Chapter 2 : The escape

Entering the fort behind Ralof, Hunfen took a few moments to adjust to the sudden darkness. The circular room was almost empty, except for a Stormcloak soldier slumped against the wall. Seeing the trail of blood leading to the body, the child understood that the gravely wounded man had found shelter here before succumbing to his numerous injuries.

"Gunjar…" murmured Ralof, his eyes filled with sadness. "Rest in peace, brother."

He turned to Hunfen and cut his bonds. Then, he seized Gunjar's war axe and handed it to him. "Here, take it. You might need it."

Hunfen grasped it, but the weapon was far too heavy for him. He tried to lift it with great difficulty, but had to admit he was utterly incapable of wielding such an arm properly.

Suddenly, voices approaching from the barracks interrupted their moment. Ralof signaled Hunfen to take cover, and then did the same. Abandoning the axe, the child crouched behind the Stormcloak.

"The rest of the men are still trying to fend off the creature. Shouldn't we join them, Captain?" asked a firm but respectful voice. A female voice responded sharply: "We have prisoners on the loose, and that's our priority! How did these damned rebels pull off such a feat? We must find them all and finish this!"

Hunfen huddled in his hiding spot, his heart pounding. It was the Imperial captain! And she still wanted to eliminate them, including him! He closed his eyes, trying to calm his breathing, and focused on his magic as if he were about to light a fire. Maybe this time he could use his flames to defend himself if things went awry?

The captain burst into the room, accompanied by Hadvar. He remained silent, showing a hint of disapproval. Upon seeing Ralof, she drew her sword and rushed towards him. "With me, soldier!" she cried, attacking. The Stormcloak parried and tried to counter, but his blow was absorbed by the captain's solid armor. Their weapons clashed several times, creating a sparkling ballet, while Hadvar also drew his sword, intervening with less fervor.

After a moment, the captain noticed Hunfen hiding in the shadows. "Well, look who we have here! We had not finished yet!" she sneered, smiling cruelly as she moved towards him, leaving Hadvar to face Ralof alone. She raised her sword, ready to deliver a powerful blow. Panicked, Hunfen screamed in terror and extended his hands to protect himself. The blade came down but was deflected at the last moment by Ralof's axe. The clash of the weapons was followed by the sound of the sword striking the wall just inches from Hunfen's face. Reflexively, the child closed his eyes tightly, trying to push the threat away. He barely heard the stream of insults Ralof hurled at the Imperial, as at the same moment, a menacing rumble filled his ears. Just as in the tower earlier, a bright light penetrated his closed eyelids. Opening his eyes slightly, he saw through his fingers the captain shielding her face with an arm against a jet of flames. It was then that he realized he had inadvertently unleashed his magic.

Disoriented by the unexpected assault, the captain had left a gap in her defense. Ralof, his face contorted with rage, followed with a powerful attack that struck her. Dropping her sword, the captain fell to one knee, pressing a hand against the wall while the other clutched her injured side. Hunfen, sitting against the wall, frantically tried to push himself away with his feet. Finally, he cried out in panic:

"She… she tried… again… to kill me! Just… just now! And… and before… during the execution! I… The general… he said… She… she took me… aside… She… she drew… a dagger… I was… I was scared… And then… the dragon… the dragon arrived! I… I escaped… But… but she… she was there… And… and I was… so scared!"

Tears now flowed freely down the child's cheeks. With the immediate threat gone, a profound sense of relief washed over him. He struggled to regain his composure, feeling slightly ashamed of crying in front of these adults.

When he reopened his eyes, Hunfen saw the captain lying on her side, now supported only by her elbow. She stared at Hadvar with contempt, while he had sheathed his sword. "Fight… you traitor!" she managed to say with difficulty. Hadvar straightened up, regaining his impeccable posture. However, a cold fury was evident on his face. "Do not call me a traitor! You disobeyed a direct order from the General. You abandoned your men! And now, this?"

The legionnaire gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his growing anger evident despite his perfect stance. Hunfen's eyes widened, sensing the intensity of the tension filling the room. The woman's breathing became increasingly labored, but the rage still shone in her eyes. "No matter! These Stormcloak dogs deserve to…"

Suddenly, a violent tremor shook the ground, cracking the walls around them. Ralof, grabbing Hunfen, shouted, "To the back!" and rushed deeper into the fort. They had barely left the room when a deafening crash echoed. The entrance to the building no longer existed.

"Damn it! Will this dragon ever stop?!" exclaimed the Stormcloak, setting the child down. He scrutinized the entrance of the fort, now blocked by a heap of stones and debris. Nearby, Hadvar was painfully getting up from the hurl that had allowed him to follow them. Both men had tense expressions, but were relieved to have narrowly escaped a grim fate. The Imperial captain, however, lay buried under the rubble.

The two warriors leaned against a wall, catching their breath. Ralof glanced at the soldier, a faint smile forming on his face. "It's been a while, eh, Hadvar? I never thought I'd see you again in such circumstances!"

Hadvar returned the smile. "Indeed, Ralof. It seems fate has a peculiar sense of humor."

Ralof chuckled softly. "Still as stiff and polished as ever, huh? Well, except now!"

Hadvar raised an eyebrow, glancing at his armor, now sullied and damaged from the city's attack. "For you, on the other hand, it doesn't change much," he retorted, laughing in turn. "You still have that scruffy, dirty look that suits you so well. Though I must admit, our adventure hasn't helped my appearance either."

Hunfen, exhausted and bewildered, watched the two men, wondering how they could joke in such circumstances. He realized then that these two warriors probably knew each other for a long time and shared childhood memories. He listened to them tease each other, somewhat reassured by this lighter atmosphere.

"The kid's got quite a knack for magic, especially for a Nord of his age," Ralof suddenly remarked, glancing at Hunfen.

Hadvar nodded. "It's true, the flame spell he cast is remarkable for a child who has likely never been trained by a mage. What's your name, by the way, boy?"

Hunfen, despite his lingering anxiety, felt a twinge of pride at hearing these compliments. He never thought that the spell, which he had only used to light campfires at night, could be considered a talent. Nor had the idea of using it as an offensive weapon ever occurred to him before. "Thank you!" he replied in a timid voice. "My name is Hunfen."

Ralof spoke again, in a more serious tone: "Now that we're stuck here, we need to find a way out. Hadvar, do you know another exit?"

"Yes, the fort has an auxiliary exit that leads to a cave," the legionnaire replied with a nod. "I think that's our best option to escape."

"I'll follow you then," the Stormcloak agreed. "Do you think others managed to take shelter here?"

"It's possible," Hadvar admitted, thoughtful. "Look, to avoid suspicion, if we encounter Stormcloaks, I'll give you my sword and pretend to be your prisoner. And if we run into Imperials…"

"We switch roles!" Ralof completed, amused. "Good idea! I think everyone will be looking to escape, but you never know…"

Hunfen, despite the anxiety that continued to grip him, felt his eyelids grow heavy. He struggled to stay awake, but fatigue overcame him. Lulled by the voices of the two adults refining their plan, he fell into a deep sleep, exhausted by the trials he had just endured.

oOo

When Hunfen opened his eyes again, he saw the bright daylight coming from just a few meters away, emanating from the cave's exit. Regaining his senses, he realized he was on Ralof's back. A bit ashamed, he understood he had been carried all the way.

"Sorry," the child stammered, embarrassed. "I didn't mean to fall asleep…"

"Don't worry, kid!" Ralof reassured him, setting him down on the ground. "You've had one heck of a day. It's normal to be worn out."

Hadvar nodded, a kind smile on his lips. "Rest when you need to, Hunfen. We still have a long way to go."

As they exited the cave, Hunfen looked up and saw the dragon crossing the sky, heading northeast. Ralof and Hadvar exchanged worried looks.

"It's heading towards Riverwood…" murmured Ralof, anxiety evident in his voice.

"It's our childhood village," Hadvar explained to the child, his eyes fixed on the departing dragon. "Our families live there, we must warn them!"

Hunfen nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. He wondered what his own father was doing at that moment. Was he desperately searching for him, or had he left, abandoning all hope of finding him? These questions tormented the young boy's mind, but he knew he had to focus on the present. For now, he had nowhere to go, and it was better to follow Hadvar and Ralof.

"I'll come with you," he said, determined. "Maybe my father passed through there looking for me…"

Ralof placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder. "Of course, Hunfen. We'll help you find your father. Let's head to Riverwood! We need to get everyone to safety."

Hadvar looked at the valley below, where the small river wound peacefully. "We'll need to go down and cross the forest. We must hurry. Let's hope the dragon doesn't attack immediately."

Hunfen felt fear and apprehension rise within him, but he knew he couldn't let his emotions take over. He had to be strong, for himself and for others. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

"Okay," he said in a trembling but determined voice. "Let's go."

Ralof and Hadvar exchanged an amused glance, admiring this young boy who, despite his age, showed undeniable courage. "Very well, Hunfen. Follow us and be careful," declared Ralof, before starting down the path leading to the valley. Hadvar followed, casting a final encouraging look at Hunfen. The young boy, though terrified by the challenges ahead, prepared to accompany his new companions, determined to find his father and help as much as he could.