CHAPTER 1: Phaere

Disclaimer: I don't own BG2, I think that I'll know it and you too, if I did. Oh yeah, you'd know it!

It was night in the forest of Tethyr. Phaere Despana, former First Daughter of House Despana in Ust Natha and currently unwillingly exiled at the surface was in a very, very, bad mood. Her captor, Faeryl Jaelre a vile drothir half-drow, half-elf, was standing close to her,the moonlight illuminating her bare blue-grey skin, her night-blue hair flowing in the cool wind and her golden eyes half closed, humming a song while gazing at the moon. She has been dancing under Phaere's gaze for a while, but was now apparently done with her worship of that false goddess of her.
It has been a shock to discover that her champion, "Veldrin" was in fact a surfacer mongrel and worse, a Sword dancer of that weakling goddess Eilistraee.
She had killed Phaere's mother Matron Ardulace and abducted the First Daughter, robbing her of her place of new Matron Mother. Phaere gritted her teeth at the thought. She was so close to success! Her mother had given the false eggs to the demon, getting herself killed by the offended fiend, then she had moved forward ready to claim the glory for herself when that damned bitch had knocked her out.

When she woke up, she was in an elven war basement, surrounded by unknown surfacers and to her horror, Solaufein was here too. She had almost fainted seeing him next to her, partly from surprise, partly from... something else. He had explained to her the treachery she had been caught in: Veldrin and her party were in fact surface adventurers in search of that mad wizard Irenicus. With Solaufein, she had been left in the in the elves' care, while Faeryl and her friends Imoen, Jaheira, Minsc, Aerie, Viconia a drow renegade and Jan Jansen, went chasing after someone called Bhodi.

It has been one of the worst period of her life. The darhtiir's chief, Elhan locked her with Solaufein, and four elven guards, who seemed to be waiting for the slightest pretext to kill them. Though she hated to admit it, she had been terrified and to her greatest shame, she was sure that the other drow had seen it.

Thinking about the devil... she saw Solaufein appear between the trees; The male was given the "privilege" to walk freely by the Queen of Suldanesselar , because of his alleged "heroic deeds during a time of dire need". The former commander of the male warriors' society seemed more happy than Phaere had ever seen him,including the time they were lovers.
The warrior exchanged a smile with the sword dancer and kneeled in front of her, waiting to receive her blessing. The sight sickened Phaere.
That arrogant harlot! Who did she think she was?
She watched as Faeryl helped Solaufein up and kissed his brow. One moment, the drow female thought about stabbing the drothir in the back, but she knew the risks were far too high. She had seen the eilistraean fight and was not arrogant enough to think she could stand a chance in her current state. Not while Lolth had forsaken her.
She didn't think that anybody had noticed, but when she had reached for the presence of the Dark Goddess, she couldn't find her. She was strong, however. She knew that eventually, she'd regain Lolth's favor, by a mean or another. It simply couldn't be otherwise. The alternative was unthinkable. It was just that she felt so... alone and helpless.
She was so deep in thought that at first she didn't notice the Sword dancer talking to her and she was startled when Faeryl lightly touched her arm. She cursed inwardly; in the Underdark, these mere seconds of distraction could have been her death.

"So, Phaere, tell me, what would be your projects from now?" asked the half-drow.

Surprised, the Despana daughter looked up at the drothir. Was the wael naive enough to think that she'd tell HER about her plans?

"She probably intend to kill you somehow and try to bring your head back in Ust Natha to the Handmaiden as an offering." said dryly Solaufein.
Phaere glared viciously at him, wishing she could kill in the most vicious manner right now. The male had spoken too close to the truth to her liking.

"Peace Solaufein, it was Phaere I was talking to." said gently Faeryl.

"You don't really think that I will answer that question, do you?" retorted the drow female.

"Well...not really. Not at first, anyway. However you should know that I am well aware of your current situation. I know that you have lost your goddess favor, and I highly doubt that she'll forgive you your mistakes. Besides why would you want to come back to her? All that you can hope is a cruel and lonely life that will end at one of your children's hands. You just have to look at your mother fate!"

Phaere felt her repressed anguish grow with each word the other female spoke. Deep inside, she knew that this was true, but she just couldn't accept it. Fifty years of indoctrination and months of tortures at the hands of the handmaiden of the Spider Queen were not so easily denied.

"What can you know, you waela jalil? it is her own foolishness that led Ardulace tor her demise! the way of Lolth is the only one that can lead to power! everything else is weakness and folly!"

"Yes, I am sure it is. Just remind me, who the handmaiden who tortured you were worshipping, already? wasn't it Lolth?"

"Shut up, elg'caress! I...deserved my punishment. I had to be reminded of the sacred duties of a priestess. I should not have let a mere male get between me and my goddess will. I...I...it was...my fault..." when she stopped talking, Phaere was on the verge of tears. The memory of the tentacle rods were trying to surface once more, and she had to keep them away. She couldn't afford to show a weakness to this mongrel.

Why did she speak to that half-breed, anyway? thought Phaere. She didn't need to justify herself, did she?

"It wasn't your fault. You hadn't done anything wrong and you know it. You were simply in love, that's nothing to be punished for." said Faeryl on a soothing tone.

Why did she speak to her like this? wondered the drow, Why did she really seemed to care anyway? Why should anyone care? She had no power left, nor riches or anything. She was...a failure. Everything she had fought for was now lost and beyond her reach. She lived by the only will of her enemies and her goddess, despite all her efforts didn't want her anymore. All her sufferings had been...in vain.
Without her noticing it, her tears were now flowing freely down her cheeks, tears that she has been holding back for years, since she first entered Lolth's service. Faeryl took her in her arms, hugging her gently. The sobbing drow clung to her like a scared child.

"I don't know what to do, sobbed Phaere, I don't what I should do anymore."

"You can do anything you want, Phaere. Nobody here will hurt you. Do you hear me? you don't have to follow your mother tracks and become what you hated so much, but should you decide to go back to Ust Natha, I would help you to. You could also accompany me when I'll leave. You are free."

Pulling away from the still crying drow, she added:

"I will let you for a while, now. You have important matters to discuss with Solaufein here, I think."

The Despana daughter nodded weakly, not meeting the gaze of the man she once loved, then had wanted to kill.
Giving Phaere an encouraging smile, she picked up her clothes, and walked away, giving the two drows the privacy they would need to find each other again. She knew that Phaere still loved Solaufein. She had seen the look of sadness, the fist daughter had when she had thought that the warrior was dead.
It was at this instant she noticed a lone elf walking toward her.

"Well met, Faeryl hero of Suldanesselar! he greeted her. The queen sent me inform you that your presence is required at the castle as soon as possible."

The drothir sighed in annoyance; of all the people she doesn't want to see, the Queen of the elves was the first.