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.

26. Lost in The Woods

The sound of his tankard slamming against the counter rang out in the nearly empty inn and had Orgnar glance up to regard him coolly before going back to hanging up more herbs around the bar. Delphine walked out of her room, still in her gear rather than her innkeeper attire. Blowing out an exasperated breath, she stalked over to him.

"Look ranger, I don't know what your deal is but you-"

"Fuck off, Delphine." He snapped at her, jaw tight and sent a warning glare to Orgnar who turned to face them; to stay out of it and locked his eyes back on Delphine, who for the last few days had done nothing but dance around the subject of when Serlina would and should have been back.. "My deal is that she should have been back a day, if not hours ago." He gestured around the room. "So where the fuck is she?" He enunciated his words, and felt a glint of pride when Karnwyr growled low by his feet. Delphine sent the wolf a cautious flicker of her eyes before she looked back at him and returned his glare with one of her own.

"Discretion is needed when dealing with the Thalmor and if she was going to do a decent job of infiltrating and finding information, it would take time. She hasn't been gone that long." His grip on his tankard tightened as he also grappled with the idea of hitting her upside the head with it.

"It was a party, not a vacation. It's been 3 days." He informed her with a deadly cool bite to his words and the small glimmer of her being taken aback by his statement had him scoffing and smothered down the growing ache in his stomach. Lifting his tankard, he looked back to Orgnar for a refill and took a long breath when the man came over and picked it up to take over to the cask. Several cups in and the ale sitting in his stomach did nothing to the nerves that were becoming frayed near the edges. Added Delphine here who says that Serlina was the most valuable thing to her organization and yet, she looked blasé at the flickering inclination that she could be..

No.

He needed to get out of the inn, before he fucking killed someone.

The seat scrapped along the floor and almost toppled over as he stood up just as Orgnar was turning around with, no doubt, a newly refilled cup. He didn't even want it anymore. Looking back to Delphine he squared up with her, his tone deepening to ensure his words rang clear.

"You best hope she comes through those doors, preferably before dark, Delphine because if she doesn't," he leaned in a little closer and felt a little pleased when she leaned back a little. "I will make sure your little organization carries on without you."

It seemed to reach her and have her earnestly looking towards the doors, almost as if she was earnestly hoping she was going to walk in any second. He waited a beat, two, before he turned on his heel and stalked off towards the door and barely heard the sounds of Karnwyr trotting along just behind him as he walked out. He needed air and was met with a cooling wave of it when he stepped out into the late afternoon. The clouds overhead were darkening and the hair held the faint the scent of rain, the telltale sign of a coming storm. Stepping to the rails of the porch of the inn his hands smacked down on the wood with a little more force than he had probably intended. He looked over the small town and watched as people moved and went on in their day.

He could be like them, he supposed. Should be. Carefree, unaware and keeping themselves busy. He was a ranger after all, one who prided himself on his patience of tracking, hunting and waiting out prey... But this wasn't some type of elk or sabre cat.

He inwardly fumed.

No, his arms relaxed and rested his forearms against the railing, leaning over slightly, no this was different. This didn't feel like a hunt anymore. The feeling went… deeper, into more dangerous territory. His back straightened when he heard a feminine laugh, and without thought, his sight scanned, followed the sound until his eyes came to fall on a woman and the wood elf walking through the street together. They slowed when they neared the door of the Riverwood Trader, the elf leaning in to say something in her ear and whatever it was he said, it made her smile. With that, he started in the direction of the stone bridge. He stood tall as he walked past and as he began to pass him, he casted a sideways look toward himself and Karnwyr. When those dark eyes met his own, without having to say a word, he gave a small nod in thanks and continued on his way towards the forest.

It would have been around the second night he had gotten back to Riverwood when he had overheard the bard bitching about how the elf was trying to woo a woman away from him. Orgnar had explained after setting his plate of food in front of him about the love triangle between the three of them.

"She knows I'm the best man in Riverwood. That elf is kidding himself if he thinks she would choose him over me." Just listening to the bard had him rolling his eyes.

"Right." He had drawled out amongst the other patrons of the inn and he dipped his bread in the stew before him.

"I've seen him, sneaking over to the Riverwood trader to speak with her when he should know that he's just wasting his time." Sven continued as he walked over, tuning the lute in his arms.

"Sounds persistent." He acknowledged as he had tossed a piece of meat to Karnwyr who had greedily chomped away at it. When the bard strummed, he debated taking it and tossing it aside.

"Yeah." Orgnar added as he wiped down the bar. "Two people spending time together never blossoms into courtship." That had both him and Sven looking to the barkeep who just looked at them with a bored expression.

"Is that sarcasm?" Sven gave the barkeep a bland look but one of thoughtfulness soon taken its place while he just sat on that comment a little harder than he now thought necessary.

Somehow, he got a letter from the damn bard and was asked to deliver it to her like a fucking courier. He was walking through the town himself when he had caught the elf in question, wandering in from the forests, a few pheasants in his hand. Didn't he also work the mill? He frowned before his lips lifted into a smirk.

Fuck the bard.

He found his boots striding over to the elf and after a few minutes of dulling conversation, he found himself almost chuckling at the elf's words.

"Thinks his ballads and sonnets are going to convince Camilla Valerius to marry him. A woman like that wouldn't fall for that nonsense." Between the two of them, he couldn't help but agree more with the elf. Looking back on it now, he wasn't sure if it was because he was bored or because he just didn't like the damn bard on principle, but he ended up giving a fake letter from the elf to the girl and whatever the elf had written, she swore to never speak to the bard again.

Even last night the bard would mutter something about him just being nothing but trouble but it didn't weigh on him much. In fact, he found himself pleased with the end result. The money he had gotten from the elf had bought him a round of drinks and an evening well spent instead of waiting with his hear tilted towards the door and eyes scanning the inn.

He blew out a breath and looked down to Karnwyr who was now quietly letting out a low rumbling growl at one of the children's dog. Karnwyr seemed a little more on edge as well, no doubt feeding off his own energy. They both needed to expend this pent-up emotion, and with that, he started off towards the stairs and out of the town. He found himself wandering through the forest, the smell of earth and pine filled his lungs and felt more grounded. Karnwyr took off after a rabbit through the brush as he kept going onwards, drawing his bow and an arrow when large set of tracks caught his eye. Crouching down, he looked over the impression, the wide spread of the pad, the deep grooves of claws.

Bear.

He inhaled and let it out slowly. A bear would be a decent hunt and it would take his mind off the knawing in his gut. He stood and followed the large prints, bending down low, checking the depth of the tracks and the direction now and again. It came instinctually to him, and just like any other time, a wave of calm surrounded him and his buzzing mind became calm, still as his steps softened, slowed like his breathing, eyes scanning the surrounding forest. All that mattered was finding the quarry. He didn't notice the time that drifted by, but occasionally he would see Karnwyr enter his peripheral and disappear again, occasionally racing by, chasing a smaller creature only to return to his side once again and stalk with him.

Somewhere along the way, his mind wandered even as his body followed the trail.

I should have checked the invitation to see where she would be going, that way if there was a chance something went south, I could-

"Fuck." He ground out and nearly physically shook his head. No, he would have made things more difficult for her. Added to the fact that she was too damn stubborn to go out without a decent fight… She would get out of there, and when she got back he would.. He inwardly groaned.

Fuck.

His eyes momentarily snapped shut and a flash of her face come forward, her rich brown eyes heavy and filled with enough heat to have his blood pump thickly, her mouth wet and slightly swollen from their kiss.

His head titled back and took a long deep inhale and drew in the cool forest air. This wasn't the time to think about that.

The air cooled when the first rumble of distant thunder met his ears, tearing his attention from the woods to the sky.

Rain would wash out the tracks and judging by the looks of them, he was closing in. Notching the arrow he quickened his steps just a little but was drawn short when he heard Karnwyr let out a loud bark behind him and off to his right. Casting a slight glance he looked but couldn't see him in the brush so just sent a scowl in the direction of the sound and pushed forward. He was probably barking at a foxhole. He moved silently through the brush, making sure to mind his footing of dry twigs.

It was proving difficult to keep his mind in his own thoughts, almost frustratingly so. It nearly drove him mad when a whisper of wind sounded like her sigh in his ear. Stopping cold, he chuckled low to himself, running a hand down his face.

I'm losing my fucking mind.

In no time it seemed she was able to have him all but wrapped around her. His breathing deepened when his mind drifted back to the mill.

On the way back to Riverwood, his mind was plagued with thoughts of her but one in particular. It was the way she had felt in his arms; tense at first... She had initiated it, but the way her hands had pulled him in, he could still feel the nerves dancing off of her. Like the worries she had still lingered. She once had told him that he made her mind go blank, and he could almost tell when they had drifted away to the back of her mind and when the connection between the two of them struck, it shifted to just them and had melted.

He came to the brief conclusion that she had slightly used him as a momentary escape.

He supposed if he was a lesser man, he would scowl and say he was used to just get her to come and feel dirty about it. But thinking back on it, he just couldn't find it in him. The thought had him smirking. The way he felt her hand latching onto his wrist as his fingers plunged into her as her eyes darkened, her moans in his ear. He scoffed to himself as his eyes trained the forest. He could barely sleep his first night back in Riverwood, his mind had raced with phantom sensations, the way her body quivered against his, hear the whisper of her voice, her taste lingering in his mouth…

Never in his life had he watched a woman so lost in throes of arousal and yet; if she hadn't admitted that she hadn't had any sexual partners, he would have assumed she had… He blew out the breath and moved forward, downhill slightly, swerving between trees, taking stalk on the claw marks and following suit. The prints were clearer, and more consistent, headed towards a small clearing. He was closing in; he could feel it.

He didn't know if it was a good thing or bad thing that he hadn't been able to see his hand disappear inside her. His hands clenched tightly and sent out a silent thanks when he caught sight of the large creature lumbering around the woods. Testing the wind, he grimaced when it wasn't favourable and adjusted, readied his bow and arrow for when he'd have a clean shot.

His breath held as his sight sharpened and for a second, his mind wandered as his tongue lightly licked across his lips- she'd tasted like honey, salt and-.

Fuck.

The thought had his arrow miss it mark and skim against a tree not far from the bear. Swearing quietly, he crouched down and waited for the bear to stop glancing around. Its hackles raised, nose twitching, lifting to the wind. For a long few minutes, it looked like it grew more relaxed and started to turn away to continue its wandering before it jerks its head in the direction of a wolfish bark. Turning his gaze, he watched Karnwyr rushing through the forest, head darting around, nose in the air, scenting. Pointed ears flicker towards the bear, hearing his heavy panting, the warning growl before he made a soft whistle to get Karnwyr's attention. Ears flicking to him now, he bounded over.

"What are you doing?" He whispered and leaned backward when Karnwyr stepped close, nearly hitting his face with his muzzle, a small growl directed at him. Scowling at him, he notched another arrow and took aim again. The bear had made a few feet, but just adjusting the trajectory was simple enough, but when he took aim once again, Karnwyr jumped up, claws raking down his side, sending his shot going off and out of sight.

Almost letting out an exasperated sigh, he debated on going and finding the arrow and just shook his head. It was probably long gone by now. Waving Karnwyr off, he hid behind a tree and notched another arrow while the bear chomped on a snowberry bush. He was getting ready to turn and aim when Karnwyr let out a small whine just beside him, and he nearly tutted him when the bear turned its head and took off. Un-notching, he turned to the wolf and held his arms open at his sides.

"What the fuck was that about?" He scolded and got an impatient bark in return and a small jump. He looked distressed. That was.. odd. He never- "What is it?" He asked and watched as the wolf turned in the opposite direction of the bear and continued to bark. Putting the arrow back into his quiver, he followed suit.

He heard the sounds of harsh breathing and whining from Karnwyr before he saw anything. Pushing away some thicker brush, he nearly reached for his blade when he saw a figure in elvish armour leaning against the base of the tree with Karnwyr's nose pointed at it. Helmet to boots, but the amount of red staining the metal had his brows lifting just slightly but it was actually Karnwyr who was sniffing around the neck of the body and gently getting batted away by a hand that had him moving to pull him back away from it. He was about to snap and try harder to pull Karnwyr away but the way he wriggled and whined had him almost confused until he watched as Karnwyr nudged the leg and heard a soft groan come from the helmet.

Pained. Female.

A sudden ache filled his stomach when he found himself crouching down and heard the breathing come in and out like a soft wheezing. The helmet hid most of the face from the way it was angled, but the mass of dark hair had him lifting his hand and palming the top of the helmet, lifting it up and when it finally cleared the top of the head he found his legs giving way to kneeling when Serlina's face came into view.

Under her eyes were black and blue bruises, her nose had a small bit of swelling at the top of the bridge. Minor break by the looks of it. Lips heavily chapped.. she looked cold and needed something to drink but the split on her bottom lip had him seeing red. The slight bruising around it was clearly from a closed fist but that was all minor when it came to her body. Her chest was covered in half dry blood. Her armours right shoulder looked melted slightly and a serious gash across her ribs had the breath in his lungs turn to ice. From her slouched position he couldn't really tell the depth, buts its location was serious.

Deadly.

"Ladyship?" His voice was low and nearly a whisper, feeling dry and ached like someone just fed him rocks.

A broken pained moan greeted him that had him nearly panicking. Gently laying a hand on her left arm, he watched as her eyes snapped open barely even a quarter, but they way they moved made his stomach drop as they moved around unfocused. She inhaled sharply.

"Fus-RO!"

Unprepared for the blast, it sent him off his feet and harshly landing on his back with an explosive exhale leaving his lungs and vaguely he could hear Karnwyr's pained whimper just off to his side. Pain radiated from where the quiver had abruptly lodged into his shoulders but it was her harsh coughing that had him sitting upright faster than he normally would have been able to manage. Each wrack of her ribs gave had her face scrunching up in withheld voiced pain. While he stood, he gauged the distance and nearly frowned as he started back towards her as a deep rumble of thunder rang out overhead.

He had seen her occasionally testing her Shouts while they had fought various things. His favourite had been a pesky skeever that had snuck into camp and had chomped on his arm while she was on watch. He had woken up with a pained shout and reached for his blade while Karnwyr stirred but before he had a proper grip on the handle, it was sent skyward with her full Shout. Resting on his elbow and blinking away the sleep, he found himself starting to laugh when he caught the silhouette of the bastard against the night sky.

She scolded herself later on using overkill as she helped clean out his injury and hand him a minor healing potion. Karnwyr had taken off after it and dragged its body back, tail wagging. On that thought he casted Karnwyr a side-glance and saw that he was flipping from his side back to his feet, ears down as he met the wolfs gaze and worry was reflected in his eyes. Droplets of rain started to fall, slowly at first until the sky opened up completely, soaking through his clothes.

If he recalled correctly, there were three words of a shout she could do, and yet, she looked like she could barely muster two of them and without much power behind them. That meant…

Reaching her side, her breath was more labored and her lips were going a light shade blue as the rain made small metallic 'ting' sounds against the armour she wore. "Ladyship! Hey," He shook gently and only got another groan. "Fuck! Come on, ladyship, open your eyes!" His touch softened as he just took her face in his hands and his chest tightened when her eyes weakly found his face. "Was wondering where you were." He honestly tried to smile in an attempt to comfort.

Her eyes filled with an emotion he couldn't place as her mouth moved but only a strained sound left her lips.

"Shh, it's okay lo- ladyship. I'm here." His hand moved to gently hold her cheek and repressed the urge to grind his teeth when the lack of warmth met his skin only to have her lean into his palm, eyes drifting closed.

Chest clenching, he swallowed the emotion down as he took in his surrounding and whereabouts.

Panic is the worst thing to do in situations of survival, but when her whole body went limp, it settled to his core that he didn't even realize he felt it until he had her cradled in his arms. Rising, he turned to look to Karnwyr who now was dripping wet from the falling rain.. Looking to Karnwyr, he sent a silent thanks when he saw that his companion was already heading back in the direction they came from.

He had to hurry.

Internally he was swearing as he tried to make haste but with the downpour of rain, the earth was less forgiving causing him to slip twice but managed to still make good time. The cold of the rain was even getting to him, his body betraying him by trembling slightly and yet, he refused to stop and adjust his hold, instead he simply pressed her closer, resting his cheek on the top of her head as the forest gave way to a familiar cobblestone road. Karnwyr raced ahead towards the inn as Serlina's trembling became worse, earning a few looks his way, a woman in particular who stood under the shelter of the wood mill. She watched as he pushed past a few people and even started to walk in the same direction as him before she drew up short at the end of the mill. He stalked up the stairs to the inn and all but kicked the door in with his boot, feeling a little bit of pleasure at the sensation.

The sound was almost deafening when the door crashed against the wall, but it was the look of Delphine's face that had him nearly growling. She looked startled, then ready for a fight as her hand dipped to the sword she wore on her hip; but as her eyes flicked from him to the woman in his arms, her feet moved quickly towards him. He barely spared her a glance as his steps echoed around the inn as he stalked to the room he had been occupying.

Delphine's voice grated his nerves as she followed behind yet he didn't hear a word as he managed to gently lay her down on the bed. Pulling his hands away, he stilled when the amount of watered-down blood came with them. Straightening up, he felt his whole-body tremble as a deepening rage gripped him, made his blood burn and without a second thought, spun around and latched on the bitch's armour earning him a pleasant gasp that stopped her badgering.

"Instead of hounding me, why don't you get something to help her!?" His voice rang off the walls, and effectively had her still. When he released her, he met her gaze with his own and watched as she for a moment, didn't move before she retreated a step and headed toward the room across from his. No doubt heading to her secret room below the inn. Turning back to Serlina he nearly roared out in frustration when his hands trembled as he worked at the ties of the armour.

Heavier footsteps sounded behind him earning a casted look over his shoulder. Orgnar stood at the doorway, a hard look on his face as he looked between him and Serlina. He held a handful of fresh clothes and a bowl of what looked to be steaming water.

"Thought you would be needing this." He jerked his head in Serlina's direction. With a tight nod, he watched as Orgnar set the bowl down on the table beside the bed.

"You're a good man, Orgnar." He called out as he managed to get her chest plate off, leaving her in a thin clothed shirt that was soaked from the rain and red in several places yet he didn't hear what he said in return, if he said anything at all. On a curse, he took in her injuries when he lifted the bottom of her shirt.

From her sternum to her waist she had a thin coating of blood, the rain helping with that as it dripped off her onto the bed, her right shoulder to her elbow had a burn that left the skin peeling, white and swollen, and just under her ribs a deep trio of gashes that looked like it came from a set of large teeth that wrapped around to the other side. Like whatever had clamped on her didn't have a decent grip but managed to skin a little. Regardless, depending on how long she had been like this and the lack of blood that was coming out from that wound.. it was life-threatening.

Delphine came back with a set of her clothes, a few small vials.

"This is all I have." She admitted tightly looking between them. It may have been the mixture of emotions he was going through, but there was something in the way she was looking at Serlina that had him nearly turning and drawing his dagger on her.

"That's it?" He snapped as he pulled of the boots from Serlina. They looked to have been a size or two too big for her as they fell to the floor with a solid landing.

"I'm a warrior, ranger. Not an alchemist." She dropped the vials on the table next to the bowl of water. "Unless you want me to run to the store that, if you didn't know, is closed right now."

"You've gotta be kidding me!" He shot back as he dipped the cloth into the water. "She could be dying and your making jokes?!" He snapped through his teeth while Karnwyr growled low and at her heels. The scent of blood was nearly overwhelming but that didn't stop him from wiping down her skin and uncovering a few bruises and smaller cuts.

"I didn't think she would come back in this type of condition."

"Seems like you don't think much at all." He threw back as he put the cloth in the hot water again and didn't react to the heat as he squeezed, watching as the water replaced the blood in the cloth and lifted, squeezing tightly to drain the access pinkened water with a solid jerk of his arm. "You with your poorly thought-out plans, jumping to conclusions about who is who," he pressed the cloth to the deep wound and felt a pulse of cold anger run through him when Serlina's body jerked slightly and even tried to turn away from the pressure, "and your lack of preparation for aftermath." He ground out as he took hold of her shoulder to keep her from moving again as he finished cleaning around her major wound. It looked like he could put his finger in just past his first knuckle.

"I prepare for much more than you realize, ranger."

"This included?" He said it through his teeth as he glared sideways at her and got an impatient huffed sigh in return and uncorked a blue vial pouring it over her burnt shoulder in a lazy drizzle. He watched as the skin reacted to the vial and within moments, her skin no longer had a lack of pigmentation but now was a warm red, a good sign. Looking to the larger wound, he looked to Delphine as she sorted though the bottles and held up a small red vial.

"I don't have a strong one, but this should help for now." The faded label read something along the lines of 'regeneration'.

He scowled and looked back to Serlina whose breathing was so shallow he almost didn't see her chest rising and falling, but Karnwyr was right by her head, ears back and an occasional lick of her cheek keeping an eye on her. If her breathing had stopped, he no doubt would have been as frantic as he internally felt.

There was a sound at the door and on instinct, he grabbed his blade and drew it when he spun around and drew a slight pause. A woman, probably around the same age as Delphine, if not a few years older stood in the doorway, eyes wary and wet across her shoulders.

"I saw you walking through town." She said softly, lifting a hand in peace when her eyes landed on his blade. "The woman you were carrying. Is it-" She trailed of when her eyes landed on the bed behind him and a shocked look crossed her face. "Serlina!" She gasped and started a step in and drew short when Delphine stepped in front of her.

"You know her, Gerdur?" Delphine asked cautiously, her own hand lingering around the hilt of her own blade.

"She helped my brother escape Helgen. I promised him that I would help if I could." Gerder held up a tall red bottle and cloths as she looked to him. "I held onto this in case my brother returned to the village once again but I know he would have wanted me to offer it to his friend in need." A bottle of superior healing. Not often those come across your way and with a watchful eye, he nodded and made room for her. Her eyes wandered from him to Serlina once again, a softness coming to them that reminded him of a mothers pain when seeing a child hurt. "It looks bad." She murmured as she laid a hand over her forehead. "She's burning up. Quick. I will pour this over her wounds then try to get her to drink some." She uncorked it quickly and took her place by the wound. The cloth that had been pressed were saturated now with blood and that had her face morphing into one of compassion before looking up to him. "Your going to want to hold her for this." She readied her hands with the tip of the bottle near the opening of the wound as he found himself moving to her shoulders while Delphine held onto her knee's. Counting out, she quickly removed the clothes and poured the red liquid over the wound.

The spilled potion seeped into her wound and for a second, nothing happened. As seconds dragged on he'd doubted she had enough strength, but he found himself both surprised and glad he had placed one hand on her good shoulder and the other one holding her arm as her face changed from cold and mistaken to be sleeping to wide awake, afraid and in pain as small parts of skin and muscle began to restitch themselves. She flailed, arms and legs wild as a pained scream left her throat with such an intensity that Delphine flinched backwards, head tilting away.

"Stop! Make it stop!" Serlina gasped as she tried to move away from the liquid, her eyes moving around like she was trying to focus, until they landed on him, green and frantic. He didn't know how she managed it but her good arm got out of his grip to hold onto his arm, with a grip that was both strong and weak. "It hurts. Please. It hurts! Stop!"

"I know, lo- ladyship." Fuck, that was twice he had jumbled his words and his throat felt like he swallowed rocks again but his eyes lingered over her ribs, and held onto the sight of her body healing with a white-hot grip. "Just a little more." When the healing started to slow, Delphine moved to her head and poured the smaller bottle into her mouth as best as she could as she fought the effort. Coughing through it, she managed to get most of the contents in her. A warm glow gently shined under the skin and with a small shudder that wracked her whole body, she went limp in his hands.

His breath caught in his throat for a second before he saw her chest rise and fall once again though less stuttering this time. The breath he didn't realize he had been holding left him as several pairs of hands relaxed, his being the last. When they left her body, he caught Delphine wiping her brow with the back of her sleeve while Gerdur watched with trembling hands.

Serlina's breathing was slowing down, her head lulled to one side, sweat dripping from her hairline, wounds still healing, although too slow for his liking but it had colour returning to her face.

"Now, we shall just wait.. and see." Delphine spoke quietly, like she was afraid she would wake her.

That gave him no comfort even as he gave a nod of thanks when Gerdur withdrew herself from the room. Stalking to the wash basin, he put his hands in, and rubbed each finger, ridding himself of the remnants of her blood while Delphine stood in the room, watching Serlina with a thoughtful look on her face. Drying off his hands, he turned to her and shook his head, fighting the urge to throttle her and watched her put her hands on her hips.

"Don't look at me and act like I sent her in half-assed."

Throwing the rag down on the small table harder than needed, he growled low. "Wasn't it you who said were blundering around in the dark?" He shot back and watched her narrow her eyes a little.

"She knew the risks and went willingly, if I recall correctly.. And it's a little disquieting that you, as her trusted companion, think that she isn't skilled enough to the point that she wouldn't come back. She will be fine. She's the Dragonborn. She'll recover." Delphine shot back and that had him grinding his teeth before taking a long second to rein in his growing temper.

"You didn't even believe her to be the dragonborn when she got here."

"I was being cautious." She countered.

The way she said it nearly had him in her face.

"And yet, your caution didn't seem to factor in the fact that she is in earnest, half High Elf." The words left him in a heated rush and her face paled considerably when they must have settled in her ears.. He had a small inkling that Serlina would have scolded or Shouted at him for letting things slip but he pushed forward anyway. "And not only that, you thought that she would do well in a party surrounded by those who, if you had spoken to her, or for fucks sake, really looked at her and gotten to know her more than just a few details, banished her from their people and cities because of her mixed blood." The growing shock on her face morphed into several emotions but the one that made him feel almost as content as the idea of hitting her was shame. "And what really pisses me off is that your caution for yourself took priority over the Dragonborn's potentials wellbeing."

He leveled her with cold look. "I am just letting you know yours." She seemed to be still digesting his words because she just sent him a confused look that had him shaking his head again. "Your risks, that is." He looked over his shoulder to Serlina and for a quick second, watched her chest rise and fall slowly. "As for her skills, I don't question them but I do know that no matter how skilled you can be, everyone has limits. And Serlina, has to make up for your limits by no doubt pushing her own." His hand clasped the side of the doorframe and leaned forward. "So you did, in fact, send her in half assed."

Delphine looked visibly torn, looking from him to Serlina. Without a word, she turned away and headed to her own room.

Resigning himself with a sigh, he turned sharp on his heel and grabbed the back on the chair that rested by the table and dragged it a little harshly over to the side of the bed before sitting down. A small knock came from the doorway and there stood Orgnar.

"You need a drink?"

He could have certainly used one after that but while he watched her chest rise and fall, unsteadily almost, he found himself shaking his head no. As the sound of his footsteps grew quiet he was left with feeling uneasy with the idea of not being fully coherent while she lay like this. The sound of paws on stone caught his ear and drew a small bit of comfort when Karnwyr lay his head on the edge of her bed and let out a small whine before taking his place by laying at his feet.

It seemed now; the real waiting began. Now and again, she mumbled something, only a few things he was able to make out coherently but more so, he watched as her eyes under the lids moved now and again. Dreaming. Her brow furrowed now and again and he was left wondering… just what was she dreaming about…

---

Hours.

Hours he watched her, fighting off sleep even when it called to him greatly.

He'd never felt such debilitating fear that if he were to close his eyes, she could be dead if he were to open them. Fuck, running a hand over his face, he resisted the urge to pace the room again for the dozenth time. The fear at that prospect put a rock in his stomach, tightened across his ribs, and stabbed at his chest like an ice-cold blade at the thought of her not...

He sighed heavily, a soft curse leaving his lips.

His whole life, he had gone without having to care for another living soul, at least, not since Jules. It wasn't in him. He hated even the idea of it. He was always sure of his footing. Always sure that prey stayed prey. And yet, as he watched her, hour after hour as she breathed he felt a spark of hope with each rise and fall of her chest at the thought of her returning back to her usual self.

He found himself unintentionally teetering on an edge that he swore he would never find himself on.

When in Oblivion had things shifted to this point?

He had moved to get a drink when he noticed her blinked a few times, letting her eyes slowly adjust to the light, and then fully opened them. Her eyes flickered around before coming to rest and focused on his face, taking in the lines of strain no doubt. When they warmed and softened, his whole body gave way when she gave him a watery smile.

"Hey." A little hoarse but still sounding soft, the single word had the stubborn clenching in his chest relaxing as he gave a small smile back as he set the cup down and was at her side a moment later.

"Hey, sweetness." His voice sounded too emotional, even to his own ears and he could only hope she didn't hear it.

He watched as she took in her surroundings before a thought seemed to have her lifting her hand to gently shake off a gauntlet and let it fall to the floor beside her bed. He watched as her hand lifted and got the wind knocked out of him for a whole different reason.

Resting on her finger, was his ring he had given her. Gingerly her other hand lifted to slide it off her finger before holding it out to him.

Looking from it to her, he almost frowned at the sting he internally felt but it was swept away by the victorious smile she gave him. "You were right. It gave me strength. Got me here. Though I think I got a little lost without my ranger to get me to where I was hoping to go."

His hand closed over hers even as it still held the ring between her fingers and almost took a sharp breath in as he felt something give way, felt the stable ground he had built himself on crumble before he found solid ground again. "Nah, you… you keep it."

It was all he could manage. All he felt sure enough to say.

"Keep it?" She huffed softly, no doubt the best form of a laugh she could manage. "I thought it was more of a … gesture, or even a loan."

That had him giving her a smirk. "In a way.. I suppose was." He admitted softly and watched her eyes linger when he let it go. "But now, I think you should keep it." He leaned back in his seat, needing a little distance. "Besides, don't women usually like trinkets like that?"

"I've said this before, its not often I get them. If ever." The words were soft spoken, like she was shocked he was giving it to her, just like back at the mill. "Wouldn't a few of your admirers come after me for it?" She was teasing but the idea of another woman wearing it had him scoffing.

"If that should happen, just Shout them into pieces for me." He shrugged as her mouth gapped open a little. "What's that look for?"

"I-its nothing I just- I thought that you- well I mean.." Gods, seeing her look so wondrously baffled had him want to kiss the living daylights out of her. Even her cheeks took on a little tint that had him leaning forward on his elbows.

"Ladyship, listen." He softly chuckled under his breath. "The only woman I've had my eyes on all this time… is you." He heard the honesty in his own words that were then followed by a quiet yet long inhale on her part. Looking at her hand, he felt like he sat a little straighter when he saw her slip it back on her finger. "And you alone." With his trademark smirk, he sat back a little and gave her a thoughtful look over before nodding more to himself than anything. "And personally, I think it suits you better, so I want you to keep it."

A second ticked by, then another before he watched her nod and then sit back.

"How long have I been out?" She asked softly, changing the subject. He didn't know how he felt about it, but then, a lot had just shifted no doubt for the both of them and moved with the change of subject.

"Since we found you and brought you here? Just over a day. Slept straight through it." Mostly.

"You stayed with me?" He couldn't help the way his mouth dropped open as if she was daft for even thinking-

"Of course I fucking stayed with you. I'm…" He trailed off with a soft curse when Delphine stalking inside the room, looking between the two of them with a set of her clothes..

"What happened to you?" She asked jumping right into it as she set the clothes down on the table.

He watched her wince slightly, her hand going to where her injury was. "The worst of it was dragons."

"Dragons?" He echoed.

"Mmm.. Two of them. I was maybe an hour or two into the carriage ride when I got that sensation on the back of my neck again." Her hand lifted and gently touched her throat before moving around to the back of it just under her hairline. "Not long after I heard the sound of wings and a roar above the treeline." She shifted a little and winced. "I just managed to jump off before the carriage was blasted with fire. The driver went flying, landing hard on some rocks as pieces of the carriage fell down around him. When I managed to get to him, he had a large piece of wood through his chest and he was gasping for his son." Her eyes looked down and he watched as a sorrowful bitterness briefly swept over it. "He didn't make it." She shook her head, like the memory of the sight lingered. "I grabbed a steel sword that I found amongst the wreckage and stabbed that fucking dragon in its eye when it landed to eat his corpse." Her hands curled into fists by her side. "I wanted to bury him, but apparently when we had been attacked, it hadn't been far from the party because the next thing I know, I was surrounded by armoured guards and mages." She sighed and relaxed her hands. "From there I showed them my invitation and they escorted me back on foot. When I got inside, I looked a little messed up from the attack and I asked politely to be excused to get cleaned up. Elenwyn grabbed Malborn and told him to take me. From there, he managed to get me what I gave him and we parted ways a few moment later."

Delphine looked like she was calculating something as she listened and nodded along. "You made it out alive, at least. Your gear's safe in my room, as promised."

He watched Serlina's tired eyes moved to him, a silent question being spoken that had him raising a hand as if to stop her from getting up.. "Swords too, they're safe." Nodding in thanks, she looked back to Delphine as she took a stepped deeper into the room.

"Did you learn anything useful?" Delphine pressed as she crossed her arms expectantly.

Serlina shifted, trying to sit up and with a small wince, she just managed to do it. "I did." She met Delphine's gaze head on. "The Thalmor know nothing about the dragons."

Delphine blinked and a scowl crossed her face. "Really?" She scoffed, "That seems hard to believe. You're sure about that?"

Apparently she wasn't taking what he said earlier to heart and grinded his molars. Delphine's second guessing was now becoming tiresome. "Why'd you send her in if you weren't going to believe her?" He snapped. Delphine looked from him to Serlina and her head stiffly bobbed up and down, if albeit reluctantly and dropped her arms to her sides.

"You're right, you're right. I just...I was sure it must have been them. If not the Thalmor, who? Or...what?" She took a short breath and let it out harshly. "Your sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." She snapped back as her fingers tapped idly on the bed then stilled as a thought came to her though. "But the Thalmor are looking for- hang on" she reached into the small pouch on the side of the armour she had been wearing and pulled out a red leather-bound journal and flipped to a page near the back, her fingers moved over what was written before stilling, "someone named.. Esbern?"

That had Delphine stepping forward, face reading shock and maybe awe.

"Esbern? He's alive?" It was a serious mixture of the two, for sure. "I thought the Thalmor must have got him years ago. That crazy old man... Figures the Thalmor would be on his trail, though, if they were trying to figure out what's going on with the dragons."

"What would the Thalmor want with this Esbern?" Serlina asked as she shifted to have her legs over the edge of the bed and with a soft smile, started rubbing Karnwyr between his ears when he rose from the floor to place his muzzle on her knee's as his tail swished from side to side.

Delphine huffed and paced a few steps. "You mean, aside from wanting to kill every Blade they can get their hands on?" He watched Serlina sag a little in the bed, her hand stopping mid scratch on Karnwyr earning a small whine from the wolf as a cold look of irritation took its place.

"Answer her question, Delphine." His eyes narrowed warningly as he crossed his arms, his town drew her to a stop.

She looked from him to Serlina before she frowned and rubbed a hand over her chin. "Esbern was one of the Blades archivists, back before the Thalmor smashed us in the Great War. He knew everything about the ancient dragonlore of the Blades. Obsessed with it, really. Nobody paid much attention back then." She laughed to herself, and looked away from them, a distant look settling over her face. "I guess he wasn't as crazy as we all thought."

Jury was still out, in his opinion.. "So the Thalmor think the Blades know about the dragons." He meant it as a statement but it almost sounded like a question.

That had her looking back to him with a rueful smirk. "Ironic, right? The old enemies assume that every calamity must be a plot by the other side... Even so, we've got to find Esbern before they do. He'll know how to stop the dragons if anybody does." She looked back to Serlina. "Do they know where he is?"

Looking to the journal once again, he watched her fingers trail over the pages until they stilled somewhere. "They seem to think he's hiding out in Riften."

That had him raising a brow. "Riften, eh?" He cut in, getting both of their eyes on him. "Probably down in the Ratway, then." They both watched him and returned their stare with a single shoulder shrug. "What? It's where I'd go. Better drinks there."

Delphine looked between the two of them, eyes brightening. "You'd better get to Riften then. When you get there, you could talk to someone named Brynjolf. He's...well-connected. A good starting point, at least."

He rolled his eye to the ceiling. Not that redheaded pickpocket.

Serlina looked thoughtful before she laughed gently. "I.. have a contact there already."

"Is that so?" He lifted a brow and vaguely pointed to himself before she shook her head no. He was going to ask who when Delphine cut him off.

"Oh well regardless, when you are feeling more up to it, you should get moving. I'll grab the rest of your gear." With that, she walked out, leaving them alone. Looking Serlina over, he couldn't believe what a day of rest could do, but she still looked a little worse for wear than he would have admitted but the colour was back in her face. Although... Now that Delphine was gone, she looked like she was in a daze until she must've felt his eyes on her. Looking back to him, she let out a long sigh, a small smile curling her lips but it didn't seem to reach her eyes.

"Could I have the room… to get redressed?" Lifting a hand to her shoulder she rolled it, almost as if she had slept wrong and her muscles were sore. He wouldn't blame her if she was. She'd taken one hell of a beating. He hummed in agreement and whistled for Karnwyr and started towards the door and waited until he padded out before closing reaching for the handle to the door behind him.

"Your swords are under the bed, but strapped to the frame." He watched her kneel down, slowly and how she slightly pressed her lips together before reaching under the bed and when he heard the sound of metal being moved did he close the door behind him.

"I have to say that I'm surprised she's trying to get me out ask quickly as she is." Her voice was muffled from inside the room but he managed to make out the most of it.

"You wont be missing her company much, take it from me." He groaned in pain, recalling her yammering. "I probably emptied a cask and a half trying to drown her out." His admittance had the sound of her chuckling low met his ears. "But I have to say, she isn't wrong about asking around the Ragged Flagon, in the Ratway." He offered through the door. He heard the sound of shuffling and a small grunt before the shuffling continued again. Not long after, the door swung open with a sight for sore eyes she stood in her usual armour. "It's at least a good starting point." He finished. She stood close enough that he started to log her healed injuries but his gaze snapped to her ribs, and nearly reached out to trace his fingers over the spot but refrained. "Are you sure your okay to be moving around?" He spoke low, tearing his sight back to her face." Her eyes scanned over his face, warmed until the hazel changed to the deep brown that had his chest ache before her head moved up and down reassuringly.

"I'm getting there." Her words were soft, tired but sure. She looked like she was going to say more but must've decided against it when her eyes snapped to the door across the way and started towards it. Her steps were a little shorter than usual but never sling in their confident stride. Making their way back to the secret room, she entered just as Delphine was rising from the large chest that was on the left side of the room, pack under her arm. Looking back to the stairs, Delphine looked momentarily surprised to see them before she started towards them, holding it out to her..

"When you find Esbern...if you think I'm paranoid...you may have some trouble getting him to trust you." He rolled his eyes to the ceiling as she handed the pack over. "Just ask him where he was on the 30th of Frostfall. He'll know what it means."

Serlina casted her a look that had him covering his grin.

"Right. I'll keep that in mind." Serlina managed to get out as she adjusted the ties on her buckle, her swords gently clanging as Delphine went back to the table in the middle of the room to look over the map that rested there. Something must've popped into Serlina's mind because her hands stilled for a moment when she could have just turned and started to go back up the stairs. Turning to Delphine, she watched as the woman looked up from the map and regarded her coolly.

"Need something else?"

Serlina chewed on the corner of her bottom lip for a second before she took a step back into the room, towards Delphine. "You haven't asked about him." Her tone was accusatory, lifting both his brow and Delphine's.

That had Delphine frowning. "About who?"

That had Serlina clicking her tongue softly.

"Malborn." She stated as she fully turned to look at her. "You haven't even asked about him or his well being." Her eyes narrowed just slightly. "I just find that odd since he was such an important contact of yours."

"Oh, I didn't?" Delphine frowned.

"No, you immediately jumped to the Thalmor." He added casting her a dry look, the earlier rant he had given her hung between them.

"Well," Delphine raised a shoulder and dropped it. "It was a more pressing concern."

Serlina gapped at her for a single second before she was almost glaring at her. "So you don't care if he's alive or not?" Serlina rounded back.

"He helped you get what we needed. What you needed. That's what contacts do and that's all that matters."

"You bitch." His brows raised at Serlina tone, the anger held in check as her right hand clenched at her side, while the other pointed a finger at her. "I'm starting to think that the lives of others are of little to no consequence to you as long as you get a fragment of the result you are hoping for in the end."

"We have bigger things to worry about." Delphine lifted up from the table and circled around it. "You may not like that I am able to think beyond losses, but in the long run, I am sure we can make time to remember those we will lose along the way."

"If you don't care about who you lose along the way and try to lessen those losses then you wont be 'The Blades' either!" Serlina snapped back taking a step towards her. "If your trying to rebuild something that has values that are as poor as you're making them out to be, then I worry about the very foundations and morals you are hoping to spread and grow again."

The way Delphine shrink back nearly had him huff in approval before his brows rose when Delphine stood straight again.

"You let me worry about the Blades and our standards you just focus on finding Esbern."

"Fine."

"Before you go, did the Thalmor have any information on me?" The question seemed to raise Serlina's shoulders just slightly, if he hadn't been behind her he probably wouldn't have caught it. Turning to look over her shoulder to Delphine who stood at the bottom of the stairs, Serlina leveled her with a look.

"No." So short and dry cut that he nearly winced but it was Delphine's shock that had him feeling intrigued. "I thought it curious too," Serlina continued as she moved up the stairs, favouring her one side, "since you were so paranoid and I figured you should rightly be so, but it seems the Thalmor didn't even find you worthy of a footnote." Reaching the top, she waited till he and Karnwyr passed so she could look at Delphine directly. "Don't look so shocked Delphine. You said it yourself." She shrugged nonchalantly. "They have bigger things to be aware of that take a priority."

And with that, Serlina turned and walked out of the inn without a backwards glance and he closely behind.

He was stunned as the fresh air hit him while she took out her map after making a quick stop to give money to Gurder in return for what she had done, looking over the best way to get there no doubt.

"I know how to get there from practically everywhere, ladyship. I can take point if you want." His offering hung between them for maybe a moment before she was folding her map up.

"That would be appreciated. Lead the way, tracker." That had him snorting before leading them out of the village. They had passed the stone bridge before he sent her a sideways glance.

"So…" He drawled low getting her attention.

"So?" She echoed, looking to him.

"Do you want to tell me about what happened?" He watched as flickers of emotions moved over her face before the look of resignation settled.

"It's a little messy and could take a while." She admitted, gently biting the bottom corner of her lip again.

"We have a few days travel ahead of us, ladyship." He laid a hand over her shoulder and stilled their walking. "I'd want to know what I missed out on." He admitted but withheld the fact that it was because of the way she had spoken to Delphine that had caught his ear. She hadn't been lying, but she hadn't been telling her everything.

With a long sigh, she looked up into his face and her shoulders sagged before she moved onwards.

"Walking into and through the party hadn't been a problem, although the looks I was receiving from some of the guests were no doubt from the state of my clothes. I'd been singed, dirtied, and thrown but still holding on… And I used it to my advantage."

---

It was a rather simple but luxurious place, the music faint and soothing. The scent of simple food met my nose and the sound of distant chatter had me bracing myself as I wiped my hands over my arms, hoping to rid myself of the dirt and dissuade her from shaking my hand. It worked.

"Welcome." I looked up and met the face of a female High Elf. For a moment, I was thrown back into the days where I feared the High Council. I even dropped my hands and started to lace my fingers like I had back then until my fingers touches something metallic and warm. Bowing my head in greeting, I glanced to my hands and saw the ring that Bishop had given me, felt a warmth run through me as I recalled his hands on me, his lips and slowly unlaced my hands and instead, tucked them by my sides. Whether she took note of this or not, I didn't care. Instead, I raised my head high and met her pointed eye stare with one of my own. "I don't believe we've met. I am Elenwen, the Thalmor Ambassador to Skyrim." Her olive eyes flicked me over before landing back on my face. "And you are...?"

"My name is Serlina." I offer my name freely and note that there isn't a hint of recognition on her face from it, granting me a small modicum amount of relief. "Pleased to meet you, Elenwen."

"Ah yes. I remember your name from the guest list." She gestured for me to head deeper in while my heart steadied from the momentary jump before settling back down as we ventured in. "Please, tell me more about yourself. What brings you to this..." She trailed off as her hand made a general wave around us before she finished on a sneered; "to Skyrim?"

"Honestly I grew tired of the same driveling thing and moved on to a different setting in hopes that it would invigorate me." I'd heard it several times when passing around in Morrowind, and the way her eyes warmed in understanding.

"Ah I understand." Her mouth opened to say more but was stilled when a commotion drew our attention in the center of the room to our left.

A man probably in his 50's was looking a little vexed as he stood beside a female Bosmer. "So. You think you can toy with me, is that it?"

The woman looked around as eyes drew her way, and an uncomfortable "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to give you the wrong impression earlier. I meant no disrespect."

"Oh, don't worry. I'll let you make it up to me. Now, where can we go for a little privacy, hmm?" I watched as he trailed a finger down her face till he almost reached her neck before she recoiled away from him.

"No, I'm sorry, but I'm not permitted to leave the party."

"Oh, don't worry, my dear, I will make any necessary excuses to your employer."

"I won't. Please, I must get back to my duties." She turned to walk away but drew short when he grabbed her arm and credit goes to her, she didn't drop her tray of drinks, though they did rattle slightly.

"Don't you dare walk away from me, you slut! Do you know who I am?"

"Please, sir, leave me alone!"

"Ah yes, what's a respectable party without a woman being unnecessarily sexual harassed and belittled?" I mutter as I look to Elenwen who returned my lecturing tone with one of solidified intent.

"Apologies. I must deal with this matter and we shall talk after."

"Indeed."

I caught Malborn off to my right behind a counter that had stacks of different bottled of wine, shifting forward slightly, like he wanted to jump the counter and managed to restrain himself, but the muscle in his jaw was unmistakable. Walking over as casually as I could manage, I picked up the goblet that was slide along the bar and lifted it to my lips to hide them as I spoke into the brim while looking on.

"Malborn." I got a respectable bow as if he had served me but the strain in his eyes were enough to.

"Seems you got here well enough." I hummed and did my best not to glare at the guests who were looking me over. Thank Z'en this party wasn't full of Altmer or things might've gone awry. A shuffle and perhaps a shave caught my attention and my eyes locked back on the man who was still trying to pull the Bosmer towards him. Something clicked in my memory that had feeling rigid. I recognized him! He had been in the Blue Palace when I had been in Solitude. He was standing in the same room as-

"Something wrong with your beverage, Madame?" Malborn played his part well and still manage to ride the line of spy meets overeager server.

"That man there has it leaving a foul taste in my mouth, that's all." I made a vague gesture to the goblet but held it in my line of sight.

"Erikur. He's been eyeing Brelas for the majority of his stay at this party." His hands clenched around a rag as he wiped down the little bar.

"Now you're going to be sorry you crossed me. Elenwen!" Erikur spread his arms out, making this whole thing more obnoxious before he pointed to Brelas. "This servant girl has been throwing herself at me in a most disgusting manner."

Elenwen looked at him curiously before she turned her sharp eye to the woman in question then back to him. "Is that so, Erikur? And you with such delicate sensibilities. It must have been most upsetting." Her tone was dry and was hard to tell if she was being honest or mocking.

"I demand that you have this wench removed from my presence at once!" He pointed a finger in Brelas' face, earning him a step back from her. Poor girl, looking to Elenwen for some sort of help.

Elenwen sighed and looked resigned as she looked between the two of them. "Well. Whatever the truth of it, I'm sure a few word with Master Rulindil will have a salutary effect. Take her downstairs."

Thalmor Soldiers stepped forward with a; "Yes, Madame Ambassador."

All the while my blood ran ice cold as my fingers clenched around the goblet. I faintly heard the sound of the ceramic crack and had to force myself to gently put it down while Malborn gave me a wary look.

---

He had listened intently, absorbing it all as they had walked through the waning afternoon, but the name she had just said through clenched teeth had him taking her arm to stop their pace.

"What is it?" She looked up at him and he felt a sudden knawing at his guts.

"You've said that name before. Rulindil." He clarified.

Something in her eyes changed, sharpened before looking away. They flickered absently, like she was lost in thought before she gently shook her head. "No, I don't think I have."

"When you were unconscious." And almost dead. A torn look shifted her face, and after a moment, she turned to face him, her left hand lifting to her opposite shoulder and squeezed it once, twice before letting it drop back down just like she had this morning.

"Let me just finish telling you about the whole thing than you can ask me any questions you like." She didn't turn away from him, but she also couldn't meet his gaze either.

He would press, but he figured that if she was going to give him all the details he wanted, he wouldn't say no.

"Alright. Carry on." He urged as he continued leading them.

---

Looking to the ring on my finger, my thumb rubbed over the wolfs face and it brought me the centering I needed as I heard the girl start to struggle.

"No! Mistress Elenwen, it's not true! I did nothing!" Her head snapped to Erikur; eyes frantic. "Sir, you must tell her! You don't know what they'll do to me! Please!" Gods, her boots squealed along the floor as the dragged her through a set of doors leading out into what looked to be a hallway.

Erikur looked to Elenwen with a smile that made me want to shove broken glass in his mouth. Turning away from the group, I take an actual hearty swallow of my drink and almost slam the glass down. I knew of the unpleasantries that girl would be on the receiving end of and it would be frightening. And if she was going to be taken to him… well… I might just have to make a quick stop while looking for information. "Well, I'm glad that little unpleasantness is over." The soft chuckles that followed Erikur's words had me wanting to storm over and put my foot so far up his-

"Madame Ambassador."

Malborn stood straighter and bowed a little, if a bit strained. That had me turning to face her and met her resigned look with one of my own.

"Serena, was it?" She asked and I nearly scoffed.

"Serlina." I corrected as I swirled the liquid of my drink in my goblet.

"I'm concerned why you haven't started to mingle, or was the little commotion too much for you?"

I smiled while looking down at my cup. "I appreciate the gesture Elenwen, but I am well. The little mishap with the girl was of little to nothing of comparison since I just had an encounter with a dragon naught an hour ago." Her eyes widened slightly. "I see your guards didn't inform you." I say quietly and watched as her head spun to look around to the guards who had accompanied me. "Pay them no ill will. I suppose they are just as shaken as I. Though, I don't suppose I could request a moment or two to slip away to… freshen up?" I inquire and her eyes come back to me. She now seems to take in my full appearance, the burnt and dirtied clothes, no doubt my hairs less that graceful.. "I would feel better mingling if I didn't look like I just.. well, rolled around with a dragon or at the very least, looked like I bathed in soot. Even from here I am getting odd stares." I chuckle shyly and watch as she considers it before nodding.

"I think I can allow that." I hoped she didn't see my relief, and instead she looked behind me.

"Malborn." She snapped and I faintly heard the sound of a jug nearly dropping. "Take her to the guest room and see if you can find her something to wear." I must've looked perplexed because she leaned in a little. "I'm sorry, but I think new clothes would be much preferred."

"Is it that bad?" I joke and she almost smiles as Malborn bows again..

"You do look rather…. singed." Her attention is diverted once again and with a few words of appreciation and a bow, she is off to tend to her guests. Malborn leads me through a set of doors that the guards are waiting by and after some whispering on their part, they unlock it to let us through before closing it behind us. Leading us to an adjoining room that had a few pieces of food stored, Malborn gestures to a chest when I step in.

"You didn't even need to make a distraction." Malborn looked both pleased and cautions as I pulled my gear from the chest. It wasn't much but it would have to do. This was to be a stealth mission after all. A small blade, my lockpick, and clothes. I close the door enough so that I can get changed in peace before I am straightening. I would stick out like a sore thumb in close quarters like this in m own gear. I drop the grip I had on the fine long.. shirt, dress and instead turn to open the door to face Malborn who looks uneasy. "I.. have a request." He states after a second or two.

"What is it?" I look down the hall we are in and make sure there is no one around.

"Brelas, the Bosmer you saw earlier… Could you… make sure she is safe?" He met my eyes and I found myself nodding. "She would have been taken to the interrogation cells; I think that's located in the Elenwyn's Solar but its under guard." The sound of raised voices had him glancing backwards towards the party. "I have to head back before Elenwen gets suspicious."

"Good luck." I offer and he returns it and closed the door, blocking him from my sight. The room was sparse but it did have robes and a spare set of elvish armour.

Leave it to Altmer to always travel light. Picking up the rob I held it in my hands. I could feel the enchantment in it and my hand tightened. If I wore this, I could move around more quietly than in my own clothes, but I wouldn't be able to wield any weapons with it. But the armour was full coverage and if I got into a fight, I would need the extra protection. Decision made; I tossed the robe aside with a little more aggression than probably necessary. From there, I moves quietly under the illusion that I was a guard. With the helmet, I was able to walk by several guard without being hassled or stopped. Thank my mothers blood.

Admittedly, I wandered around for a little longer than was probably necessary, the layout of this place confusing to me and with a sharp turn left again I entered a room with access to a second-floor exit. This opened thankfully to an exterior area with more armed guards but my sights settled on the building in the center. That had to be the Solar. Ducking low when the sound of footsteps came to my ear I overheard what must be been the patrols.

"Did you see those robes march in this morning? Who're they with? More of the Emissary's treaty enforcers?"

"No. They're high mages, just in from Alinor. I guess Elenwen herself is finally getting worried about all the dragon attacks."

High mages? Here?

"Ah, good. I was wondering how we were supposed to defend this place from a dragon."

"If a dragon does show up, maybe we'll get lucky and it will eat the mages first. Might give us enough time to kill it."

"Ha! I'd like to see those arrogant bastards taken down a notch. Always looking down their noses at us lowly footsloggers."

"Speaking of looking down, you should have seen the guest Erborin brought in. Survived a Dragon attack."

"No shit?"

"Came in all burnt and shaking like a leaf."

"Sounds like you when Rulindil says he's bored."

"He wont be for much longer. Apparently that Bosmer that was in the kitchens earlier got into a small disagreement with one of the partygoers and was placed in his care."

"Better her than us." They share a hearty laugh before one guard clears his throat.

"Well, I guess we should get back to our rounds."

The two guards who parted I easily avoided, but a mage guarded the door and would alert the guards if I attacked. It is, however, possible to go through the door with if I knocked him unconscious. Robes after all weren't helmets. With the small dagger I brought with me, I flipped it in my pal so the blade faced me, but the pommel of it was near my thumb. I waited, watched as the patrols moved and when I had an opening, I swung hard, the pommel connecting to the temple of the mage and like a rock, he dropped. I moved over him and tried the door and with a breath of relief, it opened. Stepping in, I closed it behind me, hopefully none the wiser. Now, I only had maybe a few minutes before all Oblivion broke loose.

"Is someone there?"

Shit! My eyes needed a second to adjust from the brightness of the outside to inside, but I heard the sound of a weapon being drawn and I saw a guard coming down a flight of stairs ahead of me, I ducked down and moved quickly to hide behind one of the pillars to the right of me. Back to the stone, I heard whoever it was walk past. A second that dragged to long was followed by the sound of the weapon sheathing and the calmer steps back in the direction of the stairs. Leaning to peer around, I waited until they were headed up and out of sight. Staying low, I pressed onward and deeper. The solar appeared to be quiet, other than a few guards that moved in their patrols. Coming across an office, I opened it and found few red bound journals. A quick skim had a few names popping out at me and thought it best to pocket them. I was heading back to leave when I was hit with the faint scent of blood and alchemy and the muffled sounds of voices. I followed it to a door that was ajar that looked to lead into a larger room with an observation deck.

But when I peeked inside, I heard a voice that had me stepping in and closing the door behind me.

"I have to say, its not often I get someone like you in my chambers but I am willing to accommodate the surprise."

That voice.

My back lit up with phantom sensations, my ears hearing the faint crack of the leather and my knees almost shook as my molars gnashed together while I was swamped with memories. Not with fear however. No, I wanted to lunge into action and put my swords through his spine.

"Please, I didn't do anything!"

"I'm sure you think that. But I am sure that together, we will be able to get to the matter at hand. But first, I need more ink if I am to do this properly." The sounds of chains were quickly followed by the clasping of cuffs. "There. See? I told you they were more comfortable than they looked.. You there, you're dismissed. I can handle it from here."

The sound of footsteps on wood had me moving quickly to find anywhere to hide.

"I shall leave you to your thought's and will be back shortly." He hummed to himself, something mindless and he too started up the stairs.

I heard the door open once again and close. The sound spurred me into action as I made my way quickly down the stairs. Checking over my shoulder I went to the desk first and searched thought he papers found there. When nothing of note came up, I thought I heard voices from above me and moved to the chest that was beside it. Inside was another set of books. One of which held the name of Esbern. I grabbed it and was about to leave when the sound of a man in pain gave me pause. I lowered myself and walked around to peer inside the cell and was smacked hard with the scent of blood, thicker now and when I looked inside the cell, I nearly saw red. On the one closest to the desk, there appeared to be a man bare from the waist up, held in shackles. Blond hair smeared with blood throughout fell in front of his face. Bruises, cuts, and no doubt an all manor of internal injuries. The gate was locked but it wasn't difficult to get it open. Convinced him to escape with me and after he was uncuffed did it get a little dicey.

In the end result I got him, Malborn and the Breton out. Ettiene told me he was from Riften, and that they had plucked him from there while I changed into the elvish armour. We could hear the commotion even from far away, and I figure that if they saw a figure in elvish armour moving around in the woods, they'd figure me to be one of their sentries. Ettiene said that if I ever needed anything, that I was able to come see him and ask. Malborn was frantic, worrying that the Thalmor would be chasing him for the rest of his life and I gave him a solution. I managed to write a quick letter and told him to take it to someone in Morrowind. He would be well taken care of and that he wouldn't be looked for there. The offer was extended to Brelas as well. Parting all our own ways, I started back to Riverwood.. I will say that without someone who knows the land, I might've gotten a little lost and ended up cornered by another dragon that burned me pretty good through the armour and when I was trying to run between a few rocks, he nipped my ribs. Hurt like a daedra. I had given the three of them the few things I had collected and wasn't left with much. I used it as sparingly as possible but I can't tell when my vision started to go but when I couldn't walk anymore, I found a tree and sat down to take a breather… I was just… exhausted.

---

"And that's when I found you." He huffed. "Ladyship, I for one don't know why you thought it best to give up everything you had or at least found.. "

"Haven't we talked about this before, it's called helping people, Bishop."

"But why do you do it?"

She briefly looked puzzled at his question. "It's what I do."

"Even if it puts you in constant danger?"

"Helping people isn't always dangerous. Its just.. Its what's right."

That had him rolling his eyes with a scoff. "What's right she says. Do you wanna know what I think is right?"

"I mean, if your sharing?"

"Throwing you over my shoulder and saving you before you go and get yourself killed."

She looked like she was fighting a smile and was losing the way the corners of her mouth were twitching. "I should have guessed, though that just sound like a charming way of saying you want to kidnap me just to have me all for yourself." That had him smirking..

"An interesting idea." He spoke low and grinned wickedly when she cleared her throat, looking away.

"Well, at the time, I was in a better state then they were. They were torturing that man and Z'en knows what they would have done to that woman…" She let out an impatient huff that was quickly followed by a slight wince as she rubbed her ribs. "I recognized the results of their methods. They start with a general beating around major your organs, vulnerable spots to soften you up.. then they move to using blades in the same area, cutting where your already hurting. I don't know why they would do it, but it always works. Not to mention they cast spells to make you more susceptible to giving up information." She swallowed and shook her head. "I couldn't leave either of them to that fate, so I got them out. It took a little bit of handling but we all managed to get out from a passage that they used to dispose of bodies.

"Ladyship, think that if you had just had another potion or shit, even some bread, you would've been in a better state then the one I found you in." Anger pulsed in him, quick and fast, making him clench his hand into fists. "Anything else?"

He didn't miss the way her eyes shifted downward, the slight shuffle in her feet.

"No.. that's ah, that's pretty much it."

He doubted it, but he was to tired to push.

"How do you know about their methods.." The question didn't sit well with her, he could tell by the way she shifted once again, the way she rolled on shoulder like she was working out a kink in the muscle.

She sighed and ran a hand over her shoulders again and looked around. "I don't suppose we could stop and make camp to rest here for a while?" She looked to him with tired eyes. "No doubt we both look like we could use it."

She was skirting and the more he pressed, the more irritated she was looking. He was going to say that it was still early until he glanced to the sky until he frowned when he saw the sun starting to drop out. When had it grown so late? They had made some decent ground, but they seemed to have been dragging their feet. Then again, he casted his eyes to her and took stalk. Her eyes were nearly free of the bruises, nose realigned to its gentle slope, lips back to their alluring colour, even the deeper wounds were mostly healed, but from the way she moved and walked, she seemed to favour one side. Since they had momentarily stopped he began to feel the weight of the day on him and the exhaustion that accompanied it.

"On that, I will agree with you, princess." His head was filled with everything she had told him while his body was nagging for rest.

"Okay. I'll go look for some branches for the fire." She spoke as she placed her small pack down. When he set his own gear down, he looked to her and almost called out when he saw her looking a little uneasy and lost in thought.

"Karnwyr." He felt the wolf rub his head against his leg before looking up at him. "Go find something for dinner." With a pleased bark, he watched Karnwyr take off into the treeline. Setting up their bedrolls, I started on making a firepit and by the time it was ready, Serlina was back, stacking decent sized branches in a teepee.

Grabbing his knife, he scraped it against a flint rock until the sparks caught.

He leaned back as the fire grew once again and sat back on his heels. Looking over, he watched Serlina settling in and started looking over a few leather-bound journals. Karnwyr returned dragging a pair of rabbits and if a wolf could look smug, he nearly managed it. Taking to skinning and setting them up to roast, he set them up with a potatoes on the side. Looking back up to Serlina, he sat back when her hand lifted to her shoulder and absently rubbed even as her eyes never lifted from the book.. He hadn't seen her this engrossed in books for a while but it was the way her brow furrowed now and again that had him almost smirking until he saw that she hadn't gone any farther in the book since he had started making the food.

"Oi, ladyship." That seemed to snap her out of it, but her eyes still seemed unfocused as she blinked up at him. "You alright?" He glanced to the book then back up to her face. "You haven't turned a page for a while." Lifting the book to sit in her lap, she closed it with her hand.

"Yeah, Its just the Thalmor had journals about a few people, Delphine included. I was just seeing if they had anything on her that I should keep my eye out for."

He teasingly gasped. "You mean you lied to Delphine about journal being about her?"

"She was already paranoid enough and I didn't want to feed her ego boost."

"And? Anything of interest?"

"Well, admittedly they have been looking for her for some time, so her paranoia is understandable but this isn't their top priority." She scratched along the back of her neck. "Even the dates are long past."

"And that made it stop being a page turner?"

"Well, there was one here that I can't make heads or tails of and even that was more interesting than anything I have here." She scratched her brow, and then rubbed her eyes. "Ill hang onto it for now, hopefully it'll make more sense down the road."

"Like the archivist were looking for?" He watched something dark flickered over her face before the crackle of the fire washed it away.

"Maybe." Her eyes went down to the fire and flipped a few sticks to keep it going as he turned the rabbits. "I can't help but think of the people they would have tortured to find this guy. And not to even imagine the result of even finding him." She lifted her legs to rest her arms on top of her knees, her chin on top.

He knew the look of someone who was spiraling into a dark place and seeing Serlina start to do it had his chest tightening.

"Look, we have to keep the conversation light, otherwise it stops being fun and we'll just get depressed." He made his tone teasing and thankfully caught her attention, Her head lifted and a brow quirked upwards.

"Oh yeah?" Her arms dropped by her sides. "All right, then what should we talk about?"

"Something ridiculous." That had her intrigued, her face warming with a corner of her mouth tilting upwards as his eyes moved skywards as he mentally searched for a subject. "Let's see..." Shrugging, he looked back to her. "All right, what's the worst line you've heard from an admirer?"

He didn't honestly know where that had come from, but when her eyes warmed with humor, he had to admit it was a better look for her.

"The worst?" She huffed softly. "That's easy. The view of your lovely hips alone is worth-"

"Yeah, yeah, very funny." She chuckled softly when he playfully tossed a potato at her. He shook his head and chuckled when Karnwyr scooped the potato up and took off with it, happy with his little morsel.

Leaning back on her hands, she pondered a second before she shook her head with a frown. "Its probably going to be 'You wanna lip wrestle with me, do yeh? I know you do!'" She even managed to get their drunken slur.

"Oh, those morons. I almost forgot about them." They still seemed to be in Riverwood, he could have sworn he saw them lumbering around.

She tucked her legs under her. "What about you?

He thought for a minute before he found himself laughing. "Fus Ro Dah?"

She held a blank expression before her head tilted back on a laugh. "You think I'm flirting when I Shout?"

"You do get pretty passionate when your voice gets raised." That had her brow raising once again.

"Oh, really? How about I say it right now?" When she took a slow but deep breath he raised his hands.

"I'm kidding!" Partially. But she let it out and smiled. "All right, all right. The worst, let me think..." He thought about it a moment before he recalled a night some time ago and wondered.. "I make a good belly warmer." His mocking tone had her humored expression falling before a different one made her eyes sharpen.

"That's from The Bannered Mare, if I recall correctly.."

He nodded and inwardly smirked as he turned the rabbits once again. "Yeah, that was her. Neeshka." When he looked up, he caught the same flicker of heat in her eyes that he had seen the night in that tavern and felt his blood hum. Serlina shifted and looked at Karnwyr as he did a few circles before laying down.

"Are you finally going to tell me what happened with her?"

"I dunno. I might need a drink for that." It was quite interesting to see that she was still curious and the way she was going about it had him smirking.

"You scared to tell me without alcohol?"

An honest laugh escaped him. "I'm not scared." He shrugged. "Just a little thirsty." He inhaled gently when she nibbled on her lip before she turned to her pack and pulled out a pair of bottles. The brand on the wrap of it had him lifting a brow and chuckling softly when she offered him one. Popping the cork off, he took a long swallow of the Black Briar Reserve. It had been a decent time since he tasted it and let out a long-satisfied sigh when he set the bottle down.

"That hits the spot." Setting the bottle down by his leg, he cut the haunches off the rabbits and handed her a set. "Want something that'll hit yours?" He waggled his brows and caught the way she shifted a little.

"Mhm. Don't try to distract me." She cleared her throat softly. "You were saying?"

He couldn't help the sigh that left him. "Fiiiiine." He took a generous bite out of the leg and chewed, washing it down with the drink she had given him. "She was a thief in Falkreath - not guilded, mind you, but she eked out a decent living. I was in need of a thief, so I hired her."

Serlina chewed slowly "...And?"

He lifted a shoulder and dropped it. "And she finished the job, but got herself into trouble doing it. So, she hired me."

Her eyes were sharp as they flickered from him to her food. "To do what?"

He sat back as he cut his potatoes into quarters with his knife. "To get her out of Falkreath. What else?"

She made a nonchalant half-hearted shrug. "She seemed awfully… attached for that to be all."

He chuckled low, thinking back on things and shook his head with a quick lift and drop of his hands. "Look, I told her it was just business. She got attached, so I left." That had her running a hand over her head, a few strands dropping out of their hold.

"And by attached, you mean her hips to yours?" The bite in her words nearly made him wince.

For a second, he debated on what to say but at this point, she deserved the truth. "She told me it would be meaningless for her, too, but that was a lie." He scratched the back of his head and looked into the fire, resigned. "I should have known better." He glanced back to her and saw that her index finger was lightly tapping on her knee, her face holding a look that would make any many uneasy if he didn't know the cause. Himself on the other hand...

"Why?" He couldn't keep the amusement out of his voice which only seemed to infuriate her. "Are you jealous, Ladyship?"

"Don't accuse me of that." Her cheeks did brighten as she began to wring her fingers slightly.

"You're blushing!"

"I- at the time of that whole… thing- well we barely knew eachother and I wouldn't have had any right to be jealous." For a moment, she looked ashamed of herself and looked away, her shoulder slumping. "All right, maybe… maybe a little jealous." It was a quiet confession, but one that still made him want to pull her into his arms.

"I knew it then." He leaned forward and licked his finger as he finished his meal. "Just like I can tell now."

"You're enjoying this." Her eyes narrowed on the accusation which only had his grin widening.

"Damn right, I am."

"Shut it. This isn't entertaining." She ran a hand over her face before dropping it.

"Damn right it is. I hit the target, did I?" He laughed when she slapped his arm, shaking her head.

"Ugh, you're insufferable." There wasn't much heat behind it and instead she just looked away.

"Yeah?" His laugh was low as she shuffled closer to her and gently nudged her with his shoulder. "I'm beginning to think that's what you like about me." His suggestive tone had her eyes snapping back to him but there was a hint of something that lingered that had him straightening a little. "You've seriously been thinking about her all this time?" He resisted the urge to gap at her when her eyes went downcast.

"Not the whole time… I'd be lying if I said that she hasn't popped into my head now and again.." She scratched her neck and shook her head before locking her eyes back on him with a glare. "But why didn't you just tell me?"

He gave her a sly look. "Because I liked watching you get all flustered not knowing." He chuckled when her lips pressed together, the same heat filling her eyes like it had back then.

"You're such an ass." She scoffed but her mouth formed a subtle pout and he couldn't resist the urge to use his finger to catch her chin to tilt her face back towards him.

"You have no reason to be jealous of that flea." He moved a stray hair out of her eyes, watched them darken just the slightest. "You never did. Don't worry about her."

"If I call you out on your jealous flairs you get all grouchy. But I react to the way your ex-lovers slobber all over you, its amusing to you."

He pulled back, angling his body towards her. "I don't get grouchy." He ignored her eye roll and took a deep breath before letting it out. "But I.. do get flairs of jealousy." His admittance had her mouth gap. "You were different even when I watched you walk up those steps in Riverwood, head held high and when your eyes locked with mine…" He blew out a breath, turning his head to look into those warm depths. "Fuck." A rueful smile curled his mouth. "Something in me…" He shook his head, words escaping him. "Its hard to explain. But what I saw in your eyes, never in my whole life, have I never wanted anyone else to get that kind of.. focus.."

His hand lifted to trail his fingers over her arm, up to her shoulder before gently holding her by the neck, thumb tracing her jaw. Eyes flickering to her mouth he leaned in a little, felt her heartbeat pick up slightly, felt a shiver from her when she took a small breath.

"Now, am I getting… used to the fact that you shift focus now and again to help people beyond yourself… No." Dropping his hand, he faced the fire again and grinded his molars a bit. "Compared to you, Neeshka.. She would deny it but I didn't feel enough of anything for her to warrant her the title of ex.. anything." He tossed a small pebble into the pit sending spark to rise into the night sky. "Even before we had walked into the Bannered Mare, she hasn't crossed my mind in ages. Why after all this time she still nips at my heels I have no idea."

Serlina was quiet for a second before she looked back to him and seemed to study his face. He wanted to stand up and walk away, the feeling like he had overshared plaguing him and old habits coming back to bite him in the ass, but the urge to stand and leave fled when he looked back to her she tilted her head to the side and a soft smile gracing her lips.

"I can think of a reason or two." Her tone was playful and if her goal was to get his attention

"Oh, really?" The nagging feeling faded when her smile turned warm.

"Deep.. deep down, you're a good man." She laughed when he bumped her with his shoulder.

"I've got a few things I still got to work out and get passed.." Why he was admitting this he didn't know but the look on her face spoke of volumes but the one that really rang clear was of understanding.

"We all have our faults and dark parts." He didn't expect her to say it with such weight. For a time, their was a comfortable silence until she took a long steadying breath. "Rulindil.." her eyes lifted to his, wavering with what must've been uncertainty. "He was my.. I think the proper term for him was one of my retainers when I was running errands for the High Council but I just took to calling him my overseer or babysitter. He was there when I had spoken out against a high born and when it was demanded for me to be punished, he was the one who took the whip and gave me my lashes. Eagerly." Her hand lifted once again and settled over her shoulder, squeezing gently. "I later found out that my agreed number had been for every vowel I had used to slander the noble. At most, I should have just received 22 lashes. Not only did he double it, he… enjoyed it. He was the one torturing people at the Embassy and when the woman came in, my gut told me to get her out of there. Get them all out." He shifted so quickly that she gasped, pulling her nearly in his lap, his arms bounded around her until they tightly held on, his hands spreading wide across the expanse of it.

The thin scars.

He had done that to her. Marked her skin.

Rage boiled low in his gut and the name sank deep into him.

"Is he dead?" He bit out, his body wanting to release the rage that was accumulating the more he thought about it. It went still, like a drop in a lake when she gently pressed her lips to his, soothingly.

"Yes. It was quicker than I would have liked, but yes. He is dead." She shook her hair out of her face and leaned back a little. "I always hoped that when he died or I ended his disgusting life, I would feel better, but I kinda don't. When it had happened, I felt such relief that it was finally done and yet, I didn't get a chance to absorb it completely before guards were bringing in Malborn under suspicion about me." Her eyes looked out of focus, like she was trying to see something faraway. "I seem to be running out of moments like that.. Moments where I can just take it all in and let go of things that have been less than kind to be in my past." As she shared something that brought a darkness to her and all he could do was look at her face and see a steely resolve.

Was that why she kept rotating her arms and shoulders? The phantom pains? Pains that weren't physically real and yet, felt like they are still hackling you. Still messing you up… Like..

"I heard my father in the temple." Why the fuck did that come out?! Her eyes widened in shock but didn't say anything, instead a thoughtful face slipped over her face. "When that fucking necromancer was making mist the colour of tar, that's what I heard. My fucking fathers voice." His grip on her tightened but surprisingly and thankfully, she didn't pull away. "I don't want to hash up all things wrong with my life but my father… he was a sick bastard and I could hear whoever it was saying that I would end up just… like him."

He was unintentionally baring himself with a deep strip and had to fight the urge to get up and leave. Instead, he felt a breath fill his lungs when Serlina took his face in her hands, her thumbs running over his several days beard.

"If you could Identify what or who he was, what he had done and if I recall correctly, fight him to the very end, then I think you are on the right track." He was surprised when her lips moved before gently running over his forehead and decided that that was where they could end the in-depth conversation and just let her offered comfort slide over him and silently thanked the fact that she didn't press for more.. He was going to reciprocate when a fucking yawn escaped him, drawing her to lean back with an understanding smile. Shifting back, Serlina gave him a gentle pat on his shoulders before raising herself off and away to get their beds set up, what intrigued him, however was that she moved the rolls so close that they were nearly side by side.

She got up and picked up a few more slender logs to add to the fire that would last them till the morning while he slide onto his bedroll, sighing when the offered comfort cradled him. He could faintly hear her moving around, and nearly let that sound carry him away when he heard the sound of her getting into her bedroll.

He cracked open one eye and to both his surprise and delight, when he'd felt her hand take his.

"Bishop." Voice soft and seeking he looked back to her. She was thoughtful a moment before she dropped her head to the small lift of roll that she used for a pillow. "I want to tell you something...

Leery, he casted a soft glare her way. "Okay."

"I haven't said it much but… I- well I just wanted to say that I appreciate you standing beside me through all of this."

There it was again, the pressure in his chest, that sliver of anger at the feeling of being on a slim edge.

"Well, I can't deny that a select few were right about how bad this is getting."

Her head moved minimally, but he caught that she was in agreement. "I couldn't have done this alone.. I mean-"

"Ladyship, we survive because we watch each other's backs, and I'll be with you every step, Ladyship. I won't let anything happen to you." A cold wind passed over and he frowned when he caught her slight shiver. He was used to the cold; yet she still wasn't acclimatized to it yet. Inwardly he cursed when he remembered her shivering, lips blue in the rain, the scent of blood...

Pushing past it though, her hand lifted up to gently run her thumb across his scar on his cheekbone. "I won't let anything happen to you either."

And to his core, he believed her.

"I know, now come here." She wasn't prepared for the pull but when she was in his arms, pressed tightly, he felt the way her body relaxed against his, the way she nuzzled her head under his chin, the tip of her nose grazing his throat inhaled softly, her arms shyly finding anchors around his waist before sliding up to his shoulder where her grip tightened, ensuring he would stay close. Did she even realize she did that?

Fuck.

The last day he had been dreading to close his eyes and now, with her in his arms, the world was quiet. It was just them. Oddly, he felt like something was sticking in his chest, the pressure he refused to identify or access that had been sitting there for who knew how long. Unconsciously, his face tilted downwards and placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head before her giving her another on her forehead.

He heard the soft content hum from her, the scent of her wrapping around him and filling his lungs on a long inhale only to have it almost leave him in a rush when an odd feeling of upturned equilibrium hit him.. well everywhere as the last of his resistance fell away. He gave up the fight and did what he never thought he would do in his life.

He completely fell.

---

AN:

Hello and Happy New Year to all!

Newest chapter, a long one since you guys have been so patient. I hope you missed me...

I kinda changed things up a bit, Delphine being a key one but I also tried to have Serlina's POV for Diplomatic Immunity to be the conversation as they started their journey to Riften. I hope that came across smoothly.

Also! Next chapter is gonna have some SPICE so I am letting you guys know now.. I hope that it isn't too much or too little.. I don't write it often and would welcome feedback about it if possible.

Show of hands who has been waiting for more of our dynamic duo?

Until our next chapter,

Stay Romancing!

-IMME