The chirping of the morning birds woke her just as Magnus' gaze began to awake.
She sat up and turned her head to get the cricks out of her neck, and surveyed the surrounding area for predators, bandits or patrols.
She turned to the pack she had been using as a pillow and pulled out a piece of dried meat for breakfast.
She had been traveling for three days now and had crossed the border into Skyrim late into the evening last night.
Putting her pack back on and grabbing her bow and her belt quiver, she began her careful decent.
She had been walking for an hour when the sounds of battle drew her to the edge of a clearing, edging forward she saw a small skirmish between a group of blue armoured warriors that she didn't recognise and the unmistakable armour of the imperials.
Hot rage boiled within her, she notched an arrow and drew back her bow and fell one of the imperials who was about to deliver a killing blow to a blonde man who looked a few years older then her.
The young blonde jumped to his feet, grabbed his war axe, gave her a nod and thanks and rushed back into the fray.
Katrine turned to the fight and decided on a new target, an older blonde man, perhaps her father's age, was fighting three imperials at once.
She dropped her bow, drew the ebony dagger, rushed over and grabbed one by the shoulder and used the dagger to slit the imperials throat and let him fall.
The man finished the other two with a sweep of his axe.
"Thank you friend," the man had a deep gravely voice that was not unpleasant.
"You are welcome," Katrine said and turned to find a new target, but found all the imperials lying dead.
"What is your name, warrior?" the man asked looking at her as if her was trying to place her face.
She turned back to him, "Do you mean me?"
"Yes, I would like to know who to thank," he answered her with a slight smile on his face.
"Katrine Kvatch, daughter of Annika Hanson and Adrian Kvatch,"
The shock on the man's face was almost comical, he looked about to say something but one of the other soldiers beat him to it.
"Kvatch as in Adriana Kvatch, Martin Septim's champion?" The soldiers looked at her with something akin to awe on their faces.
"Yes, she was my ancestor," answered Katrine she said slightly worried how these people would react if they found out she was a Septim.
"If you don't mind me asking milady, what are you doing out in the woods?" One of the soldiers asked, a woman thought Katrine, well I almost could not tell with that helmet.
"The thalmor came to my home, they murdered my father but before he died he told me to go to my kin in Whiterun, I was headed there,"
The older man looked down at her in empathy and said "It will be safer for you to come with us to Windhelm and catch a carriage to Whiterun,"
"Thank you, may I ask your name?" Katrine asked as she picked up her bow and retied it to her pack.
"Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm," he answered walking up to a horse, he then mounted it and held out his hand for Katrine to climb on with him.
She took it hesitantly, the Jarl of Windhelm, she had heard many a tale of this man and his quest to free Skyrim from imperial control, this will be an interesting trip thought Katrine, little did she know.
They rode for a while passing Darkwater crossing just before midday, as they rode Katrine got to know some of the soldiers that walked beside them.
Two in particular, Ralof and Gunnier had some interesting tales to tell.
They had just turned onto a road that would lead them to Windhelm when the were stopped by a large felled tree across the road.
Katrine noted that the base looked like it had been cut.
"My Lord this looks to much like a," just as she was about to say trap an arrow felled one of the soldiers.
"Ambush!" yelled Ulfric both him and Katrine quickly dismounted as imperials swarmed out of the woods.
"Protect the Jarl!" cried Ralof.
As they encompassed him in a protective circle Katrine tried to include herself but Ulfric grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the circle with him.
She looked up at him one eyebrow raised in question.
"I knew your father, he'd come back and haunt me if I let you be killed before I fought," he said.
They were outnumbered, only twelve Stormcloaks and what looked to be fifty Imperials.
"Stand down, everyone stand down this is a fight we can't win," commanded Ulfric.
They were rounded up, their weapons and belongings taken and Katrine was stripped out of her clothes and dressed in rags.
Before they could be loaded onto carts an Imperial legate stepped up to Ulfric to put a gag over his mouth.
"Wait Rikka the girl she's Adrian's daughter, she isn't a Stormcloak," Ulfric said before the legate could gag him.
The legate, Rikka turned to Katrine, looked at her for a moment then turned back to Ulfric.
"I'm sorry but we have orders for her execution as well," said Rikka as she placed the bindings over Ulfic's mouth.
She turned to another legate who had Katrine's dagger strapped to her belt, "The prisoners are to be taken to Helgan, General Tullius is waiting to preside over their execution,"
Katrine, Ulfric and Ralof were placed in a cart that already had one prisoner, a horse thief Lokir.
As they rode of the motion of the cart lulled Katrine into sleep.
Katrine dreamt a memory of home in in her tenth winter, her mother was sitting by the fire writing about the days events as she always did in the evenings, her strange face jewellery glinting in the fire light.
Her father was carving her a wooden sword that he had promised her, humming the tune to three hearts as one as he did.
Her elder brother Tomas, who had just reached his fourteenth winter, was telling her the story of how he had hunted a sabre cat, whose hide was now drying in the tanning rack in the basement.
Anwen was sitting on a stool behind Katrine and was finishing of braiding Katrine's hair.
"What do you think Annika." Anwen asked.
Annika looked up from her writing and smiled, "Beautiful, very beautiful," she said.
A howl rang out interrupting the quiet of the night.
"Papa can I please let him in, it is cold out there," pleaded Katrine.
Her father looked over at Annika and Anwen, who both nodded.
"Alright then Katrine go let him in, it is almost time for bed anyway," said her father.
Tomas groaned as Katrine left the main hall to the front door to open it for her pet ice wolf, Oddok in.
Katrine and Oddok had met the first time she went hunting, she had gotten separated from the group when she had come across a cave bear that had an ice wolf pup in its mouth, Katrine without thinking had used her bow to kill the bear with a well place arrow to the eye, saving the pup and from then on the two were hardly seen without the other, much to her brother's disgust.
Oddok gave a happy to see Katrine then bounded up to her and nuzzled at her hand for a pat.
"Come along boy, time for bed," Oddok happily followed Katrine into the main hall.
Katrine hugged Anwen, then she and Tomas spent a minute trying to crush one another, her mother gave her a hug and said, "I will be up soon, sweet dreams my Omega,"
Her father handed her the wooden sword and wrapped her in a warm hug, she never felt more safe then she did as when her father hugged her.
Katrine jolted awake as the carriage hit uneven ground and she looked around to see where they were, noting that the trees were beginning to thin out.
"Hey finally awake huh, we're almost there," said Ralof.
"Lousy Stormcloaks, everything was fine until you came along, Empire was nice and lazy, if it weren't for you I could have stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell by now," Grumbled Lokir.
"We're all brothers and sisters in bonds now horse thief," Ralof shot at him.
"Shut up back there!" yelled the driver.
Lokir glanced at Ulfric, "What's wrong with him huh?" he asked Katrine nudging his head to Ulfric.
That is a bit disrespectful, thought Katrine, apparently Ralof thought so too.
"Watch your tongue, you're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak the true high king!" he spat.
"Ulfric, Jarl of Windhelm, you're the leader of the rebellion, but if they've captured you oh Gods where are they taking us?" Lokir wailed.
"I don't know where we're going but Sovngarde awaits," said Ralof.
"This isn't happening, this can't be happening," panicked Lokir starting to rock back and forward as if he was trying to sooth himself.
Stendarr have mercy on us please Katrine silently prayed.
"What village are you from horse thief?" Ralof asked gently.
"Why do you care?" Asked Lokir sounding on the brink of tears.
"A Nord's last thoughts should be of home," said Ralof.
"Rorikstead, I-I'm from Rorikstead," stammered Lokir.
Katrine thought to her home Lakeview manor, I am never going to see it again she thought.
One of the Imperials from the front cart called out to a grey haired man atop a chestnut mare, "General Tullius, the headsman is waiting,"
"Good let's get this over with," said the General.
"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," spat Ralof.
Katrine glanced over , her eyes narrowed and she moved to stand up but Ralof grabbed her and held her down.
"What are you doing child, are you so anxious to die?"
"She was the one, I recognise her she killed my father, I WILL KILL YOU, YOU BITCH!" shouted Katrine, the last part directed at the elven woman atop a black gelding, who spun around to see who shouted, her eyes widened when they caught sight of Katrine.
"Hold the cart," the Thalmor woman ordered, the cart pulled to a stop and Elenwen trotted up the cart and looked Katrine right in the eye.
"Hello Lady Septim,"
Ralof, Ulfric and Lokir all turned to Katrine in amazement.
"Hello Elenwen, I have not seen you since you murdered my father," spat Katrine.
Elenwen's eyes widened, but she quickly regained her composure, "Oh my dear, I am afraid that you have been misinformed, your father is fine, he is with the Emperor and asked me to find you and bring you to him,"
Katrine had to give her credit if she didn't know Elenwen was lying she would have believed her.
"You are lying Elenwen, I was there I saw your men hold him down while Imperial soldiers watched doing nothing, I saw when you took out an ebony dagger and thrust it into my father's chest and I held him as he died so do not lie to me," said Katrine her voice becoming hard.
"Alright, we killed him," admitted Elenwen "But only because he refused to obey an Imperial decree to bring you to the Emperor,"
"What did the Emperor want with me?" asked Katrine subtly trying to loosen her bonds, if she could get her hands free maybe she could kill Elenwen before she died.
"Emperor Titus Mede has petitioned your father for you and his son to be married several times but he refused,"
Katrine said nothing she just stared angrily, after a pause Elenwen spoke again.
"Now come with us and will take you to meet your new family,"
At this Katrine's eyes darkened and she spat in Elenwen's face, "Burn in Oblivion, bitch!" at this the Stormcloaks cheered their support.
As the carts started to move Ralof asked Katrine "Are you okay?"
She turned to look at him and found herself unable to speak, so she just shook her head.
Papa died because he refused to marry me off she thought Nine if I live through this I swear I will kill that basted emperor with my own to hands.
The carriages stopped and Ralof said as he rose to his feet "Come on, best not keep the Gods waiting,"
Lokir cried " This is a mistake, tell them I wasn't with you!"
"I doubt they would believe us," said Katrine trying to calm him.
"Face your death with some courage thief," said Ralof as he stepped out of the cart.
A young man with brown hair about Ralof's age stood beside the legate who had Katrine's dagger strapped to her belt.
"Step forward when I call your name," said the young man.
"The Empire loves their damn lists," muttered Ralof to Katrine who smirked.
"Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm," Ulfric was led over to a group of people in the centre of the town where there was an executioner waiting.
"Ralof of Riverwood," Ralof glanced at Katrine, he gave her a sad smile as he was led away.
"Lokir of Rorikstead," the horse thief stepped forward, "No I'm not a rebel you can't do this," and he took off running.
"Halt!" cried the legate.
"You're not going to kill me!" shouted Lokir as he ran, the legate signalled archers that were stationed on a nearby tower, who aimed and fired.
Lokir fell to the ground and was still, Katrine turned to the legate and tried to kill her with her eyes, he didn't deserve to die like that thought Katrine.
"Anyone else feel like running?" asked the legate, a smirk on her face.
Okay thought Katrine I am adding her to the list of people who I will kill if I survive.
The young soldier looked up at Katrine, then back to his list and shook his head.
He looked up at her again and asked "Who are you?"
Katrine stepped forward and with as much strength as she could muster she said "I am Katrine Kvatch, daughter of Annika Hanson and Adrian Kvatch, or Lakeview Manor in Falkreath,"
"You picked a bad time to come home to Skyrim kinsman, what do we do she's not on the list?"
"Forget the list she goes to the block," ordered the legate.
"By your orders," said the soldier her then turned to Katrine and said "I'm sorry, at least you'll die here in your home land,"
Was that supposed to be a comfort wondered Katrine as she was led over to the courtyard, she positioned herself next to Ralof and Ulfric as the man Ralof had earlier identified as General Tullius up to Ulfric.
He was slightly grey headed wearing ornamental armour with the signature dragon crest of the empire emblazoned on his chest, Katrine looked down at her hand where her fathers ring rested the same symbol engraved on it, they don't deserve to wear that thought Katrine as she raised her head.
"Jarl Ulfric," the General said with a sneer, "Some here in Helgan call you a hero but a hero doesn't use a power like the voice to murder his King and usurp his throne,"
Ulfric growled at him unable to do much else, but Tullius wasn't finished.
"You stared this war, plunged Skyrim into chaos and now the empire is going to put you down and restore the peace,"
The General then turned to the legate and said "Get on with it,"
The legate saluted him "Yes General Tullius, give them their last rights," she said to a priestess, who nodded.
"As we commend your souls to Aetherius, blessings of the eight Devines upon you,"
"For the love of Talos, shut up and lets get this over with!" shouted one of the Stormcloaks cutting across the priestess as he walked up to the headsman's block.
The priestess looked a bit offended by the interpretation "As you wish," she huffed.
The legate walked up behind him, placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed him into a kneeling position, then placed her foot on his back and forced him to lay his head on the block as the executioner walked into place.
"My ancestors are smiling at me Imperials, can you say the same," were the Stormcloak's last words as the axe swung down.
Katrine closed her eyes unable to watch, when she opened them the body was being dragged away.
"You Imperial bastards," cried one of the Stormcloaks.
"As fearless in death as he was in life," lamented Ralof.
"Next the Nord girl," ordered the legate.
Katrine heard a muffled grunt from besides her, she turned to see Ulfric's sad eyes looking at her, he gave her a nod and she heard Ralof say to her " Courage kid, it will all be over soon,"
She walked forward but as she did the priestess spoke up "General, I must protest this child can't be more than fifteen,"
"Fourteen," said Katrine weakly.
The priestess looked scandalized "General Tullius this is a child you can't mean to do this, she is to young," pleaded the priestess.
The General gave Katrine a sinister smile "Your never to young to die, she had her chance and she chose her fate," he said.
A loud, piercing screech filled the silence and every one looked around to see where it came from.
"what was that sound, did you hear that?" Asked the soldier who took down the names.
It rang out again, this time sounding closer.
"There it is again, what was that?"
By then Katrine had walked over to the headsman's block and had started to get impatient.
"Are we going to spend the afternoon chatting or are you going to cut my head off?" Katrine was quite proud of how steady her voice was as the legate pushed her down onto the block.
She could feel the warmth of the blood from the man that was before her but she took a calming breath and positioned her self so that she could see, she was determined to face her death with as much courage as he father had faced his.
The headsman raised the axe high but as he was about to bring it down upon her a loud scream rang out and one of the sentries leapt from the tower to his death.
"What in Oblivion!" Cried General Tullius.
"Dragon!" cried another sentry "It's in the clouds".
The dragon flew down onto the tower behind the executioner, it landed with enough force to shake the ground.
For a moment everyone stared in awe, unable to believe their eyes.
Then the dragon lifted its head skyward and let out a roar that shook the heavens.
Then it was if the sky had started to fall as bits of rock and flame began to fall to Nirn.
The dragon took to the skies breathing fire down on the people below and Katrine was certain that the dragon was speaking no shouting in some foreign tongue.
She was just kneeling in shock as people burnt around her, unable to process what was happening when a female voice, that felt like ice down her back, inside her own head said "Stop kneeling there child and run," Where to though thought Katrine.
"Katrine this way, come on the Gods won't give us another chance," called Ralof from inside a tower across the courtyard.
Katrine got up and sprinted to the tower dodging the falling rock as she did.
She darted in the door and Ralof slammed it shut behind her.
Inside the tower were several Stormcloaks some injured, all looking terrifed.
"Are you alright?" Asked Ulfric looking concerned.
"Yes I am fine," said Katrine attempting to catch her breath.
The dragon let out another roar that shook the tower they were in.
"Jarl Ulfric, could the legends be true, was that really a dragon?" Asked Ralof.
Ulfric glanced over at him "Legends don't burn down villages,"
Another roar sounded out and this time Katrine caught a word "Yol, what does that mean?"
Ulfric looked at her strangely "What did you just say?" he asked.
"The dragon spoke, I heard it," she told him.
"Well whatever it means I doubt it's friendly," said one of the Stormcloaks.
Ulfric strode over to the stairs and looked up to a Stormcloak who was removing some rubble from the upper level.
He then turned back to Katrine Ralof and the other Stormcloaks an said firmly "We need to move now, up through the tower,"
He grabbed hold of Katrine's arms, her hands still bound at this point and they took the lead up the tower.
The Stormcloak trying to clear the way told them "We just have to move more of these rocks,"
Ulfric stepped forward to help but Katrine hearing a strange sound from the other side of the wall, some how knowing what it was, pulled Ulfric back just as the dragon burst through the wall and breathed fire into the hole it made, catching the Stormcloak in its fiery breath, Katrine unable to stand the sight buried her face into Ulfric's chest.
Ulfric enveloped her in his arms and span her around to shield her from the blast.
After a few moments of listening to agonizing screams Ulfric stroked her head "Its over little cub,"
Katrine looked and where once was a man there was now a charred corpse, Katrine tried to steady her breath but the smell was overwhelming, she felt like she was going to be sick.
Ralof coming up the stairs, avoiding looking at the corpse of his fallen, peered through the hole the dragon had made.
"Katrine come here quick," said Ralof, though the hole Katrine could see what appeared to be the inn, its roof had collapsed.
"okay, this is what's going to happen, see the inn on the other side jump through the roof and keep going," said Ralof, Katrine just looked at him as if he was mad.
She looked back over to the inn and thought okay I can probably make that jump.
"okay but what about you?" She looked at Ulfric and Ralof.
"We will follow when we can, go," Ulfric said.
Katrine backed up as far as she could then ran as fast as she could at the hole in the wall and launched herself into the air.
Time seemed to stand still and for a brief moment Katrine felt as if she was flying, then time sped up again as she fell though the inn's roof, as she landed she did a roll and leapt to her feet thinking as she did this would be a lot easier if my hands were not bound and I was not wearing rags.
She spotted a hole in the landing, ran over and jumped down then dashed though an opening in the wall to where the young brown haired soldier was coaching a young boy to behind some shelter in the form of a fallen wall.
The soldier turned to Katrine and said "Still alive prisoner, stay close to me if you want to stay that way,"
He then turned to an older man who was comforting the young boy "Gunner take care of the boy I've got to find General Tullius and join the defence,"
The man Gunner nodded at him "Gods guide you Hadvar,"
Hadvar gasped Katrine's arm and pulled her through an ally, they heard a loud screech above them.
"Stay close to the wall!" cried Hadvar as the dragon landed on the building beside them, its wing draped down into the ally, Katrine had the strongest urge to just reach out and stroke it but before she could the dragon took of again.
"Come on!" called Hadvar violently pulling at Katrine's arm as he led her though the alley and out the other side to where General Tullius was corralling a large group of soldiers, he barley looked their way to yell "Hadvar get to the keep, we're leaving,"
Hadvar pulled Katrine towards a secluded courtyard and Katrine thought to herself perhaps I can overpower him when we get into the keep.
Her plans of overpowering Hadvar was not needed because as soon as they were out of sight of the other Imperials Ulfric and Ralof stepped out of the shadows and they had found weapons from somewhere.
Hadvar's face turned hard at the sight of them and he pulled Katrine tighter to him "Ralof you damn traitor, get out of my way,"
"We're escaping Hadvar, you won't stop us now let her go," Ralof said firmly lifting his axe and taking a step in Hadvar's direction.
Hadvar seemed to weigh his options, then he shoved Katrine at Ralof shouting as he did "Fine I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovngarde!"
Katrine staggered as she was pushed but as she regained her footing she turned and made to rush Hadvar but Ulfric managed to pull her back "Another time cub we need to leave," he told her.
They left Hadvar and entered the keep into a circular room with a small table and lying on the on the floor dead was "Gunnear!" cried Katrine rushing forward to him trying to find a pulse.
"It's to late Katrine, he's gone to Sovngarde," said Ulfric putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Let's get those bindings off you," said Ralof walking to her, he cut the bindings and looked down at the rags that she had been dressed in.
"We need to find her some armour my Jarl," He said to Ulfric, who thought for a moment then said "Will Gunneur's fit?"
"I think so, they seem about the same height,"
Katrine stripped while Ralof and Ulfric stripped Gunneur, when Ulfric turned to hand Katrine the amour he started and covered his eyes, holding out the armour for Katrine to take.
It was the right length if a bit loose around the waist but that was fixed with the belt of a scabbard that belonged to an Imperial sword she found lying in a corner.
"Done?" asked Ralof, Katrine nodded.
"Right lets get out of here," said Ulfric examining a locked gate, Katrine walked up to a gate that relied on a lever to raise it, only problem was that the lever was on the other side.
"There is no way to open this from this side," Katrine told them, no sooner had she said that she heard movement from down the hall, it was the legate that had Katrine's dagger and a lightly armoured soldier.
"Imperials, take cover," hissed Katrine drawing her weapon and crouching down beside the gate.
Katrine wordlessly mouthed to them that she would take the lighter armoured soldier if they would take the legate, as the lighter soldier rushed in Katrine took great pleasure in tripping him up.
As he jumped to his feet he drew his sword and struck out but Katrine leapt out of his reach, circling around him she waited for an opening, she faked a slice at his head and when he brought his sword up to block she pierced his stomach.
She turned ready to help Ulfric and Ralof but found they had just finished taking care of the legate.
"Is this yours?" asked Ralof holding out Katrine's dagger, she thanked him and gladly took it back.
"I think this is what we're looking for," said Ulfric removing a key from around the legate's neck.
Heading through the door and down a flight of stairs they came to have two choices, one was through a door to the left, the other was a long corridor straight a head.
Ralof went to run forward but Katrine hearing a crumbling from above them pulled him back as the part of the keep fell blocking the corridor.
Ralof turned to Katrine full of relief that he hadn't been crushed "Thank you," he said.
Katrine smiled "You are welcome,"
"Well only one way to now," said Ulfric opening a door to what appeared to be a store room.
After dealing with another couple of Imperials they looked through the room for supplies.
"Grab those healing potions we may need them," said Ralof, Katrine carefully placed those in a pouch she had found as well as some coin and a couple of magica potions.
"Done, lets go," said Ulfric opening the door at the other end of the room.
They ran down two sets of stairs when Katrine felt the air prickle and the hairs on her arm stand up which meant, "There are mages ahead, be ready," she told the others.
Sure enough the next room had a mage, who had the female Stormcloak strapped down on a table and was torturing her with shock magic.
Katrine felt her magic flare up in response, she let it rise and conjured a fireball that flung him back, he screamed as he tried to extinguish the flames.
Katrine ran at him, leaping into the air, using the momentum to piece the mage's throat with her sword.
As Ulfric and Ralof set to opening the bonds on the Stormcloak Katrine, per instruction from Ulfric, set to gathering any useful items.
She found a pack with some elves ears, thistle root, a couple of lock picks an and the book of the dragonborn, a favourite of Katrine's, as well as some dried meat.
In a cage was a dead mage still in his novice robes and hood, Katrine picked the lock and stripped him thinking she could sell the clothes, next to the mage she found a tome explaining how to use magica in a basic shock spell called sparks.
She looked at the mage a gave him a silent prayer to Julianous to guide his soul to the afterlife, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
She looked up and saw Ulfric standing over her, " Time to go cub,"
She stood with the mages clothes packed she slung the small pack over her shoulder and they set off again, Ulfric and Katrine in front and Ralof supporting the injured Stormcloak in the rear.
They walked along a long corridor filled with cells, must be a dungeon thought Katrine, they followed the corridor along but were pulled up short at the sound of voices.
"Orders are to wait until General Tullius arrives," said one of the voices firmly, another voice chimed in with "I'm not waiting to be eaten by a dragon,"
Ulfric peered around and counted how many there were "Six, three of them are archers," he whispered.
"My Jarl, I don't know if Amela can fight in her condition," whispered Ralof.
Amela, the injured Stormcloak, made an attempt to push away from Ralof saying as she did "Nonsense, My Jarl I could take on all those milk drinkers with my hands tied,"
"I know you could but not today, Katrine can you do that fire spell again?" Ulfric said turning to her.
"Yes my Jarl," she answered sheathing her sword and begun to focus her magica into flame.
Ulfric led her to the door "See the oil on the floor, light it up," he instructed.
Katrine looked, the oil was pooled in the middle where the Imperials were gathered, they look flammable, she thought darkly.
Light it up, an apt description she thought, it was over in a matter of moments, one minute there was fire and screaming, the next there was a pile of corpses.
The rest of the way was quite simple, an exit into a set of caves, four huge spiders that Katrine was only happy to exterminate and fill a couple of vials of there venom, sneaking past a sleeping bear and out into glorious freedom.
