I walked over the bridge from Riverwood and saw the sky get dark as if it were about to rain. Terrifying broken tree stumps stood taller than me on either side of the pathway. I saw the signpost and it directed me right to Whiterun and I continued down the cobblestone path. I stayed close to the left, hiding beneath the rocks that towered over. The river on my right kept me company; the sound of the water running fast was a comfort.

I followed the bend around and went down the pathway and continued down, down, down. I could see the city of Whiterun then and I began to pick up my pace. I passed a meadery and farmyard with a big mill, spinning slowly, beside its house. The architecture looked just like that of Bruma. There were some guards along the path and a few stared at me, as an outsider I expected it, but none spoke to me. I was glad because they were intimidating.

As I approached the city I saw a carriage with the driver sitting eating an apple. My stomach lurched and I felt myself grow weak and pale as the memories of the last time I was on a carriage came flooding back. I looked away from the direction of the carriage and tried to make it as subtle as I could.

I could hear the horses in the stables moving around and the smell of the hay was a bit of a softening comfort for me. As I continued up the pathway I saw Khajiits in their small camps outside of the city walls. One sat in the doorway of his tent and stared at me as I walked by with squinted eyes. I could hear him purring softly among the noise outside the city walls. I walked through the arch that the Khajiits were not allowed to pass through and walked over a small wooden arch that went over the running stream that came from the city.

The path went up a hill and I was suddenly aware of how high up I was travelling. Heights were not much of a problem for me because I used to climb trees all the time as a child and to present, but after recent events I wasn't too keen on being up at a height with strangers who may or may not want to kill me.

I paid close attention to the light padding my boots made on the wooden drawbridge as I crossed it and saw the gate to the city. I expected to walk through and go about my business, but I should have known under current circumstances something would happen.

'Hold there!' called the guard as he stood in front of me, blocking my path. 'City is closed with the dragons about. Official business only.' His voice was stern and I thought about just leaving for a moment.

'I have news from Helgen about the dragon attack. I need to speak to the Jarl,' I said as bravely as I could, but even I could hear the fear in my voice.

'Fine, but we'll be watching you,' he replied. I felt as if I was the size of a rabbit with how he spoke down to me. He opened the gate for me a small bit and allowed me to pass through.

I was in awe at how beautiful Whiterun was. The browns and cream colours of the houses and the winding paths leading out into the city were like magic. There was something about Whiterun that made me want to never leave here. I headed down the pathway before me, following each slight curve in the path and I saw the marketplace ahead. As I entered it I saw it looked poor, the coverings about the stalls were dirty and tattered and the colours were faded. But the smell of the fresh bread and newly caught game was like home to me.

I missed home.

I went up the steps and before me stood another area with a huge tree in the centre. It was beautiful, but it looked like it was dying. The pale bark was peeling and what little leaves it had left on its sickly thin branches were withered. There were more steps ahead and I knew I had to go up, Alvor had said it was at the top of the hill. Someone was crying out and preaching about how Talos was the future of Skyrim and the future of Tamriel, but I kept my head down in hope he wouldn't call upon me.

I reached the top of the steps and before me stood Dragonsreach and its huge doors. I slipped in through the heavy doors and went up the wooden staircase. The room was lit by candles and a fire in the centre of the room. Long dining tables on either side were overflowing with food and treats. The smells of bread and cooked meat tickled at my senses.

The Jarl was slumped in his throne, looking down at his palace and me. But this did not intimidate me at all, but the dragon skull hanging above him with its mouth open was terrifying to me and reminded me of Helgen. I shuddered and took a deep breath and approached the throne, keeping my mind set on the task at hand and what I had to do for Riverwood.

'What is the meaning of this interruption?' A nasty looking dark elf stood in front of me and glared into my face. 'The Jarl is not receiving visitors!' She awaited my answer.

'I bring news about the dragon attack in Helgen,' I replied. This time I sounded brave.

'That explains why you were allowed in, come along then, the Jarl will want to hear from you directly,' she said. She allowed me follow her up to the throne.

'You were at Helgen? You saw the dragon? With your own eyes?' he questioned eagerly and nervously.

'Yes. I was being sent to the block when it appeared and attacked. It destroyed all of Helgen,' I said.

'You seem upfront about your criminal past,' he said.

'I'm not a criminal, I was taken captive for being at the wrong place at the wrong time,' I blurted. My cheeks flushed red at my own boldness.

'It is not my concern of who the Imperials want to execute,' he stated, 'what I want to know is what happened in Helgen.'

'It destroyed the village, the Stormcloaks and the Imperials were both there, Ulfric was there too but I think he got away. It burnt down the village and flew off towards this direction,' I said.

'I should have known Ulfric would have been mixed up in some part of this,' he said shaking his head. He turned to the man standing to his right. 'What do you think now Proventus? Shall we continue to trust in the strength we have in our walls? Against a dragon?'

'My lord,' the Dunmer interrupted, 'We should send troops to Riverwood at once. It's in the most immediate danger! If that dragon is lurking in the mountains…'

'The Jarl of Falkreath will view that as a provocation! He will assume we are preparing to join Ulfrics side and attack him!' said Proventus.

'Enough!' yelled the Jarl. I jumped at his large voice. 'I will not stand idly by while a dragon burns down my hold and slaughters my people!' He stood to his feet. 'Irileth, send a detachment to Riverwood at once!'

'Yes my Jarl,' said the Dunmer immediately and disappeared. Proventus excused himself and walked away. The Jarl just stared at him as he walked away. He sat back down and slumped himself in his throne again. He looked at me and smiled. 'You have done Whiterun a service, well done. I will not forget this. I have some armour I can give you as a small token of my gratitude. Are you staying in Whiterun?'

'I'm going to get a room at the inn tonight,' I said with a nod.

'I'll have someone deliver it to you for the morning,' he said.

'Thank you,' I said and turned away and left.

-x-

I sat alone in the inn, sipping on a tankard of water. I warmed my feet by the fire in the centre of the room while the bard played songs I had never heard before. It was quiet and I was the only one sitting around here, there were two other people sitting at the tables in the back but they didn't speak. I sipped carefully on my water. I had no money left for another night at the inn and the only food I had was the food Sigrid had given me.

The door opened and in marched two men and a woman, the men dressed in heavy armour, their large physiques made me a little worried if a brawl was to take place. I assumed they were twins as they both had the same faces but their hair was slightly different and one looked larger than the other. The woman had fiery red hair and three green stripes painted on her face. The three walked in and sat along the benches, one of the twins beside me, the female across from me and the other twin beside her. The larger men called on the barmaid for four ales and I looked up nervously. I curled my feet under the bench and held my tankard in my hand.

'Are you planning on getting drunk so quickly?' asked the woman teasingly.

'No, I'm being friendly and offering this lady a drink,' he replied, looking at me. I looked up with a worried glare.

'I'm fine thank you,' I said quietly.

'You're new around here,' said the twin sitting beside me. They both had the same raspy, deep voice.

'I'm just passing through,' I said looking down nervously at my water.

'Where are you headed?' asked the woman. The barmaid came down and handed each of us a bottle of ale, which I accepted out of fear.

'I don't know,' I said.

'Joining the Khajiits,' teased the man beside me.

'No, just looking for work,' I replied quickly. I didn't want them to know much about me, but I didn't want them to tease me either.

'You could work for us,' said the large twin.

'Oh please, a new whelp? She'd hardly even be able to carry in all the mead,' laughed the twin beside me.

'I think she could have some hidden talents,' said the redhead, taking a mouthful of the ale. 'Maybe even beat you in a brawl Vilkas.' She winked at me with a cheeky grin.

'I don't fight,' I laughed nervously.

'Then what do you do?' asked the larger twin.

'I avoid fighting,' I said. What did he mean, what do I do if I don't fight?

'You travel but you don't fight? What if you came across bandits, what would you do?' he asked taking a large gulp from his ale.

'I don't know,' I said quietly.

'How do you not-'

'Leave her alone Farkas,' the woman interrupted, rolling her eyes. 'I'm Aela by the way.'

'Luna,' I replied.

'That's Farkas,' she indicated the twin beside her, the larger one. 'And that's Vilkas,' she said, pointing to the twin sitting beside me. 'We're headed North in the morning if you happen to be going that way.'

'Aela!' Vilkas hissed at her. She rolled her eyes at him and looked back to me.

'If you're headed to Dawnstar I think you might need something warmer than that,' Vilkas commented.

'I don't know, I'll probably be leaving early,' I said, trying to pass off the offer.

'We're leaving at dawn, you can come with us,' Aela said kindly, 'We're not going the whole way to Dawnstar though, but most of the journey.'

I took a gulp from the bottle of ale and braced myself. I didn't see myself being able to talk my way out of any situation, never mind a situation where I had to decline three warrior looking Nords of their company on a trip, although Vilkas seemed fine with me not in their company.

'What brought you to Whiterun?' Farkas asked.

Almost being beheaded in Helgen only to have to run for my life from a dragon attack and then having to warn your Jarl about this.

'I was just passing through, I decided to travel,' I said, trying to keep my voice steady, but I heard it shake and I hoped they didn't.

'You don't look dressed for traveling,' Vilkas scoffed.

'I ran into some difficulties,' I murmured, taking a sip from the ale.

'Difficulties? Like what? Not enough Gods left for you elves to outlaw?' Vilkas snorted. I glared up at him.

'I'm a Breton, not a yellow-skinned, egoistic, milk-drinker for your information. But if you want to be a narrow-minded racist that's fine,' I retorted quickly, narrowing my eyes at him. I automatically bit down hard on my lip, looked down at my feet and feared I was going to land myself a fist to the face.

Vilkas almost choked on his drink at my reply and Aela and Farkas looked at me in shock and smirks grew on their faces and they began to laugh. Vilkas shot them a glare and they both tried to contain themselves, but Aela gave me a wink and an encouraging smirk.

'Listen, whelp-'

'You can't call her that,' Farkas interrupted. He got a stern glare from his twin in return, but Farkas continued. 'She's not new blood, she's not in the Companions and she's not looking to be one so you can't really call her that.'

'Farkas has a point,' Aela agreed, smirking devilishly at Vilkas.

'What are the Companions?' I asked. This was the most I've spoken to people in a few years and I was surprising myself at how brave I was getting.

'We're a group of warriors, brothers and sisters in honour and we show up to solve problems, if the coin is good enough,' she explained.

'It's family,' Farkas added. A group of people acting as a family and protecting each other and outsiders. If I could fight that would sound like something I would love to be part of.

After several bottles of ale later I felt ill and I couldn't control myself. The lack of food in my system and the quick drinking of the ale went to my head incredibly fast and I found myself almost puking on the floor of the inn. Farkas helped me outside while Vilkas and Aela stayed inside in the warmth for more drink, even though the barmaid had gone to bed, they left the money behind the counter.

Farkas and I sat outside on the steps of the inn in the dark night. The clouds were covering the moon and few stars were visible. But I was just focused on trying to sober by mind up, even though my drunken state was resisting.

'Lie down,' Farkas said with a shake of his head. He put his large hands on my shoulders and gently guided my body down to lie on my side on the cold step of the inn. I stared blankly at the empty market. The stalls were bare and quiet.

'I've never gotten drunk before,' I muttered, but I think it sounded more like slurred words and mumbles.

'Maybe because you can't handle it well?' Farkas suggested.

'Maybe,' I sighed, 'or maybe I just never had reason.'

'And you have reason now?' he asked. I sat back up and wrapped my arms around myself to shield myself from the cold.

'I have reason, but reason doesn't mean an excuse,' I said. I watched the clouds move slowly across the night sky.

'What's your reason now?'

'I'm scared of dragons,' I said, turning to look at him. He looked at me and then laughed a little.

'Why would you be scared of dragons? You have guards protecting the city,' he laughed, nodding his head toward a guard that was walking through the city with a torch in his hand. 'And the Companions.'

'There were Imperials and Stormcloaks in Helgen too, but they couldn't do anything to stop it. What makes you think a couple of guards can take down a dragon?' I continued to look at him and then he looked back at me for a few moments, and then it clicked in his head.

'You were in Helgen at the attack,' he stated. I nodded and looked back into the marketplace.

'I wouldn't have been if the Empire weren't attacking and looking for excuses to behead anyone they find in their way,' I snorted. I tried to stand up but I ended up wobbling and falling back down onto the hard stone steps. I was used to falling out of trees when I was younger, but I hadn't taken a fall in a while. Nonetheless I didn't really feel the pain. Farkas steadied me as much as he could and cushioned my fall by grabbing my arms too.

'What happened?' he asked.

'I was hunting for game by my house but a pack of wolves showed up and started hunting me. I usually make a break for it through the trees, but I went too far and I couldn't get down or go back without being followed, so I shot them with my arrows from the trees. I got down and realized I was too near the mountains, but there were rabbits and goats around the mountains so I thought I could get some of them. I went up the mountains and ended up being arrested. I got caught in the ambush. I just saw blue and red everywhere. I hadn't been to Bruma in a while so I didn't know anything about the war. I should have just gone home,' I explained with a sigh to finish.

'You were sentenced to death for hunting rabbits in the mountains?' Farkas said. I looked up at him and wondered if that was all he took from the story.

'I guess you could say that,' I smiled.

'And now you're heading to Dawnstar?'

'I guess I am. Although I like Whiterun,' I told him, looking around at the city.

'What's in Dawnstar for you?' he asked. I rested my head on the half sleeve made of fur on his arm. I tried to make myself sober up more, but this was comfortable and my drunken mind was not planning on moving.

'I'm not sure. Maybe I'll get some money and move to Markarth.'

'Why would you move to Markarth?' he laughed. 'It's a horrible city and anywhere around it is filled with the Forsworn!'

'My father loved adventure and studied Dwemer ruins all his life. Maybe I'll follow in his footsteps,' I smiled. I stood up to my feet and stood on the bottom step. I turned around to Farkas and smiled. 'Or maybe I'll follow my mother's footsteps and dabble in magic and make my own potions.' I gave him a wicked smirk and he laughed and shook his head.

'I think you should go to bed if you're going to come with us tomorrow,' he extended a friendly hand to me and I took it. His strong hold was warm and comforting and I didn't want to take my hand from his. His hand was so large compared to mine that it covered my entire hand. I know I'm a Breton and I'm small for a Breton, but he was so big for a Nord, probably one of the biggest I've seen.

He led me back inside and I thanked him, Aela and Vilkas for the ale and their company tonight and apologized for not buying them any ale in return to which Aela and Farkas had no problem with, but Vilkas rolled his eyes and downed the last drop of ale in the bottle. Farkas escorted me to my room and I stood at the door to my room upstairs talking to him for a minute.

'The Jarl is having some armour being sent here for me tomorrow because I told him about the dragon and what happened in Helgen. Do you think I could sell it for some warm clothes?' I asked.

'No doubt. Aela and I can stop by and bring you to Eorlund and you can sell it to him, he'll give you a fair price and you can get something warmer to wear. If there's nothing you can get I'm sure Aela might be willing to give you some of her old things,' he said with a kind smile.

'Thank you Farkas,' I said.

'Goodnight Luna,' he said closing my door and allowing me to go to bed.

There was bread and cheese and some sweet rolls left in my room on the table and I immediately dug in before falling into the warm bed of the inn and sleeping soundly.