Flashes of white hot pain stabbed through Elana at every breath she took. She bit down on her lip hard to keep from yelling out. A glance down at the gaping wound in her side made her head spin, and she had to stifle a groan.
Ulfric's strong hands probed the wound gently, but even the cautious movement made Elan want to scream. She wouldn't though. Not when Ulfric Stormcloak stood by her side. Not when he was trying to care for her, the Dragonborn, as best he could. No, she would not make a sound, no matter how much it hurt.
Her willpower was tested when Ulfric poured a potent healing potion into the open wound. The liquid stung as if she was being stabbed with a thousand needles. Unwillingly, she inhaled sharply. Ulfric's head snapped up in alarm.
"I'm sorry, Elana. I should have seen that Thalmor before he was able to attack you. This is my fault." Ulfric's blue eyes were filled with self-reproach.
"Never, my jarl! The fault is mine. What good is an escort if the escort can't keep themselves out of harm's way, much less their charges?" Elana grit her teeth against the pain as Ulfric began to stitch the wound closed.
"Elana… thank you." Ulfric said the words softly causing Elana to look back towards him quizzically.
"For what, Jarl Ulfric?"
"For being here. For staying strong. It's...nice to have someone I can unburden myself to after a long day of planning. Thank you for putting up with my not-so-pleasant rants." The jarl looked down sheepishly. It was an expression that didn't seem to belong on the strong man's face.
Elana smiled, the pain in her side forgotten in an instant. It was moments like this when Elana truly loved Ulfric for who he was. Not the great rebellion leader, or jarl, or soldier, just Ulfric. "You're welcome, my jarl," she said with a sigh. Ulfric finished fixing her side and left the tent. Elana sat for some time, thinking, before finally falling into the world of sleep.