I entered the keep right after Ralof. He turned to me, "Let us see if we can get those binds off, your no use if you can't swing a weapon." He said slicing through the leather binds with an iron dagger.

"Speaking of weapon, you can have poor Gunjars gear over there, he won't be needing it." Ralof motioned over to the corpse of one of his fallen comrades.

I walked over and began pulling off the battle gear he was wearing. After getting suited up and adjusting the straps and belts of the tunic, I picked up the iron axe still clutched in the man's hands.

I gazed over at Ralof who was pacing back and forth clearly troubled, "Don't worry Ralof, Ulfric is fine. We just need to get out of this keep, and out of Helgen." I tried to be encouraging, knowing the man practically worshipped the ground Ulfric walked across.

He spun around and raised a finger, "And how could you possibly know that? How do you know about any of this? Answer me!" He shouted glaring daggers at me.

I raise my hands in surrender, "Trust me if I could tell you I would, but you just have to take my word on this." I said slowly, trying not to set the fiery-tempered Nord off even more.

My words seemed to have a little effect on him as he calmed down and stopped his pacing, "Fine, but I have questions if we get out of here."

"Wait what's that?" He put a finger to his lips and turned to look at the gate to our right.

Footsteps echoed down the hall and a voice could be heard, "Ha, damn storm cloaks barely put up a fight. Up here, finally, this gate is out ticket out of here." Ralof crouched by the side of the gate motioning me to follow.

Once in place, I heard the rattling of keys and the click of the lock as the gate swung open. "Finally just through this gate and we can get out of here." Said an imperial soldier as he walked into the room.

Ralof let out a fierce battle cry, startling the soldier who didn't have enough time to draw his blade before an iron war axe became acquainted with his skull.

I drew my axe and charged at the other imperial soldier. With a vertical swing, I sunk my axe deep into the neck of the soldier and yanked it out leaving him to bleed out on the floor.

That left one more. The imperial officer from earlier, the one I attempted to flirt with, "Look who it is, it must be fate that we keep meeting dear." I said putting on the most shit eatingness grin I could manage.

The only response I got was a choked gagging sound as the officer made a face and drew her sword. Ralof stood next to me; axe drawn and in fighting stance. The officer snarled, "I'll have both of your heads on pikes you damn storm cloaks!"

She lunged forward unleashing a powerful swipe with her sword across my chest. I stumbled and fell backwards, it wasn't deep enough to cut, the chain mail protected me from that. I saw the red meter in the corner of my vision go down to about two-thirds.

I watched from the ground as Ralof battled the Female officer. Ralof was a flurry of strikes and swings; the officer just couldn't keep up. Ralof ended the fight with a power attack that struck her in the chink of her chest armor, causing blood to spurt out as she fell to the ground.

Ralof sauntered over to me before offering a hand and picking me up, "Took a mean blow there, are you alright friend?"

I nodded my head, "I'm alright I think, damn that hurt like a bitch."

Ralof laughed a hearty laugh, "Getting hit with a sword tends to hurt friend! Just be glad your alive." He said before turning to open the other gate to our left.

I stood up and went to the corpse of the imperial officer. I bent down and rummaged through the pockets in search of the key to the gate Ralof was cursing at.

"Damn! Gates locked. Looks like we have to find another way." He sighed turning around.

"Or, we could just use the key," I said with an air of sarcasm as I twirled the key along my ring finger. Ralof grunted, "The tongue of yours will get you killed one day, give me the key and let's go." He said taking the key from my finger and unlocking the gate.

Note to self, Ralof is a severe bipolar.

Ralof and I made our way down the stairs of the keep on edge, ready for an imperial soldier to pop out each step we took.

The bottom of the stairway led into a long corridor, as we made our way down the ceiling just ahead suddenly collapsed in blocking our path.

"Damn dragon doesn't give up easy." Ralof groaned. "Over here, let's try this door."

We entered into a large storeroom, lined with barrels and boxes. Two imperials were checking various barrels farther into the room. One turned and faced us as we entered the room.

I readied my axe as they begin to charge us, I glance over to see Ralof doing the same. As the first imperial reached me I grasped my axe with two hands and swung it overhead right into the chest of my attacker, which he narrowly blocked with his sword.

Before I could ready an attack again the imperial lurched forward landing a kick straight to my chest. I stumbled and fell back, crashing into a pile of wooden boxes. The imperial was quick to jump on the opportunity, thrusting his sword straight through my gut. I looked down and saw the sword embedded up to the hilt in my stomach. The pain seared through my body, my vision went blurry and my heartbeat was in my ears.

I was vaguely aware of the wet schlunk of Ralof axe going through the neck of the imperial who had skewered me.

"Hey! Stay awake now, you'll be alright drink this healing potion before you bleed to death!" Ralof was frantic, shoving the bottle into my lips.

As the liquid made its way down my throat I felt instantly better, but the fading of my vision didn't stop. I felt so tired, surely Ralof wouldn't mind if I rested for just a few minutes?