"I Would Stand At Her Back, That The World Might Never Overtake Us..."

The Stranger

Farkas was eating breakfast in the dining hall one morning when Aela approached with Ria in tow.
"Hey icebrain," she greeted, "I'd like some extra muscle on an urgent extermination job, you interested?"
Farkas kept his expression neutral as he looked from Aela to Ria... he noted Aela looked eager, but Ria looked scared... probably why Aela wanted extra muscle.
"Just tell me who needs bludgeoning," he nodded gruffly getting to his feet.
"That's what I wanted to hear," Aela nodded. "There's a giant causing trouble at Pelagia Farm. We've been hired to take it down."
"Let's not waste any time," he nodded. He had been planning to train after breakfast, so he was already in his armor with his sword strapped to his back.

Only a half hour later Farkas had that adrenaline rush that he enjoyed so much. With a battle cry he swung his great sword into the giant's thigh again, as it swung down at him with its club. Farkas was quick enough that his heavy armor deflected the blow, but Ria was not. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the whelp go flying. He hoped she was ok, but he didn't have time to find out; he was now practically one-on-one with a giant. Aela was at a short distance peppering it with arrows, but all of the giant's focus was on Farkas. He deflected another blow and responded with his own, and then there was a flash of red and iron on the other side of the giant's legs. The giant stumbled from a slice in its Achilles' tendon, and Farkas quickly delivered a killing slash to its throat as it fell.
Farkas caught his breath and looked up, grinning as he surveyed the aftermath. He had just been starting to break a sweat, it was a good fight, he felt good. But he was curious, the flash of red and iron that had staggered the giant for him had not been Ria... Ria was only just getting to her feet several yards away. Farkas donned a more neutral expression as he looked over to the stranger. It was a woman, dressed in old, singed, poorly fitted imperial armor, with an iron sword in each hand and a longbow with iron arrows on her back. She was standing several yards away from him, but with his keen wolf senses, Farkas could see yellow-blond hair and blue eyes under her helmet. She was as tall as Aela, with a bit more muscle tone, and she smelled like fire and burnt leather. Farkas was intrigued, but he kept his expression neutral as Aela helped Ria to her feet and approached the stranger.
"You handled yourself well," Aela complimented, "you should come up to Jorrvaskr, you'd make a good shield-sister."
"Thank you," the stranger nodded. She removed her helmet revealing sweaty strands of shoulder length yellow-blond hair with a couple of messy braids, and flushed pink cheeks. Farkas felt the wolf stir inside him in a very different way. This was a proper woman, not the flimsy things that tried to get his attention at the Bannered Mare, and not like the young whelps that whined and complained at Jorrvaskr either. Farkas listened to her voice in slight awe as she asked Aela, "what's a shield-sister?"
"An outsider, eh?" Aela responded sounding slightly amused, "Never heard of the Companions?"
"What are the Companions?" The woman asked, with a shake of her head. She sounded slightly exasperated by Aela's amusment.
"An order of warriors. We are brothers and sisters in honor. And we show up to solve problems if the coin is good enough," Aela explained.
"Ah," the woman nodded, looking back at the dead giant. She then turned and searched the sky uncertainly. Aela took that as her cue to leave and she and Ria began walking back to the Whiterun gates.
Farkas followed slowly, but he didn't feel like Aela had properly invited her so as he passed closer to her he added, "you look strong, come to Jorrvaskr and be a Companion!" He mentally kicked himself for not thinking through his words a little better first, but she turned back from looking at the sky and smiled at him. It made his heart race. He could hear her heart beat as well, it sounded strong, he also noticed it sped up a little as she looked at him.
"You're a Companion?" She asked. Farkas nodded in response and smiled back at her. She threw a puzzled or annoyed glance in Aela's direction and began walking along with Farkas toward Whiterun.
"So who are the Companions? She only partially answered my question," she gestured in front of them toward Aela.
"The Companions are my family," Farkas said with a proud grin. "We fight so that other people don't have to. We bring honor and glory to ourselves and each other."
The woman nodded thoughtfully, and maybe a little wistfully. Farkas listened to her heartbeat, it was still strong and powerful, but it had a nervous pace.
"And you said I could join if I came to this... Jorrvaskr?" The woman asked uncertainly after a few moments.
"Maybe," Farkas shrugged, "Kodlak is the one who figures out who can be a Companion. You'd have to come talk to him. It's out of my hands."
"Alright," she nodded, "so where is Jorrvaskr?"
She really was an outsider, Farkas thought. "Whiterun," he replied pointing, "below the Skyforge, across from the big tree, you can't miss it."
"Alright," she nodded again. She looked like she was about to say something else, but they'd reached the city gates and the guards stopped her.
"Halt! The city's closed with the dragon's about. Official business only." The guard said firmly.
'Dragon's?' Farkas thought in bewilderment, 'what in Oblivion?' He had a gate key, and he was pretty sure the guards wouldn't stop him, but he was curious. His brow furrowed as he listened to the exchange.
"I'm on official business!" The woman said in exasperation, "I just came from Helgen! I need to report to the Jarl, Riverwood is in danger!" She gestured at her singed imperial armor. The guards seemed taken aback.
"Alright, we'll let you in, but we'll be keeping an eye on you." The guard unlocked the gate and Farkas followed the woman inside. He watched with interest as she looked around the city curiously before looking hopefully back at at Farkas.
"I'll find the Jarl..." she trailed off uncertainly as she looked around again.
"Dragonsreach," Farkas replied, pointing to the palace at the top of the hill. "Just follow the road straight up, you'll pass Jorrvaskr on your way."
"Thanks," she smiled, beginning her way down the street. She turned back to him and added, "I have some things to do first, but I'll come see Jorrvaskr as soon as I can."
"Until next time then," Farkas nodded, giving her one of his rare genuine smiles. He thought her cheeks might have turned a slight shade darker pink, but it definitely might have been wishful thinking.
"It was nice to meet you!" She added with a wave and then she hurried off at a faster pace up the road. Farkas watched her go, and then mentally kicked himself; he hadn't gotten her name, or even introduced himself.
'Maybe I am as dumb as everyone thinks,' he thought grumpily to himself. He hoped she really would come to Jorrvaskr.