My rest wasn't restful. I ran as a wolf, the slow-moving-fast-pace that made it feel like the ground was lengthening between me and whatever I was chasing. Or whatever I was trying to flee from. I rounded a corner, my legs skidding on gravel, and found myself stuck in place as Harkon, or whatever demon form he took, ascended a dais dragging Serana behind him by her hair. She scrabbled weakly at the stone, as people that I couldn't even make out began cheering. The demon lifted her up and I saw her face, amber eyes wide and fearful, as it lifted a claw to cut her throat.

The dream fell away as I rose from the bed with a jerk, my skin covered in sweat and my breathing harsh. A hand grasped mine and I jolted, eyes staring blindly in the dim room. They finally focused on a face, a familiar one, that filled me with agony from the dream and peace from the waking world. It was Serana. She was still alive.

I swallowed thickly, trying to slow my breathing. The gentle hand now stroking my arm helped immensely. "What time is it?" I asked, still shaking.

"Almost midnight," she told me quietly. "Nightmares?"

I nodded sharply. "Bad ones. It's the worst part of being a werewolf."

She moved slowly, as to not startle me, and settled herself by my side. She pulled me back toward the bed, her hand continuing its motions in my hair. I heard her start to hum, the same one I had hummed before, and the gentle notes pulled me back into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning- or night, there weren't windows in my house- she wasn't there. Her scent was still strong, though, so I figured she hadn't been gone long. It at least gave me a moment to think. I hadn't had a dreamless sleep in all my life that I hadn't been drugged for, or suffering a serious fever. I knew it was neither of those, so what was it?

The sound of someone clearing their throat alerted me to another's presence. Lydia stood in the doorway, her arms crossed and her usual frown a little more present today. "My Thane," she said respectfully. "Welcome home."

I nodded my head in greeting. "It isn't for long. I have more to do before I'll be back for anything more than a short visit."

"Of course."

I huffed out an annoyed breath. "What is it?"

"The vampire in your bed last night is somewhat concerning to me, my Thane," she replied, tone respectfully tactful- and full of disapproval.

I glared at her. "Her name is Serana, she is an ally, and she has full rights to be in this house." At Lydia's continued look, I rolled my eyes. "I haven't been enthralled, it doesn't work on werewolves. It's kind of complicated."

"It isn't my place to judge, my Thane," the housecarl said calmly. "Will I be required on this errand of yours?"

I thought about that for a moment- the extra sword would be helpful- but shook my head. "We're facing some pretty dangerous enemies. I'd feel better if you didn't get killed in the fray."

"It's my duty to keep you safe," she reminded me. "I can't do that from Breezehome."

I smiled a little at that. "You've helped plenty by keeping the people of Whiterun from finding out that their Thane chases her own tail for fun. Or even has a tail. Your presence here when I leave helps that. I'll be fine, Serana has my back."

The mention of the woman's name hardened Lydia's eyes, but she nodded. "By your leave, my Thane."

I waved her away. When she left, I reached for the quiver that had been left with my bag for me. My bow was likely hung up in the hallway. I was running a little short on arrows, and now seemed like the best time to go and stock up on more.

There was a washbasin waiting on the table in the corner. I bathed as well as I could before dressing in something more respectable than my armor. It would have been even better to go in a dress, but there were some lines I was not willing to cross, and an outfit with airflow where there shouldn't be was one of them. There was still no sign of Serana, so I tied my coin purse to my belt and set off for Warmaidens.

Adrienne wasn't out front, which worked for me. The Imperial woman hadn't been my biggest fan since I had corrected her on a piece of armor she had been making for the Jarl. She hadn't followed my advice, of course, and the metal had bent where it shouldn't have and injured Balgruuf. It was her father's role as advisor to the proud Jarl that had left her with her job and shop still intact, but according to the rumors around town, she still complained that I had done something to the armor when she wasn't looking every time she got drunk.

"Hail, Thane," the big Nord greeted when I entered the shop. "It's been a long time since we saw you in here. Who was that woman you were with?"

He winked suggestively and I scoffed. "I thought old women were supposed to be the town gossip, but I see that respectable warriors have joined in too. Go on, what have you heard?"

"I'm not telling. A respectable warrior doesn't gossip." He laughed. "What can I get you, Wolf-eyes?"

He didn't actually know about the lycanthropy, of course. The nickname came from the addition I had asked to be added to some shield that I never actually used. He thought it was funny, and occasionally I did too. "I'll never live that one down, will I?" I snorted. "I'm looking for arrows. Something better than steel."

He hauled a quiver up from under the counter and dropped it in front of me. "How about glass?"

I eyed the greenish metal appreciatively. "Very nice. How much are you charging?"

"Fifty arrows for 150 septims."

My eyebrows shot up when I heard the price. "Aren't they worth at least twice that?"

"The milk-drinkers at the Drunken Huntsman might not remember the dragon you saved us from, but I do. You look like seven miles of bad road and since you're buying more arrows, I'm guessing the road ain't finished." He pushed them toward me. "If these save your life, I'll be proud to say you bought them from me."

I handed over the gold, grinning. "Don't tell your wife you sold arrows that might save my hide. She'll have yours."

"You paid coin, she can't complain." He grabbed a sword and started polishing it. "Need anything else?"

"Nope. I'll see you later Warbear." I left the shop with a smile on my face and a quiver of arrows across my back.

Serana was sitting in a chair by the fire when I returned, but Lydia was the one missing. I set the arrows down on a table. "You didn't eat my housecarl, did you?" I asked her teasingly.

"If she wasn't working for you, I might have," Serana said, not looking up from the book.

I sat in the chair nearby. "Suspicious, eh? She won't do anything about it, at least. She has her honor. Have you eaten anything at all?"

"I mixed up a blood potion with your alchemy ingredients. It works in a pinch, since I'm not stupid enough to try and feed in this city."

I craned my neck to try and see what book she had. "What are you reading?"

"The Ransom of Zarek." She set the book down. "We can't stay here too long. You said the Elder Scroll is here?"

I nodded. "We'll leave at nightfall. I just needed to get some rest-" I leveled a grateful look at her. "-and some arrows. I have both, and I'll get the Elder Scroll in a minute."

I stood and crossed to the storage room, and then waved her over. The scroll was hidden under a pile of boxes, in a Dwemer chest, which was locked with one of the best I could afford. I unlocked it and leaned back so she could see.

"And where did you find this?" she asked.

"About that." I laughed nervously. "What would be your reaction if I told you I was the Dragonborn?"

Her response was immediate. "I'd wonder if you were ill and delirious from fever."

"Hey!" I snapped half-heartedly. "Werewolves don't get sick unless silver is involved." More seriously I added, "Well, I am. That's how I got to be Thane here. A dragon was attacking, I killed it and took it's soul, and the townsfolk were so grateful they made me into a political figure." My mouth twisted in a scowl. "Then the Greybeards summoned me, and this scroll is apparently the key to defeating Alduin."

"Alduin. The World-Eater." She put a hand to my forehead. "Really, are you feeling okay?"

I stood, letting the chest shut and the lock click back into place. "I can prove it to you, if you want." I stepped out into the more open main room and handed her a dagger. "Just hold that."

"I'm waiting."

I stepped back, drew in a breath, and felt the dragon's soul flare to life. "Zun haal viik!"

The Shout boomed through the air, and tore the dagger from her hand, leaving everything else untouched. I rubbed the skin just below the hollow of my throat, as the sudden emptiness there ached. "I told you so."

"You certainly did," she said, staring at her hand. "So why do you have the scroll?"

"According to the leader of the Greybeards, if I read the scroll at a tear in time, I'll learn a shout I need to kill Alduin." I scowled. "That was before I got caught up with Isran, and since then, I've been a bit distracted."

"Distracted from the end of the world?" she asked skeptically.

"By the end of the world," I reminded her. "The dragons can't destroy the world quite as quickly as your father could if the sun no longer opposed him."

"That's true," she allowed. "Is there anything else I should know about?"

I thought about that for a moment, mostly to see her expression. "No, that's it. Shall we go?"