My eyes were tired. I had spent the last few hours, delving deeper and deeper into scrolls written in the dragon tongue. I sneezed hard and dust flew about, Ulfric had quite a library, it wasn't better than the library that the Grey-beards had. It will do to help aid me in my studies. My brow furrowed and I rubbed my eyes and let out a sigh as I stretched my arms. I felt the joints in my body pop, I felt better and my body was a bit more relaxed. These runes were more like claw marks scratched into the paper, but I went through them with the primer that was given to me. Each translation was getting much harder than the next and to top it off, I think some of the runes were starting to run together, they all looked the same. I shoved them aside and stood up, my bum was starting to go numb, like that day I decided to ride from Whiterun to Windhelm in a single go. I never thought I would get the feeling back in it to save my life. Many of the books in the library were old, I was impressed by them.

"I think that's enough for one day."

I muttered. I strapped my sword, well the sword that Ulfric had given me after the battle of Solitude. It was truly a beautifully made sword. I wondered where he had gotten it from. I'd probably go check out the shops around Windhelm. I would need more supplies before my trip, but that would have to wait till after the coronation. Ulfric would wear the Jagged Crown that I helped to retrieve during my first trials as a Stormcloak. Radof went with me, one of the first friends that I had made since Jukka was killed all those years ago. With the Jagged Crown, Ulfric would certainly look like a true High King of Skyrim. I gave Jorleif a wave of my hand as I pushed my way out of the door. I walked down the steps of the Palace of the Kings, almost inaudibly; I heard a mass land behind me. Snow flurries caught a whip of long blond hair and I smirked.

"The future queen shouldn't be out and about without an armed escort."

"Then I guess, Brynjolf, you will be my escort."

I looked over my shoulder and my brother crossed his arms. His look was stern, but it was the look of a concerned older brother.

"I have eyes and ears everywhere, you do know that, don't you Brenna?"

"As you are ever constant to remind me, Bryn."

I pulled open the door of the White Phial and stepped in to take a look at their selection of potions and reagents. I was an amateur alchemist to say the least, I could brew up a health potion in a few minutes or even a minor stamina potion if it was absolutely needed. I traded a few of the gold septiums I had in my purse before stowing the potions away in my pack.

"You're going back to the monastery? So soon after you are to be married? Father would be rejoiced to hear that his only daughter is to be wed to the future High King."

Brynjolf said as we exited the potion shop. I cut my eyes at my eldest brother. If looks could kill, the thief would have been dead a thousand times over.

"Father has been extended the invitation, if he wishes to come he can. Though I can't say I would be happy to see him."

I muttered darkly before I purchased some bandages from a Dark Elf at the general goods store and some lockpicks from the blacksmith. My relationship with our father had never been the good sort of relationship. Many girls talked about how their father doted upon them, I was lucky my father didn't ship me off to Honorhall Orphanage after my mother passed on.

"Though I doubt my marriage would satisfy the old codger, nothing I did ever satisfied him."

I growled as I started on the well-worn path back to the Palace of the Kings. The snow crunched under foot of my Ebony boots. It was because of Ulfric that I had the means and knowledge at my disposal to craft a new set of armor. One day I would have to repay him. I just had to. Ulfric had given me much since I had gotten here and I knew there was truly no way that I couldn't repay him for it.

"I'll be there for your wedding little sister, and as always, looking out for you."

Byrnjolf disappeared with a flurry of snow. I cursed my brother. He was a great thief, I would give him that. But he seemed to be sent by the Divines to cause me nothing but the worst of trouble. I looked through the great hall of the Palace of the Kings. The Moot was still here, many of them celebrating Ulfric's pending title. I really never like the day to day mundane workings of the court. But I would have to learn. I wasn't quite sure how Ulfric was going to go about and announce our engagement; I left that up to him. Normally women were over the moon excited about getting engaged, even to those who had truly no idea who they were to wed. Life was short here in Skyrim, so the courting process that would normally go on for years would be shortened to a matter of months. It was only normal for me to feel rushed and hurried into something that would last for the rest of my life. Ulfric spotted me and motioned for me to come closer. I approached his throne and bowed my head out of respect.

"Come now Brenna, we are equals."

"You will always be better than me Ulfric."

I muttered, taking my place at his right hand. My armor had been replaced with the best that I could smith; it would take some getting used to for sure.

"You always look splendid in your armor, though it is nowhere near as flattering as what you wear to sleep."

I knew instantly my cheeks flushed red at the mention of his comment.

"Do me a favor Ulfric, keep your bedroom banter in the bedroom."

Galmar growled as he crossed his arms. I felt inclined to agree with the grumpy old bear, but his disdain and dislike for me was a bit hard to get over.

"Galmar you trusted me as a soldier, why not as Dragonborn?"

I questioned him, my voice low. Only Ulfric and Galmar would hear what I said.

"I don't believe you're good enough for the future High King. You're just some little Hagraven out for his title."

"You do not know me Galmar, do not pretend to."

I hissed. My hand found my sword, I was ready to use it to defend my honor if it was nessicary.

"Galmar!"

Ulfric found his feet, standing in-between me and his housecarl. His sword was drawn and it was at Galmar's throat.

"I am the future High King and I will not tolerate you treating the future High Queen like some sort of common Inn wench!"

The room had fallen silent, you could have heard a small dagger drop. Suddenly the palace started to shake. The sound of a roar shook the windows and knocked the glasses from the table. It was a sound that I knew all too well.

"Dragon!"

The word slipped from my mouth and I jammed my helmit on my head quickly. The standoff between Ulfric and Galmar would have to wait till later. I had a job to do.

"You two can pull out and compare the size of your manhood later, Ulfric, there's a dragon. I'm going to take it down."

I darted outside and I spotted the dragon circling overhead. A frost dragon, something I hadn't seen in a good while. There was a deep roar and it froze a single house solid. I banged my sword on my shield and the dragon's eye turned to look at me briefly. My mind quickly searched for the right Thu'um to use, it came to my tongue quickly.

"Joor Zah Frul!"

I shouted, my Thu'um forced the dragon to land in front of the Palace of Kings. I saw a flash of black shoot past me and I watched as Ulfric ferociously attacked the frost dragon. I kept its attention as I knew best how. I slammed my shield into the scaly nose, causing the dragon to quickly recoil his head. As the dragon jerked it upwards I shoved my ebony blade into its chin. The dragon roared in terror, making the houses and shops quake. I yanked the sword from the dragon's chin, blood spewed everywhere. There was another roar and it snapped at me with its wide maw. I leapt backwards, trying to avoid the teeth and I got swiped with a massive claw. I was sent flying backwards; I landed on my back against the cobblestone steps of the Palace of the Kings. The dragon leapt high and dove as if it would land on top of me. Quickly I rolled aside, grabbing my blade and thrusting it up, trying to keep the dragon from outright killing me. The dragon gave a shriek of pain and it rolled off to my side. I retrieved my blade from within the dragon's skull. Suddenly the dragon started to catch fire and a swirling vortex of yellow light and cinders enveloped me. Another soul acquired to my collection of the fifteen dragons that I had previously slain. My knees buckeled beneath me, finally the sensation of pain had caught up with me once the adrenaline had faded. My hand went to my stomach, the armor had done most of its job, but it was dented and I'd have to try my best to repair it later. My back felt as if I had been knocked off a mountain and landed squarely on a rock. Once again I found myself covered in sweat and blood from yet another battle. These pesky dragons were getting to be quite a menace. MY helmet had skittered off in the twilight hours somewhere and now that the darkness was falling, it would take a cat-folk to find it. I had never seen one in the city to say the least. I would smith a new one or look for it on the morrow. Once more I tried to stand, but failed as I collapsed to the stone walkway. Ulfric rushed to my side, using his massive arms to easily pluck me up from the streets.

"You truly are dragonborn. I've never seen anything like it."

I tried to speak, but my chest hurt from being tossed about like a child's ragdoll. My head pounded as if the entire stormcloak army had decided to march back and forth across my brain. I could barely keep my eyes open before I could see where it was that I landed. The stones had been cracked and shattered where I fell. I felt safe in Ulfric's arms. I never wanted to leave them. I would have to at some point to keep the dragon menace away, but for now all I wanted was sleep.

My eyes were heavy, I was warm and comfortable, and I didn't want to wake up. But at the regaining of my consciousness, I found that my body's aches and pains had returned. I blinked, my vision was fuzzy and I sat up. My body protested and I let out a gasp of pain.

"By Talos I had never thought you would wake! Jorlief, send for Wuunferth."

I blinked, my vision cleared as I was in the room that I shared with Ulfric. He had some dark marks under his eyes, as if he had been awake for days or hadn't slept well. I put a hand to my head. I looked at my chest and there were so many bruises, I was surprised that there were not any bite marks or gashes.

"Be still, Wuunferth says you have a number of broken bones."

"I feel like it."

I muttered. Fresh pain shot through my body and I sharply inhaled.

"By the nine, I feel like I could eat a whole deer."

My mstomach growled. Ulfric handed me a cup of fresh mead. The liquid burned my parched throat, but it quelled the bear that had taken up residence in my stomach.

hnb"The way you felled the dragon, It was truly like Helgan all over again. I never thought…."

"Is everyone in the stone quarter alright?"

I mumbled.

"I think the Blacksmith's quarters got frozen over, but I've had mages working on it day after day. It should be just about defrosted."

"We should count our stars."

Wuunferth barged in, his billowing robes fluttered into the room. The old codger had become a bit more taken to me when we had been in the library for studying the ancient dragon tongue. I followed his instructions to lie back down on the bed. His hands glowed yellow and he started to chant a spell as his hands hovered over my bruised body. I felt a comfortable warmth envelope my body. It made me feel as if I was back in Ulfric's arms.

"You're lucky."

Wuunferth muttered as he continued his work.

"She's alive, of course she's lucky."

Ulfric said darkly as he continued to grasp my hand. The look on his face was plain to say something to the effect of 'those damn wizards and their grasp of actuality.' I felt the same way. Sometimes they could be so idiotic.

"Your month's blood, has it come?"

"I just got tossed around like a childs plaything and you're worried about something like my unmentionables?!"

I wanted desperately to throw something at the damned riddle ridden wizard. Ulfric frowned and stood up, letting my hand go.

"Wuunferth, I swear by Talos… you had better be a bit touched in the head or else I swear I'll wring your neck and throw you off the top of High Hrothgar myself."

"My Jarl please! I am merely stating that she was lucky. The child is not yet big enough to have taken damage in that altercation. But I will need to administer daily restoration tending's to make certain that no lasting damage has been done! At least for the next week or so."

I blinked.

"Wuunferth, you've been around the arcane chanter way too long."

I said as I sat up, this time my body didn't protest as harshly. At least for all the moronic things that Wuunferth had said, he was a pretty decent healer. Even if his talents mainly were in destruction spell casting, he was a half decent healer.

"Fine fine, you'll see. Don't trust the mage that's been doing his job for three quarters of a century!"

Wuunferth stormed out of the room with a snort. Ulfric shook his head as he once again took up my hand. Our eyes met and I couldn't help but get lost in the azure eyes of Ulfric.

"in any case, child or not, I wish to marry you as soon as we are able to travel to Riften. I don't want to regret loosing you before we can become man and wife."

"As long as I don't have to ride and there's a carriage, I think I might be able to make ready for tomorrow."

Ulfric smiled as we shared a kiss.

"I don't know why you've taken such an interest me, Ulfric."

I mumbled as he held me into his chest with a tenderness.