Chapter 1: Imprisonment
'Ugh… where am I? What happened?' . A Nord male with long blond hair sat in a carriage with his hands bound. When he was a child, he has been living here in Skyrim, his homeland but when he was five years old his parents moved to Cyrodiil and he lived in the Imperial city from there on. But now that he is 20 years old, he decided to go back into his homeland to finally live there again. It was sad because his parents couldn't go with him but he promised that he would be alright and come back home someday. And now? He was sitting in a carriage as a prisoner with others. He was interrupted in his thoughts when another Nord male with long blonde hair who was sitting in front of him spoke up.
"Hey, you. You're finally awake. You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us…
and that thief over there.", he looked at the Nord who was sitting beside him.
"Damn you Stormcloaks. Skyrim was fine until you came along. Empire was nice and lazy. If they hadn't been looking for you, I could've stolen that horse and be halfway to Hammerfell.", the thief looked at me with a bitter expression.
"You there. You and me, we shouldn't be here. It's these Stormcloaks the Empire wants.", he said when the other Nord spoke up again.
"We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief.", he said but the Imperial guard leading the carriage had enough of our talk.
"Shut up back there", the guard seemed pretty annoyed but the thief didn't listen to him and looked at me before speaking up again.
"You there, what did you wanted to do here in Skyrim?", the thief asked and pointed at me.
"I wanted to see my homeland again and start a new life here. But now I'm here, captured by the Empire. My name is Arcos.", I never understood why I have this name, it wasn't really fitting for a Nord but my parents seemed to like the name. Then the Nord in Stormcloak armor looked at me, with a sad look on his face.
"I'm sorry for you, the Empire doesn't even care about such things. They are not what they were in the past and that is why I'm fighting against them. My name is Ralof, by the way.", I liked him, he seemed pretty friendly and my guts told me that I could trust him.
"And what's wrong with him, huh?", the thief asked and looked at the prisoner who sat beside me. He was also a Nord male and cloth has been put into his mouth. He had better clothes than we had.
"Watch your tongue. You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King.", Ralof hissed. I had no idea what they were talking about and who the Stormcloaks were but they obviously had problems with the Empire.
"Ulfric? The Jarl of Windhelm? You're the leader of the rebellion.
But if they've captured you… Oh gods, where are they taking us?", the thief was getting more and more worried.
"I don't know where we're going but Sovngarde awaits.", Ralof muttered.
Sovngarde, the place where heroes and Nords are going in the afterlife.
A place where every Nord wants to be when he's dead. That is my wish too.
"No, this can't be happening. This isn't happening!", the thief had an expression with absolute disbelief.
"Hey, what village are you from horse thief?", Ralof asked in a sad tone, the question surprised the thief.
"Why do you care?"
"A Nord's last thoughts should be of home.",he said. I couldn't believe that this is how my life is going to end. Killed because of a mistake…
"Rorikstead. I'm… I'm from Rorikstead.", the question calmed the thief at least a bit down. We slowly arrived in a small village which I immediately recognized as Helgen. Suddenly an Imperial guard spoke up.
"General Tullius, sir. The headsman is waiting!"
"Good. Let's get this over with.". The thief prayed to the gods, begging for help when Ralof spoke up again.
"Look at him. General Tullius, the Military commander. And it looks like the Thalmor are with him. Damn elves, I bet they had something to do with this."
"This is Helgen. I used to be sweet on a girl from here. Funny, when I was a boy, the Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel so
safe…", Ralof said with a sad expression. I heard a child asking his father what is going on but the father sent him into the house. I bet the child wouldn't want to see what is happening now.
"Why are we stopping?", the thief asked with worry.
"Why do you think? End of the line. Let's go. Shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us.", Ralof said and slowly stood up when the carriage stopped. We walked out of the carriage but the thief didn't wanted to believe it.
"No! Wait! We're not rebels!"
"Face your death with some courage, thief.", Ralof replied calmly.
"You've got to tell them! We weren't with you. This is a mistake!", he yelled but was ignored by everyone. I felt a bit sad for him. But I'm going to die here too, so whatever. In Front of us were standing Imperial soldiers with lists and a captain, who spoke up.
"Step forward to the block when we call your name. One at a time.", she said. I never had something against the Empire but now I'm seeing a whole different side of them.
"Empire loves their damn lists.", Ralof said with a glare.
I stood beside Ralof when the soldier with the list spoke up.
"Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm.", the man known as Ulfric walked to the block when the soldier finished the sentence.
"It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric.", Ralof said. The soldier continued.
"Ralof of Riverwood.", with that, Ralof walked to the block too.
"Lokir of Rorikstead.", so his name is Lokir.
"No, I'm not a rebel! You can't do this!", what he did next shocked me.
He tried to run away as fast as he could but was quickly stopped with an arrow that hit him in the head.
"Anyone else feel like running?", she said with a smirk and a mocking tone. I already hated this captain. From all Imperials here I hated her the most. The soldier with the list suddenly had a confused expression.
"Wait, you there. Step forward.", he ordered and pointed at me. I did so when he spoke up again.
"Who… are you?", he asked with a questioning look.
"My name is Arcos. I wanted to cross the border to see my homeland again when you captured me.", I tried to hide any emotions, that wouldn't help me right now.
"You have picked a bad time to return here, tribesman. Captain, what should we do? He's not on the list." I prayed that this was just a mistake and they would let me go..
"Forget the list. He goes to the block.", she said with a smirk. And with that one sentence, all my hopes were crushed. Thank you, stupid bitch!
"By your orders, captain. I'm sorry, at least you're going to die in your homeland. Follow the captain, prisoner.", the soldier said and gave me a sympathetic smile. He was kinda friendly but that captain… but I did so as ordered and followed her to the block where everyone was standing already. General Tullius spoke to Ulfric when I arrived.
"Ulfric Stormcloak. Some here in Helgen call you a hero. But a hero doesn't use a power like the Voice to murder his king and usurp his throne.", he said but Ulfric gave him only a glare and growled slightly.
"You started this war, plunged Skyrim into chaos and now the Empire is going to put you down and restore the peace!", he continued when suddenly a noise from the mountains was to hear. What the heck?
"What was that?", the soldier who had the list asked. But Tullius didn't seem to care.
"It's nothing. Carry on.", he ordered.
"Yes, General Tullius!", the captain replied and turned to the priest who was standing beside the headsman.
"Give them their last rites.", she said and the priest started to pray something. But she was quickly interrupted by a Stormcloak soldier who was totally pissed by her words and stepped forward.
"For the love of Talos shut up and let's get this over with!", he shouted and glared at the priestess.
"As you wish.", the priestess replied and returned the glare.
"Come on I haven't got all morning!", the soldier said while the captain walked behind him and pushed him down to the block.
"My ancestors are smiling at me Imperials. Can you say the same?", he said as his last words before the headsman cut off his head with his giant axe. The same would happen to me… I heard some people shouting that this was bad and the Imperials are bastards or that this was justice. This couldn't be justice…
"As fearless in death as he was in life…", Ralof said.
"Next the ragged Nord!", the captain ordered and pointed at me. Why thank you, you stupid bitch! From all persons you're picking me as the first one! I would die either way so whatever… I'm sorry mom, dad, I can't held my promise. I walked to the block while looking to the ground when I felt the captain pushing me down to the block. I don't regret anything, I had a wonderful life… and I'm only twenty years old.
I saw the headsman slowly readying himself and prepared to cut off my head… when I suddenly saw a black thing flying from a mountain right into our direction.
"What in Oblivion is that!?", I heard General Tullius shouting.
That thing landed on top of a tower next to our position. The impact knocked the headsman from his feet and he fell to the ground. I shivered at the sight but it changed into absolute shock when this thing looked at me. That… is a dragon! Something out of legends! It stared intensely at me but suddenly it shouted something which was letting the earth shake and the sky started to change. And then… it was raining fucking Meteors!? It shouted again and this time it knocked me from my feet and I fell from the block. I lay there for some seconds when suddenly somebody talked to me.
"Hey, tribesman! Get up! Come on, the gods won't give us another chance!", I quickly got up and noticed that it was Ralof.
"This way!", I totally agreed with him and followed him to another tower.
There were dead bodies on the ground, the headsman included. When we both entered the tower, Ralof quickly closed the door. Jarl Ulfric and some other Stormcloaks were in here too, some wounded.
"Jarl Ulfric! What is that thing? Could the legends be true?", Ralof asked.
"Legends don't burn down villages. We need to move, now!", he replied. Outside I could hear the Meteors still smashing down onto the village and shouts of the dragon. Ralof turned to me and spoke up again.
"Up through the tower! Let's go.",he said. I ran up the stairs with Ralof following right behind me. But the stairs were blocked with some stones, where a Stormcloak soldier was already trying to remove them.
"We just need to move so-", suddenly the dragon broke through the wall of the tower and the stones killed the soldier in an instant. I froze on the place when the dragon looked me in the eyes again with it's golden eyes.
"Dovahkiin…", this thing could actually talk!? Or whatever it was that it said. I couldn't understand the word… but… it had a female voice. You could hear it clearly! Or I'm insane, that would be an explanation too.
Suddenly the dragon's eyes changed into a red colour.
"Yol Toor Shul!", she breathed in and unleashed a mighty flamethrower while I was still frozen and shocked. Suddenly Ralof grabbed me from behind and pulled me back before the flames could hit me.
"Everything alright?", he asked with concern.
"Y-yes… thanks.", I muttered, I definitely owe him something. I could hear the dragoness growling out of annoyance and flew away again.
"See the inn on the other side? Jump through the roof and keep going.
We'll follow when we can!", Ralof said and I did so. I took a step back and jumped right through the roof without really hurting myself. I kept running out of the burned house when I suddenly heard another voice.
"You're doing great kid!", I saw the soldier with the list who spoke to a kid with another old man, hiding behind a destroyed house. The dragon landed directly in front of them but they quickly moved away when the dragon fired a flamethrower again. She flew away again when the soldier noticed me.
"Still alive prisoner? Keep close to me if you want to stay that way.", he said.
"Gunnar, take care of the boy. I have to find General Tullius and join the defense. Arcos, follow me!", he said and ran towards the street towards a wall behind a house. I followed quickly, Imperial soldiers were dead on the ground almost everywhere.
"Stay close to the wall!", he said and I did so when the dragon suddenly landed on top of the wall and her right wing was directly in front of me.
She fired a flamethrower at some Imperial soldiers before taking off into the sky again.
"Quickly, follow me!", the soldier said again. We ran into another burned house and when we exited it, we saw many Imperials trying to fight the dragon with fireballs and arrows with General Tullius in the middle. When Tullius noticed the soldier he quickly turned to him.
"Hadvar, into the keep! We're leaving!", he ordered. So his name is Hadvar. I followed him down the street.
"It's you and me now prisoner.", said Hadvar. But then I noticed Ralof coming from the left side of the street.
"Out of the way, traitor!", Hadvar shouted.
"We're escaping, Hadvar. And there's nothing you can do to stop us!",
Ralof replied back. Hadvar ignored him and walked further down the street while Ralof took the right part of the street.
"Arcos, come, into the keep!", Ralof said to me and ran towards an entry.
"Come with me Arcos! Go!", Hadvar said and ran to another entry.
With who should I go now?! Suddenly the dragon landed directly behind me and I quickly turned around. She looked at me again.
And if I wasn't completely insane, I noticed that she had an amused expression. She breathed in again to fire another flamethrower at me but before she could do that, an axe hit her at the wing. She barely noticed the wound but wasn't focusing on me right now.
"Quickly, now's your chance!", Ralof shouted. He had thrown the axe to
distract her! I owe him again something. I quickly ran towards the entry where Ralof stood and entered with him quickly following.
XxxxxX
In the keep, I had the first time to finally take some minutes to breath again. Ralof closed the door behind us and walked towards a corpse from another Stormcloak soldier.
"We'll meet again in Sovngarde…", he muttered before turning to me.
"Looks like we're the only ones who made it.", he said.
"That thing was a dragon, right? Something out of legends and stories…", I said, with my hands still bound.
"Yes, the harbingers of the End Times. I can't believe it… but at least this thing saved our lives from the headsman. But anyway, come here, let me see if I can get those bindings of.", he said and pulled out a little knife and cut through the binds.
"There you go. We better get moving, you can take Gunjar's gear. He won't need it anymore.", he said and pulled the knife away.
"Just.. taking it? I don't know…" I said uncertain.
"Don't worry, it is no shame borrowing a friend's axe.", he said and smiled slightly. I took the gear and the iron axe and quickly putted it on.
I looked like one of them. I'm quite good with swords but I prefer axes and this one was perfect for me right now. I'm not using magic really often, only destruction spells and healing spells here and there.
"I'm going to see if I can find some way out of here.", he said while walking to an iron door and tried to open it.
"This one is locked. Let's see about that gate.", he said and walked to another gate on the left side while I was swinging my axe a bit to get used to the feeling again.
"Damn, no way to open this from our side.", suddenly we heard another voice coming from the other side of the gate, which I knew too good now. An imperial soldier and the captain walked towards the gate.
"It's the Imperials! Take cover.", he whispered and pulled out his two iron axes. I don't know where he got those from but I was hiding on the right side of the gate and pulled my iron axe out.
"Get this gate open.", the captain ordered to the soldier. When it opened and the two Imperials walked into the room, Ralof slashed his two axes against the soldier who came in first and the captain didn't even had the time to pull out her sword, I quickly slashed my axe into her face, killing her in an instant.
"Take that, stupid bitch.", I said with anger in my voice. Ralof laughed a bit and putted his axes back.
"So I'm not the only one who hated her. Maybe one of the Imperials had the key.", he said. I looted the corpse and found a key by the captain.
"Perfect! Let's see if it can open that door.", I said with a smile. I walked towards the iron door with Ralof behind me and tried the key on the lock… and the door went open!
"Great. Come on, let's get out of here before the dragon brings the whole tower down on our heads.", Ralof said and walked in front of me while I followed. We walked down some stairs into a room with a door on the left side. We wanted to take the way in the middle when suddenly the dragon shouted outside again and big stones fell to the ground, blocking the way.
"Damn, that dragon doesn't give up easy.", Ralof said out of frustration.
"You can say that again, I would've been killed two times by this dragon if you wouldn't have helped me.", I replied.
"No problem for a friend. Let's try this door.", he replied back and opened the door on the left side.
"It's a storage room! Maybe I can find some potions, they would help
us.", I said and searched in some barrels.
"Good idea, I'll wait by this door over there.", he said back and pointed at the door which led out of the room. I could find some healing potions and magicka potions but since they wouldn't help both of us, I only took the healing potions. I quickly made my way to where Ralof was waiting.
"Finished? Then let's get out of here", he said and opened the door and walked down some stairs. We came to a room where we could hear Imperials fighting against some Stormcloaks. Ralof pulled out his bow.
Where the heck did he find that?
"Troll's blood… it's a torture room!", Ralof mumbled.
An Imperial torturer and another soldier were fighting against one Stormcloak soldier. Another one lay dead on the ground.
I quickly pulled out my axe and helped the other Stormcloak soldier. The torturer attacked him with lightning spells and the soldier tried to dodge the attack with his sword. Before the torturer could notice me I slashed my axe at him and killed him after a couple of strikes while Ralof killed the other one with his bow.
"Was Jarl Ulfric with you?", Ralof asked the soldier but he only shrugged.
"No, I haven't seen him since that dragon showed up."
"Wait, looks like there is something in this cage.", Ralof pointed at a cage with a corpse of a mage and some gold in it. The soldier looked around for something useful and while Ralof tried to open the cage, I found an interesting looking book. I decided to read a bit from it I mean, why wasting my time with doing nothing. The title said: Book of the Dragonborn. There was some kind of prophecy written in it but I had no idea about it and I couldn't understand it. Ralof managed to break the lock from the cage and walked over to me with some gold in his hands.
"Here, we could need the gold when we get out of here.", he said and gave me some of it.
"Thanks, I'll be sparingly with it.", I said while looking at the gold. It was enough to live for some days.
"Good, now we should get out of here.", Ralof turned around and walked into a litte entry into a cave. I hope this is the right way… but on the other hand there was no other way. The Stormcloak soldier was staying behind just in case so we continued without him. We came to a small bridge which we quickly crossed but suddenly the earth started to shake again and I could hear the shout of the dragon again. Big stones were falling to the ground and blocked the path behind us. Now there was only this way left.
"We can't go back anymore. The others will have to find another way…
Let's move on.", Ralof said. In Front of us was a way where a small brook runs down. Since it was the only way, we took this path until the way was blocked with stones again. Ralof tried to remove them but I quickly found another way on the right side.
"Here is another way, I hope this one is the right one.", I said before going first with Ralof following behind me. The area in front of us had many spiderwebs and it was obvious which enemy was waiting here. On the ceiling were many spiders which fell to the ground when we entered the little area, ready to attack.
"Oh no no no, not a spider. Please don't.", I muttered. Luckily Ralof couldn't hear what I just said and be both slashed the nearest spiders. Yes, I'm afraid of these things but can anybody blame me for that? I have to deal with them now. After some minutes the spiders were all defeated and I just wanted to get out of here but I was hiding my fear. We walked out of the area and came to a little place where a bear was sleeping in the distance. The way out of here was on the left side while the bear was sleeping in the middle.
"Wait, there is a bear. Do you see him? We could sneak past him, slowly… or if you think that today is your lucky day you can take this bow. Maybe we can defeat him.", Ralof whispered beside me. But I didn't wanted to kill something without a reason so I decided to sneak past the bear. He didn't noticed us and we could walk again. Some minutes later we could finally see sunlight shining through the exit of the cave.
"Here is the exit! I knew we would make it!", Ralof said with a smile and I had to smile too. We made it out of here alive. Thank the gods…
When we walked out of the cave, we suddenly heard the dragon again, flying into the distance.
"I think this time it is really gone.", I said. Ralof turned to me before he spoke up again.
"Let's hope so but soon here will be more of the Imperials. Down the street is a little village, Riverhood. My sister can surely help us there. We can split up if you want but we can also go there together, your decision.", he said. I couldn't quite remember the way and how Skyrim looked like exactly so I decided to travel with him.
"We can go there together but you have to lead the way, I forgot the exact way.", I replied. Ralof laughed a bit at that. While we walked down the street, Ralof suddenly spoke up again.
"You know, you should consider to join the Stormcloaks. We need people like you and without you I surely wouldn't have made it out alive today.", he said but I laughed a bit at that.
"I would have died two times today if you wouldn't have helped me.",I replied back. But now that Ralof mentioned it, I have many questions about the Stormcloaks.
"This dragon wasn't on your side, right?", I asked with curiosity.
"What? No, I highly doubt that. Even Ulfric can't just have a dragon. But the beast appeared just in time, right? I don't need a haircut from that headsman.", we both laughed a bit. I considered to join them but… for such things I need more time to think.
"I have to think about that.", I said.
"Of course, I understand that. But in the end, I'm sure you'll make the right decision.", he replied back and we both continued to walk towards Riverwood. But still… that a dragon appeared. And I have to admit, it looked so mighty and beautiful… wait what. I quckly forgot the last sentence.
Life can be strange sometimes.
And that's it for now. As already said in the little description, this will be a female Alduin x male Dovahkiin. When I first saw this idea, I really liked it. The name Arcos just came into my mind.
And here is a translation to some words. Later I'll use dragon language more often.
Yol Toor Shul / Fire, Inferno, Sun / fire breath (or flamethrower) shout.
Dovahkiin / Dragonborn