(Author's note: I'd like to once again thank all those who have reviewed my work, it means a tremendous amount to me to know that you're reading it and enjoying it! This is a more emotional chapter for Cari and Bishop, it gives us a chance to watch them grow a bit! And their interactions are emotional setup for other chapters too, so Bishop's been softened, character-wise. I have a good reason for it though, I promise! Enjoy!)
Cari awoke during the night to someone tugging on the bandage wrapped around her thigh.
Bloody hell, that tickles. That tick-no, that hurts. Damn it, that hurts!
Her eyes snapped open, her leg searing in pain. "What in the Hells-?"
"Will you be quiet?" a voice growled, "You'll wake up Casavir."
Cari sat up and was surprised to see Bishop tightening a fresh bandage around her leg, a pile of blood-soaked gauze lying nearby.
"You bled through this one," he muttered, nodding at the ground, "I didn't want your wound to get infected."
"I didn't know you cared," Cari teased, the searing pain now a dull ache. Bishop avoided her gaze.
"I didn't know Malin was going to stab you," he mumbled, sticking a finger between her bare thigh and the dressing, ensuring it wasn't too tight.
"Nah, I knew I was going to get stabbed," she said dismissively, "I got angry. I called her things. She stabbed me. It's happened before."
"What did you call her?"
"I called her a half-blood, a mongrel," Cari groaned, wincing as her leg throbbed again, "then a half-breed, a mongrel half-breed-"
"All things I've called her in the past," Bishop whispered, smirking, "But she shouldn't have stabbed you for that."
"I probably would have stabbed her first, but she beat me to it. Some of the things she said about you…"
Oh, Hells, how much did Malin say? Bishop gulped, his heart racing uncomfortably, how much does Cari know now? It's not like her own past is spotless, but what I've done…
"What did she say?" he asked in what he hoped was a casual manner, "About me?"
"Well, lie down with me and I'll tell you," Cari winked, gingerly extending her injured leg and sprawling out on her bedroll. Bishop chuckled softly as he stretched out beside her, propping himself up on his elbow, his other hand resting on her stomach.
"So, what did she say?" he repeated, gently easing her onto her side to face him.
"Oh, lots of things," she sighed, the corners of her lips twitching as he ran his fingers through her hair, "She told me that I couldn't handle you and that you were arrogant, cruel and malicious-"
"That shouldn't have angered you," Bishop scoffed, "It's the truth. Well, she was wrong on one point: you handle me very well."
"I told her that, she didn't appreciate it. She also told me that I needed to 'shackle' you to keep you around."
Ha, I knew it. Bishop thought triumphantly. I know she'll try and shackle me now, I-
"I don't want to 'shackle' you, Bishop," she said quietly, tracing the tattoo on his neck with a fingernail, "I'd rather you lie in my bed because you want to, not because I'm forcing you to do so."
I knew it, I-
Wait, what?
"What, Cari?" he asked, bewildered. He carefully wrapped a callused hand around the bare knee below her bandage.
She arched an eyebrow at him, resting her hand on his hip. "Your hearing must be going. I said that I don't want to shackle you, Bishop, I'd rather you stay with me because you want to. If not because of the danger and excitement I bring into your life on a fairly regular basis, perhaps with… other methods."
Bishop stared at her, feeling a pleasant shiver run down his spine as emerald bored into amber. Cari pulled his head down to kiss him, a familiar heat spreading beneath his skin as her tongue flicked against his lips, her fingernails brushing the back of his neck.
"Did Malin say anything else?" he managed.
"She said something ridiculous about you and Luskans, and how you'd tortured them on the border," Cari said quietly, leaning in to nuzzle his unshaven jaw before giving him a quick kiss, "that's all."
Bishop's heart drummed in his ears as he grabbed Cari's waist and rolled onto his back, pulling her on top of him. "And?"
"It's not a bad way to live," Cari shrugged, settling onto his chest, "I mean… you've seen what I've done. I know Cas thinks I'm a better person than I think I am, but that doesn't erase my past. As long as they were fighters, not children or elders… I can't tell you otherwise, or else I'd be a hypocrite. You're your own man, Bishop."
It's good to hear someone accept it, I knew Cari would. It's nice to have someone on my side for once.
It's also rather pleasing to have someone who understands you, instead of judging you all the time.
"Really?" Bishop asked, still somewhat taken aback by her response, "It's nice to hear someone willing to agree with me, rather than judging me and running in fear."
Cari smiled. "You and I have more in common than we realized, Bishop."
He gazed into her eyes, brushing her long hair away from her face. "You're a surprising woman, Cari," he said softly.
"You're quite the fascinating man yourself, Bishop," she murmured, giggling as his hands slipped under her tunic, "And your fingers tickle."
"Hmm, ticklish, are you?" he teased, a devilish smile on his face as he lightly ran his fingers up her sides. She gasped, laughing she arched her back. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back down, drinking in the warmth of her body and breathing in the sweet scent on her skin. "You smell delicious."
"What?" Cari laughed, playfully indignant.
"You always smell like vanilla," he breathed in again, "and cinnamon. I like it."
"I'm glad, though thank Sand, otherwise I'd smell like sweat and blood instead. I'll have to tell you the story behind it sometime," she whispered, giving him the barest hint of a kiss and enjoying the way his lips trembled in anticipation, "but, sadly, my leg puts me out of action for this evening."
Bishop raised his eyebrows. "I am now even sorrier about Malin stabbing you."
"I'll be fine, I'm also feeling mildly off-color, I think Shandra's cooking got to me again," Cari shrugged, "I just need rest, and I'll be good as new by morning. And I think all this talking will wake up Cas anyway."
A deep voice came from nearby and she buried her face into Bishop's shoulder, her sigh of annoyance audible as he dropped his head back onto her bedroll.
"Sorry," Casavir said sleepily, a hint of amusement in his words, "Too late. Go to sleep, you two. I'll take watch, seeing as I'm already awake."
Bishop groaned and dropped his arms to his sides; Cari yelped and gritted her teeth as his hand accidentally smacked against her damaged leg. He winced and a wave of guilt washed over him.
If it weren't for you and your desire to one-up Malin, she wouldn't be injured, his conscience snapped.
Yeah, yeah, I know. I regret her getting stabbed, okay? I didn't want Cari to get hurt.
Then tell her. Tell her you're actually sorry.
Bishop looked away, giving Cari the opportunity to sprinkle light kisses along his cheekbone. "I'm sorry you got stabbed, Cari, it was not my intent. I just wanted to make Malin jealous. I didn't want you to get hurt. I'm sorry."
Cari smiled warmly, capturing his lips for another kiss. "I know, and it's okay. Things happen. I am grateful that you changed my bandage for me, if it had sat there all night things might have gotten worse. Thank you, Bishop, I appreciate it. I do think we should get some sleep, though I wouldn't mind some company."
"Sleep would be good," he said quietly, "In lieu of other things, of course." He eyed her closely for a few moments as she ran her fingers through his hair, twisting his short strands between her fingertips.
It's been so long since anyone's shown me respect, Bishop thought sadly, utterly surprised, And since anyone's really thanked me for helping them. Especially a woman.
It's nice to be appreciated for once, it really is.
Bishop grinned to himself as Cari settled in beside him, snuggling her back up against his chest and pulling his arm around her waist. He linked his fingers with hers and buried his face in her dark tresses, enjoying the way his arm rose and fell in time with her deep, rhythmic breaths.
"And you're welcome," he whispered, smiling into her hair as he fell asleep.
A few days later, Sand sat by himself on a large rock, the remains of the morning's campfire still smoldering and an array of odd items strewn across his lap.
All right, we have the assassin's ring, the quartermaster's log, the alteration powder, and the piece of the corpse; he thought excitedly, I think this is all we need! By Mystra, I can't see Torio slithering her way out of this one! I must tell Cari, we need to get back to Neverwinter as quickly as possible.
Sand leapt up from his seat and made his way to the nearby river, hiking his robes up to his knees in an attempt to carefully avoid the mud that marred the landscape.
Ugh, I think I'll leave the wilderness to my dear friend Elanee, I prefer bathing too much.
That, and Casavir snores like a dire bear. I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in weeks…
Where is Cari? I know she said she planned on bathing, but this river is rather lengthy and-
Oh, gods, there she is, Sand groaned as he reached the riverbank, and why am I not surprised by this?
"Are you sure you should be exercising that wounded leg so soon, hmm?" the elf drawled, thoroughly enjoying Cari's shriek of surprise. He chortled as she quickly untangled her legs from around Bishop's waist and dropped back into the water. She pressed her body against the ranger's chest in an attempt to cover herself.
"Sand!" she cried, "What-why-I'm-"
"My dear girl," Sand smirked, "Must you insist on testing the odds on my contraceptive potions?"
"What do you need, Sand?" Cari asked quietly, a brilliant flush rising in her pale cheeks.
"Well, now I need a sufficient spell to purge the mind, erase that image of the ranger permanently."
"Ha-ha. A decent blow to the head does the same thing you know."
"Such aggression," Sand sighed, shrugging his shoulders in mock disappointment, "And after all I've done for you…"
"All right, all right," Cari smiled, "No blows to the head, I promise. Now, what's on your mind?"
"I shall ignore the glare of death I am receiving from your male counterpart and explain the current situation. I believe we have collected enough evidence to successfully counter Torio's accusation, and given nobody shoots their mouth off – my, Bishop, if I could channel the look you're giving me I could kill a horde of trolls – we stand a good chance of winning the trial."
"Are you certain?" Cari said eagerly, unsuccessfully stifling a giggle as Bishop stroked her back.
"Dear girl, do not question my certainty. The chance to humiliate Torio in front of all of Neverwinter is something I do not take lightly."
"Then we can head back to Neverwinter tomorrow!"
"Granted you don't freeze to death in the river there, precisely."
"Oh, I think I'll find a way to keep warm. Would you kindly go back and tell everyone that we leave for Neverwinter tomorrow morning? Oh, and also tell Qara that if she wants something different for dinner tonight, she can catch it, Bishop's not her personal game hunter?"
"Ah, I get a chance to reprimand Qara as well? It must be my lucky day."
"Thanks, Sand," Cari grinned, stealing a kiss with Bishop as Sand disappeared into the trees.
"Oh, and you might consider covering yourself up, Cari," the elf called over his shoulder, "The glare from the sun bouncing off your milky-white backside is more effective than any blindness spell."
Ah, I love irritating her; he smirked, chuckling as Cari's cries of indignation were soon followed by vigorous splashing.
It's far too easy at times.