AN: I don't own any of the Skyrim characters only my OCs.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I stepped out of Dragonsreach. I hate places like that they feel as though everyone knows you don't belong there. I'm just glad that the Jarl choose Lokira to help him further instead of me. I just want to get to Jorrvaskr and find out whether the Companions will accept me or not. I hope they will but fear they won't I mean who am I kidding compared to the heroes Kodlak told me about I'm pathetic, I just hope they'll give me a chance. I walked down the steps from Dragonsreach and head for Jorrvaskr to see what the future holds.

As I approach the doors to Jorrvaskr I steel myself for whatever is to come and enter I'm greeted by the sight of a nord woman and a dark elf man brawling in the middle of the hall, while half a dozen others cheer them on.

One man comments "Are those two at it again?"

This was not what I had expected to find here. I see an older woman on the other end of the room from the fight sweeping and approach her to ask "Um excuse me ma'am I'm looking for Kodlak Whitemane is he here" I jerked around at the sound of wood breaking the nord had slammed the dark elf into a side table.

The woman chuckled and said "Don't mind them those two are always getting on each other's nerves and fighting, Kodlak is down stairs at the end of the hall"

"Thank you ma'am" I hurried down the stairs to go find Kodlak before my nerve abandoned me.

Once I was downstairs I heard a male voice saying "But I still hear the call of the blood."

Then a voice I recognized saying "We all do it is our burden to bear, but we will overcome" it was Kodlak.

As I continued down the hall the conversation was continued by the man sitting with Kodlak "You have my brother and I obviously but I don't know if the rest will go along quite so easily."

"Leave that to me." Kodlak said as I continued to approach Kodlak looked up and said "Yours is a face I've not seen at Jorrvaskr before have you come to join our ranks?"

"Yes sir if you'll have me." I answered quietly.

The man next to him interrupted "Master, you're not truly considering accepting her."

"I am nobody's master Vilkas and last I checked we had some empty beds in Jorrvaskr for those with a fire burning in their hearts."

"Apologies but perhaps this isn't the time, I've never even heard of this outsider."

"Sometimes the famous come to us, sometimes men and women come to us to seek their fame. It makes no difference, what matters is their heart."

"And their arm." Vilkas muttered.

"So how are you in battle girl?" Kodlak asked of me.

"I still have much to learn that I pray the companions will be willing to teach me Mr. Kodlak sir."

Kodlak seemed to jerk in surprise then he looked at me in recognition, Vilkas on the other hand looked like he was trying to figure out if that was an insult or not.

Then Kodlak laughed "I've not been called that in nine years and even then only one person has ever called me that Amaliea is that really you!"

"Yes sir" I answered relived he was glad to see me "You said to seek out Jorrvaskr when I could wield my parent's swords and I can so I came."

"I was beginning to think something had happened to you and you weren't coming. I didn't even recognize you you've grown so, you will have to tell me how everyone is later. For now, Vilkas lets take Amaliea out to the yard and test her arm I want to know how much she's progressed in the past years." Kodlak said

Vilkas glanced at me as though reevaluating me. Then lead the way back upstairs and outside. As we passed through the main hall I noticed that the fight was over and the fighters were cleaning up their mess under the supervision of the older woman. As we stepped outside and out from under the veranda. Several people turned to look as Vilkas had me face him and get set to spar.

After nearly nine years training with swords the past six with my parent's blades they were as much a part of me as my legs or hands, an extension of my body and battle was a dance whose music was the clang of steel on steel or stone. I soon learned Vilkas fought with a great sword a weapon that one of the village elders had taught me to fight against.

Kodlak called "begin!" and the dance started to the sound of swords being drawn. With my long sword in my left and my short sword in my right I was in my element. He prepared to swing and I slid under his guard then using the hilt of my long sword I delivered a bashing blow to his underarm and shoulder, throwing his strike off balance. Then I looped my foot around his dragging foot pulling it forward quickly causing him to fall backwards, and before he could regain his feet my long sword was between his eyes and my short sword aimed at the gap in his armor where his chestplate meet his leggings.

He stared up at me stunned and said "Your stronger then you look." then dropped his sword. As he did I sheathed mine and held out my hand to help him up after a second he took it and I pulled him to his feet. I suddenly realized that the entire yard had gone quiet and everybody was staring I quickly let go of Vilkas and stepped back ducking my head.

Kodlak said "Well Vilkas do you think she makes the cut?"

Vilkas turned to Kodlak and said "Aye sir she more then makes the cut." Then he turned and looked at me for a few moments before saying "Now just because you got in don't go getting a swelled head your still a new blood whelp so that means you've got to do as your told so take my sword up to Eurlond Graymane to be sharpened and be careful with it it's probably worth more than you are"

"Yes sir" I said quickly taking the sword and hurried towards the hill Vilkas had indicated anything to get away from all those stares. I wonder what I did wrong?

As soon as I crested the path an older man called to me "You must be the new blood."

I couldn't help but stare the Skyforge was amazing. It looked as though it had been there forever the man coughed and I jumped saying quickly "Yes sir sorry sir Vilkas sent his sword to be sharpened sir."

I held the sword out, and he took it chuckling "Vilkas always sends new bloods on some errand or another. You need to remember the Companions haven't had a leader since Ysgramore and in the Companions every man is his own every woman her own so don't let them push you around, now I see you admire my forge."

"Yes sir your forge is amazing my Pa would love to work in a forge like this it looks as old as the land itself."

"I take it your Pa is a smith."

"Yes sir he even helped me design and make my armor he's an amazing smith at least that's what everyone in my village says."

I turned to head back to Jorrvaskr when Eurlond said "Before you go would you mind taking this shield to Aela?"

"Sure no problem." I took the shield from Eurlond "Only one question who's Aela and where do I find them?"

Eurlond smiled saying "Aela is one of the Companions a red haired nord woman she's an archer this time of day she'll either be in the yard or downstairs."

"Thank you and thank you for the advice." I hurried back towards Jorrvaskr clutching the shield.

When I glanced over the yard I saw no red hair among the training warriors, so I slipped inside Jorrvaskr and went down stairs once more. I didn't see anyone at first but then I heard the low mummer of voices one of which sounded female and followed them down a side corridor and to an open door. There I saw a wild looking red haired woman leaning against a wall. As I approached she looked at me and I hurried to ask "Um I'm looking for Aela are you her?"

The woman responded "Aye any particular reason you sought me out."

At this point I noticed an older scarred man leaning against another wall as I hurried to answer "Um yes Eurlond Graymane asked me to bring you this shield."

"Ah good. I've been waiting for this, are you new here?"

The man then spoke up "I saw her in the training yard with Vilkas she's the new whelp he mentioned"

Aela smiled saying "Ah yes I heard you gave him quite a thrashing"

"Don't let Vilkas catch you saying that" the man quickly shot out.

Aela then asked "so do you think you could handle Vilkas in a real fight?"

I paused for a moment to consider how to answer before saying "It is impossible to say. He was clearly not expecting me to know how to fight great swords, so he was not as ready as he could have been."

The man stood eyeing me as thou contemplating my words as Aela spoke up "Ah, a woman who lets her actions speak for her I knew there was something I liked about you, here lets have Farkas show you where you'll be resting your head."

The man then shouted "Farkas!"

Suddenly a man who looked like a larger rougher version of Vilkas came hurrying in and said "Did you call me?"

Aela then snapped "Of course we did Ice brain. Show this new blood where the rest of the whelps sleep"

The man Farkas then turned to look at me for the first time saying "New blood? Oh hello, I'm Farkas. come. Follow me." As I follow him out of the room he continues talking "Nice to have a new face around it gets boring sometimes, the quarters are up here just pick a bed and fall in it when you're tired, Tilma will keep the place clean she always has."

I glanced at him nervously up until then I had been watching the floor and he seemed to notice and said as if to ease my discomfort "Skjor and Aela like to tease me, but they're good people, they challenge us to be our best." at this point we stopped outside a set of open double doors across from the stairs, and he continued "Alright here you are looks like the others are eager to meet ya, come to me or Aela if you're looking for work, once you've made a bit of a name Skjor and Vilkas might have things for you to do, good luck welcome to the Companions." and with that he turned to walk back down the hall and I heard him say almost too quiet to hear "I hope we keep you this can be a ruff life" and with that ringing in my ears I took a deep breath and walked through the doors.

I came within a hairsbreadth of walking right back out those doors when I saw the people in the room. To my right was the dark elf man from the fight muttering about splinters and picked at his hands, as well as a nord man sprawled in a chair squinting at a book that appeared to be upside down. While to my left was the nord woman from the fight as well as an imperial woman who was the only friendly looking one among them.

As I looked around she stepped forward saying "Hello I'm Ria. I saw your match in the yard with Vilkas your pretty good. I was the newest member before you came along so I guess that means I get to show you the ropes!"

With that she grabbed my right arm dragging me over to the left side of the room. Where she continued gesturing towards the bed towards the middle of the room of the row to the right saying "This is my bed the one opposite closest to the door is Njada's you can take either of the others on this side. So what's your name anyway?"

She had been talking so fast it took me a second to realize what she had asked and I quietly answered "Oh I'm Amaliea Lyaera."

The nord woman who I was assuming was Njada scoffed "You sure about that the way you hesitate makes you sound like either you're not sure, or your scared to death."

I quickly decided it was probably best to stay away from her, when one of the men spoke up behind me and I turned to see who it was as he said "Knock it off Njada we were all nervous when we first arrived." it was the nord man he then looked at me and said "Don't mind her she's just mad Skjor told her she had to train some more before going on any more jobs. I'm Torvar if you ever need a drinking buddy I'm the one to talk to. In fact I think I'll go get one now." with that he walked none too steadily out the doors.

As he left the dark elf man spoke up saying "Since we're all introducing ourselves I'm Athis, and it's nice to see another elf among the ranks of the Companions." with that he stood and walked out.

Njada left not long after. I spent the rest of the afternoon putting my things away in the trunk by the bed in the back corner as far away from Njada as I could get. It was the bed I would be using for a while now. I still can't believe I'm a Companion now as I got to the bottom of my pack I noticed a wrapped package I didn't remember putting in. As I unwrapped it a note fell out. It was revealed to be Briella's hand mirror I picked up the note to read it, wondering what the mirror was doing in my bag it read.

Dear Amaliea

My dear baby sister if your reading this note then my doubts were wrong and you made it into the Companions. I hope this note finds you in good health and not beaten bruised or otherwise injured. As you can see I snuck my mirror into your bag consider it a going away present or maybe a congratulatory gift would be more accurate. Either way it's a gift for you in giving it to you I'm hoping that in all your adventures you'll remember to pay attention to how you look. You never know when you'll meet a handsome rugged warrior who will sweep you off your feet, but if you don't look good he'll never notice you.

Your loving sister

Briella

I rolled my eyes sometimes Briella can be brilliant other times she's an air headed romantic. I love her dearly but she drives me nuts. I quickly put the note and mirror in my chest. After a while Ria looked up from the book she was reading to say "I think it's time for dinner come on."

We stood to leave the room and as we crossed the hall I saw Vilkas standing by the door to the stairs. As me and Ria headed to open the door Vilkas stopped me saying "Amaliea I need to speak to you."

I froze wondering what I did wrong and turned to look at him as he said "Ria go on upstairs."

Ria hesitated a second before continuing on her way. Once the doors closed behind her he looked at me again saying simply "Kodlak wishes to speak to you." and nodded towards the end of the hall where I had first seen him.

I quickly answered "Yes sir." then made my way down the hall towards Kodlak.

As I entered the room Kodlak looked up from a book he was writing in saying "Ah Amaliea I trust you're settling in well."

"Yes sir" I said quietly.

Kodlak looked at me and said "What happened to that outgoing girl I remember, you seem to have lost her?"

"She grew up." I said shrugging.

"Just growing up does not change somebody that much. When I stayed with your family you were a bold little thing always running around, asking questions, getting up to something or another, what really happened?" Kodlak questioned

"After you left the other children began teasing me about what happened. The Elders and their parents punished them when they heard it, but they just waited until there were no adults around to start. The twins and Briella tried to help but they couldn't be there all the time, even after I covered the scars they still teased me about them. I spent all my time at the river training. I guess I lost the girl you remember along the way." Once I had started talking I couldn't seem to stop I shrugged and fell silent.

Kodlak contemplated me for a long moment before reaching out and laying his hand on my right arm over the scars covered by armor. Then said looking me in the eye "What happened does not make you less Amaliea. As I told you back then you faced something warriors grown have run from and survived. You are stronger then those that choose to ridicule you because you didn't let it stop you from reaching your goal. You trained hard and worked harder and you made it. You're a Companion now Amaliea and as such your part of our family." He sat back and waited for his words to sink in until I looked up and smiled slightly.

Then he nodded saying "Now you best go get some dinner before it goes cold."

"Yes sir." I said rising and walking out of the room.

I saw Vilkas was still standing by the door where I had left him. As I walked by him my smile faltered and he followed me upstairs. Where I saw Ria waving and indicating an empty seat between her and Athis. I quickly sat down as Vilkas proceeded around the table to a seat just left of the center. A few moments later Kodlak appeared and took the center seat as he did Ria passed me a basket of bread asking "So what did Vilkas want?"

"Nothing really just to tell me something." I said quietly taking some bread and passing it on to Athis who was looking at us. I then noticed everybody was eating so I took a bite of bread to avoid being dragged into conversation. That's pretty much how I spent my first day at Jorrvaskr.