If I hadn't been vomiting over the edge of the Maiden, I would've been celebrating catching sight of Skyrim with the rest of the crew.

I wiped the back of my hand against my mouth, pushing myself up from my bent over position, and turned to my homeland. I could see the walls of Windhelm, the top of the Palace of Kings peering over the wall, glistening in the morning sun. My heart clenched.

Home. Finally home.

"You all right, love?" Vilkas asked as he came to stand by me.

"I'm just..." I paused to swallow whatever food I had left in my stomach, "seasick."

"You've been seasick ever since we left Raven Rock. Are you sure you're fine?"

"I'm sure. I'll feel better when I have my feet back on the solid ground of our home."

With no warning, he pulled me into a tight hug. I returned his embrace, smiling against his chest.

"It feels so good to be home," he sighed against the hood of my cloak. I had disregarded my armor, seeing that it would no longer protect me, and I didn't think we would be encountering any danger while at sea. I instead wore a thick blue-gray tunic and woolen gray trousers. My wolfskin gloves and wolf fur-lined boots kept my fingers and toes warm despite the freezing air coming from the ice caps.

"We'll be back in Whiterun soon," I said, smiling even wider. "Then we'll really be home."

He pulled away, curling one of his hands into my hair, then pulled me in for a kiss. I let out a sigh and tightened my hold around his waist. His warm breath tickled my nose just before his soft lips pressed to mine. His hold on the back of my head and neck tightened as he pulled me closer. His other arm remained snaked around my back, his body pressing against mine. Warmth spread all through my chest and up to my face as he deepened the kiss.

"Why are you kissing when you could be watching Skyrim get closer and closer?!" Farkas called to us from the bow of the ship.

I broke away first, grinning madly as Vilkas flushed red.

"Farkas!" he shouted, glaring at his brother.

"What?" The bigger twin shrugged his shoulders and pointed to the docks that were coming into view. "Look! We're almost there!"

Vilkas grumbled under his breath, but I linked my arm through his and chuckled at him.

"Come on, grumpy. Smile. We're almost home."

That got a smirk out of him. "Yes, you're right. But that doesn't mean I won't find some way to repay Farkas for such a rude interruption."

"Then Tyra and I can laugh at how silly you men will be as you chase each other in circles, trying to get even."

By then, the ship had pulled into the docks. The crew set to work securing her and offloading the goods they'd brought from Solstheim. A couple of the Argonian workers stepped in to help as the four Companions climbed off the deck.

When my feet set down on the solid and cold stone, I bounced up and down a little. "Oh, I've missed you, Skyrim!"

Vilkas smiled at me and calmed me down. "Don't slip and fall. I think you've been wounded enough as it is."

I rolled my eyes as we set off towards the city entrance. "We need to stop by the inn. I want to say goodbye to Elda before we go, and I have a promise to keep. To a little girl."

Walking into Candlehearth made it real for me. I was home. The familiar wood walls and smell of fresh sweetrolls told me I had finally come home.

"Ylva!" Elda called from the bar. She waved, then came over and gave me a tight hug. "It's good to see you again, girl."

I returned her hug. "You, too. Is Sofie still here?"

Elda pulled away and nodded. "She's been a good helper since you sent her up here. I told her I would let her stay if she helped a little. But I think she needs something more. She doesn't need to stay here, in Windhelm. There's nothing for her here."

"Where is she?"

Before Elda could answer, down the stairs bounded little Sofie, her youthful face bright with excitement. "You're back!" she cried, throwing herself at me. She latched onto my waist and wouldn't let go.

I laughed softly and gently pushed her away. "Of course I am. How else was I supposed to tell you all my stories?"

Her gaze fell on my Stalhrim sword, and her eyes grew wide. "What kind of sword is that?"

"It's a Stalhrim sword. It's made out of ice."

"Ylva, you must be joking," Elda said, shaking her head. "That sword can't be made of ice."

I pulled the sword from my belt and let Sofie hold it. "Careful. It's as sharp as a dragon's tooth."

The little girl gazed at the sword with such awe in her eyes. "It really is made of ice. It must be magic!"

"It is. Special magic that only a few people know."

"Do you know it?"

I chuckled. "No. I don't know any magic."

"But you can... do that thing." She hesitated, becoming shy. "The... Shouting, like the dragons."

"Yes, you're right. I can." I glanced at Elda before kneeling in front of Sofie. "Elda here tells me you've been working for her ever since I left. How is that?"

"I like it, but... it's not very much fun. There aren't any children to play with. No one wants to play with the orphan." She handed my sword back to me and cast her gaze to her shoes.

My heart went out to her. "Sofie, I want to tell you something. Are you listening?"

She picked her head up and nodded.

"I'm an orphan, too."

Her brows shot up, eyes filling with surprise.

"I was orphaned just after my sixteenth birthday. I know how you feel. I know it isn't easy. So that's why I want to ask you something."

"What?"

"Do you want to come home with me? You would live in Whiterun, where there are children who will play with you and people who will love you. And, when you're old enough," I leaned forward and cupped my hand to her ear, "you can become a Companion, just like me."

She gasped and threw her arms around my neck. "Please let me come with you! I'll be good and never ask for anything ever again! Honest!"

I chuckled. "Then go get your things. We leave soon."

She took off running down the hall, ducking into the last room on the right.

I stood up, and Elda clasped her hand to my arm. "Thank you, girl. You've just given that little girl the whole world. You really are a saint. Perhaps you'll be the next Talos."

"Divines forbid that. I just want to live my life with a small chance at normalcy. I care nothing for becoming a deity that mortals fight over."

"All the same. Your parents would be proud of you."

I know they would be, Elda. Better than you do.

Sofie came running back to us, a small knapsack over her shoulders. She looked up at my eagerly, fidgeting as she stood. "Are we going now?"

I chuckled. "Yes, we are. I need to say goodbye to Elda."

"I'll wait outside for you."

I didn't have time to stop her as she left the inn.

I hugged Elda one last time, thanking her for watching over Sofie in my absence. She told me not to be a stranger and never visit. She also insisted on sending some food with us. She offered me a sweetroll for the road, but I declined.

"Are you feeling well? You've never turned down one of my sweetrolls." She pressed a hand to my forehead, but I swatted it away.

"I'll be fine. The boat ride just has me still a little sick. Don't worry about me, Elda."

She nodded, then saw us to the door. "Come back and see us soon. There's always a spot by the hearth for you, Ylva."

"Thank you, Elda."

And with little Sofie in tow, we walked to the city's gates. 

-------

The stars had come out, and the lights of the north danced in the far sky as our carriage pulled into Whiterun.

I yawned, stretching my arms over my head. Sofie had fallen asleep in my lap a couple hours ago, and had been sound asleep ever since.

I brushed my hand over her brown hair. As much as I wished I could adopt this little girl, I didn't think I would be a good mother to her. We only had ten, maybe eleven winters in between our ages. I would be a better older sister to her than a mother.

After Farkas and Tyra got out of the carriage, Vilkas picked Sofie up and cradled her in his arms. She stirred, wrapped her small arms around his neck, but stayed asleep.

Farkas gave me a hand out of the carriage, then we all set off to the city gates. A couple patrolling guards offered a salute or a passing word such as "Companions," or "Harbinger," or even "Sky-Shatterer."

"What are we going to do with Sofie?" Tyra asked as we stepped into the city.

"We can't keep her at Jorrvaskr," Farkas said. "It'll be too loud there."

"We can for the night," I said. "She can sleep in Vilkas's old room. After that... I'll think of something."

"Perhaps she can live with us," Vilkas said. "After all, you did promise her a spot within the Companions when she came of age. She's much older than Farkas and I were when Jergen brought us to the hall."

"True, but I don't think that's the life she needs."

"But what of our children, should we have any?"

"It'll be different. Sofie has a chance at knowing something other than the warrior's way. Our children won't. We are both tied to the Companions, and so our children will have to be, too." I shook my head. "But that doesn't matter now."

Stepping into Jorrvaskr for the first time in weeks brought a smile to my face. Even at this late hour, the others were wide awake and swapping drunken stories of their fantastical feats.

Aela was the first to spot us, seeing as she was the one one still sober. She didn't make a loud cry, but she did jump out of her seat and rush to us. "Our Harbinger and Shield-Siblings have returned!"

The others snapped out of their stupor and fell from their chairs. Aela clapped me on the shoulder, then pulled me into a tight hug.

"It's good to see you again, Ylva," she whispered. "Alive and well. There came a time not too long ago, I sensed a shift in the lands. Something horrible had happened to you, I was sure, and I feared the worst. It is good to know that my fears were unfounded."

"Well, Aela, that's actually a long story."

She pulled away, confusion on her face.

"I'll tell you in the morning."

"Who is the girl?" Ria asked, pointing to Sofie. Her hand was unsteady, and she kept swaying. Her eyes were glassy from the mead she'd consumed.

"She's a little orphan who needs a place to stay. She's going to stay here, at least for tonight." I started to realize it was a good thing all of them were drunk. They wouldn't be loud in the morning, which would allow Sofie the sleep she needed.

"It's been a long few days of traveling," I said, pushing past the crowds, "and while we are glad to be home, we all require sleep. I would recommend that you turn in soon, too. I promise that we will share the tales of our adventures tomorrow. Until then, I bid you goodnight."

The others mumbled, but let us pass. Aela walked with us downstairs, letting the whelps continue in their drunken merrymaking.

"One of the first things we'll need to do is induct Tyra into the Circle," I said to Aela as Vilkas took Sofie to his old room. Farkas and Tyra had gone ahead to say their good nights to one another. "She's proven her worth on this quest. We are fortunate to have her with us."

"I trust your judgment," Aela said. "As always, Harbinger."

"I am glad to have you at my side, Aela. I will always come to you for counsel."

She nodded as Vilkas came out of his room. I gave him a look, then he headed into our bedroom.

"I expect to hear many stories tomorrow," Aela said after giving me another clap on the shoulder. "We will have a great feast in honor of your return."

I smiled and returned her shoulder clap. "I look forward to that."

And with that, she left, and I retired to my room.

I dropped my cloak and kicked my boots off in the doorway. My gloves I let fall beside the bed. Then I cuddled next to Vilkas, wrapping the familiar green blankets tightly around my body.

Vilkas pulled me into his bare chest, his arms snaking around my back. "We're finally home."

I nodded and buried my face into his chest. "Home."

"Never to leave again."

"Never."

He ran his fingers through my hair a couple times, then sighed. "Good night, dear one."

"Good night, my love."

He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, and just like that, I was asleep.