On her way to the college, Iona encountered some patrols. Fortunately for her, she managed to hide from them.
Not far from Winterhold, the soldiers began to seem like hundreds to her, she couldn't continue to hide everytime like that. Continuing her way the best she could, she saw the devastation of Winterhold. The ruins of the old capital city of Skyrim. The Stormcloaks worked on it, some wooden bulwark was all around it, a gate was the only passage point.
"Damn." she whispered to herself. "I need to find a way to enter the city."
She looked at the gate for about fifteen minutes, but then, an idea came to her mind.
Seeing a guard getting away from the gate, she discreetly followed him. Before he stop, she cut his throat. Hiding the body, she stripped him from his armor. She didn't felt like dropping hers, fortunately for her, the ancient Nords built their armors to be flexible. She folded it the best she could and managed to hide it in the inner part of her shield. She had to keep her boots and gauntlets on, and took the guard's closed helmet.
Closing on to the gate, her heart began to race, "make this work, make this work, make this work." she repeated herself. Now entering the city, she almost sighed of relief behind her helmet. Making her way to the bridge for the college, she passed by a guard. The man stopped her, "Hoy!" She turned to him. "Those a' pretty weapons you have here, where did ya get 'em?"
"Hum... from... an inheritance." said Iona.
"Wow, well, I certainly hope ya know how to use 'em, girl."
"Of course I do." said Iona, feeling irritated that this man could even doubt her skills.
"Ha. We'll see that. Feelin' up fo' a little practice?"
Iona knew she couldn't afford to loose time, "Sorry, I need to look at something at the college, I'll kick your ass when I get back, alright?".
"If ya say so..." said the guard in a laugh, letting Iona go.
"Jackass..." she whispered through her helmet, while walking up to the mage's buildings.
Once in the courtyard of the college, she didn't saw any guard. "Guess those cowards are too afraid of the mages..." said Iona out loud. Taking off her helmet, she added "How do they even breath behind that?"
She made her way to the big tower in the back of the yard, opening the door, she saw students practicing. Entering the main room, she soon was greeted by an old man. "Hello, what is a guard doing here? Did something happened?"
"Ho, em, yes, hello, sorry, I'm searching for Morkan Lonar, is he here?"
"Are you mocking us?!" said the, now, pissed off wizard.
"What? No! It's important, I need to see him! Did something happened?"
"They didn't tell you? You barbarians took him to jail!"
"What did he do?"
"He was seeing his girlfriend... out of the college."
"It's even worst than I through."
"Worst than you through? Ha, I see, you're new here. Better take it as normal now. Nords don't like mages."
"I need to get him out of jail."
"Just ask your captain, he might listen to you. Now, please, get out." said the old man, pushing Iona out of the college.
"Hey!" she said, turning only to get the door shut behind her. "Bad, real bad..." said Iona, putting her helmet on and getting down to the city.
She prayed the gods that the jackass wasn't here anymore, but of course, they didn't listen.
"So, ready ta train?"
"What a persistent little... but wait, he can help me." she whispered. "Yeah, but, just before, I need to check the jails. Since I'm new, would you happen to know where they are?"
"Yeah, follow me."
The man took Iona to a part full of ruin, in a corner was an old statue, next to it, cages.
"What do ya need to check the cages for?" asked the guard.
"I know my way with locks, I'm taking a look at them, that's all."
There were four cages, but only one was full, a Breton man, about twenty years old.
While Iona was faking to look at the locks, the guard began the conversation.
"Those mages... I don't understand why we keep 'em like dat."
"You feeling hearty for them?" asked Iona, trying to look like she hate the mages.
"A mage once saved ma daughter's life... They're no evil... well, not all of 'em at last."
Iona didn't answered, instead, she studied the full cage's lock closely. She could pick it, but not while the other is watching. "Alright, up to practice." Said Iona walking to the man.
The lone prisoner looked at the guard getting away, tightening his fists on a sheet of paper.
After kicking the guard's ass good, many of them. The captain heard of it and came see the prodigy.
So much a short time, and the captain was already aware of her fighting furry. The night was coming, she knew she had to take off her helmet at some time. But what if they recognize her? She couldn't take this chance. Getting away from the others she took her helmet off, took a deep breath, pulled her hairs and used a dagger to shorten them, she was known for her long autumn hairs, it'll more difficult to recognize her if they change.
"Why are you doing that?" asked a voice.
She didn't saw that she was close to the cages. Morkan was looking at her, wondering why would she cut such beautiful hairs.
Looking for anyone else, she closed to the cage and answered, "So they don't recognize me. You're Morkan Lonar, right?"
the man simply nodded
"I'm Iona Northsan."
"The rogue general?!" said Morkan, surprised, "I heard the guards talking about you. What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to rescue you, Arkan Delanou send me here. I'm going to need you and the mages."
"Arkan? Why did he sent you?"
"We help each others on a project. And I need the college's help on the matter."
"Why us?"
"Long story short, I need the college and others to liberate High Rock."
"What? How? A whole country taken back with mages?"
"Not only, the thief too, and Cyrodiil."
"Thiefs and Mages for Cyridiil then?"
"And rebels, many of them, called Bitter Twilight."
"This is crazy."
"I fought a giant, black, immortal dragon side by side with dead heroes and the last Dragonborn in Sovngarde. Trust me, it can work."
"Anyway what are you gonna do once High rock is free?"
"Ulfric get kicked from the throne before he even is high king."
"And you take his place?"
"If I have to."
"Once you're the queen, what will happen to Skyrim?"
"High Rock, Cyrodiil, and Skyrim come side by side, liberating little by little all of Tamriel."
"That's still pretty crazy and impossible to do..."
"Still... I'm going down fighting for freedom." Said Iona, the same fire than before in her eyes.
"Anyway, you can't get me out without the college being suspected."
"But I can't leave you like that, I need to know the mages will be by my side."
"Look, give that to my girlfriend in the inn, you can't miss her, she's the only one about my age." said Morkan, handing a paper to Iona. "Once done, lead her to the college and go back here, free me, and lead me to the college, I have a plan to secure everyone."
"How?"
"You saw the big blue sphere in the main building? It's radiating with magic, and I have a device that can use it's magic to create a barrier."
"and for the food and drinks, you'll need to weaken the defenses, no?"
"There is ways we, mages, only can use, don't be afraid, the college will be safe and we will not starve until you come back for us."
Iona took the paper and added, "I'll be back quickly." getting up.
Morkan stopped her, "Iona... thank you."
She simply smiled as she got away.
In the inn, Iona didn't had any difficulties to find Morkan's girlfriend, she was, indeed, the only girl young enough, and the waitress of the inn, so if Iona talk to her, it's not weird.
"Excuse me, young girl?"
"Yes?" she said, turning to Iona.
"I have this for you." she said, handling the girl the paper. "From Morkan..."
The girl lightly laughed, "Yes, that's one of his poem, yes. Is he... holding up? I can't see him..."
"He is... He asked me to take you to the college."
"I can't... alone, the guards will stop me."
"Come with me, then." said Iona.
"Can you lead me to him first?" she asked.
"Alright, come with me." said Iona.
As the girl said to the inn owner that she's taking a break, she hurried to catch up with Iona.
Once at Morkan's cage, his Girlfriend jumped down to his level to kiss him.
"Sorry young people, but..." Said Iona taking a knife and a lockpick out. "Time to get you out Morkan."
The lock finally gave in, and Iona heard something she was afraid off : "Alarm! Prisoners out!"
Iona helped the weakened Morkan run with his girlfriend to the college.
Once half way on the bridge, Iona have had enough of the guard ramble behind them. Handing Morkan to his girl. She took her shield and axe, and screamed. "Kid, run to your device, I'll handle them!"
"I'll send the others to help!" screamed back Morkan.
The kids ran to the college, while Iona was using her mastery with shields to stay alive. Fiercely bashing back the Stormcloaks, thinking, "I could use a shout right about now!".
She can't stop, she can't get caught or die like that. She need to fight, yes, that's all she had in mind, fighting for survival. Soon enough, she heard the sound of magic, Fire and ice came crashing down the soldiers and guards alike making them fall back. Back enough for the shield to cut them from the college. Turning over the mages, she smiled and joined them up the bridge.
Morkan thanked Iona and gathered everyone in the college to listen to Iona's project.
A question was asked to Iona. "Why would a Stormcloak fight Ulfric?"
"I believed in him... in his project of a free country... but I was blinded... Since he lost his loved one... he became... merciless... a dictator... Because of his sorrow, he became what he fought against... It hurts me to say it... but in our time... we can't afford to have mourning take the best of us... I can't let him continue to spit at our face like he do! I was close with his late wife, and I can say that... she would cry seeing the country like that... I don't want a country like the one he is doing... Are you with me? For a free country for all?"
The mages were all silents... until the old one, who kicked Iona out, began to clap... followed by his colleague.
Morkan looked at everyone, then at Iona. "I think that mean you can count on us."
Iona smiled, and felt weird, seeing all those people cheering at her crazy project.
The wizards offered Iona to sleep the night in the college, offer she accepted.
The morning came, and she finally could take her real armor back on.
Saying goodbye to her new allies, she discovered that the so called ways only mages could take were just tunnels, none of which she feared, after following Nora through all the Nord ruins... those spider and skeever filled tunnels were nothing.
Her new destination was set : Riften and the Thief guild.