Departure

"You're leaving?" Farkas asked. "Tonight?"

We were sitting in the meadhall over dinner after I had talked to Kodlak about my needing to do some errands for the orphanage and my friends in Riften. He had agreed, giving me a couple of jobs that were not time-pressing.

I saw Vilkas's head tilt in my direction, though his eyes remained on his plate.

"Yes," I said, explaining the letter I had received.

Farkas smiled, "I think it is good that you're keeping your promise and that this girl has someone like you to look after her. Would you like me to travel with you?"

I made sure my smile stayed in place as I said, "No, I think I need to do this on my own. I hope to come back just before Jared's birthday with Lynn then so you should get to meet her."

"You will be away for two months?" Vilkas questioned, his voice sounding disapproving.

"Yes," I said, trying to keep my irritation out of my tone. "Kodlak already approved it. I left Riften a bit quicker than I had planned and I have some business I would like to settle."

"Milkdrinker," Njada coughed loudly.

I took a deep breath, rolling my eyes.

"It seems foolish to leave tonight rather than wait until morning," Vilkas said.

I turned my attention to him. "I'm taking a carriage so I should be fine."

"Like when you first came to Whiterun?" Vilkas asked, irritation in his voice.

"Yes, as long as no one chooses to antagonize a giant and lose track of it right outside the city," I replied, equally annoyed. Vilkas was now glaring at me.

"Be careful, Everlee," Farkas said gently.

I looked back up to Farkas sitting beside me and smiled, "Don't worry, I will be. I will write you if I am delayed."

Not long after that I gathered the bag I had packed. I reached under my mattress and grabbed the lockpicks I had obtained since Brynjolf had left, debating on whether to take them. I figured it might be necessary given that I was going to the city of thieves, and stashed them in different places in my armor, taking a moment to admire how seamlessly Adrienne had made the hidden compartments using the fine material.

"Hey," a soft female voice said.

I looked up to see Ria standing hesitantly in the doorway. "Yeah?" I asked.

"I really am sorry about the fight earlier," she said. "I'm just stressed and I took it out on you."

"I understand. And Ria, I really do think you should tell him," I said, laying my hand on her shoulder.

"Tell what to who?" another voice asked and we both turned, startled to see Farkas standing just behind her.

"It's nothing," I said quickly, adjusting the weight of my pack. "Well, I'm off."

Farkas came over and hugged me, saying softly in my ear, "I'll miss you. Be safe."

I nodded, hugging him in return before pulling away from him. I decidedly didn't look at Ria as I wished them both goodbye.

I climbed the stairs, debating on what I would do until midnight arrived. When I stepped outside, darkness had already fallen. I took a deep breath. I had trouble believing I had entered this hall only six months before. It had felt like a life time ago. I was nervous to be leaving because, despite all the dramatic events that life as a Companion had in store for me, it felt safe here.

I felt a hand on my right arm, turning me to face someone. I saw Vilkas, his back to Skyforge as he faced me.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I already told you," I said, feeling my heart speed up. I shrugged off his arm.

"No you told my brother the story you gave to Kodlak," he said. "I want the truth."

"That is the truth. I have the letters if you want proof," I said, reaching for my pack.

Vilkas grabbed my hand, watching me steadily. After a moment he let go of his grip and I let my arm fall to my side. "You need to come back, whatever happens."

"I'm not running away."

"Just make sure whatever is you're doing is something you can come back from."

The double meaning of those words made me suspicious, fear building within me. I kept my face expressionless as I searched his for any hint that he knew about my involvements with the other guild but saw none. It seemed my story and departure time had triggered something in the naturally suspicious man. I wanted to assure him that he was wrong, that I was in no imminent danger, that I was doing exactly as I said. I wanted that to be true. But it wasn't.

So I said, "I'm coming back."

He nodded, looking like he wanted to say something, leaning toward me. But then he seemed to think better of it and quietly entered Jorrvaskr. I shut my eyes, focusing on keeping my breath steady to still my fast-beating heart.

When I had gotten a grip on myself, I left the city.

I ended up walking about the city, patrolling it as I left. I had informed the city guard that I would be gone for some time so they would be aware in the event of any dragon sightings or attacks. Finally, just before midnight I went to the stables. I saw the carriage out but no horse harnessed to it as no one had apparently decided to schedule a journey that night which was unsurprising as travel was safer and faster in the day and thus the night fees tended to be high.

As I made my way toward the back of the stables I made sure to keep an eye out for any of the stablehands or the owner of the stables. I was also keeping my eye on any shadowy figure lurking in the dark as I kept one hand on the hilt of my longsword.

"You there, Dragonborn," I heard a familiar voice grumble.

In the dark just ahead by the stables I could make out the face of the carriage driver who had escorted Jared and I to Whiterun. At first I assumed that he must have been tending to the horses, that perhaps one was sick. But I had a bad feeling about him that almost caused me to draw my blade on him.

"I haven't seen you here recently," I said.

"I took a break from the carriage-driving business after our last encounter," he said. "You needing a ride tonight?"

With pure instinct, I felt someone behind me, as if their tiniest motion gave them away. I quickly dodged from their grasp, backing up as I did. I looked for my attacker but they had receded into dark shadow before I had managed to turn, their form completely hidden now. I continued to back up, toward the road, trying get far enough back to get them both in my sights.

"Go, run!" I said over my shoulder to the carriage driver "Get help."

"But I don't really need help," the man said.

Somehow he had managed to sneak up on me, grabbing my arm, and attempting to wrap his other arm around me from behind but I dodged the hold. I saw now that he was wearing what seemed like impossibly dark armor form-fitted to his body which was more athletic than I would have guessed from when I had seen him in commoner clothes.

I tried to slip my arm free but I only managed to pull it a few inches away before he grabbed it once more. His grip tightened, causing pain to shoot up my arm as I cried out. He was stronger than I would have thought, inhumanely strong. His light brown eyes seemed to flash at me as he doubled his strength on my arm, causing me to fall to my knees. I tried to push up but it was impossible with his leverage and if I continued to resist I knew that he would soon break my arm.

And then there was a gloved hand from behind me pressing a rag to my mouth. I couldn't even attempt to scream for help before I fell unconscious.