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"You're joking..." I muttered to Vilkas, who only shook his head in response.

"Unfortunately, I'm not. This is a pretty serious mission, which is why I'm assigning it to you and Farkas," Vilkas explained to me as I looked down at the map on the table between the two of us.

Scribbled onto the map was a large red circle, which was the location of one of the Dragon Priests that still haunted Skyrim. As vital and powerful as the Dragon Priests were, they still tend to attack innocent people. Therefore, many requested for the Companions to deal with them. And I knew the name of this location. Shearpoint. There, both a Dragon Priest and a dragon resided, protecting one of the several Word Walls dispersed throughout the country.

So it was no surprise that Vilkas had selected Farkas and I to deal with it.

Farkas and I were viewed as a rather powerful team. And rightfully so. Not only did the two of us fight well together, but we were rather close. Many rumors circulated that we were a couple, though we weren't. It was impossible to ignore the whispers and rumors that spread about the two of us as we fought out in the training yard, tackling one another in a viciously playful manner. Not to mention the murmurs we'd get during dinner, when I'd snag his roll from his plate, resulting in him wrestling me for his food.

But our close nature and playful behaviors didn't make us officially a couple. That required a serious conversation and willingness to address the spark between us. Both things neither of us were eager to bring up.

Leaning back in my wooden chair, I crossed my legs and appraised Vilkas's expression. "And you're sure we're the best team to take on both a dragon and the Dragon Priest? You have to be aware this sounds like a suicide mission."

"Unfortunately, you're right. However, you and my brother work in tandem well. And that's what's needed for this mission."

I raised a precarious eyebrow.

He sighed. "Right. Not only that, but I'm sending Aela and Njada to deal with some giants near Rorikstead. Torvar and Athis are going to be assisting some civilians with a vampire crypt. Ria and Vignar will be heading up towards Solitude to handle a cave infested with trolls. And I'm going to be here, attempting to fulfill Kodlak's old duties. So, I need you and Farkas to conquer Shearpoint alone."

With a tentative hum, I went back to inspecting the markings on the worn map. The paper had yellowed long ago and frayed at the edges with age. The black ink was still visible but wasn't as prominent as the newer additions to the map Vilkas and other Companions had added on. There was a large red circle around Shearpoint, of course. And I couldn't help but notice the other Dragon Priest locations had been marked, too.

"And you've already told Farkas about your wonderful plan?" I asked, shifting my gaze up towards Vilkas.

The laugh that escaped Vilkas's throat was filled to the brim with nervous energy. "I was hoping you would be able to convince him. He'll be upset if I insist on you two tackling Shearpoint alone, but he might be calmer if you're the one who suggests going."

I exhaled a sigh, knowing that meant Farkas wasn't going to be a willing participant on this mission. More than likely because of how dangerous and demanding this quest was. And only the two of us were being sent to deal with it; no backup would come if something were to go awry. "Fine. But just know you owe us two easy weeks after this one."

"Sounds like a fair deal," Vilkas promised while extending a hand towards me. We shook on it, forming a solid agreement.

I picked myself up out of the chair, raising my arms above my head to stretch. The vertebrae in my spine popped, resulting in Vilkas wincing. Turning, I began heading in the direction of the remainder of the bedrooms, which were just in the adjacent corridor; the table we had been talking at was the one located next to Kodlak's old chambers.

"Besides, I thought you might be interested in going, seeing as there’s a Word Wall," Vilkas commented, avoiding my eyes when I froze and snapped my attention in his direction.

I blinked. "What did you just say?"

He still wouldn't look at me, even as I felt fear coil through my veins. "The Word Wall. I just figured that might be something you'd take an interest in."

"And why would you assume that?" I questioned, carefully walking back to the table and sinking into the chair I’d vacated.

Vilkas's wolfish grin spread over his lips as his eyes steadily met mine. "You're not as sneaky as you think you are, (Y/N). Surely you knew that we'd find out at some point. I am sending you to kill a dragon, after all."

I leaned forward on the table, elbows resting on the map. "And who else knows?"

"No one, but why try to hide it? You really believe they would think less of you because you're the Dragonborn—"

Without a moment of hesitation, I slammed my fist against the tabletop, demanding his silence. His eyes popped open, stunned by my outburst. "Keep your voice down. The last thing I need right now is for everyone to know."

"You're not making any sense."

"Let me make it simple for you, Vilkas. I fought tooth-and-nail to prove myself to the Companions. And not even once did I use my dovah abilities. If everyone finds out that I'm Dragonborn, that makes them think of me differently. Sure, there's strength in the dovah, but many could consider that to be cheating. I have an advantage not many people have, so maybe they'll see me as a fraud rather than a member of their family."

He didn't say anything for a long moment. Then he licked his lips and sighed. "You really think you can keep this from them forever?"

I shook my head. "I'm not stupid. I know that I can't. Like you said, you're sending me to kill a dragon. So, they're going to find out."

"Does Farkas know?"

My silence was the only answer I had to give.

"Did you ever think, maybe, they'd be more upset that you're keeping this from them? It doesn't matter if you're just a mortal or the Dragonborn. Your heart is with the Companions, (Y/N), so I don't think you have anything to fear."

I shook my head. "I'm not willing to risk losing the only family I've ever had."

"I think you're being foolish, but this isn't my place to interject."

Inhaling a shaky breath, I grabbed onto the iron dagger that had been laid carelessly on the table. I stabbed the blade into the tabletop, striking it right where the map's vicious red circle marked the location of Shearpoint.

"I'm going to take Shearpoint. Just know that this will be my first time ever using my dovah abilities for the Companions," I commented, releasing the hilt of the dagger.

Vilkas nodded his head, his eyes darting over towards the doorway that led to the remainder of the Companions' chambers. I took his hint without conversation, rising back to my feet and abandoning him at the table.

I rounded the corner to the portion of the corridor that contained the doorways to Vilkas and Farkas's chambers. I paced the area in front of the doors for a moment, just replaying my conversation I'd had with Vilkas over and over again.

I had been so careful not to let them know. And I thought I'd done well, too, seeing as Farkas still had no clue. But of course Vilkas would've noticed. He would've put together that all my scheduled time off lined up with the Dragonborn's time spent with the Greybeards or pursuing the seemingly endless hunt for Alduin. For all I know, maybe he'd witnessed me Shout when I hadn't known he was around. Or maybe the Jarl mentioned something to him when he went to Dragonsreach.

With a sigh, I pushed those thoughts to the side. The more pressing issue was convincing Farkas that Shearpoint was going to be a good idea, even if it seemed like anything but. I raised my fist and knocked on his door, which earned me a groan from the opposite side.

"What do you want, Vilkas?" Farkas's voice answered from the other side.

I smiled at the sound of his voice. "Guess again."

Silence followed my statement for a beat. Then the thunderous sound of footsteps clambering towards the door. When both wooden doors were thrown open, Farkas stood on the other side, smiling widely when he saw me.

He tackled me into a hug, making me laugh as he dragged me into his room. I grabbed the handles of the door, closing them behind us while still struggling in his hold. I fought my way out of his grasp, resulting in the two of us breaking out into a play fight.

It started with him throwing me onto his bed and ended with me pinning him down on the ground. All the time in between was spent struggling, wiggling, and tackling. He widely smiled up at me from his position below me; my knees were on either side of his waist, straddling him, and my hands held his shoulders onto the floor.

"Nice to see you again, Pup," He breathed as I rolled my eyes at the dumb nickname. He decided this nickname worked for me since I was the newest addition to the Circle, making me the youngest werewolf of the bunch.

"Don't call me Pup. And you just saw me an hour ago," I explained with a small giggle.

He grinned and shrugged weakly, looking up at me. "Yeah, and then Vilkas selfishly kept you to himself for an entire hour. One agonizingly slow hour."

I exhaled a breathy laugh at his over-exaggeration. "You mean, to plan future missions?"

"Doesn't matter what you call it. I didn't see you for that entire hour because you were with Vilkas. Therefore, I have the right to be upset," He spoke, grinning up at me.

I felt his hand grab onto my ankle, making my eyes widen as understanding flooded over me. Only a few seconds later, he maneuvered his body and flipped the two of us over, which ended with me being pinned to the ground and him hovering over me.

"You jerk..." I muttered as he smiled and shook his head.

"You're just a sore loser," He responded as I let out a laugh.

He took a deep sniff before burrowing his nose into my hair, his hot breath against my throat. My stomach flipped. I kept my body perfectly still, listening to him sniff and feeling his nose pressed behind my ear while his lips brushed against my neck. I don't think he knew he was driving me mad with anticipation. With want. With need.

He pulled his head away from mine to look down at me with a raised eyebrow. "Mountain flowers?"

My face was hot as realization dawned on me. "Oh. Yeah. Lucia offered to make me a flower crown this morning. Who was I to say no?"

Laughing, he slowly shook his head at me. "You and your big heart."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"It's an admirable thing."

A strand of his dark hair fell forward and hung between us, dangling in his face. With careful fingers, I brushed the strand back and tucked it behind his ear. His light eyes observed my face with an intensity that was only acceptable when it was coming from him. He tracked every movement in my face, catching the way my eyes shifted and the slight quirk of my lips.

"I'm just surprised you noticed," I whispered, carefully lowering my hand away from his face. Disappointment flashed in his eyes, but only briefly.

He tilted his head to the side. "It's impossible for me not to notice things like that. I know your scent and I get curious when it changes."

I was on the fence between being flattered and creeped out. But of course, he would notice things like that. It was that bit of canine inside of him. "I can't decide if that's sweet or obsessive..."

His grin was beautiful. "It's probably a bit of both, if I'm completely honest."

The same strand of hair fell back in his face again, making the pair of us laugh. I moved it back again, my fingers lingering on his cheek moments longer than it needed to. He closed his eyes, just feeling my touch.

"(Y/N), I need to tell you something—"

"Farkas! Did Vilkas tell you that— Oh..." Aela's voice boomed as she shoved the doors open, but stopped when she noticed Farkas and I. I shoved Farkas off of me, rising to my feet and looking at the huntress who was standing in the doorway. She was smirking at the two of us.

I grabbed onto one of Farkas's hands, pulling him up to his feet at my side. "Did Vilkas tell me what?"

Aela turned to look at me. "Shearpoint."

"What?" Farkas demanded, his tone sounding outraged from hearing that single word.

"Vilkas tasked the two of you with killing everything at Shearpoint," Aela explained as Farkas groaned in annoyance.

"No, he didn't tell me—"

I cleared my throat, drawing their attention to me. "He told me. And he wanted me to tell you."

"You better have told him no," Farkas spoke up, his tone sounding almost desperate.

I bit my lip and shook my head. "We're meant to leave in about an hour..."

"Shearpoint is one of the most dangerous requests that has been asked of us. Taking on both a dragon and a Dragon Priest? That's almost impossible," Farkas explained to me as I immediately shifted my focus down to my feet.

There was no easy way now to tell him that I was certain we could do this. He had pointed out the impossibilities and the only way to confirm it would be possible was to tell him about my dovah half. And that was its own impossibility.

Part of me wondered if dying would just be easier than exposing my dovah abilities.

"I'll leave the two of you to talk about this..." Aela muttered before leaving, closing the doors behind her. I looked back to Farkas, seeing him staring at me with a more serious expression than I was accustomed to.

"(Y/N), I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you. And Shearpoint would be one of the few places that something awful would happen to one of us," Farkas began his explanation, sitting down on his bed as I did the same, observing him closely.

All I had to offer him was a hesitant smile. "We'll be fine. We're practically an invincible team. That's why Vilkas wanted us to do it. He thinks we're the only two who can."

"We'll go, but only if you promise me you'll be extremely cautious," He spoke in a gentle voice.

I nodded, offering him a sweet smile. "I swear."

"Okay. Then let's pack up and get ready for the cold. And be sure to grab plenty of health elixirs," He stated as I nodded, standing up and making my way over to his bedroom door. I grabbed onto one of the handles and pulled the door open, seeing Vilkas and Aela standing in the hall, acting as if they hadn't been listening to our entire conversation.

Aela turned and walked away, heading towards her own chambers. Meanwhile Vilkas just stood there, staring at me with an intensity that suggested I needed to share my secrets. And I hated that glare.

Farkas's chest hit my back as I stood in his doorway, staring at his brother. I shook my head before exhaling a shaky sigh, fighting every urge in my body to lean back into Farkas's chest. And I wouldn't think about how warm or comforting it would be to just be held by him. I wouldn't contemplate how it could change the trajectory of our entire relationship. And I definitely wouldn't think about how much happier I'd be if we were a bit more than friends.

"Vilkas, get in here," Farkas seethed as I walked out of his room, heading over to my own.

After Skjor was murdered by the Silver Hand, I was given his old bedroom, which is across the hall from Aela's room. Meanwhile, Farkas and Vilkas have the two rooms on the other wing; the rooms were divided by the hallway which led back to Kodlak's old chambers.

Upon entering my room, I began packing up for the trip. I stocked up on arrows and health draughts, then grabbed some other elixirs and a set of warmer armor. After fifteen minutes of me packing up for the trip, there was a knock at my door. I opened it, finding Vilkas standing on the opposite side. I waved for him to enter, which he did without hesitation, closing the doors behind him.

"He didn't get too mad at you, did he?" I asked with a small laugh. Vilkas didn't laugh.

"Oh, he's extremely pissed off at me," Vilkas explained.

I shrugged my shoulders, having expected that reply. "I figured. But oh well. We're going to finally get this job done."

"Couldn't agree more," Vilkas grumbled as I began stretching, grabbing my ebony sword that I'd laid on my bed and sliding it into its sheath, which was strapped to my belt. I slung my bow over my back and filled up my quiver with steel arrows.

He took a deep breath, which caught my attention. "He's going to find out."

"I know..."

"Are you ready for him to find out?" Vilkas questioned.

I pondered the question for a moment. "I don't think it matters what I'm ready for. It's going to happen no matter what. Obtaining a dragon's soul isn't subtle. The flesh burns off, leaving nothing more than the skeleton when I'm finished. It's not just the act of killing the dragon, but rather the eradication of the beast as a whole."

He hummed. "I imagine that's quite the sight to see..."

"It's a bit disturbing the first time you witness it."

"I have no doubt there."

Vilkas assisted me in pulling on my backpack, then added extra glass bottles of potions to my pack. He even slid in a knotted cloth that was full of food, just in case this mission took longer than any of us had been anticipating.

Finally, Vilkas met my eyes. "Just please promise me you'll be careful. Farkas will literally kill me if something happens to you."

"I'll be careful," I gently promised, getting ready to march out the door when Vilkas wrapped me up in a hug. I hugged him back.

I left my room after the hug, walking out and finding Farkas waiting for me in the hallway. He gave me a small smile, nodding for me to come over to him. I walked up to his side, standing next to him as we began heading for the exit of Jorrvaskr.

He slung an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. "You nervous, Pup?"

"I think I'd be a fool not to be," I commented as he laughed, the pair of us beginning to head up the stairs, entering the main room.

Emerging from the sub-level, we were greeted with the unique atmosphere of Jorrvaskr. An assortment of candles in sconces or suspended on the chandelier provided a warm glow, meanwhile the delightful aroma of cooked meat and assorted desserts mixed in the air. Then there was the laughter of our Shield-Siblings, who were partaking in a variety of conversations. Some laughed jovially while others whispered to one another. Still, this environment was the closest thing I had to a home.

"Heading out already?" Aela asked, leaning against one of the support beams. At her side was Ria, who appeared very interested in our presence.

Farkas shrugged. "Apparently. Vilkas is a bit too eager to send us to our deaths."

I elbowed Farkas in the ribs, resulting in a grunt of pain escaping him. "And by that he means we're looking forward to this."

"I can definitely sense the excitement," Ria commented with a grin.

There was a smirk settled on Aela's lips that didn't bode well with me. It would've been fine on its own, but accompanied with the knowing glint in her eyes made me feel a bit nervous.

"I'm sure they’re excited. A whole day alone with one another and no annoying Shield-Siblings to interrupt their endless pining? Seems like something they'd enjoy," Aela said, her smirk growing.

Farkas gave her an annoyed stare. "I think you forgot the part about the Dragon Priest and dragon that will be trying to kill us."

"Minor details," Aela replied, waving her hand dismissively.

"Best of luck to you," Ria commented as Farkas and I continued making our way to the front doors.

"Oh! One more thing!" Aela called, making us pause and turn back towards her. Her grin still consumed her whole face. "Don't die."

Farkas narrowed his eyes before flipping her off. Both Aela and Ria burst out laughing at his reaction. Meanwhile I rolled my eyes, grasping onto Farkas's forearm and pulling him out the doors. He huffed but followed my lead.

It was a gloomy day, heavy rain threatening to fall from the overcast sky while distant flashes of lightning were followed by the low rumbles of thunder. The looming storm perfectly reflected the journey we were about to embark on.

Seeing the normalcy of Whiterun offered a bit of relief. Even if this trip went horribly, it was comforting knowing the world would still turn. Guards would still patrol the streets. Nazeem would still be a jackass. Lucia would still be picking an assortment of flowers. The other Companions would continue to pick up quests to help the people of Skyrim. The Jarl would continue to ignore the Circle of werewolves in his town. Life goes on. Maybe that seems morbid, but it somehow offered me room to breathe.

Farkas and I made our way out of the town, beginning the lengthy hike towards Shearpoint. Luckily, it wasn't too far away. But seeing as it was on a mountaintop, it was quite a walk. It would easily take over half the day just to get there.

For the majority of the hike, we were quiet, listening to the storm and just stewing on our anxieties. I knew Farkas had a fear of one of us getting seriously hurt. I wish my fear was that primal. Instead, I was stuck contemplating what Farkas would think of me after watching me absorb a dragon's soul.

"Tell me, Pup, what do you think the best strategy will be?" Farkas asked once we hit the halfway point of our trip.

I raised a brow. "Why ask me?"

My heart hammered rapidly in my chest, silently praying he didn't know anything. But how would he? I knew my paranoia was getting the best of me, but Vilkas had managed to figure out that I was Dragonborn, so it was entirely possible Farkas could've figured it out, too.

He shrugged. "Usually your ideas keep us alive. I figured I might as well ask for your expertise."

Relief slammed into me like a tidal wave. "Many would think that we should divide, but that'll just make us weaker. The two of us need to tackle one enemy together. The best bet is to take out the Dragon Priest first, seeing as they're going to be the biggest pain in the ass," I murmured, thinking through the different challenges we were bound to face on this journey.

"And just avoid the giant beast in the sky that spits fire or ice?" He asked.

I shrugged. "More or less. I say just dodge it. Stay out of its sight and just focus on overpowering one enemy at a time," I explained as he pondered this for a while.

He huffed, his eyes catching on a rabbit that darted across the cobblestone path ahead of us. "Be honest with me, Pup. Do you really think we can pull this off?"

Taking a glance in his direction, he displayed his unease on his expression; eyebrows furrowed, lips pressed into a thin line, and anxiety lurking just behind his eyes. He repetitively tapped his ring finger against his thigh, another nervous tick that allowed me to understand the depths of his worry.

With a smile, I bumped into his shoulder with mine. "I do. Vilkas is right; we're the only Companions that will be able to complete this job."

"You're serious? You're not just lying to make me feel better about marching to our deaths?"

"I wouldn't lie to you. You know that."

He grinned, which lit up his entire face. Then he proceeded to sling one of his arms around my shoulders, pulling me against his side as I laughed. He held me there, both of us continuing our walk as if this were normal; then again, it sort of is for us. However, he usually let's go once we both quit laughing. He didn't do that this time.

Before I knew it, we'd made it to the path that led up the mountain. Already, I could spot the Word Wall. Thunder rolled overhead, as if warning us of the dangers that lurked at the mountaintop. The sky was only getting darker, promising some form of precipitation soon.

It only took a few minutes for us to make it to the top, still pressed against one another. Only, now it was nice to have the warmth of another body since Shearpoint was capped in snow. I squinted, spotting the dragon perched on the large Wall with ancient writing carved into it. Next, my eyes spotted a coffin-like box that was set out haphazardly in the snow. I knew what it was. I would be a pretty bad Dragonborn if I was unfamiliar with what a Dragon Priest was.

"Are you ready?" I asked, tilting my head to look up at him.

He sternly nodded to me. "You take range, and I'll handle melee."

I nodded back at him, grabbing my bow off my back and getting myself ready to use it. He, on the other hand, was preparing his large two-handed steel sword. I nocked a steel arrow, grabbing it out of the quiver strapped to my back, before crouching and beginning to look for a higher vantage point. I glanced over at Farkas once more, seeing him giving me a nervous smile; I gave him a confident smirk in response. Because I knew we could do this.

I dashed up towards the top of a small cliff, which gave me a great vantage point over the area. I drew back my bowstring, giving Farkas a brisk nod. Once he noticed my signal, he approached both dangerous creatures, hoping to only disturb one. The Dragon Priest responded first, breaking out of his coffin, levitating and gripping onto a staff. The dragon's eyes snapped open, but upon looking between Farkas and I, it remained perched on the wall, as if it just wanted to watch us battle the Dragon Priest.

Farkas was quick to begin swinging at the Dragon Priest, just the same as I began lobbing arrows over at it. It hissed in pain when it felt one of my arrows hit its chest, jerking its head back, its masked face locating me. Suddenly, it wasn't interested in Farkas anymore. But he continued swinging at it.

My eyes were trained on the mask that covered the powerful being's face. Each Dragon Priest mask was different; I did some research on them while spending time with the Greybeards. Inspecting the details on the mask, I was quick to recognize that this was Dragon Priest Krosis.

I rolled back behind some rocks, wanting Krosis to lose me for a bit, hoping he'd go back to targeting Farkas. I did my best to monitor my breathing, trying to keep quiet. Carefully, I slid another arrow out of my quiver, attaching the nock to the bowstring.

"(Y/N)! Watch out!" Farkas yelled.

I quickly jumped up to my feet, finding Krosis hovering before me. My heart nearly leapt out of my throat as I stared at the Dragon Priest, who pulled his staff up. I rolled out of the way, barely avoiding the attack, but Krosis still had his gaze locked on me. I began ducking and dodging his attacks, attempting to land my own in the process. I'd managed to sink two arrows into his chest before Farkas had made his way over to us. I'd landed four arrows before he managed to hit me. However, the attack he landed was close to fatal.

A gasp escaped my lips as I collapsed to my knees, bracing myself for a killing blow that never came. Instead, I heard a howl and witnessed Krosis's corpse land in the snow before me.

I tipped my head up, finding a werewolf staring at me with anxious eyes. I grabbed a fistful of his fur, feeling him pull me back to my feet. I wobbled a bit, still finding myself to be dizzy. Maybe I was injured a bit more than I'd initially believed.

"I'm fine, Farkas... Just the dragon left to go. We've got this..." I mumbled, grabbing a red glass bottle out of my bag, tilting the glass all the way back and drinking all of the dense and sticky liquid.

Farkas shifted back into his human form, breathing heavily while watching me. I offered him a nod, which he returned before equipping his sword again. I rolled my shoulders back, adjusting my armor before nocking another arrow to my bowstring.

When I got too close to the Word Wall, I could hear the quiet chanting begin in my head. I took that as my cue to back away, wanting to focus on the fight before concerning myself with the Word of Power etched into the Wall.

The dragon was perched atop the Wall, light blue scales reflecting the lightning that occasionally flashed against the gloomy clouds. Its eyes were closed, an expression of peace covering its rugged face. At least, I assumed it was peace. Once I got too close, the dragon's lime green eyes popped open, but it didn't take flight. It casually looked from Farkas over to me before it tilted its head to the side.

A loud laugh echoed off the mountain, shaking me to the core. "So it's true. The Dovahkiin walks this realm."

My eyes widened as my heart raced, feeling as if it was attempting to break out of my rib cage. My grip on my bow tightened as I took a bold step forward, Farkas now only a few paces behind me. I didn't want to look him in the eyes. Not now. Not after this.

Reluctantly, I raised my chin to meet the dragon's eyes. "Indeed."

"I applaud your persistent courage, but it's all for naught. Alduin has returned. And he has no intentions of being stalled any longer," The dragon said, its deep voice carrying clearly through the atmosphere.

I could hear Farkas's footsteps in the snow behind me, but I couldn't look away from the dragon. "Well, after I kill you, I have full intentions of killing him."

The dragon laughed. "Then you're more foolish than I initially believed you to be, Dovahkiin."

It opened its mouth, spraying frost towards Farkas and I. I rolled out of the way, drawing my bowstring back and releasing the arrow, watching it plunge into the dragon's flesh, puncturing scales upon impact. The dragon roared, spreading its wings and taking flight. I wobbled from the gust of wind caused by its wings, but stabled myself quickly, eyes snapping to the sky to locate the flying beast.

Farkas was at my side instantly, now clinging to his own bow and tracking the movement of the dragon as it soared above our heads. "Still the same plan?"

"Pretty much. I can get it out of the sky if you'd rather use your sword," I said, nocking another arrow and shooting it at the beast. The growl of pain was enough to let me know I'd hit it.

I felt Farkas's back against mine. "You know I would."

Now that everything's out in the open, I inhaled a shaky breath and racked my brain of the knowledge I'd just gathered from Paarthurnax, an Elder Scroll, and Nords of a previous time period. I was tracking the dragon's movements overhead while widening my stance, preparing myself both physically and mentally.

"JOOR - ZAH - FRUL!" I Shouted, watching an ethereal blue net-like force ensnare the winged beast, forcing it onto the ground.

Farkas's eyes were wide, and I couldn't help but notice the terror that lurked within them. I swallowed down my heartache before unsheathing my sword, running and slashing my blade against the dragon's scaly hide. It hissed and groaned in pain, spitting frost at me once more.

I gasped in pain, feeling as though the air was sucked out of my lungs as I stumbled away from the dragon. Still, the Dragonrend Shout held the beast captive on the ground. Farkas ran at the dragon next, striking it deeply with his two-handed sword. The guttural roar the dragon released let me know it wouldn't have the energy to fly off again.

Farkas tossed something towards me, which I captured in one hand before inspecting. It was a small green bottle. Popping the cork off, I downed the liquid that tasted of mint and juniper. Once I'd drained the bottle, I felt as if I could breathe again.

With the flap of its wings, the Dragonrend Shout broke, releasing the beast. But it couldn't fly away. However, that didn't stop it from crawling towards us, clamping its jaw down in an attempt to bite me. I was running backwards, lobbing arrows at the beast, some lodging down its throat. It opened its mouth to spray frost at me, but abruptly stopped to snap its head towards its tail. Farkas jabbed his sword into the beast's tail, making it open its mouth to spit the frost at him.

My body was moving without consulting my brain. I don't think I've ever run so quickly in my life. Even with the snow slowing my movements, I made it to Farkas before the dragon managed to hurt him. Heat was rising up my throat, smoke beginning to roll out of my nostrils. Farkas's eyes were wide as he looked at me, eyes stuck on my throat, which was glowing.

"YOL - TOOR - SHUL!" I Shouted right as the dragon spit frost, causing flames to erupt from my throat. The ice and fire met between us, counteracting one another. When the dust settled, the dragon looked a mixture of annoyed and impressed.

"Your thu'um is strong, Dovahkiin, but not strong enough."

A smirk settled over my lips. Without an ounce of ceremony or a speech on my part, I grabbed the dagger off my belt and hurled it towards the beast. The dragon threw its head back and released a thunderous sound of pain, wings expanding before collapsing, limp, into the snow.

My lungs burned as I watched Farkas begin to walk in my direction, exhaustion shrouding his body. He froze and his eyes popped wide open when a crackling sound began emitting from the dragon's corpse.

The world around us began burning amber as the beast's scales and flesh burned into a wispy smoke. An ethereal stream emitted from the dragon, striking me in the chest, merging with something deep inside of me; past my physical form and into something more spiritual. Part of me felt stronger. Like there was more fire in my soul. Like I could tear Skyrim apart with my bare hands. Like I was far above any civil war or dragon apocalypse.

Now left staring at the full skeleton of a deceased dragon, I felt my hands tremble as I dropped my bow, exhaustion hitting me abruptly. I crashed to my knees, staring at the large bones. Adrenaline was beginning to wear off, so reality wasn't too far away. But I wasn't ready to face the consequences of my actions just yet. I wasn't ready to explain myself. Instead, I pushed it off by helplessly staring at the damage I'd done to this beast.

Farkas knelt down next to me, but he didn't touch me. If I wouldn't have just Shouted a dragon out of the sky and absorbed its soul in front of him, he would've been tackling me into a hug and gushing about how grateful he was that we were both still alive. Instead, we sat there in silence; the small gap between us feeling like miles.

Anxiety was chewing at my organs while I stared into the empty sockets that once housed the dragon's lime eyes. The air around us still reeked of burnt flesh — dragon flesh, to be precise. It was a horrific scent that I'd never forget. Whether I end up in Oblivion, or Sovngarde, or anywhere in between, I'd still know the smell of soulless, burning dragon corpses.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Tears pricked at my eyes, which was made infinitely worse by the cold sleet beginning to spray from the sky. "How was I supposed to tell you?"

I heard him shift at my side, but I couldn't make myself look at him. "Did you think I'd be mad? Or upset?"

"No."

"Then why couldn't you?" He pressed, his voice nothing but calm.

A laugh of sheer hysteria tore out of my throat. "Because I knew you'd be terrified. And I was right. I saw the fear in your eyes during this fight. I saw the way you looked at me. And you have every right to be afraid of me."

Silence settled over us — drowning us. I closed my eyes, feeling the freezing sleet collide with my skin. A single hot tear rolled down my cheek. But I didn't care anymore. Every fiber of my being was shaking; whether with too much power or nervous energy, I couldn’t tell.

The absolute last thing I expected to hear was his laugh.

"Really? You thought I was scared of you? (Y/N), I don't think it's possible for me to be afraid of you." He said it as if it were a fact.

I slanted a look at him, sniffing while feeling more tears fall. "You can't lie to me, Farkas. I saw your face."

He huffed. "Maybe I was a bit shocked, but I wasn't scared. If anything, I think I was just worried about you."

The laugh that escaped me was wet and pathetic. “You found out that I happen to be the most powerful entity in Skyrim, and you’re worried about me?”

“You could be completely invincible and I’d still be worried about you. You…” He stopped himself, words trailing off into nothing, vanishing in the wind.

Goosebumps blossomed over my exposed flesh, which was a strange sensation when simultaneously shedding hot tears. My hands trembled at my side, not stopping even as I placed them flat against my legs. With every exhale, I was met with a puff of fog fleeing my lips.

“I, what…?” I whispered, turning more towards him.

His eyes shone bright against the fading light, capturing every strike of lightning within them. “You mean everything to me, Pup. So, yeah, I worry about you. Because… Well, what if, one day, you don’t come back to me? What if I lose you for good? Then you’d be gone and I’d be left with so much regret…”

My heart ached. “Oh… I didn’t realize you regretted this—”

“No. I don’t regret a single thing I’ve done with you. I would regret not telling you that you’re my world. You’re where life’s meaning begins and ends. You’re the only thing in this frozen hellscape that matters to me. And I’ve spent all my time walking around it; scoffing at our Shield-Siblings that point it out, because it’s so obvious I’m smitten by you. Acting like I’m not insanely jealous anytime you give someone else attention; hell, I can’t even explain the rage I feel when you have Vilkas’s scent on you, as if—”

I reached over, capturing his face in my hands, crushing my lips against his; kissing him hard. I didn’t even care that my hands were coated in dragon’s blood. Neither did he.

A low wolfish growl reverberated his vocal cords as he grabbed at my armor, forcibly pulling me closer. I squeaked as he dragged me into his lap, kissing me deeper. Like we were the only people in the world. Like his life depended on it.

The cold faded away; all I was left with was his body heat and the warmth of his mouth. His teeth caught my lip as his movements grew more and more needy. Frustrated, he shoved me, pushing me flat on my back in the snow; even then, I still couldn’t really feel the cold. He hovered over me, smirking before kissing me again.

I don’t know how long we were out there, fused at the lips, pushing and pulling against one another. Nothing about the kisses felt awkward or embarrassing, either. It all felt like the world had been set right. As if this should’ve happened long ago; thinking back, maybe it really should’ve.

“Do you regret that?” I mumbled against his lips.

He laughed. “Talos, no…”

“Good.”

With a grin, I pushed myself up onto my elbows to press a more tender kiss to his lips. He smiled against my kiss, pulling away to place a succession of kisses all over my face. I laughed, squirming beneath him in an attempt to escape his assault of affection.

“Piss off!” I yelped, still doing my best to break out of the cage he’d made with his body.

He shook his head. “Never.”

Farkas let himself fall on top of me, relaxing his arms. I grunted, feeling the entirety of his weight crush me. He burrowed his face in my neck, snickering while planting kisses to the flesh there. A sharp gasp tore out of my throat when I felt his teeth clamp on my skin.

Without warning, I sent an elbow into his side, resulting in him grunting and rolling off of me. Grinning, I crawled over top of him, gingerly pushing his hair out of his face.

“Why do you have to be so violent?” he asked, a hand protectively holding his side.

I smirked. “Don’t lie, you like it.”

“Unfortunately, I do.”

I laughed before getting to my feet, offering my hand to him. He grabbed it and I hauled him up, both of us dusting the snow off our armor. Farkas leaned down to grab my bow, offering it back to me; I accepted the weapon, slinging it back over my shoulders.

His attention snagged on the skeletal dragon remains, then turned back to the Dragon Priest corpse. I wrapped my arms around myself, marching towards the remains of Krosis, staring down at him.

My brain processed the faint chanting again, reminding me about the Wall. Sucking in a sharp breath, I faced the large stone structure, taking slow steps towards it. I could hear Farkas follow behind me, keeping his distance; as if he wanted to watch, but not interrupt.

With trembling fingers, I placed one of my hands against the Wall, feeling the etched dragon language. Some letters and symbols were more familiar than others, but three of the words stood out against the rest. I squinted, racking my brain for the knowledge the Greybeards taught me.

The Wall claimed to be a tribute by Modir the Far for his brother, Oskar the Fool. Truthfully, it sounded too cruel and sarcastic to be a proper tribute. But I didn’t really know the details. The only thing I did grasp, for certain, were the Words of Power:

ZUL - MEY - GUT

Smirking a slight bit, I turned back to Farkas. He watched me closely from a few paces away, arms crossed over his chest. “It’s a good thing we have a long walk back, because you have a lot of explaining to do.”

I grinned, resulting in him smiling back at me. “You’re right. And I want to tell you everything.”

“Then get to talking, Pup.”

—

A loud clatter echoed through the central room of Jorrvaskr, everyone falling silent to stare at the item I’d tossed onto the table in front of Vilkas. He stopped eating to observe the item, eyes widening.

It was the mask that belonged to Krosis.

Before crossing my arms over my chest, I placed a stack of dragon scales down next. They were a shimmering blue, slightly blood stained and charred on the underside; there was a deep scratch on one where my dagger scraped up the side.

“Dragon Priest Krosis and the dragon from Shearpoint,” I explained, feeling a wall of heat step up to my side before wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

Vilkas nodded. “I’m impressed. Don’t get me wrong, I knew you could do it, but still. It’s one thing to know you can do something and another to see it done.”

Aela walked up next to Vilkas, grabbing the mask off the table to inspect it. Her jaw fell open, thumb rubbing over the patterns carved into the iron. “Wow. It’s stunning…”

“Something like that,” I commented with a shrug.

Vilkas moved his focus from Aela and Krosis’s mask over to me. “I think you already know what comes next.”

I thought back to the map Vilkas showed me; the one with Shearpoint encircled in bright red ink. Even then, I noticed Shearpoint wasn’t the only location marked on that map. It was all the Dragon Priest locations.

“What do you need all of them for?” I asked, leaning more into Farkas’s side.

Aela and Vilkas shot one another a look; and they weren’t discreet about it, either.

“Are you sure you want me to answer that here?” Vilkas asked as I felt something similar to confidence shoot through my veins.

I shrugged. “I can’t hide it anymore. And, if you want me to be honest, I’m tired of keeping this to myself.”

I turned to Farkas, who smiled back at me. He offered me a reassuring nod before turning back to his twin. “Wait, how did you know?”

Vilkas grinned back at his brother. “All the time I gave you two off lined up a little too perfectly with the Dragonborn’s outstanding feats. And I knew it couldn’t possibly be you, so I was left to assume it was them. How did you not know?”

Aela blinked a few times, an eyebrow raised as she listened to the conversation. A few other Shield-Siblings muttered to one another, looking equally, if not more, confused.

I took a step forward, out of Farkas’s hold. Sure, I felt a bit more vulnerable without him at my side, but I knew this was something I had to confront on my own. Vilkas was right; I had to tell them. And maybe it was too little too late, but they deserved to know.

“I’m the Dragonborn,” I announced.

Jorrvaskr had never fallen quieter than it did at that moment. Many stared at me with something akin to horror on their expressions. Aela’s eyes were so wide it seemed like they were attempting to escape her skull. Vilkas had a small smile on his lips. Farkas looked nothing but proud.

Torvar stepped forward. “And here we were thinking we needed to take it easy on you.”

There was a humorous undertone to his words, which caused a grin to split my lips. He continued to walk towards me; though, it was more of a drunken stumble, if I’m honest. But he wrapped me up in a tight hug as soon as he made it to me, then fixed his slightly distant stare on Farkas.

“How you, of all people, managed to pull the Dragonborn, I’ll never know,” Torvar added before giving me a small pat on the back and meandering off towards Athis, who had his head in his hands.

Aela barked out a laugh, not an ounce of shame haunting her. Vilkas was attempting to stifle a chuckle of his own, but wasn’t doing a great job. Farkas scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

“How long have you known?” Njada asked, twirling her steel dagger between her fingers.

I hummed. “Just a little over a year now.”

“Damn, then no wonder you didn’t tell us! I mean, you were probably still struggling to figure everything out on your own. And that has to be a hard pill to swallow. Not to mention the responsibility of it,” Ria pointed out, making me feel a lot less crazy for keeping this to myself for as long as I did.

Athis lifted his head from his hands to look at me. “Tell us, how’s the trek up the Ten Thousand steps.”

“Completely miserable.”

“And what are the Greybeards like?” Vignar questioned.

I smiled. “Stubborn and stuck in their ways. But also wise and knowledgeable.”

Aela put a hand on her hip. “And Alduin?”

I really hated thinking about that fucking dragon. He’s been nothing but a pain in my ass since the day we met at Helgen; sure, he’s the only reason I made it out of there alive, but I know he wasn’t intentionally trying to save me. Now, it felt like a relentless chase. I just learned the Dragonrend Shout, so I felt closer to challenging Alduin than I ever had before. Still, the impending doom of the world entirely depended on me. And that made me lose sleep almost every night; well, every night I was away from Farkas.

Maybe that was another reason I’d been so drawn to him. There was an array of obnoxious thoughts that ran rampant in my brain, threatening my stability; but standing with Farkas, those thoughts ceased to exist. I didn’t have to be the almighty Dragonborn when I was with him; I could just simply be.

“Maybe we’ll pick up on the questions another day,” Farkas’s voice brought me back to the surface, where all my Shield-Siblings stared at me with anxious looks.

Aela’s face was difficult to read as she observed me. “I think that’s fair. But let me tell you something, (Y/N). No matter what obstacle you’re facing, whether it be a mortal or Alduin himself, you no longer have to do it alone. I can’t speak for everyone in this room, but I am damn capable of speaking for myself; if you need me to help you kick the World Eater’s ass, I’ll be by your side.”

Vilkas grinned, vicious and wild. “Like I told you, we’re a family. And you’re a part of that family. We don’t care if you’re just a mortal or the Dragonborn. Once you’re part of this family, it’s almost impossible to get out.”

I wasn’t going to cry, even as I felt tears pool in my eyes. When I turned back to Farkas, he had a rare smile of his own on his lips, watching me intently. I did my best to blink the tears away, reminding myself that crying was unnecessary.

The Companions were my family; my home.

Aela shrugged. “And, since you’ve seduced the big dumb one—”

“Hey!” Farkas snapped.

“It’s actually completely impossible for you to leave us now. Otherwise he’ll get all sad and mopey,” she finished with a small chuckle.

Farkas sent her a sharp glare. “I don’t mope.”

Vilkas slanted a glance over towards his brother. “You can mope better than anyone I know.”

“Oh really? How rich coming from you—”

“Don’t even start—”

I cleared my throat, ending the seemingly-endless argument between the twins. “So, why do you need the Dragon Priest masks?”

Vilkas exhaled a sigh. “Because something tells me you’re going to need them before you head to Labyrinthian.”

“Labyrinthian? Why take them there?” Aela asked, raising a brow and glancing between the twins.

“Rumor has it there’s two Word Walls there. And I think a certain Shield-Sibling would take interest in that,” Vilkas mused, smirking into his words.

I released a breathy laugh, shaking my head. “How about we don’t worry about the endless list of things I need to get done as the Dragonborn. We’ve still got plenty to worry about without concerning ourselves with all the other shit I have to do.”

“And when you say ‘other shit’, you mean saving the world?” Aela asked, tilting her head to the side.

I nodded. “Exactly.”

“Here’s the deal. You need Words of Power. I need to rid the country of Dragon Priests. Something tells me we can compromise,” Vilkas explained.

Farkas narrowed his eyes. “So eager to send us to our death.”

“Oh please, you know just as well as me that there’s nothing our dear Dragonborn can’t handle. Especially with you by their side,” Vilkas jabbed back.

When Farkas turned to look at me with light eyes full of confidence, something hot burned at my core. Because Vilkas was right. There was nothing Farkas and I couldn’t do when we were together; an invincible unified force.