* 11 * 4/8/12

Lily was running. She didn't know why and she didn't know how long it had been, but she didn't care. Her speed was no match for Bishop's though, and he caught up to her quickly. He grabbed her arm.

"What are you doing running blindly in a torn-apart temple of evil, you idiot?"

She sniffed defiantly. "I could ask you the same!"

"What do you mean? You're not really that dense, are you? I'm going after you."

That stopped her in her tracks, and she visibly faltered. "You're what?"

"I'm stopping you from doing something stupid, like miss a crag and fall into a hole or something. You have no idea how many times you came close to doing just that."

She ripped her arm from his grasp. He could see the confused expression on her face, could see her lip tremble the slightest bit. "What does it matter? Why do you act like you care?"

"Because it'd be stupid for us to go after one teammate and lose another in the process? The morale at the Keep would be shot, not to mention that we four'd probably have to take the blame. I don't think putting a stop to the King of Shadows would be easy after that, split trust and all."

She hmphed, but was silent otherwise. She put her arms back to her sides and tried to think clearly, but all she could see was that kiss. Casavir had been taken in by her beauty.

Bishop looked Lily in the eye, and immediately, she burst out crying. He gasped, but his cold eyes softened.

Lily cried and cried. It felt like she was crying about more than just what happened today - she mourned her village, her innocence, her younger days without backbreaking responsibility - and the physical act actually felt pretty good. The emotions swirling around in her head right now, though, did not. She felt thoroughly miserable, and she drew her arms closer to herself for comfort.

Suddenly, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her.

Bishop embraced her, pulling her close.

There was a heavy moment of silence. Then:

"It sucks, I know..." He wasn't talking just about what happened today, either.

Lily was surprised, but in response, she only wept harder. Now, though, she had some physical comfort, and it helped her release better. Bishop settled his head on top of her hair and looked down at the ground, feeling her tremble against his chest.

After a few minutes, Neeshka and Khelgar emerged, Casavir hanging over the dwarf's shoulder. The smaller carrying the larger seemed out of place, but the show was not entirely unbelievable, given Khelgar's strength was through the roof. Had Casavir been awake, though, he would've leapt to his feet and strangled Bishop, even given his exhausted state.

Neeshka gaped at the two of them, but for once, said nothing. Khelgar shook his head solemnly, eyes closed, fearing there was a lot more fighting to come once Casavir awoke. He wasn't oblivious to what was going on, but he preferred to distance himself from it and have as little involvement as possible. That didn't seem to be very likely this time, given he had witnessed everything that had happened, and there would be questions when he got back. He wasn't so certain he'd let anyone know anything, however; this was a private matter.

Bishop either hadn't noticed they were there - which was unlikely - or didn't care, for he didn't turn to face them. They all stood in place, like a depressed artist's still life, waiting for someone else to make the first move and break the silence.

But it was awhile before anyone did, so Neeshka and Khelgar were left to take in the scene and wait, and Lily was left in Bishop's arms.