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The Elder Scrolls V : Skyrim

Chapter 1

Unbound

Written by Kendo Kawabata

It was the rumbling of the cart that woke him. From the darkness behind his eyes came the blinding white that could only come from the sun reflecting off snow. For a moment he was blinded again, but his eyes quickly got used to the brightness.

He became aware of the pain. It throbbed across his body like an unwelcome friend. His eyes watered as he felt the side of his face sting, bloated up and swollen. His stomach ached, the feeling enough to make him sick with the motions of the cart.

Feeling himself sway, he reached out to steady himself, but he fell to his side against the edge of the cart. His hands were tied together, bound by thick ropes that dug into his wrists. Moving forward enough, he saw his ankles bound together with a long and heavy chain.

His clothes were ruined. They hung in tatters down his frame, stained with mud and sodden with the snow that had fallen over him during the ride. The ruined leather was failing to protect him anymore, and he became aware of just how cold he really was.

If he could see himself, he'd guess that he looked as beaten as he had been.

"Hey, you're awake" came a voice across from him. He looked up to see a man sitting in front of him. The man was light haired and sitting back with an expression of calmness on him. He too was bound and chained at his feet. Aside from him and the fair haired man, there were two others in the cart. A second cart followed the first one, also full of men and women.

All around them was snow. It fell softly onto the land and the road they travelled on. He shivered a bit. The air was cold, and a bit dry. The men in the cart were shivering, and dusted with the snow as well.

All of them were beaten, displaying various bruises and signs of hurt on their bodies. He saw that the talker was wearing leathers dyed a deep blue across his torso, and the insignia of a howling wolf lay across his kilt.

"Did you try to cross the border?" the fair hair man asked as he leant forward a little. "Here, this will help' he said as he collected some of the snow from the floor of the cart and held it up to his face. He took it gratefully, the cold powder numbing the pain in his cheek almost at once.

"I guess you walked into the Imperial ambush, just like we did" he said. He went to speak, but his mouth was dried out and his tongue swollen. Realising he couldn't speak, he just nodded his head as he held the cold snow against his cheek.

"Shut up Ralof" the other man in the cart shouted with an angry snarl. He sat across from the last man, a regal looking bearish man dressed in fur robes who had his mouth gagged. The speaker was dressed in ragged clothes and was bound like the others. "You Stormcloaks ruined it all. The Empire was lazy up here in Skyrim. All I got caught with were a couple of stolen horses, and then I get caught because I ran into you lot" he said rather bitterly.

""Knock it off back there" came the voice of the horseback rider. They all looked up at the man leading the horsecart. He had looked over his shoulder at them with a sneer on his face. The man in rags then looked over at him.

"Hey, names Lokir. You and me, we don't belong here. The Empire wants Stormcloaks. And we both know we aint one of them" he said loudly. The fair haired man, Ralof, and the man in the regal furs glared silently at him, but didn't reply. "If we play this right, we can get out of here and leave these traitors to..."

"Shut up back there" the horseback rider shouted, louder this time. "Or I'll come back there and slit your tongues myself." From the sound of his voice, he meant every word, and Lokir paled slightly.

Lokir sat back, looking angry that he had just been reprimanded. His gaze fell onto the regal looking man who sat silently across from him. He sat back in his bindings, his mouth gagged back so fiercely he was unable to close his mouth. But he sat with his back straight, an air of quiet pride about him.

"What's with him?" he asked Ralof with a jerk of his head in the mans direction. "Who's Imperial mistress did he bang to get bound like that?"

"Watch your tongue" Ralof said with a bite of anger in his voice. His eyes narrowed at Lokir, fury in his eyes at the way he had spoken. "You happen to be speaking to Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King" he said. Lokir visibly froze from the comment, as the driver of the cart let out a sneering laugh.

"The true high king? Don't make me laugh thief" he said with a look of contempt over his shoulder as he let out a loud laugh again. The cart driver chuckled as he cracked his whip, the brown horse whinnying as the crack hit its back. "He's a murderer and a traitor. He'll get what's coming to him."

"Ulfric?" Lokir said as fear crept over his features. His face paled He started to shake as he visibly began to pant. "Ulfric, the Jarl of Windhelm?"He looked over at Ulfric with a look of horror upon his face. "You're the leader of the rebellion. But....but if they've captured you... Oh gods, where are they taking us?" he cried out in fear as he looked almost pleadingly at Ralof.

Ralof let out a deep breath, his look of calmness never swaying on his face. The look had to be admired given their current situation.

"I don't know where we're going. But Sovengarde awaits" he said as he looked up at the passing trees. Lokir buried his head in his hands as he started shaking. He had to guess that Lokir was about to throw up, with the way he was heaving.

"No, no this can't be happening. This can't be happening" he cried out between his legs. He started to whimper and heave, and it became the only sound that passed in the air as the carts travelled on. He wondered briefly why the leader of the wagon trail didn't silence him, but from the way he seemed to be sniggering, he must have enjoyed the sound.

A look over towards the front soldier on horseback revealed that stone walls were now visible in the distance. The forest had been thinning out, and they were reaching the end of the road. He took the snow from his cheek, fiding the swelling had gone down considerably. His tongue was still swollen, so talking was out of the question.

"Helgen" Ralof said softly as he seemed to recognise where they were heading. "I always liked it here. Shame I'm returning this way" he said, sounding quite disappointed. Ralof sat back with a soft sigh before he turned towards Lokir.

"Hey, Lokir. What village are you from?" he asked calmly. As the cart drew closer, a tall stone watchtower seemed to rise up out of the trees beyond. From how tall it seemed, it must have been placed in the middle of the town.

"Why do you care?" Lokir demanded as he sat up, his face rather pale but set in an angry glance at Ralof. "What difference does it make?"

"A nords last thoughts should be of his home at the end" Ralof said as the cart thudded to a halt in front of the towns gates. They jolted for a moment before they righted themselves.

"Last..thoughts?" Lokir said as he held himself steady before turning to the front of the cart. "What do you mean last thoughts?"

They had arrived at a set of large wooden gates in a thick and high wall. The lead horseman waved his hand up at a guard above the gate. With a loud call, the large wooden gates slowly began to open.

"Rorikstead. I'm...I'm from Rorikstead" Lokir said in a low voice. The lead guard walked his horse forward a few steps towards the now open gates. He stopped in the middle of the gap and called out to someone they couldn't see.

"General Tullius, Sir. We've brought them" he called out with a salute against his helmet. Silence followed in the air as the ones in the carts could only wait to see what would happen.

"Good. Let's get this over with" came a loud authorative voice from beyond the gate. The soldier waved at the cart driver, signalling him to move forward. With a nod and a wave back, he cracked his whip. The horses whinnied loudly as they began to move through the gates. Lokir doubled over, his body shaking as he started to pray.

"Shor, Mara, Dibella, Kynareth, Akatosh...the Divine Eight, please help me" he prayed to the wooden floor as the cart moved past the walls. Ralof turned his gaze as the cart began to turn and he spat towards someone rather suddenly.

"Look at the mighty General Tullius, the Military Governor. And I see you've bought your Thallmar masters with you. Damn elves. Resorting to ambushes, it proves your arrogance Tullius" he shouted. His calm demeanour was broken as he shoted his hatred towards the man.

Tullius, a tough stern looking man in dark red armour lined with silver coloured steel had been standing on a nearby house porch, his arms crossed as he silently witnessed the passing carriages. His face broke into a rather wide and arrogantly pleased smile as he saw his captives parade dbefore him.

On either side of him stood two tall and pale looking elves with delicate features. They looked out of place, with their dark coloured robes embroidered with brightly shining gold patterns covering them. Silent and stoic, they watched the procession with a quite gaze.

The cart carried them through the town, down the path carved out through the snow. As the cart was driven past the houses lining the road, the people of the town began to emerge from their houses and watched the men be paraded past them.

Dotted throughout the village, on the high wall surrounding the village and in between the houses, stood the Imperial Soldiers. Each one in the traditional dark red uniform and each one armed. They covered the village in such a way, that anyone would be seen if they tried to run.

The people stood on their porches in a curious state, some looking surprised to see the ones in the carts. A few whispered to the ones next to them, some spoke openly. But whatever they said, they did not say it loudly, as if afraid they would be caught.

"Son, get back inside the house with your mother" a man said to a young boy in front of a house. He stood with a small boy at his side in front of his houses door.

"But father, I want to watch what happens. They're going to kill the traitor" the boy protested. "I want to watch him lose his head. He killed the high king. I WANT TO WATCH" the boy ended up shouting so loudly it echoed in the air around them.

"I said get inside now" the father said as he brought his hand against the boys backside. With a sharp smack, the boys protesting was replaced with a shrill scream of pain. "GET INSIDE" the father shouted at his crying son before he literally pushed him through the door.

Once the boy was inside the cart passed the house, a large inn on the side of it. Looking up, he could see faces in the windows of the patrons looking out at them. How curious it must have been to them, to see such a parade through their village.

The men in the wagons said nothing as the cart followed the path around the large central watchtower as the villagers continued to watch them. Beside the inn was a another, but smaller tower. A row of Imperial soldiers stood in front of the towers doorway.

The cart bumped on the road, making them jolt in their seats once more as they were pulled around the corner. They were greeted by a large cleared area infront of the central tower. Hanging from the top was an enourmous banner that fluttered in the soft breeze.

It bore the insignia of the Imperials.

In the cleared area before them, stood an array off people, standing still and quiet as they watched the carts move before them.

Among the dark red armoured soldiers was a large imposing man in a black hood, who carried the biggest axe any of them had ever seen. It gave him a chill down the back of his spine that was unmatched by the snow against his cheek.

Beside him was a woman in red robes, a yellow coloured hood hiding most of her face. She stood with her hands held in front of her, her fingers intertwined as she stood with a calmless towards the whole spectacle.

"Is that...is that an executioner?" Lokir asked as the cart pulled up against a stone wall at the edge of the clearing. With a shudder the cart came to a stop and the driver dismounted swiftly. "Why....what's going on? Why did they bring an executioner?"

"Why else?" Ralof said calmy as he surveyed the scene before him. "They don't intend to give us a trial. That would be playing fair."

He dropped the snow on the floor. A nords last thoughts should be of his home, that's what Ralof had said. He realised why he had said it. A lump grew in his throat as he felt his heart beat in panic.

They had been rounded up to be killed.

"Get those prisoners out of the carts" came a loud female voice. It was urgent and impatient. One of the soldiers stepped in front of the others and gestured as the last two carts pulled up side by side in front of the stone wall.

"I said move it" she shouted in a loud angry voice. She was a fierce and angry looking dark skinned woman, an imperial no doubt. And she looked at mean as she shouted. A chorus of 'yes Captain' echoed around her as the soldiers moved.

The villagers started to form a crowd at the edge of the clearing, coming around the small stone tower set back a ways. It looked like the whole village had walked behind the carts to join them. Likely, none of the villagers wanted to miss the chance of seeing a live exectution.

The solidiors in front of the tower moved and stood in a line across the path they had just came down on. One by one they removed a bow from their backs and held it at the ready.

"Why...why have we stopped?" Lokir said in a panicked voice as the soldiers walked up to the carts. They undid the latches on the back and pulled the back of the wagon down. The wooden flaps banged rather loudly in the cool air.

"Why do you think?" Ralof said as one of the soldiers produced a key and inserted it into a heavy lock next to Ulfrics feet. The chain around their ankles rattled as the as whole thing moved like a snake. In a moment their feet were unbound.

The soldier dragged the chair to the ground as another stepped up. Without a word he put his hands on Ulfric and hauled him from the cart, none too gently either. They held onto him and dragged him off like he was a common sack of potatoes.

"End of tte line" Ralof said calmly as the soldiers gestured for them to leave the cart. "Lets go" Ralof said as he stood up. He stood up as well, his knees beginning to shake as he felt his heart pounding further in his chest. He swallowed the lump in his throat, his tongue almost back to its normal size. But all he could produce was a mere squeak of fright.

Lokir however, was unable to move as he hesitated at the edge of the cart. His head darted quickly bak and forth as he shook from head to toe. He looked like he was considering running.

"No, no wait. We're not rebels" he shouted, before a soldier grabbed him by his arm and hauled him off the cart, making him land rather heavily onto the ground. A few of the villagers laughed at the rather comical display. Lokir was laying on the ground for just a few seconds before he was hauled up quickly. With a hard shove he was forced to join Ulfric.

"We shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us" Ralof said as he jumped off the cart. Back straight and proud, the Imperials let him join his leader, once they saw him cusing no trouble.

He jumped off and landed on unsteady feet, but he straighted himself up. Slowly, having to force his feet to move, he walked forward. The other carts were being emptied as well, more men and woman either jumped or pushed off like cattle. He stopped behind Ralof and stood there, shivering in the cold air.

"Let me go, I'm not one of them" Lokir shouted as he was pushed into the crowd of Stormcloaks. One of the guards gave him a heavy shove aganst his chest and ordered him to shut it. The other captives drew themselves closer together, all standing with their backs straight and their heads high. The wagons now stood empty as the crowd huddled together, brothers and sisters in bindings.

"Face your death with some dignity thief" Ralof said. Loki rooked like he was about to argue with him, when he and the group fell quiet. He looked up to see the Imperial Captain and a second soldier walked up in front of the group. The man was carrying a long sheet of paper and he stood beside her as she addressed the group.

"When Hadvar calls out your name, you will step over next to the block. One at a time. And no funny business" she shouted out. "If any of you fall out of line, you will be shot at once. Those archers aren't here for decoration" she shouted, almost proud of the fact she could rain death on them at a moments notice.

A moment of silence rang through the cold air, not even the villagers said anything. Satisfied, but looking slightly disappointed, she stepped back and she nodded to Hadvar. He nodded to her as he looked down at the list before him. His voice came out loud and clear, but rather stoic.

"Ulfric Stormcloakd, Jarl of Windhelm" Hadvar called out. As Ulfric stepped forward, several of the villagers threw rocks that landed on him. Cries of 'traitor' and 'murderer' followed the small projectiles. Ulfric however, merely glared at the captain before he turned and walked off towards the block.

"It has been an honour, Jarl Windhelm" Ralof said with some sadness in his voice. The other men of the captured groups stood silent and still backed towards their leader. There was something to admire about them as they stood in a silent tribute to Ulfric Stormcloak. Once he had joined the others, Hadvar continued.

"Ralof of Riverwood" Hadvar called out. Ralof let out a soft breath as he stood up straight.

"I am here" he called out. No-one threw rocks this time, but some still shouted towards them. Shouting their displeasure towards him however, did nothing to change his calm demeanour. He merely took it in his stride before he turned and walked over to join Ulfric.

"Lokir of Rorikstead" Hadvar said as he ticked off the name on his list. Lokir choked as he caught the gaze of the Imperial Captain and he started to shake. He thought that Lokir looked like he was about to throw up with how pale he was turning.

"No...No I'm not a rebel" he said as he looked quickly around him. "I'm not one of them. You can't do this to me" he shouted. If he thought that would have convinced anyone, he must have been mistaken. Nobody said anything to come to his defence.

Two guards walked forward to grab him, obviously to keep him restrained, but he seemed to make up his mind as he surged forward. The two guards were knocked back, both stumbling back a few steps as Lokir ran past them.

"Halt" the Imperial Captain shouted at him, but he didn't stop as he shoved her aside, almost knocking her over as he ran past. Hadvar pulled her up out of the snow, but she wrenched her arm away from him. The captain looked angry as saw him push his way through the archers and run up the past.

"You won't kill me" he shouted as he stumbled, but he didn't stop. He couldn't afford to. He looked around, but no-one else was making a break for it, or even trying to do something. They all just stood back and watched the even unfold.

The Imperial Captain raised her arm and signalled at the archers. Lokir chanced a look over his shoulder, as the archers drew their arrows and strung their bows. Lokir let out a panicked cry as he ran up the road. He was panting hard as he tried to run as fast as he was able.

Several twangs where heard as the arrows streaked through the air with speed and each one slammed into their target. Lokir fell forwards as he crumbled, several arrows sticking out of his back, one in the back of his neck as he fell against the snow. The captives from the wagons said nothing as they stood in silence. Even from that distance, they were able to see the blood staining the snow.

The Imperial Captain looked quite pleased with herself as the crowd broke into applause. The archers put their bows away as they resumed their positions. No-one seemed to be in a hurry to claim the dead body. Once the applause had died down, the Captain turned to the captives.

"Anyone else feel like running?" the Imperial Captain shouted. The Stormcloaks remained silent, none of them even trying to draw breath as they waited. The Imperial Captain looked almost disappointed as she looked at Hadvar. "Get a move on it"

Hadvar checked his list again, the duty carrying on as if no-one had just suddenly died. Hadvar looked up as he gazed over the group, aiming to match the names on the list with the faces. But he looked over at him and felt puzzled for a moment.

"Wait" he said as he looked at his Captain for a moment. "You, prisoner. Step forward for a moment" he said. A moment of silence passed before the prisoner walked forward. His legs shook a bit with each step, but he managed to not fall over before he stood before Hadvar and the captain.

"You, I don't recognise. Tell us your name. Who are you?" he asked. He swallowed a lump that had suddenly grown in hs throat, and suddenly his voice returned. Taking a breath in to calm himself down so he could speak, he answered.

"My name is Kassi'm Sunder-Wolfbane" the argonian said in a low voice. Hadvar took a good look past the ragged clothing he was wearing. He had black scales down his body, with red highlights spread across his face. Pale green eyes looked back at him, with two horns pointing back from his head. Hadvar noticed the thick golden rings that sat around the base of the horns on his head.

"Are you related to one of the dockworkers at Riften?" Hadvar asked. He looked back down over his list, to double check the argonians name against the others.

"I don't even know where that is" Kassi'm said as he stood before Hadvar and the Imperial Captain. "I was travelling through the Pale Pass in the Jerall mountains. I was walking through the pass when I was attacked and I was knocked out. When I woke up, I was in the cart" he said as he looked back and forth between the Captain and Hadvars faces.

He felt his heart grow heavy and his body weak when he realised that neither of them were listening to him. The Captain was impatient to keep things going, and Hadvar was too busy looking over his list to pay any attention.

"Please, this was a mistake' Kassi'm pleaded with them both, just as Hadvar looked at the captain.

"He's not on the list at all" Hadvar said to her. "What's your order to do about him?" he asked her. Kassi'm thought, just for a moment that maybe Hadvar was on his side. He turned to the Captain.

"Please, I haven't done anything wrong" Kassi'm said as he looked her. "I don't want to die here for no reason" he pleaded. But his pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears as the Imperial Captain almost sneered at him with a grin on her face.

""Forget the list. He's here. Send him to the block. We'll make up a reason later" she said.

"But...I haven't done anything. I don't even know what a Stormcloak is" Kassi'm protested as he looked at them both. "Please..." he begged. Hadvar sighed, and for a moment Kassi'm thought he was going to relent.

"By your orders Captain" Hadvar said. "I'm sorry prisoner. Please join the others" he said as he went back to his list to call out the next name, as if nothing was going on.

"You better hope I die today bitch" Kassi'm snarled, which made the Imperial Captain jump slightly from the argonians change in temperament. She looked almost appalled that someone had even spoked to her like that. "Or I'll kill you myself" he shouted at her as a guard came up behind him and grabbed him by the arms.

Kassi'm struggled, but was dragged anyway to join Hadvar and Ulfric near the execution block. He was forced beside them as Hadvar slowly went through the list. Kassi'm forced himself to calm down, taking deep breaths of the cold air as he listened to Hadvar prattle on.

No-one else tried to escape as they were called forward, but the villagers continued to throw insults at the soldiers. Kassi'm tuned them out as he felt himself shvier all over. With his hands still bound, he was unable to warm himself up.

Finally, when the last name had been called, General Tullius walked down the road, the two elegant looking Thallmar behind him. As he approached, a smattering of applause came from the villagers. He approached the block and conversed with the woman and the hooded man for a moment as he then approached Ulfric.

"Ulfric Stormcloak" he said with contempt within his voice. "Some here in Skyrim would call you a hero. But, a hero does not use a power like the Voice to murder his king and usurp his throne."

"The high king agreed to the combat" one of the stormcloaks shouted, breaking the silence.

"Jarl ulfric was following our tradition" another shouted. But they were prevented from any more cries as the villagers began to boo them once more, another hail of rocks and snow pelting them.

"Ulfric is a murderer."

"Traitorous dog."

"I hope you die bastard."

Ulfric however merely stood his ground, straight backed and proud. Wether or not he was even listening to what was going on, Kassi'm couldn't say as he felt the snowballs strike him. But Ulfric never one took his eyes off of Tullius.

"He is the rightful king" a stormcloak soldier shouted, her voice carrying over the crowds booing. "Not your Thallmar puppet. Long live Ulric Stormcloak."

The soldiers began to cheer their support for their leader as the villagers saw that the rocks and snow they were throwing didn't dampen their spirits. They stood silent in a somewhat awe as the cheering continued.

Tullius, with one hand on his hip, raised the other hand into the air, a signal. Behind him, the archers moved back several steps. As one, they raised their bows and notched their arrows. With the way their bows were pointed, they would hail them over Tullius and onto the Stormcloaks with ease.

One by one, the stormcloaks realised what was happening, those in the front quietened down as the cheering stopped the further it went back. Only when total silence had fallen for several moments, did Tullius take his hand down, and the archers backed off.

"Are they that eager to kill us?" Kassi'm thought to himself as he struggled against the bounds around his wrists. A harsh cry was heard from his left as he looked up and he saw a stormcloak soldier double over and fall to his knees. A guard had caught him trying to break his bonds, and from the way the soldier was struggling to get back up, the guard had not been kind about it.

Kassi'm steadied his wrists as he turned back, hearing Tullius address his captive once more.

"Ulfric, you started this war against the Imperial rule, and plunged Skyrim into chaos" he said loudly and clearly, as if to give no-one any doubts as to why Ulfric was there. He took a few steps forward until he was face to face with the gagged captive.

"For your crimes against the Empire, you will be put down like the dog you are, and we will restore the peace you destroyed" he said, and from the tone of his voice, he sounded like he wanted to spit on him right there and then. With the sneer on his face an his hands bunched into fists, Kassi'm thought he was likely to punch him as well.

"Tullius" came a surprisingly calm voice, but loud as well. Kassi'm looked and saw one of the robed Thallmar removing her hood. Her blonde hair, almost indistinguishable from her blonde coloured skin, fell out in long soft curls around her delicate face.

"General Tullius" she called out again as he visibly calmed down. Ulfrics expression didn't change from how close TUllius was, but his gaze narrowed as Tullius backed up. Clearing his throat, Tullius righted himself as he adjusted himself.

But before he could say anthing, something echoed in the distance. Everyone was caught off guard as they looked up towards the mountains surrounding the village. Heads turned every which way as they tried to figure out where the noise came from.

"What was that?" Hadvar said, the first one to speak. Kassi'm realised he had been holding his breath as he let it out slowly, a cloud of ice forming in font of him. No-one seemed to answer, loudly at least. Around him, the stormcloaks were whispering to themselves about what the noise was.

To Kassi'm, it had sounded like a roar. But a roar that he had never heard before in his life until now. Goosebumps ran down his scales across his exposed arms, and he suddenly realised he was shivering.

But not from the cold.

"Forget it Hadvar" TUllius said as he once again resumed command. He cleared his throat once, glaring at the captive Ulfric once more before he walked off. He stood himself between the two Thallmar with his arms crossed. "We've delayed this long enough. No more stalling" he ordered loudly.

"Yes General" the Captain said with a nod and a terribly eager smile on her face. She walked herself up to the block and its executioner, and addressed the woman in the red robes.

"Give them their last rites" she ordered. Kassi'm felt his heart skip a beat at those words. The last rites. They were going to be executed now. And there was no trial. The imperials had simply rounded them up and delivered them to their deaths, just like Ralof had said.

He found himself start to pant loudly as his heart raced. He was beginning to panic as he looked for a way out. But there was none. The archers nearby were ready to kill anyone who ran, and teh gaurd behind him wee likely to strike him down if he did more then just panic.

And there were the soldiers he had seen in the village as well. If lokir had somehow avoided the arrows, he would have run straight into another group of well armed imperials. And Kassi'm guessed he wouldn't have survived those odds.

There was something he could do, he realised as he looked up. But it was risky. It had gotten riskier to use that ability recently. It was harder to use it on command, and there were times when it outright failed. But, it was the only thing he could do.

He could try it on the soldiers one by one, but even if it succeeded, he'd be lying on the ground with his head about to split open from the pain. And they wouldn't take long to figure out he was doing something. If he used it on everyone at once, everyone would be affected. Even the townspeople nearby would be included. There was no way to filter that ability when used that way.

And the bruised from the attack that had landed him intthis position, made sure he was in no condition to fight back. His magics wouldn't work if his hands weren't free, and he had no physical weapon at his disposal. Literally backed up against a wall, there was no way out.

"As we commend your souls to Aetherius, blessings of the eight divines upon you" the priestess called out as she raised her arms and held her hands out. At some other time, her voice would have brought comfort with how gentle it sounded. But it did nothing to soothe Kassi'm frantic heart beats.

"For you, are the salt and earth of Nirn, our beloved...

"FOR THE LOVE OF TALOS, would you shut your trap?" a voice interrupted the priestess with a loud shout from the crowd. The Thallmar looked shocked that someone would have the gall to interrupt their execution in such a manner, and Tullius was red faced as he looked around for who had shouted.

"If you're going to kill us, do it before we die of boredom" a stormcloak soldier added as he walked up. He looked rather impatient, and perhaps a bit on edge as well.

"well, i never" the priestess said as the soldier walked straight up to her and the bulky executioner beside her. The soldier, however, spat at her feet.

'Come on, I haven't got all day pigs" he said as he looked directly at the Imperial Captain, leaving no doubts as to who he was calling. "Well, I'm here. Go on, show me how tough you are, beating up someone already tied up."

Fury radiating from her face, the dark skinned captain didn't hol back as she punched him in the face. A spray of blood and the crack of bone was heard very clearly in the crisp cool air as the man stumbled back.

With a satisfied smirk the captain grabbed him by the back of his neck and forced him to his knees in front of the large block. With a cough, the soldier fell to his knees, and the captain slammed his head onto the block with such force that everyone there flinched.

The Thallmar apparently were willing to let Tullius keep his cool, but they showed no signs of stopping the captain from physically putting the stormcloak in his place. In fact, it may have been a trick of the light, but Kassi'm was sure he could see them smile.

The soldier coughed and a spray of blood flew from his mouth as he spat out several broken teeth. He managed to turn his head as he looked up at her as she held him in place. His broken face broke out into a grin up at her.

"Aww...did...did I hurt your feelings?" he coughed out, his smile seeming to grow wider. "My ancestors are smiling at me, imperial scum. Can you say the same?"

Even facing their deaths, the stormcloaks were brave enough to keep fighting, even if it brought them more pain and suffering before the end.

The captain let go of the man just as the executioner brought his axe down. With a sickening thud, like a melon that had just been hacked in two, the mans neck was severed and a spray of blood poured over the block and onto the snow around it. The mans head fell to the ground with a wet thud and his body jerked a few times before it fell utterly still.

"You imperial bastards" a stormcloak shouted out, but his cry was short lived as the crowd roared their approval.

"Justice. Death to the Stormcloaks. Kill them all. Hail the Imperials" came from the crowd of lookers on. They revelled in the display of power of life and death that came from the Imperials, and Tullius and the Thallmar looked quite pleased with themselves.

"As fearless in death, as he was in life" Ralof said camly s he bowed his head to his friends sudden death. Kassi'm watched as the captain gave the dead body a swift kick to its side, the lifeless corpse fell from its kneeling position onto the ground.

The stormcloaks held their breaths as she stood up, her hands on her hips as she gazed over the group before her. Slowly, she looked over each of the men and women that her men had brought in. Suddenly, she stopped and her smile grew as she found the next dead man walking.

"Next, the lizard."

Kassi'm felt his entire body grow cold and his heart skipped a beat as he felt her burning eyes on him. He felt his hands shake in their bounds and his knees wobbled slightly. His head swum and his vision blurred.

He wondered if he was going to pass out, or be sick on the spot.

But he didn't get a chance to choose as his arms were grabbed by two of the guards behind him and they started to march him forward.

"No...NO" Kassi'm shouted as he found his voice and he began to struggle. He kicked out at them with his legs and his tail, but they hoisted him up till his feet were dangling in the air. It didn't bother them as he struggled and shouted as they dragged to the block.

Kassi'm barely saw the Imperial Captain before he felt his stomach erupt in pain as the captain punched him with her fist. Kassi'm doubled over onto his knees, panting for air as he tried to fill his lungs. He felt a hand grab his neck and he was thrust face first onto the block.

The blood on the block was cold and hard, the side of his face feeling like it had sunk into the most disgustingly cold honey. The horrible copper scent invaded his nostrils and he felt like choking. He opened his eyes as he saw the world sideways, the central tower filling his vision as he gazed up.

"Any last words?" the captain said as she put her foot on Kassi'ms back, the pressure of her heavy leather boot kept him in position. Kassi'm saw a huge figure enter his line of vision as the executioner stood before him, the bloodied axe held in his hands.

"I...." kassi'm said as he saw the towering man impatiently rub his fingers on the axe handle. What could he possibly say in a situation like this? He was who knows how far from home, no-one knew where he was, and he was about to die at the hands of a violent imperial simply because he walked into the wrong place.

He felt the anger rise up inside him as turned his head as best he could towards the captain. He was about to die anyway. Why bother playing nice?

"I have a name, you fucking bitch" Kassi'm snarled at her. "Use it when you kill me for no reason."

Whatever comeback the captain had, it was drowned out as the roar from earlier echoed through the mountain again. He was sure he felt a tremor in the ground as Kassi'm felt the shivers run down his spine again. Something was wrong.

"There it is again. I'm sure it must be close by" Hadvar said from somewhere nearby.

Hearing that, Kassi'm suddenly realised what was wrong with the roar.

It was closer. Much closer.

"I don't care" the captain said. Kassi'm felt her foot leave his back and there was a sound like someone stumbling back. "Now kill the lizard already" she ordered.

The executioners tight mask wrinkled as he obviously smiled behind it, but Kassi'ms attention wasn't on him. His gaze was looking past the tower in his vision, to where he had seen ...something fly out from the side of the mountain.

He was sure it was a trick in vision. What he had seen had been big and black. And....it chilled him.

A sound carried in the air as the executioner raised his axe into he air. It sounded as if something big and vast was travelling through the air at a fast pace.

"What in oblivion is that?" Tullius shouted as a tremor was felt in the ground. The executioner, who had been blocking most of Kassi'ms view, stumbled and Kassi'm almost screamed in fear at what replaced the big man.

What had caused the tremor, was the biggest, blackest dragon that Kassi'm had even seen had landed on top of the central tower. Black spikes covered its body and its midnight coloured wings were wrapped around the towers surface. Its eyes were the brightest shade of red, almost like two burning bright coals of blood that burned in a face made from the blackest onyx crystal.

Kassi'm wanted to scream it, but someone beat him to it.

"DRAGON"

The area erupted in screams as everyone forgot about the execution that was taking place. Kassi'm found himself unable to move as he looked up at the huge towering creature. The sounds around him didn't register as all he could hear was the blood pounding around his ears. The mumbled voices of Tullius and the captain, probably rounding their troops, were like buzzing insects in the air.

"MOVE" Kassi'm screamed in his head as he ordered something, anything on his body to move, but his limbs were frozen in shock as he felt helpless.

The dragon moved, pushing itself back up on its hind legs as its wings let go of the towers surface. Sitting back, its wings spread and filled the sky as it lifted its head into the air. It spread its maw open wide, and Kassi'm could see the deadly mouth of teeth from down in the snow.

"I AM ALDUIN" it roared. Its voice sounded like molten lava running down a hill mixed with the screams of those caught in the fire. It was a voice filled with the sounds of the dead. Something travelled through the air, like a charge of static that filled the senses for a brief overload. Whatever that was, it felt like a fraction of what was to come.

The screaming around Kassi'm grew louder as the sky changed very quickly. The clouds boiled as they churned together above Alduin, and the sky broke out in fires of red and orange. The clouds burned and became living rolling fire that spread over the burnt sky. Alduin brought his head down as black spots appeared around him, circling his huge body like planets around a sun, and those spots caught on fire and began to descend.

The executioner had just righted himself as one of those black spots landed on top of him. His body exploded , a fountain of blood and flesh filling the air. The force of the impact blew Kassi'm back. He landed on the ground with a heavy thud as his vision blurred and stated to fade, the echoes of the screams around him starting to die out.

He was aware of someone grabbing his shoulders and shaking him. The sounds of screams and eruptions slammed back into him as his hearing cleared and he opened his eyes as he regained consciousness at once. He inhaled quickly, his lungs devoid of air.

"Argonian, get up. Quickly. The gods won't give us another chance."

It was Ralof. The man was shaking Kassi'm by his shoulders as the argonian became aware of his surroundings. Seeing him wake up, Ralof grabbed him by the arm and hoisted him to his feet.

"Quickly, this way" Ralof shouted as he let go and ran forward. Kassi'm took just a moment to look around and see what was going on.

There were bodies all around him. The remains of the executioner had covered the area around the block, and the priestess was on her back nearby, blood covering her front. The horse carts were in pieces and the horses were no better off. One of their heads was staring at him from a distance, the eyes open in a calm surprise.

Black holes were covering the ground, and Kassi'm realised that somehow, the dragon had made it rain fire and brimstone. And they were still falling. Everywhere there was fire. Smoke was billowing into the sky, filing the fiery heavens with black pillars.

Seeing Ralof run into the smaller tower across the road, Kassi'm ran after him. His bare feet thudded on the ground as he ran. He didn't slow as he ran over the body of one of the imperial archers, the legs missing and the intestines littering the ground like several snakes.

"Quick, in here" Ralof shouted as he stood in the doorway of the watchtower. Panting, Kassi'm ran through the doorway and slowed down to a stop once he was inside.

Behind him, Ralof slammed the wooden door shut. But the screams and eruptions of fire outside leaked through the thick walls. A heavy wooden bolt was thrown over the door and Ralof stood back.

Kassi'm panted as he looked around the circular room. Several other stormcloaks were on the floor, one of them holing onto the bloodied stump of his arm. He looked pale as one soldier was trying to tie off the wound. They all looked shaken, but determined.

"Jarl Ulfric, are you hurt?" Ralof said. Kassi'm turned and saw Ulfric standing by the doorway. His regal looking furs were singed and he had a nasty looking gash across his face. His beard was streaked with blood and ash.

"I'm fine enough. But some are not so lucky" Ulfric said. It was the first time he had heard Ulfric speak and he had a deep and calm voice that sounded like a man who was in control.

"What is that out there? Could the legends be true?" Ralof asked. Ulfric turned away from him and knelt to the wounded soldier. He inspected the bandaged arm before ripping off his sleeve. He covered the mans bloodied stump with it, then helped him to his feet by his good arm.

"Legends do'nt burn down villages" Ulfric said as he held the man against his side. The man was very pale and looked like he was about to pass out. "By the looks of things, it's the real deal. Its power certainly is" he said.

"The door" one of the soldiers exclaimed as they turned. The door was starting to smoke and slowly turn black, and the stone around it began to emenate heat and turn bright red.

"Up the stairs" Ralof shouted. He quickly ran up the stone stairs and Kassi'm followed closely behind. Behind him, Ulfirc helped the wounded soldiers make it up. Just as they cleared the room, the doorway blasted open as a roar of fire erupted through it. The sound of wings in the air faded away as the smoke cleared.

They resumed running up the stairs as they reached a landing. Ralof found himself face to face with a startled imperial soldier. Both of them, caught unarmed, failed to make a move for several moments, before the imperial made the first move.

He grabbed a sword from the table beside him, but he was knocked off his feet as the wall behind him caved in on him. Ralof backed down a few steps, pushing the others behind him as the front of Alduins pointed face poked through the hole in the wall.

Kassi'm heard the groan from the wounded soldier, but they couldn't do anything as Alduin opened his moth.

"Toor Shul "

The dragons voice filled the tower as a huge ball of fire erupted from his mouth. An intense heat washed over them as the landing above exploded in an eruption of liquid fire. Alduin removed his head and they heard him fly away as the fire, so quickly had it spread, just as quickly disappeared.

Left behind was a heated pool of melted stonework and smoke. The walls were glowing and melting in rivulets to the equally glowing floor. There was nothing left of the guard who had been there moments ago. But Kassi'm shuddered as ashes began to fall from the smoke. And so did the others as they found out where he had gone.

"I can't believe this...a real dragon" Kassi'm said as he and Ralof made it to the landing. The hole in the wall opened up to the side of the village. They stood in the open hole and cautiously looked out.

Below them, kassi'm saw the roof of the inn had been blown open, and the rest of it was on fire. Smoke had filled the sky and flames were engulfing the buildings as the fire spread rapidly. The sky was no longer raining fire and brimstone, but the damage done was proof of the brief display of its power.

"Back down, now" Ulfric shouted as he turned and he and the other stormcloaks began to move back down the stairs.

"Quick, follow us" Ralof said as he turned to go. Kassi'm tok a step and felt the ground underneath him give out.

Ralof heard him cry out as he spun around in time to see the ground crack and collapse. He reached for him, but his hand missed as Kassi'm fell backwards. He fell through the air for a moment, seeing Ralof grow smaller before he landed with a hard thud on his back through the open roof of the inn.

With a groan and a sharp cry he laid on the blackened floorboards before he choked and began to cough. Ash and smoke filled his lungs, and the sounds of burning straw and wood filled his ears.

"Crap" he said loudly as he turned onto his side and struggled to get up. His back cried out in pain as he pushed himself to his feet. It was a bit difficult, as his hands were still bound together, but he managed to get onto his feet. Around him, beds were on fire, some with horribly people shaped lumps on them.

"Move" he said to himself as he forced his legs to move across the floor. The fire on the roof was spreading and the floor was heating up. The inn was on fire below, and if he didn't get out, there'd be nowhere to run out and he'd end up one of the blackened shapes on the floor.

He ran through a thick cloud of smoke that barred his way and almost fell down the stairs that had suddenly appeared. He slowed down enough to not tip over as he righted himself. He jumped down the stairs two at a time. Ducking through the open doorway at the bottom, he emerged just as a roar of flame erupted behind him and the inn was engulfed in flames.

"Hamming" a voice nearby shouted and Kassi'm turned. He had emerged into an area off the side of the main road next to a ruined house. Several villagers were huddled next to a man in a burned uniform.

"Hamming" came the voice gain and Kassi'm saw Hadvar beside the house, shouting at a boy in the middle of the road. The boy was kneeling beside a body that had bled a giant puddle of blood into the snow. Kassi'm realised that he recognised him. He was the boy who had been smacked by his father and sent into the house.

"Hamming, RUN" Hadvar shouted in desperation as the ground shook. Kassi'm was knocked back a few steps as Alduin landed right in front of the boy. The boy looked up with tears streaming down his face as Alduin opened his mouth.

Both Kassi'm and Hadvar screamed out for the boy as he was engulfed in flames. The boy had no time to scream or cry out himself as the torrent of flames burned down the road. Alduin roared again as the flames died out almost instantly as he took flight.

"No" Kassi'm said as he stared at the blackened spot where the boy had just been. There was nothing left, just a black spot of burned ground. He didn't feel Hadvars hands on him, but he felt himself get pulled back.

"Prisoner, with me" Hadvar said as he pulled Kassi'm to the side.

"Wait.."Kassi'm started to say, but Hadvar turned to the other imperial without pausing.

"Gunmer, get these people out of here. Through the north gate if you can. Everyone must retreat" Hadvar shouted.

"Gods save you Hadvar" Gunmer said as he raised a hand to his blackened face in a quick salute before he began to herd the survivors away. They didn't protest as Gunmar pushed them back down the path.

"Prisoner, follow me" Hadvar said. Kassi'm opened his mouth to protest, but Hadvar pointed a very sharp looking sword at him. Kassi'm swallowed and nodded in silence as Hadvar gave him no choice. From the look on his face, Hadvar would have no problem killing him there in the street.

"This way" Hadvar said as he ran across the road. Kassi'm followed, briefly thinking on what to do. If he could focus, he could get Hadvar out of the way and try and make it out on his own. But to do that, he had to concentrate, and he couldn't right now. And Hadvar could probably lead him to safety anyways. Plus, he was armed. Kassi'm wasn't.

A burning house came up on their right, but Hadvar ran behind it and proceeded along the wall behind the central tower. Kassi'm looked up at the tower as it passed overhead, and saw flames pouring from the open holes. Pieces of the Imperial banner floated around in the air, burning themselves to a crisp.

"GET DOWN" Kassi'm shouted as he jumped forward. He landed on his stomach as Hadvar turned to look at him, before something huge and heavy landed on the wall above him.

Alduin had landed right above them, his huge head towering above them. Both Kassi'm and Hadvar laid out on the ground, neither daring to breath. If only the dragon didn't notice them.

"YOL TOOR SHUL" Alduin roared and the ball of liquid fire erupted from his mouth. The house in front of him exploded, the sky filling with flaming wooden shrapnel that landed in the snow all around them.

The ground shook as Alduin took flight, a blast of snow and debris filled the air as he took to the burning skies.

"Move" Hadvar said as he got up. Kassi'm pushed himself up as he saw Hadvar run through the ruins of the destroyed house. Following him, Kassi'm pushed through the smoke and burning wood, almost tripping over the blackened body of another victim.

"FIRE"

A row of imperials filled his vision and for a moment, the leather clad men and women seemed to be aiming at him. But at the last moment they aimed above him and their spells flew overhead as Kassi'm ducked, and he turned to see them fly through the air towards Alduin.

"FIRE" came another voice as he looked up and saw a row of Imperial archers lining the front gate of the village. He wondered briefly why so many mages and archers were lined up and so quickly, then remembered they had covered every exit to prevent the escape of Ulfric.

The archers sent a volley of arrows towards the huge black dragon, and Kassi'm looked as they peppered his hide. But the direct hit didn't seem to faze him as another blast of magic spells collided with him. He merely circled overhead, roaring out again as he swooped over them.

"What does it take to kill this thing?" one of the mages said as she collapsed to her knees in disbelief. The other mages continued to cast their magic. Balls of fiery flamed, long shards of glistening ice and bolts of blue white lightning streaked through the air. But Alduin merely brushed them off.

"Just keep firing" one of the archers shouted as he reloaded his bow. "Something has to work. We can't do nothing." The arrows streaked through the air, whistling as they landed on Alduins thick hide. Yet he didn't notice them.

"I said move prisoner" Hadvar yelled as he grabbed Kassi'ms arm and hauled him back to his feet. Kassi'm half ran, half was dragged after the imperial that kept a cast iron grip on his arm. He didn't protest, nor resist.

He was pulled not a dozen steps before he heard fresh screams from behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, Kassi'm saw a wall of flame devour the group of imperials one by one. Alduin roared as he swooped upwards and away from the deaths he had just caused.

One Imperial was screaming as the sticky liquid fire covered her body. She frantically tried to pull off her armour, but with horror Kassi'm saw the armour had melted onto her skin, and that was being pulled off as well. She screamed out in pain once more before she fell into the snow, her body melting.

Hadvar dragged him down the cobblestone path, over bricks and debris that lay in their way. Another blast of fire erupted past them and a house exploded. Flaming wood and shrapnel blew past them as they ran for their lives.

As they rounded past the central tower, Kassi'm realised that they had reached the other side of the exectution area, past the wall that had stood behind it. The low building that was Helgens keep stood nearby, the only building that hadn't been destroyed yet.

"Ralof, you damn traitor" Hadvar said as he ground to a halt. Kassi'm tripped and landed on the ground, the smell of smoke and snow in his nostrils as he looked up. Ralof was standing in the front of the keep, a bloodied axe in his hand. "Out of my way" Hadvar ordered.

Kassi'm wondered briefly why Hadvar was still around. Didn't he escape with Ulfric? Or did he fall victim to the dragons attacks as well?

"We're escaping Hadvar" Ralof said calmly as Hadvar pulled his sword free from its sheath. He didn't seem fazed by the sword, as it seemed to fail in comparison to the destruction around them all. "You can't stop us this time. Ulfric has already fled and is on his way back to Windhelm."

Kassi'm had just gotten back up to his feet as he felt Alduin swoop overhead. The dragons huge body flew above them and a scream started to grow louder. Kassi'm brought his arms up to his face as a body fell to the ground before him. The sickening crunch of bone upon stone was abrupt and made him feel queasy.

Hadvar watched as Alduin swooped over the now destroyed execution area and landed, the tremor in the gorund felt under their feet. Alduin grabbed something with his jaws and a spray of blood erupted from his mouth. More screams and desperate cries filled the air as Alduin snapped his jaws here and there, the sounds of blood spraying and bones cracking filling the air.

With an annoyed snarl Hadvar turned to Ralof.

"Fine. I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovngarde" he said angrily.

"Kassi'm, come with me" Ralof said as he side stepped away from Hadvar, not wanting to break eye contact with him until he was safe enough to run away. "We can escape together."

"He's my prisoner, and under Imperial Authority" Hadvar said as he swung his sword to the side and Kassi'm found the tip of the blade quivering just a fingers breadth from his face. "You are a prisoner of the Imperial Rule" Hadvar reminded him. "If you run, I will cut you down here."

"Hadvar, you don't have to do this" Kassi'm said as he saw the determined look on Hadvars face. "I wasn't on your list...." He tried to explain, but Hadvar cut him off.

"You are now" he said to him. "Now, you're coming with me. Like it or not" he said as he pushed the tip of his sword closer to Kassi'ms face.

Kassi'm felt the anger well up inside him. After all that was happening, Hadvar still considered him a prisoner, just another name on the list of people ordered to die that day. And he wasn't willing to let Kassi'm escape with his life. Rather, he was imperial through and through, and his orders were above everything else.

As Kassi'm stared at him, the noise around him began to dull. Ralofs voice behind him slowed, as did the flames in the distance. Kassi'm heard his breath exhale in a fluid, single motion as everything around him slowed down to a crawl.

It was a gap in time, to everyone else, spanning nothing more then the blink of an eye. It was enough to pass through a single thought. But a thought that was powerful enough to alter reality itself and change it to his wishes.

The gap in time stopped, and everything around him was still. Kassi'm was unable to move, frozen within that minute space of reality. But he was aware of everything. No-one else would notice this pause in their lives, but Kassi'm was not only aware of it, he wanted it.

Time was his.

Reality was his.

One word was all he thought, his eyes focused on Hadvar in front of him. Perhaps if Hadvar had done more then he did to secure Kassi'ms life, perhaps he would have lived. Perhaps Kassi'm would have felt bad for what he was about to do.

No such luck.

"KILL"

He heard the sound of death collide within itself. Everything that could kill a person happened all at once. Heart stopping, exploding, dying, overloading. Neck breaking in two. Lungs suffocating. Brain blacking out. Every possible natural reason for a person to die happened in that instance. The noise of death, the noise of bones breaking and organs rupturing echoed in that space of time, just before reality returned.

With a rushing roar of sound and imagery, reality sped back back. The flames roard, the people screamed. Everything continued to happen as if nothing had changed.

Hadvar dropped dead on the ground as everything around Kassi'm resumed its normal flow. Hadvar crumpled over and landed on the ground, spread out on his back, his sword clanging loudly on the cobblestone. Blood leaking from his ears, nose, mouth and behind his eyes.

"Kassi'm, run" Ralof shouted as Kassi'm gritte his teeth and doubled over. His head erupted in pain, the blood vessels in the back of his head feeling like fingers that had closed and squeezed his skull. Blood red stars blossomed in front of his closed eyes before the pain died down as quickly as it came.

Kassi'm opened his eyes in time to see Alduin swoop down on the wall in the distance, his clawed hind feet spearing into a guard and lifting him into the air. With a scream the man was thrown to the ground, the bones in his body breaking upon impact as he was tossed like a ragdoll.

Kassi'm looked own at the broken body of Hadvar before him. He didn't feel sorry for him at all.

"Imperials be damned" Kassi'm said as he turned and ran. Ralof had the door to the Keep open and the moment the argonian had crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut and the sounds of destruction died out.