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

Home

It was dark by the time they exited Dustman's Cairn. They decided to camp in the shelter of the entryway.

"So... how was that for my trial to be a Companion?" Aylin asked nervously as Farkas sat down with her beside the fire.
"You fight well, and you seem honorable," Farkas replied approvingly.
"My using magic won't affect my joining?" She asked uncertainly.
"I don't see why it would," Farkas said quickly.
"I thought the Companions don't deal in magic..." she elaborated nervously. Farkas shook his head.
"We don't fight with magic, and most of us don't know how to use any magic. But if you know a healing spell I don't see how it's any different from taking a potion." Farkas watched the relief wash over her face and he realized she had been willing to jeopardize her place in the Companions to save him. "You only used magic to heal me. I know I wouldn't be here if you hadn't," he added, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Thank you."
Aylin nodded and didn't say anything for a moment, then she looked back at Farkas.
"If you don't mind," she began uncertainly, "could we not mention the magic part to the rest of the Companions?"
"Sure," Farkas shrugged, and then with a smirk he added, "you keep my secrets and I keep yours."
"Deal," she laughed. Farkas loved the sound of her laugh. His hand was still on her shoulder and she gave no sign of pulling away... he remembered holding her steady when he'd helped her up, and how shaky and exhausted she'd been after healing him.
"But really," he added, "I don't know anything about magic, but it seemed like you went through a lot to get me fixed up. I appreciate it," he told her seriously. He moved his hand across her back to her other shoulder and she let him pull her into a side hug.
"Just two potions and a poison antidote," she shrugged, "Skjor did tell me not to get you killed," she added with a slight chuckle. She leaned into the hug and Farkas could hear her heartbeat pick up speed again. Farkas chuckled too and just held her at his side. He hoped the increase in her pulse he kept hearing was good sign... Her scent made his heart race as well and the wolf stirred in his chest. He wanted this woman... the wolf wanted her... Farkas slowly turned his head so that his lips and nose brushed the top of her head... her scent was intoxicating... he wanted...
Farkas suddenly realized how dangerously close he was to losing control. He refused to do that to Aylin... she deserved better. He would do this his way, not the wolf's... Farkas took a deep breath, lifted his head, and leaned back a little.
"We should get some rest," Farkas said, "we need to get back to Jorrvaskr as soon as we can tomorrow." He let his hand slowly drop from her shoulder and out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw a disappointed look on her face, but he definitely might have imagined it.
"Good idea," she sighed, "it's been a long day." Farkas watched her with a neutral expression as she loosened her armor and settled into her bedroll. "You sure you don't need me to take a watch?" She asked.
"I'm sure," Farkas nodded. "The beast blood keeps me alert so I sleep light," he explained.
"Ah," she nodded as if suddenly understanding part of a puzzle.

Farkas slept even worse than he had the night before. The wolf was not remotely satisfied that he had not taken Aylin right then and there. It took him at least an hour to settle himself down, and once he finally did sleep, his dreams were haunted with the things his wolf wanted him to do... by the third time he woke up sweating and way too aroused, he gave up sleeping and just lay on his bedroll.
He listened to Aylin breathing and to her steady heartbeat, but beyond that, the night passed uneventfully.
Farkas was sore and stiff by morning. He took the chest plate off to stretch for a few minutes while Aylin was still asleep. As he did so he heard a slight shift in Aylin's breathing that told him she was awake. He turned to look down at her in her bedroll and she immediately  blushed when he caught her staring. Farkas grinned, which only made her blush more.
"Something you like, shield-sister?" He teased. She groaned and rolled over in her bedroll, hiding her face. Farkas chuckled. He loved getting that flustered reaction from her... he hoped it meant she wanted him like he wanted her. He wanted to get back to Jorrvaskr, he wanted her to be officially recognized as a Companion, particularly since he would get to speak for her in the ceremony. He also wanted get back to his routine of training with her... maybe he'd go with her on more involved jobs, now that she'd be a Companion.
"We should get moving," he said after a few moments. "We need to get back to Jorrvaskr."
Aylin nodded and got up. Farkas watched shamelessly as she tightened her armor, and was very pleased when she caught him staring, but responded with a smirk.
Once they'd packed up camp, Aylin checked the map and then the sky, and they set off in a straight path toward Whiterun. Farkas was once again impressed by her sense of direction; she had to consult the map again at a couple of points, but she never got lost. They reached Whiterun by mid afternoon and Farkas hurried to Jorrvaskr to signal to the others that Aylin had passed her trial.
"We were expecting you back yesterday," Vilkas grumbled quietly as Kodlak assembled them all out in the yard.
"It wasn't as simple as Skjor expected," Farkas replied quietly before Kodlak started the ceremony. Vilkas responded with a look that told Farkas his brother would be coming to his room for a conversation later.
"Brothers and sisters of the Circle," Kodlak began, addressing the members gathered in the yard, "today we welcome a new soul into our mortal fold. This woman has endured, has challenged, and has shown her valor." He motioned Aylin into the center of the circle. "Who will speak for her?" Kodlak asked. Farkas gave Aylin a quick smirk and stepped forward.
"I stand witness to the courage of the soul before us," he replied.
"Would you raise your shield in her defense?" Kodlak asked formally.
"I would stand at her back, that the world might never overtake us," Farkas said confidently making sure to look directly at Aylin. It was almost the line he was supposed to say... proper line was 'it stands ready to guard her back, that none may over take her,' but if any in the Circle noticed his change they gave no indication. Aylin met his gaze and Farkas definitely detected a very slight blush across her cheeks.
"And would you raise your sword in her honor?" Kodlak continued.
"It stands ready to meet the blood of her foes," Farkas nodded, sticking to the 'script' this time.
"And would you raise a mug in her name?"
"I would lead the song of triumph as our mead hall reveled in her stories."
"Then the judgement of this Circle is complete," Kodlak concluded, "her heart beats with fury and courage that have united the Companions since the days of the distant green summers. Let it beat with ours, that the mountains may echo and our enemies may tremble at the call."
"It shall be so," Vilkas, Aela, and Skjor said in unison, then the Circle members disbanded to go inside. Aylin looked back at Farkas in slight awe and disbelief still rooted to her spot in the yard. Farkas nodded his head and winked at her before he turned to go inside as well.
"Come on inside, girl," Farkas heard Kodlak tell her in a kind, fatherly tone. "Tilma's prepared the feast in your honor."

Aylin still looked shocked and amazed when she came into the hall with Kodlak, just behind Farkas. Farkas sat at the feasting table and motioned Aylin to join him.
"Don't look so surprised," he told her with a grin as she sat down beside him. "You proved your honor. You earned your place."
She responded with a quiet laugh. "It's just..." she trailed off, still smiling and she looked around the room, "I've never belonged anywhere... I've been some category of outsider my entire life..."
"Well now you belong here," Farkas said with a warm grin as he put his arm across the back of her chair. 'With me,' he almost added, but he was interrupted by Tilma bringing drinks.

Late that evening, when most of the Companions had turned in for the night, Aylin decided it was time for her to go to bed too. Unlike Torvar who was passed out in a chair, Aylin was only slightly drunk. Farkas's wolf spirit pulled and gnawed at him, he wanted to invite her to his bed... but inviting a drunk woman to bed was not the honorable way to do things. Besides the fact that he knew he would not control himself in his inebriated state.
"Are you sober enough to make it down the stairs?" He asked instead, grinning at her as she wobbled on her feet.
"Why?" Aylin giggled, "are you sober enough to help?"
"More sober than you," Farkas teased, standing up as well. The room was a little bit fuzzy, but he was plenty steady on his feet.
"Well then..." she said, smiling at him, "I think I can manage, but it would be nice not to wake up the whole hall if I'm wrong..."
Farkas simply offered her his arm with a grin. His grin grew a little wider when she actually accepted and held on to his arm, but as she did so he realized she might not be as wobbly as she was letting on... he quickly pushed that thought from his mind. He was an honorable man, not a beast.
He escorted her down the stairs, and they arrived at the doorway to the whelps' room way too quickly.
"Here you are," Farkas said quietly. He lowered his arm and her hand fell gently away. She looked up at him, suddenly looking uncertain.
"So..." she said barely above a whisper, "now that I'm an official member, do I still get to train with you?"
Farkas couldn't have hidden his grin if he'd wanted to. "If you want to," he shrugged, "you can't block as well when you're dual wielding, so I have to teach as much about protecting yourself as I can."
Aylin looked relieved at his answer, and then, suddenly, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. Farkas was stunned for a split second, but he quickly wrapped his arms around her as well.
"Thank you Farkas," she whispered right beneath his ear. Her breath on his neck gave him goosebumps.
"What for?" He asked in a low tone with his arms still around her.
"Everything," she shrugged, leaning back to look him in the eyes. "For inviting me, for training me, for taking me on my trial, for speaking for me tonight..."
Farkas grinned at her again and shook his head. "You earned your place here," he said warmly, "and I meant every word I said in the yard tonight."
A genuine smile spread across Aylin's face. Then she quickly leaned up on her tiptoes, and planted a kiss on his cheek before slipping away and darting into the bedroom.