Traveler (Skyrim Fan Fic)

Chapter 2

I had finally reached Helgen, and took a room at the inn, having been exhausted and weak. The innkeeper was kind, and she even gave me a sweetroll before I left. She seemed to know I was a traveler, and offered to lead me to Riverwood, my next stop. I was grateful for her kindness, but I wasn't that helpless, besides, Riverwood isn't too far.

As I walked out of the gates of Helgen, I stood off to the side as two carts lead by one horseman at the front and one horseman at the back rolled by. The men in the carts were mostly Stormcloaks, except for one carrying a Nord, a prisoner, and Ulfric Stormcloak.

I couldn't help but stare as I watched them pass, but shrugged it off, the war is none of my business anyways. I pulled out my map and surveyed the area around me. A shadow was cast upon me, abstracting my view of the map and blocking the sun, my source of light at the moment.

I looked up to see the horseman who was leading the carts in the back. His hair was brown, his skin pale and cheeks red from the cold-- obviously Imperial born. He had a kind smile, though his eyes held an evident grief.

"Need help, traveler?" he asked, dismounting the horse.

I nodded,"Yes, actually. What's the best path to take if I were to go to Riverwood?"

"This road, right here." the man pointed,"But I would keep my sword at hand, Skyrim isn't the safest place in the world."

I nodded,"Thank you so much, eh..."

"Hadvar." he said, then mounted his horse and galloped after the other soldiers.

What a nice man. I thought, as I began my trek to Riverwood.

The road wasn't too bad, there were a few wolves here and there, but nothing I couldn't handle. As I neared the small town, a large shadow flew overhead. I looked up to the clouds, and saw nothing. I brushed it off as a bird and continued on my way.

The people of Riverwood were robust, good people, I could tell just by looking at them. I noticed a blacksmith nearby, and decided I could see what he had in stock.

"Excuse me I--"

"Alvor!" a familiar voice yelled.

An Imperial soldier ran up the porch steps, catching the blacksmith's attention. It was Hadvar.

"Forgive me, lass. One second." the blacksmith-- whom I assumed was Alvor --arose from his seat at the grindstone and turned his attention to Hadvar.

I stood off to the side, giving them privacy as they conversed. However, I couldn't help but eavesdrop a little.

"Alvor, we need to get Riverwood aid at once. A dragon has attacked Helgen!" Hadvar panted, it was clear he had been running.

"What? What are you saying, Hadvar?" Alvor pressed.

"I'm saying a dragon. Attacked. Helgen!" Hadvar replied frustratedly.

"That explains what I saw flying overhead..." I thought aloud.

"What's that, girl?" Alvor called to me.

"I saw a shadow fly overhead on my way here, and it looked large, it must've been that dragon."

Alvor and Hadvar gave each other a worried glance, then Alvor spoke again,"We need to get the news to the Jarl of Whiterun at once, Riverwood is defenseless!"

"I'll go, I was just going to head that way." I volunteered.

"That's a good lass, make sure the Jarl sends as many men as he can spare."

I nodded and began towards Whiterun.