Northbound Pilgrimage II

Chapter XIII - A Favor for a Merchant

Bishop slammed the door of Moorside Inn behind him a bit more forcefully than necessary.

He was done with that place. The last thing he needed was another reminder of the image of her walking out of that very door. Like he didn't get enough reminders already. He could still feel her in his arms, still hear the soft whimpers of her restless sleep, still taste her on his tongue. It was all like a constant bitter reminder that she was gone yet again.

Funny, he should be getting used to this already, shouldn't he?

But he suspected that it was not to be. Besides, he hardly wanted to get used to this! He wanted her to stay, not make her leaving even more common.

He just needed to get away for a while, clear his head or something.

Or numb it with liquor.

Fuck Karliah right now! The mission was done now anyway, he was sure that she would only send him on more mindless errands until something better came along. He was in no mood for that.

He was actually in no mood for anything or anyone.

He could just stay in the wilderness for a while with Karnwyr, but it would give him too much time to think. That was the last thing he wanted. He briefly considered finding some inn somewhere which held no memories of Aeyrin for him. But after a while pondering, he could not really think of any. They've traveled everywhere together.

Why couldn't they just go back to that?!

He almost wished that last night hadn't happened. It only made things harder. And he thought that he had no idea where he stood before... now it was even more complicated. But then again, before she left once more, he was happier than he'd been in a long time. Even then, there was a looming question in the air the entire time: 'what will happen after?' But it was all too easy to forget that question completely when he held her.

But now he knew the answer to it.

Maybe with enough alcohol he could forget it again.

He wasn't sure where Aeyrin went. He wasn't exactly eager to see her. Well... he was... he always was, despite his bitterness. But he knew that it was a terrible idea right then. She wanted time, he could at very least make the attempt. Maybe she had a point. Maybe it would do both of them some good. And there was one sure place where he would not run into her by accident, no matter the circumstances.

Besides, if he avoided the cornerclub, there was absolutely nobody in Windhelm that would bother him or ask questions about Aeyrin. He could spend some time at Candlehearth Hall all alone, now that... now that Susanna was dead.

Aeyrin felt so awful after she was prevented from finding that killer.

Maybe while he was there, he could at least ask about some updates and...

Stop, fucking stop! You're not going there FOR her!

Ugh, he better get on the road.

Hopefully something will attack him soon to keep his mind off things.

...

Aeyrin spent two more days in Jorrvaskr in blissful ignorance of the outside world.

She had no desire to roam around Whiterun among the gossipmongers. It was bad enough that she noticed the odd stares and whispers from the junior recruits right away; she did not want to deal with a whole city of that. Luckily, Vilkas and Farkas's threatening looks put a stop to those looks soon enough.

She spent her days with the twins, talking about their adventures and sparring. In the end, it was rather relaxing. Since Aela and Skjor left, the atmosphere had become decidedly less tense. They hadn't returned the entire time. But since Aeyrin was somewhat enjoying her days there, she considered waiting for them a little longer. If Raven really needed to talk to her, he would send a message anyway.