUS! Force to focus you th'um more sharply,"
Master Einarth stepped forward and whispered out "Ro!"
Where the force of the word hit a set of carvings appeared etched into the ground. Katrine stepped forward to peer at the carvings as she did the carvings morphed into the same lettering as what happened at the barrow.
She turned to her brother who was staring down at the carvings, apprehension clear on his face "What do you see?" She asked him. He answered with "Strange carvings," was that relief in his voice, "What do you see sister?"
She turned back to the letting that seemed to pulse with energy "Letters, a word RO!" As soon as she said the word the energy shot out and enveloped her, as it was absorbed into her she felt the word echo around her head, the meaning however felt just out of reach.
Master Arngeir looked astounded "You learn a new word like a master, you truly have the gift, but learning a new word is only the first step, you must unlock its meaning through constant practice to use it in a shout," he paused, then chuckled "Well that is how the rest of us learn shouts, as Dragonborn you can absorb a slain dragon's life force and knowledge directly, as part of your initiation Master Einarth will allow you to tap into his understanding of the word RO,"
Katrine turned to face the man in question, he gave her a short bow, as he did a wave of energy shot out of him and into her. It was like the word had been locked inside her head and as the energy hit her it unlocked, just as it was with Mirmulnir, however instead of getting a lifetime of memories she only got a selected portion of the Grey beard learning RO.
Katrine looked behind her to see how her family was handling things. Tomas looked confused, Lydia looked awestruck, Anwen looked concerned and her mother looked like she was trying to solve a particularly difficult puzzle.
She turned back to Master Arngeir who was studying her, perhaps looking for any side effects. "Now let how quickly you master a new thu'um," he led her over into the middle of the room, gesturing the others to stay back. "Hit the targets as they appear,"
One of the other Grey beards stepped forward and whispered a shout and what looked like a ghost of a Grey beard appeared in front of her. Katrine took a breath "FUS RO!" The shout hit the spectre casing it to dissipate, as well as hitting two clay pots and smashing them to pieces.
Katrine quickly turned to Master Arngeir "Sorry," He merely chuckled "Don't worry, we really thought to move those before this exercise, now let's see that again," he nodded at Master Einarth who called forth another spectre.
"FUS RO!" shouted Katrine causing the spectre to dissipate again.
Master Arngeir nodded "Excellent, once more,"
Katrine hit the finale ghost and turned back to Master Arngeir, she was feeling rather drained at it must have shown on her face because Master Arngeir said "I think that is enough for today, it would not be good to stain your magicka,"
He led her over to some woven mats and sat down, gesturing for her to do the same. "The last thing I have to teach you today is a technique called meditation, it has several uses, it calms the mind and magicka, Moth priests use it in preparation before reading the Elder scrolls, some mages use it to scry and the Akaviri used it to sharpen there focus before a battle," he explained. "Now close your eyes, free your mind of thought," he instructed.
"How do I do that?"
It was Annika who answered her question "Try to focus on your breathing, feel how you chest expands as you take each breath and count them inside your head,"
They continued the meditation exercise for half an hour before they stopped to convene in a dinning area for a meager supper of bread, cheese and dried fish.
While they sate they where introduced to the other members of the Grey beards, Bori and Wulfgar, as well as being told about their leader Master Paathurnax, who lived in seclusion at the top of the mountain. When Katrine asked if she was to meet him Arngeir explained that "her voice was not strong enough to open the way yet," she was slightly relived that she would not have to climb higher up the mountain, she briefly wondered if it was the same Paathurnax who taught men to shout in the first place but she quickly dismissed the idea.
They also told the Grey beards of what had occurred between the Thalmor, the Imperials and Katrine, as well as why. Master Arngeir took it in his stride as an explanation as to why the Dragonblood was so strong in Katrine.
After that conversation turned to Katrine's training with they Grey beards. "We have never trained anyone as young as Katrine, the youngest was in fact Talos, some of our histories put him as young as sixteen winter," said Master Arngeir.
"But if you could estimate how long it would take to train her?" Annika asked.
Arngeir stroked his beard thoughtfully "Sometime after her Fifteenth, certainly after she takes the trials of course, after that when we feel she is ready we will set a task to test her voice but I don't see it taking longer than a year,"
"What will my training entail?" asked Katrine.
"The day will begin with meditation, followed by breakfast, then we will begin with teaching you the language of the dragons, it will be a good base for you to have as it is easier to have an understanding of the words of power when you know how they fit into everyday language. Then we will break for a midday meal, we then do voice training until evening meditation which is followed by an evening meal," Arngeir explained.
Lydia leant forward "Might I make a suggestion Master Arngeir?" Arngeir nodded. "Katrine has recently begun receiving training in combat, perhaps some time could be put aside for me to continue training her?"
Arngeir scratched at his beard "High Hrothgar is a place of peace, to spill blood on it is sacrilege to Kynareth, however in light of what has occurred training is a good idea, an hour after breakfast can be put aside,"
"What happens if someone attacks High Hrothgar, if blood can't be spilt?" asked Katrine already knowing that it was considered a sin by the Nords to draw woman's blood on Kyne's sacred mountain, but she was never told what would happen if it did occur.
"THU'UM NI BO SOS," Master Bori said in a whisper but his voice made the walls and ceiling tremble.
Katrine and her family looked from him to Master Arngeir, stunned.
"He said that the thu'um doesn't spill blood,"
After the meal Master Arngeir took Annika, Anwen and Tomas to a side building that had once been a sleeping dormitory when there had been more Grey beards, where they could sleep while Katrine went with the other Grey beards to begin meditation, with Lydia and Oddok following behind her.
Katrine, as someone who would be training amongst the Grey beards would sleep in the dormitory that they slept in, Lydia insisted on staying with her even if she had to sleep on a bed roll on the floor, a however cot was provided.
The first few days of training with the Grey beards were some of the most mentally challenging Katrine had ever had, and would ever have. Learning Dovah Zul was difficult, not only did Arngeir teach her the language using the Cyrodilic alphabet, he also had her learn the runic alphabet of the Dov, which made Annika happy as it meant she would be able to translate the writing as well.
The voice practice consisted of shouting from the end of midday meal till evening meal, with Katrine having to take breaks every so often, though the time it took her to recover decreased with every session, it didn't stop her feeling drained afterwards.
Tomas had managed to keep himself busy, Katrine had worried about that in vain, as it turned out that while she had been talking to Klimmek he had been in a conversation with the woman who ran the mill and had gotten work cutting wood, as well as doing some odd things in the surrounding area. One particular day he told her about a man who invented a potion to make himself look like a ghost another when he tracked down the remains of a beggar's sister and had to be the one to deliver the bad news.
Annika was in her element working with Arngeir learning Dov and begun to translate the writing from Bleakfall's Barrow, when not doing that she was working on putting together a dictionary of common tongue to Dov, including the runic letters, she had also helped Lydia teach Katrine a form of stylised unarmed combat she called tsunkatse.
Anwen had the most difficult task of everyone, managing Adrian's will, involving putting the house in Bruma in lockdown, fixing up Lakeview as the Thalmor had ransacked the place before they had managed to get guards hired, that was handled by the steward of Falkreath through correspondence, as well as actually hiring some guardsmen.
As the weeks went on Katrine kept up her correspondence with Ulfric, still not letting on she was Dragonborn, instead using the excuse that she was staying with friends, which was true in a sense. She had an easy mutual respect with Arngeir, the other Grey beards seemed to like her as well though she could not be completely sure as the never really said a word, but they would always smile at her and they always looked pleased when she greeted them in her rapidly improving Dovah Zul.
"I think I have it," she said to Arngeir one morning, a little over a month of being at High Hrothgar. She had been working on translating the writing from Bleakfall's Barrow that day, Annika had already translated it but refused to give her the translation stating that it would be cheating.
"Read it to me," said Arngeir, His blue eyes twinkling.
"Here lies the guardian, keeper of the Dragon stone and a force of eternal rage and darkness," Katrine read off of the paper.
"Very good, a literal translation and you said that came from Bleakfall's Barrow, from reading the wall there," Katrine nodded then asked "Are there more walls like that one or will I have to learn other words of power from you?"
"I have been wondering that myself, there are in fact many word walls scattered across Skyrim. Finding them will be difficult as their location has been lost to time but I think I may know a way to find them, we will discuss this more after voice practice,"
That evening as they gathered for meditation Arngeir had them rearrange the mats so that Katrine was in the middle of the hall and the Grey beards were arranged around her in a circle, with the others watching on in interest.
"Now Katrine today as you meditate today let you mind wander on to the task at hand and let your ears listen for the whisper of a word, we will try to guide you, but be prepared, you may revive a vision of where the word is located and this can be quite overwhelming, knowing this are you sure you wish to continue?" asked Arngeir.
Katrine nodded, Annika gave a whimper from the side of the room, Katrine looked over to her, she had a concerned look on her face, Katrine gave her a comforting smile, then settled down on to the mat.
She started her breathing rhythm, then thought about the wall from the barrow, she remembered the feeling of the power radiating off of it. She focused on that feeling and listened.
At first there was nothing, then she heard something that sounded like the wind whispering to her, she focused on that sound and a series of images flashed before her eyes, a shield with the image of crossed daggers, a small mining village, a mountain, the word wall and a burst of fire.
She opened her eyes with a gasp, at once everyone was next to her.
"Are you alright?" asked Annika, her voice thick with concern.
"I- I think so," said Katrine shakily, she had never felt so tired.
"What did you see?" asked Arngeir.
"A mountain in the Rift, near Shor's stone. North wind summit, it is being guarded by a dragon," she told them. Her brother looked like New life festival had come early.
"A dragon, fantastic I missed out on fighting the last one," he said. Annika and Anwen looked at him like he had gone insane.
"You are not going to fight a dragon," said Anwen firmly.
"Why not? Katrine got to,"
"Katrine had help from Aela and the guards," Lydia reminded him.
"So I'm not saying we go alone, we send a letter to the Companions, we meet up at this mountain, we kill the dragon, Katrine takes its soul and learns the word and that's the end of it,"
"No! Katrine is most definitely not going near another dragon!" said Annika with force.
As this conversation was taking place Katrine was desperately trying to stay awake, though speaking up was too grater task for her at that moment. Oddok padded over to her and placed his head in her lap and gave a low whine, an act that didn't go unnoticed by Anwen, who grabbed Annika gently by the arm.
"I think perhaps this conversation could be continued after Katrine has rested," said Anwen indicating her head in Katrine's direction.
Katrine who, at that state had slipped into a semi conscious state had enough energy to protest weakly "But I am not tired," before she felt herself be lifted up and carried to bed.
She was standing at the peak of a mountain, waiting. Waiting for what she did not know, the from behind her the sky went dark and she whipped around and was faced with the dragon from Helgan. It opened its mouth and flames shot out to engulf her.
She sat up in bed, breathing violently. Lydia shot up in the cot beside her.
"Are you alright Katrine? " she asked concerned.
Katrine nodded, managing to calm her breathing "Just a bad dream, how long was I asleep for?"
Lydia looked over to a window, where the sky was visibly lightening.
"It's just before dawn, so all night,"
Katrine leapt out of bed, then stumbled feeling a little light headed. Lydia jumped up and grabbed onto Katrine's arms to help steady her.
"I am fine," she reassured her "What happened after I fell asleep," she vaguely remembered her brother being eager for the fight, her mother being concerned and Anwen trying to play peace keeper. The more things change.
After we helped you to bed, I believe Anwen and Annika continued the discussion, Tomas went to bed," said Lydia handing Katrine a stamina potion. "Annika insisted you drink this when you woke up,"
After downing the potion and grabbing a slice of bread and cheese they made there way over to where the others had been staying, where they found Tomas wolfing down a bowl of stew.
He looked up as they entered and smiled. "Morning sister, how are you feeling?"
"I feel better, where is Mama and Anwen, did anything get set in stone?" Katrine asked.
Tomas smiled "I believe that Anwen managed to convince Annika to seek help from the Companions and they are currently curled up in bed," he said indicating to a side door.
Katrine walked over to the door and knocked.
"Who is it?" Annika's voice called out, slightly muffled by the door.
"It is the world eater," said Katrine sarcastically "Honestly Mama what are you still doing in bed it is coming up to dawn,"
"Give us time to get dressed," Annika called back.
A few moments later they were sat down at the large table where they shared meals with the Grey beards.
Annika took a big breath of air before firmly stating "I would like it known that I do not like this plan or even agree with it and if it were up to me we would be on our way to Lakeview tomorrow," she took another calming breath before continuing with "However that is impossible at this time and I have been made to see that this is the only option for you to be safe, as such I will be sending a message to Kodlak for the Companions help,"
Katrine gave her a comforting smile and reached forward and grasped her hand "I will be fine Mama, I have fought one before, I know how to do this, you need not worry,"
Annika just looked at her for a moment, and Katrine thought it is if she is seeing someone else, then the older blonde got up and enveloped her daughter in a hug. "My Omega, you are my daughter and I will be worrying about you till I draw my last breath.
It was a few days later before they had received word from the Companions, Annika read the letter at the evening meal.
'Annika, I am sending Aela, Skjor, Farkas and Vilkas to assist you. They will be at the entrance to North wind summit in three days time baring any interruptions. My love and best wishes to you all, Kodlak.'
That evening they spent getting everything together, as they planned to leave the next morning, nerves racked Katrine, though she tried not to show it. Despite what she told her mother she wasn't entirely sure her victory against Mulmulnir wasn't pure luck.
Just before Katrine went to bed that night Arngeir took her outside so that they could pray to Kynareth for guidance and to ask for protection. He also gave her an amulet of said Goddess to watch over her.
They left the next morning after a meditation session with a blessing from Arngeir "Sky guard you,"
The journey took them two and a half days and throughout the trip Katrine could clearly see the agitation grow on her mother's face the closer they got to the cave, it was almost a relief as they set up camp just outside the entrance.
As the morning gaze of Magnus broke on their camp Katrine and Lydia kept themselves busy practicing with bows, Tomas was sharpening his sword and Anwen and Annika were going over every reference in their compiled notes on dragons when they heard the sounds that signified a group approaching them.
Katrine who had just notched an arrow whipped around and shot off the arrow that flew over the newcomers heads by quite a bit. Vilkas sniggered "Your aim has gotten worse since you left," Katrine just smirked. "Has it?"
An apple dropped from the tree above them and hit Vilkas squarely on the head. He stooped down to pick it up, in the centre was Katrine's arrow. "Funny kid, very funny," he said as he handed her the arrow lodged apple. She removed the arrow from apple and took a smug bite.
As they shared a morning meal they discussed how to bring the beast down to the ground, which was causing some argument between Skjor and Annika and Anwen. "If you think that Anwen and I are going to just sit hear while our children go traipsing through an unstable mine then fight a giant flying fire breathing lizard you have another thing coming," said Annika drawing herself to her full height, which put her taller then Skjor Katrine noticed, she also seemed to puff up with anger and her voice sounded so cold Katrine was surprised no one got frostbite.
So they left Oddok guarding the campsite with a few shock runes placed down by Anwen, Katrine paid close attention to how that was done and made a mental note to ask how that worked.
The trip through the mine was fairly uneventful save for a couple of skeletons and Tomas almost setting off a trip wire, luckily Annika had seen it and pulled him back.
As they exited the mine they saw scorch marks on the ground, buildings that were completely destroyed and Katrine caught the familiar scent of burnt flesh that did not belong to an animal.
They crept further along weapons drawn, or in Anwen's case crackling shock magic. Annika however was carrying an odd looking artifact, it looked to be made of metal but Katrine wasn't certain, she put it out of her mind however as in front of her was the word wall and resting on top of that was the dragon, it was smaller than Mirmulnir and certainly smaller then the one from Helgan.
Skjor signaled them to get to get ready "Remember aim for it's wings and Katrine don't jump on it," You jump on a dragon one time and everyone thinks you will do it again, thought Katrine. The scarred warrior gave the attack signal and Katrine quickly ducked out of cover and let loose an arrow that landed in its wing.
The dragon gave out a cry of pain and breathed fire at where Katrine had been, but Katrine had already ducked back into cover. Instead Aela jumped out and loosed a shot at the opposite wing, before she dove back behind cover. The plan had been to confuse it, in an effort to get it land to come after them.
Lydia took her turn next, her shot hitting its mark, with her staying out of cover long enough to take its attention. Then Anwen's shock magic hit, the dragon was getting visibly irritated by this point.
Annika ducking out of cover lifted her artifact and aimed it like it was some kind of crossbow and a beam of light shot out off it and tore completely through the dragon's wing, causing it to screech in pain and forced it to land.
Tomas, Vilkas, Farkas and Skjor rushed out from their hiding place and begun their attack, dodging its tail and maw. Katrine and Lydia drew their swords and rushed over to join the fray. While Lydia and the men was focusing on attacking the body Katrine saw an opening to attack the head.
She ran up the side and before the beast could turn its head she brought her sword up above her head and brought it down, the dragon bone blade effortlessly sliced through the beasts neck, the storm enchantment crackling as it did.
Almost immediately as the Dov drew its last breath the corpse stared to burn up. Annika who had never seen this happen before gave a cry of shock and made to pull Katrine away, but was held back by Aela who bade her to wait.
As the soul exited the dragon and enveloped Katrine had just one thought, here we go again. It was no different than the last time this occurred, every nerve came alive with energy as the memories of the dead dragon flashing through her mind.
As her vision cleared she caught sight of the others giving her looks that ranged from awe to concern to absolutely terrified. Katrine gave her mother what she hoped was a comforting smile before she turned to the word wall.
Just as it happened in Bleakfall's Barrow the runic language shifted into words in the dragon tongue. Katrine read them aloud for her mother who quickly wrote don what Katrine spoke.
"NAU DaaR REVAK GOLT DRey Fredo ZahRahMiik EK LaaS Ful TOL EK POGaan KiiR FILOK ahRK OSOS SUL OahNaaR EK HOKORON,"
As she reached the word LaaS it started to glow. As the energy rushed towards her she wondered if taking the word in so soon after absorbing the soul was a good idea. It heard, knocking the breath out of her.
The flood of new memories and the energy of the new word combined to spiral through her head and the feeling quickly became too much for Katrine, she had to release the pressure somehow. She thought back to the fight at Whiterun when she used Fus for the first time.
She focused on the word LaaS, the memories flashed before her eyes before she came upon one of the dragon using that same shout.
LaaS, it meant life, it was used to detect the life signs of living creatures, it was meant to be whispered.
"LaaS," the effect was instant, as she looked over to the rest of the group she saw they were all glowing red.
"Gods Katrine! What happened to your eyes?" Tomas cried.
"What do you mean? What is wrong with my eyes?" asked Katrine rushing forward to take a steel dagger from Aela to gaze at her reflection, she gasped. Her pupils had elongated into a reptilian shape. As she stared at them they shifted back to normal.
She looked up and noticed that the others had stopped glowing, the shout does not last long, she thought.
They harvested the dragon's corpse and managed to find some scales and a couple of bones for the Companions to take back to Eorlund, as well as finding a chest with a small amount of gold and a silver necklace with a poison resistance enchantment on it that Katrine insisted that the Companions take as payment.
Once they were back at camp Katrine and Annika set to work translating the word wall.
"It reads 'On this sacred ground did Fredo sacrifice her life so that her many children could escape and vanquish her enemy' I wonder if they ever did," said Katrine.
Annika turned to regard her "If they did what?"
Katrine looked up at her mother and felt as if those blue eyes were trying to penetrate her soul. " I was wondering if her children ever did get revenge,"
Annika's eyes narrowed "Katrine tell me your not thinking of doing something so stupid as going after the Thalmor ambassador, because that would be suicide,"
"Am I just supposed to forget she murdered Papa, right in front of my eyes. Oh and let us not forget that she seems insistent on killing or capturing me, so tell me what am I supposed to do?" asked Katrine getting angry.
"How about not walk right into a trap, she will expect that you want to kill her she will be counting on it," said Annika matching Katrine's tone.
"She can't do anything while you're at High Hrothgar, that would be to much of a political risk for her to take," said Anwen.
"And what of afterwards, I can not stay in hiding for the rest of my life, I refuse to," Katrine said firmly.
"You won't have to, I wrote to my family in Alinor and they complained to the High king, apparently Elenwen has been told that any action against you would be bad for relations with the Elder council so officially she isn't aloud to do anything," Anwen said.
Katrine raised an eyebrow "What about unofficially?"
"Any unofficial action will be met with us killing them," said Tomas.
"Exactly, I know it rings hollow justice, but for now it will have to do," said Annika kissing Katrine's forehead.
Katrine sighed "If I see her again I will kill her," she said.
"You will have to raise her corpse first, because if she comes anywhere near you I will kill her," said Annika, that statement was so out of character that it caused Katrine to stare at her gob smacked. It stuck with her through the rest of the day and into the night.
They left early the next morning after saying goodbye to the Companions, the last day on the road was hotter than it should have been for that time of year and it made Katrine fidgety.
They were close to Ivastead but Katrine could feel the air getting increasingly thicker. She glanced up at the sky and saw angry black clouds heading towards them.
"Mama!" she cried out fearfully, a storm was on the horizon, if Katrine was afraid of heights, then she was inconsolably petrified of storms. She heard Tomas curse and Anwen telling Annika that it was heading at them to quickly.
"Don't worry Katrine we will make it to Ivastead before it really hits," said Lydia in a comforting manner, picking up on Katrine's fear.
"No we won't," said Annika knowing full well how her daughter felt about storms and what would happen if Katrine got caught out in the storm.
They pulled over on the side of the road and Annika quickly ushered Katrine inside of the wagon, while the others set up the tent.
As the thunder stated to rumble Katrine started to tremble and whimper. Annika wrapped her arms around her and begun to sing her the stormy night lullaby.
"Little child be not afraid, though rain pounds hard against the glass,
Like an unwanted stranger, there is no danger,
I am here tonight,"
Katrine's whimpers slowly subsided as she was lulled into a peaceful half sleep state by her mother's singing.
"Little child be not afraid, though thunder explodes and lightning flash,
Illuminates your tear stained face,
I am here tonight,"
She never heard more then the first to verses as it always was with her lullabies her mother sang to her she fell into a deep sleep that lasted all through the night.