From Housecarl To Companion

Technical Difficulties

Farkas retrieved the amulet, then took a couple days to work up his nerve. Finally, one morning, he tucked the amulet under his armor as he prepared for his morning training.
He smiled warmly at Lydia as she made her way down the steps from Dragonsreach.
Training began as usual. Lydia had been getting better so their training usually only consisted of a single match lately because it usually took so long for one of them to win. Farkas put all his effort into making it a good fight. Lydia didn't disappoint, not that that surprised Farkas. Their match lasted even longer than usual, but Farkas finally got her backed up against the wall and when she swung at him he caught her sword with his and pinned her to the wall.
"I win," he smirked at her.
"I don't think so," Lydia smirked back. Then, in a move so quick Farkas wasn't sure what she even did, Lydia twisted her sword, shoved against him and dropped out of his grasp. He scrambled to keep ahold of her and they ended up in a grapple. Their grapple quickly went to the ground and Lydia managed to get him pinned in a straddle, flat on his back with his hands above his head... a position that Farkas could have easily gotten out of, if it hadn't been for the dagger she pulled off her belt and held to his throat.
"I win," Lydia smirked down at him. They were both breathing heavily and Farkas just had to smile back at her.
"You got me," he admitted. She slowly removed her dagger and released his hands with a beautiful, triumphant smile on her face. Farkas reached to his collar and pulled the amulet of Mara out from under his armor. "Won't lie though," he said still smiling, "you've had me for a while now... if you're interested..."
Lydia blinked and just stared at him in shock for several moments, still sitting with her knees  straddling his abdomen. Her shocked expression slowly shifted to a surprised looking smile, and then to one of pure joy.
"Farkas, I... I am... why wouldn't I be? You're... are... are you sure?"
Farkas chuckled, she was stumbling over her words just as much as he usually did. "Never been more sure about anything," he answered with a grin. Lydia, still sitting on him, leaned forward and planted an excited kiss on his lips. Farkas kissed her back passionately, letting his arms wrap around her waist. Part of him was terrified he would wake up from the best dream of his life any moment now. When they parted for air Lydia looked happily down into his eyes and Farkas knew he wasn't dreaming.
"Then it's settled," he grinned, "You and me."
"As uncertain as life can be, at least we'll have each other," Lydia nodded. She was so happy Farkas could see tears welling in her eyes. Farkas just grinned and pulled her back down into another kiss.
"Well that's not something you see every day... am I drunk? I must be drunk..." they heard Torvar comment several moments later.
"I think I need a drink," Athis replied bluntly. Farkas slowly let Lydia go and she climbed off of him, then offered him a hand up, both of them still grinning excitedly.
"You whelps are training on your own today," Farkas announced as he got to his feet, "I've got things to go do in Riften."
***
"But my Thane did give me permission," Lydia argued with the steward at Dragonsreach.
"That may be, but you have no record of it. So unless your Thane, or someone who can legally speak for your Thane, like a spouse or a steward, can come and verify your claim, I can't help you with this."
Farkas thought Lydia was going to punch the steward for a moment and part of him was disappointed when she didn't.
"This is ridiculous," Lydia grumbled in frustration as they walked out of Dragonsreach.
"What do we do now?" Farkas asked once they got outside.
"I don't know," Lydia sighed, "wait for Krinna and Vilkas to come back I guess."
"Hope they come back," Farkas grumbled sadly.
"Let's at least go get a drink to celebrate," Lydia suggested as she took his hand with a sad smile.
***
It wouldn't have been proper or honorable to do everything Farkas wanted to, but he and Lydia still enjoyed each other's company with a few drinks in Farkas's room. He probably kissed her more than was technically proper, but no one besides the two of them needed to know that.
Much as they didn't want to separate, Lydia still went back to Dragonsreach for the night.

The next morning Farkas made his way upstairs for breakfast. He felt downright depressed. He was staring at his breakfast and beginning to contemplate whether or not he'd be able to impersonate Vilkas, when the chair beside him was pulled out and Vilkas himself dropped into it.
"What's troubling you, brother?" Vilkas asked. Farkas blinked in surprise, and realized with excitement that Vilkas was actually there. He could have hugged him, he almost did, but then he noticed the state his brother was in. His armor was covered in soot and grim, his warpaint was a large smear all over his face, and his eyes were red rimmed and bloodshot.
"You look awful," Farkas said bluntly. "Where's Krinna?" Farkas asked worriedly. They way Vilkas seemed to deflate even more at the question confirmed Farkas's fears.
"Sovengarde," Vilkas said quietly, hanging his head.
"I... I see," Farkas said sadly, "I'm sorry brother." He didn't know what else to say, he wasn't sure how to wrap his mind around this one... Krinna was gone, just like Kodlak... and Skjor... and his father... Lydia was going to be devastated too...
Farkas was pulled from his thoughts as Vilkas took another deep breath.
"Now what's troubling you?" Vilkas asked.
"Oh, I... I can't bother you with that now," Farkas shook his head. He didn't think his brother would want to hear about his troubles after losing his own wife...
"No, please do, I need the distraction," Vilkas insisted, and Vilkas's sleep-deprived appearance made Farkas realize he really might do well with a distraction.
"Well..." Farkas began hesitantly, "housecarls aren't allowed to get married without express permission from their masters..." Farkas nervously watched Vilkas's expression as he processed his words.
"Is the master refusing?" Vilkas asked, "do you need me to go rough someone up? Who is it?"
Farkas was a little surprised Vilkas sounded almost excited at that prospect. "Not exactly," he said slowly, he wasn't sure how to approach the answer so he decided to just say it bluntly... "I guess with Krinna gone, it'd be you..."
"Ah..." Vilkas answered, a look of realization on his face. "Well that's even easier to fix, we can just go to the Jarl now," he said with a shrug.
"Vilkas, I can't ask you to do that right now," Farkas protested. His brother looked like he need a bath and a week of sleep, not to go running off to the Jarl trying to solve other people's problems.
"Nonsense," Vilkas replied getting to his feet, "I said I need a distraction."
"Then at least go wash or somethin' first!" Farkas grabbed Vilkas by the back of his armor and pulled him back.
"Fine," Vilkas grumbled, and to Farkas's relief, Vilkas went back down stairs.
He returned several minutes later looking at least a little better... he was still wearing the blue and silver plate armor that he'd gotten on one of his adventures with Krinna, but he at least smelled a little cleaner and his face looked less streaked.
"Have you talked to Lydia yet or do I need to grab you that amulet too?" Vilkas asked.
"Talked to her yesterday," Farkas answered. He took the amulet back out of his pocket to show him. "Technical rules for housecarls 's the only problem," he added.
"Let's go solve your technical problem then," Vilkas said eagerly heading toward the door.
"Vilkas, are you sure you're ok? Lydia and I can wait, you should..." Farkas realized Vilkas was already out the door. "Damn it brother!"