Jordis POV:

As I await for the Thane's companion, dog, and children I can't help but rub my left elbow, the Rockjoint has set deep and is excruciating. However, I thank Akatosh the worst part's over and I'll get to keep all my limbs, the priestess warned me there was a good chance I might not recover. While it healed I was forced to spend a week in Falkreath, all the while my Thane was worried sick. But it wasn't all bad, a young sell-sword hunted down the stray hound that bit me and was even nice enough to give me the pelt.

I quickly drop my hand as the group approach with all of their bags, giving them all a slight bow I turn and begin leading them out the west gate. The walk is long and uneventful, not the mention the hounds make too much noise for my liking and chase every single animal they run across. By the time we're there I wonder if my Thane has ever considered training her hounds for hunting, they've already caught three bloody rabbits and proudly presented them to the children.

When we arrive my Thane motions for her companion to come closer while the children pull me towards the house. Smiling, I give the girls a tour of the house and show them all of the animals I ordered especially from Riften. They spend at least five minutes thinking up a name for the cow, and spend twice as long brushing and petting her. However, all the while I can't help but try to imagine what my Thane waved her companion over for.

Astrid POV:

Walking over, I can't help but notice the Listener has a grin like a little girl on her face. "What's so exciting?" I ask as she waves me over faster. "Just look at it!" She says as she motions frantically towards the house. Even I have to admit it's an impressive sight, I can't imagine what it looks like on the inside. "It even has a basement!" She says as she practically bounces up and down. I have to pause when she says that, a basement would be a true pain in the arse to build. But I can tell by the smile on her face she would build it again in a heartbeat.

Smiling, I open my arms in a silent offering of a hug. The open act of affection must surprise her, even over the past few months I've been much less affectionate than her. But she must push those thoughts aside, because the next moment she's hugging me. It's only when I feel a strange lump against my chest I pull away, but I make sure to keep my hands wrapped around her arms.

Slowly, I slide my hand into the gap in her Dragonscale Helm and slide my fingers down her neck. Sure enough I feel a chain and quickly grasp onto it. I can't help but smile once I pull the amulet out from underneath her cuirass and I don't even try to hide my chuckle. An Amulet of Mara is currently dangling from the Listener's neck.

"And what exactly is," I flip and pull the amulet up so she can see it. "this for?" With a smug grin she answers, "Due to Mara's influence when I wear her amulet Restoration spells become easier to cast." Smiling, I tell her, "So, suddenly my mighty warrior's turned into a healer? Or, is that the only reason you have for wearing it?"

Smiling, she answers, "I suppose if I find a suitor I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed." With a laugh I ask her, "Is that an Amulet of Mara you're wearing? Does that mean you wish to marry?" With a chuckle she says, "Interested?" Jokingly, I take a few moments to answer, "You're decent company. More than decent. Are you interested in me?"

She pretends to think it over before saying, "Yes. Yes I am." I lean in and hug her again before pulling back and saying, "When do you want to go to Riften?" She takes a few moments before saying, "We should get there early so we can get everything ready, I took the liberty of sending invitations out to a few of our friends." At this I raise a hand and ask her, "What if I'd said no?"

"I would have to send very embarrassing letters out explaining why there's no wedding. Now, as I was saying. Jordis will bring Lucia, Dorthe, and Aela by carriage, there's one outside Whiterun they're going to use." Once again I stop her, "You invited Aela?" At this she answers, "I invited Ria, Aela asked if she could come and I said yes. The reason I didn't invite her is because I thought she might take offense. Now for us and how we're going to get there."

"We need to get there yesterday and all the normal ways will take way too long. Odahviing, walking, carriage, horse, catapult. All of them are too slow. However, there is another way." When a devilish smile crosses her face I say, "Dare I ask?" She nods her head and answers, "My beast form is faster than even Odahviing, and no predator or thug will dare mess with a woman riding on a huge, snarling, hairy beast's back." I let out a nervous laugh and say, "I don't think I need to ask who this woman is." At this she ask, "Are you okay with it?" I think about it for a few minutes. It would be faster than riding, safer than walking, and not as terrifying as flying. "Okay. When do we leave?"

She smiles and yells to Jordis, "We're leaving! Keep them safe." And with that she grabs my hand and drags me into the thicker area of the woods to conceal us from sight. "When I'm transformed just climb, grab, and hang on. I might need to eat a few deer so I can stay in my wolf form all the way there. Also, if anything goes wrong," She pauses for several moments. "wound me. Killing me would only kill you too, but injuring me is fine. Do whatever you have to but don't stick around if I loose control. It's been a rather-uh hum- long time since I've been in my w-" I raise a finger to her lips to silence her. She gives me a grateful smile and says, "Alright." She quickly strips off her armor and stands before me in her regular clothes, she also hands me a bag that I tie around my back. I watch as she slowly closes her eyes and lets out a deep breath.

I don't notice the changes at first, I only realize she's shifting when I feel her fingers elongate around mine. Her fur slowly thickens, lengthens, and becomes an extremely dark brown. As I watch her face morphs, her nose and mouth meld to become a long snout, her ears actually become shorter and go further back on her skull, and finally her teeth sprout out of her mouth. Her feet, thighs, and arms all grow thicker and longer while her tail and torso shrink. As her clothes rip I can't help but stare at her newly formed abs and barrel chest. The transformation couldn't have taken three minutes, however it feels like it lasted hours.

I expected her to look exactly like Arnbjorn, however she doesn't look a bit like him. Her fur is lighter, smoother, and longer than his was. Not to mention while he towered over me she actually seems shorter than her normal self. I'm snapped out of my thoughts by a low growl, it's only then I realize the Listener's crouched down so I can climb onto her muscular back.

I try to be as gentle as possible as I climb onto her, although I hear a slight whimper when I almost fall and tug on her fur too hard to stay on her. "Sorry." I mumble as I lay flat against her back and rest my chin against the top of her skull. She lets out a strange noise, a high pitched growl/squeak. "Am I ready?" I ask her. When she barks in confirmation I say, "As ready as I'll ever be." Slowly, the Listener turns around so she's facing towards Riften and begins slowly trotting. "We'll never make it at this rate." I joke her.

However, she must take this as a challenge because she instantly begins running at her full speed. At first I'm terrified and simply stare at the back of her neck, however halfway through my stomach settles and I dare to look up. I can't help but gasp, the world is sliding past us at an amazing rate. Swirling leaves, prancing deer,beautiful waterlines, solitary castles, a knight on a white stallion, roaring bears. All of them seem to speed by us, as if they're moving and we're the ones standing still. Slowly, I place my head in between her shoulder and neck so my face is right beside hers.

It seems even better from her angle, the world seems to slide by slower so I have a better view of things before they slide past my line of sight. Suddenly, the Listener slams her back paws on the ground before leaping through the air. I somehow didn't see the deer that dared to dart in front of our path, although I see him fly through the air screaming. Slowing down, the Listener approaches the dead beast and lowers her head. With one quick motion she begins feasting. After only a few seconds half the deer is in the Listener's belly and she's running once again.

Even though I've seen wolves hunt I never bothered to go with Arnbjorn on his hunts. I can't help but wonder if she could kill and eat a person that fast. Even a bandit doesn't deserve to have half his organs on display. I'm snapped out of my thoughts as the stone walls of Riften appear in front of us. For obvious reasons she made sure to approach it from an angle that no guards would see us and there isn't a door (I assume so a helpless citizen doesn't walk outside and see us).

When I get off her I ask her, "So, now do we just wait for you to change back?" She nods her giant head and sits down, I can't help but think of a great big hound. Patting her on the head, I sit down beside her and begin untangling her fur. After an hour of doing nothing but sitting I hear a snap, it reminds me of when I broke a man's wrist.

I look over to the Listener and sure enough she's changing back. Her transformation back takes mere seconds, I don't even have time to fully comprehend it. What I do comprehend is the fact that she's naked as the day she was born. While I've seen her naked when I was taking care of her thigh wounds this is something completely different. She leans over and takes her bag back, when she digs through it she says, "Damn it! I was so prepared to leave I forgot my leggings. Astrid, do you want to just go in or do you mind being seen with a woman who doesn't have pants?"

It takes a second to realize she's talking to me. "I don't mind. Let's go." And with that she stands up and leads me to the entrance. I expected her to put on the clothes she did have, however she only bothered to put on her undergarments. The guards stare, but don't bother to stop us as we enter Riften. Quickly, she makes her way into a general goods store and buys brown woolen leggings and begins getting dressed. When she's fully clothed we quickly make our way to the temple.

"Maramal!Come here." The Listener yells to a man in monk robes who I fuzzily remember as an apprentice when I got married to Arnbjorn. "I wish to be married." As an afterthought she says, "Again." He tilts his head and says, "I heard you and Aela had marital problems and separated, but are you sure you wish to marry again? And to who?" I have to step in at this point, "She wishes to marry me!She asked me so yes she's sure." At this his confusion seems to grow, "Aren't you-"I cut him off by curtly saying "Dead." At this he tries to backtrack, "Okay. Are the preparations ready? If so, we can have your wedding tomorrow, from dusk till dawn."

"The guest were told to come tomorrow around noon, and Iona is setting up a small meal for the guest to be served outside the building once we're wed." He nods his approval. "Very well. Don't be late, don't want to miss your own wedding. Now it's late and I must sleep." And with that he's walking towards his bed chamber. "Maybe we should do the same, that transformation took a lot out of me." The Listener says as she leads me out of the temple and towards a small house in a corner of the city."How many houses do you own?" I ask as we crawl into her bed. "Counting Lakeview Manor? Seven. One of them's in Raven Rock." I can't help but laugh as I drift into sleep.

I'm awoken by a pale woman shaking me and saying, "My Thane sent me to get you. She's dressed and waiting for you at the dining table." As I get up I notice how strange it is for the Listener to get up without me. When I get upstairs I see why. Wearing a blue fine robe, fine boots, and a fine hat she looks nothing like herself. In my armor I feel as if I appear as if I don't care that we're getting married. "Do you by chance have anything I could wear?" I ask her as I eat my breakfast. With a smile she gets up and goes to her closet, when she returns I don't get why she looks like she's about to laugh.

She's holding a beautiful wedding gown, wreath, and shoes. They look as if royalty should be wearing them, not an assassin. Slowly, I dress in the outfit and almost jump when the Listener begins laughing. Instantly my self-consciousness kicks in and I ask, "What's so funny?!" She waves her paw and says, "Nothing. You look beautiful, much better than their original owner in them." I can't help but ask,"Who owned them?" She cracks up before answering, "The blushing bride Vittoria Vici wore theses EXACT robes on her wedding day. Let's hope our wedding goes smoother."

Suddenly it dawns on me the irony and I'm cracking up with her. Then it hits me. She killed a woman on her wedding day and then stripped her naked, washed and cleaned the robes, and then kept them for over five years! Even for me that's a little over the top, to kill a woman and reveal her naked body to her family and friends. When I tell her that she strikes a pose and says, "I'm the Listener! Over the top is what I do!Now, I believe there's another wedding we have to get to since SOMEONE, " She playfully glares at Iona. "let us sleep till ten. Now let's go." I take her offered arm and follow her to the temple.

As we enter I notice the overflow of people, and as we listen to the priest drone on I inspect them. On her side in the first seat are her children, who are pushing themselves as far away from another familiar face as they can get. Babette smiles when she sees me looking at her and mouths 'Congratulations.' In the next seat I'm not surprised to see Jordis, Iona, and the Listener's other favored Housecarl Lydia. Since all of them are wearing the exact same armor and weapons it looks comical. Since there's no one to sit on my side the Listener's friends take up that space to.

Aela, Lenka, and the person I think is Ria are sitting on the first bench. On the second is the weirdest group of people I've ever seen. A woman with her hood up stares at me with glowing eyes, her fangs poking from her mouth. Strange. Sitting beside her is a woman who I know to be called Mjoll the Lioness. In her plain clothes and washed face she looks like a different person. She seems to debate who to sit closer to, the hooded girl on her left of Ingun Black-Briar on her right.

Behind each of the final benches are three people, six standees total. On the right Vilkas, Farkas, and Njada stand like statues and look like they're being killed. And on the left stands a Thalmor Judiciary (how does she know him?), another Altmer (this one in mage robes), and a elderly Nord man. I'm snapped out of my thoughts by the Listener saying, "I do. Now and forever." I turn my head when he ask me and say, "I do. Now and forever." He hands us our rings and announces our marriage. The crowd applause and congratulates us as we all make our way out to where a few more priest are setting up a small feast.

Grabbing the Listener by the hand, I lead her away from the feast and towards her home. We've both had too much wine and stumble all the way to her house. I was taught as a little girl when I get married I have to consummate with my spouse on the first night or our marriage is doomed. When I grew up I figured out that wasn't true, although it's still tradition to consummate with your spouse on your wedding night.I learned long ago that Khajiit don't actually get married, they just have mates. Nonetheless when I lead her towards her (our, I remind myself) bed she doesn't complain. I softly kiss her neck as I untie her robe ,in my drunken state it takes twice as long as it would normally. Her boots and hat have long ago been abandoned, and my wreath and shoes fell off on the stairs.

My gown is ripped from my body as soon as the Listener's robe hits the ground. Looking up I see her teeth have elongated and her clawed hand holds Vittoria Vici's ruined dress in a fist. Smiling, I relieve her of her undergarments and drunkenly notice my own are gone. However, all logical thoughts escaped my head as the Listener pulled me into her bed. Our kiss was sloppy and tasted of wine, but as long as I was kissing her I didn't care.

The world fell away as urgency override any of our other emotions, and at once we began fighting for dominance. I smile into her neck when she finally gives up and allows me to stay on top. The Listener lets out a loud gasp as our heated bodies fall against one another, I can't say I blame her. Her last straw was when I wrapped my legs around her hips. The sensation was wonderful and amazing, at that moment nothing could have upset me. Another night I might drag it out for hours, but not tonight. There would be other chances to tease the Listener to Oblivion, tonight we just needed each other. When my world shattered in pleasure I jerked my head down from the ceiling and met the Listener's eyes. The world seemed to melt away as we starred into each other's eyes as our bodies jerked in pleasure. I knew that I was meant for her, and she for me. For once I didn't feel alone, and I felt that way all night as I held her sleeping form in my arms.

I absently stroked her hair, we were both just content to spend the morning in each other's arms. "There'll be other challenges." She said. "I know." I answered. "It might not be easy." "I know." For a moment she's silent then, "I love you." I kiss her neck and say, "I love you too." She turns around. "Promise you'll always stay with me?" I nod and say, "Forever." And when we kissed I knew, this was the woman I'll spend the rest of my life with. And I would love. Now and forever.

The End.

Thank you all so much for reading this, it means a lot to know others enjoy my stories. I don't think this will be my last adventure with Astrid and The Listener, but right now I'm focusing on my Legate Rikke x Female Dovahkiin story I'm starting called The March. So while it isn't my last Astrid story, it'll be a while before I get around to writing another. So, once again thank you all so much for reading and I hope you liked it.