A/N: Here you go, "My Jarl" chapter 2. This wasn't meant to be multi-chaptered, but it ended up that way because I was just really in the mood for writing. Perhaps I've been playing Skyrim too much.. hah. I started with a female Bosmer (as always) and she's an archer thief who married Vilkas. Did every questline, got bored of her, Made a female Altmer who doesn't have a personality yet, she's so new, married her off to a male Dunmer because he was the only decent sounding male mer. Lame. Made a third character, this time a male Altmer, married him off to Farkas (and that's pretty much ALL I've done in that game)
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"How did it go with the brotherhood?" Ulfric asked me as we sat down at my table for a drink. He'd been coming around fairly often as of late, whenever he could, and I was usually here when he stopped by.
"the night mother was not at all pleased that I wanted to take time off - I'm the only one she would talk to, the brotherhood is kind of useless without me, especially now that Astrid is gone."
"You are unable to leave?" he looked worried and put out, it made me happy to see how much he wanted me around. Our relationship was progressing very well.
"I didn't say that. Yes, the night mother wasn't happy, but she bows to Sithis, and I was able to speak with him. He's formless, so I didn't see him, I only spoke to him. I spoke of how I wanted to spend time with my love, and that was something he understood. so he let me take a leave for as long as you lived provided I came back to him within a month of your death."
Ulfric looked crossed between pleased and sad, and I understood. His death wasn't a good topic. He wasn't young, but he wasn't old either, and yet he was still a child to my race.
"And your other request?"
"That was harder to negotiate. In his opinion, I had already sold my soul to him. But I explained that I didn't, that I joined the brotherhood to have a family and to do business. While I respected him, I didn't feel as real a connection as everyone else. He thought about it for a few days then realized it was true for him as well. He will let me go on one condition." Ulfric nodded, telling me to go on. "I must give him a soul equal to mine. I must send him a dragon soul. Luckily, I absorb dragon souls when I kill them, and as you know I have killed many. I have many dragon souls within me. I gave him two. He was very satisfied." I grinned at my love, and he grinned back.
"So that's that then? Is everything taken care of?"
"Not quite." I paused. I hadn't told Ulfric everything I was involved with yet. But I still didn't want to lie to him, so this was as good a time as any. "I've made my good friend Vilkas harbinger of the companions. And being Dovahkiin doesn't mean I have to do anything but kill dragons, and I can find time for that. And I know others can do that as well, then they can send for me to come and absorb their soul. But there are other things I've yet to tell you."
"I knew you were holding something back. And I've seen your mannequins upstairs." oh, I'd forgotten about those. Not so much of a secret then, what with my mannequins proudly displaying my Nightingale armour, the thieves' guild armour, and my arch-mage's robes.
"Ah, yes. While I'm certain you don't know what they mean, I'll bet you know they're significant." at this, Ulfric nodded. He did not know what they were, but they looked like uniforms.
"I am the master of the thieves' guild. Not only that, but I am a Nightingale. That was another challenge. A nightingale pledges themselves to nocturnal in life and in death. I had to find a suitable replacement in order for Nocturnal to allow me to leave her service. One of my best friends and fellow thieves, Rune, will be taking my place. He will also be taking my place as guildmaster, the same man who showed me the ropes will be doing the same for him. Arch-Mage was a challenge. No one really fit the bill. I had to search outside the guild for possibilities. In the end, I chose my brother Elrume. He is younger than me, but a better Mage. And he will do nicely once I train him a bit."
"I'm pleased. Soon you will have much more time for me."
"More than you think, Elrume will be ready in a week, provided I spend the entire week with him. And then all loose ends are tied, and I can spend all my time with you."
Ulfric smiled brightly at me. I couldn't help but smile back. He stood and walked to my side of the table, then he bent down to kiss me. I took his face in my hands and kissed him back as he ran his hands down my sides. He pulled away and sat in the chair beside me.
"Are you angry at me at all for lying to you?"
"You didn't really lie, you just withheld the truth. Given what you were involved with, I can't blame you. And I understand you need to keep secrets. But I am not angry. I am pleased that you would share everything with me. There are no longer secrets between us, we are honest with each other. Which is why I will tell you now that I am falling in love with you."
Ulfric sounded so sincere as he took my hand in his that I smiled brightly and my eyes filled with tears. I blinked them back, but I also kissed him hard.
"I'm so happy! I dreamed you would, but I had my doubts. Thank you!" I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his neck.
"You have nothing to thank me for, Faenrune. And while I will miss you in the next week, I will look forward to having you in my bed every night, and waking up to your face every morning." I pulled back and looked into his eyes.
"You want me to move into the palace with you? Are you sure? You know if I do that people will start to talk. And you know everyone will think of me as a Thalmor, what will your people say?"
"Our people, Faenrune. One day, you will be my high queen Or, my king, whichever title you prefer." I hit him playfully then, he always liked to tease me about being girly, even though I wasn't that girly, just really emotional.
"I'm fine with everyone knowing who I have chosen to be with. Our people are loyal, they will stick with us through anything. And I'm guessing that with you by my side, the Dunmer might take me a bit more seriously when I tell them of the changes being made around here."
"You're right. Of course you're right. And I'm glad you're doing the right thing. They will thank you. And I know a Dunmer over in the snow quarter that would love a big house to raise a family in, and it appears that I will no longer be needing my house."
"You have a very kind heart, love. We will give it to him next week, alright?" he pulled my hair to the side and pressed a kiss to my pointed ear.
"mm, sounds good. Now, I have to go, see you next week?" we kissed goodbye and parted ways.
A week passed and my brother Elrume was ready to take up the position of Arch-Mage. I made him trek through some ruins and perform spells and run a class before I deemed him ready. He did very well, and the students took to him well. I was just walking into the city when I saw a Dunmer cast a flame spell at Ulfric, who was trying to shield himself. I quickly threw myself in front of him and cast a ward. The Dunmer stopped attacking, startled.
"Why do you defend him, he is a monster!" the mer said.
"He is not a monster! Not anymore." I retorted, healing Ulfric's burns.
"Why thank you love, it's good to know you thought I was a monster." he mock glared at me, before wrapping his arms around my waist.
"Well, you were. You treated mer like trash, and you've learned since then. I'm proud."
"You're his lover? How could you? You are a disgrace to all mer!" he cast another flame spell, which I anticipated and was able to block with another ward.
"I understand how you're feeling, but things are going to change around here. The snow quarter will be cleaned up, rebuilt. I will help myself. As will Ulfric and his men. I want everyone to be able to live together in peace. I want mer to be respected again. I know Susanna loved the New Gnisis Cornerclub, she had the right idea, she loved the Dunmer. It's a shame she had to be one of the victims of Calixto. And since his house is now empty, any Dunmer is free to buy it. Also, I've been meaning to ask..." I looked around me at the crowd that had gathered. I spotted the Dunmer I was looking for. "Ah! Aval, get your butt over here!" he walked over to me and I stepped out of Ulfric's arms to meet him.
"Yes, sera?" he greeted me kindly, shooting confused glances at Ulfric who was standing just behind me.
"Here, this is yours. A gift for you and your family. And a little something to show that indeed, things are changing around here." I plopped the key to Hjerim into his hands.
"A key, sera? What is it for?" the poor Dunmer took it carefully and regarded me with interest.
"My house, Hjerim. Or rather, your house now. A gift, as I've said. It is all yours, fully furnished and ready to move in whenever."
Aval looked at me with wide eyes, then down at the key, then back at me.
"A million thank yous, sera, but where will you live?" he asked, ever concerned about his fellow mer.
I stepped back into the protective arms of my love. "I will be living in the palace, with my love. And I will be helping him restore Skyrim to its former glory, and make sure that everyone is welcome. And if I am there with him always, you can be sure that mer will no longer be treated badly."
"Yeah, or else you'll hold out on him, right Faen?" the Cruel-Sea patriarch laughed at me, happy to see the city picking up again.
"You know it!" I replied, laughing. The arms around my waist tightened and I felt Ulfric press a kiss to my neck. I was taller, so he could only just rest his head on my shoulder, but it still felt right.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I haven't seen Ulfric in a week, so we'll be off now." I turned, leading Ulfric towards the palace, noting that his clothes were a bit singed.
"Have fun!" someone yelled at me, and I heard a wolf whistle. I just grinned, thinking that it was about time I had a bit of 'fun' with my love.