Facing The World Eater

Chapter 1: Unbound

The thunderous creaking of the cart as it crashed along the poorly cobbled road woke me from my foggy haze, my ears ringing. The chill in the air seeped into my skin, the harsh wind slipping through my thin clothes. Slowly I blinked back the searing pain across my brow and found myself coming back to a reality I wasn't familiar with. Snow laden tree tops filled the edge of my view as I tried to understand what was happening. I licked my cracking lips for relief, but my mouth was just as dry. With a groan, I attempted to stretch my heavy aching body only to find my hands were bound tight. I lifted my head and quickly scanned my eyes around me to assess the situation only to find myself matching the steely blue eyed gaze of a large man before me. His long blonde hair hung just past his shoulders and an ornate braid framed one side of his face. I scanned my memory but couldn't recall his face.  

"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." he stated calmly. I swallowed roughly in response.

"Damn you, Stormcloaks. Skyrim was fine until you came along. The Empire was nice and lazy. If they hadn't been looking for you, I could've stolen that horse and been half way to Hammerfell. You there. You and me — we shouldn't be here. It's these Stormcloaks the Empire wants." the grimy man beside him practically shouted, lurching towards me.

"We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief." the blue eyed man said, turning his head towards the last man in the cart as he put his arms up to stop the thief from getting closer.

The last man in the back of the cart was also blonde like the first, a Stormcloak I gathered by the conversation. He was much more tightly bound than us, with a dirty rag wrapped around his head as a makeshift gag. He was dressed much better than the rest of us, so I assumed he must be somewhat important. Fine furs, nice coat, significantly less dirt than the rest of us that was for sure. The name Stormcloak sounded so familiar but as I tried to pull my thoughts together, a guard from the front of the wagon turned around swiftly.

"Shut up back there!" he huffed at us menacingly, fist raised high overhead. The thief ignored him with a roll of his eyes.

"And what's wrong with him?" he nodded his head towards the man in the gag.

"Watch your tongue! You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King." Blue Eyes barked. That answered one of my questions at least.

"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 thief panicked, throwing himself backward away from Ulfric.

"I don't know where we're going, but Sovngarde awaits." Blue Eyes looked at me, his eyes swirling with a mixture of pride and sadness. He turned away quickly. I felt bile rise in my throat.

"No, this can't be happening. This isn't happening!" the man pulled at his hair.

"Hey, what village are you from, horse thief?" his voice was soothing this time.

"Why do you care?" the thief spat at him.

"A Nord's last thoughts should be of home." Blue Eyes sighed. I put my hands weakly on his knee in solidarity and he smiled mournfully.

"Rorikstead. I'm...I'm from Rorikstead." the thief choked out. He buried his head in his hands..

Sparing him a moment of privacy, I turned my gaze to the front of the wagon. There were a few other wagons before us, all filled with men dressed like Blue Eyes and led by soldiers clad in burgundy and leather. The first wagon passed through massive wooden gates into the small fort-like town that towered before us. I couldn't recognize it, I couldn't seem to recall much at all without a sharp pain splitting my head in two. I hissed in agony and brought my hands to my head. I gingerly touched my temple and I could feel dried blood down the side of my face, crusted into my hairline. Just as I opened my mouth to ask the men if they knew what happened to me, a shout rang out from the gate above us.