The bedroom door opened and then closed with a slam. "Aeiron, get up!" The brunette in bed groaned as she rolled over onto her stomach and brought the skins over her head and exposed her bare feet. Lydia sighed and sat at the edge of the bed, nudging the lump that was lying underneath the covers. The Housecarl sighed in frustration and raised her voice. "Aeiron!"
"What?" Aeiron's voice came out muffled and dragged out from underneath the pelts. The Housecarl felt like rolling her eyes as she began nudging at her Thane once more.
"It's already four in afternoon. Get up!" Lydia stood on her feet and pulled the covers off of the lazy bum of a Thane. Aeiron rolled slowly and landed on the floor, merely groaned again as the brightly lit room's light pierced her eyes. Groggily, the Stormcloak's eyes blinked her eyes up at her Housecarl and was greeted with a scowl. "I already made you lunch. It's on the table downstairs."
Aeiron sighed and sat up off the floor, eyes scanning the bedroom. She got up slowly, groaning at the old cuts and burns from a month ago that were vaguely reminding her that they were still there, though barely. Her legs felt stiff as she walked over to the small table in the corner of the room where her Officer Armor lay, folded neatly over the back of the chair; the boots sat on the seat and the gauntlets were placed neatly on the tabletop.
Lydia could be heard walking around downstairs, probably setting the table for the both of them. Aeiron smirked lightly as she mentally thanked the woman and began pulling off her large tunic top. At the foot of the stairs, Lydia stood with her arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. "AEIRON!"
"WHAT?" The brunette walked towards the stairs, pulling her hair out from underneath her armor as she slowly walked down the stairs. The Housecarl sighed and followed Aeiron to the table and sat down across from her.
Lydia watched her dig into the venison hungrily, fork and knife cutting apart the meat with powerful strokes. When Aeiron had a mouthful of meat, she sighed and looked down ather food for a moment before looking back up at the general. Lydia closed her eyes and sighed.
"Look," the Housecarl began. Aeiron paused and looked up at the older woman, blinking her eyes innocently. "I know it's only been a month since you killed Alduin and you're still recovering, but I can't keep taking care of you like this! You sleep half the day away and are up until the sun rises and you're not eating properly!"
The soldier swallowed and pursed her lips, looking down at her meal. "And with the dreams that you keep having from the war..." Lydia continued. "It ended two years ago!"
"Lydia," Aeiron spoke quietly before reaching over to her goblet of milk and taking a sip. She swallowed and spoke up again. "The battle is over, but the war is far from that." Lydia's dark brown eyes met the Stormcloak's gray-blue ones. She sighed again, beginning to dig in once more. "I'm sorry I've been such a burden on you, Lydia. You deserve a life of your own..."
"That's nonsense!" The Housecarl interjected. She watched the woman who she was sworn to protect smile bitterly. "I am sworn to guard you with my life, to carry out your wishes and to shoulder your burdens. Why...?"
"Lydia." Aeiron's soft voice cut through her rant. "Don't misunderstand me; I appreciate everything," the general smiled lightly, taking another sip of milk before standing up slowly. Lydia's gaze followed her the entire way. "But..." The brunette sighed, looking down at the table before back up at her Housecarl. "If I'm stressing you out that much, just let me know. I can take care of myself, Monah."
Aeiron slowly walked to the door, picking up her signature steel battle axe that hung on the weapons rack by the door. "Wait!" After sheathing her weapon, she turned to see Lydia standing from the table and looking like she was about to run after her. The general stood for a moment and turned to face her completely. "The Jarl wanted to see you. He wanted to see how you were doing."
The brunette smirked and turned to head for the door, waving at her with the back of her hand. "I'll be sure to stop by and say 'hello' to Vignar."
Lydia sighed and sat down after the door had closed. Aeiron was right; she was acting like her mother.
Heimskr was still preaching in front if the statue of Talos just like he was a month ago when she last walked through the Wind District of the city. The Gildergreen still had fresh flowers on its branches and children were still running through the city.
Aeiron also bitterly smiled at the fact that she still got the same dirty looks from the same people ever since the Battle of Whiterun, especially the Battle-Born family. She would smile pleasantly in greeting as she passed them, a practiced facade as they would scowl and grumble lowly behind her back. She returned the favor by smiling cynically at them.
The Stormcloak guards in the city made the offense seem more trifle than it actually was. They all nodded as she passed by, hand over their heart as they chanted her nickname on the battle field. She would laugh, just like a month ago and tell them to stand "at ease" as she passed by. Some of them would shake her hand, thank her for saving a parent, a sibling, a child. Aeiron would say as usual that she was just doing her job and thanked them for the kind words.
She mentally laughed when she saw the soldiers by the doors to Dragonsreach stand up straighter, heads higher in the air. One of them opened the door for her.
Aeiron nodded, a thank you leaving her lips as she ordered them to be "as they were". The second she entered the keep, attention was drawn her way. The Stormcloak guards on the inside by the door slackened their posture to gape at the war hero.
"Stormblade!"
They all saw her give her trademark smirk and wave them off casually. "Hi, fellas!"
As she casually walked up the stairs, Vignar was out of his seat and was walking towards her.
"Well, well!" He spoke loudly, clasping her forearm with his and shaking it firmly. "Look who decided to come by and say 'hello'!" Aeiron smiled widely up at the man, laughing lightly as she let go of his arm.
"Lydia said you wanted to see me," she replied. The Jarl wrapped an arm around her shoulder and the two began walking towards the second staircase that led to the war room and to the Great Porch.
"I was getting worried," the old man confessed. The brunette shook her head and chuckled.
"All for little ol' me?"
"I missed our chess games."
They reached the top of the stairs and Vignar unwrapped his arm, walking towards the strategy table where Hjornskar Head-Smasher stood as he eyed over the map on the tabletop. She sighed when she saw the change in his face and his body stiffen. His eyes were wide and blinking rapidly, almost bulging out of their sockets. His hand automatically went to his chest. "Storm-"
Aeiron raised her hand, smiling lightly and closing her eyes before looking up at the man once more. "It's good to see you too, Head-Smasher." Her hand went back to her side as she turned to look over at Vignar. "I have a feeling that I'm not here just for a little chat." Aeiron's gaze switched between Hjornskar and the Jarl for a moment before she sighed and put her hands on her hips. "Alright, what's going on?"
The Jarl sighed. "It's the Imperials."
The brunette's brow narrowed. "What about them?"
"We've recently received word that they may try to take back Whiterun soon."
Both generals looked at each other for a moment before she looked back at Vignar. Aeiron let out a deep breath of air, glancing at a nearby wall before turning back to the two men. "Figures as much…"
"We all know you're still recovering from your battle with Alduin—"
"To Oblivion with that!" The woman's brogue was strengthened with her abrupt shouting. The two men blinked at her, apparently startled. "I'm fine enough to go to battle again if I must. Just say the word and I'll run out there in a heartbeat!" Aeiron gestured to a wall far away from her before crossing her arms as if to stop any protests before they began.
Vignar chuckled lightly, admiring her ambition. "I was expecting you to say that. How's your swinging arm?"
Aeiron shrugged with a casual smile. "I'll need a few Imperials to warm up on, but otherwise fine." The smile faded away as another thought came to mind. "Do you know exactly what we're up against?"
"We believe that they're still planning out how they are going to strike, if at all." The female general turned her head when she heard Hjornskar's voice. "Ulfric already knows what's going on and is sending in more troops over. We'll let you know if we have any more information." Aeiron nodded sternly and looked back at Vignar.
"Thanks for keeping me in the loop. I'll be sure to stay close to home for the time being."
Vignar nodded. "That would be a good idea." He paused a moment, a wry smile slowly appearing as he looked down for a few seconds before looking back up at the brunette. "Why don't you stop by Jorvaskr tomorrow?"
Aeiron blinked and tilted her head lightly to the side. "Jorvaskr?" she inquired. "Whatever for?"
"You've been in Whiterun for the past seven years and never once set foot through the front door. I think it's about time we change that."
He watched as the younger woman sighed in defeat, smiling lightly out of the humor of the whole situation. "Alright. Noon tomorrow. I'll be taking my leave now," she said as she took a few steps backwards and placed her hand over her heart, turning to look at the other general. "Head-Smasher."
Hjornskar returned the gesture, smiling lightly. "Stormblade."
She turned to look at the Jarl and repeated the motion. "Jarl Vignar."
Vignar nodded lightly. "Have a good day, Aeiron."
She beamed a smile at the two men before turning on her heel and marching out of the war room and down the stairs.