Chapter 88

Taking Care of the Family

She stood by the windows of their Imperial suite, clutching her arms and looking out at the dark clouds brewing in the sky as a light rain began to fall, pattering gently against the windows. She was thinking over everything Bishop told her that night and everything he'd done. He seemed so sure that she was going to go right back to being miserable when they returned to Skyrim, in fact he'd said she was miserable a lot of the time.

And he was right about that. She started to wonder if her sadness over her own destiny was pushing him away. If it was making it so that he felt like he couldn't trust her, or tell her something as important as the fact that his own family was in trouble and that he wanted to help them.

She knew he was just trying to protect her, to keep her happy as long as he could before they returned to Skyrim, but it still hurt that he'd lied, that he hadn't trusted her enough to share something as important as that. She started to blame herself for it and felt like she was going to lose him if she didn't try harder to find some kind of joy to hold on to.

Just thinking about all of it was making her even more sad. She sighed deeply and decided to release her feelings with her lute, as she often did. She picked it up and clicked to Karnwyr, who'd taken up a spot on one of the nice couches. He looked up at her and she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the head. He whined a little at her, possibly sensing her sorrow. He was too sweet, always trying to find ways to make her happy, just like Bishop.

"Come on," she said to him, smiling, "Let's go play in the rain."

She stepped out of the suite and walked along the corridor a short ways. She found a nice balcony and walked right out into the rain. Karnwyr dashed forward and started biting at the raindrops, being his usual playful self. That always put a smile on her face and she started to think that maybe it wouldn't be so bad, searching for the Elder Scroll. It would definitely take a long time, scouring every dwemer ruin imaginable, but at the very least she would have Bishop and Karnwyr with her every step of the way and those two were the greatest joys in her life.

(The Song is Raindancer by Erutan)

She tipped her face up to the sky, letting the cold rain pelt and drench her completely. She loved it, chilly as it was. She couldn't imagine shouting away those storm clouds when she'd rather feel the rain wash away her sorrows instead.

Rona pulled her lute up to her chest and listened as a loud crackle of thunder boomed in the distance. She strummed the strings and started to vocalize to the skies. It was a simple song, one without real words or lyrics, but it was one she enjoyed all the same.

It was nice to be able to play like that. Just a fun, happy tune with no real meaning behind it, just feelings. She started to dance in the rain with Karnwyr as he ran around her, barking with her words. They splashed in the puddles having fun together.

It wasn't too long before the wolf looked towards the archway leading in to the corridor and ran over and started barking at Bishop who was standing by, inviting him to join them. Rona smiled at her handsome ranger and he returned a pleased and charming grin all his own. He continued to stay out of reach of the rain though, hiding under the cover of the archway.

When she had a pause in her vocalizing she shouted, "Come dance with me!"

He chuckled, "I don't think so, Princess. I've gotten drenched enough already today."

She ran over and grasped his hand, pulling him out into the rain with her anyways. He relented and went with her, saying, "Nice to see you're in such a good mood."

"Just having a little fun!"

"I can see that," he laughed again as she spun around, dancing through the water and vocalized loudly to skies.

"What language is that?" He asked her, raising a brow.

"Not a language!" She cried, "Just vocalizing!"

"Heh... I almost started thinking you were fluent in four languages," he chuckled, watching her with warm amber eyes, "You know, your voice always impresses, Ladyship, but I have to admit, I always do find it amazing how well you play the strings. How'd you learn to do that?"

"Practice!" She shouted.

He scoffed, "No I mean, where did you learn it? In the Arcane University?"

"My mother taught me," she said, pausing her dance but continuing to play quickly and easily, "When I saw her again, when I was ten. It was the first time I ever held an instrument, this same lute actually."

"Huh," he crossed his arms, "I never would have guessed that, considering your history with her and all."

"It was the only thing we liked to do together, the only time we ever really got along actually. She taught me to sing too, all kinds of druid songs passed down by her mother's side of the family."

"Right," he said, "That unintelligible accent and all that."

She smirked and rolled her eyes at him. Then she said, "I loved it you know, singing and playing. Mother said I was a natural."

"She was right about that," he said, crossing his arms and squinting his eyes as the rain picked up, pelting them a little harder.

"When Ata brought me back to Cyrodiil I couldn't stop picking up the strings. The lute, the violin, the viola, the cello, the guitar, oh! The harp too - it's one of my favorites. Then I touched a piano for the first time and it was hard, but I just had to learn it."

"So, let me get this straight, you did all of that, learned all those instruments, then learned ballet of all things,and practiced magic?"

She blushed, "Well, I usually ran off to play the lute Ata bought me instead of practicing magic..."

He chcukled at her, grinning a little as he shook his head.

When her song finished, she sighed deeply, feeling so much better.

(Background music Let Love Flower and/or Introvert and/or Tomorrow will be better, I promise by Exist Strategy)

"Done already?" He asked.

"You were hoping for more?" She raised a brow at him.

"I always want more of what you have to give, love."

She blushed and he put a hand to her cheek, running his thumb over the redness there. "I love it when you blush," he whispered, "so beautiful." He leaned in to kiss her and she met his lips, halfway, almost surprising him with her eagerness.

"Mmm," he hummed under her lips and took his time, kissing her the way she loved, entwining his tongue with hers, tasting each other's lips and pulling her closer to him. She enjoyed the feeling of him clutching at her hip and running his open palm over her rear before he got a handful and she gasped a little under his mouth.

He pulled his lips back and pressed his forehead to hers, gazing into her eyes and said, "This might surprise you Sweetness, but I'm still completely exhausted from my hundred or so matches in the Arena... I'm honestly not sure if I have it in me tonight."

She laughed a little and said, "Well, don't go starting what you can't finish then."

He growled low and said, "I know... I just can't help but touch you. It's been ages."

"No, it's been two days," she clarified, smirking, pulling her head back and pressing a finger to his nose, "Two days since you fell asleep on top of me I might add."

He grinned and said, "That does not count." He hooked his arm with hers then and started to guide her off the balcony and back into the dryness of the corridor.

"So it doesn't count if you don't come?" She laughed.

"Nope!" He said succinctly and then whistled for Karnwyr who was busy rolling in a puddle on the balcony.

They reentered their suite and Rona started lighting candles and as Bishop started to unbuckle his cuirass he said, "Hey, mind looking at these wounds for me? Never got a chance to get healed up after everything."

She went over to him and he pulled his leather top off, tossing it to the floor, along with his gloves. She leaned in and looked at the thin cut on his midriff. She whispered an incantation, making her hands go alight with white magic and she ran her fingers over the wound healing it and sealing it shut.

He turned around and she got a look at the one on his back, which was much deeper. "Ow, Bishop," she said grimacing at it, "Doesn't that hurt?"

"Stings like a bitch," he said.

She pressed her hand to it, focusing on healing it over without causing him pain. He breathed relieved as she sealed it up, leaving only a thin white scar where it once was. Then she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face to his back. "Left another scar," she said.

She felt him grasp her hands with his much larger ones and he said, "It's fine. They're all worth it."

"You're a survivor," she said and he turned around in her grasp and looked down at her. He just stared at her with loving eyes and then he scooped her right up off the ground and she yelped and grumbled a little as he chuckled at her.

"I never get tired to picking you up, tiny."

She rolled her eyes a little, but didn't complain as he carried her over to their enormous bed, where Karnwyr had already made a spot for himself at the edge of it, dampening the sheets.

"Damn it Karnwyr," Bishop grumbled. He set her down, giving her a chance to undress out of her soaking wet clothes. She shivered a little and crawled under the sheets as Bishop tried to shove the wolf off the bed. Karnwyr would not budge though and Rona laughed, "It's fine, this bed is huge, there's plenty of room for all of us."

"Well don't complain to me when you wake up with a puckering wolf asshole staring you right in the face tomorrow."

She snorted a laugh to that remark as he undid his trousers and yanked them and his underwear off together before joining her under the silk sheets, pressing right up next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

She laid her head against his chest, curling her fingers through his chest hair and she asked, "So... what did the Emperor want to talk to you about?"

"Well, first he gave me my prize for winning in the Arena."

"Prize?"

"You didn't know? You're looking at a very wealthy noble now," he grinned, "One hundred thousand septims."

Her eyes widened, "Wow, that's a lot of money!"

"Damn right it is."

"What are you going to do with it all?"

He shrugged, "Probably buy the nicest bedroll I can find and go sleep under the stars somewhere."

She laughed and rubbed her face against him a little, "Always the humble one."

He stroked her arm with his other hand and said, "The second thing he gave me was my freedom."

She turned her head to look up at him, "What do you mean?"

"He pardoned me and my whole family for Torban's crimes. We're no longer weighed down by the name Thrice-Banished," he said, "He also gave us all official citizenship in Cyrodiil. Got a job lined up for Duful, a place where Kari can go to talk to someone about what happened to her, and my youngest sister Rook will get an education now."

Rona smiled at him, "That little dunmer girl? She's your baby sister?"

"She is. She's a great kid too," he paused a moment before he said, "Will you come with me tomorrow? To meet them?"

"Of course I will."

"My... mother," he hesitated with that word, "she's got a place lined up for her too. She's not all there anymore, at least, that's what Duful told me. I still haven't seen her and to be honest I'm not sure if I want to."

She grasped his hand, lacing their fingers together over his chest and said, "Whatever you want to do Bishop, I'll support you. If you want to see her, I'll be right by your side. If you don't, that's fine too."

He took a deep breath and sighed, "I'm going to sleep on it. Think about it some more. Oh... one more thing, remember back in Cheydinhal? When you caught me getting drunk alone? I did that because I saw Jules' family... Elise and Holly. They live two doors down from your house and I swear Ladyship, that little girl looks just like him."

"Oh, Bishop... why didn't you tell me?"

He frowned a little, "Because Elise caught me talking to Holly. She called me a murderer and threatened me. Looks like Casavir told her what I did, probably embellished it to fit his narrative too. I just felt really ashamed about it. Didn't want to talk about it at all..."

She pushed herself up and gave him a pained look as she caressed his cheek, "I'm so sorry Bishop."

"It's alright," he said, "I have some of my family back now and it's more than I could have ever asked for."

She leaned in and kissed him before settling back against his chest and then they talked late into the night, Bishop telling her every little detail about what had happened in Cheydinhal and explaining what happened to his brother Morgen and he shared Duful's suspicions that Ost may have killed Liesel and Galric when they tried to escape.

He was coming clean about all of it to her and then he listened when she talked, telling him all about her own fears and worries, especially over the last week with him and all his sudden disappearances. It was healing to talk to one another, to confide and share and she felt so much closer to him after it all.

As the night wore on and her eyelids slowly drooped, she listened to his soft snoring and resolved to make the effort to be happier for the rest of their journey. To hold close to him and the joy he gave her.

(Background music YouTube: Oblivion Music & Ambience - Towns 10 Hours)

In the morning she was met with a very well-rested and energetic ranger. Bishop took no time in letting her know just how aroused he was, surprising her when he went down on her the minute they woke up.

He made her come at least two times that way before taking her himself. She was feeling almost dazed after three orgasms that morning and he seemed incredibly smug and proud of himself for it.

They washed and dressed for the day, heading out to the city, bringing Karnwyr with them as they walked through the Temple District, heading for the Waterfront. Rona stopped a moment to look up at the dragon statue in the center of the destroyed Temple of the One. That dragon had once been Martin Septim, who in turn became a dragon-god so that he could save mankind from Mehrunes Dagon.

Rona felt a kinship with him. She too faced a harsh and difficult path, one that she didn't know where it would take her, though she truly hoped that the golden dragon within her would not burst forth and claim her life in the same way it did with Martin Septim.

Bishop looked back and said, "You comin' Ladyship?"

She smiled at him and said flirtatiously, "For a fourth time today? I don't know if I could."

He laughed, "Pft, just you wait, temptress, I bet I can get you another three times later."

She darted off, running past and giggling at him, "I'd love to see you try!"

He and Karnwyr both dashed after her all the way to the Waterfront. She came to an abrupt stop though as she looked out at the dilapidated little village on the outskirts of the city. She'd never actually bothered to come out to the Waterfront in all her time in the Imperial City. It was just something you didn't do if you wanted to keep your coin purse.

Bishop caught up to her, still laughing and grasped her waist and started planting biting kisses along her neck. She hummed a little, but the sight of that broken down part of the city had taken any and all excitement out of her so quickly.

He noticed her lack of response and looked over the shacks and said, "Pretty shitty huh?"

She looked up at him with her brows knit tightly together, "Your family lives here Bishop?"

"That they do Princess. Used to live here myself about fifteen years ago. You've never seen the Waterfront?"

She blushed and turned away, "I'd heard things, but it was mostly advice on avoiding the place, so I always did."

"Hm, yeah," he sighed, "That was smart. It's where the poorest residents live. It's not so bad though, Ladyship. Most of these folks just want a little coin to get by and have a nice ale every now and again, to try and forget their circumstances."

She looked sadly at him and he pinched her cheek and said, "Quit being so sad. You're about to meet my family, for real this time. And speaking of..."

He looked up and a redguard lad and a little dunmer girl were approaching from one of the alleys. Duful had a wide grin on his face and Rook looked pretty happy too. The little girl ran right over, her cloak flapping behind her as she embraced Bishop, giving him a big hug and he picked her right up off the ground.

"You did it!" She shouted.

"I did!" He yelled back with a wide grin on his face, squeezing her in his arms before setting her back down again.

Duful laughed and saw Rona, he held a hand out and said, "Oh hey, Dragonborn, we uh, didn't get properly introduced last time. I'm Duful."

She shook his hand, smiling and said, "Nice to meet you. I'm Rona."

"I'm Rook!" The dunmer child chirped proudly, hands to her hips. Rona knelt down to her height and said, "It's really nice to meet you Rook. I love your hair, such a pretty color."

"I like yours too!" She said and walked over to run her fingers through Rona's rosy locks.

"Whoa!" Duful shouted as Karnwyr came strolling up, soaking wet as it appeared he took a dip in the lake. He started sniffing at Duful's feet.

"Oh yeah, you two haven't met Karnwyr yet," Bishop said, "I'd like to introduce you all to my best friend on all of Nirn."

Duful laughed, "Weirdest dog I've ever seen." He bent down to scratch behind Karnwyr's ears, who enjoyed that very much.

"Not a dog," Bishop said, "He's a wolf."

"A very, vicious and wild wolf," Rona added sarcastically.

Bishop scoffed, "Well he used to be until you took all the bite out of him Ladyship, spoiling him like you do all the time."

She laughed but then they all reeled back and threw their hands out as Karnwyr started shaking off the water all over them.

"Augh! Karnwyr!" Bishop grumbled.

Rook started giggling and ran her fingers through his damp fur, petting him enthusiastically and said, "I like him."

As Karnwyr started licking all over her hands and face Bishop said, "I think he likes you too."

Duful said, "So uh, Miss Dragonborn-"

"Please call me Rona," she insisted.

"Heh, yeah, Rona. I just wanted to thank you again for what you did for us back at the Arena. Saved all our lives. And wow! Your voice and all those things you did! That was amazing!"

She blushed and said, "You're very welcome. I'm just glad you're all okay... all of you are, right?" She glanced around,"I don't see your other sister?"

Duful frowned a little and then looked at Bishop, "Kari hasn't said a word since yesterday. I think she's actually mad that you killed Ost."

Bishop sighed, crossing his arms, "Yeah, I figured she would be."

"Why would she be mad about that?" Rona asked, baffled that anyone would be upset over their abuser being killed.

Duful looked at her and twirled a finger to his temple, "Kari's almost as crazy as our mother."

"I want to talk to her," Bishop said.

"She's looking after Ma right now," Duful said.

Bishop twisted his lips a little at that notion, but Rona put a reassuring hand to his arm. He met her eyes with a soft expression and breathed, "I want to see them both."

Duful looked a little anxious and said, "Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you. Ma was having an episode this morning... she's calmed down a lot now, but if she sees you Bishop. I hate to say it man, but you look so much like Torban, it might just throw her over the edge."

"It's fine," he said, "Take me to them."

"Alright," Duful shrugged and turned, leading the way through the Waterfront. They passed by a poor woman and her children hanging tattered laundry out to dry in their dirty yard and walked around several sickly looking beggars still sleeping on bedrolls.

Rona felt distressed seeing so many poor and disheveled people in the city and started to wonder how Emperor Titus, a man who she'd always thought was so kind and generous, could allow such poverty to continue.

As if reading her mind Bishop said, "Even if they gave these people everything they needed to get back on their feet, some of them would fall right back into it Ladyship. These are people with addictions, whether it be gambling, drinking or drugs, that's the life they chose. You can't save everyone, especially if they don't want to be saved."

She glanced back at two little boys kicking a ball around their yard and said, "They didn't choose it though."

"No, but would you rather tear their families apart and take them from everything they've ever known?"

She opened her mouth to reply, but then closed it again, second guessing her words.

"Hard decisions, Ladyship."

"Wouldn't have minded if they took us from Rina, ages ago," Duful said dully as they pressed on, winding through the shacks and walked by a small group of poor men, who were already drunk that early in the day. They looked happy enough as they chattered amongst themselves, grinning, laughing and singing a few songs together.

Hard decisions indeed, Rona thought. She felt that despite it all, Bishop wouldn't have changed anything. His past made him the man he was now. He'd learned everything not to be and worked so hard to meet that goal.

Duful stopped in front of one of the shacks at the far end of the Waterfront, nearest the water and pushed open the door. He took a deep breath and said, "I'm just gonna stay out here with Rook," he gave Bishop a meaningful look and said, "Good luck bro."

Bishop and Rona stepped inside together, leaving Karnwyr outside with the other two. The shack was comprised of a small single room. An old wooden table with two rickety chairs was pressed against the side wall. On the floor were three bedrolls and a small hearth had been built into the floor, near the wall by the front door. Further along the back wall was a large changing divider with dirty clothes strung over it. Old trousers, a child's dress and even worn temple's robes. Rona could see the edge of a single person bed, sticking out from behind the divider and two lumps under the yellowed blanket, no doubt the feet of someone laying in it.

They heard a weary voice say, "Please eat your porridge Ma. It's getting cold."

And then the scratchy voice of an older woman replied, "Don't want it, woman! Take it away!"

"Please Ma..." the girl pleaded feebly.

Rona looked up at Bishop. His face was stricken with a tumultuous mixture of emotions that she could hardly place. Fear, anger, anxiety, sorrow. They all played there and he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled to try and calm himself.

Bishop swallowed hard and stepped forward. He walked by the changing divider and felt his hands trembling at what he saw. Rina looked like she'd aged thirty years, although it had only been a decade since he'd left. Her once beautiful shimmering blonde locks had thinned out considerably and become a dull light grey with plenty of straggly white strands streaking throughout. Her face was lined with sharp wrinkles, crow's feet stamped all around her eyes and thick lines etched deeply around her mouth and across her forehead. She was thin and sickly and the dirty old nightgown that buttoned up the chest hardly fit her at all. She was laying back on a large dirty pillow, her waist covered by soiled blankets. Her eyes which were once as bright and golden as his own, had dimmed incredibly as cataracts were slowly forming in them.

Kari was sitting by, on an old stool, trying to feed their mother who was rejecting it every time and giving excuse after nonsensical excuse.

Bishop put a hand to Kari's shoulder and said, "Let me try."

She looked up at him, almost surprised to see him there. He saw a faint glimmer of anger burn in her eyes at him, but couldn't seem to muster the strength to hold onto it. She got up, passing him the bowl and stepped out of the way.

He sat down and looked on piteously at the woman he'd spent so much of his life hating. She didn't seem to recognize him at first and rejected his attempts to spoon feed her, grumbling something which made no sense.

Then he said, in his deep husky voice, "Please eat, Rina."

She looked at him with new eyes then, as though she were finally recognizing him and she whispered in a scratchy voice, "Torban?"

"No," he said shaking his head, "It's me, Bishop."

Her disgruntled expression softened more and she said, "Bishop? My sweet little boy?"

He laughed a little, his voice cracking as he choked back his tears, "Yeah."

She pushed herself up on the bed a bit, leaning forward and touched his face, running a hand over the scar on his cheek, "That damn bastard... damn him for scarring your handsome face. I'll tell him off. I'll do it. Take the beating and everything. He shouldn't have done it to you."

"Ma..." he whispered, just staring at her.

Something changed in her eyes and she said, "Torban, why did you leave? I can't raise all these brats alone. How am I going to pay for them all? You promised. You did. You said you'd stay until we found our true love. Until Mara gave one of us what she promised!" Her voice was becoming distressed as she lost herself in her own addled mind, "I can't do it alone! And now Bishop is gone and Jules! It's all your damn fault!" She hit him weakly on the chest over and over again, "Why do you have to be this way!? Are you going to beat me again!? Are you!? Then just end it! I can't do it anymore!"

Bishop dropped the bowl of food on the floor and grasped her hands as she screeched at him, falling into another long lost mixed up memory, "JACK! You killed him! Oh! You killed my boy! My first boy! Jack was going to make something of himself Torban! He was going to marry that beautiful woman. How could you!?" She wailed.

Bishop tried to calm her, "Ma, please. It's me, Bishop."

"No! No! Bishop's gone! I saw him leave! He took the carriage! He took everything! Even took Jules! They're gone! They're gone! How can I do it now!? What will I do!?"

He let her hands go and got up, panic rising in his chest. He stepped back just watching her lose herself in a slew of memories that had mixed and melded together while she continued to mistake him for his father.

He couldn't handle it anymore and quickly rounded the divider, nearly crashing into Rona who was standing by, watching it all. He hurried outside leaving both her and Kari there.

Rona looked back at the woman and sat down on the stool next to her. She started to hum quietly, a sleepy little song and Rina slowly started to calm down before letting her eyes rest on Rona as her gentle vocalizing carried throughout the tiny room.

The woman settled back onto her large pillow and just listened and studied Rona, as though she were trying to figure out who she was. Then she said, "You have a pretty voice. Don't let Torban hear... he doesn't deserve to hear such beauty. He'd just ruin it."

Rona smiled gently at her and picked up the bowl off the floor. A bit of the porridge had spilled, but most of it was still there. She took a spoonful and said softly, "Would you like something to eat?"

"Hmm," she mumbled, "I suppose if you're offering I could. I am a bit famished."

Rona gave her a few spoonfuls of the porridge and Rina scrunched her face through each bite muttering, "Never liked that stuff. Too mushy."

Rona laughed a little, "I know someone else who hates it too."

"What's your name sweetheart?"

"My name is Rona."

Rina smiled and said, "I thought of naming my daughter that. Torban said it was too much like my name, though. He wouldn't let me name her, my first daughter even."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Rona said kindly and gave her another spoonful.

"It's fine," Rina said rubbing her belly, "Got another on the way. I know it's a girl this time too. I'm going to call her Liesel. Torban doesn't get to name her because she's not his."

After a short while of feeding the woman and chatting nonchalantly about nothing that made any real sense Rona stood to leave and Rina grasped her hand and spoke to her as though she were meeting her again after months apart, "You were the nice one who sang for me. Don't let Torban hear it… Will you sing for me again?"

"If you would like," she said.

"Yes," Rina said, as she started to close her eyes over, "I would... you should meet my second boy. He'd like you. His name is Bishop and he has a lovely voice. Torban tried to beat it out of him. Scarred his handsome face... haven't heard him sing in a long time..."

Rona turned away from her, feeling a hard knot building in her chest. Kari was just staring at her, amazed. Rona nodded politely to the girl and left that little shack. She saw Duful and Bishop sitting by the edge of the lake, skipping rocks while Rook was chasing Karnwyr around and getting him to chase his tail.

She walked over to them and sat down beside Bishop, pulling her knees up and looking out at the calming waters.

Duful leaned forward looking around Bishop and said, "She's a fucking mess, isn't she?"

"She's fine now," Rona said. Then she looked up at Bishop who was staring hard at the water. He flipped a smooth rock between his fingers before finally pulling his arm back and snapped it across the water, making it skip at least seven times before it plunked in. "Are you alright?"

He groaned and shook his head, "I wasn't ready for that."

"She seems to do better with people she doesn't recognize," Rona said, "Maybe we can get some people out here to collect her, take her to that home you were talking about."

"Yeah," Bishop nodded, "Let's do that."

Bishop already told Duful everything, about the job lined up for him, how Rook was going to start school, that they'd have people Kari could speak with and a home for their mother where she'd be well cared for until her inevitable passing from whatever disease that was addling her mind.

Bishop also planned to get them into their own home as soon as possible. Using some of the money from his winnings to ensure they were cared for. Duful was thrilled at the prospect of starting work and they decided to spend the day getting them all set up in a new home and with new clothes and everything else they would need.

Their first stop was in the Imperial Palace itself, where Bishop established his line of credit at the local city bank. He took a small amount of funds out and they spent their day shopping in the Market District, getting both Duful and Rook fitted in new clean clothes and buying extra pairs that they could take home with them. Rona thought of Kari and purchased two new temples cloaks as well as two modest dresses for her.

Afterwards, Bishop asked if Rona wouldn't mind going back to the Imperial Palace to start making arrangements to move his mother into the specialized home that would take care of her needs. She agreed to and took Rook and Karnwyr with her while Bishop led Duful through the Market District to his new job.

"So, what exactly am I going to be doing?" Duful asked.

Bishop smirked at him and said, "You're going to be an apprentice."

Duful scrunched his nose, "Armor smithing or something? I don't have any talent with that."

"Not quite," Bishop said as they stopped in front of a small storefront with a large black sign with bold red lettering that said, Red Diamond Jewelry.

Duful looked uneasily at the sign and then back to Bishop and said, "No way! I can't go back there!"

Bishop laughed and pulled his brother in by the arm. The minute they stepped inside they found Havnor Red-Tooth in his usual place behind the glass cases, looking over several pieces of glittering gemstones and some gold ore with a magnifier.

He glanced up and smiled kindly at them, "Well, well. Been looking forward to seeing you again Mister Bishop."

Duful was trying to pull away from Bishop's grasp, but he just yanked him forward up to the counter with him. Havnor pressed his elbows to the countertop and held his chin over his hands, smiling still, "I see my new apprentice is already dressed for work as well." Duful looked nervously at the old nord.

Bishop said, "He's real sorry for stealing from you Havnor, but thanks for taking him on. I promise he has no reason to pilfer from you or anyone anymore."

Havnor chuckled and said, "Yes, I thought as much. I heard all about your incredible feats in the Arena. Well done, I knew you had it in you!"

"Uuhh…" Duful sounded confused, "What's going on?"

"Well young man, Emperor Titus has arranged for you to work for me as my apprentice. You're going to start off paying your debt to me. A few months of work should suffice and once I'm confident that you are a knowledgeable jeweler I'm going to start training you in numismatics."

"Numa-wha?"

Havnor smirked at him and reached down, opening a drawer and pulled out a black leather case. He opened it revealing a wide variety of coins set into slots in red velvet, "Numismatics, the study of currency. I've been looking to expand my business and reach out to local coin collectors in the area. When I'm done training you, you'll be able to appraise their collections. It is a highly sought after position, as there are very few numismatists in Tamriel and even fewer willing to train others in the profession. I expect you will be able to travel and use your skill all across Tamriel at some point, but for now, we'll be staying local."

"Huh…" Duful mumbled as he stared at the coins, "So… you're really going to teach me all that?"

"That I am. You will be learning all the specialties of my trade and perhaps you will truly learn to appreciate the value and craftsmanship of the precious gems and pieces of jewelry you stole."

Duful looked at him sheepishly and mumbled, "Yeah, sorry about that."

"It's alright. The Emperor enlightened me to your situation and I can't really blame you for it. Now, Mister Bishop, I have something for you."

Havnor opened another drawer and pulled out a pair of round black velvet boxes and set them on the counter. He opened the first one revealing a stunning women's engagement ring.

The setting was antique gold molded into the shape of a blooming rose. The sides were shaped like weaving petals and dotted with sparkling diamonds. In the very center of the rose itself was a large glittering dragon's breath gemstone. It also looked like Havnor had taken pieces of the gem and melded it into the edges of the petals, making the entire thing glitter in radiant colors.

Bishop was smiling widely at it and said, "It's perfect."

Havnor nodded and said, "I'm very glad. I do take great pride in my work. Now, as for the second one I know we never discussed it, but I thought you might want the matching piece."

He opened the second box revealing a much simpler ring. Smooth and round, it was made of antique gold. The central molding was designed with the same color gold which had been etched and shaped into nordic style figures of dragons chasing wolves in a repetitive pattern. Underneath the gold in the empty space was that same glittering dragon's breath gemstone, matching it perfectly with the woman's engagement ring.

"Try it on for a minute, will you?" Havnor asked, "I'm pretty good at eye balling the size of one's fingers, but if it's too big or small I can adjust it."

Bishop slid it on and shook his head, smirking, "Fits just right."

"Excellent!" Havnor said excitedly, "I expect hers will be a perfect fit as well."

Bishop took it off and set it back into its slot in the box, although he picked up Rona's engagement ring and continued to admire it.

Duful said, "Wow… that looks expensive. Wait – is that for? Are you?"

Duful gaped at him and Bishop grinned broadly and said, "Yeah. I'm going to ask her to marry me."

Duful hit him on the shoulder and shouted, "Seriously bro!? That's awesome!"

Then the door opened behind them and Rona walked in with Rook by her and she said, "Oh hey! We finished early so thought we'd meet up with you."

Bishop quickly snapped the box shut and pushed them both back towards Havnor who seemed to realize who she was. He took them both back and stuffed them into a drawer.

"Heeey Sweetness," Bishop said awkwardly, "You finished early?"

"Yeah," she said laughing a little, "That's what I just said." She looked around the room and said, "Wow. So this is where you'll be working Duful? This is amazing."

"You must be the Lady Rona," Havnor said, putting a hand out to her in greeting, "Havnor Red-Tooth. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Rona shook his hand and said, "Oh, it's very nice to meet you. You have a beautiful shop."

"Thank you my dear," he chuckled a little and started to really study her. She blushed a little at his awkward staring and Bishop cleared his throat loudly.

Havnor said, "Oh! My apologies. It's just, I heard all about what happened at the Arena, that the Dragonborn flew off on an actual dragon. That was you?"

"Yes," she said smiling sheepishly.

"Such a lovely young woman," he said, still staring.

"So," Rona said turning to Bishop as she ran a hand through her hair, "Do you want to get some lunch and then we can pay a visit to the Talos Plaza District and have a look at the vacant homes there?"

"Sounds great," Bishop said, "We're just going to finish up with Havnor here and we'll meet you both at the All Saints Inn in a little bit. Mind ordering us our food?"

"Sure," she said.

Then Havnor jumped in, "Oh, before you go Lady Rona. Your companion here wanted you to have this."

Bishop glared incredulously at Havnor as he set a round velvet box on the counter. She took it and opened it up. "Oh wow. They're beautiful Bishop."

He peered over her shoulder at two sparkling Dragon's Breath stud earrings and exhaled with relief.

Then she looked up at him, smiling and said, "Why earrings though?"

"Uh… well," he stammered, "I really liked the ones you wore at the Bloated Float Inn last week."

She laughed a little and said, "They were fake though, my ears aren't pierced. Although I suppose now I have a reason to get them done."

He rubbed a hand to the back of his head and mumbled, "Yeah…"

She hugged him and said, "Thank you. They are really beautiful. We'll meet you in the Temple District, alright?"

"Mmhm," Bishop said as he watched her take Rook's hand, the two girls chattering together as they left.

The minute the door shut Bishop rounded on Havnor and snarled, "You trying to make my heart stop old man!?"

Havnor chuckled and said, "Sorry about that. It's just I had plenty of Dragon's Breath left over after making the ring that I decided to make a pair of matching earrings as well. I would have gone with a pendant if I knew her ears weren't pierced. Ah well… she really is quite lovely. So odd though, to think that such a small person could hold so much power."

Bishop just sighed wearily and Havnor passed him the two boxes with the rings again. He pocketed them both and made arrangements to pay the substantial fee for them. Havnor told Duful when he expected to see him every weekday and went over a few of the responsibilities he would have working there.

When all was said and done, they met up with Rona and Rook and the rest of the day was spent looking at moderately sized homes in the Talos Plaza District. They were no beautiful manors, like in the Elven Gardens District, but they were modest and decently priced. They settled on a smaller two story home with three bedrooms. All in all Bishop spent only a third of his Arena winnings on everything, including the ring set and the cost of the home already furnished.

As the sun slowly set they made their way back to the Waterfront and Bishop said, "You'll both be able to move in to the home tomorrow... and Kari too, if she wants."

"What about Mama?" Rook asked, looking up at Bishop with her big red doe eyes.

He smiled gently at her and said, "Ma is going to be very close by at a place where some nice people are going to take care of her," he looked at Duful and said, "I'll be here early tomorrow morning. They're going to take Rina and I know Kari's not going to be happy about it."

Duful ran a hand through his curls anxiously, "Uh yeah. She's going to freak out."

"Don't tell her about it," Bishop said firmly, "I don't want to upset her right now."

"Right..." Duful mumbled. Then he looked between them both and reached in for a hug, wrapping his arms around Rona and Bishop. "Thanks so much you guys. Seriously... this means a lot."

Bishop pat him on the back and said, "You're family Duful."

Duful pulled back and said, "I just knew when I saw you that day, Bishop... and when you didn't kill me for stealing all your stuff," he chuckled, "I knew everything was going to be okay. We owe you our lives, bro."

Bishop shook his head, "It's what families do for each other. I know that now. I'm sorry I left you all with him... and with nothing."

Duful smirked, "Well you've made up for it a thousand times over."

Bishop sighed and said, "I love you Duful. Just want you to know that."

Duful's eyes widened and Rook said, "I love you too Bishy!"

He chuckled at her, kneeling down and embracing her tightly, "I love you the most Rook! Prettiest little sister I ever had." She blushed a little but smiled brightly at him and he said, "I hope you're excited to start school."

She nodded fervently and he stood up again and put a hand to his brother's shoulder, "See you tomorrow Duff."

Duful grinned and said, "Yeah, you too Bish." As they turned away, clicking for Karnwyr to follow, they heard Duful shout, "Oh and uh... love you too bro!"

Bishop threw a hand up in acknowledgment and Rona grasped his arm as they walked, huge smiles spread across their faces. She said, "You're a good big brother."

"Yeah well... I learned from one of the best big sisters I've ever seen," he smirked at her.

"Aw," she whined, "Now you've got me missing Nelkir."

"And Dagny too, right? She might as well be your little sister at this point."

"And Frothar!" She shouted.

Bishop scoffed, "Pft, as if. He was the whiniest one of the bunch, that little snot-nosed brat."

She laughed and sighed, "I want to go see them when we get back."

"Hm... as my lady commands," he said smiling warmly at her and pulling her closer.

He knew in his heart things were going to be okay. They would take their time searching for the Elder Scroll. But before all that... he was already imagining every possible place and scenario for proposing to her. He wanted to finish their journey as husband and wife and he intended to do just that, sooner than later.