Alrightie, another chapter. If you guys want to see anything specific with the storyline, go ahead and message me about it. I will be going a bit off storyline, so I hope you'll like it. Oh, and consider this a Chrismahanuqwuanzas qift.

Jazzy

A week later, as promised, Vilkas was shown into Ulfric's bedroom to Ter'im's sleeping form. The healer had fought with Ter'im all week about bed rest and the feisty old woman had finally resorted to bribing him to stay in bed.

Vilkas took in the sight of his recovering husband, frowning once he noticed how thin Ter'im was and how ragged his coat looked in the firelight. Ulfric, his cold eyes glittering, watched the emotions flow across Vilkas's face and finally spoke.

"He is healing. You support his decision to follow me in the war?"

"Ter'im will go about his own way of doing things, whether I like it or not. I support him in his decisions because I love him."

Ulfric nodded to himself and motioned Vilkas to the other side of the bed.

"He is not allowed out of bed until our healer commands it. Please keep him from impeding his own recovery."

Vilkas lowered his chin in response to UIfric's command and then asked snidely, "Do all injured soldiers get a trip to your bed, then?"

Ulfric barked out a short laugh at Vilkas's hostile words and shook his golden mane around him.

"Only the powerful ones. Please, don't be a stranger. Eat with us at the main table tonight."

With that, Ulfric shut the door to his room with a soft thump and headed to find Galmar. Vilkas pulled off his wolf armor and settled into the furs next to his sleeping husband. Ter'im snuggled into the extra warmth unconsciously and Vilkas buried his nose in the fur under Ter'im's ear. The two lay entwined until finally Ter'im stirred and muttered sleepily, "Vilkas?"

"I'm here love. You worried me Ter'im. From the Stormcloak's letter, you sounded already dead and they needed me to claim your body." Vilkas whispered roughly, tightening his arms around Ter'im's waist gently.

"I'm so sorry Vilkas. I was attacked by a dragon priest and was so mad at Delphine and Esbern that I was not thinking clearly. I never wanted to hurt you." Ter'im rolled over at stroked at Vilkas's haggard face.

"What did they do to upset you so much, love?"

"They ordered me to kill Paarthurnax. They couldn't see past the fact that he'd once stood behind Alduin to see how much the old one still helps the grey beards. If I didn't have to deal with them to defeat the World Eater, my blades would bathe in their blood instead."

Vilkas stroked at one of Ter'im's ears and wiped at the tears that streamed down his love's face tenderly and hushed his crying softly. Once Ter'im was calm, Vilkas gently helped him sit up and arranged him back against the pillows before proceeding to feed him supper.

Ter'im whined in the back of his throat, but allowed Vilkas to feed him the warm food and grimaced at the sight of his dirty and matted fur. Vilkas laughed quietly at Ter'im's face and leaned in for a kiss, then redressed in his armor.

"I promise once I've appeased Ulfric and eaten that I'll take you for a bath. Just stay here and rest and I'll be back in no time at all."

Ter'im pouted, but nodded his acceptance. "Don't let Ulfric goad you during dinner tonight," he warned Vilkas softly before the larger man made it out of the room.

"Don't worry about me love. Just rest," Vilkas soothed and then headed down stairs to the main room of the palace.

As always, a great fire was roaring and scores of influential men and women were gorging themselves at the table. Vilkas hesitated just inside the doorway, unsure of where to sit, when Ulfric caught his eye and motioned for him to set down on his left side. Vilkas's eyes widened at the significance of the move, but trusted Ulfric and strode unhurriedly to the table.

Ulfric held up his chalice once Vilkas had settled, bringing all conversation to a stop.

"I welcome Vilkas, dragonborn's husband to our great table this night. With the addition of the Dragonborn, our cause is fortified and the Imperial dogs will fall at our feet." He drank from his cup, prompting the others to follow muttering, "To the Dragonborn."

Vilkas sipped at his wine as well, hiding his smirk with the rim of the cup. The conversations resumed around the table and Vilkas allowed himself to be drawn into a conversation about the Skyforge with Galmar. Wine flowed freely throughout the night and Vilkas felt the edges of his vision blur and his stomach clenched with need for Ter'im.

Finally the heat grew too much for him to handle and he excused himself from the table, feeling Ulfric's eyes burning on his backside as he made his way to prepare Ter'im a bath. Ter'im was lying back breathing softly when Vilkas returned for him.

Vilkas crept closer to the bed and gently shook at Ter'im shoulder to wake him. Ter'im started awake, but relaxed when he saw it was only Vilkas.

"You've been drinking quite a bit tonight, my Vilkas. You smell of wine."

Vilkas grinned unapologetically at Ter'im and scooped him up.

"I have, love. I would have continued had I not needed you," Vilkas groaned into Ter'im's ear, rolling his hips up against Ter'im's rear.

Ter'im squeaked and ground down against his lover who moaned and hurried his steps. Vilkas shooed the servants from the bathing room and undressed Ter'im from his bandages carefully before lowering him in the lukewarm water.

Ter'im shivered and with a quick spark of his magika heated the water to warm his fur and steam up the room. Ter'im settled back against the rim of the wooden tub and watched with burning eyes as Vilkas pulled off the heavy bits to his armor as quickly as he could manage it.

Ter'im moaned lowly when he took in the muscled form of his husband and traced the path of new scars that littered Vilkas's chest with his eyes. Vilkas nudged Ter'im to scoot up in the tub and slid into the hot water behind him. Vilkas rocked up against Ter'im's back once before he could control himself, but calmed his body and focused on washing the grime off of his love's body.

Ter'im sighed and relaxed into Vilkas's hands, hissing when Vilkas drug the cloth over his wounds. Soon, Vilkas pressed his thumbs into Ter'im's neck and started rubbing the tension out of his lover. Ter'im leaned back into Vilkas's strong hands and melted into a puddle of pleasure.

His mind was fogged from the delicious feelings, so he gave a start when he felt Vilkas's hand wrap around his length. Vilkas kept his strokes long and firm and soon enough Ter'im was crying out his release. He slumped back against Vilkas's strong chest and dozed as he felt Vilkas rock his hips against his back before stilling with a hoarse shout.

Ter'im stirred when he felt Vilkas lift him from the tub and softly towel him dry. He lay wrapped up in the towel, nearly asleep while Vilkas redressed himself and gathered new bandages.

Vilkas quietly bandaged Ter'im back up and toted his little love back to bed. Ter'im woke up long enough to whisper, "I love you Vilkas," and Vilkas kissed him on the forehead. Ter'im curled around Vilkas's form and truly fell asleep, and Vilkas buried his face in Ter'im's chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart as he embraced dreamland as well.