4E 182, 4th of First Seed...

"Jarl Igmund!"

Igmund looked up from where he sat speaking with Faleen and Raerek. "Beirand, what is the matter?"

"Gwen is gone!"

"Gone, what do you mean gone?"

"She's been taken!"

Igmund stood, his face etched with concern. "By whom?"

"There were Thalmor and Imperial soldiers at the spot she was last at."

Igmund felt a rage welling inside of him. "What?"

Igmund stormed out of the throne room and called out for the one person he knew could give him answers. "Ondolemar!"

Ondolemar, the Thalmor Justiciar stationed in Markarth, came around the corner and greeted the jarl as though nothing were the matter. "What can I do for you, my lord?"

"Cut the bullshit." Igmund glared at him. "Why is it that I'm hearing Thalmor and Imperial soldiers attacked and captured my Thane?"

"Which one?"

"Gwen, you knife-eared golden posh-tot!"

"Ah, Gwenethra Mae, Thane of Markarth, daughter of the Cruel-Sea clan and consort of Ulfric Stormcloak."

Igmund went silent.

"Yes, she was taken into custody and arrested for conspiring against the Empire. I had some of my men aid the Imperials in her capture and escort her for interrogation."

"Why was I not informed of this?"

"Because it was none of your concern."

"None of my concern? She's my Thane!"

"A Thane in which you selected while failing to realize was working for the Stormcloaks." Ondolemar sneered at the older man. "And if I were you, Jarl Igmund, I would watch that tone and choose your words more carefully when speaking to me."

Igmund stood, defeated as the Thalmor walked away with his guards.

"So then, what do we do?" Beirand asked.

"There's nothing we can do." Igmund turned to him, anger now mixing with guilt. "We can't go against the Thalmor."

"But she has nothing to do with the Stormcloaks! She refuses to choose a side!"

"And what of her relationship with Ulfric Stormcloak? That cannot simply be a coincidence!"

Beirand shook his head. "She isn't his consort. They're friends, nothing more."

"Then why would they take her?"

"They must think she has information that can aid them in bringing Ulfric down. What other reason would they lie and say she's conspiring against the Empire? She's done nothing wrong!"

Igmund sighed, feeling utterly defeated. "There's nothing we can do. We can't go against the Thalmor."

"I won't accept that. I can't accept that. I am sword to protect her and I will not fail her again."

Igmund watched as Beirand stormed off, his guilt deepening and taking its hold. 'I'm sorry, Gwen...'

4E 182, 5th of First Seed...

"Ulfric, there's a man here to see you. He says it's urgent."

Ulfric looked up at Jorleif from where he stood at the table in the war room. "Who is it?"

"He says his name is Beirand and he's come from Markarth."

Ulfric's eyes widened when he heard the name and he ran passed Jorleif into the main hall, his chest tightening.

"Jarl Ulfric?"

"What happened? Where is Gwen?"

Beirand looked at him, seeing the same fear and worry in his eyes that he felt. "The Thalmor. They've taken her."

"..what..?"

"Two nights ago. We tracked her as far as we could, but-"

"Ulfric, stop!"

Galmar had come running after Ulfric when he heard Beirand's name as well, having assumed the same as Ulfric. He ran up and pulled Ulfric away from Beirand- whom he had just punched.

"YOU ARE HER HOUSECARL, SWORN TO PROTECT HER! YOU ARE HER SWORD AND SHIELD!" Ulfric roared, fighting against Galmar and stumbling back when he freed himself.

"Ulfric, enough!" Galmar got in between Ulfric and Beirand. "This isn't going to help Gwen!" He looked at Beirand as Ulfric took a seat in his throne. "Tell us what happened, from the beginning."

Beirand nodded, wiping away the blood dripping down his chin. "It was two nights ago. Thane Gwen went out for her nightly stroll and took Ayasha out as she did every night. She normally returns around ten at night, but when it was well passed midnight and she still hadn't returned I grew worried. I searched the city for her, then tried the stables. That's where I found Ayasha and Thadis. Ayasha had been wounded by an elven arrow and Thadis had led her home." Beirand looked at Thadis, who stood between him and Ulfric protectively. "Thadis led me to where he had last seen Gwen and tried to track her scent, but instead of her we found Thalmor and Imperial soldiers alike massacred." He looked at Ulfric. "I immediately reported to Jarl Igmund and informed him of the situation. When he heard about the Thalmor's involvement, he confronted the Justiciar stationed in Markarth and we were informed that Gwen had been arrested for conspiring against the Empire and she was taken in for questioning."

"Did they say where they took her, lad?" Galmar asked, his heart heavy.

Beirand shook his head. "No."

"She could be anywhere, then..." Jorleif looked at Ulfric.

"What else?"

"Jarl Igmund can't go against the Thalmor. He said there was nothing we could do, but I refuse to believe that." Beirand stepped forward and dropped to one knee, bowing to Ulfric. "I failed my Thane once, I will not do it again. Please, my lord, I came to ask for your help in searching for her."

Ulfric glared down at Beirand, his anger boiling and mixing with jealousy. "Jorleif, I will trust you to handle things here and send word out to our allies and to each of our camps. Galmar, gather together enough men for raiding party, we leave at once." He stood and continued to glare at Beirand. "And you, Beirand, housecarl of Gwenethra Mae."

Beirand looked up at Ulfric, truly seeing why so many feared him. "Yes, my lord?"

"You will accompany us. You failed in your duties as a housecarl, but your punishment and fate is to be decided by your Thane and no one else."

"Understood, my lord."

"Get to it!" Ulfric glanced at Beirand before turning away. "Go to the House of Clan Cruel-Sea. Inform Torsten of what's happened, then met us at the stables immediately after."

"At once, my lord." Beirand bowed and ran out of the hall, Thadis close behind.

Ulfric stormed off to his room, changing into his armour before going to the armoury and retrieving his sword. As Galmar and their party gathered in the main hall, Ulfric led them out of the Palace of the Kings and to the stables.

A knock came at the door and Torsten answered, finding a tall young man with copper hair and stunning green eyes waiting. "You must be Beirand! I recognize you from Gwen's letters! Come in!"

Beirand shook his head. "Forgive me, but are you Torsten Cruel-Sea?"

Torsten nodded, sensing the heaviness surrounding Beirand. "What's happened?"

Beirand bowed to Torsten. "Forgive me, sir, but I failed in my duties as Housecarl to Thane Gwen. She was taken by Thalmor and Imperial soldiers to be questioned."

"Taken?" Torsten closed the door and stepped down from the porch. "Questioned for what?"

"They say that she was conspiring against the Empire, sir."

Torsten's chest tightened. "That's a lie, surely they know that."

Beirand looked at Torsten, guilt seeping in at the stricken father before him. "It is because of her relationship with Ulfric Stormcloak. I believe they mean to question her for means to bring him and his rebellion down."

Torsten shook his head. "This cannot be happening..."

"Forgive me, sir." Beirand bowed. "I have failed your daughter, my Thane."

"No, dear boy. You did not fail her. You have not failed her."

Beirand looked up at Torsten.

"She was taken during her nightly stroll, wasn't she?"

Beirand nodded.

"Then that is no fault of yours. Gwen has always taken nightly strolls, taken Ayasha for a good run. It was always her time to be alone with her thoughts. Even if you insisted on going with her, she would refuse and go alone. That's just how she is." Torsten put his hands on his shoulders. "What matters is that you are going to get her back and bring her home safe."

Beirand nodded. "I swear upon my life that I will."

"Good. Now you best hurry. I suspect you informed Ulfric first?"

Beirand nodded.

"Then he'll have organized a party to go out and find her." Torsten offered him a smile. "Go, Beirand. Find Gwen and bring her back."

Beirand bowed and made his way back down the walkway.

"And don't worry, Gwen is strong. They will not break her."

Beirand nodded and disappeared around the corner, leaving Torsten alone to figure out the best way to inform Hillevi about the situation.

"Divines watch over her and have mercy on the souls of those who do her harm."

Ulfric and his men were already prepared to leave when Beirand joined them at the stables.

"You did as I asked?"

Beirand nodded. "Yes, my lord."

"Then we need to hurry."

Beirand mounted into the saddle of the horse given to him and followed Ulfric's lead, Thadis doing his best to keep up.

Ulfric rode at the head of the party, Galmar at his side while Beirand trailed after him with the rest of their party. 'Gwen, please be OK...'