I Do not own Elder Scrolls nor it's characters, other than my own OC. This story is to a collection called 'Toying With Reality'

'Thoughts'

"Speaking"

"Dragon Speak"

"Non-english"


Sighing heavily Ashley went to the table taking off a piece of meat munching on it her mind working overtime. The thought of sneaking away and taking refuge some place gave her hope. Perhaps she could tag along with some Kajiit traders and pass in to Elsewhere. Her plotting was halted when the Dragonborn sat heavily beside her, their eyes met and she knew she was found out.

"You know it's a risky move, what you have going on up there." The Dragonborn lightly tapped her forehead.

Giving the warrior a tired look Ashley sighed heavily, "Am I that obvious?"

With a kind smile and a nod the Nord pat her shoulder, "You will be able to seek refuge at the temple of Dibela if that is what you wish. The women there would protect you."

Ashley's eyes widened she hadn't thought of that! "Yes…but how would I get there. You know preferably in one peace."

"A Kajiit caravan is set to leave in the morning, their trade will take them to Markarth," The Dragonborn took a sip of ale and looked Ashley in the eyes, "This will infuriate Ulfric to no end he will hunt for you, he will not rest till you are back in his arms. Sadly I believe neither will my house carl Argis." His heavy tone and honest warning made Ashley's stomach turn.

"I-I just don't know what to do…I'm so lost, scared, alone. I don't know how to commit myself to another, what scares me the most is that our differences society wise makes it challenging for me to cope in this kind of environment. Not only that but the men here act so different than those from my world. I'm scared of the feelings that they have towards me."

The Dragonborn gave her a look of sympathy, the poor young woman must truly be frightened if she was willing to endanger herself by running away to seek peace. "Then you must go tomorrow, I will try to distract Ulfric with the war…I want you to find out why you were sent here. I will send word to the Priestesses to see if they can—" He paused and lifted the amulet from her cleavage. "Was this given to you?"

"Uh no I woke up with it on when I first came here." Ashley looked down at the Dragonborns hands to his scarred face.

"Mara" He growled letting go of the amulet. "I cannot risk you going to Riften but I can ask for her worshipers to commune with the goddess and see what she has to say."

"Alright so how do I escape Windhelm? Ulfric requests that I sleep with him."

The Dragonborns eyebrows shot up, "This is worse than I thought, Ulfric trusts you with not only his heart but his life…Lass the Divines are sick to put you in such a place. My condolences Mal Dovah but this only gives us a small window to slip out…." Pondering the circumstances he snapped his finger with a smile, "I could call a dragon to preoccupy the guards and Ulfric, while you slip out through the docks."

"Brilliant!" Ashley gave the Dragonborn a hug, "Thank you so much Dragonborn I will pay you back someday for this kind deed."

With a smile the Nord shook his head, "Call me Orion my friend. Will you stay with the woman for long?"

"Thank you Orion for everything, but I will only stay a few weeks…I will keep traveling with the Kajiit or follow the paths Mara has laid out for me."

"I wish you all the luck, Talos guide you Mal Dovah." Orion leaned down and kissed her forehead, "Now go don't make Ulfric suspicious of you!" Shooing her out of the main hall and up to the second level to Ulfric's chambers.

A knot of anticipation formed in Ashley's stomach, she forgot that she was supposed to tell Ulfric about what Argis had done to her. Ashley wasn't about to lie either. But this didn't stop her from being worried for Argis's safety, making up her mind she knew it was for the best that she leave them both. At the Jarls chamber doors Ashley sighed and opened one just wide enough that she could slip right through. Upon entry Ashley froze in shock color rising to her cheeks as there covered only in a towel and glistening with water was Ulfric Stormcloak. "I'm sorry!" Ashley yelped out and quickly left the room proceeding with a quick pace down the hall. Flustered and in a panic Ashley was unaware that some one had walking in front of her till she collided with the hard warm wall, looking up Ashley gasped as Argis looked down at her in shock. "Sorry I didn't mean t-to run into you." She felt shame crawl up her back, "And I'm sorry for attacking you earlier I was out of line."

Kneeling down to her level Argis placed his palm on her cheek rubbing soft circles into the pink flesh, "I deserved it lass, but what has you so spooked? Are you alright? Did Ulfric do anything to you?"

"I'm fine," Ashley took a step back out of Argis's reach, the warrior stood up and frowned.

"No your not," Moving close to her he place a finger under her chin lifting her face up to his, "You can tell me, I want to help you."

Before Ashley could speak a very angry Ulfric Stormcloak pulled her away from Argis moving to stand between them. "It is none of your concern." His voice was tight, luckily he had put on trousers before coming after her or this would have been more awkward than it already was.

Sighing Ashley rubbed her temples as the two men sized each other up ready for a fight, "Lord grant me strength."

"What's going on here?" Orion's voice cut through to the two Nords making them step back from each other. Annoyed and tired of the two men's actions Orion crossed his arms, "Well?"

"It's nothing we were just leaving," Ulfric said with an air of authority holding out his hand to Ashley. She hesitantly took it ready to follow the Jarl.
"Why don't you let Ashley sleep on her own, she's a big girl and can obviously take care of herself." The glare that the Dragonborn got from the Jarl could have killed any weaker man, but the battle hardened Nord of legend merely shrugged it off with a glare of his own.

"She needs protection."

"Then she will stay with me in my house, I will protect her." Orion stood like a pillar of stone, Ashley's saving grace. "She will be safer with me and you know it."

'Oh you brilliantly smart man!' Ashley almost cried with joy.

Ulfric was silent for a moment, "Very well for the night she will stay with you but I must speak with her now." Ashley followed the Jarl of Windhelm into his chambers, she was silent keeping her head down as he led her to the bed. "You have not spoke one word are you alright? I'm…sorry about before I did not expect to be in the bath so long but I got preoccupied."

"You wished to speak to me about Argis?" Her voice was quiet and guarded. Ashley was internally fighting off the nagging voice in her head begging her to run and hide from the embarrassing situation.

Standing in front of the small woman the future high king frowned, "What transpired between you to on your ride to Windhelm?"

Ashley let out a heavy sigh wringing her hands together, "Nothing major happened on the ride actually.." Ulfric gave the small brunette a look, she blushed. "He kissed me I-I didn't know he was going to do that..I was cold and he offered to warm me up honestly!"

Ulfric did not seem pleased with the answer and Ashley shrank down a little as he began to pace the room out of frustration, "Was that all?"

Ashley swallowed hard, "no…" the Nords battle worn fists clenched as he stopped he pacing stared at her with a look of betrayal.

"You let him-"

"No!" Ashley yelled at him before he could finish, tears falling down her cheeks. "I would never allow THAT to happen with a man I just met and you know that!" Standing up she balled her fists, "Honestly Ulfric if you think of me as such a willing whore then you should stop acting like you care so much!" Walking towards the door she placed her hand on the handle, "I think we are done here, goodnight Ulfric."

"Wait," Ulfric placed his hand on the door stopping the short brunette from leaving. Ashley placed her head on the door feeling the hot tears fall down her cheeks. Ulfric leaned down putting his nose in her hair breathing in her alluring scent, "Please don't leave, I don't want you to think that I at any moment felt anything but love for you. I lost my temper, I couldn't handle the thought of another man touching you. I don't believe that you would sleep with just anyone but what I do fear is that you would have someone forced upon you someone much stronger than you." Ulfric's voice was soft as he gently touched her hair planting a kiss on her head.

"Oh…" Ashley said quietly turning around but still unable to face Ulfric, she felt the pain in her heart from her over reaction. "I'm sorry for over reacting, but I really must go."

"Will you look at me?" battle hardened fingers ran soothingly through her hair.

Ashley looked up meeting the blue eyes of the Jarl, she saw the scars the pain that battle has left with in them. The suffering and the death swirling the azure depths, but she also saw the determination to liberate the Nords of Skyrim. His faith in Talos burning strong, Ulfric was a powerful man set in his ways driven by a riotous dream to protect his people. Ashley fit into none of this, she didn't even belong in this world. Ashley knew that leaving tomorrow would be the hardest thing she would ever do, that it would crush Ulfric. Ashley noticed how her presence has helped the future king, something positive that helped take off the immense weight that rested on his shoulders.

His warm palm rested on her cheek, "I want you to consider something for me." Giving him a curt nod Ashley could feel apprehension in her gut. "Consider a future in the Palace of the Kings with me." Ulfric Stormcloak leaned down capturing Ashley's lips in a needy kiss, pressing into her like she was his life line. Breathless he pulled away just enough so that his lips stayed just a breath away from hers, their eyes locked.

Ashley was looking at Ulfric with surprise and shock written on her features, "Ulfric…" she was at a loss of words, her voice was soft like a whisper.
"Shh you don't need to answer now," his lips fell back onto hers, arms snaking around her waist lifting her so that they were not straining their necks. Pressing her against the chamber doors Ulfric Stormcloak slipped his tongue into her mouth, Ashley in turn wrapped her legs around his waist. Pulling back Ulfric kissed down her neck, lighting a path of fire down the exposed skin shivers running down her spine making her gasp and arch into the touch. When he saw the bite marks left by Argis he growled and pushed against her harder licking the top of her left breast before he bit down hard enough to draw some blood. Ashley screamed at the sudden blossom of pain gripping onto his shoulders as she hissed out a moan, tugging on his hair she brought his lips up to hers tasting her own blood.

Ulfric pulled back slowly letting Ashley down on to her feet she could tell he was forcing himself from her, "Go with the Dragonborn for the night, he will protect you. I shall see you in the morning." His voice was sad and held within it the longing to hold her more to explore her body and truly make her his.

Ashley nodded and left the room, tears welling up in her hazel eyes at the thought of him finding out she wasn't coming back.