Forgotten Heros: The Journey Begins

  •     Two weeks after the events of Helgen, Valierus and Elwyn have been resting from their travels in Riverwood with Hadvar and his Uncle Alvor. They finally decide to move on, and explore more of Skyrim.

     

        "I'll be sorry to see you go." Hadvar says, breaking the relative silence of the hunting trip. "Its been alot more enjoyable with you and Valierus around.

        "We'll be sorry to leave," I reply softly brushing a strand of hair out of my face. We crouch at the top of a hill about a day's journey south of Riverwood. At the bottom of the hill is a small herd of elk, we've been stalking it for the past few hours. I was somewhat surprised when we found it after only a day, but Hadvar said that Elk are rather common in Skyrim, and that it would have been strange if we hadn't found them so soon. I pull my fur cloak tighter around me blocking out some of the cold air, as I silently measure the distance between us and the herd. "But like you said, we need to get Tullius to pardon us, and the Legion will only wait so long before they declare you a deserter."

        "Right." He sighs unhappily. I glance at him once more, before I brush my cloak out of the way. I quickly slide my bow of my shoulders and nock one of the steel arrows Valierus made for me a few days ago. I lift the bow and pull it to full draw, taking careful aim at an Elk at the edge of the herd. Just as I release the arrow the breeze changes direction bringing the smell of wood smoke. The smell spooks the Elks and the herd bolts. My arrow misses its intended target and slams into the ground inches away from the hind leg of the last of the herd. I move for another, but I let my hand drop when I realize that theirs no chance of catching the herd.

        I scan the skies searching for the pillar of smoke I know will be there, and sure enough smoke can be seen on the horizon to the east of us. "What is that?" Hadvar asks.

        "Something is burning. Something big." I reply, struggling to keep the fear out of my voice.

     

        About an hour later, we find the source of the smoke. In the center of a clearing, a homestead smolders in ruins. "What happened here?" Hadvar mutters. I raise from a crouch and leave the undergrowth to inspect the wreckage. I stop at the edge of a print that I recoginze.

        "Dibella please, it can't be!" I swear. I look up at Hadvar, prepared to give him the bad news. "These tracks, their dragon tracks. I recognize them from Helgen."

        "We need to get back to Riverwood and warn them!" Hadvar cries.

        I look up at the sun's position and then I glance back at the homestead. "We can make it half way their if we leave now. Let's go."

     

        We stride into town making for Alvor's forge where we know Valierus and Alvor will likely be. Sure enough, Valierus sits at the grindstone sharpening a Steel Sword, and Alvor is hard at work in crafting a custom order blade. Alvor straightens wiping his brow of sweat and greets us as we step onto the porch. "Elwyn! Hadvar! What are you doing back so soon? We didn't expect you for another day or two? What happened?" He asks noticing the looks on our faces.

        "We discovered dragon tracks, about a day's journey south of here." Hadvar says cutting me off.

        "Dragon tracks? But you said the beast flew off!" Alvor says turning towards Valierus.

        Vale leans back away from the grindstone and brushes a lock of his white hair out of his face. He tilts his head questioningly towards me his grey eyes asking a silent question. Was it the same dragon? his eyes ask. I shrug to show that I have no way of knowing, and he turs back towards Alvor. "It did, but maybe it came back. Or it could be a completely different dragon. If theres one confirmed dragon then it stands to reason that there could be more than one." He slams his sword into its sheathe and holds out his hand for my quiver. 

        I hand it to him and he works the grindstone quickly sharpening each arrow. He slips them into a quiver slung across his back adding them to the ones already there. Once he finishs he pulls the quiver off his back and hands it to me, the finished total being around thirteen dozen Steel Arrows. "Thanks." He nods and looks questioningly at the fur cloak which he had made for me shortly after we arrived, when I complained about being cold. "It's fine. No holes see?" I turn and hold the cloak open showing him the cloak so he can inspect it.

        "Guess that means the extra leather padding you added is holding up lad." Alvor says. "We'll make an armorer out of you yet. Are you two still leaving today?"

        "Yeah," Vale sighs. "We said we'd leave when they got back from their hunting trip. We don't want to be a burden."

        "It's not a burden to help out friends, but since your leaving can you do us a favor." Alvor holds out a hand, and Vale shakes it. "If there's a dragon roaming about then the Jarl needs to be told. Riverwood's defenseless."

        "We'll tell him." I reassure him. "Its the least we can do."

        "Thank you." Valierus heads into the house to grab our packs and equip his armour. Not long later, he leaves the house ready to go.

        "It's been a pleasure." Alvor says to me, giving me a fatherly hug.

        "Look after yourselves." Hadvar says. "I'll see you soon." We nod and depart Riverwood making for Whiterun, a days journey north.

     

     

     

                       

     

Comments

4 Comments   |   Sotek likes this.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  January 28, 2017
    I found what I was looking for. I hope it is of interest to you. 
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  January 28, 2017
    I like how you tied in the burnt down homestead to Helgen. 
    One thing I will point out to you though so I hope you don't mind. 
    Your chars are leaving Riverwood and are making their way to Whiterun. If this trip takes three days the...  more
    • Valierus
      Valierus
      Sotek
      Sotek
      Sotek
      I like how you tied in the burnt down homestead to Helgen. 
      One thing I will point out to you though so I hope you don't mind. 
      Your chars are leaving Riverwood and are making their way to Whiterun. If this trip takes three days then to cross t...  more
        ·  January 28, 2017
      To be honest your probably right, I'll drop the time span down to a day at some point.
  • Valierus
    Valierus   ·  January 27, 2017
    I just want to apologize about how short this chapter is. The next few chapters should be much longer.