Skyrim: Shieldmaiden of Jorrvasker.

Part One: The Curse of Hircine.

I.

"If you are to hunt with me one day, sister, you need to learn to be quicker with your eyes and unsuspecting to your prey." I glance back up at my Shield-Sister, Aela the Huntress. She gave me a stern look. I nod, "but Aela, no one has suspected anything from me. Today, when I was hunting with Farkas, I killed a stag, he didn't suspect me."
Aela held up her hand, her grey eyes looking me up and down, "the only reason you killed that animal was because Farkas sneezed and caught it off guard." I look at her incredulously, "What? How-"
"Skjor was following you both. Wanted to see if you are ready yet. But between you and Farkas, you would wake the Drauger of Bleak Falls Barrow."
I felt my cheeks burn. Farkas, was one of my shield brothers. And while he was a strong warrior, he wasn't quiet and was also very clumsy. It made me angry, I always had to accompany him, I much rather be a shield brother in arms to Vilkas, Farkas's brother, or Aela and Skjor.
"Maybe because of my Breton blood, is why I'm a weak Companion." I say, anger in my voice. I was walking back through Whiterun with Aela at my side. She met me at the gate and told Farkas to go ahead. Aela put her arm in front of me and tilted my face up to meet hers. "No, Taniiaae, there is no weakness in Jorravasker. Kodlak Whitemane doesn't let anyone join the Companions, not unless they are worthy blood."
The sun was setting, and it hit Aela's hair, turning her auburn locks into the color of blood, and she let go off my chin and her gaze soften. "You heal, Taniiaae, you do not take life, but give life. And I would still be honored to fight side by side with you."
I nod, and slowly turn away, walking up the path that ran through the marketplace by the Bannered Mare and led up to the great mead hall, Jorravasker. I could hear Aela stride behind me. I slowed down so I could walk side by side with her. "Are you and Skjor scouting again tonight?" I ask softly.
Aela nodded, "Yes, rumors of the Silver Hand have returned to the Hold, news of them hunting down a renegade, some soul blest with the Gift of Hircine."
I never understood why Skjor and Aela worshipped the Daedric Lord of the Hunt, Hircine. Skjor told me it made him feel one with our nature. To hunt, yet to thank and worship the Lord who gave us the Hunt. He said he rather go out in the tundra and pray to the lord there instead of worshiping Kynereth in her temple or Talos in the market. Aela said that she didn't believe in the gods other than Hircine, who gave her purpose. She said that when she was in her twenties, as I am now, that she was alone until she met Hircine in a dream, and danced with his hunt and partook in the Great Chase.
"Athis said that once he and Farkas were exploring Dustman's Cairn and that they were ambushed by the Silver Hand," I say, "Athis also said that he took down twenty of them while Farkas was held down two of them." Aela smirks, "That grey skin will say anything to get him a reputation. Anyways, it would have been the other way around, as Athis can't even hold up a fist fight with Njada." Ahead, in the dimming sky, I could see the shadowy figure of Skjor in front the mead hall. His hands were clenched into fists at his side and he looked angry. Aela stepped in front of me and spoke, "Skjor, what is it?" Skjor looked past Aela and stared at me. The woman put her hand on Skjor's chest and turned to face me as well.
"The Harbinger wants to speak to Taniiaae."

..............
I sat on a small stool in Kodlak's room. His room was far from tidy, but not filthy. Many textbookstand tomes laid about, titles about the coming of a Dragonborn, Daedric Princes and one copy of the Black Horse Courier from Cyrodiil. On the cover it spoke of Ulfric Stormcloak's murder of the High King in Solitude.
"Ah, thank you, young one, for being so kind and patient." My eyes drift up to an old Nord, his hair and beard gray with many strands of white, showing his age, but someone also stout and strong. His wolf armor gleamed in the candlelight. Always the wolf was seen with the Companions. "Did you get the copy of the courier from Vignar?" I ask softly.
Kodlak Whiteman takes a seat on a chair opposite of me and looks towards my direction. Folding his hands together and bending over to lean closer to me, he says, "Not Vignar, Jarl Balgruuf. He received a copy from his steward, who still has many links in the Imperial City. The Jarl wanted my opinion the the matter of the war that Ulfric has started."
"And what is your opinion?" I ask.
Kodlak slowly shakes his head, "there was a time when I would have been thrilled to throw my lot in with the Nordic people to defend Talos worship and be free of the Imperial City for taking away our right to freely worship.....but now, I understand why the Empire is trying to keep the peace with the Aldemari Dominion breathing down its neck."
"So you are a pacifist?"
"Not a pacifist, child, just an old Nord trying to share his wisdom and make a place for himself in Sovengarde one day."
He sighed, "I'm sorry child. You didn't come hear to listen to an old man speak of salvation and politics. I wanted to speak to you, because I have your first task for you now."
I sit back in the seat, my palms sweaty and my stomach clenching in anticipation. "Yes, Harbinger." I say softly.
Kodlak smiles at me, "Now listen to me, Taniiaae, I am only giving you this task because not only I have full faith in you, it is also very dangerous. Too dangerous to send any of your Shield Brothers or Sisters."
My excitement started to grow.
"I need you to go to Falkreath. There are rumors of a vagrant, who needs to be under the protection of the Companions. Little does he know, that his life is in grave danger, and that he is a target of the Silver Hand."
The Silver Hand, that name again. Like Aela said.
"I need you to bring him back to Jorrvasker, little one."
"Why is this so dangerous for any of the others, sir?" I ask, "I mean, you want me to make a journey, that anyone could make. I am honored to take this as my first test with the Companions, but why me, could I take a Shield Brother with me or Aela-"
Kodlak held up a callused and dirt stained hand, "No. I only want you to go, Taniiaae. Your shield brothers are wonderful warriors, but the Silver hand knows what each and every one of us look like....except you."
"Why do the Silver Hand hate us so much, Kodlak, why so much blood lust?"
Kodlak leaned over to me, and whispered, "I will explain everything to you, once you return to Jorrvasker with this man. I will explain it all. Who we really are, and why we hated so much by certain sects."
I nod and swallow. "I will prepare for Falkreath at once."