4E 182, 23rd of First Seed...

"Must we continue on like this?"

Gwen wheezed from the beating she had just received, courtesy of the Thalmor. She looked up at Gyrnian and smirked, spitting in his face.

Gyrnian recoiled, as if her saliva burned, and gestured for the guards to resume beating her. "You will break, one way or another. I don't care how long it takes."

Gwen chuckled through her pain and looked at him through her grimy and bloodied hair. "I will not break."

4E 182, 4th of Rain's Hand...

"No word from Hjaalmarch or Haafingar."

Ulfric stood in the of their Reach camp. "How could no one have seen her?" He threw everything on the table to the ground and turned away, rubbing his neck as he began pacing.

"We'll find her, Ulfric." Galmar said, his chest heavy seeing his good friend in such distress. "I promise, we'll find her."

4E 182, 18th of Rain's Hand...

Gwen's days were beginning to blend together. The silver poison had seeped deep into her bones, taking root. She was weak, but fought to remain strong so that she could resist the Thalmor and their sick and twisted attempts to extract information from her. She refused to say anything more than "I will not break." and kept even her prayers silent and to herself.

She prayed that Beirand was unharmed and that Thadis and Ayasha made it back to Markarth safely. She prayed that Igmund would not be punished because of the lie the Thalmor had concocted. She prayed that Beirand had gone to Windhelm to seek out help, knowing that Igmund could not go against the Thalmor and their Justiciar. She prayed that Ulfric would find her, that he was safe and not foolish enough to come for her alone again. She prayed that her family was safe from harm, that they would not face repercussions due to this lie.

Every day, the guards would beat her and Gyrnian would ask his never changing questions about Ulfric and her involvement with him and his rebellion. Every day, it was the same process, over and over again for hours on end. And every day, she gave the same reply: "I will not break."

4E 182, 26th of Rain's Hand...

"Are they safe?"

"There are men guarding their home and farm."

Ulfric sighed in relief. They had just received word that Torsten, his family- Gwen's family- and Tulvur had been targeted by hired thugs. The guards remaining in the city had stopped them, stationing men outside the House of Clan Cruel-Sea and around Hollyfrost farm.

"They have some nerve going after her family and friends like this." Galmar said.

"My lord, has word returned from Whiterun?" Beirand asked, entering the tent.

"Your sister is safe, too." Ulfric replied, nodding. "As are the rest of the Companions. They can hold their own."

"Thank you, my lord. I just fear for my sister's safety and that of her family."

"I know."

"Any further news on Gwen's whereabouts?"

"No... nothing..."

4E 182, 7th of Second Seed...

"What is Ulfric Stormcloak planning?"

Silence.

"Where is his next attack?"

Silence.

"What were you really doing in Markarth?"

Silence.

"What were your plans infiltrating the city?"

Silence.

"Really, must you be so difficult? I've already upped the amount of liquid silver they're using. If I go any higher, I'm afraid the effects will be irreversible."

Silence.

"Very well... have it your way."

4E 182, 16th of Second Seed...

"I have news for the jarl."

"Speak."

"We located an agent of the Thalmor near the Guardian Stones, but they revealed no information about the whereabouts of Gwen."

"Very well, thank you. You are dismissed."

"Ulfric..."

"The province isn't as big as it seems right now, Galmar, so why can't we find her?"

"The Thalmor were careful to cover their tracks."

"We just need one slip up, just one sign of where they took her..."

"We'll find her."

4E 182, 8th of Mid Year...

'Divines protect me as I endure this suffering. Guide me through the pain and torment so that I may hold onto all that I keep dear. Keep my family safe and grant them a bountiful harvest. Keep Beirand and Thadis safe, as they have served me well in such a short time. Keep Ayasha safe, that we may one day be reunited to run through the wild, open fields before us. Keep Ulfric safe as he fights to find me, to bring me back home. Guide him in his search and keep him from harm.'

"Let's begin again."

*snap*

'Divines, blessed be you who guide and protect each and every one of us.'

*snap*

'Divines, blessed be you who placed us upon these lands and gave us life.'

*snap*

'Divines, blessed be you who gave us fire and steel.'

*snap*

'Divines, blessed be you who bleed and live for us.'

*snap*

'Divines, blessed be you who give me the strength to keep my resolve, you who steady my body as it reels from the crack and snap of each whip, boots, and fist that strikes me, you who gifted me with the patience to bide my time until I can free myself and wreak havoc on those who would use me to their own gain.'

*snap*

4E 182, 30th of Mid Year...

"My lord!"

Ulfric turned to find Ralof standing in the doorway of the tent, panting with a look of excitement. "What is it?"

"We found her!"

"Where?"

"Northwatch Keep, northwest of Solitude on the coast!"

"Ready the men, we move out at once."

4E 182, 1st of Sun's Height...

"What is Ulfric Stormcloak planning?"

Silence.

"Where is his next attack?"

Silence.

"What were you really doing in Markarth?"

Silence.

"What were your plans infiltrating the city?"

Silence.

"Really, must you be so difficult? I've upped the amount of liquid silver they're using, yet again, and if I go any higher, you will die."

Silence.

Gyrnian stood, going over to Gwen and lifting her chin up. "Must we continue on like this? You can't go on like this forever."

Gwen remained silent. 'Hircine, hear my plea and call. Grant me the strength to free myself from these bonds, so that I may wreak havoc on these poor fools and escape from this prison.'

"You will break, one way or another. I don't care how long it takes."

Gwen could feel a strength rising within her and knew her prayers had finally been answered. She chuckled through her pain and looked at him through her grimy and bloodied hair. "I will not break. And you will die."

Gyrnian laughed, having not seen that spirit in her since she arrived at Northwatch Keep- over three months ago. "I'd like to see you try, you filthy cur."

He stepped out of the cell, motioning for the guards to resume beating her.

As the guard raised his whip, Gwen could feel the muscles in her body begin to contort- just as they always did before a transformation- and when the whip came down, she broke free of the chains and lunged for the guard.

Gyrnian turned at the sound of screaming and chains rattling, backing away in fear as a large werewolf stood in the place of Gwen with the blood of the guard dripping from her claws and fangs. He turned and ran, throwing anything or anyone behind him in an attempt to stave off Gwen as she gave chase.

Gwen felt the power of her beast blood coursing through her veins, numb now to the silver poison. She charged through the keep, bashing down door after door as she hunted down every last one of the Thalmor.

Gyrnian ran until he had cleared the keep and made it into the courtyard, his men falling to Gwen's wrath as she ripped out their throats and disembowelled them. He could hear her coming closer and closer and he turned to run from the keep entirely only to be met with a force of Stormcloak soldiers at the gates. Believing he could turn that in his favor, he ran to them and threw himself at their feet.

"Please, help me! That monster is coming!"

"What monster?"

Gyrnian scrambled to his feet as the door of the keep shattered and he backed away as Gwen began advancing towards him. "No!"

The Stormcloak soldiers watched as he took off running, readying their weapons as the "monster" charged towards them and leaped over their party. They watched in horror as it pounced on Gyrnian, raking its claws across his back before ripping his head off and tossing it to the side.

The Stormcloaks notched their arrows and readied their blades as the werewolf turned towards them, blood dripping from its fangs and claws. One of them called out to the dog that ran towards it, trying to get them to come back.

"Thadis!"

Thadis ran towards the werewolf, stopping just a few feet from it. He turned and faced the Stormcloaks, protecting the werewolf.

The Stormcloaks watched as the werewolf stepped forward, reaching down to pet Thadis, and their eyes widened as it shifted back into its human form.

"Gwen?"

Gwen looked up, weary from the entire ordeal. She smiled when she saw Ulfric running to her. "You came..."

Ulfric caught her as she slumped over. "Gwen, hold on." He looked at her, beaten, bloodied, unusually pale. "By the Nine, what did they do to you..?"

"Liquid... silver... laced... their weapons..."

Ulfric scooped her up into his arms. "Just hold on, Gwen. We'll get you a healer." He carried her to his horse, situating her in his saddle with Beirand's help before hopping into the saddle behind her and wrapping his cloak around her. He looked at his men. "Search the keep, make sure there aren't any other prisoners or any Thalmor alive. Report back once you're finished."

The soldiers saluted him and carried out his orders as he, Beirand, Galmar, and a few others accompanied them back to their camp.

As the rode south to their camp, the snow began to pick up and Ulfric took the extra blanket from Beirand to wrap it around Gwen. He held her close, feeling that she had lost a great deal of weight. "Please, hang in there, Gwen."