I'm so sorry it took me so long! I played around with the time line a little bit here so forgive me for that. A little more plot development and then it will get into more "adult themes" in the coming chapters.
Chapter 2: Relief
The events of the day played in my head over and over. The battle field, the imprisonment, my near execution, and the gods damned dragon! After the winged demon attacked Ralof lead me through the crumbling town of Helgen to the keep and ultimately safety. I helped him fight our way through Imperials, spiders, and even a bear! but he protected me the whole way, and even when I was slashed in the side along they way he didn't leave me. He must be a good man and even better soldier to never give up on a hopeless cause such as me, willing to sacrifice his safety for another.
"Oh good, the dragon seems to be gone, for now. We should have a look at the cut on your.. Lovelia?" I heard his voice from behind me, but as my mind was wrecked with every detail of the day once again I found myself on the ground with my knees pulled to my chest and face buried in my hands sobbing uncontrollably. I felt him place his hand on my back and I flinched away. "Ayes, I know this is all shocking, I've seen this reaction a lot after a battle, but your okay now and I really need to see your wound." I found it in myself to look up at him and for the first time I noticed how handsome he was.
"Lovelia please, let me help you. We're an hour or two walk from Riverwood and it's getting dark. My sister can help you. We just fought so hard, don't you have any fight left?" My head snapped up at that remark, and I stood then steadied myself "Lead on then, Ralof." I sounded cold, but he has no clue what hell I really escaped, nor how much fight I had left.
The walk to Riverwood was, thank the nine, uneventful. A couple wolves tried attacking but Ralof was quick to slay them. He's actually good company. Along the way he showed me the Guardian Stones, even taught me how to choose one to gain strength from. I chose The Warrior. From what I've seen of Skyrim so far I'll need that blessing. We passed an over look and saw the ancient ruins of Bleak Falls Barrow, Gods I hope I never find myself near there. We only had to stop a couple times so I could rest. The wound in my side was worsening with every step and I was still loosing blood.
Finally we made it to his sister's house, Gerdur I believe she said, she immediately welcomed us into her home no questions asked. She is such a lovely woman tall, and blonde. Her face was beautiful though marked with the lines of age and hard work, she was as strong in soul as she was kind to anyone in need, exactly what one would picture a Nord to be. As soon as we walked into the home she shared with her husband and child she sat me in a stool by the fire and immediately set to work cleaning my wound. The action required me to remove my ragged top which filled me with much dread as all I could imagine was him, but the need for healing out weighed my fears and off it came leaving me in my breast band. I think Ralof meant to comfort me by placing a hand on my forearm but it startled me out of focusing on Gerdur to keep me in the present. I couldn't tell if he looked surprised or hurt but I managed to find it in me to hold his hand, squeezing occasionally when it hurt.
"You know I've seen some men pass out from less." Ralof told me as he gently reached to wipe away a tear I hadn't even realized I'd shed.
"Oh I'm sure you tell that to everyone who's injured." I tried to give a brave smile, but winced as Gerdur finished stitching me closed. She wrapped me around in clean cloth and gave me back my top, "Till I can find you something better" she said. "Ralof, please tell me what is going on now".
As he recounted the days events I walked out of the house. I had no desire to relive today again and I wanted to rest by the river flowing by the home and mill. I found a nice shaded spot to sit, cool my feet in the water and lean back to watch the skies. Ralof was right it was getting dark and I could see some of the stars starting to shine. It felt so refreshing to finally relax and I lost track of time till I heard a familiar voice that I've already come to love in a way. "Feeling more relaxed are we?" He smirked at me and sat to join me. "Soon I have to report back to the Stormcloaks in Windhelm" he spoke so plainly, almost a tinge of regret in his voice. I was at once lost again, in my enjoyment of getting a second chance at life I let my self forget I was a stranger in a foreign land. I made to plan for myself in my escape of Bruma, what was I even hoping for?
"What will happen to me?" it was a selfish thing to ask a man about to return to war, but I couldn't stop myself. "Have you know family here? I thought that was who you were running to."
I looked down in my lap, "All my family is dead." I mumbled. An awkward silence passed before he spoke up again "You can stay here as long as you need. I will leave the morning after tomorrow, but Gerdur will help you as best she can."
"Oh I can't! I don't want to be a burden for her. What about these Stormcloaks of yours? Are they taking new recruits?" I couldn't believe the words coming out of my mouth but I was desperate.
"Oh, no. No you don't need to concern yourself with this war."
"Excuse me! Weren't you the one in the wagon professing his feelings for there cause?" I can't explain my anger at his rejection of the idea of me a stormcloak, but it infuriated me.
"Those were the ramblings of a man heading to his death! You can not hold that against me." he was up and pacing the area behind me now.
I stood and stopped in front of him, "What of telling me to meet you in Windhelm while we were escaping? You weren't a man facing death then! You don't know anything about me other than my dead family and my name anyway why does it bother you?"
He was glaring down at me now and I became aware of how close we had gotten. His face was inches away from mine. Everything in my past told me to back away, to beg forgiveness and hope to receive it, but my new found pride wouldn't let me. "Fine" he finally ground out, "If you want to get yourself killed for a cause you have not claim in, join us." He poked his finger into my chest a spoke gravely, "Just know war is a Hell you can't even imagine."
That was the last straw for me tonight. "You may be a soldier but you have NO idea the Hell I've seen." I grabbed his wrist and shoved him away from me turning on my heel back to the house. At least I tried before Ralof grabbed my arm and spun me around, "What was that suppose to mean?"
"It means I was running from Cyrodiil for a reason. Tell me why you fight for the stormcloaks." His face finally softened and he sighed. "Alright, lets sit back down there's a tale to tell."
"Do you remember that man we faced coming off the wagon? That was Hadvar and her grew up here with me in this town and we were best friends. Our fathers both went to fight in the Great War with the elves when we were but babies, neither came back. I started to resent the Thalmor as soon as I was old enough to be told the story. When we were about 17 talk of the Thalmor tightening their rules around us started, mainly the banning of Talos worship. I was angered, I'll be damned before I let some elf tell me what I can and cannot do! Hadvar was unmoved, 'we must trust the Empire' he said. Well that drove a rift in our friendship, and then at 18 he left home to join the Imperial Legion. That started my hatred for the Legion, how could he so easily join the very Empire that sent our fathers to their deaths in a fight they gave up on? It wasn't too many years later Jarl Ulfric began to recruit for his cause. He promised us the war our fathers had fought, had died for, would not be in vain. He promised that we would rid our homes of the Thalmor. Most importantly he promised a free, strong, and prosperous Skyrim! I was among his first soldiers. I met Hadvar in battle a few months ago, 'A damned traitor.' was kind compared to what he called me then. I suppose we won't be friends regardless of what happens." His voice trailed off towards the end, I could see the sadness in his eyes before he looked away."
I leaned over and placed my hand on his arm,"Ralof, as far I see it Skyrim is my new home. I want to fight for her." He nodded. "Aye, we can talk more in the morning but now we should rest." We both stood and carried our tired and aching bodies back into the house. Gerdur had lain two makeshift bed rolls by the fire for us and we settled in to them. I laid back and for what felt like the hundredth time thought about the day. I was in a strangers home laying on the floor with another complete stranger planning to join an Army I barely understood. Then of course there's the dragon. The dragon!
"Ralof!" I whispered, "What are we going to do about the dragon!?"
"Tomorrow, Lovelia. I'll figure something out."
