* 55 * 7/26/12, 1/12/13, 3/4/13, 3/8/13

Despite his body being livid, the ranger seemed to be in a good mood as he set the skinning knife on his damp clothing. He looked up, sensing an opportunity after having loosened her up.

"Last night, when I told you you should take a look at it..." he started, referencing her wound, "...I wasn't telling you to get the hell out," he finished somewhat brazenly.

Lily sat up straight and nodded. "I figured it was because you didn't want me knowing anything more about you, or your village. But it was hard to know for sure, and you sounded so angry."

Bishop's expression grew a bit sour at the mention of his village, but he quickly fixed it. He didn't want to say something that would make her leave in a huff again.

Suddenly: "That can't possibly be comfortable," Lily commented, still working off her laughter.

Bishop looked down. His wet bandages looked like tape against his chest, clinging to him for dear life.

"Let me fix that," Lily offered, getting up from her seat on the bed.

"Ah-ah!" he said. He picked up the knife he had taken back from her and held it over his head and out of her reach. He then cut the bandages off himself, returning the dagger to its spot on top of his cloak when he was finished.

"Don't worry, ranger, I won't steal your precious skinning knife again," Lily promised. She took another roll of bandages out of her bag and approached him. After setting the roll on the table, she picked up the cloth he had been patting against his hair earlier and began wiping his lightly haired chest dry.

Bishop watched her as she worked. Her strokes were firm but pleasant, and it took her almost a minute to dry him enough to her liking, time that the ranger spent memorizing the concentrated look on her face, and the feel of her soft pressure on his chest. When she was satisfied, she took a roll of bandages and began wrapping up his torso again, keeping the material close to his skin but leaving enough room for him to breathe. She finished, setting the roll down and biting off the end with her teeth.

"Why were you out in the rain?" she asked gently.

"Rain doesn't bother me."

Lily waited for him to continue, but he didn't.

"Will you ever answer that question?"

Bishop looked at her. He was about to say no, but her expression looked a little...sad. He cleared his throat and lowered his gaze.

"I was...thinking."

She didn't press him further, was glad she had even gotten that much out of him.

"I heard you challenge Casavir," she started.

"We'll see if he'll back down. Can't say I'd be surprised."

The glower on the ranger's face was unbearable. Lily tsked. "What are you trying to prove, Bishop? If you win, your gloating will be more intolerable than ever."

Her questioning hit him, because he still didn't fully understand what he was doing himself. It made sense that he wanted to fight Casavir, and wanted to challenge him in his moment of frustration, but he had no idea what he'd do if he won. What would it prove? That in a very specific, controlled, no-armor and no-weapons fight, he could throw the paladin through a wall? It would make him feel better, but it certainly wouldn't prove anything of use.

Bishop looked at her to try and find answers to explain his behavior in her glorious, green pools. They held each other's gaze. After a few seconds, he realized he couldn't stop looking at her. The ambient noises of the tavern seemed to have simply disappeared, and all that could be heard was their harsh breathing. They took a risk and took in the sight of one another, their gaze moving up and down, every now and then meeting each other's again for a few seconds only to become distracted once more.

"Bishop..." Lily ventured, after several intense minutes had passed. "What...do you want?"

Bishop sucked in a breath. He felt that he knew what she meant, but he'd never been asked that before. He drew nearer and slowly approached her face, almost touching his nose to her forehead, feeling as uncertain as if he were a child again. He lingered there, lost in thought, and in the emotions that had been swirling around in his mind lately. Then, he put a hand on each of her shoulders and pulled her a bit closer.

Lily slowly brought her hands up to set them on his dry bandages, wondering as to his motives. He suddenly wrapped his arms protectively around her shoulders and drew her nearer to him, setting his chin on top of her hair.

"Bishop..." Lily whispered. Her face, pressed closely against his chest, shone a mixture of emotions, several of which combined to make her face turn color.

He wasn't sure what holding her like this made her think, but he braved the storm and didn't check her expression.

"You're warm," he heard her whisper. Her voice sounded dreamy, relaxed, comfortable. He closed his eyes.

They stood in silence for several heartbeats. His arms loosened up enough for her to break free if she wanted, but neither of them pulled away. They didn't admit anything to each other, didn't explain why they remained locked in each other's embrace.

Lily sighed quietly. "One or both of you are going to end up getting badly hurt if you fight," she whispered softly. Bishop opened his eyes slowly and looked ahead, but said nothing. He knew this was the truth. If the paladin got hurt, the melee support of the team would be greatly weakened. If he got hurt, the long-ranged support would falter. It was a very selfish move either way.

"You obviously can't stand each other, but the only way that can really be fixed is if one of you leaves. Fighting will make you more hostile; you'll brag shamelessly if you win and just hold it in and seethe quietly if you lose."

A soft breath.

"So what you're doing is really stupid," Lily softly yet brazenly concluded after a lingering silence.

Bishop smirked slightly. She had a sharp tongue, and he loved that. He played what would happen if he won or lost in his head. He could see himself feeling victorious, superior, but returning to his regular, moody state quickly, having annoyed everyone else in the party in the process, and likely being ignored by Lily for it. If he lost, he'd be bitter toward the paladin, even more than he already was.

"And you said I hug people," Lily teased after several more moments. This attention, combined with the massage and the...biting, made Lily curious.

"This isn't a hug," Bishop explained sheepishly, though clearly it was.

Lily waited a few more seconds before continuing, "I won't tell you what to do, Bishop." He knew what she meant. It was up to him whether he chose to go through with the duel.

Finally, the embrace was broken, and Lily disengaged herself from her position in his arms. She had to admit, it had been quite comfortable, despite being entirely unexpected. She tilted her head and looked at him inquisitively for awhile.

Then she impulsively got on her toes and kissed his cheek. Bishop quickly turned his face toward hers in reaction and nearly brushed his lips against hers.

The elf pulled back and saw the grin on the ranger's face. She didn't think that was intentional, but it amused him all the same. Not being able to take his grinning face giving off subtle, lewd insinuations, she changed the subject.

"Tomorrow we set out to find the Wendersnaven!" she started. The sheer mention of it made Bishop roll his eyes. "I know, I know," she said, herself amused as well. "But before that, I think we should do something about Elanee."

"I haven't seen her since..." Bishop began, but then realized the last time he saw Elanee was in his room, trying to seduce him. "...this morning," he finished lamely.

"We should go look for her," Lily suggested. Bishop nodded. He summoned Karnwyr...

...But there was no response.

"What the?" Bishop mouthed quietly. He tried again, then looked up at Lily's confused face. "Karnwyr won't come."

"That's strange. Has that ever happened before?"

"No." He thought about it a bit. Then it hit him, the events of the day making it perfectly possible: of course; there had been a huge window of opportunity!

"If he were anywhere near, he'd give a signal by now," he mused aloud. But, given the absence of another party member…

"There's only one person who has the ability to charm even my wolf to her side with her tree-humping ways."

Ignoring his brashness, Lily filled in, "Elanee."

"The druid," Bishop agreed. "And there's only one place she'd take him."

"The Mere!"