Chapter 1: Unbound

The smell was the first thing that came to her groggy mind. The stench of unwashed flesh and horse dung. As the numbness of unconsciousness faded and she woke up more, she became aware of the harsh rattle of the carriage: her method of transport. She sat up and blinked bleary eyes until her vision cleared. She instinctually tried to rub her eyes, but was startled with the realization that her hands were bound. What woke her fully, however, was the stark realization that she had no memory of how she got here, why she was tied up, or anything of her past life. The only thing she remembered was her first name: Rayna.

"Hey, you, you're finally awake," said one of her fellow captured.

"What's going on?" she asked the man, her voice a croak.

"You got caught in that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there," the man replied.

"Damn you, Stormcloaks. Skyrim was fine until you came along, Empire was nice and lazy. If they hadn't been looking for you, I could've stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell," said the thief. He turned to Rayna and said, "You there, you and me, we shouldn't be here. It's these Stormcloaks the Empire wants."

"We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief," said the first man.

"Shut up, back there," said the carriage driver.

"What's wrong with him, huh?" asked the thief to the man on Rayna's right. He was a burly man with a gag around his mouth.

"Watch your tongue! You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King," said the first man.

"Ulfric? The Jarl of Windhelm? You're the leader of the rebellion... but if they've captured you... oh, gods. Where are they taking us?" The thief was on edge now.

"I don't know where we're going, but Sovngarde awaits."

"No, this can't be happening. This isn't happening." Rayna thought the same thing. She was still too dumbstruck to really speak. She kept wracking her brain, trying to remember what could have possibly warranted getting arrested.

"Hey, what village are you from, horse thief?"

"Why do you care?"

"A Nord's last thoughts should be of home."

"Rorikstead... I'm from Rorikstead." These places: Windhelm, Sovngarde, Rorikstead, none of them sounded familiar.

"General Tullius, sir, the headsman is waiting," said a voice nearby.

"Good, let's get this over with," said another, presumably the General. Rayna couldn't see either of them yet.

"Shor, Mara, Dibella, Kynareth, Akatosh, Divines, please help me," said the thief. Rayna was getting more unnerved by the second. Their carriage passed under an arch into a small town and she couldn't help but look around, desperate for anything familiar.

"Look at him. General Tullius, the military governor, and it looks like the Thalmor are with him. Damn elves. I bet they had something to do with this." Rayna looked in the direction of these elves and general. Still, nothing familiar came to her mind, their presence only seemed to add to her ever-increasing dread.

The man went on after a moment of quiet. "This is Helgen. I used to be sweet on a girl from here. Wonder if Vilod is still making that mead with juniper berries mixed in. Funny, when I was a boy, Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel so safe."

"Who are they, Daddy?" Rayna turned to see a family gathered on the porch of their house. The son had asked the question. "Where are they going?"

"You need to go inside," said the dad.

"Why? I wanna watch the soldiers."

"Inside the house. Now."

"Yes, Papa." Rayna looked back and the bad feeling in her stomach only deepened. We're gonna be put to death and I don't even know what I did. It was then she noticed the carriage slowing to a stop. No. Please, no.

"Why are we stopping?" asked the thief.

"Why do you think? End of the line," said the other man. Rayna wanted to cry. She was scared, alarmed, outraged. There has to be some mistake. Why am I here? Why don't I remember anything? "Let's go. Shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us."

"No, wait, we're not rebels!" protested the thief. Rayna was pushed out alongside the other men. She didn't realize how restricted she was until she had to get down from the carriage. She sat down and slid off, carefully balancing herself.

"Face your death with some courage, thief," the other man spit the words out.

"You've got to tell them. We weren't with you! This is a mistake!" Was I in league with the thief then? Yet, he doesn't know me, didn't call me by name. I must have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Step towards the block when we call your name," said a woman in armor in front of them. "One at a time!"

"Empire loves their damned lists..." said the other man, now standing on Rayna's left.

"Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm," another soldier announced. He had a small book and a quill in hand.

"It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric."

"Ralof of Riverwood." The man at her left walked off toward the block. "Lokir of Rorikstead."

Lokir walked forward. "No! I'm not a rebel! You can't do this!" He began running off, even as the woman in armor called out for him to halt. "You're not gonna kill me!"

"Archers!" the woman called. One well-placed arrow and Lokir fell, dead. Rayna found herself shaking, terrified. "Anyone else feel like running?" At least if my head gets chopped off, it's quick, no chance I'd lay there awaiting death. This thought did not steady her breathing, however.

It was then the woman and the other soldier with the book and quill turned their attention to her. "Wait," said the man. "You there, step forward." Rayna did so quickly, not wanting to anger the woman on his right. "Who are you?"

Rayna quickly found her voice, anything to plead for her life. "My name is Rayna. Please, I don't know why I'm here. I don't remember anything besides my name and what has transpired since I woke up in the carriage moments ago. I ask for what I am being charged with, that I might know why I am being executed."

The man seemed sympathetic with her. "You were found in the Stormcloak camp near Darkwater Crossing. You were bring cared for among the wounded. You were the only one that made the trip among those wounded."

"But I'm not a Stormcloak. If I were, why aren't I wearing their colors?" Rayna gestured to her rags.

"If you were not with them, they would have killed you," said the woman.

"Captain, what should we do? She's not on the list," said the man.

"Forget the list. She goes to the block," the woman replied.

"By your orders, Captain." Rayna's heart sank. What kind of justice system is this? Wrong place, wrong time, but still. It didn't feel right. The man continued, "I'm sorry, we'll make sure your remains are returned to Cyrodiil."

"I don't even know where that is!" Rayna said. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so tears came from her eyes as she gave a laugh. This was all so unbelievably insane.

"Follow the captain, prisoner," said the man. His face was clouded with sorrow. It was clear this was the hardest part of his job. Rayna felt some sympathy for him. After all, who was she? He had his orders and, now, Rayna had hers. She followed the woman until she was standing among the other Stormcloaks.

The General stood before the gagged Ulfric. He said, "Ulfric Stormcloak, some here in Helgen call you a hero, but a hero doesn't use a power like the Voice to murder his King and usurp his throne." Ulfric only grunted in response. "You started this war, plunged Skyrim into chaos, and now the Empire is going to put you down and restore the peace."

It was then they heard an awful roar echo across the sky. "What was that?" asked one of the men.

"It's nothing. Carry on," said the General.

"Yes, General Tullius," said the Captain with a salute. "Give them their last rites," she said to a woman in robes.

The woman lifted her hands and began. "As we commend your souls to Aetherius, blessings of the eight Divines upon you-"

She was interrupted by one of the Stormcloak soldiers. "For the love of Talos, shut up and let's get this over with."

"As you wish," said the priest coldly.

"Come on, I haven't got all morning!" the man barked. The Captain pushed him into a kneeling position in front of the block, then pushed further until his chest rested on it and his head was over the basket.

"My ancestors are smiling at me, Imperials, can you say the same?" asked the man. Rayna saw the executioner ready his axe. She turned her head and shut her eyes, knowing what came next and not wanting to see. A sickening chop and a few thuds and it was over. Tears came past her shut eyelids.

"You Imperial bastards!" shouted a woman.

"Justice!" cried a man.

"Death to the Stormcloaks!" said another woman.

"As fearless in death as he was in life..." Ralof said wistfully. Rayna opened her eyes.

The captain pointed to her. "Next, the renegade from Cyrodiil," she said. It was then, the same roar from before, but louder, echoed across the sky.

"There it is again," said the man who had previously held the list. "Did you hear that?" I don't know how anyone here couldn't.

"I said, 'Next prisoner,'" the captain reinforced.

"To the block, prisoner, nice and easy." Rayna walked forward and knelt over the block of her own accord. The head and body from the previous prisoner hadn't been moved. She shut her eyes and hoped death would come quickly. As she did so though, the roar from before was noticeably closer.

"What in Oblivion is that?!" she heard a man say.

"Sentries, what do you see?" asked the captain. Then, the ground shook and Rayna felt the executioner trip. She opened her eyes and wished she hadn't. Sitting perched atop the tower was a-

"Dragon!" called out a woman.

The dragons scales were as black as the darkest shadows, its wings massive. It opened its mouth and let out a loud sound. In a moment, the sky clouded over and fire fell from the sky. Rayna realized the executioner had been hit by one of these, yet she couldn't move still. She heard people scrambling around her, priorities shifted.

It was then Rayna felt strong hands pulling her to her feet. "Get up! Come on, the gods won't give us another chance!" It was Ralof. "This way." He pulled her into a run toward a nearby tower and shut the door behind them. There were other Stormcloaks gathered in there, some injured. Rayna felt sick. "Jarl Ulfric, what is that thing? Could the legends be true?"

"Legends don't burn down villages," Ulfric replied. Rayna was about to ask for her bindings to be removed when Ulfric spoke again. "We need to move. Now!"

"Up through the tower. Let's go!" said Ralof. He pushed Rayna up the steps and they ran up. They might have made it to the top too, if the way hadn't been blocked by rocks.

Before anything more could be said or done, the wall broke and the dragon popped its head through it. Rayna swallowed a scream and started running down. Ralof stopped her halfway. She was thankfully far enough from the fire the dragon breathed into the opening. The dragon left and Ralof pushed her back upward onto the still crisp landing.

"See the inn on the other side? Jump through the roof and keep going! Go! We'll follow when we can!" He ran back down the steps before she could protest. Wanting to be safe and fearing the dragon would return to the tower to finish the job, she made a running jump into the building just below the tower.

"Why me? Why now? Why anything?" She spoke to herself, annoyed. She ran across the floor and jumped down to the ground level. She went through the doorway in front of her and ran into the soldier from before, the sympathetic one who had read from the list. She just missed the dragon's fire again as it let out a blast on the nearby road.

"Still alive, prisoner? Keep close to me if you want to stay that way," said the soldier to her. "Gunnar, take care of the boy. I have to find General Tullius and join the defense.

"Gods guide you, Hadvar," said Gunnar.

Rayna followed Hadvar through the crumbling, burning Helgen. They didn't get far before the dragon swooped down again. "Stay close to the wall!" Hadvar called out to her. The dragon's wings just barely missed them, it might not even have known they were there. If it did, it was more concerned at whatever it was breathing fire at. As soon as the dragon alighted, Hadvar grabbed Rayna's arm. "Quickly, follow me!"

As they ran through a burning building onto another road, she heard someone say to head into the keep. Hadvar said, "It's you and me, prisoner. Stay close." She didn't argue and stayed on his heels.

Another archway and they ran into Ralof. "Ralof! You damned traitor. Out of my way!" said Hadvar.

"We're escaping, Hadvar. You're not stopping us this time," said Ralof.

"Fine. I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovngarde."

They both pleaded with her. "You! Come on, into the keep!"

"With me, prisoner. Let's go." The last thing she wanted was to confirm she was with the traitors and give them a true reason to execute her. Maybe this was her chance to prove that she was no traitor, that she could and would abide by the laws. She followed Hadvar inside.

Once inside, with the door safely shut behind them, they both breathed a sigh of relief. "Looks like we're the only ones who made it. Was that really a dragon? The bringers of the End Times?" His musing lasted only a moment before going to the next priority. "We should keep moving. Come here. Let me see if I can get those bindings off." He removed a dagger from his waist and cut her bindings off. She was free.

"There you go," he said. "Take a look around, there should be plenty of gear to choose from. I'm going to see if I can find something for these burns."

"Hadvar..." Rayna said, voice shaky. "What happens to me now?"

Hadvar didn't halt his search, but cast glances at her, trying to divine truth. "The dragon certainly changed things, huh? As far as I'm concerned, you seem all right. You don't strike me as someone who lies or, at least, not many would choose to say they don't remember anything. You really remember nothing but your name?"

"No, I swear. Nothing's familiar."

"It might just be because you are no longer in Cyrodiil. Perhaps going home would help you get your memory back. First things first, we should get out of here, quickly."

"You say Cyrodiil as if I should know it." She went through a few chests before finding some armor that fit. She began tying it on over her rags.

"It is where all Imperials come from at some point."

"How are you able to glance at me and know I'm an Imperial though? I'm a human."

"It is in the shade of the skin or the shape of certain facial features. Do you not recognize what I am?"

Rayna tilted her head. "Nord?"

"Why do you say that like a question?"

"I don't know! A part of my mind tells me what you are, but I don't know how I know it."

Hadvar sighed and came closer to her, tightening armor pieces she had been struggling with. It was the smallest set of armor she could find, but it still felt like she was swimming in it. He picked up a sword and handed it to her. It was heavier than she expected and it was hard for her to keep it aloft.

"Well, you are no warrior. Best stay behind me," he said. There was something in his voice that immediately made Rayna bristle. He thinks I'm going to be a burden to him... he might be right. She didn't remember ever having picked up a sword in her life. She needed both hands to hold it. She decided it might be best if she holster it for now, so she put it in a scabbard at her waist.

"Let's keep moving. That thing it still out there," said Hadvar. He pulled on a chain and the door beside it opened. He led them down the hall before they came to another door with a pull chain beside it. They heard voices beyond it.

"We need to get moving! That dragon is tearing up the whole keep!" said a man.

"Just give me a minute... I'm out of breath..." said a woman.

Hadvar whispered to her. "Hear that? Stormcloaks. Maybe we can reason with them." He pulled the chain and entered the room. Rayna followed close at his heels. He approached the Stormcloaks and tried to be non-threatening. "Hold on, now, we only want to..." But they drew their weapons and began to attack. Rayna tried to stay behind Hadvar, but found she had to draw her sword to block off an attack. It was a clumsy block, but it gave Hadvar enough time to dispatch with both soldiers.

Rayna whimpered in fear. So much death... She didn't like it. "Let me see if I can get that door open," said Hadvar. He unlocked a door and Rayna followed him, trying to not look back at the room with the recently dead. She failed. "Let's go."

They headed down a set of winding stairs and came to another hallway. They heard the dragon's roar and the ground shook. The ceiling ahead of them caved in, rocks falling. Hadvar pushed her back with a "Look out!" When the dust had partially settled, he said, "Damn, that dragon doesn't give up easy."

"What are you doing?! We need to get out of Helgen. Now!" came a voice from the other room. They must have been oblivious to the recent cave-in.

As she and Hadvar entered the room, she heard another voice saying, "These Imperials have potions in here. We're going to need them." Hadvar put Rayna behind a pillar and she shook as she heard the sounds of steel entering bodies and the thuds of each hitting the floor.

She almost screamed when Hadvar came back to her. "This is an old storeroom. See if you can find some potions. Might come in handy," he said. She stood and, once she found out where the bodies were, tried to look at anything else.

While looking around, she found three types of potions: Potion of Minor Healing, Potion of Minor Magicka, and Potion of Minor Stamina. These were in small red, blue, and green bottles, respectively. They were all labelled, but they did not say what they did. She left the magicka potions, but took two each of the healing and stamina potions. A sack of potatoes in the room was quickly emptied and improvised into a sack to carry the potions in (though she did keep two potatoes).

Once she finished with that, Hadvar led her out of a door into another hall. She heard terrible, sad sounds ahead. "The torture room. Gods, I wish we didn't need these..." said Hadvar. He motioned for her to stay in the shadows while he dealt with a few more Stormcloaks. When the renegades lay on the floor, Rayna timidly entered the room.

"You two happened along just in time. These boys seemed a bit upset at how I've been entertaining their comrades," said a man with a hood on his head. He wore Imperial colors, so he was no doubt in charge of this particular torture room. It almost made Rayna hurl.

"Don't you even know what's going on? A dragon is attacking Helgen!" said Hadvar.

Rayna noticed a knapsack on a table nearby. Before she could ask, Hadvar put it in her hands. It was silent permission. She repacked the knapsack with the potions, potatoes, and kept some of the original contents. She put a dagger inside and a black book that had been on the table.

While she was doing this, the torturer said, "A dragon? Please. Don't make up nonsense. Although, come to think of it, I did hear some odd noises coming from over there."

"Come with us. We need to get out of here," said Hadvar.

"You have no authority over me, boy," the torturer retorted. By this time, Rayna had finished packing the knapsack and had it slung over her shoulders. The straps were way loose on her, but it matched her armor, so it all worked out.

"Didn't you hear me? I said the keep is under attack!"

"Forget the old man. I'll come with you," said the other man in the room, presumably an assistant to the torturer.

"Wait a second. Looks like there's something in this cage," said Hadvar.

"Don't bother with that. Lost the key ages ago. Poor fellow screamed for weeks," said the torturer.

"See if you can get it open with some picks. We'll need everything we can get," said Hadvar, handing Rayna a dozen picks.

"Sure, take all my things, please," said the torturer condescendingly. Rayna sighed. She doubted she could pick a lock, but set to it anyway. She was surprised it clicked open with so little effort. Let's hope I'm not a thief. She went in and found a few gold coins, a magicka potion, and a spell book. She was uninterested in the potion or Sparks spell, but she took the gold laying out on the floor, along with some coins she had seen gleaming in the corpse's pocket. She stuck the gold into a small pouch in her knapsack and tied it shut.

She got up to follow Hadvar. He handed her a mace and said, "Swords require a bit more skill than maces. A good swing and your opponent will back off."

"Thank you. I'd hate to feel completely useless," she said, replacing the sword at her hip with the mace. With that, she followed the two men.

It took a little longer before they were faced with more Stormcloaks. Rayna still tried to stay behind the men, but she managed to get a few swings in with her mace. She was lucky to be behind cover as archers fired on them. They were soon taken care of and Rayna breathed easier.

They proceeded down a passage that looked blocked. Upon further inspection, there was a lever. "Let's see where this goes," said Hadvar, pulling the lever. A bridge popped down and they went across it and into the next room. They made it across just in time, because another dragon roar caused debris to fall onto the bridge, collapsing it. "Damn it, no going back that way. I guess we're lucky that didn't come down on top of us. We must push on. I'm sure the others will find another way out."

"Lead the way," said Rayna.

They pushed on, only stopping for a coin purse, before coming to an open cavern filled with webbing. Large spiders descended from the ceiling and spit at them. Hadvar was quick to dispatch a few of them and, while he distracted them, Rayna managed to slay a few as well.

"What next, giant snakes?" asked Hadvar. Rayna gave him a look that said I hope you're joking. Giant spiders didn't ring true to her. It didn't feel right. She had no time to dwell on it though. She followed Hadvar down another passage.

A short way along, he crouched and spoke low to her. "Hold up. There's a bear just ahead. See her? I'd rather not tangle with her right now. We might be able to sneak by. Just take it nice and slow, and watch where you step. Or, if you're feeling lucky, you can take this bow. Might take her by surprise. Go ahead. I'll follow your lead and watch your back."

I in no way feel lucky. She handed Hadvar the bow back and started sneaking. Hadvar whispered encouragement to her while a chant was going in her head. Please let us get past, please let us get past. It wasn't until they were around the corner from the bear that she felt okay to stand up again.

"That was close," said Hadvar. They followed the passage until they finally saw light. "This looks like the way out. I was starting to wonder if we'd ever make it out." Rayna couldn't help but agree. She was still wary of the dragon outside, so she let Hadvar lead.

When they stepped outside and heard the birds singing, Rayna never felt more relieved. It was the first time today she felt happy. Having no memory still, it felt like her first happy moment ever. She basked in it for all it was worth. Hadvar smiled too... until they saw a shadow.

"Wait," Hadvar warned. He led her to a nearby rock and they hid behind it until the dragon had faded into the distance. "Looks like he's gone for good this time, but I don't think we should stick around to see if he comes back."

He began walking down the dirt path and Rayna followed. "Closest town from here's Riverwood. My uncle's the blacksmith there. I'm sure he'd help you out. It's probably best if we split up."

"Can't you at least show me the way to Riverwood? I'd feel better knowing I have a warrior watching my back than being by myself and blindly swinging my mace," said Rayna.

"Sure."

Rayna breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you." They continued down the dirt road until they hit a more official stone path.

Along the way, Hadvar told Rayna about the Legion. He seemed sure General Tullius would know what the return of the dragons meant. Rayna wasn't so sure. "If it's all the same to you, Hadvar, I'd much rather stay out of any fighting. I'd like to be more informed, to start with."

"Of course. If you do decide to join the Legion, you have my support."

"It might be useful to learn how to fight better, but I'm just not up for fighting a battle for I know not for, who, or why."

"I can understand that. It might be best if you stay clear of both sides then."

"I'll try my best to stay out of trouble. I want to do good and follow the laws. I'll make my way honestly and, if I find out I was anything contrary in the past, I will do my best to amend for it."

"You don't strike me as a criminal. Of course, no Stormcloak does."

"I'm not-"

"I know. I believe you."

They came upon a platform just off the road with three hollowed pillars standing. "What are those?"

"These are the Guardian Stones, three of the 13 standing stones that dot Skyrim's landscape. It is said that anyone who touches one gains a blessing from it. From left to right, they are the Thief Stone, the Mage Stone, and the Warrior Stone."

Rayna walked up to the Warrior Stone and put a hand to it. The stone lit up and a beam shot into the sky. A pattern lit up on the rock that looked like a constellation. Rayna wasn't entirely sure what it meant, but felt like fight lessons would go a bit better for her.

They continued down the road until they came upon some wolves. Rayna managed to get a few swings in, but Hadvar made quick work of them with his sword. "I thought wolves preferred the night time?" asked Rayna.

"They do, but they may sometimes come out during the day. Were you bit?" asked Hadvar.

She gave herself a quick check before replying, "No."

"Good." They continued along the road by the river until civilization came into view.

Rayna followed Hadvar into Riverwood. She met Hadvar's uncle, Alvor, and they talked inside. They had a long discussion over dinner, made longer when it became clear how little Rayna knew of Skyrim and its current events. The conversation went well into the evening. Rayna removed her armor and curled up in a chair by the fire. She resolved to do whatever she could to prove herself useful, starting tomorrow.

A lot of game dialogue, but it'll get more unique as the story progresses. Check out the bottom of my profile page for my update schedule. Some chapters, I anticipate, will be longer than others. I hope you enjoy them. Please keep reading and reviewing, thanks :)