Chapter 54

The College of Winterhold

As they approached the college Bishop declared sarcastically, "Behold! The glorious College of Winterhold! Home to all of Skyrim's magical best and - ah I can't keep that up."

Rona chuckled at him, "Well that was enthusiastic."

Bishop scoffed, "Ugh... mages. Can you believe these guys?" he waved a hand at two male mages walking by from the college towards the inn and snorted loudly, "Males wearing dresses!"

Rona said, "I'd love to hear you say that to Ata's face."

He snapped his mouth shut and twisted his lips before he said, "Okay, point taken."

As they came up to the thin path leading to the college they were met by an altmer woman standing as sentry under an incredibly tall stone archway.

As they came close she said sternly, "Cross the bridge at your own peril!"

"Is it dangerous?" Rona asked.

"It is, and the gate will not open," she spoke with an unfriendly tone,"You shall not gain entry!"

Rona said, "My ata is working here. I was hoping to speak with him, may we pass through?"

"Your father?" She asked curiously, "And who would that be?"

"Serlas Thoraminh," she replied.

The woman's eyes widened, "You? You're Master Thoraminh's daughter!?"

"Yes, that's right," Rona confirmed.

The woman seemed flustered and said, "His daughter is supposed to be the Dragonborn. Can you prove that?"

Rona shrugged, "You want me to shout?"

"Y-yes," she was hesitant then pointed out over the landing and said, "Do it over there."

Rona stepped forward and shouted a simple, "YOL!" Blasting a quick flame from her mouth which startled the altmer woman.

"Alright!" she cried, "That's enough. Please follow me," she led the way over the thin bridge and cast some spells at each of the focal points placed along the way.

Rona glanced over at Bishop who looked extremely guarded. She asked him, "Are you okay?"

He gave her a side eye glance and said, "Look Ladyship, it's great that you know magic and all that, I don't even mind Serlas using it since he actually knows what he's doing, but I'm still a nord. I really don't trust this shit, especially in the hands of... what? Students? People still learning it? Sounds hazardous to me."

Rona laughed and grasped his arm, "You'll be fine. I've got my wards, so holler if you need them!"

He pressed his lips together looking more anxious than ever about even setting foot in the old college. Karnwyr on the other hand seemed quite happy at the prospect of getting out of the snow and lead the way ahead of them.

Finally, they made it to the end of the broken bridge and the gate opened as the woman lit the final focal point. She put a hand out to Rona and said, "I'm Faralda. It's an honor to meet Master Thoraminh's ever famous daughter. He's told us a lot about you."

Rona blushed slightly. Of course her father would go on gushing about her. She shook Faralda's hand and said, "I'm Rona, it's nice to meet you. Oh and this is my companion Bishop and our wolf Karnwyr."

Faralda gave him a short nod and said, "You'll probably find Master Thoraminh straight on ahead in the Hall of Elements. Enjoy your stay Lady Rona."

They moved on without Faralda, who stayed behind and made sure to shut the gates behind them. As they clanged closed Bishop spun around, gritting his teeth and giving a low and uneasy, "Hmm..."

Rona rolled her eyes, smirking and pulled on his arm dragging him along with her. They stepped through the large front doors and walked into a brightly lit foyer with two doors on opposite sides to the left and right of them and another very wide open room straight ahead. A strange, glowing, black and green orb hovered above a very large focal point in the center of the room.

They heard some light talking on the other side of the massive thing.

"These runes are quite old, I'd say first era at least as I've not been able to find any record of them in your libraries," Serlas' voice carried over to them.

Another man, a dunmer said, "Well, let's continue to record them. Perhaps we'll find a key to decipher them and they will reveal how to unlock it. Then we might be able to tap into its power and study it closer."

"I will see what I can do Savos, though I must head out soon to check on our friend Septimus again," Serlas replied thoughtfully.

Savos sighed, "I don't know why you keep bothering Serlas, he was probably eaten by a snow bear or died from the elements long ago."

"I have to keep trying. You understand," Serlas sounded crestfallen.

"That I do. How is your daughter by the way? Have you heard from her as of late? Or still no correspondence?"

Serlas chuckled, "I'm sure she's keeping herself quite busy out in Whiterun."

"You said she was to join the Companions?"

"Yes, I think so. That line of work suits her quite well."

"I'm sure it does, she is Dragonborn is she not?"

"Yes, that's correct. Quite incredible too, you should see her shouts and hear her songs my friend. They are a magic in themselves."

Finally, Rona laughed and shouted, "Ata!"

The two men paused and Serlas peered around the giant, floating orb, holding a very large book and a quill in hand. An inkpot was hovering nearby. Savos, the dunmer mage looked around as well with a brow raised.

Serlas smiled broadly and called back, "Velvyn!"

She ran over as he snapped the book up and sent it hovering off with the quill and the inkpot. She embraced him and said, "I've missed you!"

"And I you velvynen!"

"I'm sorry I didn't write... there's so much I have to tell you," she said looking up at him.

"I have news to share as well my dear, ah! But first, allow me to introduce you to my old colleague Savos Aren. He's the Arch-Mage of the Mage's College here in Winterhold."

She shook the old dunmer's hand in greeting and said, "It's very nice to finally meet you, sir. Ata has told me all about you."

Savos grinned at her, "Yes and I've heard quite a few tales about you as well," he laughed, "Serlas here is terribly proud of you, constantly talks of your incredible feats and achievements."

She blushed furiously and looked back at her father and whined, "Ataaa."

He chuckled, "I only speak the truth my dear."

"But it's not polite to brag about your child all the time," she argued.

Karnwyr padded along and up to Serlas and sniffed at his robes and whimpered up at him, giving him a happy tongue-lolling smile. Serlas returned the smile to the old wolf, leaning over to scratch him behind the ears and said, "Karnwyr, good to see you're doing well - ah, and Bishop," his eyes widened slightly, "My, I see you've been growing much stronger," he held a hand out to his forearm, indicating his muscles, "I take it the two of you did in fact join the Companions then?"

Bishop smirked and nodded saying, "We did," he went up to Serlas and gave him a quick friendly hug in greeting before stepping back and patting him on the shoulder and said, "Good to see you again Serlas."

Serlas was surprised but gave him a friendly pat him on the back in return. "Well! I would very much like to hear of both of your adventures. Come, let's head up to my study," he looked back at Savos and said, "I'll come back in later to finish documenting the runes after speaking with my daughter and making my trip to the outpost, then perhaps we can congregate in the mess hall and have some supper?"

Savos said, "I look forward to it. See you all this evening."

The Arch-Mage left them and Serlas collected his floating objects into his hands and guided them through the hall and up several flights of stairs, leading them through a massive library. They continued walking along and passed through what appeared to be the general housing and several students stopped Serlas on their way up, asking him for his thoughts and advice on a few research projects and spells. He was quick to go over some of the details before he excused himself each time to move on.

One of the last students that stopped him, he said, "You should use calipers to grasp them. They're not made with any inhibiting or combustible materials that would conflict with the soul gems, so you should have no issue with it affecting any of the variables in your experiment."

"Thank you Master Thoraminh! I'll try it straight away!" The student, a young dunmer woman quickly vanished around a corridor, carrying her collection of soul gems in her arms.

They continued walking and Bishop asked, "Calipers?"

"Oh yes," Serlas replied holding a finger up, "Never go without a good pair of calipers I always say. Used to have them everywhere in Cyrodiil back in the day, unfortunately they started going out of style and it's a lot more difficult to find anyone that makes a decent pair."

Bishop leaned over to Rona and whispered, "What the fuck is a caliper?"

She shrugged, just as lost as him.

Serlas lead them into a rather large room at the top of the tower. It had three floors built into it, set up like stair ledges overlooking the open space. On the first floor was the sitting room, with four poufy chairs set around a large, circular, wooden coffee table. A pair of end tables sat between the chairs on opposite sides. Along the walls were rows and rows of bookshelves, filled with plenty of tattered and battered research and spell books. There were two desks set on opposite walls between the shelves. Papers, quills, inkpots and many other items littered the desks in a messy fashion.

On the second landing, which a small ladder led up to, was the kitchen and sleeping loft. The small kitchen was set off to the right and the sleeping loft was off to the left. There was a bed large enough to fit Serlas' height pressed against the curved wall, facing a large round window overlooking the ocean, though the flurry of the blizzard obstructed any sort of view he might have had.

The third landing was reachable by a small ladder placed near the kitchen. It appeared to be an old observatory with a very large telescope and maps of the stars drawn out and set around on a few tables. The ceiling in that section had been fitted with a large glass dome, which would have given them a view of the stars if not for the pile of snow covering it.

Over the center of the room, hanging from the ceiling was a large and unique looking chandelier of sorts. It was made with rings of various sizes, narrowing into a cone shape while different planetary objects stuck out of it. It appeared to be another map of the stars, though more artistic in style. It was glittery and gold plated with magical lights casting warmly from it in places where the stars would have been.

The whole room was very cozy and charming and definitely her father's style.

"Welcome to my home away from home," he said setting the large tome onto a desk, "Savos has been kind enough to keep my living quarters largely untouched in all my time since we first met some sixty years ago," he motioned to the chairs and said, "Please have a seat you two, I'll make us some tea. Oh, Bishop, you would prefer an ale or a mead I take it?"

"I'll take a Honningbrew if you have it," he said as he sat down in one of the poufy chairs, looking slightly disgruntled by its squishiness. Rona also took a seat and sunk into the soft chair. Karnwyr found a spot next to Rona's feet and she leaned over to pet him gently while they waited.

Serlas went about the kitchen fixing their tea and putting together a plate of pastries when Rona glanced over two books on the table as she scratched the wolf. One of them was titled Effects of the Elder Scrolls, the other Ruminations on the Elder Scrolls. Rona reached over and picked up the one closest to her and flipped it open.

She read, Effects of the Elder Scrolls by Justinius Poluhnius, Anstius Metchim

It is widely known among scholars that the Elder Scrolls entail a certain hazard in their very reading. The mechanism of the effects has, at present, been largely unknown - theories of hidden knowledge and divine retribution were the subject of idle speculation with little investigation.

She went on, skimming over the pages but all it talked about were the effects of actually looking at the Elder Scrolls and discussing how it made one blind. All it did was put an awful pit in her stomach and she shut it and pushed it back on the table. She noticed the second one was missing and looked up to see Bishop skimming over it with an indignant look on his face.

Serlas came down and set their drinks in front of them as well as the plate of pastries. He looked over at Bishop and said with a sardonic tone, "Hmm, yes, it's a good read isn't it?"

Bishop looked over at him and scoffed, "It doesn't make any sense at all. Whoever wrote this was without a doubt, high on skooma."

Serlas chuckled and held a hand out, Bishop passed him the book and he looked it over, "It is quite nonsensical, though I have to disagree with you Bishop. The man who wrote this book, Septimus Signus, is in fact a genius."

Bishop leaned over, grabbed his bottle of mead, cracked it open and said, "Serlas, I hate to tell you this, but you've been here way too long. I think one of these students might have hit you with a brain rot spell."

Serlas laughed again and said, "I might believe you if there were such a thing. But no, Septimus is definitely an expert in the study of the Elder Scrolls," he tapped the cover and said, "Everything you read here, you see, is his attempt to describe the nature of the scrolls with obscure metaphors. I also discovered that he, at one point, actually had access to a scroll and tried to read it, which made him irrevocably mad."

Bishop sipped his mead and asked, "Did he write that gibberish before or after reading the scroll?"

Serlas stroked at his beard, "You know, I'm not entirely sure the answer to that one."

"I'm gonna say, after," Bishop replied.

Rona looked seriously at her father and asked, "Have you found out where the scroll is Ata?"

Serlas sighed deeply and shook his head, "I'm sorry velvyn, but I have not. Every few days I've been seeking out Septimus, attempting to meet with him, but so far I've had no luck."

"Where is he supposed to be?" She asked.

Serlas glanced up at the round window by his bedroom loft and said, "There is an outpost on a glacial island that he's set up out beyond Skytemple Ruins. It's actually quite incredible. It seems he's somehow stumbled upon some sort of ancient Dwemer Artifact buried within the glacier itself. I tried to enter the contraption to no avail and I have been unable to locate the old Imperial," he sighed turning back to her, "I'm afraid that Savos might be right. There is a high chance that he succumbed to the elements or was killed by a predator long ago. Still I continue to make the trip out there, just to check."

Rona was feeling incredibly anxious and frustrated. If her father couldn't even find out the location of the Elder Scroll with all his research and the tools of the College at his disposal how would she ever find it? He noticed her tense stare at the table and asked, "Are you alright Rona dear?" He looked to Bishop and said, "Tell me, why are you both here now?"

Bishop sighed and Rona gave her father a sad look.

"What has happened?" He persisted.

Rona started from the beginning, telling him every terrible thing that happened in Whiterun, from their travel to the Rift with the Companions, to the loss of their comrades against the dragons and Alduin and then on to the fact that the Circle were all werewolves and one tried to turn her, but ended up turning Bishop instead. Serlas looked wide-eyed at the ranger but Bishop assured him, "Already took care of it Serlas. I'm just your average nord again."

Serlas looked relieved and allowed Rona to continue with her awful tale, telling him about Mephala and her possession of her brother Nelkir and how the boy was forced to kill Balgruuf, then how they went in search of the cure for Bishop's and Kodlak's lycanthropy, killing the witches of Glenmoril Coven. She told him what had happened on their return and how theSilver Hand took Kodlak from them, as well as two more Companions. Rona started to get teary eyed thinking about it all so Bishop picked up for her and told Serlas how the day after Balgruuf's and Kodlak's funeral, Whiterun was attacked by Ulfric Stormcloak.

He, thankfully glossed over Rona's headstrong behavior so as not to worry the old elf and explained how they traveled with every living member of the Companions and the Jarl's children, bringing them all the way up to Ysgramor's Tomb where they were able to cure themselves as well as Kodlak and the others.

Naturally they left out their private lives, skipping over the pregnancy scare and other more intimate details they'd been through together.

Serlas took a breath and put a hand to his chest, "My dear girl, you may just give your old Ata enough fright to stop his heart one day."

She frowned and got up to hug him again, "I don't want to worry you Ata."

"I know velvynen," he pat her back and wiped at a tear on her face, "But it is my job to worry about your well-being. Still," he glanced over at Bishop, "I owe you greatly for looking after her for me."

Bishop turned away and cleared his throat, "Yeah, well you know. Don't think anything of it."

Rona whispered in her father's ear in Aldmeri with a smile, "(He confessed his love Father.)"

He looked up and smiled brightly at her, then beamed at Bishop.

Bishop scowled at her and said, "What are you telling him, huh? I heard you whispering over there in Aldmeri - I know what 'tandile' means!"

She grinned at him and sat back down in a chair, crossing her legs and wrapping her hands to a knee sheepishly. Serlas chuckled and said, "Well I am glad for it. And I am happy for you both. To have found each other and stayed true to one another through such difficult times... I truly am grateful that you are so devoted to my daughter Bishop. It means a lot to me that you look out for her and care for her as you do."

He frowned, crossed his arms and tried to hide the fact that he was actually blushing as he turned away again and muttered, "Mead's a bit strong."

Serlas turned his attention back to Rona, so as to give Bishop a chance to collect himself in his new uncomfortable emotion. He asked her, "How long do you plan to stay here? I'm sure we can find a pair of empty beds for you two to sleep in."

"We're not staying for too long Ata," she said, "We'll probably head back down to the inn and leave in the morning for Solitude."

He nodded, "I see. By my calendar we have another three and a half weeks or so before our meeting with the Thalmor. Shall I write to Delphine and ask her to meet us there instead?"

"That would probably be best," she said, "It would save us the trip back down to Riverwood."

"Very good, I will do so," he said standing up, "I do hope you'll both join us for supper at least."

"We will!" Rona said cheerfully.

"Excellent," He clapped his hands together and looked over them both, "Well, I must go on and make my trip to Septimus' outpost, though you two are free to stay here or wander about the grounds. Oh - velvyn, before I forget," he said looking suddenly cautious, "There is a Thalmor staying on the grounds as well."

"Seriously?" Bishop spat.

Rona gave a low groan, "Nooo..."

"Yes," Serlas nodded firmly, "He is here supposedly serving as an advisor to Savos, though we suspect he's acting more as a spy. Thankfully my old colleague has thus far rebuffed any advances the elf has made at sticking his nose in the college's affairs. His name is Ancano and, well, I'm sure you will know him when you see him. Do not be surprised if he approaches you velvyn. I'm positive you will use utmost care when speaking with him."

"I will Ata," she assured him.

He added, "Do me one more favor and avoid that strange orb in the Hall of Elements as well. There's some very powerful magic coming from that artifact and I don't trust it in the slightest."

"What is it?" She asked.

"It is a very long story which I will tell at another time," he said,"Well, please enjoy your stay you two," Serlas went over and pulled a thick blue cloak off a hook on the wall and drew it over himself, then grabbed a tall staff leaning nearby, "I will see you both this evening then." He kissed Rona on the cheek and pat Bishop on the shoulder then left.

Bishop got up and started wandering around the room looking at all the books on the shelves and the piles of papers on one of the desks. Rona grabbed the book, Ruminations on the Elder Scrolls, and looked it over. She snorted loudly after reading a page, "This reads like frilly poetry."

Bishop looked over at her as he was tentatively poking a spinning and glowing dwemer object sitting on the desk and said, "Nuts isn't it? He really thinks that guy is a genius?"

She looked over at him and gasped loudly, "Bishop! You didn't touch that did you!?"

He yanked his hand back and shouted, "What!? Why!? What's it do!?"

She looked at him dead serious and said, "It makes you impotent."

He stared at her wide-eyed then immediately grabbed at his crotch and a smile perked at her lips as she tried to hold back a laugh. He looked back over at her with half-lidded eyes, "Ha. Ha. Very funny you little minx." He went right over to her as she burst into hysterical laughter and he pounced on her, giving her playful kisses all over her neck and chest as she continued to giggle under him.

"Don't scare me like that," he growled and then he pressed his firmness against her leg and said, "Hmm, see? Everything's working fine."

"So it seems," she said through a smile, "But we'd better not fool around in here. If I know Ata he's got spells that watch every single thing that happens in this room." He immediately pulled back, blushing again and cleared his throat. She smirked at him, "You know, I've never seen you go that red before! And twice in one day even?"

He chuckled and scratched his head, "Yeah well… I respect your father. He's a good man. Don't want to... offend him or anything."

She got up and kissed him on the cheek, "Seems like Bishop's got a soft side."

"Only for you Ladyship," he smiled down at her then took a breath and said, "So, are we really going for a walk around this nuthouse?"

She rolled her eyes, "It'll be fine. I want to go see what the students are studying."

He groaned uncomfortably as she pulled on his hand. Karnwyr got up and followed along with them as they made their way down the tower and back into the common rooms. There were plenty of students wandering about with their noses in books, while others worked on long research papers and some were off to the side practicing spells on themselves and each other.

They walked by a khajiit man who was trying to convince a nord mage to take and test his spell scrolls on the undead, while the dunmer girl from earlier was asking every passerby if they'd let her try her new spell on them. She finally got a volunteer, it was the nord man who passed up taking the spell scrolls from the khajiit.

She was thrilled and said, "Okay hold still!"

The nord man got cold feet at the last minute and ducked out of the way. As Bishop and Rona were passing through the spell flew by and hit Karnwyr full in the face and he turned green all over.

Bishop looked appalled and roared, "THE HELL DID YOU JUST DO TO MY WOLF!?"

The dunmer girl yelled at her associate, "Onmund! You weren't supposed to move!"

"Sorry Brelyna. I just remembered what happened the last time I let you test a spell out on me…"

Bishop was raking his scalp and staring down horrified at the poor wolf, who despite being green all over, seemed the same as his usual self. With his tongue lolling he looked up at Bishop cocking his head curiously and gave a low whine. Bishop muttered, exasperated, "Don't worry boy, I'll – I can – I don't know what to," then he roared at the dunmer mage again, "CHANGE HIM BACK!"

She panicked and ran over to them and said, "Okay! Um… Yeah, I can fix this. Just, give me a minute." She cast another spell over the wolf which promptly turned him into a cow. She stuttered, grasping a book from a table and flipped through the pages quickly, "Oh no, that's not right. Um… let's see."

"Oh that's not right? HOW COULD YOU TELL!?" Bishop was red in the face with fury and Rona quickly stepped in and grasped his arm. She noticed that the racket they were making was drawing quite the crowd around.

"Bishop, we'll just get Ata or Arch-Mage Aren to fix him, it'll be fine," she tried to assure him. But he did not calm in the slightest.

Then a snotty, lilted voice carried over to them, "Oh lovely rose, I should have known you were a student here." Rona turned to see the breton mage from the inn approaching her. He looked over at Bishop and then back at the now cow Karnwyr and laughed slightly, "It seems that your dog has become a cow."

"Eerr, yeah," Rona muttered.

Bishop threw his hands out to the cow, "YAH THINK!?"

Darren laughed slightly and said, "I could fix it for you."

Brelyna looked relieved and said, "Oh thank goodness. I'd appreciate it Darren, I really need to practice more with my alteration and I'm afraid to try anything else."

Darren gave a sly smile and looking at Rona said, "Oh yes, I can definitely change him back, if the sweet rose would accompany me to dinner tonight, on a date."

Rona scrunched her nose at him and crossed her arms, then Bishop swiped a hand through the air and said, "No fucking deal."

Darren ignored Bishop and said, "What do you say sweet rose? Spend the single most romantic evening of your life with me and I can easily turn your friendly dog back," then he glanced at Bishop and said with a laugh, "and I can turn the ranger into a cow instead for you."

"I'll pass," she said quickly. She knew they could just get the Arch-Mage to take care of it and she wasn't about to entertain this self-important prick.

Darren scowled at her, "Hmph, you would rather lay with this flea-bitten animal than to spend your time with someone far more upstanding and powerful even?"

Bishop stepped forward, thumbing his dagger and warned Darren, "Back off little mage before I slice that sharp tongue of yours off."

"Dreadful," Darren drawled, "Absolutely revulsive. How can you stand this brute my dear?"

Then another even snottier voice carried over the crowd, "What is going on in here!?"

An altmer man dressed in dark Thalmor Justiciar clothes pushed his way through the crowd of whispering students. Rona guessed that he was Ancano, the Thalmor her father warned her about. "Excuse me! Just what do you all think you're doing?" He demanded.

They all just looked at him, everyone keeping their mouths shut. Rona realized then that even the students had no love for the Thalmor and she as grateful for that.

"You two," he pointed to Rona and Bishop, "Are you new students? You're not wearing the proper attire," he eyed their weapons then and said, "And absolutely no weapons on the grounds that aren't staves! I should have you both expelled for such audacity!"

"Expel us!?" Bishop snapped with an irritated laugh, "Go ahead you moron! I want nothing more than to get the hell away from this insane asylum!"

Ancano narrowed his eyes at Bishop and snarled, "How dare you!" but then he looked over both of them again with suspicion and commanded, "Who are you? What are your names?"

Rona didn't reply but Bishop barked, "As if I'd ever tell someone like you!"

The Thalmor's hands went alight with magic and he threatened them, "Tell me who you are this instant, or I will make you thoroughly regret it."

Arch-Mage Aren pressed his way through the crowd then and said, "Ancano, I trust you're not threatening our guests?"

Ancano looked over at the man with a sneer as the magic in his hands dispersed, "Guests you say? Then why will they not tell me their names?" He looked back at them, "Seems highly suspect if you ask me."

Arch-Mage Aren motioned to Rona and said, "This is the Lady Rona Thoraminh and if you'll remember right, she is also the Dragonborn. I'd be more careful about threatening her and her companion if I were you. They are also here, as my guests, while she visits with her father."

Ancano looked between her and the Arch-Mage, utterly bewildered. The whispers among the students broke out quickly as well and Rona's face burned as she overhead them.

"That's Master Thoraminh's daughter?"

"That tiny girl is an elf? I can't believe it!"

"She's the Dragonborn?"

"Yeah, remember? Master Thoraminh wouldn't stop talking about it two classes ago."

"He's really proud of her… do you think she's a mage too?"

"Of course she is, don't be stupid."

"Bet she's got really powerful destruction magic."

"She's really cute."

Bishop got riled up again and roared, "WE CAN HEAR ALL OF YOU! SHUT UP!"

Ancano just sniffed and said, "Well then. My apologies… Lady Rona. If you will excuse me."

He left them all and Arch-Mage Aren looked to all of the students and said, "Everyone back to their studies please! I'm sure you all have plenty of unfinished research papers due this upcoming Morndas."

Most of the students, realizing how much precious time they'd just wasted scrambled to get back to work, while a few more lazy ones hung around and continued staring and whispering about 'the Dragonborn' and her angry companion.

The Arch-Mage approached them both and looked over at the cow, "And what's happened here?"

Bishop just clenched his teeth, still red in the face while Rona said, "A stray spell hit our wolf Karnwyr and turned him into a cow, can you fix him Master Aren?"

Arch-Mage Aren tugged on his beard thoughtfully before he quickly cast a spell that returned Karnwyr to his normal wolfish self. He stood on all fours and wagged his tail happily barking at Bishop, who leaned over his friend and pressed his forehead to the wolf's and sighed with relief, "Don't worry buddy, we're getting the hell out of this place as soon as possible."

Rona didn't argue with him. She could tell how anxious being there was making him, not to mention having Karnwyr changed like that probably only cemented his newfound hatred for magic.

She was reminded of her own time in the Mage's Guild and how much she struggled with her magic, trying to get spells right and accidentally blowing things up, earning her a few choice nicknames from her peers. She especially recalled how much flak she got for being the Arch-Mage's daughter but never matching up to him in any way when it came to skill with the magical arts. Her friend Lorrie was the only one who dared try to help her learn and they became fast friends. The bosmer girl liked to play shy, but loved the attention she got from men and Rona's presence really drew the suitors in, despite her failures as a mage. She tried not to think of her old friends though, lest she start missing them.

Arch-Mage Aren said calmly, "If you would like you may head over to The Arcaneum until supper this evening. Spell use is strictly prohibited within the confines of the library so as not to damage any of the books we house. It will be quite a bit more relaxed and safer there, I assure you."

Bishop glanced at Rona and she could tell he wanted to leave but she said, "Want to stay in the library for a bit?"

He grumbled but relented and said, "Fine, but anymore of this magic shit and we are out of here."

(Recommended background music Secret Library ~ Daguerreo from the Final Fantasy IX Soundtrack)

She smiled and they moved along down the stairs and through a hall into the library. It was significantly more peaceful within. A few mages stood by flipping through books and several others lounged in chairs poring over some very large tomes.

Rona noticed an old orc dressed in robes sitting behind a counter organizing several piles of books. She went over to him as Bishop followed close by. The orc looked up at the two of them and said, "Hmm? New students? Well I better not see you treating any of these books poorly, are we clear?"

"I wouldn't dare think of harming any of these beautiful tomes," Rona said as she looked around at the very full library, "It's quite the collection you have here."

The orc grunted, smirking slightly, "Just added plenty of new ones as well thanks to one of our visiting professors from Cyrodiil."

Rona nodded, knowing he probably meant her father but decided against declaring her relationship to the elf. Instead she asked, "I was wondering if you have any books on the Elder Scrolls?"

The orc raised his brows, "Already loaned them all out to that same visiting professor. Might want to ask him if you're interested. His name's Serlas Thoraminh."

Rona sighed. Of course her father would have already perused through every single book on the Elder Scrolls. And if they'd had any significant information he would have told her as well.

"That's alright," she said, "Do you have any good stories to read instead?" She figured she might as well enjoy a quiet evening reading something amusing with Bishop if they were going to stay there until dinner time.

The orc looked her over curiously then said, "I've got a few actually. Don't get a lot of mages interested in them though."

He went to turn to his shelves when Bishop said, "Hey, bring us volumes one and two of the Lusty Argonian Maid!" Rona's face burned as she looked up at him and he said, "Ever read it Ladyship?"

"Of course not!" She sputtered.

"Oh, you're going to like this, it's great for a laugh," he chuckled and as the orc went to turn again he said, "Oh and Withershins if you've got that too!"

The orc grunted and moved quicker this time going about collecting some books and then carefully setting them on the table in front of them. Rona and Bishop both collected a pile each, thanking the orc and he said, "By the way, I'm Urag gro-Shub. I'm in charge of this Arcaneum. If you disrupt my library or harm any of those books I will have you torn apart by angry atronachs."

"Understood," Bishop said nonchalantly waving a hand. The two of them found a quiet corner to sit down at on the floor and Bishop immediately pulled out both volumes of The Lusty Argonian Maid and passed the first one to Rona. He said with a snort of laughter, "Go on, just read it."

She gaped at him but he shoved it into her lap and she relented cracking open the very worn book and noticed something sticky on it and said, "Eeww!" She shoved it off her lap and he laughed loudly.

"Oh, looks like this one's been rented out a few times already," he carefully flipped the first page open and said, "Alright, you read Lifts-Her-Tail's lines and I'll get Crantius Colto's parts."

Her cheeks burned and she scoffed, "I am not reading this out loud with you."

"Oh come on Ladyship, humor me will you? I just put up with having Karnwyr being turned into a cow, give me this," he actually gave her puppy dog eyes and she chuckled, not believing she was about to do this. But for him, she would, especially since he seemed so excited about it.

She relented and skimmed over the lines, rolling her eyes with a smirk. She took a breath and put on a cutesy, girly voice, "Certainly not, kind sir! I am here but to clean your chambers."

Bishop put on a stuffy, yet salacious noble voice as he read, "Is that all you have come here for, little one? My chambers?"

Rona replied, "I have no idea what it is you imply, master. I am but a poor Argonian maid."

"So you are, my dumpling," Bishop leaned over and pinched her cheek, "And a good one at that. Such strong legs and a shapely tail." He cocked an eyebrow at her and she snorted.

She went on, throwing a hand to her chest and gasping, "You embarrass me, sir!"

"Fear not," he said, grasping her shoulders, "You are safe here with me."

Rona said, "I must finish my cleaning, sir. The mistress will have my head if I do not!"

Bishop flipped the page and said, "Cleaning, eh? I have something for you. Here, polish my spear." He gave her a wink and she put a hand to her mouth stifling her giggles.

He wasn't joking when he said it'd be an amusing read. It was by far one of the funniest things she'd read in a while.

Rona tried very hard to read the next line without bursting into laughter, "But! Haha! - Oh this is ridiculous," she cleared her throat and tried again, "But it is huge! It could take me all night!"

Bishop leaned into her ear and said in his silly voice, "Plenty of time, my sweet. Plenty of time."

Rona couldn't stop herself as she burst into a hard laughter and some of the mages looked over at them, scowling as they disrupted their focus. She quieted herself quickly and said, "Sorry, sorry."

Bishop grabbed volume two and threw it down in front of them, flipping open the first page. Rona skimmed the first line and buried her face in his chest, trying to stifle her laughs.

"Your turn Ladyship," he said grinning ear to ear and holding back his own amusement.

She took a breath and said, "My goodness, that's quite a - LOAF!" she blurt the word and fell back cracking up so hard she was in tears. Bishop started laughing too, matching hers and they both totally ignored the mages' glares.

Bishop took a breath and said, "You have to finish it Lightfoot."

Rona was trying so hard to stop her laughing because her stomach hurt and she could hardly breathe. Finally she calmed down enough and with the biggest grin said, "My goodness, that's quite a... loaf," she snickered again, "But how ever shall it fit in my oven?"

Bishop leaned against her again and said in his fake voice, "This loaf isn't ready for baking, my sweet. It has yet to rise."

"If only we could hurry that along. How would I accomplish such a task?" She held her face as still as possible, trying to make it through this hysterical book.

Bishop was absolutely relishing it though when he got into character and said, "Oh, my foolish little Argonian maid, you must... use your hands."

She pressed her lips together, "You wish me to kneed the loaf? Here?"

"Of course!" Bishop shouted loudly in his usual voice.

She met his eyes and said sweetly, "But what if mistress catches me? You loaf was meant to satisfy her appetite."

He caressed her cheek, "Don't fret, my delicate flower. I'll satisfy the mistress's cravings later."

Rona flipped the page and took a deep breath again as her chest shook with laughs, "Very well, but I'm afraid my oven isn't hot enough. It could take hours!"

Bishop said, "Plenty of time, my sweet. Plenty of time."

Rona just let it go then. She didn't even care that is was loud, she bust up laughing so hard that it hurt and Bishop joined her, their laughter echoing through the entire Arcaneum and he said, "Your face is so red Ladyship!" Her cheeks were hurting too from the wide smile spread across them.

Then she cried through a laugh, "What is this book!?"

"I told you it was good for a laugh!" He leaned back against a wall as Karnwyr stared at them curiously. Bishop took a few more deep breaths and said, "Wow... I haven't laughed that hard in a long time."

"Yeah," she smiled, "It feels good."

She leaned her head against his chest, nestling herself under his arm and he gave a deep sigh as he said, "Wish it could be like this all the time."

"Me too," she whispered.

They were quiet for a moment, both getting lost in their own thoughts. For Rona she couldn't stop thinking about the reality of her situation. She'd suffered so much loss and sadness over the last month that it was almost hard to believe she was just sitting around in a quiet library, reading a silly book with Bishop and laughing their asses off over it. It was surreal and she wanted more of it.

Bishop thought many of the same things as he looked over the top of her head, where she rest in the crook of his arm. He pressed his cheek to her hair and wrapped an arm around her shoulder drawing her closer. He loved this woman so much and wanted her to be a part of his life forever, to have times like these where they could just laugh and laugh without a care or worry in the world. He yearned for the day that her journey was over and done with and they could just be together, living in peace.

Bishop decided that the day wasn't over yet and they could still have a good time, so he reached over and pulled a few choice books from the pile, opened them and he started to read out loud to her bringing that sweet smile to her face.