Eyes Opened

Judgement & Test

You were a bit nervous, it had been a long time since all attention was on you and despite your recent status and the summoning of the gray breads shout you still found a way to duck all the stares. Not right now. You were in the yard, all of their eyes on you, the circle in strategic places around you, Kodlak right in front of you, smiling. "We've decided, Lass." You raised a bow, your hand toying with the hem of your armor. "As a whole, we've decided. We want you as apart of the inner circle." You smiled, softly.

"All of you...?" You glanced to Vilkas the man was straight faced. "I suppose this has nothing to do with the fact that most people in this city now think I'm the dragon born?" Kodlak looked to Vilkas, you followed suit. "I mean... am I famous enough now for you?" Farkas started to chuckle.

"I..." Vilkas spoke in a soft low tone. "Was wrong."

Kodlak smirked. "That's a sentence I very rarely hear the boy utter." He looked back to you. "Your status as legend in the making isn't what affected my decision, your heart did." Farkas smiled nodding in agreement.

Skjor nodded himself. "It's your eagerness to learn, your prowess in battle your ability to adapt."

Aela cleared her throat. "Your acceptance of anyone worthy of your respect. Your honor, you have a code."

Vilkas smiled softly. "Your kindness, the ability to get the job done, your bright soul."

Farkas took a deep breath. "I'd raise my shield at your side, your enemies blood will be on my blade."

Kodlak looked to you with the wisdom of his age. "So we invite you into the inner circle. There is one thing though... I've asked you here with your weapon and armor because there is one final test. Pick a partner from the circle you see before you, then you both will take on the whelps. All at once."

You took a moment. "Why?"

Kodlak grinned. "They have to know why we chose you. They have to respect you. There is no better way." You nodded slowly. "Do you need a minute to talk things over with them?"

"No. It's Vilkas." You spoke confidently. The man was still a little surprised.

"I'm not the best fighte-"

"I don't care." You looked to him. "I trust you the most. That matters." His words hitched in his throat, staring at you. "Even if I had the best fighter in the world at my side without trust it would mean nothing. Trust makes us stronger together, trust is everything. I trust that you have my back."

He nodded slowly. "I do. I- always will."

"Then there is nothing more to discuss." your eyes met his, your lips smiling softly.

Kodlak chuckled for a moment. He walked to you, leaning in close to whisper. "I'm glad you picked him. Vilkas is not always the one people choose. It's good for him to know that he's trusted, I've noticed him happier since meeting you." It forced a blush onto your cheeks, though you held it back. "Are you ready?"

"As ready as I ever will be. I'm not really that worried, Njada was the one who I was scared of the most since coming." You glanced to the woman, who didn't even bother to look up at you.

Kodlak looked to the others. "Then when Vilkas is ready, come to the center and call out the start." Kodlak moved back to his vantage point.

You looked to Vilkas as he drew his weapon, walking close to you. "Are you ready to show these whelps what you've learned?"

You smiled to him, pulling out two swords. "Well... I'd be lying if I said I was as confident as you are."

He leaned in a little, whispering. "I'm only confident because I'm fighting with you. [Y/N]... do you not get it? You're my match. My partner. I'd always thought it was Farkas... I mean how could it not be? He's the strong one, I'm the smart one. Yet he's not. It's not that simple. I'm complicated. We're more dynamic than that. Fighting with you is graceful." Vilkas put his hand on your arm, looking into your eyes. "I can do this because we're together. We're stronger together and this is far more than confidence in my eyes. It's knowing."

He always did that. He always made you feel right. Everything was in place. "Partner..." You watched his smile. "You are the sweetest man in Skyrim, perhaps more than that. You are my match. Vilkas, back to back. They can't overwhelm us that way." He nodded.

"You're getting better at this."

"Tactics are in my blood." You stood at his back, falling down into a stance. He nodded, before looking to Kodlak. "Ready." You called out, the whelps falling into a stance of their own. You remained further back than normal when you're fighting with melee weapons, but made sure none of them could cut you off from him. You felt your heart throb wildly as Njada struck first. her steel hit your ebony, the other sword pushed hers away entirely. You kicked Njada, the woman stumbled back. You slashed at her. She held her stomach kneeling down with a grunt. She was already out. You smirked confidently. Your attentions turned to Ria who was for some reason keeping herself at bay. You looked into her eyes, wondering if that hesitation was fear. You didn't have time for hesitation, or feelings. Ria was sweet, but you had to do this. Taking a step forward, Ria did the same. You held up your offhand sword up, tossing it a very short distance into the air to change the way you gripped it. You met every blow with your right hand, focused before you finally moved her arm to the side, slashing with the left at the opening you've made. She stumbled back for a moment, you holding up both swords. It let you look back to Vilkas, who was handling his own. Ria was faster than you thought however, the blade slicing through a bit of your arm.

Facing forward you simply grunted. Crossing swords with Ria you were more impressed with the woman than she probably was with you. While you were dealing with your own issues she obviously worked hard. You heard your name from behind you, forcing you out of your focus. Her blade slashed through some skin on your cheek. You took a step back, though she pushed forward. You groaned, rolling backwards into a roll. You were crouching at Vilkas' feet, just behind him. You heard him huff. "Vilkas, switch!" He nodded before you stood up, rotating your body to switch places with him.

Ria had advanced as you did, only to be hit by the hilt of his two handed sword. Athis advanced, slashing as fast as he could, though at every turn you were able to block it with one of the swords. You were letting him wear himself down. Torvar started to advance, you saw from the corner of your eye. You blocked a swing from his hammer, though it made you drop the left handed sword. Fighting off Athis now was harder, clumsy and your hand was a little numb. Your breath was strained a little, but no more than Athis. After a moment you were gaining the upper hand, starting to strike back, but the two were overwhelming you a little. Torvar swung his hammer again, your eyes finally locking on it in a brief moment of space your gained from pushing Athis off. Your eyes winded, only to have Torvar's rub pulled from under him. Vilkas spun around, swinging his axe accurately enough to clean cut the handle of the hammer. The head fell down at your feet. Vilkas then clobbered the man with an overhead club, forcing him to fall on his face, the handle falling on his head. Vilkas looked to you for a moment. "Duck." His voice was deep, soothing.

You ducked, snatching up your sword, Vilkas swinging the axe to block a strike. "Back." Vilkas took a step back, before starting you stood up. It was easier to block his attacks like this. Athis started to get tired, his attacks were slowed. "Vilkas!" You bent down after a few moments, his axe whirling over your head hitting him in the chest, and sending him to his knees.

You stood up, smiling a little, until Vilkas wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling your back into his body. He was laughing a little, which was infectious. You giggled for a moment, before looking to Kodlak. "Well done." He spoke in soft tones. "Now go inside, talk to everyone, have a good time, just be weary of their wounded pride." The man was smiling widely, looking at you both. "Welcome to our circle." The others started to shuffle in, Vilkas held you closer though.

"Wait... just a minute." He hummed into your ear. The others were inside after a few moments, Vilkas attached his axe on his back, you slid your swords in just before he turned you around. Looking into your eyes the man seemed excited. "You were great."

"No, we were great."

He rubbed the back of his neck for a moment. "Yes... like I said you're my match." He took just a moment. "Meet me in my room tonight? I have a present for you." All you could do is nod.