"On a moonless night, he cast his spell and dove into the thrashing purple waves. He kept his mind on the world of possibilities; that books could sing, that green was blue, that that water was air, that every stroke and kick brought him closer to a sunken ship filled with treasure. He felt magicka surge all around him as he pushed his way deeper down. Ahead he saw a ghostly shadow of the Morodrung, its mast billowing in a wind of deep-water currents. He also felt his spell begin to fade. He could break reality long enough to breathe water all the way back up to the surface, but not enough to reach the ship."

I leaned against the barrier behind me, listening to Lissa read. She usually made funny faces when she read the good parts, but today she didn't. I reached out and touched her hand, and she looked up.

"What's wrong, Farkas?" she asked me.

"That's what I was going to ask you, Lissa."

Lissa closed the book, leaning back in her chair. She looked toward Dragonsreach from where we sat in the courtyard. Vilkas, Cassius, and Lydia had been up there a long time now. Well, not that long. But as soon as Lissa was home, I wanted to give her the book I'd found.

"I'm just worried about what the Jarl will decide. If he sides with Ulfric, then we won't have much to act upon."

I nodded. "But if he doesn't?"

"Then the Stormcloaks will march on Whiterun, and we have to decide what to do to defend our people."

Aela came through the door as Lissa spoke, and she joined us at our table. She picked up on what we were talking about pretty quick. "They're still up there, huh? How long does it take to give the man an axe?"

"Apparently a long time." I said, tapping Aela's foot with my own under the table.

Lissa leaned toward us. "If the Stormcloaks march, it's our duty to protect our people. Vilkas wants to fight, and that's fine. But we will defend Jorrvaskr before we defend the Stormcloaks."

"Understood and agreed, Harbinger." Aela said. "We can gather most of Whiterun in Jorrvaskr until the battle is over. If they choose to stay out and fight, they can, but we can provide shelter until it passes."

Lissa nodded. "I agree entirely. That's what we'll do, then."

Right on cue, Vilkas rounded the corner to the courtyard. We watched quietly as he approached. Once he reached us, he pulled out the chair next to Lissa and sat. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a long kiss on the cheek.

"Can I make assumptions, then?" Aela asked.

Vilkas nodded. "Aye. Jarl Balgruuf has refused the axe." He turned toward us. "Cassius and I are returning to Windhelm now to inform Jarl Ulfric."

Lissa nodded. "Vilkas, my brother becomes very involved in his journeys if he's passionate enough. Believe me when I tell you that he is passionate enough."

"I believe you, Kara."

Lissa laughed, but leaned toward him again. "Please, please don't get yourself killed."

I cleared my throat. "I also don't want you to die, Vilkas."

My brother laughed. "I'll be fine. I promise." He gave Lissa a long kiss before he stood again. He put his hand on the side of Lissa's face. "I'll be back. I love you."

"I love you too, Vilkas." she said. Vilkas smiled and he patted my back before he left the same way he came.

Aela looked around at us. "It's settled, then." she said. "For Whiterun."

Lissa nodded. "For Whiterun."

The day of the fight was here, and most of Whiterun was inside of our home. The Battle-Borns had not wanted to be near the Gray-Manes, and they were out roaming the streets of Whiterun. Torvar and Athis were in the courtyard guarding the backdoors, while Lissa and I watched the front. Aela stood at the top of the Skyforge, her bow drawn and ready to fire at anyone who got too close but also have a good view of Dragonsreach.

There were a lot of Imperials in the streets. Apparently, Jarl Balgruuf had written to General Tullius, and he had sent a lot of men to help defend Whiterun.

Lissa leaned against the door, a loaf of bread in her hand. She had eaten a few now, so I took the loaf from her.

"Farkas! What the—"

I shook my head at her. "You're stressing." I took a bite of the loaf, then tossed it into the grass around Jorrvaskr.

"I'm not stressing. I'm just—alright I'm stressing." Lissa said. She laughed a little, but she was still nervous.

"Want a distraction?" I asked her.

She raised an eyebrow. "Sure."

I leaned against the door next to her. "Aela and I have been talking. About you and Vilkas."

"Is that so?"

"It is." I said, grinning. "We noticed that this was the first time we've heard you two say you loved each other."

"Very perceptive, Farkas. As usual."

"So? What aren't you telling us?"

Lissa shook her head. "I changed my mind. I don't want a distraction."

"It doesn't work like that." I said, grinning.

Lissa's cheeks were red. "I'm not supposed to tell."

I jumped up. "Now you have to tell me, Lissa! You can't say you have a secret and then not tell me."

"I promised Vilkas!"

"Vilkas tells secrets all the time. I'm sure you remember." When Lissa nodded, I leaned down to put my head on her shoulder. "Come on, Lissa. We're supposed to be best friends."

Lissa groaned. "Fine, but if I tell you, you have to promise never to tell Vilkas I told you." I nodded, lifting my head off of her shoulder. Lissa smiled. "Vilkas and I are going to get married."

I laughed loudly. "I knew it!" I turned toward the Skyforge. "You owe me a pint!" I shouted.

"Damnit!" Aela yelled back, and I laughed.

Lissa looked confused, so I explained. "She thought you were with child. I told her that wasn't it."

Lissa's face turned bright red. "Oh gods, no." Lissa turned toward Aela. "Stay out of my business! Both of you!" Aela laughed from where she stood, and I couldn't help but laugh along. It was my favorite sound. Lissa looked up at me. "You both have to act surprised when Vilkas tells you. He wanted to tell you."

"I promise I'll act surprised." I said to her, ruffling her hair. "So, you're going to be my little sister, huh? I always wanted a little sister."

Lissa rolled her eyes. "Happy to help make your dreams a reality." I watched as Lissa's eyes focused over my shoulder, looking at something behind me.

I turned to see the gates open, and a lot of men in blue uniforms and bear hats came piling in. I looked down at Lissa, who drew her bow and got an arrow ready. I pulled my greatsword from my back.

"This is it, then." Lissa said, bouncing from foot to foot. "This is it."

"Ready?" I asked, looking down at her.

She looked back up at me, a grin on her face. "Ready." We both turned back to the gate with a nod, waiting for the right moment to swing and shoot.