The following afternoon, Gwen went to the Palace of the Kings and found Ulfric in the war room with Galmar as expected.

"Good day, my lord, Galmar."

The two looked up and smiled when they saw Gwen standing in the doorway.

"Gwen, good to see you, lass." Galmar greeted her with a hearty smile. "You came at an excellent time."

"Oh?"

"We were going over some of the reports we received from our camp in the Reach. There have been attacks on Dragon Bridge from bandits holed up at the Dragon Bridge Overlook. Now, these attacks have been centered on Imperial caravans, but they've begun getting awfully close to our camp."

"I see." Gwen stood beside Ulfric and looked down at the map. "Hmm..."

"What do you suggest, Gwen?"

"Well, since Dragon Bridge is north of the border that separates Haafingar, the Reach, and Hjaalmarch it could pose a problem for any caravan. You could just let Haafingar Hold deal with the attacks on Dragon Bridge since it sit within their hold, but since the bandits are holed up at the overlook which sits in the Reach Hold then you could leave it to the Reach to deal with the bandits. If they're getting near the Stormcloak camp, though, it may be more prudent to take care of the bandits ourselves."

"And risk Igmund sending soldiers after us?" Ulfric asked.

"Then why not gain favor with Jarl Igmund?" Gwen asked, looking at him. "I know you and he have some rough history, but perhaps send someone who doesn't directly effect the outcome of the rebellion instead."

"Like who?"

"Why not Gwen?"

Gwen and Ulfric looked at Galmar.

"What? Me?"

"No, out of the question."

Galmar sighed. "Ulfric, think about it. Gwen is a skilled warrior. Igmund still has trouble with the Forsworn. If she earned his trust and respect, she could become a huge asset to our cause. She is charming, willing to help regardless of who it is, and she is a Companion."

"I said no, Galmar."

Gwen looked at Ulfric. "And why not?"

"I will not put you into danger, Gwen."

"I've been in danger before, Ulfric, and this would be nothing new to me." Gwen tried.

"I said no and that's the end of the discussion!" Ulfric retorted.

Gwen stiffened at his tone, but she was not going to back done. She turned to Galmar. "Tell the men at the Reach camp that I will take care of it."

"Were you not listening, Gwen?" Ulfric demanded, glaring at her.

"I was, but it would seem that you refuse to." Gwen glared back at him. "I'm going to Markarth to speak with Jarl Igmund and do what I can to assist." She got right in his face and looked up at him defiantly. "If you want to stop me, then go ahead and try. But you'll have to lock me up in chains before I back down."

Ulfric- frothing with anger- watched as she stepped back, gave him a small bow, then left the room- likely heading home to get ready.

"Let her go, Ulfric. This is her choice, not yours."

"I said, no, Galmar. I will not tolerate such blatant defiance."

"What are you going to do, Ulfric? Lock her away for the rest of her life just to keep her out of harm's way?" Galmar tried to stop him as he stormed off. "Why are you so protective of Gwen?"

Ulfric shrugged off his hand.

"Ulfric!"

"Because I love her!"

Galmar stopped, finally getting the answer he had been trying to get out of him for months. "Then why try to control her? Gwen is doing this for you, but she is still her own person."

Ulfric looked away. "I couldn't protect her when she was taken by those bandits. I won't risk losing her again."

"Ulfric, she's a strong lass capable of besting me in a sparring match. She may have a trophy now, but she bested a troll during her first week of training with the Companions. She saved you from an assassin." Galmar sighed. "She'll be fine, Ulfric. If anything happens, I'll take the helm and fix it myself. This was my idea to begin with."

Ulfric left the palace, heading straight for the House of the Cruel-Sea clan.

"Are you sure you must leave so soon again?" Hillevi asked.

Gwen nodded. "The bandits are posing an issue for three holds, Mum. If I can gain favor with the jarl, then I can assist without directly influencing the outcome of the rebellion."

"It just seems like you only just returned."

Gwen looked at her mother. "Mum, I'll be OK. The Nine as my witnesses, I'll come back home." She hugged her. "Besides, this way I can try to be of some help to Ulfric without making him worry so much."

"That man will worry about you no matter where you go, Gwen."

"Mama, does Gwen have to leave again?" Fjotli asked, coming down the stairs with Torsten.

"I do, cub." Gwen held her sister. "There's something very important that I need to help with. I'll be gone awhile, but I promise to return as soon as I am able to."

"Be careful, Gwen." Fjotli said, teary eyed. "Come back soon, OK?"

Gwen smiled. "I will, cub. And I'll write to you just as I did before." She stood and hugged her father. "I'll send word when I reach Markarth."

Torsten hugged her close and nodded. "We'll keep an eye on the young lord for you while you're away."

Gwen blushed and stepped back. "Thank you, Da." She shouldered her pack and stepped towards the doorway. "I best be off."

"I know."

Gwen opened the doorway, then stopped for a moment and looked back at her parents. "You know, he told me once that he would marry me."

Hillevi and Torsten smiled.

"All the more reason to come home, then."

Gwen nodded. "Indeed it is." She smiled. "Stay safe and be well."

"Safe journeys."

"Bye bye, Gwen!"

Gwen smiled and hurried out the door and down through the streets of the city to the stables. She quickly saddled her horse and readied her other tack before thanking Ulundil for looking after her. She mounted into the saddle and patted the mare's neck. "Let's go, Ayasha."

Ulfric knocked on the door of the Cruel-Sea home, greeting Torsten as he opened the door. "Is Gwen here?"

Torsten shook his head, stepping outside and closing the door. "No, she left just a few moments ago."

Ulfric sighed. "I see. Thank you, Torsten. My apologies for troubling you." He turned away, heading back down the walkway.

"My lord, wait."

Ulfric stopped and looked back at Torsten.

"You know she is doing this for you, don't know?"

Ulfric looked away.

"I know you don't want her to go. I know you don't want her in harm's way." Torsten came to stand with him. "I understand how you feel. As a father, I fear for what may happen to her. I fear that she may never come back. And I know you feel the same."

Ulfric looked at him. "I told her no."

"And yet she still went." Torsten smiled at that. "I figured that might be the case." He looked up at the sky and sighed. "The Nine will protect her, just as they always have. She'll come back to us, she promised as much." He patted Ulfric's shoulder. "I know that you worry, my lord, but you should have more trust in her. Especially if you intend to marry her."

Ulfric looked up at that as Torsten walked back up to the house, stepping inside and leaving Ulfric to his thoughts. He looked up at the sky and sighed. "Divines guide and protect her. Bring her home to us."

Gwen took the southern road passed Mixwater Mill and followed the signs for Whiterun, figuring she could stop there to replenish supplies. As she sat atop in the saddle, she pulled out her map and traced the best possible route.

"If we take the road to Whiterun, we can replenish our supplies and check in with the Companions. Then, from there we can take the road to Rorikstead and head north. With the growing Forsworn attacks in the Reach, it'd be better to take the north road from Rorikstead to Karthwasten. From there we can take the road straight to Markarth." Gwen looked at her mare who seemed to whinny in approval. "It'd be a little extra travel to avoid the areas battered with Forsworn attacks, but it'd be the safest." She packed up her map and rubbed Ayasha's neck. "Let's make sure we get to Whiterun before nightfall."