Disclaimer: Skyrim does not belong to me. Arin is my only creation.

xxxx

I sighed for the hundredth time despite myself and Kodlak's stare was on me, again, before I could wince.

We'd been sitting here for ages and conversation died off a long time ago. If it wasn't for the shouting outside and the brawls that broke out in intervals I'd have suffocated in the silence. Why Kodlak insisted we wait for this woman I couldn't fathom.

I got here by first light and we'd been sitting since. It was midday now and my chair made my hips cramp and Kodlak's gaze was beginning to irk me.

If I could I would've busied myself with a drink but it turned out Kodlak had none of it in his chambers. I'd have to wait until I got upstairs to catch some relief and the way my tongue scraped against my dry lips at the thought made me very aware of how far away that notion could end up becoming.

It didn't help that Kodlak had been staring since my arrival. Nazzim forewarned he'd do it out of excitement but hearing of it, and feeling it for half a day were very separate experiences.

What I couldn't understand was why. Why sit all day for someone when I could've filled the time with something useful, like moving my things into the dormitories. Maybe I could've gotten Farkas to explain some more about living with the Companions, like if I'd survive it.

I know the noise was a formidable opponent on its own.

The warriors itself, I reckoned I could take. They were hotblooded, and eager. Hotblooded and eager tended not to have brains yet, and they were always the first and easiest to take down in Dragonsreach.

I'd have questioned Kodlak about his choice to sit and do nothing but I couldn't bring myself to be disrespectful. Sitting in this chair in the same position since dawn with his eyes down my soul however made me stiff and antsy.

I needed a walk. To stretch my legs and get some water down my dry throat before I croaked so I went to excuse myself to do just that when Farkas peaked through the large oak doors with a glint of excitement.

"She's here, Harbinger."

The large man perked up, mirth seeping into his eyes as he stood. "Wonderful!" he said and had me remain until he retrieved her.

At that point I crumbled into my chair. My stiff, hard, wooden chair that I'd grown a dislikening to in the past age and a half I'd spent sitting in it.

It was a second of relative-Companion riddled-silence before the thought occurred and I jumped out of my seat and took a happy-if not efforted from the heavy cuirass-stretch, complete with shameless groans of satisfaction. They doubled for releasing agitation.

Kodlak left a silence behind him-as silent as it could be with rowdy young warriors bouncing around in the halls-and it was so light and free with the absence of his admittedly agitating stare that I took every moment of it to relish.

I didn't know how long the introductions would be, and my mouth still yearned for that drink like no other so I had to steel myself.

I hadn't heard much about the woman since the introductions to the others. I only knew she'd be coming from Cyrodiil and from how the others acted, she was an old friend. And significant, it seemed, for Kodlak only introduced me to the important ones. And we'd been waiting all day.

Much to the dismay of the lower half of my body.

I didn't mind the waiting, until it turned into extended waiting in which Kodlak would fish around inside my skin with his intensity. At first I took simple notice of it, but long enough in front of it with no breaks in between wore steadily on my nerves until I was ready to punch him in the face.

Nazzim would probably be surprised by that, I'd have to find out after sending letter to him tomorrow.

I hadn't heard them approach on part of the ruckus outside and it wasn't until the doors creaked open that I'd known of their arrival.

I'd imagine I wore an amusing expression for the slender woman, much shorter than Kodlak and even a little off from myself carried a hint of glee in her eyes when she came in.

I froze there for a while, beside the table. I hadn't been doing anything embarrassment worthy but still, Kodlak left me sitting, a part of me felt off for him to return to me standing midstretch.

"Lydia, this is Arin of Cyrodiil."

She was clad in sand and navy colored robes from the head down. The only flesh on her was her face and hands. The rest was cloth, save for her boots which oddly enough were tipped in onyx which shined like metal.

I returned the greeting, stepping forward to take her hand in a shake and her skin was soft, but her grip had some strength to it that I wasn't expecting. She had caramel skin, though not dark enough to be redguard. She didn't have the features either, nor the build if I'm being honest

I didn't bother to explain what they'd walked in on, hadn't a clue how to even begin that, so we took our seats together. Her beside Kodlak on the other side of the table. I offered a pathetic smile that was all thin lines and quirked eyebrows.

I'm horrendous at introductions, especially the formal ones.

How I managed through three of them I couldn't explain.

She wore a simple expression. Her eyes were large ponds that looked like liquid chocolate and I paused at first at the sheer softnessof them. There was delicacy to the way she moved and when she sat she perched her hands between her legs and grinned, arguably the same grin I gave her. Except maybe a bit more graceful.

"Arin's taught us a lot in her time with us." Kodlak's voice was warm nectar now where it was stoic stone all day. And there was mirth in his eyes. It intrigued me.

What could this small little imperial have done to earn such a reaction out of a hardened man? 'Imperial', I used loosely for she didn't look like any Imperial I'd ever seen. Imperials didn't wear headdresses, not the cloth bound one around her whole head at least, that was more of a redguard ware. And they didn't have mahogany hair, which I'd only deduced from her eyebrows. But she was-apparently-an Imperial, which I'd heard from Farkas and Aela in passing.

The benign way she smiled at me-eyes all warm and kind-had me wondering what she was doing in such a rough and obtrusive place. She struck me as a young girl. But the swell in her robes told me she was very much a woman.

I couldn't help but feel she didn't belong here. The fact that Kodlak-even sitting down-dwarfed her, with his scarred face and dented armor so dark and worn next to her, didn't do well to encourage the opposite.

"Kodlak's told me much about you." she said and her voice was a small one, but it had a timber to it that surprised me.

"He's told me almost nothing about you." I admitted, partly afraid to offend once it was out of my mouth but the mirth in her large eyes assured me otherwise as the sun broke out on her face when she smiled.

"He likes to keep me a surprise. I'm not sure why. Entertainment probably."

I blinked, puzzlement seeping in as I tilted my head and she mimicked me with a playful grin. The deep blue cloth dome atop her head tilting with her.

"Why is that?"

She shrugged, a quick and innocent bounce, and her shoulders hadn't looked more dainty. "People find me surprising." the deep chuckle beside her caught her attention and it only made me frown deeper.

She looked up at the mirthful man and feigned a disapproving frown, which only came across more endearing than threatening. "And Kodlak's got far too much time on his hands."

I cracked up, pleasantly surprised as Kodlak choked and a lightly scandalized look found purchase on his face. She merely returned it with a happy smile and laughed to herself when he didn't look away.

She patted him on the shoulder and it only made him seem more disgruntled.

"Besides, it wasn't fully confirmed if I'd come or not. It'd be a waste to make such a fuss for me not to arrive in the end."

"Arin's here to observe, and to train if she sees fit." his deep voice was a gruff contrast to her soft one, though the lingering offense in it probably played a factor.

"Train?" I hadn't meant to offend but I couldn't wrestle away the sheer confusion from my face and voice for the life of me.

What could she possibly teach me, restoration?

From what I heard Tilda was very much a qualified healer. And even then, I could always go back to Dragonsreach and request the healers there if I was in such need.

Granted it was a smart idea to be familiar with the art in case I needed it. Shouldn't leave to others what can be done on your own.

I supposed I could get on board with the idea.

"Yes, train." Kodlak confirmed. "Arin's made men out of a lot of the Companions in the past. The older ones at least."

The curious frown found its way on my face again. And I found my head tilting. Arin seemed delighted by it for a bright smile splayed her lips and a happy laugh left her.

How in oblivion did she do that?

"How," Arin blinked, unfazed and glowing. "Did she do that, exactly?"

The way Kodlak said it made it out like she'd whipped them into shape, like she'd carved them out of stone with her bare hands. Like she kicked them around like puppies and he'd found great entertainment from it. And it only confused me more.

A happy bounce caught my attention and I looked to Arin to catch her at the end of her shrug. She lifted her hands out of her lap to fold them on the table, the tan cloth pooling on the surface.

"People find me surprising." Arin repeated. "Though admittedly that only depends on the person."

"What does that mean?"

"It means if one isn't quick to judge, and lets me show them who I am it wouldn't be so surprising without a premature judgment to compare it to."

That made me blink, and it stroked an intrigue in me that wasn't potent enough to distract from the embarrassment pooling in me. I felt like I'd been caught mid crime.

"To be fair you make quite the first impression."

The sigh she gave seemed like a pained one but the way it came out was comparable to a child sighing at adult problems. I almost laughed.

"Yes well, I'd come to terms with that a long time ago."

I couldn't help the chuckle that bubbled out of me. "You don't seem very enthused about it."

She shrugged. "Being misunderstood grows old quickly."

I blinked, pursing my lips before smacking them. "Well, I'll do my best not to." though admittedly I wasn't doing a very good job. But I would try to restrain the prejudgment from then on. Although my insides were still screaming in confusion what this woman could possibly teach me.

I paused though. Maybe she was capable of beating me into the dirt, I'd have to give her that respect. It wasn't so hard to swallow when I let the presumptions go, I really didn't know. And if it turned out to be true I'd be the asshole at the end of it.

"Still, I'd like to know what you could teach me."

"That we'd have to learn together. Different people learn different things, and I can't assume just by looking at you what you've yet to understand. They'll turn up eventually."

"Fair enough."

"Kodlak's told me about your training. I understand you've had a great many years of learning."

I took a deep breath. Made aware again how dry my mouth still was and how much I yearned for a water. I nodded though, and licked my lips.

"I've trained a great deal of my life. I'm of many generations of Housecarls and we're brought up to prepare for the Whiterun Thane when we've come of age. If the current Thane already has a Housecarl the next in line serves to protect the city. The last Thane passed of old age not long ago and my father,-his Housecarl-passed not long after. The Dragonborn is the first to succeed him. And the first Thane I served."

A mahogany brow quirked. "Served?"

"We had great adventures together, but where he's going is a lot more dangerous than he'd anticipated. I'd protested on many occasions but he's a stubborn man. As his Housecarl I'm to respect that. As his friend-" her head tilted as she watched me. Curious eyes gleaming, absent of judgement. A small chuckle left me. "As his friend I'm allowed to call him an icebrain."

Chuckles filled the room. Giggles from Arin, whose smile rivaled the sun.

"Does it not bother you to have served for only a short time for someone you've prepared so long for?"

I shrugged, a much less enthusiastic one than Arin's, but it was equally sincere. "I hadn't spent my life preparing for this one particular moment. Serving a Thane is an honorable position, and I'm glad to have done it, but in my time before him I've served my city in the guard for a very long time. I've got no qualms with where my life has gone, I think it only serves to put a sour taste in your mouth."

Silence took us then, but it wasn't an uneasy one for Arin's expressions were reflective. And Kodlak merely watched Arin.

"It sounds like you were happy there." a glint caught my eye from her sleeves. Light gleamed off an onyx material reminiscent to the one on her boots. This close I could tell it was metal. I couldn't make out what it was. "What brings you to the Companions?"

Initially I hummed at the question. Finally raising my gaze to meet a big brown one. It was saturated in mischief and amusement. And I couldn't bring myself to break contact with it to watch her pull her sleeves down over her wrists.

"Oh, well, in my absence there were some changes made in the guard that renders me unable to take up my previous position." an interested eyebrow rose at that. "And I do hate to sit around doing nothing." I think I winced then, looking to Kodlak before I could stop myself and finding pursed lips. I shrunk a little. "I assumed the Companions would keep me well busy."

"They'll keep you busy indeed." Arin said. "I do hope you'll learn a lot here. I know I have."

"It seems if things go in that direction, you'll be taking part in it." I pointed out and she grinned. "I'm looking forward to that."

"As am I."

Kodlak gave me until the end of the day to move everything into the whelp's quarters. As soon as introductions were done I went straight to Breezehome.

I was partly still indignant about having to relocate. Jorrvaskr was hot, sweaty, and obnoxious. Most of the warriors were all explosives and no fuse and the only off button I could think up for them was death.

Hot blooded, and young. And the only ones who seemed an inkling of calm were the older ones. The ones with older looking scars and stubble on their cheeks. Who almost never brawled unless it was with someone equally matched, which meant older looking scars and stubble on their cheeks.

They didn't cheer like the others did when brawls broke out, they laughed mostly, and they watched from a distance. Sometimes they'd be with Aela sometimes with Vilkas. Who did the same thing.

It took countless negotiations with the Dragonborn to come to an agreement of my coming here. Agreement meaning that I'd gotten absolutely none of my requests.

Apparently retiring to Breezehome at night took away from the experience, and he was adamant on my living every facet of this faction life to the fullest, having lived a short time with them himself. It was mostly request on his part, and when I'd told him I planned on joining he got excited.

I was ready to leave the first time I stepped in. To a ruckus so restless and a musk that was almost putrid. The courtyards were never so unruly in Dragonsreach. The guards were dignified and discussion was of assignments around the city or diplomatic treks to others.

Here everything was about the best kill in the plains and how many bandits were taken down before the first scratch.

I wanted to be cross with Nazzim for insisting that I sleep here, but he wasn't a man of shallow action. If he was insistent, there was a reason for it. I assumed part of it was guilt for having me turn home, but there was always a bigger picture with him.

It was excruciating sometimes.

I wanted to return to Dragonsreach when he told me the news, get back to serving the city. I enjoyed it, it served much more of a purpose than being around sweaty, soft-jawed, barbarians all day. And it was orderly.

Which I liked.

And it allowed me the freedom to command my men.

I could tell there would be none of that here. Here there was a rank. Granted there was one in Dragonsreach as well, but it was less pressing on my patience to be captain of the Watch than being a whelp of the Companions.

From what I'd gathered of the thoughtless eagerness of the younger ones, there would be a lot of status establishment in my first several days if they'll be as naively self assured as I expect them to be.

Nazzim begged me to be on my best behavior, but my only request was to take peace in Breezehome at the end of every day.

I suppose we'll both have to be disappointed.