As I feel myself being carried away I can't help but contemplate on what just happened. It's only when I feel myself being placed down I bother looking up at whoever bothered to see what was going on. Through my cloudy vision I see Valdr giving me a look of great concern.
For a brief moment I'm left alone while Valdr moves behind the bar. As I look around at the ,now abandoned, tavern I realized I'm sitting atop a cleared table. "Hey. You alright?" Valga ask as she slowly approaches me. With a snort/laugh I bury my head in my hands and fight the urge to begin wailing.
After a moment I feel Valga hesitantly place her arms on my shoulders. I almost laugh when she begins making horrid attempts at soothing noises. After maybe a minute she abandons her futile attempt and simply sits beside me. Valdr then appears with a cloth, piece of wood, and three bottles of the bars strongest drink.
As it dawns on me what he plans on doing I can't help but groan. As he passes me the bottle he leans down to get a closer look at the arrow. After chugging the first bottle I proceed to do the same to the second and third. As I feel myself become lightheaded I'm vaguely aware of Valdr tapping the arrow.
It's only when he forces the wood between my teeth I realize he's ready. I feel the arrow slightly move as Valdr's thick hand wraps around it. "Ready?" He ask as he places his other hand on the table. Mentally preparing myself I close my eyes and nod. As I feel muscle and flesh rip I tighten my jaws, let a scream rise in my throat, and feel the wood begin to splinter. It's only when the arrow stops it's progress after a few sharp tugs I open my eyes again.
Uttering a low curse Valdr releases the arrow and steps back. "What's wrong?" Valga ask with a glance at the now bleeding wound. "I don't know. It just won't come out." Valdr says as he taps the arrow once again. "Here, let me see if I can-" And with that Valga roughly grabs the arrow and pulls with all her might. The wood between my teeth snaps as the arrow reluctantly leaves my shoulder."There we go. Now if..." What Valga says next is lost to me as my vision hazes and my memory fails me.
When I awaken I'm surprised to find myself clothed in a roughspun tunic and in a warm, cozy, and clean bed. Curiously I pull the tunic away from my chest and look down at my now bandaged shoulder. Throwing the fur blankets off I swing my legs over the side of the bed and attempt to get up. Almost at once my head pounds in protest to the movement, while my shoulder screams.
Groaning I fall back and allow my head to bang away, while my once white bandages become a rosy pink. After a few moments of groaning I hear the sound of rusty hinges, no doubt groaning because of the years of no use. As my bed groans with the added weight of the intruder I consider telling him or her to leave.
Biting back the quick remark I turn my throbbing head. Expecting Valga or Valdr I almost hiss in suprise when I see the intruder is Astrid. My head throbs even more as I remember last night. With a groan I force my good arm under me and begin forcing myself up. Almost instantly I feel Astrid's firm hand on my chest, and with a slight push find myself back on the bed.
Hissing I once again try to force myself up, only for Astrid to once again force me down. I try this once more, and hiss in frustration as Astrid does it once again, but this times her hand stays. Flattening my ears I dare to glance up at Astrids face. Even through her burnt flesh I can see the "Are you done yet?" expression she's giving me.
I slowly relax my muscles, mumble unintelligibly, and look away. Astrid slowly moves her hand away and turns her body towards me. After a few moments of silence I whisper "What?". With a slight laugh she answers "Valga sent me to make sure you didn't kill yourself trying to get up. Which" She lightly puts her hand on my now freely bleeding shoulder. "it seems you almost did."
She wipes her hand on the fur blankets before continuing "Now. Care to tell me what happened last night?" With a groan I quickly relay the story. After I finish telling her I feel my eyes water at the memory of last night. Even with my aching head and screaming shoulder I curl in a small ball and try to ignore the memory of last night.
As I slowly unravel myself after a few minutes I hear Astrid say "I think we need some time to think what happened over. All I can say now is don't worry. I'm sure she didn't mean it." Ignoring my bloody wound I push myself up and stare Astrid dead in the eye. "No she meant every word. And maybe one day I'll return to her. But not now. Not for a while. The best I can hope for now is that she doesn't decide someone else is right for her."
Astrid's charred face twist in a look of thought before she says, "Well, I honestly don't know what to say. For now I guess I should ask where we go next?" Giving her a look of surprise I ask, "We?". Giving me a look of endearment she answers "Really? You thought I'd just demand to be rid of you? After all you've done? Besides, I could think of worse company. Now, any thoughts on where we're heading?"
As I stumble to my feet I stagger to the corner to grab my gear. After I have everything I turn back to Astrid. "I think I just want some time to clear my head. You know decide what I should do. Whiterun is close by, so I won't hurt myself by riding. And you won't have to be uncomfortable on the back of Shadowmere to long. We can even rest in Riverwood." With a smile she rises and says, "Then what are we waiting for? Whiterun it is.".