As I walked up the steps to the Skyforge, the ringing of hammer-on-metal got distinctly louder and louder. As I got higher, the great stone eagle statue overlooking the orange glow of the forge looked down ominously. A large older man in ancient Nordic armor with long gray locks kept out of his eyes by a matching armored headband stood hammering a glowing piece of metal on his anvil. The pure heat given off by the Skyforge was daunting. It was like a fountain from Hell.

I approached him as he hammered away, not acknowledging my presence. When I got close enough, not looking up from his work, he said in a gruff nordic voice, "What brings you here?"

I held up the sword and said, "Vilkas sent me, wants his sword sharpened?"

Eorlund Gray-Mane returned the metal to the forge to re-warm it. As he worked the blower, he turned and pointed to a flat place in the stone on which there were many weapons, armors, and materials stacked. "Place it on the left, closest to the forge." I did so, having to shield my face with my arm from the brightness and heat. "I'm guessing you're a newcomer, then?" Eorlund said, taking the metal back out and beginning to hammer away again.

"Yep," I chuckled.

"Oh, don't worry too much about it. They were all whelps once, doing menial tasks for their shield-brothers and sisters in the circle before them as well. They just might not like to talk about it." He placed the still-hot piece of metal into a stone tub of water next to him and turned to me for the first time, "And don't always just do what you're told. Nobody rules anybody in the Companions."

"Understood," I nodded and began to head past him.

"Wait, before you go, I have a favor to ask." Eorlund began.

"Aela's shield?" I replied, stopping.

Eorlund nodded, "Yes, the new shield for Aela, my wife is in mourning and I need to get back to her when I am done. I'd be much obliged if you could take it to Aela for me so I can get back to her sooner."

"Of course, which one is it?" I returned to the table.

"That's a good man. It's there, closest to the workbench," Eorlund pointed as he took another glowing hot piece of steel out of the Skyforge.

I picked up Aela's Light Skyforge Shield and descended the steps to return to the mead hall.

On my way, I saw some Companions I didn't recognize sparring in the yard, with a collection of others watching. Not looking to get in the way, I opted to take the front entrance to Jorrvaskr.

Once downstairs again, I headed to Aela's room. As I got close, I heard Skjor's raspy voice, and I nearly dropped the shield, "-and the brothers are with him."

"It matters little," a female Nord's voice followed. "Our shield-brothers are with us by blood. We will hunt together."

"Yes I suppose you're right," Skor's voice muttered through the wall. "Stonearm is almost ready as well."

I didn't want to go in there right now with him there, although the thought of coming out and seeing me spying on his conversation seemed less enjoyable. I let a few seconds pass and knocked. "Come in!," the female Nord's voice flowed again after a slight pause.

I opened the door, holding the shield in front of my chest. As I walked in, I saw Skjor standing by a display case, glaring at me as usual, while a tall, red-headed hot Nord woman, Aela, sat in a chair by her desk, running her fingers along the spine of a Skyforge Steel dagger. She was donned in her usual set of light Ancient Nordic Armor - which I couldn't stop staring at the revealing chest area of - and had a leg up on the arm of the chair, leading to me stare there too. I was terrified with two major fears on both sides as Skjor gave a glare from the left that promised death, and Aela, whose eyes were unnerving but intoxicating. My incel beta brain couldn't take it, so I just stood there turning back and forth from scary Skjor to hot and scary Aela.

"What do you want, whelp," Skjor snarled, breaking the silence and sending my fear multiplier skyrocketing until it went negative.

I took a couple of slow steps towards Aela, "I, uh, have, uh, your shield." I held it out.

"Ah, good, I've been waiting for this. Place it over there," she pointed with the dagger. I sheepishly hurried to do so. As I did so, she went back to playing with the blade and studied me up and down, "Are you new here?"

Before I could reply, Skjor said, "Aela, I told you, this is the whelp that Vilkas mentioned."

"Ah, yes. I heard he gave you quite the thrashing," Aela chuckled; Skjor followed suit.

I gave a nervous chuckle. FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK

"I know, you were holding back weren't you. Didn't want to cause any problems on the first day, it's okay," Aela winked, sending a shiver down my spine. "Tell me, do you think you could handle Vilkas in a real fight?"

"Uh, uhm, not yet, but uh, after training...yeah," I gave a thumbs up. God, I sound like a bluepilled beta cuck. Not sure what any of these words mean, but I learned them on the internet. Reddit is a beautiful thing.

"Smart and eager," Aela smirked and looked to Skjor. "This is good." She turned back to me, "Let's have Farkas show you where you'll be resting your head."

Skjor yelled into the hall, "FARKAS!"

Shuffling of heavy armor approached, and Farkas entered the doorway. "Did you call me?" he slowly responded with a blank expression.

Aela rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair. "Of course we did, Ice-brain. Show new blood here where the rest of the whelps sleep."

I looked at Farkas, and he looked at me. "New blood? Oh, hello. I'm Farkas. Come, follow me."

I looked to Aela, and she gave me a "what are you waiting for" glare, so I ran out the door and closed it behind me. I fell on my ass and gasped for air, thankful to be out of there and alive.

"Are you okay, new blood?" Farkas looked down at me, offering a hand.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine now Farkas, thanks," I took his hand and followed him once on my feet. "Sorry it's just...I was being a simp back there and that's not very based."

"What's 'based'?" Farkas asked.

"Nothing, nevermind," I chuckled. "My name is Guy by the way."

"Nice to meet you." the mountain of a man smiled warmly. "Skjor and Aela were teasing you, huh. They like to tease me too, but they're good people. They challenge us to be our best."

"Yeah," I ran my hand through my hair. "Something like that."

"It's nice to have another new face around. It gets boring here sometimes." Farkas continued. "I hope we keep you, this can be a rough life." Fuck, it's been rough enough today as it is.

We reached the doorway at the end of the hall, "The quarters are up here on the right. Just pick a bed and fall in it when you're tired. Tilma will keep the place clean. She always has."

He opened the double doors and walked me into what looked more like a proper barracks than in the game. Several beds filled the area with an end table and dresser for everyone. There were many companions inside, including Athis sitting with the Nord and the Imperial woman from earlier.

"All right, so here you are. Looks like the others are eager to meet you. After some training, come to the Circle if you're looking for work. Once you've made a bit of a name for yourself, you can begin your Trial. Good luck, and Welcome to the Companions."

Farkas turned slowly and left, leaving me with the other members. A smile grew on my face. I did it: I was a Companion.


I turned and found myself under the scrutiny of many pairs of eyes.

The Nord in Banded Iron came up to me, offering a handshake, "The latest recruit! Right? Wait, is that right?" He turned to the Imperial woman, who also began to stand up to greet me.

"Of course it is, Torvar, Farkas literally just brought him," she sighed. "My name is Ria, I was the newest Companion until you came along. I guess that's ok. Just means I can show you the ropes!" I shook her hand and nodded.

"Uhhhh, any advice for the newbie?" I gave her a finger gun.

"Of course! We're all in this together - right Athis?" She turned and looked to the dark elf, who rolled his eyes and stood up as well.

Ria continued, "We're not exactly experts on anything but we can definitely pass along advice. Athis, for one, would advise not to piss off Njada Stonearm." Ria smirked, getting a hearty laugh out of Torvar.

"Ha ha. Very funny," Athis squinted his red eyes.

"I've always wondered, why were you two fighting anyway?" I asked.

"Always?" Athis looked at me sideways. "Looks like they really are letting anyone in these days," he muttered.

Ria put a hand on her hip. "Now that you mention it, I'm curious why again today. You two should-" Torvar cut her off, "About what?" and gained pained looks from the two.

"Fine," Athis sat back down on the bed. "Who can say. Perhaps it was her time of month. Perhaps it is some elaborate Nord courtship ritual. Perhaps she is prejudiced against my kind." He smiled, "Or, maybe she just senses that I am competition!"

"Didn't she just beat you?" I mused.

"Keep your tongue at the yard," Athis spat back. "I don't just mean in a fight, you see. I mean for the Circle." He regained his smile, wider this time. "She's been trying forever, practically worshipping Skjor. She walks around the place as if she's already one of them, saying she's a master of Blocking. If she can claim that, then I'm a master of One-Handed." he chuckled.

"Why hasn't she made it?" I asked.

Athis laughed, "Isn't it obvious?"

Ria looked around and said, "Well, really I think it's because no one has been allowed to apply for being in the Circle lately since...uh...yeah." She gave me a sheepish glance as if she had just remembered I was there.

"Look, things happen, the Circle isn't immortal, what a surprise. No one is." Athis rolled his eyes.

"Wait wait wait what?" I interjected. "Some of the circle died? Who? I only remember Kodlak, Skjor, Aela, Farkas, and Vilkas," I counted on my fingers, "and they're all here."

"Obviously there were others, are you stupid?" Torvar slapped my back, slightly knocking the wind out of me. "Do you know how old this guild is? Seriously, do you? I don't remember."

"Well maybe we shouldn't be talking about this they are still just 'missing'," Ria said, looking around.

"Bah," Athis turned away.

Ria turned to me, "Anyway, back to advice I would choose your first jobs carefully, they are all going to be solo jobs at first while the Circle evaluates your performance. Once they get a better feel for your style, and you're a full member, then they'll pair you up with other's whose styles mesh well based on the job."

"I'm not a full member..?" I was getting more and more confused.

Athis groaned and looked up at me with a pained expression, "Have you completed your trial?"

"Obviously not, I just got here."

"Then. You're. Not. A. Full. Member." Athis said mockingly as he kicked his boots off and lay back in his bed.

"And I get my trial after completing jobs," I looked to Ria.

"Yes! Well, when the Circle comes up with something anyway. It will be something difficult, but a member of the Circle who matches your style will be with you," Ria confirmed.

"And only solo jobs before that...why? If you get a rough one that's a death sentence for someone inexperienced." I asked.

"That's only if you pick a rough one," Torvar slapped my back again.

"There's no shame in refusing a hard job, especially if you're going alone." Ria responded. "But it shows your courage and ability to adapt - that you are one of the best: a Companion."

"So the Imperial was born with the heart of a Nord," Athis laughed, earning a glare from Ria.

I was about to ask more when Tilma entered. "Lunch is ready!" my stomach grumbled, I looked to the others, and after Athis jumped into his boots, we all marched up the stairs to the hall.