A Stormcloak Affair
Part 10
It had been two whole days since Aine had given birth to his beautiful heir and son. Two days since he had even spoken to his wife. He wasn't angry with her he was terribly worried. Had the birth been too much on her? Where was her soul? Was Aine perhaps just an empty shell? Ulfric looked at Aine and simply didn't know the answer. Ulfric and Sofie were on their knees next to the bed praying to the divines for Aine's safe return. "Terrible and power Talos, we are humble servants give praise to thee! Please guide your daughter champion Aine back to us!", prayed Ulfric.
"I'm not sure to which of the nine I should pray to. Who will hear my call, father? To whom did Momma pray to?", asked Sofie.
"You can pray to whomever you fell most drawn to. Sometimes Momma prayed to Mara, sometimes Talos.
"Mother Mara, please give Aine my mother your strength to return to us! We need her. My brother needs her. Akatosh, Arkay, Dibella, Julianos, Kynareth, Mara, Stendarr, Zeithar and Talos hear our call.", cried Sofie. Ulfric put his arm around Sofie.
Meanwhile, Aine was stuck in Soverngarde. "We thank you fellow dragon slayer for without you, Alduin would still remain a threat.", said the three dragon slayers and retreated to back to the Hall of Valor.
A man not much older than Ulfric exits the hall approaches Aine. "It has been an awful long time since I saw last you. You were a child hiding behind your mother's skirts back then., said the mysterious man.
Aine eyes grew wide, and she said, "Father, is that you?" "Yes, my child. I have seen you grow from afar and an please to see you once more.", said Thorald Fire-Song.
"You have done well my child. I see you have taken my dear friend Ulfric as a husband. Tell him thank you for taking care of you. The High King is a good man, but he needs you. Your family needs you. Your son needs you., he is destined for great things", continued Thorald.
"I have a son?", asked Aine. Before Thorald could answer his daughter's questions his pushed her back in to the realm of the living. Aine fell quickly back into her body making the bed and the entire room shake.
Aine opened her eyes to the sound of them praying. "Mother Mara please bring her back to us.", prayed Sofie and Ulfric. Aine looked at her husband and said "Ulfric", in a rasped voice. "Momma!", shouted Sofie.
"My darling, Aine you've come back to us. I never want to lose you again.", said Ulfric while giving her a passionate kiss.
"I was in Soverngarde. I've defeated Alduin, he will no longer be a problem for us. I also saw my father. He spoke favorable of you and thanks you for keeping your word.", said Aine. Looking at Aine, Ulfric knew she wasn't making it up.
"Thorald was a good man and warrior. Only fitting for him to be dining with the gods.", said Ulfric pleased his wife had returned to them.
"Momma, look!", said Sofie holding her brother.
"Look my love, this is our child.", stated Ulfric. Ulfric placed the boy in his mother's arms.
Aine looks at her son and examines him while saying, "Ten fingers, ten toes blonde hair, blue eyes and... a little penis. We have a son. Do we have a name for him?"
"No my darling, we don't. What would you suggest?", asked Ulfric.
"Why don't we cal him Hoag, after your father?", asked Aine. "I think that will do nicely. Hello my little Hoag.", said Ulfric.
"Hello little brother Hoag. I'm your big sister Sofie.", said Sofie.
"How long was I out? Has Hoag eaten?, asked Aine.
"About two days, my love. We just barely managed. Yes may love, he has. I've been giving him your breast. He should be hungry again soon", said Ulfric.
"He's so fragile.", said Aine before offering Hoag her breast. Hoag latches on and drifts off to sleep while suckling. Once Hoag was fully asleep, Ulfric put him back in is bassinet.
"Darling, you should eat something as well. Don't get out of bed. Let me get you something.", said Ulfric leaving the room.
"Momma, I've missed you so much. I thought you left us for good.", said Sofie with a tear in her eye.
"I'm sorry Sofie. But I'm very much alive and plan on staying that way. Thank you for praying for me. How did you know that I sometime turn to Mara?", said Aine.
"Father told me. He prayed to Talos and I prayed to Lady Mara. They answered our prayers.", replied Sofie.
"Well then, perhaps we should prepare an offering. Talos sits just outside the city. He likes steel, so we should lay a steel blade before his altar. Lady Mara will enjoy some flowers. Pick the nicest you can find, and we can leave them in a bowl on the balcony.", said Aine giving Sofie a kiss on the forehead.
It had been a few months since Hoag's birth and Aine returned to normal, Hoag was growing like a weed and Sofie was a wonderful big sister but there was something different about Ulfric which was upsetting to Aine. They would make love as any other couple in love but now he would stop before they were finished. This sometimes made her cry. It made her feel as if they weren't as close as they once had been. She would confront him about the issue, but he would just avoid it and go to sleep.
This time would be different Aine thought as they made love. Aine was looking deep into her husbands eyes and flipped him over. She laid on top of Ulfric and began to kiss him. She held him tight and then Ulfric said, "I can't. Please stop."
"You can't what, my love?", asked Aine.
"I don't want to give you another child. I don't want to lose you again. Please stop.", continued Ulfric.
"I can't get pregnant while breast feeding plus that can never happen again. Alduin has been defeated.", said Aine as she continued to make love to her husband.
"Please, I don't want to risk it.", pleaded Ulfric. Aine continued until Ulfric reluctantly climaxed. Aine kissed him and said "When you stop it makes me feel as if we aren't as close as we once were."
"That's nonsense. I just don't want to put you though another delivery. You nearly bled to death.", said Ulfric with a tear in his eye.
"I know, but as long as I am breast feeding Hoag, I shouldn't fall pregnant.", said Aine.
"I don't know, if that is necessary true. I think it is an old wives' tale.", stated Ulfric.
"I can ask the midwife. Maybe she has a few ideas, my bear.", said Aine while playing with Ulfric's chest hair.