Sorry about the delay. Writer's block is the worst, honestly. I can't promise to update regularly, but I will try my best. Thank you and enjoy.
I do not own the Elder Scrolls franchise
Chapter 3 - Two Nords, Different Sides
Alvethaur was definitely going to flip.
I looked up to the top of the tower where two massive wings shadowed in black scales clung to the sides. The body was massive – the size of an inn – even as it stood proudly on the shaking structure. Spikes protruded from multiple points on its body mainly along the spine and head, each looking as lethal as the last. Red eyes gleamed from above a massive maw which glistened with dagger-sized teeth.
"DRAGON!" That set the crowd off. Screams erupted around me and soldiers called out in battle readying bows and arrows to take down the massive creature. It's a shame no one told them dragons were highly intellectual beings that were the closest living beings we had to Aedra.
The maw opened and a powerful blast left its jaws. It thundered across the land and the sky turned a despairing red as fire began to form above. Meteorites expelling magical flames rained down onto the vulnerable Helgen and made quick work of the wooden homes. The dragon looked down at us and opened his mouth again.
The force that left its maw didn't dissipate into the sky, rather it rebounded off the air itself and suddenly I was thrown backwards onto the cobbled stone of the square, metres away from where I previously stood. I was dazed from the sudden attack and couldn't right my senses enough to know where I was. There was fire, screams of pain and horror, the smell of burning wood and corpses. I tried not to gag on that last smell. I felt my dagger being pulled from my hands and not a moment later rough hands grabbed me around the waist and hoisted me over a broad shoulder. I let out a cry and lashed out.
"Easy kid, it's me!" I paused as my vision finally cleared enough and I looked over my shoulder to see the back of Ralof's head as he dashed across the square into the neighbouring tower that stood next to the inn. All around us people were screaming and running around like frightened rabbits, trying to find shelter in the disaster. Just as Ralof reached the bottom step of the tower a meteorite exploded right behind us. The shockwave from the impact knocked the Nord clear off his feet and we both went flying through the doorway which shut immediately after, muffling the horrid sounds.
"Ow…" I complained as I picked myself off my back. I had hit my head on the unforgiving floor again. Three times in one day couldn't be good for my brain. With heavy breaths I looked around to see several Stormcloaks filling the lower tower, most on the floor bleeding out from injuries or burns. I looked over to Ralof who had landed next to me and was glad to see him groaning as he pulled himself to his feet.
"You alright soldier?" Ulfric had escaped into the tower as well, mostly unscathed by the looks of it. Ralof accepted his offering hand and pulled himself to his feet.
"By the Nine I never want to experience that again." He looked to me and looked relieved to see me up and alert. "Good dagger you have on you." He handed said weapon back to which I re-sheathed it without question.
"Thank you." There was no question that I would be a pile of charred flesh if he had left me to my fate.
He waved me off. "Don't mention it." He then turned to Ulfric who was glaring at the door as it rattled with the shockwaves. "Jarl Ulfric, was that what I thought it was? Could the legends be true?"
Ulfric looked back at him sternly. "Legends don't burn down villages." The tower shook and they all stumbled to hold their footing. "We need to move. Now!" He pushed past us towards the stairs and we followed him quickly even as the tower shook again with a harder force than before. We ran up the spiralling staircase, myself overtaking them both, and was just about to reach the upper landing where a Stormcloak soldier was waiting at a blockage when I felt a dark sensation roll over me. Low growls could be heard over the chaos from outside and it was close… almost as if…
"NO!" I threw myself back into Ralof who nearly knocked Ulfric over the edge, but it had served a purpose as the wall caved in and the fearsome spiked head of the dragon burst forth.
"Yol Toor SHUL!" Fire burst from its mouth in whirling torrents and filled the landing with the harsh flames. Any chance that the soldier had survived the crumbling rock died as the fire licked over the rubble.
"Dammit!" Ralof cursed as he righted himself. The dragon flew off the tower and once more wreaked havoc on the devastated town. I could only watch with wide eyes as the chaos spread to an unthinkable level. It had been a long time since I had seen destruction on such a massive scale. Two hundred and four years since that fateful night.
Blood, screams and the cries of enemy and friends alike filled the air as the city was swarmed with armoured Daedra, each killing without a second's hesitation. There was no mercy shown; elder, adult and child alike died at the whip of a blade or the scorching of magic. I ran from the window of my bedroom down the spiralling steps of the tower and out into the main chamber of the chapel. Alvethaur was still out there as was Sigina and everyone else I cared about. Tears blinded my eyes as I desperately grasped at the old knocker of the entrance and struggled to pull the heavy door inward. It scraped roughly against the worn stone and before I knew what was happening hands wrapped around my waist and pulled me back. People rushed past me and reclosed the door, locking it tightly from any outside intrusion.
I cried and screamed, thrashing about at the one who held me. I didn't care if my fists hit them nor if my legs bashed into their knees. I needed to get out there. I needed to find my friends!
"Aiaenia stop!" It was a command, given reluctantly and I couldn't help but struggle harder against the familiar arms that wrapped around me in a crushing hug.
"They're out there!" I screamed desperately. "Alvethaur, Sigina, Risatu, Lydvar! My friends!" I turned and pleaded desperately with the grim looking man holding me back. "Papa! Please we have to help them."
Blue eyes stared back at me filled with bitter tears of acceptance. "I can do little but pray to Akatosh that they will survive this. I will not risk you or the others of this chapel." He turned me around and pulled me into a hard hug. "Forgive this man for such a selfish whim, but I can't bear to lose you too."
"Papa…" I broke down and hugged him back as hard as I could. I felt my legs leave the ground and I wrapped them around his waist tightly, clinging to his neck with all my might. The screams never died and the chaos forever reigning. All I could do was cling to my father in desperation and pray to the leader of the Divines that my friends be spared from Oblivion's wrath.
"There's no choice," I blinked as I returned from the past and stared at Ralof in confusion. He had moved from my side and was now staring out of the newly formed hole. Beyond was a clear view of Helgen and right below us was the slowly burning inn. "We'll have to jump."
As Ulfric nodded his agreement I gaped. "Are you insane?"
Ralof actually found the time to smile. "With all this madness around us it's hard not to be." Joking aside he frowned and held out a hand for me. "You first, we'll follow right behind you." I took the hand slowly and was pulled towards the edge. Looking down over the crumbled remains of the fortified wall I gulped and backed away slightly. That is a very long way down.
"I think I'll stay here."
Ralof scowled and released my hand. "And have that dragon knock down the entire tower? I'll carry you if I have to."
Definitely not. More likely to miss with the added weight. I sighed and before either Nord could try to convince me further I took a running leap and soon was falling rapidly through the smoked filled air towards the burning inn below. I heard Ralof exclaim as I disappeared through the hole but it was lost to the wind that rushed past my ears. My heart leapt in my chest in what felt like excitement and my breathing quickened with a bubble of laughter simmering in my throat.
The euphoric feeling ended as I was grounded. My heart slammed down into my stomach as my feet hit the burning floor of the inn hard. Automatically I locked my muscles and threw myself into a quick role to lessen the impact. Still hurt though and adding the intoxicated fumes of the smoke it wasn't comfortable. I slowly got to my feet and looked up towards the tower to see Ralof preparing to follow my lead only for a shadow to fall over the inn and Ralof to make a hasty retreat as fire tore through the air. Igniting the rafters of the inn completely making it impossible to follow. The entire building groaned as the fire licked at its support which had me rushing through the upper floor in a haste lest the entire thing collapsed on top of me.
I somehow made it to the first floor and was once again out in the open roads of Helgen. Before I could seek sanctuary the inn gave a loud groan and shuddered before finally giving up to the ever consuming flames. I moved away from the flying embers and wood as the inn collapsed on itself and quickly moved out onto the road, rushing past shouting soldiers and screaming civilians.
"Haming! You need to get over here now!" I turned to see the Legion soldier from before coaxing a boy from behind a ruined house. The boy was crouching down in the middle of a road next to an injured man pulling at him relentlessly in an effort to get him to stand up. I heard the roar of the dragon sound overhead and felt my stomach drop deeper into my gut.
"Get off the road boy!" An elderly man cried out from next to the soldier, both refusing to leave their safe location to forcibly move the ignorant child. I was already in motion, running desperately towards the shaking child who couldn't be more than two years my junior. The man he crouched by must have been his father as he was helplessly calling out "Papa!" to the nearly unconscious man.
I reached him just as the earth gave a trembling shake and dust rose in tidal waves. Refusing to look up and meet those eyes of gleaming blood I grasped onto Haming's left arm and yanked him to his feet. His mind must have been elsewhere as he followed my jerky movements without question and soon we were both running down the road towards the gesturing soldier.
"Yol Toor SHUL!" I screamed in fright and was more than relieved when the soldier reached out and grabbed the both of us by the front of our clothing. We were forced under cover behind the house as flames rocketed down the road at unimaginable speeds, incinerating all in its path. I felt the boy grasp onto my chest and burying himself into my cloak. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and held him tightly, waiting for the flames to die down. Wings beated the air and the dragon took off once more.
"Damn it to Oblivion!" The soldier yelled in anger before turning his attention to us. "You two okay?"
Haming buried his face deeper into my chest and I could only give a single nod. The pair of us were breathing harshly and trembling in fear and exhaustion. The soldier nodded and drew his sword pulling himself out of his crouch as he did so.
"Gunnar! Take care of the boy. I'll take the girl and move somewhere more secure." The elderly man nodded and moved to take Haming away from me.
"Gods guide you Hadvar," Gunnar replied, finally giving a name to the Legion soldier. When his wrinked hand touched Haming's shoulder the boy cried out in protest and clung to me tighter. I choked on a breath as the action restricted my lungs, but I too tightened my hold around the desperate child. I knew nothing but family could remove the boy from me now.
I breathed in the ash filled air with harsh gasps. Tearing through the ruins of my beloved city with the hounds of Oblivion at my heels. I should have listened to Papa when he said not to open the door. Not to leave the chapel. And yet I still disobeyed him. I wanted to find my friends. Make sure they were safe from the wave of Daedra that spawned from the blasted Gate. I rushed around a corner and skidded on something wet and slick sending me onto my side and skidding several feet before crashing to a halt into the side of a building. I cried out in pain, already trying to struggle to my feet. I looked down at my hands and my eyes widened as I saw the liquid I had skidded on coated them both in a dull red that gleamed in the burning of the city. They shook and the blood dripped onto the coated stone road in light trickles.
"Oblivion take you!" I looked up from my horrified observations to see a fully armoured Dremora running at me with a greatsword drawn and ready to swing. I let out a scream of pure terror and tried to move back away from the approaching Daedra. Raising my hands in a futile gesture to protect myself I waited for the final, pain filled slash only for the sound of steel crashing against daedric metal to ring through the burning streets. I opened my eyes to see an Imperial man standing in front of me, dressed in worn armour and cloth with a battered steel sword held up against the blackened blade of the Dremora. With a grunt the man pushed the blade away and with a quick swipe slit the Dremora's exposed throat with a loud cry. The evil beast dropped to the ground with a choked gurgle and died. The man stood over his kill with grey eyes filled with contempt, his dark hair and body soaked in blood and filth from the streets. He turned his gaze to me and his eyes softened as they fell on my quivering form.
"Hey there," he whispered gently, lowering his sword, but not sheathing it. "It's okay now." He lifted his hand towards me slowly, trying to keep calm and appear non-threatening.
"Damn these Oblivion spawn!" A loud voice shouted out and the sound of steel clashing once more frightened me from my defenceless position. I leapt at the man with a shrill cry and latched onto the front of his armour, uncaring if the sharp ends of the metal dug into my skin. He jerked in surprised and his free hand rose to steady me as I collapsed in a sob against his stomach. The sound of a sword cutting into soft flesh ripped through the night and soon a blood soaked guard of Kvatch strolled up to us. His face was masked in a permanent sneer of disgust as he wiped his blade clean from Dremora blood. The man looked up at the Imperial who I clung to.
"You've got a good arm on you. Let's hope it's enough to get us to the chapel." He paused as he saw my quivering form. "Who is…?"
"I found the girl just seconds before she was to be cut down by an armoured Dremora." I felt him rest a hand on my head in a reassuring gesture. "She must have been running from them."
The guard took a step closer to us and he gasped as he looked at me closer. "I know her. Daughter of one of the priests at the chapel. What in the name of the Divines is she doing on the streets?"
The Imperial's breath hitched. "You don't think the chapel's been overrun?"
The guard growled. "We better pray it hasn't. It's the last haven this city has left." The guard knelt down on his knee in front of me. "Girl, you know me don't you? I come to the chapel every Sundas to give pray to Akatosh."
I nodded still sobbing into the stranger's attire. The guard took this as a sign and moved closer, too close.
"Can you tell us what happened? Why you're out on the streets instead of in the chapel? Surely your father didn't let you run the streets with Daedra roaming." He paused, thinking hard. "What was his name… oh! Martin!"
I startle at the exclamation of my father's name and I felt the Imperial's body twitched in what I would later recognise as shocked realisation. The guard reached for me.
"Let's find your papa shall we?" When his fingers brushed against me I cried out as if in pain and clung to the stranger with all my might, violently protesting against the familiar guard. The guard wasn't too happy about my reaction and jerked back. "What in the name of-"
I felt arms circle around me and I once more found myself lifted like a babe. The Imperial had sheathed his sword so he could pick me up and I let him without any further protest. Burying my face in his neck I sobbed out my fears and sorrows to which he replied with a cooing shush and soothing rubs to my head as he cupped it gently.
The guard was stumped. "Why would she cling to a complete stranger?"
The Imperial shook his head. "She's in shock. She watched me cut a Dremora down not a moment ago. You said her father was a priest at the chapel? Priest Martin?" When the guard nodded the Imperial's expression turned grim. "Let's go. I don't think the chapel's been taken yet, otherwise we would have seen more citizens running around."
"Unless they're all dead." The guard spat out harshly to which I let out a muffled whimper.
"They're fine," he retorted back with a bite of anger. "They have to be." I let out a choking sob and the man looked back at me with kind eyes. "What's your name sweetheart?"
"A-Ai-Aiaenia…"
He smiled brightly, looking a little odd as his face was covered in blood and dirt. "Aiaenia, huh? You can call me Aloynd. Now, let's get you back to your father shall we?"
And like the boy I had refused to release my saviour until I was reunited with my father which sadly wouldn't happen for Haming. Hadvar saw this too and cursed under his breath.
"Alright I'll take them both," Gunnar looked reluctant, but he moved away from the distressed child and looked back at Hadvar. "You see if you can find anymore civilians. They can't be the only ones." When Gunnar took off Hadvar gestured to me and Haming. "Let's move!"
I managed to push Haming away despite his desperate protests and grabbed his hand before breaking out into a run. The distraught boy caught on and re-enforced his grip in mine and together we hurried after Hadvar as he ran down the blackened street towards the northern entrance of Helgen. A destroyed house blocked most of the road and so Hadvar detoured into a narrow alleyway behind it, jumping down the ledge with little difficultly.
Just as Haming and I followed him Hadvar cried out and pulled the two of us towards him.
"Stay close to the wall!" A shadow fell over us and sharp talons connected to leathery black wings crashed into the wall on either side of us. Haming screamed in terror and I too let out a shriek, clinging the crying boy closer to me once more. The dragon didn't seem to have noticed us as fire spurted from its mouth, killing a soldier not ten feet away before flying off with a heavy beat of its powerful wings.
"By the Eight," Hadvar muttered as he saw his fellow soldier now little more than a charred corpse. He grabbed my shoulder roughly and dragged me into the burning building which was the only way to reach the other side. Haming was still clinging onto my hand and was pulled alongside me, shaking with terror. The other side wasn't faring any better than the square but at least there were living people fighting the swooping dragon as it dove and killed its way over Helgen. Hadvar didn't allow us to linger and pushed us to run down the wall and through an archway that lead to a massive keep proudly standing amidst the destruction of its city.
Hearing the dragon roar overhead I pumped my legs to move faster, dragging Haming behind me as we made a mad dash towards the fortified building. It was our only hope of avoiding the dragon's wrath as it lay destruction to the fighting soldiers and civilians. Tunnel-vision caused by my focus and my exhaustion led me to running into someone who had come in from the side. I grunted as I was knocked and then once more when my abrupt halt caused Haming to run into my back. A warm hand grasp my arm before I could fall onto my side and steadied me gently. I blinked in confusion and looked up at who I collided with.
"Ralof!" I cried out, happy to see the Stormcloak still alive and barely a scratch on him.
He too grinned back at me. "Thank the Divines you're alright." He looked behind me and smiled. "You too Haming. You're both doing great."
Despite his terrified state Haming managed to give a small smile and I squeezed his hand gently in reassurance which he returned with equal strength. The sound of a sword slicing through the air between us had us jumping back in shock. Hadvar scowled darkly at Ralof and moved between us.
"Ralof you damn traitor," he hissed in blind fury, brandishing his sword. "Get out of our way!"
The blond Nord snarled back. "We're escaping Hadvar and there's nothing you can do about it!" I guess they knew each other and hated the other's guts by the sounds of it.
"Fine!" Hadvar growled nastily. "I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovngarde!" Said dragon gave a roar of triumph and more fell to its destruction. Desperate tears built in my eyes and without warning I pushed between the two men with Haming shadowing my every footstep.
"Stop it!" I cried. "That dragon is going to kill us all unless we get out of here!"
Ralof nodded. "Right, let's go!" He moved to grab my hand when Hadvar swiped his sword down nearly chopping his arm off.
"They're coming with me, traitor!" I had just about enough of their petty arguing. Opening my mouth to tell them both to grow up a dark shadow passed over us followed by a familiarly terrifying roar.
"RUN!" I screamed, grabbing Ralof's wrist while Haming grabbed Hadvar's and together we dragged the men into the keep without any further protests from either. The door slammed shut behind us just as the earth shook with an almighty crash as the dragon landed just beyond the doorway. I immediately released Ralof and feel to my knees. Choking on my own gasping breath and tears I looked around the small entrance chamber of the keep. Dust had fallen from its hidden homes and covered the stone floor in uneven layers and small chips of stone littered the ground causing more disarray. There were two doors on either side both barred shut with iron stakes and a small table was pushed up against the far wall. Beneath the table lay a growing puddle of blood with the originator lying dead within – a dark haired Stormcloak baring little more than his armour and a dull iron axe. Ralof moved over towards the dead Nord to wish his passage into Sovngarde and Hadvar, after giving both Stormcloaks a filthy glance, went to check on the two exits that were open to us.
A shaking hand clasped onto my shoulder and I looked over to see a white-faced Haming crying silently behind me. He looked confused, fearful and depressed. I could understand as I too had witness the demises of those closest to me all the while chaos reigned around. I gave him a shaky smile and turned on my knees so I was facing him. His hand fell from my shoulder limply to rest at his side. He two rested back on his ankles as we regarded each other.
Wiping away tears I chuckled weakly. "We never had the chance to introduce ourselves. My name is Aiaenia Rulra."
Haming blinked a few times before his confusion cleared slightly and he nodded. "H-Haming… my name is Haming Whetted-Blade."
I smiled. "Nice to meet you." My sudden cheerfulness caught him off guard, but after a few moments he too smiled back, albeit weakly, and reached out to shake my hand.
"Damn it!" Hadvar exclaimed suddenly causing the pair of us to jump in alarm and looked over towards him. He was glaring at the blocked doorway to our left which was obviously barred shut. "I can see a switch on the other side, but I can't reach it." He cursed. "By Oblivion, Captin Covenna."
"Quite whining. A child could have told us that," Ralof snorted sarcastically, standing up from his fallen comrade's side. "We'll have to find another way out."
Hadvar whirled around to face Ralof. "The only other 'way out' is back into the town with that damned dragon. We'll have to wait for someone to come by on the other side."
Ralof scowled. "Even if someone made it into the keep one of us will end up dead by a blade. Don't mistake my tolerance of your presence for forgiveness. I'm only doing it for them." He pointed his finger at myself and Haming as we watched the confrontation. Hadvar opened his mouth to argue back – most likely the same point Ralof had spoken – but I spoke first.
"Will you two put aside your differences so we can get out of here?" I stood up slowly, my body still weak as the adrenaline had long since left my system. "I know you're on opposite sides of the civil war and all – which I really couldn't care less about – but for now we'll need to rely on each other to survive. Can't you two at least hold on for that long?"
Hadvar sighed, rubbing a hand though his hair. "I can refrain from doing so, at least until we're out of here." He shot a quick glare at Ralof. "But after that its fair game."
Ralof snorted. "Right back at ya. But I too will stay my blade."
I nodded in satisfaction before walking over towards the door Hadvar had been looking at before. I peered between the narrow bars and saw the long hallway stretch down and just on the left beyond arms reach was a heavy switch with a familiar, dead legionnaire crumpled beneath it. By the blood smears on the wall she had died just as she went for the switch.
I pointed at her through the bars. "Won't she have a key for the door behind us? I think this way leads towards the other door we saw outside. So the other door behind us should lead into the keep, right?"
Hadvar nodded. "Captain Covenna was charged with holding down the keep. So it is possible she had the keys on her." Ralof and Haming had come up behind us. "I myself arrived here today and haven't explored the keep personally so I wouldn't know the layout."
"Fat lot it does for us now." Ralof sighed, the close proximity of the two soldiers caused them both to tense but they honoured their words and didn't attack. "It's a dead end either way."
I bit my bottom lip and lifted my arm so it was parallel to the floor with my hand at a ninety degree angle. "Maybe not…"
Hadvar looked at me with a weird expression. "What are you…!?" He broke off in a surprised sound as the air in front of my right hand began to glow a deep, foreboding purple. The purple cloud began to swirl in on itself rapidly creating black vortex and as I closed my hand it disappeared momentarily until I thrusted my hand back open and a loud ringing sound echoed through the narrow hall. A doorway, the same colour as the swirling vortex ball, opened in the air and a bluish, translucent figure emerged from within.
Head thrown back in a soundless howl the spirit wolf stood proudly before us beyond the bars. I let out a sigh of relief and turned my hand so my palm was facing upwards. The wolf lowered its head and quickly moved towards my welcoming hand. Within moments I was stroking through soft, ice-cold fur that glowed ethereal blue.
Ralof and Hadvar had jumped backwards at the wolf's approach and now stood a few metres behind me. Haming, however, was excited by my display of magic and was now reaching through the bars himself to stroke the tamed canine who accepted the contact instantly.
"So cool!" He exclaimed, shivering lightly from the iciness of the conjured wolf. "How did you do that?"
Scratching thoroughly behind the left ear I smiled. "It's part of the conjuration field of magic. He's my familiar. I learnt to conjure him as my mentor polished off his skills in magic at the Arcane University." I was glad I could still conjure as Alvethaur had told me my magicka reserves had taken a nose dive due to my 'long nap'. I would have to build it back up if I wanted to use it efficiently without throwing myself into another coma.
"You're a mage then?" Ralof asked, a little icily to which I turned my head to narrow my eyes at him.
"No. I can just use basic magic to get myself out of a situation if it so calls for it. A novice in magic can summon their familiar. " At his sheepish look I rolled my eyes. "Typical Nord. Nice to know you're all the same anywhere."
Hadvar looked insulted. "What do you mean?"
I snorted. "I mean you distrust anything that can't be held and isn't made of steel." They both opened their mouths to argue, but I had already turned away. My wolf was watching me with a voided gaze ready for a command to leave my lips. I nodded once and pointed towards the dead Covenna. "Fetch."
I could almost see Ralof and Hadvar gaping at me from behind, but I didn't remove my gaze from the wolf as it growled lowly and moved into a leaping pounce onto the corpse. Icy, sharp teeth bit into shaped steel and began the short process of dragging the body towards my outstretched hand. As soon as the body was in reaching distance the wolf dropped it and sat back on its haunches with a satisfied bark.
I grinned, already reaching into the corpse's pockets to search for the key. "Good boy," I hummed happily and gave a short burst of triumph when my fingers enclosed around thinly shaped, cold metal. Pulling the master key from the leather pockets I tossed it back to Hadvar who, after a quick exclaim of shock, caught it in both hands.
Ignoring the incredulous stares I gave the wolf a firm stroke around the neck in appreciation before let out a quick spark of magic dispelling it instantly. When I finally stood up and turned around they were still standing there like sleeping undead.
"Are we going now?" I asked, almost childishly. When the two shook themselves out of their stupor and scrambled for the opposite locked door I shared a private, amused smirk with Haming and followed their lead. After unlocking the door and passing into a rounded hallway we followed the path until we came to a much large connection that was most likely the main hallway of the keep.
Hadvar pointed down the wide stretch. "There should be an exit on the other side, close to one of the gates."
I frowned. "Isn't that a risk?"
"You mean being close to one of the town entrances or having obvious points of entry?"
When said like that it seemed even more ludicrous. "Both."
"Look out!" Ralof yelled as the ceiling above us caved inward. We all stumbled back out of the way of the crumbling rock. The dragon's roar reverberated off the downed walls, angered or joyous it was hard to tell. Dust clouded the air rendering hacking coughs to claw at our lungs. The worst of the debris had thankfully missed us, but it was a close call.
"Oblivion take it!" Ralof cursed as he kicked at the now blocked passage. "That damned dragon doesn't give up."
"We'll have to find another way around." Hadvar was already opening the door to our left. I grabbed Haming's hand to pull him alongside me. Voices could be heard through the doorway and Ralof and Hadvar easily moved as one to the source. Three imperial soldiers watched as Hadvar made his way towards them. Unfortunately they caught sight of Ralof and attacked not only the Stormcloak, but Hadvar as well. The legion soldier cursed his comrades for their blind idiocy and gestured us to follow him down after grabbing a few essentials from the stores.
My blood froze at the sight of the room below: a torture chamber. I had Haming press his face into my cloak when I first caught sight of the gruesomely deformed body hung up in a cage barely big enough for a child to sit in. Skin had been ripped from the body in places. Nails torn and sliced, bones broken and organs ruptured. I couldn't allow Haming to witness the atrocity. I could barely stand it myself.
Bile rising in my throat as screams erupted around me. I could barely hear myself echo the agonised yells. I emptied my gut onto the cracked wooden floor, crying uncontrollably as skin was ripped away.
"S-St-Stop!" I screamed with a voice so hoarse it was ghostly. "P-Please!"
"You're upsetting the girl, Brother." The hands holding my arms behind my back tightened cruelly. The dagger at my throat digging in enough to allow a pinprick of blood to drip over ebony black. "Tell us what we want to hear."
He remained silent. His eyes met mine and they softened from their glare.
"I'm sorry, Chrysa."
The knife entered his gut and the screaming began anew.
"Aiaenia!" I shook myself as the vision swam in my eyes. Hadvar was knelt before me and it was several moments before I realised I was crying.
"I'm fine," I told him dully. "Can we just leave? Please?" He nodded and gestured for me to go ahead. Haming was still burying his face in my cloak and so I had to draw him closer for guidance. Hadvar led us into a cave that ran into the side of the torture chamber; an emergency exit. A cave in caused the bridge behind us to collapse and so we had no choice, but to move forward and hope for the best. We came across a few wandering legionnaires and Stormcloaks, but as soon as they caught sight of either Hadvar or Ralof they attacked and so the two were forced to defend each other while Haming and I remained in the shadows of the walls. I could have joined the fray, but truthfully I was too shaken up from the torture chamber and Haming was too vulnerable to leave alone in battle. It was better to keep him as close as possible.
"Get down!" Ralof dragged the two of us into a low crouch as we made to move around a boulder obscuring our path. Hadvar too seemed to see what had alarmed Ralof and drew a bow he had obtained from one of the dead soldiers.
"Should we sneak past it?" He asked the blond Nord who bit his lip.
"If we're quiet enough."
"What are you two on about," I asked in a whisper. Ralof gestured me to come forward, slowly. Peering around the boulder I immediately locked eyes with what had caused the sudden need for stealth. A massive cave bear lay amongst a pile of bones and carcasses, sleeping soundly. It wasn't overly large by most bears in comparison, but that didn't make it any less intimidating. I reached out to grab the back of Hadvar's tunic armour as he made to sneak forward.
"The wind is drafting into the cave. As soon as we reach the entrance the bear will smell us." I pried the bow from Hadvar's fingers much to his reluctance and nicked a single iron arrow from his quiver. "Haming," I had the boy's full attention. "Grab that rock there and toss it as hard as you can at the bear."
"Are you mad?" Ralof half-whispered, half-yelled. I shrugged and gestured to Haming again who quickly picked up a nearby stone and lobbed it with all his strength at the bear. It didn't make it of course. Haming wasn't a full grown warrior like Hadvar or Ralof, but the stone accomplished its mission.
The bear was instantly roused from the sound of stone clattering against stone. An irritated grunt pulled from its throat as it struggled its overweight body to stumpy legs. Eyes drew to the stone and then to me as I shifted out from behind the boulder, arrow already notched. It opened its mouth to roar but before I could shot Ralof was running at the bear with his axe held high.
"Ralof!" I yelled as he blocked my arrow's intended path. If I had reacted a second too late Ralof would be the one with an arrow to the back. The Nord ignored my shout as he ran at the angered bear with a warrior's call. Hadvar was quick to aid the other Nord in battle which left me with nought but a dagger and a single arrow to shot with.
"Stay there," I said to Haming who only nodded.
Ralof was going toe to toe with the hulking mass of fur. The bear was slow in its attacks but one wrong move and Ralof would either be crushed or cleaved into shreds. Hadvar was providing backup, but was reluctant to get within the bear's claw range. Ralof caught the bear in the hide leg, forcing it to shriek in agony and thrash wildly. The unexpected move caught Ralof off guard. Claws raked down his outer thigh and he went down like a sack of potatoes. A pained grunt leaving his lips as he fell to his knee. The bear raised its massive paw for the final attack.
It froze. The iron arrow protruding from its left eye socket in what could only be a shocked expression. It died instantly and collapsed to the ground with a dull thud. I quickly made my way over to the corpse and pulled the arrow free. Blood leaking from the orifice in a steady trickle. I wiped the blood clean from the unbroken arrow and handed it back to Hadvar who instead handed me the entire quiver with a neutral expression.
"You seem more capable at handling a bow than I." With that he bent down to aid Ralof to his feet, tightening his hold when the Nord's injured leg nearly collapsed beneath him.
"Damn it," he grunted as Hadvar tightened his hold. "Brought down by a bear."
"The symbol of the Stormcloaks, lest I'm mistaken." That earnt Hadvar a hard glare, but the legionnaire ignored it in favour of adjusting his grip. "You always were too brash."
"And you too wary," he sighed, "but I owe you. You especially Aiaenia. Never seen a girl your age so talented with a bow."
I gave a weak chuckle, the adrenalin rush tapering down. "I learnt from the best."
"Hmm, remind me not to get on your bad side," he joked with a slight grimace when he tried to hobble alongside Hadvar. "I won't be much use now."
"I can see the exit," Haming spoke softly, pointing towards where a bright light could be seen chasing away the shadows.
"Aye, that'd be it," Hadvar nodded his head at me. "I trust you can watch our backs?" I nodded and together we set off; Hadvar adding Ralof up front with Haming and I bringing up the rear with my newly acquired bow slung over my shoulders. It was a little big for my body, but it was a better weapon than a single dagger.
The tunnel exited into a rocky tundra a few miles outside the borders of Helgen. Bordering the Falkreath and Whiterun holds alongside the road that follows the White River. Hadvar easily pulled Ralof along as we made our way down to the road only for a shadow to pass overhead.
"Get down!" Hadvar ordered as he ducked behind a large expanse of loose boulders. Ralof winced at the sudden movement which brought him to his knees. Haming and I stayed close together as we watched the black dragon fly towards the massive mountain and disappear into the distance. "That was close. Still with me Stormcloak?"
"Still here, Legionnaire." Ralof was losing a lot of colour around his face, his blood coating his left leg in dark streaks. Hadvar had since tied a tourniquet above the gash, but he needed treatment and fast.
"Will he be alright?" Haming asked quietly, staring at Ralof's bloodied leg with a fearful expression. I pulled him into a one-armed hug which he accepted gratefully.
"No doubt," Hadvar pointed towards where the road led down the slope. "Riverwood isn't far from here. A few hours walk at most. I have an uncle living there and Ralof his sister. I'm sure they will shelter us."
When we set off I couldn't help but state. "So you do know each other."
He nodded at me. "Since we were babes. We were best friends back then."
"Why not now?" Haming asked.
Ralof snorted. "A Stormcloak and an Imperial soldier?" Haming only looked confused by the statement. "We believe in different sides of the war."
"It doesn't matter now." I pointed out as we pushed down the slope at an even pace. The sun was setting low in the sky indicating late afternoon which gave us little time to reach Riverwood before nightfall. Ralof's condition slowed us down by a steady margin and it was becoming apparent that his injuries needed healing and soon. Hadvar, despite their differences, kept casting worried looks his former friend's way.
"Maybe we should rest?" I suggested when Ralof's pale features became alarmingly pallid. He was losing a lot of blood.
Hadvar looked torn. "If we don't keep moving night will be upon us. I have no torches to light our way and we have no means of setting camp."
"But Ralof…"
"I'm fine," Ralof huffed, his breathing laboured. "Just get me to the damn town already."
Hadvar snorted in spite of himself. "Still bull-headed," he paused for a moment when Ralof lost his balance slightly. "A horse wouldn't be missed."
I looked up in realisation. 'A horse!' I brought my fingers to my mouth and let out a high pitched whistle that echoed off the mountains. Hadvar jumped at the sudden sound and Haming jolted away from me. When the former started to demand answers for my sudden actions I held up my finger to silence him. His mouth shut with an audible click and I closed my eyes to listen to the sounds around me. Sure enough, hooves digging into plantation clipped at my ears and I opened my eyes to beam as a massive white stallion paraded out of the surrounding forest.
"Snow-Gale!" I cheered as the horse butted me in the chest, head nuzzling into me. "Am I glad to see you… and you." I added to the travel pack still tied to his saddle with provisions and a map.
"He's yours?" Hadvar asked with a hopeful gleam in his eye as he pulled Ralof closer. I hummed in agreement as I fed Snow-Gale a quick treat from the sack.
"I sent him off before I fell unconscious. He wouldn't have strayed far and waited for me to call him."
"Smart," Hadvar approached and Snow-Gale let out a snort of warning which had the Nord backing up a little.
"Isn't this the same horse that bit that soldier?" Ralof asked with a wary grin as he eyed the proud equine.
"And you're going to ride him. No arguing!" I added when Ralof looked to protest. "He won't hurt you if I tell him not to." Snow-Gale nickered and I shrugged. "Most of the time anyway. Now, get on!"
The two Nords shared a look between them before sighing.
"Alright."
Next time on Revak Dovah Kulaas...
Riverwood is a nice enough place. Ralof and Hadvar still butt heads, but their families seem friendly enough. The town is shadowed by an ancient ruin called Bleak Falls Barrow. The place sends ice down my spine. Why am I going towards it? Aren't I supposed to be heading for Whiterun?
Thank you for reading. Please review!