Northbound Pilgrimage II

Chapter CVI - On Top of the World

"Where's the last one?"

Aeyrin rummaged around in Bishop's pack, looking for his bolt traps.

They were camping in a secluded cavern by River Hjaal, close to the Whiterun border. They hadn't stopped since their unorthodox escape from Dawnstar and, by the time night came, they reached this point, with no real destination in mind.

They set up camp a while ago. They had dinner and washed everything, including their clothes, in the nearby river until the time came to secure the camp for the night. They were both still rattled from the events. It was already bad after that temple and then, after the Brotherhood ambushed Bishop, they spent their whole journey anxious and paranoid, constantly looking over their shoulders. Karnwyr preferred to stay outside for the night – he made that clear when he ran off right after dinner. And now was finally the time when they could relax a little. Those traps did at least give them some measure of peace in the wilderness.

If only Aeyrin could find the last one while Bishop was setting up.

"Oh. Right," Bishop remembered. He used that trap a while ago to secure the cottage. He never got a chance to tell Aeyrin – she was usually busy with other things while he was setting up those traps. And he couldn't really tell her the truth either. "It broke. When you were down south building that chapel, one of the boxes broke on me when I was setting it up in my camp."

"Oh," Aeyrin stopped rummaging around pointlessly at last and she tossed his pack aside.

"We'll make do with just two, love," he threw her a reassuring look over his shoulder.

She wasn't really bothered by that. There was only one way out of the cave and if something came for them that didn't get stopped by the first two traps, the last one would hardly help.

She didn't even really want to think about the security of their camp anymore. She just wanted to feel safe again, without those lingering doubts, but she didn't really see that coming any time soon. But maybe some sleep would chase all those thoughts away a bit. She still felt tired, even after their night in Dawnstar which was surprisingly more energizing. Even though it was still plagued by nightmares.

They weren't like those that the Skull had caused – not so vivid, not so lingering. But they were still there. She thought that it was getting better, but their ordeal in Dawnstar and the sudden memories of those fears manifested seemed to have reopened some old wounds.

She barely even noticed that Bishop was already done, as lost in thought as she had been. But he promptly tore her away from her ruminations.

He had already disposed of his clothes. And now he wrapped his arms around her waist and ushered her away from the fire to their bedroll. When she scurried back, his hands wandered to the hems of her shirt and he promptly draped it over her head.

"Come, love. Let's go to bed," he nuzzled her neck from behind slowly. Enough of those fucking traps and security measures. Enough of constantly looking over their shoulders. He just wanted to forget all that shit that happened in the last few days and concentrate on being with her, losing himself in her. They didn't really get a chance to enjoy themselves since their first night in Dawnstar. Which, come to think of it, was only two nights ago. For some reason, it felt like ages.

Aeyrin slowly nodded, pressing her head into his for a brief moment, before she started to take off her boots. Bishop kept distracting her with languid kisses on the side of her neck while she continued to struggle with her clothes, tossing away her boots at last and then her trousers and undergarments. With some difficulty of course, despite the fact that Bishop clearly wanted her naked, his wandering hands and distractions only served to hinder her efforts.