A week after my visit from the Jarl, I was allowed to leave the temple.
"Aldiina," Danica said as she walked me out. "Please, do not hesitate to come to the Temple if you need anything, alright?" she said, a concerned smile on her lips.
I smiled back to the woman. "Of course, Priestess. Thank you again for everything," I said to her before turning around, putting my back to her and those who were still being taken care of. Walking out of the door, I tried to put their wails and moans out of my head, attempting to distance myself from pain.
I asked one of the vendors in the marketplace, Carlotta, directions to my home. She smiled and pointed me in the correct direction. Walking by her stall, an older blond Nord cast his gaze on me, and instantly I felt uncomfortable.
"Would you like me to escort you there, little one?" he asked, offering his hand to me.
I tried to ignore the blush on my cheeks from being called "little one" and smiled uneasily. "No thank you," I said as I shook my head. I started to turn away from him, but a hard grip on my arm stopped me.
"No, really, I insist," he said in a hushed voice, and started to drag my feet.
"Mikael, leave her be," a voice said from behind us in an accent that I couldn't quite place.
"Five years I've been home since the War, and you have yet to change, despite how many times I remind you that this city won't put up with it," said another voice, sounding nearly as close as the first.
The so-called Mikael turned around to face the two, forcing me to turn with him. Facing us were two Nords, another blond leaning against a support beam, and a dark-headed man with his arms crossed. "What, I'm only showing Whiterun's newest resident to her home? Fellas, I'm only trying to be neighborly," he said with an uneasy laugh.
The one crossing his arms turned his glance from Mikael to me. "Do you really want this guy to take you to your house?" he asked me in a much lighter tone than he had used with Mikael. I shook my head, and I felt Mikael's grip tighten.
The other Nord turned his gaze from the dark-headed man back to Mikael. "You heard the woman, let her go," he said sternly, planting his feet on the ground, taking a few steps toward us. Mikael glared at them, then threw down my arm.
"Fine, I'll take my leave." He turned the glare to me, then stormed off to the tavern ahead.
The two men closed the distance between them and myself. "Are you alright?" the blond asked, looking me over.
"Yes, I'm fine," I told him, trying to keep the embarrassment from my voice. Again I had been no use to myself, relying on others to help me.
The dark-headed one lightly took my hand and turned it, exposing my arm where Mikael's hand had been. "You're going to have a terrible bruise," he said, his eyes looking up to meet mine. I slowly took my hand from his.
"I'll be alright, really."
"What's your name, kinsman?" the blonde asked, and I was slightly taken aback. Kinsman? Well, sure, I was a Nord, but I was still much younger and smaller than those much more deserving of the term.
"Aldiina Grey-Loom," I told them. The dark-haired one smiled kindly.
"This is Jon, and I am Vilkas." I tried to smile back at him. His eyes widened slightly, as if he suddenly realized something. "Wait, you are that girl from the giant accident, the one who came from the Rift," he said softly. I sighed.
"Yes, that was me. And I am not a girl, Vilkas."
He smiled. "My apologies, Aldiina. It was my brother and I who brought you into the city walls and took you to the Temple."
"But, I was told it was the Companions?" I said, confused. Vilkas smiled.
"My brother and I are members of the Companions," he told me cheerfully. "We were coming home from helping someone in the Pale when we saw what was happening."
"Oh, well, thank you," I said to him, unsure of what else to say.
"I'm glad that you're alright now. Welcome to Whiterun, Aldiina," Jon said with a nod before walking off down the street.
I turned my eyes from him back to the towering Nord in front of me. "Well, I'd better be getting home," I said to Vilkas. I took a step away but stop, turning back around. "Um, thank you," I said to him. "For what you did. With Mikael. I appreciate it."
He smiled at me, and his smile seemed to reach his eyes. "It was really no problem. Glad I came to town when I did."
And with that, I made my way down the street to my new home. It was only as I was putting the key into the door and opening it that I noticed that a dark-headed Companion had waited for me to get home safely before returning to his own.