"You appear to be incredibly troubled, Ylva," said Ulfric as I let the Underforge's hidden door slide shut behind me.

In the days I had been gone, Ulfric seemed to have recovered somewhat. His features weren't so pale, and the worry lines on his face weren't so obvious. He didn't look bedraggled anymore. He looked more like the man I had known as a girl, but he still had a ways to go before he was back to normal.

"It's nothing, really," I said. "A Companions issue."

He gave me a knowing smile. "Nice try, Ylva. What's troubling you?"

I sighed and leaned against the stone wall behind me. "Now is not the time, Ulfric. There's something I need to discuss with you."

His brow furrowed. He moved towards a table that had been set near the blood-basin in the center of the room. He sat in one of the two chairs beside the table, then motioned for me to take the other one.

I did as he requested, resting my elbows on the table and pressing two fingers to my temple. "You're not going to like what I have to say."

"Oh?"

"I'm sure you wondered where I had gone so suddenly."

"The question has crossed my mind."

"I went to Solitude."

His expression became guarded. "For what purpose?"

I paused, thinking over my words carefully. He was going to be mad no matter what I said. Best deliver it to him gently. "To discuss recruiting the Empire's forces to our cause."

At first, Ulfric did nothing. He gave me a blank stare, as if he could not comprehend my words.

But then, like a volcano erupting, Ulfric roared and jumped out of his seat. He flipped his chair over with his sudden force and began pacing around the Underforge. He muttered and swore under his breath, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Why, Ylva? Why?!" he said after a span. "Why in the Divines' names did you try to side with those traitors?!"

I took a deep breath to calm myself before speaking. I could have resorted to yelling, as he had, but it would get us nowhere. At least one of us had to be civil about things. "Because, Ulfric, we will never take Skyrim from the Thalmor if we are divided. We must unite under one common goal."

"But... this is the Empire. Milk-drinkers, the lot of them!"

I heaved a tired sigh. It was taking everything I had to be patient with him. Perhaps I should have talked to him first, instead of sorting things out with Eirik. Then I would not be so frazzled already. "And this is why I didn't consult you before I left."

"If you expect me to help you, then we have to trust each other. You're not trusting me to help you, because you're withholding information."

"Would you have honestly let me go if you knew that was where I was going?"

He paused mid-step, face blank and hands behind his back. He pursed his lips and looked down. Behind his back, he twiddled his thumb.

"Well, Ulfric? Would you?"

Finally, he sighed. "No, I would not. I would have thought you crazy."

"And maybe I am crazy. Maybe that's what Skyrim needs, though. A crazy leader."

Ulfric bent down, righted the chair he had pushed over, and took his seat across from me. "Perhaps you're right."

I shrugged and chuckled a little. "We can be sure no one's tried it yet."

A span of silence, then Ulfric asked, "What's your plan, then? Assuming the Empire comes to your aid, what will you do next?"

"Start taking fights to the Thalmor."

"Will you be ready for such fights?"

"Yes. They'll be more like skirmishes, really. Finding small pockets of Justiciars and rescuing any prisoners they may have in their clutches."

Ulfric nodded. "And those prisoners? What will you do with them?"

"Offer them food and supplies in exchange for their service to our cause."

The man before me actually cracked a smile. "I always knew you had the makings of a leader. Even when you were a small girl running through Windhelm's Stone Quarter with your parents trailing behind you."

My lips pursed. "I seem to keep forgetting that you remember me. I find it hard to believe, considering I haven't lived in Eastmarch for many years."

"Do not tell me that you cannot remember the names and faces of those you have saved over the years."

I sighed, picking at a groove in the table's rough surface. "You're right, I do. I remember those I have helped. And those I have failed."

"That is how every leader feels, Ylva. They feel the triumph and pain. They care for so many, and they want to save everyone." He caught my gaze. "But the first lesson you must learn is that you cannot save everyone. You must learn to forgive yourself for their deaths, especially if they are not your fault.

"I know of the Companions you lost in the battle for Whiterun. I know they are just the latest in a line of friends and family that you have lost. Those you believe you have failed. If you are to carry this army, Ylva, you must learn to let go of this guilt and move on."

I clenched my jaw and avoided his gaze. I had not come to talk to Ulfric just so he could tell me that I had to learn to harden myself to the deaths of my comrades. "Now is not the time for leadership lessons, Ulfric. After I receive word from the Empire, perhaps we can continue this conversation." I pushed my chair back and stood. "I hope that you'll be allowed to leave the Underforge soon, but with the entire province looking for you, it may take some time."

He nodded, brow furrowed and mouth turned to a frown. I had a feeling he wanted to keep giving me advice, but my emotions were frayed after the incident in the Mare. I was tired from my journey, both physically and emotionally. I needed to tell the rest of the Companions what had happened with Eirik. I did not want them finding out from someone outside of our guild. Hopefully, everything would go well, and I could find time to finally relax.

"You deserve rest, Ylva," said Ulfric, standing, too. "Go and get it."

I cracked a small grin. "We'll talk later, Ulfric. When I'm in a better state to receive your help."

He hummed in response. With a gentle incline of my head, I turned and walked away. The door to the Underforge slid open at my touch, and I stepped into the open, crisp air.

Vilkas was waiting for me on the porch when I left the Underforge. He gave me a gentle, understanding smile, then pulled me into his strong arms. I relaxed the moment he wrapped me in his embrace, arms snaking around him and head falling to his chest.

"Eirik?"

I sighed and tightened my hold. "Sitting in a cell right now, probably screaming his head off."

"You did the right thing, Ylva. The others will understand. He was becoming a danger to all those around him. Once he sobers up, he'll be released. Everything will be all right." He kissed the top of my head. "Why don't you come inside now? Eat something, then come to bed. You've had a hard ride. Any stories or news you have to tell can wait until morning."

I pulled away and looked up at him. "You think I can avoid the others until morning?"

"Anyone can see you've nearly run yourself into the ground. They'll understand that you need your rest before you answer any questions."

I nodded and fell against him again. "Carry me downstairs. I'm not sure I can walk any farther."

He chuckled, then hefted me into his arms, weapons, armor, and all. "Your wish is my command, dear one."

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A/N: I deeply apologize for taking so long to update this book! It was never my intention to have this much of a gap between updates, but the motivation I had towards this story disappeared, and I'm not entirely sure it's back yet. I will be trying my best to get chapters updated in a more timely fashion soon, and I hope it won't be such a long wait next time.
See you in the next update! Love and sweetrolls!
~ WG 💙