Harbinger Ch. 07

Before they left, Arngeir explained to her what it meant to be Dragonborn. She was a human born with a Dragon's soul. The Words of Power were words in the Dragon tongue, and mortals could learn to use them with much practice, but for Dragonborn, or Dovakiin, it was much easier.

Arngeir gave her a map that featured locations where Words of Power were inscribed in various ancient locations. He explained that she could learn new powers from these stone inscriptions. She thanked the brothers for their instruction, and led the way back down the mountain. At the bottom, Lyara suggested they took rooms in the Vilmyr Inn once more, as it was already starting to get dark, then head over to Riften at first light.

Before they entered the inn, Lyara placed a hand on Farkas's arm to stop him.

"You know, I can continue to Riften alone tomorrow."

Farkas could barely contain his anger. It seemed that she couldn't wait to be rid of him. He had to admit, their awkward silences were uncomfortable, but he couldn't leave her. He would never forgive himself should something happen to her.

"I made a deal to be your shield-brother for the whole journey. We can part ways once I have escorted you safely back to Whiterun."

He shrugged her hand off his arm and pushed his way into the inn. Lyara paid the barkeep for their rooms and asked for her meal to be delivered to her room. She decided she couldn't face watching Farkas dangling any more wenches in front of her.

They set off early to Riften, and arrived late morning. After leaving the horses at the stable, they headed to the Bee and Barb Inn. Once again, Lyara paid for two rooms. Farkas disappeared to his room almost immediately, so Lyara took a table in the inn. She ordered some wine and sat on her own feeling miserable.

She had to sort this problem out with Farkas one way or another, she told herself. The tension between them could not continue. It was making the journey awkward, and she could not bear to think it may continue back at Whiterun. It would make her tenure as Harbinger of the Companions unbearable. More importantly, she did not want to have to face another night lying awake trying not to think about what Farkas may be doing with one of the tavern wenches.

With a heavy heart, and a heavier sigh, she supped her wine.

"You look troubled, lady."

Lyara looked up to see who had spoken. An Imperial man with a friendly face, dark hair and swarthy skin was stood next to her table. He smiled at her in an expectant fashion, awaiting an answer to his query.

"Yes, I am," she replied.

He sat down without waiting for an invitation.

"What troubles you? Maybe I can help," he asked with a soft smile that didn't match the sharpness that was in his eyes.

"A man," she responded, followed by another heavy sigh.

Her visitor leaned forward, and in a soft conspiratorial voice said, "My name is Marcurio, and for a modest fee, I can deal with your problem. You will never hear from him again."

Lyara was a little shocked, when she realised he was offering to kill Farkas. He was obviously a mercenary. She should have spotted it earlier, having been one herself for many years.

"It is not that kind of problem. It is a matter of the heart," she admitted.

"Ahh," he said. "Then that is not a problem I can help with. You might consider talking to Maramal at the Temple of Mara. He is probably the best person to advise on ... matters of the heart."

With that, her visitor stood up.

"I bid you good day," he said as he bowed his head slightly before disappearing to another table.

Lyara thought about Marcurio's suggestion for a moment. She knew a little of Mara, the Mother-Goddess and the Goddess of Love. Maybe she could meditate on her problems there, and find a solution.

She left the inn, and made her way through the streets of Riften. There were no other patrons in the wooden temple but one or two monks moved in silence about their business. There were several benches arranged to face the altar, but they were all empty. The large room had a warm glow from the candles, and the sweet smell of incense wafted in the air.

On the altar was a statue of Mara, her hands held out, and a plaintive expression on her face. Lyara walked to the front, and knelt in front of the Goddess. She placed her hand on the statue, and mumbled a short prayer to herself.

Mara, Goddess of Love. Hear me and guide my heart. Show me the path to reconcile with my companion. He does not love me, but I love him and I fear I have hurt him. I wish for us to be friends once more. Mother-Goddess, I beg for your guidance.

She felt a slight warmness under her fingers, but decided she had imagined it. Then the sensation become stronger, and the warm feeling travelled up her arms and into her body. A woman's faint voice could be heard in her head. It didn't come from anywhere in the temple, but from inside her mind.

Open your heart child, and your mind. Are you sure the one you love, loves you not?

A vision then flashed in front of her eyes. It showed Farkas as he watched her being tested by Vilkas, and the pleasure and amusement on his face was clear to see. Another vision appeared of them fighting side by side against the Silver Hand, admiration of her abilities evident on his face. She was then shown a close look of the immense pride on his face as she was inducted into the Companions. Another vision showed him while she was lying ill, close to death. The anguish on his face was raw and painful to look at. More visions came, flitting across her mind's eye, each showing a different instance of how he looked at her when unobserved, his feelings towards her plain to see on his face.

When the visions ended, Lyara opened her eyes with a gasp. She staggered to her feet, a little disoriented. How had she not seen this?

"Blessings of Mara upon you, child. Are you unwell?"

Lyara turned her head slowly to see a kindly face in a cowl. He was obviously one of the monks of the temple.

"No ... I am fine," she said, as she continued to teeter.

The Redguard monk grabbed her elbow, and helped guide her to a seat.

"You don't look well, if you don't mind me saying," he smiled.

Lyara looked once again at the statue, wondering if it had really been the Goddess that had shown her those visions. The monk seemed to guess that something had transpired between the elf and the Goddess.

"Has Mara spoken to you?" he asked.

Lyara nodded. Her mouth was so dry she was finding it difficult to speak. The monk fetched her a goblet of water, and handed it over. After a small sip, she looked at the monk and asked if he was Maramal.

The monk smiled, and nodded, "Yes, I am Maramal. There is usually only one kind of person that comes looking for me, and that is those who are interested in marriage. Are you interested in marriage?"

Lyara pictured Farkas in her mind, and nodded again. Her tongue was still dry, but she managed to quietly say that yes, she was interested.

"Typically, love in Skyrim is as earnest as the people who live here. Life is hard and short, so there is little room for long courtships."

He stood then, and walked to a locked drawer at the back of the altar. He unlocked it with a key from his belt, and lifted something out of the drawer before returning to Lyara.

"A person who is looking for a spouse simply wears the Amulet of Mara about their neck, showing they are available for marriage."

He held out the amulet to Lyara, with a friendly and knowing smile.

"Come back and see me when you are ready to marry. I am here for the rest of the day."

Lyara reached into her coin purse and paid him 200 Septims for the Amulet.

"Good luck, and Mara bless you," he said.

"She already has," Lyara replied, and with a lighter heart, made her way back to the Inn.

When she walked back into the Bee and Barb, there was no sign of Farkas, but she figured it wouldn't be long before his stomach brought him back in search of food. She ordered a bath, and waited in her room. While she waited for the wenches to arrive with the hot water, she laid out on her bed the clothes she had just purchased from one of the market holders near the temple.

A fine woollen red dress so soft it was like silk and she hoped the colour would match her eyes. She also picked up a calf-leather bodice in black that was soft and supple.

She scrubbed herself all over with her snow-berry soap. She smiled to herself as she remembered over hearing Farkas once say he liked that she smelled of snowberries, and she knew he had noticed the other day when she saw his nostrils flare. She was determined to do whatever it took to ensure he noticed her today.

She bound the top of her hair back in the Nord style she favoured, and put on her new dress. The wool was warm, yet soft against her skin, and the colour was striking. The neckline was quite low, and when she fastened herself tightly into the black leather bodice over the top, it pushed her breasts up into a pleasing cleavage.

Lyara then picked up the amulet. The large centrepiece was decorated with intricate knot work, and a turquoise stone. When she put it on, it nestled nicely between her breasts.

She headed back downstairs into the main room, and saw Farkas in a corner alone, and as expected, he was eating. He had a large chunk of meat in his fist, and was staring into nothing as he absentmindedly chewed. She was thrilled that his jaw dropped a little when he noticed her.

Keeping a straight face, she walked confidently over to his table and instead of sitting across from him, she sat next to him.

He put the meat down, and wiped the grease off his hands onto his trousers. As she had sat next to him, the familiar sweet scent of snowberries wafted up his nose. Her large almond shaped eyes were looking at him intently, with a slight curl of amusement on her lips.

He couldn't help but stare at her soft breasts as they looked about to spill out of her bodice. The skin was pale and flawless, and his hands ached to stroke it. It was then that he noticed the amulet. Was that...?

"Is that the Amulet of Mara?" he asked, hesitantly.

"Yes, it is," she replied.

"So ... you are looking for a spouse, then?"

"I am," came her reply.

His heart sank for moment. He was familiar with the Amulet's significance. She was looking for a mate, and going by the way she was dressed, he could only assume she had found one.

But wait...

She was here alone...

And she was sat next to him.

"Why?" she continued. "Are you interested in me?" She folded her arms in a challenging gesture, and her eyes sparkled with mischief. He was oblivious to this though, as he was gaze was riveted by the way her folded arms had pushed her breasts together. The valley of her cleavage was looking more and more inviting by the second.

He forced himself to look back at her face. By the Nine, Farkas. Don't mess things up now, he told himself.

Lyara held her breath, waiting for the answer to her question. She had walked in here full of confidence following her visions. She knew, deep down, that Farkas truly loved her. She just had to get him to admit it. Now, there was a long pause.

Why isn't he answering? Her confidence and smile started to wane.

"I won't lie, I am." he replied eventually.

Her relief was immense, but she there was more to be said, so she kept her face as straight as possible, and waited.

When he had first spotted her entering the room, his face had registered shock and surprise at her appearance, then he had spotted the amulet. For a moment, his face had shown disappointment then confusion. Now, he looked at her coyly.

Finally, with a glint in his eye of the old Farkas, she saw a smile start to appear on his face, his full lips glistening with the meat juices from his dinner.

"Are you interested in me?" he finally asked.

She looked at him fondly then, and her voice came out at barely above a whisper, but it was loud enough for him to hear.

"Yes ... Of course I am ... You big oaf!"

With that, she leaned forward and licked the meat juice off his full bottom lip, before gently sucking it into her mouth. He responded by kissing her back, and before she knew it, he had pulled her close to him with a surprising ferocity. His kiss was warm and passionate, and his lips were soft and yielding. Their first kiss was everything Lyara had hoped it would be.

When he finally let her go, she felt a little self conscious that they were kissing in public. He held her face in his hands, his eyes searching hers, and a huge grin on his face.

"We better go and talk to a priest about getting married then," he said, before kissing her once more.

"Already arranged," Lyara answered, to his surprise. "I spoke to him this afternoon. He is waiting for us."

She stood up, and held out her hand. With a slightly dazed smile, he took it and the two of them walked hand in hand up to the temple.

Just at the door, Farkas said with surprise still in his voice, "Who would have thought I would be getting married?"

Lyara's brow furrowed in concern. "You don't have to do this if you have changed your mind. I ... I will understand."

"No dear," he replied quickly, leaning down to kiss her cheek softly. "I just meant that I am surprised someone, anyone, especially you, would be interested in marrying me."

She smiled at him, relieved. He squeezed her hand gently, and said, "It's you and me."

When they walked into the temple, one of the monks went to fetch Maramal, while another congratulated them on their wedding. Lyara blushed, thanking them for the kind wishes.

As Maramal approached the altar, he cried "Ahh, here is the blushing bride now. Let's begin the ceremony."

Maramal beckoned them closer, and then spoke to them in a clear voice.

"It was Mara that gave birth to all of creation and pledged to watch over us as her children. It is from her love of us, that we first learned to love one another. It is from this love that we have learned that a life lived alone is no life at all."

Lyara looked from Maramal to Farkas. Her heart sang as she saw he was looking at her too -- the love he felt for her clearly visible.

"We gather here today under Mara's loving gaze, to bear witness to the union of two souls in eternal companionship," the priest continued. "May they journey forth together in this life and the next, in prosperity and poverty, and in joy and hardship."

The priest then turned to Farkas. "Do you agree to be bound together in love, now and forever?"

"I do. Now and forever," he replied, his pale eyes blazing with emotion.

Maramal turned then to Lyara. "Do you agree to be bound together in love, now and forever?"

"I do. Now and forever"

"Under the authority of Mara, the Divine of Love, I declare this couple wed."

Lyara approached Farkas, who grasped her hands and pulled her into an embrace. His large strong hands moved to gently cup her face, before kissing her softly on the lips.

They walked back to the Inn with their fingers intertwined, with eyes for no one but each other. Lyara realised she still had the amulet on, and pulled it from around her neck and threw it to the ground. Maybe some poor soul would find it, and in wearing it, find a fraction of the happiness she was feeling right now.

Farkas smiled at her gesture. He didn't relish having to fend off other admirers. She was his now, and he wanted to keep it that way. Part of him was still convinced this was all a misunderstanding and that Lyara would realise her mistake and flee. He knew it was just his own silly insecurities talking, as she had gone to some effort to plan this afternoon, with the new dress, and the amulet. He was confident that she knew what she wanted and he was eternally grateful to the Divines that it was him.