Unbound

I can't move. The whole body is heavy as if I was a bag of gravel. Especially the head... Damn! Moving it is not a very good idea - seems like the gravel starts sliding from one temple to another touching every single nerve it finds in the way... And the noise... What is that noise? Wheels? Why's there no shouting, swords banging? Where's my axe? Was I dreaming... am I dreaming now? What am I even lying on?

- Hey, you. You're finally awake.

What the..

- You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there.

There was a fair-haired nord man. Older, I guess, seemed... strong, seasoned fighter, sitting right in front of me... in a wagon? When did I get in a wagon? Where in oblivion are we going? I need to... my hands are tied?

- 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. You there... You and me, we shouldn't be here. It's these Stormcloaks the Empire wants.

The redguard seems frightened and it is getting clearer why - there is one more wagon in front of us, full of men and women in Stormcloak armor. They can't be taking us any place good.

- We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief; - the nord replies.

- And what's wrong with him, huh? ;- the redguard grins at an enormous nord sitting to the right of me. I guess he looks even bigger because of all the fur and clothing he has on him. I pity the man - he should be burning inside those clothes. His mouth is gagged with a cloth - isn't trying to say anything anyway. He doesn't need to - no one would not challenge him any time soon, I guess.

-Watch your tongue. You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King.;- the now comparatively small nord raises his voice.

- 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?

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

-No, this can't be happening. This isn't happening. The redguard thief is now in full despair. Yet I get it - and get nervous myself. Gods, is that it? Is that how I am going to end? Do I run? Do I jump out? I have no shoes on... Some rags on my feet, they'd catch me in a minute. If they bothered... My eyes wandered around the longbows and maces on the men driving the wagon.

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

- Why do you care?

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

- Rorikstead. I'm... I'm from Rorikstead.

Never been to Rorikstead. Never been to any of Skyrim, really. Guessed I would see it all, but I suppose Gods caught up to me as well. Momma used to say that whatever you do, good or bad, always comes back to you, no matter your motives. She used to say this, of course, when I fought my brother... but now, as I am heading for the headsman's block, I think Stendarr is ready to pass judgement. Not considering my motives. Is it justice, really? I wonder if those who got me runnin' also received theirs.

- General Tullius, sir! The headsman is waiting!

- Look at him, General Tullius, the Military Governor.;- the smaller nord speaks again.- And it looks like the Thalmor are with him. Damn elves. I bet they had something to do with this. 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.

There is some distant ramble in the town - kids want to see the spectacle, some cheering, some - damning us. Well, not exactly us... The stormcloaks. I am no Stormcloak. I have no place here...

- Why are we stopping?-; the readguard whimpers.

- Why do you think? End of the line. Let's go. Shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us. The talkative nord responds tiredly.

- No! Wait! We're not rebels!"; - the horse thief shrieks so hysterically it even makes me man up somehow;- You've got to tell them! We weren't with you! This is a mistake!

- Step towards the block when we call your name. One at a time.; - the imperial soldier commands us.

- Empire loves their damn lists. ;- the nord mumbles under his nose.

- Ulfric Stormcloak. Jarl of Windhelm.;- the soldier proclaims.

- Ralof of Riverwood. Lokir of Rorikstead.;- well, I finally learned the names of my companions. At that moment, Lokir decides to run for his life.

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

- Halt!

- You're not going to kill me!

- Archers!

Just like that, he was dead. Arrow, through the heart. Quick.

And now the soldier proclaiming the names (I guess he is higher in rank) looks at me confused.

- You there. Step forward. Who are you?

- Maven. Grey. I utter as if I was a schoolgirl answering to a teacher hoping this will be all he wants.

- You picked a bad time to come home to Skyrim, don't say, I think to myself, but maybe you would let me...

- Captain. What should we do? She's not on the list. My heart stops for that brief moment...

- Forget the list. She goes to the block. I did not hear much else. Was pushed forward a few steps and...

My mind keeps going around this girl I met right around my mother was most ill. I could never remember her face up to now and now I see it so clearly as if she was standing right there. She looked at me and said "There's a dragon on the loose" with a cheeky grin on her face. I looked around and looked back at her and she was gone. I payed no mind to it then as I thought it to be child's play. The words stayed with me though and I kept remembering them but not the face and now it seems as if I see her there on that tower grinning... There's a dragon on the loose. There's a dragon on the loose. There's a dragon on the loose. There's a dragon on the loose. There's a dragon on the loose.

-Next, the Nord in the rags! I wake up at that instant. My body falls heavily on the block and I close my eyes crying. I do not want to die. I do not want to die. I cannot die. I cannot die like this.

There's a dragon on the loose. There's a dragon on the loose. There's a dragon on the loose. There's a dragon on the loose. There's a dragon...black... dragon... on the loose? There's mutter and people shouting and suddenly there's a sound as deadly as the ax that was going to cut my head throwing us all in different directions. My sight goes blurry. There's a dragon on the loose. And I am still alive.