A/N: To anyone still reading this story, I'm sorry for the wait. I truly cherish you. I finally conquered this chapter, and I hope you like it.

It was the golden hour in the city of Whiterun, with everything awash in sunset, and a specially windy Turdas was edging toward a close. Down in the Plains district merchants rushed to pack up their wares, shouting and snatching at hats and tablecloths when the wind tried to tear them away.

The last of summer was blowing through, playful and coltish, and everyone could feel it. Children whooped as they raced home for supper on streets still warm enough for bare feet, and behind them parents slowed down a little, savoring the warmth as they followed hand in hand.

Merrin was sitting in the mead hall at Jorrvaskr, shuttered away from the fine outdoors. She'd parked herself at the great table with a mug of ale and the book of Dovahzul, a scrap of linen on her woven place mat waiting to mark her page. She'd only just put it down for the first time all day; now she gave her eyes a rest by watching Torvar and a freshly bruised Athis – Njada again – play dice games for small bets across from her. Ria was in the kitchen with Tilma, soon to set the table, and in a far corner Vignar had his nose shoved deep in a book, ignoring them all.

Athis was muttering blackly and shoving coins into Torvar's waiting hands, when Brill came sweeping in from getting the mail and announced he'd seen the twins coming down the main road. Merrin startled when she heard it, and her leg nearly started bouncing under the table.

Said table was set and everyone who wasn't away had taken seats at it, by the time they came traipsing through the doors.

They were side by side, jibing each other in raised voices; Farkas had Vilkas in a headlock, and both men were laughing and grinning as they stumbled inside and bumped the doors shut.

'Yeah, as if!'

'I would! You know it!'

In the weeks of being here, Merrin had never seen them like this. Hell, she'd never seen Vilkas smile, let alone laugh, and as they broke apart chuckling and clapping shoulders, she caught herself staring. They both looked grubby and worn, but contented. Light-hearted. Several called out to the twins in greeting, and from the head of the table, Kodlak beamed.

'Well, well. Look what the wind has blown in.'

'It tried hard enough,' Vilkas sighed on a half-smile.

'Welcome home, boys.' This from Tilma, warm and dry. 'Now scrape off your boots. I scrubbed today.'

More chuckling. 'Yes, boss.'

As they scraped their boots and dropped their packs, they were questioned. How had the job gone? How was their trip back? Had they eaten?

Pretty well. More than long enough. Yes. No, they didn't need more. Yes, really.

Bowls were passed as the rest settled down to supper, and easy chatter took over the room as the twins kept shucking their gear in the entrance. A tureen of gravy was pressed into Merrin's hands. When Farkas chose that moment to look up and meet her gaze, she nearly dropped it.

From across the room their eyes locked and held, and her heart gave a lurch that was getting familiar. His expression went solemn as they stared. Unnoticed by anyone else, he held up a finger and mouthed two words: hang on. Right away, she nodded, and as Vilkas walked over to murmur in Kodlak's ear, Farkas slipped away downstairs.

Conversation flowed freely around her as the Companions ate, but Merrin only heard it with half an ear. She barely tasted her chicken and potatoes as she scarfed them down. Twice, Ria had given her a look from where she sat beside her, quirked and questioning. But now the brunette was busy talking with Athis, and Merrin cherished the distraction.

She'd finished her dinner and spent a handful of minutes trying not to fidget in her chair, when he reemerged on the stairs. He'd stripped of everything from the road, and now wore nothing but plain shoes, clean breeches, and a slate-grey shirt with toggles. His face had been scrubbed clean of dirt and kohl, and his hair was wet from the spring. His eyes already sought hers as he finished climbing, and with a subtle nod of the head, he slipped through the hall's heavy doors. Her leg was bouncing now, beneath the table; but Merrin made herself wait a full three minutes before she rose from her spot and followed him.

No one called out to her, or noticed her leave – exactly the way she wanted it.

Dusk had fallen since they'd arrived, and in the fading indigo wash, the stoop looked empty at first. The only warning she got as the doors shut behind her was a shifting in the shadows to her right. Then she was being lifted, enveloped in a crushing hug that dug those toggles into her chest and had her breath leaving in a whoosh. The smell of juniper soap filled her nose, and she managed to sigh out one word, heart thumping madly against him.

'Farkas.'

'Merrin,' he rumbled back. 'I missed you.' Before she could try to wrap her arms around him, he was sighing and letting her go – setting her back on the ground, and stepping into the lantern-light. Silver-blue eyes looked down at her ruefully, gleaming, and he gave her a sheepish smile.

'Sorry for crushing you.'

She couldn't help but smile back.

'It's alright. I missed you, too.'

'And sorry for making you wait,' he said lowly. Reaching up with one huge hand to ruffle his hair, he wrinkled his nose.

'I needed a wash, 'fore I came anywhere near you. I smelled like a troll's piss-pot.'

She crinkled her own nose, and grinned up at him.

'Nasty. In that case, I appreciate the effort.'

'So...are we still good?' He eyed her meaningfully.

She knew what he was asking, and nodded. 'We're still good.'

'Where should we go? We could grab a drink at the Mare, if you wanted?'

'Not private enough,' she sighed. That was the gods' truth. She thought for a second, chewing her cheek, and then waved a hand.

'Come on. Walk with me.'

She wasn't even sure where they were going, as she took the lead down the steps. But he followed beside her without comment or complaint – that is, until they neared the city gates.

'You...wanna leave the walls? At night?'

Something about the idea of quiet, open plain had pulled at her – the first glimmering stars peeking out above. But at the doubt in his voice, she turned to look at him and grinned.

'Don't worry. I'll protect you.'

Truthfully, her stomach had started bunching with nerves at what was coming – that long awaited talk – and hearing him snort a laugh beside her helped her relax a little.

'That's settled, then. I'm safe as houses.'

None of the torch-holding guards at the gate did more than nod as they passed, and then the massive siege doors were closed and re-locked behind them. Those patrolling the walls gave them a passing glance as they set off down the ramp, but only one.

Wind rustling grass was the loudest noise as they walked, joined by nature's nightly chorus once they crossed the draw-bridge and passed the stables. Beside her, Farkas tipped his head skyward and then sighed, a contented sound.

'It's a beautiful night.'

Merrin hummed in agreement. 'I'll miss summer, when it goes.'

They walked in what looked like an easy silence as Merrin veered them right and up a hill, sticking close to the wall. In truth her heart was pounding again. Eventually she had to tell herself that one spot out here was as good as any other, and force herself to stop walking.

Farkas chuckled a bit and gestured to the ground with brows lifted.

'Can I offer you a seat?'

She smiled a bit as she sank to the grass, and then he followed suit to her right.

They'd stopped on a hillside overlooking the plains; far away in the distance, the Throat and her sisters pierced the sky like a craggy vanguard, and their heads were cloaked in a velvet cape of stars. They both stared out at the breathtaking view, and for a few beats more there was silence. Then Merrin broke it, and turned her head to face him.

'I really did miss you, Farkas,' she murmured.

It was dark out here, with just the moons and stars for light, but this time there was no mistaking it. A blush stained his high cheekbones – faint, but there – and a brilliant smile bloomed across his face. He'd looked sort of tired when he'd come through the doors, with shadowed eyes, and in need of a shave. But this smile transformed all of that, and as she watched, he glowed.

'I'm happy to hear that, Mer.'

His smile was infectious. Feeling one of her own breaking free, she tucked her hair behind her ears and lifted a shoulder at him.

'So. How was your trip?'

'Long. Three days never pass slower than when you spend em' sitting still.' He gusted a sigh, and then settled back on both hands, shaking his head and chuckling.

'Never mind when you do it twice in a row, on hardwood. But the job went well.'

'What was the job?' She'd made it nearly to Ivarstead before she'd realized she never asked.

Farkas rolled his eyes. 'The Portmaster wanted extra muscle to help the East Empire boys. They had a big shipment coming in, and there've been a rash of robberies. Pirates.'

She quirked a brow, thinking of her time in Bal Foyen. 'Interesting.'

He snorted. 'Not really. Turned out to be nothin' more than a handful of Blackbloods, shoed in with some Argonians. Brother an' sister, I guess.'

Merrin grimaced; she'd heard of the Blackbloods. Not a nice bunch.

'Did it get bloody?'

He shook his head. 'Nah. They gave up pretty quiet, in the end. Guess they didn't like their odds. Jailor up there's got his hands full, now.'

She hummed. 'So a good trip, all in all.'

'I guess so.' Then Farkas twisted to look at her directly, with eyes that had gone watchful.

'But I'd much rather hear about yours.'

There it was. It felt like the point of no return. Stupid – she'd passed that days ago. It was time to rip the bandage off. Breathing sharply out through her nose, Merrin forced her muscles to relax, and said it.

'Well...it's true. I'm Dragonborn.'

He just whistled lowly and nodded back, suspicions confirmed.

'That's big.' She noticed sympathy in his tone, and nodded.

'You're telling me.'

'So...were the Greybeards helpful?'

'Yes and no.' She frowned, remembering. 'They told me they'd...heard my voice, when we killed Mirmulnir. And while I was there, they taught me how to access my Thu'um – the Shouting – whenever I want it. They shared their knowledge with me, so I'd learn quicker.'

'Ha, see?' He nudged her, and a smile ghosted over his lips. 'I told you it would be badass.'

Merrin tsked. 'I'm grateful for their help. I just wish they could tell me more. It's not all good.'

Instantly, his tone sobered. 'What do you mean?'

'Arngeir – one of the monks – told me that the Dragonborn's road is mostly long and hard.' For the first time since coming back to Whiterun she didn't fight the unease that came creeping up her spine, and she let herself shiver.

'There was talk of misfortune, and corruption, and some great big destiny that the Divines have in store for me, but I can't hear too much about. Arngeir admitted they know more than they're saying. But apparently I'm not ready to know.'

Farkas had started to frown as she spoke. Now his brows were furrowed too, and he looked vexed as he shook his head.

'But how can they know you're not ready, if they won't tell you what it is?'

'Beats me,' she sighed. Then she lifted a hand to rub her own brow where it had started to ache.

'But they told me they're sure it has something to do with the dragons coming back.'

Beside her, blue eyes widened.

'That's...oh.'

'Yeah.'

'I'll admit, none of that sounds...great.'

She grimaced at him. 'My family felt pretty much the same way.'

He perked up at that, gaze turning keen. 'Family?'

'They live in Ivarstead, where I'm from. So there was no avoiding them finding out.' She turned her head to stare out toward the mountains; one of her hands started plucking at the grass beneath them, but she hardly noticed.

'You've never mentioned them before.' There was no accusation in his voice, only curiosity. She nodded, still looking straight ahead.

'I know. That was on purpose.'

'Is there bad blood between you?'

The question pricked her with guilt, and she pursed her lips before shaking her head.

'No. Nothing like that. Home has just been a sore spot for me, the last handful of years.'

Merrin looked back at him then, and it was obvious he wanted to ask more. But he didn't, and she appreciated that. She summoned up a wan smile for him, and shrugged.

'It's sort of complicated. But they love me, and I love them. So I guess it's no surprise that they don't love the idea of me being...this.'

'Dragonborn, you mean? Big, spooky fate?'

'More than that.' She winced as she looked at him, and then just made herself say what came next.

'Farkas, Arngeir told me that Dragonborn people aren't...people. We look like people, but we're not.'

Confusion crumpled his thick brow.

'What do you mean, Mer?'

'I mean we're dragons,' she blurted. 'In human bodies. I'm a dragon.'

For several long, painful moments, there was absolute silence. Farkas was staring at her with a mixture of shock and something...cloudier. She wanted to beg him to say something, but bit her tongue instead. Finally he noticed his mouth hanging open, and leaned forward a little as he closed it.

'...Huh.'

'Apparently,' she tacked on meekly. 'And I'm doing a shitty job, explaining it. It's not that I'm not a human, per se...I'm a Nord, from a Nord family. I just...have a dragon soul. That's what makes a Dragonborn.'

Farkas moved suddenly then, turning his entire body to face her and crossing his legs. He was staring at her very intently, and she swallowed beneath his heavy gaze.

'All this time? Have you always been...?'

'According to Arngeir, yeah.' It was hard to say, and as she held his gaze she had to work to keep from gnawing on her lip. Then finally she couldn't wait anymore.

'What are you thinking, Farkas?'

He hummed low in his throat, and reached up to scratch his jaw, looking thoughtful.

'I...never thought I would be friends with a dragon.'

A part of her wanted to laugh. But she scoffed instead, tearing a tuft of grass out at the roots.

'And what about the dragon part?' she insisted.

'It doesn't change anything,' he answered. Slowly, plainly, as if it should've been obvious.

'I told you already that I accept you, no matter what. In fact...I admire you. You're important to me. You know that.'

She had to look back out at the plains, at those words, feeling unsteady. Beside her, he kept talking, calm and even.

'That's why I want to hear about Helgen. So you don't have to carry it alone.'

She did wince, at that, and turned to look at him with guilty amber eyes.

'I'm sorry, Farkas. Really. I should've handled it better.'

'Don't be sorry, Mer. Just let me in – if you still want to.'

He sounded so earnest, and a touch bashful. It made her face grow warm, and her stomach clench.

She still wanted to.

And so she did. She crossed her legs and turned to face him, and told him the whole fucked up story. About Dalan and the skooma, the Imperial ambush, laying her head on the block. About the dragon, Alduin, and the awful chaos as Helgen burned. Losing everything she had, and only just escaping with Hadvar's help. Getting asked to go to Whiterun, and then realizing the course of her life had probably shifted.

Farkas was a good listener. He never interrupted, but his face spoke for him without needing words. Sympathy, horror, outrage, relief; it all played out on strong features, and swam in sky-blue eyes. When she finally fell silent on a ragged sigh, he slowly put one hand on her knee and squeezed.

'I think I get it, now,' he said quietly.

'I hope so.' Merrin couldn't see her own face in the moonlight, how sad and tired she looked just then. But Farkas saw. It tugged at his heart strings.

'It's a lot to keep to yourself, though,' he murmured.

'I'm used to it,' she answered softly. 'I've been dealing with my problems alone for a while, now.'

'You don't have to do that anymore.'

The words had her eyes flitting back up to his – blue and amber locked together, and something electric passed between them. Again, she shivered.

'It's part of why I got so mad at your brother, the day I left. The village...Alduin is real. The people he hurt were real. I...I really thought I was gonna die, that day,' she admitted. And then startled, as she realized that exactly a month had passed between then, and now.

He gave her knee another reassuring squeeze, and answered simply. 'I'm glad you didn't.'

The ghost of a smile tugged at her lips.

'So am I. But things are a lot more complicated, now.'

'Dalan? And the dragons?'

She nodded, and sighed. 'Dalan and the fucking dragons.'

'Do you really think he could'a made it out of Helgen?' Farkas frowned. 'You said he wasn't on the list.'

She rolled the grass blades between her fingers, staring vacantly at his chest. Trapped in thought and memory.

'I don't know. I can't rule out the chance. The Dufonts are too well-connected. If he made it back to Morrowind, then I need to sleep with one eye open.'

'You've got other eyes watching your back,' he rumbled. 'I won't let anything happen to you.'

The words jolted her, and she looked at his face set in determined lines as warmth bloomed in her rib-cage.

'Thank you, Farkas,' she all but whispered. 'That means a lot.'

Two spots of color came back to his cheeks, and then he nodded.

'So then, that leaves the dragons. Did the Greybeards give you any advice, there?'

'Not very useful advice. Or at least, not that I can see right now.' Merrin flicked her eyes skyward.

'Focus on strengthening my Voice, and wait for my purpose to clear up with time.'

His lips pursed as he stared at her, and he crossed his arms over his chest.

'That is pretty annoying advice.'

'I told him I would do it their way, for now,' she muttered. 'But not forever. I appreciate all they've done, but if they tell me they're going to guide me, then I want guidance. Not just books to read and jobs to do.'

Farkas tilted his head.

'What do you mean? What jobs?'

'More of a test, really. They've asked me to go to Ustengrav, the tomb Jurgen Windcaller's buried in, and bring them back his horn. It proves to them that I'm worthy of teaching.'

'Do you have to go soon?'

'As soon as I'm ready to hit the road again.'

He nodded, as if that settled everything.

'Okay. I'm coming with you.'

Merrin faltered on the breath she'd been taking and stared at him wide-eyed.

'Farkas...what?'

'To Ustengrav,' he said simply.

His words sent a disarming flutter through her stomach, but Merrin still managed to shake her head.

'You don't have to do that.'

'I want to,' he shot back. 'Seriously, Mer. I felt like shit when you asked me to go to Ivarstead, and I had to say no. It bugged me the whole time I was gone. I'm free now. Let me come with you. Please.'

'I...' She stammered, shook her head, tried again. She was too caught up to even be annoyed at herself.

'Like I said. I'm not used to anyone – offering. Wanting to help like this. I worked alone for a long time.'

'Well, get used to it,' he said earnestly.

'I wanna do this, and more.'

'Oh yeah?' She stared at him, too directly – part bluff-calling, part challenge.

'Like what?'

He didn't flinch. In fact, he leaned forward.

'Like help you with jobs. Help figure out the Dragonborn thing. Be your friend. Get to know you.'

She snorted at the last one. 'You do know me.'

'Not as well as I'd like to,' he countered lowly, and his brows furrowed.

'There's a whole 'lotta ground we haven't covered, yet.'

Merrin opened her mouth on a quip...and then let it close again as she realized that damnit, he was actually right.

Even with all the talking they'd done since they met, there were still...gaping holes. It felt stupid now to realize it. But she just already felt so close to Farkas. Brows knitting, she conceded with a nod.

'I, uh...guess that's true. Alright then. What do you want to know?'

She didn't expect he'd take the question so seriously. Blue eyes held hers as if he were trying to climb inside for a closer look; he stared at her like he was full of questions. That surprised her – but not as much as realizing that she really wanted to answer them.

He took his time thinking, measuring her in the dark. She was about to say something when he finally spoke, sounding pensive.

'Alright. What...is your favorite color?'

The words took a second to register – and then she couldn't help the laugh that tore free. It was so unexpected. So bizarre.

Blue.

That thought jolted her, and she stared at him, shaking her head as she sobered.

'Really? That's the first thing you ask?'

He grinned at her expression, and answered teasingly. 'I thought I'd start you with an easy one.'

Blue. It's blue.

'Green.' She pursed her lips, and eyed him dryly.

'...And blue,' she sighed. 'Next question, smart-ass.' It never used to be blue. But she clamped down on that thought, and held his gaze.

'Alright.' He nodded, and cocked his head to one side, face growing studious again.

'Tell me about your life, before we met.'

She blinked.

'So much for easy.'

His broad mouth quirked up, at the corners.

'You can handle it.'

'You want to...I dunno, narrow that down for me?'

'Sure.' He said it easily, but the tone didn't match the eyes. Absorbed...gleaming.

'You said you're from Ivarstead. And that your family's there. Tell me about them, if you want.'

There was a pang in her chest, and Merrin nodded.

'That's a pretty good one. Alright, let's see...there's Fastred and Klimmek. They're my oldest friends, close as kin. They have four bairns – Leifur, Safni, Hana and Soren. They see me as aunty. Fastred's folks are still with us, and I love them well, even though her da's an old crank. There's Wilhelm, who's like another da to me, and Narfi, his adopted son.'

A smile had snuck onto her face as she talked about them, lost in memories. When she zoned back and noticed his expression, she nodded, and the smile faded.

'They're not blood. But to me, they're as good as. We love each other.'

'I get it.' The words were quiet, and he nodded, slow and serious.

'Family is more than blood. The Companions taught me that. And before.'

The word piqued her interest. 'Before?'

'I've mentioned my pa to you, before.'

Memory flashed to that first dinner at the Mare, and she nodded.

'I remember.' Kodlak's angry voice came back to her, yelling at Vilkas...

'Jergen, right?'

'That's right.' He nodded again, and then massive shoulders lifted as he shrugged. He dropped her gaze, and turned his eyes to the moons instead.

'He wasn't our blood, either – Vilkas n' mine. He took us in when we were pups, and brought us to Jorrvaskr.'

'...Oh. Wow. I had no idea.'

He turned his face back to hers, and smiled at her.

'How could you'ave?'

Fair enough. Resting her arms in her lap, she leaned toward him.

'Was he good to you two?'

'Yeah. He did his best for us.' A tiny chuckle. 'With Kodlak an' Tilma's help.'

She recognized the sad edge that came creeping into his smile – would recognize it anywhere. She nodded, and when she spoke again her voice had softened.

'And now?'

The sadness crept up to tinge his eyes, and he nodded once.

'Gone, awhile now. Since we were sixteen.'

Merrin's brow crumpled, and her lips pressed thin with sympathy.

'Much too young. I'm sorry.' She reached out the hand that was closest to him, and placed it on his forearm. She wanted to ask more, but didn't quite dare.

'Thanks, Mer.' No doubt he recognized the sadness resting just beneath the surface now; it was mirrored in the look her gave her, in the tiny smile he shot her.

'And what about yours? Your kin?'

'Gone, too,' she sighed.

'Tell me about them?' he asked quietly.

Her chest was aching now, the way it often did when she thought of them. But there was something cathartic in it – she wanted to tell him. Slowly, she nodded.

My da's name was Hakon – but I guess you figured that out already. My ma's name was Sigva.'

'Pretty name.'

Merrin smiled weakly. 'Yeah.'

'How did they meet?'

The question surprised her, and so did the interest in his voice. But not in a bad way. She'd always loved the story.

'Ah – well, da had come to Ivarstead when he was barely a man. Worked hard to set up his smithy. There isn't much in Ivarstead, and there was even less back then. If you wanted anything special at all, you had to buy it from peddlers that travelled through. My ma and grandda were peddlers, sold books and parchment. Odds and ends. That's how they met.'

'Huh. Your da was big into books?'

She smiled, lost in thought, and shook her head.

'Not at all. He couldn't even read. But she and grandda had a wagon and two mules, and they'd always ride right by the house when they came through the village. He noticed her, and started trying to woo her.'

Beside her, Farkas chuckled. 'I bet that went over well.'

She snorted a laugh, shook her head. 'Not so much, at first. But da was persistent. And eventually...well, here I am.' She gestured to herself with one hand, and got another chuckle.

'They got married a year later,' she went on, quieter. 'A couple years after that, I came along. I take after her with my looks. But da gave me the freckles.' She smiled up at him ruefully, and found him watching her intently. The light from the moons made his eyes nearly glow, and they pulled her in.

'That's a nice story,' he said softly, and gave her a half-smile.

'It's easy to picture her. I could imagine you in a wagon full of books, too.'

Merrin chuckled at that. 'I do love to read.'

'She taught you?'

The laugh hitched in her chest, and she shook her head as the wistful sadness came creeping back to the forefront.

'No. She taught da, and she'd started teaching me. But then...it was mostly da who taught me.'

'Tell me what happened?'

He asked so gently, with a quiet sort of understanding in the words, and a few seconds after her muscles tensed up, she felt them relax. She'd never wanted to tell anyone who didn't already know, before – but she wanted to tell him. Her eyes had fallen to the grass between them, rustling in the wind, but now she lifted them slowly back to his and nodded.

'She died, when I was seven years old...giving birth to my brother.'

'Oh, Mer.' Instantly, he reached across the space between them and gripped her hand, squeezing tightly. Despite herself, she felt her heart give a tiny thud.

'I'm so sorry. Your brother..?'

'Didn't make it.' She smiled sadly up at him, and squeezed his warm hand, feeling grateful.

'He's buried in the grave with ma. Da and I named him Beirand. He'd be three and twenty, this year.'

'Damn.' He shook his head; his eyes were turning that telling cornflower color. 'I'm sorry if I shouldn't have asked, Mer. Really.'

She was shaking her head before he finished. 'No, don't be. You're fine. It feels good to say his name. And to talk about them.' Her smile widened into something real and warm, and the ache turned bittersweet.

'Thank you for caring, Farkas.'

He let loose a sudden gusting breath, and ducked his chin as his eyes fell to the ground – or to their joined hands. 'Of course I care,' he said quietly, and gave her another quick squeeze before withdrawing. Suddenly her hand was chilly in the night air, and she had to fight back a shiver. Beside her Farkas continued, sounding nearly shy.

'I did say I wanted to get to know you better. It means a lot that you'd tell me that.'

'I'm happy to do it.' It rattled her a little, how much she meant that. Beside her, Farkas smiled and nodded.

'What about your da? When did you..?'

'When I was six and twenty,' she answered, understanding. 'He raised me on his own after ma died. Never remarried. He taught me how to smith, and took me on as his partner. I was pretty well running the place, when I lost him. One night he went to sleep, and just...didn't wake up.'

It was a lot less traumatic than her mother, and she could tell he was thinking along the same lines as he nodded.

'A quick death. Painless. May we be as lucky.'

That surprised her a bit, and she snorted.

'What? No dreams of a glorious death in battle? No ticket to Sovngarde? You shock me, Farkas.'

Farkas chuckled. 'Sovngarde's waiting no matter what. If I have the choice between an axe in my chest or a feather bed, I know which one I'm choosing.' Another, louder chuckle.

'Even better if I've just finished using that bed with a lovely lady. That's the way to go!'

Merrin couldn't help the sudden burst of laughter, and it wracked her frame as she swatted at his chest. She shook her head as they grinned at one another, and her sad, aching thoughts seemed to shrink away.

'Oh, yeah,' she choked. 'Great answer! Perfect.'

His eyes sparkled as he looked at her and tapped a finger to his temple.

'What can I say? I'm a very smart man.'

'Okay, smart man.' Eventually the laughter subsided, and she stretched with a groan before leaning back in the grass, and sighing.

'Enough about sad stories and Sovngarde. Time for another question, if you've got one.'

He huffed, a playful sound.

'Of course I do! I'm learning a lot, y'know. And not just the sad stuff.'

'Oh yeah?' She quirked a brow. 'Like what?'

'Like that I'm three years older than you, for one.'

Wryly, she smiled. 'You're three and thirty?'

'Well, alright.' He shrugged his broad shoulders, and waved one huge, dismissive hand. 'We have our nameday in Sun's Dusk. So, almost three years.' He chuckled. 'It's just basic math.'

'Uh huh.' Unbeknownst to her, her amber eyes were dancing as she looked him over.

'What else?'

'You mean besides the dragon soul?' He grinned at her tsking and then hummed, thoughtful.

'You've got a hell of a knack for survival.'

Again, Merrin snorted. 'That doesn't count. Everyone needs one, in our line of work.'

'Fair enough.'

'What else?' The words were a challenge, barely there, but he heard it. Something sobered in his eyes and he straightened up as he looked at her, smile fading.

'You really miss your family, back home.'

The words caught her off guard, tripping her a bit. Her breath caught for a second before she nodded.

He really was observant.

'That's true.'

'Why did you leave them?'

Merrin grimaced. 'I felt like I needed to,' she admitted. 'After da died. I probably did need to. I needed a change.'

'So what happened?' He was staring at her curiously – had leant forward far enough to rest an elbow on his thigh, and his chin in his hand. Something about the picture warmed her, and she sighed.

'I, uh...buried my da. He didn't want a spot in the barrow, said he 'wanted to watch the sun set' – and packed up our things. Most of his, and most of mine. I made myself a sword and some armor, broke off my engagement, packed some bags, said goodbye and left. Sold the house back to Riften's jarl and started selling my sword arm. Well, arms,' she corrected absent-mindedly. She was so caught up in memory, she'd stopped seeing his face in front of her.

'Huh. Engagement. You were engaged?'

That snapped her attention back to the here and now, and she fixed him with a look as dry as a bone.

'Really, Farkas? That's what you heard, out of everything I just said?'

'I heard everything,' he answered sheepishly. 'I'm just surprised at that, is all.'

Again, her brows lifted, and she stared at him pointedly.

'Are you saying it's surprising that someone would want to marry me?'

Quicker than blinking, the mood shifted. He stilled, expression going absolutely serious, and his eyes went heavy-lidded as they pierced hers.

'Not at all.'

His voice was so low she barely caught it, and the sound of it pulled her up short. The look in his eyes pinned her to the spot.

She'd been mostly teasing – now she wasn't even breathing. A subtle tremor went sweeping up her arms, stretched out behind her. Through her shoulders, up the back of her neck, and it was all she could do not to shudder at the feeling.

She hadn't been ready for an answer like that...and wasn't ready for its effect on her. Her mouth went dry as they continued to stare, and her pulse started picking up. Her lips had parted of their own accord, and she ached to catch the bottom one between her teeth. All at once, she felt flushed.

But something in her railed up against it all, sharp and sudden – some distant echo of this isn't why I came here – and she caught herself instead. On a hitching inhale she shook her head, and shut her mouth.

Not here to flirt, Merrin. Shake it off.

Shake it off. And yet when she exhaled through her nose and broke the silence, she hardly recognized her own voice.

'Yeah...well, it isn't public knowledge.' She swallowed thickly.

'Only you and Ria know. So I'd appreciate if...if you kept it to yourself.'

The moment passed, tension broken. Beside her he slowly nodded, and straightened up.

'Your secret's safe with me.'

'Thank you.'

Suddenly, the sounds of wind and chirring insects were cut by the high-pitched call of a fox, and they both turned their faces to the plains.

'Wonder what he's hunting,' Merrin murmured.

Farkas gave a ghost of a laugh. 'Hopefully some of these damned bugs.' Another peal of calls rang out, and Merrin smiled as her muscles finally relaxed. For several long beats, they just listened to the night. Then Farkas spoke up.

'So, where did you bury him? To watch his sunsets?'

'On a hilltop,' she answered quietly, glancing toward him and then back out. 'Facing lake Geir, next to ma and Beirand. I planted them flowers, too.'

'Sounds like a nice spot.'

She smiled wanly. 'He always loved a view.' So did she.

'I bet he would've understood – when you needed to go,' he said softly. That startled Merrin, and when she turned to look at him he was already facing her again.

'Too many good views, to settle on just one.'

She couldn't help a mild grimace, and shook her head.

'I think you're probably wrong on that one. He wanted...stability, for me.' She lifted a hand, and snorted.

'Mercenary life was most anything but.' Memories flashed – of Morrowind, of Kjeld, of home – and she frowned in the dark. Beside her, Farkas gave a thoughtful hum.

'Parents want what's best for us. You needed to grow. I'd bet my last septim that life on the road gave you that.' She was quiet for a second, surprised, and then he reached across to nudge her shoulder.

'Am I right, or am I right?'

'You're right,' she admitted on a sigh.

'Aha.' She didn't have to look, to hear the smile in his voice.

'I bet you're chock-full of stories, from your mercenary days.'

'I'm still a mercenary,' she quipped. 'Now I'm just part of a company.'

'A famous company,' he drawled, mock-haughty. 'Made of the best, most honorable warriors money can buy.' Merrin couldn't help but chuckle.

'Yeah, yeah, smartass. Your point?'

'I'd love to hear your stories.'

'Tonight? There's too many of them.' Four years of memories couldn't fit in one night.

'You got somewhere else to be?' he challenged, playful.

'In my bed, at some point,' she shot back dryly, and he chuckled, shaking his head.

'Sleep is for the weak. And the lucky.' But at the look she gave him, he lifted his hands up and grinned.

'Alright, alright. How about just one story tonight, then? Just one.'

She huffed, but a smile of her own tugged at the corners of her mouth. 'Which one? There's a few to choose from.'

He stared at her thoughtfully from his spot in the grass, eyes bright, and again Merrin felt like she was being measured. Considered. After a long moment he hummed again, and his eyes dropped lower on her face.

'How about the one where you got that scar?'

'Oh.' She blinked once, twice, caught off-guard.

There was no way he could've known it, but he'd actually picked a memory that was important to her. Unconsciously a hand drifted up to her face, and her fingertips ghosted over the raised pink slash.

'You really wanna hear that one?'

'Really.'

The tone of his voice tugged a smile from her, and she shook her head a bit.

'Nords, and their battle scars.'

He snorted a laugh. 'Says the Nord.'

'Touche. Alright, let's see.' Merrin straightened up as she rested her hands in her lap, and stared up in thought at the sky.

'It wasn't even a year since I'd left home. I found myself in Morrowind pretty quick, and eventually most of my jobs came from there. I was still making a name for myself, and sometimes worked for nothing. Or next to nothing.' She shot him a glance, and tsked.

'I guess being part of a famous company will have spared you that particular joy.'

'You guess right,' he shot back evenly, and she rolled her eyes.

'Uh-huh. Well, I was used to working for peanuts at the time. So I was thrilled when this client came along and waved a bag of coin in my face.'

'Ou, let me guess.' He grinned. 'A rich man's daughter, running away from home and asking you to take her to her lover, two cities over.'

Her smile faded, and she stared at him pointedly.

'Not quite. It was actually some asshole noble's mistress. She was young. And running from home – she was Dunmer. Asshole's wife couldn't hang on to a pregnancy, but she could. When she asked him to put her up and claim the baby, he decided it'd be easier to snuff them both out. She stole what she could and went running for help to cross the border. Ended up finding me.'

Farkas' grin had melted off his face as she spoke, and now he grimaced, looking pale.

'Fuck. I'm sorry, Mer. Shouldn't have guessed. What a fucker.'

She sighed, and shook her head. 'You're fine.'

'What happened?'

'I said I'd do it. It was way over my head at that point, but I couldn't have sent her away. We slipped out of the city that same night, and made for the Valus mountains, headed to Cyrodiil. We were almost there, when the assassin he hired caught up to us.'

He'd been hanging on every word she spoke; now he blanched, and leaned back.

'Holy shit.'

She pressed her mouth into a grim line and shrugged. 'It's a lot more common, in Morrowind. The Morag Tong are a tool for the rich, as much as anything else.'

'Well, what did you do?'

'Fought him. Nothing else I could do.' She could still remember the assassin's face with no effort, long and ashen and painted. The stalking way he moved, beneath the moons.

'I wasn't as good with a blade back then. But it was us, or him. Obviously, I came out on top. Barely.' She shot him a smile that was grim and a bit feral, and tapped her right cheek.

'This was my souvenir.'

'Were you hurt bad?'

She remembered the fiery brand of pain, and nodded.

'Bad enough. He only managed to get me twice before I ended it, but his knives were poisoned.'

He cursed under his breath and shook his head, looking upset.

'Gods damn. Only cowards use poison.'

'That, and hired killers.'

'So then what?' There was impatience in the edge of his voice, and worry, and it made her happy to hear it. She chuckled once, and clasped her hands together.

'I dragged my sorry ass through the mountains and got us to a village outside Cheydinhal, before I collapsed. She saved me – ran to get the priests from the village temple, and they were able to heal me. Half of the money I got for the job went to that. The other half, I gave back to her.' Her eyes had gone distant and clouded with memory, and her face soft with emotion.

'Her name was Nurisa. She ended up taking a carriage to Bravil.'

'You really care about her, huh?'

'I'll never forget her,' she admitted freely.

In all the years she'd been a sword for hire, Nurisa and her unborn baby were the first to make her feel like she was doing something actually important.

'Have you ever looked her up? In Bravil?'

The question brought Merrin back to the present, and she shook her head. 'No.'

'Why not? I'm sure she'd be happy to see you.'

A bittersweet smile unfurled on her face.

'I don't know. Sometimes...it's just better to hope the best, instead of finding out a truth that's not as good. Don't you ever feel that way?'

For a long beat he was silent, and when she glanced up she saw that he looked a bit sad.

'Sometimes, yeah.'

'Well...that's why. As far as I know, she and her baby are in Bravil, doing well. That's what I want for them.'

'It was brave of you to help her, Mer,' he said quietly.

Merrin's brow pinched at that, and she shook her head.

'It didn't feel brave. It was just the right thing to do.'

'That doesn't make it less brave.'

A part of her felt like arguing – the same part that always squirmed when clients praised her – but she conceded with a sigh.

'Fine, fine. If you say so. Anyway, that's the story – how I got the scar. I hadn't learned any restoration yet, and by the time the priests got to it, it was a done deal. Too far gone.'

Farkas looked at her intently as she spoke, and the look in his eyes made her flush beneath the collar of her shirt. Then he smiled.

'I think it adds character.'

'Oh, damn straight.' The compliment lodged in her chest, and she grinned at him devilishly, pleasantly surprised. 'I'm downright alluring!'

'Damn right.' He laughed at the face she made, an infectious laugh, and it took them a few beats to settle down. Then he tilted his head, curious again, and looked at her with lively eyes.

'So if you didn't know any healing back then, who taught you? And when?'

'Uh, uh.' She smirked at him, feeling rakish, and wagged a finger at him.

'You got your one story, for the night. No cheating. That's a whole nother story.'

'Unfair.' But he smiled playfully back at her, and ducked his chin.

'I guess I'll just have to wait until we're on the road for more.'

'On the road?'

'To Ustengrav.'

She tsked, but her smile widened. 'Farkas. Do you really want to come along with me to go diving through some dusty old crypt?'

'I want to come with you,' he replied simply, and something about it glued her tongue to the roof of her mouth, just like that. She just stared at him, and he continued, oblivious.

'Four years is a long time to work alone. You don't have to, anymore.'

'So you've mentioned,' she managed.

'So, let me come with.' Suddenly, he chuckled.

'Ysmir's beard, I never thought I'd have to ask so many times, after you asked me to come see the monks.'

She had to reel in a splutter at that, and narrowed her eyes at him. 'Oh, excuse me for not wanting to impose!'

He grinned at that. 'Well, you're not. Call it a perk of working with a famous company – a helping hand, any time you want one.' He waggled his eyebrows at her, and Merrin couldn't help but snort a laugh.

'You're impossible! Fine. Yes, I'd be glad to have you with me, Farkas. Thank you, for the helping hand.'

His smile was so bright, it made her chest pang.

'You'll get used to it, eventually.'

She sighed, a gusting sound, and hugged her own arms to her chest as she smiled.

'You're a gem, Farkas.'

'So I've been told.'

'I really am sorry that I ran off on all of you.' She looked at him directly, and his blue eyes were warm as he waved her off.

'Done and dusted. I'm just glad you trust me enough to tell me.'

She was feeling another thrill of warmth at those words when he shook his head and chuckled.

'Now, come on. I think it's about time we head back. It's been a big day.'

'Oh, yeah?' She lifted a brow at him, and he nodded.

'Oh, yeah. My friend is half dragon, I have bags to pack...and something just bit my ass. Like the cart ride wasn't enough. C'mon.'

He came gracefully to his feet while she laughed. And when he reached down a hand and pulled her up, she felt almost lighter than air.

Torvar and Athis were still at the table in the meadhall, but Ria and Njada were both in the whelps room when Merrin came breezing through the door. She felt both of them staring as she walked to her dresser, but paid them no mind until Ria called out to her.

'It's a nice night, huh? Where did you get off to?'

She started brushing her hair with short, quick strokes, and shrugged noncommittally.

'I took a long walk.'

'So what's got you smiling like a dope, then?'

This from Njada; the pale blonde was sitting on her blue-quilted bed, peering at her over the top of her latest training manual. Her gold-flecked eyes were shrewd, and her tone was dry.

It didn't bother Merrin; she couldn't guess what would've, just then. She tossed her brush in her top drawer, closed it with a snap, and flounced onto her mattress. She met Njada's stare head on, and smiled good-naturedly.

'Well, Heimskr did start stripping in the middle of his nightly sermon while I walked by...'

Ria made a choking sound, and Njada scoffed.

'Oh, piss off then, if you aren't gonna tell us.' But the corner of her mouth quivered, threatening to lift, and Merrin saw it. Her smile widened, and she turned to look at both of them while she grabbed her quilt.

'What? Is it my fault that the man is so drop-dead sexy?'

Ria laughed, Njada went muttering back to her book, and Merrin had to dodge Ria's extra pillow, when it was hurled her way.

She was hugging it tight to her chest, when she finally fell asleep.

What did you think of this chapter? I really appreciate reviews of all kinds!