Farkas was startled awake by the sound of Vilkas's door slamming and footsteps stomping away down the hall. He jumped out of bed and opened the door just in time to see Lunara disappear around the corner. What in Oblivion had happened? For a brief moment, he considered going after her, but decided against it. Instead, he opened Vilkas's door and walked in, closing the door behind him.

Vilkas sat up in his bed, his back resting on the headboard. His head was tilted back, his eyes closed and his lips were stretched into a tight line. He hadn't even seemed to notice Farkas had entered the room, although Farkas knew better. He sat down on the chair that Lunara had previously occupied and watched him. After a few moments of silence he spoke. "Good to see you awake, brother." Vilkas didn't move or speak. Okay, so he doesn't want to talk. We can do that too. He leaned back in the chair and waited.

After several minutes had passed, Vilkas opened his eyes and looked at Farkas. "Did you tell her?" he asked.

Farkas looked confused. "Did I tell her what?" he asked.

"The wolf-blood. . ?" Vilkas growled through gritted teeth. His eyes were ice cold orbs of fury and pain.

Farkas put his hands up in surrender. "I swear to you, brother. I told her nothing. She figured it out all on her own. I'm not even sure how other than she is a skilled alchemist and she reads a lot of books," he said. "When I brought her here, she had no idea. She looked you over, looked at a book she had, and tasted the potion Tilda gave you," he made a face of disgust at that, "then out of nowhere she turns to me and Kodlak and asks if you're a werewolf. I'm telling you, she figured it out all on her own. When Kodlak asked her why it mattered, she told him that if he thought that she'd run screaming from here to tell all of Whiterun then he'd seriously misjudged her character, and when he asked her again why it mattered, she simply said it mattered because the potion need to be stronger if you were. Other than that, she didn't seem to react to that at all. And she was here when you woke up, wasn't she?" Vilkas tilted his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. Farkas shook his head and sighed. "For such a smart man, you really are an idiot."

Vilkas sighed, his eyes still closed. "I guess so. Nothing that can be done about that though. It's probably for the best anyway."

Farkas rolled his eyes. "Really?! You're just going to let her go like that? She saved your life, even though it pushed her beyond whatever limits she had. She didn't want to risk doing more damage to you and I begged her to come here. I can't believe this is how you repay her."

"She made it very clear we were even when she walked out," Vilkas said coldly.

Farkas snorted. "She only left because most likely you told her to, am I right? Considering she butted heads with Tilda to stay and keep watch over you, I don't think she planned on leaving at all."

Vilkas looked at Farkas again, a half smile on his face. "She did what?"

Farkas nodded, smiling back, "you heard me. I walked in here to check on you yesterday morning and her and Tilda were standing right here exchanging words. Lunara looked ready to tear her head off." He chuckled at the memory.

Vilkas shook his head, smiling at the image Farkas created. "That would've been something to see.

"Oh it was," Farkas replied. "Now tell me, brother, what are you going to do?"

"Nothing," Vilkas said, shrugging. "There's nothing to do now. It's not like we were in love or anything. We barely knew each other and most of that time was spent worrying the other was going to die. No, I think I'll just leave this one alone."

Farkas rolled his eyes again. "Gods, you are a stubborn idiot."

"That's the second time today someone has said that to me," Vilkas said, "it's getting tiresome."

"Maybe you should think about that then," Farkas said as he stood to leave. "I'm going to find some breakfast. I'll bring you back something." He left the room, closing the door behind him.

Alone in his room now, Vilkas sighed and stared at the ceiling. What had he done? He'd hurt her, he knew, but he had no idea how to fix it. You could start by apologizing, a part of him said. He pushed that thought from his mind. What did he have to apologize for? She'd pressed him to tell her something he clearly didn't want to share so whatever happened after was on her. Not true and you know it, that part of himself said again. Doesn't matter anyway, he thought stubbornly, she'll refuse to talk to him now. It would serve you right too, another part said. He laid down with his back to the door and stared at the wall until he fell asleep again.

Lunara sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Her eyes felt like sand had been poured in them, both from lack of sleep and crying. She got dressed, grabbed her satchel and went to the kitchens for something to eat. The acolytes were busting themselves with meditation or other temple duties and didn't look up as she passed them. Once in the kitchen she grabbed an apple and some cheese to eat on her way to the forge. If Vilkas wanted to be a stubborn horse's ass, it wasn't going to affect her life. She'd keep her promise to Kodlak, and she'd even mix the potions like she agreed to, but beyond that, her life was her own and she wanted no part of his.

Before she'd been arrested, she had started drawing some rough sketches of a set of scaled armor she wanted to make, as well as a new bow. Her daggers were gone now, so those would have to be reforged as well. She sighed as the list of things she needed to do before she could leave Whiterun grew. Better get started, she thought as she adjusted her satchel and walked out of the temple.

The breeze ruffled her braided hair as she munched on her apple and cheese as she walked toward the forge, walking toward Warmaiden's and Adrianne's forge, finishing the last bites as she got to her destination. Adrianne was working on the imperial army's large order. She looked up as Lunara approached. "Good to see you again," she said. "Wasn't sure if you were coming back again."

Lunara blushed slightly. "Yeah, I had a bit of trouble for a few days, but I'm back now." She dug her sketches out of her satchel and held it out to Adrianne. "Can I use the forge to create these? I'll provide the materials."

"I suppose so," she replied, "if you'll help me smith a few swords first. I'm behind on the army's order."

Lunara looked at her feet. "I'm sorry," she mumbled.

Adrianne smiled and said, "no worries. Let's get to work." Lunara tied the blacksmith apron around her and they began working in tandem smithing sword after sword.

Four hours later, there was a stack of ten imperial swords ready to be sharpened at the grindstone. Lunara had smithed a new set of matching daggers for herself, and was looking around for suitable materials for her new bow when she saw something wedged between the forge and the wall of Warmaiden's. Curious, she took off her apron and hung it up and walked around the back side of the forge to investigate. There was a small chest there, and when she opened it, it was full of all of the materials she could ever need to smith anything she wanted. How had it gotten there? Was it Adrianne's? She called Adrianne over to look at the chest and asked, "Did you know this was here?"

"It's been there since I've worked this forge. There never seemed to be a way to open it, so I just left it alone. How did you get it open?" she asked.

"I just touched it and it unlocked," Lunara said, running her fingers along the items stacked neatly in the chest.

Adrianne shrugged. "Guess they belong to you then," she said. Lunara's eyes went wide and she said, "N-No, I couldn't take all this. I'd never use it! There are materials here I have no idea how to use!"

Adrianne shrugged again and said, "Well I imagine you can just take what you need and leave the rest. It won't open for anyone else so it's safe there."

"How about we split it. You'll have the materials you need to finish orders, and I can create my stuff without using any of your materials."

"Are you sure?" Adrianne asked. Lunara nodded in response and started taking things from the chest. When she was finished she had a pile of materials for her and one for Adrianne. "Thank you," Adrianne said, picking up her materials. "You'd better get going, it's time for you to be at the temple now. Don't worry, I'll put your stuff away where it's safe." Lunara nodded and stood up, brushing the dirt from her robes, then she waved and ran toward the temple.

Lunara was elbow deep in ingredients when Gerda, the maid from Dragonsreach, entered the temple asking to see Lunara. She wiped her hands on her robe and went to speak to her. "I'm Lunara, what can I do for you?"

Gerda smiled. "Jarl Balgruuf requests your presence at Dragonsreach," she said.

"O-kay," Lunara said. "Let me grab my satchel and we'll go." Gerda nodded and Lunara turned back to her alchemy station and slung her satchel over her shoulder. "I'm ready," she said and she followed Gerda out of the temple and up the stairs to Dragonsreach.

Lunara gasped as they entered Dragonsreach. She had known the palace was huge, but seeing it in person was awe-inspiring. She followed Gerda up the stairs to the main hall, suddenly very self-conscious of being dressed in only her temple robes. Gerda stopped and spoke to the Jarl herself. "My Jarl, this is Lunara, the one I was asked to fetch from the temple."

Balgruuf nodded once to Gerda, "Thank you Gerda. That will be all." His voice was deep, echoing in the large room. The maid bowed and walked away, returning to her work.

Balgruuf turned his attention to Lunara. "Hello, there. I am Balgruuf the Greater, Jarl of Whiterun. You are Lunara, the girl who was accused of killing a guard?"

Lunara flushed a deep shade of red and said, "Yes, my Jarl." She didn't lower her eyes, but regarded him with the same curious expression he had for her. "I had expected to see you sooner. I told Vilkas I wanted to meet you as soon as you became conscious," he shook his head and continued, "I did not expect to have to summon you myself." His look was serious now, like a father scolding a child.

Lunara looked at her feet now. "I-I'm sorry, my Jarl, I had no idea that you wished to see me. Vilkas went on a hunting trip right after I regained consciousness and was severely injured. He only regained consciousness yesterday and didn't have a chance to tell me." Or chose not to, she thought bitterly.

Her face must have betrayed her thoughts because Balgruuf said, "are you alright, girl?"

Lunara nodded. "I'm fine," she said. She wasn't, but she was determined she would be.

"Well, it's no matter. You're here now. I just wanted to tell you in person that I have pardoned you for your accused crimes. You are free to go about your life in Whiterun or anywhere else in Skyrim you wish."

She bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, my Jarl. Will that be all?" There was silence and she shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

"Yes, that will be all," he said finally and she let out a silent breath. "You are dismissed."

"Thank you," she said as she turned to leave, resisting the urge to run down the stairs and out of the palace. "Lunara," Balgruuf said, stopping her in her tracks, "do try to not get into more trouble, will you?" She nodded, not looking back at him. She straightened her shoulders and walked out of Dragonsreach and back to the temple.