They stood just outside of West Harbor. They waited. And they waited.

The hobbit walked back and forth then would stop and look down the road then go back to doing it again.

None of them had figured that the little woman would do this. As soon as they had gotten close enough to see the little town but not close enough to be seen easily, Avera had begun to get nervous. She fidgeted at first then got into what she was currently doing. The hobbit was walking back and forth driving her party mad.

Sand had his eyes rolled up in his head and was counting the clouds. Elanee and Neeshka had long ago sat down against a tree and were playing rock, paper, scissors. Khelgar leaned against his axe yawning. Bishop was playing with an arrow deciding on where to shoot the hobbit to stop that god awful pacing.

Casavir was the only one who did not look upset or bored. He stood in spot watching the little woman as if she were a sergeant getting ready to give orders to her men. He left her to pace because it should have relieved some stress but all she was doing was stressing herself out more, "My lady?"

She halted mid stride and blinked at him, "Huh?" Avera didn't seem to have much working in her little head at the moment. Her eyes looked lost as her hand shot up to rub an earlobe.

"I understand that this is difficult. Maybe we should camp the night and come back in the morning? The village is not going anywhere."

Avera turned towards West Harbor and bit her bottom lip, "No I want to get this done as quickly as possible. But camp should be made for when we come back out."

"Why don't we spend the night there?" Sand could not figure out why she would want to sleep in the wilderness when there were likely comfortable beds to make use of in town.

"Because my father will send me back out right away." She fumbled with a bag on her belt then stopped. She did not want to keep fidgeting.

"Why would he do that, lass? Ye are kin."

She patted the dwarf's shoulder, "Believe me Khelgar. I know my father. He will send us away as soon as possible to avoid the town from being attacked again." A deep breath made it easier to continue, "That is how he is."

"But," Khelgar started but stopped when she turned sad eyes to him. This was hard enough on her without making it worse by quarreling about what her father should be like.

Avera rolled her shoulders, "So what does everyone want to do? Make camp or come along?"

"I think I will make camp." Elanee strode over to her friend and put a hand on her back for comfort, "It would be easier for you to have somewhere to rest when you return."

Neeshka snorted at the town, "I believe I will help Elanee. I'm not sure I can handle small town attitude." I'm not sure I can handle seeing how they treat her. It's one thing when they do it to you but not a friend and I've suspected more than enough without seeing it.

"That just means ye don't think you can get enough loot." Khelgar chimed in with a huffing sound at the end of his words.

The hobbit turned towards the town quickly and spoke to cut off the chiding that would normally erupt, "Ok thanks Elanee and Neeshka. I really appreciate it. We should get going. Brother Merring is likely to be outside making rounds at this time so it should not be too difficult to find him."

Elanee nodded at the little woman, "We'll make camp in that area back there that we discussed earlier."

Avera gave the druid a small smile of appreciation and watched as the two women turned to go make camp. Neeshka looked back, winked and waved her tail at her. It always gave the hobbit a chuckle when the woman did that. She knew that it was the tiefling's way of trying to cheer her up.

Finally the little woman threw her shoulders back and started off to the town. As they entered the town they noticed that it was pretty much the same as most any other town. There were people coming and going. Most of them went about their business but some stopped to look at them.

And others stopped to glare at the hobbit.

The people who tended to give her dirty looks or glares were mostly those in her age group but there were some older ones as well. The children were different. They came up to her and asked her questions about her trip, how everything was going and who these people were.

Bishop backed up into the darkness. He continued to watch but he did not want anyone to notice him.

"Bonded?" Karnwyr trotted up to him.

"It's ok."

"Not ok." The dire wolf snorted at the villagers who did not like Avera, "Like this always. Like bonded's village. Sort of."

Then a voice rumbled from the roadside, "Karnwyr? Is that you Runt?"

"Georg!" Karnwyr's mind voice was thrilled as his tail wagged and he hopped over to the man.

The ranger stayed put. He had almost forgotten that his animal companion had grown up there as well. Bishop crossed his arms over his chest as the man petted his friend and looked him over.

"You seem to have been doing well, my boy. Sure is a shame you never stuck around but cubs have to leave." He patted the canine's muzzle, "It's also a shame you never learned mind speech as well as Keza." The man looked over at the hobbit, surrounded by children with Casavir, Sand and Khelgar standing off to the side, "But he had his own reasons to learn more of that than you did."

Karnwyr sat down easily and thought of how his older brother had shadowed Avera. He'd heard it was that way since they first met. Whenever Avera was outside when they were little then they were together and as Keza grew up he continued to follow and watch, even close to houses. When Keza left, Karnwyr had taken over being with Avera but he wasn't as good at concealment as his brother so he never went anywhere people could see him.

Bishop raised an eyebrow as his friend sent the memories to him.

"So are you now Avera's companion?"

The dire wolf looked back at Bishop then over to Avera.

"Well at least you two found each other even if you're not bonded. Does she still have that leopard then? If she does then the cat has got to be at least thirty five. Esmerelle had her too." He watched as the hobbit finally sent the children off in their separate directions, "Hey hobbitling! I missed our little chats! How are you doing?"

Georg sat on his heels and Avera ran into his arms for a big hug, "Georg! Don't tell me you are not out finding more tales yourself? I thought you would have run into that swamp elf by now!" She chuckled as the other men came up behind.

"You've brought friends." He gave her a wry look and raised an eyebrow, "And all men I see."

Avera swatted his arm playfully, "The gals are making camp!"

"Well now. A couple young women … out there alone? Maybe I should go make sure they are alright." There was a gleam of pure humor in his eyes.

"I am sure that they are fine." Casavir announced. He watched the man, trying to hold back a bout of jealousy for how well he was getting along with his lady. And now she was sitting on one of the man's legs with her head on his shoulder? It was hard to contain the growl that was growing in his chest.

"Well now … I suppose they could use some help. If you wanted to make your greetings I'm sure they would appreciate a handsome lug like you getting wood for them." She winked.

Georg gave her a wry smile, "I may just do so. But for now I've got my favorite hobbit to amuse! With friends! So who are these folk?"

"The large one with the shield is Casavir. You might call him my right hand man." The paladin nodded even though he was trying not to glare at the person who was holding his beloved, "That handsome elf is the wry Sand."

"Handsome? My dear you are exaggerating once more." Sand chided but there was a happy twinkle in his eye from the comment.

Avera snorted, "Yeh right."

"Here you tease about me running into the swamp elf and I see you have - look at him. A little smaller than I expected, though, for a giant. Looks close enough, I suppose."

Sand sniffed at Avera and Georg but was actually bemused, "And I thought you were the only fool to be spawned from West Harbor, but here we are, not long in your village, and already this fellow proves me wrong"

Georg chuckled and put a hand on her shoulder. He noticed the paladin and ranger watching him. It was interesting how these men reacted whenever he touched the little woman.

"My dwarven friend is Khelgar, the mighty hobbit defender." She went on oblivious to Georg taking notice of Casavir and Bishop.

"Keh. Hobbit defender my rump. Since Casavir showed up I've hardly had the chance to defend you, lass." He almost sounded jealous, "But often enough it takes both of us to keep you out of trouble."

She stuck her tongue out at the dwarf, "You know Karnwyr but the one who's almost fully hidden by shadow is his bond mate, Bishop. He's pretty close to as good as Father with the rangering deal."

Georg glanced up at the ranger, noticing the sneer, "Well that is saying a lot for his capabilities. Looks like you picked up a couple of admirers. Well met there, boys. Which one of you gentlemen swept her off her seat from a seedy tavern?"

Bishop smiled, enjoying this new game as Casavir's jaw dropped in offense, "Oh, yeah, she wasn't even conscious when we were married."

"Mind your tongue, Bishop." The look in the paladin's eye was calculating and dangerous.

"As long as she's here to do it for me? Come now."

Avera rubbed her brow, "I am not married to anyone Georg."

"That's too bad. But what are you doing here? You know your father may have a fit." His voice lowered and there was a tint of anger, "I never agreed with him sending you off like that, you know."

Avera slid off his leg and let Georg put an arm around her to comfort her. She put her face against his chest, "I know. But I didn't want anyone else hurt. I was worried about that."

He rubbed her hair, "What are friends for if we don't worry about each other? But there's been no sign of those beasts since you left so I guess Daeghun may have been correct after all. It's just … well, lass, you've been missed by quite a few of us! Brother Merring, Orlen, Bevil and I have all been worried out of our minds."

"Few others right?" She backed up to see directly into his face.

Georg couldn't look her in the eye, "The children were but ... aye ... not a lot of others were sympathetic to you leaving. They were just happy to have the trouble gone."

"And the misfit with it."

"It looks like you are doing better off where you are now. Look, you've made some good friends and I'm sure it's better for you that you had left. Your talents were just going to waste here. But I did miss your Bugbear Stew song. Have you completed it?"

"I think so but I'm still not fully sure about how good the song is."

"Well then! If you accept me at your fire tonight I would certainly enjoy listening to what you have completed and anything new that you've done!"

She smiled and gave him a quick laugh, "You are always welcome at my fire! You're like an uncle to me and you know it!" She gave him another big hug.

He heard the sigh of relief from the paladin when she said "uncle." It was very quiet but he was keeping track of the two human men. Why the man would worry about him he did not know. He was at least twice Avera's age. Then again, jealousy never knows age, "Then I will be there tonight and bring some home cooked food. Retta gave me a couple of pies I'm sure will heat well over some coals." He winked.

"The meat and potato mix? And a berry?" Her eyes opened wide in cheer. She loved Khelgar's cooking but Retta had a couple of recipes you could never hope to duplicate. Then she remembered what she had to do.

"Those are the ones." He watched her expression turn sad, "Ya have bad news for her do ya? Well, I'll be off so you can get done what has to be done. Speak to Bevil as well will you? He needs to see that you're ok. I will see you at that camp. Up near the fallow watch?"

"That's exactly where." She gave him one more hug before gathering her group and heading back down the trail. They didn't go far before a voice called from a house.

Brother Merring walked towards the group, looking them over, "Welcome back to West Harbor, Avera. You seem to be a different person than the one that left here. I hope that the days that have passed haven't been filled with too much hardship."

"There have been good days and bad days. But life goes on, as you know." She nodded, "Dawnbringer Natrisse asked me to bring this to you." She announced while walking towards the man and handing him the collection box.

"I told that woman that displays of wealth don't impress you Harbormen. I'll just put this money away for future emergencies. Thank you, Avera."

The hobbit wanted to just get going and get her chores done but she also had to find out more about what was going on, "Has anything happened in my absence?"

"The Mere continues its slide into bleaker seasons. Lizardlings have attacked some of the outlying farmers." Merring shook his head in confusion, "Poor Bevil was assaulted right after you left, as well. He took weeks to recover … but he won't tell a soul what happened."

"Who attacked him?" Avera gasped.

"As I said, he won't talk about it. Georg and Daeghun questioned everyone in the village and no one had any reason to do such a thing. Bevil is still shaken up by the ordeal and stays indoors most of the time. He comes out only when the militia is training. The physical wounds were easy enough to heal. I'm afraid the wounds to the mind will take much longer."

"I should go speak with him. Thank you Brother Merring, and good day to you."

They nodded towards each other and went in separate directions.

"That was short and sweet." Khelgar grimaced.

Avera shrugged as she walked towards the Starling's home, "We don't know each other all that well and it is difficult getting to know the misfit of the town without having trouble from other people."

Khelgar, Sand and Casavir gave each other looks indicating that this was worrying them. Not one of them knew what to do about it as they followed the little woman. Once they were near a barn, Avera motioned for them to stop. A woman stood by the barn watching their approach. The hobbit looked back at them then strode away to speak with Retta Starling.

The men watched as the hobbit spoke with the woman. Then Retta started to wail. It looked like she wanted to hold onto someone but Avera was small enough that she couldn't just reach out and cry on her shoulder. Then a young boy who was taller than Avera ran out from the back of the barn and held the woman as she cried.

Bishop snorted and looked away from the scene. Weaklings.

Retta regained her composure and the women talked some more. Then Avera turned and started walking back to her friends. She noticed the figure near the house before he even spoke.

"Looks like it didn't take you long to make new friends."

The little woman turned towards her old friend, "Bevil? What are you doing hiding in the shadows?"

"Why are you here?"

Avera backed up from the sound in his voice. He was scared and it sounded like part of it was for her as well, "I had to tell your mother about Lorne and give a tithe box to Brother Merring. I heard you were attacked."

Bevil became defensive. He stomped onto the road, "Merring told you that, did he? So much for confiding in a priest. It was nothing, and now I'm better. Satisfied?"

Casavir showed up behind Avera with Khelgar and Sand close by. They had heard the sound in Bevil's voice and were not sure about his intent.

"No it does not sound like you are fine! You're not acting as if everything is fine." She walked towards him with her hand out, "We're friends. You can tell me. Everything will be ok. There is no shame in what happened to you."

"You have no idea what happened to me!" The harborman shook his head. He looked exhausted but did not want to talk, "Look ... I'm not ready to talk about it right now. Maybe sometime, when I'm away from here."

"Why don't you come with us?"

"I'm not ready to leave. After what you told Ma … well, she'll need my help more than ever."

She nodded, "Ok but just remember you're always welcome."

"Yeh. Sure Avera."

Avera watched as her friend turned and walked towards his home.

"That was weird. He is hiding something." Sand digested the conversation, "That boy is badly bothered and doesn't want you to know why."

"That boy is hiding a lot and no one can get it out of him. I was hoping you could do something but it seems the boy is being stubborn."

The men swirled at the new voice. Avera took a deep breath before turning around, "Hello Father."

"Ahh, you have returned." The elf studied her then nodded his head, "You still have the shard, don't you? Make your visit brief - you put us all at risk with your return." He lifted his head to look over her friends. He noticed how Casavir settled himself right behind Avera and slightly to her side with a hand on her shoulder. It also did not escape his attention that even though this man stood at attention, seemingly looking straight ahead, the focus was on his daughter.

He moved his eyes enough to see Khelgar and Sand. Then he watched the shadow with the dire wolf. His eyes narrowed as he checked the man over.

"How has the village fared since I left?"

"It did not take long for our foe to discover that you had left. I fear you must have faced him on the road to Neverwinter. Does he still hunt you?"

"The dwarves and bladelings were commanded by a githyanki. They're still after me."

"A githyanki? I have heard their names mentioned only once or twice in passing. Invaders from the outer planes, a fierce foe."

"I delivered the shard to Uncle Duncan."

"I sense one task only led to another. Such is the way - what seems a simple thread is often part of a complex tapestry."

"It did. And I found out there is a shard in my chest, Father." She gave the man a challenging look, "And also that mother had not died in the manner in which you had told me. I can understand why you said differently but I want to know about my mother."

Daeghun's expression did not waver as his child informed him of her knowledge. He nodded, "When you were a child you were so full of life. Your mother, Esmerelle, still felt the call of the road, but she stayed, for you. Yet she knew that death could come for her, as it had for our friends - our allies."

Avera nodded and waited for her father to continue.

"I could not have children, as much as my Shayla desired it. So your mother exacted a promise from Shayla that if something should befall her, Shayla would care for you as her own. It was a promise readily given. As fate would have it, the promise would be fullfilled, but not by my bride. By me."

"Because they both died trying to rescue me."

"Yes. Esmerelle never intended for me to care for you alone. Such warmth is difficult for me. But you had no one else so I did as best as I was able." He sighed, the closest to emotion he would openly show, "I see other fathers and marvel at how they do it. If it was ever in me then it was lost long ago, buried in the graves of fallen friends. I know your years with me have not been easy ones … yet I hope you have grown up well in spite of me."

The hobbit bit her lower lip, "You taught me well, Father."

"But even a dire wolf was able to give you more affection and understanding than I could. It was … and is … difficult for me. This is a hard topic. I cannot speak of this anymore. You must leave town immediately. Your being here brings danger."

With no more than a glance at each man and a quick assessment of his daughter, Daeghun moved away and melted into the landscape.

Both of Casavir's hands were now on her shoulders, trying to rub out some of the strain, "Are you alright, my lady?"

Khelgar leaned against his axe, "Doesn't that take all? I mean, it was easy enough to imagine someone who showed little to no emotion but that was … that was …"

"Unreal." Sand ended for the dwarf, "I have seen many people hide their feelings away but your father is a master at it. He is a person who has had many hurts and has sheltered himself behind an emotionless mask. There is emotion but he refuses to let it show. It seems, dear girl, that this has shown me more of why you are who you are. Now shall we be gone from this village before he returns and gives you a spanking for staying too long?"

Avera chuckled at the mage, "It would be too much to expect only a spanking."

She grinned then turned to lead her group out of West Harbor. It was getting to be a bit too much for all of them. The men followed easily but they all felt a bit glum after seeing the place. It was enough to hear that there was some prejudiced attitude towards the little woman but to actually see it was too much for them.

As they arrived at the campsite they could hear Georg animatedly talking to the women.

"And Daeghun came out and said to Kala, 'I appreciate you taking care of my daughter but please make sure she stays dressed.'"

Bishop strode to the hobbit's side with a huge grin plastered on his face, "So our little leader was once a streaker."

Her hand rose and rubbed at a temple, "I may just kill that man."

"Which one, lass?" Khelgar watched the ranger grin at the hobbit.

"Daeghun had to make her clothes with leather backing at the neck. He always knew when Avera had done something bad as there would be teeth marks in the collar of her shirts from that mother wolf shaking her."

Khelgar snorted, "I never thought about how you were disciplined lass. Maybe we should be happy that you're not large enough to shake us."

"If you don't watch it I just may get Sand to make up a potion to enlarge me big enough so I can shake you."

The dwarf laughed heartily and slapped her on the back, "I'm looking forward to you trying that lass! I really am!"

"It would never happen." Sand announced then added as the hobbit turned her head questioningly, "You need a siege machine to be able to pick him up."

"I'm not that large you insufferable elf!"

Avera allowed the two to walk past her and into camp. She watched as Bishop and Karnwyr trailed behind but instead of following she found a sandy spot near a tree. She walked towards it but was lifted up and wrapped into a comfortable embrace.

Casavir dropped to the ground, propping himself up against the tree while holding her close, "I figured you needed this."

She leaned back against his armor. Her hand strayed behind her head to touch his face and he put his hand on hers, "Somehow you always seem to know what I need."

"I try." He put his cheek on her head and watched as Bishop looked over at them, "So what is next, noble leader?"

The rumble in his tone made her grin, "First we go back to that bathing house and we get a private pool for the two of us. The others can fight for whatever they get. Then we go back to reality."

"But for now?" He moved his face down to her ear, kissing the point.

She moaned, "For now," She stood and pulled on his hands, directing him towards the woods, "I have been training a bit and now know how to create both an invisibility sphere and silence."

"Would this not be irresponsible behavior?" He stood and followed her despite his words.

"I know the area and I can contact Karnwyr easily." She winked.

"Then lead on, my lady. I am but your humble servant."