Here is another chapter. Hope you guys enjoy. Would really love to hear about your thoughts on this story. Let me know what you think.

~ooooooooooo~

Jorik stepped out of his house greeted by the bright morning sun. He could see storm clouds coming from the north and new winter was going to hit soon. The temperature had already turned cooler, but not cold enough to get out the heavy furs.

He glanced behind him when the doors opened and he heard a gasp. "Lydia you don't need to go with me for this. I'm just talking with Kodlak," Jorik explained with mild amusement.

"You've chosen to join the Companions?" Lydia asked with a happy smile.

"I plan on it, but…" Jorik trailed off and stared at the mountain in the back ground. He knew he should continue on with hunting down Ulduin…

"Not yet…" a voice whispered.

Jorik glanced around nervously, but saw no one. He knew this voice and fear it. He didn't know who it was, but it was the same voice from Helgen. He wasn't sure if he should follow what the voice said and wait to kill Ulduiin or find the dragon as quickly as possible.

He sighed shaking his head, no he couldn't face the dragon yet he knew this.

"I'll be back later," he told Lydia and then walked away.

~ooooooooooooooo~

Jorik walked into Jorrvaskr and smirked when he stopped and watched two people fight. He stood near the doors listening to the bets being place and the ribbing. He could see that these people thought of themselves as a family. The atmosphere was warm, reminded him of when he was a kid and visited here.

He watched the dark elf drop to the floor when the woman caught him with a mean right hook. He could see that the fight was over and chuckled as he watched money pass hands. He shook his head in amusement and headed for the stairs where he knew Kodlak would be.

He walked down the hallway and ignored the curious stares from a few people. He stopped at Kodlak's door when he heard Vilkas and Kodlak talking. He kept his back to the door and tried to ignore the voices, waiting for them to finish. When silence descended within the chamber he walked in without warning. Vilkas sat in one chair dressed in his wolf armor, Kodlak sat in another dressed in clothing instead of armor. Jorik found it odd, but didn't bother questioning it.

"Jorik, what can I do for you?" Kodlak asked as he walked into the room. Kodlak gave a small smile as he watched Jorik walk further into the room. He reminded him so much of his father. The same build – large and stocky, the same smiling green eyes. The main difference was Jorik had dark hair and his father had light blonde hair.

"Received your message. I'll join," Jorik answered and narrowed his eyes when he saw the scowl on Vilkas face. "What Vilkas, don't want me joining?" Jorik asked, keeping his voice emotionless.

Vilkas was shocked for a moment when he heard that Kodlak sent Jorik a message. He was even more shocked when Jorik confronted him. He wasn't sure how to answer wihtout giving away their secret. He glanced at Kodlak but there was no help there, the old man was watching him just as intently. It wasn't that he didn't want Jorik to join, he did want Jorik to receive the beast blood. He knew Jorik would move up the ranks and eventually be given the choice, but it was fair.

"The choice is not mine to make," Vilkas answered quietly.

"Vilkas take him outside and test his arm," Kodlak stated with a smirk.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Vilkas asked quietly.

"Last I check Jorrvaskr had empty bed," Kodlak said pointedly. He watched Vilkas shoulder's slump as he rose from his seat.

"Follow me," Vilkas motioned for Jorik to follow him. He knew the nord would become a companion today. He also knew if Jorik hadn't left those years ago he would already be part of the circle, but with the way things were right now he didn't think it was fair to have Jorik join. He didn't understand why Kodlak was for this.

They walked outside to the back where the practice area was. Vilkas grabbed a short blade and shield. He motioned for Jorik to chose a blade. Vilkas glanced at the blades Jorik carried and was glad that they were using the blunted blades.

"Give me a few good swings," Vilkas ordered.

"Hmm, squeamish? Just a few good swings is how you are going to test my arm?" Jorik asked mockingly.

Vilkas smirked and shook his head. He walked back to the table and grabbed a two handed sword. Jorik wanted a full out fight, he would give him one and wipe that mocking smirk off his face while he was at.

Vilkas didn't bother finding out if Jorik was ready, he swung out using the reach of the blade to his advantage. He smirked as Jorik swore and jumped back.

"Tsk, tsk, temper," Jorik mocked as he gave a few swings, testing Vilkas' movements. He could feel eyes on him and gave the sitting area a quickly glance. It seemed everyone was there to watch his testing, even Kodlak.

"Looks like we have an audience," Jorik murmured to Vilkas.

Vilkas scowled when he noticed everyone sitting around and watching them. He was surprised to see Kodlak with them. "Looks like," Vilkas bit out.

Jorik rolled his eyes, he never remembered Vilkas to be this testy when he was a kid. Looks like time had changed a lot of people and not all for the good.

Jorik grinned and moved swiftly, taking a swipe at Vilkas' middle. His grinned grew when he heard the clang of metal on metal. Vilkas' great sword was there blocking his swipe. He enjoyed a challenge and he knew fighting Vilkas would be a good challenge. He wondered absently if he would be able to beat the nord. He highly doubted it, but it was a thought.

Kodlak sat in one of the chair, watching the fight that was going on. He wasn't surprised at all when Jorik placed Vilkas on the defensive. What did surprise him was how swiftly the Nord was moving, and not showing signs of tiring yet. He smiled softly, pride shining in his eyes that Jorik had remembered the training he had received here.

Breaths were held when Jorik disarmed Vilkas. Aela stood up, ready to defend her shield brother in case the other Nord didn't stop. She had to admit, the new nord knew how to fight and was deadly. She had noticed him around town for a while, but thought nothing of it. She remember hearing some people call him Thane or Dragonborn, but she never really pay attention to those names. Now her curiosity was piqued about this man.

She watched as the nord pinned Vilkas and leaned over him. Her worry diminishing when she saw the amusement in the man's eyes. She glanced at Kodlak and was surprised to see pride in the old man's eyes. Her eyes narrowed, "Who is he?" Alea asked quietly of the old man.

"Jorik, he used to come here years ago when he was just a lad," Kodlak told her. Alea turned her attention back to the man and vaguely remembered Farkas, Vilkas and a dark hair boy playing together a while ago. She wondered if that dark hair lad was Jorik.

Jorik sheathed his sword and smirked at Vilkas as he straddled his waist, pinning him to the ground, the dull edge of his blade resting lightly on Vilkas' neck, "Does this mean I get the spoils?" Jorik asked with a wink.

"Get off of me!" Vilkas growled, his cheeks flushing slightly at Jorik's suggestion. "I see you haven't changed much since we were lads."

"Oh I have… up to a point," Jorik chuckled as he rose to his feet. He held out a hand to the other man.

"Welcome to the Companions, your father would be proud Jorik," Kodlak stated as he rose from his seat. Jorik caught the surprised glanced of a few people. He never really met the others, he knew Vilkas, Farkas and Kodlak, but the others he had stayed away from when he was younger.

Jorik was about to walk over to Kodlak but Vilkas stopped him. "Talk to Farkas if you want a job, but I would suggest you wait till tomorrow," he said.

Farkas walked over to Jorik, "Been a long time since I've seen Vilkas disarmed. Not since the last time you disarmed him when we were kids," Farkas murmured with a chuckle.

"That was a long time ago, I'm surprised you remembered that." Jorik asked with a smirk.

"I remember lots of when we were kids. I remember how you would be out here practicing on the dummies while your father was here," Farkas said seriously. "I also remember you got into as much trouble as we did…"

"Yeah… that was a long time ago," Jorik said quietly before walking back into Jorrvaskr.

"What was that all about?" Vilkas asked surprise that Jorik left without a word.

"Not sure," Farkas murmured with a confused look.

~ooooooooooooooo~

Jorik sat at the large table trying hard not to remember his past life. He didn't want to remember what forced him to leave. He glanced up when someone took a seat next to him. "Something you wanted?" Jorik asked Vilkas.

"Something wrong?" Vilkas countered.

"No, nothing important," Jorik muttered as he rose to his feet. He looked down at Vilkas. "I'll be back in the morning to get the mission off of Farkas."

Vilkas was in shock as Jorik left without anymore words to anyone. He had never known the lad to be so cold, he wondered what happened with the man to make him so. He listened to the sounds of everyone walking in and taking seat.

"Where is Jorik?" Kodlak asked.

"Gone, he'll be back in the morning," Vilkas told him. "It seems like something is bothering him."

"And it will till its resolved," Kodlak murmured sadly.

~ooooooooooooooooo~

Jorik sat in his small house and stared at the four bottles of mead he polished off. He smirked as another joined the group, his head was buzzing, but his memories were still there. He wished he could forget that time, but it didn't seem that would be possible.

"My Thane, is everything alright?" Lydia asked worriedly.

"Yeah, just the past haunting me is all. Return to bed, I'll be fine," Jorik ordered.

"I think you should head in, pretty soon you'll be passed out on the floor," Lydia stated as she moved over to him.

"Yeah alright," he muttered rising to his feet. He grabbed the table as he started swaying. "Shit!" he muttered when he nearly toppled to the ground. He glanced down at the black haired woman who was now helping him stand. He tried not putting most of his weight on her as they stumbled up the stairs.

He brain was fogging when his body hit the bed. He felt relief as both his boots were removed and small hands were going to the buckles of his armor. He wanted to grabbed those warm willing hands and drag the body closer but those hands kept swatting him away.

Lydia scowled at her Thane, she was trying to get him comfortable but he wasn't making it easy. She finally got his armor off and now she was going to clean up the mess down stair before retiring. She stopped at the door when she heard him mumble in his sleep. The words made no sense but she had heard one man that wasn't familiar – Argis.