Wanderer

Chapter Three

A whole two months had passed before Ulfric announced a non-political feast would occur inside the halls of the Palace of Kings. This was to avoid unrest among the people. If word got out that the Jarl of Whiterun seemingly supported the Stormcloaks, there would be a rebellion. Considering we are already in one, I figured it was better to just make it a celebration of life. 

Of course to that end we had to invite some Imperial Legates as well.

Invitations that conveniently got lost in the mail, with the help of a few Septims.

Now, however, it was dark, and Ulfric hadn't been seen all day. We continued our sessions at night now, due to the maids scurrying across the palace during the day. I had asked a few guards if they had seen him, but they informed me that he hadn't been out and about since breakfast. So I went searching.

If there was something I excelled at, it was hunting down someone.

I made my way up the eastern tower, where Ulfric's room was situated. As soon as my foot landed on the top step, I heard a scream. Instinctively, I broke out into a run.

" Oh, Ulfric! Yes! Oh, yes! My King!" A shrill voice rang, several moans and gasps following.

I stopped myself just outside his door, disgusted at the lead sounds.

" Seriously, Ulfric?" I murmured, shuddering as another moan, louder than before, echoed through the hall. I looked to the guard at the end of the hall. " Has it been like this all day?" I asked, brushing my white hair from my face to cover up my disgust. He fervently nodded, squirming around as if he were uncomfortable. " Disgusting." I said once again before pushing the doors open with such force I didn't know I had.

Ulfric stood at his bed, completely naked, and at the rear end of a red headed maid I had seen several times in the palace. She looked at me with wide eyes, telling me that I should turn around and leave.

" Wanderer, I-"

" Just cover yourself," I said, avoiding looking at him. I threw him a pillow that was in the chair next to me " Talos knows I don't need that image engrained in my head." I finished under my breath. I looked at the maid who lay naked on the bed, her eyes shooting daggers at me. " And you, get up, pull yourself together. You could do so much better." I quipped, turning to leave. " If you aren't in the yard in five minutes I'm dragging you down there naked." I shouted over my shoulder, slamming the doors behind me.

~~~~~~~~ Ulfric P.O.V.~~~~~~~~

My mind raced as I bounded down the stairs after Wanderer.

What did she think of me now? Was she disgusted? Why should I care about her opinion?

There were several more questions, but they vanished from my mind once I saw her standing in the courtyard.

Admittidly, Wanderer was beautiful. Her fair skin and stark white hair gave her an appearance akin to the moon. Mysterious and beautiful.

" Wanderer, I just-"

" You don't need to explain yourself to me, Ulfric." She said, her lips pursing as her golden eye wandered the sky.

" I don't?" I questioned, my hand gripping the hilt of the sword at my waist. A habit of mine.

" Absolutely not. What you do in your free time is no concern of mine. Or who you do." She stated, shifting her weight as she inspected the stars.

" Are you-"

"However," she interrupted, her voice growing cold, " if it interferes with our training, I'll make sure that you'll never see that maid again." She finalized, her eyes finally meeting mine. She bore no expression, but the tone of her voice made it evident. Her eyes searched my face for an answer.

" I assure you, you'll never need to go that far." I stated, inching towards her.

" Good. I'd hate to waste my breath on a maid." She whispered, eyeing my footsteps as they brought me closer.

" I do, however, have a question." I said, bringing my chest so close that it brushed hers.

" And?" She said, raising her chin so that she could look into my eyes.

" Are you jealous?" I questioned, mischief flowing through my body as I watched her eyes take emotion.

" Of course not. I would have a much easier time pleasing the maid." She quipped, turning away from me, her hair smacking me in the face as she did.

" Ha! You may think me dull, Wanderer, but I am figuring you out. Little by little, I will discover who you really are." I said, rubbing my hands together to escape the cold.

" Figure me out?" She said, turning to me, batting her long, dark lashes at me. She moved closer to me, her hips swaying in such a way that made me lose sense. " Oh, Ulfric. You'll never figure me out. You want to know why?" She said, grasping my arms and pulling her face inches from mine. Her warm breath fanned across my face and her lips were so temptingly close.

" Why?" I croaked, cursing myself for letting her affect me so.

" Because you're too busy screwing the help!" She sternly said, smacking me slightly on my forehead.

" Wand-"

" Quiet, focus. Let's get to work." She said, putting an acceptable amount of distance between us.

~~~~~~~Wanderer P.O.V.~~~~~~~

It had been weeks since Ulfric and I had our, moment, in the courtyard. I ignored him every chance I got, and it infuriated him. He had improved on his words, so I started perfecting it, which annoyed him even more. However, Ulfric went into the town on Mirdas, so I was sitting alone in my room, sketching in my book. Normally, I wrote important dates, potions, and spells in it. But lately I've been distracted amd decided that maybe a sketch might help. A knock on my door interrupted my drawing of Alduin. I looked up to a very amused looking Galmar.

" May I come in?" He said, pulling his hood off.

" Of course. My door is always open to you Galmar. " I said, looking back down at my art.

" Never took you for an artist." He said, motioning towards the book in my hands.

" I usually do important things, but as of late something has been troubling me. So I sketch." I said, dragging the charcoal across the page.

" Feeling bored? Maybe unfulfilled. Jealous, perhaps?" He said, leaning back on my bed.

" Jealous? Of what?" I laughed, not meeting his eyes.

" I heard about you and Ulfric a while ago. The maid in the sheets?" He said, chuckling to himself. " I know a jealous woman when I see one, Wanderer."

" I was not, nor am I jealous. I was frustrated that he'd be so irresponsible as to cavort with the servants instead of perfecting his Voice. Which is lacking, by the way." I quipped, furiously blending with my finger.

" Whatever you say. I know you, lass. I can tell whe-"

" That's just it, Galmar, you don't know me! No one does! Not you, not Ulfric! No one! " I shouted, throwing my book down, the charcoal splintering on the floor. " Why is it that everyone here wants to figure me out!? Why can't I just be me!? What is so wrong with who I am as you all know me!?" I continued, advancing on Galmar who now stood, his hand hovering over the dagger at his waist.

" Now, Wanderer. You know what I meant. I consider you a friend. We have grown close, and I like you just as you are." He said, narrowing his eyes at me.

" No, Galmar. I'm sorry, but we aren't friends. I don't have friends. Just enemies." I said, turning and leaving him alone in my room.