Now that his thirst for revenge had been slaked, Stellan felt a certain void in his life. His duties as a Companion and a Circle Member did a lot to keep him occupied, but the glorious task of avenging the murder of his parents filled his life with such purpose. With no such purpose, his life felt, not as though it was empty, but that it was simply lacking something. After a bit of soul searching, Stellan finally came to the conclusion that he would revisit his talent for smithing. Looking at the ebony mace that was hanging from his belt, the one he had forged with his own two hands, there could be no other answer.

Stellan donned his blacksmith's apron and set off to Jorrvaskr's Skyforge. His hair was tied back, as it usually was when he would work at a forge. He was, however, at a loss as to what he should start forging, a new mace, shield, maybe even a full set of armor? The material was also something to consider, and whether or not it should be for him was also an issue. Dwarven armor was a bit basic for someone of his abilities, and he wasn't about to dignify any materials that were commonly used by the Aldmeri Dominion. Perhaps something of Orcish design or more ebony. He briefly tossed around the idea of forging a set of glass armor and giving it to Aela the Huntress as a gift. However, he seriously doubted that someone like Aela would go for something so flashy. Stellan gave a sigh as he reached the top of the steps to the Skyforge and surveyed the condition in which Jorrvaskr's legendary forge had been kept. Pristine, just the way it had been when he had left. No doubt Eorlund Gray-Mane was to thank for that. One would expect such things from the best blacksmith in Skyrim.

Pacing around the stone floor, Stellan was immediately transported back to all of his memories involving forges, from the first time he used the Skyforge, to his return to Warmaiden's when got back to Whiterun, to the Riften forge with Balimund, all the way back to his time helping his father at the forge of his old family home. Those times, especially those before his parents died, were some of the happiest he could remember. As touching as all of these memories were, however, none of these memories gave him any sort of idea as to what he should forge.

It was around then that a red-haired young lady reached the top of the stairs. He'd seen her around Jorrvaskr a couple times before and figured she had joined the Companions while he was away. Being a member of The Circle, he'd been trying to make time to meet all of the new Companions that joined up while he was gone, but he hadn't gotten around to meeting her. Walking toward her, he stuck out his hand for her to shake when he reached her. "I don't think we've met yet. I'm Stellan, a member of the Circle. How long have you been with the Companions?"

Notes: Sorry, if the post isn't good. My muse wasn't very strong when I wrote this.

Notes: It's perfectly fine!! It's a great post, and I've only got around to reading it now since I've been away and all. ^^;

Valkari was helping with the Skyforge again when she had nothing better to do. She helped Eorlund out with the weapons and armor that the companions needed for battle. It was surprising of how much their weapons wear down compared to the guard ... but then again the guard didn't really do much around here.

The young Nord's hair was up in a loose bun, letting hair fall out and around her lightly freckled face and slightly framing her icy blue eyes. They looked a bit sharper though, for she was concentrated on the metal she was shaping, not the person who had just walked up the stairs of the mighty Skyforge, until he said something, however.

She looked up from her piece, placing it in the water to cool off as she finally shook his hand, hers being a bit warmer due to working the forge.

"I have seen you around a few times, Stellan," Valkari said to him with a smile. "I'm Valkari, I've been a companion for almost a year I think."

Despite being poor with dates and time, she knew the day she joined. Almost knocked Vilkas off of his feet she did, and she definitely knocked some winds of air out of him too. Ahh yeah, it was a day to remember. However, she was surprised to never meeting this member, especially since he was in the Circle. Yes, she had seen him around, but no she didn't try talking to him. Every time Valkari did see him, she had errands to run and sadly hadn't the time for a quick hello. Well, here was her chance!

The young Nord gave him a wider smile as she let go of his hand. "Are you here to work the forge as well?"

Stellan grinned as soon the younger companion took his hand and shook it, but it grew even wider at the mention of her name. He hadn't been back long, but he'd been back for long enough to hear about the new recruit who proved to be quite a challenge for Vilkas. It was one of the first things Farkas had told him when he asked about what he had missed while he was off getting his revenge. The fact that he hadn't met her until now amazed him. "Yes, right, you're the one who gave Vilkas a run for his money. Farkas told me. I wish I could have been there to see that. Coming as close to besting Vilkas as you did is no easy task. It's nice to meet you, Valkari." Stellan had a warm smile on his face as he congratulated Valkari before he pulled his hand away as the two finished their shake. "So, what were you doing before you joined the Companions, Valkari?" He asked, curious as to the girl's origins.

Stellan answered Valkari's question with a nod. "Yes, since my sabbatical ended, I'm trying to find a new way to occupy my time when I'm not working. So, I figured I would start a new smithing project." Stellan was still at a loss for what that project was to be. "Perhaps you can help me decide what it should be. I was wondering if I should smith a series of maces in various materials or a new suit of armor." He said, pacing around the Skyforge. Stellan stopped at the forge and picked up a hammer which he immediately started tossing up and catching as he continued pacing. "What about you? What did you come here to forge?"

The young redhead gave Stellan a smirk as she crossed her arms lightly across her chest. She really couldn't believe she was one of the few to almost best Vilkas. It wasn't hard, but maybe it was because she had experience in battle beforehand and knew how to knock a weapon out of a man's hand to her better advantage. That, and she thought she was one of the few females her size that used a battleaxe for a weapon. Vilkas had told her it was just beginner's luck, but what he didn't know was that she was fighting since her teen years, and was taught by the best in the Fighter's guild in Cyrodiil. Beat that Vilkas.

"What I did before here? Well, way before I started traveling I was in the Fighter's Guild in Cyrodiil, my homeland." Valkari began. "After I turned eighteen I left and traveled around Tamriel as a traveling Bard." It made her feel a bit better knowing that people were interested in knowing about her past. She knew the children she met along the roads were anxious to hear about the battles she had fought and the places she had seen, but not much adults wanted to hear anything about it.

Valkari looked to the forge where her Stalhrim battleaxe stood, blade down so no one would run into it and cut themselves on it. "Oh, well I was sharpening my battleaxe, and helping Eorlund if he needed it. Turned out he did, so now I'm smithing a new weapon for Aela. The head of her dagger came off again ..." A sigh escaped the freckled Nords lips as she pulled out the new dagger she had made for Aela. "This one shouldn't come out of it's hilt." Valkari gave Stellan a smirk and set it back in the water to cool some more. "So, new weapons or armor ... Well, I should start by asking what type of armor you wear, and how good your current equipment is." Yep. Valkari was in smith mode right now. Being a Part-time smith would do that to a person, but at least she still had that friendly smirk plastered on her face.