Hi ! It's my first long story. A very big thanks to TheGreatJabberyJamie for his advice and for correcting my mistakes :D

Skyrim belongs to Bethesda.

Chapter 1: Welcome to Helgen !

Everything was calm in Skyrim's hills and mountains, the trees were rustling under the afternoon's sun and the few clouds in the sky were lazily floating.A howling could be heard from time to time. There was no indication of the conflict taking place in Skyrim, except the Stormcloak or Imperial camps one could find if they walked away from the road. However, it was more common to run into Imperial or Stormcloak patrols than any adventurers.

Yet, a feminine figure was slowly walking on a rocky and uneven road. She was wearing a long, dark and blue mage robe and a hood hiding most of her face. Only the bottom of her face was visible, and you could see a straight nose, thin and pale lips, and a small pointed chin. She seemed to be quite young. On her back, she was carrying a slightly heavy old knapsack. With a map in her hand, she was trying to find out if she was on the right path. But without any landmark, it was really difficult, and she could only follow the road, hoping she was going the right way.

Despite everything, she finally sighted some buildings. A stone wall was visible further down the road. It seemed to be part of a keep, or a fortified village on a hillside.

For a moment she hesitated. What if the keep was in the hands of bandits? She was looking for a safe place, not an ambush. She mustered up her courage and decided to move forward carefully to see who was occupying the keep.

As she got closer, she could see some human forms more and more clearly guarding the entrance. Recognising Imperial uniforms, she let a relieved sigh escape her lips. The keep was safe. So she moved forward, making sure she was seen from afar, so they wouldn't mistake her with an enemy.

She went through the gates of the keep under the observing eyes of the guards, which were making her feel uneasy. Then there was a crossroads, quickly eyeing each road, she choose the left turning. There were more buildings on the left than on the right. That meant more chances to find an inn where she could rest. Moreover, she caught sight of a Thalmor Agent talking with imperial soldiers on the right.

On the path she had chosen, there were several buildings made of stone, wood and thatch. Among them, stood a larger building.

Probably the inn,she thought, finally I'll have a real meal.

She had left the province of Cyrodiil days before, and the further she went, the harder it was to find an inn. All she wished for was a nice soup or a stew.

As she was quietly walking towards the inn, she heard the sound of horses and carts. Turning back, she saw two carts escorted by two Imperials riding horses. One of them went to the Thalmor Agents and the other one continued to follow the carts. She got out of the way and looked at them as they went past her.

Four people were in the back of each cart, and among the eight people, five were wearing the same kind of armor. They probably were prisoners, maybe those Stormcloaks she had heard about. Two others were wearing rags, and the last one was wearing luxurious clothing. But there was something that shocked her, they were all Nords, except one, who was a Bosmer, also called Wood-Elves. He had tanned skin, copper-colored hair and some green war-paint encircling his eyes and running down his cheeks.

Noticing she was arriving at the inn, she briefly followed the convoy and stopped at the door. The inn-keeper was outside, looking at the carts go by and she took advantage of this opportunity to ask him a question.

"Hello, what's happening here?"

The inn-keeper was suddenly aware of her presence.

"Oh hello! Are you an adventurer passing by? Welcome to Helgen! Although it's not the best time, it seems the Imperials managed to capture Ulfric Stormcloak and some of his soldiers." He pointed towards a tower, in front of which there was a chopping block and an executioner. "They are going to be executed."

One of the prisoners wearing rags chose that moment to try to flee. But he was shot down by the Imperials archers. It was now the Bosmer's turn to get his identity checked, it seemed he was not meant to be there but he was still sent to the chopping block.

A light growl was heard and the inn-keeper turned his head toward the young woman. The latter had the feeling her cheeks were burning and was crossing her arms on her stomach trying to suppress the noise coming from it.

"Haha, someone seems to be starving! Get inside, I'll make you some food before you lose your appetite," the inn-keeper exclaimed.

She then followed him inside the inn and sat down at a table, sighing with relief. She pulled her hood down revealing the face of an Altmer, a High-Elf. She had golden skin and green eyes. Her long brown hair, held by two braids going from her temples to the back of her head, framed her face. A dark blue tattoo, in shape of a diadem, ornamented her forehead and she had three small lines oh each cheek.

She had barely sat down before she heard a rumbling sound.

Thunder? No, it's too different, she thought with a puzzled look.

Another rumbling sound was heard. Closer, and she couldn't help but frown. A few long seconds passed by without a sound. And suddenly an enormous roar, and screams could be heard. Everything was shaking. Something fell down on the inn's roof, making a part of the roof, and the second floor collapse. The Elf just had enough time to avoid the debris.

She stood up slowly, looking around and she noticed the debris had fallen where the inn-keeper was previously. Outside, everything was chaos, and through the new openings she could see stones falling from the darkened sky.

The noise of a fall near her caught her attention and she found herself face to face with the Wood-Elf wearing rags and with his hand bound together. She stared at him, shocked to see him since he was sent to the chopping block.

"Come on! We have to get out of here," Exclaimed the Bosmer pointing toward an opening in the wall.

Snapping out of it, the Altmer called out to him.

"Wait!" She took the dagger that was hanging at her belt and proceeded to cut the Bosmer's binding.

"Thanks, now come on, we must find a safe place."

The young elf caught her knapsack and followed the Bosmer through the opening. The fortified village was in ruin, beams were burning, stones were scattered across the floor. She could feel the heat on her skin. A shadow landed not too far away and she caught a glimpse of a legendary creature before being pulled into a relatively safe place. A dragon. A dragon was attacking the village. The panic that had begun to creep into her mind had settled down for good.

A brown haired imperial soldier and a child took refuge not far away. The soldier left the child with another soldier. Spotting the Bosmer, previously a prisoner, he exclaimed :

"Ah! Still alive? Follow me if you it to stay that way!"

The Bosmer followed without hesitation, but realised that the young Altmer wasn't following. Indeed, she was frozen, panicked and shocked. He took her hand and pulled her after him, making her stagger.

After a while, they managed to arrive in front of a large stone building with a tower. A Stormcloak soldier arrived at the same time and began a heated argument with the Imperial soldier. The Stormcloak called out to the Bosmer and try to persuade him to go with him. The young Altmer, not knowing the Stormcloak, chose to follow the Imperial. She had been through Cyrodiil and she more or less trusted the Imperials Soldiers. Well, more than an unknown soldier.

The Wood Elf hesitated but chose to follow the other two, leaving the Stormcloak. Then they rushed into the stone building in order to escape the dragon destroying Helgen.