"Sir, we have someone approaching. Seems to be a large group on foot. No identifiable armor, robes mostly." One of the Acolytes said as he ran to Jorgensen and handed him a telescope.

Jorgensen grabbed it and looked through. His face was one of joy and concern all at once. He saw J' Zargo, Yarwil and what appeared to be about a dozen students with him.

He was relieved and daunted at the same. Happy to see his friends and acquaintances alive but disappointed how few people were with them as neither of the two seem like the type to abondon people under their authority.

"They're friendly, they're from the college. I'm going to head over to greet them. Prepare quarter for them, possibly medical treatment, most certainly a meal." He said as he headed towards his horse.

Jorgensen mounted his horse and strode off towards them. He could see a certain level of anxiousness from the students as he approached. He didn't see what happened to the college himself and only knew it was no longer there, he had no idea what they may have been through.

They stopped as Jorgensen made it to them and dismounted his horse.

"The joy it brings to see your faces, old friends." He said as he walked over to J' Zargo.

J' Zargo extended his hand for a shake but Jorgensen moved right past his hand and embraced him in a large hug. J' Zargo wasn't bothered to be in his embrace but knew of Jorgensen to only hug if he was drunk or if he had bad news, and he didn't smell any alcohol.

"J' Zargo is happy to see you as well, old friend" J' Zargo said as they broke the embrace.

Jorgensen then extended his hand to Yarwil.
"Yarwil" he then nodded.

Yarwil met his hand for a shake.
"Jorgensen" he said as he nodded back.

"Anyone hurt? This horse is available for anyone who needs it more than myself." Jorgensen asked.

"I believe everyone is in good health. Well, physically atleast. We were fortunate enough to have some healers here with us."
Yarwil answered.

"Aye, well, let's get you to my camp. Probably not the comfort you would be used to but it's better than walking through the woods." Jorgensen said to them as they he walked him toward his camp right outside the city.

"This one will take the guess that if your camp is outside the city that these invaders have taken it?" J' Zargo asked.

"Aye, the Ink Son and his army have sieged the city. They worked overnight the put up barriers around the city. Thankfully it seems he has his entire army doing so, this is how your group was able to make it through the rest of the hold one would think." Jorgensen told them.

"The Ink Son? I've heard that name. Forsworn clean leader I thought? You're telling me The Forsworn did this?" Yarwil asked.

"The Forsworn are just the instrument being used. Elenwen is behind this though." He answered

"Of course she is. We did not see any forsworn but we did notice Thalmor agents in the rest of the hold. Alot of them. Seems that if the forsworn are staying in the city the Thalmor must be planning to continue their siege for the rest of the hold. What of our mutual friends? I know they didn't just stand by and let the forsworn take over the city." Yarwil said.

Jorgensen had a drab look come across his face.
"Aratore and Trish are at my camp. The Ink Son claims to have Vhornyak prisoner inside the city, he has until sundown to show him to me or I go in there and see for myself. The bastard has the citizens tied up as a human shield. His siege ends tonight rather Vhornyak is in there for not."

"I wouldn't plan for it to be that simple, even for you. We have no idea how deep the Thalmor are tied into this." Yarwil said to him as they made it to the camp.
"And what of Travius?"

"Let your people settle and I'll take you to him. You may be of assistance with his predicament."Jorgensen said as Trish ran over and greeted her fellow students and professors.
….

"I'm sure you're tired of walking but I don't want to have to mount the horses and allow this hiding spot to be known. Is that all that's left of the college? just those twelve?" Jorgensen asked him.

"I was able to save a mere twenty. We decided we wanted to come to help the city as the college is beyond any semblance of saving. Eight of the students decided they wanted to save themselves instead. They said they would head to the Pale and seek help." Yarwil told
Him.

"Cowards." Jorgensen stated angrily.

"Could be that they are simply cowards. Self preservation shouldn't always be chalked up to cowardice however. Most of them were alchemy students and academics, they are probably better suited to getting us help than to fight."Yarwil said in their defense.

"I suppose you're right." Jorgensen said as he paused for a moment before the headed into the mine.

"I didn't want to say anything in front of the others. Travius body is in here but his mind seems to be somewhere else. I've never seen anything like this before. Hes in some
form of stasis. I felt a massive deadric presence. Most suspiciously though, it appears his wife had some friends from her sordid past that showed up to help, the Dark Brotherhood."

"She gets more and more interesting the more you learn about her doesn't she?" Yarwil smiled as he said.

"How much do you know about her exactly" Jorgensen asked him with a bit of hesitation.

Yarwil just smirked.
"I knew about her disposition to nightvtike quite quickly. I've tolerated it for the same reason you have I suppose. I knew she had associations with the Thieves Guild but the Brotherhood is news to me. Not surprising with how they described her fighting techniques though. She's lived a long and complicated life. Even for those as well travelled as you and I, she's had to see things and make decisions we could never comprehend."

"It's not her I'm wary of. It was the others. A redguard named Kainan, he clearly is hiding something. The caravan owner, M'Arques, was also curiously involved with them as well." Jorgensen said.

"Everyone in Winterhold is involved now". Yarwil stated.
"Speaking of which, do we know the whereabouts of Kraldar and his court?"

"No sigh of him. His longhouse is decimated though. It's apparently where Travius was found."

As they came to the mine, they saw the door had been broken open and Jorgensen pulled his sword and Yarwil readied a lightning spell.
"Damn. I knew I left them for too long."

They both quietly made their way down the hallway to find the second door had been broken down completely. They walked in mentally preparing for the worst. They were surprised when they found only Malfor and the girls. As he had done for most of his time in this mine, He was reading to them to keep their attention.

"You!" Yarwil uncharacteristically snapped.

"No no!, he's an ally!" Jorgensen said as he stepped in front of Yarwil.

"Ally?! Ally?!, he's a damn justicar!" He yelled back.

"Was, I Was a Justicar. They left me here with everyone else so what does that tell you?" Malfor said as he stood up.

He was coming to unfortunate realization that this was his life now. Constantly having to explain himself.

"He helped get Trish and Aratore away from The Ink Son's captivity. he's proven himself honest. Atleast for now." Jorgensen told him.
"You do know an explanation for where everyone else is however"

"I wish I could give you one. Several Dunmer in robes somehow snuck in here and laid a powerful paralysis spell on us and they removed Travius body. When we came to the others went after them. I stayed here with the girls, was planning to head to your camp if they didn't return by sunset.

We did learn some pertinent information though. Your suspicions about Kianan were valid. He caused the incident in the spring under the arm of Boethia. Given as that the captors were Dunmer I am inclined to believe it was their cultists that took him." Malfor said and then took a more relaxed stance as he saw Yarwil retract his lightning.

"My camp is no place for these girls, especially after sunset. It could get very ugly out there." Jorgensen said said to him

"Uglier than starving to death in this mine? Clearly our hiding spot isn't secret anymore anyhow. Deena is with child, she needs food and water, which your camp has. It's as safe as here is." He said defiantly.

Jorgensen thought about it and nodded. He wanted to go look for Travius but he knew he couldn't abondon the city, especially with the sun setting soon and he needed to make good on his threat to Casix.

"Yarwil, you know this area well I would imagine, can you find them?"

"Kainan mentioned an altar east of here he would meet Boethias cultist's at, that's where they were going to look first. They left not even an hour ago. You should be able to catch up quick enough."
Malfor said as they all headed out of the mines.

"Why does this Kianan have meetings with Boethia Cultists? I don't trust this situation one bit." Jorgensen grumbled.

"Seems to be a long story. Greed and selfishness were at the root of it. He did seem genuinely remorseful for his actions and by all means seems to want to help. I wouldn't trust him either but I don't think we have a choice here."

"I belive I know exactly where they are headed. I will head that way now. I will leave J' Zargo with you. He's become quite efficient with his arcane abilities since you've last worked together." Yarwil answered

"So I've heard. What of your students? You aren't worried you leaving will demoralize them?" He asked.

"The students who are still with me are the ones who wanted to fight and you're about to fight."
Yarwil answered him.

"Aye, I can use all the willing help I can get."
Jorgensen then put his hand on Yarwil's shoulder.
"Bring back my boy."

"And you bring back my home."
…..

The forsworn continued to build a wall of debris around the heart of the city. The wall was obviously not going to stop any kind of full scale invasion but would certainly slow them down.

The most vile of the actions was the way they were blocking the main entrance to the city. Casix had ordered that all the males stayed tied together since the siege. They were chained in lines of ten. They forced them all to stand overnight in several rows. Several men had died, forcing the others to hold the bodies up to keep them all from tumbling. If they fell to the ground they were beaten until they would stand again.

Behind the rows of men were the bodies of several slain. Men, women and children. They were thrown into an over growing pile that now went over the top of the chain gangs heads.

Aratore stood on top of the stables near the camp with his telescope looking for any signs of Casix or Vhornyak. The Oculatus agents had recently returned and told them what they found and he knew his friend was in there. He never saw any signs of either of them and was becoming more and more frustrated. Sunset was vast approaching and he was becoming overwhelmed with anger and grief.

He knew Jorgensen and the acolytes were hoping for a peaceful resolution but none of them were expecting it. Especially after this macabre display they were showing off with the bodies. Aratore desired no peaceful resolve however. After what he and the rest of the city have been through in the last day, he wanted blood. In particular from from Casix.

He tried his best to not think about what happened to him but his mind would always come back to it. He could barely look Trish in the eye and having no way of knowing exactly who witnessed it, he felt like the eyes of all the people stuck in the city were on him. More than his own shame and grief though, he felt anger. Now that he had had time for his body to heal he felt a desire for vengeance and he didn't know was possible. He didn't know it was possible to hate someone like he hates Casix.

He finally saw Jorgensen returning with Malfor and the girls and got down from the rooftop. As the day grew longer and the sun began to set the tension in the camp was thickening. The Acolytes were all going through their own rituals to prepare for a potential battle where they were greatly outnumbered. Seeing The Dragonborn return had only amplified the tone and an almost morbid excitement breezed through.

"Have you slept yet, boy?" Jorgensen asked them as they approached eachother

"A little. The Imperials came back, said the Thalmor have Vhorny….." Aratore began to say until Jorgensen cut him off and nodded at Astrid.

"Girls, I'm sure you're famished. Trish is on the far end of camp and can get you some food. I'm sure if you ask nicely one of my men even has a sweet roll to spare." Astrid's eyes lit up with excitement as he said that.

"You too, Justicar. Have yourself a good meal."
He said to Malfor.

"Quite generous sir. I will certainly oblige." Malfor said.

He stalled as the girls started walking towards Trish.

"I see the sun is making its descent, I will take my place with the mages when the time comes." Malfor said to them

"I did assume you would continue tending to the girls" Jorgensen responded.

"They can stay with your niece. If things progressed to where they've made it through The Dragonborn to reach the girls I don't believe my presence will make much of a difference.

That aside, I am one hundred and fourth two years old, one hundred and twenty of which have been as a Justicar. Standing with your men will be the first time I've felt like I'm doing the right thing in that time. So when the time comes, that's where I'll be." Malfor said and started to walk away.

"No, Justicar, you won't be standing with my men. You'll be standing with me. Make sure they see you're alive. I don't care what that madman says. You and I both know The Thalmor are behind this." Jorgensen said as both men nodded in respect to eachother

"Then I'll be there with you, Dovakhin." he responded continued to walk away to get some Nourishment.

…

Astrid was thrilled to find that the Dragonborn was good on his word and she ate through her stew quickly so Deena would give her the sweet roll an Acolyte gave them. She lifted up her bowl to show Deena it was empty and then quickly snatched the sweet roll as soon as it was offered.

She joyously peeled off pieces and scarfed them down but then stopped half way through when she saw mud run in the camp with something in his mouth that he dropped with Aratore and Jorgensen.

"Mud! Good boy" she squealed and ran over to him.

He matched her excitement as he ran towards her himself and almost knocked her over licking her.

The Acolyte who gave her the sweet roll saw an opportunity when Astrid walked away and sat down with Deena and Trish.

"We've set you up a tent on the far side of the camp where the little one shouldn't be able to see what's going on. We have two healers who are staying behind to assist and they'll be keeping on eye on you. Just in case though…." He pulled two daggers out and laid them on the table.

"I'm sure your uncle taught you how to use one of these?" He asked

"No, but he taught me how to use this." Trish said as she pulled her uncles old enchanted mace from her side and laid it on the table.

The Acolyte smirked.
"Of course he did. Well, one for you then young lady." He said to Deena.

"Hopefully you won't need it, but, just in case you do, you'll have it. Don't be shy with the stew. We have plenty." He said as he got up.

Astrid may have been mostly pre occupied with Mud but from the corner of her eye she saw Deena accept the dagger and tuck it away in her satchel.