TAKE UP ARMS
I circled the Gildergreen, ignoring Heimskr's spiel, and found myself face-to-face with the legendary mead hall Jorrvaskr. It was huge, the roof made of an old ship and adorned with huge wooden shields. Twin braisers burned around the entrance, sending smoke into the sky, and a distant hammer on steel could be heard from the nearby legendary forge, the Skyforge.
I straightened my armor and mustered all the courage I had. I slowly pushed open the door, just in time to watch a tankard fly across the room.
A Nord woman in Steel Armor gave out a warcry and charged at a Dark Elf in Hide Armor. Of course, I smirked. Njada and Athis.
In the entryway, two men in heavy Wolf Armor ceased whatever conversation they were having as everyone surrounded Njada and Athis's fight. The elder with white hair in a balding ponytail, Skjor turned with an expression of stone, and the other, a tall, long and dark-haired Nord, Farkas, smirked. "Those two at it again...", Skjor began as they approached the fight slowly.
With all the focus on the fight, I decided to hurry downstairs and talk to their leader, Kodlak Whitemane. I slipped inside and passed by on the right, and the door closed a bit louder than intended as I went. As I went, I looked and saw only one person noticed, Skjor. His squinted eyes followed me as I went, then returned to the fight.
I descended the stairs and opened the door to the Jorrvaskr Living Quarters, finding myself face to face with the elderly maid sweeping. She turned and smiled warmly. "A new face in the hall. Welcome, I'm just a servant, dear. You want to talk to one of the Companions, I'm sure,"
I nodded, thankful that it was actually cool for me to go down here. "Is Kodlak in?"
"Of course, in the room at the end of the hall," she pointed.
"Thank you!" I passed her as a "Goodbye dear!" followed me.
The door was wide open. A medium-length dark-haired Nord, Vilkas, in similar Wolf armor to his brother Farkas, sat by a table next to a long white-haired Nord, Kodlak in - my jaw dropped - a helmet-less set of Ebony Armor. I suppose that's about right, being the leader and all.
I couldn't help but listen in:
Vilkas sighed at whatever Kodlak had just said and looked up at him, "But I still hear the call of the blood!"
Kodlak put a knowing Ebony-clad glove on Vilkas's Wolf Armor Pauldron. "We all do...we all do. It is our burden to bear. But we can overcome!"
Vikas sat straight, and Kodlak drew back his hand and sat back in his chair slowly. Vilkas nodded, thinking to himself.
I then heard a slight sound of heavy armor clanking right next to me. I turned and found myself face-to-face with Skjor's stone-cold face. He glared at me, then leaned against the wall on the right side of the door, seemingly listening in.
What the hell is he doing? I thought to myself.
I turned as I heard Vilkas continue, "You have my brother and I, obviously. But I don't know if the rest will go along quite so easily."
Kodlak ended their conversation with a simple but confident "leave that to me."
I looked over at Skjor, who was still glaring at me. I gestured inside, seeing if he wanted to go first, only gaining his glare.
Okayyyy then. I headed inside, gaining the attention of the two seated men.
Kodlak turned in his chair, "A stranger comes to our hall. What brings you here, young one?"
"I would like to join!" I said a little too eagerly.
A warm smile grew on Kodlak's face. "Would you now?" He rose slowly from his chair with a smile touched with pain. I knew Nords were tall, but he was especially tall, and despite his smile, the Ebony Armor made him plain intimidating.
"Here, let me have a look at you. Hmm", he continued, seeming to study everything about me inside and out. He sat again, slowly. "Yes, perhaps. A certain strength of spirit…" he shifted in his seat and looked into my soul through my eyes. "But tell me, why do you wish to join us?"
This caught me off guard; I wasn't expecting having to actually have a reason other than the obvious. I thought for a moment and replied, "I want to train with the best, maybe earn some coin along the way."
Kodlak sighed. "Young one, while your desire to train and become a greater warrior is honorable, understand: the Companions are not a guild of business owners who merely exchange gold for work. We are comrades, brother and sisters in honor, training every day and fighting for the glory of Sovngarde. We are tasked with defending Skyrim and her people, and most of us would do that even if we were not Companions, with no brothers and sisters at our backs."
I stood dumbfounded. Am I about to get rejected right now?
Kodlak stroked his giant white beard. "But even so, in your statement, I hear an echo of the needs of just about everyone in Skyrim - all of Tamriel even, especially in these trying times. Shelter, Coin for food, The chance to practice their craft. You know these needs, remember them in your training, remember the people of Skyrim and all of Nirn who need them, remember what we are as Companions, and you might indeed make a fine Companion, and a great shield-brother."
He looked at me as if seeking an answer. It was true. Back home, my shit, no skill job was all that I could find, but I was barely paying the bills, and I often didn't get the time for my crafts, writing, modding, and enjoying my life. It was part of why I wanted to come to Skyrim in the first place. I was a fool to think it would be so different.
I looked him in the eyes. "Yes, you're right. I understand, and accept."
Kodlak smiled, "Good."
Vilkas piped up, "Master, you're not truly considering accepting him?"
Kodlak seemed pained at this statement and turned to him. "I am nobody's master, Vilkas. And last I checked, we had some empty beds down the hall for those with fire in their hearts."
"Apologies," Vilkas continued, looking me over. "But perhaps this isn't the time. We don't know anything about this outsider."
"Even so," Kodlak continued, "It makes no difference. What matters is the heart."
"And their arm," Vilkas interjected, still looking me over, disgusted as if he could sense how inexperienced I was.
"Ah, yes, of course," Kodlak turned to me. "How are you in battle, boy?"
I'm fucking shit.
"I have much to learn, but I've managed so far."
Kodlak smiled at me. "That's the spirit. Vilkas, here, will get started on that." He turned to Vilkas. "Vilkas! Take him out to the yard and see what he can do."
Vilkas rose and gave out an annoyed "Aye" heading for the door, and I followed behind him out the door.
As I exited the door, my shoulder was suddenly gripped and pulled back by a heavy hand. I turned, startled, and found myself looking into Skjor's cold eyes. They were vicious, like a predator.
"I'm watching you whelp." he snarled.
I gulped, the message clear. He let me go and headed inside Kodlak's room. I stood there, dumbfounded and thankful to be alive.
"You coming new blood?" Vilkas's voice broke the silence.
I turned and saw him waiting by the door as a Nord in Banded Iron Armor and an Imperial woman in Iron Armor helped a beaten Athis back to the barracks. They turned at the mention of "new blood" at me, then back at each other and began to talk amongst themselves.
"Ah, yes!" I rushed to join Vilkas and followed him out to the yard behind the hall of Jorrvaskr.
The yard was beautiful. Outside of the doors, there was a roofed area with tables, chairs, food, refreshments, extra gear, and medical supplies, with steps leading to a training area, with clearly used training dummies and archery targets, and dried blood stains on the ground around. Vilkas picked up a Heavy Skyforge Shield and fitted it to his arm, descending the steps.
"The old man said to have a look at you, so let's do this." Vilkas stretched as I descended behind him. "Just have a few swings at me so I can see your form." He drew his sword and turned to me, "Don't hold back, I can take it."
I drew my sword and approached him. He began circling, shield at the ready. I came forward and went for a heavy vertical attack, connecting with the shield.
"Not bad!" he grunted.
I went for another strike, and he sidestepped to the right. He gained quite some distance, so I held my sword in both hands and charged. I jumped and swung with all my might...but he sidestepped. Missing my mark, I staggered past, with my back exposed, earning a hard swipe to the back with the flat of Vilkas's blade, causing me to fall on my face.
"Nevermind," Vilkas sighed, "On your feet whelp!" I scrambled to my feet and readied my sword at my shoulder with as good of a stance as I could muster. I can't fuck this up. I need to focus.
I approached slowly, and we continued to circle as he glared over his shield. After a while to regain composure, I gave a good one-handed swipe, connecting with the shield again. He took the hit and moved to the right again, so I followed up with a strike from the left with both hands, once again connecting with the shield, but this time moving it a little and opening him up slightly.
"There we go!" he said, returning his sword to his scabbard. Not bad, next time won't be so easy. You need some work, but you might just make it. You're still a whelp to us new blood, so you do what we tell you."
He began removing his scabbard from his belt, and I took the time to return my sword to its scabbard as well. He held out his sheathed sword to me, "Here's my sword. Go take it up to the Skyforge to Eorlund to have it sharpened. And be careful. It's definitely worth more than you are."
Well, fuck you too. I took the blade in both hands and nodded as he placed back the shield and returned to the hall.
