Jorleif could see how furrowed Ulfric’s brow was the moment he stepped through the palace doors. Putting down his bread, he rose to his feet, bowing as the King approached.
“I would ask if you had seen Tomas yet, but you have the answer on your face,” he said sympathetically. Ulfric smiled weakly, taking a seat beside him and picking up the nearest bottle of wine.
“That obvious, is it?” he grumbled wryly, taking a long swig. “Come, Jorleif, sit with me.” The steward sat obediently and returned to his meal.
“Did you have a chance to speak with him? He hasn’t come by the palace yet, but one of the guards told me he was here.”
“I haven’t spoken with him. There wasn’t a good opportunity,” Ulfric replied, keeping his eyes trained downwards. Jorleif knew him well enough that if they made eye contact, he would be able to see everything he wouldn’t say out loud. All the same, his old friend eyed him, barely concealing his concern.
“You look troubled, my king. I was under the impression that you and Tomas were on good terms. You were even planning on making him a Thane, as I recall,” he said. The king shrugged halfheartedly, taking another long drink before daring to look at Jorleif.
“I don’t know what terms Tomas and I are on,” he admitted, quiet enough that the guards wouldn’t overhear. “He left after the battle at Solitude, and that’s the last I heard. No visits, no letters, nothing. Just hearsay and rumors.” Jorleif looked genuinely surprised, taking a contemplative bite of his food before continuing.
“No letters, either? You two were very close during the war,” he remarked. “I wonder what he was thinking.” When Ulfric didn’t reply, he continued on. “What will you do now? I suppose you could tell the guards to order him to come here, but we both know Tomas wouldn’t take kindly to that.”
“He’s never been one to be bossed around,” Ulfric agreed almost affectionately. “I don’t know what I’ll do yet, Jorleif. It’s been quite some time…I don’t know how he’s changed, and he doesn’t know how I’ve changed. It’s a delicate process.”
“Agreed,” Jorleif said quietly. “If you need any advice, it’s yours. Currently, my advice is for you to get some rest. The journey must have been long.” Ulfric smirked slightly, rising to his feet all the same.
“Thank you, mother, I’ll take my leave,” he teased. “Goodnight, Jorleif.”
Despite his racing thoughts, the king did manage to sleep through the night. His return to the throne the next morning, however, sent his mind into a frenzy once again. The moment he stepped into the main hall, he saw the problematic visitor in question seated at the table, waiting for him.
“…Tomas,” Ulfric choked out, approaching him with shaky legs. The Bosmer rose quickly, smiling nervously at the sight of his old commander.
“King Ulfric Stormcloak,” he replied. “The name has quite the ring to it. I hear it everywhere I go, and usually in a positive light.” To the Nord’s surprise, Tomas wrapped his arms around him, giving him a firm hug. “Gods, it’s so good to see you.” Ulfric returned the embrace clumsily, then backed away.
“And it’s good to see you,” he said quickly. “What brings you here? Business?”
“Not this time,” the elf assured him. “Just an old friend realizing that it’s been far too long. Where’s Galmar?”
“Still asleep, the old man,” Ulfric said, allowing himself to be playful. “He’s gotten a bit lazy since we took Solitude.” Tomas laughed, shaking his hair out of his face, and Ulfric was irritated to feel his heart catch at the sight.
“Ah, damn him. I’ve missed the old bear,” he said. “I’ll come back later, if it’s more convenient. Some time when I can get the opportunity to catch up with both of you—”
“What about tonight?” The words had left Ulfric’s mouth before he even knew they existed, and Tomas blinked in surprise. “I…you can join us for dinner. We’ll have a long talk, with good wine and food.” After a moment of stunned silence, Tomas beamed, and nodded enthusiastically.
“Absolutely. That sounds wonderful,” he agreed. “I’ll…I’ll come back then. I’ll wear something nice, too.” He paused, looking up bashfully at the Nord. “Thank you, Ulfric. I’ve missed you quite a bit.”
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timeasmymeasure
M!DB/Ulfric: "Unforgettable" 3/?
Date: 2015-06-29 04:45 am (UTC)“I would ask if you had seen Tomas yet, but you have the answer on your face,” he said sympathetically. Ulfric smiled weakly, taking a seat beside him and picking up the nearest bottle of wine.
“That obvious, is it?” he grumbled wryly, taking a long swig. “Come, Jorleif, sit with me.” The steward sat obediently and returned to his meal.
“Did you have a chance to speak with him? He hasn’t come by the palace yet, but one of the guards told me he was here.”
“I haven’t spoken with him. There wasn’t a good opportunity,” Ulfric replied, keeping his eyes trained downwards. Jorleif knew him well enough that if they made eye contact, he would be able to see everything he wouldn’t say out loud. All the same, his old friend eyed him, barely concealing his concern.
“You look troubled, my king. I was under the impression that you and Tomas were on good terms. You were even planning on making him a Thane, as I recall,” he said. The king shrugged halfheartedly, taking another long drink before daring to look at Jorleif.
“I don’t know what terms Tomas and I are on,” he admitted, quiet enough that the guards wouldn’t overhear. “He left after the battle at Solitude, and that’s the last I heard. No visits, no letters, nothing. Just hearsay and rumors.” Jorleif looked genuinely surprised, taking a contemplative bite of his food before continuing.
“No letters, either? You two were very close during the war,” he remarked. “I wonder what he was thinking.” When Ulfric didn’t reply, he continued on. “What will you do now? I suppose you could tell the guards to order him to come here, but we both know Tomas wouldn’t take kindly to that.”
“He’s never been one to be bossed around,” Ulfric agreed almost affectionately. “I don’t know what I’ll do yet, Jorleif. It’s been quite some time…I don’t know how he’s changed, and he doesn’t know how I’ve changed. It’s a delicate process.”
“Agreed,” Jorleif said quietly. “If you need any advice, it’s yours. Currently, my advice is for you to get some rest. The journey must have been long.” Ulfric smirked slightly, rising to his feet all the same.
“Thank you, mother, I’ll take my leave,” he teased. “Goodnight, Jorleif.”
Despite his racing thoughts, the king did manage to sleep through the night. His return to the throne the next morning, however, sent his mind into a frenzy once again. The moment he stepped into the main hall, he saw the problematic visitor in question seated at the table, waiting for him.
“…Tomas,” Ulfric choked out, approaching him with shaky legs. The Bosmer rose quickly, smiling nervously at the sight of his old commander.
“King Ulfric Stormcloak,” he replied. “The name has quite the ring to it. I hear it everywhere I go, and usually in a positive light.” To the Nord’s surprise, Tomas wrapped his arms around him, giving him a firm hug. “Gods, it’s so good to see you.” Ulfric returned the embrace clumsily, then backed away.
“And it’s good to see you,” he said quickly. “What brings you here? Business?”
“Not this time,” the elf assured him. “Just an old friend realizing that it’s been far too long. Where’s Galmar?”
“Still asleep, the old man,” Ulfric said, allowing himself to be playful. “He’s gotten a bit lazy since we took Solitude.” Tomas laughed, shaking his hair out of his face, and Ulfric was irritated to feel his heart catch at the sight.
“Ah, damn him. I’ve missed the old bear,” he said. “I’ll come back later, if it’s more convenient. Some time when I can get the opportunity to catch up with both of you—”
“What about tonight?” The words had left Ulfric’s mouth before he even knew they existed, and Tomas blinked in surprise. “I…you can join us for dinner. We’ll have a long talk, with good wine and food.” After a moment of stunned silence, Tomas beamed, and nodded enthusiastically.
“Absolutely. That sounds wonderful,” he agreed. “I’ll…I’ll come back then. I’ll wear something nice, too.” He paused, looking up bashfully at the Nord. “Thank you, Ulfric. I’ve missed you quite a bit.”