Helgen
“Hey you. You’re finally awake,” a surprisingly calm Nord man spoke to Sonin. “They hit you pretty hard there, didn’t think you were going to wake up.”
Sonin was very aware of her pounding headache, “Aye. No way they would have taken me without a cheap shot.” She tested the strength of her restraints.
“Got caught while trying to cross the border, here with this horse thief. They assumed you were with us Stormcloaks, I’m sorry about that. What were you doing at the border?” He asked.
“Honestly? I was lost. I’m really bad with maps,” Sonin chuckled softly, already formulating several plans to escape. “What’s with the gagged man? Little too kinky for Imperials.”
“You’ll watch your tongue!” The man’s calm demeanor shifted,” That’s Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King of Skyrim.”
“Oh bother,” Sonin rolled her eyes, “So I guess the end of this trip of ours goes to headsman.”
“I believe so,” he replied, “I’m Ralof by the way.”
“Nice to meet you Ralof,” Sonin offered a smile but not her own name.
“Shut up back there!” Their driver yelled with a turned head.
“Why don’t you get back here and make me you damned Thalmor loving cock sucker!” Sonin shouted back, earning startled glances from all the men around her. Ralof broke into a laugh after a brief pause.
“Got a mouth on you huh?” He smiled a little too much, “Would have made a fine Stormcloak, I think.”
“Oh no,” Sonin cast her tied hands up defensively, “I know how you full blooded Nords are about magic.”
“We could teach you to wield a proper weapon,” Ralof smirked, Sonin guessing this was his idea of flirting.
“Or I could just turn you into a frog,” Sonin quipped.
“You I like!” He clasped a hand down on his leg. Ulfric gave her an appreciative glance. He found her rather unremarkable. Plain facial features, robes with a slight glimmer of enchantment, nice hips. Nothing really stood out but the hips.
“You’ll like me even more once I get us out of this mess,” Sonin grinned widely, “I’m going to have them burned to a crisp before they get the chance to execute me.”
“I said SHUT UP!” The driver yelled in a threatening manner.
“Come and make me you damn milk drinker!” Sonin countered, “You’re probably just cranky that this is your first time away from your mother’s tit.”
Ulfric gave a muffled laugh and Ralof roared again. The driver moved like he wanted to turn and hit her, but he had strict orders to follow the road to Helgen and make no stops. Sonin felt proud that she won that small victory, but quickly returned back to the reality before her.
They made it to Helgen quickly. Ralof and Sonin exchange some back and forth comments to pass the time, annoying their driver to no end. Ralof found himself wishing he had the chance to bed the fiery woman before him before his trip to Sovngarde. He found her as plain as Ulfric did, but he liked plain. Women with too many pretty features were too stuck up in his experiences.
Their wagons came to a stop and they were forced into lines. The Imperials had their damned lists. The horse thief tried to run and ended up shot down quickly. Sonin wisphered to the Stormcloaks around her, “No one rush the headsman. I’m going to get us out.” One man snorted a short laugh at that and pushed his way up the line.
“Who, are you?” Hadvar asked.
“Your mother’s best lay. Now fuck off,” Sonin spat on the ground.
There was a chorus of chuckles behind her, “She’s not on the list Captain. What should we do?”
“She goes to the block,” she grumbled.
“Damn shame I’m about to get more action than you’ve had in a while huh? Pretty stuck up, might need someone to loosen those li-” Sonin was cut off and doubled over from a punch to the gut. Yep, she was used to her mouth getting her in trouble.
The man that snorted at Sonin before did the exact thing she warned not to. His head hit the block and was sent off of it just as fast as it came. Sonin was kicked in the back, forced on her knees and onto the bloodied block. Ralof gave her a pitied look, but Sonin just smiled. She could sense it coming.
And came it did, with quite the entrance. The headsman was knocked to the ground from shockwaves of the dragon’s landing and thu’um. Sonin wasted no time in jumping up and running into the nearest watchtower with the rebels.
“Is that a damn dragon?” Ralof questioned.
Sonin didn’t pay attention to the rest of the conversation between Ralof and Ulfric. She brought forth flames to her hands to burn off her bindings, then made her way up the tower. Ralof started to follow her, but she quickly jumped back down and brought him with her as the dragon burst through the stones and set the stairs aflame.
“How did you-?” Ralof didn’t finish the question as the robed woman was on the run.
He watched, impressed, as she jumped to the burning building beneath the tower. Sonin’s landing was far from graceful, but she managed. Ulfric and Ralof followed her path, both of them flabbergasted by what they were watching. Sonin raced TOWARD the dragon that was burning buildings and people left and right. She cast up a ward that stopped it from charring her on the spot, but the surrounding flames caught her robes. The men felt their pants grow a little tighter as she cast off her clothes with no restraint.
Clad only in her small clothes and boots, she kept her pursuit to the front of the beast. She brought a bound axe to her hands and swung at the beast’s maul. It landed, drawing blood to the surface. The dragon roar and tried to swipe her with its claws, but she was on the ground rolling out of striking distance.
She cast chunks of ice to keep it distracted, “Get out of here!”
“And let you have all the glory?” Ralof yelled back and, with vigor from her courage, started rushing the dragon.
“No damn it!” Sonin sent a bolt of lightning toward the Nord to ward him off, “Go inside! I’ll be there in a moment. This dragon is too much for us!”
Ralof listened and ran toward the only building not on fire. He and Ulfric kept glancing back to see her keeping the dragon’s attention and holding her own against it. Ulfric told himself that if she survived he would get her in his army. She was the only one that rushed toward the beast and not away, in her small clothes nonetheless.
“Alright you big goat fucker! Look at me!” Sonin waved her arms and cast bolts of lightning at Alduin’s face.
“Dovahkiin. Hi kos kril Nuz sahlo,” it spoke.
“Tol los Ni what hin Monah thinkke,” Sonin barked back, sending her strongest fireball to his snout.
Alduin roared, shaking his head to disperse the flames. Sonin was no fool as she took the moment to flee. She knew this dragon was too much for her right now. She was nearly naked afterall. Alduin, in his rage, lit up the path Sonin made. She managed to close the doors behind her just as it reached her.
Sonin fell none too gracefully as she made it in the keep. Ulfric and his man Ralof, along with a few other Stormcloaks, watched her with wide eyes. Sonin felt a wave of embarrassment as she realised all eyes were on her unclothed form.
“You must want to see Sovengarde early. Charging a dragon like that,” Ralof spoke, handing her armor that was stripped from a dead woman on the ground.
“Thank you,” Sonin replied, quickly putting it on. It didn’t fit well, too tall in some areas and too tight in others, but it was still better than the alternative.
“You are quite brave,” Ulfric stated, “You may have just saved us from the dragon for now.”
“Damn right I did,” Sonin smirked as she finished strapping on her boots, “Let’s not test it though. We should be looking for a way out.”
“Indeed. You know, I could use a woman like you in my forces,” Ulfric replied, stroking his beard.
“No doubt. Nords aren’t well known for their love of mages though,” Sonin quirked a curious brow.
“You showed the heart of a true warrior,” he responded, “Magic or no.”
“I showed how stupid I am,” Sonin laughed a bit, “Come now. Let’s find a way out of this mess.”
Sonin led the Ulfric and the Stormcloaks through the building, setting Imperials and spiders on fire where they were found. She was so aggressive in her attacks, the other men had no chance to respond. Ralof admired the way the was handling every enemy in their path, as was Ulfric. It was unnerving for the rest of the soldiers. Nords really didn’t like magic, so seeing a powerful mage was startling to say the least.
“You know,” Ralof said as she set a cavern full of spiders aflame, “We could really use someone like you for the war.”
“Oh no,” Sonin smacked her hands against each other in a job well done, “I want no part in this conflict.”
“Surely you’re a true daughter of Skyrim!” He exclaimed and stepped in front of her with his hands on her shoulders, “With your skills, I’m sure you could rival those damned high elves.”
“No Ralof,” Sonin brushed his hands off of her, “I have no interest in killing mer in the name of Nord who thinks himself high king.”
“I am the true high king!” Ulfric shouted, his thu’um sending vibrations in the air.
“Oh yes. We all know how you shouted the former king to death,” Sonin rolled her eyes unimpressed by his voice, “There were other ways to gain the throne that didn’t involve violence. Did you even try?”
“I challenged him and won. It is the Nord way. I proved him too weak to be king,” Ulfric replied.
“Well someone should let poor Elisif know that its okay she’s a widow now, since her husband’s murder was justified,” Sonin repsponded.
“I-” Ulfric started.
“Not interested,” Sonin cast a hand up to cut him off, “Now shut up. There’s a bear ahead.”
Sonin crouched down low and brought forth her bound bow. She notched a magic arrow and aimed for the beast. She knew there were too many people with her to sneak by. The arrow flew silently, hitting the bear in the flank and missing the head she was aiming for. Quickly she dispersed her bow and conjured a wolf familiar. It charged the angry bear and its teeth and claws sunk into its flesh. Sonin used the time her wolf was buying her to charge an electricity spell. When her wolf vanished, she released it. The bear hit the ground instantly, its fur fried.
“Remind me not to get on your bad side,” Ralof remarked, “Hey, you don’t look so good.” His face showed his concern at the sweat beaded on her brow and her labored breathing.
Sonin was rather pale too, “I’m fine. Just tried.”
“Why don’t you let us handle any more beasts or men we find here?” Ralof offered.
“No it’s okay. I can feel a breeze, the exit should be just up ahead,” Sonin assured him.
…
Ulfric took all his men except Ralof back to Windhelm after several failed attempts to talk Sonin into joining them. Ralof showed Sonin the way to Riverwood. He needed to warn the town of the dragons. Ralof insisted on bringing Sonin into his childhood home for a rest. He knew his sister would help them.
“Here,” Ralof handed Sonin a plate of potatoes and venison, “You need to get your strength back.”
“Thank you,” She took the dish, “I guess I did overdue it back there.”
“That’s an understatement. You were amazing though. I’ve never seen one person cast so many different spells,” he marveled at her, “You are an amazing woman.”
Sonin blushed a bit under his compliments, “I wouldn’t say all that.”
“Well I would,” Ralof grinned at her, taking the moment to appreciate how she looked in the clothes she borrowed from his sister.
The cotton spun tunic was a bit tight and pressed her breast in a way that made her cleavage show delectably. The pants were too long, but Sonin rolled them up to make it work. Ralof had promised to show her to the blacksmith in the morning and pay for a new set of armor for her as a thank you for saving his ass.
“You’re too kind,” Sonin shoveled some of the potatoes in her mouth.
“You’re too beautiful,” Ralof boldly replied. Sonin choked on her food. “I’m sorry,” he leaned over the table to pat her back and bring the food back up from it’s lodging in her throat, “I couldn’t help but tell you.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re only saying that to sweet talk me into joining the Stormcloaks?” Sonin eyes him suspiciously.
“No, no,” he cast his hands up defensively, “Just thought I’d let you know how I feel.”
“Not worried I’ll turn you into a frog? Or cast a spell to make your bits smaller?” Sonin jokingly questioned, as some fearful people she had come across believed those to be things that a witch could do.
“Should I be?” Ralof asked.
“Perhaps,” Sonin took the opportunity to really look at the Nord before her. He cleaned up nicely in his tunic, leather jerkin, and hide pants.
“I know we just met but…” Ralof glanced away from her, “Would you be interested in...uh-”
Sonin knew where this was going, “Not now. Maybe next time.”
“Fair enough. You’re welcome to stay here to rest before you head to Whiterun,” he replied.
“Thank you Ralof,” Sonin took the offer.
The next morning, she got a set of hide armor from the blacksmith and set her sights on Whiterun.