Whispers amplified as my world returned to me. A large jitter of the ground underneath me forced me to be alert. It was the smell that hit me first, that fresh country smell. Pine mixed with animal shit, that smell would knock the senses back into anything. That's when I noticed the cramp in my shoulders. My hands were bound behind my back. My head shot up. Sitting in front of me was a man... probably about thirty years of age, maybe younger, with long fair hair that complemented his blue eyes. He too was clapped in iron and to be honest it didn't seem surprising. He was a larger man with broad shoulders and muscles that strained to keep in his clothes. He certainly looked the definition of threatening.
"Hey you, so you're finally awake? You were the one they caught trying to cross the border. You walked right into that Imperial ambush just like the rest of us and that thief over there, right?"
His friendly attitude surprised me. I felt it rude not to answer but could not seem to accumulate any words at the moment so I just nodded even though I had no idea what he was badgering on about.
"Damn you Stormcloaks! Skyrim was fine until you came along! The Imperials were nice and lazy! If they hadn't been looking for you I could have stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell by now!"
Wait Stormcloaks?! Skyrim?! Imperials?! I must be dreaming that's it. Wouldn't be the first time I had had a dream about the game.
"You, you there! We shouldn't be here! It's these Stormcloaks that the Imperials want!"
The thief leaned forward as he spoke to me. I simply avoid eye contact.
"We are all brothers and sisters in binds now thief!" The man spat out at the thief.
Wait... what was his name... 'R' something...Ralof I think...
"Shut up back there!" barked a soldier.
Everyone hushed for a minute before anyone dared speak again and this time they did it quieter so as not drag anymore attention to ourselves.
"What's wrong with him?"
The thief had leaned back against the cart again while nodding his head in the direction of the only man gagged. Before Ralof could tear into him I found the gagged man's name leave my lips as something dawned on me.
"Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm and the true High King of Skyrim... we're all going to die... aren't we?"
Ulfric had met my eye but at the end of my sentence he tore his eyes away from mine to look at his hands. This is just a dream. This is just a dream. THIS IS JUST A DREAM! A strong breeze from my right caused me to halt my inner panic attack and curl up slightly.
"I...I'm sorry Lass, but it seems Sovngarde a waits us..."This is going to be one of these awful dreams were the dragon isn't going to show up and I'm going to wake up just as the axe meets my neck and I'm going to feel it afterwards 'cause this IS all just a dream. My inner panic had set me into another trance that was only broken when I heard the voice of a little boy. His eyes bore into mine. His were a lit with curiosity were as mine were clouded over with insecurity. The longer he looked at me the more a frown tugged at his lips until eventually his father sent him inside as he cast me a sorrow filled look.
"W-What?! N-No! Why are we stopping?!" the thief stuttered.
"This is it. The end of the line..."
The cart came to a halt and an Imperial solider opened the back of the cart. Ulfric and the thief were the first off and I was just about to follow but apparently I wasn't moving fast enough because the solider grabbed my forearm and pulled me to the ground. Ralof quickly jumped off of the cart. He keeled down to my level and hooked his arms over my head before rising to his feet so that he pulled me up with him.
"T-Thanks for that..." I muttered.
He offered me a smile as he unhooked his arms but then his mood seemed to turn sour when the Imperial solider who had knocked me down walked past us and over to the man with the list.
"The Imperials love their damn lists!" Ralof grumbled under his breath just as they called up Ulfric.
"It has been an honour, Jarl Ulfric!" He continued but spoke louder this time.
Next Ralof was called up and he followed the direction Ulfric had without a word. The thief however...
"No! I don't want to die!"
It looked like he had gotten further in the game. Here he only got what must have been about ten paces away from me and he was shot with a single arrow in the back of the head.
"Anyone else feel like running?!"
The only female guard generalized her statement but looked directly at me when she spoke. I found myself shaking my head furious from side to side while taking enough steps back to bump into the cart. My actions caught the attention of the man with the list who burrowed his brow at me before looking back down at his list.
"Wait a minute... you there step forward!"
I hesitated but only for a second when I noticed the archer raised his bow slightly.
"Who are you?"
"N-Nightshade..."
The word forced itself past my lips. I furrowed my brow in confusion at my own response. That's not my name... that was my characters name in...
"What will we do Captain? She's not on the..."
"She goes to the block like the rest!"
The bitch cut off the man with the list. He frowned at her but nodded none the less.
"I'm sorry kinsman. At least you will die in your homeland."
Every Nord seemed to take comfort in the idea of dying in their homeland. Why did it matter? They were dead so it's just a body left. I'd rather live thank you very much. A hand on my shoulder brought me out of my daze. It was the man with the list who was pushing me in the direction of the other prisoners. A priestess was giving everyone their last rights.
"For the love of Talos shut up and let's get this over with! I haven't got all morning!"
The prisoner that shouted shoved his way by me and kneeled down in front of the chopping block.
"As you wish..." The priestess hissed as she stepped to the side.
"My ancestors are smiling at me Imperial! Can you say the same?!"
The executioner lifted his axe high into the air. He swung it down. I looked away. A whimper escaped my lips at the sound of his body falling to the ground.
"Don't show them fear Lass, they take joy in it..."
I tensed up but quickly relaxed when I realized it was only Ralof whispering in my ear.
"Next the Nord in the rags!"
Shit she meant me. I started using one of my hands to pinch the other. I wasn't waking up.
"RWAR~!"
"There it is again! What is that?!"
Again? I didn't hear it the first time but I definitely heard it there... wait is that...?
"I said next prisoner!"
Ralof gave me a small nudge forward. I looked between him and Ulfric frantically. Surely they could do something... But instead of finding hope I saw two men that had accepted their fate. Slowly I wandered up to the female guard.
"Any last words?" she asked.
She had grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled me over to the block but hadn't pushed me down yet. I turned my head around to face her, sent her the meanest looking glare I could muster and...
"Hhhhhhhhhooooccccc-ptoo!"
I spat right in her face. She let go of me, causing me to fall to me knees, and stumbled back. When she regained her bearing she lifted her hand and struck my check.
"Filthy Nord scum!" She screamed.
It stung like the bitch she is. A piece of her iron gauntlet had imbedded itself in my check. She grabbed me by the hair and forced my head down onto the stone. Just as she let go, a loud screech echoed all around us as it finally appeared.
"What in Oblivion is that?!"
Half the people were stuck to the spot by shock; the other had started running at the sight of it. The executioner seemed to be the only person that hasn't noticed it. He lifted his axe up to... I closed my eyes...
One...
...Two...
...Three...
...Four...
...Five...
... I opened them again to come face to face with a...
"Dragon!" someone called out.
A loud screech followed by a powerful burst of forced knocked me back. Everything was blurry. Everything hurt. I could hear the screams of the people around me but I couldn't see them. Something touched me. The pain doubled as it forced me to my feet and dragged me away from the shouts of terror. I blinked and suddenly found myself on my back. The only thing I could make out was the harsh sound of my own breathing.
"Hey Lassie, you alright? Come on Lass talk to me?!"
"W-Wha... What..?"
Slowly but surely everything around me became clear. Stone walls, no doubt this is the guard tower. Screams and screeches coming from outside. A searing pain in my left shoulder.
"Come on Lass on your feet!"
Again I was hoisted to my feet. I wobbled a bit at first but managed to get my bearings and look Ralof directly in the eye.
"Thanks..."
He offered me a small smile before looking behind me with a more sombre expression. I didn't even get the chance to see what he was looking at before I felt my hands spring free from my binds. A hand pressed itself gently under my left shoulder blade. Immediately my body tensed and flinched forward.
"This is a serious burn."
I cast a look over my shoulder to Ulfric.
"It doesn't matter; we don't have time to deal with it."
I turned to face Ulfric as I spoke and in the end, flinched again.
"She's right. We need to get away from that... is... is that thing really a dragon? Could the legends be true?"
"Legends don't burn down villages."
Ralof shook his head, no doubt in disbelief and then pointed upwards.
"Come on we have to move, let's go up though the tower!"
We all raced up the stairs. Halfway up the tower there was another prisoner trying to move rocks. Without thinking I grabbed the back of Ralof's amour and pulled him into me. I bit back a whimper of pain on contact but just as I did the Dragon charged through the wall, killing the other prisoner. The dragon let out a blast, causing everyone to swerve back. Once the dragon flew away from the tower, we waited a brief period to make sure it wasn't coming back around for another visit.
"You need to jump through the roof and keep going! We'll follow when we can!"
I looked at Ralof as if he had grown an extra head but then sighed when I realised he was being serious. With one last look to both men, I took a few steps back and then took a running jump.
'I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to..!'
"Argh! Son of a ...! Ow..."
I landed on the second floor of the house but unfortunately for me I didn't stay there for long. I couldn't stop my body from rolling through the big gaping hole that lead to the first floor of the house. I knew time was playing a big factor in my survival so far. I need to be quick on my feet or I'll likely die, so keeping this in mind, I ignored all the pain that pulsed through my body and staggered out onto the open plain. The imperial solider who had the list earlier on was to the left of me. He was pulling a child away from the dragon and towards me. When he realised who I was he faulted for a split second. His bosses would have had him kill me right there, but he didn't.
"So you're still alive prisoner? Heh, stay close to me if you wanna stay that way!"
He lead us through an ally way behind a set of house. Just as we emerged, the Dragon landed square in front of the opening.
"Get back against the wall!"
I grabbed the child and pushed him in between the wall and my body.
"Come on let's move!"
I offered the child a smile and then nudged him towards the only other person in our group, a village man; he had a better chance or surviving with him than me.
"I said let's move!"
He lead us through more rubble and towards the keep. When the imperial solider came face to face with Ralof, he hesitated while the man and the boy in our company fled into the protective walls of the keep.
"Hadvar, you damn traitor!"
Cried Ralof.
"Out of my way!"
Ralof smirked at Hadvar's response.
"There's no stopping us this time!"
"Fine! I hope you all get taken to Solvanguard! Now come on!"
The last part of Hadvar's seemed to be directed at me.
"No Lass! Follow me!"
Ralof called out to me. I hesitated, but only for a second. Hadvar is the only Imperial that wanted to spare me so natural the safest side for me to choose would be Ralof and the Stormclocks... at least for now.
"I'm sorry..."
I whispered to Hadvar. I don't think he heard me but he seemed to understand me as he closed his eyes and shook his head before turning to go towards the keep. I took off after Ralof. Ralof had already made it into the building; by the time I got to him he was crouched over a dead man's body. He spared me a forced smile, to which I returned.
"Looks like it's just us..."
"I'm sorry about your friend..."
I wasn't sure what to say, and after saying that I felt really stupid, but I felt like I had to say something.
"In times of war... one must be willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good... we all knew what we were signing up for..."
His words reminded me of something.
"In war, victory. In peace, vigilance. In death, sacrifice."
I knew I was quoting from the wrong game, but it seemed appropriate. Ralof offered me a smile as he rose to his feet.
"You might as well take Gunjar's gear... he won't be needing it anymore..."
"But, isn't it a bit disrespectful to..."
I trailed off, not really wanting to say it. My rags were ripped and scorched in multiple places so I needed the gear desperately but if it meant...
"It's ok, here."
Ralof stripped Gunjar of his amour and then helped me put it over my rags. He was careful with my shoulder when putting the chainmail on me, and for that I am very grateful. Gunjar's amour hung off me. It made me feel like a child. What made me feel even more like one was that I needed two hands to hold up a one handed axe. Ralof was trying to muffle his laugh with his hand but he was doing a poor job of it.
"Ok...ok, we need to find a way out of here."
There were three doors in this room. The one we came in, so that was a no go, the one to my left and the other to my right. Both were locked. Ralof started muttering to himself while pacing the room. I kept my face plastered up against the bars. If I remember correctly it's either this door or the one behind me that...
"Lass, hide!"
Ralof pushed himself up against the wall next to the door opposite me. I followed his example on the other side of the door.
"This way we can get the jump on them!"
It just donned on me. I'm going to have to...
"Hey, it's either them or us!"
I was surprised at the forcefulness behind Ralof's words, but then realised he must have noticed my hesitation. He was right though...
"Argh!"
While in my daydream, the Imperial soldiers had made their way into the room and Ralof jumped the man closest to him, leaving me to deal with the bitch captain. I didn't even get the chance to raise my axe before she knocked it out of my hand. I stumbled, fell on my arse and scampered away from the captain.
"Die Nord Scum!"
I raised my hands at the same time that she raised her sword. My arms tingled as a great warm spread through them and...
"Argh!"
The captain lit up in flames. She screamed as her arms flapped helpless from side to side. I scurried over to my axe, grabbed it and let the adrenaline pumping through my veins do the rest.
"Urgh!"
The captain dropped to the floor... with my axe lodged between her eyes.
"Great job Lass you..."
Ralof started to congratulate me as he ripped his axe out of his dead opponent, but stopped when his eyes rested on me. I sat on the ground, shaking like a leaf, with my eyes focused on the charcoaled corpse. A sigh reached my ears.
"You did good Lass, remember that... now come on."
He forced me to my feet and took hold of my hand. He led me down through a basement, into a cellar and then some caves.
"Here, take this and fill it up with whatever you find that's useful, who knows how long these cave run..."
He replaced his hand with a tattered sack. Still I didn't move.
"Lass, we need to get out of here. I know that the first time is... hard, but it's survival Lass, survival of the fittest."
I took a deep breath and nodded. My body is acting like a machine, stiffly moving around the room picking up the needed supplies. Three health potions, two magicka, one stamina, two loaves of bread, a half bottle of wine and a half of a small wheel of cheese. I slipped the bag over my right shoulder and just as I caught up to Ralof, I noticed a rusty short sword and remembered that I don't have a weapon anymore. I snatched it up and we started to make our way though the caves.
"Argh!"
"Just tell us what we want to know Nord Scum!"
"Argh..uh... n-never!"
Ralof placed a finger to his lips, a simple gesture that made me go silent. He pointed with his other hand to the door in front of us. I gulped but nodded with my sword raised. He signalled with his fingers. Three... two... one... go!
"Rawr!"
Ralof charged ahead into the room. I hesitated for a split second before following him in. The room was nothing like the previous storage room. This one has cages lined up against the left wall and a few torture racks on the right. A Nord was strapped into one of the racks but he was left unattended. Ralof's charge had caught the two torturers full attention, leaving me unseen by all. In three light steps I crossed the room and raised my rusty sword.
'Grunt'
I thrust my sword through one of the Imperial's chest. He fell to the ground, with my sword still in him. The last remaining Imperial raised his axe to strike me but Ralof took him down before he could even lay a finger on me. This time, Ralof opted for a smile and nod for praise instead of saying anything. He then rushed over to his brother in arms side to free him as I surveyed the room. A few pieces of gold were scattered along the floor so I collected those up. The trail led to a chest that was unlocked. Inside was a coin purse with five gold pieces in it and some lock picks, hardly enough to be put in a damn chest in the first place. With a quick glance over to Ralof, to see he was still preoccupied with his friend, I turned my attention to the cages. If I was going to be stuck in this hellhole, I was sure Goddamn going to use my knowledge about it to my advantage. Now my lock picking skills are practically none existent, I say practically because I did lock pick my own back door once because I had forgotten my keys and that took me two hours, but these locks are more simple than the locks back home so surely it can't be...
'Snap'
...damn. I tried a second time, but this time I peeked through into the keyhole to see where exactly I'm supposed to stick the pick, instead of just copying the general 'stick it in and twist it' concept the game had. It looks like I'm supposed to stick it here and...
"Lass?!"
Ralof's booming voice made me jump and break the lock pick. With a few muttered profanities I turned to face him with my face sullied.
"We need to leave, now!"
He stressed the last word so I took the hint to abandon my quest of lock picking. I have a funny feeling that not getting that loot is gonna bit me in the arse some day. Ralof stormed off ahead as usual, leaving me and the other Nord trailing behind; me because I am slow and the latter because he's injured. I stole a few glances at him. He looked younger than Ralof but defiantly older than me. His semi-long chestnut hair was laced through with blood, sweat and tears. His vibrant green eyes spoke volumes about him. He has seen too much for someone so young.
"Nightshade."
He jumped slightly and stepped away from me. He then narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. I could see I had caused some confusion so I explain myself.
"My name, Nightshade."
"Aaron."
I offered him a small smile in hope for one in return but did not receive one. To be fair I can't exactly expect one. His body is in tatters after what tortures he has been put through.
"RWAAR!"
Ralof's battle cry cut off our little 'conversation'. Aaron raced forward, despite being injured and unarmed, while I hid out of sight. Aaron is a warrior, a Stormclock, a man that has had practice in the art of the sword. The only art I have practice in involves pencils and paints. Ralof was struggling but managing two Imperial's, leaving the other one for Aaron. I looked in awe as Aaron quickly dealt with him by landing a blow to the gut and then a wee twist of his neck. He looked from the Imperial's body to my face with a scrowl that quickly morphed into something else... something more... urget...
"Duck!"
My body obeyed his command without thinking. Good thing it did, Aaron socked another Imperial right square on the nose. It took me a minute to realise what had happened, which was long enough for Ralof to deal with his set of Imperials. I offered Aaron a smile and a wee nod.
"Thanks..."
His eyes met mine, but otherwise he showed no sign of acknowledgement to me.
"This way, quickly!"
Ralof took a firm grip of my upper arm and dragged me off with him. Apparently I wasn't moving fast enough.
'Crack. Crack. Thud. Thud. Bang.'
"AARON!"
I flung myself up against the newly created wall of stone. My hands worked frantically to move the rocks.
"Lass! LASS! You'll only hurt yourself doing that! Aaron's a Stormclock! It will take more than a pile of rubble to stop him. He'll find another way out."
I'm such an idiot! I was so preoccupied with Aaron that I completely forgot about the cave in! He'll probably die in there and I could have saved him! ...No, I can't think like that. He'll get out and... and I'll see him again. I'll make sure of that.
"Y-Yeah..."
Ralof jumped down a bit and then offered his hand to me. Without further delay I took it and we weaved our way through the last part of the caves.
"Wait! Bear!"
I tighten my clasp on Ralof's hand and pulled him back. I wasn't about to make the same mistake twice...
"You're right, good eye Lass. Let's see... We can try taking it down with those bows and arrows... or sneak by it. To be honest I don't fancy our chances taking a bear on like this, but I'll let you be the judge of that..."
I have never used a bow in my life so using a bear as my first target practice seems a bit... extreme. Never the less I snatched up the bow and arrows before pushing myself up against the wall of the cave and sliding myself along it. Ralof struggled to hold back a laugh but managed to when the bear stirred at the sound.
"Good choice Lass. We should be far enough away now that... wait is that?! Yes, it's daylight! Come on Lass!"
Ralof raced ahead of me. Frankly after what's happened, I have no energy left what-so-ever. My feet and arms ached and the burns that ran across my shoulder and right down my back stung. I was so close I could practically taste the fresh air... but...
"Lass look at... Lass? Lass!"