The headless horseman seen throughout Skyrim was once a prince who lived in an enchanting castle, but even though he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, cruel, and unkind.
One winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in exchange for shelter from the bitter cold.
Repulsed by her haggard appearance, he turned the old woman away, but she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty comes from within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress.
The prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart, and as punishment she transformed him into horrifying headless horseman.
The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his 21st year. If he could learn to love another and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken.
If not, he would be doomed to remain a ghost for all time. As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a specter?
Isn't it supposed to be Ragnar the Red or whatever?
.......I'm totally accepting that as canon. Never thought of that.
That's awesome!