Hey Guys. Here's another chapter of our hero Leira. Her beginning arc is almost coming to an end but fear not this is but the 1st arc of her story. Be sure to follow her on her journey to greatness.

Chapter 5: Dovakiin

This gate. The wooden, sprung built gate towered over me by several feet. It was impressive. It was also intimidating. This gate reminded me so much of Helgen, but much taller. Will Whiterun be the same? Will there be a dragon waiting for me in there?

I had the posted guards outside open it. The great doors spread apart slowly,creaking with every inch turned. Whiterun, was,... stable. Children were running, and playing. Cheers and laughter were heard from them. It was a marketplace of business and small bazaars. A blacksmith's shop was just to the right as soon as you enter.

Speaking of which there seemed to be a small argument taking place between a bald man and a sturdy looking woman. They were carrying on about weapons for the army. The woman did not appear to be amused. Once they separated I followed the woman to the blacksmith she worked for. I sold quite a few items and decided to try my hand at smithing. I asked around town and found myself searching for a place called Dragonsreach, where I could find the Jarl. I appeared in front of this one building with what seemed to be shields plastered on the rim of the roof, only to find out it belonged to a guild. A rowdy one from what I saw. I opened the doors to see multiple citizens pummel each other an thrash about. Shutting the doors from that building I saw a flight of stairs going up a hill. Deciding to follow them I strode on.

I came to be in front of a structure that had a dragon's skull above the door. 'Guess I'm at the right place.'

Imperial guards were at the door and opened it for me. The ceiling was high and weapons no good for battle were hung for display. A raging fire flared in the middle of a lane created by two long tables full of food and drink. Across the fire sat a burly man with braided blonde hair and a long pointed beard. He sat listening to another man, seemingly bored as he laid his head on his hand.

I walked up a small flight of stairs to be on the other side of the fire. Looking across the licking flare the man in the seat spotted me. Once everyone saw his gaze was not on what they thought they followed it to me. Another balding man who was talking turned with a quizzical look and a dark elf woman decked out in armor leered at my presence. Walking around the fire I tried my hardest to keep my facial expression the same. I didn't know whether to cringe under the gaze of the dark elf woman, smile at the dumbstruck balding man, or to intensely stare at the man in the chair. Out of all the possibilities, I kept a straight face of calm and confidence, which I lacked. The man in the chair never looked away from me approaching him. I stopped just before the dark elf. She sneered at my presence and crossed her arms. The other man to the left spoke up. "What is your business here stranger?"

"Come now. Let the lass speak. If she was going to attack me she would've done so already." the man in the chair reassured.

I knelt down. "Jarl Balgruf. I bring news from Helgen."

I seemed to have gotten their attention. "Helgen has been attacked. You must send reinforcements there to look for survivors."

The three of them looked puzzled then shocked. The dark elf woman stepped forward. "And how are we to believe you? Who were they attacked by?"

"I was sent by Hadvar who was stationed in Helgen."

Balgruf nodded. "I know of Hadvar. A good man who would rather be at the

homefront. But who were they attacked by? The Stormcloaks?"

I shook my head. "A dragon."

There I watched their eyes widen in shock. I felt an ice ball forming in my stomach for some reason. Were they maybe going to attack for starting up

rumors? Balgruf sat straighter in his seat. He sighed out some stress that had built up in him. "So it is true. The legends are coming back to life."

They all exchanged glances of fear and anger. Then Balgruf lifted himself from his chair. "You must be the prisoner that Hadvar took pity on or so I've heard."

I nodded. The way he said it made me feel like they wouldn't trust me just because of the title 'prisoner'. "So that means you were there during the attack."

I nodded again at the memory of the dragon. "My name is Leira sir."

"Leira..."

We had talked for quite some time. Balgruf seemed to trust me but the dark elf eyed me intensely. She never looked away. The Jarl had pointed me to a man in his keep that was working on Dragons. Studying them really. That man who was researching them also didn't care for me. He immediately went to send me on an errand. Another fucking cave with more fucking spiders... Gods I hate those things.

I was sent to find the Dragons Stone of sorts. Once passing the insects I came across bandits who wanted to treasure hunt. A man who yelled that he had a key to move on was rapped in massive amounts of webbing. I assisted him in escaping his binds only to be betrayed when he ran away from me. I had to take out a bow and arrow to try and stop him. I aimed at his leg to be sure to not kill him. When the arrow was sprung it twisted in the air and it pierced his lower back.

I felt a feeling of guilt over come my being. I did not mean to kill him. He was unarmed,... And I ended his life prematurely. Walking over I looted his body for the Dragon Claw key only. Though when I was done I propped him up and folded his arms over his chest. Not the best burial but it was all I could offer out of respect.

Deeper into the caves i came by creatures of the undead. Evil spirits poses-sing the bodies to combat trespassers. Coffins began to appear. The skeletons were rotting away into bone meal but I came across a peculiar burial. There was something about it that caught my attention. I went to touch it but then my head reeled back in pain. A memory began to resurface as I kept looking at the black detailed sarcophagus. I heard voices that were familiar to me. A guttural tone from an older man. As I listened to him the top of the coffin began to quake until suddenly a hand emerged from it.

' "Remember Leira,... Burial tombs are not the place of respect for the dead. They are now the cursed limbo for the restless souls of the ancient..." '

The grotesque hand was that of a Restless Soul of those who have fought in previous lives.

"...Draugr..."

It veered it's ugly deteriorating body at me. Once it took it's first step on land more lids nearby began popping open. I had to fight through and shut a tomb door for me to escape. They were so powerful. They were so sturdy. Their bones didnt collapse upon impact like i thought they would. Their resilience was something to fear, and fear I did.

Further into the cave I evaded many Draugr or killed them quickly with surprise. I have improved in archery with using them as practice. Also the flammable oil on the ground was convenient. Though the further I went the more it became empty. I entered through a tomb door using the golden claw key I retrieved. The combinations I figured out had lowered the door into a large open spaced area.

Stairs led to another coffin and desk. I approached the desk only to have my attention yanked by voices. A choir of men of Soverngard sounded. I whirled my head around to find text on a wall. The craftsmanship of each character mesmerized me. I was lost in their hold. Each step closer became lighter. A light from on high beckoned me closer. Closer. Closer.

I hadn't realized I was touching the wall until something surged in me. A power beyond anything I ever experienced coursed itself through my being. My body relaxed at it's soothing atmosphere. I could sense it making its way to my soul. It slipped between cracks and holes of me to reach it. When it made contact my whole body tensed as it was absorbed into me. I had exhaled a breath I was a magical experience. It was amazing. I was caught up in my euphoria.

Whatever that was, I felt good as new.

CRACK!

I felt myself jump at the sudden noise. Turning around I met the rotting eyes of a Draugr. But this one held a certain ire of him that none of the others before possessed. It growled at me with teeth as straight as it's ancient decrepit blade. Unsheathing mine I knew this one would follow if I tried to flee.

It roared an intangible phrase and charged. Our slabs of metal clashed causing small sparks to appear. It never delayed an attack. The assault kept coming never giving me a chance to counter. His strength was so great it automatically brought me to my knees when it tried to overpower me on the last clash. I held his arm with both my sword and shield. My body trembled as my muscles tensed too much to try and match his strength. He then kicked my side driving me back against the wall.

I thought I had gained strength? Where did all that energy leave to? He ran towards me again but this time I rolled to evade his attack. His blade struck the ground. I took this time to get up and attack. Yelling a battle cry I bashed him with my shield. He became dazed for a bit so I tried to lunge at him with my steel sword. He dodged that and hacked at my arm with the shield. He knocked it off!

The Draugr elbowed my head and knocked me off balance. I soon landed on my bottom. My whole body felt like there was little energy. Looking up it spoke something in an ancient language. I don't know what he said but I'm sure he was mocking me. I charged for a final attempt. Both hands were on the steel blade for extra force.

Both blades met but on contact a slicing sound echoed through my ears and a pain spiked through my shoulder. We both took steps passed each other. If he had facial muscles I'm sure he would be smirking. My eyes were glued to my steel blade. It was cut off. Barely anything was left but the handle. Behind me I heard it chuckle. His laughter brought my spirits down even more. My body felt heavier than what it normally did. My legs were shaking and sweat beaded down every part of my body. My small hands couldn't even grip the remnants of the sword and let it descend to the ground. Clanking with an echo that vibrated my heart with each impact.

My lower limbs succumbed to the weight and my shoulder had a rhythm of pain slicing at it. My clothing under my armor felt a warm dampness beginning to spread slowly. The throbbing sensation kept repeating the same beat of affliction in my shoulder. My shaking hand tried to grip and pinch where the source of hurt was located, but it could not reach.

The Draugr was now full blown cackling at my pathetic state. A helpless, debilitated, pinned weakling had tried to fight it. A rotting undead warrior easily defeating fresh flesh. The subliminal taunts and insults were filled in his laughter. Each thought of my failure and humiliation zipped through my head in a whirl of emotions, all clashing causing me to feel the stress, panic, and embarrassment rise. The more the thoughts of not figuring out my past kept surfacing the more frightened I became. A heat of sorts initiated when all these feelings began meshing together. The warmth spread from my core to the entirety of my being internal and external. But this was no magical feat.

It was an emotion I remembered called fury.

A new found energy found it's way into me and rejuvenated my efforts. I could bear my weight. My pupils could focus. And my determination was redeemed.

I stared down the monster of this abode and locked eyes. He recognized the new stature I held myself in. Again I would think he would smirking at me at this moment. In my bag I searched for the weapon I had hoped to save for another day. Feeling the extra chill and drop in temperature I knew I had no other choice, I unsheathed the Lunar Glacier.

The Draugr gave me a moment to adjust to a position preparing for the oncoming battle before he too also took up his stance.

After one last hiss he and I both roared in a tenacious fashion fitting a warrior as we charged.