Chapter 18

They reached Dragonsreach just as the sun was setting, and the others hung back while Bo went to Ferengar to give him the Dragontstone. Jane watched as he started walking back towards them when the Dunmer ran into the room.

"There has been a Dragon sighting, come quickly!"

Bo followed the woman as she led him to the Jarl, and was asked to go with Irileth to investigate the Dragon sighting near the Western Watchtower. Bo came back to the group, quickly filling them in, and they agreed to come with him just in case it was true. Jane could see the unspoken fear in his eyes, and knew his next task would probably confirm his fears.

Reaching the watchtower, they met up with several guards and the Dunmer woman. They took up their stances, spreading out around the solitary building, and waited. Jane clutched her bow tightly to her chest, straining to see in the near darkness. Her skin tingled with fear and anticipation. She wanted to see the dragon, but at the same time she was terrified. It was silent for quite some time; only the soft whoosh of the wind in their ears could be heard, until a distant roar echoed all around. Jane watched in awe as a great scaly Dragon swooped high above her, roaring angrily. She glanced over at Bo to see him staring up at the beast with wide eyes, his mouth hanging open.

As it flew closer everyone moved in, using their arrows and magic until it landed with a crash onto the ground and roared, spewing fire. Jane threw herself out of the way, barely managing to escape the flame, her leg catching on fire. Rolling quickly, she extinguished it, biting her lip until she drew blood so she would not scream from the intense pain that shot up her calf. Fuming, she rushed at the dragon, releasing her most powerful frost charm. Bo and his companions made a deadly team, clearly confusing the beast by attacking from all directions, and the Dragon was killed without severe damage to anyone but the one unlucky guardsman.

"That was impressive," Irileth commented, coming over to them, out of breath. She opened her mouth to speak again when all beside her the Dragon burst into flame, and everyone back away from it, some curious, staring with mixed feelings at the corpse. The flames started to gravitate toward Bo, reaching out to him like fiery hands.

"No!" He roared, scrambling backwards. He tripped and fell, but continued to crawl backwards, though the flames engulfed him, swirling all around. The flaming tendrils soaked into his body and disappeared. After the flames were gone they were left with just the skeleton of the Dragon, and Jane walked over to Bo.

"Come on, we must go back and tell the Jarl." She helped the shaking Orc up, grasping his hand firmly.

"Wait," called a guard. "You… can it be…you are the Dragonborn?" He stepped towards Bo, his eyes wide.

"I don't know," Bo growled, scowling.

"Well I don't care about some myth, what I care about is that we know we can defeat these things." The Dunmer crossed her arms, looking down at the Dragon with a look of contempt, and she kicked at its leg.

"If you are the Dragonborn, you can use their language. Try a shout," the Guardsman told Bo eagerly.

"A shout? I don't know if I can…" Bo's sentence died off, and his expression became distant.

"FUS!" He yelled suddenly, and everyone near him was knocked backwards. Jane couldn't help but grin. He is the Dragonborn.

"So it's true, you are the Dragonborn."

Everyone, including the moody Irileth looked upon Bo with looks of awe, and Bo squirmed uncomfortably under their gaze. Nazgurat looked really smug, Lynne stared down at the Dragon in disbelief and Ahmon stared at Bo curiously.

"You must report to the Jarl at once."

Bo nodded, and started to run, the others following not far behind him.

As they drew nearer to the gates something else happened. A man's voice echoed all around, seeming to have come from the sky, and the ground shook beneath them. It was short, and Bo almost thought he had imagined it, but when he looked back at Jane he knew she had heard it to.

"Did you…?"

"Yes, lets keep going." Jane took his hand once more, and they sprinted back up to Dragonsreach.

"What have you to report?" Balgruuf asked, sitting up in his throne.

"There was a Dragon, it is dead."

"That is good news, you have done Whiterun a great service."

"I didn't do any of it alone," Bo replied, turning to look at his friends, who smiled back. "My companions helped me with it all."

"You are an unstoppable force," Balgruuf stood up, looking at the group. "But I heard the Greybeards summons, do you know whom they call?"

"Me," Bo whispered, looking down. "I absorbed the Dragon's soul after it was slain."

"Incredible. Then you must go, Bo Gro Graul, to High Hrothgar. The Greybeards must believe you are truly the Dragonborn."

"Thank you for all that you have done," he continued, addressing everyone. "I would like to appoint each of you Thane of Whiterun, for your service to my city and it's people."

"It is an honor, Jarl Balgruuf." Bo bowed his head, embarrassed that he still had his task for Ulfric to perform. The others replied similarly, bowing as well, and Balgruuf presented Bo with the Axe of Whiterun.

"This is for you Bo Gro Graul, but each of you will be given a Housecarl to have in your service. Also, you may purchase property in Whiterun if you desire."

As they moved to leave, Jane pulled Bo aside.

"I think we should buy a house, if it's not too expensive."

"Okay," Bo replied, and went up to the Steward. He talked with the man for a minute, working out the details, and was then handed a key. They had also decided that a housecarl for each of them was too much, and that it was not needed. The Jarl obliged by their request.

"What are you going to do about your other task?" Jane asked, once he came back to her.

"I…I really don't know. I need time to think."

"That's understandable." Jane was exhausted, and yearned for a hot bath, some food, and a nice deep sleep.

"I've purchased a home," Bo told the others. "I think there is enough room for all of us, if you wish to stay."

"We'd love to," Lynne replied, and Nazgurat nodded.

"Sure!" Ahmon shrugged. "I'll get to my parents soon."

They reached Breezehome and entered the cozy little house, which was fully stocked, and a nice big fire burned in the hearth on the floor.

Breezehome was Jane's favorite house in Skyrim, but she liked them all, especially the one in Markarth. She climbed the stairs and inspected the rooms, ecstatic to be inside the house she only viewed on a screen, and then climbed back down.

"There's only two beds," she commented, coming over to where Bo sat on the bench.

"I found a cot," Ahmon replied, coming out of the closet behind her. "I'll move these boxes an set it under the stairs.

"How are you feeling Bo?" Lynne asked, moving to sit down. Nazgurat asked Jane which bed was his and Lynn's, and Jane directed him to the smaller room. He nodded, and climbed up the stairs with their packs, re-appearing a moment later and grabbing a couple bottles of mead. He sat down beside Bo and handed him one, opening his own and taking a long drink.

"I feel…different. I don't know myself anymore." Bo took a drink from his bottle and then hung his head, letting out a shuddering breath. Jane started to pull ingredients off the shelves and began to cook up a beef stew in the large cooking pot. Once that was finished she dished it into wooden bowls and set them on the table. She warmed up some fresh bread over the coals and served it alongside the stew, and everyone sat down to eat.

"That was quite an adventure," Ahmon spoke, happily eating his stew. "I wouldn't mind doing it again."

"Neither would I," Nazgurat commented. He continued to look over at Bo, looking like he wanted to say something to the Orc. "It reminds me of when I was younger, don't do many exciting things anymore."

"Are you going to go to High Hrothgar?" Lynne asked Bo, who merely shrugged.

"I don't know what I'm going to do. I need time to think about it all."

"We'll go with you Bo," Jane said softly, rubbing his back affectionately. "At least, I will. You don't have to go alone."

"I will go," Ahmon smiled, looking around. "I have made good friends over the last couple weeks. We work well together."

"I agree," Nazgurat replied. "I will go with you, brother."

"Me too," Lynne looked at them all. "I think someone with greater healing skills will be just as useful as my destruction magic."

"You are good people, I am so grateful for our friendship," Bo looked up, and wiped his weary face. "I will sleep on the topic and have a decision by the morning."

Bo rose from the bench and made his way up the stairs with heavy footsteps, disappearing into the main bedroom.

"Thank you," Jane whispered. "I know the feelings of his heart, and the thought of the weight of Skyrim's well being being placed on his shoulders frightens him. Thank you so much, for him."

Lynne reached out and squeezed Jane's hand, smiling.

"Go to him," she replied. "Your presence alone is what keep his spirits up."

Jane said goodnight and climbed the stairs, reaching the main bedroom. She opened the door to find Bo sitting on the bed with his armor still on.

Jane walked up to him, and picked his arm up. She took his gauntlet off, and then the other, and then removed his boots. Once she was finished removing his armor she gently pushed him back onto the bed and he swung his legs up before Jane could do it herself. Jane leaned down and kissed his tense cheek, and then went over to the other side of the room to remove her armor. It wasn't until she reached her left boot that the pain came rushing back. She had completely forgotten about the burn, pushing it out of her mind as she only thought of Bo's well being. But when she removed her boot she hissed, stumbling forward. With nothing to grab onto she fell to the floor with a thud.

"What's wrong?" Bo called, quickly getting up and going over to her.

"It's nothing… just a small burn. I completely forgot about it."

"That's not nothing," he replied sternly, helping her sit on the bed and gingerly picked up her leg to take a better look at it. Then he placed it down and left the room, returning with Lynne.

"Oh Jane, you should have told me sooner."

"Honestly Lynne, I forgot about it. I had more important things to think about."

Lynne cast a strong healing spell, and the burnt skin started to repair itself.

"There," she said after a moment, "all healed."

"Thank you." Jane sighed happily, enjoying the soothing feeling a healing spell left. Lynne returned to her bedroom and Jane rolled over onto the bed. Bo joined her after he put out the candle that burned brightly on the side table. He scooted towards Jane and the roles were switched; Jane lay on her back this time and Bo buried his face into the crook of neck, tightly wrapping his arm around her waist.

"I'm so proud of you," Jane whispered, stroking his hair. "You were so brave today Bo, so brave. You will make a great Dragonborn."

"I don't know…" Bo started, but was cut off.

"How can I make you see in you what I see?"

Bo sighed, shifting his legs. "I do not understand how you can have so much faith in me."

"I have seen your kindness, your loyalty, and your strength. All of those things make a hero, if you would just give yourself a chance."

"As long as you're by my side," he mumbled, "I have a reason to fight."