A/N: The songs in this one are a little more modern and breaking the immersion a bit, especially with some of the lyrics. Hope that doesn't ruin it. I really liked this selection of songs I finally settled on, mostly for the energy, the voices and the violin!

Chapter 84

The Boys Are Back

Bishop was waiting around outside the gates to the Waterfront, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. He'd gone back to Havnor and told him he'd lost the thieves and withheld the fact that the people who'd stolen from them both had been his own brother and sister. He swore up and down that he'd get everything back as soon as he could.

Havnor appreciated it, but told him not to worry, that they hadn't taken too many valuables of his, that most of what was on display were the cheaper pieces. Though he did encourage Bishop to once again take part in the upcoming challenges in the Arena, to try and win the money back so he could replace his own losses and more.

The jeweler still seemed extremely interested in working on the engagement ring, despite Bishop not having any way to pay him. Havnor promised he'd work on it, even order the necessary dragon's fire gems and told Bishop that he could pay him as soon as he'd won the championship.

Bishop took his leave then, trying to figure out just what he was going to do. Would he confront his own sister and brother and take back what rightfully belonged to him? They'd looked so thin, sick and disheveled. He found himself feeling concerned for them, despite having written them off years ago. Kari looked the worst of it though, with plenty of bruises and scars around her neck... like hand marks, like someone had been strangling her.

Kari was a year younger than him, so she was twenty-six, while Duful was seventeen at that point. He wondered if the others were with them, including his mother... he shuddered at the thought of seeing that bitch again. All his siblings would be ten years older and he was sure that they still hated him, considering he'd killed their main source of livelihood over a decade ago and now...

He sighed deeply and leaned his head back against the wall and looked up at the crescent moon surrounded by all that was left of the thin rain clouds from earlier that day. This was just too much. First he meets his brother's daughter, gets reamed by Elise for even talking to the girl and now he'd encountered two of his siblings. He really needed a drink.

"Bishop!"

He heard the voice of his lovely woman and looked forward. The entire group of Cheydinhal's finest was approaching. He got a good look at them all, raised a brow and snorted a laugh, "What the hell? Why are you all dressed like that?"

"It's pirate night!" Roxlin shouted cheerfully throwing an arm up covered in gold bangles and bracelets.

"I can see that," Bishop said with another laugh. All of them were wearing pirate's garb, very costumey though, not authentic in the slightest, it was all too clean for that. The men were all dressed up in red striped breeches and blooming white shirts and Magrob had an eye patch over his burned eye and a captain's hat on his head.

The women were all wearing tight fitted leather trousers that hugged nicely over their curves. They also had on blooming tops, with puffy sleeves that wrapped right around their shoulders and across their chests. They were a bit low cut and revealed some cleavage. Their tops were all different colors too, Roxlin in light blue, Lorrie in green, Charissa in yellow. Everyone wore strapping leather boots, the women's being more heeled than the men's.

Bishop started laughing at them all, it really was too much, but then Roxlin went right over and smashed a pirate's hat on his head and he grumbled.

"Got something for you too Cap'n Bishop!" She barked cheerily.

Rona giggled at his disgruntled face and he got a good look at her as the others headed through the gates to the Waterfront.

The blooming red shirt looked great on her and she'd tied her hair up in a messy ponytail and wrapped a black bandana around her head, allowing her bangs to fall over it. She was also wearing a few pieces of costume jewelry, some long gold and silver chain necklaces, which draped nicely between her cleavage and over her ruffled top. She had on a pair of looped gold earrings too and it occurred to him he really liked her in earrings. He also just realized then that he'd never seen her wearing trousers or pants of any kind before and they looked amazing on her, accentuating all her curves and rode nicely at her hips. He let his eyes roam all up and down and moaned, "Mm, nice legs."

She blushed and laughed a little, "Ready for some fun tonight?"

"Yes," he said firmly, "I would like that very much." He held his arm out and she looped hers with his. Drinking and partying sounded great to him after the day he had.

They went around an enormous lighthouse and walked along a long bridge, spanning over the lake which led out to the piers. There was an enormous wall encircling the harbor and just beyond lay the dwellings of the poorest in the city. He glanced at the gates leading out that way, that was definitely where he would find them all, whatever was left of his family. But he passed by it and continued walking along with Rona to their intended destination; a large houseboat set on the water, the Bloated Float Inn.

(The Song is The Boys Are Back by Dropkick Murphy's)

And from the sounds of it, it was already roaring with mirth as the sound of singing and music came echoing out the front doors.

The minute they entered they were greeted by a very busy and bustling tavern. The place was packed full of people, all dressed in pirate garb. There were twenty or more round tables in the surprisingly spacious interior, all of them full of patrons. The bar was set to the right, every seat taken and at the head of the ship was a large stage where a group of men were singing and playing music loudly and drunkenly while the crowd clapped and sang along with them.

It really was pirate night. However, Bishop realized then that some of those pirates, were actual fucking pirates especially when he saw the jaunty redguard man with sparkling gold teeth standing at the front of the stage singing loudly with his shanty men. Bishop smirked and said, "I can't fucking believe it."

"What!?" Rona shouted loudly over the music.

"It's Jack!" Bishop barked back.

She looked up at the pirate captain and then she turned, beaming at Bishop and shouted, "That pirate you met in Solitude!?"

"Yeah!"

She started laughing and seemed to be really excited as she looked on in amazement at the pirates on stage. He wasn't sure if it was the prospect of meeting a real pirate or if it was just the energy of the crowd and maybe the singing, but he was glad for it all the same. They needed this.

The others managed to find an open table, or rather, Magrob and Marco yanked a pair of drunks who'd passed out on a table and tossed them off to the sides of the crowd, out of the way of all the foot traffic.

They took seats and ordered a round of drinks from one of the busty waitresses making their way around the crowds.

"Gods!" Marco shouted, "Whatever possessed you two to want to come here of all places!?"

"I love it!" Roxlin shouted, "This is so great! I want to dance!"

"You should sing something Roxie!" Rona shouted.

"I wonder if they'll let me!"

"Come on!" Rona grabbed her and the two of them were already off, squeezing through the crowd and on up towards the pirates at the front of the stage.

"And there they go!" Charissa laughed.

Lorrie covered her ears, "This kind of music is too much for me! Not my style at all!"

"I quite like it," Linel said as his eyes followed the ass of a very handsome dunmer dressed in some tight pirate clothing so that his muscular form showed through.

Charissa slapped him on the arm and barked, "Yeah it's the music you like, sure!"

Linel started blushing and laughing loudly.

Bishop leaned into Magrob and said, "Think they'll let them sing?"

"I hope so," Magrob said, "Love it when my girl sings."

Their drinks were served then and everyone started tipping them back quickly. Bishop just grinned and shook his head at the crazy pirates up on stage. Jack was dancing like a madman and playing a guitar very quickly as he leaned in with his men singing as loud as they could. He looked incredibly drunk, no doubt off his own rum. Bishop couldn't get the taste of that shit out of his mind, it was so bad.

He noticed the tops of Rona's and Roxlin's heads at the front of the stage. They had their arms up and were hopping up and down, dancing and probably singing right along with them all.

"The boys are back!
The boys are back!
The boys are back!
And they're looking for trouble!"

The boys were definitely back and they were all serious trouble, Bishop laughed at the thought.

As the pirates finished their song Jack noticed to the two women waving their arms up at him, calling him over. He got a very salacious grin on his face and leaned over where Rona and Roxlin stood at the foot of the stage. Whatever they said to him, Bishop couldn't hear from their table but Jack raised his brows at them and cried, "Ay boys! We have ourselves some lovely lasses who'd like to sing their hearts out to us!" He snatched a violin from one of the men and passed it to Rona. Both women went up onto the stage and the tavern grew eerily quiet then at the sight of the two beautiful women standing up there.

Roxlin grinned and Rona held the violin preparing to play. Then the blonde breton started to vocalize, her voice echoing elegantly through the room capturing and mesmerizing their audience and then Rona started to play the violin and Bishop was utterly amazed with her talent on strings as always.

(The song is Over The Hills And Far Away and then The Longing by Patty Gurdy)

"They came for him one winter's night
Arrested, he was bound
They said there'd been a robbery
His pistol had been found

They marched him to the station house
He waited til the dawn
And as they led him to the dock
He knew that he'd been wronged
"You stand accused of robbery,"
He heard the bailiff say
He knew without an alibi
Tomorrow's light would mourn his freedom

Over the hills and far away
For ten long years he'll count the days
Over the mountains, and the seas
A prisoner's life for him there'll be"

Roxlin had an incredible voice too, Bishop was very impressed. It was no wonder she and Rona got along like they did, the two of them were very alike, not only in vocal talent but in height and fighting spirit. Then both women started to dance a little, kicking their legs out in unison and shaking their hips while the other pirates backed them up on their own instruments, just enjoying the view from their positions probably.

Bishop leaned over to Magrob and said, "You're a damn lucky man Magrob."

He grinned and said, "Could say the same about you."

He sighed, "Was lucky... but now..." He took a deep gulp of his bottle of mead, frowning a little.

Magrob glanced over at him, "Everything alright? The hat's not on too tight is it?" He grabbed it and tossed it onto the face of one of the drunks sleeping on the floor.

Bishop laughed, running a hand through his hair and said, "Nah... not that. Hey, can I tell you something?"

"Sure, ranger, what's on your mind?"

He decided to confide in the orc. He didn't really have any friends he could talk to about this, but he liked Magrob and thought of him as a friend.

"Let's go get some bar food." He wanted to get away from the others and their prying ears. They were nice enough but he had no interest in sharing this with them. The two of them got up and went over to the bar, snatching a pair of seats when two patrons vacated them to get a closer view of the two lovely women on stage.

They leaned on the counter, their drinks in hand and ordered some food. Magrob looked him over with his one good eye and asked, "So, what's eating you Bishop?"

"I went to a jeweler today," he said, "Brought all my gold and a few gemstones I'd collected on my travels."

Magrob smirked and took a sip from his flagon, "What're you having made?"

"An engagement ring," he said looking up at the orc.

"Hmm..." Magrob smiled broader and chuckled. He pat Bishop on the shoulder with his oversized hand and said, "Good man. Rona's lucky to have you. I didn't get much of a chance to see the way you fought back in Solitude but Casavir told us about it, said what you did for him and especially for her. Not to mention, I owe you my life. You're a good man, I'm glad for it."

Bishop smirked. It felt good knowing this man, one of her closest friend's approved of him, that he was welcomed in their tight knit family, despite everything that happened before.

"Problem is," Bishop said, his face falling, "Everything I had was stolen today."

Magrob looked at him seriously, "Shit..."

"I'm not asking for money," Bishop said quickly, "So don't get me wrong. I plan to get everything back because I know exactly who took it all. I think I need help though."

"Who took it?"

"My brother and sister."

Magrob raised a brow, "You serious?"

"I haven't seen them in ten years," Bishop said, "Until today. Almost couldn't believe my eyes."

"I've got your back, whatever you need," Magrob said then he smirked, "Could even bring the family dogs if you'd like."

Bishop laughed, "No, that won't be necessary. Just backup would be fine. Think I might pay them a visit tomorrow."

"Sure. Where do they live?"

"I'm guessing right over here on the Waterfront," Bishop said.

Magrob nodded knowingly.

Then Bishop said, "There's one other thing. I'm thinking of fighting in the Arena, for that big event coming up."

Magrob raised his brows, "You sure? Gets pretty dangerous in the pit. You know the final matches are fights to the death right?"

"Yeah I know, still… there's a final piece I need for Rona's ring and it's fucking expensive."

"If you need the coin friend, I don't mind loaning it to you."

Bishop shook his head, "No. This is from me to her. I won't take anyone else's money for it."

"I hear yah," Magrob said then he chuckled, nudging him with an elbow, "Lemme guess, visited the Red Diamond over in the Market District?"

Bishop laughed, "How'd you guess?"

"Havnor is the best at what he does. Bet he made you tell him the whole story too, how you met, everything. The man's all about that mushy stuff... But I'll tell you one thing, Bishop, his designs are top quality. Roxlin loves hers," Magrob pat him on the shoulder again, "Just say the word and you've got me at your back."

"Thanks," Bishop said, "And hey, call me Bish," he grinned, "All my friends have always called me that."

Magrob matched his grin and they grabbed their plates of food and returned to the table only to find Lorrie and Marco already gone.

"Where'd those two go?" Magrob asked the others.

With half-lidded eyes, Charissa pointed Marco out in the crowd. He was already making a move on a busty tavern wench, who surprisingly, seemed interested in him, of course Bishop knew it was because she was for hire.

Then Linel, who had a sour look on his face, pointed towards the other side of the room where Lorrie was heavily lip locked with the muscular dunmer he'd been eyeing earlier. He crossed his arms and sighed, "All the cute ones are always straight!"

The group burst into laughter and started hitting the drinks hard, downing shots of whiskey and chasing it with mead and rum and just enjoyed the rest of Roxlin's beautiful song. Magrob's one good eye was full of love for the woman. Bishop knew the feeling well.

"I'm all set to veer away
and I'm all set to go astray
All burdens I will leave ashore
to find what I've been longing for."

When Roxlin's song finished Jack looked between her and Rona and grabbed at his chest shouting, "Ay me heart! You lovely lasses have gone and pierced it with your arrows! What's your name lass?"

"Roxie!" She shouted hopping up and down. Plenty in the crowd whistled for her and clapped, a couple even cried, "Sing another!"

Jack had an impish grin on his face and he turned and asked, "And you beautiful? Whatever do they call you lass?"

"Rona," she said blushing fiercely as plenty more whistled and howled for her. She put a hand to her face, smirking and being as shy as ever.

"You play a fine violin m'lady! Would you care to entertain us with your skill some more? I think these fine folk want to dance!"

"Absolutely!" She shouted getting a little more confident.

"Let's hear it for the lovely Rona!" Jack shouted and clapped as he went over to grab a guitar, ready to join her with whatever song she chose to play. The crowd cheered and she started to play a wild tune on the violin.

(The Music is Roundtable Rival by Lindsey Sterling)

Bishop could not believe what he was hearing or seeing. She played the violin so quickly and with a ferocity he'd never seen in her, even when playing her lute. She really got into it too, dancing madly, shaking her hips and performing some moves that he could only assume came from her time learning ballet in her youth. The noise of the music was even making sounds which were otherworldly, no doubt because of her power.

Roxlin came winding through the crowd and grabbed Magrob and shouted, "Let's dance!"

"I'd never say no to that gorgeous!" He roared back over the powerful song and the two of them disappeared into the very energetic crowd to join the rest of the people who'd started dancing.

Charissa and Linel were both just as enthralled with Rona's playing as Bishop was. Then Linel leaned over and said, "I honestly don't know why she didn't get into performing, she's amazing!"

"Tell me about it," Bishop said taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling, trying to calm his thudding heart and the rush of blood at the sight of her, "She's a damn good fighter though. A woman of many talents."

"Damn right she is," Charissa said still staring off at Rona. Bishop raised a brow at the woman's back and poured himself a glass of whiskey. He had a feeling Charissa wasn't the total prude she pretended to be...

He, Linel and Charissa took some shots of hard whiskey and he started to get a nice buzz going. He felt damn good, but even better watching his woman. He wanted to dance with her though, so he got up and slowly wove his way through the crowd and up to the stage where Rona and Jack were in a fierce battle of song and dance. He on a guitar and she on her violin. She was leaning forward, shaking her shoulders, with a beautiful grin on her face while Jack returned the exchange from his side of the stage, grinning just as madly.

Then she started dancing on toe, spinning in a circle and sawing that violin so fast he thought it would snap in half. When she caught sight of him her smile only grew wider and he returned it in full and cheered her on with sharp whistles. Then she gave him a show, one that he knew was meant only for him as she turned the heat up, keeping her eyes locked to his, and swayed her hips in a very sensual way.

She was clearly having fun enticing him. H liked it too and didn't even care how all the other men in the room were looking at her. She spun around again, shaking that sweet derriere for him and he could not appreciate it more that she was wearing such a tight pair of leather trousers right then. She spun once more and started leaping about the stage on tip toe, spinning and dancing with the sound of her music.

And when she finished she drew her legs together, raised her arms still holding the violin and took a bow for the cheering crowd. Jack set his guitar aside and shouted, "Give it up for the lovely Rona! Siren of Strings!" The crowd roared for her and she laughed, blushing again and he said, "Tell me lass, you're an elf? Bosmer perhaps?"

"Nord and altmer!" She shouted.

"AY!" Jack roared with a chuckle, "Would love to meet the curious folks who made such a fine woman. Now tell me lass, do yah have any requests?"

"I don't know any shanty songs, but if you know anything Celtic I'd love to hear it!"

"Well!" He wagged a finger at her, "Pretty lady, I know just the song."

(The Song is Irish Way by The O'Reilley's and Paddyhats)

She passed the violin off to him and started clapping and tapping her foot as he began to play a quick tune and sang;

"I was roving out one evening

And I came down too for long

I walked into a dimmned pub

And suddenly I saw

Her cheeks they were so rosy

And golden was her hair

She had to be an Irish girl

'Cause she looked so god damn fair

She took me by her lovely hand

And whispered in my ear

I'll guide you up to heaven

If you order me a beer

Seconds later I found myself

Beside this pretty lass

One, two thought in my head and an ale in my glass"

She laughed as Jack gave her a flirtatious wink and then she turned and looked down at Bishop. He threw his arms open and she leapt right off the stage into them. She shouted, "Let's dance!"

"All night!" He replied planting a fiery kiss on her lips before he set her down.

He grasped her waist and guided her into the crowd where they let loose and eventually bumped into Magrob and Roxlin. Rona and her immediately started to dance with each other, getting quite close at one point and he noticed that just like himself, Magrob had stopped a moment to admire that scene.

The girls both noticed and put a little show on for them both, grabbing each other's hips and dancing very close, chests pressed together even. Then they started laughing hard at the sight of their men staring so hard at them and they split apart and grabbed their partners making them join in.

Rona rode right up on Bishop pressing her chest, hips, and everything she had to him briefly before pulling away to spin and show off her beauty. Her smile though, he couldn't get enough of it. The last time he'd seen the grin on her face that wide, was when they got drunk in the Bannered Mare out in Whiterun months ago.

He pulled her along back to the table for a moment to do more shots of whiskey together. They found Charissa all alone as Linel had apparently wandered off with another young man somewhere. She was looking pretty sloshed and Bishop decided to be friendly and shouted, "You should come dance with us!"

Charissa waved a hand and shook her head but Rona grabbed her arm and dragged her along into the crowd making the redguard woman follow her.

"Dance with me!" Rona cried, making Charissa move along with the beat of the song with her.

Charissa started to get into it a little, though she was a bit wobbly being so hazy on whiskey. They were both laughing and smiling and singing along with the song together.

Then Rona was totally caught off guard when she got a little too close to Charissa in her drunken stupor and the redguard woman grabbed her by the shoulders and planted a kiss right on her lips confirming Bishop's earlier suspicions. Rona's eyes widened and Bishop felt plenty of conflicting emotions in that moment. Here was another fairly attractive woman kissing his woman, giving him all sorts of ideas, but she was also kissing his woman and he wasn't about to stand for that.

Bishop yanked Rona away and Charissa just blinked, and then her dark face turned fiercely red realizing what she just did and she quickly retreated into the crowd.

Bishop looked back at Rona who looked just as stunned as Charissa did. Bishop waved a hand in front of her face and she said drunkenly, "What just happened?"

Bishop said, "Turns out your friend fancies women. Namely you, Princess."

"Uhh," Rona's face just started to burn.

He laughed, grabbing her around the waist and said, "Let's just keep dancing beautiful. We'll sort that shit out tomorrow."

But the song ended and Jack was standing at the edge of the stage staring curiously at the both of them. He eyed Bishop and shouted, "I know ye!"

Bishop laughed and said, "Wow, you actually remember?"

"Ay! I never forget a fool that leaps from me plank," he gave a hearty laugh and said, "Bishop, right lad?" Bishop looked at the man absolutely astonished he'd remembered his name. Then Jack got a good look at Rona and pointed at her with the violin bow and barked, "Dragonborn!"

Her face turned violently crimson as every single person in the room had eyes on her then. Magrob groaned and Roxlin smacked a hand to her face. Jack said, "Can't hide it now lass, your feller here told me all about yah. So! What say ye Dragonborn? Lady Rona was it? Care to share with us your lovely voice?"

She relented and asked, "Um... sure. What do you want to hear?"

"Whatever comes to mind beautiful siren! I heard ye have the voice of an angel," he winked at Bishop.

She sighed, her redness slowly fading and said, "Alright, fine! But no picking on me for slurring, I've been drinking."

"Rum I hope," Jack chuckled.

She looked right at Bishop and smiled. The music trailed in from nowhere and her perfect voice filled the room with a romantic love song.

(The Music is Star Crossed Lovers by Sharon Den Adel)

"Star-crossed lovers' high
Star-crossed lovers' high

We're like strangers
Walking down the aisle
Holding hands and trying to pretend
We're like lovers
But here we are again
Entangled in a dance that never ends

This is karma, this is where our worlds collide
So for better, for worse
Let's bite that magic bullet
Leave it all behind
I need to feel the mercy
Of a star-crossed lovers' high
Bite that magic bullet
Enjoy this crazy ride
Only you can give me
A star-crossed lovers' high"

He knew she was singing for him then, especially when she took his hands and made him dance with her. He couldn't tell if the room was spinning because of how drunk he was or if it was just from her singing a song of love to him. It was so intense being with her like that, listening to her voice, holding her so close. He wanted to be with her like that always. To get to hear her beautiful voice every day for the rest of their lives, that was all he could ask for.

He was so close to that dream too, he had everything and it was all swiped right out from under his nose so fast. He had to get it all back. He loved her so much and he wanted it to be perfect. That gemstone was amazing too, it was almost as beautiful as her.

He danced with her, swaying together in the middle of the floor. Most people stood by watching, curious about the Dragonborn no doubt, but as soon as Magrob and Roxlin started dancing together, more people joined in, other lovers, dancing together with the sound of her music.

He watched the way her lips moved with each word sang just for him and then he pulled her in closer and she rest her face against his chest. They danced slowly and enjoyed each other and their time together. It really had been a fun night, but after that song he was ready to lead her back to their incredible suite in the Imperial Palace where they could enjoy each other's company in a way that only lovers could.

As her song finished, she pulled back from him, gazing up lovingly into his eyes. He couldn't help it, he had to kiss her and so he did, embracing her, hand behind her head, tasting her sweet lips and giving her the most passionate kiss he could in that moment. When they pulled away though, she almost looked dizzy, too drunk probably.

Jack was on stage grinning at them both and shouted, "Let's hear it for the Dragonborn and her fine companion!" He started laughing and people all around cheered. After that Jack started in on some shanty sea songs with the rest of his mates which seemed to be enough to draw the crowd's attention away from Rona.

Then Roxlin and Magrob came over and the orc asked, "We're about to get going, what about you two? Planning on staying here?"

Rona shook her head, wobbling a bit, "I'm ready to pass out!"

Bishop chuckled and made sure to hold tight to her waist, so she wouldn't trip over herself. As they headed for the exit they saw Lorrie, who looked like she just finished up having a bit of her own fun that evening, with her hair tossed and makeup looking a bit smeared in places. She leaned into Roxlin and asked in her sweet voice, slurring a bit, "Leaving already?"

Roxlin nodded and grasped the bosmer's hand as the small group left. Marco had no doubt rented a room with the tavern wench and chances were Linel had done the same with his male companion. No one had a clue where Charissa disappeared off to and neither Bishop nor Rona intended on mentioning the kiss.

As they passed by the gates that led out to the Waterfront District Bishop caught sight of a young woman staring at him from the shadows. He stopped walking and Magrob looked back and said, "You comin'?"

"Uh, no... I forgot my... hat," he muttered.

Roxlin scoffed, "Pft, just leave it! My sister's got plenty more costume junk. She won't miss that dirty old thing."

"No, it's okay," he insisted, "It'll just be a minute. Can you make sure she gets back to the palace safely?"

Magrob noticed the young woman in the shadows too and seemed to get the gist of what Bishop was trying to do. He said, "Sure, we'll get her there. Don't take too long though."

Rona looked back at him curiously but Roxlin grasped her by the arm to lean on her and both women started to use each other as support just to stand up straight. Lorrie starting gossiping with them about the 'size' of her partner that evening, making Rona blush and Roxlin giggle.

Magrob gave Bishop a look that asked if he needed help. But Bishop just shook his head and waved him off. Magrob left then following the three women across the bridge spanning the lake.

Bishop turned his attention towards the shadows and saw that the young woman was gone. He drew his dagger and carefully approached the gates, passing through them. He looked around at all the low lit shacks where the poor made their homes. Then he noticed Kari standing along the wall in an alley behind one of the run-down buildings. He approached her warily, but she just stood there, clutching her arms, looking solemn.

He kept his distance and said, "Got anything to say for yourself?"

She looked over at him, her golden eyes as piercing as his own but then she averted her gaze and Bishop was thrown against the wall. Being quite drunk himself he wasn't as alert as he should have been. A huge nord man with thick rippling muscles and short blonde hair looked him over with his vicious blue eyes. He had a sneer pulling at his thick lips. Ost never did look like Torban, but damn if he wasn't the man's twin as far as cruel facial expressions went.

Ost pressed on Bishop's throat with his thick forearm and gripped his dagger hand hard, nearly crushing his fingers as he felt them cracking a bit. The man was ten years older now, twenty five years of age and he'd clearly been bulking up. The full blooded nord had always been big, even when he was younger, but now, he was on par with Thorn when it came to sheer physical mass. He was like a fucking rock, unmovable.

He leaned his ugly, scarred face in towards Bishop's, getting a good look at him and flashed a nasty smirk, "Heh, well if it isn't Torban's second cock stain. Almost didn't believe it when Duful told me it was you he stole all that gold from."

Bishop made to speak to say every hateful thing that was coming to mind, but Ost was pressing too hard on his throat, in fact he was having a hard time breathing and wanted more than anything to gut the fucker right then and there.

"So what brings you back to Cyrodiil Bishop?" He let up a little on the choking then.

Bishop gasped for air and snarled, "None of your fucking business."

"Think you can come back here and tear apart the family again?" Ost inquired wryly.

"I don't give two shits about that torture cage you call a family. I want fuck all to do with any of it. All I want is my gold and the two gemstones you pieces of trash stole from me." Bishop put all his rage into his glare and his lip curled a bit, showing his canines.

Ost sneered at him, "No. I'm going to keep those things. Call it payment for what you did to Pa."

"Oh, please," Bishop scoffed, "As if you ever cared about that worthless sack you call 'Pa'. All you ever did was lick his boots and hope that he'd drop some more scraps your way. Bet the second I killed him you started pissing all over his grave."

Ost chuckled and said, "Yeah, you're right Bishop. Torban was a real twisted fuck. Learned everything I know from the man though. I learned how to be a provider, to keep my family cared for, unlike you, who went and ran away with the cat. Where is Jules anyhow? Didn't see him with your little group of friends tonight."

Bishop said nothing at that and Ost looked him over, trying to read his face, but Bishop was an expert at hiding his tells. He was also trying to clear his head and find a way out of the dangerous predicament he'd found himself in. If Ost wanted to, he could easily gut him right then and there.

"What? He die or something?" Ost asked pointedly.

Bishop couldn't stop the light twitch at the corner of his eye and Ost noticed. He chuckled and started to slowly shake his head, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. I see how it is. Thought you two could survive on your own, without the family. Turned out you were wrong about that then, eh?"

Bishop snapped and gritting his teeth, he roared at that piece of shit who didn't deserve to be his brother, "YOU DON'T KNOW A DAMN THING ABOUT ME ANYMORE. SO YOU BETTER SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH! I survived on my own just fine without any of you, without any of this!"

"Yeah I noticed that," Ost said, smirking at the reaction he was getting, "The Dragonborn, hm? She's quite the looker."

Bishop's face fell and his heart pound in his chest. Of course. Ost must have been in the tavern too, watching everything within the crowd, keeping out of sight of him. Granted he'd been far too drunk and his eyes were very glued to her all night long to have ever noticed his hulking brute of a brother.

"You fucking stay away from her," Bishop warned him.

"You're not really in any position to be threatening me Bishop," he pressed his arm to Bishop's neck a little harder then, choking the breath right out of him. "Bet that's where you got all that gold and those nice gems from. Tell me, what other nice things does she have, besides that tight little body of hers?"

Bishop grunted and struggled against his younger half-brother's thick arm as the man was really starting to choke the life out of him. All of a sudden a long curved sword swung down right between their faces and stopped just short of grazing Ost's arm. It was enough to make him let go though and he jumped backward, startled.

Jack stood by, flanked by a dozen of his men and he smirked at Ost, flashing his sparkling gold teeth, "Got a problem here lad? You makin' a move on one of me mates?"

Ost scowled at Jack who just kept right on smiling at the man. Bishop rubbed at his neck and caught his breath.

Jack looked over at him and said, "Ay, best we get goin' now first mate Bishop. Got plenty of sailing to do before the 'morrow comes," then he steered his gaze back to Ost and said, "I'd scurry off to whatever gutter ye came out of boy, before me men and I take to carving yer arms off for what ye did here to me mate and to that lovely lass over yonder," he nodded to Kari. He meant the choking as the marks on both Kari's and now Bishop's necks were very visible.

The other pirates drew their swords, all of them eyeing Ost threateningly. Ost threw Bishop one more nasty look and then retreated beyond the shacks without another word.

Bishop looked over at Jack, still rubbing at his throat and said, "Thanks."

"Think nothin' of it lad! Tell yer lovely woman we had a mighty fine time tonight. I shan't be forgetting the sound of her voice or the way she sets fire to the strings anytime soon," he laughed raucously and turned away with his men, heading for a pair of small boats on the shore. Bishop saw their ridiculous ship with the dragon's skull at the helm offshore in the distance.

He looked back at the wall and saw that Kari was still standing there with the same vapid expression on her face. She gave him a side-eye glance, looking like she wanted to say something and then second-guessed it and turned to walk away. He ran over and grasped her hand and said, "Talk to me Kari."

She met his gaze and said dully, "Why? What do you care?"

His lips twisted and he said, "I've changed a lot. Ten years ago, hell - ten months ago - I wouldn't have given you a second look. I gave up on all of you after..."

"After you murdered Pa?" She said.

He frowned at her, "I didn't murder that piece of shit, Kari. I got justice for our older brother and for the rest of us, for everything he did. Don't tell me that you actually miss him."

Her eyes slowly fell away from him and she pulled her hand out of his grasp and muttered, "At least Pa never put his hands on me..."

"What?" Bishop looked at her shocked and appalled. She tried to walk away, feebly so. She seemed so dead, so broken inside. He grasped her shoulders turning her to face him and demanded, "Are you telling me that he? That Ost has? He's fucking touched you?"

"I'm used to it," she mumbled, "I pray to the Lady Mara for love and I'm blessed with love often... not just him... many men."

Bishop felt sick. To think that Ost could be even more depraved than their own father was almost astounding to him. He held firmly to her shoulders and said, "Who else is here? Are the others - all of them? And... Rina - is she here too?"

"Everyone's here Bishop. We stick together. We're a family, it's what families do." She said it so mindlessly, as though someone had been drilling that idea into her head for years and it came out automatically, but she didn't truly know the meaning of it anymore.

He wanted to help her. He didn't know about the others, but he wanted to help her, his little sister, the girl he'd taught how to read and write, who used to have so much hope and light in her heart before Torban snuffed it out and started selling her at the age of twelve. She didn't deserve that.

"Kari," he pleaded, "You don't have to stay with them. You don't have to do this anymore. I can help you."

"I can't leave them," she said, "Who will take care of them and Ma? They need me."

He shook his head, "I can help all of you!"

"You're lying," she said adamantly, "You left us with nothing. We had to scrimp and scrounge and I had to do... things. Now Ost takes care of us. He risks his own life every day to make sure we have food."

He held his hands out, motioning to her entire being and shouted, "Food!? Look at yourself! You're fucking skin and bones Kari! You can't be serious!"

She turned away from him again and he made to grasp her once more, but this time she found the energy to throw him off of her and she snapped, "Just stay away from us Bishop! Just go back to wherever you came from!" Then she ran off, leaving him standing there to stare off at her.

He watched and saw her enter into one of the shacks at the far end of all the buildings. He ran a hand through his hair and turned away then, leaving the Waterfront. But as he passed through the gates a young man with dark brown skin, curly black hair and eyes shaped like his peered around the wall at him.

Duful was incredibly scrawny looking for half a redguard, especially a redguard that was nearly a full grown man, at seventeen years of age. He was wearing some tattered clothing that looked all too big for him as well, with a pair of beige trousers belted tightly to his waist and an oversized, yellowed shirt with plenty of holes in it. He'd cut the sleeves off and had a dark cloak on. He looked a lot like Torban too. He'd have been more handsome if he weren't so ragged and rough looking.

Bishop noticed a little dunmer girl with him too. She looked just like Rina if the woman had a grey tinge to her skin and bright red eyes, though unlike other dunmer the girl's sclera were white instead of red. She had long light purplish hair that had been tied up into a messy ponytail on the back of her head and she wore a tattered dress and a small cloak made to fit her size. She was very shy too, hiding behind Duful.

The redguard gave Bishop a friendly smile and he said, "Sorry I swiped your coin purse. I swear if I knew it was yours I wouldn't have taken it!"

Bishop just gave the kid a mournful look and said, "It's good to see you Duful."

Duful scratched the back of his head awkwardly and said, "Yeah... good to see you too Bishop." Then Bishop went right over and hugged his brother. He'd never been terribly close to the younger ones, not after Torban murdered Jack and he spent most of his time training himself and started to neglect them. He tried to chalk it up as the whiskey was making his heart ache for his family, but he knew deep down inside that he was glad to see them, no matter how painful it was.

Duful returned the hug and when they parted he laughed a little and said, "Wow, you really have changed Bishop. So um... heh yeah... I'd give you your gold and gems back but, uh... Ost already took them. I only managed to keep enough to feed us tonight."

Bishop just knit his brows together and said, "What the hell has happened to you all?"

Duful just looked down at his worn boots and said, "A lot. Been a rough ten years, I mean, Ost doesn't beat us as much as Torban did, 'course he's not around often enough to do that anyhow."

Bishop noticed the tentative girl staring up at him and he smiled at her and asked, "Who's this little one?"

"Oh!" Duful looked down at the girl and laughed, "Our little sister Rook."

Bishop smirked and raised a brow, "Another chess piece, huh?"

Duful chuckled, "Yeah, Ma was feeling sentimental and missing you after she had her. Started going on and on about how you were so good with the little ones and how she could always rely on you to take care of us."

Bishop knelt down to the girl's height and held out a hand, "Hi Rook, I'm Bishop, it's nice to meet you."

She got a little braver and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you too," she said sweetly.

"That's our big brother Bishop," Duful said, looking down at her, "Remember I told you all about him?"

She nodded and then said, "I'm hungry Duffy, when are we going to eat?"

Duful undid a small bag from his belt and gave it to her, "Go home and give it to Kari. She'll get you taken care of. Make sure Ost isn't around when you give it to her though."

"Yeah I know," she said and quickly ran off, her cloak flowing behind her.

Bishop looked on after her and then asked, "Did Rina have any more?"

Duful scoffed, "Thank the gods no. She had a hard time birthing Rook. It was a nightmare, she almost died from it. After that she sort of gave up on finding love, still fucked around for money though, but I think Rook's birth made her sterile."

Bishop looked him over and asked, "So she's still alive?"

"Yeah, she's alive. Barely though," Duful took his finger to his temple and twirled it in a circle, "Ma's totally off her rocker. Pretty sure she has syphilis."

"I don't know how to tell you this Duful, but Rina was always out of her damn mind."

"Yeah, well it's only gotten worse."

"What about the others?"

"Liesel and Galric left a few years back," Duful said, "after Ost..." He trailed off.

Bishop looked mortified, "Are you shitting me? He laid his hands on her too?"

Duful gave him a side-eye glance, "Yeah. It was Morgen who caught him doing it though. Found him on top of her in the girl's room one night. Kari was just ignoring it, probably glad he wasn't doing it to her for once."

Bishop just stared at his brother, mouth agape. He couldn't bear to hear anymore but Duful just kept talking.

"Morgen threw him off of her and said he was leaving with her and the rest of us. We were already out the door when Ost came outside, telling him he was the head of the household and a bunch of other shit, then he grabbed an axe from a woodpile and he just," Duful cringed, "It was awful Bishop."

So Morgen was dead. Two of his brothers dead, killed by their own brothers no less, and two of his sisters raped by Ost. He'd left his family in shambles and with a man even more twisted than his father.

"Didn't take long before Liesel and Galric just up and disappeared though, those two were always close," he sighed, "Probably for the best. I've been thinking of doing the same with Rook..."

"Tell me that sick fuck hasn't touched that little girl," Bishop said angrily.

"No... But the way he looks at her," Duful cringed again and said, "I'd have left ages ago if not for Ma and Kari. I'm about ready to give up on Ma though, she doesn't have the brains left to function right. She just rambles nonsense all day, she doesn't even recognize me anymore. Still knows Kari though, most of the time."

"Duful," Bishop said seriously, "I can help you. I have friends, resources. I can get you away from all of this."

Duful smiled at him but then shook his head, "It's harder than you think you know. Ost doesn't just lord his power over the family he's got his own resources too. You know he's the Grand Champion in the Arena?"

"What does that mean?" Bishop asked. He knew that most matches were gladiatoral style fights and most of them weren't even to the death, but the bigger matches, like the upcoming event always were.

"Means he's their number one gladiator. He's got money and power, Bishop, you have no idea."

Bishop threw an arm out towards the shacks beyond the gate and barked, "Then why the hell are you all living out here on the Waterfront!?"

"He likes controlling us," Duful said, "He's friends with most of the city guard and he only ever gives us enough money to barely scrape by. You know I... I'm not really sure if Liesel and Galric actually made it out of here alive. The guards are always watching us, at least it feels like they are."

"So you stole from the jeweler today because..."

"Because we're starving Bishop," Duful said seriously, "I can't even find work, no one will hire me, all dirty like this, and I," he sighed, "I told Kari to stop selling herself. I don't want her to do it anymore and I don't think she does either. I don't know what to do," he gave a nervous laugh and looked up at Bishop with tears in his eyes, "I'm scared shitless, you have no idea. Afraid to run, afraid we're gonna starve, terrified he's gonna hurt Rook..."

Bishop wrapped his arms around his younger brother's shoulders again and the kid actually started to cry into his shoulder and said, "You have no idea how good it is to see you again."

Bishop felt his own eyes burning with tears. He was absolutely determined then as his brows furrowed harshly over his eyes in anger. He was going to fight in the Arena. This wasn't just for Rona anymore, but for them, his family.

He was going to make it to the finals and he was going to take Jules' sword and fucking drive it through Ost's heart just like he did to Torban ten years ago.