Helloooooo all! Thankyou for continuing to read and enjoy! i'm sorry this took so long! However the good news is i'm already halfway through the next chapter so less wait this time. :D Some new characters in this one, and i know we all want the dragonborn and elisif to get it together but you're just going to have to wait lololololol. I promise something awesome next chapter, but we need to prepare first!
A smile came to Mikhail's lips as he looked up to see the large walls of Solitude before him. The trip back from Windhelm had been quick and enjoyable with morale of the imperial army at an all-time high. As they approached the city gates, he heard the army start to sing behind him. A sense of pride fulfilled him as "The Dragonborn Comes" was sung by the men and women he had fought alongside for years as a fellow soldier.
"That must put a fire in your belly, hey Dragonborn?" Balgruuf asked with a wide smile. Before he could reply a chuckle came from Legate Rikke.
"Well he isn't coming the way he wants too. The high queen won't have it."
Mikhail shot Rikke a look of shock and embarrassment, while Tullius gave her a look of complete confusion. Rikke just gave them a mischievous grin and a wink at Balgruuf.
"What on earth are you talking about Rikke?" Tullius asked.
The legate threw her head back and laughed. "Nothing, race you to the gates!"
She rode off full pelt towards the gates as Mikhail heard some chuckles from a couple of the guards behind them. Jumping off his horse, he used his Whirlwind Sprint to get to the gates before Rikke managed to get there.
"That is completely unfair you cheater." Rikke mocked offense as she reached the gates.
"Well, it serves you right!" Mikhail laughed back at her. "I can't believe you said that in front of Tullius."
"Oh please, the old geezer has no idea what's going on half the time." She laughed. "It's not like Elisif heard anything."
Mikhail just shook his head as the rest of the party caught up with them. He smiled as Elisif made her way out of her carriage and walked through the herds of soldiers to the front line made up of the Jarls, Mikhail, Rikke and Tullius.
"Welcome home Jarl Elisif." Rikke bowed down to her, and Elisif smiled a bright smile, one the people hadn't seen for a long time.
The gates opened and Erikur stood with the solitude guards and public awaiting the return of the victorious party.
"Welcome home my Queen." He also bowed.
"Now Erikur, the moot has yet to happen, I am still Jarl for now." She said, smiling back.
"Yes of course Elisif. My Jarl, the Emperor of Tamriel is here accompanied by his son Titus III." Erikur informed as he stood up straight.
"Already, I thought we may have a few more days. I'm assuming he is expecting some sort of public celebration. The war isn't over yet, it's only just started. Emperor Titus has allowed this under his own watch." Elisif rolled her eyes.
"My Jarl, the entire city is expecting it. We have organised a banquet for tomorrow night, on the emperor's orders. "Erikur shifted on his feet, as Elisif sighed. "We had assumed the Moot would have happened."
"Typical imperial thinking, all arrogance without use of any fact." Ingrod laughed.
"You'll have your celebration. Elisif, the men deserve a small break, and a chance to acknowledge their achievements. We will organise the Moot for the day after." Balgruuf spoke. Elisif looked at Balgruuf and conceded with a nod. He was right; it was time for a celebration.
The people of solitude cheered as the army made its way through the streets towards Castle Dour. Mikhail wasn't surprised that the mood was completely different to that it Windhelm. The city was glowing in victory, unlike the previous who had suffered a great loss.
As Tullius and Rikke led the soldiers back to the headquarters he saw many of the stall owners preparing much more food than they usually did and as the soldiers departed for the castle, and the royal party was escorted by the city guards towards the Blue Palace.
"You're back! You're back!" Mikhail turned to see Svari and Kayd waving to him from the side of the road. The children jumped up and down with excitement as he grinned at them.
"Hey Mikhail, do you want to play tag?" Kayd asked as he always did.
"Not today kids, how about tomorrow?" A collective 'awww, ok' came from them both before saying ok and running off.
As they finally reached the Blue Palace, Mikhail and the others entered leaving the guards to look after their horses. As he walked through the entrance hall and started to ascend up the stairs, he noticed members of the Penitus Oculatus standing guard. The Emperor was here.
…
Elisif reached the top of the stairs first, closely followed by Falk and the rest of the victorious party. No sooner had she reached the top step, Emperor Titus stood up and came to greet her.
"Welcome home Jarl Elisif. Congratulations on yourself and Tullius achievements. You have done the empire a great service."
She took the emperor's hand and bowed. Mikhail, Rikke and Tullius all followed suit.
"Thank you Emperor Titus, Skyrim will always come first in my heart. Our focus is to keep the country united." Elisif replied, enforcing the last sentence.
"Yes of course." Titus acknowledged, "Please, let me introduce my son, Titus III."
The young handsome imperial stepped out from behind his father, and Elisif noticed Mikhail shift on his feet from the corner of her eye. She took his hand and bowed.
"The pleasure is all mine, Jarl Elisif." The younger Titus replied with a smile of warmth, before meeting her bow with his own. "Your palace is quite beautiful. I hope you would be happy to give me a tour?"
"Of course," Elisif smiled. "However, my men and I have travelled a long way. Would there be an issue if it were to wait til tomorrow morning?"
"That would be fine." He kissed her hand. Elisif could feel Mikhail's eyes on her.
Mikhail gave the younger man a once over. Maybe a year older than Elisif and a couple of years younger than himself, the younger Titus looked every inch of royalty. Mikhail felt a twang of anger, as he knew that he would not have worked a day in his life, let alone been out on the battle field. Or was that a twang of jealousy.
"Aahh, Legate Rikke and General Tullius!" The Emperor and his son moved to greet the soldiers. "Thank you to the both of you. Your efforts in this war will not go unnoticed. General Tullius, you have led the Imperial Army to victory yet again, you shall be rewarded appropriately. You must be the Dragonborn."
The two bowed graciously as the Emperor turned his attention to Mikhail. As he bowed to the two Imperials he could swear the younger one sized him up. He remained silent and just gave a nod as confirmation to the question.
Bryling could feel the tension rise and stepped in.
"My Jarl, it is quite late. Shall we all retire so we can rest and prepare for the celebration tomorrow?"
"Oh but…" Titus III started before Falk interrupted.
"Yes definitely a good idea." He looked over to Mikhail and the others.
"Our heroes here must rest and recuperate. I'm sure the soldiers would like to see our General and Legate."
Elisif gave Falk and Bryling thankful looks before bowing her retirement to the emperor and fellow Jarls, and made her way to her quarters.
Mikhail waited while the rest of the Jarls were set up in the guest quarters before moving towards the main bedroom. Bryling caught his eye as he walked but just sighed and looked away.
As he entered Elisif's room he saw her sitting on her bed, removing her jewellery. She looked up at him surprised.
"I thought you had gone back to your manor." She asked before looking back down to continue her task.
"What happened to Skyrim being first?" Mikhail replied gruffly.
"Excuse me?"
"You seemed mighty chummy with the emperor tonight, not to mention his son. You know the emperor who sat and did nothing while this countries safety was at stake!"
"And what were General Tullius and the imperial army then, nothing? And what do you mean about Titus, was I supposed to ignore him? He is the emperor's son for goodness sake." Elisif retorted.
"You know why he's here, why he's brought him along?" Mikhail's voice was low and hard.
Elisif remained silent, holding his gaze.
"The future Emperor and the High Queen of Skyrim, it's a perfect match! The empire will have their hands in every hold here. All those promises of looking after tradition will be out the window Elisif." He stopped himself as he realised he had spoken to her out of turn. Elisif looked at him as though he had slapped her. Her voice grew cold and distant.
"Go home Dragonborn, you need to rest."
Mikhail felt like he had been stabbed and turned and left. Elisif sat there in stunned silence, but couldn't help but feel that Mikhail may have been right.
She was worried.
…