Travelling with the Dragonborn was an experience and a half, Bishop soon discovered.
'I don't remember Skyrim being this exciting,' he thought to himself as he fended off another beast. A sabre cat, this time. His companion attracted trouble like flies, as soon as they stepped foot out of the relative safety of Whiterun's walls. But at least she was also capable enough to deal with the problems, he quietly admitted to himself.
Bishop barely managed to ready his bow before most of the beasts were felled by a quick strike of fire or lightning. The Dragonborn hardly needed his help in a fight. 'Good,' he thought with a small smirk. 'That only means she's keeping me around for the company.' With each small skirmish passed, with each potential blow his legendary companion deflected before it could even come close to cause him harm, he saw his chances with her rise.
They approached Valtheim Towers, a notorious bandit hideout.
"Oh, not this again," she sighed next to him and readied herself for a fight.
"Yeah, it's usually full of bandits, Ladyship. We should be careful. We don't know how large that group is."
"No, they should be careful," she countered, annoyed. "I already wiped out six bandit groups that thought setting up here was a good idea. You'd think after that, they'd pass the word around not to settle along my favourite route." As she casually chatted with him, Bishop saw her conjure a bow, shoot the wooden platform at the top of the first tower, then immediately send an arrow that pierced the eye of the bandit archer that stood up to check it, and another one that hit the female warrior at the gate right in the neck. "Or at least that Balgruuf or the Imperials would set up some garrison in here since they consider it such an important route."
Bishop was honestly impressed. And maybe a little scared. At times like this, he was honestly glad he was no longer a bandit.
The Dragonborn sprinted to the first tower, then ran up the stairs and Bishop grew more and more amused, as she seamlessly continued her annoyed rant as if she wasn't in the middle of combat. "But nooo, obviously that would be too much trouble. Too big an expense!" Another bandit down, and now the rest of them realized something was going on and started running towards them from the second tower. "Much easier just to let the Dragonborn handle it. Just throw some gold at her once she's done! YOL - TOOR - SHUUL!"
Bishop started and stared, as the bandits didn't even have time to scream before they burned to ash in dragon fire.
"If only the rewards matched the bother. But, I'm sorry, a hundred gold isn't going to entice me to turn around and postpone my trip to Windhelm. I guess I'll have to ask for the reward later. If I remember it, that is."
By that time, the brazen woman had finished off the bandit chief and sent one last arrow to fell the archer at his position past the bridge.
And then there was silence. The battle was done and Bishop didn't even shoot the one arrow he nocked in his bow for fear of hitting the woman in front of him.
He relaxed his posture and went through the pockets of the closest bandit laying dead on the connecting bridge. "Are you that rich, that you'd turn your nose up at a good hundred Septims like a damned noble?" he scoffed at her mockingly and pocketed the bandit's coinpurse.
"...Yes, actually. I have more gold than I know what to do with and nothing to spend it on. Also, I am a damned noble, I'll have you know," she added with a shrug.
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about all your titles for a moment. Thank you so much for reminding me."
"Is it going to be a problem?" He could almost hear the raised eyebrow.
Bishop thought for a second, then shook his head. "Not really. All the more for me," he gave her a lascivious smirk as he tossed and caught yet another coin-purse. "Honestly, you don't act like a noble. Most of the time. Just don't ever think of commanding me like one - I'm not here to lick your boots."
She snorted, "Noted, princess. I shall take great care not to insult your delicate sensibilities."
"Princess?! I hardly doubt I'm- Argh!"
An arrow pierced his shoulder. Bishop grimaced at the injury and tried to locate where it came from.
"There! At the top of the tower!" he shouted to his companion.
The Dragonborn turned, noticed the last bandit aiming his bow at them and threw a ball of lightning that hit the bandit square in the chest. His scream was brief, interrupted by his sudden death as his body turned to ash, and then there was silence. Then she turned back to him.
"I'm- I'm sorry," she almost babbled as she kneeled next to him and stretched her hand towards the arrow in his shoulder. "I- I usually pay more attention, but I let myself be distracted. I apologise for-"
"Dammit, woman, less apologising, more helping me get it out!" he growled.
"Yes, of course," she muttered, grabbed the arrow and Shouted, "FEIM!"
Bishop stared incredulously as she turned into a ghost, still holding the arrow, which miraculously turned ghostly as well, then painlessly and effortlessly pulled it out of him as if it wasn't even there. "How in Oblivion-"
She shook her head a bit, "I do have some tricks up my sleeve."
Her body turned solid again, and she immediately started casting a healing spell on him. Bishop felt its warmth spread through his limbs and watched as the wound slowly stitched itself close.
"There. That should do it." She withdrew her hand and stood up, a little awkwardly.
"Thanks, your Ladyship. That was a useful trick with that disappearing act."
"You're welcome."
Bishop heard her swallow and narrowed his eyes when he noticed how her head was turned away from him as if she couldn't look him in the eyes. He had to think, fast. Wouldn't do to have her send him away after the first skirmish, just because they both decided to chat instead of checking if the place was truly cleared out.
He pulled himself to his feet as fast as he dared, refusing to show how woozy he felt - the wound might be gone now, but rest was still recommended after any healing.
"I wonder where the bandits keep their food in here," he added conversationally as if nothing happened.
"Second tower basement," she added without skipping a beat. "Found the hidden trapdoor on my third or fourth run-through. Do you want something to eat?"
Bishop stared at her for a moment, then started laughing. He couldn't help himself. "You, my Ladyship, are absolutely ridiculous! I adore you. Only you would be able to tell me where the bandits stash their loot before we even went to check," he shook his head ruefully, still chuckling a bit.
He watched, more than a little amused, how she all but fidgeted at his proclamation. Might have been a bit early to start with the 'declarations of love', but eh, Bishop has never been one for the slow and cautious approach when the fast one worked as well. Not like it hurt his long-term plans...
"Well, no time to waste! Please, do give me the Grand Tour of this place, Madame," he deliberately lowered his voice at the last word and placed his hand at her lower back to ostensibly lead her to the second tower. he felt the way she tensed, but she did not fight him.
They ate well that night. The fare might have been even better than what the Bannered Mare had to offer, even though they cooked their dinner over a campfire. Bishop even found some relatively fresh Sweet Rolls and Honey Nut Treats.
The sun's last rays were gently warming their backs as they sat at the edge of the connecting bridge, their legs hanging off, and slowly drunk some rather nice mead. Bishop knew that a relatively clean and warm bed waited for them in the second tower, though he planned to spend half the night standing guard on the upper ledge with his bow in hand, just in case. Karnwyr might as well take the second 'shift', as always.
He could get used to this. Good food, a warm bed, a talented mage to back him up... Even the company was pleasant. They've been chatting for some time, then their conversation slowly shifted into a peaceful sort of silence. Bishop was used to quiet companionship with Karnwyr, but this might be the first time he experienced something like that with another human being, even though he knew the Dragonborn only for two days.
He really could get used to this.
The Dragonborn sighed with contentment. "This is nice. I haven't had a good night of drinking since that damned contest with Sanguine."
He spluttered and coughed up some of his mead. "Your what?!"
The woman chuckled and slapped his back a couple of times. "It's a long story. Hmm. Or maybe not. Do you want to hear it?"
"I sure do!"
"Well, it started when a mysterious Breton by the name of Sam Guevene challenged me to a contest to win a staff..."
Bishop listened incredulously as the legend next to him encountered one of the most hilarious anecdotes he'd ever heard. He shook his head. He might not be a religious person, but seriously. Daedra? That's just asking for trouble.
"...but when the portal opened right at the top of the last slain necromancer, I realized that something was indeed very wrong. And once I knew that, it wasn't really hard to guess who or what I got involved in."
"So what did you do? Go and meet the Daedric Prince himself? I hope you got the staff in the end, at least." Waste not, want not, right? Aaand since she was already involved...
"I turned around and left that place at once."
"...What?" That was not the ending he expected. "Why?"
"Stepping through of my own volition or accepting any 'gifts' would mean that my soul would belong to the Daedra forever. And, sorry, but that's just not my preferred afterlife."
Bishop shook his head, incredulous. "You know, I'd never been one to suggest a deal with the Daedra, but since you already went through so much trouble to get the staff... why not? Also, drinking forever? That doesn't sound so bad."
She shrugged. "Perhaps not. But then, Sovngarde has plenty of drinking too, and the company is nicer. Also, that place is just so pretty."
He turned even more towards her. "So it's true, then? You really went into Sovngarde to kill Alduin?"
"Really really," she swung her legs on the ledge mischievously.
"Ok, I'll bite. What was it like?" Not even his pride would keep him from asking. He might not be religious, but if Sovengarde was real, then... he didn't know what to think. If he was even meant to think anything about it since as a former bandit, he didn't believe he'd ever get to see it. And yet... Maybe it was the mead talking but on this night, with this woman for company, he felt closer to it, worthier of it than ever before. And now to hear that it was real...
"Well, you pretty much heard the whole of it already. Feasting, drinking, fellowship and fighting. Songs of the old heroes echoing in every corner, friendly brawls and tests of mettle... but despite all the action, there was... peace." She took another sip of her mead and stared at the river flowing down below. "Even with the threat of Alduin, Shor's Hall was calm and serene. Once Alduin's mist was gone, the fields outside were breathtaking. One could spend forever there. But you know what was the best part? The one that attracts me more?"
"What?" he asked quietly, trying not to disturb the mood.
"The company. It sounds weird, but I felt like I met more friends there than in any of the cities of Skyrim." She raised her drink in memory. "Jurgen Windcaller whose teachings I respect, Ysgramor, Olaf One-Eye and Svaknir - old rivals reunited and reconciled, the three ancient Tongues who helped me defeat Alduin, fair Iorel who was once a Draugr and before that a Queen, and all the warriors, mages and archmages who welcomed me as one of their own even if I wasn't dead yet."
"It felt like coming home." She sighed. It was not a happy sound. "But Sovngarde is not for the living. As soon as Alduin was dead, Tsun sent me back to Nirn."
There was a moment of silence. Bishop was almost hesitant to break it. It sounded... it sounded like she didn't want to live anymore. He felt a sudden stab of pain in his heart. Their... companionship might be only two days old, but he felt he would... miss her.
"You could still have your drinking and brawls here on Nirn, Ladyship," he bumped his shoulder against hers in an attempt to cheer her up. "You ever need a sparring partner, it would be my pleasure to mop the floor with you," he stated arrogantly.
"You wish!" she scoffed, but he could tell her mood lifted a bit. "You and what army, ranger? I could beat you with one arm tied behind my back, even if you had Karnwyr for help."
"Oooh, you're on! Don't challenge the mighty duo! I could win by myself, but with the great wolf at my side? We're unbeatable!"
"The mighty wolf would lick your wounds in consolation after I had you kiss the floor!" Despite their boasting, neither rose, preferring to drink their mead and trying to outdo each other. He could hear the grin in her voice now. He decided to up the stakes, but in a different direction.
"Mmhmm, kissing. You know, there are other places I could kiss. Places you'd enjoy a lot more, Ladyship."
She was openly laughing at him now. Good. Just as he intended. "You're incorrigible!"
He leaned in to drawl seductively whisper to the place where he thought her ear would be under the leather cowl of her mask. "And you're a horrible tease, wench. All that 'Nordic flirting' about brawls but here you want to leave poor little me high and dry?"
To his surprise, she leaned even closer to him, briefly laying her head on his shoulders. He breathed in her scent and let himself enjoy the moment.
"Tease, hm? Then what will you say when I do this?"
She rose to her feet, swaying lightly and he realized with a start that she was already more or less drunk. A couple of strong tugs loosened her robes and he watched, incredulous, as they fell to the ground, leaving her in nothing but her underwear.
'Oh, Gods,' he thought. 'Who even cares for the face in a woman with legs like that.' Every inch of her was gorgeous. A firm, toned body, curves in all the right places. Even the scars were beautiful - they added a delicious dash of danger and served as a stark reminder of her power.
Her semi-nakedness was a startling, but not unpleasant development. He started to wonder. Would he let her have her wicked way with him? Or would he play the gentleman and let her sleep it off in the bandit chief's bed? And then tease her about it endlessly tomorrow as soon as she was sober. Decisions, decisions...
"Mmmm, temptress," he purred. "Does this mean I win the kiss?"
"Ah-ah-ah, stranger-ranger!" she wagged her finger at him, playfully scolding. "You get a kiss if I reveal my face. We never bet about revealing the rest!"
And with that, she giggled like a little girl and dived off the bridge.
"Dammit!" Bishop jumped to his feet in shock.
Before he could decide whether to jump in after her or run into the tower to get a couple of healing potions for her, he heard her splashing in the river down below.
"Come on, ranger! The water's great!" she splashed around, happy as a clam, uncaring that she almost gave him a heart attack.
"I'm going to strangle you for scaring me like this, Ladyship!" he shouted down at her. "No one sane would jump from this height!"
"Chickeeeen!" he heard her yell back at him.
'Oh, that's it!' he thought. Then he undressed, aimed for the deepest part of the waters deep, deep down below, sent a quick prayer in mourning for his dying sanity and dived right in after her.
A/N: I love the Valtheim Towers. I always jump off the bridge.