After he had gone, I unbuckled my sword from its belt and kicking my boots off I curled up on the hard, stone bed. I was exhausted. The bed smelt like Vilkas and there was still a lingering warmth from his body. I kept one hand clutching my dagger, half-terrified that if I did fall asleep then I wouldn't wake up.

Even with the fear coursing through me, my blinks were getting longer and longer and I was soon drifting off into darkness.

I woke to daylight, face smushed into the pillows and covered with a blanket. Groggily I pushed myself up, glancing round the room. Vilkas was sat on the chair by the desk, peering over the book in his hand to regard me with an amused expression, "Morning."
"Uh, morning." I eased my legs over the side of the bed, feeling slightly embarrassed, and began trying to sort out the bird’s nest that was my hair, "So, how did it go? Am I a free woman?"

"Not only are you a free woman but you are now Thane of Markarth." I turned to him, mouth gaping open in a extremely unattractive manner, bad hair forgotten.
"I'm what? How?"

He shrugged, smirking slightly, "I suggested that you required some compensation for your incarceration and pointed out that you had just saved the entire city from another bloodbath. The Jarl was suddenly very compliant and gave you the title. Oh, and a house. And a donation to the Companions for their services. You might even get another Housecarl to follow you around and save your ass."

My eyes narrowed but I smiled sweetly at him, "Who needs Housecarls when I have you? Though the next time you drag me out of trouble I want to be made High Queen or at least a Jarl."

He actually laughed at that and I felt my lips twitch as well, mostly at the dopey Farkas-esque grin on his face, "So can we go grab Torvar and head home?"
"Lead on, my Thane."

Who knew the man had a sense of humour?