Ok, I am fully aware that there is another Nord in Skyrim called Eydis. But seriously, a lot of people have the same name, and I can play the "who me?" card later :) should make things interesting.
Irony
Disa groaned, painfully as she awakened. The back of her head hurt. It felt bruised. Opening her eyes she quickly realised what had happened.
The mission had been successful. She got to Cyrodiil without incident and the package had arrived safely. However, the return, a month later, had not been so straightforward. She had been caught crossing the border. She remembered something striking her head. That was it. Then she woke up here.
As far as she could tell she was on a carriage. Realising that the men escorting the carriage were in Legion uniforms. At first, she thought that she had been discovered. Panicking, she turned, and noticed that she was not alone.
There were three men sharing the carriage all their hands bound by rough ropes. Two of them seemed to be in a similar predicament. The third man seemed like a mystery unto himself. He wore fine furs so she knew he was important. He was gagged but his eyes, those pale blue eyes seemed to pierce the very core of her soul, it felt as though they were speaking to her. His long golden hair flowing down his back reflected the sunlight. Her stomach fluttered as he stared at her. She turned away to hide her blushing cheeks.
The Nord sat opposite, wearing armour that she did not recognise, noticed her watching him.
"Hey you," he was clearly trying to make conversation "you're finally awake; You were trying to cross the border right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush same as us, and that thief over there."
Disa nodded shyly. She had never really spoken to anyone beyond the Rift
"Damn you Stormcloaks, Skyrim was fine until you came along!"
The theif sat next to the "Stormcloak" soldier was clearly unhappy about their situation. Although, in fairness, Disa couldn't really fault him for that
"Empire was nice and lazy. If they hadn't been looking for you I'd have stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell." He complained.
Then he turned to Disa, urgently.
"You there, you and me we shouldn't be here. It's these Stormcloaks the Empire wants."
"We're all brother's and sisters in binds now." Responded the Stormcloak in an even tone.
The driver told them to shut up, clearly unhappy at the bickering.
The horse thief glanced at the man sat to Disa's right.
"What's wrong with him, huh?"
"Watch your tongue! You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King."
She only knew of Ulfric by the stories that people in the Rift told. He was the head of the rebellion and at war with the Empire. He wanted to free Skyrim from the Thalmor. A noble ambition to be sure. But the true High King? Surely that couldn't mean...
"Ulfric? The Jarl of Windhelm?" The horse thief spluttered "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"
Panic suddenly gripped her. Sovngarde? That did not sound good. But the only way out of this mess would be to turn herself over to her captors. There was no way she would do that. Her mother had given her life to keep her out of the hands of the Empire. Now she understood why Brynjolf was so apprehensive about letting her explore beyond Riften.
"No, This can't be happening! This isn't happening!"
The horse thief was becoming hysterical
The Stormcloak soldier could see this too. He tried to calm him.
"Hey, what village are you from horse-thief?"
"Why do you care?"
"A Nord's last thoughts should be of home."
"Rorikstead. I'm from Rorikstead."
Disa thought of Solitude, but there was not much to remember. So she let her mind drift to Riften, to the Thieves Guild. She wished that she had not been so insistent on leaving. She wished she was there now.
"General Tulius sir! The headsman is waiting."
Turning her gaze to the front of the carriage, caught a glimpse of a familiar face. A face she knew from her past. So Tullius was still in the Legion. Hopefully he would not take notice. She slid down her seat, trying to hide her face.
"Good, lets get this over with."
"Shor, Mara, Dibella, Kynareth, Akatosh! Divines, please help me!"
The thief began to pray. Maybe the other two prisoners were praying too. Disa kept her prayer silent. She hoped Talos would get her out of this unfortunate mess. But she knew it was unlikely.
Breaking the uncomfortable silence, the Stormcloak gazed at the General.
"Look at him! General Tulius, the Military Governor. And it looks like the Thalmar are with him; damn elves, I bet they had something to do with this."
Gazing at their surroundings he quickly realised where they were
"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."
Disa gave an uncomfortable chuckle. Safe? She felt far from safe now.
She could hear the people of Helgen around them. She tried to drown them out. She tried to focus on the good times at the guild. Anything to take her mind off of what was going on. If she was really headed to Sovngarde, then at least she could take some good thoughts with her. Something to tell her mother about.
"Woaah..."
The driver's voice pulled her back from her memories. She could see other carts, with prisoners aboard. So this was it...
"Get these prisoners out of the cart!" A fierce, female voice commanded.
Disa could tell from her uniform that this woman was an officer. A captain maybe?
"Why are we stopping?" The thief's nerves getting the better of him again.
"Why do you think? End of the line." The Stormcloak answered quietly..
With that he stood and smiled sadly at Disa.
"Let's go, we shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us."
The horse thief was clearly becoming desperate.
"No! wait! We're not rebels!"
"Face your death with some courage, thief"
"You've got to tell them we weren't With you! this is a mistake!" The thief begged.
"Step towards the block when we call your name, one at a time!" Commanded the Fierce woman.
The Stormcloak rolled his eyes.
"Empire loves their damned lists."
Disa couldn't help but give a small giggle. She knew for a fact that he was right.
The Soldier with the list began calling out their names.
"Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm."
Disa watched as he headed towards the block. He walked proudly and it was clear that he was not going to give their captors the pleasure of seeing him beg for his life. Something moved within her again. She seemed drawn to him. Attracted to this man that she had only glanced at for a small part of their journey. The journey to their deaths.
" It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric" Saluted the Stormcloak.
"Ralof of Riverwood."
As the stormcloak soldier stepped forward and took his place, the horse thief began to panic.
"Lokir of Rorikstead."
"No! I'm not a rebel! You can't do this!"
Then Lokir, the horse thief began to run. Disa shook her head at the fool as he tried to get away.
"Halt!" Screamed the Woman.
"You're not going to kill me!
"ARCHERS!"
Disa watched as Lokir was shot. Even though she felt sorry for the poor man, she had to admit that she had found him really annoying.
The female Captain glared at rest of prisoners.
"Anyone else feel like running?"
Everybody else shuffled nervously.
"Wait... you there."
The man with the list stared at Disa. Once again she felt as though she may have been discovered.
"Step forward."
She did, slowly. She glared at him with the eyes of a frightened child.
"Who are you?"
Relief flowed through her. Although she took potions to keep her hair dark and straight, and even though she was seventeen now, no longer seven. She still feared discovery. Even though she knew keeping her secret was about to cost her her life, she did not flinch. She found inspiration in the Jarl of Windhelm. She would face her ancestors.
"My.. my name is Disa, of Riften."
"You are barely a woman yet. A beautiful young Nord like you should not be surrounded by such horror."
Catching himself he turned to his captain.
"Captain, what should we do? She's not on the list."
"Forget the list. She goes straight to the block."
"By your orders Captain. I'm sorry. We'll make sure your remains get returned to the Rift, prisoner."
He sounded sympathetic, sincere.
Disa moved to stand next to Ralof. She looked at him and smiled sadly. He did his best to squeeze her fingers with his bound hands.
"He wasn't lying, you really are a beauty. Maybe we should meet up in Sovngarde" He winked with a sad smile.
She knew that he was trying to make her feel better.
General Tulius walked up to Ulfric. Venom in his eyes.
"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."
Disa looked up quickly. Shock had taken her. The King had been murdered. Torygg was dead.
Ulfric growled at Tullius through his gag.
"You started this war, flung skyrim into chaos. And now the Empire is going to put you down and restore the peace."
Taking a breath. She looked at the Jarl. It was shock that had taken her aback. Not grief.
How could she grieve for the brother that she barely knew. The brother who accepted the Empire in the exact way their father had. He even allowed the Thalmer free reign in Skyrim.
A distant roar caught everyone's attention.
The soldier who called the names seemed nervous
"What was that?"
"It's nothing." Tullius snapped "Carry on."
"Yes General Tulius!" Nodded the female captain as she turned to priestess.
"Give them their last rights."
The Priestess raised her arms and called to the sky.
"As we commend your souls to Aetheius, blessings of the 8 divines upon you-"
Another Stormcloak Soldier interrupted her impatiently.
"For the love of Talos, shut up and lets get this over with."
He marched forward, clearly he did not want to prolong the inevitable.
The priestess hesitated
"… as you wish."
"Come on! I haven't got all morning!"
The Stormcloak grinned at the headsman as he dropped to his knees and put his head on the block
"My ancestors are smiling at me, imperials. Can you say the same?"
The Captain put her foot on his back as the headsman took a swing with his axe, taking the soldiers head of with one clean stroke.
"You Imperial bastards!" Another Stormcloak in the crowd called out.
"Justice!" Cried one of the townsfolk
"Death to the stormcloaks!" Called another.
"As fearless in death as he was in life." Smiled Ralof proudly.
Female Captain kicked the body away.
"Next, the Nord girl."
"There it is again..." the man with the list was getting restless as roar got louder. "Did you hear that?"
"I said... Next. Prisoner."
The Imperial Soldier behind Disa pushed her forward.
"To the block prisoner. Nice and easy."
Slowly Disa made her way to the block. She took one final glance at Ulfric, before she rested her head on its appointed place.
The headsman moved to his swing axe.
When suddenly, out of nowhere, a huge dragon landed on the tower that Disa's head was facing. Her eyes widened. She had never seen a dragon before. She had only heard of them in stories.
"What in Oblivion is that!?" Shrieked the soldier with the list.
"Sentries, what do you see?" Called the captain.
"It's in the town!"
The people of the town screamed and ran in every direction as the mighty dragon took another loud, ground moving roar.
Tulius called to his men.
"Guards, get the townsfolk to safty!"
Ralof grabbed Disa, pulling her away from the block
"Come on! The guards won't give us another chance! this way!"
"he pulled her towards a tower. He found a dagger and unbound his own hands, before unbinding Disa and Ulfric.
"Jarl Ulfric, what is that thing? Could the legends be true?"
Ulfric spat out his gag.
"Legends don't burn down villages."
The dragon roared again.
Ralof grabbed Disa's hand and ran towards the stairs.
"We need to move, now! "
He pulled her along with him. Suddenly the dragons head burst through the wall, breathing fire everywhere.
"See the inn on the other side? Jump through the roof and keep going! We'll follow when we can!"
Disa took a deep breath and leapt with all her might. She rolled as she landed through the inn. Getting to her feet, she ran.
She ran through the fire and devastation. There were dead bodies everywhere, men, women and children, the dragon did not discriminate. Imperial soldiers were throwing everything they had at the beast to try and bring it down.
The soldier, that had called her name earlier, noticed her and took her arm, dragging her to safety. She followed him, unsure of what to do. She just wanted to go home.
She could see Ralof in the distance. He and the soldier leading her had an argument, a very short one before they ran in opposite directions. She turned and followed Ralof.
It took a few hours to get out of Helgen. In the process, she had killed a bear and helped to kill a few Imperials. After they had escaped, Ralof suggested that she join the Stormcloaks.
At first, she was unsure. After all Ulfric had killed her brother. What fate would she meet if he learned her identity.
But as she walked towards Riverwood, the idea became more appealing.
Fight with the Stormcloaks, free Skyrim and earn her freedom. It all sounded far too good to be true. But the more she thought about it, the more she wanted it. She wanted to be a Stormcloak, she wanted to claim a life for herself. Plus it couldn't hurt to see the Jarl again. He had awoken something deep inside of her,something wonderful that she had never felt before. A feeling she did not want to forget.
