Somehow the Jarl of Windhelm was able to make and keep that promise- with great difficulty, of course- for about a year and a half. During that time, the citizens of Tamriel held a collective breath as they waited for the petty skirmishes taking place within Skyrim's borders to come to a head, as all that was needed was the spark to start the fires of war.

During that time, the Moot, having had enough of Torygg's stubbornness in refusing to wed- the man claiming that there was no one he wanted out of the offered females- took matters into their own hands and chose a wife for him- a Nord woman named Elisif who was given the moniker 'the Fair' by some of those who laid eyes on her. Truthfully, Ulfric couldn't see it as he felt the woman was soft and easily malleable, but she wasn't Keira and for that he was grateful. The High King and his chosen Consort were wed in the spring of 4E 200, giving the Bear of Markarth the freedom to openly court his intended and the ability to plan their own union for the summer of next year. There was relative peace between the two sides, some small battles but nothing that would even give the gods reason for concern.

Unfortunately for the groom-to-be, he was summoned to Solitude by said High King in Second Seed, 4E 201, just weeks before his own wedding. Had Ulfric known just exactly what Torygg had wanted to speak to him about, the Stormcloak would have told him to go jump down into Red Mountain and see how long it took for the ruler to find the bottom.

"Thank you for coming, Ulfric. I apologize for taking you away from your bride-to-be, but I wanted to speak with you before the momentous occasion happened."

The Jarl of Eastmarch sighs inwardly as he rests hardened emeralds on the man lounging in the throne, the seat next to Torygg mysteriously empty despite it being mid-day. "And where is your wife?"

"I told Elisif I needed to speak with you privately, so she went to the Temple of the Divines. Besides, what must be discussed is not meant for delicate ears." Seeing that he had the other man's attention, the High King continues, holding a worn scroll out to the blue garbed Nord with a smirk on his face. "A problem presented itself to me recently, one that I sought answers to in the various books and scrolls. I believe I found one that serves me quite nicely."

Ulfric takes the offered parchment warily, the paper crinkling as he unrolled it. His eyes narrow as he takes in the words scribbled there, the anger he was trying to hide simmering under the surface. "You would have us bend the knee to the Empire and the Thalmor, have us forsake Talos, but yet you would bring back the most barbaric of the Old Ways? Just to get what you want? Are you that resentful of your lot in marriage, that your stubbornness had the Moot force your hand?"

"Did you think I would let you win? Did you seriously think you could keep me from what I wanted? Your waiting to announce your intent to marry Keira only delayed the inevitable, Ulfric. You might have won the battle in being the one to wed her, but I will win the war when I invoke my right to claim her in all ways on your wedding night."

It all happened so fast after that. Having the Old Ways used against him, Ulfric quickly struck back, challenging Torygg in the same fashion, stating that if he wanted Keira so badly to claim Right of the First Night, the High King should be more than willing to prove that he was capable of being truly worthy of the right by defeating her intended in combat. The rulers of old knew how to fight, how to defend their right to hold onto what was theirs even til death- Ulfric was more than ready to do so, sure was he of his skills in a fight. The Jarl of Eastmarch knew that the Imperial puppet could not refuse him, as doing just that would prove the point being made.

He was content at letting everyone think that his reasons for challenging Torygg were strictly political- in a sense they were, as the men they grew up to be were molded by those who came before. Let them think that their precious High King was an honorable man, a man who didn't secretly desire a woman who wasn't his wife, a man who wouldn't search through the records of old looking for a loophole to get what he wanted. In hindsight, Ulfric probably should have come forth with the truth in the hopes it wouldn't lead Skyrim down the path of war, but he wasn't going to worry about that for now. His future wife was safe from Torygg, and that's what was important.

Keira was waiting for both him and Galmar in the hall when they returned from escaping Solitude courtesy of Roggvir, and Eastmarch's Jarl could tell that his Lady was in no mood for a happy reunion. After watching the Housecarl move off to speak with Jorleif, the blonde checks the ruler for injuries, then drags him into the war room and slams the door shut behind her. "What were you thinking, Ulfric? Challenging Torygg like that? I told you to get us involved for the right reason- I don't think killing…"

She pokes him on his armored covered chest, not even wincing at the contact. "They're calling it regicide, Ulfric. That it wasn't honorable, that the High King was young and wet behind the ears, while you're a veteran of war and have the ability to use the thu'um. They believe you're incapable of negotiation-"

The Bear of Eastmarch holds up a hand, silencing her quickly. He says nothing for a few moments, only pulls out the piece of paper that started it all. "I think this would fall under what you call 'the right reason', Kei. Read it."

Cerulean orbs narrow as the woman takes the offered item, Keiara a bit confused at his actions. Slowly she takes in the words on the page, stumbling slightly over the faded writings. Growing up, both Ulfric and his intended had studied the Old Ways, the former Jarl wanting to be sure that his son would learn from his forefathers and Talos forbid the younger Stormcloak did anything without Keira. While she understood the reasoning behind most of the rules, his childhood friend would never stay quiet when this particular one was brought up.

Instead of getting angry as he expected, she just looks at Ulfric with a dejected expression on her face. "Of all the things that man could bring back… It still wasn't a good enough reason-"

"Don't say that." Rough hands cup her face, causing Keira to look into eyes the color of Skyrim's woods- dark green and a source of comfort for the slightly younger Nord. "You're the only reason I've ever needed. Let Solitude and the other milk drinkers think I did it because of Torygg's willingness to accept our Imperial overlords,their Thalmor masters and the demand to ban the worship of Talos."

"You can't go to war over a woman Ulfric!"

"Ranser did."

The blonde rolls her eyes at her Jarl in exasperation. "Because his daughter was tossed to the side when King Emeric of Wayrest who was courting her threw her to the side and abruptly married the daughter of some Redguard ruler- something about trade agreements, but I was never one for paying attention to Daggerfall Covenant histories. Only other thing I remember is his own advisor killed him when he realized Ranser was insane. Are you trying to tell me something, Ulfric?"

"Still went to war to protect a woman's honor. And I'll have you know I'm plenty sane." Before the woman in his arms could voice another argument, Ulfric presses his lips against hers, the fear he was feeling leaking through as he holds her close. "I'd raze the whole province to protect you, Keira, you know that."

"That's what's probably going to happen- homes, families destroyed due to two stubborn men… Talos, Ulfric…" Her voice wavers as the woman tries to strengthen her resolve in regards to what will be happening to her home, her people- all because of two Jarls and their illogical wants. "They'll aim to kill you and everything you've managed to do will be for naught!"

"If to get freedom for Skyrim means that I have to go onto Sovngarde to make that happen, then I do so willingly. But know that I will do everything in my power to survive this, Keira, because there is still so much left for me- for us." A calloused finger tucks a rogue strand of ebony hair behind her ear as the Jarl goes "I know we were aiming to be wed this summer, but I would rather…"

The slighter Nord leans her cheek into his hand with a dejected sigh. "I understand. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Or the one, she thinks to herself. "You should probably change from your journey and get something to eat- I have a feeling a decent rest for any of us will be a long time coming.

Ulfric nods, but looks into her eyes before heading upstairs. "Keira… Wait for me. No matter how long it takes, wait for me love. Promise me…"

A/N: I know canon states that Ulfric reached out to Torygg prior to the challenge in the Old Ways. Call my change to it creative liberties, because I would like to think there's a universe in which Torygg is a complete and utter bastard and isn't as stupid/nice as people claim he is. I want to think that someone other than Ulfric has some semblance of knowledge of the Old Ways, and I would not be surprised if the concept of Right of First Night was somewhere in that list or something quite similar.

And here I thought I submitted this before going back to playing SSE. Well then, best fix that and go to bed.