The guards greeted both Rayn and Hadvar at the gates. Some people moved away from Hadvar and sneered at him. Stormcloak followers obviously. One woman shook her head at Rayn as if 'that's a bad choice of man' but she didn't care. Rayn kept her head high. She was relieved to see another man wearing Imperial armour who seemed to be walking over to Rayn.
"Gray-Mane or Battle-Born?" the man asked out of nowhere.
Rayn looked confused and looked up at Hadvar "What?"
Hadvar shook his head "I'm sorry he asks that to everyone."
Rayn nodded. What a strange man.
"Idolaf Battle-Born" Hadvar said looking at the rather tall man "it's so good to see you again, cousin" he said.
"Hadvar."
"You two are related?" Rayn asked curiously.
Hadvar nodded "Yes, why don't we look alike?" he asked taking a stand beside Idolaf. Hadvar was taller and more muscular.
"Well, I suppose you look a bit the same."
"Hadvar, is this your girlfriend?" Idolaf asked with a smirk, looking at Rayn "good choice."
Rayn could see a hint of red to Hadvar's cheeks out of the corner of her eye. She didn't want him to see her looking at him, then he would see the redness on her cheeks also.
'You sly bastard.' Hadvar thought to himself "No. I'm just escorting her to the Jarl. We have some business to attend to."
"Yeah. 'Business' well I'll see you around." Idolaf said with a slight humourous tone.
Hadvar shook his head once more. His brown hair falling over his eyes "Let's go."
Rayn quietly followed behind Hadvar as they walked up past the market, up a set of stairs and on up to Dragonsreach.
"That must be Jorrvaskr" Rayn said looking over at the building "I always wanted to join the Companions."
"You should. They have a good reputation through Skyrim."
Once they were inside Dragonsreach they were welcomed by the guards and escorted to the Jarl who was slouched in his throne talking to his steward.
"My Jarl, your guests have arrived." One guard said making both the Jarl and his steward look up from a skinny book.
"Ah, yes. Thank you, Hasof." His steward spoke.
"Hadvar, Rayn I'm so glad you came. I hear you have word from Helgen, Hadvar." The Jarl spoke.
"Yes, Jarl, the dragon escaped completely unharmed and flew in the direction over Riverwood. Several people reported seeing it and I was wondering if you could get some extra protection over there." Hadvar spoke.
The Jarl nodded, a look of fear on his face "Right, I will do that right away."
"Thank you. I hope my family and the village people are safe."
"Thank you for coming to me with this information I will make sure you're properly rew-" The Jarl was cut off as a short, muscular Dark Elf came running through the door.
"My Jarl, there is a dragon attacking the Western Watchtower!" She said completely out of breath.
The colour on the Jarl's face was drained as he turned to his Steward and back to Hadvar and Rayn "You're the only two people here who have encountered a dragon before. Please accompany Irileth and the other guards, immediately."
Hadvar nodded and looked at Rayn "Are you prepared to fight?" he asked.
Rayn nodded "I think so. I haven't got much experience. I usually just kill rabbits and elk." she said "not dragons. I hope it's not that one from Helgen. He was shouting at everyone telling them he was going to kill them all."
Hadvar looked shocked "You understood him? Nobody except the Greybeards know Dragon Tongue."
"Dragon Tongue? You mean nobody heard him speak?" Rayn asked feeling frightened "What am I?"
The Jarl and his seward looked shocked also but there was other matters to attend to "Can this wait? There's a dragon killing my men."
Hadvar, Rayn and Irileth left immediately back down to the city gates where they met with other guards. Irileth who was obviously in charge of them gave a speech and told them to give it there best. They left the city and travelled quickly down to the watchtower to see smoke rising from it.
"What happened?" Irileth asked.
"The dragon, it attacked everyone. Blew flames at them all and flew off." One guard who was a bleeding mess on the ground managed to say.
"Check the skies!" Irileth shouted.
The area was quiet not even the birds were singing, Rayn presumed the dragon either scared them off or ate them. Suddenly there was a loud road "It's coming!" one guard screamed.
"Archers!"
Rayn looked up at Hadvar feeling frightened. It was her second dragon in one day and she couldn't take it all in.
"Hide in the watchtower." He said as he ran over to the watchtower with her "and stay here."
Rayn watched through a hole in the wall as the guards began battling with the dragon. Hadvar was a great fighter. Much better than Ralof. He moved with speed and precision getting the dragon on the neck. It screamed out in pain as blood poured from its neck.
Rayn ran out of the watchtower and over to the dragon.
"What are you doing?" Irileth screamed.
Rayn didn't know why she was doing this but she felt the urge.
"Hadvar, watch out!" She screamed as the dragon brought its tail back and swung its tail back ready to strike. Just as it brought its tail back Rayn slammed into Hadvar's side hearing a crack, it was like hitting a brick wall, there was no softness to his skin, maybe because he was all hard muscle. They both fell to the floor just in time as the dragons tail swung mid-air, missing them by inches.
Hadvar looked frightened and shocked, he was just screaming for Rayn to watch out and they he knew she was on top of him right beside the dragon! "Rayn, what are you doing?"
Rayn looked up at him with glazed eyes, tears sparkling in her red orbs "saving you."
Hadvar looked at the guards and at the dragon who was laying on the ground panting desperately since Hadvar had slashed its neck. That quick draw of its tail was its last strike. It was dying. He looked at himself, he hadn't had a scratch on him and then up at Rayn who was laying on his chest holding her shoulder "What's the matter?"
"I think I broke my collarbone" Rayn said through silent tears.
Hadvar looked up at Irileth who just looked shocked "you moved so fast, Rayn. I blinked and you were already on top of Hadvar. How did you do it?"
Rayn hadn't had the energy to speak, she felt scared and sad. "That poor dragon. I can hear him cry, telling his ancestors he will see them in the afterlife. It's just like he is a normal man."
What was with this girl?
Suddenly the dragon let out a loud sigh and closed its eyes. It seemed to be quiet for awhile when it started to glow and burn, its ashes rose from the ground in a magical array of colours, it travelled over to Rayn and absorbed into her. Hadvar who saw Rayn's reaction since her face was right infront of hers saw that she was shocked too.
"Dovahkiin!" One guard shouted.
"She will save us all!" Another shouted.
"Dragon-born? I don't know what happened but I'm sure this girl here aint' no Dragon-born. Are they not suppose to be some old, wise man in robes telling stories about Talos?" Irileth asked shocked.
"The Dragon-born can be anyone. And it is Rayn" Hadvar said looking up at her "you're my saviour and you will be Skyrims saviour too."
"What? What does this all mean?" Rayn asked scared, tears rolled down her cheeks. She was frightened and in pain. She didn't want to be famous for having some freakish ability. She had heard of a Dovahkiin before but it was just bedtime stories.
"It means you're famous." A guard spoke.
"I don't want fame. I just want to be normal."
"Well, I don't know but we will talk about this later. Tilah got scrape the scales from that dragon and remove its bones. Its best not to let the townspeople see." Irileth ordered.
Hadvar looked up at Rayn who was looking down at him. Her brown hair fell over her red eyes, tears sparkeled on her high cheek bones and her lips looking strangely red. It made his heart flutter "We should uh... take you to rest and get your shoulder looked at."
Rayn nodded as she slowley moved off of Hadvar, plopping onto the soft grass beside the dragon. Hadvar reached down and picked her up effortlessly in his arms, being careful of her shoulder.
"Don't worry, Rayn. You're safe with me."
Those words made Rayn smile, she did feel safe "Thank you."