Thane

I fell down face-up on the ground from exhaustion. The Dragon Aspect ended and left me with no energy to even lift my finger.

I wanted to close my eyes right then and there but forced myself to drink a stamina potion to recover even just a little bit.

It was a hard ordeal just to drink some potions but I managed to do it and got back up to deal with the aftermath.

I quickly stored the dragon corpses and went to check on the wounded.

Kodlak was doing pretty well for his age. He didn't appear injured nor tired.

Beware of an old man in a profession where most man die young indeed.

Farkas was doing okay too. He just looked a little short of breath. Ria had a few wounds here and there. Nothing a potion couldn't heal.

And Arvel was…alive. Good enough for me. And he was sleeping soundly from fatigue. I grabbed him like a sack of potatoes and brought him with me as I approached Irileth and another dunmer woman whom I recognized as Jenassa.

On the way, I didn't forget to grab Goldbrand from the ground too.

It was going to be my main weapon now. Of course I wasn't going to give up on my falchions as I grabbed every sharp that I could find of them.

I knew the best blacksmith in Skyrim. Of course I would make the best use of him. And there was Master Gyron as an accomplished enchanter, so I was sure that the reforged blades would be even better that their predecessors.

"Alaric, I don't know whether this was arranged by the gods and whether you are a curse or a blessing for us but I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the help you have given to the Whiterun Hold. Even though we were hit hard by this attack and lost most of our men, at least we could stop it from being destroyed completely." Irileth said.

"I did what I did to survive Irileth, you don't have to put so much meaning into it. I have some potions with me if you need some." Then I gave her a few health, magicka and stamina potions for her and the others' use. She took them with gratitude and chugged a few herself.

After that we took care of the aftermath and prepared to return to Whiterun.

The sooner we left the area the better. Men would be sent later to take care of the bodies.

A necromancer would have a field day if he saw this place. Everywhere I looked was filled with corpses upon corpses. The stench of blood and gut was drifting in the air and I had to be careful to not slip up from all that blood that flowed on the ground.

But just as we were halfway to Whiterun, the ground started shaking and the skies rumbled.

I was prepared for another attack no matter how tired I was but it never came.

Instead, a few words reached our ears coming from the Throat of the World.

"Do Vah Kiin!"

And there was peace again. Nothing more happened.

'I'm hearing that word a lot today.'

Then we continued walking the rest of the day as we finally reached Whiterun.

Irileth went to report to the Jarl as we returned to Jorrvaskr. Strangely Jenassa was following us too.

"You need something?" I asked.

"No. I just wish to join the Companions."

"Well, suit yourself." I shrugged and let he do as she pleased as it wasn't my business what she wanted to do.

We reached Jorrvaskr to see Vilkas, skjor and Aela waiting at the doorsteps for us.

"Master! You are fine." Vilkas approached Kodlak and Farkas, Aela and Skjor following right behind.

"Calm down Vilkas. A mere wrym won't bring me down. Aela, Skjor, how did the hunt go?"

"The rumors were correct. We found a bear the size of a mammoth. But the travel to and from Hammerfell took too long, we missed the best hunt of our lives. I regret being so excited about the bear now."

"Indeed. And not just one. We hunted four of them." Farkas said.

"Four? Dammit!"

"Haha instead of talking here, let's go in and grab our ales."

Then we proceeded inside as we stripped our armor and got in more comfortable wear.

"You should've seen that brother. I was like vham! Bam! And Alaric was like whoosh! And the dragon was split into two."

"Okay Farkas I get it. I hunted a sabre cat and you hunted a dragon. I get it."

"Four dragons."

"Fine gods dammit! And stop eating my bread!"

"I'm hungry. I hunted four dragons you know?"

"Gaaah!"

"Brother you are too weak for a dragon slayer!" Then they started fighting.

I seriously enjoyed the bickering of these two brothers. Every time they did something, they would compare who was the best and if they couldn't reach an agreement, which they never did, they would start fighting and the rest would cheer.

"So, Athis and Njada are dead. A pity. Let's hope they reached wherever they wanted. To Athis and Njada!" Aela raised a toast and we followed suit.

"To be honest, when I first saw you, I thought that you wouldn't even last a week." Then Skjor sat next to me. "But I was wrong. Not only did you make a name for yourself, you were actually the Dragonborn. I raise this toast in your honor. To the Dragonborn!"

"To the Dragonborn!"

Being honored for something I didn't even did by choice was weird. Okay I get it I could eat a dragon's soul but-

I didn't have time to think as the doors of Jorrvaskr were opened by Irileth. "Alaric, Jarl Balgruuf wishes to speak with you."

"Coming." I said as I downed my mug and got up from my seat.

We reached Dragonsreach in no time and saw Balgruuf sitting on his throne.

As soon as he saw me, he got up and walked down the stairs, this way we were on equal footing.

"When I first heard the report from Irileth, I actually couldn't believe my ears but every being heard the Shout coming from High Hrothgar. There is no mistake. The Dragonborn is here, in the time of our need. Thank you for all you have done for my Hold, Dragonborn, nay Alaric. I don't think so highly of myself to think you would be honored to be my Thane but accept the title as a gesture. You won't have any duties but will have all the power of a one. That is the best I can give at our current time."

"Thank you my Jarl."

"Drop the title Alaric. I did nothing that warrants such respect from the Dragonborn. Just Balgruuf is fine. And I assign Lydia as your housecarl." Then a woman fully decked in steel armor approached us. She was a beautiful woman with short black hair and black eyes. "My Thane." She gave me a nod as she waited silently on the side.

"And please accept this." Then Balgruuf passed me pouch filled with gold.

'Holy moly, it is the biggest pouch I have ever seen. Even the thousand septim one pales in comparison to this.'

"This is the all I can give together with a dragon corpse. Please don't think too little of us as you know we have a sort of problem."

"No, no it is okay I understand. You have your hands full with all the dragon business. If there is nothing else, I should be going."

"No, I don't have anything else. May the gods be with you, Dragonborn."

After that, I left the Dragonsreach with Lydia in tow.

She didn't speak much, only answered the questions I asked. I noticed that she was trying to look tough and professional but I saw the passing glint in her eyes as she looked at me when she thought I didn't notice.

"So, what does being a Thane mean?"

"The Jarl has recognised you as a person of great importance in the hold. A hero. The title of Thane is an honor, a gift for your service. And I was appointed to be your housecarl. It is an honor to serve you."

"And what does a housecarl do?"

"As my Thane, I'm sworn to your service. I'll guard you, and all you own, with my life. I am your sword, and your shield."

"Is that so? Well, it is good to have you on board. The only traveling companion I have is former bandit Dunmer. But I'm sure you will get used to him in time."

She scrunched up her face when I said bandit but relaxed afterwards.

We continued talking as we walked and she gradually relaxed when talking to me. Her sentences became longer and she would smile more.

And after a short while, we reached Jorrvaskr but I didn't immediately go inside as I had business to do with Eorlund. So, we walked up the stairs leading to Skyforge and found the blacksmith working on the forge.

"Eorlund, I've come to bargain!"