BASILIO: AWAKENING

When Basilio had finally awoken he had yelled out in confusion and agony scaring the two soldiers that were watching over him. The soldiers had ran to retrieve an alchemist and a mage to see what could be done about his injuries. While the worst of the injuries had healed in his month long sleep he was still in immense discomfort. The muscles in his leg and back spasmed uncontrollably causing aches in areas he didn't know could ache.

Legate Rikke was sent to speak with him once his injuries were taken care of. She asked basic questions. Who was he? Where did he come from? Which company was he a part of? Why did he leave his post? Both Basilio and Legate Rikke were confused at everything. "Stormcloaks? Civil war? What are you talking about?"

"And what are you talking about? Dragon priests? Dragons? Snow elves? All of those things have been gone for centuries." She retorted. Basilio was called crazy. His story was too insane to be real and yet he was too sane to be crazy.

"What?" Basilio was baffled. He couldn't figure out what was happening and he could tell Legate Rikke was confused as well. "What year is it?"

"That's a strange question." She responded. "What year do you think it is?"

Basilio felt unnerved at the question. "Well, I know some time has passed but when the dragon attacked us it was 1E 156."

Rikke and the other soldiers in the room stared at Basilio with wide eyes. "More than some time has passed. How can you be alive still?"

"I told you, Rhew shouted a wall of ice around us before the avalanche engulfed us. She saved our lives." Basilio repeated. He looked around the room at the skeptical faces and knew no one believed his story. "Where is she?" He demanded. No one answered him. RIkke had the other soldiers leave the room. She sat across the table from him. Her arms propped on the table. "What? What's going on?" Basilio asked concerned.

"There was an elf named Rhew at Helgen when the dragon attacked. She was sent there to be executed. It is unknown at the time if she made it out of Helgen alive." Rikke explained.

"What!" Basilio bellowed jumping out of his chair so fast the chair toppled over. He ignored the pain that shot through his body. "Why would you execute her! She's dragonborn!" he yelled. Basilio gripped the table until his knuckles were white. "She's also one of the most innocent people in Tamriel!" Which is amazing with all the tragic things that has happened to her, he thought.

"You need to sit down, soldier." Rikke demanded. They watched each other seeing who would give in first. Basilio exhaled in frustration and picked his chair up from the floor. "It was a mistake by a captain of ours." She started once he sat down. "In the confusion of capturing the Stormcloaks he mistook her for one as well."

Basilio sat in silence taking everything in. If Rhew did escape Helgen…. no, not if. Basilio knew Rhew could escape a dragon attack. They had done it many times before. She would probably be too scared to show up here if she thought the Imperials were actively searching for her. It must confuse and scare her being attacked by the group that saved her from the Nords. I have to find her! Basilio thought as he lifted himself from the chair once again but the pain made him collapse back into it.

Legate Rikke stood up and headed for the door. "Don't move around so quickly, soldier. You're still injured. I'll see if I can find more information on this elf for you." She told Basilio as she left. Basilio laid his head into his arms puzzled at all the new information.

A month had passed since Basilio had awoken. Basilio stared out the window of his room in the castle dour. He knew he was lucky to be alive but he hated being here. This time period didn't suit him at all. He was still badly injured. Basilio had trouble walking around his room let alone trying to do anything more. While the Imperials knew Basilio was a soldier based on his uniform they were still skeptical about his story. An Imperial soldier from the first era? Everyone looked at him like he was crazy when he first told his story. But the longer he's been awake the more they started to believe him. Basilio didn't know what was happening in the world. He didn't know anything about the civil war he and Rhew seemed to have awaken in the middle of. The powers of Tamriel were different from when he was alive. The Ayleid? Everyone laughed when he asked about them. They haven't been around for centuries!

Basilio was frustrated. Bored. Resentful. He was in a nice large bedroom with a fireplace on one side. It looked like they were treating him as a higher up but he knew better. He was being watched. Tullius didn't trust Basilio. And Basilio knew this. There was always someone nearby Basilio. They were just curious they would say. But Basilio knew better. Basilio sighed frustrated at everything that had happened the past few months. He limped to a chair in front of the fireplace and fell into it.

And where was Rhew? Basilio thought angrily. He heard rumors of dragonborns appearing. A Stormcloak soldier and A snow elf dragonborn who seemed to have a wood elf following her around. How could she just abandon me like that! He thought. Not a word from her! Not even a letter! Basilio grabbed a book from the table and threw it at the fire. The fire devoured the pages to the book eagerly.

There was a rap at the door. A tall blond woman entered his room. "What is it, Legate Rikke?" He asked never moving his gaze from the fire.

She glanced at the burning book as she walked up to him. "Another one? I should stop bringing books to you." She sat in a chair next to him.

"If it bothers you so much that the dragonborn hasn't come to see you then why don't you send her a message?"

Basilio glanced away from the fire and looked over at Rikke. "And where do you suppose I send this message to?"

"There are rumors of the dragonborn's location arriving all the time." Rikke explained, "I'm sure a courier would find her eventually." It's not like Basilio hadn't thought of sending Rhew a message before. He was stubborn and expected her to come find him.

"She just tossed me aside when she found someone new." He scoffed.

"There are rumors that she has amnesia. Perhaps she does not remember you."

"Amnesia." He repeated. "That would be a blessing." Knowing that everything he knew and everyone he loved was no longer around was unbearable at times. It wouldn't be so bad if Rhew was around but her not being here was a blow Basilio didn't need. "What are you doing here?" He asked her.

"General Tullius has asked to speak to you." Rikke responded.

"Oh, great. Another interrogation." How many times would this be now? Basilio wondered. It seemed once a week Tullius would call on Basilio and ask him to repeat his story. Basilio was sure Tullius was trying to catch him in a lie. That he would slip on the details, the years, the people. Anything that proved Basilio was lying. Basilio had a feeling Tullius suspected he was a spy.

"No. Not this time." Rikke replied. Basilio sat up and waited for her to continue. General Tullius wants to speak with me for some other reason? "Just go see him when you have the chance." She said standing and heading for the door. "After you've won the battle with your enemy, the books?" She added with a small smile as she disappeared through the door.

Basilio went back to the book roasting in the fire. All that was left was the charred cover. The fire attempted to lick at the cover but the book was no longer flammable.