Disclaimer: I don't own them.

LadyJanelly: Yes the accent…I have a good excuse for not writing it though (lucky me:-) Even if I tried it would probably sound utterly ridiculous.

SsinurnSolen: Thank you once again, I'll never tire of hearing it:-)

Icingdeath: Drop your yaw, really? It didn't seem so surprising to me, but then I'm the one who wrote it…I just like the ironygrins and strokes her snake headed whip.

Neven: Yes Kushiel… I'm busy reading "Kushiel's Avatar", but I don't have nearly as much time as I would like. As for his humbleness, even exaggerated humbleness can become a form of arrogance and after I got stuck halfway through "The lone drow" I decided that he got on my nerves and deserved for it to be taken to the extreme:-)

Which language do you speak by the way? 'cos I'd say you've got quite an impressive vocabulary for a non-native speaker!

Lie or half truth?

"So tell me Rashiel, what kind of power do you hold over him to make my best friend lie to my face?"

This isn't turning out well, but then I guess I can hardly expect her to believe what I don't even believe myself. She does seem a bit calmer now, so maybe it's best just to tell the truth and hope for mercy. At least she has send Burash outside. I know he'll respect her wish for privacy no matter how disgusted he may be by my actions, so I anything I say will stay between the two of us unless she decides otherwise.

"I don't know."

"Make a guess then."

She snaps, obviously her newly won composure is quite fragile. Should I try to justify my actions, tell her that the plan was his idea? Better not. I still can't gauge her mood well enough to make any accurate assumptions as to what is going on inside that pretty head of hers. For the time being I believe I'll just say as little as possible.

"Fine, but you won't like what I have to say."

"Now why don't you just tell me and let my sensitive feelings be my own concern."

"As you wish." My raised brow seems to irritate her, but she makes an effort not to say anything and I continue.

"Very well to put it simply, during the first time I … made that bargain with him I discovered that we complement each other in our desires. Mine for dominance and his to yield, but where I have accepted this part of my personality long ago he seems to have problems and can't come to terms with himself. You know the results. As for his recent behaviour, I have no idea what he wants to achieve with his claim."

"His lie!" She interrupts me.

"No, not really. I believe the term half truth would come closer to the actual circumstances." My last statement is met with a deep frown.

"Let me get this straight. Are you honestly trying to tell me he likes to be used by you, but can't accept it and this has prompted him to stage his death and leave his friends? "

That is the story in a nutshell. I nod and watch her stare at me in plain disbelief.

"But how could anybody…?" She mutters softly to herself, before abruptly turning towards the door, to open it quickly, pull in a very startled Drizzt and close it again, which leaves Burash alone outside in the smelly corridor.

"And now," She says to him, but pointing in my general direction, "tell me again, that you went to his bed out of your own free will."

 He is practically squirming under her angry gaze, avoiding to look at either of us and all he manages is a very soft: "Not the first time…" before hiding behind a curtain of white hair and drawing the sheet closer around himself like some sort of useless armour. I nearly burst out laughing again, but eventually restrain myself biting on my lip. My inappropriate fit of hilarity would only cause more damage than is already done anyway. But really, this is the great hero of icewind dale, the one who would challenge a lair of rouge orks all by himself, who is so very disciplined and self assured and who is now standing there wrapped in nothing but a sheet, looking like a frightened school boy who has to face an angry teacher.

"What do you mean?"

She is virtually growling now and I can see him flinch under the force of her words.

"I…" he pauses and draws himself up and takes a deep breath. Obviously he has found some strength hidden somewhere in the deep crevices of his soul that enables him to face the inevitable in a slightly more dignified manner.

"The plan was my creation and I went to him knowing full well what I would have to do."

"But…"

"And I enjoyed it." He says the last words very quickly, while staring fixedly at the floor as if it holds all the wisdom of the universe. For a long time nobody moves and a suffocating, heavy silence fills the room. I watch the conflicting emotions flicker across the face of the girl, disbelief, hurt, compassion, sadness and worry. She could destroy him now, one false word and he'll be shattered. I can barely breathe in the growing tension, but I'm condemned to be a mere spectator in this drama unable to exert any influence for anything I could say now would probably be wrong. Everything depends on her next actions.

"So that is how much you trust me?" She asks finally softly with a trembling voice, a single tear running down her cheek. "You thought we wouldn't understand, wouldn't accept you like we've always done?"

"NO…yes… you don't understand. I hated myself! How could you bear my presence when I couldn't even look into a mirror knowing that…that…knowing who… how I really am."

The look on his face is pure anguish and despair. In a way it is my doing and I start to feel slightly guilty, but do my best to suppress this bothersome emotion. It's not entirely my fault after all when he can't live with himself.

"How you really are?" a careful question.

"A slut."

These two words said with utter self loathing paired with something akin to resignation come as no surprise to me and inwardly I sigh. He has not fully made his peace with himself I take it, stubborn as always, but seems to be willing by now to at least accept the bare facts regardless of the resentment he feels at the thought of receiving pleasure from submission. If he still resents the idea though, why then would he not expose me?  I have not been very fair in my selfish strive for satisfaction. That much I know.

"A slut?" She seems surprised. "But you're not…"

"Yes I am!" He interrupts her sharply. "Or what would you call someone who derives lust from humiliation, who trades his body for favours and finds enjoyment in…"

"Stop! Stop this." She cries, very pale now. "It does not matter to me. Don't you understand?"

"But how can you keep an ounce of respect for me when it is clear that I don't even have it for myself?"

He sounds quite desperate now and despite my earlier decision to keep quiet I can suddenly hear my voice saying: "If you really think that to be true, you're more stupid then I gave you credit for! I don't know her nearly as well as you do, but even I would never expect her to turn from you for something like this and pray tell, since when do you base your self respect on your sexual desires? I think it's time you stop wallowing in self pity and accept the simple truth that giving in to me does in no way make you an inadequate person." I hesitate for a second before adding dryly: "And besides I think you do at least deserve some credit for retaining enough self control to leave me alive after what I did to you."

Both of them stare at me now, almost startled to find me still present.

"He is right you know." The girl says eventually. "He's a bastard, but he's right. I don't care and the others won't either. We will get through this like we have always done!"

So she has apparently decided to put her own hurt feelings aside for the moment and in a surprisingly quick move she closes the distance between them pulling him into a tight embrace. He does not relax, but makes no effort to get away from the contact, which I think is a good sign. With her continued support I assume that given some time he'll get over his guilt and back to the life he has lead before this.

Realizing that I'm still naked I decide that now is probably a good moment to grab some clothes and try to get away. Burash is still outside and these two seem deeply submerged in their own little world. I'm not even halfway to the window though when I'm roughly pushed face first against a wall and feel steel at my throat for the second time this night.

"Oh no, don't think you can get out of this so easily Rashiel."

I shrug lightly trying to appear unperturbed by the anger in his voice.

"It was worth a try. The thought of being sold is not a nice one you know."