A Stormcloak Affair
Part 8
Aine hears Sofie cry in herself from the other room. She decides to comfort her. She goes over to Sofie and starts stoking her hair. "Sofie, darling did you have a bad dream?"
"I saw a dragon attacking Windhelm. He wanted to kill us all.", cried Sofie.
"Shh, it was just a dream. We need to sleep. Come lay with us. Ulfric won't mind.", said Aine guiding her to their chamber.
"Sofie, what's wrong?", asked Ulfric while giving Sofie a kiss on the forehead.
"I saw a dragon in Windhelm!", exclaimed Sofie.
"Don't worry, there are no dragons here. Now, let's get back to sleep.", replied Ulfric half asleep.
The three of them rested until morning. Upon awaking Aine takes Sofie to the wardrobe. "Ulfric and I have some we would like you to have.", said Aine opening the Wardrobe.
Ulfric pulls out a small ivory gown with an azure blue robe adorned with gold embroidered bears and a fur cape next to a larger gown and says, "We would like you to wear this for the ceremony."
"It looks like Aine's gown. It's too beautiful, I can't wear it.", said Sofie.
"It's ok, we're a family after all.", said Aine giving Sofie a hug.
"We want you to stand up there with us while we exchange wows. We want to include you and show everyone that you are our child.", said Ulfric with a smile on his face.
"I'd be happy to.", said Sofie.
Later that morning Jorleif approaches Ulfric and Aine saying, "I have the document you requested, now if you just sign it." Aine and Ulfric signed the document and Aine rolled it up and tied it together with an azure ribbon.
"I can't wait till we give this to Sofie, my bear.", said Aine looking into Ulfric's eyes and then leaning her head against his chest.
"Now, it's official. Sofie is our child and we have one more on the way. What do you think it is?, asked Ulfric rubbing Aine's belly.
"I haven't a clue, my bear.", replied Aine.
"Perhaps we will have a son. After all we already have a daughter.", smiled Ulfric.
Ralof and Maramal arrive later that day in Windhelm a week after Ralof left. Although everything seemed calm, there was much more security than usual. They were checked and padded down at the gate to Windhelm. This seemed new to a priest but Ralof expected it. "A royal wedding will be taking place tomorrow at high noon. And we wouldn't want an assassin getting in.", thought Ralof to himself. Ralof and Maramal proceeded to the Palace of Kings.
"Ohh, this must be the happy couple!", said Maramal with exuberance "We are pleased you were able to make the journey under so short notice. Please make yourself comfortable. We have a busy day tomorrow.", said Ulfric.
In the afternoon guests started to arrive from all of Skyrim, Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun and his three children, the Gray-Mane family, Jalr Korir of Winterhold and his family and so on and so forth. All gathered in the Great Hall as the kitchens cooked up a couple of chickens, vegetables and potatoes for everyone. The table was decorated with beautiful blue mountain flowers complimenting the Stormcloak crest. "Thank you all for coming and your continued support. Tomorrow will be an important day in Windhelm. Tomorrow Aine and I are to be wed. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her." announced Ulfric while motioning at her to stand up with him. All cheered at the table.
Jarl Balgruuf interrupts, "I have an announcement." The hall grew quiet. "The moot has come to a decision… It goes without question. Jarl Ulfric is our one and true High King! We are very lucky to have him overlooking us all! All hail the rightful High King of Skyrim, Ulfric Stormcloak and the High Queen to be Aine!", said Balgruuf raising a toast. All bang their tankards against the table cheering.
"He has proven himself worthy of being High King.", stated Jarl Korir.
"I will be honored to be your High King. Now, let us eat.", said Ulfric. All the guests seemed to be getting on really well. Even Sofie seemed to have taken a liking to Frothar, Balgruuf's eldest son.
Ulfric whispers into Aine's ear, "Please meet me on the balcony. There is something I have been meaning to give you for a while." Aine follows Ulfric to the balcony. Aine liked the balcony. It overlooked the courtyard, the aurora can be well seen from there and it was where they first kissed. Ulfric hands Aine an old diary. "This used to belong to your mother. It has quite a bit of information about Talos in it as well as your family tree. According to this, you are directly descended from Talos on your mother's side. Giving you more claim to the throne than me.", said Ulfric.
"I don't know that to say. Where did you get this?", asked Aine as she was looking through her mother's diary.
"Your father made me swear to keep you safe, if anything ever happened to them. That is why your mother was targeted by the Thalmor and why they tortured you. She gave me this shortly after I returned to Windhelm durning the Great War, They thought you had personal insight to Talos worship and were afraid if your identity got out, that the people of Skyrim would start worshiping you. But they couldn't kill you out of fear that Talos would retaliate. I'm sorry I haven't always been there for you but I will always be there for you, my queen.", said Ulfric.
"No, that can't be true. That would mean that I'm high-born… Why didn't you tell me?", Aine pressed further.
"I wanted to protect you.", said Ulfric.
"Does anyone else know?", asked Aine.
"No. The Thalmor that did were killed by my soldiers and this is the only copy.", stated Ulfirc.
"We need to burn it. No one should know. This makes our unborn child even more of a target for assassins.", cried Aine with fear in her heart for their unborn child.
"I don't care which one of us has more claim to the throne. You are my king and all I want is for our family to be safe.", continued Aine before pressing her lips against Ulfric's.
Ulfric looked at Aine with a smirk on his face and said, "As King it is my right to the first night."
"Our first night was months ago and that point is on me.", said Aine winking at Ulfric. They proceeded to their chamber where they made love one last time before becoming man and wife. Afterwards they blissfully drifted off to sleep.
The next morning everyone awoke to a peaceful day and shared a light breakfast of fresh fruit and some bread and cheese. When Aine was finished eating she excused herself and Sofie from the great hall. "Come my darling, we need to get ready and I need your help.", said Aine to Sofie. They went up to the king's chambers and Aine locked the door. She laid out both gowns on the bed. Aine removed her tunic and Sofie helped her in it.
"Aine, you look puffier than usual", remarked Sofie.
"That is because I'm carrying your brother or sister in my belly, love. You must take good care of him or her, since you with be a big sister. I'm sure Dagny, Jarl Balgruuf's daughter will give you tips.", replied Aine with a smile.
"I don't like Dagny! She's a real brat. Just yesterday she was complaining our sweetrolls weren't good enough.", said Sofie. Aine was in her gown she helped Sofie into hers.
"Sofie, would you mind braiding some flowers in my hair? I'll gladly add some to yours as well.
Ulfric knocks on the door asking, "May I come in?" Aine opens the door. "Wow, I must be the luckiest man in Skyrim because you two look divine.", said Ulfric. Ulfric looks at Aine and she gives him a nod. "Sofie, we have something to give you.", said Ulfric handing her a rolled up piece of parchment.
"What is this?", asked Sofie while untying the bow. The document read:
Certificate of Adoption
according the city of Windhelm in the year of 4E 201
We hereby declare
Aine and Ulfric
Stormcloak
to be the lawful parents of
Sofie
of the city Windhelm
signed by
Ulfric Stormcloak Aine Stormcloak
Jorleif,
Steward to house Stormcloak
Sofie read the document while a tear went down her cheek. Ulfric gave Sofie a kiss on the forehead. "Now, go downstairs child. I need to get ready for the ceremony. Be careful not to get your gown dirty.", said Ulfric. Ulfric wore a jacket in the same azure blue as the gowns adorned with gold embroidered bears over his belted ivory tunic, trousers and a fur cape.
It was noon and the three of the proceeded to the balcony to meet Maramal. "Here is the lovely couple now. Let's begin the ceremony. It was Mara that first gave birth to all of creation and pledged to watch over us as her children. It is from her love of us that we first learned to love one another. It is from this love that we learn that a life lived alone is no life at all. We gather here today, under Mara's loving gaze, to bear witness to the union of two souls in eternal companionship. May they journey forth together in this life and the next, in prosperity and poverty, and in joy and hardship. Do you, High King Ulfric agree to be bound together, in love, now and forever?", said Maramal.
"I do, now and forever.", said Ulfirc as everyone in the city was gathered in the courtyard.
"And do you, Aine agree to be bound together, in love, now and forever?", said Maramal.
"I do, now and forever.", replied Aine.
"Under the authority of Mara, the Divine of Love, I declare this couple to be wed. I now introduce you Ulfric Stormcloak and Aine Stormcloak High King and Queen of Skyrim, blessed by Mara's divine grace! May they lead a happy and healthy life.", shouted Maramal with excitement. Ulfric and Aine look over to their people waving with Sofie in between them.