"Excuse me?" His voice ringing out from him before he realised it. This old man thinks he can just tell me to leave her side and that was that? "I don't fucking think so." He found himself saying aloud, answering his own mental question. Tension in the room made it relatively hard to breath, even for him, only due to the fact that he had to supress the urge to draw his bow and let an arrow loose. As he looked between the old man and Serlina, he had to resist the urge to leave, simply because his anger was making him make bad mental choices as Arngeir's words echoed all around them.
Serlina stepped forward, making his jaw clench harder from its unbeknownst clench.
"I'm sorry Arngeir. I seem to be a little confused. Did you just say Bishop had to leave?" Her tone was anything but polite, more irritated than anything. It made him look at her. Watching her a moment, a chill ran down his spine.. He didn't know if they could see it… But underneath her calm exterior she was displeased. Was she as insulted for him from the way they spoke to him as he was?
"You heard correctly. Your ...companion is not allowed here. Henceforth he must leave." The old man said plainly and he watched amused, as her brows rose to her hairline.
"Not going to happen." He crossed his arms over his chest, receiving a glance back from Serlina, gesturing with her hand, palm towards him to slow down or to calm himself as they both received hard stares from the Graybeards. Looking back to them, she placed a fist to her own hip.
"Why can I stay and he can't?" She asked gesturing to him making the men look at eachother, looking at one another like the woman in front of them was a little slow to understand something. Arngeir, glanced between the two of them then spoke.
"You are the Dragonborn. You were meant to come here. That's why we called you." Arngeir explained causing her to scoff. Resting the other fist on her hip, she met the old mans eyes. After that, his mind went ablur as to what they were talking about. Her voice grew irritated, but she kept her cool.
'He doesn't belong here with you.' The words had made his hands clench and his teeth to grind. Like he didn't already know that himself.
Someone like her..
Gods.. So unconsciously sweet, seductive and sarcastic. His whole body still ached from before, and the cold winds weren't the cause. A full night of torture followed by a day of finding out a fun side of her.. His bones still needed to unlock from how hard he had to clamp down on many an urge. The sleep she had gotten the night before really made a difference in the way she moved and spoke. Last night she had looked so empty, exhausted and tormented. The chill that had passed over him when he heard her bloodcurdling scream… Inwardly, he shuddered at the memory. Heart racing, bow drawn he followed the sound to find her, crumpled on the ground, sweating and crying out, eyes clenches shut.. Not once did they open. It wasn't until he called out the first time to realize that she was asleep to the world. Pulling her out of her sleep was hard and painful. He watched as she fought the urge to sleep. And hard. Getting her to talk about her 'no killing the dead' thing was a surprise though..
And now, fully knowing, it made sense.
How she closed her eyes when she passed unmarked graves, her quiet murmuring in another language when she found bones.. Her head bowing in respect before she walked into a burial crypt..
She did it so absentmindedly, he wondered if she noticed anymore. But even after taking her mind off of the fear of her nightmares, she still fought passing out. How her eyes shifted now and again, looking around, checking her surroundings. Like she didn't trust anything else around them. On a spurred thought of wanting to protect and comfort, he found himself getting up and sitting beside her. Her eyes, red around the edges, widened as he sat, she even shifted to move away until he stilled her. He couldn't believe how hard she was fighting it.. The urge to sleep. Nothing more.
Pft. Yeah right. A hard lie if he ever told himself.
Even her tired slurs made him smile. He felt her slip away into unconsciousness. Her body held up by his, her head lolling to the side and onto his shoulder. For a while she was silent, until he felt her jolt slightly, her breath coming in spurts. Feeling lost, he murmured things to her, and slowly, she had relaxed. Her breathing deepened as a small hum left her. He found himself staying there a while.
Just.. Sitting there. Making sure to keep her and her nights rest, safe. Even though he wanted to touch more of her soft skin, he kept his hands to himself. He was looking over at Karnwyr when he caught her sweet scent again. Slowly, he turned and leaned until his nose reached some of the strands that had fallen loose from her usual tail and inhaled gently. Closing his eyes, he tried to place it. Damn. The flowers were easy, but something else.. Sweet and crisp.. It could drive him mad. He could track for days and not tire. He could see a great distance when aiming his arrows, trailing their mark. Yet this scent eluded him. Leaning away he gazed up at the night sky. No light tonight. He sighed as he wondered if the sleeping beauty beside him had ever seen their northern lights. Would she have seen them already, or would her eyes go wide as she looked upon them? Would her breath catch? The idea made his chest ache.
Leaving her side was worse, but he did it. Sliding away, he laid her down on her bedroll, making sure he didn't jostle or startle her awake. After, he went back to his own, patting Karnwyr's head, rubbing the wolf between his ears. The wolf simply whined, tired and his eyes drooped. He smiled and glanced back over to Serlina. He studied her as she slept. Her hair was falling in loose strands around her face, moving gently with the breeze and splayed about the pillow her head sunk into. Her small frame was curled to one side as if in protection of itself and her full lips were slightly parted. What held his attention longest however were her lashes. When she looked down, they nearly brushed her cheekbones, and the light from the fire cast shadows of her eyelashes onto her cheeks, creating long streaks like threads of silk.
That was perhaps how a logically minded person would describe them, if they bothered to at all.
A poet would say that they were dark as a moonless night, long as her gaze held theirs and curled like a leaf drying on the stone roads.
After several hours of watch, he fell asleep as well. Not for very long and not the best, but enough. When he woke, he made himself scarce, Karnwyr trotted alongside him, stretching his limbs from his rest and marking trees and rocks as they walked. Stopping near and old stump, he did the same. Loosening his pant string, he sighed as he relieved himself. The sky was lit with dark red colours. Going to be warmer today, at least until they reached that mountain. Tucking himself back into his pants, he re-tied his strings and continued on. He had even been able to get in some hunting a little ways from the camp, scoring some game and able to save the meat for their journey. Upon returning he found her awake and moving. Her face looking up at the sky with a bright look, one of which looked well rested and clear of any dark images from her previous nights. Then her eyes had caught him, and slowly, she had smiled. Like she was genuinely happy to see him. It made his step falter, but he pressed on. They said their good mornings and camp was packed up in a short time.
If that wasn't hard enough, then came their tussle on the mountain…
The snowball fight hadn't gone as he planned either. He had hoped to make her stop looking around at the snow tops like she was in a mythical land. She had whimpered now and again from the sharp cold winds, whereas he didn't. He had grown used to them growing up. But when they had walked between the rocky walls, and receiving her first ever hit with snow, she had jumped into the fray, smiling and her laughter bouncing along the walls, it even made him smile and laugh. His slight annoyance turned playful and soon, he found himself having fun. He couldn't help but groan when he watched her slide along the ice on her knees, her body bending backwards to avoid getting hit again.. Just how flexible was she? The question had him growing hard. Until he found himself pinning her to the cold, hard ground after she had managed pelting him in the face and goading him.
When he had her under him, smiling and carefree, snowflakes falling around them gently, some falling on her cheek, making him resist the urge the brush them away with his thumb, he found his mind clearing for a moment before turning into a war zone of raging needs, slowly bubbling to the surface.. Legs tangled below them aligned their bodies, making her shift her hips against him to try to loosen him from his position. He found himself drawn in by her scent again and nearly groaned when her eyes glance down to his mouth, heated, and lifted to his again. The green in her eyes nearly fading until all but the rich brown was left. He felt pulled to her as he lowered his head to hers, keeping the movement slow. He was pleasantly surprised when she didn't fight him, or push him away. In fact, she slowly lifted her face to his.
Until Karnwyr broke them out of their.. moment.
Looking at Karnwyr now, he almost smiled at the wolf, sitting almost at her heels on the stone floor. Like himself, he had taken quite a shine to her. And her careful treatment of him after they had gotten away from the wolf ring… It pulled at something in him.. Something he didn't know how to describe. He brushed it aside as he Serlina's raised voice caught his attention.
"Well, Arngeir, I understand what you have been saying, believe me, I do. But respectfully let me clarify a few things. First of all, I am more than the dragonborn. Secondly, though I may have questions about what exactly that means, I don't have a pressing need to stay here.." She motioned around them to the wide-open space of the room. "Thirdly, If I was meant to come here, called or not, there was nothing to say or state if I could have a companion with me or not." She stated and he stepped forward.
"You didn't exactly send her a letter or note. The shout you guys blasted from this mountain top might as well have been a 'come-as-you-are' gesture." He stated, causing her to glance back at him, a smile playing on her lips.
"Exactly." She agreed laying a hand on his shoulder in thanks. "So, if he is not welcome, then neither am I. He stays, or I go. That's not negotiable." He looked at her and though he didn't need her to defend him, his blood ran like fire through his veins as she did so. She crossed her arms, and met the old man face to face, not blinking or backing down. Gods she was sexy. Looking back to Arngeir, he waited. The man looked fit to be tied, until he took a small breath and exhaled.
"Very well.. Your companion-"
"His name, Arngeir-" She spoke over him with a snap to her voice cutting him off, pointing a finger at him again "-is Bishop." She finished. Her voice, even as she held a temper that simmered close to the surface, made him want to pull her to him. Her saying his name like that. Gods. He had to look away, keep his eyes off her as he pulled himself under control.
"Apologies dragonborn. Your- err, Bishop, may stay." Arngeir amended.
He gave a tight nod in acknowledgment, but found himself waiting to hear her correct the 'your Bishop' part, but instead she relaxed. Karnwyr must have felt her mood switch, making him rise and stand at her side, then plopping down to his hind quarters. She gave him a sideways glance and rubbed a hand between his ears, making his tail wag happily. Turning to look back at the Graybeards, she saw them looking at the wolf. She held up a finger and then pointed it to Karnwyr.
"Wolf stays too." She added and he could have sworn one of the men smiled. Arngeir sighed and nodded in allowance.. "Good. Now that that's all sorted, what is my 'destiny'?" She asked.
"That is for you to discover. We can show you the Way, but not your destination." He made his statement sound so wise. Bishop scoffed under his breath.
"Ahh. Your wisdom is astounding." She muttered and he covered his laugh with a cough. Seems they were on the same page. Giving her some distance , he walked over to lean on the wall, Karnwyr moving to him as well, sliding to the floor as the wolf panted. Crossing his arms, he glanced around as he listened. "Why are the dragons returning? Does it have something to do with me?" That he too would like the answer too.
"No doubt." Arngeir stated right away, and a gentle gasp from Serlina caught his ear. Looking at her, he caught a glimpse of her looking almost... Guilty? Though the man had spoken gently, the delivery still knocked the wind out of him Them, he mentally corrected looking at Serlina. Both he and Serlina had mirrored looks of shock and surprise. Well no shit. No leading up to, no doubts, just a firm YES. Thinking back a while, he recalled when she had rambled after they defeated the dragon near Whiterun; her saying something along the lines of 'anyone else getting the feeling of 'this is all your fault'? No? just me?' He had laughed, thinking she was mocking them, joking about it at the time. And now.. Someone was indeed saying that.
Damn. The old man had a way of slapping that little fact in her lap, looking pleased by his statement, whereas she looked ready to shove her head into the stone floor. His eyes slid down and caught the slight tremble in her hands, and she did well to cover it by gripping her swords hilt. "The appearance of a Dragonborn at this time is not an accident. Your destiny is surely bound up with the return of the dragons. You should focus on honing your Voice, and soon your path will be made clear."
"Thank you. I will..try." Her eyes held a faraway look for but a moment, but a hand did touch her throat, rubbing along the column, falling to the stone. Was that a nervous habit? She did it now and then.. He pushed it aside.
"Good. Then you will be ready for whatever lies ahead." They all started to move, like they were leaving and she snapped back to attention.
"That's it? Surely there's more you can tell me." She called out, making the men pause. Arngeir nodded, slipping his arms into his sleeves.
"There is indeed much that we know that you do not. That does not mean that you are ready to understand it." She frowned and looked ready to argue again, but remained quiet when he held up a hand. "Do not let your easy mastery of the Voice tempt you into arrogance of power that has been the downfall of many Dragonborn before you." That gave her pause. Himself as well. Arrogance of power? Looking at her, he recalled the look on her face from the cave. The shock, disgust, and pain. No. From what he knew of her, he could tell that she would strive to make sure that doesn't become her. She may have been of some type of royal blood, but the arrogance that usually went with it was not there. Confidence, absolutely. But arrogance? None. Just another perk to the well curved, package.
"What does it mean to be 'Dragonborn'?" She asked, rubbing Karnwyr again who had stood back up and padded over to her, rubbing her leg with his muzzle.. Like she needed him to calm her nerves.
"Dragons have the inborn ability to learn and project their Voice. Dragons also are able to absorb the power of their slain brethren. A few mortals are born with similar abilities- whether a gift or a curse has been a matter of debate down through the centuries. What you have already learned in a few days took even the most gifted of us years to achieve. Some believe that Dragonborn are sent into the world by the gods, at times of great need. We will speak more of that later, when you are ready." Just from what he had explained, she had a look on her face like she was slightly dazed.
"Why are Shouts in the dragon language?" The way she asked almost sounded like didn't exactly care. More like she needed him to talk and get her mind off of.. Whatever made her look like that.
"Dragons have always been able to Shout. Language is intrinsic to their very being. There is no difference in the dragon tongue between debating and fighting. Shouting comes as naturally to a dragon as breathing, or speaking. In mythic times, when mortal kind was in great need, the goddess Kynareth granted us the ability to speak as dragons do. For most people, long years of training are required to learn even the simplest Shout." He spoke, looking at the other Graybeards, then to her again. "But for you, the dragon speech is in your blood, and you learn it almost without effort."
"But.. I wasn't born here in Skyrim." She stated, looking frazzled. The Graybeards shrugged, or shook their heads.
"It matters not of where you were born, or how you came to be here. Your arrival would have been foretold and long awaited."
"I'm glad everyone was so patient." She sighed and looked around. "There are only.. four of you? I hate to sound rude, but I expected.. More." Arngeir smiled warmly.
"Five. Our leader, Paarthurnax, lives alone on the peak of the Throat of the World." He stated, his eyes looking up towards the ceiling.
"When can I meet your leader, Paarthurnax?"
"You will know you are ready when your Voice can open the path to him."
"That's a little vague." Both he and Serlina stated, making her turn to look at him. She looked at him with a 'I-know-right?' expression making him chuckle low in his throat.
"Tell me about you and the other Greybeards." She was now moving about in the room, becoming familiar with the surroundings.
"We study the Way of the Voice, according to the teachings of our founder, Jurgen Windcaller. Very few are permitted to study with us here at High Hrothgar. But in your case, Dragonborn, it is a privilege to guide you towards mastery of your Voice."
"Why don't the others talk?" He found himself asking, drawing both of their attention again. The other older men bowed their heads respectively.
"Their Voices are too powerful for anyone not trained in the Way to withstand. Even a whisper could kill you." His eyes widened and many muscles tensed.
Rumors were true then.
"And you asked my ranger to leave. Hah." She smiled and looked around. "Safety in numbers and all that. Four of you with voices of mass power. I have a ranger with the best aim I've ever seen and a wolf." She said it in humor, making each of them to smile, whereas he found pride in her statement. Best aim she had ever seen.. He smiled, feeling a foot taller. Indeed.
"Who was Jurgen Windcaller?" She asked, making his mind flash to the emblems outside.
"He was a great war leader of the ancient Nords, a master of the Voice, or Tongue. After the disaster at Red Mountain, where the Nord army was annihilated, he spent many years pondering the meaning of that terrible defeat. He finally came to realise that the gods had punished the Nords for their arrogant and blasphemous misuse of the Voice. He was the first to understand that the Voice should be used solely for the glory and worship of the gods, not the glory of men. Jurgen Windcaller's mastery of the Voice eventually overcame all opposition, and the Way of the Voice was born." As he spoke, he also walked around the room, his voice rising and bouncing off the stones. The way he spoke changed from awe, to disgust, to anger to finally, understanding.
"Okay, you have said this a few times, what is the 'Way of the Voice'?"
"The Voice was a gift of the goddess Kynareth, at the dawn of time." He rolled his eyes at the old mans quip. More godly bullshit. "She gave the mortals the ability to speak as dragons do. Although this gift has often been misused, the only true use of the Voice is for the worship and glory of the gods." And he would bet his last septim that they didn't know of the draugr that had blasted them backwards in the barrow.. Because the dead must be greatly in-tune with their gods. "True mastery of the Voice can only be achieved when your inner spirit is in harmony with your outward actions. In the contemplation of the sky, Kynareth's domain, and the practice of the Voice, we strive to achieve this balance."
"But what if I don't follow your philosophy" She asked, looking down for a moment, then with a snap of her eyes back to his; "Why help me learn the Voice?"
"The Dragonborn is an exception to all the rules - the Dragon Blood itself is a gift of the gods. If we accept one gift, how can we deny the other? As Dragonborn, you have received the ability to Shout directly from Akatosh. We therefore seek to guide you on the proper use of your gift, which transcends the restrictions which bind other mortals." He spoke gently, soothing her underlying fear. A 'gift' indeed, he let out a surprised sigh.
"I will try… to follow the Way of the Voice." She nodded gently as she looked at her hands, slowly clenching them, then dropping them to her sides.
"That is commendable. But remember," Her eyes snapped back to Arngeir's, " the Dragon Blood is itself a gift of Akatosh. Do not try to deny that gift. Your destiny requires you to use your Voice - why else would Akatosh have bestowed this power upon you? If you remember to use your Voice in service to the purpose of Akatosh, you will remain true to the Way."
"Alright. Thank you." She stepped back and bowed her head, letting them go their separate ways. Each of them walked away into the depths of the stone halls, as she walked to him, he found her leaning against the wall beside him. "That was.. A lot to absorb." She sighed, her eyes still a little lost, but slowly they were coming too focus again..
"How are you taking things, Dragonborn?" He asked teasingly and he got a small glare.
"Don't call me dragonborn like it's my name Bishop. That's not my name." She looked away, a glimmer of sadness to them.
"I know.." He nudged her with his elbow getting her attention again "I know Serlina," He felt his chest warm when her eyes widened when he called her by her name. "But you still haven't answered my question."
"Hmm. How am I taking things?" She took a steadying breath and glanced around, paused, thinking on it for a moment, then shrugged a little. "Same as yesterday I suppose. One day at a time. One small chunk of information at a time. And damn if it isn't starting to make my head spin." She admitted, rubbing her fingers over her face, her smile rueful as she looked up at him again.
"I didn't think you would have argued for me and Karnwyr to stay. And so adamantly too." He teased and she hummed, the sound low in her throat.
"What can I say, out of all the men in here.." She tilted her head. "I'll like looking at you the most." He let out a laugh.
"You don't say?"
"Mhm." Her eyes shined mischievously as her lips tilted in a smirk and he leaned towards her.
"I'd say the same, but you have seen more of me, then I have of you." He let his eyes wander over her body.
"I can't tell if that regret or disappointment." She said quietly, her brows furrowing, making her look slightly confused.
"It's both." He admitted, eyes looking back at her again.
"I'm surprised." And she sounded it too, cheeks turning pink. Her eyes left his to look at her swords hilt. Her fingers trailing around the handle.
"Don't be. You're quite a pleasure to look at." He admitted and smirked when she cleared her throat.
"Thank you." She said softly, still sounding unsure.
"No sarcastic remarks?" He asked causing her to look at him, perhaps a little shocked.
"Were you really expecting one?"
"From you ladyship? I have come to. And I do enjoy them." He smiled as she looked up at him, then letter her shoulder rise then fall in a sharp shrug.
"Some prefer honesty over my sarcasm. Though I have been told some can't tell the difference."
"Is that so?" He asked, lifting a brow. "Try me."
She shrugged and looked at him a second, then at his chest where his rams where crossed, then back to his face.
"With you and your candor, I'm shocked that you aren't taken yet." He blinked once, twice as he sifted through her words. Damn the woman and her talented mouth. It was a little difficult to tell the difference.
"You haven't seen my trail of admirers?" he answered back with a touch of his own sarcasm, making her giggle.
"I've had a problem seeing them over something that always gets in my sights." She admitted, her face settling in a playful scowl.
"And what is that?"
"Your shoulders." She stated and he felt.. floored. His mind even stuttered. He honestly was expecting a verbal jab, for her to shut down their banter. She seemed to do that. To cut them off just when things were getting close.
"My-my shoulders?" He angled his arms to he could look at them. "What about them?" He glanced from his arms to her eyes, that now glittered in humor.
"You have …nice ..broad shoulders." She said softly, a little breathless and he felt himself smiling, puffing out his chest a bit. "Very nice." She said softly, like the thought made her mind go cloudy. His body was warming again. If she liked looking, perhaps she wanted to touch as well. Inwardly, he groaned, liking the idea. Focus! Looking at her, he felt a small sliver of pride again. For two reasons, one being could tell the difference between her sarcasm and her sincerity. And second being that she felt the connection too, even if she fought against it. A challenging prey indeed. He caught her gaze as it lifted to one of the robbed old men and sent him a curious glance.
"You okay if I ask for a quick lesson?" She asked, her eyes moving back to his, lingering, and heating, until she gently shook her head then met his gaze again. This time, they were sharp and clear. "I'm just.. I need to know if what they can teach me is true. If you want to look around, scope the place out, they should leave you be to do so." She offered. He gave her an encouraging nod.
"By all means. I'll look around while you go learn of your 'gifts'." Nodding she walked to Arngeir, while he walked the halls.
"Alright. Stay out of trouble while I'm busy." She called over her shoulder as they went their separate ways.
"No promises." He called back and her laugh echoes around the stones, making his blood churn again.
"I'm ready to learn." Even from afar, he could hear the echoes of their conversation.
"You have shown that you are Dragonborn. You have the inborn gift. But do you have the discipline and temperament to follow the path laid out for you? That remains to be seen."
Rolling his eyes, he scoured the books. She had discipline alright. Almost as much as he did. In.. certain areas. Everything was written in weird writing, like on the tapestries, all columns and arches all around. Inside, its dark, lit only by candles and features three large windows in their stone halls. The place was like a temple, or monastery. It seemed more ancient than any bone left in the soil near the grounds. The once smooth rock was pitted and scarred. These old men of the mountain know how fleeting time is, how soon the present becomes the past and the important becomes the irrelevant. In this hallowed and ancient site the trees have seen the centuries blow past in the winds of each season and yet, they stood by and watched from afar the folly of the struggles from below.. The cold damp air wrapped around him like a heavy coat of chain mail as he descended a small staircase. In the absence of flaming torches the dimness gave the impression of twilight despite it being the first week of Hearthfire.
"Without training, you have already taken the first steps towards projecting your Voice into a Thu'um, a Shout. Now let us see if you are willing and able to learn. When you Shout, you speak in the language of dragons. Thus, your Dragon Blood gives you an inborn ability to learn Words of Power. All Shouts are made up of three Words of Power. As you master each Word, your Shout will become progressively stronger."
"Makes.. Sense." Serlina's voice echoed around them, drawing him back over to where she was. Back in the center of the large room.
"Master Einarth will now teach you "Ro," the second Word in Unrelenting Force. Ro means "Balance" in the dragon tongue. Combine it with Fus - "Force" - to focus your Thu'um more sharply."
Einarth stepped forward and bowed respectively to her, making her cheeks tint pink.
"Master Einarth." She nodded back, making the man smile back. Shaking his head, he watched from above. She had that way about her. Making even the most disciplined bend a little..
Einarth looks from her to the ground in front of him and whispers "Ro...".
For a second, there is silence, then the abrupt sound of stone cracking. To his amazement, there was an inscription on the ground, like the words in their books and tapestries. One second of alarm fed into another as he looked back to Serlina. Would she look like she was in pain again? He watched as Serlina stepped forward, her steps hesitant as she looked at the word. Seems she too had the question on her mind. She looked at it and slowly, the burning word faded, leaving her to blink once, twice and look back at them.
"You learn a new word like a master... you truly do have the gift. But learning a Word of Power is only the first step... you must unlock its meaning through constant practice in order to use it in a Shout. Well, that is how the rest of us learn Shouts. As Dragonborn, you can absorb a slain dragon's life force and knowledge directly. As part of your initiation, Master Einarth will allow you to tap into his understanding of 'Ro'."
The old man lifted his arms slowly, and the faint sound of wind blew around them and swirled around her, like it did on the field near Whiterun. She braced as it came toward her, surrounded her and slowly drifted down over her, along her body. To the naked eye, it looked like she almost glowed. To him, it looked like she was absorbing the colourful lights that sometimes that decorated the night sky. She breathed in, and the winds sank below, hiding under her skin. Letting her breathing go, she looked at her hands, clenched them, and unclenched.
"Now let us see how quickly you can master your new Thu'um. Use your Unrelenting Force shout to strike the targets as they appear." Arngeir spoke as he stepped aside so another could step forward.
"Fiik... Lo...Sah!" An ethereal man stepped forward, making Serlina slip into combat stance, hand on her sword, he even found himself reaching for his bow and pulling an arrow, just not drawing it. Yet. He watched as she licked her lips and breathed deeply.
"Fus.. Ro!" The words blasted from her, but she didn't look as thrown back this time, the shock of it making her eyes wide, even as the ghostlike man stumble and fade away into nothing.
"Well done. Again." Arngeir called out, making her look back to him and nod.
"Fiik... Lo...Sah!" Another ghost appeared and like before, she faced it, breathed deeply, and blasted it back, sending it away.
"You learn quickly. Once more." As soon as the ghost had been summoned, she blasted it back, letting the words fall from her lips with more confidence. After, she stood and let out a breathless laugh, looking around the room and landing on him just as he put the arrow away. Her expression held relief. It came off her in waves making him smile in return. Arngeir stepped toward her, breaking their connection.
"Impressive. Your Thu'um is precise. You show great promise, Dragonborn. We will perform your next trial in the courtyard. Follow Master Borri." She nodded and followed the men as they lead the way. Upon reaching the top of the steps, he walked to her side.
"How you feeling ladyship?" He asked and for a second, she looked at a loss.
"For lack of a better word… balanced." She looked at her hands, making his eyes lower to them as well. They trembled slightly and he looked back to her face. "Before… It was like there was a constant pressure in my chest, like something needed to get out. And now, I feel.. Calmer. The Shout doesn't.. alarm me to do as much as it did in the caves.. It's like I can focus it better, and I don't have to feel as angry as I did when I did it the first time." She turned and started to the courtyard. Before she opened the door, she turned back to him and gave him a small smirk. "Did you really draw your bow to make sure I would have long range cover in case I didn't do it?" She asked and he scoffed, striding towards her.
"You said it earlier princess. 'Strength in numbers'." He shrugged, walking past her, giving her a smirk and a sideways glance as he wandered out to the courtyard. He could have sworn she muttered a 'sure', dragging the vowel out for a few seconds, making him let out a huff of a laugh. As he walked outside, he was grateful the wild winds were blocked by the building behind them as they exited to the courtyard.. In all honesty, he was curious about what they would do now. Despite the courtyard being open to the elements, the odour and humidity were quite different. The amount of space gave him the feeling of freedom to roam without the option of running away.
Because, you know, it's a damn mountain he thought as he looked around.
Snowdrifts rose and fell all around them. He watched as Karnwyr raced around, barking happily his fur, short over his body and longer at the neck, is smooth and shiny, thanks to the bath in the river. From how he looked before still made him see red.. Like himself, Karnwyr's' stance is confident and body muscular, and the aid from Serlina really had helped get him back to his usual self. That woman knew how to take care of not only herself but animals alike..
He shook his head in disbelief, thinking about their trek up this mountain.. She hadn't stopped once, other than the emblems and their snowball fight. He had seen how close Karnwyr had been to her, looking back to him now and again as they climbed the steps, looking back so he could regard him fleetingly before heading back further up the mountain toward the snow-line. His movements were fluid and without apparent effort; while they had huffed and puffed. Smiling he looked away and found his smile slipping into a frown. To his far left there was an iron gate. Curious, he found himself walking over to it. The gate looked like it had been forged a century ago. It was a clear 10 feet tall and made of twisted black rods. At the end some were curled in convoluted patterns and opportunist spiders had created webs there. In this weather? He shook his head. Turning back around, he watched as they filtered in.
"We will now see how you learn a completely new Shout. Master Borri will teach you "Wuld," which means 'Whirlwind.'"
Borri stepped forward and whispered another word to the ground. "Wuld..." Followed by another resounding crack of stone and more words burned on the ground. As Serlina stepped to them, he found himself walking past the gate, and looking towards the tip of the mountain as Arngeir spoke; "You must hear the word within yourself before you can project it into a Thu'um. Approach Master Borri and he will gift you his knowledge of 'Wuld'."
God, all that man does is talk. He rolled his eyes and peered outward. Venturing onward would have been not only difficult but dangerous. The winds just beyond a few steps were loud and untamed, whipping snow around so fast that it nearly made a wall. Behind him he heard Arngeir call out; "Master Borri." With a sound of a loud snap, he turned around to find the older man on the opposite side of the gate, closing behind him after a few seconds.
'What the fu-" He walked over to the elderly man, who stood by and slipped his hands into his large sleeves.
"How in Gods name did you get over here so fast?!" He asked making the elder look at him with his brows raising. He looked at him in silence and that grew to irritate his patience. "Well? You going to say something?" He demanded and got only a reserved sigh from the man. Why didn't the man say anything? Its not like he was unable to speak! He was- "Oh. That's right. A single whisper and all that." He clarified and saw the relief on the mans face. "Sorry." He muttered and crossed his arms as he watched Arngeir speak to Serlina who looked at him with complete focus.
"Now it is your turn. Stand next to me." She slowly walked to the mans side and looked to the large gate, and then back to him. "Master Borri will open the gate. Use your Whirlwind Sprint to pass through before it closes." He explained, gesturing to the gate with his hand. He watched as she slowly nodded.
"Ill give it a whirl." She craned her head from shoulder to shoulder and rotated her shoulders, stretching while the elder Borri moved into position.
Borri looked at the gate as he shouted; "Bex!" The gate swung open, slightly startling him. Almost. The feeling was pushed aside as he watched Serlina brake out in a jog, her boots digging into the snow. Frowning her watched as she made her way over. This isn't even as fast as she could run, and he had seen her bolt into battle before. The gate closed in front of her; a little while before she had even gotten close.
"What in the name of Oblivion was that?" He called to her on the other side of the gate, making her step the extra few feet laying her hands on the bars giving her the illusion of being in a cell. She could have walked around the gate but instead; she glared at him through the bars..
"A warm up." She sent back making him scoff.
"I've seen you run faster then that, no warm up required."
"Well this is all new to me, so its not like I've done this all before. Besides, it a new Shout. Arngeir told me to- oh forget it. You wouldn't get it." She started back, her boots making clear tracks in the snow. He also liked the sway of her hips as she walked. Well, stomped.
"Again." Arngeir called and like before, Borri opened the gate with a Shout. She nervously glanced around and took off sprinting this time. Her hair snapping back and forth as she ran, lengthening her strides nearly making it. Until the gate slammed closed again. It made it even better when she caught his amused look through the bars.
"Still warming up?" He teased and laughed when she reached through the bars to grab him, missing him by a few inches. "Sooo close. Becoming a habit of yours princess?"
"Bishop, I am going to lay. You. Out!" She pointed a finger in his face, but hers, though agitated, held a smirk.
"Gotta get to me first ladyship." He teased back , holding his arms out in a 'I'm-right-here' gesture, making her scoff, gripping the bars tightly. Stepping closer, he caught the glint in her eyes. Her usual hazel eyes had sharpened and followed his movements, the green in them coming through more. Curious. The colours always seemed to change, matching her moods. This woman certainly was something.
"It'll take more than a gate to keep me from getting to you, ranger." She spoke softly as she released the bars and stomped back to Arngeir. His blood warmed at her words, making him start to ache.
"Hmm. I like the sound of that ladyship. However so far, you're all talk." He called back and hummed when she turned back to face him, licking her lips as she concentrated. Like before, she watched and waited till the gate opened, crouching slightly, bracing one foot behind her. For a second, time slowed. The way she looked at him, smiling, accepting the challenge, made his body roar with want. He wanted to run at her to, take her to the ground again and have his way, to touch, taste, claim. He put a fist up on his hip, like she had earlier, making her shake her head at him.
Then she was off like a shot.
Her shout rang through the air as the gate opened. He honestly did try to jump out of the way but it's too late. She was a blur after she Shouted, slowing down just a foot away from him, and even then, she slid along the snow-covered ground. His arm had dropped from being held up on his hip and wrapped around her as she all but fell into his arms, knocking him back with such force it made him loose not only his balance, but his air from his lungs. They collapse to the ground, her landing on him, a tangle of limbs and heavy breathing. Him regaining his oxygen from being knocked out of him, his breath seemed to stutter in his lungs before he let it go, feeling the tension drain from his body, relaxing so he could take a deep breath in again. His breathing returned to normal and he felt as if he could face the now apparent problem. That being a beautiful woman, holding his face in her hands as she looked at him with a worried expression. All the while, her body pressed to his.
"Are you alright? You took a solid hit." She ran her hands over his arms, even as her chest rose and fell as she tried to regulate her breathing. He could feel her heart racing against her chest, how it beat steadily against his own. Both of them breathing heavily, rubbing their chests together. He felt himself growing hard when she licked her dry lips, blowing stray hairs out of her face.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." He waved her searching hands away making her hands slow to nearly a stop. "Though if you had a spare health potion I wouldn't say no." He teased making her chuckle, lightly smacking his chest, making him let out a low chuckle that carried into a low groan as she sat up. Looking at their positions, he held back a sigh. Her knees on either side of his hips, keeping the rest of her body and it's weight a few inches above his waist, she hovered as her hands lifted from their search of injury to lay on his stomach, smiling down at him, almost like she didn't want to stop touching him, even if she didn't realize it herself.
"I'm relived your okay." She said after a moment. Then her eyes held a small glimmer in them again. "Looks like you were wrong on both accounts ranger." She said with a smile, as his brows furrowed.
"Being?"
"That I wasn't all talk, and that I would take you down." She teased leaning forward, putting a hand by his head, holding her weight there and pointed at his face with the other. "And I did. Hard." She added at the end with a small smirk. And just like that, he hardened to the point of aching.
"Do you like doing things the hard way?" He asked leaning up on his arms, making her tilt away a little too fast from him, losing her balance, causing her to reach out and grab onto his right shoulder lightly. He nearly hissed at the contact.
"Only the things that matter are worth doing in every way imaginable." She spoke evenly, but her eyes sharpened. His body was ready to prove the claim, to strip her and take her as he'd longed to do in the forest near where they met. A temptation he found as exhilarating as it was frightening.
Can't touch her. At least, not here.
But if he could...
What would she do? How would she react?
How would he?
Would her skin be as soft as it appeared? Would her curves create the perfect cradle for him?
"I can't concentrate when you look at me like that," she said, drawing him out of his mental questions.
"Like what?"
"Like you want me naked." She threw back bluntly making him stunned a moment as she dropped her arms to her thighs.
"Says the woman who knocks unsuspecting men down and straddles them." He shot back and her eyes widened and shot down, darting a little in all directions, like she only now realized their position.
"I-" She was caught off by the Graybeards, who now almost joined them by the gate.
"Your quick mastery of a new Thu'um is... astonishing." He spoke as she clamoured off him, making sure to keep contact as minimal as possible, dusting snow off herself, her cheeks pinkened again, subtly mortified at their position. He should be too, but didn't find it in him to care. She had been so close, on several occasions. He was close to snapping and claiming her mouth, like he wanted to do the day he met her. See what colour her eyes would be when he got her hot and breathless. " I'd heard the stories of the abilities of Dragonborn, but to see it for myself..." Arngeir looked right at her, not at all abashed at their earlier.. Tangle. Clearing her throat, she met the mans gaze, her cheeks their normal sun kissed tone.
"I don't know how I do it.. It just… happens." A gentle bark caught his attention. Turning to the sound he saw Karnwyr meander up to her with a gentle whine. She sounded so.. Distant. Like she spoke from an outside perspective. Unsure about how to reason what she did, what she saw, how she felt… With many things. He too felt like that as he lifted himself from the snow, patting Karnwyr when he fully stood.
"You were given this gift by the gods for a reason. It is up to you to figure out how to best use it."
"I thought it was this easy for everyone." She spoke uneasily, like she was trying to joke about it, but underneath, she still sounded unsure. She even lifted her shoulder in a shrug.
"No. Indeed not. But beware that your skill does not outstrip your wisdom." His voice was stern, like a true mentor. "You are now ready for your last trial."
"My last trial already?" She spoke like she was asking herself out loud. Then glancing to him she gave him a look he couldn't interpret. Confused disappointment, perhaps? Underwhelmed? "Feels like I just got here.." She said softly, and he gave her a single nod. Underwhelming, it is. She turned back to the cloaked men and took a breath. "Alright, What's next?"
"Retrieve the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller, our founder, from his tomb in the ancient fane of Ustengrav. Remain true to the Way of the Voice, and you will return." As he spoke, she listened and nodded.
"Guess we better get right to it."
"Sky Above, Voice Within."
She bowed her head and turned towards the large temple; her pace steady. Following behind, he scanned the large room as they crossed the wide room.
"I can't believe we just got here and now we have to leave again." She said softly as her hand laid on the large door. Turning, she looked at the stones that surrounded them.
"Don't feel so bad. We'll be back to this mountain before you know it." He gestured to the door, drawing her gaze back to it as she opened it, hissing a breath against the winds. She sighed and made her way down the steps, her gaze sliding to the edge of the mountain side. Following her gaze, he saw only snow and clouds like before. "Ladyship?" He asked walking beside her as she stood looking down. "Don't you even think about taking a shortcut." He teased, making her gaze snap to his, her eyes wide and mixed with alarm and confusion Then they warmed with a touch of humor?
"Ah damn. I figured one step and your already at the bottom before you know it." Sarcastic and smirking, she looked back down. "No, no irrational thoughts from me Bishop. I was just.. Hoping to have a clear view of down below." She sighed, turning and heading to the stairs, him following close behind.
"Most people would be afraid of the heights." He called over the winds. She slowed until they were walking side by side.
"Indeededly so, but I am not like most people." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
No, he thought silently. You are not.
Both of them should have been freezing in this place, but he felt like his body ached for more contact. Even as they started back down the mountain, he watched as she walked ahead, laughing as Karnwyr moved on ahead, barking and sliding around on the small patches of ice.
Going down a mountain is always easier then climbing one, making quick time of it. Soon the snow receded, leaving just the dirt path. Serlina slowed as she took a deep breath in, one that, no doubt, didn't hurt her lungs with the bitter sting of cold. She let it out slowly, tilting her head to him, or past him. He followed her gaze and then back to her.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Is the weather like this all over Skyrim? Cold and bitter in one place, cooler to warmer in another?" She asked as she looked back down to the small town of Ivarstead. Below, the town was unaffected by the cold winds and snow that seemed to creep down the mountain.
"Depends on where you are, but yes, it happens." He answered thinking of several places. Clouds shifted, turning the bright sky to murky gloom. The continued walking until they got to the stone bridge. When they shifted again, sunlight tossed a beam directly at her, paying her smooth skin the homage it deserved. Just then, she practically glowed. She didn't look part of the earth, but something more powerful, something beyond. Lust punched him in the gut again.
I want this woman.
The thought shot through him as lust smashed through his mind as he watched. His body tightened, wanting to have her, taste her, hear her voice turn to moans, make her pant. Say his name... But her words from last night.. About having a reason as to why she came to Skyrim. Did she think about it often? Like now, as she looked off in the distance? He often saw her eyes sharpen; her lush mouth pressed tight as her eyes looked around.
"Something on your mind?" He asked. She kept her eyes away from him, and he wondered if she was thinking about a man- the thought made his skin crawl. "Someone?" He spoke through gritted teeth.
"It's just.. I've been here for what feels like a few minutes, but I feel like I've seen nothing of this land. Like it's passing in a blur.. And yet, I feel like I have shown so much.." She trailed off and walked on silently as her words sank into his mind. 'Shown so much'. As he followed, he thought about that. She spoke the truth, many of times she had been asked to explain, show her abilities and had been somewhat forthright in her past and pieces about herself. Like her singing, though he had found that out unintentionally it seemed, her respect for many living and dead things alike, her lack of care or appreciation for those with titles, or getting them. Hmm. Compared to her, he had told her little. Shown little. Usually, he preferred it that way. But now, he found himself wanting to show her something… Like she had to him. Or perhaps not. Shaking his head, he watched as she had waved down the middle-aged man who had given them supplies for the Graybeards.
"Ah, good to see you again! How did that delivery go?" He looked upon them, more so Serlina, with warmth.
"I delivered the supplies to High Hrothgar." She replied, keeping her tone respectfully neutral.
"Quite a climb, wasn't it?" He asked and both of them gave different expressions. Bishop gave a shrug, while Serlina gave a no-kidding expelling breath.
"Yes. Quite a climb." She replied and looked back at the mountain. Then she looked back to him and shrugged. "Something I have a feeling I will be doing more frequently." She admitted and the man's eyes widened slightly.
"Well I suppose I will be seeing you around. Anyway, much appreciated." He reached into a pocket and pulled out a small bag of coins. "Here, take this for your troubles."
"Oh, well, I didn't do it for-" He cut her off with a wave of his hand and placed the coins in her hand. He smiled warmly and dropped it in her hand.
"Thanks again for the legwork." He said and she gave a shy smile. Glancing down, he looked at her legs, clad in tight looking elvish leather armour. She did have nice legs. He hummed in appreciation.
"Your welcome Klimmek." She waved him off as they started out of the town. Placing the small bag of coins into her own pouch, she pulled her map out, trailing her fingers along the paper, mapping out their travels.
He watcher her for a minute. The quick flutter of her lashes showed perplexion while her eyebrows knitted together to complete the look of bemusement. He was temporarily mesmerized by her eyes as he looked at them. The dark hairs that followed the shape of her eyes could one moment make her look more intense by squinting, or more beautiful than the stars when she smiled. Shaking his head he watched as she followed the faint lines of roads. Had she never thought to just.. Wander around? Did she always follow direct routes, and stay in boundary lines? Even crossing them on the roads she had glanced around, her eyes moving all along, map in hand. It seemed like she was always cautious of them. Peering over her shoulder, he saw each of the borders for the different Holds.
God Gods, he thought as he rolled his eyes. She even had labels on the side of the map. He loomed slightly, reading;
'Old Holds;
'Winterhold, Eastmarch, The Rift and The Pale.'
'West Skyrim;
'Falkreath, Haafingar, Hjaalmarch, The Reach, and Whiterun.'
He watched her hands as she muttered to herself, tapping the large paper on certain points now and again but all he could see were her red knuckles. Wine-red like blotches from the cold. From the angle he looked at them, they seemed small, soft almost delicate. But he caught the nicks and scars in places, wondered if she was hiding them anywhere else.. Anywhere interesting.. He shook his head, he had to stop thinking like this. Already he felt tense but simply went about taking a few deep, cleansing, steadying breath. Until her fingers trailed over a landmark that gave him pause.
He glanced at her and an idea formed in his mind. 'Seen so little, shown so much'.
That was what she had said. Her words rock his mind, leaving it moving in foreign ways, ways he had become unaccustomed to these many years. But they echo, with the power to tear down walls he had built high and deep. In his world of emotions, these strong ones are considered suspicious and he should have had more priorities to think about than of the heart and mind. Now, if that isn't conflicted, he didn't know what is.
Until she bit gently down on her bottom lip. He covered a groan with a sigh, making him sound bored and drawing her attention from the map to him. Slowly, her bottom lip slid from her teeth.
"How do you feel about surprises"? He asked, making her eyes sharpen, then cloud for a second. She straightened slightly and tilted her head, pondering the idea.
"That depends. What surprise did you have in mind?" She asked, her tone curious, never eyes never leaving his. He chuckled low in his throat, happy with her curious excitement, even smirking at her a little.
"If I tell you, it wouldn't be much of a surprise now would it?" He stepped close, watched her gaze sharpen again. "Come on-" Still smiling, he knocked the map down with a flick of his hand, slightly starling her, making his smile widen. "-Get your nose out of that map and just follow me." He watched her eyes go to her map, then back to him again. He found himself smiling again as her fingers folded the map, tucking it away in her pouch.
"Sure, why not" She shrugged.. " I'd like a change." She smiled back a him.
"Guess you'll be viewing my ass for once!" He teased, making her bark out a laugh.
"I had to wonder what you were looking at all that time, now I know." She teased back, making him chuckle again. Turning in the direction he wanted to go, he stared walking. "This way ladyship. We want to get there while it's still light." He turned to her, but still kept his pace as he pointed a finger at her. "No detours." He called back and laughed when she rolled her eyes.
"Alright ranger." She called back, her tone playfully understanding.
"And keep up."
"Don't worry ranger, you won't lose me." She called back. Something about that statement made his blood hum.
"Good." He continued for a while, simply glancing around. The dusty path wound itself around rolling hills. It sloped up and down. Hoof-prints and footprints were trodden into the overused dirt path that seemed to continue forever; each muddy print unlocking a memory of days gone by. He had walked these roads most of his life, he'd know them just the same as if they were etched in his head with a sharp knife, scored in deep like some strange work of art. These are the roads he'd grown up on and for the most part, he was calm here, at home, on the down low with a steady heart beat. Not tonight though. Tonight his heart wanted out of his chest. Like it wanted to beat free of its cage. It pounds like it's going to crack a rib. His senses are on high alert.
"This had better not be just some interesting stump you found." Her teasing voice broke him out of his darkening thoughts. He slowed, tuning his head so she could see his mocking shocked face.
"Ah, damn! How'd ya guess? Pft. No, no seriously, come on. It's better than a tree stump." He called back and in the distance he saw the lake. As they drew closer, they slowed to peer at it. The lake was as flat as any mirror. It lay without a ripple in the silver-blue water as if time itself had been frozen. From the tall pines around the edge came not a sound, no movement of branches, no birds calling. He had expected that some of the bandits that hung around this area would be close, but it looked like they were they were off somewhere else, do doubt sleeping off their hangover in a tent or some other shaded place. He snorted to himself. Typical. His eyes dropped to the water, clean enough to drink. He bent down with cupped hands and drank, drips falling from his lips, sending ripples in ever widening circles until they disappeared.
And just ahead, was Nilheim.
It was time to see if he could trust her with what he had to show. And to let her see.
AU:
Hey everyone!
Thanks for reading!. Let me know how I'm doing.
So I got a question for those of you who are willing to answer, and it would help me, as an author, a great deal.
As you guys have seen, things are starting to build between Bishop and Serlina. (oooooohhh!)
Now.
I Don't know how.. intimate I can get in these kinds of stories, but I like to think that it's a turning point in stories, not just clickbait or something.
For future chapters, would a 'fade-to-black' kind of thing be more appropriate, or can/should I write my story the way I want it to be, with a little detail ? I will be willing to accommodate either way.
PLEASE. Let me know what you guys think.
PM me with answers/discussions. My box is always open.
If you guys are interested, my Tumblr is linked below.
https//blog/toastedwrittenthoughts.
I give little teasing clips from my chapters here, so go check it out! I also share things about Skyrim Romance there. You can also message me there.
Anyway, that's all for now, but don't you worry, the next chapter shall be up soon!
Until then,
Stay Romancing!
-IMME