Aisling arrived before the sun; the battle three days prior had been grueling and bloody but she had taken the fort and after Ulfric's comment concerning mistakes she felt it of the greatest importance that she be the one to deliver the news, personally. Her brothers and sisters would be at least a day behind her with wounded, she also wished to see healers ready for their arrival. That would have to wait for tomorrow, I have a different mission, she thought as her hood fell back. Small solid snow crystals stung her checks as she rode against a harsh wind. The towers of the Palace of Kings came into sight and the city walls soon after, her resolve was given to urgency and she pushed the brown gypsy mount harder toward the sight.

The palace doors opened for her and she met the Jarl's steward in the receiving hall, "my Thane it is very late, what is the trouble?"

"Where is the Jarl?" she asked rushed.

"He sleeps but-" Aisling did not let the steward finish but instead let herself into the upper levels.

After so many stone stairs the bedchamber of the Jarl was simply more of the same. Approaching the Jarl's bed she had a thought against being close when she startled him awake. "My Jarl!" she called for half way across the room. When he did not stir she decided proximity was inevitable. She loosened the latch on her dagger sheath and approached him. She left one hand on her hip as she placed the other on the stone slab and spoke close to his ear. "Ulfric," she almost whispered.

In an expected moment he moved from the 'bed' and threw her to the ground, sword in hand by reflex. She had already foreseen this type of situation and stayed his blade with her own dagger. What she had not expected was to be laying on the floor of the Jarl's bedchamber beneath the Jarl himself. Her mind, ever it may betray her, was thinking of other things. She was stormed with thoughts and feelings, the most prominent however, was the feeling of the Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak's 'night gift' which came to reside against her inner thigh. They lay like that for a long moment; Confusion in his eyes and, as far as the Jarl knew, nothing in hers. When Ulfric stood and reached out his hand, she took it and stood sheathing her blade..

"Is there a reason you are in my quarters at such an hour?" he asked putting away his own sword.

"I wished to tell personally that we have taken Fort Greenwall, my Jarl." she said brushing dirty from her light armor.

"This could not wait?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"In truth it could have but after your remark concerning mistakes I felt it necessary to prove to you other wise." She said raising her hood.

The Jarl pinched the bridge of his nose. "I spoke out of something else that day. You have never made mistakes in our service. I had no right to say such," he paused for a breath and looked away, "or to demand your presence for supper."

For a moment she looked at him and didn't see the legendary warrior he was now but the boy he had been and more over the adolescent warrior she had betrayed by sacrificing herself. The uncomfortable eyes in the Jarl's face had not been seen in many years. Not since he was a fledgling and a band Redguards held a small group of Nord warriors, three to be exact, in a dark courtyard outside the home of an assassinated noble. The Redguard host threatened to kill them if they didn't answer their questions. The team remained silent and the guard commander killed their dark haired companion. Aisling panicked knowing they would kill them all. She confessed her involvement to them, her cold blue eyes sharp even in the sparse light. She stood straight and defiant as a pummel struck her and she groggily watched them drag her away, thankfully leaving Ulfric behind safely.

"I am sorry Elske," she said and turned to reach the door.

There was a moment when the Jarl cocked his head to the side but once that had passed he was beside the door roughly holding tightly to her right bicep. "What did you just say?" he asked shaking her slightly with his urgency.

"She turned to face away from him, "I said 'I'm sorry'"

"What else?"

"Elske..." She breathed disappointed by her slip-up.

He released her in awe. She stood there for a bit waiting and when he said nothing else she moved to leave. She made it through the door and had almost closed when she heard him speak a name she had not heard in many years. "Cacia." With the last dregs of her resolve she shut the door and sat before it wrecked with exhaustion and the weight of her only slip in two years of serving him. There she sat and rallied the last of her strength for the journey home.

Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak, who had been a precise and well thought leader, at that moment thought he stood alone in his quarters staring dumbly at his closed bedroom door. She he believe what his heart told him? How was it even possible? She was reported dead in the prisoner uprising. Was this a gift from Talos, a reward for fighting in his name? He was hesitant, maybe she had only known Acacia, been a friend to her. Either way he had not been called 'Elske' by any woman in almost ten years. He had only been a fledgling then, battle was all that had been on his mind. Not the value of one person's life, or the effect a woman's loving sacrifice could have. He had known she loved him and in his youth he had used that on occasion to steal bits of her virtue. He wondered at that moment if one could really steal something all but given. Pushing thoughts of who he had been away, he lay on his cold slab and looked up to the flags of Windhelm.

"Could it be her?" He voiced incredulously.

Angrily he growled at himself, he didn't have time for this he had an attack to wage on Solitude, this would be an unneeded distraction. He would be lying if he said it was unwanted, but his wants had never come before those of his people. Did they have to now? Aisling had just taken Fort Greenwall and that meant that his men would need time to heal and spend with their families, lest they forget why they all fight. He had time, he had plenty of time. First though he would need healers for his men and a full battle report. She could deliver it over dinner and maybe he could get some answers after. He stood and readied for the day, he now had much to do.

That afternoon she woke and opened her eyes sunlight blinding them from the open window. Calder was not a bed so she made her way downstairs to find him, and find him she did. He stood in the kitchen over the fire, raking the coals. He wore no armor but instead was dressed in miner's clothes, his shirt open and showing more of his broad chest than his steel armor had.

"Sorry Aisling, I have not armored yet. Would you like some dinner?"

"I am a bit hungry." She said smiling at him genuinely. "The steel armor must be quite heavy, you need not wear it inside if it is uncomfortable." she said sitting at a side table.

"I have no errands today, I might do just that." he said drying his sweaty hands. "What would you like to eat?"

"The stew smells wonderful. Will you eat with me?"

"I haven't eaten yet, it would be my pleasure. Shall we eat in here?"

"No I'd like to use the hall table, we use it so rarely."

"Perhaps if we had more guests." he suggested. Aisling only laughed and retrieved the place settings, before leaving to tend to the table.

The 'hall' was simply the large open room with the front door. she set the table before tucking into the back and retrieving some bright yellow dragon's tongue to place in the tabled center. Calder arrived with stew and bread when there was a knock on the door. Without thought of her station she opened it to find the Jarl standing on her steps with a pair of guards.

"My Jarl, how may I help you this afternoon?"

"We must speak ." Ulfric said flatly.

"Please enter then your guards may also-"

"They will stay by the door." The Jarl ordered.

"Very well, Calder another setting please." She requested as the Jarl entered.

"With all respect my Thane I will excuse myself and tend to your armor." Calder said moving quickly to the second floor.

Aisling watched him leave and was saddened by his stiff manor. "What is it Ulfric?" she asked with no ceremony after serving them.

"Who are you?" He asked simply.

"You should know that better than anyone, my Jarl ." She said forcing herself to eat, her appetite now lost.

"So it is you truly, Acacia?"

"Acacia is dead," She snapped painfully, " but I was once she..." she added regretfully

"How? I was told you were killed."

"Some of us that escaped were listed as killed because the shame granted for losing us was to much for them and their families, better to not admit we got free."

"So why not find me? You have heard about father than?"

"Yes I helped plan the riot so as to cover our escape after his death. When I arrived I did find you. I even enlisted in your little cause, you just didn't know it was me until last night. I was unaware that I was of any consequence to you."

"Damn it woman!" he struck the solid table and vibrated the dishes. Calder looked down the stairs sword at the ready should she need him. Aisling then realized she had no need for the weapon she had forgotten, and just looked at Ulfric like a mother unimpressed with his outbursts. "You could have had this from day one!"

"Now I've earned it! It isn't some pittance to the Jarl's ex-whore to keep her silent!" she stood and opened the door for him. "I'm sorry my Jarl, I must ask you to leave. I have things to attend to."

Calder had descended the stairs fully armored as the Jarl stood in the doorway and Aisling waved him away. "You were more," he said leaning close to her.

"You have no idea what you were." she replied looking up at him.

"Enough for you to bed and die for." He growled in his chest.

"Not enough to trust with the truth!" she spat in return, and Calder tensed drawing the Jarl's attention.

" I gave you him." Ulfric ground out, his eyes fixed to the housecarl.

"I earned his service, or does he irk you more because he is here and you think you should be?" she asked coldly.

"I will change your mind."

"Good luck my Jarl."she said motioning to the door . When she slammed it behind him she slumped into a high-backed, padded chair. Calder cautiously made his way to her. "I'm sorry my..." he stooped and looked at her blank stare. "Aisling," he said finally causing her to look at him. "If this is my doing, I apologize."

She looked at him and placed her hands on his face and just stared at him sadly, "You've done nothing wrong." She said leaning forward and quickly kissing him. "I however probably have." Aisling could not say what had come over her; whether it was the years alone or a well of many frustrations, it could have even just been that Calder had not turned away. Whatever the reason they both stood, lips again joined, and moved up the stairs to her bed chambers.

In the wake of it all armor was mixed with clothes and weapons around her spacious room and the Thane and her housecarl lay in a tangle of sweaty limbs and blankets. "I worry I may have endangered you." she said her head on his chest.

"I am no love struck fledgling," he said making her flinch. "I know what I've done," he kissed the top of her tousled hair, "and I'd do it again."

"While that my be I think I may need to bathe first." she said looking up from his bare chest with a satiated smirk.

"A bath it is then," Calder said starting to get out of bed but Aisling stilled him with a hand on his stomach.

"Perhaps some rest first?" When Calder raised a brow she eased him back on to the covers by his shoulder. Complying he pulled a blanket over them and drew her against his side.

"Aisling?" he said eyes closed, head back on the pillows.

"Hmm?" she replied reminded of how well her name fell from his lips.

"He called you 'Cacia'?" her old name sounded harsh with his brogue, but a new life should not hing on the old.

"I was once but she is dead now." Aisling said looking at her hands.

"Was she such a bad person?" he asked resting his head on hers again.

"No she simply made many bad choices." she replied placing her own head on his shoulder.

"A Jarl seems a fitting pair for any woman." he said pulling his head away and gazing out the window.

"He was just a man then, not even really..." She said curling against him, reaching up to his face, and turning him to look at her. "A man is more then a title." She dropped a feather light touch of lips to the center of his chest and lay her head there absently brushing her thumb back and forth across his abdomen.

"Will you tell me more about you and this other woman?" Calder asked running a hand up and down her arm.

"I was born Acacia Isolde Ice-Mane. The Ice-Mane clan had been warriors for more ages then anyone could remember, we were raised for it, now the Gray-manes and a scattered few are the only clans that even think of us. My father had been fiercely loyal to the previous Jarl Stormcloak, he had even been a general and trusted friend to Windhlem. So it was always presumed that once I became a Shield-maiden I would be wed to Ulfric, the Jarl's son. At first I was displeased by an arranged marriage, unofficial or otherwise. Ulfric was not the man he is today, he was a fledgling male warrior and all entails in all face of his life, but after a time I came to terms with the idea and even began to find reasons to like him, even love him." She sighed sadly and Calder moved his hand up to stroke her neck.

"We grew closer and even went on some missions together, not all of which Ulfric's pride enjoyed. On one such mission things took a foul turn and I sacrificed my freedom to save Ulfric's life. As a result I was held in a Redguard prison for three years before I received news that the previous Jarl, Ulfric's father had died. Unsure of Skyrim's condition I planned an escape with some others, during that escape many died but I had not, even if they had counted me amongst the dead. I took it as a sign I was to start over. I took the name Aisling and found a Kajit caravan headed to Skyrim that was in need of guards for the travel. I, as well s others, saw them safely to Whiterun and they paid me handsomely for my work, but there was little other work for me with out a proper name or family so I was sent to the Companions and Kodlak Whitemane . While there I met with Eorland Gray-mane, a long friend of my father's, and told him my tale. Having long known my family and what we suffered he aided me by giving me a place in the Grey-mane clan as a safe cover. In exchange I worked for him at the Skyforge for a year and when my year was up I moved to Markarth to find out more about the growing unrest in my home and the revolution turned war." Aisling fidgeted with the blankets not sure if she was a fool for telling this man so much.

"I found bounty work there but some was dangerous and I found it best to hire on a second for some jobs. I met the sell sword named Vorstag one night at the Silver-blood Inn." Aisling stopped for a moment and looked at Calder who seemed wrapped in her story, so she took it as leave to continue. "Vorstag and I spent much time traveling together and we grew fond of each others company, he had even stopped charging his usual fee. After a year together we traveled to Riften and were married at the Temple of Mara." Calder tensed then and Aisling placed her right hand on his chest. "Vorstag and I were married for four years before he was killed by Imperials. After that I spent much of a year wondering and doing many mercenary jobs against the Imperial Empire before I was caught, bound, and transported to Helgen with a group of Stormcloaks and Jarl Ulfric. A man named Ralof helped me escape the executioner's axe and the dragon that ravaged the village, he was also the one that pointed me to where I could find the rebellion and Ulfric again. Acacia Ice-Mane had been dead for close to eight years so Aisling Gray-mane enlisted and began to become the Stormcloak's Angel of Death. Over the next two years I rose through the ranks to not only be a general and valued warrior but also Thane of Widhelm. Now here I lay."

"Under the covers with you housecarl and the watchful eye of a scorned Jarl." Calder added lightly.

"Yes. What will you do now that you know my secrets? In truth no one outside this room knows the entire tale." She asked propping herself up to look him in the eyes.

"Nothing, you are what you are and if I have taken no liberties with another man's wife I see no reason to change things."

"Why did you leave when Ulfric arrived? You seem to hate him very much."

"My sister was In love with him when we were fledglings. She volunteered to work a mission and she was killed by Redguard patrolmen. Ulfric was the only one to return home." Aislings blood ran cold and her ears rang.

"Calder," she paused unsure of how to tell him but sure she should. "I'm sorry about Rostei." She said sliding from the blankets and retrieving a pouch from the chest at the end of the bed.

"I didn't tell you her name." he said suspiciously.

"No but I knew her. That was the mission that sent me to prison. She wanted you to have this." She said handing him Rostei's amulet of Dibella. "We exchanged amulets in case either of us didn't make it away. I was to give it to your mother but I found that she had died some years ago. The guilt has eaten me, it was my fault Rostei died. I'll say no more than that it was a warrior's death, she is in Sovngarde." Aisling hung her head in shame.

"I will still hate him. to ruin the lives of two beautiful women and not sacrifice himself honorably-"

"He was not the commander," she had cut him of but then hesitated not wishing to destroy the time they had just spent together. "I was, that was one reason Ulfric had been disappointed, to be on the mission with two women and not be in charge was unheard of to him. If I had spoken sooner I may have saved Rostei."

"But you've paid for that; in prison, even in the years since with the added guilt of an undelivered trinket. You have proven your honor." he stood from the bed; beautiful, naked, and as graceful as only a warrior could be, before approaching her and draping the Amulet of Dibella around her neck to rest on her exposed chest. "I want you to have this."

Aisling stared at the pendent for a moment while Calder took her hand and lead her to the bed. "But Calder..." Tears welled in her eyes.

He lay beside her and pulled her close, "Aisling, I forgive you." he whispered in her hair. His absolution eased a weight in her chest and she cried before falling asleep in his arms.