"I want you to meet me at Korvanjund," he said. "We'll retrieve the relic before the Imperials get a whiff of it."
"What relic is that?"
He rolled his eyes. "Of course you haven't heard of it. It's only the traditional crown of the High Kings and Queens of Skyrim, lost since the death of King Borgas."
"The Jagged Crown," Athene said.
Galmar looked a little put out. "You have heard of it?"
"Borgas died in the Wild Hunt, when men turn to beasts and scour the land before destroying each other. It's a Bosmer ritual to protect Valenwood. Though why a Skyrim King wanted to be involved, I don't really know. Maybe that's what foiled the ritual and allowed the Thalmor to take control."
She expected a defensive retort of some kind. She didn't expect him to say, "Maybe it is," but he did.
He shook his head. "It's turning our backs on the old ways that makes our home vulnerable. Whether that home is Valenwood, or Skyrim. Or anywhere."
"The Forsworn would agree with you," Athene said.
That did it. Galmar dismissed her without another word.
Korvanjund was your basic Nordic ruin, and and Athene had been avoiding those since Volunruud. At least this time she'd have some kind of army on her side. She shrugged into her Stormcloak cuirass and joined her new brothers and sisters on their way out of Windhelm. The weather was predictably cold, but the march made it feel warmer and she shared a bottle of strong mead with Longs-for-Stars as they went down the road. Some hours later they rested just out of sight of the ruin. Galmar had arrived and sent scouts to check the entrance.
They returned with bad news. The Imperials had also arrived and already gone inside. Galmar dragged his troops up from their rest and readied his warhammer.
"We will not lose the symbol of our High King to these bastards. For Ulfric, and for Skyrim! Let's go!"
Training at Windhelm had prepared her for the rush, but Athene was still a better assassin than soldier and so she contributed how she could: by sneaking around the outside of the battlefield and taking out archers and stragglers before they could attack her comrades. It was tricky work, but she moved quickly and they'd taken Korvanjund's grounds before the sun hit the horizon. The Stormcloaks moved through the entrance hall and further into the ruin until they began running into draugr as well as the living. While the others hacked and slashed openly at a group of Imperials, Athene slipped up to the walkways above and searched for anything that would raise the barrier to the next section of the crypt.
And there she found Hadvar.
He was doing the same thing, poking at a lever and oblivious to her approach. Athene took the last few steps running and grabbed him before he could turn. She pressed her dagger to his throat to keep him still.
He breathed her name.
"Long time no see," she said.
"What are you doing? What have you done?"
"What does it look like?"
"You chose poorly, my friend. Why?"
"Did you really think I'd follow Tullius anywhere after he tried to decapitate me for no reason? I watched his version of justice, all those prisoners without a trial. Sorry Hadvar, but you were never going to convince me that jerk was a good leader."
He didn't even try to pull away. Either he was afraid of the sharp blade or he didn't know any better.
"I didn't think you were one for politics," he said. "Tullius or… or that murderer. Ulfric."
Athene didn't move. She wanted to hear what else he had to say.
"You don't even argue," he continued. "I call him a murderer and you have nothing to say? I can't believe you actually follow the man. Athene, it's not too late. Just… let me go. Stop this before it goes too far."
"If I let you go, my comrades in arms will make quick work of you. They've already killed the rest of your group."
He slumped a little. "All of them?"
"If they're lucky. I've never seen hardened troops so scared of a few undead Nords. What the Stormcloaks don't finish, the draugr will. I think one man soiled his uniform down there."
"Stop it," he said. "I helped you out of Helgen."
"And I helped you out of Helgen. Don't think I owe you, Hadvar."
"Then why aren't I dead yet?"
One last push of bravery. She had to admire it.
She tightened her grip on her blade.
Took a breath.
But you know, her mind spoke up, he did help you in Riverwood, too. Even when he knew you weren't the sort he wanted to help. Even when his uncle whispered you should be cautious. When he caught you stealing the few gold pieces they had in their bedside dresser. Even then he let you go, and gave you another chance, when Tullius himself was ready to remove your head.
Of course, she insisted right back at her mind, he treated me like a criminal and didn't leave me alone with his niece, Dorthe, as if I could infect her with evil.
You are a criminal, her mind spoke up. Worse now than ever. And he's right. You don't really support the Stormcloaks. What does he have to do with anything, here? Except wrong place, wrong time. Like Helgen. Like so many other things.
"Go," she said, and shoved him towards the shadows where she'd ambushed him from. He didn't argue, or even look amazed. He just went, and vanished as well as his clumsy feet could take him. The other Stormcloaks were examining the passage to the next room, but likely a draugr would get him, or the sentries they'd left at the door. At least it wasn't her.
Athene pulled the lever and opened the inner depths of the ruin.