Chapter 2

Kili stood next to Ralof as the Military Governor; General Tullius started to insult Ulfric. She kept her head down as Tullius ordered the executions to begin. Then an unfamiliar roar came from the mountains, and whispers filled Kili's ears. The general told everyone it was nothing and to carry on with the executions. The priestess was told to give the rebels and Kili their last rights. One of the rebels grew impatient for his death and so he interrupted by going first to die. He shot insults to the Imperials right before the axe met his neck and his head went rolling.

Kili managed to release her breath after the event was displayed in front of her.

"Next the Nord in rags."

Kili's head shot up and she glared at her executioners. Then the unknown roar from before came again, only this time, it was closer. The whispers became louder and Kili flinched. The female, like General Tullius, told everyone to ignore it and demanded that she be moved.

"Talos lead me..." Kili whispered as she stepped forward.

The female soldier roughly grabbed Kili's shoulder and pushed her to her knees. Then she found her face pressed between the warm, blood covered block. The cold, hard boot of the captain fell against her back. Kili shuttered as she stared up at the heads of the men who were controlling her lifemen. He looked back at her, as he leaned forward to move her dark hair from her neck.

"Forgive me." he whispered to her as he pulled back and raised his axe.

Tears threatened to spill from Kili's eyes and the axe slowly came down.

"What in Oblivion is that?" General Tullius shouted as a shadow cloaked the village of Helgen.

Kili's eyes widen as a black Dragon perched itself on the keep tower. It shouted a word that knocked the headsmen away from her, and caused her to roll off the black. Fire fell from the sky and screams filled the air.

"Kili come on! The gods won't give us another chance!"

Ralof's voice snapped her out of her shock as she stood and followed him and the other to the next tower. After they were inside the tower Ralof slammed the door shut and locked it tight. Not that would help.

"Jarl Ulfric, was that really a dragon? Could the legends be true?" Ralof asked his king.

"Legends don't burn down villages" Ulfric answered. "We need to get to the top of tower. Now go!"

Kili head up the stairs only to stop halfway up and stopped Ralof as well.

"Wait..."

"What's wro-"

Ralof question was cut off by the braking of the stone town tower and the screams of dying men. The dragons head entered the hole in the wall and shouted out a three words...along with fire. When it's shouts were done the dragon jumped back toward the village.

Kili and Ralof ran towards the hole the wall and stared put at the burning village.

"You see the inn lass?" Ralof asked. Kili as she stared out in shock, nodded as she looked down at the destroyed building. "Jump across and run to the other side, we will follow when we can!" he shouted to her before running back to check on his king.

Kili gulped back the lump in her throat and took a deep breath. She then took a jump of faith into the burning building.

Kili ran out of the cave as fast as her legs could carry her, with Ralof on her heels. Kili stopped and flopped against a bolder trying to ketch her breath. Ralof did the same only he sat on the partly frozen ground.

Kili stood up to look around when the sound of wings flapping through the air filled her ears. She quickly dropped down next to Ralof and the two of them watch the black dragon fly over them. They peered of the rock and watch it fly over the mountains, until it was out of sight.

"Looks like he's gone for good, "Ralof said, "Though I'm not staying to find out." He stood up and held out his hand for Kili. She took his hand and let him pull her up to her feet. After they dusted themselves off, the two of them headed down the old broken path.

"The closest town from here is Riverwood, we should probably head that way." Rolaf said. "My sister would be happy to help us."

"Must be nice to have family to support your cause," Kili said softly as she kept her eyes on the road ahead.

"Do you have family lass? Here in Skyrim?"

"My family was murdered...when I was ten..." she answered darkly."By the Thomar..."

Ralof raised an eyebrow to her words, but said nothing as she continued.

"My father was a preist of Talos, he refused back down to them and their so called peace treaty. So...they made an example of him to the other preists by murdering him and my mother...As my sister and I fled, she was shot in the back. She just screamed at me to keep running...and I did...never looking back."

Ralof stopped and grabbed Kili's shoulder causing her to stop as well.

"I've hated those elves ever since..." she muttered as a tear ran down her cheek.

"Do you blame yourself? For their deaths?"

Kili just shook her head and whipped the tear away. She didn't have time to cry, she never did.

"Let's keep going..."

She shook her shoulder free of his grip and followed the road. Ralof simply nodded and followed behind her. She would open up when she was ready.

"So this village has been sitting under those ruins for years? Why on earth would your ancestors want to live under that things shadow?" Kili asked as they entered the small village of Riverwood.

"I've been asking that same question most of my life, lass." Ralof chuckled. "My sister should be at the mill." He said pointing off the mills direction.

After finding Ralofs' sister and her family the two warriors explained what had happened in Helgen. It was actually more in the lines of Ralof explaining the incident and Kili kept quiet. Ralof explained how the Empire wasn't going to even give Ulfric a trial, then how the dragon attacked. Of course for whatever reason he said that had it not been for Kili and her skills with a blade they wouldn't have made it out. Kili smiled and blushed at his confidence in her. After Ralof had explained the situation to his family, his sister kindly offered them a place at her house. Kili gladly accepted the kind offer.

Kili made herself comfortable on the bed as Gerdur cleaned her head wound. There was no arguing with that woman.

"So Kili are you a Stormcloak too?" Frodnar asked her as he came up to her with his dog.

"Frodnar shush. Leave the girl be," Gerdur snapped at her son, who refused to stop asking questions.

"It's fine Gerdur really." Kili said softly, "Not yet, young one, but soon."

"When you do join, could you promise me something?" the young boy asked.

"Of course. What is it?"

"Could you protect my uncle till the war is over?"

Kili stared down at the younger boy, slightly taken back by his request.

"Please?"

Kili smiled happily at him. "Of course sweet heart, but you shouldn't worry about your uncle. He can take care of himself. But I will watch his back when the time comes."

Frodnar smiled widely and jumped up to wrap his arms around Kili's neck. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Kili chuckled and returned the hug.

"All right Frodnar, go help you father with supper, let Kili rest." Gerdur said as she cleaned up cloths, and bowl of water from cleaning Kili's wound.

Frodnar quickly released Kili from his hug and ran across the room to his father. Kili giggled at the boy and turned back toward his mother.

"Thank you, Gerder." she said softly as she shifted on the hay mattress.

"No, thank you. You gave my family hope, when we thought there was none left to give. You also saved my brother from death, and given my son the security that I could not give him." Gerdur said proudly.

Kili looked down at the floor. "How do you know that i can keep that promise?" she whispered.

"I see strength in you that I have not seen in anyone for some time. I know you will keep Ralof safe, and bring him back to us. There is a power in you to protect, you just haven't found it yet." Gerdur said as she grabbed a dress from the wardrobe and handed it to Kili to wear. "You are a strong Nord woman, and in this day in age, that is hard to come by. Now hold your chin up, get changed, and let's get some food."

To be continued...