I was so productive this weekend I managed to write another chapter.

First I thought I should save it at least until Friday, but screw it.
I've really started to enjoy writing my own dialogue, rather than using already existing dialogue from the game like I have been tending too do.

Hope I gave justice to the characters in this chapter, and gave them at least a bit of their personalities and overall feel from the game.

Enjoy.

Skjor

"Where is he?" Skjor asked as his impatience slowly rocked him back and forth on the wooden chair he long ago had made his own. Arms crossed and feet on the table, an undisciplined picture he would never show had anyone else but her been present.

"He'll be here." Aela answered softly as she scraped her dagger against the flint in her left hand, rekindling the blackened heartfire of Jorrvaskr.

"He should be here by now." Skjor said slowly as he leaned further back, tilting his head towards the thin line of blood-orange morning sunshine slowly climbing into the meadhall, as the sun licked the horizon, through the upper windows.

"Yes." Aela said as she turned her lips towards the glowing sparks, breathing life into the heartfire. A gush of charcoal scented wind rose as the fire fed upon dried twigs and wood, slowly spreading its warm light across the meadhall.

"I trained him better than this." Skjor muttered, taking his legs of the table and leaning forward with impatience.

"I know you did." Aela said as she walked towards Skjor, gently leaned forward and put her hand softly on his cheek, bringing her head towards his.

"Aela…" Skjor interrupted as he softly pushed her hand away. "We agreed, not within Jorrvaskr." He said as he slightly shook his head left and right, his one eyed gaze meeting her moonlight eyes.

Aela sighed out a ¨we did…¨ as she rose, turned towards the table and walked over to lean against it, slightly fixing her auburn hair before crossing her arms in her usual manner. She gave him a quick glare before turning her head forward, avoiding eye contact. A minute passed in silence as they both sat in their own separate thoughts.

"So why is he late?" Skjor again said, more to kill the silence than to actually want an answer.

"How am I supposed to know?" Aela spat out, giving Skjor a slight look of annoyance. "We said by ¨sunrise,¨ that hasn't happened yet. It's not unlike you to be impatient, but now you almost sound like Vignar. What's with that?"

Skjor turned silent as he met her sharp glare. He clenched his jaw to keep himself from answering, though he had no answer, as he knew better than to ¨poke¨ at her when she was annoyed. Oddly enough her short temper was something he had always found charming, just like how he found it charming how her cheeks turned slightly red when she angered.

Aela sighted and relaxed her shoulders. "He just got married, I'm sure he is,… occupied." she shrugged. "He'll be here."

For another moment Skjor sat in silence as Aela watched him in thought, until Skjor slowly rose from his chair and walked over to the heartfire, Aela now barely watching him as he threw more logs into the fire and returned to his chair. He sat heavily down and leaned forward, scratching his chin to again sink deep in thought. Aela looked at him as he half unaware leaned back and stretched out his left leg to slowly massage his knee with his left hand. She hadn't seen him do that before.

"Something wrong?" Aela asked.

"It's nothing." Skjor quickly answered as he jerked into his usual disciplined position, cleared his throat and turned towards Aela. ¨The sun is rising, he should be here by now.¨ He sputtered sternly, as to change the subject.

Aela gave him a criticizing look. She had long ago learned to tell when he was lying, especially a lie as obvious as this one. But she also knew he was far too stubborn and proud to admit to it once he had set his mind to it. So, like so many times before, she let it go with a sigh.

"By Hircine,..." She started. "If you're so impatient, why not just take someone else? Njada and Aethis have both been asking to come along on the heavier contracts. They're both willing,… and strong."

"You know this isn't a contract." Skjor pitted in. "And we're not going up against some regular bandits and drunks, we're going up against the Silver Hand. And as much as I hate to admit it, they actually have decent training." His lips sharpened as he said those words. "You know only a member of the Circle will do."

"A wolf, you mean." Aela said as she gently jumped up to sit on the thick oak table. "So why not bring Vilkas? Or Farkas then?"

"We've been over this." Skjor said. "Vilkas wouldn't care to hunt down the Silver Hand without a good reason, there is too much of ¨Kodlak¨ within him. And Farkas,… well you know him. No… it needs to be ¨him¨". Skjor rubbed his eyebrows and drew his hand over his left eye, his blind eye, in slight annoyance as to again have this discussion.

"Again,… I just don't understand why you need it to be him?" Aela sighted. "Farkas would be just as fine. After all, Farkas have been training since he learned to walk. The new-blood has only been here a fistful of years. Hadn't it been for you convincing me, I wouldn't even have agreed to vote him into the Circle in the first place."

"No he won't." Skjor answered, referring to Farkas. "Have you seen them during training?" Skjor asked as he turned towards Aela, pressing his lips together in seriousness.

"As much as you? Can't say I have." Aela answered, rolling her eyes before continuing. "But I know he's good."

"Good?..." Skjor mumbled as to disagree. "Considering he barely had any prior training, he was ¨good¨ when he joined us…" Skjor bit his lower lip in thought. "I tried to break him, you know." Skjor said as he gave Aela a raised eyebrow look before he continued. "We already had plenty of members to feed, and not so much gold. And quite frankly, I just didn't like how Kodlak accepted him into our ranks without a second thought… That was unlike even him."

Aela leaned back on the table, putting weight on her arms, and turned her sight towards the ceiling. "So why didn't you?"

"Oh I tried!" Skjor almost laughed. "That ¨Farmer's boy¨ showing up on our door steps, wearing that ridiculously oversized piece of armor, almost shitting himself when we first spoke." Skjor smiled as he spoke, a rare sight. "And then I started training him. Pushed him beyond his limits, day after day. And how I waited to wake up one day and see him gone, bag packed and all. But he just kept showing up for training. And before I knew it, that oversized piece of armor actually fit. And his body actually could keep up with my training… exceeded it even…"

Aela tilted her head towards Skjor, one eyebrow raised. Skjor just sat with his elbows on his knees and leaned his chin on his fists. Eyes forward in thought.

"He learned quickly…" Skjor continued in a low voice, now speaking more to himself rather than with Aela. "After his body started keeping up with my training his head just began soaking in knowledge. Every technique I taught him he learned in days, rather than the weeks it took the soldiers when I still was with the Imperial legion. Shield, sword, bow, he learned it all. I thought he was crazy when he wanted a great sword, but after just two months of training he wielded it almost as good as Farkas, who have never wielded anything else. And when he made his own great axe,… even Eorlund admitted it was good work."

A ¨thud¨ interrupted him as Aela jumped of the table to walk to the heartfire to feed it more logs. He watched her as she turned back and again jumped back up on the table. She didn't speak, just gave him a curious, yet at the same time cynical, look as she made herself comfortable again.

"I got curious…" Skjor said as he met her moon white eyes. "I wanted to see how he would take to being moon-born."

"You convinced me to turn him faster than any other member, out of your own curiosity alone?" Aela suddenly asked, not able to keep shut any longer.

"You saw him turn. Heard how Eorlund had to reforge his armor after his turning." Skjor answered with a serious look. "That has never happened before…"

Aela parted her lips and drew air as if to speak but suddenly closed them and fell silent.

"And his training afterwards." Skjor continued. "He was like a new man. I've yet to see him sweat during training since. His sparring sessions with Farkas,… I'm no longer sure he's even taking them seriously." Skjor turned his sight towards the floor, clearly again in thought. "I don't know but,… I have this feeling there's something,… ¨special¨ about him."

"Have you gone mad,… Skjor?" Aela slowly asked, interrupting the silence that for a moment had lived. "I've never heard you speak this much about any single man. Not to mention with such,… admiration? You really think he could take on Farkas?"

Skjor chuckled for a moment before answering. "In arm strength? I don't know. But Farkas fights on instinct, and always have. His battle experience works his muscle memory, not his techniques and strategy. ¨He¨ however uses his head,… which would outdo Farkas's straightforward fighting style any day."

"And Vilkas?…" Aela continued.

"That,… I don't know." Skjor answered. "He's most certainly stronger than Vilkas. But Vilkas is smarter and he too uses his head well. And he uses his experience far better than most." Skjor paused briefly before he continued. "That's why we need ¨Him¨ on this mission. He hasn't been in a ¨real¨ fight since before he turned. He still has much to learn and need experience. He needs to face ¨death¨ in order to improve."

"Careful Skjor…" Aela said as she gave him a playful look. "It almost sounds like you think he will take your title as ¨The Strongest of the Companions.¨"

"Ha!" Skjor laughed. "I'd like to see him try."

"You two still here?" Tilma's old voice asked, as she walked up the basement stairs on the other side of the meadhall.

"Tilma!" Aela said abruptly as she jumped of the table and turned towards the old woman. "How long have you?…"

"Oh hush, child." Tilma interrupted, waving her hand as she walked towards the table.

"Eavesdropping again are we, Tilma." Skjor said as he rose from his chair. "I thought such behavior was beneath you?"

"Oh you know Jorrvaskr has ears, young Skjor." Tilma answered. "But lucky for the two of you, Jorrvaskr doesn't have a mouth." She continued as she gave them both a wink.

Aela exhaled audibly through her nose and jerked her head aside and crossed her arms.

"Appreciate it." Skjor said as he gave Aela a reassuring look.

"Anyway." Tilma continued. "I need to get started on breakfast. You two eating before you leave?"

"Aela will." Skjor quickly answered. "But I'm leaving."

"Skjor?" Aela interrupted, frowning her brows in confusion.

"You'll catch up." Skjor said. "Like I said, it's the Silver Hand we're going up against. It'll be good if I recon the place before you two show up. And I move faster on my own."

"Companions don't fight without a Shield-Sibling." Aela said with a look.

"No need to remind me of that." Skjor reassured her. "I don't plan to fight, just taking a look before you two show up. Besides, my impatience has gotten to me, my legs wish to walk. You know where to meet up?"

"Sure…" Aela answered coldly as Skjor grabbed his gear and turned for the door.

"Skjor." Aela said, with a stern yet slight look of worry, stopping him in his tracks. She slightly bit her lower lip before continuing. "Be…"

"I will." Skjor answered, interrupting her sentence as he grabbed the door handle and left.