Northbound Pilgrimage III

Chapter XXXIV - Welcome Back

Author's Note:

VISUAL WARNING: I can't really call this a 'trigger warning' because it's not actually triggering or bad in any way O:) Just be aware that there is a nsfw piece of... ehm... art (?) in the chapter. Just a nude drawing. Not detailed at all, but still nude. I won't spoil more ;)

I hope you'll enjoy the chapter. Welcome back to the ever fun Solitude ;)

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"She'll be alright, you got here fast."

The priestess smiled softly at Bishop as she continued to run her lit up hand over Aeyrin's stomach.

The journey to Solitude was grueling. Aeyrin managed to walk, but it was clear that despite the potions in her system, anytime the shirt brushed too much against her burn or anytime she moved in a way that exacerbated the area, the potion's effects weren't enough to help her. One more and she might get a bit too woozy though.

In the end, there was no choice. The effects of the potions were beginning to wane as they neared Solitude and Aeyrin couldn't stand it. She needed to drink more. Two more in fact. And with part of the old potions still in her system, she started to stumble and wobble on her feet. Bishop had to take her into his arms in the end, no matter how she whined that it hurts. They weren't going to make it to the city any other way.

Fortunately the priestess at the Temple of the Divines was confident that she could heal the burns without leaving any trace on Aeyrin's body.

Aeyrin was passed out or somewhat delirious for most of the healing, but now she was coming to a bit.

The priestess was now working on the last burns on her exposed stomach. She was hale and there really were no more burns that would scar, but the entire area of her body was still bright red.

"She'll need to be treated with a frost mirriam poultice for two days too," the priestess stated. "Otherwise the skin might still flake and peel. More like a sunburn though, not an actual burn."

"Yeah, that's fine," Bishop nodded. He had to be there for the healing since Aeyrin wasn't really capable of explaining what happened. And he wanted to be there anyway, so he sat on a small stool by the cot she was on for the entire time. A few hours now.

He told the priestess that a warlock used some fire spell on Aeyrin. He hoped that this weird priest magic didn't work differently in its effects, but fortunately since the priestess managed to take care of the wound, it didn't. He couldn't just say that a Vigilant attacked his werewolf fiancé, could he?

That Vigilant. Fuck.

Bishop didn't even want to think about what could follow, what this could do. He saw the Vigilant's face, he knew he recognized Aeyrin. This was gonna be another mess they had to deal with.

But maybe, knowing there's a cure, they could just... explain it to the Vigilants. Aeyrin was coming around on her black and white views a bit too after all. Though it took ages for her to at least try to believe she was no monster. Bishop couldn't even imagine trying to explain it to a bunch of zealous paladins.

But there was no point in dwelling on this now. The paladin got away. There was not much else to be done about it.

"Alright. I'll get you the poultice," the priestess tore Bishop away from his ruminations when she was done with Aeyrin's wound at last. She stepped away from a second, leaving Bishop with some time alone with Aeyrin.

"How are you doing, sweetness?" He gently took her hand in his and stroked over the back of it with his thumb.

"Better. Spinny," she murmured. Everything was swirling a bit, but the pain was gone. There was just a tiny burning tingle in those spots now.