A.N as always I own nothing. this is Elvish

"Let me look at you, my Omega," said Annika as she pulled out of Katrine's embrace.

The older woman gave her daughter a sad smile as she appraised her.

"I believe you have grown since I last saw you,"

"Not by much Mama," said Katrine.

"You will be taller than me soon," said Annika.

A low wine interrupted their conversation and Katrine turned to face the large wolf.

"I have missed you also Oddok," she said ruffling the fir on the ice wolf's neck.

"Who is your friend Katrine?" asked Annika.

Katrine looked over her shoulder and saw Lydia walking towards them.

"Mama this is Lydia, Lydia this is my Mother Annika Hanson," Katrine said introducing them to each other.

"It's nice to meet you Madam," said Lydia as she grasped Annika's arm in greeting.

"It is nice to meet you as well, now how do you know my daughter?"

Katrine winced she should have expected that, her mother had never been accused of being subtle in her life.

"I think Mama, that we best have this conversation indoors," Katrine said.

Her mother raised an eyebrow at her then said "Alright would you both like a lift back to the city?" as she stepped up on to the drivers bench of the cart.

Lydia looked to Katrine who gestured her to go first.

Lydia climbed up to sit beside Annika, followed by Katrine and Oddok who jumped up and sat on the seat.

Lydia bent forward to stare in dis belief at the ice wolf's human act, Katrine noticed this and smiled at her friend's baffled look.

"Lydia meet Oddok, Oddok this is Lydia, she is a friend,"

Oddok turned his gaze towards Lydia for a second then went back to staring forward.

Annika's lips turned up in amusement at the little scene, then urged Delta, her horse on.

They parked the cart next to the stables and Katrine and Lydia helped Annika unburden Delta and set her up with some hay and water.

They walked through the gates and up past Warmaiden's, Adrianne and some of the guardsmen called out a greeting to Annika, the others, possibly the newer guard were busy staring at Oddok.

As the entered Breezehome, Annika looked around, noting the decoration of the house, and the books and scrolls that Katrine had picked up in the barrow, mostly spell tomes.

"Is this your house?" Annika asked Lydia in a tone that said she already knew the answer to that.

"Um, no Mistress, it isn't," Lydia answered her, glancing at Katrine.

Annika raised an eyebrow and turned to her daughter.

Katrine sighed, this would not be easy "Mama for what I am about to tell you, you will need to sit down," said Katrine.

As her mother took the offered seat Katrine poured out some spiced wine for the three of them and a bowl of water for Oddok.

Wine in hand and Oddok at her feet, Katrine told her mother everything from Adrian's death to her slaying of the dragon at the watch tower, everything in between and everything since.

Annika was silent, she just stared at her Katrine like she couldn't understand what she was saying.

"You fought and killed a dragon, my daughter who is fourteen years old killed a dragon and was granted a title for it," said Annika, her voice was calm though her eyes told she wasn't.

"Yes Mama," said Katrine feeling like the child who had decided to add pictures to her mother's research papers.

Annika nodded and took a deep sip of her wine.

"And this energy, this soul that you absorbed leads others to believe that you are Dragonborn, because of this the Grey beards have summoned you to their monastery,"

"Yes Mama,"

Annika took a final sip of her wine.

"Well we are not going anywhere till Anwen Tomas arrive, in the meantime you will continue training with the Companions and working with Eorlund," said Annika "I will search through my books for any information on the Dragonborn, I will also write to my colleagues at the collage, they might know Something about this,"

Katrine stared at her mother in disbelief, she expected many things but this was not it.

Annika noted her look "You have questions My Omega?"

"I honestly thought you would be against me going to the Grey beards," Katrine told her.

Annika sighed and nodded.

"Ordinarily I would be against something like this, until you were of age but, we have no idea what being Dragonborn will entail or how it will affect you, these Grey beards may be the only ones with the answer to that question," explained Annika.

She then turned to Lydia "What exactly is expected of her as a Thane?"

"If the Jarl needs advice or needs a different perspective on a matter he may call on her, apart from that it is mainly a honorary title," answered Lydia.

Annika sighed in relief "Well that does not seem so bad,"

A knock sounded at the door and Lydia jumped to answer it.

Katrine could feel her mother's eyes upon her and turned to see her studying her rather intently, a concerned look on her face.

"Is there something wrong Mama?"

Annika raised an eyebrow "I do not know, is there?"

Katrine frowned, what was her mother getting at "I do not know what you mean,"

Annika smiled sadly "No I do not suppose that you do,"

Lydia walked back to the fire followed by Olfina, who greeted Annika warmly.

"Papa has invited the three of you for supper, if you're interested," Olfina told them.

Annika smiled "Tell your Father we would be happy to join you, I just need to see to some things at the cart, that is if you both would like to go," she said turning to Katrine and Lydia, who nodded their agreement.

Taking care of things at the cart included gathering Annika's trunk of clothing as well as all her books and notes on various subjects, which Katrine was eager to read the most recent of.

On the way back the stable master's son Jervar called out a greeting from where he was working with a black filly.

"Evening Jervar, is that a new horse?" asked Katrine.

"Aye this fiery little filly's just been broken in, Queen Alfsigr or Allie for short," he answered.

"She is beautiful," breathed Katrine looking at the horse's silky midnight black coat.

Jervar chucked "That she is, she's also stubborn and extremely proud,"

The horse seemed to be holding herself high as if she knew she was being talked about.

"Well I can see why you gave her the title of queen, she is very regal looking," said Katrine, the horse nickered as if in agreement.

After dropping off Annika's belongings at Breezehome they made they way over to the Grey Mane's, where Annika was welcomed very warmly by them and Annika thanked Eorlund and Fralia for their hospitality and for protecting Katrine.

"Oh think nothing of it dear you both are kin, we are just glad you both are safe and we pray to the Nine each night for Tomas and Anwen's safe return," said Fralia.

At that Katrine started, she had stopped her nightly prayers, ever since her father's murder, it hadn't felt right, had she lost faith?

She shook that thought from her head and walked towards the table.

They all sat down at the table for a meal of roast horker and grilled potatoes, Oddok was happily gnawing on a venison bone at Katrine's feet.

Half way through supper there was a knock on the door, as Olfina answered it a courier was revealed.

"Sorry to bother you, but I have a letter here for Katrine from Bear,"

Katrine shot up and paid the courier for the letter and thanking him, then returned to the table.

'Dear Katrine,' it read,

'I did hear about the dragon attack, though I must say I thought the bit about the Dragonborn being there a rumor and I am surprised to hear it being a fact, though it doesn't surprise me that there was a celebration, we nords like any excuse to drink and feast.

I am happy to hear that you were able to get in contact with your mother, please give her my beast wishes when you see her.

Have you heard anything from your brother? I hope he is well.

Things in Windhelm are as they always are, the snow falls, the fish gets caught and the mead gets drunk.

Everyone is looking forward to this years Harvest end celebrations,

I hope you have a great day and are able to have some fun,

Bear'

Katrine looked up at Eorlund "Is Harvest end soon?"

Eorlund chucked "it's in four days Katrine,"

Four days, thought Katrine as she went back to finishing her meal, Nine if the days have gone fast.

After supper they had a goblet of alto wine and played a few rounds of meier, after which Katrine, Annika and Lydia headed home.

Back at Breezehome Katrine helped Annika unpack, she put all of Annika's notes and books into the book shelf downstairs, while Annika was upstairs dealing with her clothes, Lydia meanwhile was getting some water ready for a bath.

Just as Katrine had finished rearranging the bookshelf so that everything was in alphabetical order Annika came downstairs carrying a package wrapped in hide.

"What is that?" asked Katrine, Annika only smiled and handed it to her, Katrine glanced down at the package in her arms before deciding the only way she was going to know what was in it was to open it.

She undid the ties and pulled the hide aside, inside was a pure white fur cloak, Katrine ran her hands over it, it was so soft, it reminded her of Oddok's fur and she almost glanced over to the fire to check he wasn't missing any.

"It is beautiful Mama, thank you, is it wolf fur?"

Annika shook her head "No it is snow bear, I had it made for you, I remember how cold it got in the winter and thought you might want something to keep you warm,"

Katrine pulled the cloak around her shoulders, it felt heaver then the cloak she had brought from Lucan, but come the winter months Katrine felt sure she would need it.

"Katrine the water is ready," called Lydia.

"Thank you Lydia," said Katrine "Did you want to go first Mama?"

"Thank you,"

Later that night as Katrine combed her hair, Annika came up behind her, took the comb out of her hands and took over.

As her mother deftly removed the tangles from her hair Katrine pondered over a question that had been in her mind for a while.

"Mama why did Papa refuse the Emperor?" she asked.

Annika was silent for a moment before saying "Oh my Omega, you are such a willful and unique individual, you always have been," said Annika.

"If you married into the Emperor's son you would have been reduced to nothing more than a pretty bauble on his arm, good for nothing but to produce heirs and to keep the peace with the people of Skyrim, your Father could not stomach the idea of his little one being reduced to that," Annika explained.

"Also I think he was a little afraid of what I would do to him if he did," Katrine smiled at that

Annika gathered up Katrine's hair and begun to braid it.

"Your Father loved you Katrine, he wanted you to have the freedom to choose your own life, anything else would have been not enough in his eyes," said Annika as she finished the braid.

Katrine turned and hugged her mother, relishing in the feel of her arms around her.

They spoke about Annika's research at the college until it was time for Katrine to take her calming draught.

It took seconds to take effect, the excitement of the day mixed in made it extra potent and she was out in seconds.

That night she once again dreamt of fire and battle but felt calm and distant from it.

She woke the next morning to see her mother still sleeping peacefully beside her.

Oddok was at the foot of the bed, he raised his head and let out a low whine, Katrine reached forward to scratch behind his ear.

"Good morning Oddok,"

She quietly slipped out of bed got ready for the day, she turned back to face her sleeping mother and remembered how whenever she had come back from a trip with her father her mother would make her breakfast in bed.

It seemed Lydia was still abed as Katrine crept silently down stairs, Oddok following after her.

Once down stairs she set to making some frost miriam tea.

While she waited for the kettle to boil she set Oddok up with some left over venison stew and mad some bred and cheese servings for her mother, Lydia and herself.

Once the kettle was boiled she poured out some tea and took hers and her mother's up to the bedroom, she paused to knock on Lydia's door to tell her breakfast was ready.

"Mama I made you some breakfast," she said as she set the plates down on the bedside table and handed her mother the tea as she sat up in bed.

"Thank you Omega," she said, she sipped the tea and smiled at the taste.

"What are your plans for the day?" asked Annika as she took a bite of the bread and cheese.

"The usual, my run, training and then work at the forge, what about you Mama?"

"I am going to feed and water Voyager, then I am going to write to a trusted colleague of mine about our situation and then I am going to see if I can not translate that lettering of yours," Annika told her as she drained the tea.

They met Lydia down stairs as she had just finished her breakfast, as they left for the day Katrine grabbed two apples.

Once they had arrived at the stables Katrine gave Voyager one of the apples, then she snuck further into the stable while Lydia was helping Annika feed Voyager, she gave Allie the second apple.

She gently stroked the filly's coat, making soothing sounds as she did.

After a few minutes she crept back out, she pretended to have been at the stream filling up her waterskin, though she was certain that she had not fooled her mother who gave her the same look she did the time she had pretended not to know exactly who had been using Adrian's war axe on the practice dummy and gotten it stuck in the wooden frame.

After their run they walked up to the training grounds with Oddok shadowing Katrine closely.

As they approached the whelps, never having seen Oddok before, started at the sight of such a large wolf in their midst.

Farkas, Vilkas and Aela however looked pleased, Farkas walked over to him and gave him a scratch behind the ears.

"Oddok my furry friend, you have grown," he said.

Njada was, however, was les then pleased.

"Why is that animal in the city, it could go mad and kill someone," she exclaimed.

Skjor had been walking out of the mead hall when he heard Njada outburst.

"Njada the only time Oddok would ever kill a person is if he feels Katrine was being threatened or if she orders him to, so I would be careful with what you say," he stated.

Training passed quickly with Aela seemingly pleased with Katrine's progress.

They stopped just before Midday for a meal in the mead hall which the Companions had set up to welcome Annika back to Whiterun, which was filled with chatter about the Harvest End festival.

Annika spent her time between discussing Katrine's training with Kodlak and Eorlund and glaring at the mug of mead in Katrine's hand, she never does like it when I drink or hunt, Nine knows what she is going to be like when I come of age, thought Katrine.

Work that day consisted of crafting the set of armour for the new guardsman.

Eorlund shaped the helmet and cuirass, while Katrine worked on making the braces and boots, all the while her mind was on her brother and Anwen.

At the end of the day Katrine swept up around the forge.

"Are you alright Katrine, you've been rather quiet,"

"I am just worried about Tomas and Anwen, I thought we would have heard from them by now," Katrine said.

"Your brother is smart, as is his mother, he would have gone the long way around and he would have avoided all of the patrols and the main traid routes," Eorlund told her, "Your brother is an experienced sailor and he fights like a dremora, more importantly he will let nothing keep him from you, now before I forget Kodlak asked me to invite you, your mother and Lydia to the Harvest End celebrations in the mead hall,"

Katrine gave him a small smile "I will have to ask Mama and Lydia but I would love to come,"

As she walked down through the streets she wondered why she had not seen the excitement about the festival, Ulfric was right, she mused, we nords certainly like any reason to celebrate, it is more of a religious celebration, she thought.

As she walked passed Belethor's shop her eyes where drawn down an ally by a flash of light and fabric.

She looked around everyone was either in their homes for the evening meal or at the tavern.

She drew her sword and crept down the ally, listening for any sound that would have been out of place.

She felt rather than heard the crackling of shock magic and pulled on her own magica conjuring flames.

Flames in her right hand, sword in her left she slowly crept into the residential part of the planes district, she turned towards Ysolda's and walked towards the back of the house.

She pressed herself against the side of the house and peered around, then quickly dropped to the ground as the Thalmor agent let loose shock magic at her.

From her position on the ground she let out a "FUS!"

The wave hit him and knocked him onto his back.

Katrine leapt up and rushed forward to kneel on him drawing her dagger as she did.

"Katrine, what's going on? Are you alright?" The sound of the battle had drawn out Ysolda.

"Quickly run to Breezehome and fetch Lydia, the go and inform the Jarl, tell no one else," Katrine told her.

As Ysolda sped off Katrine turned back to the Thalmor and pressed her dagger into his neck, not enough to cut but enough that he would feel it.

"Who sent you?!" she hissed.

The Thalmor just narrowed his eyes at her.

She snarled and a low growl was heard from behind her, she turned her head and saw Oddok, his hackles raised at the Thalmor under her.

The elf in question appeared to be more afraid of Oddok then her.

She ran the dagger up to his cheek and made a shallow cut, he flinched and a tiny drop of blood leaked out.

He seemed unimpressed "Is that supposed to scare me Dragonborn?" he asked.

Katrine wondered if he spoke in elvish because he was trying to unnerve her.

"No it is not," she said with a smirk "It is so that my friend can scent you,"

The Thalmor's eyes widened and his golden skin paled.

"You see because you have no useful information I am going to call the guard to escort you out of the city, then I am going to let my friend out and he is going to find you and tear you apart,"

It seemed that Katrine's threat made an impact because all of a sudden the Thalmor knew the common tongue.

"No! No, I was sent by Elenwen to eliminate the Kvatch girl, please, please Dragonborn don't set your wolf on me," he pleaded

Katrine smiled sweetly and helped him to his feet.

"Oh I will not, now before I forget does Elenwen have any thought that Katrine Kvatch and the Dragonborn is the same person?"

The Thalmor's eyes widened in shock and Katrine was certain in that moment he knew he was going to die.

"N-no, but don't worry I wont tell her," He said his eyes pleading.

Katrine smiled "Oh I know,"

She sliced the back of his calves with her sword and as he fell to his knees she plunged her dagger into his throat turning his cries of pain into a chocked gurgle.

She withdrew her dagger and he fell sideways onto the ground dead.

Katrine cleaned of her dagger on his clothes and searched in his pocket, finding a heavy coin purse and a note written in elvish.

'You are to discretely eliminate the Kvatch girl, she is beyond reason.

We have General Tullius' permission, however we only have the Emperor's unofficial blessing as she is in Skyrim any official permission would anger the Elder council.

Therefore Balgruuf and Elisif are not to be alerted.

Also if possible learn the identity of this so called Dragonborn, but be cautious anyone who can kill a dragon must be deadly,

E.'

Katrine had just finished reading when Lydia rushed over.

Lydia's eyes roamed over the scene.

"What happened?" she asked.

"He was sent by Elenwen," said Katrine as she handed Lydia the note.

The brunette's brow furrowed as she read the words and cursed.

She lifted her face eyes from the note to Katrine and Katrine could see the guilt there and it didn't take a scholar to figure out what was going on in Lydia's mind.

Lydia this is not your fault," Katrine said before Lydia could say anything.

Lydia shook her head "I am supposed to protect you and the moment I take my eyes off you you're attacked by a Thalmor agent,"

"If you had been with me he might not have attacked in such a direct manner," said Katrine "What I would like to know is how he got into the city,"

"I would also like to know that," said Balgruuf, he was accompanied by Irileth and three guardsmen.

The Jarls eyes roamed over the dead Thalmor, then settled on Katrine.

"Are you alright Thane Katrine?" he asked in a concerned tone.

Katrine gave him a placating smile "I am fine, My Jarl,"

Balgruuf nodded seemingly appeased "Thane Katrine speaks the truth Housecarl Lydia, if he had enough smarts to sneak into the City undetected then he could have easily waited fore a more opportune time, we are lucky he choose now," he said then turned to the guardsmen.

"Take him to the Hall of the dead, find Anders and see if he can find any clues on the body,"

After the guards had gone Katrine handed the note to Balgruuf "My Jarl he had this on him,"

The Jarl's brow furrowed as his eyes swept over it, once he had finished he handed the note to Irileth.

"What do you make of this?" Balgruuf asked Katrine.

"The Thalmor know I am in Whiterun, they know that there is someone in the city who could be Dragonborn but they do not know that the person is me, they are well informed, if missing a few key pieces of information, so someone is feeding them information but it is not a guard or any of the Companions" said Katrine thinking she knew exactly who it was.

"My Jarl, the Thalmor couldn't have gotten in without help, the information probably came from the same place," supplied Irileth.

"Agreed, I want you to look into this, discreetly," Balgruuf told his housecarl, then said to Katrine "I would suggest you that you do not go anywhere without Lydia from now on Thane Katrine,"

Katrine nodded her head in agreement and she and Lydia headed to Breezehome.

Inside Breezehome Annika had already had dinner cooked and was not happy to be told that Katrine had been attacked and was even less happy about the idea that someone in the city had helped them.

It also seemed that for the first time in Katrine's life Annika's brain had found something that she could not solve, the source of the lettering alluded her, however she was hopeful that her colleagues in Winterhold could tell her something.

That night, before bed Katrine wrote a reply to Ulfric.

'Dear Bear,

I confess that until your letter I did not notice the excitement brought about by Harvest End, I think I may worry for my sight.

I have heard from Anwen that she and my brother are on their way to Skyrim, I pray they arrive safely.

Until today it had been a quiet couple of weeks, but according to gossip a Thalmor agent somehow snuck into the city, unfortunately for him the first person he ran into was the Dragonborn, Lady Nocturnal was not with that Altmer.

I will write again if anything happens,

Katrine.'

Katrine placed the letter on her side table then knelt by her bed and recited Prayers to the Nine.

"Glory be thine forever," she finished.

She slipped into bed and closed her eyes her last thought before succumbing to sleep was I wonder if the Devines even care for our prayers.