Hello everyone! Since I have been enjoying Skyrim recently, and I did not enjoy "The Dova' (so I deleted it), I decided to rewrite a short story with multiple chapters involving Vilkas and my OCC Addilyn Pinehearth. In the past I have created many Mary Sue/Mary Jane (I have heard it called both ways) characters, and I'm trying to pull myself away from that.
That being said, "The Story of Ali Merin" and possibly "Surviving Freddy" are being discontinued. Sonic the Hedgehog is something I'm not as interested in anymore. If I receive an uproar of this idea, then I will continue.
Anyway, I love CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. Please review, and send me your thoughts. Ideas for the story, what you like, what you don't, what could be improved. Or just kind words if you have nothing to add.
Do you know what it's like for your world to be flipped upside down? To experience the injustice that the Forsworn has had? To experience the mayhem all of Winterhold has had?
In a span of several weeks, all those things would have happened to Addilyn and her shield brothers. But that is getting ahead of the story.
The duo walked along the White River, Monarch butterflies fluttering through the clean crisp air. While not exactly cold, the tundra of Skyrim always had a small nip to the air. A constant thing Severio Pelagia had seemed to always comment on whenever they talked in passing.
The duo, Kharjo the Kahjiit and Addilyn the Nord, made there way along the winding road. Whiterun was almost in sight, and the Nord had found herself in a fit of exhaustion.
First, a dragon attacked outside of Riften, and one of her stray arrows accidentally pierced a guard in the arm. Despite it being a complete accident, she and her traveling companion had ended up running for their lives as the stablemen, guards, and anyone who was remotely outside chased them with weapons drawn.
"I wonder when we will get to Whiterun, my paws are hurting from all this walking" Kharjo whined as he followed behind her, slowly but surely lagging behind.
"Kharjo, you worked guarding the caravans from oncoming bandit attacks, and now you are complaining about your feet hurting?" Addilyn was determined to reach Whiterun, a city in which she had no bounty placed in her head and she could finally sell all the potions she never used.
"Yes, but while work with the caravan we also made stops in towns for rest, or took breaks for relaxation by the rivers. We did not walk for days without food or sleep"
It was true, and she could not deny it. They had passed places to rest and set up camp, but her pride had caused her to keep pushing forward to get to a hold that was many many miles away. Slowly, she sighed and came to a stop.
"You're right Kharjo, I'm sorry. As soon as we get to Whiterun, I will set you up in Breezehome so you can rest while I take care of things there" Addylin turned around to face him, her chocolate brown locks flowing around her like waves. Kharjo had been a major help since they had been traveling. and she was taking advantage of his eagerness to help her. It was wrong, and she knew it.
Living in Skyrim, it was hard to make friends. Even as a Nord, she grew up in Cyrodil. Her family living through the Oblivion crisis, she never understood why they decided to stay in Cyrodil and start a family there. When she moved to Skyrim, and ultimately got swept up in Civil War nonsense as she crossed the border, it was a huge dynamic shift. She grew up with Khajiits, Elves, and people alike, and never understood why people in places like Windhelm sought them out as Imperial spies.
"While that does sound tempting, I could not possibly ask you to give up your home to me, besides, I would not want to be stuck in the house alone"
"You would not be alone" She chimed, "You would have Lydia"
"Like that's any better" Kharjo huffed, they had begun to walk again, now being able to spot the farms that dotted the path into the city. Plus, the ever so apparent Dragonsreach, a palace of wood that supposedly could hold a dragon. 'Yeah right' Addilyn rolled her eyes, remembering the tales she had heard from people in the city.
"Now Kharjo, there is nothing wrong with Lydia, she is very nice"
"Yes, she is nice. But she always is watching me, and asking if I need anything, and then she stands in doorways and I can't get through. It is like she has no mind of her own"
"She is just very hospitable, and you could always ask her to make that Cabbage Vegetable soup you like" Seeking to dodge the 'no mind of her own thing', she tried to cheer Kharjo up. Wanting to make sure he was happy with a refreshing change of pace.
As they strolled near Pelagia Farm, Kharjo let out a small groan of discomfort, "Fine, I would like to relax. And Breezehome is quite quaint' He narrowed his eyes for as her peered at her, "There are no children there, right?"
Addilyn spun around and was now walking backwards on the path, "No! There are children in the city, sure, but kids and marriage aren't exactly on my radar at the moment. I have seen 21 winters, 22 this year. Adventuring is fun and I won't have nothing tying me down" With speaking those words, she spun back around.
"Good, while there are kids that can be sweet, I am sick of them pulling my tail for their amusement"
Addilyn gave out a lighthearted chuckle and then proceeded to take a right. That is when she noticed the giant that was standing in Pelagia's farm.
A trio, two female and one very large male stood attacking the beast.
'Hats off to their bravery' She smiled and drew her glass bow, removing an arrow from the quiver. "Speaking of adventure" she mumbled to herself and let the arrow go. It whizzed through the air and landed into the Giants arm, which enticed it roar like some wild animal. It stomped around. clearly not down with it's rampage of the cabbages. The others paid no mind to who shot the arrow and just sought to bring the giant down. Addilyn drew another arrow and sucked in her breath, steadying her aim. She let the arrow go again, and watched as the dark haired male swung at its legs and the girl in very revealing armor 'How does she not get hurt wearing that' stab it with a dagger. Whatever happened in those seconds, the giant had finally collapsed, to which the girl in the armor previously mentioned looked around for the source of the arrows. Her eyes fell onto Addilyn, and she let out a smile. 'Were those, fangs?' She was too far away, but Addilyn could have sword she saw actual canines in this woman's mouth.
'Come on, that's crazy' She huffed, blowing a strand of her hair out of her face. The girl launched herself over the fence of the farm, making her way to Addilyn. Now, Addilyn was not scared, mind you, but still. A woman she never had met in her life gave her a wolfish grin and then makes her way over to her. 'Well aren't you being ridiculous? She is probably going to be the most normal person you met in this country'.
"You handle yourself well. You could make for a decent Shield-Sister." She smiled and punched Addilyn's arm slightly, and action that jolted her a bit considering she did not see it coming.
"Um, Shield-Sister?" She rubbed her arm, despite it being a friendly action, this woman had an arm that people she brawled with at taverns would be unlucky to cross paths with her.
"An outsider, eh? Never heard of the Companions?" Addylin's response did not matter, she continued, "We are order of warriors. We are brothers and sisters in honor. And we show up to solve problems if the coin is good enough."
Coin? Fighting? Sounds like this was the best river to go for a swim in. Now, Addilyn had heard of the Companions. It was very easy to know who they were. She thought, however, they were exclusive. Like the no disbanded Blades her parents used to talk about.
"Is it possible for me to join the Companions?" She did her best to hide her excitement, but she was a terrible liar. Always has been, always will be.
"Not for me to say. You'll have to talk to Kodlak Whitemane up in Jorrvaskr. The old man's got a good sense for people. He can look in your eyes and tell your worth. If you go to him, good luck" With those words, the woman left with her Shield-Siblings.
'Looks like I have a new objective' Smiling, she looked to Kharjo and started to quickly make her way to the city gates.
There was a change in the winds, and Vilkas knew it. He felt it the day the Western Watchtower had been attacked by a Dragon. He felt it the day Euroland Gray-Manes son had been lost in war. Something was coming, and it would set a course of motions that no one could stop.
He couldn't put his finger on it though, he never could. Despite having 'Ysgramors smarts' as Skjor liked to state, these smarts had nothing to do with brain power. It was more of a gut feeling.
He began to rack his brain, making his way to the living quarters. His brother wasn't doing anything dangerous today, unless one called flirting with the barmaid at the Bannered Mare dangerous. Aela and Ria and Farkas were out fighting a giant, and there are safety in numbers. So that wasn't it either.
'This stupid beast-blood. Making me jumpy for no reason' Vilkas rubbed his tired eyes, he had not once in many moons gotten a good nights rest. It stirred him inside, and caused him to be a constant state of tired but not tired at the same time. Kind of like he took an afternoon nap and woke up three hours later.
Vilkas growled in annoyance and marched his way to the end of the hall, desperate to have a discussion with Kodlak over the idea of a vile blood coursing through his veins. Yes, he would admit it, when he first took this "gift" as a whelp, he was over estatic. But now, as a Nord of 26 moons, he was over this whole 'chasing your tail' thing.
Kodlak knew of the young mans approaching, he always did. He sat outside the bedroom in a chair at the table, reading to himself. Waiting for Vilkas to make his appearance and announce himself.
"Good afternoon, Harbinger" Vilkas spoke politely, knowing Kodlak for a very long time, he respected the man as a father figure. Weaving his way into the room, he took the seat across from him. He hunched over and stared at the floor.
"Now Vilkas, what has gotten you looking like you lost a fight with a cave bear"
As Vilkas talked to Kodlak about the call of the blood, the pit in his stomach deepened. It was more nauseating, if he was in his beastial form, his ears would be twitching like there is no tomorrow. Still, walking around as a human, he did have some wolflike characteristics that allowed him to sense outside of any mere man. He sniffed the air, and paused.
'Blood, sure. Ale, sure. Hoarker roast, sure. All those are normal. But...' His thoughts were interupted as the door at the other side of the hall slowly crept open.
A change in the winds, indeed.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy the first chapter.
Farmers Daughter UPDATE: I am working on the next chapter, I just hit a writers block with that story and I am trying to work through the kinks with it because I actually do enjoy writing it.
Burying the Past UPDATE: Again, working on the story. Just had not had time to look at it recently.
Review with your ideas, please! It would be very helpful!