The sun had set by the time Odahviing came into land in the forest near Solitude. "This is as far as I will take you. Any closer and the Yuvonfahliil will hear me coming," he said. "Thank you, my friend," Eriah said. The red dragon nodded his head before taking wing again and flying back to the Throat of the World. "So what's our plan?" asked Farkas, who was finding his legs after the flight. He was determined to never ride a dragon again. Eriah could all she wanted but he was done. His wife crouched down. "I saw that we're near Katla's farm. She and I are good friends and she's been kind enough to lend me a hand whenever I need it. I have a chest in her mill where I keep a couple of outfits as backups if I'm forced to give in to the beastblood while in Haafingar. Both outfits I don't mind destroying either. I'll change into one and leave my armor and weapons there. Then, we'll head to the Embassy," Eriah explained, drawing a rough map in the dirt, grateful Masser and Secunda were both full moons. "And when we get there?" Farkas asked. "The Thalmor are likely keeping Samuel and Sofie in the Embassy jail. There's a trap door that leads to a cave underneath. I want you to go there, get into the jail, get the children out, and return to the farm. While you're doing that, I'll be busy tearing the Thalmor apart. While they're contending with me, they might leave the prison unguarded so you should be able to get Samuel and Sofie out without any trouble. My slaughter of the Thalmor will be my message to Elenwen," Eriah then explained, drawing the Embassy and the mountain it stood on and pointing out where the cave was. "Sounds like a plan. Let's get going," Farkas said. "By the time I'm through, those elves are going to wish they had never crossed me," she said darkly.

She drew to her full height and scuffed out the plans in the dirt. Without another word, the two made their way to Katla's farm. They entered the mill and Eriah opened the chest. Inside were a pair of rough spun tunics. She pulled her Blades Armor off and changed into one. Once prepared, she and Farkas made for the road and walked the three miles towards the embassy. Once there, they got undercover and watched the guards go about their routine patrols. "Sure you don't need me to watch your back?" Farkas asked. Eriah smiled at him. "Just get our children out of that place and to the farm safely. I'll join you as fast as I can," she said. The two locked eyes before they kissed deeply. "Be careful, Eriah," Farkas said. "You, too," she said before she left their cover and walked to the center of the road a fair distance from the gates. She closed her eyes. She let the beastblood go wild and she hunched over as she started to transform. Fur erupted all over her body which started to contort and change. Her roughspun tunic started to tear as she grew larger before ripping in half and falling away. Within two minutes, Eriah had turned from woman to beast.

The black werewolf growled, silver eyes glowing in the moons' light. She slowly, deliberately started to approach the building. The guards took no notice as she came within the light of the lamps. She paused, growling, before going on all fours. She suddenly charged the building, catching the guards' attention when she crashed through the gate. Howling, the werewolf started tearing through the elves. A couple of arrows struck her but that just served to fuel her rage. She savagely destroyed the patrol before leaping up to the door. She body-checked it but it remained firm. She roared and started hacking at the door. She hit it again several times and it finally gave in. As she attacked the Thalmor guards there, the human part of her was thankful the sounds of the carnage wouldn't reach her children. She didn't want them fearing the monster she was. Eriah stalked through the house and cornered Elenwen's cook in the kitchen. The Khajiit was cowering in fear in the corner, hissing and spitting as the humanoid canine drew closer. Eriah refrained from harming her. Her control of the beast was such that she was usually able to avoid harming civilians. In fact, there was a rumor circulating throughout Skyrim of the werewolf who only attacked when engaged first. The werewolf snapped at the Khajiit before vanishing into the back room. After slaughtering the elves there, she repeated the process outside before breaking into Elenwen's Solar to carry on the carnage.

Meanwhile, Farkas had found the Reeking Cave and killed the troll that had taken residence there. He managed to scramble up the small cliff and got to where the trapdoor was. He eased it opened and quietly pulled himself up into the Embassy. He could hear Eriah going wild upstairs and prayed to the Divines that she didn't come down into the prison. The beast was hard to control when one was lost to it. He could hear Samuel and Sofie wondering what was going on. He snuck over to the cell they were being held in. Samuel had his arms wrapped tightly around his sister as she quaked in fear of the monster that was surely in the building. "Pa!" Samuel said in surprise. Sofie squeaked when she saw him and scrambled to the door. "I'm glad you two are alright," Farkas said, setting his hands on their heads through the bars. "What's going on up there?" Samuel asked. "No time to explain. Your mother and I came as fast as we could to get you out," Farkas said, fiddling with the lock. "Mama's here, too?" Sofie asked. "Yes. She's currently...taking care of the Thalmor," the man said before getting the door to open. His children immediately ran into his arms. "Sounds like a monster," Sofie said, shaking as she looked up at the ceiling. Farkas just chuckled. The two didn't know their mother was a werewolf and it was agreed that it was best they never knew. "Mothers are frightful when their children are in danger," he said.

He stood up and led them to the trapdoor. "Let's go," he said, holding it open. "What about Ma?" Samuel said. "She'll come find us when she's done here," Farkas promised. He slid down into the cave and helped his two children down, closing the door after them. He led them to the outside and they started heading down the road towards Solitude. "Did the Thalmor hurt you?" Farkas asked in a low tone, keeping his ears open for any patrols or wild beasts. "They roughed us up a bit but that lady ambassador did say we were worth more alive," Sofie replied. Farkas swore under his breath but still, he was glad neither of them had been terribly hurt. "Is Bran okay? What about Calder?" Samuel asked. "Calder was beaten up pretty badly but Eriah got Jarl Ulfric to send a healer to the house. Bran's fine. Eriah managed to heal him somewhat. Vix is fine, too," Farkas replied. Sofie sighed in relief, thankful her father had said so before she asked. She loved her pet fox, which had followed her home one day while Eriah had been out slaying dragons for the various Jarls. Bran had become Samuel's dog when Eriah had come home from the Dawnguard with him. The two were inseparable and the husky was a great guard dog. Without him, Farkas was pretty sure Calder could've ended up losing his life when the Thalmor came.

Back at the Embassy, Eriah had killed everyone who was an Altmer. She left the last room and felt the beastblood fade. Groaning, the werewolf braced against the wall, falling to her knees as she reverted back. Heaving heavily, she made it to Elenwen's room. Snatching a set of clothes to cover herself, the Dragonborn pulled out a sheet of paper and a quill. With shaking hands, she wrote out a message to the First Ambassador. It may have been foolish of her to do so but at this point, Eriah wasn't about to let the Thalmor think she could be controlled so easily. That was the only reason the Thalmor had kidnapped her children: to use them as bargaining chips to put a leash on the Dragonborn. If they could control her Voice by threatening those she held dearest in her heart, they could use her to topple Ulfric Stormcloak and undo everything they had done together to rid Skyrim of the Empire. Eriah's defining personality trait, aside from her compassion, was her utter hate for people who attempted to control her. Man, mer, Daedra. It didn't matter. If they sought to use her against her will, they were her enemies.

"Ambassador Elenwen, let the slaughter you've come home to serve as a reminder that I'm the last Nord you ever want to piss off. Lay a hand on my family again or retaliate against my Jarl and you will not be shown any mercy. I will kill you as a message to the Aldmeri Dominion. My Voice will be heard. Fleeing to Summerset Isle will not save you either. I will find you. Consider this a warning. The next time you cross me, I will consider it an act of war. Remember: I'm the one who felled the World-Eater, defied Daedric Princes, and stopped the mad rise of a Dragon Priest on Solstheim. The Dominion is nothing compared to them. You're nothing compared to me. Choose your next move carefully."

When she was done, Eriah made her way to the Embassy's front door. She pulled a dagger off a dead body and stabbed the note into the counter. She then left the building and made her way to Katla's farm. Hot tears ran down her face as she staggered down the road. Eriah never took lives lightly and her overall anger at the Dominion for sanctioning the kidnapping had pushed her over the edge. Killing in battle was one thing. Deliberately killing outside battle was another. She only used her beast form to give herself an edge in battle if she was in over her head. She didn't need it to fight most of the time. The Thalmor had it coming. The sun broke over the horizon as she came to the farm. Eriah's family saw her coming and the children ran to her. Katla and Farkas followed. "Mama!" they cried, throwing their arms around her when she knelt down. Eriah held them tightly, not wanting to let them go. Farkas knelt down himself and wrapped his arms around all three of them. "Farkas told me what happened. Thank the Divines you're all safe," Katla said. "Sorry about all this," Eriah said. "No trouble at all, Eriah. I'm your friend. You're welcome anytime," she said. She led the family to her house but Farkas held Eriah back, wanting to talk to her. Samuel and Sofie were taken inside.

"Is it done?" he asked. "The Aldmeri Dominion would have to be pretty stupid to try that again. Nowhere in Tamriel will be safe if they cross me," Eriah said. Farkas smiled gently, rubbing his thumbs under her eyes before pulling her into his arms. "I'm just glad you made it back to me," he said. Eriah held onto him, grateful she had him by her side. She told him to head on in while she got out of the clothes she had taken from the Embassy and into her armor. Farkas did just that after giving her a deep kiss. Eriah headed for the windmill but paused when she heard her name. "You have returned, Dovahkiin." came Odahviing's voice. The Dragonborn looked around before spotting him in a grove of trees. He came out of hiding a little as she smiled and walked up to him. "I thought you had gone back to Paarthurnax," she said, resting her hand on his smooth armored nose. "I was on my way when I decided to double back and keep an eye on things. Wouldn't want you to get jumped by your enemies if you were still at the Embassy bringing your wrath down on the Yuvonfahliil for threatening your kiir." he said simply. "Thank you, pruzah fahdon. You can go back to the Throat of the World. My family and I will be heading back to Windhelm when it's lighter out. The sooner we're home, the better," Eriah said.

Odahviing gave a low chuckle. "I think I'll follow you from the air. I plan on making a roost in the mountains so I can be nearby, should you need me. I'm pretty sure your leader would appreciate having a dovah watching over his city as well. Windhelm will benefit from my protection, especially if the group you call the Aldmeri Dominion seeks to exact revenge against you," he said. Eriah blinked, surprised. Odahviing wasn't the sort of dragon who wanted to protect anything aside from his own hide. In fact, that went against the very nature of dragons. She doubted even Paarthurnax would actually give his protection to anyone aside from himself. He had removed himself from the world in order to keep his inherent nature in check. He was a Greybeard through and through. Odahviing swore his service to Eriah because he recognized her as the strongest of their kind when she felled Alduin. For him to go above and beyond to protect Windhelm just because she was there was the greatest sign the red dragon had given that showed how much he had come to respect her. "I'll take it up with Ulfric but you'd do it anyway even if he refuses to let a dragon live near his city," Eriah said, smiling and leaning her forehead against his nose.

"You would not be wrong in that regard. Tell him if you must but if he doesn't like it, he'll have to learn to live with it," he said. He started pulling back into the grove. "Go to your family before you are missed. I will wait for a bit after you leave for home before following," he then said. Eriah nodded and went to the farmhouse. Before she entered, a sense of dread formed in the pit of her stomach. When she received word from the Thalmor that they had her children, she had punched Ulfric in the face in her rage. She had to apologize when she got back and she was prepared to accept any punishment he saw fit to give. Eriah may have been his closest friend aside from Galmar, but the fact remained he was her Jarl and she had raised her hand against him. She decided to handle things as they came. Her first priority was getting the children back to Windhelm. She would deal with Ulfric after they were safe at home. "Talos give me strength to face him," she prayed.

Dovahzul

Yuvonfahliil: Gold elf (Altmer)

kiir: child(ren)

pruzah fahdon: Good friend