Chapter 2. Escape

Though in a well-built stone tower the chaos from outside still seemed too close. I shut my eyes for a second as the stranger who carried me in set me down, I was still held my eyes closed as I could feel my arms finally being untied. The relief was overwhelming, but I didn't have a second to stop, as I heard the doors behind us close, I turned to see some Stormcloaks fall in. Ulfric survived and so did Ralof. The cocky Nord Davron was also in, thankfully still with a head.

"Can the legends really be true, was that really a dragon?" Panted Ralof directing his question to the now unbounded and gag free Ulfric.

In a serious and darker tone, the Stormcloak leader spoke with a deep tone "Legends don't burn down villages"

A thundering roar and a crash that shook the walls came from outside, a reminder that this was no legend but a very real and terrifying danger.

"Up through the tower, we need to move now!"

And without another word we ran up behind Davron, up the spiralling stairs, my legs strained against the stone steps, heart racing as we make it to the next floor up, A Stormcloak was already there and when seeing our approach he called out "I think I found our escape, help me move a few of these stones." But before we could take a step to help the walls exploded inwards with the great dragons head pushing in, frozen in fear and looking straight into its glowing red eyes, I could barely comprehend its thundering voice " Tul, Shul" and fire erupted out of its words and engulfed the first floor. Davron ducked down and I followed suit. Once the flames dissipated we stood backup, the dragon was gone although the burning heat of the fire lingered as a reminder of the dragon, not like we needed any reminders that is, two hand placed on my shoulders, and with a glance I could see the golden long fingers squeeze tight into me, a reassurance, a push forward, the smell of burnt flesh hit me and I saw Davron in front raise his hand to his face to hide his gagging. Golden daylight shone in from the hole in the wall. Ralof charged past us and looked down into the battle, "quick jump down into that building over there"

Without another breath I saw the still bound Davron jump out of the hole and down, I rushed forward to see where he landed and if he was okay. Thankfully he got up and looked up to me with an oversized grin, I finally let go of the breath I didn't realise I was holding.

"Go on it's your turn." Ralof looked at me expectantly. And that drop down looked all that bigger and not so easy. I looked down, I had to be quick I couldn't see the dragon, but I had to be careful in my landing. With a glance behind me at Mithra he gave me a small nod and I turned and jumped, my plan was to hit the broken beam and then jump down to the floor of the building. To my surprise it went to plan, I landed feet first onto the beam then leapt off as I felt the wood crack under my feet, I did a roll and came to a standing. I look up to see Mithra do a similar jump but instead of going near the beam he opted to land straight on the floor. The three of us look at each other and then without a word we race forward and jump off the second floor of the broken building and onto the dusty floor of outside, as we move forward the dragon crashes onto the ground and the earth trembles under us. Davron falls to the floor and Mithra and I grab him and drag him quickly to a cover next to a villager and an Imperial scout. "Haming this way lad quickly!" The boy who was right in front of the dragon in the road with his injured (I presume) father, he races to us and ducks under just in time for the dragon to shout more fiery words. The flames ingulf the man on the floor. The dragon satisfied the man was dead beat its great wings and flew up to find its next victims. "Gunnar, take care of the boy I must find General Tullius and assist in the defence, you their prisoners follow me if you wish to survive." And he ran out of cover past the charred remains, with Mithra now leading we ran with the Imperial down past some buildings and when where in an alley between the town wall and whatever was left of a building "stay close to the wall!" But the words where drowned out by the dragon landing on top of the wall and letting out another fiery breath. We crouched down below the dragon, it seemed completely unaware that we were there, or we would have been easily killed. It flew up once again and we kept running, through the burning ashes of a house and past some archers shooting blindly into the sky. I could hear the soldiers cries and pleas, but they seemed far away as we ran forward, "to the keep, we are retreating" and that's where we headed under a stone bridge of the wall and into a courtyard.

"Ralof! You damned traitor. Out of my way!" Hadvar yells. On cue both men draw swords and stop waiting for the next move.

"We're escaping, Hadvar. You're not stopping us this time." And Ralof sheaths his axe and charges past us toward a door in the keep.

"Fine. I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovngarde." And he putting his sword away runs to a different door.

Both soldiers look at us stood in the courtyard and beckon us to follow one or the other. And the three of us look at each other. I see Davron looks uneasy, eyes darting to the sky then back at me and a rather displeased Mithra.

Our choice is clear, and we are not going to split up, with a nod we move forward and towards the keep.