"Harbinger."
The old shade in front of her smiled as Oslaine addressed him. After she had defeated Alduin and raised the mists of Sovngarde, she decided to stay around for a short while, if only to ensure that all the lost souls could make their way to the Hall of Valor. And she was so glad she had, for an old friend who had died because of her own poor timing was there to speak to her. If she didn't know any better, she would say he was completely alive before her, flesh thick and skin unmarred from the events of his final battle.
"I ought to be addressing you as such," Kodlak responded softly, opening his arms to bring her in for an embrace.
"Kodlak, I'm so sorry," she said, burying her face in his shoulder.
"What for?" His hand patted her back as she looked back up at him. "You saved me once, from Hircine's hunting grounds, and then again, from the World-Eater himself. I can only thank you for that." His smile warmed her heart. "Come. Walk with me, lass."
The two strolled through the beautiful fields and around the mountain where Alduin had once perched, taking in their last moments before being separated forever. It was nice, getting this chance to say farewell, after she had failed to protect him in battle. She'd seen him once at the Tomb of Ysgramor, true, but that had been brief, and he had been a mere apparition.
"Tell me," he said pensively, "how are the Companions faring?" "
Well enough," Oslaine responded, drinking in the sights around her. "Farkas, Vilkas, and I have all rid ourselves of the beast blood. Aela hasn't, of course, no matter how often I tried to convince her, but I'm sure you would have expected that."
"It would go against her nature to do so," he murmured in agreement.
"We decided to convene before offering the beast blood to any potential members of the Circle. We'll give the option to those who wish for it, but we would not force any to condemn themselves just for a higher spot in the ranks. We were planning on offering a place to Njada, especially if I were to fail to return. Athis may have been here longer, but she's the strongest."
"A wise choice. Mind she doesn't tear your arm off."
Oslaine laughed. "I suspect she won't, if we do let her in." She thought for a moment, trying to remember other new developments. "Farkas and I got married."
"Did you, now?" This news seemed to surprise him. "I'm glad to hear it. Love is difficult to find, especially amongst those whose lives are so closely entwined with war and death. Make the most of your life while it is still yours to make."
He smiled again at her, warmly enough to make her almost forget about her fears regarding her marriage and the memories her own words had just brought up. It was almost enough to convince her that everything would be fine, and that she would return to age by her husband's side. She could almost ignore the gnawing worries at the pit of her stomach.
Almost.
Her face must have been twisted with the thoughts she had shared with her husband the other evening, because Kodlak's smile faded rather quickly. "Something troubles you."
"Yes," Oslaine admitted in a whisper.
"What?"
"I fear that he'll die before me."
Kodlak mused on her words for a moment as they walked. "That is a common fear amongst warriors. My own wife died far too long before I did, and I have no doubt she'll be waiting for me beyond the doors to the Hall of Valor."
Oslaine blinked at the information. "I never knew you were married."
The old Nord nodded. "She, too, was a Companion, slain in battle before she could become a member of the Circle."
"Did she know about the curse?"
"Oh, she knew. She knew from my telling her, and from the fact that she was preparing to take the beast blood within the month. Korsepona knew."
"That's not a Nord name." The words flew out of Oslaine's mouth before she could stop them.
"Korsepona was no Nord." He smiled as he thought of her. "She was the only member of the Companions taller than me, and I hadn't the strength to resist her charms. Even as the rest of Skyrim turned against her kind during the Great War, I fought by her side."
"She was an Altmer, then?" When he nodded, something clicked at the back of Oslaine's mind. "Then why do you expect to find her here? I thought Sovngarde was for Nords alone. Some sort of 'no elves allowed' policy."
"I've heard the same sentiment from many," he mused, "but I doubt its truth. What do Aedra and Daedra care about blood and lineage? It is the decisions you make in your life that decide your afterlife. Until you helped, I was doomed to the Hunting Grounds, was I not? Hircine cared little for whether or not I was a Nord. It was my decision to take the beast blood that would have sent me there. And it was my faith in Talos and my decision to fight bravely in battle that brought me here." His smile widened as the Hall of Valor came back into sight. "What was it Skjor used to say? Something to the effect of 'even an elf can be born with the heart of a Nord,' if I remember correctly. Perhaps that may not have been the most eloquent of compliments on his part, but, to an extent, I believe he was right. It is not blood, but heart, that chooses our fates."
The words rang comforting in Oslaine's ear. "Do you think they'll allow me back into the Hall of Valor now?"
"You've saved Sovngarde. I expect they'll let you enter."
The whalebone bridge was steady beneath their feat as they approached the hall. It was rewarding, seeing the Nord heroes and warriors enter with the dignity they had been denied while Alduin had control of the plane.
The moment they stepped foot inside, Kodlak's eyes locked with a figure far on the other side of the enormous building. From the way his face lit up, Oslaine knew that he had been right about his wife waiting for him. Had she not known better, she may have mistaken the pair for young sweethearts, perhaps two who had just married and who had the entire world waiting for them. Well, if there was hope for them...
Maybe she would be lucky after all.
