Chapter 80
No Place Like Home
They spent the night together back in the temple and he just held her in his arms and it was wonderful. She had no nightmares. Her sleep was dreamless and peaceful. When she woke in his arms that was just as wonderful because he was already awake, gently stroking her hair and looking on at her lovingly and then she kissed him and that was perfect too.
She initiated all of it, he let her make the first moves and responded according to her reactions. All of it was positive and exactly what she'd needed. But although she was so happy to have human contact again, when she made to speak there was still nothing. He just kissed her and told her it would be okay, that she was on the road to healing. She let herself believe him and allowed him to comfort her aching heart.
They left the Temple of the Ancestor Moths that day. Serlas thanked the monks for their hospitality and gave them the location of their farm, asking that they please write and inform them should they discover anything new. Brother Evicus promised that he would send word the minute he heard anything new about the Elder Scroll in question.
They spent another two days, traveling through those rough mountains and Rona slept beside Bishop every night which he seemed quite happy about because he was smiling every day now, except when he tried to hide the physical pain in his arm from her.
Serlas was keeping track of the Dragon's Frost and did everything in his power to slow it each day. He even gave Bishop a few of Qetesh's best potions, which he'd learned to make himself and that seemed to help him quite a bit, at least with the pain. Still, on the third day, when they'd arrived near the border again, Rona saw it. Bishop stood in a private area, around a ridge, while Serlas tried once again to slow the move of the mark. It had already moved up his shoulder and down towards his hand. The whole thing was threatening to overtake him. Rona panicked inwardly at the sight of it. She had to regain her voice somehow, she just didn't know how.
They stopped in Bruma that evening and spent the night at the Jerall View Inn. Bishop and Rona got a private room together and went to lay down for bed. Bishop had been keeping his cuirass on, initially he said because of the cold. But she knew better, the man could probably strip down naked and take a swim in an icy lake treating it like a hot summer's day. Now he had no excuse and as she stood there in just her own under dress she tugged on his shirt and he smirked at her saying sarcastically, "What? Feeling frisky Ladyship?"
She scowled at him and started to undo the buckles herself and he grasped her hands and shook his head, "I don't want you to stress over it, Sweetness. If you worry about my wound, then your voice might never come back. Just try to relax." She looked into his warm amber eyes tearfully.
He kissed her on the forehead and whispered, "No more tears Ladyship. We've all done enough crying to drain and refill Lake Ilinalta twice over already."
She sighed and just hugged him, pressing her face to his chest and he hugged her back. He pulled her over to the bed and held her, falling asleep fairly quickly beside her, snoring lightly as always. She stared woefully at him and blamed herself.
All of it was her fault. If she hadn't left the farm that day, none of it would have happened. She wouldn't have lost her voice and Bishop wouldn't have been hurt by the dragon's shout because she would've been able to fight back. He told her not to worry but how could she not? He was everything to her and all the pain he'd suffered since the start of their journey was her fault.
When his hand was burned the first time she killed a dragon, her fault. When his arm was snapped in pieces against the dragon outside Whiterun, her fault. When thirty dragons attacked Solitude and burned up his leg, her fault. When Alduin realized he was the most important person to her and trained the others to attack him first... it was her fault. It was all her fault. Every time Bishop got hurt it was because of her.
There was only one way to stop it all... but she couldn't bear that thought. Memories of what Kodlak had told her at Arcwind Point resurfaced. It is a path that will break your hearts. And when she'd asked the seer how to save him, she'd touched her hand and said, You already know the answer to that.
She closed her eyes tightly. No. She wouldn't do that. She couldn't. If anything would kill Bishop... it would be that. She touched his sleeping face and kissed him. Falling into a new dream this time.
(Background music Silva Maleficas by Peter Gundry)
Jillian stood by at the Throat of the World, standing at the edge of the mountain, watching as the Blades continued their battles against the dragon menace far below. News was spreading fast from one dragon to the next and they were starting to retreat. Alduin was gone, banished from that plane. Their great leader, the firstborn of Akatosh, had been defeated.
But her heart ached painfully and her tears came steadily. Ronin was dead. He would never come back. She'd found her power up there. Ignited her freezing flames of blue fire and Eira gave her the power to heal Dragon's Slash. But it was already too late and it was no slash that killed Ronin, it was the literal crushing and tearing apart of his entire being. There was no coming back from that.
She half considered stepping off the edge then. Her destiny was fulfilled, she'd done what the gods wanted of her and yet she felt so empty and lost. When she'd told him what she was to do, he couldn't bear it, he refused to let her go and told her to give it up, to run away with him. He didn't want to fight anymore. He didn't want to see her die. Their last conversation was one of anger.
"I won't allow you to do this, Jillian! Why do you feel that you must give your life for these people!? They do not know you, they do not care! You are but a tool for their war!"
"You are a Blade Ronin, you know very well why I fight."
He'd clenched his fists in anger and said, "I was once. But no longer, I cannot be a part of it anymore. I refuse to be a part of the cause that would so easily throw your life away for their own gain!"
"Ronin... whether you leave the Blades or not, it changes nothing. My dreams grow ever stronger, plaguing me. The Maidens of yore follow me everywhere I go, pushing me onward. This is my destiny, the path laid out for me," she'd argued.
"And what of me?" He'd pressed a hand to his strong chest and looked on at her, golden brows knit tightly together, silver eyes sharply boring into her own, "Do I not matter? My thoughts? My feelings?"
She looked on at him, pained that he would even suggest such a thing and breathed, "Of course you matter Ronin, you are everything to me..."
"When you joined us, wishing to fight alongside us, I couldn't have been happier then. But it was for entirely selfish reasons," he said, "At first it was just knowing that we had the Dragonborn on our side. But then we grew so close and I couldn't treat you the same as the others, as though you were just some tool, some hidden weapon at our disposal. And every time I saw you wounded, every time I watched you face off against another vile wyrm, recklessly risking your life for our cause," he shut his eyes, shaking his head and grit his teeth, "I cannot be a part of it anymore! Your life has value! It has meaning, if not to them then to me! I continued to fight trying to save you from this forlorn path you follow. I love you Jillian! Does that mean nothing to you?"
"And I love you Ronin-"
"Yet still you go on, chasing the dragons and for what? For them? For the Blades!? They care not for you! You can never kill them all, no one has ever come close to removing their blight from our world - I see that now! Neither the Tongues the Blades nor any Dragonborn before could stop them! Alduin is too powerful, he will destroy you as he has done to all the others!"
"I must fight!" She cried, "I fight for you! For us! I want to live in a world of peace with you and so long as they are here they will find me and pursue us both to the end of our lives! So I can either run or I can fight! And I choose the latter."
He roared, "Then go you foolish woman! I will not watch you die!"
He'd left her then and she carried on without him, fighting for him, believing what she was doing was right. She led the Tongues and the Blades to the Throat of the World, executing their plan. She overthrew the Greybeards in their monastery, bringing war and violence to that place. They'd bound and gagged them and she felt aggrieved over it, but knew it had to be done. It was the place prophesized in the scroll where the World Eater's downfall would be.
But then one of the Blades came to her crying, "Lady Jillian! Lord Ronin has returned! He leads the others at the foot of the mountain!"
He was fighting back. But Alduin knew. He knew who Ronin was. For so long this one man had led the Blades against the dragons and was the greatest thorn in the beast's side. But he also knew who he was to her. Alduin wanted nothing more than to destroy the man for many reasons, but most of all to crush her soul. Ronin was her greatest weakness and Alduin knew that. She raced back down the mountain, forsaking them all, because he mattered more, he'd always mattered more. And then she watched him die...
(The Song is Forgiven by Within Temptation)
She stood on that mountain, watching the dragons retreating, fleeing to the far corners of Skyrim. Her heart felt cold and empty and she hated them all.
She blamed herself and sang to the skies letting her emotions go.
"Couldn't save you from the start
Love you so it hurts my soul
Can you forgive me for trying again
Your silence makes me hold my breath
Oh time has passed you by
Ooh, for so long I've tried to shield you from the world
Ooh, you couldn't face the freedom on your own
Here I am left in silence
You gave up the fight
You left me behind
All that's done's forgiven
You'll always be mine
I know deep inside
All that's done's forgiven."
Rona was standing there on that mountain with her then as the song continued all around them. Jillian looked back at her and said, "Come to me Dragonborn."
She approached the nord woman who'd followed her for so long, who'd shown her so many things and taught her so many songs. She stood much shorter than Jillian who was nearly a head taller than her.
"There is no pain greater than losing the one you love," she said, arms crossed as she stared out at the war ensuing before them,"I have followed you for some time now and I see how much you care for him. You wish to save him, do you not?"
Rona nodded quickly.
"But you have lost your voice. Do you know why it will not return?"
She shook her head.
"It is because of the blame you carry within. It is a great burden we bear, the troubles of all the world, but even we are unable to withstand the heaviness of it all. Dragon soul or not, there is only so much we mortals can carry within until we break. You must release it and forgive yourself."
Forgive herself? How could she ever...
"I know it seems easier to hold on to it. To continue to not be the Dragonborn; for what Dragonborn was there that had no voice?"
Rona looked at her incredulously. She thought she was carrying the blame on purpose? So that she wouldn't have to be the Dragonborn?
"You do not believe that is why you carry it, but there is a part inside of you that deeply desires the freedom it grants you. To be human again... it is nearly always the greatest yearning of the Dragonborn. Very few take up the torch as pure bred heroes and those that do often die like the fools they are," Jillian looked down at her, putting a hand to Rona's shoulder, "It might seem easier, to give up the power, but it will never get easier and if he should die you too will die from your own anguish... or you shall turn like me," she pressed a hand to her chest, "You will become cold-hearted and bitter and die a lonely death in a desolate place. Forgive yourself Rona and fight back."
Rona met her sharp gaze and nodded. Then the dream started to break, fading in a great haze while dragons everywhere continued to roar around them and Jillian gave her a few last parting words, "Steel yourself for what you must do. You know it is the only way to save him."
Her eyes snapped open and she breathed as the words Jillian's sad song slowly faded from her mind. She looked over, Bishop was still sleeping steadily beside her. She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the dream. Bishop woke up from her sudden movement, but he groaned a bit, painfully. Of course realizing she was right there he tried to stifle it and hide it. He looked very tired, sickly even and she couldn't help but give him a concerned look.
He forced a smile, "What did I tell you about worrying about me?" Her lip trembled and he quickly kissed her, trying to suppress her fears and worries. And as he pulled away, pressing his forehead to hers, he looked into her eyes said, "Be happy today. We're almost there, in your hometown. You'll show me around, right?"
She sucked it up, pushing all her sorrows back inside of herself and nodded. He smiled and they pulled apart, getting up to greet the day. Serlas stopped by their room and said, "Bishop, I'd like to take a look at your arm again."
"Sure," Bishop turned to Rona and said, "I'll be out in a minute." He closed the door, locking her out but she listened quietly at the door and heard her father's troubled sigh.
Bishop spoke quietly, "Just do what you can for it. I'll be fine."
"Bishop, you're looking incredibly ill. I don't know how much longer this can go on for..."
"So give me another of Qetesh's Best already. Really, it's ok. You've slowed it down. Got another day or so, don't I?"
"Let us pray her voice returns by then..." Serlas sounded very worried. She regretted listening, she shouldn't have because all it did was distress her and she felt crippled with guilt and blamed herself even more.
Still, Bishop looked quite a bit better after meeting with her father and they set out on horseback, first heading towards the north entrance of the Imperial City where Serlas would meet with his contact and send Malborn on his way. She took a saddle with Bishop, holding him tightly and keeping the side of her face pressed to his back and every once in a while he'd just tenderly stroke her arm, trying to reassure her that he was okay.
But when they finally left the rugged mountains and reached the warm rolling grasslands of Cyrodiil, Rona felt her heart bursting with joy. She was finally home and Cheydinhal was only another day away.
They made it down to the northern entrance to the Imperial City while it was still daylight out, only around three in the afternoon. Serlas met with his contact there who was able to give Malborn asylum. The bosmer was incredibly grateful, albeit still quite on edge. He thanked Serlas for everything and they wished him well before mounting their steeds and making their way east towards Cheydinhal.
Rona took up saddle on her own horse again and they rode steadily along the path and she soaked up the sights of all the lush, gently swaying grass, the rolling hills, the fields of wildflowers, the enormous trees and the local wildlife. Karnwyr seemed to enjoy the wildlife too because he could not stop sprinting around chasing birds, wild boars and the larger jackrabbits. Even Bishop was getting excited saying, "Damn. It's been way too long since I've been out this way. Over a decade at least. Forgot how nice it was."
"Yes," Serlas said, "I have to admit I hadn't realized how homesick I was until being back. I'm looking forward to returning to the Imperial City. Oh how I do miss the city life! Busy and bustling as it always is."
"Personally I'd rather camp out here under the stars," Bishop said,"The city's fine for a few things, like a good place to drink and a warm bed, but I'll always be an outdoorsman at heart."
Serlas chuckled, "That's probably why you're so well suited to Skyrim's harsh climates and rugged terrains."
Bishop laughed, "Nah, I think that's just 'cause I'm a nord. Lately though, that place has been taking it out of me. Think I've had enough encounters with dragons to last me a lifetime."
"I couldn't agree more," Serlas said and then he pulled on Whiskey's reins, stopping him suddenly, "Well I'll be..."
"What?" Bishop asked, bringing Misty to a halt. Rona stopped Ember and looked over too.
Serlas pointed up to a tall hill in the distance where a loan oak tree stood. He looked over at Rona and smiled, "Do you remember that tree Rona dear? We camped there when you were just a girl. What do you say we pay it a visit?"
She smiled and nodded. They steered their horses up the hill and Bishop asked, "Something special about this tree?"
"Not so much the tree, no, but years and years ago, when Rona was about, twelve years old? She was struggling with her destruction magic quite a bit, so I offered to take her out and practice far, far away from where she might accidentally blow something or someone up!"
Bishop snorted a laugh and looked over at her, "Wow Lightfoot... definitely a good thing you left for the Fighter's Guild."
She looked at him with half-lidded eyes and Serlas agreed saying, "It certainly eased my poor heart at the time. Anyhow, we camped up on this hill and practiced for three days. It's a fond old memory of mine."
It was a fond memory for her too. She hopped off of Ember and wandered over to the big oak tree, getting a good look at the curling and winding roots which bumped out of the ground. She was very happy to see it still standing especially considering she'd nearly burned the thing down years ago.
Her father came up beside her and pointed, "There it is, the old scars you left on the dear old boy."
She frowned and touched them, old burn marks that had healed over after a decade.
Serlas noticed her sad expression and said, "You cannot blame yourself velvynen. You were still learning and it was only an accident. And besides, see how well it's healed? The entire thing has grown quite massive in fact. It's a beautiful tree," he looked up admiring it and chuckled, "If only Miss Bastet were here, I'm sure she'd quite enjoy climbing this one."
Rona smiled and sat down at the base of the oak tree, running her fingers over the roots. She let the peacefulness of the place permeate her mind and body. Blame. She couldn't blame herself for any of it anymore. She had to let it all go, just like she did once long ago when she'd blamed herself for nearly killing a poor, harmless tree.
She'd forgiven herself then and it healed and grew stronger than ever. Bishop came over and sat down beside her. She had to let go of the blame so that she could heal him. She was still learning, she was going to make mistakes, bad things would happen. There wasn't much she could do about that except do what Aela always did and just roll with the punches.
She was home too, far, far away from the dragons for once in a place she loved. She took it all in and allowed herself to feel happy and at peace. She forgave herself. Her mind was brimming with a song wanting to burst forth. She wasn't sure if she could sing it, but she quickly got up and Serlas and Bishop both watched her as she rifled through her saddle bag and found her flute and unclipped her lute from the butt of the horse.
She quickly sat back down, putting the flute aside and held her lute in hand, touching the strings. Bishop smiled and asked, "Going to try playing something?"
She wanted to do more than just play a song, she wanted to sing. She allowed the sounds of music to fill her mind and spread from within. Bishop and Serlas both watched her hopefully.
(The Song is Home Sweet Home by Erutan)
She strummed her lute a few times and then let out the most beautiful sound that both men had been wanting to hear for so long.
"Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble
There's no place like home
A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there
Which seek thro' the world
Is ne'er met with elsewhere
Home, home, sweet, sweet home
There's no place like home
There's no place like home"
She beamed, feeling the joy within and picked up her flute then and started to play that. Serlas held a hand to his face and a wide smile sprawled across his lips, despite the tears pouring from his eyes. Bishop couldn't stop grinning either, tears sitting in his eyes as he just took in the sound of her wonderful music.
He closed his eyes and leaned back against that enormous oak and was reminded once more just why he loved this woman. Not just for her beauty, her gentleness, her compassion, or her incredible power, but because of how strong she was. She'd been through so much and she struggled every day, but always found a way to overcome it all and bounce back.
He truly envied her in that regard. She looked small and fragile but she was probably the strongest person he'd ever known. He gave a deep and relaxed sigh and when she started to sing again, he let it wash over him, trying to memorize it so he'd never forget the sound of her beautiful voice ever again.
"To thee, I'll return, overburdened with care
The heart's dearest solace will smile on me there
No more from that cottage again will I roam
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home
Home, home, sweet, sweet home
There's no place like home
There's no place like home"
Serlas looked down at her and she smiled brightly up at him, tears tracing her cheeks and they immediately embraced in a deep hug and she sobbed, "I'm so sorry Ata! I wanted to apologize for everything for so long!"
"No, velvyn," he cried, "It is I who should apologize. I should not have lost my temper with you, not after all that happened."
"You were right in everything you said though! I'm so sorry!I love you Ata!"
"And I love you too velvynen, I'm just so grateful. So happy. Your voice, your wonderful sweet voice my dear..."
Bishop just smiled, starting to get choked up himself. Emotions had been high for so long and he was tired of crying. He was ready to just rest for once from their journey without anymore worries or stresses related to her Dragonborn destiny.
He felt a pain in his arm though and quickly undid his buckles, taking his cuirass off, held his arm out and said, "Hey, mind healing this?"
Rona looked over at him and with wide eyes and shouted, "Bishop! How could you hide this from me!? You could have died!"
He just grinned at her and said, "Please keep yelling at me Ladyship! Pick a fight, I want to fight so bad, you have no idea! I'll take hearing your angry shrieking over nothing at all!" He laughed loudly despite the fact that the frostbite had traveled all the way up his shoulder and started moving into his chest and touched down the top of his hand. His entire arm was a mottled black color, it looked horrible.
Rona got up and knelt right beside him, grasping his arm and summoned her fire within. The golden flames from her hands burned brightly and ignited the blackened wound like fire to oil and burned the frostbite away entirely. She wobbled afterwards though, because it took everything out of her to do that. Bishop caught her in his arms and kissed her on the forehead. "Thanks Lightfoot."
She smiled up at him and they just held their gazes to one another for a while. Serlas looked away from the two lovebirds, blushing a bit himself, before clearing his throat and saying, "Well, I shall collect some firewood. I'd like to camp here for the night if you both don't mind and then tomorrow we shall arrive in Cheydinhal with three weeks still before the wedding!"
He hurried off humming loudly and happily to himself and gave them their privacy. She couldn't appreciate her father more. Bishop stroked her bangs from her eyes and she grasped his shoulders, weakly pulling herself up to kiss him and he returned it with more passion than he had in a long time.
Everything was going to be okay, she told herself. She was the Dragonborn again, she had her voice. They'd take this long needed break from it all and then they would find that damned Elder Scroll and end her journey finally.
(Background music Newcastle and/or Star Above the Garter by Erutan)
With the dawn of a new day, she simply couldn't stop herself from riding swiftly along the road towards Cheydinhal with Bishop barely keeping up with her and Serlas lagging behind because Whiskey wasn't a young stallion anymore. Karnwyr was doing a fine job of keeping pace, very happily sprinting as fast as he could to keep up with her.
Finally they were there, just outside the walls of the hold. The place she'd called home since she was fourteen years old. Not only did she have her voice back but she was incredibly eager to see her friends again. They left their horses at the nearby stable outside and she went right for the gates. The Cheydinhal guards regarded her and one said, "Oy! Miss Rona, been a long time. How was your mother?"
Rona couldn't suppress her smile or excitement and replied, "Oh, she died! Anyways, good to see you Landon!" The guard looked at her flabbergasted as she pushed through the gates and went right on in. Bishop chuckled at her back and took in the sights.
It was a beautiful city with old fashioned timber framed buildings, all painted white with reddish-pink, steepled roofing. The cobblestone pathways were outlined by healthy lush grass and there was plenty of colorful flora and fauna all throughout. A sparkling, clear creek ran through the middle of city with several ornate arched bridges crossing over it to allow people to pass from one side of the creek to the next with ease. Far off to the north were enormous stone walls surrounding what appeared to be a castle as the red steepled roofing of that building was far more complex and structured closely together with tall towers and turrets.
"Have you ever been to Cheydinhal, Bishop?" Serlas asked him.
"Not that I remember," he said as he looked in awe at the place, "And I think I'd remember a town like this. Wow... it's nice."
"Yes, it is certainly one of the finer holds in Cyrodiil," Serlas agreed.
Rona was already sprinting around the path ahead of them, Karnwyr close at her heels and Bishop ran after her calling, "Hold up Lightfoot! You promised to show me the sights, remember?"
"Later!" She shouted back and ran through a small courtyard where a well and plenty of townsfolk were gathered around, going about their daily routines. She went around a large white building, decorated with the red flags that had the sword and shield crest of the Fighter's Guild on them. She took the steps two at a time and burst through the doors only to be immediately greeted by two husky dogs that toppled her right over and started licking at her face.
She started laughing and cried, "Ah! Someone help! I'm getting licked to death by Boomer and Bear!"
She heard Roxlin squeal loudly and scream, "RONAAA!"
Magrob quickly pulled the two dogs off of her, only for her to get squashed again by Roxlin who sat right on her and grabbed her shoulders and squealed, "You made it! You made it! Oh we're going to have so much fun woman! You have no idea! And you're here early too! Oh my gods this is great!"
Rona quickly hugged her best friend and they rolled back and forth while Bishop started laughing his ass off and tried to keep Karnwyr wrangled as the wolf and the two huskies started to bark and howl madly in response to each other.
"Roxlin, honey, might want to give her a breather," Magrob suggested as he easily held onto both huskies.
"No! No! No! I'm never letting go, she's mine!" She cackled until Charissa came over and kicked the wild breton hard in the side, making her topple off of Rona. Charissa grinned and held a hand out, which Rona gratefully took, allowing the redguard to pull her to her feet and then pulled her into a big hug.
"Missed you girl!" Charissa said, "Glad you're here too, because things have been nuts with this damned blasted wedding planning and all the other nonsense. Trying to keep up with contracts and ugh! It's been a disaster!"
Marco and Linel both came upstairs then to see what all the racket was about.
"Gods! I was trying to get a nap in!" Marco grumbled twisting his pinky in his ear, "Can't you keep those two dogs under control? Thought they were trained," then he saw Rona and said, "Oh. The maid of honor has arrived I see."
"Marco! Linel!" Rona ran over and embraced Linel in a hug.
Linel chuckled and said, "Hey sweetie! How've you been?"
She just buried her face in his chest and mumbled, "I don't wanna..."
He laughed a little and Marco held a hand to his ear and said, "What was that Lightfoot? Can't hear you. You know for a woman who can shout entire dragons across the sky you're very quiet."
"I don't wanna talk about it," she said pouting as she held tightly onto Linel's thin waist.
Linel kindly stroked her hair and said, "Oh dear. Well we certainly don't have to. There's plenty of other things to discuss, like which aunt ruined the centerpiece arrangements or suddenly changed the colors of all the bridesmaids dresses this time."
Rona pulled back and gaped at him and then slowly turned back at Roxlin and stared at her aghast. Roxlin just threw her hands up exasperated. "Rona you have no idea!" She whined.
"Wait until you hear what her sisters did to get revenge," Magrob chuckled, still trying to heel the barking dogs. Finally he roared at them in orsimer, "Beshk!"
Both dogs sat immediately and stopped barking. Karnwyr on the other hand kept up the barking and whining and Bishop clutched hard on the nape of the wolf's neck, as Karnwyr dragged him forward a few paces in the dirt outside. Bishop dug his heels into the ground and grunted, "Maybe I should have left him outside the city!"
Magrob looked him up and down with his one good eye and said, "Is that a wolf?
"Sure is!" Bishop said, gritting his teeth and hanging on.
"Interesting," Magrob stroked at the small amount of well groomed hair on his chin, "I can loan you a harness for him."
Bishop scoffed and said, "He's never worn one! Don't know how he'll handle that!"
Rona went over and put her hands to her hips and looked right at Karnwyr and said, "Sit!"
Karnwyr sat right down, taking Bishop with him. "Oof! What the-? How did you do that?"
She smirked at him and said, "Just been spending a lot of time with him is all."
Bishop looked at her with half-lidded eyes and Serlas came around then, holding a pair of wine bottles in hand, "Good afternoon all! Many congratulations to the bride and groom!"
"Attie!" Roxlin squealed hopping up and down. She ran right over and hugged the old elf and he smiled kindly at her, returning the hug before parting and handing her one of the bottles.
"Thought I'd pick some wine up at the local tavern and we could celebrate a little!"
"Are you kidding?" Charissa said, "We're going to rent the entire tavern out just for you guys!"
"Sounds great to me," Bishop said as he walked around Karnwyr and put an arm over Rona's shoulder.
Marco looked at the both of them and whistled, "Good thing Casavir's not around."
Bishop smirked and cocked a brow at the Imperial.
Linel elbowed Marco and said, "Oh stop it."
Marco said, "I'm just saying, it's a good thing he's not here, because it looks like I lost that wager. Damn..."
Rona scowled at him, "What wager?"
Charissa snorted, "Marco bet that you and the ranger here wouldn't last another month together. Casavir disagreed to say the least."
"Really now?" Bishop asked looking amused, "Oh and by the way, I have a name you know."
"Yeah, Bishop?" Charissa spat mockingly and then challenged him, "Go ahead and tell me my name."
He pursed his lips realizing what he just walked into.
Charissa waved a hand out, smirking, "How about the rest of us? Hm?"
"Err..." Bishop mumbled.
Rona started prodding him hard in the ribs and scoffed, "Are you serious!? You can't remember any of my friend's names!?"
He chuckled and pushed her poking hand away and said, "Okay! Alright! So I'm bad with names. S'why I have so many for you, Ladyship."
"Charissa," she introduced herself and held her hand out to him and he took it. She said, "Sorry I gave you such a hard time, last we met."
"No hard feelings," Bishop said genuinely.
The others all reintroduced themselves and this time he made the effort to remember their names, pointing at them all and naming them off, "Okay got it. Roxlin, the lovely bride to be, Magrob, I still remember you, my friend from the hospital wing, Charissa the woman who I think wanted to gut me last time we met," she laughed, "Marco, right? Imperial flute man?" Marco just raised his brows, "and Linel one of the twin bosmers," then Bishop narrowed his eyes at the elf and said,"oh, by the way, Linel, I catch you holding my woman like that again and we'll be having words."
Everyone burst into laughter, to Bishop's utter confusion and Linel put a hand to his cheek and said coyly, "Hm, well if it makes you feel any better Bishop, I find you far more eye-catching than Rona here."
Bishop's face burned, "What!? Seriously?"
"Yes seriously," Rona said smirking up at him, "Gods you're forgetful."
"My mistake," he mumbled stupidly and laughed at himself.
Then Rona shouted, "Let's go out! I want to catch up with you all!"
"It's only a quarter past one," Charissa laughed.
"I don't care!" Rona shouted again, "Let's get lunch!"
Roxlin said, "Ooh yeah! Let's!" She ran right over pulling Rona out of Bishop's grasp and dragged her along back down the steps. Serlas and the others started to follow along.
Bishop whistled for Karnwyr and Magrob paced alongside him chuckling, "Going to be a long three weeks with both of them together, coupla firebrands."
Charissa sighed, "Seriously, the tiny troublemakers back together? And working on wedding plans? This is going to be interesting."
Bishop laughed, "Really? They're that bad together huh?"
"I wouldn't say bad, per se," Charissa said, "Just rambunctious."
"Wait until Lorrie gets here," Linel added smiling.
The group all groaned inwardly and laughed amongst themselves, and Magrob said, "Hopefully they'll take out all that energy on Roxlin's aunts instead of the rest of us."
"I would pay to see that," Charissa smirked, "Get ready for lots of singing too!"
"Non-stop singing," Marco chuckled.
"I'm just glad she can sing again," Bishop said and then pressed his lips together realizing his slip.
They all looked at him and Charissa said, "What do you mean again?"
"Er..." Bishop looked at them all and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. Rona and Roxlin went right into the local inn way ahead of them, with Serlas following close behind and the others all stared at him expectantly. He said, "Look, please don't ask her about it. She's been through a lot since she last saw you all and she just wants this time to enjoy herself for a change."
Charissa looked worried and asked, "Has her journey been that bad?"
"Yeah," Bishop said morosely, "I can tell you right now, she's not going to want to talk about it."
"We'll do whatever we can to take her mind off it," Linel said sympathetically.
Magrob grunted, "Got plenty of wedding planning she can partake in to keep her busy."
The rest of them joined the girls and Serlas at the Cheydinhal Bridge Inn. It was a quaint little inn and tavern with a few other patrons already seated inside. Bishop was surprised to see a pair of khajiit sitting at a table when he was so used to them being banned from the cities in Skyrim.
They all pulled up chairs at a very large table in the center of the tavern and a kind Imperial waitress came by taking all of their lunch and drink orders.
Rona immediately yelled excitedly, "Tell me everything Roxie!"
"Ooh Rona! It's been awful. My aunts Miriam, Marigold and Mina have all been trying to take over my wedding! My poor mother's been doing her best to honor my wishes, but even she can hardly keep up with those wicked witches," she pound a fist on the table, "They've sabotaged almost everything, changing all the colors, cancelling our caterers and the entertainment only to hire new ones in their place! UGH!" She threw her hands up in frustration and crossed her arms scowling furiously.
Magrob chuckled and pat her on the shoulder, "Turns out being married multiple times themselves isn't enough and they want to relive the fantasy through our wedding. Been considering sicking the family dogs on them all more than once already."
Rona chuckled, "Now that would be a sight to see."
"You mean those two little husky dogs back there?" Bishop asked skeptically.
"No I mean all our dogs. My father breeds war dogs. It's the family business. Got an entire estate with hundreds of 'em," Magrob grinned at Bishop's astonished look.
"You're kidding..."
"Nope," Magrob said, "In fact you'll all get to see soon enough because we'll be having the rehearsal dinner at my family's home in a few weeks."
Bishop frowned and glanced over at Rona, "Ugh... more formal clothes?"
She grinned at him and nodded, "Yup! You're going to look so dashing in your handsome doublet." She started fussing with his cuirass teasingly.
Bishop swatted her hands away and groaned annoyed but Rona just ignored him and asked, "So what have your sisters been doing to get revenge?"
Roxlin got a mischievous look on her face, "Well my big sissy Richelle has been the mastermind behind it all. She's been upping the ante every time my aunts change something. It started out with small things, like accidentally throwing the dirty dish water out the window right when they were leaving for a party, all dressed in their finest. Then they moved on to replacing all their hair tonics with pure honey. They put moths in their closets, poisoned their evening tea with sleeping draughts and laxatives and they put powdered irritant in their makeup," she snickered and Rona started laughing.
Bishop said, "Wow. This is going to be one hell of a wedding isn't it? So just how big of a ceremony are we talking here?"
Roxlin sighed, "Well, Mama insisted on inviting the whole family, so it's all my aunts, uncles, cousins, and all my sisters and my little brother."
"How many siblings do you have?" Bishop asked curiously.
"I have seven sisters!" Roxlin shouted jubilantly, "I'm the youngest of them all and then after me is my little brother Rahdex."
"Shit," Bishop gaped at her, crossing his arms, "And I thought I had a big family."
Roxlin asked, "How many siblings for you?"
"I'm one of nine. But gods, eight older sisters? Damn, do I feel for your little brother."
"Aw we spoil our baby brother to bits!" She said grinning.
Then Bishop looked over at Magrob and asked him, "What about you, Magrob? Got a big family too?"
"Nope, just me and my older brother Gromak. He's taking on the family business thankfully which allows me to pursue my own interests."
"Speaking of!" Roxlin declared, "We're going back with you to Skyrim after the wedding!"
"What?" Rona looked stunned. "Why?"
"Joining up with the Dawnguard," Magrob said, "One of my father's oldest clients, a man named Isran, is reforming the Dawnguard out that way. Seems the vampire menace has been growing as of late and I intend to join and fight with them."
Bishop snorted loudly, "Uh, I don't know where you're getting your information from, but I definitely haven't noticed any vampire menace out that way."
Rona said, "Well, we did take out that huge vampire den by the farm a while back."
"Yeah," Bishop said, "And how many vampires have you seen since then?"
She thought for a moment and shrugged, "None I guess."
Magrob chuckled, "Even so, it's always been a dream of mine to join the ranks of the Dawnguard, even if it's not the original guild. I'll be able to put my skills to good use out there, making crossbows and bolts and of course personally breeding and training our war dogs for them."
Charissa sighed, "Which means we're down two more people and it'll just be me, Linel and the horn-dog over here," she thumbed to Marco who was thoroughly proving her point as his eyes followed the ass of the waitress while she served them their drinks.
He mindlessly said, "I resent that you know," and then he flashed a white smile and gave a flirty wink to the unimpressed waitress.
"What about you Roxie?" Rona asked, "You looking forward to fighting vampires?"
"I'm just happy to be fighting alongside my honey bun no matter what or where it is!" She made kissy faces at Magrob who quickly returned them and they smooched, leaving most of the group chuckling and Charissa making a gagging face before she barked, "Ugh, get a room you two!"
The group spent half the day chatting and catching up. Roxlin eventually asked Rona how her journey as Dragonborn was going but Rona quickly waved her off and promised to tell her all about it another time. Then she insisted they both go and sing tavern songs which everyone enjoyed, but Serlas and Bishop enjoyed it most out of all of them. They were ecstatic that she had her voice back and appreciated it all the more having gone with miserable silence for too long.
Sometime around seven in the evening after a day of catching up and enjoying the company of Cheydinhal's Finest, Serlas stood and said, "Well then, I'd best head out before it gets too late."
"Where are you going Ata?" Rona asked.
"I'm due back in the Imperial City in a day or so," he explained, "I have an audience with Emperor Titus and we have much to discuss regarding your journey and I would like to move along quickly. When you all do arrive in the city though, you can find me in my old housing quarters in the Arcane University and I will be sure to wear my finest robes for the big day!"
"No white!" Roxlin teased.
"Absolutely not," Serlas chuckled, "Wouldn't want to steal the lovely bride's spotlight now would I?"
The group shared in a laugh and Rona hugged her father and bid him a safe journey back, promising to go see him as soon as they arrived in the city. He left and the others all got up to leave too.
"Gonna come stay with us in the Guild barracks?" Charrisa asked them.
"No," Rona said, "I'm going to pay a visit to Mrs. Gilseene and see if she's been getting my rent letters."
"Oh she has," Charissa laughed, "She keeps stopping by to see if you're around and insists that she's keeping your room dusted while you're away. I think the old leather bag's been missing you or something."
Roxlin scrunched her nose, "She keeps baking the worst cookies and leaving them with us like we're going to eat them too!"
"I saw Marco eating them once," Linel laughed.
Marco stuck his tongue out, "I thought they were chocolate chip! But no... fish eggs." He held a hand to his mouth as he gagged a little.
Rona laughed and said, "Oh nooo! Not her famous River Betty Biscuits!"
Bishop just raised a brow and Rona pushed him on through the door and said, "Just wait, you'll see!"
The group split up and Rona promised them all they'd stop by in the morning and help Charissa with her contracts, to her great relief.
As they walked along the cobblestone path, with Karnwyr following close by and occasionally wandering off to get a whiff of a nearby bush, Bishop threw his hands up behind his head and said, "Thought we were going to take a break? Now you're promising to go do mercenary work for the guild?"
"Oh, it'll be fun," she said, "And easy with my shouts." She smiled to herself, realizing just how pleased she was to be the Dragonborn again.
Bishop sighed, "Whatever makes you happy Ladyship."
(Background music Loibre Risen by Erutan)
After a brisk walk through the city, with Rona pointing out a few of the shops and telling him what everything was and naming off a few of the well known town local's homes, they crossed over one of the bridges spanning the creek and arrived at a charming old household. It was three stories tall and nearly identical to all the surrounding buildings. It had its own well in the back of the building, however Mrs. Gilseene said that it had run dry years ago and was useless.
Rona knocked loudly on the door and after a few minutes Bishop said, "You live here right? Don't you have a key?"
"I do," Rona said, "But Mrs. Gilseene is eighty-seven years old and the last thing I want to do is frighten her to death by bringing you and Karnwyr in unannounced."
"Damn," Bishop gaped at her, "Eighty-seven?"
Rona knocked loudly one more time and heard a faint call, "Just a minute."
After another full minute went by, the door finally opened and the most wrinkled, old argonian woman peered out. She had pale white scales, with a few peach-colored ones accenting her snout and eyes. The two short horns on the back of her head were a bit flakey looking, as though they were shedding. Her eyes were a dull orange in color, save for her pupils which had clouded over quite a bit. She wore a pair of custom fitted, square spectacles on her snout and had on some very comfortable looking, purple robes, along with a beige knitted shawl on her shoulders.
Rona smiled at the woman and said loudly, "Hi Mrs. Gilseene, do you remember me?"
She squinted and leaned forward, adjusting her glasses a bit, before she said, "Oh! If it isn't Miss Rona. How are you dear?" Then her gaze slowly turned to Bishop and she said, "Oh my and you bring such handsome company with you."
Bishop flashed a charming grin at the old woman and she waved them both in, turning around to hobble, slowly along with her knotted wood cane in hand. "Come in, come in," she insisted.
They followed her, with Karnwyr at their heels. Bishop looked around at the place which really did look like it was occupied by a grandmotherly argonian woman. She had poufy pink furniture and white doilies on nearly every shelf and table. There were ceramic fishes all over the place as well and fine paintings of lakes, rivers and marshes on every wall.
She wandered into the sitting room and slowly took a spot on one of the couches and said, "Sit, sit."
They both took seats on the surprisingly hard furniture and Rona asked the old woman loudly, "How have you been?"
"I'm well enough dear. My knee has been bothering me a tad and I think my tail has a crick in it. My son stopped by the other day to take me to the alchemist for my hip which has been making the worst popping noise lately. Well they made me a potion that fixed it up right, but it seems I'll need to go back for regular checkups... other than that things have been well."
"Good," Rona smiled kindly, but really wished the woman would speak a little faster and ramble a little less. Still she continued to maintain an air of politeness all the same, "Have you been getting my rent payments?"
"Oh yes," Mrs. Gilseene said, "I was finally able to fix that leaky spot in the roof you'd been complaining about," she spoke so slowly, sooo slowly.
Rona pressed her, "I'm glad to hear it. Mrs. Gilseene, I'm going to be staying here for a few weeks with my companion Bishop and our wolf Karnwyr, if that's alright with you."
Mrs. Gilseene looked between the both of them and smiled, "He is a very handsome man, for a human. You two make a charming couple. Is he your fiancé?"
Rona blushed furiously and Bishop just laughed.
When neither made a reply to that question the old argonian woman seemed to forget she even asked and said, "Stay as long as you like. I'll even make your favorite..."
Rona knit her brows together and smiled taking a guess, "Your river betty biscuits?"
"Mm hm," Mrs. Gilseene nodded shakily, "Oh and herring pie too. I have plenty of leftovers if you're hungry."
Bishop was trying so hard to stifle his laughter as Rona said with a fake voice, "Mmm. Sounds good. But we just ate, so we're going to get off to bed now. It's really good to see you again Mrs. Gilseene."
She quickly stood up, yanking Bishop along with her before the old argonian woman had a chance to drone on more and still heard her going on as she hurried up the stairs. "I made sure to dust your room dear. Kept it nice and tidy for you."
Bishop was practically crying with laughter once they reached the top of the stairs on the third floor. He thumbed back through his choked breaths, "You rent an attic from her? Holy shit Lightfoot, that woman's about to kick the bucket any day now and herring pie? River betty biscuits? Gods woman, don't tell me she's serious."
"Oh she's dead serious," Rona said chuckling a little as she opened the door to her incredibly dusty attic space.
Bishop waved a hand to his face and coughed a little as they kicked up dust off the floor just walking over it. "Thought she said she dusted up here."
"She's senile Bishop. She probably imagined she did, but the woman can't even make it up to the second floor anymore." She went around the room and started lighting the candles on the end tables and on top of her dresser revealing a quaint living space.
She had a small, two person bed pressed to a wall, facing one of the attic windows, a light wood dresser and wardrobe sat between the alcove windows and she had a matching floor length mirror in the corner. There was a large trunk placed at the foot of the bed and a few dead plants stuck in large pots in the corners of the room.
There was an old fireplace with some very dry firewood nearby and a small assortment of cookware. There were plenty of miscellaneous items and other junk piled on the far side of the room, all things she'd collected on her adventures with the Fighter's Guild. Plenty of old weaponry such as swords, shields and bows, several pieces of unused furniture, a light wood table and a pair of matching wood chairs and a large wash basin. She had a bookshelf full of dusty tomes, some spell books and others just entertaining reads.
Bishop looked around and said, "Cozy."
She went into the first alcove and opened the window to let some fresh air in. Bishop did the same with the other and peered outside, looking up at the night sky, "Nice place you got here."
She smiled and went back in and grabbed a broom and instructed him to take the bedding and beat the dust out of it. They spent a good hour just dusting and cleaning up the space, with Rona using her magic to do most of the work. She cast a block of ice into the wash basin and melted it with her fire before thoroughly washing the bedding in it and then dried it afterwards.
When they finished cleaning up they both laid down on the bed and Bishop asked, "How often did you actually stay here?"
"Not very often," she admitted, "Like I said, it was really just a place to store my things."
He eyed the wall of junk in the corner and said, "Yeah, I can see that. You really do have way too much stuff Ladyship."
She smirked to herself and closed her eyes for a minute, just taking in the fact that she was finally home, her voice returned and with the man she cared most for. She felt his hand grasping hers then and she looked over at him.
He said, "Been a while since we've been alone like this."
She blushed a little realizing he was right. It had been over two weeks since they were intimate. But it had also been over two weeks since she was assaulted by that horrible man. She thought of the scar on her hip and the feelings of disgust and shame overwhelmed her again. Bishop saw it all over her face and said, "You know I don't care about things like scars right?"
She looked over at him, brows knit tightly together and nodded.
"I'll understand if you need more time before we're intimate again..."
She sat up and leaned over him and said, "No. I don't want to wait anymore, but I won't lie... it... it's so ugly Bishop."
He cupped her face with a hand, tracing the scars on her cheek with his thumb and smiled lovingly at her. "You could never be ugly Rona."