The young man knocked on the door, then retracted his hands and placed them on his sides. Through his beard, he puckered his lips and whistled a tune, his eyes upon the ceiling. A moment later, the door opened, revealing a familiar blonde haired Nord with a beard similar to his and a blacksmith's apron clothed on him.

"Hello?" The man greeted, seeming a little confused at the stranger. The thing is, he wasn't a stranger.

"Alvor!" The young man lifted his hands in the air in happiness, but the blacksmith was still confused; the young man taking note of it. "Alvor, it's me!" The blacksmith squinted at him, and then his eyes widened in realization.

"Arminius?" He said, shocked; then a smile made way through his beard. "Well, what a damn surprise to see you here! You look so different, barely even recognizable." They shook hands, laughing heartily in happiness.

"It's good to see you," the Dragonborn said. Alvor stepped out of the way, raising his hand to invite him in.

"Well, come in, come in!" Alvor said. "I'll have Sigrid fix us something to eat."

"Ah, thank you," The Dragonborn said, nodding and stepping inside, taking a good look around. Not much has changed; just the same two room house with a combined bedroom and kitchen. In the corner was a staircase that led to the basement, and a head popped out of it.

"Arminius?" The head said; the Dragonborn smiling again in realization who it was. Like with Alvor, he raised his arms.

"Hadvar!" he said. The wise fool Nord came up the steps and approached him. "It's so good to see you!"

"Likewise, old friend," Hadvar said, engaging the Dragonborn in a shake, grabbing at each other's' wrists. Moments later, the woman that Alvor had married, Sigrid, came up the stairs as well, along with their daughter, Dorthe.

"Arminius!" The little girl called out in happy surprise, and ran over to him. She threw herself onto his leg and hugged it tightly.

"Woah, easy there little wolf," he patted her on the head, and she looked up at him.

"Did you see any more Dragons!? Huh?" She asked excitedly.

"Uhh…fortunately, no," he laughed. Sigrid approached them, looking discontent with Dorthe.

"Dorthe, let him have his space," like that, Dorthe let go of his leg. "It's been a while, Arminius."

"It sure has been," The Dragonborn nodded. "You know, I'd love to stay for dinner, or chat and all, but if it's okay, I would like to speak to Hadvar outside." Hadvar looked at him questioningly. Alvor and Sigrid both nodded.

When Hadvar and the Dragonborn stepped out onto the porch, the Dragonborn bent himself over the railing, using his elbows for support.

"You know, I didn't think you were one to sport a long thick beard," Hadvar said. The Dragonborn scoffed.

"I forgot to pack shaving supplies before I went to High Hrothgar," he said. "And you know…the Greybeards don't really shave; that's why they're called the Greybeards. So how is everything down here in the real world? What's happened since the war ended?" Hadvar got down on the railing with him.

"Well, some of the Legionaries were given extended leave, like you and me," he said. "Most of the others are still working off their points, acting on guard duty in the forts or the regained holds. Legate Rikke has been working hard to maintain order."

"Has she chosen any new Jarls yet?"

"Only one," Hadvar replied. "In Dawnstar, Brina Merilis, and that's because she is a retired Legionary. All the other holds are still under Militaristic occupation; Winterhold, Windhelm, and Riften, and are being governed by appointed Legatus and Martial Law."

"Is the Fifth Legion still occupying the Rift?"

"From what I know, yes," Hadvar said. "The Black-Briar family tried to negotiate with them for control, but General Scipio isn't having it; he said something about 'not trusting anyone who lived in a seceded hold.'"

"So Scipio is governing Riften?"

"At least until Rikke can instill a new Jarl," Hadvar said. "But I think that's going to be a problem with Scipio."

The Dragonborn left his bag outside; he walked over and reached in, pulling out the Mead he had from earlier. He continued to drink it, the two pausing in silence for a moment.

"So how've you been?" The Dragonborn asked. Hadvar exhaled out his nose.

"Honestly? I could be better," Hadvar replied. "I know I should be enjoying myself now; I just fought in a huge war and now I'm home, resting. But these damn Dragons have come back, and it's hard for me to rest." The Dragonborn nodded, agreeing definitely.

"Hadvar, this is a little strange to say," he said, turning to face him fully. "But I'm going to need your help." Hadvar looked at him questioningly, straightening himself out.

"My help? For what?"

"I met with someone just a little while ago," the Dragonborn began to explain. "She said she knows how we can stop the Dragons; but I need to do something crazy and kill a Dragon with her at Kynesgrove."

"And you need MY help with that?"

"Hadvar, I've seen you barrel through seven Stormcloaks once," you have some strength in you, and we could really use your help." Hadvar went silent for a moment, crossing his arms.

"I don't know, Arminius…"

"It's not going to just be us, Hadvar," The Dragonborn said. "You do remember Jenassa, right?" Hadvar raised his head.

"You mean the Dark Elf mercenary that we held the gate with? Is she coming along as well?"

"Well we'll find out when we go to Whiterun," The Dragonborn said. Hadvar went silent again, looking at the door to his house.

"I still don't know…" Hadvar said. "What about my uncle, aunt, and cousin? What if I die and I won't come back to them…"

"Hadvar," The Dragonborn interrupted, laying a hand on his shoulder. "If I didn't trust in your abilities to keep yourself alive, then I wouldn't've come to you for help." Hadvar stopped and stared at the ground, then looked back up to him.

"You really think this will work?" The Dragonborn half smiled.

"I'm sure it will work better than the original plan, heh," he said. Hadvar nodded.

"Well…okay Arminius," he said. "I'm with you."

A travel to Whiterun starting from Riverwood in the morning on foot would last to sundown, and that's exactly what they did. They entered through the gates, their packs on them and them looking for a specific place. There it was, the Drunken Huntsman, standing upon a flight of stairs. Hadvar and the Dragonborn both looked at each other and nodded, beginning to make their way up the stairs. Upon entering, they could see a crowd of old grizzly looking men; most definitely all hunters. They were gathered around two specific people, one of them being a hunched old Nord, and the other was the familiar Dark Elf.

She had her arms crossed, her eyes glaring at the tough old man as he shouted at her.

"You damn elves give Skyrim nothing but trouble!" The old man said, clearly trying to be rude; but Jenassa was standing her ground. Hadvar and the Dragonborn stood on their toes to look over the crowd of people pestering the two.

"You know, I thought there wouldn't be very much of this now that we've won the war," Hadvar said. "Guess I was wrong."

"If the war was still going on, oh boy the things I would have done to ya…" the mean old man said. Jenassa opened her arms.

"Why hold back?" she stated. "I'm standing right here."

"Why you little…" he stomped at her, beginning to bring his fist back to throw a punch. A sly smile creeped on Jenassa's face as the fist flew forward. With cold calculation, she dodged and quickly countered him, bringing a swift kick to his face. Another move of hers and he was sent flipping forward onto his back. Another swift move of her foot, she stomped down on his leg, breaking it at the joint. He screamed out in pain, holding at his leg and rocking around on the floor.

"OOHHHH!" Everybody around them went, jumping around and mocking him like monkeys. Jenassa quickly retreated back to the corner spot where she usually presides and kicked her feet up onto the table, taking a mug full of ale into her hand and drinking it.

"Good to see those two hundred years on your life hasn't changed," The Dragonborn called to her above the shouting, approaching her table. "And to see that you're still as ruthless as ever." He laughed. Jenassa put the Ale down from her lips and a smile crept up on her face.

"Arminius…" she said. "You look different…must've been sometime." Hadvar came up beside the Dragonborn. "And Hadvar, you still look the same, just different armor." They both laughed.

"He forgot to shave this morning," Hadvar joked. It made Jenassa exhale out her nose and look at them before motioning to the two empty chairs.

"Come," she said. "Sit and have a drink with me; I know you like to have a drink." Hadvar and the Dragonborn sat down at the table, making themselves comfortable, and at the same time, the music from the Bard band began playing again. "I need two mugs of Mead on the double!" She called out.

"Ahh you know me so well," the Dragonborn said, obviously pleased about the free mead he was about to get. "So how've you been?"

"Well," Jenassa said, taking more sips of her ale. "After the war ended, my unit got its pay and was disbanded, and here I am working alone."

"So humiliating racist drunks in taverns is your idea of work?" Hadvar asked, just as a waitress came around a slid two mugs of mead to them, the Dragonborn wasting no time gulping it down.

"Well my idea of work is punishing those who deserve it," She looked over at the man who was still rolling on the ground crying, being laughed at by the other hunters. "And if you hadn't seen enough, he deserved it."

"Harsh," Hadvar said.

"And what about you, Arminius?" Jenassa asked. "Surely after five months on one of the highest mountain tops in Tamriel, coming back down means something important, especially when you come to me about it." The Dragonborn finished his mead and wiped his hairy lips.

"Hadvar, can you please explain to Jenassa here what we have planned?" He patted Hadvar on the shoulder and burped. Hadvar sighed.

"Well, we're going after a Dragon in Kynesgrove…"

"Hmm…" Jenassa said, holding the mug up to her lips. "The two of you going after a Dragon in Kynesgrove? I must say it's a very noble undertaking."

"And we need your help," The Dragonborn said.

"Ah, I sensed that one coming," Jenassa said, getting her feet down off of the table. "I remembered, just after the battle of Windhelm, that I told you to come to me anytime you need help in your quest of the Dragonborn."

"Wait…so, you," the Dragonborn let out, trying to think of words to say. "You actually want to help us?"

"Well of course," Jenassa said. "We can trust each other, can't we?"

"So just like that? No objections? You'll just help us?"

"No objections," The Dragonborn raised his arms.

"Oh great!" He said, gladly.

"Well that was easier than I expected," Hadvar said.

"Anything to get me away from this place, especially when it's with you," Jenassa said. The Dragonborn refilled his mug with mead and held it high in front of him. Jenassa and Hadvar did the same, and all raised their mugs for a toast.

"I think this is the start to a beautiful friendship..." he said. "Now, how bout it? Let's go fight a dragon." They clanked their mugs together and drank.