Home is where the heart is - 6thof Sunsdawn - 4 E 202 - Windhelm
The heavy and majestic door of Windhelm closed behind them with a soft and familiar sound.
Eliana laid her back against the cold metal and let out a relieved sigh as she laid a loving gaze upon the city. Even with the chilly cold wind and the snow slowly draping the city in a thick white coat, the braziers and torches burning bright along the streets gave Windhelm a unique and comforting warmth. The stronghold was considered like the jewel - though the war left it damaged and misshaped - of Skyrim, and somehow, really reflected the Nord way of life: strong, and hard and unyielding, yet, when you could see past its tough and cold rampart, fiery and warm. Only a few weeks ago, never could she imagine how much this place would come to mean to her. Now, Windhelm was her home, the only place she wanted to come back to. And when the war would be over, she would devote her every waking moments to restore Skyrim's capital to its former glory.
"Oi! Fancy freezing your arse out there, Evergreen?"
Much to her surprise, Galmar was waiting for her, up the stairs leading to Valunstrad while the men headed to the Candlehearth in order to recover from their two days and one night journey.
"Permission to take a few moments to rest?", the young woman asked, considering her state of exhaustion and her overall appearance. "I'll be reporting in before Ulfric is done scolding you for getting in the front line.", she assured with a warm smile.
The bear-warrior let out a snort and gave her a short nod.
"Fifteen minutes! And get us some mead!", he added, throwing her a small rebounded coin-purse.
The young woman shot him an amused smile and hurried to the warmth of the tavern.
6thof Sunsdawn - 4 E 202 - Windhelm - The Candlehearth Hall
Eliana let her hair flow down her back. She had them cut mid-back length after her return from Sovngarde, two months before and rarely let them down ever since. Dried blood stained her knotted copper locks and clothes. She brushed her hair and carefully washed them before she allowed herself to dive into the hot water of the bath.
New reddened burns scar marked her skin across her chest, adding to her previously gained ones - the straight and clean long scar left by Balgruuf's sword on her forearm, the jagged edge of her ribs piercing her skin when she fought Alduin up the Throat of the World, Sahloknir's bite on her right arm, the intricate web-like markings across her shoulders and back, the uneven shape of what used to be a deep cut running up her thigh.
She let out a heavy sigh and dived underwater. Tears, blood and dirt would wash away, but memories and scars would never fade.
She regretted nothing. Each mark on her skin recalled a memory that somehow, had made her into the person she was now… and brought her to Ulfric.
Galmar was right: he deserved the truth; she owed him honesty if there were to ever be anything between them.
She gasped at such a thought. Of course there would never be anything between them! Any feelings she might have for him would be tempered by her status of simple soldier, any desire he might feel for her would be denied rather than take the risk to endanger their existing relationship. She was his soldier, a useful tool and a valuable ally. He would probably want her to remain by his side, as a lieutenant, as an ally - with luck, as a friend; but she knew he would never fall in love with her, marry her or start a family with her. She was neither Nord, nor noble, nor wealthy, nor influent… She was nothing he would want in a wife… in a queen…
6thof Sunsdawn - 4 E 202 - Windhelm - The Palace of the Kings
Ulfric traversed the throne-room in a few strides to greet his friend, but before he could even pronounce a word, Galmar sharply interrupted him.
"Marry her."
The jarl stopped dead, stunned by the statement and gave his housecarl an interrogative look.
"She's strong, loyal, and braver than you'd ever believe.", Galmar explained before he laid his steel warhammer on the weapon-rack in the war-room. "You were right about her and I was wrong. Now, you sure don't need it, but you have my blessing, so make up your mind and find yourself an amulet of Mara before someone else does."
The jarl said nothing for a while, his mind desperately trying to register what his friend told him.
"What in Oblivion happened in Falkreath?", he asked, dumbfounded as Galmar took place at the table and stretched his tired legs.
The bear let out a sigh.
"The Thalmor happened."
6th of Sunsdawn – 4 E 202 – Windhelm – The Palace of the Kings
The soft cracking of the wood in the braziers and hushed voices coming from the war-room were the only noises troubling the quiet of the night when Eliana entered the Palace.
"I'm proud we liberated Falkreath from the Empire.", she heard Ulfric congratulate warmly. "With the Pale Pass crumbled and the border of Cyrodiil closed, Tullius must be getting nervous."
"Aye. Which means we've got to move quickly. Keep them off balance. The sooner we get our grip back on the Rift, the better."
"Patience, Galmar.", the jarl hushed. "Riften won't be won back in one day. The key to the Rift is the settlements across the land. Our newly control on Fort Neugrad gives us a perfect start to gain Ivarstead. And Yrsarald's men in Fort Amol could extand their grip to Nilheim. If we can control these places, circle the city and cut the armed wing of the Legion, the BlackBriar will most likely step down without a fight."
She abandonned her cloak in one of the benches, left the bottles of mead on the long table, then headed to the door to her left and playfully knocked on the mount of the wide opened door.
The war-room had changed. The mess of files about Hjallmarsh – no longer plaguing the jarl's mind as much as it used to – had been moved back on the side of the room, leaving empty a large part of the table where Ulfric and Galmar currently sat.
The jarl rounded up the table to come and greet her and pulled her in a fierce embrace she immediately responded to.
"It's good to have you back.", he whispered in her ear before he broke their hug and eyed her carefully. "How do you feel?", Ulfric asked concerned.
"I'm fine, now.", she answered with a warm smile.
Ulfric smiled back and led her to her seat.
"Galmar told me about the Thalmor attack."
Eliana turned fifty shades of white, genuine fear striking her heart and clouding her eyes and shot an alarmed, betrayed glance to the general.
"I understand that you found a letter on their leader."
"Yes.", she replied, her voice hoarse with emotion as she understood the general didn't betray her secret, merely reported in.
"May I see it?"
She pulled the crumbled parchment from the small satchel resting on her hip and handed it to Ulfric. The jarl read carefully, his jaw tense and skin pale as he recognized an all too familiar handwriting. But as he progressed through the letter, his wrath slowly changed to surprise then delight.
"That is excellent news.", the jarl smirked triumphantly. "Today is a great day."
"Now that is something to celebrate!", Galmar's voice stated, as he read through the letter in his turn. "Did you bring the mead?"
The young woman smiled and went back to go fetch the amber bottles.
"I figured we should respond to it.", she offered motioning to the letter. "Started writing a reply actually."
She pulled a second parchment from her bag and handed it to the jarl who soon burst out in a thunderous laughter.
"That will do.", he smiled, raising a cup of mead. "To victory."
"To the days come and gone.", Galmar added.
"For the Age of Oppression is now nearly done."
Hope you enjoyed this chapter :) Once again a transition chappie, next one will be muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch longer! Like VERY much longer ^^
Next chapter : "To the days come and gone" , where a most ancient celebration takes place in Windhelm and old acquaintances return =D
Stay tuned and don't forget to review! :)
Love you guys! :)
