"No fair! I tripped!"

Hadvar scowled as Ralof keeled from laughing. He grinned and circled Hadvar on the ground, still chuckling.

"Your it! I win fair and square!"

"That's not how tag works!"

"Yes it is!"

They glared at each other for what seemed like minutes. Finally, both of them cracked up laughing. Ralof gave his hand to Hadvar to pull him to his feet. They were still laughing when they heard a voice in the distance.

"Ralof! Come on, you promised to hekp me with the chores!"

"Comming Gerdur!" Ralof started running towards thier mill but stopped. He turned back to Hadvar to smile and wave.

"See you around, friend!"

Hadvar, shocked, waved back tentatively. And just like that, Ralof was gone. He smiled to himself as he walked home, hoping to play with his friend again soon.

~4 Years Later~

Ralof sighed as he chopped another log of wood. The sun was begining to set and he still had a whole tree to finish cutting down. He wiped his forehead and glanced at Hadvar's house. They were all inside, enjoying a family dinner. Ralof felt a pang of jealousy as he continued to slave away over the wood. It was always like this, Ralof would work all day while Hadvar did what he pleased. He never had to work like Ralof did. His uncle provided food for him. Ralof had to scavenge for plants and hunt game for he and his sister. Hadvar didn't understand what it felt like to struggle. He didnt understand anything.

Ralof let out a cry of rage and threw the axe straight into the newly cut wood. He stormed off to the river, kicking rocks as he went. He cut this wood every day so that people like Hadvar could eat a hot dinner, and yet, he got no respect from him. Sometimes he wondered why he even concidered him to be a friend.

Ralof's thoughts were interupted by someone clearing their throats. He turned to see Hadvar smiling at him, and in his hands, was a plate covered in food.

"Oh... Is that for me?"

He took the plate, feeling guilty. He sat in the dirt as Hadvar retrieved the axe began cutting the rest of the wood.

"Hadvar, I'm sorry for being so cold. I'm just stressed out. Please forgive me."

Hadvar grinned and set the axe down. "Of course. That's what friends do."

~4 Years Later~

"You traitor! You could you turn your back on us?"

Ralof spat the words as Hadvar rolled his eyes, his new Imperial Legion armor shinning in the sun.

"I didn't betray anyone! The Legion is the only option for peace. Ulfric Stormcloak will only lead Skyrim to war!"

They shouted back and forth at each other, cursing. Hadvar was enraged by Ralof's attitude. To think thay he would actually side with the rebels.

"You'll regret this, after General Tullius ends this war!"

"Oh, to hell with you!"

Ralof raised his fist to strike Hadvar. Instead of backing off, Hadvar readied his sword. Gerdur stopped him just in time.

"Enough! This is ridiculous!"

She jumped between the two men, catching Ralof's hand. She tugged at him to go back inside. After one more glare, he followed her inside. He turned to Hadvar just before he shut the door.

"See you on the battlefield, 'Friend'"

Seconds later, he was gone, leaving Hadvar alone.

~Current Day~

The dragon roared overhead, burning Helgen to the ground. Hadvar dodged a collapsing beam, narrowly avoiding a gust of fire from the Dragon.

"This way, prisoner!"

The woman behind him followed, avoiding the debris with much more grace than him. To think that this started out as a typical execution. And now there was a dragon on the loose, destorying Helgen. Hadvar felt bad for the prisoner, to be executed without reason. He figured that the least he could do was lead her to safety.

As he rounded the corner, the prisoner on his heels, he ran straight into a Stormcloak soldier.

Ralof.

"It's you and me, prisoner. Stay close! Ralof! You damned traitor. Out of my way!"

Ralof met his eyes, glared, and turned towards the woman.

"We're escaping, Hadvar. You're not stopping us this time." He hissed. "You! Come on, into the keep!"

She hesitated, taking in her options. Hadvar wasn't surprised when she ran towards Ralof. She was just nearly killed by the Imperial Legion. Of course she didn't trust him, but it was still rough.

"Fine. I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovngarde."

And just like that, the prisoner was gone. Ralof turned back to Hadvar, a grim expression across his face.

"Goodbye... Friend."