Mother, I Did It!

- "I greet you, spirit. You, who once carried the blood of Bhaal in your veins."

Sarevok gasped at the unexpected company. He had been playing rock, scissors and paper with Cespenar, who after three hundred rounds was still just as fascinated with the game as he had been when they started.

In front of them stood a vaguely humanoid creature, emanating crystal blue glow. It looked like a female human with golden-hued hair and skin, and it had shiny, white wings. Its voice was like a hymn emanating from a temple of a serene, benevolent god. Sarevok could feel its extremely powerful aura, and was immediately disturbed and edgy.

- "I have come here to instruct the child of Bhaal, Peri of Candlekeep, in achieving her destiny. You shall aid me in this," the thing continued.

Sarevok was immediately irritated at its presumptuous manner and was about to tell it as much, when Cespenar yanked his sleeve and made huge, pleading eyes at him.

- "I see. And how would I do that?" asked Sarevok, trying to keep the annoyance in his voice to bare minimum.

- "You shall inform her that she must face a challenge in that cave - a challenge she needs to meet before the prophecy starts to unfold. Also, she can summon her former companions, should the need arise. The spirit of future will answer to her call by that stalagmite."

- "Why don't you tell her yourself? It's not like I have nothing better to do - I'm positively burning to get on with our third hundreth eleventh round of rock, scissors and paper," said Sarevok, resentful that the prophecy and uppity divine beings now seemed to center around Peri.

- "Poor, tortured spirit, so ready to throw freely given aid away in your pride. You seek another chance, do you not? This way you can aid your sister immediately and she will be more willing to help you. It is important that you two will work together regardless of your previous animosity," the creature said, unprovoked, a kind and pitiful look in its eyes. That and that the creature was right irritated Sarevok to no end.

- "Eee... Sarevok had a very very very difficult childhood and Sarevok all suffer suffer suffer in the Abyss, oh yes and he's me'se new best friend and he's really nice, oh yes! Please solar not be angry with Sarevok! I'se can makes you pancakes..." interjected Cespenar in a panicky voice.

- "That will not be necessary. Very well. I know you have your own destiny to face yet, spirit. Will you cooperate?" asked the solar.

- "Yes, I will inform my sister of these things." After all, that was what he was about to offer to his sister. Co-operation and help. Cespenar snuggled next to him and Sarevok forgot to flinch. Must try to get that pride and temper in control, especially when facing Peri.

- "Good. I will take her here, and after that you two will meet again."

True enough, in no time Peri appeared to be summoned to the solar, her companions in a state of suspended animation somewhere behind. They could not see Sarevok, who stood in the shadows, and Sarevok could not hear the words even though he tried to listen carefully. The expression on Peri's face suggested that she was as disturbed by the solar as Sarevok had been. She looked around, frowning, and the others also seemed to try to gather their wits.

The pink-haired thief, Imoen, was still traveling with her. Why had sister not disposed of the potential competition? Sarevok smiled bitterly. Perhaps the thief was useful, and Peri was confident that she could kill her whenever she wanted. The large ranger was also there. Sarevok rubbed his eyes. So it was true. He really did carry some sort of... rodent with him. He had thought he had been hallucinating when he had glimpsed at the man in their last battle. The rest of the companions Sarevok had not seen before, save the last encounter in hell when he had not paid any attention to them. A man approximately in his fifties, with graying hair, many battle scars and the posture of a distinguished warrior. He looked almost noble, somehow. A dwarf, his skin and beard darker hue than that of the previous one, grim looks, stocky body. And then there was a young man with a well-trimmed beard, full lips and extremely well-polished armor. Sarevok took an instant dislike to the git. His very cocky posture annoyed him.

He stepped out of the shadows, looking directly at Peri from his full height. He was not the one with an upper hand here, but he would be damned if he sniveled or groveled because of that.

- "So. You have finally arrived. I have been waiting for you," he said.

- "Sarevok? What do you want? Get away from us!" Imoen's expression was a mixture of distrust, anger and a little fear. Peri merely arched her eyebrow. Sarevok could not read her expression at all.

- "Eh? He is like a bad penny, this one. An armored, deep-voiced penny of most sinister evil!" bellowed the huge ranger.

What sort of insanity was that? Sarevok frowned.

- "Minsc, will you please give it a rest for a moment? And he doesn't have the armor... thank gods, I might add," said Peri. Sarevok hoped that meant she found the armor intimidating. He was not at all sure that she did.

- "If I recall right I killed you the last time I was here," she continued, waiting for an explanation.

- "You did, indeed...although that was no fault of mine. It was you that summoned me, then, even if the words were my own. I have done nothing but attempt to re-form myself, since. As you will recall, it is your will that shapes our father's realm...whether you are aware of what you do or not. I myself am nothing, now, but the shadow you see before you."

- "That was pretty suicidal of you, brother. You deliberately coaxed me into turning into the Slayer."

- "Let's just say that I got a bit carried away. But let's dispense with the pleasantries and discuss my deal," he said.

- "Deal." Peri's voice was flat, her grayish-green eyes regarding Sarevok expressionlessly.

The dwarf burst into laughter.

- " I kin just imagine the kind o' deal yon laddie has in store for ye, Peri. I've made a deal or two o' that sort, meself," he snorted. "I think I almost like the boy."

Sarevok thought he probably liked the dwarf, too. There was intelligence behind his gruff, no-nonsense expression.

- "Naturally I am not coming to the table empty-handed. My own ambition of becoming the Lord of Murder was everything to me once. After the loss of my divinity it died... but the time of the prophecy is upon us, and the prophecy still holds true for you."

- "And? I wish I had nothing to do with the damned prophecy, and I have no intention of taking the power of gods," answered Peri.

- "Regardless, you have no choice. You will have to deal with it, as I am sure you have already perceived. I know more than perhaps anyone of the old Bhaal lore, Peri. Instead of stumbling aimlessly around I could give you information. For starters, how to get out of here."

Peri seemed to consider this, then nodded.

- "What would you want in exchange for your help, then? Our last meeting left me with the impression that you would not help me just out of brotherly love and the kindness of your heart."

- "What do you think I would want?" Sarevok couldn't quite help the sneer in his voice. "I want to live again, sister. And you can do it." She contemplated for a long time, her companions looking alarmed, and then spoke.

- "I see. Then there are but two questions. One. What will you do if you get your life back? Two. How do we make it happen?"

- "Peri! Why should he get to live again! He doesn't deserve to!" exclaimed Imoen.

- "No," agreed Peri. "But I am quite tired of stumbling about here, and... I don't know if it's about deserving. Many deserving of life are dead, and many undeserving continue to live. Let's hear brother dearest out."

- "What will I do? I do not know. I will avoid crossing you, and find my destiny. I want to live again, I know that much. And how? By you giving me the tiniest spark of your divine soul. Here, in this place brimming with Bhaal's latent energies, it would make me alive again."

Peri didn't seem to like the idea.

- "I have had some pretty unpleasant experiences of messings with my soul lately. Is there no other way?"

- "Perhaps there is." Sarevok grinned. "Any child of Bhaal would do. Like our little pink-haired dear here..."

- "He means me, doesn't he, Peri!" Imoen said anxiously.

-"Figured it out all of your own, did you? While the thought of harboring a spark of your sugary sweet soul for eternity does not exactly fill me with joy...yes, it would provide just as well," sneered Sarevok.

- "Sarevok, I'm warning you! Leave Imoen alone or the deal is certainly off!" said Peri sharply. Sarevok nodded, waiting.

-"He... he doesn't deserve to live... but if it is important..." Imoen's voice was shaky.

- "No, Imoen. I will do it," said Peri. But in Imoen's eyes there was a resolve and strength there had not been before.

- "No. I insist. You rescued me and... more. I want to do it," she said. Peri seemed about to argue, but gave in and hugged Imoen deeply. Sarevok could not begin to guess what was going through her mind.

- "Ah, so Peri finds someone to take the blow for her. Are you sure, child? You cannot turn about later and claim Peri was using you. It must be of your own free will," said Sarevok, almost gently as he was impressed by the unexpected display of courage.

- "I would lay down my life for Peri, and more. In an instant. Always. Maybe one day, 'brother', you'll understand what that means," answered Imoen angrily.

- "With a spark of you within me, I have little doubt I'll be prancing gaily through flower fields before the season is over. Regardless, I'll take that as a yes, " he retorted.

Imoen looked Sarevok in the eyes, now fearless and resolute.

He closed his eyes and called the essence, the essence Imoen let freely flow to him. He felt his flesh true and strong, his lungs drawing air, his heart beating. No shadiness, no incorporeality... a strong, real body, like the one he had when he was alive. Triumph filled his heart, a joy so powerful that only the mightiest of efforts prevented him from weeping. Mother, I did it! Mother, I live again! Mother, thank you for being there for me even in the land of death!