The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Ulfric Stormcloak & Kayleigh Leanne "Runaway With My Heart"


Location: Solitude
20
th of Second Seed
11:13am

"Zu'u Dovahkiin (I am Dragonborn)! Ysmir, Dovahkiin do faal Brom (Ysmir, Dragon of the North)! Zu fen ni kos VIIK (I will not be defeated)!"

That was what everybody present in Solitude heard: the resurrected Dragonborn yelling at the top of her lungs to her fallen enemies. There was no more Imperial or Thalmor soldiers to hear that though. They were all dead. By her hands. Whatever restraint she had left broke, and she showed no mercy whatsoever, as she unleashed the power of her Thu'um.

"So…" Sheogorath started out, breaking the silence after Kayleigh spoke. "Who's going to clean up the mess?"

Nobody had an answer.

Part of her felt like that power was not hers. The strength she possessed, the vigor of her Shouts; she never felt more dominant in her life. What could it have been? Akatosh did just give her back her life. Could he have unleashed power through her…?

She closed her eyes tightly, took in a deep breath, and released it. "General Tullius has to be inside Castle Dour." She said, and turned to face her Stormcloaks, Galmar, Vigilance, the wounded Odahviing, and Ulfric. "Orders, my Jarl?"

Ulfric Stormcloak, having witnessed the Dragonborn's wrath first hand, was not in shock because of that, but instead, because of the fact that she was standing in front of him, alive. He held her during her last breath; she was dead. Anybody would have said the same thing.

He also did not feel right answering her. The loving gaze she would always give him was gone. It was replaced with a vengeance look. He could see it in her emerald eyes of hers. "It's time for General Tullius to surrender." He finally answered. "Galmar, you and the Dragonborn are with me. The rest of you, stand guard out here. We don't need any reinforcements."

Kayleigh turned to Odahviing, who was sitting upon a much shorter building so he could bring his head down to her level. She stroked his cheek and smiled. "Are you hurt badly?"

"Nid." He answered without hesitance. "This is nothing."

"Then can I request that you stay out here and assist the Stormcloaks?" She asked.

He smiled. "Of course. Anything for you, Brit bron."

Kayleigh grinned, and then turned to her Daedric Princes, Sheogorath and Molag Bal, who were smiling at her. The Mad God waved at her. 'Don't worry, love! We'll be right here too! Unless, you know, somethin' goes wrong!"

She chuckled and turned to her Jarl, Wabbajack and mace in hand. "Let's go."


Location: Castle Dour, Solitude

"Ulfric! Stop!"

"Stop what?" He questioned Legate Rikke. "Taking Skyrim back from those who would leave her to rot?"

"You're wrong, Ulfric. We need to Empire! Without it, Skyrim will surely fall to the Dominion!" She tried to reason with him, but she was failing badly.

Kayleigh caught sight of General Tullius sitting on a chair behind her, looking very dejected… and defeated. "Excuse me? I think you have your stories mixed up, Legate. Skyrim was under the Empire, and the moment they signed that damn treaty, we fell to those elves… All they want is power, power they can't and SHOULD not have!"

That was when the Legate saw Kayleigh, and how deathly she looked. She looked like she just woke up from an interrupted nap, one that involved her having to bandage her abdomen. But more than that, Rikke could see that she was not in the best of moods, especially since she was wielding that Gods-forsaken mace. "You're a damn fool, Dragonborn. You don't understand!"

"Might not be the best of ideas to be calling me names, Legate…" She muttered.

"Stand aside, woman!" Galmar ordered, readying his iron battleaxe. "We've come for the General."

Rikke glanced over her shoulder to the Imperial. "He has given up hope, but I haven't." She looked at the three Stormcloaks and unsheathed her steel sword.

"Rikke, go." Kayleigh could see that Ulfric was giving her every opportunity to walk away. "You're free to leave." They must have known each other pretty well back in the Imperial Legion. He did not want to hurt her.

But too bad; because anyone who had a hand in trying to kill her was going to die.

"I'm also free to stay and fight for what I believe in!" She defended.

Ulfric looked disappointed, and the readied his own steel sword. "And you're also free to die for it."

"Is this the Skyrim you want to live in?" She questioned. "Shield brothers and sisters fighting each other? Families torn apart?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Kayleigh declared. "Skyrim will now be a independent country, filled with races who want to be free, not forced to bend to the knees of others!"

"So step aside, woman!" Galmar demanded again.

"This is not going down without a fight." Legate Rikke took the men by surprise with an attempted sword attack.

With the men busy with the Legate, General Tullius had to deal with a severely injured Dragonborn. "Come on, you grey-haired old bastard!" She taunted with a smirk. "Time to say hi to retirement!"

Fed up with that name, Tullius pulled out his steel sword, and charged for her. Kayleigh blocked the attack with both the Wabbajack and the mace, pushing him off her. Kayleigh struggled to stand still. She held onto to her torso, and Tullius saw this as a vantage point. He attempted to stab her, but she pushed the sword away using the Wabbajack. She struck him in the left shoulder with the mace and he gritted his teeth in pain.

With him semi-paralyzed, Kayleigh spotted Rikke trying to push a combined attack by Ulfric and Galmar off her. "ZUN!" She Shouted, and the Legatee dropped her steel sword as if it was on fire.

That was when Tullius punched Kayleigh in her jaw and she fell to the ground, further injuring herself. Instinctively, Ulfric struck him in the torso with his steel sword and kicked him to the ground. He was about to bring the sword down on him when Tullius held up his hands and yelled, "ENOUGH!" He was out of breath. "Enough… we… we surrender." He gripped his injured shoulder.

Ulfric lowered his armed hand and saw that Rikke was also on the ground, injured, as Galmar watched over her, making sure she was going to do anything funny. "Damn it, General…" She cursed her superior officer.

"Uhhh…" Ulfric heard the Dragonborn grunting in pain on the ground. He dropped his steel sword, and proceeded to wrapping his arms around her, lifting her up to her feet gently as he could. Her form of thanks was a pained smile, despite the fact that her face was semi-hidden under her messy hair. He smiled back, but they were interrupted with Tullius' pained mumbles and he leaned against the wall, still on the ground.

"This is it for you, Tullius." Ulfric declared as he picked up his sword. "Anything to say before I let the Dragonborn decide what to do with you?"

"You do realize… that this is what the Thalmor would have wanted…" Tullius breathed, gripped his shoulder. "They forced us to divert needed resources and throw away good soldiers quelling this rebellion!"

"Really?" Kayleigh raised an eyebrow. "Seems to me that they were kind enough to send some reinforcements for you… to come here and kill me."

"I swear, the Empire had nothing to do with that!" He defended.

"Did it matter? You still tried to kill me." She pointed out.

He sighed heavily. "We're not the bad guys, you know."

"Maybe not," Ulfric stepped up. "But you certainly aren't the good guys. Dragonborn?"

"With pleasure." She raised her mace of Molag Bal, but then lowered her hand after much thought. "No. I tell you what, Tullius, I'm going to give you and your Legate a chance. I happen to be in a very generous mood, you know, despite coming back from the dead. Literally. I won't kill the both of you. Instead, drop the Legion. Join us, when we go to war with the Dominion. Look, you hate the Thalmor as much as we do. So why not? I'm giving you a chance to change. You have five seconds to decide once I'm done speaking. Go."

Tullius looked at his injured Legate, who was looking back at him. She shook her head vigorously. "No… This is not the Skyrim I want to live in!" She spat.

"So be it." Tullius glanced back at the Dragonborn. "Make it a good kill, Dragonborn."

She was surprised with his answer, but he had made his decision. She at the Wabbajack down and lifted him onto his feet by clutching his neck tightly. "Gods preserve you." And she struck him in the abdomen with her mace, and tossed him onto the ground, where he bled to death. She looked at Galmar, who shook his head regarding Rikke. She had succumbed to her own injuries.

"Good. It's finally done. But was it really a good idea to give them a chance?" Galmar questioned.

Kayleigh was about to answer when Ulfric politely cut in. "I'm sure she had her reasons. Like, how everyone deserves a chance?" He looked at her.

"I guess. We all knew that they didn't like this as much as we did, so… I thought it would've worked. Guess I was wrong." She admitted defeat.

Ulfric sighed, but glad that it was finally over. "Well, I suppose some kind of… speech is in order."

"Agreed." Galmar hooked his iron battleaxe on his back. "I'll go round up the men in the courtyard."

"And Elisif? We haven't seen her."

"Don't worry about her." He smiled. "I've sent my best men to round her up."

"That's good to know." He said.

"Give me a minute to gather our men." Galmar then left the room to use the other to exit the castle.

That was when Ulfric realized that Kayleigh had been silent all this time. He turned to her and found that she had her gaze fixed on the Amulet of Talos that was around her neck; the same amulet that he had put on for her. She ran her fingers over it, smiling to herself.

He smiled as well, and walked up to her. "It looks beautiful on you, you know."

She made the mistake of looking up into his green eyes, because now she could not breathe. She grinned like an idiot, and looked away. "Thank you." She was about to take it off her neck when he stopped her.

"Don't. Keep it." He said. "I can't think of anyone else better to give it to."

"But the men might notice. Just now, in all the fighting and Shouting, they wouldn't have noticed. Now they will." She took it off and put it around his neck for him. But when she did, she purposely pulled him closer to her via his wolf pelt. "But once we're back in Windhelm, you can give it to me on our first date." She winked, and made her way to the exit.


Location: Solitude
11:37am

Despite it being a small crowd, the Stormcloaks cheered loudly with much pride as Ulfric and Kayleigh exited the castle. Vigilance barked happily as well. From her perspective, Sheogorath and Molag Bal were a bit further from the Stormcloaks; they were on her right. Sheogorath clapped gleefully and whistled, prompting Molag to slap him on the back to shut him up.

"I am indeed Ulfric Stormcloak," Ulfric started out, standing in front of his men. "and standing at my side is the young lady we know as Stormblade, and the world knows as the Dragonborn!"

Kayleigh gave a little wave, grinned from ear to ear.

He continued. "And indeed, there are many that call us heroes. But it is all of you who are the true heroes! It was you who fought a dying Empire who sunk its claws into our land, trying to drag us down with it! It was you who fought the Thalmor and their puppets who would have us deny our Gods and out heritage! But more than that, it was you who fought for Skyrim, for our right to fight our own battles, to return our glory and traditions, to determine our own future!" He sighed a little, before speaking again. "And it is for these reasons that I cannot accept the mantle of 'High King'."

Kayleigh's eyes widened. "What?" She exclaimed.

"Not until the Moot declared that title should be adorn my shoulders will I accept it." He smiled at her.

"Oh…" She realized and gripped her injured abdomen. "Whoops…"

"AND WHAT ABOUT JARL ELISIF?" A Stormcloak soldier asked.

"Yes." He had almost forgotten about her. "What about the Lady Elisif? Will she put aside her personal hatred for me, and her misplaced love for the Emperor and his coin, so that the suffering of our people will end? Will she swear fealty to me, so all may know that we are at peace, and a new day has dawned?"

Kayleigh spotted her amongst the Stormcloaks. "I do!" She declared.

"Then it is settled." He said. "The Jarl will continue to rule Solitude. In due time, the Moot will meet, and settle the claim for High King once and for all." Looking at Kayleigh, who gave him a sweet smile, he then said, "And of course, all this could not have been possible without the truest of Nords, our very own Dragonborn. Were it not for her strength, her power, her confidence and her determination, most of us would not be standing here today."

Kayleigh could not help but grin once again, as she received more clap and cheers.

"A great darkness in growing, men, and soon we will be called to fight it, on these shores or abroad." He turned to his soldiers once again. "The Aldmeri Dominion may have defeated the Empire, but it has not defeated Skyrim!"

And the Stormcloaks have never cheered more loudly and proudly in their lives.

Smiling, he turned to his left, where Galmar stood next to him. "How'd I do?"

"Eh…" He shrugged his shoulders. "Not so bad. Nice touch about the High King."

"Thank you," He said. "I thought so too."

Kayleigh smiled.

"You know, the Imperials aren't going to leave us alone. They still have camps in the hills." He told his old friend. "They'll continue to strike out at us, whenever and wherever they can."

"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that." Kayleigh walked up to them. "Seeing our victory here, and the fact that we have a dragon and two Daedric Princes to back us up, they might think twice."

"True." Ulfric acknowledged that. "But what I fear, is that the Thalmor will see our victory and turn greater attention to our shores.'

"Well, come what may, we can handle it. These are the people of Skyrim. Every Nord, Breton, Redguard, Khajit, Orc, Elf, and Argonian will gladly die for her, if it ever came to that." She proudly stated, and looked at the Stormcloaks. "These are our people. Skyrim's people."

He could only smile at her wisdom, the fuel that drove him towards victory.

Smiling at the Stormcloaks, she turned to her Daedric Princes, who were smiling back at their Champion. Instinctively, she walked up to them, still gripped onto her torso. Molag Bal did something he himself never thought he'd do, and that was hug her. But she accepted his embrace. Pulling back, the Mad God was smiling at her.

"Come here, you lovable maniac!" She hugged him tightly, forgetting about her injuries.

"I'm always gonna be looking out for you, love." He swore as he stroked her back. "I love you."

She grinned. "I love you too, Sheo." In the middle of his loving embrace, she caught sight of two men in front of her. They were in… spiritual form, a transparent blue color. She could only gape as she realized who they were.

William Bennett and the Bear of Eastmarch.

They waved to her and to Ulfric, who walked up behind her, unable to believe this sight. This was the first time he was seeing his father in… forever. And the feeling was magnificent. The Bear was looking glorious as he always did.

"Take care of her for me, Stormcloak." William said.

"And take care of him for me, Milady." The Bear chuckled. "Gods know he needs it!"

Ulfric wanted to reply to his father with something just as clever, but he would rather just enjoy this moment.

"Gods… take care of the both of you." William smiled, and he and his Jarl disappeared like smoke.

It was too soon. It was too short. But… but it was a good feeling to have, to see their loved ones one last time. All Kayleigh and Ulfric could do was smile to themselves.

"So," That caused her to turn to him. "Would you like a ride back to Windhelm?"

Part of her wanted to scream yes, but the other part wanted to get revenge for all the teasing he's done so far. "I would love to, my Jarl, but…" She exchanged glances with her Call Dragon, Odahviing, who remained at his place. "I already have ride." She winked at him once again and got onto Odahviing's neck.

As Ulfric watched her ride off, he realized her game. Revenge, eh? We'll see about that, woman.


Location: Hjerim, Windhelm
7:11pm

It was definitely the mightiest battle she had ever been in. The bonus, was of course, her being granted her life back. She had thought it was over upon her last breath, but she was wrong. Akatoh decided that it was too soon and He gave her back what was rightfully hers.

With Sheogorath assisting her, her wounds had been bandaged again, this time, with help of his healing spells. She wore a blue belted tunic and sat at her dining table, drinking Daedric Tea and writing in her journal.

Knock knock.

A visitor. She got up from her seat and opened her front door. A part of her screamed with glee to see Ulfric Stormcloak at her doorstep, but she kept herself together. "My Jarl." She greeted.

"Dragonborn." He greeted her as well. "May I?"

"But of course." She let him in. "You are always welcome." She shut the front door. "May I know the purpose of your visit?" She asked.

"Ah," He turned to her. "You wound me, Dragonborn. Can't a man see his beloved sweetheart after a hard day's work?" He questioned, with much love in his eyes.

Sweetheart… Oh GODS, that feels SO good to hear! "But of course he can." She tried to suppress yet another, idiotic grin. "It's just that… it might be advisable to visit her, especially when she is mad at him."

This was new to him, but he was enjoying her teasing. "Mad? What did he do?"

"He committed a huge crime, Jarl Ulfric." She walked up to him. "He ran away with her heart." She jabbed a finger into his chest. "And she wants it back. Little thief."

He chuckled, amused by this. "Well, I'm sorry, Dragonborn, but no, you can't get it back."

"Damn you." She chided playfully.

"But what about me?" He asked. "Where have you gotten my heart?"

Oooooh, I see… "I have it right here…" She touched her belted tunic, searching for it, but obviously, it was nowhere to be found. "Whoops. I seem to have misplaced it. Even the Dragonborn can get careless at times." She paused to ask, "Am I in trouble, Jarl Ulfric?"

"Indeed you are, Dragonborn, and you must pay for it." He smirked.

"What's the price?" She asked, holding her own smirk.

"The price, milady…" He captured her green eyes. "Is a kiss. The first kiss, to be exact. Will you pay?"

"Gladly…" The words just slipped out of her mouth, without her even realizing.

His smirk escalated into a full-blown grin and his battle-worn hands cupped her cheeks. Ulfric gently pressed his lips against hers, and she almost melted. Kayleigh ran her hands through his blonde hair as he took her out of Nirn with their first kiss.

When he pulled back, he touched foreheads with her, and took her hands to clasp them tightly. Staring deep into her beautiful green eyes with his own, he whispered, "I love you, Kayleigh."

She produced a light giggle as she savored this fond moment; their kiss, and him calling her by her actual name. She only had one reply to that. "And I love you, Jarl Ulfric."


A/N: After 50, long, chapters... THEY GET TOGETHER! WOO HOO!

XD

I hope you've enjoyed this chapter :) You uh... you guys mind if I took a teensy weeny break? I will have the next chapter by Sunday, I promise!

HAPPY 50TH CHAPTER ANNIVERSARY! :D