Why hello new chapter! You're looking very attractive today ... trolololololol...

The Dragonborn awoke to see Jordis standing above him her hands on her hips. "Honestly, how is it that you are able to sneak in without me knowing, yet if someone else even walks past on the street I know exactly who it is?"

Sitting up Mikhail reached over to the bowl of fruit on his bedside table and grabbed an apple. Taking a bite he replied through a mouth full of apple, "That thieves' guild training paid off then." He smiled cheekily and his housecarl just shook her head. "So congratulations are in order then, you did it." She smiled at him before continuing, "It must feel weird though, finally beating Ulfric Stormcloak after all this time. I wonder how Jarl Elisif feels."

Mikhail stayed silent and took another bite of his apple. Jordis gave him a puzzled look before shrugging and leaving him to dress. "Hurry up; I want to go see how the celebration preparations are going." She yelled as she headed down the stairs.

Getting into some normal clothing, armoured boots and gloves, he grabbed an iron sword off the weapon rack knowing that you can never be too careful in Skyrim. Finally getting downstairs he headed out the front door to see Jordis sitting on the brick wall surrounding the manor waiting.

"So anything interesting happen while I was away?" Mikhail asked as they started to walk towards the market place.

"A couple of Stormcloak cells tried to break the walls while you were storming Windhelm, but the guards and my fellow housecarls held them off. So a little bit of excitement, but nothing spectacular. Erikur certainly had fun being in charge while Elisif and Falk were away though. Pretty sure he increased all of the Thane's wages. Oh look! Wow!"

The young sword maiden looked like a kid in a candy store as she started move around the market place which had people sprawling through it, making food for the banquet and putting up decorations and lights.

"Joric! Joric come on this way." Mikhail turned to where the familiar voice came from and saw Ingrod the Younger and her brother coming towards him.

"Hello Ingrod," They greeted each other with a kiss on either cheek. "Here for the celebrations I assume."

"Of course, not only did Elisif send her own invite but my mother would almost certainly have had the guards drag me here. If she has to suffer through these things, so must I. 'All part of the learning process' she says." Ingrod rolled her eyes as Mikhail laughed.

"And how are you Joric?" He asked. "I'm alright." Joric's emotionless drawl came back.

"Hi Mikhail!" Young Kayd and Svari waved at him before they saw Joric. Svari approached Joric and gave a slight wave. "Hi I'm Svari. What's your name?"

"Um…Joric."

The innocence and openness of children never ceased to amaze Mikhail and he smiled at Svari. He winked at Kayd and the young boy piped up "Do you want to play hide and seek?"

Joric looked unsure as he never had much of an opportunity to play with other children, and Ingrod looked worried. Mikhail put a hand on her shoulder "He'll be fine." He reassured. Joric looked up at his older sister

"Can I please?"

Ingrod grinned back down "Sure, but don't be late back to the palace or mother will have both of us for breakfast."

Mikhail and Ingrod watched on as the three children ran off to find perfect hiding spots. Ingrod then turned her attention to the market place.

"They're really going all out aren't they." She mused as they walked through the markets.

"The soldiers want to celebrate. It's been over two years that some of them have been out and away from their families, especially those who aren't from here."

"Mmmm yes, of course. Oh look there's Elisif, with the emperor's son no less."

Mikhail looked over to see Elisif showing Titus around the market place and introduced him to the shopkeepers.

Mikhail just grumbled something incoherent about imperial milk drinkers and Ingrod let out a chuckle. "You don't like him do you, careful though you sound like a stormcloak. You have to admit he's quite handsome though." She elbowed him in the ribs.

"Well why don't you marry him then." He replied childishly. Ingrod just shook her head and laughed.

"I don't know, I just, I don't trust him." Mikhail spoke concerned. "I've got some maintenance to do at the house. Jordis is a fantastic housecarl but when it comes to fixing things... I'll see you when the party begins."

"I'll save you a dance." She smiled.

They said their goodbyes and Mikhail made his way back to his house to begin fixing shelving that had obviously been neglected for months.

As Elisif walked with Titus around the marketplace, she was getting quite bored of his attempts of making conversation. The emperor's son certainly wasn't the most interesting person she'd ever met, and she started to wonder how much longer she would have to continue pandering to the empire.

"My father says Skyrim is an important part of the empire, and crucial to its success. The white-gold concordat, concocted by my father is the single most important piece of legislation protecting the people here." Titus rambled on, as Elisif rolled her eyes.

"I think you'll find that Skyrim is her own country and that the white-gold concordat is treated as a farce by the dominion." Elisif couldn't help herself and spoke her thoughts.

"I'm sorry?" Titus looked at her shocked. A wave of horror came over her face as she really she had spoken out loud. Just as she was about to try and save face she was assisted by one of Solitude's children.

"Excuse me, Jarl Elisif; I picked these flowers for you." A shy Minette Vinius curtseyed and handed the beautiful blue deathbells to the Jarl.

"Thank you, Minette." Elisif beamed at her, "they will look brilliant on my bedside table."

The young child beamed back at Elisif and ran off. Elisif looked around and realised that Titus had been caught up talking to Erikur. It wasn't often that she appreciated Erikur and his self-serving ways, however right at that point she was relived.

She looked around the marketplace and spotted Ingrod, but just as she was about to make her way over to greet her old friend Elisif saw that she was with Mikhail. Her heart starting pounding and her breath caught as she noticed how close they seemed to be. She knew that Mikhail had assisted Ingrod during the time he had spent in Morthal, but that was all she had thought it was. She realised what she was feeling was jealousy, the same jealousy she had felt when Torygg looked at another woman. She scolded herself; this was not an appropriate time for this.

"Elisif, this spiced wine is fantastic."

Titus made his way back to her with a tasting cup. Plastering a smile on her face she agreed.

"Yes Evette San is one of the best brewers not just in Skyrim, but I think in Tamriel."

Evette looked like she could have died and gone to Sovengarde.

"Oh please no, my Jarl that is far too kind an assessment."

"On the contrary Evette, I believe it is more than adequate." Titus replied to her before Elisif had a chance to reply. As she looked back around, she noticed Mikhail was gone and excused herself to greet Ingrod.

"Ingrod, my old friend," she beamed at her as they hugged. "I see you received the palace's invite. Your mother is doing well."

"Yes, as sharp as ever isn't she?" Ingrod beamed back at her friend. "Oh Elisif, it has been far too long!"

"It definitely has. I see you were talking to the dragonborn before?"

"Oh, Mikhail? Yes of course, I haven't seen him since he was last in Morthal." Ingrod said nonchalantly "He is not so fond though of your friend over there?" She motioned to Titus who was back talking to Erikur and Evette.

"Yes well, I can understand why a nord would have reservations about the empire."

"Oh I don't think it has anything to with that, Elisif."

The Jarl looked confused and Ingrod just smiled a knowing smile.

"Anyway we must go back to the palace, the cook has organised lunch for all of us and the soldiers." Elisif changed the subject as they made their way back to the palace.

"Well don't you look handsome tonight?" Jordis eyed Mikhail up and down as he came down the stairs in a set of lightly armoured ceremonial robes. He looked like a true knight of Skyrim. He smiled at her.

"As do you Jordis, I'm sure Sorex will be excited to see you." He grinned cheekily at her. The young housecarl turned red in the face and looked away.

"Shut up."

"Is that anyway to speak to your Thane?" Mikhail mocked. Jordis just poked her tongue out.

"Well I will see you there then." Mikhail yelled as he made his way out the door.

As he reached the marketplace he couldn't believe his eyes. A huge banquet table with enough food to feed the entire town plus some was laid out. Lights hung with decorations, a bonfire was lit and the whole of the bard's college was out to entertain. The townspeople and the soldiers danced and drunk away, celebrations in full swing. He saw Elisif sitting at the Jarl's table between the emperor and his son, with Tullius and the other Jarl's also in attendance.

"Hello Dragonborn." He turned to Legate Rikke who appeared at his side.

"Rikke! You look fantastic." He said honestly. She really did look fantastic in a gorgeous set of noble robes, a far cry from her usual heavy steel armour.

"Well thank you. But I feel a bit naked; I'm not even carrying a weapon, Tullius' orders. It certainly is a weird feeling." A stern look came across her face as she played with the sleeve of her robe.

"Yes, I know how you feel." Mikhail smiled; he felt the same being similarly unarmed.

"The Jarl is certainly looking well tonight." Rikke's trademark cheeky grin came across her face. Mikhail just rolled his eyes, but he had to agree.

Elisif looked amazing in her purple ceremonial dress. Her usual copper circlet replaced with a gold and emerald one. He looked away before he caught her eyes, a heat rising within him.

The legate excused herself as her fellow soldiers waved at her to join them in what looked to be some sort of drinking game. Mikhail was pretty sure Rikke was going to drink them under the table. He looked back at the Jarl's table and noticed Elisif listening intently to whatever Titus was saying. He felt that same feeling of jealousy arrive and to cool it he grabbed a pint of mead from the waiter making his way around the party.

The liquid went down easy as he sculled it much quicker than anticipated, and he couldn't help himself and grabbed another, sculling it just as fast. He made his way to where the young bard Lisette was sitting. She looked up at him and gave him a warm smile.

"Hello Mikhail! Isn't this just amazing! The lights, the sounds and the people, all of it is just amazing!" Lisette never ceased to amaze Mikhail in her enthusiasm. Nothing ever seemed to faze the young woman, who always had a smile on her face.

"It certainly is Lisette. Now how about a dance shall we?" He asked, his tongue looser than usual after a couple of drinks.

Elisif was tired and bored. She was never one for big celebrations as it was, she remembered feeling uncomfortable at her own wedding, and to sit here through this making nice with the empire was not fun. The dominion played heavy on her mind and she knew that after the moot, the fake niceness would be gone, and she would be risking Skyrim's relationship with the empire. But for now, she was forced to sit here and endure.

It certainly didn't help that out of the corner of her eye she noticed Mikhail having the time of his life, dancing with every girl in Solitude. Whatever Titus was saying was a blur, as her eyes narrowed and focused on Mikhail who was now taking Illidi for a spin.

"Elisif. Elisif? Are you listening?"

No she wasn't. She gave an apologetic look and was about to apologise before hearing Ingrod the Younger's voice.

"You know, your highness, Maven Black-Briar is the best person to talk to about the thieves guild, being Jarl of Riften. I'm sure she'd be happy to tell you all about it."

"Really? I must go and see her!" Titus got up and left and Ingrod sat in his now empty spot.

"Elisif, you're giving yourself away." She said quietly.

Elisif looked at her like she'd grown a second head.

"What are you talking about Ingrod."

"Mikhail. If looks could kill, he'd be long dead by now. He cares for you, a lot. Do you realise that?"

"Honestly Ingrod, I don't know what you are talking about. I'm not feeling very well, I am going to retire." She made her way to the other Jarl's and said her goodbyes for the night. Ingrod just watched on before making her way over to Mikhail.

"The Jarl has gone back to her palace. She's not feeling well."

Mikhail put down his mead and looked at Ingrod concerned.

"Why? Is she alright?"

"I think so, but you might want to see her." Ingrod said pointedly. She didn't have to repeat herself, as Mikhail was off in a flash, his concern for Elisif's well-being plastered all over his face.

Elisif sat at her table, her head in her hands.

I can't, I can't, I can't…

It repeated through her head like a chant. She shouldn't feel like this, it was wrong. She was the widow of the the High King and soon to be High Queen. There could be no happy ever after for them, it just wasn't possible. Her justifications running through her head, she was brought back down to earth by the door opening. That familiar sound almost brought her to her knees.

"What are you doing here?" She looked up at him her eyes exhausted, meeting his own, full of worry.

"Ingrod said you were unwell." Mikhail replied, blunt as ever. When he went to move toward her, she rose from her chair and made her way towards the wall, looking out the window into Solitude.

He paused for a second, unsure as to what to do next, before deciding to try again.

She could feel him behind her, his breath just reaching the back of her neck. Not turning around she spoke slowly, with intent.

"You seemed to have a good time tonight."

He remained silent, his breathing held steady. She turned to face him, and questioned him with her eyes. In that moment something inside both of them broke.

Suddenly his lips were on hers, and she felt like she'd been set on fire. Her head stopped working and her body responded, meeting him with just as much force. She clung to him as though she was clinging on to life, and he pulled her in as close as he could.

It wasn't long before Elisif's brain started ticking again, and slowly she broke the kiss. She cradled his head in her hands. She brought her forehead to his, and she said what both of them didn't want to hear.

"I'm sorry. I can't give you what you want. Not now."

His eyes shut and he slowly drew in a breath before leaving her arms. She turned back to the window, tears forming and when she heard the door shut behind her, she lost control.