Disclaimer: What's Bethesda's is theirs, etc. Stories might not be in chronological order.

Nesting Instinct, p.2

"I'm thinking I should borrow your housekeeper to manage security at the palace," remarked Ulfric. The Bear of Eastmarch had fled the chaos in the palace to the one place he knew no one would follow him, and he was presently lightly napping on a divan. It had been a surprise to Revyn to find that while he'd been away, Ulfric had started using his home office as a hidden, in-city retreat.

The ghosts let him, so Revyn went along with it.

"Remarasi would roast over half your staff just on attitude alone," said Helsette. She grumbled as she shifted again in the custom built chair Curtis, an engineer at the College of Winterhold, had gifted to Revyn last time he was here, something he called a "zero-gravity" chair. An oddly shaped thing that rested on a fulcrum, allowing the chair to be tilted and locked into an angle that relieved pressure on one's tailbone and back. Ulfric roused himself to shift the table holding her drink and bowl of chips closer to her hand.

"Yes," Ulfric agreed. "If I weren't king, I suspected she would have put a broom in my hand and ordered me to sweep out the snow slush I tracked in." No one disagreed with him.

"Tell me, how did your gate experiment at Mistwatch go, counselor?" asked Ulfric. "I'm surprised you didn't hear Early-Dawn's screams of outrage when the candle of Candlehearth Hall kept flaring tall enough to set the roof on fire if it wasn't a magic candle that doesn't have any real heat. She dragged Wuunferth from his bed to find out who dared work foul magic on her property.

"Oh? What did His Wisdom Wuunferth say?" asked Revyn, smiling.

"Ask him yourself. He has quite a few words saved up for you."

"Ah. That explains why Dana has him so high on my list of people to see. I shall take care to have magical defenses ready."

Revyn put more papers into his outbox. With Ulfric and his wife here, people automatically assumed he was in serious conference and left him alone. But, really, both of them were just here to nap. He was getting quite a lot of backlog taken care of.

Amusing. Ulfric was running away from all the women pursuing him. 55? 60? Past his prime as far as human lifespans went. About his own age in equivalent mer years.

He lovingly glanced at his wife.

But not incapable. An heir was still possible. But his current fascination with Apprentice Yannig, whom he didn't know was a disguised Idgrod Ravencrone the Younger, needed to be redirected.

Idgrod would be needed in Morthal. She would be a future leader against the Dominion's undercover shadow war. Idgrod the Younger had her own quieter version of the powers that plagued her mother, the current Jarl of Morthal, and her young brother, Joric. Her power took the form of strong hunches instead of intrusive visions. Revyn saw it in her talent to ferret out hidden information. Drop her in a warehouse of junk or homes of people he had to investigate and she would invariably hone in on treasures and obscure papers and objects of vital information. It made his job so much easier.

Ulfric's other fascination with Lady Ardeth (publicly known as Thalmor defector "Elasara") was also doomed to go nowhere. Novelty attraction on his part, politeness on hers. Also, Nord nobility would reject such a union. He kept her close to talk about Altmer society and the infiltration of the Thalmor, the changes they made to Altmer society.

She also had been the one to suggest he come here when he needed quiet time to refocus. It was incredibly presumptuous to intrude upon Revyn's private space, but she reasoned that perhaps the holder of Sheogorath's staff could not object too strongly to briefly sharing a space with the holder of Jyggalag's sword. She convinced Dana (his secretary) and Lady Inelisi (his mother-in-law) that it would be a good idea, and they had gotten his permission while he was away at Mistwatch. If they could also convince the guardian ghosts and the Ancestors to abide Ulfric's presence, then he would permit it.

They did, and Revyn accepted it when he returned. Both his wife and his king were only interested in sleeping, so he was able to concentrate of backlog paperwork.

Hours later he went upstairs for tea and a late lunch. Ardeth and Galmar were in the kitchen, talking. As usual, there was a tray of snacks and drinks set out on the main table for the office workers so a pair of clerks were also in the kitchen having their lunch. Revyn dropped off the papers he'd finished into the out-basket and eyed the refreshed pile in the in-basket.

Remarasi came downstairs. She flicked a glance at the office workers who hastily finished their meals and left.

"They're a polite and neat lot," she remarked, nodding towards the business offices, "but it will be a relief when they're removed to a proper place of business."

"Yes, but it will not be until a month after the coronation," agreed Revyn. "The Atherons have promised that their former home will officially belong to Windhelm as soon as the festival renters have left. It will take at least a month to gut and rebuild for offices, not just for Quarter business, but also as Port Authority offices."

Revyn picked up his new pile of work and went out to the outer office to consult with his clerks while Remarasi assembled food trays for Helsette and the Jarl. They went downstairs. Neither of them showed any signs of surprise when they re-entered Revyn's office and saw Helsette deep asleep in her recliner and Ulfric sitting upright, alert, and drinking mead while he gazed at two ghosts sitting on the other side of Helsette. Revyn dropped the pile into his inbox before rounding back to stand beside his wife. Remarasi set down the trays and stood also by Helsette.

"Ah, introductions are in order. My Jarl, I present to you Thane Stigr Frostburn, Lord Battlemage to the court of High King Jorunn Skald-King, and Serjo Nayasu Morvayn of House Redoran, Lady Frostburn, his wife. Serjos, Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Eastmarch, and soon to be King of the Stormcloak Alliance, or properly the Old Kingdom of Eastern Skyrim."

Introductions made, Revyn bent and gently shook his wife awake. "Tea and some food," he murmured. He and Remarasi fussed over her, ignoring everyone else. Helsette needed assistance walking to the privy. By the time they got back, the ghosts were gone and Ulfric was pulling on his boots to leave also. Remarasi wrapped some food in a kerchief and tucked it into his belt. Revyn escorted him out.

"So … I seem to remember you mentioning a ghost that would assist you to open the should you obtain Candlehearth. That is the ghost?" said Ulfric.

"Yes. Battlemage of Ice and trained by the priests of Almalexia in wayshrine magic. I am needed only to unlock the wayshrine stone's power and he will manipulate the power to create a stable gate."

"You found him with the stone. You said these guardians wanted to come home to Windhelm."

"You remember correctly, my lord. All of them were at that old Ebonheart station. They allowed themselves to be sacrificed and bound as guardians because they were all dying or injured beyond recovery, yet they still wanted to fight the Kamal and drive them back to Akavir. I told them I was born in Morrowind, but my home was in Windhelm. They wanted to come home. And so the bargain was made that I could take the stone from the shrine and they would come with me, and here I would stay in Windhelm until it was time for them to leave for Sovngarde."

"And when would that be? You won't live forever."

"True. Maybe it's time I tell you another truth, my lord." Revyn sighed and paused at the top of the stairs and leaned against the kitchen door. "Or, a rumor rather. There's a prophecy that the Dragonborn may have to chase Alduin to Sovngarde. Ancient Skuldafn, Alduin's greatest temple, is noted in the ancient archives of Almalexia's Temple that Skuldafn has a portal to Aetherius. The portal to Sovngarde."

"And Winterhold's wayshrine you said is underwater. I see, I see. Sovngarde." Ulfric slowly shook his head. "So, that old legend is true. The door to Sovngarde. Did you try to reach it at Mistwatch?"

"No. We managed a gate, but it didn't stay open for long. According to Lord Baladas, the power feed isn't quite as stable as he'd thought. The Oblivion Crisis continues to pollute the rivers of Tamriel's power. That's what he says anyway. I don't know. All I know is that I had a headache that lasted for days. Candlehearth is still the strongest in this part of the world.

"Believe me, Lady Dragonborn isn't happy either that Mistwatch is not yet a viable door. No one else at the College knows how to set up a wayshrine, and most of the College's records of Merethic magics were lost during the many dragon breaks. Morrowind also has lost those records during Red Year and the Argonian wars. All we have left are at least three Telvanni Masters old and powerful enough, of which Baladas is one. And he's relying only on what he remembers, knowledge he's not used in hundreds of years."

"But can you be certain of Skuldafn? This prophecy —"

"Is not too improbable, my lord. Consider, Alduin is a Dragon. He can fly. The Dragonborn is mortal, and she cannot. The biggest problem she has fighting dragons is that the smart ones know to fly away before she can deliver a killing blow. She has to chase them about the land, waiting for them to land.

"Also, consider this, why is there a door to Sovngarde in Alduin's temple? He feeds on souls — dragon souls, mortal souls. Delphine the Blade, who captured and dragged me to that Ebonheart station, told me that Alduin resurrects all those dragons buried in those mounds. Where does he get the power? He gets it in Sovngarde. The more the civil war dragged on, the more souls to Sovngarde, the more power Alduin ate up.

"Yet, even now with civil war over, he continues his feasting. There are still so, so many dead after all. And Sovngarde is apolitical despite what any may believe. All that truly matters to enter is one's bravery and strength of conviction. Whether the Nord was a Stormcloak patriot or Imperial patriot, all went to Sovngarde, and all were met by Alduin's greedy maw."

Ulfric's mouth dropped open in shock. Then he bellowed in rage, "Why didn't that damn Dragon just say so straight out!"

The door flew open. "My Lord, wha— Damn!" Galmar cursed as he threw himself back, stumbled, and crashed against the kitchen table to avoid stepping on and possibly crushing Revyn's chest as the mer fell flat on his back onto the kitchen floor.

Ulfric ignored him. He bent and hauled Revyn up, shaking him. "Damn you. I'll buy Early-Dawn out myself if we need to. I want more details. You tell the high-and-mighty Dragonborn I want to see her after the coronation. Master Paarthurnax told me riddles about the Dragonborn and doors to the past. She can have her damn gate, but no more sneaking behind my back!"

"Quiet!" said Remarasi sharply from the bottom of the stairs. "The Lady needs her sleep."

Ulfric grumbled and dropped Revyn onto a chair.

Lady Ardeth grinned at Revyn as she handed Ulfric a deep-hooded disreputable looking black, ragged cloak that smelled of overheated horse and straw. Galmar glared at Revyn and followed after them.

Remarasi came into the kitchen and briskly examined Revyn for injuries. "Telling secrets now?"

"Just enough. We now have Candlehearth."

"Hmph. A last-hand contingency," said Remarasi sourly. "Starting your reign by taking a loyal supporter's property by eminent domain is not wise. Amalie is putting in a lot of effort to build relations with Mistress Early-Dawn. She should have her chance to bring off a sale."

"I agree, ser. I know Amalie is looking forward to this challenge."

Revyn sighed as he looked at the mess in the kitchen, then began cleaning up.

X—X—X—X—X—X—X

"Mm, scratch a little lower, dear. Ah! Yes, that's it."

"I don't like the heat I feel under your skin there. I think you need an icepack. Has your right leg been bothering you again?"

"Well, it does twitch more frequently."

"I see. Ice and heat treatment then. Our little one is trying to cripple its mother."

"No, its trying to fly by bouncing off my bladder."

"And putting your spine out of joint, beloved. Here, let me help you over to this footstool, lean over the table like so, and try to get comfortable. I'll be back with ice and heat packs."

"I looked through the invitations this morning. I saw Morvayn's," she said when he'd gotten back and had lightly bound the ice pack over her lower back with a long silk scarf. He then massaged her shoulders and upper back with warmed hands. "I'd like to go. Haven't seen them since last year."

"It's more of a business dinner with other guests from Blacklight, if that won't be too tiresome for you. But I had invited Morvayn and the Aranos to come here for brunch tomorrow. Dana as well. I thought they might enjoy discovering their kinship. Of course, your grandmother will also join us."

"Oh, well, then I shall skip the business dinner. Here is much nicer. Too bad Tallen and uncle bolted to Winterhold as soon as they'd heard the Sleepers had awakened."

"Do you honestly think the Nerevarine would tolerate all the fuss his presence would have caused?" Her wry chuckle answered him.

"Oh, and there is another matter to discuss with Morvayn, and that's Ralis's debt," said Revyn. "He's repaid what he owed us and fulfilled the penalties for all the dead miners and reparations owed their families. Morvayn will be bringing the discharge papers."

"Ah," she sighed. "So soon?"

"Yes. Adventuring with you has always meant high risk, high payoff. And with his fiancee paying his basic, minimal equipment maintenance costs, he was able to re-invest with me the allowance you gave him, which enabled him to add every interest to his debt load, shaving more years off his contract." He switched the icepack to a heatpack then went to the other side of her and sat on the floor to massage her mildly swollen calves, ankles, and feet.

"Can't say he didn't earn every septim," she said. "I wonder if he'll want to continue working for us? I know he's eager to finally marry and start a family; he may not want to put his life in danger anymore."

"You would know better than I, love," he said. "But knowing what's at stake if you don't take on Alduin, I don't think he'll stop completely, but I'm certain he'll want to reduce some jobs to spend more time with Melynis. I know she'll want to have the marriage made now that he's technically free of you."

"Huh. I'll bet they have a nice, formal, solemnly traditional and dutiful Redoran ceremony. No vows on a blacksmith's forge and wedding night in separate jail cells," she teased.

"Of course! They are respectable Redorans, not dishonorable Hlaalu like us"

"Hey! I am an adopted Redoran."

"No, you're still a dishonorable Hlaalu playing all the angles as an irreverent Redoran Armiger, an amoral Telvanni mage-lord, a faithless Imperial, a magic-cheating fake Nord, and my beloved Dragon."

"My fast-talking, grasping, coin-hording, double-dealing Hlaalu shopkeeper, I love you, too."

79_v2

Related stories: #2 Homeward Bound; #21 Twisting the Blade, #36 Frostburn, #55 Assassins pt.4, #58 Ghost Night, #72 Property Wars, #74 Briarpatch pt.3

OC's: Amalie Felix (new owner Honningbrew Mead), Remarasi (housekeeper), Lady Ardeth/Elisara (Felix kin & Thalmor defector)