Chapter Twelve
By night fall the snow has began to calm down. Both River and I were on foot and Roar was on horse back (stolen horse back) as he was still too weak to walk. I turn and glance over to Roar, he looks so ill. “River we need to get him somewhere dry and warm for the night or he won’t live.” I plead. “Shush.” River stops still and tip toes over to a tree in front. I remain quiet and still like he asked me to. He slowly glances round the tree trunk and then tip toes back to me and the paint horse. “There is a camp a head.” River whispers. “Then we shall go round.” I say confused. “The camp is occupied by only two bandits.” River continues. “If we get rid of them we have warmth for the night.” I look over to Roar who by now is too weak to even lift his head. I lower my eyes and nod to River. “What ever it takes.”
River takes my bow and a few arrows that the paint horse has also been carrying for me and I hand over an axe to River. For now we leave Roar where he is. River then hands me the bow and the arrows and leans over towards me so we are face to face and tells me his plan. “Climb up this tree and put an arrow in the bandit that is closest the fire, I will charge after the one closest to where we are. Hopefully we will have no surprises of any others.” I agree and begin to climb the tree. River then grabs my leg and whispers. "Oh and Amber, don’t miss.” I smile down at him and continue to climb. Luckily the wind whistling through the leaves disguises the sound of my climbing. I really couldn’t have done this in my armour.
One bandit had their back to me cooking something on the fire and the other was sharpening their war axe. This wasn’t the best of timing to attack someone when already they had their weapon in their hands ready and sharp for their next kill. Hopefully that kill wasn’t going to be us. I dangle my legs one on each side of a branch and get my bow and first arrow ready to make the kill. River hides behind the tree I’m sat in holding his axe tightly waiting to jump out and make his kill. I calmly pull back and hold the arrow in place; I hold my breath and aim. One. two, three… the arrow flies straight through the bandits throat, he falls almost on to the fire. The other bandit jumps up and holds his sharpened axe in to the air and looks around for anyone to kill. River dives from behind the tree also holding his axe in the air and charges at the bandit. The bandit sees River, charges at him and then an arrow flies through his throat and he falls face down on to the cold snow. River still holding his axe in the air stares at the now second dead bandit. I climb down from the tree and join him. “You are highly skilled with a bow.” River says in shock. “I know.” I smile.
River disposes of the dead bandits and I help Roar to warm himself by the fire. I then use the fire and the bandit’s cook pot to make some soup from some of the supplies I brought from Whiterun. After Roar has finished his meal I help him into one of the bandit’s tent and place a number of furs on him to keep him warm. “I’m sorry you have to see me like this Amber.” Roar weakly whispers. I smile, lean over and kiss him on his nose, a little childlike thing we have always done since we fell in love and I leave him to sleep. I then get more of my soup and settle next to River who has been sat near the warm flames. “If you wish to lay with your husband I can keep watch tonight.” River spoke looking slightly embarrassed. “No, he needs his energy.” I blush. “And we need to talk.”
We sit in silence for a little while, and then I decide to break the silence. “River, where have you been all this time? I have always thought you dead.” River stops eating and watches the flames from the fire. “I thought you were dead too.” He speaks softly. “That night we were travelling to Solitude, while you slept we where attacked by only one bandit. The fool must have thought he was going to take money from some simple folk travelling and not from an Org with an axe. It took not much effort to kill him but then something else happened and come morning I was waking up face down in mud next to ashes. I thought you were amongst those ashes so in mourning I travelled from inn to inn picking fights with who ever wanted one. One evening I picked a fight with a Hunter who decided needed my fighting skills and asked me to join them.” River stands up and takes more soup from the pot and settles back down again.
I was just about to speak when he continues his story. “Seasons passed by and I did enjoy the feeling of battle again and I began to feel happier but then a story came back to me of a wedding and when I found out it was your wedding. I couldn’t understand why had you lived and not tried to find me, and then marry. I know there was no romantic link with us but I saw a bond of a good friendship. I never thought you’d be a member of the Companions. Amber if I knew I would never have gone into battle with…” I quickly interrupt. “I understand.”
Again for a moment there was silence. The night weather was calm and the sky lit up with so many stars. There was a wooden chest in the empty tent further away from us so River began to pick the lock. “Are you looking for weapons?” I call out to him. “No wine.” He answers. I lick my lips; I’d love to have some wine now. I walk over to where River knelt and try to pick the lock also but no luck. “Here Amber, let me try something.” River says walking away and then returning. I ignore him and continue fiddling with the lock. River spoke again. “Amber move.” I turn and look up to River who is holding a war axe with both hands above his head and is about to slam it down against the chest. I laugh and dive out of the way.
Crack, the chest splits open but only slightly, enough to look and see what is inside. I put my hand inside the crack that River had made and fish around until I can sense any thing that is drinkable. “Mead?” I say while pulling out the bottle. “Perfect.” River answers walking back to his spot round the fire. We share the bottle between us until it becomes empty.
“So what happens now with you?” I ask River swaying slightly. River throws a stick into the fire just for the sake of it. “I want to see you and your husband home safely.” “Then what? What if the Hunters find you?” I ask. “Amber I’d be more worried about the Companions.” River adds and then continues. “You don’t realise do you? Where do you think the Hunters were, and why do you think we kept one of you as a prisoner?” I shake my head and say nothing. River speaks again. “Amber the Hunters plan was for you all to return to rescue Roar and then we were going to ambush you all. The plan now isn’t going to work as well firstly you came a day too early and secondly you came alone.” “So where are the Hunters now?” I ask standing up. “They are watching the Companions waiting for them to leave Whiterun and then the Hunters will follow them into their own Hunters hide out.” River answers. “Sounded like a good plan.” I say digging another bottle from the broken chest. “But this means we can’t return to Whiterun.” I add while settling back down again. “They will just attack us there.” I lean forward and rub my forehead. I need to think.
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