Aletta entered Dragonsreach after immense effort to open the door. Holy god did it really have to be that big and heavy? And marveled at how high up the ceiling was. She guessed it would be, since it was built to catch a dragon. Upon walking further in a Dunmer woman immediately approached her with her sword drawn.
"Halt!" she shouted stopping Aletta in her tracks "What is the meaning of this interruption? The jarl is a busy man and has no time for petty problems."
"I just wanna ask him a favor alright? Then ill be out of-" Suddenly her elven sword was close against her neck.
"Look Lady." Aletta raised her hands in surrender as the Dunmer's Elven sword pressed further into the soft part of her neck "I was at Helgen and I saw the dragon I'm just here to request the jarl sends protection to Riverwood okay?" Aletta sputtered out trying to keep her voice as level as possible.
"You were at Helgen?" The woman immediately sheathed her sword "Come." She grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the jarl. "Jarl Balgruuf will want to speak to you immediately." She let go of her arm when they were in speaking range "My Jarl this one was at Helgen."
"So you were at Helgen?" The jarl puzzled tugging on his bead thoughtfully "So you saw the dragon attack?"
"Yes I did and it was heading somewhere towards Riverwood." Aletta explained not taking the pride to stand up straight or speak like she was important "I've come to ask you send some kind of protection to Riverwood."
"Of course." The man said some things to his Dunmer assistant and sent away his steward before standing before Aletta. "You sought me out on your own and for that I am grateful." The Jarl thanked with gratitude etched on his face "Here." He pulled out a considerably large bag of coin from his pocket and set it in her hand. "As a thank you for your trouble."
"Thank you my Jarl." Aletta bowed. "I was wondering if there was any work to be done? Any bounties or anything?"
"I think the companions are handling most of what we have." Balgruuf scratched his chin "You should join them! You look like you could handle yourself…we could use more people like you around Whiterun."
"Oh…" Aletta sighed disappointed…she had hoped she could start a bounty right away...perhaps she would just have to wait until something came up.
"See my court Wizard Farengar though." Balgruuf pointed her towards a certain room more private from the rest of the commotion. "He may have something for you to do with someone of your skills." He suggested referring to her Novice robes.
"Alright." Aletta strode over to the small little alcove to find a man in blue robes leaning over an enchanting table with and iron dagger and several soul gems.
"Are you Farengar?" Aletta walked in behind the desk casually as if she lived there.
"Yes? Make it quick I'm a busy man…" Farengar questioned without looking up from his work his voice sprinkled with annoyance.
"The Jarl said that you may be able to help me?" Farengar sighed audibly and hastily dropped the dagger he was trying to enchant. Looked up from his enchanting table looking the Breton up and down taking note of her robes and enchanted necklace.
"I don't take apprentices…" Farengar crossed his arms "If you want a teacher go to the Mages College in Winterhold…"
"I'm not looking for a teacher I'm looking for work." Aletta growled, feeling slightly offended that he looked down upon her as a mindless rookie in the arcrane arts.
"Work eh?" Farengar scratched the stubble at his chin. He walked over to his desk and pulled out a bowl of frost salts "You know where arcadia's cauldron is?" he looked up at her and shut the drawer.
"Yeah but-" Farengar shoved the frost salts into her arms.
"Deliver these to her." He turned back to his experiment "I'm sure she'll pay you in some way…"
"Hey Arcadia?" Aletta called out into the Alchemists store and shut the door with her foot.
"Oh hello there!" A cheery imperial woman burst in through some doors with her arms filled with various potions and such. "Take a look around let me know if you see anything you like, If not let me know I might have it stored away."
"Thank you but that's not why I'm here." Aletta explained carefully and held up the bowl of frost salts. "Farengar asked me to deliver these."
"Oh yes!" Arcadia remembered with a smiling face. "Just set them down on the counter." Aletta complied and set them down on the counter. Heaving a sigh almost as if it was a great effort delivering them, it tended to be more strenuous when your bored.
"Oh and here's some potions for your troubles." Arcadia pushed a couple of potions on the counter towards her. "I'm sure an adventurer such as yourself could find use for these."
"Thanks." Aletta smiled tucking away the various potions that she given her. She was about to leave before Arcadia stopped her.
"Wait." She called walking around the counter to talk to her more properly. "I was wondering if you could do me a favor." Arcadia asked hopefully. Aletta perked up, expecting to be sent off to find some flower that only grows in places swarmed by trolls or to retrieve a special poison stolen by bandits. "Could you give this to Farengar? As a thank you for getting a hold of these frost salts?" Arcadia handed her a bottle of wine.
"But I…ugh…fine…"
Aletta lazily traced the patterns in the wooden table. Completely disappointed with the past three weeks. The only thing she did was kill some mud crabs to fill some petty soul gems for Farengar and pick flowers for Arcadia. Most of the bounties were taken care of or being handled by the companions. What was with them anyway? Their just a bunch of mercenaries right? Don't they have better things to do? Jeez…
Faendel seemed to be getting along quite well… he had got a job at the drunken huntsman and he never looked happier. He even took down a mammoth the other day and obtained a stunning dwarven bow.
"Aletta please don't look so upset." Faendel set a mug of mead in front of her. "Whiterun is a great city!"
"Easy for you to say." Aletta traced the rim of her tankard. "You're living your dream and you're out hunting all the time!"
"Oh come on I'm not hunting all the time… although I did kill that mammoth…and that saber cat and that bear and that-" he stopped when he saw Aletta sadly gazing down at her reflection in her mead and cleared his throat "Doesn't the jarl have bounties to fill?" Faendel took a drink of his mead. "There can't be nothing."
"He says the companions take care of most of them…" Aletta picked up her tankard and studied her mead unfamiliar with the brew. "Maybe I should check out the college of Winterhold Farengar was talking about...polish my magic up a bit…"
"Have you ever thought of joining the companions?" Faendel suggested as she took a gulp of his mead "Maybe you'll get some bounties since the companions take care of all of them."
"I'm not really a…organization person…" she drawled making a circular motion with her wrist. "I prefer to handle things my way…"
"Why don't you just try it?" Faendel inquired "I thought you were an adventurer?"
"I want to be" Aletta tightened her grip on her tankard. "I can't even tell you how bad I do…"
"Then consider this an adventure? And come back to me when your all settled in and you know a couple people in there." He snuck in the last part slyly and casually took a sip of mead.
"You just want me to get some information on Ria…this isn't about joining the companions at all is it?" she asked bitterly eyeing the Bosmer "You just want me to bait you a girlfriend…"
"That wasent my intention I'm just saying… give it a try and if you just so happen to see Ria put in a good word for Me." he smiled and took a bite of bread. "Just give it a try…what have you got to lose?"
Aletta stood in front of Jorrvasker head craned to see all the way to the top as she pondered at the architecture. It looked like a giant upside down boat that was made into a house, upon entering it the ceiling even looked like the inside of a boat. She quite liked the inside, it was warm it smelled like freshly cooked meat, the table was filled with unimaginable amounts of food which mad Aletta's mouth water…especially when she saw the honey nut treats.
"Can I help you dear?" an older woman came up to her and laid a wrinkled hand on her shoulder.
"Maybe you can…I'm looking to join the companions and I was wondering-" Aletta was suddenly interrupted by a random brawl between some Nordic woman and a Dunmer. Aletta eyed them oddly before turning to the older woman again. "Wondering who I would talk to if I wanted to…"
"Oh! I don't think we've ever had a mage before…" She touched her robes. What is so fascinating about her being a mage with these Nords? "You'll want to talk to Kodlak dear…he's just down those steps there…"
After meandering the halls for about 10 minutes trying to find Kodlak she finally found a larger room with two men sitting at a table discussing something about 'the call of the blood' before noticing Aletta
"A stranger comes to our hall." The older man announced as Aletta approached them.
"I've come to join the companions." Aletta said grandly, squaring her shoulders in an attempt to try and make she look a bit taller.
"Would you now?" Kodlak spoke gently as if she were a child. "Well let me have a look at you." Kodlak stood and crossed his arms gazing into her face with deep concentration, Aletta almost considered leaving she felt so uncomfortable but then he said. "Hmmm….yes perhaps… a certain strength of spirit." Kodlak looked at her with a face that Aletta could only describe on someone's face when they find something they'd never thought they'd see.
"Master." The other man whom looked exceptionally familiar spoke up almost in a pleading way. "Surely you're not considering accepting her?" Vilkas looked at her, mostly her robes depicting she was a mage.
"I am nobody's master Vilkas…" Kodlak reminded him sternly "And last I checked we had some empty beds in Jorrvasker for those with a fire burning in their hearts."
"Apologies…but perhaps this isn't the time…I've never even heard of this." Vilkas looked at her in disgust "Outsider…" Aletta furrowed her brows at him in anger. What was his problem? Does he have an issue with Bretons or something?
"Sometimes the famous come to us…other men and women come to us to seek their fame it makes no difference…" Kodlak waved it off and looked at Aletta "What matters is their heart…"
"And their arm…" Vilkas added.
"Of course. How are you in battle girl?" he questioned.
"I can handle myself." Aletta growled and crossed her arms in an attempt to look intimidating.
"That may be so. This is Vilkas he will test your arm." Kodlak turned to Vilkas "Vilkas, take her to the yard and see what she can do…"
"Aye…" Vilkas complied reluctantly. He stood in front of her and Aletta reached for her dagger. "Not in here. Out in the yard come on…"
"The old man said to have a look at you… so… lets do this" Vilkas sighed. Aletta cracked her fingers and called the Ice to her hand. "Just come at me so I can feel your arm, don't worry I can take it." Vilkas strapped on his shield and prepared a stance. Once Aletta saw he was ready she let loose an ice spike and it shattered into a million pieces on his shield making him stumble back.
"What do you think this is? We don't do battle with magic around here new blood." Aletta clenched her jaw, she almost walked away right there, if she couldn't fight her way then she didn't want anything to do with this place. But she so badly wanted to thrash this guy…after all he did insult magic. "Now come at me!"
Aletta conjured a sword in her hand and ran at him bashing on his shield as hard as she could as fast as she could.
"Not bad…for a mage" Vilkas commented after the short battle as he sheathed his sword. "Next time won't be so easy…" He warned. Aletta almost rolled her eyes but fought against the urge. "You might just make it for now, but your still a whelp to us new blood, so you do what we tell you got it?"
"Understood." Aletta growled coldly… she already didn't like this place simply because of this guy, but she won't let an ass like this stop her from working bounties.
"Heres my sword" Vilkas shoved a sword into her hands "Go take it up to Eorlund to have it sharpened. And be careful that sword is probably worth more that you are…" Aletta sighed…almost feeling she was destined to be a delivery girl.
"Hey! Yorland!" Aletta yelled as she jogged up the steps to the Skyforge with the sword in hand "Vilkas told me to bring you his sword to have it sharpened." Aletta handed the sword to Yorland who gripped it with both hands.
"So you're the newcomer eh?" Yorland asked
"Is it that obvious?" Aletta asked disappointment coating her words. "Their doing this to me because I'm new right?" Aletta asked meekly "I'm not just going to be their delivery girl am I?"
"Oh don't worry about it much, they were all whelps once, they just might not like to talk about it." Yorland assured her.
"I'm a whelp now and I don't even like to think about it…" Aletta muttered to herself and Yorland chuckled.
"Don't always do what your told, nobody rules anybody in the companions."
"Really?" She thought back on what Vilkas said earlier about how she will do as she's told. "But someone has to be in charge right?"
"Well…" Yorland scratched the back of his neck "I'm not quite sure how they've managed it but they have. No leaders since Ysgramor….Kodlak is the Harbinger and he's…an advisor so to speak but every man is his own…And every woman her own" He added quickly not wanting her to think she would be some kind of Prostitute.
Aletta hmm'ed taking in his words…wondering if her magic would'nt be so frowned upon after all since she was 'her own woman' "Well… I better go now…it was nice to meet you"
"Wait…I have a favor to ask…" Yorland stopped her.
"Yes?" Aletta asked skeptically.
"I've been working on a shield for Aela. But my wife is in mourning and I need to get back to her soon, I would appreciate it if you could take it to her…" he held out a small hide shield to her.
"What happened to that whole speech on don't always do what your told?" Aletta smirked teasingly. But still quite miffed she had to make another delivery.
"Witty you are." Yorland laughed "I think you'll fit in fine with the companions…"
"Here's your shield, Yorland asked me to deliver it to you." Aletta handed the shield to Aela.
"Ah good! I've been waiting for this." Aela cheered in satisfaction as she ran a hand over the shield marveling at it. Just as Aletta turned to leave Aela called out to her. "Wait…I remember you…" Aela drawled as she tried to recall when she met her.
"The giant you slayed a few weeks ago." Aletta reminded and tugged off her hood she could be recognized better. "I was there."
"Ah yes! The mage." Aela put her hands on her hips "So the old man thinks you got some heart eh?"
"You know this one?" The man with the dead eye asked "I saw him training in the yard with Vilkas." Skjor looked her up and down.
"Ah yes I heard you gave him quite the trashing…"
"Don't let Vilkas catch you saying that." Skjor warned playfully.
"Do you think you could handle Vilkas in a real fight?" Aela asked her expectantly.
"I don't like to boast…" Aletta replied simply. Feeling a bit awkward under both their gazes.
"A woman who let's her skills do the talking for her… I knew there was something I liked about you." Aela purred in approval "Let us hunt together sometime. But for now let's have Farkas show you where you'll be resting your head."
"Farkas!" Skjor called out into the hall. And soon enough the man she had met when she helped slay the giant walked in.
"You call me?" he asked not entering the room.
"Of course we did ice brain…" Aela growled almost annoyed.
"Show the new blood where she'll be staying." Skjor clapped her on the back causing her to stumble forward.
Farkas's brows furrowed in confusion "New blood?" Farkas then noticed Aletta "Oh…I remember you, follow me." Aletta complied following Farkas
"Skjor and Aela like to tease me." Farkas explained light heartedly "Their good people." He said patting her on the back almost reassuringly. "It's nice to have a new face around, it gets boring here sometimes."
"You don't have 'whelps'" Aletta quoted "Very often?"
"Not recently, Ria was our newest companion until you came along." Farkas smiled "They said you were a mage, we've never had a mage before."
"So I've heard." Aletta purred.
"Maybe you can show me some of those magic tricks you can do."
"Of course." Aletta smiled, but also shocked that a Nordic man is actually interested in magic.
"The quarters are up here." Farkas lead her to a room that she had been in earlier today while searching for Kodlak. "Just pick a bed and fall in when your tired. Tilma will keep the place clean… she always has. Looks like the others are eager to meet you…" Farkas referring to how everyone was looking at her as if she were a new toy. "Come to me or Aela if your looking for work… then once you prove you can handle yourself Sjkor or Vilkas might have something for you to do."
"Got it." Aletta nodded.
"Good luck and welcome to the companions." Farkas smiled brightly and squeezed her shoulder "by the way if your looking for something to do…"
"Your not going to make me deliver anything are you?" Aletta asked with the tiniest amount of panic.
"No…We've gotten a letter about someone needing some muscle right here in Whiterun hold." Farkas explained
"What's this all about?" Aletta asked crossing her arms and listening intently.
"I don't know and it's not our business, I just need you to go in there look tough and scare this milk drinker into submission. No more than that, and I don't wanna hear about a killing understand?" Farkas asked firmly to make sure is point got across.
"Got it, no killing…" Aletta nodded.
"Good now get to it."
Gahahahahahaha! I'm soooo pumped to finally be writeing this part of the story! This is where it all begins! Yay!
Thank you timeywimeyspacyacy for the review it was loverly!
Sorry for the wait tho I had stuff to do and kinda spaced out meh but the next chapter I have already started so it shouldn't be to long tell me what u guys think? What do you think is going to happen? Do you miss Hadvar? Cuz… I do.. WAH! Wheres my imperial sexyness?!
Anyway review