So this chapter might seem rushed, but I wanted to get it out before I left on my vacation. I will be gone for a week or less, depends on a few things. So there will be no updates until I am back.

Thank you all for your reviews, I am so glad people are interested in this story. Hope to hear from you after this chapter. Please guys no flames.

Argis stood before Jarl Igmund and waited, hoping that he had been called for another mission, and not what he was dread. His gut told him that there was trouble and he believed it.

Argis met the Jarl's eyes squarely not backing down from the harsh look. But that look made him worry more. "Argis the Bulwark for endangering the Dragonborn you are hereby to spend the next year of your life in the dungeon for your crime." The Jarl ordered. Argis hid his flinch, he should have guessed something like this would have happened.

Now Igmund would have wait to have him remove from Markarth's services. He could already see the scowls from the other guards and knew he couldn't push his luck more. The last thing he needed was an uprising, but he needed to plan. If his torturer did there job well there would be no need to plan and he can lay the blame on their feet, that way his men wouldn't rise against him.

With his head held high Argis was roughly pulled towards the dungeon. He wasn't sure which was worse, the mine or the dungeon. The torturer was in the dungeon and loved his work, whereas in the mine there was all sorts of other things that went on.

This time he couldn't hide his cringe when he saw the sneering grin on the head torturers face. He wondered how it was his life had turned so quickly.

~OOOOOOOOOOO~

Jorik chuckled as he sat with the rest of the other companions. Dinner had been a roasted deer and leak, with what seemed to be a unlimited supply of mead being handed around. He sighed contently as he leaned back in his chair. Things were starting to slow down once more, but he still needed to face Balgruuf. That bothered him, but it was something that needed to be done.

Another thing that bothered him but he was never going to mention it to anyone was his dreams. They had become eerier. A voice that he now knew who it belong to still spoke to him, but he didn't understand why.

Jorik barely paid attention when the door opened, he figured it was Athis since he had to fetch more firewood from outside. "I'm looking for a man name Jorik," a messenger announced.

"What do you want?" Jorik asked grumpily. He finally able to relax and one of them shows up.

"Got an urgent message for you from Markarth," the messenger stated. Jorik didn't remember getting out of his chair, nor did he remember tearing the message open. He glared at the hurried words, hissing when he read that Argis was in the Dungeon.

Jorik rushed to his house, not bothering to inform Lydia of what was happening. He grabbed his coin pouches, his enchanted swords and rushed back outside without his pack. He didn't plan on stopping so as far as he was concerned there was no need for it.

His first thought was to higher a carriage but they were robbed often so it wouldn't be faster. He tossed gold to stable master and mounted the horse. He didn't take it easy on the poor beast, he ran him into the ground every chance he got, until he reached Markarth's gate four days later.

He smirked as the guards hurriedly opened the gates for him in fear. He ran through the city all the way to the castle. More guards hurriedly opened the door for him, backing out of his way quickly.

Rage burned through him as he saw the Jarl sitting on his throne. "Where is Argis?" he demanded, not bothering with a respectful tone.

"He is where he belongs until his time is up," the Jarl answered passively, but inside he was nervous. It had been a long while since he saw rage like this. It made him very nervous at what this man would do. Plus with this man having the voice to command didn't make him feel any safer.

"How much is his bounty?" Jorik asked with a cold, deadly look.

"His bounty is ten thousand septims," the Jarl answered, he figured that was high enough price that the man wouldn't have it on him.

"Here," Jorik growled tossing him two sack of semptims. He scowled as the Steward began counting out the money.

"Why is this prisoner important to you?" the Jarl asked, now that he was feeling a bit safer. This man was going to be civilized.

"I owe him a great deal," Jorik answered. The Jarl raised a brow, considering how much this man had already spent it must be something big.

Jorik was tempted to storm his way to the dungeon. He just hoped nothing happened to the man. "Have Argis escorted up here," Igmund ordered. He hoped his torturer hadn't started yet, if he did he wasn't sure what this man would do and that made him fearful.

~ooooooooooooo~

The time ticked by slowly for Jorik as he waited for Argis to appear. He wasn't sure what else to do to protect the man, or how far he was willing to go. He could become Thane of this territory, and then request Argis to be his housecarl, but that meant he would have to bow to this Jarl. He couldn't, wouldn't do it.

He paced back and forth, trying to come up with another way to keep him safe. An idea popped in his mind, it was a good one, but stupid. It would mean tying Argis to him for the rest of their lives. He gave a un-amused chuckle at that, the probability was high that he wouldn't survive his fight against Alduin as it was. So that meant Argis wouldn't be tied down for too long. It was an option, marriage in name only. It would give him his protection and keep him safe from this Jarl and others.

He would suggest it to Argis and see what he thinks.

Jorik eyes narrowed when the Jarl paled, a rough shuffling sounded behind him. He turned slowly to see Argis slumped against two guards, his face was bruised badly. His ragged clothing were bloody and he was barely conscious. "Get a healer!" Jorik ordered.

He watched the two guards rush out quickly. He turned to the Jarl, "I'll deal with you later," he hissed.

Jorik grasped Argis to him, lifting with a grunt. He walked towards the doors, ready to meet the healers. He flinched when he heard Argis moan against his shoulder, but he ignored it. The nord wasn't safe yet, not until they were in the temple.

"Heal him the best you can right now then meet us at the inn," Jorik ordered as a healer ran up to them. Jorik shivered when he felt the healers magic flow over them.

"Get him to a bed and I'll finish what I started," the healer murmured. Jorik nodded, he had thought about bring him to the temple, but the best place for this was the inn. At least when Argis woke he wouldn't be in a unknown place.

~oooooooooooooo~

Jorik woke to even breathing from his place on the floor. He had stayed by Argis side all the days and nights to protect him. The man had taken a beating of the likes he had never seen. He was surprised the nord survived. There had been internal injuries, broken bones and so many other things.

"Your finally awake," Jorik smirked.

"Jorik what are you doing here?" Argis asked nervously.

"Saving your ass," Jorik answered tiredly. "I received a message that you had been arrested. So I came to bail you out."

"The Jarl will be expecting me back guarding the city now," Argis muttered.

"Yes I know. A few guards have already told me that as soon as you were better you were to report in," Jorik growled, slamming his fist into the stone floor. "And as soon as I leave the gods only knows what will happen."

"I know." Argis stated, his voice dull.

"Can't you quit your post?" Jorik asked.

"No, I have five more years," Argis told him.

Jorik closed his eyes and sighed.

"Jorik you can't help me. Just let whatever happens, happen," Argis muttered and sat up on his bed.

"No."

Argis looked at him wided eyed. He hadn't expected that answer. "Then what is your plan?" Argis asked snidely.

"Well I can become Thane, and request you as my housecarl is one. But I prefer not Thane for this Jarl. There is another option, it far fetched but it's the only one I can come up with," Jorik murmured sadly.

"What's that?" Argis asked nervously. He didn't like the sound of Jorik's voice.

"Marriage in name only. The Jarl wouldn't dare touch you then," Jorik said quietly.

"Are you insane?" Argis almost yelled.

"I've asked myself the same question many time," Jorik sighed, placing his head in his hands.

"You said marriage in name only? So the both of us are supposed to be celibate until one of dies?" Argis stated incredulously.

"No, I would never expect that. You can have whatever lovers you want, but no bringing them back to the house," Jorik said not meeting the man's eyes.

"This idea is insane!"

"I don't see you coming up with anything better," Jorik snapped coldly.

Argis sighed, was Jorik's idea the only option? He didn't know. Could he marry someone just to save himself? No he couldn't. He wouldn't.

"No."

"What do you mean no? Then how in the hell are you going to stay alive?"

"I don't know," Argis muttered and laid back down.

"Stubborn. Is this so much worse than losing your life?" Jorik asked mockingly.

"Jorik you're asking me into a marriage without any emotions," Argis argued.

"Aye I am. I owe you a great deal. If keeping you safe is the only way I can pay it back then I will do whatever is needed," Jorik said heatedly.

Argis fell silent, there was nothing he could say to that. Jorik was doing this because of his honor. "When?" Argis asked, the words dragging out of him.

"Whenever you want. We'll be living in Whiterun that way you'll be far from the Jarl," Jorik told him.

"No I have to stay here. I still have five years from that contract," Argis reminded him.

"I'll be in Whiterun most of the time. I'll come back here once a month or more. You're free to do what you wish otherwise," Jorik told him as he rose to his feet.

Argis nodded mutely. He didn't see how this would work, it couldn't. The both of them would be miserable and he didn't know why he was allowing this to happen. He should have stuck with his no, but he couldn't.

With a sigh he put on the clothing Jorik had laid out for him and followed the man outside.