-:-

He listened to her soft snores as dawn was just a few hours away, the sky a darker grey. His hand remained under her tight grip, mostly because he was anxious as to what would happen should he remove it. Alduin slept rarely when in dragon form and being mortal now had proven difficult to give him the awoken promise he wanted, forcing him into slumber for an hour at a time before awakening once more. It was now that he decided to give up and focus on the damn woman he wanted to be rid of so desperately. Her hair was frazzled in wild fiery curls beside her head, her eyes calm and a soft smile on her pale, parted lips. His mind was commanding him to do something as she lay there so peacefully, curious if his mind wished to kill her or ravish her. Either way he chose neither. So often she would crinkle her nose and then go back into her dream, her hand squeezing his lightly. He was almost curious as to what she dreamed of in her euphoric state, curious enough to be oblivious to her pale eyes staring into his crimson depths.

"Alduin..."

His name was spoken so softly he could barely hear it as the warmth on his hand left when her own delicate hand reached up to him. Whether she wanted to touch his chest or face was unknown, but he would never know as he stood abruptly with a clanking of his heavy armor, her arm raising as the chain pulled on her blue hued wrist.

"We should continue our path," he stated, shuffling slightly.

Kit nodded and threw her satchel over her shoulder with her free hand, stretching as she sauntered out of the little cove and into the crisp snowy weather while he hesitantly followed. Her eyes looked at anything but him, her cheeks flushed and tear-stained from the previous tears that ran down her cheeks. She smiled brightly and practically skipped down the path with a helpless Alduin forced along behind her. Though as she skipped her way along the path, her mind was in a daze. Her fingers seemed to burn where they grasped his hand so tightly, allowing her weakness to be shown to him. She knew he was confused yet he didn't pull away or hiss at her. Throughout her exciting journey to slay him in the first place, she despised it. Never in her life did she wish to be Dragonborn and here she is shouting with no effort. If only she was normal, maybe her mind would be at ease but for now she had a chain to break.

They were just outside Whiterun when Kit suggested they stay at the Bannered Mare before a nonstop trip to Winterhold and he deemed it alright while she walked ahead of him. They remained silent through the rather 'cheerful' place, nodding in acknowledgment to those who waved or said hello to their Dragonborn, save for those who gave curious eyes to the ebony chain dangling between them. It was until Alduin ran into her back that he noticed her whole body had gone stiff like a statue. His gaze followed hers to a young woman standing outside of a rather dome looking wooden structure, a small mossy stone wall in front of it. The woman leaned against it, her dark lips in a smile and brown eyes searching. She ran her fingers through the strands of chocolaty hair that wasn't in braided loops on either side of her head. As her tanned fingers left her head he noticed the purple streaks coming from either side of her eyes and a dash below her glossy bottom lip. She wasn't the least bit attractive to him.

"Wo Los Tol Vahdin?" He spoke low, knowing Kit was the only one who could understand the dragon tongue within hearing range.

Her fists clenched and her jaw tightened. "Ria," she spat, as though the name was poison on her tongue. She turned and visibly hissed like a snake. "That woman stole the man I cared for! I hate her with all my being. Damn harpy should rot i-"

Kit's venomous words were cut short by laughter. Her head turned away from Alduin to look over her shoulder. This..Ria was in the arms of a small built man, steel eyes and black war paint splattered around his eye sockets. His hair was of charcoal and rather short, barely able to touch the wolf armor that adorned his body. The grey armor clanked loudly as the man wrapped his arms around the woman's waist and his face nuzzling her neck, his dark stubble tickling the tan flesh. The small contact was enough for Kit to look up to Alduin with sad pale eyes. As he looked into her deep gaze, Ria could not compete with the exotic aura of the Dragonborn. Her ruby curls and waves ran down her armor in long perfect strands, soft braids in front of each of her ears running across her high cheekbones and brushing against her pale full lips. The dark charcoal shadow and liner amongst her eyes brightened her steel iris' and deep grey pupils. She was shorter for a common Nord, but that was the most intriguing thing about her besides her fiery personality and stunning charms. It was a wonder she hadn't taken a lover through her travels. No doubt a women with such strength would go unnoticed. Alduin averted his sight to the male and growled.

"He was a fool."

She didn't face him, but he could see the faint but surprised smile on her lips. "If I weren't such a good person, I'd shout him off the Throat of the World."

Alduin smirked. "No one is stopping you from doing so."

"Hmm, I do believe I have a plan." Her smile grew wider as she finally faced him. She took his hand in hers, the chain between them growing even more slack and once again the sweet plum color as the opposites made contact. Kit held her chin up high and strode past the couple with swaying hips, a smoldering gaze, and her hair flowing behind her in luscious waves. All he could manage was a threatening glare at the lovestruck man holding Ria as they passed, his hand tightening around hers. He let out a low growl all the while the fools watched in awe as they passed like a queen and her bodyguard. Whatever plan this woman had, it was sure to be devious and purely amusing while she let her eyes linger on the brunette with anything but evil intentions. And that is why he relished it.

-:-

"Ready?" she asked excitedly, her smile cheeky.

Her body was pressed into the horned raven armor of his back while she poked her head over the bushes briefly. Ria was sitting in an old wooden chair with her back to them just a few feet away, a soft breeze brushing over her brown braids and dark lips pursed as she drank from her rusted tankard. Alduin looked between a small opening in the bushes to look at the woman as well. Why he agreed to allow the Dragonborn on his back was beyond him, but she managed to convince the hardened previous Dovah. The girl shifted on his back, allowing her chained hand to fall beside him to allow enough length so the weren't a tangled mess behind the bushes. Only Talos would know what passersby would think if they heard grunting and small gasps from behind an ominous bush. The very thought made him shudder.

"I do not even know what you are attempting," he whispered, furrowing his brows and tilting his head to look at her.

Kit ignored him and faced Ria, whom was oblivious to the duo rustling and clanking behind the bushes. "Zul, Mey Gut!"

"Hey, troll bait!"

Ria jumped and stood from her chair, her tankard almost falling from her shaking fingers. Her dark eyes looked about the area cautiously, her feet carrying her around the courtyard in search for anyone. She passed the bush multiple times before taking her seat with a few glances around. With another sip of from her tankard, she shrugged and remained silent. Behind the bush however, the duo snickered and giggled at the ignorant girl. Kit was had her arms wrapped around Alduin's broad shoulders as her cheek pressed against the crooked armor of his back, rumbling under his low laughter. It felt so weightlifting to laugh, he hadn't in such a long time. The only occurrence when he let himself merely chuckle, it was when a bandit foolishly came at him, only to be slip on ice and tumble down a mountain. His laughter became more frequent at the memory. He didn't even flinch when the female beside him let her fingertips trace the carved patterns of the ebony armor along his shoulder. Her body wiggled lightly as she slid beside him with a childish smile and sparkling eyes. He was almost tempted to lean into his enemy when he blinked and she was looking away from him and to a silent Ria.

He looked away from her briefly before glancing at her once more. "We should head to the inn you spoke of."

"Okay one more time before we go to the Bannered Mare," she whispered between short giggles. He gave a curt nod and let her whisper the shout again. To his surprise, Ria jumped and almost ran into the building, her back against the double doors and tankard thrown with the force of a child, only landing a few feet before the cowering girl.

"Whose there?" she shouted, her eyes darting around.

They held their tongues and swiftly evaded the courtyard, leaving Ria to scurry into the building. Just as the to reached the front, Kit looked over to Alduin who led the way despite her protest that he wouldn't know where it is, only for him to grunt and continued to walk in long strides she could barely keep up to. A smooth smile curled her lips as well as the flush among her cheeks. Her glittering stare began to stroll along his body, examining each crevice and curve of his heavy armor. She almost wondered what his body looked like under all that armor. Maybe he was big under all that armor, he certainly looked like a boulder you wouldn't want to walk into. Perhaps he would take it off to bathe...Sweet Talos girl! The things in your mind would have a priest praying to all the nine! Her thoughts did have a major point, this ma- scratch that - Dovah, was driving her sweet little mind into submission. It appeared she never even noticed until she found herself staring at him in awe. Right down to his rear. Not bad..

"Kit."

Her head snapped up. Alduin stared at her with an emotionless expression, though a small glint of amusement in his eyes. "What?"

"Is there something particularly fascinating about my a-"

"S-shut up! Let's g-go already!" She couldn't help her shameless blush and sudden stutters as she forced her hand up to cover what was left of her dignity. She quietly chastised herself, shoving by him and leading the rest of the short way to the inn as he was dragged along behind her with a mischievous smirk. How did he know I was looking at him? Hmph, perhaps the hungry glare I gave him wasn't helping the least...Bastard! Though the longer she kept her eyes forward a grin formed on her faced as well as her eyes smiling ahead of her. Even if it was to get her attention, bubbles fluttered around her squeezing heart. For her sworn enemy, she was warming up to him quicker than she would've like, but the thought etched into her mind.

He said my name.

-:-

A/N Thank you work and school from keeping me from my writing! I tried to make this chappy nice and sweet considering I won't be updating like a spitfire and frankly I found this chapter to be shorter than I would've liked *grr!*, anyways I hope you were amused by my bitter attempt at humour *wink wink* and as always I appreciate reviews!

~KitSlayer

Wo Los Tol Vahdin – Who is that Maiden

Zul Mey Gut – Throw Voice Shout

p.s I do not have anything against Ria and Vilkas, but I figured they would be together if he wasn't with the Dragonborn right? I don't support them but to those who do I do hope you're either amused or furious! (`u`v)