I came to in a Temple, undoubtedly the Temple of Kynareth. A number of healers and citizens were crowded around me. My entire body ached, and I could feel bandages wrapped around nearly my entire figure. I could hear their voices, and they were oblivious to the fact that I could now hear them.

"Poor girl . . ."

"They were just minutes outside of Whiterun . . ."

"Thank the Nine for the Companions!"

"Not sure why the giant attacked . . ."

"Couldn't expect any more from a monster . . ."

"Orphaned . . ."

"Lucky she's even alive!"

Having heard enough, I opened my eyes and looked around the room, struggling to breathe. Those near me gasped, and all of the comments came to a stop. "Miss, are you alright? Do you know where you are?"

"The Temple?" I managed, finding it more difficult to talk than it should have been.

"Move it, out of the way!" I heard a stern and authoritative voice say as it made its way towards me. A smiling face looked down on me. "Worry not, child, you are safe now and under the care of our healers." She looked up at the others and orders those not working at the Temple to leave. People muttered "yes, Danica" and "of course, Priestess," as they shuffled their way out.

The woman held a bowl in front of me, and made me sip the water inside of it. "Now, child, what is your name?" she asked me, a warm smile back on her face.

"Aldiina Grey-Loom," I answered, my voice starting to come back. "Yours?"

"My name is Danica Pure-Spring, and I am Priestess of this Temple of Kynareth." She put a hand to my forehead. "Aldiina, you are very lucky the Companions got you here as quickly as they did. I shudder to think what would have happened had they been one minute more."

"The Companions?" I said, trying to stay to. "The . . . Companions . . . helped me?"

"Yes, child. Some of them happened to be returning to the city when they saw the giant attacking you."

"What . . . What of my parents? Are they here?" I asked, starting to look around. Maybe, just maybe the Companions had gotten them too, just maybe they were only unconscious.

The Priestess looked down and to the side, unable to my gaze. "Your mother and father smile at you from Sovngarde, Aldiina," she managed, taking my hands into hers.

My heart sank in my chest, and I felt as if it were being torn to shreds. "Oh gods no," I sobbed. letting the tears come now. I layed there and cried and cried, unable to stop or control it. I laid there all night silently, the tears just streaming down my face. Danica had offered to sit and stay with me, but I refuted; no need for the both of us to be miserable. Besides, I just wanted to be left alone.

Jarl Balgruuf came to see me three days after my arrival, as my wounds kept me from leaving the temple.

"Miss Grey-Loom, please accept my sincerest condolences," he said as he made his way in. He pulled up a chair and sat next to me. "I would have come sooner, much sooner, but you must understand, I . . ." he trailed off, unable to find the right words. I smiled and nodded, biting my lip.

"It's alright, Jarl, I understand."

He smiled sadly. "Your mother and father were good people, True Nords." I nodded. "Now, there are two matters of business that you and I must discuss. Do you think that you are alright to?" I nodded my head yes. "Now, the reason I was having your father come to see me was that I was going to offer him a place on my court. That being said, had he accepted, you and your parents would have moved to Whiterun. So, their burial is up to you. Would you like to return to Riften and have your parents' remains be sent there, or live here and have them placed in Whiterun's Hall of the Dead?"

I did not have to think very long. Yes, the Rift was my home and Riften was the only city I really knew, but the city had gotten terrible the last few years. On top of that, Whiterun was a beautiful city. "I'd like to stay here and have my parents placed in the Whiterun Hall of the Dead."

Jarl Balgruuf smiled. "Good child, I shall arrange for it to be so." He grimaced. "Now, the second matter at hand. Being that you are fifteen, you are not of age and therefore must be sent to the Honorhall Orphanage in Riften." Panic shot through me. No! Not that terrible, awful place!

"But, Jarl, I turn sixteen tomorrow!" I gushed, wanting nothing more than to stay as far from that terrible building and wretched old woman as possible. The Jarl looked shocked. "Oh, well then that's different then, isn't it?" He smiled at me. "Alright, then when you leave the Temple, you shall have the house that I was going to sell to your father to live in, here in the city gates."

I bit my lip. "But, Jarl, I have no money to purchase the home?"

He smiled. "Worry not, Miss Grey-Loom. Consider it a gift from me. I shall send for your family's things to be sent from Riften so that they all may be in your home on your arrival. I smiled at him.

"Thank you, Jarl Balgruuf."

Again, he smiled sadly. "No, child, thank the Nine that you are alive and your birthday is sooner, not later," he told me, standing. "If you ever need anything, do not hesitate to come to Dragons Reach."

I nodded. "Thank you," I said as he walked out. I closed my eyes and silently prayed a thank you to each god and goddess.

"Never again," I whispered quietly, though I wasn't sure if it was to the Nine or myself. "Never again shall I be that helpless and useless."