Chapter 1: Calm before the Storm

A/N: So I'm completely obsessed with Skyrim. I really don't love just one character (which is why I have three separate games going at once, each with a different spouse) so this will likely be the first of many love stories I write for Skyrim. Any criticism that isn't constructive or put in a very, very nice way will be replied to with a sarcastic comment. You have been warned. If you have any questions, feel free to ask! I'm really working on character development do the OC you see here will drastically be changed by the end. Why? Because I began writing the story and then completely hated the character. And, just in case you're wondering, Leixa is pronounced Lay-kzah. Enjoy!

When Ralof took her with him from Helgen, he thought she'd be nothing but trouble. She seemed weak and helpless. A perfect model of a milk-drinker. But the second they entered the keep and she put on that uniform and took up that ax, he was hoping that he could keep up. Truthfully, he was certain that she saved his life that day.

What seemed weak about her must have been her lack of confidence. In short, she was shy. Or she just didn't know how to talk to people. Had Ralof had more time with her, he would have taught her to be strong and proud. Then she would be a true Nord warrior.

Her name was Leixa. She was a pretty girl, he guessed. But she wasn't a woman, no matter how old she may have been. She wasn't brave and she wasn't that strong. She may have been smart and witty, but Ralof hadn't known her long enough to say for sure. She had auburn hair and a smile that could light up the night. And her eyes (which certainly were her most attractive quality) were a deep and almost unnatural shade of blue. She claimed to be a Nord, but there seemed to be something a little off about this, but not enough to bother Ralof. She certainly was some part Nord.

"I was born in Skyrim," she had explained to him and his sister's family, "But I had to leave when I was very young. Ever since then I've just been wandering around to different countries and trying to find a home. I thought it was about time I returned home."

"And what about your parents?" Girder asked, "Where were they all of your life?"

"Oh...they...they both died in the Great War."

One thing that soon became clear was that, although she didn't mind telling them about her life after the Great War, she seemed not to want to talk about the first ten years of her life. Later, Girder would confide in Ralof that she suspected that something terrible or traumatic happened to her then that could somehow put her in peril.

But for the time, the girl stayed a night in their house and in the morning, she made her way to Whiterun.

Before leaving, Ralof had to make a request. "You know, Leixa, you could join the Stormcloaks. If you talk to Lord Ulfric in Windhelm, I'm sure he'll be glad to have you."

"Ulfric Stormcloak? Windhelm? Oh, well, isn't that a long way?" she asked. Suddenly, the brave warrior he had known in the keep turned into a meek young thing. He suddenly doubted that she would make a good soldier and thought twice about sending her to Whiterun alone.

"It's not that far. You just follow the road from Whiterun and you'll be there in no time at all," he replied.

"Well, I don't know. What exactly do they stand for?"

"The Stormcloaks stand for many things, but mostly we are fighting for our right to rule our country and worship our god Talos."

And this was something that completely baffled Ralof for a long time. The moment he said Talos, a sort of fire sparked behind her eyes. She seemed to be filled with passion as though it was her very own cause. It was a flame he only saw in the eyes of Stormcloaks.

"I'll think about it," was her reply. And that was when she left him. It would be a long time before he saw her again. And when they were reunited, the fire he saw in her would have spread all through her and she would finally be that warrior he saw in the keep.

The journey to Whiterun wasn't at all long. She followed the directions that were given to her by a fellow traveler and turned left at Honningbrew Meadary. Continuing down the road, she soon became lost in thought. She thought about Ralof and wondered when she'd see him again. As far as she was concerned, he was probably her only friend now. And because of that, she had to seriously consider becoming a Stormcloak. It wouldn't be a bad thing. In fact, Windhelm may have been the one place she was safe. She remembered long ago when it was a Sanctuary for her. She remembered a desperate race to get to the city, her horse only being able to gallop so fast. Her heart beating as she neared Eastmarch. The desperate glances over her shoulder to see if she was being followed by-

A sudden roar distracted her from her reflection. To her left, in the fields of a farm, a giant raised its large club over its head and swung it down on the group of three who were attacking it. Without really thinking about it, in a moment of shock and fright, she took the bow from her back and shot it at the giant before it brought its club down on a young girl who was part of the trio that was fighting it.

Although there was not one weapon that she specialized in, a bow definitely wasn't it by any stretch of the imagination. Surprisingly, though, by a stroke of good luck, she not only hit the giant, but the shot went through its eye and killed it.

Slowly, she lowered her bow, just as surprised as the trio. "Good work," another woman said, "it takes a warrior to take down a giant."

"Oh, well," Leixa began, "I'm not really...who are you guys?"

"New around here?" the woman asked, "We're part of the Companions."

"Oh," Leixa replied, "Who?"

"You've never heard of the Companions?"

"I've been away from Skyrim for almost fifteen years. I don't know anything about this country."

"Well the Companions are a family of the best warriors in Skyrim. My Shield Brothers and show up and help people out-if the coin is good."

"Could I become a Companion?" Because I'm dirt poor and need the money, she added silently in her head.

"Not for me to say. Stop by Jorrvaskr sometime and see how you hold up."

Leixa nodded.

"I'm Aela, by the way. This is Farkas and Ria."

"I'm Leixa."

"You really should come by Jorrvaskr, Leixa. You might enjoy it."

Then she turned away and led the group down the road.

The Jarl of Whiterun was known for his temper. Balgruuf the Greater, as he was called, was not a patient man, either. With all this talk of dragons, things were getting worse which wasn't good for the others around him. But the Jarl was trying to be calm. He had asked Irileth that day to hold any visitors.

It was because of this that Irileth immediately met Leixa before she could reach the Jarl. Balgruuf wasn't paying attention to the seemingly unimpressive visitor or her conversation with Irileth.

"But I have news from Helgen about the dragon attack!" was the line that caught the Jarl's attention.

"Whatever it is-" Irileth began.

"Hold on, I want to see what she has to say," he interrupted.

The girl approached him. "Sir, Riverwood-"

"Girl, did you see this dragon with your own eyes?" he asked.

"Yes, I had a great view of it while the Imperials were executing me," she said sarcastically with a bite of annoyance to her words. This was almost amusing to the Jarl. Such a response seemed almost incapable of coming out of such a sweet little girl's mouth.

In truth, Leixa wasn't as weak as she seemed. She was trying to be respectful, but her tongue slipped. It was something that had gotten her into trouble many times in the past.

"Young lady," the Jarl said to her, "Something tells me that this weak little girl thing is an act. You're a Nord and I'm hoping that you'll begin to act like one. But tell me why you're acting so weak."

"It's always helped me in the past."

"Explain."

"I'm a bit…Impulsive."

"Well, I'm going to give you some advice right now. If you want survive in Skyrim, you're going to need to be tough. Now, about that dragon…"