Walking up the stairs to the Skyforge I hear the skilled pounding of steel on steel.
As I approach the forge a white-haired, olden Nord halts his hammering before turning towards me and asking, "What brings you here?"
"Vilkas sent me with his sword. He'd like it sharpened." I say pulling out the blade.
"Ah, I'm guessing you're the newcomer then?" Eorland says with a knowing smile.
"Does Vilkas always send newcomers to walk up a set of stairs right next to the Hall?" I ask.
"Oh, don't worry too much about it. They were all whelps once. They just might not like to talk about it. And don't always just do what you're told. Nobody rules anybody in the Companions." Eorland explains to me, getting up from the forge and taking the blade from my hands before going towards the grindstone.
"Someone has to be in charge, though? Can't just be a free for all." I ask as I watch him work.
"Well, I'm not sure how they've managed it, but they have. No leaders since Ysgramor. Kodlak is the Harbinger, and he's a sort of advisor for the whole group, but every man is his own. Every woman, her own." Eorland explains.
"Well, I best be going." I say getting ready to leave before Eorland speaks up.
"I've got a favor to ask. I've been working on a shield for Aela. My wife is in mourning and I need to get back to her soon. I'd be much obliged if you could take this to Aela for me." Eorland asks, bringing out the shield.
"It would be my pleasure." I say, taking it from him.
"Thank you, lad." Eorland says, leaving the forge to go comfort his wife.
I go into the hall, walking to the living quarters where I wander for a moment trying to locate Aela's room when I do find her I see Skjor in the room as well, I tell her, "I have the shield you ordered from Eorland." Before handing it over.
"Ah, good. I've been waiting for this. Wait…" Aela says giving me a closer look after giving me a closer stare, "I remember you. So the old man thinks you've got some heart, I guess."
"You know this one? I saw him training in the yard with Vilkas. Nearly knocked him on his ass with a single punch." Skjor says with a hearty laugh.
"Ah, yes. I heard you gave him quite a thrashing." Aela says with an even greater interest in me.
"Don't let Vilkas catch you saying that." Skjor says with fake disapproval.
Ignoring him, Aela turns to me and asks, "Do you think you could handle Vilkas in a real fight?"
"I don't boast, I do." I say with a proud smirk.
"Ah, a man who lets his actions speak for him. I know there was something I liked about you. Here, let's have Farkas show you where you'll be resting your head." Aela says with a smile before motioning to Skjor.
"Farkas!" Skjor yells before Farkas comes to the side room we're currently in.
"Did you call me?" Farkus says monotonously.
"Of course we did, icebrain." Aela says in exasperation, "Show this new blood where the rest of the whelps sleep."
"New blood? Oh, I remember you. Come on, follow me." Farkas says, leading me around, talking to me as we go, "Skjor and Aela like to tease me, but they are good people. They challenge us to be our best. Nice to have a new face around. It gets boring here sometimes. I hope we keep you. This can be a rough life. 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. All right, so here you are. Looks like the others are eager to meet you. Come to me or Aela if you're looking for work. Once you've made a bit of a name for yourself, Skjor and Vilkas might have things for you to do. Good luck. Welcome to the Companions." He says before walking away leaving me in the bunk room.
Though he turns around as if just remembering something, "By the way, if you're looking for something to do… We've gotten a letter about someone needing some muscle right here in Whiterun Hold. I don't know what the fight is about, and that's not our business anyway. I just need you to go out there, look tough, and scare this milk drinker into submission. No more than that. I don't want to hear about a killing, understand?"
"I can handle that." I say confidently.
"Get to it, then." Farkus says, finally walking away after handing me a not with the name, Severio Pelagia on it.
Instead of sticking around the Hall, I decide to sneak out after taking a cloak with the icon of the Companions on it as I then begin taking care of the jobs the Guild left me. Mainly changing the books in the Bannered Mare and stealing 500 gold worth of stuff in town. And I know the perfect Breton cheapskate to steal it from.
I meander through town, revealing my presence and the Companion's cloak I wore through the town. Before slipping into the Bannered Mare. I wait for a the obnoxious bard to start singing to distract the patrons as I slip into the backroom to quickly change the books before slipping out the back entrance.
After that, I wander over towards the back of Belathor's General Good's store, killing time for an hour or two before everyone heads to bed.
I see Lars and the other girl, Braith? I think, was her name. As she beats him up for his lunch money.
Aw, young love. I smile wistfully, before I feel a slight tug on my pants leg.
"E-excuse m-me... C-can you s-spare a coin, Mister?" A little imperial girl with dark black hair and emerald green eyes that match her green shirt barely stammers out, obviously intimidated by me. I notice she shivers under my analytical gaze.
"I-I'm sorry for b-bothering you, Mister!" The little girl hastily apologizes before trying to run away.
I decide to call out to her.