Somehow this chapter has been lost so it is being added, again.
I thank everyone for their reviews, though I find the latter two of great interest. Though I agree the method of the latter message was perhaps a little overzealous, I do agree with the point. Liath Bel'cador has been one of my D&D characters for years, she was also the one I finished HOTU with. It seems that more than the average number of stories use female characters, there is nothing wrong with this, I suppose.

As to the former reviewer, I thank you for your words and your defence of myself. It is perhaps unnecessary but I am still thankful for your review.

Anyway, a very brief interlude of a chapter, the shortest I have ever written on this site. I hope it serves its purpose.

Interlude I

The four adventurers waited in the stone square of the city, the stone had once been beautiful but now bore the scars of war and fire. The occasional burnt building smouldered still and the air was sickly with the scent of funeral pyres. The four people, an elf woman, a human lady, a halfling and a half-orc shifted as the summer sun beat down. It was still chilly despite this sun, it was getting colder in Neverwinter now the source stone was gone. Abruptly, the door to the castle opened and a familiar, welcome figure appeared and strode towards them. An elven male who had been beside them through all of their grim adventures and who always had a welcoming smile on his face. Today however, he was solemn, they had seen him curtly order them not to disturb him before he had gone to his room. Now his face was like it was filled with something like pain and even anger; he never showed negative emotions. Always he locked them up behind his eyes, even the death of Aribeth had not moved a tear from his eyes.

He was a tall man, six foot with blue eyes and brown-copper hair, his ears were pointed as was always the case with his race and his silvery armour was bright in the sun. He swirled his cloak about his back and walked towards them, holding a letter in his left hand while his right gripped the pommel of his longsword.

"Greetings my friends, a joyous and sad day it is," he began, the cleric's eyes were open with something akin to anger.

Linu stepped forward, "are you well Eairth? Your heart seems oppressed by something."

He bowed his head, "I have come to announce that I am leaving the city today, I have come to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?" Sharwyn started, she looked shocked, "I thought you would stay for at least a week longer."

The blue eyes of their friend closed but then opened again, "that was my hope also," he said bitterly. "I am needed elsewhere though, I have no choice in the matter."

"Have you not heard the news Eairth? Word arrived yesterday that Waterdeep is besieged from beneath, we leave today also." Daelin had hoped that this would dissuade his companion from leaving, his respect for the elf had increased with the revelation about Aribeth. Instead of killing her, he had brought her for justice, the end had been tragic anyway but at least he had not given in to hatred.

Eairth nodded and held up the letter, "I am aware of this. I am not coming but I have a companion of mine that will take my place." He said the word 'companion' with no feeling. "I would rather it was not so but you will meet her by the time you get there or just after."

"Where are you going that is so important?" Sharwyn asked, trying not to sound desperate.

"I cannot say," he looked at the clock and nodded, "I must go." He moved to Linu, embraced her quickly before stepping back, "I will miss you my friend, I wish you luck in the future."

"And you, I shall not forget what you have done for so many," the elf lady had small tears in her eyes which she rubbed away, stepping back.

Daelin took his friend's hand in a firm clasp, "farewell my friend, my the blessing of my people be upon you."

"And you Daelin, in you the spirit of your people lives still, guard them and yourself."

Sharwyn turned aside so that her friends would not see her sadness, Eairth took her chin in his gloved hand. "And you my friend, I wish you life and success as long as you shall live. I shall remember you, in case you do not, take this."

The human took the small package and opened it to see the delicate magical flute they had taken from the corpse of the illusionist of the Blackspine Mountains. "Eairth, I cannot take this, this, this is yours."

"And you are a bard, use it well my friend."

The woman's eyes looked up, seeing he was as sad as she was, "thank you Eairth." She wanted to tell him how much she cared for him but her words would not come, she hung her head as Eairth turned to the last of the four.

"And you, try not to steal anything," the halfling smiled.

"Farewell mate, I'll remember you when I next steal the jewels of a king."

"Don't remind me," Eairth muttered, he did not want to go down in people's minds as a thief of royal treasure.

His horse was already prepared so he swung himself up, saluted the Duke of Westphal he knew he would never see again, then rode through the gates of the city he had done so much to defend. In moments, he was gone leaving just the four companions alone in the smoky square.