A/N: I'm actually surprised this took me much faster than I thought, not only that but I've done it in less than a week! HOORAH! Now where on Earth is that cheese? So glad to have gotten this done and hope you guys will enjoy this chapter, its much shorter than I imagined but for a man who can't understand what everyone is saying, it's surprisingly long... Well enjoy!
Chapter 3 - Journey through Helgen's Keep -
The Imperials kicked the poor sap's legs, bring him to his knees, then forces his head on the bloody stone. With the raise of his axe, the executioner was ready to end the poor man's life. Little did everyone knew that a dragon of all things fell from the sky, landing on the tower in front of us, and with a roar made the sky transform around the village. The entire village fell into chaos, and everyone was running for their lives, like panicking ants that lost their way.
My eyes never lost the prisoner, as he and another nord run straight to another tower. I was close behind, with bound hands. Running inside, the Stormcloaks were bickering among each other before the prisoner and our Stormcloak friend started running up the tower. Cue, Aldiun smashes through the wall, breathing fire into the floor below. Whoever was down there, were dead, and we all looked at it's scaly hide with equal amounts of fear.
As the black dragon leaves the tower, the top of the tower was destroyed, and the floor below us were up in flames. The only way out was quite literally the building below, which was also on fire. I knew that staying this these people will help me stay alive, but seriously, the options are limited in are insane!
Our crazy prisoner jumped out first, then the Stormcloak King and his partner, leaving me at the tower for a moment. The flames were getting larger and I have no options but to jump out as well. Moving back a bit, I had a bit of a run before throwing myself into the air and landing into the roof… which broke through, hitting the floor, which broke again, leaving me on the ground floor.
The wind was knocked out of me and I could feel the pain throughout my body. I rolled onto my side, and despite the pain I received, I don't feel anything broken, anything protruding, and only the pain in my chest when landing on this floor, and also the heat, probably the only luck I've had all day. Looking towards the flames further into the house, I see a pair of ragged shoes land in front of me. My eyes scanned up to see the large nord looking down at me. We both stared at each other for a moment before he simply looked on ahead and moved around me. The sound of the flames roared as something snapped, throwing me back into reality.
My body ached, but the danger was upon me once again, and as I got up from the ground, I followed him. We were outside the burning cabin, wear two legionnaires were yelling for a boy to get to them, and to leave his dead father… by the looks of it. My eyes landed on Alduin as he fell from the sky, looking at the boy who left his father's side and started running towards the legionnaires. The dragon only looked for a moment after before yelling Yol, breathing fire at the boy's direction. In a way, we all stared as the boy's charred boy fell into the mud.
The two legionnaires then looked over at us, and said a few things, possibly to the man who could actually speak back. My eyes on the other hand couldn't help but look at the remains of the boy… another harsh reality of the world around, a stark contrast between virtual reality and actual reality. Truth to the matter, reality shows no mercy, no filter to those of how cruel and dangerous we really are to this world, and once again, I find myself in Skyrim, a hellish nightmare of a world compare to my own.
My glazed eyes focused once again as I could see my friends are starting to run off without me, and I'm standing in the middle of a war zone against the World Eater like an idiot. Despite the occasional slip, I sprinted to catch up to them in the mud. Heading up into a labyrinth of flaming houses and charred bodies, and missing meteors falling out of the hurricane that is above us, the world around me literally did look like an apocalypse.
The two men stayed back, behind a wall, as a large familiar impact followed, making me dive towards the wall as well. Alduin came down, yelled out a breath of fire killing possibly a regiment of soldiers and villagers, then flapped his wings, taking off towards the skies. The legionnaire which I possibly believe is Hadvar once again, takes off with my fellow prisoner buddy behind him. They boldly walked across the charred corpses of men, women and children that were just there.
I slowed down once again, the smell of smoked flesh stank through the are, my body is already queasy. Coughing and trying to keep what's left of the food and water in my stomach, I struggled to follow. Once out, there were soldiers everywhere, with groups of villagers huddled near them or running, only to be picked off by Alduin where he drops them out of the sky. Hadvar and the prisoner found Tullius commanding his men, and once spotted Hadvar told two soldiers and a group of villagers to go with them.
What was once three of us are now about nine or ten, and Hadvar is possibly taking them all, follow by a few soldiers with him. The thought of taking so many people and being in such a large group would be crazy, since we're all out in the open. Then there was a sudden impact that hurled me from the ground, landing in some kind of cart.
Despite a few splinters, my eyes open wide as I heard Alduin yell out another Yol and see flames fly from his mouth, the resulting screams of terror and fire engulfed my vision. In a panic, my senses flared and I hurled myself from the ground despite the amount of pain and ache I have achieved and started running along side the flaming building next to me.
Alduin must of caught a flicker or a shadow of my presense as he turned his head to the side and yelled another Yol at me. The flames missed but I could feel the heat off my ass, the panic in my running made me slip in the mud as my feet slide and once again I tumble in the mud, hearing another Yol, this time just in front of me. I got up once again turning back and ran into the burning building, keeping my head low and seeing the charred remains of the open wall, I jumped over that, with my eyes shut and once hitting hard into another object, I coughed hard.
I heard a roar in the sky once again, and could probably sense that Alduin was up there, I ran back out, out of the alleyway and ran parallel to the buildings, under the smoke. Sliding a few times, I could finally see a familiar area, that could be Helgen's Keep. There, I could see weapons drawned and possibly three or four people there, Hadvar and the prisoner, a Stormcloak soldier, possibly Ralof and a villager by the looks of it, a boy by the looks of it.
The Stormcloak and Imperial were yelling at each other, but whatever it was, was about to be interrupted, I darted first, heading towards the Imperial, the prisoner and the boy ran towards the Stormcloak into the one end of the Keep, as I ended up with the Imperial on the other side. The Imperial looks back to see that the group he had went with his enemy, or what was possibly the closest door. That was until he saw me, and for a moment, I saw a frown on his face, but he didn't close the door on me… running into it, the door was shut before we heard an impact of Aldiun's presense, and as Hadvar shuts the barricade, locking the door before it started to smoke and heat up. I'm about six feet from the door and I could feel the heat from here.
The man yells, backing away from the door, and started shaking his hands, as they were possibly burned. Another yell escapes the man's mouth, as he runs over and beats one of the chests in front of the bed.
Beds, chests, weapons… by the looks of it, this place is a barracks-
A sudden force disrupts my thoughts and I'm literally pushed up against a wall, raised into the air by the taller nord in front of me, his eyes red, glaring at me, speaking to me in a form of latin or gibberish that I can't fathom. I couldn't raise my bound hands as spittle assault my face, that and ranking breath, I just stare back at the man, saying nothing, mostly because I know nothing and can't understand the man's frustration.
The man just drops me as I fall, looking up at the nord, a subtle amount of fear growing, not understanding the hate or disgusted look I've been getting lately. He turned away, looking through the chests and equipment around the room. I guess he really didn't like me, though it's understandable, if they think I'm some kind of necromancer than that dislike and disgust is justified in their sense, but they do misunderstand that I don't do that kind of stuff, I just need to find a way around this is frustrating language barrier. Suddenly the man pulled me up, and pulled my arms out, and finally I could feel my binds loosen as he cuts them with a dagger.
With freed hands, my face gets assaulted by a large sack of leather and chainmail, looking at it now, it was an Imperial Uniform, and looking at myself, I was covered in mud and burned rags, being stripped out of the clothes I had before the Stormcloak's encounter.
A prisoner…
I look back at the man, as he gave out his hand, "Hadvar," he spoke, his tone was cut, and short, no warmth with it. I understand his distrust, and I don't think we're going to be friends anytime soon. Giving him a nod, I met his hand with my own, "Connor," I replied, with a firm shake. He nods back, and with that, I took off the rags, and despite the mud and filth on my person, I ignore it, putting the Imperial uniform on.
I looked around, finding two swords for my liking, I'd rather have a shield on my person, but there isn't one and a good offence is the best kind of defense, an even better one is the element of surprise. What worse enemy to face than a faceless one, an unknown?
With the gear on and properly equipped, we headed out the door and into the labyrinth of corridors in the Keep. We descended down a set of stairs, we encountered a pair of Stormcloaks, Hadvar signals me to wait there as he headed out, his sword on his side but his hands up in a sign of peace, I'm guessing he's trying to let them know that we're on the same side at the moment. Then it falls apart as the two rebels draw their weapons and charged Hadvar, I then jumped into the room and used my swords to deflect their attacks. Hadvar then pounces on one of them as I attacked the other, two legionare swords against a warhammer, as I try and take him down in close range, he pushes me away to attack me. I finally got him where he didn't expect, a kick in the knee and a scream of agony, as I probably destroyed his kneecap, my sword drawn only to see two bare hands block my path. My eyes widen but the motion was already there, slicing through flesh and into a hard yet soft area.
I look down in surprise, a part of his hand and a few fingers disappeared and a dead horrified look in his eyes, as I pulled the sword out of his neck, I see the man's eyes widen more before rolling as he falls over. My gut wrenches and I tear my eyes away from the wretched sight. Landing on an equally horrifying look of Hadvar looking down at his kill, with an stoic look on his face. I don't say anything, and really, I can't say anything, since nobody will understand me. It was then that Hadvar started looking through the man's person and finds a key, possibly to open the gate at the end of the room.
So we descended…
The occasional rumbling and roaring could also be heard after going down a few flights of stairs in this labyrinth. Once we made it down a corridor and yet another set of stairs, I see in the distance, on the other side of the corridor, three figures, that was until I heard a sharp crack to my side, and as I locate the sudden threat. My eyes widen to see a crevice in the stone as it branches up to the ceiling, and through a roar of breaking stone, instinct took over, dropping the swords and tackling Hadvar out of the way in time.
There was a slight pain on my back, probably a few small stones that were lucky enough to land on me, as I'm sure glad to break their fall. Hadvar and I on the other hand have been coughing up the dust that accumulated from the collapse from the ceiling above us. As I get up, see some rubble roll off my back and shoulders, I see Hadvar get up as well. Dusting ourselves off, I started looking through some of the stones only to find one of the swords I've dropped, the other one probably deeper in the rubble in front of us.
Hadvar scouted on ahead, and as I picked up my sword, I could hear clashes of metal, I only sighed at the ensuring result of conflict. My body tensed, weighing the pros and cons of what I'm about to do, and simply closed my eyes and let out a breath.
I opened the door and charged in, seeing two men in Stormcloak chainmail, one carrying a battle-axe, the other carrying a war-axe and a shield. Hadvar protecting himself as he deflects both with just a sword, and my entrance had created a distraction in one of them, proving to be a fatal flaw as Hadvar cuts the man down with a swipe around the shoulder and neck.
I gained ground on the other and the other Stormcloak rebel realize that the tables have turned on him, his eyes moved back to Hadvar, ready to swing his axe at him to deal with his closest threat, but then the swing came back towards me, and I stopped just beyond his reach, resulting in Hadvar to stab the man just below the gut, a clean slice and the red liquid and meat was spilled. The man was stocked still for a moment before I saw a slight change in his face, and charged the man, stabbing the man through the neck. Hadvar stabs the man's shoulder a chopping motion, which only leaves an angered glare at me, before his eyes roll and falls to his knees. Pooling in his own blood, he lays motionless and his choking dies out.
I ripped my eyes away from the man and look over to Hadvar, the man only looked at the Stormcloak a little longer before taking his sword out of the man's shoulder and starts looking around the room. Following the same motions, I do the same, and found some apples and cabbage I nibble on, also finding a few potions, though my experience in potions have left me a bit distrustful of them at the moment, I have them to Hadvar.
Having something to eat and taking the shield off the Stormcloak, I walk back to Hadvar and nodded to him, only to receive a nod back from the Nord Legionare, he opens the door and we descend into another set of stairs.
That was then I started to hear something strange, the sound of lightning and swords going at each other. Hadvar brought his hands up, signaling me to stop, he looks at me for a moment and puts a finger to his mouth. Universal hand signs, no matter what dimension you live in, I give the man a nod as we both descend down the stairs and into another room. The fighting has stopped, but I wasn't worried about the occupants of the room but rather, the room itself.
It ranked of death… the smell of iron was stinging…
The place was a torture chamber, and I could see bodies in cages, as well as body parts and in the corner, a man that was strapped to a pulling device- he was being unstrapped and pulled off by two Stormcloaks. I started to see red, I grabbed Hadvar and pulled him into the wall, and unfortunately for us, it created enough ruckus to alert the Stormcloaks.
I was met with a stern look, as Hadvar was barely controlling his anger, I met his stare, still seeing the tint of red, I could hear weapons being drawn, and then I started yelling, pointing out into the hellish room before me.
These people are barbarians…
Uncivilized…
Why the hell am I helping this guy!?
And then I realize that I was yelling these things, and I suddenly stopped, my eyes widen as I didn't even know I was doing this. I look back at the two Stormcloaks who were eyeing me warily, I let go of Hadvar and faced them, and my sword were already put away, I take it out and see them tense, and then threw it on the floor next to the shield. I walk to the side, seeing the a man in rags, his body looked fragile, skin and bones as he was wringing his wrists. He looked at me cautiously, ready to strike as well despite his condition.
I look at Hadvar once, then the Stormcloaks. "Get out of here!" I yelled, "Go!" throwing my arm towards them in a shooting manner, it only confused the Stormcloaks before me. But Hadvar was there to suddenly understand and orders to Stormcloaks to leave, or so I think. The rebels looked at each other, before taking their friend in the back, arms wrapped around his shoulders and headed him off deeper into the chambers.
Hadvar and I set our eyes on each other once again, his eyes were once again stoic, and mine distrusting. Rather not him, but the uniform he wears, the man would've killed me any other time, but we are allied in such dire times.
We moved in deeper into the chambers and although everything is much quieter, with the occasional rumble of Alduin rampaging on the surface, my eyes finally sets onto a cage like room, and headed towards it, taking no mind to Hadvar's footsteps following me. Looking into the room, I could see a set of books, a hood with an interesting cloak, and see a faint glow from it. My eyes however fall onto an even more familiar sight. My curiosity turns into excitement as I find my bag once again, opening it to see familiar clothing, and my most favorite device in the world right now, still wrapped in a plastic bag.
Hadvar looks at me strangely as I drop the shield and throw the backpack over my shoulder, strapping it on, I pick up whatever belongings I found and walk back to him. The backpack feels a little awkward with the chainmail on but I'm not going to complain. How it still survives still baffles me… as well as me with the sudden torment of rotten luck.
We get back on track, going deeper into the chamber, along the way, my eyes spots a small bag of coin, with Hadvar ahead of me, I snatch the bag and hid it on my person. The next room though I stopped for a moment as I see a room full of skeletons, some hanged in bird cages, others in cells, lined upon the sides of the wall and ceiling. Hadvar and I were oddly quiet as we past the room, making our way to a large hole in the wall, with the sound of water on the other side. Hadvar enters the room first and I go on as well.
A natural cavern, and as we go on further, Hadvar stops, and throws his hand up, I stop in front of him and follows his eyes, landing on a pair of slain Legionnaires. I looks back at me and puts his finger to his lips, which was received with a nod in cooperation. We quietly walk further into the cave seeing more dead Legionnaires and a small squad of Stormcloaks in the area. No more than half a dozen, I freeze and realize the situation.
I remember that the Legionnaires were clearing the path for General Tullius, if you follow Ralof into the Keep. The Dragonborn was here, as he and Ralof probably took out the guards. The cavern was recognizable, from the bridges over the stream, to the oil lamp on the other side, where the archers are. Another confrontation, another fight, then again, it's nothing more than a fight for survival, and I want to get out of here alive.
I slowly bring my sword from my sheath, eyeing the cavern carefully- two on the left, two on the bridge, and from the looks of it, archers in the back. Lightly tapping Hadvar's shoulder, I get his attention, then pointed him to the two on the bridge and then to the people to the left of the cavern, as I point to myself and then at the achers. Understanding, he nods, and takes out his sword. I tense once again, and with a small sigh escaping my mouth, I set my eyes on the archers, just beyond the bridge with the two Stormcloaks.
Hadvar was the first to charge with me behind, but as Hadvar gains ground on the two on the bridge, he tackles the man on the left, as I tackle the one on the right, sending him over the edge and falling into the stream. My sword out and I could see the two archers already getting their bows out and taking an arrow from the quiver.
Time slows down as I gain ground on the two archers, and soon my sword swings at the one on the left, decapitating the arm notching the arrow, the arrow grazes my side and with clenched teeth, the momentum in my swing is then swung back up, cutting the man's chainmail, making him stagger back. I could hear footsteps behind me and with a roll, I heard a clattering sound of an axe ricochet from the stone surface of the ground. My eyes then widen as I could smell the oil I'm rolling in, my eyes dart to the oil lamp, and as I get up from the ground, I jump out of the way and threw my sword at the lamp, hearing it clatter against the sword and crash into the ground below.
The flames ignite as quickly as they appear and spread out in a force of destruction. I turned back to see two surprised faces stare at me before their cries were heard out over the roar of the flames. For a moment I was stunned, but the clatter of metal broke my deathly trance and into another battle. Four men dead, two by me, two by Hadvar by the looks of it, there was dead man on the bridge and another by his side, in the two on one fight for their lives.
I sprinted to my sword and gained ground towards the fight, evening the odds. My sudden entrance into the sword fight cost a man's life as he never noticed my approach, with a chop to the shoulder and neck, he still stands and swings his war-axe around. Jumping back to dodge the swing, I counterattack with a swing of my own only to be blocked by the Nord. He then attacks aggressively, using his axe swings to gain ground, as I defend them with the shield.
With a counter, I push forward with my shield as it tackles the Nord. My eyes widen as my weight was suddenly hits a brick wall, and before I knew it, I was off my feet, flying in the air. The sword clatters to the side, but my shield was still in my hand. My shield goes up as the axe falls, the sharp edge penetrating the wood as I see it inches away from my eyes.
I throw the shield to the side with the axe still embedded in it. Grabbed the man's arms and pulled him down on me, with one foot on his stomach, kicking him over my head. The man never expected it as he flies in the air, hitting the edge of the stone cavern and falls into the stream.
A part of me wonders if it was the same guy…
The distraction was discarded as I look over to see Hadvar and his Stormcloak assailant combat each other. Throwing swords and axes against each other and dancing around the wet stone cavern. Both were red in the face and eyes beading at each other. My eyes look away and straight at the axe in the shield and as I get up off the ground, I headed over to the shield and heaved the axe off the wood and iron shield, hearing the shield crack, the axe was broken free and I headed back towards the fight. The Stormcloak barely dodges my swing and deflects Hadvar's sword, it was two on one and the rebel was starting to be backed into a corner.
The swings of both our swords were suddenly overwhelming him as he dodges and deflects our attacks, and as we both swing our weapons high in the air, the man's eyes widen and swings his axe at me, making me dodge the attack. My attack comes down clipping him in the shoulder and down his arm, while Hadvar lands his sword into his face.
The man slumps, and falls on his knees while Hadvar puts a boot on the man's chest and heaves his sword out of the man's face. I look back at into the water, seeing my assailant before in the stream, his neck bent at a weird angle, his eyes off to the side in the stream, broken neck.
At times I should be glad to be alive right now, but not right now. I'm just surprise we're still alive is all, but we're still not out of this cave. We gather our weapons, Hadvar grabbing a sword and shield from a dead Stormcloak he tackled when we first ambushed them. Putting his sword away, he grabs a battle-axe, and a bow that was found near a small stash of supplies. Giving it to me, as well as a quiver full of arrows, there weren't much as the ones that were used by the archers were burned, becoming useless.
We headed down the cavern, and it shook once again, hearing Alduin's roar echo through the cave, the ceiling collapses behind us and a small light is shown through, a beam of sunlight entering the cave, but too far to reach or climb.
"Fucking dragon…" I muttered.
Hadvar ignored me as we descended into the open cave and down a small opening. It could only fit one of us, so we squeezed in, single file. Yet, something doesn't feel right, like a nagging feeling in the back of my head.
I felt something sticky brush my legs, looking down and swiping it, I only realize… to my horror what I was holding. Cobwebs, spider-silk, the blood drains from my face as I remember the opening of the game, as we try to fight Frostbite spiders before heading out, as well as a cave bear.
A chill goes down my spine, why does it always have to be spiders…
Hadvar stops ahead of me, probably also realizing what's going on as well. He could barely turn his head but he could look back, and could see the distance between the two of us. Yeah, I'm sorry but I'm not much of a spider person, and despite what they say about how spiders can help the environment, they can all kiss my ass as those creepy sons of a bitches can kiss the sole of my shoe!
Hesitantly I put one foot in front of the other, I can attack from a distance, away from the abominations Bethesda unleashed upon their creation. Once again, I'm behind Hadvar, a little too close for his comfort, but I'd rather have a human shield against this demons.
Paranoid, by senses look around, picking up even the slightest hiss, or bump besides our footsteps. I literally jumped out of my skin as Hadvar accidently kicked a web cocoon in front of him. In it was a rat tail, a skeever of course, but there could be larger cocoons out there, I just hope I don't see any.
That wish was never granted, as we come across more cocoons, and carcasses of the dead, the decaying smell smothers the air. With it, the cocoons grow larger, seeing larger creatures in the narrow passage and then seeing humans, which only grew my paranoia. The first human carcass I've seen in the web, it's hollowed eyes staring back at mine. The decaying teeth and jaw hangs open through the web. Forever piercing into my memory, and resolving my paranoia. Hadvar went on ahead, probably not as scared of the sick little creatures as much as I am.
Though, compared to past experiences with these disgusting creatures, they won't be as big…
It was then I started to hear more scratching above me, in which made me edge much closer to Hadvar, my eyes scanning the inky blackness of the ceiling, and turning back, only to see the blackness of the small crevice we've started walking into. It wasn't until a few agonizing moments later that the crevice started becoming wider.
I have a bad feeling about this…
True to my words, I see two little critters skitter across a much larger and darkened open space. Why Hadvar not use the torch he had in his hands earlier, I don't know, but lighting it, he threw it forward, and the light brightens the once darkened cave. A while ago, I think I pissed myself, now I know for sure that I just shite myself.
For what was in front of me were dozens upon dozens of tiny beady eyes. Creeping and crawling, drooling fangs and beady black eyes. Fighting all of them was just pure suicide but what we didn't expect was those things to crawl back when the torch came at them. An idea erupts in my head and I scramble to my bag and started rummaging through it. Everything was in a panic, Hadvar was yelling at me as he drawed his sword, and we couldn't run back without getting caught by those things.
In a way, we were stuck, toast, and I probably had the only tool to escape our demise.
Zip… zip-zip-zip!
Vrooooom!
The dark cavern ignited in a bright and red light and the demon spawn crawled back in a panic as my makeshift flamethrower ignited in front of them. Hadvar as well got out of the way as he never expected flames to fly out from me. I stopped spraying for a moment, then ignited again, seeing the creatures fall back.
We used the same method again and again, until I could see an exit, and we carefully moved forward, each time, the flames were getting weaker, as the smell of AXE was getting stronger. Well, more like burnt AXE. It was disgusting to smell when mixed with all the death and the decay, like trying to hide a feces covered porta potty with febreze.
As we exit the spider's den (shiver), we ended up in an even larger cavern, occasionally spraying at the flame against the oversized demon spawn. The cavern was much brighter, with a light on the other end of the of the opening here and with all the glowing mushrooms.
After that we both started running, bypassing a dead cave bear before running out into the light and down the hill. Through the rushing of the wind and the bitter cold I turn around and ignited the zippo, sending a stream of fire, seeing eyes burn and hair ignite, fangs quiver as the beast shudders and crawls away. I fired my makeshift flamethrower again and again at the hell-spawn, the eight legged freaks crawled around me as the flames roast his friend.
Another gets close, and moves on it's hind legs, only to get a sword in its gut. Hadvar slides it out and the slime flies hitting me in the face, swinging it around, cutting legs off. The sword cuts, the fire burns, and the insects wither and back away, fearing its prey.
A shadow casts before its eyes and the sword falls, it sees a bright red light engulfing its sensitive eyes and screeches in agony. Three dead spiders, lay in smoke and pieces, not far by one of the many decapitated legs is twitching.
Disgusting…
A/N: And that's that! I'm getting Chapter 4 ready and got it set up, hopefully I'll be on a roll and get it up again next week, or about so, time's fickle that way. So is cheese... anyway, Read and Review childrens, and if you like and and want more of it, please follow and fav- though favoring it gets you free internet cheese. Thanks yous childrens and hope to sees you all soon!
PS- If you haven't noticed, I do love cheese and fire (especially explosions) and I ABSOLUTELY DESPISE SPIDERS. If you like them... NO CHEESE FOR YOU!
