If you've played Skyrim and done the Companions; then I'm sure you know who Farkas and Vilkas are. I adore those two, Farkas is a big softie, and Vilkas is…well Vilkas. Relationship wise, I chose Vilkas over Farkas because he seemed like he'd be harder to win over than his super friendly brother. And I do adore challenges :)

Filler Info: The protagonist is female imperial, grey eyes, Wavy Black hair, small build, super light skin, and all around looks very fragile, even for her race. (I made her that way for contrast, considering SPOILER ALERT that the Companions are super strong werewolves). Oh and her name is…Tulip. ಠ_ಠ Yeaaahh. Don't ask…Please…

As nice as it would be to say I was rich and owned Bethesda, I do not.

Skyrim=Bethesda.

~O~

The fresh tang of coppery blood weighed heavy in the air as Tulip was kicked fiercely against the wooden block. The captain, a redguard woman, grabbed a fistful of her hair and slammed her head to the sticky surface. Dazed, Tulip let her head rest against the wood, fresh blood absorbing into her dark hair. Her stomach churned uncomfortably as her eyes meet those of the head before her. Glassy, and pale blue, the twin orbs laughed at her, the beheaded man's hair lifting in the wind. Behind the executioner, the man the other Imperials called Hadvar watched on guiltily, his eyes turning away when she met them. So this was it then. The end. She hadn't imagined it this way, Skyrim was supposed to be the land of opportunity, a place safe from the wars that ravaged and burned the picturesque lands of Cyrodiil. She'd been surprised to see that Skyrim was plagued by violence and war more brutal and deceptive than those of Cyrodiil, in Skyrim, even citizens were enemies, neighbors turned on neighbors and Nord children froze and starved in the streets as their families were slaughtered in the war. But that would all end soon enough, and maybe Mara, or even Akatosh would take her now. She gave a small smile at the thought, and closed her eyes as she heard the executioner release a grunt and raise his blade.

"RAAARRRGGGGARRRR!"

Tulips eyes snapped open and her body was knocked sideways by a huge blast of air. A large obsidian dragon towered above them, the executioner's body barely visible from the massive creature's teeth. A scream erupted from its mouth but was cut off in a horrible scissor like motion of the monster's jaw. Spitting out several splintered bones, the dragon turned its attention to her, their eyes locking. She felt herself being sucked into those blood red pools, and inside she felt something inside her spark into life. Before she could snap out of her reverie the dragon roared, and a strong blast of wind and magicka sent Tulip spiraling. Feeling like her eyes were spinning in their sockets, she felt a strong hand grasp her arm firmly.

"Come on, we have to get to safety!" the man bolted for "safety", dragging her behind him with the dragon flying overhead. They dove inside a large stone watch tower, behind the safety of thick stone just as a surge of fire scorched the wooden door frame. Already several men and women had taken shelter inside, some sporting bloody and cauterized wounds. The building creaked, the wooden support beams bending dangerously.

"Quickly, let's get to the top and out before this whole tower crumbles!" two hardy looking nords shouted to each other.

"They've got the right idea!" Her current companion shouted to her, his tangled blonde hair dyed crimson with blood in several places; whether it was his or not, she didn't want to know. The pair sprinted up the stairs after the two men, the building creaking loudly at the dragon's onslaught. The two froze, in the midst of the stair in horror at the sight before them. The two nord's bloodcurdling screams were drowned out with a roar, and boulder sized rocks flew as the dragon flew headfirst into the tower wall, a torrent of molten fire burned through them, blinding Tulip's eyes. The dragon, distracted by new prey, pushed away from the building with a roar nearly loud enough to mask the sound of the towers stone bricks cracking. The force of the dragon pushing off was too great, and now the tower swayed, cracks resonating as horrific realization sunk in.

The tower was crumbling. With them still inside.

The heavy blocks began to give way, the staircase crumbling underneath their feet. "RUN!" the man shouted, and the two scrambled up the stairs in a race against time. The two sprinted for a window, their last hope for survival as adrenaline pumped through their veins.

"JUMP! JUMP FOR YOUR LIFE!" Tulip felt a strong hand shove the small of her back, pushing her out the window, she heard the man leap from the building, just before the structure gave out and fell to the ground. Tulip hit a wooden rafter of a nearby roof, and she hit it hard. The air knocked out of her body, she clung to the rafter, desperately looking about for the Nord man. He had unsheathed a short sword and was currently running towards town square, shouting orders at several Stormcloak men. An ear bursting shriek was heard throughout the town as the dragon caught sight of her and dived for the kill.

"Gods no….!" Tulip cried, but in vain. The dragon wrenched open its jaws and the roof was engulfed in a fiery inferno. Tulip dropped through the crispy straw roof, barely escaping the beast's flame, only to be fall into a heat trap. The room was filled with smoke, and Tulip's eyes watered painfully. She coughed, trying to clear her lungs of the all but impregnable smoke. Tumultuous black blinded her, billowing about like the dark wings of the dragon. She caught sight of an exit in the form of an open doorway, a beautiful ray of perfect white sunlight pushing through the blackness, and she ran, heart pounding as the temperature increased. Pieces of the building randomly gave way about her, and she ran faster, eager to escape the doomed room. She was a within a mere 7 feet of the exit when a particularly large rafter gave way, blocking the doorway in a wall of fire. She fell to the ground, eyes watering painfully as she coughed, crawling to a corner of the building. The building gave way around her, burying her body in smoke and wood.

"Can't breathe...can't…see…someone…helppp…" she wheezed in one last breath, before the world went black.

~O~

Aela scouted ahead, arrow drawn and at the ready.

"You heard the man! Ulfric told us to kill any imperials we may find, and collect any Stormcloack bodies left! Get moving!" Vilkas nodded in recognition, and cautiously entered the stone archway. When the Companions had gained word of the attack on Helgan, several members of The Circle immediately set out to check for survivors. So when they were intercepted by a courier, sent by none other than Ulfric Stormcloack, there was a great deal of surprise. The courier explained that his master, leader of the famous Stormcloaks, wished for them to break any endeavors they may be pursuing and redirect their course to Helgan to search for survivors. He explained that any survivors or fallen Stormcloacks were to be brought back immediately, while any imperials were to be killed. Since the group was already going to check for survivors anyway, they saw no problem with gaining some coin from the venture. They had arrived only a few hours after the attack had occurred, and smoke still filled the air above the town. Tying their horses, the trio unsheathed their swords, listening for any signs of the dragon being nearby. When all was silent, they slowly re-sheathed them, troubled slightly by such extreme silence. Vilkas inhaled deeply, trying to sniff out any other smell besides burning wood and cauterized flesh. A snort behind him announced the presence of his twin brother, Farkas.

"The air reeks here, we can't sniff out a thing." He stated quietly, gruffly pointing out the obvious.

"I know." Vilkas shifted, his Nordic accent ringing in the silence. Along with Farkas's help he pulled several rafters aside, reaching into the mass to check for a pulse on a fallen nordic man.

"Farkas! Get over here and help me lift these boulders!" Aela's voice sounded through the town. In a moment his brother shifted, transforming into a shadow of brown black fur that disappeared with a swirl of black smoke. With a grunt Vilkas lifted the man along with a burned pile of flesh that was buried under the debris, throwing one over each other and laying the men side by side in the square. He searched what was left of a "standing" building, and his brown eyes darkened at the sight. The room was nothing but charred wood, the roof gone and part of the wall smashed. What might have once been a table, or a wardrobe was thrown across the floor, and just behind a tanned hand hung. He crossed the room in stride, his boots causing black soot to rise from the floorboards. With a swift yank he threw the wood away, a piece braking off in his fist. Vilkas felt his inner wolf grow furious at the scene, and a growl unintentionally ripped itself from his lips. Underneath the wood lay a boy's body, perfectly preserved save for the dagger deep claw marks that raked across his abdomen. He kneeled, pushing the thick brown locks from his from the child's face, before solemnly closing the glazed orbs. Gritting his teeth, he scooped the child into his arms, cradling his torn body to his chest.

If I find that monster…I will kill it." He promised himself. Gently, he laid the child's body amongst the others, and reluctantly returned to his search. He approached the smoldering remains of what once might have been a house, afraid of what else he might find. Pushing aside the remains of a straw thatch, he caught sight of a small, pale hand hanging limply over a wooden support beam. Eyes wide, Vilkas felt about the wrist for a pulse, holding his breath as he waited for the soft twang of life.

…thump…

…tha thump…

..THA THUMP…

THA THUMP.

Shoving the crisp wood aside, Vilkas dug desperately into the debris, lifting a heavy rafter from amongst the wreckage revealing a small imperial woman. She was deathly pale, and soot and a few cuts marred her milkdrinker skin. Blood was smeared across the right side of her face, and surprisingly it did not appear to be hers.

She was an Imperial.

Vilkas paused, as he considered his options, the first and probably least consequential, he could follow his orders and kill her for being an imperial. Yet, she didn't look like any officer Vilkas had ever seen, she lacked muscle that most soldiers possessed, and she wore no armor or carried any weapon. Just a bystander. Vilkas cursed, and spat as if something vile had entered his mouth-

Kneeling down, Vilkas pulled a green vial from his satchel, the contents simmering quietly. Gently, he tilted her head back and poured the contents through her parted lips. She murmured quietly, and he knew that she could hear him as the healing vial dragged her back to semi-consciousness.

"I cannot disobey my orders, nor can I just leave you here to die. If you survive, than you are strong and you may seek us out. If not, than may Talos bless you and keep you."

Tulip listened to these last words, forcing her eyes to open a fraction of the way to try to catch a glimpse of the man. All she managed to see was a pair of hauntingly blue eyes, and the followed her into the darkness.

~O~

:D YAY! Chapter 1, check! What do you think?

Some mistakes in there I'm sure…