A/N: The response to this within just the first day blew me away, so I want to thank you guys for all the follows and favourites! I'd love to hear what you guys think in some reviews, and I also want to let you know that I will consider any and all suggestions that are made regarding future events that you guys think should take place. I intend on this being a long-running story, so there's always room for your suggestions to work their way in. As I've written several chapters ahead of time, it may not happen right away, but if I'm able to work it in, I definitely will. Again, thank you for the amazing response to this story, and I hope you guys will continue to enjoy it!

It had been a long time since Ulfric had run as quickly as he ran now – of course, it had been years since anything had been so important that he had to run. He entered the cold streets with the young blonde, Leola running ahead of him. It seemed to have sunken in to the young girl now how important it was that they get to her mother, and the guards quickly allowed them to pass through the gates.

A sturdy horse, dark brown with blotches of creamy white, stood near the stables, being stroked by a stablehand until Leola ran up to it and pulled herself on. Ulfric motioned for the stablehand to get him a horse as well, and the young man didn't bother to ask any questions, simply hurried to untie a horse and let it free from the stables. Ulfric hoisted himself up on to the horse's back and in a flash, Leola and her horse had darted off. Ulfric hurried after her on his own horse, catching up with ease.

Neither spoke as the horses galloped along, though Ulfric began to let his eyes wander. He admired the serene and beautiful landscape of his kingdom, and then the way that his daughter's beautiful golden locks bounced and billowed behind her as the splotchy horse's hooves clopped against the path beneath them.

His daughter… Yes, this was his daughter. His own flesh and blood, a young woman that he had helped to create. Sadness filled his heart. He hadn't been able to see her life pass by – he hadn't been able to caress the roundness of her mother carrying the infant in her belly, to cradle the baby in his arms and fall in love with those angelic blue eyes. He had missed his chance to help teach the girl to talk, and to let her tiny hands grasp his big fingers for support as she learned to walk. He was certain that he would have been a good father. He would have brought her sweet rolls, kissed her forehead at night before she fell asleep, and held her in his arms when she was upset. He would have taught her to fight, had a special dagger forged for his special little girl, and bought her the most beautiful dresses.

"Your majesty?" came Leola's voice as the horses slowed to a stop, and Ulfric looked into her blue eyes.

"Leola," he said slowly, "you may call me Ulfric."

"Very well, then," she answered courteously, "Ulfric, we should stop and rest for the night before we carry on."

"No, we have no way of knowing whether your mother will still be alive by then," he said sharply, shaking his head. "We'll ride through the night if we must."

"I cannot," said Leola quickly, shaking her head. "I left home yesterday morning and didn't arrive in Windhelm until tonight, I need to rest."

Ulfric paused thoughtfully, then looked at her.

"Where is your house?" he asked.

"On the southern edge of Lake Ilinalta," Leola replied softly.

"Go back to Windhelm. Go to my steward and tell him that I have asked to have you stay in the palace while I am gone. He will prepare a room for you and breakfast in the morning – and supper, for I will not be back until at least the morning after next."

The blonde girl gave him a nervous smile and nodded slightly. "Will you be alright to find it on your own?" she asked him.

"Yes. I know exactly where you mean – I have seen that very house before," he said, and a pang of guilt ran through his chest at the thought that he had passed the Dragonborn's home, where she and her daughter lived completely unaware of how close he was.

"I'll see you in two days then, my King," she said to him. "Please, try to save my mother…and thank you," she said.

"I'll see you in two days, Leola," he replied, and before anything more could be said, he dug his heels into the sides of his horse and they took off at a gallop, heading speedily towards Falkreath.

Lakeview Manor… She had been in Lakeview Manor this whole time and none had thought to look there. Breezehome? Hjerim? Honeyside? Vlindrel Hall? All had been checked. They had searched Proudspire Manor in Solitude, and even Severin Manor, her home in Solstheim, but there was no sign of her, no hint of where she had gone. None knew that Lakeview Manor belonged to the Dragonborn though, and Ulfric angrily wondered how that detail had escaped them. Who had they thought to live in Lakeview Manor? He didn't even know.

He knew that it would take hours – a good fourteen hours of travel – to reach her, but he knew that he had no other option. Letting her die wasn't an option for him – he needed to say goodbye, to tell her that he had loved her as well, and to make sure that she died knowing that he accepted Leola as his own, and that he would take her in and care for her the way he would have if he had been present for her childhood.

In the distance, shattering his train of thought as many had over the course of the evening, Ulfric heard the roaring sound of a dragon. He felt as though his heart was dropping into his stomach. He moved quickly, dismounting his horse and drawing a sword.

"Drem," roared the dragon's voice as the beast came into view, its massive, scaly wings beating against the cold air. "I am Odahviing, Fahdon – friend," said the dragon, and Ulfric had never before been more grateful for his training with the Greybeards, for he recognized the beautiful language and the words spoken by the beast.

"What do you want?" Ulfric shouted as the dragon lowered itself down, landing in front of him and gazing at the King with its beady, reptilian eyes.

"I was send by my Briinah – sister – the Dovahkiin," said the dragon. "She lies ill, dying – soon to take her last su'um…breath…"

"Can you take me to her?" asked Ulfric, and there was a moment of silence.

"She said to watch this path for the Jun...the King…and if you tried to come to her, to stop you."

"But why?" Ulfric asked, frowning.

"She is Sahlo…weak…she does not wish for you to see her in such a state, and she fears seeing you again. She has hurt you, and she knows this."

Ulfric shook his head. "No, I forgive her. I understand. I'm not angry. I just want to see her. I need to see her one last time. I need to tell her that I love her."

Odahviing was silent again, finally giving a single nod of his head and lowering it to the ground.

"Know that she is the only one I allow to ride on my back," he said.

"Then I am honoured," answered Ulfric. He was careful as he moved forward, getting atop the dragon's back. "I am ready," he said, holding on tightly, and without another word, the dragon spread his majestic wings and took off.

Ulfric shivered a bit as they began to soar through the air. Up here, in the sky, it was icy and cold. Even bulky Ulfric, clad in furs and warm clothing, was chilled to the bone.

"Will this take long?" he shouted, hoping that the dragon would hear him over the deafening roar of the wind billowing past them.

"Niid…no," answered Odahviing, though he said nothing more.

Ulfric was silent again as they flew along. He took the time to think, considering everything. What would he say to the Dragonborn when he saw her again? Would he blurt out that he loved her? Sit at her bedside and begin by saying that he forgave her? Would he even speak, or would he simply rush to hold the dying angel in his arms? Would she cry? Would she be angry that he didn't listen to her? Would she be happy? He didn't know. She had always been so unpredictable, and surely the years had changed her.