Location: Stone Quarter, Windhelm
22th of Rain's Hand
8:54am

Kayleigh was now one step closer to catching the murderer that had been terrorizing Windhelm for a month, killing innocent women and attempting to perform some kind of necromantic ritual as well. The killer was going to struck either tonight or tomorrow, so Kayleigh promised to keep watch in the Stone Quarter at night. In the meantime, she had the whole day. She decided to head over to the Stone Quarter itself and say hi to yet another friend.

"Oengul War-Anvil?" She called out to the Nord attending to the workbench.

The bald Nord stopped his work on improving a steel sword. He turned to find Kayleigh, all grown up and no longer that little girl he taught smithing to. "Shor's bones…" He sat his hammer down and his jaw dropped to the ground "Kayleigh..."

"How have you been, Oengul?" She asked with a smile.

"Now that I've seen you? Wonderful!" He moved towards her for a hug. "We missed you, child." He pulled back to take a good look at her, but to also question, "Why did you run off like that? What even happened?"

"Um… I…"

"The guards found Daren's body in your home, but you were nowhere to be found," He explained. "They grew suspicious, but I told them you couldn't have done anything like this. I stood by your side and still continue to." He pledged to her.

Her smile was one filled with dejection. "Thank you, Oengul, but… they had every right to be suspicious."

He stepped back in shock. "No… no, it can't be."

"You knew what kind of man he was!" She defended, tears starting to form in her green eyes. "He killed her! Right in front of my eyes! I… I don't even know what happened… I just… it happened so fast…"

"Now, now," He placed his hands on her shoulders in a comforting manner. "It's alright. Any woman in your position would have done the same thing," He smiled a little, letting her know that it was okay. "Come. Take a seat on the grindstone, Kayleigh."

"Thank you," She sat on the seat of the grindstone, with Vigilance lying on his stomach on the ground. "What happened after I left?"

"The Jarl had his guards work on this case for a while. There was no murder weapon and they could not get a hold of you for questioning so it reminded a mystery," He explained to her as he returned to improve the sword on his workbench further. "I know you were scared, but you shouldn't have run off like that."

"I didn't know what else to do, Oengul. I didn't want to go to jail!"

"I know you didn't but… things kind of changed after you left." He hammered the sword.

She titled her head at him in comfusion. "How do you mean, 'changed'?" She asked, tucking her dark auburn hair behind her ear.

"Well," He smiled, trying to find the right words. "Your family was very popular in Windhelm, besides the Stormcloaks and Shatter-Shields. Almost everybody knew you and how you took after your mother and father in many ways. You lighted up this dull little city from time to time with your words of wisdom, your loving greetings… A lot of us miss it. We missed you."

Kayleigh smiled, but guilt took hits at her and she felt even more remorseful than before about running away. "But I'm back now. I'm not leaving. Well, expect for…" She trailed off, wondering if he knew.

Oengul smiled as he continued to hammer the sword. "Most of us know, child. That you're the legendary Dragonborn."

She looked at him with a shocked expression on her face. How do people even know?

"I'm not surprised, though." He admitted. "Only someone like you can obtain such an honorary title."

She grinned. "Thank you."

"Has it been hard you though?"

"A little," She admitted. "But I'm adjusting to it. I'll be alright, Oengul. I have to be. Alduin has returned, and I'm the only one who can stop him."

"Yes, Kayleigh. As the legends foretold, it's up to you," He looked at her. "Why don't you leave your weapons with me?" He kept the sword he had finally finished working on aside. "I'll improve them for you. Take it as a welcome home present."

"Oh, Oengul, I couldn't let you do something like that for me."

"Why not? I am a blacksmith, after all." He pointed out the obvious.

She sighed with a smile. "And you were my teacher. Alright," She unhooked her Mace of Molag Bal from her waist as well as the Dragonbane and handed it to him. Then, an idea came to her. "Um, may I use your forge?"

"You don't even have to ask, child. You know where I kept my supplies. Help yourself."

Her form of a thank you was a sweet smile. "Hey, Vigilance," The pup looked up from his paws. "Remember when I said I would repay you?"

He got on his feet, suddenly interested. We're nowhere near a cooking pit. Are you going to forge me a set of armor or something?

"How does a nice set of armor sound like to you?"

Oh, I was right!

12:03pm

This was highly unlikely. No one had ever heard of a set of armor had for a dog, but Kayleigh was making that possible. When she was a young teenager, she used to spend time here in the forge with Oengul, who taught everything he knew. She learnt to forge all forms of light armor pretty quickly. She was beginning to learn how to forge heavy armor when she ran off. She hoped that she could finish what she started… once Alduin and the Imperials were gone, of course.

For more than 3 hours, Kayleigh worked hard at creating the lightest, but strongest armor for Vigilance. It had to be light so as to not weigh him down but it also had to protect him from arrows and certain falls. She regularly checked her creations against Vigilance. Finally, after a long time, she managed to forge leather armor for him and it fitted him perfectly.

"Alright, boy. See that dummy over there?" Niranye, the High Elf, had a merchant store in the marketplace and she allowed Vigilance to use her practice dummy. "Attack!"

Vigilance prepared himself, and pounced on the dummy. The armor did not slow him down; neither did it weigh him down. He turned around and somewhat 'smiled' at Kayleigh.

Kayleigh squealed with happiness. "Ha! It's works well! Come here, you!" She stretched out her arms to him, to which Vigilance jumped onto her and she managed to keep her footing. "I'm so proud of you." Vigilance licked her face repeatedly, to which she giggled and begged him to stop. "I love you too, pup!"

"Wonderfully forged, Kayleigh!" Oengul walked up from behind her. "It'll protect him from any kind of danger." He patted Vigilance on his head. "Only you can come up with something as selfless as this."

She smiled, and looked at Vigilance, who proceeded to giving her one last lick.

Location: Palace of the Kings
4:17pm

"Well?"

"You were right, Jarl Ulfric. She's not all that she seems to be."

"So what exactly happened 12 years ago?"

"First, a little history: Daren Clarke married Felicia Bennett, William's widow a few years after his death."

"William? As in William Bennett? Wasn't he my father's right-hand man?"

"Aye; died after clearing that cave full of bandits," Jorleif then proceeded to reading off a journal, which contained the reports of Kayleigh's case from 12 years ago. "According to this, Daren was stabbed in the neck and no murder weapon was found. Neither was the Dragonborn," He closed the book. "All her items from Hjerim moved into one of the rooms upstairs after the Shatter-Shields bought the house."

"Hmm…" Ulfric leaned back onto his throne. "What do you think, Jorleif?"

"If she really did murder Daren, she must answer for it, and pay with jail time."

8:37pm

The night finally fell over the city of Windhelm. Tonight was cold; exceptionally cold. Even Kayleigh, who was a Nord and a citizen of Windhelm found it rather chilly. She folded her arms across her chest and tried to keep warm. Unfortunately, she was wearing a Studded Armor, one that she had forged herself at Alvor's forge in Riverwood. So the sleeveless attire was not helping.

"You alright in the cold, Vigilance?" She asked.

Vigilance wagged his tail happily. Yes! Thanks to you!

"Glad to know." She gave a little smile.

Kayleigh and Vigilance had just finished patrolling the Gray Quarter. Even though Wuunferth the Unliving had forecasted that the attack would take place in the Stone Quarter, Kayleigh managed to convince the Jarl to have her patrol all areas of Windhelm, including the Gray Quarter. He was reluctant at first, but then gave in. Kayleigh did not mind the extra work at all. It was all for Windhelm.

"Since you're insisting so badly, go ahead. But watch yourself."

His bitterness towards non-Nordic races was not new to her anymore; she knew how much hatred he had. Maybe she will be able to change his mind about that one day. Maybe.

Guards were already guarding the Stone Quarter. There was not much for her to do there. One of them suggested she patrol the Valunstrad Quarter instead, to which she agreed. She felt like walking a little more anyways.

She took a slow stroll, letting memories flood her mind as she looked at all the houses. She remembered having play-dates with the twin Shatter-Shield sisters. She remembered waiting out here in the walkway for her father to come back home from his duties at the Palace of the Kings.

So many memories…

Then, she stopped at Hjerim and frowned. At one point, all she had in this house were nothing but good memories. But now, it seems that all she has now are the terrible ones; ones that she wished never happened in the first place. Everything was just… perfect at one point. How did it all change?

As she stared at her house, Vigilance picked up a scent and began to walk away, his nose to the ground, trying to pick up the scent.

Kayleigh then realized that her pup was walking away, trailing the scent. "What is it, boy? Did you find-" A hand suddenly covered her mouth and prevented her from screaming. The attacker used his other hand and cupped her neck, tightly.

Reflexes in kicked in and Kayleigh tried to elbow him. He refused to let go of her, despite the elbow blows. He was strong. Damn it! She stepped on his foot with much strength. He grunted, loosening his grip from her neck a little bit. But it was more than enough for Kayleigh to break free. She fell to her knees and that was when Vigilance came running at top speed, barking viciously. In one jump, he knocked Kayleigh's attacker off his feet.

Vigilance growled ferociously at the attacker, ready to bit him even. Kayleigh got back on her feet, wielding her Mace of Molag Bal. She pointed it at the fallen attacker, whose eyes widened at the sight of the spikey, soul-claiming mace.

"Baah!" The attacker let out a cry after Vigilance stepped on his stomach. "Get this mutt… OFF ME!" He demanded.

"Alright, you son of a bitch! You have three of choices!" She panted. "One: I'm not a worshipper of Molag Bal, but DAMN IT, I have NO problems sending your soul to him! Two: I let Vigilance here have his way with you. Or three: you tell what in Talos name were you trying to do to me!"

A/N: So where did I go all this time? I'd been practising for a mega-huge performance in my school where I had to sing and act on the same night. I've been rehearsing for it since... forever. But it's over, and I can get back to this story. But remember! High School requires a lot of me this year, so updates may be a little late. Apologizes in advance.

Thank you putting this story on alert :D

I'm trying to improve on my descriptive writing. I know I'm lacking on it :/