Luke Velaryon: The Last Dragonborn C11 (Patreon)

Chapter 11: Escaping Helgen Part V

Luke followed Ralof and the others deeper into the dungeon. They passed a long corridor lined with iron-barred cells, many of them were occupied not by prisoners but by corpses.  

Some appeared relatively recent, their flesh only partially decayed and giving off a stench so foul that Luke gagged and quickly covered his nose with his hand. Others had lain there so long that only bones remained, chained to walls or sprawled across the stone floors of their cells.

Luke felt a chill run down his spine. 

Ralof muttered something about imperials and looked around with disgust. The torturer’s assistant, who had introduced himself earlier as Mojer, made a face, half of disgust, half apologetic. 

"Brutus liked to keep them," he said. "Said they reminded people what happened to those who crossed the law." 

"That's sick."

"Aye."

"He was probably a necromancer," one of the Stormcloaks said.

Mojer opened his mouth to object, but he hesitated and his expression grew thoughtful. 

"You know..." He scratched his chin. "Could be." 

They all looked at him, and he elaborated: 

"I heard strange noises down here more than once. Brutus didn't like being disturbed. Any time someone came too close to the lower cells, he'd chase them away." 

Both Imperial soldiers and Stormcloaks grimaced. 

"This is the Empire you chose," Ralof said, glancing toward Hadvar.

The Imperial sergeant shot him a cold look.

"Don't act like the Stormcloaks are all noble and honorable.”

Ralof opened his mouth, but Hadvar cut him off.

“Markarth.” That is all he said.

Ralof’s jaw tightened and whatever he wanted to say died on his tongue. Without another word he dropped back a few paces until he was walking beside Luke. 

Luke considered asking what had happened in Markarth but one look at Ralof's expression convinced him otherwise.  

Soon they reached another corridor, and Hadvar led them into an open cage. At the far back of the cage, part of the stone wall was open, leading into a natural cave tunnel. Luke passed alongside a skeleton chained to the wall, looking at it for a moment before stepping past it and entering the passage. 

In the tunnel, the air grew colder and damper. They moved in silence through it for some time, maybe 5 or 10 minutes, before Luke heard the sound of water from up ahead, and they soon emerged into a vast underground cavern. 

Luke stopped and looked around the cavern. It was big enough for several hundred people to be standing side by side comfortably. Above them, an opening in the ceiling allowed a stream of water to pour into the cave below, forming a small waterfall that fed the underground streams. 

There are several stone bridges going over the streams, they were old, but they still appeared sturdy enough. They crossed one of the bridges, and on the far side of the cavern stood a wooden drawbridge leading deeper into the cave system. 

"If I remember correctly, the tunnel opens into the forest east of Helgen about a mile from here," Hadvar said.

"Then let's get moving," one of the Imperial soldiers replied.

"Wait." Hadvar turned toward the gathered soldiers and Stormcloaks. "Here we part ways."

He looked at Ralof, who nodded. 

“What do you mean?” Luke stared at them with a frown. 

"The Stormcloaks will continue ahead and kill any creature that's made the passage its home." Hadvar gestured toward the drawbridge. "The rest of us will return to Helgen and escort the civilians." 

"But what if the passage is blocked farther ahead? ” Luke asked, “Wouldn't that be leading them to their deaths?” 

Hadvar shook his head. 

"If they stay in Helgen, they'll die."

His gaze drifted upward toward the opening in the cavern ceiling.

"If the passage is blocked and we can't clear it, then we shelter here until the dragon leaves. This cave could hold a thousand people without trouble." He pointed toward the waterfall. "And if it comes to it, we can climb out through the opening above."

Luke followed his gaze. The patch of sky visible through the ceiling had begun to darken with the coming evening. 

"Shouldn't one of us go with the Stormcloaks? Just to make sure they don't decide to collapse the tunnel behind them." Said a legionnaire. 

Several Stormcloaks immediately bristled.

"What do you take us for?"

"Traitors," a legionnaire replied flatly. "You've killed your own High King."

"It was an honorable duel." A Stormcloak defended. "You are the ones who help the Thalmor-"

“Enough!” Both Ralof and Hadvar said at the same time, shutting down the fight before it broke out. Ralof and Hadvar exchanged looks before looking away. 

"We'll continue ahead," Ralof said. "If you're that worried, send one of your Imperial dogs with us."

He snorted.

"But if we find trouble, don't expect us to save his hide."

"Like I'd accept help from a Stormcloak," one of the legionnaires muttered and several Imperials nodded in agreement. 

A few Stormcloaks rolled their eyes, and Luke rubbed his forehead. Not even an hour ago these people had agreed to save each other's families and now they are ready to tear each other apart. 

"I'll go with them."

Several heads turned toward Luke.

"Luke—"

"Just until the exit," he interrupted before Ralof could object.

He already knew what the Nord was going to say. Stormcloaks were criminals and anyone associating with them risked being painted with the same brush. Luke understood that but right now he simply did not care.

Ralof had been the first person to show him kindness in this strange land. The Nord had taught him about Skyrim, fought beside him, and more than once saved his life. Somewhere along the way, he had become Luke's first friend in this world—perhaps even his first true friend.

Until now, Luke had never really had a friend of his own. His days had always been divided between lessons and family. When he was not learning how to be a knight, a lord, or a sailor, he was spending time with his brothers and cousins or flying with Arrax. He had trained and played with boys his own age, both in the training yards and beyond them, but there had never been much opportunity for deeper friendships. He was always busy, and more than once he had been reminded not to mingle too closely with those beneath his station. 

Luke wasn't ready to say goodbye to his friend just yet. Once they went their separate ways, there was a good chance they would never meet again, and he wanted to spend a little more time with the Nord before that happened.

One too many abrupt goodbyes had been forced upon him over the last few hours. 

Hadvar looked at him with understanding eyes and placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling faintly. 

"Luke is a neutral party." He turned toward the gathered Imperials. "The Stormcloaks have no reason to harm him, and I can personally vouch for his character."

A few soldiers frowned but Hadvar ignored them.

"He risked his life several times today helping the people of Helgen. If anyone can accompany the Stormcloaks without causing trouble, it's him."

"But Sergeant—"

"We'll need every available soldier if we're going to get the townsfolk here safely." Hadvar's tone left no room for argument. "Parts of the keep have collapsed and we have to clear the path for the townsfolk. Then we have to escort them here without the dragon bringing the keep down onto our heads."

He glanced around at his men.

"We don't have time to waste."

The legionnaire reluctantly nodded.

"Understood, sir."

Hadvar squeezed Luke's shoulder once before letting go.

"Stay safe."

"Thanks."

The sergeant nodded and walked away. Luke noticed him and Ralof exchanged a few quiet words before parting. 

"Come on, cub." Ralof jerked his head toward the drawbridge. 

Luke followed the Stormcloaks as they crossed the drawbridge and moved deeper into the cave system. He kept his shield on his left hand and his right hand close to the hilt of his sword at all times, not knowing what creature they might came across he wanted to be prepared.

After several minutes of walking, Ralof glanced towards one of the rebels. 

"Einar, was Jarl Ulfric with your group?"

The man shook his head.

"No. Haven't seen him since the dragon appeared. What about you? I saw you enter that watchtower together."

"Aye." Ralof nodded. "Then the damned lizard nearly brought the whole thing down on our heads." 

Several Stormcloaks chuckled.

"Ragnar and Ivar got hurt. I stayed behind with Hilda until they woke up."

"And the Jarl?"

"He left with Valund and Eitar." Ralof frowned. "Haven't seen him since."

The tunnel opened into another cavern soon after, and before entering it, Ralof raised a hand, and the three Stormcloaks halted. All of them reached for their weapons, and Luke did the same, his hand placed on the hilt of his sword as he scanned the cavern ahead. 

The first thing he saw were the webs. 

Thick strands stretched between rocks and hung from the ceiling like curtains. Several skeletons lay scattered across the cavern floor, some human, others belonging to creatures and animals he could not identify. A few were wrapped in layers of silk-like webbing, cocooned where they had died.

"Frostbite spiders," Einar swore under his breath.

As if summoned by his words, something moved in the darkness.

Luke’s eyes widened when he saw the creature. It was a spider the size of a large dog crawling from behind a rock. 

“By the gods…” Luke whispered. 

More and more spiders emerged from cracks in the cavern walls and from behind rocks. Some were no larger than rats, but others were the size of hounds. One was much larger than the rest, nearly the size of a pony.

Luke tightened his grip on his sword and swallowed hard. Giant spiders, yeah- Why not? What’s next? Giant crabs? 

"Hold!" Ralof barked, raising his shield and axe.

The closer spider charged at them, and Einar met it head-on, his axe came down with a wet crack, splitting the creature's skull before it could leap. Green blood splattered across the stone floor. 

More and more spiders rushed towards them, and the Stormcloaks surged forward to meet them. 

One of the larger spiders launched itself at Luke and he barely had time to raise his shield, the impact nearly knocked him off his feet. 

Claws scraped against the leather shield, puncturing it in several places. The spider moved, and its fangs snapped inches from his face. For one horrible moment, all Luke saw were those black eyes. He snapped out of it, and his instinct took over. 

Luke drew his sword and pierced the creature’s underside. Green blood sprayed across his arm and the spider screeched and collapsed. 

“Good!” Ralof shouted. 

Luke looked towards him. The Stormcloak stood beside the corpse of the largest spider, the one the size of a pony. His two-handed battleaxe was buried deep in its skull. Around him, Einar and the others were finishing off the last of the smaller spiders. 

Luke stared at the dead creature at Ralof’s feet, his heart hammering in his chest.

"They get bigger," Einar said while wrenching his axe free from another spider's skull.

Luke stared at him, and Einar grinned. Whatever expression crossed Luke's face made the others burst out laughing. 

He sincerely hoped he was jesting.

Never before had he considered spiders something to fear. Giant spiders, however... That was an entirely different matter.

He really hoped Einar was jesting.

***

Author’s Note: Will Luke join the Hate-Spiders-Club, meeting veterans such as Annabeth Chase or Ron Weasley?