Northbound Pilgrimage II

Chapter CXLI - Full Circle

Author's Note:

Here we are. The last ten chapters of the second book, the last plotline. And as you all know, we've come full circle with this one and returned to the same place the first book ended. Now you can only wonder if it will end in a similar angsty tragedy or if Bishop and Aeyrin manage to reclaim the forests like they plan to ;)

It's been an amazing ride to share the second book with you all and I know the last ten chapters will not be an exception. Thank you all so much for your continued support and readership.

I hope you'll enjoy reading the final days of the second book as much as I enjoyed writing them <3

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The decision has been made.

Falkreath. Their journey would continue there. They would reclaim the area as they were planning – they would move on from the painful memories lurking in those forests and come out stronger for it.

It may have been a little naïve. Bishop certainly thought so. It didn't work like that, not in his experience. Not this fast. It took him years to walk around the Rift without painful memories reminding him of the past there. They still sometimes invaded his mind. But Aeyrin's enthusiasm was contagious. And he was pretty confident that it would help at least a little.

He was already planning on how to make their stay there more pleasant.

But first things first. They needed to get there.

After their unfortunate, and at the same time unbelievably lucky, encounter with the old mage assassin, they had agreed on their next course of action. They set out shortly after they decided – along the Jerall mountains again and towards Ivarstead. They would probably take the same route again, though they could pass through the mountains, it usually took even more time than bypassing them with all that snow and uneven terrain.

Usually they passed by the Treva River and Lake Geir, but this time, they opted to stick to the mountains. Even though they had a destination in mind, it was still nice to pass through some less explored areas. And besides, it was much less uncomfortably open. They still hoped that the assassin attack was more or less a coincidence – that the man had spotted them and decided to take a chance. That the Brotherhood wasn't actually actively looking for Bishop. They had better things to do, surely. But it was still a little disappointing, naïve as that may have been to think otherwise, that he just outright wanted to attack.

Maybe he didn't though. Maybe he was going to light the fire with that spell.

That was the absolute stupidest, but still oddly comforting, idea Bishop had all day.

There was not much to do but go onwards anyway. There were no places that would be safer than a city. And there were no other tactics they could employ in their travels. They had no idea how to be even more careful and alert.

They had a letter ready for Commander Maro to send out from Ivarstead. That was all they could do now. That and trying to concentrate on their journey instead.

Another small surface Dwemer site provided a welcome distraction. A group of bandits have taken interest in it, likely though only as their opportune camping spot. Just like with the last one, there was nothing of value there. It was no wonder. Even first chambers of underground Dwemer cities were usually long picked clean, let alone sites like these.

The sun was slowly starting to set. It was late afternoon already and it could have been a good time to set up camp, but they were determined to make it to Ivarstead for the night instead. An inn full of people might not be foolproof, but it would be a bit safer, even if the Penitus agents weren't stationed in the hamlet.