I was sitting on a wagon. A few trailed behind, and before. I was seated with three others. All men. The man beside me was slightly sobbing, and trying to wipe his tears on his long, black hair. The two men across from me, were arguing. One had blond hair, and a small beard, while the second had brown hair, and sharp eyebrows. Terror showed on my face. I was sure of it. I wasn't just on a short ride, from one city, to another. I was being driven to my end. These carriages were being driven to Helgan, where we were to be executed for whatever crime we had payed. I shouldn't have been there. All I did was protect my sister from certain death. I saved her from being murdered, in cold blood. But, that's not how it seemed. I came from a wealthy Breton family, who arrived in Whiterun, from Solitude. I had an older sister, and brother, two younger sisters, and a single younger brother. Five siblings, not counting me. Faeella, Sha'zeen, Me, Ancha-Roy, Junya, and Drano. That was our family in order. I was the third oldest, and the second girl. I looked around. They had replaced my fancy clothes, with plain, wraps on my feet, and a pair of badly crafted, shirt, and leggings. My wrists were rubbing together, by tough bindings. The wagon shook, on the bumpy rode, nearly tossing me off every once in a while. I stared at the guard, bringing us to our deaths. He didn't really seem to care. It was his duty, and he knew he'd get payed for this. Most guards were lazy bastards. Just walking around towns, not caring if the town would get attacked by deadras, or draugrs. As long as it wouldn't take from their pay. The carriage halted, tossing me forward. The guard stepped down, and brought us each to the ground.
"Hurry up, killer!" He shoved me.
"A nickname. And a clever one at that." I smirked, silently.
I spoke quietly enough, so he couldn't hear. I did not need a broken jaw, before my execution. My legs were tired, and beaten. It was difficult to keep sturdy. I made sure to keep close to the others, or else the guards might think I'm trying to run away. But, little did many know, I'd rather be be-headed, than shot in the head, for cowardice. Neither were favoured, though. They had us all line up, and a man, with a fancy cloak listed of our names. As each name was called, a live was lost. A man came up, I couldn't understand his name. Once he got close, he tried to escape. But, as soon as he arrived on the exit road, a archer woman shot his lower neck, killing him instantly.
"As you see, it's not simple to escape Helgan! You can take your pick, which way you choose to die!" The lister smiled, viciously. I gritted my teeth, and stared at the man's corpse. He could have had a family. A wife, or children, or no one. I wasn't sure of what he did, or if he even deserved a death like that. But, I knew that no one here gave a damn.
"Madeline Vergiole!" The man announced.
"Damn." I cursed under my breath.
My turn.
"Here." I stepped forward, scared.
"So, it's true. I didn't know someone from your family would end up here. They don't even visit for simple trips." The man laughed."It appears it's your time to shine!"
A tough guard, shoved me towards the wooden stand. My head was wedged between two planks of wood. All I could see from that angle was a bloodied basket, where my head would be lying for a while, unit it was tossed out. The sound of an axe scraping the cobble, had ended. The hatchet was in the air, most likely over my neck. My tears soaked with the watery blood in the basket, and the tips of my blond hair. Then, a loud, growling noise sounded. "Help! A dragon!" One woman screamed.
"Run for your lives! It's burning the town!" A man yelled.
Screaming, and fire sounded around me. I pushed myself up, with my legs, and stared at the sky. Rushing smoke, surrounded the entire town. Tall fire rose from each building. Between them all, was a large, blue shaded dragon. It's scales were tough, and it's eyes were reflecting the orange smoke. I ran through the ruins of buildings, careful not to touch the flames. Then, a man called me. "Hey! Come with me if your want to live!" He yelled.
I ran as fast as I could, hoping he'd actually help me, and not because I was a Vergiole, and he expected a reward. I caught up to him, and he led me to the guards tower. Two guards were stationed inside.
"Hey! You can't be here!" One yelled.
The two were obviously undertrained, since they were easy to defeat. I slammed my foot, to the guard's ankles, and tripped him. I grabbed his sword, and stabbed through the top of his back. I was taught that if you're being attacked, it's either you, or them. There's no way you can both win. My current clothes were very unproductive, so I grabbed the armour off of the slain guard. My companion had also killed the other guard."Good job."
"I'm Ralof. Pleasant meeting you." He gripped his sword.
"Likewise. As you probably heard, I'm Madeline." I stared at the open door.
We nodded at each other, and carried on our task.
We had to defend ourselves a few more times, before reaching a sleeping bear, in the caves.
"We have to stay silent." Ralof whispered."I don't know if you're any good at sneaking or not, but it's worth a shot."
I tried to creep by, but failed, and I awoke the hibernating bear. It was very powerful, and nearly killed me. Imperial armour wasn't very useful in battles with wild animals. After we had killed it, we needed to rest for a moment. The bear had slashed my arm quite brutally. "For the record, I'm not good at stealth." I panted."Why were you to be executed?"
"Stormcloack. Are you a Stormcloak, or Imperial?" Ralof told me.
"Neither. I never went anywhere. Neither appeals to me." I confessed.
Ralof pondered."So you're in the middle? Why were you sent here?"
I sighed."For killing and "innocent" man." "Why do you say innocent like that?" He asked.
I had no reason to hide much. Many towns knew about me, and my family.
Three months before, I had been reading a book outside my home. It was about Dragonborns. I had read it twice, already. I wore a brown dress, with wavy sleeves. My family had been away all day, except for me, and my younger sister Junya. She was inside. While in the kitchen, a man snuck in through the back. My sister hadn't noticed him, until he accidentally tripped.
"Excuse me-" My sister began saying.
"Listen. If you scream, I will cut your throat. So shut up!" He angered."Now get all of your jewelry, and Septim, or else."
A dagger glistened in his right hand, clearly sharpened. My sister pointed at a table in the next room. A small wooden box, sat against the wall. She waited until he had passed to the room.
"Mom! Dad! Madeline! Help!" She yelled.
The man turned his head."What did I say!?"
He charged at my sister, with the blade, risen up. He tried striking her head, but only scarred her arm. As he got closer, she grabbed his wrist with her other hand, pushing it back. I had heard her scream previously, and I set down my book, and turned around to look through the window frame. A long dresser was below the window. I opened up the first drawer, and moved a few item aside. Under some cluttered items, I grabbed a hunting bow, I had stored there, along with an orcish arrow. I placed the arrow between the string and handle, and pulled back. I made sure to aim higher than my target because of the arch. The arrow flew past me, and planted in the back of the man's head. He collapsed to the ground, with cold skin. I leaped through the frame, and ran to my kitchen. I hugged my little sister, happy that she was still alive. The expression of shock, still showered her face. "I'm so happy you're alive." I was on the edge of crying. That's when the guards arrived.