Moonlight was approaching as the Vigilants accompanied Farkas to Whiterun. Vanis steered the horse, while Ariel nursed her magically healed shoulder. Aching from the injury, Ariel took small sips from a healing potion.
"So, you're a Companion?" Asked Ariel. "I've heard of your kind. Never met one."
"I guess I'm lucky to be the first," said Farkas. "The Companions are a group of warriors based in Whiterun. For those in need of genuine skill, we're willing to help."
"For the right price." Muttered Vanis. Ariel poked him with a low elbow to the side. The male Vigilant threw in a cheap smile. "With all due respect."
"No offense taken friend. Got to make a living somehow. Rest assured, me and my shield brothers take care of business when the time comes."
Vanis asked, "Not that I want to poke around in your business, but where exactly did you come from?"
"I saw your horse by itself while picking flowers. I came over to check it out and the draugr snuck up on her from behind. Basic instincts told me to get involved and save a pretty woman in distress."
Ariel blushed and clutched the sapphire necklace around her neck. Feels like it's already working. Upon arrival to Whiterun, Vanis led their horse to the stables. "Ariel, I'm going to make sure our steed gets fed. Head on up and get us a couple rooms at the inn."
"Sure. Although I'm ashamed to admit I haven't been to Whiterun in ages, I don't remember much."
"The Bannered Mare is a straight path from the front gates." said Farkas. "It's on the way to my home, Jorrvaskr. I'll show you."
"Wonderful. Don't take too long Vanis."
The two went forward as Vanis watched Farkas with a look of disdain. Inside Whiterun, Farkas showed Ariel around town.
"Here's Whiterun's local blacksmith Warmaidens. The Companions have our equipment made in house at Jorrvaskr, so we don't go there. The left path leads to more homes and Hall of the Dead. At the end of this path is where our local vendors reside." One of them waved to Farkas. "Greetings Carlotta. Packing up for the night?"
"Yeah. A little slow today. I got some leftover apples. Sell them to you for a few coins off."
"Absolutely." Farkas handed over a fistful of coins for a small sack of sweet apples. He thanked Carlotta and pointed. "That's the Bannered Mare. Best of luck to you."
Farkas walked away. Ariel focused on the inn. Before going in, she called out to Farkas. "Leaving already? Figured I could buy you a mead as thanks."
Farkas paused in his tracks. Fist clenched, he turned around and gave a soft nod. The inn was lively tonight. Every patron was buzzing as a traveling group of bards had visited today. Thankfully, they played decent music. Barmaid Saadia brought two Honningbrew meads over to their table right next to the front door. Ariel wasn't much of a drinker, but she did enjoy a mead once in a while. There was a pleasant vibe around the Bannered Mare. Drunk people dancing while others clapped. Tons of smiles and laughter. Except for Farkas, who sat stone faced. Ariel guzzled the rest of her beverage. A cute little burp escaped.
"Oh my. Apologies for that." Farkas cracked a smirk, giving Ariel something to work with. "How long have you lived in Whiterun?"
"Why?"
"Why?" Ariel giggled, showing her teeth. "Because I'm making conversation that's why."
"Since me and my brother were young pups. Our father was never around. Our mother Malene took care of us until she died. Kodlak Whitemane of the Companions took us in. He was a good friend of Malene, and I've heard rumors they may have been lovers. I didn't really care if they were. Other than that, we've fought for them ever since we could hold a blade."
"Wow. Kodlak sounds like a pleasant man." Farkas nodded in agreement. Ariel's head rotated around the inn, as she circled the rim on the ale bottle with a finger. "So, who were the flowers for?"
"You Vigilants sure love asking a lot of questions."
"I'm so-" A hiccup broke her sentence. "-sorry. I don't meet many people outside of the Vigilants."
"No family?"
"My family was killed when I was a young girl. The Vigilants are all I have."
"My condolences. The Companions aren't too social either. Most of us came together with no place to go. Others seek glory. Besides my brother Vilkas, the Companions are my only family. The flowers...are for my mother's grave."
The traveling bards finished another song and the inn erupted in applause. All three members took a bow. They wore matching outfits. Dark orange, fluffy pants and a matching shirt that looked a size too big. One of them, a male Imperial, stepped forward. With a fox fur hat plopped on his head, he spoke with a regal tone.
"Thank you, thank you. Allow me to reintroduce ourselves for those who may not know. We are the Harmonic Trio, the best traveling music troupe you have seen in the last 100 years. Allow me to introduce ourselves. I am Giovanni Rus, Lord of the Lute." He played a few strings upon saying his name." To my left, is the Damsel of Drums, the lovely Bosmer, Telona White-Leaf."
The olive-skinned elf with black-haired pigtails smacked two small drums to match her introduction. "And to my right, the Redguard with lips that not only play a mean flute but make women faint in ecstasy. Luscious Lips Zulfan."
Zulfan, a rather tall fellow with dreadlocks played a few notes. Two female patrons passed him a drink, courtesy of them. Their sight was locked in as he took a sip. Once finished, he licked his lips clean, and the women squealed in excitement.
"Tips are appreciated, as well as a few pints of drink." Continued Giovanni. "We'll close out tonight with a few more songs. This next one is a crowd pleaser, guaranteed to make you float on air. We call it, Feet of Glee."
The music started and a few people partnered off to dance. Ariel began bobbing her head, gaining Farkas' attention. "You like dancing huh?"
Ariel smiled. "Maybe. Do you?"
"I can't dance."
"Perhaps you need someone to show you?"
Ariel stood up and began lightly swaying. Farkas contemplated making an idiot of himself. Ariel wasn't exactly a swan either. After making a decision, he finished off his mead to join her. Holding Farkas by the hands, she guided his footsteps. The heavy armor didn't help, making movement a bit troublesome. While a little stiff at first, the pair soon were moving amongst the crowd, dancing to a rhythm. Hand in hand, Farkas drew his biggest smile since they met. Ariel couldn't seem to stop laughing, having her best night in a long time. At the songs end, Ariel's head begin to spin. She almost tripped over a stool until Farkas grabbed her waist, helping her to a seat at the bar.
"Hahaha, that was fantastic!" she exclaimed with a loud clap. "Well done, Farkas."
"Having fun?" Right next to her sat Vanis, head resting on his hand. Surrounded by a few empty mead bottles.
"Ooh, Vanis. When did-" She heaved a bit. "When di-did you get here? Farkas look, its Vanis!"
"I've been here for the last 15 minutes. You were a little too occupied to notice. Far be it from me to stop you from having a good time. It is your birthday after all." he said in an irritated tone.
"Sorry for taking up too much of her time friend. In facts it's getting late, I better get going." Farkas pulled a small sack of coins, chucking it on the bar. "That's for our drinks and any drinks for Vanis here."
Vanis scoffed at the gesture of kindness. Ariel sprung up, hugging Farkas, who was caught off guard. Even with a layer of steel between them, Farkas could feel her warmth. He didn't hug her back, not to piss off the other Vigilant. Ariel didn't mind, as a tickling sensation in her gut kept those arms wrapped around him.
"Thanks for a fun night. We might be in Whiterun for an extra day. If you're not busy tomorrow, I would like to see you again."
He seemed hesitant to answer. Contemplating heavily while staring at the beautiful young lady whose cheeks were flushed in red. "Yes. If you're still in town, meet me at the stables tomorrow afternoon. Around 2?"
"Sounds good. See you then."
They locked eyes for a brief moment. Farkas rubbed her hands before she let go. Then left the inn. Ariel sat back down, her insides on fire from the mead and something else. Vanis slammed his fourth bottle and patted Ariel's head.
"I sent a courier out to inform Keeper Carcette of our success. I'm going to bed, make sure you do the same." He stood up, then pulled a brown wrapped package from his robe. "Happy birthday."
Vanis left in a hurry, not even giving Ariel a chance to respond. Confused by the gift, Ariel sat in a daze. She dropped a few coins to the Harmonic Trio and headed upstairs. Her feet were aching from the steel boots. Damn things can leave blisters for days on end. She slid those and her robes off. Untied her hair, letting it flow freely. Sitting cross legged on the bed, she rubbed her shoulder. It was still sore, but her tolerance to pain had been built up for a while.
Farkas was on her mind. He seemed quiet and distant yet came off as very sweet. In fact, he was the first man she's ever danced with. Seven years spent around people who meant the world to her, but this feeling around Farkas is different. Why has she never felt this way about anyone else? Too many thoughts formed, as she toppled over like a defeated giant, blacking out as her head met the pillow.
Birds chirped in unity as a new morning began. Ariel awoke, stretching her arms, trying to shake off the remaining hangover. Ariel was a serious lightweight. Yawning loudly, she looked over to see Vanis' gift on the nightstand. The smell of roasted apples drifted throughout as she tore off the wrapping. Upon seeing what it was, Ariel's face turned sour. A fresh journal. Covered in a soft, sky-blue material. Her name on the front, etched in gold letters. She opened it up to find a brand-new quill. A few words were written on the first page.
"A tell all collection of Skyrim's most beautiful and exotic creatures. Created by Tyrus Ginter. Gone, but not forgotten."
Ariel let out a sigh and threw her robes on to check on Vanis. She knocked on his door, but there was no answer. Saadia looked on from the cooking pot.
"Your friend left a note at the bar."
"Vanis?"
"Yes. He left about an hour ago."
"Many thanks." Still dizzy, Ariel trotted down the steps. The icy wood stinging her bare feet. At the bar, Hulda passed on a folded paper scrap. Ariel asked for a cup of cider and sat down.
"Ariel, since you already made plans for today, I've decided to go out and explore a bit on my own. I took the horse. I'll be back by sunset. Enjoy yourself and may Stendarr be with you."
Ariel smacked her head on the bar, groaning. Hulda returned with a steaming mug. "Spiced cider, straight fro-are you alright?"
"I don't know," she replied dejectedly.
"Wait a minute, you were here with those two guys last night. Having men troubles, are we?"
"I really don't know. I'm not even sure what to think."
Hulda leaned on the bar and tugged Ariel's arm. "Well, I've had my fair share of love. Tell me about it."
"You know Farkas right? The Companion."
Hulda nodded. "I do. He's a very nice boy."
"Last night, I had a feeling with Farkas that, isn't there with anyone else. We talked, we danced."
"So, a date?"
"Technically yes, but it didn't start out that way. Things went well last night, and I asked him out. I'm supposed to meet him again today."
"Another date?"
"No, this is the first."
"Sure, it is. What about the other guy?"
"Vanis is just my partner, but I felt bad about leaving him alone. Yesterday was my birthday. He chose to come with me to Whiterun. Maybe I gave him the wrong idea." Ariel slumped over.
"You seem pretty young, so here's a tip. If you have feelings for the both of them, then choose one and let the other down gently. Since you and Vanis work together, maybe it would better for you two to stay friends. That's my take anyway. You'll have to make the final decision."
Ariel soaked in Hulda's advice. It made sense. If Vanis did a crush on her, then she'd have to be honest with him. She wasn't interest in a relationship with him. At least not now.
Later on, she stopped by Belethors store to buy a dress and shoes to wear. Belethor was a strange man. Ariel didn't feel inclined to return, even with his insistence. She returned to the inn to freshen up. Long and straight hair for today. Fresh red lipstick. Afterwards she spent a couple hours copying notes into the new journal until it was time for her date.
Whiterun was lively with its citizens conversing. A hot, sunny day. Kids ran past Ariel, playing tag. The environment was so peaceful. She wondered if moving here would be a viable future option. Down by the stables, Farkas stood very awkwardly, also dressed casually. Hair tied into a neat ponytail, with a bundle of mountain flowers in hand.
"Good afternoon, Ariel. You look incredible."
"Greetings Farkas and thank you. Are those for me?" Farkas' arm shot out, holding the flowers like a statue. Ariel took them and smiled. "Very nice. Did you happen to see Vanis this morning?"
"No, I didn't. Is everything alright?"
"It's fine. I wanted to talk to him, but he took off for the day. I guess I'll see him later."
"Aye. I bought a horse. Got us a lunch packed up as well. Cooked it myself."
"A picnic? Lovely. Where are we headed to?"
Farkas climbed onto the horse. "A place near Hamvir's Rest called Greenspring Hollow. I took care of a saber cat that usually hangs around. Very relaxing spot."
Despite the contradicting words, she was excited to go. He held out his hand, assisting Ariel on board. With a firm pat on its side, the horse got moving. They picked up a nice speed, letting Ariel feel the wind in her hair. Whiterun hold was such a beautiful area, bringing up a fun memory from her childhood.
A five-year-old Ariel ran around the field near home. Checking behind trees, rocks and bushes. Spinning around, trying to find something. With no luck, she stomped her feet and pouted. "Tyyyyyyruuuuuuus. Come out."
Snickering came from a nearby tree. She ran over, circled the plant, but found nothing. Snickering turned to laughter. Ariel looked up to see Tyrus in the tree, sitting on a branch.
"No fair, I can't climb trees."
"I know little one. I was up here observing."
"What?" He hopped down, landing next to Ariel. A spider was crawling on his hand.
" A spider! Kill it!" she shrieked.
She swatted but Tyrus moved his hand. "Calm down Ariel. He's friendly." He moved his hand closer, but she moved back. Squirming at the tiny arachnid.
"I don't like spiders," she said quietly.
"I know, but this is an Oplan Fruit Spider. Nonvenomous and typically don't bite. Come closer. Believe me, he won't hurt you. Open your hand."
Ariel carefully stepped forward. Tyrus let the spider crawl into her open palm. Its spiny legs sent shivers down her body, but as it crawled around, she soon realized what Tyrus was saying. Tyrus placed a berry next to it, which it started to consume.
Her eyes lit up in a sense of wonder. "Oh. He's nice."
Tyrus chuckled. "See, I told you."
"How'd you know?"
Tyrus pulled out his journal. "Studying. Every time I come outside, I try to find different animals, insects, all types of non-human creatures. Learning new things about them. I write it all in here."
"You mean, this a good bug?"
"Exactly. There are good animals and bad animals. You just need to know the difference."
"Can you teach me about animals too?"
Tyrus rubbed her head. "Another time little one. Mother is about done making dinner. We should also let our friend here go home."
Ariel placed her hand against the tree. The spider crawled up back to its nest.
"Bye spider. Nice to meet you." She grabbed Tyrus' hand and they walked back home.
They soon arrived to Greenspring Hollow. A nice piece of land where a large rock created a roof for anyone who wanted shade from the heat. Farkas laid down a blanket near the small pond. They enjoyed Farkas' homemade meal of salmon steaks and cooked cabbage. Very delicious and filling. Dezi always told Ariel to find a husband who can cool, because Garris sure couldn't. Not too far off, a giant and his mammoths were grazing. Peaceful creatures from afar.
Laying down with eyes in the sky, Farkas asked, "Ever seen a giant up close?"
"No, you?"
"I've fought a couple with my shield brothers. Wouldn't dare on my own."
Ariel pulled out her journal. She didn't have much on giants other than what she could see on a surface level.
"What's that?"
"It's my animal journal. Filled with tons of information on animals from all over Skyrim. My brother Tyrus who had passed, started working on it when I was young. I promised to finish it for him."
"That's very noble of you."
"Thank you. This is actually a fresh one Vanis gave me for my birthday. I got a lot of work to do transferring years' worth of notes."
Farkas scratched his head. "Vanis seems to be a nice fellow. I hope I didn't ruffle any feathers."
"You did nothing wrong. I promise." Ariel sighed. "Vanis is. Well, he. Never mind, let's try to enjoy our day alright."
Ariel started thumbing through pages. She caught Farkas glaring from the corner of her right eye. Pretending not to notice, his stare continued. No smile, no expression, just a blank stare in her direction.
"Do I... have something on my face?" she asked.
"No, it's just. You're very pretty."
While flattered, she could tell Farkas was nervous. She curled her legs into her chest. "Really? What's so pretty about me?"
"Um, your hair."
"Mm hmm."
"And your green eyes."
"Mm hmm."
"And... your...face."
Ariel couldn't help but laugh. Falling over and holding her sides. Farkas continued his blank stare, clearly not in on the joke. Calming down, Ariel sat back up. Was this the first woman he's ever confessed feelings to?
"Thank you. You are very handsome, Farkas."
Farkas' face turned full tomato red. The sun was at its hottest, beating down on anyone caught in its rays. Farkas stood and began taking off his clothes. Ariel's face went bright red. "Uh, what are you doing?"
"The heat is a little sweltering. Going to jump in the water for a bit." In nothing but his underwear, Farkas hopped in, splashing a bit on Ariel. Farkas laid back floating on the minimal waves. Ariel began sweating a bit and a cool swim sounded refreshing. There was only one thing holding her back.
"Farkas?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm going to join you but promise me something."
Hearing her say that he braced himself. "Anything."
"Please be kind." Ariel removed her shoes and dress. In her underwear, she carefully stepped into the water. Floating in front of Farkas, she spun around, moving her hair to expose the long claw marks. Three of them, going from the right shoulder, all the way down to her lower back. Even though they healed long ago, it hurt whenever she thought about it.
"What happened here?" He softly questioned.
"My family that I told you about last night. 7 years ago, on my birthday, my father went out to Whiterun for a delivery. He never came back. That same night, I was attacked by a werewolf." Farkas was quiet. Ariel went face to face with him. "It attacked as I tried to escape. My mother and Tyrus were killed trying to save me. I can only assume it got to my father as well. The Vigilants who were tracking the beast saved me before I suffered the same fate. These ugly scars are a reminder of that night. I hope that before I die, I manage to find and kill that bastard."
Still silent, Farkas' eyes bled sadness. Ariel placed her hand on his face. Strumming her thumb against his cheek. "I've never shown anyone else this. If anyone would understand, I figured it was you."
Continued silence. Ariel started to worry. "Are you okay?"
Farkas opened his mouth, but something immediately caught his attention. He pushed Ariel out of the way, taking a boot to the face. Two bandits jumped in the water, putting a beating on Farkas. Another bandit halted Ariel in her tracks with a readied arrow. "No sudden moves woman. Get dressed and follow us."