A Stormcloak Affair
Part 1
I, Aine awake chained and bound on a carriage with a few other men and have no memory of getting here. Who are these men and where are they taking us? I gaze over the other prisoners, two Nords strike my attention. A younger man named Ralof and a mature seasoned warrior gagged known as Ulfric Stormcloak. Apparently he murdered the High King with only his voice. That can't be possible, can it? There is something about him which I cannot get my finger on. The others are chatting as we await our executions. Ralof mentions he used to be sweet on a girl here who would add juniper berries to the mead. We stop in a small village named Helgen. The day is clear and there is a warm breeze in the air. Perhaps spring is upon us.
Upon exiting the carriage there are imperial soldiers and an Altmer. The sight of this Altmer causes me great distress. Why do I have the feeling I've dealt with them before? The first is beheaded then they come to me, but I am not on this list. There must be a mistake. How is this possible? Suddenly there is loud burst in the sky and then another until… There it is a dragon and it is attacking the village but what should I do? There are flames everywhere. Quickly, I must make a decision and I need to find a way out. I want to live. Ralof grabs my arm and tells me to follow him. We enter the tower and he cuts me lose. I am to find anything that can be used as a weapon. The Imperials surround us. I grab a weapon and start working my way through the chaos. We enter a cave under the village. This must be our escape. We crouch our way through trying not to alarm the nearby wildlife. There Ralof informs me we are in the middle of a civil war. The Thalmar want to remove our right to worship Talos and anyone who refuses to renounce their god is to be killed. That can't be right. Where did I end up?
Ralof takes me to Riverwood where I am offered a warm bath, some hot stew and a bed for the night. His sister is quite hospitable, but I know I cannot stay for long. On my way to Whiterun I stumble upon a small cabin with an elderly woman, named Anise. She seems lonely. I am allowed to stay with her for a bit as long as I don't snoop. I know her secret, she is a witch. I see her go into the cellar at night. She dabbles in alchemy and enchantments. But I don't care. She can keep her secret. Before leaving for Whiterun, I gather Anise a few herbs and thank her hospitality.
I enter Whiterun and see its poverty. There are people living within the walls homeless. A young girl named Lucia comes up to me and asks for some money. I don't have much at the moment but I can give her some food for which she is grateful. I ask Lucia why she is homeless. She tells me her parents passed away and that her aunt just took over the farm but had no interest in her. I feel a tear wanting to form.
Later that day I went to the Bannered Mare and asked for a room. Hulda asked how long I plan on staying and I respond, "a week for now". I provide her with the fee and then I proceeded to my room. That evening I see Lucia sweeping the Bannered Mare. I approach her and ask if she lives here. She tells me she can only stay for part of the night and has to leave before they start making breakfast. I tell her she is welcome to share my room while I'll be staying in Whiterun. She thanks me and comes to my room when she's finished with her chores. The bed might be small but it better than sleeping in the cold.
The next morning I make my way to Dragonsreach. I am greeting by a man lounging in his throne. "Were all Jarls like this?", Aine thought to herself. Jarl Balgruuf the Greater informs me there is a dragon attaching one of the watchtowers. I tell the Jarl that I escaped Helgen. He requests that I assist the guards in slaying the Dragon. I arrive at the Watchtower to see the guards of Whiterun only to see them struggling with the dragon. He is an enormous beast. Where did he come from? I am terrified. I can feel his fiery breath as I climb the watchtower. I grab my bow and release an arrow into his eye. We are able to slay the dragon. I walk towards its corpse and something strange happens. I absorb part of him. What does this mean? The guard sees this in awe and tells me I must be the "Dragonborn", but I do not know what that means.
I return to Dragonsreach informing the Jarl of our victory. The guard tells him I absorb its soul and that I must be the Dragonborn. Jarl Balgruuf names me Thane of Whiterun. I thank him and ask if he is aware of his towns homeless. He has heard about the drunk but that seemed to have been it. I ask him if it would be possible to give Lucia a home. "If you find someone to adopt her, she'll have a home. No child in Whiterun should have to sleep in the cold.", said the Jarl. I was given the option of buying Breezehome but unfortunately I didn't have enough coin. I would've gladly adopted her however I cannot be a mother to her without money or shelter.
I left Dragonsreach with a heavy heart. Near the town's gates were several Alik'r looking for a Redguard woman. They offer me money in exchange for her. I remember seeing a Redguard woman working in the Bannered Mare. So I went there and spoke to Saadia. She was indeed a Redguard, but what did they want from her? She tells me she once spoke out against the Aldmeri Dominion while she was in Hammerfell. I asked Saafia if she knew Lucia, and she replied, "Of course I know her, she is very helpful around here." I asked Saafia if she would look after Lucia and give her a home if I took care of the Alik'r. She agreed and proceeded to Swindler's Den. I took out all the Alik'r there and found Kematu in the back. We had a small discussion and then I stabbed him with a poisoned dagger where he died instantly.
I returned to Whiterun and the Bannered Mare after dark. I found Saafia serving mead and Lucia sweeping the floors. I pull Saadia aside and inform her Kematu will no longer be a problem. She embraces me and tells me Lucia will always have a home with her. I went to my rented room, laid awake and my thoughts always returned to Ulfric Stormcloak. I wondered if he ever made it out Helgen alive.