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Anette sighed tiredly. The mead hall had finally cleared out, leaving her to her thoughts at last. She'd thought she had life pretty well figured out by now...
Kodlak had named her his successor as Harbinger of the Companions, Alduin was dead, and Skyrim was at peace. She had thought she was content to simply live out the rest of her days advising the warriors of Jorrvaskr and hunting rouge dragons...
Life at Jorrvaskr was good. They had recruited several new members since the end of the war, Athis had been raised to the Circle, Torvar had eased up on his drinking, Njada was a little less rude, and Vilkas had finally figured out why Ria was still trying to let him teach her to use a great sword...
Anette had been a little surprised that Vilkas and Ria had stayed with the Companions after their wedding, but she certainly didn't mind not losing her Master-at-Arms. Ria was shaping into a wonderful warrior as well, even if she couldn't swing a great sword like Vilkas could— hardly anyone could actually complete with Vilkas anyway.
Aela was seeming a little less lonely now that Athis had chosen to take the beast blood, and she had someone to hunt with again. And Farkas was still the same, big, lovable oaf who preferred to deal with the problems he could solve with his fists and leave the arguing to everyone else.
Anette was content with the idea that Jorrvaskr was where she'd live out the rest of her days, whether that meant getting old like Kodlak had or dying in battle. That was one advantage to having actually seen Sovengarde; not much scared her now. Every battle was either going to be a glorious victory, or it was going to send her back to Sovengarde. She literally laughed in the face of dragons.
That had been all she had planned... fight until she either died in battle or got old and died. She had no plans— no expectations that her life could possibly entail anything else... especially no romantic interests... she'd been content to be happy for Vilkas and Ria... and for her older sister who was now living safely out in Kynesgrove with her husband and their children.
Anette had given up hope of ever having that kind of a relationship herself after her first dragon encounter... when Alduin had burned Helgen... when the headsman's axe had narrowly missed her neck, leaving a dark scar down her left cheek as she'd rolled off the block at the last second... and then the rest of her body had been peppered with burn scars.
Before she'd become a dragon-fighting warrior, Anette had had rather smooth, fair skin, long, auburn hair, and bright blue eyes. She still had the blue eyes, and her hair had pretty well grown back, but by the time she defeated Alduin, she'd accumulated scars on top of scars—she had more burns and claw and bite marks than anyone should have lived to tell about. The dragon priest mask she'd picked up early on in her travels had spared her face the worst of it, but she still practically looked like she had freckles from where the sparks and flying embers had hit her when Helgen burned.
She had always had a sturdy build, unlike her older sister who was much thinner and daintier. Her father had always tried to reassure her that she would grow into a proper, strong, Nord beauty... and perhaps she would have if it hadn't been for the dragons. Anette was well aware she was no beauty now, even if she did have the build of what some considered a "good, strong, Nord woman."
But that didn't bother her. She had been content with the idea she would live and die as a legend for the history books— the Dragonborn who'd saved the world. She'd even mentioned that when it came up in conversation back when Vilkas and Ria had gotten married... someone had asked if she ever thought about getting married and she'd said, "I'm a legend, the world loves me— that's enough for me."
She knew she didn't need to ask any more of the gods by begging for a husband who wouldn't be repulsed by the scarred up mess that was her body. She'd come to terms with that years ago and hadn't given it a second thought...
...Until that evening...
That evening they'd been celebrating their most recent recruit's acceptance into their ranks. It had started out like any other celebration, there was food and drink, and stories and songs, and wonderful camaraderie... Anette had been asked to tell of the World Eater's defeat again, and she had obliged.
Then a rather drunk Vilkas had called out something about Farkas having been writing a song for her... he said something about Farkas needing to finally sing it for her and confess his feelings... even Ria had chimed in, agreeing that it was obvious...
Farkas, who had been sitting beside her like usual, had almost completely clammed up at that. He'd grumbled something about being too drunk to deal with this, and promptly headed off to bed.
The whelps had all been nearly passed out drunk by then, so it was only a few hours more before Anette had the hall to herself.
And she had no idea what to do.
Farkas was the one who most frequently accompanied her for jobs, but realistically, Anette was sure Vilkas and Ria couldn't be right... they had probably just misheard whatever song it was, or they were simply misreading Farkas... mistaking his friendship for more intimate affection...
The only thing that gave her pause was that it was Vilkas who'd said it... Vilkas was the least likely person to have misread Farkas...
Or was that wishful thinking?
Now that she thought about it, Farkas had been the one who'd asked her if she'd ever thought about getting married that one time it had come up in conversation.
If she was being honest with herself, Farkas was exactly the type of man she'd dreamed of back when she thought she'd marry and settle down one day... he was kindhearted and sweet... a good friend... and a very competent warrior. He was always willing to be her shield-brother, and honestly made for great company.
Back before she was such a mess she would have been thrilled to learn he'd taken an interest in her, but now... now she felt guilty at the thought. Farkas didn't deserve her— he deserved a beautiful woman who could cook and mend his clothes and be everything he wanted. He deserved so much better than her...
Tiredly, Anette got up and began making her way back downstairs to the Harbinger's chambers. Hopefully her heart would stop aching and things would go back to normal if she just slept off all the alcohol.
Downstairs was filled with the sound of most of the warriors snoring softly, but another sound caught her ear, making Anette pause just outside the small hallway between Vilkas's and Farkas's rooms...
Behind Farkas's closed door she could hear soft lute music, and Farkas's quiet humming. It wasn't a tune she recognized, it was slow and sad sounding... and then, very quietly, in his deep baritone voice, he began to sing...
"I'm in love with a legend... and don't know what to do... it's so painfully unlikely that she could love me too...
I'm in love with a legend, and the woman behind it too... dreaming of the things we could be if she could love me too..."
He stopped abruptly and Anette heard him sigh heavily and then the sound of pencil scratching on paper...
Then he began to play the lute again... Anette just listened with her heart aching as he continued singing...
"I don't want the silly barmaids, or the bards across the holds. I'm in love with the legend who captures dragons' souls.
Her beauty's not conventional, she needs no jewels or gold... she's fierce and she's brave and all that I crave forever to have and to hold...
I'm in love with a legend, and the soul behind it too... and the things we could be if she could just see I'd be her dear love true."
The lute suddenly stopped again and Anette heard the sound of paper being crumpled. He grumbled something to the effect of "she'll think that's too sappy," before he began to play and hum again.
Anette blinked in disbelief as she listened. Could that really be what he thought of her? Was it possible he actually didn't mind all of her scars? That he actually... wanted her?
Was it actually possible that Anette had found a man who would have her? And not just any man, but Farkas... her big, sweet, caring Farkas... the man who'd had her back from the day she'd first joined the Companions and almost never asked her for anything in return...
Farkas was writing a song about her... a sad, longing love song. That realization made her heart clench.
For all the things she thought Farkas deserved, he didn't deserve to be sad.
Before she could think better of it, she stepped into the little hallway and knocked gently on his door.
The lute stopped abruptly, and for a moment the room was dead silent. Then she heard the shift of a stool and Farkas's footsteps across the floor...
Her heart raced nervously... what was she doing? What was she supposed to tell him?
Maybe this was a bad idea... maybe she should think this out and talk to him in the morning...
But before she could even think to retreat, the door opened and the large, hulking form of Farkas stood before her.
He'd looked tired and a little grumpy when he opened the door, but his expression quickly shifted to startled and embarrassment when his eyes fell on her.
"'Nette," he mumbled in surprise as his cheeks turned a shade darker, "I... I... uh... how long've you been standin' there?"
Anette's heart raced but she couldn't help but smile up at him. "Long enough to hear your song," she admitted, feeling her cheeks heating up.
"Ah... uh..." Farkas looked at his feet with an embarrassed expression that reminded Anette of a child who's been caught stealing sweets. It was actually surprisingly adorable and calmed her nerves a bit.
"So was... was that the song Vilkas was talking about?" She prodded with a smile.
"Uh..." Farkas rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Then he took a deep breath and looked back up to meet her eyes. "Yeah," he admitted. His face had turned a few shades darker, and even his ears were red now. "It's uh... not done," he added sheepishly, "I can't get half the stuff I wanna say t' rhyme quite right, but... uh, yeah..."
"And..." Anette's throat suddenly felt dry, "you..." she swallowed, "you mean all of that?" She asked hopefully.
Farkas looked seriously down into her eyes at that. "I do," he replied, "all of it an' more."
Anette's heart jumped, and for a moment she was at a loss for words.
"I uh..." he blinked and looked down awkwardly again, "I'll understand if you're not interested in me that way, I never expected you t—"
"I am," Anette interrupted quickly without really thinking.
Farkas's gaze snapped back to hers in hopeful disbelief.
"I... I mean... if you-you're sure you actually want me," she added, fumbling for her words, "but I... I do love you too."
Farkas just blinked in utter shock for a moment as Anette took a shy step forward. Then his face suddenly split into a happy grin as he reached forward and pulled her into his arms. Anette quickly let her arms fall around his shoulders, returning his embrace. He pulled her into his room and held her tightly, tucking his head into the crook of her neck.
"Oh Anette," he sighed in a muffled voice.
His breath on her neck gave her goosebumps and Anette tilted her head and kissed his cheek.
Farkas pulled back and looked down into her eyes, still smiling as one of his hands came up to gently cup the side of her face, his thumb running gently across the scar on her cheek.
Then his eyes fell to her lips and Anette's heart skipped as he leaned slowly closer. She leaned up on her tiptoes to close the distance, Farkas's hand fell gently from her cheek to the back of her neck, and his other arm around her waist held her closer as their lips met in a sweet, happy kiss.
One kiss morphed into two... which steadily turned into several more, and somewhere in the quiet excitement the door was shut behind them.
"So... it's settled then?" Farkas breathed between kisses, "you an' me?"
"Mmm... you an' me," Anette agreed happily.
"An' would you... maybe... change your mind... 'bout gettin' married one day?" He asked hopefully.
Anette's heart skipped more and she pulled back to catch her breath and look up into his eyes again. "I never said I didn't want to," she shook her head with a sheepish smile, "just that I never thought I would. I didn't expect anyone would want to marry a woman as scarred up as I am," she explained.
Farkas's eyes traveled intently to the scar on her cheek and his thumb traced gently down it again.
"I do," he replied seriously, "I love you— scars an' all."
"Really?" Anette breathed hopefully.
Farkas nodded. "I've been in love with you ever since you didn't run away from my beast form... ever since you tried t' shoot the Silver Hand from behind the bars of that trap, I've been all yours."
Anette smiled, feeling a warm feeling settling in her chest. "I've thought for a while now, if I ever married I'd want it to be you," she admitted, "but never wanted to ask you to settle for me, I... I always thought you deserved a beautiful wife."
"Mmm," Farkas nodded in understanding. "But I'm not settlin'," he shook his head, "you're the one I want— the only one I want."
Anette blinked... she was so happy her eyes were actually watering.
"And you are beautiful," Farkas added in a low voice before leaning in and kissing her forehead. "Can I take you t' the temple in Riften?"
Anette smiled more at that and took a shaky breath. Those weren't words she ever thought she'd hear, especially not genuinely. "Yes," she said happily, "let's go first thing in the morning."
"First thing in the morning," Farkas agreed with a grin before he pulled her in for another kiss.
Several moments later he pulled back again, regarding Anette with a slightly furrowed brow. "I'm gonna have t' rewrite my song now though." He almost sounded disappointed, but his smirk told Anette he wasn't.
"I hope you don't mind," she smirked back at him, "I did like it, but I think your new version shouldn't sound so sad."
"Hmmm..." Farkas hummed thoughtfully, the smirk still on his face. "I'm in love with a legend... an' I know just what I'll do..." he paused and gave her a quick kiss, "she's the love of my life, so I'll make her my wife..." he kissed her again, "an'..." he shrugged and shook his head, "I'll have t' think on how t' rhyme the rest of it," he smiled.
"I'll be your dear love true?" Anette suggested with a warm smile of her own.
"Y' didn' think that was too sappy?" He chuckled?
"Oh it's definitely sappy," Anette giggled, "but I like it."
Farkas chuckled. "It is for you," he said with another shrug. Then he pulled her closer and kissed her again... and again... and again...