The Dragonborn Comes (a Skyrim fanfiction)

Chapter Six: Odahviing

I reread the letter several times over, my heart racing. Whitemane. That's Kodlak's...no. He could just be a family friend. Besides, Kodlak is a Nord and I am Breton. We are a different race, there is no way we could be related. Perhaps Marco has the wrong name...

Someone enters the room and I look up. It's Aela.

"Hey," I smile at her. "Did you draw the short straw for visiting?"

"Skylar, you should have told us how much you were suffering!" Aela exclaims, sounding genuinely upset. "What were you thinking, joining us so soon after killing Alduin!? Gods, we were so wrong to send you off on all those different jobs!"

"Aela, I'm not weak. I can handle myself," I reply. 

Aela sits down on the edge of my bed. "Look. When you first came here I thought you were one of those irritatingly perfect people that could do no wrong and had no flaws. But you do have a flaw - you don't know when to stop doing something and when to just take care of yourself," 

"Aela-"

"Danica says you need a month and a bit to recover. So you're going to take it very easily when you get back to Jorrvaskr. The others will understand. They know about your Dragonborn powers and nothing has changed, aside from maybe Brill being a little starstruck," Aela says firmly. 

"Ugh, fine, I get it," I mutter. "Let's go home then...hey, what happened to my armour? Where is it?"

"Eorland had to fix it up, it was very damaged," Aela replies. "Dwemer make? Interesting choice,"

"It's a bit of a long story," I murmur. 

Aela helps me out of the bed and I drink the healing potion Danica left for me. We leave the Temple of Kynareth and I'm very glad to be out of there and back outside. We climb the stairs slowly but, instead of entering the mead hall, Aela leads me around the back to the training court. 

Kodlak, Skjor, Farkas and Vilkas are gathered there. I feel a little nervous looking at Kodlak because of the letter Marco sent. How on Nirn am I supposed to bring up the topic of possibly being related?

"Brothers and sisters of the Circle, today we welcome a new soul into our mortal hold. This woman has endured, has challenged and has shown her valor. Who will speak for her?" Kodlak announces. I feel goosebumps spread across my arm...am I actually being inducted?

"I stand witness for the courage of the soul before us," Farkas steps forward. 

"Would you raise your shield in her defence?" Kodlak asks. 

"I would stand at her back, that the world might never overtake us," Farkas nods his head seriously. 

"And would you raise your sword in her honour?"

"It stands ready to meet the blood of her foes," Farkas says earnestly.

"And would you raise a mug in her name?"

"I would lead the son in triumph as our mead hall reveled in her stories!" Farkas grins at me. I smile shyly back at him.

"Then this judgment of the Circle is complete. Her heart beats with fury and courage that have united the Companions since the days of the distant green summers. Let it beat with ours, so the mountains may echo and our enemies may tremble at the call," Kodlak wraps up the induction and I feel giddy with joy. I'm one of them now. 

"It shall be so," Aela, Vilkas, Farkas and Skjor say in unison. 

"You're one of us!" Farkas grabs me in a bear hug and squeezes the life out of me. I laugh and return the hug while trying to ignore the crushing sensation in my ribs. Vilkas gives me a small nod of approval and Aela claps my shoulder and congratulates me. Skjor stares at me thoughtfully and then gives a tight and forced-looking smile before disappearing back inside the mead hall. Vilkas, Farkas and Aela follow him and then it's just me and Kodlak.