I own nothing.

The next morning Hilda set out for Fort Moruunskar to warn them of the impending attack by the Stormfist. But as it always was she was too late and the Stormfists has taken over the fort. Luckily not all the soldiers were captured, and some were planning an attack of their own. After being briefed about the situation Hilda got to work. It was nothing fancy really, just the same old same old; moving through the shadows, attacking people when necessary, saving captives. After all this time fighting on her own Hilda was an expert in this kind of fighting that in less than an hour she has set all the captives free and took out a respectable chunk of the Stormfist forces. It was much easier than the first time she had to do such a task. Then she made it to the barracks to meet with the more than pleased lieutenant before heading inside with her.
As was the usual method of hostile take overs, the invaders had completely ransacked the once nice barracks. Debris was thrown in every which way; the invaders patrolled the halls ready to attack. Nothing seemed to have been spared as if they were looking for something.
In a building like this it was no longer a benefit in hiding in shadows because of the tight quarters so she had to go with the nord standby, direct frontal attack. Hilda had to admit they were good, big strong men and woman using equally large blades; but Hilda was no longer a green eared recruit but was now a battle hardened warrior not afraid to throw her weight around. And some enchanted weapons certainly didn't hurt either. In no time she was climbing up the latter that led to the second floor since the attackers barricaded the main staircase.
The leader of the attack was a big ugly brut of a nord but Hilda fought him with practiced ease. Sure he was better trained and had better armor than the grunts, he still bleed like any other man and all that extra armor adds extra weight. That meant he had to use up more energy to sustain his attacks while leather clad Hilda barely had to use any. She simply used that to her advantage and soon enough he was on the ground dead.
Things got weird when Hilda opened that box on the desk the brute was guarding.
A spirit of a tall, proud nord woman appeared before Hilda, while now she was a transparent blue figure Hilda could almost see the living flesh and brown hair. The woman spoke in an echoing voice "I am Nurnhilde, Queen of the Nords. I came to you from Sovengarde with an urgent demand." Well it isn't every day you talk with a dead queen, especially the older sister of the current king. Hilda remembered hearing about the fallen queen. She had been slain in the sacking of Windhelm ten years before. She was beloved by all her subjects, and her death caused the split between her brothers.
Hilda hesitantly asked what the spirit needed.
The ghost queen continued "The relics you took from that strongbox were stolen from the royal tombs beneath Fort Morvanskar." Hilda nodded, that would explained why the Stormfists attacked the fort.
Hilda asked, "What should I do with the relics." If these relics were so important who knows what rituals must take place to return them.
Nurnhilde explained "Return the relics to their rightful places in the tombs below, of course. What else would you do with them, child? Accomplish this task and I shall forever be in your debt." Hilda agreed to do the queens bidding with a bow before heading downstairs.
The captain was pleased to hear the death of the leader of the attackers but confused as to who the hero was talking to after. Of course her demeanor shifted when Hilda said she spoke with the beloved dead queen. When Hilda told her of the queen's demands she immediately insisted they should be fulfilled at once and practically pushed Hilda out the door. Of course to get to the entrance of the tomb Hilda would have to battle her way through the remaining of the Stormfists. As much as Hilda has accomplish, she still had terrible luck at times. The Divines must love testing her.
Once she reached to entrance of the tomb she was not surprised to find the ghost there waiting for her. Hilda listened to the advice of the dead monarch before entering the old tombs. At this point making her was though a dusty old tombs crawling with the undead was basically child's play, and the puzzles were not even that challenging. The plain cup on the plain alter and the torn book had the dry page that continued the poem; easy. Though Hilda didn't know she could read ancient Nord. It was just easy for her to understand, perhaps it was something that Coldharbor did to her. But still even with the quick passage though the tombs it was still too late.
The ghost of the queen appeared in the final chamber and gasped "My body! The Crown of Fregdis! They should both be here, but they are gone." Hilda tried to bring up the idea that the Stormfists could have taken them but was shot down "No. Layers of magical protection engulf the inner chambers. Any Stormfist that tried to even touch my body would have be obliterated. Only those of royal blood could have- No!" Hilda paled as the implications reached her.
Hilda ran as fast as she could though the tomb's side entrance, but the traitorous brother got away with this sister's body. At least Hilda was able to strike down two members of his inner circle. And it was also good that the fort had been retaken while she was in the crypts. She could feel the ghost of disappointment and pride in her heart, unlike what others thought she could feel emotions but just the shadows of the real thing.
The disappointment only grew when Nurnhilde appeared. Hilda approached the queen with a bitter feeling in her mouth as she bowed "I am sorry, your majesty. I failed to stop your brother." For all her power and training she still failed, now a mad man's plan will be put into place.
The queen looked down at the young nord girl "I hardly know my own brother's heart. But I know yours. You did what you could and for that I am grateful. Keep the amulet, as long as you wear it I will be with you. You have done well child, you have grown into a fine young woman. So much like your mother and father. I will be watching."
Hilda's eyes widened as she called out "Wait!" But it was too late, the ghost queen was gone. But still the question burned in her mind as she slipped the amulet over her head and under her armor, why would the queen know her parents, could they have been that important for the queen to take notice of her as a child? Who was she?
But this was not the time for questions, she must go to the next fort to make sure the Kings meeting will go well. Or at least be there when things went sour, as was the usual case. She has worked too hard to let the Pact fall apart because of one meeting. Sure, she would like to rest for a day or so but that is what taverns are for not the road.