AN: I don't own any of the Skyrim characters, only my OCs.
Amaliea breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped out of Dragonsreach.
'Ugh I hate places like that they feel like everyone is judging you. I'm just glad that the Jarl chose Lokira to help him further instead of me. I best get to Jorrvaskr and find out if I can make the cut. oh who am I kidding compared to the heroes Kodlak told me about, I'm pathetic, I just hopefully they'll give me a chance.' Amaliea thought to herself as she walked down the steps from Dragonsreach and headed for Jorrvaskr to see what the future held.
As She approached the doors to Jorrvaskr she steeled herself for whatever was to come and entered only to be greeted by the sight of a nord woman and a dunmer man brawling in the middle of the hall, while half a dozen others cheered them on.
"Are those two at it again?" A balding grey haired man asked the brunette girl next to him and she nodded
'This is not what I was expecting.' Amaliea thought looking around until she spotted an older woman on the other end of the room from the fight sweeping and approached her to ask "Um excuse me ma'am I'm looking for Kodlak Whitemane is he here?"
Rolling her eyes at the sound of wood breaking from the nord slamming the dunmer into a side table The woman chuckled and said "He's down stairs at the end of the hall. Just ignore the ruckus those two are always fighting."
"Thank you ma'am" Amaliea said as she turned to hurry down the stairs to go find Kodlak before her nerve abandoned her.
Once She was downstairs she heard a male voice saying "But I still hear the call of the blood."
Then a voice She recognized answering "We all do it is our burden to bear, but we will overcome." it was Kodlak.
As she continued down the hall the conversation was continued by the man sitting with Kodlak "You have my brother and I obviously but I don't know if the rest will go along quite so easily."
"Leave that to me." Kodlak said looking up as Amaliea reached the door and asked "Yours is a face I've not seen at Jorrvaskr before have you come to join our ranks?"
"Yes sir if you'll have me." Amaliea answered quietly.
The man next to him interrupted "Master, you're not truly considering accepting her."
"I am nobody's master Vilkas and last I checked we had some empty beds in Jorrvaskr for those with a fire burning in their hearts."
"Apologies but perhaps this isn't the time, I've never even heard of this outsider."
"Sometimes the famous come to us, sometimes men and women come to us to seek their fame. It makes no difference, what matters is their heart."
"And their arm." Vilkas muttered.
"So how are you in battle girl?" Kodlak asked Amaliea.
"I still have much to learn that I pray the companions will be willing to teach me Mr. Kodlak sir." Amaliea nervously answered.
Kodlak seemed to jerk in surprise then he looked at her in recognition, Vilkas on the other hand looked like he was trying to figure out if that was an insult or not.
Then Kodlak laughed "I've not been called that in nine years and even then only one person has ever called me that Amaliea is that you?"
"Yes sir" She answered relieved he was glad to see her "You said to seek out Jorrvaskr when I could wield my parent's swords and I can so I came."
"I was beginning to think something had happened and you weren't coming. I didn't even recognize you, you've grown so, you will have to tell me how everyone is later. For now, Vilkas let's take Amaliea out to the yard and test her arm I want to know how much she's progressed in the past years."
Vilkas glanced at Amaliea as though reevaluating her. Then lead the way back upstairs and outside. As they passed through the main hall She noticed that the fight was over and the fighters were cleaning up their mess under the supervision of the older woman. As they stepped outside and out from under the veranda. Several people turned to look as Vilkas had her face him and get set to spar.
After nearly nine years training with swords the past six with her parent's blades they were as much a part of Amaliea as her legs or hands, an extension of her body and battle was a dance whose music was the clang of steel on steel or stone. She soon learned Vilkas fought with a greatsword, a weapon that one of the village elders had taught her to fight against.
Kodlak called "Begin!" and the dance started to the sound of swords being drawn. With her long sword in her left and her short sword in her right she was in her element. He prepared to swing and she slid under his guard then using the hilt of her long sword she delivered a bashing blow to his underarm and shoulder, throwing his strike off balance. Then looping her foot around his dragging foot pulling it forward quickly causing him to fall backwards, and before he could regain his feet her long sword was between his eyes and her short sword aimed at the gap in his armor where his chestplate met his leggings.
He stared up at Her stunned and said "Your stronger than you look." then dropped his sword. As he did Amaliea sheathed hers and held out a hand to help him up after a second he took it and she pulled him to his feet. Suddenly realizing that the entire yard had gone quiet and everybody was staring She quickly let go of Vilkas and stepped back ducking her head.
Kodlak said "Well Vilkas do you think she makes the cut?"
Vilkas turned to Kodlak and said "Aye sir she more than makes the cut." Quickly he turned and looked at Amaliea for a few moments before saying "Now just because you got in don't go getting a swelled head your still a new blood whelp so that means you've got to do as your told so take my sword up to Eurlond Graymane to be sharpened and be careful with it it's probably worth more than you are."
"Yes sir" She said quietly taking the sword and hurrying towards the hill Vilkas had indicated to get away from the stares
As soon as She crested the path an older man called to her "You must be the new blood."
Amaliea couldn't help but stare the Skyforge was amazing. It looked as though it had been there forever the man coughed and She jumped saying quickly "Yes sir sorry sir Vilkas sent his sword to be sharpened sir."
She held the sword out, and he took it chuckling "Vilkas always sends new bloods on some errand or another. You need to remember the Companions haven't had a leader since Ysgramor and in the Companions every man is his own every woman her own so don't let them push you around, now I see you admire my forge."
"Yes sir your forge is amazing my Pa would love to work in a forge like this it looks as old as the land itself." Amaliea nervously babbled looking around
"I take it your Pa is a smith." He said his lips quirked in a smile
"Yes sir he even helped me design and make my armor. He's an amazing smith at least that's what everyone in my village says.I should probably head back down now." She said turning to head back to Jorrvaskr
Only to have Eurlond ask "Before you go, would you mind taking this shield to Aela?"
"Sure no problem." She took the shield from Eorlund "Only one question who's Aela and where do I find them?"
Eorlond smiled saying "Aela is one of the Companions, a red headed nord woman she's an archer this time of day she'll either be in the yard or downstairs."
"Thank you and thank you for the advice." Amaliea said hurrying back towards Jorrvaskr clutching the shield.
When She glanced over the yard there was no red hair among the training warriors, so She slipped inside Jorrvaskr and went down stairs once more. She didn't see anyone at first but then heard the low mummer of voices one of which sounded female and followed them down a side corridor and to an open door. There She saw a wild looking red haired woman leaning against a wall. As Amaliea approached the woman looked at her and Amaliea hurried to ask "Um I'm looking for Aela are you her?"
The woman responded "Aye any particular reason you sought me out."
At this point Amaliea noticed the balding man leaning against another wall as she hurried to answer "Um yes Eurlond Graymane asked me to bring you this shield."
"Ah good. I've been waiting for this, are you new here?"
The man then spoke up "I saw her in the training yard with Vilkas she's the new whelp he mentioned"
Aela smiled saying "Ah yes I heard you gave him quite a thrashing"
"Don't let Vilkas catch you saying that" the man quickly shot out.
Aela then asked "so do you think you could handle Vilkas in a real fight?"
Amaliea paused for a moment to consider how to answer before saying "It's impossible to say. He wasn't expecting me to know how to fight great swords, so he was not as ready as he could have been."
The man stood eyeing Amaliea as though contemplating her words as Aela spoke up "Ah, a woman who lets her actions speak for her. I knew there was something I liked about you, here lets have Farkas show you where you'll be resting your head."
The man then shouted "Farkas!"
Moments later a man who looked like a larger rougher version of Vilkas came hurrying in and said "Did you call me?"
Aela then snapped "Of course we did Ice brain. Show this new blood where the rest of the whelps sleep"
The man Farkas then turned to look at Amaliea for the first time saying "New blood? Oh hello, I'm Farkas. come. Follow me." As she followed him out of the room he continued talking "Nice to have a new face around it gets boring sometimes, the quarters are up here just pick a bed and fall in it when you're tired, Tilma will keep the place clean she always has."
Amaliea glanced up at him nervously and he seemed to notice and said as if to ease her discomfort "Skjor and Aela like to tease me, but they're good people, they challenge us to be our best." at this point they stopped outside a set of open double doors across from the stairs, and he continued "Alright here you are looks like the others are eager to meet ya, come to me or Aela if you're looking for work, once you've made a bit of a name Skjor and Vilkas might have things for you to do, good luck welcome to the Companions." and with that he turned to walk back down the hall and muttered barely loud enough for Amaliea to hear "I hope we keep you this can be a ruff life" and with that ringing in her ears she took a deep breath and walked through the doors.
Amaliea came within a hair's breadth of walking right back out those doors when she saw the people in the room. To her right was the dark elf man from the fight muttering about splinters and picking at his hands, as well as a nord man sprawled in a chair squinting at a book that appeared to be upside down. While to her left was the nord woman from the fight as well as the brunette woman who was the only friendly looking one among them.
As Amaliea looked around the brunette stepped forward saying excitedly "Hello I'm Ria! I saw your match in the yard with Vilkas. You're pretty good. I was the newest member before you came along so I guess that means I get to show you the ropes!"
With that she grabbed Amaliea's arm dragging her over to the left side of the room. Where Ria continued gesturing towards the bed towards the middle of the room of the row to the right saying "That's my bed the one opposite closest to the door is Njada's you can take either of the others on this side. So what's your name anyway?"
She had been talking so fast it took Amaliea a second to realize what she had asked and quietly answer "Oh I'm Amaliea Lyaera."
The nord woman who she was assuming was Njada scoffed "You sure about that the way you hesitate makes you sound like either you're not sure, or you're scared to death."
Amaliea quickly decided it was probably best to stay away from Njada, when one of the men spoke up behind her and she turned to see who it was as he said "Knock it off Njada we were all nervous when we first arrived." it was the nord man he then looked at Amaliea and said "Don't mind her she's just mad Skjor told her she had to train some more before going on any more jobs. I'm Torvar if you ever need a drinking buddy I'm the one to talk to. In fact I think I'll go get one now." with that he walked none too steadily out the doors.
As he left the dark elf man spoke up saying "Since we're all introducing ourselves I'm Athis, and it's nice to see another elf among the ranks of the Companions." with that he stood and walked out.
Njada left not long after. Amaliea spent the rest of the afternoon putting her things away in the trunk by the bed in the back corner as far away from Njada as she could get. as she got to the bottom of her pack she noticed a wrapped package she didn't remember putting in. As she unwrapped it a note fell out. It was revealed to be Briella's hand mirror she picked up the note to read it, wondering what the mirror was doing in her bag it read.
Amaliea
My favorite baby sister if you're reading this note then I was wrong and you made it into the Companions. I hope this note finds you in good health and not beaten bruised or otherwise injured. As you can see I snuck my mirror into your bag, consider it a going away present or maybe a congratulatory gift would be more accurate. Either way it's a gift for you in giving it to you I'm hoping that in all your adventures you'll remember to pay attention to how you look. You never know when you'll meet a handsome rugged warrior who will sweep you off your feet, but if you don't look good he'll never notice you.
Love you favorite sibling
Briella
Amaliea rolled her eyes thinking ' Some Days Briella is brilliant others she's an air headed romantic. Guess the airhead won this time.' Amaliea quickly put the note and mirror in her chest.
After a while Ria looked up from the book she was reading to say "I think it's time for dinner come on."
They stood to leave the room and as they crossed the hall noticed Vilkas standing by the door to the stairs. As the young women headed to open the door Vilkas stopped them saying "Amaliea I need to speak to you."
Amaliea froze wondering what she did wrong and turned to look at him as he said "Ria go on upstairs."
Ria hesitated a second before continuing on her way. Once the doors closed behind her he looked at Amaliea again saying simply "Kodlak wishes to speak to you." and nodded towards the end of the hall where she had first seen him.
She quickly answered "Yes sir." then made her way down the hall towards Kodlak.
As She entered the room Kodlak looked up from a book he was writing in saying "Ah Amaliea I trust you're settling in well."
"Yes sir" She said quietly.
Kodlak looked at her and asked "What happened to that outgoing girl I remember, you seem to have lost her?"
"She grew up." Amaliea said shrugging.
"Just growing up does not change somebody that much. When I stayed with your family you were a bold little thing always running around, asking questions, getting up to something or another, what really happened?" Kodlak questioned
"After you left the other children began teasing me about what happened. The Elders and their parents punished them when they heard it, but they just waited until there were no adults around to start. The twins and Briella tried to help but they couldn't be there all the time, even after I covered the scars they still teased me about them. I spent most of my time at the river training. I guess I lost the girl you remember along the way." She whispered before shrugg\ing and falling silent.
Kodlak contemplated her for a long moment before reaching out and laying his hand on her right arm over the scars covered by armor. Then said looking her in the eye "What happened does not make you less Amaliea. As I told you back then you faced something warriors grown have run from and survived. You are stronger than those that choose to ridicule you because you didn't let it stop you from reaching your goal. You trained hard and worked harder and you made it. You're a Companion now Amaliea and as such your part of our family." He sat back and waited for his words to sink in until She looked up and smiled slightly.
Then he nodded saying "Now you best go get some dinner before it goes cold."
"Yes sir." She said , rising and walking out of the room.
She saw Vilkas was still standing by the door where she had left him. As she walked by him her smile faltered and he followed her upstairs. Where she saw Ria waving and indicating an empty seat between her and Athis. Amaliea quickly sat down as Vilkas proceeded around the table to a seat just left of the center. A few moments later Kodlak appeared and took the center seat as he did Ria passed Amaliea a platter of roast asking "So what did Vilkas want?"
"Nothing really just to tell me something." she said quietly, taking some roast and passing it on to Athis who was looking at them. Amaliea then noticed everybody was eating so she took a bite of roast to avoid being dragged into conversation. That's pretty much how she spent her first day at Jorrvaskr.
