[Encanto] 31 – The Companions

[1548 Words] 

When I reached the Bannered Mare and paid for my room, I threw a few enchantments at the door to prevent anyone from breaking in. Spells like [Expert Lock], [Stoneskin], [Absorb Magicka], [Sense Life], and [Sense Death].

Expert Lock would make it hard for anyone to get into my room without my explicit permission, Stoneskin made the door far heavier and tougher, Absorb Magicka meant that it could absorb spells too, Sense Life to sense anyone trying to break in, and sense death for the same reason, while also alerting me to any death that happens in the Bannered Mare while I sleep.

Before going to bed, I played with my gift, testing and prodding it as I do every night, when I accidentally twisted space too far and created a miniature black hole. How miniature? Smaller than a grain of sand, but the danger of it was very real, and I immediately tore the growing black hole apart before reigning back in my Magicka. I was attempting to make a portal, but so far, I had met with failure at every turn. However, I was getting closer and closer.

I did not know how I teleported here, nor do I remember what it looked like, but until I could tear open a portal here, I doubted I'd ever return home. But with each day, as I attuned myself to this world and the bountiful magic, I felt myself become more and more powerful. It was only a matter of time before I managed to teleport, and while I knew that Savos had a method of teleportation, I knew it was not what I was looking for. The technique he used was more akin to a blink, warping space a short distance, and was closer to moving really fast in one direction before abruptly stopping. Not precisely actual teleportation.

...

Morning came quickly, and I had only gotten a few hours of sleep. Despite that, I felt no exhaustion; my mind was as clear as ever, if a bit more refreshed, a phenomenon I've noticed since I arrived in Skyrim. I theorized it was because of the sheer amount of Magic that saturated this world as compared to Earth. It would explain why Gods exist, why most mortals lived far longer and through much more severe injuries, while also describing how nearly every single person in this realm could cast magic to some degree.

It was only a theory, but what if Magicka, Mana, Magic itself had life-extending properties? It would also explain how everyone in the family looked as young as they did, though that could also be attributed to my Tia Julita's gift of miraculous food that could heal all ailments.

 Leaving that for later experimentation, I cast a few elemental restoration spells. I let out a satisfied sigh before finally climbing out of the rather unpleasant bed I slept in throughout the night.

I dressed myself in some fresh clothes, then undid my spell work on the door, before stepping out and heading down a staircase to the open floor of the Tavern, where already, I could see a dozen patrons drinking their mead.

Leaving quickly before I’d get noticed, I headed straight for the home of the Companions, a building with an upside-down ship as its roof. That ship was said to be one from the very same fleet Ysgramor, and the first men rode upon when they arrived in Skyrim.

 Jorrvaskr brought back a lot of memories, but the building before me was a lot bigger than what I imagined, but about what I expected. Just past Jorrvaskr, I could even see the tip of the Skyforge,  legendary Forge manned by the best Blacksmith in Skyrim. 

Heading up to the building, I took a small breath before stepping inside their great hall and was met with…what looked like a party preparing for war. 

All of the eyes at once turned to me as I stepped into the hall.

Breaking the silence, I smiled and said, “Don’t tell me you all plan on retrieving the Jagged Crown without me?” 

I counted no more than two dozen men and women before me, primarily men, but something they all had in common was that they were all fit and bore scars that hinted at their past victories and battles. Suddenly feeling a presence behind me, I turned to find one of my favorite companions trying to sneak up on me.

I gave a small smile and greeted Aela, the Huntress before me, "Greetings, you must be Aela, I have heard a great many tales about you and the others of the Inner Circle."

"And you must be the one said to have been blessed by the Old Gods and the one boasting that they know the whereabouts of the legendary Jagged Crown," Aela spoke rather directly, her tone conveying her apparent skepticism about my claims.

I smiled and gave her a thumbs-up before looking at all of the Companions gathered and gearing up before me.

"Are they all wanting to come?" I asked, a bit confused.

"That's right, we all want a piece of the Glory in reclaiming the Jagged Crown. Is that a problem?" She asked without a hint of a change in her tone or expression.

"No, it'll just be cramped down in those catacombs if all of you are coming. At most, I was only expecting a few members of the Inner Circle joining me," I told her truthfully before looking at the men and women more closely, noting the distinct lack of females amongst the group before me.

"May I speak with the Harbinger?" I asked, looking Aela in the eye.

"If he so wishes," Aela informed me before gesturing for me to follow her. Following her, my eyes wandered all over the trophies mounted on the walls and even the ceiling of Jorrvaskr.

Trophies that ranged from the skull of a Mammoth, to giant clubs, falmar armor, a dwarven centaurian head, and so much more. They had trophies of seemingly every kind of creature and animal that could be found in Skyrim, even what looked to be a Wispmother's wrappings, a creature I recall having only faced at most once or twice in my many runs of Skyrim, and both times in the same place for the College of Winterhold quest line.

As she led me down the stairs and into the basement of Jorrvaskr, I noticed even more members and asked, "How many members do the Companions have?"

"As of our last gathering, we number around one hundred in number, across the Holds of Skyrim," Aela answered sharply and without any hesitation, surprising me with the number.

"Across Skyrim?" I inquired, confused.

"Yes, we have many members of the Companions who live in the other holds that retain their membership and answer the Harbinger's Call when needed," Aela explained.

"How does that work?" I asked.

"Once you are a member, you can retain your status as a Member of the Companions by completing a set amount of missions or bounties each year," Aela explained once more.

"Interesting," I spoke as we reached the end of the corridor and the Harbinger's personal quarters.

Polietly knocking, Aela asked, "Harbinger?" 

"Aela? Stop with this Harbinger nonsense and just come in," A gruff voice spoke, sounding annoyed by Aela's formality.

"As you wish," She spoke, sounding exasperated.

Opening the door revealed a man I had much respect for, one Kodlak Graymane, Harbinger of the Companions.

Kodlak's grey eyes scanned over me before he grunted, "Hmph, so this is the lass that was boasting in the Jarl's halls about knowing the location of the Crown."

"That's right, and that's not all that I know, however...I cannot speak of any of it until we are alone," I spoke, before glancing at Aela, who looked more suspicious by the moment.

The Harbinger hummed in thought, curious, "What kind of things do you know?" 

"For one, I know your greatest wish and how to help you fulfill it," I gave him a small smile and a wide grin.

"Aela, leave us, we will join you shortly," The Harbinger commanded, his tone suddenly much more overbearing.

"But!" Aela started only for the Harbinger to glare at her, silencing her immediately, and like a dog with their tail between their legs, Aela left the room.

"Now, speak." The Harbinger demanded.

"I know how to give you the freedom you seek from your curse, freedom to test your mettle and reach Sovngarde as a true Nord, and not just that, but also retrieve the last remaining pieces of Wuuthrad before your time comes," I spoke eloquently, enunciating each word so that he would understand fully what I told him.

"How did you know?" He questioned, tone grave.

"I am...a Seer of sorts, I know what is to come in the days ahead, though most of what I know will become useless as time passes," I answered somewhat reluctantly.

"Prove it," Kodlak demanded.

"Uh, that's not how it works," I sputtered, confused by his demand.

"But!" I shouted before he could interrupt, "I can at least give you some...early tidbits before they happen," I smiled, beginning to spell out a tale of the War between men and dragon to come.