Northbound Pilgrimage II

Chapter XXXVII - Celebrations

Author's Note:

I hope you all enjoyed the detour into some else's perspective. Speaking of, for those of you interested, yesterday I have also finished posting the side story I had mentioned before. So if you're interested in an angsty ride, check it out in First Book Extras (chapters three to six).

But things are not angsty everywhere :) The following chapter will be a bit of a respite after the important conversations are done. And then it's gonna be all fluffy and lemony :D

I hope you'll enjoy <3

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After a rather restless night and a brief amount of sleep, Aeyrin left Ivarstead to hurry back to Riften with Karnwyr at her heels.

She needed to take care of Sibbi in some way. If only she knew how. Talking to him seemed like a moot point. He had already tricked her once – she could never believe anything that he may have promised her. Maybe she could talk to Maven? She was obviously not thrilled about Sibbi's schemes. Maybe she would actually put a stop to this? Maybe she would throw him back into prison?

It was probably the best thing that Aeyrin could do right then. She didn't have any better ideas anyway.

Karnwyr suddenly let out an excited bark and he instantly ran off into the woods. He must have spotted some prey that he couldn't resist chasing just then. She was determined to leave him in the forests anyway, in case Mercer was planning something unscrupulous. If he didn't return to her before she reached Riften, he would hopefully get the message when she didn't wait for him. Although... Bishop had said that he was used to waiting for him at the docks. That would have been even worse than having their eyes on him.

She didn't pay attention to the sounds of the forests around her as she walked onwards, lost in her thoughts. It was not as if the forests weren't rustling all the time anyway.

She didn't even notice when a particularly loud rustle of leaves echoed behind her back and a second later, she could feel a presence behind her.

There wasn't even a time to scream when a strong arm curled around her stomach and pressed her back to the person behind her.

Now she let out a loud yelp.

"You should really be more careful, ladyship. There are wolves all over the woods, just waiting to pounce on you," a familiar malicious chuckle sent a hot breath against her ear.

"Bishop!" she gasped in surprise and he managed to gently bite the new tip of her deformed ear before she disentangled herself from him sharply.

She turned to him with an accusing look. He scared the Oblivion out of her! But before she managed to chastise him, she noticed his rather haggard looks. He had circles under his eyes, which meant that he definitely hadn't slept all night. And there was a strange expression on his face. He was smirking at her victoriously, but there was something in his eyes – a measure of panic.

What was that about? Did he come to see if she was alright? On her pathetically uneventful journey to Ivarstead and back? Did he not think that she would handle this on her own? They travelled separately for months before! She deserved a little credit and trust, didn't she?

"What are you doing here? Are you... checking up on me? I was just heading back to Riften," she narrowed her eyes at him in suspicion.

"No... nothing like that," his expression turned much more morose suddenly. "Just... Riften... probably not a good idea right now," he cleared his throat uncomfortably. This... was going to be hard to tell her. But she would understand, wouldn't she? Once she learned the whole truth. There was no other way.