So my character left the small farm she was raised in just outside of Bruma so that she could go to Skyrim to help the Empire. Well, that was her excuse anyway. To be honest she being a Nord just really wanted to see the Nord homeland for the first time. Unfortunately she was carrying an old family heirloom, a Talos amulet, that she thought would bring her luck. She was searched at the boarder where upon finding the amulet the Imperials assumed her a spy and threw her in with some others heading for the block.

Well that did not go as planned and she ended up escaping with one of the rebels she was to be beheaded with.

So now what? She was born and raised knowing that she was part of the Empire. Her parents fought for the Empire when the Aldmeri Dominion invaded during the Great War. All she has ever wanted to do is fight for the Empire like her parents did, but so far things are not as she expected. She has been listening to some of the townspeople and even visited a rebel camp outside of Whiterun. They certainly seem to think their just in their right to start the civil war. But would not the Empire and Skyrim be better off if the Empire regained control over Skyrim so it could focus on the Aldmeri Dominion threat? She just can not join the rebels. Her family would disown her completely.

Add to this that she may have been born with some ancient power or something. She was told to meet with a group called the Grey Beards, but is not sure about this Dragonborn legend or how she could have anything to do with it. She is just a farm girl raised near Bruma that happens to be good with a bow.

Seriously though, I am not sure which way to go with this character. I thought it was cut and dry, but now I am not sure anymore. The idea was to make a Nord character that actually fights for the Empire, as all the others always joined the Stormcloaks. But as I get closer to needing to make a choice, I am floundering.

I would wait with making a decision. If it's a dilemma and she doesn't know what to do, then don't force the decision on her. Do the usual "talk to different NPCs" run and see if it sways her one way or the other.

And remember, there's the possibility of switching sides by bringing the Jagged Crown to the opposite side, so you can always use that as another decision point, where she wonders if she should take the crown to Ulfric or Tullius.

Maybe have her listen to Tullius talk and then Ulfric. Heck maybe even have her see through being the dragonborn and getting Season Unending. Have her pick a side after that discussion.

Yeah I'm doing the talking thing now, though I'll admit she has generally only met with rebels and their supporters at this point. She needs to talk to some Empire soldiers. Though I'll admit the general talk from Imperial soldiers is something along the lines, "I hate the cold, I don't want to eat rabbit again, and I can't wait to kill some of Ulfric's boys". Which only differs slightly from the Stormcloaks saying, "I don't want to eat rabbit again and I'll kill the next Imperial I see." The Stormcloaks do however mention some of the hardships they have had when you listen to them, about family members being kidnapped, etc. The Imperials are just "Let's kill them".

I had forgotten about the time when you could switch using the crown. It is something I've never done before either so I may consider it. Thanks.

Why would the Imperials arrest you just for carrying a Talos amulet? They don't even try to arrest anyone who publicly worships Talos most of the time (Heimskr excluded) and when they do try they are generally really lazy about it, hell you can stroll right into an Imperial held city and wear a Talos amulet and nobody will say a thing.

Ondolemar is also really lazy at arresting Talos worshippers too,

It wasn't quite as clean as that. You got the short version. There were some Thalmor there to observe, some words spoken, a kick to the groin, etc. It wasn't a pretty scene.

The Talos worship is a hit or miss depending on which Nord you talk to. And then there is Bruma, where she is from, the city of Talos. I can't find any lore to really say what's happened there during this period of time.