Northbound Pilgrimage II

Chapter CXXV - Cold

So cold.

Why was she so cold? Usually, it wasn't an issue with Bishop's warm body next to hers.

Aeyrin didn't even remember what happened last night. She was predictably in bed, naked, with Bishop resting by her side – in Rorikstead. That made sense. Where else would she be? This all made the most sense. That would be the normal thing to wake up to.

The comfortable thing to wake up to.

But everything just felt... off.

For the most part, there was the palpable hangover. Aeyrin was pretty sure that it was the unpleasantness of it that woke her up in the first place. The headache was excruciating. She wanted nothing more than a healing potion to numb the pain just then – her head was threatening to split. Then again, to do that, she would have to actually open her eyes and get up. That was out of the question.

The dryness in her throat was her next big problem. And it had the same unachievable solution as the previous one – getting up. Nope. Not a chance. She felt like she had just drunk a glass of sand. But that wasn't nearly as bad as the notion of opening her eyes.

That was because of the sun. The horribly obnoxious sun that was rudely shining straight onto her face. It was... a little unexpected, since she was pretty sure that the windows of their room faced west, but... then again, she didn't really know what time it was.

And that was another problem. She didn't allow herself to dwell on it overmuch, but there was the stray thought in her head now and then, asking the prodding questions. What happened last night? Where did they go? What did they do? Why did her back hurt and why did she feel like they had been outside? How long were they in their drunken stupor and what time was it now?

So many questions. If only there were answers waiting for her in her sleep, instead of in the moment when she would finally open her eyes. But she wasn't going to. Not yet.

She needed more rest. She clearly didn't have enough since she was so damn cold.

Why? She felt a soft blanket on her. She felt the sun on her face. Why was she freezing? And most of all, how could she be freezing when she was nestled to Bishop like that, curled to his flank with her arm under his back and the other on his chest?

And what was even more baffling, was the very odd lack of heat radiating from Bishop's body. Where was that familiar hot skin, burning like a furnace whenever she was cold? This was all kinds of disappointing.

It wasn't just a lack of heat. He actually felt cold.

She didn't remember him even feeling cold. Maybe when he got a taste of her frost breath Shout or when there was an actual blizzard leaving small bits of ice all over him. It was unexpected. What was up with this room that made everything freezing?

Everything just felt odd. It was a weird hangover. She even felt like he seemed somehow... smaller than usual. Like his muscles were leaner, his arms somewhat skinny. Even the hair on his chest felt sparser.

That was just... so strange. She was just imagining things.

Maybe she was still a little drunk.

Ugh, how much did they have to drink? She remembered the first bottle of rum and then not much else. She knew they both wanted to drink more, but she didn't remember whether they actually did.

Well, that was stupid. Of course they did. Otherwise she wouldn't be feeling like this. That rum wasn't that strong. Although last night it felt so much more potent than before.

Aeyrin let out an annoyed groan when the discomfort of it all reminded itself once more. She really needed to get up. Then she could get some water, get another blanket or a bedroll or something. And she could warm them both up enough to go to sleep again.