Chapter 72

Beauties and the Beasts

Bishop took a bite of his sweet bread, a piece of it fell to the floor and Rona knelt down to pick it up when he said, "Just let Karnwyr get it."

She laughed, "He's not here, remember?"

"Oh yeah," he said, "Damn… starting to miss the old boy."

"We'll see him soon," she smiled.

"Yeah, him and Delphine too. Bet she's just itching to get those papers from us," he took a drink of milk from his glass and Rona picked at her partially eaten omelet with a fork.

"Did you read all the dossiers?" She asked him.

"Most of them, I think I missed one of them. It was back in the hideout right after you killed that dragon."

"Ata was saying that the Thalmor want to keep the war going," she leaned on the table, head in hand, still prodding her food, "I don't get it. Why would they want the war to continue but at the same time want me to end it?"

He swallowed a bite of sweet bread and looked at her with a troubled expression. She studied his face and asked, "What? What is it?"

"You should read it yourself," his eyes darted away, "It's not good Ladyship. The Thalmor are some nasty bastards."

"Tell me."

He took a breath and sighed, "They want to use you because of your lineage and your status as Dragonborn. The people of Skyrim, they respect you, for the most part you know? You're pretty much friends with people from both factions at this point."

"So? What's that got to do with anything?"

"If you end the war in favor of the Imperials then that just cements the Empire's and by extension, the Dominion's reason for being here. On top of it, with you ending the war, being considered a legendary hero and all that nonsense, people will take it as fate or destiny or something. You're an authority figure to most people now, whether you like it or not."

She frowned and stared down at her plate, running her hand through her hair some more, "I'd rather not be..."

He took another big bite of his bread and said through a mouthful, "Yeah and we'd both rather you not be the Dragonborn, but," he shrugged, "what can yah do."

"Maybe I should just end the war," she mumbled.

He went wide eyed, mouth full and barked, "NO!" Bits of bread landed on her plate.

She cocked a brow at him, "Why not?"

He covered his mouth and finished his bite and said, "Uh... well that's the other part Ladyship. See once you kill Alduin and end the war," he hesitated and looked grim, "they're going to try and kill you."

She blinked.

"They want to turn you into a martyr," he explained, "It would give the Dominion even more reason to come trampling in here, bringing war to the Stormcloaks and essentially dominating the country. You know 'cause you're..."

"Half altmer and the Dragonborn," she sighed and leaned back in her chair throwing her hands up, "Great!" She crossed her arms and grumbled to herself.

He smirked a little and said, "Glad to see you're taking this so well."

"Just add it to the list of people and things that want me dead," she raised her fingers for each one, "The Thalmor, the dragons and even the Stormcloaks now... speaking of. Do you really think it's safe for us to go back to Whiterun? I didn't exactly leave on good terms."

"Now that you mention it," Bishop said. He thought for a moment and then raised his brows, "Hey, change your hair and eye color again. Go incognito."

She laughed, "Yeah? I guess I could. So what do you think? Blonde again?"

He scrunched his nose, "Nah... go fiery redhead, like Eira. Would love to see that."

She grinned and said, "I'll need a mirror."

He downed the rest of his glass and handed it to her. "Here, see your reflection in that."

She took it and looked it over, "I guess it'll do." She could barely see her distorted features in the glass. She ran glowing fingers through her hair, changing her rose colored locks to a fiery orange-red color. She looked up at Bishop who was stroking his chin stubble and frowning.

"No good?" She asked.

"Nah," he replied, "Go darker, like deep red."

She rolled her eyes and did it again, changing the fiery orange-red to a deep scarlet.

"Whoa," he said nodding, "Very nice. Maybe lengthen it too. Can you do that?"

She pulled on the strands with her glowing hands, lengthening her hair down to her elbow.

"Better?" She asked.

He looked her over with deep approval and said, "Oh definitely. You know, this is giving me all kinds of ideas, Ladyship."

She laughed and grinned at him, "Like what kind of ideas?"

"I don't know if I can tell you. We'd have to get a room and a maid's outfit, because if I start talking about it, it's definitely going to happen."

She snorted a laugh and then looked at her reflection, "What about my eyes?"

He frowned, "No, don't change your eyes. I like your eyes."

"Aw," she blushed, "That's sweet. But really, I should change them."

He crossed his arms, "If you say so."

"What do you think?"

He shrugged, "Any color will be fine. Blue or brown maybe."

She looked into his eyes then and smiled, "How about honey-gold?"

He cocked a brow and said, "Yeah?"

"Like yours," she waved a hand over her eyes and looked at her reflection again. A totally different person looked right back at her.

"My eyes are not honey-gold," he snorted.

"Yes, they are," she smiled up at him, "You ever seen yourself?"

He rolled his handsome, honey-gold eyes at her and she looked back at him with her own matching pair and stuck her tongue out at him.

"Keep that up and I'll have to go over there," he growled playfully.

"You wish ranger," she said as she grasped a bundle of the scarlet colored hair and started braiding it together over her shoulder.

"Mmhm, I do indeed," he smirked then looked at her plate, pointing at her half-eaten omelet, "You gonna finish that?"

"You can have it."

He grabbed her plate and said, "You really need to quit wasting food."

"They always give me too much!" She protested as she fished around her pouch for her red ribbon.

He munched on the omelet and said, "It's why you're so tiny you know, 'cause you never finish your damn food."

"Never hear you complaining Mister," she put on a deep voice, trying pathetically to imitate him, "'Oh you're as light as a damn feather, Ladyship!'"

He took the last bite of her food and jut the fork at her, "Hey. I do not sound like that."

Then he gave her a very salacious grin and she snickered at him and tied her braid off, keeping it over her shoulder.

Serlas and Qetesh came into the inn then and looked around. Qetesh saw Bishop sitting at the small table flirting with this new red-head and crossed her arms and scoffed, incredulous, "Really Bishop? The minute your woman is gone and you're off flirting with someone else already?"

He grinned at Qetesh, "You know me, I just can't help myself," he looked right at Rona and pursed his lips, "Give us a kiss, love."

She giggled and looked over at Qetesh and said, "Just me!"

Qetesh looked at her stunned, "Wha-?"

"Ah," Serlas said, "Going with a new look, Rona dear? Been a long time since you changed your hair - oh and your eyes too. Very lovely."

Rona smiled, "Thank you Ata, but it's not permanent. Just until we finish up in Whiterun, since," she scratched her cheek with a finger, "I'm not entirely sure I'm still welcome there."

"Because of the Stormcloak invasion, yes," he said, nodding his head knowingly, "I suppose they might not be too friendly with you. Well then, we're going to get a quick breakfast and leave shortly. Perhaps you two wouldn't mind collecting our things?"

"Sure," Rona hopped up and Bishop followed her, grasping her hand as they went. She was glad he explained himself earlier. All the issues with Freya seemed to slowly be fading away and she could only hope the woman would control herself for the rest of their journey and then she and Bishop could leave her in Whiterun and move on without her interference.

The ride to Whiterun was short. It only took a few hours to get there and they stabled their horses and made their way up the path to the city. Three out of four of the sisters could not stop talking about the house they were going to stay in. Even Bast was turning into a bit of a chatterbox when she'd been so quiet before.

"I get the biggest bed!" She said laughing and skipping ahead of them and her sisters all scoffed.

"No way," Qetesh said, "I'm way bigger than any of you, I should get the biggest bed."

"Whoever gets there first gets it!" Bast shouted and ran ahead of them all.

They approached the gates where two Stormcloak guards were watching the townsfolk and visitors coming and going. One of them stopped Serlas and said, "Halt. What business does a Thalmor have here?"

Serlas raised his brows and said, "I beg your pardon sir, but I am not a Thalmor agent, if that is what you're assuming."

"As if," he scoffed, "Just look at you."

"I'll have you know," Serlas said firmly, "It's quite rude to make assumptions based entirely off of one's race. I may be an altmer, but I have served the Emperor and the Imperial Kingdom for over two hundred years."

Bishop groaned slapping a hand to his head and Rona laughed a little.

Then Serlas put a finger to his mouth thoughtfully and said, "Well I suppose that sounds just as bad now doesn't it?"

"No Thalmor and no damned Imperials allowed," the guard said harshly.

"Wait," the other guard stepped forward pulling her helmet off. It was Risla. She approached Serlas and said, "Mr. Thoraminh?"

"Ah! The nice young woman from Ivarstead, how are you my dear?"

"I'm well," she smiled at him, "Were you finally able to find your daughter?"

"Why yes, she's right here," he pointed back at his disguised daughter and Bishop groaned loudly again, throwing his head back.

"Lady Rona?" Risla looked at her confused.

Rona gave a weak smile and waved, "Hi Risla."

"You changed your hair and your... eyes?"

"Well," Bishop said loudly, "we were trying to stay incognito, but since we can guarantee the racist shitbag over here is going to blab to his friends, might as well go back to normal."

Rona sighed and dispelled the magic on her hair and her eyes.

"The Dragonborn," the other guard gaped at her and put a hand to his axe, "Good. I've been waiting to get revenge for all my friends you killed!"

Risla shouted, "Stop! Are you mad!?"

The guard looked at her and then looked back at the group, all of whom had drawn their own weapons (except, notably, Freya). Serlas was holding a blazing ball of fire in one hand and said dangerously, "Should you lay a hand on my daughter, then I will be forced to incinerate you."

Risla went right over to her comrade and snapped, "Don't be stupid! Besides, she's one of the Companions and Jarl Vignar already gave them a full pardon, including her!"

The guard grumbled under his helmet and crossed his arms, "Fine... you can all pass."

Everyone stowed their weapons away and Serlas dispelled his magic then nodded to the guard and said kindly, "I thank you."

He and the girls all headed in and Bast called back, "Which house is it?"

"Second to the right," Rona said.

They hurried along and Risla approached Rona and Bishop, brows knit together she said, "I'm so sorry about that."

Bishop crossed his arms and growled, "You know, every time we see you, you're apologizing for these people. Hope you like the side you chose."

Risla averted her eyes and Rona elbowed Bishop in the ribs and asked her, "Why are you here in Whiterun? Is your brother with you?"

"I got called to be stationed here after Jarl Ulfric took the city and no, Hamvak is still back in Ivarstead. He wanted to come with me but he's still a bit too young," she explained, then she said, "You were smart to try and hide your identity, my lady. A lot of the soldiers here are still angry with the Dragonborn for killing their comrades. They've even been giving the Companions a hard time too since they fought with you."

Rona looked at her curiously, "You're not mad that I fought against the rebels?"

"How could I be?" Risla said smiling kindly, "They attacked the city. I'm sure you were just protecting the civilians. It's a tough thing, war... I... I must admit that even I'm..." she hesitated and second guessed her words as the other guard seemed to be listening closely to their conversation. "Um, nevermind. Oh! I wanted to apologize as well Lady Rona. Your horses! We were supposed to watch them and I swear that we had them secured away, but it seems someone stole them."

Rona completely forgot about that. Months ago they'd left their horses in Ivarstead while they made their way back up to High Hrothgar only to return to Riverwood by way of leaping off a cliff and then Sanguine kindly returned their steeds to them after a very drunk and eventful night with him.

Rona smiled, "Don't worry about it. We never ended up coming back through Ivarstead anyhow," Risla seemed like she wanted to ask why or maybe even how, but Rona quickly said, "It's a long story."

"Well, it's very good to see you again my lady. Please take care of yourself and," she lowered her voice, "avoid the Stormcloak soldiers if you can."

"Thank you Risla. Have a good day," she waved at the woman and she and Bishop entered the city. They came up to her father and the four sisters who were all staring up at the house. Rona looked at it and said, "Oh..."

Bishop uttered, "Uhh..."

Then Freya laughed, looking at them both a mocking tone to her voice, "Do all your houses have big, gaping holes in them?"

Rona had completely forgotten that the last time she was there her house had been hit with a flaming boulder when the city was under siege. It seemed that because the occupants hadn't been around to pay to repair the damages that it never got fixed.

Just then the front door opened and a redguard man in rags, a beggar, walked out holding a bottle of mead. He looked right at them all bleary-eyed and sputtered, "What are you doing in front of my house?"

"You're house?" Bishop snarled at him.

"Yeah. S'my house. Now whadya want?"

"Uh, no," Bishop said throwing a hand up motioning to Rona, "This is the Dragonborn's house."

The man looked at her surprised and said, "Oh... is it?"

Freya doubled over in laughter, "Oh this is too much! Not only did you offer us a house with a broken roof and wall, but one that a drifter went and made his home in! Aha! That's amazing," she sighed, wiping tears out of her eyes, "Yeah. I'll be at the tavern getting a drink now. Have fun, sorting this one out." She left them, heading for the Bannered Mare still laughing loudly to herself.

The redguard man frowned and said, "So does that mean I gotta move out now?"

"Yes!" Bishop barked at him.

"Can I at least take a few parting gifts?" He asked.

"NO!" Bishop roared. The beggar shrugged and tipped his bottle back and wandered off like nothing strange just happened.

Rona hesitated to look inside, but she did anyways, getting a good look around at the mess. The entire place had been ransacked of all their belongings save for most of the furniture. It was a complete mess. She felt absolutely terrible about it too. Here she'd promised these women a home and next she didn't have anything even remotely decent for them to make a home out of. She turned to apologize to them all when Bast walked in next and looked around.

The biggest grin sprawled across her face and she ran over and started running her hand over the dusty kitchen counter and peeked into the side room. Qetesh and Venus joined her, looking the place over.

"Not too shabby," Qetesh said.

Rona looked at them, stunned, "This... you're okay with this?"

Venus shrugged and said, "Sure. This is way nicer than anything or anywhere we've slept in a long time."

Bast ran up the stairs then and squealed with delight as she rounded into the master bedroom, "This room is huge!"

"It's mine!" Qetesh called up the stairs.

"I'll fight you for it!" Bast shouted back.

Rona laughed a little and Bishop put a hand to her shoulder and smiled, "See? It'll be fine. We'll talk to Vignar and toss him some gold to fix the place up again. In the meantime," he said addressing the sisters, "Jorrvaskr has plenty of extra beds you can all stay in until this place gets cleaned up."

"Sounds good to me," Qetesh said and the others agreed.

They all left the home. Rona shut the door and locked it, hoping to keep the drifter out, though he could just climb into the hole on the second floor wall to get in, which she suspected is what he'd already done. She then gave the key to Qetesh, trusting her with it. Serlas split off from the group to pay a visit to the Jarl's Palace so that he could speak with Vignar and make arrangements for their homestead to be repaired.

The rest of them went to Jorrvaskr and entered the old Mead Hall. Off in the open area near the large dining table were Nelkir and another boy, Rona presumed was his friend Blaise, practicing their sword arms while Vilkas kept a watchful eye on them.

"Excellent form Nelkir... Watch your footing Blaise..." Vilkas instructed them from his seat, arms crossed. He was so focused on their sparring match that he didn't notice the group come in. "Take the opening!" He shouted as Nelkir caught Blaise's blade with his own and managed to throw it out of his grasp. Then he spun around and swiped Blaise right off his feet and pointed his sword at the boy's chest. He grinned as Vilkas cried, "Well done Nelkir! I'd say you've finally mastered that move."

Blaise frowned at him, but Nelkir quickly sheathed his sword and held a hand out to his friend. The other boy took it and Nelkir pulled him to his feet. Blaise who was grinning now, said, "You'll have to show me how you do that."

"I can show you when I get back," Nelkir replied, then he noticed the familiar group by the doors.

Bishop put a hand up and said, "Hey kid."

"Hey!" Nelkir ran over to them all and gave Rona a hug which she happily returned.

He looked up at them, "What are you all doing here?"

Bishop thumbed back at the girls and said, "Just bringing you all some new members."

Vilkas came over looking at them curiously and said, "Ay, we can definitely use some more people."

Everyone introduced themselves and Rona explained their situation. Vilkas listened intently and nodded saying, "Yeah, yes. We'll definitely take you ladies in, especially if you can hold your own in a fight. I'd really like to test your arms though, see what you're made of. But it'll have to wait another time. Nelkir and I were just about to leave for Eastmarch."

"What's in Eastmarch?" Rona asked.

"Going to find more recruits," Vilkas laughed, "Some new bloods - pups, if you will. Orphans and all that. Aela is dead set on getting as many of them in here as possible."

"I wouldn't mind going with you," Qetesh offered, "Could show you my sword arm... or rather my skill with my battleaxe," she pound a fist back on the good edge of her enormous weapon.

Vilkas eyed the thing and he said, "Hmm, yeah. That sounds like a good idea. Though you might want to talk to Eorlund about having your weapon repaired."

She smirked at him, "Nah, I prefer it this way. It's a nice reminder of what I still need to do with the good edge," she turned and grinned wickedly at Bishop, who pressed his lips together and took a step away from her. Rona had a feeling Qetesh never meant to make good on her threat, that she only liked to tease Bishop about it.

"I see," Vilkas said, raising a brow bemused.

Aela, Farkas and Athis came upstairs then, followed by another little girl. They were all very pleased to see everyone. Aela greeted Rona with a big, sisterly hug and introduced the child as Lucia, a young girl who'd been orphaned after her mother passed and her aunt and uncle kicked her off her own farm. She'd been begging on the streets of Whiterun until Aela took her in.

Everyone joined the Companions for lunch and they got to talking and once again explained the four sisters' situation. Aela was thrilled at the fact that the Companions would for once have enough women in the ranks to outnumber the men. Athis grumbled about it, idly mentioning that all their cycles would no doubt line up and they'd get all moody and wreak havoc on the place. Every woman there glared furiously at him and he quickly clammed up.

Rona noticed that Farkas hadn't stopped blushing in the presence of the two lovely women, Venus and Qetesh. It seemed that he was just as pleased as Aela by the many female warriors in their midst. Nelkir kept glancing over at Bast too. Granted she was five years older than the boy, but she was still closer in age to him than any of the other women.

Rona laughed to herself realizing it would be very interesting with the four sisters there. She could only imagine how they'd react to Freya, who was arguably the most beautiful and temperamental of the four. She really hoped that Freya wouldn't try to ruin it for them all too, as her three sisters seemed to really be happy with this new direction their lives were taking.

Qetesh and Vilkas were getting along, right as rain and Aela was deep in conversation with Bast about her marksmanship and was talking about taking her out on a hunt. Venus was the only one who seemed a little unsure about joining the warriors and she admitted to Vilkas, "I'm not very good at fighting."

"What skills do you have?" He asked.

"She's good with her hands," Qetesh said, "Crafting and all that."

Vilkas took a swig of mead and smiled, "We can see about getting you set up with Eorlund Gray-Mane as an apprentice. He works the Skyforge. His wife also makes jewelry and other trinkets if you prefer that sort of thing."

"Yes! I'd love that," Venus said and she actually smiled. The expression almost looked foreign on her face since she normally had a scowl etched there instead.

Rona leaned over to Bishop and said, "Looks like it's going well."

"Yeah," he said, but his face fell a bit, "I'm just wondering how Freya's going to deal with this. She's never been one to take orders before, unless there were threats behind it."

"I'm going to go try talking to her," Rona said.

He looked at her skeptically, "I don't know Ladyship. She might try to claw your eyes out or something."

She stood up, laughing a little and said, "Yeah, maybe... but I'm pretty good at making friends with people that treat me like their enemy."

He shook his head, "You're crazy, you know that?"

She laughed, "You've seen my mother, where do you think I get it from?"

"No really though," he said, "Don't be afraid to shout her down if she comes at you with those claws of hers. I've seen her take down plenty of women before."

Rona frowned at him. And he smirked, "You know, every time I ran off with another woman and she'd find out and then...catfight," he coughed a little, "Just be careful."

She smirked at him and excused herself, heading back out towards the Bannered Mare. She went in and found Freya sitting at the bar. She was, at the moment, being harassed by the bard Mikael. Freya was clearly disinterested in the man, but he wouldn't let up the flirting.

"Come on beautiful," he said leaning into her, "What do you say you and I go find a private room alone? I can sing you a love ballad."

She scoffed loudly, "Ugh, bards. I heard you singing earlier and it was atrocious. My ears still hurt. And would you mind? I'd rather you didn't get any of your awful cologne on my tunic, thank you." She pushed him off of her shoulder and dusted at her clothes then turned her head away from him.

"Oh I see, playing hard to get," he smiled and leaned in again. He really did not seem to get the hint and she put a hand to the sword on her hip, looking more annoyed than ever.

Rona walked over quickly and said jovially, "Mikael! How are you?"

He gave a start and turned back, "Ah! Lady Dragonborn..."

"Would you mind letting me sit by my friend? We have a lot to catch up on," she smiled at him.

"Uh... sure, yes, of course my lady," he stepped away from Freya, sulking a little as he went.

Rona took up the seat next to Freya and asked, "He giving you trouble?"

Freya gave her a side-eye glance and took a swig of her mead, "Nothing I couldn't handle girlie. Didn't need you to come rushing in all," she threw a hand up, "Oh Dragonborn, save me!"

Rona laughed a little, "Yeah. I figured, but I don't think gutting him would have gone over well with the guards."

"Hmph," Freya shrugged, "I could have handled that just fine as well... So, how are my little sisters liking the house with the hole in it?"

"Surprisingly... they love it."

"Yeah they would," Freya said looking into her mug of mead, disheartened.

"Freya, I just want you to know, I'm not trying to upstage you with your sisters or anything like that."

Freya scoffed at her, cocking her head, "Oh like hell you're not. You heard Qetesh... I'm the worst thing that's ever happened to them and you're the saving grace that's finally come from the heavens above."

"I really do just want to help you all and I never meant to hurt you in any way by offering these things to you and your family."

Freya looked her over, as though she were trying to figure out what sort of angle Rona had and then she took another swig of mead and asked, "Why are you being so nice to me?"

"Because you and your sisters are important to Bishop and he's important to me," she said, blushing.

Freya leaned on the counter, head in hand, "Come to rub that in my face too?"

"No, Freya. It's just the truth," Rona said firmly. She really was trying, but she did not know how to get through to this woman. She decided to just stick with honesty. She took a breath and said, "Look, I know it bothers you that he and I are... in a relationship. It bothered me a lot having you around, knowing your past with him, but I accepted it. You and your sisters are a part of his history, you might as well be his family."

She looked somberly into her drink, "Some family we were to him, considering he abandoned us."

Rona looked sadly at her and said, "I can't speak for Bishop. But I do know that his brother was his world to him and being the one that killed him...he broke, Freya. He couldn't cope with it, so he ran away."

Freya looked morose as she stared harder into the mug, "You know what Thorn did to me right? Qetesh went and told you?"

"I do," Rona said, "I know now what kind of man he is and what he's capable of. He's threatened my life too."

Freya looked over at her, wide-eyed, then her eyes darted away again, like she was trying to hide the worry she just expressed for the woman she was trying so hard to continue hating. Then she said, "You'd probably be able to kill him. Being the Dragonborn and all that... I always wanted to be the one that gut that sick fuck," she grit her teeth, getting angry, "I dream of it sometimes, the way I'd kill him, hurting him like he hurt me," but her face fell when she said, "I'd never be strong enough though. I don't have magic and I certainly can't do whatever the hell it is you do. If you ever see him... stick your sword into his belly for me. Twist it around and make it hurt."

"I will. Although... to be honest I hope I never see him."

"Yeah, me too," Freya said taking another sip of mead, "I'd never wish that on anyone. Not even you."

Rona smiled a little, "Well, thanks I think."

"I don't hate you, by the way," Freya said suddenly, "I just don't like you."

Rona laughed, "That's fine. I kind of feel the same way about you."

Freya smirked at her, "Good. At least we have that much in common."

"So," Rona leaned into it, "How do you feel about joining the Companions?"

Freya gave her a side-eye glance and shrugged, "Just another stop in the road I guess. Your father is supposed to be working on getting us out of Skyrim right? I'll do it for however long I have to, until then."

"Can you promise me something?" Rona asked.

Freya snorted a laugh into her mug and said, "I don't know about that."

"Try not to break all the men's hearts," Rona smirked at her, "The brothers, Vilkas and Farkas, I already know they'll be quite taken with you. Oh... and my little brother is a Companion too, so, if you could be kind to him, I'd appreciate it."

Freya looked her over and said, "Damn girlie, you really think I'm just going to run through there and fuck shit up, don't you?"

Rona leaned into the counter turning her head, "Well..."

Freya chuckled and sighed, "Yeah I know. I'm... trying to reel it back, my attitude. Qetesh was right, everything she said," then she looked Rona right in the eyes and frowned, "I'm sorry for everything I did to you. I was mad at Bishop and I took it out on you. Took it out on him too actually," she finished off her mug and stood up.

"Thanks, that means a lot," Rona said standing too and smiling. She held out a hand, "Truce?"

Freya smirked at her and took it, "Truce... now let's go meet these warrior friends of yours. This should be a real hoot."

Rona laughed again and led Freya out of the inn and back to Jorrvaskr. She was feeling a lot better about the woman. She wondered if this was how Bishop felt about Casavir. Not really liking each other, but still coming to some sort of understanding between one another.

The minute Freya walked in with her she saw the look of desire in the brother's eyes. She really hoped that Freya would stay true to her word and not try to manipulate them, string them along or do anything to break their poor hearts. Vilkas was the type who probably wouldn't put up with her behavior for very long, she worried about Farkas though, being as thick as he was. He was a real sweetheart and she didn't want to see him get hurt, especially after losing most of the people he called family as well as Kodlak, who was the only father he'd known his whole life.

Freya was flirty but kind to them, joining her sisters at the table and making the effort to make new friends. Bishop came up to Rona then and said, "I see you still have both eyes intact."

Rona chuckled, "Yeah. Thankfully she didn't come at me with her claws."

He looked over at the four sisters curiously then asked, "How do you do it?"

"What?"

"Make friends with everyone like that?" She just shrugged and he said, "It's not fair you know. I got my nose broken and lost a damn tooth for you when Casavir was groping all over you. But you," he paused looking her up and down, "you just come out totally unscathed."

"Aw, you mad two beautiful women aren't fighting over you?" She teased, nudging him with her hip.

"If I'm to be honest, yes, Ladyship. By all means, pick a fight with her. Oh but if you could do it in your underwear, that would be nice," he grinned salaciously at her and she just kissed him on the cheek.

"I'll always fight for you Bishop, but it'll more than likely be against dragons."

He sighed, "Well that's not even remotely as sexy. Although, if you fight the dragons in another nice dress, with your hair and makeup all done, I'd like that very much."

She giggled and leaned into him, "You're so weird."

"I'm just saying, fighting alongside you all this time now, I've learned a few new things about myself and seeing a feisty woman in a ripped dress, hair all messed up, makeup smeared around, swords in hand," he gave a playful growl and prod himself against her rear, "that really gets me going."

She laughed and hugged him a little closer, enjoying their flirting, enjoying the normalcy, however brief it would be. She had a feeling things would be getting so much more intense very soon, but hoped it would lead them to the Elder Scroll and soon to the death of the World Eater.