Alright, a bit of a Thanksgiving treat for you guys. Hope you enjoy!

-JazzyKat

Ter'im groaned as bright sunlight made his eyes sting and burn, waking him up from the warm darkness. A moment later, heavy steps sounded and the light disappeared, leaving Ter'im to relax once more. The footsteps drew closer and Ter'im frowned, stopping with a distressed noise when his face prickled with pain and felt stretched and wrong.

The pulling of his face finally caused Ter'im to wake up fully, sitting up and faltering as the pain slammed into him as he moved around. Ter'im fell back with a sharp cry and a velvet voice shushed him as warm hands guided him back against some soft pillows. Ter'im turned toward the warm body instinctually and he nearly shivered when he heard Ulfric's rough timber low and soft close to his sensitive ears.

"Easy there, Dragonborn. You hid more wounds than I thought was possible. Your brush with the ice wraiths faired you no better. I would not have sent you after the beast if I had some other way of proving your loyalty to me and my cause," Ulfric muttered apologetically, as he tucked Ter'im back under the covers. Ter'im lay still, his eyes pressed firmly closed and allowed the blonde to tuck him back into the nest of furs with no complaints.

"You gave all of us quite a scare. I never thought I'd see the day when Galmar would run so fast. How did you come by your wounds?" Ulfric continued stepping close enough to the bed that Ter'im could smell that unique musk that was purely Ulfric that made his head spin and his thoughts fuzz.

Ter'im drew in a breath and he reminded himself of his beautiful Vilkas before answering as best as he could, "My mask is more than just a mask, Ulfric Stormcloak. It was protected by scores of Nord undead, traps and puzzles. Above all, the mask was protected by the Dragon Priest that wore it before me. Tell me, Ulfric Stormcloak, do you believe in Dragon Priests?"

Ulfric scoffed, "No, what reasons do I have to believe in them. They ruled Skyrim thousands of years ago, yes? They died with the cult King Harald's men found in the First Era."

"You should start. Their followers buried with them have allowed the priests to maintain life after all these years, and now that Alduin has started stirring, they have started stirring again. I stumbled across one of the priests, clearing out a den of dragur and managed to slay the creature, but was wounded severely. I fear that they will be a much larger problem than some weak Imperials in the long run." Ter'im stated solemnly.

"By the nine, these things are desecrating our dead and no one knows about it? What do you mean by they were waiting for Alduin?" Ulfric breathed, incredulously.

"You Nords aren't known for being the most observant of all races. The Dragon Priests served Dragons, and swore to wait until Alduin the World Eater returned." Ter'im remarked.

Ter'im heard Ulfric huff and scrub a hand over his beard. "We will have to look into this problem. Thank you for telling me about it."

A heavy silence reigned until Ulfric broke the tension, "We sent word to Whiterun for your husband; he should be here within a week. We truly thought the healer wasn't going to be able to save you from Sovngarde, cat. Perhaps when he arrives, we can have a talk between the three of us, yes?"

Ter'im slit open his good eye, squinting at Ulfric through layers of bandages and raised an eyebrow at him. Ulfric grinned ruefully and shook his head, amused at Ter'im's look and settled himself on the edge of the bed.

Ulfric drew a finger over Ter'im's bandaged hand, bringing the pain in Ter'im's palm to attention for the first time since he woke. "What-?" Ter'im started to ask, pulling his hand closer and making as if to pull the bandages off, but Ulfric caught Ter'im's hand in his own and tugged it away gently.

"The teeth burned nearly through your hand, Dragonborn. What possessed you to carry them all the way back in your palm?"

"I wasn't paying attention; I was in pain and wanted to get back to Windhelm. Letting go of the teeth seemed unimportant at the time."

Ulfric seemed unimpressed by the answer and looked as if he didn't quite believe Ter'im, but he left the subject alone and stood. "Whatever the reason, stories of you have made my entire army worship the ground you walk. Do not fail me, Dragonborn. You are one of the only things holding my men together."

Ter'im settled back with a slight groan, his head swimming as he tried to make sense of everything they'd discussed and he decided that sleep would be best for him. Ulfric noticed Ter'im's discomfort and he drew a shroud over the palace window. Ter'im hadn't paid much mind to where he was, but looking around, it appeared that he was spread out across Ulfric's own bed; rich woods and glittering weapons scattered around made the room seem warm despite the harsh cold of outside. Ter'im felt his whiskers twitch and made to apologize to Ulfric for monopolizing his bed, but the Nord held up a hand and stopped him.

"Think nothing of it, Dragonborn. I've always dreamed of having someone as powerful as you sprawled out in my furs, but under different circumstances, of course. Rest, heal and when you are able to stand on your own two feet again, we'll discuss your part in this war." Ulfric turned and strode out of the room, closing the door softly behind him. Ter'im waited a beat before sitting up slowly and moving around a bit. He spotted a tray of food at the bedside table, and with a bit of fire magika channeled into his fingertips, heated the food back up and scarfed it down, unaware that Ulfric had paused and left the door open a fraction to watch Ter'im.

Ter'im finished with his meal and tried a half-hearted healing spell before his magika ran out and he slumped back into the bed, exhausted once more.