Puddles splashed up as the horse ran up the path to Whiterun. The rider was hunched over, clinging to the back of the Palomino, trying to stay as dry as possible in the pouring rain. The stranger slowly sat up as her horse came to a stop and she threw herself off the side of the horse, and handing the reins to the stable hand who led him away, and made her way to the gates of the magnificent city.

Thunder sounded as the gates of Whiterun opened and the stranger wandered rain made the city seem deserted and unwelcoming. Rain ran off the roofs of the houses and puddled on the streets. The stranger's footsteps splashed as she walked through the city. It was far too cold and wet to admire and look around the city or to move on to the next city, so she decided to stay in the inn here till the weather cleared.

The storm almost drowned out her voice as she asked for directions to the inn. She could barely hear the guard as he pointed her down the street to the market and described the Bannered Mare to her.

She thanked the man and the walked in the direction he pointed her. She was almost to Whiterun when the storm had started and by the time she had gotten to the city and made it to the inn, she was drenched and frozen to the bone. She threw open the door to the Bannered Mare and walked in, out of the rain.

The inn was dry and warm and many citizens had taken refuge there from the storm. There was a fire lit in the center and the atmosphere was very different the streets. It was welcoming and filled with conversations. The girls eyes wandered over all the people in the inn, there were mercenaries, merchants, drunks, soldiers and Skjor and Aela, two companions of Jorrvaskr.

The pair was huddled in the corner by the closed off room, discussing the details of the giant hunt. Neither of them noticed as the door opened and the stranger walked in. However they looked up once Hulda addressed her

"Come in! Sit by the fire, I'm sure I can find a clean mug around here somewhere"

The stranger nodded at Hulda and proceeded towards the fire and leaned against one of the wooden supports,

Skjor looked at Aela with curiosity, as if to say "who is she?" Aela however didn't notice, she was staring at the girl.

She was a small nord, with a medium chest and hips. She was wearing a set of heavy ebony armor and strapped to her hip was a sharp and dangerous looking daedric sword. The two companions watched as she took off her helmet and shook out her long wet hair. It was an almost a blood color when wet but would end up drying to a beautiful crimson color. Her was with a natural blush in her cheeks that gave her an almost innocent complexion. However her mouth was set in a straight line, with narrow eyes, it gave her a threatening and dangerous aura.

Her piercing eyes caught Aela's stares and she pushed herself off of the support she was leaning on and wandered over to where Aela and Skjor were seated.

"Can I help you?" her voice sounded how she looked. It was deep and threatening, although still feminine. Now that she was closer, they could see her eyes. They were a bluish green, almost gray.

Aela looked up at her "My name is Aela and this is Skjor, that is an impressive weapon" Gesturing towards her sword.

The girl smirked and gripped her sword "I'm well aware of who you are, the Companions are quite famous, and thank you, It was forged by a orcish smith, as payment for saving their threshold from a giant attack."

Aela and Skjor couldn't hide the fact that they were impressed, how could someone as small as her fend off a giant attack. They exchanged a surprised look that the girl caught.

"I've been training to be a warrior since I was child, I am no helpless whelp" she said coldly

Skjor looked her over before asking "How long is that? You can't be much older than child" He wasn't wrong, the girl looked very young.

She met Skjor's eyes with a slight glare "I've been training since I was 13, So about 7 years, I may look young and helpless, but trust me, don't underestimate my skill and strength."

Neither she or Skjor said a word, just kept their eyes locked. She looked at him, her eyes narrowed, challenging him to test her. Skjor's eyes looked as if he were going to accept the challenge.

Aela broke the silence

"It seems you know about us but we know very little about you" The girl looked at Aela and smiled at that before her face returning to her usual fierce look "How about telling us your name"

"Jacqueline, however that name is for proper maidens, not warriors, you can call me Jax"

Aela nodded as if she approved "What brings you Whiterun?"

She leaned against the wall before responding "I grew up in Falkreath, I am only in Whiterun because the weather prevented me from continuing my journey to Windhelm"

Skjor then spoke up "Were you traveling to Solitude to join the war?" Jax shook her head "I was traveling to Windhelm in search of work, I am a mercenary, I got a letter from a friend of my father's that he needed extra protection to oversee one of his shipments of gold on its way to Winterhold.

Skjor nodded approvingly and then went quiet, thinking about something seriously as Aela asked "You're a sell sword?"

Jax smirked "Yeah, it pays better than a soldier, plus my skills are too valuable to waste in a pointless war." Again Aela nodded as if she approved of her answer. She looked at Skjor with a look saying she was impressed with this girl. Skjor nodded, thinking the same thing.

Skjor stood up as he addressed her "The companions are looking for new recruits, and if you are interested, you may just be the perfect candidate. If you would be willing to stick around in Whiterun for a while, we would like to test your skill. Come by Jorrvaskr sometime tomorrow if you are interested" He then turned to Aela "We really should be getting back to the others" With that Skjor turned and walked out of the inn.

The two woman followed him with their eyes before meeting each other's eyes. Aela nodded at Jax and then rose as well, then turned to follow her companion. Jax watched her as she walked out as, considering the conversation she just had and Skjor's offer to her. Join the Companions? Would she really be interested in something like that. Joining the Companions was every Nord's dream, but was it hers?


*AUTHORS NOTE*

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed! Reviews and advice are welcome and appreciated.