Chapter III
The Companions
Author Note: super long chapter ahead. Longest I have ever written for this site
The city was in a state of twilight; lit by torch welding guards. I froze dead in my tracks. There were two people talking not eight feet from me. One was dressed as an imperial solider; the other a blacksmith. I ducked into a small side section of the wall, and hid behind a barrel. The guards glared at me. Their conversation went on for two more minutes; something about the blacksmith making more swords for the war, and she was saying it was to big an order, so he should talk to a person called Eorlund Gray-Mane. The imperial hated the idea. The woman finally agreed, but said to not expect a miracle. Satisfied the imperial left. I let out the breath I didn't realize I had been holding. Standing I walked from my hiding spot, and passed two lit hearths. The woman had gone inside her shop. I suddenly found myself very tired. The events of the day finally taking its toll on me. The ambush. The dragon. Left me with a sense of foreboding. I had to rest. Walking on I stopped at the cities well. All the shops were dark except for the tavern. Bannered Mare read the sign. I walked up the stairs, and pushed opened the door. The rooms warmth made me feel like laying there, and never getting up again. I took a good look over the space. Not many people here; a brute of a Nord in iron armor sitting on one of two benches on opposite sides of the large log hearth fire. A small table and chair set on the side of the hearth opposite me. The bar was to my right. The kitchen my left. I walked up to the counter, and sat down. My sword dangling from my left hip.
"I need a room, please." I asked with the best smile I could muster.
"Stormcloak deserter, huh? War must not be going so well for you. That will be ten septims." She said.
I did not feel like telling her that I was not a part of any Stormcloaks, so I let her comment pass without a word. I gave her ten septims that I had gotten from Helgen. She pointed up the stairs. "On your right" she told me. I thanked her, and got up from the stool. I walked passed the bard; who continued singing, after I left to my room. The room was of a decent size. A nightstand stood next to pine bed laden with green sheets. A dresser sat on my left as I stood in the room. I took my weapons, bow and arrows, plus sword, and placed them in the dresser. Satisfied I began to remove the fur boots I had gotten after entering the keep of Helgen. I keep the Stormcloak cuirass on, and placed the boots beside the bed. Laying there I let every muscle relax. I walked to the window, and rubbed the frost off. It was still snowing outside. I heard the rider, before I saw him. He was wearing the armor of a high ranking imperial, and had a large two-handed steel sword on his back. My mother ran to him, but stopped suddenly. She fell to the ground, and I saw her start to wail in anguish. Running toward the door of our two story farm house; knocking over two chairs, and washbasin in my hast. I yanked the door open, and made a mad dash to were she slumped. I knelt beside her shaking form, and held on; afraid to let go even for a moment. I looked up at our visitor. It was my father's unit commander. A grim faced old Nord who by the looks of him hadn't sleep in several days. He dismounted his chestnut colored stallion. Kneeling down in front of us placing a hand on my shoulder. I stared into his dark eyes. Eyes that had seen enough death for a single lifetime. The man pulled a letter from a small knapsack. He folded my hand around the piece of paper. Standing up without saying a word. He remounted his horse, and disappeared back into the falling snow. My mother had fallen asleep in my arms. I placed the folded letter in my pocket, and carried my mother back into our home. When I had her in the main bedroom upstairs. I went back downstairs, and replaced the chairs and washbasin. Sitting next to the hearth in a small oak chair. I produced the letter from my pocket; my hands were trembling as I opened it.
If you are reading this then I have perished in service to the empire. You and your mother were always on my mind thru trial and tribulation. I have never wavered in my service, but this last few days has me in deep thought over the state of Tamriel. I have an odd feeling that a storm is raging in norther men's heart's. I do not know what fate or destiny is, but these feelings just never seem to let up. Something bad is coming that I fear may bring about a second oblivion crisis. I have been careful mind the elves they are planning something for the end of this war. I pray to my god, Talos. That the war will end soon, and I can return home to you, but alas it is not going so well. I can not reveal specifics, but we are losing that is for sure. How long do we have is another mystery. I am thanking Talos everyday that you are safe at the norther border to Skyrim. Please forgive me for this one letter, and I am sorry to never have sent more. Long live the emperor. Long live the empire. May Talos forever guide you.
I folded the letter back up, and returned it to my pocket. Skyrim…..Skyrim. I tossed that name around in my head for a minute. Standing up I walked over to the bookshelf next to the dinner table. Looking on the three shelves I pulled different books as I searched. I replaced all the books, and looked around the room. I heard screaming. The stairs got bigger as I ran up them. I looked up at the sky. A swirling cloud raining fire down around me. My legs ached as I ran. To my horror every building looked taller. There I saw it again. The mass flew over head. Its black wings blotting out the sun. Crouching down in fear the ground felt cold. I opened my eyes. Stone. I stood up, and heard a voice. Walking to the edge of the tower I looked down. An execution. One of the prisoners looked up in my direction. His eyes they were mine. I gasped in horror as my doppelganger eyes turned a bright yellow as he sported large black wings. The dragon from Helgen. We locked eyes then the tower I was on collapsed under my feet as the dragon flew into it. Screaming I jolted up from my slumber. I looked around the room. "It was all a dream, but felt so real." I looked at my hands they were trembling. I shifted, my body and placed both feet on the warm wooden floor. I picked the fur boots, and strapped them to my feet. I stood up; retrieved my weapons from the dresser. The main room was quite when I walked down the stairs. Everyone was staring at me as I walked to the counter.
"Rough night Stormcloak?" The woman asked me. "The names Hulda, since we didn't get properly introduced yesterday. I run this here inn, so if you need anything just let me know."
"Know anything useful about this city?" I asked her. She smiled.
"Yes a lot of things, but you look like someone who would be interested in the Companions." Hulda said to me.
"The Companions?" I asked.
"What, you've never heard of the companions. A group of noble, honorable warriors that live in Jorrvaskr just up the stairs to the right of the Gildergreen."
I gave here the; I have no clue what any of that means look. She pointed to the door, and smiled. I stood up from the stool, and headed out the door. A calm cooling breeze was blowing through the plains. I looked around the circle of shops. The alchemists and general store were on my left, and some simple stalls for selling smaller items to my right. I walked to the general store to sell the items from Helgen, plus the necklace Gurder gave me. Walking in the shop I looked around; an Elk head hanging on the far left wall over a small square cooking pit with pots hanging over it. There were shelves on the right side of the door with a random assortment of items, and a troll skull. A Breton stood behind the counter. I walked up to him, and placed every non-weapon item on the counter.
"How much?" I asked him.
He looked over the items. Picking each one up, and examining them. He looked over the silver necklace, and flip flopping it in his hands. I was getting a little impatient. He looked at me and smiled. "Here you go." He took out of fat coin purse from under the counter and pushed it towards me. "two hundred septims." He said with a gleam in his eyes. Wanting to be on my way I grabbed the gold, and walked out the door. I looked over my haul. "Hopeful this will be enough." I hated wearing dead man's clothes, so I walked toward the main gate. The woman from earlier was working some metal on an anvil when I approached. She looked up, and smiled.
"Decided to come back down here, I take it." She said to me.
"How much for a good set of leather armor?" I said to her showing the coin purse.
She put the hot piece of metal in a pool of cooling water. I handed her the coin purse. She took it, and went inside the shop. I followed her inside. The shop was a decent size weapons hanged on racks near the counter. Swords and shields hung on plaques on the wall behind the counter. The blacksmith walked out of a backroom hold a set of leather armor minus the helmet. She tossed me a coin purse.
"I'll take the armor, and weapons." She told me.
"Fine, but I'm keeping the sword." I said taking the bow and arrows from my back, and placing them on the counter. She took the weapons, and gave me the light armor. I walked into a room to the right of the counter. I disrobed the old armor, and put the new leather armor on. When I had everything on I walked out of them room. The blacksmith looked at me.
"It all fits?" she asked me. I nodded.
I thanked her, and walked out the door. The Companions. I made my way to the cities well, and stopped. Looking to my left I spied trees branches over the walls dividing the city. Climbing the stairs I looked to my right. The building was blocked by the stone wall, but a upside down boat shape caught my eye. "This must be the Jorrvaskr that Hulda mentioned." I said in a whisper. I walked to the base of the stairs leading to the building the whole place came into view. It was massive the roof was a long upside down ship with the walls of the wooden building spanning its length. Large shields set in groups of two were the boat meet the walls. I walked up the double flight of stairs, and pushed open the doors. A fist fight was underway when I entered. A Nord in heavy armor rushed past saying something about those two at it again. The Dark Elf was taking a beating from a Nord. I stood there and watched as the Dark Elf went down on his hands and knees, before staggering back to his feet. The old Nord that rushed passed on my way in looked at me. He was blind in his right eye. His hair had gone white with age. He walked up to me.
"Can I help you?" He asked me.
"I'm here to ask about the Companions." He raised an eyebrow at my statement.
"Not my decision, go talk to Kodlak maybe he is in a good mood." Pointing toward a set of stairs. He walked away with out saying another word.
I looked around the large mead hall. A central square cooking pit set in the center of tables that incased the hearth. Looking to my left. A wall mount stood empty were a weapon hung. I walked over to it. What ever hung here must have been massive I thought as I looked down at the doors leading into the rest of the hall. I walked down the stairs, and into the basement. A bedroom set up with cots was the first thing that caught my eye. A long stone hallway stretched before me. Red and gold embroidered rugs laid the length of the passage. A long table with food on it sat to my right. I walked down its length. Being mindful of the echo of the leather boots I was wearing. Two people were talking at a small table when I reached the room at end of the hall. The oldest gentleman looked in my direction.
"A stranger enters our hall." Said the old Nord.
"I hear this is a noble and honorable group of warriors. I would be humbled if I could join your ranks." I said to him. He looked at me for a moment. He seemed to recognize me, but I didn't say anything about it for fear of being rude. This Nord had been a grand fighter in his days from the look of him. He seemed trouble with something; I didn't ask though. I looked to the other Nord who eyed me with a suspicious look. He was no doubt the younger of the two, but still a good fighter non the less. The old man cleared his throat.
"Yes, a certain strength of spirit." He said with a smile.
The other protested that he had never heard of me. The old man would hear nothing of it, and told him warriors join who have a fire burning in their hearts. He instructed Vilkas to take me outside to see what I can do. Vilkas agreed all through reluctantly. He stood up, and I followed him back down the stone passage. He picked up an iron shield along the way. We made our way outside to a small area at the rear of Jorrvaskr. Vilkas turned around, and held up the shield.
"Take a few swings at me, so I can see your form. Don't worry I can take it." He pulled a iron sword from his left side. I did the same. I grabbed my sword in both hands, and charged. Vilkas was a better fighter. He easily countered every strike put against him. He looked at me after sheathing his blade. I did the same with mine.
"You just might make it new blood." He said to me. "Here take my sword, and go have Eorlund sharpen it. Be careful it is probably worth more than you are." He handed me his sword, and walked back into Jorrvaskr. The Nord from before looked at me, and pointed to a set of stairs leading to the top of a large rock. Vilkas's sword in hand I mounted the stairs. The blacksmith forge that befell my eyes was the largest one I had every seen, properly the largest one, I thought. The Nord working the forge looked at me as I topped the stairs.
"You must be the new comer. The names Eorlund Gray-Mane. I see you have Vilkas's sword." He told me eyeing the blade in my hand.
"Does Vilkas send every new blood to sharpen his sword." I asked an annoyed look clear evident on my face.
Eorlund chuckled. "They were all whelps once. They just don't like talking about it. Now, remember no body rules anybody in the companions. Every man is his own. Every woman her own." He said to me. I handed him the sword.
"Fair enough." I said.
"I have a favor to ask of you." He said me. I nodded.
"My wife is in mourning, and I need to get back to her soon. Can you take this shield to Aela for me?" He asked me.
I gave him the; you just said look, but accepted the shield anyway. It was a simple steel shield. He nodded, and resumed his work. The shield in hand. I walked down the stone stairs near the back of Jorrvaskr. I entered the great hall, and looked around a thought finally crossed my mind. Who is Aela? The fire in the hearth had died down to smoldering embers. I moved to the stairs, and took one more look, before descending into this new world I now found myself. The long stone hall was quit when I entered. I moved quietly toward the back room I had meet Vilkas and Kodlak in, but the sound of a door closing to my left made me stop cold. I looked in the direction of the sound. A short hall with two doors on each side greeted my eyes. I sat the shield carefully against the wall. Two voices spoke from behind the left set of doors. A female voice was speaking to the Nord who first spoke to me. They were talking about going out hunting in the night, but the female was saying they should be more discrete about it. I didn't want to just barge in, but one of them should know who Aela is; picking up the shield. I inched toward the doors, and pushed them open. Two figures stood before me. Both looking annoyed at my sudden intrusion into their private conversation. The woman stepped toward me, and looked me over.
"Can I help you?" She asked.
"I have a shield for Aela." I said to her.
She nodded to me, and I handed her the round piece of steel. They both started another private conversation. She asked the older Nord if he has seen me before; he told her he saw me training in the yard with Vilkas. The old man looked passed me, and called out to another member of the companions. Turning around to face the newcomer. Aela told Farkas to show me the rest of the whelps sleep. I followed him to the first room as you come down the stairs. I laid in the first bed open, and let my eyelids slid shut.
Sorry if the end felt rushed. I promise to go back I do some house keeping on it. Please review. Thank you in advanced.
