Beware, Beware the Dragonborn Comes

Summary: "Mother always told me that father was special. She called him Dragonborn. Soul of a dragon, body of a human… It's a shame I don't remember him but mother says I'm like him in more ways than just my appearance."

Destiny Begins

During the night while mother slept I got ready to leave. I glared out of the window at the country I had slowly grown to hate; no guards were in sight, so I made my move for the city gate.

The night sky twinkled above me as I walked the lonely road that led to the boarder of Hammerfell. From behind I could hear the sound of a horse and carriage. More than one… Two… Three? They stopped near me, the rider turning to look at me. A khajiit. They were travellers, merchants. "May I help you? You seem a little… Stranded." He looked at the others, giving them a look. "Climb in back and khajiit will take you to your destination."

I smiled at him, "Thank you." I said while climbing into the back of the caravan. Inside was an old looking khajiit with a long, wispy moustache. "Hello." My voice was timid as I felt shy being around these strangers.

"Ri'saad welcomes you. What is your name?"

"I'm Ari. Is this your caravan?"

"Yes, I am leader of khajiit caravans. Where are you going?"

"Skyrim. Is that where you're going?"

"Yes. There are many opportunities there. A wise trader finds the best opportunities, even if he must travel far to find them. Skyrim is a ripe opportunity indeed." He explained with a smirk. "The civil war has scared away many rivals."

I smiled at him politely and looked around the caravan. "How long will it take to get to Skyrim?"

"Almost three days, but we must stop for some trade. Rest and Ri'saad will look after you."

I smiled kindly at the khajiit and found comfort in the corner of the caravan. It was cramped, but comfortable. I felt him as he placed a blanket around me. "Thank you." I whispered, drifting off into a deep and peaceful sleep.

When I finally woke up, I was alone in the caravan. I could hear faint talking from outside, it was Ri'saad and one of his customers. I sat up and stretched, enjoying the feeling as my muscles strained and then relaxed.

I peered around the corner of the caravan and watched Ri'saad as he dealt with the Redguard man. He was an Alki'r warrior; I had seen them before when they came through High Rock. They had scared me as a child, and they still scared me now.

"This is all I get?" the Redguard sounded angry. "I paid full price for only half?"

"What can I say? Prices have gone up." Ri'saad tried to smoothly get out of the situation. It wasn't working.

"That's it, I've had enough of you." He pulled out a curved sword and held it to Ri'saad's throat.

I began to panic and looked around for any weapon that I could get my hands on. The sound of metal meeting metal was audible from outside as the khajiit travellers fought with the Redguards. My hand found an iron dagger under Ri'saad's blanket. I grabbed it and jumped out of the caravan and stabbed the Redguard that was trying to kill the man that was so kind to me.

His limp body fell to the ground in a pool of blood. I stared at the body, not being able to take my eyes off it. I killed someone…

I felt someone's hand on my shoulder, but I couldn't bring myself to look at who it was. "We should go, before the guards come."

I looked at the khajiit, almost in tears. "Did someone see?"

"Yes, if we don't leave now we will get arrested." She pushed me back into the caravan and helped Ri'saad back in.

"Thank you for saving my life. I will never forget it."

"It's all I could do after you showed me kindness." I bit my lip and covered my face with my hands. "Now I have a larger bounty on my head."

"Bounties can be paid off. Don't worry about it." He waved his hand at me and lay down.

"Why was that man shouting at you?"

"I didn't give him enough Moon Sugar." He yawned.

"What is Moon sugar?"

"It is used to make Skooma."

I raised my eyebrows in shock. "You sold him drugs?"

"What did you think we traded?" Ri'saad looked at me; a devious look came about him.

"Gems, clothes maybe food. But not drugs." I whispered the last part, unable to wrap my head around what had just transpired.

What have I gotten myself into?

I woke up to the sound of horses approaching the caravans. I sat up and looked around the empty tent; they left me. I grabbed my leather boots and pulled them on as fast as I was able to. The sound of the horses disappeared. Had they left? I climbed out of the tent silently and tried to get away, sneaking in the opposite direction from the guards that were slowly approaching.

From what the khajiits had told me, we were near the border of Skyrim and that I was mere miles away from being in my homeland. Once I had lost the guards I made my way through the forested mountains and towards the border.

As night fell I looked for a place to lay my head. In the distance I could see a small shack in ruins. It was abandoned. I couldn't believe my luck, finally a place to rest in isolation.

I ran down the hills, stumbling every so often and scratching my legs on the wild thistles that grew in the wilderness. It was like a sweet salvation as I looked at the bed made of hay. The small pillow lying at the top and most of all, the unlit lantern that would provide the light that I needed. After taking some time to light the lantern, I held it up and looked at the belongings in the shack. A wardrobe, some money and a fresh apple was all that I could find. Someone was here recently, but I didn't care. I needed that apple, I needed that money and I needed warmer clothes. I would do, or take anything to survive.

Morning came swiftly, and with it so did final part of my journey to Skyrim. From the highest peak of the mountain I stood on, you could see the border, the guards doing their duties and the hopeful travellers trying to make it inside the safety of a great country. I dashed for it down the mountain, ducking and dodging obstacles in my way.

I fell to the foot of the mountain and dusted myself off. A couple more strides and I would be home. I stood at the back of the line with other hopefuls, smiling uncomfortably at these strangers. I grew more and more nervous as the line got shorter and then I realised that it was my turn to try and gain access into Skyrim.

"Name?" the guard said, looking me over.

"Ari Iron-Heart." I kept my eyes to the floor and my lips pursed.

"Wait… I know you."

I looked at him, bewildered by his realisation. "You're making a mistake…"

"There's no mistake, you're a wanted woman and it's time to pay for your crimes." At that he pulled out his sword, as did the other guards. I looked at them in frantic dismay and darted past them and across the border.

I sprinted through the forest, pushing bushes and branches out of my path as I heard the sound of guards on horseback chasing me, hunting me down like I was a wild animal. I looked over my shoulder to see them catching up on me. I fell to the ground. A log tripped me up. I twisted my ankle and writhed in pain on the floor. Not only was my ankle twisted, but there was a large gash on my leg. I looked up at the guards as they circled me. I began to feel light headed; everything around me began to become faded. I fell into darkness.

I woke up on a carriage driven by one of the guards at the border. In front of me was a man in armour, armour that my father used to have. He was a Stormcloak.

"Hey you… You're finally awake. You were trying to cross the border," he looked at me as I watched him. How did he know? "Right into that Imperial ambush, the same as us and that thief over there."

I turned to look at the man bound by rope. "The empire was fine before you damned Stormcloaks came along. If they hadn't have been looking for you I would've been able to steal that horse and I'd be halfway to Hammerfell." He complained, staring angrily at the man I had just spoke to me.

I glanced at the man beside me, he looked familiar, but I didn't know who he was. It was something about his face, his eyes… His hair…

"You there, we shouldn't even be here. It's the Stormcloaks the empire wants."

"We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief."

I began to drift into my own world of thought, ignoring everything that was going on around me. I knew what was going to happen to me… I was going to die. My life would end by the hands of an executioner, and from the sound of it, the Imperials. I guess I deserved it; I did kill a man after all.

I snapped out of it as the carriage started to slow down as we passed through a town. "This is Helgen," the Stormcloak said, "I used to be sweet on a girl from here."

I sighed and looked at the town's children coming out of their houses to watch us. "Where are they taking them?" one asked. I closed my eyes and pressed my lips together. It will all be over soon.

I stepped off the carriage, in a world of my own. I watched the Imperials as they asked for the names. It came to the thief. He pleaded with them and when that didn't work, he ran. I watched as the archers up high took him down. And then it was my turn.

"You there, step forward." The man with the list said. "Who are you?"

I tried to calm my breathing down before I spoke and looked away from the two soldiers. "My name is Ari Iron-Heart."

"You picked a bad time to come home kinsman." He looked at the list and then quickly looked at the woman in armour "She's not on the list."

"Put her in the line with the others." She responded, almost instantly. My heart dropped.

I watched as people were executed, one by one. And then my name was called out. I looked at the Stormcloak who was behind me; he smiled comfortingly as I walked to the block, got onto my knees and placed my head down. Then out of nowhere, strange groaning took place. The ground started to shake and then a dragon landed on the tower. It was my chance to break free. I got up from the block and looked at the two men that were calling for me to follow them; an Imperial soldier and the Stormcloak who tried to comfort me.

I listened to my heart and followed the Stormcloak, and followed him to safety.