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Taking a Stand


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“Are you prepared?” Aela asked me.

“As prepared as I can be.” I answered. “What about you?”

“I replaced my bow string and purchased a few more arrows.” She said. “I don’t think we need much. These tombs rarely have more than a handful of draugr.”

“Where are we headed anyway?”

“Dustman’s Cairn.” she said. “It’s a nordic ruin to the northwest of Whiterun.”

“Well I have my sword and my armor.” I said as I pet my hilt. “I really don’t need anything more.”

“Then let’s head out!”

We stepped out the front gates, and so began our quest. It was like something from a story. Two beautiful heroines on a search for the fragment of... whatever that name was. Resolved, determined, and prepared for anything that the world wished to throw our way.

As we walked, I looked at Aela. A curious woman. Her dress and appearance reminded me of the tales of some huntresses that lived out in Valenwood. Strong, skilled, sexy, and deadly with a bow. Aela had that sense about her. Giving off an aura of strength, it seemed almost... animal-like.

“So how did you become a part of the Companions, Aela?” I asked.

“The women in my family have a proud history of being in the Companions.” she replied with a prideful smile. “My mother, her mother, and so on. We were all huntresses.” she paused for a minute and looked up at the sky. “I regret that my mother was not here to see me when I joined the Companions, but I have been here since that day and fight for the glory of my brothers and sisters.”

“That’s... admirable.” I remarked. An entire lineage of Companions... if there is one thing about the nords that I do respect, it’s their regard for tradition.

“What about yourself?” she asked me. “Were you born here in Skyrim?”

“I was actually raised in Cyrodiil. My family and I grew up in the town of Bruma.”

“Ah, so must have acclimated well to Skyrim’s climate when you moved.”

I nodded. “The cold weather was familiar. I knew the customs of the nords. When I got into my teen years, one of the mages there began to tutor me in some basic spells. At the same time, I learned the art of the sword.”

“It sounds like you’ve been living a full life.”

“One would think.” I laughed. “Between bandits, wild animals, and gods-know-what-else, it’s almost necessary to learn to fight in this land.”

“So why did you move to Skyrim?”

“I don’t know really.” I answered. “It was almost as if it... called to me. One day I just felt like I should continue my life there.”

“I’m sure you’ve noticed that it isn’t a land for the weak.” said Aela.

“Indeed not. Giants, mammoths, falmer, saber cats... I hear there have even been sightings of vampires and werewolves.”

“I’ve heard the same tales.” Aela responded. “The vampire ones are true, I’ve killed some myself, but wolves can be found all throughout Skyrim. It would not surprise me if someone saw one that was a little bigger than usual and jumped to conclusions.”

I nodded in agreement, then took out a small flask from my pocket.

“You’re drinking before a fight?” Aela asked in confusion.

“No,” I laughed, “It’s just water. It’s important to stay hydrated when traveling, or can exhaust yourself a lot faster.”

“Ah, good point.”

“Do you need some?” I handed the flask to her.

“Sure.” Aela accepted the flask and took a big drink. “Thank you.”

She handed it back to me and I looked down the top. “Is there anything left?”

“Should be some.” Aela answered. “Not to worry. I don’t think this hunt is going to be very long.”

We had been so engaged in our conversation, I just about blew my own mind when I saw the nordic ruins sticking out from the ground in front of me. “We’re here already?”

“That’s correct.” Aela hopped onto the rim of the dome-like structure and made her way to the top. “Come on! The entrance is through here.” She jumped down and disappeared. I quickly made my own way up and jumped in. Much like how history texts described it, the entrance had a large door made of solid, black iron. The dragon-like bust that covered the front was rather... intimidating.

I took a step forward, bracing myself for the horrors that lurked within... and I was stopped. It seemed subtle at first, but something felt like it was beginning to push down inside me. Not here, not now. I thought. With any luck, we’d be out of the ruins before things became... dire.

____

One step inside, and we already new there was trouble. Ebony sarcophagi lined the walls... all of which were open, and the occupants splayed on the floor, cut down by a blade.

“Apparently, we aren’t the first ones here.” I commented.

“Indeed not. Keep your eyes open.” Aela responded.

One couldn’t help but be extremely alert. Evil-looking corpses lying about, cut down by an unknown assailant. You’d be an idiot to ignore the signs. We headed down the passageway in the back of the main chamber. Navigating the twisting corridors, we cautiously proceeded through the catacombs, until we heard soft, fleshy footsteps down the hall.

“Draugr.” Aela said. “The guardians of the old tombs. Woe to those who should disturb their sleep.”

“But it wasn’t us!” I replied.

“Do you believe they will discriminate?” Aela asked rhetorically.

“...No. I guess not.”

With the quietest footsteps I could possibly make, I crept forward. Step by step, inching my way towards the corner. Closer... closer... a little closer, and I turned the corner to-

A draugr. Right there, in front of me. Its desiccated face and glowing eyes looking right at me. The monster raised its arm, axe in hand...

Fwip!

I blinked only once, and the walking corpse was gone. I looked left, right, behind me, nothing. Then I looked down. Off to the side was the draugr, laying just as still as the day he was entombed, an arrow protruding from his skull. I looked over at Aela to see her standing with her bow in hand.

“Close call.” she said.

“Thanks for having my back.” I replied.

Onward through the musty tunnels, the smell of death became stronger and stronger. The air was becoming quite thin the deeper we went. Nevertheless, I was here to prove my honor to the Companions. I wouldn’t let a little air deprivation stop me from earning my place in Jorrvaskr. I pressed on, head held high. Though I suppose the lack of air was only one of several problems, such as the ever-growing problem within my bladder.

We arrived at another large chamber. There were two apparent ways out, aside from the way we just came in. A large arch to the left and right.

“You check one, I’ll check the other?” I asked.

“Good idea.”

I took the left. As I walked in, I took a quick look around, trying to take my mind of need to urinate, but to no avail. I began squeezing my legs together, anxious to try and give myself just the slightest reprieve. After my quick examination of the room, I realized that this was just a small side chamber. Nothing in here but a few burial urns and coins left in tribute.

“See anything over there?” I yelled, legs pressed together tightly.

“There’s a gate here, but I don’t see any way to open it.” Aela responded from the right arch.

I took another look around, then seeing a large lever on a small table. How I missed it before, I have no idea.

“Let me try something.” I walked over and pulled on the lever. Damn thing was rusted tightly. I pulled and pulled until I finally jarred it loose. The sound of grinding metal then came from above me. Before I could react, a metal gate dropped down and trapped me inside the chamber.

I ran over to the bars, grabbed them and uselessly pulled on them as if my strength could actually lift these super heavy behemoths.

“Gaah!” I screamed as my hands went in between my thighs. Did you know that stress acts as a good diuretic? Neither did I until now. The pain in my lower abdomen began to gnaw at me in ways you can’t imagine.

Aela walked over looking at my predicament with disdain. “See where your haste has gotten you?”

“Yeah yeah...” I groaned, quickly removing my hands from my crotch. “Can you just let me out?”

“One moment.” Aela looked around quickly, and saw another lever on the wall. “Let’s see if that does the trick. Before she could move though, the other gate opened. From it, emerged four warriors dressing in hide armor. Each one had a silver sword in hand.

“That’s one of them!” the lead man said, pointing to Aela.

“She doesn’t wear the armor of the rest.” said another.

“But we’ve seen her before! She accompanies the rest of them!”

“I say we put her down, just to be safe.”

Aela looked at each of the attackers with extreme hatred. “‘Safe’ is not the term I would use to describe your situation.”

I pounded on the gate again, hoping by some miracle I could break myself free. My own idiocy was going to result in Aela’s death. I shouldn’t have been so quick to dismiss Skjor’s comment. This can’t be happening!

In that moment, Aela dropped her bow. She seemed to... morph. Her skin, her very shape began to shift. It was if she was growing... fur? Suddenly I found myself staring at a bipedal wolf of great mass. It howled loudly, and the four attackers stepped back.

“G-get her!”

One of them charged forward, only to take a massive claw to the face. Then another came forward, getting another claw for his troubles. I closed my eyes, I knew where this was going. Even so, I could hear the screaming, the sound of claw tearing flesh and bones splitting. It was gruesome. Within a few seconds, the noises ceased, and I dared to uncover my face. Well... I think I’ll spare you the details of what I saw. Suffice it to say, it wasn’t pretty.

The gate rose up, and Aela walked from around the corner. “I’m sorry you had to see that.” she said. “I hope it wasn’t too frightening.”

“You’re... a werewolf?”

“Surprised? I’m sure it makes that last conversation feel pretty awkward.” she laughed. “Members of the Circle are granted the power to become as beasts.”

“This is common knowledge?” I asked.

“No. You’ve been allowed to know before your appointed time.” Aela’s face changed into one of concern. “I hope this doesn’t deter you from joining. I can assure you, we are in full control when we transform.”

“I’m just... a little bewildered.” I responded. I felt my stomach start to turn. It really was a lot to take in at once. Just that one thing, that werewolves were real, and that some of the Companions were werewolves themselves. I fell down on one knee.

“Are you all right?” Aela walked over to help me up.

“I’ll be fine.” I answered. “It’s... just the smell. Let’s move on so we can breathe fresh air again.”

“Who were they anyways?”

“Members of the Silver Hand.” Aela answered. “A group of werewolf hating fanatics. They would love nothing more than to see the Circle killed.”

“Then there’s probably more of them inside.”

“Agreed.”

Well, I won’t bore you with the details. A draugr here, a Silver Hand there, a few traps and even a bit of treasure. Suffice it to say, there was a lot that happened on the way to our destination, but nothing extremely noteworthy. Well, maybe except the headshot Aela got on one of the Silver Hand who I bet was more than fifty meters away.

The fights with the dragur were almost welcome, though. At least that required full attention, and the pain of my filling bladder seemed to disappear... for a while. That was nearly an hour ago. The agony was immense by now. Absolutely impossible to ignore. Aela was in front of me, so perhaps she wouldn’t see me in my desperation. I began to massage my-

Well, you get the idea.

We arrived in a room absolutely filled with sarcophagi. Lining every wall, with a single one placed right in the center, next to a large stone structure with writing of some unknown language on it. Oh and there was one little detail I forgot. All of those sarcophagi were open, draugr strewn across the floor, cut down by a blade. As I looked up near that stone... thing, there was a woman, about mid to late forty’s clad in leather armor, a thin, curved blade strapped to her side, and in her hand, a metal fragment.

Aela immediately drew her bow, readied an arrow and pointed it straight at the woman. “That doesn’t belong to you! It’s the property of the Companions, and I will kill you before I let you take it!”

The woman seemed unfazed by Aela’s threats. “Well now that you’re here, I don’t have to take it.” she said calmly.

Aela’s stance didn’t relax at all. “What do you mean? What do you want with me?”

“Not you.” the woman answered. “Her.” She pointed a finger directly at me.

“Me? What did I do?” I asked.

“You killed a dragon.” the woman replied. “Or so everyone thought.”

Aela gave the woman the most elaborate scowl. “Just who are you anyway!?”

“My name is Delphine. Riverwood Innkeeper and local adventurer.”

Both of us cocked an eyebrow. You rarely here of a stranger occupation combination.

“So what about me killing a dragon?” I asked.

“There are very few that have the skill to fell one of those beasts. No one has since the time of the Akaviri.” she explained. “But when you killed it, nothing happened, correct?”

“What do mean, ‘nothing’?”

“You didn’t absorb any power from it. It’s skin didn’t suddenly vanish.”

“How...?”

“Only the Dragonborn have that ability.” she said. “But even still, it is difficult to take on such a beast and survive. You must have exceptional skill in battle.”

“Well... I...” I stuttered. That was quite the compliment.

“I’m sorry, I leaked the information about the Wuuthrad fragment in the hopes that you would be sent after it, Karlie.” said Delphine.

“Why?” I asked with slight irritation. “You still haven’t said what it is you need me for.”

“Meet me at the inn in Riverwood. We’ll discuss it.”

“Why all this secrecy?”

“I’ll explain at Riverwood.” Delphine picked up the fragment and tossed it to Aela. “Here. For your trouble.”

Both Aela and I watched the fragment fly through the air, determined not to let it fall and let it be lost forever. Aela managed to catch it, but when we turned our attention back to Delphine, she was already gone.

“What was all that about?” Aela asked.

“I honestly have no idea.” I replied. “I’m just as baffled as you.”

“Do you intend to go see what she wants?”

I paused. I really wasn’t sure. She was willing to go through a lot of trouble to get my attention, but was being extremely secretive. “I... have to admit that I am curious. I may have to visit later.”

But for now, there was something else that needed tending to. As I squeezed my legs together again, a small whimper escaped between my clenched teeth.

“Is something wrong?” Aela must have caught my whimper.

There was no hiding it anymore. The pain was too great. Dignity be damned. “I... I really have to pee.”

Aela laughed. “Is that all? This is Skyrim, Karlie, and we nords may be a proud people but everyone has to pee.” We stopped in a long, narrow hallway.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Watch and see.” Aela’s hands went to her hips, and reached under the skirt of her armor. I raised a skeptical brow as she began to slide a leather thong all the way down her legs. She turned and faced the wall of the corridor, then bent back a little, spread her legs apart, lifted her skirt up, giving me a clear view of her... lady parts, and then opened it wide with her forefingers.

“What do you think you’re-” before I could finish, a forceful stream of pale yellow began to jet out from between her thighs, loudly splattering onto the stone wall. It was agonizing watching someone else pee when I had to go so badly already. The cobbled stones began to darken as Aela’s urine flowed downward, pooling up into a dark puddle against the edge of the wall slowly expanding and drowning the tiny mushrooms that sprouted from the cracks in the ground. What’s worse, the aroma of her urine quickly began to fill the narrow hallway. Nearly every sense of body was being pressured now. Sight, sound, smell, and of course the feeling of massive amounts of urine filling my own bladder.

Spurt!

My muscles spasmed. That quick relax-then-tighten was just enough for a brief jet of urine to dampen my own underclothes. And despite the torture of it all, I continued watching Aela pee on the wall, agonizing myself to no end. I don’t know. Personally I had no idea a woman could pee standing up with such grace and poise so maybe I was just admiring her for that.

At last, that jet stream of pee began to rescind to a trickle, then just a few drops leaking out of her body. Aela shook her hips around and then took the front of her skirt to wipe the excess drops from herself.

“Now your turn.” she said to me.

“Nooooooooo way!!!” I exclaimed. “I’m not going to just... pee like that all of a sudden!”

Aela rolled her eyes. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll step out while you go.” She walked out the corridor and closed the wood doors at the end.

“Well, I-I suppose I don’t have much of a choice...” I stuttered. I reached for my own undergarments and began to slide them down my legs. Then I did just as Aela had. I spread my legs apart, bent back a little... but with everything “down there” all closed up, how was any pee supposed to come out without splattering everywhere?

“Aw, forget it! I’ll squat like usual.”

I squatted down like normal and finally began to relax my muscles, and something began to snake its way through my body and out of my-

Pee began jetting out of me with more force than Aela’s did. It splattered wildly against the stone floor, spraying the insides of my thighs with millions of warm droplets, and a bubbly puddle forming beneath me. I started to panic as my legs became more and more moist from my urine. I tried to cut the flow, but it was all coming out so strong and so fast, and to be honest, it just felt too damn good. And so, I knew I had no choice. Even though I was still peeing, I tried to stand up. A jet of warm fluid began spraying down the side of my leg and down my boot. As quickly as I could, I bent myself back, spread my legs apart, held open the edges of my... parts, and...

I did it. I couldn’t help but smile as a clean stream of my urine began to spray the wall. “Success!” I silently exclaimed. I sighed in both relief and satisfaction, watching my bodily fluids pour down the wall, seeping into the cracks between stones and turning into a large bubbly puddle below. I watched with an odd sense of curiosity as my puddle of urine began to make its way towards Aela’s. The two dark liquid masses merged together, making it seems like a troll might have left it. Two large puddles of pee from two warrior women. I really wasn’t sure what to make of that.

The jet of pee shrunk down into a stream, and then a trickle, then a few drops flowing down my crotch. And so I looked down to see what the damage was. My thighs weren’t soaked, but all that urine that sprayed onto them from the stone floor had made them fairly damp, and then the inner part of my left boot had a dark trail going along it, clearly indicating that I “missed”. I couldn’t just sit there and wait for it to dry, nor did I have anything to wipe with. I quickly slid my underwear back on and walked out to face the music.

I stepped out the doors and Aela immediately noticed my boot. “It didn’t work?” she asked.

“Not right away...” I mumbled and relayed the heroic tale of my peeing in the dark hall to her.

Much to my surprise, Aela smiled in a sympathetic manner. “I’ve no doubt the gods did not intend for us women to pee while standing. It takes some practice. Gods know I’ve done my share of ‘missing’.”

It was a little comforting to hear that she had gone through similar ordeals and that I’m not just some special peeing-while-standing failure, though it didn’t take away the embarrassment of the fact that I peed on my own boot.

Aela slapped me on the shoulder. “You’ll get the hang of it as we continue adventuring. Don’t worry, the others don’t know what we faced here, so as far as they know, you just stepped in a small creek.”

I nodded. Still humiliated, but I knew she was right. “Thanks, Aela.”

“Now, let’s get this fragment back to Jorrvaskr.”

____

We returned to Jorrvaskr, and quite frankly I couldn’t wait to fall asleep drinking ale again. I could use a good nap. I was just about to reach for the door...

“This way, Karlie.”

Aela began to lead me around the building. Was there some reason we had to go through the back doors? Eh, whatever. I followed her anyway. Though, I have to say, what I saw back there caught me off guard. Kodlak, Vilkas, Farkas, and Skjor were all standing around that little sparring ring. They appeared to be expecting me. What could they want?

“Welcome back, Karlie.” Kodlak said to me. “Were you successful?”

“I was.” I responded and gestured to Aela, who showed everyone the fragment we retrieved.

“Well done, girl.” Kodlak responded. “Then with that, I think it’s time you were officially inducted into the ranks of the Companions.” Kodlak beckoned Aela forward, who walked over and stood next to him. “Brothers and sisters of the Circle, today we welcome a new soul into our mortal fold. This girl has endured, has challenged, and has shown her valor. Who here will speak for her?”

Aela spoke up. “I stand witness to the courage and valor of the soul before us.”

Kodlak looked over to Aela. “Would you raise your shield in her defense?”

“I would stand to her back, so that the world may never overtake us.”

“And would you raise your sword in her honor?”

“It stands ready to meet the blood of her foes.”

“And would you raise a mug in her name?”

“I would lead the song of triumph as our mead hall reveled in her stories.”

Kodlak smiled. “Then the judgement of this Circle is complete.”

“Welcome to the Companions, Karlie.” said Farkas.

“Welcome indeed.” said Aela.

I smiled. It felt great to be in the company of such noble people. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was home.

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