Skyrim: Legend of the Dovahkiin

Apprehension 1

"Are you listening?" Ria said as she waved her hand in front of her shield-siblings face. The boy snapped out of his daze and finally looked up to see all of his shield-siblings gazing quizzically at him.

"What is it, Ria?"

The Imperial woman shook her head. "Are you ok shield-brother? You've been very... distant, lately."

"It's nothing," he lied. "Just tired is all."

The warrior rose from the seat he occupied and started to walk towards the Jorrvaskr living quarters, the other Companions exchanged preplexed glances before Vilkas finally went after him.

"Wait, shield-brother."

The young warrior had only just put his hand on the door before he turned to face his comrade.

"Shield-brother, you've been a bit out of it since your return from Ivarstead." Vilkas said, his words full of concern.

"Was there something that happened that has you worried?"

The young warriors gaze fell to the floor, he stood silent for a moment before answering. "It's nothing, Vilkas. Just a misunderstanding."

Vilkas crossed his arms over his chest. "With all due respect, brother, I fail to see how a simple misunderstanding would cause someone to act the way you do lately."

If only you knew...

"Vilkas," the young warrior finally answered, his voice was hard, but not malicious. "It's nothing."

With that, the young warrior turned and walked into the living quarters. Vilkas let out a heavy sigh and walked back to the dining hall.

A group of about twelve armed men walked down the quiet streets of Whiterun, their weapons lightly tapping against their armor.

The night guardsmen more or less ignored them, whether out of incompetence or lack of care the men did not know. It was all the same to them, the less the guards knew, the better.

Just a couple of days ago, a young Nord swordsman had wandered a little to far into the woods and had discovered their hidden campsite. After a short disagreement between the camp leader and the boy, a large fight broke out. In the ensuing battle, most of the men at the camp were either killed or left to die. Their chief had returned with a handful of men only to discover the grisly scene of his comrades bodies in pieces. After asking one of the dying men the location and identity of the person responsible, the chief decided to pay the warrior a visit.

"This is the place," the bandit chief ordered as they stopped in front of the Jorrvaskr doors, he then proceeded to slam his fist against the large wooden door. "I know you're in there boy, come out of there and face me!"

Vilkas and his brother looked up with puzzled looks on their faces.

"Who in Oblivion could that be this time of night?" the older of the brothers said.

Farkas rose from his seat. "Don't know," he replied. "The sound pissed, whoever it is."

"Come out and fight me, you murderous coward!"

The noise soon caught the attention of Aela, who came bursting through the rear doors, "Who in Hircine's name is that?"

Vilkas turned to face her. "Not sure, but he seems to be looking for one of us."

"One of us? You think they're Silver Hand?" the Huntress inquired.

Vilkas shrugged. "Don't know, but I'm going to find out."

By this time the commotion had attracted the rest of the Companions attention. They were not happy. Njada was the first voice her anger.

"What motherless bastard is making all this fuss!" she roared. "Where the fuck are the guards?"

The bandit chief continued to pound on the doors of Jorrvaskr, shouting into the heavens all the while.

"We're about to find out." Farkas announced as he headed for the door, the rest of the Companions followed.

Outside, the group of outlaws conversed amongst themselves.

"He's not coming out, think we should just storm the place?" one said.

"Are you stupid? Those are the fucking Companions in there! We set one foot in that place and we die." said another.

"There are more of us than it is them, we can take them!"

"Then by all means, go ahead and try. I'll make sure I take your head with me so I can give you a proper burial. Dunno about your other limbs though..."

The bandit blanched.

One of the men gestured to the large double doors of the mead hall. "Look, someone's coming out!"

Farkas, Aela, Vilkas and the rest of the Companions poured out of Jorrvasker, weapons at the ready, Njada in particular. The two groups of warriors stared each other down for a moment, each sizing up the other, until Vilkas finally broke the silence.

"Would any of you like to explain why in the name of Oblivion you're making all this noise in the dead of night!"

The bandit chief stepped forward, arms crossed over his chest. "I've come to settle up with one of your members. Two days ago the bastard came into our camp and slaughtered my men."

"And what makes you think that one of our members was responsible for the attack?" argued Vilkas, who was becoming increasingly more agitated.

The bandit chief glared at the swordsman before answering. "One of my men managed to live long enough for us to inquire about the identity of the one responsible. He told us that it was a member of the Companions who committed the act."

The two groups of warriors stood silent, staring each other down, waiting for the other to make a sudden move. Aela stood far in the back row, arrow nocked and ready to deliver immediate death to anyone of the outlaws who so much as lifted a pinky. Farkas stood with his giant steel sword slung over his shoulder, glaring at each of the bandits with murderous intent. The band of criminals also stood with their weapons at the ready, eyes filled with sick malice, eager for a fight.

"I've heard enough of this nonsense!" Stonearm finally shouted in anger. "You expect us to believe that a single person here would just slaughter a group of peple without some kind of reason? Either you bastards fall from sight, or fall where you stand!"

The bandit chiefs expression turned from calm and collected, to one of pure anger.

"You take me for a liar!?" he shouted, unsheathing the large glass sword from his back. "What reason would I have for marching all the way up here and provoking the Companions!?"

"Outlaws have a tendency to go to extreme lengths to for payback of some perceived slight," Vilkas scoffed. "How do we know that you aren't working with our enemy the Silver Hand?"

"Believe what you like!" the bandit leader yelled. "But I am not leaving until I see the life fade from that bastard's eyes!"

Fed up with the childish exchange of words, Aela lifted her bow and took aim at the bandit leaders head.

"I grow tired of your false accusations against the honor of the Companions. If you truly wish to travel to the afterlife, then allow me to aid you in your endeavor."

One of the bandits bashed his sword against his shield. "Just try it, bitch!"

Another raised his sword above his head. "I'll shove those arrows up your cunt, whore!"

"Go ahead and try, cock sucker!" Njada countered.

The two groups began to move toward one another. The Companions, though outnumbered, were well known throughout all of Skyrim for their victories over factions with numbers tripling their own; not to mention Farkas, Aela and Vilkas had an ace in the hole if things got really bad. Aela pulled her bow string back as far as she could, intent on ending the bandit chief's life for the insults he spouted about the Compaions.

"That's enough." said a deep, commanding voice.

The two groups halted their approach immediately. The bandits stood silent as they looked up to see a dark silhouette of a man standing at the doors of Jorrvaskr, leaning against the frame.

"Stand down, everyone. I'm the one they're looking for."

The bandit leader stepped forward. "Finally decided to show your face, eh coward?"

As the man stepped out of the shadows, Aela and the rest of the companions exchanged knowing glances. For in that instant, they knew the lives of the bandits would be brought to a quick end. Not by their hand, but by the hand of their newest, and youngest Harbinger yet.

"My presence...is one you will come to regret presently."

A/N: Well there you have it, my first Skyrim Fanfic. The plot, setting, main character(whose name I will not be revealing until the final chapter of the acceptance Arc) and overall story was heavily influenced by one of my favorite TV series(whose name I will also not reveal, lest I give up the main characters name) The first chapter if this Arc took me about…three days, mainly because It was so damn long, so I'm planning on shortening the length of the chapters just a wee bit. Anyway reviews are welcome,and helpful criticism is allowed, thanks.

~ Bang