He let her muddle through whatever made her shift into a downbeat state. He didn't want to pry but something did pull at his chest when he looked her way. He wanted her laughing again, wanted to help take her mind off. So, what did he say?

Let's take a walk.

He mentally hit himself. A walk?! He could think of 5 other things, off the top of his head, right now that they could be doing to get ride of her excess energy instead of walking. Like... He looked sideways at her and thought back to their last kiss... No. Too soon. He scowled and tore his eyes away. If he thought about it, his mind would cut off halfway through a single thought and start on another, contradicting one another. She had stopped them from- but she had pulled him close, so did she- was it because of Thorn?

Fuck.

"What are you thinking about over there ranger? I can almost see smoke coming out your ears." Her voice was teasing, relieving him of his passing concern.

"I'm thinking about the kiss in Riverwood." No point in being blunt about it, he figured as her watched her eyes widen and her brows lift in surprise or shock. It didn't matter which, he was tired of skirting the issue. She shook her head, her braided tail flicking with the motion. He enjoyed the way her hair followed the line of her back as she walked... He recalled how she fussed with it after he had it in his hands, how he had used it to pull her head back, felt her pleasured hum run through his blood like lava... It had loosened then, like it was now but not as much. He wanted to do more than loosen it. He wanted it loose and falling like a lush curtain around them as she rode him. Hard.

"In what aspect?" She asked dragging him away from his thoughts, thankful. He had been growing hard just at the thought of it. He weighed the proper way to go about asking without letting out the fear and disgust that had settled in both his mind and his stomach.

"Just curious as to why you backed off before I could-" He trailed off, searching for the right word to use.

"Escalate?" She finished for him.

"Sure." He watched her stop in her loose stride and faced him directly.

"I'm not… impulsive, Bishop. I'm not one for doing things that are rash or ill thought out." She explained

"Sometimes it worth it. And you wouldn't be impulsive or rash, by yourself. You could and can, share that experience with me."

She put her hands on her hips, her gaze was direct. "I don't share myself with a man just because there's… heat."

"I'm not any man." He took a small step towards her and, with an inward smile, watched her cheeks bloom with just a little pink that had him almost smiling down at her.

"That's not the point." She muttered; her eyes never strayed from him.

There was the spark and the spine.

"Okay." He pressed his lips together. "What would help?" He asked and smiled at her raised brow.

"In making rash decisions? Logic." She smiled when he leaned his head back and let out a laugh.

"No, but that works too. Humor me." He lifted his hands, palm up in a gesture of offering.

"Conversation helps."

"We talk." He pointed out and got a small frown from her. "You can't say we have spent this whole time together in silence." He pointed out and got a nod back.

"Not completely in silence, no. But not much about one another. I feel like I know you so little. And yet I was underneath you like a-" She raked her fingers over her hair as she huffed a breath, genuinely looking irritated.

Oh, he remembered. He kept his face blank even when the muscles in his back remembered her fingers digging in for purchase. Wanted them on his skin. Wanted her fingers to claw him, mark him the way he had her throat with his teeth.

"If you think about it, I'm sure you know things about me that no one else would know." Or care for, but he kept that thought to himself.

"Be that as it may..." She bit down on the corner of bottom lip, puffing out the rest of her lip to the side slightly again. "I have shared with you plenty about me. Your turn." She looked a little hopeful. It was those big damn doe eyes. It ate at him a little.

"Alright. Through no choice of my own, I will tell you about me." He paused, the teasing tone he used had her grinning a little, then gathering his thoughts he contemplated what bits of his past should he give her? "All right." He thought a moment before his mind wandered to the Blue Palace and thought back several years. "I told you that receiving weird things is not unusual to me, right?"

"Umm..." She blinked a few times. "I am gonna need some context as to what exactly."

"A hipbone to be specific. I think I mentioned it before." He watched her eyes narrow in thought and widen.

"Oh! Yes!" Her fingers lifted to rub the stone at her throat with her thumb. "We were talking about strange things. Like Kena." She said quietly.

"Right. Well, it actually happened here, well, in Solitude's Blue Palace." He mentioned and saw her eyes cloud in confusion. "If we were back there, I could point it out to you, and you would recognize it. Pretty place, simple enough. Anyway, got into the hallway and was... I don't know how to describe it, but I suddenly found myself in the middle of fucking nowhere instead of a hallway. Fog as thick as cheese, trees bare and dead looking and 3 different archways that were made up of stones. In the middle of all this was a weird looking old man wearing what looked like to be jesters clothes, breaking bread and talking over tea."

"I'm confused." She said frowning and he hummed in agreement.

"That would have made the two of us." He thought back on it now. "I thought for time that I was dead. But nope. I felt alive. Only thing, I had nothing on me. No money, no weapons, Karnwyr wasn't there either. All I had were just my clothes, and not even the ones that I had been wearing."

"Think someone knocked you out and stole your things?"

"No... I had thought it though. But that didn't explain the different clothes." He sighed. "Anyway, I walked to the old man who was raving to another man about being hard on himself for being homicidally insane."

"Did you talk to him?" She asked, enraptured. He looked at her amused.

"After the other man disappeared in a blur of purple and black magic, yes. I did. I wanted to get the Oblivion out of there."

"What did he say?" She asked and he thought back. He could still hear the bastards voice. Wacky and wild.

"He babbled awhile when I told him that some weirdo gave me a hipbone and he said to me; 'I am a part of you, little mortal. I am a shadow in your subconscious, a blemish on your fragile little psyche. You know me. You just don't know it.'"

"Little mortal...?" Her voice wavered as her eyes widened.

"Sheogorath, Daedric Prince of Madness." He recalled. And even now, he felt his irritation at the memory. "I couldn't give a skeever's ass about what or who he was. All I knew was that I wanted to leave that place. It was dull and I was quickly growing bored of his ramblings."

"You met a Daedric prince? And you were bored?" She blinked when he nodded in a 'believe- it' way. "I'm gonna need a minute to let that sink in." She held up a hand and her eyes moved away, no doubt thinking on what he just told her. She was silent, her fingers twiddling with her necklace for a moment. She nodded and her hand dropped. "Alright. I'm good." He chuckled a little.

"Told him I wanted to leave, he told me that I had to find the way out."

"Sounds simple enough." She said in thought. Thinking back on everything now, he let out a small mocking chuckle.

"See, you didn't think it would be hard. I thought the same thing. But were talking about the Prince of Madness. I looked at him and said, 'what's the catch?' He laughed. Said he found it enjoyable when 'mortals knew they're being manipulated.' Said it 'made things more interesting.'"

She shook her head.

"So where exactly where you?"

"We stood , as I was told, in the mind of Emperor Pelagius III." He looked to her and saw her frowning.

"But... he's-"

"Dead." He finished for her and almost smiled at her widening eyes. "Oh yeah." Her jaw dropped down a little. "For years now. We were in the head of a dead, homicidally insane, monarch. I couldn't believe it. Still in a way, don't." He scowled "Said I had to help him."

"Sheogorath?"

"No, the emperor."

"The dead one." She pointed out and he pointed a finger to her in agreement.

"The very same."

"Must have chewed you inside out, having to help someone." She smirked a little.

"Doesn't scrap me the same way if their already dead."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. If anything, it pisses me off more." Though she rolled her eyes, she was fighting off a grin. He could tell...

"It would." She muttered. "So, did you help him?"

"I wouldn't be standing here if I hadn't."

"What did you do?"

"Got downright mad, since I had to play literal mind games that were a pain in the ass. Even had to fight a time or two."

"I'm guessing with no weapon, you had to use your hands?" She guessed and he winced in memory.

"Not exactly. He gave me a staff called it The Wannajock or something." Her strides fumbled a little as that bit of information.

"A staff? Do you even have any skill with staves?" She asked, her eyes wide with a mixture of humor and shock. He groaned and shrugged.

"No, I didn't then, still don't. But aiming it was simple enough. Reminded me of my bow. In a way." He shrugged. "Hated looking at that thing though. When shot, the fireballs came from the mouths of three different faces at the top. Freaked me out. All with different looks. Laughing, angry and sad." He recalled. "We ended up, I said 'fixing' his mind, where the wacky bastard said we 'treated' him. It was a fucking headache. We parted ways with him saying that if I were to visit him in New Sheoth, I could look him up and share a strawberry torte." He mocked the accent and shook his head.

"How… hospitable of him."

"Don't get it mixed up, princess. Gods and Deadra alike are worthless in their own way. He just wanted someone to use for his amusement and to waste time with." He sounded a little irritated again and let a deep breath in, let it out to clear his mind of the past. "Many gods do it."

"You met more than one?" She asked, her eyes back on his. The memory was still fuzzy, and it chewed at him.

"I've dealt with another, yes." He nearly groaned.

"Being?"

"The 'Daedric Lord of Debauchery, Sanguine'." She made something of a cross between a laugh and a cough.

"Your just swinging a thousand with these guys, aren't you?" He laughed at her jest.

"Keeps me on my toes." He returned, making her laugh in kind.

"So, what did you do with Sanguine?"

"Had a few drinks with him." He said it nonchalantly, earning him a narrowing of her eyes, her face and body language looking doubtful.

"I find that hard to believe." Her fingers rubbed over her forehead.

"Does it help if I say I didn't know it was him right away?"

"You didn't know he was Deadra? I think that bit would be a little hard to miss."

Damn this woman's tongue!

"He wasn't in his Deadra skin in a tavern. Can you imagine the chaos?" He mockingly shuddered. "No, he called himself Sam. Sam... Guene- something. Anyway." He waved the thought away.

"You just sat down with him and drank ale together?" Doubt was still thick in her voice.

"Oh no, it was something more potent and it was more like a contest."

"Men." She scoffed. "For some reason that makes it a little more believable." She smirked.

"Does it make you doubt again if I told you that I think I won?"

"Oh absolutely." He laughed at her bluntness. "You are telling me that you won a drinking contest against a Daedric Prince?"

"Well, it's all a blur after the third glass." He admitted and winced in memory. "But it did lead to some very interesting events that followed the same night."

"I'm almost afraid to ask." She giggled, making his lips tilt upwards.

"I'll tell you in rapid fire. You ready?" He asked.

"Am I going to need to brace myself?" She asked humorously and he shrugged.

"If you think it will help."

"Alright. What happened after you out drank Sanguine?"

"Well, we started drinking in Whiterun and I woke the next day in the Temple of Dibella in Markarth to a priestess shouting at me to wake up and calling me a blasphemer."

"Sounds like you."

He snorted.

"She told me that I had been blathering incoherently about marriage or a goat. I apparently lost my temper and began throwing trash all over the temple after I fondled the statue."

"Z'en help you." She muttered sounding both shocked and amused. "Making a mess of a temple. And fondling a-" She cracked up a little, her stern face slipping now and again in amusement.

"To be clear, I was drunk, but I did clean it up."

"Well I should hope so."

"They wouldn't have let me leave without doing so. And I'm not even close to being finished."

"I did ask you to tell me about yourself." She muttered. "Alright. Continue."

"Managed to talk to the priestess, Sanguine, or Sam at that time, wasn't with me or so she said. Instead, she was able to direct me to Rorikstead. And when I got there, I found out that I had stolen some farmers goat and sold it to a giant, which I had to get back to get another piece of my night that I didn't remember."

"That poor goat." She places a hand to her chest, like the thought of him doing the act hurt. "What did the goat do? A poor innocent bystander to your drunk escapades." She was teasing him, but he simply shrugged.

"Probably had it coming… Brought the goat back and the farmer said something about me having to repay a girl back in Whiterun for... I think it was a ring? Seems Sam was getting married and I was to be his best man."

"You drink with Deadra and become their best man in weddings. And you don't trust in them."

"Not when they make me run all over Nirn's green plane for their shit."

"Party with Deadra and it's bound to happen. Where did Sam meet his so-called sweetheart?" She asked taking a swig from her waterskin.

"Girl at the stall said Witchmist Grove." He shuddered at the thought, making Serlina tilt her head a little in curiosity with her cheeks slightly puffed out from having a mouthful of water. "It's filled with Hagravens. His bride to be was a Hagraven."

"Oh shit." She said while lightly laughing and coughing, the sound of it had him joining her.

"I got the ring back for her, simple because I didn't want to pay for a 2000 septim ring twice."

"Reasonable."

"Well, I returned it and she told me the wedding was going to be in Morvunskar."

"I don't know where that is." She admitted with a shrug.

"We'll get your map and I'll show you the whole layout of my single night. You wont believe it."

"Then I'll stay open minded for now."

"Appreciate it." He winked and enjoyed when she looked away with a small smirk. "In the end, I got there and found Sam, or Sanguine, who said I had helped him 'spread merriment and entertained him quite well." He frowned.

"So, his drinking contest was just some... Weird prank?"

"That's what I thought too. But like the Prince of Madness, he just wasted my time. Again."

"Waste your time?" She echoed, her tone losing the amused sound.

"Yes?" He drawled lowly, wondering where her mind had wandered too. She had slowed down in their walk enough to have him stop near a large and glance back to Karnwyr that was jumping around, trying to catch lightning bugs that occasionally flashed in the evening light.

Gods, evening already. Where had the day gone?

"Like Aia Arria?" She asked, drawing his attention again and he felt the amused air take on a small chill. Where had that thought come from? Or maybe it had been sitting in the back of her mind since earlier. Either way, he leaned back on the rock, crossing his arms over his chest. Some would say his position was defensive, but it was simply that he found it the most comfortable.

"Yes. What, you want to know if I slept with her?"

"I didn't ask that."

"Not in so many words, but underneath your tone, it's what you wanted to ask."

"Amazing. I'm transparent as glass to you." There was that bite again. He hummed quietly. "You could tell me it's none of my business." She informed him and took a few steps away, then turned back around to face him and step back. A small pace, her movements jerky. Not in nerves, it seemed, but thought. Her thumb was back on that stone again. Just what was on Ladyship's mind?

"I could." He agreed and watched her fingers move just a little faster, this time in circles over the stone. "Or I could lie to you." That got him a droll stare that had him leaning his head back as he let out a laugh. "She's a bard but before she got into that, she runs the spiced wine booth. You'd like the spiced wine." She frowned and he nearly laughed again. Though, he thought, she probably disliked the woman. "I'd see her now and then when I was out and around and bought a few drinks now and again. We got to know each other over said drinks. I liked the way she was a tad bit cocky about how few people could resist her charms. I didn't particularly mind them. We spent a few hours on different occasion together... Not in the way your thinking believe it or not. We enjoyed each others company. It never got any deeper or more complicated than that. Well, until today. " He finished, scratching his cheek.

"I had wondered... And I wondered if you'd lie to me." She said looking away, her thumb stilling on the stone.

"That's a habit of mine, assuming someone will give the handy lie instead of the more complicated truth." He told her blatantly making her nod.

"You're not the kind of man I'm used to." She admitted and frowned.

"And what kind is that?" He asked, leaning forward. She pursed her lips a little in thought.

"Depends on the situation. But for the sake of right this moment-" her eyes focused on him again, "-an intensely honest one. I'm used to dealing with elves who regard me differently because I am a mix blood. And my fathers kin thought me as... snooty? I suppose, thanks to my mothers blood... So, there's that." Her eyes lifted to the sky, no doubt taking in how it darkened with a mix of reds and oranges. They sharpened slightly when the call of gulls filtered in on the breeze. She walked towards it, her steps slow. "Are those?" She trailed off. He looked up and saw the annoying white bird flapping about.

"Seagulls."

"That means... We're close to water. Like the ocean." He casted an unsure glance her way.

"Yeah. There's a pier near here. Can't you smell the seawater?" He asked and watched her close her eyes, inhaling softly.

"A little. Come on, let's go down and see!" She started off again, her steps lighter, more excited. He didn't see why. It was just docks and some water. No big deal. Inwardly he sighed and followed.

"Now, it's your turn." He reminded her. He had her full attention; he could tell by the way she looked t him.

"I just told you something about me." She pointed out, making scoff.

"Hardly. I'd call that more of an addition on something that I had said. Doesn't count." He almost smiled at her frown.

"Alright. Once I had a fellow student in alchemy who chopped off all my hair," she said, lifting a hand and running it over her ponytail, the gesture a little protective. "I was sleeping and didn't know it until the next morning." She all but pouted as she spoke... "The act, I was told, had been punishment, in her mind, for cutting the hair of her favorite doll - a crime I hadn't committed. That honor went to one of my cousins that was sweet on her. In a twisted way." She winces and lets her hair fall over her shoulder.

"What did you do?" He asked.

"At the time, nothing. I could have gotten angry but a lot of good that would have done me. She would have been hurt, me in more trouble and I would have still had no hair. I was told to 'work it out like a big girl.' So, I let it go, let my cousin have his childish way with her and grew out my hair. Again." She shrugged.

"Must have been… difficult?"

"Yes. Thankfully, though, my cousin decided to venture outward to the isle's. I think they were married for a time, him and that girl. Didn't take and I think it was an accident."

"How does one get married by accident?"

"Well, Argonians have a different way of proposing marriage then other kinds of Mer do. My understanding of the whole thing gets a little confused, but they are a creative bunch."

"Like Kasa-Jeen?"

"Bah. She would be the kind to only take one mate. She's sweet on a Jaree-Ra fellow. She seems to have a taste for the scheming types." She smirked.

"Only take one? They can have multiple?"

She nodded. "It's... rare, but not uncommon. Last I had heard that Runs-in-Circles had her sixth mating."

"Six!" He gapped. Six marriages! His parents had had multiple partners, but never... Good Gods. He frowned as he considered her words. "What if the mated people are miserable with each other?"

"They must perform a blood ritual and offer a sacrifice." She moved a lock of hair that had been pulled astray from her eyes. "Bit old fashioned and melodramatic for my tastes."

"Would an innocent by-standing goat do?" He teased and laughed when she smacked his shoulder.

"Oh, ick. It would work but leave that poor goat alone. Sound like it's been through enough." She bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing by the looks of it. His gaze caught and lingered on her mouth, making his blood flow hot.

Stop. Biting. Your. Lips. Woman. It's fucking distracting.

"Think it's name was Gleta." He didn't know why he said it, let alone told her, but the look on her face went from displeased to joyed slowly, but surely. It did get him mind out of it's trail of thought.

"Gleta? Oh, that's so cute." She smiled.

Cute. His eyes narrowed at the sound of the word.

"What else would you like to know about me?" he asked. She pondered a second before she looked at him through her lashes.

"Well you talk big game… What was your first time like?" She asked, catching his attention with a little bit of shock. He hide it well and went for teasing.

"First time what? Getting a new pair of shoes? Sleeping outdoors? Give me context here, ladyship." He enjoyed when her face pinked just slightly.

"You know what I mean."

"Can't say I do. Or else I wouldn't need you to clarify."

"Fine! What was your first time with a woman like?" She clarified, He gave her points for meeting his eyes, and jutting her chin out a little. Like she had asked purely in irritation.

He arched a brow.

"Are you sure you want to know?" When she nodded, he said, "It was with my mother's favorite jewellers apprentice... She came to our home to drop off a delivery for her and found me in the bathing pool and joined me." He shrugged as the memory of it swam in his mind. At her disappointed expression, he laughed. "What did you expect? Rope? Orgies?"

"Well, yeah." She frowned a little.

His smile grew.

"Your creativity surprises me. What about you?" He asked in kind. She blinked and he felt himself tense at the alarmed look that passed briefly over her face. And the tightening in his body.

"I... don't think men hold the... sexual endeavours of women they do the same as men. The standards are different." She worded it carefully, it had his skin prickling in consideration.

"Sometimes," he shrugged, "it's true. But it does help shed some light on what both people have experienced and felt. For example," He leaned close, making sure not to cage her in, but saw her eyes widen. "You've seen me look at you and what's more, I've seen you steal glances at me. Felt it." He had felt the crackle of her gaze move over him several times during the day. Caught it linger and heat when she had spoken to her Argonian friend. Even now, the hazel of her eyes was thinning, and the darker brown was filling in slowly. "We could go around and around with your little word games but you and I both know you can't lie." He felt his hands itch to touch her but held himself in check. For now. "And neither can I."

"But I like these games." Her lips crept upwards in a smile, her eyes lighting up with hints of mischief. "And you don't seem to like them since you keep losing so badly at it." Her cheeky reply had him chuckling.

"You are funny." He watched her eyes warm further and felt something in him slip a little. She was avoiding the question, but he would get an answer out of her... "And despite," he paused a moment, considered, "or perhaps because of your sharp tongue, I find you quite irresistible." His hand lifted to her face. Her eyes stayed on his as his fingertip traced her jawline, dipped to her neck, and played with the worn string that wound round her neck. She didn't back away. No, she looked like she was fighting leaning forward.

"I know I am." There it was again. Her confidence and sharp tongue all at once had him humming in appreciation. 'I really do wanna see what's under this armour' he thought as he caught the lapel of her elven shirt and skimmed his thumb over the material. 'What sweet, tempting surprises she must hold.' The armour covered her, some placed like a second skin. In other, it left some to the imagination. And his went wild sometimes. 'I want to rip this off of her, feel her body tremble along with mine as I take my time baring inch by inch of her skin,' he thought as his eyes lifted from her clothes to her again. Her breathing had deepened a little, the green fading away... 'Has anyone else ever wanted to do that to you?' he wondered. Or was it just him when it regarded this... sweet lady?

"How was your first time?" He asked again, his voice rumbling from his chest. The moment he asked the question, he tensed again. Did he want to know? A part of him did. Her hand lifted to her necklace and pulled away a little. Still within reach, but he no longer held the lapel of her clothes.

"I, uh... " She stumbled over her words, making his brows raise, nearly groan when a blush slowly lit her cheeks.

"You can tell me. I've heard it all." And done a fair bit, not orgies, but kept that too himself. His words he hoped, gave her comfort.

"I... can't." Her eyes went downward, her voice emptying.

"Why not?" He asked and got that tingling around his neck again.

"I... don't really have much to share." She shifted nervously. He frowned for a moment before she took a deep breath, lifted her head and met his gaze steadily.

"Scared?"

"Hardly." she said sounding defensive. "Look, I never… wanted to have to deal with the problems associated with a… sexual relationship."

His hands lifted to her face, stopping whatever she had been going to say as tendrils of her hair escaped their tie and drifted around her face, like dark ribbons in the setting sun.

"What problems?" He found himself asking. Who would have had problems from being in her bed? Her eyes had sharpened, but the brown was still apparent. Had been since his hands found their anchors on either side of her jaw, the air between them grew heavy and thick. "What's the worst that could happen?" He asked, his voice gravely and low. He heard her inhale sharply through her nose and swallow.

"You could... Make me lose my focus. Stop... thinking." She stumblingly admitted on a whisper and he almost frowned.

"That's a bad thing?" He asked leaning down a little.

"It is when you have bigger things to think about. More important." She squeezed her eyes closed and shook her head gently.

"I think you like when I make you stop thinking." He said casually. "You just wont admit it."

"I don't have to admit anything other that what I deem needed. And no, I don't. I have always relied on my ability to think." Her head pulled back, her eyes sharpening again.

Hmm.

"I think you are overthinking a tad bit much..." He offered and received a narrow-eyed glare.

"Well out of the two of us, someone has to. And no, I'm not. I'm thinking just the right amount. And logically. I am capable of doing that around you. Despite what you think and your…'animal magnetism'."

"That so?" He quirked a brow.

"Indeed." She bit out lifting her chin a little, making him smirk.

"Didn't seem like you could handle it a while ago. All but wrapped around me like a-" She pointed a slender finger in his face, cutting him off as her eyes sharpened to green with such speed it had a chill running down his spine.

"Finish that sentence carefully, ranger, or I will personally see too it that your wolf has to sniff you out for several hours." The threat had his back straightening.

"What, you gonna Shout me into the next hold?" He knocked her hand down with his own, making her eyes blaze.

"Don't. Tempt. Me." She gritted out.

"Then let me just-" The sounds of glass bottles smashing, and curses filled the air followed by a boisterous;

"Hey you!" Getting her attention to swivel to where the voice had come from, while his teeth grinded painfully.

Un-fucking-believable!

"I- I beg your pardon?" She asked, no doubt using the commotion to create distance from him and stepped towards the voice. "Is there-" she cleared her throat, "-something you need?" She asked, her voice almost sounding thankful at the distraction. That had him feeling more than a little… vexed. When his own eyes landed on the man who called out, his jaw began to ache from grinding his teeth.

Oh joy, he thought as he followed her stride down the hill. A drunk. Or more specifically, he thought, his eyes narrowing in irritation at having been interrupted, a pirate. He looked like he was halfway through his twenties, despite the lengthy beard and, with his souring mood, he'd be lucky to see thirty. His clothes were foreign and had lost their vibrancy from overexposure to the sun. A battered black hat sloppily rested atop his hair which hung in thick black dreadlocks about his haggard face. At his side he carried a fine sword and about his neck he wore a heavy gold adornment. His eyes were as dark and followed them with sly calculation as they neared. The lines on his face bore testimony to his skill, no pirate lived to look that weathered if they could not hold their own in a battle, be it land or sea.

His gait was looking increasingly unsteady the closer they walked, but it was hard to tell if that was from the drink or from not being used to walking on a ground that didn't move with the waves.

"Come closer, beautiful," he waved them closer. "who are you?" He spoke with a quiet drunken voice, his eyes trailing over her. "Why haven't I seen you on this-" he hiccupped,- "-dock before?" He asked, trailing a few words here or there.

"It's a road we're on. And careful bud. She's someone who you don't want to get in a shouting match with." Bishop scratched his neck with a mock wincing look on his face while the pirate looked from him to her with a quick flick of his eyes.

"She a loud one, is she?" The pirate slurred, making Serlina send him a scolding look.

"I have my moments. Tread carefully. " She said tightly looking more his way then at the pirate. He met her hardening gaze with his own. His dark ebony eyes went dooown, then back up slowly. It had him sending him a warning glare. Karnwyr was trotting back toward them, his fur sopping wet. No doubt had taken a dip in the waters. Good grief, he was going to smell musty with a side of fish. He ran a hand down his face. "I guess you wont want my help then." Again, with helping people, but no, now that offer is open to drunks.

"No noo. No. I'm sorry, I have a real-" hic "-problem, lass. Me names Jack. Captain Jack." He bows with a flourish of one of his arms, his body wavering a little on his feet. For Gods sake. He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. Jack straightened and looked off towards the water. "You see, I have no idea how I got 'ere and, even worse, I have no idea where my ship is." That had his brows rising.

"That takes talent, losing a whole ship." He heard her mutter under her breath, and it lightened his darkening mood. Just a smidge. "How does one even lose a ship?" She casted her hazel eyes his way, her face starting to look confused. "It's a ship."

"Might have sunk it." He muttered. She looked Jack over and shook her head.

"He's not wet."

"You don't know how long ego he might have sunk it." He shrugged

"Me ship ain't sunk!" Jack pointed a finger at him, his body wavering slightly. "Just need a hand in finding it again." He burped, long and wet.

"Pft. Next he'll be asking us to find his sweetroll for him too." He scoffed when she lightly smacked his arm.

Plastering a polite smile on her face, she offered "Have you tried looking in the last place it was..." She caste him a look. "What's the term I'm looking for?" She asked and he shrugged, looking skyward.

"I don't know. Docked?"

Captain Drunk Idiot looked at her like what she had said brought reva-fucking-lations to him. Jack stepped towards her, a smile tugging at his bearded face as he pointed a finger at her, then he tapped Bishop on his shoulder with the back of his hand. The action had his eyes widening in a pure 'did-you-just?' way.

"She's got beauty and brains!" He gushed, his head lolling a little looking from her to Bishop, like they were chums, which they sure as fuck weren't. His eyes narrowed warningly and that only got the drunken fool to step away from him as he slid his feet over the dirt to get closer to her. "Do you think you could escort me to me vessel?" He asked her and he watched her brows lift at his request.

Don't say yes. Don't say yes. Don't say yes. DO. NOT. SAY-

His mental chant that he could only hope was in some way getting to her, was interrupted when Cap'n Slur lolled his head back in his direction.

"Wouldn't want any lads seeing me in my vulnerable state, y'know?" He was pronouncing his words like 'vuln-er-apple.'

"Oh sure. I bet you wouldn't want ballads composed for this either now would ya, ya drunk fool." He tossed back and watched as his ebony eyes blinked a time or two before he gave him a toothy grin!

"I can try to help you out, sure." Serlina said after a second.

His mouth dropped again as he sent her a heated 'You cant be fucking serious' look. She waved him off and smiled at Karnwyr who was shaking, sending droplets of water all over.

He met the wolfs gaze as his tail wagged side to side, tongue lolling out of one side of his mouth. They shouldn't even be talking to this fool, let alone helping him down the stairs. They should be finishing their argument. Or better yet, delve deeper as to why she was inexp- wait- his eyes dropped back down and see that they were walking down the first section of wooden steps to the ships. He stalked after her, his irritation burning behind his eyes that steadily was forming into a headache...He looked to Karnwyr who kept pace, his claws dragging on the wood with each step.

"What kind of woman stumbles on a drunk in the streets and thinks 'oh, lets go with him!'." He sighed and rubbed at his temple with his fingers. Sometimes, a man had to question a woman's intelligence. "Ladyship," he called when they hit a landing. Jack was weaving side to side, his feet lapping one over the other. "Do we really have time to deal with this? Shouldn't we finish discussing what we were talking about before you decided to help random drunks you find on the side of the road?"

"I didn't think there was anything more to discuss." She said over her shoulder.

"Sure there is." He called back as he gained ground.

"Oh really?" She asked, her tone bordering on both humored and defensive. "Like what?"

"Like... how you look like you don't want to spend the night alone right now." He watched her, herding the drunk idiot and it made him scowl. Her arms dropped as she slowly turned to face him.

"Oh, I don't do I?" Her back straightened, her voice dry.

"Why else would you be helping drunk on the side of the road?" He verbally threw back only to get her to frown.

"Oh, I don't know. Because it's the decent thing to do?"

"That's shit and you know it."

"Okay, I regret to say that I don't follow." She frowned.

"It may have escaped your notice, ladyship, but drunks are the easiest people to get to sleep with you." He watched Jack turn around, his arms moving about him like they lost all sensation.

"Speak from experience, do you?" She bit out and he took the jab. He opened his mouth to respond only to get Jack to cut him off.

"So I'm drunk. What of it?" He casted Bishop -what the drunk idiot could probably best manage- a sloppy glare at him, then his eyes moved back to Serlina. "You gonna teach me a lesson? You gonna tie me up? Use me?" His eyes cleared for just a brief moment before his voice lowered a little. "Oh please… I wouldn't mind." He found himself repressing a smirk. 'A man after my own heart. Only,' he thought, 'it wouldn't be me getting tied up.' He sent a direct stare to Serlina.

"See?" He jerked a thumb to Jack before he grabbed him nearly by the scruff of his neck and pressed him forward, making the pirate continue on his quest for his stupid lost ship. He waited a couple paces before sparing Serlina a glance and pointed to him with his hand. "Case in point."

"Let me get this straight." She paused when Jack was drunkenly rambling about his 'old safety talk' while he walked around, looking from boat to boat. "You think that I am so desperate to scratch some itch, that I would go out to a random road, find me a drunk captain, help him find a ship that he somehow lost, only in hopes to getting him into my bed to scratch said itch?" She crossed her arms and glared up at him.

"Isn't that what's going on here?" He mocked pointing to Jack and watched with a small sliver of internal amusement when her eyes lit with fire.

"Not to brag, Bishop-" She enunciated his name, ending hard on the P so that it popped a little on her lips. "But I am a woman that not only has beauty, as our Captain over there so gracefully put it, but brains as well."

"So you've been telling me for the last 20 minutes."

"No, I am capable of thinking with them. Especially around you. It's different." Her tone having his back straighten a bit.

"Yeah well. Everything looks a lot better when your so drunk. He's probably so far gone that what he's looking at is blurry." He said bluntly, his words were sharp, he could tell from the slight hurt in her eyes. She took a small breath and let it out slowly, raising her chin a little.

"Level of Sobriety wouldn't be something that I would need to factor in when I choose to bed someone." Her arm snapped out and snagged Jack by his collar, stopping him from walking off the docks. The action had him raising a brow. "And to answer your question-"

"Arrrrrrgh!" Jack sloppily growled out, stopping her point. Both their eyes moved from him, to the captain, who's collar was still gripped tightly in her hand. "You know, I'm not just a great pirate- hic - but I am a great nah-va-gator. In fact, I've circumcised the globe." He hiccupped again and he couldn't contain his long eye roll. "Ah-hic - you might think circumnavigated but NOPE!" He gestured in a wide circle with his arms. "I took a shortcut. In-ner clipper ship. Or maybe it was a cutter?"

"Yeah, yeah, that's great Jack. Is this your ship?" Her tone was tight, but still had a polite lilt to it. He had to give her credit. His bloodshot eyes glanced around and landed on a ship that stood next to them.

"Naaah... That ain't her. She's too- eugh-" She pulled him back toward the docks and gently nudged him forward. His drunk gait was back as he started towards another section of the docks.

"No." She continued like they hadn't even stopped. "I am not here to pick up a random drunk. Not like he would be able to lay a finger on me." Her eyes followed the pirate with just a hint of caution that made the pit in his stomach ease slightly. His own eyes shifted to the man who stumbled a little. With how the pirate was looking at her, even as he slurred, his vision going in and out by the way they focused on her now and then...

"He wants to lay more than just a finger on you." He muttered as a a small sting of an unfamiliar emotion filled him. Possession, maybe? 'Not that he could blame him.' His gaze moved back over to her. Thoughts had certainly crossed his mind a time or two. Knowing her and her wild capabilities though, the man would be dead before he got the chance if it was unwanted... Either by him or her. He sighed when her mouth pressed into a thin line. He still couldn't place the reason why he was constantly sticking his neck out for her.

"If I didn't know any better, I would say that tone of yours sounded a lot like concern. Besides, he needs help." She mocked batting her lashes a little. "And you are here to keep little ol' me safe." She mocked and he felt his back stiffen.

"That's easy for you to say. I'm the one saving your ass all the time." He met her cold eyes with his own. Even if it was an ass worth saving.

"You make it sound like I'm… helpless." She stepped close, with her finger pointing in his face. "And I sure as Oblivion am not."

"Weren't you the one who couldn't sleep because you needed saving from your own night terrors?" He felt his temper rising to a horrible degree. Though the hurt in her eyes did sting him a little.

"That's not helpless, ranger. That's called trauma induced stress. That doesn't make me helpless. And I got on managing it just fine without you."

"Pft. Yeah. Face deep in dirt really is working it out." He shot back, earning him a jabbed finger in his chest.

"You're a... Jerk, ranger." She bit out and turned away from him. "And I am not afraid to sleep alone." She followed the daft man as he wobbled around.

"Up until recently no doubt. You've had me by your side." The way her heeled boots fell on the wooden planks sounded heavier, like her anger was starting to come out in her feet. Not quite stomping, but pretty close.

"My hero." She bit out tensely. She smoldered. He hadn't known a woman could actually smolder. God, it was sexy. And at the same time, fucking infuriating. "It's a surprise how I've managed to resist you this long. You and I have slept by the same fire, it's amazing we got this far without me all but falling into your lap." She threw her hands up in the air, as Jack stumbled to a stop.

"By the Nine! Would you... would you just look at those trees! Nature is just... it's grand..." At this proclamation from Jack, he had found himself cocking his brow at him. "Reminds me of a high elf I had once." Jack drawled and he saw the flicker of disgust in Serlina's eyes. "I almost wanted to yell 'tiiimbeeerrrr' as she fell into me bed!" Jack had stopped his stumbling walk to look up at a large ship at the bottom of the docks.

"That's it?" He asked at the same time Serlina asked.

"That's your ship?" She asked and watched him slowly take his eyes off his ship and land back on her.

The ship was fashioned from ancient oak, with masts that stood as tall. It was unlike any ship at the docks, and not easily missed. Yup, he though begrudgingly, the man was gone so far couldn't see much past his face.

"Lass, it's not the size of the boat, it's the… oars your dealing with, thank you."

Put her 'oars' on your rudder and your dead, his hands twitched for his knife at the thought as he watched her wander down the dock, her eyes looking at the menacing looking ship with a mixture of emotions dancing across her face.

"Dragonborn… you're a cl-" he burped; the sound wet like he nearly vomited. It had them both making a wincing face."- classy lady. Why don't I show you me jolly roger?" He took her hand and tried to walk towards the ship. "Come Dragonborn! Lets sail away! -hic-" He burped again letting her hand drop. He almost laughed at her unamused look until it looked upon the sails with a barley concealed look of apprehension. There wasn't enough wind in his sails to get her to go anywhere by the looks of her. Plus, there was lack of any winds tonight. It was calm. Deathly still on the water. A gentle occasional breeze, but nothing more. She rounded back, earning a toothy grin from Jack.

"Hello again lass." His eyes gleamed wickedly as he leaned forward, a little. "Wanna steer me boat?"

"Your gonna need a bigger rudder." He looked from him, to the boat, then back to Jack.

"Leave him be, Bishop" She managed to get out and help Jack slump to the ground.

"Defending him, now are you?"

"You're the one berating him like a man who feels threatened by someone un-sober."

"I do not feel threatened." He bit out.

"You certainly sound like it" She said, her eyes lingering over Jack.

"And your starting to look like you wanna know what his cabin looks like."

"What's gotten into you, Bishop?" Her voice lowered, almost sounding wounded.

"Nothing. Nothings gotten into me." He crossed his arms.

"Well, not that you asked, but I have no interest going on any ships. Ever."

"I'm sure you do." This ship, the way she was eyeing it.

"Sounds like a poor and stupid thing to do." She spoke nonchalantly. "I don't know exactly what you think, but I don't have lapses of stupidity." She tossed back.

"You doing things like this, say otherwise." He pointed to Jack and his ship. "You lie so badly it's a joke, you could be more convincing." He saw the change, the defensive shield she put up. Her eyes heated to a molten green as she squared up her shoulders with him.

"Alright, I've hand enough."

"About time. Can we go now?"

"You can go. I won't stop you." She bit out.

"What, wanna stay here and schmooze the captain?" He asked as she straightened, turned to him and shoved him back several spaces. It happened so fast he honestly wasn't ready for it.

"What the hell was the for? You got a problem with people pointing out things to you?" Her hands fisted tight then dropped to her sides.

"Do I have a problem?" She echoed looking at him like she was astounded that he had even asked... Turning away from him, her head dropped low as she lifted a hand to her face and took a long deep inhale. Letting it out, her head snapped up "You know what?" she turned to face him, her eyes flaring. "Yes. As a matter of fact, I do." She stomped over and glared up at him. "You see, I seem to be having this recurring problem where a guy I have been traveling with" she jabbed a finger into his chest, pushing him back a bit, "becomes an insufferable asshole." He opened his mouth but didn't get anything out before she kept going. "One who seems to not notice that he puts his head so far up his own ass he cant see how much of a pain in mine he's being, and at this exact moment," another jab, harder pushing him back another step, "seems to think it's the right time to call me, me," she paused and frantically searched for a word, and settled on, "lascivious and-"

"What the hell does latavius mean?" He cut in only to have to continue like he didn't stop her.

"-Open to the idea of a drunk pirate being my first choice, making it sound as if I don't have other options." She took a breath. "And lascivious." She corrected. " It means- you know what, it doesn't matter." She shook her hands furiously in a disregarding manor.

"There are always more options, ladyship. That's the way things happen around here. It's pretty common!" He shrugged, his anger rising steadily but a creeping feeling of guilt lingered. He pushed it down.

"Not to me!" She pointed her thumb to her chest then dropped her arm back to her side.

"Then you just haven't warmed up enough to Nord customs." He shot back. Her face slipped into one of neutrality.

"Warmed up enough, huh?" She stepped close to him, making him lean away when her eyes narrowed again. "Then you can cool down enough for the both of us!" She open palmed pushed him, this time, he found himself teetering, his hands making a grab for her which didn't land, since she had stepped back as he fell backwards and falling down into the cold water.

He kicked until he broke through the surface, sputtering out water. He had just managed to open his eyes to see Karnwyr barking happily from the docks edge before he leapt into the water beside him, clawing around, sputtering occasionally while his tail flopped side to the side above the water sending water droplets everywhere... Treading, he turned his angry gaze to Serlina, who stood at the edge, boot tapping angrily as she glared at him. The light was dim, the sun gone for the day and leaving everything in a faint silver glow. She, however, may as well have emanated red with her arms crossed over her chest.

"What was that-?!" Stomping a foot, she took a long deep breath.

"My problem?!" She said again and placed an open hand on her chest then dropped it back to her side. "What gotten into you?!" She yelled back. "We had been having such a great day..." She trailed off, her fingers going to her necklace. She clenched it tight in her hand. "And in return you all but call me an achy whore when we encounter one drunk man, ONE!" She shouted as she pointed to Jack behind her, snoring out of sight. "When, I'll have you know, I am anything but because I haven't had a first time yet!" Her mouth hung open, like she was shocked that the words had left her, for just a moment before she snapping it shut.

Her words took a moment to fully sink in. He stopped treading water for a moment.

She hadn't...

His mouth fell open.

"Surely you jest..."

"I don't." She drew a sharp breath and paced a step, two while his mind reeled.

Serlina was a virgin.

She was untouched.

Sweet. Fucking. Oblivion.

The information made his blood heat all anew. For a brie f moment, he was… angry.

What men had she been around to not have looked at her with the simmering in his own blood and kept his distance?! Then it shifted swiftly into something different. Gratefulness. They had been fools, and he was not. He wanted her more in that moment than ever before. He wanted to be the only man to taste her. Now. Ever.

Mine.

The word rolled in his mine and hit him in the chest with as much force as a warhammer being swung unhindered.

Untouched.

Then a cold anger doused him. His words from earlier, her defensive words, her blushes, her stammering. Good. Gods. It made his throat burn, and it wasn't from the saltwater. A few of his arrows that must have been tossed from his quiver floated into sight. Snagging them absent mindedly he power-stroked to the dock only to pause when the sound of a sword had him glancing up. She pointed the blade to him, the blade trembling slightly in her tight grip...

"Look, ladyship, I-"

"I don't wanna hear it, ranger!" She snapped at him, her voice a mixture of many emotions "You can take your ignorant ass and swim back to shore." He rolled his eyes. It's not like she was going to cut or stab him. Lifting a hand, he grabbed hold of one of the docks posts and felt his knuckled get rapped hard by the flat of her blade.

"Dammit woman! Get that out of my face before I drag you down in here with me." He threatened and watched her straighten.

"You insult me, several times, to my face and expect me to to just let you get up?" she asked him incredulously.

"I didn't mean to-" He tried to explain, excuse his behaviour but was cut short.

"No." She snapped firmly. "I said. Swim." She pointed a finger to the far shore and glared.

"While you what, tend to the captain of booze?" He shot back and got no response.

"Who knows?" She snapped. "Might even have my wicked way with him since that is the "custom" here." She used finger quotes around the word custom. "Want to tread water and watch?" She asked, her head craning to the side. His stomach burned in rage at the thought of-

"No." He snapped out. He'd rather drown. Or just kill the sonofa-

"Then swim." She simply stomped, pointed and glared. Stubborn. Frustrating. Woman!

"Fine! Then you can freeze tonight for all I care!" Dragging a hand through the water, he managed to splash her a decent bit. Her legs got the majority of it making her wince. Turning his back to her, he began his way towards the shore, each stroke moved him gratefully away from her and her… stubborn temperament.

"When you get out of the damn water, try finding a way to pull your head out of your ass. It's not a hat!" She bit out.

He kicked harder. Each kick of foot against the waters current rang up his legs and it felt damn good to get some of the frustration out of his body.

"Let's git drunk!" He heard behind him and felt himself sneer. Drunk bastard was awake again, so it seemed.

Think he means 'drunker,' and the idea held great appeal to him he thought as he pulled himself out of the water he watched as Karnwyr took off only to lay down, resting at the foot of the hill while his fast breathing slowed from his exertion. Shaking his head side to side, he felt water leave his ears as he stomped up a set of steps that helped him up to the end of the piers dock that connected to the hill.

His eyes caught on the several crates that had been left by the pirate. Bottles lay around and on closer inspection, he caught the faint scent of alcohol. 'Get drunk indeed.' Smirking to himself, he walked over and pulled a crate apart and lifted a white bottle up and out of the confined spaces. Cracking the wax seal, he let the beverage breath a little when he popped the cork. Down below, he could faintly see where they had stood moment ago. He saw her there, keeping her distance from the pirate and anger had his back straightening. He should have felt guilty for leaving her alone, but their argument had left him feeling raw both inside and out.

She was just so damn blind and stubborn to so many things! She constantly challenged him and went back on forth on things, he couldn't tell which way was up! He raised the glass to sip, feeling the keen burn on his tongue and throat- a burn that made him recoil as the taste hit him.

But he'd hurt her.

Raking a hand over his face he let out a soft burp.

He'd heard the pain, felt it in her voice though she had nearly managed to cover it with her anger...

Shit. He was going to have to apologize for... many things. Dammit! She had been right. He'd all but called her a whore. Fuck... He thought back to Gorron and shook his head. Fucking tangles. Karnwyr trotted up to him, sniffing at the nearly empty bottle in his hand , turned his head and sneezed.

"Can you believe her?" He asked making Karnwyr tilt his head as he watched him. "She was the one who had snapped at me! Not my fault she doesn't know..." He winced. She didn't know. And he called her stupid. He finished his bottle, chucking it over his shoulder and feeling a small sliver of pleasure when he heard the glass smash. "It's all her fault." He told Karnwyr who moved to lay by his feet. "Wouldn't have gotten all tangled up in this if we had just moved on. But no! I decided to stick around. Could resist her with her swaying hips, her word games, her voice and..." He scowled and drank more deeply. Her soft heart and sweet laugh. Well to hell with it. He intended to sit in the dark and get quietly and thoroughly drunk.

He knew better.

He didn't give a damn. Tossing the second bottle when it was empty, he snagged another one, studied its deep amber glow in the pale moonlight. Reminded him of the Colovian brandy his brothers had snuck from their parents. His brothers had given him his first taste of Colovian Brandy on his 14th birthday. Just the four of them, he remembered, sitting around the kitchen table with their sisters and parents gone. It was one of those solid, rich-toned memories that he knew would never leave him. The sharp scent of the reed smoke after Jack had passed a pipe around. Third bottle down, he tossed it too, grabbed another. The sting of the... whatever he was drinking, on his tongue, down his throat, mellowed out as it reached his stomach. The sound of his brothers' voices, their laughter, and conversation filled his mind. He hadn't cared much for the taste of the brandy. Still didn't. But it was 'what a man reached for when his single intention was Oblivion.' And whatever he was drinking, was hitting him just as hard.

Chucking his fourth bottle he saw the edges of his own vision start to really blur. Raking a hand through his hair several times, he took deep breaths. Why had he soured? She said it herself, they had been having a good day. He scoffed and teetered when reaching for another bottle. She tended to help, and that wasn't what the problem was. She chose that time to dismiss their conversation, he had felt… dismissed.

Dismissed!

He drank deeply, wincing at the flavour. Like he was a lovesick boy. Pft. Pulling away when the bottle was done, his head lolled, indicating he was close to complete inebriation.

Where was she? Why was she taking so long? Was she with the pirate? His head turned to look, as best as he could, towards the docks. His eyes took their sweet time focusing. He couldn't see them and grumbled. He stood and felt his legs tremble as his balance was nearly shot frowning when his legs refused to take a step. He felt so heavy, his clothes still soaked from his jaunt in the water. He snarled again. Forget it. He turned his head away and managed a stumbling step in the opposite direction. Nearly toppled when the world spin a little. Okay. No walking. Need to sit. His eyes moved, slowly, to where the boxes rest on the side of the road. He somehow had moved several paces but didn't feel it. Now he had to get there again. His mind was fuzzy, his thoughts slipping away from him, making him grateful. He didn't care, was the last thought that passed through his coherent mind before slipping into the state of too far gone.

Focusing on his new objective of simply sitting down, he didn't hear the sound of steps coming from behind him…

AN:

Hey guys! This concludes our long and (updated) broken up chapter from Bishop's POV I honestly tried to find a place to break this up into two and just couldn't do it. Hope you guys like it!

Side Note!

. GAWD. Let me just say that I didn't know that something happened when I updated my chapter and everything got all mixed up! So when I went back to fix it, none of my original chapter was anywhere to be found,so I had to write it all again!

I am so sorry guys and I hope this makes up for any confusion from the last (wrong) chapter!

Secondly, since COVID-19 began, I have spent a lot of my time on the front lines taking supplies to hospitals so writing is becoming increasingly hard, but I am working on multiple chapters at a time in order for them to get them all done! Bear with me guys! The real next chapter is 80% done! Just adding a few final touches!

Also, if you guys are interested, a friend of mine has created an Instagram account, showcasing a few bits of my chapters, some new, some old for me since I suck on Instagram. Check her out! She takes questions, hints at spoilers and even does polls!

Gamergurl24.

Just curious;

Did any of you suspect that Serlina was, as Bishop says, 'untouched'?

Do you think Serlina overreacted or was she in the right? Was Bishop?

I'd love to hear from you guys! It keeps me going!

No joke.

Some small fluff/heat next chapter so stay tuned!

UNTIL THEN!

Stay Romancing!

-IMME