I made sure I stayed as far away from the group as I could manage. I was glad that Shay never tried to say anything to me after I gave up staying away. Vigilant helped calm me down. Oddly enough Kharjo and I weren't afraid of him, even though he was a dog.

I noticed that Shay and Archer were very close and often knew what the other meant even when it came out wrong. They seemed to be extensions of each other. They moved at the same time, they reacted to things at the same time, and they walked in perfect sync.

After about half an hour we were walking by the Whiterun Stables. I paused for a moment looking into the small pasture that stood next to the road. The black horse, Tsungg, stood in his stall watching my horse, Shadowmare, stomp around. I quickly ran to catch up with Archer, Shay, and Kharjo.

A guard stepped forward to meet us eight feet from the gates. "City's closed," he said, glaring from under his helmet. "Official reasons only."

Archer stepped forward and pushed his hood down. "I don't need any reasons Kunding," he said calmly. "Open the gates."

The guard paused before running over to his companion. He said something and they both hurriedly opened the gate. Archer nodded to the guard he'd called Kunding in passing. After the gates closed behind us Archer pulled his hood back up and smiled slightly.

"What was that about?" Shay asked, a note of amusement creeping into his voice.

"Don't you- oh, you weren't with me when I did that," Archer grinned at his brother. "I joined the Companions and now all of the guards will do anything for me."

I smiled. "I'd never be accepted into the Companions if they cast a truthful spell on me."

Shay looked at me for the first time since we'd started traveling. "Why not?"

I felt my smile vanish. "Let's just say that if they knew who I was they would hate my guts."

Shay's eyes revealed a small amount of sadness and he looked away. "Oh."

Archer narrowed his eyes at the two of us. "Let's get up to Dragonsreach. The Jarl will want to know about what's happened in Helgen, and Riverwood needs some more guards, just in case."

I nodded, grateful that someone was going to stop Shay from saying something that would set both of us off.

Archer led the way up the hundreds of stairs that led up to the palace, if you could call it that. The archways looked like they were a wooden dragon skeleton. That thought sent shivers up my spine. I pulled up my hood and the scarf to cover my face. The last time I'd been here things hadn't gone well. Kharjo did the same.

Archer pushed the door open with barely a creak and held it open for the rest of us. Shay was looking around with an amused smile on his face. Kharjo and I kept to the shadows as much as possible. When we reached the fireplace Irileth walked over with her sword drawn.

"Why have you come? The Jarl is preoccupied," Irileth studied our little group.

Archer pushed down his hood again. "I bring news from Helgen."

Irileth looked surprised. "Archer?" she blinked before sheathing her sword and smiling at him. "Of course. Right this way."

Archer smiled at her. "Thank you Irileth."

The Jarl lounged on his throne in a bored manner. "What is it Archer?"

"I bring news from Helgen," Archer repeated.

The Jarl sighed. "We received news from Helgen yesterday. We don't need to hear what it's like twenty-four hours later."

Archer frowned. "But, My Jarl. They were attacked!"

That got the Jarl's attention. "Attacked? By Stormcloaks?"

Archer shook his head. "No, my Jarl... A dragon."

The Jarl sat up and stared at Archer incredulously. "A dragon? Impossible!"

Archer twisted his hand in front of his heart in a strange way. "Not just any dragon though. Alduin the Destroyer. He burned the entire town. My friends and I were the only survivors."

The Jarl looked at Kharjo and I. "And who are your friends."

I stepped forward and bowed. I had to focus to talk the way a Khajiit should. "Daro'Shamasi is here to serve," I purred. "Along with her companion Ko'Shatabe."

The Jarl smiled. "You honor me Daro'Shamasi. You need not be so formal. Welcome to my halls, to you and Do'Shatabe."

I smiled. "Thank you kind sir."

Shay shot me an amused look. I remembered what he'd told Kharjo about knowing a large amount of Khajiit honorifics. I didn't meet his gaze as I thought. He likely knew that the honorific I'd chosen for myself, Daro, meant skilled with words and nimble fingered, and the one I'd chosen for Kharjo, Do, meant warrior. Either that was why he was amused, or the fact that I was doing my best to sound like a Khajiit and was failing miserably.

Archer told the Jarl everything that had happened at Helgen. When he was finished the Jarl nodded. "Thank you Archer. If you would like, I believe Farengar needs some assistance finding something."

Archer bowed. "The pleasure is mine my Jarl. Though, depending on the thing Farengar needs, I may already have it."

The Jarl waved a hand. Archer smiled slightly and walked to a small room off to the side. A man in dark blue robes stood at a desk. Archer cleared his throat. "The Jarl told me you needed something found. What is it?"

The man looked up and smiled broadly. "Archer! Just the person I needed! The Jarl was right of course. I need to find the Dragonstone, but I'm not one for crumbling ruins and draugr."

Archer smiled and pulled a small stone slab out of a pouch at his belt. "I don't suppose you mean this little thing?"

Farengar laughed and took the small piece of rock. "I knew you'd find it fast."

"I actually found it back in Hearthfire."

Farengar looked surprised. "That long ago? Incredible!"

Archer smiled again and led us out of Dragonsreach to the Bannered Mare. Shay and Kharjo retired instantly, leaving Archer and I alone in the main room. Neither of us said anything, though it looked like Archer wanted to say something.

After what seemed like hours, Archer pushed his chair back. "I'm going to get some rest. See you in the morning."

I nodded and stared out the window into the inky blackness of the night.