Robin Smith: a Skyrim Story

Escape from Helgen Part 2

I sighed. By some miracle, the gods answered my prayers.

The headsman had already lifted his axe. However, the dragon stopped him by smashing into the roof of a tower. The black beast threw his head back and roared, summoning a storm and a sudden shower of flaming meteors.

The shockwave of the impact sent everyone standing tumbling to the ground.
Tullius yelled urgently, "Don't just stand there! Kill the thing!"

Problem was, you couldn't just kill a dragon.

"FUS."

Force.

While everyone was struggling to stand, the dragon's roar pushed them backwards again. I was blown off the block and tumbled to the ground.

Tullius commanded, "Guards, get the townspeople to safety!"

I got up. What safety?

Ralof was on his way to a neighboring tower, but he noticed me and called out.

"Hey you, get up! The gods won't give us another chance! This way!"

I shook myself off and quickly followed Ralof into the tower.

He quickly shut the tower door behind us, as if it would help. Ulfric was standing a distance from the door already, his gag on the ground in a tattered mess.

"Jarl Ulfric! What is that thing? Could the legends be true?" Ralof panted.

Ulfric replied with a gruff voice, "Legends don't burn down villages."

A loud crash resonated outside. Ulfric called, "We need to move! Now!"

Ralof suggested, "Up through the tower! Let's go!"

I started running up the spiraling staircase. While there wasn't really any point in going up, there was no place else to go. I stopped at the first flight of stairs just in time to watch a Stormcloak soldier get blasted to oblivion by an explosion rubble.

The wall was blown to pieces, revealing the dragon's scaly face.

"YOL TOOR...SHOL!"

Fire. Inferno. Sun.

He unleashed a gout of fire from his mouth into the building and flew off. I looked out the opening. Perfect!

Without needing to be told, I jumped out and landed in the destroyed inn across from the tower with a grunt. My shoulder throbbing, I dropped through a hole in the floor and exited the burning building.
The sky was billowing with smoke, and fire and storm combined to give the air an ethereal glow.

I ran out into the path to see the interrogator standing in front of the dragon, coaxing a small child.

"Hamming! You need to get over here!"

The kid ran to cover before the dragon could burn him to a crisp.

" 'Atta boy!" the interrogator exclaimed.

The scaly demon reared back. I noticed a man on the ground in front of it, broken and covered in blood.

"Torolf!"

That was all the Imperial man could yell before the dragon engulfed the bleeding man in flames. The kid screamed in agony at the death of his father.

"Damn it!" The interrogator looked away with hurt in his eyes and turned to a man staying under cover with the kid. "Stay here and watch the boy! I have to get out there and join the front lines!"

The man nodded. "Gods guide you, Hadvar.

The interrogator, apparently named Hadvar, glanced behind his shoulder. "You still alive, prisoner? Follow me if you want to stay that way."

He didn't need to tell me twice.

We ran through the chaos while avoiding running into archers and wounded civilians (of which there were many).

We took a turn and reached a keep. Hadvar came to a stop as Ralof intercepted us.

Hadvar hollered above the explosions, "Ralof, you damned traitor! Where do you think you're going?!"

Ralof retorted calmly, "We're escaping, Hadvar. You're not stopping us this time."

Hadvar grimaced as the dragon flew overhead, roaring angrily into the sky. "Fine. I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovngarde!"

He turned to me. "C'mon prisoner, let's go!" he commanded and ran up to the keep entrance. Ralof took an alternate door, gesturing for me to follow.

I looked at the two men. While Ralof was more likely to sympathize with me and watch my back, Hadvar was with the Empire. Like they said, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. And with luck, I could make this guy an ally.

I ran after Hadvar, who ushered me into the keep. I never knew what happened to Ralof.