Esil curled up against the bars of the cage, hiding her head between her knees. She ignored the Thalmor's brutal attacks on Ulfric and Galmar, ignored the body being flung into a cage next to her, ignored everything around her. She kept her eyes shut and her mouth closed. She didn't want to move or speak.

"Esil." She ignored the weak voice. "Esil, I know you're awake. Look at me." She didn't. "Esil, I'm begging you. Look at me." Coughing. Esil opened her eyes and looked over. Ondolemar was lying against the bars. He was covered in blood and his eyes were dead.

"What?" She whispered.

"Lock…pick…" He croaked. Everyone else was asleep, it was just the two of them.

"What about a lock pick?" She asked. He shakily held one up.

"Stole… one…" He grinned, displaying bloodied gums and missing teeth. She reached for it, taking the cool metal in her callused hand. "Get… out…" He whispered.

"I'm getting out." She said, reaching for the lock. "And I'm coming over to you."

"No… Get out… and run…" Ondolemar ordered as she opened the cage door. She shook her head and crawled over to him.

"Where are you bleeding?" She asked.

"Get out…"

"I'm not leaving you to die." She told him. Ondolemar shook his head.

"They'll kill me anyway… Get out while you can…" Esil took his hand, curling her fingers tightly around it.

"I can't. I said there are two people I count as friends, you remember that, right?" The Altmer nodded. "It's you and Marcurio. I told him that if he was killed I'd slaughter everyone close to the murderer. I think I'd do that for you as well." Esil said. She raised her hand and glowing Restoration magic circled it. "Please, don't die on me." She whispered, pressing it into his arm. Ondolemar smiled weakly.

"You're an idiot…" He said as colour began to return to his face. Esil turned as footsteps approached. She scampered away into her cage, closing the door and locking it again, pressing herself against the back bars. Two Thalmor soldiers entered the jail, approaching her cage. One unlocked it, the other reached for her. She curled up tightly into a ball. Cold gloved hands grabbed her ankle and pulled. She growled and grabbed the bars of the cell, shaking her head. Both ankles were grabbed and she felt her grip slipping.

"No." She said, wrapping her arms around the bars and linking her hands. Both soldiers took her ankles and pulled. Her grip broke and she was dragged out of the cage, clawing the hard icy ground as she went, swearing all the way.

Elenwen frowned as Esil was brought in. The soldiers dropped her legs and left the room. Fingernail marks could be visibly seen leading into the room. She bent down over the Dunmer, grabbing her chin and lifting it so their eyes met.

"What do you want?" Esil asked.

"Where are your troops moving?"

"I'm not in charge of that. Ulfric tells me when to fight, and I fight."

"I don't believe you." Elenwen dropped Esil.

"Too bad, it's the truth."

"No. You're more independent than that. You don't always just go where he wants, you must give him ideas for strategies and battles." Elenwen walked over to the other side of the room.

"Why would he trust my judgement?" Esil slowly stood up. "I'm not the best person to ask for advice." Elenwen didn't face her.

"You have no control or knowledge of where your 'Stormcloaks' are hiding?"

"Check the Holds. It's not that hard, they all wear blue." Esil shrugged. Elenwen smirked.

"We are." She turned back to the Dunmer. "We're scouring the Holds. The Thalmor are rounding them up as we speak. And you know what we're going to do? We're going to hold a mass execution. In public. We're going to utilise some chopping blocks that have fallen into disuse." Elenwen grabbed Esil's shoulders. "And you, Ulfric and Galmar are going to watch."