I haven´t been in Whiterun for quite some time. My first home I bought, Breezehome is well taken care off. Lately, I´ve heard so much about Companions that the group picked my curiosity. Also, the rumor that they´re looking for new members. That was my cue. I got my things and left Vlindrel Hall and headed for Whiterun, namely Jorrvaskr.

I stopped at my home, talked a bit with Lydia and got back on track. I walked past the ever busy market and gave Ysolde the mammoth tusk she asked for. She taught me her tricks of bartery and my gaze returned to the mead hall. I climbed the few stairs and opened the great door, my heart racing. The inside was... enormous and kind of grand. Also, I noted a brawl was going on. By the gods, do they brawl on regular basis? Well, too many warriors living together, no wonder they need to let out the steam sometimes. The brawl was short and I searched for someone who could point me to the one in charge. I got better chance searching somewhere deeper in. The living quarters were not far away. I warily walked past some old woman, even more women till I reached the fartherst room. I didn´t bother knocking and entered boldly. There, two men were chatting and when I entered the conversation ceased. The elder man gazed at me, as if he was calculating. " A stranger comes to our hall."

"I would like to join the Companions."

He wasn´t even surprised. "Would you now? Here, let me have a look at you. Hm. Yes. Perhaps. A certain strenght of spirit."

The much younger man had objections. "Master, you´re not truly considering accepting him?"

"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 best 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 said, rather mockingly. Now wait up a second. He was good looking, I admit, but very pompous, too. I´ve joined too many guilds already, so I certainly can take care of myself, thank you. The elder man saw the growing animosity and tension and swiftly stepped in. "Of course, how are you in battle, boy?"

I could boast, too if needed. "You dare question my skill?"

"Calm down there, whelp. Don´t feel like you need to show off for our sake." Really? Tell that to Mr. Almighty sitting over there. I glanced at the younger man, questioning what was his problem with me. Meanwhile, the elder resumed with his speech. " Vilkas, here, will be the one testing you mettle. Vilkas, take him out to the yard and see what you can do."

Vilkas sighed, resignated."Aye." Finally, I will have a piece of your ass, you smartass. He looked somewhere above my head. Was he avoiding eye contact with me? "Not here. Out in the yard. Come on." He stood up and ran for the the exit. Why of all people must that man be the one to test me? Wasn´t anyone nicer available? I followed after him and I found him outside Jorrvaskr, waiting for me. And we weren´t alone. We had spectators. I grinned. This will teach you to mess with me. I will show you the strenght of my arm!

"The old man said to have a look at you, so let´s do this. Just have a few swings at me so I can see your form. Don´t worry. I can take it." The smugness in his voice nearly ticked me off. Can´t kill him, Glorfindel, calm down. He will be more friendly, just let him get to know you. We clashed swords and the battle ended soon after. I only had to make one swing at him. I was confident in my skill and arm. And I strained myself to go easy on him. We put our weapons away.

"Not bad. Next time won´t be so easy. " Huh?! I went easy on you here, not the other way around! Ugh! Why was he so frustrating? I gritted my teeth and refused to acknowledge that he again almost pissed me off. You´re so going on my nerves that I will enjoy making you fall for me, Vilkas and then you´ll be sorry you weren´t nicer to me when we first met. First impressions are the ones most lasting, is the saying. I fully agree. But enough for now. I put up my usual face, completey avoiding making eye contact. "You might just make it. But for now, you´re still a whelp to us, new blood. So you do what we tell you. Here´s my sword. Go and take it to Eorlund to have it sharpened. And be careful, it´s probably worth more than you are."

This does it! I took that damned sword and stormed off, cursing under my breath. How dare he! A mere sword more worth than me? What´s his problem? He´s so cruel to me. I walked the stairs up to the world´s famous Skyforge, but I secretly think that Adrianne Avenicci is the best smith in Whiterun, not Eorlund, but that´s my humble opinion.

"Vilkas send me with his sword."

"I guess you´re the newcomer then?" Newcomer, is it now?

"Does Vilkas always send "newcomers" on errands?"

The old man laughed it off. "Oh, don´t worry too much about it. They were all whelps once. They just might like to talk about it. And don´t always just do what you are told. Nobody rules anybody in Companions."

That´s strange, then. Every guild has a leader, official or not. "Someone has to be in charge, though."

"Well, I am not sure how they managed it, but they have. No leaders since Ysgramor. Kodlak is the Harbinger, and he´s sort of advisor for the whole group, but every man is his own. Every woman her own." Rather odd, but it didn´t matter who was in charge to me. As the old man said just now, I am my own man. Well, the sword task is done so... "If that´s all, then I´ll need to be going." I turned around and Eorlund spoke; "I have a favor to ask."

Ugh, what? But I asked more politely. "What is it?"

"I´ve been working on a shield for Aela. My wife is mourning and I need to get back to her soon. I´d be much obliged if you could take this to Aela for me."

"Didn´t you just tell me not to be a servant?" I responded, sassily.

"This isn´t a command. Just decency. Help out an old blacksmith. I´ve got to get back to my work."

Now I am an errand boy? What is wrong with this guild? That old geezer pulls a line with his wife mourning and I couldn´t decline. So, once again, back to Jorrvaskr. Inside, I searched for this Aela. I asked for directions and what´s she look like from Ria. She was nice and helpful, not like Vilkas. The room which was Aela´s, the door was closed. Maybe I should knock this time. I knocked and waited for a response. There was none. When I leaned in to listen if someone was inside, I heard muffled voices. A voice of a man and a woman. She didn´t answer, but to hell with it. I walked in their conversation. The woman I presumed to be Aela gave me quite a look. I feel like I stepped into a lover´s quarrel. Maybe I should... The man awkwardly coughed and I approached them.

"I have your shield."

"Ah, good. I´ve been waiting for this. Wait, I remember you. So the old man thinks you´ve got some heart, I guess. I heard you gave him quite the trashing. Say, do you think you could handle Vilkas in a real fight?"

"I would kill him before he drew his sword." And it was true. I was a master assassin now. Aela calmed me down. "Woah, easy up there. We´re rough, but there is no need to kill a Shield – Brother over a dispute. I like your fire, though. You´ll make a fierce Companion. Let us hunt together sometime. Here, let´s have Farkas show you where you´ll be resting your head."

"Farkas!" Aela´s... friend called out.

A man came running and my jaw dropped. Is this? He looks like Vilkas. "Did you call me?"

"Of course we did, icebrain. Show this new blood where the rest of whelps sleep." Aela said.

The newcomer observed me and a smile settled on his lips. " New blood? Oh, I remember you. Come on, follow me." He was... nice. They were definitely similiar, but this Farkas had longer hair and was more bulky. Or maybe his armor was more bulky. I nodded and strutted behind him. "Skjor and Aela like to tease me, but they are good people. They challenge us to be our best. Nice to have a new face around. It gets boring here sometimes. I hope we keep you. This can be a rough life." We have reached the quarters. "These are the quarters. Just pick a bed and fall in when you´re tired. Tilma will keep the place clean. She always has." We stopped at the doorstep. "Alright, so here you are. Looks like the others are eager to meet you. Come to me or Aela if you´re looking for work. Once you´re made a bit of a name for yourself, Skjor and Vilkas might have things for you to do. Good luck. Welcome to the Companions."

Ah, finally someone who isn´t a complete jerk the first tme I meet him or wanting me dead. "By the way, if you´re looking for something to do..."

I couldn´t contain my curiosity. "Excuse me, but can I ask you something?"

"Yes, go ahead. But I might not be able to answer. If you´re looking for answers, maybe you should go and ask my brother Vilkas. He´s the smarter of us two."

"You just answered my question. So, Vilkas is your brother? He´s so... unfriendly, unlike you."

Farkas slightly smiled. "My brother is distrustful, but he´ll get to know you and then he´ll change his attitude." If you say so... then a devilish idea hatched in my mind. Haha, this will be hilarious. How to make someone fall for you? Maybe I should write a book on this topic. This brother was more open to me and he was quite an eye candy as well. "Alright, I will wait till he comes around. In the meantime, can I go and talk with you somewhere more... private?" Farkas, unaware of my ulterior intentions blinked, confused. "Eh, right now? I have to..."

"Then maybe not so privately. How about the great hall upstairs? I hear the Jorrvaskr mead is excellent. I could use a drinking companion, pun aside." Anxiously, I awaited his answer. If he says no, then I must think of other strategy. "Alright, but only for a couple of drinks. If Vilkas sees me slacking off, he´ll have my head."

"Ah, come on, he´s your brother not parent. And I think you deserve some time off from time to time."

Despite Farkas´s claims that he is the stupid brother, our conversation was enjoyable and he opened up to me about almost anything – ranging from his adventures and assignements to his early days, about how they came to be Companions and so on. We had a couple of drinks when Vilkas came upstairs and stared at us for a couple of moments in a daze. Ohoh, this is going to be rich. I leaned closer and my hands snaked behind Farkas´s back. "You are smarter than you think, Farkas. Give yourself some credit."

The man gave me a genuine smile. "You´re the first to ever utter something like that to me. Thanks, I guess?"

"No problem, Farkas. You mind if I tag with you on your little adventure? I promise I will stay out of your way. What do you say?"

"Well, it´s not unusual for a shield – brother to come along, but you´re still too new and it would be-"

His brother cut him off, as I expected. "Too daring for fresh blood, newcomer. We´re in the circle, something like leaders, aside from Kodlak. So no, you can´t go with him. Until you prove yourself, you cannot go with him." I pouted. "Fine, have it your way. Too bad, we´ll have to go some other time, Farkas."

Now the other twin looked pretty much confused, his eyes switching back and forth between me and his brother. "Uh, right. Then, I´ll leave you to your business... later, Vilkas, and eh..."

Oh, did he perhaps forget my name? Did I even give him my name? I think not... "Name´s Glorfindel." We shook hands and off he went. The awkward silence can be cut as Vilkas stared on, his arms crossed. "What? Do you have a problem?" I asked him, mockingly.

"I am beginning to worry about your intentions, meaning why you joined us. Who are you exactly?"

I giggled. "Oh, you´re glorious. Am I being interrogated here? Or are you interested in me?"

Vilkas was flabergasted. "Oh, why you conniving little!—" He was about to say something nasty when Athis and Nadja crossed us, curious looks on their faces. I just stood there, giggling. "Oh, it looks like our new member got our Vilkas flustered. You owe me 100 septims." Athis whispered in a low tone, but the nonexisting breeze carried his voice over to us. I burst out laughing and Vilkas looked like he was about to blow a fuse. Much to Vilkas´s dismay Skjor and Aela decided to come upstairs for a couple of drinks and they spotted us. Aela approached us, warily observing our situation. "Well, is something the matter? Vilkas, why are you..." She stopped in the middle of her sentece, a soft smile settling on her face. "Aha, I knew it. Skjor, you owe me money!"

That sentence made me laugh even harder. Vilkas´s head exploded as he started spewing some rather dirty words directed upon me and myself. "You little shit, why you bitchy arrogant prick, how dare you get me so, sooo soooo... " And he went on, but his words were incoherent. Meanwhile Aela mouthed me sorry as Skjor moved her out of the danger zone. They disappeared along with everyone else. I watched him with amusement that must have been visible because he suddenly stopped and deeply exhaled a few times. He was awfully silent. Maybe he´s yelled enough. "Are you done yet? I wanted to tell you more about myself. "

Vilkas looked away, possibly embarrassed at his sudden eruption in rage. "I don´t hear any objections, so where shall I begin? Hmm... oh, yes! I hail from the marvelous Blacklight, near the border of Skyrim. I was... mistaken for a Stormcloak when I came here on an official business, you know my family has a prominent place between merchants, but that´s another story. Where was I? So, I barely escaped when some dragon attacked Helgen and since then, I´ve been here, in Skyrim. It will be almost two years since I´m here. That´s everything in short. Wanna ask something?"

Vilkas gazed at me for a while when he spoke up: "Why are you here? Shouldn´t you go home back to Morrowind?"

I smiled faintly. "Ah, I forgot to mention. You heard how the Greybeards called the Dragonborn? Well, I´m that Dragonborn. Surprised?"

"No, I see why you cannot go back. But once you fulfill your prophecy, are you planning on going back to your homeland?" That was the question I asked myself many times before. Do I want to go back?

Vilkas finally calmed down, at least as he patiently awaited my reply. "I don´t think I will. Don´t get me wrong, I love my family, my friends and Morrowind whole, but... Skyrim is my home now. Deep down, I feel like I belong here more that I ever did back home. Also, I´ve made many friends in those two years, some are what I consider to be my best friends and I cannot just abandon them. And... I want to get to know you more before I die." I started again with my flirting.

Vilkas ignored it. "Stop messing around with me, elf. I´m not your type, trust me."

My gaze traveled down his stature, taking in hungrily his entire being. Vilkas shifted, uncomfortably. "Stop that. I´m not your type, seriously."

"How would you know that, if I might ask? You´re just my type of a man. Smart, good looks, strong and easily flustered."

Vilkas´s ears were tinted red. "I am NOT easily flustered!"

Now I crossed my arms, smugness emitating from me. "If you say so. Now if you´ll excuse me, I think I´m going to see Aela about the job she offered. Though I wouldn´t mind if someone strong were to be my shield – brother..." I hinted.

"Nice try, whelp. See me after you´ve made a name for yourself and then maybe I´ll accompany you."

"Oh, Vilkas, don´t be like that! In the world outside this mead hall, I am well known!"

"For what? Shamessly flirting with men?"

I winked. "That too."

I had to leave, you know strategic rethreat. "I will see you later, Vilkas."

I waved him goodbye and he rolled his eyes, annoyed.

Aela was outside the mead hall, training with Ria. I didn´t want to disturb them so I sat down behind a table and watched them sparring. Aela was good both with blade and bow. Ria wasn´t half that bad either. Their session was soon over and Ria went back inside. Aela saw me and put on her smile. "Ah, you´re... Glorfindel, was it? Have you come to ask more about the job I am offering?"

"Yes, I have. I hear it´s about some wild beast that broke into someone´s house. Can you give me more details?"

"It´s in Ivarstead, people there will point you towards the right house. I hear it´s a stray bear, but do be careful. We don´t want to lose you before your Trial."

Trial? I knew of no such thing. "What Trial? Oh, you cannot tell me yet, because I am too new. It would be against regulations of the guild as Vilkas would say."

Aela looked around as if she was searching for someone who might be listening into our little debate. "I am glad you are not angry at him anymore. He´s just looking out for us." She was talking about Vilkas. "I clearly saw that you went easy on him when you two sparred. And then his comment about the sword made you extremely angry."

"You noticed? I thought I hid my emotions perfectly. I guess you are just too perceptive. "

Aela smiled. "No, I am not that perceptive as you think. It was your body reaction that rectified my guess. Watching how you stomped off and your energy became dangerously fiery was highly entertaining. That´s how I noticed."

"I always aspired to make other people laugh at my misfortune." I said dryly and Aela was probably about to apologize when Skjor made his appearence, looking pissed. "Aela, we have a problem. Come quickly with me."

Aela glanced at me. "Alright, I am coming. See me after you complete your assignment and we´ll talk more. "

They went inside Jorrvaskr and I slumped in the chair. This is going to be a bit tough. But nothing I cannot handle with a bit of wit and my charming good looks. And strong arm.

I drank my ale, pondering about the last time I was in Ivarstead. It was over a year ago, when I first went to meet the Greybeards. It evoked bittersweet memories deep inside me. I have yet to beat Alduin. He´s a great enemy of all Tamriel and here I am, doing petty jobs for Companions who aren´t even taking me seriously yet. Sooner or later, I will have to face him. He´s in my dreams sometimes, haunting me. Dark thoughts crossed my mind, one after another. What if I cannot beat Alduin? What if he kills me before I can even lay a finger on him? My fear was irrational, I was aware of that. He was a dragon like all others, with the exception of his devouring souls and preventing them rest in Sovngarde. What a Dragonborn I am, I laughed at myself bitterly.

"You´re in high spirits, new blood." I looked up from my mug of ale at the man who disturbed me from my somber state. "Oh, Vilkas. Came to talk my ear off?"

"Actually, you look troubled. Very troubled. Maybe I could lend you a hand."

"Why are you so nice to me all of sudden?"

Vilkas sheepishly coughed. "Ahem. I am sorry for my previous conduct towards you. I know something is on your mind. Mind telling me?"

"Why? It´s not like you or anyone else can do anything about it."

Vilkas shrugged. "Maybe not, but at least talking about it might ease your suffering a bit." I conjured a smile. "Are you seriously trying to console me? Whoever you are, leave this body at once! It´s not yours!" I said, jokingly.

"Hey, hey! I said I am sorry!"

I stopped cackling, my gaze fixated on the clear sky behind Vilkas. "I fear I will fail whole Tamriel. I am still not strong enough to take on Alduin and I thought that by joining all the guilds in Skyrim, I could become immensely strong. But the more guilds I joined, the more I battled, the more I felt that I´ve been doing exactly what that damn dragon wanted me to do. Even in my dreams, he´s mocking me, always reviving more and more of his dead kin and sending them after me. Sometimes when I sit down and think about our battle one day, I feel this unexplainable fear. Fear of failing everyone I know and love; my family, my friends. I constantly ask myself if I have what it takes to rid the world of him. I am sorry, was that too angsty? You´re the first person I have actually told this."

"It must be hard to be the first Dragonborn in ages. But I have faith in your success. One day, you will defeat Alduin and save us."

That lifted my spirits. "Thank you. I really needed to talk with someone about this. You´ve made me believe again. Thank you again."

"Stop thanking me, new blood. You have ways to go before the final encounter with that dragon. It´s a fact. So you better get stronger. "

"I never would have dreamed that you would comfort me. And here I thought my charms wouldn´t work on you!"

Vilkas choked on his drink and had to take a breather before he could retort back. "Get your ass in gear, whelp! Aela´s waiting for your report!"

I stood up from the table and winked. "Right, right. I have a bear to kill. See you later, Vilkas."

He didn´t answer back, but I knew he was watching me leave, walking away.

I knew he had a heart of gold and he would fall for me, like all do.

I left Whiterun on Shadowmere, heading towards the direction of my next objective.

AN - It got a bit angsty and dark towards the end. I am not hoping for any reviews. It would be foolish. See you (maybe) in next... installment?