***Author's Note: Just to explain how the speech works in this story. "If it looks like this, it is someone speaking out loud in English" 'if it is like this it is a thought' "If it is in bold and lower case it is some one speaking in dragon tongue [It may be in the dragon tongue with the translation along side in brackets like this]" "IF IT IS IN ALL BOLD LIKE THIS IT IS A SHOUT" Please tell me what you think of this story, also I am trying to think of a New Name for this story if you have some ideas lease let me know. Any feedback if greatly appreciated.***
Edwin slowly began to regain conciseness she felt the world moving underneath her. As she open her eyes, she noticed she was in a moving cart with a man she didn't know but was obviously a Stormcloak soldier sitting opposite her.
"Hey you, you're finally awake. You walked right into that Imperial ambush same as us and that thief over there." The Stormcloak man said.
At that comment Edwin began looking around the cart, she notice the man in rag sitting next to the Stormcloak man, while next to her was… 'NO!' Next to her was Ulfric Stormcloak. Just then Ulfric looked up straight into Edwin's eyes, she noticed that they had gagged him, so he couldn't say anything, but his eyes said all Edwin needed to know.
"Damn you Stormcloaks... Skyrim was fine until you came along! The Empire was nice and lazy. If they hadn't been looking for you I'd have stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell by now." The horse thief said, then turned to Edwin, "You and me, we shouldn't be here. It's these Stormcloaks the Empire wants."
The Stormcloak man shook his head at this comment, "We're all brothers and sisters in binds now." Suddenly the driver of the cart calls back to them "Shut up back there." They all turned and frowned at this, 'why should we? We are obviously going to our deaths' Edwin thought to herself.
The thief then nodded towards Ulfric "What's wrong with him, huh?"
"Watch your tongue! You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King." The Stormcloak told the thief.
"The Jarl of Windhelm? You're the leader of the rebellion... if they've captured you... oh gods, where are they taking us?"
"I don't know where we're going, but Sovngarde awaits." Ralof said with sorrow in his voice. At that comment Edwin leaned into Ulfric's side, so she could put her head on his shoulder and grab his hands to hold them; not caring who saw her, if she was going to her death she will do so with her head held high, but with her hands around her lovers. The Stormcloak soldier looked alarmed at the gesture but when Ulfric didn't pull away decided not to say anything.
The horse thief looked scared at that comment, "No, This can't be happening! This isn't happening!" He began to shake his head. Edwin felt Ulfric squeeze her hands.
"Hey, what village are you from horse-thief?"
"Why do you care?" the thief said aggressively to the Stormcloak.
"A Nord's last thoughts should be of home."
"Rorikstead. I'm from Rorikstead." The thief said in a scared voice.
They sat quietly for a while when suddenly from the head cart, "General Tullius sir! The headsman is waiting."
"Good, let's get this over with."
The horse thief began to shake. "Shor, Mara, Dibella, Kynareth, Akatosh! Divines, please help me!"
They began to enter a small town, Edwin sits back up and looks around, she didn't know the name of the town but the Stormcloak soldier begins talking again, "This is Helgen... I used to be sweet on a girl from here. I wonder if Velod 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." He look wistful as he began to think of happier times.
'I know what you mean, but I haven't felt safe in the walls for a long time. Not since before the signing of the White-Gold Concordat' Edwin thought to herself.
All too soon the cart came to a halt. "Get these prisoners out of the cart!" yelled the female Imperial officer.
"Why are we stopping?" the thief asked the Stormcloak soldier.
"Why do you think? End of the line." The Stormcloak then stands, "Let's go, we shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us." The thief and the Stormcloak barter some more over the situation but Edwin stops listening as she looks around the town. Slowly they begin leaving the cart, first the thief, then the Stormcloak soldier, followed by Ulfric, when it is Edwin's turn Ulfric is still standing next to the cart; he carefully offers to help Edwin down off the cart, as even when facing dead he is a gentleman, Edwin of course excepts using the support of his shoulder and his bound arm she jumps down and lands safely on the ground.
"Thank you, Ulfric." Edwin says as they quickly squeeze each other's hands before letting go to walk over to a man with a list in his hands.
"Step towards the block when we call your name, one at a time!" An Imperial Captain tells the prisoners. Another Imperial soldier stands beside her with a list in his hands. The Stormcloak from the cart murmurs something but Edwin didn't catch it.
"Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm." Ulfric moves away towards the block with his head held high, "It has been an honour, Jarl Ulfric." A Stormcloak soldier says as Ulfric passes him.
"Ralof of Riverwood." The Stormcloak Edwin travelled in with begins to move towards the block 'At least I know your name now. You are a true son of Skyrim Ralof' Edwin thinks to herself.
"Lokir of Rorikstead." The horse thief shakes his head, "No! I'm not a rebel! You can't do this!" as he begins to run.
"Halt!" the captain yells at Lokir.
"You're not going to kill me!" Yells Lokir
"Archers!" the captain yells, next thing an arrow hits Lokir and he falls, the captain turns back to the prisoners, "Anyone else feel like running?" They all shake their heads, as they plan to go to their deaths with their heads held high.
Suddenly the man with the list notices Edwin standing in front of him "Wait... You there, Step forward," He says as he beacons Edwin forward. "Who are you?"
"My name is Edwin Shadow-Oak, originally from Cyrodiil" Edwin tells the Imperial soldier, as she does all the Stormcloak soldiers turned to stare at her; they recognise the last name as William Shadow-Oak is after all a General in the Stormcloak army.
"You picked a bad time to come to Skyrim, kinsman. Captain, what should we do? She's not on the list." The imperial said as he turned to the captain standing beside him. "Forget the list. She goes straight to the block."
"By your orders, Captain. I'm sorry. We'll make sure your remains are returned to your family in Cyrodiil." Edwin shakes her head, "My family is in Windhelm, I came here to be with them. Could you make sure they go there instead." The imperial looked surprised at this request but nodded his head, "Of course I can arrange that for you, it is not hard as most of these men will be taken there anyway. Follow the captain, prisoner." At that Edwin nods her head in thanks and begins to move towards the block where the other prisoners are standing. She goes and stands between Ulfric and Ralof.
Once the last prisoner had assembled at the block waiting area, the General walked up to Ulfric, "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 the throne." With the gag in his mouth Ulfric could only grunt and glare at the General 'Coward, scared to let Ulfric answer, as he might actually be a hero' Edwin thought to herself.
"You started this war, flung Skyrim into chaos. And now the Empire is going to put you down and restore the peace." The General went on to say. In the background there was a weird growling sound that sounded distant.
"What was that?"
"It's nothing. Carry on." Came the Generals reply.
"Yes, General Tullius!" The captain says with a quick salute, she then turns to the priestess, "Give them their last rights."
The priestess then nods to the captain, and turns to the prisoners with her hands raised, "As we commend your souls to Aetherius, blessings of the 8 divines upon you…"
"For the love of Talos, shut up and let's get this over with." A Stormcloak says in a huff as he marches forward to the block. The priestess hesitates for a second, but on seeing the determination in the Stormcloaks eyes gives in, "… as you wish."
"Come on! I haven't got all morning!" The Stormcloak man says as he kneels at the block, in the background you can hear the people around him give a slight chuckle, he then looks up at Headsman "… My ancestors are smiling at me, Imperials. Can you say the same?" the axe then falls down. Edwin bows her head slightly at his bravery.
"You Imperial bastards!" "Justice!" "Death to the Stormcloaks!" Edwin could hear being yell from the people behind her, next to her she hears Ralof quietly say "...As fearless in death as he was in life."
The captain looking at the prisoners suddenly yell, "Next, the Nord in the dress" Edwin knew as the only prisoner not in a Stormcloak uniform she meant her. Ulfric realised this too 'No! Please, not my Edwin' he thinks to himself. Edwin turned to Ulfric and nodded her head slightly but before she could move the strange noise could be head in the background again, only it was closer this time.
"There it is again... did you hear that?"
"I said... Next. Prisoner." The Captain growls
A soldier nods his head, "To the block prisoner. Nice and easy." Edwin move forward to the block with her head held high. Once she is in position, the axeman readies his axe; behind the axeman, Edwin notices a black shape getting closer to them.
"What in Oblivion is that!?"
"Sentries, what do you see?"
"It's in the clouds...!"
"Dragon!" The Dragon then roars
"Guards! Get the townsfolk to safety!"
Ralof runs to Edwin, "Come on! The guards won't give us another chance! This way!" He yells at Edwin as he pulls her into a tower that the other Stormcloaks had ran into. Once inside Ulfric is standing there with a dagger and he quickly unbinds their hands, "Jarl Ulfric, what is that thing? Could the legends be true?" Ralof ask Ulfric.
Ulfric shakes his head, "Legends don't burn down villages." Was his only reply to Ralof before he turns to Edwin, "Are you alright?" he says to he as he puts his hand on her cheek.
Edwin smiles at Ulfric, as she brings her hand to her neck where her necklace and ring still hung, "I am fine Ulfric, but I think it is time to move."
Ulfric nods his head then turns to the men around him. "Up through the tower. Let's go!" As they begin to climb the tower, suddenly a hole was made in the side of the tower by the dragon.
Ralof yells to Edwin, "See the inn on the other side? Jump through the roof and keep going! We'll follow when we can!" Edwin nods her head, but before she goes turning to Ulfric, "I love you. Stay safe, please." Edwin then turns towards the gap and jumps before Ulfric could reply.