Author's Note: Here's the last part of Helgen. After here I may follow parts of quests as the story calls for. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Again, reviews, suggestions, etc. are welcome. The first three chapters will be up tonight and then probably a break before I continue writing Everlee's adventures.

Escape

I think my body must have collapsed with relief at my reprieve from the chopping block and the shock of the beast because the next thing I know I heard Ralof yelling at me desperately.

"Come on Ever, move, move!"

My mind and body snapped out of the shock, seeming to realize simultaneously the need for me to get out of the city as quickly as possible. I got up just as Ralof was inches from lifting me up himself.

"I've got it, I've got it," I said and we sprinted ahead.

We ran toward a turret, barring the door behind us. I had to fight a temporary wave of nausea seeing two injured Stormcloaks on the floor, bleeding heavily. The world seemed to sway a little beneath me and for a second I thought I was going to pass out.

"Ever, we've got to go!"

"Go?" I asked, my voice sounding strange to my ears, quiet, mangled.

"Up the tower, come on," Ralof said. He grabbed my arm and gave it a shake. "Ever!"

I looked at him, his steady blue eyes holding mine. "Come on, there's nothing you can do for them now. Let's go, we have to find a way out."

I swallowed, closed my eyes, and forced my head into place. I nodded and ran up the steps as best as I could with bound hands and stiff legs. A man sat on his knees at the top, vainly trying to loosen some stones to escape. I went to help him the same time the tower seemed to shatter around me. The solid tower stones flew from place as the dragon itself forced its head through. The man, terror in his eyes, somehow having not been crushed by the rocks looked at me. I started towards him, to do what I'm not sure, push or pull him out of the way, but Ralof threw his arms around my waist and flung me around.

"No!" I screamed.

I hit the wall hard as the dragon roared, flame bursting forth where seconds ago I had been. Ralof protectively hovered over me, as I cried, my heart racing, sure I was going to die.

When the dragon fled to do more damage elsewhere, having played with us like a cat does to mice Ralof released me. Wearily I walked up the steps, the man was nothing but a corpse burned mostly to a cinder. Seconds ago a man, healthy and on the verge of freedom, now, nothing. It didn't hurt any less than the two soldiers dying downstairs did, but somehow I didn't feel myself on the verge of blacking out this time, as if death were already becoming common to me. Two men dead, two more soldiers dying downstairs, a whole village burning around us. For a moment I wondered if I hadn't actually died and this reality was my punishment for whatever wrongs I might have committed in life.

"Everlee, you have to jump through," Ralof said loudly, perhaps his hearing impaired from the dragon.

"What?" I asked.

Certainly he didn't mean he wanted me to jump through a hole in a tower, down a whole story through a fiery hole in the roof of the one below because that would be insane, not to mention deadly.

"You have to –" Ralof began again, louder, but I interrupted.

"I heard you, I just, Ralof, what?" I stammered barely making any sense. "I can't, you can't expect, my hands are still bound, jump?"

I think he got the drift. He put his arms around me, and for a second I thought he was going to hug me but instead he bent down slightly, lifting me off my feet.

"You'll thank me later. It's the only way. I'll see you on the other side. Be safe Everlee," Ralof said as he threw me through the hole with perfect aim.

I managed to grasp what was happening in time to throw my legs out to prepare for the fall, and somehow I landed on my feet, a much better prospect than even I had hoped for in those seconds where, for another time, I was sure death awaited. I wanted to scream obscenities at him for half of a second, but I knew through my surprise that Ralof had just saved my life. There was no way I would have made that jump with wrists bound. Which reminded me…

I barely had time to saw my binds off with a knife in the dining area, swing down to the first floor, and escape through the hole that used to be the back wall of the home before the place collapsed. With one path to take, I forged ahead.

Only to run into Hadvar. Several things I took in at once: 1) Both the boy and older man were injured and couldn't walk far without help. 2) Hadvar was valiantly trying to rescue both. 3) The dragon was making his descent, his shadow becoming bigger and darker on the ground. 4) Without help, all three of them would die.

I cursed. As angry as Hadvar and the Legion had made me, he was saving lives, and they would all be dead if I didn't act quick. So I risked my brief freedom and picked up the small boy in my arms. He clutched me tightly, probably making tiny finger holes in my skin. Without having to haul the boy Hadvar moved easier, and we all made it out of the dragon's fire just in time. We helped both the boy and older man scale the wall. Hadvar didn't offer to help me and I couldn't get over on my own which left one option"

"Come with me," Hadvar said as if I had a choice. I ran after him, he didn't even look behind him to see if I was follow his order. It was that or die and he didn't seem to care which.

"Stay close to the wall!" Hardvar shouted as we passed some more destroyed buildings.

Just then a dark shadow passed over and I threw myself at Hardvar, tackling him to the ground seconds before the wing slammed into the wall where he'd been before. His soldier instincts kicked in too quick though, and soon I was the one on my back, sword to throat. He looked behind me to where the dragon's wing had indented the wall and released his tight grip on me, as well as the sword.

He looked at me for a moment and I thought he would thank me or apologize but all he said was, "This way prisoner," as he got up and ran again, back on course.

I cursed again. I cursed him for his rudeness and reminding me of my still-prisoner status, and me for not letting the dragon crush him. I ran after him though. After running past the Imperial Legion valiantly attempting to keep whoever was left in the city alive, we ran into Ralof. Relief flooded me and I ran faster to catch up to him, barely even remembering Hardvar beside me.

"You're alive Everlee, good!" Ralof said. Then we both remembered Hardvar, whose sword was drawn once more. "Out of the way, you're not taking us this time."

Hardvar hesitated, rolling on the balls of his feet, alive with energy. He looked at me. "Come with me."

"We don't have time for this Hardvar, she's not going with you to be locked in irons, her head on the chopping block as soon as we get out," Ralof said.

"I wasn't speaking to you Stormcloak," he growled in return. Mustering restraint, he again turned his attention back to me. "I can protect you if you come with me. I can't promise that I can do that if you don't. Your name was on the list and…" Hardvar looked again at Ralof, unwilling to continue. Then he looked back at me, "The list may have been destroyed, but I can't say. If you're caught with a Stormcloak by the Legion they won't hesitate to take you in."

I looked at Ralof but he refused to say anything. I knew if I chose to go with Hardvar he would not hold it against me, the chance to have my name cleared, of being free, was guaranteed if I went with Hardvar, but only a possibility with Ralof.

"What happened here today wasn't right Hardvar, no matter what side you're on, it wasn't justice, it wasn't the way of law. Too much was already sacrificed before the dragon came," I said, making my speech brief. "I'm sorry."

He rolled his eyes. "Well I offered. That being said, I owe you my life twice, I will do for you what I can if I make it out," he said reluctantly, as if it pained him to admit he owed me his life when he had not spared mine to begin with. He looked at Ralof, "As for you Stormcloaks, I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovanguarde."

We parted ways, and that was the last time I saw the city of Helgen, burning in its final moments.

A.N.: Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy it thus far!