4E 182, 23rd of Sun's Dawn...

"Gwen! Why don't you come join us?"

Gwen smiled as Galmar urged her forward. "Good to see you again, Galmar. I trust you are well?"

Galmar chuckled. "Never better." He pointed to her eye. "Find something you couldn't handle?"

Gwen rolled her eyes and smiled. "More like the troll found something it couldn't handle."

Galmar laughed. "Good to see you haven't lost your charm." He glanced at Ulfric, who stood off to the side speaking with Jorleif. "I heard you saved the jarl from an assassin last week."

Gwen blushed and she shook her head. "It was nothing, really."

"Nothing my ass!" Galmar chuckled, leaning in to add in a hushed tone, "I heard you two love birds kissed."

Gwen's cheeks erupted into a rosy flush. "I-I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Of course not, hehe." Galmar patted her shoulder. "I heard you became a full fledged member of the Companions. Care to show me what you learned?"

"Is that a challenge I hear, Galmar?" Gwen replied. "I would think you'd know better."

"Cocky, aren't you?" Galmar laughed. "I like your spirit, lass. Come on, let's see what you've got!"

Ulfric looked up as the clanking of swords drawn echoed in the main hall. "They're serious."

Jorleif chuckled. "I've seen Gwen training with some of the soldiers since she returned and let's just say, Galmar will be pleased."

Ulfric and Jorleif watched as Gwen and Galmar squared up against each other- Galmar with his battleaxe and Gwen with her sword and shield. He looked between them as Gwen side stepped around Galmar and knocked his feet out from under him. She jumped back as he fell and took a defensive stance.

"Not bad, Gwen." Galmarsaid, groaning as he got to his feet. "But you can do better." He lunged at her, slamming his shield into hers and knocking her back onto the floor.

Gwen landed hard on her back, dazed for a moment, but she rolled out of the way as Galmar brought his shield down on her. She managed to get to her feet, but Galmar took her shield- which had been knocked from her hand- and threw it along the floor, tripping her. She skidded across the floor and slammed into a wall, dropping her sword.

Ulfric could see she was out of breath and Galmar was pushing her to her limits. He watched as the Galmar advanced on her, kicking her sword far enough away from her to where she couldn't reach it.

"Come on, Gwen. You're going to lose if you don't up your game." Galmar said as he advanced. "Stop holding back."

"Who says I am?" Gwen said, spitting a bit of blood on the ground next to her as she forced herself upright.

"What are you afraid of?"

Gwen chuckled, catching the greatsword tossed to her by one of the guards. "Only thing I'm afraid of is hurting you."

Galmar grinned. "Let me see you try."

Ulfric watched as Gwen shifted her stance, taking on one that was more better suited to her weapon, then charged at his old friend with a speed he didn't know she had. He watched as she drew the sword in a large sweeping motion, her blade catching along the shaft of Galmar's battleaxe. His eyes widened as the shaft splintered and broke in two, rendering it useless.

"That' more like it!" Galmar grinned and caught one of the guards warhammers as they tossed it to him. "I'm not done yet, though!"

Ulfric watched as his right hand man charged at Gwen, watched as Gwen parried his attack and threw him back. He watched Galmar get back on his feet and attack again, catching the warhammer against her blade and putting off balance. He watched as Gwen was trown back and winced when he heard her head smack into the wall.

Gwen hit the wall, smacking her head against the stone. It left her dazed, her vision going in and out of focus, but she forced herself to her feet and readied herself for another attack. But then it felt as though her world came to a halt as images rushed through her mind.

"Mama, Papa, what's that?"

"That, cub, is a horker."

"They're so big and ugly!"

"Ah, but they taste wonderful."

"Captain, a storm approaches."

"I see it. Ready the sails."

"Are we safe with that storm, Papa?"

"Yes, cub. We'll be safe."

"Gwen!"

Gwen shook herself and her vision came back into focus in time for her to block Galmar' attack. She pushed him back, swinging the greatsword and catching him off guard. She pinned him to the floor, the tip of her blade at his throat.

"I yield." Galmar said, surprised as any that she had beaten him.

Gwen made to respond, but her vision went out of focus and more images came.

"The wind is too strong!"

"We'll be run aground if we can find the shore and steer clear!"

"Captain!"

The waves crashed against the ship, spilling over onto the deck. Gwen was soaked, trying to reach her parents.

"Mama! Papa!"

"Gwen! Where are you?!"

Gwen turned just as a massive wave towered above the ship and was thrown overboard as the wave rammed the ship.

"Ah!"

"Gwen!"

Gwen tried to stay above the surface, clinging to any wreckage she could find. The water was so icy, so cold and turbulent. She could see anything in the storm, not even the ship.

"Gwen! Where are you, cub?! Gwen!"

Gwen tried to call out but it was no use and her vision went black.

"Gwen... cub..." someone called from the distance.

"Gwen..."

"Gwen!"

Gwen started, finding herself standing there with the guards, Galmar, and Ulfric looking at her worried.

Ulfric reached up, touching her cheek. "Gwen, what happened?"

Gwen put a hand to get head and closed her eyes. "I... I'm not sure..." She stepped away and bowed to Ulfric and Galmar. "I should go... Thank you for a good match."

Ulfric and Galmar looked at each other as Gwen stumbled out of the main hall.

"Go after her." Galmar said, gesturing for Ulfric to follow.

Ulfric took after running after her, finding her leaning against the wall near the walkway into Valunstrad.

"Gwen!"

He ran to catch her as she slumped forward. He steadied her and wrapped hwr arm over his shoulder and his around her waist to give her support.

"Thanks..."

"Are you alright? What's going on?"

"I remembered..."

"Remembered what?"

"What happened before I was found thirteen years ago, washed up on shore..."

Ulfric could tell she was weary. "Let's get you home."

He walked her slowly to the Cruel-Sea Clan home and opened the door. "Torsten!"

Torsten came into the room and ran to them when he saw the state Gwen was in. "By the Divines, what happened?"

"I'll explain later, help me get her to bed."

Torsten took her other arm and they helped Gwen to bed, gently laying her back on the soft furs. He fetched a tub of water and a cloth, giving them to Ulfric and stood back as he wet the cloth, placing it on her forehead. "What happened?"

"She was sparring with Galmar and near the end of it, she had smacked her head against the wall. She must have it her head hard enough to where she remembered what happened to her before you found her."

"She remembered? Did she say what it was she remembered?"

Ulfric shook his head.

"It was... a shipwreck..." Gwen said, half conscious. "My parents... they were captains of the ship... a storm hit... I was thrown overboard and washed away..."

Ulfric and Torsten looked at her, then at each other, then back at her as she lost consciousness altogether. Ulfric leaned forward and pulled the covers over her. "Rest, Gwen."

They left the room, going back into the main room where Hillevi was waiting.

"Is she alright?"

"She needs rest, but she should be fine." Torsten said.

Ulfric thought a moment and looked at him. "If she was aboard a ship that wrecked washed up on shores here, there's only one ship it could be."

Torsten nodded. "Aye. The Winter War."

Hillevi put a hand to her mouth. "But no one survived that wreck."

Ulfric looked up the stairs towards Gwen's room. "She did." He sighed and turned back to Torsten and Hillevi, bowing. "Please let me know how she's doing once she's reated?"

"Of course."

Ulfric took his leave and wandered the streets back towards the Palace of the Kings. 'I hope you'll be OK, Gwen... Divine watch over you.'