⚠️ Warning: mild OC x Canon! ⚠️ Also I'm well aware silver daggers are not canon in Skyrim, but I made them a thing. I don't follow canon.

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        It's the 2nd of Hearthfire, 8:30 P.M., when the Housecarl of Windhelm, Erelieva, was doing her daily nightly routine along the perimeters around Windhelm. The moons were both new, the night sky was lined with bright lights that danced among the starts. A cold breeze swept through the stone city. Windhelm was often cold, it was not far from Winterhold, it was practically right behind the mountain that Windhelm was built against. The river that ran through the front of the city was connected to the ocean that laid on the east coast of Skyrim. Windhelm was naturally pretty well protected, as mountains and rocky snowy terrain lain on the southern east and west side of Windhelm. It was rather always cold though, however, and very snowy.

        Due to landscape surrounding Windhelm, it provided protection to the city, as it would make it more difficult for enemies to attack the city. Plus, the city itself was made out of stone, not much wood. While there was protection, it also could provide a way for enemies to launch an attack.

        Windhelm was home to Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak, the leader of the rebellion in Skyrim's civil war. It was also home to Housecarl Erelieva, a loyal Stormcloak and Housecarl to Jarl Ulfric. She was also in charge of managing the city of Windhelm. She took this upon herself, with the permission of Ulfric to do so. She also took this upon herself so that Ulfric could focus on the war and she would tend to the city and the people of Windhelm. She took an oath as a Stormcloak, with Talos as her witness, that her loyalty laid with Ulfric, Skyrim, and her people. And as a Housecarl, she took an oath to protect her Jarl, home, and the people.

        Ulfric has a second Housecarl, that being Galmar Stone-Fist, but with both the Jarl and the first Housecarl being busy tending to the war, Erelieva offered to look after the city so they could deal with the war. Ulfric, realizing this would be both useful and helpful, agreed to this.

        Being the home to the leader of the Rebellion increased the dangers to Windhelm. While there was already normal dangers, like animals, bandits, thugs, forsworns, cults, murders, criminals, thieves, there was now new threats, as now dragons have returned to Tamriel, which they have not been seen for hundreds of years, and the Legion/Empire. Due to this, there has been an increase of guards per request by Erelieva to help defend the city.

        Erelieva was currently walking the streets of Windhelm. With a torch in her left hand, she walked past citizen who were making their way to Candlehearth Hall, which was in the center of the city. She was heading through the Gray Quarters of the city, as her next stop was the docks. On her way, she passed by a guard, who weirdly enough, did not have a torch.

        "Lost your torch, did you, guard?"

        The guard stopped and looked at Erelieva, who looked back at the guard. The guard had a full helmet on, so she couldn't see the face. But she did notice that the outfit looked a bit, strange. It seemed to have been made for a female, near the throat it was red with what looked like blood. The guard looked messy overall.

        "Uh, yes, Ma'am."

        "There is extra torches in the barracks. What happened to you, guard?"

        "Uh, what do you mean, Ma'am?"

        "You look messy. What did you do?"

        "Oh, well, when I was at the docks, I fell, on the ice. I lost my torch in the water, and cut myself off the stones."

        "That would explain the blood. Well, anyways, go clean up, and rest for the night. I'll have someone else take your post."

        "Yes, thank you, Ma'am!"

        Erelieva sighed as she watched the guard walk off. That was odd. She kept walking down the streets of Windhelm to the docks. She could see door not far from her. But Erelieva couldn't stop thinking about that guard. Something was just, off. She didn't know what. Walking through the door, she started to make her way down the stairs, when she heard running footsteps of fur boots echoing off the stones coming towards her.

        "Housecarl Erelieva!"

        It was the Captain of the guards, Trygve.

        "Captain Trygve. What's the rush?"

        "A body of a guard was found near the docks!"

        "What? Show me!"

        Trygve led Erelieva down the stairs to the east side of the docks, where the wall to the city ended. There was a small pool of blood in the corner where a guard should have been standing guard. Walking towards the edge, Erelieva knelt down and hovered her torch over the snow. Foot-sprints. Fresh. Touching the body, it was still barely warm. It just happened not too long ago. What was even more telling was the Windhelm guard shield that laid next to the guard. Someone had dragged the body into the snow, partly buried. The clothes of the female guard were gone besides the undergarments. Her throat was slit.

        "Did you see anyone over here?"

        "No. Unfortunately I was at the west end. But I did see a guard leaving from this area. They didn't have a torch."

        "No one else was here?"

        "Besides the other guards, the other three, no. She was the only female. The one I saw walking away looked like a male. But the other three men are still here."

        That's when Erelieva saw a small paper folded in the snow. Reaching down for it, she grabbed it and opened it.

        "As instructed, you are to eliminate Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak by any means necessary. The Black Sacrament has been preformed - somebody wants this poor fool dead.

        We've already received payment for the contract. Failure is not an option.

        - Astrid"

        Erelieva's eye widened, gasping slightly.

        "Erelieva?"

        "Trygve... that was a Dark Brotherhood assassin. This note confirms it. They're after Ulfric Stormcloak."

        "What?!"

        "That guard, they disguised themself as a guard, but it's an assassin. Plus, they forgot the shield. I didn't notice that. Anyways, I need you to immediately take come guards and do a check around the perimeter both outside and inside the walls. I have to head to the Palace. Let the other guards know. The last spot I saw that guard headed was the Palace. I have no more time to talk."

        Trygve nodded and Erelieva shoved the note in her pocket and took off bolting back towards the Palace. She mentally cursed herself out for this slipping past her. She prayed to the gods it wasn't too late, that she could still stop this assassin before it was too late. Sure, Ulfric was a war veteran, but even war veterans can be slain in the blink of an eye.

        Reaching the doors of the Palace, where a guard stood watch, she ran past the guard, putting out the torch, and pushed the door open with her body. As she entered the palace, she saw the main room was empty, besides one person, the assassin. She heard Ulfric and Galmar's voice, they were in the other room where the map is, just to the left of the throne. The assassin, who took off the guard clothes, and was surely enough wearing the Dark Brotherhood outfit. The male was crouching down next to the door waiting for Ulfric to walk through.

        The man was seemingly too focused on staying hidden that he didn't hear the door open. Erelieva clung to the wall and crouched down, slowly and carefully sneaking up behind the assassin. However, once he started to hear her approaching, it was already too late. Covering his mouth with one hand, and stabbing him in the chest with her dagger in her other hand.

        "That was a close call..."

        "Erelieva? What is going on?"

        Erelieva looked up to see the Nord male, Jarl Ulfric standing in front of her and the body. It didn't take too long for him to realize what just happened after staring at the scene for a moment. Then Galmar walked behind Ulfric and looked over at Erelieva.

        "What in Oblivion? Is that a Dark Brotherhood assassin?"

        Getting up to her feet, Erelieva grabbed the note she found and handed it to Ulfric.

        "Yes. This one was sent to eliminate Ulfric. Damn sneaky bastard. Ended up coming through the docks, taking out a guard and used the clothes as a disguise. I knew something was off when they walked past me. What gave it away was the body. She was dragged off and partly buried in the snow. This note must have fallen out of their pocket. They also ended up forgetting to bring the shield, which is also how I knew it was one of the Windhelm guards."

        Ulfric sighed deeply, folding up the letter.

        "I am honestly surprised that they weren't detected sooner. But they also decided to attack at night. I am also rather shocked it's the Dark Brotherhood. Haven't heard about them for a while. But this is concerning. I doubt that they will stop sending their little threats until I'm dead."

        "I will see to it that more guards are guarding the walls, especially the docks. The only other way to get in is by the wall. I will see to it that this doesn't happen again."

        Ulfric crossed his arms.

        "Hm, well, you can't exactly stop them from sending their assassins after me, but you did just save my life. However, as much as I am sure you would like to wipe them out, I can't allow you to do so. Not alone. That would be too risky, and right now, I need you here."

        "I understand, Jarl Ulfric. If you will excuse me, Jarl, I would like to take care of this assassin's corpse, and inform Captain Trygve that the issue has been dealt with, along with some new protocols."

        "That would be best."

        Later that night, around 10:00 P.M., Erelieva had just gotten back from checking around the city one last time. She saw Ulfric sitting on his throne.

        "Jarl Ulfric, you're still awake?"

        "For now. I was waiting for you... Anyways, what's the news?"

        "Well, there will be more guards watching along the walls, especially on the outside and on the walls, and there are more guards stationed at both the docks and main entrances. However, while I was doing my checks, I saw a dragon flying around just north west of here, near Mount Anthor. Luckily it hasn't decided to attack Windhelm, not yet anyways."

        "That's one problem down. I don't exactly blame you for that assassin sneaking in. It's the Dark Brotherhood, no ordinary assassins. But I'm impressed you dealt with it swiftly. First that Butcher and now this."

        "Well, I swore an oath, and I intend on keeping it, even if I die staying true to it."

        "I don't doubt your loyalty, Erelieva. You've proven yourself more than enough. Now, it's getting late. We both might as well get some rest. There was an Imperial camp spotted near Kynesgrove."

        "What? Kynesgrove? Why so close?"

        "I don't exactly know yet why they have jumped this close. But I intend to deal with it quickly."

        Ulfric spoke as he stood up from his throne and started walking to the door that led to the sleeping quarters. Erelieva followed behind.

        It was silent for most of the walk. Erelieva had been his Housecarl for about five years now. She came from a family who supported the Empire, but Erelieva did not support it and the White-Gold Concordat. So she left and came to Windhelm, where she came to the Palace of Kings to look for work and overtime she eventually became the Thane of Windhelm, until eventually Ulfric asked her to become his second Housecarl. Overall she's been in Windhelm for the last ten years. She joined the Stormcloaks when Ulfric returned after the duel with High King Torygg. The dagger she had was a gift from Ulfric's armory that he gave to her when she became Thane, it was a silver dagger. As for her sword, a silver sword, that was also gifted to her by Ulfric when she became his Housecarl.

        She has an interesting relationship behind closed doors with Ulfric, which Galmar is only aware of. Needless to say, the two are close. You could even say romantically interested in each other. But until things calm down with the war, they agreed to keep this between them, and Galmar swore not to say anything about it.

Erelieva turned a corner and walked into her sleeping quarter. She went to go close the door, but Ulfric closed it behind him. Undoing her hair, she looked over at Ulfric.

"Something you need, Jarl Ulfric?"

Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, he spoke.

"It's not often I get to see you privately, my dear."

She hummed in response, tiredly. She put her palms on her back and faced Ulfric, slightly tilting her head to the side. They just kind of looked at each other for a moment, before Erelieva set her weapons down on the rack, walking back over to Ulfric into his arms, which he uncrossed, for a hug. Ulfric wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

"Sleep well, Erelieva. You've earned it."

"Hah. You have also well-earned your rest as well, Jarl Ulfric. Oh, and don't play with death this time around tonight, ok?"

Ulfric let out a small chuckle.

"Hm, I can't promise anything fully on that one. But I can try."

Erelieva smiled, watching Ulfric open the door and head to his room for the night.

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Alright I'm not that good at writing shipping things entirely. 😂 This took practically half of my day because I decided to re-write it.