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The blizzard had lifted and the fresh snow covered everything like a velvet blanket. It glittered and shone as the sun rose gently into the sky and cast the early rays of dawn over the sleepy land. The silence that fell as they moved away from the sea and its lapping shores was welcomed by both of them. Although neither would admit, their small scuffle had taken the remainders of their energy; the dragon in particular, Ollric thought, as he glanced slyly across at her. She was matching his pace without a word of complaint but every now and then he would notice her wince or hesitate before she placed her bare feet down against the freezing ground. Deep black circles ringed her tired eyes and not for the first time he wondered what had happened to her.

'Hi piraak aan laan, Dovahkiin?' ['You have a question, Dragonborn?'] She said. Her voice cut through the silence like a knife, sharp and low.

'How did you come to be down there, below the sea?' He replied. He earned a scowl from her at the language he used but he ignored it. He knew she could understand him no matter how much she pretended not to.

She stayed silent for a long while and Ollric resigned to the knowledge that he wasn't going to be receiving an answer from her. They had walked at least half a mile before she began to speak again.

'The last thing I remember was the dov kein,' [dragon war,] the Nordic startled him but he didn't interrupt, 'I killed many of you. It was easy to defeat your kind. You are all so sahlo. [weak.] The rest of my memories are dark and clouded. It's just krah ahrk iiz.' [cold and ice.] I do not know how I came to be there, Dovahkiin, but your Thu'um woke me up. So maybe I should be thanking you.' She gave him a wry smile.

'The Dragon War?' Ollric looked away from her piercing gaze. He found it unnerving. A storm raged behind those eyes. 'So, you served Alduin. Or perhaps you betrayed him?'

A snake like hiss scratched through her throat and she almost bared her teeth at him. She stopped walking. 'Gruth di thur? Hi los aan mey! Alduin fen vaaz hin zii nol hin kopraan.' [Betray my master? You are a fool! Alduin will tear your soul from your corpse.']

Poison dripped from every word and it didn't escape Ollric's knowledge that she had completely reverted back to her own language. However, it was his turn to smirk back down at her. 'Then why did he choose not to resurrect you?'

His words silenced her and her eyes flickered with the tiniest shadow of doubt. They darted back up to meet his and even though she could not see behind the black material that made up his cowl, she could feel the smile on his lips. He didn't wait for any scathing reply that may have come his way and instead turned and strode away across the tundra. She paused for a few seconds before she reluctantly followed along after him. The silence that fell between them this time was tense and electricity seemed to crackle in the air like flames in a hearth.

They walked like that for what seemed like hours. Him in front, striding through the thick snow drifts like he was born for no other purpose. He never tired and he never slowed. She followed behind by a few steps, ebony hair whipping at her cheeks and her skin glistening with frost. Now she was awoken, she was warm, and the fire that roared in her chest burned its way through her veins and into her bones. If she had felt the cold before, she certainly didn't feel it now. She wondered why he hadn't killed her. It would have been so easy for him to run his blade through this frail body and suck the very life from her. Had she remained in her true form he never would have hesitated and for this, she felt a small glimmer of respect. Perhaps, once he had helped her return to her body, that would be when his kindness would end.

So lost in thought, she failed to notice that Ollric had stopped in his trudging and she crashed straight into his back. Her forehead hit off of the thick armour he had on and she stumbled back, spitting curses.

'Careful.' He said, humour lacing his words. She bit back a scathing reply and followed his gaze, her eyes alighting upon buildings in the distance, the glow of fires looming out of the murky darkness as night began to fall again. The days were short in the North.

'We will stay here tonight.' His keen eyes sought out the swinging sign of the Frozen Hearth. Finally, he had arrived at the one destination that had been on his mind since he had started out from Dawnstar. When he heard no answer from the dragon he turned to look at her and found a glower cast his way.

'We keep going.' She snapped shortly.

He almost laughed. 'You really think you're in the position to be making demands?' He drawled and shook his head. She was regarding the town warily and he sighed. 'I'm tired, dragon, and I'm not trawling through the snow with you,' he glanced her up and down, 'like that.'

'I am not a kiir.' [child.] She said. She crossed her arms over her chest and Ollric was amused at the human like mannerism.

'Then stop acting like one.'

Despite her grumblings, she followed him into the town. Her eyes scanned the few houses that stood there, the ruins that seemed to litter every corner. There were no people wandering the streets, no markets or bustle as she had always imagined human settlements to be like. As they walked up to the wooden steps of the inn, Ollric paused and in one swift movement he removed his cloak and draped it over her shoulders. He yanked the hood up and pulled it low over her face, ignoring the puzzled look she gave him.

'Let me talk.' He muttered and then he was pushing her upwards and through the door. She hesitated as she was faced with the curious looks of the occupants, who were few and far between, but Ollric's hand kept steady between her shoulder blades and propelled her towards the bar.

There was no one standing behind it but a Nord with a friendly, rugged face appeared from one of the rooms to the side. His expression seemed troubled but it cracked into a smile when he saw the pair. 'Evening!' He greeted Ollric. His gaze slid to the girl beside him but she kept her head down. 'What can I do for you?'

'I need two rooms, food and drink.' Ollric replied gruffly.

The innkeeper, Dagur, nodded and moved behind the bar. 'Yes, of course. You two look like you could use a good meal!' His laugh faltered when he was met with silence. He shuffled awkwardly. 'Ah, I only have one room available, though, I'm afraid.' His eyes scanned over the sword sheathed at Ollric's waist and then to the bow slung over his back.

'Hinskaal joor.' [Stupid mortal.']

Dagur started at the vicious hiss that had emerged from beneath the hood. There was panic in his eyes and he stared at the girl. 'Ex-excuse me?' He stuttered.

Ollric dug his fingers into her shoulders and he felt her body tense beneath his touch. 'Show me to the room.'

Dagur gave the pair the only room he had with a door and he was quick to leave them be. There was something about the girl which sent a shiver down his spine and he was glad to be away from her. Once the door had closed with a thud behind him, Ollric shoved her down onto the bed and glared at her furiously. She looked back at him with a bored expression.

'I told you to be quiet.' He snapped as he threw himself down into the only chair in the room, yanking the top off of a bottle of ale and downing a few mouthfuls at once.

'Zu'u dreh ni laan hin uth.' [I do not want your orders.'] She had thrown the cloak from her shoulders and was touching the bed beneath her palms with a look of disgust.

Ollric pulled his cowl from his face, sighing in frustration. 'I don't care that you do not want them.' He growled. 'You'll do as I say as long as I'm helping you. And you can't use that language around people. It'll arouse suspicion.'

She scoffed but she stayed quiet and watched as he began to eat his meal. He hadn't offered her any, not that she would have taken it, and was wolfing it down in a way which made her think he was half starved. Judging by the size of the man, this couldn't be true. His muscles were taut and outlined underneath the carefully carved armour that he wore. His shoulders that broad, square silhouette that almost all Nords were born with and he towered above her; above most people, in fact. Now that he had removed his cowl, she found a strong, defined jaw and hair the colour of tree bark that brushed the tops of his shoulders. A long deep scar curved down the left side of his face and her gaze trailed it down his neck and underneath his armour.

'Where are you taking me?'

He gave her a hard look but the only expression she offered was genuine, one eyebrow slightly raised in question. He brushed the back of his hand across his lips. 'To see someone who may be able to shed a light on our predicament.'

Her brow furrowed. 'Who is this person?'

Ollric resisted the smirk that twitched at the corners of his mouth. 'Paarthurnax is no man.'

Immediately her eyes were flames and she spat a curse in her tongue that even he could not decipher. 'You take me to that traitor!' She cried.

'Be quiet.' He growled. He stood, an indication that their conversation was over, and reached around her to throw the cloak on the floor. 'Get some sleep.'