A Warming Hearth

A/N: Ulfric has been haunted by the woman who sat next to him on the ride to Helgan. Her voice was like honey to his ears and he never would have expected in a million years for her to show up at his palace, let alone help him take his place as High King of Skyrim. Now a year has gone by and he can't get the Dragonborn out of his mind. Finally he seeks her out, fed up with the pushing of his steward and housecarl to find a queen for Skyrim and bring an heir to the people. He goes off to search for the woman who ever made his Nordic blood run hot.

Chapter 1: The home of the Dragonborn

Ulfric Stormcloak, High King of Skyrim slowed his horse next to the barn leading up to the grand estate tucked into the side of the mountain overlooking the lake. He looked up at the estate and smiled, it had become home to one Sylvia Goldenheart, Dragonborn and Thane to all nine holds of Skyrim, and also one of his most trusted generals who helped him take his rightful place. He still remembered her, and she was breathtaking, even in rags as she rode with him to what he had thought at the time were their deaths. She was small, even for a Nord, her skin pale as the snow around his palace, and her sharp green/blue eyes held all her power and intelligence. And her voice, Ulfric was still affected by that voice that was more intoxicating than all the mead in Riften.

"If the Black-Briars could infuse her voice with their mead they'd be even richer than they are now." He chuckled to himself, before shaking the thoughts from his head. He straightened his cloak and crown and strolled up to the front door and knocked. He waited only a moment and the door swung open causing him to blink in surprise. "Calder?"

The man in question gaped at the king before bowing. "High King Ulfric, what a surprise. What brings you all the way to Falkreath Hold?"

"I could ask you the same thing. I was wondering why Hjerim stood abandoned."

Calder swallowed. "Ah, yes…you see m'lady Sylvia wanted a home outside of the walls of a city. She found Lakeside Manor and Jarl Dengeir gave her the title for the land for giving him his seat of power. She said this place was more suitable for her needs. She hired me on as her steward to look after things here when her duty calls her away. Please do come in I will inform her you are here." He said stepping back to allow the King in.

Ulfric fallowed the other man into the great hall that was as grand as the rest of the house. He was highly impressed by the great hall, plaques lined the walls filled with all sorts of odd weapons and the several armor stands held strange armors even her own armor that showed her as a general for the Stormcloaks. He smiled fondly at the smile on her face after receiving that armor and was shook from his thoughts as his cloak was taken and he also handed over his sword knowing he wouldn't need it in the house. Calder placed them with care on a chest near the door, and handed Ulfric a goblet of wine, when the house shook with a force that was unmistakably a Thu'um, making Ulfric wonder just what was going on.

Calder clicked his tongue. "I have told her, she keeps these lessons up in the cellar and the children will bring the house down around our ears." He muttered.

"Children?" Ulfric echoed until the door to the cellar opened and laughter flowed out as two young children fallowed by a woman walked out.

"Very good Hroar! That was the strongest fus you have produced yet. And Rana you are doing so well with your Alchemy and Enchanting, I might just have to have you work on all my equipment since you are doing much better than me." A honeyed voice praised making all the blood in Ulfric's head rush southwards.

"Thanks mama!" The children cried happily before stopping in the doorway to see him standing there.

"Kids what the—Ulfric?" Sylvia stopped just behind her children her face a mask of surprise.

Calder quickly stepped up offering juice to the children and a wine glass to the Dragonborn. "High King Ulfric showed up unexpectedly to pay you a visit m'lady. I was about to come down and tell you when we felt and heard the force of the young masters Shout."

Sylvia smiled, "It's alright Calder, I just wasn't expecting to see Ulfric here, it's a pleasant surprise. Please sit, we were about to have dinner, would you care to join us Ulfric?" She asked her smile bright and her eyes warm.

"I would be honored Sylvia." He gave her a smile back as he walked forward and held out his arm to her. He grinned as she took his arm and he pulled her in for a hug. "It's good to see you again my friend. You haven't been to Windhelm in a while, and I was beginning to wonder if a dragon got you." He held her for heartbeat longer than what was appropriate but he enjoyed feeling the warmth of her against him.

She laughed as she pulled back. "I'm sorry Ulfric, I was given this plot of land and there was little more than a tent and a carpenters bench. Calder and I stopped and we began creating my home. This place was perfect, and I knew I had found my home. So I sold all my other homes in all the holds and most of my weapon collection save for a few things to fund this place and build it into a grand home." She smiled placing a hand on each child's shoulder. "A place I could raise Hroar and Rana. Rana here is talented in magical ways such as alchemy and enchantment, I won't know until she's older if she can actually cast a spell, but she is a very talented young lady. And Hroar here has the makings of knowing the way of the voice; I don't want to take him to the Grey Beards so I am training him myself."

Ulfric looked down at the children with interested eyes. "And what about a father?"

"We don't have parents, well we didn't until Mama Sylvia adopted us. Rana was living at the Orphanage in Riften and I was living in a barn helping on a farm outside of Solitude. Mama saved us and gave us a place to call home, we've been happy here." Hroar looked up at him, his dark eyes slightly fearful. "You aren't here to take us away are you?"

"Hroar!" Sylvia cried sharply. "I'm sorry Ulfric, these children haven't had the easiest of lives, I keep telling them that nothing, not even Alduin, would be able to take me away from these children."

Ulfric smiled and held up a hand. "It's alright young man, no I'm not here to take you away. I never knew Sylvia adopted children so seeing you here just made me curious. As long as you are happy I would never dream of interfering with your happiness."

Sylvia smiled and pushed her children forward to the door. "Go wash up for dinner with Calder and help bring out the food. Ulfric and I will set up for dinner." She bent down and each child kissed her on the cheek before disappearing with Calder out the door.

As she watched the children out Ulfric finally got a chance to look at her closely. She was still as beautiful as the last time he had seen her. Her long honey blond hair was pulled back at the top of her head in a ponytail and fell down to her waist, it was much longer than the last time he saw her. She was dressed in a simple green/blue tunic that was cinched at the waist by a gold cord, her long legs encased in gold leggings tucked into soft black boots. Her Amulet of Mara hung outside of her tunic between her full breasts. "So you have children now? But no husband?"

She smiled as she walked to the cabinet containing her dishes holding out a small stack of plates to him. "I haven't found anyone who can beat me in combat or withstand my Thu'um. And Hroar made me promise that I wouldn't marry any man who couldn't do both." She laughed softly when he didn't take the dishes. "Oh come on now, you can't tell me that the Great High King Ulfric, who shed the blood of Imperials, is too delicate to handle setting a table." She challenged, her eyes dancing.

Ulfric rolled his eyes but a smile crept to his lips, as he took the dishes. "So you have yet to meet a man to match you in combat or withstand your Thu'um? Interesting." He mused watching the woman as she set the dishes on the table while he set the plates. He worked his way around the opposite side of the table, until he came up right next to her. "And your son must approve of your marriage?"

She looked at him. "My children are my life Ulfric; I have found that I love being a mother. I need those children as much as they need me. Hroar just wants to make sure that he has a father just as strong as his mother; he doesn't want to lose his family again. Neither of them want to, and I wouldn't dream of marrying anyone who couldn't handle himself in a fight. Those children deserve a family that is strong." She looked up at him, her blue/green eyes searching his face. "Why did you come Ulfric?" She asked softly, her voice holding a slight tremor.

She had never admitted to anyone but Calder her desire for the High King. She had wanted him from the moment she saw him leading his brothers and sisters into the burning tower, trying to escape from Alduin the first time. She fought alongside him bringing peace and unity to Skyrim, and found herself falling deeper and deeper in love with the man. She knew that he could match her in combat, maybe even overpower her, and that he could withstand her Thu'um. She thought she could run from her feelings, and thought she had until she walked up from the cellar with her children. Her heart had not slowed down from the moment she saw him, even now it was thundering in her ears like the beating wings of dragon wings.

Ulfric opened his mouth to answer when the kitchen doors opened and Rana, Hroar, and Calder walked in carrying plates of steaming food and drinks. "Dinners ready Mama!" Rana said as she set down the steaming plate of meat, she looked curiously between her mother and the King.

Sylvia smiled as she placed her hand on Rana's hair kissing her daughter on the forehead. "Everything looks wonderful, Calder you make some wonderful meals. What are we having tonight for dinner?"

"Roasted deer meat marinated in Black-Briar mead with fresh potatoes and carrots. Fresh Apple juice for the children and I hope you don't mind but I brought out a bottle of our finest Surilie Brothers Wine for us." He smiled at her.

She smiled back. "That sounds just fine." She opened her mouth to say more when a knock sounded at the door. "Who could that be?"

Calder smacked his forehead, "I'm sorry I completely forgot, I got a letter from the bard College a few weeks ago saying that they were sending us a bard at your request. That must be him now." He moved to let the bard in and a fairly attractive young man carrying a lute walked in and smiled as he removed his traveling cloak and hat. He bowed, "M'lady Sylvia Goldenheart? I am Llewellyn the Nightingale, sent from the Bard College to entertain you."

Sylvia smiled. "Ah of course, thank you. We were just sitting down to eat, have you eaten?"

"Yes ma'am. Anything you wish me to—High King Ulfric? This is a great honor sir."

"Ah yes, Ulfric is my guest for the night. We would love it if you played for us while we ate." She turned to her children who were still watching Ulfric. "What song would you like to hear during dinner?"

"How about the Age of Oppression?" Hroar asked.

"Yeah since the king is our guest for the night. And you fought with the Stormcloaks mama." Rana said with a playful smirk.

Sylvia laughed as she took her seat at the head of the table, nodding at the bard to begin playing the piece. She watched as everyone sat down for dinner her children to her left and Ulfric to her right with Calder next to him. She smiled as the music started and the conversation began with Ulfric regaling a tale to her children who sat entranced by his story. She looked to Calder, who gave her a knowing look that caused her to keep her eyes glued to the meal. Working out how she would handle the next few hours.

A/N: Wow that was a long chapter but I just couldn't find a place that I was happy with stopping at. Originally this was meant to be a oneshot but as you can see I just can't bring myself to having just a oneshot. Hope you enjoyed and hope to see people looking forward to what is going to happen next.