Stallion of Whiterun (Skyrim Balgruuf SI) Chapter 16

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The arrival of the Whiterun men was unexpected but it was not unwelcome. With the thundering of the cavalry, they rushed into the melee and the Dremora found out what it meant to be on the receiving end of a cavalryman's lance. The battle was not entirely one-sided and the Dremora were not so easy to frighten by a charge but the added forces gave the Nords the confidence to continue the fight.

And with the raising of the blue-bear banner atop Amol's ramparts, the battle was won and Fort Amol was once again retaken by the Nords.

All around, the Nords cheered at their victory, others went to the task of attending to the wounded or gathering the dead. Ulfric let out a breath of relief as he sat on a fallen rock, the high of battle slowly drifting away. Footsteps crunched against the dirt as Galmar came close, battle-axe hefted on against his shoulder and steel axe-head dripping with blood.

"We've won the battle," Galmar said, a tinge of pride in his voice. His lips quivered as he saw the expression on Ulfric's face. "Yet here you are, looking as sullen as you did coming back home. What is wrong, Ulfric?" Galmar sensed some despondency in his lord. Normally, Galmar would have referred to him with deference yet here, Ulfric did not need a Housecarl. He needed a friend.

The blonde Jarling glanced up towards his men. "So many of them would have died if the horsemen did not come." he said simply.

"We are Nords, Ulfric. We live for dying," Galmar reminded him. "And this is a battle that they would have died fighting with Eastmarch's future. There would have been no greater honor,"

Ulfric afforded Galmar a smile. His friend's support lifted him up. "I did not know what I did to gain such support but...thank you, Galmar."

The berserker snorted. "It is to be expected of me, my lord." He then offered Ulfric a smile back. "Someone must watch over your back. And the Stone-Fists have had that honor for as long as we could remember."

Ulfric stood up to his full height, dusting off some dirt off his armor. He needed a bath soon. "And my family is grateful for such loyalty. Now...it is time we must thank our rescuer."

"Hm," Galmar grunted. "That we should. Though that begs the question, why are horsemen from Whiterun in our borders?"

A paranoid mind would have made Ulfric think of some secret plot that the Whiterun men were here to sabotage and ruin Eastmarch but only a fool would think that. This was no longer the time when Nords kills Nords for some petty power, this was Skyrim in the Empire and the Empire had brought peace to Skyrim...even if the Empire had treated him and his people like trash after everything they had given to the Emperor to defend his Empire. "Yes...let us go find out," Ulfric nodded in agreement as he walked up towards the courtyard where the commander of the Whiterun men was.

And immediately, Ulfric knew who he was.

"Hail, Lord Balgruuf!" Ulfric greeted him. The helmed rider turned to see Ulfric walk up close to him, Galmar quietly walking at his side. Ulfric had heard whispers his guards often told one another, especially when they thought that he wasn't listening, of a daring cavalry commander that would strike behind their lines, killing anything wearing Dominion colors, and fleeing before the main force could arrive. The Elfsbane, one of the many heroes that proved themselves in the field of battle...everything that Ulfric was not. A part of him felt a manner of irritation. This was supposed to be his battle to win and Balgruuf arrived with the literal cavalry to save the day. But the irritated part of Ulfric was little compared to the relief that many of his men would return home tonight.

"Lord Ulfric, this is a surprise! I did not expect to see you," Balgruuf greeted him, recognition in his eyes. This gave Ulfric some pause. He hadn't met Balgruuf before yet the man knew of him, a prisoner. Still, his spirits felt brightened that a war hero would know his name.

"Nor did I, my lord," Ulfric replied quickly. "I thought that this was going to be a quick retaking of my father's land from cut-throats and mages. We did not expect them to be so foolish as to attempt to summon Dremora."

"I understand that. Thankfully, the war gave my men practice in dealing with Dremora. The Dominion are awfully fond of summong Daedra," he said, spitting on the floor. If Ulfric didn't know any better, he swore he heard the man curse the elves under his breath.

'Fuck the elves,' Ulfric inwardly joined him. He shook his head of his thoughts as he returned his sword to his sheath. "So, what business has brought you here to Eastmarch, my lord?"

"I have heard that the Jarl of Markarth has travelled to your city, my lord," Balgruuf began, not hiding his intent. "I have a proposal for him, if he has arrived to your city."

Ulfric hummed. The Jarl of Markarth and his son had indeed arrived at Windhelm but for what purpose, he did not know. "Yes, Jarl Hrolfdir and his son Igmund are at Windhelm, my lord. I do not know why they have come, though. Before I could meet them, my father sent me here to investigate Fort Amol's silence. And here we are."

Ulfric's eyes were drawn to the side as another horseman drew close. But it was not a man his eyes quickly found but a she-elf. A dunmer, clutching tight a weapon wrapped in cloth, ruby red eyes glinting underneath her hood. Ulfric's immediate reaction was curiosity. So that was the Elfsbane's housecarl. Ironic that despite his fame for killing elves, his fervent follower was one of them. Ulfric did not despise the Dunmer, despite claims of his family's hatred of them. Really, all what one needed was to spend not more than five minutes with the Morrowind refugees and it was easy to see why getting along with them was going to be hard. He turned his attention back to Balgruuf as the man spoke.

"I see...well, I do not wish to take up too much of your time and your victory, my lord. We will be well on our way to the city, with your leave" The Whiterun Jarling said, ready to turn his horse back to the exit. 

"I shall be leaving behind a token force here to clean up the Fort. I can return to Windhelm with you, my lord," Ulfric offered. It wasn't as if Balgruuf was some random adventurer. Their rank in the nobility was the same and if he wanted to rule Eastmarch well someday, he needed friends and who better to gain friendship of than Balgruuf of Whiterun? 

Balgruuf glanced at him, eyes immutable for a brief second. It seemed he was thinking about something as he took a measure of Ulfric. Then, he nodded. "I would be honored, Lord Ulfric." 

Ulfric smiled. 

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A/N: Shaboom