A/N: Oh my goodness, it's so nice to be posting again! I've been gone for so long, I'm so sorry! I most certainly have NOT given up on this story, just my life has been a rewrite of A Series of Unfortunate Events. *Sigh* I'm not going to go into all the details, but I will let you guys know the main reason why. Tragically my first dog has been put down due to old age and mouth cancer. This happened far back in September, and that just completely depressed me. I couldn't even eat for a long period, and it took a lot of time to be able to even go near his corner without crying. But! I'm mostly back now, just writing and stuff all died out in my head. But I should be getting back to it now. Onto much less depressing matters! I also for some reason have NOT been acquiring any e-mails from FF. So no emails about reviews, nothing about updates or private messages. So I thought no one even liked the last chapter until I went to my profile to fix a typo I found! Trying to get that fixed now.
Important Things for Story/Chapter: It's been brought to my attention that some of the chapters don't line up and I know that, but I just have a ton of ideas on how they could have met. Honestly aside from a few chapters I could post each chapter as its own story, but I don't wanna spam this section up with Kitsunie Kitsunie Kitsunie because I'm sure there're many people who don't really like my works. Sooo! As a semi-test/ hopefully future solution where under the Chapter Rating section I will put a Chapter History section. It will list the chapter names or that are counted as history towards the newly posted chapter. For example, Heirlooms That Break Pt2 would have a chapter history of pretty much most chapters(Babysitting, Here Kitty Kitty, Etc) but chapters like this where they are all just meeting for the first time would have a chapter history of None. That would mean that they have not met, have not taken each other as lovers, and so on and so forth. I didn't really mean to confuse any of you dear readers, so I'm sorry about all that! Let me know in your reviews if you like this new system or not, if it doesn't work out for you I'll just try not to write anymore chapters that they're just meeting in. I'm so sorry that it's been confusing!
Teddy bear 007: I'm glad I made you eat a sandwich! Also I hope I did well with your prompts, this chapter is yours!
Lvl34potato: It's alright! I can definitely understand that droolage. Haha! And sure! I'll see what I can do with that! :3
Mrsmiawallace88: And a lucky man he shall be! Haha :D And I'm super glad you liked it, I kinda had to rush it because I had to start moving, so lost writing time! Thank you!
Katschaba: Of course I didn't! I'm glad I did your prompt justice though! I was pretty worried about not doing well enough. I always get nervous on prompts! Hah.
She-Who-Dances-With-The-Stars: Yeah, sorry about the confusion! Thank you for sticking with the story anyhow. I really hope that the new Chapter History helps clear up the confusion; I just have so many ways they could meet that I had to write them out. Lemme know if it helps or not! Honestly with all the 'before they're lovers' chapters it's more like the other never happened. It's just a different take on the same general situations(how they get closer.)
Lita2extreme: Aww, thank you! I'm so happy that you still find time to read and review even though it takes so much time and it's a pain on the ps3! Thank you so much! Sorry to make you wait so long!
Rainbow Ninja: I am SO sorry. I am positively appalled at myself for that! I know the difference, I think I may have just been typing without looking, I went back and fixed all of those errors, that must have made it hard to stick with the story, I am so so sorry! Thank you so much for pointing that out. I really appreciate it! I'm also so happy to hear you love this story! Thank you for the review! Also on part two of your review, I'll try to fit him in more! And I was sending them to someone but I guess they were just halfassing it. I found someone else tho!
Thankies to my Joshiepookins for proofreading this chapter.
Disclaimer: Do not own, blah blah.
Chapter Prompts from Teddy bear 007! I hope you like this chapter!
1: Music
2: Falling Stars
3: Statues
Notes for this Chapter:
Only a general note first off. The Guardian Stars is a Nord festival I made up, the festival occurs every year in the middle of the colder seasons, and everyone who wants to join in go to the Shrouded Grove where there are statues of all the 9 Divines in a huge circle. The festival occurs in the circle, and people just play music, dance, talk, drink, etc. until the meteor shower comes. They believe celebrating this event gives blessing and good luck.
1: The outfit I imagine Koudelka wearing is really similar to the dress worn by Snow White in Snow White and the Huntsman after her cuts it. The only altracations I'd make is that the sleeves don't have the puff and it's a bit shorter of a dress. Also it's much more of a dark emerald shade. There's a link in my profile to a picture to it.
2: Koudelka unfortunately got clumsy and injured on an adventure, so she got a slightly nasty (yet convenient) gash from a draugr. It's long gone by the festival though.
Chapter Rating: K+ bit of suggestive themes maybe. Nothing bad.
Chapter History: None. Unrelated to any other chapter.
"Jorleif, we honestly do not have time to be dealing with petty thievery right now. We must focus on obtaining The Rift from those damned Imperials." Galmar pointed to a spot on the map without looking at the steward and Ulfric quickly drew his attention to it, absently explaining it was heavily guarded by Imperials. Jorleif stared from the doorway.
"Petty? Petty? This person has stolen over three hundred thousand gold in the past month! That's over nine thousand gold a day! From your people!" Ulfric and Galmar both ceased their movements over the map.
"Jorleif... Are you sure you are not mistaken? Do you mean nine hundred gold a day and thirty thousand, total?" The steward nodded furiously, regardless of the fact that the two men couldn't see the movement. "Of course I'm sure!" The rebellion leader turned to face the shorter male.
"What do we know of them?" He questioned, crossing his arms over his chest tightly, leaning against the table. Jorleif shrugged hesitantly before replying.
"Well... We don't know anything about them. We don't know their gender, attire, which guilds or factions they are associated with, physical features... Nothing." Ulfric's shoulders slumped and both men heard the Stone-fist sigh loudly.
"How can no one know anything about a multi-thousand thief?! They steal three hundred thousand with no witnesses?!" The General questioned angrily. Jorleif glared lightly at the angered man.
"No one has ever seen them. Not entering, stealing, or leaving a building; even when the residents are present while the robbery is in progress." Ulfric rubbed a hand over his face and shook his head. Jorleif quickly cut in before the man could get too agitated. "However!" Both men turned their attention to him, "We do know where they will strike next."
"We know where they will be?..." Ulfric questioned curiously upon hearing the strange information. Jorleif was quick to explain.
"Aye, My Jarl. The thief has just been moving in a snaked pattern starting from Solitude. He or she is just going from city to city, town to town. It seems Windhelm is just next on their list..."
Ulfric sighed and shifted lightly, thinking for a moment before replying. "That's strangely convenient. Set additional guards on the bridge and by the docks. I also want two guards per residence; one patrolling outside and one indoors guarding the house. If the families or shopkeepers have an issue with an indoor guard, two guards can patrol outside." The rebellion leader met his steward's eyes before he turned to fulfill the order. "And for the love of Talos, inform the people why we're doing this. The Nine forbid they think an Imperial attack is coming. It would be too much chaos."
Jorleif turned to immediately fulfill his given orders to inform the soldiers, and Ulfric quickly shouted after him. "And insure everyone is aware the gates are to be closed for the night!"
Ulfric turned back to face his friend, shaking his head lightly. "Thieves are such nuisances. I truly despise them... Albeit this one is particularly skilled." Galmar laughed and clapped his hand on the Jarl's shoulder.
"Aye, the best thief only made five thousand gold in a day! Catching this one will be good for our reputation, my friend." Ulfric smiled and humored his friend with a nod. He decided he would not share his feelings that they would not be catching this one. They were clever.
Koudelka pouted under her cowl from her spot on the mountain in front of Windhelm. "Aww! They figured out our pattern, Shadow!" She huffed and ran her fingers through the Deadric beings mane. Said beast snorted and hoofed the quickly accumulating snow.
"We didn't have a pattern, Rider." He stated, flicking snow off his tail absentmindedly.
"Shh! No one knows that but us!" The woman walked forward to look at the guarded city she planned on pillaging. Shadowmere butted against her back with his snout.
"Obviously they did." The horse retorted lightly. The assassin blew a foggy cloud of frosted air past her lips and turned to begin picking through her mount's saddle bags, retrieving a folded up black cloak. She unfurled the bundle to separate a short green dress from within it, followed by black leggings and brown boots. She took a moment to admire the fine stitching on the dress.
"Thank The Nine I managed to enchant this gear for stealth…" Koudelka toed through the snow to Shadowmere's side, stripping her Brotherhood armor off to quickly replace it with the evergreen dress. Since the blonde had to keep her versatility to climb through windows and move silently, the dress had been messily home-tailored to mid-thigh. The assassin tugged on leather leggings hastily after slipping the dress over her head, both to maintain her decency and keep the cold out to the best of her abilities while wearing a thin dress. Koudelka leaned against her steed to slip her boots on one at a time. (1)
"I hate Windhelm. I don't think I could ever stay here way up north. Damn these cold blizzards." The mumble was emphasized with an unintentional shiver, resulting in her scrambling to get her gloves and cloak on as fast as possible. The Deadric being next to her snorted, amused.
"Such a weak blooded little Nord." The Dragonborn glared harshly, shoving the horse to no avail.
"I hate you sometimes." Shadowmere snorted and shook out his mane from the heavily falling snow before replying.
"We both know that is a lie, little one." The horse glanced up to the sky through the trees they were hidden by. "Probabilities of them taking you in regardless of gate closings are increased in this weather, I'd hope." Koudelka nodded and pulled the hood of the cloak up, beginning to step quietly through the snow. She threw a glance back at the Deadric beast and smirked.
"Wish me luck."
Jorlle squinted through the heavily falling snow when a figure appeared in his vision by the far side of the bridge. The newer guard nudged the woman next to him with his elbow, quickly drawing her attention to where his own eyes were fixed.
"Who is that? Do you think it's the thief?" She questioned. Jorlle shook his head at Lilia, doubting that a thief as notorious as this one would be directly approaching a gate. He voiced his thoughts quickly to her.
"It cannot be the thief. They would be smarter than to try to enter through the front gates..." Jorlle was surprised to see that to figure had reached them in what seems like seconds. "The city gates are closed tonight! What do you want?" The Stormcloak solider had to yell over the winds billowing over the bridge. When the stranger spoke, they surprised both Stormcloaks with a soft melodic voice.
"I understand, but please, I was traveling from Whiterun to Riften. I have heard there had been many attacks on travelers by bandits on the southern roads... I took the northern roads instead, but it seems like they are also up on these roads. The damned low lives attacked my horse and me..." The two guards shared a glance before Lilia spoke up.
"Take her to Ulfric. We cannot just leave her out in the cold like this. He will decide." Jorlle nodded and motioned for the visitor to follow him.
Ulfric glanced up from giving Ralof instructions for monitoring the city when it was closed and under threat. His brows furrowed when he realized the sound that had drawn him out of his conversation was the city gates opening. Both Galmar and Ralof followed his gaze to the gate that was now closing behind a newer recruit Ulfric quickly recognized as a whelp named Jorlle and a hooded figure. The rebellion leader crossed his arms and waiting for the two to reach him.
Ulfric heard Galmar move to stand on his right with a light mumble. "It seems newer guards are not aware of the meaning of 'closed gates'" Irritation was evident in his voice, the younger of the two noted with a sigh.
"Well, we must deal with this." He spared a glance to the angry looking Stone-fist. "Calmly." He added, realizing Galmar may not listen. The elder was very strict with the newer guards, ensuring any mistakes were always one time things.
Ulfric crossed his arms and looked down at Jorlle with a stern face once the man and his company had approached.
Koudelka was taken aback when she first stole a glance from under her hood at Ulfric Stormcloak. The Nord gave off an air of strong control and dominance that surprised her, causing a fleeting tingle of apprehensive excitement to erupt in her stomach before she composed herself. The thieving assassin clasped her hands loosely over her abdomen as if in prayer, giving off her own air of innocence and submission.
It was all a game from here.
"Jorlle," Ulfric began firmly before being cut off by Galmar.
"Who is this?!" He gestured rather harshly towards the hooded figure. "Do you not understand that you turn people away when the gates are closed?!" Ulfric placed a hand on his friend's shoulder to calm him, brows furrowing when the stranger flinched at Galmar's harsh tone. "Did you even check him?! He could be the thief! Or he could have daggers hidden to kill your leader!" Galmar shrugged off Ulfric's hand and before the rebellion leader could stop him he stepped towards the hooded figure brutishly, causing the apprehensive person to step back a bit. The Stone-fist quickly grasped the front of the persons cloak in his fist, tearing it off its owner.
When Ulfric saw the woman he uncovered he was swift to grab the scruff of the older man's armor, pulling him back harshly. "You fool. I said to handle it calmly for this reason! She's hurt." Galmar looked at her with suspicious yet slightly apologetic eyes. The rebellion leader turned his attention to her when she spoke softly.
"N-no. It's quite alright, I understand. I'm sure it's an honest thought. You are Ulfric Stormcloak... You must be cautious with your enemies." The Jarl felt sympathy for the woman before him. He stepped towards her slowly, and she seemed to instinctively withdraw, casting her eyes to the ground.
Ulfric gently tilted her chin up with his fingers, examining the large dark bruise blossomed out around a harsh looking split on her cheekbone. (2)
The Jarl was drawn back to reality before he had even realized his eyes had trailed to her own emerald orbs. He had been staring for quite a bit judging by the bright blush on her cheeks and the sound of Glamar clearing his throat awkwardly to his right. He smirked lightly and offered the blonde woman his arm, which she shyly took after he finished speaking. "Come along. We must have that treated before it scars." He turned and caught Galmar's fuming glare towards Jorlle, responding with a look that clearly said 'be kind.'
The older man nodded once in defiant agreement.
When Wuuthrad finally came down to the throne room to treat the woman, Galmar had long since returned with a smug look, indicating he had giving the young man a firm scolding.
Koudelka's hands remained in her lap to fidget while the knowledgable mage applied a clear salve to the wound on her face. Ulfric turned his head from his seat next to her to look at the meek woman. His movement immediately caught her attention.
"What is your name, my dear?" She looked away and glanced after the previously silent Mage who was walking back towards a door, mumbling about being awoken over a 'papercut'. She frowned before returning her attention back to the man before her.
"My name is Koudelka, my Jarl." The man seemed to ponder the name a bit the assassin nibbled her lip nervously. Perhaps she should have gone with an alias. "Is there something wrong?" She questioned, releasing a breath she had been holding as he shook his head.
"Nothing at all, the name just sounded a bit familiar. It must just be me, or maybe a similar name of one of my soldiers." Ulfric met her gaze and asked the question she had been waiting for. "What happened to you on the roads?" Koudelka took a deep breath before beginning her story.
"My father has been having issues with a fishing delivery from Riften, so he sent me down to find the problem... He would've gone himself but he's very busy in Whiterun..." Ulfric's eyes softened when she teared up lightly while reaching up to nervously fidget with her necklace. The rebellion leader quickly recognized it as an amulet of Talos. To be wearing one so openly in a time of war... His train of thought was cut short as she continued her tale.
"I chose to travel the northern roads. While they are longer, the roads were said to be safer than the southern ones." The woman took a shaky breath. "Or so I thought. My horse and I were ambushed a little way down the western bridge outside the city. It was like they just came out of nowhere... They pulled me off my horse and started attacking her... She tried to defend me with her life, I tried to stop them but what I assume was the leader hit me with the hilt of his sword then pinned my dress to the ground with it..." She absentmindedly played with the frays of her dress. "By the time I managed to tear my dress they had her on the ground." Koudelka tensed up and sniffled, crystalline tears slowly trailing down her cheeks. "Oh Alfsigr, poor Allie. She was such a good girl..." Ulfric frowned and sighed lightly. Galmar stood from his seat to take one next to the sorrowful woman.
"This world can be filled with cruel people. Especially in war's times. I suppose I can be one of them, eh?" The Stone-fist placed her cloak in her lap, causing her to smile softly through the tears. Ulfric nodded to Galmar and stood.
"Come. It is late into the night. You may stay in the palace for the night." She stood to follow the Nord, bidding Galmar goodnight while wiping her tears away.
Koudelka laughed softly at the room the man had set her in, just down the hall from his own. She sighed happily and fell back onto the bed, letting herself gracelessly bounce.
"Apparently getting your cheek split open by a draugr's hilt punch is an advantage." The thief ran her fingers lightly over the quickly healing wound. Koudelka say up and smiled, deciding to start her raid on the palace first before moving on into the city itself.
"This is too easy."
By the time the assassin had worked her way up to Ulfric's room she had stolen well over ten thousand from the palace. The blonde was practically bouncing with excitement as she opened the door, the guard posted beside it left unconscious on the stairs from a precise blow to the neck. She expected to find the best treasures and gems in the Jarl's room. She fully opened the door and froze immediately, seeing the room's occupant was still awake. Luckily, Ulfric was seated in front of the fire with a book and his back was to her, giving her time to quickly step back into her stealth before he turned to glare at the suddenly open door.
The man before her was immediately on guard when he saw no one there, and the assassin silently thanked Sithis for her stealth. Ulfric quickly picked one of his axes off his belt, cautiously approaching the mysteriously opened door. As soon as the Nord male reached the top of the stairs he sensed a strong presence around him. Ulfric leaned over to check the pulse of the guard unconscious at his feet, keeping his eyes raised for a threat, standing up when he felt the steady thrum of a pulse beneath his fingers. He glanced down the hall, eyes lingering on a particular door before worry grabbed at him.
"Koudelka." It was a soft whisper of concern and realization that fell from his lips. What if the intruder had harmed her?
Koudelka held her breath as the man stepped closer to her stealth cloaked figure pressed against the hall's wall. The assassin was barely able to keep her stealth up when the man passed by her. She knew the man could sense... Something. She also knew he wasn't sure what it was. The woman almost let out a sigh of relief as the man kept walking by her, smirking lightly. The joy was short lived however as the Stormcloak leader suddenly spun around to look practically directly at her.
Koudelka wracked her mind hastily for ideas as she felt Shadow Warrior quickly beginning to fade out. The hand instinctively went to grasp the hilt of the Deadric dagger on her hip before an idea finally hit her. The assassin tilted her head to look up the stairs at Ulfric's room, whispering softly. "Zul Mey Gut!" Koudelka held her breath again when she heard her voice giggle faintly from the reaches of the Jarl's room.
She released her breath as the man turned immediately to run up the steps in order to investigate the noise, giving the woman a much needed opportunity to escape down the stairs onto the main floor of the palace.
Koudelka took the chance without a thought. She stood and ran down the stone steps, skipping the last few, landing silently. The assassin smiled and headed out to the city to raid the rest of the residences while they searched the palace high and low for nothing but a ghost.
Ulfric rubbed his hand over his face for what felt like the hundredth time, staring at the stack of missing or stolen item complaints. Galmar's booming laughter wasn't doing much to soothe his nerves. "She completely mesmerized you! You fool!" The elder Nord practically collapsed into a chair. He continued to chuckle softy while staring at his friend, mirth slowly draining off his face as he noticed Ulfric's mind was far gone.
"Ulfric," he began firmly while leaning forward a bit, "you're not still beguiled by her, are you?" Ulfric sighed and shook his head.
"I cannot help it, Galmar. There was something familiar about her... I know her name from somewhere." He stated absently.
Galmar stared at his leader curiously, shaking his head. "I cannot fathom from where. However, we must be cautious. We do not know if she is affiliated with the Imperials."
"Aye." Ulfric stood to return to his throne, only to pause once he was on his feet. "Helgan..." Galmar looked at Ulfric like the man had gone mad.
"Ulfric, what in Talos' name does that have to do with anything?" The man in question stood straight, shaking his head in disbelief. The Stone-fist was still well beyond enraged at the Imperials for Helgan.
"She was in Helgan, to be killed by the Imperials. They had her down on the block when the dragon attacked the town..." The Jarl crossed his arms over his chest, looking down at the still seated Stone-fist.
"Your point?... He urged, curiosity getting the better of him.
"My point," he sat back down the shuffle through the complaints, "is that any logical person wouldn't join an assembly of people who attempted to kill them for absolutely. Also, Ralof informed me that she had followed him out, over following that Imperial solider." He finished, looking to his friend for input.
"So maybe she is no threat as far as information to the Empire goes, but nevertheless she did make a mockery of your hospitality and she did steal well over twenty thousand from Windhelm!" He growled, set on punishment.
Ulfric sighed at his General's tone before ending the conversation. "Well, she's gone now, and I do not believe we will be seeing her again."
~Two month time jump~
Koudelka sighed from her position on the left shoulder of the Akatosh statue inside of the ring of colossal statues of The Nine. It was dusk, and the festivities below in the middle of the circle were just beginning. Music softly drifted up to be lost to the heavens, almost to coax the stars into arrival.
She delicately ran her fingers over the pointed bone on the Jagged Crown in her hands.
Koudelka had stayed close friends with Ralof and his family, considering he was part of her first memories she was able to recall. The man had become something of an older brother to her, telling her anything she asked and constantly teasing her.
The man had a bad habit of spoiling and doting on his family.
Which is how the Dragonborn had previously found out from Ralof after a night of jesting and drinking in his current encampment (somehow she always managed to find him and enter his tent without any of the other Stormcloaks noticing, leaving him in mystery) that the Stormcloaks would be attending the festival of the Guardian Stars in Shrouded Grove before heading to the nearby tomb of Korvanjund to search for the crown she held in her hands.
The assassin had chosen to adorn the same outfit she had worn the night she met Ulfric, minus the cloak, assuring the Nord would recognize her. Koudelka glanced down into the crowd of people below her.
Still no Stormcloaks. Still no Ulfric.
Koudelka leaned against the statue's head, absentmindedly rubbing a smudge of dirt off it's cheek. She pouted before perking up at the sound of a group of horses moving up the path. A triumphant smirk light her features as she saw Stormcloaks tethering their horses to posts. "This is going to be easier than I thought." She whispered softly, watching has Ulfric lingered behind a bit as his soldiers went to join the festivities, oblivious to the woman above them.
When Ulfric finally turned from his horse and began walking to join his troops, Koudelka waiting for him to near the statue she was currently perched upon.
The assassin waited until he was about ten feet away before leaping off the statue to land silently behind the other Nord. Koudelka hid her hands and therefore, the Jagged Crown, behind her back. She tilted her head playfully, letting her loose hair spill over her shoulder.
"I missed you." She whispered softly, smile faltering as the man reacted calmly, simply looking over his shoulder.
"Oh did you now?" He began, turning to face her. "Well I am forced to admit, I've been thinking quite a bit about you, too."
Her brow raised in curiosity. No hostility?
"About whether I should have you thrown into a cell, or if I should just shove a sword through you now."
'Ah, there it is...' She thought, taking a few small steps towards him. "We both know you don't really want to do that, Ulfric." He scoffed loudly and shook his head.
"You should have gotten your head cut off first in Helgan, not my soldier." She stopped walking when she was less than a foot away from the rebellion leader, looking up at him coyly.
"Know why I don't believe you mean that?" His arms crossed and her smile went wider.
"Please, enlighten me." He drawled, sounding nearly bored.
"Well, the fact that you have both an axe and a sword on your belt and neither is drawn is leading me to believe you have something else to say to me." The man before her looked surprised at himself for a moment. Koudelka glanced over his shoulder at the festivities behind him. His soldiers were well occupied, along with dozens of other Nords.
"Furthermore, it is a Nordic night of peace and wishes." His face softened a bit and his hands fell to rest on his axe hilt casually, not threatening.
"I suppose you are correct. However I cannot simply allow someone who robbed my city to escape." Koudelka rocked on her heels a bit.
"What if I told you that if you decided not to kill me, you'd have my loyalty to your cause?" The man released a sarcastic chuckle, shaking his head.
"Thieves have no loyalty, and even if you did, why in the world would I want an infamous thief in my army? To steal from my men?" He questioned seriously, planning on ending the conversation there. He glanced behind him and caught Galmar's eye, moving slightly to block the older man's view of the women in front of him.
"I cannot continue to speak with you. If I see you again after tonight, it will be with a sword through your chest." She felt an odd twinge of something inside of her chest when she realized he was about ready to turn away.
"Dance with me." Koudelka requested smoothly, ever-present smirk fading into a pleading pout. Ulfric felt his lips quirk at the look on her face.
"Give me a reason to, thief." Her reply was almost immediate as she straightened up hopefully.
"I have a present for you if you do. I can easily guarantee you will like it," she paused for a moment before adding, "you won't be able to find it anywhere else."
"As are the words spoken by any thief," Ulfric countered, thinking for a moment before adding, "you'd probably only be returning what already belongs to me. Something you stole two months ago." The woman smirked again, and Ulfric found himself wishing he had simply left.
"I suppose you could say it is rightfully yours, however it is not something I stole from Windhelm." Koudelka stated, pulling the crown from behind her back. The man before her seemed bewildered for a moment, stepping closer to her. She stepped back and clicked her tongue in disapproval. "You owe me a dance for this, Stormcloak."
Ulfric groaned softly and shook his head. "I cannot be seen enjoying festivities with you. Galmar knows what you look like, thief. He won't be as merciful as I am." She nodded understandingly.
"He's almost as intimidating as you are." Koudelka placed the crown into her pack that was resting on the ground quickly, taking Ulfric's hand in her own before pulling him towards the merriments in the heart of the statues before he could even process what was happening.
"Almost as-! Wait, what are you doing?" She smiled charmingly over her shoulder at him and continued to lead him closer to the music- and Galmar.
"Ulfric, if you truly didn't wish to dance we wouldn't be standing here. You are Ulfric Stormcloak. You rule your own actions, not the people in view of you." As she whispered these words to him, the rebellion leader felt his hands moving of their own accord to rest at the small of the assassin's back, gently holding her hand in his.
"If we dance, you answer any questions I have, in addition to the crown." Koudelka pondered for a moment before agreeing.
"You get five questions." She bargained.
"Deal." He saw the glint of mischief in her eyes a second too late. She tilted her head to look past his shoulder and grinned, waving sweetly to where he knew Galmar was watching them suspiciously.
Ulfric hung his head slightly with a defeated sigh before forcing her hand into proper placement on his shoulder from her wave, forcing her to begin the dance. He led her slowly; mildly surprised someone of her profession knew how to dance gracefully. "You're going to make the aftermath of this terrible, aren't you?" She looked up at him and tilted her head curiously. He smirked at the height difference.
"Well, of course." Koudelka's face quickly got flustered when she realized what he was thinking. "Say it and I will kill you." For some reason incomprehensible to him, Ulfric felt cheeky.
"You're rather short, for a Nord." Ulfric was soon to regret those words when he felt her hand slide down to jab him in the side before returning to it's previous position.
"Might I advise you that you begin your inquiries before I take my leave?" She smiled icily.
"Is your name honestly Koudelka?" He stared down at her, and he smiled as she baulked.
"I'll have you know I'm the most honest thief you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting!" Ulfric spun her once rather harshly and she laughed at him.
"Why the sudden interest in joining my army? It would not clear you of the robbery." He asked, turning her to glance over her head at Galmar, attempting to judge how long they had before the Stone-fist acted out.
Judging by the the man's stance, he didn't have long.
"It has become my job to protect Skyrim from many things." She paused and her brows furrowed for a moment before she continued. "The world is an extremely heavy responsibility to have. Skyrim will be suppressed by The Empire, and I cannot permit that, just as much as I cannot permit the End Times."
Ulfric stared at her in an odd mix of curious confusion. "The End Times? No one can prevent the End Times apart from the-"
"Dragonborn." She finished for him, both Nords stopping their dance.
"You? You are the Dragonborn?" She nodded hesitantly and stepped back from him.
"Allow me to further my protection of the land by aiding in the Stormcloak's endeavors to free the people of Skyrim."
The request was so formal and out of character that Ulfric was almost curious if she was still the same woman. He proceeded cautiously after debating what she could bring to the Stormcloaks.
"There are conditions. First, you must prove to me you are truly Dragonborn, and tell me your affiliations." She glanced up at the sky and took his hand.
"Come sit with me. The stars have begun." The rebellion leader's gaze followed hers to find that the colorful stars they had been waiting for had indeed begun streaking across the night sky. Most of the others had stopped dancing or celebrating. They stood together and watched the god's magic streak across the sky.
Ulfric suddenly became all too aware of Koudelka pulling him back to their original spots underneath Akatosh. He sat on the statue's stand and helped the woman hop up to sit next to him. His gaze fell back to the falling stars. "Meet us back in Windhelm within this month. We will discuss your skills and whether or not you're trust worthy." He murmured.
"I'll be there." Her reply was simple, and they simply enjoyed the rest of the stars.
It was a little less than an hour when the astral show finally stopped, and Ulfric turned to shoo Koudelka off before Galmar got his hands on her, only to find the woman had long since disappeared without his notice.
In her place was the Jagged Crown, as promised.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Drop me a review on the chapter and new Chapter History idea! :) I hope I did your prompt to your liking, Teddy! It's nice to be back!