Neverwinter - - -

--Casavir

My lady's face had stiffened, but only for an instant, so this was not totally unexpected, at least to her. It hit me like a brick, and I forced my face to be passive. Lord Nasher continued his speech of welcome, but I barely paid heed. The young male flower of the city nobility was jostling for a better position even as the award speech continued. Their elders were also jostling, but were much more discreet about it. She accepted her medals with appropriate neutrality, along with a showy writ announcing some more tangible rewards. As the ceremony was winding down, her face became a bit more animated when she smiled, though her eyes were still watchful.

I can see why she was reluctant to mention this, but not reacting when the young snots all began to cluster around her to get her attention was very hard. My stomach was reminding me of how much I disliked these events. I was gritting my teeth so hard, I was getting a headache. Praying for grace, I felt some of my tension ease, but I could see Elondra's face was still stiff.

"I'm sorry, gentlemen, but I fear I have not gained the more pleasant city skills, such as dance. Though I do appreciate the offers," she smiled politely.

"No." "I can wait." "You could be nothing but graceful..." They washed up to her, like waves on the shore.

Attendants were circulating with trays of snacks and sparkling wine, and I selected one for each of us while she was parrying their complements. After a few minutes, with the excuse that she wanted to pay her respects to Lord and Lady Nasher, she succeeded in moving away.

"I'm sorry you had to go through this. This had been only one of the possibilities, and I really wanted your support tonight," she whispered.

By then we had arrived to our hosts, and she forced some sparkle again. Lady Nasher was much younger than her lord, but they were obviously fond of each other. M'Lady chatted with Lady Nasher about clothing when that lady had admired M'Lady's. Apparently, Ehlah was relatively new to the city, and had been unknown to Lady Nasher. So our success would benefit her, too. This was a much more pleasant conversation, but M'Lady left before we overstayed protocol. She had definitely been studying, or she really wanted to leave.

Then, before the blades had noticed she was free, she made it to the older members of the nobility. There, she kept conversation on keep management and similar issues. Two separate matrons tried to introduce their sons as topics, but she laughingly said it was too soon, as she had to secure the Keep and perhaps acquire a townhouse before that kind of thing.

One of the matrons slyly glanced at me, and murmured her agreement. M'Lady managed not to react, but I could feel my ears heat. The matron laughed, and said that she was glad to have met M'Lady, before she moved on herself.

I contemplated my still mostly full goblet for a moment, as she scanned the room.

"I think we can make our bows to Lord Nasher and leave now. I've met everyone I need to, I think," Elondra said wryly.

So we made our way through the pack, made our bows to our hosts, and exited the reception. We redonned our cloaks, and left the palace. I had planned to suggest we contact Sand, but she was fuming. In fact, she almost stomped most the way back to the Flagon, and seemed annoyed nothing happened...

By the time we had entered the gate to the docks district, I hoped she might have calmed enough to hold hands. But instead we clung to each other in an embrace in the shadows of a warehouse.

"I'm not sure I could be dignified if you put me aside for one of them, my Lady" I admitted to her hair.

"Not going to happen!" she said fiercely. "I missed you so much when you did that one vigil during the war, not even counting that awful time after the final battle. Settling then, for the half loaf of friendship, didn't change that at all. And now..."

She looked up at me, "Your dignity is safe with me, only death could force that separation. Though I can't promise there might not be the occasional prank or mis-spoken word."

"As long as you are there, I will be content. Can we go back now? I am uneasy without our gear, this late."

She agreed, and we hurried back to the inn.

Everyone was still there, in the common room. And while Neeshka, Grobnar, and Sand were all playing cards, Bishop had apparently spent the intervening hours getting plastered. It would have been much more fun.

M'Lady sent a dirty look to Sand, and hissed, "Dynastic."

x x x

--Bishop

I had been in a pleasant haze for hours, while the rest played cards. M'Lady should be using the stick to call us for escort back. They aren't armed enough to be safe on the late night streets. And I could count on Casavir to think of her safety. Watching the firelight flickering on the pewter mugs from the bar, I noticed the others were getting up and chattering. I blinked, wondering if it was time to cast my spell, then I was wondering if I could.

Karnwyr laughed at me, Probably not.

Maybe I shouldn't have done this two nights in a row...

Probably not.

The others were gone from the table now, I'd better hurry and open my eyes again so I could go help with their escort. When felt two bodies move into either side of me, and I started to jump up.

"Shh, shh." Elondra was saying, as Casavir was beginning to chant.

I relaxed, but how did they get here?

"We walked," she said with a smile in her voice.

I tried to send a dirty look to Casavir, but it didn't work so well, with the light already hurting my eyes, and him just finishing casting a spell for me.

"And don't blame him, I didn't give him the option," she said, with a flash of something darker in her voice.

My head had cleared a bit, though they still helped pull me to my feet and half carried me towards our room.

As we went, M'Lady said, in a fake whisper, "He's so much easier to read, when he's drunk and confused."

I objected, "I'm not that drunk!"

"Anymore." they both chimed in.

By the time we reached the room, I was able to walk on my own, and I noticed she had two new beribboned medals, which clashed with her 'armor.' I was also finally coherent enough to realize that while they had been jesting, their gray and blue eyes were not smiling.

I sat on the bed, while they carefully put away their finery, and asked, "What happened?"

She sighed, "Sand earlier had three theories for what Nasher wanted out of his Knight Commander's visit, aside from appearing generous to the hero. The first thought came from a thought that I'd had, that part of his speech could have been the edge of a proposition. Even if I wasn't with you, I don't think I'd be interested in someone over twice my age. But Sand thought this unlikely as he has been happily married for some time. I met Lady Nasher tonight, and they do seem quite fond."

"The second thought was that he wanted to infuse some adventurer pragmatism into the nobility, to balance or spike the factions that exist. A new faction that would be more interested in the good of the city than trading insults or intrigues. If that was his plan, he would have a majority of people tonight being members of various factions, probably more amenable to this kind of change."

"And the last theory, was that he was taking and even longer view, thinking dynastically. He's getting older, and has no heir. Unless he puts off his wife, he needs to get an heir, complete with familial and political connections, with their own heir preferably. They should be accepted by the nobility, before the nobility realizes his age. This way he can prevent a power struggle and civil war when he dies. I can understand and approve of that goal, but if he is, he is not giving me the respect of a choice!" this came out as almost a shout.

"That plan would show if the population at tonight's reception was half young noblemen..." she gritted out.

Casavir stroked her arm, and said quietly, "I counted close to two thirds."

"I don't want this, of course. But the Keep has become my home. I feel responsible and feel affection. They're good folk. I mean, we could just go camp in the woods. But my home is only smoking, or was smoking, rubble. Technically, a female member of the nobility is supposed to get permission to marry. I couldn't go back..."

She was babbling now. And Casavir and I looked at each other, and kissed her until she finally sputtered to a stop.

"You both know this distraction tactic won't always work," she said with a half smile.

I said, "We could go to the woods."

"...Or we can go somewhere else, like Waterdeep, if we have to. But its far too soon to panic. Lord Nasher cannot force you to marry or become his heir," Casavir consoled.

"Really?" she seemed surprised.

"None of the city's temples would extend their blessings," Casavir said firmly, "Especially since we already have blessings. Do you want to be Lady of Neverwinter?"

"No! The Keep is larger than I ever really desired." She was very sure, to my relief.

I put in, "Then we just have to play well enough to keep our home, and marry. Child's play!"

We all had to laugh at that.

I had to ask, "Anything else happen?"

Casavir said dryly, "She could have danced all night..."

M'Lady elbowed him, and said, "I think Lady Nerriam figured out that Casavir was there, as other than ally or bodyguard..."

"Did he give it away with a blush?"

He must have, as he was doing it again now.

She mused, "But she was amused, so I doubt she'll tell anyone. She'll probably make use of that knowledge, but it only has value if its secret."

I asked, "Are we done with politics for this trip, then?"

She shook herself, and said, "Sure. All I have to do yet is a bit of shopping, including some antidotes, for you short-tankards..."

"Done." "Got 'em."

"Hmm, one less thing to buy tomorrow. Shall we turn in?" she grinned.

I woke up with another residual headache, but dozed off again. The second time I woke, I began wondering how I would get away from them so I could pick-up my gifts. I could see she was having similar thoughts when she woke. When she saw that I was also awake, she mouthed 'headache?'

I shrugged, and looked pointedly to the door.

When dressed, she stopped to write a note and attach it to the inside of the door. It was mid-morning, and I saw Karnwyr had yet another huge bone to gnaw on. He wagged his tail at us, but made no other comment to me. I left him to his treat, wondering if it was already too late.

We visited a number of shops, where she picked up some more equipment for herself, including a bow, a new quiver, and arrows, having lost her old set. She also got a magic quiver for her father, a nice pipe for her uncle, and some other items for people like her childhood friend Bevil. I bought only a few things, but had only two I wanted to buy for.

After we were done at the merchant shop, she cautiously asked, "Would you mind if I made a social call?"

I was baffled and suspicious, "I thought you didn't really know anyone here in Neverwinter. Is this someone from the reception last night?" She'd been the target of the hunt then, and she was ours.

We stopped at one of the street food vendors to buy some lunch, and she reassured me, "No, no. I just wanted to check on the only other survivor from my village. As far as I know, there's only four of us: Bevil, Daeghun, Cormick, and myself. Cormick was really old, like twenty, when he left for Neverwinter after winning the harvest cup..." She was hamming it up now.

"No! And how old were you then?" I asked, falling into the game.

M'Lady laughed, "A precocious ten, studying my letters and sure I would learn some special magic and save the world. What a surprise, huh?"

I grinned back, "Not that much, with you."

"I ended up being a junior officer in the Greycloaks, often reporting to him when I first got here. I think he was pleased I did well, as he must have taken a lot of ribbing, being from the Mere. I never really noticed, as I had too many balls in the air to care about it. By the time you joined up, I had already just about reached his rank, and didn't see him that much by the end of the war. I really want to find out if he survived, and see how he's doing."

"Would that be a good place for me to go?" While I wouldn't mind a good brawl right now, I didn't want her hurt.

She insisted, "We will be fine, no matter what happens. We can be careful of rumor, but only to a point."

I pulled her off to the side of the square, and hissed urgently. "The problem is that grain of truth. Don't fool yourself, Elondra. My life could still be forfeit for what I did. Promise me you won't do something stupid if that happens. Go back to the Keep, go back to the Mere. If it happens, I deserve it, because you could have died too. I'm not wasting the second chance you both gave me, but many here won't!"

She reached out to hug me, and said against my shoulder, "I know, I know. I won't be stupid. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't fight before then."

Pulling back a little, so she could look at me, she continued, "I hadn't asked, for any reason beyond checking on one of my neighbors. But he is a respected officer, and winning him over would be a good thing. If we can't, we need to know that too. He won't gather a mob even if he knows, merefolk don't..."

I saw she recognized someone coming down the street towards us. She may have even sworn as she took a step back, but I wasn't going to ask for a repeat.

"Ah, Dame Commander. It was pleasant to meet someone last night who has done so much for the city. Usually great heroes move on to other challenges, and we never really get to meet them. I did want to extend an invitation to you for an informal dinner..."

"Lady Nerriam, I would love to sometime, but I expect to be leaving the city after today, and still have much shopping to do..." She gestured towards her own packages, now on the ground, and my own.

I blanked my face as much as I could.

The lady smirked, and commented, "I see my Lord Nasher will be doomed to disappointment in his matchmaking efforts..."

I'm not sure which of us blushed first, or why I did, but M'Lady gamely said, "I fear he was forgotten that adventurers do not often wait, our lives may be too short."

"True, true. But you do serve the Land, the city, and its people as you are. I am serious about the invitation, child, just send word when you are in the city. It will be an amusing round of play to watch next time.

And the lady left us.

She is a lady of power, Karnwyr said from the corner of my mind.

"Yeah," M'Lady replied absently, "I must ask Sand for her background while we are traveling."

I was boggled, "How long have you been hearing Karnwyr that well?"

"Huh? What? You didn't say that? I've only heard him a few times before, in the last month or so, laughing at you for something or other."

--Give, Karnwyr, what's going on?.

But I got no reply this time. I shook my head, and said, "He's not telling."

We finished our lunch, and we started for the Watch house. It got strangely quiet when we walked in, and this big guy charged towards her. I had already gone for my sword, snarling, when I realized she wasn't bracing for combat, and held still to see what was next. A hug where her toes dangled a bit and a bit of mutual back thumping, before Cormick set her down again.

I relaxed, and listened to them exchange news. He had been herding evacuees for a while, and didn't get back to the city until midsummer himself. He had thought she had died, and there was one less to remember their village. He was engaged, and wanted her to come in the summer for the ceremony...

He slowed to a stop, when he realized that she had gotten grim. "But you're not done, are you, Elondra?"

M'Lady shook her head, "Nope, at least one powerful supporter of the shadowjerk is still free. We don't know where this mage is now, but we will be going after him as soon as we do."

"Shadowjerk?" Cormick wondered.

"He was king of nothing, he would have been king of nothing even if he won," she asserted. "Once a defender, driven insane and still trying to defend and destroy threats to a land that no longer exists. If he hadn't been so corrupted, he would have been pathetic. But this mage didn't learn from his master's defeat, so I can't promise I'll make it."

"No problem, I just hope you can. Speaking of marriage, is it true that Lord Nasher presented you to a herd of noble fops last night?" the Harborman asked with a teasing grin.

I tried to think of nothing, while M'Lady rolled her eyes, laughing, "Like pretty boys like them are good for anything out in the Mere!..."

The news soon dwindled down and one of the other Greycloaks interrupted with a problem. Before he fully turned away, she interrupted with a quick farewell and a small wrapped box, before we left.

Once back out on the street, M'Lady cleared her throat. "I have only one more stop, and gifts I need to pick up..." She offered.

"Hmm," I returned, "Shall we meet in an hour?"

"Sounds good to me. Just be careful," she said with a worried look around us.

I'm coming, Karnwyr said, but she didn't react this time.

She left a moment later, and a few minutes later Karnwyr arrived, pleased with himself.

And I hurried off to get my tapestries and get back. I was glad I hadn't bought much today, as it was a large bundle.

I noticed as I crossed and recrossed through the district, past at least a score of Greycloaks in different groups, there was no spitting this time. I got back to our meeting place a little early, only to find her already waiting, with her own large bundle.

x x x

--Knight Commander

Bishop made it safely back to our meeting place, at the gate between Blacklake and the market, but now he had a good sized package like I did. I just had a bad thought, what if he had had the same idea?

So I decided I had to check, at least obliquely, "I hope you didn't have the same idea I had."

His look of comic dismay meant I was no longer alone in this thought.

So I continued, "I'm not asking for what it is, don't want to ruin the surprise, but if we got them on different neighborhoods, we have better odds of not having the same things. I got mine in Ponzzo Street."

His relief was palpable, "Mine was from a cross street nearer to here, didn't get the name, but nowhere near yours."

I rebalanced my packages, and asked, "Is Karnwyr going to keep an eye out for muggers for us?"

"Yeah, but he finds our bundles funny; now we're worker ants," Bishop admitted with a slight smile.

Ha. So we set out back to the Flagon. We were passing by the Temple of Tyr on the way to the gate, when Casavir emerged. He must have had a different idea, as he had no visible packages at all.

x x x

--Casavir

Pretending to sleep in, seems to have fooled both of them. They still tended to forget that I liked the dawn. I was feeling guilty about the pretense, but didn't see any other way to pick up my gifts. M'Lady didn't seem to have any major business today.

I had a brief pang that they were leaving together without me, but then logic reminded me we made Bishop just about promise to only go out with one of us, and I'd prefer she didn't go alone either. And three made shopping a challenge.

After my prayers, I hurried to the merchant area, where the smith's shop was, hoping I wouldn't see them. The goldsmith was finished, and my gifts fit easily in my pocket. I still had plenty of time before dinner, and its implied meetings, when it was only lunchtime. Maybe I'd visit with my old friend Troi, who was now training the various novices here in the Neverwinter Temple.

Troi was taking a lunch break himself, and we spent some time catching up. He was happy in a recent relationship, and wanted to share. Even in his state, he noticed I was being quiet, and shifted topics.

"I thought you were carrying a torch for your Commander, when I met you during the war. Did that work out?" He asked gently.

"I proposed just before that battle at the Keep, and she turned me down..." I really hated doing this in the Temple, even by omission. "I still have some hopes, but..." Not that kind of hopeful plan, but his assumptions will lead him astray.

He said, "Sorry to hear that. I'd heard that you were her escort to the medal ceremony last night, and thought you had gotten lucky. I'll pray for you."

After a moment, he continued, "Just don't waste your life waiting or let it turn you bitter. Tyr may have other plans for you."

"My Lady is worth the wait," I said firmly. And Tyr approved.

"Ouch! Enough said. We just had a batch of recent ordinations, want to attend one of their first services in a few minutes?"

We both grinned, remembering some of the spectacular goof-ups when we were in training. And as timing and pace were usually way off, attendance was limited to those of the Temple or by invitation only, to control stage fright. I nodded, "Sure."

Troi wryly added, "I just think we won't introduce you until after the service, there are enough things to distract them."

Leaving the Temple after attending the joyful novice's first service, I saw a burdened M'Lady and Bishop coming towards me. I had forgotten she had lost her magical bags.

"Do you want some help carrying that, M'Lady?" I offered, eager to help.

"No, no. It wouldn't be right. I was silly enough to forget, so I should carry my own junk," she said wryly.

Bishop ironically added, "But thanks for the offer."

"I didn't offer for you, especially since those must be your own purchases," I said, though I could feel a smile trying to come out.

But it did, and we were soon all grinning, and started back to the inn. I felt a little awkward being the only one without a bundle, and tried to insist, to no success.