Author note: Happy New Year, dearest readers! I hope 2021 will be kinder than 2020 to us all
oxoxoxoxoxo
After a fitful rest, sir Killian left to go back to the Order Headquarters, while the party was supposed to take the road to the Elven camp outside the Underdark. Strangely enough, Meg didn't take a single step forward, instead turning towards the path leading to Imnesvale. "Meg, that is the wrong direction", Jaheira said, frowning, "The camp of the Elves is...". "I know, but I want to go to the village first: they may need help and besides, I want to make sure Moira is fine", the Ilmatari turned to Anomen, "Don't you want to see your sister?".
He hesitated, "I would like to, my love, but the journey would take half a day and I...I would rather not make you lose all that time. You wasted too much time already to save me from my curse", he added, his grey-blue eyes clouding with guilt and worry as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Wasted? That was the time best spent in my whole life", she replied with a soft smile, caressing his cheek, "I would do everything for you, honey". They were about to kiss, when Edwin snorted.
"Before you indulge in such disgustingly saccharine nonsense, Meg, I would like to point out that you are dying", the Thayan said, his voice catching slightly on the last word, "And if you don't get your soul back soon, we will have to carry you around in a satchel, since you'll end up becoming a pile of golden ashes! (I wonder...)", he cut himself off and violently shook his head, as if to rid himself of an unpleasant thought.
"Should it come to that, you have my permission to use my ashes as a spell component, Edwin", the young woman grinned and actually laughed out loud as he started and blushed guiltily. "It's not funny!", he snapped, glaring at her, though it was half-hearted. "Aw, come on, would you rather have me moping and wailing about the tragic fate that awaits me?", she said, then sobered, "To be completely honest...Well, I'm not sure I want to make the journey to Suldanesselar at all. I mean, who says that we'll get there in time to save my life anyway? It could as well prove to be a useless effort".
Imoen was shocked, "You can't be serious, sis! You can't be giving up like this, not after all we've done, after all we've faced!". Margaret Dawn shrugged, "Maybe I'm just tired of fighting and all I want is to enjoy the time I've left in a peaceful place, with my beloved and my family close to me. Is that so wrong?". "But...I don't want you to die!", the pink-haired thief choked out, her eyes filling with tears.
The priestess made a dismissing gesture, "Now or later, it's bound to happen anyway, you know. It doesn't make much difference when it does". And if she got her soul back, her deal with Jon would be broken and her brother would not be resurrected by the Elven wizard, but how could she tell them? They would never understand her reasons. Worse than that, they could turn on her for what they would consider an unforgivable betrayal.
Jaheira intervened, her face schooled in an impassive mask, "And what of the people of Suldanesselar, child? They are dying too, even as we speak". The Painbearer snorted, her lips twisting with disgust, "They deserved their fate", she spat. "Did they now? Even the children?". Those words had the desired effect: she started and her eyes widened in horror, "Holy Gods, the children! I...I hadn't thought of them".
The druidess nodded, "I know. So, what do you want to do now? Are you still bent on giving up your life along with theirs?". Meg shot a last longing look at the path leading to Imnesvale, but then sighed as her shoulders slumped, "No, of course not. The Elves need our help", she said resignedly, "Let's go".
oxoxoxoxoxo
As they were travelling, Meg noticed that Imoen kept herself a little apart from the others, seemingly lost in thought, her face unusually solemn. "What's wrong, Immy?", the Ilmatari asked, worried. "Uh?", the pink-haired thief's head snapped up, but she relaxed at seeing her half-sister, "Oh, nothing, I was thinking about...Stuff", she replied with a shrug, trying to sound nonchalant. "Come on, you know better than to try and fool me. You're upset, why?".
She sighed and shot a look at the rest of the party, "Can we just...Fall back a bit? I don't want them to hear what I have to say". "Sure". The two sisters slowed their pace, falling at the end of the formation and when they were far enough from the others, Imoen took a deep breath. "Bodhi was a bitch". Meg grinned, "No arguing on that".
"Yeah, but I'm not talking about what she did to us, I mean...", the little thief bit her lower lip, "It sounds crazy, I know, but when my soul came back to me, there were some...Some memories attached to it. Bodhi's memories of when she was an Elf and lived in Suldanesselar", she looked at the other woman with a bit of apprehension, afraid that she may laugh in her face.
Instead, the Painbearer nodded, "I know what you mean and it's not crazy at all: our memories are a part of us, of our being and it makes sense that some of them would become part of our very soul. It happened to me too, when Sarry...", she cut herself off, a flash of pain twisting her features for a brief moment. "Ya mean you have some of his memories inside yourself?". "Yes".
"And...And Irenicus may have some of yours in himself now, since he's got your soul and all?". "It's likely, yes". Imoen made a face, "Eeewww, I would not like having some random guy snooping in my past like that!". "Truth be told, I don't mind it: I have a lot of happy memories and if he can feel at least a little bit of that happiness through them, I'm glad for him". "You...You don't hate him, right?". "No, I don't. Do you?".
She hesitated, "I'm not sure: I did, but now that I know who he was back then...He really was a wreck when Ellesime dumped him for Elhan. Makes me feel sad for him, ya know". "I understand, more than you think". "And then Bodhi kept on telling him that he should take the power of the Tree and ascend, that when he was a God nobody would ever hurt him anymore, he would be strong and powerful, they would kneel before him and he could make them hurt and scream and beg for mercy in retaliation for their betrayal...", she shuddered.
Margaret Dawn smiled slightly, "Sounds familiar, doesn't it?". "Yeah. Yeah, sounds just like what Bhaal kept on telling me when...When I...Hurt you", Imoen's voice broke and her eyes filled with tears, "I'm so sorry, Meg!". "It's okay, pixie, it's all right", Meg murmured, hugging her, "Just forget about it, it wasn't you, it was the Taint and now that you've got your soul back, everything will be fine. Trust me, Bhaal will never take control over you". "How can you know? It took control over Sarevok and he was so much stronger than me!".
Damn right he is!, the Ilmatari thought, a small shiver of pride coursing through her at the thought of her brother, "You have us, pixie and we won't let you down, not now, not ever, I promise". The pink-haired thief relaxed and smiled, "Thank you, sis". "Anytime, little sister. Come, the Elves are waiting".
oxoxoxoxoxo
Elhan didn't seem too pleased to see the party, if the way his lips curled with distaste was any indication of his feelings, "Well, you're back, at last. About time. Do you have the Lanthorn?". Meg took the relic out of her pack and handed it to him, "Here it is". "Good, now we can enter the city", he nodded to himself and then turned his back on her, barking something in Elvish to his men. "Oh, you're most welcome, it was a pleasure to help", she said sarcastically.
His head whipped around, his eyes narrowed, "What?". "We risked our own lives to get this trinket back, while you and your minions stayed here safe and sound scratching your bellies, so the least you could do would be to thank us, Elf", she snapped, but he sniffed disdainfully, reminding her strongly of Nalia's aunt. "It is in your interest as well to enter the city, Human: the Exile still has your soul, doesn't he? So why should I thank you for protecting yourself?".
The Painbearer bit back a sharp retort and took a deep breath, Calm down, remember why you're here: you're not doing this for him, your mission is to save the children living in the city, or as many as you can anyway, she told herself, fighting the urge to punch him again, "Fair enough. Can you lead us into Suldanesselar now?".
The Elven commander pursed his lips, then nodded, "Yes, you can enter the city with us, but the Drow...", he blinked, "Oh. I see he's not travelling with you anymore. Did he turn on you?". "Actually, he fought valiantly by our side against Bodhi and after the battle, he left with some of our allies", she replied through clenched teeth, "Can we go now?". "Follow me".
