a.n italic is elvish, just incase anyone is confused.

As they stepped out of the cave and into the sun the light was almost blinding.

A loud screech followed by the sound of a pair of large wings was heard.

"Take cover!" hissed Ralof, they ducked behind some boulders.

The dragon flew overhead, Katrine marvelled at its size and as she did she thought, Mama would love to sketch that dragon, she decided that as soon as she could she was going to buy some art supplies so that she could.

Once it was out of sight they stood out from behind cover.

"What now My Jarl?" asked Ralof.

Ulfric looked around at the surroundings "First we need to figure out where we are, let's try that road,"

They set off walking, a small niggling at the back of Katrine's mind as they walked until Katrine caught sight of a lake through the trees, she stopped dead and cursed herself for being so unobservant.

"Katrine, what's wrong?" asked Ulfric taking in her pale face.

"I recognise that lake, my home Lakeview manor is half a days ride that way, which means that Riverwood is half an hour that way," she gesture off to her right.

"My sister owns the lumber mill in Riverwood," said Ralof looking in that direction.

"Will she help us?" Ulfric asked him.

"She is a true nord, it will be an honour to her," Ralof answered him.

Ulfric turned to Katrine who stated "There is no point going to Lakeview, there was supposed to be no one there until my brother came back, nor is there any supplies,"

"We'll head to Riverwood, stay for the night and then in the morning we can escort you Katrine to your kin in Whiterun," said Ulfric, Katrine nodded.

"What does your brother do?" asked Amela as they set off.

"He works on one of my Papa's largest fishing ships as a deck hand, Papa owned five fishing ships that stocked fish in Skyrim and Cyrodill," answered Katrine, she wondered why she felt so empty when she spoke of her father, shouldn't she be upset.

They had been walking for quarter of an hour when Katrine had a thought, pulling out the mage's hood, she handed it to Ulfric and said "Perhaps you should put this on My Jarl, just in case anyone recognises you,"

He pulled it over his head and asked her how he looked, she looked at him for a moment before saying "Like a battle mage I saw in a sketch once," He smiled at that.

It was another quarter of an hour when they had reached Riverwood, as Ralof led them across a boardwalk to the mill Katrine asked him "Why are there no guards?"

"Guder has petitioned Jarl Balgruuf for guards several times but the steward is a milk drinker and is worried about the Jarl of Falkreath seeing that as an act of aggression," He answered.

A male bosmer was sharpening an axe at a grindstone but looked up as they approached him.

Katrine smiled and to calm his nerves she switched to elvish to greet him "Greetings friend might you know where the woman who owns the mill is?" she asked.

The elf looked shocked at first as most nords never learnt how to speak even basic elvish phrases, let alone be fluent, then he smiled and replied by pointing up to the mill itself.

"She is up there with Hod,"

As Ralof called out to his sister Ulfric asked Katrine were she had learnt to speak elvish so well.

"You said before that you knew my father, did you know that he married an altmer?" She asked, Ulfric nodded.

"Well she taught me, my Mother and my brother how to speak it,"

Ulfric looked thoughtful but stayed silent as a woman, a little bit older then Ralof raced down the slope of the mill and embraced Ralof warmly.

"Brother, Mara's mercy it's good to see you, but is it safe for you to be here?"

Gerdur was tall and blonde, like her brother, was dressed in a simple belted tunic with a woodcutters axe attached to the belt.

Ralof gave his sister a comforting smile, placed his hands on her shoulders and said "Gerdur I'm fine, at least now I am, but is there a place we can all talk privately?"

Gerdur seemed to just realise then that her brother was not alone, her eyes travelled Amela, taking in that she appeared to be injured, Katrine, a shocked look appeared on her face possibly from the fact that Katrine looked too young to be in soldiers armour thought Katrine, and then to Ulfric, Katrine thought the shocked look on Gerdur's face was just comical as she realised who Ulfric was, Katrine was sure she saw Gerdur's eyes pop out of her head, but she recovered quickly.

"Of course, follow me,"

Gerdur led them around the back of the mill, which was secluded from view of the village, to where a young boy was playing with his dog on a stump, he looked up at their approach and jumped up and threw himself at Ralof.

"Uncle Ralof can I see your axe, how many Imperials have you killed, do you really know Ulfric Stormcloak?" the boy asked excitedly.

Gerdur shook her head at her son fondly "Go and watch the south road and tell me if you see anyone coming," she instructed him.

"Aww but Mama I want to stay and talk with Uncle Ralof," the boy moaned.

Gerdur opened her mouth ready to scold the boy but Ralof kneeled down in front of him and spoke softly to him.

"Look at you, almost a grown man, won't be long until your joining the fight to free Skyrim yourself, listen my friends and me need you to do us a favour, the Imperials might be trying to find us so we need you to watch the south road and come warn us if you see anyone coming, can you do that?"

"Don't worry Uncle Ralof I won't let those milk drinkers sneak up on you," and with that the boy was off, his dog chasing after him.

While Ralof told Gerdur and her husband Hod of their capture and escape Katrine led Amela to sit on the stump so she could take a look at her injuries.

Apart from some non fatal clean cuts and burn marks where the chain lightning had touched her skin she seemed fine, so swallowing some magica potions, she focused her magica on the burns and cuts healing them in seconds, she also gave Amela a healing potion in case of internal injuries.

"Thanks said Amela examining the faint scars that were all that was left of the cuts and burns.

"Your welcome, the scars will fade, a priest would have done a it better, I have only had to deal with minor scrapes and scratches that come with daily chores," Katrine explained as she pulled out another magica potion and drained it.

Amela gave her a cocky smile and said "What's a battle without a couple of scars?"

They tuned back to the conversation between Ralof and Gerdur as Ralof asked "Are we really the only ones to have made it?"

"No one's come up the south road as far as I know," Gerdur answered him.

"What are your plans from here?" asked Hod speaking for the first time.

At this Ulfric answered "We will stay for the night, then we'll escort young Katrine to her kin in Whiterun, from there we will take a carriage to Windhelm," he answered.

Gerdur looked over at Katrine "Your going to Whiterun?" Katrine nodded.

"You'll need to get out of that armour, I sell timber to the Grey Mane's there and they told me that the Battle Born's are selling information to the Empire and that they are also involved in Thorald's disappearance," Gerdur explained taking in Katrine's borrowed Stormcloak armour.

At the mention of Thorald Katrine had an image of a teen boy watching over her and her best friend Olfina picked wildflowers in the plains outside of Whiterun.

She spoke to Gerdur with a quiver in her voice as if something had spooked her " Thorald Grey Mane is missing, are you certain?"

"Yes his mother is pretty upset about it, why do you ask?" Gerdur asked, puzzled.

"My kin in Whiterun are the Grey Mane's," Katrine explained.

Gerdur gasped and said "Oh my dear, I am truly sorry,"

Katrine took a calming breath "That is alright you did not know, still you are right I will need to get out of this amour," said Katrine thinking that she might be able to buy some clothes from the trader.

She turned to Ralof and Ulfric "How much will it be to get a carriage from Whiterun to Windhelm?"

Ralof answered after taking a moment to think "About forty septims," he said.

Alright thought Katrine we have around two hundred and fifty septims take forty from that is two hundred and ten plus if we sell the mage robes we should have enough.

She turned back to Gerdur and asked "Does the trader sell clothes or amour?"

"They do but you'd be lucky if they have any this late in the month," said Gerdur, she looked at Katrine's form trying to size her up, "However if you come with me I think I may have something that will fit,"

She led them back into the village, past the traders and up a dirt path to a house.

The inside was modest but cosy, there was a small fireplace with a cooking pot, a dinner table, a large cupboard, a small child's bed and a dividing screen which behind Katrine assumed was Gerdur and Hod's room.

Gerdur turned to Ulfric, Amela and Ralof and invited them to make themselves at home, she then asked Hod if he could run the mill for the rest of the day.

As Hod left Gerdur turned to Katrine "Now dear let's see if some of my own things don't fit you,"

Katrine was led behind the dividing screen where there was a fair sized double bed, a chest at the end of it and two bed side tables, one on each side.

Gerdur opened the chest and dug around in it for a bit then produced some hide amour, a pair of hide boots and a pair of hide braces.

She instructed Katrine to undress and helped her into the hide armour when she was done, it was a little lose around the chest area before Gerdur showed her how to tighten the ties.

She then showed Katrine how to lace up the braces and then slipped out to pour some mead for everyone while Katrine slipped on the hide boots.

Katrine looked down at herself and couldn't help but think I really hope I take after my mother in that area.

Stepping out from behind the screen the others looked up at her as she approached.

"Well, how do I look?" she asked, waiting for there opinion.

Ulfric was the first to answer "You look just like a young huntress minus one thing, a bow," Katrine thought sadly of the bow her father had carved for her and how either the imperials destroyed it or it was charred in the ashes of Helgan.

"If you sell the mages robes that should get you enough for a hunting bow and a decent amount of iron arrows from the blacksmith and still leave us with enough gold for the carriage, more if you trade in that Imperial sword," Ralof told her.

"Okay but just in case here," she said reaching into the coin purse and getting out forty septims, she handed them to Ralof and made to step out the door when Amela said " Wait for me, I'll go with you,". They left the house in comfortable silence and entered the trader, Lucan a man in his mid twenties, was behind the counter and greeted them warmly.

"Good afternoon and welcome to the Riverwood trader, what can I do for you?"

"Good afternoon my good man, we are looking to sell some novice mage robes that my sister has grown out of," Katrine said smoothly, inclining her head towards Amela.

"Well that will depend on the quality of the robes but for you I can do one fifty gold," Lucan said.

Katrine pretended to think for a moment before smiling and nodded, she set her pack down and gently, as not to rumple or tear them, pulled out the robes and placed them on the counter.

"Ah good quality, yes fine stitching and a good solid enchantment to make it easier to focus your magicka, ladies for this I can give you one hundred and sixty gold septims," said Lucan.

"How generous, thank you and good day my friend," said Katrine taking the coin and putting it in the coin purse.

"Good day ladies, come and see me if you need anything else," called Lucan as Katrine and Amela walked out the door.

The blacksmith was sharpening a sword on a grindstone as they walked up to him, he stopped and looked up at their approach.

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

"I would like to know how much for a hunting bow and a full quiver of iron arrows would cost if I trade in this sword," Katrine told him as she unsheathed the weapon and handed it to him.

"Hmm good craftsmanship, fine balance and it hasn't seen much use," the blacksmith murmured "It will be an extra fifty septims for a bow and a full complement of arrows," he said placing the sword on a work bench, he then walked over to a weapons rack and selected a decent looking hunting bow and picked up a full quiver of iron arrows while Katrine undid the sword's scabbard from her belt and removed fifty gold from the coin purse.

"Here you go," said the blacksmith handing the bow and quiver to Katrine.

She slipped the quiver over her head and adjusted the strap till it was both comfortable and in a position where she had quick access to an arrow, she then took the bow and gave it a couple of test pulls to gage the strength of the draw, when she was certain that she was pleased with it she handed over the coin and she and Amela headed back towards Gerdur and Hod's house.

"How much coin is left?" asked Amela.

Katrine thought for a moment before answering "Three hundred and fifteen septims,"

"That's probably enough to get us all rooms and food at the inn tonight," commented Amela as they walked through the door into Gerdur and Hod's house where Ulfric, Ralof and Gerdur where seated at the table waiting for them.

They spent the afternoon just talking with Gerdur about life in Riverwood while they waited for night to fall.

It was three hours before Hod returned with the boy who was introduced as Frodnar, they spent the next hour speaking about the dragon, leaving out the really gruesome parts so as not to scare the boy.

When they were about to leave Ralof informed his sister that they would be leaving at dawn the next day and they probably wouldn't see each other for some time, they embraced then Ralof gave his nephew a hug and clasped his brother in law's hand.

While that was happening Gerdur told Katrine to stop by the next time she was in Riverwood and asked her to take a message to the Jarl about the dragon and a plea for added protection in case of attack, Katrine gave her word on both.

The Sleeping giant inn was warm and cosy with the sent of cooking meat in the air, they all managed to get a room, a meal and a mug of mead.

The inn keeper was nice enough, but Katrine thought there was something odd about her, she seemed to focused for a simple innkeeper however Katrine didn't get much of a chance to observe her because it was if she had sensed Katrine's gaze and stared her down.

Katrine thought it would draw to much attention to challenge her gaze so she turned her attention to the bard Sven.

"Our hero, our hero claims a warrior's heart,

I tell you, I tell you the Dragonborn comes,

With a voice wielding power of the ancient nord art,

Believe, believe the Dragonborn comes,

It's an end to the evil of all Skyrim's foes,

Beware, beware the Dragonborn comes,

For the darkness has passed and the legend yet grows,

You'll know, you'll know the Dragonborn's come."

Katrine clapped along with the others and gave the bard a Septim, "Where did you learn how to play?" Katrine asked him.

"Solitude, at the bards college," Sven answered then asked "Do you sing or play?"

"I can sing and can I play the lute and flute," she answered.

Sven smiled, handed her his lute said "Well give us a song then,"

Katrine looked over at Amela, Ralof and Ulfric, who all gave her an encouraging smile, Katrine racked her brains then focused on a song her mother used to sing for her.

"The other night dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms,

But when I woke I was mistaken and I hung my head and cried,

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine you make me happy when skies are gray,

You'll never know dear how much I love you, so please don't take my sunshine away,"

She handed Sven back his lute as Amela, Ralof and Ulfric cheered.

"That was beautiful, have you ever considered being a bard?" Sven asked her.

"It was one option I considered, now I am not certain what I will do," Katrine answered honestly.

Ulfric stood up and told them "If we are to leave at dawn we should head to bed,"

Katrine's room was small, containing a bed, a chair and a chest to place items in, which Katrine placed her bow and quiver in, she left her dagger strapped to her thigh.

She removed her boots and braces and laid down on the bed which was just hay with animal hides stretched out over the top of it, but despite its simplicity it was comfortable and Katrine was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Katrine dreamt that night of great battles, a chilling voice, a pair of orange eyes the colour of a warm sunset and a crowd cheering for her "Long live the Dragon Empress!"

Katrine opened her eyes and smiled into her pillow, it had a nice ring to it, she thought as she slipped out of bed and pulled her boots and braces on.

She was just tightening the laces when a knock at the door sounded, "Yes, who is it?" she asked.

"It's me, time to leave," answered Amela.

"I will be right there," Katrine said grabbing her pack, her new bow, and her quiver as she exited the room.

Ulfric, Amela and Ralof were waiting for her in the dinning area of the inn by the door, Ralof had a large pack on his back, he smiled when Katrine gave him a curious look and explained that it had supplies in it.

Amela took Katrine's pack from her saying as she did "I'll carry that for you, you'll need quick access to your bow if we get into a fight,"

"Right," said Ulfric "Let's go before we loose daylight," and with that they exited the inn and headed up the north road out of the village.

Katrine marvelled at the scenery, it had in her opinion been too long since she had explored the forests of Skyrim, Bruma may be similar but it had nothing on Skyrim's beauty, truly it was without its equal she thought.

"What is going on in that head of yours?" asked Amela as they walked.

"Just admiring the scenery," answered Katrine.

"Have you been out of Skyrim long?" asked Ralof conversationaly.

"Generally speaking my family usually spends the summer months in Bruma and return to Skyrim in the autumn, though for a while it looked like my brother wasn't going to be returning with us, that he would be continuing to work on one of my father's fishing boats, until Papa came home one day and said he was selling the business," Katrine told them.

"I can't imagine your brother was too pleased with that," said Amela.

"At first he was not no, I had never seen him so angry, but then Papa took him out side and had words with him and then Tomas suddenly was looking forward to it, he said that Papa had arranged a place for him in the Companions, but I an not certain that was it," said Katrine.

"What do you mean?" asked Amela.

"Well if the Emperor had gotten so upset at my father's refusal to me marrying the Emperor's son that he sends soldiers and the Thalmor I just wonder how long he had been refusing and wether the change in plan was just a way to keep me out of the Emperor's reach," she said sadly.

Ulfric laid a comforting hand on her shoulder "You mustn't shoulder the blame of others," he said "Lest you find yourself carrying the weight of Nirn on your shoulders,"

They continued walking, as the light of Magnus rose ever higher more and more wildlife appeared and the birds could be heard singing their morning song, until they had been walking for almost two hours when Katrine stopped and listened, something is wrong she thought.

"Can you hear that?" she asked the others stopped alongside her and began to listen too.

"I don't hear anything," replied Amela.

"Exactly, even the birds are quiet," said Katrine recalling the advice her brother had given her for her first hunt "Just remember to listen to the world around you, not just for a snap of a twig, but the forest itself will tell you if there is something there that shouldn't be," he had told her.

"How will I know when the forest is trying to tell me something?" she had asked her brother.

"It will go still as if waiting for something, even the birds will stop to listen," her brother had told her.

Suddenly a loud roar was heard and several loud voices broke the silence.

Katrine took off towards the noise pulling her bow off her shoulder as she ran towards the sounds of battle, the others running after her with weapons drawn.

They ran out of the forest and Whiterun became visible, however Katrine's attention was focused on a giant attacking a group of warriors at a farmstead.

Running towards it she notched an arrow to the bow, aimed and let it fly.

She cheered as the arrow lodged itself into the soft part of the giant's neck, who swayed then fell forward.

She walked over to the farmstead where the warriors were examining the giant's body.

"Is everyone alright," asked Ulfric coming up to stand beside Katrine who was the three warriors.

The only male one answered "Yeah, we're fine,"

By Ysmir he is huge, thought Katrine, he was a nord about six foot six, dark hair down to his neck, heavy stubble on his chin, his light blue eyes were made even more noticeable by the black war paint around his eyes, he was wearing a set of steel armour and carried a great sword on his back.

Katrine thought he looked familiar but she couldn't place him, so she let her eyes move over to the youngest looking warrior.

A young Imperial by the look of her olive skin tone, with dark hair and chocolate eyes, she was dressed in scaled armour and a pair of hide boots, she had a steel shield on her left arm and a steel sword was sheathed in its scabbard on her left hip, she had a little amount of war paint traced around her eyes coming down her cheeks as well as on her bottom lip trailing down to almost touch her chin.

As she met Katrine's gaze she blushed and turned to speak with Ralof, Katrine smiled and turned her gaze to the last warrior.

Katrine was stunned, this woman was wildly beautiful, she was a little shorter than the mammoth man probably six foot four, flowing red hair over her shoulder and down her back, she wore a strange set of armour the likes of which Katrine had only seen in sketches of ancient warriors, it clung to her every curve, she herself was carrying a bow, she had on green war paint that came down her face in three diagonal gashes.

She met Katrine's gaze and smiled "Nice shot Katrine," she said.

"It was a lucky shot, wait do I know you?" Katrine asked trying to place the woman in front of her.

"Aww I'm hurt kid, I thought you said you wanted to marry me," the woman said with humour in her voice.

Katrine was taken back to one spring when she had been stayed with the Grey Manes, she and Olfina had been picking wildflowers and were trying to sell them in the market place for gold for sweets when Olfina had looked up, smiled teasingly and said "Look who is back from hunting,"

It was a young teen girl that was near the same age as Tomas, that Katrine had taken to staring at when ever she walked by.

Katrine had looked down at the red mountain flower in her hand, got up and walked over to the girl and handed her the flower, the teen smiled at her and looked as if she was waiting for Katrine to say something, Katrine thought desperately for something to say then, unfortunately, said the first thing to come to mind "Will you marry me?" the teen looked shocked then gave Katrine a smile and said "Maybe when you're older kid," and she gave Katrine a peck on the cheek and walked away.

Back at the present Katrine blushed and said "Hello Aela,"

The mammoth man smiled and enveloped her in a big hug "What about me, don't I get a hello?"

Katrine pulled back to get a proper look at his face "Farkas?" Farkas smiled and pulled her in for another bone crushing hug.

The young Imperial warrior cleared her throat.

"Of course where is our manners, Farkas let go of the kid so we can start the introductions," said Aela.

Katrine stepped out of Farkas' embrace and stepped up to clasp the young warrior's hand.

"Katrine this is Ria, she is the newest member of the Companions," said Aela as Katrine clasped the girls hand, warm and soft thought Katrine.

Aela continued with "Ria this is Katrine Kvatch, daughter of Lord Adrian Kvatch," Katrine winced at the sound of her fathers name, Ria's eyes widened "As in the hero of Kvatch, champion of Cyrodill?" Katrine nodded not speaking.

Farkas tuned to Ralof, Ulfric and Amela, Ulfric seeing the look on Katrine's face, guessed what had happened stepped forward "This is Ralof, Amela and I am ... Bear,"

Farkas, Ria and Aela clasped each of their hands in turn, then Aela turning back to Katrine noted the look on her face, seemed to realize something.

She scanned the south road as if she expected to see someone, when she didn't she gave Ulfric, Ralof and Amela a suspicious look, then turned back to Katrine "Katrine where is your father?" she asked eyeing the two Stormcloaks and Ulfric.

Katrine took a deep breath and quite calmly said "He is dead, murdered by the Thalmor and some Imperial soldiers,"

Ria gasped, Farkas looked saddened and Aela started "Why, he has never done anything to openly oppose them and he had a lot of allies in the Imperial council, not to mention his wife is a member of one of the highest ranking families in the Aldmeri dominion, why would they kill him?"

"It is a rather sensitive issue, not one to be discussed out in the open, my friends need to catch a carriage to Windhelm, then I need to take the news to Eorlund, we can discuss it then," Aela nodded and led them to the stables where the carriage driver was fixing his horse to the carriage.

Ralof walked up to him to discuss arrangements, Ulfric turned to Katrine "Now I want you to write to me alright, just send it to The Bear, Windhelm barracks and it will find me, also take this," he took off the novice hood from his head and handed it to Katrine, Aela's eyes widened as she realised who Ulfric was.

"This will do until you can find a helm, wear it whenever you leave the city," he then turned to Aela "The Thalmor didn't get all they wanted from her father, see to it that if she must leave the city she does not go alone, at least until her family gets here, and that she starts wearing war paint in a design that covers her face,"

"I can do that," said Aela clasping his hand, he placed a hand on Katrine's shoulder and said "I know that the last few days have been difficult and right now it may feel as though the world is ending but things will get better, you just have to stay strong," he clasped her hand in farewell and hopped into the carriage.

Amela pulled her into a hug and whispered "Farewell shield sister," "Farwell,"

Ralof clasped her hand and said "Good luck, we wouldn't have made it without you,"

Katrine watched as the carriage pulled away, it was strange she thought, to feel so much for people I have just met but I feel like I have known them a life time, I wonder if that is what people mean when they say that the bonds forged in fire are the strongest.

"Come on Katrine, we had better head inside where its safe," said Aela gently, Katrine nodded and followed her, Farkas and Ria following along behind her.