Before we start, I would like to announce that Molag Bal is going to be the main antagonist in the MMO. MOLAG BAL! MY FAVORITE DAEDRA PRINCE! I am so excited you do not even know! Looks like I am caving in to finally pay for a MMO!

Ahem…

Disclaimer- I do not own the Elder scrolls or anything associated with it.

Chapter 2- A candle in the window

"My name is Vincent Renalt." He spoke proudly and gave a half bow in respect. "I'm here to join the companions."

"Oh?" Kodlak asked but his tone seemed unsurprised.

"Yes, sir."

Vilkas' narrowed his eyes and inspected the stranger more closely. His style was not that of Skyrim, for that matter. It looks like he wore a white tunic with a black vest over it. His legs were wrapped in dark form fitting trousers and pulled into brown knee high travelers' boots. His hands were wrapped in the same dark leathery substance that his pants were made of and then there was that coat…He was obviously eccentric by the light blues and soft purples that made up the coat.

Vilkas was not sure if he liked the fact that all the skin he could see on the stranger was just his neck and face. Skin as white as the driven snow and hair as red as fresh spilt blood. His eyes also unnerved Vilkas. The copper orbs looked as if they held sensuality, trouble and dangerous intentions. Trouble. That is all this wealp would be.

After a moment, Vilkas voiced his disapproval. "We have a lot of problems right now Kodlak. We shouldn't be adding more to that list."

Those copper eyes fell on him with unreadable intent. The stranger still smiled despite the intended insult and Vilkas bristled at the arrogance of it. Yeah…definitely trouble.

"Nonsense, Vilkas. We always have a place at Jorrvaskr as long as we have empty beds and those with fire in their hearts. "Kodlak smiled at the red head. "How are you in battle, boy?"

"I can handle myself well enough, sir."

"Hum, we will see about that. Vilkas take the lad to the courtyard and test him."

Vilkas almost growled in protest but when his eyes fell on the newcomer, he changed his mind. Maybe he would get to knock the pretty boy on his ass and then send him packing. Yes, that was a good way to deal with trouble.

"Fine." He stood up and glared down at the other man. "You. Come with me." Then he started to walk, not caring if the whelp followed him. Sure enough, he could hear his light footsteps behind him. Vilkas bristled again, at how quiet he was. He was probably some kind of thief.

"So…" The red head began. "..Are you always so mean to people you've just met or is this a Nord thing?"

Vilkas stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face him. "Excuse me?"

"Just asking." The red head's smile was coy and playful. It made Vilkas feel like he was being disrespected. "There was no reason to attempt to insult me back there, seeing as you just met me…unless your like that to every person you come across."

"Shut it, outsider." he growled a warning. "I don't have to explain myself to you. It's not like you'll last more then a week anyway."

The stranger seemed undeterred by the insult yet again and kept that smile. "I have a name. I am not you, boy, outsider or whelp. My name is Vincent Renalt. Or, were you not paying attention when I introduced myself?"

"I don't care to know your name." Vilkas turned and resumed walking. He bit back another growl when he heard Vincent let out a mocking 'Oooh'. Little Bastard. Vilkas stormed upstairs, ignoring the questioning glances that his fellow shield siblings gave him and marched out into the moonlight lit courtyard.

He stared up at the moon and sighed. He just wanted to go to bed…but Nooo! He had to test some little shit in combat. Lucky him. He could feel Vincent near him and asked without turning around, "Are you ready then?"

"As I'll ever be."

Vilkas turned and felt his breath catch for the briefest of moments. Vincent's skin practically glowed in the moonlight and shown in an ethereal beauty that he was not accustomed to seeing. Beautiful was not a word he should describe for a man but he could not think of another word for it.

Vilkas was not very free with his affections but when he found a woman or man he liked he usually pursued it until he got it. It was never much more then a few nights and then never seeing them ever again. He was blunt with his attractions and did not expect any lasting effect with anyone he ever took to bed. Vincent was NOT the type of man he usually went for. He liked big men. Men taller then him at least. He liked rough hands and strong arms that could hold him down. Yet he felt the slightest stir in his stomach when he gazed upon him in the moonlight. It was only the slightest stir of arousal and he forced it away with a snort. This little whelp defiantly was not his type in the slightest.

"Draw your blade then and we'll get started." Vilkas spoke as he pulled out a sword and shield. He thought about just running this kid's night by attacking him with his two handed weapon but he WAS supposed to test him, not kill him.

"Alright then."

The hair on Vilkas' neck stood on end as a bright light cut through the darkness. He knew this tingle in the air and instantly growled in distaste. Vincent held a transparent axe in his right hand and smiled as if nothing were amiss.

"We don't use magic weapons here." Vilkas hissed, making his displeasure evident. He should have known Vincent for a mage.

Vincent blinked. "Why not?"

"Because, magic is a coward's tool!"

Vincent seemed unfazed by his outburst; probably used to every Nord he came across telling him how much they hated magic. He closed his hand into a tight fist and the axe vanished from view. He then opened the breast of his coat and felt around near his belt. Vilkas tried to act unsurprised as he pulled out an ebony mace.

"Will this do?"

"Does it have any of those fancy enchantments on it?"

Vincent grinned and shook his head. "I rarely use it."

"Good. That's fine then." at least he had a good taste in maces. "Now, strike at me a few times so I can see your swing." He relaxed his shield slightly, he was sure the kid could not swing very hard, especially if he rarely swung the thing. He suddenly felt crippling force crash against his shield and jostle the nerves in his arm. He cringed against the sudden and unexpected pain the blow caused. He instantly tightened the muscles in his arm and caught the next forceful blow without the same effect. He would not underestimate the strength in that little body, again. He was much faster then he looked too. He did not seem slow in his swings with the mace as most were. He wielded the ebony mace like it was an extension of his arm and even though Vilkas did not want to admit it; he was secretly impressed.

"Alright. That's enough." Vilkas called and Vincent stopped instantly. He glanced at the smug look on the red heads face and felt heat burn in his gut. He was so…annoying. "You show some promise but you are still just a whelp to us, boy."Vincent rolled his copper eyes in defiance of his opinion but remained silent.

"In the mean time, you can take my sword up to Eorlund at the sky forge to get sharpened. Do you think you could handle that?" He asked eyeing Vincent in a way that just dared him to say no.

"Sure."

Vilkas practically thrust his sword into Vincent's hands and scowled down at him. "Get to it, Whelp." He bumped into Vincent's shoulder as he walked past, satisfied when the smaller male stumbled a bit. Vilkas caught the smell of fire as he passed. It was for the briefest moment, but it flooded his senses and almost made him dizzy. The smell was like burning dry leaves on a crisp winter night. As soon as he had smelt it, it was gone. Gone along with Vincent's retreating form, toward the sky forge.

With one last glace at the direction the redhead was heading, he marched back up to the hall where Farkas and Aela were waiting. They had seen the whole embarrassing fight of course. Aela was smirking; obviously amused at the time Vilkas had testing Vincent. Vilkas' arm still stung as a mocking reminder. He looked to his brother, who was smiling but not like how Aela was."So? How is he?"

"…He…shows an inkling of promise."

Aela chuckled. "How long do you give him?"

Vilkas looked up toward the sky forge, his breath coming out in a plume of white mist as he spoke "I give him a week, if that." He pushed past them both to where his bed would be beckoning to him. A week…that was already way too long for Vilkas' liking.