"No, I'm not a rebel! You can't do this!"

I stood shaking at the back of a horse carriage wearing little more than dirty burlap rags cinched with a rope. The bright sun did little to assuage the oppressive feel of the grey stone walls and towers of Helgen Keep. They were going to execute me along with the Stormcloak troop I had been caught up with and their rebel leader, Ulfric. I had thought I would be jailed as a thief, not beheaded as a threat to the empire. But they would not believe me. And for once, I was telling the truth.

I saw my chance and weighed my options, meager as they were. There were no guards standing between me and the wide open gates. They used to call me Lokir the swift when I was a teenager in Rorikstead. No farmer could catch me, even when I was carrying an armload of their crops. These soldiers were about to discover the same. Though my hands were tied in front of me, I broke into a mad dash for my life.

"You won't kill me!" I yelled defiantly.

"Halt!" the female officer yelled. "Archers!"

Archers?

Three steps later I felt an arrow thud into my back. I lost my footing on the rough cobblestones and fell face-first into the dirt. Despite the pain I remained still. I did not want to offer them any more reasons to continue shooting at me.

"Anyone else feel like running?" the officer asked the other prisoners. It sounded more like a dare.

No one else tried to escape. I was the only brave soul on that carriage. Damn cowardly Stormcloaks. Even that loudmouth braggart with them just stood there. I could hear him at least mouthing off to the Imperials. What did he just say his name was? Ralos Ravenclaw? Never heard of him. Let him die like the others if he won't fight back. The first man was called to the chopping block. The hooded executioner would earn his keep today, and be sharpening his dulled axe tomorrow.

They left me on the ground, already forgotten, and continued with their executions. They must have thought I was already dead. I risked opening my eyes a little. I glanced down and saw the tip of the arrow jutting from my left side. Blood was pooling on the stones beneath me. I nearly panicked but forced myself not to move. I may have a chance if my ruse worked. The arrow must have gone all the way through but I was not in agony. Perhaps it had hit nothing vital.

Except for myself. I had never been hit with an arrow before. Stung like a giant wasp. If I could stand to play dead for a little while - was that a roar I heard? What could have made that sort of noise. It was no bear, that was for sure.

A few moments later I heard a thunk and the first Stormcloak was twitching headless on the ground.

Another roar echoed through the trees. I tried looking around, but my head was mostly facing the ground. I saw that Ralos fellow brought to the block next. He looked down into the basket.

"I appreciate the offer, Captain," Ralos said to the female Imperial, "but when I asked for a little head, this is not at all what I meant."

The Captain put her boot in his back and forced him onto the block.

I stifled a laugh, which hurt like Hells. Perhaps that one had courage after all. Too bad he was about to lose that smart mouth permanently.

A thundering crash shook the ground. Everyone looked up. I could not help myself and lifted my head to look as well. I choked out a curse then a hasty prayer to the Divines. A living, breathing dragon sat perched atop a tower mere feet from where I lay. Its dark scales radiated power and its eyes burned red with malevolence. It let out another deafening roar and the force of it caused me to soil my ragged trousers. I'm sure everyone present did the same, despite what they may say later.

The sky responded to its Shout by turning dark with ominous clouds swirling overhead. Suddenly balls of fire rained down upon us. Chaos erupted all over Helgen as people were crushed and buildings demolished or set ablaze. The dragon lifted itself into the sky, breathing gouts of fire as he turned and circled the keep. That was my cue to leave.

I struggled to stand. I was not sure what to do about the arrow. I could not break the shaft with my hands still bound. Instead I yanked the missile all the way through. A ripple of pain bent me over for a moment but then the dragon roared once again and I found the strength to get moving. I paused just long enough to use the arrowhead pinched between my knees to saw through the rope around my wrists.

I needed bandages or something to help with my wound. I ran into the nearest house. An old woman was sheltering inside. We both started when she saw me.

"Oh, you poor man!" she said. "You've been injured!"

I stammered for what to say. She must not have been watching the executions. "Yes, kind woman. A great beast has attacked the keep. It jabbed me with one of its claws but I fought it off with my bare hands."

"Oh, dear! Have a seat at the table. I believe I have something that can help."

I limped over to their dining table. I could smell the stew boiling in the nearby pot. It mingled disturbingly with the burning carnage that raged outside. The woman returned holding a large red bottle.

"Here, I saved this from when my dear husband was run over by a team of horses. The healers gave it to me to give to him, but he was already gone. I've kept it all this time. You might as well use it."

I thanked her and quickly chugged the concoction. Amazed, I watched the wound in my side seal itself closed. That must have been a powerful potion. The pain was gone instantly.

"Thank you again, my lady. That was indeed a great kindness."

The woman stood up strait. "More than you deserve, I'm sure, rebel scum. I only wish I had a bottle of poison to give you."

Her fist shot out and smacked me across the jaw. I reeled back and threw my arms up to protect myself. When I looked again, she had a wicked looking dagger leveled at me.

"I saw you run from the Captain, Lokir of Rorikstead," she said my name like it was a curse. "I would have run you through to make sure you were dead. Kids these days. Can't count on them to follow through on anything. But now I will make sure they finish what they started. Bleeding to death was too good for you, that's why I healed you. As soon as whatever is going on out there is over, your head is going right to that block."

I swallowed hard. The way she held that dagger and the strength in her punch told me she was no feeble old woman. If I ran for the door, she'd stab me before I could get it open. If I jumped at her, she'd jab that metal right into my gut.

Something crashed through the roof behind the old woman. We both looked down as the dust cleared to see an Imperial guard, twisted and burning, lying in the middle of her home.

"Mara's mercy-" she said.

She never finished the thought. I lashed out with the only weapon I had and smashed the empty potion bottle over her grey head. She collapsed beside the smoldering soldier.

I had no time to waste. Someone could come looking for this soldier or to check on the old woman. I couldn't very well go back out like this. I needed clothes. The soldier's leather armor would have been good but he was too big for me and the dragon had torn much of it to shreds.

The old woman had mentioned a husband so I ran to the wardrobe by her bed. Fortune smiled on me as some of his clothes were still hung up inside. I ditched my filthy, wet rags and quickly changed into a simple burgundy shirt and grey pants. There were no shoes, but I pulled the ones off of the soldier. They were big but still better than my bare feet. I also grabbed a sword, long bow, and a quiver of arrows from the dead soldier. I took the dagger from the old woman as well. I wished I had had time to search for some coin, but I needed to hurry.

I cracked open the door. Even though I had been in the midst of the attack, I was still stunned by what I saw. There were numerous small fires and every building seemed to have taken some damage. Soldiers and townsfolk ran with buckets and shovels. Wounded people were being tended to where they lay. One woman was crouched beside a small child, wailing uncontrollably. As heart-breaking as the scene was, there was never going to be a better time for me to slip away unnoticed.

A loud moan from behind made me jump. The old woman stirred, mumbling unintelligibly. Well, I hadn't killed her. That was good. But now I really could not wait.

I slipped outside, closed the door behind me, and ran for gate.