Chapter 1.


The sounds of wheels turning and the sun cooking my head woke me up. I called for Alfarinn, asking why my lid was off. And heard a man chuckle in response.

"Lost your lid boy? Heheh, Sounds like a good story. Only wish I had time to hear it"

My eyes snapped open and burned adjusting the light, as I took in the situation. My arms were bound and we were approaching walls of a hold.

"Helgen" I muttered. The wagon I was being held in was driving by an imperial soldier, and the man who spoke to me was clearly a Stormcloak soldier based on his uniform. I could see a wagon ahead too, also filled with prisoners. Next to me was a man gagged with a cloth tied around his head. I smirked musing on what makes him so special, to gag him but not me.
So unwise.

"Death to the Stormcloaks!" Yelled a woman standing in her doorway as the wagon entered the hold. A young boy was being ordered inside by his father and Imperial soldiers readied the block for our arrival.
The axeman was sharpening his enormous battle-axe as we pulled in.

"Off the cart prisoners"

"No! I'm not a rebel, tell them I wasn't with you!"

"Face your death with some courage" Encouraged the Stormcloak soldier.

But the prisoner ignored the suggestion and tried to make a break for it. He ran a good fifty feet before getting a single warning and an arrow in the back.

"Anyone else feel like running?" Asked the captain of the Legion. Obviously one who hasn't learned compassion for unarmed prisoners in her time of duty.

"Step forward as your name is called," Said another with a checklist in his hand.

"Empire loves their damn lists" Mentioned the ever talkative Stormcloak.

"Ulfric Stormcloak. Jarl of Windhelm" Called the list man.

"Ah" I whispered to myself now seeing the significance of his gag. It's said that Ulfric used the power of a shout to kill the last high king. Had I known shouts were so effective, I might have actually stayed a bit longer at High Hrothgar. But there's only so many times I can shout 'Fus' at a burning candle before leaving forever.

If Ulfric can learn it, maybe I should have kept trying.

But I did wonder why Ulfric was being axed off here rather than hosting the execution publicly at Solitude.

"It's been an honour, Jarl Ulfric" Said one of the Jarl's soldiers.

As Ulfric took his place in a line of other captured prisoners that were brought in on other wagons, the checklist man took note of me and looked puzzled.

"You. Step forward and name yourself" He said.

I felt weak, but I didn't want it shown in my stride as I took a step.

"My name is Niik Havod. I'm the Archmage of Winterhold. I was on my way to Morthal when my wagon was -"

"Whats taking so long!" Barked the caption.

"He isn't on the list, what should we do with him?"

"Forget the list, he goes to the block… looks half dead anyway"

I looked the captain in her eyes. Strong, pretty, a true Imperial beauty. Rules in the college were very strict but I agreed and adapted myself to all of them. It had been so long since I had someone like her, if I could only get out of these bindings, and talk my way into some alone time with her.

"Something to say?" She demanded getting angry at my smile.

What I was going to say was lost forever when a screeching roar drilled into everyone's ears.

"What was that?" Asked the list man.

"It was nothing. Carry on"

"Yes, General Tullius" The angry captain turned to a priestess and gave the word for the last rights to be given. But she saw me still looking at her, she was furious when I made a kissy face her way.

"As we commend your soul to Aetherius, blessings of the eight-"

"For the love of Talos, shut up and get it over with" Yelled a Stormcloak who gladly marched up to the block.

Despite his willingness, the Legion still kicked the back of his knees to force his head down.

"My ancestors are smiling at me Imperials, can you say the same?"

The axe fell and his head dropped into a basket.

"As fearless in death, as he was in life" Muttered the Stormcloak at my side.

I expected Ulfric would have been the first choice, but volunteers do get priority.

"Next to the Breton" Said the caption with a smirk back at me.

All Nords in blue-clad armour to my left, and to my right were Imperials and civilians looking back at me.

"To the block prisoner, nice and easy"

Oh, I'm the Breton. It had been so long, I almost forgot I was a Breton underneath it all.

"Before Ulfric, I'm honoured you'd have me before anyone else" I said walking forward, but more towards her.

The Stormcloaks in binds chuckled behind me.

"I'm going to count to ten, executioner. And if his head isn't on that block by the time I'm done it'll be Yours"

"Yes captain, move you!" The hooded axeman said trying to drag me away. But a shadow flew over the ground, drawing everyone's eyes to the empty sky, then we heard another roar.

"There it is again" Someone whispered.

While everyone looked for whatever it was, I was counting.

"eight, nine, ten. My lady, your man has failed to please you. Would you like me to try?"

Once again I found myself being pulled towards the block. In front of my eyes was a dismembered head of the brave Stormcloak before me.
I was hoping a few more would go before me, but he'll do.

"What is that!" Someone yelled before I attempted my escape.

The ground shook as a booming roar sent shockwaves through my whole body and threw me off of the block.
Standing perched on one of the towers above the courtyard, was a huge black scaled Dragon.
Whirling clouds as black as smoke began to rain fire as the mighty beast let out a thunderous roar before taking flight again.
Since everyone was now looking at the Dragon and readying to fight for their lives, I rolled onto my knees and crawled to the headless body.
The General Tullius had already fled with a few of his men while others stayed behind to fight off the dragon. Orders were being thrown around, prisoners scattering. Fire was filling the air as the dragon let loose his mighty breath on the small town. No one to pay attention to little old me.
Imperial soldiers fell left right and centre, being picked off waves at a time. It was a miracle that I found my lady intact.

"You!" The Captain scorned seeing me free from my bindings. She rushed forward sword in hand. It was clear from her face. If she was going to die, she wanted the man who insulted her so to die too.

"Huh?" She gasped when her wrist got locked in my hand.

"Fast reflexes" I teased before pushing her away and running into a guard tower for shelter. With fire in her eyes, the captain rushed after me kicking the door I'd shut back open as she entered screaming at the top of her voice for me to show myself.

"As you wish" I chuckled from behind the door as I slammed it shut again.

"I plan on enjoying this" She said gesturing a cutting motion with her blade pointed at me.

"Not as much as I will"

She rushed forward, ready to swing.

"AH!" She gasped as her muscles began to seize at once. "wha, wha gig ewe goo?" She stammered with a locked open mouth as I stepped up.

"I cast paralysis. Wears off in fifteen seconds" I informed her as I slid the sword from her hand and tossed it away before kneeling at her side. "Been so long since I had someone, let alone someone with such a temper"

"G'no! G'no!" She said with terror in her eyes.

"You smell…" I said drawing in a whiff of her just as the spell was due to fade. "Delicious!"

She tried to roll away, but I sunk my fangs deep into her neck and began to suck every drop she had.
I don't know if she'd put together that I was a vampire. Even if she thought I was a 'different' type of vile, the fear I caused her made her blood rush down my throat so fast most of the work was done for me.
Feeling her blood rush inside me. The college forbade I drink from anyone in any of the holds or forts. But Helgen is currently under attack from a dragon, what evidence will be left?
Besides any woman who tries to kill me is just asking for a draining.


Authors Note:
For those just joining the fanfic. I've got this question a few times, and I just want to clear it up at the start.
The Dragon Born's name is pronounced as 'Neek' like 'Leek' or 'Seek'
It's not terribly important but it is something people have asked. :)