A/N: Whoo! Trying to make up for lost time here. I guess I'm trying to fill these chapters up instead of just rushing through the story, so sorry if you get bored with this chapter. Next chapter Freya and Silas reach the Greybeards (finally!) and Freya learns the shout to call Odahviing. Exciting! Anyway, here ya go!

Chapter 19

"So, Silas," I started. "What are you going to eat?" The question had been plaguing me for most of the day, and it was only when we were sitting comfortably around our small camp fire that I decided to voice it.

Silas hummed deep in his throat and lifted his head from the ground. "I don't know," he stated simply. "I could go try my hand at hunting tomorrow morning." I stared into the flames, thinking on what he had said.

"I could try to help," I said after a while. "I'm not as good as you when it comes to using bows, but I might be able to kill something for you." He hummed again, and stretched his neck around so that his head rested on my folded legs.

I placed a hand on his jaw and absentmindedly began to scratch, moving my hand to different places every so often. His scaly eyelids closed, and he heaved a deep sigh. I smiled at his obvious contentment, and hoped that he was becoming more comfortable with his new body.

I ceased my scratching for a moment to scoot backwards and prop myself against his wing, which was tucked tightly against his side. He placed his head back in my lap, and after a few moments his deep breaths evened out as he drifted off to sleep.

I yawned. The day's events had been taxing, both emotionally and physically. I wanted nothing more than to follow after him and let sleep embrace me, but felt the need to keep watch. And so I forced myself to stay awake, watching the dancing flames turn to glowing embers as the night wore on.

My eyes refused to stay open, and I let them close, telling myself that I would use my ears instead of my eyes. Of course, a few minutes later, I was dead asleep.

I woke to the rumbling of thunder. I snapped my eyes open, but the sky was bright and clear. And then I realized that the sky was not making the noise, the dragon I was propped against was. I looked up to see Silas staring into the bushes across from us in the small clearing, his lips raised in a snarl, showing gleaming white teeth.

The rumbling sound was traveling from deep in his chest and up his throat. He was growling. I observed the bushes across the way, wondering what could have set him off. I stood, wincing as my cramped muscles stretched. Immediately Silas rose behind me and moved forward so that my small form was beneath his chest, his long neck snaking out before me, his head low to the ground.

"What is it?" I asked. I could see nothing, and could hear only his deep rumbling growl. He didn't answer. "Laas ," I shouted, hoping to find out what, if anything, was in the bushes. The glowing red forms were numerous, and looked to be humans. My eyes narrowed, hand reaching for my sword.

I drew it in one fluid movement, and called out to the strangers. "Come out from there." I was prepared to defend Silas, but I knew he could take care of himself. He was a dragon, after all. There was a rustling in the bushes, and seconds later four people, two men and two women, stepped forth from the tree line.

"Peace, Dragon," one man said. The small party came to stop on the other side of the dead fire, arms out and palms showing. A sign of peace. I relaxed my stance, but did not sheathe my sword. "We have come to apologize for our actions yesterday. We witnessed the great battle between the two dragons, and realized too late our mistake. We bring gifts of food and water, and a small amount of ale."

Silas quieted his snarling, but did not relax. I chose to stay put beneath his towering form. "Take your 'gifts'," I said, a little harshly. I would not be so quick to forgive these people. "We do not need them." The man looked a bit disappointed, but I didn't care.

These people had threatened Silas, and were now begging forgiveness that I was not keen on giving. I sheathed my sword and moved to pack my bag. As soon as my back was turned, I heard Silas snort, and the gasps of the startled villagers. A few flinched and jumped backwards, and I turned to see a large plume of smoke rise to dissipate into the air above Silas' head.

I chuckled to myself and finished packing my things. Slinging my bow across my back, I moved towards Silas. He lowered his head and I jumped quickly onto his neck just behind the great black horns. It was much easier climbing up than it had been yesterday, and even though my muscles screamed in pain, I kept my face a mask of indifference.

Silas raised his head and reared back on his legs, wings beating powerfully until we were rising above the treetops once again. I was less afraid this time, and turned to look at the tall peak of the Throat of the World. It was still some ways away across the plains surrounding Whiterun.

I knew the place to be teeming with deer and elk, and thought it would be a good idea to stop there to hunt for Silas. I thought it over, wondering how many deer it would take to fill his stomach, and would like his meat cooked or raw? These thoughts occupied me for some time.

"Silas," I said, leaning forward so that he could hear me. "Just how hungry are you?"

He was silent for a moment, considering. "Quite hungry, actually," he said after a moment. "As if I could eat an entire mammoth."

And it hit me. A mammoth. Not deer, but a mammoth. "Very well, mammoth it is." I heard him give a deep, throaty chuckle. "Don't laugh. If that's what you want to eat, then that's what you'll eat. Now slow down and fly lower so that we can find one."

Not long after that, we were skimming along above the hills, gliding in search of a mammoth for lunch. We passed over Gjukar's Monument, and in a few seconds were nearing Sleeping Tree Camp. The two giants residing there were separated; one was near the fire, and the other was watching the two mammoths as they wandered.

"I don't really feel like fighting giants today," I called to Silas. "Although, it would be a good way to test your ground combat skills…"

He pulled up sharply and flared his wings, slowing to a near halt just above one of the mammoths. I clung to one of the black horns on his skull and unslung my bow, nocking an arrow and letting it fly in one smooth motion. It sailed towards the guardian giant, who was watching us with a rather comical look on his face, and hit him in his left shoulder.

The giant grunted in pain, and began his charge, swinging his club around. Silas waited until he was close enough, and then released a jet of white-hot flame at the giant. It took him by surprise, searing his skin and hair. His clothes caught fire, and I released another arrow as Silas flapped hard to gain some height.

The arrow hit the giant in the side of the head, effectively ending his suffering. By then, the mammoths were roaring in both fear and fury, and the other giant was charging towards us.

"Land!" I shouted to Silas. As soon as he touched the ground, I slid from his neck and retreated to a hill not too far away. I sent arrow after arrow at the giant, but was unable to bring him down before he reached Silas.

I watched, wide eyed, hardly breathing as the giant swung his massive club at Silas' head. Silas ducked at the last moment, the club swinging through empty air. Silas' head snaked out with lightening like quickness, and his jaws closed around the giant's left leg. He pulled back, and the giant came crashing down to the ground.

One of the mammoths made a move to attack Silas from behind, but he lashed out with his tail, striking the mammoth on its shoulder. It immediately retreated. Silas returned his attention to the giant, who was scrambling to get up.

I itched for battle, for the rush of adrenaline that came with slaying an enemy. I replaced my bow at my back and drew my sword. My feet carried me quickly towards the battle. Silas defended himself from two sides as mammoth and giant simultaneously attacked him.

"Fus Ro Dah!" I shouted. The giant, hit with the force of my voice, flew back and away from Silas, leaving him able to concentrate on his fight with the mammoth. I charged towards the stunned giant, intent on slaying him before he had the chance to retaliate.

My sword sliced in an arc over my head, singing a song of impending death. It came to rest in the giant's chest, piercing its heart. It died instantly. I turned, intent on finding the other mammoth, but could not find it.

Silas was snapping his jaws at the brave mammoth, taunting it to come closer. And it did. Silas' jaws opened, yellow light erupting from deep within, and engulfed the mammoth. He kept up with the steady stream of flames, intent on burning the mammoth to death. He soon got his wish.

The mammoth collapsed to the ground, dead. I could smell the stench of burning hair from where I was standing, probably a hundred yards from the burning corpse. I ran to Silas' side, grinning at him.

"You're not too bad at this dragon thing," I told him. His lips pulled back, showing his sharp white teeth. A sort of dragon smile. "Well," I told him, "enjoy. You've earned it."

He examined the dead mammoth, as if trying to find the best place to begin eating, and finally deciding the shoulder was the best place to start. I moved around to the mammoth's back and used my sword to cut a few strips of meat to dry in the sun.

I nibbled on a piece of meat, amused to find it cooked and satisfying. It had a spicy flavor, and I wondered if it was from the dragon fire. Silas soon retreated from the corpse, having eaten his fill, and stretched out lazily in the sun.

"Not quite hungry enough to eat a whole mammoth, I see," I quipped, laughing a bit. He opened an eye, stared at me for a moment, and let it close again. I stood and made my way over to him, clambering up into his back. I found a spot between his spikes and lay down, propping my head on my arms. I stared up at the sky, content to lie for a while and rest.