Chapter 52

They Know

The group walked up the slope to Chillfurrow Farm and reunited with Athis, Frothar, Dagny, and Karnwyr, as well as the kind farmer, Wilmuth, who took them all in.

Athis looked them all over and then at the boy and said, "Huh? What's he doing with you?"

Aela smacked him on the back of the head, "You idiot! You were supposed to be watching them!"

"OW!" Athis rubbed his head, "Well I dunno! They all look the same to me, 'sides, I'm no good as a babysitter. I'd have rather gone off and fought with you all."

"There's three of them!" She sputtered, exasperated, "Just count you fool!"

Vilkas chuckled and said, "Good thing you didn't come with us Athis, we all got captured anyways."

"Yeah, I saw how many of them there were," Athis said thoughtfully, "Dunno what any of you were thinking. I honestly thought I'd be the last living Companion after that."

"You're not getting rid of us that easy," Rona joked.

Bishop went over to a table and pulled his map out while Rona kindly thanked the farmer for giving them and the Jarl's children refuge.

Bishop traced a finger along a long path on the map and scoffed, "Ysgramor's Tomb is all the way out here by Winterhold. That's a four or five day trek around the mountains."

Vilkas pointed to a section on the mountains and said, "Could travel through Wayward Pass and save us three days."

Bishop twisted his mouth, "That's right near Alftand. Dwemer ruins and bandit territory, not to mention plenty of snow bears and other predators skulking about."

"Well we are the Companions," Aela said,"and we have the Dragonborn with us. I'm sure we can manage."

Bishop looked over at the three kids and said, "It's not us I'm worried about."

Aela threw an arm over Frothar's shoulders and he gawked up at her as she said cheerfully, "We'll keep an eye on 'em! Hah! Maybe even give the rest of them some weapons and train them up as we go!"

Nelkir looked quite thrilled at this prospect while Frothar and Dagny both went wide-eyed with fear. Rona took note and said, "Don't worry, we'll look out for you three. It'll be fine."

"I thought we were going to Solitude," Frothar protested.

"It's on the way," Bishop lied as he snapped the map back up.

Frothar crossed his arms looking skeptical. Bishop went over and grabbed his travel pack and tossed Rona her white cloak.

"You got some of our things?" She asked.

"Of course! Because unlike you, Princess," he put a finger to his temple, tapping it, "I actually think before I run off into danger." He smirked at her annoyed expression. Then he grabbed an old and familiar lute sitting against the wall and handed it to her, "Thought you'd want this too."

She took it grinning, "You really saved my lute?"

He shrugged, "It was your mother's wasn't it? Figured you'd be pretty sad if it burned up in the house fire. Plus we're going to need some music to keep our spirits up."

He gave her a charming smile that made her heart race. Bishop could be so sweet and thoughtful. It made her feel bad for leaving him behind. She was always the headstrong one, running into the fray without thinking first. He was right about that. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek in thanks.

The farmer was kind enough to give them some supplies such as a few extra bedrolls, blankets, some food, potions and other items. Thankfully Bishop had also thought ahead to bring their gold with him and Rona gave the farmer some for the trouble. They thanked him again and carefully tread outside, keeping an eye out for any Stormcloak soldiers. The coast was clear and they immediately set out on the path heading north.

Several hours of walking later they hit snow and Rona immediately drew her cloak around herself, shivering and used her resist frost spell. She'd practiced a little with it and it was getting stronger. She noticed that Athis was the only other one looking chilly and he wrapped his shoulders in an old wolf pelt he had around his waist. Every other person there, being a nord, didn't seem to flinch at the chill in the slightest.

The children however were getting grumpy after only a few hours of walking.

Frothar complained, "My feet hurt."

"Mine too," Dagny whined.

Nelkir looked to be just as disgruntled but sucked it up, which gave Rona a sense of pride that her little brother was that much stronger than them.

Vilkas said, "We've still got a few more hours of walking before we get to Nightgate Inn where we'll rest for the night."

"Why are we going this way anyhow?" Frothar demanded, "I know where Solitude is, I've been there before! It's way west of here!"

"We're going to Ysgramor's Tomb," Rona said, "There's something we need to take care of there."

"Yeah," Bishop said, "These hagraven heads aren't going to keep for much longer either, they're really starting to smell." Rona hardly noticed the smell coming from his pack, but she could only imagine how putrid it must have been for someone with the nose of a werewolf.

"Tell me about it," Aela said covering her nose, "I think I'll move upwind from you."

"Why do you have hagraven heads?" Nelkir asked Bishop curiously.

Bishop glanced down at him, then looked back at the other two kids. Vilkas noticed and said, "Might as well tell them. I doubt we'll be keeping it a secret if we're meant to face bandits, snow bears and whatever else we find up there."

Bishop sighed, "We're taking them to the tomb to break Hircine's curse. To cure ourselves of the beast blood."

"The what?" Dagny asked confused.

"Lycanthropy," Rona said with accuracy. Dagny still looked puzzled and she pointed to the four of them, "They're werewolves."

Dagny's eyes widened and she moved a bit closer to Rona as she eyed them all warily.

Frothar frowned and scoffed, "There's no such thing as werewolves. That's just stupid."

"It's true!" Nelkir shouted, "I saw them all change earlier!"

Frothar stopped walking, though most of the others kept going and Rona looked back at him. He shouted, "Prove it!"

Bishop halted and looked back at the boy snorting loudly, "We don't have to prove anything to you, kid."

Frothar scowled at him and, sounding like the spoiled noble he was raised to be, he curled his hands into fists and stomped a foot and said, "I'm not going anywhere with you until you prove it!"

The Companions chuckled looking between each other and Bishop just said, "Fine by me. If you wanna stay out here and get eaten by wolves, or picked off by a dragon then that's one less whiny kid I have to listen to."

Everyone kept walking then, leaving a fuming Frothar behind and before they knew it he ran ahead to catch up with them all, still looking sour that he didn't get his way after throwing his little tantrum.

Rona thought it would be good for them learning what it was really like to live outside the comforts of their palace. It was definitely working wonders on Nelkir, who'd changed quite a bit in personality. Though she wasn't sure if maybe he'd always been a more mild mannered boy before meeting Mephala. Either way, it seemed to be bringing him out of his shell and despite suffering with a pair of aching feet he seemed a lot happier overall. He was really growing on her and whenever she looked at him she saw so much of her mother in the boy, a bit of Balgruuf too, but mostly Claudia.

After several more hours of trudging through the snow they arrived at a sleepy inn near a frozen lake. They all stepped inside and the innkeeper, an older man with one good eye, looked genuinely surprised to see them all.

He said, "Welcome to Nightgate Inn, what can I do for all you folks? Looking for rooms?"

Bishop went up to the counter and ordered rooms for all of them, though he was sure to order only one room for him and Rona. She rolled her eyes to herself. She didn't care if it was private, she was not about to try and have a night of intimacy with all the Companions and three children in the vicinity.

The innkeeper said, "Ah, those your kids? You two look a bit young to have so many."

Rona went red in the face as every single Companion burst into laughter and Bishop sputtered, "What!? No! They're not mine! Definitely not mine. Gods."

The innkeeper chuckled and said, "Ah sorry to have offended. I meant nothing by it. Just thought it odd you two were the only ones sharing a room. Anyhow," he changed the subject, "If you're hungry I can start the ovens and get some dinner going. I wasn't really expecting so many people so it'll be a while."

Vilkas said, "Fire 'em up! I'm starved."

"Me too," Athis said wearily as he found a spot at the bar and added, "Got any Sujamma? I could use a drink."

The innkeeper smirked and shook his head, "Sorry friend. Only have the usual nords ales and meads. Got some Alto Wine if you like though."

Athis waved a hand and sighed, "I'll take a hard ale."

"One ale coming up. I'm Hadring by the way, so if any of you have any special orders please let me know and I'll get you all fixed up right."

They all gave their orders for their various choices of food and beverage and Rona laughed when Nelkir tried to order a pint of mead and she said, "He'll just have whatever juice you've got."

"Three juniper juices for the lads and lass it is," Hadring smiled and went down into the cellar behind the bar to prepare their food.

Nelkir looked sour and said, "If I'm going to be a Companion I should drink mead like the rest of them!"

"Not a Companion yet, whelp," Vilkas smirked, "Still need to see your sword arm, which we'll have plenty of time to do when we get to Solitude."

"You're coming with us?" Rona asked.

Vilkas raised his brows and said with enthusiasm, "Of course we are! We can't very well go back to Whiterun after escaping prison now can we? No, we'll be spending our time in Solitude, at least until things settle down. I'll write to Eorland when we get there and see how he's doing. Most of his family support the Stormcloaks anyhow, so I'm sure they can put in a good word on our behalf."

"Vignar will probably be in charge," Farkas said intuitively, which surprised everyone.

"Great," Athis drawled, "Just what Whiterun needs, another puffed-up nord running the place."

Rona and Aela both cleared their throats loudly and he glanced back at the kids from his spot at the bar and said, "Oh. Sorry."

After a while Hadring reappeared from downstairs and started serving everyone their drinks. He left several bottles of liquor out on the counter for them to enjoy on the house. He seemed quite happy to have so much bustling business all of a sudden and Rona made a mental note to tip him well for his hospitality and hard work.

Nelkir was sitting by chatting with Farkas and Vilkas and asking them all about what he'd have to do to become a Companion while Aela sat at the bar with Athis, both of them quietly enjoying their drinks and listening to the background chatter. Frothar just sat, slumped in a chair, arms crossed with a disgruntled look etched all over his face. Bishop was leaning back in a chair across from Rona and kept running his eyes over her body while she showed Dagny how to read the notes in her mother's songbook, another precious item they'd saved from the house fire.

Rona kept giving Bishop wry glances as he met her eyes and let a salacious smirk perk at his lips. She enjoyed playing that game with him. Sharing a flirty conversation with looks only, however she didn't want to take it too far. She'd already decided he wasn't getting any until they made it back to Solitude anyhow.

Rona fished through her pouch for a quill and a small inkpot and went to the only page in the back of the songbook to write out the musical scales for Dagny to review. She explained what each line and note meant and sang each one for her. Dagny imitated her with surprising skill. Rona was impressed and said, "You have a beautiful voice Dagny." The girl beamed at her words and then Rona said, "You know, there's a Bard's College in Solitude, maybe they'll let you train your voice there."

Dagny got excited and said, "You really think they'd really let me?"

"Oh definitely," Rona said and smiled warmly at her, "You have a lot of untapped talent. You must get it from your mother."

Dagny sighed and said, "I miss her."

Rona looked on at her sadly, "How old were you when she passed?"

"I was three when she got really sick. I barely remember her. But I'll never forget her pretty voice and her songs."

Rona hugged her and said, "I'm sorry sweetie. I lost my mother too just last year."

Dagny looked up at her and said, "It's okay. I have you now."

Rona's heart nearly broke for the sweet girl and she squeezed her a bit tighter, "Yeah, you've got me," she glanced at Bishop and said, "And Bishop too!"

He scowled at her, "Oh no. Don't go dragging me into your crazy little family."

Rona whispered to Dagny, "He's a grump, but he loves warm hugs."

Dagny giggled and leapt to her feet, running over and hugging Bishop around the shoulders and he made a ridiculous face, a mix between shock that this little girl had just hugged him and one where he was resisting the urge to throw her off of him. He pressed his lips firmly together and pat the girl's arm and said, "Uh... there, there, Princess." Rona just held a hand to her mouth, stifling her laughter. Then Bishop said through clenched teeth, "How about you go grab her lute and she can sing us some songs?"

Dagny shouted, "Yeah!" Right into his ear and he threw his head back. His eye started twitching slightly as Dagny ran off to grab Rona's lute and brought it over to her.

Dagny flipped through the songbook and said, "Can you sing this one please, please, please?"

Rona looked over the book, scanning the notes and the words and smiled as she hummed it slightly, "Wow, this one is beautiful. Your mother was very good at writing music."

She strummed her lute and the others quieted down as she started to play. Even Bishop relaxed, though he did get up to get a fresh bottle of Black Briar's.

(The song is Will o' the Wisp by Erutan)

"Like fire, you know, you know, even the stars you'd inspire

Like flame, I know, I know, that loving you will bring me pain

I know I've taken all leave of my senses I want to be closer to you
Nearing your sight I become the nothingness, lose myself in your light

How can I make you take me away to the land that you

Call your own? Give your love to me. Make me so happy
I won't ever want to go home

Will o' the wisp, I can't turn away or resist

White fire deep in the blue. Hopelessly drawn into you

Like truth, you know, you know, everybody loves you, adores you
Like air, I know, I know, I'm invisible, I'm not there

Can't be too quick to deny my heart, it's beating so

Fast in the dark. I'm like a planet revolving around you

Why then can't you want me too?

How can I make you take me away to the land that you

Call your own? Give your love to me. Make me so happy
I won't ever want to go home

Will o' the wisp, I can't turn away or resist

White fire deep in the blue. Hopelessly drawn into you

Drawing me closer, leading my heart away

It's getting darker, longing for you this way

You're like a beacon, leading me through the night

Do I deserve you? Do I deserve your light?

Will o' the wisp, I can't turn away or resist

White fire deep in the blue, hopelessly drawn into you

Will o' the wisp, I can't turn away or resist

White fire deep in the blue, hopelessly drawn into you."

Hadring came up the stairs again with two platters full of hot food he was carefully balancing on his arms. He looked over to see where the singing was coming from as he started going around and handing everyone their meals. When Rona finished her song he set the platters aside and gave a loud clap. "Beautiful! Why, if I had a bard like you I'd have more business than I knew what to do with. I could pay you well miss, if you're interested."

Rona chuckled and politely declined, "Sorry, but I'm not for hire."

"Yeah, she's too busy being the Dragonborn and all that," Athis said mindlessly. Aela groaned loudly and hit him on the arm and the others shook their heads at him.

Athis grumbled rubbing his arm, "Well what!? It's the truth!"

"Dragonborn?" Hadring looked at her stunned, "Well I'll be. I'd heard the tales, but to meet you for myself, I never thought..." then he furrowed his brows and said, "You know, everyone says you're a nord-"

Bishop scoffed loudly, "Ugh! Every time! She's half nord, half altmer," he motioned a hand to her, "There you have it, gods playing weird games with us, blah blah, the whole shebang."

Hadring glanced over at Bishop and scratched at the back of his head, "Ah, sorry about that," then he looked at Rona, "I meant no offense of course."

She smiled, "It's fine. We prefer people not knowing who I am anyhow, makes it easier to travel along the road and through cities when I'm not being stopped by every passerby."

Hadring nodded, "Of course, makes sense. Well then, I'll leave you all to your meals. Please enjoy and let me know if you or your company need anything else, ah, Miss Dragonborn." He smirked slightly at the words, as if being able to say them were amazing, let alone actually having her there. He stepped back around the counter and started tidying up while everyone dug into their food.

They spent a few more hours up with Rona singing quiet songs for Dagny and the others chatted a bit. Finally all three kids yawned heavily and Rona and Aela ushered them along and tucked them into bed for the night.

The Companions pulled some chairs up to the hearth and sipped at their tankards and mugs for a bit while Rona and Bishop sat at the bar enjoying their own favorites.

Hadring was cleaning some mugs with a rag while he looked them over, mostly staring at Rona, looking skeptical that she was really the Dragonborn despite so quickly believing it earlier.

Bishop scowled at him and growled, "What're you looking at lecher?"

Hadring blushed slightly and said, "Sorry. Just hard to believe I really have the Dragonborn here in my midst," he looked back at her, "Always thought you'd be..."

"Taller?" She suggested with a smirk.

He laughed, "Well not just that but, you know, bulkier. The way the rumors go, you're supposed to be some tall, nordic, amazon woman. Long flowing blonde hair, blue eyes, muscles bigger than a Companion's even." The others stopped their chatter for a moment at the sound of their guilds name before they picked it right back up again. Hadring leaned on the counter and boldly said, "You're actually a lot cuter than I pictured."

Rona snorted into her wine glass and Bishop's eye twitched again and he released a low growl. Hadring chuckled nervously and said, "Ah, where are my manners?" then something seemed to occur to him, "You know, now that you're here, there's a dragon that's been hanging 'round these parts lately. Been chasing away all my patrons actually. Hardly have anyone coming up the road anymore because of it. Is there any chance I could ask you to-"

"No," Bishop said firmly.

Hadring regarded him but Rona just rolled her eyes and asked, "Where's it been seen?"

"Every morning I see it way up on Mount Anthor. It doesn't really come down here, but just having it around has been scaring folks away."

"Shit," Bishop grumbled, "Mount Anthor is right near Wayward Pass."

"You all planning to travel through there?" Hadring asked.

"Yeah," Bishop said with a sigh then he looked at Rona, "Think it'll sense you?"

"Probably," she said, "But it's just one. I'm sure we can handle it."

Bishop leaned back and looked into the room where the Jarl's children were fast asleep, "I'd rather not put them in any danger," then he met her gaze again and said, "We should head out early tomorrow and see if we can lure it down off the mountain and take it out before we bring them along."

She smiled at him, "That's uncharacteristically thoughtful of you."

He furrowed his brows at her, "How can you say that?"

She must have hit a nerve and touched his shoulder, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

He just looked away and shook his head slightly.

Hadring was still cleaning up and trying to act like he didn't just witness their moment of disagreeableness. He gave it a second before he said, "So, you'll do it? You'll kill the dragon?"

"Looks like we will," she said.

He looked relieved. They didn't stay up much longer as the others headed off to bed and then Rona followed along after Bishop into their shared room. He was still being a bit stand-offish with her. He took his sleeveless, brown leather armor off, leaving his trousers on and pulled out his old black leather armor.

Rona asked, "Going back to the old clothes?"

He didn't look at her when he said, "Yeah, I patched them up a while back and it's pretty cold out this way, so I figure I should go back to wearing them."

She noticed his coldness towards her and she touched his arm and asked him, "What's wrong? Was it what I said? I didn't mean it. It was just... old habits, I guess."

He looked down at her and sighed, "Rona, it's not just that. It's you. The way you always run off to face every damn thing that comes our way without even thinking. Today when you ran off to fight the Stormcloaks," he said with irritation, "it was suicide. And you just left me there with these three kids and dumped all that responsibility right on my shoulders with hardly a word. Then here I am thinking to myself, well I better get all our shit, because clearly no one else will!" He sighed again crossing his arms.

Her heart sank. She had no idea that she'd hurt him so much with her actions. She should have realized it though.

He looked over her saddened expression, but didn't budge, he had more to say it seemed. "You can't keep ignoring the people closest to you just because you think you have to save everyone else. I care about you, I love you," then his brows knit together as he took a step toward her, putting his hands to her shoulders, "Ladyship, listen, if you fall to the enemy I can't defend you from an army. Though I hate to admit it, but even that wouldn't stop me from trying."

She gave a weak smile remembering how he ran in as a werewolf and faced an entire army of Stormcloaks for her just that morning.

He practically pleaded with her saying, "I can't lose you to anything. I can't and I won't."

"Bishop," she touched his face, "Ulfric wasn't even trying to kill me. He was just... showing off for his men, trying to prove he could best the Dragonborn. I was alright, I can handle myself."

He grit his teeth, grasping her shoulders a little tighter and growled, "Augh! Enough talk!" He threw his hands up and turned away from her, "Do what you will, you foolish woman!" But second guessing his ability to even walk away, since they were sharing a bed, he turned back and said, "I know you don't need me to defend you! I know you're strong enough to do it yourself! I just wish you could see what it's doing to me! Watching you run off like that, seeing you stand before that fucking bastard, not even using your shouts!? How stupid can you be!?"

She took a deep breath and tried to explain, "He challenged me to armed combat only. If I had used my shouts or any of it then that would have just proven his point even further."

He took a sharp breath through his nose, he was getting heated, "And look where it got you? Huh?" He stepped closer to her again and furiously lit into her, "All I saw was you on your knees and Ulfric holding his blade to your throat! What the hell was I supposed to think Rona!? That he wasn't going to kill you right then and there!? Why do you let him get under your skin like that!? He's playing you and you fall for it every damn time!"

He was right and she felt so ashamed for it. She wouldn't run away from him or hide though. She needed to listen to him, to actually consider his feelings for once.

"You're right," she whispered. She looked up into his eyes, "I... I don't know why I do it. Maybe it's because that's how I always did it before. Working in the Fighter's Guild... you don't really stop to think much when you have a tactician that already does that for you. You just... act."

He sighed deeply and pressed his forefinger and thumb to the spot between his eyes. She felt tears building, but shoved them back. No more crying, she told herself. She'd done enough of that in the last month. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face to his chest, "I'm sorry Bishop. I'll try harder. I'll... stop myself. I'll stop and think before I act. I promise."

She felt his strong arms return her embrace and he pressed his face into her hair and whispered, "That's all I ask Ladyship."

The two crawled in bed together and Bishop, surprisingly didn't make any sexual advances. Perhaps he was too tired or perhaps he was just mentally drained after all she put him through. Whatever the reason, she was just glad to be close to him.

The next morning the two of them got up and found Aela and Farkas up bright and early. Aela looked over and said, "Heard you say something about killing a dragon last night."

"We're ready to fight," Farkas said, standing from his chair by the hearth fire.

"We've got this one," Bishop said.

Aela looked surprised, "You sure? We have no problem facing another one of those things. Was kind of looking forward to it actually."

Bishop shook his head, "She and I need some alone time." He gave Rona a wry smirk and she blushed slightly.

Aela raised a brow and said, "Yeah I bet."

The two of them left the inn and headed up the path towards the mountain. They looked up at the peak but there was no sign of any dragon. Bishop threw his hands to his hips and said, "We can't climb it from this side, too steep. The only way to get up there is on the other side through Wayward Pass."

"Let me try shouting," she said. She looked up at the peak and shouted, "ZUL MEY GUT!" Her insulting shout bounced off the mountain and echoed around it.

They waited a moment before Bishop asked, "What does that one do?"

She pursed her lips, "I think it's like... dragon swearing or something. Just really offensive."

He smirked, "I thought you spoke dragon tongue now."

She said, "Well the words themselves make no sense, they mean Voice, Fool, Far... but it really seems to piss them off."

He said, "Try it again."

She shouted once more, "ZUL MEY GUT!"

Again they waited and this time they heard it's roar. They saw a dragon soar up from behind the mountains. It flew around in circles searching for the source of the shout.

"One more time Ladyship!" Bishop said as he drew his bow.

She aimed her voice directly for the dragon itself, making the shout bounce right off its face. It immediately directed its attention to her and began soaring down the mountainside swiftly.

The wind picked up around them and a powerful song sprang forth from within her.

(The song is Dragon Rider by Two Steps From Hell)

Bishop smirked at her as the optimistic song poured in around them, "Gotta love it when you do that! Makes fighting a lot more interesting!"

She laughed and drew her own bow, nocking an arrow to it. As the dragon came down it roared loudly again and immediately sprayed a flurry of ice at them. Rona quickly broke it with her own fire breath.

The ground rumbled as it soared over them and they ran along the path chasing it and firing arrows into its hide as it hissed back at them before spinning full circle and Rona noticed that it was no longer aiming for her but for Bishop. He didn't seem to notice himself, however, as he had his sights set on taking out its eye and a closer target was a better one. Rona shouted, "WULD NAH KEST!" Shunting forward right into Bishop and throwing him with her just as the dragon stomped down where he was standing not a moment ago.

Bishop groaned under her and she looked back as the dragon started hissing out some laughs. She felt her fear overtaking her then. It snaked its head back and forth and then spoke low in dragon's tongue to her, "[So... it is just as Lord Alduin said. The Dragonborn is fond of the mortal man. Kill the man and then you will kill the Dragonborn]."

Rona looked horrified at the creature. Bishop made to stand but she shoved him back down and screamed, "STAY HERE!"

He immediately scowled at her as she ran forward, leaving him behind again. She hated herself for it, but she wasn't about to let Bishop be killed because of her. She roared, "YOL TOOR SHUL!" Right into the face of the dragon as it cried, "FO KRAH DIIN!"

The shouts exploded against one another and Rona used the dust cover to her advantage as she had done so many times before. When she ran through though the dragon seemed to be expecting it and snapped at her. She leapt backward, tripping on a snow bank. The dragon's jowls curled upward into a grin as it stood higher, looming over her, preparing to kill her. And then the sight of dark honey brown fur sprang over her. Bishop dug his fangs and claws into the dragon's neck, which it had definitely not expected and roared furiously swinging wildly back and forth to try and throw him off.

Rona had to end it quickly. She pushed herself off the ground and drew her blades, then ran in with a, "WULD NAH KEST!" And buried her blades with the extra force of momentum right where the heart of the beast sat. It looked at her for just a moment, utterly astonished and then fell to the ground, going limp and burning up.

Bishop dropped down too and changed back, he stalked right up to her and roared in her face, "YOU PROMISED!"

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" She shouted back, "THEY KNOW! THEY KNOW AND THEY'RE TRYING TO KILL YOU!"

She ran away again... always running it seemed when her emotions overwhelmed her. Tears trailing her cheeks and turning frigid in the cold. She ran down to the frozen lake and stopped at the edge of the dock. She was terrified, not for herself, but for him. What could she do? She couldn't stop him from trying to save her. In fact, if he hadn't she might've just died right then.

She sat down, pulling her knees to her face and sobbed hysterically into the fabric of her dress.

Bishop came up behind her and said, "What do you mean they're trying to kill me? What did that overgrown lizard say to you?"

She shook her head, lifting it slightly and cried, "I don't know how to protect you! Ever since Alduin realized it at Arcwind Point," she looked up and met his gaze, "He told them all and he's going to try and kill you to get to me! Just like he did to Jillian's lover, Ronin. He crushed Ronin right in front of her and she just... she gave up Bishop."

Bishop sat down next to her and said, "I thought Arngeir said she died of old age."

Rona sniffled, "She did, because there was a Tongue to save her and he had the Elder Scroll," and then she screamed at the frozen lake, "But I don't have any of those things!" They were quiet for a moment, as Bishop allowed her to sob into her dress some more and finally she collected herself and said, "What am I going to do if you die?"

He reached in and grasped her tightly around the shoulders, pulling her against his chest. She listened to the steady beat of his heart and he said nothing. He only held her, feeling her pain, understanding her worries and fears because he shared them too. What would he do if she died?

Finally he whispered, "I'll be more careful. But I'll always stand by your side until the end of our days, whenever that may be Rona."