Survivor (A Skyrim Fan-Fiction)

Chapter Twenty One

Skyrim's winter had now been and gone, the cold winds and seemingly never-ending blizzards gone for another year. The people had rejoiced of Hagen's birth in the month of Sun's Dawn, 4E 205, glad that the Stormcloak line isn't likely to come to a halt anytime soon and convinced our land won't be overcome with war in the foreseeable future.

Well, that's what the people think.

Ulfric refuses to let any knowledge of Maven's vampires slip into the babble of the common folk for a number of reasons. One, he doesn't want his people worrying over another danger looming over them, so soon after the dragons gone and the vampires thought to be destroyed.

Two, he feels we don't know enough about it to actually define the situation as a threat. And three, he believes if we make Maven and the vampires widely known, it may push other potential enemies to make common cause with them and plunge Skyrim into yet another war.

For now though Maven was out of our minds and forgotten, something to deal with at a later date. Instead, we were focused on improving not just Solitude, but Skyrim as a whole.

"Yes, it's coming along rather nicely," Ulfric said whilst fingering his beard. "When do you think it'll be finished?"

The Nord overseeing the construction of the warships was a burly man with biceps as big as boulders and every inch of him covered in black coarse hair, all apart from his cleanly shaven face. His nose and high cheekbones were as sharp as a knife, though his cool blue eyes seemed to somewhat soften his harsh facial features.

"I would think she'll be ready to sail in three months, four at most. The other two could take at least another year to complete, your Majesty."

"Good, fantastic timing if I must say so. I'm thinking a fitting name for this great ship would be Colossal, don't you think Aemilia?"

It was a huge ship, no doubt about it. The mast stood so tall it would just be able to go under the Solitude arch out to sea once it had set sail.

"Marvelous. It truly is a wonderful ship."

Ulfric smiled at my approval and shook hands with the ship overseer before we took our leave back to the Blue Palace.

Once we had returned home, Ulfric disappeared to a meeting with Jorleif to go over this month's economic situation, so I went to the nursery to spend some time with Hagen.

The nursery was covered in an abundance of items bearing the Stormcloak bear: there was a rug, a large blue and gold hanging dominated one of the walls, it was engraved in the chairs, the dresser, the cot, even on the chamber pot in the corner.

I had entrusted the two maids Una and Erdi to look after Hagen whilst I was away, in which they had taken up the task with honor and pride. They used to just be the cleaners of the palace, but I guess you could say they got a promotion.

"How has he been?"

"He's been wonderful, my Lady. He only cried for twenty minutes today. Now he's sound asleep in the cot," Erdi gushed, the younger and more lively of the two women. They exited the room as they usually do after they've informed me of what's happened since I've been gone.

I padded over to the ornate wooden cot and peered admiringly at my son. My finger softly stroked his cheek as he slightly wiggled his feet whilst he dreamed.

"Hey little guy," I whispered, "Mama's got to go away for a while, but she'll come back to you as soon as she can. Dada's still here to watch over you, to keep you safe. Know that Mama loves you very much, okay? She'll be thinking of you every second."

For a while, I just stood there gazing upon him. This phenomenal amount of love I felt for this tiny being was so surreal and strange to me it often took my breath away. I had loved him even before he came into this world.