Rona's Story: An Epic Skyrim Romance

by RonaLightfoot

Rona Lightfoot, a young mercenary from Cyrodiil, ventures to Skyrim after receiving a letter from her mother, who's fallen ill. She finds herself caught up in the middle of a civil war and survives the horrors in Helgen only to meet the crude and cocky ranger, Bishop whom she promises to aid in rescuing his wolf from bandits and along the way discovers she is Dragonborn.

9. Rona's Story: Chapter 9

Chapter 9

The Treacherous Climb

Rona woke up much earlier than Bishop. She was dreaming of the Dragonborn women again. There were so many of them singing around her, that when she woke their voices still rang in her ears.

She greeted the day with cheer, spreading her infectious smile along to the innkeeper and the lovely bard before heading outside to collect her lute. Her mind was brimming with songs and she was determined to set them free on such a beautiful day. She sat down on the edge of a large boulder near the river, crossing her legs.

Her fingers trailed across her lute and she sang loudly and elegantly catching the attention of the farmers and guardsmen. Some of them gawked, others laughed and whispered to each other, one man even clapped. For the first time in forever she honestly did not care what they thought of her.

(The song is Birds of a Feather by Erutan)

"I will always love you
I love you
and with this kiss I make this vow
to love you forever
Like birds of a feather we'll be
You with me

And I will always need you
I need you
It's not to late to say this now
I'll love you forever
Like birds of a feather we'll be
You with me

Oh when my heart was locked up tight
another day, another day
without you burning in me bright
I found in the night, light
here, here with you

I will always love you
I love you
and with this kiss I make this vow
to love you forever
Like birds of a feather we'll be
You with me."

"That was lovely milady, I didn't know you were a bard." Risla said as she sauntered up to her.

Rona smiled, "I wouldn't say I'm really a bard, at least, I don't do it professionally, it's more of a hobby?"

Risla laughed, "Either way it's wonderful. You have a powerful voice which is why I'm sure the Gods chose you as Dragonborn."

"Perhaps," Rona hesitated. She wasn't terribly religious or anything but she respected the Aedra the same way she did the Daedra, as something to keep a considerable distance from, for safety's sake at least.

"Ah you're probably wondering what I'm doing here, I wanted to give you this." Risla handed her an Amulet of Talos, "It belonged to our father. I...I just wanted you to understand the reason for my brother's...behavior yesterday."

"You mean his unabashedly flagrant racism?" Bishop came into the paddock, Karnwyr at his side.

Risla lowered her head shamefully, "Yes. His hatred of the Thalmor has sadly extended towards even the innocent - to elves who are not acquainted with them and who may even hate them just as much as we do."

"Let me guess, the Thalmor killed some close relative and now he's got it in his mind that he should hate them all. And you obviously felt the same way, so you both ran off to join the Stormcloaks and chase them and all the other so-called outsiders out of Skyrim," Bishop was clearly on point as Risla stared at him stunned.

She swallowed hard. "You're right. I hated them too, I still do," she said turning back to look at Rona, "The Thalmor murdered our parents, drug them off in the dead of night, charged them as heathens and publicly executed them. We couldn't even give them a proper burial since they burned their bodies. They left us with nothing but that amulet, a token of our beliefs hidden away under a floor board."

Rona looked down at the amulet and said, "I can't accept this. You and your brother should have it."

"Lady Rona, I know why the Gods chose you. You said it yourself; half nord and half...altmer," she seemed to struggle with the word, "They chose you because your destiny is entwined with ours. Can't you see? The struggles of Skyrim are yours too!"

"Bullshit!" Bishop barked,"Skyrim's struggles are its own! Don't go dumping the world's problems on her just because she's the Dragonborn."

Risla studied him and said, "You're a nord, wouldn't you fight for our freedom?"

"I've got no stake in the petty squabbles of Jarls and Kings. I fight for myself and no one else."

"You fight for her do you not?" she nodded to Rona.

"I fight with her," Bishop clarified.

"And what say you Lady Rona? Your companion seems to speak for you, but would you fight for Skyrim? For our freedom?"

Rona thought for a moment before she answered, "When I first came to Skyrim, I was taken prisoner by the Imperials and thrown in a carriage with two other Stormcloaks. We were destined for the chopping block that day and if not for the dragon that destroyed Helgen, I wouldn't have survived. A Stormcloak soldier pulled me to my feet and guided me away from the turmoil. But it was an Imperial soldier who showed me out of Helgen. They were both nords, they both fought for Skyrim, for what they believed in."

Risla stared, silent.

Rona continued, "Before that day I would have sided with the Imperials, every time. Now though, I don't know who to follow. You may be right, that my destiny is intertwined with the fate of Skyrim and its civil war, I've thought that too. But the more time I spend here, the more I meet people, like you," she nodded to Risla, "I just want to see the bloodshed end."

Risla shouted, "You are destined to usher in the new era, I know it!"

"So you're saying she should join you? Join the Stormcloaks? The very people that would spit on her see her thrown from these lands as soon as Ulfric claims his throne?" Bishop accused.

Rona stood up and held the amulet out in her hand, "I'm sorry Risla, but I can't accept this. I can't join your cause."

Risla looked at her crestfallen, then pressed her lips together and smiled feebly, "No, you keep it." She grasped Rona's fingers and pressed them back onto the amulet. "You will need Talos' guidance more than us. When you hold it...if you pray over it, please remember what we fight for."

Rona reluctantly accepted it and slipped it in her pouch, she spoke softly, "I'm sorry for your loss. I know what it means to lose a parent."

"Thank you milady," Risla said, tears filling her eyes. Rona smiled at her, "Please don't be sad, today's the day I go to High Hrothgar!"

Risla beamed at her and said, "Ysmir's blessing on you."

Bishop finished packing up a few necessities into a pack on his back before they began their trek up the Seven Thousand Steps to High Hrothgar. Karnwyr followed along, stomping through the snow and disappeared ahead of them to chase after a fox. Rona was worried they'd lose him at first, but Bishop assured her it would be fine and they'd catch up to him no doubt eating the fox.

Bishop had thought ahead too and bought a warm wool and fur trimmed cloak for her. She was amazed when she saw it. It was as white snow and incredibly soft. Bishop seemed quite pleased when she put it on. It wrapped snugly around her shoulders and the cape draped just past her dress.

"It fits perfectly!" she said excited and spun in a circle.

He grinned, "Good, now you won't freeze to death up there."

"What about you?" she asked.

"I've got a cloak if I need it, but it's not even that cold."

She frowned at him and shivered under her cloak. He laughed and said, "Damn you're pathetic!"

The start up the path wasn't too bad, Rona practically sprinted her way up at first. Bishop was gasping as he attempted to keep up with her, "Why...are...you...running? They're stairs you maniac!"

She turned around and jogged in place, "I've got to keep my heart rate up if I want to stay warm!"

He bent over, putting a hand on his knee and waved at her, "Fine, go on without me, I'll catch up with you in a few days." He wheezed trying to catch his breath.

She laughed, ran over and pulled on his arm, "C'mon you slow poke!"

He caught her by surprise when he grabbed her arm, yanking her closer and slid his hand around her waist under the cloak to pull her into a close embrace, his face inches from hers. She felt her cheeks flush red, though she was already so warm from the sprinting that she hoped it wasn't noticeable. His breath was hot on her face and he whispered, "Am I going to have to strap you to me just to keep us at a normal pace?"

She stammered, "J-just trying to stay warm."

"If you want warmth Ladyship I can show you a better way, we don't even have to take off all our clothes."

Her face burned, no hiding it now, she thought. Bishop grinned at her and let her go, only to trudge past her through the snow. "There!" he called back, "That should keep you warm for a while!"

You win this round, she pursed her lips, pouting before she ran after him.

They caught up to Karnwyr after two hours of walking. He was whining and digging at a fox hole in between some rocks piled with snow.

"Lost your prey buddy? That's a shame," Bishop whistled drawing the wolf's attention and said, "Come on."

Karnwyr padded up to them, keeping pace next to Rona where he nuzzled her hand looking for food.

"See?" said Bishop, "You've got him expecting a treat now every time he hears a whistle."

"Well at least he knows to come now."

Bishop scoffed at her but then asked curiously, "How'd you learn to train an animal like that anyhow?"

She scratched Karnwyr's persistent muzzle and said, "One of my comrades bred and trained huskies as war dogs. I learned how to teach them a few tricks through positive reinforcement."

"The hell does that mean?"

"It means whenever the dog does something you want it to, you use food to reward him. Teaching them commands was a lot more difficult, but it's just a lot of repetitive training."

He looked over at Karnwyr who in that moment decided to wildly chase after a bird, barking loudly and attracting the attention of a rather large frost troll. He yelped and ran back, fur bristling as he growled and barked at the creature.

Rona drew her bow, and Bishop tossed his pack aside and thumbed his dagger, "You know, Karnwyr could probably use some of that training."

"You think!?" Rona shouted back as she ran through the snow keeping her bow aimed at the troll. Bishop spun his dagger in hand and stared the creature down, taunting it, "C'mon. Come get me."

The troll stomped through the snow with ease and took a swipe at Bishop who leapt backward. Rona hit it with an arrow to the back and it howled giving Bishop a chance to lunge forward and stab into it.

Rona launched three more arrows into its body before it fell on all fours and swiftly turned round to focus its fury on her. She yelped and stumbled backward, tripping on a snowbank as it rushed her, swiping furiously. She cried out as she felt its claws slice through her face. Bishop came up on it quickly, burying his dagger into the nape of its neck. Its growls turned into gurgles as it slumped over. Rona ran a hand across her face and held it up, it was covered in blood. Bishop took one look at her and said, "Shit! Shit, shit, shit!"

He ran back to grab his discarded pack and rifled through it looking for their medical supplies. He pulled out bandage wrappings and a potion. Rona held her hand to her face and used a healing spell to stem the bleeding. Bishop stumbled back over to her and grasped her chin with his free hand, holding her head steady, "Hold still," he said as he poured the potion onto her cheek. It stung and she twitched, but he ran his hand across the other side of her head, holding it steady.

She could feel the callouses on his hand as he pressed his fingers into the back of her scalp. He took a clean cloth and wiped at the wound, then poured more potion onto it. His face was very close to hers as he scanned the cuts then said, "Try another healing spell."

She pressed her glowing hand up to her cheek and felt some relief from the throbbing studied him as he dressed the wound, carefully pressing the bandages onto her cheek, gluing the outer edges with sterilized tree sap. His face was lined with concern as he worked on her, but it vanished as their eyes met and he said, "What?"

She parted her lips to speak, to thank him for his concern, but second guessed it and instead said, "Is it bad?"

He gave her a gentle smirk, "No, I think it'll be fine. Definitely going to scar, but what's the Dragonborn without some battle wounds?"

He pulled her out of the snow bank and she dusted the fluffy powder off as best she could. After several more hours of walking they came up to a spot with a slight overhanging cliff, good for cover and decided to set up camp for the rest of the day.

Bishop found a small amount of brush and put together a fire pit which Rona quickly lit and put her hands to. Karnwyr laid down next to her, also looking for warmth. She ran her fingers through his fur, he was damp and dirty.

"He needs another bath already," she said.

Bishop sat back pulling some dried horker meat and bread from his pack to make them some sandwiches and said, "He's always going to be dirty. You bathe him and the next chance he gets he's rolling around in the mud, you've seen him."

"Well, he's flea free at least!" she remarked.

"Yeah, I'm glad for that. Don't know if I could handle another night of bites."

Bishop threw her the sandwich and rolled a bottle of mead across the snow. They both tucked into their food and ate in mostly silence, both exhausted from their day of hiking and their fight with the troll. Rona spent the rest of their evening singing songs and entertaining Bishop with stories of her childhood in Cyrodiil. She was surprised when he actually asked her, "You said your father works for the Mage's Guild, what does he do there?"

She shifted uncomfortably on the ground and averted eye contact, mumbling, "Oh Ata? He's the Arch-Mage of the Arcane University…"

Bishop narrowed his eyes at her and he said, "What was that?"

She sighed, "I said, he's the Arch-Mage of the Arcane University."

Bishop snickered and shook his head, "You mean, he's the top guy? The one who runs everything and teaches their students and all that junk?"

"Yeeaahh," she breathed.

"So that makes you, what? Some kind of noble?"

"I am not a noble!" she snapped back, "We lived...comfortably, but never in excess. Ata always made sure that I understood what it meant to live, normally, like other common people."

"Other common people? My, you are privileged aren't you?"

She slapped a hand to her forehead, "That came out wrong. Look, alright, so I grew up around pompous noble types and I was never left wanting. Never experienced poverty or anything like that, but I did leave it all. I couldn't be around…that anymore. Dealing with the Thalmor and the Emperor and ugh! I hated it all. You had to dress a certain way and just be a certain way. And how the Thalmor always looked down on me for being a half-breed - I couldn't stand it!"

Bishop scoffed, "It explains so much, you were just a rebellious little girl, running away from all the expectations."

Rona looked down at the lute in her lap, "It was more than that."

"How so?"

"I loved to sing and to fight, I was more nord than my ata could handle."

"So you tried living with your mother, right. I remember, but that didn't work either so?"

"So I went back and tried to work on my magic, to be the mage my ata expected of me…"

"And you failed again."

"Yeah, so I left. I had a good mage friend, Lorrie. Her brother, Linel, was in with the Fighter's Guild, another failed mage. She said he could get me in with them, that they'd train me from the ground up if I was willing to take a good beating. I jumped at the chance and snuck out one night with just the clothes on my back and a dagger in hand. I left Ata a note admitting what I'd done –"

"And he tried to drag you back, right?" Bishop interrupted.

"Actually," she said, "no, he didn't."

Bishop raised his brows in surprise, "Why's that?"

She looked into the fire and watched the flames dance then breathed, "He told me that he thought it was the best thing I'd ever done for myself. He was actually happy for me, because when he saw me again, after spending a year in the Fighter's Guild I was just so much happier."

They were both quiet for a moment before Bishop said, "He's a good father. He cared more about your happiness than keeping up appearances."

Rona smiled, "Yeah, you're right."

"What's his name?"

She looked up at him and said, "Serlas Thoraminh."

He chuckled, "So your surname is Thoraminh huh? Never would have guessed that in a million years. So what's your middle name?"

She went beet red and said with mock seriousness, "I'll never tell."

Bishop laughed, "Now this I gotta know!"

She yelled, "No way! That secret is dying with me!"

He smiled and pressed her, "What's it start with maybe I can guess?"

She narrowed her eyes at him, "What's your middle name?"

He clammed up real quick and pursed his lips, "Yeah you know what, we don't need to share those details."

She was curious now, but she'd wait for another time, perhaps when he was a bit more pliable to get the answer to that question.

A chill wind blew over the mountain, passing through their camp. Rona shuddered and Bishop sighed, rolling his eyes and throwing their only blanket at her. She gave him a thankful smile as she wrapped it around herself and plucked at her lute. It wasn't long before her teeth started chattering though. Still cold even with her cloak, the blanket, the fire and Karnwyr lying beside her.

"Gods woman, I can hear your teeth chattering from here." Bishop stood up and sat down beside her. He yanked the blanket off her shoulders and pulled it around the both of them then grasped her around her waist and pulled her in close to his body. She didn't complain, the warmth was too welcoming.

She leaned in and lay her head against his chest. She could hear the steady rhythm of his heart beat and his warm breath caressed her ear, "You're really pathetic sometimes you know that?"

He was certainly right about that. When it came to cold weather she was utterly pitiable. She felt her eyelids drooping and her breathing slowed. She mumbled, "I can hold my own against a dragon though..."

"You sure can Lightfoot," he whispered softly.

She must have nodded off soon after that because when she woke up she found herself not only draped in her cloak but Bishop's and to add to that she was sandwiched between both Karnwyr and Bishop with the blanket draped over the three of them.

She could hear Bishop snoring gently, his hand resting over her waist and his body pressed close to hers. She felt warm and strangely content like this.

Bishop roused and stopped snoring. Her back facing him, he must have thought she was still asleep. He pressed his face to her hair and she felt his hand begin to travel upwards resting on her breast. Oh, I see how it is, she grit her teeth and pulled her leg forward then threw it back right into his crotch causing him to lurch backward and cry out, "AUGH! FUCK! THAT HURT YOU WENCH! THE FUCK!"

She sat right up and glared daggers at him.

"You don't do that to a man first thing in the morning, ugh," he groaned and rubbed at his crotch.

"And you don't go around grabbing a woman's tit because you think she's still asleep!" she shouted back at him.

He rolled over grumbling and grabbed his cloak from her to throw it over himself. "This is the thanks I get for keeping you from freezing to death all night?"

"So you want payment in fondling?" she shot back.

"Yeah actually, I think that would be nice considering you just hit me where it hurts most," he said sarcastically.

She rolled her eyes at him and grabbed her things to storm off into the snow, leaving him to pack up their small camp. It didn't take terribly long for him to catch up to her however, as the snow was knee deep and she found herself completely stuck in a snow bank. She attempted to melt the snow around her with a flames spell but only managed to turn it into an awful mixture of sleet and snow.

Bishop gave her a derisive look as he came up. "Now what are you going to do princess?"

She grunted, pulling on her legs in an attempt to move them. When they wouldn't budge she gave him pathetic puppy dog eyes.

"No. Don't give me that look. You kicked me right in the stones, so why should I help you?"

She sighed, "Okay! I'm sorry I kicked you, even though you kind of deserved it."

He crossed his arms, "No man deserves to suffer that – hey! Karnwyr! Damn it!"

Karnwyr started digging into the snow bank around Rona's knees, giving her enough room to pull herself free. She kicked at the snow and jumped out then knelt over the wolf, scratching him behind the ears and said, "Who's a good boy?"

"So damned disloyal…" Bishop grumbled and stomped off through the snow, "Good luck keeping up your shortness!"

Rona followed behind, doing her best to keep up with him when they came to an open plateau. A nord woman was seated, cross legged in front of an etched stone emblem.

As Bishop walked along, ignoring the woman Rona kicked snow off her boots, ran up to her and said, "Excuse me, I'm very sorry to bother you, but can you tell us how much farther High Hrothgar is?"

The woman looked up at her, slightly annoyed and replied, "'Bout another hour's walk I'd say. Don't know why you'd bother going all the way up though, the Greybeards won't speak to anyone."

Bishop was hanging back waiting when he crossed his arms and said, "Bet they'll talk to the Dragonborn."

The woman's eyes lit up and she hopped onto her feet, swinging her arms, practically knocking Rona over in the process. She raced right up to Bishop and grasped his hands and said, "Can it truly be!?"

He looked utterly perplexed and muttered, "Uhh..."

"I was just outside Ivarstead when it happened! The call of the Greybeards...it was such an exciting moment! Nothing like this has happened in centuries. I've heard tales of the Dragonborn, but you are far more handsome than I'd ever imagined."

Bishop chuckled, "Me? You think I'm the Dragonborn?"

As though she hadn't heard him she said, "Please you must tell me all about your escape from Helgen, I must hear it firsthand!"

Rona looked on with half-lidded eyes as Bishop chuckled and said, "Heh, yeah sure. Anything for a lovely woman such as yourself."

He gave Rona a cocky look then wove an absurd tale about his imaginary escape from Helgen, "Yes, yes of course! My bold escape from Helgen. It was truly remarkable. There I was," he waved a hand to an invisible scene, "captured by the Imperials and thrown in with the Stormcloaks - complete mix up to be honest. They were going to lop our heads off right then and there when - all of a sudden - a vicious, bloodthirsty dragon came down on us and shouted half the soldiers to pieces! I managed to escape my bonds and fought the beast bravely and with the power of my voice I destroyed the dragon and sucked its soul straight from its bones."

The woman was in complete awe of him at this point and Bishop seemed to be enjoying himself all too much when she implored, "Please! I must hear your mighty shout Dragonborn!"

He laughed nervously, "Oh? My shout, right? That...," he gave a fake cough and pointed at his neck, "Think I caught a bad cold, throat's been a little sore "

Rona had her hands on her hips, smirking at him before she threw her head to sky and cried, "FUS!"

The woman practically whirled around when she did so. Rona smiled and gave her a little wave, "Dragonborn, over here."

Bishop chuckled nervously until the woman started hitting him on the arm, "YOU LIED! YOU'RE NOT DRAGONBORN! HOW DARE YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A WOMAN LIKE THAT!?"

"Okay! Okay! Just stop hitting me! I've been beat on enough today!" he bellowed, blocking her fists with his arms.

The nord woman ran across the way and in a strange turn of events grasped Rona's hands and said, "Dragonborn! You are more beautiful than I ever could have imagined! Please tell me the truth, all about your escape from Helgen."

Bishop snickered as Rona's face and ears bright red. She stammered, "Uh, um...Well most of what he said was pretty accurate..."

The woman begged for more details and Rona relented and gave a brief recounting of their battle against the dragon outside Whiterun. When she'd finished the nord woman thanked her and gave them five different potions as a gift then bid them well on the rest of their journey as they left.

Bishop started laughing when they were out of earshot of the woman and Rona put a hand to her head and said, "I was not expecting that."

"I could sure get used to being the Dragonborn if sexy women are just going to throw themselves at me and give me free stuff," Bishop smirked at Rona. He was obviously trying to get under her skin.

She made to retort back at him when Bishop stopped abruptly and said, "You seeing what I'm seeing?"

Rona looked ahead and felt goosebumps. She was stunned by the sight of them; hundreds of ghosts plod along the path ahead of them. The sounds of music and singing reached their ears.

(The song is Battleborn by Two Steps from Hell)

"Oh! There is fire in the air that I am breathing

There is blood where the battles rage

These are faces I will not remember

Will I fight for the queen or the slave?

The treacherous part

To claim with our heart of courage

Where the wind from the north

Bodes the dragon

And the armies and legions have formed

We have camped for the night fully covered

Fading ghosts in the shadow of war

Battleborne!

Battleborne!

Battleborne!

Battleborne!

Gone.

All the villagers led out to pasture

The black wing of death as their liege

Felt the ground

It was bare from the plunder

Soldiers that lie at my feet

The maidens were lost

Wading across an ocean

On a ship heading south to the mainland

I am standing in wake of the storm

I was raised by the wolf and the stallion

This sword was battleborne

Battleborne!

Battleborne!

Battleborne!

Battleborne!"

Rona felt connected to them. The words burned into her very soul. She was one of them, climbing the path they all once took long ago.

"They're Dragonborn," she whispered.

Bishop said, "Are they all bards? What's with the singing?"

"Songs of glory and battle," Rona asserted, "Many are warriors that sing of the glories of battle..." She paced alongside one of them, a skinny nord man and looked into his face. He looked petrified. She ran over to glimpse into the face of another, a bosmer this time, he appeared elated.

"Some of them, they were given a gift...but for others, it's a curse," she said as she continued to peer into their faces. Each ghost had a different expression, ranging from excitement, to fear, to worry, to stern and somber. All of them pressed forward, not even noticing her.

Bishop was also looking at them and said, "Hey! A khajiit woman, and this guy's an orc - I think, half an orc? Wow, got a mixed bunch here, plenty of elves...mostly nords though."

Rona was amazed and bewildered by them. She too was meant to join their ranks. So I'm not alone, she mused to herself. She stared off at them, listening to the bard singing, "Battleboooooorn!"

It was all for naught then, when the spirits all abruptly stopped and turned to face the same direction. The song was burning inside Rona as she too turned to look, to see what they were all looking at. At first she saw Jillian, ghostly and transparent, it looked as though she were calling out to Rona, and then she saw the beast - it's face distorted in Jillian's translucent body as it opened its maw and made to spew white hot rage at her.

Bishop leapt onto her, dragging her down into the snow just as the flames blast around them, molding the snow into hard sleet.

"GOD DAMN YOU WOMAN! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO GO DEAF EVERY TIME ONE OF THESE BASTARDS SHOWS UP!?"

Bishop was shouting at the top of his lungs at her.

"I - I'm sorry!" she cried back. They scrambled to their feet and watched as the spirits all shouted at once, "FUS! RO! DAH!"

It was so loud that the entire mountain lurched around them and the dragon was thrown a great distance. Jillian's spirit came up to them and she said, "You know the song Dragonborn, you must sing if you are to survive! Now go!"

Rona looked around, "Where's Karnwyr!?"

Bishop called out for the wolf and searched around the crevices in the mountainside. They found him lying on his side, tale tucked between his legs, whimpering and laying in a pile of yellow snow.

"Is he hurt?" Rona pleaded.

Bishop pulled the wolf up and threw him over his shoulder, "No time to worry about that!" He pointed down at the dragon which had finally gained it's bearings. "What did she say about some song!? Better start singing!"

Rona took a deep breath and released the lyrics smoldering in her mind. As she sang the other Dragonborn sang with her, this seemed to disorient the dragon which decided to fly high up and above them to avoid their echoing words.

(The song is Our Solemn Hour by Within Temptation)

They ran as fast as their legs would carry them and as much as the snow would let them. Rona cast jets of flames at the snow, trying her hardest to make it more powerful, taking a risk with her destruction magic in order to clear a path for them. She surprised even herself as her bold maneuver paid off.

The dragon however was ready for them at the top of the stairs as it came around a corner and growled at them, speaking in dragon tongue, what sounded like a threat. Rona didn't know what else to do, so she shouted with all the force in her voice, "Sanctus Espiritus redeem us from our solemn hour!"

The power of her voice careened across the steps and crashed into the flames bursting from the dragon's maw. As the fire dissipated though, the dragon was pressing forward, snapping its jaw at her. She felt it was the end when enormous grey claws grasped at the dragon's neck and pulled it from its feet, throwing it out over the mountain.

Both Bishop and Rona stared, mouths open as another dragon fought with the first. The grey beast roared at its quarry before belching flames at it. The two flew up and over and around one another, biting back and roaring flames, ice and whatever dragon's say to insult one another before the grey one caught the other by its neck, snapping it and disappearing down below as they both fell.

"It...is it helping us?" Rona spluttered.

Bishop grabbed her hand, pulling her along and said, "I'm not about to wait here and find out!"

She agreed and chased after him. They were not far from the summit when they came upon a great stone monastery looming over them. Bishop hiked up the steps, still holding Karnwyr before he set the wolf down to look him over. Rona stood by him, incredibly worried, her healing magic at the ready.

After a few minutes of pushing his fur around and checking over his paws Bishop scratched his head and laughed, "Not a mark on him. He was just scared. So damn scared he pissed himself."

Rona was on the verge of tears with worry and hugged Bishop, "I'm so glad you're okay! That you're both okay! I'm so sorry!"

Bishop was so taken aback by her sudden affection that he just pushed her off of him and said, "It's not like it was your fault."

She wiped at a stray tear with the palm of her hand and knelt down to pet Karnwyr who was still shaking. He calmed down a bit as she stroked his fur and used a healing spell on him.

Rona turned back to Bishop who was staring up at the peak of the mountain. He trembled slightly, trying to hide how shaken up he really was and muttered, "The Throat of the World...wonder what's up there."