A/N: This is the chapter I wanted to make. Your reviews have been really helpful. I am honestly real happy about your criticism. Of course you can like hearing praise all you want, but criticism along with some praise is truly the greatest gift a reader can give. And I am grateful for it! I am sorry for the delay but hey, I did tinker with this chapter quite a bit to make sure it came out cool.
Farkas frowned at the establishment in front of them.
A poor farm.
This was supposed to be an easy test for their recent soon to be member, Oberyn Martel, of Dorne. Even if mysterious, the man inspired confidence and bravery, not to mention loyalty.
Skjor was extremely impressed by the young cub and was fiercely pushing for his nomination. It was obvious the powerful veteran wanted the skillful spearman to be in their organization at all costs.
After the incident with the stormcloak recruiter, the Battleborn Clan was so impressed they inquired and even sent "anonymous" gifts to the man. Oberyn simply nodded and offered the rest to the Companions, exclaiming they were his "friends and saviors."
He could not deny it; Oberyn Martel had the charm to ensnare many to his circle of friends. Vilkas, Skjor and himself, Farkas, were part of that.
However, this day was one he would never forget. It was when he finally met the Red Viper and saw his many weaknesses.
"Bandits of the worst kind." Aela muttered, shaking her head. "These are the ones that killed the Enduril family not too long ago."
Skjor sneered. "Rape and killing indiscriminately, as if sport." He spit on the ground. "And they call us beasts."
Meanwhile, Oberyn and Vilkas were up ahead, watching the rather gruesome scene.
The twin could feel the anger and rage radiating out of his companion.
"We need to be calm, Oberyn." Vilkas wisely muttered. "Wise and careful."
Shaking his head, the imperial snarled. "How can Balgruuf let this happen with his adequate garrison less than ten miles away?" His eyes had a glint that Vilkas did not like. "They should be tortured and executed publically, not just slain in combat. That is for a soldier, not a savage beast!"
"Calm yourself!" Vilkas whispered furiously. "They are eleven, we are five. Archers have taken their positions too; we would be dead before actually saving the girl."
Indeed, a little girl of no less than ten was being groped and touched by the leader of the group. He was laughing and purring while the little girl cried for help.
Crawling to the back, Oberyn said coldly, "You two take the archers. Red head, since you continuously brag about your skill with a bow, prove it today."
The imperial turned to the other nord. "You too, do the same thing. I am not standing idle while that girl is being raped."
With that, Oberyn crawled back to the trench from where Vilkas was glaring at him. "I assume you will attack?"
"Farkas is hidden." It was absurd in a part of his mind, but Farkas was an excellent hunter. "He is using the trees well."
"He is, but you are to put us all in danger, I cannot-"
One of the archers fell while another had his hands on his throat.
It was time.
With a cold frown of concentration, Oberyn emerged from the trench and took out his spear. He impaled the first man near him, letting him cry in pain.
He relished from that. A slow, cruel smile erupted in his face.
Vilkas charged and fought one on one with a heavily armored orc while Farkas tackled and crushed an elf that tried to turn tail.
Those left were the chieftain, who had released the girl and was already charging towards Oberyn, and the man Vilkas was fighting.
The others had succumbed to more arrows or were fleeing. Aela was in hot pursuit while Skjor killed two bandits that were poorly prepared for the surprise attack.
Oberyn smirked coldly. "Come at me, beast. I promise your death will not be swift."
Roaring, the bandit leader charged and the imperial just danced around, avoiding his attacks.
The Red Viper smirked and stood to thrust his spear on the man's throat. However, before Oberyn could do just that, the leader snatched it in surprising speed.
Eyes widening in alarm, the olive skinned man immediately retreated but the bigger man won the pull game and broke the spear. He then raised his fist and punched the surprised Dorne native in the face.
"Scum!" The bandit bellowed with a cruel sneer. "I will have your entrails for dinner!"
The others were busy and he was alone with the big brute.
It was a matter of time before he was crushed.
Oh the irony. He was going to be killed after just spending a few weeks in this new region.
There was a crack and Oberyn opened his eyes, which widened at the scene of a huge man, way bigger than the bandit, holding the latter in a chokehold.
As quick as a stallion, the Red Viper got up and took the remains of his spear.
Slightly disoriented, he quickly saw that the battle was over. Vilkas and Farkas were looting bodies while Skjor and Aela took care of the girl, who was sobbing on the former's shoulder.
Taking in the scene of the huge nord choking the bandit leader, he said. "I thank you for saving my life, stranger."
With a last gurgle, the bandit fell from the stranger's grasp, his neck broken. The big nord then looked at Oberyn and slowly smiled. "So, I take you are the imperial that humiliated my cousin?"
"I beg your pardon?"
Booming a laugh, which soundly oddly like Robert Baratheon's in one of his feasts, the big man said, "The stormcloak you stabbed and beat a few days back."
"Ah.." The Red Viper stammered for a reply, much to Aela's amusement nearby. "Well, he did deserve it."
"That he did, lad." The huge man chuckled. "He is a pompous little arse, but at least he is mostly ineffective."
Oberyn nodded and said, "Still, I would like to thank you for saving my life."
"I wonder how you got into that predicament when you are already a little famed around here with your…." The man smiled amusingly at the two pieces the imperial was holding. "Spear."
Vilkas approached and shook his head. "Stubborn, hot headed and incredibly arrogant you were today Oberyn! What in the name of Talo's were you thinking!"
"I was not thinking, naturally." Came the imperial's reply. "I was…. enraged."
"You were distracted the whole fight, lad." His savior remarked. "You were overconfident and reckless."
Oberyn groaned, touching his face tenderly. "Do not remind me, I have a broken nose prove it."
Laughing at the comment, the man said, "I am Stenvar, from Windhelm."
"Oberyn Martell, at your service." The Red Viper bowed. "I cannot thank you enough for saving my life."
"Aye, us as well." Farkas remarked as he approached, his eyes holding a disappointed aura in them. "He is set to become one of us, but after this… he really does need to have a talk with the Harbinger."
Stenvar smiled. "Companions eh? Very good." He then frowned at the little girl who was clinging to Skjor's hand now. "You saved a life today for your recklessness though, I would not say today is a total failure, Oberyn Martell."
After chatting with Stenvar the whole way back to Whiterun, he was impressed. The man was no more than forty and yet had been through countless battles and wars. He had fought spellcasters from the Aldmeri Dominion, slavers from the Black Marsh and even Redguard Elite soldiers.
Truly, this man was a force to be reckoned with. And he was a sellsword, one who had travelled as much as Oberyn had back in Westeros.
Although his first test with the Companions had been a complete failure, Oberyn found himself agreeing that it was much better this way. He had saved the life and innocence of that little girl and gained the tentative friendship of his savior.
Stenvar was almost as tall as the Mountain, Ser Gregor Clegane. He was also extremely strong and very capable of handling two handed weaponry. A Robert Baratheon but bigger and much more intelligent. Farkas was one closely resembling Stenvar but with less intelligence, more brute force included.
Oberyn was convinced that Stenvar would have been capable of going one on one with the Mountain with ease. He was faster too, which astonished him.
"Speed is key in battle, but the brains are the best tool." Stenvar remarked to Oberyn once on the way, which he completely agreed with.
And that coming from a big, brute looking man was also impressive. Stenvar clearly had a cunning mind in combat plus strength.
That was a very, very lethal combination.
It was a combination that had made the Red Viper infamous back in Westeros. Provided he had his mind set, not letting his anger or arrogance in the way.
"You are good with a spear but that is a ceremonial weapon here. You may have impressed the Companions, but bloodthirsty bandits and soldiers will have your hide for relying on ancient tradition lad."
Those words struck Oberyn, but the man was right. Spears could only work in special occasions but he had to change. He needed to train with swords, knives and maybe maces.
Even though maces could drain his speed, he was convinced they would be extremely fortuitous in close combat.
The thought of fighting with a spear in a cave or a city made him pale.
As the saying went, adapt or die. And the Red Viper was a survivor, he wanted to live in this new world and as such, he needed to improve and move on.
Weapons such as those could balance a fight better than a spear that could be broken.
He was also alarmed at the thought of a powerful mage or battlemage frying him for relying on a spear, when he could have thrown a knife or put his shield in place.
With a spear, there could be a shield but smaller, losing advantage of protection. With a sword, the shield could be decent sized and even enchanted!
Oberyn had his mouth almost watering at the thought of enchanted weapons, after poisoning them of course. That combination would ensure victory even against the strongest of foes!
"I do not want to nag, but you need to train with good weapons lad. And if by what they are saying is true regarding your curiosity of magic, I can say you will be a bloody terror within a few years."
Oh that he would.
Stenvar had talked of powerful battlemages that changed course of battles. Healing, destroying or manipulating feelings, those spells were responsible for the crushing victory at the Imperial City.
The big nord did talk about a capable warrior by the name of Thullius. He was an extremely able swordsman and leader, and had battlemages close to him at all times during battle.
Oberyn could picture himself that way, thinking as a leader of a group not relying on pitiful dreams for glory. He deduced that knights from Westeros would be pulverized in this region as they did not fight in formation, which the Legions and stormcloaks did.
Of course, the heavy cavalry was another thing. They could manage to hold a victory, but with those spellcasters and fearsome nords that could rival the Mountain in height, he doubted the cavalry would have much success after.
Discipline was the main thing here for their military successes.
As soon as the party arrived to the Companion's headquarters, Oberyn decided to shut himself out for a little while to read more. He needed knowledge of this world's battle tactics, formations and history.
He started with the history of the Legion. Oberyn was impressed.
The Legion was a powerful war machine of extremely disciplined soldiers that could ravage an entire country within days, then the battlemages and healers thrown in. He knew they were certainly the best in this world's history.
But not anymore.
The Legion had descended alongside the crumbling empire into severe decay. Pay wages were lowered and morale along with it. Discipline was not the same and desertion ran rampant. It was a miracle the empire was standing with a military that was so weakened.
And yet, they were still strong in their own right.
Perhaps these people did have a strong character. To be able to stand against seemingly impossible odds and come out defeated but proud. That was something Dorne had witnessed.
First they had evicted Aegon from their lands. Finally, they were forced to be allied with the Targaryens, but at least still independent.
Of course, an Empire was another thing. A vassal state and laughing stock nowadays, those were the reasons he felt the Stormcloaks had an argument to start their rebellion.
And talking about that rebellion, Oberyn heard of yet another incident near Rorisktead. A small platoon of stormcloaks ambushed yet another wagon of Thalmor agents.
It was a slaughter. The Thalmor, as rumor had it, had begged and cried for mercy but were cut down to one last man.
He had been left alive but an eye was taken out. He would most likely serve as a warning for the Thalmor Embassy. They were not to mess with Skyrim anymore, not when Ulfric was still active and willing to trade clashes with them.
The rebellious leader had grown bold these days and had killed dozens of thalmor agents, sympathizers and even an imperial count by the name of Julius Cilianus.
Julius was sent to close a trade deal with the Thalmor Embassy but was executed before he could arrive.
"Growing bold, is he?" Vilkas muttered as he and Oberyn read the latest news on a message sent by Balgruuf, who was growing anxious. "Ulfric will be the death of us all."
While Torvar was off acquiring a separate reward for the death of that blasted bandit leader, Oberyn and Vilkas were at the table, with the former reading and the later eavesdropping every now and then in boredom.
"You cannot blame him." The Red Viper replied as he stood up to gather more books. "The Empire is a vassal state, enslaved to those…. cruel masters."
Vilkas nodded. "Sure, but… there is always another choice."
"Like what?" Oberyn raised an eyebrow. "Bow your heads and stand idle while the Dominion continues to mock your culture and rape your women? I assure you, he is doing a mistake by instigating this rebellion... so soon but he is doing what any other man would do that is tired of this bloody situation."
"What would you do?" Skjor entered the hall, staring at the younger man.
"Gather allies, influence politics and build a good army."
The two companions laughed at his face. "That takes a while." Vilkas replied while Skjor nodded.
"Sure, but even a dog knows when not to anger his master…. but when that cruel master has grown complacent, overconfident in his tyrannical rule and lazy, then what? Who will hold the upper hand?"
That left them speechless.
With a huff, the Red Viper went downstairs to have the long awaited talk with Kodlak.
Oberyn had respect for the old man. He had seen and done things that even Torvar would be impressed with. Things that would make Rhaegar cringe and the uptight Eddard roar in rage.
Horrible but necessary.
Respectfully, the young man knocked on the door, immediately hearing a reply to enter right after.
"Ah, young Oberyn." Kodalk smiled warmly. "Please, have a seat lad."
"Thank you, sir."
The old man waved him off with a smile. "Oh no sir here, I know I am growing old but at least have a decency to not make me feel even more."
Oberyn laughed merrily. "Will do."
"So… I heard of the incident, young man." Kodlak had a blank face. "Why did that happen?"
The Red Viper was surprised at change in the man's demeanor. "Rage. I was… so disgusted and angry at what was happening in front of my eyes." Before Kodlak could open his mouth, Oberyn continued. "I know I placed my sword brothers in danger, but I do not regret it."
"How come?"
"I saved a young human being from suffering a faith worse than death."
His comment was met with silence as the wise warrior in front of him pondered on what was said.
"I will not lie to you lad. You did a very good deed, even Skjor could not help but defend you as he has taken a liking to the young cub. She is a good lad."
Oberyn smiled. "Yes, a rather curious little devil."
The girl, whose name was Lucia, was a cute terror already among the Companions. She was insanely curious and had a fierce temper. She also wanted to be a warrior and had taken a fierce devotion to Skjor. The seasoned veteran had taken the girl in as she had nowhere else to go. She was repaying with utmost loyalty.
"I will not be surprised if she starts calling Skjor 'father' one of these days. Oh his face will be such an amusing sight." Kodlak chuckled merrily while Oberyn smiled.
"Did you fight in the war against the Dominion?" He had almost said sir, but the young man was quickly reminded that the man before him did not care for pleasantries or titles. The respect for him grew within the Red Viper.
Kodlak's face darkened. "Aye, and to be honest it was a very dark chapter of my life."
Standing up and fumbling with a bottle of ale, the Harbringer began, "It was a bright day, that Sundas. We were tasked to raid a few camps of the elves. The people under my command were all seasoned legionaries and officers. Young Thullius was the brightest of them all, along with young Ulfric."
"You fought alongside Ulfric Stormcloak?"
Kodlak nodded as he sat down and sipped his bottle. "Aye. Just like you my lad. He was eager to prove himself and had a strong friendship with Rikke, one of my best as well." The old man chuckled. "I was always amused at their little fits. Ulfric would purposely say something sarcastic about women and she would draw her sword, then they would spar. I knew it was all friendly, their eyes were bright."
"Rikke is an imperial?"
"Aye."
"Surprising that Ulfric would be friends with another not of his native people."
The Harbringer merely chuckled. "Ulfric was never a racist and never will be, at least to men. He does hold an intense hatred for the Thalmor but apart from those… people, no others." His face darkened again. "That Sundas, we raided and pillaged more than six camps. Killed a lot of elves and khajitt. Of course, it is nothing compared to what happened outside Chorrol."
"That is a city, right? Close to the border with Morrowind."
"Yes, close to the Imperial City. We were making those raids to surround the elves and bring the last might of the Empire. The plan was to make the flanks weak before the cavalry could move in."
"Ah, encirclement."
"Indeed lad. However, when we departed for Chorrol for supplies as we did not want to ravage the folk around us, all we saw was fire and death."
At the silence of Oberyn, Kodlak continued. "The city was on fire and there were screams, so many." The Harbringer took a long gulp of his ale. "Women being raped, children butchered and men slaughtered. The city guard was trying its best but the elves had a massive regiment, they never stood a chance."
"Did you intervene?"
The old man looked at Oberyn with glassy, sad eyes. "We wanted to, but could not. We were barely twenty five in strength. All we could have done was delay the inevitable. We were forced to watch the massacre."
"I… understand."
"After that." Kodlak picked on his narration. "Everything changed. No more glory or friendship rivalry among us. We all turned into cold hearted beasts. Ulfric cried in rage while Rikke tried her best to stay calm. Thullius and the rest were no better, I am afraid."
"What happened after that?"
"Two legions arrived and wiped out the Thalmor. We then raided two large camps along the outskirts of the lake close to Chorrol and took over six hundred prisoners, men and women…"
Oberyn already knew what was to come.
"I ordered one of every ten to have their eyes gauged out while the rest were either killed or tortured to death. The remaining ones were allowed to leave…. but we made sure they departed to a land full of scouts and orc guerrilla legionaries. They never made it to the border with the Khajiit Kingdom."
'And who are you, the proud lord said…that I must bow so low…'
Tywin would have applauded the action. The Rains of Castamere, he still remembered that wretched song. Inspire fear to win wars.
"I understand why you did it, I would never judge you."
"As I do not for what happened a week ago, my young lad."
Oberyn casted Kodlak a face full of awe and open respect. "You are truly one of the best men I have met. Despite your actions, look at you today. You have raised and trained great people, even if I have to count Aela there." He added the last comment as a joke.
It worked as the old man laughed merrily. "You are truly a remarkable lad. I knew my little cubs were not mistaken when taking you in." He then frowned. "I also sense darkness within you. I have it as well, just learned to control it. You need to do that as well or it will consume you whole."
The Red Viper bowed before Kodlak, making him groan amusingly. "Thank you. I did not expect this but am glad you are such a wise man and warrior. It will be an honor to join the Companions… if you will still have me?"
"Of course I would!" The Harbringer boomed with a laugh. "You have convinced me, young man. Protect your comrades, fulfill contracts with honor and I know you shall become of the greatest to ever walk these halls." He smiled at Oberyn. "Walk with your head tall, for while you failed the task, you did not fail us."
After that, Oberyn had two people he would be calling his teachers. Kodlak and Torvar. One provided wise council and the other martial training.
They were revered later on for having such influence on one of the mightiest soldiers to ever walk Tamriel.
Torvar is in the game though he is not really conversational per se. He is almost an OC here, except the name. Also, I could not resist adding Lucia, and she resembles a certain feisty one from the series. If you are so willing, you can share your thoughts in the reviews section. Thank you and once again, sorry for the delay!
PS: Oberyn…. handed his ass back to him. This will happen often but that is what will make him such a powerful warrior later on in the series. Finally, yes Oberyn defended Ulfric. Don't get any ideas yet, but those are hints of what is to come.
Next chapter, the rebellion officially starts with a bang and Oberyn will start rebuilding his house. Or in Skyrim, Clan Martell.