A Stormcloak Affair
Part 3
Ulfric was sitting on his Throne in the Palace of Kings. It had been months since he escaped Helgen. Months since he saw Aine the beautiful Nord, with amber curls and green eyes with specks of gold. This woman was interrogated and tortured by the Thalmor in the same prison as he was. He'd developed feelings for her. He knew her parents. Her father fought and fell beside him in the Great War while her mother was a Priestess of Talos. After the Thalmor burnt her mother alive when she was only a child, she wanted to get back at them. She wanted to destroy them. Ulfric allowed her to join his army when she was only sixteen at which she remained up until this day. She trained to be a spy, always informing Ulfric of the Thalmor's next step. One day, Aine was caught so the Thalmor imprisoned her. When the Thalmor grew tired of torture, they threw Aine back into her cell, where she would collapse of exhaustion. She never once broke. At times like those Ulfric would reach out to her threw the opening between the cells and hold her hand, sometimes caressing it. And with that one touch, like a bolt of lightning, he began to feel something for her. There he finally saw the woman she had become. He felt guilty she was there because of him. She was a child of war and now knew what it meant to fight for all she held dear. Ulfric felt empty inside like there was a hole in his heart that could not be filled. He hoped she survived. He needed to see her, even if it was just once only to know she was alive.
Galmar walks over to the Jarl and asks "Ulfric, what's with all this melancholy? Our army is growing by the day. Soon we may conquer Solitude."
"It's Aine, she hasn't come back. I'm worried about her. She risked her life for my cause.", replied Ulfric with sorrow in his voice.
"We've all risked our lives for you, Ulfric. She serves you willingly. She has to come home someday. The people love her, she has a good heart. Next time, hold on to her.", reassured Galmar.
Tell me Galmar, "Why do you fight for me?"
"I'd follow you into the depths of Oblivion, you know that.", replied Galmar.
"Yes, but why do you fight If not for me, what then?, asked Ulfric. "I'll die before elves dictate the fates of men. Are we not one on this?", exclaimed Galmar.
"I fight for the men I've held in my arms, dying on foreign soil! I fight for their wives and children, whose names I heard whispered in their last breath. I fight for we few who did come home, only to find our country full of strangers wearing familiar faces. I fight for my people impoverished to pay the debts of an Empire too weak to rule them, yet brands them criminals for wanting to rule themselves! I fight so that all the fighting I've already done hasn't been for nothing! I fight... because I must.", stated Ulfric.
"Your words give voice to what we all feel, including Aine. And that is why you will be High King. But the day words are enough, will be the day when soldiers like us are no longer needed.", said Galmar.
"I would gladly retire from the world were such a day to dawn. Come, let's eat while we plan the war.", said Ulfric. After their meal, Ulfric retires to the balcony overlooking Windhelm. It was a cold night; the sky was bright with the spirit of the gods looking down on them.
Earlier that day, Aine enters the gates of Windhelm. The citizens seem to know her and welcome her warmly. She doesn't know why. Was this her home? After walking the streets of Windhelm she enters the graveyard, feeling like she's been there before. She sees the corpse of a young woman over a grave. There is a guard, a homeless woman and a familiar face there. Helgird sees Aine and says, "Aine, child. I'm pleased to see you're alright. It's dangerous in Windhelm at present. There seems to be a serial killer on the loose. Maybe you can look for clues. I'll take her body and prepare her body for burial. When you are ready, come and see me, love. Don't be a stranger." I asked the guard if I may assist them in the inquiry.
"Of course, Aine. Just don't get in the way. You may also want to pay the Jarl a visit. He hasn't been himself since his return from Helgen.", replied the guard.
"You mean, Ulfric Stormcloak? He's alive?", Aine shouted with excitement.
Aine spent the afternoon, looking for clues. She followed a trail of blood leading to her father's house, which was currently abandoned. Aine picked the lock and was able to enter. There was more blood inside. Apparently the murder took place here. The chest against the wall catches her eye. There are two journals inside. A trail of blood was leading to a wardrobe in the back. It had a false back which she opened. The horrors behind the wardrobe were difficult to bare. It seems this space is used as a sacrificial altar. Aine couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Before exiting what was once her father's home. The butcher shows up. Probably planing his next kill. Aine hid in a darkened corner and crept behind the butcher before placing her dagger between his rips. She exited the premises. Aine notices that night has fallen and the air is crisp. She looks up at the sky and sees the beautiful aurora in shades of green, blue and lavender. Aine thought it was time to visit the palace. Perhaps Ulfric is there. The thought of him surprisingly warmed her on this cold night. She didn't why she felt something for him and what it had meant. She also didn't know why the people here knew and recognized her. Aine finds herself in the middle of the courtyard. She sees Ulfric looking down at her from the balcony.
Ulfric's heart skips a beat. He can't believe his eyes He looks down, calls to Aine, beckoning her to come up. Ulfric is relieved, Aine is alive and well. Aine opens the door from the palace. Ulfric walks over to her and presses his lips against hers. She kisses him back and falls into his embrace. Their lips brake, and he says, "I've been meaning to do this for the longest time. Oh, how I've missed you, Aine."
Aine can feel his excitement pressing against her thigh and the heat from his breath. Looking into Ulfric's sapphire eyes she remembers everything. She remembers growing up in Windhelm with Helgrid in the Hall of the Dead after her mother was murdered by the Thalmor, being a spy in the Stormcloak army, being captured and tortured by the Thalmor, Ulfric comforting her inside the Thalmor prison. But most of all, she remembers falling in love with a man who started a rebellion. She couldn't believe it. She was in the arms of the man she risked her life for. Looking into those sapphire eyes Aine says, "Ulfric, I love you. I'm sorry I took so long to get back to you, but I lost all memory of myself."
"I knew, in Helgen. The Thalmor really did a number on you. You weren't the same. Then that dragon spoke and it all went to Oblivion.", replied Ulfric.
"Ulfric, there is something I need to tell you. In Whiterun there was another dragon. We were able to kill it but something happened. I absorbed part of it. I am the Dragonborn.", said Aine, not knowing how he would respond.
"I've always known there was something special about you, from the very moment I laid eyes on you when you were a child. It became clearer once you got a little older. How were you able to escape Helgen?", asked Ulfric.
"Ralof helped me. He brought me to Riverrun, were we stayed with his sister. Then I was in Whiterun for a bit and at the Throat of the World with the Greybeards for a few months. How did you escape?", stated Aine.
"Ralof is a loyal soldier. My army was able to get me out. They had a carriage hidden in the woods near Helgen. I'm so sorry the Thalmor captured you. It's my fault. I should have never sent you to Solitude for information.", said Ulfric feeling guilty.
"No, Ulfric. It was my idea to go there. I would do it again if need be.", responded Aine by giving Ulfric another kiss.
Ulfric turns Aine around and tells her to look onto Windhelm and Skyrim. The looked at the calming aurora. "This is what we a fighting for. A Skyrim where Talos warship isn't prosecuted, a Skyrim that doesn't bow to a crumbling Empire... A free Skyrim!", exclaimed Ulfric. "Have you eaten? I believe there is some supper left unless Galmar pigged out and ate everything on the table. You also must be cold, there is a chill in the air.", asked Ulfric. Ulfric walks Aine down to an empty hall with his arm around her, keeping her warm. Aine finds a chicken leg and some potatoes and decides to have a little. "Aine, tomorrow is a big day. I need you at my council. You can sleep in the empty chamber near mine. I'll take you there.", said Ulfric walking Aine to her chamber.
"Thank you, Ulfric. I really appreciate your hospitality.", said Aine.
Ulfric presses his lips against Aine's one last time. She kisses him back. He releases her from this kiss and sits her down on the bed. He brushes is hand lightly along her face and then leaves the room entering his chamber up the stairs. Ulfric closes his chamber door, gets ready for bed and thanks Talos for bringing Aine back to him. Ulfric drifts off to sleep.
Aine lies down and falls asleep right away. This was a very trying day for her.