Eyes Opened

Eyes On The Horizon

Delphine, sent you away as she was reading the the books they had on them, even when you told her that they had nothing to do with it she insisted they still might. So you'd decided to go back to Whiterun as she did, Vilkas at your side now. Looking ahead at the road home, you just cleared your throat. "Delphine said she'd send word when she was ready for me. There's no telling when that will be. It took her almost the entire month to get the party plan ready."

"Lucky for me then." He smiled, catching your attention. You looked at him, unable to help but smile at the big goof. "Shall we?" He held out his arm for you to take with your hand. The man started walking with you on the road, leisurely strolling along. There was a different feel between you both, almost as if you were care free. The conversation was great, as always, you both laughing at the last month of your life and his. "You faced a vampire in Falkreath?"

"Yes. I was bitten too. Thankfully I had a potion on me to cure it. It was odd though, a random vampire in a town that's basically just a graveyard. I don't know if it's so random. I've gone back a few times to make sure and found nothing." You looked to him, smiling a little. "It was nothing to worry about as long as I don't go unprepared."

He nodded to you, before guiding you off the path of the road. You followed him, walking at his side. You looked ahead, before staring at him. "Vilkas... Whiterun is that way." You pointed to the east. He simply nodded.

"I'm aware. We're not going home right away. I have something else in mind." You looked at him, confused but a little excited. He had a surprise for you, which made you wonder just what it was.

"Alright..." You took a soft breath, smiling at him. "I trust you." After a few hours you found yourself staring up at a snow covered mountain, a shiver tingling your spine. He pulled off a cloak from himself, draping it over your shoulders. You took the fabric, wrapping yourself in it tightly. "Oh Vilkas... thank you." He gave you a kind smile before an arm snaked around your shoulders, pulling you off into a direction and close to him. "Are we-"

"Almost there." He looked to you smiling, the sun shining on the bit of snow at the foot of the mountain. It shined like gem stones, which you found unbelievably pretty. You sighed happily, the crisp air flowing over your face and hair. After a while you saw an alter in the distance, a brow rose, looking to him. He stepped ahead of you, turning to face you. Stopping you in your tracks you looked up to him.

"Vilkas why are we here? It's just a shrine. It's pretty but still."

He smiled happily, before his hand caressed your cheek. You were drawn into his smile, that was so easy to do, your eyes locking on his. He caressed your cheek with his thumb before taking in a deep breath. "[Y/N]." He seemed a bit nervous, which wasn't characteristic of him. You narrowed your eyes a bit as he looked to you, nodding firmly. "I've never met a woman quite like you. I'll never meet someone I can connect with like this again. When I'm not with you, I'm thinkin' about you, always. We are not perfect, but together we are far closer than we could be apart. When I picture my future I always see you in it."

You were blushing at his words, your eyes averted shyly. "But you always say 'Eyes on the Prey, not the Horizon'. Does that not conflict with what you're telling me?"

"How could it?" He leaned in, his lips inches from yours within a matter of moments. "When you are both to me." He pressed his lips to yours softly, in a long deep and loving kiss. Vilkas slowly kneels before you, pushing his hand into his pocket. He pulled out a ring, A very detailed ring with a diamond set in it. You watched with wide eyes, he looked up to you. "I've been wanting to do this for months now. I'm head over heels for you. I am yours, I always have been. If you did me the honor of being your husband I would make sure to see that smile every day. I told you I'm not perfect, I can fail at a lot of things. This I cannot fail at." He held the ring up.

"Vilkas..." He looked down, as if you'd already said no. You shook your head, before getting to your knees. The man looked to you, surprised. "Don't kneel to me. We're equals." Vilkas stared at you with a stunned smile on his lips. "Yes. The answer is yes. I want to be yours." You took in a soft breath. "But there is a condition."

"Condition...?" He looked down, clearly fearing the worst. After a moment he looked up to you, confidently. "I can handle you being gone for months as long as your mine and I'm yours."

You blinked. After a moment you realized why he would jump to that conclusion. You shook your head. "No. I won't live without you for months. I've had enough time away from you for the rest of my life. I want you to come with me." His lips tugged into a joyful smile. "I can't do this without you anymore. I know it's selfish. The companions need you."

"No, they need us." He corrected you. "But together we can work faster, then come back home. I'm glad you've gotten a little selfish." He smirked before you looked to his hand, letting it go.

"Well? Are you going to put the ring on?" You asked nervously, looking at him. He nodded before taking your left hand, sliding the ring on your finger. "It's... beautiful."

"I made it." You looked at him in amazement. "I'd had help from Eorlund, but most of it was me. I carved a mold with all the letter details, then fixed them with a sculpting tool after the ring was cool enough to handle with a towel. I even wrote an inscription inside the band. I uh... was going to give it to you that night you passed out in my room from drinking. I actually proposed before I realized you were asleep." You blushed brightly, looking into his eyes.

"Oh Vilkas..." You looked around for a moment. "But... I don't get it. Why did we come here for you to propose?"

He stood up with you, helping you to your feet gently. "I was hoping... That you'd agree to marry me, then do it here. Before Mara. Riften probably wasn't the wedding you'd envisioned as a girl. This probably wasn't either but it might be closer."

You chuckled. "When I envisioned my wedding I envisioned my father nearly dragging me to an alter and forcing me to say yes with pressure. Riften would have been an upgrade." You both laughed lightly, glad you could be at this stage with him where he's laughed over your past along with you. "This is perfect. It's not where it's happening it's who I'm walking towards. My Horizon." You smirked to him, the man blushing a bit. You knew how corny that sounded, yet you didn't regret a moment of this.

"I've sent a letter to Whiterun. Before we left. Asked Aela and Farkas to bring a priestess out here." He pushed some of your hair out of your face, almost studying your features.

"You were optimistic, huh?" You chuckled for a moment.

"I believed you loved me." He spoke softly. "I was nervous and worried though. Worse case scenario is that you said no and I took an hour or two from them and us." He shook his head. "I'm glad you said yes, though."

"Me to. So... we just have to wait a little while and I'll be your wife." You pushed yourself into his arms, the man held you tightly.

"Yes dear, and I'll be your husband."