This chapter seems longer than my usual chapters... Enjoy Iguess
Visitor
Kodlak exhales deeply as he stands at the city gate. Mila should be arriving today. It has taken two years to make sure that it is safe enough for them to visit but now they are on their way. Niki returned to Whiterun to guard them on the way to Solitude as the path is well known for being dangerous. He spots a carriage in the distance and it is moving quite quickly. Soon enough he can make out three figures, two on the wagon and one driving it. He starts to run towards it and the smallest of the three silhouettes jumps off the cart and starts to run towards him. When he gets closer he can tell that it is Mila. They both start to run faster until they meet in the middle. Kodlak slams into her but raises her above the ground and swings her about, his face the epitome of joy. Then she speaks with the voice that he has been waiting to hear for 2 years.
"I missed you Kod." She says, tears appearing in her eyes. Then she backs away from him and slaps him across the face. "You could have at least written!"
"That's the Mila I know." He says, smirking cheekily.
"Don't give me that smirk. I have missed you, you know!"
"Sorry your highness. Come on, let's head inside the city." He says excitedly, wrapping an arm around her waist.
Almost immediately, he sees Kayd. "Kayd!"
"Hello Kodlak and who is your lovely lady friend?" Kayd asks, picking up Mila's hand and kissing it.
"This is Mila. The girl I told you about from Whiterun." Kayd immediately drops her hand and rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Nice to meet you, Kayd was it?"
"Correct, milady. Always a pleasure to meet a friend of Kodlak. A friend of Kod's is a friend of mine." Mila shakes his hand but she keeps one hand locked tightly around Kodlak's. A few moments later, Carlotta and Niki arrive in the city. They wave to their children briefly before walking back to Proudspire Manor, not interrupting their conversation to talk to their offspring. Kayd leaves to go and help his father with the forge and Kodlak takes Mila to the top of the Emperor's tower where they look over Haafingar.
"Mila. Do you remember what I told you on the day we left?"
"Of course I do. Not a day has gone by without me thinking about how I responded and I am sorry Kodlak. I am sorry because I have changed my mind since then. I love you too."
"Well that took much less effort than I was expecting."
"You know me, I do not wish to make a fuss. Besides, you would've gotten the truth out of me sooner or later so I may as well save time."
"And what would you do with said time?" Without further words the two lock lips and Kodlak's heart skips a few times, then it seems to do some odd drum song. Mila is the one to finish it.
"Kodlak. Now that I have done that, I can return home happy."
"Return home? Surely you should stay and we should act upon this."
"I am married, Kodlak." A deafening silence echoes around following Mila's revelation.
"Married." Kodlak repeats disbelievingly. "Who?"
"Lars."
"That milk drinker?"
"He has grown since you last saw him. I'm sorry Kodlak. I wanted to tell you straight away but you were so happy to see me..." Kodlak starts to walk down the stairs, clutching his head with one hand to steady himself. "Kod. Talk to me, please."
"I have waited 2 years to speak to you and to propose myself but you are already MARRIED? I need to... I need a drink."
"Kodlak!" Mila cries out as he turns and runs to the Winking Skeever. Little does he know, Minette was passing by when Mila told him of her marriage and she heard everything.
Kod sits at the bar in the Winking Skeever, his shoulders slumped over. He buys a bottle of mead to drown his sorrows.
"What's wrong, boy? You look like you just came out of a fist fight with a cave bear." Sorex asks.
"How did you deal with rejection? The woman I love is married and I need to know how to deal with it." Sorex sends the boy a sympathetic look.
"I'm going to be honest, I still haven't moved on from loving your mother yet. Being married to Vivienne helped a lot but sometimes the heart can never move on from these things. The best thing though, is mead." He says, followed by a humourless laugh. The older man downs a bottle of mead and shakes his head quickly. "Y'know. Our Minette has taken a fair liking to ya'. You should talk to her. She's a good lass." Kodlak glares at the counter. That's when Sorex goes back to cleaning. Moments later he feels small hands on his shoulders.
"Mila I do not wish to speak with you right now."
"What about Minette?" He turns to look the youngest of the Vinius family in the eyes. She looks back at him affectionately.
"Mila came back today. She has married someone else while I have been gone. Why did I allow myself to lower my emotional barriers to let her walk all over me?"
"Because you're a caring, loving person Kodlak. Do not fight with yourself over your compassion, it is your best trait." She says, sitting down next to him. He allows her to rub his shoulder while he chugs the rest of his mead.
"What is compassion but a tool for the Divines to use against us?"
"It is what gives men like you their strength."
"Minette, I have to thank you for being here. Just by being here with me now, you have reassured me that there are good people in the world."
"Your parents were surely good people?"
"Oh please. My mother was born a vampire and grew up to be an assassin. My father killed many in the Civil War. The Companions are monsters and Mila is a traitorous wretch. You are the only good person in my world, Minette." The pair both stand and leave the Winking Skeever. Without realizing it, they head down to the docks and end up sat with their legs dangling over the pier. The sun set behind them and they can see the moon rising. Kodlak kisses Minette on her forehead and she blushes slightly. "I'm ready." Slowly they both close in the distance between them and they lock themselves together in a way that Kodlak believes only they can. After a long time, they both stop kissing and they Kodlak leans his forehead on hers.
"Thanks the Divines that happened at last." Kodlak laughs at the girl's word choice.
"I would have forced them to make it happen. I need someone who cares for me. You do. Minette Vinius, I want to marry you." A grin lights her face.
"I have waited two years for this moment." She says before kissing him again. He protectively wraps an arm around her and glances over his shoulder at the empty dock.
"Why is it so quiet today?" She perks her head up and listens for any sounds. Neither of them can hear anything.
"I do not know. Maybe something has happened. Come, let's go and find out." They both stand up quickly and speed walk back to the city.
They see that the streets are empty. Kodlak spots a crowd gathering in Castle Dour.
"ULFRIC STORMCLOAK HAS RESTARTED THE CIVIL WAR! WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO FIGHT THE STORMCLOAKS. ARE THERE ANY VOLUNTEERS?" General Tullius' voice booms across the castle courtyard. Starting with Sorex, people start to step forward. Readying themselves to be trained.
"Tullius. What is this?" A strong voice asks from within the crowd. Niki steps forward, her face filled with a dark rage that Kodlak had never seen before.
I can not believe this. Ulfric has everything he needs! Why is he restarting this?
"Dragonborn. The Jarl of Windhelm has initiated a second civil war."
"I will go and speak to him. I do not want you attacking ANYONE until I come back. Is that understood?" She squares up to the General fearlessly.
"No offence Dragonborn, but surely you are ageing now. You are not as strong or stealthy as you used to be and Ulfric will have bodyguards."
"You underestimate me General." I spit the words at him before storming out of the city, passing my son on the way. "Kodlak. Stay here and keep watch over Solitude. If the General tries anything, arrest him for treason." Kodlak nods but stays close to Minette. I wonder what happened there? Maybe she fell over and he's helping her. I storm out of the city gates and run angrily down the path. Once I can no longer be seen to the naked eye I allow rage to take over and embrace my beast form. The added speed allows me to be in Windhelm before midnight. I change back and get dressed again quickly.
Then I storm into the Palace Of Kings.
"Dragonborn. I assume you have heard of our situation. You wish to join the Stormcloaks."
"No. I wish for you to explain why you are being a tremendous fool, Ulfric."
"My dear, the Thalmor are still in Skyrim, therefore my battle continues." The Jarl stands up from his throne and approaches the fearless woman stood before him.
"The Empire is still recovering from your last treason! Ulfric Stormcloak you are greatly underestimating the Thalmor. You can't destroy them on your own!"
"Why not?"
"They took down an entire EMPIRE! A single squadron of Thalmor mages could destroy each and every Stormcloak, do you understand me?"
"They have not killed you yet."
"They came damn close! It only took 20 Thalmor to defeat me in battle and that was over 16 years ago. The Thalmor WANT this to happen! They want you to fight against the Empire so that the Empire can grow weaker in the North, giving Cyrodiil two major weaknesses. This would mean total Thalmor control. You Are Helping Them."
"We are Nords, no Mer can defeat us."
"Racist bastard!" I begin to raise my voice.
"Racist? No, simply correct."
"Bastard! Racist son of a bitch!"
"My Jarl, should we have this woman removed?" A few guards approach me from behind.
"No. This is far too enjoyable."
"ENJOYABLE? You sick, sick man." I square up to him. We are stood very close together, our shoulders facing each other. Why does he have to be so damned tall?
"Breathe. Why do you support the Empire, really? I can tell that it has nothing to do with your roots since you seemed very distant from Rikke. Why?"
"Talos created the Empire. Why would you displease him so?"
"The Empire submitt-"
"No. That was Titus Mede II. He no longer lives, therefore we may soon have an Emperor with a backbone. I admit that Titus' decision was wrong but it has given us time for the Empire to grow strong again, just as Talos would've wanted. A second great war is coming Ulfric, if you can't let us grow strong, we will all be killed."
"You speak with such passion. How did you learn to do it?"
"A friend of mine taught me to say what I feel. I just so happen to get across my emotions easily." I notice him leaning towards me slightly. Perhaps he's trying to intimidate me. I will not be so easily made the fool. "What are you doing?"
"Say my name again."
"Why?"
"Because every time you say my name I become a little more attracted to you."
"What?" Then he leans down and kisses me. I freeze in place completely. He tries to coax a response out of me but I am incapable of movement. After he pulls away I try to search his eyes for an answer. "What?"
"I think you know what I was trying to say." He says, rubbing his hand against mine.
"Don't start a civil war again. Please Ulfric." He closes his eyes and smirks.
"Jorleif. Send a messenger to General Tullius. We will not be fighting a war." I spin on my heels and start to leave. "And just where do you think you're going?"
"Home. To my son."
"You have a son?"
"Yes I do."
"Who was the father?"
"Hadvar Steelheart. A true Nord if there ever was one."
"Imperial soldier?" I nod my head.
"Tell Tullius that he has Windhelm on his side." I'm taken aback by Ulfric's rash decision.
"I suppose I could."
"Could you not wait overnight? You could stay here, in the palace."
"Since you are clearly so incapable of breathing without me, I will stay. Don't expect anything from me." A grin lights his face. Typical Nord.