Well, what can I say? This is my first attempt at Fanfiction. So feel free to either pity me, give me constructive criticism, or rip me a new one. Oh, and here is the disclaimer.
I Do Not Own The Elder Scrolls series. All Copyright material belongs to their respective owners. This goes on for every chapter as well.
So, I don't know what else to say except I hope you enjoy this first chapter.
The Elder Scrolls: Talis Winter-Blood
Chapter 1: Unbound
'The Empire really dose love their damn lists.' Talis thought as Hadvar was calling off the names of all the Stormcloaks that she was captured with.
"Lokir of Roarikstead." Hadvar called. He was trying to steal a horse and run to Hammerfell.
"No! I'm not a rebel!" The horse thief yelled. He then tried to make a break for the entrance of Helgen, where they were all taken. The Legion archers shoot him dead, not even making it past the Dragonfire Inn.
"Wait. You step forward." Talis did as she was bided. "Who are you?"
"Talis. Talis Winter-Blood." She responded. Talis was of average height for a Nord woman. She had a curvaceous figure and her breasts well endowed. Her long, black hair was flowing lose. Her eyes were black, the shade of ashes. She was dressed a prisoner's tunic, her armor and Steel Greatsword taken by the Imperials when she was captured. The only thing they didn't take was the Amulet of Talos around her neck. "I was heading to Windhelm to join the Stormcloaks."
Hadvar was looking for her name on the list. "In your situation, not many people would say something like that." He turned his head to his Imperial Captain. "Captain, what should we do? She's not on the list."
The Imperial Captain returned a glance. "Forget the list. She admitted she has the desire to join the rebels. She goes to the block."
"By your orders captain." Hadvar said. He turned to Talis. "I'm sorry. At least you'll die here, in your homeland."
Talis listened to General Tulius of the Imperial Legion chew out the Stormcloak leader, Ulfric Stormcloak. They all heard a strange roar.
"What was that? Did you hear it?" Hadvar asked his General.
"It's nothing. Carry on." The elderly Imperial commanded.
"Yes General Tulius." The Captain saluted. She turned to a priestess. "Give them their last right."
As the priestess was chanting, one of the Stormcloaks interrupted her. "For the love of Talos, shut up and let's get this over with." He walked towards the block.
"As you wish." The priestess said.
"C'mon. I haven't got all morning." The Captain placed her foot on his back and forced him down, his head now on the block. "My ancestors are smiling at me, Imperial. Can you say the same?" He asked moments before the headsman's ax took his head.
"He was as fearless in death as he was in life." The Stormcloak soldier standing next to Talis said.
"Next, the Nord in the rags!" The Imperial Captain called out. Everyone then heard something like the roar of a large animal. This was the second time it was heard.
"There it is again. Did you hear it?" Hadvar asked.
"I said next prisoner!" The Captain called out.
Talis stepped up to the block. She was pushed down onto the headstone. She looked up to the sky and saw something big, black, and coming closer to them. "Excuse me Executioner. You may want to look up." The giant black monster landed on the tower they were all standing, or in Talis' case kneeling, in front of. Talis could now see the eye color of the ancient creature, blood red.
"Dragon!" One of the Stormcloak soldiers shouted. The dragon roared and began his attack. Talis rolled away from the headstone, unnoticed by the Imperials but not by her kinsman.
"Kinsman, get up! The gods may not give us a second chance." The Stormcloak yelled.
Talis stood up. "Quickly, to the tower!" she yelled. The two Nords ran to the nearby tower next to Helgen's inn. Inside, they met up with other members of the Stormcloaks. Ulfric removed the cloth covering his mouth.
"Jarl Ulfric! Could the legends be true?" The soldier asked.
"Legends don't burn down villages." Jarl Ulfric said. "But first thing is first: We need to get out of here."
The Stormcloaks, Talis in tow, ran up the tower. The dragon smashed the stone wall halfway up the tower. "Against the wall!" Talis called out. Everyone leaned against the wall as the dragon breathed fire into the tower. After a moment, the dragon flew off. Talis looked out of the hole. She was within jumping distance of an opening of the roof of the Dragonfire Inn. "We could jump onto the Inn. I'm going on ahead."
"Good luck! If we fall short, meet us at the keep on the other side of the town!" The friendly Stormcloak told her.
Talis nodded and jumped. She rolled as landed inside the inn. Talis jumped through the holes in the floor and onto the ground. "Prisoner!" She heard. She turned and saw the Imperial soldier, Hadvar.
"Still alive, prisoner? Keep close to me if you want to stay that way." He told Talis.
"Weren't you guys about to kill me?" Talis asked
"You've been pardoned." Hadvar said. They continued to run across the quickly becoming ruins of Helgen, even rushing by General Tulius. When they were outside the keep, they ran across the Stormcloak.
"Ralof you damn traitor! Out of the way!" Hadvar yelled.
"We're escaping Hadvar. There is nothing you can do to stop us!" The Stormcloak Ralof answered. The dragon roared above them.
"Fine. I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovengarde." Hadvir said. "Let's go prisoner."
"Sorry. I'm escaping with my kin, not a servant to the Thalmor." Talis said. She ran up to Ralof as they entered the keep. Inside they noticed the body of a Stormcloak soldier. Ralof ran up to the body.
"We'll meet in Sovengarde, brother." He told the corpse of his comrade. He took a nearby knife and walked up to Talis, cutting off her bindings.
"About damn time." Talis said. She noticed Ralof was stripping the body of his armor and his War Ax.
"Here you might as well take Gunjir's gear. He won't need it anymore." Ralof said as he handed her the armor.
"Thank you." Talis said as she turned around to strip. Ralof turned around to avert his eyes. "You can look now." She was now dressed in the attire of the Stormcloaks. Talis took the ax and gave it a few swings. "I myself prefer Greatswords, but for now I guess this will do."
"Really, you like using two handed weapons too? I use a Warhammer in battle." He held out his hand. "Ralof of Riverwood." He finally introduced himself to Talis.
Talis took his hand and shook it. "Talis Winter-Blood of Whiterun." The two of them heard the clanking of heavy armor in the hallway. "The Imperials! We need to hide!" The newly formed duo hid on sides of the gate as the Imperial Captain and a soldier came by. They drew their axes and launched a surprise attack. Talis buried her War Ax in the Imperial Captain's skull. She looked over as Ralof struck the neck of the underling. Talis took a key from the captain's corpse. She also took the sword she was carrying. "Let's go."
The two of them traversed down the keep, slaying the Legion members and claiming any weapons they could carry, figuring they could sell them later. They continued until they came upon the torture chamber. They fought off of the Legionnaires and the Thalmor interrogators, joined by a male and female Stormcloak. Ralof turned to one of the Stormcloaks they just saved.
"Was Jarl Ulfric with you?"
"No, he wasn't. We haven't seen him since the Dragon showed up." The female said.
The other Stormcloak spoke. "Knowing Jarl Ulfric, he already found another way out."
"Ok, so let's assume Ulfric is alive. We should stay that way as well. Let's move." Talis said. They came across the cells.
"Hey! You Nords, please help me!"
Talis and Ralof looked in one of the cells. Inside was a Breton girl, shorter then Talis was but she could tell that the Breton was a bit older than she was. She had short red hair and bright green eyes. From what she was wearing, they could tell that she was a student from the College of Winterhold.
"Who are you Breton?" Ralof asked.
"Jullbelle Frenrose. I'm a student from the College." The Breton answered.
Talis was curious about her situation. "What's a student from the College doing here?"
Jullbelle was silent for a moment. "You're enemies are the Thalmor, correct? An agent of the Thalmor is manipulating the Arch-Mage and the College. When I questioned him, he had me arrested and thrown in this cell. I'm suppose to wait here until I'm shipped to the Embassy."
Talis stepped up to the cell and picked the lock. She opened the cell and let Jullbelle out. "I assume that you're a mage."
"I'm actually a Spellsword." Jullbelle corrected. "You wouldn't happen to have a sword on you, would you?"
Talis reached onto her belt and took one of the Imperial Swords she was carrying and gave it to Jullbelle. "Ok Jullbelle. Stick with us until we get out of Helgen." She held out her hand. "Talis Winter-Blood. This is Ralof of Riverwood." Jullbelle shook it and also shook Ralof's.
The group continued down the tunnel, slaying the Imperial Legion members that stood in their way. They were separated from the Stormcloaks they just joined after a cave in. They continued until Talis, taking the front, stopped and turned around.
"Where are you going?" Ralof asked.
"I'm going back and taking my chances with the dragon." Talis said.
"But the way back is shut." Ralof said. "What is up ahead?"
Talis was silent for a moment. "A Frostbite Spider den."
Ralof shivered. "I don't like them either. Too many eyes, you know."
"Leave this to me." Jullbelle said, drawing the sword Talis gave her. In her right hand, a small ball of fire magic formed. Jullbelle charged forward and took them on while Ralof and Talis provided Archery support from the back.
Talis breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you." Jullbelle smiled and nodded.
Talis shoot a bear as they walked by the final pathway on the way out. The three of them ran out of the cave's exit and into the wilderness of Skyrim.