A Dragon Saves My Life – I groaned, opening my eyes to see a procession of carts. I'm in one along with three other men, but that's all I register before I hear, "Hey, you. You're finally awake." I remain silent. "You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there." Oh – they're Stormcloaks.

That likely means we're to be executed. I grimace, remembering my attempt to cross the border. It was as futile as they warned me. "Watch your tongue. That is Ulfric Stormcloak – the true High King." I glance back with interest. Ulfric Stormcloak?

I study the man. Now it makes sense why he is gagged. Rumor has it that he murdered High King Torrig with his voice, using the ancient way of speaking with dragons. If we were captured along with him… why is it, I wondered privately, that we seem to be heading for Helgen?

My suspicion was confirmed as we rounded the bend. The walls of Helgen seemed to close in on us as we rode through the open gate. I hear a boy say, "But mom, I want to watch the soldiers!" I ignore them all until they take us down, their intentions made clear when the man with the axe walked out of the guard tower.

"Check. Next." The man in front of me shouts fearfully. "You won't take me alive!" He runs, but they quickly shoot him down. I think his name was Lokir. The man then turns to me. "Wait – you there. Step forward. Who are you?"

I roll my eyes before replying, "Saoirse." He gestures me forward. It's almost funny when the captain stares at me in confusion. "You with one of the trade caravans, Khajiit? You're kind always seems to get into trouble," he mutters me, noting my features. Then he turns to the captain. "What should we do? She's not on the list."

They argue for a while before the woman snaps, "Damn the list! Send her to the block!" He shakes his head sadly as I walk over to the line. They start yelling at Ulfric for a bit until another woman comes out. A priestess, judging from her clothes. We wait silently as she starts chanting our final rites. Get on with it, I grumble inwardly.

Another prisoner seems to have the same idea as me, for he stomps over to the chopping block before she's finished. "Come on! I haven't got all morning!" She glares at him with a peeved expression before muttering, "As you wish." She waves the executioner forward. I turn away as the blade comes down. "As fearless in death as he was in life," I hear one of the men murmur.

Good for him, I thought nervously. Not for me. They waves me forward, but then a low roar echoes throughout the surrounding mountains. "What was that?" a man says. The captain looks annoyed. "Nothing. Next, the cat!"

I resign myself, walking over to the block. She kicks me, and I fall to my knees, then onto my stomach. The stone is warm with the dead man's blood, and I look up at the executioner. Then I look behind him.

A dragon? It seems unreal, but as the blade comes swinging down the dragon roars, causing the man to stagger. Everything goes black for a moment. When sight returns, a blast of noise accompanies it.

Quickly I stand, looking around. The dragon had brought chaos into the town. Fires burned everywhere, and already there were some dead. I think of the little boy, but grit my teeth, trying not to fall until I hear, "Hey, Khajiit, get up! The gods won't give us another chance!" It was the Stormcloak – Ralof, they'd called him.

I hurry over, wincing as the dragon lets loose another roar overhead. He nods. "This way!" I follow as he rushes into the guard tower, pulling it close against the fierce chaos outside. The man looks to Ulfric – unbound. "Jarl Ulfric! What is that thing? Could the legends be true?"

The Jarl laughs grimly before replying, "Legends don't burn down villages." Ralof tilts his head in acknowledgement before glancing at me, shouting, "Up through the tower, let's go!" He runs up the stairway. I stare in frustration after him. Up the tower? We'll be trapped there!

But I follow anyway. He's my best hope for survival. We only make it halfway before Ralof is forced to stop, faced with rubble that had fallen. He grimaces before shouting to me, "Jump to the roof over there! I'll follow as soon as I can!" I stare doubtfully through the hole. Seriously?

The tower starts to shake so I jump, aiming for the soft thatch roof. I survive, rolling as I crash through the weak structure to the ground. Shaking my head, I look around. It's utter turmoil. With my hands still bound I can't defend myself.

"Still alive, prisoner? Keep close if you want to stay that way." I glance with surprise at the man beside me – it was the one who'd been reluctant to send me to my death. He shouts a few orders at the soldier behind him before sprinting forward. Shrugging, I jog after him.

We pass bodies still on fire, blood still glistening. I turn my eyes away, running to keep up with Hadvar. Finally we make it to the keep, but Hadvar shouts, "Ralof! You damned traitor, stay out of my way!" Ralof grins ferally. "We're escaping, Hadvar, and you're not stopping us this time!" He motions to me.

I didn't hesitate, bounding after him. I ignore Hadvar's gasp of betrayal as the door slams shut behind us. "Saoirse!"

Disclaimer: I do not own Skyrim. (But it is so much fun to play.)