27th of First Seed, 4E 203

Aela rushed forward, knelt down, and pressed two fingers against Ylva's neck. After a few tense seconds, Aela stood back up and motioned for Farkas and me to come closer. "She's still breathing, but her heart is weak. We haven't any time to lose."

Farkas and I stood on either side of Ylva, crouched down, and picked her up. We each braced one arm around her back, just behind her shoulders, and the other arm under her bent knees. Aela picked up Ylva's sword, then marched in front of us. If anyone got in our way, she yelled at them to move.

I glanced down at Ylva, seeing her eyes crack open, just for a moment. Her face was even paler than before, if that were even possible, and her eyes had lost almost all life to them. We had to hurry.

"Hang on, Ylva," I said, surprising myself with my soft tone. "Just hang on."

She opened her mouth to answer, but as she tried to speak, something gurgled in her throat, and some thick, red blood trickled from her mouth.

I tried not to think about how broken she was inside.

"Where are we taking her?" Farkas asked, distracting me from my worry.

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

"'Should'?" I asked with a skeptical tone. "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."

Ylva cried out in pain just after Aela stopped speaking, and her cry sounded like she was choking on her blood.

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

Something like gratitude flashed across Ylva's face, but it didn't last long. More blood ran down her chin.

Thank the Divines the guards didn't try to stop us at the gate. They let us pass without a word, shutting the gates as soon as we were inside. We began to walk faster, taking the path that led straight to the Temple.

Danica was wandering by the restored Gildergreen as we approached. She took one look at us, and her face hardened. "What happened?" she asked as she led us towards the Temple's entrance.

"Dragon attacked Pelagia farm," I answered as Danica opened the doors for us. "Ylva was too close to its jaws."

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

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

Ylva only groaned again.

"What can you do for her?" I asked as Danica showed Farkas and me where to set Ylva down. We lowered her to the bed, trying our best to avoid causing her anymore pain. As soon as she was situated, I let my hand fall to her shoulder.

Lips pursed, Danica laid a hand on the dragon spike in Ylva's 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 gestured for Farkas and me to follow her outside. "Come. We should give Kodlak the full report."

Farkas started to leave with her, but I stayed put. "One of us should stay here with her," I said, then quickly added, "To keep her company."

"All right, then." Aela gave me a curious look, but didn't press me for answers. "I assume that you want to?"

I nodded.

"Then it's settled. Farkas and I can give Kodlak the report." With that, she whipped around, motioned for Farkas to follow, and left the Temple, my brother close on her heels.

With them gone, I turned my attention back to Ylva. Danica cleared her throat, then gestured for another priest to join her. I recognized him as Jenssen.

"First, I will remove the spike," Danica began explaining. "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," I said. I cast a glance down at Ylva. "This Shield-Sister proved herself today, and I would hate to lose such a fine warrior."

Ylva smiled at me, and I found myself smiling back.

"If you can, Vilkas," Danica said, calling my attention to her, "you should comfort her when I remove the spike."

I nodded, then knelt down next to Ylva's bed. I rested my hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"I shall need your strength, Jenssen," Danica whispered to the man next to her. Her voice was so low, I doubted anyone other than Jenssen and myself had heard her words.

Then Danica turned to Ylva, adjusting her grip on the dragon spike. "Ylva, this is going to hurt, but only for a moment."

Ylva nodded tightly, her jaw clenched and her face twisted in pain.

A moment passed, then Danica ripped the spike from Ylva's side. Ylva drew her knees closer to her chest, and her eyes screwed shut. I could tell she was fighting off a scream. I squeezed her shoulder again, whispering, "Hang in there, Shield-Sister. The worst is over."

Danica discarded the spike, then held her bloodied hands over Ylva's open and bleeding wound. Warm, yellow light spread across her palms, then flowed into Ylva's wound. I could already see her flesh knitting back together, and the blood flow slowed to a trickle.

Ylva sighed, her face slacking. Her eyes were still closed, but the look of relief on her face told me she was no longer in pain.

"Yes, my child, sleep now," Danica said with a rough voice. Like the magic she used was draining her strength.

"Danica's right," I said. I gave her shoulder a gentle pat and dropped my voice to a whisper. "You should sleep."

"Will you be here when I wake?"

Grinning, I brushed my free hand over her smooth and thick hair. "Yes. I'm not going anywhere."

Eyes still closed, Ylva smiled. "Thank you."

And just like that, she was asleep.