FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

By the time they had arrived at the Haafingar camp, preparations for the final assault were almost completed.

'We attack tomorrow, Ulfric is holding a big ceremony tonight.' his sergeant told him

'Good, I can't stand the waiting.' Folcwine replied, and waved him off

'So,' he said, turning to S'fara 'A party tonight, and a battle tomorrow. This is what every true Nord lives for!'

'Yes, but in the meantime, let's say we get some rest?'

'A good idea, after you love.' he replied

When they got inside, they simply lay down on their bedroll and were asleep in moments.

They awoke a few hours later to raucous voices outside the tent

A horn sounded, signifying the start of the ceremony, and S'fara and Folcwine left their tent. In the centre of the field was a massive bonfire, and the rhythmic sound of drums could be heard

As they took their places, the drumming stopped, and Ulfric Stormcloak marched to stand before the army, flanked to the right by Galmar, and by the Dragonborn on his left.

'My brothers! My sisters!' he bellowed

All assembled - Folcwine included, let out cheers, and shouts of 'Hail Ulfric!'

Ulfric smiled, and waited for the adulation to quieten before continuing 'My friends, we have sacrificed a lot to reach this point, and sadly we have lost some good people along the way.'

He paused, reflecting on lost comrades.

'I am often asked why I fight, and I always give the same answer. I fight for the men I've held in my arms, dying on foreign soil! I fight for their wives and children, whose names I heard whispered in their last breath. I fight for we few who did come home, only to find our country full of strangers wearing familiar faces. I fight for my people impoverished to pay the debts of an Empire too weak to rule them, yet brands them criminals for wanting to rule themselves! I fight so that all the fighting I've already done hasn't been for nothing! I fight... because I must.'

The army erupted into wild exultation, hailing Ulfric, the Dragonborn and cursing the Empire and the Thalmor.

This time Ulfric had to hold up his hands to quiet his troops.

'Come the dawn, we attack the last Imperial stronghold in Skyrim! Once we free Solitude, and cow the Jarl Elisif, Skyrim will be free and we can start rebuilding our homeland. Some of you will not live to see that day, but know this! We will meet again in Sovngarde, and you will hear how your sacrifice made Skyrim strong, free and how the Thalmor were laid low by our vengeance!'

That was a signal for the musicians to start as the horn sounded a long low note and then a chorus of singers took up a chant in Nordic

Come East

Come dawn

Come fathers and mothers

of high lineages

Come Shor in Sovngarde

Come Talos, victory giver

Come mother mine Kyne

Come wise Julianos

hear me all

sons of Shor

Stand up from your sleep

Give power to the root

cut the oldest

of wyrms that

gnaw on our world

I pray to Arkay

that you shall spin life

I pray to Arkay

that you shall spin life

I pray to Arkay

that you shall bind life

bind to the root

After socializing for a while, they returned to their tent, the rousing singing of "The age of oppression" carried on the night air.

Folcwine laced the tent flaps shut, and turned to see S'fara bent over, trying to slide her Stormcloak hauberk off. He crept up behind her and playfully swatted her butt.

'Hey! Do you want to help me out of this armour, or do you just want to fool around?'

'Can't I do both?' he teased, tickling her sides

'Folcwine!' she said trying to sound annoyed

'Hang on. I see the problem, your tail is stuck. Let me help.' he said, reaching to free her tail

'Just be gentle FolcwAHH!' her warning was cut short as he grasped the base of her tail, sending shivers of pleasure up her spine, and weakening her knees, causing her to slump to the floor

'I told you to be gentle! Khajiit tails are very sensitive, especially at the base.' came the muffled chastisement

'Sorry, my love.' Folcwine said seriously 'Still, at least now you're out of that armour!'

S'fara pulled the hem of the hauberk over her head.

'Aren't you mister "the flagon is half-full" tonight.'

'Why wouldn't I be? Tomorrow I go into battle and tonight, I get to share my bed with the most beautiful woman in all of Tamriel.'

'What have I told you about flattery?'

'That it will get me everywhere?' he asked innocently

'Just shut up and get out of that armour!'

'Steady on, give me a moment!'

As Folcwine pulled off his stormcloak officer armour, S'fara's eyes were drawn to the Septim sized scar on his chest, remembering how it had been the cause of the change in their relationship.

'I'm out of my armour, now what?' asked Folcwine, bringing her back to the present

By way of answer, she jumped up onto him, wrapping her arms and legs tightly about him.

'You talk too much.' she said before kissing him

Eventually they found themselves naked on their bedroll, S'fara's head resting on Folcwine's chest, and his hands idly scratching her back.

'S'fara, I know we're not married yet, but I know there's a chance either of us might not survive tomorrow. I don't want to go to Sovngarde without showing you just how much I love you.'

S'fara simply nodded, and he rolled her onto her back.

They kissed, then gazing into each others eyes, they became one.

Folcwine was awaken by Galmar's gruff voice calling to him.

'Hey, lazybones! Get up, I have your orders.'

He very reluctantly slid himself from underneath S'fara and hastily wrapped a piece of linen around his waist.

'Sir?' he asked, after unlacing the tent flaps

Galmar gave a look of disapproval before getting to the point.

'Listen up, this is the plan. Ulfric, the Dragonborn and I will make directly for Castle Dour to deal with Tulius. I want you and your men to split off from the main attack, and make sure Elisif doesn't escape. Don't want her continuing this war, now do we?'

'Yes sir, I mean, no sir.' he replied

Galmar grunted, 'And tell your betrothed she can help too.' he added, before lumbering off into the early morning light

'What did the big brute want?' came her sleepy voice

'He was giving me my orders, I'm to secure Elisif before she can slip away. Oh, and he gave you permission to come along.'

'How gracious - as if I'd be anywhere but by your side. Permission!'

Folcwine stood in the courtyard of Castle Dour with the rest of victorious Stormcloaks waiting to hear from Jarl Ulfric.

Galmar addressed them first 'And now, I present to you, Ulfric Stormcloak, hero of the people, liberator and High King of Skyrim!'

'I am indeed Ulfric Stormcloak, and at my side the man we know as Stormblade, and the world knows as the Dragonborn.' he said, indicating the man they had met months earlier, who now wore Dragonbone armour

'And indeed, there are many that call us heroes. But it is all of you who are the true heroes! It was you who fought a dying Empire who sunk its claws into our land, trying to drag us down with it. It was you who fought the Thalmor and their puppets who would have us deny our Gods and our heritage. It was you who fought your kin who didn't understand our cause, who weren't willing to pay the price of our freedom. But more than that, it was you who fought for Skyrim, for our right to fight our own battles... to return to our glory and traditions, to determine our own future! And it is for these reasons that I cannot accept the mantle of "High King." Not until the Moot declares that title should adorn my shoulders will I accept it. '

'And what about Jarl Elisif?' called a soldier

'Yes, what about the Lady Elisif? Will she put aside her personal hatred for me, and her misplaced love for the Emperor and his coin, so that the suffering of our people will end? Will she acknowledge that it is we Nords who will determine Skyrim's future? Will she swear fealty to me, so all may know that we are at peace, and a new day has dawned?'

Elisif looked back towards Folcwine and his men, 'I do!' she called back to Ulfric

'Then it is settled. The Jarl will continue to rule Solitude, I will garrison armies here to ward off Imperial attempts to reclaim the city. And in due time, the Moot will meet, and settle the claim to High King once and for all. There is much to do, and I need every able bodied man and woman committed to rebuilding Skyrim. A great darkness is growing, and soon we will be called to fight it, on these shores or abroad. The Aldmeri Dominion may have defeated the Empire, but it has not defeated Skyrim!'

The soldiers cheered as Ulfric turned to confer with Galmar.