The good, the silent and the lonely

A Skyrim story.

*Check Author's notes at the end!*

No words, no speeches, not even a single peep. That's how it's been for all of Des'Terrae's life, just silence. It felt so foreign to her. She tried so hard to say the smallest of sentences, but nothing. Everyone around Des took notice to this within a short amount of time. She always had a large book and a piece of charcoal at the ready. It was no different from when she met her soon-to-be shield-brothers and shield-sisters. She had been through the same regiment too many times to count. Arriving at the doors of Jorrvaskr, she was enamored by the beauty of the building. It was something like she had never seen. Her legs felt weak, Des had wanted to join The Companions for years. She wanted to be around people who would take her in, even if she didn't have the voice to thank them.

This is what it's like? It's more beautiful than I imagined. She thought. Her heart leapt into her throat as she pulled on the door handle. Des was greeted by a warm fire pit in the center of the room and a few sets of eyes wander over to her. She removed her ragged hood, folding it as best she could to put in her satchel. She swapped it out for her book and charcoal. Des glanced over the room and saw a woman sitting by herself at a table. She was hesitant at first, but continued to walk to her. She tapped the woman on the shoulder, causing her to jump.

"What do you want?" She snapped. Des quickly scrawled onto a page in her book. She held the book in front of herself for the woman to see. "Is this where I can join the Companions?" She wrote. The woman looked at her in a puzzled manner.

"Why do you write this in your book? Can't you speak what you want?" She asked. Des shook her head.

"Why not?" She asked. Des paused and wrote once more. "I am not exactly sure. I've been like this since I can remember." She wrote. The woman figured it was best not to pry any further.

"To answer your first question, yes. You would have to talk to Kodlak, though. Are you sure you want to join The Companions...?" She motioned for Des to give her name and an answer. "I've wanted to join The Companions since I started my training. My name is Des'Terrae."

"Des'Terrae, I'm not sure it would be safe for you to join." She said. "I want to join because everyone else turned me away. Please, I want to join. It would mean so much to me." Des tensed up as she let the woman read.

"Alright, but you need to see Kodlak. He has more authority than I do." She said. Des grinned. "Thank you! May I ask for your name?"

"Aela. You better know what you are getting yourself into, Des'Terrae." She warned.

~~~…~~~…~~~…~~~

Author's notes: Whew! This is the first time I have written about a mute character, and the first time I've written about Skyrim! This is mostly meant to cover how Des joined The Companions, how she fell in love with Vilkas, and how she is able to start speaking. Hang in there, because we have a lot more to cover in the next part.