Skyrim V: Shadow over Markarth

Chapter Twelve: Prison Break

  It was very early, the early hours of the morning of the Blood Moon. The last few nights have gone by uneventful, just as Madanach had hoped. He gathered everyone together in his cell. Arodil leaned against the wall, while Sinding and I stood beside him. I crossed my arms as Madanach said, "Tonight, is the night we reach our freedom. Tonight is night, where Markarth will know to fear us, to fear the Forsworn and know, they can't imprison their people like dogs!" 
The men cheered, and I felt my stomach clench and cold sweat down my back. Sinding put a hand on my waist and whispered. "It's almost over." 
I swallow, nodding.  It was about to get extremely chaotic. 
  "We will enter through this hidden tunnel in my cell, and once we enter into the Markarth Ruins, our people from the outside world will be waiting for us, and then the Silverbloods and people of Markarth will pay for their crimes against their own."  
  I see Arodil suck in a breath. He too was nervous.  
 The ruckus was what they wanted as Madanach moved his wall to show the full hidden passage way. The men, lead by Borkul the Beast, barreled through. Madanach turned and said, "My grand-daughter, do come, but be careful. I will not have you hurt in this fight!"  He follows the the others and Sinding looks at Arodil. "Can you walk?" 
"I can walk, but I'll be slow." Arodil said. "That won't do now that the chaos has ensued." I say, as I move to his side and put one of his arms over my shoulder and Sinding does likewise to the other side. We follow the others through the tunnel. It's dark, but I can see outlines of Madanach and the others. 
  Madanach and his party waits for us as we approach. A large Dwemer door stands in between us and the Markarth Ruins, where Vilkas said he would be waiting inside for us. "Freedom awaits." Madanach says, looking from  his people to me. He watches as Borkel and Uraccen push open the doors with a heavy screech. I can hear the sounds of feet rushing above and the sounds of a guard screaming. I shudder as I recognize the voice of the same guard who struck me in the ear. 
   The door opens and on the other side is a silver haired young woman. With her, stands a Forsworn woman. The woman's head is shaved, save for a mohawk on top of her head.  She was dressed in fur armour from mammoth wool. Her skin was showing everywhere that even my face burned in the fact that their was no shame among the Forsworn women showing their skin. She bowed toward Madanach. "My king, we have been waiting for this hour for so long." The silver haired young woman bowed her head awkardly. 
"Uaile, my, look at you." said Uraccen. 
"Father." The girl called Uaile said, not looking up.    
    Madanach stepped forward and hugged the Forsworn Woman. "It is wonderful to see you, Kaie."   
   The woman named Kaie had tears in her eyes. "We have been praying to the Old Gods for this day to come. And they answered." 
   She looked up as Madanach gestured to me. I saw as Uaile noticed Sinding, Arodil and I as well.
"This is Iaera's only daughter, my granddaughter, Taniiaae."   
 Kaie stepped forward and looked at me. I still had Arodil's arm over my shoulder but Kaie didn't seem to care. She cupped my cheek and said. "You look so much like her...." I swallow. Not knowing what to say. Kaie smiled. "Now is not the time, we will talk again soon."  She turned to Madanach as other members of the Forsworn came closer. Men and women were all prepared for war on the King in Rags behalf.  
 Madanach smiles. "My people, today, the Reach will start to become the Forsworn's again. Today, Markarth and Skyrim will know we are not to be feared." 
"Long live the King!" Borkul said and the men all rushed forward through the tunnels. Sinding, Arodil and I followed, going as quickly as we could when Uaile came by our sides. "Vilkas had to take the Jarl and Housecarl back to Karthspire, but he should be waiting for us in the city."  
 "Thank you." I say, softly. 
Uaile smiles. She has a harder look to her, but all in all, was a beautiful girl. "Of course, Princess." 
.....................................................................................................

 The doors to Markarth Ruins had burst open, and Madanach stood in front, all his people behind him. The sight of the moon was a beautiful sight after spending days in prison. My group stood to side, trying to watch as a man steps forward.  He is dressed in noble's clothing and on his side, is Velin and several of the other guards. 
"Ah Madanach, I never thought I'd see you out of your cage." He said, crossing his arms.
"Well, Thonar, I wanted to see the man who was responsible with keeping me and men locked up, one more time." Madanach said. 
  Thonar spat. "That's right, it will be one more time. Because you won't live to see it." 
Madanach held up his sword that Kaie had given him and raised it up. 
 Thonar started to laugh as his soldiers did likewise. Soon the laughs turned into screams as Velin fell to his knees. I gasped as behind him, a Breton Woman, with short auburn hair and a dead eye, pulls a knife from the guard's neck. She smiles as she takes the blade and licks Velin's blood from it. I turn and vomit as Madanach cries. "NOW!" And all of Oblivion broke loose. Madanach led his followers against The Silverbloods.  Uaile grabbed my shoulder and said, "Quickly, let's go!" 
    She helped directed Sinding and I as we helped Arodil through the streets. The sounds of men and woman screaming rang in my ears, causing my weak ear to throb.  Uaile helped us through the city as people fought and died.  I didn't know where we were going at this point. I just wanted to be out of here. My chest started to tighten when I heard a familiar voice. "Sinding, Taniiaae!" 
  Vilkas, dressed now in his wolf's armour, rushed through the men. He rushes over to us, pushing away the soldiers as he comes to Sinding's side. "Quick, let me and Uaile talk Arodil, you take Tanii and follow us. We are getting out of the city before anything else happens!" Before Sinding can respond, Vilkas pushes him and takes his place, putting Arodil's arm under his shoulder. Uaile does similar with me. Sinding comes up and puts an arm around my waist as Uaile says. "This way, there will be no men watching the front gates while this ambush is happening!" She and Vilkas, with Arodil in their arms, lead the way through the city. We take less crowded streets as the sounds of fighting ring in our ears. I gasp in surprise. Uaile was right. There were no guards watching the now open gates. 
  We hurry to the gates and outside it. No one was even by the stables where the horses were. I cry in relief as Alsfigir, the ever loyal horse, runs up.  I hug her head as tears stream down my eyes. Vilkas takes her and quickly hitches her up to the carriage. He then helps Uaile put Arodil in the back of the cart. "Get in, quickly! We need to get to Karthspire as fast as we can to escape the chaos!" 
  I nod as Sinding helps me into the wooden carriage, he follows suite as Uaile comes behind us. Vilkas jumps into the rider's seat and snaps the reins. Alfigir, ever the good girl, rushes into a fast canter as the carriage bobs down the road. The moonlight shines down into the cart as we ride. Vilkas makes a sigh of relief as Uaile looks up at him. I tremble as Sinding holds me close. "It's over, you can rest now." Vilkas says. "It won't take long for us to get to Karthspire. No guards will even try to approach that Forsworn camp." 
  I nod, shaking. I couldn't believe we were free, we were out of that damned city. I lean my head against Sinding's chest and started to feel hot tears pouring down my face. We were free. We were done. It was over......