Farkas Farkas is a lycanthropic Nord , a member of The Circle , and one of the most formidable and experienced warriors in the Companions . Like the rest of the Companions , he lives in Jorrvaskr in the Wind District of Whiterun . He is a Master - level trainer in Heavy Armor and serves as the Dragonborn ' s shield - brother in several of the Companions ' quests . He is also one of the Companions who can assign radiant quests to the Dragonborn . Upon completion of the Companions ' main plotline , Farkas can be recruited as a follower and becomes a potential marriage candidate . He can be recruited into the Blades if the Dragonborn talks to Delphine while having him as a follower . Background . Farkas and his twin brother Vilkas were raised at Jorrvaskr by Jergen , who rescued them from a circle of necromancers . It is unknown if he was their biological father . Jergen left to fight in the Great War but never returned . Both brothers eventually became official members of the Companions and rose to the ranks of the Circle . They were said to be the youngest members to ever join , though this may be a play on words by Vignar Gray - Mane , referring to the twins ' young age during their residence at Jorrvaskr rather than the age at which their membership became official . Personality . Farkas calls Jergen his father , and considers the Companions his family . He is especially close to his brother and follows along with his views in most situations . Kodlak states in his journal that Farkas is " too kindhearted " to be Harbinger . Farkas is also the first of the Companions , apart from Kodlak , to be genuinely friendly and welcoming toward the Dragonborn when they join the order . Vilkas jokes about Farkas being the more dim - witted of the two . Other Companions will also insult Farkas ' intelligence by calling him " icebrain " or " oaf . " Farkas takes the teasing from people he likes , but states that he will punch anyone else who thinks he is not smart . He takes great pride in his physical strength , and notes that he enjoys the added strength of his Beast Form . He prefers to resolve problems through bludgeoning and leave the thinking to others if possible . He does understand there are limits to such behavior ; when sending the Dragonborn on " Hired Muscle " quests , he stresses the target should be beaten but not killed . He wears a random set of steel armor minus the helmet , and carries a Skyforge steel greatsword . After the quest " Proving Honor , " he carries an iron greatsword instead . Interactions . Before Take Up Arms and after Glory of the Dead , Farkas can be randomly encountered in the wilds of Skyrim traveling with fellow Companions Athis and Torvar . When the Dragonborn approaches Whiterun for the first time , he can be found fighting a giant at Pelagia Farm with his shield - sisters Aela the Huntress and Ria . Trouble in Skyrim . In this radiant quest , Farkas requires the Dragonborn to kill the leader in a radiant location . Usually , the target will be a Bandit Chief , but it can occasionally be a Spriggan or a Forsworn . Hired Muscle . In this radiant quest , Farkas requires the Dragonborn to brawl with a random NPC . Proving Honor . To test the Dragonborn ' s honor and skill , Skjor sends the Dragonborn to acquire a lost fragment of Wuuthrad from Dustman ' s Cairn . Farkas is assigned as the Dragonborn ' s shield - brother and observer for this quest . During the quest , the Dragonborn is trapped behind a gate and Farkas is surrounded by Silver Hand members . He transforms into his Beast Form to slay them , and opens the gate to free the Dragonborn . After the fragment is retrieved and brought to Jorrvaskr , Farkas stands witness to the Dragonborn ' s honor as they are inducted into the Companions . Glory of the Dead . After Kodlak ' s funeral , Farkas accompanies the remaining members of the Circle to The Underforge . The decision is made for the Circle to travel to Ysgramor ' s Tomb and cure Kodlak ' s spirit of lycanthropy so Kodlak may ascend to Sovngarde . While in the tomb , the fear of frostbite spiders that Farkas gained in Dustman ' s Cairn gets the better of him . He apologizes and states he will wait outside with his brother , leaving the Dragonborn and Aela to finish the quest on their own . Once the quest is complete , Farkas decides to stay at the tomb with the other Circle members for a while . Purity . Farkas wishes to rid himself of his beast blood . To cure him , the Dragonborn must take him to Ysgramor ' s Tomb , throw a Glenmoril Witch Head into the fire , then kill Farkas ' beast spirit . Dragon Seekers . After Farkas ' beast blood is removed , the Dragonborn can speak to him again for more radiant quests . Eventually , he will have the quest Dragon Seekers for the Dragonborn , indicated by the speech option " Is there any work to be done ? " Farkas will tell the Dragonborn of people coming to Whiterun with rumors of dragons , and how he would like to see one for himself . He will then give the Dragonborn the location of one of the Word Walls to travel to and kill the dragon located there . Once completed , he will elect to remain behind for a while so he can get the details right when he tells Vilkas of the battle . The Bonds of Matrimony . Farkas is also eligible for marriage after completion of the Companions ' questline if an Amulet of Mara is worn when talking to him : Services . Heavy Armor Training . Farkas can train up to level 90 in Heavy Armor , though his Heavy Armor skill is actually a low level . If recruited as a follower , his services as a trainer are still available . Any gold paid can be taken out of his inventory afterwards , effectively making the training free . Follower . As a follower , Farkas has no tolerance for crime . If the Dragonborn has a bounty in any hold , Farkas will draw his sword and advance on the Dragonborn , but will not attack unless provoked . Farkas is also the only Companion who is essential even as a follower and after the quest " Glory of the Dead . " Farkas has very mismatched skills , due to his Blacksmith class .