Disclaimer: The Elder Scrolls series, Skyrim, and related titles are property of the developers and creatives.
Author's note: This isn't my fandom.
Love the games, but I'm not that intense of a fan. Actually just starting Morrowind. Anyway, this story was requested by a friend of mine and I stupidly thought about it so much I couldn't sleep. So here it is.
This chapter is more of a prologue. Also not my best work. If you want my good stuff read "Not How it Works" (X-Men AU) or "D-Factor: New Beginnings" (also X-Men Evolution, but you have to wade through a lot of mediocre stuff to get to the more recent chapters where I suck less).
I did a lot of research on Khajiit lore, Ta'agra, and the Companions, but I know I still probably get some things wrong. Corrections are welcome.
Enjoy. Read. Review. (or something)
I squint against the sun as I look up from the map in my hands. Alvor had scribbled it quickly on a scrap of parchment upon hearing I was from Elsweyr, but it had served its purpose. I can see Whiterun's walls stretching before me. Thatched rooves peak above the great stone walls, bristling like thistle. Above all, the fortress of Dragonsreach looms.
On first glance, everything is grand. The first real Skyrim city I have seen wanted me to believe in its supposed grandeur. But I see the cracks in the walls, the shoddy water drains leading away from the city, and the haste in which the rooves were built. Perhaps once it was great, but no longer.
This is the city which once held a dragon, I recall, rolling my map and placing it in my pack. I look down at the cobbled road beneath my feet. Ha. The Nords build their cities as lean-tos. Meant to last only a few years, but used for far more. They don't know when to move on.
The unmistakable thud of an arrow piercing flesh grabs my attention. I turn toward the sound, using a hand to shield my eyes from the midday sun. In the field of a farm just up the road, three warriors are facing off against a giant.
I race toward them, drawing my sword. A Nord woman fires another arrow into the chest of the giant, causing it to stumble. One of her companions, a male Nord, raises a greatsword and brings it down on the giant's leg, causing the giant to fall to one knee. The giant swings its club at the two melee fighters, a last desperate attempt to save itself.
Suddenly, an arrow sprouts from its hand and the giant bellows in pain. I reach the group in time to see the third fighter, a female Imperial, impale the giant with her sword. With a groan, the giant falls forward.
The three warriors cheer. The man claps the Imperial on the shoulder, "What a hunt!" He looks up, catching my eye. A wide smile fills his face, his eyes glittering with bloodlust. "You look strong. Come to Jorrvaskr and be a Companion!"
The Nord woman sheaths her bow and turns to me. Black war paint coats her face in three broad stripes, mimicking claw marks. Her red hair stirs in the wind as she folds her arms across her chest. I've never seen the type of armor she wears before, it is a strange mix of leather, iron plates, and fur. The same bloodlust dances in her eyes, though it stills as she sees me. "Well, that's taken care of…" She drags her eyes over me, taking in my salvaged Stormcloak armor, Imperial sword, and leather boots. "No thanks to you, cat."
My fur bristles and I resist the urge to bare my teeth. Nords and their contempt for Khajiit. "I didn't think you needed any help."
She laughs, "Certainly not. But a true warrior would have relished the opportunity to take on a giant." She nods her head toward the other Nord and Imperial, "That's why I'm here with my Shield-Brothers."
"I'll try better next time," I say, my lip curling.
"Ha! Another milk drinker crying about his effort." She scoffs.
The other Nord approaches and lays a hand on her shoulder. "Enough, Aela. Come! Let's celebrate our victory as Companions do! More mead!" He chuckles.
The woman, apparently Aela, grins. "Happily, brother."
They turn to leave, but I stop them. "Wait, hold on. Who are you?"
Aela answers. "An outsider, eh? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, cat. You don't have the look of a caravan member." She laughs at me again. "Ever heard of the Companions?" I shake my head and am greeted with a sigh. "An order of warriors. We are brothers and sisters in honor. And we show up to solve problems if the coin is good enough."
"How do you join the Companions?" I ask, thinking it sounds like a good gig. I never asked to deal with dragons, anyway.
"You'll have to talk to Kodlak Whitemane up in Jorrvaskr-"
"That's in Whiterun, friend." The other Nord adds.
Aela glares at him before finishing. "Kodlak's got a good sense for people. He can look in your eyes and tell your worth. If you go to him, good luck." She finishes her words with a smirk; I can see in her eyes she doesn't think much of me.
I grit my teeth and clench my fist over the grip of my sword. "Thank you, Companion." I bow my head.
Aela returns my bow, though it is little more than a head nod. She starts toward Whiterun once more. Her Nord companion, however, comes up to me and wraps an arm around my shoulder. He drags me forward along the road, though it is over-friendliness not malice.
"Tell me, friend. What do they call you?" He asks as the Imperial falls in step beside me.
"Ja'Kasan," I reply, "or simply Kasan."
He places a fist on his chest. "I am Farkas, and this youngster is Ria. You already met our Shield-Sister, Aela." Farkas drops his arm from my shoulder and extends a hand. I shake it. "I hope to fight alongside you soon, Ja'Kasan."
Within a few minutes we reach an archway which leads to the gates of Whiterun. A Khajiit trader sits in front of a fur tent beside the road, and I excuse myself to speak with him. We talk for a few moments, and I buy moonsugar from him, paying more than I should have allowed but I pretend not to notice the price. Ahzirr durrarriss, after all.
I catch back up with the Companions as they are entering the gates of Whiterun. Before I can follow them through the open gates, one of the guards shoves me back.
"Halt, cat." He spits, his voice muffled by the encasing helmet he wears. I see Farkas stop Aela and Ria beyond the gate, and the Companions turn back to watch. "The city is closed to visitors." The guard points at my ears. "Especially those of your kind. No Khajiit within the city walls."
I bare my fangs and step closer to him. I am taller than he is, even without my ears, and my shoulder broader. My gray fur may give me the appearance of a housecat, but I am anything but. The guard hesitantly steps back. "I just came from Helgen," I state, "I do not have time for your absurdities. I must speak with the Jarl right away."
I watch as the guard's Adam's apple quivers, but he stands his ground. "I won't be intimidated, cat." His words portray more confidence than his voice.
Sighing, I pull out the few coins I have left. 200 gold total. The guard snatches the gold from my palm before I can say anything and stands aside. I don't even grace him with a glare as I pass.
Farkas compliments me on my success, "I've never seen anyone stand up to a guard like that. Come by Jorrvaskr so we can have a drink, Ja'Kasan."
As he and Ria leave, Aela speaks to me. "Not bad, whelp. Perhaps I was wrong about you."
A/N: Ja'Kasan will use more Ta'agra in the next chapter for you nerds. His name uses the "Ja" modifier meaning "bachelor".
Ta'agra vocab lesson for the week:
Ahzirr durrarriss - We give freely to the people. Literally: "our donate". In Ta'agra, you can drop pronouns when the meaning is understood.
So here's the story why I started this (at this point, if you don't care, stop reading): A couple of friends have been talking about Skyrim for weeks. Trading battle stories. Laughing at our stupidity. When we brought up marriage in the game, we threw out the names of characters we like to take as a spouse. Someone threw out Aela and I made this comment:
"Thanks for turning me into a werewolf, will you be my shield sister for eternity?". Which got the response: "Please write a short story for that. Thanks." Literally worst mistake of my life. I've been preoccupied with this idea since. I hope it entertains you because I want to be able to sleep again.
Next time: Ja'Kasan is inducted into the Circle after a few months of proving himself, making him one of the fastest rising Companions. Aela has a surprise for him after his first change.