"You want me to go with you into Blackreach?"

"Yes."

She was sitting next to him at one of the tables of Jorrvaskr, looking up at him as if she hadn't just asked him to join her crazy quest. Vilkas sighed and glanced at Elana. "And have you ever explored a Dwarven city?"

"Well, no."

"Here's the deal. We go visit one that doesn't open up into the massive cavern, so you can get a taste of the insanity the Dwemer left behind. Their ingenious technology resets after a while; it doesn't matter how soundly you smash it."

Elana tilted her head. "Are you saying I should hire someone that fights with a warhammer instead?"

He growled, "No," and coughed, coloring at his swift response. "No, just that we'll need to be careful. The spiders will prick and annoy. The spheres are swift and deadly foes. It's the Centurions, giant automatons with massive weapons and a deadly hot blast of steam, that really worry me."

"Glad to hear you're excited."

Vilkas rolled his eyes. "We'll go to Nchuand-Zel in Markarth so you can cut your teeth on Dwarven cities. And if we survive, great. If you still have a taste for more, we go to Blackreach. If not, well we don't go."

"I'm going into Blackreach no matter what happens."

"Got a death wish?"

"More like a destiny."

"Oh." Vilkas paused. "I'm sorry. You didn't say. I thought it was a simple job. If you like, we can go straight into Blackreach."

Elana shook her head quickly. "No, no, I want to travel with you. And exploring Nchuah-whatever would probably be a good idea. I really haven't ever been around Dwarven cities."

"Sounds like a plan. Get some sleep." He stood up with her. "Wait, where are you going?"

"Home. I own Breezehome. Well, Elan does. But since he doesn't exist and I so, well it's my home."

"Your housecarl will be there."

Elana winked. "Not if she doesn't know I own the house and the last order I gave her was to stay in Dragonsreach."

"Why don't you take her?"

"I don't trust her to have my back."

"And you trust me?"

Silence reigned for a moment. But Elana finally nodded. With a final glance at him, she vanished into the night.

Vilkas woke up that morning with a bed roll flying into his face. Elana stood in his doorway, packs already loaded, her traveling clothes shining with the tell-tale color of a carry weight enchantment.

"Really?" At her glare, he continued, "I mean, do we really need two bed rolls?"

"Don't make me stab you in your sleep."

He gave a joking wink. "Then I guess I'll have to woo your properly."

"Note to self, Vilkas gets flirty when violently awoken. Do not do so again." She winked back and started to turn away. "Seriously, get up. Tilma has an early breakfast set out for you and I'll eat it if you move too slowly. We've got to get all the way to Markarth." She left him to roll out of bed, hit the floor, and drag himself into a shirt and pants.

He came up the stairs as Elana sat down at a delicious looking plate. "Oh no you don't!" He rushed towards her and she leapt away. He slid into the seat and smirked at her as he dug in.

"Will you look at that? You can get a man to move by threatening his food."

Vilkas looked at her with an uncaring glance. "I don't care. I have bacon."

"You are a harsh taskmistress."

Elana laughed. Rather than take a wagon, she had decided they should walk. Something had been said about a greater chance to "stretch her sword arm" than if they took a carriage. It was less expensive, in any case, and gave them a bit of exercise, bandits or no. And Elana walked fast.

"Habit, I'm afraid. The faster I walk, the less chance people have to guess I'm not who I say."

"Fair enough." Vilkas gathered himself into a quick lope to minimize some distance. "But Dragonsreach is still in sight, and the sun is still rising. I don't think we need to push ourselves too terribly."

"On the contrary. There's a lot of ground to cover before night falls."

"Well if you have to pessimistic-" She shrugged good-naturedly. "-You could at least get pessimistic all over those bandits." He pointed over her shoulder where men in hide armor were running up. "Do you think you can ruin their mood fast enough?"

She unstrapped her sword in time with him. "Shut up and swing." Fine elven steel connected with bone as she attacked.

"Someone got a new sword," he hummed as his cold Nordic steel bit into another.

"I've been busy; and busy means a nice fat purse." She blocked an arrow with another bandit. "Bloodletter was getting worn down, and almost too worn to repair. So now the plaque over my wall has some décor and I had Adrianne craft me a new one."

Vilkas chuckled a little as he started after the archer. "And what are you going to name this one?"

She trailed after him; the only prey left was the man Vilkas was engaging now. "I was thinking of going Draconic with this one. Something like 'Kriid-Mey.'"

With a blow to the gut, the last of the bandits was dead. "First off, what does that mean? Second, where have you been picking up Dragon Language?"

"It literally means 'Slayer-fool,' and if my teacher is correct it should translate to 'slayer of fools.'"

"And who is your teacher?"

She gave a nervous smile. "This scholarly guy I met."

"You're a horrible liar."

"Well you're not going to believe me when I tell you, and I'm not sure you'd want to travel with me anymore. So we're just going to keep walking. After we divest these thieves of their gold, of course." She turned away, cutting off the conversation and dug through each of the dead's pockets. "Well are you going to help?"

"No, no, keep it all to yourself. I'd rather have your faith. You obviously don't trust your Companions if you think something would make me abandon you. You're planning to go into Blackreach for Ysgramor's sake. Do you honestly think anything could change my mind so I'd let you go to your death? By the Nine, Elana, you said you trusted me just before we left."

Elana grimaced. "I said I trusted you to have my back."

"And this is me, defending your weak spot. But if you'd rather have a loose stone, don't let me stop you. I'll just keep going to Markarth." He nodded to her and started walking. After a moment of hesitation, she followed.