This has nothing to do with my other Skyrim fanfic "The Exodus". So if you've come looking for that you will be disappointed, I know I am.
But now that I think about it, it's kinda similar actually…so you might like it anyway or you might like to complain how similar it is. If you're like "Awh, man I don't feel like reading all that shit!" then never fear! If you'd like to read this in comic form, I did the first part of this as a graphic novel before I realised how fucking hard and boring that is. So toddle over to my deviant art if you like: art/Raven-and-Rosie-a-skyrim-fan-comic-302168858
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The night's frozen wind swirled around the old fort, kicking up snow and tossing it against the walls. The black clad figure pressed against the rough wall of rock and circled the curved tower elegantly until he came to an arched window. He peered around cautiously and glimpsed inside. He withdrew quickly when he saw the bandit but slowly looked again when he wasn't noticed. The wood elf spun a dagger on the top of the table he was seated at. He glanced over at the wine bottle and looked around. He pushed his crossed legs off the table and swivelled to give into temptation and uncork the wine. Just as the cork started to wriggle free he felt a dull thud stick into the back of his head and was momentarily disorientated. He watched the strips of fabric that made up his head band flutter down and fall onto the table top. Blood began to pour from his mouth and he brought a hand up to catch it only to watch it dribble through his fingers pool on the wood before him. As he fell from his chair and slumped heavily against the floor the bounty hunter climbed up on to the windowsill, holding one of his twin axes up in case other bandits where in the room. When he was sure it was clear he ungracefully dragged the rest of himself inside, cursing the gods for the steep drop to the floor. The bounty hunter finally managed to find his feet and stood looking to his side and the dead bandit. He knelt down beside him and pulled the other axe from his skull the bone creaking as he worked it free. A second bounty hunter wrapped in black walked past the window and paused hurrying over to lean through it.
"Raven! There you are, quick, I've found him!"She hissed making the other spin to face her
He replaced the crude orcish axes in their holsters hanging from his hips and jumped out of the window in a smooth, silent motion to impress his company and followed her footsteps around to a corner looking up to a high wall. She was crouched in the deep shadows holding a worn piece of paper when he caught up and crouched down against her back. He looked over her shoulder at the crumpled note and shuffled around to flank her and get a better look. He reached out and grasped it and she allowed him to take it from her fingers. He looked at the picture on the bounty and back up to the man on the wall as his companion unsheathed her ebony dagger.
"This is a trap, bet you anything" He whispered to her
The woman pulled the black cloth covering the bottom half of her face and let it hang around her neck. The male leaned in to whisper to her as she brought the dagger up to hold between her teeth.
"Handsome guy," He said sarcastically "I think we should-"
But his plan was cut short as she suddenly leapt up startling the male.
"Rose, wait!" He said urgently reaching out to stop her but she slipped through his fingers. She sprinted over to the wall and crouched when she neared to launch herself into the air and scramble to clutch the edge. She managed to steady herself and pull herself up and over, dagger ready. She sprang out and jabbed her dagger into his back and dragged it down to the sound of ripping fabric. She pulled back and looked at her mistake as stuffing, not blood, tumbled out. The slow clap of mock congratulations drew her attention to the top of the tower behind her.
"Oh bravo, little orc," He said smoothly "you successfully let me get the upper hand and ruined my favourite coat in the process"
She saw the moon glint off his drawn back sneer. She strode towards him confidently and reached back to undo the face mask completely and let it fall.
"Upper hand? I killed all your men" She said calmly
The wood elf leaned forward and leered at her with his bulging, dead eye.
"Oh those pathetic things," He scoffed "There are countless desperate men who will turn to banditry, they're just meat shield anyway."
He reached down beside him and produced a cross bow and aimed it at Rose his good eye was a thin bulb of oozing darkness that jabbed into her.
"But anyway, down to business, drop that fancy dagger" He grinned triumphantly
Rose let her dagger clatter on the stone below her as she raised her hands to show her submission.
"Thank you," He said almost sweetly "Let me give you a tip, always carry the best weapon, not that you'll need it where you're going"
Rose dropped her head and smirked looking up slowly, mock sympathy laughing in her large golden eyes.
"You aren't allowing for something" She smiled
The wood elf looked confused.
"What?" He asked impatiently
"I do have the better weapon," She said as the moon slid along the edge of her companion's axe, raised ready to swing. Anger furrowed Raven's brow as he brought his axe around to bite into the bosmer's throat and part his head from the rest of him "and he doesn't have a blind side" She smiled
The head had flown to the side and bounced off the short wall guarding the tower, his body slumped backwards into a crumpled heap. Rose smiled up at him and he returned it with a relived look before turning to retrieve the head and store it in a thick sack. Rose had started dressing into her regular attire by the time he went back down the stairs and onto the wall with her.
"Are you alright?" He asked softly collecting her up in his arms
She leaned up and pressed her lips to his now unmasked face.
"Of course" She smiled softly, brushing her fingers over the brand on his forehead and into the thick black ridge of his Mohawk. She let her hands fall in his much larger pair.
"I got a bit nervous when he pulled that crossbow out" She said looking worried
Raven smiled smoothly.
"Ah, I had it under control"
Rosie scoffed and pulled away hitching up one of the straps on her high collared corset.
"I'm sure you were heroically struggling up the stairs at that point" She jeered playfully
Raven scowled at her.
"Don't you ever run off like that again, though" He growled
Rosie turned to look at him and strutted over to him smoothly, rubbing a hand along his jaw when she reached him and looking up into Raven's softened blue eyes.
"You scared the crap out of me" He murmured gently
"Oh, I knew you'd work out my plan" She smiled smugly and patted his check.
Raven pulled his head away and looked at her walk away sulkily. She glanced over her shoulder and caught his expression and laughed before going back to reuniting with her outfit. She returned the long braid to the unshaven side of her hair and rolled up her sleeves. Raven threw on his original open jacket and waist high pants of simple Redguard design.
"It's a long way back to camp; you wanna just find a bed here?" Raven asked over his shoulder as he gathered up the sack
"Yeah, sure" Rosie said turning
Raven twisted the sack around his hand and walked over and held out his free hand to her. Rosie smiled and placed her fingers delicately within his and led them over to the door that led inside the tower. Without the light of the twin moons the darkness clouded their vision. A sudden burst of light developed between Rosie's hands along with the electric hum of charging magic. Raven screwed up his nose.
"I wish you wouldn't use that magic stuff" He grumbled
"You wanna have light or not?" She asked simply and let the glowing ball go to float above her and dissolve the darkness. They walked down the winding corridors and up a flight of wide, worn stairs until finally coming to a door with light seeping out from under it. Rosie pushed it open cautiously but quickly swung it all the way upon seeing the torch burning above a double bed smothered with furs. Rosie decided to express her glee with a rather shrill noise that made Raven roll his eyes. Rosie pulled off her clothes as she made her way towards the bed, struggling with a boot before flopping face down on to it. Raven put the head in a chest to the left of the bed and wandered over to the window to look out and the ribbons of light flutters over the mountains. He stared for a few moments before turning and taking off his jacket, folding it crudely and placing it on the floor along with his boot. Rosie rubbed her face into the furs and sighed happily.
"This is so much better than those hay piles!" She exclaimed
She half turned and looked over at Raven who was leaning against the window sill letting the cool air try to tug the spikes of his hair down.
"Wouldn't it be nice to settle in Skyrim?" She asked
Raven pushed off from the frame holding himself up with one arm and cast Rosie a frustrated look.
"Rose, don't start this," He groaned "You know why we can't"
Rosie rolled back onto her belly and crossed her arms before her, looking disappointed.
"How long are we going to run?" She asked sadly, turning back.
"Unless you want to be caught, forever" He replied slumping to the side
Rosie looked troubled and Raven took his cue to walk over and sit on the edge of the bed and place his hand against her face. She cast her eyes up to meet his and he smiled gently.
"Don't worry about it" He said softly "We're doing better than I ever thought we would"
Rosie let her eyes fall and look away to the side almost hidden by her pale lashes.
"What if…Things change?" She asked carefully
Raven tilted his head and a look of anxiety smothered him.
"Change, Rosie, what's gotten in to you lately? You worry about everything but then you turn around and are impulsive"
Rosie let a sentence of unsaid words rumble in her throat but swallowed them and raised her eyes towards his again.
"Nothing-It's just…I just have a feeling is all." She decided to say
Raven smiled and leaned down to press a kiss to her cheek bone, the bare flesh of their under fed chests pressing together in the motion. A look of worry coated Rosie's face but she rested her hand on his.
"Things always work out don't they?" Raven said smiling encouragingly
"I guess so" She said quietly
Raven sat up and ran his fingers through Rosie's thick hair she looked away with a sour look of uneasiness.
"Let's try and get some sleep" Raven sighed "We have a reward to collect tomorrow"
Rosie nodded but didn't turn back. Raven bumped his forehead with its thick black lines against her own. Rosie turned back and gave a weak smile but scooted over so that Raven had room to lie beside her. Raven shuffled in close to her and threw a loose wolf pelt over them. He sighed and put an arm around her protectively. He hated when she wouldn't tell him what she was thinking, but he never pushed the matter as she always ended up telling him with time. Rosie's breathing became slow and her chest rose and fell in a soft rhythm and soon his own eyes couldn't stay open any longer.
.
The sun shone sharply through the small window, flooding the room with white light. Rosie used the edge of the bed to help her jam her foot into the stubborn boots Raven pulled on his jacket behind her.
"I'm so hungry" She groaned finally getting her foot in and turning back to Raven
"We'll look for some food before we leave" he said
"I've already looked" Rosie sighed adjusting her belt "There's nothing"
Raven turned up his cuffs and looked towards the door.
"Maybe there's a cellar, I'll have a look" He said leaving her to gather up their things.
He made his way down all the stairs he could find, a hand on his axe every time he opened a door. He finally opened an old door that instantly sloped down into stairs leading to faint darkness. He leaned his head in and his body soon followed, brushing his fingers along the wall to guide himself. With the light pouring in through the door way and his dilated pupils it was surprisingly easy to look around the dim room. He started at a cluster of barrels only to find rotten apples of emptiness. He moved on to the large wardrobe and searched its shelves and brushed a hand along the top only to be greeted by nothingness. He grumbled and crouched down to sift through the drawers only to find an empty wine bottle and some tattered clothes. He stood and sighed in aggravation and threw his eyes around the room. He spotted a short table with a brown, rough edged book sitting in the centre. Curiosity dragged him away from his search and had him flick through its pages. It was just a collection of known information on Deadra and Raven quickly tired of it and leaned down to replace it on the table. On his way back up his eyes brushed across a strange shape in a large jagged stone on the wall. He looked at it for a moment before impulsively lifting a finger and pressing it to the carved circle. The wall shuddered as the brick grinded against its neighbours in its slow crawl backwards before dropping down into its slot. Raven looked around as the foundation became silent again. He nervously turned and noticed the fresh hole in the wall and reluctantly bowed to eye level with it. His eyes widened as they captured a glimpse of what the tiny, smooth cavern hid and he carefully reached out and took it from its hiding place.
.
Raven found Rosie sitting on bench in a disused kitchen, he approached her quietly. She looked up from the steam rising up off the wooden bowl filled with stew and smiled at him.
"Ah, Raven, look! I found some stew" She said holding out the bowl towards him "I used my magic too heat it an-"
He circled around behind her and put a hand either side of the throat.
"What are you doing?" She asked
"Hang on" He murmured as the flat circle beads of the green jewelled amulet fell from his hands and he drew them back to tie the ends of the cord together behind her neck. Rosie's face lit up as she lifted the centre flattened bead and it's smooth round gem.
"Raven, did you make it yourself?" She exclaimed
Raven leaned against the bench beside her.
"I wish! No, I found it downstairs." He admitted
"It's beautiful" She said looking up at him
He pulled himself up beside her and rubbed a thumb over the light stone.
"Well, I know how you've been wanting a necklace, but we can't afford it, so…"
"Thank you" She said softly rubbing a hand over his cheek "We should get moving"
The morning air held the noise of hundreds of birds bickering in the trees as their breath left clouds that tumbled away behind them. They walked north east until the snow became scarce and opened out the short, dry grass lands littered with weather worn rocks. They followed the old cobbled road lined with crumbling fence in places. Rosie carried their supplies and walked with her head down, Raven strode ahead of her carrying the sack. He turned his head back.
"How much further to Helgen?" He asked impatiently
"Not far now" Rosie sighed glancing along the road
Raven raised his head to the wind and screwed up his nose.
"Do you smell smoke?" He asked
The road brought them to the smoking ruins of the small town of Helgen and they stood before the gate hanging from their hinges. Rosie hung back and looked up in disbelief as Raven's emotion screwed up his face along with his fists.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" He yelled, fire burning in his chest.
"Oh, Malacath…" Rosie breathed, shoulders slumping.
"Malacath?" Raven spat "Well he's obviously worth calling on!"
"Calm down, Raven" Rosie growled quietly
Raven turned to use his height over her, anger boiling in his eyes.
"Do you not see the situation?" He said dangerously
"Getting angry won't help" She matched his tone
Raven threw the sack to the ground and gave it a swift kick.
"Malacath hates us" He declared
"Raven, stop it!" Rosie yelled grabbing his wrist to stop him.
Raven tore his arm from her grasp.
"Get off" He yelled at her, baring his teeth.
"Shut up and listen to me!" Rosie finally lost her temper and silenced Raven.
"We haven't lost the bounty, I honestly don't know what town it came from, I just got the notice in Helgen!" Rosie said making Raven's posture relax "I was just going to ask the bartender if they'd heard about it. Alright? Settle down"
Rosie held his eyes in defiance for a second before turning on her heels and muttering to herself. She didn't even stop to pull the map out of the bag hanging at her side. She tossed her eyes across the thick paper mapping a route in her head.
"We'll stop at Riverwood and go on to Whiterun" She said half to herself "Come on" She commanded and powered ahead.
They walked in silence for a while as the sun slithered towards the middle of the sky. Raven walked behind her, guilt crawled into his stomach and clawed at his chest. He cleared his throat and sped up slightly to nudge her lightly when he matched her pace. She cast him a glance.
"Hey…" He said softly
"Hey" She replied looking up at him
"So, I'm sorry I go angry"
"That's okay" She said quietly
They walked in mutual silence together before Raven spoke.
"Do you really think we'll find the bounty for him?"
Rosie sighed.
"Well, like I said, it had to come from one of the surrounding areas. I just picked up that bounty from the pub floor. It'll be okay."
"But what if-" Raven started before Rosie placed her slender fingers over his lips.
"Hey, things always work out don't they?" She quoted him with a smirk
She let her fingers trailed down and rest on his chest and he gave a small laugh.
"I guess so" He smiled
She gave him an enthusiastic smile and grasped his hands, walking backwards and pulling him along with her.
"It's not far now" She encouraged him
She spun back around and slammed into the chest of a tall nord wrapped in hide armour, an iron helmet shielding his face. Rosie let out a gasp of surprise and the nord grunted at the contact.
"Watch it!" Raven growled the warning
Raven's eyes tracking him as he moved out of their way and down along the road. Rosie giggled and grabbed the collar of Raven's jacket pulling him around.
"Oh, Raven, it was my fault, come on I can see the gate" She said entwining her fingers with his and pulling him along until he followed.
The entrance to the small town grew in the distance as they approached, swelling against the horizon. They passed under the broad gate and made their way up to the inn. Rosie glanced up at the sign.
"I've never seen a giant sleep." She said in response to the inn's title
"I've never seen a female giant" Raven stated
Rosie held her thoughts and let them rumble in her throat before a smile spread over her face.
"Give you one guess what the mammoths are for then" She said going up the stairs
"Rose!" Raven chuckled and followed her into the inn.
Rosie slumped into an empty chair and dumped her bag beside her, scooting it underneath with her foot.
"I need a drink, you want an ale too?" Raven asked
"Oh, uh…no, thanks" Rose said quickly
"You'd rather mead?" Raven said with an arched eyebrow
Rosie shifted in her seat and scrapped her nails across the wood.
"No," She said firmly "No alcohol"
"Alright, suit yourself," Raven said turning "I'll ask about that bounty"
Rosie slumped back in her seat and stretched her legs out and studying the scuff marks on her worn leather boots.
"Can I get you something?" The voice startled her when it brought her back to reality
"Oh, actually do you have a water pouch I could buy?"
"I'll have a look" The inn keeper said walking back to the bar
Rosie leaned forward and rubbed her hands across her face before letting her arms fall looking back up when Raven took the seat beside her. He took the cork between his teeth and pulled it out with a quick pop.
"He was a pest around here, but not enough for a bounty"
He took a few gulps and looked back to Rose when she remained silent. She stared at the ground and ran her fingers over the knitted length of hair resting over her shoulder.
"Rose?" He asked
"Huh?" Rosie said looking up vaguely
"Inn keeper said you ordered this" He said holding out a leather pouch
"Oh yes" Rose said reaching out and taking it, the contents gulping in their confinements.
"Good because I paid for it" He said bringing the bottle back up to his lips.
Rose flicked her eyes up and the bar keeper looked away quickly. She reached down and slung the pack and strap of the water skin over her shoulder.
"I think we should get going" Rosie murmured standing up
"Already?" Raven moaned
"Come on" Rosie hissed
Raven pulled the door shut behind him and sprinted to catch up to Rosie who was headed towards the gate.
"Did you see something back there?" Raven asked quietly
"The inn keeper. She kept glancing at you" Rosie said
"So?" He scoffed
"Have you forgotten about that crest tattooed on your forehead?" Rosie snapped
Raven went quiet and flattened the spiked fringe of his hair down over his forehead.
"I had actually" He said softly
"For all we know there's a bounty out for us, we have to be careful, you're always telling me that"
Rose brushed a hand over the drooping points of Raven's thick black hair.
"Should we change names again?" Raven asked
Rosie's mouth tugged to one side in thought. She traced her fingers over the straps strung over her collar bone.
"No, I've just gotten used to these ones and we shouldn't just change all the time anyway," She said finally "Besides, if someone works out who we truly are, fake names won't save us"
Raven sighed and looked out through the trees flanking either side of the road at the snow encrusted mountains rising up to act as pillars for the sky. He was suddenly ripped away from the tranquillity of the frost coated air.
"Look, Raven, a Khajiit caravan, hurry" Rose said pulling him by the hand
"What?" Raven said only half listening as his eyes met the wagon coming up the road behind them
Rose let him go to stumble to a halt as she went up to them.
"Hey, wait, are you going to Whiterun?" She called
The driver halted the pony and flattened his ears, a large male in the back of the cart with a short, backwards flicked ridge of hair along his spine and a huge claymore leaned over the large single crate they were transporting. The smaller driver flicked him a look and looked back to Rose.
"We do hav' to stop in Whiterun, yus" He said in his thick accent
"Could we catch a ride?" She said gesturing to Raven with a flick of her head.
Raven walked over to Rose a disbelieving look carved into his features.
"What?" He said sharply in an unimpressed tone
"We'll pay, of course" Rosie added quickly
"Wha- Rose, we haven't talked about this" Raven spluttered
The largest khajiit leaned over and rested a clawed hand on the smaller male's arm.
"This could be a bandit trap" He sneered, his accent lighter than the others.
"They don't seem that bad and we could use the coin" The small female sitting on the crate with her legs hanging over the side of the wagon said gently
The driver flicked an ear towards Rosie and thought it over a second before facing her.
"I'll take you to Whiterun if you leave your weapons up front" He decided
"Ah thank you" Rosie said happily turning to collect Raven axes
He stood defiantly with his arms crossed as she stretched out her arms.
"You'll get them back, grumpy bum" She teased
When he continued to refuse she stepped forward and slid her hands up the back of his short jacket to unsheathe them from the secret holster he had for them and pulling them out.
"Wow these are heavier than I remember" She said testing their weight in her hands before handing them over.
She worked her ebony dagger out of her tall boot and passed it up.
"This is "Nettlebane", be careful with her" she said before going around with Raven reluctantly behind her to the back of the cart.
Raven sighed and put his hands either side of her waist and lifted her up to place her on the weather worn wood before giving a little jump himself and shuffling backwards. The wagon jerked forward and Raven slumped over and rested his head in his hand as they rattled down the road. The sun had started to dribble the last of its blood over the sky as it gave birth to the night when the pony became restless. The smaller male halted her and the female jumped from her place on the crate to go around and steady the horse face on. She took his reins and stroked the side of his face, tilting her head and looking at him with her large, almond eyes.
"The pony has had enough for today, Ra,'Shik" She said and the driver nodded
The large warrior collected up a bundle of wrapped animal skins and jumped over the side of the cart. Ra,'Shik directed the pony off the road and towards a small clearing in the trees. The female walked around behind the cart and followed it as she addressed the orcs.
"Sorry strangers, our pony gets anxious when the sun goes down, you're welcome to camp with us if you wish"
Rosie and Raven exchanged a look.
.
Raven raised the axe above his head; sweat gleamed off the bare, smooth green skin of his torso in the fire light. He brought the heavy blade down and split his target perfectly, leaning down to pick up the wood and throw it on the pile. Rosie watched him from her place on a deer skin on the other side of the fire. The female Khajiit walked towards her, she followed Rose's line of sight and watched for a moment before finally looking back. She crouched down beside her, two bowls of stew held in either hand.
"Here" She said gently holding one out to her
"Oh, thank you" Rose said giving her here attention.
Rose held it for a moment before putting it down in front of her crossed legs and taking off her vest like corset, the collar of white shirt beneath hung around her shoulders.
"This is vegetable stew?" She confirmed
"Venison, why?" The Khajiit asked settling down beside her
Rose smirked and picked the bowl up.
"It's just, last time I had Khajiit hosts I got a bowl of some Elswyer stew thing and for three days I just felt drunk and animals kept talking to me"
The cat flicked her ears back.
"You didn't like it?" She asked her whiskers twitched nervously
"Didn't like it? Best three days of my life!" She laughed but suddenly took on a serious look "But I can't at the moment, I have…a condition"
Rose looked into the Khajiit's eyes almost the same colour as her own; her nose sprinkled with flecks of dark fur that looked like freckles that ran down her shoulders and lay sprinkled across her back.
"I think we should swap" The Khajitt said sternly
"I thought so" Rose smiled exchanging bowls with her
They sat and watched the fire and drank from their bowls until Rosie spoke up.
"You really need to find a way to mask the smell from that crate" She said quietly
The cat froze and slowly turned to look at her. Rosie took another mouthful of stew before looking back at her.
"Don't worry. I know what it's like to have a secret, besides, you have to get by somehow" She sighed leaning back "I'm Rose, by the way"
The cat's eyes softened.
"Mish'Ka" She replied in her delicate voice.
"So, are you married to that nice quiet one or the huge warrior that keeps spying on us?" Rosie asked
"Married? Oh gods no!" Mish'ka chuckled "Ra,'Shik and Thoran are my littermates. I do apologise for Thoran's spying"
"What are you doing in Skyrim?" Rose asked
"My brothers got the idea to trade during the war from other Khajiit. I was hoping I could slip away and joint the mages guild, but now that they're gone" She sighed
Rose sat in stunned silence for a moment, searching for the right words.
"The mages guild is gone?" She finally managed
"Its old news now" Mish'Ka said flicking up her ear.
"I hadn't heard, I'd hoped to join up one day" Rose said sadly "What school do you study?"
Mish'ka's let a smile pull at her mouth.
"Not a recognised one, but a specialised one" She breathed
Rosie's skin prickled and a shiver etched it's self up her spine.
"Like what?" Rose dared to ask
"I can…read stones. I know what your stone has to say" She said as her eyes grew wide and black
"My stone…" Rose repeated, confused, but instinctively groped at the gem embedded in her necklace.
"It holds old secrets" She whispered reaching out, her pupils full and full of want.
Rose started to recoil and forgot her surroundings until a voice split through the moment.
"Any stew left?"
They both looked up at Raven, jacket slung over his shoulder and hair fallen down to its natural state.
"Forgive Mish'Ka, she will leave you know" The Khajiit said quickly, leaving her stew and standing to leave quickly.
Raven watched her go before throwing his jacket down beside Rosie and taking a seat beside her.
"What was that about?" He asked
Rose looked in her direction before sighing and turning back.
"Nothing, just a misunderstanding" She said picking up Mish'Ka's bowl and offering it to him.
"Here," She sighed heavily "It's that Elswyer shit"
Raven's face lit up and he drank it eagerly. Rose looked down at the jade jewel planted solidly at her throat. She tilted it to watch the reflection in the firelight.
"Why was he so easy to kill?" She murmured
Raven ran his tongue over his top lip and peered up at her.
"Who?" He asked absent mindedly
"For 5000 gold that was far too easy" Rosie said looking worried
"Oh the bounty," Raven said lighting up "I dunno, who cares? More gold for us"
"Think about it," Rose snapped "What Jarl would pay that much just for a bandit chief?"
"Jarl's are rich, Rosie" Raven said looking up at her properly
Rose grunted and looked away. Raven set his face in a scowl.
"What's got you so moody?" He asked
"Nothing, I'm fine" Rose said firmly
"Obviously, I'm going to sleep by the fire" Raven grumbled
True to his word Raven snatched up his jacket and took himself around to the opposite side of the fire and lay down. Rosie raked her fingers through her hair and silently cursed herself, she considered trying to apologise but adequate words failed her and she rolled over on her elk skin and with the warmth of the fire at her back fell asleep.
.
The pony looked at the clump of grass Rosie held out with heavy lidded eyes and dipped his head to pull his own out of the ground.
"Come on, mine's better I swear" Rosie said wriggling the grass near his nose.
Mish'Ka chuckled and she buckled up the horse's harness and looked on.
"Don't feel too rejected, he must be the most temperamental animal on all of Mundus"
Rosie looked up from where she squatted beside the animal.
"You've obviously never met a Thalmor," She said standing and brushing her hands off and making Mish'Ka laugh "When do we leave?"
"As soon as the camp is packed, so soon by the looks of things" The cat smiled running a hand over the long tuft of fur sitting between her ears.
"Will you…will you tell me about this amulet?" Rose asked carefully
Mish'Ka turned her ears down and kept at her work
"Please?" Rose said softly leaning over
The Khajiit sighed and let her hands drop after looking around.
"Very well, I will tell you what I see," She said quietly "It's called a binding stone, normally it's given to noble children when their born so they form a bond. It started with the Ayleids, the best and most powerful stone given to royalty…yours I feel, is one of these."
Thoran pushed past his little sister and let a growl rumble in his throat.
"Always with the stories, sister? Hurry now, we are leaving." He snapped
Rose glared at him as he walked away from them and leaned in to whisper to Mish'Ka.
"Why is he like that when I'm around you"
Mish'Ka sighed sadly and swiped her eyes across the ground before bringing them up to Rose's.
"Don't blame him for it, it is hard for him…and orcs have not been kind in the past" Her voice was thick with sadness
Ra,'Shik soon called them to go and they all clambered on to their respective spots on the wagon and set off through the fresh morning air. They reached Whiterun before sun high and stopped outside the stables. Raven took their coin purse up to give Ra,'Shik his payment and collect their weapons while Thoran went to speak with the Khajiit set up outside the city walls and Rose hung back to speak with Mish'Ka for a final time.
"Seems silly, but I'll miss you." Rosie said
"No, I will miss you too. I'm sad we could not share company longer."
Ra,'Shik strode over to them with ears upturned.
"Yor mate waz quite generous with the gold. Thank you miss Roze" He said before turning to his sister "Are you ready, Mish'Ka?"
She nodded and turned to give Rose a small bow.
"May our paths cross again" She said watching her over her shoulder for a moment before turning to follow her brother.
Rosie watched her go before turning to join Raven who was standing under the old stone arch, tattered banners fluttering in the breeze tainted by smoke. She stood in silence by his side.
"Must admit," Raven said casually "it wasn't as awkward as I thought it'd be"
"I'm sorry" Rosie said the need to apologize causing her to spill out the words impulsively
"Don't even worry about it, it's my fault too" He said brushing it off
"I promise I'll explain why I've been acting like this soon, just not yet"
Raven's eyes softened and he gave her a small smile.
"Ah, I understand, I get the same way sometimes"
"Hm, let's go" Rosie said turning to head up the curved trail to the main entrance where they found people being denied entry. A warrior stood at the gate talking to a guard before being allowed in and Rosie leaned over.
"What do we do if they stop us?" She hissed
"Let me handle it" Raven replied
They approached the gates held up by crumbling walls and new carved timber. A guard with arms crossed over his protruding belly stopped them.
"More travellers? Whiterun isn't open to you…unless you know about Helgen"
"We do actually," Raven was quick to pounce "We were there when it happened"
"You had better go see the Jarl," The guard grunted "He will want to know any information you can offer."
Raven pushed opened the large door enough for them to get through and ushered Rosie inside.
"We will, thank you" He said before disappearing inside
Once the door was shut Rosie span to face him a hand resting accusingly on her hip.
"You should of told the truth" She hissed
"When opportunity throws its self at you, you don't jump aside" He smirked "Isn't that our motto or something?"
Rosie huffed and pushed him away gently with a hand against his chest making him laugh. She turned and walked up the cobbled road and Raven followed beside her when he regained his footing. They walked up past the blacksmith who was bickering over an order with an imperial soldier and up into the busy spiral market plaza. Rose looked over longingly at the jewellery stall but circled her thumb around the lightly glowing gem at her throat and kept moving. They passed under a dead tree that cried softly when the wind stroked its bare branches and started their assent up the hundreds of stone steps leading up to the grand building overlooking the city.
"Gods, I'd hate to live at the top of these" Rosie panted as she climbed the last few stairs to the short isle of stone leading to a set of tall doors flanked by guards. Raven chuckled and swapped hands he held the sack in to extend his right palm out to her. She pulled herself up on it and gave a sigh of relief, looking back over the town and its busy little citizens nothing but silhouettes far below them. They turned and walked up to the giant double doors.
"We have a bounty, we wanted to know if they Jarl would reward it" Raven informed a guard that stopped them
"Bounty hunters? I'll right, but I'll have to ask you to leave your weapons here"
"Ah, just give your stuff to me, we don't have to both go in, I'll stock up on supplies and meet you at the inn" Rosie said
"That's a good idea," Raven said pulling out his axes "Could you get these sharpened too please, Rosie" He asked handing them over to her.
She put the heavy ends in her pack, their hands poking out hole in the corner of the flap. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned up to kiss him.
"I'll see you when were rich" She said happily
They parted for their separate ways, Raven pushed open the grand doors and Rosie followed the stairs back down to earth. The sun burned in the sky and fell down towards the mountains dying the sky orange and pink when Raven emerged sack in hand and look of calm urgency planted in his eyes. He trudged to the inn in the dwindling light and made his way to the bar, holding the sack closely against his thigh.
"Excuse me," He said drawing the bar maids attention "There's a woman named Rose staying here, she's expecting me"
"Ah, yes, she told me of you. She's up stairs; I'll show you to her"
She went across the room with Raven in tow and thumped up the simple stairs to the top floor and she wrapped her knuckles against the wood.
"Come in" Rose's voice was muffled by the thick, simple painted wood.
She pulled the doors open and Raven entered, turning to hand her a few coins.
"Could you bring some ale up?" He asked
"Yes, sir" She said and left them be
"Raven, did-"
Raven shut the door slowly and placed the sack under the bed.
"There was no reward?"She asked sadly
Raven pulled a huge leather pouch tied to his belt and threw over to her. As her fingers grasped it solid, flat circles of gold fell into her lap from the loosened drawstring.
"Gods, look at it all!" She exclaimed pushing her fingers into the bag and letting them fall from between them but flicked her head back up "Wait, what's wrong…how come you still have the head?"
"We leave at dawn, we're never coming back and you can't wear that necklace anymore. Ever"
"Raven, what the hell?"
"Calm down! We're not in trouble yet" He snapped "He was a noble's son, we weren't meant to kill him"
Rose's eyes widened and her protests fell silent, Raven sighed and ran a hand through his hair leaning up against a wall.
"He was the only son of a lord under the Jarls command, he lost his eye training to be a soldier and so his father paid the Jarl to join in on him pretending to be a bandit" Rose opened her mouth to ask questions but was silenced by Raven's eyes "Basically, he was expecting hired soldiers to play war with him and he got us. The men he hired must of got caught in the destruction of Helgen, we found their "Bounty""
Rose was silent for a long time, dissecting the situation in her mind and coming to the same conclusion every time.
"No wonder he was so easy to kill" She said quietly "What about the necklace?"
"The only thing left of his mothers. The treasure he set himself up to guard"
"Ha, shit" Rose laughed so fear wouldn't shake her voice
"So you know," Raven said matching her nervous tone and pacing the room "If you have any bad news, dear gods, get it over with now"
"I'm pregnant" Rosie breathed before she lost her nerve
Raven froze and turned towards her, his breathing coming heavily out his nose and making his body quiver. The door opened and a serving girl holding a tray of ale poked her head in.
"Did you order the ale in here?" She asked
"Yep. Thanks. Make them strong and keep them coming" Raven finally said
She set the tray down on a table and made her way out again the door clattering as she shut it.
"Is this what you had to tell me?" Raven snapped when they were alone
"I'm sorry" Rosie said her heart beating so hard the skin above it shuddered in time with every thud.
"How long have you kept this secret?" He snarled
"A few months, I was just hoping you'd catch on"
"Catch on?" He tried not to yell but failed "I think this is a bit more important that that"
"Don't you yell at me!" She snapped "If captain pull out had been on time, this wouldn't of happened!"
Raven looked at her with fire in his eyes extinguished by the sadness swirling behind them.
"No, fuck, this isn't how I wanted to tell you" She said rubbing her hands over her face "I'm sorry, I should have told you, but we can't fight, we have bigger problems than that now"
Raven walked over heavily and lowered himself slowly down beside her on the bed.
"So what happened up there?" Rosie asked
"I showed him the bounty letter and he just laughed and pointed to a visiting thane of his. The thane asked for the location of his son, I got scared and wasn't sure how to respond but he just told me the back story, I pointed out the fort he's at on the map and he gave me the reward. In a few days he's going to go pick him up from there and we need to be far away from here by then"
"Good thing I didn't come in with the necklace on" Rose mumbled
Raven laughed bitterly and a determination set itself in Rosie's eyes as she reached out and took his hand.
"We'll get across the border" She said stubbornly "We'll leave this behind"
"That's what you said in High rock and now we have a problem we can't run from" He said looking up
"Raven…this is my fault, I'm sorry I blamed you" She said leaning back
"It's no one's fault" Raven sighed "I'm sorry I over-reacted, I just-I wasn't expecting that."
Raven leaned over and took her hands in his, talking quietly now that he was aware of the noise had died down on the lower level.
"It'll be okay, things always work out, don't they?" He said lifting her chin "but if we're going to have a baby, maybe we should swing by Riften and make this official"
Rose matched his smile and laughed softly.
"I can't think of anything I'd rather do," She said brushing the hair from her eyes "I love you, Borgan"
Raven chuckled at the mention of his real name and flopped across the bed to dig through their supplies and pull out the map.
"We'll leave Tamriel if we have to" He said with sudden enthusiasm "Look" He said bringing himself up and scooting in close to Rosie's side and she leaned against him "We'll go to Riften, take the south-east road to Cyrodiil then on to Morrowind"
He studied the map for a moment, tracing their path before folding it and putting it beside him and wrapping his free arm around her.
"It won't be easy though" He said as their body heat intertwined and melted between their chests.
"And everything up until now has been?" She scoffed
Raven rested his jaw on top of her head.
"I promised I'd protect you and that's what I'm gunna do"
"I know you will" She smiled