Author's note: I was actually undecided on the whole civil war sub-plot in Skyrim. I was originally leaning towards the Stormcloaks, mainly because there's no better way to kill a future command structure than to try and execute a potential recruit, but then...well, this is as close as I could get the exchange. And I couldn't help but think to myself, "So I can choose between the people who tried to cut my head off or the racist assholes."
Yeah, I'm going to have to say no.
Whatever your opinion may be, I still hope you enjoy and thanks for reading.
Prompt: Us and Them
They ran into the Stormcloak camp completely on accident. They had been searching for the Hagraven and her Nettlebane, not the rebellion. Whatever the Stormcloaks were doing up on the mountainside closest to the remains of Helgen was completely beyond Gabrielle, but she could definitely appreciate the irony of it all. However, their hospitality left something to be desired.
"You, Redguard. What are you doing here?" The Stormcloak looked her up and down before sneering at her. His chin jutted out as he asked, "You an Imperial spy?"
She felt her skin crawl at the very suggestion. She was about to tell him just how much a great Redguard warrior appreciated the idea of skulking around like a common thief, preferably with a little help from her sword and spark magic, but was stopped. Faendal laid a hand on her shoulder and stepped forward, smiling pleasantly at the pompous Stormcloak as he said,
"Don't worry sir. We're only adventurers passing through the area."
The rebellion soldier looked them over again before grunting. As he was beginning to leave, he stopped before turning back to face them and said, "If you're adventurers looking for a cause, you should head over to Windhelm and join the Stormcloaks. Who knows, you might be worth something on the battlefield."
"Stay out of trouble Redguard," the man added over his shoulder.
Gabrielle wondered how long it would take for the man to fall asleep. She would certainly show him just how much trouble a Redguard could be when angered…
But Faendal was grabbing her arm and dragging her away from the soldier, his friends, and their camp of suspicious and hateful comrades. He dragged her until they were almost back to Helgen's gates and out of the snowfall. He let go after a moment of them standing together, staring up the mountain. He turned to look at her and opened his mouth before shutting it again, shaking his head.
They looked into each other's eyes before Gabrielle finally nodded at him and said,
"We're staying out of this one."