DO7: No, it's intentional.
Sorry it took so long to update.
Skyrim(c) Bethesda.
Forgotten Paladin, Chapter II: Companion Days.
That night she and the group would camp out on the edges of Riverwood. Kaylee watched as Hadvar sat next her. "So, you're from the Rift?" "Yes. I grew up in Honorhall." She took a sip of mead while memories pass through her mind. "How long did you stay at Honorhall?" She sighed. "Almost all my life. I was told that some lady left me at the tender of age of two winters on the door step, and that some guard found me and took me in." Hadvar nodded, "Was life easy there?" She gave out a humorless laugh. "No, the headmistress, Grelod, was not a kind woman. If you didn't finish your duties perfectly, you would be beaten or if you didn't them at all, it would be an extra beating." Putting her drink down, she watched the fire.
The Imperial soldier from before was looking at her. She stared back. "So you mean she isn't as kind as they say she is?" He was probably a Nord or someone who grew up in Skyrim. A snort came from her. "No. Grelod 'the Kind' is a mask she uses to make everyone think it. And of course you won't hear the children complain about her. She has fear installed in them. She made sure of it." She looked past the soldier in front of her, past Riverwood in the distance. Thoughts of the past danced in her head.
Tullius frowned at hearing her story. It is a shame that that we don't hold the Rift. If we did, and what she says is true, than I could send someone to tell the Jarl about this 'Grelod'. He wasn't sure why but a part of him told him that her story was true. He cleared his throat causing everyone to look at him, "Get back to work, I want this camp done by nightfall." There were several 'Yes sirs'. The young girl, Kaylee her name was, got up and walked to the edge of camp to sit down on a rock about ten paces away. He sighed. Who was this young girl? It was one of the few times he had so many questions and few answers.
He looked up at the girl again. She couldn't be more than thirty winters. But less than thirty-five. Deciding that the only way to get answers was to go to her and ask. He stood up and starting walking to the rock she was perched on.
Hearing a twig snap, she looked up to see the General coming towards her. "Hello General." He nodded. "Is there something you need me to do?" "Yes, answer some questions for me." He waited for the response, only to get a nod to continue. "Who are you?" She blinked. Hadn't he been listening? "I don't understand that question." He sighed. "Do you truly not know much of your parentage?" "Why do you ask?" "You have the strangest of eyes, and I have only seen them during the Great War, back when the Paladins were in existence." "Ah. Well, I'm afraid I truly don't know of my heritage. All I know is that I'm a natural warrior and healer."
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She couldn't move. She wanted to, but couldn't. Its eyes had frozen her. They were red as Oblivion, and filled with the most intense hatred she ever felt. Only in horror could she watch as it lifted its wings and flew towards her. Only now she could run, but where would she go? There was only darkness. An abyss. The dragon opened its mouth and fire poured out.
Kaylee shot up from sleep, breath in gasps. Just a dream. It was just a dream. She stood shakily on her feet and walked around. It was fairly dark, probably an hour away from dawn. Everyone else was still asleep. It was still too dark to leave, and she knew she wasn't going back to sleep for quite some time. Her eyes caught a book near the General. Damn it! How I am supposed to get that without waking him? An eyebrow twitched. There was no way by the Emperor's small clothes that she would be to get that book without being caught. If she could sneak around without being caught, Shergorath would become sane.
Sighing, she realized it was still fairly dark, so reading would be out of the question anyway. The eyebrow twitched again. Giving up with a small groan of annoyance, she laid down on her bedroll again and watched the blue aurora in the sky. She never saw Tullius' eye open and stare at her. Never knowing that he heard her.
Tullius shifted. They never made bedrolls to be comfortable. Even enough to make sleeping on the dirty ground bearable. He would have drifted off if someone hadn't started gasping. Listening to the gasps, he mused that the person in question had a nightmare. Not unexpected considered where they had just been. He listened harder. They sounded - no, they were female. There was movement. Not a very quiet person for someone who had grown in Riften. That's if Rikke had told him about Riften, or certain groups, was true.
She started pacing. Then stopped. He felt her gaze on him. It lifted and a small groan was heard. There was a mumble "I'll never get that book without waking him." Too late. "Not even by the Emperor's small clothes." Biting his lip to muffle a chuckle; even he would admit that was an amusing thought. There was a movement of a bedroll. Opening his left eye, he quietly watched her settled back into it.
Her eyes reopened two hours later to the smell of something delicious. So it seemed she was able to fall asleep again. "Hey, you're awake." Glancing around her, she found Hadvar staring at her. Wetting her mouth as best she could, "Yeah, I guess I am. I was hoping it was a dream." He handed her some bread. "Don't we all?" Opening her mouth she took a fair amount off in one bite. Hadvar chuckled, "Not used to this much food?" Gulping down what she had with some mead, she nodded no. "Ah. Well, just informing you that we be leaving in a few hours. General Tullius has already sent a messenger ahead to Solitude."
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She nodded again while finishing the last of her bread. "Anyways, I need to get back my duties." Getting up and stretching her neck and back, she watched Hadvar walk off. Now that she was rested she took a moment to look at her surroundings. There were seven bed rolls. Four for four Imperial soldiers, one for her, one for Hadvar and one for Tullius. Turning around she spotted a meadow. Perfect. She would be able to practice a little.
The meadow itself wasn't very big, about twenty feet wide in a circle and covered partly by trees. A small pond covered most of the area. Yes, defiantly what she needed. Stepping towards the middle, she unsheathed her sword. Holding it in front her diagonally, she put her right foot back, left foot forward and left her left hand hanging. Closing her eyes, she lifted her left hand up and grabbed the hilt. Block horizontally, move right while swiping down. Duck! Aim for the legs. Get up, never stay on the ground. Move left and swing up. Then move diagonally to the left and swing to the right. Aim for the neck!
She grinned. If it was one thing that calmed her down, it was practice. The sound of clapping was heard. "Impressive." Spinning around her eyes found Tullius standing there. "Not many people can do that." "I had a good teacher." She cocked her head trying to see if he would respond. "Who?" "A woman in Riften. I tried pick-pocketing her once. I failed and got into a fight with her. Even though I lost, she saw that I had some potential and decided to train me. I stayed with her until she was killed protecting the city from a bandit raid." She doubted whether using Mjoll's name would matter to him. Tullius stroked his chin. "I see."
"I had nothing to hold me to Riften so I left. I traveled until I ran into the Stormcloaks by accident. Well, I think you know the rest." She shifted her weight to another foot. "I find myself curious. Where will you being going next." She thought about it. Whiterun was close by, and so were the Companions. "I think I'll go to Whiterun and join the Companions."
She found Hadvar by a rock looking over Riverwood. He heard her come up and smiled. "So, you said your uncle could help me?" "Aye. His name is Alvor. He's the blacksmith." She smiled. "Thank you Hadvar." Giving him a small hug she continued, "I should leave."
It was a seven minute walk downhill to Riverwood but it was worth it. She was able to get some supplies from Alvor, and buy some decent equipment. Her gaze went down the road she came from to see the group walking down it. She waited, watching as they walked. "Well Hadvar, I guess I'll be joining you for a little longer." "I guess you will."
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It would be an hour walk to Whiterun where they would separate. She waved bye to the group as they boarded the wagon before heading up to the gates. "Halt! The city of Whiterun is closed. Official business only." She held up a hundred and forty septims. "Will this change your mind?" The guard grabbed it. "Welcome to Whiterun friend."
She walked up to the nearest child, "Where are the Companions located?" He grinned, "Follow me!" The pair went down a pathway towards the market and turned to left up another stairway. He stopped and pointed to the right. "There!" She looked up to see a building. Its roof was the bottom of a ship, and its walls were made of wood and lined with shields. She headed towards the doors and opened it. A male in the strangest of armor turned towards her. "Can I help you?" He was a bald Nord with one eye and another one looked glassy. "Yes, I was hoping to speak with your leader." the male grunted and made a motion for her to follow him. "Down these stairs, turn right and head down the hall until you get to the last room. You can't miss it." She thanked him and headed down.
Vilkas lent forward in his chair. "But I still hear the call of blood." He watched as Kodlak took a sip of mead. "We all do. However, it is our burden to bear." He shifted in his seat. "Thank you." There was a nod. His ears perked as the door opened and footsteps he was unfamiliar with appeared. He inclined his head towards the sound. They were heavy footsteps, but the way they hit ground indicated that this person was in heavy armor. He listened some more.
No, not male. A male wouldn't have such a noticeable swing in their steps. He looked towards the door. There stood a female Imperial in iron armor. They stared at each other for the longest time. Or so it felt as such. He didn't know why, but he suddenly hated her. It didn't help that the hairs on the back of his neck stood, as if there where danger. The wolf inside him grew restless; he gritted his teeth and clenched his hand in response.
Kodlak lent back into his chair looking at the stranger in the door. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as Vilkas suddenly went tense. He could felt it as well. Something was off about this woman. He glanced over her. Blonde hair, pale blue eyes, and blue war paint. Ah, he understood now. She was of Paladin origin; however he could tell that she did not know this yet.
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She turned to him, "I wish to join the Companions." "Do you now?" She nodded. "Hm, yes, perhaps a certain strength." Vilkas looked towards him with a slightly shocked look. "Master, you're not truly considering accepting her? She probably can't hold a sword!" The Imperial looked angered and retorted, "Yeah, well you don't look too impressive yourself. I have seen skeever balls with better looks!"
Vilkas jumped up and almost unsheathed his sword if it hadn't Kodlak's interruption. "Vilkas, lass, stop." They both looked at him. He sighed, "Test her arm outside." There a brief frown from Vilkas before he nodded. Kodlak sighed before getting up and following. He wanted to see her skill himself.