Vilkas woke to the smell of cooking meat.

Dagny was hunched over a small pan, frying some bits of meat and what he thought were probably leeks. He wasn't complaining. Food was food, and anything he didn't have to cook himself was special.

She slanted a glance his way as he stirred. Her lips curved upward in a smirk, and Vilkas felt himself smile back.

"I thought that'd work," she said.

Vilkas rose, and began rolling up blankets and other supplies, preparing to travel. It had always been like this when they were together. They settled into their routine, casual domesticity out on the trail. They'd done this before, but it was somehow different this time, not knowing if he was about to complicate their relationship beyond repair. He wanted this with her. Wanted a life with her, and it scared him. Because Dagny was independent, and didn't need him.

But she was missing so much without the ability to read. And he couldn't bear to let her continue without literacy. The world was so much more when you could read, and he needed her to have that, even if it didn't contain him.

"Dagny," he said, looking up from his breakfast.

"Hm?" She eyed him warily across the fire, apparently guessing his thoughts.

"You need to read." He didn't know how else to put it. He was known for his way with words, but she was staring at him with a combination of expectancy and irritation, and it flustered him. He felt like a foolish boy trying to woo his first maiden, not a seasoned warrior, not a grown man traveling with the Dragonborn.

Silence filled the space between them. He could see that she was thinking, and he tried not to fidget while he let her contemplate.

"Fine," she said at last. He knew she was merely resigned to it, rather than eager, but that was somewhere to start.

He smothered the grin that threatened to give away his elation, and instead nodded. All business.

"We'll wait until we camp for the night, I think." He said as calmly as he could manage. Dagny nodded, relief clear on her features.

Now he just needed to figure out where the others had gone wrong.