The Wolf Queen Awakens - ch. 43b

Elisif had a sudden urge to cuddle him again, and found she didn't care who knew or who was watching.  They'd all know soon enough anyway.  She reached for an empty goblet, poured some mead and took a swig, before looking around for someone who knew how to remove heavy armour and didn't presently have his tongue down his boyfriend's throat.

Fortunately Aela had yet to acquire any kind of lover that Elisif knew of, in fact she was looking just a little bit lonely – or eager to be off roaming the wilderness slaughtering things anyway.  Elisif made her way over to whisper in her ear.

“Aela!  Can I borrow you?”

“I suppose,” Aela said, getting up all nonchalant on the surface but Elisif could tell from the quiet relief in her eyes that Aela was eager to be away from what was turning into a drinking festival – honestly, even Kodlak was starting look a little tipsy, with his arm round Cicero loudly telling him to drink up, lad, wasn't often you got to slake your thirst on someone else's coin, and Cicero was staring pensively into a full tankard of mead, quietly whispering that he didn't have to down the whole thing in one, did he?

“So what can I do for you, High Queen?” Aela asked, seeming a bit nervous and standoffish, and it occurred to Elisif that Aela had never called her that before in her life.

“Stop calling me that for a start,” Elisif said with a shudder.  “Look, you were there for me when I was alone and frightened and didn't know what to do, you get to call me Elisif no matter what happens.”

“I do, do I?” Aela said, but there was amusement in her voice and the tension sliding out of her somehow.  “You're going to be paying regular visits to Jorrvaskr when you're High Queen, are you, trying to act like you're just like everyone else when you can't even visit the privy without a retinue of guards?”

“Don't remind me,” Elisif groaned, already feeling impending dread settling on her as it sunk in she'd have to go back to Solitude, be Jarl again, deal with Falk and Sybille and Erikur... not Erikur at least although remembering shoving a blade through his chest didn't make her feel any better.  “I know it's my duty and all, but I wish I was like you sometimes.”

“Do you now,” Aela said, surprised.  “I must say, I never really saw you as the hunter type.  I don't mean to say you're not skilled or brave, but you've not quite got the focus.  Can't see you tracking your prey for days in all weathers.”

Elisif had to admit that while capable of saving the world, spending three days hiking through snow and rain just to catch dinner didn't appeal at all.

“I know, but you can go wherever you like, do whatever you please, no one's stopping you, no one questions where you've been or tells you what to do,” Elisif sighed.  “I don't think I'm ever going to have that again, am I?”

“You were Jarl before, don't tell me you're not used to it,” Aela said, eyebrow raised, and suddenly Elisif wanted to cry.

“I hated it,” Elisif whispered.  “I thought I was just mourning Torygg at first, and I was, but now I'm not so much, and the thought of going back... I can't, Aela!  I just can't!”

Aela was looking a bit panicked, clearly not used to dealing with Jarls emoting at her, or Jarls in general... or people in general, in fact, there was a reason Aela's jobs tended to involve beasts.  Fortunately someone else was approaching, someone newly arrived off a portal from the Reach.

“Can't what?” Kaie asked, Keirine and a few Forsworn guards behind her.  “Hope you're not backing out on your promises, Elisif.”

Oh god, the treaty, she had to go back to Solitude and put that through, no one else was going to care about it at all.  Except the thought of going back to the Blue Palace was bringing tears to her eyes.  

“Apparently the thought of going back home and being Jarl is depressing her,” Aela sighed.  “I'm sure you'll get your treaty, don't worry... but Elisif's not doing so well.  Something about all the responsibility and wishing she wasn't constantly being watched and never being able to go anywhere without a squadron of guards.”

Elisif could barely look at Kaie but when she did, she was surprised to see the Forsworn heir actually looking sympathetic.

“Don't I know it,” Kaie said dryly.  “My older sisters get themselves killed and suddenly I'm heir to a throne we don't even have, and it's bye bye freedom.  It's especially galling when you have a younger sister with no sense of responsibility whatsoever who swans off whenever she feels like it and has decided to shack up with someone who's even less responsible and just encourages her.  Guards, get out of here.  All of you.  Go join the party.”

“Princess, are you sure that's wise-?” one started and Kaie narrowed her eyes.

“Did I stutter?  I said dismissed.”

The guards all glanced at Keirine, who nodded once and they all slunk away.  Kaie sighed and turned back to Elisif.

“You see the problem?  Princess, not Queen.  They're my father's soldiers, not mine.  And they're all afraid he'll have them and their families executed if harm comes to me.  Not true, by the way, he'd leave the families alone, but even so...”

“He lost two daughters already, you can't blame him for wanting to protect you,” Keirine said quietly.  “And you could have stayed.  Your brother and sister did.”

“What, so he could come home to find all his kids dead or in enemy hands, he'd have loved that,” Kaie snorted.  “But these are my problems, and I suppose I should count myself lucky to have them.  Now you, Brenhina, at least you don't have the problem of a powerful father being overprotective and surrounding you with guards because you're his precious princess and heir.”

Elisif could feel the tears well up as it occurred to her that she was going to have exactly that problem if Titus Mede adopted her – maybe she could order the Haafingar guard around and even pull rank on the Legion, but the Penitus Oculatus wouldn't be going anywhere, not now, and they'd treat her exactly like Daddy's Precious China Doll Princess.  It grated on her, especially as she wasn't sure Torygg ever got that treatment.  They saw him as a ruler to be who should be obeyed, not a precious object to be coddled and kept prisoner.  The discrepancy jarred her.

“I saved the world and everyone still thinks I'm a defenceless little girl,” Elisif whispered.  “I mean, you lot don't and the rest of the Blades don't, and Madanach doesn't, but everyone at Solitude does.  It's going to be a daily battle just to get anything I want, and I am just so tired and... why can't I take you lot with me?  Why is everyone I care about just going back to their lives and I'm stuck in a palace not my own, with a court not my own, with a steward I didn't pick and a housecarl who takes my steward's orders over mine!”

“So sack the pair of them,” Kaie said, seeming not quite sure what the problem was here.  Elisif could only roll her eyes.

“I can't just sack them, they've done nothing wrong,” Elisif sighed, but all three women were looking baffled.

“They don't need to have done anything wrong,” Keirine said, Hagraven rasp carrying in the stone corridor.  “You're Queen.  You choose who you wish in your court.  You need to have people around you you trust, that you can rely on.  If you do not trust them, you replace them.  How you do that may require a bit of thought, granted, but your court should be your own.”

My court should be my own...  Her court should be her own, but it never had been, it had been Torygg's, still following his orders even after he'd died.  The resentment burned... but it also occurred to her that maybe they'd kept following Torygg's orders because she'd never given them any new ones.

“Falk was saying before Torygg died that he was thinking of retiring,” Elisif said hesitantly, looking up at all three of them to see if this was making any sense.  “He's having a secret affair with Bryling, that's one of the other Thanes, and thinks marrying her is inconsistent with being steward.  But he stayed on because of the war and everything...  I could tell him he can retire now the war's over, can't I?”  She must be a terrible person to be so relieved at essentially sacking Falk, but she was already feeling happier.  “I mean, I'll give him notice obviously, and a pension and a title, and maybe a house if he's not marrying Bryling after all, and oh, he'll need a housecarl, I can give him Bolgeir and that means I can have my own choice of housecarl as well!”

All three women were smiling back at her, nodding in agreement.

“You do that very thing, Elisif,” Aela told her.  “Any idea who you'll replace them with?”

Well, technically she already had a housecarl in Argis... except he was wasted in that job.  Good at it... but wasted.  Because he was smart, like his father, really he had quite the keen mind, he'd make an excellent advisor.  He was loyal, trustworthy, good at intimidating people, all good qualities to have in a steward... oh, and he'd get on with Madanach.  Last thing she needed was her lover and her steward at each other's throats.  She'd seen Madanach back down from Argis when Argis put his foot down, and she couldn't see that happening with many other people.  And she'd taken Argis to Sovngarde with her, they'd killed Alduin together.  Who else, really?

“I think I know who the steward will be,” Elisif said.  “If he says yes.  I'll have to think about the housecarl but I'm sure I'll find someone.”

“I'm sure you will too,” Kaie said, grinning.  “And if you really can't find anyone, let Da know, he'll sort something out.  He's very keen for no harm to come to you.  Oh, we moved your things into his room, by the way.  Don't look like that, sleeping space is at a premium, if you're going to spend your nights cosying up with him, you don't get to simultaneously claim your own room and never use it.”

“Oh gods,” was all Elisif could say, feeling the blood rush to her cheeks, and then Keirine had to add to it.

“Also I left a contraceptive potion each on the dresser,” Keirine added.  “They're labelled with your names, make sure you drink the right one each.  His is good for two weeks, you'll need a daily dose for the first week then every week thereafter.  I'm guessing the High Queen of Skyrim becoming pregnant while unmarried would be a bad thing.”

“Oh gods,” Elisif whispered, mortified.  “Does everyone know?”

“I'm afraid so,” Aela said, grinning as she put an arm round Elisif.  “Something to do with no one being able to find you after you ran off, then red hairs on Madanach's pillow in the morning.  Don't be embarrassed, we're happy for you.  About time you had something nice happen to you.  Of course if he stops being something nice, you let me and Vilkas know.  We'll come and help you out.”

“Funny that,” Kaie drawled.  “I was just about to remind Elisif here that he's a vulnerable and lonely old man who I would prefer not to see manipulated and ill-treated and heartbroken.”

“Vulnerable?  Him?” Aela cried.  “He's a dangerous battlemage, he's hardly...”

“All right, that's enough!” Elisif cried, not keen for an argument to break out already.  “Thank you, Aela, I'll keep it in mind.  Kaie, I promise to look after him although I cannot guarantee we'll never argue.”

“Hah!  I'd wonder what you'd done to him if you didn't,” Keirine cackled.  “Come on, niece, let's go find him.  I imagine this is going to be quite the tale...”

Wasn't it just.  Elisif smiled nervously as Kaie and Keirine moved on, then slumped against the wall, drained.

“Aela,” Elisif said wearily.  “Aela, I've got in-laws, help.”

“I'd love to, but I'm not sure what you expect me to be able to do,” Aela said, amused.  “Come on, you knew about the rest of the Forsworn, surely.”

“I know, I just... didn't think I'd end up marrying into them,” Elisif admitted, before realising what she'd just said.  “I mean, not that he's asked... not in so many words... the timing isn't right... and I definitely didn't say yes or anything...”

“But you'd like to,” Aela finished.  “Only you're not sure.  Because Torygg's not been dead that long, the political situation's delicate, you're not sure if you want to marry him or just want another husband, you do definitely want children and you need a husband for that, but you're not remotely ready.  Is that a fair summary?”

“I... yes,” Elisif said, surprised.  “I didn't know you were that good at emotional stuff.”

“A good hunter pays attention to what's going on around her,” Aela shrugged.  “And I'm a very good hunter.  I don't have a lot of advice for you but assuming he's not demanding an answer immediately, I'd just wait and see what happens.  Sort the politics out, let the personal things fall as they will.  Maybe you'll have a better idea of where you stand when you're actually Mooted.  All the same, don't wait too long.  You don't want to let the prey get away.”

“He's not prey!” Elisif protested and Aela laughed.

“I suppose not.  He's not doing a very good job of running away after all.  Now, what did you need?  You had a reason for dragging me away and it wasn't to get me away from the drunken rabble.  For which, thank you by the way.”

“Needed help with my armour,” Elisif admitted.  “I wanted to get changed into something more comfortable.  I don't suppose I have any nice clothing here?”

“I don't think so,” Aela said, shaking her head.  “We brought your things from Sky Haven Temple, your scaled armour and Forsworn gear among them, but no fine party gear, I'm afraid.  We do have your make-up though.”

It would have to do.  So Elisif led Aela to Madanach's room for assistance getting out of her Blades gear and into her scaled gear, brushing and rebraiding her hair and redoing her make up, Jagged Crown replaced with a golden circlet that was probably once Ulfric's.  That done, Aela slipped off to clear her head and no doubt go hunting out on the Aalto, and Elisif returned to the Hall.

Madanach had abandoned the high seat by this point, sitting at the top of the table next to Nepos, arm draped round his fellow Reachman's shoulder, and Elisif felt a twinge of jealousy at the closeness between the two of them.  Come off it, Madanach isn't in to men even if Nepos is.   They were just a pair of old friends who'd not seen each other in years, not in person.  

So why did she feel like she was intruding?

“Hello Madanach,” she said, feeling her cheeks blush, and knowing everyone knew was a far cry from demonstrating it in front of the entire hall.  All the same, Nords were brave, right?

Madanach looked up, saw her standing there, widened his eyes to see her out of her usual heavy armour for once, and looked again, staring unashamedly.

“I didn't have any pretty outfits, this is as comfortable as it gets,” Elisif said, feeling a little nervous, and why she was worried about his approval all of a sudden, she had no idea.  She certainly didn't seem to need to.  Madanach was already nudging at Nepos.

“Nepos, get them to move down and make room,” Madanach was saying, and that was something easily resolved when Cicero climbed into Eola's lap, leaving enough room for Farkas and then Argis and then Nepos to move into.  Elisif snuggled next to Madanach, smiling as he put an arm round her.

“You're lovely,” Madanach murmured.  “Nepos, look, isn't she adorable?”

“She's a sweetheart,” Nepos said, smiling.  “And far too good for you, needless to say – Madanach, how exactly did you persuade her to say yes again?”

“I'm not sure,” Madanach said, smiling at her and stroking her cheek, and it was always a bit of a surprise to remember he was the same height she was, that they were looking at each other on the same level, she wasn't looking up to him like she always did with Torygg.  There was something symbolic about this, she was sure.  “Elisif, what do you see in me?”

“It's the money,” Elisif joked nervously.  “And the ability to shoot fire from his hands.  And he does eventually do what he's told if you glare at him.”

Pouting from Madanach and Elisif couldn't help but giggle, and Nepos couldn't resist laughing either.

“That sounds like him,” Nepos said cheerfully, before the smile faded a little.  “You take care of him now.  He's not been happy for a very long time.  It's good to finally see him smiling again, but he's going to need a lot of looking after.”

“Nepos...” Madanach sighed, clearly having had enough of being fussed over.  His daughters and sister must already have been driving him to distraction.  

“I'll look after him,” Elisif promised, placing a hand on his knee.  “Eight know what'll happen if I don't, he'll probably start planning an uprising to take over High Rock or something.”

Madanach promptly began denying any such thing, not entirely convincingly, and Elisif belatedly recalled that the eastern-most province of High Rock was the Western Reach with its own Reachman population, and she fervently hoped Madanach wasn't actually planning to take that over as well.  Fortunately, she was saved from wondering about that by the arrival of young Sofie.

“Hello Elisif!  You got changed!  And you're not wearing your crown.  Oh, and you're wearing make-up!  You look really pretty.”

“The crown was too heavy to wear so I got changed,” Elisif told her.  “I don't have a party dress with me, but I've got this.  Do you think it'll do?”

All this time Madanach hadn't stopped rubbing her back or stroking her hand, smiling indulgently at her, and Sofie couldn't not notice.

“Daddy, is Elisif going to be our new mama?” Sofie asked, looking a bit dubious.  Madanach's smile faded, and Elisif could feel him immediately back off.

“I... um...” he began, looking a bit alarmed, and Elisif could feel her heart break a little.

“Would that be a bad thing?” she asked.  “If I married him?  You wouldn't have to call me Mama if you didn't want.”

Sofie shook her head.  “Oh no.  I just wanted to know.  No one will tell me anything, only that you're still working it out.  And I asked Cicero but he just said you had an understanding, and an arrangement, such as two consenting adults might have, but I don't understand at all.”

Madanach had gritted his teeth, turning glacial eyes on Cicero.

“Stop discussing my personal life with my children, Cicero!” Madanach roared down the table.  Cicero only pouted and cooed back.

“They asked!  They asked poor Cicero!  Maybe Madanach should discuss these things with his children himself and they will not need to ask humble Cicero, hmm?”

“You little...” Madanach growled, before turning back to Sofie.  “Yes, well, Elisif and I do have an understanding but we haven't actually decided if we're going to get married yet.  Just means she'll be staying in my room while she's here, and I'll be visiting her in Solitude when I can.  Now you be polite and nice to her, hmm?”

“Yes Daddy,” Sofie said, before darting forward and giving Elisif a cuddle.  “Will you visit me lots and read me stories?” she whispered, and Elisif felt her heart break.

“Yes of course,” she said, lump in her throat as she hugged Sofie.

“Yay!” Sofie gasped.  “And if you do marry Daddy, can I be a flower girl?  Please?”

“Er...” Elisif really wasn't sure how to answer this about a hypothetical wedding that she wasn't entirely sure about, not yet.  “I'm not sure...”

“If there is a wedding, we will certainly include you and your brother if he wants, in the ceremony,” Madanach sighed.  “But Elisif hasn't said yes yet, so unless she does, there isn't going to be one.  Understand?”

“Yes, Da,” Sofie sighed, before cuddling Elisif again.

“Say yes soon!” she whispered.  “I love you, Elisif!”  And then she let her go and ran off, leaving Elisif wonder what had just happened.

“I think your daughter just adopted me,” Elisif said faintly.  Madanach laughed and pulled her back for a cuddle.

“Yeah, she does that,” Madanach laughed.  “Sorry.  Better than her hating you on sight, isn't it?”

Elisif had to agree with that, and then it was Aventus's turn to show up.

“Hey Da.  Hey Elisif.  So, is it true what everyone's saying?  That you two are... you know...”

“I know you're a little young to be thinking about that, bion,” Madanach growled.  “But yes, if you must know, Elisif and I are sharing accommodation while she's here.  And I may well be going to see her in Solitude.  If you're good, you get to come and see the place as well.”

“I'm always good,” Aventus protested, not terribly convincingly.  Then he frowned as he glanced at Elisif then back to Madanach, who was still cuddling her, hadn't really stopped since she'd sat down.  “You two aren't going to be sitting there holding hands and kissing all evening, are you?”  Aventus looked vaguely disgusted at the entire concept.

“Yes,” said Madanach, grinning.  “What, don't you like seeing your father happy?”

“Yeah, but...” Aventus grimaced.  “I don't know about the kissing.”

Elisif felt a little bit guilty but Madanach didn't seem bothered in the slightest.  

“He's at that age,” Madanach explained casually.  “Not interested in kissing girls in the slightest.  Unless it's kissing boys he'd prefer of course.”  A knowing smirk on Madanach's face and Aventus looked even more appalled.

“I don't want to kiss anyone!” Aventus cried, horrified and Madanach finally burst out laughing, before reaching out and patting Aventus on the shoulder.

“No, and there's no reason you should, you're not even eleven yet.  I'll try not to go overboard with Elisif in front of you, all right?  Now, there's a whole party going on and I think this once you can stay up late if you like.  Off you go, have fun.  Why don't you bother Cicero, it looks like he's just downed an entire tankard of mead, may possibly be about to vomit and would surely appreciate loud noises right in his ear.  Just, er, keep Vilkas between you and his sword arm.”

“Sure thing, Da,” Aventus grinned, running off to do that very thing, although Aventus being fond of Cicero and quite able to tell when Madanach was teasing him, didn't actually shout in Cicero's ear.  Up close, Cicero really didn't look all that well.

“You're a bad man,” Elisif scolded, snuggling up to Madanach.  “You're meant to set an example to your children, not encourage them to get into trouble.”

“Elisif, I've spent my entire life breaking the law,” Madanach grinned, nuzzling her hair.  “I'm in no way a suitable role model, surely you know that by now?  Besides, Aventus is sensible, in fact there he is, passing Cicero a healing potion right now and being told what a dear, sweet boy he is to help poor stricken Cicero so.  Frankly, if Cicero is stupid enough to start playing drinking games with the Companions, it's his own fault.  At least Eola has more sense.”

“No, she's playing drinking games with Sapphire, Karliah, Ria and Kaie instead,” Elisif said.  “Dibella help me, Madanach, this party is getting debauched.”

“Good,” Madanach grinned.  “I want this hall so thoroughly debased Ulfric can hear it in Sovngarde and curse my name.”

Elisif did grin at that one.  All right, so perhaps people deserved the chance to unwind.  All the same, she was starting to feel the stresses of the day catch up with her.  Very definitely time to retire to bed with Madanach soon.  After asking what she'd meant to, of course.

“I need to rearrange my court, Madanach,” she told him.  “I was thinking of asking Falk to step down and get myself a new steward.  One I can trust, like you with Nepos.”

“Maybe not exactly like him and me,” Madanach said, glancing over at Nepos who was now on the far side of the room having an animated discussion with a decloaked Keirine and not seeming bothered by the feathers and claws and fangs in the slightest.  “But a steward you can rely on is an indispensable asset, I agree.  Any idea who you're going to pick yet?”

“I was going to ask Argis,” Elisif said hesitantly.  “Er... are you all right with that?  I mean, he's your son and all, I thought I should check.”

“Argis.  You mean, my Argis... as Steward of Solitude and right hand of the High Queen herself?” Madanach didn't seem quite able to believe it.  Elisif nodded nervously, awaiting the reaction.  Madanach stared at her... then beamed, delighted.

“My little boy's gonna have an important job that I didn't get for him!” Madanach gasped, looking rather emotional all of a sudden.  “Have you told him yet – of course not, let's sort that out, shall we?  HEY!  ARGIS!  GET OVER HERE!  ELISIF WANTS TO TALK TO YOU!”

Argis got up from where he was cuddling Farkas and made his way over, Farkas looking a bit troubled as he followed in Argis's wake.

“What's up?” he asked, guarded.  “Everything OK?”

“Madanach!” Elisif hissed.  Gods damn it, but she wasn't ready!  She'd hoped to have a few days before talking to Argis about this, not spring it on the poor man right now!  But no help for it.  Madanach was looking very pleased with himself, brimming with excitement and she couldn't not say anything now.

“Argis,” Elisif sighed.  “I have been thinking about how it's going to be when we get back to Solitude and, well, I've decided I can't go on as Jarl with the court I've got.”

Argis nodded, not seeming surprised by this.  “Figures.  Was wondering what you were gonna do.  Did you want me there as housecarl?  Happy to help, you know that.”

“I know,” Elisif said, feeling a bit nervous now it was time to ask.  What if he didn't want to?  She'd not even thought to think about that.  “Look, Falk was talking about retiring this year if Torygg had lived, but he stayed on because he didn't want to abandon me.  Only, well, I think I'll be all right without him now so I'm going to ask him to retire anyway.  But that means I'll need a new steward.”

“Right,” Argis nodded.  “Did you want me to help you find someone?”

Bless the man.  Elisif wasn't sure if his failure to realise she meant him was a good thing or not.

“Not exactly,” Elisif said.  “Er... Argis... did you want the job?  I mean, you're bright and capable and intimidating, and I'd trust you with my life, and you get on with Madanach and... oh look, you don't have to, I'm sorry to put you in an awkward position, I'll ask someone else if you're not interested...”

Argis looked as if he was still taking it in, and he definitely didn't look enthusiastic about the prospect.

“Steward of Solitude?  Me?” Argis said faintly.  “Are you sure?”  

Elisif nodded, biting her lip.  “Yes,” she whispered.  “You've had my back all this time, and you even went to Sovngarde with me.  I'd love to have you as my steward.”

“I, er...” Argis turned helplessly to Farkas, panic in his eyes.  Farkas just stared back, shrugging vaguely.  Argis growled a little under his breath.

“Elisif, I'm sorry, I need to talk to Farkas about this,” Argis said, lowering his eyes.  “I mean, I was going to escort you back to Solitude after all this then go and join Farkas at Jorrvaskr, not take a job at Solitude that'll leave me too busy to ever see him.  Even if it does mean having to put up with Cicero...  Kas?  Kas, where are you going?”

“Need to talk to my brother,” Farkas growled.  “Wait here.”

Argis stared as Farkas strode off, tapping Vilkas on the shoulder and quietly talking with him, and Kodlak too.  Both men looked surprised, and then Vilkas tersely cuffed his brother on the shoulder and snapped at him not to be such an idiot, while Kodlak reached out and patted Farkas on the arm gruffly telling him... something, Elisif couldn't make out the words, but Kodlak looked both proud and sad and then he was holding out his arms for a hug and he and Farkas were embracing, and then both twins were likewise embracing too, and then Farkas was coming back, eyes moist but smiling brightly.

“Kodlak and Vilkas said yes, I can go to Solitude with you,” Farkas announced cheerfully.  “I mean, I think I need to go back and visit every so often, and Vil and Ria are probably going to drop in whenever they're in the area, probably Aela too, come to think of it, Tor and Athis'll want ale buying for them too if they're in town.  But Kodlak told me a Nord should follow his heart and Vilkas said to stop being an idiot, I didn't need his permission to live my life.  So, er, if there's room for me at the Blue Palace, I can come with you.  You know, when you're Steward.  Stewards can have boyfriends, right?”

“Of course they can,” Elisif said, trying not to laugh.  Farkas just looked too adorable.  Elisif could definitely appreciate what Argis saw in him.  “I'd be happy to have you living at the Palace with Argis.  If he says yes, of course.”

Which he hadn't yet, in fact Argis was too busy staring at Farkas, apparently too dazed to string a sentence together.

“You... you don't mind?” Argis said, confused.  “You'd actually leave Jorrvaskr for me?”

Farkas just shrugged.  “Can't live with my brother all my life.  Jorrvaskr'll be all right without me.  Not sure about you though.  Tough job, being steward.  You'll need someone to talk to.  And remind you to eat.  And make sure you go to bed.  You're like your da that way.”

“I don't need reminding to eat and sleep!” Madanach said indignantly and just a little too loudly, and as one, Keirine and Nepos turned to look at him, outright disbelief on both their faces.  

“What?  I don't!” Madanach muttered indignantly.  Elisif absently patted his thigh, making a mental note to keep an eye on both of those things, and returned her attention back to Argis to see how he was taking all this.  He looked a bit dazed, which worried Elisif a little.

“Argis?” Elisif said softly.  “Argis, you know you don't have to say yes if you don't want, I would never want to pressure you into anything.”

“No... I mean, yeah... I mean...”  Argis, lost for words, decided to abandon them completely and promptly kissed Farkas.

“I love you,” Argis told him roughly when he finally let him go.  “Yes.  Yes, come to Solitude with me.  I'd love to have you there.”  Then Argis turned to Elisif and actually bowed, fist to his chest.

“Brenhinama.  I accept.  I'll be your steward and right hand and serve you as best I can.”

Elisif let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding.  She risked a glance at Madanach, who'd also gasped and was now beaming at Argis with tears in his eyes, every bit the proud father.  She fought back the strong urge to kiss him.  This was about Argis, not him, not right now.  She got to her feet and held her arms out to Argis.

“Thank you,” Elisif breathed, embracing him, feeling her worries about going home fade away.  This wasn't the end of her freedom.  She could have her friends, her people around, not be penned up in the Blue Palace as a helpless prisoner.  She could be a real Jarl, like Balgruuf, like Madanach, like Ulfric... maybe not Ulfric.  But someone with power and influence, and that prospect wasn't upsetting at all, quite the reverse.

“No problem, Brenhina,” Argis said, his voice wavering a little, and then he was letting her go and turning to face his father, and then both of them were hugging too, Argis whispering “look, Da, I'm a steward!” and Madanach whispering back how proud he was.  And then Argis was leaving both of them behind to go tell Nepos, the man who'd taken him in and mentored him after Madanach's arrest, and Nepos was holding Argis's hands, tearfully telling him well done, he always knew he'd go far.

“It's going to be all right, isn't it?” Elisif said, watching Argis get congratulated by his old mentor and his aunt, and feeling unable to stop smiling.  Madanach was clearly of a like mind because he had his arms round her waist, head resting against hers.  “I'm going to go be Jarl and be good at it, and it's going to be OK, isn't it?  I'll have a steward who listens to me, and I'll get a new housecarl who's loyal to me, not my ex-husband, and maybe some new Thanes, and Farkas there too, and I won't be so in awe of Sybille because I can ask you about magical things or write to Aranea or Erandur or Eola or something.  Goodness, I can get a second opinion!  And not just off you, off lots of people!  I'll have eyes and ears, I'll know what's going on out there!”  Elisif could barely contain her glee at the thought of not being dependent on people any more.  

“Yes, you will,” Madanach said, hugging her tight and kissing her cheek.  “Anything you need, you let me know.  I'm not telling you state secrets or anything, but if you ever need my help, you've got it.  I'm yours for life after today.”

Hers for life, and while that wasn't technically a marriage proposal, it was a fairly blatant opening for her to broach the subject.  Marriage.  Remarriage.  To Madanach.  It would get people talking like nothing else.  Elisif couldn't see anyone in Skyrim approving... but the Emperor had suggested it.  Not only that, they had taken on Ulfric together.  Elisif decided she could easily persuade the bards to make something approaching a stirring love story out of that.  She'd need to speak to Viarmo and Giraud, talk them into helping her.  Although they'd probably want some sort of patronage in return.  Well, hadn't Viarmo been hassling her to lift the ban on the Burning of King Olaf Festival?  If she gave him that, he'd probably be in quite a good mood and very receptive to writing a tale of a Dragonborn who saved Skyrim and the world.  She still wasn't entirely sure she approved of celebrating the burning of a king, but she had a feeling Madanach would like to go.  He'd be unlikely to object to setting fire to the effigy of a dead Nord king, in fact he'd probably beg and indeed bribe Viarmo to let him light the fire.

The thought brought an immediate smile to her face.  She didn't exactly know how Solitude would react to Madanach, or indeed his reaction to Solitude... but she had the sudden urge to find out.  I shall land Solitude with both a guardian dragon and the Reach-King-in-Rags as Jarl's Consort, and see which scandalises people more.  Yes.  This was a plan, and her inner Dovah approved wholeheartedly.

“I don't think I can think about marrying anyone until after the Moot and the treaty,” Elisif said, taking his hand in hers.  Madanach lowered his eyes, good mood fading a little.

“I didn't mean... I was talking friendship and allegiance, not being your consort,” Madanach said, voice rough.  “I know it's complicated for you.”

“Oh, it's not that complicated,” Elisif heard herself say, heart thudding and blood pounding through her veins.  “I love you, you love me.  Everything else is just a matter of timing and detail, really.”

Silence and for a moment, Elisif wondered if she'd misjudged his mood.  Madanach was staring at her, face a mask, and then a moment later, he was shaking his head, frowning.

“My hearing must be going.  For a moment there, I thought you just said you loved me.”

“I did,” Elisif said, hoping her palms weren't sweating too much, because she felt giddy with nerves and he could hardly fail to miss the way she was clutching his hand.  “I mean, that's all right, isn't it?  You said it to me earlier, you can't really complain or anything.”

Madanach hadn't said anything to this. He was just staring at her, silver-blue eyes wide, mouth opening in amazement... and then his face just lit up with a dazzling smile, an expression of sheer joy which made Elisif quite forget where she was or indeed who she was or anything else remotely important... only that that smile made her heart skip and then he was kissing her, lips on hers and Elisif only knew she was happy.  She was happy again, after months and months of misery and thinking she'd never know anything else but grief, and her very soul was singing.

When they broke off, it was to cheers and shouts and applause from the entire hall, including some drunken cries from Eola to “get in there, Da!” and Cicero sighing about how lucky she was to be kissed by the savage and dangerous Forsworn King, Cicero wished the savage and dangerous Forsworn King would kiss him like that, and getting a smack on the backside from Eola for his trouble.

“Oh goodness,” Elisif whispered, blushing.  “Well, they all know now, don't they?”

“They all knew anyway,” Madanach murmured.  “Don't worry, I think they approve.  Vilkas and Kodlak have both warned me of the dire consequences of breaking your heart, by the way.”

“I had the same from Kaie and Keirine,” Elisif whispered back.  “We'd better both be nice to each other, hadn't we?”

“Don't be too nice to me,” Madanach whispered in her ear.  “I get out of hand otherwise and start plotting uprisings.”

“No, no uprisings!” Elisif told him, playfully reaching for his backside.  “You promised you'd behave!

Madanach laughed and kissed her again, promising he would bring nothing in the way of shame or dishonour to her name, and Elisif decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, for now anyway.  And so they spent most of the evening snuggled in each other's arms, and as the party died down and broke off, Elisif and Madanach retired to bed and spent the rest of the night entwined together, blissfully happy and later, quietly content, loved and beloved and if the time wasn't right to formalise anything just yet, nevertheless there was now unanimously acknowledged by both something to formalise.