I came across three men just standing in the road. Two of them were imperial soldiers, and one was a Storm Cloak prisoner. I spoke to the prisoner but it didn't dawn on me the imperials were escorting somewhere. It gave me the option to cut him loose and give him something. I figured he was another escapee from Helgren, so I cut him loose and gave him some food. The imperials were not happy of course and proceeded to attack me and the newly freed prisoner. I was like, "Oops..." I had no choice but to cut down the two imperials who had managed to kill the prisoner too in the process.