DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated with or endorsed by Bethesda Softworks (the creator of the Elder Scrolls video game series including Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim). I also do not imply or claim any rights to the Elder Scrolls video game series.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: a horizontal line indicates a scene change.

Act I: Unbound

Chapter 1: A Rude Awakening

As he slowly regained his senses, Feigi's blurred vision had him notice that his hands were now tied up. Bound.

He also no longer felt the comfortable warmth of the fur armor. Further examination told him he was now wearing a tunic of a rather roughspun fabric instead. He looked up, and let out a sigh.

"Hey, you, you're finally awake," a voice from across from Feigi suddenly called out to him. Feigi looked at the direction of the voice, and noticed one of the Nords with guilted armor from before. This particular Nord had blonde hair, of which a strain had been braided, as well as a rough beard.

He also noticed the horse-riding man from before, as well as the black-armored man. Feigi noted that the latter was gagged as wel as bound. "You were trying to cross the border, right?" the young Nord said as he eyed Feigi with concern. Feigi just nodded in reply "Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there." he said as he nodded in the direction of the horse-rider.

"Damn you Stormcloaks. Skyrim was fine before you came along. Empire was nice and lazy." the thief said. Feigi frowned. "If they hadn't been looking for you, I could've stolen that horse and been half way to Hammerfell." the thief growled, then turned to Feigi, "You there, you and me – we shouldn't be here. It's these Stormcloaks the Empire wants."

"We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief." the young blonde Nord -a Stormcloak- quickly retorted.

"Shut up back there!" The driver demanded.

Feigi gazed at the snow, as his father's voice now sounded in his head.

"My son... You are in quite a predicament now... But know that something big is about to happen. Something that will determine your destiny..."

As the voice faded away, he sighed and looked up again.

'My destiny... Sure... But I need to get out of this first...!'

The lack of his fur armor now made Feigi shiver from the cold. He hated being cold.

The thief then suddenly spoke up, as he stole a glance at the gagged black-armored Nord "And what's wrong with him, huh?"

"Watch your tongue. You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King." the Stormcloak growled, "Show some respect!"

The thief's face turned white, "Ulfric? The Jarl of Windhelm?" he muttered shakily, "You're the leader of the rebellion. But if they've captured you…." he gasped, "Oh gods, where are they taking us?"

"I don't know where we're going, but Sovngarde awaits." the blonde Nord said calmly.

Feigi looked at the man to his right 'That Ulfric sounds like a really important man. But what's with the gag?'

"No, this can't be happening." the thief said, literally shaking with fear "This isn't happening." The Stormcloak seemed to notice this, growing a little more concerned.

"Hey, what village are you from, horse thief?" the Stormcloak informed with a soft and comforting voice.

The thief looked at him curiously, with a look of accusation in his eyes, "Why do you care?"

"A Nord's last thoughts should be of home," the Stormcloak said softly.

"Rorikstead. I'm... I'm from Rorikstead," the thief said, his voice cracking over each word.

Feigi watched as the train of wagons approached a great stone gate. There was a loud creaking sound as the front gates opened.

"General Tullius, sir." a heavily armored female Imperial soldier called out "The headsman is waiting."

"Good." was the reply "Let's get this over with."

The thief was now crying out to the gods, "Shor, Mara, Dibella, Kynareth, Akatosh. Divines, please help me!"

Feigi bowed his head, reciting the names of the Nine Divines and crying out for their help in his head. Maybe they'd heard them...

As they passed the entrance gates, Feigi was able to catch a glimpse of a soldier in shining armor, and then he saw him conversing with a group of High Elves. The Stormcloak must have seen them too, "Look at him, General Tullius the Military Governour, and it looks like the Thalmor are with him. Damn elves. I bet they had something to do with this." he hissed.

'The Thalmor, eh? Father told me about them. Terrible power-hungry High Elves. Could things get any worse?'

The General was speaking to a female Altmer dressed entirely in black. Elves in gilded armor stood on each side next of her. Her gaze met Feigi's, who caught a flash of cruel, golden eyes. Then the cart moved on and she was gone.

Looking around, the blonde Stormcloak spoke quietly...

"This is Helgen. I used to be sweet on a girl from here. Wonder if Velod is still making that mead with juniper berries mixed in."

Feigi licked his lips at the thought. Mead. The sweet, sweet drink with that wholesome honey scent. What he wouldn't do for a mug with a mighty jug of the honey, heart and grain right then.

"Funny. When I was a boy, Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel so safe."

Speaking of boys, Feigi couldn't help but overhear a nearby argument between a child and his father...

"Who are they, daddy?" the child asked "Where are they going?"

"You need to go inside, little cub." the boy's father replied.

"Why? I want to watch the soldiers."

"Inside the house. Now."

"Yes, papa."

Feigi then looked up as the wagon cleared a corner and then eased next to the other wagon, much to the horse thief's surprise.

"Get these prisoners out of the carts. Move it!" the Imperial soldier in heavy armor declared. Feigi now reckoned that she had to be an Imperial Captain.

"Why are we stopping?" the thief called out.

"Why do you think?" the Stormcloak asked in reply "End of the line. Let's go. Shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us."

'Just too bad the gods keep us waiting...'

"No! Wait! We're not rebels!"

"Face your death with some courage, thief." the Stormcloak said disgustedly.

"You've got to tell them!" the thief demanded "We weren't with you! This is a mistake!"

Immediately, they started leaving their cart. Once they were all off they lined up the Imperial Officers arranged themselves in front. The Imperial's heavy armor flashed in the late afternoon sun as the soldier next to her held a scroll and quill and seemed to be counting.

Once the prisoners have exited the cart, the Captain declared "Step towards the block when we call your name. One at a time."

"Empire loves their damned lists," the Stormcloak sighed, to which Feigi nodded.

The Imperial soldier with the scroll began reading off names. As their names were called, the prisoners assembled themselves at the block.

And now they had reached their group.

"Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm." the soldier declared, as Ulfric stepped forward and followed the others, still gagged and unable to speak.

"It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric..." the blonde Stormcloak said reverently.

"Ralof of Riverwood." said the reader.

The blonde Stormcloak, Ralof, smiled softly at Feigi for a brief moment, before following Ulfric to the block.

'So that's his name...'

"Lokir of Rorikstead."

The thief practically jumped out of his skin at the sound of his name, "No, I'm not a rebel! You can't do this!" he bolted, ignoring the Captain's shout for him to halt.

"You're not going to kill me!"

Utterly disgusted by this Lokir's cowardice and rudeness from before, Feigi really hoped that Lokir would be taught a lesson soon.

"Archers!" the Captain then cried out, after which a salvo of arrows flew from the walls and into Lokir's back. The thief fell to the ground and moved no more. He was dead before he had even hit the ground. "Anyone else feel like running?" the Captain asked mockingly and rhetorically.

Shaking his head, the list reader continued, but then stopped and looked directly at Feigi.

"Wait," he said. "You there. Step forward." Feigi stepped forward, keeping his eyes on the soldier, "Who are you?"

END OF CHAPTER 1