Soul of a Dragon

by InMyMindsEyes

Serlina is thrown into an adventure in a world unknown to her. When everything she has ever known turned upside down, she must endure pain, loss, lust, power, magic, revenge and destiny. When she encounters a ranger who sparks her interest, making passions unknown rise, her life will never be the same. Some better. Some worse. Some language and smut in later chapters.

15. Thorn In My Side

AN:

WARNING;

This chapter contains strong language, graphic sexual violence, kidnapping, abuse and assault. Please read at own discretion…

This town was still, even after the years that had passed, more than ready to accept the window dressing that hid the ugly truth of the bandits that lingered outside their towns border... Some shared the secrets, no doubt and kept the silence. Others would not have believed. And even if they had been told, they would not have wanted to know. As those who saw and ignored the results from the women who walked back to their homes, into the Inn from their travels, they did not want to know that their world was not as it seemed. Small village minds.

Even the aroma took him back to his misspent bandit days. It had him scrunching up his nose as they walked through the town...

'But I've been gone too long and now, this is feeling like a half-forgotten dream', he had thought as they had walked through Falkreath. His eyes scanning all around as fog began to creep in on the outskirts of their houses...

Several townsfolk glanced around, their eyes landing on Serlina, some for a moment too long for his liking. When their eyes moved on and landed on him, they quickly glanced away and went about their business. Only a few lingered and then they too slowly turned their heads away.

The inn didn't dissuade his unease either.

Not until the tavern wench, whatever her name was, tried to sweet talk her way, and practically into his lap, making ladyship drop a hard fist on the table. Her eyes, were focused solely on the young girl, though her face stayed passive. He had seen women pitch a fit of jealousy before. They were usually loud and caused more of a commotion. But not her… She simply silently warned the girl, after she seemed to miss the fact that she too was sitting at that table, and by the look of her face, disliked the young girl fawning over him. He noted the way a single finger tapped rhythmically on the table, her brow raised as she spoke to the girl, even if her voice was sweet.

TAP. TAP TAP… TAP

A sign of thinning patience perhaps?

After their table had been cleared of knocked over dishes, they spoke, even jesting slightly, helping him take his mind off bad memories and feelings, lifting the dark looks she gave the waitress... Often his eyes would wander again, the feeling of uncertainty creeping back in. She seemed to notice his discomfort. She looked at him, her face a mixture of concern and passivity as conversations passed. It had been far to quiet when they arrived. Not even children played in the streets. Her eyes though, so wide and calming made something in his chest tighten... Her flirtatious banter had gotten his attention, a welcome distraction for both of them. And her shy smile when he returned the banter... It pulled at something deep down inside him.

And for a moment, just a moment, he thought about telling her...

About his memories of this place. That 'these painful memories, they're just the same as the nightmares I sometimes get'... How they only vanish when he was awake. Or when he slept near her in the woods...

He watched as she looked at him as she tried to dissuade his anxious watchful eyes from yet another round of checking for anyone that would go and rat on them... What idiot would he be if he told her he was beginning to feel like he was pleased that he could slip back in the present moment with her and feel… at such ease even in a place that made him relive memories that haunted him... Or the fact that he could only do it with her, it seemed?

Even if for a few moments.

Nearly did.

Until she brought up him being a bandit.

Fucking slip of the tongue from earlier that he had hoped that she wouldn't recollect more than his warning of what lurked beyond the walls of the village. Even if she sounded doubtful about it…

And after that, he locked down again. He felt safer that way. Less exposed.

And again, when the conversation circled back to that bard from Windhelm. His teeth grinded as he pushed the feelings that had risen in him back down to be added into the concoction of irritating emotions that were plaguing him. Though, the pressure lessened when she denied having any romantic feelings towards the moron in the ridiculous hat. Though he would rather shoot himself in the foot with one of his own arrows then tell her.

It wasn't jealousy. He told himself. He simply didn't want another man poaching his… prey. Just the brief thought of the bard looming to close to her had him on edge and his palm twitching for his knife.

The way he had fawned and gushed.

It was sickening.

He had rolled his eyes and had nearly smiled when she herself nearly done the same thing. But at the mention of her beauty, her eyes had subtly widened and a look of shock crossed her face, though it was brief. The way her lips had tilted upward in an unsure smile, her cheeks pinkening had rattled something in him.

Was she unused to such compliments? She couldn't be... How could she not be? She was stunning. Clean or battle worn, she had an air about her that, much like when they had walked through the village, turned heads. He found himself getting angry more and more at the idea of men looking at her too long. Sure, she was unattached and free to… Mingle, the thought with a hint of distain, with men. So what in Oblivion did it matter to him who she wanted to pair herself with. His hand tightened slightly. She was just... Important to him. He could feel it. And it had nothing to do with how attracted he felt towards her… The lucky bastard that would win a type of woman like her... He blew out a breath and looked up to the ceiling. He hated just the thought of it.

Even as she excused herself to go talk to the Jarl alone, his was grateful for a moment alone with his thoughts. Ones that had him almost smiling to himself as Karnwyr laid down over one of his boots, whining at her as she walked away and had absentmindedly called over her shoulder that she 'wouldn't be more than an hour or so' and breezed out the door.

So, he laid back in his chair, absorbing the warmth of the fire as his body enjoyed the feeling of temporary relaxation.

'For the explanation alone, you would bail me out of jail.' Paraphrasing her words in his mind, he ordered another drink and sat on that a minute.

Ladyship.

In jail.

He shook his head and snorted a laugh at the image. He could see it and at the same time, not. She was right though, he thought as he sipped his ale that was brought to him... He would bail her out, just to hear how everything went downhill. Not that it would. Karnwyr sat up, his direction not wavering from the door as a few more patrons strolled in. When it wasn't her, his head lowered again... Absentmindedly, he rubbed the wolf between his ears, moving to scratch at the scruff of his neck earning a soft whine from the wolf.

Falkreath.

Damn. It had been several years ago now… But the memory of what happened here plagued him as he waited... Looking into his mug of ale, he remembered the last time he'd seen Thorn as though it was yesterday.

9 Years Ago…

The robbery had been executed exactly to plan, or so they were told when all was said and done... No thanks or help from the leader.

'With luck it would be days, weeks even, before any authority knew what had happened'. Called one of the men who had lead the raid in the bosses' stead.

He had simply rolled his eyes and made his way back to their base. The light of the day had long since ebbed and dwindled to nothing, now as midnight marched steadily toward them, the air was cooler and damper than it had been. In the sweet rain-washed darkness, the sounds of the night became loud in his ears, even the rustling of the leaves and the whisper of the wind was almost thunderous. He could swear that in the absolute blackness of that midnight world, he could have heard a beetle in the earth, his hearing becoming so acute.

"Focus any harder and I think you'll be able to start tasting colours." A familiar voice broke him out of his pointless staring. Looking up, he smiled as a familiar face walked towards him, illuminated by the moonlight...

"And I was so close too." He smirked as he returned the jab, leaning back. "How dare you break my concentration?" He mockingly argued as he nodded in greeting.

"Oh please. You'll live." The response was shot right back as he walked around the site. "If your going to sit there, at least start a fire. I'm not in the mood to freeze my ass off in the dark."

He chuckled and shook his head as he stood and walked to their firepit, the ring of rocks laying a few feet away. Getting the fire up took a few minutes, and soon warmth was emanating around them. The fire crackled, projecting long shadows on the surrounding area. The light cast by the flames danced across the dark trunks of the trees, twisting and curling in obscure shapes and providing a small growing radius of light.

Turning back around and taking his recently vacated seat again, he watched as his tentmate moved around their camp, his eyes better at seeing in the dark than his own by great strides. He watched as he began shucking his gear, hanging it over a rope that was tied between two trees. He watched the tail twitch lazily as the man rolled his shoulders, the firelight showing that his fur was dull and thin, unwashed and bare over the top of his slightly pronounced shoulder blades, his pointy, triangular ears were alert for any unusual sound. The dark rings of his fur twisted and shifted in the shadows as he stalked through their camp. His limbs were long and his head a little larger than average. He still was growing into his full height and yet his body looked a little on the thin side.

'Hmm… He should eat a little more. Should keep an eye out for more hearty game next time.' He thought as the half-Khajiit laid a hang on the tree to support his weight as he pulled a boot off and shook it until a few small rocks dropped out.

As he turned back around, his face held traces of both Khajiit and Nord. His eyes were like his own, yet the pupils were sharper, more pointed, swirling with determination and vigor even at a young age of 15. Though his face looked more human, except his flat nose that had some fuzz, but the sides of his jaw to his hairline was covered in a thin fur that continued down his neck. The fires ring of given light grew and shed more light as he sat down.

"Tell me brother, what has you looking away into the quiet?" Jewels asked getting his attention again.

"I don't know. Just... Something just doesn't sit right about today." He said stiffly as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Was just thinking about it, or I was, until you strolled in." He looked around his lack of seeing anyone made him frown. "You run here? Where's the rest of the group that hangs around our camp?" He asked looking to him only to see him shrug.

"Nah, they're just grabbing drinks and stuff. Said they would stop by here." Those pointed ears shifted downwards. "Heard a couple of them talking earlier. Something about you and Thorn butting heads again. That true?" He asked looking to him as he let out a low grunt that sounded like he was bored.

"I wont say no, only because I didn't let him talk much before I had to get out of there..." He ran a hand over his face. "Bastard was so full of himself."

"You never told me why you guys disagree so much. You were even one of his top men to raid with, weren't you?"

"It's complicated Jules." He admitted as he sent him a shrug. "And that was a long time ago."

"Not that long if you ask me." Jewels muttered as he pulled a stick out of the brush, his knife coming out to whittle away at it.

"That was before you got back from that inside job. And I told you not to worry about it." He replied tensely.

"Fine. I don't know why you act like he's a... thorn in your side..." He frowned and sat back, his ears flat against the side of his head. "Did you see him after he made a grab for those girls a few days ago?" Jewels asked, leaning over a little to flip a few stick in the fire as his teeth grinded together.

"I did." He said evenly as he felt a dark expression pass over him. "Another reason why I wont stick around him while he arrogantly struts about." He lifted his arms up over his head, stretching out his muscles as Jewels let out a breath.

"Thought you were going to sick Karnwyr on him for it." Jewels jested with a smirk. Dropping hi arms back into his lap, he nodded.

"I wont lie-" he gave Jewels a sideways glance. "-it was a tempting thought." Even now, he was considering it. His eyes glanced downward then frowned. "Speaking of which, where is he? Last I saw, he was hounding you for food." He glanced around and debated calling for him.

"Yeah. Well, sort of. Last I saw he was with Baluk. He was chewing on a whole leg of goat when your wolf-"

"You left him with the orc?" He snapped, moving to stand but stopped when his brother held up both hands, palms out to stop him.

"I didn't leave him, he took off after the orc with the leg. And don't worry about your wolf. He can take care of himself. And between the two of them, the wolf is smarter." Jewels smiled knowingly, and he found his lips quirking upwards even if he wanted to shake the kid.

"Yeah. Your right." He sat back again and slowly they smiled warmly at eachother as more and more of their bandit crew began to settle in around them. Some pulling out cards and dice to gamble away their new haul, others drinking and passing bottles of skooma around. Some joined their fire, sitting around and passing small plates of food around.

He waved a hand, passing on the skooma bottles, and subtly giving a warning stare to his younger brother who did the same. They may be part of this crew, but they had to remain sharp. And Khajiit, though only half, were more prone to becoming addicted. And he did not want that for his brother. Not with their family history to boot.

He had sat quietly, watching the group around them, as they steadily partied the rest of the night away. Some gossiped about their haul, their next big raid... He had simply played along, not adding much, not saying much. He didn't mind, at least, not after the last few times Jewels had managed to get the others to sit with them.

Unlike Jewels, who had slinked his way to partake in a game of cards. He sat alongside him, scratching Karnwyr who had trotted in along with a few others, remains of a leg of goat in his jaws. He almost let out a laugh at the victorious glint in Karnwyr's eyes while the others cheered for him as he laid down and set to work on it. It wasn't until they were in the middle of a game of cards when one of their bandit companions chimed in.

"But in all seriousness Bishop, did you and Thorn have another argument?" A female wood elf asked playing a card. He scoffed gently and returned the questions with a tight shrug. It had gotten a little loud, but the word did spread faster than anything in groups such as this.

"I wouldn't say that." He muttered as he watched the game.

"Think he found another one to sink his teeth into?" The elf asked as she looked warily around the group as she picked up another card. Jewels shook his head and shrugged as his feline eyes focused on his hand .

"I didn't see him today during the raid. But I didn't hear anything either. Saw him after... He was talking to a couple women." Jewels picked up another card and placed it down.

"How long has that man been like this?" A young orc asked, his one white eye offset by the opposite red one. They glanced from person to person around the fire. Jewels casted the orc a cautious glance and then himself.

"Not long after we joined." He said aloud, getting a few heads to turn his way.

"You mean he wasn't always like this?" The orc asked leaning forward, looking intrigued.

"No. He just hid it better then." He himself stated as he sighed and looked in the direction of Thorn's tent.

Thorn.

Bastard was bad news. He gave sociopaths a bad name. Others found it easy to trust him since he had a false easy-going style, but it was this conniving persona that made him dangerous. He had hidden his true self like a snake covered with leaves. There was no indication of good intent, and he had prided himself on being able to pick up on his hints of self deviant motives. Thorn didn't care who got hurt because his newly found passion was power, in one form or another. And it only grew when it was over someone weaker than himself and more so recently with a woman... and in front of the men.

"The first time Thorn had shown his true nature was several months prior." The elf stated as the next round begun. She spoke quietly as she passed out a new hand. "Word is, is that he and the girl he had been sharing a bedroll together from time to time had gotten into a disagreement about the share of loot they had scored. It got so heated that she had slapped him. Some of the bandits had laughed, saying that he was put in his place by someone so much smaller than him..." She trailed off, like the memory was becoming to frightening to continue speaking of. An imperial with greying hair who sat beside her placed a heavy hand on her shoulder gave her a tight nod of assurance.

He knew him.

Krexis. A mage who had been in this particular bandit crew for much longer than anyone else... Solid guy.

For a mage.

But he liked that he also had an appreciation for ale. Didn't tolerate Thorn's regard to the women much either... He turned his eyes on the young orc and continued for her.

"One of the men who had been in the room had explained to me that: 'in an instant, his whole demeanor changed. His 'control' left, little to none, no doubt from lack of sleep from planning, for a rage he could not suppress and there was no other target… but her. At first there was guilt, an attempt to stop, but soon he gave way, realizing how much he enjoyed beating his fists into her skin.'" The older man frowned, his disgust was palpable.

"With every hit he looked like he felt a cold zing of delight." Another had said as they played more cards. The cards moving a little slower.

"So... why does he still have so many bandits who steal along side him?" The orc asked as his eyes looked round himself, lingering on a few faces, including his own.

"When the men had been told that, some couldn't believe it. Others too afraid to do anything about it. Some got off on it." He stated as he watched Jewels placed two cards down. He himself however, felt a small speck of self-gratification. He had been right. There had always been something there.

"What about you guys?" The orc asked and several sets of eyes looked to the two of them. Jewels shifted subtly as he just returned their stares. What about them indeed, he thought to himself.

"So long as we get our cut and he keeps his… business out of our own, we coexist with no qualms about how he gets his kicks. Even if his methods of things are fucked." He stated with a small sneer. The orc thought a moment before shrugging.

"Can't be all that bad. Some women are into rough play." The orc smirked slyly and the elf's head snapped up.

"You can't be serious?!" The elf hissed.

"A-all I am saying is that-" The orc stammered as he looked at her, hands up in a sign of peace.

"Let me make something clear orc." He leaned forward and held up a hand to the elf, who had to breathe to calm down. "We're not talking about getting tied up with a leather belt or rope and him gagging them while he consensually has his wicked way with 'em." He dropped his hand and leaned towards him. "We're talking about him taking girls, girls who are younger than you, away from their mothers, rapes them, in front of their mothers who are being passed around between the handful of his chosen who like to watch on. Even as they scream in fear and pain." He explained slowly, as the orc shifted awkwardly in his seat. He sat back and sighed as the Imperial looked to the boy and leaned forward himself. Slowly eyes settled on the older man.

"Son... If you haven't been taught the right way to treat a woman, then do not look to Thorn as if what he is doing is right. I've heard him talk to his men about how 'he so hated it when they died too soon, but he had to punish them.'" He explained and the group grew silent, the orc looked fit to be sick. "He would go on to say that they were 'dirty, their ways were 'filthy' and 'wanton''. If they refused his teachings, he sliced them, if they fought back, he sliced deeper." Krexis explained coldly. "They made him think bad, unclean thoughts. They made him lustful and unchaste so he began to believe that he was being firm and fair; they were 'whiny' and 'without morals'." Krexis scoffed and laid a card down himself.

"So does he just grab anyone or does he-" The orc asked and Krexis leveled him with an eye.

"He picks them for their painted lips and shorter skirts, he says that he feels drawn to their tight clothes and long legs..."

"What if they said no?" The orc asked, his elongated teeth trembling now and again.

"Then he did what he always does..." The Imperial said quietly... Several sets of eyes falling back on him. He kept his gaze on the fire near them. He knew what he was going to say... It still made his gut churn. "He lays his hands around the girl's neck and squeezes to give her a choke. As their eyes become round and her legs kick out, panicked, because they can't tell him they can't talk or breathe, he gets in the zone… rutting into them like an animal." Krexis spit out as he watched the cards being played. The elf cleared her throat and adds in;

"As his pleasure increases so does his grip. When their eyes close and their heads lolled, he dismounts and goes to clean himself up, cause he got what he really wanted. When he comes back the girls' usually sitting on the side of the bed, naked and crying. He would say something along the lines of 'she's pathetic' then throws her to his next in line. And the cycle starts all over again." The elf states as the women around them let out a remorseful breath, a few men wince at the idea as the sentence ends. The boy is looking mortified. His green skin looking slightly ashen.

He knew the feeling the orc was going through.

Disgust.

He recalled how it tore through him when he had mistakenly been asked to watch a 'spectacle' as Thorn called it. The poor girl, screaming for her mother, who was feet away as two of then men pawed at her while Thorn tore the girls clothes. He had seen the way her fingers clawed at the ground, nails and fingertips shredding on rocks and twigs as she dug deep with each hand to get away. Her mournful cry when her virginity had been stolen from her, the men cheering. She couldn't have been more than 16. How he could barley watch and nearly speared the man right then and there.

"It's like some... Some bullshit way of showing false dominance." The elf says as she tosses a few coins into the center. The orc said nothing but swallowed hard. His eyes looked to the Imperial and slightly frowned.

"How do you know...?" He trailed off as Krexis looked at him directly.

"Because I used to be one of his next in command. But when the girls got to me, I got sick of hearing them in pain and how they cried and the way he laughed about it. I got them out. Got them home. With the rangers help." The Imperials eyes found his. He could feel Jewel's stare.

"Why didn't you...?" His brothers voice trailed off, lost in the delivery of the news.

"Because I didn't want you involved in that." He looked to the orc. "When I found out what he was doing, I made a point in never being in the same room as him for longer than needed." And that, was the truth.

"Does Thorn know about your... involvement?" Jewels asked carefully, his voice wary.

"No. I don't think so." He answered honestly.

"Think he'll call you to his tent?" The elf asked, drawing several pairs of eyes to the same direction they were looking in. "He probably wants to settle the disagreement you guys had earlier." She added, making him scoff.

"I don't think it's worth re-discussing. Besides, I am not in the mood for a dick measuring contest with him." He looked back to the elf and shrugged. "Not that it would be much of a contest. I could care less either way." He muttered and earned a few chuckles, the mood lifting a small degree.

"Care or not, you still should be careful." A nudge to his ribs had him slightly glaring at the matching amber cat eyes that met his.

"Don't you worry about me Jules. If he has to get angry at me, he has less time to beat those women into a false sense of submission." He returned. And you, he added to himself, stay off his picking crew. He got a glare in return.

"I told you not to call me that." Another nudge, harder this time that had him chuckling as he rubbed the spot.

"And I told you, I am going to call you that whether you want me too or not... Stop fighting it and move on." His eyes moved upwards when a few more joined their games. One of which caught Jewels' attention. A Brenton, young by the looks of her, her lilac eyes glancing around the group to land on his. They had spoken a time or two, nothing too serious. She seemed to hover around while her sister lingered around Thorn.

"Misha." She stated to the group as she sat, her hand pushing a lock of bright blonde hair behind her ear. Some said greetings, others, like himself said nothing. However, Jewels nodded in warmly.

"I know who you are." Jewels returned, a playful smile lifting the corners of his lips. Hers did the same.

She waited and watched as it was Jewels' turn to shuffle the cards. As the cards flew across their table, Misha leaned forward, linking her fingers in front of her face.

"You told me that you're good at cards," She stated directing it at himself recalling a past conversation from several days ago that had him scoffing, keeping eye contact with her.

"I said I liked cards. I never claimed to be good." He lifted a single shoulder and dropped it.

"You playing?" She asked, picking a hand up while he shook his head.

"Nah. Not tonight." He rolled his eyes when she pouted. "Besides, the only people who like cards are gambling addicts-" he glanced around and met several sets of eyes, some who nodded in agreement, others who laughed and flipped him off, "-and those who are good at it." His eyes met his brothers and got an easy bow of his head, his ears flicking now and again as his smile grew.

"You're not an addict?" She asked Jewels, turning her attention to him. He looked around and shook his head no.

They played a few rounds, some of the players turning in for the night, others passing out after several drinks. Misha had moved closer to Jewels, their conversations growing hushed as time passed. It was good to see his brother relaxed. And the way he was looking at the Breton... He shook his head. Needless to say, he would be sleeping FAR away from their section of the site.

"Do you like cards?" she asked as he finished dealing the cards for the dozenth time.

"Sure." Jewels' eyes lifted to hers briefly then back to his hand.

"Do you like me?" she asked softly, looking over her cards.

Jewels never looked up from his hand.

"I'm playing cards, ain't I?"

Subtle Jules.

Real smooth and subtle. He covered a laugh with a cough. The remaining group make mock kissing sounds that had them smiling and the two of them looking bashful. They were still chuckling at their exchange when a pair of heavy footsteps came around. He kept his eyes forward, while the others were looking behind him. And gauging by the looks on their faces... Damn.

He casted a calm glance over his shoulder and saw that it was one of the bigger men that hung around Thorn.

"Evening boys." The deep voice came from behind him and he gave a tight nod in greeting to the tall wood elf.

"Deregor, want to join in? Got a spot open for the next hand." The female elf spoke softly, keeping up the feeling of enjoying the benefits of a good heist gone well up as best she can...

"Nah. Maybe later." Deregor's eyes moved around the group and landed on their intended target as the elf muttered a simple;

"Your loss." She shrugged and placed a card down.

"Misha-" Deregor snapped making her sit up, leaning away from Jewels at the sound of her name. "-boss wants to see you."

"About what?" She asked, looking confused and alarmed. The elf shifted his weight a little and continued to look uninterested.

"Don't care. He just told me to come get you."

She gave a tight nod, her eyes widening a little and she swallowed. Her cards began to shake gently, drawing Jewels' attention.

"I will... go see him... soon." She replied quietly, leaning away from him, her chin falling to her chest...

"No. Now." The word was pushed through clenched teeth, the elf's patience thinning. The young girl flinched and looked as if she was going to get up, but Jewels laid a hand over her knee.

"She's staying with us until she is good and ready to see your boss." He spoke gently, but his tail flicked around agitated.

"Stay out of his runt." The words lashed out and had his back prickling up. He casted a look over his shoulder.

"While I appreciate you doing your masters bidding, but he ain't hers or ours." He bit out, getting the elf to focus solely on him and off his brother.

"He ain't my master!" The elf snapped making the group of card players look around apprehensively. The elf looked back to Misha. "I wasn't asking. Now, you can come with me willingly, or I can drag you." He looked at him over his shoulder and glared.

"If the girl doesn't want to go this minute, she doesn't have too. She said she'll be there. That should be enough. If you keep pushing, then she has every right not to go at all." Jewels countered

"Stay out of this! If I so much as hear another word leave your mouth, I'll-"

"You'll what?" He called out, and several other groups who were still conscious turned to look their way. "I'd like to see you try it Deregor." He bit out, subtly palming his dagger, Karnwyr snarling gently by their feet, and breaths were held as the others looked on.

The elf was the first to break and with a sharp turn on his heel he stormed back toward the tent off a ways.

He casted a small glance to the girl who was looking at Jewels with a look of relief and adoration for his brother.

"Bishop I swear-" He held up a hand to cut Jewels off.

"Drop it. If that pain in the ass wants to talk or hash things out, then he'll know where to find me."

"Thank you." Misha leaned forward, her eyes wide. "For speaking up. I mean-" He tsked and rose, Karnwyr as well.

"Don't thank me. Thank him." He jerked his chin toward his brother. "The first person to speak up is the bravest." He admitted and he could have sworn his brother nearly blushed.

"Well, thank you both." She gushed and he shrugged tightly. Her gaze slid to his brother. "I can't thank you enough." She leaned forward and kissed his jaw gently. Jewel's widened slightly and slowly he smiled, his canine teeth pointing from under his lips.

"I'm turning in. You try to score big." He winked slyly at his brother as he stood to leave. When his brother lifted his cat eyes to meet his own, he almost laughed at the startled look on his face. He pointed to the game board with what he could only hope was as innocently confused look on his face... His brother simply snarled a little, his canine teeth jutting out a little, then gave him a small nod farewell.

He walked back through the camps, giving nods in passing as Karnwyr trotted along happily by his side, bone in his jaws.

Getting to their tent, he kicked off his boots and laid on his bedroll. Soon, Karnwyr was laying alongside him, bone forgotten somewhere amongst their things. Settling his hand on Karnwyr's ribs, his fingers delved lightly in the wolfs fur, his thumb finding one of Karnwyr's old scars, long healed. The huff from the ball of fur had him shaking his head gently as his lips quirked up in a smile... Two rejects together... No matter where he went, everyone was always surprised when he just followed him home and made himself comfortable wherever he was. He finally closed his eyes sending him into a dreamless sleep.

He must have slept only a few hours, only to be awoken by Karnwyr letting out a small bark. Rubbing a hand over his face to help him wake up, he hummed amusingly when he felt a few taps of Karnwyr's tail on the bed beside him.

Friendly.

Must be Jewels.

"Took longer than I expected. Must be tired from all that… gambling." His voice was a little rough from sleep, even to his own ears but the teasing tone was not missed... When there was no response, he lifted himself up into a sit-up position to fully look at him... As he nears his heart fell right through to the dirt. His brothers gait was all wrong. Sluggish and bent slightly. When he stops, his eyes fully adjust and his blood turns to ice. In one shattered moment his heart and breathing stop, just stop.

He's a bloody mess.

His face still bares congealed blood and his clothes are an utter disarray. His nose smashed and right eye almost shut with swelling, no doubt he can't be seeing a thing out of that and he won't for a while. His arms are wrapped round his gut like he's holding them in and he's beat so bad he could be. On each arm there are great purple welts that will only deepen over the coming weeks. Then he tried to say his name, his cracked lips failing at the first syllable, but he doesn't need to, he was already on his feet.

"What the fuck happened to you?!" He snapped, his hands held up, going over the beatings, making sure not to catch the skin. Then Jewels spoke, he knew it was him but his voice is all wrong, like he was speaking while being choked.

"He got her." His eyes met his, at least the one that wasn't swollen shut did. But barley. "We went to her tent to…So we could...-" Jewels trailed off while he gave an understanding nod.

To gamble... Alone.

"-things were getting pretty intense and then all of a sudden, Thorn's guys rush in, pull me off of her and dragged her to his tent." He got him to sit and cringed in anger when he winced. He turned away and walked to a barrel and pulled out a cup to fill with water while Jewels kept explaining. "I raced after 'em and Thorn was-" A scream pierced the early morning air, cutting Jewels off. It sounded like a scream of wild panic. A scream of hysteria, disbelief that bordered on terror… He swallowed as his hands clenched into fists. He knew that sound. It made the hair stand straight up on the back of his neck... Though it had been a while… He knew. "Raping her sister." Jewels finished tightly. "Wanted her to watch so she could see what happens to women that didn't come when called for…" Jewels looked at the ground. "She was crying fir him to stop and he smacked her to keep her quiet. Made her lip bleed and I... I just... I lunged at him. We fought but… I didn't win." He finished and took the cup of water he handed him.

He brought it to his mouth and swished the liquid around as best he could. Turning his head over his shoulder he spit out a thick stream of red, small clumps of blood falling to the ground. He turned and dug through his stored stuff and pulled out a large red bottle. He put that in his brothers hands, all the while his body trembled in rage.

"Is he…-" He drawled the last word out as Jewels' shook his head no.

"No, I was able to distract Thorn until she and her sister could get out of there. When he noticed, he set his goons on me..."

"Then who is Thorn-" He started to ask and Jewels shrugged, the motions stiff and pained.

"Some other wench he was able to snag earlier. Who knows this time?" A pop of a cork rang out followed by a hard swallow.

"Is he still in camp?" He bit out and heard the sound of several bones resetting, and a low pained groan.

"Yeah. Said 'he wasn't finished yet'." He clenched his jaw as his head turned to look to Karnwyr who sat in the center of their tent and knelt down.

"Listen boy." He met the wolfs eyes, and they sharpened on his. He had his full attention. Good. "I gotta go do something. Stay here, and keep an eye on Jules. Alright?" He asked jerking his head to his brother and the wolf growled low, then barked. "Good boy." He rose and faced his brother as a decision was made. "We're leaving when I come back." His brother rose, wincing and holding his ribs. His nose was reset, and his hunched posture already looked better.

"If you mean to go to Thorn and deal with him alone-"

"I don't want to talk about this Jules." He said stiffly as he turned away from his brothers panicked stare.

"You can't fight him! He has-"

"Fucked with the wrong people!" He snapped and grabbed his quiver, strapping it to his body. "His fate was sealed when he touched you." He bit out and picked up his bow, gripping it tightly.

"And those girls!" Jewels added making him stop suddenly to look him square in the face.

"I will risk sounding like a cold sonofa bitch when I say that they don't matter to me as much as you do." He pulled on his boots, gloves and arm braces, doing up the buckles, despite his rage trembling fingers.

"But we can't just-" He stopped his brothers protest by leveling him with a cold stare.

"Jules. I've had it. This was the last straw. I will show him that no one beats up my brother without serious repercussions!" He looked his brother up and down. "Finish drinking the potion and pack our things. I'll be back." He turned sharply towards their tents opening.

"And if you're not?" Jewels snapped, stepping in his way, wavering a bit. Steadying his brother he moved him to sit him down.

"Believe me, I will not let that sonofa bitch take me down without a fight." The tension lifted, albeit slightly, from his brothers shoulders. He tightened his fingers on his arms, mindful of his beatings. "Alright?" He asked and his brother nodded tightly. "Good. I'll be back." He stood straight and walked out of the tent. The night was waning, several people still awake watched as he made long strides to Thorns tent. Some were even striding to the tent themselves.

"Ranger. What has you up at this hour?" Malico, an Imperial demanded, as he joined him. When he got closer, he couldn't help but notice that his eyes were bloodshot, even in the lack of light.

"I could ask you the same." He returned, his steps slowing, but not stopping. Malico looked to the tent in the distance.

"I woke to the sound of screaming." He snapped dragging a hand down his face. "What is your deal? You look like you are fit for murder."

"I'm feeling like it." He stated his hands tightening as he picked his pace up again. "Thorn beat Jewels." Malico paused a step then picked up his stride.

"Poor kid." Malico winced, looking at the dirt then back to him. "He holding up?" Malico asked. He snorted bitterly. Jewels, one of the youngest bandits in this group. Everyone seemed to know him, everyone liked and cared for him. He gave a tight shrug and they moved forward.

"I don't care why exactly your going to his tent, but make no mistake, I will deal with Thorn."

"I'll be sure to stay out of your way." Malico stated as they neared the tent. Two guards were sitting outside the large doorway, one holding a bottle of skooma, the other spinning his axe on it's handle.

He didn't announce himself or call out Thorn from outside his tent. He simply raised his boot, planted it on the one holding his weapon, and kicked the bastard back, sending him flailing backwards through the tents flaps, coughing when he hit the dirt. Malico drew a warhammer and swung, knocking the other out, face down. Pushing the cloth aside, they walked in. The tent was large enough for more then ten men, and several of them hung around the sides of the walls. Their eyes going from the commotion off to his left then to him. They even looked slightly startled, and damn well they should be. His mood was dark and venomous. Though they kept their distance, he palmed his dagger. Some took notice, others even backing away, letting him walk in... By the way they don't rush at him en-masse, he knew his own reputation hadn't preceded him.

Some see a ranger without his wolf. Others see a man fit to kill. And they are the ones giving him a wide berth. He could fight, doesn't mean that he should waste his energy on these fools. Not when his entire focus was on a bigger problem.

His eyes landed on Thorn, his body over a slender female wood elf, the one who had been dealing cards... His coarse whisky hair fell over the elf's dark skin, his tongue licked at her limbs, fingers curled in her hair, his knuckles white with the intensity of his grip around her throat. The commotion drew his attention, his head lifting and his gaze settling on him. He didn't like Thorn, even when they first met starting from his disgusting eyes that were a chilling, pale blue, less like ice and more like a blizzard, terrifying and filled with cold fury.

"Come to watch the show, Bishop?" Thorn growled, slightly out of breath as his hips pumped against the elf, the sound of skin slapping against skin hanging between them.

"Hardly." He snapped as he kept his eyes off their adjoined hips. The girls whimpers of pain had him grinding his teeth. She kept her eyes closed, her hands clutching the sheets, shaking furiously. He drew his bow, notched an arrow and pointed it at Thorns face. "Get off the girl Thorn." He warned, the bow string growing tight.

"Sure. Won't be long. Nooow." The last word was gritted out as Thorn moved faster as some of the men began to cheer. Some had their hands down the front of their armored pants, their fingers wrapped around their erect members, moving up and down trying to keep with Thorns pace... "Look at me, little one." He growled in her ear and she shook her head, her eyelids tightening as more cheers rang out.

"Thorn that's enough!" He called over the chaos.

"Look!" Thorn's yell was like a booming bark in the girls ear, it even made some of the men jump like scared rabbits.

He couldn't help but think Thorn liked that. No doubt it made him feel mighty powerful. He had to stop. If he didn't, he would move faster, her fear adding to his pleasure. Every time the woman closed her eyes, he would most likely bash her head onto the stone floor demanding she open them. She didn't want to, none of them ever did. They always closed them over and over, anything rather than watch his face lit up with power and lust. He would often become angry, his force less controlled, until finally blood ran from the back of their head onto the ground and her head lolled like a fucking lifeless doll.

He loosened the arrow and landed just below them in one of the legs in the bedframe, making Thorn slow his harsh pace to look at him coldly.

"I said, that's enough!" His voice rang out, loud and clear as he pulled another arrow. "I wont miss again.". Thorns men looking around at the scene, no doubt waiting to see what would happen.

Malico moved to push passed him and he held an arm out to stop his advance.

Thorn exhaled a harsh breath as he pulled himself from her, barley bothering to cover himself when he stood fully. He snorted and looked to his men that were sitting around his tent.

"Dead's better anyway, great ride though." He snorted with a jerk of his head to the woman and left the girl without a backward glance while his men smiled, some uneasily, in agreement. Wrapping a leather armour around his waist, he walked towards them as the others went about covering themselves up to leave and no doubt, finish what they started. No one stopped them as most of the men left the tent.

"You twisted Sonofa bitch." A nord behind him seethed, hands clenched at his sides as he stepped beside Bishop. "What man thinks it's alright to fuck a woman into submission against her will? And in front of men such as these!" The Nord spit at Thorns feet. "You're no leader." Several others nodded in agreement.

Thorn looked around as if bored.

"You didn't seem to mind me being the leader when I was able to score our large haul today." Their lips tightened. "Look men-" He shrugged. "I know that I have, what some may call, 'odd methods', but they work. And when they do, you all get paid. Which is why you are all here. I don't care what you think of me as long as you obey. And if you do, you get paid." Every time he opened his mouth, he could only get angrier.

"You didn't do shit. I was the one who held lookout and did stakeout for the largest haul. All you did was send the men out." He replied sharply drawing Thorns gaze back to him. A muscle ticked in his temple.

"Ah. Yes. And what are you here for, Bishop?" Thorn asked, whipping sweat off his face with a hand and flicking it on the ground.

"I am here to address the fact that you and your boys attacked Jewels." His jaw tightened when Thorns eyes rolled, bored again.

"Ah. I see. Then before we get into to all the small stuff-"

"Small stuff?" He echoed notching the arrow as Thorn continued, kept the armed bow at his waist.

"I know what life should be like and I understand that many things and creatures are inferior to me." He jerked his head back to the elf on the floor feet from them. "In my position it is simply mercy. I know if I don't save them with the wonders of what I am, they will die in the horror of life. Things like…" He trailed off and then, snapped his fingers sharply. "-that brother of yours. " He finished.

"Things? Like my brother?" He asked, his vision tinting red. Fires of fury and hatred were smoldering in his narrowed eyes as he weighed the pros and cons of the various and creative means available to him for exacting revenge.

"Yes. He took something that I claimed as mine. So I taught him his place." Thorn shrugged. He himself scoffed.

"Must have severely bothered you knowing he didn't have to force himself into a women. Instead, he showed you up in the time and place where it mattered in that area." A muscle ticked in Thorn's temple when the men murmured in agreement again.

"You seem to think so." He tried to dissuade, but to no avail.

"I know so." He corrected.

"Last I checked, your brother took all the pain of our encounter. He could barley lay so much as a finger on me." His blood ran cold in memory of his brothers shuffling steps...

"I would be inclined to do the same." His face slipped from his neutral state to one of pure disgust. "You disgust me. Though I am surprised you even put in any effort. Normally you don't risk messing up your hair. No doubt that's why your boot kissing men did your dirty work." A few men chuckled and nodded in humored agreement. Thorn scowled at them briefly.

"You say that, but you and I are cut from the same cloth." Thorn called back as he stalked around him. He felt his own back stiffen as he kept his eyes on Thorn.

"Bullshit." He returned tensely. "I'm nothing like you."

"Think so do you?" Thorn crossed his arms over his chest, a cruel smug look lifting his lips.

"I know so." It was said with conviction.

"Riiight. Your not the kind of man who instills fear in others? The kind who will fight and get his hands dirty for what he wants? And takes what he needs? Could lead and has lead his own way, despite all that was and is, against him?" Thorn listed them off, making him grind his teeth.

"Not that I need to explain myself to you of all people Thorn, but unlike yourself I know the use of force that I need to use to get certain things and jobs done." He stated tightly. "However, I'm not the kind of man who gets his kicks from raping women and beating young boys who are not as strong as he himself, let alone several men, would be and thinks that's how he gets respect. " He threw back and after a moment was pleased when Thorn looked as angry as he was.

"I think your in-denial Bishop. You want to be like me, unreserved and capable of owning everyone and everything-"

"I am not as sick, twisted or as cowardly as you are. And I will be damned before I become anything like you. The only thing you can own is the fact that you are only able to beat something weaker than you." He pointed with a sharp jerk of his chin to the woman who was being taken away by others, Malico included, no doubt to be tended too. Thorn and his men had been so wrapped up in their argument that that had failed to notice them moving. "You're pathetic. And a coward" He added coldly. "It's often said that cowards make the best torturers. Cowards have good imaginations, imaginations that torment them with all the worst stuff of nightmare, all the horrors that could befall them. This provides an excellent arsenal when it comes to inflicting misery on others. And their final qualification is that they understand the fears of their victim better than the victim does himself." Thorn's cold blue eyes glanced over to where the girl had been laying, hardened and snapped back to his. His hands even reached for his weapon on the table behind him, only to stop short when he himself drew his bow, and released it to have the arrow sink into the dirt right beside his feet. Those blue eyes snapped back to him. "Go ahead, Thorn, hit me. But this time, damn you to Oblivion, you're in for a fight. You are going to pay for what you did to Jewels." His hands clenched tightly at his sides, body bracing. Thorn stepped forward and grinned. If hatred was visible, the air would have been scarlet. "Unless your afraid to pick on someone your own size and let your men see you for what you really are?"

Thorn shouted ferociously as he lunged. All Bishop had to do was pivot and pump upward with a fist to send Thorn reeling back.

"Tougher when it's somebody near your own size, isn't it?" He taunted. "Tougher when it's not a woman, or a boy. Come on, you bastard. Try again." Thorn lifted himself up, jaw red, blood falling from his lip. He was up and stalking toward Bishop with a new vengeance.

Thorn was tall, and slowly becoming into a newfound build of muscle. Launching his shoulder to his stomach they dropped to the ground and rolled. His bow was grabbed and thrown out of the fray by Thorn who dealt a quick punch to his temple, rattling his teeth slightly. His quivers straps snapped and were left behind as they grappled again and rolled. Arms were cocked back, fists landing on skin and bone with so much force in every blow it was as if he meant to smash him into the very earth and Thorn did the same. Blow after blow was landed, they rolled as men and women cheered around them, some even started fights of their own.

A blow to his cheek had blood pooling in his mouth and Thorn looking like he was about to come out victorious. Placing a boot between them, he kicked Thorn mid-chest, making them roll and stand. They circled one another, eyes on one another, amber to pale blue. Thorn strides to him, arm cocked back again, swinging high for his temple. He leaned down, going under his arm, turning sharply, and landed a solid punch to his kidney. The sound of a pained groan made his body sing with joy as Thorn shook slightly. He moved in for an attack, coming at him with the full force of his body. He blocked the worst of it, but he was all new muscle that it was he who stumbled from the impact. Thorn didn't waste the opportunity and dragged him to the ground, trying to pin him again.

Although he held most of him to the ground, he managed to shove his elbow up and nail him in the face. He flinched and that was all he needed. Rolling him over he held him down with one arm across his chest and dealt punch after punch to the bastard.

Winding up for his 9th punch, he felt the wind get kicked out of him by a dwarven warhammer to his ribs knocking him back. While he gained his breath, he could hear Thorn shouting over the voices saying;

"No one is to interfere! I can handle this myself!" He got back to his feet and they circled one another, even as his ribs screamed not to breathe to deeply. Not broken. Fractured maybe.

Turning once more, Thorn looked him up and down, then, wiping blood away from his mouth, made a quick grab for his waist. He jumped back, flinching from the spasm of his ribs only to see his knife in Thorns hand.

Shit.

He ducks and leans back as Thorn swipes left and right but is caught back by a tackle knocking him to the ground. He barley had enough time to lift his arms to stop the downward drive of the knife that goes into his cheekbone by a few centimeters. Their battles of wills and strengths made their limbs shake, making the skin around his wound to split and burn. Majority of the pain was non-existent, no doubt from the adrenalin. Pushing back enough to dislodge the blade, he snapped an elbow up into Thorns jaw, a solid crack and a pained moan had him dropping the knife. They each roll away, breathing heavily. He managed to lumber to rest on both his knees and deliver one last punch to Thorn who had tried to stand up before he did and slowly, he meandered to his feet. Although his legs a little shaky. Thorn was getting up too, but the look in their eyes hand them pausing a moment.

Anger fueled them both, however they slowly came to notice they were evenly matched.

"Don't ever touch my brother again." He said finally, wiping blood that dripped from his cheek. Thorn laid a hand over his jaw, winced and pushed the bottom back into place with a sickening crunch.

"Get. Out." Thorn gritted out, looking in pain at every vowel. "You... are... both… banished."

He would deal with that.

He knelt down, picked up his bow, quiver and slowly, his knife. His own blood still on the blade... Cleaning the blade, he placed it back in its sheath, turned on his heel and made for the flaps of the tent.

"Good riddance." He muttered and lifted a hand to move the flap and was stopped short when he felt a hand grab his shoulder. Glancing at the offending appendage he found his eyes connecting to green knuckles, then slowly up he followed a scarred arm until he met the Orcs gaze.

The one with the hammer.

Looking at where his hand was placed, he jerked his shoulder out from under his hand.

"Keep your hands off me." He started to go out again and a second hand grabbed him. Reaching with his own, he latched onto the wrist that grabbed him, ducked and twisted the arm behind the orcs back, bending it at an angle that, with a sharp jerk, had it popping from it's joint. The orc cried out in pain and stayed bent at the waist. "I said, hands. Off." He leaned over, adding pressure on the dislocated arm. "Ever do a cheap shot like that again, I will shove that warhammer so far up your ass they could use you to scare crows out of a farmers field." He twisted the arm until the orc dropped to his knees and then he let go, stepping over the orc who clutched his arm. He stepped out and took a deep breath of the early morning air, wincing slightly when a stab of pain rang from his ribs. Laying a hand over his bruised ribs, he began his walk back to his and his brothers camp.

It had mostly been taken down and to his relief, Jewels was there, belongings at their feet and Karnwyr pacing in rings around him.

They both were safe.

His relief was palpable. At the sound of his footsteps, Jewels stood, his eyes raking over him and lingering on his face. The pain had rescinded to a throb that pulsed with every other step that he had taken.

"Bishop." Jewels' voice was still rough, as was his body but he sounded better. Stronger. Colder...? It made him wince more than his wounds.

"Ready to head out?" He asked as he stopped to kneel and scratch Karnwyr behind his ears. His tail wagging as his nose sniffed around him and gently licked out his wounded cheek.

"Packed and ready to go. You should clean up a bit though. Seems his men got a few good shots in on you too." Jewels mentioned as he stood and walked to his things and pulled out his water pouch. Holding up a silver plate, he examined his face. The mud and grit from the fight had become meshed with raw pink flesh and was spotted with blood. One thing was for sure, it was going to be very painful to clean and his money was on it getting infected too. He washed it with the water from his water pouch, grimacing as he rubbed.

"His men didn't intrude. Except for a cheap shot, and I put him in his place." He reached into his pouch and pulled out a small container.

"You mean you actually fought Thorn?" Jewels asked as he took a seat on a leftover empty barrel.

"I'm going to overlook your surprised tone." He sounded angry but somehow managed to have a jest.

"Did you… Is he?" Jewels trailed off as he started to apply a little salve to it to keep it covered. "I have some of that health potion leftover if you want to-"

"I gave it to you so you wouldn't be hobbling around. Finish it." He dropped the plate and refilled his quiver with more arrows from his stockpile.

"But your face, it's-"

"Don't you worry about my face Jules. Let's just get out of here. The sooner the better." He snapped and moved around him. He heard the sound of a cork being removed from a bottle and the steady sound of heavy swallowing. Good boy. Looping his arm through his bow string, he felt more grounded when the bow settled against his back. "And to answer your first question… No. He isn't dead." He turned to face him. His brothers face unsettled him, having a look about him like he was shocked.

"Was he too strong?" Jewels asked as they began to walk out of the large camp.

"No. We were both… evenly matched." He still couldn't keep the anger out of his voice. "But I think I think I gave him something to think about more than anything."

"And what's that?"

"No one hurts my family without dealing with the consequences. And as a result of me and him battling it out... He banished us both." He casted him a sideways glance that had Jewels nodding gently.

"Huh. First time for me… Guess that makes it twice for you now." Jewels lightly jested and he, for the first time in several hours, cracked a small smile.

"If you ask me, it was worth it. But joking aside, we need to get out of here." Jewels nodded, picked up his bag and together they walked out of their camp in silence.

They had reached the boundaries of Thorns bandit ring when they heard the distant sound of whistling. Turning around they saw seven figures atop a hill, arms waving. Jewels was a mixture of chuckles and pained coughing. Distantly, he could make out a bow being raised, aimed. He was reaching for his own when a single arrowed was fired feet away from them, a scroll tied to the body. Glancing to Jewels he motioned for him to stay in place while he moved to the arrow. Karnwyr was on his heels, hackles raised, growling low in his throat just in case.

Untying the scroll he unraveled it and read the words. Walking back to Jewels, he showed the inscription.

'Sometimes in life, we meet the wrong people, but once in a while, the right people come into our life and, though their time together was short, they leave a mark.

Like you boys did to us.

Life is messy — it can be complicated and chaotic. Things don't always go the way you planned, broken things don't always get fixed, and people who leave don't always come back. Bumps in the road are unavoidable — unexpected things are going to happen.

Starting over does not mean starting from square one — it simply means letting go of what wasn't really right for you in the first place. Now we may not see each other as often as we'd like, you boys being banished and all, but if or when we catch up, you can count on us to see you as allies as we do you.'

-Your Friends.

They looked back up at the hill, the group of their old camp mates standing there, arms and weapons raised in farewell. He personally wouldn't have considered them friends. Just some he talked to... On occasion.

"Looks like you got a going away party." He said looking at Jewels who was waving in return, at least, as best as he could manage.

"You mean we have a-" He scoffed, not bothering to listen to him to finish, turned around and walked away from the group. Jewels followed, Karnwyr barking behind them.

"I need you to listen Jules." He was serious again and that had his brother looking at him while Karnwyr looked curiously between the two of them as they walked. "I know it was a lot to ask for you to just pack up and leave. We've been here for some time and for us to all of a sudden... Banishment is serious. I speak from experience. If his men see us, they will attack on sight." He didn't have to exclude the group behind them, since Jewels still held the scroll in hand.

"Never liked 'em anyway…" Jewels muttered gently. He rolled his eyes.

"Don't give me that. You had ties here. In more ways then one. More than I ever did or could have." He explained. "I'm just a guy who got you into trouble that you didn't need and now, uprooting you- AGAIN,- from things that were becoming steady without asking how you felt in the matter..." He ran a hand over his neck. "Damn it. I didn't want you to-"

"Alright Bishop, I am going to stop you right there." Jewels cut him off by laying a hand on his shoulder stopping his fast-paced stride. "Let me start by saying that you will NEVER be just a guy, Bishop. You're the best brother a guy could have. And from what I learned last night, you're a fucking hero to those women you helped." Jewels' eyes ever left his. Strange, to be comforted by someone 3 years younger than himself. "No one, and I mean no one, has ever had my back the way you have." His brothers hand tightened. As did his chest slightly. "You are an incredible person, be it in the life of bandits, fighting a family war, or sitting on a goddamn log watching the flames..." Jewels lifted his hand, clenched it into a fist and gently punched his shoulder. "Don't forget it. Because they-" He pointed to the hill with the scroll making his eyes follow, "-won't either."

In the distance he could still see them, the morning light bathing them is a variety of colours. All he felt is anger from earlier even if his face had shifted into a mask of calm neutrality.

'I don't want to be friends with anyone from Thorn's group. At all. Because then he didn't have to trust anyone besides his brother, it'll be safer, easier. And yet...' His fists clench and his teeth lock up. He tentatively raised a hand and gave a solemn wave. The group, though far, rang out a small cheer.

Well fuck.

He didn't say anything, so he simply gave a tight nod. Dropping his hand, they continued onward.

"It's a shame though..." Jewels spoke up as they crossed a small river. Glancing back at him, he sent him a confused look. "We didn't get as much money as we were planning saved up."

"Don't worry about the money. We have enough to last us a while." He called as he watched Karnwyr jump into the river, barking and plunging his face into the water, no doubt trying to get the fish that swam close by. Chuckling, he stood on the opposite side of the riverbank as Jewels sat, crossing his legs and tucking his tail around his waist like a belt.

"At least Karnwyr looks like he is having a grand ol' time. Even if were nearly moneyless." Jewels laughed gently. He sent him a sideways look before he shrugged.

"I don't know. I think we have enough money to have a few days of fun as well." He heard a snort behind him.

"Oh yeah? On whose tab?" Jewels returned making him fully face him. Reaching behind him and into him quiver he pulled out a slender tube that rattled with coins. The looks on Jewels' face had been priceless. "Is that-" He nodded. "How did you?-"

"Swiped it while we were rolling around during out brawl. Cost me a punch to the face to get it, but I think he has owed us a couple drinks for a while now. I don't think he even noticed." He smiled as he tossed the bag into his brothers lap, the sounds of the coins clinking musically. He joined him, sitting beside him on the large rock, as Karnwyr got out of the water, fur dripping with a fish in his mouth. They both rolled their eyes and talked about how it was a skill that Karnwyr could be anywhere and somehow end up with food. Jewels had gotten up and chased the wolf around, laughing when the Karnwyr shook, scattering water droplets everywhere. He was glad that his brother was taking it in stride. He however, felt a sense of dread settle over him.

He just had a feeling like times were going to be worse from that point on... His eyes lifted to the sky as he mulled over the feelings that plagued the back of his mind as words of their sister rang in his mind.

'After a long cold night, the daybreak brings glimmers of warmth. The golden light from that bright light in the sky shall caress the land and ignite the birds into a chorus of melodies. This is the sign of a new day.'

He shook his head.

Fuck.

A new day...

That day marked when the oncoming years would turn out to be the worst of his life…

So long ago, yet not long enough….

"'Nother drink, handsome?" A feminine voice broke him out of his dark thoughts. And not the one he had been hoping to hear. Opening his eyes he looked up at the girl sharply. The one from before. He nearly scoffed... She might have even jumped a little.

"No thanks. I'm fine." He answered quietly as he looked around the inn. Some time had passed since ladyship had left. And by the looks of the tavern, many people that had been there had left. Shit. How long had he been lost in thought? He stood, Karnwyr getting up as well, stretching downward, then each of his back legs. Placing money on the table for his drinks, he made his way to the door, pushed it open and stepped outside. Clouds covered the sky, fog thick and heavy covering the streets. Looking at it now, it had changed a bit since he last had been here. Shit. Turning around, he walked back inside he walked to the counter of the tavern.

"Welcome to Dead Man's Drink." The older woman smiled politely at him when he called her over.

"Can you tell me how far the Jarl's Longhouse is from here?" He asked sharply only to have her look at him like he was stupid.

"It's just across the way. You can't miss it." She said carefully and his hands tightened into fists.

"How long have I been here since my companion left?" He kept his voice cool and calm.

"Couple hours. Thought you dozed off for a while, but you kept getting drinks." She said as she wiped down the counter with a rag.

FUCK.

She should have been back by now.

Giving her a tight nod, he set out of the tavern and into the streets, Karnwyr at his heels. He walked steadily towards the longhouse. The tavern woman was right. You couldn't miss it. It was larger than the last one but it's wood still looked new. He watched guards walk out of the door and made his way towards them. They watched him warily as he strided to them, their eyes going to his wolf then back to him.

"Need something?" One asked when he stopped in front of them.

"Yeah. I was wondering if the dragonborn has been by to see the Jarl." He didn't honestly care if his words were blunt, he needed answers. They looked at one another, one shook his head gently and the other lifted his hands, palms up in a 'don't know' gesture.

"We haven't heard any word of the Dragonborn seeing the Jarl." One admitted.

"Shouldn't be long now. The Jarl is anxious to meet the dragonborn." They continued on their patrol, walking side by side.

Goddammit.

She hadn't been to see the Jarl.

If she had, the guards would have been brimming with information about it. Hell, she would have taken whatever job she was called here for and come back to get him.

Shit.

So where could she have been? As he scanned the crowd in the street, he suddenly realised he could see no sign of her. He started to move amongst the families, his eyes darting more wildly with each passing second.

As he sifted through the town, his eyes were constantly on the look-out for her. He ran through the list of places she could be in his mind, checking off the ones he had already searched. By the time he was walking out of the stores he was in something of a short-temper, having turned up nothing but a few shook heads and shrugs.

"Looking for someone?" A woman asked softly making him stop mid-stride, her arms carrying a woven basket filled with vegetables. He looked the woman over. Barley middle-aged, thin body, dark hair and sad, very sad eyes.

"Yeah. A companion of mine. A woman." He walked a step to her as she thought a moment.

"Did she have her hair in a braided tail? Dressed like she came from a different land?" She asked and he felt his chest expand slightly.

"Yeah, that's her. Have you seen where she went?" He asked and for a moment he was grateful when the woman nodded.

"Saw her talking to a man in the street when I went to sell my vegetables and saw her walk towards the Hall of the Dead." Then her face went grim when she shifted the basket so she could point to his right, toward the sounds of the lumber mill. "The man she spoke too watched her as she made her way over and followed… It's a winding road out past my farm." Her tone turned fearful. "He is not a good man and runs with a dangerous crowd, so my husband says... I haven't seen her since." She said sadly.

No.

"Thanks for your help." He replied honestly and moved around her striding towards the mill.

"I hope you find her." She called behind him gently making his fists tighten as he picked up his pace.

Yeah. Me too.

Passing the farm, he could see what the woman meant. A long dirt road with a wall of rocks to his right and bushes all around. His eyes scanned the ground, the fog thick and hovering over the dirt. Twigs snapped under his boots, the only sharp sound sounding out around the hushed part of town besides Karnwyr's sniffing and the faint sounds of lumber being split.

His eyes focused hard on the ground, past the lingering mist... His hearing sharp for any approaching footsteps.

The scent of rain, woods and sawdust filled his nose and nearly missed the faint scent of blood. Karnwyr's nose barley left the ground and when he lingered and whined slightly, he found himself walking to where the wolf was, his stomach falling out slightly when he caught the faint glimmer of something by Karnwyr's nose.

Kneeling low, his throat tightened as he swallowed sharply as his fingers picked up a cold stone, smooth and dark wrapped delicately in macramé...

Serlina's.

His eyes searched the ground around them slowly, even as his heart began to pick up in its pace. His fist closed around the small stone tightly as he saw the footprints. Several, large and heavy next to smaller heeled boots. Thin trails of blood were scattered around, in all kids of directions. Her footwork was easy to spot. Her steps flowed where the others were harsh and angry until hers appeared to stumble. A single arrow lays headfirst in the dirt a few feet from him getting his attention. Walking to it he knelt down and pulled it from the dirt. Examining the head of the arrow, he didn't see anything out of the ordinary, besides it being a common steel arrow. About to put it down, he stopped when Karnwyr's nose began to sniff along the wood until it reached the head of the arrow, then he pulled his head away, letting out a sneeze. His brows furrowed as he looked between the wolf and the arrow. Karnwyr was rubbing one of his front paws along the top of his muzzle, as if he was trying to scratch an itch. Lifting the arrow closer to examine, he caught the faint scent of something other than dirt or blood. Lifting a hand, he touched the tip of his finger to the head of the arrow then lifted it to his mouth and touch it to his tongue. Immediately he pulled back and spit.

Bitter, foul. Paralysis potion. And by the way his tongue felt, a potent one. If his mouth had been open his tongue might have fallen out the side, like Karnwyr when he was breathing hard from over exerting himself. The though had him chuckle with no humor behind it. Karnwyr growled low, getting his attention again, his hackles raised at a something. Her necklace clutched in his hand, he moved with a sort of calm rage as he mentally re-enacted the fight. She was ambushed by several of them, more than five, but less than ten. Held her own, or so it looked like. At least, until the arrow hit their mark... Upon reaching Karnwyr's side, he blinked a few times at the sight.

A hand, cut a few inches past the wrist. And judging by the cut, it was harsh. The skin was torn in places, not a clean slice. Gods. Even drugged, she fought. His eyes followed the footprints, his heart picking up it's already worried pace only to drop into his stomach when he saw the thick lines dug into the earth of something being dragged. Following them, he noticed how now and again the impressions would kick out a little, like they she had put up resistance when they had pulled her. The footprints were leading to…

Thorns cave.

"Sonofa-"

It was a little foolish for him to have hoped that this wouldn't have been the outcome to their arrival here. He'd searched every corner of his mind looking for ways to avoid a rendezvous with Thorn, not only for himself, but for her as well. No... Especially her. He grinded his teeth and let out a long heavy breath. It's not like he was afraid of Thorn, Gods no. In the last ten years, he had come a long way from his bandit days where everything had started to spiral out of control again. A long way. But from the looks and sound of things, she was in trouble... And the only way he could help her was to go into the belly of the beast.

Casting a glance to Karnwyr he whistled, getting the wolfs ears to perk up and turn sharply to face him as he took off in a dead run, his wolf taking off like a shot beside him, barreling ahead of him. No doubt from the area, he knew where they were going. Even his own feet seemed to remember the best ways to get around, like old habits. He kept her footprints in sight, and yet, never slowed his angered pace. With each passing step it seemed that he grew more worried and angered that she would be hurt in his absence.

His anger and worry took a solid hit when he caught the sight of drying blood on the bark of a tree. Stopping and looking over the tree, he saw that it was a hand print. Lifting his own, he positioned it where the print seemed to have landed. The angle and height of it had him lifting his brows. Seems someone was dealt quit a blow that had them staggered a little. It looks like a large hand had to be placed on the tree so that they could catch their breath. It seems they had some difficulty with ladyship. That had him quirking a small smirk and carrying on towards the rocky terrain that was looming closer.

From the trampled greenery around the entrance to the old cave he could surmise that they came this way. Walking closer to the rocks that loomed above him, he caught sight of the door that lead deeper into the stone. The door was framed with what looked like wood, around the outside edges it had the bowed, slightly bubbly look of wood that's starting to rot at the joints. And rusty hinges. Stepping closer he noticed that the overgrown branches covered the door as if they were warning him off. He simply glanced down at Karnwyr who sniffed at the door and growled low, teeth bared and ready to lunge at some poor unsuspecting bastards throat... Ha. Seems he wasn't the only one who wanted her back badly. Pulling away the branches, he opened the door. Drawing his bow and an arrow, he had them at the ready as he walked in and was hit with a wall of odor that had him nearly gagging.

It was the musk of sex, the rot of mushrooms, the stench of dried blood and dirt. He breathed slow, allowing himself to build up a small tolerance to it as his eyes accustomed to the change of light.

Old walls are usually covered in moss and ivy around here, but not in this old abandoned hideout. Instead the old stone is just damp and crumbly. Jewels never used to dare go in here, he thought grimly as he walked on in, keeping his footsteps light and steady as he listened for anyone... But when Thorn figured out that no-one else did either, it became his top place to hide. Once you got over the scent of pure disgust, the echoing of your own footsteps and the tonnes of soil pressing down above you it was… OK, really.

There is not only no sound in the entrance room but little warmth. Save for the feel of rough rock under his boots and a small burning oil goblet.

"Ladyship! Ladyship! Are you in here?" His voice was a harsh whisper, making sure not to alert anyone who could have potentially been near by. The only rewards for this effort are the empty echo and the "joy" of hearing his own voice sounding back to him.

Reaching out to one of the stone pillars, he pulls a chain, opening up a door that lead deeper into this cesspool. The sound isn't loud, but to him and the lack of sound, it is a little jarring. Heading down the stairs he crouches low, Karnwyr doing the same. Nearing the landing, he stops cold when he hears a deep male sigh, coming from the deep stone hallway. Walking closer, he could faintly hear the mutterings of a male voice.

"…need me some skooma… the imported stuff… just one last time."

Pft. Figures.

Keeping his steps slow and steady he nears a corner and sees a white and grey leopard looking Khajiit who sniffs once and winces as he pushes the back of his hand under his nose. He shifts his body just enough for him to see the remains of dried blood. He must have gotten a good hit from the looks of him. His grip tightened on his string and arrow when the Khajiit sniffs again, this time his eyes turning to his position sharply.

"Ha! Found you! Thought I smelt something!" The feline smiled and for just a brief moment, he was reminded of Jewels. They were about the same height, Jewels had been stockier, but their colours were alike. But their eyes. The Khajiit's were bloodshot, out of focus and yellow. Must be all that skooma. It wasn't until the feline had a bow drawn and an arrow notched that he moved. An arrow flew past him and landing in the wall opposite him.

"Orcish arrows," he said aloud as he glanced over it with intrigue. "Not bad." Drawing his own, he swung back around the corner of the stone wall aimed and let the arrow loose, letting it fly through the air and land directly in the cats temple. "But mine are better." He added as the body dropped to the floor without another word. Drawing another shot, he walked down and stood by the body. He never liked killing Khajiit's.

Not since…

He let out a sigh as he walked on, leaving the arrow. The least he could do, was make it quick and as painless as possible. The hall connected to a larger room with a fire going, the smell of charred skeever growing the closer he got. The sound of swords being drawn had him chuckling to himself. Drawing the arrow tight, he caught the sight of Karnwyr letting out a vicious bark as he leapt onto one of the bandits, his teeth digging deep in any parts of flesh he could manage to get a hold on as his arrows flew around the room. Some took a few shots to stay down, others not so much. Once the room was cleared, he salvaged as many of his arrows he could then took in the room. Many doors, leading to god knows where. Pulling another arrow out he walked to one and pulled it open, only to feel his blood turn cold.

"By the Gods." He choked.

Another woman.

She was laying on her back, bare of any stich of clothing at a horrible angle that hand him wincing. Her skin, ashen white that had her blond hair be a startling contrast from the room around her... Not far from her, were patches of dried blood, so large that he feared that if he were to have flipped her over, he would fear where the damage had come from exactly. Gods... Her lips, ripped at the corners so deeply that dried blood had dripped almost to her neckline, her chin raw, as if it had been scrapped against the stone floor, along with her knees, shoulder and forehead... Turning his head, to look away, he looked at the rest of the room. No other doors besides the one he walked in from. If he didn't feel the pressing need to find Serlina, he would have done something about the women. Removed them from this place... But if they were like this… And Serlina was here...

Bowing his head in respect and quiet apology, he backed out and closed the door… His hand rested on the handle and tightened.

Thorn had become worse.

The thought was nearly unimaginable. He didn't even, as he called it back then, 'disposed of them', anymore. Unless this was his men's doing. Then they all deserved their fate. He dropped his hand and moved onto another door, his bow in his hand. He managed to find another hallway and make his way deeper into the cave when Karnwyr growled low and lunged toward a flight of stairs, making him jump a little when the sound of a small skeever screeched out. Dropping the rat-like corpse Karnwyr sniffed gently.

"Good boy." The tail wag had him cracking a smirk as they walked upwards, minding to keep their footing light and their bodies low again. Reaching the top of the stairs he caught sight of a spiked wall trap and frowned. Another step and he breathed in slowly.

Cells.

Cages.

The room was wide and down the center was a wall of rock, separating the calls from the right and left side of the walls. The table in the center had a small lamp and a few small empty potion bottles decorating the top of it. His eyes looked around, waiting for the sound of footsteps and was relieved when he saw no one. He avoided the floor trigger and started on the side closest to him, being the left.

"Dragonborn?" He harshly whispered as he neared the first cell.

Nothing.

Same thing in the second and third cell and finally he neared the fourth and final cell on the left side.

Glancing right when he cleared the corner of the stone wall, he stopped short at the sight of a woman's body, on her knees bent over forwards, limp, bruised, bloodied... Dead.

Fury burned in his veins as he turned back around, his boots making pronounced sounds on the stone. Someone get in my way, I dare you, he thought as he turned the corner and passed another empty cell and stopped short at the second.

By the looks of 'em, it appeared to be a male, resting on his knees, facing the door, with a hood over his head. Arms bound behind him and his shoulders rose up and down, unsteadily, no doubt feeling frightened at the lack of sight.

"What did I do?" Came a muffled response followed by a confused stammer. He must have heard the sound of his angry steps. "Please, whatever it is, I'm sorry!"

"What's your name?" He found himself asking.

"I, er... It's James. James Higgensland."

Doesn't ring a bell. And certainly too young to be anyone from the cliffs from years ago.

He looked at the door and with an unsure hand, lifted and pulled the door free. Unlocked. He nearly snorted. Of course. Fear and being tied up would make anyone feel helpless and not even think of simply opening the door. Pulling out his knife he got to work on the mans bound hands. His wrists were a little raw from the rope, but they would heal fine.

"You are free." He ushered quietly, cutting the ties. Immediately the mans hands went to his hood and pulled his head free. Straightening, he looked the man over. Black eye, messy hair, but otherwise okay.

"Thank you! Thank you!" The man stood up as he rubbed his wrists. "I wont tell anyone what happened here, I swear it!"

"I don't need that from you!" He snapped making the man pale. "You should tell people what happened here. Tell everyone. But for now, I have something else you can do for me, since I saved your life." He muttered and sheathed his knife again.

"Name it." James replied.

"There are women here who have been raped and died. I want you to get their remains out of here. They deserve better than to be in a place like this." He watched as James pondered that a minute.

"But... There are guards, bandits with weapons while I-"

"I've already cleared out the ones in the room downstairs." He snapped quietly and moved out of the small cell.

"I'll get right on it." James replied when he went to leave the cell. Laying a hand on the door frame to cut him short, he got James to meet his eyes.

"Be. Respectful. They have suffered enough." He warned and slowly, James nodded. His eyes looked to the stairs, lingered and for a moment he looked torn. "What is it?!" He snapped harshly, earning him an unsure glance.

"A women with short red hair... Was she...?" He trailed off as he looked at him, his eyes pleading.

"I didn't see her amongst the bodies." He noticed the relief on James' face at his words.

"If you see her..." James began softly. "I care for her... She and I... We were planning on leaving together. If you see her... Please don't hurt her."

"I wont kill anyone who doesn't try to kill me first." He muttered blatantly. Letting go of the door, he watched as James moved low and slow to the stairs, down and out of sight.

"Princess?" He glanced around another corner, passed the metal bars clear of anyone and walked on. Again, he was met with silence. "Come on ladyship, say something if you're in here!" He harshly whispered into the damp stone cells. He was about to call again when the sound of a commotion had him turning his head in the direction of the loud sounds. Following along the wall, he turned and was met with another descending set of stairs. Crouching low again, he ventured lower. Reaching the landing, he caught the slim flicker of light that shines through the opening of a door.

His breath slowed as he neared the door. As he notched his bow and peered over the doorframe to peer inside the room, he got a layout of inside. Two bandits, unfamiliar to him walking out of another door near his far left. As they neared, he began to over hear what an orc was saying while he rubbed at his shoulder, the smear of mud from what looked like a boot.

"Put up quite a fight for someone that size." The orc stated wiping his hand on his steel armour. The Breton beside him laughed with a nod as more joined from somewhere beyond his sight.

"Tell me about it. The men are taking bets to see how long it'll take the boss to break 'er." Another one said, making his eyes scan the room as he tightened his fingers on the feathers of his arrow. Red eyes glowing against dark features came into view. A dark elf.

"Should be quite the show." The Brenton said casually as he leaned against the wall farthest from him.

"Gethir lost a hand." The sound of chairs scraping along the ground followed the statement.

"Heard that. Poor bastard." A long exhale. "That girl is quite a fighter." The Breton said softly with male appreciation.

It had to be her.

Even as their words made his stomach churn, he continued to listen. They would have to bring up where they were keeping her sometime.

"Heard Bosimir dosed her twice with his special poison and she was still fighting." The orc said as he lifted his feet onto the table.

His hand gripped his bow tighter as he tilted his head to get a better view.

"She should be out like a light... Yet, she still hasn't gone under." An Argonian added walking in, tail swinging.

"She's still going in and out?" The sound of stirring was faint, but the smell of stew was slowly growing. He slowly opened the door by inches, the door not even squeaking which was a saving grace.

"Yeah. She keeps mumbling, and kicks out when someone gets close." The Argonian said stiffly, tail snapping side to side.

"I would too if your ugly mug came anywhere near me." The sound of a punch landed making a chorus of laughter ring out which soon dwindled down when a woman walked in, an imperial by the looks of her, pale white skin, black hair and an angry frown.

"I don't know why the whole gang is in a fuss about that bitch. She's nothing much to look at." The ghostly woman called out to the group.

"Don't act all fussy because the drugged girl knocked you around." The orc shot back making her turn to face him directly. Several more inches... Slowly. Steady.

"She barley got a hit on me." Her arms crossed as she paced. Once she turned around on her heel the second time, he was in the room, moving along the wall. Karnwyr held off on his lunges, thank the gods.

"She slapped you so hard you nearly spun." Another female nord added coming down from stairs to his right making more laughs sound out around them. Her green eyes moved and landed on him.

He stopped moving.

He knew by just looking at her, she knew he was there. She blinked once, twice then slowly her gaze moved to the rest of them, then flicked back to him as the laughter died down. Yet her face, said nothing. Just a strict sort of calm. He nearly stood straight to start firing arrows when he noticed her hair, cropped short but the red was hard to miss.

"Just came from her cell. Says she's up for another conversation if you are." She gestured to up the stairs with a tilt back of her head. Staying low he watched as the ghostly woman glanced around and then stomped her way, up the stairs, stopping to glare at the redhead for a second when she passed her halfway up the stairs, then continued up onward. Turning out of his line of sight he listened and after a few seconds, the sound of a door opening and slamming shut filled the room.

"What does she think she'll accomplish?" The elf asked looking up from his pot.

"Probably going to yell at that girl to try to get a rise out of her." The orc offered and some nodded their heads in agreement.

"She can barley talk." The lizard spoke up again, sounding confused.

"Elenita would still get knocked around." The other female responded and the sounds of laughter was the last thing he heard as he crept after the ghostly woman. The redhead moved on, like she would have if she hadn't really noticed him being there, but he knew his sneaking skill wasn't that high.

He had been too busy watching her to notice the candelabra behind him.

He took another step and felt something brush against his back, making him jolt in surprise when the sound of metal landed harshly on the floor with a loud bang. All sets of eyes snapped to him, the Argonian hissed, the others getting to their feet. Chuckling, he drew his bow and an arrow with a muttered;

"Goddamn it..."

The orc had gotten up and even managed to get to where he stood, but a quick sidestep, and a well-timed opening, plunged his knife to the hilt into the orcs temple. Removing it, he saw the dark blood dripping down his face, passed his throat while the rest of his large mass dropped to the stone . Drawing his bow, he moved down the stairs, keeping his target in his crosshairs, and firing a solid blow to the dark elf's chest, the shot so strong it had the elf falling backwards and landing against the stew pot, spilling half cooked food all over the stone floor.

Drawing another arrow he moved under a swing of a broadsword and thrusted the arrows head through the imperials throat, pulled it back, notched it and fired between the mans eyes, making him drop to the ground. Karnwyr lunged at another and with a pained yelp, tore flesh apart while the sound of footsteps close behind him had him drawing his knife, turning sharply allowing his free hand to grab a fistful of clothing and point the knife into the chest of a woman who gasped. Slowly, she raised her hands up, to show sign of no harm. He drew the blade away, noting how it had made passed her first layer of clothing, yet her skin was unbroken. Keeping his eyes on her, he whistled for Karnwyr, who trotted up beside him, his teeth bared. She looked between the two of them and slowly her eyes scanned the room.

"Did you kill… everyone you saw when you came down here…?" Her voice was low, but he didn't miss the slight panic in her question.

Red hair... He scoffed.

"Your asking about James." Just saying the mans name had her emerald green eyes widening.

"If you hurt him I will-" He rolled his eyes and pushed her back, letting go of her clothes.

"Save your breath, he's fine. I untied him and gave him a job to do." Her exhale came out a little shaky, but her eyes shifted from him to the door. "Go on, get out of here. My business isn't with you." He sheathed his dagger when she barrelled out of there, her footsteps echoing in the dark hallways. With a gentle shake of his head he made his way up the stairs, following the pale girls path. Opening up the door, he peered inside another long room, more cells on either side. Stepping in, he crouched low when the sound of metal on metal rang out, making him draw his bow and another arrow. Just ahead, he could see the pale woman standing in front of a cell, hand on hip, her mace on the bars.

He couldn't see inside the cell, but faintly he heard the sound of a female sigh, long and bored, then the muttering of a rich foreign language.

"Look at you. Everyone tripping over themselves because you have some fight in you. Even the boss was interested and he hasn't even set his eyes on you yet." She scowled when foreign words were spoken again. "Just you wait, the boss will break you just like any other pretty faced slut we bring in." She snorted and crossed her arms over her chest, her armour clinking. "And when he does and sets you aside, I'll be able the one to keep him busy since I am the better fit. Unless you are too scared and want to plead for your life. Not that it would work. They all do and a... I don't even know what you are, but you stink like the high elves... " She kicked the cell door when there was no response. The silence was deafening until another voice called out from inside the cell.

"Loook, as much as I appreciate our little talks, I grow booored of this one. So let me tell you something that will shake things up a bit." The voice was slurring a little. There was a pause and the sound of chains jangling. "When I get out of here, I'm going to kill you myself." He knew that tone.

Crisp. Clean. Factual.

It was her.

Though when she spoke, she seemed to drawl a little, like she was sleepy. She must still be feeling the effects of the poison. The pale woman blew out a breath and walked further down the alcove and out of sight. Pressing forward he moved to the cell and peered inside.

She sat, legs crossed in a sitting position, arms chained to the wall above her head, head bowed forward, unable to do anything but await whatever it was that she was going to receive.

"Ladyship." He called gently, and slowly, her head lulled side to side slowly.

"'m here." Her voice was strained, rough but he felt relief, so did Karnwyr who began to scratch at the bars. Moving Karnwyr aside he looked her over... Every time she so much as shifted, the chains made echoing noises that seemed to go on forever.

"Don't worry, I'll get you out of there." He said while he looked around. He heard her let out a long heavy breath, her head bowing down, like the weight of it was too much to keep up.

"Hooow?" She drawled a little weakly. "Keeys ran offf." More drawn out words. It was a mixture of alarming and amusing to hear her talk like that.

Tearing his gaze, he looked around the cell. He had been in a cell like these ones before. A long time ago, but nonetheless he had had some experience. Her cell was smaller though. If he had been inside, he could have touched both walls by barley lifting both his arms. The gate was somewhat rickety though. The lock looked easy enough, and though he didn't have any picks on hand, there was always more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak... The hinges and nails had become rusted and the gate hung at a jaunty angle, no doubt from the moisture down here. It gave the impression that one good gust of wind could finish it off. Looking closer over the hinges, he nearly smiled.

Half pins.

Turning around he spied a bench and walked over to it, picked it up and carried it over to the cell door.

"Whaat're you doin'" She mumbled as he positioned the legs of the bench in the cells door, close to the hinge and rested the lip of the seat on the ground.

"With the right amount of leverage and the proper use of strength, the door will lift free." Lifting a leg, he kicked the bench and pushed the side he was holding up, and with a screech of metal, the door did indeed lift and tilted towards him, making him drop the bench to catch it. Stepping back, he turned, throwing the heavy door aside.

"Well I'll be damned." She all but sighed, her tone sounding surprisingly pleased. He lifted a foot to step towards her and was shoved away, his boots colliding with the overturned bench, causing him to stumble to the ground. Looking up, he caught the ghostly woman standing in the doorway, her back to Serlina, her mace swinging in her hand, preparing to fully attack.

"Never should have come here!" She snarled and swung at Karnwyr, keeping him at bay as he made to chomp at her ankles. He was reaching for an arrow when everything happened, so quick that if he had blinked, he might have missed it. The sound of chains rattling caught his ear first, then a pair of legs wrapped around the woman's neck, a quick movement of changing the position and a twist, and the sound of a painful crunch resounded out around them. The woman collapsed, the boots around her head untangling from their position and dropped to the ground.

"Told ya so." Serlina chuckled as he got up and rushed into the cell. She lay at an odd angle, her arms held above her head as the rest of her body lay flat on the stone.

Stepping in, he helped her back into a sitting position, his hands cupping her face, moving her hair out of the way so he could get a good look at her. He ran a hand over her face and slowly, her eyes fluttered open. Her eyes were dull, blinking slowly as she tried to focus. Seems that last little push might have taken a lot out of her. Her eyes closed for a moment too long making him shake her.

"Ladyship, don't fall asleep on me now!" Letting go of her face he got the keys from that pale bitches body. Unlocking her hands, he heard her pained but relieved sigh when they were brought down. Chaffed to the point of bleeding, but not deeply cut. But he was more concerned about how much she was sweating. She was drenched in sweat, it soaked through her clothes, making them stick closer to her if possible. Sweat trickled down her face and off her chin. Her lips lifted into a weak happy grin, and relief cascaded down her face when their eyes met.

"Bishop." There she was. His name from her lips, had him letting out a small breath.

His relief was just as visible, he knew.

"Hey there, sweetness. Did they hurt you?" Powerful fury laced the question even if his tone was soft. His now narrowed gaze roved over her, searching for injury. Her leg was cut above her boots and her arm, the cloth stained red was obvious. The bleeding had stopped recently, that was a clear sign. There were fresh scratches on her left cheek and bruises on her hand, but other than that she looked the same. Healthy glow to her skin, hazel eyes sharpening by the second, hair a tangled mess.

Dirty and bruised, but alive.

Karnwyr nudged his way between the two of them, getting a low chuckle from them both when he tentatively licked at her scrapes.

"Hey boy. I'm okay." She comforted the wolf, her hand lifting to rub behind the wolfs ear, then lifted to his gaze.

Her eyes were only inches from his chin. Her lips, so close to his. He ached to kiss her mostly from relief. She was driving him crazy.

He gave her a half-hearted smile instead.

He wanted to kiss her, yes. He would.

But not here, not now.

Not like this.

Fuck. Not the time to be thinking like this!

He pulled back and helped her to her feet. When she wavered a little, he laid a hand on the small of her back to steady her.

"Where are your weapons?" He asked and nearly flinched when her eyes snapped to his.

"They took them to give to the boss." She said through clenched teeth as they walked through the cell halls into the wide-open room, he had just been in. "Damn." The word was breathed out on a whisper making him raise a brow. He saw her eyes widen slightly at the sight. "You continue to impress me Bishop." She admitted making him hum low in his throat.

"Live to please." They took the steps slowly, she winced now and again when she put pressure on her wounded leg.

"Where... are we?" She asked quietly.

"Thorn's cave." He moved to another door and opened it slowly, to show a bunk room, with two separate beds and large bottles on the side table between them. "Sit". He directed and helped her sit on one of the beds. Looking over the bottles, he sighed in relief as he passed the dark red bottle to her. Taking it, she pushed the cork off with her thumb and pressed the opening to her lips and drank deeply. Slowly, the scrapes on her face closed and filled, her half-lidded eyes blinked once, twice and opened fully. Leaning against the wall, he watched her regain her senses. "Once you finish that, we'll get the hell on out of here." She lowered the bottles from her lips, her cheeks puffed out slightly from the liquid inside and audibly swallowed.

"I am not leaving without my weapons." She stated, her voice sounding stronger already. He however, felt a little taken aback.

"You cant be serious! You can get new ones." He watched her face slip into something unreadable.

"They are one of a kind. If they are still in one piece, I will never replace them." Her fingernails tapped on the bottle.

"You're really not leaving this hellhole without 'em? After what they did to you?" He gestured to her dishevelled state and shook his head in irritated disbelief.

"They never got the chance too." She lifted the bottle to her mouth and swallowed the last of it, grimacing at the remnants at the bottom of the bottle no doubt.

"Then why are you covered in sweat?" He asked looking her over.

"Well, after they had the decency to drug me and bring me here, I thought it would be best to struggle most of the trip. But since they were so patient with me, I figured I should let them drag me the rest of the way. Fighting them off proved to be quite tiresome after all." She muttered and placed the bottle down on the table. His eyes narrowed at her sarcasm.

"I don't doubt that. But from what I overheard is that they left you alone for a time. Something about a poison." He mentioned and her head bobbed up and down in agreement. Her loose hair falling around her face making her blow out a breath as she pushed her hair back out of her line of sight with a hand.

"Yeah. Some type of Potent Paralysis mixture." He inwardly winced. Mixing potions was a dangerous thing to do, let alone to inflict that on someone.

"Then how are you not a drooling mess?" He asked as she stood up from the bed, stretching her arms and twisting side to side to stretch out her back.

"Remember how I told you that while I was training, they tried out different poisons on me?" She asked, the memory had him nodding tightly. "Well, both they and I, found out that I have a weird way of resisting them." His brows furrowed slightly as he stood... She tsked lightly then said "It's like… when you get sick and you get all hot and sweaty so you burn off whatever it is your body is fighting. Mine does that, but it's extracts the poison that's inside me. I just get very, very hot." She explained as they walked out of the room and went for an unopened door, the search for her weapons was on. "Does that make sense?"

"In a way, I suppose it does." He opened the door and found another flight of stairs heading deeper into the cave. "Then again, I will forever be confused as to how you managed to get lost in a town as small as Falkreath." He caught the way she stopped walking for a moment to glare at him before resuming her walk.

"Again, lands I've never been too, new town and different- well, the guy I did talk to did make me feel uneasy. So I will admit, that that's on me." They walked down the stairs, their steps careful, and hers less tepid. Wound must have healed up. Good. "I will say Bishop, that I was worried that you wouldn't..." She trailed off, having him turn to look at her at the bottom of the staircase. "-be able to get me out of that cell. I was worried you were going to struggle to pick the lock... Then what you did with that cell door… That's was quite clever of you." She finished and continued down.

"I will admit that I am not the best at lockpicking, my skills in other areas are far greater." That earned him an intrigued smirk. "But I am a very resourceful guy." Her smiled widened a little more and walked on. Following her, he smiled to himself. "You know, when you said that I would bail you out, this isn't exactly what I had in mind." He teased gently earning a snort from her. Ducking low in the hallway, he avoided some jagged rocks that hung from the ceiling.

"For the explanation alone... It got you out here, didn't it?" She tossed back making him think it over. Curiosity had started the chase. But fear had had a grip on him halfway through it. When he saw the blood and the hand at the rock wall, he was a mixture of many things... This was all new. Even if he told himself that it didn't matter.

"Sure. Among other things." He admitted and looked to the only door to his right. "But one things for sure, is that I hope there are more bandits around! I could go for some more target practice." He spoke casually, earning a small laugh from her as she pressed a hand to the door.

"I'm sure you... would." She breathed out the last word as she opened the door that lead into a wide circular room. In the center was a higher level of stone with several steps, leading to multiple men who stood in the center, all around one who was currently smiling at one in a hood. When she moved to step into the room, he held an arm in front of Serlina who looked at him at first, in irritated confusion, then as her eyes moved to the men and lingered, they filled her apprehension and understanding.

Thorn.

Leading them in, he got a good look at the man who hadn't seen in close to a decade. Bastard got big. His chest bare of any armour except for some hide shoulder straps and stone and hide gauntlets made his new muscular build hard to miss. He wore a hide kilt and hide boots, completing the ensemble. His face clear of any helmet or marks. The sound of their steps had the men around him drawing their weapons, and his gaze to slink to their approach. He watched as his eyes widened on them and filled with shock.

"Well, well. Look who decided to show his face, boys!" Thorns voice called out and his cold blue eyes slid from him to Serlina at his side. His eyes traveling up her body, down and up again, making his lips tilt upward in a smile he knew all to well. "It seems you come bearing a gift." He spoke as he tilted his head off to the side in amusement.

"So… You're Bishop's old friend." Her voice sounded steady as she walked. Her body relaxed, like she was simply walking in an open field and not a cave full of snakes. Her gaze flicking around, no doubt searching for her weapons.

"A friend?!" Thorns eyes widened in amusement and blatant shock. Seems he couldn't decipher her sarcasm. "Oh no, my little mouse. Far from it, in fact." His voice stayed soft, like he was trying to lure her in. She however, kept her distance and her eyes on the men on the other side of the wide room. At the word mouse she had paused in her step, her eyes glaring at him for a moment before she continued on.

"You've got it all wrong Thorn. She's not a mouse." He sent her a sideways glance. Briefly their eyes met and held, then his locked back onto Thorn and his goons. "I'd say she much more than that." Thorn's expression turned to one of doubt.

"Isn't she?" Thorn asked looking from her to him again. "She is a woman, Bishop. Women are soft and delicate- that's the purpose they serve. And this little mouse here will serve hers. On my furs tonight. Whether she likes it or not."

Serlina paused mid-step again and he almost snorted a laugh. If he didn't know any better, he could have sworn that Serlina's head tilted to the side, a brow raised to her hairline. To the unsuspecting observer, it would look like she was tilting her head out of curiosity. However, she seemed to do this in a silent way of saying: 'The-fuck-did-you-just-say?' Looking back to Thorn he kept his face neutral.

"I see your powers of observation haven't changed, Thorn. Still can't see past your own image, can you?" He asked and got a mocking laugh from Thorn.

"Well it was my own image that defeated you, was it not?" Thorn returned, his gaze slinking to Serlina who paused in her walking. He didn't take his eyes off the bandits but he did want theirs off the women a few feet from them. Thorn's eyes met his again. "You claim to be of the best out there, but truth is, you're a pathetic, scared little rodent; not unlike your company here." His eyes moved to her again, lingered, then met his again. "Anyone could see that."

He scoffed softly. She sure as shit wasn't scared. But then again, he wasn't feeling that either. The more he looked and watched her, with his morbid sense of power, he wanted to strangle the fucker.

"Anyone as vain as you." That earned him more mocking laughs.

"That, from the man who cares about no one but himself." He clenched his teeth as Thorn smugly delivered the verbal jab. He was wrong. He was wrong and he knew it. He found himself glaring at him, mentally stabbing him to ease his mind. Before he could add anything, Thorn snapped his fingers sharply, getting his men and Serlina's attention. "Very well, lets take a closer look to our little mouse here." The man around him smiled and stepped towards her. He was drawing his bow and arrow when she took a fighting stance.

"Don't you touch me!" Serlina called out in warning and when they got too close, she took a small breath and called out one word;

"FUS!"

The two men were blown backwards slamming into the wall, the sound of flesh on rock made some of the others wince, some in shock... Thorn however, looked like a man who just found a hot meal after going weeks without eating.

"Oh ho ho, what have we here." The chuckle that rose from his throat was sinister. Menacing. "The almighty Dragonborn. Now this-." Thorn's gaze flew back to his own with a glimmer of malicious glee in them. "-this is certainly a peace offering, Bishop." His words had his grip tighten on his bow.

His head.

On the floor.

Slow cut.

Definitely.

"The stories of how I conquered the Dragonborn will be told for ages to come." Nope, he thought. To quick. "And then, once I am finally done with her, I will bring her in and claim the price on her head and the gold will have me-" Thorn glanced sideways at his men for a brief second, "-us, set for life." He corrected smoothly. The men moved closer, recovered from her shouting, slowly like caging a wild animal. Her body shifting into a stance for a bareknuckle brawl. Shit There were to many and she was still weaponless. She needed her weapons. Or any weapon at this point. She could grab something if he stalled just long enough for her to reach the weapons table.

Think, think, think! Fast. Something… Anything!

"Is that so?" He spoke evenly, even adding a curiosity to his voice causing Thorn to look back at him. His blue eyes watched him as he made his own expression of curiosity. Soon, Thorn was sending him a welcoming smile that made his stomach turn again. He straightened slowly, glancing to Serlina, her eyes widened slightly in alarm, no doubt at his blasé expression.

"It is. I should thank you for presenting her to me." Thorn smiled warmly.

I am going to break every bone in your body.

He shrugged

"And what do I get for this?" He asked, faking curiosity. He waited for the loud upraised voice, the accusations, the screaming or even the sound of a sharp inhale of breath... Nothing. His eyes locked on her, face lacking in any emotion. Not even panic. Serlina just looked between the two of them, her brows meeting in the middle, in a sign of anger and confusion and then, turned on her heel and walked directly behind them, and out of his sight.

Shit. Where did she-

Thorn let out a humored chuckle as he looked at his men who shrugged merrily.

"Oh...-" Thorn drawled as he thought about his fake inquisition. "Perhaps I will let you have some fun with her as well. After me and my boys are done, of course." He felt like he was going to be sick, even if this was an act. Just the thought of them laying their hand on her, let alone... His teeth clenched.

"You wish Thorn!" He snapped as he notched his arrow on it's string as his eyes narrowed on Thorn's face. Thorn's gaze lowered to where his bow was and his expression shifted into pure displeasure.

"Would that be wise, I wonder. You do remember what happened the last time we spoke."

Oh did he.

"You don't want to fight me, Thorn. It's been years since our last meeting. We fought to a draw that time, but I've learned a lot since then." He lifted one shoulder then dropped it in a tight one-armed shrug as a thought crossed his mind. "On the other hand you've probably stayed hidden in the forest all these years, being the brave warrior you are, fighting bunny rabbits and squirrels." He mocked as the sound of something closing had his ears perking up. Karnwyr growled low and stalked around the group as Serlina walked back into his line of sight, her weapons back on her body. Her two swords drawn and her larger one resting in the middle of her back.

"Funny you should mock me, Bishop. You know full well how easy it would be for me to simply skin you alive." His blue eyes lowered to where his dagger resided on his hips, a smile slowly spread across his face that make his skin itch. "With your own hunting knife, no less." He could feel the phantom pain from the scar under his eye.

His eyes moves around, counting as Serlina walked back to his side, Karnwyr between the two of them.

"Lets see, six to two?" He caught Serlina's sharp nod, and was shocked that she didn't turn on him, since he acted like he would have set her up only moments ago. It shook something in him as her eyes left his to land on Thorn's as she gave a gentle practice swing with her swords. "Yah, I like those odds." The sounds of weapons drawn had Karnwyr's hackles raised, saliva dripping from his bared fangs. "I should warn you though, if we're doing this, I'm going to carve my name into that face of yours. That outta tear the heart right out of you, huh?" He provoked and saw something flash in Thorns eyes.

"Go ahead and try it!" Thorn snapped, eyes bulging in anger, fists clenched. He got the reaction he wanted. He let out a small dry laugh.

"So, if you are welcoming death today, the Dragonborn and I will accommodate you." He heard a small sharp inhale from her as she took a small step sideways towards him.

"The Khajiit in the back." She said low but quickly.

"What about him?" He responded matching her pitch as Thorn and his men readied their weapons.

"He's the one who poisoned me. He's mine." The thought of someone hurting her made his blood boil, but the way she looked as she readied for the fight, he knew that she would give that cat him what he deserved. He wasn't going to get in the middle of that.

"Kill Bishop, if you must." Thorn states and held up a hand to stop his men when they started to move, he braced and readied. "I want the Dragonborn alive." His eyes moved over her and he smiled maliciously. "Oh the fun we will have together."

The men behind Thorn rushed in all directions, allowing him to quickly draw an arrow and fire it into the thigh of one of the bandits who yelled in pain and clutch his leg. It was a simply wound, but one that could kill him at the rate he was bleeding. His pain was short lived when Serlina ran her blade through the bandits chest, making him drop to the ground. Karnwyr finished him off with his teeth sinking into his throat.

One down.

Thorn strides towards him, shaking out his arms, his stone gauntlets jutting out from his knuckles. He glanced to them briefly and scoffed. So, he wanted this to be a fistfight huh? He leaned backwards, quickly avoiding a deadly swing of an axe from the Khajiit, only to be stopped short by Serlina who yelled out a battle cry, jumping in the mans back, driving her weapons handle into the top of his head, making him loose balance. He watched in what seemed like time slowing down, as her legs twined around the cats neck, then she quickly threw the rest of her body weight backwards and with her momentum, spun them until the axe wielder was a mess of tangled feet and falling face first on the stone floor before running her blade across the back of his neck, slicing the head clean from him shoulders as she rolled away. She stood and let out a slow breath then returned to the fight.

Two down.

Admiration for her nimbleness set aside, he focused back on Thorn who was a pace or two away now. He caught the way Thorn watched her and felt his teeth grind when Thorn licked his lips.

"If you wanna get to her, you gotta get through me." He stated drawing Thorns gaze back to him and received a scowl. "Let's finish this!" He called out as Thorn reared back and threw the first punch. He may have gotten big, but his movements seemed slower. He sidestepped the blow that was intended for him, nearly laugh when his punch landed directly on one of his bandit pals' ribs. Moving quickly he grabbed an arrow from his quiver and plunged the head of it through the winded bandits temple, killing him instantly.

Three down.

Letting go of the arrow he then went to grab the arm that had flown passed him, locked it in-between his arm and ribs, he lifted other arm high as he brought his elbow along Thorns arm until it reached his face and a solid crunch had him feeling better... The blow to Thorns mouth had his head reeling backwards, but he still held onto the bastards arm. Thorn swung blindly with his unclamped arm , nicking his hip, making him wince. Twisting a little, he lifted his arm up again, this time bringing his arm over his head, he lifted and brought his elbow back down sharply at the junction of Thorn's elbow, making it snap outward. Thorn's pained cry had another bandit running to his aid making him let go and pull his knife out, flipped the blade so the bottom of the hilt was firmly under his thumb and blade was pointed downward towards his elbow.

Ready to strike out, he brought his arm up to swing only was stopped short when the sound of a weapon being thrown and landing square in the bandits back, having him fall at his feet, an axe deeply embedded in his spine. Looking up, he caught Serlina's smirk whereas he rolled his eyes and sent her a look that exasperatedly said; 'I-could-have-gotten-that'. She simply shrugged and went back to the battle at hand.

Four, he counted mentally as Thorn sent him death glares as he tried to fix his arm. But he knew from the blow... The bone was shattered, bent in a disgusting way. He looked away to see a bandit who was rushing Serlina, casting spells of ice that had her dropping to the stone floor, rolling away and missing the icicles one by one.

Pulling another arrow, he grabbed his bow, aimed, then pointed downward and loosed the arrow. It sailed through the short space and sank deep into the bandits foot, his magic stopped while he cried out in alarmed pain. He looked at his foot in rage, then himself and pointed his hand at him, sending ice shards his way, having him to roll out of the line of fire. He just finished righting himself and watched as Serlina was defending a series of swings from a hooded bandit, dressed more like an assassin from the clothes he was wearing. Her face calm and collected, even as her footsteps retreated, glancing backwards, he notice the bandit that he had pinned in the foot was leaning over, no doubt to try and remove the arrow. She deflected a larger attack, and flipped backwards over the one who was leaned over, her landing a little stiff when she came back up. The bandit-mage stood up to see what had rolled over him only to get a sword to slice midway through his torso. He didn't even get a chance to call out or scream.

The other bandit was pulling his blades back, in one slash from his sword the mages abdomen opened up, his intestines spewing onto the floor in pinkish brown coils that had Serlina look like she was ready to be sick. The mage crumpled to the ground while Karnwyr went after the sword wielders throat. He took him to the ground, and with a few vicious jerks of his canine teeth, the sword dropped to the stone with a metal clatter.

Five and Six. That just left-.

Drawing another arrow he felt something akin to panic when he heard the sound of Serlina getting hit. Spinning until his gaze landed on them, he breathed in deeply, the feeling burning his lungs. Thorn had recovered and managed to throw a punch at Serlina with his still viable arm. She was bent at the waist , her hand clutching her stomach, her eyes squeezed shut in pain. Her chest wasn't moving, like air wasn't able to get to her lungs. The bastard looked at her with a wicked pleasure that had his blood boil.

"Oh, little mouse, did that hurt? Good." Thorn said menacingly. He watched as her eyes opened, her expression a dark one as she moved backwards a step, tucked into herself and rolled between the opening of his legs. Thorn turned sharply, following her and regretted the movement. Serlina had enough time to raise a leg and drop kick him between the legs. Thorn let out a harsh breath and he bent over, coughing harshly.

"Nice hit." He called as he stepped over to her side. She sent him a glance, lifted a single shoulder then dropped it, arm rubbing soothingly at her stomach "Were you intentionally aiming for his-"

"Well, no." She admitted with a grimace. "He winded me, thought I should return the favour." Her tone was amused, even if her one of her eyes twitched in pain now and again when she breathed. "But he is a great deal taller than I am. So it kinda worked out." He, against all odds, cracked a small smile that dropped quickly when Thorn tried to make a grab for her. His fist shot out and landed squarely on his eye. The force of it spilt his brow, blood trickled down his face.

"Well if we're returning favours-" He pulled his dagger out. "-I have one for him." Blue eyes snapped up to his as he made a clean slice on a downward angle. From his hairline to his chin, his skin parted, causing Thorn to shout in pain and rage as he lifted a hand to his face. Serlina looked to him, and moved backwards when he jerked his head to get her to move back.

A second ticked by. Another. Soon, Thorns hand dropped and he was glaring at him. Standing, they strided towards eachother, arms cocked back and snapping forward. He managed to stop one of Thorn's punches, but Thorn, with a pained grunt, swung his other arm, catching his jaw, sending pain ricocheting through his mouth as his head snapped to the side. Righting his position, he spit blood and could have sworn one or three of his teeth were rattling. The bastard tried to plow into his stomach, keeping his injured arm farthest away as he charged. Agilely he leaped sideways, having one of his boots catch the stone and loosing his footing for a second. Thorn was breathing heavy, looking over his shoulder, and glaring at him.

"It's over Thorn." He called and took a step towards him. Stopping short when Thorn's eyes landed on Serlina who was going over each of the fallen bandits. His face. Split nearly in two, looked at her with a wild panic that had his hands reaching for another arrow. "Don't even think about it, Thorn."

"Want her all to yourself, do you?" Thorn spit at him and chuckled darkly as blood dripped down his face. "I understand that feeling." Thorn's words echoed deep within him, dragging the past back to the front of his mind. He drew and arrow and notched it on his bowstring.

"The last thing you should be thinking about is what I want." He muttered and took a sharp breath when Thorn bolted to Serlina. He drew back and shot, his arrow missing by a breath. He had another pulled, notched and drawn back when Thorn had her in front of his body, his arm clutching her diagonally, his forearm between her breasts, as he pulled her tightly to his chest, making her gasp and drop her swords with a clear metallic ring. Her eyes were wide, no doubt her mind catching up to what just happened in the last few seconds as her hands went to his large arms... The next she was flailing. Her fingers digging into the bastards arm, her legs kicking as she twisted her body in every way she could. Thorn smiled in pleasure as she moved, in a way that had him stepping forward.

"Ladyship stop moving!" He called out making her eyes widen and slowly, her body went still. He could get a shot in. He just needed a little more space between them.

"Oh little mouse. What a battle you will make for me... I will enjoy hearing you scream." Thorn leaned closer to her and audibly sniffed at her neck. She jerked her head away as he felt his muscles lock down on his bones in rage.

"Thorn!" He barked, drawing the arrow back so far, his bow string whined. Karnwyr was prowling behind him, teeth bared. Thorn lifted his hand and grabbed her throat, lifting her off her feet. She was a head or two shorter than him, and probably weighed little to him and his bulky size, when he notice the wolf stalking him.

"Call off your mutt, Bishop and lower your bow. Or I'll snap her neck like a twig." He flexed his fingers for good measure, causing her to wince. His jaw clenched as he whistled for Karnwyr who slowly trotted over to his side. The bow was harder to do. Fingers tightening on the handle, he lowered, the string sighing with relief. Serlina's expression was one of alarm, even as her fingers pulled at Thorn's arm to get more air.

"Let... go of me... you-!" She gasped when his fingers tightened and her foreign language croaked out, her words sounding harsh that ended on a harsh gasp when his fingers tightened.

"Now now my little mouse. It will all be over soon." Thorn spoke in her ear, loud and clear for him to hear. Serlina's eyes tightened and turned her head away, her hair sticking to his wounded face.

That was all he needed.

Turns out, Thorn had been right about one thing; it was going to be over soon.

In the next breath, he redrew the arrow, aimed and fired, causing it to sail through the space between them and sink deep into the bastards eye socket. Thorn's body slumped to the floor like some ungainly life-sized doll. Blood had sprayed out on the side of her face and with a harsh gasp, she dropped to the floor with Thorn, hand to her throat as she gasped full breaths. his bow he raced over and bent down to her.

"Ladyship!" His hands found her shoulders as her breathing evened out. "Are you alright? I didn't graze you, did I?" It had been a close shot, even for him. She swallowed as her hand massaged her throat.

"No, I'm fine. Nice shot, ranger." He helped her to her feet, feeling the tightness in his chest he didn't know had settled there loosen. He walked up the bloody mess on the floor that had been his adversary. He was now as revolting as he should be, finally the outside reflects the man within.

The arrow had entered through the eye socket and shot with such force it exploded from the back of his skull and splattered on the stone wall behind them. The remaining eye remained open, staring blankly at the ceiling. Face split in half, one eye missing, blood pooling around him... The bastard who prayed on the weak, who tracked down hard working families who do no more than deliver people what they really want, lies foul in his own fluids.

He sent her a glance as she bent down to pick up her sword, cleaning it and sheathing it as her eyes roaming around the room, lingering on the bodies on the floor. She sighed and crouched down and scratched Karnwyr's jaw, then let him go about the room, sniffing and moving around with bland curiosity.

'She's safe'. He thought and felt a great deal of relief.

His gaze settled on Thorn again. 'The victory is mine'.

His eyes went back to Serlina who went back to searching the bodies. She picked up a red bottle from the Khajiit and then turned to him, pocketing it and sent him a small smirk.

'Ours.' He thought and silently lead them towards the exit.

As they walked out of the cave, he was walking ahead when he heard her shocked gasp. Turning sharply, his heart picking up it's pace again as his hands went to his bow and arrow only to see her staring at a naked woman's body that was bent forward on a table, arms tied to one of the wooden legs. He walked to her side and saw that she had closed her eyes tightly again.

"While I was chained up... I had overheard the men laughing while the sound of a woman crying out in pain echoed in the halls." She sounded like she was going to be sick.

"Hear anything else?" He found himself asking as he maneuvered her so that they continued to the exit. She shook her head 'no' and her head lingered over her shoulder as they passed more cells.

"I didn't hear much. I was kept away from everyone else. I didn't see much either. It's all a… blur..." She stopped when she saw the glowing blue ashes in a cell. "I would stay awake long enough to keep them off me... But I don't even remember getting here. Well… Kind of... I remember tripping and getting up only to dragged again." He watched as her hands folded together. They passed a goblet of fire and caught a quick sight of her fingers. How had he missed them? Her hands were stained from the dark soil found near the mountain. She had clawed at the ground enough too-

Was she… Trembling?

He found himself tentatively wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they walked and was relieved when she leaned into him as they walked up a flight of stairs. Her eyes stayed low on the stone.

He was going to ask her a question when the sound of voices had him moving her behind him and stepped ahead.

"What're-?" He cut her off with a gentle hush.

"I hear footsteps. Stay close to me." He pulled his bow out again and drew an arrow slowly. He pressed his body to the stone wall, the sound of voices growing just beyond. Notching the arrow, he drew back the string and turned the corner only to be greeted by a frightened female scream from a blur of red.

"Don't shoot!" He felt Serlina's hand gently grab onto his arm, pointing his shot to the stone floor. He heard the growl of his wolf beside him, getting the redhead to back away.

"You said you would get out." The redhead said carefully, hand pressed to her chest, her eyes on Serlina with a sad softness to them. "Just no one has ever gotten out so quickly." Serlina shrugged and stepped around him.

"I had help." Serlina replied softly, her face looking miles away as she gestured to Bishop and kept towards the door. Since she wasn't sticking around, he wouldn't either. He put away his weapon and followed her lead. The door open and in walked another familiar face. This time he held Serlina back, her hand on her sword and exposing a hint of metal.

"It's fine, princess." He soothed, and felt her body release it's tension. Gods. Her nerves must be shot to shit like his own. She looked between the two of them and nodded, sliding her sword back into it's sheath all the way. James, the other prisoner in the cells. He looked like he was covered in dirt now, his face and hair covered in granules of soil.

James looked at Serlina as she walked outside, Karnwyr at her side.

"She was the newest one they had brought in... I wondered why she went deeper into the cave... I see why now." He murmured and looked back to him. "Thank you for not hurting Ilia." He said with too much emotion that he felt comfortable with.

"Whatever. Why are you-?" He trailed off as James looked at his attire and scoffed, dusting himself off.

"I am keeping my promise. But one of my friends had... He's dead. He had no family so I buried him." James admitted as Ilia, the redhead, walked to his side and wrapped her arms around him, in comfort.

"Well... Good luck for you." He said stiffly and walked through the wooden door, breathing in the clean air, free from any musty odor.

She hadn't gone far, she stood on the road just down the hill. Walking to her he saw that one of her hands were lingering on her throat, her brows furrowed.

"Hey..." He called as he gently tapped her arm, getting her eyes to lift to his. "We should get going. Especially if you want to talk to that lord or whatever still. That is, if you want to." He reminded her and heard her huff out a breath through her nose.

"Feels like days ago... Weird huh?" She asked as she gestured for him to lead the way. "I don't know which way we need to go." She said softly, the sound of her voice had him feeling torn again. It wasn't like her to sound so unsure. Nodding tightly he lead the way.

Silence.

It was so thick around them you could cut it.

As Karnwyr got to his side, he felt the feeling of Thorn being dead settle in his mind. He didn't have to concern himself with places to go anymore for apprehension of his followers getting the chance to gang up on him. Tension that had been with him for years eased slightly. He was absorbing the feeling when Serlina broke the silence.

"Bishop,-" He sent a look over his shoulder to look at her. "-regarding Thorn…" She spoke evenly, making him stop walking and face her directly, his eyes settled on the cave behind them though.

"That son of a bitch got what he deserved. Had it coming for a long time." His lingering thoughts escaped his mouth as his eyes moved from the winding road to her, and his next thought was thrown to the wind by her expression. Her face was a mixture of caution, anger and... sadness? "Hey... What's with that look?" Her brows slowly furrowed, her eyes looking to him with apprehension but the tightness in her mouth remained. Reaching out, he tentatively took hold of her arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You alright?" He asked gently. She gently pulled her arm from him and met his gaze, her eyes greener then their usual light brown.

"Oh, I'm just peachy! Especially after hearing you say that you'd hand me over." Her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes wary and her back straightened.

Oh.

"Yeah..." He drawled and rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. "About that." So she had simply waited out for a time when they weren't trying to be killed by the scum of the earth.

"You didn't… really mean that, did you?" She asked slowly. He felt the sting of her tone more than her words.

"Of course not!" His reply was immediate, and she huffed a mocking laugh.

"Are you sure? Because if you really consider me that valuable, we should go to Belethor's store then." Her smart remark had his back stiffen slightly as he backed up a step, looking at her with one of angered shock.

"What, you really have so little faith in me that you think I would do something like that?" He asked, half not wanting to know the answer and the other did. She shrugged coldly.

"Gee, I don't know,-" She snapped back with a sharp shrug. "-maybe because you asked what you'd get out of it?" She reminded him, and he sighed harshly at his own words.

"Look, just forget I even said anything. Lets find a tavern, I need a drink." He said stiffly and moved to continue walking, only to have her be a pace behind him.

"Oh yes... I recall that you had spontaneously decided to sell me for a hefty price so you can drink till you drop, eh?"

He spun around to face her as he brought his hands up and clenched them into fists out of frustration then dropped them.

"Are you even listening to what I'm saying? I wouldn't do that, especially not to you."

"Then what in Oblivion were you thinking, you jackass?" She asked and he felt his temper snap a bit.

"I was buying us time, woman! Playing along to lower his guard." He exasperatedly explained. He pointed back to Thorn's cave and added; "We were outnumbered if you hadn't noticed." He dropped his arm back to his side. "I needed to think of something to keep us from getting killed!"

Keep you from getting hurt...

She rolled her eyes, scoffed and shifted her weight on her feet. The whole action giving her a look of irritated boredom and, albeit stingingly, disbelief. He had to take a deep breath and it came out in a heavy sigh.

"Look, I would never just… hand you over to someone like that. Or anyone for that matter." He added sharply meaning every word. The caution left her eyes and a softness slowly came back. Realizing what he said, he had to take a quick breath to calm the ride of emotions that he felt at just the thought of Thorn, his men or, well fuck, any man touching her besides him… He mentally shook the thought away. They were simply to deep and muddling to sift through at this point in time. Letting out a slow breath he met her gaze. "I might be a lot of things, ladyship, but even I have standards!" This was getting too personal he realized and stepped back, nearly turning to walk away only to stop as a thought coming to his mind that had him growing angry and going back to her. "And in case you haven't noticed, I didn't betray you." He pointed out a bit harshly. She didn't flinch when he raised his voice though. That was a good improvement. "You clearly don't know me at all if you honestly believe I would let anything happen to someone as important to me as you."

The words left his mouth so easily that he was almost as shocked as her. But the way his words must have sunk in… Her eyes which had slid downwards and off to the side snapped to his, wide and shining. Shock, curiosity and a warmth in them that had his chest hurt. He looked away, feeling irritated at how he left both with himself and her, with her big beautiful wide eyes that just a minute ago was looking at him with angered caution.

"I'm far from the guy you think I am!" His irritation from many factors was coming into his voice making him sound a little angry, even to his own ears.

Whelp. So much for backing up from making things personal. He mentally beat himself as he stepped away and ran a hand through his hair, letting the feelings rip at his insides.

She was driving him insane. She gets captured, he finds her, saves her, not once, but twice, and then, she accuses him of playing a hand of backstabbing her! Unbelievable!

He found himself stalking back to the city with an irritation that was steadily rising to frustrating. He felt a hand grab his arm, stopping him from his fast pace and making him turn around sharply to look into eyes that nearly had him groaning. The green was fading, the hazel coming back again.

"Bishop, wait!" He stopped and faced her was his mask in place. She let out a small breath and looked at him squarely in the eye. "Of course, your right. I shouldn't have doubted you." She said gently as she released her tight grip on his sleeve. "I'm sorry." Her eyes were clear and locked on his. Her apology had his irritation leaving his mind, his body faster than any drink he could have had. He found the corner of his lips quirking upwards in a small smirk.

"We make a pretty good team though!" He admitted going for a lighter topic of conversation. "I didn't think you'd give me that sort of trust. Some would say that's either very brave or very foolish of you..." He half joked as he stepped closer. She wasn't trembling as much anymore. That was a relief. Looking over her face he looked downward to her throat, bare and unmarked. No bruising either. Another good thing. He didn't know what he would do if he saw a bruise adorning her lovely neck in the shape of Thorn's hand. His hand lifted and moved a stray strand of hair out of her face, lingering for a second or two longer than necessary. "Maybe one day you'll see it was worth it, princess." He stepped back with a clearing of his throat as his hands patted down his pockets. "That reminds me,-" He felt what he was looking for and pulled it out of one of his pouches. "-Karnwyr and I found this when we were looking for you." He held out his hand and, in his palm, rested her stone pendant. Her eyes lowered from his to his hand, widening as her breath caught. "Thought you might want it back." He watched her hand lift to take it, shaking with unshed emotions as she lifted the string so the stone spun delicately round and round.

"I thought they had it on them. In the cave." She brought the cords to wrap around her neck, and tied it firmly in place. Her eyes lifted to the clouded sky and blinked a few times before meeting his gaze again. Her eyes held a glaze of unshed tears. "When I didn't find it, I was worried they had sold it or something… I was lost in that thought when Thorn grabbed me…" She took a steadying breath and for a moment, looked torn. "Thank you." Her arms wrapped around him, pulling him to her as she squeezed tightly. It was such a quick movement that he had a second to comprehend it before he found his arms twining around her smaller body. Even underneath the faint scent of sweat and earth, her hair still smelled like something sweet. It was soothing in a way for him. Breathing deeply he returned the tight embrace and let go of her slowly.

They walked back into Falkreath, this time with him leading the way to the Jarls house while she fiddled with the stone.

The Jarl looked young but held an arrogance about him that kept his nose in the air. He never liked noble, and this stuck up pain in the ass was just the same. Serlina pulled the paper from her pouch and presented it to him. The young Jarls eyes widened in shock then lowered in amused male appreciation.

"I got your letter." She stated as handed it to him. He took it from her fingers, balled it up and threw it away into the fire a few feet from him, settling back into his throne.

"Ah, it's you. Yes, well, now we'll see if the stories about you are true." He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. And yet, they themselves hadn't heard anything. "There's a group of bandits in my Hold that I... may have had a few discreet dealings with. The cut they were giving me was good at first, but now it's time to clean things up. Go and take care of it." The jarl flicked his fingers in a 'shooing' motion, and that had her back straightening. She stepped closer, as her hand lifted to her temple, rubbing a headache that she could feel was brewing there.

"Let me get something straight." Her hand dropped to her hip. " You called me here to go sort out a bandit problem, one that you yourself caused because you wanted whatever it is your getting a cut of, by any means necessary." The jarl, looking more and more insulted at her rising tone, nodded in agreement. "You called me here, because you couldn't have simply said 'no' to the idea to start with because in the long run, it wouldn't benefit your people, just you. And because you had, you didn't think to get off your ass and sort it out yourself sooner."

"You will go take care of them." The jarl thumped a hand down on his armrest. "I am a jarl, and I command you to do this!" She scoffed at him.

"I am Dragonborn. Not a thug for hire! And I shall do as I please!" Who was this woman? Her voice boomed out, louder than normal. Good grief she was gorgeous...

"While you are in my land, you will do as I say."

"Then we shall leave immediately of our own choosing." She stated.

"You will not! I demand that you-" She cut him of with a steady;

"You have no command over me Jarl... My companion and I have cleared out several bandits from outside your town, so don't say we didn't give you any help. But no. Instead, you make me, come all the way here, when I have much bigger things to do than to clean up your mess, was a waste of my time!" She turned on her heel, and stalked towards the door. "Good luck with your bandit problem." She chimed as they walked out the door.

"You need a drink, I want a bath, and I need to sleep." She said as they walked up the steps to the inn. They were welcomed by the same girl who had tried to flirt her way into his lap. Serlina got her attention and asked for a bath to be run for her. The girl pouted and off she went to go about the task as Serlina placed an order at the bar and retired early that night. He did himself. It was a busy day.

The next morning, the forest for some reason, felt more open and breathable. What a day could do to change how you simply walk in the woods in familiar territory. Thorn was dead, no longer able to pray on women like Serlina who was throwing morsels of food for Karnwyr to chase.

"I already know". Serlina called from ahead of him getting his attention. Raising a brow in question when she turned, she looked back at him and smiled. "That it's worth it."

It took him a minute to recall what she saying but once the words clicked into place, he felt warmth spread rise in his face a little and linger near his ears. She went back to walking through the woods to get back to Delphine, who no doubt by now, she was back at the Sleeping Giant inn. If she wasn't, she could have been dead. If that was the case, he and his princess where going to have a long talk about what was going on between them. He nearly scoffed at the idea of an old bat like Delphine dying from a journey back to the inn. Then again…

A man could only hope.

AN:

Hello everyone,

Apologies' for taking a little longer to get this chapter out, I had Thanksgiving, then family stuff and work keeps me busy so I have to say writing this chapter proved to be difficult for a multitude of reasons...

I know that some of the subjects in here are not always well received and I understand that rape and assault are NOT something to be glorified or applauded. I did my best to get the point across without becoming overly graphic. Or at least I hope so.

This chapter was a MAJOR deal for me and I truly hope you guys will send me messages/reviews telling me how I did or if I could improve or if I should hold back some things.

I want to thank all of you for following me on this story, and I hope you guys will continue to do so. So, until next time;

Keep romancing!

-IMME.