Hod and Gerdur's
Sundas, 9:20PM. 17th of Last Seed, 4E 201
With a deafening roar the beast landed upon the tower, sending chunks of rock flying. It gazed down at us with hatred. It's eyes were deep red that cast a piercing glare. It's scales were the deepest black and overlapped each other like pieces of armor. Their edges were jagged and sharp like the blade of sword. It filled my heart with fear, and I didn't know what to do. People began screaming and the dark swirling sky began to flash with orange. The lightning cracked right above us and rain began to pelt down, mixing the bloodied earth into mud. The Dragon looked down at all of us and seemed to inhale. From its jagged maw, a terrible voice was released, sending some kind of wave towards us. Was it magic? The wave pulsed through the air and hit me hard in the side and I flew from the block, skidding along the ground for a few meters. My skin felt raw as it chaffed against the stones, and my head ached even more than ever.
I looked around panic stricken, my eyes were open wide and I could see the chaos unfolding. Fire and brimstone rained down from the blackened sky. Rocks of various sizes crashed into the ground, exploding and sending shards of debris everywhere. Bits of dirt landed on my prone form and I sputtered. Ahead of me I could see the Headsman at the block, he lay on the ground dead or unconscious with his axe next to him. My hands were still bound, and if I was to escape I needed to cut myself free. Despite the horrible scenario I managed to grab a hold of my senses and think clearly. I began shimming over to the blade as the Dragon took flight, blasting fire down in the streets. I crawled over the headless body of the Stormcloak and made my way to the axe. I laid on top of it and pinched the handle with my knees to keep the blade facing up. I rested my leather strip bindings onto the blade and quickly moved my arms to sever them. I was almost through when I noticed Ralof across the block from me who's bindings were burnt and laying next to him. He was crouched and very disoriented. Once I was free he seemed to get a hold of himself and noticed me laying on the ground.
"Hey kinsman!" He shouted over the terrible noise. "Get up!" He ran over to me.
I could smell the brimstone, the burning buildings and flesh, as well as the blood of the headless Stormcloak.
Ralof ran over to me and gripped my arm. "Come on! The Gods won't give us another chance!"
I was pulled to me feet and he guided me quickly across the courtyard to the other tower which sat next to the Inn. As we made are way across the cratered and charred yard I could here people screaming and men shouting.
"Die already, just die!" I heard a Legionnaire yell in range."How on Nirn do we kill this thing?!"
We made it into the tower with shouts of "Run!" and "Gods save us!" following. We jumped into the tower as a chunk of flaming rock landed in the yard. The door was closed by another quickly stopping the scorching debris from pelting us. I saw several wounded Stormcloaks laying in the tower and turned to find Ulfric barring the door. I fell to the ground, choking on soot and ash.
Ralof leaned against the wall while gasping for breath. "Jarl Ulfric, what is that thing? Could the legends be true?"
Ulfric turned to him in response, being no longer gagged or bound. "Legends don't burn down villages...." He paused seeming very concerned. We heard a terrible roar and the sound of rocks hitting the tower walls. "We need to move, now!"
Ralof looked about. "Up through the tower, let's go!"
He ran over to me and helped me up. I thought leaving the tower and going back into the courtyard would be suicide, but what good would climbing up a tower do? I guessed it was better than sitting around. Ralof and I ran up the stairs while Ulfric and another Stormcloak aided the wounded, preparing them to climb the stairs. The stone case started to our right and ran along the wall of the tower which was divided into three levels. I reached the second level first where a Stormcloak was hunched over by some debris blocking the next round of stairs which led to the very top of the tower.
He glanced over to me and beckoned. "Come on, we just need to move some of these rocks to clear the way."
I was about to help him out when the wall suddenly broke open and the chunks came flying in towards us. I was pulled back by Ralof against the remaining wall as debris crumbled onto the other man. He screamed in pain and tried to move. His leg was crushed and his arm pined. In the gapping whole where the second level's wall used to be was the Dragon's head. The beast was clinging onto the tower and bent his neck to look inside. At the sight of the trapped Stormcloak he opened his mouth, giving us a closer look at his razor teeth before a wave of flame burst forth, engulfing the poor rebel. I pressed against the wall but could still feel the scorching heat on my skin. The Dragon roared then took off, leaving us shaken in the tower. The smell of the charred rebel filled my nostrils causing me to gag and taste bile. We walked onto the debris littered second level and peered out the massive gash in the wall. Below I could see the inn which was on fire with a gapping hole in the roof. I leaned out and saw people hiding and running in the streets as the fire continued to rain down.
On the other tower by the headsman's block was an Imperial Archer, standing valiantly against the evil beast. He readied an arrow just as the Dragon wheeled in the air and swooped toward him. The Archer loosed his missile to no avail. It struck the scales of the Dragon and broke in two. The Archer gasped and tried to get out of the way but was snatched up in the claws of the horrid creature. As the Dragon ascended the Archer screamed wildly before being dropped. He plummeted down toward the village and landed amongst the burnt timbers of one of the houses, and his screaming ceased. I cringed and wiped my dirty face. I looked down at the back of my still rash speckled hand and noticed blood on it. I pressed my palm against my head again and felt the warm liquid oozing from a small gash. Ralof looked at me with solid features, his jaw was clenched.
"Where d-do we go?' I stuttered, hands shaking.
The Stormcloak looked around and then pointed to the inn. "See the inn on the other side, jump through the roof and keep going!"
"What about you?!" I looked toward him, my expression filled with worry.
"I need to protect Ulfric, it's my duty!" He shouted as the air was filled with explosions. "Go! We'll follow when we can!" He patted my shoulder then made his way toward the steps.
I looked down toward the flaming inn and placed a foot upon the broken edge of the wall with a deep breath. With out a second thought I sprung out of the tower and fell towards the flaming tear in the inn's thatched roof. I swooped through the flames and hit the attic floor. I fell to my side as I landed and rolled limply across the hot wooden planks. I was about to pull myself to my feet when I heard a terrible creaking. The floor broke and I fell in a shower of sparks, landing on the same bed I slept in before, breaking it in half. I moaned as I lay in the pile of broken planks and charred blankets. I reached out and pulled myself out of the wreckage by gripping the corner of an end table. To my right was the entrance to the main room. I stumbled out into the wrecked inn and turned left, making my way around tables and chairs as I coughed on the thick smoke. Once I reached the far wall the entire inn went up in flames, trapping me inside.
The smoke filled the enclosed space making it ever harder to see, let alone breathe. My eyes stung and I rubbed them fiercely with my dirty hands, then dropped to my chest trying desperately to escape the choking cloud. I noticed the wall ahead of me was weakened by the flames and decided that those boards were the only things in my way. I climbed to my feet and took a few steps back. It was not or never I thought. I then sprung forward. I slammed my shoulder against the burning timber and burst out into the ashen air. I fell amongst the pieces of timber and landed on the ground in a tumble. The roof of the inn gave and collapsed behind me causing smoke and sparks to billow from the openings. I got to my knees to discover that my hands were burnt and I could feel the blood trickling from my seared shoulder. I ignored my pain despite it's urgent stinging. If I was to survive it was no time to cower and cradle my wounds. I looked around and saw an older man clad in iron armor crouching next to another burnt house on the right side of the street. In the street I saw the father who urged his son into the inn earlier, laying wounded on the road. His son knelt next to him trying to get him to his feet. I ran onto the road and began to head toward the gate.
The young brown haired Soldier stood behind the boy shouting as I approached. "Hamming, you need to get over here now!" The Soldier glanced up as the Dragon flew in spirals. "It's not safe on the street!"
"I'm finished little cub, run for it." His breathing was laboured and his voice raspy. His son nodded with tears in his eyes and then turned away, running toward the older man. "That's it son, make me proud."
The Soldier was about to run over and drag the wounded man to cover but the Dragon landed across from him. In front of the Soldier and I the Dragon roared fiercely and starred at us with evil intent. I swear I heard it laugh before it inhaled.
"Torolf!" Screamed the Soldier. "Gods, everyone get back!"
We both ran for it as the Dragon released a powerful blast of flame. The wounded man screamed as I vaulted over a large chunk of rock that lay in the street and hid behind it. The flames jetted over my head as I huddled near the ground. I heard the powerful flap of the Dragon's wings as it took flight so I peaked up. The wounded man lay limp and charred on the road. To my right the Soldier, iron clad elder, and the boy Hamming sat huddled near the other burnt house.
The Legionnaire looked up at me as we both stood. "Still alive, prisoner? Keep close to me if you want to stay that way."
I nodded and stepped toward him. I was glad to be in the company of one with an actual weapon rather than being alone with naught but burnt hands.
The Soldier looked down at the older man. "Gunnar, take care of the boy. I have to find General Tullius and join the defence." He patted the man's arm and then departed with me in tow.
"Gods guide you Hadvar." The elder replied.
We both ran past Torolf's body and were met with a barricade of burning wreckage blocking the road. Hadvar looked around quickly and then turned left, ducking between another house on our right and a stone wall to our left. He jumped down into the little alleyway and I slid down after him. Just as we were about to turn right onto a path that would lead us between two houses and out to the gate the Dragon descended.
"Stay close to the wall!" Hadvar commanded as the beast landed on the wall.
The spike on one of it's wings nearly impaled me as I pressed my back against the heated stone wall. I held my breath. The Dragon blasted fire down the path we were going to take, killing and Imperial Archer who stood there.
Once the horrid creature took flight, the Soldier beckoned. "Quickly, follow me."
Beyond the dead archer was another barricade of debris so we went left, cutting through a burning house that's roof had already caved in. Hadvar turned right at the main door and exited into the courtyard near the gate. I followed suit but not before tripping on a broken board and falling onto a pile of debris. I coughed and propped myself onto my elbows to discover that I had fallen onto the charred corpse of a villager that was crumpled into the fetal position. The impact caused the body to bleed through the horrible sores that covered it. I gasped and fell backward. I turned to my side and puked. The liquid simmered as it puddled on the floor.
I crawled out of the house in a daze. All I could hear were screams and the terrible roar of the Dragon. Around me people fled, every now and then looking up into the dark sky. I was caught on the shoulder by a passerby and fell onto my left side. Explosion echoed in my ears and the screams of the wounded pierced my soul. I looked down at myself. My hands were burnt and bloodied, and my tunic was covered in soot, and the blood of those I had crawled over and fallen onto. Hadvar stood by General Tullius who gave orders while starring wildly at the Dragon that continued to assault the village. Around the General stood archers and battle mages who tried their best to bring down the beast.
A rock landed on the ramparts and exploded, sending burning stones everywhere. My ears ringed from the sound and everything fell into slow motion. Everyone in the courtyard fell to the ground to avoid the shower of debris. I slowly looked, completely unaware of what was transpiring. My mind was blank and all I could think was that I needed to run. the ringing in my ears began to change frequency until the explosive sound of everything washed over me like a wave. I fell back and blinked wildly.
"Hadvar!" I heard Tullius called as he regained his footing. "Into the keep Soldier! We're leaving!"
I stumbled to my feet and looked around still slightly dazed. I almost collided with Tullius as I attempted to follow Hadvar.
"Run you idiot!" Tullius yelled as he caught me.
I dashed past him and spotted many wounded villagers on the ground on of which was Vilod. He sat slumped over and clutching his gut. I passed him by, worried for my own safety. We turned and headed in the same direction we came except Hadvar lead me through a stone arch and into another courtyard next to the keep. The walls surrounding the keep were lined with Archers who tried valiantly to take down the monster. Ahead I saw Ralof emerge from the rocks and debris under what used to be another arch, leading to the headsman's courtyard. He was holding an axe and was alone. He spotted us and stopped.
"Ralof! You damned traitor! Out of my way!" Hadvar commanded viciously as if he had a personal grudge with him.
"We're escaping Hadvar. You're not stopping us this time!" Ralof replied with a scowl.
"Fine! I hope that Dragon takes you all to Sovngarde!" Hadvar said as he pushed passed the Rebel.
The Keep sat to my right and seemed so far untouched by the Dragons devastation. There were two doors leading in, one sat at the far end of the courtyard while the other was directly to my right. Hadvar ran towards the far door calling me as he went, while Ralof positioned himself next to the other door. Both seemed to want me to follow. I encountered a dilemma. Both men had saved my life and both seemed honourable, but I didn't know them well enough to pick a side. My parents were both in the legion so I was already biased in favour of Hadvar. I decided to go with my gut and was about to follow Hadvar when the Dragon landed between us, starring at me with its red eyes.
I stumbled as the ground shook and looked into the beasts eyes with horror. I thought that I was going to die. This was the end. I snapped out of my trance as Ralof called, still standing by the door. I quickly turned and ran towards him as the Dragon inhaled. Just as I reached the door a jet of fire leaped at my heels. I tripped on one of the steps leading to the door and fell against Ralof, pushing him into the keep. We both fell inside and Ralof quickly lashed out with his foot, kicking the door closed as the orange flames licked through the gaps, scorching the wood and stone. The room grew dark and all I could hear were the screams of those outside and the laboured breathing of Ralof and I.
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