Chapter 43

Werewolves

As the Companions left them, disappearing around Jorrvaskr Rona went to leave. Bishop stood and grabbed her hand, pulling her to him. "Rona, don't walk away. We need to talk about this."

She looked back at him, not so much angry as she was upset and scared. The way he'd reacted to the fact that he might have just gotten her pregnant was very alarming to her. But here he was, chasing her down once again, insisting they talk. He even made an effort to be friendly to Kodlak. He was trying.

Her face scrunched as tears stung her eyes and she wrapped her arms around him suddenly, hugging him. "I didn't mean to," she cried.

He sighed and rubbed her back with a hand, "I know. I'm sorry I yelled at you. It's just," he grasped her shoulders pushing her back slightly and looked over her face, "I'm not... ready for that. I kind of freaked out in the moment. Took it out on you and I shouldn't have."

"I'm not ready either," she breathed as her tears raced down her cheeks and she shook her head, "I would never do that to you, not on purpose."

"I know Lightfoot. Come on, let's head back, it's getting late."

Bishop whistled for Karnwyr to follow and they returned to their cozy home. They sat down at the two person dining table. Rona just stared at the top of the table, feeling mortified. What would she do? Pregnant, now? With Alduin hunting her down? She couldn't fight him or any dragon for that matter, not in that condition. And what about delivery? She didn't know anything about pregnancy, or childbirth or babies. She knew it was dangerous, trying to birth a child, plenty of women gave their lives just to bring new people into the world. She hoped she was stronger than that, being Dragonborn and all. Her mother was even smaller than her and managed to have two children herself somehow...

Bishop leaned over the small table, grasping her chin in his hand and tipping her face up to his, "We don't even know if you're pregnant yet. You might not be. You just had your period right? So, give it another three or four weeks... it's just a waiting game at this point."

"And what if I am?" she breathed, her brows knit harshly over her eyes.

He smiled gently at her, "Then we'll deal with that when the time comes. Look... I had nine brothers and sisters. Nine. I know all about it, pregnancy, childbirth, even raising 'em... It's going to be okay."

She broke into tears again and sobbed into her hands at his words. He wouldn't leave her. He'd stay, he'd help her.

Bishop stood up and embraced her, pulling her up with him and pressing his face into her hair, "I love you Rona. Nothing will ever change that. I'll never abandon you or our child."

She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. Her heart pound in her chest, her love for him felt so powerful that it overwhelmed her. He pulled her up to the bedroom with him, leaving Karnwyr near the warm hearth fire. He undressed down to his underwear and pat the bed, smiling at her, "Lay down with me. We still have a lot to discuss."

She sniffled, wiping her tears and also undressing down to her underwear. She crawled under the covers with him and he held her close to him, laying on his side, with his head in hand.

"So," he changed their topic of discussion away from the new fear and worry on their minds, keeping it lighthearted instead,"I've got to know, what do you remember about our adventure with Sanguine?"

She laughed slightly, drying the rest of her tears, "I remember feeling oddly compelled to drink myself senseless with him."

"You too huh? So what happened after I passed out?"

"Which time?" She said cocking a brow at him.

"Really?" He frowned at himself,"It was more than once? Okay," he waved a hand, "Just start at the beginning, everything you remember."

She took a deep breath and began telling him everything from when they first got drunk at the inn to when they started wandering around outside, going who knows where. She said he first passed out after Sanguine challenged him to a drinking contest and served him his personal ambrosia.

Then Sanguine took the three of them on a wild adventure across Skyrim, using portals to bounce around the various holds. At one point Bishop came to and declared that he was going to propose to 'his woman' and needed a ring, telling them to take him to Ysolda in Whiterun. She gave him the ring and Sanguine decided to mess with him, taking them to Witchmist Grove where he saw the hagraven and called her 'Ladyship' and drunkenly proposed to her. All the while Rona was having a fit of giggles at his expense and getting sloshed on Sanguine's ambrosia herself.

Next they ended up in Rorikstead where Sanguine convinced him to steal the goat and sell it to a giant so he could pay Ysolda back for the ring. Then finally they ended up leaving him at the Temple of Dibella in Markarth, as a joke and maybe with the intention of desecrating the temple and offending Dibella herself. Sanguine wanted to see if he could retrace his steps back to them. Which of course he did.

"What did you do when you woke up the next day?" She asked him.

He told her everything about his own adventure, retracing his steps across Skyrim desperately trying to find her and how relieved he was when he finally did.

"You were a mess Ladyship. I've never seen you so... depressed," he said.

She averted her eyes and admitted, "I have been really worried… It's just too much, you know? I might be the Dragonborn but I'm still just one person. I don't know if I can do this... I don't want any of it."

"Yeah, I got that much from your slurring."

"What happened after Sanguine sent us back?" She asked.

"Well you passed out and when I walked through the portal we were back at the Sleeping Giant. Delphine and Serlas both just walked through the door themselves. I've never seen an elf turn pale like that before. He thought you were dead."

"Oh poor Ata," she muttered.

"I told him it was just wine and then Delphine and I got your dress off so she could wash it and we tucked you right into her bed. Never seen Karnwyr so worried about you before either," he smirked, "He spent the whole night by your side."

She smiled and gave a quiet, "Aw. I'm going to have to spoil him."

Bishop rolled his eyes at her and continued, "Well, I briefly told them what happened to us before I went to go pass out myself. Never slept so hard in my life. The next morning you were still sound asleep. Serlas, Delphine and I started going over everything we knew, what we'd learned. I told them all about our visit with that dragon and what the Greybeards told us."

Rona looked at him worried, "You told Delphine about Paarthurnax?"

"Yeah, of course I did, why?"

"The Blades used to hunt the dragons," she said, "His name was listed in one of those books she took. They've been trying to kill them all and he's high on their list."

He sighed, "Maybe they should kill him."

She looked at him wide eyed, "How can you say that!?"

"Rona, I know you trust that old dragon, that Eira loved him or something," he scoffed and muttered, "however the hell that would work - but they're dangerous. I wouldn't put it past any dragon to try and kill you, even that one."

She turned her face from him. She couldn't disagree more. She knew Paarthurnax was good, that he would never harm her or any human. He'd lived on that mountain for thousands of years and never hurt anyone in all that time.

He touched her shoulder, "Look, let's not get into. Don't worry about it. The Greybeards might look like a bunch of weak old codgers, but they can shout with the best of them. 'Sides, I'm sure the dragon could just fly away if he really felt threatened. And Delphine is the only Blade left anyhow. What's she gonna do?"

She nodded and he continued, "Anyhow, Serlas and Delphine had already talked a lot back at the farm. Turns out you're both cordially invited to Elenwen's personal reception in three months. We figured it's because she's going to try talking to you herself, try and convince you to join up with the Imperials and end the war since Tulius failed so miserably at doing it himself."

Rona sighed, "I hate her."

"Yeah, your father told me all about what a delightful woman she is," he said with seething sarcasm, "Can't believe how many years the two of you have put up with the Thalmor."

"It was part of his job," she said, "Now you know just one of the reasons I ran away from the Mage's Guild."

"I definitely understand that," he said sympathetically."So in three months we're going to meet back up in Riverwood and make the trip to Solitude before going to the Embassy," he explained.

"And you all decided that I should stay here and join the Companions?" she said raising a brow at him.

He laughed, "Well you pretty much went and did that already now didn't you? Day one in Whiterun and the Dragonborn is suddenly the newest member of the Companions!"

She smirked at him and said, "Will you join with me?"

He sighed, rolling his eyes and laying back on his pillow, "I don't know Ladyship. I'm not exactly Companions material."

"I think it'd be good for you," she said pushing herself up to lean over him, "I really think you should train with a sword too. Kodlak is the Harbinger of the Companions, the best of them."

"Ladyship," he sighed, "I trust you. I'm going to keep being honest with you. I haven't held a sword since I used one to kill my father in cold blood. The sword I used then... it was Jules' sword. The same one he used to try and kill me." His brows knit together, a pained look crossing his face.

She returned his sad look with her own. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Don't be. It's just... if I ever did pick up the sword again... I wish I had his. But it was lost. Fell off the cliff that day. All I had left from him was that ring," he nodded to the ring on her right hand, "And his amulet. I gave the amulet to his wife and daughter before leaving them," he looked away from her, "I didn't even tell them the truth about what I did. Maybe Casavir did, but I couldn't bring myself to admit what I'd done."

Rona studied him before tentatively asking, "What happened to them? To his family?"

He looked back at her, "Casavir kept his promise. He got them out of Riften. They're somewhere out in Cyrodiil now, though I'm not sure where. But I know they're doing well," he scowled suddenly, "It was the least that prick could do after everything he did to us... to them."

Rona laid her head against his chest. Listening to his heartbeat and feeling his chest rise and fall with his breath. She didn't want to talk about such sad things with him anymore. But she wanted to do something for him. "Where did it happen?"

"Hm?" He mumbled as he mindlessly stroked her hair.

"Where is his sword?"

Bishop was quiet for a moment before he said, "Arcwind Point. A frozen and lonely place far from here, really close to Bruma. Why? You planning to go find it for me?"

She turned her face to him again, "We could try. They call me Lightfoot for several reasons remember?"

Bishop chuckled, "Right. Because you run almost as fast as Karnwyr, you love jumping off of cliffs and... well, I keep you off your feet pretty regularly."

She laughed, "Mmhm. Definitely because of that last one."

He looked into her eyes and said, "I won't lie, Ladyship... I'd really like to find it, to have it. Bet it's rusted to shit... but," he furrowed his brows, "it was his. I'd train with it."

She drew herself closer to his face and kissed him, then pulled back to whisper her words of love in Aldmeri, "A tandile tye."

He smiled at her, "You keep saying that. What's it mean?"

"I love you," she said.

"Hmm... how do you pronounce it again?"

She said it slowly, "Ah... tandeeleh... teeyae."

"Ah tandihlah tee yah," he replied, stumbling over the words.

She laughed and said it again, correcting him.

He touched her face and whispered it perfectly a second time, "A tandile tye, Rona." He kissed her gently and pulled her closer into his arms. To fall asleep in his arms every night, she was looking forward to three months of such peaceful rest.

The next morning Bishop wasted no time prodding her with his morning wood. She looked over at him sleepily and he smirked at her.

"Really?" She said.

He wrapped his arm around her waist, "I've got you all to myself for three months Sweetness. I am not letting it go to waste."

"But..." she was tentative.

He assured her, "Don't worry, I'll pull out before... you know. I have amazing control of myself."

She chuckled and he got right to it. They spent a good portion of the morning making love and indulging in one another. Bishop did indeed pull out each and every time, almost to her dismay, but better safe than sorry she thought.

It was early enough that they had a bit of time to enjoy breakfast together before heading out to Jorrvaskr, bringing Karnwyr with them so he had a chance to stretch his legs.

They entered the low lit Mead Hall and found a few of the Companions still having their own breakfasts while Aela and Skjor stood by doling out contract assignments to them. Aela perked up at the sight of her and came right over and said brightly, "Morning! So, Skjor and I went over it and we're thinking you can join Farkas today. We received some information about a fragment of Wuuthrad lost in Dustman's Cairn. This will be your trial. Find it and come out alive and you'll be counted among the Companions."

Bishop yawned and said, "Yeah, yeah. We'll go get it."

Aela looked at him, a brow raised, "I don't think so new blood. This trial is for the Dragonborn alone. Kodlak's already got plans for you."

"What!?" Bishop snarled at her and then shook his head, "No. Where she goes, I go. End of story."

Aela smirked at him, "You're still a whelp to us new blood. So you do what we tell you."

Rona put a hand to his arm as he got heated and said, "Bishop, please."

He looked at her, teeth grit and scowling, though his face turned softer at her. He crossed his arms grumbling loudly to himself.

Aela looked between the two of them with a curious smile before turning back and barking, "FARKAS!" He was still eating his breakfast but dropped everything at her call.

He came right over, glancing at Rona and looking shy suddenly. She thought it was kind of cute, but Bishop glared right at him. Farkas didn't seem to notice however as he looked to Aela and said, "What do you need?"

"You're heading out to Dustman's Cairn with Rona. You'll be her Shield-Brother and guide. Keep an eye on her progress and report back on how she fairs."

Rona smiled kindly at him and he went pink in the cheeks and said, "I hope you've readied yourself. Let's see if you impress."

Farkas was already armed and left through the front doors. Rona glanced at Bishop who looked extremely disgruntled by the entire situation. "Ladyship," he grumbled.

She stood up to his height and kissed him on the cheek, ignoring the stares of the other Companions. She whispered, "I'll be fine."

"It's not you I'm worried about," he glanced at the door and she laughed.

"He's harmless," she said rolling her eyes then turned to leave, "I'll see you later!"

He watched her go, feeling absolutely irritated over the entire situation. Then Aela barked at Bishop making him jump, "NEW BLOOD!" He looked over at her, she was standing on some steps leading further down into the Hall, "What's your name?"

"Bishop," he said, plainly and clearly, "Call me new blood, young man, lad or any of these and we're going to have an exchange with more than words." He put a hand to his dagger and expressed his displeasure through his furiously furrowed brows.

Aela just smirked at him and said, "Follow me then whelp! Kodlak wants to start your training right away."

He displayed his snarl, showing his canines, then clicked to Karnwyr who was bothering the other Companions, begging for food. He followed her downstairs not sure what to expect. He'd make the effort and suck it up. He'd do it for Rona to make her happy.

Farkas led Rona way out over the plains just outside Whiterun. It was a beautiful day, even a little bit warm so she pulled her red ribbon from her pouch and tied her hair up, keeping it out of her face. Farkas was very quiet the whole time, just forging onward to whatever ruin they were meant to visit.

"How far is it?" She asked catching up to him and pacing beside him.

"Not too far, just over that hill there," he pointed to a low rolling mound in the distance.

"What's Wuuthrad?"

"Hm? Oh, Wuuthrad was Ysgramor's battleaxe. It was broken or something. Kodlak and the others want to find the pieces and fix it," he explained somewhat slowly.

She knew who Ysmir was, just a another name for Talos. She wondered if Ysgramor might be another name for him though, "Was Ysgramor Talos?"

"No. Ysgramor was the leader of the Companions in the beginning. I don't know a lot about it. You can ask Vilkas, he'd know. Skjor says I have the strength of Ysgramor, and my brother has his smarts."

"How long have you both been Companions for?" He didn't seem to be much older than her, so she doubted he ever knew her mother.

"Since we were just pups. Kodlak took us in and raised us."

He was definitely a man of few words. Rona decided to stop asking him questions, she might be better off talking to his brother if she wanted a real discussion.

After a short while they arrived at a barrow sunken into the ground and he lead her down to the doors. He glanced at her, "Probably going to be draugr."

She smirked, "That's fine, I've fought plenty of those before."

"Heard you've fought dragons too. You're really the Dragonborn?"

"Yup," she said tersely.

"I'd like to see more of your skills. Wouldn't mind facing off against a dragon myself someday," he opened the doors and drew his broadsword, leading her inside then said, "I'll let you go ahead. I'm supposed to observe your skills, but I'll back you up if you get into any trouble."

"Thanks," she said and moved onward. She stuck with her bow at first, taking care to pick off any sleeping draugr laying in the crypts and standing by walls. She didn't shout, because she didn't want to wake all the dead and get overwhelmed by the creatures.

Farkas didn't even have to lift a finger as they tread further into the tomb. It was fairly monotonous and typical mercenary work until they came into an open room with a large gate blocking the way.

"Probably a switch somewhere," he looked around. She saw another room with a large lever and went inside.

"I think I found it," she said pulling on it. A gate shuddered closing behind her, trapping her inside. She looked back and quickly yanked on the lever again, but the gate didn't move. She ran over to the bars and Farkas looked in at her.

"Now look what you've gotten yourself into. No worries. Just sit tight. I'll find the release."

But as he said so a wild looking group of people ran inside, their weapons drawn surrounding him. They looked like bandits, Rona panicked and shouted, "Farkas! Move out of the way! I can shout!"

He glanced back at her smirking, "S'alright, I can take 'em."

One of them shouted, "It's time to die, dog."

Another said, "We knew you'd be coming here. Your mistake, Companion."

"Which one is that?" A third asked looking at Rona.

The first replied, "It doesn't matter. Kill them both."

A woman laughed wickedly, "Killing you will make for an excellent story."

And Farkas chuckled, saying, "None of you will be alive to tell it."

As the bandits made to move on him, his body shuddered and he gave a pained cry. She heard his bones cracking as he hunched over, twisting madly. He roared guttural and loud as his voice changed from his own to one of a garbled and vicious monster. She stared horrified as Farkas turned into a werewolf before her very eyes. She was suddenly grateful to be trapped behind a gate, completely separated from him as he lashed out violently at the bandits, tearing their flesh from their bodies with his enormous claws and ripping them apart with his teeth.

The bandits screamed and bellowed, swinging their weapons, getting a few hits in of their own, but they hardly seemed to faze him. There was so much blood as he disemboweled them and ripped their throats out. The last two tried to make a run for it, fleeing in terror back the way they came, but Farkas got on all fours and lunged after them. She heard their shrieks echoing through the ruin when he caught them, growling and roaring as he ripped them apart. Then he came back into the room, soaked in blood, some of it was his own, from the gashes they'd managed to get into his arms and back, but the rest was from them. His fur was soaked in it - around his face and all over his claws.

She took a step back as he approached her. Should she shout? She didn't know what to do. She felt safe enough behind the bars and he wasn't raising hackle at her. In fact, he looked in at her with a pair of bright yellow eyes which seemed to be more concerned than anything.

She'd never seen or faced a werewolf before. Though if she could survive against thirty dragons, how hard could it be to stand up against one werewolf? He suddenly gave a low and guttural growl and his body shuddered and twisted again, his bones cracking and the hair on his flesh receding, as if drawing back into his body. His snout shrank and his own face reappeared underneath the monster's.

He changed back, though he was still covered in blood. His armor was intact, but she could see where he was bleeding through it, where he'd been cut by them. He looked at her, almost saddened, seeing her reaction, her look of fear.

He turned away and stepped out of the room again. She dared a glance through the bars, trying to see around the wall he passed by when the gate banged and flew up. She was free, but she didn't move. Farkas came back in and said, "The coast is clear now." She just stared at him. He didn't seem to know what to do so he said, "Um… Hope I didn't scare you. You weren't supposed to see that yet. Not for a while."

"What do you mean?" She found herself asking him.

"About us having the beast blood."

Her mind seemed to break. Us? Who was us? The Companions? All of them?

"You're werewolves," she said automatically, it was both a question and a statement.

"Not all of us, just the members of the Circle."

She thought back to the night before, Skjor, Aela, Farkas, Vilkas and Kodlak. They were all members of the Circle. They were all werewolves? Her mouth parted slightly when she recalled another fact. Her own mother had been a member of the Circle, Aela had said so. Said she left the Circle years ago. Was her mother a werewolf? Is that why she'd always disappeared for months on end? Why she'd always left her behind? She was off changing into a beast and losing control of herself? Her mind was reeling at this information. She had to know.

"Was my mother a werewolf?" Farkas looked at her confused. She clarified for him, since it didn't seem to click in his thick skull, "My mother, Claudia Windsleaf. Was she a werewolf?"

"Oh," he said finally, "I don't know. I never knew her."

"She was a member of the Circle," Rona stated matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, her and old Grella. They were before my time. I've heard stories about them, but I don't know. Probably, if she was in the Circle. You should ask Kodlak, he'd know." Farkas turned away and started heading down the path, "We'd better hurry up. I don't want to miss lunch."

He wanted lunch? Really? After eviscerating ten people? He was still hungry? Though she looked over the mess. It didn't look like he ate parts of them, just shredded them. She started walking, keeping her distance from him but noticed he was still bleeding quite heavily through his armor. She ran over to him, "Wait. You're injured, I have healing magic, can I see your wounds? I can mend them."

He looked down at her and then shrugged, "Yeah okay." He started undoing his armor and pulling his furs off, revealing his very bulky figure. He was quite different in shape than that of Bishop, with thick bulging muscles and fresh scars covering his body. She looked him over and whispered an incantation in Aldmeri, making her hands go alight. She ran her fingers over the gashes on his arms and then looked over his back.

She couldn't believe he was still standing, unflinching. One of the bandits managed to scoop a long, deep chunk out of his back, right over his spine. The blood was running swiftly and she shook her head shocked, "That doesn't hurt?"

He grunted, "Mm? Nah. Not really. Another full moon and it'll heal it up just fine."

"Farkas, this is dangerous, you could die from this," she said apprehensively as she watched his blood pouring from the wound.

"Then I would die with honor," he said simply.

She ignored his stupidity and ran her hand over the wound, casting a grand healing, clearing her mind and focusing her magic just as her father had taught her. She managed to close it most of the way, but he'd still need a strong healing potion and maybe even a visit to the Temple of Kynareth.

She resolved to get them out of there as soon as possible. She'd held back before, not wanting to show off, but she didn't want to risk him changing and getting seriously injured again. She also didn't want to be without a barrier between them if he did become a werewolf again.

She told him, "I'm going to summon a powerful song and clear the way quickly for us."

"Good," he grunted,"I'm pretty hungry. I didn't get to finish my breakfast." She just blinked at him as he started pulling his furs and armor back on. "Feels better," he mumbled.

She gaped at him, then looked down the path and took a deep breath. Calling forth a vicious song that would utterly destroy the enemies in her path.

When Bishop met with Kodlak, the old man immediately passed him a sword and told him to meet him in the yard so he could see his stance. Bishop rolled his eyes and left again, heading upstairs and outside. He swung the blade a few times and hated it. It was too thick, too heavy. Jules' sword was much faster and lighter. It was a nice short sword that bit hard. Kodlak came outside and crossed his arms, watching him and looking him over.

Bishop grumbled to himself. He absolutely loathed having people stand around judging him like that. His own father tried to train him on the sword too and every time he did something wrong he got a severe beating over the head or across the back. He half expected Kodlak to lash him for an improper stance, but instead he came over, drawing his own sword and showed him the proper stance.

"Like this. You want to keep your feet evenly spaced, keep your balance."

Bishop scoffed loudly and attempted it. Again Kodlak corrected him. They spent hours out there doing this. Practicing stance and the proper way to hold the sword, to defend with it. Finally he seemed to manage to get it right enough that Kodlak instructed him to swing it at one of the training dummies. Once more his moves needed correction and fixing.

Over and over they did this, for what seemed like forever. He felt his rage boiling but kept shoving it back down inside, thinking of Rona. He was doing this for her, because for some damn reason, she thought it would be good for him. Why being ordered around would be good for him was completely beyond him however. Unless she was hoping to break him, to make him more pliable for her own benefit.

He scoffed at himself. How could he think that of her? She would never do that. She wasn't that kind of person. He was letting his anger get the best of him. She loved him and accepted him just the way he was. So why the fuck couldn't this old man just accept that he was no good with a goddamned sword!?

Kodlak rebuked him, "You're letting your anger take control. Who controls your sword? You or your emotions?"

He unleashed his anger on the dummy, swinging wildly. He snarled, roaring and lashing out and plunging the damned sword into the padded chest of the dummy, then letting go and glaring back at Kodlak, "I'M DONE! FUCK THIS COMPANION'S CRAP AND FUCK YOU," he jabbed a finger harshly at the old man before turning around, intending to storm off when he saw Rona standing there.

Great. Now he'd done it. Lost his temper right in front of her again. He couldn't deal with it though, he was far too heated. He didn't want to hear it from her or the old man so he pressed lips together and quickly swept past her.

It was his turn to leave without saying a damned word to her. See how she liked it. He carried on down the path, Karnwyr following close behind and he burst through the gates leading out of Whiterun. Didn't know where he was going, didn't fucking care.

His chest heaved furiously. It was just like back then. Torban standing over him when he was just a boy, criticizing his every move. Sure, Kodlak didn't beat him over it. But the fact that he kept pointing out his flaws seemed to sting so much more. At least with a beating the angry energy was being released, instead of just keeping it bottled up and buried inside.

Bishop stopped a ways down the road, near the stables. He needed to kill something, so he turned off the path and started walking down the plains. He'd go hunting, he was good with his bow. Now that took real skill. It was the weapon he'd always been good with. He drew it from his back and paused a moment, near a stretch of flowers. He nocked an arrow and took aim at one of the fluttering butterflies. They were fast and fidgety, a hard target, even at a closer distance. He followed one with his eyes and at the perfect moment released his arrow and hit his target. The little butterfly hadn't stood a chance against his much larger arrow. He looked down at its split wings somewhat amused, but also feeling proud. He never missed his mark, except when Rona was around distracting him with her sexy curves and her cleavage. She could be such a tease when she wanted.

He smirked, shaking his head and pressing on to look for a real fight. He thought back to a time when she'd challenged him to a marksmanship contest. It was still early on in their relationship, long before he'd bedded her, but even then he'd been interested. As they made their way up to Ivarstead for the first time, wandering through the Rifts forests she'd said, "I bet I can shoot better than you."

He laughed at her, "Hah! Did I just hear a frog croak? Oh no it was just you."

She grinned at him, with that beautiful smile of hers and said, "Since we're playing pretend, I'll call you a prince," then she winked at him.

He just shook his head at her teasing right back, "Well, that still makes you a frog."

Then something caught her eye, a falling leaf in the forest. She aimed for it as it drifted down and even when it caught on the wind and swirled through the air she managed to hit it, lodging it directly into a tree high above them. She got excited, jumping slightly, her perfectly perky breasts bouncing with her as she shouted, "Well, this frog just hit her target. Your move, prince."

He had been highly impressed at the time, he'd never met a woman who could shoot as well as him before. It only made him want her more. And of course, being the cocky ass he was, he just had to show off a little and so he smirked at her and said, "I never miss my mark."

He eyed a falling leaf all his own, a pretty one, bright red, just like her dress. He aimed for it, putting all his weight into the arrow, but then he made a mistake, he took his eyes off his mark, he looked at her instead, their eyes meeting for just a moment, then he released the arrow and it merely nicked the leaf, speeding past it off into the distance. He couldn't believe it. He'd never missed his mark, ever, until meeting her and his words drifted from his mouth, slow and stupid, "That huh... that's never happened before."

But when she started jumping again, all excited over it, and shouting, "That makes me the winner!" He almost didn't care. Seeing her so happy, it warmed his heart. He couldn't understand it back then. But he knew now, it was love.

He groaned loudly, talking out loud to himself, "You've definitely changed Bish. You'd do anything for her wouldn't you? Shit... even jumped off damned cliffs for her. With her. Heh," he smirked shaking his head a bit.

She definitely drove him crazy sometimes, with her incessant need for adventure and finding ways to get herself into trouble. She absolutely matched his anger with her own and even more so, because she could easily shout him off a mountain if she really wanted to. Such spirit in such a tiny person. Then he sighed heavily. And he might have gotten her pregnant. He'd been trying not to think about it, hoping to whatever gods were listening that he truly did miss his mark this time.

"What game are you seeking ranger?" A gruff voice asked him. Bishop looked back. It was just the old man. Kodlak had followed him all the way out there.

He replied tersely, "What's it to you?"

Kodlak stood by him, looking out over the plains and said, "There's a giants' camp we've been meaning to clear out for a while now. I could use the help. I'm not as young as I used to be."

Bishop shrugged. The hell was this old man getting at?

Kodlak held out a sheathed sword to him, "Put it on. You don't have to use it, but just keep it in case you want to try again."

Bishop narrowed his eyes at the man. Then relented and took the thing, strapping it to his waist. He scowled at Kodlak, "There, satisfied?"

Kodlak smiled at him, "Quite. Well then, let's kill some giants. Take care to watch out for their mammoths."

"I've killed giants before," Bishop grumbled.

Kodlak made no reply, he only drew his own sword and moved onward, fiercely, proudly. Bishop thought he was quite brave and quite stupid for going in so boldly against the beasts. He made sure to stand by, working as backup for the old man, keeping his bow up and ready.

Kodlak ran right up behind one of the giants and with incredible fury hacked at its heels, toppling it. The other roared in rage and the mammoths started stomping wildly. Bishop caught one of the mammoths in the eye, causing it to raise its long snout up before it slammed into the other, forcing them both to topple over with a booming crash, forcing up a thick cloud of dust around them.

Bishop watched as Kodlak deftly evaded the second giant's swinging club. He was surprisingly agile for such an old man. The other giant was still moving though and Kodlak hadn't seemed to notice, so Bishop drew his dagger, running in and grasped the giant by what little hair it had on its scalp and plunged his dagger straight into its eye. He buried it violently, spraying blood and making absolutely sure it was dead. The beast's head and body went limp as he let go. He turned back and saw Kodlak running through the other's legs, swinging at its ankles.

It wasn't enough to topple it though and the giant roared, kicking a leg out and knocking the old man back hard. Kodlak grunted and tried to pull himself up quickly, his age was really starting to show as he suddenly moved much slower than before. Bishop ran in firing an arrow into the sole of the giant's upraised foot, before it came down on the man.

The giant howled in pain and stumbled back, stomping the ground and forcing the arrow to go in even deeper than before. Bishop ran over, lifting the heavy old man up by the arm, and snarled "DAMN IT! YOU SHOULDN'T JUST BARREL IN LIKE AN IDIOT!"

(Recommend song United We Stand - Divided We Fall by Two Steps From Hell)

Kodlak laughed loudly as Bishop helped him to his feet and shoved him away from the raging beast. Then to his absolute horror a dragon crashed down onto the giant, biting its head clean off and tearing it apart. He had a strange feeling it was the same dragon from the other day, the one that had picked up the giant near the Reach. It appeared that this one had a craving for their flesh.

Bishop backed away and Kodlak stared up at the thing, it's back turned to them while it crunched on the body of the giant, twisting its head, snapping up flesh and bones and swallowing them whole into its fiery throat. Bishop yanked on the old man's arm trying to pull him back with him when Kodlak merely smiled at him, a youthful gleam crossing his pale eyes. Bishop just shook his head as if to say, No, fuck that, let's get out of here before it sees us.

Kodlak held his sword at the ready and glanced at the one strapped to Bishop's side then he said, "Eyes on the prey, not on the horizon."

Bishop watched in horror as the man raced forward, burying his blade into the dragon's back. He was even more fucking crazy than Rona. The dragon hissed and roared fire to the skies at the new pain billowing in its hide. It flapped its wings, twisting madly as Kodlak held on tight and used a free hand to start climbing up the spines on its back, drawing his blade again and burying it once more into the body of the beast.

There was no way he could kill it on his own, not like that. Bishop grit his teeth shouting, "GODDAMMIT!" He drew the blade from his side, noticing it was a little lighter than the one he'd used before. That was fine, it was better that way. He ran forward, following Kodlak's lead, leaping over the swishing tail of the dragon and grasping a spine, digging the blade into its back.

The dragon took off then and he held on tightly, feeling his stomach fly into his throat. This was not good. He did not have magic like Rona, if he fell now he'd definitely splatter all over the ground and he was positive Kodlak had no magic either, being a nordic warrior himself. Even more wild was the fact that Kodlak was laughing like crazy as the dragon did multiple barrel rolls through the sky, trying to throw them off.

"YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY!?" Bishop roared with more anger than he'd ever felt in his life. But he was also terrified. This is how he would die, clinging to the back of a dragon all thanks to some madman's idiocy, all because he was trying to do the right thing and save him.

The dragon, stopped it's rolls and Bishop caught his breath, scrunching his eyes together, trying to stop them from spinning. Somehow they'd both managed to hold tight. Kodlak had even started moving up the neck of the creature. Bishop again followed suit, clinging closely to the spines of the dragon and pulling himself up its back until he was right by Kodlak. His heart was pounding in his chest as he looked over at the old man.

Kodlak was grinning ear to ear and he shouted, "There! A lake! When it flies over, bury your blade into its neck and then jump!"

Bishop took a deep breath and nodded. It was their only chance. As soon as the dragon neared the lake they both pulled up their swords and plunged them into the neck of the dragon. It made to shout fire, but now that it's airway was blocked the flames instead licked at its insides, making its scales glow in one place. Kodlak shouted, "JUMP LAD!"

They yanked their swords free and Bishop felt his stomach swoop back into his throat as he plummeted through the air. He absolutely hated the feeling of falling. He forced his eyes open though and looked down at the water, knowing he'd have to go in at a dive or break all his bones on the surface of the lake on immediate impact. He pointed the sword out and it cut through the tense surface, breaking it and allowing him to splash in safely.

(Recommended song Branle Des Chevaux by Erutan)

He swam back up, bursting to the surface and gasping for air. His whole body was shaking. He looked around for the crazy old man and saw him drawing himself up onto the shore. He stuck his sword in the ground and sat back a hand to his knee. He was still laughing like a lunatic.

Bishop crawled out of the water too, and though his nerves were all still quite on edge he intended to unleash every ounce of rage he had inside of him. He barreled up to the old man, chucking the blade aside and grasped him by the scruff of his furs, landing a hard punch across his face.

Kodlak reeled back, hitting the ground with a grunt. But then he just started laughing again, "Looks like we're going to have to train your fists too, new blood!"

"YOU'RE INSANE! WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN AWAY! JUST LEFT THE DAMN THING TO EAT ITS PREY BUT NO! YOU JUST HAD TO FIGHT IT! YOU FUCKING MANIAC!"

Kodlak seemed to agree, "Yes. That was probably one of the more impulsive things I've ever done. Though look over there."

Bishop looked across the lake where the dragon lay, dead, its neck imploded by its own shout. It didn't burn up of course because they were miles away from Rona. From the look of it they were out near the farm, by Falkreath.

Bishop let himself fall to the ground, his chest heaving, allowing the tension to roll off his body as he caught his breath. He couldn't even bring himself to look at the old man.

"You did well new blood. I'm thinking the lighter blade suits you better. You'll make a fine Shield-Brother. The Dragonborn did just as well today, returning the fragments of Wuuthrad to us."

Bishop just ignored him. He was done with it all. No more Companions crap, he didn't care what Rona said.

"You remind me of my son," Kodlak said suddenly. This remark completely caught Bishop off guard. He looked back at the man. Kodlak gave him a warm smile, "He was a strong warrior like you. Proud too. But also had a lot of anger buried inside."

Bishop rolled his eyes, turning away from him again. He knew what the old man was trying to do. Trying to make some stupid connection with him, adopt him like he was some orphan.

"Well," Kodlak said, "Perhaps we should head back before it gets dark. Don't want to keep the Lady Rona worried and waiting for you."

Bishop stayed firmly in place. He was not about to walk back with that man just so he could talk his ear off and try to befriend him or whatever it was he was trying to do. Kodlak picked up the sword he'd tossed aside and sunk it into the ground next to him, "Don't forget your sword."

"It's not mine," Bishop said fiercely.

"It is now. You're the first to wield it in the last ten years and you wield it well. As far as I'm concerned it's yours now," Kodlak started walking away and called back, "Come along lad. No need to talk if you don't want, but there's strength in numbers."

Bishop took a breath and growled. He was right about that much. And with Thorn and his brigands hiding out in those forests he decided to go with the man. He pulled the sword from the ground, sheathing it and trudged along after the crazy old man.