"I want to join the Companions." Vilkas could only stare at the girl in front of him. She looked barely old enough to be away from her mother, no more than 18 summers old, surely, if even that, and she was absolutely tiny, with the facial structure of an imperial and the physical stature of a slight bosmer. The only weapon she carried on her person was an elven dagger fastened to her hip, and it didn't even look like it was put to much use.
All and all, completely unimpressive, unimposing, and certainly not Companion material.
"Sorry, we have no need of a maid." And with that he simply shut the door, ignoring the protest that she immediately went to make. That night he mentioned it as he and the other Companions gathered around to eat, all sharing the laugh at the description of such a child trying to play at Companion. Kodlak, however, did not share in their mirth, but merely looked on thoughtfully without a word.
The next day, when he heard that sharp knock at the door, he knew immediately who it was, because really, who in Shor's name knocks at Jorrvaskr? Regardless, he opened the door anyway and lo and behold the same girl stood in the door, looking significantly more annoyed, but not put off in the least.
"Now, if you would be so kind as to not shut the door in my face this time and let me speak-" Njada, this time, happened to be walking past and noticed the scene occuring. As was her way, she interrupted before the child could finish.
"Look, girl, we don't feel like babysitting children who want to play companion for a day before realising that they'll be run through by a draugr in a heartbeat so get lost." And with that, she slammed the door before Vilkas had a chance to. That night, Njada recalled the event to the others, and once again all but Kodlak laughed at the foolishness of the child. The next day, Kodlak chose to linger around the upper level of Jorrvaskr, unusual for him but who can question the Harbinger for simply wanting a slight change of pace. The next day, Ria had begged for Vilkas' assistance in wielding a greatsword effectively. As Kodlak and Aela watched, Vilkas had just begun working with the youngest companion when the girl showed up once again.
"Haven't we told you already, we don't need your kind lingering around her begging for recognition and fame." Vilkas practically growled at the sight of the girl calmly strolling around to the training ground of Jorrvaskr as if she belonged there.
"And here I was, hoping to find someone much less presumptuous if I took a slightly less conventional route." She sighed and continued to approach, completely ignoring his threatening stance and harsh glare at the obvious insult.
"Now, if you would just-" Once again, whatever she had to say was interrupted.
"Hey, I remember you." Aela stood up and joined the conversation. "From when Farkas and I took down that giant outside the city." The girl smirked.
"I think I can recall something like that." The girl shrugged.
"As I recall, you were absolutely no help." Aela glared accusingly at the girl who merely shrugged helplessly.
"You seemed like you had it under control. Besides, by the time I actually got close enough to do anything, it was already dead, so what was I supposed to do, revive it and kill it again?" The girl bit back.
"We certainly don't need children to hide behind us while we do the real fighting. Get lost, milk drinker." Aela dismissed the girl.
"First of all, Milk is an abomination of nature." Apparently she had missed the entire point, "And secondly, I do not and will never hide behind anyone in battle like a coward."
"How could you do anything but," Aela scoffed, "All you have is that little dagger, you don't even carry a real weapon with you."
"I will have you know that I am a mage. I would typically prefer destruction magic in a fight, but if I really wanted a weapon, all I have to do," The girl raised up a hand and purple magicka swirled around her right arm before forming a glowing, slightly translucent blade, "Is this."
"Well, we are a company of warriors, not mages. Take your fancy tricks to the college of winterhold, where you belong." Vilkas took a step towards the girl, fully intending to toss the arrogant child down the steps of Jorrvaskr if she wouldn't leave willingly.
"Hold on just a minute." Kodlak interrupted, obviously knowing what the situation was going to evolve into if he didn't step in. Vilkas expected him to politely explain the point to the girl before sending her on her merry way. He didn't expect to find himself on the receiving end of one of Kodlak's "disappointed" faces.
"Now, I'm disappointed in both of you, making such assumptions without any proof." He scolded the two before turning to the girl, who blinked at him in surprise at having been defended, "I'm very sorry about both of them. It's been a long time since the Companions have had a mage in company, and apparently these two think that means that there has never been one. Though, I am a bit surprised that you have opted to come to us, rather than the college of Winterhold."
"I did actually." The girl rolled her eyes at the thought, "Basically, I knew most of the stuff they were willing to teach me straight off the bat, and everything was just so... boring. There were so many regulations and rules and classes and absolutely no real combat or application of any of the spells they were teaching us. Really, the only thing I got from that college was an outfit and a few spell tomes that I had to teach myself after leaving. That's why I came here, obviously. Unlike most of the mages at the college, my craving is for true battle, not useless, purely theoretical application that can't even count as training."
"Of course. Vilkas, how about you test her, as is customary for any who wishes to join." Kodlak emphasized the word any as he stared the nord down. Vilkas sighed and shrugged, grabbing a blade himself as Aela, Kodlak and Ria all cleared the training area to watch the test.
"Just know I have no plan on going easy on you, so it's up to you to make sure I don't kill you. Prepare yourself." He even stepped back a moment to allow the girl to ready herself. She shrugged and raised up a hand, grasping a flickering ball of magicka before casting it onto herself. Flame swirled rapidly around her, not burning her, but her knew it would certainly burn him. However, he also knew that his armor would protect him from the worst of it, and the rest could be fixed with a simple healing potion.
Without hesitation, he lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air straight at her. Immediately, another hand came up and he found his blade sinking into a shimmering field that greatly slowed the weapon, giving her more than enough time to step out of the way. As she jumped back, she let down the ward and cast a spell at his feet. The rune immediately exploded, lightning leaping up against his flesh, causing him to be unable to move for several seconds, as the damage hit him dead center. After merely a split second, though, he was once again moving forward, this time dodging to the side and she sent a bolt of cold magic towards him. He once again swung at her, this time with enough force that when she raised up another ward, it only absorbed enough impact to stop her from losing an arm, though she certainly recieved a nasty gash. He, in return, was more than a little singed from her flame cloak. Another split second passed and both raised a free arm against the other. As Vilkas landed a solid punch to her face, he felt a small hand rest almost innocently on his chest before another powerful blast of lightning sent him back several feet. Both struggled to get back on their feet before the other could, but the battle was abruptly ended.
"Enough." Kodlak called and both instinctively stopped at the Harbinger's command. "As much as I would love to see this fight continue, I would prefer you both alive much more. Personally, I would say that she has more than proven herself more than worthy of a true test to see whether or not she should join. What do you think Vilkas?"
"Aye. I would admit that perhaps I judged a bit too quickly." He may have been a little stubborn, but Vilkas was anything but stupid.
"Good, then we're in agreement. If you're still interested, then you may start a... trial-run, shall we say, of being a companion. If you pass, then you'll be a full-fledged shield-sister. Simple process, really." Kodlak explained leisurely.
"Sounds great. When can I start?" The girl grinned as she bounced on her heels.
"Right now. You may be shield-sister, but your still a whelp as far as I'm concerned. Take this sword up to Eorlund Gray-Mane up at the forge to have it sharpened." Vilkas held out the sword he had used just moments ago.
"Sure, why not." She grabbed the sword without hesitation and immediately turned to head up the hill to the forge.
"Not just yet, though." Kodlak caught her before she could get more than a few feet away. "Before that, you need to at least tell us your name. And probably take care of those wounds, while you're at it." He gestured towards the cut on her arm and the blood pouring out of her nose that she had been seemingly unaware of until now. He glanced over at Vilkas, who was sporting more than a few bright red burn spots, and assuming that there were plenty more that couldn't be seen, he added, "Both of you."
"Oops, totally forgot." She giggled childishly, bringing a hand up to her definitely broken nose. She winced as golden light began covered part of her face and a small cracking sound could be heard. After a second she pulled her hand away and her nose was once again straight and the only blood remaining was what had already been there. She also easily healed the wound on her arm before skipping happily towards Vilkas.
"Don't worry about me, I'll just drink a potion." He shrugged, not completely sure if he wanted to be touched by her magicka so soon.
"Yeah, but potions just fix the injury, it'll still scar a little." She frowned.
"True, but I know for a fact that healing spells are more than a little warm and that would certainly hurt. Besides, I'm already covered in scars, see?" All he had to do was hold out any arm to show off the well earned battle scars that he was practically covered in.
"Actually," She smirked, "This one is not. One of the instructors at the college actually taught me this awesome spell that is specifically for burns and will make them feel so much better while it's happening. Come on, just let me do it." She pleaded, staring at him with wide, pleading eyes.
"... Fine." He sighed, "Just go take the blade to Eorlund first. Then, come inside and meet me in the sleeping quarters and you can work your fancy magic on me then."
"Fantastic." She smiled and turned, but was stopped once again.
"You still haven't told us your name." Aela called her back, seeming somewhat amused despite her earlier displeasure.
"Right." The girl stopped short and turned around, smiling sheepishly at the group. "It's Dragon." At the raised eyebrows she recieved, she explained, "There's this cool trick that I can do with a little bit of... Well, actually, it would be easier for me to just show you later, rather than try to explain now. But yeah, that's the only real name I know for you guys to call me, so whatever. Be right back." She waved and then sprinted away, climbing the hill quickly and greeting the blacksmith enthusiastically.
"Well, she's certainly very... High energy." Ria noted, amusement colouring her tone.
"Undeniably." Kodlak replied, "It should make for a rather interesting change of pace."
End
Randomly just got the idea for this and thought, hey, why not, right? Hope you enjoyed the first chapter, my lovelies, obviously there will be plenty more to come, hopefully very soom. See you next time, my lovelies!
P.S. That whole thing with the "Well, why didn't you help with the giant?" Has happened to me so many times. It's quite irritating.