The first time Farkas saw her, she was just a kid carrying an iron great sword nearly as big as she was. She paused in her journey to help finish off a pesky troll that was tearing up Pelagia Farm's crops. Aela thanked her briskly.
"Can I join the Companions?" She asked eagerly. Farkas turned away so she wouldn't see him chuckle. Her eagerness was refreshing, but it would probably get her killed. She ran into the battle, sword out and swinging. Farkas told himself he'd probably never see her again.
The second time he saw her, she was being whispered about all over Tamriel. She was Dragonborn, the ultimate dragon slayer, and had killed Alduin, the World Eater. She walked through the doors to Jorrvaskr confidently, the Dwarven Greatsword snugly slung over her back. She walked up to Kodlak and requested to join. Vilkas scoffed and they fought in the training yard. Quickly, she nearly overpowered his brother. Even Farkas wasn't sure he'd be a match for her; even after Skjor had told him that he had the might of Ysgramor himself. If the rumors of the Dragonborn were true, she might have even met the legendary hero while in Sovngarde.
Before he knew it, he was off to Dustman's Carin with her to retrieve a shard of Wuuthrad. Together they fought various enemies, including spiders so large, even Farkas wanted to shirk away. But she charged headfirst and fearless.
And got herself stuck in a trap.
Just as he was going to release her, he was surrounded by members of the Silver Hand. Cursing quietly, he changed. Releasing the beast usually felt amazing, like uncorking a shaken bottle of wine. But this time he was tense.
"What the hell was that?" She asked after the bars had been raised. She stared at him hesitantly. "Are you okay? That looked… painful."
He figured that was when he fell for her.
Her, who had taken down dragons, charged in against spiders, took on giants single-handedly, seemed to care. About him. Who was he to someone who had saved the world?
After her initiation, he tried to avoid her. She ran around picking up jobs and getting closer to everyone. And then she was gone when they needed her most.
He was sitting when he heard her voice. Vilkas demanded where she was. She peered around him, eyes already brimming with tears. He could hear it in her voice when she told him she was running an errand for the very man who lay dead before him.
"Oh Farkas…" She came over and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. He wanted to either shrug it off or clasp it tight like a lifeline. So he sat there motionless until Vilkas helped him up and guided him to the funeral. After the ceremony the Circle decided to try one last time to cure their unofficial leader of his curse.
But those damn spiders.
He headed back to his brother with his head down and ashamed. They didn't wait too long before Aela popped out of a secret passage followed by her. She was grinning triumphantly as she told them of how happy Kodlak was to see Sovngarde's shining gates.
Had it been his imagination or were there tears forming in the corners of her eyes?
After that she passed through Jorrvaskr very rarely.
She took jobs from everyone except him it seemed. She drank with everyone except him. Every time they bumped into each other, she was brief and hurried off. Everyone else seemed to know what was going on. They'd encourage the two to talk and meet as much as possible.
So she left.
Last he heard, their new Harbinger was off fighting vampires. He desperately wanted to see her. Wanted to know she was okay.
"Long time, no see." And suddenly she was there, smiling at him over his shoulder. The fires of Jorrvaskr gave the golden amulet with the inset ruby an ethereal glow.
It took him a moment to recognize it even though he'd seen it a million time around the necks of young, naïve girls.
"Are you interested?" She'd asked, a blush creeping to her cheeks. She brushed a brown strand of hair behind her ear. Her hair was longer, he thought absentmindedly.
"Not going to lie, I am. Are you?"
She looked taken aback by his honestly but grinned.
"Not going to lie, I am."