Windhelm,one of the harshest kingdom within the country of Skyrim. The sun never shines through the grey and snowy clouds that cover all of the kingdom. Even the White River is half frozen and no animals seem to graze upon the frozen grass on the banks of the river. A lone white and brown horse trots over to the Whindhelm stables and a figure is riding upon its back. Beside the horse is a large man wearing heavy armor with a Markhark shield around his hand, his dark brown hair hangs around his face as the winter air gently blows his braid across the brim of his nose. The figure upon the horse is very slender and small in shape, a black shrouded crowl covers its face and snow falls down the unusual light armor's metal. Once the horse reached the stable, the figure slid off the horse and its bare feet touched the frozen soil below, sending a slight shiver down the figure's spine. The man reached out to help her down but then quickly retreated his hands away when he saw her feet planted into the snow. Yet, his shadow towered over to the young figure.

The figure then removed the crowl from its head and dark locks appear. The figure is a just a young girl, however by the shape of her ears she is clearly a Woodelf.

"It's cold here don't you agree, Argis?" the young Woodelf asked the man as she patted the horse's face gently, the animal pressed its nose into her gloved hand. "Perhaps I should've worn more appropriate clothing, I was hoping we wouldn't have to stop in this winter kingdom."

His mixcolored eyes stared down at her and a small smirk appeared on his face from her last comment, "Indeed," He said softly to her but then gazed up to the sky, "can't deny that view though."

The Woodelf peered above and a small smile appeared on her dark face. Her eyes sparkled at the sight drawn in the night sky. The sight is truly breathtaking, the faint aurora of blue that shine in the night sky is truly a work of art. Her eyes sparkle at the beauty in front of her. She'd never seen such a slight in all her life.

The WoodElf looked over to her housecarl, her smile disappeared into a look of concert because she could tell he was disconnected from her at the moment. His gaze just stays up at the beautiful night sky above them.

"Argis," she questioned at the man who blinked at the sound of his name. "Are you alright?"

"Fine, of course." He replied softly to her. "Just reminds me of Markarth at night."

A small wave of guilt washes over the elf. Markarth, his home. A place where he grew up as a child and called it home. Such a fantasy to her.

She gently placed her dark gloved hand onto his upper arm. He flinched softly when she placed a hand upon his arm but gazed down at her. "I'm sorry." She said softly with a soft smile upon her lips. Comforting a person is a trait that she never gained, being alone half of her life makes it difficult for her to form bonds with others.

He just stared down at her for a moment, his mixed colored eyes softened, and then shrugged his shoulders. "I'm your housecarl, that's all that matters. My home is wherever we go, my Thane." he said pride in his deep voice and she just nodded as she removed her hand from his arm.

"Let us go inside, I do hope we can find somewhere to truly rest," she said softly as the pair walked across the long bridge to the doors of the kingdom. Some soldiers had their backs turned to them, peering out to the icy valley while some turned to gaze at the pair. Yet, as they walked she could feel gazes upon her, only her. Not welcoming gazes, that is for certain.

Argis stepped closer beside her, as if to block her from the harsh gazes at her. "Place your hood back on," he whispered to her and she did as he said without thinking twice. She placed the dark hood over her head once more to hide her elfin appearance. Once they reached the large wooden doors, Argis opened one of them for the young Elf and she walked into the kingdom.

The city was just as unwelcoming as the entrance. The city is dark with only a few torches to light the narrow pathways. Frozen ice hangs over all the brick walls surrounding the kingdom as well, it is as if ice has taken over the city. The young elf keeps the hood over her entire face as the pair walk together. The sound of angry drunks can be heard from her left, so stays very close to Argis.

"Damn these Dark Elfs," a man shouted into the dark sky. "DAMN THEM TO OBLIVION!"

The elf grabbed onto Argis's arm from such a comment which caused him to look down at her.

"Ignore him," he said with a harsh voice, but then softened his tone as he looked down at the young Elf. "He's drunk and a fool. Let's move on."

She only nodded and removed her hand from his covered arm. The pair slowly walk through the icy kingdom until she stopped walking, and when she stopped he did the same. Her dark hues gaze at the frozen buildings and then she looked over to Argis. .

"Perhaps we should visit the Jarl-," She said up to him and Argis' good eye widen at her words and he quickly interrupted her, "NO," he said firmly which caused her to raise a brow but he quickly cleared his throat. "Whatever you want my Thane."

Rhawneth only nodded, "Let us move on then. It's very cold."

The pair walked through the dark city together. Narrow pathways are the only way to find shops, which is extremely annoying. Yet, after walking down a pathway the Palace of Kings was right in their eyesight. A few guards walk around the area while two are positioned at the large doors. Rhawneth walked up the stone stairs and right up to the large doors. For some reason her heart sinks into her stomach, as if something grand might happen when she opens the door.

She then opened the large doors and stepped inside with Argis. The large door creaks to a loud shut, but the young Elf's dark eyes are roaming around the great hall. Below her bare feet is a sky blue rug that runs from the entrance all the way to the Jarl's throne. Upon the large rug is a grand table that has vast amounts of food upon it.

She slowly walked beside the long table but then blinked her eyes when she saw the thorn was empty. Peering behind her, Argis seemed pleased to see the empty throne.

"Let us leave then," he spoke to her.

She was about to agree with her houscarl until she heard voices coming from an opened door just a foot away from her.

"Balgruuf won't give us a straight answer!" A man shouted from the room which caused the young Elf to walk slowly toward the other door, with Argis right at her heels.

"He's a true Nord. He'll come around," a deep voice replied causing the Elf's eyes to widen. That voice, it sounds so familiar to her yet she cannot recall the name.

As she took another step forward, Argis gently took a hand of her slender arm. "We should leave," he whispered forcefully to the young Elf.

She shook her head, "Sounds like they need help, so release me."

His gaze is bone chilling but he slowly released his grip on her, "As you wish, my Thane."

She nodded at him and then walked into the room. It is a war room because of all the weapons hanging on the wall along with the table with blue and red flags. She kept to the frame of the door, hoping the men wouldn't notice her as they spoke.

"Don't be so sure of that. We've intercepted couriers from Solitude. The Empire's putting a great deal of pressure on Whiterun," the older man said. The man speaking has on an interesting outfit of a bear hide at his head and what seems to be of Stormcloak officer uniform.

"And what would you have me do?" The man questioned with true deity in his voice.

"If he's not with us, he's against us."

"He knows that. They all know that."

"How long are you going to wait?"

"You think I need to send Balgruuf a stronger message?"

"If by message you mean shoving a sword through his gullet."

"Taking his city and leaving him in disgrace would make a more powerful statement, don't you think?"

She quickly looked over to Argis with a concerned look in her dark hues and he returned the same look at her. Are these men thinking of killing the Jarl of Whiterun? For what cause? Yet, she keeps quiet and listens to the men discuss.

"So we're ready to start this war in earnest then?"

"Soon."

"I still say you should take them all out like you did Deadking Torygg."

"Torygg was merely a message to the other Jarls. Whoever we replace them with will need the support of our armies."

The Elf listened carefully and an image ran through her mind. Torygg? The High King? She knows this man. The man with the deep yet tormented voice. Ulfric Stormcloak. He was with her at Helgen for execution. The man who shattered the High King with just his voice.

"We're ready when you are." the man with the Stormcloak uniform said to the Jarl.

"Things hinge on Whiterun. If we can take the city without bloodshed all the better. But if not…"

"The people are behind you."

"Many I fear still need convincing."

"Then let them die with their false kings."

"We've been soldiers a long time. We know the price of freedom. The people are still weighing things in their hearts."

"What's left of Skyrim to wager?"

"They have families to think of."

"How many of their sons and daughters follow your banner? We are their families."

"Well put, friend. Tell me, Galmar, why do you fight for me?"

"I'd follow you into the depths of Oblivion, you know that."

"Yes, but why do you fight? If not for me, what then?"

"I'll die before elves dictate the fates of men. Are we not one in this?"

The young Elf's eyes widen at the word elves. What do they have against her kind? What have Bosmers ever done to Nords? What have Dark Elves ever done to this man? Is that the guards were glaring at her when she entered the city? Her heart begins to burn with anger from their harsh words. Yet, she stays silent as they continue their debate.

"I fight for the men I've held in my arms, dying on foreign soil. I fight for their wives and children, who's names I heard whispered in their last breaths. I fight for we few who did come home, only to find our country full of strangers wearing familiar faces. I fight for my people impoverished to pay the debts of an Empire too weak to rule them, yet brands them criminals for wanting to rule themselves! I fight so that all the fighting I've already done hasn't been for nothing. I fight… because I must,"'Ulfic said to his friend with a stern voice, a voice of a true Jarl.

"Your words give voice to what we all feel, Ulfric. And that's why you will be High King. But the day words are enough, will be the day when soldiers like us are no longer needed."

"I would gladly retire from the world were such a day to dawn."

"Aye. But in the meantime, we have a war to plan."

With the conversion over, Ulfic walked past Rhawneth but stopped to gaze upon her and Algris. She returned the gaze from her cowl, her dark eyes glaring with fire. The air grows with slight tension but curiosity as well. Finally, Ulfic removed his gaze from her and walked out into the main hall. Rhawneth watched him leave the room with anger still brewing deep in her heart.

Algris walked beside her, causing his shadow to cast over her small body. "Let's go," he said firmly and she only nodded. They both turned their backs ready to leave until the older man spoke to them.

"You here to join the Stormcloacks?" He asked the pair causing Rhawneth to look over her shoulder.

Rhawneth turned her body toward the older man who is standing above a large table, "N-No," she started to say until Argus stepped in front of her, as if to protect her from the man. "No, we were just leaving." he said forcefully to the older man.

The man smiled seeing Argis and laughed deeply, "Oh a true Nord would not turn my offer. You're a son of Skyrim and so is the girl, a daughter of Skyrim. Both of your allegiance is to Skyrim."

Rhawneth gazed up at Argis who just kept his gaze upon the older man with the bear hide over his face.

"My allegiance is to my Thane, and only my Thane." Argis said in his deep voice. His comment caused the young wood elf to blink and gaze up to her companion. However, he never looked down to Rhawneth as he spoke about her.

The older Nord stared at the girl in the cowl and then raised his brow, "Interesting. We could use a pair like you two. Tell you what, there is matter that I cannot handle at Serpent Stone with an Ice Wraith, if you kill it, you will have my offer of becoming a Stormcloak along with my gratitude."

Rhawneth brow raised at the offer but Argis refused to look down at her. The tension in the air is too much for the young Elf so she just nodded. "We shall consider it," she said softly to the Nord and then looked up to her housecarl, "won't we?"

Argis finally moved his gaze down to her and his facial expression is dark and anger as he stared into her dark hues/ "Whatever you wish, my Thane."

Rhawneth ignored the anger in his voice and just slightly bowed to the older Nord. Then, she turned her back to the man and Argis followed behind her. When they walked into the main hall of the palace she turned her head slightly to gaze upon the Jarl on this throne. Her dark hues met with his light hues, he only nodded at her which caused her to turn her head away quickly. Why his gaze seems to haunt yet make her flustered she will never know.