The wind blew against her, causing hair to blow behind her. Her steps slowed as she took in her surroundings.
No matter what happened in the lands, nothing could weather the beauty that is Skyrim.
Inhaling deeply and closing her eyes, Hilda felt something lift in her soul, something she hadn't felt in a long, long time: the feeling of being home.
"Let go of me!"
The shouting that had erupted caused a shockwave through the silent Legion camp. Eager eyes of prisoners followed the imperials that had gone to see the commotion. A pair of eyes that followed along belonged to the infamous Jarl of Windhelm.
Ulfric Stormcloak, similar his men, sat bound, gagged, and humiliated.
Murder, they slandered, he murdered the High King.
Ulfric scoffed at the accusations. He, like any true Nord would, challenged Torygg. A fair match of a man's skills versus another man's, and he had won, Voice or not. And he would defend his lands until his last breath from any that would bow down to the puppet empire that ruled over them.
Skyrim needed it, he could say, but it doesn't mean that he, himself, didn't regret killing Torygg. He was a man, despite what the Empire spouted out.
Nearing shouts brought his attention back to the reality, his eyes raised to meet the group of soldiers entering the area.
When he saw what they were struggling with, Ulfric couldn't help but lose his train of thought.
Her hair was like fire, the strands flying about as she struggled against her captors. Her light eyes were like ice, cold and accusing towards the soldiers around her. Her armor, what was once shined steel, was dirty and scratched. Her sheaths were empty, the weapons most likely taken when she was captured.
The soldiers simply pushed her onto the ground in front of their commanding officer, who smirked at the new arrival. "Prisoner," he began in a dark voice, his dark eyes not hiding the satisfaction, "you were caught trying to cross the border from Cyrodiil in to Skyrim illegally."
"I was not!" She spat, "I had full permission to return to my homeland, as any other gods forsaken person on Nirn."
"Quiet, Nord!" He shouted.
The woman frowned, "I had the papers! The idiot who arrested me took them! I've committed no crimes."
The imperial was quiet for a moment before he sneered, "Take her belongings, bind her hands, and make sure she's ready for the cart with the others. She's most likely a bloody Stormcloak."
Ulfric scowled when the man simply dismissed her. Two soldiers, following orders, hauled the red head up by her arms and secured her as more soldiers came to the aid.
Despite the struggle, the Jarl didn't miss the smirk she wore as she threw her head back and proceeded to head-butt the approaching soldier.
The fiery Nord was quick to throw off the others that held her in ground and quickly knock a few unconscious with her steel-covered fists.
"Shor's bones…" A man voiced beside the Jarl. "She's wild."
The woman, who had fended off the first wave of attackers, looked up quickly with a scowl. "Gods damn you!" She shouted, throwing off her gauntlets and retook her defensive. Her brows furrowed and her palms seemed to turn red.
Flames.
A mage? Ulfric pondered, watching the woman as she began her new attack. Several imperials screamed as they met the flames head-on.
"She's a bloody mage!" A soldier cursed.
"No," the lone female in the captured group said softly. "She's not a mage. See how she keeps stopping her attacks?"
A few of the Stormcloaks nodded.
"She can't cast the spells long at all. She's no mage."
Ulfric's gaze didn't leave the redhead as she fought. Her steps were slower and her body seemed to shrink from the original stature of complete confidence.
The captain only hit her once with the blunt side of his sword, sending her plummeting to the ground.
Her head was low as she tried to stand again, but the captain's swift kick kept her grounded.
No, his green eyes widened as he watched her hand raise and her head lull.
"You win," she said weakly. "I submit."
The captain didn't move for a moment before he quickly clubbed her with the handle of his sword. He stood above her limp body for a moment before he motioned for the others. "Bind her legs as well," he simply said before retreating to his tent.
Ulfric and his soldiers watched as the woman was hauled over the shoulder of an Orc legionnaire and taken away.
The group of captives was silent as they waited for their return. Each seemed to be struck silent until one voiced their opinion on the treatment of the woman.
"No mercy," he spat, eyeing the captain's tent darkly.
"Don't you think it would have been the same with us? She's lucky she's not dead." Another laughed darkly, "She's blessed already."
"Not for long though," The first sighed. "Who knows what those damn fateless imperials have planned for us."
"Talos be with us." The lone woman mumbled and nodded in agreement.
The group went silent again as the Orc came back and deposited the new prisoner near the other prisoners. He quickly bent and tied her ankles together before he left the area, presumably to head to his own tent for the night.
The other prisoners soon began to mutter in hushed tones while Ulfric's gaze went to the unconscious woman.
The cut on her temple had stopped bleeding, but a fresh bruise was beginning to sprout around it. The blood on her face had been smeared and slightly cleaned off, but it remained. Her peaceful expression seemed to deny any of the struggles she had faced earlier.
Ulfric actually pitied her.
Here was a warrior returning home after a long journey, or so it seemed. She was innocent, he could tell. Her fight was to defend her own honor against the imperial fools.
They simply pinned her as one of his rebels.
There was one thing Ulfric knew one thing for certain: he'd be proud to have a woman like that fight for him.
Hilda let out a soft groan as she came to, quickly squinting her eyes from the bright sunlight. Her vision slowly adjusted as she slowly looked around.
"Ah, you're finally awake," a voice startled Hilda, wincing when she snapped her gaze back in front of her too see a blonde Nord. "You were caught trying to cross the border, yeah?"
She slowly nodded, her brows furrowed in a bit of suspicion, "Aye." After a moment, Hilda averted her eyes from the man in front of her, eyeing each of the other occupants until the one next to her.
The man seemed to be confident. He had an air to him that made any question of his status clear: he was above any. Hilda didn't even need to look at his clothes to know he was important. But it was odd seeing someone gagged.
Had he spoken out against the empire? The Thalmor?
His eyes met hers and her expression eased slightly.
"Ulfric? Jarl of Windhelm?" The voice droned on, but Hilda's eyes widened.
"You are Ulfric Stormcloak," she said softly. Her eyes softened and she turned to face the upcoming walls of Helgen. "Then it's already been settled for us."
The closer to the gates the wagon got, the more dread filled Hilda.
"What about you?"
Hilda looked to the blonde Nord across from her, "What?"
"Where are you from?" He repeated, a lost look began to overcome him expression.
The redhead smiled softly, "Windhelm." She said softly, "My family was from Windhelm." Her gaze went to her bound hands, "Not anymore though… it's all gone now."
Hilda closed her eyes and prayed to the divines until she felt the wagon jerk to a stop.
Divines, her eyes opened as she stood with the others and began to move forward. Names were being called and the group around her grew smaller and smaller.
"You," the Legionnaire looked to her, "who are you?"
Let me be with them once more.
"I am Hilda Stormborn of Eastmarch."
Firstly, I'd like to thank you for reading this fanfic. This is my first published Elder Scrolls piece, and to be honest, probably won't be my last. I've had this idea floating around in my head for a while and I've finally decided to type it out and do something with it.
Lineage is Hilda's story of becoming the hero that the Dragonborn should be, but also finding out how her family's past fits in to the modern events in Skyrim, but also with the empire itself. More of her past will be revealed as time goes on. Also, I'll mostly be focusing on the Main and Civil War quests, but I may mention a few more.
This story will mostly be centered around Ulfric and Hilda, the POV in this was mostly Ulfric's, but that won't always be the case.
Reviews and ideas are always welcome!
