The Fall Of Alduin (ON HOLD)

Ch 10: surrounded

I sighed as I slowly began to open my eyes, exhausted because I heard something enter the cave, like the sound of rocks moving on the ground. My first thought was that it could be Alduin, returning from his night flight, but if he entered the cave the ground would be vibrating, due to his big size and the dirt from the cave walls would be falling, making more noises. I could also have been a stray animal that wondered in the cave by accident, waking me up from a good sleep, but for some reason my instincts told me it was neither.  

Even though I wanted to believe it was one of the options, it was just this bad feeling in my stomach that it was most likely bandits. I mean they were all over Skyrim and not uncommon, so I slowly moved to sit up, slightly keeping my hand very close to the dagger I kept strapped on in case I didn't have my battle ax near me. Plus it was the lightest weapon to keep on, but unfortunately as I looked around it was hard to see who was in the cave because of the very dim light from the glowing mushrooms. Though I did hear a shuffle as if something was moving towards me and I heard the direction it came from before I quickly and swiftly took out my dagger, slicing something with flesh and heard a groan of pain. 

"Damnit!"the masculine voice yelled as I stood up and got into a defensive stance for any more attacks. I was able to now see the intruders while I observed my surroundings, seeing that there where four bandits surrounding me, one female archer and three males. One of the nord males was cradling there arm because I sliced it with my dagger. 

Cursing myself in my mind I didn't know how I was going to escape from this predicament, especially since I didn't have my armor on, besides my cloth shirt and trousers. I mean I could use my thu'um to send them stumbling back and give myself time to escape, but if I use it there was no telling if the cave would collapse under it. I sighed a little frustrated, with my heart pounding in my chest from the adrenaline.

"How did she know!" the male that she sliced fussed.

"Doesn't matter now, just kill her,"I heard the women yell.

 My dagger clashed with a sword that one of the bandits swung down and I felt my knees buckle only a little before straightening back out and pushing him back. Though I hissed at a sudden strike of pain in my side causing my reflexes to pull out the arrow that was embedded into my side from the woman behind me. I swiftly threw my dagger at the archer, just so I wouldn't get killed first and it buried itself in her chest. The dagger killed her quickly only because it was the blade of woe, something that I got after ending the dark brotherhood. Though unfortunately I didn't have a weapon and had to resort to dodging attacks or at least get to my battle ax that sat against the cave wall. 

I panted a little after a bit due to how the wound in my side was burning with some pain as I ducked and shifted from another attack. I took another breath, though I forgot about the third guy and before I knew it I was on the back, feeling the pebbles from the ground dig into my back. The bandit's foot was on my wounded side, pressing harder. A grunt escaped from me, while my eyebrows scrunched together. 

"She's a slippery one isn't she?"one of them chuckled in a deep voice, making my stomach twist a little.

I grinted my teeth preparing to use my thu'um at the bandits, taking the chance if the cave will collapse or not. I didn't really want to lose like this and took a breath, but before the dovah words can slip I heard the gurgling of words from one of the men, before they slumped down on the ground, hard. I turned by head a little more to the right to see a ebony dagger deeply embedded into his neck. My eyebrows raised, surprised before I saw something else dark flew across the cave. It took me a moment to register that it was an arrow and it flew into the skull of a the bandit with his foot on me. I didn't make a sound, but moved his foot away as his body crashed down to the ground, now dead as I sat up slowly, my side still sore and bleeding. 

Though as I looked up I saw a gloved hand gestured towards me, while I looked up at the new face. My blue eyes studied him, seeing that his red eyes looked down at me, making me tilt my head because no nord has red eyes. He worn armor that I haven't seen before. . . I could only describe it as ebony armor mixed with something that looked like dragon armor, but it was dark along with his thick hair that went down his neck. Half of his hair was tied back, except for his bangs that hanged down on one side along with some other strands of hair that couldn't be pulled back on the same side his bangs were. 

He was a nord that much was certain and he had a stubble that was growing on his jawline. After a long pause I took his hand and he pulled me to my feet effortlessly, while I tried to figure out who this man was. 

The only thing that came to my mind was Alduin because in a way, he had some resemblance to him. Though I couldn't help but to confirm my suspicions.

"Alduin?"