Chapter 1: I almost lose my head
(EDIT: Better space-ing :D)
"Damn you stupid rock." I scold the piece of pointy stone I just tripped over. It doesn't reply. Cursing under my breath, I look at my bloodied hands. Carefully I try the healing spell mom taught me a few years ago. A tiny golden flame flickers to life in my palms, soothing the pain a bit. After a few seconds it dies out, but my palms look a little better.
I stand up, pushing my strawberry-blond locks out of my face, and look around me. "So this is Skyrim." The chill of the native country of my father makes me pull my cape closer around me. This place is nothing like Valenwood. I sigh, thinking about the reasons I left my birth land in the first place.
Number 1: My mom died a few months ago. Her last wish was that I would return to Skyrim with her ashes, to lay them in my father's tomb in Markarth.
Reason number 2: I was sick of being called "mutt". You see, I'm mixed race. Mom's a Woodelf, Dad's a Nord. Easy enough. Sadly, my "people", if you can call it that, wouldn't accept me like one of their own. Said I was "a black sheep". I spit on the ground in anger thinking of reason number 2. Who do they think they are, stupid pure-blood lovers.
I walk further down the road, while looking at the map of Skyrim I brought from a Khajit trader a couple of days ago. According to the map, there would be a town called Helgen a few miles from here. "Well, I guess that's my best chance on an inn for today I guess." I mutter, and continue walking at a steady pace. I suddenly hear people yelling, and of course with my great curiosity, I decide to investigate. When getting to the source of the yelling, I see two groups of soldiers, one in blue armour, one in red. They seem to be fighting one and other. Suddenly one soldier, clothed in red armour, spots me and points his sword towards me. "There's another one!" My yellow-green eyes widen in surprise. "EXCUSE ME?! I'M NOT-" My scream of fright is cut short by something hitting me hard in the back of the head. My vision darkens and I fall down to the ground.
*Timeskip brought to you by IMPERIAL BASTERDS!*
Groaning, I open my eyes, trying to adjust them to the sharp light. When I try to rub my eyes, I find that my hands are bound, and that I seem to be moving. Hearing horses walking and wooden wheels roll over the stone road, I make the conclusion. I'm on a carriage.
"Hey, you. You're finally awake."
Turning my head to the source of the sound, I see a middle-aged blond Nord in blue armour sitting in front of me, his hands also bound. He smiles weakly at me.
"You were trying to cross the border right?"
I nod carefully, and the man nods understanding.
"Same as us, and that thief over there."
He motions with his head to the man sitting next to him, a grim looking Nord in rags. "Damn you Stormcloaks." He spits. "Everything was fine until you came along. Empire was nice and lazy. If they wouldn't have been looking for you, I would've stolen that horse and be half way to Hammerfell!"
The blond Nord only chuckles at this assault. "We're all brothers and sisters in bounds now thief." The Imperial soldier sitting in front steering the horse sighs in annoyance. "Shut up back there." I let my head fall, noticing they were so 'nice' to leave my own clothes on. Only my old iron dagger is gone. Figures.
"What's wrong with him huh?" The grim Nord looks at the man to my right, and I look at him too. The man looks pretty much like a nobleman, even though his hands are bound and he is gagged with a big piece of cloth. "Watch your tongue! You speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King!" The blond Nord shouts, making the other pale. "Ulfric? The Jarl of Windhelm? You're the leader of the rebellion.. But if they captured you.." His face turns to pure panic. "Oh gods.. Where are they taking us?" The Nord sighs, turning his head to see a town emerging out of the woods. "I don't know where we're going.. But Sovengarde awaits.." I feel my own face pale at his words. Sovengarde.. That's what my father used to tell me was the afterlife for Nords. I curse under my breath, I don't want to die yet!
"No.. This can't be happening, this isn't happening.." the Nord mutters. It's silent for a few seconds, until the blond Nord speaks up again. "Hey.. What village are you from horse thief?" The man huffs. "Why do you care?" "A Nord's last thoughts should be of home." Good advice Blondie.. It's silent for a few seconds again. "Rorikstead.. I'm.. I'm from Rorikstead.." the man mutters quietly.
The carriage now nears the gates, which are opened. "General Tullius sir, the headsman is waiting!" a guard calls from above the gate. One of the men who rides behind us one horseback calls back "Good. Let's get this over with." The grim Nord begins panicking. "Shor, Mara, Dibella, Kynareth, Akatosh. Divines, please help me." I feel my eyes tear up, but I push them back. If I'm gonna die, I'll die with my head high. Blondie huffs at the general. "Look at him.. General Tullius, the military governor. And it looks like the Thalmor are with him." I turn my head to see a few High Elves sitting on horseback as well, and my blood boils. You won't find bigger pure blood-lovers in all of Tamriel. "Damn Elves. I bet they have something to do with this." I narrow my eyes a bit. Believe me, I get it that most Nords don't like Elves, but we're not all bad. Blondie looks around him, looking at the buildings. "This is Helgen. I wonder if Velod still makes that mead with juniper berries mixed in.." He chuckles slightly. "Funny.. When I was a boy, Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel so safe.."
I smiles slightly at his words, remembering how my dad used to tell me stories of brave Imperial soldiers who fought in the war. They aren't that nice in real life I guess. I look over my shoulder to see a boy sitting in front of his house. "Who are they Papa? Where are they going?" The boy's father puts a hand on his shoulder. "You need to get inside little cub." "Why? I wanna watch the soldiers." The father pulls him up, pushing him to the door. "Inside the house. Now." The boy goes inside, mumbling a bit. I sigh. This is gonna be the end. The carriage starts slowing down. "Why are we stopping?" the grim Nord says in a panic. Blondie smirks. "Why do you think? End of the line." The carriage stops and Blondie starts getting up. "Let's go. Shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us." I stand up as well, feeling my knees weaken. Pushing through my fear, I keep getting up. The grim Nord on the other hand, isn't that good with his fear.
"No! We're not rebels! You can't do this!" Blondie sighs. "Face your death with some courage thief." The grim Nord turns to Ulfric. "You gotta tell them, we weren't with you! This is a mistake!" Ulfric pushes him of him, however you can push with your hand bound, making the poor fellow trip out of the carriage. I step out of the carriage and help him up.
A tan Imperial woman in armour shouts to everyone. "Step towards the block when we call your name! One at the time!" Blondie jumps down from the carriage and rolls his eyes. "Empire loves their damn lists.." My legs are seriously shaking underneath my weight now. The block.. That's not how I want my life to end..
Another Imperial man reads up names from a list. "Ulfric Stormcloak. Jarl of Windhelm." Ulfric walks towards the block and Blondie gives him a respective nod. "It has been an honour, Jarl Ulfric.." The next name is read. "Ralof of Riverwood." Blondie walks towards the block. "So that's his name.." I think silently. "Lokir of Rorikstead." The Nord begins panicking. "No! I'm not a rebel! You can't do this!" And he dashes off.
"Halt!"
Lokir keeps running. "You're not gonna kill me!" The Imperial woman grumbles. "Archers!" My hart sinks as I see how Lokir falls dead on the ground with a few arrows in his back and head. The woman turns back to me.
"Anybody else feel like running?"
I shake my head quickly, and suddenly the man raises an eyebrow. "Wait.. You there. Step forward." I step a bit closer. "Who are you?" I swallow and try to keep my voice steady. "Sarafina, s-sir.. Sarafina of Arenthia." The man nods. "Not many Wood Elves would choose to come alone to Skyrim." He turns to the woman. "Captain, what should we do? She's not on the list." I almost sigh in relief, but the woman says "Forget the list. She goes to the block.", making me panic again. The man nods. "By your orders captain." He turns to me. "I'm sorry. We'll make sure your remains are returned to Valenwood. Follow the captain prisoner."
Shaking, I follow the tanned woman to the group of other prisoners in rags. Most of them look at me with sympathy, some with mild hate. Long live the war that made almost every Nord hate our kind. I stop next to Ralof, who glances at me with a sad smile. "Ulfric Stormcloak, some here in Helgen call you a hero. But a hero doesn't use the power of the Voice to kill his king and usurp his throne." The general stands before Ulfric, who mumbles some things under his gag. Even I know those things are curse words. "You started this war, plunged Skyrim into chaos. And now the Empire is going to put you down, and restore the peace!" Suddenly a roar echoes through the air. The man who read the names looks around him. "What was that?" The general huffs. "It's nothing. Carry on." The Imperial woman salutes. "Yes general Tullius!" She turns to a priestess standing next to her. "Give them their last rites." The priestess raises her hands to the sky. "As we commend you souls to Epherious, blessings of the eight Devines upon you, for you are-"
A prisoner standing next to me groans and walks to the block. "For the love of Talos, shut up and let's get this over with." The priestess lowers her hands. "As you wish." She spits. The tan Imperial woman walks up to the man. "Come on! I haven't got all morning." The executioner complains. The prisoner is forced on his knees, his head on the block. He looks at the executioner and gives a mocking smile. "My ancestors are smiling at me Imperials. Can you say the same?" I can just close my eyes shut when the big axe of the executioner chops down at the neck of the poor fellow. Hearing blood splatter all over the stones, it takes all my strength not to gag.
"You Imperial bastards!" A woman shouts. "Justice!" The general shouts back. The tan Imperial woman raises a fist in the air. "Death to the Stormcloaks!" Ralof sighs next to me, grieving his friend. "As fearless in death, as he was in life.." The Imperial woman points to me. "Next, the Woodelf!" I swallow hard, feeling tears in my eyes.
Suddenly the roar echoes through the air again, and I shiver. Why do I have the feeling something is terribly wrong? "There it is again, did you hear that?" the man with the list says, concern in his voice. "I said, next prisoner." The woman calls. The man turns to me. "To the block prisoner. Nice and easy." I swallow again and walk to the block. With every few steps, I remember my life.
Step.
*Flashback to 13 years ago.*
"Sarafina! Did you steal a cookie again?" I quickly put my hands around my back and shake my head. "Nooo…" My mom peaks around the corner, her long strawberry-blond hair flowing over her shoulders and her golden eyes sparkling. She grins and walks up to me. "Really. Then what is this?" She picks a few crumbs of my cheeks and shows them to me. I give a guilty smile. "Fairies who put them on my face?" Mom laughs. "Sure honey. Of course." She dusts the rest of the cookie-crumbs off. "You know, if you wanted a cookie, you can just ask." I look up at her, yellow-green eyes meeting golden. "But you said I only could have one.. And they are so good!" My mom cups my cheek. "Sarafina, sweetie, your 10 now. You should know you shouldn't steal." I look down at the floor. "But if you do, erase the evidence." Mom says and I giggle softly.
*Flashback end*
Step.
*Flashback to 7 years ago*
"That's it! Put your weight between both legs or else you'll drop it." Calls the voice of my father. Following his instructions, I swing the sword at the dummy. Dad claps his hands. "Great! Now again!" I swing it again, this time harder. "Again! Harder!" I give it a good swing, and the doll's head flings away a few meters from its original position. Not exactly what I had planned for, but hey. I can hear the thundering laugh of my dad behind me. "HAHAHAHA! That's my girl!" I turn around to look at my dad. His green eyes sparkle with pride and he pats my shoulder. "Good job Sarafinny." I smirk at my nickname. "Thanks dad. Although I don't think Mom's gonna be happy with this.." He scratches the back of his head, making his brown hair bounce on his scalp, and shrugs. "Eh, it'll be alright. We'll sew it on again." I smile and crack my back. "That thing is heavy.." My dad chuckles. "Yeah, it heavier than that magic stuff. But you'll get used to it." I chuckle too. "I sure hope so."
*Flashback end*
I now stand before the block, and the woman pushes me down. I close my eyes seeing the head of the man lying in the wooden chest, the smirk still on its dead face. I breath in and out. "See you in a bit Mom and Dad.." I whisper softly. I hear the axe being raised, and wait for death.
Suddenly the roar returns, growing louder. "What is that?!" I open my eyes to see a dark form flying towards the tower behind the executioner. "Sentries! What do you see?" the woman calls. "It's in the clouds!" The enormous dark form lands on top of the tower, the shockwave making the executioner drop his axe on the ground, luckily not near my neck, and he stumbles to the ground. I look up to the big creature on the tower, and stare right into two big dark reptilian eyes. I hear weapons unsheathe.
"DRAGON!"