He made himself comfortable on a long-abandoned log, watching the sun warm the tundra meadow just beyond the treeline. Whiterun's wall was visible above the midday fog.

It wouldn't be long before he would need to go back to his duties mentoring the newest Companions- most of them argumentative warriors. But for now, it was quiet in the woods, and he was alone, and most of him was at peace. He would savor a moment like this while he could. They were becoming fewer and fewer as years wore on.