Hands wrapped around my arms and legs. My body lifted off the ground. I cracked one eye open to see Vilkas and Farkas carrying me back to the city gates. Aela marched in front, bellowing at anyone who got in our way. Were they trying to save me? I didn't want them to. Let me die, let me go to Sovngarde. Let me find my rest.

"Hang on, Ylva," Vilkas whispered to me. "Just hang on."

Funny, he used my real name. He didn't call me "new blood."

I tried to answer, but blood gurgled in my throat.

"Where are we taking her?" Farkas asked.

"Temple of Kynareth," Aela answered. "Priestess Danica should heal her."

"'Should'?" Vilkas asked. "That's not a lot to go on."

"Well, since none of the Companions are healers, we have to take this gamble. Otherwise, Ylva will surely die."

Pain shot up my side, and I screamed, the sound coming out odd and gurgling. Like I was drowning on dry ground.

"You didn't defeat Alduin just so you could be slain by a lesser dragon a few months later," Farkas said. "You can make it, Ylva."

I tried to give him a grateful look, but I felt like I failed miserably. At least he didn't hate me for lying and hiding the truth from him. I still had one friend.

The guards didn't ask questions when we came back to the gates. They opened the gates for us and let us pass. Once inside the walls, Farkas and Vilkas picked up the pace, heading straight for the Temple. I had only been inside once, when I had run an errand for the head priestess, Danica Pure-Spring. I helped restore their sacred tree, Gildergreen, to its former glory. Since then, the tree had been blooming wonderfully. Its beauty could not be matched. And that was coming from someone who'd viewed Sovngarde.

I wrestled my wandering thoughts into submission. I couldn't be reminiscing while I was bleeding to death.

Danica was wandering outside the temple as we approached. She took one look at me, and her face hardened. "What happened?" she asked, her Nordic drawl spicing her speech.

"Dragon attacked Pelagia farm," Vilkas said. He and Farkas carried me through the door that Danica open. "Ylva was too close to the jaws."

"That's..." I groaned. "That's an understatement."

"Hush, Ylva," Aela said. "Save your strength."

I groaned in response.

"What can you do for her?" Vilkas asked. Danica guided them to an empty bed, where they set me down with as much care as possible. Vilkas laid a gentle hand on my shoulder.

Danica placed a hand on the spike embedded in my side. "I've never dealt with wounds this severe before. It'll take everything I have, but I will do my best to save her."

"That is all we can ask," Aela said. She motioned for the others to follow her. "Come. We should give Kodlak the full report."

"One of us should stay with her," Vilkas said. "To keep her company."

"All right, then. I assume that you want to?"

Vilkas nodded.

"Then it's settled. Farkas and I can give Kodlak the report." She spun on her heel, motioned for Farkas to follow, then they were gone.

Danica cleared her throat, then monitored for another priest to come to her aid. His name was Jenssen, if I remembered correctly.

"First, I will remove the spike," Danica said. "Then I will have to work fast and seal the wound. Her leg injury isn't as severe, so it can wait."

"Just do what you must," Vilkas said. "This Shield-Sister proved herself today, and I would hate to lose such a fine warrior."

I gave him a weak smile.

"If you can, Vilkas, you should comfort her when I remove the spike."

Vilkas gave her a nod, then dropped to his knees next to me. He kept his hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Danica whispered something to Jenssen, then adjusted her grip on the spike. "Ylva, this is going to hurt, but only for a moment."

I clenched my teeth and gave her a tight nod.

Without another word, Danica pulled the spike from my side. Pain as hot as dragon fire burst through my body, and it took all that I had not to scream. Vilkas tightened his hold on my shoulder and whispered, "Hang in there, Shield-Sister. The worst is over."

Warmth radiated over my skin as Danica used her healing magic to close the wound. The pain lessened, spreading relief over me. With the relief came the feeling of fatigue. Adrenaline had kept me going, but now I had no need for it. My eyelids grew heavy, and my body started to fall limp.

"Yes, my child, sleep now," Danica said. Her voice had a rough edge to it, like she was straining to maintain her hold on her magic.

"Danica's right," Vilkas said. He patted my shoulder and dropped his tone to a whisper. "You should sleep."

I closed my eyes. "Will you be here when I wake?"

A hand brushed over my hair. "Yes. I'm not going anywhere."

A smile twitched on my lips. "Thank you."

Right after the words left my lips, I fell asleep.