Harald stepped back outside and headed back to the stairs leading down to the city. The sun was high in the sky, now, and the city seemed to still be bustling from where Harald could see. He made his way down the steps and to the dead tree in the middle of town.
His attention turned back to the upturned boat house he had passed on his way up to Dragonsreach. A small tug at his subconscious was goading him to it, even though the majority of his instincts were telling him to leave the city for Riverwood. He suddenly remembered the Companions outside the city, and the words that huntress said to him when he asked if he could join him.
If you go to him, good luck…
I guess that dragonstone isn't going anywhere, Harald reasoned to himself, as he reached the dead tree and turned left towards the boat house. There was another flight of stairs leading up towards it, where two sets of double doors marked the entrance. Harald made his way up the steps towards the doors and approached the ones on the right. He gingerly pushed them open and peeked inside.
It was an incredibly spacious room, with a warm and welcoming ambiance. A great fire burned in the centre, not unlike the one in the Jarl's palace. Plates of food of various kinds were placed on a long table that lined a neat box around the fire. Off to the far left of the room, some men and women in various armours were gathered around some kind of commotion.
"'Those two at it again?" he heard someone ask, as the sound of fist meeting skin with hard impact echoed throughout the hall. Harald slowly entered and approached the top of some steps leading down to the firepit and the dining table. Over the top of these warriors' heads, he saw another pair of warriors in tempered hide armour embroiled in what appeared to be a fist fight. One had dark greyinsh skin and a long face with pointed ears, like the houscarl in Dragonsreach, and the other was a woman, a Nord like him, from what he could tell. The two were furiously throwing their fists at each other, each landing critical blows one the other in Harald's eyes, yet neither one was yielding.
The small tug at his mind pulled him again, to the opposite end of the hall. Harald followed it, leaving the fight, to what appeared to be a flight of steps leading down. He passed some weapons on display on some racks on either side of the hall. One side with iron, the other with steel. A steel warhammer lay on a bench on Harald's left as he reached the top of the stairs. He saw that the stairs lead down to another set of double doors. He descended the stairs and pushed the doors open slowly to reveal yet another hallway. This time there was a small table and a chair in front of a bookshelf to his left, and a hallway leading down to more rooms to his right. The tug pulled him in this latter direction and he followed it down, passing more tables with food and barrels along the walls. Right ahead of him was an open door leading into another room, where he could see two figures sitting down in chairs in the far-right corner of the room. As he got closer, he could see the strange armour that they were wearing. Clearly metal, but with a dark green hue. Fur intermingled with the metal about their neck, hands and boots. When Harald entered the room, he could see a small wolf motif on their breastplates. He suddenly became aware that he had walked into a serious conversation.
"But I still feel the call of the blood," the first man complained, a warrior with dark hair and grey eyes.
"We all do," said the second, with grey hair and a full thick beard. "It is our burden to bear, but we can overcome it."
"You have my brother and I, obviously," said the first man again. "But I'm not sure the others will go along quite so easily."
"Leave that to me," the older man finished, suddenly looking up at Harald. "A stranger comes to our hall."
They were both looking at Harald intently, now. Harald gulped and approached the old man until he was a few feet away. He presumed this man was the 'Kodlak' that the huntress had told him about.
"I was told to come and meet you if I wanted to join the Companions," he said, resting a hand on his waraxe for reassurance.
"Were you now?" the old man asked. "Here, let me have a look at you." He stood up and looked directly into Harald's eyes. Harald watched as the old warrior looked at him, as if he recognised him somehow. His heart pounded against his ribcage as Kodlak sized him up.
"What's your name, lad?" he asked.
"It's Harald," Harald replied. "Harald Thalinson."
"Harald Thalinson…" The old man nodded as he concluded. "Hm, yes, perhaps. A certain strength of spirit."
"Master, you're not truly considering accepting him," the first man protested.
"I am nobody's master, Vilkas," Kodlak retorted. "And last I checked we had some empty beds in Jorvaskr for those with a fire burning in their hearts."
"Apologies," Vilkas replied in a softer tone. "But perhaps this isn't the time. I've never even heard of this outsider."
Kodlak looked back into Harald's eyes as he continued. "Sometimes the famous come to us. Sometimes men and woman come to us in search of their fame. It makes no difference. What matters is their heart."
"And their arm," Vilkas said back. Kodlak nodded at this as he addressed Harald once more.
"Of course. How are you in battle, Harald Thalinson?" he asked.
Harald thought back to his experience with the Imperials in Helgan. How he fell on his backside the first time, how instinct took over his body when his life was on the line, how he managed to hold his own against the better trained Imperial soldiers. How do I put this in a way that doesn't come across as bragging? He thought.
"I can handle myself," he said simply.
"That may be so," Kodlak replied before motioning to Vilkas. "This is Vilkas. He will test your arm." He turned to Vilkas as he continued. "Vilkas, take Harald out to the yard and see what he can do."
Vilkas gave a disgruntled "Aye," and stood up, beckoning for Harald to follow him.
The two of them lightly ran back down the hallway where Harald had come, and turned back through the already open doors to the stairs leading up to the main hall. They continued to the back of the hall, opposite where Harald had entered. The fight was over, and the grey skinned elf was holding a piece of meat to his bruised face. Harald's focus was on Vilkas, who was leading him out through another pair of doorways. Harald followed Vilkas through the closest of the two, and followed him out to a sheltered area, with a pair of long tables with benches and yet more food left on them. They continued past these to an open area walled off at the back, lined with humanoid looking hay dummies with targets painted on them. Vilkas stopped in the middle of this clearing and turned back to Harald. He reached behind him and pulled out a solid Iron shield that he was wearing across his back.
"The old man told me to have a look at you," he said. "So, let's do this." He drew a sword as he continued. "Just take a few swings at me so I can see you form. Don't worry. I can take it."
Harald nodded and pulled his axe to the ready. With all his might, he swung his axe down into Vilkas' shield. Vilkas stumbled back a step, but didn't lose his footing.
"Pretty good arm, you've got there, Harald," Vilkas said. "Now, again!"
Harald nodded and began madly swinging into Harald's shield, each blow bouncing off harmlessly. Suddenly, Vilkas intercepted one of the blows by punching his shield out at Harald's hand, stopping it mid swing. He then pushed his shield into Harald's body and kept pushing, forcing Harald to one side of the yard. As Harald tried vainly to get the shield off him, a familiar instinct suddenly set it. His body suddenly took a hold of Vilkas' shield, stepped to the side and pulled Vilkas along passed him. Vilkas fell forward, but into a neat roll before turning around back into his stance. He gave Harald a menacing, almost hungry grin, before rushing forward, sword at the ready.
Harald swung his axe down as Vilkas approached. As usual, the axe hit the shield, but he just moved in time to avoid a sword point headed straight for his face in retaliation. Harald saw an opening that he had created with this thrust under his right arm, and swung for it. He was astonished that this blow, once again, landed against the shield. Vilkas had somehow dropped his arm and flipped his shield over it, before slashing at Harald with an upward strike. Once again, it barely missed as he stepped back, almost into the steps leading up to the sheltered area. Vilkas reset, shield in front of him and sword at the ready, waiting for Harald's next move.
Harald suddenly had an idea. He shoulder-charged Vilkas' shield and pushed him back a few steps. When Vilkas regained his ground, he pushed Harald back with his shield. Harald simply stepped back with the push and parried the shield to the side, preparing a strike at the now exposed breastplate of Vilkas' armour. Vilkas just stopped it with his sword and attempted to reset his shield stance, but Harald was already on the inside and he took a hold of Vilkas' sword arm as he blocked the strike and tried a strike at Vilkas' head. Vilkas just caught the strike with his shield and stumbled back, but Harald had hold of his sword arm, with the sword pointed down. Harald thought he had the upper hand as he delivered the next blow, when suddenly, the point of Vilkas' sword made a big circlular movement, catching his axe under the blade and then crossing his arms over each other. He suddenly felt Vilkas' blade against his neck, and he slowly let go of Vilkas' arm and the axe. He knew he had lost.
"Not bad," Vilkas remarked, handing Harald back his axe. "Next time won't be so easy."
"Wait," Harald said, still panting from the fight. "That was easy?"
"I was just told to have a look at you, not to try and kill you," Vilkas replied. "You might just make it, but for now, you're still a whelp to us, Harald Thalinson. So, you do what we tell you."
He strapped his shield on his back once more and sheathed his sword. He then proceeded to undo the buckle of his sword belt and take it off, handing it to Harald.
"Here's my sword," he said. "Go take it up to Eorland to have it sharpened. Be careful – it's probably worth more that you are."
Harald nodded once more and asked. "Where can I find Eorland?"
"At the Skyforge, lad," Vilkas replied as he left. "Just head to the front of the hall and turn right. There's stairs leading straight there."
Harald hastily followed Vilkas' instructions and headed around the outside to the front of the hall. He suddenly noticed a middle-aged man with a balding head and one white eye standing at the back entrance of the hall. He gave him a nod before heading back inside, as Harald continued his task. Sure enough, he found what he was looking for: a flight of steps carved into the great stone wall in the side of the Yard. Harald followed the stair up to see a great stone eagle perched over a large stone pit of burning coals. Pulling at a rope next to it was a man in hide armour with long grey hair. He pulled a piece of red-hot metal from the coals and began hammering at it on an anvil that was next to him. Harald slowly approached him and cleared his throat, catching the man's attention.
"What brings you here, lad?" he asked as he continued his work.
"Are you Eorland?" Harald asked.
With an inquisitive look, the man stopped his work as he replied. "I am Eorland Greymane, yes."
Harald presented Vilkas' sword and said, "Vilkas sent me with his sword."
Eorland approached and took the sword as he responded, "I'm guessing you're the newcomer, then?"
Harald nodded as he gave him the sword. He thought for a moment before asking "Do newcomers always get sent on errands?"
Laying the sword down on a stone area next to the great forge, Eorland continued this interaction. "Oh, don't worry too much about that. They were all whelps once, just might not like to talk about it. Oh, and don't always just do as your told, either. Nobody rules anybody in the Companions."
"Except for Kodlak, right?" Harald asked. When Eorland shook his head, he continued astounded. "Someone has to be in charge, though, right?"
"Well," Eorland said simply. "I don't know how they've managed it, but they have. No leaders since Ysgramor." He continued talking as he resumed his previous work. "Kodlak is the Harbinger, and he's a sort of advisor for the whole group, but every man is his own, and every woman her own."
Every man is his own. Harald pondered those words. Could this be what it means to be a Companion, maybe. To live by one's own rules…
"Before you head down," Kodlak said as he worked. "I have a favour to ask of you."
"Sure," Harald said, after collecting his mind enough to respond. "What is it?"
"You see that steel shield on the bench over there?"
Harald looked to where Eorland had left Vilkas' sword, and saw that there was a steel shield leaning up against the bench on the floor.
"My wife is in mourning, and I have to get back to her soon," Eorland continued. "I'd be much obliged if you could take that to Aela for me. She's the huntress. Red hair, three strips of warpaint across her face. Can't miss her."
"I think I've met her before, outside Whiterun," Harald said, picking up the shield. He remembered the woman with the bow, who first told him of the Companions and of Kodlak Whitemane. "Sure, I'm happy to lend a hand."
"That's a good man," Eorland replied before Harald headed back down the steps and to the hall.
He followed the same path he took up to the Skyforge, down the stairs and back to the yard, before heading to the back doors of the hall. He entered and almost ran into a woman in some kind of scaled armour, mostly hide, with a steel plate on one shoulder.
"Oh, excuse me," she said. "You're the newest companion, right?"
"Ah, yes," Harald said, showing her the shield. "Do you know where Aela is?"
"Aela?" she said, apparently in thought. "I think she's downstairs in her quarters. Just head down the stairs and up the hall towards Kodlak's quarters. It should be the first turn on the left, if I'm not mistaken. Is that shield for her?"
"Yeah. Eorland asked if I could take it down for him." Harald replied.
"Well, that's kind of you," said the woman. "Did he tell you about doing what your told?"
"As in not to do it?" Harald replied. "Yes, yes he did."
The woman nodded and introduced herself. "My name's Ria, by the way. Good to meet you."
"Harald," Harald replied. "I need to be going."
Ria nodded and let him pass. "Good luck, and welcome to the Companions!"
Harald nodded back to her and headed for the steps. He followed Ria's instructions, down the steps, and right down the hall towards where he had spoken to Kodlak. He came to an intersection in the hallway, where the turns when left or right. Harald took the left turn, as Ria had told him, and came to a short passageway that ended at a wall. Two doors were on either side of the passageway. Harald began trying to figure out which door was the right one, when he heard voices coming from the one on the left. One a man's and the other a woman's, who sounded very familiar.
"Are you prepared for tonight's hunt?" the man said.
"I've been thinking," said the woman. "We need to be more… discreet."
"There's nothing wrong with what we're doing, Aela," said the man.
"You know the old man doesn't like it," the woman, Aela, replied. "Let's just not be too obvious about it."
I'd better knock, Harald thought, as he approached the door. As his fist was about to meet it, it suddenly opened inwards and Harald suddenly came face-to-face with the woman he had met outside the city.
"Is there a reason you're out here, stranger?" she demanded softly.
Harald held up the shield he was carrying and presented it to her. "I… think I have your shield."
Her expression softened as she took the shield. "Ah, yes! I've been waiting for this!" She then turned to have a closer look at Harald. "Wait, I remember you. So, the old man thinks you have some heart, I guess."
"You know that one," said a man who was standing just inside the room they were in. Harald also recognised him as the one he saw on his way to the Skyforge. "I saw him training in the Yard with Vilkas."
"Ah, yes," Aela said. "I heard you gave him quite the thrashing!"
"Don't let Vilkas catch you saying that!" The man chuckled.
Harald stood there, smiling awkwardly before Aela addressed him once more.
"Do you think you could handle Vilkas in a real fight?" She asked, looking into his eyes intently.
Harald hesitated a moment before responding. "Well, technically I lost that fight, and he was apparently going easy on me."
"Modesty is a fine thing to have, youngling," Aela said, in a softer tone. She placed a hand on Harald's shoulder as she continued, "But do not sell yourself short. Victory only comes to those who know in their hearts that they are so. Come, let's have Farkas show you where you've been resting your head."
"Farkas!" the one-eyed man called out through cupped hands. Harald suddenly heard footsteps in a swift run down from the main hallway he had come from. At the intersection, a heavily armoured man with grey eyes and a greatsword strapped to his back, appeared. He looked a lot like Vilkas, Harald noted, except his hair was longer and more unkempt.
"Did you call me?" he asked.
"Of course, we did, ice brain," Aela replied. "Show this new blood where the rest of the whelps sleep."
"New blood?" Farkas asked before his eyes fell on Harald. "Oh, I remember you. Come on, follow me."
Harald followed as Vilkas lead him back down the hallway.
"Aela called you 'Ice brain' before…" Harald began to ask, but didn't have the heart to continue.
"Skjor and Aela like to tease me," Farkas explained as they walked. "But they're good people. They challenge us to be our best."
"You don't think I'll find myself with a nickname like that… do you?" Haralds asked, earning a soft chuckle out of Farkas.
"Nice to have a new face around," Farkas said, seemingly disregarding Harald's question. "It gets boring here, sometimes. I hope we keep you. This can be a rough life."
"I've lived rougher," Harald replied. He saw that they were approaching an open doorway opposite the main doors to the main hall upstairs.
"The quarters are up here," Farkas said, leading Harald into the doorway, where there were beds lining the walls inside. "Just pick a bed and fall in when you're tired. Come to me or Aela if you're looking for work. Once you've made a bit of a name for yourself, Skjor and Vilkas might have things for you to do."
Harald took this moment to really take in the place. The quarters seemed to be cut in half at the doorway, with four beds on each side, lining both sides of their half of the room. Harald recognised the Dark elf and the Nord who were fighting upstairs earlier, as well as Ria. There was one other man in leather armour that he hadn't met yet. A heavy hand on his shoulder suddenly caught his attention.
"By the way, if you're looking for something to do," Farkas said. "We've got trouble out in a place called Redoran's retreat, out west of Whiterun. Nothing we can't handle."
"What kind of trouble?" Harald asked, giving Farkas his full attention.
"Nothing but a bunch of lowly bandits. Cowards, who will take little effort." Farkas replied.
Bandits huh? Harald thought. Not exactly imperial soldiers.
"I think I can handle that," Harald said, earning him a heavier pat on the shoulder.
"Good luck, new blood," Farkas said. "And welcome to the Companions!"
Farkas left, leaving Harald in the quarters with the other Companions. Each one looked at him briefly before returning to whatever it is that they were doing. All except Ria, who approached him.
"You know," she said. "I was the newest Companion until you came along. I can't believe you've got your first mission already!"
"I'm still trying to figure out why Skjor let you in in the first place!" the other Nord woman interjected.
"If you remember, Njada, it's not up to Skjor," Ria retorted, causing the Nord to turn away in disgust. "Don't mind her, Harald. Apparently, she came to Jorvaskr with a stick up her arse."
"I heard that," Njada called back, as the dark elf and the other Nord giggled to themselves in the other end of the room.
"Take a seat, friend," the Dark elf said to Harald. "Tell us about yourself."
I guess that Dragonstone really isn't going anywhere, Harald thought to himself. A thought suddenly occurred to him as he suddenly remembered what he was wearing.
"Is there a way I can get something other that this to take to Redoran's retreat?" Harald asked.
"So, you're not a Stormcloak soldier after all," the other Nord said. "I'm sure Eorland will fix you up with a good deal, now that you're in the Companions."
Harald nodded as he sat on the bed, and Ria began introducing the others.
"The abrasive one over there is Njada Stickar – I mean, Stonearm," she said, motioning to the Nord woman, who was now flipping her off. "The Dark Elf is Athis, and this is Tovar." She motioned to each of these individuals respectively as she introduced them. "You and I met just upstairs."
Harald nodded and turned to Athis and Tovar. "I am Harald. Harald Thalinson."
"So, what brings you to the Companions, friend?" Athis asked.
Ria sat on the bed next to him as he told his story. "Well, I first heard about the Companions when I saw Aela, Farkas and Ria here fighting a giant outside of Whiterun…"