Chapter 28
Journey to Solitude
Rona insisted that Bishop sleep in her bed that day and he did not argue with her sudden change of heart on the matter. She found the potion they needed to cure his vertigo and he fell right to sleep, holding her in his arms and snoring lightly in her ear.
She wanted to express her appreciation for going out of his way, putting himself at risk, to entertain her need for adventure. She couldn't imagine following this path without him. They'd become so close. She yearned to whisper her words of love to him, but held back, waiting for him. Every day she was sure that she'd stepped a little closer to his heart.
They spent the entire day sleeping and didn't wake until dusk. When they got up they stepped outside where Serlas was busy saddling Whiskey and strapping items and other equipment to him.
Bishop looked over and saw that his own gear had been placed onto a new steed, a solid black mare.
Serlas said, "I got you a new horse Bishop. I hope you don't mind if I take old Whiskey here. He's getting up in years, quite like myself and I think we'll do better in each other's company."
"Well I was getting fond of the old boy, but I don't mind. Maybe I'll be able to keep up with Karinda now," he pat the mare's face and asked, "What's her name?"
"She doesn't have one. You're free to call her whatever you like," Serlas finished stuffing a few old tomes into his saddle bags and strode over to them.
Bishop thought for a moment and asked, "What's 'rain' in Aldmeri?"
"Mistē," Rona said.
"Misty huh? I like it. Misty it is," he smiled at the pretty mare, who shook her head and pressed her nose into his hand.
"Excellent," Serlas said, "Make sure you both pack up everything you'll be needing, ah Bishop, one more thing. How would you feel if we leave Karnwyr here on the farm?"
Bishop crossed his arms and said, "Good luck getting him to stay. Karnwyr's not my pet, he goes wherever he wants and that's usually to follow me. Seems to think we're pack mates."
"Hmm," Serlas held a curled finger to his lips thinking, "I'd feel much more comfortable leaving the wolf here as extra protection for Illia's sake."
Bishop sighed, "Yeah, I'll see what I can do to get him to stay. He seems to like Illia enough. I've seen 'em sitting around in the garden together, just going to have to bribe him with food maybe."
Serlas clapped him on the shoulder and said, "I thank you. Well then, shall we dine and get some sleep?"
Rona laughed, "We just woke up Ata."
"Ah yes, well try to get some more sleep soon, we're leaving at dawn tomorrow."
They ate together and packed up their things for the evening. Bishop and Rona stayed up a little later than Serlas, enjoying the evening together and stargazing before retiring to bed once again.
Bright and early the next morning Bishop was busy trying to make Karnwyr understand, "Stay. Stay here," then he'd take two steps and the wolf would follow him, "No. Stay!"
Serlas and Rona were ready to go and Bishop gave up and grabbed a soft slab of meat from the ice lock and dropped it in front of the fireplace inside the cottage. Karnwyr tore into it right away and Bishop slipped out the door. They said their goodbyes to Illia and set out, traveling northward and taking the road by the river. They spent all day following the path and made it into Rorikstead shortly before nightfall. They stayed at the local inn and set off again the next morning for Dragon Bridge.
The trip was fairly monotonous, with Rona entertaining them with songs and Serlas telling long winded stories about his youth. It was a little after midday when they came over the pass nearing the famous bridge in question and caught sight of a terrifying scene. The buildings and grass were engulfed in both ice and flames and twenty Legionnaires were firing arrows in succession at not one, but two dragons.
The winged furies were battling each other, struggling against one another, slashing and roaring ice and flames into each other's faces trying to cast the other out.
One of them got hit with a barrage of arrows while it clutched precariously to a rooftop and turned its gaze to the humans below and shouted, "YOL TOOR SHUL!" incinerating half the men.
Rona felt compelled to intervene but Serlas held his hand out, stopping her and speaking severely, "You are too quick to react velvynen! We must make a plan and work together to bring them down!"
She nodded in agreement and held steady. Serlas said, "First things first, we have to get the civilians to safety!"
Bishop and Rona both gave their assent and all three dismounted their steeds, leaving them safely off the road far from the ruined village.
Rona summoned a song of power, one of protection for the villagers and soldiers. Jillian appeared, overlooking the town from a cliff and sang to the skies making a light shine down upon them all, healing and protecting them.
(The Song is Running Up That Hill by Within Temptation)
The three ran forward, crossing the bridge entering the fray as the villagers cowered and the soldiers ran about firing arrows. The dragons were red and green in color. Red blasted jets of ice, while Green spewed flames of fire. They were clearly having a territorial dispute as they stood on the ground, hissing in dragon's tongue and viciously snapping back at each other. They flapped their wings at one another, like birds, trying to make themselves look bigger, their entire enormous bodies lunging and their tails smashing into buildings.
Bishop and Rona split up and ran about pulling the townspeople from debris and sending them off back down the bridge. A redguard woman was screaming near a broken down building while her young son wailed beside her. Bishop ran over to them.
"You have to leave now!"
She grasped his arms and pleaded pointing into the broken down building, "My husband! My husband is inside!"
Rona came over and noticed an opening that was engulfed in flames. They saw the man buried in rubble, though still moving slightly. Bishop yelled, "I need some resist fire Lightfoot!"
Rona cast the spell over him and he rushed in, scrambling over the still hot flames licking at him. He threw broken planks and other debris aside and pulled the man up, throwing his arm over his shoulder. The building shook again and the roofing held precariously by a splintered beam in the ceiling. It cracked a little more with each hit.
"Hurry!" Rona cried. She looked around the building which was being wacked repeatedly by the red dragon's tail. "Ata! Stop its tail!"
Serlas did not hear her over the ruckus. But he was already busy getting the Legionnaires to fall back so that he could cast powerful destruction magic without engulfing them all. The men ran back towards the bridge and watched as Serlas gripped his stave, holding it aloft, perfectly vertical and he bellowed, a deep throated incantation in Aldmeri. A powerful wind rushed around him, sweeping his cloak wildly about and he slammed the stave down, causing the ground to shudder as a blizzard, as wide as the road he stood on roared around him, engulfing the dragons.
The red stopped its tail swings as the green hissed, flapping its wings and shouted flames trying to protect itself from the icy tundra. Bishop leapt through the opening, carrying the man under his arm, just as the roofing collapsed inward. Two Legionnaires came over to help him carry the wounded man out and Rona quickly cast a grand healing over them and instructed them all to get to safety. The woman cried her thanks and hurried off with her son and the others.
Serlas was staring in the face of the red dragon, which was unaffected by the blizzard as it studied him curiously. It snapped at him suddenly and he thrust his stave outward into its maw, casting an ear shattering, crackling beam of electricity through its body. Its jaw clapped shut, crushing the stave while its entire body trembled from the shock and it threw its head back and roared painfully.
Serlas' hands went alight with magic, ready to defend himself but in that moment the green dragon flew down on the back of the red, breathing flames and clawing at its back, tearing hunks of flesh from its spine, spraying blood. They writhed on the ground, nearly hitting Serlas with their enormous rolling bodies as he threw himself out of the way. Bishop ran over to him pulling him up to his feet and they retreated back, watching as the two beasts tore into each other.
Serlas breathed deeply and wiped the sweat from his face, "I'm getting too old for this."
Bishop hesitated, "Should we let them kill each other?"
Serlas looked at him and asked, "Are the civilians safe?"
"We got them all out," Rona said as she stared on at the two beasts wrangling one another.
He caught his breath and waved a hand, "Then we let them kill each other."
The green one managed to pin the red down under him and struck twice at its neck, burying its jaws in and twisted it with a loud crunch. The red one went limp and the green turned its fiery gaze on the three of them, growling with the bleeding neck still clutched in its jaws.
Naturally the red dragon began to burn up and its soul washed over Rona. The green released the bony throat from its maw and growled low, "Dovahkiin..."
Bishop shouted, "Shit! Shit! Shit!" As he pushed her out of the way of its snapping teeth and Serlas cast a powerful ward behind them that barely withstood its fiery breath. They darted down the path as the dragon took flight, soaring over them and circling above.
Serlas held a hand out and cast an ebonyskin over them all to protect them then held his furiously glowing hands out, ready to fight. Rona and Bishop both drew their bows, taking aim.
"I'll provide your cover! Get that blasted beast in the eyes if you can!" Serlas bellowed, casting a ward.
As the dragon swooped down Rona cried, "FUS RO DAH!" sending it spinning over them where it crashed into a building. The dragon struggled in the rubble, flapping its wings and crying fire to the skies. Bishop lobbed arrows into its hide in succession and the Legionnaires quickly joined them, firing their own, while it was down. It hissed and growled then swung its tail sending debris flying at them. Serlas used whatever magic he could to slow the chain of glass and wood spraying at them.
Rona was ready to end this now. She cried, "SU GRAH DUN!" to speed up her movements and sprint across the ground, Jillian suddenly running at her side. The ghostly woman held her glinting greatsword out, flat edge up and Rona leapt onto it, drawing her bow. Jillian flung her high into the air and she swooped down, whispering words to slow her ascent. She shouted, "ZUL MEY GUT!" The insulting words bounced off the dragon's head and he looked up at her, pupils turned to slits. Just as it made to shout, Rona nocked her bow and freed a speedy, bright arrow straight into its head that splintered its skull in twain while Jillian rushed in severing its head from its body and disappearing in a wisp of light.
The dragon's head rolled to the ground and its body went limp as Rona bound off the broken roofing and landed gently on her feet, feeling the wave of its soul enter her body. The Legionnaires cheered madly, and chanted, "Dragonborn! Dragonborn! Dragonborn!"
She blushed furiously as Serlas ran to her and grasped her shoulders with desperate concern spread over his face, "(Rona! This is what you have been doing!? I thought I'd die of fright watching you run off to face that fury)."
"(Father, I'm fine, really. I do this all the time now. I'm used to it)," she averted her gaze, hating that she worried him so much.
He hugged her and shook his head, "(I cannot watch you fight these creatures, my daughter. I thought I would lose you today.)"
Bishop hung back watching this father fret over his daughter as a Legion Officer approached them and said, "Thank you Dragonborn, without your arrival today I'm positive we'd have lost more good men."
She pulled away from her father and asked, "Is there anything else we can do to help? My ata - I mean, my father and I are both accomplished healers."
The Officer glanced at the man and said, "Serlas? So it's true. I'd heard your daughter was Dragonborn," he laughed, "By the eight - it's good to see you my friend!"
Serlas smiled and they shook hands and pat each other on the back, "Good to see you as well Commander Maro. But what brings you to Skyrim so far from the Emperor's side?"
"I could ask the same of you Arch-Mage Thoraminh. General Tulius requested our presence to aid against the growing dragon menace, its good training for my men on the off chance the Emperor is ever attacked by these fire breathing lizards. But I will admit I'm very glad you two - er," he glanced at Bishop, "you three came along. Don't know if there'd be much left standing without your help."
"Always glad to be of assistance, especially in trying times like these. As for myself I've resigned my position as Arch-Mage so that I might aid my daughter, Rona, on her journey as Dragonborn."
The Commander nodded, smiling slightly, "Yes, of course. Well I'm sure Emperor Titus will miss your council."
"Oh I've already received plenty of letters asking for guidance," he chuckled.
"I imagine so," he nodded and pressed his lips together, "So - Lady Rona, you mentioned you can heal? My men got burnt up pretty bad, anything you can do, I'd be grateful."
The two of them set to work on healing the wounded while Bishop left to collect their horses. They spent several hours healing, putting out fires, melting ice and moving the dead where they'd be buried later on.
They got ready to go, mounting their steeds and heading off down the road while it was still daylight. They looked over the poor village, the locals entire lives in literal shambles.
"Is there anything we can do Ata?" Rona looked over at her father sorrowfully.
"Unfortunately the magic it would take to fix this kind of damage... well, we'd need quite a few mages to do it in a reasonable amount of time. It will be alright velvynen. Commander Maro has assured me that he and his Legionnaires are up to the task of repairing the buildings and aiding the townsfolk."
Bishop scoffed, "Yeah, just like we could count on the Imperials to not kill innocent civilians." Serlas raised his brows at him and Bishop scowled, "You're pretty naive for someone who's supposed to be a wise old elf, Serlas. Don't forget these are the same people that would have had Rona executed without a fair trial - without any kind of trial."
"If it makes you feel more at ease Bishop, I will check in here in a few days and review their progress," Serlas said simply.
"What do I care about some old village? If these people had actually made an effort to learn to fight, to fortify their village, then this might not have happened. Fight or die, that's the dog eat dog world we live in." Bishop shook his head and snapped his reins making Misty lurch ahead of them.
"Hmm," Serlas looked after him then turned to Rona, "Is he always so bad-tempered after a heated battle?"
"Sometimes. I think he has an issue with helping people," she shrugged, "But he tries. He pulled that man out of the burning building and risked his own life to do so."
Serlas smirked, "My dear, I have a feeling that was more for you, than because of his own compassion."
She looked at him, frowning slightly and shook her head, "No you're wrong. Bishop is very compassionate. He just... doesn't want anyone to know he is. Thinks it shows weakness or something..."
Serlas looked over at her, "You know, I've seen you two, always running off together," her face burned hot as he continued, "He's a good man, velvyn, I see that he cares for you deeply, but be careful. I don't want to see him break your heart either." She turned away from him, letting her hair cover her burning face as he chuckled lightly at her. The last thing she wanted to do was discuss her love life with her father, it was far too personal.
They reached Solitude after a two hour ride following behind Bishop the whole way and asked a carriage driver where they might stable their horses. He pointed over at a small farm overlooking the river. They headed down, collected a few of their things, paid to keep their horses there for a week and trudged back up the hill leading into Solitude. The minute they walked in they caught sight of a dreadful scene. People were gathered around in a courtyard looking up at a small platform where a bloodied chopping block sat. A headsman stood by with his axe while a Legion Officer guided a bound man to the block.
Rona felt her stomach turn and her vision fade. As she watched the scene play out she vividly remembered the terror she felt as she nearly lost her own head and then the screams and smell of burning flesh all around her. She went pale and her knees gave out. Bishop caught her and said, "Whoa! You alright Ladyship?"
She felt nauseas. Serlas stood in front of her blocking her view of the execution as she heard the axe come down and a woman cried, "Why Roggvir? Why?"
Serlas guided them away from the scene, with Bishop holding onto her and they let her sit on the ledge of a stone block planter. Bishop knelt down in front of her, looking up into her face, "Hey, you feeling sick?"
Serlas looked back at the murmuring crowd scowling fiercely.
"I - I don't know. I just," she blinked catching her breath and rubbing her head, "I remembered Helgen. Everything that happened. I don't get it," she laughed slightly, "I can fight dragons but I see one man getting executed and... I couldn't handle it."
Bishop looked at her with deep concern. While Serlas grumbled furiously under his breath clenching his fists, "Disgusting. Deplorable. Public executions in this day and age. Absolutely and utterly despicable. I'm going to speak with Cecil Tulius immediately."
Rona stood up, steadying herself, "I'm going with you."
"Are you sure velvyn? You can rest if you need to."
"No. I have to speak to him," she said sternly as the color returned to her face.
Bishop stood up and said, "Well I'll be at the Winking Skeever while you two have your little talk," he clapped Rona on the shoulder and said, "Give 'em hell Ladyship."
They parted ways and the father and daughter made their way up to the city's crenellations where they saw Legionnaires hard at work training their sword arms and marksmanship. Serlas walked up to the man who was clearly in charge, he was also the one who was just overseeing the execution.
"I am here to speak with General Tulius," he said to the nord eyeing him warily.
The Officer frowned at him crossing his arms, "Do you have an appointment with him?"
"Oh, he's been expecting me. Please tell Cecil Tulius that Arch-Mage Thoraminh and Dragonborn Rona are here," Serlas said coolly.
The Officer looked over at her skeptically and said, "Right... Excuse me a moment." He disappeared into the Legion's quarters and in a moment's notice he came right back out and said, "The General will see you now."
He escorted them into a small room, which lead through another corridor and into a second room. A large map of Skyrim lay on the table with blue and red flag pins poking out of it in various areas. General Tulius stood by with another one of his commanding officers, a nord woman.
"Serlas, it's been a long time. How are you?" Tulius kept a friendly tone but the elf shut him down quickly.
"Terrible actually. Would you care to know why?"
Tulius took a deep breath and looked over at Rona who was glaring fiercely at him. She'd never even met him outside their encounter at Helgen but she hated him so much. She resisted the burning urge to shout him to pieces.
"Lady Rona. Glad to finally meet you," he held a hand out in greeting and she ignored it.
"We've already met before," she said curtly.
He drew his hand back, "Yes, of course. Please, if you both wouldn't mind taking a seat."
"I'll stand," she said.
Serlas didn't budge either and said, "You're rather speechless Cecil. Considering the numerous letters I received from you I thought you'd be prepared to speak to us by now. So tell me, what do you have to say for yourself?"
He cleared his throat, "I want to formally apologize, to you, Lady Rona," he nodded to her, "for the incident at Helgen. It was a grave mistake on my part. I take full responsibility for it and am prepared to compensate you for the grief I've caused you."
She scoffed, "With what? Gold? I don't want your money."
Serlas said angrily, "If you truly were to take responsibility you would step down from your position. Of course if I had my way you'd be clapped in irons and sitting in a cell, damn it!"
Tulius shook his head, "Oh I'm very aware of the extent you went to, to have me removed from my position Serlas. But this war is too important right now and the Emperor knows I'm the best. He can't afford to lose me. Not yet," he looked back at Rona and said, "I don't know what else I can do for you Dragonborn. You have my formal apology for the mistake. If I'd known... I never would have done that to my old colleague's only daughter."
"You were going to kill all of us without trial!" she shouted furiously.
He met her anger and yelled, "Do you have any idea what was at stake!? We had Ulfric Stormcloak in our grasp. The war would be over now if he weren't still alive today! Thousands of lives saved and spared! If not for that damned, blasted dragon..."
"If it weren't for that dragon I wouldn't have my head right now!" She shot back seething, "You didn't even listen to me! You were going to kill everyone and anyone who just happened to be there. How could you do that!?"
"How could you stand before Ulfric Stormcloak more than once without shouting him down the way he did to High King Torygg!?" he roared back.
She'd made her decision then. Tulius would never give her a true, heartfelt apology, all he cared about was killing Ulfric and winning the war, her life meant nothing to him and now that she was Dragonborn he only saw her as a pawn, as someone to use, just like all of them.
Her eyes burned with fire and she took a page out of Bishop's book and snapped at him, "You can take your formal apology and shove it up your ass. Fuck you."
She turned on her toe and stormed out of there, leaving her father behind as she raced down the path towards the inn. All she wanted was a glass of wine and to spend time with the only person that wasn't trying to use her for his own benefit. She stepped into the boisterous tavern and looked around for her ranger.
She saw him, his back turned to her, sitting at a large table with three other women, chatting loudly, when the girl with the bright blonde, pixie haircut looked up and screamed with glee, "RONA!" The other two looked over and gave shrill cries of excitement and an enormous smile spread over Rona's face as the girls rushed over to her, drowning her in a group hug.
Roxlin, the most enthusiastic Breton she'd ever known, bounced up and down, squeezing her around her waist squealing, "Rona! Rona! Rona! Gods we've missed you girl!"
Charissa, the redguard woman, pat her on the shoulder and grinned broadly, white teeth shining brightly from her dark face, "You're looking damn good Lightfoot!"
Lorrie, a very quiet and shy bosmer, peered at her through the long, brown locks around her face smiling and whispered with a lilted tone, "Are you really the Dragonborn?"
Rona shouted over them, still smiling, "Wait! What are you all doing here?"
Charissa said, "We're here for the ball of course - oh and maybe for a chance to see you again."
Roxlin was squeezing her arm, unable to contain her excitement and pointed over at Bishop who was grinning back at them and shaking his head, "Met your cute boyfriend."
Rona blushed brightly and the girls all giggled around her. Charissa joked, "I see you're still the bashful one."
Bishop called with a sensual overtone, "Hey! You lovely ladies going to come back and keep me company or am I going to have to sit all alone all night long?"
Lorrie whispered, "I like him."
Roxlin punched her in the arm playfully and said, "Hey now! That's Rona's man!"
Lorrie rubbed her arm and pouted, "Doesn't mean I can't look. He's dreamy."
The girls giggled and rejoined Bishop at the table. He ordered them a round of drinks and looked over at Rona, "You never told me your friends were all drop dead gorgeous."
The girls 'oohed' and Charissa waved a hand, "Damn, he's a bad boy. Better be careful Mr. Handsome or you'll make her catch fire."
He chuckled as Rona turned an even deeper shade of crimson. She knew they were just poking fun, enjoying a chance to tease her and make her blush.
"How'd you all get stuck talking to this gruff guy?" she asked, nudging him playfully.
Bishop laughed and said, "I overheard them all chatting about you actually and thought I'd join 'em and tell them all about our little adventure."
What in the world could he have possibly said to them? She quickly diverted the conversation, "How are the boys? They stayed behind?"
"Nah," Charissa scrunched her nose, "They're out doing some side work for the Legion. They'll be back soon."
"So tell us!" Roxlin bounced in her chair, "You're the Dragonborn right? Bet you have some stories!"
"Yeah, give us the dish girl," Charissa said crossing her arms and leaning on the table while Lorrie nodded fervently beside her.
Rona shrugged and took a deep breath telling them everything from the start, while Bishop chimed in a few times, adding a colorful flavor to her stories. He even shared some of their more private moments without going too far into detail. She could tell he was having too much fun making her burn red, especially when he told them how she went swimming with him in her underwear that one time. The girls laughed loudly giving wild reactions. He was flirting lightly and laughing with them all. Rona was enjoying herself more than she had in a long time.
It wasn't long before Serlas entered the tavern in a huff and saw them all and chuckled, smiling, "Well, well!"
Once again the girls leapt up and shouted, "You didn't tell us Attie was here!" A name they'd given him affectionately years ago when Rona wouldn't let up and just say 'Father' instead of 'Ata'. It became a bit of a joke between them. Roxlin of course went in for a hug, while Charissa and Lorrie both gave him more formal handshake in greeting.
He sat down with them looking around, "Well I wasn't expecting to see you ladies all the way out here. You're here for the ball as well?"
They all nodded saying, yes and yeah over one another before taking sips and swigs from their flagons and bottles. Rona looked over at Serlas and asked, "Did Tulius have anything else to say?"
"Oh yeah," Bishop said taking a drink, "How'd your little talk go?"
Serlas said, "Well, velvynen got heated and promptly told the General to," he clicked his tongue, "fuck off."
Bishop nearly sprayed his mead over the table, laughing, "You didn't!"
The girls looked at her stunned.
"Holy shit!" Roxlin spat.
"Oh my..." Lorrie muttered.
"God damn girl," Charissa smirked and crossed her arms.
"He almost had me killed!" Rona cried. Then they all sort of nodded their heads agreeing that yeah, he deserved it. She looked back to Serlas, "What else did you say to him?"
"I asked him if he knew what the Thalmor were up to behind his back. He genuinely didn't seem to know about their plans."
"Not sure if that was a good idea Serlas," Bishop scowled, "That coin stops flowing to Thorn now and..." He looked around at the girls who were all listening intently, with puzzled looks on their faces.
"What's going on? What plans?" Roxlin asked.
Bishop shifted uncomfortably in his chair, averting his eyes.
"It's quite a long story girls," Serlas said, "But let's not waste this evening discussing the awful state of the world. I'd much rather spend it listening to you all sing one of your lovely songs for us!"
Rona sat up straighter and Charissa scoffed, "Gonna need some more mead for that."
"Can we sing Scarborough Fair?" Lorrie asked softly.
"I haven't sung anything in a while," Roxlin groaned.
"What are you talking about? I hear you singing almost every day to your man," Charissa teased.
Roxlin scowled at her, "You were listening!?"
"Ooh, seeing someone Roxie?" Rona asked.
Roxlin grinned and held out her hand, showing off a sparkling engagement ring.
Rona gasped, "You're getting married!? To who?"
"Magrob proposed a few months ago," she blushed lightly.
Rona was stunned, "I had no idea you two... really? That's wonderful! Congratulations!"
Roxlin smiled shyly.
"Many congratulations to you my dear," Serlas said, "Ah, and if I may make a proposal myself, I'd love to hear you ladies perform Canon if you could."
Rona saw a lute sitting by and hopped off her chair to grab it, "Come on! I want to sing together!"
Charissa rolled her eyes, "You always want to sing Rona."
"I want to sing too," Lorrie said sliding off her chair and joining her.
The other two got up and stood beside her and Rona started playing, while Charissa finished off her mug and set it aside. Roxlin vocalized a bit and Lorrie hummed clearing her throat. Charissa was first to sing a beautiful high note and the other three joined in.
(The song is Canon in D by Stella Voci)
The entire tavern quieted at the sound of their lovely voices echoing through the space. Bishop smiled on at Rona with that affectionate gaze. She couldn't be happier than she felt at that moment surrounded by friends, family and the man she loved.
As they finished their song the patrons all cheered and clapped for them. Then the doors to the tavern burst open and a group of men walked inside. The Imperial, Marco was singing Age of Aggression quite loudly, smoothing his black hair back, before winking at the few barmaids standing by making them giggle.
Roxlin ran over and embraced the orc, Magrob and the two looked on lovingly at one another. She was so tiny compared to him but they were cute together as they whispered silly, sweet-nothings in each other's ears. The Bosmer, Linel, Lorrie's twin stood on tip toe and waved calling, "Oh Rona, Master Thoraminh! You're both here!"
But it was the fourth man who strode in which made Rona's voice catch in her throat. For standing there, fully dressed in his formal paladin's armor with his cloak swaying gently behind him, was her old flame, the man she'd once given her heart to. His crystalline eyes met hers and she breathed, "Casavir."