Divided Destinies: Act One

Chapter Two: A Briefly Resolved Conflict

Morndas, the 17th of Last Seed, 4E201, 10:15 a.m.

Helgen

"DRAGON!" A woman shrieked.

Caelan looked scanned the town as best he could, seeing nothing but mass panic. "Dragons have been dead for thousands of-." His mouth opened wide as he saw the massive ebony leviathan on top of the watch tower right in front of Caelan, apparently scanning the town and its now terrified residents.

"Years. Right." he finished, and began to scramble away from the beast, but was interrupted by a loud roar, which was emitting from the Dragon.

"ZU'U ALDUIN. ZOK SAHROT DO NAAN KO LEIN!" The beast screamed, either he was speaking in a different language or his speech was so loud that it deafened every one's ears.
Covering his ears in agony from the loud roar, Caelan fell on his knees, only to see the executioner standing above him.

"You again?" Caelan exclaimed. "What will it take to kill you?" The headsman responded by raising his axe high and screaming like a mad man.
Caelan's question was answered, seemingly from the Gods, as a massive stone from the watch tower fell right on the executioner, crushing him.

When the blonde Nord looked to the sky he saw a storm of fire and stone coming from the sky, which when crashing to the earth, made a terrible sound that deafened anyone near the impact site, including Caelan.
Kynareth preserve us. Was the last thing he thought before he saw the silhouette of a man in blue.

Ralof stood by him, holding his shoulders. "Kinsman. Kinsman get up!" He called out, shaking him.

"Oh, for the love of Talos." He growled, slapping him hard across the face, sobering him. "Kinsman! Up, I say! Come on the Gods will not give us another chance!" He roared, pointing to the second watchtower.

Caelan hesitated, but then joined him in a mad dash to the tower, halting his sprint when he reached the entrance to it.
Looking around, he saw the party's Argonian healer, Vel'akki, mending a wounded Stormcloak.
Vel'akki darted his pale eye towards Caelan, simply nodding his head, and then returned his attention to the wounded Nord.
No other Stormcloaks complained about the extra help, not even Ulfric Stormcloak, who stood stoic for his soldiers.
Ralof walked towards the Jarl and made a rushed salute. "Jarl Ulfric! What is that thing?"

"Could the legends be true?" a young Redguard Stormcloak added.

"Legends do not burn down flesh and stone, boy." The proud Nord replied loudly, and then turned his head to Ralof.

"I want you, Zani and the Prisoner." He pointed to Caelan, briefly staring at him. "To head to the roof and find a different and safer ways to get us and the Argonian out of here."

"Like hell I will." Caelan butted in. "My little brother and my company are out there, I have to go find them."

"Feel free, if you prefer to be burned alive, Stolvson." Ulfric pointed his finger towards the wide open area, when bodies littered the floor. Caelan stared at him in surprise for a moment, but then turned his attention to the person putting a hand on his massive shoulder.

"He is right, its suicide." Ralof said. "You have a better chance finding them up here then out there."

Caelan turned his head to Vel'akki. "You going to be okay?"
Vel'akki kept his eyes on the still injured soldier. "Of course, just get everyone out alive."
Caelan nodded his head and looked up to the stair case. "Then let's move."

"Way ahead of you." Zani replied, bolting to the staircase, moving the stones that blocked their progression.
Caelan and Ralof jogged up the stairs to catch up with him.

"We just gotta move these rocks then we can keep moving!" Cried Zani.
Right before his progress was interrupted by the Dragon bursting from the side of the tower- killing the young Stormcloak instantly.

"Damn it!" Caelan hollered in surprise, but froze in place when he realized something.
The Dragon was staring right at him.
For just a moment, their eyes met.
Caelan could have sworn that the Dragons eyes widened, as if the beast realized something.
The Leviathan murmured, or likely growled something before preparing another scream of fire.
Right before the Dragon could incinerate him, Caelan dived away from it, landing right on the stone stair case.
Ralof ran over to him and helped him up. "I see a good exit!" he cheered. "Jump out through the hole, friend, find your brother!"

Caelan looked over to the hole, then turning his head to Ralof. "Get out of here! We'll be fine!"

"May the Gods be with you, Ralof of Riverwood."
Backing up, he made a sprint through the whole, jumping right though another hole, but this time on to a two-story inn.
Falling through the hole of the roof and landing on the second floor perfectly on his two feet, the floor collapsed, sending him right on the first floor, landing right on side, and with debris joining him.

Caelan wheezed in pain, unable to move the debris off his back.

Varic stumbled around the carnage, with Lukas's arm on his shoulders.
He didn't have enough time to see how bad Lukas' burns were, all he knew was that it covered his entire left leg and parts of his abdomen, if he doesn't get him to Vel'akki in time, or any healer in general, Lukas' might not survive from his wounds.
But right now the top priority is getting them both indoors; they were not too far from the keep now.
While they slowly moved from hiding place to hiding place, they called out to various party members, while Lukas was only able to wheeze.

"Cael! Orim? Baendolin? Damn it where are they?" Varic cried, "Ma'Jarro?"

"Ma'Jarro here." A voice said out of nowhere, making Varic drop Lukas on to the ground, with his head slamming right onto a post.

"Damn it Ma'Jarro, It stopped being funny three years ago!" Varic shouted.

"Sorry, you're the only one that falls for it every time." Ma'Jarro replied, "You humans are always so angry." He continued, and then kneeled down to the now unconscious Lukas, "Is he all right? What's that damage?"
Varic knelt down so he can pick up Lukas. "That thing's fire went through Lukas' Steadfast Ward like it was nothing, and it wasn't even focusing his attacks on him, those burns in particular scorched his right side, there's also a few minor ones on his left shoulder and wrist- I think his collarbone might be dislocated too." Varic explained, and continued his diagnosis through an Alteration spell, "And I think that fall might have given him a concussion, though it doesn't seem so bad." He concluded, and closed his fists, ending the spell.

Ma'Jarro nodded, "Did you find Vel'akki? We need a healer."

Varic considered for a moment, "I know some Apprentice level Restoration spells, but it'll take time- if you can get us to the keep I can heal the worst of his wounds."

"I know a secret path, Raevara and Sparatus are waiting for us."

"What about the rest?" Varic asked as he struggled to get Lukas up on his feet."

"If they're still alive, we will find them inside the keep, they wouldn't run. Trust Ma'Jarro." He replied, and joined Varic with helping Lukas up, "Once the Dragon flies away we run through that archway and into the keep's barracks entrance."

"Works with me." Varic replied, looking up to see the Dragon fly right into the watch tower near the inn, "I guess it's now or never."

Caelan struggled with the debris on his back for what felt like hours, but it wouldn't budge.
He gritted his teeth and used what was left of his energy to attempt to rise, but a sharp edge of the debris digging into his shoulder prevented his.
Caelan continued to try, albeit with less and less effort with every attempt, and resorting to yelling until his throat was raw in rage.
Then he began to hear heavy footsteps. "Who's there?" He called out; the response he got was enough of the debris being lifted off of him so that he could rise up to his knees.
When he looked up he saw that it was Orim'Dul, who offered him a helping hand, which Caelan grabbed to pull himself up.

"Still able to speak? Wouldn't want you to lose you're most notable trait." he chuckled.

"Piss off." Caelan growled.

"Here," Orim stretched his right arm, with his palm hovering over Caelan's chest, he casted a Apprentice healing spell, enough to soothe Caelan's burns and restore his energy.

"Thanks," Said Caelan, as he did the same, "Let's move." Both of them turned around when they heard a group of people shouting.

"Haming, you need to get over here now!"The soldier called out, offering his hand.

But the boy refused, still grasping the dying man's hand, who smiled at him warmly. "I'm finished, little cub, Hadvar and Gunnar will get you to safety."

The boy hesitated, but ran to Hadvar. "That's good, Lad, you're doing great!"
Torolf stood on the stone ground, content that his son was safe, while the dragon landed right in front of him.
"That's it, son. Make me proud." He whispered, right before the Dragon screamed fire at him.

"Gods!" Hadvar cried out. "Everyone get back!" he said as he dived away from the burst of fire.
Hadvar stood up; there was a nasty burn on his exposed thighs.

Hadvar turned to the older Nord. "Gunnar, I need you to get him to Torolf's cellar and hide there until this creature leaves, and then find his grandfather, Froki, he will take care of the boy- I must find General Tullius and help him lead the defense." He ordered.

Gunnar nodded. "Gods guide you, Hadvar." He said as he grabbing the boys hand and ran to Torolf's house.

"Still alive, prisoners? Stick with me if you want to stay that way." He called out to them.
Orim and Caelan did not protest; Hadvar seemed to know his way around Helgen.
Leaping over Torolf's charred remains, they turned left behind a house.

"Stay close to the wall!" Hadvar cried, placing his back right to the stone wall in the back of the house

The two followed what Hadvar did but stopped dead in their tracks when the Dragon landed on the roof of the house, which collapsed from the sheer weight, making the Dragon adjust his position.
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on one's point of view, the Monster was focusing his attacks on the main gate, where the majority of the Imperials and assisting villagers were making their final stand.
The Dragon's tail swung about, caving Caelan's head in had he not ducked.

"Stay down!" Hadvar whispered. The three of them hid behind the wall, waiting for Dragon to a few minutes it did, after a Imperial successfully landed a arrow to the Dragon's head, causing him to fly away to a different vantage point.

"Quickly, follow me!" Hadvar called out, running to a small flight of stairs, running through the ruins of an old house.

The three of them could see the large group fighting against the Dragon valiantly, while others focused on healing the injured.
One of them in particular was one of the Nord villagers cheer on the execution, Vilod the brewer, as Caelan recalled, was burnt horribly on one side of face, and was clearly in agony.

'General Tullius! Over here!" Hadvar cried to the military governor, he was now in command, with Elewen the head of the Thalmor and her thugs long fled.

Tullius turned to Hadvar. "Hadvar, get to the keep, soldier, we're leaving!" he shouted, motioning to the essentials fleeing from Helgen with their escorts.

"Yes sir! Let's get moving, prisoners!"Orim nodded his head and joined Hadvar, but Caelan stayed and attempted to use what he knew of Restoration magic to heal him.

Vilod grasped his hand, his scorched hands shaking. "Tell my family I fought bravely."

But Caelan shook his head. "You're going to tell them yourself."

Vilod let out a laugh that sounded more like a violent cough, and then went to Sovengarde.
Caelan closed Vilod's wide eyes, and laid him down to the earth.
Tullius looked over to Caelan and shouted at him. "Run you idiot!" he roared, jolting Caelan's senses, making him to bolt to Orim and Hadvar.

"It's just the three of us, prisoner, stay close!"
Their progress was halted by the group of Stormcloaks they met earlier, everyone except Ulfric, Vel'akki and the wounded Nordess.

Hadvar started at them with intense hatred. "Ralof, you damned traitor! Get out of our way!"

"We're escaping Auxiliary." Ralof sneered. "You're not stopping us this time!"

Hadvar yelled in frustration. "Fine, I hope that Dragon takes you all to Sovengarde!"

Hadvar turned his head to the prisoners. "You two! Come with me!"

"With me, friends!" Ralof cried. "Hurry!"

Caelan and Orim stood in shock. "You're splitting up? With this monster loose in Helgen? It's on nobody's side damn it!" Caelan protested. "Power in numbers, soldiers!"

We have to work together, for now at least." Orim'Dul replied.

"It will be a cold day in Dagon's Deadlands when I fight willingly with these traitors!" Ralof snarled.

Hadvar scoffed. "Traitors? You are one to talk, Stormcloak."

"Unbelievable" Caelan thought.

Ignoring the chaos happening around them, the Imperials and Stormcloaks continued to argue, ranting more than anything.

Right when grabbed the hilt of their weapons, a loud yell interrupted them. "Enough! All you!" Caelan roared. "There is a Dragon flying about killing villager, and soldier alike, while you all bicker over who did what, in the midst of a damn massacre." Caelan continued, and walked in between them.
At first it seemed that his voice has fallen on deaf ears, but both of them became silent and still, staring into each other's eyes.
Ralof growled, and lowered his axe, but did not cease his eye contact with Hadvar. "For the sake of our survival, I will set aside my differences." Ralof murmured.
"This doesn't change anything, Ralof, after we leave the keep, we're done." Hadvar replied.
"Fine by me."

The Dragon flew over them again, this time with an Imperial in its mouth; the Dragon's flight caused them to stagger over.

"It's now or never, let's move!" Caelan shouted.

No one argued, and the group ran into the dark, damp keep.

A/N:
I am glad that I tweaked this chapter now, there were a lot more errors that I thought there were.
I hope to make novel-sized chapters from now on, with more detail, preferably more often as well, but I am noticing that most of that original supporting characters don't have much background to draw upon, so I am going to work on biographies for every character (and every other story I will write).
Hopefully I should have the next chapter done by next week, until then, I look forward to your feedback!