Deathbeds[✓]

11;

*nsfw at the end. 

Morning came too soon, and they were packed up and on the road before the sun broke over the horizon.

Anais let Bishop take lead, deciding to take the long route to Ivarstead by passing through Falkreath. She didn't mind; she really didn't care as long as they were out of the Reach. They'd gotten lucky so far even though they followed the road and stayed away from the towns. Not a single guard had crossed their path, which was some respite from all the mess going on with Anais. She didn't need to be hauled off to Cidhna mine to boot.

Bishop was quiet, but Anais already had a feeling he would be moody considering her impending fate with Alduin. They traveled together for only a few weeks but in that time Anais had gotten quite attached to him. Bishop was her closest confidant outside her mentor and the Greybeards. Her unwelcome distraction became more of a welcomed escape, but even that would end. She couldn't blame him for detaching from her.

They approached Old Hroldan, and Anais thought briefly maybe, just maybe, it would be safe enough for them to stop for breakfast. She didn't know if there was a patrol guard, or if there was any sort of patrol out this far from the city. It would definitely be risky.

Bishop walked right past the sign for Old Hroldan on the dirt footpath. Karnwyr was snapping his maw at a bee that buzzed around his ears. Anais looked over the incline at the inn. Sure enough, there was a guard there. He did a double take at her and shouted something at them.

Bishop stopped and looked back at Anais with a raised eyebrow in question. Anais grabbed his arm and sprinted down the road. Karnwyr yipped and growled at the guard in pursuit.

"By order of the Jarl, stop right there!"

"Ladyship..." Bishop growled at her, keeping up with her.

"Not now!"

Bishop stopped suddenly and pulled Anais off the path. He pushed her down onto the grass behind a large boulder and used his body to conceal her further. Karnwyr joined them and Bishop muttered to the both of them, "stay silent," then deftly withdrew his dagger, just in case.

Chains jingling alerted them that the guard was passing, but slowed near the boulder they were hiding behind. Anais held still as a statue and noticed the knuckles on Bishop's hands turn white from holding the dagger.

"Ruma the Dragonborn, you are charged with conspiracy against the Jarl of Markarth and the murder of Betrid Silver-Blood! I demand you show yourself!"

Bishop narrowed his eyes at Anais. She grabbed Bishop's wrist holding the dagger. He glowered at her, already sensing that she was going to defy him. She tapped a finger against her temple. Bishop shook his head, mouthing 'absolutely not' to her.

The guard started to walk slow, scanning the expanse for them. Anais slipped out from underneath Bishop and slipped around the boulder on her hands and knees. She sat back, cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered, "Zul mey gut."

"Hey ugly!"

The guard turned, hearing Anais' voice back up the road. The guard drew his sword and ran to the sound of her thrown voice.

Anais met Bishop around the boulder. He took her hand and they snuck around the boulder and back onto the road. They looked at one another once they were far enough away, and started laughing.

When their laughter died down, Anais smoothed away her hair from her cheek. "That's always fun," she chuckled and took a deep breath.

"You do it often, I take it? Terrorize guards to escape dungeons?" Bishop jested next to her, a smirk returning to his face.