Serana
I have no clue how long I slept, or what happened during that time, except what Torbin told me. The last thing I remembered was being shut in that box, and then I was awoken. The man who stood before me wore armor I did not recognize, and a strange helmet. His armor consisted of chainmail, a leather tunic and shirt, and a blue, toga-like garment covering his shirt and hanging past his tunic. His helmet covered his face, and he carried a sword and shield strapped to his back.
"Woah!" He exclaimed, catching me as I fell forward "Easy there."
I managed a glance around him to see a few dead bodies and shattered remains of skeletons, as well as dark pools of black, indicating dead Deathounds.
"Who are you?" He asked me, helping me to stand "How did you get in there?"
"Could you not ask so many questions?" I snapped at him "I don't even know where I'm at."
He removed the strange helmet and revealed his face, and I was surprised at how young he looked. His brown hair was a little long and scruffy, his face was covered in dirt and sweat and unshaven, he appeared to be about nineteen.
"You're at a place called Dimhollow Crypt," He told me "I was sent here by a man named Isran to investigate what the vampires were up to, it looked like they were trying to figure out how to unlock this tomb."
"Who are you?" I asked
"Who are you?" He countered
I considered for a moment before speaking, he did just save me after all, the least I could do would be to give him my name.
"My name is Serana." I told him
He looked closer into my eyes, a look of confusion written on his face. After a few brief moments, confusion turned to understanding and he nodded.
"You're a vampire." He said "Isran would want me to kill you."
"Try it." I growled, reaching for my dagger
"I'm not going to kill you," He laughed, either not seeing or ignoring my dagger "Do you know how long you were in there?"
"I'm not sure," I admitted "Who's the High King?"
"That's actually a matter for debate." He shrugged
"What do you mean?" I asked
"I mean Skyrim has been plunged into a civil war between the Empire and Stormcloaks and the High King is dead." He told me
"The Empire?" She asked "Stormcloaks?"
"The Empire," He said slowly "From Cyrodiil. I'm a Stormcloak, we fight for the freedom of Skyrim."
"Not ringing any bells." I shrugged
"Doesn't really matter," He said "Why don't we get you out of here and-is that an Elder Scroll?"
"Yes," I said, glaring at him "And it's mine, so back off."
He put his hands up and nodded, a small grin playing at his lips. I glanced around the tomb, looking for a way out.
"Now," I said, turning back to him "I told you my name, how about you tell me yours?"
"My name is Torbin," He shrugged "I'm a commander in the Stormcloak army, serving loyally under Ulfric Stormcloak to bring peace and freedom to Skyrim. On top of that, I'm the Dragonborn."
"The what now?" I asked, confused
"Boy you must've been out of it for a while," Torbin said, shaking his head back and forth "I'm a mortal with the soul of a dragon, or something like that anyways."
"Sounds interesting," I remarked "I take it you must be revered as a hero throughout the land."
"Not really," He said, hanging his head "I discovered I was Dragonborn when I was fifteen, just after I had escaped a dragon attack in Helgen. When I was seventeen I joined Ulfric Stormcloak's rebellion, and many in Skyrim see me as a traitor to the people."
"A traitor?" I asked "Why?"
"Because there are a great many in Skyrim that believe I should've sided with the Empire, to help the them crush the Stormcloaks. They believe that the Empire's laws and customs are right, and that Ulfric Stormcloak is nothing but a traitor who murdered High King Torygg," He said, looking deep in thought "The Empire was going to execute me when that dragon attacked, I was fifteen. I wasn't even on the list, but she sent me to the block anyways."
"Why would they want you to side with them?" I asked, genuinely curious now "They sound like terrible people."
"While the Empire does have it's moments," Torbin began "Ulfric Stormcloak isn't exactly perfect. He's very racist towards Elves of any kind really, mostly because of the Thalmor."
"Them I've heard of," I said, nodding "What are they doing here?"
"The Empire lost a war with them," He explained "Many died, and the Thalmor wanted control of Skyrim, and uses the Empire to maintain it. They banned worship of Talos, something that sits very badly with Nords. People misunderstand the Stormcloaks, I don't fight to keep Elves in their ghettos or to see them forced away from Skyrim."
"Then what do you fight for?" I asked
"For a Skyrim where all are free to live and travel as they please," He said "I have races of all sorts under my command. Argonians, Orcs, Elves, Khajiit, Redguards, even some Imperials from Cyrodiil."
"Sounds like a noble cause," I said "Why would people hate that?"
"Politics is something I try to stay as uninvolved in as possible," He said "I fight for Ulfric for my reasons, and if people don't like that, it isn't my problem. I will stand and die alone against the Thalmor if I have to, but I will show my people that I can deliver them freedom."
I didn't know what to say, he was a very fascinating individual, that much I would give him. I usually felt hunger for mortals, but I felt curiosity towards him. The way an animal does with new owners, not quite threatened, but not really relaxed either.
"Why don't we get out of here?" He asked suddenly "Is there any place I can take you?"
"Home," I said immediately "There's a castle just off the northern coast of Skyrim, Castle Volkihar."