It was a week before Gwen was back on her feet. She had suffered a concussion as a result of hitting her head as hard as she had, but the upside was that she had rememered her past.
Torsten and Hillevi had brought in a healer to check on her while she remained unconscious and once she had woken again, the healer cleared her within just a few days.
She walked to the Palace of the Kings, hoping she would find Ulfric and Galmar so that she could let them know she was ok. But when she couldn' find them, she went to the library to see if she could find any further answers on what ship she had been aboard or who her parents were.
She searches through every book she could find, finally finding one that have her the answers she needed.
"Gwen?"
Gwen looked up to see that Ulfric was passing by and spotted her. "Oh, hi. I was looking for you earlier."
"Jorleif told me you came here when you couldn't find me." Ulfric came up to her, his brow furrowed with worry. "Should you be up?"
Gwen managed a small but weary smile at that. "The healer Mum and Da sent for gave me the OK." She looked down at the map she had found and the book she was holding. "I found the ship I was on. The Winter War. Wrecked upon the cliffs northeast of here thirteen years ago." She pointed to the page she had the book opened to and showed it to Ulfric.
Ulfric looked at the page, seeing it was a detailed account on the ship- owners, cargo, everything. When he saw the name of the owners, his eyes widened. "You'e a member of the Felgeif clan?"
"My father was the son of Skald the Elder, Jarl of Dawnstar, it would seem. My mother was an heiress of a trading company that was nearly as prominent as the East Empire Trading Company. From what little I rememer of my parents, my grandfather disapproved of my mother and he and my father had a falling out. My mother and father started their own trading business and eventually settled in Dagon Fel, where they established a trading post. When they were set to return to Skyrim, a storm hit and the ship wrecked upon the cliffs after I was thrown overboard."
Ulfric read the passages on her family and his heart sank. "Gwen, I'm so sorry."
Gwen smiled sadly. "Don't be. At least I know what happened to my parents and where I'm from." She chuckled a bit. "Funny that I should remember everything the day I turned eighteen."
'Her eighteenth birthday? 23rd of Sun's Dawn...' Ulfric thought, then realized, 'She's only eighteen? By the Nine, she's nine years younger than me..!'
Gwen sighed, rolling up the map charts and placing them and the books back in their sections. "I thought I would be happy to learn of my past."
"Are you not?"
Gwen shrugged. "The Cruel-Sea clan has given me a good life, looked after me and raised me as their own. I will always be grateful to them. But at the same time it makes me wonder if I should go to Dawnstar to speak with my grandfather. He would be the only living family I have left by blood."
Ulfric thought a moment. "Would it be important for you to meet him?"
"I don't know." Gwen looked at him. "I feel that perhaps I should at least learn more about my past, why my parents left the way they did." She rubbed her temples. "I just don't want any of this to change my relationship with my family now. I owe the Cruel-Seas everything. They are my family." She sighed. "Maybe I'm overthinking this all." She turned to him and bowed slightly. "I think I'll take my leave, my lord."
Ulfric watched as Gwen left the library and he thought for a moment before running after her. "Gwen, wait."
Gwen stopped and looked at him. "Yes?"
"Meet me at the stables in one hour."
Gwen looked at him, confused. "The stables?"
"In one hour."
"Very well."
Gwen had gone to the farm to get in some work before meeting Ulfric at the stables. Little did she know what Ulfric had planned.
When it came time to meet at the stables, Gwen found Hillevi saddling her horse. "Mum?"
"Ah, Gwen. Good." Hillevi smiled. "Are you ready?"
"Ready for what?"
"We're going to Dawnstar."
Gwen looked behind her to see Torsten and Ulfric joining them. "What?"
Torsten smiled, presenting her with her pack and her gear. "We got everything together for you, dear."
Gwen took her pack and her gear, still confused. "I don't understand..."
Torsten stood with Hillevi and looked at her. "Ulfric told us what you had found in the library. If Jarl Skald is the only living family you have remaining, you should go to meet him."
"But, Da..."
Torsten hugged her. "No matter what happens, you will always be our daughter. We love you like our own and that will never change. But you need to find out more about who you are and your past."
Gwen smiled at that. "I see." She stepped back and looked at Ulfric. "You did this?"
Ulfric smiled. "I did."
"Why?"
"Because you need answers and I want to help you find them. Besides, I could use a break from everything."
"I see." Gwen's smile grew, then looked down at her gear. "Give me a moment to change?"
Ulfric nodded. "Of course."
Gwen hurried to the stable house and asked if she could borrow a room to change, quickly slipping into her armour and clipping her cloak into place. She thanked Ulundil and rejoined Ulfric and her parents- who were joined by Fjotli and Tulvur.
"Have a safe trip, Gwen." Hillevi said, hugging her. "I hope you find the answers you seek."
"Thanks, Mum."
"Come back soon, OK?" Fjotli said, looking at her sister teary eyed.
Gwen smiled, hugging her. "I will. Be a good girl while I'm gone, alright cub?"
"I will!"
Gwen stood and looked at Ulfric. "I'm ready when you are."
Ulfric nodded and mounted into saddle. "Then let's be off." He looked at her parents as she mounted into her saddle. "She will be safe with me."
"We know. Just bring her back safe."
Ulfric nodded and urged his horse forward, leading the way down the road as Gwen said a final farewell and hurried to catch up.
