I was surprised to see Vilkas waiting for me at the stables. His eyes lit up as I arrived. I dismounted Kes, paid the stable boy to take care of him, then ran into my husband's arms.

"I'm glad to see you, dear one," he said as he hugged me tight.

"I was only gone for ten days," I said, kissing his neck.

"And that's ten days too long." He pulled away, offering a gentle smile. "I love our children, but this week, they have tested my patience." He took me away from the stables and walked up the path with me. "They're giving me gray hair, I know it."

"You and I both know I'll be the first to go gray." I cast a glance up at him, expression growing somber. "How is Ulfric?"

"Well. In good spirits, all things considered."

"Good. And the Companions?"

His gaze hardened for a moment, and he hesitated to speak. "Eirik... had another outburst. He tried to attack Tyra."

Heart skipping a beat, I stopped walking. "Why?"

"We don't know. He was heavily drunk, though." He sighed. "Ylva, the boy is out of control. He's a danger to himself and everyone around him."

"What do you suggest we do, then?"

"Turn him over to the guards. Let him do a stint in a cell. Maybe that'll sober him up."

I nodded, running my hands through my hair. I didn't want to send Eirik to prison, but what choice did I have? Vilkas was right. Eirik was becoming even more dangerous. He needed something to sober him up, and I doubted any other tactic would work. "I'll speak to the Captain of the Guard, then."

Vilkas pressed a hand to my cheek. "Ylva, I know this is hard, but we don't have much of a choice. We can't allow this to happen again."

"If I had been here, doing my job as Harbinger, this wouldn't have happened."

"You don't know that. Eirik hasn't been himself since Torvar died. This was bound to happen eventually."

"I just wish I had been here. Then maybe he wouldn't have lashed out at Tyra." We started walking again, the guards at the gates opening them for us. "How is she?"

"A little shaken, but all right. He didn't hurt her. Farkas and I wouldn't allow that."

I nodded, slowly, as we came into town. The few citizens milling in the streets greeted me, welcomed me back to Whiterun, and asked if I had a safe journey. I answered as well as I could, but I was in a bit of a hurry to return to the Companions and my children.

Stepping into Jorrvaskr seemed to give me a burst of energy. I was home again.

That point was proven further when two small bodies slammed into my armor-plated legs, grabbing me around the waist and refusing to let me go.

I patted both heads of raven hair, smiling down at my precious children. It warmed my heart to see them again. "Hello, my little pups."

"We missed you, Mama!" said Jergen, letting go of me so he could bounce on his toes.

"I'm all better, Mama!" said Embla as she cast her smiling face up at me. I also noticed she was missing one of her teeth.

"And you lost a tooth?" I pulled her lower lip down, eyeing the hole in her teeth. "Look at you. Both of you." I dropped to my knees and enveloped them in a hug. "Gods, I leave for a week, and you both grow up on me."

"Don't leave again, Mama," said Jergen. "Please. We missed you."

"And I missed you." I gave them each a kiss on the temple, then stood back up. "Papa tells me you gave him a hard time while I was gone."

Both the twins flushed. Embla put her hands behind her back, and Jergen began to fidget in place.

I put my hands on my hips. "Why do you give your papa so much grief?"

"We don't mean to, Mama," said Embla, eyes downcast. "It just... sort of happens."

"Well, now that I'm back, ease up, all right?"

"Yes, Mama," they murmured in unison.

"Good. Now run along. I'll see you later."

They both hugged me once more, then ran to the stairs.

"Where's Eirik?" I asked Vilkas once the children had gone.

"Probably in the Mare drinking," he said with a scowl. "Blasted fool."

"I'll take care of that, don't worry."

"Be careful. No doubt he'll try to hurt you."

"Which is why I'm not taking my armor off until it's done."

"After that's done, what will you do?"

"Speak to Ulfric, I suppose."

"And then?"

I gave him a smile. "Spend a little quality time with my husband and children, of course. What else would I do?"

He chuckled and gave me a quick peck on the lips. "I don't know. I was just making sure you weren't planning on running off again."

"I don't plan on leaving anytime soon."

"Good." He embraced me, his hand running through my hair. "Come back soon. Best of luck with Eirik."

I nodded. "Thank you. I'll need it."

Once we parted, I headed out of Jorrvaskr and down the first steps towards the Bannered Mare. Even more of the townspeople noticed me as I went, smiling and waving and welcoming me back home. I smiled and waved and thanked them in return, trying to keep my somber mood hidden from them. No need to bother them with my problems.

As soon as I stepped into the normally-cheery Mare, I was greeted by the sounds of raucous cheering, brawling, furniture snapping, and bottles breaking. A thick wall of onlookers had their backs to me, blocking my view of the two fighters, but I had a feeling I knew at least one of them.

Ysolda, the poor, frazzled innkeeper, approached me, her hands wringing in front of her. She had a wild, fearful look in her eyes. "Ylva, you have to stop them!"

"Who is it?" I asked as I tried to muscle my way past the wall of bystanders. No one budged, not even to turn and look at me.

"It's Lars and Eirik! They're going to kill each other!"

I snarled, angry about both Eirik brawling with Lars and by the onlookers' refusal to move out of my way. I tried asking them to move, even resorting to screaming, but my voice was lost in the din.

I scowled. There was still one other way to get their attention. I knew it wouldn't fail. I placed my foot behind me and turned my face to the ceiling of the inn. I sucked in a sharp breath, then Shouted, "LOK!"

The torrent of sky-blue light did nothing, but the force of the Shout caused everyone to stop. All noise ceased. Even the brawlers stopped fighting. The men blocking my way stepped aside, muttering apologies under their breath as I passed.

I marched with my head held high to the center of the room, where Lars was lying spread-eagle in front of Eirik. They were both bleeding from the mouth, and as I got closer, I watched Lars spit out a couple teeth. Their clothes were ripped, and deep bruises marred their chests, arms, and knuckles. Eirik had a nasty black eye, and a broken nose. His hair was tousled and matted with more blood.

"Stay down, milk-drinker," said Eirik to Lars, words slurred. He swayed in place, almost falling over a couple times.

"Eirik!" I called, stepping over Lars's prone form. The boy groaned but didn't stir. "What in Oblivion do you think you're doing?!"

"Putting a snot-nosed brat in his place, O great Harbinger." He offered me a mock-bow, then reached for the nearest bottle of mead.

I knocked the bottle away from his hands. "Oh, no, you don't. You're coming with me."

"Where? Back to Jorrvaskr? Why would I go back there?"

I turned, seeing the Captain of the Guard standing in the doorway. Just who I want to see. I motioned for him to step forward. "Captain Caius, please."

He nodded and approached, sidestepping the debris and blood that covered the floors. "You need something, Ylva?"

"Yes." I turned back to Eirik. "Arrest this man."

Eirik's eyes went wide at this. "What?! Arrest me?!"

"Nothing else is sobering you up. I don't know what else to do. Maybe a few weeks in the dungeon will straighten you out."

Captain Caius stood behind Eirik and pulled his hands behind his back. "Come quietly, son. It'll be easier on all of us."

Eirik's eyes filled with betrayal, and I felt a guilty pang in my gut. "You can't do this to me, Ylva!" He struggled in Caius's grip; two more guards stepped forward to help their captain hold him steady. "You can't!"

I tried hard to keep my voice steady. "I'm sorry, Eirik, but for your safety and everyone else's, I have to."

He screamed obscenities at me all the way out of the tavern. I turned my head away as the doors shut behind them.

With the fight broken up, the other men and women in the tavern began to leave. A couple helped Lars to his feet and offered to take him home. I stayed behind to help Ysolda clean up the mess left behind by the brawlers.

"You really don't have to, Ylva," said Ysolda as I dumped some broken bits of chair into the fire pit. "It's not your job."

"One of my Companions caused this. The least I can do is help you repair the damage."

When most of the work was done, Ysolda finally insisted that I leave. On my way out the door, I handed her a coin purse. She accepted it with a smiling face and a "Bless you, Ylva," falling from her lips.

It was dark when I headed for the Underforge. My legs grew heavier with every step, and my heart sank into my stomach. Gods, did I feel guilty. The look on Eirik's face when I asked Captain Caius to arrest him... it would haunt me forever.

Eirik was my responsibility. I was supposed to keep him in line, and instead I let him run free. I had convinced myself this was grief. He would get better in time. But now I saw that it was more than grief. Something that couldn't be fixed with time. It would take a gentle, guiding hand to help Eirik now, and that hand couldn't be my own. He wouldn't trust me anymore. I would be surprised if he even returned to the Companions after all that had happened.

I shook off the weight of failure that threatened to crush me. I couldn't feel that right now. I had other things to worry about. Helping Eirik in any way I can would have to wait. I had news to deliver to Ulfric. News he wasn't going to like.

Stomach knotting, I stepped into the Underforge.