Skyrim fanfiction pt.2 Jahel by B. Sparks
CHAPTER ONE
It had been almost four months since the death of Deino at the dwemer ruins. Since then the Companions had resumed their normal lives going on quests and continuing their training.
Even so, Farkus had been waiting for any sign of the vampire woman’s daughter that she had said would be coming. He hadn’t seen her and he had asked question about her whereabouts with a few people that would recognize a new traveler. But there had been nothing so far and that included getting word from the Riften area.
He was sure they were lying though since she had been staying in the area when Deino had last known her location. To say he was disappointed was an understatement he was starting to feel depressed over the fact he hadn’t seen her yet.
“I’d give it time brother. Just because she wanted you to watch out for the girl, doesn’t mean the daughter will want that.” Vilkas said with a sigh as he looked at his brother.
“I’d like to meet her none the less Vilkas. I made a promise to watch out for her the least I could do is make sure she is alright.” Farkus argued feeling frustrated.
That was the last time they spoke about it they knew each others feelings on the matter, so no more need be said.
Farkus remained depressed over the matter non the less.

Days passed and missions with the Companions became more frequent as the land was thrown into a civil war. The civil war was caused when Ulfric Stormcloak murdered the High King, claiming he should be the new king. To draw more men to his cause he rallied the men and women of Skyrim saying he was doing this over the outlawing of Talos worship.
The Imperials were quick to send forces from Cyrodil to back up the soldiers already present still supporting High Queen Elisif. She was still loyal to the empire and as were a few of the other holds in Skyrim.
Then there was what most folks in Skyrim considered the real foe, the High Elves. They were the ones to force the end of Talos worship by having the empire sign the White-Gold Concordant.
As usual the Companions stayed out of the conflict. It was all over politics and they loathed the politicians’ games that were being played. They kept their lives simple as always by looking out for their own and doing what quests came their way.
That was how Farkus came to be traveling from The Reach back to his home cityon one of the back roads. He was walking alone when he heard the distant sound of combat, if it wasn’t for his beast blood he wouldn’t have caught it at all.
He could hear the grunting, cursing, and yelling that most people participated in when in combat. He could also hear the clashing of blades, the dull thud of a shield being hit, and the slight ethereal sound of magic. Someone was getting quite a battle.
Farkus didn’t know what the deal was or if he should even be concerned with someone else fight right now, but he was curious. He decided he could spare a few minutes to at least go and observe the fight. Farkus was sure that it would be something for the current civil war or a small gang of local thugs in an argument over leadership.
He was given a surprise when he finally crossed over the hill and could see what was happening.
He could see that three warriors were fighting against about ten orcs that from one of the nearby clans. He couldn’t really see the three warriors clearly because of their armor but he could see that they were protecting a small caravan of merchants.
The attacking Orcs were fierce and clearly in a berserker state that they were known. Orcs were the distant cousins of elves said to be related to Dark elves the closest out of all.
They had green tinted skin, pointy ears, sharp teeth, and were muscular like warriors, even the women were muscled. They were great warriors and smiths.
The three warriors fighting against the orcs were holding their own in the fight wounding the attackers without much trouble. They were all in elf armor that was made from moonstone.
One warrior wielded an elven great ax that was being easily to deflect blows or deal damage of its own.
The second warrior was switching between using magic and a short sword that was made of iron.
The last of the merchant guards was dual wielding a pair of axes that looked like it was made by the elves also.
They were outnumbered and clearly doing nothing wrong to deserve the attack. Farkus decided he could stand to lend his aid to the travelers. Moving quickly down the hill he drew his skyforge steel long sword. He had put away the ebony long sword that Deino had given him almost immediately after her death.
He didn’t feel right about carrying it with her dead it brought back the memories of her when she was alive.
He came into the battle slamming his blade down on the unguarded shoulder of one of the orc warriors. Then he lost himself in the battle moving alongside the other warriors easily. He was surprised by some of the prowess that the three showed. He was impressed by them when they worked so well together.
Most merchant guards were mercenaries for hire and they didn’t usually possess a lot of skill. These three had the necessary skill.
After killing four of the attacking Orcs the rest of them decided the fight wasn’t worth the risk retreating into the mountain trails. That left Farkus alone with the merchants and the guards that had been protecting them. He was walking towards them to introduce himself when they removed their helmets meeting him half way.
Two of them were male and one of them was female.
The first man was a young imperial judging by the round shape of his features. He had short brown hair combed down, with pale skin, and blue eyes. He wasn’t really muscled or tall, he was the great ax user.
The second male was the ax dual wielder and a wood elf. The wood elf had the long blond hair, green eyes, and the same orange tinted skin all his people had. He was tall and very slim.
The last was the female that had been using magic and a short sword. She was a dark elf with red eyes, copper colored hair, and a light gray tint to her skin that was almost blue. She had thin features that were slightly familiar and under her armor he couldn’t really see her frame. She was maybe a little younger then he was. There was a look in her eyes that was cautious but still challenging.
“Thank you for your help back there. I don’t know what we would have done without you,” The wood elf said politely.
“You would have been fine. You three were doing a fine job of holding your own before I got here. I was impressed. Are you three mercenaries?” Farkus asked glancing between the three.
The two men laughed and the woman shifted away from them shifting slightly.
“No not at all. Well, I and Aron are not I don’t know about the lady though. We are hired by the East Empire Trading Company as guards.” The elf said smiling.
Farkus nodded his head thoughtfully asking “What about you miss?”
“Just passing through and decided to travel along with the merchants.” She said shrugging.
“Are you for hire as a mercenary?” Farkus asked.
“Not really my line of work,” She said vaguely eyes going over him cautiously.
Farkus watched her closely. He saw the way she was moving her fingers and the way she sized him up in a glance. He felt sick to his stomach at the thought but he had to ask.
“You from Riften?” Farkus asked looking her in the eyes.
“Yea. What of it?” she asked defensively eyes narrowing.
Farkus sighed as he realized she probably had been or still was a thief with the Thieves’ guild. She was out here probably because she was in hiding.
He felt obligated to make his offer as a guild recruiter, even to the young woman that might be a thief.
“Well I’m Farkus of the Companions Guild in Whiterun, if you want a home and some work you should come by Jarrvaskr. Might I ask your name?” he asked noticing the men had already headed back to the wagon.
“Jahel Shadow-Walker.” She said with a nod as she started backing away. “I might just come by there and see what you’re talking about then Farkus.”
The name she gave shocked him, because he realized who he was talking to as she was getting ready to leave. He was shocked to realize that she wasn’t much like her mother like he had hoped and pictured she would be. He was both disappointed and relieved.
He was disappointed that she wasn’t like her mother except that she looked more elf than anything else. Even though she wasn’t a pure blood, in more ways than one actually.
He was relieved because he had finally succeeded in meeting her and could stop wondering if the meeting was ever going to happen.
He was snapping out of his revelations when he realized she was starting to head off. He called out to her but she kept going. He saw her split from the group she was with and take off across the stone paths.
Farkus tried to catch up to her. Despite his being fleet of foot ,due to his beast blood, she lost him in the mountain trails. She was a fast young woman, she must have been a great thief at one point if that was truly what she had done in Riften. He was out of breath by the time he decided she wasn’t going to let him catch her in the mountains.
“I don’t think this is what you had in mind when you wanted me to take care of her. Is it Deino?” he asked out loud with an exasperated sigh.
He could swear he heard laughing on the wind. He didn’t know if it was Deino, Jahel, or his imagination at work.
CHAPTER TWO
Farkus returned back to Whiterun without further incident or reason to slow his return. It took him only a day more of traveling the wilds to get home.
He sat with the other Companions and had a quiet meal while thinking over his last mission. It wasn’t hard, he had to go to the city of Markarth to deal with a small matter of a man withholding gold he owed a store. It was straight forward and he didn’t have to stay long to get the matter settled.
He was more so thinking about meeting Jahel Shadow-Walker. She was mysterious and seemed a lot more hostile then her mother had been. She also seemed to have been in the city of Riften in the last few months which led him to believe that she may have been a thief. That was something he felt concern over because if she wanted to join their ranks she needed to not have a bounty anywhere in Skyrim.
The only reason he still believed she was a thief now was the name she had been given Shadow-Walker. The first names were chosen by the parents at birth but the second names were ones earned or given for certain things done. Much like the clans Gray-Mane and Battle-Born in Whiterun.
He didn’t know what to make of any of her past without getting to know her more. Right now all he could think of was how disappointed he was that she wasn’t more like her mother. She was maybe a mercenary and maybe a thief on top of all that. Just thinking about that made him sure Deino would be disappointed too.
Vilkas noticed his black mood and was curious about what could have caused it.
“Farkus what is it I have not seen you like this for months now?” he asked him quietly keeping his back turned to the others at the table.
“It’s nothing just thinking over something,” Farkus assured him not sounding convincing.
“Are you sure? I was going to walk down to the Bannered Mare later if you wish to accompany me we could talk there,” Vilkas offered.
“And ruin a possible night with Sadia?” Farkus joked “I think not brother.”
“You’re sure you don’t wish to talk?”
“Of course I’m sure.”
The two remained silent after that until Vilkas excused himself leaving out the back doors of the guild hall.
He wasn’t really going for a night with Sadia at the Bannered Mare, he was going for a drink of the ale they just had brought in. He was accustomed to drinking alone or with the company of the bar maid there, tonight wasn’t about that though.
As Vilkas walked around the front of Jarrvaskr he could see the stone streets lit by torches. He walked in the comfort of silence and only realized someone was walking behind him when she cleared her throat. He turned to look at her in surprise as she joined him.
“I saw you leave the guild hall, you a Companion?” the dark elf asked standing away from him.
“Yes I would be a Companion looking to join up?” he asked with a slight sigh.
“Maybe. I met one of them a few days back a man named Farkus.” She said shrugging.
Vilkas waited but she said no more. She kept following along with him till they reached the doors of the Bannered Mare. She stopped at the bottom of the wooden steps and made no move to join him or walk away.
“Do you want to join me?” he asked with a sigh.
It wasn’t that he’d mind the company, he just didn’t want to be bothered with an awe struck whelp right now. He was tired and had just returned this morning from a trip to Solitude on business with E.E.T.C (East Empire Trading Company).
“Thank you for the offer but no I have other business to attend to tonight,” She started to walk away then paused. “Sadia won’t be there when you go in if you’re looking for her.”
Vilkas stopped confused “Why not?”
“Some friends took her home I’m afraid.” She replied with an enigmatic smile.
Vilkas watched her walk away then as she offered no more explanation. She didn’t look back just disappeared behind one of the stores heading for the houses in back. She was either visiting Ysolda or the old woman that could supposedly see the future. He didn’t know which but he hoped they had better conversations with her then he did.
Walking into the tavern Vilkas was greeted by the nord woman that owned the place and he asked about Sadia.
“You didn’t hear about it? It turns out Sadia was a criminal from Hammerfell and a few of alikir warriors came to take her back. A young Dark elf woman helped them get her out without bloodshed actually.” she replied.
“I think I may have met the young woman do you know her name?” Vilkas asked, leaning against the bar.
“Jahel Shadow-Walker.”
Vilkas started in surprise he knew Jahel was the daughter of Deino and he was very familiar with the name Shadow-Walker, though he had never met the person until now.
Shadow-Walker had been known throughout the land of Skyrim as a warrior who had been settling disputes among the people. The only thing was they never knew who helped them they merely received a note with a signature. It was also said that the Shadow-walker was a master thief in the city of Riften but that was of yet to be proven.
He wondered why she had not introduced herself then he realized it must be for her protection. She had to be careful about who she mentioned her name to due to someone might have a grudge against her. She could be a thief or a hero, right now Vilkas was leaning more towards hero.
Right after leaving the man named Vilkas at the Bannered Mare, Jahel walked up to the large stone stairs that lead them up to Dragon’s Reach for a meeting with the Jarl. She had planned to meet with him earlier that day but he had been in conference with the court wizard.
She was going about the house he had put up for sale. She had been in the city working when he put it up for sale.
Jahel walked along the stone and smiled as she went past the guards and the people of the Cloud District. She had become acquainted with the locals over the last few hours while doing errands for them that would seal her as a local. She was eager to make a home here, especially since she intended to become a member of the local guild.
She walked up the stairs and was met half way by the house-carl Lydia. Whom would be living with her if she managed to become the Thane to the city. She liked the idea of being the city’s Thane because it came with nice benefits.
As Thane she would be able to get off of minor disturbances that she might cause, she’d be able to buy property within the city, she’d get a house-carl to protect the house, and Lydia would be traveling with her out of the city if she felt the need to bring along a body guard. She’d also be in good standing with the rest of the locals.
As she walked up the stone stairs she was joined by Lydia who was talking to her with the air that they were old friends. She got on well with the nord woman ,who was a local warrior, and had been born in the city. She didn’t treat her like most nords treated the elf community, everyone was equally respected by the woman.
Lydia had long dark brown hair, brown eyes, pale skin, and pale lips. She was bulky with muscle and very tall like most nord women. Lydia wore steel armor without the helmet to cover her face and she also carried steel arms that she used in combat. She had a steel short sword and a steel plated shield.
They entered the large oaken doors that were the entrance to Dragon’s Reach and were welcomed to the Jarl’s home/throne.
The Jarl was sat on his throne with his bodyguard standing off to the side of the room. His children were sat around one of the two tables in the large room. He also had his court wizard standing off to the side of the guards that were standing within shouting distance of the Jarl.
Upon seeing her entrance the Jarl sent away the court wizard and with a beckoning hand he called Jahel over to him. She walked over and smiled at him nodding her head as she stopped at the bottom of the stairs leading up to his throne.
“Well, I have heard back from the locals in the area about you working for quite a few of them. So you do want to settle down in our hold then?” Jarl Bulgruf asked with a resigned sigh.
“Yes, that has been the plan and as agreed I have done the five tasks for the locals that were needed to become Thane,” Jahel said with a smile.
“Well then as my right as Jarl, I name you Thane of Whiterun and welcome you to our city. As Thane you now have the right to purchase a house within the city. You also receive a house-carl to see to your needs. Lydia is the only house-carl without a master at the moment and will have to suffice.”
“Thank you my lord.” Jahel said bowing to him slightly.
“I will inform my guards of your new status. Don’t need them thinking you’re part of the common rabble now do we?” he said with a chuckle as he smiled at her.
They both shared a chuckle at the inside joke.
“Now please, I have business to attend to so please direct all questions you have to my steward if you have questions.”
“Thank you my lord. I’ll hold you up no longer.” Jahel said bowing again.
Bulgruf stood then made his way towards the stairs leading up further into the reach followed by his bodyguard.
Once they were out of sight Jahel walked over to where the steward was standing and going over the papers he was carrying. He was the true back bone of the city, without a competent steward the Jarl could not function. He’d have no way to know the residents, the number of guards, how many small settlements were in his charge, or the available land he might have for sale.
Jahel cleared her throat to get the man’s attention drawn away from his work for a moment.
“Well, you would be the new Thane then. What can I do for you?” he asked politely getting straight too business.
“I’m here about the purchase of property within the protection of the hold.” Jahel said in a firm business like tone.
“We only have one house available, the one by the gate beside the blacksmith’s shop. If you want something else we have farmland for sale in the Riverwood.” He replied looking over his books.
“I’ll take the house within the walls and give you extra for the furnishings.” Jahel said holding up the bag of gold she carried.
“Of course I’ll have the house cleaned up by tomorrow and ready for you to move in.”
“Thank you. What was that about farm land also?” Jahel asked with a slight tilt of her head.
“Farmers are selling their land for less then what it is worth. On account of bear trouble in the area. The Jarl won’t pay to have it taken care of, the folks are moving from their land out west I’m told.”
Jahel nodded her head slowly “Anyone buying?”
“No, not until the bears are taken care of. That’s why it’s on sale for a lot less than what it’s worth right now.”
Jahel nodded then dismissed herself from the room motioning Lydia to follow her.
“Where did you get all that money?” Lydia asked “I know Breezen Home was cheap but not that cheap.”
“I have a way with money you might say,” Jahel said winking and handing a small pouch to Lydia. “Put yourself up somewhere for the night and get settled in tomorrow. I have business to handle.”
“You don’t want me to go with you?”
“Another time maybe. Don’t worry I’m not leaving town tonight.”
Lydia and Jahel went separate ways for the remainder of the evening. Lydia went to the local inn for the night and Jahel decided it was time to pay a visit to Jarrvaskr.

Jahel walked through the door and not many people turned to look her way.