Thank you everyone for their reviews.

I skipped the first visit to Riverwood in this chapter, since everyone has done that visit many time and those that haven't, aren't missing much. Enjoy the chapter, let me know what you thought.

"Have you thought of joining the legion?" Hadvar asked once more as they travelled back to Riverwood. They had just finished clearing out Bleakfalls Barrow. Why they had done something as stupid as that, you would have to ask the stubborn blind nord; the one that doesn't listen to reason, or doesn't take his life into account. No, he would sooner run at the bandits hacking and slashing. Though he really hated to admit it, and there was no way he was going to say this out loud so that Mikael would hear him, but the blind nord could actually fight, and his senses were very acute.

"You sure you don't want half the loot?" Mikael asked once more.

"No, the legion supplies me with everything I need. You'll need it more than I will," Hadvar answered, rolling his eyes. This was the third time he had asked, and he hoped it was the last time.

"Suit yourself, but you're missing out," Mikael said with a shrug. "And to answer your question, no I am not going to join a side. And no I am not going to talk my brother into siding with either side. Balguuf can make up his own mind; he doesn't need or want my input."

"What do you mean doesn't want?" Hadvar asked.

"He doesn't know me. The last time he saw me I was a babe. So there is probably a good chance they he doesn't even remember me.," Mikael explained.

"Why were away from your family?" Hadvar asked.

"I wasn't, I was raised by my mother after the Jarl kicked her out for sleeping with someone and having me. From what I was told she was the old Jarl's wife," Mikael shrugged.

"I've never met Balgruuf, but from what I heard of him, you do look similar to him," Hadvar murmured as they walked further.

"I wouldn't know," Mikael muttered dryly, hoping this conversation would stop.

"Why did you come back, especially during a war?" The imperial asked. Mikael hid his groan of frustration.

"For reasons that are my own for now," He answered evasively.

"If your bother doesn't know of you why do you want to go to Whiterun?"" The man asked another question. Mikael was getting very close to shouting at him to shut up, but decided to keep his mouth shut for now.

"It has walls, guards, there I won't have to worry about anything,"" Mikael said tiredly. He waited for the next question; he knew it would be coming. This Imperial soldier didn't know how not to ask questions.

Hadvar looked at him incredulously; the man who ran at bandits wants to be safer behind stone walls. There was something wrong there. This man ran towards the bandits, like a madman. He didn't really care about his safety then, but now he does. Yeah that made no sense once so ever.

Quite a few times Hadvar had thought he would have to save him. And he had to save him, but not for the same reasons. He thought for sure Mikael would run into one of the stone pillars, or fall down the stairs. But the man didn't have just a horseshoe up his ass, he had the who stable up there.

Mikael was surprised when silence finally met him. He listened to the noise around them. He could faintly hear voices in the distance, hammer striking metal, wood being cut. They were nearing Riverwood. He wanted to go to Whiterun, not here. But his guide was right, they needed rest after the barrow.

"Are you going to sleep in the inn?" Hadvar asked. He was hoping Mikael said no, since he wanted to spend some time with his family. His first duty was to Mikael until General Tulius ordered him otherwise, so where the nord when he went.

"I was planning on it. Did you have something else planned?" Mikael asked.

"You can sleep at my uncle's house, he wouldn't mind," Hadvar answered hastily.

"Fine, lead the way," Mikael shrugged and followed the heavy footsteps. He stopped for a moment to listen to the rushing water. That sound used to sooth him quickly, but with being in a new lands, it didn't work as quickly. There were too many things on his mind. With a sigh he continued following the heavy footsteps.

His eyes narrowed, he tried focusing on Hadvar's footsteps, but was becoming confused with the other footsteps nearby. They all sounded the same, he tried listening for a distinction, and could hear it, but wasn't sure which was his escort. "Mikael, something wrong?" Hadvar asked when he stopped.

Mikael scowled, he didn't want to admit it, but knew he had to. He hated when he showed any weakness and sometimes this blindness could be a weakness. "I got confused with the other steps, couldn't decipher which ones were yours," Mikael muttered with a dark scowl. He waited for Hadvar to show pity, or scoff at him but nothing of that nature came.

"Want me to stomp?" Hadvar asked, keeping his voice light. This was something very new to him, leading the blind around. Imperial training didn't include this, he was a fighter. He had noticed that Mikael had been trained by someone to fight, he wondered how that worked with being blind, he thought it would have been impossible.

"No, there is nothing, I just have to focus better is all," Mikael answered quickly. There was no way he was going to be led around like an invalid. His walking stick was gone, so he couldn't use it to help him around, he wasn't sure if the soldiers had used it for firewood while he was held captive, or they kept it. It annoyed him that he would have to make himself another one. Thankfully all his other possessions were still in his pack, including his money, which was even more surprising. A change of clothes, money, books, secondary weapons, notes that he would have to get someone to read to him, and some potions. He had raided the house after the marauders left.

He still shook his head at why the kept him alive, like everyone else they thought he wasn't a threat. Because of his blindness they kept him alive, naked, tied and gagged. After much struggling when things were silent he finally freed himself and searched around for his family. He found them dead, his fingertips touching their cooling blood. They had taken everything from him, his family, his virtue, he didn't think that could happen to a man, but he had been so wrong.

Now... he buried it deep, trying his hardest not to think of it. He kept up his jovial spirits, he needed to. He didn't want anyone to know what had happened to him. He felt like a fraud, when all he really wanted to do was curl up in some dark corner and pray the nightmares soon left him.

Hadvar thought about taking his arm, but he could see the Nord wouldn't allow that. This man was proud, stubborn, at times very thick headed, so taking his arm was out of the question.

"We're almost at my uncle's," Hadvar said, he decided to use his voice so Mikael could track him better. "Since he knows that you helped me get out of Helgen I know he won't mind having you spend the night. Remember he offered once already."

~ooooooooooooooooooooo~

Mikael awoke to a face very close to his. He opened his eye quickly, waiting for the reaction he knew was about to happen. He smirked as the girl squealed and stumbled back. His eyes seemed to freak quite a few people out since there were basically white in color.

"Dorthe, I told you to leave him alone," he heard Sigrid stated.

Mikael chuckled and sat up slowly. "Finally awake, I thought you were going to sleep the day away," Hadvar commented.

"Well considering the only sleep I have had is when one of your buddies decided to knock me out. Before then there was no sleep at night since I left home, so about three days, maybe four days with minimal sleep," Mikael said with a shrug.

"Why were you awake that long?" Hadvar asked, astonished that the man stayed up that long.

"No companion to watch my back while I slept, so I dozed when I could and it was only for a few minutes at a time," Mikael answered. He sniffed the air, his mouth started watering when he smelled eggs and beef. His stomach growled loudly when the food came near him.

"So what are your plans Hadvar?" Mikael heard Hadvar's uncle, Alvor ask.

"I have been ordered to follow him around until those orders change," Hadvar stated.

"Don't worry, we are still going to Whiterun, shortly actually," Mikael stated.

"You'll eat first," Sigrid ordered in a stern voice.

Mikael chuckled softly, "You don't need to tell me twice," he murmured. He wasn't sure where the table was, or how close he was to it. He didn't know if there was enough room for him at the table. Slowly he rose to his feet, his one hand slightly out stretched, making sure he didn't bump into anything. He started for a moment when he felt a small hand take his. He bit his tongue when he was about to reprimand the child. He hated to admit but he needed the help.

He took small steps, it was a very young girl, so he had to match her steps. When they stopped he felt around for the chair and almost sighed in relief when it was just beneath his hand. Slowly the girl let his hand go and took a seat next to him. "How did you lose your sight?" Dorthe asked.

"My mother told me it was from an accident from when I was a babe," He answered.

"So you can't see anything? Nothing at all," she asked in awe.

"I can see light slightly, not as you see it. It's just something lightens the blackness, but other than that nothing at all," Mikael answered.

"How do you get around if you can't see?" Dorthe asked. Mikael knew then that she was definitely Hadvar's cousin. Only this family could ask this many questions. He was glad they didn't ask certain questions, he couldn't and wouldn't answer those. Not a chance in Oblivion.

"By all my other senses, since I can't see, they are sharper," he explained.

"Really?" she giggled, he heard her feet swinging against the leg of the chair. He sniffed the air slightly and smelled dog, also damp hair, but beneath that there was freshly cut wood.

"I know you've been near a dog, and you've been playing near the lumber yard, but closer to the water." He told her. He smirked when he heard her gasp and then giggle.

"What does mommy smell like and daddy?" Dorthe asked excitedly.

"Dorthe, that enough, let him eat in peace," Sigrid said sternly.

"Yes mama," the little voice answered sullenly. Mikael smirked and then dug into his food. He almost groaned out loud, the meat was tender and juicy, the eggs were still runny. He hadn't had this good of cooking in a long while.

"You're a lucky man Alvor, I haven't tasted cooking like this in a long while. Mind if I steal her from you?" Mikael asked jokingly.

"The next time I have to sleep out by my forge you can steal her," Alvor joked back.

"Don't worry, I'll bring her back after she's finished cooking," Mikael said with a grin.

"If she's in that bad of mood that I am sleeping by the forge, you can keep her until she's in better spirits," Alvor said with a chuckle and then a groaned. Mikael heard the thump clearly and laughed heartily.

"I think I am sleeping by the forge tonight," Alvor grumbled.

"Ha, you're on your own, with the solid hit she has, I'll leave her in your capable hands," Mikael said with a chuckle.

"When we finish eating we should head to Whiterun," Hadvar cut in still grinning at his family's antics.

"I was planning on it, but there is a few things that I need to do before we leave. Since it's already past noon our, we'll have to camp the night somewhere." Mikael warned.

"Hadvar said you are related to Jarl Balgruuf," Alvor commented.

"So my mother and foster father kept telling me," Mikael explained once more. He didn't know what it was about this family, they were so inquisitive.

Mikael laid his fork on his plate when he heard clattering of dishes. He felt Sigrid very close to him, her dress was brushing against his arm. He knew then that these people weren't of wealth, her dress spoke of a struggling family. And yet they had fed him, gave him a bed to sleep in, when they had not much. He was grateful to this family.

"What is it, you have this distant look in your eyes," Sigrid asked.

"Just thinking, nothing to worry about," Mikael answered, pasting on a fake smile. He was positive he failed miserably, but it didn't matter, no one pushed for more. He heard Alvor move from his seat and followed suit when Sigrid moved away.

He followed the steps of the blacksmith's as they led outside towards where he worked. He could feel the heat of the forge as he moved carefully towards Alvor. He was glad no one followed him, patting the pouch of money he strapped to his belt. It was what was left from raiding the his old home. He knew this money would have to last him a bit until he could earn more money. When he sold the things from Bleakfalls Barrow, he would have more money.

"Something you need?" Alvor asked.

"Yeah, need some leather armor and a walking stick if you have it," Mikael asked. He felt the tension in the air and knew the cause after feeling Alvor's wife's clothing he knew this man needed money and not handing out his armor. "I'll be paying for them." He said quietly, trying to allay the man's fears.

"How did you know?" Alvor asked, his cheeks starting to burn, he was glad the blind man couldn't see this. He didn't like people knowing that the family was struggling even though everyone else in this village was too.

"I could feel the tension in the air. Sigrid's dress told me a lot when she grabbed my plate from the table," Mikael explained softly. "Don't worry, I won't say a word, but are all the families struggling too?"

"Yeah, the war is taking up a lot of money. The Jarl had to raise the taxes just to pay for more guards for the lands. It's a struggle for everyone, especially the smaller villages." Alvor said.

"Hmm, well then don't cheapen the price for me," Mikael stated as he made up his mind.

"I have the leather armor, boots, greaves, but I don't have a walking stick or staff," The blacksmith answered.

Mikael passed him his pouch of money. He knew it was more than what the armor cost, but it didn't matter. He turned and started walking away, ignoring Alvor's call. He knew what the smithy was going to say and didn't care.

He walked back into the house, "Dorthe, how would you like to make a few coins?" Mikael asked.

"What do you want me to do?" She asked excitedly. Mikael smiled when he heard her enthusiastic answered.

"I want you to go to the lumber yard, ask the owner if they have a stick about as tall as my chin and as thick as this." He spread his fingers apart showing how wide he wanted it. "Then find out the price for it and come back here. I will give you money to purchase the stick and then you get when you bring it back."

Mikael blinked when he heard running steps and then the closing of a door seconds later. He was surprised a little girl could run that fast. "Wow, quick little girl," he mumbled to himself and heard the fond chuckles from Sigrid and Hadvar.

"She should be back here in a few minutes," Sigrid said with a chuckle. The minutes ticked by, and then the door opened with a clatter. Mikael's eyes narrowed, he waited for tension in the air but there was none of that. He waited for yells, there was none of that either. So he wasn't sure what was going on. "I brought back lots of sticks, Gerdur told me to so you can choose," a little voice announced.

Mikael grasped the first stick he was passed. It needed a lot of work, but it would do in an emergency. The next was passed, this one was closer to what he was looking for, it was the last one that was perfect. It needed to be smoothed out, but not much else was needed to be done to it.

"Lead me back to this Gerdur and then to your father," Mikael requested of the little girl. He held all three sticks in his hand and allowed the girl to grasp his other hand. He listened as the gravel crunched beneath his feet. Every step he counted, and continued counting as they crossed a bridge. He stopped counting steps when the girl forced him to stop.

Mikael knew there was a female standing in front of him. She smelled of wood and sweat, but beneath that there was a hint of blood. Mikael took a step back, wanting more room to move in case this woman was temperamental at this time of month. "I'll be taking two sticks, the other one you can have back," Mikael stated passing over the one stick.

"You can keep them at no cost, we don't use those and usually burn them," The woman stated and started walking away without another word. Mikael shrugged, he wasn't going to argue.

"Now, let's go see your dad," he said with a smile.

Once again he was counting steps until he was back where he began. He listened to the sound of metal being hammered and didn't need the girl to direct him anymore. "How about you go help your mom, I need to talk to your dad in private." He said and then remembered. "Oh and here you go." He passed her a handful of coins.

He waited for the tiny steps to recede before walking over to Alvor. "Think you can make this into a good walking stick?" he asked.

"Sure,' Alvor said, taking the stick from the blond hair man. He stared at the man for a moment, surprised at the likeness he had for Bagruuf. Blond hair, bright blue eyes, though he had dark complexion like the old Jarls first wife. His eyes narrowed for a moment as a thought came to him, the lad had said he was raised by his mother, but he knew that the lad's mother was dead. He wondered if this was the missing son, he didn't think so, probably some wench that the old jarl had lain with and using this boy for her own wealth. Mikael didn't strike him as money hungry and he honestly believe what his family told him.

Mikael went to pass him more coins, but his hand was shoved away. "No, you paid enough for the armor. You don't need to pay for this," Alvor stated firmly.

"Then at least let me pay for shipping it to Whiterun," Mikael offered. He passed some coin, his one hand was grabbed firmly and a few coins were placed back in it. He knew Alvor only took what he needed.

"You know, you make it really hard to help your family," Mikael grumbled.

"There's helping and then there is charity. I don't do charity," Alvor stated coldly.

"If you think this is charity? Then you have another thing coming," Mikael said heatedly, a scowl darkening his face. "I don't give out charity. If you want money from me, you have to work for it and I pay what I think its worth, nothing more. Your family gave me a bed to sleep in, when I could have went to the inn just as easily, but Hadvar wanted time with his family. So who is doing charity?" Mikael asked mockingly.

"Sorry," Alvor muttered. Mikael could hear the shame in his voice and believed him.

"Good, you should be. Me giving you more money than I should was because of the home cooked meal, the bed to sleep in, and the respect you treated me a complete stranger with. Shit, I would have paid double than that for meal I had this morning. She's a damn good cook." Mikael uttered, nearly groaning in pleasure at the memory of the meal.

"Yeah, I hear you," Alvor muttered.

"So this is your last chance to take back this money," Mikael stated holding out his hand once more with the leftover coins. He felt the coins disappear and smiled. "Send that staff to the inn in Whiterun when it's finished."

"I'll send it to the inn, later this day. You're welcome to stay in my house any time you come this way and I won't take no for an answer," Alvor said, taking the blind man's in a shake. He wasn't about to let this nord leave without this understand between them.

"Done, only if your wife cooks," Mikael said as he walked away to where he could smell Hadvar waiting.

"It seems my family likes you," Hadvar commented.

"So it would seem," Mikael shrugged, thinking nothing of it.

"Are you ready to head to Whiterun now?" Hadvar asked as he led the way to the bridge.

"I take it you have my pack?" Mikael asked with a smirk and held his hand out for it. He felt the familiar weight of his pack and sighed in relief. This was most of his possession, things he didn't want to be without.

"Shall we?" Hadvar asked, making a motion with his hand, then stopped when he remembered his companion couldn't see it.

"Lead and I'll follow," Mikael stated with a grin.