I have returned to Skyrim, but under different circumstances than I could have imagined. I returned during the middle of a civil war that I knew about, but had no plans in getting involved with so early. There is also a dragon that has complicated my first days in Skyrim. The trouble with this dragon has brought me to Whiterun, where my new friend, Sven, and I now work with the jarl to defeat it. We now head to Jorrvaskr, home of the fabled Companions, in hopes they will aid us against the dragon.
Sven and I make our way down from the Cloud District and to the second level of Whiterun. I am not disappointed by my first visit to the city. It is a bustling hub of activity and trade, being all manners of people and species together in the market places. Whiterun is the center and in a few ways, the heart of Skyrim, and not just geographically. Whiterun would be quite the asset to either side of the civil war, but from what I am told, Balgruuf is on neither side.
Jorrvaskr stands proudly by itself, the rest of the city built around it and the legendary Skyforge. Up the steps Sven and I go, until we come face to face with the large wooden double doors of the ancient mead hall.
"Do we knock, or do we just go in?" Sven asks me, obviously nervous. He is from Riverwood. No doubt he has heard stories of the warriors who dwell within and what they are capable of. Perhaps he has even seen some of the warriors held to be just less than minor gods.
"I suggest we just go in. The Companions are no one to be timid around. The last thing we want is for them to believe we are weak," I say as I push open the door. As Sven and I walk in, an older man with only one seeing working grey eye and the other being void of color, a scar running from jaw to forehead, stares us down while the others watch a fist fight. He slowly rises from his chair and walks to us.
"You're in our hall," the seasoned warrior says flatly.
"We are, sir," I confirm what he knows, but doing so with respect and no sign of fear for him.
"The inn is down the hill."
"We know this, too. We have come to speak to the Companions, a member of the circle is preferred," I tell the man with crossed arms and a suspicious glance. At hearing my last declaration, another Companion joins us. He wears the same armor of the wolf with a greatsword on his back. He is a bear of a man and a head taller than I, almost two heads taller than Sven.
"I am Skjor. This is Farkas," the aging man informs us. "We are both members of the Circle. Is there a job you need carried out?" Skjor asks, finally getting to our business.
"I assume you've heard of the dragon, I began simply.
"The entire hold has. What of it?"
"We come from the jarl. He asked us to get your aid in fighting this dragon."
"Why would he send you and not some guard or Irileth?" The large one, Farkas, asks.
"Because I was at Helgen. I watched the beast raze the village to the ground. Apparently not getting killed makes me an expert," I say, shrugging my shoulders. "Tulius and Ulfric were both there if you feel like calling me a liar."
"Farkas, fetch Aela," Skjor orders the bear. Skjor turns back to me. "Aela is our expert hunter. If she has anything to say on this dragon business, it will surely be her."
We wait patiently, sizing each other up but saying nothing. Sven has moved off to watch the fights. I let him be when a woman in Companion armor with blazing red hair comes to me and Skjor.
"Skjor?" the woman asks, paying no attention to me. I am okay with that, because I was not prepared for a Companion to be capable of such beauty yet obvious prowess. Her silver eyes, the eyes of the wolf, catch me off guard even when they are not on me.
"This man comes from Balgruuf. He claims to have survived Helgen," Skjor fills in Aela the Companion.
"You saw the dragon?" Aela asks, finally turning to me, her eyes display a of mix of wonder and disbelief.
"I did. It was the largest creature I have seen. The black scales were the size of my hand and the gusts from its wings had the force of a maelstrom. The fires scorched everything it touched and instantly killed men."
"This is some beast," Aela says, turning to Skjor. "This report is more inclusive than all others we have had."
"Balgruuf wants our help should it ever attack Whiterun," Skjor explains to Aela why he summoned her.
"Ah," Aela says flatly, her eyes back to me. "Do you know how to kill a dragon?"
"I understand our simple steel will not be enough. Our best chance is Skyforge steel, but only the Companions are allowed to wield it."
"This is all true," Aela concurs. "If the Companions did not aid in the fight, surely it would be to the destruction of the city, including Jorrvaskr," the red lady points out. "Come. Let us go see Balgruuf."
"Lady Aela," Balgruuf's booming voice echoes off the halls of Dragonsreach. "I did not expect the Companions to send one such as yourself," Balgruuf greeted, raising himself from his throne.
"My jarl," Aela bows to the man and he bows back in recognition of her status as well. "Your associate here has informed Jorrvaskr that Whiterun is preparing to defend against the dragon."
"That is correct. Egil has done much to help Whiterun." Balgruuf nods to me in thanks and I acknowledge him with a deeper nod, as is fitting. "The army of Whiterun is well trained and brave, Lady Aela, but we do not have weapons suited to dragon fighting."
"Egil, is it?" Aela asks me and I nod. "Egil has told me that is the understanding. I have to agree. I will personally speak to Harbinger Kodlak," she addressed us both.
"My jarl!" the Dark Elf from earlier, Irileth, I believe her name was, calls as she sprints in the room, nearly knocking poor Sven off his feet. "My jarl, the dragon has been spotted off in the distance by the Western watchtower. It made contact, but pulled off and went over the plains. It may come back," Irileth warned.
"It seems the time has already come," Balgruuf laments and rubs his forehead, his head hanging low and his shoulders slouching. "Lady Aela, I beg you to speak with Harbinger Kodlak with most haste."
"My jarl," Aela bows and turns to me. "Egil, you are with me." At Aela's call, I bow to Balgruuf and leave him to his plans with Irileth and Farengar. As Aela, Sven, and I leave the keep, Aela tells me, "you survived the dragon. The gods did not spare you for no reason. And there is something about you… a destiny. I feel it."
"How many people can say they survived a dragon, let alone cheat it twice?"
"Perhaps that is to be your greatness." Aela's eyes bore into me, telling me with no words that she is dead serious and that I would be wise not to rebuke. I did not expect a warrior of her class, one who could die at any day, to take an unforeseeable fate, and one so subject to change, so seriously.
"Prepare yourself for battle, and then we will speak to Kodlak?" I suggest, but leave plenty of room for her to order me. In Whiterun, I am still nothing. Being involved in the destruction of this dragon should hopefully make me a figure in this city.
"Find Skjor. Tell him to gather the Companions and meet us on the steps. By then I will have spoken to Kodlak. I will meet you when I am prepared for battle." I nodded and together we headed back into Jorrvaskr.
Skjor, Farkas, and the other Circle Companion, Vilkas, stand together with me on the front steps. The door opens once more and Aela steps out of Jorrvaskr; three stripes of blue war paint streaked across her face, a shield on her back, a dagger on her hip, and a bow in hand. "Let us go to the watchtower," she tells us. The whelps will bring Eorlund's weapons along for the guards and Irileth. We mustn't waste time."
Together we walk with purpose through the streets and to the stables. The Circle mounts, but I have no horse. "Up here, Egil," Aela says with no emotion. "Quickly now." I do as told and mount the horse behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. She takes off at a gallop and we speed down the cobbled path away from Whiterun and to the tower. We see the black smoke rising, and none of us can doubt that this was caused by the wrath of the dragon.
We dismount among the rubble and survey the damage closely. None of us know what we are looking for. We are not there for long when we hear the sound of more hooves coming down the cobble. We see the horse banners of Whiterun and then Irileth with her contingent, the minor Companions wearing their various armors with the red patches adorned with the golden icon of Wuuthrad on their right breasts. Irileth's force converged on us, along with the surviving guards. I am shocked that any survived. The gods must favor these men as well.
"Look out! Here it comes!" a guard shouts and points to the skies. We all look in the direction the guard is pointing in, and then we hear an ear shattering roar. If it was closer and we were not prepared for it, it would have been enough to unnerve any warrior.
"Quick, arm yourselves with Skyforge!" Skjor barks as the lesser Companions handed out swords, axes, spears, and bundles of arrows.
"Archers, do not clump to together! Spread out so the beast has to try to pick us off!" Aela directs with the authority of a seasoned legate.
"Shields, with me!" I call, raising my Skyforge steal high after getting it from a Redguard Companion. Skjor and Sven both come to my side and with a few of the lesser Companions and Whiterun soldiers; we form a tight shield wall and wait for the dragon. Irileth, Vilkas, and Farkas take the Whiterun warriors with two-handed weapons off to the side. By diverging our forces, the dragon will not know who to focus on. If the archers and bring it down, surely we can wrench it of life with dozens of blades.
Finally, the dragon closes in with another deafening roar. Aela calls for the archers to fire at will, and begins the fight with a well placed arrow of her own, the Skyforge steel tip piercing the dragon's chest. Flurries of arrows scream through the air, some going far off their marks but some striking true.
The dragon flies over our heads and lays down awe inspiring blankets of fire, trying to catch as many archers as it can, trying to stop the prickling arrows prodding its flesh and tearing its wings. After a time and more than a few casualties, the dragon is forced to land, unable to fly without Skyforge steel digging into its scales.
"Now is the moment to be men! Talos guide us!" I rouse the shield wall's spirits and lead the charge towards the dragon's maw. Farkas, Vilkas, and Irileth are leading a flanking charge to the dragon's sides. If we were not enough, the archers pick targets on the mighty beast above our heads. Aela and the archers on the tower rain down from the sky. The dragon is in complete disarray and trying to calculate how best to defend itself from all these angles when it is set upon by dozens of Companions and Whiterun soldiers alike.
Scales, blood, and dragon flesh are carved from the serpent as it tries to lash out at us with its great tail, claws, and gnashing maw. There are two many of us, and one dragon. I see my chance to assert myself. I stick my toe in the dragon's exposed side, and with Skyforge sword and dagger, climb atop the dragon. The dragon feels me on its back and tries to dislodge me, but it is unable. With all of my gathered strength and the legendary steal, I thrust my blade through the great skull, down to hilt. The blade is truly home, and with what sounds like a squeal, the beast falls limp beneath me.
There are no cries of victory, no cheers from us that remain. I fall to my haunches while still sitting on the dragon's long neck. I wipe my face with bloodied leather gauntlets and sigh deeply. I look up to the tower and see the flaming hair of Aela. She stands proudly yet solemnly with bow still in hand. All around the dragon are crushed, burned, bitten in half corpses. The dragon lay bested, but at a heavy price.
Irileth climbs the dragon and sits next to me. "The jarl will want to know of this victory," Irileth tells me, her red eyes full to the brim, tears threatening to fall at any point. I understand. As a housecarl, Irileth knows what it is to lead and lose soldiers, but not so many, and not to one foe.
"I will tell him, Housecarl. See to your men. See that the arms barrowed to us from the Companions are returned." I have no authority to give her orders, but she does not argue. Instead she nods and grasps my shoulder with a shaking hand before she gets up and takes her leave.
I dismount the dead dragon by walking down the snout and to the cobbled road in front of me. There, the Circle of the Companions waits for me. "This belongs to you," I say, holding out the dagger and sword that served me so well.
"I think you should hold onto those, soldier," Skjor said, pushing my hands back towards me. "I believe it is time you come to Jorrvaskr and meet the Harbinger, Kodlak. You have already proven that you are worthy of the Companions."
The Companions are the greatest warriors in Skyrim, and with them, through them; I could surely accomplish great things. But the Companions are not the end of my journey. Whiterun is not the end of my journey. I owe it to these warriors who helped me save Whiterun, they deserve the truth.
"Companions, I would be honored to join your ranks, but I fear I have far more ahead of me that I must do. I will meet with Harbinger Kodlak. He is a great man and can offer me needed council, but I doubt I will be joining your ranks." I stop mid thought, and my blood seems to stop as well.
"Egil?" Aela asks, a twinge of worry in her voice as she reaches out to touch my arm. "What is it?"
"Sven. Where is Sven?" I ask, my anxiety rising tenfold. "Sven!" I call out, worry for my friend swallowing my mind. I brought him from home. I opened him to these dangers. Sven is a boy I tore from his soft, cozy life and threw into literal dragon fire.
"I am here, Egil," Sven answers, approaching with a noticeable limp in his step. The red iron blood trickles down a sizable gash in his leg. He bares now a scar, a reminder of the greatest feat any one in Skyrim can claim.
"Come, Sven," I say with a smile, happy my young friend survived the fight. "We must get your wound looked to and inform Balgruuf of all that has happened. Then, we must visit Jorrvaskr."
The guards open the doors to Dragonsreach for Sven, Aela, and I. We walk through the great hall with the stares of everyone on us. Our return can only mean that the dragon is no more. As soon as Balgruuf's eyes find us, he knows it is so.
"Egil Aethrogson and Lady Aela, you return!" Balgruuf could not hide the excitement at seeing us. Sven and I were head to toe in dragon gore, and Aela had only three arrows remaining. "The dragon, is it…."
"Yes, my jarl, the dragon is slain," Aela answers for us. "It was the mightiest beast I have laid eyes on."
"There were more than a few casualties, my lord," I inform him "Irileth lives, and so does the Circles, but the Companions and Whiterun have suffered."
"Their sacrifices will not be forgotten, Egil Aethrogson. Nor shall your role in this affair," Balgruuf says as he sits in his chair again. I turn to Aela to see if she follows him, and she only smiles at me. "Lady Aela, I cannot give you any reward, as you are a Companion. But Egil, I am more than happy to award you with the title of Thane of Whiterun. You are a hero, Egil Aethrogson, and the hold shall know it." I can say I was not expecting to be made a Thane, a hero, and should the occasion arrive, a captain of Whiterun's army.
"Thank you, my jarl." I bow deeply and stand back upright. "I still have much work to do, Jarl Balgruuf."
"I am sure you do. A man of your capabilities does not stay idle long. As a Thane, though, it is my honor to appoint you a housecarl who will follow you on your travels. Her name is Lydia, and she shall serve you well, Egil Aethrogson. Go, and may the Divines smile upon you as they have so far." Balgruuf turns to Aela who still stands with me. "Lady Aela, please give my regards and respects to the Companions." Aela and Balgruuf bow to each other, finally ending the formalities.
Aela turns to take her leave and tugs me along by the arm, Sven and I both following her dutifully. "You still need to speak to Harbinger Kodlak. About what, I am not entirely sure, but Skjor was adamant about it, and surely the Harbinger will want to speak to you, who had such a role in the dragon's fate."
"Very well," I agree without a fight. What harm can meeting the Harbinger of the Companions bring me? Before we can leave the hall, a woman in steel armor with long brown hair in a ponytail approaches us.
"Greetings to you, Thane," the warrior woman greets me. "Lady Aela," the woman bows to Aela. "I am Lydia of Whiterun. I have been instructed by Jarl Balgruuf that I am to be your housecarl, my Thane."
I look at Sven and Aela, and the pair shrug. I cannot turn down the services of a housecarl without offering her serious insult. "Lydia, what background have you?" If she is not as capable as she appears, she will not last long in my service, and I wish not to be responsible for the loss of her life.
"I am a lieutenant in the jarl's army. I have considerable tracking skills, and while not being nearly as good as Lady Aela, I do have some proficiency with a bow. You would be hard pressed to find a woman in Whiterun better than I with sword and shield outside of Jorrvaskr," Lydia shares with us.
"I see no reason not to bring her along, Egil," Sven offers.
"Perhaps you are right, friend. Lydia, your road with us will not be without challenges, but I believe you will be most helpful and welcomed with us, I tell her, and the warrior smiles at me. "Are you ready to leave?"
"I am, my Thane. Where are we going?" Lydia asks, obviously eager to depart.
"Lady Aela requests we join her to Jorrvaskr, as the Harbinger wishes to speak with us. As to what, we do not know. We can't deny a request from the Harbinger of the Companions, though." With those words, the four of us leave the Cloud District and head to the center of Whiterun and to Jorrvaskr.
Once in the great hall, Aela asks Lydia and Sven to stay at the great table around the center fire while we go below to living quarters. Aela leads me down the stairs, through a set of double doors and down a long hall. At the end of the hall, I can hear the voices of Vilkas and who I can only guess is the great Harbinger himself, Kodlak. They discuss "the call of the blood," but I am entirely unsure of what they mean.
"Ah, Aela. You've brought the newcomer, the one who helped slay the dragon," the old man says, running a hand through his great graying beard.
"I have, Harbinger," Aela says, bowing low with a hand over her chest. "Shall I leave you?" she asks dutifully but Kodlak slowly shakes his head.
"There is no reason for you to go, Aela, nor you, Vilkas," the man says, speaking to the great warriors like they are his own children. There is certainly an undeniable charismatic air around him. He could lead great armies to do terrible things if he wished.
"What is it you would speak to me about, Harbinger?"
"I must ask for your help," Kodlak says. "We lost more than a few Companions in fighting the dragon. The sacrifice of our brothers and sisters was necessary to safeguard the city. But the Companions are at war."
"My Harbinger, I mean no disrespect in interrupting, but should we tell this stranger of the Companions' troubles?" Vilkas asks. I am not hurt by this, but made more curious.
"If he is to help us, Vilkas, he should know what we are asking of him. The Companions have been locked in a shadow war for some time now against an order known as the Silver Hand. The Silver Hand wishes the downfall of the Companions because of what the members of the Circle are."
"We are werewolves," Aela tells me shamelessly, and I do my best to seem unmoved by the fact that I have literally walked into a wolf den. I brought Sven and Lydia here as well, like sheep. I slowly move my hand to my sword, but I am not foolish enough to make a move.
"Despite the selfless acts we do day in and day out, such as help slay dragons, their bias would see us all killed like rabid dogs," Vilkas says with venom in his tone.
"You wish me to become a Companion, to help replace those lost and help with your war?" I regurgitate the Harbinger's words to make sure I understand.
"That is correct, warrior," Kodlak confirms. Gaining favor with the Companions could only help in my overall quest to regain the High Throne. But do I have the time to lock myself in such a war? And how skillful the Silver Hand must be to gridlock with the might of the Companions. I look at the faces of Kodlak, Vilkas, and Aela. It is clear to me that Sven, Lydia, and I will help this most noble order of warriors with this.