The Vilemyr Inn had little customers in that night, which could be considered a good thing, especially since we were both weary from travel. I had an odd dream while I slept that night where I was standing on a lone stone pillar in the middle of an endless sea, and I could vaguely see three figures in the distance. I woke up feeling weirded out by the entire thing. Feeling hungry, Inigo and I walked to the Innkeeper while Sofia went towards the lake across the road to bathe. After asking the Innkeeper Winhelm for breakfast, he warned us about Shroud Hearth Barrow located right next to the town. Apparently, he and the locals believe it is haunted. So after Sophia had her bath, the three of us went to investigate. This haunting turned out to be nothing but a ruse by a thief named Wyndelius who was searching for the treasure in the crypt. To scare the locals away from the crypt, he made a couple potions which made him appear as a ghost, but also started to make him act like one in the process. Once we dealt with him and brought his journal to Wilhelm, he gave us a Dragon Claw as a gift.
On the way back to Whiterun, we saw a few warriors trying to fend off a Giant which was trespassing on Pelagia Farm and causing some mayhem. I was the first to enter the fray, sword and shield in hand. I aimed for its legs, slashing at the heel in order to cripple it. It seemed to do the trick as the other two warriors, Nord men were attempting to use Greatswords to attack the beast. I've never been a huge fan of clunky weapons such as those. The third one, a Nord woman was shooting arrows at the beast, with a skill that in my opinion rivaled Inigo's. To be perfectly honest, I was feeling similar to what I've felt while I was fighting the Dragon at the watchtower, just on a smaller scale. The steps and strikes the Giant made shook the land around us. It was hard enough for me to maintain my balance as I had to dodge the monster's many ground strikes. Once it was dealt with however, the huntress sheathed her bow and walked towards me. "You handled yourself well in the battle. You could make for a decent Shield-Brother." He said.
"Likewise. But what exactly is a Shield-Brother?" I asked, sheathing my own weapon.
"An outsider, eh? I suppose you never heard of the Companions? We are an order of warriors, brothers and sisters in honor. We show up to solve problems if the coin is good enough." She explained as the rest of the two warriors laid their eyes upon me.
"Sounds like the kind of job I used to partake in." Inigo said. "I bet you could learn a lot from these folks Don."
"You really think so?" I asked.
"Well, they are a decent bunch." Sofia said.
"The way I see it, we're more than decent. I wager each of us are worth ten good soldiers or more." One of the Nord men said.
"Alright then. You have me convinced." I said. "My name is Adonlvan Omoreus by the way. I'm the Thane of Whiterun."
"A Thane? We haven't had one in these parts for a while. What did you do to earn yourself such a title?" the Huntress asked.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." I replied.
"I'm looking forward to hearing this over a pint or two." One of the men said.
"Let's head back to Jorrvaskr already, I'm already itching for a mug of some mead." The other stated.
"Alright. Inigo, Sofia, I'm going to join the Companions." I said to them both.
"Wait, you're just ditching us?" Sofia asked.
"Not necessarily. I just think its best if we go on our own endeavors until I need you guys again." I said. "I hope you all can find a place to stay."
"There's the old shack that belonged to an alchemist once south Ivarsted. I think I'll stay there for the time being my friend." Inigo said. "I look forward to fighting with you again soon." He then started walking off singing a song to himself.
"How about you Sofia, any place you can think of?" I asked.
"Well, have you ever tried living in a cave? I have. It's not the most comfortable way of living, but you won't find anywhere more private." She said.
"In that case, I wish you luck." I said.
"Just don't get jealous if I find someone else to hang out with." She said before she walked off. I then followed the three warriors back into Whiterun. "Quite the tease isn't she?" One of the men asked.
"Indeed. But she's also very reliable. What's your name?" I questioned.
"I'm Vilkas. This is my brother Farkas. The woman is Aela, a real huntress."
"You can call me Don for short." I said as we talked back up the streets of Whiterun. As we did, I saw two children having an argument. "Battle-born, give me all your money!" The girl said, a Redguard with brown hair.
"But…I don't have any money." The boy said, a Nord with ginger hair.
"You better give my five septims right now, or I'll bloody your nose." The girl said.
"No! Please! I really don't have any money, Braith! I'll give you ten septims tomorrow. Just don't hit me." The boy replied.
"Ten Septims tomorrow, baby Battle-Born. Or I'm gonna bloody your nose and your lip." She said before walking off. I turned my head towards Vilkas.
"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up." I said before walking over to the boy named Lars. "I don't understand how bullies like those go unnoticed. First Nazeem now this little s'wit?"
"That's how it usually works around here, everyone wants you to toughen up. But I'd rather not be a fighter like my pa." Lars said. "It's no fun getting pushed around."
"What would you rather be kid?" I asked.
"Myself." He answered.
"Good point." I admitted. For a youngling he seemed to have a way with words when he wasn't being pressured. "What if I go talk to this girl?"
"You will?"
"Might as well make this city a more tolerable place to reside." I said before walking off and searching the market district for Braith. I found her sitting on one of the benches in the Wind District.
"You there, young lady." I said.
"What are you looking at? I'm not afraid of you y'know, even if you are my elder." She said.
"Why would you have a reason to be afraid of me?" I asked. "Is that something disrespectful little children ask often?"
"What are you trying to say?" She questioned.
"Simply for you to stop bullying Lars."
"Oh? And what if I don't?" She tempted.
"I'll ask the Jarl to throw you in the dungeon. I have been personally bestowed the title of Thane of Whiterun. Or if you prefer I can sell you off to some lowly bandits, I happen to know some contacts."
"Alright alright! I'll stop bullying him, but only because you said so. Besides, if he'd only kiss me, I wouldn't have to beat him up all the time!"
"Kiss you?" I asked raising an eyebrow. Braith looked flustered and blushed tremendously.
"F-f-forget I said that!" She said before she took off running. I chuffed in a display of irony before returning to Lars.
"Well, did you do it?" He asked.
"It's alright kid, she won't be bloodying your nose any day soon."
"Gee, thanks. I appreciate that."
"But there's something else you should know."
"What is it?"
"She's quite interested you." I whispered to him.
"Braith? Interested in me? That's not even possible."
"Hard to believe I admit, but she told me herself." I said. I wondered what traits Braith saw in Lars that I did not. "The next time you come across her, try being affectionate. Trust me, she'd want that."
"You mean kiss her? Gross!" Lars said before walking off, not quite understanding the meaning of the particular word I announced. I shook my head thinking how ridiculous the entire situation was as I headed back up towards Jorrvaskr. By the time I got their I saw a young female Nord and a male Dunmer having a fist fight smack dab in the middle of mead hall. It was then I knew I was in for quite a predicament. I headed down into the living quarters located under the mead hall. I had to admit, for the oldest building in Whiterun, its architecture was very well done. I saw Vilkas sitting in a chair talking to another Companion who looked much older. I approached them. I coughed in order to get their attention.
"So, a stranger comes to a hall." The white haired Nord said, turning his attention from Vilkas towards me.
"Not just any stranger, the Thane of Whiterun, who wishes to join the Companions." I said.
"Kodlak, we've met this warrior earlier today. He aided us in taking down the giant troubling Pelagia farm. His name is Akone-erm excuse me, adonkey...uhm…" Vilkas sputtered. I wasn't surprised that Dunmer names have always been incomprehensible to human races.
"Just call me Don K'hotei." I replied.
"My name is Kodlak." The white haired man said. "Now tell me, why do you wish to join the companions?"
"That's quite a long story, one I wish to save for a night when the food is plenty." I said.
"How peculiar." Kodlak stated. "Now tell me, how do you handle in battle?"
"I've only known how to hold a sword and a shield. I still have many skills that I could improve upon."
"That's what we like to hear." Kodlak said before turning to Vilkas. "Vilkas, take him outside. See if he is worth our trouble." Vilkas obliged and stood up. I followed him outside to the courtyard. By the time we got back up into the mead hall, the fistfight between the Nord and the Dunmer had just ended. It began to drizzle outside when I stepped outside the back door. Vilkas and I clashed for a short amount of time before he said I was made of stern material, that being mentioned, he also said I could be made sterner yet. He then asked me to go and see Eorlund Gray-Mane as he had a task for me to carry out. Apparently I was told to retrieve Aela's shield, as it was being repaired. So I did just that. When I approached huntress's room in the living quarters, I could tell I was walking in on a touchy conversation, as Skjor was there as well mentioning about keeping quiet about a certain topic. After doing that, Aela called out for Farkas who showed me where to sleep whenever I felt fatigued. I sat upon one of them feeling a sense of relief overcome me. It was a longest time I felt like I had been part of a family.
Over the couple of weeks, I underwent training along with a few other newcomers. It was more demanding than I thought, but I knew that being a Dragonborn was not a choice, but a self-born oath. I had to get stronger not for the sole purpose of discovering my destiny, but also long the way whenever I ran into trouble, which I did while completing some contracts that fit my expertise. I had to stop using my shield that Balgruff gave me, as it became damaged since I fought the dragon at the Western Watchtower. So I indulged my training into becoming a spellsword. Vilkas trained me how to properly use a sword, and improvise with one should the situation arise. A useful trick he told me was to maintain how much strength I put into the swing of a sword. "You don't have to land a hard hit to land an effective hit", he would remind me. In the meantime, Aela taught me how to shoot a bow, even though I barely could remember the last time I used one. I often felt embarrassed whenever I missed by an entire meter or two. One Companion I spent time with in particular was Athis, who was the Dunmer who got into the fist fight the first time I stepped into the Mead Hall. "Even an elf can be born with the heart of a Nord." He'd say, who was given that advice by Kodlak. Athis helped me make use of my armor, which was light, and therefore gave me the potential to be light on my feet and dodge attacks. Eventually, as the days went by, I grew stronger, faster, and more versatile. Whenever I set out to clear a house from a predator or rid a den of bandits that were too close to a settlement, I took a shield brother with me, usually one of the fellow young bloods. Occasionally I'd bring along either Inigo or Sofia whenever I felt an undertaking would be too much for two blades alone.
I had to admit, I was becoming content with living the Nordic life. When the time came, I was privileged with retrieving one of the fragments of Wuuthraad, the weapon that Ysgramor himself wielded when he and his original five hundred companions came to Skyrim from Atmora. Farkas was tasked with being my shield brother as we approached Dustman's Cairn, another Nordic ruin. As we went further into the ancient tunnels, we noticed we weren't the only ones who arrived. There was signs of recent archeological activity such as tools and food that was still fresh. At one location, we entered an old Nord sacrificial chamber. I was dumbfounded of why the Nords would want to sacrifice anyone, even in the old times. Upon seeing a closed gate, I pulled a nearby lever, only for another gate to trap me in the room I was in. Vilkas was annoyed, and more annoyed when individuals from the other side came in and surrounded him. They sounded as they had beef with him. No sooner did I witness Farkas morph into what could only be described as a werewolf. He slaughtered them all without breaking a sweat. As soon as the gate lifted and I stepped out, Farkas had reverted to his normal form. I asked what that was about, and he replied saying it was a curse of sorts, passed down the Companions from generations. As for the people that tried to murder him, they are called The Silver Hand, people who hunt werewolves regardless of who they are. As we delved further into the ruins, we came across more silver hand and draugr. But the hardest fight we had was when we came into the inner sanctum. Not only were there fragments of Wuuthraad waiting for us, but also tons of Draugr, who we overcame together. I confess I also shouted to combat the undead, and afterwards revealed to him I was Dragonborn. He told me he felt honored to be my shield brother. In return, I felt quite flattered. By the end of it I felt accomplished. There was also a word wall in the inner sanctum, this time, it seemed to be a shout for fire as far as I could understand. We then headed back to Jorrvaskr where we returned the fragments.
"So, Don, where are you from?" Aela asked as we ate at the table. All but Kodlak was there.
"I was born on the Island of Solestheim, but my parents are from Morrowind. I can tell you more about my heritage if you wish." I replied.
"We Nords value heritage." Vilkas said.
"My father is Klavileno K'hotei, an Imperial who served as a battlemage in the Great War against the Aldmeri Dominion. My mother; Dulsenia is a descendant of House Redoran. When she started a new life of his own she decided to become an ambassador." I explained.
"How did your parents meet?" Farkas asked.
"After Klavileno was honorably discharged for his service, he travelled to Vvardenfell to investigate the eruption of the Red Mountain. He heard tales and rumors behind the true nature of the cataclysm; including one theory that the Red Mountain vents the blood of the Heart of Lorkhan itself, the impact of Baar Dau causing a tremor to pierce the titanic navel; the Dwemer ruins flooded with magma, and the heart stones; bits and pieces of Lorkhan's own."
"A fascinating speculation sure, but what about your parents?"
"Ah right. Well, one day Klavileno was having a meal in the tavern named Lucky Lockup in Balmora. At the same time, Dulsenia was there about to get a serious beating by some common thugs. Klavileno, being a master of illusion, paralyzed them and made sure no fight took place. He handled the situation like a champ. From there on out, they fell in love and bought their own manor."
"So what made them move to Solestheim?" Farkas asked. I frowned upon hearing that remark, for it brought back tales of unpleasant memories.
"As if the Red Mountain hadn't caused enough misery in Vvardenfell, the manor of my parents was destroyed by a pyroclastic surge. That being said, they took what they could and settled down Solestheim where I was eventually conceived. There, my father lives as a retired battlemage, and my mother continues her work as an ambassador." I explained.
"When was the last time you saw them?" Vilkas asked.
"Ever since I took that arrow to the head, I've been having trouble remembering a lot of things. So I made sure to send a letter to Solestheim."
"Interesting." Aela said before Kodlak stepped into the room. "Members of the inner circle, step outside. We have an initiation to attend to." He said.
"This should be interesting." Vilkas said before Kodlak turned towards me. "Don, come with us. You've been selected." I was shocked. I honestly couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was I really worthy of becoming a member? I stood up and walked outside.
"Shall be begin the ceremony?" Kodlak asked as I joined the circle.
"There is something you should know." Farkas said.
"What is that?" Vilkas asked him.
"Adonis K'hotei, he is Dragonborn. While we fought in Dustman's Cairn, he shouted like the Dragons do."
"Dragonborn?" Aela said. "That means…you're the one who killed the Dragon as the western watchtower. No wonder you're a Thane too."
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Skjor asked.
"I figured I would tell you eventually when I have gained your friendship." I explained.
"Right then. Let us begin." Kodlak said. "Brothers and Sisters of the Circle, today we welcome a new soul into our mortal fold. This man has endured, has challenged and has showed his valor. Who will speak for him?"
"I stand witness for the courage of the soul before us." Farkas replied.
"Would you raise your shield in his defense?" Kodlak asked.
"I would stand at his back, that the world might never overtake us."
"And would you raise your sword in his honor?"
"It stands ready to meet the blood of his foes."
"And would you raise a mug in his name?"
"I would lead the song in triumph as our mead hall reveled in his stories."
"Then this judgment of this Circle is complete. His heart beats with fury and courage that have united the Companions since the days of the distant green summers. Let it beat with ours, so the mountains may echo and our enemies may tremble at the call." Kodlak announced.
"It shall be so." They clamored before they smiled at me. For the first time in a while, I felt like I was truly a part of a cause not only greater than me, but in a group truly accepted me as one of their own.
"Well, lad, you're one of us now. I trust you won't disappoint." Kodlak said.
"Thank you sir." I said. "But there is something I must say."
"What's that?" He asked.
"Is it true that the members of the inner circle are werewolves?" I questioned. Silence fell upon the circle before Kodlak spoke up.
"I see you've been allowed to know some secrets before your appointed time. Yes, it's true. Not every Companion, no, only members of the Circle all share the blood of the beast. Some take to it more than others." He explained as others began to walk back into the mead hall.
"What's your opinion on it?" I asked him.
"Well, I grow old. My mind turns towards the horizon, to Sovngarde. I worry that Shor won't call an animal warrior as he would a true Nord warrior. Living as beasts draws our souls closer to the Daedric lord, Hircine. Some may prefer eternity in his hunting grounds, but I crave the fellowship of Sovngarde."
"I see." I said before I visited Vignar Gray-mane to exchange my current weapon. I told him I wanted something that wasn't made for dueling, but for cutting. Something that was light but also very durable. He said that there is an old schematic he rarely uses. A Katana made with Nordic décor. As soon as I got it, I began practicing before heading to bed. As the days progressed, I became stronger. Sometimes, I invited my friends Sofia and Inigo on some treasure hunts. Little did I know of the trials that I would have to endure in the days to come.