Hi everyone! This is my newest fic! Hope you all like it! Leave me a review if I should write more :)

I could hear the faintest clop of horse hooves and the rustle of wind through trees in the distance. I awoke to a cold chill running throughout my body. The wind went straight through the thin cloth draped over my body that some would call clothing, and I couldn't help but shiver. The shake of the shiver reminded my body that I was not in the best condition. A constant headache rang through my ears and my wrists felt as if they were being set on fire. I looked down at the source of the pain to find my hands bound in a tight rope that had chaffed my skin, leaving red blotches. I winced at the sight and started to get hold of the reality of my situation. I looked around at the men next to me to realize they were bound, just like me.

"Hey you! You're finally awake," called a blonde Nord man in front of me. "You were trying to cross the border right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there." Imperial ambush? Memories started to flood my head faster than I wanted them too. I remembered I had been run at from all sides and then knocked out from behind, by what I do not know.

I glanced at the thief who was wearing the same garb I was. "Damn you Stormcloaks. Skyrim was fine untill you lot came around. Empire was nice and lazy," the thief retorted and looked off to the side.

I had heard little talk of the political situation in Skyrim untill now. The notion of a group called the 'Stormcloaks' was fairly new and many had no idea who they were back in Hammerfell. I lifted my head as I heard the thief mention something similar to what I was thinking, "If they hadn't been looking for you, I could be on a horse half way to Hammerfell by now". I can't help but feel sorry for the man, but at the same time I wish he would stop talking, his blabbering is making my headache much worse than needed. "You there - Me and you - We shouldn't be here, it's these Stormcloaks the empire wants!"

I choose not to reply. Somewhere in me I feel as if he is right. After all, I was simply trying to get to Riften so I could pay my respects to my father. His death had brought me much remorse, remorse that I hadn't felt since I first ran away. Now I couldn't even go to his funeral, so I couldn't help but agree with the thief across from me. A hot tear trickled down my cheek and made it's way to my dry lips. The salt reminded me of the warm beach coast of Hammerfell that I would give anything just to be back there right now. I don't deserve this.

"We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief," I look up at the kind Nord and realize that he doesn't deserve this either, no matter his back story.

"Shut up back there!" the Imperial guard yells back at us and I grimace at the Imperial driving the carriage while I pathetically look down at my hands. No one deserves this.

"What's wrong with him huh?" I turn and realize there is a burly man sitting next to me. His fur coat makes me feel warm just looking at it. I study his face for awhile and realize it looks incredibly familiar...

"Watch your tongue. You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King," said the blonde man across from me. Wide-eyed I stare at man known as Ulfric, the name sounding so familiar.

"Stormcloak..." escaped my mouth faster than I could stop it. The three men gave me confused looks but not enough to actually care.

The thief's faced dropped, "Ulfric? The Jarl of Windhelm? You're the leader of the rebellion. But if they've capture you... Oh gods, where are they taking us?" The worry played out on his face clear as day.

And then two things hit me. One, that this man, the Jarl, couldn't be the same one from my family's past, right? He looks so much younger, as if his hair hadn't aged a day. The 16 years I've been gone would have definitely caused him to age. Anger filled me just looking at him, but as I studied his features once more, and I realized that he was definitely not the same Jarl that had plagued my memories and caused my mother to leave on that fateful day.

"You a-are the son of Jarl Buurleif S-stormcloak?" The man looked at me strangely but made nothing close to a nod or shake of his head, just simply looked the other way. Memories flooded back and with all my might I tried to push them away, but to no avail.

"Mom don't leave! We need you!" I could barely recognize the face before me, partly because the tears that filled my eyes clouded my vision, but also, the woman I thought I knew would never leave this family behind. I was wrong. I watched my own mother pack up her things and walk out the door of our seemingly cozy Windhelm home.

I turned around and looked at my older brother, "Lof, please don't let her leave, please!" I screamed at him until I couldn't anymore. He just shook his head and hugged me. He hugged me until I fell into a deep sleep.

I shook my head, trying to rid the memory so it wouldn't be my last. Which brought me to my second realization. I was about to die. I was going to see my mother after 16 years, of whom I was not excited to reunite with in Sovngarde. She had caused me so much pain, and today, that pain would end.

The men across from me continued talking nervously, but I completely tuned them out. I kept looking at the man beside me, each time, a little bit more anger accompanying my glances.

We finally came to a stop and I cringed. We stood up slowly, waiting out our doom. The thief made a run for it and I knew he wouldn't make it. He got arrowed down and I couldn't help but feel even worse about the situation, which I didn't know was even possible.

I was the last to be called, "Wait you there. Step forward. Who are you?" I faltered for a second, but continued with a confidence I had never known I had.

"Winnifreid Goloff of Hamm-" I corrected myself, "Windhelm".

"You picked a bad time to come to come to Skyrim, kinsman." Oh gods, I think it might be the perfect time. "What should we do captain? She's not on the list."

"Forget the list, she goes to the block!" The harsh woman made me realize things sure have changed here since I left. What happened to my friendly Nord brothers and sisters? Did they leave with me 16 years ago?

The next few minutes of standing here waiting was all a blur. The cold no longer affected me, it was the farthest thing from my mind. I get to the block, layed my head on the freezing stone, and whispered "I'm ready", when suddenly, the blade is lifted from my neck and a terrifying roar comes from above. I lift my head as tears drop to the cold stone underneath me, and I hear screams surrounding me from all around.

What do you all think?