Months had passed since then and Rian had not returned to Falkreath where the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary lie. Instead, she had been tracking down the responsible party for putting out a hit on Ulfric- hoping more to confirm what the wind had "told" her than anything else.

She managed to track them down to Dragon Bridge, identifying them as Ancos Titelli of the Pentius Oculatus. He was an aspiring Imperial soldier, hoping to make it good with Commander Maro in Solitude and even General Tullius by having the head of their enemy presented to them.

Ancos was quite the contemptible person, but Rian took no pleasure in ending his existence once he had confirmed that he did not perform the Black Sacrament. It was just was some lazy, cheap, half-assed way of trying to use the Dark Brotherhood to advance his career.

Unsure of how Astrid or the rest of the guild would take her failure, let alone the news that the Black Sacrament hadn't been performed and the guild was used, Rian decided it would be best to steer clear of them for the time being. But as she tried to keep a low profile, her mind did often wander to thoughts of Ulfric.

That final night in his chambers, Rian realized that it must have been a higher being or power that was reaching out to her and Ulfric on the wind. It was the only thing that made any sense, especially after she had confirmed what the wind had "told" her. It also made Rian begin to wonder how many other contracts like this one had been made and passed down through the ranks by Astrid. It was shocking enough that she forsook the Five Tenets, but to think that she was disregarding the Black Sacrament as well was incomprehensible.

Before long, though, Rian felt herself being drawn back into Eastmarch hold and wondered if she should reach out to Ulfric in any way. She stopped in Kynesgrove, renting a room at the Braidwood Inn- paying for at least a week ahead of time. During her stay, she overheard someone talking about the Eldergleam Sanctuary. Curious, she asked about the sanctuary and was told that it was home to the Eldergleam Tree- the oldest living thing in Skyrim, said to have been brought over from Atmora when the province was settled by its people. Upon hearing the mention of her ancestors- having come from a clan that still held strongly to their Atmoran roots- Rian knew she needed to see this tree for herself. She asked how to get there, packed her things and took to the road- heading south and west into the wilds. She was careful as she traversed the tundra landscape, stepping around the sulphur pools and avoiding the giant camp along the way.

When she reached the sanctuary, a gentle breeze blew through the trees and Rian felt a somewhat familiar energy guiding her towards the entrance. She felt the breeze blowing into the sanctuary, as though it were urging her inside. She stepped inside, following the path into the sanctuary and stopping when she saw the massive ancient tree towering above her.

'It's beautiful...!'

The breeze swirled around Rian before changing its course, as though to guide her along the path towards the base of the tree. Rian followed the path, moving across a wooden bridge until she heard someone call out to her. Rian looked up to see a Nord man lounging above her on a ledge.

"Hello there, friend. Have you come to enjoy the sights and sounds of this beautiful sanctuary, as I have? Truly remarkable, isn't it?" The man said, offering her a welcoming smile.

"This is the Eldergleam Tree?"

"That it is. She's beautiful, isn't she?"

"She is." Rian found a ledge where she could sit and gaze up at the tree. "Is it true that she came from Atmora?"

The man nodded. "At least from what the stories say." He watched her a moment. "The name is Sond."

"I am Rian."

"Rian. That's a pretty name." Sond looked up at the tree. "What brings you to the sanctuary?"

"I heard tell of it and wished to see it for myself." Rian replied.

"And what do you think now that you behold it?"

"It's... tranquil." Rian closed her eyes when the breeze circled through the sanctuary and brought the scent of the flora to her.

Sond watched as the breeze carried some leaves and petals along, seeming to circle around the strange woman before him. He made to comment on this observation, but he heard someone else come into the sanctuary and went to greet them- leaving Rian to enjoy herself.

Rian sat, listening to the breeze blowing through the leaves, feeling the cool air kiss her face, smelling the sweet fragrance carried throughout the sanctuary. She had not felt this at ease in a very long time and it was a welcome change. But her peace did not last long and was interrupted by a twig snapping nearby. Rian reacted quickly, gathering her things and ducking behind one of the numerous trees that resided with the Eldergleam. She crouched at the base of the tree and peered through the bushes to see who was intruding upon her peace, but she was not prepared for who it actually was.

'Ulfric?'

Ulfric Stormcloak stopped right where she had been sitting, looking around as if he were trying to find something.

Rian dipped down and backed as far out of sight as she could when he seemed to turn towards her hiding spot. She waited a moment or two, then took a chance to peek through the bush to see if he was still facing her. When she found that he wasn't, she climbed up into the tree as silently as she could and started making her way towards the entrance of the sanctuary- her heart racing.

'Why am I so anxious..? What is it with this man that makes me feel this way..?'

Rian quietly hopped down from a high ledge, landing softly on the cushiony grass before sidling through the entrance. When she cleared the entrance and made her way down the hill to the path she had taken from Kynesgrove, Rian kept a brisk pace and tried to calm her nerves. Never before had anyone made her feel this way and it infuriated her that she could lose composure so easily around him.

As she made her way back to Braidwood Inn, darkness was descending upon the sky as night approached and Rian hurried to reach the inn. She made to turn from the wilds onto the road that would take her to Kynesgrove, only stopping a moment to look up at the sky as snow started to fall. She lowered her hood and watched the gentle snowflakes as the floated down from greying skies- the icy cold quickly melting as it touched her cheeks. She smiled, having always loved the snow, and was reminded of the home that she once knew as a young child. As the memories surfaced, her smile faded and her heart began to fill with sadness. She pulled her hood back up and continued on her way, hoping to shut away the memories just as she had for years.

It did not take her long to return to the small village, but as she made to go inside, she sensed a familiar presence and stepped around to the shadowed side of the inn.

"Veezara."

"Rian, you look well." The Argonian assassin brother Rian had known longer than most of the rest of the guild- save for Astrid, her husband, and the old wizard, Festus Krex- stepped forward a bit.

Rian remained silent, trying to assess the situation. As she stood there, Veezara chuckled.

"Relax, Rian, I come as a brother and friend."

Rian raised a brow and crossed her arms, but remained silent.

"You've been gone a long time, we've been worried." Veezara started. "Imagine the surprise when the guild learned of your failure."

Rian's eyes narrowed a bit. "The contract was rendered invalid, so I spared his life."

Veezara looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that the Black Sacrament was not performed, thus rendering the contract invalid."

"How can you be sure?"

"The man who made the contract admitted it before I took his life."

"How do you know that he wasn't lying?"

Rian stepped closer to the Argonian, a threatening air about her. "Do you not trust my judgment, brother?"

Veezara stepped back, hands up. "Alright, alright. Forgive me, sister, you must understand how unusual this situation is."

Rian sighed and stepped back. "Do you understand why I didn't return?"

Veezara nodded. "Does Astrid know about the contract?"

"Either she does and is disregarding even the Black Sacrament, or she was fooled as much as I was."

"What will you do now?"

Rian looked away. "I'm not sure what to do... I find myself questioning everything..."

"Will you return with me?"

Rian shook her head. "I can't. Not until I find the answers I seek."

Veezara sighed. "I understand, but I do not know if the others will."

"Find a way to make them, then." Rian said, turning towards the front of the inn. "Please, brother?"

Veezara nodded. "I'll do my best." He began to turn away, stopping only for a moment to add, "Good luck, sister."

Rian watched him disappear and sighed, heading towards the door of the inn. A gust of wind blew through the wilds, freeing her hood from her head. She looked to the sky, wondering what changes were coming on the wind. She stood for a few moments, listening for another sign, then reached for the door handle.

"It was you."

Rian stopped in her tracks when she heard another familiar voice and she turned towards the main road into the village. "Ulfric?"