Astaria sat begrudgingly still as Wuunferth worked on her shoulder, Ralof hovering behind him looking worried. Once done, she let a breath she didn't know been holding, Ralof sitting next to.

"You okay?" He asked, checking the bandaging over to make sure it was secure.

"She'll be fine, just make sure you don't do anything to overuse it for at least a day, it may reopen the wound." Wuunferth says to them, waving his hand as a form of dismissal.

She stops herself from rolling her eyes as Ralof helps her stand. "I'm alright." She says it as calmly as she can, all this fuss was both embarrassing and unnecessary. She puts her armour back on even as Ralof tells her not to.

"The weight could-"

"Ralof, I am not going to go walking out there with just my undershirt on, now unless you have some more appropriate clothing, this will have to do." She pushes past him out the door, Ralof following looking slightly hurt.

Astaria was trying not to think about what had happened this morning and yet it seemed to just be stuck in her mind. She couldn't believe she had fallen asleep, and, she blushed even thinking about it, that Ulfric had found her like that and wrapped his coat around her. It was oddly…gentlemanly, not something she saw as part of his personality. Gritting her teeth, she then thought about the rest and how embarrassing it was to fall flat on her face in front of him and to have him sit her down when he realised she was wounded.

"Astaria, we need to report to Galmar."

Ralof's voice cut through her thoughts and she stopped, realising she had been about to head outside, her automatic place of reprieve when she needed to think.

"Oh…of course, lead the way." She said, even though she knew where Galmar was.

They entered the war room, Galmar and Ulfric going over how the battle of Whiterun had gone.

Ulfric looked up as the entered. "Dragonborn. All patched up?"

"Yes sir. Ready for more." She said, both her and Ralof standing at attention.

"They were our best soldiers in the battle Ulfric." Galmar said, although still shooting daggers at Astaria. "The Dragonborn was the reason we got through the barricades so quickly, and Ralof killed more than his fair share of Imperials."

"Good. I trust then that you would have confidence in them leading some of the men?" Ulfric asked.

Galmar looks stunned for a moment. "Ralof, certainly, however, the Dragonborn is another matter."

All three of them looked stunned by this.

"What?" Astaria asked. "What did I do to-"

"Disobeyed orders for one." Galmar growled. "Which has not only given the Imperials an insight to who you are, but let them know that you are on our side, something we were trying to avoid for the time being."

She felt her cheeks turning red, but her fists clenched behind her back in anger. "I got us into the city didn't I?"

"I will not deny that." He continued. "Not to mention, it is clear that you were not raised to know a sword, something that would be crucial for field missions and leading men. You may be good with those knives Dragonborn, but they are a much more underhanded tactic, not fit for the battlefield."

"I'm still as good with a sword, sir." She bit the many things she wanted to say back.

Galmar snorted. "Please, your whole style changed as soon as you switched to those knives. The Jarl didn't know what to do with you once you did that. Without proper sword skills though, I cannot recommend allowing you to lead men on missions."

Ulfric watched as Astaria bit down her fury, clearly biting her tongue.

"What to do about that, I will leave up to Ulfric however." Galmar looked unfazed by her body language. "Maybe once you've learned to fight properly I can recommend it, but for now-"

"Why don't I just-" Astaria started but Ulfric cut her off by clearing her throat.

He gives her sharp look and she shuts her mouth with an audible click. "I feel that this is something that should be dealt with later, for now, you two need to go and join the celebrations."

"Celebrations sir?" Ralof asked.

"We made good progress with Whiterun, it's only natural that we celebrate a victory with a small celebration." Ulfric looks between them, Astaria still tense and Ralof looking surprised. "Drinks are being set up in Candlehearth, I'm sure they'll go well into the night. If you two were indeed the best soldiers, no doubt the men will want to drink with you. You are dismissed."

Ralof grinned and bowed at once, turning to leave. Astaria didn't move.

"Is there a problem Dragonborn?" Ulfric asked.

Astaria was silent for a moment. She wanted to speak, she wanted to speak about what was being left unsaid, but she could see the warning look in Ulfric's eyes.

"No sir." She bows and leaves with Ralof.

Once outside, he looks sideways at her. "Are you alright?"

"Sure." She said, in no mood to talk about what had just happened.

"Astaria, if you-"

"I'm fine Ralof. Leave it. Please." She didn't want to get angry at him, it wasn't his fault.

He pauses for a moment and decides to change the subject. "So, a rogue huh?"

"What?"

"That's how you're so good at taking bigger opponents down, you're a rogue?"

"Somewhat." Astaria mumbles, still not overly happy about the choice of conversation. "I was trained with knives, it's true, I'm also light on my feet, and anything else however, is beyond my knowledge."

"Well, you've certainly got a way with words."

She snorts. "A noble is expected to, I would hardly call it in the same lines-"

"You could talk yourself out of a situation though?"

Astaria scowled. "If my anger didn't get in the way first, I guess."

He smiled at her. "Well, I'll guess I'll try and avoid your anger then."

She draws in a deep breath as they continued, making their way down the stone steps towards Candlehearth. If she remained angry like this, she wasn't going to enjoy anything tonight. No, she deserved this, she'd had a rough time since she started, now she had a chance to relax a little.

Astaria had never really been allowed to drink before, she'd snuck some now and then, but never anything serious. Now, she was pleasantly surprised to see that no one cared. As soon as the cheering was over once her and Ralof had walked in, a mug of mead was shoved into her hand and she was encouraged to drink.

Although still relatively early, the party was well in swing, a lot of Stormcloaks already comfortably in alcoholic stupors.

The celebration quickly drifted into the night, Astaria taking it much slower on the mead than the rest of them. Ralof was regaling the battle with more and more enthusiasm the more drunk he got and the men were more and more happy to listen again and again, cheering filling the hall and a quick yell for more mead.

Just as she was starting to feel sleepy and thinking about slipping away, Ralof pulled her over.

"Ralof, what-"

"This woman was the true cause of our victory!" He yelled to the Stormcloaks surrounding him. "Without her, we wouldn't even have breached the city!" He draped an arm around her as the Stormcloaks cheered.

Astaria tried to move away but his grip tightened.

"Then, she faced the Jarl all on her own! Cutting him down as easily as anything and gaining us our victory!" He raised his mug of mead. "To the Dragonborn!"

"To the Dragonborn!" The others all mimicked and started to drink.

Astaria tried to use the distraction to get away, however all it managed to do was get Ralof's attention and he looked down at her with a lopsided grin.

"Let me go Ralof." She said sternly.

"You deserve recognition." He said, his voice suddenly gently and making her even more desperate to get away. "And if they won't give it you, then I will." His hand caressed her cheek and she froze.

Without warning, he kissed her, hard. It was a drunk, messy kiss, one that was quickly bruising her lips. At first, she didn't understand what was happening, but then it all sped up, the Stormcloaks around them cheering. She tried to shove him away, to break the kiss, but he was holding her in a tight grip.

Finally, he broke away, looking at her with a wide grin on his face.

Astaria couldn't take it, in that moment her anger broke.

Crack.

Ralof fell back, landing hard on the ground, and a stunned silence had filled the room. Astaria was breathing heavily having just punched him hard across the face.

He looks at her with bleary eyes. "What was that for?"

"What do you think!?" She snapped and before anything else could be said, she stormed out, wiping her hand across her mouth as she did.

Bursting out into the cold night air, she starts cursing under her breath, her anger still boiling under the surface, most likely partly fuelled by the alcohol. In her anger, she didn't see where she was going.

She walked straight into someone, and as she stepped back, she was about to start yelling at them for not watching where they were going, when she noticed who she ran into.

"Jarl Ulfric." She stepped back a bit more and purposefully avoided his questioning gaze. "Sorry sir, I didn't see you."

"That was clear when you ran into me Dragonborn." He was calm and looking closely at the small woman before him. She was clearly upset. "Is everything alright?"

"I-" That was when she noticed Galmar next to him and she shut up. "I'm fine sir. I just decided to call it a night. If you'll excuse me." She didn't wait for a response, she took off again.

The two men watched after her.

"I'm pretty sure that's not the way to the barracks." Galmar growled. "Where's she going?"

"Leave her be Galmar." Ulfric growled as they continued. "She was still angry, no doubt at you."

"The girl is obnoxious." He grunted. "I don't give a damn what she thinks about me and my opinions. She needs to be brought down a few pegs anyway."

Ulfric remains silent, knowing this was not the time to tell his friend off for his dislike of Astaria. They continued to Candlehearth Hall.

Astaria found herself up on the wall. The wind was cold and strong up here and found herself both sobering and calming down. For a long moment she leans against the wall, only just seeing the dark forest beyond.

The breeze tugs at her hair, still tied tightly back. Sighing, she starts to unravel it, taking her time and brush it through with her fingers as she did, once the majority was out, she starts on the two smaller braids.

Her hair caught in the cold wind and whipped it about and she sighs again, this time in relief at the feeling of freedom.

Heavy footsteps disturbed her moment and she groans. As they draw closer, she tried to grab her hair to tie it back up, even loosely, but the wind keeps a successful hold on it.

"Dragonborn?"

Astaria looks up and sees Ulfric standing there, watching her.

In that moment, she glad that it was relatively dark. Her cheeks burned furiously.

"I said I was fine Jarl Ulfric." She continues to try and tie up her hair, unsuccessfully.

He frowns at this. "I happened to talk to Ralof, Dragonborn."

Astaria's shoulders slump slightly and she lets out a long sigh, giving up on trying to tie her hair and letting it fly. "And?"

"Well, apart from being stunned by your reaction and sporting a new forming black eye, I don't think he'll be apologetic till he's sobered." Ulfric says watching her. "In which case, it is also not worth scalding him for his actions until he's sobered, if he even remembers by then."

"I-what?" She looks at him confused.

"He had no right to do that to you, and I assure you, any man that does so, will face consequences, drunk or no." Ulfric's face was stern.

She stood their stunned for a long moment, trying to read his expression, but all she could tell was that he was serious.

"Um, thank you sir." She mumbled and looked away. "You do not have to. I feel I overreacted as it is."

"No. You did what you had to do." His voice was gentle and when she looked up again, he was standing next to her. "But that is not all that is bothering you."

He didn't make it a question and she found that she had to look away once again.

"Nothing to concern yourself with sir. I'm fine." She shoved a handful of hair impatiently away.

"I do not appreciate being lied to Dragonborn." Ulfric looked out into the darkness, the night air cold but not bothering. "It would be much easier-"

"I don't want to be treated any differently than the other soldier Ulfric, and I can guarantee that they don't get asked this." The words came out angrier than what she intended, but Ulfric seemed unfazed.

"You are different. You are the Dragonborn."

She sighs in frustration. "Then there's your problem." She was silent for a moment. "That's all I will be known as. The legendary Dragonborn. As it is now, that's all that people call me."

"I thought you'd be more than happy to get rid of your father's name?"

Astaria scowled. "Sure, I want nothing to do with him, and I'm sure vice versa, but that doesn't mean I want my namesake to disappear entirely." She folds her arms across her chest. "Already that is how most know me. Dragonborn. The short Nord with black hair and amber eyes, great way to be remembered."

Ulfric looked at her surprised. So, she had heard how her description was being passed around Skyrim.

"That is your description though."

"Yes but-" She stopped herself, this was all trivial and nothing to bother the Jarl with. "Look, just drop it. I'm fine."

Again, she closed herself off to him, reluctant to talk. It puzzled him that sometimes she would be so open, and other times so closed.

"Do you have a problem with me Dragonborn?"

"No sir."

This was true, at least on the surface, he didn't read anymore into it.

"Then why won't you talk to me? I am offering counsel." He hesitates, but continues. "You do realise it will get to the stage that others will fear talking to you, if they don't already. I am offering-" he stops, her amber eyes staring up at him, and he remained silent for a long moment. "Astaria. You cannot keep it all bottled up. Superior or no, I'm telling you, you can talk to me."

Astaria holds his gaze for a moment, before blinking and looking away again. "Thank you." She says it softly, he only caught it because of the direction of the wind. "But, not now. I am tired and, if it's alright, I need to head out in the morning."

He frowns at this. "What for?"

"I need to meet with someone, they may know more about the dragons and I promised I would go as soon as possible." It wasn't entirely the truth, she also had the sudden urge to leave the city for a little bit, even though she'd only been back for little over a day.

Ulfric wanted to argue with her, but he could read the look on her face. "Anything you need Dragonborn."

She shuts her eyes and turns away from him. "Thank you my Jarl. I will leave first thing and return as soon as I am able." She leaves him standing there.

"Dragonborn?"

She pauses, glancing back.

"When you return, you will learn to fight properly with a sword." He put a slight order in the way he said it, knowing she would object.

"If I must." She hesitates to ask. "As long as Galmar isn't the one training me sir."

"No, I will be."

Astaria didn't want to think about that, although it was clear she tensed after he said it. She just nods silently in agreement and continues. Just as she starts to disappear from sight, it starts to snow.

He stays there for a long time, even though he could hear the celebrations still continuing, he was in no mood to join in.