Aealynn POV:
The Khajiit holds the door open for me and I cautiously go inside, taking in the surroundings. The main hall is perfect for 'The Companions' to meet for meals, the place is gigantic. And, the atmosphere is fine for relaxing between training and missions. It consists of one large 'horseshoe' shaped table around a fire; but there are only nine chairs, which I can already tell is less than the total number of Companions. On both the east and west sides of the hall, there are two sets of double doors, above which can be seen four shields. The shields are painted with symbols that once had some ancient meaning, but the paint faded long ago. On the south side of the hall is the main weapon display area, every sword and ax gleaming in the dim torchlight.
The fragments of some tremendous war ax, several of which are missing (I'm assuming), are placed in the middle of the wall, above which are two more shields which are inaccessible for some reason. On the pillars of the stairs are four weapon plaques, three with greatswords and the other with a warhammer, none of which can be taken due to some weird chains tied to them. To the side walls are two weapon racks, one on either side, and these weapons are free of protective chains. On an end table facing the fire is the skill book that seems important to 'The Companions' for some reason.
I'm assuming all of these items are free to take. Well, would be if these people knew me and liked me to some extent. On the north side of the hall is a separate bedroom where I'm assuming the maids and servants of the place sleep and live. Even from here I can see there are two dusty and old beds in here, as well as some sparkling potions, two silver ingots, and a mammoth tusk. Nothing in that room would be free to take at any time, it's all far too expensive. The place is abandoned and the Khajiit goes 'hm' before explaining, "They must be in their living quarters. Please, follow me. They're probably having a meeting of some sort.".
As we walk I ask, "Aren't they Nords?". She kind of nods and shakes her head at the same time. "A good portion of them are Nords, but they have more diversity than that. Two elders I can't place the race of, one Dunmer, and an Imperial. Okay, not that much diversity, but it's something. That's more than I can say for some groups.". I nearly scoff. A large portion of them are Nords, so it's unlikely they're having any 'meeting'. They're probably gathered around some table drinking, swearing, and eating some animal they've killed. Disgusting savages, all they want to do is fight. I keep my thoughts to myself, I have a feeling the Khajiit wouldn't appreciate my input on her Nord 'friends'.
When we enter the living quarters she looks around and mumbles, "They must be out back, the last place I'd look.". She motions at the place and tells me, "Feel free to explore, I'll go get a few of them.". This area is definitely where most Companions sleep, and it mainly consists of beds. To the southwest is clearly where the lower-ranking Companions, servants, help, and anyone else sleep; there are eight beds I'm assuming anyone can use, but I wouldn't bet on it. To the west are a few bedrooms, although I have no idea who they would belong to. The best I can guess is one belongs to a drinker, and one to an archer. The archer's is on the south, and has one bed I'm certain I can't use, a extremely well-locked display case with an elven bow, and a book entitled 'The Marksmanship Lesson' safely inside.
On the bookshelves are four ice wraith teeth, and there are some pelts on the table. To the north is the drinker's bedroom, which has one bed I'm also certain I can't use and another well-locked display case with a steel dagger locked inside. There is a batch of fire salts on the shelves by the bed and three silver ingots on the shelves by the door. To the east is a warrior's bedroom. The warrior's bedroom has a third bed I can't use. The amount of beds I can't use is getting ridiculous, but I ignore that fact and keep looking around the room.
There is the unusually titled book 'Lycanthropic Legends of Skyrim' and one sample of ice wraith teeth on the shelves by the bed, nine chaurus eggs on the end table by the door, and some sparkling and shimmering potions on the stand on the other side of the door. I go across the room to the bar. Pfft, Nords and drinking. The bar contains a fourth bed I can't sleep in that's used by whoever lives with the warrior, a lute, and unsurprisingly, a large amount of mead. Damned Nords. I go back to the archer's room. The items in the archer's bedroom are extremely valuable and rare, and if I was the archer I'd only give them to someone through marriage; the items in the warrior's and drinker's bedrooms, and around the bar, are incredibly rare and I have a feeling they're never free to take.
The items in the hall and the communal bedroom are somewhat valuable, but I still don't think they're just for everyone to take. I find the bedroom at the end of the hall, and instinctively know the leader sleeps here. The leader's quarters consists of a bedroom and a study. The study contains four display cases, three of which are locked by thick and ancient looking locks; the other is located atop a set of shelves, and is not locked. The three locked cases display a dagger, a warhammer, and a greatsword (all elven in quality). The unlocked display case is empty, so there's nothing I can take.
The table in the study has a large map knifed to it, and I quickly examine it. On the map table is a giant's toe and the book 'Song Of Hrormir'; on the end table beside that table is a daedra heart. The bedroom contains of a fifth bed not for my use and an unusual gem that glitters in the light. Everything here, including the bed, is obviously only for the use of the leader of 'The Companions'. And, only the leader of The Companions. I'm done exploring the place. It bores me to no end, but now I know the entire place. I know where to get weapons, where everyone sleeps, and how to escape this accursed place. The Khajiit might have left me simply to get me out of her hair, but now she's given me a major advantage.
I can use my new knowledge to my advantage if I ever need to. I'm not sure how or in what circumstances I would need to, but now I can. I'm walking back to the main part of the building when the Khajiit returns, three people trailing after her. A female Imperial, male Dunmer, and a female Nord with flaming hair. The Imperial smiles when she sees me, the Dunmer offers a small nod, and the Nord sizes me up for battle. The Khajiit greets me, then stands to the side and points at the Imperial. "Ria.". She moves onto the Dunmer. "Athis.". She points at the Nord woman and finishes, "Aela the Huntress. Call her Aela.".
I nod to greet all of them, but all three have different reactions. The Imperial's grin widens more and she offers me her hand as she says, "So nice to meet you! Any friend of my friend is a friend of mine!". I cautiously raise my hand to brush her off, but the woman grabs it and begins shaking it as she asks, "Did that sentence make sense?". The Nord pipes up, "Not exactly. You should have said the Khajiit's name instead of saying 'my friend'.". The Imperial chuckles and tells the Nord, "Shut up you. You knew very well what I meant.". The Nord woman rolls her eyes, but I can see the slightest bit of fondness for the Imperial in their depths. The Imperial hasn't stopped shaking my hand, nearly ripping my arm out of its socket as she continues, "It's so nice to meet you!".
The Dunmer practically growls, "You already said that!". The Imperial pays him no mind. "We've already been informed on what happened, and I want you to know what an honor it is to meet you!". I feel my face slide into a grimace as her shaking continues. I look over and the Nord has her eyes trained on me. She silently chuckles under her breath and speaks, "Ria, you're going to break the poor woman's arm if you keep shaking. Just let her go, we need to greet the poor woman to.". The Imperial offers me one last smile, apologizes, and releases my hand.
The Nord steps forward next, sizes me up again, then says her welcome. "I've been told you're a warrior. And, you've proven it by killing the anomalies that plagued our fair city. It takes a real fighter to step out into that mess and kill that many monsters.". I shuffle my feet and mumble, "I was just the bait.". The woman must have heard me because she laughs and says, "That's an even harder job. Killing things is one thing, but leading things that could kill you somewhere else is harder. Besides, you've proven yourself a warrior all the same.". She nods her head in approval and continues, "Any warrior is welcome to Jorrvaskr, and it's a pleasure to meet the woman who freed our city of those anomalies.".
She smirks. "Take my compliment with relish, for it's the first one I've ever given.". The Dunmer scoffs and says, "That's an understatement.". The Nord nods and steps back. The elf doesn't step forward to welcome me. Instead, he begins trying to clean out his pointed ear with his little finger. The Khajiit sighs and says, "Athis.". The man goes 'hm' and looks up as if he's just now noticed what's going on. The Khajiit motions to me and explains, "You haven't greeted our newest guest.". He nods and goes back to doing what he was doing. The Khajiit sighs and says, "Please-". The Dunmer snarls, "You're not the boss of me!".
The Nord practically hisses, "But I am! Now, greet the woman!". The Dunmer sighs and steps forward, his beady red eyes burning holes into me as he says, "Don't touch my stuff.". Three voices growl, "ATHIS!". The man sighs and mumbles, "Welcome to our home.". As an afterthought he adds, "Freeloader.". When he steps back the Khajiit groans and tells me, "That's the best we'll get out of him. Please, don't judge all Dunmer based on him. He's just normally an asshole to new people. Or old people. Or anything that breathes.". The Imperial chuckles and adds, "Or once breathed.". Aela smirks and finishes, "Or anything that isn't him.". Athis huffs and puffs himself up, the man looking offended.
The Khajiit interrupts all of them by telling me, "These people are the best The Companions have to offer, and they were all willing to teach you. I think you'll like what they try to teach you.". All three of them puff up at the compliment and Aela tells me, "I'll teach you archery, if you like. We've improved bows and arrows since you were around, and the technique changed.". Ria smiles at me and says, "I'll teach you about Nords.". I raise an eyebrow and mumble, "You're an Imperial.". She nods and Athis clears his throat. "I don't exactly know what I'm suppose to do. I guess I'll help you with swords.".
The Khajiit smiles and asks, "What do you think?". I see no choice but to nod, my decision clear. The Khajiit's grin widens and she says, "Okay, let's go.". I cock my head and ask, "Go?". She nods and explains, "You can train whenever you want, and I won't oversee it. But right now we have a celebration in your honor to go to.". I freeze up. "In my honor?". Aela steps forward. "Of course. The Companions love to celebrate. Trust me, you'll love it.". Her eyes sparkle and she chuckles before saying, "But we won't give you a proper Nord romp. I'm afraid we stopped that an era ago. However, we'll give you the best party we can.". Before I know it I'm being ushered up the stairs, and the gods only know what horrors await me.
Quick Note: Atraxotax and I were having a friendly discussion about what would happen if the Dovahkiin was to die, and we'd enjoy some other opinions on the discussion. In Atraxotax's own words, 'Supposedly, the Dragonborn does EVERY single quest in the game Skyrim. Similar to how every Assassin from every Assassins' Creed game supposedly completes every single side objective and quest in the game as "canon".'. And, 'So… what would happen upon his death? Would the Daedric Princes fight each other for the right of claiming the Dragonborns' soul to their Planes' of Oblivion? Would the heroes of Sovngarde come forth and, in turn, fight to have the Dragonborn live in Sovngarde? Would Akatosh, father to all Dragons, use his Divine powers to spare the Dovahkiin of BOTH of those fates?'. I myself will share my opinion on the matter in the next chapter or two if the circumstances are right. Until then, feel free to tell me your own opinions and what you believe would happen through PM, review, or any other source.