Their leader was a racist, his second in command a barbarian, but Athene quickly found the Stormcloaks themselves were mostly regular people. It was disarming, which bothered her.
At first they teased her about cleaning the barracks. "You missed a spot," was a favourite, as well as, "When you're finished with that, my boots need a good polish." And at first she grit her teeth, but soon realized there was a marked lack of other kinds of teasing. No one mentioned that she was an elf. In fact, there were more than a few elves already within the ranks, some of them Dunmer, and at least two who'd lived in the Grey Quarter for years. They were just as accepted by the other soldiers as any Nord.
There was even an Argonian, Longs-for-Stars, and when Athene asked her what she thought of Ulfric not allowing her kin into the city walls, she shrugged. "Right now Skyrim needs solidarity. We'll deal with the Empire and when our home is safe we can deal with each other."
Athene wasn't sure if this was dreadfully short-sighted or commendably focussed on the task at hand.
The teasing was mild, and it began to segue into other things. Questions about her homeland, and the family she'd lost. Delicately put, by people quick to offer some of themselves in return: stories of Imperial troops getting carried away in a skirmish, or Thalmor ordering executions for nothing more than a muttered phrase: "By the nine." The stories that had pushed them to take up arms against their ruling government were not dissimilar to Athene's, apart from the fact that she used hers as a veil for her true intentions.
A week went by cleaning the Stormcloak's floors and neatening their beds, and Athene found she didn't resent any of them. She spent her own nights at Candlehearth Hall, sneaking out of the Palace of the Kings after dark so she didn't have to look Brunwulf Free-Winter in the eye, or run into Dalan Merchad—an even more awkward prospect. Before the sun rose each day she was back with Jorleif, looking for more work.
One day he said to her, "See Galmar. He's been looking for you."
She didn't like that she felt weak when she heard this. She'd become used to routine, beds then dishes then floors, and used to spending her spare time poking through the castle to find weak spots where she might be able to surprise Ulfric on his own. Used to anonymity.
She put her shoulders back and went to find Ulfric's second in command.
The Jarl was slouched on his throne, as usual. Two Nord men were yelling about a dragon attack near Kynesgrove. Well, not attack exactly. When questioned further they admitted they'd only seen it from a distance, but it had scared them enough that they demanded to know what he'd do to protect them. Would he use his Shout, the one that killed High King Torryg, and blow the beast apart? Would he send his Stormcloaks to fend off the menace?
As Athene passed the throne he gave her a long look, ignoring the Nord fools. She ignored him.
Galmar stood in the war room, leaning over a map.
"You need something cleaned?" Athene said.
"From what I hear, you've been through the whole castle already. Good work."
Was he actually commending her on her use of soap? She waited for something worth a response.
"I'm sending you to Serpentstone Isle. It's where men have long tested their strength."
"What do women do there?"
"They kill an ice wraith and prove their worth, then return to me. If they survive."
"Right. Sure. I'm off to kill an ice wraith, then."
He snorted. She turned away.
This was more what she expected: a task she probably couldn't manage, that would likely kill her before she had half a chance to get close to Ulfric. She'd never even heard of Serpentstone Isle, but she'd get directions from someone less likely to want her dead. Maybe Wuunfurth the Unliving, the court wizard. He'd been more or less polite to her and usually left the room while she scrubbed his floor, demonstrating some trust. He didn't think the elf maid was going to steal everything not nailed down.
And she was going to need some help. Most of her talent involved sneaking and killing before she was seen. Ice wraiths were wild creatures, and canny. The likelihood that she could sneak across a snowy plain and stab it before it saw her was small.
What was the likelihood Galmar would find out she'd taken a friend on her strength-testing quest?