Chapter 1

Where am I?

"Hey you, you're finally awake."

I blinked a few times and looked around. I'm in a carriage. My wrists are bound. Gods, what happened?

"You were trying to cross the border right? Walked right into that imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there."

I look over to see three other men in the cart with me. Wait, is that?...no it can't be.

"Damn you stormcloaks. Skyrim was fine until you came along. Empire was nice and lazy."

Stormcloaks... so that is him. Ulfric Stormcloak next to me. Bound and gagged at the mouth.The thief turned to me.

"You and me, we shouldn't be here. It's these stormcloaks the Empire wants."

I know this road. I've walked down it before. Near Riverwood I think...

"Shut up back there!" The imperial soldier controlling our cart was getting a little restless. We must have been travelling a while. Last thing I remember I was walking down the road from Dawnstar to Solitude, or was it Whiterun? I can't remember. My parents lived in Dawnstar. I know the roads. Why can't I remember? Lost in my thoughts, I payed no attention to the bickering of the nord and thief in front of me.

"What's wrong with him, huh? The thief shrugged toward Ulfric.

"Watch your tongue! You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak. The true High King!"

We must be near Helgen now. This is Imperial territory. I used to come to this town to get flowers for my mother. A woman here makes wonderful bouquets.

The thief's face was flustered.

"Ulfric, the jarl of Windelm? You're the leader of the rebellion. But if they've captured you...oh Gods...where are they taking us?"

My heart sank. I didn't realize. They're executing us.

The nord wasn't afraid. "I don't know where we're going, but Sovngarde awaits."

*

"General Tullius sir, the headsman is waiting!"

I don't know if I believe in Talos, or any of the Divines for that matter. But at this moment, I prayed to all of them at once. And I didn't pray because I was afraid of death, I just didn't want to die yet.

*

It was unusually quiet. The children weren't playing. The blacksmith wasn't hammering. All the people of Helgen had retreated into their homes. Just horse hooves and Imperial voices. I guess watching people getting their heads cut off isn't all it's cracked up to be.

We arrived at our destination. The prisoners all got off their carriages. I was in the last one. I hopped off and almost fell to my knees. We'd been sitting a while.

An imperial soldier was saying the names of all the prisoners one by one. This soldier calling names looked grim, almost like he didn't want to be part of a mass execution.

"Step to the block when we call your name."

"Ulfric Stormcloak,"

He walked forward.

"Ralof of Riverwood,"

He followed.

"Lokir of Rorikstead,"

Lokir, the thief, didn't want to die that day.

"No! I'm not a rebel, you can't do this!"

He started running.

"You're not going to kill me!"

"Archers!"

He took one arrow to the back and fell on his face.

"Anyone else feel like running?"

I certainly didn't.