Once the violent trumpeting had halted, the world returned to its unshakeable state, I peered up at the sky just in case it would ring out again. After a few moments, it became clear that it would not repeat itself, and I climbed to my feet with Bishop's assistance. His golden eyes were wide and wary, and one hand was on his dagger.

"Is that a normal thing in Skyrim, or no?" My comment was met with an irritated glare. "Calm your ass. It was a joke."

"A joke," Bishop snorted humorlessly. "Sweetness, we just went through hell and you're already joking." He shook his head. "Let's just go tell that fucker of a Jarl so we can go to the inn."

"Right, right."

As we walked, my mind was less on the dragon's attack and the loud noise, and more on what had happened after I'd brought Mirmulnir down. The pressure, the fiery soul, the Shout- and my likely status as a 'Dragonborn' all added up to a terrifying level of responsibility and power I didn't want.

"What's on your mind, princess?"

I glanced up. "Hmm?"

Bishop over-exaggerated an eye roll. "Huh. I feel loved." He tapped the top of my head. "I asked you what was on your mind."

"Ah." I was silent for a moment. "Nothing. Just- nothing."

"...Liar." While I wanted to snap at him, tell him it was none of his business, I was tempted to blurt it out, all my worries and withholdings. However, I couldn't. If I started, I wouldn't be able to stop.

"Just let it go, Bishop." I dropped my head. "Please. I'll be okay."

The ranger appeared as though he wanted to argue, but to my immense relief, he shrugged in acquiescence. "Whatever you say it is, is how it is." He eyed me carefully. "But if you ever feel like telling the truth, I'm right here."

...

"Excuse me, sir and ma'am!" Our return to Whiterun was greeted by a man in the familiar garb of a courier. "Do you have a moment?"

"Not rea-"

"There's a new museum opening in Dawnstar, and the owner asked me to hand out invitations to everyone I met." The courier shoved a piece of paper into my hands without hesitation and ran out the gate. "Important deliveries to make! No time for chatting!"

Bishop watched him go. "I hate those assholes. Couriers... bah! Tracking you down like a wolf tracks a deer, giving no fucks over whether or not someone wants to receive some crappy invitation like that." He gestured to the crumpled paper in my hand. Shrugging, I shoved it into my pack.

"I'm not reading that right now. I'm cold and tired, and all I want is to take a hot bath and sleep."

The ranger's left brow quirked up. "You know, I could-"

"If you offer to take a bath with me, I'll eat your soul like I ate that dragon's," I threatened. In response, Bishop merely seemed innocently shocked.

"Whatever do you mean, ladyship?" He feigned offense. "I'm merely offering to pay for the rooms." Digging around in his pockets, the ranger withdrew a handful of septims. "See? The treasure in that beast's corpse'll have us eating good for a week."

I huffed. "Good for us." I peered up at Dragonsreach. "Stairs... I hate stairs." I also hated the idea that Balgruuf would likely confirm or deny the Dragonborn theory. Maybe I knew the answer, deep inside... but that didn't mean I was ready to admit it.

...

"Good." The Jarl's advisor had spoken up before anyone else, rocking back and forth on his toes. "The Jarl's been waiting for you." The closer Bishop and I got to Balgruuf, the more we heard of him speaking to a bulky Nord with distinct warpaint on his face.

"You heard the summons. What else could it mean? The Greybeards..." Balgruuf twisted his head to stare at me, with- was that fear?- in his eyes.

"We were just talking about you," the other Nord said gruffly. "My brother needs a word with you."

Balgruuf leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "Let's start with this. What happened at the watchtower? Was the dragon there?"

"It was. The tower was destroyed, but I killed the dragon."

"I knew I could count on you." He leaned back. "But there must be more to it than that." After a moment's hesitation, I nodded to confirm his suspicions.

"Turns out, I may be something called 'Dragonborn,'" I said with a lighter tone, hoping the Jarl wouldn't put stock into it. My hopes fell when Balgruuf's eyes widened with shock and amazement.

"Dragonborn?" Here came the suspicion. "What do you know about the Dragonborn?"

"Not much," I admitted. "Just that the Septim bloodline had the Dragon Blood." Now that was a story worth telling, but now also wasn't the time. "But it's what the men called me."

"Not just the men," the Jarl corrected. "The Greybeards seem to think the same thing."

"The Greybeards?" Bishop interrupted with a snarl. "What do those old-"

"Bishop!" I snapped. "Not now." I knew the ranger was stewing in his irritation, but I didn't want another fight. "But when the dragon died, I absorbed some kind of power from it that the men insisted was its soul."

"So then it's true," Balgruuf whispered in awe, frozen. "The Greybeards really were summoning you..."

I shook my head. "Start over. Did you get a letter or something from them?"

"Didn't you hear the thundering sound in the sky?" the Jarl's brother exclaimed, stepping forward.

"Hrongar, calm yourself!" Proventus insisted, but the Nord continued as if Proventus hadn't spoken.

"That was the voice of the Greybeards summoning you to High Hrothgar! This hasn't happened in... centuries, at least. Not since Tiber Septim himself was summoned when he was still Talos of Atmora!"

Seeing my confused expression, Balgruuf put in his own explanation. "The Greybeards are Masters of the Way of the Voice. They live in seclusion high on the slopes of the Throat of the World."

"I knew where they lived, just not about that... Way of the Voice, or whatever." I remained there, paralyzed, as my brain tried to process the information. "What do these Greybeards want with me?" Somehow, I managed to keep my voice steady.

"The Dragonborn is said to be uniquely gifted in the Voice- the ability to focus your vital essence into a Thu-um, or Shout. If you really are Dragonborn, they can teach you how to use your gift." I muttered fuck under my breath, ignoring Proventus' look of distaste. At it, the advisor put in his own two septims on the matter.

"What does any of this Nord nonsense have to do with our friend here? Capable as she may be, I don't see any signs of her being this, what, 'Dragonborn.'"

Hrongar shouldered past his brother and looked down at Proventus with a violent hostility. "Why, you puffed-up ignorant- these are our sacred traditions that go back to the founding of the First Empire!"

"Hrongar." Balgruuf tapped his throne. "Don't be so hard on Avenicci." I didn't miss the sly smirk the advisor shot the Jarl's brother, nor the false-innocent tone in his words as he replied.

"I meant no disrespect, of course. It's just that... what do these Greybeards want with her?"

Balgruuf shook his head. "That's the Greybeards' business, not ours." He turned his focus back to me. "Whatever happened when you killed that dragon, it revealed something in you, and the Greybeards heard it. If they think you're Dragonborn, who are we to argue?" I nodded emotionlessly, the detachment the only thing keeping me from crumpling to the floor. "You'd better get up to High Hrothgar immediately. There's no refusing the summons of the Greybeards. It's a tremendous honor." He smiled. "I envy you, you know. To climb the 7,000 Steps again... I made the pilgrimage once, you know that?"

"I... I didn't."

"High Hrothgar is a very peaceful place. Very..." He tapped his chin, searching for the right description. "Disconnected from the troubles of this world. I wonder if the Greybeards even notice what's going on down here. They haven't seemed to care before." Waving off his poorly veiled annoyance, the Jarl sighed and waved it off. "No matter. Go to High Hrothgar. Learn what the Greybeards can teach you."

Bishop cleared his throat, speaking for me. "And what about our reward?" he pressed. "We just took down a dragon before it could demolish your city."

"Ah, right!" Jarl Balgruuf looked back and forth between us. "By my right as Jarl, I name you each Thane of Whiterun. It's the greatest honor that's within my power to grant." I could easily sense Bishop's displeasure with the reward, but with my exhaustion and mental strain, I couldn't find it within me to care. "I assign you both Lydia as a personal Housecarl, and I'll also notify my guards of your new title. Wouldn't want them to think you're part of the common rabble, now would we?" Balgruuf dipped his head in a notion of respect. "We are honored to have you as Thanes of our city... especially you, Dragonborn.

"Now, back to business." He spoke to Proventus. "Avenicci, send a notice to Commander Maro and tell him about what happened here today."

"Of course, my Jarl."

If Balgruuf expected me to ask questions, he was sorely mistaken. I wasn't in the mood to ask or answer questions of any sort. What I wanted to do was go to bed and forget everything for a few hours. The stress was eating away at my brain, and I had very little patience. Fuck it. I bowed low. "Farewell, Jarl Balgruuf. Thank you for the title." I turned on my heel and strode out with Bishop at my back and Karnwyr trotting at my side.

...

"What the fuck..." I slumped down on the bench beside the Gildergreen, unable to move much further. I needed to collect my thoughts before I tried speaking to anyone else, including the innkeeper for a room. Putting my face in my hands, a hand pressed on my back in a show of comfort.

"Hey, ladyship." He paused. "Need a sounding board?"

"Why would you offer?" I mumbled, words muffled by my hands. I lifted my head. "For that matter, why would you care?" Bishop was silent, as was I. Several minutes passed as I tried to force the exhausted panic down. Karnwyr, ever the sweetheart, nosed my hands and licked at my face, finally bringing me back to reality. "Hey, buddy. Good boy." I scratched his chin and rubbed at his ears, earning me a whine of happiness from the red wolf.

"Hey, sweetness?"

"Hmm?"

"He likes you, you know. More than he likes most people."

I tipped my head in curiosity. "Really?" I continued to shower the wolf with affection. "He's a sweetheart."

"Damn. Never thought I'd be jealous of a dog." He gave a huff, then grew somber once more. "You know why he likes you so much?" He knew why?

"Why?"

"Because you're not afraid of him like the others," Bishop answered. My own reply was simple.

"Well, once you understand an animal, you don't have to be afraid of it." I shrugged.

"You're absolutely right. You see? And that's why you and he understand each other. You understand what he is, what he does. But most importantly, and this is the most important- you understand what he's capable of doing." He and I were both silent once more, the only sounds the crickets and Karnwyr's panting.

I turned the ranger's way, but avoided looking up at him. "Um... Bishop?" I kept my eyes on the ground. "Can I... ask you a question?" He didn't respond, but his silence was undoubtedly confirmation. "What do you think about this... Dragonborn thing?"

"Well, I'll start here. What do you think about it?"

"...I asked you first."

"And I asked you second."

I lifted my head to glare at him, having to roll my eyes upon seeing his wide grin. "Well, if I'm being honest..." The mirth faded. "I don't know," I admitted. "But I can say this, Bishop- what am I supposed to do?" I rubbed my temples. "I can't be a hero."

Bishop reached out for my hand and slowly uncurled my clenched fingers, massaging them as he did so. I hadn't even realized my hands had become fists, but clearly, he had. "I think you can. That's not to say you should go waltzing around helping every lonely bastard who wants your help," he said pointedly, "but your life is your own, not the gods'." His face darkened for a moment, and he ended up shaking his head. "No one can tell you what to do." He took my head and tucked it under his chin, and while the motion was unexpected, I couldn't find it in myself to move.

"Bishop?"

"Hmm?"

"I- I think I should go to the Greybeards. I need to find out what this is." I paused. "But I need to find Nade."

"Nade? Right." He laughed to himself. "I almost forgot why you wanted to travel the entirety of Skyrim." He breathed in deeply. "It's your choice, ladyship. Whether you want to find out what it is to be Dragonborn and go to those old geezers in the mountains or find that fucker Nade and stick a spear up his ass, I'm behind you 100%." I burst out into giggles, not having expected his comment. "You've got a cute laugh, you know that?"

Finishing my laughter with a sigh, I put my head onto his shoulder. "I appreciate the support, Bishop." I closed my eyes. "I really do." He moved a bit, and I felt a slight pressure on the top of my head as he kissed it gently. A twinge of doubt and surprise pricked at my mind, but I buried it deep inside and refused to pay it any attention. For now, I was more relaxed than I'd been since Evergleam Sanctuary despite the decisions surrounding me.

"Hey, don't you fall asleep on me," Bishop chuckled with a smirk. "I mean, normally I wouldn't complain, but let's get to the inn first." Time continued to pass, and then, out of nowhere, Bishop piped up with an interesting query. "Ladyship? You asked me once how I became a ranger."

My mind raced. "You mean, months and months ago?" I forced a laugh. "Yeah, and you were a dick about it." Bishop turned his face to the heavens.

"You still want to know?"

"I- really?" He nodded at me. "Sure, I guess."

"How did I become a ranger... I guess like why anyone else sells themselves." He shifted his position a bit, and I lifted my head to see an odd expression on his face as he stared into the distance. "I was raised with the skills. The difference is that I was taught them to survive, not for profit. Not an... honest kind of profit, anyway." He seemed uncomfortable. "I started ranging about... seven years or so before we met. Word got around I could track runaways or hunt meals for fat lazy nobles... whatever. I didn't plan on it but they had gold and I had a bow, so I became their ranger." Bishop quieted then, and although I expected him to continue, he instead addressed me. "And what about the illustrious woman before me? You've got a lot in that past of yours, too."

I supposed I shouldn't have been surprised he asked, but for whatever reason, I was. "What? I..." I nibbled on my lip. What was I supposed to say to that? I could always tell him to mind his business, but then... "I broke out of prison and came to Skyrim in search of the man that betrayed me. Simple as that."

"He betrayed you, huh? That's why you want his guts on the ground?"

"Yup."

"The rest I'd figured, but it's interesting to hear why." He smacked his knees in preparation for standing. "You know what, our pasts are our pasts. We're not going to make the future any better by going on about them. As for the present, I need some heavy mead and heavier sleep." He stood up and cracked his back, then held out his hand for me to take. "Shall we, ladyship?"

...

Inside the Bannered Mare, we were greeted heartily by the innkeeper, Daniel. "Greetings, folks! How can I help you?" Before either Bishop or I got the chance to reply, one of the tavern wenches sprang up from her seat and sidled up to Bishop, smiling sexily in his face and batting her eyelashes. My hackles rose for whatever reason, and I had the temptation to Shout her across the tavern.

"Hello there, handsome. Remember me? Neeshka? Don't you think I'm pretty?"

Bishop pushed her away. "I think you're a pest." He spoke to Daniel, who seemed slightly confused at Bishop's and Neeshka's interaction. "We need two rooms, bartender." Despite Neeshka's irritating existence, Daniel focused on Bishop. "I only have one available," he admitted.

"I think I can help you, big man," Neeshka said in an overly sultry tone, pressing her arms against her breasts to push them up.

Now getting slightly hostile, Bishop pointed to the back of the inn. "Go away, flea." Once again, he faced Daniel. "Bartender, are you sure there's nothing else?"

"Well, let me see." The innkeeper turned around to think. "I have a small storage room in the bathing area, but it might be a bit uncomfortable with all the produce I have stacked in there," he admitted, turning back to us.

"I'll take it, with a reduced price for the inconvenience, and the single room, both for one night." He gave me a side-eye, then returned to Daniel. "Can the single room be well secured?"

Daniel nodded emphatically. "Yes! We had a problem a few months back, so I put some heavy-duty locks on that door."

"That's fine."

Neeshka slid in front of Bishop before he could move. "You don't have to sleep in the storage room," she purred, placing a hand on his chest. Almost viciously, Bishop smacked it away. Still, the bitch was unfettered by his hostility and continued to hover nearby.

"Then you have a bath?" the ranger clarified with the innkeeper.

"We sure do," Daniel confirmed. "Water's still warm, too. Only been used twice."

"How about you bathe with me?" Neeshka again tried making her move on Bishop, and I'd be lying if I said that watching him push her away wasn't satisfying. "You don't need her, big man," Neeshka insisted, acknowledging me for the first time since I came in. "I can wash your back for you."

Now visibly angry, Bishop actively shoved the wench away. "I already told you to get lost, flea. Maybe I should put you over my knee for being such a pest." I winced, aware that his remark was possibly one of the worst ones he could have chosen.

Sure enough, Neeshka smirked widely. "Would you? I like it rough."

Bishop's nostrils flared, and I could easily sense the tension filling his body. "You're testing my patience, flea," he warned, clenching and unclenching his fists. A period of silence followed with Daniel the one eventually breaking it.

"Erm... okay then," he said uncertainly, motioning for Bishop and me to follow him. "Let me show you to the baths." I took the lead, unwilling to look at Neeshka's face for another second. Whatever she was doing, it wasn't something I was okay with. "And here we are!" Daniel's announcement immediately followed our arrival at the bathing room. He was right; steam rose from the clear bath, and I presumed the two times it had been used was by other women. "Enjoy your bath," he said to me, "and your single bed is in that bathing room to your right," he continued, this time to Bishop. "Enjoy!"

Bishop and I entered the bathing room together, and I breathed in the steam. It cleared my lungs a bit, allowing me to breathe easier. A few privacy screens had been set up, and it would be difficult to make it past them without being seen or heard. "No one's getting in here, not without making a lot of racket and waking everyone up." I found it ironic that Bishop again echoed my thoughts. He scanned the room once more. "I'd say it's safe enough," he concluded. "Grab your things. Let's get to that bath before the water gets cold." For whatever reason, he stared at me for a few seconds before shrugging. "I'd ask to join you, but I think I'll respect your privacy."

"For once."

"Sure, sweetness. For once." He glanced outside. "You can go first. I'll wait outside the door and make sure you're not bothered."

I nodded. "Sounds like a plan." I couldn't help a snarky remark before he vanished. "Find that tavern girl to your liking?" I pressed. The ranger simply laughed.

"I have my eyes trained on a better target than some flea-bitten tavern wench." Well aware of what I was doing, I crossed my arms around my midriff and leaned to one side.

"Are you telling me you prefer a woman coated in the blood of her enemies?" I queried, sounding sweet as honey mead. Bishop's amber eyes twinkled with interest.

"Mmm, not a perfect woman, is she?" he teased, tapping my nose. "Mores the pity..." He snapped his fingers and spoke to Karnwyr. "Stay in here with the princess, buddy." Karnwyr barked in understanding and sat while Bishop gave me a sly grin. With that, Bishop turned and strode out the door, whistling a merry tune. I slipped behind the privacy screen, unable to remove the stupid grin on my face.

...

((Bishop POV))

The ranger glared at the woman strutting up to him with a confident smirk on her overly-painted face. She opened her mouth to speak, but Bishop glared at her and spoke above her. "Get out, flea."

Visibly frustrated, Neeshka leaned forward with a sexy pout. "Will you stop calling me flea?" she requested. "I'm a thief, not a flea. You of all people know that."

"I won't stop calling you a flea because you're a parasite, attaching yourself to a body to make use of it for food, protection, or whatever until you move on to another body... or are caught and get pinched to death." Bishop's retort still didn't deter the tavern wench.

"Okay, I get it." She twisted in a way that showed her bare rear to Bishop, who simply rolled his eyes. "But you are what I desire in a man, and I would be a fool if I didn't give it every effort."

Scowling, Bishop tried to curb the urge to stick the flea and be done with it. "Consider it given," he growled. "Now, get lost."

"I make a good bellywarmer!"

"Not. Interested." His voice was becoming increasingly hostile, but for some reason, Neeshka didn't seem to notice, or perhaps didn't care. Fuming, the tavern wench put her hands on her hips and tried storming into the bathing room, obviously in an attempt to get to Alessia. Bishop reacted just as quickly, roughly shoving Neeshka backward. "Don't even think about it, flea," Bishop snarled, hand on his knife.

Still furious, Neeshka continued staring into the bathing room with fire in her eyes. "What makes her so special?" she snapped, her question putting the ranger even more on edge.

"No venereal diseases, for one," he replied carelessly. "And for two, she just is. Now. Get. Lost."

Neeshka clasped her hands together pleadingly, her face adoringly cute in a way that would have swayed even the most loyal married man. Bishop, however, was unaffected. "I'm better for you than her!" she insisted.

Bishop drew his dagger from its sheath ever so slightly as a warning. "Get out of here now or die, your choice."

"But I just want to be with you!"

"That's impossible."

"I could be good for you!"

Here, Bishop's knife was out and held up threateningly. "You so much as come near this room again and I will slit your throat!"

Fuming for a few seconds, Neeshka finally stomped her feet on the ground childishly and stormed away. "Fine!" she wailed. "I'll just go, then!"

"Good!" Bishop called out after her. "And stay gone!"

...

((Alessia POV))

Toweling off, I frowned as I considered the angry mumbling I'd heard outside the room. Bishop had obviously been arguing, but with whom? I had an idea, but I'd have to confirm it with the ranger.

Getting dressed, I patted the defensive Karnwyr's head and walked up to Bishop. "Hey there."

"Ah. You're done." He stretched out and scratched the stubble on his chin. "Took you long enough." I scanned the inn for Neeshka, and upon finding her, noted her surly expression that turned into hate the second she saw me.

"That tavern girl seemed quite taken with you," I mentioned casually.

Bishop turned a bit sour. "Ah. Must be my animal magnetism."

Deciding to resume the flirtatious banter from earlier, I settled on my reply. "I've noticed." Bishop's interest instantly grew, and a smirk formed on his handsome face.

"Is that right?"

I bit my lip in an almost seductive way, for some reason intent on taking his focus off Neeshka- if he had any, that was. Still, I needed to know what was going on while I was in the bath. "So," I said conversationally, if not sweetly, "will you tell me what happened?"

Bishop snorted, drawing back. "No."

"Tell me," I demanded. Bishop simply sighed and clicked his tongue in reproach.

"Being nosy isn't very ladylike," he reprimanded.

I looked back and saw that Neeshka had disappeared. "She came to you while I was in the bathhouse?" I pressed, still trying to find out what I could.

"Yes," the ranger said curtly, taking out his dagger and eyeing the edges critically.

I frowned. "...You're not going to tell me what happened, are you?"

"No."

"Bishop!"

He returned his knife to its sheath and stared at me with a sly curiosity. "Wow, if I didn't know any better..." The ranger leaned in and whispered into my ear, his hot breath making me unconsciously shiver. "I'd say you were the jealous one." I immediately became sour, and Bishop's grin was triumphant.

"As if!" I snapped hotly, crossing my arms and facing my room. "Get lost." With a low chuckle, Bishop bowed and headed for the bath.

"Thank you for your permission... princess."