Athis held Ria's shoulders tighter as she strained against him. Aela had one of her hands and Njada had the other. She could see Fenris' back above her. The Harbinger was sitting on her hips, holding her legs in place while a temple priestess wove healing magic into her mangled appendage. Every time a fragment of bone snapped back in place, Ria let out a scream and fought against her restrainers. Ogol rushed up. He had a short stick in his hand which he quickly proceeded to wrap in a strip of cloth.

"Ria, open your mouth," he demanded, holding the stick over her lips. Ria clenched her teeth and shook her head. "It will help! Just do it!" She still didn't comply. Ogol shoved his thumb into the corner of her mouth and pulled her jaw down, putting the stick between her back teeth. He let go and she bit down on it. Another bone snapped and Ria's scream was muffled by the bit.

Fenris took a drink from the water skin Danica handed her. The priestess took a seat next to her on the steps of Kynareth's temple.

"Your time at the Mages college was well spent. If you hadn't begun the healing process, she might have lost the leg," Danica said with admiration.

"I didn't know enough to do what you did though," Fenris sighed, "My talents are too limited. Thank you for your help. Is there nothing I can do to repay you?

"No. You did me a service by saving the Gildergreen tree, which was more than I could have hoped for." Danica wiped blood off her hands onto her yellow dress. "Besides, the temple of Kynareth has always helped the Companions. It is our honor to aid Whiterun's protectors."

Fenris sat quietly. This was her life. Seeing people around her injured or dead. There was no respite for the Dragonborn. Even her first memories were of terror and bloodshed. She had watched one of the prisoners in Helgen make a run for it when he discovered they were bound for the executioner's block. An arrow in the back had halted his escape. His name was Lokir and he was from Rorikstead. She would never forget that. Or that the Imperials were about to bring the axe down on her when the black dragon appeared from the East. His roar had shaken the earth as she knelt in the dirt over a bloody chopping block. If it wasn't for Aludin, the World Eater, Fenris would be dead. It was a sick irony that she had been the one to kill him years later.

Danica's eyes on her made her cease reminiscing.

"You should find a place to clean up. You're covered in blood," the priestess said, looking her over.

"It comes with the job," Fenris mused, but stood and walked toward Jorrvaskr. Her head ached and she had no doubts that most of her torso would be bruised. Once inside the mead hall, Fenris dragged Volendrung along till she came to a weapon rack at the top of the stairs. She left the hammer in an empty slot for one of the new Companions to clean. Finding Hroki at a table in the lower hall, the Harbinger asked her to fetch a wash bucket and clean cloths. The girl hurried off and Fenris went to her chambers. Blood and grime made undoing the straps on her armor difficult. She debated cutting the straps and simply replacing them later, but decided against it, taking the time to unfasten all the clasps. When everything was off, Fenris bound all the armor together with a belt so it would be easy to carry later. She would wash it all in the pool under the bridge at Dragonsreach.

There was a knock on her door. Ignoring the fact that she only wore her smallclothes, Fenris opened it. Farkas stood in the hall. He held a bucket of water and a sack, which she assumed had soap and towels in it.

"I saw Hroki struggling with this and offered to bring it to you," he said, motioning to the bucket, "Where do you want it?"

"Over by the chair, thanks." The look on his face hadn't gone unnoticed when he saw her. It made her think of what Aela had said. How much had he missed her? Had she missed him at all? She couldn't remember. There had been others after Farkas, but she would think back to him when she was with them. Was that lust for him, or actual love? Fenris didn't want to think about it right now. There were enough things that needed her attention without the complications of a romance. Farkas cleared his throat and startled her.

"I'm sorry. What?" She hadn't heard what he said.

"I asked if you needed anything else. Are you okay? You don't look very good," he reached out to brush her hair back from her face. She recoiled before he made contact and he dropped his hand.

"Oh, no. Thanks anyway. I just need rest." She moved aside so he could leave but he just stood there. He started to raise his hands, as if to touch her, but decided against it and pushed past her and into the hall, closing the door behind him. Fenris went to the door. She pressed her ear to the wood and held her breath for a moment. Farkas' sigh was clearly audible. Fenris guessed he was leaning against the other side of the door. She put her hands over her face and huffed. Part of her wanted to call him back in, to let things be as they once were. But the stronger part of her made her turn away and begin scrubbing the blood from her skin.

It was after dark when Ogol found Fenris in the Bannered Mare. She had donned a wine colored tunic, leather pants, and her old riding boots. Her fallow brown hair hung in a single braid down her back. Ogol pulled a chair over to the table where she sat with another Nord woman. The two were quietly discussing the best way to get from Whiterun to Riften when Ogol sat down.

"Ogol, this is Uthgerd the Unbroken. Uthgerd, this is Ogol, one of our newest members," Fenris made introduction.

"Ah. Another Companion?" Uthgerd's accent was strong, "Nice to meet you warrior. I usually distain Companions, but Fenris has swayed my thinking. She is the best fighter I have ever seen. And she earned my respect after she knocked me on my ass one day." The heavily armored woman laughed.

"Please no," Fenris said, covering her eyes with her hand. Uthgerd laughed again, obviously a little drunk.

"Wanna hear a bit of Nord wisdom? You don't know a woman until you've had a strong drink and a fistfight with her. And I'm lucky enough to have accomplished both with your Harbinger here."

"She bet me I couldn't beat her in a brawl," Fenris whispered as she leaned over to Ogol, "She lost." A smile flashed over her face before she took a swig of her ale.

"I know I wouldn't want to tussle with you, Harbinger," Ogol said sheepishly, "Almost did once till you scared the wits out of me." At this remark, Uthgerd let out another belt of laughter and stood.

"I better be making my way home. I'll have what you asked for in the morning. Until then," she gave a nod to the two Companions. Fenris returned the gesture as the taller woman left. Ogol watched her leave.

"I have never seen a woman of your race so large," he commented, causing Fenris to chuckle, "She stands as tall as a female Orc."

"Ay, she is probably the largest of us, and quite the match in any form of combat. I didn't expect to win that fight with her all that time ago. When she landed the first punch, I thought I was done for." Hulda, the inn owner, brought two ales to their table. Fenris gave her ten Septims and each Companion picked up a bottle. Ogol took a long drink and sat back in his chair.

"Harbinger,"

"Fenris," she corrected before he could say anything else.

"Fenris," he continued, "I wanted to make sure you were okay after Shimmermist today. I have been with Ria since we returned and the priestess says she will heal fine. Although she might not be able to walk for some time. I saw the blow that metal giant dealt you. Did you not have broken bones?" Fenris considered him before she answered.

"It's my dovah sos."

"Your what?"

"When I killed my first dragon, I took its soul. I learned from it. In a dragons soul is its knowledge required to use the Thu'um, the shouts of power that are in the dragon language. When I went to High Hrothgar at the summons of the Graybeards, I was taught more about what it means to be Dragonborn, Dovahkiin. I have dovah sos, dragon blood, In me. It makes me stronger. Without it, I wouldn't be able to withstand the Thu'um of others." She paused and looked thoughtfully at her drink.

"It is incredible to have the strength of a dragon. I'm sure there are many who wish to be as tough as the Dragonborn we all hear song of."

"No!" she snapped at him, sitting up in her seat with a jolt, "No one should want to be me or like me. It's a curse. Dragons see me as another dragon. Sometimes they are drawn to me, so they can test my voice for themselves. No one else can survive the Thu'um of an elder dovah. I have lost many friends because of it. There is no glory in leading loved ones to their death."

"Forgive me Harbinger," Ogol apologized, shocked at Fenris' sudden outburst, "I never thought of it like that. I doubt others do either. To us you are still a hero. You saved us. All of Tamriel, nay, all of Nirn owes you a debt. Those who have died at your side did so willingly. They followed you because they believed in you, and rightly so. Don't scorn who you are. The ones who died would not want it this way." Fenris took a deep breath and fought to keep her eyes from watering.

"I'm sorry, Ogol. You are right. It's just hard." She looked up at him and gave a weak smile. "I was right when I said you were a good addition at Jorrvaskr. I just didn't know it would be for your mind as much as your arm." The Orc smiled back at her. "To friends," she said, raising her ale, "may you never go without."

Just before dawn they headed back to Jorrvaskr. Once or twice a guard cautioned them to stay out of trouble when they started to climb the trellis around the Gildergreen and when they started growling at the cow behind the Gray-mane house. Fenris didn't think she had ever spent so much on ale in one night before. Ogol had vomited off the steps leading to the wind district and the Nord was sure she would be sick too before the night was over. The duo stumbled into the Companion's great hall. Fenris tripped down the steps and landed sprawled next to the fire pit. Ogol doubled over with laughter and Fenris couldn't help but laugh too.

"I am the mighty Dragonborn and I can't even walk right!" she yelled out, still lying on the floor.

"I see you made it to my level," a voice called from the other end of the hall. Tovar sat cross-legged on the floor, a bottle of Alto Wine in his hand. "Care to have a drink?" he asked, holding up his drink. Before Fenris could decline, Ogol stepped over her.

"Yes!" he grunted.

"No!" she said, mimicking Ogol's gruff voice. She laughed at herself and stood. After she brushed some ash from her sleeve, Fenris pulled a chair out from the table and sat with her chin resting on the table. Ogol took a drink of Tovar's wine and handed the bottle back to him.

"Did you know that Fenris has fought that giant of a Nord woman that is always in the Bannered Mare?" the Orsimer asked, "And she won. If I didn't know her I would have put money on Uthgerd." Tovar shrugged.

"I guess anyone brave enough to go hard against Vilkas in training must be able to hold their own against most," he replied and then laughed, "Gods you made him so angry! Ha! I remember he even made you do errands for him after that. I've never seen him so embarrassed in my life! Served him right, that grumpy oaf." He laughed again and Ogol chuckled. Fenris smiled.

"I doubt my brother would like knowing a bunch of drunk whelps spent the night telling tales about him," Farkas' deep voice spoke from right behind Fenris. She sat up straight and spun in her chair. Ogol and Tovar stopped laughing, but struggled to keep their faces stoic.

"What are you doing?!" Fenris demanded, her lip curled up, slightly angry from having her fun evening interrupted.

"Training. Some of us actually want to become better at what we do," he growled at her, lifting the greatsword he was holding, as if to prove his point.

"It's the middle of the night!"

"No, it's actually almost dawn. Where have you been? Vilkas got back and tried to find you. And Danica came looking for you too."

"I was at the inn with Ogol. Aela knew where to find me. Why didn't you just ask her?"

"Because I didn't know I could find out from her!" He was in her face and Fenris almost told him to back off before she realized she had stood up to yell at him, putting herself in his face first.

"Divines, you smell like alcohol," Farkas grabbed her around the waist and threw her over his shoulder.

"What do you think you're doing!" she roared, slamming a fist into his back.

"Taking you to your room. You're embarrassing yourself."

"I am not! You're embarrassing me! Put me down!"

"No."

"Yes!"

"No."

"Yes!"

"Fine," he said, and dropped the Dragonborn on her bed.

"Oh," she hadn't noticed they were already in her chamber. Farkas propped his sword against the door frame and knelt down in front of Fenris. Her heart jumped into her throat and her stomach did a flip.

"Uh, what are you doing?" she mumbled, dizzy from all the booze.

"Taking your boots off." He grabbed her knee and pulled the boot off from the heel. "You can relax. I'm not going to take all your clothes off." Fenris blushed.

"I never said you were," she said, flustered.

"You were thinking it." He pulled her other boot off. Fenris reached out and ran a hand thru his hair. He closed his eye for a moment, and then pushed her hand away gently.

"Get some sleep. Vilkas will want to see you soon." And with that he stood and left. Leaving Fenris to close the door.

Oh my Glob, the sexual tension! So this chapter literally ran away with me. I planed on writing one thing and then just went with another. I think it turned out okay. Farkas isn't a big dumb brute like some authors make him out to be. He saw how Fenris didn't want to be touched when she was sober. But damn Fenris for not just tearing his clothes off and having her way with him. Girl has more self control than me. Fo sho.