Hi all!

Welcome to my first story! I hope you leave a favorite or a review if you want to see more. I have been playing TES since I was little and I'd like to pay homage to their wonderful game, Skyrim.

As always, I own nothing but my fictional character. All locations and characters belong to Bethesda.

Enjoy!

Prologue:

The wind stirred the leaves around my feet, an unseen force guiding me along. At least the leaves knew where they belonged, I thought. Leaves has no cares or troubles, simply swept away with the passing of each season. Perhaps I did have more in common with the swirling shades of red and yellow than I wanted to admit. The breeze, though cool upon my skin, carried the unmistakable odor of too-ripe fish. Riften. I hadn't meant to come back here so soon, but my feet had other ideas. Not wanting to set the guards on edge, I stored my bow in my pack and removed my helmet. No need to cause any more trouble. Nodding to the guards, I slipped quietly into the city.

Mercifully, most of the residents were still in their beds, though the glow of dawn would soon stir them. I reached Honeyside within a few moments, it's well-oiled doors opened silently as I walked in. Only just remembering to take off my black boots, I stumbled into bed and fell asleep.

Faceless creatures haunted my dreams, the sounds of dragon wings echoed as I raced the endless corridors. A bright light stopped my tracks, voices whispering incoherently. I fell to the floor, not solid as I had thought. Something black and foul started to ooze from the cracks in the stone floor and walls. I let it take me. Echoing thunder rang through my head, drumming and relentless.

With a start, I opened my eyes. My slumber seemed like only minutes, but the bright light streaming through my windows suggested otherwise. And what was that pounding noise? Surely it had not followed into the land of the living? But as I listened again, I realized that it was merely the sound of my poor door being tortured. I grabbed the dagger from under my pillow and slid my feet off the bed, hissing slightly as my bare feet hit the cool hardwood.

Reaching the door, I opened it to reveal a courier. The typical eager type, I mused, half annoyed and half curious. I never knew what their letters might contain. "I've been looking for you. Got something I'm supposed to deliver-your hands only" the courier said, handing me the letter. I thanked him and handed him a coin- those poor couriers get sent to the worst locations. Heading back inside, I decided to read the letter on the balcony, grabbing an apple from the blue pewter bowl on the table. The sea breeze fanned my face gently as I stared off into the distance. In truth, I regretted not spending enough time out here; The world seemed to need me a lot more than my balcony, unfortunately. After adding a slice of cheese to my cut apple, I opened the letter, mentally taking a deep breath.

Dear Darian,

I am in need of your services once more. Word has reached me that bandits have occupied what remains of Helgen. I need you to clear them out. Return to me as soon as the task is complete, for there are matters we need to discuss regarding the future of Skyrim

-Jarl Siddgeir

Okay, not too bad. Bandits were not considered the brightest of foes-I ranked them around frost trolls. The last line concerned me though. Perhaps I was a fool to think that my role as the last Dragonborn would end with Alduin's defeat-that I would be able to start a normal life for myself. Then again, what did I really know about a normal life.

Mentally, I counted the time it would take me to journey from Riften to Helgen. I knew that if I took the south pass through the mountains, I would reach the city in roughly four hours. Based on the sun's position on the horizon, I would guess that it was only a few hours away from dusk, so I would be much better off leaving at dawn tomorrow. That would give me time to gather my supplies and repair my armor. My ebony cuirass had taken a bit of a beating recently, courtesy of a draugr who had not been too keen on staying dead. I would also need more arrows, nor would it hurt to pick up a few more healing potions as well.

After changing into a pale blue dress, I sat on the chair next to my bed, combing my dark tresses. Blasted draugrs, they always mess up my hair. Knots lay not only in my waist-length hair, but in my shoulders as well, though those could not be helped at this time. I simply had too much to do.

Thank you for reading and I hoped you enjoyed! Chapter 2 will be posted soon.

ANH