Disclaimer: I don't own The Elder Scrolls Skyrim.
This story does not follow the exact storyline as in The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim
The journey was long and drawn out, they would stop at every inn and listen to the Imperial bastards drink their rotten mead, while the prisoners were confined to the hard, wooden carriage that made their bottoms numb.
They were prisoners. Scheduled to meet the black-hooded axe-man by the end of the week. There were four of them. Two Stormcloak soldiers and one petty thief. They had gotten to know one another. Ralof of Riverwood, Lokir of Roirkstead, Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm and Rayn of Markarth. They had exchanged some words and strained glances. They had been on the carriage for days now. They had traveled from the Imperial border all the way to Helgen. The days were cold and blustery and the nights were even worse. The only food they had were a loaf of bread and some stale Alto wine.
When the carriage finally stopped she was sure they would be set free. Ulfric, Ralof and Lokir were called. When Lokir was called he cried out he was innocent and tried to escape, but only to be shot down by a piercing arrow in the back.
"Rayn of Markarth." The dark skinned officer called out from a short list.
Rayn swallowed nervously, She didn't want to die. She had parents back in Markarth that needed money. She certainly didn't want to leave them to rot in the Warrens. They deserved better.
She had been wearing a tanned hood that covered her face. Since she was stationed to be executed they needed to see her face.
"Fin, the hood!" The woman shouted as she held onto the list tighter.
The guard, known as Fin came over and unlaced Rayn's hood from behind, slowly removing it from her face. He was gentle, making sure her hair didn't get caught. It was surprising, most Imperials she had came by were rough and deliberately hurt her for a laugh.
Once her hood had been removed, she heard a gasp from two guards. She knew, most people did that. Rayn's face was a smooth tanned colour, her hair was a long chocolate brown and her eyes were a burning red colour. She looked like a vampire. Infact, many people thought that she had contracted the disease and had not fed from a human in quite some time. They were wrong. They weren't gasping in fear or disgust. They were gasping in shock. Rayn was beautiful. She just couldn't understand why. She looked ordinary. Until she opened her eyes of course.
Fin swallowed shocked, he blinked a couple of times and took a step back slowly, handing the woman Rayn's hood. She looked startled too. Rayn's beauty shocked everyone there, Ralof seemed to be staring, eyeing her slim, small figure up and down.
One guard walked over and smacked him across the back of the head "Stupid Stormcloak. Always thinking about himself. Don't worry you'll get something where your going. Hairy Khajiit and blue Elf." He said and the rest of the guards seemed to laugh too. Ralof sneered at them.
"Imperial scum." He muttered as he closed his eyes. Rayn blushed slightly turning her head looking away from the laughing men. She was embarrassed for Ralof. He seemed so nice.
"Don't worry, you will get something too" The guard said as Rayn turned her head to look at him, he and the rest of the guards had this sickening look in their eyes. She knew what he meant. Now she was afraid. Definitely afraid of what would happen to her body after she was dead.
The woman in charge seemed to be enjoying it. Watching as the men grabbed Rayn by the back of the neck and lead her over to the chopping block.
"Goodbye Ralof, Ulfric" Rayn mouthed, not saying anything.
Just as the executioner held back the axe to chop her head there was a big roar and a gust of wind. "What was that?" The woman shouted as a big winged beast swooped down on a guard tower.
'Dragon!" A woman in black cloaks shouted as she conjured up a big storm atronach infront of her and her associates.
The guards were busy and the executioner seemed to have fled. This was their chance.
"Rayn!" Ralof called as he and Ulfric dashed inside a burning tower. Rayn stumbeled to her feet, her binded hands not able to pick up a sword that had fallen from a dead guards hand. She raced over to the tower, closing the door behind her. Ralof picked up a dagger and cut away at the bindings on her hand. Rayn smiled gratefully.
"Lets go" Ulfric said once his bindings had been cut. He picked up a long steel sword and handed it to Rayn. "There we go, a nice strong sword for a strong girl." He said as Rayn sheathed the sword in the leather that accompanied it. She nodded in approval.
Once they descended farther into the under passage in the tower the trembles of the stone walls around them made Rayn frightened. She could hear the 'dragon' outside, hear its scream as it blasted its bright fire at the Imperials. Good thing. Maybe this dragon was not so bad after all. For a moment she could almost make out words in some different language from the dragon. Strange, Rayn thought.
They had to battle their way through Imperials to get to an open passage with Stormcloaks hidden under the rocks. They ambushed the Imperials right as they entered the room. Ulfric seemed to teach the young solders good skills.
"It's been a pleasure Ralof, Rayn." Ulfric said as he patted Ralof hard on the back.
"And you, Jarl Ulfric, true High Kind of Skyrim." Ralof said in a tone that showed true loyalty. Rayn could see him and Ulfric were close.
Rayn smiled softly, her cheeks turning a rosy red colour, she was never one to talk. She preferred actions.
Ulfric found it strange and Ralof found it quite intriguing.
Once Ulfric and the soldiers had departed from Rayn and Ralof it was suddenly quiet.
"Well..." Ralof began, breaking the awkward silence between them "I already know your name. How about your age?" He asked turning towards Rayn with a cocky smile spread across his red lips.
Rayn swallowed nervously, she glanced down at the moss covered stones and back up at him.
"Why do you not speak?" Ralof asked curiously "Can't you talk? I mean a true Nord warrior knows how to talk..." He began
Rayn rolled her eyes, she had heard how prejudice the Stormcloaks were, assuming that Nords were perfect. Ralof had seen the eye roll.
"Don't roll your eyes up to Sovngarde. Ysgramor looks down on you." Ralof said, he sounded as if he was enjoying this. "Every woman knows how to talk. Or are you really a spriggan..." He began trailing off "Or maybe your... Lady Nocturnal trying to seduce me.." He said with a childish tone to his voice "Who knows." He smirked.
Rayn let out a soft groan of annoyance "Oh shut up." She muttered loud enough for him to hear.
Ralof instantly grinned at her musical voice "Hmm.. that voice.. sounds just like the woman out of my dreams last night. Funny." He said and chuckled softly.
They had both been walking for atleast an hour now, all the way up through the cold cavern. They hadn't said anything else. Rayn had been shivering and Ralof noticed, he offered her his armour a couple of times but she refused. All she had on was a belted tunic and sandals but it was enough to keep her alive.
At last Rayn saw a trail of bright light coming up from an opening in the cavern and the smell of clean foliage.
"At last" Ralof said, "We're free."
I don't know if my first chapter was alright, It is my first fanfiction and I do Foundation Level English in school so I apologize if my English isn't very good. Please comment. Thanks.