Chapter One.
Using her legs the young woman pushed herself up into her seat to look at the man seated before her. He was a golden haired Nord, with light blue eyes. Very typical for a Nord appearance.
"What happened?" she asked him in a hoarse voice.
"You were trying to cross the border, right?" he simply asked, the woman nodded in response. "You walked right into the same Imperial ambush as us as well as the thief over there."
The woman jolted as her memories of the night before flooded her mind...
She remembered making it across the border and into a fight; swords and shields clashing against each other. Somehow she ended up in the middle of the chaos, until someone shouted out for everyone to stop. The fight was pointless. She ended up being rounded up along with the rebels, in all of the confusion; she knew that from the Imperial armor the men were wearing as they stripped her of her clothing and belongings that her situation was not the best one to be in.
"Well aren't you a pretty one," one of the soldiers said as he tore her clothing off of her and into threw it into the fire as fuel. "What's a woman like you doing with the rebels?"
She refused to answer him, she only glared up at them as them as they came closer to her. Using her arms to shield her nakedness from their hungry eyes, the men laughed at her as she desperately tried to protect herself.
"I bet you're a fun one," the other soldier stated as he put ragged cloth on her body. He grabbed her chin roughly between his calloused fingers, pulling her face up to meet his gleaming eyes. "What do you say sweetheart?"
The woman jerked herself free of his hold and fell to the cold hard ground.
"Oh, don't be like that love, it's only a bit of fun" they group of Imperial soldiers hollered with entertainment at her pitiful state.
"I would rather die!" she spat at them as she stood up with shaking legs.
"Oh don't worry about that." the first soldier said grimly, "Death will find you soon enough."
The two men approached her, trying to close in, like a pack of hungry wolves. Yet, fear was not in her eyes, she stood her ground, keeping a poisonous glare on her face. The second of the two stepped up and grabbed her shoulder. Balling up her fist she struck him in the nose. Feeling the structure of his nose crack under her fist, she pulled back faster and repeated the blow again. As the soldier hit the ground she took off, not bothering to look over her shoulder.
Of course the effort was in vain as her temple hit the hilt end of the Captains blade...
"Damn you Stormcloaks" the thief said snapping the female out of her memories, and back to the present time. "Before you all came along the Empire was all nice and lazy. If the Imperial's haven't been looking for you I would have a horse and be half way to Hammerfell by now." After his little outburst with the blond Nord he turned toward the dark haired female. "You and me, we shouldn't be here."
The woman simply glared at him before turning her head to the road.
"We are all brothers and sisters in binds now thief." the blond Nord snapped.
"Shut up back there!" the driver of the wagon shouted over the bickering men.
The thief whimpered and bit his lip; the blond Nord simple shrugged and turn towards the woman in front of him. "What's your name girl?"
"Kili," she stated turning back to him. "And yours kinsmen?"
"Ralof, of Riverwood."
"A pleasure to meet you Ralof." Kili said softly.
The thief grunted and turned to face the man next to Kili. She followed their gaze to look upon the man. He was older than Ralof by what she could tell, but not by much. He too was of course bound in the hands as the others, but his mouth was gagged.
"What's wrong with him?" the thief asked bluntly.
"Watch your tongue!" Ralof snapped. "You're speaking of Jarl Ulfric, the true High King. So show some respect."
"Ulfric, you're the leader for the rebellion...if they have you then...Oh gods...where, where are they taking us?!"
"I don't know where we're going, but Sovarngarud awaits..." Ralof said as he turned his gaze to the road ahead.
Kili tore her gaze from and to the dirty wooden bottom of their wagon. She admitted to herself that she was scared. She did not plan on dying so soon in her journey, but if the Divines wished her home then she would go willingly.
"You all right lass?" Ralof asked her softly.
"I suppose..." she muttered, "Would you believe me if I told you I only came back to Skyrim, from years of running, to join the Stormcloak?" she asked him as she looked back at him.
Ralof stared at her in shock at first, and then shock slowly turned into compassion.
"Aye, I believe you lass. Only a true daughter of Skyrim would come back to this chaotic place." he said.
Kili smiled and then looked back at Ulfric, feeling the kings' eyes on her. She saw a spark of life in them, that wasn't there before. He bowed his head towards her, and she returned the bow. If she was going to die in her home land, at least her true purpose was clear.
The peaceful moment was interrupted by the soldiers shouting from a village gate. Something about the headsman was waiting. Kili did not hear him, nor could she bring herself to care. The thief began to panic, rambling out eight of the Divine's names. Kili glared at him, leaving out the name of Talos. She would have cursed at him but since they were about to die, she let the thought go.
"This is Helgen...I used to be sweet on a girl from here." Ralof said as he looked out at the scenery.
"What happened to her?" Kili asked, having never been in any relationship.
"She was killed...not much more to tell..." he said sadly."But we were happy for a time."
"You were lucky, the only love I had in life was from my parents...and it was short lived as well." Kili said back.
"When we get to Sovarngarud perhaps we can share our stories." he suggested.
Kili gave him a full smile this time. "I would like that."
He nodded and turned to the thief who was now on the verge of tears. "Hey, where are you from horse thief?"
"Why do you care?"
"A Nords' last thoughts should be of home."
Kili tuned them out. Not wanting to hear the wimpy Nord whine. She saw High Elves throughout the small village of Helgen, and rage grew in her heart. Ralof noticed to and blamed them for their capture. Kili had a personal hatred towards the elves of the Thomar. They took her simple life from her. Now they were taking her life as well.
"Why are we stopping?" The thief asked in a panic, his brown eyes wide.
"Why do you think? End of the line." Ralof said grimly "Come on best not keep the gods waiting."
The thief started rambling on about how he wasn't a rebel. Ralof snapped at him as they jumped off the wagon. Kili was the last off. Still a bit dizzy from the wound on her temple, it took her a moment to steady herself on the unmoving wagon. Ralof noticed and reached up to her with his bound hands, smiling sadly at her. She gladly accepted his hand and allowed him to help her down.
"Walk towards the block when we call your name," the female Imperial snapped.
"Empire loves their damn lists..." Ralof growled, hatred burned in his blue eyes as he glared at the woman and the soldier that stood beside her.
The young guard called the names off the list one at a time. Ulfric was first, then Ralof, then the thief. Of course the thief took a run for it, only to earn an arrow in the back of his skull. Kili shook her head; no one could escape their death.
"You there step forward." the young man said grabbing her attention. She did as she was told. "Who are you?"
"Kili...of Skyrim." She muttered.
The male soldier looked up and down the list, only to scribble something down when her name could not be found."You picked the wrong time to come home Kinsmen."
Kili glared at him when he called her kinsmen. That meant that he too was a Nord. Only to her, he had betrayed his people for a dying Empire.
"Captain what should we do she is not on the list," he said in a soft whisper.
"Forget the list. She goes to block with the rest." the female Imperial barked. The Imperial Took in Kili's appearance, holding back a sneer and harsh words about the cleanliness of the Nords.
The young soldier nodded his head,"By your orders then...I'm sorry but at least you get to die here in your homeland."
"Forgive me if your words do not give me any comfort." Kili said grimly to him, before following the captain to her spot next to Ralof. There her destiny was sat before her.
To be continued...