Chapter 2
Almost a day has passed and Marvous had just woken up. As he slowly opened his eyes and raised his head, he noticed a figure was in front of him. Marvous looked around him as soon as his vision had cleared. He saw Ulfric Stormcloak who was next to him, and a pair of nords whom Marvous did not know of, was across from him and Ulfric. Across from Marvous was a blond nord who was wearing a wolf cloak, blue, long sleeved, leather cuirass, and blue war paint across his eyes. He seemed rather calm whilst giving off an aura of anger. The one next to him was another nord, but his clothes are all tattered, and he was as nervous as they could come. The nord that was looking at the direction where the wagon was heading to turned his head and looked at Marvous.
Marvous' POV
I let out a small sigh and raised my head. The Stormcloak soldier across from me seems to have been staring for quite a while. "Yes?" I looked at him questioningly. "Aren't you that newly appointed thane of Falkreath some months ago?" His voice somewhat showed a bit of anger. I couldn't really blame him. Falkreath is on the side of the Empire. So I suppose, to him, I'm just another one of the Imperials. "What of it?" I couldn't hide the annoyance in my voice. My problems seem to keep piling up. My father suddenly becoming bedridden a day after I departed, only to receive the letter from Rayya a few days later, and then stumbling across the traitor of Skyrim, and then getting dragged into this civil war. I let out another sigh and saw that the soldier was giving me an annoyed look. "I'm just curious why someone like you is on a carriage with us." He grunted. The man next him broke out of his nervousness and gazed at the soldier with spite in his eyes. "Damned Stormcloaks." The man spat, not averting his spiteful gaze.
The soldier slumped down and sighed. "We're all brothers and sisters now, horse thief." The soldier's tone, calm yet regretful, softly spoke. The other man rolled his over to Ulfric. "And what about him? Why's he gagged?" His tone now slowly calming down. "Watch your tongue! You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King!" The soldier spoke. Upon hearing this, the man in tattered clothes' eyes widened in shock. "Ulfric…?" He softly spoke with nervousness in his voice. "You're the Jarl of Windhelm… The one who… Killed High King Torygg?!" His breathing became faster and he started sweating profusely. I couldn't help but chuckle, which caused the three to glare at me. "What's so funny?!" The soldier snapped.
Seeing them glare daggers at me didn't even faze me in the slightest. It just felt… Amusing. I couldn't help but grin. "Why do you follow a fool?" The stormcloak soldier was about to protest but the driver spoke up first and told us to be quiet. "A man who follows a leader who is blinded by power and greed, and a man forced by the whims of Thalmors. Tis nothing but utter foolishness made by those in power." I chuckled in my seat while the others sat still in silence. "So, where do you hail from, kinsman?" I asked the man parallel to me. "I come from a small village called Riverwood. It is a milling village near a river, owned by Whiterun hold. Small as it is, it was still home." He smiled lopsidedly. "And you?" I looked to the ragged man next to him.
"Rorikstead… I'm from Rorikstead." The ragged man said whilst still slumped down in his seat. "And what of you, traveler? From whence do you hail?" The stormcloak warrior asked me. I gave him a small smile. "I was born near the mountain range in Cyrodiil, but my father and I moved to Falkreath almost two years ago." The warrior nodded. After a few minutes of silence, the walls of wherever we're being taken to are now in field of view. "General Tullius, sir! The headsman is waiting!" One of the soldiers reported. "There's been a slight change of—" Tullius was cut off when a Thalmor woman came to him. "General Tullius! What is the meaning of this?!" Tullius sighed in annoyance. "What are you doing here Elenwen?" Elenwen scoffed. My focus got interrupted by the warrior in front of me when he spoke. I could no longer hear what was being talked about. "We're in Helgen. I used to be sweet on a girl from here." The warrior smiled sadly as he his head hung over. "I wonder if Vilod is still making that mead with Juniper berries mixed in." He looked up with a sad expression on his face, almost remorseful. "Funny. When I was a boy, I always thought Imperial walls made me feel so safe."
I understand how he feels. When everything he thought and believed in betrayed him, but it was actually the other way around. With such a reality, you begin to question everything and anyone whom you can trust. The carriage pulls up to a wall and all of us got off. The ragged was praying and begging to be spared as we hopped off. "Step to the block as we call your name. One at a time!" An Imperial woman donning heavy armor made of steel with the mark of the Empire said with authority. "Empire loves their damn list." spat the warrior next to me. "Ulfric Stormcloak. Jarl of Windhelm. For the murder of High King Torygg, you are sentenced to death." A man next to the Imperial captain spoke. He donned a light leather armor and was holding a quill and book. "It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric." The warrior spoke as Ulfric walked towards the block.
"Ralof of Riverwood. For aiding the murderer and killing your fellow kinsen, you are sentenced to death." The Imperial spoke and the warrior, now I know named Ralof, walked towards the block as he glared at the captain and the man. "Lokir of Rorikstead. You have been found guilty of dealing with skooma, as well as having killed one of our officers during your arrest. As such, you will be sentenced to death."* Lokir panicked and ran past the captain and the soldier.. "Halt!" The captain shouted. "You're not gonna catch me!" Lokir shouted back, with a smile that can be heard from his voice. "Archers!" The captain commanded and Lokir was shot dead. "Wait, who are you?" He looked at me skeptically. "My name is Marvous War-Arms." I spoke monotonously. "War-Arms? The recent thane of Falkreath?" He looked at me with a brow raised, and then looks towards the captain. "Will we not be in trouble, captain?" The soldier asked. "We did not receive a report from the General to release him. Take him to the block." The woman spat, and I mean literally spat in my face.
I unleashed my bloodlust for a brief moment which startled everyone, including Tullius and Ulfric. I drew it back and walked towards the block. Tullius shook his head and walked towards me. "I'm very sorry. I could not do anything as many people saw you help Ulfric. I'll personally deliver your remains to Jarl Siddgeir." I nodded. "You have more than enough power to escape, why didn't you?" He whispered. "I don't want to be hunted down like a dog for the rest of my life." I whispered back, to which he nodded in understanding. He walked towards Ulfric and began speaking. "You all know why we're here with the traitors. Why they're bound and waiting in line. They are here to pay for their betrayal. And they'll pay by having each of them have their heads rolling." The townspeople cheered, some protested, while the rest of us stayed silent.
He looked back at Ulfric. "Ulfric Stormcloak. Some here in Helgen call you a hero, but a hero doesn't use a power like the Voice to murder his king and usurp his throne." Ulfric tried to protest but only muffled noises can be heard. "You started this war, plunged Skyrim into chaos and now the Empire is going to put you down, and restore the peace." Just as Tullius ended his speech and the people cheering, a roar can be heard from the distance. "What was that?" the soldier from earlier asked. "It's nothing. Carry on." Tullius said as he walked a few steps away.
"By order of Jarl Siddgeir, we ask that you please release our Thane!" A Redguard woman has come, riding on horse-back. "Rayya, it's alright." Rayya looked at me with surprise. "But–!" Rayya tried to plea as she got off the horse but I cut her off. "I order you as Thane of Falkreath; stand down." She gritted her teeth and clenched her fist. "I understand." I sighed and looked back. The atmosphere became quiet until another roar was heard, this time, it sounded closer. "Let's carry on." Tullius commanded. "Yes, General." the captain said. "Give them their last rites." The captain ordered, and a priestess of Arkay stood in front of us. Just as she was about to speak, a thunderous roar sounded again, and a dark figure was flying in the sky. "What in Oblivion is that?!" Tullius shouted, causing everyone to look at where he was looking.
"It's in the clouds!" a soldier shouted and the figure swooped down and landed on the tower. Another thunderous roar from it, and the skies became gray, and flaming boulders started falling. The headsman died when the large, black, figure landed on the tower, causing large debris to fall. "Dragon!" one of the people shouted as they all ran away in a panic. The dragon was large and dark with red, glowing, eyes. I snapped my binds with sheer strength and grabbed Rayya's arm and ran towards one of the towers. Ralof shouted for us to hurry up and we did. The moment we got in, the door was shut. "My Thane, are you alright?" Rayya said as she inspected my wrists. I only nodded at her and looked at Ulfric whose face was as dark as that dragon's scales. "Jarl Ulfric, could the legends be true? Was that really a dragon?!" Panic can be heard in Ralof's voice.
"Legends don't burn down villages." Ulfric said as he kept looking at the ground with his arms crossed, and then he looked at me. "What is it, Bear of Winterhold?" I sarcastically asked. "Nothing." He dismissed and looked towards Ralof. Just as he was about to speak, something crashed into the wall on the upper floor, and the dragon's head was through the hole it made. I locked eyes with the dark beast, and my head began to ache. I did not feel fear from it. I felt… Nothing. Its red, glowing, eyes were filled with anger, and the beast opened its large maw. I quickly got down and laid on my stomach on the cold, slippery, stairs as the beast breathed out fire before flying away. Gods damn it all. The one known as Ralof patted my back, signaling me that it's okay to stand up. As we got up the stairs, we saw the corpse of a Stormcloak layed dead under the rubble. I heard Ralof click his tongue before he looked at me and outside into the chaos and fire. "Do you see that inn? Jump down and get yourself to safety into the keep. We'll follow you when we can." I nodded and freed myself from my binds. I jumped down, landing safely on the crumbling building's floor, with Rayya following behind me.
I looked back at Ralof, and he was talking, almost pleading with Ulfric and the surviving Stormcloaks. As the black beast let out another roar, we cleared out of the crumbling building, to which led us to the earlier soldier, trying to aid his comrades. "Haming!" The soldier shouted. The boy who was next to his dying father, ran towards the soldier as the black beast perched on the ground, setting the boy's father on fire. The soldier tried his best to cover the boy's eyes, but alas, the boy saw his father die in front of him. "Papa!" the boy screamed. The soldier and I grimaced. "Still alive, prisoner? Keep close to me if you want to stay that way. Gunnar, take care of the boy. I have to find General Tullius and join the defense." He said to the other soldier. Gunnar nodded. "Gods guide you, Hadvar." He said to Hadvar, to which he nodded and made a lopsided smile. "Stay close to the walls!" Hadvar said as we walked through the burning buildings.
I looked towards our right and saw Tullius trying to fend off the beast with his men. "General!" Hadvar called out. "Get anyone you can to safety, Hadvar!" Tullius order. "But, sir!" Hadvar tried to argue, but was stopped by Tullius' glare. "That's an order from your general." He sternly said. Hadvar balled his fists and saluted Tullius before we ran towards the keep entrances. Ralof and the others jumped from the tower's walls. They stood up and looked at us. Everyone on their side except Ralof was about to unsheathe the weapons they picked up. "Stop!" I exclaimed. "Everyone, head into safety first and then kill each other!" I angrily said, to which they all nodded and went inside the left keep entrance. Upon entering, everyone looked exhausted.
The confiscated weapons lay in a chest at the end of the room. I walk over to my own weapons and grabbed. "Arm yourselves. We don't know what we'll face." The rest nodded to my statement and grabbed their own weapons. As soon as everyone was armed, we walked towards the end and entered a different portion of the keep. Near the table towards the wall, opposite of the door, lie a dead stormcloak; adjacent to him were two of his comrades, looking at our group in fear but somewhat relaxed when they saw their comrades with us unharmed. I extended my arm to them. "Come with us. Neither one wants to die right now when a dragon is currently flying about." The two nodded and followed us as we went further into the keep. While walking down the stairs, the ground shook and the ceiling in the hallway collapsed.
Our group walked into the keep's store room and there we saw two more stormcloaks pillaging the storage. Thankfully, the ones in our group talked to them before they fully drew their swords. "Hadvar." I looked at the soldier beside me. "How big is this keep and how much longer before we get out?" The man crossed his hands and looked behind me. "Not much farther. The keep leads into a cave after we pass through the torture chamber." The stormcloaks flinched after hearing those words. Ralof patted the soldier who was about to draw his blade and shook his head at him
I sighed. "Alright. Everyone heard him, yes? Do not clash blades now; we are yet to leave the keep." The men nodded and started following after me. As soon as we got out of the storage after sorting our belongings, we began hearing the sounds of metal clanging against each other, and the sound of lightning magic being cast. "Hadvar, Ralof" I looked at the two. "On me." I ordered them, to which they reluctantly followed. We ran towards the sounds of fight to see a pair of Imperial and stormcloak soldiers battling. "Enough!" I shouted at the top of my lungs which alerted the two pairs. "What is this?" The old Imperial soldier asked, eyeing me and the two behind me. "A dragon is flying about, Tullius and his men are already battling it." The old man raised a brow while the two stormcloaks ran towards Ralof. "Captain, is it true what that man just said?" one of them asked. "Aye." He replied grimly.
"Ha! What dragon? This is nothing short but a mutiny." I dashed as fast as I could and held my blade against his throat before he could utter another word or move another muscle. "Either you come with us quietly and live, or stay and die by my hands." I looked him dead in the eyes which made him anxious. "Your choice." I sternly said as I pushed my blade deeper against his throat, making him bleed. "A-alright. Understood." I sheathed my blade to my side and he held his lightly slit wound. As soon as that was wrapped up, the soldiers emerged from the corner. "Is it true then? Was there truly a dragon?" The bigger Imperial soldier asked me while he sheathed his axe. "Aye. And I have a feeling it isn't just any dragon, either." The rest looked at me curiously.
"That's enough talking. We have to leave immediately if we still want to stay alive or be buried under a pile of rubble." I gestured for Hadvar to join me at the front to lead us; Ralof and the others followed suit. We traversed through the cave, passing by the spiders we had to kill, followed by a bear sleeping in the corner. After sneaking past it, we safely got out of the cave. "Hadvar, Ralof, come with me." I called out to the two soldiers. "We've made it out safely. What next? We're all exhausted." I asked them. "Well, just down this path is Riverwood where my uncle Alvor runs a smithy, as well as Ralof's sister, Gerdur, runs a saw mill. There's an inn, though I doubt it can house this many of us." Hadvar explained while crossing his arms.
"The injured can stay at the inn, the rest should camp outside." Ralof suggested as he looked towards the group of tired soldiers. "Alright. Tell the rest that we can continue walking after resting for a few minutes." The two nodded at my statement. Suddenly, the beast flew overhead, going towards the east. We all breathed a sigh of relief before we got back up again and started walking. "Hey!" Ralof walked towards my back. "I'm amazed you could have such a leveled head despite all the chaos that ensued." I looked towards his direction with curiosity on my face. "Is that so?" Hadvar walked towards us and patted my back. "I agree with him. You have the makings of a leader. Even though you're not a soldier, we all followed your command."
"Let's go before the sun sets. Gods know what else we'll deal with during the night." I said as I picked myself back up. The two leaders nodded and the other soldiers followed suit. We walked a good half hour before getting to three pillars. As we get closer, we see a temple of sorts in the distance up in the mountains. "See that ruin up there?" Ralof pointed to it. "Bleak Falls Barrow. I never understood how my sister could stand living in the shadow of that place. I guess you get used to it." I see both Ralof and Hadvar have a small smile as if reminiscing. Hadvar chuckled and said "When I was a boy, that place always used to give me nightmares. Draugr creeping down the mountain to climb through my window at night, that kind of thing. I admit, I still don't much like the look of it." The other soldiers gave a small smile whilst looking at the ruin before we continued on our path, reaching the three pillars.
"These are the Guardian Stones, three of the thirteen ancient standing stones that dot Skyrim's landscape. Go ahead, see for yourself." Hadvar said, as he ushered me near the stone pillars. Upon closer inspection, I can see markings of what looked like a thief or assassin, what appeared to be a mage, and what appeared to be a warrior. I inched closer to the warrior stone and it started to emit a dim light. "Seems like you're a true warrior." Ralof stated, to which Hadvar gave a nod. "Come, we're almost there."
A/N: Hi everyone! It's been a long time. Sorry for the long wait. Here's chapter 2. I've just been busy with life and dealt with writers block. I'll try to update more often when I can. See you all in the next chapter!