Lena recounts the events in Ysgramor's Tomb, and the Companions take advantage of a relative lull to make a trip to Riften.
When we were kids, Farkas and Vilkas laughed at my inability to sleep comfortably anywhere but in my own bed. I remember one camping trip, I'd shimmied out of my bedroll and wiggled close to the embers of the banked fire, and woke up with a charcoal mustache. Those little shits. As I'm lying here in a strange room with Farkas sleeping like a brick next to me, I see little has changed. When it's time for the final battle with Alduin, I'm not sure how I'll handle sleeping, because it'll be far away from Whiterun if I have anything to do with it.
I should be sleeping. I need the rest. We're all currently recuperating from the shock of severing our wolf spirits, which was more grueling a task than I'd anticipated. I'd expected something like 'witch head in flames, kill wolf," but it was more like ripping part of my soul away and stabbing myself through the heart. Aela and Skjor were right – they never would've survived it.
We emerged from Ysgramor's Tomb relatively unscathed. Vilkas broke his arm when his wolf slammed him against the pedestal containing the Flame of the Harbinger, but that healed with a potion and a spell. Kodlak is stronger than ever. Without the beastblood burning through his veins, Danica and Arcadia were finally able to help his body heal the rot that had been plagueing him for years. The twins helped with his fight, but now he's running around Jorrvaskr like a man half his age, even helping some of the new whelps with training, which has been wonderful for his spirit as well as his body.
Of course, my healing is taking the longest. The mystical conflict between dragon and wolf left me battered and weak. While the twins and even Kodlak felt energized and sharp after their battles, I'd barely slain my wolf before passing out cold. For the last week, I've spent most days and evenings in the baths, soaking in the fiery water, and it's helping. But being unproductive, while wonderful for healing the body, is torture for my unquiet mind. I just want to get back to Alduin. End it, one way or the other.
As for Farkas and me, we were both afraid of severing our bond when we broke the curse, but what choice did we have? When we reached the burial chamber, I threw the first witch head in the flames, and when my wolf spirit clawed its way out of my body, attempting to take my own soul with it, I meant to throw every Shout I had at it. I meant to, but I looked at Farkas and hesitated. Farkas didn't. He yelled and jumped in front of me, advancing on the spectral wolf, who yelped and pulled back its claws, landing only a glancing blow on Farkas's cheek. It dithered and whined, watching him with flattened ears and a tucked tail.
Vilkas and Kodlak stared, speechless at the wolf's submission. I regained my confidence and killed the beast. It didn't go down easy, and I think I'll always feel…like some small part of me is missing. But our bond - our love - isn't gone. If anything, it's stronger than ever. Paarthurnax said as much, but I thought he was just trying to be reassuring. After all, how would he know?
So why am I not in my own bed? Well, a day after returning from Winterhold, a contract came in from Elgrim, the alchemist in Riften. The adventurer he usually hired to gather potion ingredients accepted a contract in Solstheim and wouldn't be available again until next Sun's Dusk. Ordinarily, it would be a job for a couple of newbloods, but since we were still healing, it was a good opportunity to stay active without too much exertion. Plus, it was in Riften, and Farkas and I could marry.
And we did it right. Everyone from Jorrvaskr came, including Tilma, and Kodlak actually locked the doors for once. Delphine made the journey from Riverwood, and seemed to fit right in. My husband…my husband was gorgeous in a black tunic Tilma had trimmed in copper ribbon, and he wore my wedding gift – a copper and jade amulet enchanted with the most powerful shield spell Farengar and I could devise.
Kodlak walked me down the aisle dressed in gifts from both my oldest friends. My husband's own gift to me was a circlet – copper with an intricate swirl of amethysts and emeralds, which matched my gown, a gift from them both. Really, from everyone, since everyone had a hand in either making it or keeping it secret.
With everything so crazy, I hadn't been concerned with what I'd wear to my own wedding, but the twins had conspired with Tilma and Fralia Gray-Mane, Eorlund's wife, to make me a gown. So impractical, yet so beautiful. Styled around traditional fancy dress in Hammerfell – sleeveless and torso-baring – it was fashioned from an exotic copper silk trimmed with a wide emerald silk ribbon at the hem. Eorlund had even designed a belt out of the smaller dragon scales we'd saved, low-slung around my hips, and the halter neckline was a necklace of dragon scales as well, burnished to a shiny, deep bronze. Copper and emerald ribbons hung down my back, trimmed with tiny bells that jangled when we danced.
And oh, how we danced. Even Kodlak joined in, through the streets of Riften and back to Haelga's Bunkhouse, where Njada, Ria, and Athis had decorated a large room for our party. Yes, we know what goes on at Haelga's, but that's still preferable to dealing with Maven Black-Briar at the Bee and Barb. It is Riften, of course, there's no really nice place. But we were together, and it was beautiful. We missed Aela and Skjor, and Vignar, of course. But…I think everyone needed a bit of a break before we really got down to business with Alduin.
Late that night, after everyone else took the wagon back to Whiterun and Farkas and I went to bed, we talked about what to do next. Surprisingly, Farkas wants to move into our own house, and I mentioned Breezehome in Whiterun. He smiled at that, and I think we might do it. We have more than enough money saved up, and it would be close enough to Jorrvaskr to remain part of the group. It does sound like a wonderful dream, and after we speak with Paarthurnax next week, it might just seem attainable.
For now, though…Farkas is waking up and I can feel his hands moving over my back, curving around my waist. He's kissing my neck and his beard tickles. He laughs as I turn over and tickle him back. And for now, that's enough.