Neither of them could bear the awkwardness for much longer, so the conversation had quickly turned to less dangerous topics. The weather, the state of the civil war, the latest dragon sightings, and even a few of the jobs Vilkas had heard about. Dagny had told him she'd been keeping busy, and that she'd appreciate if Vilkas would come with her on the latest job she'd picked up.

He'd agreed, and then he'd told her that he would take first watch. She'd nodded, wrapped herself up in her blanket, and quickly fallen asleep next to the fire.

While she slept, he thought. It was what he was best at.

He could probably school her in her letters, assuming she didn't already know them, fairly easily. The hard part was always putting the letters together to make words, and understanding what uncommon words meant. He had never encountered anyone who'd tried to read and failed before. He wondered what it had been like.

Of course, this was assuming that she agreed to let him try to teach her. He didn't know that she would. Dagny had always been stubborn, he'd learned that about her already, and knew that he would have to convince her to let him help. Or that he'd have to make her think it was her idea. Or give her some sort of incentive.

Vilkas scowled at the darkness beyond the firelight, and wondered what incentive Dagny might need. He knew what he would want, and many of his ideas centered around her being naked, but he was just a man, and he'd wanted her for a very long time. It would be naive to assume that she would be as easily motivated.

The moon crossed the night sky, and aside from the quiet sounds of night-creatures in the distance, his watch passed quietly. Soon, it was time to wake her.

"Dagny," Vilkas stood just outside the range of her arms. Dagny was not a heavy sleeper, but she did not like waking. He'd learned this in the past when they'd worked together. Once, she'd come out of a dead sleep swinging and she'd punched him square in the jaw. Since then, he'd learned to be a bit more careful with her.

"Yeah?" She grunted at him, her eyes mere slits.

"Your watch."

Dagny nodded and rose, leaving behind the blankets for Vilkas. He had his own, sure, but these were pre-warmed. So as Dagny prepared for watch, Vilkas stripped any non-essential bits and wrapped himself in warm blankets that smelled of her. It was comfortable and wonderful, and he was suddenly grateful he'd taken first watch.

He was so pathetic.

With that thought, he drifted off and dreamt of Dagny.