Seeing in Darkness
Nords get worried when a blind man begins swinging about a sword. They get really nervous when that blind man begins throwing lighting and fire about him. But Armandur isn't one to sit at home rapped in a blanket in front of the fireplace, not when there adventures for glory and honour to be found. But the dragons have returned and Skyrim is in need of a hero to save it. Armandur is the Dragonborn, and has to fight flying dragons. A difficult process for a man who can't see, but he's Skyrim only hope.
"Who are you?" the Imperial solider asked with a confused tone. The Nord standing before was only a finger length taller than the imperials. But through the rags thick ripping muscle showed. His hair was the typical golden blonde that was combed back over his head and braided. Lines of blood-red war paint crossed his eyes in an 'x'. This made his milky white eyes standout in an eerie way.
"Armandur Thorirsson,"
"You picked a bad time to come home kin's man. Captain what do we do? He's not on the list, and he's also . . . Blind," the Imperial solider replied sheepishly. Armandur sighed inwardly, people always got awkward when they knew about his disability. But he got no sympathy from the hard imperial woman who ordered him to be executed with the other criminals.
"I'm sorry at least you'll die here in your homeland," the Imperial solider replied trying to be sympathetic. "Follow the captain prisoner, "a rough hand grabbed him and moved Armandur toward the group standing before the execution block.
Armandur stood rigid, his head was still ringing from being hit from behind and could still feel the blood crusting in his hair. He was still figuring out what was going on. He was trying to make his way home after being away fighting. He used his gift with magic to weave a spell that allowed him to detect life and allowed him to sense the world around him. Travelling while blind is difficult enough, but with bandits and thieves on the road, Armandur decided it was best that he tracks through the woods. He had taken a break by a rock as a group of men passed him. Suddenly there were sounds of fighting and Armandur had tried to leave quietly. Then he was hit from behind, probably with a rock because he hadn't sensed anyone.
He had awakened to the rocking motion of a wagon and felt his hand bound before him. The kind voice of a man spoke to him about an ambush, and Ulfric Stormcloak. Had he heard right? Then he was caught in an incident between the Stromcloaks and the Imperials.
"Ulfric Stormcloak, some people in Helgen call you a hero. But a hero doesn't use his voice to murder his king and usurp his throne. You started this war, flung Skyrim into chaos. Now the Empire is going to put you down and restore the peace," an Imperial declared with authority. Suddenly a distant roar echoed through Helgen startling Armandur. Armandur had never heard anything like it and he shut his eyelids to it wouldn't be noticed when he used his spell. He sensed only the large crowd of people in Helgen, but something still didn't feel right.
All around him people shouted and argued. This wasn't good at all. He was going to be killed regardless of his loyalties. The last rites were being said as a too eager or foolish man stepped up to the execution block demanding them to get it over with. Armandur flinched as he heard the sound an ax cutting through flesh before hit the wood of the choking block.
"Next the Nord in the rags," the harsh woman called, and Armandur hoped she wasn't talking about him. Then the roar echoed again sending a chill down his spine.
"I said next prisoner!"
"To the block prisoner, nice and easy," the gentle voice of the imperial said. Armandur bound hands were tugged forward as he was moved to the block and forced to sit and lie his had on the still wet wood. Armandur heart thudded in his chest he could feel the killing intent of the executioner loam over him. Armandur true to his stubborn Nord nature, clenched his teeth and began a spell to blow them all away. He refusing to die for no reason.
Then the roar sounded closer and a man cried out, "What in Oblivion is that?" The ground shock and Armandur activated his life sensing spell. He found him being stared at by the largest being he had ever sensed, a dragon. It mere presence was enormous, brimming with life and power. The dragon roared but not a normal roar, but a call of magic and power. It caused the world to swirl around Armandur and knocked him of his feet.
That was when the world fell into chaos.
"Hey kinsmen, get up! Come on, the Gods won't give us another chance!" Armandur heard the kind Nord voice calling him. In desperate dash Armandur ran toward his voice tripping slightly as the ground shock with impact. He ran into the door frame and gentle hands pulled him into the shelter of a building. The door shut behind him muffling the sounds of chaos from outside.
"Jarl Ulfric, what is that thing? Could the legends be true?" asked the kind Nord.
"What did he say his name was? Ralof . . . I think," Armandur thought as he tried to catch his breath.
"Legends don't burn down villages," replied Ulfric. Armandur was surprised how calm he sounded, and his voice alone commanded authority.
"We need to move now!" Ulfric commanded, "Up through the tower!" He heard the men around him rush up the stair beside him. Armandur took a second to begin his life detecting spell again and get a bearing on his environment. When he did follow the man, he assumed was Ralof up the stairs the walls of the towers blew in.
"Get back!" Armandur knelt on the stairs staring in horror as the dragon flame scorched the two men that had gone up the stairs before him. The glows of their life light were consumed by the dragon's fire. As suddenly as the dragon had appeared, it leaped off the tower into the air.
Ralof peered through the opening the dragon made and said "See the inn on the other side? Jump through the roof and keep going."
"No I can't see the inn," Armandur though darkly. But unable to think of any other solution, Armandur made a leap of faith and thanked the Gods when his feet hit wood. The smell of smoke filled his nose and he could taste soot in the air. The inn was on fire, but then again what wasn't? He sensed an opening in the floor and jumped down. He got out the burning building as fast as he could. In the clearing he could hear the orders of an imperial as he gathered survivors around him. Armandur headed toward the group that he sensed were a child and an older man.
Then he sensed the dragon again as it landed and scorched the area before taking off again.
He felt the imperial grab his arm, "Still alive prisoner? Stick close to me if you stay that way!" Armandur didn't argue with him, tracking the dragon as it circles Helgen looking for a new target. The imperial named Hadvar, nearly pulled him off his feet when he went charging off. Armandur followed close behind and noticed the dragon coming down again.
"Stay close to the wall!", Hadvar ordered, and Armandur didn't need to be told twice as the dragon landed on the wall, it wing just inches from his face. The dragon fire was so close he could feel it heat on his face and the smell of brimstone filled his nostrils.
"Quickly follow me," Hadvar grabbed his arm again and Armandur was forced to trail behind tripping on bodies. Not that he didn't appreciate that the imperial was kind enough to care for the blind and tied up prisoner, but it was inconvenient to be dragged around. Armandur felt the magical energies of the mages as the imperial fought the dragon. Hadvar continued to drag him away as he was ordered into the keep.
"Ralof! You traitor! Out of my way," cried Hadvar as he let go of Armandur's arm.
"We're escaping, Halvar. Your not stopping us this time," replied Ralof.
"Fine, I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovngarde."
Armandur was in increasing terror as the dragon drove right over the two arguing men, taking a guard right off the wall and dropping him from a hundred of feet in the air. Armandur watched in horror as the distant light winked out and yelled, "Is this really the time and place for this?"
Ralof ran into the keep calling, "You! Come on into the keep!"
Hadvar charged off toward another door, ordering "With me, prisoner."
Not willing to become a prisoner again he followed Ralof into the keep. Armandur found Ralof kneeling next to a corpse, morning his comrade. Armandur could sense that the last remaining spark if life lingering on the man.
"Looks like we're the only ones that made it," Ralof began to talk and nervously about the dragon. But Armandur was just glad he could finely take a breath, and thought, "At least I can take a moment before the end of the world." That thought didn't sit well with Armandur, but he didn't have time to dwell on it.
"We need to get moving. Come here. Let me see if I can get those bindings off you," he said and Armandur felt him cut his bindings. He thanked Ralof, rubbing his sore wrists as he had been straining against them this entire time. Ralof instructed him to take the armour of his fallen comrade. It took a couple of moments but he managed to feel his way to the corpse and struggled to find the clasps.
"What are you doing? Hurry," Ralof urged, "Someone's coming,"
Armandur heard the voices and footsteps and decided to leave the body. He grabbed the axe and hid by the door with Ralof.
"What are you..."Ralof didn't have anytime to say anything else because the Imperials had reached the gate. As soon as, the imperials were through the gate Armandur torched them. The imperial's Ralof ended them with a few quick strikes.
"Maybe one of these imperil's has the key," Ralof said turning to search the other body. Armandur hesitated long enough for Ralof to take notice?
"What is it?" asked Ralof. Armandur shock his head then mutely nelt down and felt the body for a key hoping to find it on the imperial's belt.
Then he felt Ralof kneel beside him, saying, "The key is right here. Wait. . . are you blind?" He could feel Ralof eyes studying him, and he wish he wouldn't. Now he would cuddle him, and they couldn't afore that. So Armandur stood up and went to the gate.
"If we have the key them lets press forward before the dragon destroyes this place as well," Armandur said boldly.
"Lets go," Ralof said as he put the key in the gate and sung it open with a loud creak.