...

"Xan, it was amazing, I mean, I never..."

"Daria, you don't have to..."

"No, I want to..."

"Come closer."

"Mmm..."

"Hmm…?"

"Yes..."

"..."

"You're not cold? Because if you want to pun some clothes on, or…?"

"Daria, the water is almost boiling."

"I know, I know, I just… I want you to be happy. And I always feel like I'm doing something wrong."

"I don't think I deserve such care. After… What I mean is... I don't want to keep talking about it over and over, I said it myself, to leave the past be. But to just move on, to forget about it… It feels so terribly unfair toward you."

"..."

"It would be..."

"I think..."

"Please, go on."

"No, you first."

"...I wish I could make up for it, just like that, pay it off like a debt. I wish it was so easy. But it isn't. And in a way, it shouldn't be. So, if I may have just one wish for you, my love – please tell me how you feel, if everything's alright with you. I think I've proven already how blind I am in those matters. I would like to alleviate your burdens, at least a little."

"I… I feel like… like I'm not doing enough. Like I don't have enough time to keep you – all of us – alive and also make you happy… be happy with you. Even with all the gathered essence focused into my divinations, I can barely grasp a clear way forward… But this way, it's like I'm leaving all of you behind. I don't want that. I'm doing all I can think of, but it's only just enough. I had to kill Imoen to save her. I missed Sendai and almost died… One more missed step, one misread vision…"

"You're dancing on the edge of a blade."

"Yes. And it just keeps getting harder and harder, and I don't know… I told you we'll have more time later… But truth is I do not know that. This war is a knot of a thousand threads and I just can't… I can't see past it."

"Then we'll have to untie it one at a time. I wish taking it easy was a viable option, so you could take some time off from your visions..."

"It's not possible."

"Indeed. And chances are... But perhaps I can make it less taxing. Time magic… it's horrible. I mean, the complexity of the formulas is making my brain sweat just thinking about it. But I think I'm getting a solid grasp on it. I can help you after you come back from a vision. An enchantment can dull your senses, or let you fall asleep, whichever you prefer. And if you have a nightmare or trouble shaking off the images you saw, that also I can help you deal with."

"I will take you up on that. I… got so used to hiding everything wrong… I don't even know why. I mean, I don't want to worry you and future can be so nasty when left unchecked… But that's no excuse. And I want to do something for you too. It's only fair."

"To hold you in my arms is a pleasure I thought I'd never again get to experience. I wish for nothing more."

"Smooth talker."

"It's true. Besides, what more could I ask for?"

"And now you sound like you have some idea. Hey, don't turn away! I can see you blushing!"

"It's just the heat. We're in a hot spring after all."

"Yes, of course. Now tell me."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"What about being honest with each other, hmm? …now you're just trying to distract me."

"Yes."

"Well, it's working."

"..."

"..."

"We should have talked sooner."

"Talked, or…?"

"Talked, Daria. Though… I'm not complaining."

"I wanted to, ever since Nashkel. Well, maybe not that far back. I mean, it was such a textbook crush! I read about them so many times! I couldn't tell anyone. They'd just laugh."

"I would have never laughed at that."

"No. But you'd pity me. And you'd try to let me down as gently as possible, maybe even leave the group. I couldn't..."

"I… I don't know since when I loved you. I honestly can't place the moment. After that kiss in Imnesvale, I kept thinking and thinking and I have nothing. Back in Evereska, after Sarevok's defeat, each flower, each temple made me want to turn and tell you about it. On the Sword Coast… looking back, our lessons were as much a respite as a reverie. But when exactly had it became so… I cannot tell."

"It's alright, Xan. But if you… I mean, I don't want to be pushy, because, I think, I know… This can be a little much, this life, and Imoen sticks her nose into everything, and Jaheira gets a little overprotective from time to time… What I want to say, if you ever feel that maybe you need a break, or this isn't..."

"No. I may not know when it started, but I know… You are not someone I can live apart from. Never again. For as long as I am able, I do not want to spend a single day without you."

"And what about nights?"

"A break from the party would be nice then."

"Xan. Did you just joke…?"

"...maybe. You're rubbing off on me. Apparently now also literally."

"It's because I love you."

"I love you too."

"..."

"..."

"What do we do then? Where do we go next?"

"To Sendai's Enclave. And unfortunately again, the quicker the better. We have to take the opportunity now that she thinks I'm dead. I explored most of the layout, listed the traps and poisons. Now I just need to check how she regroups her defenses with most of her higher ranking assassins dead."

"How soon..."

"Daria! Where are you?!"

"Oh no..."

"Shh! Maybe she won't check here."

"No, she's coming this way..."

"Hide…!"

"Too late…"

"Imoen! I'm here, just give me a moment!"

"What are you doing out there?!"

"Just a second! We were just discussing philosophy with Xan!"

"Oh. Well, that's boring. Wait, there's no way… Daria, sis, you've finally done it! Congratulations! I mean really, how much longer was this going to take!"

"Well, it was fairly long..."

"Daria..."

"Just give us a moment, Immy!"

"Oh no, no, no, no! You take your time! I'll let everybody kno… I mean, I'll tell others to leave you alone! And just a small advice – remember you both can use magic! Just some food for thought!"

"And that's my younger sister. Way younger, if I may add."

"You are young for an elf, melamin. And truth is, there are certain spells… and suddenly I regret not leaving this topic alone."

"Oh, Xan, are you going to teach some depravity to an innocent youth?"

"...please don't laugh at me."

"Alright, I'm not..."

"You're still laughing."

"I'm not! ...anymore. And anyway, Immy's gone, we may go back to the water. Though I'm starting to prune a bit."

"I suppose a moment longer can't hurt."

"Your arm doesn't hurt anymore?"

"It's much better."

"Please let me..."

"Mmm… And how do you feel? After the poison..."

"Wound itself was just a scratch, not even a mark left. Antidote cleared the poison and Anomen took care of the nerve damage."

"It wasn't just Anomen's spells."

"No, most I did myself. I don't consider using the essence evil anymore, though you are free to disagree. Though I know I am sometimes… careless with it. I… Well, first I had to save Imoen, no matter what. Then in a way, I got used to it. It felt like I was taking on all the risk so you can be safe, but also reducing it significantly. And soon we'll go stop Sendai… And I can't imagine not making sure we're safe beforehand."

"I am not sure… what to think. In a way, you seem incorruptible. Because, after what Irenicus did to you… and he truly did too much… I didn't think anybody could survive that. Not just come out alive, but remain the same caring, loving..."

"Xan, no, please..."

"But it's dangerous, isn't it? To pretend you're indestructible. To put it all on your shoulders. Daria. Please remember, that you can ask for help. And if all else fails… Running away is also an option. Our party isn't the solitary guardian of order in this chaotic times. If facing Bhaal at the end proves too much… there are many others that can face him instead."

"You'd really do that? Just leave the world to struggle for itself?"

"We have done plenty. And if you see that there is nothing more we can do, I have no problem with others taking the stage. Harpers seemed very keen on resolving the Bhaalspawn problem before, maybe they would like to see how easy it is. But I digress. Your safety, your well-being is my main concern right now. Stopping this war isn't something I am willing to do at all costs."

"Xan… You should have told me earlier that you were doing this for me… I knew you felt guilty, but that… I was willing to give my life up, it wouldn't mean that much..."

"I honestly thought you knew. With your visions… I gathered you were avoiding the topic. And that you and Solaufein..."

"We did form a sort of… lonely hearts club."

"I thought you were bonding… I thought I truly lost you."

"Hey, Xan, look at me..."

"And it would be fair, wouldn't it? You would have found happiness and I'd get the taste of my own medicine..."

"No, it wouldn't be fair. In no way. You deserve to be happy, just as much as anybody else. And one moment of weakness doesn't change that."

"But it wasn't just a moment, was it? It was..."

"My love. I wanted you to hate me at one point, in the Underdark."

"..."

"I did. I truly wanted you to look at me as a heartless monster, someone beyond saving. I wanted this struggle with who I was – who I wanted to be and couldn't – to end. And I spared no effort, I embraced my fate. It wasn't only Irenicus that made me like that. I think he just made the change quicker. So it's no excuse. I willingly became who I was told I was born as. A monster, a remorseless killer. And yet you still came for me. In the Lust Chambers..."

"I only made things worse..."

"That's besides the point. I couldn't make you despise me. I may have failed to see your love. But not once did I see, that you truly stopped caring. Not in my most naive mistakes, when I got us into one ambush after another on the Sword Coast. Not when you learned of my heritage. Not when I became a sobbing mess after the dungeon and not when I did all I could to hurt you. And now you tell me, you weren't going to utter a single word, continue aiding the group and let me be happy with someone else, even though it was tearing you apart inside? Xan, how could I not forgive you? How could I not want you to be happy more than anything else?"

"I could never hate you, Daria. And you were never a monster."

"But I wasn't that far off. It's not as hard to become one as you think. You don't even need Bhaal's blood. Just a ready excuse. As for Solaufein… He's different than me. I wish I could just undo his heartbreak… Make him happy. But world doesn't work like that. There is someone for everybody and I'm sure he will find..."

"You know something."

"No, I mean, I'm just saying, there's always hope for..."

"I know you know something. And you have to tell me. I need something edge-wise, he's a horror during training."

"He's giving you a drow commander treatment?"

"Unfortunately I told him not to hold back and he took it literally. I honestly regret that decision."

"I don't want to ruin it, I would never forgive myself… But I think you would figure it out by yourself anyway, so there's no harm in speeding it up a bit… Think about his general type."

"General? Well, he fell in love with a Lloth priestess, a first daughter of a noble house. I can't say I knew Phaere well beyond her giving us a run around of a mind flayer hive… twice. But I'd say… stubborn, dominating, strong-willed… no."

"Yes!"

"You're joking, aren't you?"

"Nope! But you can't tell anyone. It's not a near-future, so it's easy to spoil."

"How am I supposed not to show it?!"

"You can't. Or their futures will take a dark turn and they'll never be happy."

"Please tell me you're joking."

"Maybe a little bit. But just a bit! You have to be careful! Imagine what would happen if she found out too soon!"

"I think I just got some semblance of an idea how you got that used to hiding everything."

"Sorry… It's bothersome, I don't have to..."

"Please do."

"I just wanted..."

"Daria, please do tell me everything."

"It's going to be annoying."

"I'll manage."

"There'll be times I mess up… And you'll think less of me."

"Never."

"You say the sweetest things… And I just keep rambling about myself..."

"I'm happy you see me as a support… Though I was never very supportive. But that's who I want to be for you, someone who helps."

"Xan, I see who you are. My eyes are pretty good."

"Ah. That they are. And so beautiful… Each… One..."

"Xan..."

"You could have told me… In Beregost, in Nashkel, in Baldur's Gate… You could have told me how you felt. I would be surprised, maybe even panic a little… But... there wasn't a moment in time when your hand didn't feel natural in mine."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"Then perhaps it doesn't have to be that hard, to let past be. We struggled for a moment..."

"Just a moment…?"

"A short while… but it's over. Now you're here..."

"And I can hold you..."

"And kiss me..."

"Of course..."

"And the rest we will take care of..."

"...one thread at a time. But Daria…?"

"You're starting to worry again, so soon?"

"All our gear is at the bottom of a hot spring."