Ulfric was furious, he'd been alright at just a couple of hours, but as time went on, the angrier he got.

He couldn't believe she'd run away from this again, especially after what he had said at the ball.

It was late now and he had been unable to sleep and he found himself pacing in the war room. He'd been half tempted to send men after her but knew that would not only get her angry but be a waste of resources.

Ulfric stopped, hearing a voice. He walks out into the hall and there she was, sitting at the table.

He was walking forward before he knew it. "Astaria." He voice was no more than a growl.

Astaria jumps, hurrying to hide something under her cloak and standing up to face him. "Uh...Ulfric, I...I thought you'd be asleep."

"I would be if you had been back here." He said angrily, stepping in front of her but then frowns in confusion. "You are filthy."

She was covered in heavy mud and her clothes were damp. She blushed. "Um, yes. I ran into a small issue."

Ulfric's gaze darkens. "Which is exactly why I didn't want you going anywhere."

"What? Oh. No, not like that, it's...hard to explain." She purposefully avoids his angry stare. "I really had every intention of being back in a few hours, I owe you that much." She looks at him earnestly. "Please Ulfric, I…I don't want you to be angry with me."

He let out a long a breath, backing down. "Well, what happened?"

She bites her lip and doesn't answer.

"Do you have any idea how infuriating it is when you don't answer? Or give a vague answer?" He asked impatiently.

"It's what I'm used to doing." Astaria said quietly. "It was the only way to avoid trouble." He frowns at this but she doesn't let him speak. "It's not easy for me to express these things Ulfric, I was never really-" she yelped loudly, bringing her hand out from under her cloak.

This also tosses the cloak off what she was trying to hide.

A small white head poked out and yapped happily.

Ulfric stared at the pup, only about 2 months old, held tightly in Astaria's arms.

Astaria sighs. "This was the small issue."

"Is that a wolf pup?"

The puppy yapped again, as if in answer. It had two different coloured eyes that stared happily up at Ulfric, one amber and one blue-grey.

"Yes. I spent several hours trying to coax him out of his den." She affectionately rubbed the pup's ears as he tries to lick her fingers.

This just confused Ulfric more. "Why?"

"It's...hard to explain." She sits down so the pup was sitting up on her lap, its tail wagging. "When I first found out I was Dragonborn, on my way up to the Greybeards, I came across a white wolf. She didn't attack, she didn't really do anything, just stared at me and walked away. I've come across her several times along my journey, and well, it usually been before some sort of major thing happening. Today, as I walked, I found her again, wounded badly, blood all around..." Her eyes became distant. "I tried to help her, but she wouldn't allow it, instead she had just enough strength left to lead me to her den, where I found this little guy." She reaches back and grabs a bit of meat for him off the table, something he eagerly accepts. "By the time I had got him out..."

Ulfric watches her, feeling her pain.

"She was gone." He barely heard her talk. "She wanted to make sure that he was okay."

Drawing a deep breath, Ulfric sits next her.

"It is the way of nature Astaria." He says softly, holding out his hand for the little wolf to sniff. "These things happen, but we aren't meant to interfere."

Astaria watches as the wolf starts to chew on Ulfric's finger and she looks up at him. "I cannot let him go out there Ulfric, he will die."

He had to admit, there was something about the little pup, even though he had only known it a few minutes.

"Astaria..." He sighs, seeing her expression. "On one condition."

"What?"

"You and I have a talk tomorrow. No more running."

Astaria nods. "Of course."

"Good." He said quietly. "Now, go get cleaned up and get some rest. He will have to stay with you and let's hope he doesn't get into too much trouble."

She smiles and stands with the pup, who was trying to nuzzle in closer. "Thank you Ulfric."

"Good night Astaria." He watches her walk away and sighs once she's gone, his head hurting. Galmar was going to give him hell for this.

Their talk ended up being delayed a lot more than a day. Kodaav, as Astaria had affectionately called the little white pup, was more than a handful, for both her and everyone in the Palace. He'd taken a shine to Astaria, following her around happily when he wasn't causing trouble, and he was quiet fond of Ulfric as well, Ulfric being in a meeting on his throne and next thing he knew the little pup was curled up in his lap fast asleep. Astaria had broken into uncontrolled giggles the first time she had seen it, having to leave the room.

Kodaav liked causing mischief all round, in the kitchens and with the guards, but his favourite person to annoy was Galmar. No one could explain it, but the little pup just would not leave him alone, often going for his bear skin armour, and as much as Galmar got angry at him, he could never punish the small thing as it playfully yapped at him, his tail wagging wildly.

Much to Ulfric's annoyance, Astaria also refused to tell him what Kodaav's name meant. He knew that it was in Dragon Tongue, but he hadn't had to fully use Dragon Tongue in many years, and he could not remember what the word meant. He figured it had something to do with him as she had blushed furiously when he asked and quickly changed the topic.

It had been almost three weeks since Kodaav's arrival that Ulfric decided it had been put off long enough.

He approached her in the hall at breakfast as she was feeding and training Kodaav. "Dragonborn, when you are free, I would like a word."

"Of course my Jarl." She said, getting Kodaav to lie down and feeding him a piece of meat. "Sometime before patrol tonight?"

"Good." He had reluctantly let her have patrols, mostly because of Kodaav so he was out getting proper exercise, but because he could see it was driving her crazy to be inside all the time. He'd had to admit that her sword work was much better, she couldn't disarm him yet, but he was now taking blows as well, much to Astaria's amusement.

Returning to his throne, he focused on the morning reports from Jorleif. Astaria spent her morning's training Kodaav, and while the pup was a fast learner, he was very impatient, often nipping her fingers when she tried to teach him the same thing for too long.

It was almost midday when a courier entered and approached Astaria.

"Dragonborn?" He asked nervously.

"Yes?" Astaria stood before the courier, Kodaav sniffing around his feet.

"I have a message for you." He hands her a note. "From your betrothed."

While the courier hadn't been talking quietly, everyone had ignored him until he mentioned that, Ulfric's gaze instantly finding her.

"I'm sorry, my what?" She asked, stunned.

"Your...betrothed." The courier said again.

Astaria tore the note open and reads it with a frown. "Is this some sort of joke?" She snaps.

"No mam, your father-"

"My father gave his to you?"

"Yes."

Astaria was about to snap when the doors opened and none other than Ezen Snow-born walked in.

"Good, you got my message." He said calmly, approaching Astaria. "I trust that you can be ready soon."

"I'm not going anywhere." She snarled at him. "And if you think that this-this pig shite is going to convince me otherwise-"

"It is not nonsense. He has agreed to marry you, although it appears a few lessons in manners will have to be retaught." Ezen spoke so calmly that much of the staff were casting worried glances at each other as Astaria's fury was obvious, Ulfric had risen from his throne and was approaching cautiously as well, not entirely sure of what she would do.

"I don't care who's agreed to marry me, he can stick it up his arse and bury himself in the deepest pit he can find for all I care." Astaria snarled, causing a small growl from Kodaav by her side. "And as for you, you can get out."

Ezen raises an eyebrow. "And who are you to think that you can command me you silly little girl. You will do as you are told for once."

Ulfric's anger entered the conversation then, surprising everyone, including Astaria. "She is a high ranked officer in the Stormcloak army, and because of this she does in fact wield more power than you, Ezen Snow-born." He stops next to Astaria, who he could tell was fighting down her fury.

"Jarl Ulfric. I do not know what nonsense my daughter has been feeding you but I assure you she does not deserve any position within your army." He looks at her coldly. "She is going to be married whether she likes it or not."

"I will do no such thing." Kodaav whimpered slightly by her side as the venom in her voice shows. "I am the Dragonborn, the only two things I am bound to do is to stop the dragons and to fight for Ulfric's cause."

Despite the fact that Ezen was face to face with two of the most powerful people in Skyrim, his expression did not change. "Oh? I'm sure your betrothed would like to hear that."

Neither got a chance to respond as the door opened and a noble entered, surrounded by at least ten personal guard.

He was introducing himself as he approached, but Astaria could hear nothing over the thundering in her ears.

"Get. Out." She accentuated the words as clearly as she could in her anger.

The nobleman raises an eyebrow. "Well, I hope you certainly won't be like that long, that's going to get mighty frustrating and rather boring."

Astaria was trembling, Kodaav growling at her side, his ears back and eyes locked on the noble. Ulfric rests a hand on her shoulder to try and calm her, although it as difficult when his own anger was so powerful.

"The Dragonborn refuses your offer." He said clearly, very aware that everyone was watching. Ulfric did not like the man one bit.

The nobleman gives a questioning look. "Refuses? I wasn't aware that this was up for negotiation?"

"It's not." Ezen says. "She will do as she is told and obey or fathers command.

"I will do nothing." She spat. "Least of all for you, you miserable, worthless-"

"Tradition of arranged marriages died out a long time ago." Ulfric said, his grip tightening on her shoulder, whether to control her or himself, he wasn't sure. "Therefore she doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to do."

Ezen gave a very cold and disgusted look between them. "You are not actually telling me that the rumours of my daughter are true?"

"Of course not." Ulfric growled. "I am simply-"

"Oh good," The nobleman cut over. "I much prefer my woman untainted."

The growl that ripped through Astaria's throat made the room shake, her eyes flashing dangerously. "How dare you? You insignificant, misogynistic, bastard!"

The guards around the noble hands went to their swords. "Be careful whose honour you insult girl, it could be the last thing you ever do."

Astaria took a step forward, breaking Ulfric's hold. "And what of my honour?"

"You are a woman, you have none."

Several things happened at once then. Another rumble went through the building, built up from inside Astaria's chest, the guards around the noble drew their swords and Kodaav rushed forward, growling furiously.

The nobleman looked at the pup in disgust. "Get that foul beast away from me!" He shouts and draws back his leg to kick Kodaav.

"Fus!"

The noble and his men stumbled back, Kodaav rushing back to Astaria's side, but it wasn't Astaria that had shouted.

It was Ulfric.

He stood, his eyes burning a fierce, dark grey. "Leave. Now." His voice clear in the hall, it did not show his fury but his authority and command. His shout had made Astaria freeze.

The nobleman had straightened up, ashened faced, Ezen watching on coldly.

"This is not up for discussion." Ulfric continues. "You have insulted one of my best soldiers and wasted my time with this...this political nonsense. I do not care what arrangements were made, I am ordering against them. The Dragonborn will be forced into nothing that she does not want to do. Have I made myself clear?"

Ezen said nothing, turning on his heels to leave, the noble gawking after him.

"You cannot be serious? After all the nonsense you gave me to convince me to marry this who-"

Crack.

Having recovered as he started speaking, Astaria's fist connected hard into his nose, blood exploding from his nose as he wheels back in pain. The guards draw their swords, Kodaav hiding behind Ulfric as they do, but they do not advance.

All the Stormcloaks had drawn their weapons and were standing at the ready.

"You were asked to leave." Galmar said coldly, approaching. "I suggest you do it before we throw you out."

The noble was clutching his heavily bleeding nose and he shoots a glare at all of them. "This isn't over!" He spat before storming out, his guards following.

Astaria was breathing heavily, her eyes still locked on the door, her hands shaking. Silence was thick in the air, waiting for either Astaria or Ulfric to do something.

"Dragonborn..." Ulfric's voice was low.

It seemed to snap Astaria out of whatever trance she was in, she straightened and started for the door.

"I need some air." She growled.

"Astaria-"

"Kodaav, stay." She snapped at the pup as he went to follow. "I will be back when I have sufficiently calmed down."

No one wanted to think about what that meant so they let her go.

Ulfric found his own hands shaking. "Galmar, make sure those men leave, I don't care if you have to force them from my city, I want them gone."

"With pleasure, Ulfric." Galmar says and leaves with several men in tow.

Noise was slowly returning but Ulfric had no intention of dealing with any of it. "Jorleif, call off any meetings I had today."

"Yes sir." Jorleif said, a little stunned.

"Come Kodaav." Ulfric said to the pup who was whimpering at his side and the pup followed him out into the courtyard, and for the first time in a long time, Ulfric took out his frustrations on the training dummies.

Night had fallen yet again on Windhelm and Ulfric found himself wondering the streets, Astaria had not returned and part of him hoped to find her out here, although the guards had said she'd left the city, another part of him was hoping that he would find somewhere peaceful for a while, his anger still bubbling beneath the surface. The more he walked, the more the answer came to him.

He wanted to pray.

He walked down the stone steps into the temple of Talos and soon found himself frozen at the door. A soft singing was coming from inside and he would have normally walked away, wanting to be alone, but he recognised the voice.

It was Astaria.

Gently, he pushed open the door and quietly stepped inside the dimly lit temple. It only took him a moment to find her, moving slowly and lighting up candles. Her voice, soft and sweet, struck something deep in his soul, and he stood transfixed.

She was singing what sounded like a lullaby, he only picked up a few words because he wasn't really listening to that, he was listening to everything else her song was saying, speaking more of what she was feeling than she had ever shared.

As the song finished, she continued humming it, lighting the last few candles, the room now filled with a soft, warm glow.

He could suddenly now imagine her singing at full volume, and never before had he craved to have such a thing.

"You have a beautiful voice." His voice was low and quiet, not wanting to destroy the serenity of the room.

Astaria started and a deep blush settled into her cheeks. "Ulfric. I didn't hear you come in." She bit her lip for a moment. "Well, at least you didn't walk in on me singing about myself that would have been really embarrassing."

He gives a small smile, his eyes dark in the light. "It would, and I would have had to have told everyone." He steps further inside and notices she does not move from her spot near the altar. "Are you alright? I've never seen you in here before?"

"I don't come as often as I should, but lately I've found a lot of comfort here. After today, well, it felt like the right thing to do." She broke away from his gaze. "If...if you need to be alone here Ulfric..."

He walks forward and sits. "I have no trouble with you here Astaria, you should know that."

Astaria stares at him, gnawing the inside of her lip. She was struck by indecision, she wanted to sit next him, but she also wanted to sit away, making her prayers and thoughts her own.

"Are you going to sit?"

Swallowing, she sits next to him, much to his surprise. Things had never been quite the same since the ball, but neither was going to say that to the other.

They sat in silence. Astaria shutting her eyes and beginning a silent prayer in her head, not for anything in particular, just as a comfort measure, so she could feel a little better and sleep a little easier at night, and to calm the last of her anger.

Ulfric would've been doing much the same had his head not still been filled with her song. He stared at the altar and sat and wondered about things he knew he shouldn't, and yet, he glances at her, she was here, sitting next to him. Letting out a deep slow breath, he let his mind empty and his prayer begin.

Time ticked by peacefully, it was the calmest either had been in a long time and they were both appreciative of the comfort of the other. Had they been able to tell, they would have found their breathing and heart beats in time.

Ulfric finishes his prayer but remains still, not wanting to disturb her. He watches the candles flicker.

Astaria opens her eyes and they remain in silence for a long time, neither wanting to be the one who moved first.

"I am sorry about today." She says quietly, breaking the silence.

"It wasn't your fault."

She lets out a slow breath. "I know, but…I feel responsible. I feel I should have warned you about my father, although, I did not expect such rash action."

Ulfric doesn't know how to answer this, thus remaining silent.

"I...um...better go and get ready for patrol."

She stands and at first, he doesn't move.

"Astaria?"

Astaria stops, her heart hammering. She wanted to run but her feet refused to move.

Ulfric doesn't face her, still facing the shrine to Talos. "I meant those words at the ball."

She licked her lips, nerves threatening to take over. "I know."

"And?"

"And what?"

He does face her then and when he sees her frozen in the aisle, he stands and turns her to face him.

"You never gave your opinion of it."

His hands were gentle holding her arms, clearly there to keep her from running, not that she could if she had wanted to. She averted her gaze. "I don't know."

Ulfric frowns, this not being the answer he wanted. "Look at me Astaria." Her eyes hooded by her lashes, she looks at him. "I care for you, a lot more than what would be deemed wise at the moment I'm sure, but I cannot change that. I think, for simple respect alone, you can give me an answer."

Astaria felt herself trembling, Ulfric felt it to, his hands tightening on her arms. She bit her lip and blinked away for a moment, only for her gaze to return shining with tears. It was now or never.

"I...I told that I have admired you for a long time?" He nods. "At some stage Ulfric, it went beyond that. I could not control it, no matter how I tried. I can't even tell you when it happened, but-" she looked down, unable to hold his gaze anymore. "I don't want to get hurt Ulfric and I do not want to hurt you. It would break me either way." Tears streamed down her face. "Dammit all Ulfric, I've fallen in love with you. Do you get it now? Can you understand that? I just-" she stopped herself, she had to lest the tears spill out of control.

Ulfric stood still, staring down at the trembling, small woman in his hands and feeling her emotions as clearly as his own. It confused him, but he did not care. His hand gently caught her chin and brought her back up to look at him, tears streaming down her face. He brushed them away with his thumbs as he cradled her face in his hands, finally realising exactly what he felt.

"If you think for one moment that I would ever hurt you, then rest assured I will not, I would rather die first than ever do something like that to a woman so beautiful." He found himself lost in her amber eyes, shining gold in the candle light. "And Talos preserve me Astaria, I do not deserve you, and yet I find myself thinking of you over and over again, no matter what I tell myself, because dammit it all woman, I love you too."

He didn't give her a chance to respond, he wasn't sure he could take her broken voice and trembling lips, so he did the only thing he could think of doing. He kissed her. Hard. Passionate. Deep. For a moment he thought she wouldn't respond, but then she groaned and returned with equal need and desire, her arms snaking up around his neck, pulling him close. Her body curved into him, responding to him, his arm wrapping around her waist possessively, protectively, his other hand entwining in her hair, deepening the kiss further.

His tongue flicked across her lower lip and she gave a low sigh, her lips parting for him, and he took the invitation, slipping his tongue into her mouth. Ulfric moaned, his grip on her tightening, as her tongue met his, swirling around each other, fighting for dominance, their needs matching each other's, almost in desperation.

A cough got their attention.

They broke apart instantly, Ulfric turning to see a priestess standing there, looking at them. Astaria hid behind him, her cheeks very red.

"I trust that you remember this is a place of worship, Jarl Ulfric?" She asked quietly.

He clears his throat. "Of...of course." He feels Astaria rest her head against him in silent laughter. "We were just leaving."

"I would suggest," She says quietly before they can leave. "Being cautious."

Ulfric nods, grabbing Astaria's hand and hurriedly walks them out of the temple, leading them around into a small secluded garden filled with snow. He stops and faces her, his own cheeks flush while she was smiling up at him.

"I never thought I'd see you as the embarrassed type." She giggled.

Ulfric growled and pulled her back into him, locking her in a much gentler kiss which she enthusiastically returned.

She hummed appreciatively into the kiss before breaking away slightly. "I really do need to get to patrol Ulfric."

He kissed her lightly. "You can't skip one night?"

"I don't think my Jarl would appreciate it." She runs her hand along his cheek and he holds her there.

"I'm pretty sure he won't mind." He mumbled, nuzzling into her hand and kissing her palm.

She smiles softly and stands on tip toes to kiss him on the cheek. "We'll talk tomorrow, do you mind if Kodaav stays with you tonight?"

"He was already fast asleep in my bed when I left." He kisses her lightly on the lips again as she pulls away. "And I still want to know what his name means."

She smiles and he reluctantly lets her go, his eyes watching her until she disappeared from sight. He lets out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding and sits dazedly on the edge of the garden.

He licked his lips, still tasting of her, and sighs, running a hand through his hair. He couldn't deny that he had wanted this, no matter how complicated it would make things, but a part of him had always believed that it wouldn't. There was still a lot to talk about, of that he had no doubt, but for now, it was enough to know that her emotions were as real as his own.

Ulfric stared at the snow around him, thinking, and making a decision. Once he was sure, he returned to the Palace, definitely lighter in step than what he had been earlier.