Farryn woke up to a cart full of men, something she was not particularly fond of. Farryn looked around and saw that she was in the second cart that was being steered by an Imperial. Farryn's hands were bound in front of her and her head was roaring in pain.

"Finally awake, eh?" a deep voice asked. Farryn looked up and saw a Nordic man sitting across from her. He looked young, about Farryn's age and looked like any fair Nord. With blond hair and blue eyes, the man had the hardened stare of a soldier but his posture was defeated. "The name's Ralof" he continued, "the Imperials found you trying to cross the border and captured you along with the rest of us".

"Fantastic" Farryn muttered tiredly. She looked at the men in her cart. There were four of them including her. The one slouching next to Ralof was anxious. He was a tall wiry fellow that had the build of a runner. Bound and gagged next to Farryn was a middle aged man who radiated authority. Even though the man was captured like the rest of them, his eyes blazed with defiance and determination as if he knew he would somehow escape this situation.

"This is all the rebels fault!" the lanky Nord hissed while glaring at Ralof. "If weren't for you, I would be halfway to Hammerfell with my horse". "We shouldn't be here" The thief was now looking at Farryn, "we're not rebels".

"It doesn't really matter now, does it?" Farryn responded, turning her head up to the sky. Hoping the different angle of her head would calm the headache, the mage breathed in deeply. If she had the strength, Farryn could have just burned her bindings and leapt from the cart. But the headache was not helping her concentration and neither was the thief who continued to whine about their situation. Ralof gave the mage an approving nod.

"Our kinsman is right. We are all brothers and sisters in binds now" He proclaimed.

The thief sighed and turned toward the gagged man and rudely asked,

"What's wrong with him?"

"Mind your tongue, horse thief!" Ralof suddenly exclaimed, "You're speaking to the True High King and the Jarl of Windhelm, Ulfric Stormcloak". There was so much respect and admiration in his voice that it made Farryn uncomfortable. She was not used to hearing such reverence from a person.

Farryn had run away from her home in Windhelm when her parents discovered her abilities and had taken refuge in the College of Whispers where her uncle studied. Farryn's parents abhorred magic. They came from a long line of Nords who prided themselves on their strength and determination in battle. Farryn's uncle, Alden, had been disowned because he was found healing a wound on his leg. His name had never been spoken of ever again. Being retired adventurers, Farryn's parents knew how dangerous magic could be and made sure to impart this knowledge on their daughter. But Farryn had always been a curious person and she sated this curiosity by asking the palace wizard about magic. His explanation had enamored her and was one of the reasons that had set Farryn on the path of the mage.

The thought of the old wizard made Farryn wonder if he was still in Windhelm. She would assume so since Ulfric Stormcloak was still the Jarl. Forcing herself from her thoughts, the mage focused on the conversation between the prisoners. She noticed that the thief was getting paler by the second as the cart approached a town.

"Helgen" Ralof said watching as the gates opened and allowed them through. "I remember how Imperial walls use to make feel safe. Now I can't stand the very sight".

"I can't die now! I'm not meant to be here. Divines, help me!" The thief muttered.

"It's a bit too late for that, I'm afraid" Farryn responded. Even though she was not planning on dying today, she could not say the same for the rest of the men in the cart. It would be unfortunate if Ulfric died. Farryn had only been a baby when the Stormcloak leader was named jarl of Windhelm, but her parents had always sung of his praises. However, Farryn had not lived in Skyrim for five years so she had no idea what the people of her home felt about their jarl.

"A Nord should face death with dignity" Ralof said. He gave a sharp glare to the Imperial soldiers that surrounded Helgen. "Don't give these Imperial bastards the satisfaction of seeing you weak". The carriage came to a stop in the center of town and the prisoners were ordered to come forward. Farryn was last to step out of the cart and they all stopped before two officers of the Imperial Legion. One officer began to read names off the list.

"Ulfric Stormcloak". Ulfric walked forward, his eyes glowing fiercely as a shorter old man dressed in gold and red armor strolled over to him.

"Ulfric Stormcloak" The man began. "Your reign of terror is over. With your death, Skyrim will be peaceful once more". He gestured to the two soldiers to continue.

"Ralof of Riverwood"

"Lokir of Rorikstead"

"No, I'm not a rebel! I can't die" Lokir shouted. He began to run past the guards and headed toward the gates. This guy, Farryn thought, had to be the most idiotic or bravest person that she had ever seen. She watched as several arrows were embedded into his back sending Lokir to his death. Murder was an awful thing to watch, but Farryn supposed that it was necessary in war. The Imperial soldier turned back to Farryn. The man frowned at her and asked, "Who are you?"

"Farryn" she said, looking directly at the man. The soldier turned to his list and frowned again then he faced the female soldier next to him.

"Captain, she's not on the list"

"Forget the list! She goes to the block like the rest of them" The captain proclaimed. Farryn had decided right then and there that if she ever made it out of this, she would find this captain and give her sound beating or cast a Fear spell so powerful that the captain wouldn't be able to stand her own shadow.

"By your orders, captain" The man turned back to Farryn. "You picked a bad time to return home, kinsman." Farryn snorted at that and the man fixed her a strange look. They nudged her toward the executioner's block where her soon-to-be killer stood with a tall battleaxe. The female captain shoved Farryn to her knees and her head was forced on the block.

Just as the blade was being brought down, a great roar was heard and a massive dragon landed on top of a tower bringing chaos and death to Helgen and freedom to Farryn. Farryn knew as she was grabbed by Ralof that Skyrim would go through vast changes after this day and the mage hoped she would have no part in the coming times, but with the luck she had had so far Farryn sensed that wouldn't be the case.