Snow. That was the first thing Aurelian noticed when he opened his eyes and looked blearily around. Dusting the tops of the trees like the icing on a sweetroll.
"Hey, you. You're finally awake. You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there."
Aurelian winced at the voice; his head was throbbing with pain. Sitting up in the wagon he looked at his tormentor and saw a quintessential Nord man staring back at him, all blonde hair and muscles. It was his clothing that concerned him. It was a blue gambeson, the kind you would wear under mail, it seemed like this Nord was of an artistic bent as he had drawn what looked like to be an Atmorran cross on his gambeson. A popular symbol of Talos in Skyrim.
"You're a Dagon-damned Stormcloak" Aurelian, deduced with a groan. "Why in Oblivion have I been roped in with you?"
"That's what I want to know" a whiny voice called out; Aurelian turned to look at the speaker. A ragged-looking Nord with a rather hangdog expression and tattered leathers stared at the Stormcloak with open hostility.
"Damn you Stormcloaks. Skyrim was fine until you came along. Empire was nice and lazy. If they hadn't been looking for you, I could've stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell. You there. You and me — we shouldn't be here. It's these Stormcloaks the Empire wants". The horse thief declared.
"You're not wrong but calm down. Wherever they're taking us, this will all get sorted out. We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. We're not rebels." Aurelian said with far more confidence than he felt.
"We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief." the Nord retorted stoically.
Before Aurelian could reply to the Nord a sharp shout from the imperial soldier driving wagon silenced him. Aurelian heard what sounded like a muffled laugh from his right. He turned his head to see a powerfully built Nord Man dressed in a Nord's best imitation of finery, lots of ragged furs. He was bound at the wrist like the rest of them but had a gag tied around his mouth. He looked at Aurelian with a cynical amusement in his eyes.
Aurelian jerked his head towards the gagged Nord.
"Who did he piss off?"
Ralof's turned his head sharply at Aurelian.
"Watch your tongue! You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King".
Ulfric Stormcloak. The name opened an icy crevasse in Aurelian's stomach. The Medes were not known for their clemency to rebels.
"Ulfric? The Jarl of Windhelm? You're the leader of the rebellion. But if they captured you… Oh gods, where are they taking us?" the horse thief had seemed to grasp the severity of the situation at least. Aurelian looked at his bonds and tried desperately to wiggle out of them. No luck, the Legion clearly didn't want anyone escaping. He tried to summon a flame, or anything but with his hands bound there was no chance of shaping the magicka. He was really regretting not stealing more magic books now.
"I don't know where we're going, but Sovngarde awaits." The blonde Nord replied in a frustratingly stoic fashion.
"No, this can't be happening. This isn't happening." the horse thief said, voice rising in panic. Aurelian on the other hand laughed. It was a deep cynical laugh. Of course, he would flee to Skyrim after killing an Indarys only to get executed as a rebel.
"You face your death with a smile. Perhaps we will see each other in Sovngarde Imperial" the blonde Nord said, smiling with approval. For a moment Aurelian imagined that this must have been what Harrald had been like before the war.
The Blonde Nord turned to the horse thief; "Hey, what village are you from, horse thief?" Clearly trying to comfort him.
"Why do you care?"
"A Nord's last thought should be of home" the blonde Nord reflected.
"Rorikstead. I'm…I'm from Rorikstead."
The Nord turned to Aurelian as if to ask the same question when the sudden shout of an Imperial soldier distracted them.
"General Tullius, sir! The headsman is waiting!"
"Good. Let's get this over with."
There was a moment of palpable silence in the wagon. Aurelian imagined they were thinking the same thing. Hoping against hope that something, some God or Daedra or hero would intervene and save them. The horse thief was the first to break the silence.
"Shor, Mara, Dibella, Kynareth, Akatosh. Divines, please help me." He pleaded.
"You forgot Talos" Aurelian muttered.
The horse thief looked at him, his eyes and wide with fear and shock.
"Look at him, General Tullius the Military Governor. And it looks like the Thalmor are with him. Damn elves. I bet they had something to do with this. This is Helgen. I used to be sweet on a girl from here. Wonder if Vilod is still making that mead with juniper berries mixed in. Funny…when I was a boy, Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel so safe" the Blonde Nord Rambled. Aurelian wondered whether this reflective and stoic persona was an act of or if the Nord was really this calm about everything. Aurelian wasn't sure what would disturb him more.
They trundled what looked like a Legion garrison town, heavily fortified with a stone wall and several large stone watchtowers. Aurelian had to admire this General Tulliuss' cleverness. Don't make Ulfric into a martyr, no big execution in the province capital. Just a nice quiet execution in a little garrison town.
As they rolled through the main street of the town. Several of the townspeople came out to gawk at the prisoners. Aurelian lamented that his bounds hands prevented him from making certain gestures at them. The smarter parents among the crowd began to shoo their children inside no doubt realizing this was not just a simple march through town. As the wagons pulled up in front of the tower the thief called.
"Why are they stopping?"
"Why do you think? End of the line" Ralof intoned dramatically.
The wagons stopped. The Stormcloaks were pulled out and assembled in rough lines to be checked off by the Imperial officers. Aurelian briefly considered making a run for it, but there were too many guards and a good few carried bows. He made a quick mental inventory of what he still had. The Legion had left him in his burn-scarred leathers and heavy winter cloak, mercifully. His sword and dagger were gone though. He couldn't see where they were. He hoped they hadn't been tossed off the road and lying in some ditch somewhere. The bastards had also taken his gold.
"Let's go. Shouldn't keep the god's waiting for us" Ralof said when it was their turn. They got up and were directed to form a
"No wait we're not rebels." the horse thief pleaded.
"Face your death with some courage thief, like the imperial boy" the blonde Nord retorted.
The horse thief could not be deterred though; "You've got to tell them we weren't with you. This a mistake!"
None of the Legionaries paid him any attention. Aurelian was somewhat unsure what his plan was. Regardless of whether he was a rebel horse stealing was usually a capital crime. Aurelian doubted the thief had the money to pay the fine.
The imperial officer, a Tribune judging by the helmet's crest called out; "Step towards the block when we call your name. One at a time"
"Empire Loves their damned lists" The blonde Nord muttered sarcastically.
An imperial soldier, next to the Tribune had a sheet of papyrus and a stick of charcoal. He was another classic Nord type. Young though maybe Aurelian age's if a bit older. He was the one calling out the names.
"Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm" The rebel leader walked forward head held high with pride.
"It has been an Honor, Jarl Ulfric" the blonde Nord called out. Frankly, if Aurelian was in his position. Captured because your Jarl had blundered into an Ambush, Aurelian would have been a bit more annoyed.
"Ralof of Riverwood" the imperial soldier called. The blonde Nord stepped forward. Ralof is his name then. Aurelian reflected. Like his Jarl before him, Ralof stepped forward proudly and bravely.
"Lokir of Rorkistead"
The Horse thief stepped forward trying once again to plead his innocence; "No I'm not a rebel you can't do this." Seeing that his pleas were falling uncaring ears. Lokir decided to make a break. With his hands bound, it was an ungainly run, much like a drunk stumbling and clumsy.
"HALT" the imperial tribune called.
"You're not going to kill me" Lokir called gleefully as he made a mad dash along the road through town.
"ARCHERS" the tribune yelled. There was the sudden twang of a bowstring and a gurgling scream from Lokir as the arrow hit him square in the back of his neck, he collapsed to the ground and died.
"Anyone else feel like running?" the captain asked sarcastically.
There was a moment of silence and then the imperials returned to their duties. The Nord legionary with the list seemed to notice him and looked puzzled for a moment. Hopefully, he was realizing Aurelian was not meant to be there. Then again, he was a Nord, so more likely he was struggling to remember what number came after three.
"Wait, you there step forward."
Aurelian complied, walking close enough that he could spit at them if he so desired.
"Who are you?" the Nord asked.
Clearing his throat Aurelian; 's mind kicked into gear he knew he going to talk fast to get out of this.
"Good morning, Tribune, Legionary. My name is Aurelian Kommenias. I seem to have been picked up by mistake. I was merely crossing the border and I blundered into your ambush. I do apologize but as you can see, I am no Stormcloak".
The Nord legionary seemed unprepared for the flood of words and looked dumbly at the captain. Aurelian hoped he had chosen the right tactic, in his experience most middling officials loved having their egos stroked. Made them feel like they had some power.
The tribune looked at him impassively. She was an imperial woman of middling years, legion-issued plate, polished to a high sheen. No doubt trying to make a good impression on the General.
"You're a long way from the Imperial City. Tribune what should we do if he's not on the list?" the Nord asked the Tribune.
The Tribune looked him up and down; "Forget the list he goes to the block." the Tribune declared emphatically.
Aurelian could not believe what he was hearing. Sure, he knew that Legion justice could be harsh but to execute an ostensibly innocent civilian for nothing was beyond the pale.
"I beg your fucking pardon. I am an Imperial Citizen! What crime am I being executed for? Inconveniencing the Legion? Embarrassing a Tribune in front of her superior officer?" Aurelian seethed.
The Nord legionary looked conflicted and turned back to the captain, an unspoken question in his eyes.
"Interfering in a military operation. You nearly jeopardized our ambush with your blundering", She turned back to the Nord Legionary; "He goes to the block. Understood?"
"By your orders Tribune" the legionary responded. He turned back to Aurelian "I'm sorry. We'll make sure your remains are returned to Cyrodiil. Follow the Tribune Prisoner"
"Great. That is lovely a consolation to being extrajudicially murdered my thanks Legionary" Aurelian muttered.
The Nord just nodded at him sadly. Aurelian followed the Tribune, carefully suspecting that any disobedience would earn him a sword through the guts. He was desperately hoping for something anything to occur to him. The Tribune led him to where the rest of the prisoners were waiting. They were watching impassively as an older imperial man in golden Armor was castigating Ulfric Stormcloak.
"Some here in Helgen call you a hero, but don't use a power like the voice to murder his King and usurp his throne. You started this War, plunged Skyrim into Chaos and the empire is going to put you down and restore the peace!"
As soon as the man finished his spiel, a strange noise echoed off the walls and towers. It was like a roar, but it sounded so far away yet so close. It sent a lightning bolt down Aurelian's spine, he felt his heart rate quicken, his breath shortened, and he looked around frantically for some monster to attack him, but nothing came.
He focused his attention back on the proceedings, one of the Stormcloaks had interrupted the priest's speech and was insisting that he be executed now. He called out as the Tribune forced him down to the block.; "My ancestors are smiling at me imperials; can you say the same?"
Your ancestors are dead and gone you stupid bastard Aurelian thought as the headsman brought the axe down on his neck. There was a meaty thunk and a spurt of blood and the man was dead. Well at least it was quick Aurelian reflected.
There were some shouts from the prisoners and legionaries, but Aurelian didn't listen. He could still hear that roar, rattling around his head. The tribune then called out.
"Next, the renegade from Cyrodiil"
For a brief second Aurelian considered launching himself at the Tribune, biting her, kicking anything to hurt her. Then that roar echoed down from the mountains again. Stunning everyone into silence, the Tribune was the first to recover; "I said, next prisoner".
The Nord legionary who had the list, fingers still stained with charcoal must have seen something in Aurelian's eyes.
"To the block prisoner. Nice and easy" Aurelian sneered at him, but the words helped to focus his mind. Aurelian slowly walked the block in a daze, he barely had enough presence of mind to awkwardly kneel around the dead Nord's body. As he lay his head down on the block, he saw an imperial banner flapping in the wind. Behind the cowled form of the headsman. He closed his eyes for a moment to steel himself. The sudden roar and screams of the people around him caused him to snap open his eyes. An impossible creature, a jagged shadow out of myth flew down and let loose a cry that cracked the heavens. Perched itself atop the watchtower and for a moment it seemed to look at Aurelian as its maw opened wide.