Chapter 34
Peace and Solitude
She roused to low murmurs of people speaking in the background. She was in a comfortably lit room and laying on a very soft bed. The finery of the furniture and paintings indicated she was in a palace, though it appeared to be an infirmary wing with all the potions and medical supplies clustered on shelves and tables.
"You are all, of course, welcome to stay as long as you need," a soft woman's voice carried in from the corridor, "I will make sure your medical needs are tended to and that your stay is comfortable. In fact, I would like to grant Lady Rona a homestead here in Solitude should she and her companions ever wish to stay here. It's the least I can do after all you've done for us."
"I thank you Jarl Elisif," her father's voice spoke, he was alive, he was alright. Tears of relief trickled from her eyes. He continued speaking, "We may just take you up on that offer. The others need some more time to recover before attempting to return to Cyrodiil. I am also still healing, it seems."
"Have you tried our local apothecary? Angeline's Aromatics? They carry just about everything you will need, if not though I will speak with my court wizard and see if she might be able to get what you require."
The angry barking of a familiar voice carried over to her from behind the barrier to her right, separating her bed from the others. Serlas and Elisif both peered into the room, listening.
"Get off me woman! Gah! That hurts!"
"Stop fussing! I need to apply it over the entire wound or you will never heal properly!" the sound of an older woman tutting at him carried over the divider.
"I said let go!" He snarled and the sounds of supplies tipped over, crashing to the floor and breaking.
"Honestly! Why can't you be more like dear old Magrob here and take the ointment like a damn man!" she huffed, "Now look at this mess you've made."
"I'm leaving! Keep that burning poison away from me!" More crashing and sounds of falling over as he tumbled to the floor.
"See!? You can't even walk properly! Now get back in your bed and rest! So childish..."
Serlas waved a hand to Elisif and whispered, "No worries, just our friendly ranger grousing about his treatment. I'll check on him."
Elisif nodded and left him, vanishing down the corridor. Serlas rounded the divider and said, "Having some difficulty getting up Bishop?"
He grumbled, "I don't understand why you can't just use your damn magic to heal me."
"I already told you," there were sounds of the nurse and Serlas both helping him back into his bed, "dragon's fire is its own form of powerful magic. It is extremely difficult to heal the burns with restoration alone, if you wish to heal you will need the ointment - ah Magrob, tell me, how are you feeling today?"
"Was fine until the damn nord woke me up," Magrob replied groggily.
Serlas said, "Yes, well, Bishop will learn to tolerate his treatment and be quiet about it for the sake of the others, won't you Bishop?"
He spoke in a scolding tone of voice and Rona could practically hear Bishop rolling his eyes over the divider. She shook her head, smiling lightly and closed her eyes, glad they were alright.
Then she made to sit up, but fell right back on her pillow. She was incredibly weak and her whole body ached. She looked over herself, she was still wearing her poor tattered and torn dress. Typical. Be invited to a beautiful Ball, have the most romantic night of her life, then be Dragonborn and, naturally, get attacked by dragons. Ruin beautiful one-of-a-kind dress and entire evening, rinse and repeat.
This is my life now, she thought to herself as she stared up at the ceiling. Then she remembered her dance with Bishop, how he kissed her so passionately and then he was about to - he was definitely going to say it. She groaned and turned her face into the pillow. The nurse peeked around the divider at the sound of her grumbling and cried, "OH THANK GOODNESS!" She was an older plump woman with short, curly white hair and a pair of round spectacles on the tip of her button nose and she wore a white dress. A breton Rona guessed.
She came right over to her as Serlas poked his head over the divider, "Velvyn! You're awake, thank the gods," his face turned down to Bishop, who she still couldn't see and he said, "Ah - ah - ah, you need your rest. You can chat with her later."
Again Bishop grumbled in reply, hating every minute of laying around, having people fuss over him and telling him what to do.
The nurse fret over Rona asking, "Does it hurt anywhere dear? Anything broken? They said you took quite the fall."
Rona moved all of her limbs, nothing felt broken, miraculously, "No, I'm just really tired."
Serlas smiled at her, "I imagine so. After everything you did Middas evening I'm sure you're exhausted."
She looked at him, confused by his phrasing and furrowed her brows, "Wait, what's today?"
"Today is Fredas, the second of Morning Star, the new year as well, two hundred and two," he clarified.
Her mouth parted, "It's been two days?"
"Yes," he stroked at his beard, "You've been unconscious for a day and a half now," he pulled a chair up beside her bed and grasped her hand, "I was very worried that you wouldn't wake up my dear. We've all been worried."
She tried to give him a reassuring smile, "I'm alright Ata. I'm just glad you're okay."
"Hmm, yes, I suffered a few broken ribs and a shattered clavicle, very painful. But nothing a good potion can't repair. However, considering I'm not as young as I used to be, it's not quite as effective anymore. So I'm still a bit achy myself." He stood up and said, "I'll go inform the others that you've woken up."
"Ata," she said, "Can you move the divider?" She wanted to see her companions, she wanted to see Bishop.
The nurse had a fit over it though, "Oh no! No, no, no! No fraternizing while you're trying to heal!"
Serlas cleared his throat, "Miss Prothe, I am positive that allowing my daughter to see her comrades and speak with them without the divider will aid her in a swift recovery."
The nurse narrowed her eyes at him, and pursed her lips, looking quite sour before she huffed and said, "Fine! But if I catch any flirting, dalliance, or coquetry in my ward it goes right back up!"
She shuffled over and pulled the divider away, revealing Bishop, who was bare chested and still wearing his fancy nobles pants which were torn to pieces, one pant leg still on while the other had been ripped all the way back. He looked like hell, with his severely burned leg, elevated in a sling hanging from the ceiling and Magrob was further down in another bed, the left half of his face covered in bandages and from the looks of it he was just trying to sleep.
Bishop met her eyes and gave her a smile, glad to see she was awake and alive. The nurse looked between the both of them and tutted, "My office is right around the corner, if I so much as hear you osculating I'll be here lickety split and the divider goes right back up!"
She huffed and turned away, leaving them.
Bishop stared after her, "What does that even mean?"
Serlas chuckled, "Ah, osculation, otherwise known as the intimate act of kissing," he clasped his hands together, "Well then, I'm sure you both have much catching up to do, try to keep it down for Magrob though. I will go and inform the others you're awake." He followed after the nurse and shut the door quietly behind him.
Bishop looked back at Rona and said, "How you feeling Lightfoot?"
"Just kind of achy all over, you?"
He looked at his leg, "Good, except for when they put that bile all over my leg," his mouth twitched, "Almost lost the damn thing. They were going to amputate before," he cleared his throat, "well, before Casavir butt in and insisted he could heal it. He didn't have much luck though. Serlas woke up and he gave it a try before they rushed him off for his own healing. Got it down to second degree burns. It'll scar, but I'll live and I get to keep my leg, good thing too because I'm kind of attached to it," he smirked at her, but seeing no reaction to his joke, he just sighed heavily and said, "That was some party, huh?"
Rona's lip trembled. She felt responsible for all of it. If she hadn't been there, if she weren't the Dragonborn then none of this would have happened. Bishop and Magrob wouldn't be seriously injured and trying to recover, and gods all those people, they wouldn't have died if it weren't for her. She broke down and cried and Bishop looked back at her, "Whoa, whoa, why the waterworks Ladyship? You're alive, we're all alive. Everything's alright."
She put her hands to forehead and sobbed, "None of it would have happened if I wasn't there."
He frowned at her, "Don't do that. It's not your fault. You couldn't have known."
She cried into her hands and he barked at her, making Magrob jump awake, "It's not your fault! Stop crying, stop blaming yourself, stop feeling sorry for yourself. It won't change anything."
Magrob rolled over and groaned, "Keep it down, will you. My face hurts."
Bishop looked over at the orc and waved a hand, "Yeah, yeah," then turned back to her, "Hey, c'mere. Can you get up?" She nodded and threw her legs over the edge of her bed, wobbling slightly.
"Careful now," he said playfully. She edged over to him and pulled a chair up close, taking a seat next to him. He looked at her sweetly and touched her face, "Hey beautiful."
She leaned into his touch and he wiped at a tear with his thumb, "Couple of days, we'll heal up, then hit the road again. Go anywhere you want, hell, even go back and pay a visit to our three favorite mutes and their spokesperson if you want."
She laughed and then remembered the note and her face fell, "I don't have the horn."
His brow perked up, "What do you mean?"
"Back at the barrow, when I got to the end, there was that stone hand, it should have had a horn, but there was just a note. Someone else took it already."
He pulled his hand back and crossed his arms. "What did it say?"
"I don't remember exactly, but whoever took the horn wants to meet with me, said something about renting the Attic Room in Riverwood."
He scowled and sighed running a hand through his hair, "Great, another wild goose chase," then he turned to her, "The Sleeping Giant doesn't have an attic, let alone an Attic Room, at least that I know of and trust me, I practically own the place as much gold as I've spent there."
She stared off to the side of him, looking forlorn, feeling hopeless and lost.
"We'll still go," he said, "See if we can find this person that wants to meet you, then gut 'em and take the horn back."
"You don't think it's Thorn... do you? Or the Dominion?"
"Thorn? Pft," he waved a hand, "He's a monster, but he's not that smart. He'd never know about the horn or any of that. The Dominion, maybe. We'll have to be careful."
She was lost in thought, thinking of everything that had happened with the dragons and especially the conversation the black dragon, Alduin, had with Eira. Bishop coiled a hand through her hair and said, "Bit of a short mess back here. Still," he moaned lightly, "You look damn sexy even in that dress."
She looked down at herself and laughed, "I could be wearing a sack and you'd still stare."
"Mmm, that is true. If it ever comes down to a sack, go without it. It'd only get in the way of me covering you instead," he smirked.
"Ooo! I see you two are right back at it," Lorrie teased from the corridor. All of her comrades were standing by, smiling glad to see she was awake.
Rona made to stand again, but her knees buckled and the girls ran over and drowned her in hugs.
Charissa even looked sad, a leak sprung from her eye and she said, "I'm so glad you're alright - oh your hair!" She grasped the thin, choppy strands curling under the back of her scalp.
Lorrie ran her fingers through it lengthening it with magic and said, "There we go, we'll cut it and fix it up later."
"Thank you Lorrie," Rona said.
Roxlin went over to Magrob's side and caressed his shoulder, he turned to look up at her and smiled.
Casavir had come to see her as well and he looked relieved. Bishop didn't say anything, just turned his gaze away from the man. They may have made up, in some way or another, but they'd never truly be friends. Rona managed to stand up and she hugged Casavir and thanked him for saving Bishop's leg.
"Ah, he told you about that?" Casavir looked over at him and Bishop kept his gaze firmly at the wall. Casavir chuckled, "Well, I did owe him for saving my skin a few times as well," he looked down at her, a kind smile traced his lips, "I'm so glad you're well... you'll have to teach me how you fight like that someday."
She blushed, vividly remembering the intense battle from the other day. Then Linel embraced her, giving her a big hug and Marco pat her on the shoulder and handed her a lute, "Thought you might want to entertain these guys if you get bored of laying around."
She smiled broadly, "Thank you Marco!"
"No, thank you, for saving all of us," he said with a tone of seriousness he rarely had.
"Yeah," Roxlin sniffled, "If it weren't for you and Bishop, Magrob would be... he'd..." She buried her face in the orc's chest and he pat her head with an oversized hand.
"Hey, I helped carry the big galoot out too!" Marco argued.
Roxlin chuckled and Magrob said, "Not that big. I'm pretty small for an orc."
Marco scoffed, "You? Small? The hell is a big orc then? Gods..."
The group stayed and chatted for a short while until Nurse Prothe demanded they get out and leave her patients alone to rest. She glared furiously at Rona and insisted she get back in bed.
Rona did so, she was feeling sleepy anyhow and passed right out. She was only there for another day or so until she finally felt better. Bishop and Magrob however were stuck there for another few weeks, receiving daily ointment treatments to their burns.
At one point Rona insisted that she apply Bishop's since he wouldn't stop throwing a fit whenever the huffy nurse would do it. He took it a lot better, though she could tell it still hurt him a lot and so she'd use her healing hands to alleviate the pain.
She and Roxlin spent most of their time in the Palace infirmary, looking after their men and entertaining them with songs.
As Rona finished singing a sweet lullaby one evening, Bishop had already started snoozing like a baby, so she kissed him on the forehead and went to leave. As she turned to head down the stairs in the palace common room Jarl Elisif stopped her, "Excuse me, Dragonborn Rona?"
Rona turned to her, this being their first time directly speaking to one another. She put on her best manners and said, "Yes, my Jarl?"
"Ah please, you may call me Elisif. I was wondering if I might have a word with you?"
Rona's insides squirmed. Here was the woman whose husband was murdered by Ulfric Stormcloak, a man she'd stood in front of more than once now and had chosen not to shout down. She wondered if Elisif was going to plead her case now.
"Of course," Rona followed her down a corridor and into her private chambers. Elisif took a seat at her writing desk, turning her chair and motioned for Rona to take a seat on one of the nearby couches. She did so, folding her hands in her lap and pressing her legs together, "What can I do for you, my Lady?"
"First off, I wanted to personally thank you for what you did at the Grand Crystal Ball. You saved many lives at the risk of your own, and you saved our fine city from ruin. For that I am eternally grateful," putting on the formalities, praise, praise, praise.
Rona politely said, "Of course my Jarl. I only wish to serve and protect the people of Skyrim however I can." Then she waited for the typical reply, 'join our cause, protect our people, avenge my husband.'
Elisif nodded and pressed her lips together, her eyes wandering as though she were struggling to find the words. Finally, she spoke, "I wanted to speak with you at the Ball, but... well," she sighed, "The Ball is usually a more romantic event. Every year I went with my husband," she met Rona's gaze directly, here we go, "this would have been the first year I'd ever spend it without him. I just couldn't bring myself to go," she smiled feebly and laughed, "Perhaps that was for the best, considering everything that happened."
Rona really did feel sad for her as she said, "I'm truly sorry for your loss my Lady. I'm sure he was a wonderful husband."
Elisif's brows knit together and she choked back her sorrow, "He really was," she paused and took a breath, "I understand that General Tullius already spoke with you."
Rona averted her gaze and bit her lower lip, there was nothing to discuss about it and she was tired of dancing around the subject, "Jarl Elisif, I know you're going to ask me to join the Legion, to take the side of the Empire, but I can't do that. Especially now, with the dragon menace growing worse, I have to focus all of my energy on my training, so that I might stop them."
She laughed clumsily, "Ah, you saw it coming a mile away didn't you? You're very perceptive for someone so young."
Rona shrugged, "I've already had two Jarls - three now," she nodded to Elisif, "and a General insist I join their cause. I have to be honest, I don't feel like it's my place, especially considering I'm not even from Skyrim…"
"I see," Elisif looked deeply saddened. She seemed truly genuine and Rona respected that about her, but she simply could not, she would not, choose a side. Both were terrible options as far as she could see. With the nords treating outsiders as worse than the dirt beneath their feet and the Empire being controlled by the Dominion, there was no clear 'good' side to take. Either way people were going to get hurt.
"Could I perhaps make another request of you? One of a more personal nature?"
"What would you ask of me?"
She turned to her writing desk and opened a large drawer, pulling out an old nordic war horn, she clutched it lovingly in her fair hands, "As you may know, Talos worship is outlawed in the Empire. When we buried my husband, I made offerings to all the gods… except Talos. This horn, it's been handed down in Torygg's family for generations. Could you take it and place it at a Shrine of Talos?"
Rona studied her, she almost couldn't believe what Elisif was asking her to do. She would violate the treaty, the very treaty she'd sided with, in order to continue worshipping Talos. Ulfric might say she was a true daughter of Skyrim.
"I would be honored to carry it for you and offer it to Talos," Rona said sincerely.
"Thank you," Elisif breathed, a tear in her eye and with a final caress of the horn she handed it to Rona, "It would mean a lot to me."
Another week gone by, Rona and her comrades spent the time helping the city guard clean up and repair the damage. She also went about her usual rounds, speaking with the people personally and trying to find solutions for their problems. It kept them all busy and made the time fly by. She also got to spend time with them all, while they completed what were essentially contract jobs for the townsfolk, bringing their Guild back together, minus Magrob while he healed.
Casavir seemed to have stepped back quite a bit as well. Perhaps he'd also finally let go of the past they once shared and she could only assume he held a new respect for Bishop as well. She appreciated it either way, it was easier to work with him when things were platonic.
Finally, after three weeks of spending all their time in Solitude and with both Bishop and Magrob near full recovery, Chedynhal's Finest were preparing to depart. They'd decided to take a ship back to the Imperial City, although it would have been faster to return on foot, the seafaring voyage seemed the safer route since Skyrim was plagued with dragons.
Neither Nurse Prothe, or Serlas could save Magrob's left eye and he would need more time to train himself to live with just one. Roxlin didn't care either way, "We're warriors," she'd said, "We're bound to lose a few bits and pieces!"
Rona, Serlas and Bishop stood on the pier by the ship as her comrades prepared to board. The girls gave her a big hug and she said, "I'm going to miss you guys."
"We'll miss you too Rona," Lorrie whispered.
"Take care of yourself girl," Charissa smirked at her, "When all this is over come back to the Guild, okay? We'll be unstoppable with the Dragonborn on our side!"
Roxlin gave her a tight embrace and said, "Thanks for everything Rona. Thanks for saving him."
"Of course Roxie," she pulled back, put a hand to her face and said, "Be sure to let us know when the wedding is! We'll all go if you'll have us."
"Absolutely!" Roxlin eyed Bishop, who was leaning against a wooden pole, watching their tearful goodbyes, "You're invited too Mr. Handsome!"
"As long as it's open bar, I'll be there," he smirked and gave her a wink.
Then the boys approached and Rona shook Marco's hand as he bowed gracefully. "It has been a delight, Lady Dragonborn! Though you still owe me that dance."
"Next time," she smiled at him.
"Not here I hope, I think I've seen enough dragons to last me a lifetime," he sniffed.
Linel hugged her and said, "Take care of yourself sweetie. I'll miss you."
"I'm going to miss you too Linel, by the way, whatever happened with that young man I saw you with?"
"Oh him? Oof, poor fellow got eaten by a dragon. He was a bit of a prude though, so no great loss there," he laughed as her face fell, horrified, "I'm just teasing, dear."
Magrob gave her the biggest hug of her life and said, "Thanks Lightfoot. I owe you my life," then he walked over to Bishop and shook his hand, "Take care of her, will yah?"
Bishop smirked and nodded.
The girls all gave Serlas a big hug as well and cried together, "Bye, Attie! We'll miss you!"
He chuckled and said, "And I you. Safe travels ladies." The men shook his hand and said their goodbyes as well and they all boarded the ship together. Casavir hung back waiting for them to finish before he approached Rona, his light eyes sparkling with a hint of melancholy. He put a hand out to shake but she reached in and gave him a big hug and a parting kiss on the cheek, leaving him blushing furiously.
"I suppose this is goodbye then," he sighed.
"Not for forever," she assured him, "I'll come back to Cyrodiil and visit the Guild soon and you'll be at Magrob's and Roxlin's wedding won't you?"
"Perhaps," he didn't sound so sure. She got the feeling this really would be the last time they would ever see each other again. Maybe it was for the best. He looked over at Bishop and called, "Watch the skies ranger and always keep her close." Bishop pressed his lips together and nodded.
Casavir shook Serlas' hand and departed. They all called their last goodbyes as the ship sailed away and then made their own journey back up to the stables, collecting their horses and their gear before setting out on the road again.
They took their time going back to the farm, stopping by Dragon Bridge first they saw that the repairs were going quite well for the townsfolk there. Rona even picked up a few jobs, finding whatever excuse she could to slip away with Bishop and be alone with him. The second they were alone he could not keep his hands off of her, every chance he got, caressing her shoulders, tracing a finger to her back, grabbing her ass firmly and backing her into walls for passionate kisses. She enjoyed it, though he held back from fully tearing her clothes off and taking her right then and there. She wondered if maybe he was just keeping up the tease for later or if his leg was still hurting him.
She kept his treatments up every day and both she and Serlas cast restoration to his burns. It was looking better, the hair on his leg had even started to grow back. Although white scars lined his calf and thigh in the shapes of flames, it almost looked like an old wound now.
After five days of travel, they passed through Rorikstead and then again through Falkreath making their way to the farm. When they arrived they were greeted by a very happy wolf, who ran right up to Bishop and knocked him over, licking his face all over.
"Karnwyr! Ok!" He laughed, "It's good to see you too boy."
Then Karnwyr loped over to Rona and nuzzled her hand, she scratched him behind the ears and crouched down letting him lick her face, "I missed you too Karnwyr."
Bishop looked over at him and frowned, "I think he's gotten fatter."
Illia approached and said, "Sorry about that, he's been a very lazy wolf and I may have spoiled him a bit. He did a fine job of keeping the rabbits out of my garden though!"
"I hope all was well here," Serlas said, greeting her.
"Oh yes, it was very peaceful. No trouble at all. How was your visit to Solitude? Must have been good considering how long you all stayed!" She smiled but then her smile faltered as they all looked downtrodden. "Oh no… What happened?" She asked.
"It is a long story," Serlas said as he went to lead Illia into the cottage and looked back at them, "Why don't you two get settled in? I'm going to start supper and fill Illia in on our little adventure and later I'll need some help fortifying the blood seal and recasting runes, would you help me with that velvyn?"
"Yes, of course Ata," Rona replied.
"Excellent. Now then," he stepped inside with Illia, his voice trailing off. Bishop and Rona stabled the horses, taking their saddles off to give them a break and feeding them before settling down on the soft grass in the garden, hidden behind the large stalks of plant-life growing in rows nearby. Karnwyr plopped down beside them, tail wagging non-stop.
Rona sat with her legs crossed, picking at the grass while Bishop laid down with his arms stretched up behind his head and one knee up.
"We should leave tomorrow," she said, "I want to get back to Whiterun as soon as possible to check in on the progress of those swords I was having made."
"Definitely," he rolled to his side, turning to her with his head in hand, "I've never seen anyone wield dual-swords like you before. That was amazing. You said you're having a pair made from those dragon bones too?"
"Yeah," she smiled. She remembered the dagger she requested too, a personal gift for Bishop. She wondered if he'd give up his old hunting knife for it.
"You'll be unstoppable Ladyship."
"I certainly hope so."
Bishop ran a gentle hand over her knee and said, "Hey, about what happened at the ball..."
She focused her attention on him. Was he going to mention what he almost said? He hadn't talked about the ball at all during the time he spent recovering. "What about the ball?" She asked.
He pushed himself off the ground and sat up to face her, then crossed his arms, scowling, "That's just it. It's been driving me insane thinking about how you put up with all that crap," he sounded frustrated by this fact, but then his face softened and he said, "Not saying that you didn't look," he trailed off and cleared his throat, "It isn't something I'd have imagined you in, but no one could keep their eyes off you. Especially me."
His warm gaze was full of desire. He hungered for her body and she his. It had been nearly a month since they last slept together. She smiled sweetly at him and said, "You looked incredibly handsome as well."
He laughed, "Don't expect to see me like that again, Ladyship, but for the look on your face it was worth it," he moved his head to an imaginary tempo, swaying his shoulders as he said, "The way you danced, with your body so close to mine... I'd have gone crazy if I had to watch one of those perfumed nobles get their hands on you even once."
She smiled, "Perfumed? If I remember right you were wearing some nice cologne yourself... though Casavir's did smell a bit strong," she scrunched her nose.
"Exactly... and imagine if I'd had to smell it for days after!" he frowned, but then gave a low growl, running his hand over her knee and up her thigh under her dress, "But then I could have always replaced that scent with my own."
She glanced at the partially visible windows of the cottage through the plant stalks and grasped his hands, including the one that was slowly finding its way to her panties. She laced his fingers with hers and said, "You worry too much, I'd have been fine."
He scoffed, gripping her delicate hands with his much stronger ones, "Trust me, dancing is far from innocent with any man. I didn't like how they were looking at you. You can do better than them."
She raised her brows at him, smirking, "Oh? Can I?"
He grinned, "You need a real man, Ladyship, someone who doesn't pretend to be something he's not."
"Hmm," she put a finger to her lower lip and said sarcastically, "Gosh, I wonder who we can find that's like that?"
He chuckled and said, "How about someone like me, for instance," his eyes darted away from hers and she was almost sure that there was a trace of blush on his cheeks. Then he looked at her again and said, dead serious, "I don't need you in all that fancy finery. All I need is you, naked, in my bed, eager and willing for me to give you a night you won't forget."
She blushed furiously at his words. Something about him saying these things to her so boldly just left her feeling flustered. It was one thing to tease and joke about it, but for him to say it with such passion and desire was a whole other.
He smiled and leaned in, getting a better look at her face, "Going shy on me, are you? I'd rather make you breathless as I have you under me," his hand found its way back under her dress, his fingers tracing her inner thigh while his other hand caressed her warm cheek. Her lips trembled as his own came dangerously close to hers, "Ask nicely and I might even let you be on top."
She felt his breath on her face and her lips parted as she stared up into his handsome, amber eyes. His tongue suddenly traced her lower lip, making her whole body tremble. She met his tongue with her own and then he pressed his lips to hers and their tongues entwined, his tracing lazily over hers as she moaned under his mouth, losing herself in his touch. His fingers found their prize and dipped into her, sliding gently into her folds. Her eyes rolled back slightly as he pressed harder against her mouth and further in with his fingers, twisting his tongue and fingers in all the right ways. It was only when Illia called, "Dinner!" That Bishop slowly pulled his face away from hers and she took a breath, her face felt hot, both from arousal and embarrassment, with only some tall plants blocking the view of them.
He looked over her burning face and smirked, "Mmm, guess you'll just have to make it up to me later, for lost time. With interest. A lot of it. And I plan on collecting in full, Ladyship." She felt his fingers slide out then, caressing her sweet spot and making her quiver and gasp. He pulled his dripping fingers to his lips and sucked on them, cleaning her essence completely from them, "So sweet," he whispered to her and then stood, drying his hand on the back of his trousers.
She sat there for a moment and watched him walk away. She wanted him bad, maybe even more than he wanted her. They definitely had to leave tomorrow. She couldn't wait another day and she had a homestead in Whiterun. Her heart raced at the thought of him taking her over and over in their own private place. Maybe he'd even finally find the right moment to say those three little words she longed to hear cross his lips.