Chapter Thirteen: War on Two Fronts
I sat on the edge of my bed, gripping a muddy, bloody helm in my hands. The liquids had long dried, staining the leather with unorganized splotching. The insignia on the front differentiated it from other helmets. It was the only thing I managed to take from Dragon Bridge when I left; it was the only tangible memory I had of Gaius. My thin fingers ran along the interior edges, finding a dip in the leather that had been pressed from years of repetitive action. It’s where he would place the helm on the hook at his door. I too would mount the helm, but it would stay hung for a long time. It had no use anymore.
Every time I closed my eyes I saw my uncle’s face. He wasn’t all that emotional of a man. He made sure to show us he loved us, but when it came to sorrow and rage, he hid his feelings well. When I escorted Gaius into Dragon Bridge for the last time, his resolve deteriorated. He broke down entirely. I remember standing idly by, shivering in the cold, as my sobbing uncle stared into the wagon to see what had become of his son. The other agents were in shock by both the death of their second-in-command and the lack of composure my uncle had. Some wanted to help, but no one knew what to do. There was nothing to be done. The commander simply held the body of his only son in the freezing cold as he tried to come to terms with what had occurred, a spectacle no one would ever wish to see.
Faida was just as broken. One of our agents had blindly went to fetch her before allowing my uncle his time. She had barely made it out the door before realizing who had the power to break the commander so easily. She didn’t need to see the body, and she never asked to. She fell to her knees from the pain that surged through her broken heart. I couldn’t make myself go to her. One of the other Penitus Oculatus members had to go for me. They held her crying, trembling form until she had no more tears to give. She had packed for Riften, carrying with her the best dress she owned for the wedding. She had waited anxiously for him to come home to her but never would she have dreamed he would arrive without a heartbeat.
I should have expected the questions, but I was so numb I couldn’t provide answers. “Where were you, Talia?!” was the demand that cut me deepest. “You were supposed to keep each other safe! Where did you go?!” My uncle practically begged for me to answer. I just couldn’t form the words. He never outright blamed me, but I felt the immobilizing guilt grow stronger as he spoke to me. I know he could never hate me, but hatred filled his words as he continued to demand me to speak to him. He needed justification. The other agents soon realized our one-sided fight would get out of hand without intervention. Even without real, competent leadership, they performed well. Most stayed to calm my uncle and examine Gaius’ body fully, but I had a few escort me to my tent that still rested at the edge of town. Faida never spoke to me, but didn’t need to. Her teary glare told me she was angry at me; I was to blame for her love’s death.
I laid the helmet on the nightstand as I laid back down on the bed. The room was brightly illuminated by the light of Mundus filtering through the frosted pane. I had slept for days in the Palace of Kings, and I honestly didn't feel like doing anything else. No one bothered me besides bringing in meals, so I assumed Kaita had asked everyone to give me time to recover. Besides my mental pain, the effects of the assassin's poison blade were long felt. The cauterized wound on my side was taking longer to heal than normal, even with the Court Wizard's experienced restoration magic. The poison itself felt as though it had lasting internal damage, specifically in my chest. I couldn't draw deep breaths without coughing or getting light headed. I was sure with time however, my body would return to normal.
My eyes were only closed for a few moments before I heard a knocking on the door. I groaned softly as I turned to face the opposite direction, calling out, “I'm not hungry right now, but thank you.” They knocked again, trying to get me to it answer myself. I stubbornly refused, instead going silent to wait for whoever it was to leave. The maids that came in to check on me would usually leave me be if I was quiet long enough. After I heard the door open however, I knew it was someone more persistent. Without looking their way, I mumbled from beneath the blankets, “I'm not really in the mood to talk yet, Kaita.”
“It's not Kaita,” the voice responded. Galmar shut the door behind him rather loudly, making me flinch. I quickly sat up in the bed to look at him. “And I also don't really care what you're in the mood for.”
A frown tugged at my lips as I looked him over. Surprisingly, he wasn't in his armor, but rather a much more comfortable tunic and furs. Even without the heavy armor, he still was intimidating. There was a softness in his voice though that let me know he wasn't as angry with me as he was concerned. “Is everything alright, sir?”
He scoffed as he sat in the chair next to the bed. “I came to ask you the same thing.” I felt his eyes look me over before looking at the plate of food I had left untouched from breakfast. “Before you give me that “I'm just tired” crap, let me tell you right now I know that's not it. You're going to have to talk about it.”
I sighed heavily as I leaned back against the wall. “I don't know what I should say about it, Galmar. I don't think anyone understands what it's like... to lose someone like Gaius.” The words left my mouth like stones. It hurt to say it out loud again. I was closer to him than anyone else, and gods, it hurt to think we would never meet again.
“We all understand, Maro.” The softness of Galmar's words caught me off guard, forcing me to shut my eyes to avoid tearing up. I could feel his gaze on me, so I tried to avoid facing him directly. I knew he knew I was crying though. “Kaita lost her best friend during the attack on Markarth. For Ulfric, Rikke might as well be dead to him. He'll never have her back. And I,” the general hummed softly before continuing, “I had a family before the Great War, you know: a wife and a daughter. We have all lost someone, so if anyone is going to understand, it's us.”
I quickly wiped my eyes before looking back at him. “I feel like it's my fault. I should have been there. I could have prevented it.”
He shook his head. “You couldn't have. If you would have gone with him, you would have met his fate. It's not going to make it feel better, but imagine if your uncle would have lost both of you.”
“He might as well have,” I murmured. “I can't go back to him.”
He looked out the window, deep in thought. “You can't blame yourself for something you can't change. It's only going to hold you back and steal your thought and emotion in the present. If you cousin saw you, how would he react? Do you think he'd be angry with you for living or praising the gods you survived?”
I watched him, contemplating what he said. He spoke with wisdom I could only assume he had to figure out on his own. As much as it pained me to admit, he was right. “He'd probably hit me for sulking around instead of training.” I forced the smallest of smiles and that seemed to comfort the general. “I'm sorry for being like this. It's... It's just a lot to process.”
He hummed as he studied me one last time, getting up to his feet. “Don't apologize for feeling. You just need to learn to get back up and keep going.” I smiled a bit more and he nodded. “Kaita wanted me to get you up and moving again. She's ready for some fighting.”
As he walked to the door, I felt myself move to the edge of the bed to follow. “She can't go without me?”
“Oblivion if I know,” Galmar grumbled, his harsh tone returning. “I don't understand a thing that woman says or wants.”
A small laugh left my lips as I started down the stairs behind Galmar. The Palace was quiet without the noise of Galmar and Ulfric's banter. I was wondering whether or not Ulfric was even there or not until we arrived in the main room. He was seated at the table with Kaita, Jorleif, and Wuunferth. The four were discussing, much quieter than usual, the next steps of the war. I attributed that to Galmar's absence.
“Look who finally got out of bed,” Galmar announced as we neared the table. He didn't wait for a reaction before pulling out a seat for himself next to Ulfric.
Kaita looked back at me with a wide smile. She motioned to the empty chair next to her and started putting some of the food that was set out for us on my plate. “We were wondering when you'd feel well enough to get up.” She hummed softly before looking over at Galmar. “I told him not to bother you, but he insisted on going to speak with you. Alone at that.” She smirked slightly, but he avoided her gaze, trying to appear indifferent about me.
I smiled slightly, nodding at her. “He was within his rights. I should have been up days ago. I guess I just needed a little break.” My stomach grumbled as I looked over the food trying to decide where to start. If I were to fight, I'd need my strength back. “I'm more than willing to get back out there, though. Staying here, I think I'll be able to get more done than before.”
“You're staying at the Palace of Kings?” Jorlief spoke up.
“Oh,” I started, the question catching me off guard. “Should I not be? I can go rent a room at the hall.”
The steward shook his head quickly, “No, no! I only ask because I wasn't aware we would be hosting you here permanently. I'll have to make alterations to ensure you're comfortable, have the staff keep your room clean, buy some furnishings to make you feel more at home-”
I laughed softly. “There's no need for all that, sir. I'm already quite comfortable in my room as it is. Besides, I'll be in and out of the Palace enough that it will hardly see use.” While I knew it was his job, it was heart-warming to hear the steward was willing to go through such trouble to make me feel at home. He had always been kind towards me, but it seemed to be even more so with each visit to the Palace. I assumed it had to do with how kind I treated him in return. I didn't imagine that the disgruntled soldiers and townsmen that came in demanding audiences treated him all that well.
Kaita listened in, adding as I began eating, “The only reason you didn't know she would be staying permanently was because I was the only person she told. Jarl Ulfric had already given her a room to use, so I figured it wouldn't be a far stretch in assuming he would continue to let her use it now that she-...” She cut herself off to reconsider her choice of words, something I appreciated, but didn't find necessary, “... can't go home.”
Galmar hummed softly in thought. “So, you told your uncle then?”
“About coming here? No,” I spoke softly, as if the volume would keep anyone from hearing in the otherwise silent hall. “I wrote him a note telling him I was leaving, but I was safe. I didn't mention names or locations, because I knew breaking this kind of news to him so close to Gaius' death would feel like he's lost both of us.” There was a numb pain in my chest from the guilt, but I knew telling someone what I had done would help soften it. “I told him about The Dark Brotherhood, and what that assassin wanted us to do.”
“Do you think he'll go through with it?” Kaita asked, her voice in a calm, coaxing tone.
“I wish he wouldn't, but I know he probably will. He's just lost his only son to them. He'll do whatever he has to to get revenge on them. I only hope that assassin will keep her word on sending him.”I knew Kaita knew who I was talking about, but from the looks on Galmar and Ulfric's faces I could tell she had told them. It was unsettling to think about. The last tie to my childhood, my life in Anvil, was alive and in Skyrim, and he wanted me dead. That fear was not nearly as powerful as the pain in knowing that someone was my own father, however. As much as I hated him for “leaving” us, I still held out hope that he still loved me. Now, all that hope was gone. “If they don't, I trust he's smart enough to not take stabs at them blindly. He knows what they're capable of.”
“Are you afraid?” Kaita asked after a couple moments of silence. I didn't meet her gaze but could feel her staring into me. When I neglected to answer, she pressed, “You're a good soldier and always have a straight mind, but when you saw him... You were different. Are you scared of him?”
I parted my lips to speak, but I couldn't even force a single syllable from my lips. I felt idiotic. He was just another person that needed to be laid to rest. He wasn't any stronger than any of the other men I had slain before. Yet, I was terrified. I shouldn't have been, but I found myself shaking at the thought of him finding me again. I glanced up to see the gathering of Nords and Elders waiting for my response.
“Enough, Kaita.” Ulfric's deep voice broke the silence I had created. “Of course she is afraid. Anyone in her situation would be a fool to not be.” His eyes settled on me for a moment or two as he tried to judge if his words were helping or hurting the situation. “The one person she should be able to turn to wants her dead and has the resources to do so. Alone, she would fall to him and he would scarcely care. But you are far from alone, right, Talia?”
I took a deep breath as I forced myself to hold his gaze. It was a question that demanded an answer, but not for him. He wanted me answer for myself- to recognize the reality. Fortified in the Palace of Kings, surrounded by a group of people that weren't my blood but were willing to spill it on my behalf, I truly wasn't alone. I nodded slowly, forcing a small smile as I did so. “I suppose I'm not.”
“Aye,” the Jarl responded, giving me his half-smile that I had come to adore. “The assassins are cowards. Even if your uncle fails to kill the Listener, such a bold attack will have them leery.”
“And should they dare prey on the True Sons and Daughters of Skyrim,” Galmar growled with a smirk, “I'll send them to their Void myself.”
The Nords at the table chattered in agreement. I wasn't surprised anymore at their words. I had come to accept that once a Nord's heart was set on protecting something, they would fight to the end to preserve it. It was the reason I knew they would win this war. They weren't shaken by any challenges they faced- dragons, an empire, assassins- but instead motivated. They would protect what they had and loved. That was the most admirable.
After several minutes more of idle chatter, Jorleif and Wuunferth dismissed themselves to start on their afternoon work. The general left shortly after to plan for their next strike against the empire, leaving Kaita, Ulfric and myself alone. I was distracted while eating, not hearing their conversation until Ulfric called my name. “Would you want to go, Tali?”
I looked up, slightly flustered as I tried to piece together what was said. “I... The answer is yes, where ever it is we're talking about.”
Kaita laughed at me, smirking as she looked at Ulfric. “I don't think she was even listening, but did you have to ask? Of course she wants to go with you.”
I frowned at her, my cheeks still burning. Ulfric chuckled in amusement as well. “I was hoping so. We've had little time to talk these past few weeks.” He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “There's a Nord who wants to meet with me at the Shrine of Talos outside the city: wizard and potentially a powerful ally. He's the one who gave me Krosis. Would you like to come with me?”
“Of course,” I responded, not hesitating. I rubbed my cheeks as I continued, “Are you sure it isn't a trap or potentially dangerous?”
He chuckled again, watching Kaita as she got up, going to fetch us some coats and boots to wear. “I know it isn't a trap, but seeing as I don't know what he wants, it could be dangerous. I think you could use some excitement though.” When I nodded, he rose to his feet, taking the coat from Kaita.
I slipped on the boots she gave me and took the coat as well. “You aren't coming with us?” I asked, watching her begin cleaning up the table.
She hummed in response. “No, I don't think I will. Give you two some... alone time.” She grinned in a knowing way, making me roll my eyes. She giggled, motioning for me to leave, “Go have some fun. Let me know how it goes, alright?”
“You'll be the first,” I teased, nudging her as I walked by. I hurried to catch up to Ulfric, taking a deep breath when I entered the freezing outdoors.
The city was covered with a fresh layer of snow. It had been a good while since I had been outside, so the light of Mundus was almost blinding. I covered my eyes with one arm and reached out blindly only to find Ulfric's arm waiting on me. He hummed warmly as he lead me safely through the streets until my eyes adjusted to the natural light. Around me, people busied themselves doing normal work. I heard echoes of a hammer on steel and shouts of vendors from the market district. Closer, I heard children playing and people talking about temple and Talos. I could smell warm ale drifting over the snow, directing those dodging worship into the tavern. Save for the inches of snow, it felt like home.
As my eyes adjusted, I was able to get a better look around. I was surprised to see many more dark elves out and about than on my previous visits. I recognized one as the woman Drablek and I had saved those weeks ago. She smiled brightly as she saw me, offering a wave but continuing her bustling. I smiled and waved in return, stating plainly, “The town seems more diverse today.”
Ulfric nodded as he looked around. “While we've been busy taking back camps and fortresses, I've had Serlyn and Bjorn keep the city for us. I think you remember them from Mara's Eye?” I nodded happily and he continued, “They're doing better than even Kaita expected. The elves here are actually working and taking part now. They don't fear the Nords and contribute to our city, as they should. You'd be surprised how many of my guard held a prejudice against them though.”
“I don't think I would,” I responded softly. I was well aware of the racial tensions, but it seemed the orc was right. Ulfric really had been blind too it. I was happy at least that he was beginning to make that change. “Where's the people from Mara's Eye camp now?”
“I've had them move to a safer camp in the Rift. The officers have been dispersed as well. I reasoned if the Legion found them there once, they would find them there again,” he sighed heavily, motioning for the guards to open the gate to let us through.
Outside the city, the world was even whiter. The river below us had started to freeze over along the shore and pillars of the bridge. There were very few people traveling, mostly farmers on their way to sell in the market and at the temple, but even then I felt watched. I realized it really wasn't me they were looking at, however. Ulfric was catching everyone's eye. The soldier's would straighten their stance and the men would bow their heads in respect. Most everyone would stare or murmur under their breaths. I couldn't blame them. The most powerful man in the hold, and potentially the most powerful man in Skyrim was in their presence. He walked among them like he was no better than they were, without a crown or a guard.
Despite the stares of the rest of the travelers, he seemed to only notice mine. He looked down at me as I studied him. “What is it?” His voice hinted a chuckle, as if he couldn't understand why I was smiling. I blamed my tinted cheeks on the cold and simply shook my head. He asked again, “I can feel you staring at me. Did I do something?”
I shook my head, laughing softly. “No, I'm just...” I shrugged, looking down as I changed the subject slightly. “Everyone is looking at you. I don't know how you can tell I am.”
He looked around as if only just now noticing the staring eyes. He adjusted his arm, pulling me slightly closer. “You only look at things you're thinking about. I've picked that up.” He looked back ahead, glancing sideways at me.
“Do I?” I asked, trying to avoid looking back up at him, but finding it painfully difficult. I huffed, embarrassed again. “You've known me but a few months and you already have that figured out?”
“I've made it a point to learn about people, particularly those I let get so close to me,” he murmured softly. Ulfric looked up to the Talos Shrine as we began ascending the hill. “I also like watching you in general- the way you interact with the world. You look at everything like it's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. I can see this hope and wonder in your eyes. It's been there since Helgen...” He paused a moment to look down at me fully. “But it's faded now. It hasn't been there since you got back from Markarth.” He smiled sadly, “I know you're scared, but I won't let him hurt you- not while I'm still here.”
“I know, Ulfric.” I kept my voice soft to try to mask how I was feeling. “I'm more scared of losing anything else. If he kills me, so be it. I... I just can't stand the thought of losing anyone else. Not my uncle, not Kaita, and certainly not you.” I drew a deep breath to try and keep my nerves in check. I ended up laughing faintly at the next thought I had, “Gods, we're fighting in a war and here I am terrified of getting people killed by assassins.”
Ulfric shook his head, pulling his arm away from me and putting it over my shoulders. I instinctively moved closer, letting his warmth calm me. “You worry about keeping yourself alive. We are all more than capable of protecting ourselves. What's more, we aren't alone. We'll not be alone anymore, right?”
“Right,” I affirmed, closing my eyes as I leaned more into him. He gently pressed his lips to my forehead, drawing a reassured sigh from my lips. When we started walking again, I didn't move from under his arm. He didn't seem to mind, though.
Atop the hill, we could see the Talos Statue, looking over the city. Other figure was seated on the steps leading up to it, playing with flames in his hands. Ulfric murmured, “Let's see what he wants then,” before clearing his throat and approaching. The sound was enough to catch the wizard's attention but not startle him. The last thing we wanted was him getting jumpy and accidentally shooting us off the hillside.
I studied the Nord as we approached. He wore ebony colored cloth, but the robes had the appearance of tightly knit scales. His gauntlets and boots were of the same ebony appearance, but glistened of a metal harder than steel. The wizard's body radiated heat enough to melt the snow around him. As terrifying as his adornments would have been, I wasn't greatly intimidated. The Nord's stature indicated he was incredibly young, and the idea was further solidified when I heard him call out, “Jarl Ulfric! It is an honor to see you again!” His hand went to his heart in a salute.
Ulfric hummed softly, saluting him back in an amused fashion. “It's not required to greet me as a solider if you aren't one of my own, Favnir. Though, your respect is appreciated.” He looked down at me and motioned, “This is Talia Bear-Tamer, my newest Stormblade.”
“Bear-Tamer, huh?” The Nord walked up to me, chuckling. “Odd name for an Imperial, but I like it.” Up close, I could see his features beneath his hood. His skin steamed from the spell he cast to warm himself, but I could still see freckles just as numerous as my own. His eyes were a light hazel and betrayed his childish, mischievious nature. Contrarily, his hair was a dark brown and long, looking as if he hadn't cut it a day in his life. He was probably as young as Bjorn, if not younger, yet something about him told me he could best our strongest soldier. He extended his hand for me to shake. “My name is Favnir Silver-Tongue. I'm the Dragonborn.”
I took his hand, flinching as the words left his lips. “The Dragonborn?” He grinned, with drawing his hand as he did so. I was a little more stunned than I realized, stuttering to continue, “Well... I... It's an honor, Dragonborn. I... I didn't expect...”
He waved me off with a laugh. “It's really okay! I actually think it's kind of funny. You're in the presence of Ulfric Stormcloak and you're acting like meeting me is a big deal.”
Ulfric hummed, “Trust me, she had a very similar reaction meeting me for the first time.” He chuckled as I pursed my lips. “Regardless, it's not every day someone meets a dragonslayer, let alone the Dragonborn himself. Speaking of, I assume that's why you wanted me meet with me, correct? To talk about dragons?”
The young Nord tilted his head slightly, almost as if he forgot why he had came. He suddenly nodded, “Oh yes! Right. So, just so you and I are on the same page, dragons are hard to kill. Even for a spellsword like myself, they require a lot of damage to take down.”
“We're aware,” Ulfric hummed, crossing his arms over his chest, motioning with his chin towards me. “Talia has already taken one down. It nearly killed her to do it.”
Favnir blinked in surprise, looking over at me. “You killed one? By yourself?”
I shook my head. “Don't let him mislead you. I had the help of the city guard, but I was the one that dealt the killing blow.” I smiled slightly at him. “I'm well aware how difficult they are.”
“The dragon I gave to you in exchange for Krosis was the one she killed,” Ulfric reported, nodding in confirmation.
“That was an Ebony Nightwing! It had incredibly tough armor and it's shouts are highly dangerous! Yet you were the one to take it down!” His eyes burned with excitement. “You'll have to tell me in detail how you did it! Have you ever faced one before that? How did it move? What were its attacks?” I could tell by his rushed tone he was desperate for the knowledge I had. It was humorous to say the least. The young man embodied what I knew of wizards perfectly. They craved to know everything they could, often overlooking the matter at hand.
I was just about ready to answer his questions, but Ulfric cut in, “Favnir, what were you getting at with the dragons?”
“Ah, right,” he caught himself, smiling shyly at Ulfric again. “My apologies, my Jarl. What I was trying to say was even though they are incredibly hard to kill, they are harder to keep dead, especially with Alduin still alive. He's the one bringing all the dragons back to Tamriel.”
“It's not just in Skyrim?” I asked, raising a brow.
He shook his head. “No, I'm afraid. Despite the tensions between Skyrim and the Empire at the moment, we still keep solid relations with their Mages Guild and... well, they're reporting Dragons across Cyrodiil as well. I've traveled across the country to check the borders myself and I've seen Dragons in Morrowind and High Rock. Alduin is fast, and he's wasting no time in reviving dragons across the Nirn.”
“By the Nine...” I muttered, looking over at Ulfric. He seemed deep in thought, but I assumed I shared his questions. “Is there any way to stop it?”
Favnir chuckled, nodding, “Yeah, actually. Me.” When he saw my confused expression, he explained, “When I dragon dies, I can steal its soul permanently. Alduin can't revive them again. I'm a walking soul gem essentially.” He seemed more amused at his joke than Ulfric was, but I blamed that on the seriousness of the subject.
“So every time we kill a dragon, we need to let you know so you can take its soul?” The wizard nodded and Ulfric hummed in understanding. “That will be tedious, but if that's what it takes. The Greybeards let you know all this I take it?”
“Not all of it,” he admitted. “I've been reading all I can and talking with various sources to gather what I can.” He trailed off, debating on letting us know the sources, but deciding to keep it to himself. After all, the Dragonborn was entitled to his secrets.
“Why don't you kill Alduin then?” I asked, curiously. “He may travel across Tamriel, but it seems like he keeps returning here, right? Why don't you track him down and kill him?”
He sighed, “That's the thing. I did.” Favnir paced in front of the Talos statue, frustration in his tone as he grumbled, “I fought him and thought I had him beat. Rather than taking his soul, his body itself turned ethereal. He flew off to recover, and now I don't know where he went.”
“So that's why you're here,” Ulfric stated in understanding. He scratched the back of his head as he considered the situation. “You need help finding Alduin. I would lend you every man I have in a heartbeat, Dragonborn, but you can't expect me to put this war on hold. We are in the middle of it and I doubt Tullius would be willing to see reason at this point.”
He quickly shook his head. “No, no! That's not what I'm asking you to do at all, my Jarl!” He smiled widely. “I would rather you keep fighting and let me handle the dragons. With luck, they'll swoop in and destroy Castle Dour for you!” he laughed. Glancing over at me, he added, “I mean this in the best way possible, but the sooner we drive the Imperials back across the border the better.”
I shrugged. “I agree, so no offense taken.”
Favnir looked back at Ulfric and continued, “What I wanted to ask of you is permission to use Dragonsreach in Whiterun. I think I can trap a dragon there that knows where Alduin is and force him to take me there. I know it's risky, but it's the only chance I have.”
Ulfric looked deep in thought. “The Gray-Manes are in control there and might need some convincing, but I can send a letter granting you permission. Understand though, we just took the city and tried to rebuild it. The people there will be scared and untrusting of us. If you fail, it might further ruin their idea of the Stormcloaks.”
The wizard stared him dead in the eyes from beneath the hood, putting his hand over his heart as a promise. “I will not fail, and your people will be safe with me. When this is over and I've killed Alduin, I'll make it known my support for you. You will be High King of Skyrim with the Last Dragonborn as your biggest supporter!”
Ulfric smiled, shaking his head at the man's words. “Let's worry about killing dragons and winning wars before we decide who will be High King. Still, I covet your support all the same, Dragonborn. We'll be waging two wars then, one with men, and one with dragons.” He looked over at me with a nod. “I'll have Talia and Kaita bring the letter to Vignar in Whiterun and you can do as you please there.”
“Thank you, Jarl Ulfric!” The wizard smiled brightly, saluting once again to the man he obviously greatly admired. “That's all I needed to ask, so unless you need me to do something, I'll be on my way.” When Ulfric shook his head, he looked at me, “It was a pleasure to meet you, Talia Bear-Tamer,” he chuckled. “When we meet in Whiterun, you'll have to tell me about that dragon, alright?”
I nodded, with a small laugh. “I will, Dragonborn.” I saluted him respectfully, watching his eyes light up again before he started down the hill, hurrying to his horse at the bottom. When he was out of earshot, I muttered to Ulfric, “He's eccentric, isn't he?”
Ulfric sighed, exhausted. “Dealing with wizard's and keeping up with their conversations is hard enough. When the wizard is a child, it makes it even more tiring.”
I scoffed, walking closer to him and leaning against his chest. “He barely looks old enough to raise a sword.”
“From what I gather, this is his sixteenth winter. He is far more talented in arcane and swordsmanship than any other man I know. His voice is just as strong. I feel as though the Divines knew what they were doing when they blessed him with such power.” He took a deep breath. “It's a lot of pressure to put on someone so young, but his resolve is strong. He'll succeed and possibly be the strongest ruler there ever was.”
“You'll let him be High King if he wants to be?” I asked, more curious than anything.
Ulfric shook his head. “I'll let the people choose their king as they always have. If he becomes the High King, I will count it an honor to be the one to counsel him.” He looked down at me, smiling warmly. “I think he'll be too busy slaying dragons to be something as mundane as High King though.”
I tutted softly and he wrapped his arms around me. He rested his chin on the top of my head as we stood in silence for a long while, generally just enjoying each other's company. It had been awhile since we were allowed a moment alone with each other, so neither of us were in a rush to head back to the Palace, even with the cold. I smiled in comfort as I took his hand, rocking back and forth. It was the happiest I had felt in days. I wasn't allowed to think about what I had lost, but only what I had found. The pain was worth it.
Ulfric was the one who broke the silence. “Is this how you Imperial's dance?” I could tell by the tone, he was teasing me and my sloppy attempts at “dancing”.
I looked up with a playful frown. “I've never had a dance, so I wouldn't know.” Ulfric blinked a few times in surprise. “Is that odd?”
He nodded. “I don't see why you wouldn't have.”
I shrugged, “My work hardly affords leisure time, let alone parties.” I hummed as I looked at his mischievious smile, quickly adding, “It's hard to dance without music too... so don't try to teach me.”
“I think you're scared,” Ulfric teased me, trying to hide his smirk. He failed miserably and added, “It is hard to dance with no music, so I'll just have to wait until we have a party to dance with you.”
The thought made me giggle softly, and I simply nodded in response. As I laid my head back on his chest, I murmured, “It may not be until after we have this war won then.”
“Aye,” he sighed, looking back towards Windhelm. “Hopefully it won't be too much longer. We have the Falkreath, Morthal, Markarth, and then Solitude to take over, but I'm almost certain we have Falkreath in our pocket.”
I nodded, slowly pulling away. “I guess we'll just have to hope the Dragonborn will stay out of the way.”
The Jarl chuckled and nodded, “Aye. At least until Alduin is dealt with. Speaking of,” he started, looking back towards me. “We need to get that letter to him, so we don't keep him waiting. I also have an assignment for you after than. We need to keep the momentum from Whiterun or else Tullius will try to strike back.”
“Fine by me,” I told him, grinning. In all honesty, as nice as it was staying in the Palace, I would rather be fighting with the other soldiers. He seemed to understand that as well. “What will I be doing?”
He started walking down the hill, offering his hand to me. I graciously took it and he started, “I'm sending you to Morthal and Kaita to Markarth. You will both have men waiting for you at Whiterun. There's forts in each hold that if you can take, it will give us room to garrison enough men to take the city. After what we did to Whiterun, the Jarls will surrender without us having to actually destroy them. If you can do that, all that will be left is Falkreath and Solitude.”
The temperature was dropping rapidly as Mundus shifted in the sky, casting shadows on path. I shivered as I considered what he wanted me to do. It was exciting to actually do something that would have significant consequences for the war. It would make me even happier to be the one that delivered a hold to Ulfric myself. “Those are your orders, so it will be done.”
He looked down at me with a chuckle. “Then we're one step closer to me teaching you how to dance.” I rolled my eyes as I looked up at him, a comfortable smile settling on my lips. Without wasting a moment, he leaned down to meet me, gently gracing them with a kiss. I felt my heart quicken with the gesture, but leaned up to meet him. As he withdrew, he murmured, “A good luck kiss, to keep you safe in Hjaalmarch.”
“I'm not leaving until tomorrow though,” I told him with a teasing grin.
“Ah, in that case,” he smiled in return, “I'll just have to give you another then.”
After a few more hours of enjoying each others company, we made our way back to the Palace of Kings. Galmar had already dispatched men to Whiterun to wait for Kaita and I, allowing us to travel more discreetly. As I prepped for the following day, I opted to leave my Penitus Oculatus gear behind. There was no need to try and pretend to be my uncle's guard any longer. I did, however, bring Krosis. The mask had served well in battles up until that point, and with luck, it would continue to hide who I really was. As much as I was devoted to the Stormcloaks, I didn't want word of my allegience to reach Uncle Oritius. I knew he couldn't handle it.
My thoughts then rested on his attempt to kill the Listener. I'm sure if he succeeded, word of his exploits would travel far across Skyrim. Still, part of me wanted to know first hand if it could be done. I wanted to see him dead. After all he put us through, what he did to Gaius, he deserved the worst fate possible. I knew despite their cowardice, the assassins wouldn't be easy to kill. As we waged a war on the Empire and the Dragonborn killed the dragons, a third unseen war would commence. The Penitus Oculatus had to fight agents of the Void itself, and I prayed with every fiber of my being they would win.
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