Thank you for reading, everyone! You all are the best! I wish I could reply to all of the guest reviews. I know not many of you are still with me, but reviews are always encouraged and are very rewarding for me. :)

Here's a fatass chapter for ya.

The sound of sludgy footsteps trudging their way through the thick marsh and the clank of Skyforge steel grew louder as he approached. Dark warpaint smeared across his eyes, more smudged than usual. His ice-blue gaze was a bright contrast to the paint, dirt, and unmistakable exhaustion that donned his face. Gloved fingers ran through mangey brown hair as a soft sigh escaped through his nostrils. Terah tried to name the expression on his face but found that she could not. She simply could not read Vilkas like she used to. Now that she thought of it, she barely knew the man anymore. Her signature smile formed on her lips, hoping to bring him comfort and ease. His wariness of Teldryn was nothing short of blatantly obvious.

Vilkas turned his gaze to the outsider, not breaking eye contact as he addressed his Harbinger, "Lydia is up now, and she is 'human' again. I'm sure she'd be happy to see you."

"Good," Terah replied with relief, rising to follow his lead.

Lydia perked up at the sight of her Thane, though she rarely called Terah by that title anymore. The orange-red eyes that had been there were now replaced with her usual rustic brown ones. A bright grin spread across her plump lips and she scooped up the little Nord into a bone-crushing hug. "Once again, you save my life!" she joked. "It seems it is you who protects me now."

Terah laughed with her dearest friend, "Bah, as if I need that much protection anymore! I had to come as soon as I received word that you had gone missing. I was worried sick. We thought it was too late."

"Heck, I almost thought it was too late myself," Lydia admitted. "It had been a long time since you'd been home, and I honestly believed no one knew where to find you." Her eyes filled with concern. "Where have you been?"

Her Thane sighed. "Traveling," she offered lamely. After a pause, she added, "I needed some time to myself. Some space. All of the fame and publicity can become a bit overwhelming for someone like me."

Terah realized that Lydia wasn't just seeking answers for herself, but for the twins as well. The three of them were all equally eager to know why she took off without warning. She could see it in their eyes; there was a longing present in each pair, weariness and concern, piercing her with guilt. The dragonborn could feel the weight on her shoulders once again, a simple reminder that it is there. It is always there. Her eyes then locked onto a pair that was still new to her, blood red and focused with intensity. But there was a different type of concern in those eyes. Curiosity? Puzzlement? She could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he was piecing together events from the past, before their meeting in Solstheim.

He was analyzing her, trying to understand her life before. Has she always been sensitive to those she cares about? he wondered. What was she like? How has she changed? He hungered for more but did not yet know why. Teldryn could see that she felt weighed down, and could almost feel that weight himself. This woman had the weight of the world on her shoulders. A familiar weariness donned her face, making her appear much older. Now a new emotion tugged at his heartstrings: sadness. The corner of his mouth lifted a bit, an attempt to comfort her. Whether it worked or not, he could not say.

The little Nord closed her eyes and heaved a slow, heavy sigh. "I am so sorry."

"No," Vilkas replied sharply. "There is no need to apologize. We know it is not easy for you," he continued more softly, "We were worried, is all."

Teldryn now turned his gaze to the man those words belonged to. Perceptive man.

"Yeah, nothin' to fret over," Farkas added. "Now let's get this pretty lady home, eh?"

Lydia laughed, but the subtle blush that crept her cheeks did not go unnoticed by Terah. She grinned to herself. "I'd love to return with you and stay for a bit, but I'm afraid Teldryn and I have to get back to Solstheim. Unfinished business and all," she added with a wink.

"Ah, so this is who you've replaced me with!" Lydia jokingly accused. She gave Teldryn a nod in acknowledgement, and he returned it with a grin.

Terah shrugged. "Hey, if you wanna choke on ash and get your ass kicked by a plethora of critters and other ashy nasties, then by all means, tag along."

Her newest follower blurted out a hoarse laugh. His hand quickly smacked his mouth shut in an attempt to shut himself up.

The housecarl threw her hands in the air defensively, "No no, it's perfectly alright. I'm sure he's much better suited. Besides, I need time to rest and gather my strength, yes?

"Ha," Terah barked. "Sure you do."

Terah waved her friends goodbye as the carriage rode off down the cobblestone road. Lydia was the closest thing she had to a sister since she arrived to Skyrim, and Farkas the closest thing to a brother. Her relationship with Vilkas was something beyond complicated, but they could at least function around each other somewhat normally.

Vilkas had gotten quiet and decided not to ride along with the pair. She wrote it off as another mood-swing.

"Terah."

The seriousness in his voice startled her, almost making her jump. She turned to see a troubled look on Vilkas' face, almost bashful.

"I've been thinking, and I believe it is time." His breathing was a bit shaky now as he struggled to keep himself composed. He cleared his throat as he stared at his feet, "It shouldn't be too much trouble. It is on the way, well, sort of. You won't be put too far off course."

"What is it, Vilkas?" Terah spoke softly in an attempt to ease him.

His eyes locked onto hers. The determination she found there almost shocked her. Raising his head and sharpening his jaw, he finished, "I wish to cleanse myself of the beast blood. And I wish for you to accompany me."

She blinked. It was most unexpected. In the past, she had encouraged him to cure himself on countless occasions ever since they successfully cured Kodlak. He would never have it. He was always so set in his belief that he did not deserve to be cured. That he was not worthy. Vilkas had poured his heart out to her, claiming that he was a weak and pathetic man that will never live up to Kodlak's legacy. So damn stubborn! Thoughts and emotions clouded her. Why now? Why her? Well, she was the Harbinger, so it makes sense. Why is he so apprehensive to approach her about this?

Terah shook the cluster of thoughts out of her head in an attempt to formulate a response. "Vilkas," she said affectionately, which she immediately regretted. She needs to be careful. "Why?"

"Why?" he repeated, confused. "But you always said -"

"I know, I just. . ." she struggled. "Why now? Why are you so nervous?"

He sighed. "You know how much we've fought about it. I didn't want to start another fight with you."

"Vilkas -"

"Don't," he pled. A familiar emotion flashed in his eyes, though she could not name it. "I've changed, Terah. I'm trying to be a better man, and I believe this is the final step. Will you guide me in this?"

It was rare that Vilkas be so bare, so Terah was particularly sensitive to his feelings and wishes. "Yes. We will go to Ysgramor's tomb and we will slay your beast. I promise."

"Thank you." His words dripped with longing and desperation.

Teldryn couldn't help but hear the conversation as he was within earshot. Did all of her friends rely on her so heavily? It's no wonder she becomes so overwhelmed; everyone is so needy. He couldn't understand how she could bear it.

He piped, "Curing another one, eh?" This got him a sharp look from the distrusting Nord. "But a werewolf this time. You keep fascinating friends at your side, Dragonborn."

Terah smirked at the way he called her such a name, coating it in amusement. "As much as I'd love to show you, you will not be welcome in the tomb. Companions only, you see."

"Ah, of course," he said with his signature hoarseness. "I must say, I have felt quite left out lately."

She continued their jest, "Oh, don't you worry dear Teldryn. You'll be the center of attention once again upon returning to that ashtray you call home."

At this, he flashed her a devilish grin that made her heart flutter more than it should have. It also only added to Vilkas' annoyance. Two birds.

"Alright," she exclaimed authoritatively. "Here's the plan." She shuffled around in her pack before a folded piece of parchment emerged from it. It appeared worn and had frayed edges but was otherwise in good condition. Terah gingerly unfolded it and spread it out upon the top of the nearest barrel, beckoning her friends to look at it with her.

It was one of her most prized possessions; her favorite map of Skyrim, and possibly her oldest one. It was marked up in various colors of ink, marking the many places she has been: cities, mines, tombs, forts, camps, ruins, dragon burial mounds. . . the list goes on. Red eyes scanned the parchment in awe. Had she really adventured all over Skyrim? To all of these places? How long did it take her? It was then that Teldryn realized that the map was actually color coded. This woman knows what she is doing. A short, pale finger pointed to their current location. Her hands were so small and looked to soft. Teldryn almost couldn't believe that such hands belonged to the little Nord. That such hands could wield a sword or forge steel.

Her voice snapped him from his reverie. "We will travel east," her finger gently slid across the parchment, "to my home in the Pale, Heljarchen Hall, to resupply and gather our strength. We can even catch a couple of hours of sleep, if needed. Then, we can travel north to Ysgramor's tomb." She smirked at her Dunmer friend. "This is by far the coldest region of Skyrim. You can either go north with us and stand guard. Outside. In the cold. Or you can head straight to Windhelm and we'll meet you after we have completed our quest. It is up to you."

"Hm," Teldryn mused, stroking his scruff. "Either freeze off parts of my body that should not be frozen, or spend half a day with racist bastards. Racist bastards it is."

"Ha! They shouldn't give you too much trouble," Terah sympathized. "You can get a ship ready for us in the meantime. Have a few drinks by the fire in a nice, warm tavern. It'll be nice," she winked.

"Mm. I suppose."

"Sounds good to me," Vilkas agreed. The plan involved not having Teldryn along most of the way, so he was already winning.

A rather large cabin sat on a hill just on the edge of the vast planes of Whiterun. It lightly snowed on the scene before him. Cold, but not unbearably so. Teldryn found the location to be rather fitting for the dragonborn; away from the bustling cities and prying eyes with plenty of room to roam freely. A place to breathe. There was a small garden (of all things) containing some edibles as well as some more rare herbs for harvesting, and some nearby workbenches and a smelter decorated the exterior of the lot. A rather quaint porch sat upstairs on the opposite side of the house. As charming as the place was, nothing could prepare Teldryn for what he saw when they stepped inside.

The hall was deceptively large. Teldryn was greeted by a well furnished entry way; trinkets and tomes were scattered across a small table near the front door, and the walls were covered in decorative plaques and designs. A dining table stretched across the main room with a fireplace for cooking just behind it. The room was rimmed with shelves, cabinets, barrels, and even an alchemy table in the corner. The symmetry of the place included a pair of equal and opposite doors that led to other rooms, as well as a pair of staircases on either side of him that led up to the top floor. His eyes traveled upward toward the ceiling, scanning and taking in every little decoration and piece of furniture, dying to explore the curious contents of his patron's marvelous home. It was rare he was ever brought to any of his patrons' personal inhabitancies. In a way, he felt it was a sign of trust, bringing him closer to the young Nord.

Teldryn had to make sure he hadn't dropped his jaw on the floor before speaking, "Fine place you've got here. I knew you were wealthy, but this is most impressive."

"Glad you like it," Terah grinned. "It was quite the project, but worth while in the end."

"You built this place?"

"I did. With help, of course," she clarified. "Armory is through the door on the right. Left side upstairs is where you two can rest, if you so desire. If either of you need potions, I have some stored in she chest near the front door. There are more down in the cellar if the supply is low. Also, ale, mead, wine, and anything else that might suit your fancy can be found in these barrels. Raid my cabinets for food. Do as you wish. This place is equipped with everything you could possibly need, I guarantee it. My home is open to you."

"Wow."

"Thank you," Vilkas said politely. "I will be heading upstairs to catch some sleep. I know the day has only started, but we were up all night."

"Yes, and we've got quite the day ahead of us, Vilkas," she gave comfortingly. "Rest as much as you need to."

He gave her a sad smile before sleepily stomping up the stairs.

Terah moved toward the barrel beside the alchemy table and began to pull herbs and bottles from it. Glancing around the room, she added, "My housecarl, Gregor, should be home soon. Perhaps he's on a supply run or something."

Teldryn gave no answer. He was comfortable around her, but somehow he felt both nervous and excited about being in her home. He figured he'd start by sharpening his sword. Through the door on the right, he found himself further impressed by a sizable room full of weapon racks and mannequins donned in a variety of exotic armor. One armor set he recognized; it possessed wolf-decor identical to the werewolf's armor. Perhaps this was a special set of armor given to companions, maybe for the ones that are werewolves. Are they all wolves? Or just the warriors of higher rank? He reached out and ran his fingers over the steel, cold and hard to the touch. It did not feel like ordinary steel, and Teldryn wondered if this was the legendary Skyforge steel from the tales. Perhaps what was most intriguing about the set was the dark steel shield that hung above it. It was larger than most, thicker, and was decorated with a thick design. The pattern almost seemed to create recognizable shapes, but of what, he could not say. The shield was fit for the most valorous warrior.

Another armor set caught his attention. It was recognizably Elven, but it was nothing like the Dunmer had ever seen. The armor was hard white, decorated with blood red carvings that challenged the Mer designs he was familiar of. This was the only set that lacked a helmet, and it was bulkier than most Elven armor. His grey hands roamed the steely-white surface, yet he could not place what material he was feeling. Where on Tamriel did she find this?

Snapping out of his reverie, he made another quick glance around the room at the numerous weapons on the racks and walls. He spotted a grindstone wheel near the center of the room and got to work. Once his sword was to his liking, he returned to the main room to find that Terah was absent. Curious, he strode toward the door opposite of the one which he exited, and turned the nob.

With a creak, it revealed a much cozier room with a medium sized table and more bookshelves and cabinets. The room was oddly dark and stale, as if people rarely went in there. What he discovered to his right, however, was more surprising than any special piece of armor or equipment could be. He could see two beds in the dark, smaller than usual. Children's beds.

"What are you doing?"

Teldryn spun on his heels to see hard, steely eyes fixed on him. Her expression was unreadable, nothing like he'd seen on her before. He cleared his throat, "I apologize. It seems I have wandered where I should not."

"Yes," she said stiffly as he pardoned himself from the room. "It seems you have."

The door slammed behind him, almost causing him to jump. He dared meet her eyes again, but this time, he saw something else. Was it shame? Sadness?

"You. . .You were not supposed to see that," she said dully.

"I'm sorry, Sera," he said softly. "I did not mean to intrude."

She seemed to snap from her melancholy. "It's alright, Teldryn. I just, I- I meant to do something with that room a while ago." She gave him a half-smile. "I'll explain later."

He returned her smile with a nod. A wave of uneasiness washed over him. I am quite the fool.

The elf moved upstairs to find a large, comfortable nook including two beds, each with nightstands. Vilkas had removed his wolf armor and was now down to a thin shirt and loose trousers, lying on top of the furs on the bed farthest from Teldryn. Teldyrn removed his armor as well, stripping down to a simple pair of tan trousers. He could feel exhaustion weighing on him now. He ran his hands through his black mohawk, and with a heavy sigh, he allowed his body to drop on the bed. Lying on his back, he closed his eyes and tried to shake excess thoughts from his head. Luckily, Vilkas was facing away from him. Unluckily, that didn't stop the Nord from bothering him.

"I know your type, elf."

"Hm?"

"You're a slippery man, and I don't trust you."

"Well, I must say I am surprised. I was completely unaware you felt that way. Is it time to talk about our feelings? Go on, let it out."

"Don't get smart with me!" There was a ruffling of furs as Vilkas rolled to face Teldryn. "I'm warning you. Terah is not a woman to be toyed with. To be used."

Teldryn merely opened his eyes to glare at the ceiling with annoyance. "What are you going on about?" He was way too tired for this.

"If you do anything questionable to her, you will have me and the Companions to answer to, you hear? She has trusted you with many secrets. She trusts you with her life, for some reason. I know you dark elves are the promiscuous type, and if-"

This certainly got Teldryn's attention. He turned his head sharply to glare at the Nord, appalled. "The promisc- Excuse me?"

Vilkas now sat upright on the edge of the bed, resting his elbows on his knees. "I'm going to lay it all out on the table for you, elf. I don't like you very much."

Teldryn mimicked his actions, rising up to meet him face-to-face. "I gathered as much," he drawled. He leaned in, challenging the Nord. His voice dropped to a hoarse growl. "But see, the things is, she does. And don't think me so ignorant, dog. I pay attention. I observe. And I know why you're so hostile towards me. You two were once lovers."

The way he said that last word, almost teasingly, made Vilkas' skin boil. Struggling to keep his temper, he growled, "The relationship between Terah and I is none of your business. All you need to know is that I will do anything to keep her safe."

"As will I."

The two sat in silence for a brief moment without breaking eye contact. The room was intensely still as they dared each other to make a move. Finally, Vilkas rose to his feet with a growl and stormed out of the room, mumbling under his breath, "Can't sleep anyway."

"Good," Teldyrn replied light-heartly, not caring if he could be heard. He lowered himself back onto the bed. "Now I've got the room to myself."

Something was shaking him awake, and he could hear a faint voice outside his slumber. "Teldyrn," it said softly. "Teldyrn, wake up."

He opened his eyes to find Terah sitting on the edge of the narrow bed. A smile cracked on his face. "Well, well. It's not every day I get woken up by a beautiful woman."

"Oh, shut up!" she said, smacking his arm. Her red cheeks did not go unnoticed, however. "I brought you food."

He finally noticed the tray she had in her hands and it made him realize how hungry he really was. He propped himself on an elbow and flashed her a mischievous grin before taking the tray from her and placing it on the nightstand beside him. His lack of shirt only deepened her blush. Then without warning, strong arms snaked around her waist and tossed her down onto the bed, pinning her beneath him.

She landed with a yelp. "Teldryn!"

"Yes, sera?" he replied cheekily. Their faces were mere inches apart now. He snuggled into her neck, drinking in her sweet scent.

"Well, aren't you bold today," she said breathily, unable to hide the effect he had on her.

"Does that bother you?" he asked nonchalantly as he planted tender kiss on her jawline.

His lips were so soft in contrast to his facial hair that tickled her skin. She could've melted from the sensation, but something was itching at her in the back of her mind. "Teldryn." She pushed him away reluctantly. "As lovely as you are," soft blue eyes met his, "Now is not the time."

A light twinge hit him in the chest. His face was still dangerously close to hers as he replied, "I understand." The two were growing fond of each other, there was no denying that, and he understood how conflicted she might feel with her ex-lover just downstair. Or wherever in Oblivion he was. He rose from the bed, stretching to his full height before dramatically bowing before her and offering her his hand. "Milady."

Terah giggled before letting his hand engulf hers. He smiled sincerely down at her as he rose to full height again, still bare-chested. She could not deny herself; she very much liked what she saw, inside and out. "Eat." The little Nord ordered pathetically. "We'll need to leave soon."

And with that, she left him alone in the room. He stood fast for a brief moment, mourning the absence of her heat before plopping back down on the bed. The solitude was nice, for it allowed him to sort his troubled thoughts. He questioned what made him so bold with her. Teldryn was often struck by her beauty, overwhelmed by it even, but perhaps there was some possessiveness behind his actions as a result of his conversation earlier with Vilkas. The werewolf's words echoed in his thoughts: 'the promiscuous type.' Did she think that of him too? Were his advances so strong? The Dunmer shook his head in annoyance, whipping his messy black hair uncontrollably. Smelling the well-prepared meal of meat, bread, and cheese, he figured he should scarf it down while it was still warm.

I'll be damned if I let that werewolf get to me.