The Widow Storm
Chapter 1: Absconder
Slowly I opened my eyes to find the gray sky above me blanketing the ground with more snow. The ice and snow I found myself laying in was already doing a great job of numbing my aching body. I let out a small groan and turned my head to the side in an attempt to grasp where I was and what happened. The last thing I can fully recall is crossing the border into Skyrim from Cyrodiil. I was running, Gods how I ran from the horrors back in Bruma. Bruma was once a happy home as a little girl. I grew up there with my Ma and Da. My eyes began to sting with tears threatening to fall when a hand covered my mouth and I heard a rough voice thick with a Nordic accent whisper to me.
"Don't...move. The Imperials like to finish off those who aren't yet dead." I stealthily craned my neck to get a view, Imperials? Could I have stumbled into a fight with the Dominion? No that war was over before I was even born. Panic rose in my chest when I saw a group of Imperial soldiers spearing through the chest of the men and women on the ground who dared move or call out for help. I turned my head back to the man. He was in the snow about two feet away from me, blood splattered on his face and into he blond hair. I couldn't tell if it was his or his enemies but he seemed well enough and at least conscious. The look of sheer terror must have been evident on my face as he pursed his lips in a shushing movement and whispered again.
"They're coming toward us. Stay still and try to hold your breath when they get here." Hold my breath? I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. He looked up and made a small cloud in the sky when the warm air from his mouth met the cold air around us. It made sense now, all they had to see what your breath hit the air to know you were alive. The ice cracked under the soldiers feet as the drew closer I closed my eyes and began silent prayers to Stendarr for his divine mercy, hadn't I been through enough? At that thought my wrists began to ache with the sensation of the iron cuffs weighing them down again. No no I can't let that cloud my head now. Finally I heard footfalls come to about five feet away. I tried to relax my facial expressions but my heart raced in my chest like stampeding horses. My silent prayers to the gods grew more frantic in my head. A boot landed next to my head catching in my hair. I had to bite down on my tongue to keep from crying out in pain.
"Aye, this is a pretty." Imperial accent, shocking, he ran a hand down my face. "She's still warm too!" The tone of his voice made my stomach lurch. His hand slid down to my chest causing my eyes to pop open and unintentionally I let out a gasp. "Oh hello, she's alive!" I sobbed, I couldn't hold back anymore I knew what he, as a man, wanted next. I was unprepared for to see that instead the blond soldier in blue at my side launched himself at the Imperial groping me and fought him to the ground. Two more Imperial soldiers rushed at him and soon the blond was being held back by his arms. The soldier he attacked walked toward him and punched him hard in the mouth.
"You damn Stormcloaks, we wouldn't even be here were it not for your 'rebellion'. Tell me, does it appeal to your Nordic pride to play hero to some bitch in the snow?" The blond spit some blood at the other man, " I just didn't realize a big strong man like you only got the touch of a woman when he took advantage of poor injured girls in the snow. Imperial bastards." This clearly angered the group and the Imperial unsheathed his sword ready to strike.
"WAIT! Everyone stop! We found Ulfric and he is alive!" Yet another Imperial came running in from somewhere down the field."Tulius wants him and whoever else is still alive taken to Helgen as prisoners.". The sensation of relief overcame me and I fell back into unconsciousness. The last thing I heard was the thud of someone dropping next to me and soothing words being whispered to me though I recall not what they were.
I came to for the second time today sitting in a wagon. I tried to wipe my eyes but soon discovered my hands to be bound in my lap. Panic set in as I writhed with my arms to try breaking free. I could almost imagine the stone walls again, the smell of the wood burning in the stove, and most hauntingly the humming of that stupid made up song of his, "Lovely Lovelia.".
"Hey, you're awake!" The voice broke my visions and I looked forward with tears streaming down my face to find the blond man from the field looking back at me. "I was beginning to think you'd sleep forever there. I'm sorry you have been caught up in our mess when you crossed the border. You are no Stormcloak, are you?" His voice sounded much better than when we lay in the field, maybe because he doesn't need to whisper anymore. Who were these "Stormcloaks" I keep hearing about? They seem to be causing a lot of trouble for the Empire to be after them. For the first time today, and in many weeks I spoke. " No. I am Lovelia Storm, of Bruma. I don't even know who you 'Stormcloaks' are nor do I care. So far all you have done for me in interrupt my search for a peaceful life in Skyrim." I wasn't sure why I told him who I was or where I'm from much less why I am still claiming the name Storm, I suppose I just can't remember my name before him. What I was sure is how angry I was. All that I had just fought for was over now because of these rebels. I looked to my right to see the other prisoners. My long red hair was all gathered over my right shoulder but what I could find through my tangled mass of hair was an older man in fine robes and jewelry. He also had red hair, though much lighter than mine, and while his hands were bound like us he also had been gagged. "Who is he?" I found my self thinking out loud and the man looked at me.
"Show some respect!" The blond man spoke firmly, "That is Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak, true High King of Skyrim and leader of our cause. I am Ralof, of Riverwood." He looked as though he had more to add but what to people who are most likely on they way to their deaths talk about? I leaned forward and rested my head in my hands. I cried, with anger, and with sorrow. I would never truly know peace in my life. After all these years that was my one true wish. I heard Ralof in front of me shift in his seat. I looked back up to see him lean against the back of the wagon with his head hanging over the edge looking up. "I just wanted freedom." He mumbled. He sat back him when he noticed me staring, "I just wanted to live in my homeland and make decisions for myself, to worship what god I choose, and not be dragged down by a crumbling empire unable to care for itself." He lulled his head to the side at Ulfric who gave a solemn nod. Maybe these Stormcloaks have more in common than I thought. I caught Ralof's eyes one more time, my tears had dried but he seemed to have been shedding his own now. "If for some reason they decide not to execute us, I would like to hear more of your cause."
Hello and thank you for reading! This is my first ever fanfic post and first story I've written in a very long time. Having said that I'm sure I'm a bit rusty and any constructive feed back is welcome! This story will follow along plot points of the game but won't happen exactly because I don't come here to read that I'm sure you all don't either. I may skip over a detailed account of Helgen but if that is something everyone would like to see I'll do it! :)