I woke to the feeling of sunbeams falling on my face.

Moaning, I opened my eyes and glanced around. The smell of lavender and healing potions filled the air. A soft voice whispered, "There, now, it'll be all right," to someone close by. Whoever the voice whispered to responded with a groan. The sunlight I had felt filtered in through the windows in the temple. Dust particles danced in the light, flying up and down in the sun.

I tried to sit up, but my side ached too much. I lay back and shut my eyes. Wasn't Vilkas supposed to be with me when I woke? He said he wouldn't leave. Where was he?

"Vilkas?" I croaked, my voice weak. I cleared my throat and tried again. "Vilkas?"

"I'm here," Vilkas's deep voice responded. I opened my eyes and turned in his direction. He was walking to me, a relieved look on his stubbled face.

"Aela and Farkas.... Did they make it back to Jorrvaskr?"

"Yes. Farkas came back to check on you. Kodlak wanted a report on your condition."

"I guess they also told him I'm Dragonborn?"

"Yes."

I suppressed a moan and closed my eyes again. "My secret's out."

"Not really."

I looked to Vilkas as he dropped to his knees next to my bedside. "What do you mean?"

"Kodlak thought it best to respect your privacy and keep the information away from the initiates. Only the members of the Circle know. If that's what you want, we'll keep it that way."

I heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Vilkas."

"Don't thank me." He smiled. "Thank the old man."

"I will when I get out of here. Did Danica say when I can leave?"

"Danica is resting right now. It took all her strength to heal you. Without Jenssen's help, she might have expended all her energy."

"She would've died trying to heal me? That's not what I wanted."

"But that's what she's sworn to. It isn't your fault, Ylva. Danica knew the risks. It isn't your fault."

That didn't abate my guilt, but at least helped. "So I guess I'm stuck here for a while, huh?"

Vilkas shrugged one shoulder. "I'm sure you could recover just as well in Jorrvaskr as you can in here, but I'm not sure Danica would approve of it."

"Pleas, Vilkas. I don't want to be stuck here any longer than I have to be."

He furrowed his brow. "Tilma would take good care of you, and if you had your own private room.... Yes, perhaps you could recover there."

"Yes, she could," Danica said as she stepped closer to us. Her face was pale and she had dark circles under her eyes, but looked normal otherwise. "I know Tilma, and I know you Companions would take good care of her. If that's what you want, Ylva, I approve. But how will you get over there? You can't walk."

I cursed myself silently. I didn't think of that.

"The solution is simple, Danica," Vilkas said. Then he slipped his arms underneath my shoulders and knees. He stood, cradling me against his chest. "I'll carry her. She's not heavy, after all."

Danica nodded. "Then go, Companion."

Vilkas ducked his head, then straightened and headed for the door. Danica opened it for him, and he stepped outside. The sun shone bright, no clouds in the cerulean sky. I breathed as deeply as my wounded side would allow, taking in the scent from the Gildergreen's blossoms. By the statue of Talos, Heimskr, head priest—and only priest—of Talos, shouted his usual sermon at anyone who would stop to listen.

When I had first come to Whiterun, I had stopped and listened for a little while, then grew tired of his shouting and left. I knew his heart was true, that he only wanted his voice to be heard, but did he really have to shout? I loved Talos as much as the next Nord, but I didn't feel compelled to bellow my convictions at everyone in my path.

"He never shuts up, does he?" Vilkas asked as we passed the shrine.

I laughed. "No, he doesn't. Has he alway been like that?"

Vilkas nodded. "Since the Great War, when the Aldmeri Dominion forced the Emperor to renounce Talos and outlaw his worship. I suppose the Thalmor don't see Heimskr as a threat. Otherwise, I fear that they'd lock the poor man up without hesitation."

"Well, they can try to outlaw Talos worship, but we Nords don't give up so easily. You believe, don't you?"

"Of course I do. I'm a Nord, after all."

I sighed in relief. "I've met Nords who don't care enough, who were all too willing to renounce their belief when those blasted elves came knocking."

"They aren't true Nords. They're cowards. And they will never see Sovngarde so long as they remain cowards." Then he stopped to look down at me. "What was it like?"

"What?"

"Sovngarde. What was it like?"

"More beautiful than anything this world has to offer. Shor's Hall was teeming with our fellow Nords. All of them were fighting, feasting, and singing to their heart's content. It was the best thing I've seen."

Vilkas had a distant look in his eyes. I thought it was longing. Then he shook his head and climbed the front steps to Jorrvaskr.

I started to ask him about the look, but decided against it when I saw the look that replaced it.

He had a look of animalistic anger. And for a moment, I thought I saw his teeth elongating into fangs.

I had to be hallucinating. There was no way Vilkas's teeth were turning to fangs before my eyes.

Right?