CHAPTER 6

End of The Fear

Slumber lay the river of pleasant things that poured into the rested mind of the young mage. She dreamt happily like no other dream; it was full of eloquent happiness than the other sleeping thoughts of past rests. She had dreamt back to the fields outside of Candlekeep, when they were allowed some recess outside the walls with the assignment of collecting firewood. As she could remember, it was Locke's eighteen birthday, the day when he would become a man. They had setted off to the woods to take a morning stroll as well as fulfilling the assignment. But pleasure as usual to both of them came first and they chased each other from tree to tree. Although Locke reached the age of maturity, he was still yet a boy.

"I'm gonna get you Imoen! I'm fast enough," Locke cried out in ambitious fun as he really tried his best to just to make contact Imoen to declare that she was it. The dead truth was that Imoen was a lot faster that he is and he was fighting an epic battle to just match her distance. Finally, he yielded to the greatness of girl's speed and sat on a mossy rock near the pines to catch his breath.

"Well now, feeling tired aintcha," teased Imoen as she crept towards him with a smug grin on her face.

"Pant… I was… pant… almost… pant this close," choked the boy while he used his two fingers to emphasize his proximity in the chase.

"Yeah, yeah and sky is blue and all that," Imoen mocked with a big smile on her face. She sat with him and playfully tried to push Locke off the rock. He returned the act by russling her hair followed by her giggling as she also tried to russle his. For a brief moment of relaxation of enjoying the sight of the woods. A thought came to her head.

"Say, I haven't given you anything for your birthday," she said as she set her sights on the branches to watch the birds going about in their daily habitat.

"Nay Imoen, you don't need to do anything for me. Friends don't need to give gifts. It's the friendship we have that counts. I'm happy enough to be your friend," assured the young man as looked over to his left to see a fallen branch on the ground and bent over to pick it up to fulfill his task as firewood collector.

"Come on you saint! You know better than that. I haven't given you a single gift for every birthday you had. Why, in all my birthdays you always managed to find a present for dear ol' me," Imoen laughed with a slight guilt in her voice. Really, Locke was the only one who had found a way to give her presents in every celebration in the day of her birth.

"Don't beat yourself too hard Imoen. I'm always happy to find a gift for you because we're best friends right?"

"Yeah, but this birthday is supposed to be something special. I mean, you're eighteen years of age already and ready to go out in a man's world, and I want to give you something special!"

"Oh come on Imoen, I'll never really become a 'man'!" the "man" joked as he was referring to his past mischiefs with her.

"Yeah right, you'll always become that lil' boy I always forever know. Anyway you're changing the topic!"

"Like I said, you really don't need to give me a present. I'm happy with our friendship."

"Urgh! Must you be so stubborn," Imoen playfully grumbled while trying and failing to put an irritated look to support her frustration with him.

"Don't do that for long or your eyes'll fall out."

"Oh you," Imoen chuckled and again tried to push Locke out of the rock. He still maintain his seat.

For a few minutes they watched the sky and the fauna, admiring the majesty of nature and taking in the calm silence that eased their bodies and minds. Then Imoen started to speak.

"You know what, I'm going to give you a present now."

"You're going to give me a present now?" He was puzzled by the declaration of his friend's intent. He wasn't sure where this'll lead.

"I'm serious! I'm going to give it now!"

"But, how are going to give me a –" Locke could not finish his sentence as he was interrupted by a slight contact made by Imoen. It was a light touch but it was Imoen's lips to his. Unexpecting it, he tightened up and felt warmth in his cheeks.

"Um… uh… I… uh…," Locke stammered as he was caught off guard by her gift of surprise.

Imoen just gigled at the flabbergast look of her friend. She was also aware that she too blushed when she thought what she had done.

"That was thanks for being my best friend. I hope we'll stay the same to the end," Imoen told him to give him some clarity before he could clumsily finish his sentence.

"Oh, a kiss of friendship. I see. Um, thank you for the gift. I'm also grateful that we friends and I can promise you, we shan't separate till the end," Locke gladly complied as he wrapped his arm around his companion and patted her shoulder to signify his agreement and promise. They both smiled and laughed together in their joy of their acknowledgement of their eternal friendship.

"Come on," Locke commanded in full jest as he stood up from the rock. "Gorion wants our task done before sunfall."

"Yessir! Imoen's on her way," his cohort sniggered as she got up and began searching for firewood. But when she took a few steps, she heard a painful grunt that came from the only person near her.

Locke was down on the ground, gathered himself like a fetus and groaning in pain.

"Locke!" Imoen yelped as ran towards him and bent down and held him in attempt to calm him down.

"Imoen. Please," her friend pleaded softly as he struggled as if something was within trying to do utmost harm.

"Locke don't worry, I'm here," Imoen comforted him while hugging him to at least try to alleviate his pain.

"He's coming for me… he's here… no… go away! Stop! Don't get near me! I'll kill you…"

"Locke there's no one there! Please calm down!"

"He's here… he's always here… Sayin' I will learn. I don't want to learn…"

"Locke don't worry, he's not there… Locke? Locke!"

As she turn him down with his back on the floor, she could see his eyes filled with the color of blood. She gasped at the sight and heard his cry of struggle.

"ARRRGH!!!!!!!!!!!!"

***

Imoen shook up to find herself in the campfire here she was originally at with Locke. She tried calling his name but received no answer of him. She sat up and found that the camp was deviod of his presence. The only items of interest she noticed was her bag of provisions and a note near its side. Imoen took the note and read it as it seemed it might provide the answers of his disappearance.

Dear Imoen,

First, I want to say it was a pleasure to see you again. However I can not stay here any longer. I received a prominition that Sword Coast is in greater danger, far more than the likes of Lady Illinea. You have told me about Fharadas and I can only deduce that he is up to something, possibly a seige against Baldur's Gate itself. He has the resources and manpower to do such a feat not possible by an average bandit himselfI must go to prevent this perverted mockery of myself from continuing his plans.

I also want to say is to get away from here this instant. I have provided your bag with provisions and funds to last several hundred days. I hope you can find your fortune somewhere should I fail. I fear I shall not come back from this battle. If he is what he is, then he may be more than a match for me.

My last words are that I am sorry for what I have done to you in the past. I hope that we still can be friends again despite my foolery and perversions. I care for you and hope that you can forgive me for my transgression.

Your friend, Locke Gorion.

Imoen could not be that he would disappear again, just as she had found him again. She didn't care about the past, about what she thought anymore. She wanted Locke again, she wanted see him again.

Imoen would never forgive him if he would die before she had the chance to tell Locke what she felt.

"Stupid stupid Locke! Damn him and that he abandon me like that! Stupid fool! Stupid…"

The young mage packed her bags and quickly made haste towards the city Baldur's Gate. She will not let him leave her like this.

****

She arrived near outskirts of the bridge of Baldur's Gate. Already she had seen the signals of a battle ahead. A sea of soldiers and well armed bandits massed together with cries of commands, deaths, and warcries echoes through the sky. Catapults flung balls of fiery comets, raining down the garrison and the walls of the city itself. In the midst of the chaos, she could see a lone figure paving his way though the battlefield with his greatsword.

It was Locke.

"Locke!" Imoen cried out.

Making quick work of his opponent, the warrior notice a voice calling his name. Could it be one of soldiers requiring his aid? He heard the voice again and now finally recognized whom was calling him.

"Imoen? What the hell is she doing here? I thought-ARGH!"

Locke held his arm in pain as he looked what was in front of him. It was one of Fharadas' men smirking as he held his blade stained with his blood. The challenged held up his sword to return the threat in equal value. However, something happened that he did not intended. His challenger flew out of the area from a blast of energy and out came Imoen, conjuring magic as if she was attuned to it naturally and she blasted her way through him with an onslaught of magical energy. Seeing magical support routing the enemy a bit, the garrison pushed their attacks further with fierce vigor.

"Imoen, what are you doing here," Locke asked rapidly as he fended off another attacker. His companion stabbed the attacker through the back and tried to answer back.

"I'm not done saying what I want to say and you leave me without finishing!" Imoen yelled back as shew let loose missles of magic from her fingertips to push back the enemy.

Locke heard clearly and then sliced another member of the enemy. "After this battle we can talk!"

"Agreed! Let's kick some ass!"

Like a symphony of combined arms, Imoen provided the artillery damaging and confusing the scores of bandits as Locke slew any incoming attackers seeking to destroy the duo. They tirelessly continued for hours, countering any hostile magic, missles, and melee attacks while slaying the enemy bit by bit. However, things had started to cease when the bandits had stalled their attacks to notice a lone march. The villain army made way to reveal an armored figure of black, with a steel mask of death hiding the wearer's face. The figure approached nearer to the warrior and mage, whom still maintained their defense against anything that the figure might enact upon. The masked warlord soon removed his helmet to reveal the same face of Locke.

"False one. We meet at last," Fharadas smirked as he saw Locke. The garrison gasped as they saw the shocking similarities between the two men.

"So… it is true." Though Locke as he acknowledged his enemy. It was going to be a tough battle.

"Tell the garrison don't bother in continuing their puny defense for I have already claimed the city," the perverted copy of Locke declared.

"It's untrue!" yelled one of the garrison men.

"Damned liar! Locke, is this the enemy you told us about!?"

"Aye captain. It is he. The one who conspires to rip apart the Sword Coast," answered Locke as he still stared at his opponent with great caution.

"Aye and this city will be decided upon if it shall be saved or razed to ashes," Fharadas said mightily as he readied his own greatsword into battle. "It all decides in this battle here. If I win, Baldur's Gate shall be nothing more than a memory. If you win, let us see about that!" Finishing his sentence, he launched at his foe with a strong swing to the ribs. Locke managed to parry the blow before it could reach him.

"You shall not succeed."

"Oh I will and I shall reclaim your name for it is also mine!"

"No!" Imoen tried run over to help her brother but was immediately stopped by the Captain.

"No lass. This is a battle between men. Do not interfere."

"But… Locke…"

She could only stay and watch, for honor demanded her uninvolvement between a duel of warriors. Every swing and attack was parried by each warrior as if they already read the moves. Unfortunately, Fharadas was swifter than Locke and slice a cut on his arm.

"AGH!!"

"You see who is the better one? I am Locke!"

Locke countered with a parry and swung at his hips, however only grazing him for the armor protected that area. The warrior in black saw the chance and injured his leg, causing him to fall down.

"No!" cried out Imoen as she tried to run over to her friend that she would may no longer see if battle still continued. However she was held back by guards to prevent her from interfering.

Fharadas held the sword at neckpoint towards the fallen warrior. He gave a twisted smile and chuckled, satisfied at the sight before him.

"You shall now pay for the death of my Lady."

Out of desperation, the mage screamed out as it was some sort of hope for her.

"Locke, if you die now I'll never forgive you!"

As Locke heard those words, he swiftly moved before Fharadas could finish his coup de' tat and he stabbed deep into his stomach. His opponent choked in pain as he dropped the sword and held himself as fell down to the ground, signifying his defeat. The bandits, acknowledging the defeat of their leader surrendered peacefully in hopes of a lesser sentence after the battle.

Imoen fled to her brother side and held him as she had almost lost something precious. As Locke was about to say it's over she gave him the hardest punch to the face she could inflict and started hammer her fists at him.

"You stupid fool! How dare you leave me! You son of a flea-mangled bitch! Why did you leave me." She sobbed loudly as she still slapped Locke repeatedly. The guards had to step away a bit from the couple as they escorting the captured. Locke held her tight and patted her head and repeated his apologies to calm his friend down.

"Why… why did you leave me?"

"I thought it was best…" the warrior, now with many bruises on his face, tried to answer.

"Thought best? Locke you idiot, you don't what's best," whisper Imoen as she held him tight.

As moments passed, it became only them. Everything else was secondary of importance, what matter was that they were back together again. Wondering what Imoen wanted to say, Locke decided finally on what was really best for the both of them.

"As soon as we're finished cleaning this mess, we'll head to the Elfsong Tavern. There you can tell me what is on your mind. Do you find it agreeable," he asked with utmost concern for Imoen's decision. She quietly nodded her head and hugged one more time before helping the wounded.

******

At one of the rooms of the Elfsong Tavern

******

After the celebration feast in honor of the heroes of Baldur's Gate, the companions retired to a rented room. Despite the owner's protest of renting them a room free of charge, Locke insisted that he pay and so he did with the owner's reluctance. As soon as they were in, they had a nice casual chat during a sip of tea which was the most enjoyable thing the past three years since they were seperated. However, Locke wanted to get on with the issue of Imoen's intent, so he popped the question.

"Hey Imoen… what were you going to tell me."

There was a few minuted of silence and Imoen responded albieit a little nervousness in her voice.

"I…. I can't call you lil' brother anymore."

"Oh if that's …what?" Locke asked, unsure of what it meant.

"I said I can't call you lil' brother anymore."

"Uh… did I do something wrong?"

Imoen smiled and shook her head. "No, it's not your fault. It's mine."

"But Imoen, you did nothing wrong. It was me that-"

"No Locke," she interrupted while softly holding his hand. Locke felt the touch and felt a bit paranoid; he still did not understand what his sister was implying.

"Imoen… are you okay?"

"No, Locke I didn't see it before. We've endured all the pain and harsh world together. Everything we've done and took part of we did it together. I felt so much more after you got back my soul and I've should've seen that there was more to us then just us."

"I… don't understand Imoen."

"The point I'm trying to say is, you have done so much for me and although I been by your side through our adventures I haven't done enough. Do remember when I first kissed you?"

"Uh… yeah… but that was a friendship kiss right?" Locke said, trying to not let Imoen worry about those issues. It was just simple friendship.

"Silly, I'm not the one saying that it was just a friendship kiss. I'm trying to say is… I felt that." As she said it, it immediately caught his attention.

"Imoen… what are trying to imply?"

"Is this," Imoen gave a simple answer and embraced his lips with hers. It was a pleasant sensation, the warm lips of the one she truly loved touching her own. She held it as long as possible, indulging herself in the kiss. However, Locke lightly pulled her back with a shocked expression on his face.

"I… I can't do this… I can't do this to you…"

"Can't do what Locke? This is real! This is what I should've done instead of losing you for six years! I shouldn't have abandon you like that."

"But I can't…"

"Oh shut up Locke! I don't care what anybody thinks! All the hardships we faced, I care too much to let you go. I don't want to be away from you anymore Locke. I love you." Without giving Locke any chance to protest, she kissed him again deeper and harder than the first kiss she gave. Locke tried to resist but the taste and feel of Imoen's lips made him surrender to the passion. As they held together, she could her her love sobbing. She looked up to his face and saw tears. She wiped them away and asked him softly, "What's wrong Locke?"

"I…Is this a dream. I thought it was a dream or worse, my perversion. I curse myself so many times to think that I would feel that way towards my sister. I question myself everyday whether what I felt is true or just simple lust. And now we here and I still wonder is my love for you still true? I don't know. I-"

Before he could continue on, Imoen held his lips with her finger. "You know it in your heart it is true, as well as mine. I love you so much Locke. I never want to be alone without you ever again. I can't live without knowing you are always by my side."

Locke smiled shyly with a blush that was now apparent on his cheeks. "I thought so," he said bringing his head closer to Imoen.

"Yes, it is. And so is mine," Imoen said her last words and they both embraced, acknowledging the truth of their love.