Author's Notes:

This chapter is a bit short so expect a quick read.

A day after the feast, the knights and vikings had returned to the fortress by the river to begin fortifications and establishing a base of operations for their war against King Dainn. Upon their return, the knights noticed the mangled corpse of the noble the vikings had executed and were shocked to see such a gruesome sight.

"That's the blood eagle?!?" Marshall asked while looking at Wulfric who was cutting down the dead body like it was no big deal. Even the smell of rotting flesh seemed to have no effect on him.

"What did you expect?"

"I don't know, maybe you just chain him down and have an eagle rip out his liver or something!!"

"Hm. That actually sounds like a good idea." The chieftain replied with a nod of the head before tossing the body onto a wagon.

The army spent the entire morning repairing and cleaning out the fortress until it was fit enough to live in. The refugees were housed in the forts living quarters until they could be safely transported back to Ashfeld while the army slept in the barracks and any available space they could find, some even preferred to sleep along the fortress walls while using the braziers to keep themselves warm against the cool air blowing in from the north.

"It's getting cold, winter is coming." Bronze Pommel said while warming her hands against the brazier in front of her.

"Must be snowing in Canterlot by now." Marshall replied when he noticed Fluttershy handing out bowls of soup to the troops.

"Here, this should warm you up." The pegasus offered kindly after seeing how much their hands were shivering.

"Where's the commander?" The warden asked while blowing on a spoonful of soup.

"He's in his room writing letters to his wife back home." Pommel responded when Fluttershy handed her some warm bread to go with her meal.

Meanwhile

Shining Armor sat at his desk with a parchment and quill while his sister slept soundly in her bed next to him. Seeing her in such a state reminded the prince of their foalhood; when he would read her a bedtime story and often sleep with her until morning and as his sister slept he began to write a letter to his beloved wife waiting for him back in Ashfeld.

My dear Cadence,

I am writing you this letter to let you know that our campaign is going well thanks to the help of our new allies; The Warborn Clan and their chieftain Wulfric along with the changeling army lead by the queens champion. (Shocking, I know)

I was shocked at first to see caribou and changelings actually siding with us to liberate our kingdom and people from the stonehooves but over time, the men and myself have come to welcome them as friends. It was even because of them that we were able to find Twilight and some of her friends again.

Wulfric is so much different than the other chieftains i've encountered in this war, he is kind and caring to his people and will even risk his own life on the battlefield to protect them and though it pains me to admit it, I see a bit of myself in him.

Perhaps one day I'll introduce him to you when the war is over.

I promise to write to you again soon.

Your Husband, Shining Armor.

P.S How are the decorations coming along for the nursery?

After sealing the letter with a special magic wax, Shining Armor lit the scroll ablaze and sent its ashes flying into the horizon while he made sure his sister was tucked in.

"Everything alright?" Twilight whispered half asleep.

"Just taking care of some paperwork." Shining replied before gently planting a kiss on her forehead and brushing her mane out of the way and sleeping in the bed next to her, just like he used to when they were foals.

End.