You Are Stronger Than You Think

- "Let them be," said Keldorn to the others. "I think they still need privacy." The siblings of the Bhaal blood had returned without Gorion, looking bewildered and overwhelmed, every one of them crying. Still they also looked relieved.

- "Children of Bhaal. Heed Gorion of Candlekeep well. We will continue later," the solar said, and was gone. The siblings barely paid attention to her.

- "I do not wonder that you hated us so... I mean, it was of course not Gorion's fault, but still. I could so easily have been the one through that hell..." Peri said shakily, stroking Sarevok's arm.

- "And you tried to save Peri, even though you were just a small boy," Imoen added.

But Sarevok shook his head.

- "No excuses. I didn't think about it that way, it just felt natural to me to try to take one of the babies with me. There were so many, and I could only take just one..."

- "Just like Gorion," Peri said quietly. "And he had forever to remember the little boy who fell down and was left to die."

Sarevok nodded.

- "This is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me, well, perhaps together with that my mother loved me still even though she learned that I was a murderer. I was forgiven, really forgiven. I physically felt it. He didn't hate me, he felt sorrow and gentleness and let it flow into me. He didn't forgive me because he had to or because it was a bargain... he did it because he has compassion in his heart and he saw me as worthy of it. I... I thought there is no such thing..." he started weeping again.

- "Now you perhaps understand why we loved him so much. Why I hated you so much for taking him from us," Peri said, her eyes dark with sorrow.

Sarevok nodded.

- "If only I could bring him back..."

- "I think... he did what he was supposed to do. He is somewhere else now, and belongs there," Imoen said. "For a long time I just wanted that everything would be like it was before... that we were just children and could play in Candlekeep without worry, giggle about boys, play pranks on Winthrop... and I hated you, thinking it was all your fault it wasn't so any more. But it is not true. This thing would have found us, it is bigger than any of us. There is no going back to childhood, innocence and... ignorance."

- "That Irenicus... I feel what he did to you," Sarevok said darkly. "It was your way to deal with the taint you didn't even know was there. To always be cheerful, happy, optimistic... to the extent that no-one realized that is not all that Imoen is. And he ripped that all apart. Took all that was you in you, leaving you alone with the beast hidden in the deepest crevices of your heart, the beast that is always just below the surface for Peri, and was for me."

Imoen was nodding and crying, resting her pink head against Sarevok's chest.

- "I... first I was afraid that he would kill me. Then I hoped that he would," she sobbed. Sarevok was stroking her head.

- "You are stronger than you think, Imoen. Me and Peri, we are strong in a way everyone notices immediately. Dark, formidable warriors with a powerful, authoritative aura of command. But that is not all the strength there is. That is an important lesson I have learned," he said.

- "In a way, Irenicus was the most powerful person I have ever met," Peri said, her eyes hollow. "He had no soul, he had no emotions. What could hurt a person like that? But he still wanted, desperately wanted something else. To feel. He thought that mere existence is not worth anything. It has to feel like something. Is that not a paradox?"

- "A person, whom I loved a lot... well, Winski," Sarevok said, his voice breaking at the mention of the name, "learned that merely avoiding getting hurt is an empty and miserable existence. When he lost the love of his life, he renounced that lesson, and that was the main reason he encouraged me in those plans I had. I understand now that he was wrong in that, just as I was."

- "You certainly never were emotionless, brother," Peri said with a hint of a smile.

- "No... but rage and pride are powerful masters. I would never have dared to think of Tamoko and admit all my wrongdoings unless you had pushed me to do so," Sarevok answered.

- "Well, I think your pride and willpower kept you from being forever lost in the Abyss. And brother... that would really have been a shame."

Sarevok embraced both of his sisters. He felt the powerful, uncontrollable force crushing his chest, pleasant and frightening at the same time. Yes, it was true. He loved them. He loved them with all his heart. He would die, he would give up his hardwon life, to protect them.

- "I love you both, sisters. I have found love again..." he whispered. "I will dedicate my new life to make up for all the wrongness I committed in my previous one. I can no longer help many of the people I hurt. But I will do my best in future."

Such a resolve, such a fire of passion behind his golden eyes.

- "We will all help each other," Peri said. Imoen just squeezed the hands of both of her siblings.