As we approached the mill we could see two giants stomping and shaking their clubs at the mill workers. Farkas urged the clearly nervous horse closer as I jumped off readying my bow. Once my feet where firmly on the ground, I swiftly started firing arrows into both giants' sides and heads causing their attention to shift from the workers to the source of their pain. By this point the others had dismounted and were racing into the fray with blades drawn, but they were hard pressed. I tossed aside my bow and drew my swords while running to join them.

We fought those giants for nearly half an hour before I saw my chance to take one out. The problem with fighting giants is that as tall as they are you have to bring them down before you can land a critical blow and they had clubs. One had already nailed Farkas in the ribs sending him flying into a stack of barrels, and I had just barely dodged the backswing from the same blow when I saw a barrel that had a board fallen across it. It was in the perfect spot, I quickly scooped up a rock and stood on the end of the board closest to the giant then threw the rock hitting the giant square on the jaw. He raised his club to bring it down on my head and I waited until the time was right. Then jumping backwards I landed on the other end of the board just as the giants club hit where I had been standing moments before. The result was that I was catapulted into the air, there was only one problem I had meant to land on the giant that I had been fighting. Instead I landed on top of the giant that Ria and Njada were focused on and neither giant was to happy.

The one I had landed on bellowed in anger while the one I had tried to trick spun around trying to find me. Then he spotted me and swung his club hitting me square across the back but it also hit his compatriot. I was sent flying once more this time landing with a painful belly flop in the half frozen river. When I finally got my head above water and my feet under me Ria and Njada were staring openmouthed at the stunned giant. Seeing them Farkas bellowed

"Don't just stand there kill it!"

Njada swiftly stabbed it through the eye then looked at me and started to scoff "Wow some fierce warrior you are Amaliea you just got dunked by a-"

Whatever she was going to say next was cut off by the still standing Giant's club colliding with her ribs and sending her flying to land not three feet from me.

I raised an eyebrow and said sweetly "You were saying?"

If looks could kill I'd be six feet under from the glare she gave me as I went back to making my way out of the water.

Then Ria called "If you two are done with your bath we could use some help."

Once me and Njada were back on dry land it didn't take long to take down the second giant, though none of us had come out unscathed. Judging from the blooming pain in my back and side I probably had cracked if not broken ribs from the giants club, Farkas and Njada looked little better. Meanwhile Ria seemed to be swaying slightly. So now the problem became getting back to Windhelm because the horses had run off and our healing potions were tucked into the saddle bags. After getting thanked by the millworkers several of whom nearly choked on their own tongues when they realized I was an elf and Ria an imperial, we started walking back to Windhelm.

We were about halfway back when Ria stumbled and Njada caught her grunting in pain

I finally spoke "I know some healing spells if anyone would care for some help."

Farkas inclined his head towards Ria who said "I'm fine really let's just keep going."

I had noticed in the past her habit of pushing her self trying not to look weak next to the Nords, heck I had done the same thing a couple of times. So I gave Farkas a pointed look but it still took him a moment to catch it. Then he said

"I wouldn't mind a spell, Njada what about you?"

I'll give Njada credit she caught what we were up to quick and said "Sure I am kind of sore after the fight."

With that we stopped and I called my healing spells to my hands and swiftly did a patch job on the others. I had been worried that Ria had hit her head and gotten a concussion thankfully that wasn't the case, though she did have a lump on her head and a scratch down the back of her leg. Farkas' ribs weren't broken just cracked, his armor seemed to have taken the brunt of it. But a couple of Njada's were broke. So I told her

"When we get to Windhelm you're going to need to see a healer."

Once that was over we started walking again, but Farkas kept giving me sidewise looks and I finally stopped on the path and asked

"'What?"

"I was wondering when you were going to heal yourself."

I blushed and mumbled "idonknowhow."

"Couldn't hear you." He said smirking

My face turned even redder as I said "I don't know any self-healing spells."

The smirk fell from his face as behind me Njada started laughing her head off. I stiffened my shoulders and hurried ahead with what felt like every bone in my chest protesting the rapid movement.

By the time we got to the stables, the others had caught up to me as had my swim in the river. I was shivering so bad it was ridiculous and my teeth were chattering so much I couldn't talk though on the bright side it looked like when the horses had took off they had gone back home. They were munching on hay in the stable yard Farkas and Ria marched over to them and grabbed our things before walking back over to where me and Njada were waiting. Then in one swift move Farkas shoved a healing potion into my hands and dropped his cloak around my shoulders saying

"Drink that before you pass out."

He sounded angry and I tried to pinpoint what I did to irritate him so, but I couldn't seem too put my finger on it. So I kept silent and drank the potion being grateful that at least it eased the fire in my ribs. Once we entered the city Farkas started leading us off to the left and after walking through the bustling market we entered a shop whose sign read The White Phial.

The shop turned out to be an apothecary who knew a little healing magic. His final opinion was I had managed to break two ribs and crack another three. He healed them as best as he could and ended up binding both mine and Njada ribs and giving Ria orders to rest for a few hours after that we left the shop.

Farkas turned to Ria and Njada and ordered "Ria take Njada and go to the inn make sure we've still got the rooms for tonight, Amaliea your with me we've got to report the job done."

As pissed as he sounded I decided that telling him that it might be better if I went with Ria would be a bad idea.

As we entered The Palace of the Kings the guards openly glared at me. I nervously stepped slightly closer to Farkas trying to disappear into his shadow and not be noticed. As we approached the Jarl's throne, a nord man in fine clothes with greying blond hair stepped out from a side room followed by a man who seemed to be wearing a bear for a hat. Then it hit me I recognized the blond he was at Helgen. I could remember Ralof speaking to him after we got into the tower, but I couldn't remember who he was then again most of Helgen is a blur. Both men glanced over us as the blond sat on the throne I guess that he is Jarl Ulfric then.

Then Farkas spoke up "Jarl Ulfric we've taken care of the giant problem."

The Jarl nodded then cast me a confused look before asking

"Have we met elf?"

I was startled at first and Farkas cast me a glance as I hurried to answer

"Yes Jarl Ulfric Sir, I was in Helgen the day it was destroyed."

Ulfric nodded and said "I remember you now Ralof rescued you did he not."

"Yes sir." I said quietly embarrassed by my poor showing that day.

He seemed to be dismissing us now that his curiosity was satisfied, and I headed for the door as fast as I could without seeming to be running with Farkas following me.

As we reached the pathway that ran next to Candle Hearth Hall Farkas grabbed my shoulder and spun me around to face him. Then demanded

"Why do you let people do that to you?"

"Do what?" I asked honestly not understanding what he was asking.

He ran his hands through his hair in clear frustration "You let people walk all over you!"

"I do not." I said indignantly I don't know where Farkas got that idea but it was ridiculous.

"Yes you do if I or any of the other Companions had gotten half the insults you have today someone would have gotten punched." He insisted and I had to admit he had a point.

"Farkas if I punched everybody who ever had something insulting to say about me I would be punching people to the day I die. Besides I care little for the opinions of strangers I'll probably never see again."

He stared at me for a moment and I turned and continued to the inn.

"What about Njada?" he called after me

"What about her?" I shrugged

"She scoffed at you not knowing how to ride, then she made fun of you for landing in the river even though your actions downed the giant. She even laughed at your being unable to heal yourself even though you had healed her." he insisted

"Farkas I long ago accepted that Njada has no respect for me, so why should I care what she thinks."

By this point we had reached the door to the inn and Farkas stopped me again saying

"You may not care what she says but it is still wrong of her to say it, because it's not true. And she's gonna continue to say stuff like that until you make her stop."

"I ignore it for the same reason you ignore our shield siblings calling you stupid. Because there's no point in stirring the shit."

"When people call you weak it's a lie Amaliea" he didn't say it but I could tell he was thinking but he was stupid.

"Farkas I've seen the look you get when people insult your intelligence it hurts you, but no matter what they say you are smart. Your just quieter then Vilkas about it. How 'bout this I'll start calling people on it when they insult me if you stop letting people call you dumb. Deal?"

"Deal." he smiled grimly then smirked saying "You know you look like a shrimp in my cloak."

I smirked back teasing "That's only cause you're as big as a bear."

He chuckled and I opened the door feeling my muscles instantly relax as the warmth of the building enveloped us.

The next day we once more rose with the dawn, this time to catch a coach home. I have to say I was glad to see that city fading into the distance behind us and even gladder when the wall of Whiterun began to rise in front of us.