When Aurelia could feel her body again, the first thing she became aware of was softness and warmth. As much as she wanted to remain in this pleasant state, her reawakening consciousness forced her to open her eyes. There was enough light for her to determine that she was in her bed at Breezehome. Though the rising sun had not yet pierced the horizon, the steel-colored sky told her that dawn was approaching. Her memories came back in fragments. Though some were irretrievable due to her state of mind at the time of them, she recalled enough to remember that she had just gone through a terrifying ordeal. So after all that, she was alive. She smiled at the thought. But her smile fell shortly after. Of course she survived. She was destined to face Alduin, and she couldn't do that if she was dead.

When she tried to stretch herself awake, she found that her body ached all over. She wondered how long she had been asleep. It didn't matter, she knew Delphine would be furious either way. Not that she cared, just as she knew that Delphine wouldn't care for her excuses. Still, she had better get up and get her life back on track. A bath would be a good start. Not only would it soothe her aching muscles, but it would wash away the grime that built up after however long she was asleep.

The cold floor on her bare feet did nothing to invigorate her still groggy mind and body. She heard Lydia's soft snoring as she crept by her room. Good, she thought. She was certain Lydia would insist that she go back to bed if she were awake. She noiselessly made her way to the bathroom and opened the door. Anxious to get her sweaty chemise off, she pulled it off of her and let it drop to the floor. As she was undoing her smalls, she realized that the room was softly illuminated by candlelight. When they fell to the floor, she looked up and saw that someone was already using the bathtub.

"Farkas?"

"Aurelia? You're awake!"

Farkas joyfully stood up to greet her, but before he could step out, it occurred to both of them that they were naked. Their blushing faces mirror images of each other, Farkas sat back down, and Aurelia bent down to pick up her chemise. The image of Farkas standing naked before her burned into her mind and slowly stirred her body to a boil. Another fragment of her memory, one in which she started something with Farkas that she never got to finish, came back to her.

She released the fingers that had been clutching her chemise and stood up. Farkas was averting his gaze, but Aurelia stared at him shamelessly, eyes roaming his body. Every inch of his fair skin dappled in dark hair enticed her and pulled her towards him. The floor boards creaked when she took a step closer, forcing Farkas to look back up. Though Aurelia's body was magnificent, it was her face that he couldn't keep his eyes from. Her lips were slightly parted, her eyes were burning with desire as they flitted across his body. Every inch of skin on his body that her gaze touched singed and reignited his desire for her.

Aurelia sat down on the edge of the tub and her eyes swept to the lower region of his body that had been hidden from her for far too long. As her gaze lingered, another wave of heat to swept through her body. She turned her attention back to his face and penetrated him with a gaze so full of want that it almost paralyzed him.

"Are you sure we should be doing this? You're still recovering." Farkas said, trying to keep his own lust from showing in his voice.

"Exactly, my body hurts, and I want you to make it feel good. But if you don't want… erm!"

His mouth smashed hungrily against hers before she could finish her sentence. She wove her fingers through his hair and pulled him deeper into their kiss as if she adamantly refused to let him go. No, she wouldn't let this opportunity escape her again, not even if Lydia walked through the door. Right now, he was the only thing in her world.

She planted a trail of noisy kisses across his cheek to his neck. The hand that wasn't entwined in his hair caressed his stubbly cheek. Her hand was just as curious as her eyes as they meandered down his body, feeling every curve of his muscles and every plane of his skin. Her senses were filled with nothing but him. His heavy breathing built up to a sharp gasp when her hand found his growing erection. Each stroke sent more hot blood to it. The waves of pleasure that she sent through him almost made him forget that she was still recovering from her injuries. He should be the one doing all the work.

"You must be cold." His voice shuddered "You should get in."

Aurelia detangled her lips from his earlobe and flashed him a smile that gave him a joy that transcended the physical. He really did love her. She slipped in and pressed her body against his, the warm water soothing her and his bare skin against hers exciting her. Farkas wrapped his arms around her and pressed his face into her neck, inhaling her scent and tickling her with his beard and kisses. The sensations against her body forced heady moans to escape from her lips, a sound that Farkas reveled in.

He longed to explore more of her body. He took his time sliding his hand down her back, enjoying the feel of her smooth skin, until it reached her rear. He gave it a generous squeeze before giving her a gentle but needy push up. Aurelia, taking the hint, moved her body up so his mouth could travel lower. A sharp gasp erupted from her lips when his mouth found her nipple. Farkas's lips twitched briefly into a smile at this before indulging himself. His hands wanted to enjoy her body too. The hand that was on her rear slipped between her legs and his finger prodded her opening. His other hand found her other breast. She said she wanted him to make her body feel good and he intended not to disappoint. With a thumb on one nipple, a tongue flicking the other, and a thick finger going deeper and deeper into her with every thrust, her body was sent into a tumultuous frenzy. Her ecstatic screams would have woken all of Whiterun if she hadn't suppressed them. She let the cacophony of sensations take her higher and higher.

Farkas too, was enjoying being able to touch and taste so much of her. Her slick insides were growing increasingly tempting. But he could sense her pleasure climbing higher and he wasn't going to stop until she reached her peak. When he felt something burst inside her, and her juices ran down his finger, that's when he knew it was time. So he extracted his finger and ceased his rubbing and licking. Her parted lips expelled heavy breaths and her eyes were glazed over.

"Don't relax too much, I'm not done with you yet."

His words seemed to bring her back to the present. "Good." She said with a smile.

She positioned herself just above his erection and plunged herself onto him. They both let out a satisfied sigh as he filled her up. She placed her hands on his shoulders and he placed his hands on her hips. Then he began moving, each thrust of his hips to send forth wave after wave of ecstasy. He began slowly at first, but every movement propelled him faster, causing the sloshing water to splash noisily out of the bathtub. They filled each other up with more than just physical pleasure. While sex wasn't new for either of them, doing it with someone they loved added a new layer of bliss that had ruined casual sex for them forever.

When Farkas's breath started coming in short bursts, Aurelia knew his climax was coming soon. She arched her back and tilted her chin up in anticipation for his finish. Their moaning escalated into one long exhale as he expelled his orgasm into her. As he did, she too felt another ecstatic explosion inside her body. When their breathing finally slowed, their lips twisted into satisfied smiles. Aurelia collapsed onto him.

"So what are you doing in my bathtub at this hour?" the question finally occurred to her.

Farkas wrapped his arms around her and rested his cheek on the top of her head. "I came by so often that Lydia told me to just set up a bedroll on the floor. I wanted to be there when you woke up. As for why I'm taking a bath right now, I just couldn't sleep."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"I think about a week."

"A week?" Aurelia yawned "Yeah, Delphine is definitely going to kill me."

"Do I know Delphine?"

"It's a long story, I actually had an important errand to run before all this happened."

"Where did you need to go?"

"I need to see the Greybeards on High Hrothgar."

"Do you think I could come with you?"

"I guess. Lots of people climb the 7,000 steps, not sure if they'll let you in though, maybe if I tell them you're with me. And by the way," Aurelia's cheeks heated against his chest "from now on, everywhere I go, you're welcome to join me."

"Does this mean you're mine?"

Aurelia lifted her head and looked at him, though her grey-green eyes were obscured by heavy eyelids "Only if you're mine too."

"Then I'm yours."

Aurelia gave him a generous kiss before nuzzling back into his chest.

"Listen, we should probably talk about the succession of the Companions. I think you'll be surprised when you learn who Kodlak named as his successor... Aurelia?"

But she had already fallen back asleep.

/

When Aurelia's insomnia returned, she knew she had fully recovered. Though she had been asleep for a week, everyone insisted that she take it easy for a few days before running off again. As far as Lydia or anyone else not in the Companions knew, Aurelia's mangled state when she was brought home was due to a werewolf attack, particularly the two that were spotted in Whiterun just days before. It wasn't technically a lie.

She glanced over at Farkas, who was lying next to her. He was on his side, with his bare back to her, so she couldn't tell if he was asleep or not. Still, she'd rather not disturb him. She slipped quietly out of bed and put her chemise back on. She left Farkas's room and found herself wandering towards Kodlak's room.

She had been informed that Kodlak had named her as his successor. She honestly didn't know how to feel about that. Of course, she was honored that Kodlak thought so highly of her, but she also wondered if she really deserved it. She was the newest member of the Companions, and the newest member of the Circle. In fact, her time so far in the Circle was spent as a violent lunatic.

A jolt of pain shot through her heart as she walked by the small table just outside Kodlak's room. She would never see him there again. As she opened the door and looked inside his bedroom, all thoughts of her new position faded to make way for thoughts of the man who had to die for her to have said position. Though she had spent little time with him in the months she had been in Skyrim, he had made a big impression on her. He had a wisdom and intelligence that would make most mages jealous. Though she never got a chance to spar with him, he carried himself with an air of strength and discipline that told her that he was a great warrior. But more than anything, it was his kindness that struck her; the fact that he made her feel welcome in a group of people that she was certain would shun her. He commanded respect so naturally that he was able to lead the Companions without dominating them.

She sat down on the bed. Her body began shaking with sobs. So this was grief, the emotion that her solitary nature had kept at bay her whole life.

"Are you okay?" Farkas's voice from the doorway startled her.

"I don't know."

Farkas sat down next to her and put an arm around her shoulder "It won't always be like this. It hurts a little less every day."

"I just… I just wish I spent more time with him." She said as she wiped away tears "I thought spending less time together would make it hurt less, but I'm just filled with regret."

"Maybe you'll see him again in Sovngarde."

"I thought Sovngarde was just for Nords."

Farkas shrugged "It's just something I tell myself. I know how you feel. Doesn't matter if it's a few months or your entire life, you always wish you could have spent more time with someone you care about."

Aurelia looked up and saw that his eyes were glistening. She wrapped her arms around him. "Farkas, I'm so sorry. You're probably hurting far worse than I am. I should be the one comforting you."

But Farkas only hugged her back "Don't be sorry, I'm happy you cared about him, and I'm happy you met him."

"Me too."