Sacrifices: Innocence Preserved

When you are with me I'm free
I'm careless, I believe
Above all the others, we'll fly
This brings tears to my eyes
My Sacrifice

Excerpt from Creed, "My Sacrifice"

It was in the bedroom of their captor that she had collapsed. She had dropped to the ground, and buried her face in her hands.

Forgetting the Goodberries that he was supposed to eat, Liam knelt down and wrapped his calloused hands around Imoen's waist. It was meant to be a supportive gesture, but she shrank underneath the embrace. He let go, yet the burning heat her body left on his chest and bare arms was still present. Without thinking, Liam rubbed his tanned shoulders. A desperate attempt to spread the warmth to his aching muscles.

"Imoen..." he lifted the crimson strands of filthy hair that had fallen into her eyes and pushed them behind her delicate ears.

She looked up, and Liam could see traces of shadow lingering beneath her clear blue eyes, "I'm fine," she smiled, "just tired, that's all."

He squeezed her shoulder, not completely believing her. "Alright, then. Here, eat these. You need to keep up your strength." he handed her the berries. "Now, let's get out of this hellhole, shall we?" he took on a mock formal tone, "After you, milady."

Imoen laughed as she always did when Liam played paladin.

"You know, just 'cause you're a paladin doesn't mean you have to sound like one."

Encouraged, Liam got more into his role. He widened his dark jade coloured eyes and failed his arms about in dramatic gestures, "I am truly shocked, my good lady. Shocked and appalled. To not sound like a paladin would be to shirk my duties! And that, lady, can simply not happen! Why, I would be ostracized from all my paladin love... I mean, friends! With whom would I brotherly share my forty litre barrel of Extra Sheen Armour Polish? To even think of shirking, I would be bring shame to paladins everywhere!"

Imoen's bright smile and glittering eyes was reward enough for his performance. "Since when did paladins start thinking?"

"Ah. Well, milady Imoen, since we paladins do not think, it seems that I no longer have to apologise for carrying out my latest act of indecent indiscretion towards you then... "

"And what's that?" her eyes sparkled mischievously.

"This..." he leaned closer and kissed her, pressing his lips to her own velvet ones.

"Children!" Jaheira's shrill voice made them instantly break apart from one another.

They sat side by side, all the while looking like two small infants about to receive chastising from an angered parent. They made eye contact, which caused both of them to start grinning.

"Could you please concentrate on something other than yourselves for one moment? And by Silvanus, stop that smiling!" the druid eyed them, "We need to find Khalid a way out." She paused, directing her icy glare at Liam, "And you. I simply cannot fathom how you became a paladin at all, or how your god puts up with you. The only thing truly shocking is that Torm has yet to smite your hide. Now, why do you not put all of your wondrous theatrical abilities to work and act as if trying to find a way out?"

The druid stalked off, leaving a smirking Liam and Imoen. Even Minsc was chuckling.

"Imoen," Liam pulled his lover closer to him while gazing into her eyes, "I love you."

"I love you too."

They kissed again before rushing to catch up to a very infuriated Jaheira.