I do not own the Elder Scrolls or Skyrim

Chapter 3:
Escape the Keep

Hadvar and I were in a barrack room, from the looks of it as he looked around, Hadvar said "Looks like we're the only ones who made it" Hadvar looked at me and said "That thing was a dragon wasn't it?" I could only nod as I started to mentally process this myself. "But doesn't that mean it's the end times!?" Hadvar said quickly in a panic

I looked at him and said "Not if I have anything to say about, I fear no dragon" I said in confidence, when secretly I was scared out of my wits too, but right now we needed to focus on escape. "But right now is not the time, we need to get out of here as quickly as possible" I then looked at my hands, they were still in a bind which caused me to groan slightly. "Though I don't know how much good I'll be with my hands in a bind like this"

Hadvar paused at that, "Good point" He motioned to me and said "Here come on, let me get these bindings off" I walked to him and he slowly cut off my binds with a dagger. I moved my hands around, it felt so good to be free at last. I looked around and saw that the room we were in was defiently a barracks, covered in beds and chests. Hadvar said "I'd take whatever armor we can find around here, then and hurry about it. That Dragon is still out there"

As I head the Dragon roar in rage, I put a step to it. I had to sigh slightly, the only armor they had here was light armor, hardly befitting a knight like myself, but I really couldn't be picky on the subject I guess. I put on the light armor, and then noticed that there was a rather cheaply made Iron sword, I picked it up and attached the hilt to the armor's hilt and looked at Hadvar.

Hadvar commented and said "The armor suits you, you look like one of us" I paused at that and Hadvar reminded me "Come on, let's go."

He opened the door behind him and we rushed down the hall, hurrying as fast as we could heading down to the hall. Hadvar paused and stopped noticing something, as did I. There were two Stormcloaks that I saw in the Prison Transport. Hadvar said "Rebels" He then said something that kind of comfirmed that I was completely right about Hadvar in every way. "Maybe we can reason with them." He walked forward, and said "Hey, Stormcloaks I need to have a word with you"

I followed quietly and the Stormcloaks said in defense, "It's the Imperials! Defend yourself" They drew giant swords, and glared down at us.

Hadvar was about to say something to convince them they weren't a threat, when the Stormcloak rebel came up, surprisingly quick given the size of the blade, with intent to kill. I quickly jumped in Hadvar's defense and stabbed the Stormcloak through it's cheaply made armor impaling him on my sword, then kicking him off. I said quickly "I think diplomacy is out"

Hadvar nodded and blocked a strike that came from the next Stormcloak, the Stormcloak glared at me and I then jumped and stabbed the Stormcloak in the chest as well. I paused and looked at Hadvar and said "Are you all right?"

Hadvar nodded "Yes, thank you so much" He then said "Shame the Rebels aren't willing to put aside out diffrences for now, especially with that damn dragon outside!"

I looked at him and said "Don't worry about it, we have to move now, the Dragon is still out there" I then paused and said "Hadvar, are the rebels always so...reactionary?"

"They have every right to be angry, the Empire as you saw today is less than perfect." He then said "However the Empire is the only hope for Skyrim, especially if there is a dragon now. We need to defend our land. I just wish it was together instead of as enemies"

I could only nod in agreement and said "We better get moving if we don't that damn dragon might end up bringing this whole tower on our heads"

Hadvar and I started to hurry, heading into a store room. Two more Stormcloaks were there, and were just as reactionary as before, so Hadvar and I had to deal with him. Hadvar said "The Rebels are quite jumpy for a dragon being outside" He then looked at where we are. "Oh a store room" I had to give him a judging look as he said that and Hadvar noticed that. "Hey don't look at me like that."

I said to him, "How could you not notice a store room around here?" I then looked around and said "Better grab some stuff"

"Yeah, get some potions and some other supplies and we'll get out of here" Hadvar said to me, as I started to look around the room. "Hey, Dillon correct?"

I nodded and said, "Yeah, that's my name don't wear it out." I said in a sort of joking tone. I was working quietly.

Hadvar said "You know, two things have been bugging, one about the Dragon and the other about you. I'll start with you. Why did you follow me into the keep? For all you know, after this is all over, I could be taking you to have your head chopped off again"

I paused mid grab because of that, and then I responded with, "You remind me of someone I used to know. A good man, an Imperial officer like yourself, a damn fine soildger, and like I told you before, I don't hate the Empire, I hate what they've become. " I went back to grabbing. "Bullies, cowards, men with no honor. It's no wonder that then men and women of Skyrim formed a rebellion, this conflict was inevitable."

Hadvar sighed "I guess that makes sense, now my otherr thing is a theory. You don't think that the Rebels are in control of the dragon are you?" I looked at him in shock, as he quickly said, "I know it sounds ludicris, but think about it really quick. The Empire has Ulfric Stormcloak and his most loyal followers dead to rights. We have him ready to be executed, and then suddenly a dragon attacks." He put his finger to his chin as he said "It seems way to coincidental"

"And far fetched!" I said in a response. "Think about it for a brief second, this is the first dragon to be seen in centuries right?!" I said to him and Hadvar could only nod. "There's your logical flaw" I said to him. "The rebels controlling a dragon is nothing but pure lunacy"

Hadvar responded with, "Yes I knows it's far fetched, but think about it for a brief second what would have happened if we killed Ulfric Stormcloak. His death would be the ultimate statement to the rebels that their way will not be tolerated, and then a dragon appears out of no where? Why in the world would it appear right at that precise moment?" I couldn't come up with an awnser then Hadvar said "Damn it we're running around in circles we need to get out of here"

I finished my search and said "You're right lets go" I stood up and walked out with heading through the tower. We kept moving rushing through the place as fast as we could, then suddenly the dragon roared and part of the way was blocked by the rubble. Hadvar groaned as we opened the door, and I found out why.

Hadvar said quietly "The Torture room, gods I wish we didn't' need these" Him and me both, I have a funny feeling this was suggested by the Empire's new found friends the damn Thalmor. However, I had to put my negative feelings towards the Thalmor aside, at least for now, as we saw two imperials fighting off some Stormcloaks. I rushed into battle and stabbed on the of Stormcloaks in the chest, and then looked over to my side as something caught my eye. I paused as I walked into the back room and saw an iron shield staring right back at me. I smiled and as I grabbed it put it on my hand. I have my sword, my shield, and my armor (Though admittedly I wished it was heavier) . Now we are truly back in business.

Hadvar helped one of the Torturers up and asked "Is General Tulius with you?" I smiled at that, I'm beginning to like Hadvar the more I hang around him.

My smile faded almost imminently has the Toturer said "Don't know, I've been down here all day when these crazy rebels came down here and disrupted my work" I rolled my eyes at his tone, if it wasn't for the fact that unlike him I had honor, I would have beaten his face in.

I looked at Hadvar and said "We have to go" Hadvar nodded and we both ran off heading down the pathway, the Torturer following us trying to escape. After a minor detour involving some Stormcloaks, we all heard the dragon roar at an entrance way with a draw bridge. The building started to shake, and rubble started to fall. I pushed Hadvar out of the way of the rubble, as rubble fell ontop of the Torturer. Hadvar looked at me as I stood up and said "You okay?"

Hadvar nodded and said "Yeah" He looked at the rubble and said "Looks like the others are going to have to find another way out." He looked at the flattened Torturer and said "Well most of us" I smirked at that and got up. We headed out as fast as we could heading towards a cavern with these GIANT SPIDERS! I paused at that kinda shocked as Hadvar drew his sword and slew all of them. "I've always hated those things, to many eyes you know?" He looked at me and said "You okay?"

"What...in...the...hell?" I said slowly. "Why are there six ft spiders!?"

Hadvar couldn't help but laugh at me as he said "Didn't take you for being arachnophobic. These are the Frostbite Spiders they are spiders of unusual size, they are quite common in Skyrim" I had to pause at that. "Come on though, we need to hurry, in case you forgot there is a Dragon outside, that makes these little things not really worth the trouble"

I paused and had to nod, heading off towards the end of the cave. Thankfully there were no more of those things, but Hadvar had to stop me. "What?"

Hadvar pushed me down "There's a bear over there, see her?" I looked across and paused as I indeed did see the bear. It was a massive thing too bigger than the spiders even. I'm starting to question what is in the animals that the creatures of Skyrim eat. How much protein is IN this land anyways!? "I'd rather not tangle with her right now, why don't we sneak past...or if we must" He handed me his bow. "Take some pot shots at the creature with my bow"

I paused at that and drew my sword and walked forward. The bear looked at me and roared in all its giant glory than got on all fours to attack me, when I stabbed it in the neck with my iron blade. As the beast fell over, I looked at Hadvar and he paused. "Not the sneaking type are you?" Hadvar commented as I rolled my eyes heading down the path.

For what felt like hours, we ventured down this path until...Hadvar felt something as did I.

Wind.

He and I rushed down the cave as we saw light at the end of the tunnel. "The exit" I said quivering a little bit. Hadvar smirked as we walked forward exiting.

We both had to get down however as we saw the Dragon flying away in all it's massive glory. It flying as fast as it could in the distance thankfully not noticing us. Hadvar said "That was close" He turned and said "Thank you for all your help, I owe you my life"

I tried to tell him that he owed me nothing when he said "You know you should join the Legion in Solitude. If the Rebels have a dragon, General Tulius is the only one to stop it"

I paused and said "I'm still getting settled, and plus after what we went through we should probably get some rest"

Hadvar paused at that and said "Good point" He then looked down the road. "I know where we are...my Uncle is a Blacksmith at a little town called Riverwood, just up the road. He'll probably let us rest up there" We then started down the road to Riverwood.

I paused though as I looked in the direction that Dragon flew. It was weird...it was like that I...knew that Dragon.