From Housecarl To Companion

Hope

"It's good to see you again," Farkas commented with a smile as he followed Lydia out the doors of Jorrvaskr.
Lydia spun around with a start, her hand going reflexively to her sword hilt. "Farkas," she breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing as soon as she saw it was him.
"Didn't mean to scare you," Farkas apologized sheepishly. His face turned a shade darker and he began to think trying to talk to her on her way back to Dragonsreach might have been a bad idea.
"I just didn't hear you coming," Lydia shook her head.
"Guess I move a little quieter than Krinna," Farkas chuckled. Lydia let out a laugh.
"Sometimes she makes me look stealthy," she admitted. Farkas chuckled more, his confidence returning as they began to walk down the steps.
"So... What does a housecarl do when she's off duty?" He asked hopefully. Lydia cocked an eyebrow at him, then she sighed.
"Sit and wait for my Thane to need something," she shrugged, "train for the next adventure, guard her possessions... there really is no 'off duty' anymore."
"So why are you heading to Dragonsreach?" Farkas asked with a smirk.
"That's... where I told her I'd be..." Lydia said slowly raising her eyebrows at him in confusion.
"Aren't all of her possessions at Jorrvaskr?"
"I... hadn't thought about that..." a small smile slowly formed on Lydia's face. "She did give me permission to spend my days there, maybe use the training yard if no one minds..." She was smirking now and it made Farkas's heart race even more.
"You're the Harbinger's housecarl. No one will mind," Farkas assured her. "You can even train with me if you want," he offered with a smile.
"Don't you have other Companions to train?" She raised her eyebrow at him again, but this time with a slight hint of a smirk on her lips.
"I can always use extra training," Farkas shrugged, still smiling.
"Well alright then," Lydia nodded, the hint of a smirk slowly shifting back into a real smile. "I'll see you at Jorrvaskr in the morning then."
Farkas looked up and realized they'd reached the doors to Dragonsreach much quicker than he'd wanted to.
"Mmhmm," Farkas answered. "Goodnight then," he said a little awkwardly.
"Goodnight Farkas," Lydia smiled before she opened the large palace doors and disappeared inside.

Farkas walked back to Jorrvaskr, replaying their conversation in his mind... part of him still couldn't believe what had just happened. After months of thinking he'd never see her again, not only had she suddenly walked into Jorrvaskr, she had just agreed to train with him in the morning... this whole time she'd just been stuck up at Dragonsreach training and waiting for Krinna, not being shipped off to serve some random noble somewhere else in the hold... and now she'd need to stay close to Jorrvaskr to fulfill her duties as housecarl of the Harbinger.
Farkas tried to think of the way she'd smiled at him... was it possible she was as interested as he was? He began to think back to her reaction to seeing him when she and Krinna had arrived that afternoon... she had looked impressed with Jorrvaskr, but she had smiled even more upon seeing him... and did she blush just a little, or was his imagination messing with the memory now?
Another thought suddenly occurred to Farkas; Krinna's introduction... Krinna knew that Lydia already knew him... which meant Lydia must have told her. Then Farkas remembered the nearly mischievous smirk that had crossed Krinna's face when she saw him... what could Lydia have told her?
Farkas was so lost in thought he didn't even notice he'd walked right past Jorrvaskr. He suddenly stopped when he found himself at the stairs heading for the market stalls. Farkas shook his head and turned back toward home. He needed to get to bed if he was going to be up in time to meet Lydia.

The next morning Farkas was surprised to find Vilkas up early as well. He told Farkas that Krinna had asked him to accompany her to Winterhold.
"What's she need to go to Winterhold for?" Farkas asked in bewilderment.
"She thinks the mages might have information about a legendary item that she needs to defeat the dragons," Vilkas explained. Farkas noticed he looked a little tense when he mentioned the mages.
"And she expects they're just going to give her information without any trouble?" Farkas asked. He didn't know much about the college mages, but all the mages he'd been sent to deal with or happened across on the road were always bad news.
"No, that's part of why I'm going with her," Vilkas answered grimly.
"The other is to enjoy your company?" Farkas teased.
"That's part of why I agreed," Vilkas admitted with an embarrassed smirk. "The other part is that hopefully they'll let us explore their library."
"Ah, you and your books," Farkas chuckled.
"Aye," Vilkas shrugged still smirking. Farkas laughed. His brother was so smitten...

Lydia arrived in time to tell Krinna she'd be at Jorrvaskr to train while she was gone and then wish the pair luck as Krinna and Vilkas headed out of town. Farkas noticed with curiosity that Krinna whispered something to Lydia right before they parted... whatever it was had made Lydia laugh and blush...
Then Lydia made her way up the steps to find Farkas waiting for her.
Feeling brave he cocked an eyebrow at her and asked, "what was that about?" He nodded his head toward Krinna and Vilkas who were heading toward the city gates.
"Oh, uh..." Lydia hesitated for a moment before meeting his eye. "She told me to work on my heavy armor skill," she explained with a now confident smirk.
Farkas could have hugged Krinna...