A/N: Here we are, the newest chapter of AWR, and not too late, if I do say so myself! This one was a joy to write, and I hope you all enjoy it.

I'd like to give a HUGE shout-out to SilverHawk88, for all of your support! It means the world to me that you love the story so much, and I loved your reviews – they had me grinning at my phone like a loon. Thanks so much!

Merrin would have been content to make the trip in near-total silence, brooding and fretting over what waited on the mountain. But Ria was having none of it. She'd worked at Merrin like a squirrel with a nut, as they'd passed through Riverwood – asking her questions with no short answers, pulling her away from her thoughts. Skirting around the charred ruins of Helgen had been hard, but not as hard as she'd feared it would be, and she knew it was mostly thanks to Ria's sunny presence.

Not long after, Merrin had led them right into the mountain, by way of Jsashe's Scorn – a mostly-forgotten pass that would lead them more or less straight to Ivarstead, and save them several days of walking. Night had come in with the mountain still embracing them, and they'd made camp in a thatch-roofed shack along the path, abandoned and falling apart.

By the time they'd managed to build a hearty fire and drive out most of the mildew smell, Merrin had found an odd sense of calm resolve – mostly thanks to her friend's prodding and reasoning.

She could very well be Dragonborn. But right now, she didn't know. What was the use of worrying herself sick? For now, all she should focus on was getting to Ivarstead, and then to High Hrothgar – the Greybeards would know what to make of her. And if she was somehow Dragonborn, they would be able to help her.

She'd been entirely overwrought yesterday, and she'd embarrassed herself. From here out, she was going to try and be more level-headed.

And so it was with a level head that she led Ria out of the pass next morning, and into the most familiar woods in the world. The last remnants of a footpath served here as guidance, but Merrin needed none.

The sun was properly gracing the sky and the province's largest mountain range was literally within arms' reach when their feet hit the well-worn road. From there, it was maybe a few minute's walk down a gentle slope – and then all of a sudden, like parting a veil, Ivarstead was laid out beyond them.

A sleepy village of cob, thatch and log; nestled in a gentle basin, with the mighty Treva river rushing through on both sides, on its journey to the Honrich. Settled at the very foot of the mountain, in its shadow as often as not, the Throat of the World towered so over Ivarstead that even if one craned their neck, they couldn't see the misty peak. The forest that she'd led them through crept right up to the village border - the Firecrown Forest of legend and reknown. As in all of the Rift, the seasons seemed quickened in Ivarstead – and the forest was already living up to its name, in all its autumnal glory. The trees were ablaze with leaves in every shade of yellow, orange and red, with no green to be seen until next spring. Merrin knew from experience that come sundown, the red-orange light would hit the ivory birch trunks in such a way that the entire forest would glow, like flickering firelight. The Firecrown was the glittering jewel of the east, and she'd never tired of it.

Cupped in the middle of all this beauty was...home. Simple cabins and cottages that she knew in and out, full of people she knew the same way. From the sprawl laid out in front of her, she could see that not much had changed. The gardens spilled lush and green the same way from their beds, the air still smelled of spice and pine and earth. The bridge that crossed the Treva and led into the village was still strung with tattered blue flags for Kynareth, dancing in the breeze.

And yet all at once as she walked down that road, Merrin found herself hit square in the chest with the feeling of what wasn't there – who wasn't there. And she remembered why she'd stayed away for so long, even as guilt filled her for it.

With uncanny timing, Ria chose that moment to look away from the village to Merrin, and bump her playfully in the shoulder.

'So, how does it feel? To come home, after so long?'

'Good. Bad...heavy.' Merrin answered honestly, and gave her head a rueful shake.

'I shouldn't have stayed away so long.'

'Things happen,' Ria offered consolingly. 'And you're here now. I'm sure they'll be happy to have y—oh, look! Who is that, coming?'

Right away, Merrin knew. Ria had been distracted by the distant shape of a woman, throwing down her hoe into the field she'd been turning and gathering up the skirt of her pale blue dress to come sprinting top speed up the road towards them. Detail rushed in as the woman came closer; bare feet, chestnut hair flying free and wild behind her, only outdone by the wild grin on her face. Merrin stopped walking and shrugged off her pack, and felt a grin of her own tugging free.

At the last second Merrin opened her arms wide, and the sprinting woman went leaping into them with a squeal, wrapping her arms and legs around her even as Merrin held her up.

'Merry!'

'Faster.' She was being squeezed for all she was worth, and both women were laughing and giddy as Merrin swung her new burden around as if she were lighter than air. Off to the side, Ria stood and watched them, eyes wide with surprise.

After several long moments of squealing and squeezing, Merrin plopped the woman back down onto the road, and then the two of them stood beaming at one another.

'I can't believe it! You're really here,' the smaller woman cried. 'Gods, I'm shaking!' More laughter.

'Why didn't you send a letter ahead?'

'I got here faster than a letter would have.' Merrin shook her head as she grinned, and gave a long once-over to the woman in front of her; pink cheeks, pert nose, pale green eyes that sparkled. Thinner than she should've been...working hard as always, no doubt. She reached a hand out to her oldest, dearest friend, and squeezed the hand that took it.

'Faster, I want you to meet my good friend, Ria.' Still smiling, Merrin turned to Ria, and tilted her head to the woman beside her. 'Ria, this is my oldest friend, Fastred.'

'Well met!' Ria took the woman's other hand and smiled as she shook it, shooting her a wink.

'So is it Fastred, or Faster? I think I sense a story, here.'

'That you do.' The third woman giggled. 'My true name is Fastred. But growing up, Merrin and the others always called me Faster, because—'

'No one could run faster than her.' Merrin grinned. 'And she never let us forget it, either.'

Fastred chuckled as she threw an elbow Merrin's way, and then looked back at Ria as she swiped at some flyaways.

'Ignore her. It's Ria, she said? Very well met! Any friend of Merry's is a friend of mine.'

Ria could barely get a 'thank you' in before Fastred was talking again, squeezing herself like a happy child.

'I just can't believe you're here!'

Merrin could hardly believe it herself. But she didn't say as much when Fastred took her by the hand and started happily dragging her down the road, still talking.

'Come on, come on, the rest have probably figured it out by now, and they'll be dying to see you! It's been way too long, you know.'

Her smile slipped a little, and Merrin winced as she nodded. 'I know it has. I'm sorry.'

'You'd better be!' Fastred's tone managed to be scolding and light at the same time, one of the many trademarks that made her so lovable.

'We worry about you, here!'

Before Merrin could get a word out, Fastred whipped her head back to smile brightly at Ria.

'What about you? Is this your first time in Ivarstead?'

'It is.' Ria nodded eagerly, and her dark eyes flitted from side to side as she took in the view. 'It's absolutely gorgeous!'

Fastred chuckled at that, and shook her head. 'That's the truth. If only it wasn't a world away from anything else. Eh, Merrin?'

Merrin knew too well what she meant, and only pursed her lips and nodded.

They'd come to the bottom of the basin as they'd talked, crossing the bridge over the Treva and into the village itself, and now Fastred was leading them into the yard of a modest farm just off the road.

Fellstar Farm; a place Merrin knew like the back of her hand. Owned and worked by Fastred and her parents, Fellstar had always stood with quiet dignity; the house was older than any of them, and each year the fertile fields produced enough to feed Ivarstead and then some. Fastred had expanded on the farm's business when she started up an apiary some years back, and now the farm was known for its honey, too.

She'd barely taken a step beyond the front gate before she was descended upon; skinny arms wrapped around her waist and knees, and she fell to the ground surrounded by laughter to greet her nieces.

'Safni! Hana,' she crooned, and gathered the two rambunctious girls close, giving them a squeeze that made them giggle and squeal.

'Gods, you're both getting so tall! Look at you, look at you! Both gorgeous! Oh, I've missed you so much.'

'I've missed you, Auntie Merrin!' Hana had just had her seventh name-day, and had most of the village wrapped around her finger – she was used to getting what she wanted. She turned big blue eyes ringed in thick, dark lashes up to Merrin, and put a proper pout on as she grabbed at Merrin's hands.

'Now that you're home, don't go again! Please? It's boring here without you – honest!'

'Hana, your manners!'

Merrin had started to laugh, but she stifled it when she saw how serious her other niece was. Safni was a whole ten years old, and saw herself as her sibling's moral compass. Slender hands were placed on narrow hips as she stared Hana down with sharp hazel eyes, and she shook her neatly plaited head.

'She's only just gotten here, don't go bothering her already!'

Hana let go of Merrin before sticking her tongue out at her older sister, who obviously thought herself above such things; she gave a prim little toss of her chin, and then looked back at Merrin. All seriousness left her face in an instant, replaced with a grin as bright and sunny as her mother's.

'How was your trip, Aunt Merrin? I know to ask.'

She had to stifle another laugh, and smiled as she reached out to gently tug at Safni's long chestnut braid.

'Thank you for asking, Saf. Our trip was just fine – not too long, and the weather was perfect.'

The little girl nodded, and her smile widened. 'I'm happy to hear it. Thank you for noticing I'm taller – da says I'm growing all the time!'

'So am I,' Hana protested. 'Da says I grow every night, when I'm sleepin'!'

'I'm sure you're all growing,' Merrin said with a laugh, and gave Hana another squeeze as she looked over their heads.

'Speaking of which, where is – ? Ah, here we are.'

Fastred had breezed past her daughters as they'd fallen on Merrin, going deeper into the yard, and now she'd returned to them with her arms full of the answer to her unfinished question. A chubby toddler stared out at Merrin, hazel eyes blinking from a recent nap, and Merrin's heart swelled as she grinned at Fastred and took him into her arms. He was still small, for his age, and absolutely darling.

'There he is. My precious boy.' She dropped a kiss onto each chubby cheek, and the little boy giggled and 'mah-mah-mah'ed as she nuzzled his tiny button nose with her own. At the sight of a baby, Ria came in to stand just behind her, and Merrin turned her head towards her friend with a grin.

'Ria, meet my little monsters. Safni's in green, and she's the oldest girl. Hana just turned seven.'

'And I love pink,' Hana interjected with a curtsy in Ria's direction, and this earned her a chuckle from everybody in the yard.

'And this handsome little devil is Soren. Their newest.'

'Newest, and last, as far as we're concerned,' Fastred said with a tired laugh. 'Barely three years old, and already stirring up trouble.' Her cheeks were glowing with pride as she watched Ria offer a finger to Soren, and laughed again when the little boy grabbed it in his tiny, meaty fist.

'But we're not all here. Safni, go and find your da. He'll want to know who's arrived.'

'Okay, mama.' She'd been given a mission, and Safni looked serious once again as she darted off down the road. 'I'll be quick!'

Merrin shook her head with a satisfied sigh as she looked after her, and then turned her head to Fastred.

'How is he?'

'Tired, like me.' Fastred smiled ruefully. 'Not getting any younger. But we manage.'

'Good gods, wife – look at this! It's like we're not even here! Hmph – to think of it.'

This new, grumbling voice had come from the shade of the house's porch, and it had Merrin grinning again as she turned, shading her eyes with her free hand and squinting across the yard.

'Jofthor, you old puss. I see you're no less of a grump since I came last. How are you?'

'Old,' came the barked response from Fastred's father. 'Creaky, and tired. But I'm still a long way off from furniture, and ain't too chuffed on bein' ignored! I see you're no less of a mouthy little minx!'

The words sounded harsh, but Merrin wasn't fooled; she didn't so much as bat a lid as the two of them eyed one another. After a long beat of silence broken only by the baby sneezing, Jofthor uncrossed his wiry arms, and gave a mulish jerk of his grey-stubbled chin in her direction. His pale green eyes began to twinkle, and a smile crept over his wrinkled face.

'...How are you?'

'Thank you for asking,' she quipped back with a smile. 'I'm tired, but not too tired. And you look plenty spry to me. What about you, Boti?' She turned her head a bit, and looked to the slim, sleek-haired woman at her husband's side. 'How have you been? It's good to see you.'

'Thank you, dear. Don't let this old crank put you off.' With the barest hint of a smile, she swatted one thin hand at her husband, who gave an overdone harrumph in response, and rolled her eyes.

'We're both doin' fine enough. It's mighty good to see your face.'

'Who's the Imperial lass?' Jofthar was eyeing Ria now, and had recrossed his arms.

'Da!' Fastred lifted one hand to her mouth, and yet more color sprang into her cheeks as she stared wide-eyed at her father. 'Don't be rude!'

'Her name is Ria!' Hana volunteered this in a bright little chirp, and for the second time, she earned a chuckle from everyone there – even her mother.

'Say hello, grandda!'

'Yeah, grandda.' Fastred had mostly recovered herself, and stared pointedly at her father on his porch.

'Be an example to your grandbairns, and come say hello to this lovely new friend.'

'I didn't mean nothin',' Jofthor grumbled, as he received another swat from his wife. 'It's just what she is, is all.'

'That's right.' As good-natured as ever, Ria saw Jofthor cross his porch and make his way down the stairs and left Merrin to meet him half-way, giving him a firm handshake and a brilliant smile.

'Imperial, and proud of it! My name is Ria. Well met.'

Merrin saw Fastred sag with relief as Ria went from her father's hand to her mother's, and felt a knowing smile sneak onto her face. Fastred had always been excitable, and Jofthor had always tried her. They were constantly butting heads, and she was usually nervous to introduce the mulish man to anybody new.

But Jofthor seemed to have met his match; within seconds, Ria had both of Fastred's parents belly laughing, and Fastred turned wide, pleasantly surprised eyes on Merrin behind their backs. Merrin just smiled, and cuddled Soren closer.

The moment was punctuated by Safni streaking back into the yard, panting slightly as she stumbled on lanky legs up to her mother.

'Da and Leifur are coming! They were at the river.'

'As usual,' Fastred answered wryly.

Merrin turned around to stare down the road, and felt her heart lift in her chest when she saw the two figures strolling toward them. Her other dearest childhood friend was walking alongside his firstborn – a smart, friendly boy of eleven, looking more and more like him by the year. They kept in perfect stride as they walked together, and each had a fishing pole slung over their left shoulder. Two sets of eyes lit up when they saw her, and even from that distance, you could tell how blue they were.

'Ysmir's beard! Merrin, is that you?'

She felt the silly grin spread over her face, and she passed the baby off to Safni – held her arms open wide, as the slightly older man propped his pole against the gate.

'Yes Klimmek, it's me. Gods, is your eyesight really going so quickly?'

'Har, har.' Klimmek threw her a lop-sided grin as he scooped her up and twirled her in arms that were still strong, both of them laughing when he set her down. Hard work had taken its toll; sun had somewhat weathered his handsome face, there was more grey than ever in his sandy blonde beard, and she wondered if the shaven crop of his hair was still purely by choice. But it was still Klimmek in front of her, as she knew and loved him; in his tattered breeches rolled up to the knee, and faded linen shirt, ever-ready with a bashful smile.

'When did you get here?' He walked the two steps over to where his wife stood, and dropped a kiss to the top of her head before wrapping one arm around her waist. Hana came rushing to his other side, and slipped her tiny hand into her father's much bigger one, flashing him a winsome smile.

'Just now! Mama saw her an' Ria, and went runnin'!'

'Did she, now?' Klimmek chuckled. 'No surprise there.'

'Aunt Merrin. It's so wonderful to see you.' Leifur had sidled up to Merrin while they'd spoken, and he stood straight and tall in front of her, looking serious as he offered her a handshake.

'How was the road?'

Merrin barely managed not to chuckle as she took the lanky blonde boy's hand, and shook it firmly.

'Hello, Leifur. The road was fine. How polite of you to ask!' Now she smiled.

'You're looking so grown – do you think you could rustle up a hug for me, somewhere in all of those manners?'

Instantly his polite, solemn expression melted, to be replaced with a bashful grin like Klimmek's, and he nodded. 'I think so, yeah.' He rushed headlong into her arms, and Merrin tucked his tousled head under her chin as she gave him a squeeze. When he pulled back, he looked excited, and his eyes were bright.

'We've missed you! Is it true that you spent Midyear in Bal Foyen, protecting the merchant's ships from pirates?'

Merrin gaped at the boy, taken aback, and then her eyes narrowed suspiciously. 'Hold on, how did you know – ?'

'Da told us! He read us your latest letter. It sure sounded danger—'

'He what?' Fastred looked sharply up at her husband, shocked and none too pleased, and Klimmek winced as his children all giggled, before throwing his hands up in surrender.

'Oh, come on. We do all miss her! Besides,' he added, all cajoling eyes and innocence, 'you know I need to practice my letters out loud.'

'You see?' Jofthar barked a laugh at his daughter. 'That's what you get, teachin' a man to read. I told your ma the same, when she badgered me into it!'

'Pah!' Boti scoffed at this, and placed hands on hips as she fixed her husband with a beady-eyed look.

'The only danger in tryin' to teach a man to read is if'n he's a damned lazy coot like you. It's just lucky for the both of us, I'm the stubborner one!'

This exchange sent the children into another round of giggles – and Ria, too. She was doing a bad job of trying to hide a grin behind one hand, and her eyes shone with mirth as she looked at Merrin. Klimmek looked at his wife as if to say 'See? No harm done!' After a moment she yielded, her stern look fading into a small smile, and nudged him. Leifur was the first to pipe up again.

'What is Dhalmora like, Aunt Merrin? I read in one of my books that it's mostly Argonians there, and they live in houses made of mud! Is that true? And what about Fort Zeren? Do the guards really ride guar around like horses?'

'Leifur, slow down!' Boti had come to join the others in the yard, and the trim, silver-haired woman chuckled as she ran an affectionate hand over her oldest grandson's hair.

'You're talkin' faster than the Prince o' Madness. She's only just gotten here, there'll be plenty of time for story-tellin', I'm sure! But she hasn't even had a chance to tell us what's brought her home.'

At those words, Fastred and Merrin startled at the same time, and Fastred turned to her friend with her head cocked.

'Huh. Ma is right – I was so excited to see you, I forgot to ask why you're here! Is it just to visit?'

Not quite.

She'd known there'd be no avoiding this moment, but it had still come sooner than she would've liked.

And she knew there was no smooth, easy way to say it. So Merrin just looked around at the men, women and children all gathered and staring expectantly at her, and dove right in.

'I wish. You heard the call from High Hrothgar, two days past?'

'Heard it? We felt it in our bones,' Jofthar barked. 'If those damn Greybeards ain't careful, they'll go shakin' us all apart!' The words earned him a few chuckles, and Klimmek looked rueful as he nodded his head. Fastred was looking at Merrin strangely though, and Merrin winced as she pressed on.

'That...was for me. The Greybeards called me to the monastery. They...think I'm Dragonborn.'

There was a second or two of total silence – and then pretty much the reaction she'd expected. Jofthar, Klimmek, and Boti all burst out laughing at what they were sure was a joke, and this caused the younger two kids to join in, despite having no understanding. Safni and Leifur were both looking solemn – a little pinched, even – and clearly weren't impressed at her trying to kid. Fastred was the most sensitive, and her face had gone pale, her brows drawn up and together as she stared at her best friend's face.

Beyond her vision, Ria glanced over at Merrin and shot her a sympathetic grimace.

'Wait.' Fastred's voice was quiet, but it still had the laughter dying down fast.

'...You really mean it, don't you?'

Still wincing, Merrin nodded.

'Yeah.'

That one word killed the laughter completely, and the yard filled with a ringing silence instead. Little Hana had been laughing the loudest, but when she saw the horrified look on her mother's face, that laughter switched right into tears. It didn't matter that she didn't understand – she could feel that something had gone wrong. So she started bawling, and that was enough to start Soren bawling, too.

'Merrin...what?' Klimmek's face had fallen, and as he scooped his howling daughter into his arms, he stared at her as if he'd misheard. 'What do you mean?'

She looked from him to Fastred, to their two pale, owl-eyed eldest, and then to their grandparents behind them. Jofthar was squinting, confused, and Boti's face had crumpled in concern.

'Please, here me out.' She begged them as a whole, and had to raise her voice to be heard over the wailing little ones. None of the other villagers had taken notice of the spectacle yet, and she was grateful.

'I'm just as shocked as you. I was in from Morrowind on a job...that's a long story. But two days past, a dragon attacked Whiterun, where I've been staying – I know, I know! It was a dragon, and I helped take it down. When it died, something...happened to me.'

Feeling helpless, she wrung her hands together, and shook her head.

'Something I'm not even sure I could explain. And then, from nowhere, the Greybeards shouted down the mountain – DRAGONBORN! The Jarl and his men are all convinced that they were calling me to them – because they think I'm Dragonborn. So I came. I'm just as in the dark as you are, and I won't know more until I've seen them.'

Klimmek had quieted Hana down to just whimpering, but Soren was still squalling in Safni's arms. Boti took the little boy from her overwhelmed granddaughter, and started cooing in his ear. Everyone was pale now. Klimmek was the first to speak, and his tone was worried.

'Shor's bones...a dragon? We'd heard rumors, last coupl'a weeks – the courier came in, and was babblin' that a dragon had come and burned down Helgen. But we thought he was...well, crazy, or on the skooma.'

Merrin sighed, and shook her head again. 'No. He was telling the truth. Helgen did burn – I was there when it happened,' she admitted. 'And I've seen two dragons now. I know it sounds crazy, but they're back, somehow.'

Fastred looked like she wanted to cry, but was holding it together for her children. She brought both hands up over mouth and nose, and Merrin could see them trembling when she did. Behind her, Jofthar crossed his arms, and scowled.

'I'll tell you what old Jofthar thinks,' he growled. 'I think this whole thing sounds nuttier than fruitcake. Has traipsin' all over Nirn finally gotten your head knocked silly, girl?'

'Grumble all you like,' Merrin shot back. 'I know how it sounds. But it's the only story I have to tell, because it's the truth.'

'Still,' Boti interjected weakly. 'The Dragonborn?'

Leifur had been quiet since she'd hit them with the news, but now he opened his mouth before Merrin could, and looked at her with vulnerable eyes.

'I thought the Dragonborn was just a myth. A story.' His voice shook ever so slightly, and the straight-backed confidence he'd come walking up with had faltered. Seeing it tugged on her heart.

'So did I, Leif.' Helplessly, Merrin raised her hands, and shrugged. 'But Jarl Balgruuf and his court mage say different, and apparently, so do the Greybeards. Honestly, I won't know any more about it, until I go up there.'

'But you're not no dragon-born!' Hana cried this with all the conviction she could muster, and her high little voice was still drenched with tears. 'You're just Auntie Merrin!'

'When are you setting out?'

Fastred had scrubbed her hands over her face, and her voice was quiet when she asked the question. She looked up at her husband, comforting their daughter, and then back to Merrin. Her eyes were full of worry, and she shook her head.

'It wouldn't do to start today – it's already too late.'

Merrin knew it was the truth, and shook her head. 'No, I wasn't thinking of tonight. Ria and I will start the steps in the morning.' She offered her friend a weak smile, and took one step forward.

'Until then, I was hoping we could try to have a nice, normal visit. I've missed you all like crazy.'

'But Auntie, what about the dragons?' Safni was the last to speak, and she was still looking pale. Huge hazel eyes gripped Merrin's amber ones, and the little girl's lower lip trembled, just a bit.

'Should we be scared? In the stories, dragons are always bad.'

Her heart damn-near broke over those quiet words, and Merrin reached for Safni to pull her into a hug, as she fiercely shook her head.

'Don't be scared, little love. Not yet. There are no dragons here, and we're all going to take care of you, no matter what. Okay?'

There was a tiny nod against her chest, and a tiny 'okay', and Merrin sighed.

'Good. For today, we're going to visit like normal. Everything else can wait til' tomorrow.'

'But first,' Fastred cut in, 'the grown-ups are going to visit, alone.' She looked pointedly at Merrin, Ria, and her husband, and then over to her parents.

'Can you watch them a while?'

Boti answered with 'Of course, lamb,' just as Jofthar tsked and rolled his eyes on a muttered 'As if there isn't work to do!' Fastred looked sternly at her father for a beat, and then more softly at her children.

'Behave for your grandma and grandda, you hear? Help out with the chores, and don't cause trouble. We'll come get you for a late lunch.'

Leifur looked a bit disappointed, but only Hana put up a real fuss. She hated being left out of anything, and the tears seemed on the verge of restarting until Boti told her she could have some fresh honey-comb, if she helped with the gathering. This started a chorus of desire for honey-comb, even in the older two, and in another minute the two grandparents were leading the troop across the yard, and around the back of the house. The four 'grown-ups' were left standing by the front gate, and Fastred let out a huge, gusting sigh before she straightened her shoulders.

'Alright, then. Let's head to the house, and you can fill us in.'

'Gods, I get it now. It's no wonder you didn't send a letter – you couldn't have crammed it all in!'

'And that's cutting out the boring parts.'

The four of them were sitting in the house that Klimmek had grown up in, and had inherited after his mother died. Specifically they were in the kitchen, sitting at the massive linden wood table that had always been part of the room, and was in fact older than all of them combined.

Merrin knew every nook and cranny of this house, with its two L-shaped levels made of river stone, and the gardens walled in with the same. She'd gone from a child to a woman as its guest, and watched nearly every change as it happened – not to say that there'd been a great many. When Fastred had become lady of the house, she'd been there to help her friend make her mark. And even now, years later, the results were as familiar and comfortable to her as her own home had been.

Fastred was a living whirl-wind, and when they'd first come in she'd gone on a bit of a clip around the kitchen and main room, trying with partial success to pretty up the reality of life with four children and too few hours in a day. Merrin had begged her not to fuss and had managed to convince her to stop cleaning – but she'd insisted on cutting cake and pouring drinks. Merrin had a sneaking suspicion that it was due to Ria being a newcomer, and when she met Klimmek's eye, she could tell he thought the same. But they'd both kept their mouths wisely shut. And when Ria had exclaimed over the double baked honey-cake and reached for a second slice, Fastred's beaming smile had been worth it.

She didn't know how long they'd sat there while she told them most of her story, but the changing light streaming through the warped-glass windows suggested quite a while. Ria sat beside her at the table, across from the married couple, and had listened in silence to the parts she hadn't already known. Merrin felt a pang of guilt and disappointment as she gave a much-abbreviated version of Helgen; Farkas being the first one to hear the story had become an oddly important notion to her, and now he couldn't be.

Fastred cried when she heard how close she had come to losing her oldest friend, and an ashen-faced Klimmek hadn't fared much better. They had a lot of questions, and Merrin had to pick and choose which ones to honor, and which to dodge. She said nothing of her near execution, and nearly nothing of Hadvar; she knew both of the other women well enough to avoid that mistake.

But when she got to the part about joining the Companions, Fastred had jumped up beaming from the table.

'Oh Merrin, you didn't! Our childhood dream, for all those years – I can't believe it!' She'd made a happy sound as she grabbed Merrin's hands to squeeze them tight, and Merrin had grinned back up at her, even though it was bittersweet. Ria had chuckled at the girlish display, and Merrin had turned to look at her with eyebrows arched.

'See? I told you I wasn't lying.'

Conversation turned to life with the Companions, and it seemed like Fastred wanted to know everything; again, Merrin felt a wistful pang that she had to work to shove down. Ria was happy to dive in on the talking, and she told the couple all about Jorrvaskr and the sort of jobs they did.

Eventually, the two newbloods ran out of things to say about life in Whiterun – or in Merrin's case, things she was willing to say – and she drained her third cup of dandelion wine before gesturing with it to her friends.

'But enough about us – what about you two? Catch me up with everything going on here.'

'Oh, yes,' Fastred quipped with a roll of of her eyes. 'The absolute hustle and bustle of this bursting metropolis.' But her words were chased by a sly little smile, and she leaned against her husband's chest as she gave it a thought.

'Well, there's the obvious stuff, off the top of my head – we have some newcomers, as of this year.'

'Oh?'

This piqued Merrin's interest right away; plenty of pilgrims passed through the village on their way to the Steps. But hardly anybody ever came to stay.

'Yeah.' Klimmek pitched in now, sounding pleased, and he ran a hand over his stubbled head as he smiled.

'We've got a guy on his own about our age, come up from the Imperial City, if you'll have that! His name is Bassianus – real fancy – but he's a Nord, same as us. He's here to learn the fishing trade, so we've been spendin' a lot of time together. He's staying at the inn for now, but thinkin' about maybe building next spring.'

'Huh.' Merrin knew that in Klimmek's eyes, a love of fishing earned almost any man a place of high esteem. But when she looked at Fastred to see what she thought, she was surprised to see her friend was frowning at her plate. It only lasted a second, though, before she schooled her features and nudged Klimmek's side.

'You're forgetting the Erensons.' Her eyes met with Merrin's, and Fastred gave a smile that was unmistakeably bitter-sweet.

'A nice family, moved in at the end of Rain's Hand. Husband, wife, and two little girls...they moved into you and your da's old place.'

So that was why the bitter-sweet. Merrin felt the stab of loss, the tiny prick of possessive jealousy, and then let them both slip away. She shot the two of them a small smile, and cocked her head to one side.

'How are they liking it?'

Fastred saw right through her, and gave her hand a quick squeeze.

'So far they like it just fine. It was going to waste, sitting empty...and Verner Erenson is a smith. So even the forge is getting used. And Safni just loves their oldest, Else.'

Another stab, this one stronger than the one before. But Merrin nodded, and held Fastred's eyes with her own.

'Good on him. It's for the best.'

From there, Fastred moved on to other news, and none of it hit so hard. A marriage and a birth, down at Shale-Fist farm, and the deaths of a couple of old married hermits, in their cottage further down the river – rockjoint. Temba Wide-Arm – the owner of the mill, who'd come to Ivarstead five years back – was being driven mad by the bears. This was actually nothing new, but Klimmek insisted that this year they were worse than usual, and she and Ria were told to watch themselves out in the woods.

'Okay, that's all well and good,' Merrin eventually interrupted. 'But you know, the people I most want to hear about are you. How's the family?'

Fastred sighed, and propped her pointed chin in one hand.

'Oh, you know how it is. We're pretty much the same as we always are.'

Klimmek chuckled beside her. 'You make us sound like moss on rocks.'

She clucked her tongue at that, and swatted at her husband with her free hand.

'You know that's not how I mean it. It's just...life.' She looked back at Merrin, and shrugged.

'Klimmek and I are both tired, but the work never stops. We both tend the fields, I work the hives, and he has his fishing. He still makes his trips twice a month up the Steps, for the Greybeards. And of course, we have the kids.'

Merrin nodded her sympathy. 'I know it's hard work. Do your parents still pitch in every day?'

'For ma, it's most days. Sometimes she stays in and works on her weaving, instead. Da pitches in every day. His leg still bothers him, and I think it's getting worse these days, but you know him. He'd rather fall down in the field than complain, or 'slack off', as he'd put it.' She grimaced.

'Yeah, that's Jofthar. Arthritis is a son of a bitch.'

'That's a fact. Gods help us, it makes him even crankier. But at least he's still always good with the kids.'

'And what about the kids? How are they doing?' Merrin smiled wistfully at her friend, and shook her head.

'They've grown so much since I was here, last. I feel like I'm missing things.'

Fastred gave a deep sigh at this, and Klimmek rubbed one hand on her narrow back in understanding.

'There's good, and bad. Leif and Saf – well, you saw them. They're both so grown up and proper these days, both reading every book we can get them. They just love the ones you sent back in First Seed, whipped right through them. Hana...' Another sigh. 'Not so much.'

'She doesn't like to read?'

'She doesn't like to do anything, if a book is involved,' Fastred groaned. 'That tutor stopped making his trips into the village over a year ago, and we've been tearing our hair out since then trying to get her to do any of her studies. She throws a fit over all of it – maths, letters. All she wants to do is draw, follow her da and the olders around, and play with dolls.'

'Damn.' Merrin gave a sigh of her own, and shook her head. 'I can see how that'd be a problem.'

Fastred scrubbed her hand over her face, agitated. 'She's falling behind where she should be, thanks to it. I'm afraid she's gonna grow up with no learning, if it keeps on like this.'

'Fastred, peace.' Klimmek clucked his tongue, and ran a gentle hand over his wife's hair. 'You worry yourself too much with this. Hana will come along.'

'Klimmek,' Fastred shot back, aggrieved, and bumped her shoulder into him with a tsk. 'You don't worry yourself enough! Those two will be the death of me, if they don't catch up!'

'Those two?' Merrin frowned, and furrowed her brow. 'Do you mean Soren? What about him?'

Fastred wrung her hands in front of her, and moaned.

'He worries me the most! You saw him, Merry. He's so small – none of the others were still that small, at his age. And he still isn't talking! Three years old, and all he makes are little sounds.'

Her high-strung friend looked close to tears, and Merrin reached out to squeeze her shoulder at the same time that Klimmek restarted the back-rubbing.

'Come on, Minnow,' the fisherman crooned, using the special nickname that he knew she loved.

'Don't cry. All of our children are beautiful, and all of them are healthy. Isn't that all that matters, in the end?'

'I'm worried that he isn't healthy,' Fastred whimpered. 'I've been worried for ages, you know that! I'm afraid something's wrong with him.'

'Noooo.' Merrin said it in her most soothing voice, and grabbed both of her friend's hands in her own. Klimmek got up from the table, dropping another kiss to the top of his wife's head before he went to grab her some water from the pitcher. It took a second to catch Fastred's eyes, and when she did she saw they were suddenly wet.

'Come on, how can you be worried that something's wrong with him? You said yourself that he's already a little terror. He gets into everything! What does it matter that he's small? Small things grow.'

'But the talking, Merry,' Fastred insisted, miserable. 'He's too old to not be talking!'

'You're forgetting Safni. She was almost his age, before she started talking. And now look at her. A little bookworm, with plenty to say. You're working yourself up for nothing, I'd bet gold on it.'

'She's right, love.' Klimmek handed his wife a cup of water, and braced himself with both palms against the table, interjecting in a soothing murmur.

'You're a great mother to them, but you worry yourself too much.'

Fastred made an irritated sound, and tossed her head. 'I'm being doubled up on. How do you know? Maybe I worry just enough!'

She glared at them, but they knew Fastred, and just waited. Moments passed, and then the glare turned into a sort of begrudging smile. They smiled back at her, and then she let out a little 'pah!' of a laugh, before gulping her water and swiping at her eyes. When she'd finished her cheeks were pink, and she laughed again as she looked over to Ria, embarrassed at herself.

'Gods, look at me. Getting all worked up, in front of company!'

Ria waved the words away, and smiled warmly at Fastred as she shook her head.

'Pssh. Think nothing of it.' She chuckled. 'We all get worked up, over one thing or another. And I know how kids can make you worry. Half my parents' white hairs are thanks to me, I'm sure. And apparently, one of my older brothers, Trinctus, didn't talk right until he was five. He turned out just fine...' She grinned.

'Well, more or less.'

Fastred laughed at the joke, and so did Klimmek and Merrin, and then the mood was brighter around the table; Ria had worked her magic yet again. Fastred toyed with her water cup, looking much better, and sighed.

'I'm sorry, I was being a rain cloud. I am a bit of a worrier.' She gave a dignified lift of her chin as she ignored the sound of Merrin and Klimmek swallowing laughter, and smiled at Ria.

'Besides, it's not as if life is bad in Ivarstead – far from it. There are plenty of things to be thankful for. I have my life, my health, my family.' She ticked off her fingers as she said each word, and stared at the ceiling.

'Good food – '

'Good fish,' Klimmek added, and she nodded.

'Good fish, and honest work. We're a tight community, here, and we come together for any little thing. Oh—!'

Suddenly her green eyes lit up, and she grinned at Merrin as she started in her chair, all excitement.

'That reminds me! I want you to see what I did with the fabric you sent me for my last name-day! Oh, Merrin, it's gorgeous! I wore it for our Midyear festival.' She grabbed at her husband's burly shoulder, and turned to him with a winsome smile and batting lashes.

'Klimmie, would you be a dear and go down to our room to get it? It's folded in the chest by our bed, at the very bottom. Please?'

'Oh yeah...I know the one.'

Fastred giggled. 'You should.'

Klimmek was no match for his wife's charms, and easily flustered, and in a moment he was lumbering down the basement stairs, grinning widely and blushing to his scalp. When Merrin glanced at Ria, she saw the Imperial's eyes dancing with mirth, and knew she wanted to laugh, but was holding it in. It was probably for the best – Fastred embarrassed easily.

Merrin was about to ask her what she'd made when Fastred turned back in her seat to level Merrin with a serious expression. She leaned in abruptly closer to her and Ria, and when she spoke, it was just above a whisper.

'There's something else, Merrin. Big news, for you. I figured it'd be best to tell you while Klimmek's gone. This is woman's stuff.'

'Why? What—'

'Kjeld left the village.'

Merrin's stomach pitched as soon as she heard the name, and she felt herself go stiff. She had the overwhelming urge to shoot a glance at Ria, but forced herself not to. This was just another moment she'd known she couldn't avoid. Doing her best to sound calm, she nodded minutely at her friend.

'Oh? When?'

'Second Seed. We'd figured for a while it was coming, though. He packed up during planting, and left with hardly a word to anyone.'

Merrin was hit by several emotions in a row, at these words. First was relief; then guilt for being relieved, followed by irritation at being guilty. She felt like scowling, but reined it in. Fastred was eyeing her knowingly.

'What about the house?'

'Empty. Unfinished.' Fastred waved a hand. 'He kept working on it for about a year, after you – ' She faltered when Merrin shot her a sharp look, and flushed.

'Um, after. But he gave up on it that next summer, and took a room with Wilhelm. As far as I know, he sold the land back to the Jarl, same as you did.'

'I see.' She couldn't hold out any longer; Merrin risked a glance at Ria. When she did, she saw that the lanky brunette had her face down, and was very carefully pre-occupied with the last slice of honey cake. Merrin bit back a groan, and balled her hands into fists in her lap. Perfect.

'Well, I wish him all the best.' She said it in the smoothest voice she could manage, and Merrin knew from the way that Fastred winced that she'd caught the underlying message loud and clear: this topic was finished.

'Yeah.'

They were saved from any awkward silence by Klimmek's perfect timing; he came clomping back up the stairs and into the kitchen, oblivious to the pink cheeks and stiff backs around him, and held up the dress he'd been sent to grab, beaming with husbandly pride.

'Take a look at that, ladies. Is that a beautiful dress, or what?'

The dress had been beautiful, and Merrin had quickly collected herself while she and Ria made the deserving oohs and aahs. Klimmek had wanted his wife to put the dress on – 'to get the full effect,' so he claimed – and Fastred had answered with a snort of laughter and a swat at the grinning man. Not long after that, there'd been a commotion outside at the door, and four dusty, hungry children had come piling inside, talking loudly over each other. Soren had wanted to be included too, and was babbling nonsensically in his brother's arms.

She and Ria hadn't stayed long, after that. Klimmek had gotten things started in the kitchen while Fastred attacked her dirty children with a wash rag; when she'd seen Merrin clearing the cups and plates from their table, she'd looked at her, concerned.

'Oh, you're going already? What's your plan for tonight? You are not pitching a tent – no way. You're both more than welcome to stay the night with us.'

'I know.' But Merrin had shaken her head at her friend, and shot her a smile. 'But I also know how crowded it is, with the six of you. I don't want to take up your room.' Fastred had opened her mouth to argue, but she'd plowed ahead before she had the chance.

'I figured we'd spend a night at Wilhelm's.'

And so it had come to pass that they had taken their leave, hugging the kids and giving their promises that they'd be visiting again, and walking down Ivarstead's one true road in the afternoon light. Like it did every day, the mountain had cloaked Ivarstead in early shadow, and the contrast it made with the brightly lit forest was absolutely striking. Ria's head was on a swivel as Merrin led her on, but Merrin didn't stop – only waved, whenever somebody saw them.

Approaching the Vilemyr was hard on her for several reasons. Right beside it, impossible not to look at, was the old log cabin she'd grown up in. Her and her father's home – and her mother's too, when she'd still been alive. Right away she picked out the differences, since she'd left the house behind.

The Treva rushed right beside its southern wall, and someone had laid a path of stone slabs down to the river bank. The roof on the porch had been re-thatched, and the front door replaced. And while the window shutters had always been green when she and Hakon lived there, the new owners had painted them a rusty red. The forge was fired and glowing, but no one was around, and seeing it lit without her father standing over it put a cold, solid lump in her throat.

The view across the river was no better; a half-built house stood looking sad and forlorn on the far bank, with a partial roof and exposed frame. Once nothing more than the home of neighbors, it was now a stark reminder of something best left forgotten. Merrin shook her head as she looked away, and had to repress a shudder as she climbed the wooden porch steps and shoved open the door to the inn.

There was just one person in the main room, down at the far end. He'd been sweeping the floor behind the bar and whistling idly to himself, but looked up when he heard the door being opened. He looked, and then he squinted – sure the smoke from the fire was playing tricks on him. And then his whole face lit up like a sunny day, when he realized it wasn't.

'By the Gods – if it isn't our very own mountain flower!'

Merrin's face cracked into a grin despite her, and she shook her head as she met his eye, her mood instantly brightened.

'Wilhelm. I've missed you.'

Wilhelm Fast-Hand was her father's age, and had been running the Vilemyr since before she'd been born. He and Hakon had been the best of friends, and she'd grown up sitting at that satin-smooth bar drinking apple cider from a flagon and listening to them bandy, or helping Wilhelm with the chores. He took care of all the pilgrims that passed through on their way to High Hrothgar, providing them with hot beds and meals, and his easy-going nature made him a lot of friends.

Eventually Merrin had grown, and the cider had been swapped out for mead. But Wilhelm's soft spot for her had never gone anywhere, and the feeling was mutual; Hakon would always be her Da, but Wilhelm was the next closest thing.

He met the two of them half-way to the door, and swept her up into a hug that smelled of spiced honey and made her back crack. They looked each other over when he set her down, and she was relieved to see that while he was more grey than blonde, the barrel-chested Nord looked as healthy as ever. Straight white teeth made up a dazzling smile, and sea-green eyes danced as they met her own.

'I didn't know you were coming! Feel my heart, it's just goin' that fast – when did you get here?'

'Late this morning.'

The older man chuckled knowingly, and nodded. 'Ah, I expect Fastred had you til' now, then.' His eyes swept over to Ria then, and they sparkled anew with his smile.

'And you've brought another blossom along! Who is this lovely lass?'

'You old charmer. Her name is Ria – she's a Companion, and a good friend.'

'A Companion, you say? Very well met.' He took Ria's hand and lifted it to kiss the knuckles, winking at her as he did so.

'The name's Wilhelm Fast-Hand, and this here is my inn, the Vilemyr.' He jerked his chin toward Merrin, and his grin widened. 'I've known this here scamp since a'fore she was born, and think of her as my own.'

'Well met.' Ria's cheeks were tinged with pink, and she grinned at Wilhelm as she clasped his weathered hand. 'Why do you call her your mountain flower?'

Merrin groaned at that, but Wilhelm just laughed and ignored her.

'We call her that because she brought the flowers – the winter before she came was one of the coldest ever, and spring was mighty late. Day she was born, every flower on the mountain-side decided to burst into bloom. Besides, you've seen her – been as pretty as a petal ever since.'

'Wilhelm.' Merrin could feel her own cheeks starting to tint, and she shook her head, both embarrassed and amused. 'Quit your flattering.'

'Oh Merrin, don't be such a sour-puss!' Ria nudged her, and laughed. 'It's sweet!'

'Maybe the first hundred times you hear it,' she answered dryly. This earned her a chuckle from Wilhelm.

'Aye, but she's got me there – I do love to talk. But enough of my jawin'.' He took a step back to lean against a nearby chair, and looked them over again.

'What brings you home to Ivarstead? Besides ol' Wilhelm, of course.'

There it was. She and Ria shared a quick glance that spoke volumes, before she looked back at him. She started with the same question she'd asked before.

'You remember two days past, when the call came down from High Hrothgar?'

Wilhelm looked at her, confused, before slowly nodding.

'Aye. I'd damn-well better – it scared old Hans so bad that he keeled over dead from the shock of it, and I just finished buryin' him last night.' He tsked. 'He was a damn good horse – know I shouldn't have wasted the meat, but I couldn't bring myself to take it. 'Sides, it would've been tough as a shoe anyway.'

He seemed to remember what he'd asked, then, and squinted at her wincing face as he cocked his head.

'Why?'

He reacted to her news about as well as Fastred and Klimmek had. When he'd finally settled down, Wilhelm looked at Merrin with eyes full of worry, and shook his head.

'Gods. I need a drink.'

He beckoned for them to follow, and she and Ria sat at the bar while he grabbed three clay mugs. He filled them to the brim with dark mead, and then joined them on the bar's other side, handing them their drinks before perching on a stool and taking a long pull of his own.

He coughed when he came up for air, and then looked at them seriously.

'So, you won't know for sure until the Greybeards have seen you?'

'That's right.' Merrin grimaced at the look on his face, and took of a swallow of her mead.

'When will you set out?' Worry darkened his eyes as a thought occurred to him, and he grabbed her forearm.

'You're not thinking of going up today? You wouldn't make it before nightfall!'

She shook her head, and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. 'No, of course not. I know better. We're heading up tomorrow morning...' She shot him a tiny smile.

'As for tonight, we figured we'd take a room here with you.'

Wilhelm gave a huff of relief, and nodded at her emphatically. 'You figured right. You eaten, lately?'

'Fastred stuffed us full of honey cake.'

He waved one hand in dismissal, and drained his cup as he pushed to his feet.

'You'll find room someplace. I'm making your favorite tonight.'

Merrin smiled. 'You don't have to trouble. Anything you've got would be—'

'Oh, bah.' He snorted. 'Ain't no trouble. Gods know I've made it up enough times, it's to the point I could do it in my sleep. Hang on.'

He left the space behind the bar and walked almost to the threshold of the kitchen, off of the main room. The inn's back door was there, and he wrenched it open with a squeal of hinges to poke his head outside.

'Narfi! C'mere, lad!'

Ria looked at her questioningly, and Merrin smiled back at her. Before she could say anything, Wilhelm was backing out of the doorway, and a second man was coming through it.

The Imperial saw a tall, lanky Nord with close-cropped black hair and puffy mutton chops, dressed simply in breeches and a brown linen tunic. He had a smudge of dirt on his cheek, a basket full of fresh eggs on one arm, and a luminous, happy expression on his face. He paid the two women no mind, and instead swung the basket in Wilhelm's direction. In a child-like way, he exclaimed.

'Look, Wilhelm, so many! The chickens are happy with Narfi today!'

'I can see that, Narfi,' Wilhelm smiled. 'Good job! I'll take those for the kitchen. But I called for you because we have company I know you'd like to see. Look behind me!'

Narfi looked, and when his dark eyes landed on Merrin, they lit up even more, and he let out a happy, whooping laugh. Wilhelm took the egg basket, and Narfi clapped his hands together as he bounced up and down.

'Merrin! Oh, happy, happy! It's me, Narfi! Do you remember Narfi?'

His laugh was infectious; Merrin answered with one of her own, and reached out her hands as she slid off her stool and walked toward him.

'Of course I remember you, Narfi. I could never forget.'

'That makes me happy. Merrin is always so pretty and nice – just like the moon!' He clasped her hands in both of his larger ones, and shook them emphatically up and down. Then he noticed Ria standing up from the bar, and giggled.

'Who is she? Merrin's friend? Would she be Narfi's?' He leaned in closer to Merrin, and whispered loudly in her ear.

'Is she nice?'

'I certainly try to be – and I'm always happy to make new friends.' Ria was smiling warmly at Narfi as she approached him, and when she held out a hand to shake, he didn't hesitate.

'My name is Ria. Nice to meet you.'

'Wow.' Narfi pumped Ria's hand with both his own, and stared at her intently as he did, eyes wide.

'You remind Narfi of Reyda! But not in a sad way, no. Reyda was pretty, too!'

'Well, thank you!'

'Narfi.' Wilhelm called for the man's attention, and when he got it, he smiled and pointed into the kitchen.

'Since Merrin is home, I thought it would be nice to make her favorite supper. Do you think you could grab the bucket, and go milk the cow? I'd really appreciate it.'

'Sure, Wilhelm, sure.' Narfi grinned. 'Hilda just looooves Narfi. Be back soon.' He let go of Ria's hand, darted into the kitchen, and reemerged with a steel pail. Then he yanked open the squeaky back door, gave the room a final wave, and stepped into the inn's back yard, leaving the door open behind him. Through the open space, they could clearly hear his sing-song voice.

'Hello, Hilda! Did you miss Narfi? Good girl!'

Wilhelm closed the door with a chuckle, and then turned back to look at them. He addressed his next words to Ria, before either of them spoke.

'Narfi Sulvarson. A good lad.'

'He's—' Ria started.

'Touched by the Gods,' Wilhelm said gently, nodding. 'Yeah.'

Ria smiled. 'I was going to say that he's wonderful. I've met others like him, in Cyrodiil. But none quite so sweet and happy. He's darling.'

Wilhelm stared in pleasant surprise, and then grinned at her warmly.

'You're a dear. He does my heart a lot of good, that boy. Makes me laugh every day.'

'Does he have family in the village?'

'None. They've all passed on, bless them. And Narfi couldn't manage on his own. So he helps me out around the inn, and I see that he's taken care of.'

Merrin stared at Wilhelm with warm affection as he spoke; as always, he was being modest. But she knew better. Far from just 'looking out' for Narfi, Wilhelm had moved him into the Vilemyr the day after Narfi had lost his last relative – his older sister Reyda, who'd drowned in Lake Geir, five years back. It was Wilhelm who'd made sure that Narfi got a fair price when they'd sold his family's home, and in those years he'd never charged Narfi a single septim for room and board. Working with the animals gave him something to do, and with the innkeeper, his needs were all taken care of.

She was proud of Wilhelm for many things, but his adoption of Narfi was one of the biggest. She slid back onto her stool at the bar, and interjected quietly.

'Don't sell yourself short, Wilhelm. He has you for family.'

The old Nord's cheeks went ruddy with pleasure, and he ducked his head as he smiled.

'Well, I try my best.'

He topped up both of their drinks, and then announced that an early start should mean early supper the night before, and an early bed. He moved to the kitchen to get started, and the two women joined him, bringing their mead and sitting on the bench at the kitchen table. He wouldn't let Merrin do any of the work, but much to her amusement, he tasked Ria with chopping leeks and onions while he started broth and seared some venison.

While they cooked, they talked. He didn't revisit the topic of her being Dragonborn, but asked her what she'd been up to, of late. He nearly dropped the ladle into the soup when she told him that she had joined the Companions, and turned to her absolutely beaming.

'Is that a fact?! Well, bless my stars! Our little flower, a Companion.' His eyes shimmered ever so slightly in the light from the fire, and his expression went soft as he stared at her. 'If only Hakon could see you now.'

It was her turn for shimmery eyes, after that, and when she ducked her head, it only made him cluck his tongue and chuckle. Narfi came in with the pail full and sloshing, and Wilhelm passed along the happy news as he poured some milk into the soup, and the rest in a jug. Narfi was elated.

'Like in the stories?! You have to kill lots of monsters! Okay? Monsters are baaaaad – but Merrin is good! Yes!'

He left in a whirlwind of happy chatter to go and feed the animals before dinner, and the three of them had been alone and sitting in comfortable silence for a few minutes when Wilhelm looked up at her from the pot.

'So,' he said shrewdly. 'You've had the village news from Fastred. Did she tell you, then, that Kjeld—'

'Yes,' Merrin blurted in a rush, cutting him off. 'She did. Please, Wilhelm, can we not talk about it? Please.'

The older man eyed her beadily as he placed his hands on his hips, and as she stared back. But after just a moment, he relented, and continued his stirring with a long-suffering huff.

'Alright, have it your way. I just feel for the boy, is all.'

'Mmmm.' She could feel Ria looking at her this time, but she kept her face turned stubbornly forward.

The conversation moved to the much safer topic of what life was like as a Companion, and she breathed a sigh of relief for what felt like the dozenth time that day. Narfi came back in to wash up, and not too long after, dinner was finally served. It really was her favorite – leek and onion soup made with red wine and cream, and tender venison on the side – and she dug in with an enthusiasm that made Wilhelm laugh in delight. He kept the mead flowing with dinner, and after the third time he topped Ria's cup before it was even half-empty, she laughed at her friend's expression, and nudged her.

'That's why they call him Fast-Hand!'

After dinner came a dessert of cream and lingon preserves, and the four of them ate until they couldn't anymore. Narfi sat back with a satisfied sigh, and Merrin pushed her saucer away with a groan.

'I've missed you, Wilhelm. But I missed your food more.'

'You little puss.' Wilhelm chuckled. 'If you're no better a cook than when you left, I can't say I'm surprised.' Ria laughed out loud at this, and Merrin grimaced good-naturedly; she really couldn't cook.

Narfi pulled out his beloved drum as Merrin cleared the table, and once all the dishes were soaking, she joined the others in the main room for one last drink, and to hear Narfi play. They hadn't been sitting there very long when the front door opened, and two people filed in – a Bosmer, and an Imperial, both male. They made a beeline for the bar, and both exclaimed when they recognized her.

'Merrin! Is that you?!'

'It's me.' She knew both of these men; the Bosmer was named Gwilin, and the Imperial was Liodes. Both were several years her junior, and they'd only lived in Ivarstead a handful of years, working at the mill under Temba. She smiled at them, and gestured with her mug.

'Long day?'

'No short ones, at the mill,' Gwilin grinned. 'It's good to see you! What brings you back to the village?'

She opened her mouth to give a some kind of answer, but Wilhelm beat her to it. He was puffed and beaming with pride as he plunked two tankards down in front of them, and leaned up against the bar.

'She's on official business! Merrin is a Companion now, can you believe it? She and her friend here are stopped in for the night, on their way to a job nearby.'

The two young men exclaimed at this, congratulating Merrin and toasting her achievement, and then they wished her and Ria well before taking their drinks beside the fire, to listen to Narfi play. Merrin didn't question the lie until they were seated out of earshot – then she turned to look at Wilhelm, and raised an eyebrow.

'I know, I know.' He shook his head, and gave her a sheepish smile. 'But I am proud of you, and I just figured that until we knew for sure, it's best if not all the folks in town know that you're...well, you know.'

It was a fair point; Merrin just shrugged and sighed, before clinking her cup to his, and draining it. Her head was just starting to swim, and she smiled at Wilhelm over the bar.

'This is good stuff you're making, old man. I think I'd better call it quits, or someone will have to carry me off.'

He chuckled. 'You should be turning in early, anyway. You have a trip, ahead of you.' His own words seemed to sober him, and his eyes went serious as he looked at her.

'Really, Merrin, take care of yourself. Be careful up there. Are you sure the two of you can handle it alone?'

'I'm sure. I said the same thing to Klimmek, when he asked me.'

Klimmek had offered earlier that day to join them on the Steps tomorrow, despite the fact that he'd made the trip just three days earlier, and his legs weren't what they used to be. She'd reassured her friends that she and Ria would be just fine on their own. Now it was Wilhelm's turn.

'We will be safe, and careful, and we'll have everything we need. You don't need to worry.'

'Ah, but that's where you're wrong.' His eyes crinkled with a slow, teasing smile, and he chucked her underneath the chin with one calloused finger.

'When it's you, it's my job to worry. Come on – let's get you girls a room ready.'

A short while later, she and Ria were tucked away in one of the Vilemyr's rooms, with their sturdy old armoires and squashy straw mattresses, stripping down to their plainclothes. Narfi had quieted down for the night at Wilhelm's request, and the only sounds to be heard from beyond the closed door were the crackling hearth and muted conversation. Two candles rested on the tiny side table – one for each of them – and threw the room into flickering shadow with their bouncing light.

Ria slipped into bed first, tossing her breeches onto her nearby rucksack, and turning down the old patchwork quilt before snuggling up with her back against the wall. Her eyes reflected the candlelight as she watched Merrin climb in beside her, and she snorted a laugh when Merrin flopped against the pillows with a heavy sigh. Silence settled in around them, and Merrin actually started to nod. Then, softly, Ria spoke.

'So...this is your family.'

The words startled Merrin, and for a second she didn't answer. Then she rolled over to meet Ria's eyes, and nodded at her.

'Yeah.'

'I'm glad I came with you, and got to meet them.'

Merrin smiled at the earnest words, and rolled her eyes. 'Thanks. All of them loved you. No surprise there,' she said with a nudge to Ria's shoulder.

'I really like them. And liked being with you, in the thick of things...it reminds me of being back home, with my family.'

It warmed Merrin, hearing Ria say that, and she smiled more widely as she re-fluffed her pillow.

'That's nice. I'm glad. I'll have to come meet your family one day, so we're even.' The end of her sentence was cut off by a giant yawn, and beside her, Ria ghosted a laugh.

'It's a deal. But you're falling asleep already. We can talk about it later.'

'It's all the mead,' Merrin mumbled. 'Wilhelm is too good at his job.'

'Yeah, yeah. Blow out the candles, before I have to roll over you and do it myself.'

'Pfft. Bossy.' But Merrin rolled back over to face the nightstand, and did as she was told.

So, what did you think? Leave a review and let me know, or come to my twitter gwap_queen00 to chat!