Chapter 4: Return to Windhelm

I woke up some time later, feeling fully awake and like new. I looked down and saw Kara still sleeping peacefully, her head still resting on my lap. I then noticed that my hand was being held by Kara's. She must've grasped my hand in her sleep. Using my free hand, I gave her a light shake, and said softly, "Kata, wake up."

Kara groaned slightly before slowly opening her eyes and looking up at me. "Sleep well?" I asked.

She nodded and said, "Very. I don't feel light headed anymore."

"That was going to be my next question." I said, making Kara titter slightly. "Um, Kara."

"Yes?"

"Not that I don't mind, but can I have my hand back please?" I asked.

Kara looked at me, confused by what I just asked, then saw that she was holding onto my hand. "Oh. I'm sorry." She said, letting go of my hand.

"It's alright. I really didn't mind that much. Well, except that my hand was asleep." I joked, but meant. "Anyway, we need to get moving. Windhelm is a long way away from here." I said as Kara got up. I put my Dragonscale armor back on, and gathered all of my equipment. "Here Kara. You can have this if you haven't already learned it yet." I said, handing her a Sparks tome.

"Thank you Navarre. Wait, it's midday, won't you burn again if we leave now?" Kara asked.

"Don't worry. Since you offered your blood to me, I'll be fine until tomorrow morning" I reassured as we left the cave and started east toward Windhelm.

As the days passed, Kara and I became quite close. We started sharing some of our secrets about ourselves and about our pasts. There were a few times where we ran into Imperials, but they didn't pose much of a threat. Thankfully Kara never actually killed any of them, leaving them for me to feed on so we could travel more during the day. There were even a few, awkward, nights where either Kara would join me when I was bathing in a lake or river, or when she would offer for me to join her when I accidentally found her bathing. After two weeks of slow traveling, we finally reached Windhelm.

"It's not much farther to Ulfric's palace." I said.

"Navarre, can we stop and rest for a while please? I'm exhausted." Kara said. I looked at her a saw that she was trying to catch her breath as she sat on a nearby boulder just outside Windhelm's main gate.

I walked over to her, knelt down next to her and asked, "Would you like me to carry you?"

She looked at me and asked sweetly, "Please?"

"Sure. Just take your necklace off first." I said as I turned me back to her. "I don't want a repeat of last time."

"Don't worry. I put it in my mother's tome that my father gave me." Kara replied.

"That reminds me, what spell does that tome teach anyway?" I asked out of natural curiosity. When she didn't answer, I assumed that maybe she didn't hear me. "Kara?"

"It's, um… can I tell you later? When we're alone?" She asked, sounding nervous, almost embarrassed.

"Sure. We'll be at the palace of kings." I said.

-a few minutes later-

"Ah Navarre." Ulfric said when he saw me. "I was beginning to wonder if you would ever return from Solitude. Who's the woman? And more importantly, where's Gotoh?

"We need to talk about that Ulfric. Somewhere quiet preferably." I said, Ulfric leading us to his study.

Once we entered the room, Ulfric closed the doors and said, "Are you going to answer me now Navarre?" Well he's in a fine mood today.

"You're going to want to sit down for this Ulfric." I said as I sat in a chair, Ulfric taking one across from me.

"I… killed Gotoh." I said regrettably.

"You WHAT?" Ulfric screamed. "Navarre, do you realize how important Gotoh was to this rebellion? He had information that would have helped us win this war! And you killed him?" I knew he wasn't going to take this well.

"Jarl Ulfric, please. Navarre only-"

"Silence!" Ulfric said before backhanding Kara. "Who said you could-"

I stopped Ulfric from saying anything more by grabbing him by the throat and putting him into the wall. "Don't. You. Dare. Touch her again." I said in pure anger. "Kara, are you alright?" I asked. My tone still sounded angry, but Kara knew the concern meant behind it.

"I'm alright Navarre." She responded.

"You're lucky this time Ulfric. Next time, I'll put you through the wall. Now, I'm going to let you go, and you're going to listen to what we have to say. Understand?" I asked.

"Alright Navarre. I'll listen." Ulfric said in response. I let him go and walked over to Kara to help her up.

She smiled at me and said, "Thank you Navarre." She then gave me a light kiss on the cheek, which caused me to blush lightly.

Once Ulfric was seated again, I re-took my seat and started explaining what happened in Solitude. With a little help from Kara, we explained the entire situation to Ulfric, from Gotoh asking me to kill him, to Kara and I arriving in Windhelm and this moment.

"All of the information my father had, he gave and told me. If you would like, I can put it all into a journal for you Jarl Ulfric." Kara finished.

"I think that would be wise Kara. Just so we have something for our records." Ulfric said as he started to get out of his chair. "Well then, if that is all…"

"Actually Ulfric, there is one last thing." I said.

"What is it Navarre."

"Gotoh asked that his room be given to Kara." I replied.

"Very well then. Until other arrangements can be made. I was going to put her with you in your home because you two appear to be very close. I wouldn't want you two to be away from each other for very long." Ulfric joked.

"Very funny Ulfric." I said sarcastically.

Ulfric then said, "Why don't you take her to 'her' room. You two look tired and deserve some rest."

"That's the first nice thing I've heard you say since I got back." I said.

"Don't try my patience Navarre. Now go, both of you."

Kara and I then left and started toward Gotoh's room. After leaving Ulfric's study, Kara asked, "I noticed there was some tension between you and Ulfric."

"You mean other than after I told him that I killed your father? And after he backhanded you?" I asked. "Well, sometimes we don't agree on attack strategies. I prefer quiet tactics while Ulfric prefers charging into battle. And most of the time mine prove to be more effective than his. So, he has a dislike of me for that reason."

"Ulfric also mentioned something about placing me in your home. You own a house here in Windhelm?" Kara asked.

"Yes. Ulfric gives his fellow Stormcloaks their own homes here in Windhelm. Except for your father, who was not only our informant, but he was also one of Ulfric's advisors. Now you are getting his room. Unless you would like to move into my home." I kindly suggested.

"Tomorrow perhaps. Right now, I am exhausted." Kara said as she yawned and stretched as we reached her room.

"Well then, I shall inform my housecarl Ophelia to prepare things for your arrival. Good night Kara." I said as I turned to leave.

"Wait, Navarre." Kara said, causing me to stop before I got too far.

"What is it Kara?"

"Would you mind, staying here with me? Just for tonight? I would feel safer if you were around." Kara admitted shyly.

"Of course. Would it be alright if I leave to inform Ophelia of your arrival first? I'll only be a few minutes." I said.

"Of course." Kara responded sweetly.

"Very well. I'll be back shortly." I said as I left to return to my home to get things ready.

-a few minutes later, just outside of Ulfric's castle-

I walked up to my door to find it locked. So I knocked and said, "Ophelia, it's me. Unlock the door.

I heard the latch get removed and the door unlock, the open to reveal my housecarl Ophelia.

"Navarre! My Thane you've returned!" She said excitedly, embracing me as if it were years since we'd seen each other. "I'm so glad to see you home safe."

"Thank you Ophelia. I'm sorry but I can't stay long."

"What? Why?" She asked.

"I met the most beautiful woman on my quest. She's the daughter of Gotoh, and her name is Kara." I started explaining.

"Weren't you instructed to rescue Gotoh?" Ophelia asked before I could continue.

"I was, but he asked me to kill him and take Kara back with me." I answered. "So, I have something I need you to do for me."

"What is it?"

"I want to you to get the house ready. Kara will be moving in with us tomorrow." I instructed.

"Where is she now?"

"She's waiting for me to return to her in her father's room. She's feeling uneasy about sleeping alone, so I will be staying with her tonight." I answered.

"Very well my Thane. Everything will be ready for your return tomorrow." Ophelia said.

"Thank you Ophelia. And I've told you; enough with the Thane shit. It feels weird when you call me that." I said,

"Alright Navarre." Ophelia said. As I was about to leave, she said, "Navarre."

"Yes?"

"Do you think she's the one? The one you want to be with?"

I took a minute to think of how to answer, and said, "I hope so. I just hope that she returns my feelings with whatever hers are towards me. Good night Ophelia." I finished as I walked out the door to start back toward Ulfric's castle and Kara.

"Good night. My Thane." I heard Ophelia say faintly, in a slightly disappointed tone, just as I close the door.

I know, it's been a LONG time since I've updated this. But ever since I started my collaboration with Fan, I've had a hard time finding the motivation to work on updating this. Anyway, hope this was good for an update, and I will TRY to get chapter 5 posted before the end of the month.

I'm My Own OC

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