You battle the spider.

"To fight one face to face is ****." The Nord explains. "While one warrior draws the creatures attention another should circle it and strike at it's flank. If it turns to attack, withdraw and let your companion press against it's exposed side."

You nod, the tactic seems simple and logically effective. You draw the Imperial sword from it's sheath and manage to grin at Ralof.

"Victory or Sovngard then lover." You tell him.

"Aye, victory or Sovngard John." Ralof says with a chuckle. "You may be a Redguard, but I would wager there's more than a little Nord in you."

"You maybe right." You laugh. "And desire for a bit more Nord inside me too."

Ralof and yourself move silently forward and spread out once the tunnel leads into the high cavern. Almost immediately you hear the chittering of the frostbite spider as it senses your presence and moves to block your path. You see it's silhouette and the arachnid is as large as a cart. You remember Ralof's instructions and keep to the shadows trying to circle around the creature. Ralof stands and attracts the spider's attention and it moves towards him. You crouch and let it turn and head towards him before leaping forward and slashing down with your sword. You feel your blade bite deep into hard flesh as you hack at one of the spider's legs. The spider hisses and turns in your direction only to be struck by Ralof as it's attention turns from him. You back away avoiding the lethal snapping mandibles and the press foward once more as the spider swings back to face Ralof once more. You strike again at it's damaged leg, this time severing the limb completely.

The spider turns with remarkable speed, it's front pair of legs striking you and knocking you backwards. For a moment you are off balance and exposed to attack, but Ralof shouts a battlecry and dashes in with his axe and hacks at the frostbite spider to distract it. As it turns to him you rally yourself and jump in once more and hack two or three times at the remaing legs on your side. You and Ralof continue this tactic and soon the gigantic spider is barely able to move to face your attacks as most of it's eight legs lie twitching on the cavern floor.

"Now press the attack John." Ralof shouts. "Finish the beast."

As the spider struggles to turn and face the bellowing Nord you rush in and this time use the point of your stolen sword instead of it's edge. Gripping the hilt two handed you raise your sword and stab downwards with all your might. The blade pierces the tough outer skeleton of the spider and sinks deep inside the bloated thorax of the hideous creature. As it thrashes and hisses Ralof buries his axeblade in it's nightmarish head and the twitching and hissing abruptly ceases.

It is a short distance to the cavern exit and you and Ralof hurry there, panting with the exertion of your battle.

"We must split up for a time." Ralof tells you. "I want you to head for Riverwood, just a short journey from here. Once there seek out my sister,Gerdur. She runs the lumber mill there and she will shelter you."

"I will double back to spy on Helgen and discover if that damned black dragon completely destroyed the town and meet you in Riverwood as soon as I can."