"Sheathe your weapon, Sister. I had hoped you would recognize Aela."

Even after Skjor had said this, Aiedo Lothario was still hesitate to sheathe said sky-forged weapon. She gripped the hilt tightly, her sights trained and weapon posed at the werewolf Skjor claimed to be Aela the Huntress, their Shield-Sister, and her friend. She had read the tales in books and heard rumors among the guards, but to be face to face with a werewolf... again! The quests leading up to joining the Companions were happening so fast that it was all disorienting, and Aiedo had some difficulty accepting that the legendary warrior band of Whiterun was made up of fearsome, supposedly mythical creatures. It was hard enough not to kill Farkas after his display of this so called beastblood while trying to claim another fragment of Wuuthrad. But this was too much.

"Why am I here?" Aiedo asked after a beat and sheathed her weapon.

"To reach the heights of the Companions, you must join us in the shared blood of the wolf. Are you prepared to join your spirit with the beast world, friend?"

"I suppose it is too late to rethink this whole thing?" Aiedo's answer was given with narrowed eyes and threat filled growls. The woman held up her hands and nodded. Still can't take a joke, I see.

Skjor circled the Underforge Fountain and took the beast's arm, unsheathing a small dagger as he did so. He placed the arm over the bowl and sliced into it. Aiedo cringes at the sound of the metal tearing through thick muscle. The thought of Skjor harming Aela was... unsettling, but, other than a small growl, Aela seemed unaffected.

Aela's blood pooled into the fountain. When it was half full, Aela and Skjor stepped back and Aiedo stepped forward. Skjor said nothing. Aela couldn't really say anything, but the softness in her steel grey eyes said… something.

Aiedo braced her foot against the fountain, cupped the blood into her hands and drunk. It was about three handfuls of blood when she started to feel warm and tingly. She touched her head with the bloody hand. The blood trailed down her face, branching off and nearly dripping into her eyes if they weren't so tightly shut to block out the sharp pain racking through her body.

It felt like a fire was burning deep inside of her - her bones twisting and skin tearing. Aiedo doubled over. She heard buzzing in her ears.

"What?" Aiedo growled in annoyance at the tiny voices. It sounded like Skjor was talking. Yelling? Aiedo reached out blindly as she stumbled against the Underforge's secret entrance. Her hand caught a chain. She needed air.

Aiedo relished the cool air that soothes her heated skin. She could barely hear what Skjor was saying over the heartbeat pounding in her ears, or the thunderous roar that ripped from her throat.

.0.

The next thing Aiedo remembered was the pain when a large, heavy pack landed squarely on her scarred stomach. When she breathed in sharply, it was then that she realized that the air was crisp, and she was laying nude in a snowy terrain. She scanned her surroundings, seeing nothing but snow and trees and darkness that was enhanced with her sharper vision.

Aiedo tilted her head back and saw the Huntress towering over her, carrying a torch in hand as an elegant brow raised and lips curled.

"Problem?" The Huntress chuckled.

"Where am I?" Aiedo groaned as she raised into sit. It felt like she has been stabbed multiple times, even burned, but the sore parts on her body were unsporting, saved for the blood - hers or others, she did not know. "And why does it taste like I ate someone's heart out?" She asked, licking a handful of snow to get out the repulsive aftertaste that lingered in her mouth.

"That's because you did," Aela replied easily. "And to answer your first question: just outside the skirts of Windhelm."

Aela's head snapped up when she heard a twig snap, letting out a a disappointed sigh when it was nothing but a snow fox and her cubs trotting through the snow. It would've been something to face bandits with Aiedo in this state - funny, but she would have gone out of her way to protect the woman, more so, if needed. Her sights turned to said naked woman.

Aiedo was looking up at her with wide eyes filled with fear and confusion - fear, an expression Aela has never seen her friend adorn.

"What?" Aela questioned.

"What happened in there?" Aiedo asked, her voice dreading for the answer.

Aela brow arched like she should know, but she told her anyway. "You went rabid. After you felt like mercilessly killing three guards and a bystander was enough, you scaled the city walls and ran for the woods. Skjor and I tried to chase you down, but lost you half way. My bond to you is stronger since I am your progenitor; Skjor seemed pleased with the outcome. He went on ahead to scout out a Silver-hand camp, Gallows Rock, a celebratory hunt in your honor."

"I killed four innocent people and now I'm having a celebratory hunt to 'honor' it?"

"Yours was not an easy transformation, I admit. But you're still alive, so congratulations."

Aiedo scoffed, incredulous. "So, what now?"

"Now," Aela said, "you get some clothes on. Unless your transformation has made you somewhat of an exhibitionist, and you're in to that sort of thing, then I don't really have much room to judge. But I am surprised that you haven't frozen to death. It did take me a while to find you."

"Yeah, well, it's a good thing our Nordic blood lets us withstand cold elements... or was it our ability to breathe underwater what makes our race special?"

Aela chuckled when she saw her friend's head was still out of the loop, though she couldn't really blame the transformation all at once.

"I think you are talking about the Argonians, Sister."

Aiedo made a noise of understanding. Aela offered her a hand and pulled her up. Aiedo slipped on the ice under the snow and lost her balance. On impulse, Aela dropped the torch and made a grab for Aiedo. She caught the woman by the waist, with Aiedo's hands falling at her chest.

Aela had pulled her close without even thinking, it seems, seeing how close her body was to Aiedo's. If some drunken fool had stumbled upon them right then, he would probably say they were in a lovers embrace, right before she gutted him.

"Sorry about that," Aiedo muttered, regaining her footing. She pushed Aela at arms length to prove that she could stand on her on.

"No harm done," Aela grumbled, giving the woman her needed privacy by turning to the forest's edge. She bent forward to pick up the now dead torch and relighted it. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the beast inside of her stir at having the woman so close and under such promising circumstances.

"You gave us even more trouble than Farkas did at his first turning," Aela said in attempt to break the awkward silence that has settled and turn her thoughts to something else, least she does something that she would later regret - or just enjoy immensely.

"Did I, now?" Aiedo questioned as she donned her elven armor. She did not see the nod Aela gave.

"I almost envy you. That first time is always the most... intense. But you have proven to have some strength in controlling your beast."

"'Control?'" Aiedo scoffed. She pulled down her helmet and turned to the huntress. "I'm still not seeing how I have control. Need I remind you that I killed four innocent people?"

Aela circled around in irritation. "That is less than my body count at my first turning."

"So you're saying that I can do this?"

"We all believe you can, Aiedo. We would not have let you join the Circle, otherwise."

Aiedo is silent as she let these words sink in, her dark brows scrunching together, deep in thought. After a moment, she sighed.

"Alright," she conceded, tying on her sword belt and grasping her shield. After shouldering her bag, she looked at Aela and gave her a charming grin. "Let's get going. Can't be late to my own welcome party; I got to be the first to cut the cake."

.0.

"Standing there all day isn't going to bring her back any faster, you know."

"I do."

"Then why do you do it?"

The Huntress stopped pacing even though the question was something to consider. She has been standing there for so long one would've thought that she was rooted to the spot, had it not been for her fervent pacing. But during this situation, someone like her needs to pace, otherwise she would go insane for not letting her beast run free and slaughter every last member of the Silver-Hand, and strike fear into the ones that would later think twice in bringing the crippled clan back from the ashes.

It has been weeks since Skjor was killed, and days since the new member of the Circle had returned with the Silver-Hand's plans. Upon her arrival, and being thoroughly satisfied with what she had accomplished, Aela sent her out one last time to take out a hidden camp, and she wished to be here, and be the first to witness the blood that dripped from her sword.

Aela turned to see Farkas leaning smugly against a post, inspecting a green apple that had a single bite taken out of it. He tossed it carelessly over his shoulder when he saw the Huntress's attention was now on him.

"I do it," she said, her voice hinting a challenge, "because my Blood demands it; it demands vengeance."

"And vengeance you will have, Sister." Farkas walked the few paces to stand alongside her. He placed a strong hand on her shoulder. "But don't let your wolf rule over you."

Aela scoffed and shook her shoulders to be rid of his touch. "You sound like Kodlak. And your brother."

"It seems like the three of us are the only ones with some sense, then. You and Skjor running around like a bunch of rabid dogs."

"Skjor died!" Aela snapped.

"Doing what he loved, no doubt," Farkas all but yelled, his anger apparent. His piercing glare softened at the wounded expression on Aela's face. He sighed. "Look, I didn't come here to fight, Sister, or to smear our Shield-Brother's name when he is not here to punch my teeth in-"

"-Then why are you here, Brother?" Aela asked sharply, her face growing cold. She crosses her arms in defiance. It wasn't the first time one of the Circle members has came up to her, questioning her tactics and judgments. She had dismissed herself with the same curt reply: I know what I'm doing.

The truth was, she had no idea what she was doing, not really. She was following her beastblood, and her beast told her to kill. It was just that. It was simple, easy to remember, and it was always the way things were handled around here. If there was a problem somewhere, the people would hire the Companions to do one thing and one thing only: kill anything that got in their way. But that one rule has seemed to be diminishing with each passing day. Farkas once had the nerve to come up to her with a job: beat a man, but not to death. Death was prohibited.

Blasphemy!

Aela later learned that Aiedo took the job that she had been so quick to decline. When she was questioned later, Aiedo had answered her question of 'why?'with: I bested a man twice my size with only my fists, earned a hundred gold, a woman's honor, and a round of free drinks. What more could a warrior hope to achieve with so little effort?

Aiedo.

It has been days since Aela sent her off. She never had a sense to worry about her, but when she stopped to think about it, there were too many possibilities. But one stuck out more than the others: What if she was outnumbered like Skjor. Aela told her that they should never go without a shield-sibling, and here she sent the woman off with no one, doing the same mistake she'd made over again. If Aiedo were to die, it would be another person's death on her head.

Aela started pacing again.

"You are worried for her." Farkas said softly, sensing her change of mood.

Aela stopped in her tracks and looked at him quickly. When did he become so observant?

"I am," Aela says, though she knew it was more of a statement. No sooner, the doors to Jorrvaskr opened and in walked Aiedo Lothario wearing nothing but her small clothes and carrying her pack that looked half empty. Aela eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Farkas mouth opened, his icebrain searching for words but found none.

"Get some clothes on, you damned fool!" Aela sputtered when she regained her wits. It wasn't as if she hasn't seen the woman naked before, but for her to just barge in without a care in the world was unexpected, and just downright rude.

Aiedo, startled at first, gave the Huntress her most charming grin.

"Aela! Farkas!" Aiedo said, scratching at the scar that ran along her jaw. She doesn't even try to cover up. "I can explain," she said, motioning to herself.

"Please do," Aela muttered, taking a dangerous step towards the whelp. She didn't acknowledged Farkas as he made his timely escape. She only had eyes on the warrior, and the warrior eyed the Huntress back, her golden orbs unwavering against Aela's steely grey.

Aiedo opened her mouth to speak, but a new voice cut in, booming over hers.

"You!"

The two women turned their heads simultaneously.

"Tilma," Aela said, puzzled. "What-"

"You!" The old woman said more furiously, effectively cutting the Huntress off and silencing her. She stormed over to them in a determined pace, a broom in one hand and held out the other at Aiedo.

The Nord woman looked at the hand, then the owner. She then turned to Aela and, after seeing the Huntress shrug in response to the question that plague her as well, turned back to the old woman.

"What is it you want?" Aiedo asks curtly, folding her arms indignantly over her chest. She and the maid never saw eye to eye. To Aiedo, the reason was unknown (they got along so well when they had first met), but Tilma soon realized that every time she turn her back on Aiedo, she would later return to see the once relatively spotless space was once again made in ruins. Upon remembering this known fact, Tilma rapped the pommel none too gently on Aiedo's head for leaving over half a dozen half eaten sweet rolls scattered aimlessly around Jorrvaskr.

The warrior flinched away, stunned at the unexpected attack and the sharp pain that it generated.

"Bleeding shit, woman," Aiedo cursed, gripping her head as she glared at the elderly woman. "What was that for!"

"Give it back!" Tilma demanded instead, again holding out her hand expectantly.

Aiedo racked her mind for what exactly the woman was asking for, the throbbing in her head preventing her from thinking coherently. She scratched her temple, then it slowly dawned to her.

"It's in my other pants," Aiedo deadpanned, her eye twitching in annoyance for being caught stealing something that had been stolen a while ago.

Tilma regarded her.

"You're not even wearing any pants," the maid pointed out. She shook her head ruefully. "Hooligan," she added, rapping Aiedo's head with the broomstick again before storming away with a huff.

While cradling the knot forming on her forehead, Aiedo called after her: "I hope all that dust you sweep up retaliates one day and add your ashes to it's collection, you hag!"

Aela only blinked through out the whole encounter. She knew how the two acted to one another, so she wasn't at all appalled at the way Aiedo talked to their oldest maid. Had Tilma been several years younger, that would have been Aiedo's form of foreplay. But, still, even she was curious of the exchange.

What did she take?

"I'd rather not talk about it," Aiedo said, as if reading her mind. "I just came to get my bloody things."

"Your things?" Aela watched as the woman crossed the threshold and disappeared behind a pillar. She walked over and saw Aiedo bent over a chest. From there, Aiedo began unloading various items, from simple reagents to enchanted weapons. "You're leaving?"

"Yes," Aiedo responded absently. She paused to reconsider. "No." Scratched at her head. "Not exactly..."

Aela raised a brow in question, placed a hand on her cocked hip as she waited for a intelligible answer.

Aiedo sighed at the skeptical look and stopped what she was doing.

"I'm moving out," she said.

"I got that much when you said for your things," Aela said sarcastically, bristling. Aiedo couldn't blame her either. She sighed again.

"I'm moving out, yes. But I'm not leaving the city, not yet." Despite herself, Aiedo's grinned at her next words. "The Jarl offered me a place to buy after I defeated that dragon."

"A dragon?" Aela echoed thoughtfully, though she seemed anything but impressed.

Aiedo's broad grin faltered as a wave of hurt and guilt washed over her. Aela's hard expression softened. "Just... be sure to stop by, once in a while. Okay?" Aiedo brightened at the woman and grabbed her hand and gave it a firm squeeze.

"You can count on that," she promised, then she resumed what she was doing.

Aela sighed and scratched at her neck. Paused. She turned to the doors and tried to see beyond them. She caught the scent of an unknown in front the building. She approached the two doors and looked out the window.

Standing at the top of the stairs was a dark-haired, red faced woman clad in heavy steel armor. Aiedo's elven armor was sprawled out at her feet, along with other items Aela has seen in the woman's possession.

Aela glanced back at the warrior when she heard Aiedo curse. The woman was standing, though she seemed to be weighed down by the items she now carried. "I will be back to get the rest of my stuff. I'm afraid I've went over encumbered again; now I have to give some things to Lydia so I can at least make it to the Warmaiden's.

"Lydia?"

"My new housecarl. I reckon you saw her out there."

"I did," Aela said, taking another cautious look out the window.

Now the housecarl, Lydia, was trying to straighten everything out by placing them into a neat pile. It was probably a small attempt to seem less barbaric to the residents and guards that kept coming up to her, offering to help or telling her what she was doing was not allowed, and that she pick the items up immediately. Her face was a vibrant red. The poor soul.

"Why didn't you bring her in?" Aela questioned, looking back at Aiedo. The woman merely shrugs, with some effort.

"She insisted, and you know how I like the wooing of any woman."

Aela grunted in response, rolling her eyes and turning again to study Lydia's profile. With her back still turned, Aela didn't see Aiedo's approach, but she heard the barely audible footfalls made by bare feet. She gave a sidelong glance when Aiedo finally enters her periphery, and like always, the woman was grinning.

"Don't worry so much, friend," Aiedo said, though the reassuring words did nothing but upset Aela's stomach further. "And don't think that I forgot about that task you sent me on, either. I will get to it, as soon as everything is settled."

"I know you will," Aela said truthfully, slapping Aiedo's shoulder encouragingly. Unbeknownst to her own strength for a moment, Aela sent Aiedo jolting forward.

Aiedo quickly caught her footing. Her eyes wide as realized she just saved herself from an almost inevitable doom: over eighty pounds of burden crushing her ribs. Glaring over her shoulder, Aiedo slowly made her way to the doors, slowly. Aela almost offered to help, but she had to stop herself, least she fell to floor as she exploded with laughter; Aiedo was moving with the speed five times slower than a pregnant horker.

.0.

"You can't be serious!" Aiedo griped at him as she roughly took his arm. Out of all things to be afraid of, 'the big crawly ones' are what make him run with his tail between his legs? Sure, she has a fearsome dislike for the overly large insects, she was only human, but at least she would see to their Harbinger's last request, a quest that the four of them have been venturing on for three days straight. They already left Vilkas behind for reasons she did not care to listen to, but still managed to piss her off after thinking about him standing dumbly at the entrance, twiddling his thumbs, no doubt.

Maybe cowardice runs in their family.

Farkas ripped his arm from the woman's grasp with some ferocity. He regarded her coolly, though; he even looked at Aela for a moment - just enough time to see her disapproving gaze - before turning to Aiedo again.

"Everyone has his weakness, and this one is mine."

And with that said, Farkas simply walked away, muttering 'Give my regards to Ysgramor.' Aiedo watched his retreating back until he rounded the corner, out of sight. She let out a frustrated sigh, ran a hand through her dark hair before turning abruptly. She was ready to put this whole ordeal behind her, but almost ended up colliding into Aela instead.

Aiedo's eyes widen slightly, a flush manifesting on her tanned cheeks before she glanced elsewhere. She scratched at her scar, a habit, Aela slowly realized, Aiedo wasn't aware she did when she was either thinking of a plan C to Z, lying, or embarrassed.

Aiedo brushed past her without a word. Aela watched her as she approached an archway that was blocked by tedious webs.

Aiedo outstretched her hand that cradled a flame - basic magic that the Nord woman was sometimes reluctant to use, though is found to be useful - but stops and turns back to her. Aiedo seemed shocked to see Aela still standing there. She stared at her, questioningly.

As if reading her mind, the Huntress says, quietly, "I'm with you."

At first, Aiedo merely blinked, but then her lips slowly quirked into that teasing, charming grin that has really grew on her. Aiedo gave her a nod and turned back to the door.

Aela adverted her eyes; the brightness of the flames was blinding.

.0.

"Did I hear right? Did he say you were to lead the Companions?"

Aiedo, staring at the spot where Kodlak's soul once was, heard her question and turned with a look that showed even she was confused. She glanced over her shoulder, as if the old man would fade back in and say Surprise! I got you good; you should have seen the look on your face! as he slowly fade back out, his laughter at his own joke haunting her forever more, but alas, that did not happen.

"Does this upsets you?" Aiedo asked, looking at her questionably.

Aela quickly shook her head.

"No! You've earned the right. Your strength and honor are apparent to all. And it's my honor to first to address you as Harbinger."

Aiedo sputtered out a thanks, a wave of color washing her cheeks as she looked at anything but the Huntress. After finding nothing of interest, she settled with the gore on her boots.

"All this nobility is going to go to my head," she said, " and next thing you know, I will be a fat, pompous ass. First, Dragonborn, then Thane of Whiterun, and now Harbinger of the Companions?" Aiedo touched her head and sighed wearily, like all of the events of the past few weeks had finally caught up to her, leaving her mentally exhausted. "Can you do me a favor and recheck the other rooms for loot? I was in such a rush to get here that I didn't even bother to look."

Aela agrees without complaint, surprising them both.

With all the shit I put her through, it is the least I can do, the Huntress reasons with herself as she exits the way they came from. A favor for a favor.

Aiedo watched her go. When she could no longer see or hear her, Aiedo looked at the altar that had spiked her interest since she had first activated it. Aiedo reached towards the Flame of the Harbinger, surprised that it did not give off any heat, but burned anything just as fiercely as a orange flame would, into searing ashes. Like that witch's head.

That was pretty cool.

Aiedo opened her discarded pack and pulls out an item.

Aela didn't know what to expect when she walked in moments later. The steel great sword she carried slips from her limp grasp, clashes onto the floor. Standing with her back to her, Aiedo was holding a Glenmoril witch head by its hair while staring thoughtfully - almost blankly - at the blue flames. Aela starts forward but stops, opens her mouth but closes it. Don't! She wanted to cry out at that time. Aiedo has shown no signs of reproval, so she never thought that the woman would ever... Though it would hurt to watch someone - Aiedo, a woman that she helped become what she is now - cure a 'curse' she considered to be an actual blessing, she had no right to intervene.

Aela stilled her tongue.

After a few moments, Aiedo seemed to blink out the trance and shoved the head back into her pack. Aela sharply inhales, only then realizing that she had been holding her breath.

Aela looked away just when Aiedo turned to inspect the place more thoroughly. As if remembering something, Aiedo looks at the Huntress, seeming somewhat disappointed.

"I'm sorry, did you say something?"

Aela shook her head. Did she?

Aiedo's stare lingered. "Odd," she said with a brief look of puzzlement before continuing to survey the place. There is a sudden spark in her gold eyes as she spotted something in the distance. She rushed forward and up the spiraling ramp on the right. Aela thought she was in a rush to leave, without even a goodbye, but Aiedo stopped just short of the door. She opened a chest.

"What's in there?" Aela asked, making her voice carry. She saw Aiedo face brighten with a child's delight as she peered at the contents.

Instead of answering, Aiedo wanted to show her what she found. But as she rose to stand with the claimed prize, Aiedo wheezed.

"Shit," Aiedo cursed, then frowned pitifully upon discovering the item being 'heavy.' Tugging the item with some thought instead of carelessness, Aiedo hefted a shield from the chest and cursed again at her luck as she stumbled back down the ramp, over to where Aela was standing.

"I know you bear nothing but light armor but," Aiedo held out the shield, "I thought this would be more of an use to you than me." As she spoke, Aela took the gift, instantly recognizing it. The Shield of Ysgramor. She whistled, tested its weight and balance, then looked at Aiedo and smirked.

"You came to that conclusion just by lifting it once?" She asked waving it with obvious ease.

Aiedo looked away and shrugged sheepishly. "Better you than some lot that has to only pay two thousand gold for it."

Aela nodded her head in agreement, and said, "I believe I can make an exception, just this once."

Aiedo grinned at the other woman. She clasped their hands in a warrior's shake before turning to depart. Before she reached the stairs, she does a spin on her heels to address the Huntress once more.

"Oh, and one more thing: Now that this is all over, I could really use some company, a ... Companion. Someone I can really trust, that will always have my back?"

Aela smiled easily. "I was starting to wonder why I was lacking some of your most prized possessions."

Aiedo grumbled at those words. "Yes, well, I tend to hold on to all of my possessions, well only the most prized. But don't worry, I will be passing on all of my burdens, and pretty soon, if my guesses are as accurate as they seem. Just try not to run off with all of my items when I use my beastblood; I know where you live."

Aela laughed. "Indeed! Then let me say that I would be honored to fight at your side once more."

They exchange items. Aiedo visibly brightened, her fangs sharp and white as she gave her a fool's grin. They sealed the deal with another shake.

"Let's go on an adventure, partner."

"As you say, Harbinger."