Gwen spent most of the next few hours of the day in her room, thinking. By the time night had fallen, she went to find Ulfric.

When Gwen couldn't find Ulfric, she went back to her room and sat in bed. She began thinking again about Ulfric, how he planned this trip for them to come to Dawnstar so that she could find the answers she needed. It couldn't be just because she needed answers and he did say that he may have had an ulterior motive. It annoyed her to no end that he wouldn't just tell her, even more so that he admitted he loved to tease her.

'Why does he make me feel this way?' she wondered, finding that she was longing for him to return just so she could be in his presence.

In the time that she had known him, she had grown to admire him and respect him. Despite initially refusing to help Tolerak or any non-Nord citizen, he had been making attempts to try and check in with the Gray Quarter more often and show an interest in all of Windhelm and Eastmarch's citizens. He was caring and kind in his own way, though he tried to hide it behind that gruff exterior she was beginning to love. He looked out for her, worried for her, respected her, admired her, and always made time for her.

'Am I starting to fall in love with Ulfric Stormcloak?'

Ulfric had been sitting in the inn, waiting patiently for Gwen to come out on her own, but after some time Skald had sent his housecarl, Jod, to fetch Ulfric and bring him to the White Hall. He wondered what the old man would want, especially after he had spoke the way he had to Gwen, but as a fellow jarl he would at least hear him out.

"Thank you for coming, Ulfric."

Ulfric took a seat next to Skald where he sat. "Why am I here?"

Skald sighed. "I've been thinking since you left earlier. That girl has quite the fire in her."

Ulfric smiled at that. "She does indeed."

"Just like her father..."

Ulfric looked at Skald, seeing a sadness start to wash over him. "You regret how things ended with your son?"

"There isn't a day that goes by that I don't regret it." Skald sighed. "It still angers me that he left the way he did, marrying that witch and ruining our chances of bringing Dawnstar back to glory. But in the end, it was his decision to marry for love and not money. As a father, I should have respected that."

"What are you going to do about Gwen?"

"Tell me, does she have a good life in Windhelm?"

"She does. She was taken in by the Cruel-Sea clan, who had found her on the shores near their farm. They've raised her into the wonderful and beautiful woman that she is today."

"You sound like you admire her a great deal."

"I do. She fights for what she believes in and fights to protect the ones she loves. She trained with Galmar for a time then went on to join the Companions for further training- all so she could protect herself and others without having to rely on someone else's strength. She even saved me from an assassin."

"She sounds wonderful." Skald sighed. "I can never make up for what I said to her father, but I can try to make up for what I said to her if she'll let me. She is the only family I have left now." He looked at him. "I admire you, Ulfric. I support you and your cause; I'm happy to help in any way that I can. All I ask is that you look after my granddaughter."

"I will."

"Thank you, my boy." He stood. "You should get back before she's starts to worry." He looked at Ulfric. "Tell me something. What is she to you?"

"What is Gwen to me?" Ulfric thought a moment. "I've been wondering that myself lately. I find it difficult to think of anything other than her. I worry for her, I care for her, I enjoy our conversations. We've become good friends, but I wonder if there is more to it."

"A young and beautiful young woman like her doesn't come around as often as we might like. Don't let her slip through your grasp."

Ulfric thought on what the old man said, bidding him a good night before leaving the White Hall and heading back to the inn. 'What is Gwen to me?' He noticed that Gwen's door was slightly open and he peeked inside, finding her passed out on her bed. He smiled, taking his cloak- the one Gwen had made for him for his birthday the year before- and draping it over her. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, letting his hand linger for a moment before he took his leave and closed the door to her room. Going into his own and turning in for the night, he stared at the ceiling.

As the days went by and they grew closer together, he found himself thinking about her more and more every day- admiring her free-spirited and outspoken nature, her willingness to help those around her, her stubbornness and defiance in the face of what she believed to be wrong, her tenacity, her strength and courage, and now her skill in combat. She beat his right hand man in a sparring match- something that only he had ever accomplished and he and Galmar were evenly matched. She continued to amaze him.

'I'm starting to fall in love with Gwen.'

The following morning, Gwen woke to find that Ulfric's cloak was draped over her. It smelled just like him and it was comforting waking up to it. Then, realizing that she had fallen asleep before he returned, she got up and hurried to his room- relieved to find him still asleep. She sat on the edge of his bed and reached up, brushing aside the hair hanging loosely in his face. She sat there, admiring his rugged good looks- how calm he looked when he slept rather than the usual gruff seriousness. Then she thought back to the night the assassin attacked and her cheeks flushed when the memory of kissing resurfaced. She looked at his lips, finding that she wanted to kiss him again, but as she started to lean forward he shifted in his sleep and she panicked. She set the cloak over his legs and hurried out of his room, going into hers to hide and compose herself before seeing him again.

'What am I doing...?' she wondered, changing into a fresh set of clothes before pulling on her armour.

In his room, Ulfric stirred when he felt a new warmth at his side but when he opened his eyes he saw nothing but his cloak. His cloak, which he had draped over Gwen the night before. He sat up and smiled, knowing then that she had come in and was sitting with him. He heard movement in her room and knew that she was getting ready. His smile growing, he got out of bed and changed into a fresh set of clothes before pulling on his armour and clipping his cloak into place.

As she stepped out of her room, her pack and gear shouldered, Gwen noticed Ulfric was up and ready to leave as well. She tried to bid him a good morning while hiding her embarrassment, but it didn't do her much good and earned her a smirk and chuckle from the young jarl.

They left behind the city of Dawnstar and made their way back down the main road, taking the same route as before. When they reached the Weynon Stones, they set up camp and Gwen smiled to herself when she noticed that the wildlife had recognized her return to the area and were staying clear.

"So, Ulfric, are you going to tell me what this ulterior motive of yours is?" She asked, going into their tent.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about."

Gwen rolled her eyes, stripping off her armour and setting it to the side. "Sure you don't."

Ulfric watched her set up her gear, ready at a moment's notice, and smiled. "You really want to know?"

Gwen looked at him. "Of course I do. You've been having me wondering for days now. Do you realize how annoying that is?"

Ulfric chuckled. "I think I can imagine." He pulled off his armour and set it aside, surprised to see that Gwen had moved right up next to him. "What?"

"So tell me."

Ulfric smirked, despite trying to hide his own blushing. "And if I don't?"

Gwen crawled closer, closing the distance between them until she was between his legs. "Perhaps I'll tease you in turn."

"Oh?" Ulfric raised a brow. "That almost sounds like a challenge."

Gwen smirked. "And if it is?"

Ulfric wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her down, closing the remaining distance between them.

Gwen gasped as Ulfric pulled her down, his arm holding her firmly when she landed on his chest. She looked down at him, her cheeks burning so much that she was grateful that he couldn't see in the low light of their tent.

They lay like that, gazing at each other for who knew how long before Gwen leaned forward just enough to where she could kiss him.

"You're not going to tell me are you?"

Ulfric reached up, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Truthfully? I wanted to spend more time with you alone."

"That's all?"

"You sound surprised."

"You made it sound like this grand scheme."

"I do love to tease you."

Gwen smirked. "Is that so?" She leaned down and kissed his neck up to his ear, then along his jaw line and stopped just before meeting his kiss. "Perhaps I should tease you more often then. It wouldn't be fair otherwise."

The feeling of her soft lips gently caressing his neck and jaw gave rise to a strange sensation coursing through his body- similar to that which he had felt the night the assassin took. A soft groan escaped his lips as Gwen smirked and pushed back from him.

"Gwen..."

"I don't want to hear a word about how unfair that is, considering you've been teasing me for days over something silly." Gwen said, turning her back to him.

"Gwen."

When she started to turn towards him, he pulled her into his lap as his arms wrapped around her. "U-Ulfric?"

"You it silly of me to want to spend time with you alone?"

"W-Why would you? I'm no one special."

"Do you really think so little of yourself?"

Gwen looked up at him as he lifted her chin up towards him. She searched his eyes and was caught off guard when he leaned forward and kissed her.

Ulfric kissed her gently, lingering for a moment or two before pulling back. "I wanted to learn more about you. I wanted to get to know you better. You're all I can think of most days and it drives me crazy when I know so little about you. Can you fault me for that?"

Gwen looked away, embarrassed.

"Gwen."

"Is that why you came for me when the bandits took me?" She asked, looking back up at him. "Is that why you kissed me the way you did the night I returned from Whiterun?"

Ulfric kissed her again, this time lingering longer. When he pulled back, he smiled gently and pressed his forehead to hers. "Does that answer your question?"

Gwen smiled at that and returned his kiss, her hands resting on his chest.