Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Baldur's Gate or Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, nor to the Forgotten Realms. All rights belong to their respective owners. Some characters in this story are my creation. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
She awoke various different noises. It took her a short moment to come to her bearings. The creak of the wheels attached to what settled for a wagon. The drip drip drip of water on stalactites. The lash of a whip followed by a cry of pain, and the mutterings of drow warriors. Jaheira was not used to this, but any usual visitor to this cursed place would disregard these noises as casually as the average human would ignore grass in a field. For this place was the Underdark.
Dark Elves surrounded her on all sides, their adamantite blades glimmering and lack of battle scars showing their battle immense battle prowess. A pair of giant lizards pulled the six-wheeled wagon that Jaheira now rode in. Her two companions were lying sprawled unconscious on either side of her.
On the left was Anomen, the young cleric who as always trying to prove himself in one way or another. His brown hair and short beard were matted down with a mixture of sweat and moisture that surrounded the dank cavern in which they traveled, and his chain mail tunic's usual (and magical) shine was beginning to fade.
On the right lay Minsc, the huge berserker warrior from the distant land of Rasheman. His knees were pulled up to his chest and his arms were wrapped around them in a small effort to protect him from the chill. The temples on his bald head throbbed, though his face was quite pleasant, and a small smile resided on his face. Perched on his head, near his large, circular bruise where he had suffered many a blow to the head, stood the ever-vigilant Boo, who (Minsc claimed) was the Realms' only Miniature Giant Space Hamster.
Their captors had "relieved" them of their equipment, and Jaheira felt naked without Blackblood and Belm, her enchanted weapons. Blackblood was the blood-red club that would inflict extra damage to opponents with acid, and Belm was a magical scimitar enchanted to strike with an amazing speed.
As she was thinking of means to escape, she heard a familiar voice. Jasper. He was the traitorous Gold Elf who had captured them and was working in league with the person who'd captured Quilik [1].
"I trust all is well?" he asked to an unknown person.
"Aye, that it is, friend," came the reply of a person with a thick Tethyrian accent.
"Is everything proceeding to plan?"
"Aye. We'll be arriving at Quinden'Yarr within the next cycle, before Highsun tomorrow assuredly."
"Excellent! This is indeed good tidings for us. Shall Ched and Pai...I always forget how to pronounce his name. What is it again?"
"Paithynalillyazmohades."
"Yes...let's just call him Pait, shall we?"
There was a moment's pause and then, "Aye, t'seems accurate enough."
"Anyway, shall Pait be at the discussed place?"
"Err....there will be a slight delay. It appears that 'Harold' has been requiring attention."
A heavy sigh erupted from Jasper. "Very well. Anything that needs to be brought to my attention."
"Laith Adarion has escaped."
There was a grim silence for a moment.
"Laith Adarion," more silence, "The real Laith Adarion?"
"Aye, sets things back a bit, don't it, elf-lad?"
"Jasper, are you look stressed. Is everything all right?" The newcomer's voice was feminine and quite familiar. This voice belonged to Aerie, the once-Avariel. She had once been a companion to Jaheira's party, but had betrayed them to Jasper.
"Yes, my dear. Go back to bed, I shall speak to you on the morrow."
"Very well," Aerie said with a yawn. There was a moving of blankets, and the conversation continued between Jasper and the unknown Tethyrian. Jaheira would've loved to listen to the rest of it. Unfortunately, she was interrupted by a drow.
"What are you doing up?" he asked as his blackjack descended on the back of her head.