Skyrim Adventure/The tale of Sif the Dragons Fang
Chapter 1; Prologue
Many years after the fall of the Wicked King Eion, his older sister Ava set out a plan to ensure her people's safety, sending out envoys to deliver her message to unite the kingdoms and discover the rest of their territory. Discovering new lands and races like but far different from the people of Ava's kingdom.
The kingdom grew and prospered for many years but like everything else the kingdom fell into myth and legend as did the great dragons of the time. Ava's line was washed away in the sands of time, many forgetting about the Dragonscale house and their bloodline.
That was till the World Eater Alduin returned to the world, bringing with him his dragon kin to conquer the world once more. But with the return of Alduin the lost line of the Dragon returned as well.
The jostling of the cart and the neighs of horses woke me from my dreamless sleep. The rickety boards of a wagon greeted my blurry vision. It took a while for my vision to clear up, so I was aimlessly looking around, trying to figure out what happened. Then the memories came back to me. I was trying to get to the broader, trying to flee from the conflicts and start a new life. I had saved just enough coin to get me to the Imperial city then join a guild. But then I wanted to save more coins, so I didn't rent a room at an inn since there was a camp of Imperial soldiers nearby. Normally I'd avoid anything with the army but there was a perfectly good sleeping roll not being used by any of them, so I swiped it for the night.
Too bad turns out there were Stormcloak soldiers traveling the same way, and I just had the bad luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was simply going to swipe a cloak from them and be on my way when I got knocked out by something heavy and hard. Now I am tied up in the back of a wagon with some other prisoners with not a clue what is going on.
"So, you're awake," a Stromcloak soldier in front of me said as he noticed I woke up, "You were trying to get to the border when you ran into that ambush. Like that horse thief."
I looked over at another Nord in rags, wrists tied as well. Next to me was another Nord, I believe another rebel, but was dressed in finer clothes than the other soldiers and was not only bound by the wrists but was gagged with a scrape of cloth.
'What in the nine is going on' I thought as I anxiously wiggled in my seat as the cart went to another hold. The soldier had mentioned it was Helgen, I think. Great I went from being a day away from the border to now three days back and mistaken for a rebel soldier. It was then that I realized they had removed all my things from my person leaving me in some rags and bare foot. 'Skeever shit.'
There was another wagon full of other soldiers in front of ours with Imperial soldiers on horseback leading us to the hold. I noticed one of the men leading the way was wearing higher ranking armor than the others. He looked to be a general, if I had to guess, though I had no idea why a general would be leading a simple prisoner convoy, till the soldier in front of me began scolding the horse thief beside him for insulting the nicer dressed man beside me, and my earlier question was answered.
The 'nice dressed' soldier beside me was Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm and leader of the rebellion, and the current reason I was tied up in the back of a prisoner cart going gods know where instead of being halfway to the Imperial city. I groaned to myself as the thief began to mutter in a panicked voice. I ignored him and watched the passing scenery as I tried to plot an escape. I have talked my way out of jail time a few times before so I was confident, I could do the same thing here. Maybe even offer up my services to a soldier, tire him out then be on my merry way. All else fails, offer up to aid the army. It wouldn't be too bad of a deal, I'd get paid, have a place to stay, free meals, adventure, I could make this work out for me.
My hopes were immediately dashed when I heard a soldier announce to the general, "General Tullius, the headsman is awaiting orders."
''Good let's get this over with quickly, the general replied
'Well, skeever shit to Oblivion there went my original plan.'
The thief began muttering worried prayers to the gods as we entered the hold, begging them for aid. As we entered, I saw the general talking with some elves, Thalmor, judging by what the soldier in front of me spat out, and the brown, golden Elf armor. I tried to listen in on the conversation, but the soldier in front of me made a snide remark to the General and wouldn't stop talking as we rode away from them so I could not hear what they were saying. The Nord was really starting to get on my nerves with his nonstop talking so the last few minutes of my life could be some peace. I wanted to tell that to his face, but he started talking about when he was younger and a girl, he used to be sweet on. Guy was annoying yes but we all were about to face the same death.
I don't know why but that comforted me a little, that at least I would not be alone. Honestly, I had long since thought I'd be alone in the forest when I finally met my end. Even if it wasn't much but knowing something about the man, I was going to die with made me feel a little better than him just being 'Stormcloak Soldier' in my head.
The cart stopped and we began to step out. The horse thief was still cowering as we stepped out of the carts to the stone cobbled roadway. A woman, I think a Nord, in heavy Imperial armor was calling out orders to us, "Step towards the block when we call your name! One at a time!"
I'm not sure if it was more terrifying or hopeful at that. With how my luck has been going that bounty I had for stealing that chicken a while ago and that would be what these guys knew me by.
Another soldier began reading off the names and I finally got to learn the names of my travel companions, it didn't matter much now.
"Ralof of Riverwood."
Ralof stepped forward and went to stand beside Ulfric.
"Lokic of Rorikstead."
Lokic began to protest, saying we weren't rebels before he made a break for it, running down the road
"Idiot," I cried out as the commander called for the archers. Lokic didn't make it far before an arrow found a home in his back.
My heart raced then fell as he fell to the ground dead. The soldier called me forward, bringing me back to my senses. I was not on their list, so he was asking for my name while I was zoning out.
"Sif," I said in a weak voice, trying to ease shot nerves, and collect myself.
"You from Daggerfall," he asked as he wrote down my name, "Fleeing from some court intrigue?"
"I wish," I gave a morbid chuckle, "Just an orphan of a long dead house wanting to make her own anywhere else but here."
"Captain, what should we do with her, she's not on the list," the soldier looks to his captain, the Nord woman in the heavy armor.
"Forget the list she goes to the block."
My heart sank.
"By your orders, captain," the soldier gave a heavy sigh before looking back at me, "Sorry Sif. We'll make sure to have your remains sent back to High Rock."
"Thank you," I gave him a weak smile, "That is truly kind of you. Stay safe, okay? Not a lot of men out there like you."
He gave me a weak smile as I walked past him to stand next to Ralof. I wasn't too sure if the soldier was being honest or just giving me an empty promise to make me feel better, which was only of little comfort. Not like I had anyone to really claim my body or even moron for me after I die. As I stood next to Ralof, Tullius spoke to Ulfric, listing his crimes, and calling him a traitor that would be facing justice for his crimes.
I wasn't big on the conflict Ulfric had caused, nothing was hard under the Empire and even though the Thalmor were annoying as flies around a cow, it was not all bad. If the Talos worship was more lowkey than some of the other divines but other than that it was peaceful.
A faint roar came from the mountains, where we had come from into the hold. It startled all of us, well except the captain somehow. Instead, she ordered the executions to continue, telling a priestess standing nearby to give us our last rights.
'Maybe it was an avalanche, and the captain wasn't worried about it since she probably grew up around here,' I thought to myself as the priestess began to speak.
She barely got through a sentence when an impatient soldier stepped up to the block to be the first head to roll, "My ancestors smile upon me Imperial. Can you say the same."
I looked away as the ax came down on his neck with a sickening wet thunk. I could feel bile come up my throat as the captain moved the body aside so another Imperial soldier could drag it away. Ralof gave a prayer to his fallen friend as the Imperial soldier covered the body with a cloth.
The captain called me next. I froze in my steps. The one who had talked to me earlier spoke to me in a soft voice, "Nice and easy, Sif."
I took a breath then about jumped out of my skin when we heard that roar again, but this time it was louder. I was very much starting to doubt it was an avalanche somewhere in the mountains. While everyone else seemed to be just as offset as I was, the captain was still focused on the task at hand, or more specifically my head.
I dragged my feet to the block. The captain pushed me onto my knees then my head onto the block. I was pretty much out of body at this point. It was only when the panicked shouts and cries of the soldiers and townsfolk brought me back to my senses. A loud flapping was overhead before something big landed on the tower in front of the block.
Never in my life, even in the most skooma induced dream, could I have ever imagined what happened next. On the tower was a large black dragon. A real-life flesh and scale dragon. It roared at us sending the executioner to his knees before it gave another roar making the sky darken and summoning a meteor shower to fall upon the town.
I'm not sure what happened after that, only that I was now on my side, my vision blurry, my head spinning, and my ears ringing. The destruction around me seemed to be echoing in my ears as they rang. I could make out Tullius giving orders to his soldiers, to get the people to safety, and could make out the loud crashing around me. In my daze someone grabbed me by my tied wrists pulling me in the direction they were going.
As my vision began to clear up, I could make out blue armor in front of me, when it cleared more, I saw Ralof and Ulfric, they were talking but my ears were still ringing so I could not make it out. Till Ulfric turned and ran up a set of stairs. Slowly my brain was catching up with everything around me. Ralof began pushing me up the stairs after Ulfric.
My feet took over as we ran up the stairs, running ahead of Ulfric. Right when I passed him, halfway up the tower, the dragon's head broke through the wall blocking the rest of the stairs up. It snapped at me making me jump back to avoid its maul. Too late did I realize I had jumped away from the stairs into the open air of the tower, with my hands still bound so I couldn't catch myself. Ralof reacted immediately and grabbed my elbow, pulling me back onto the stairs as the dragon flew off.
"Thanks," I gasped, my heart racing in my chest.
"Don't mention it," he replied before looking through the huge hole in the tower.
"Looks like we're going to have to jump," Ulfric said looking through the hole.
"What," I gasped looking at him.
"There's a house," he pointed, "It's a bit of a jump but we can make it."
"Are you mad," I asked as Ralof stepped up to the hole.
"We can do it," he said before jumping out of the tower. I looked through the hole to see the house Ulfric had mentioned. There was a large hole in the roof and a good amount of it was on fire. My stomach dropped as Ulfric then jumped out of the tower to the house.
"Come on," he called up to me, "It's the only way!"
Swallowing my fear, I shut my eyes before I jumped from the tower. Wind and smoke rushed past my face as I fell before someone caught me, "Gotcha."
I opened my eyes to see Ulfric looking down at me as he set me back on my feet.
"Thanks," I nodded to him before running through the burning house to a back entrance. The house next door was destroyed and was on fire, across the street there was a tower still intact. I figured it would be safer than being out in the open or that it would at least have a blade I could cut my bindings. I ran as fast as I could towards the tower, but the dragon landed right in front of me, and roared out a large wall of flames. I was already in motion in my run and didn't have time to dodge the wall of flames. I could feel the flames roll towards me, but just as it was a hairs breath away from my face I was pulled away from danger and tossed behind a broken wall of a wrecked house.
"Watch yourself, damnit," Tullius yelled.
"Still alive prisoner," the soldier from earlier said as he moved me to his side, "Stick with us if you want to stay that way."
I didn't have a chance to argue with them as Tullius called out more orders at us, "Get to the fort! Getting these people out of here takes priority!"
The soldier pulled me along through destroyed houses and structures. The smoke burned my eyes as we ran to the keep, making it harder to see, so I relied mostly on the soldier to guide me through the resulting chaos. As we ran, I could hear the dragon's roars over us as it flew around the hold, roaring out flames and snatching up unlucky soldiers. As well as the cries of soldiers as they tried to fight back to no avail.
By the grace of the divines, we made it to the yard of the keep. But as we came into the yard one-way, Ralof appeared through the opposite side of the yard. He was now armed with a sword and as he ran into the yard, he struck down an Imperial soldier as they tried to aid his comrades in the fight.
"Ralof, you damn traitor," the soldier with me called out at what we witnessed as Ralof stopped a good ten passes away blocking our path to the keep, "Out of my way!"
"You won't stop us from escaping, Hadvar," Ralof called back. I heard a battle mage cry out as the dragon swooped down and carried them away.
"Forget it you two," I growled at them, my head dashing around to try and keep an eye on the dragon, "We have a bigger threat at right now."
The soldier, Hadvar, let out a frustrated growl, "Fine! I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovngarde! Follow me!"
"This way," Ralof called out as he ran to a different door of the keep, both gestured to me to follow them. I heard the dragon roar as it came down to land on the wall of the keep. As the dragon shook the ground with its landing I was frozen in terror for a moment. It roared again and my legs acted on their own, rushing to Hadvar. He held the door open for me as I jumped through the doorway into the keep, summersaulting as he slammed the door as the dragon roared out another wall of fire.
We both were panting as the noise of the battle outside was muffled by the stone walls around us. I collapsed to the cold stone floor as I tried to catch my breath and calm my racing heart.
"You alright," Hadvar asked leaning over me.
"Been better," I panted, "You?"
"Few burns, is all," he replied helping me back up to my feet, "Here let me cut those bindings for you."
He took out a dagger from his belt and cut the ropes binding my writs together, "Thanks. But what about everything else? Am I still a prisoner?"
Hadvar gave a slight shrug, "Let's just focus on getting out of here. Looks like we are the only ones who made it this far. I'm going to find something for these burns, there should be some armor in the chests you can gear up with. A few weapons too. Hopefully, we can get out of here before the whole keep falls around us."
I nodded to him, unsure how to feel about our current status of unknown but it was nice having someone to watch my back in all this chaos. I went over to a chest at the other end of the room, there was some Imperial leather armor with a pair of boots and gauntlets. The armor was too big for my small frame, so I set it aside, the boots were the same. I was able to adjust the straps on the gauntlets so they would fit me.
I moved to another chest in front of a bed at the other end of the room hoping for better armor that would fit me. Or at least some shoes so I wouldn't be walking barefoot anymore, rummaging through the chest I found a helmet, a coin purse with about five pieces of gold inside, a dagger, and a healing potion. I quickly uncorked the bottle and took a good swing of the healing potion. A warmth spread through my body. The minor wounds I had mended themselves with a faint gold glow.
"Hadvar," I called out to him at the other end of a line of beds. He was looking through another chest as he looked up at me.
"Here," I said corking the bottle before walking over to him, "I think it's Minor."
"Thank you, Sif, right," he smiled at me as he took the potion, "Here I think I found something that'll fit you."
He moved aside showing me what was in the chest. There was another pair of boots, gauntlets, and a pair of light armor boots. I tried on the armor and boots. They weren't a perfect fit but would at least give me some protection.
"Not perfect but it'll do," Hadvar nodded to me and pointed to a weapons rack across from us, "There are some weapons on the rack over there. Have a few swings at any that catch your eye."
I nodded to him as I went over to the rack. Most of the weapons were steel and fairly decently made. Sword, hand axe, and a mace were hanging on the rack with a shield leaning against it. I picked up the shield then the hand ax, weighed them both in my grasp before adding the mace to my belt, "Okay I'm ready. Hadvar right?"
"Yes," he nodded back to me, "Follow me. Hopefully, we can still get out of here and avoid that thing out there."
He opened a gate way at the other end of the room, then led me through a curved hallway to another gated doorway. As we got closer, I could hear other voices on the other side of the gate.
"Sounds like we aren't the only ones," I said in a soft voice.
"Sounds like Stormcloaks," Hadvar said going over to a chain to open the gate, "Maybe we can reason with them."
I gave him a shrug back as the gate opened and we stepped through. For a moment I thought I saw Ulfric and Ralof leave through another gateway and disappear down another hallway.
There were two other Stormcloak soldiers there as well. Hadvar went in first, "Hold on now, we only want to-"
"Die," one shouted pulling out a Warhammer. The other had a great sword.
"Wait we want to escape just like you," I held my hands up hoping to pacify them. It didn't really work. Both attacked us and we were forced to strike them down. I was not big on killing, especially when it was a needless death.
I swung my axe to his chest as Hadvar blocked with his shield then slashed his attacker across the chest. He then turned to the gate, "I think I can open this door. Some will latch shut if you do not close them carefully."
I nodded to him as he opened the door and showed the way through another hallway and down a set of stairs. As we passed a doorway into another hallway rumbling above us shook some dirt from the roof.
"Look out," Hadvar pulled me back as the roof caved in blocking the hallway, "Damn, that dragon doesn't give up easily."
"Is there another way around," I asked.
"Yes, just through the kitchen," he pointed to a door beside where the cave in was, "Hopefully the wreckage isn't blocking the other door. Otherwise, we might be digging ourselves out."
"Don't jinx it," I groaned as I opened the door to the kitchen, "How my luck has been today I'm not taking chances."
As I opened the door two Stormcloak soldiers were inside. One was looking for healing potions as his friend tried to encourage him to hurry up.
Hadvar and I walked in and froze at the sight of them. They froze as well before charging us.
"See," I shouted at Hadvar as I drew my axe, blocking one of their swords with my shield. Hadvar took the other as I fought a blonde Nord with a great sword. I pushed against his blade knocking him back so I could get a good swing at his chest. He dodged my swing and managed to get a downward strike to my face, cutting down my eye to my cheek. Just barely missing my eye.
I groaned in pain before I lunged my axe at his chest then sliced his throat killing him. As my foe fell Hadvar managed to kill his. I gave a slight huff, wiping blood from my eye.
"There's an old storeroom," Hadvar said walking into a joining room, "Might be some potions in the barrels for you."
We looked through the barrels finding a couple of potions and even some food and drink. I even found a backpack, which I put any of the extra food and potions into it. After I drank a healing and stamina one to heal up the cut on my eye.
"You ready," Hadvar asked as he put some food in a pack he found. I nodded and we went out the side door. Thankfully, the rest of the hall was clear of derby. As we reached the end of the hall Hadvar sighed, "The torture room. Gods I wish we did need these."
"Wait," I said stopping at the top of a set of stairs.
"What is it?"
I tossed aside my shield before I held out my hand to the side conjuring a ghostly wolf familiar, they gave a short howl then looked up at me. I scratched their ear as I looked over at Hadvar, "How our luck with the Cloaks have been I'm not going easy anymore."
Hadvar gave a weak chuckle, "Alright then. Shall we continue?"
I nodded back as I quickly put the shield onto my back then switched to a flame spell as I drew my axe from my belt. We continued down the stairs where we heard the sounds of fighting. Two Imperials were fighting against two Stormcloaks, and weren't doing really well either. I shot fire at one of them as my familiar charged at the other, biting into the soldier's leg so Hadvar could finish them. While I burned the other back enough before finishing them with a slash to the throat.
"You two showed up just in time," an Imperial wearing a hood said as I put my sword away, "These boys seemed a bit upset with how I've been entertaining their comrades."
"Don't you know what's going on," Hadvar said angerly at the man, who I was now trying to stay as far away from as possible and close to Hadvar, "A dragon is attacking Helgen!"
"A dragon please don't make up such nonsense."
"Have you really not heard all the rumbling and roaring," I asked, "What been having too much fun with your bloody work?"
The torturer sneered at me before replying, "Although come to think of it I have been hearing some odd noises coming from over there."
He gestured to the back of the torture room to a large doorway.
"Come with us," Hadvar said, "We need to get out of here."
"Like now," I emphasized to him.
"You have no authority over me," the torturer sneered at us again.
"Didn't you hear us," Hadvar said angrily, "I said the keep is under attack!"
"Forget the old man," the other soldier said, I believed he was an assistant, of some kind, "I'll come with you."
"Least you have some sense," I sighed, "Let's get out of here."
"Wait a second," Hadvar said looking over at a center cage. I saw the light shine off of something inside, "Looks like there is something in that cage."
"Oh, don't bother with that," the torturer said, "Lost the key ages ago. Fellow screamed for weeks."
This old man was really starting to creep me out. Was starting to wish we hadn't saved his ungrateful hide. Hadvar rolled his eyes, "Here see if you can pick it open, I'll see if I can find anything else."
"Of course, take all my things."
"Hey, we are going to need anything we can get," I snapped at him, "If you want to live a day longer, you'll follow us."
He just sneered at me before going over to a chair sitting down. I let out a huff before I worked on opening the cage. I got it open in one try. Inside was a dead mage, a spell book by him as well as a magic potion and some gold coins. I tried not to look too much at the mage as I put the book and potion into my pack and added the coins to the purse I had found earlier. I patted the mage down seeing if he had anything else on him, before taking his cowl. I could probably sell it later to get a meal and a room.
"Sorry friend," I said softly to the body, "I don't think you'll be needing this anymore. I thank you for the items to aid me."
"We should keep going," Hadvar said as he came around from the tortures desk in a caged off area. I nodded; my familiar faded as my spell ended. We left the torture room with the assistant behind us, running down a hallway of cages.
"I'll scout ahead," Hadvar said to us, "Think you can get into these cells, see if there is anything we can use."
I nodded back to him before I started picking the locks. I broke two picks on this and just found a few more coins and a couple of bowls of bone meal. Out of the hallway there were cages scattered and a few smashed by falling debris.
"Look there's an opening back here," Hadvar called out, "Must be an old part of the keep."
"Maybe it will lead us to a way out of here," the assistant said.
"One way to find out," I said, summoning my familiar again before we went into the new passageway. Some twists and turns we came to a small grotto, there were a few Stormcloak soldiers there.
"Now what do we do," I heard one say angrily, "There is no sign of Ulfric and now we have this Imperial."
"Shut up I'm thinking," another replied. They hadn't seen us, but I could see them Hadvar moved closer to me, "They have the general."
He and the assistant then ran out to face the soldiers. I groaned as I saw they were very much outnumbered.
"Attack," I commanded my wolf familiar as I then ran out to back up the two. Three attacked up with swords and hammers. Arrows flew past my head as I noticed two more soldiers across the grotto, one shooting arrows at us. While Hadvar, the assistant, and my wolf took on the three I went to take care of the archer.
As I got closer, I noticed that the two were standing in a large puddle of oil. Probably spilled from the torches that were on the wall of the grotto.
"Prepare to die," the archer yelled at me as he notched another arrow.
"Nope," I said casting my fire spell at the puddle, igniting it. The two soldiers cried out as they caught fire. They must have been on their last leg because they soon fell over dead.
I noticedTullius was tied up in the center of the grotto. I snickered at the slight irony of that but quickly jumped over to him to untie him.
"So, you've made it out," he gave an unamused chuckle as I cut him free.
"What luck," I said back, "You alright?"
"I'm fine," he said gruffly. Hadvar came over to us, "Hadvar did any others make it."
"It's just been us so far," Hadvar sighed.
"I got a few out before these lot jumped me," Tullius said, "If you are the only ones left then we best be going."
"I'm going to get the old man," the assistant said, "No point leaving him alone if anymore Stormcloaks come down here. Good luck you three."
"Best luck back," Hadvar nodded to him.
"Come this way," the general motioned to Hadvar and I, "There's a way out this way."
We followed him down another tunnel, through several twists and turns. We faced a couple of giant spiders that I was not happy to fight and was glad when we left their nests. After that we came to a large cave at the end of the tunnel. I could feel a draft through the cave bringing the smell of fresh air and pine. We were almost out.
"Hold up," Hadvar stopped us before squatting down, "There's a bear over there. See her?"
I saw the large brown bear asleep at the other end of the cave.
"Better sneak by," Tullius whispered, "Unless one of you want to take her on."
"It's a nice bear but I just want to get out of here," I replied in a harsh whisper.
"Just stay low and move slowly," Hadvar said before slowly making his way past the bear. Tullius followed behind him and I brought up the rear, keeping an eye on the sleeping bear. Halfway past the bear I slipped into a washed away crack in the cave ground. I bite my tongue as I fell as to not scream or make a sound. Hadvar, the general, and I froze as the bear let out a huffed groan, moving in her sleep before settling back down.
I held my breath as I climbed out of the ditch, and we made it to the cave's entrance. Finally free and I let out a relieved sigh.
I was just about ready to collapse as we made it out of the cave. My hair was a tangled mess, my barrowed clothes were sticky from sweat, blood, mud, and spider goo.
Hadvar pushed me behind a rock before kneeling next to me, "Hang on."
Tullius ducked behind the rock. I looked up as I heard the echoing of the dragon's wings flying overhead before it disappeared over the mountains.
"It's gone," Hadvar said as he stood back up.
I felt relieved as I stood up, stretching my back, "So what now?"
"We should probably go our separate ways now," Hadvar shrugged, "There's a village not far from here. My uncle works there as a blacksmith. He can give us some supplies."
"Riverwood correct," Tullius asked.
"Yes sir."
"Well, you two make your way there. I'll head towards Whiterun, get a horse, and get back to Solitude. I have to update the men and Jarl of what is going on with these...this dragon that attacked us. After you rest up head that way, Hadvar."
"Yes sir," Hadvar nodded before saluting the general.
Tullius looked back over at me, "And you, I'm sorry we met under such serious circumstances, but you've proven to be honorable in aiding our escape despite everything. Consider this a full pardon. Are you going to try to pick up from where we picked you up from?"
"Not sure," I shrugged, "The gold I picked up in the keep isn't enough to cover what I lost, and I'm not even sure what that plan was leading me to."
"Well, if you need it the Empire can always use talented fighters like you," he replied.
"I'll think about it," I nodded to him.
"Come to Solitude when you decide," Tullius gave a nod to me.
With that we traveled down the path to the road. Tullius separated from Hadvar and I going down a fork in the road while the two of us stuck to the straight path that followed along the river.
Chapter 2
Thankfully, the road to Riverwood was uneventful and it wasn't long before we arrived at the town's modest gateway. I was relieved to see the town. I was starting to become famish and I desperately needed a bath.
I followed Hadvar to the smith's shop, where a man was hammering away at the anvil till, he noticed Hadvar and I walking up the to his shop.
"Uncle Alvor," Hadvar called out as we approached the shop
"Hadvar," he seemed surprised to be seeing him there. I could guess why easily, "What are you doing here? Are you on leave..."
He then noticed the burns, dirt, blood, and soot covering Hadvar's armor, "Shor's bones, what happened to you, boy?"
"Shh, uncle keep your voice down," Hadvar said in a muffled voice. I tried to look...well relaxed as much as I could but I was starting to sway on my feet. 'By the nine I need a nap.'
"Are you in some kind of trouble," Alvor asked in a lower voice.
"It's best if we talk inside," Hadvar simply replied.
"And who's this fellow," Alvor asked gesturing to me.
"She's a friend," Hadvar replied, "Saved my life in fact. Come on, I'll explain everything, but we need to go inside."