Chapter Text
My name is Glorfindel and I am a dark elf. I am currently on my way to Helgen with other prisoners who are about to be executed. You wonder how I got here? It's a rather long and boring story, so I'll pass on filling you in. Is this where it all ends? Some famous Ulfric Stormcloak was there with us and he was gagged. Kinda kinky. He must be into that sort of thing. Just now one of the prisoners said he killed the High King with his voice. Well, that explains a few things. We arrived at our destination and all captives were told to get off the cart.
I looked around. More soldiers were waiting nearby. Great. Now what? Some woman asked my name. I should answer, right? "Glorfindel." I exclaimed. She looked at the sheet of paper in her hands. "No, your name is not on the list. How did you end up here?"
Why should I bother telling her if I am going to die anyway? A Nord approached us. "Another refugee? Gods really have abandoned your people, Dark Elf. I'm sorry. We'll make sure your remains are returned to Morrowind."
I rolled my eyes. Yeah right. As if they cared about returning remains. "Look, if I'm not on that list of yours, why should I die with others? I was just passing through and your men foolishly arrested me without giving me a chance to explain." And I meant it. I was on business here, in Skyrim. I was going back to my homeland, Morrowind in a few days when I got stuck in the middle of a heated battle. Damn Nords and their civil war. Some higher officer leaned in and whispered something into the woman's ear. She nodded. "I am sorry, but that won't be possible. You may be lying and you're one of the Stormcloaks. I heard they recruited spies from Morrowind lately."
They won't believe me no matter what I tell them. One of the prisoners bolted and tried to run away. He was killed without mercy. Well, that sums it up. No chance of escaping death, is there? I traipsed closer to the encirclement of these so called Stormcloaks and Imperial soldiers. A Stormcloak was called forth and his head was chopped off right before my eyes. The Ulfric man was just staring blankly at the scene. "Come forth, dark elf. You're next."
I was shaking with fear. I should have never come to fucking Skyrim. And now, I was about to die. I knelt down and succumbed to my fate. Then, a roar blasted through my ears. It sounded like... a dragon? The higher officials flinched, but they issued orders to continue with the execution. The roars were coming closer and closer and closer... until a giant dragon settled on the roof of a building right above us. It roasted the higher Imperial officials and my to be executioner. All other prisoners, along with that Ulfric man took the chance and bolted. I was still shaken up. The dragon just saved my life. Literally. It swooped down and killed them. Not everyone, though, the sympathetic Nord lifted me up from the ground, because I was shaking. I still couldn't believe my incredible luck. The dragon may have saved me, but it was causing havoc and terrorizing the town and its people. At this rate, it will be destroyed. The Nord forced me stand up. "Come on, Helgen is lost. The dragon is too strong. I'm going to escape. Do you want to join me?"
I blinked, surprised at the unexpected offer. Escape this mad place? Gladly. I nodded and showed him my bound hands. "If you're going to lead me through this, you are going to trust me. You cannot protect me and yourself at once." The man seemed to be thinking about it, but then he pulled out his dagger and undid my bindings. "Very well. Fair enough. Then, let's go to the barracks. There might be some weapons left. Then we escape through the emergency passage. It leads to the woods." We ran to the barracks, jumped off few destroyed houses and ran inside the blessedly quiet, empty tower that housed the garrisoned soldiers. I took the opportunity to catch my breath. The Nord searched weapon racks. "Which weapon do you prefer?"
"Swords, but I can use any weapon."
The man handed me a simple, one - handed sword. "This will have to do for now. By the way, my name is Hadvar."
"Well met. Now, if you don't mind, I would prefer to leave this place."
The man smiled and led me down the stairs, where we encountered some frostbite spiders and found the entrance to a cave leading outside. We were advancing at moderate speed when the Nord, Hadvar stopped abruptly and I bumped into him. "What?"
He turned to me, whispering. "Over there. A sleeping bear. I don't want to fight that. Do you?" I shook my head. "Good, then we'll try to sneak by it. If we're lucky, we might just make it. You go first, I'll follow your lead."
I raised my eyebrow. Is he so afraid? Or... I leaned in closer into his personal space, as my eyes sparkled in the darkness that surrounded us. "You want me to go first because you're afraid?"
Hadvar shook his head and was about to say something when I leaned even closer and murmured in his ear: "Or maybe you want to see my 'other' assets from a better perspective?"
The man turned three shades of red before I withdrew and smirked. He was left speechless. I turned around and began sneaking, quietly like a mouse, drawing out small steps so that Hadvar could get a better look at my retreating form. The man gasped behind me and I knew he was embarrassed. Oh, how sweet that lovely squeak sounded in the cave, strengthened by underground acoustics. He must be one of the silent, stoic guys. We passed by the bear and I stood up. I enjoyed teasing guys like Hadvar. Their reactions were too funny. "Alright, we're past it. Too bad, right Hadvar?" I smirked as he refused to look at me. We've reached the end of the cavern's winding path and I was the first to exit. My lungs still disliked the chilly, northern air of Skyrim, but it beat the stale air of caves and other dank places. It felt good to be free again, but not nearly as good as when I openly flirted with the flustered Nord soldier.
"The closest town is Riverwood from here. My uncle lives there. He could provide us with provisions and information. When we're rested we can decide what to do next. You might consider joining the Imperial Legion. We're not all so bad. If you come to Solitude someday, I would put in a good word for you, if you decided to join."
I gazed at him, pondering. Now that I have gotten myself involved in a conflict between two major factions in stupid, cold Skyrim, I might as well stay for a while, to see for myself how this turns out. I smiled genuinely at him. Hadvar blushed and quickly looked away. "That's sweet of you, Hadvar. I will consider your offer very carefully. What are we waiting for? Let us go to Riverwood for now and then, we'll split up until I sort out something. I must go somewhere."
Hadvar raised a brow at me, questioningly. "Where do you need to go?"
"It might sound surprising, but I was attending to family business. I'm afraid the goods I brought are stolen by now. I have to go and report our losses. My family might be cross with me, but don't worry, I will keep my head on my shoulders. My family branch is here, in Windhelm. I heard it's a bit cold there. Contrary to the popular Nord belief, Morrowind is not a wasteland. Skyrim is... acceptable. It offers a new perspective on many topics, many new possibilities." Like meeting new people, mostly men. Men in my country were so dull. But here... I might find someone worth messing around with while I'm tending to my business. I get to kill two birds with one stone.
Hadvar remained silent for the remainder of trek to his uncle's home. He's an ordinary Nord man by all accounts so being hit on by another man (an elf at that) must be an anomaly he didn't know how to deal with. However, I was sure of one thing; Hadvar liked my awkward flirting more than he let on, of that I was certain. I stayed the night at his family's place. Hadvar's uncle presented me with a mission that would derail my personal business, but I figured I owed the old man for putting me up for a night, so I agreed to help him inform the Jarl of Whiterun of a black dragon's attack on Helgen. In the morning, Hadvar came to see me off, yawning. It was still too early, but I wanted to set off as soon as possible. I send him an air kiss and he instantaneously averted his gaze, the red on his cheeks visible even in the dawn peeking from the mountains and the chilling, cool air was refreshing for once. I laughed at his honest reaction and strutted towards the bridge out of town. Hopefully, I won't get caught in a bigger mess.
Knowing my luck, the probability of getting involved in dangerous situations was too high. I should be prepared for anything.