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

Now and Forever

The four of them left for Riften the next day, late in the morning. As Aylin and Lydia walked several paces ahead discussing the wedding plans Vilkas raised a suspicious eyebrow at Farkas and asked,
"Had a good night I assume?"
"Not as good as tomorrow night's gonna be, if that's what you're asking," Farkas shook his head, "and I could ask you the same question..." he added, mimicking his twin's raised eyebrow.
"No, same," Vilkas shook his head as well, "I wasn't meaning to question your honor, just making sure I can vouch for you if anyone asks."
"We were the last ones to bed," Farkas shrugged, "you expect anyone to ask?"
"I don't know," Vilkas shrugged, and then he added, "I'm probably the only one who would have known you weren't in your room, but Aela probably noticed Lydia never went back to her own room."
"After all the nights she used to spend in Skjor's bed, Aela won't say anything," Farkas added.
"True," Vilkas laughed. They continued in silence for a few moments before Vilkas suddenly laughed again and added, "I wish you'd stuck around to see their faces the first night you called them out on that."
"What'd they sat?" Farkas chuckled, remembering the night after Aylin's initiation.
"Not much," Vilkas shrugged, "it was mostly just the dumbfounded looks on their faces. I told them something snide like 'my brother says smart things when he's drunk,' and left right after you did."
Farkas chuckled again. The brothers reminisced as they continued down the road. Farkas couldn't shake the feeling that it would be the last time he'd get to talk to his brother for a long time. Vilkas seemed to know it too, they'd told him about their plans to go off after the dragons, but Aylin seemed to have told him more on the trip to cleanse him. Farkas brought it up and Vilkas told him about how Aylin had given him Wuuthrad after he was cleansed, and that she wanted him to lead the Companions for her while they were gone. She'd tried to make him the new Harbinger, but Vilkas had refused. He agreed to lead in her absence, but insisted the title of Harbinger would be hers for the rest of her days. Farkas didn't want to think about the fact that that could still leave Vilkas as Harbinger...

They reached Riften and made their arrangements at the temple of Mara, then they rented some rooms at the Bee and Barb. They all agreed (disappointedly) that it wouldn't look proper for the couples to share rooms the night before their wedding. The four of them ate dinner and treated themselves to a few Talen-jei's special drinks. When it was time to go to their rooms Farkas and Vilkas escorted Aylin and Lydia to their room. In what Farkas was coming to appreciate as typical Aylin-fashion, Aylin told him goodnight by throwing her arms around his neck and giving him a kiss, but Farkas didn't let her pull away after one kiss. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her passionately. He half registered his brother giving Lydia a similar goodnight kiss but his attention was all for Aylin.
Farkas couldn't believe he was actually getting married tomorrow. The morning couldn't come soon enough.

Farkas was up before the sun, and to his surprise Vilkas was too. They each washed their hair and face, and cleaned their armor before reapplying their war paint. The brothers helped each other make sure they both looked their best, and then it was time to go to the temple. Aylin and Lydia arrived a few minutes after the brothers, both with their armor shining, their hair cleaned fixed, and their makeup freshly applied. Farkas's heart began racing like it had the first day he saw her as her dark blue eyes met his pale blue ones. She was beautiful, and she was about to be all his.

The ceremony was simple, and Farkas couldn't have been happier as they agreed to be bound in love, now and forever. Farkas almost hadn't waited for Marmal to finish the ceremony before pulling Aylin to him and kissing her.

Several of the Companions attended the ceremony. Vignar expressed his sheer disbelief that not one, but both of the twins were actually getting married. Several people agreed they never thought they'd see the day, but for the most part people were happy for them.
More importantly, Farkas couldn't remember being happier, and he'd never seen his brother so happy. Both brides were practically giddy and smiling the whole day.
That night at the Bee and Barb they rented the two nicest rooms with large double beds, instead of the small rooms with two beds. While several of the Companions were drinking the night away at the bar downstairs, Farkas had the most amazing night of his life in their private room upstairs. Finally, she was all his, and he was hers.

***

In the months that followed he guarded her back and helped her through adventures and fights he'd never dreamed of. He met the Graybeards, and the Blades. They befriended some dragons, and killed many others. They delved through Blackreach to find an Elder Scroll, and then faced Alduin the World Eater.
Farkas thought it would kill him when she had to go to Sovengarde to finish her fight with Alduin without him.
He went to High Hrothgar to wait for her to return. He wanted to wait with Parthunax at the summit, but without Aylin's clear-skies shout, he couldn't get there, so he watched and waited in the courtyard of High Hrothgar. The Graybeards weren't especially happy to have him, but they were sympathetic and let him stay. A day passed, then two... then the morning of the third day, with a thundering chorus, the dragons began to gather at the Throat of the World. The Graybeards came to the courtyard and listened with him. Farkas didn't know what they were saying, but after listening for several tense minutes, Master Arngier spoke.
"Amazing, the Dragonborn has succeeded, the World Eater has fallen."
"Where is she now?" Farkas asked urgently.
"It sounds like they're addressing her now," Master Arngier replied. Farkas took off toward the summit. Master Arngier sounded annoyed as he yelled something after him, but Farkas didn't care. Moments later, right before he got to the freezing winds he heard several of Graybeards shout to clear his way.
Farkas reached the summit just as Parthunax bade Aylin a farewell and took to the sky.
Aylin looked surprised to see him, but her surprise quickly faded to a happy grin as she ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. Farkas held her tightly and kissed her.
"Don't ever leave me like that again," he whispered as he tucked his face into the crook of her neck. He breathed deeply, enjoying her honeysuckle scent.
"I hope that's the last time I have to," she sighed, holding him tightly as well, "but I do promise I'll always come back to you."
Farkas picked his head up so he could look down into her eyes. "And I'll have your back," he said with a smile, "now and forever."
"Now and forever," she nodded, and then kissed him again.

Author's Note:
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it!
I'm marking this story complete for now. If I feel inspired I may come back later and add details of the main story line, or even a sequel delving into other side quests, especially if readers enjoy it and want me to. Please comment and let me know! 😁

-S.H.