"Are they still out there?" I asked Aela as I walked into Jorrvaskr's dining hall.

Aela nodded, poking her head outside just for a moment. She quickly pulled it back in. "Do they have no sense of privacy?"

I sighed. I had been exiled to Jorrvaskr for an entire week now. Which, for the first few days, wasn't so bad. I got to have a lot of quality time with Vilkas. But once he got better, he said he had something to do, and he left without any other explanation. I hadn't seen him in nearly four days, and I was starting to worry.

"When do you think Vilkas will be back?" I blurted, not really meaning for it to be answered.

But Aela answered me anyway. "Oh, soon, I'm sure. He went to Riften. He's probably almost back by now."

Riften? Why would he want to go to a city riddled with thieves and skooma addicts? Other than Winterhold and Markarth, Riften was one of the last cities I would visit. "Odd. Did he hear of a job there?"

Aela shrugged. "I wouldn't worry about your lover, Ylva. He's one of the finest warriors I've ever known."

Lover. My lover. It was strange, hearing her call Vilkas that. Not long after we'd made our escape from the Temple, Aela had cornered me and demanded to know what was going on between Vilkas and me. I had to tell her, since I knew she'd rip my throat out otherwise. She took the news well. She seemed a little surprised, but she said she was happy for us. "Although," she had mused, a smile tugging on her lips, "you might have to watch out for Farkas. He may not be so pleased."

Thankfully, she had been wrong. Farkas took the news even better than she did. He was overjoyed. He wrapped me in a bear hug that almost crushed every bone in my body. He was thrilled for both of us. After he let me out of his steel grip, he ran to congratulate Vilkas. Which had been hilarious to see.

I shook my head, pushing the memories aside. "I still miss him."

"I know, Ylva, but you shouldn't worry." She patted me on the shoulder. "Vilkas will be fine." Then she stepped away from the door and over to the table. "Now, wouldn't it be nice to train a little? Woman-to-woman, no weapons."

"Just good, old-fashioned brawling?"

She nodded, a wicked smirk twisting her lips. "If you think you can take me."

I raised my fists. "Just because I'm young doesn't mean I can't whip you."

"We'll see about that." She beckoned me over to an open area inside the hall, perfect for brawling. "Get over here, Ylva."

I sauntered to the floor, dropping my sword belt as I entered our makeshift ring. It would be nice to let out some pent-up energy, since I couldn't go outside anymore. And I hadn't really gotten a chance to take Aela on in a fight.

Aela took off her gauntlets, tossing them aside. I followed suit, yanking off my gloves and discarding them next to my sword.

"How do you win?" I asked, even though I knew the answer.

"You win by beating your opponent into submission," Aela said, her smirk still on her lips. "But you shouldn't worry about that. You won't be winning."

"We'll see."

We began to move, pacing in a circle. Like two wolves facing off, we watching each other, waiting, daring the other to rush into the first move.

Then, Aela rushed at me, and our dance began.

-------

I wiped the cloth under my bleeding nose, wincing as pain crackled under my skin.

"You Companions..." Tilma muttered as she wrapped my broken hand in a cloth. As a rule, Aela and I couldn't go to the Temple and ask Danica to heal our injuries, nor could we take any potions to speed up the process. We could only nurse ourselves back to health, and have Tilma help us with the more severe wounds.

"Sorry, Tilma," I said, wincing again as she tied off the bandage. "I didn't know Aela could punch like that."

"Aela said the same about you. You showed her today, Ylva."

I chuckled until my ribs ached. Aela had knocked me for a loop, but it seemed as though I returned the favor. She and I both had broken noses, cracked ribs, bruised bruises, and mammoth-sized headaches. I ended the fight only by lunging at her waist and knocking her flat. She called for surrender then, and we were both rushed away to be taken care of.

"Now, can I have your word you won't let a fight get that far again?" Tilma asked, dabbing a damp cloth against the cut on my cheek I had received courtesy of Aela's fingernails.

"I can't promise anything, Tilma."

"Then I won't be taking care of you."

I chuckled again, causing more pain to spike through my ribs.

She took the cloth off my face, then examined my cuts and bruises. "Well, you're fine. Or you will be soon. Just keep that cloth under your nose until it stops bleeding. And do try not to brawl so hard the next time."

"Thank you, Tilma." I gave her a nod as she left, taking all the bandages and the water basin with her.

"Vilkas, do I have a story for you when you get back...." I grinned to myself, stretching the scab on my lip, then reclined on my bed. I had a feeling Vilkas wouldn't be too happy when he saw my wounds. But maybe he wouldn't be too upset when I told him I was brawling with Aela.

Or he could just get angrier at my stupidity, I thought to myself. But no matter.

I closed my eyes. Oh, well. He had to come back before he could be angry with me.

-------

I was stirred awake by the sound of my bedroom door creaking open. Footsteps crossed my room to my bedside, then the frame squeaked as someone sat down next to me. A familiar hand caressed my cheek, making my cut sting. I winced, and the hand left.

"Vilkas?" I asked, opening my eyes. It was him sitting next to me. I smiled. "You're back."

He returned my smile. "Yes. I never intended to be gone for so long, and I'm sorry. But what happened to you?"

"Aela and I were brawling."

His brow furrowed. "All this from one brawl?"

I nodded, even though it hurt.

He sighed, then a comical look crossed his face. "Did you win?"

I laughed. "Yes, Vilkas, I won. Barely."

"That's my Ylva, tougher than a cave bear. And twice as stubborn."

"If I hadn't broken my hand, I would punch you."

He shook his head and carefully took my bandaged hand in his. Then he raised it to his lips and pressed a kiss to my stinging knuckles.

"Why were you in Riften?" I asked after he let my hand rest at my side.

"I had some... business to take care of there. It took longer than I thought to get it done."

"What sort of business?"

"Nothing that concerns the Companions." He looked away. "Well, not the Companions as a whole. It does concern the esteemed Harbinger, though."

I propped myself up on my elbows. "What are you talking about?"

He reached into the satchel that hung over his shoulder. After rummaging through it for a few moments, he pulled out a small, leather pouch. He started to hand it to me, but then he took it back. Instead, he untied the strings around the pouch's opening, then dropped it into my lap. "For you."

Confused, I used my good hand to upturn the pouch. A thin silver band encrusted with tiny white gems spilled onto the sheets. I picked the ring up and held it to the candlelight, watching as the fire cast rainbows through the stones. It sparkled like the stars in the sky.

"It's beautiful, Vilkas, but what—"

The realization hit me like one of Aela's punches.

Oh, my gods.

The look on his face said it all. He was nervous yet excited. I didn't need any super-sharp senses to see that. His eyes lit up, icy irises reflecting the candlelight from my nightstand.

He took my hand again, eyes still bright, and slipped the band onto my ring finger. "Normally, I would've gotten an amulet to ask you, but when I saw this ring at the jewelry stand here in Whiterun, I knew I had to give it to you. I went to Riften to have it blessed by the Priest of Mara there, since this isn't the traditional way to ask this, but... Ylva, will you marry me?"

My heart leapt to my throat. My hands ran cold and my face grew hot. I couldn't believe it. He was actually proposing. He'd gone all the way to Riften to get this ring blessed for me. If that wasn't love....

I sat up, despite my aching ribs. It took me a second to find my tongue, since he had struck me speechless. But when I found the words, they came out whispered and full of joy. "Vilkas... yes."

Vilkas caressed my cheek, then leaned forward and kissed me. I kissed him right back. He tangled his hand into my hair, weaving his fingers through my thick and dark locks. I pressed my good hand against his chest, his heartbeat thrumming heavily under my fingertips.

Gods, I love him. And now he's mine.

It had to have been a full minute before he pulled away from me. He still had his hand tangled in my hair. His smile lit up his whole face. "Ylva... my love. You've made me the happiest man in all of Skyrim. In all of Tamriel."

"And I'm happier than I've ever been. Because of you."

He pulled me into his chest. I rested my head over his heart, listening to its steady beat. He wrapped his arms around me, gentle and careful to avoid my wounds.

"Gods, I love you," I said after several minutes of silence.

"And I love you." He buried his face into my hair, his warm breath tickling my neck through my hair.

"Even though I can't swim?"

He laughed. "Even though you can't swim."