What happens to Hadvar/Ralof...

[Resolute Crusader]

If you join with the other one, I havent seen Ralof since

[Wolfie]

It's asummed on here they die as both say with out you they would not make it.

[Resolute Crusader]

I highly doubt it since I sat back like a wuss so Hadvar could kill everything

[Dark Spark]

If you side with Hadvar and the Imperials, I assume Ralof never got a chance to enter the keep (slain by the dragon or by an archer).

After all, should you side with Hadvar, you soon enter the very chamber that you would have inhabited if you chose Ralof instead. But in this case, Ralof is nowhere to be seen among any of the Stormcloaks you'll fight past in your escape.

Things are a little simpler to explain if you chose Ralof, as Hadvar essentially enters the keep behind you two. The fact you never see him can be explained as Hadvar never catching up with your flight.

That said, you'll never see the other fellow arrive in Riverwood. As this was the destination of both men, this implies he never made it out of Helgen alive.

[Tarquin Dynatus]

If you go with Ralof, Hadvar should theoretically be following from behind because he enters the fort from further back. If this is so, he is doomed, because Alduin destroys that bridge you and Ralof cross immediately after you two cross it. Which means that Hadvar would remained trapped within the ruined fort. His only escape route was cut off.

[Zero-Sum]

If you go with Ralof, Hadvar should theoretically be following from behind because he enters the fort from further back. If this is so, he is doomed, because Alduin destroys that bridge you and Ralof cross immediately after you two cross it. Which means that Hadvar would remained trapped within the ruined fort. His only escape route was cut off.

Yeah, but he could've jumped down into the hole and made his way through there. I mean, go back and play the intro again and jump down into the hole, there is a way to continue.

[Jeff]

On one character, I left with Ralof. I joined the Empire, and Hadvar was still there. From what I've seen, they do not dissapear, until after you chose a side.

[DeeJay]

I can also confirm that if you leave with Ralof, but then join the imperials, you will see Hadvar again. As a mater of fact, I saw him many times in charge of a group of imperials assigned to help me take Stormcloak controlled forts.

After completing the civil war quest, I found Hadvar kicked back in the Sleeping Giant Inn in Riverwood quafing mead. No sign of Ralof anywhere however.

An interesting bug happened to me also involving Hadvar. Just after the taking of Windhelm, while at Whiterun, Hadvar would appear just inside the city gates, sword drawn and would run up to stay at my side (very annoying while working the tools at the blacksmith shop, heh). First time it happened, I just stood there and watched as he ran at me with his sword drawn. I was like "Woah. Woah! WOAH! Hadvar! What are you DOING?", thought I'd ticked him off about something, hehehehe.
This bug stopped after I closed down the game and started it back up again.

[Red Guardian]

If you leave Helgen with Hadvar and join the Stormcloaks you can still find Ralof, too.

But Ralof only remain as a leader in 2 quests for the Stormcloaks. After the Civil War he just vanishs.

That doesn't happen with Hadvar. Like Deejay said, while in Whiterun (after the Civil War) he just spawns out of nowhere and keeps following the player.

[POMC S117]

In my game, whichever side takes Whiterun, Ralof or Hadvar will be in the inn afterwards.

[Zero-Sum]

But Ralof only remain as a leader in 2 quests for the Stormcloaks. After the Civil War he just vanishs.

Not in my game. He just stays in Riverwood's inn after I've completed the Stormcloak questline.

[Gideon Dragontongue]

If he's not in the Sleeping Giant, then that's a bug. He's supposed to go there, but he can't be entered into conversation.

[Red Guardian]

Strange. In my game Ralof disappeared.

And Hadvar kept following me while I was inside of Whiterun. Like I said, he would just spawn out of nowhere.

[Belgarion98]

An interesting bug happened to me also involving Hadvar. Just after the taking of Windhelm, while at Whiterun, Hadvar would appear just inside the city gates, sword drawn and would run up to stay at my side (very annoying while working the tools at the blacksmith shop, heh). First time it happened, I just stood there and watched as he ran at me with his sword drawn. I was like "Woah. Woah! WOAH! Hadvar! What are you DOING?", thought I'd ticked him off about something, hehehehe.
This bug stopped after I closed down the game and started it back up again.

That happened to me, too. I just forgot about him and basically went on my merry way. Was an interesting and annoying as heck bug while it happened though.

[Dark Spark]

On one character, I left with Ralof. I joined the Empire, and Hadvar was still there. From what I've seen, they do not dissapear, until after you chose a side.

I can now corroborate this with a slight twist: my first character ditched Hadvar and left Helgen with Ralof. When the dust settled, she spent a night in his sister's home before setting out into the world.

Soon thereafter I found my way to Windhelm and had a little talk with Ulfric. One dead Ice Wraith and sworn oath of loyalty later, I found myself as pledged Stormcloak.

Once I had the Jagged Crown in hand, I dawdled my way to Solitude and gave it to General Tullius instead. Lo and behold, I was now an auxiliary in the Imperial Legion. A Cyrodiilic renegade who then double-crosses the rebellion? They ought to make a movie...

...The attack at Whiterun came in the fading dark before the dawn, but the sky was already alight with the flames of the siege. I ran through the streets amid the thunder and passed the gates. Legate Rikke was mustering the soldiers, and this un-capped Nord in Imperial Studded Armor runs up to me.

"Good to see you again." mentioned Hadvar.

"Yeah." I replied. "And you are...?"

[Stormborn]

Shame they didn't promote them to lead their respective factions. Really Betheda should have made it possible for them to join you as follower after main quest, I like both these guys more than almost any other NPC. Similar thing with Brynjolf once you guildmaster he is always too busy to talk to you and the Darkelf lady in the thieves guild just vanishes.

[Jordy]

Yeah, Hadvar and Ralof are both cool...I'd love to have either one as a follower. Or a husband

[MaKo]

An interesting bug happened to me also involving Hadvar. Just after the taking of Windhelm, while at Whiterun, Hadvar would appear just inside the city gates, sword drawn and would run up to stay at my side (very annoying while working the tools at the blacksmith shop, heh). First time it happened, I just stood there and watched as he ran at me with his sword drawn. I was like "Woah. Woah! WOAH! Hadvar! What are you DOING?", thought I'd ticked him off about something, hehehehe.

Yes, happened to me, too It was first little spooky, I thought that the Civil War quests are still continuing... This respawning then stopped somehow, it might be just as you said, that saving & reloading stopped that happening. But anyways, as you go out from the gates, Hadvar will follow, but outside the gates he sheathes his sword and starts walking. I followed him all the way to Riverwood inn, to see, what he is doing

[LooneyToon41]

Soon thereafter I found my way to Windhelm and had a little talk with Ulfric. One dead Ice Wraith and sworn oath of loyalty later, I found myself as pledged Stormcloak.

Once I had the Jagged Crown in hand, I dawdled my way to Solitude and gave it to General Tullius instead. Lo and behold, I was now an auxiliary in the Imperial Legion. A Cyrodiilic renegade who then double-crosses the rebellion? They ought to make a movie...

Fantastic stuff!! Evokes thoughts of a whole new character build, based on being a double crossing son of a bxxxx! .... you should start a new thread on the subject!