She entered the long hall and walked slowly down the blue carpet, past the long table.\u00a0 Ulfric was seated in his throne, as usual, looking at papers, deep in discussions with Jorlief.\u00a0 Jorlief looked up and saw her. Clearly startled, he cleared his throat and tapped Ulfric\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy lord,\u201d he said, trailing off without finishing his statement.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Ulfric looked up and saw her.\u00a0 He was on his feet in a moment, dropping the papers onto the throne behind him.\u00a0 Without saying a word he stepped down off the dais and walked toward her, his strides lengthening until he met her, opposite the door to his map room.\u00a0 Frina looked at him and began to tremble at what was clearly blazing anger in his eyes.<\/p>\n
He reached out and seized her by the upper arm, yanking her toward the doorway.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome with me,\u201d he growled. \u201cNow.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
The guards standing at either side of the doorway stepped back out of the way as Ulfric stormed toward them; Frina thought they looked startled, if not actually distressed. She stumbled a bit; but having no choice other than to go where he was directing, she tried to keep up with Ulfric as he propelled her through the map room, up the two flights of cold, dark stone stairs, and into his private quarters.\u00a0 He released her arm, turned, and slammed the door shut.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat were you thinking?\u201d<\/em> he shouted.<\/p>\n Frina cringed.<\/p>\n I\u2019d forgotten. He\u2019s soon to be the High King of Skyrim and he can end me here. He\u2019s so much stronger than I am, too. I\u2019d forgotten. I kept thinking of him just as a man, just Ulfric, and I had no right.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI thought\u2026 I might help.\u00a0 My lord,\u201d she said very quietly, barely able to get the words out of her mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cYou disobeyed me!\u201d he snarled.<\/p>\n Ulfric whirled to look at her.\u00a0 His gaze ran over her from top to bottom.\u00a0 She saw when he took in the long gashes in her armor that might never be repaired, the blood stains that might never come out.\u00a0 He looked at her face again; she saw him notice the soot-stained traces of the tears she\u2019d tried to wipe away, the hair that she usually kept neatly pulled off her face falling in untidy clumps here and there.<\/p>\n And then he closed the distance between them and pulled her to him.\u00a0 He gathered her up next to his chest and held her, so closely that she wondered whether her heart would cease beating.\u00a0 She surely could hear his, beating in a strong, solid pattern beneath the layers of heavy armor. She was so startled that she barely knew what to do except to wrap her arms around him and hold him, as well. As the moments ticked by she realized that she felt — safe, for the first time in a very long time.<\/p>\n \u201cFrina,\u201d he said, his deep voice rumbling next to her ear.<\/p>\n Frina dissolved.\u00a0 She started to tremble in Ulfric\u2019s embrace for the second time, but this time she was crying as well.<\/p>\n \u201cI was afraid,\u201d she cried. \u201cI thought I could help, and I made it all the way through the fortress and cleared out the Blood Horkers and the battle mage and then it started exploding. Everything was exploding. And burning. And I felt like we were in Whiterun or Solitude all over again with the explosions and everything burning except that you weren\u2019t there and it was so loud<\/em>, and I wasn\u2019t sure I was going to live through it\u2026\u201d\u00a0 She sobbed, and tried to pull back, but Ulfric wouldn\u2019t let her move.\u00a0 He held her next to him, rocking back and forth just slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou disobeyed me.\u201d<\/p>\n The gentleness of his tone contrasted so with his words that it caught Frina by surprise, and she sobbed again. \u201cI did, and I\u2019m sorry. I forgot myself and my place and I forgot who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you almost single-handedly reopened the shipping routes for all of Skyrim. The news was here before you were,\u201d he murmured.\u00a0 Frina felt one of Ulfric\u2019s hands begin rubbing her back, lightly, up and down.\u00a0 It was one of the most comforting things she could ever remember feeling, and she almost started crying harder just because it felt so wonderful.<\/p>\n \u201cBut my lord,\u201d she said, only to be met by a quiet chuckle.<\/p>\n \u201cUlfric. My name is Ulfric. And you are Frina. And I was very afraid that you would not be returning,\u201d he said quietly, finally pushing her back from him far enough to look at her eyes, but not releasing her. \u201cStormblade, you have done this city and all of Skyrim a great service, and we will not soon forget it.\u00a0 But you have given its future High King a few more gray hairs than he already had.\u201d\u00a0 He reached up to touch her face. \u201cPlease do not do such a thing again. I fear he is an old man, and could not bear the strain.\u201d<\/p>\n Frina studied his face.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t smiling, but neither was he frowning; he was simply dead serious, his eyes full of concern.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very sorry,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cAnd I am very ashamed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? What have you to be ashamed of?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was afraid. In a battle. I cried when the firestorm exploded around me.\u201d\u00a0 She swallowed hard against the tears that were trying to re-emerge. \u201cI\u2019m supposed to be a soldier.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric walked her backwards a few steps and gently pushed her down into a chair.\u00a0 Then he walked to the back of his quarters.\u00a0 His back was to her, so she couldn\u2019t see what he was doing; but she heard the sound of liquid splashing.\u00a0 He returned to the table with a bowl of water and two cloths, and wetted one; and then to her utter surprise he lifted her chin up with one hand and gently wiped off her sweaty, smoke-covered, tear-stained face.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are <\/em>a soldier, Frina,\u201d he said quietly as he worked on her face, but did not meet her gaze. \u201cYou must keep this in mind, though. Soldiers rarely go into battle alone. Some do in very limited situations, to do specialized things, usually against limited numbers of the enemy; but generally they do not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike when I stole the Imperial plans for Galmar,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Ulfric nodded. \u201cYes, like that. On Japhet\u2019s Folly you were one soldier against an entire cadre of seasoned, well-provisioned pirates with magical expertise to boot. There was<\/em> good reason that nobody had rid Skyrim of them before now, you know. You had no real backup. And you were being bombarded \u2013 which was an absurd thing for them to do under the circumstances. You put yourself at great personal risk and looking at you I can see that your success was far from certain.\u201d\u00a0 He rinsed out the cloth and made one more pass over her face; she closed her eyes and sighed at how good it felt to be rid of the layer of salty dirt she\u2019d accumulated. \u201cThere is no shame in weeping under battle conditions, particularly when you persevered in spite of your fear. Just as there is no shame in weeping under torture,\u201d he added. \u201cThat is a thing that even a king may do.\u201d<\/p>\n Frina\u2019s eyes flew open and she stared at Ulfric.\u00a0 He was placing the dirty cloth back in the water and reaching for a dry cloth, but he was frowning, and his mouth was held in a tight line.\u00a0 He shook his head, sighed, and turned back to her.<\/p>\n \u201cHere. Let me dry your face.\u201d\u00a0 Frina let him do so, studying him as he did.\u00a0 His eyes looked far-away, and almost haunted.<\/p>\n My gods. He was tortured. And he was afraid. And he fell apart for a time as well. That\u2019s what he\u2019s just told me.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very sorry that I brought that up, before I left,\u201d she said quietly.<\/p>\n Ulfric glanced at her and smiled, grimly she thought, then shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cThere,\u201d he said, putting aside the towel and, seemingly, ignoring her statement. \u201cThank you for allowing me to do that. You looked as though you felt miserable.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded.<\/p>\n Ulfric walked to the door and opened it again, calling for a servant.\u00a0 She heard voices for a moment, too quiet to understand the words; then a woman scurried into the room and picked up the bowl of water and dirty towels.\u00a0 She nodded at Frina, smiled shyly and said, \u201cMy lady,\u201d then left the room.<\/p>\n Frina couldn\u2019t help herself; she giggled. \u201cMy lady! I don\u2019t know that anyone\u2019s ever called me that before.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric took the seat opposite her and sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes for a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve sent for hot water, and clean towels.\u00a0 You will find a robe in the chest just there. I can see that you were injured; your armor is ruined, and you are likely bloodstained if I am any judge of battles.\u201d He opened his eyes then and smiled at her.<\/p>\n \u201cI shall leave you while you refresh yourself.\u00a0 And then the servants will bring us food. And wine. It occurs to me that a great battle deserves a bit of a celebration. And so, if you will indulge me, does your safe return.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy lord,\u201d she started to say.\u00a0 Then Ulfric stopped her with one warm hand over hers.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease. Tonight, let me be simply Ulfric. And Ulfric is just as relieved that you have returned safely as the Jarl of Windhelm was angry that you disobeyed him.\u201d \u00a0Ulfric\u2019s expression was warm and open, and something else that she could not identify.<\/p>\n Frina looked at him, her gaze moving from one of his eyes to the other and back again, and she could see nothing in them aside from the sincere desire of a man with too much on his shoulders to share in a little well-earned creature comfort.\u00a0 She smiled at him.<\/p>\n This. This is why I forgot he is a king. This is just a person wanting company.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt would be my pleasure, Ulfric,\u201d she said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cAnd thank you. I was very distressed, as you saw.\u00a0 I already feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a knock. Ulfric smiled, released her hand, and rose to open his quarters to a pair of women, one carrying a silver jug with steam rising from its mouth.\u00a0 The other had towels, and what looked like a bar of soap. \u00a0They took these to what Frina could now see was a basin in the far corner, and then turned to leave. Ulfric nodded to them and moved toward the door himself.<\/p>\n \u201cI have some business to conclude before I may rejoin you, so feel no need to rush.\u201d<\/p>\n Frina pushed herself slowly and somewhat painfully out of the chair and made her way toward what was obviously some delightfully hot water.\u00a0 She looked around, somewhat nervously though there was nobody else in the room, and began to peel herself out of her ruined armor.<\/p>\n Bathing in the High King\u2019s bedroom.\u00a0 This is not a thing I would ever have thought I\u2019d be doing.<\/em><\/p>\n It was delightful.\u00a0 As the soot and blood washed away, the warmth soothed bruises and aches.\u00a0 She felt herself relaxing more with every moment.\u00a0 When she was entirely clean \u2013 even her nearly-frozen feet having been warmed and washed \u2013 she found the robe Ulfric had mentioned and slipped into it.<\/p>\n And then she found herself giggling.\u00a0 I wonder what Roggi would think of this? Something tells me he would not approve at all. <\/em><\/p>\n When Ulfric returned, not too long afterward, he brought two of the castle\u2019s kitchen staff with him. They had two plates piled high with food, a basket of bread, and a large silver jug from which the woman carrying it poured two goblets of wine.\u00a0 Frina took one of them and sipped it, smiling at the earthy taste of it.\u00a0 Ulfric thanked the women and took his seat, and without fanfare dug into his meal.\u00a0 Frina followed suit.\u00a0 They were having roast rabbit with garlic carrots, and potatoes baked and covered with generous amounts of butter. With each moment that passed she felt a little more centered, felt a few more aches recede, and she smiled inside at the great good fortune that had rewarded her with such an evening after the horrors she\u2019d just endured.<\/p>\n After a few minutes of quiet eating, Frina spoke up.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have wonderful cooks, my\u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n Ulfric looked at her and raised one eyebrow.<\/p>\n \u201cUlfric,\u201d she said, laughing.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d he said, taking another drink of his wine. \u201cBoth for the compliment and for using my name.\u201d<\/p>\n Frina sighed. \u201cYou do realize that I am not exactly used to dining with people who are, well, royalty.\u00a0 Yes?\u00a0 I know that the war had both my sister and I here on business but we\u2019re just simple Nord people. And so is Roggi, and his family \u2013 at least as far as I remember them. I still don\u2019t know how to act.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d he said with a slight smile, \u201cI believe you know exactly how to act. And you have dined with the Dragonborn, have you not?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell yes, but he\u2019s just Roggi\u2019s husband.\u00a0 I mean he is so\u2026 normal.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric laughed. \u201cThere is very little that is normal about the amount of power that man possesses.\u00a0 Anyone with a bit of talent can learn to harness the Thu\u2019um with enough training and dedication. I have more natural ability than most, and the Greybeards chose me to study with them when I was just a lad. It was a great honor, of course; I was to have become a Greybeard myself if not for the Great War. As you have seen, it became clear that I am more a warrior than a philosopher.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t necessarily say that,\u201d Frina murmured. \u201cThis is all very interesting to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is good. And I have no doubt that you have thought very deeply about power and its uses, having fought at my side in this war. You have seen both of us use our Voices in a way of which the Greybeards do not approve. But Dardeh<\/em>,\u201d he said, grinning and emphasizing the name so that she would notice he was using it, \u201cis in a different class altogether. They say that those very few individuals who have truly been Dragonborn are of human form but possessed of the blood and soul of a dragon, and need no instruction to use the power of the Voice. So in a way, my Stormblade, you have shared meals with true royalty, the kind of which most of us can never dream.\u201d<\/p>\n Frina pondered that for a moment while she had more of her wine and a few more bites of the delicious crusty loaf the women had brought. \u00a0Ulfric reached for the silver pitcher and refilled both their goblets.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd yet, you are the next High King of Skyrim.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric nodded. \u201cPerhaps. Most likely.\u201d He looked away and for a moment Frina saw a hint of deep sadness on his face. \u201cThe truth is that there has not been a true High King in Skyrim for generations. For too long he has been hand-picked by the Emperor.\u00a0 And there has been no true Emperor for a very long time, only political hacks who have bowed to the Aldmeri Dominion. It is time for Skyrim to have its own true king, one of our own<\/em> making.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that is you. That is why all of us fought for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell. It may be so,\u201d Ulfric said, smiling at her. \u201cIt is a shame that my honored father could not have known this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour father? The former Jarl?\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric looked back at her and smiled. \u201cYes. Hoag. The Bear of Eastmarch. He died while I was imprisoned after the Markarth incident. You may know of it, although I expect you are too young to have heard of it first-hand.\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head and chuckled. \u201cAnd now I remind myself how old I have become. It\u2019s a pity. At any rate, I \u2013 his only son \u2013 was forced to deliver his eulogy by letter, smuggled out of the prison by sympathetic guards. The late and unlamented Titus Mede refused to release me until after Hoag had been laid to rest.\u00a0 It\u2026 is a thing that did nothing to reinforce what had once been my love for the Empire. We\u2019ll leave it at that.\u201d\u00a0 He drained his goblet and then refilled it, taking another sip.<\/p>\n Frina thought of her own parents, both dead now, much too soon.\u00a0 Her mother had most definitely died of a broken heart after Briinda\u2019s murder, in spite of her father\u2019s best efforts to raise her spirits over the years in High Rock. He had followed her not long after her passing.\u00a0 It hurt her heart to think of what she might have felt if she\u2019d been unable to be there as they were laid to rest. For that matter, it still hurt her heart that she had not been able to comfort Roggi.\u00a0 She looked at Ulfric\u2019s posture, slightly slumped, his expression one of melancholy, his blonde hair hanging forward across his face, and she wanted nothing more than to wrap him up in a comforting embrace.\u00a0 But it wasn\u2019t her place to do such a thing.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d she murmured instead.<\/p>\n Ulfric looked at her, one eyebrow raised as though he had not in any way expected such a response.\u00a0 \u201cThank you, Frina,\u201d he said. \u201cThe people sat me on my father\u2019s throne when I returned to Windhelm. The throne of Ysgramor! I can only hope that I can in some way prove worthy of the honor.\u201d<\/p>\n Frina surprised herself, and Ulfric, by reaching across the table and squeezing his hand. \u201cYou already have. You\u2019ve taken Skyrim back for its people and you\u2019re going to be its next High King. And even Dardeh thinks you\u2019ll be a good one.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric laughed; and Frina smiled at the sound of it.\u00a0 He\u2019s been so serious since I returned. It is good to hear that laugh again.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDoes he, now? Well that is very good, then. So he had said; but it is always hard to know whether someone is being sincere when they are trying to enter a Jarl\u2019s service.\u00a0 So I shall become the High King with the blessing of the Dragonborn.\u201d\u00a0 Then he shook his head. \u201cThe alternative, of course, is Elisif of Solitude, whom you saw there when we took the city.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHigh King Torygg\u2019s widow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. And now, it would seem, once again married.\u201d<\/p>\n Frina\u2019s mouth fell open. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. You heard me. It\u2019s troubling, truthfully. Word has arrived that the fair Elisif has taken a Breton mage as her new husband.\u201d\u00a0 Ulfric\u2019s voice was heavy with sarcasm. \u201cThe Archmage of Winterhold, as it happens. I do not know this man. However, I am sure that there will be those who will take Elisif\u2019s part when the Moot meets, because of this.\u201d<\/p>\n Frina was exhausted. Her head had been swimming before coming to the Palace because of the noise and the terror of the battle on Japhet\u2019s Folly; and she had been drinking the rather heady wine Ulfric\u2019s people had brought them. For whatever reason, she could not make sense of what he had just told her.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand. Why would she be made High Queen simply because she\u2019s married? She vowed that she would support you.\u00a0 She knows she\u2019s bound to that promise.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric looked at Frina for a long moment as if considering his next words carefully. She could nearly see his mind working; but she hadn\u2019t known him long enough to know what the set of his face might mean. She suddenly remembered Roggi telling her earnestly that she should take nothing Ulfric said for granted and that he would say anything to get his way; but she had never heard him utter a falsehood in her presence, so she pushed the moment of doubt to the side.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Lady Elisif has a distinct advantage over me. She has the capability to produce an heir to the throne and I, clearly, do not.\u201d<\/p>\n He waved a hand at his body and grinned.\u00a0 Frina broke into a fit of giggles in spite of her efforts to remain at least slightly dignified.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd now that she is once more a wife, that capacity has become a real possibility.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmm.\u00a0 That seems a ridiculous reason to make someone a queen, but I\u2019ll take your word for it. You know these things much better than I do.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric took another sip of his wine and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment. \u00a0Frina followed suit but rather than closing her eyes, she merely studied his face.\u00a0 He looked tired.\u00a0 She wanted to touch him, perhaps massage his shoulders, somehow ease his weariness the way he had relieved her discomfort by washing the dirt from her face.<\/p>\n Suddenly, he began to chuckle without opening his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI am tired, and this armor is ridiculously heavy.\u00a0 Why am I still wearing it?\u201d<\/p>\n Frina grinned.\u00a0 \u201cI have no idea. Because it makes you look twice as big as you are?\u201d<\/p>\n He laughed.\u00a0 \u201cYou have made me laugh so much in recent days. I haven\u2019t laughed so often in many years. The cares of the war have been heavy on my shoulders for a very long time now and before that\u2026\u201d he shuddered, visibly.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore that was the Great War, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n His smile faded, and he opened his eyes. \u201cYes. And life was no more pleasant then, as you have heard.\u201d\u00a0 He stood, and wrestled with the fastenings on his armor, grumbling as the moments went by and he had no success with them.<\/p>\n Frina giggled. Too much wine, perhaps?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDo you need help, sire?\u201d she asked, knowing full well what his reaction would be.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn it all, yes I do,\u201d he said, laughing again. \u201cAnd don\u2019t \u2018sire\u2019 me, Frina. We\u2019ve talked about this before. In here, I\u2019m just Ulfric.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, Ulfric. Just a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n She stood and took a step toward him, stopping for a moment as she realized that her own gait was a bit unsteady.\u00a0 A wee bit too much wine for me as well, it seems. <\/em>Happily, Ulfric had been facing away from her and didn\u2019t see her trying to catch her balance; she grinned and came up behind him, then helped with the straps that held the massive pauldrons. It took just a few moments before the two of them had the armor loose.\u00a0 He shrugged his shoulders to shake the pauldrons off, and they started to fall; Frina lunged for them and nearly lost her balance.<\/p>\n Ulfric grabbed her by the shoulders, to break her fall, and straightened her back up, but didn\u2019t let go of her.\u00a0 She stood there, close enough to feel his breath on her face, and simply looked up at him.<\/p>\n \u201cOh!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour eyes. They\u2019re green.\u00a0 I never noticed before. \u00a0They\u2019re wonderful!\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric laughed, and his green eyes sparkled. \u201cYes, they are. I\u2019m glad they are pleasing to you. And you \u2026 are very pleasing to me,\u201d he said quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cI am\u2026 glad that you think so.\u201d<\/p>\n He leaned forward and kissed her.<\/p>\n Frina lost track of what was happening, then. Ulfric\u2019s mouth was soft, and warm; he tasted like wine, and she supposed that she must, as well. His hand cupped her face, and then slipped down her throat to her collarbone, just under the edge of the loose robe she wore. When she didn\u2019t pull away from him he explored her mouth with his tongue and she followed suit. It was so much like the daydreams she\u2019d had of a moment like this that she found herself moaning, a tiny sound in the back of her throat.<\/p>\n Ulfric pulled back, his eyes wide, and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI have done it again, overstepped my boundaries. Forgive me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no. Don\u2019t be sorry. Don\u2019t\u2026 \u201d<\/p>\n He shook his head. \u201cWe\u2019ve both had too much wine and I fear I am taking advantage. I don\u2019t want to do that. You are not some common tavern wench. You are an accomplished warrior, who has done many great things for Skyrim. And for the Jarl of Windhelm.\u201d<\/p>\n But he didn\u2019t release her. His desire to continue was obvious and as a powerful man, the future High King, he could easily have just insisted, taken that advantage. Yet she watched his eyes and saw both the desire and the exquisite indecision in them.<\/p>\n Frina closed her eyes for a moment and felt the warm arms holding her loosely and made her decision. It really was no decision at all; she had known what she hoped for well before she walked through the gates of Windhelm. She opened her eyes again and smiled at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not taking advantage, Ulfric,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cI came home to Skyrim for the Jarl of Windhelm. After Solitude I came here \u2013 back to Windhelm \u2013 for you.\u00a0 Surely you must know that. I\u2019m not very good at hiding my emotions.\u201d<\/p>\n He stared at her, intently, searching. \u201cI had hoped that was the case, but\u2026\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to do anything that might hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n She shook her head. \u201cI have no experience, Ulfric. But I am certain that I want you to be the one to teach me. I have been certain of that for some time. Be gentle, but know that this is something I want. Very much.\u201d<\/p>\n He hesitated yet another moment, then leaned forward and swept her into another, more fervent, kiss.<\/p>\n \u201cThen come with me, my beautiful Stormblade,\u201d he murmured as he pulled away from her.\u00a0 \u201cI may be a Jarl, soon to be a king, but I am a lonely man and you gladden my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n He took her hand and led her onto the great raised platform holding the bed of the Jarl of Windhelm.<\/p>\n Frina trudged up the steps into Windhelm, feeling grim.\u00a0 Oh, to be sure, her coin purse was a lot healthier now than it had been not long ago thanks to the East Empire Company.\u00a0 And Adelaisa Vendicci had offered to accompany her if she wanted, if she had any further adventures planned, though Frina could … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/4-3-5-3.png\")
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