Disclaimer: I claim nothing Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, TSR or Wizards of the Coast or anyone else I failed to mention claims.

Yeah, I know, Kit, Caramon, and Raistlin aren't in this one, but it's vitaly important to the story, so read.

The lyrics are by Hilary Duff, from her song 'Fly'. I first heard them on my little cousin's album, and I thought they would be appropriate.

Can you hear it coming?

Can you feel it in your soul?

Can you trust this longing–

And take control!

The night was beautiful.

The agelong darkness, lit by silvery and crimsonflames as thered and silver moons rose above the world and twinkling lights of ancient stars graced the dark heavens. Nighttime was full and deep, comforting and soothing. Wind whistled through the darkened leaves of nighttime trees, tossing the leaves playfully back and forth, sending them rustling and whispering among themselves. Branches creaked, waving back and forth, and, here and there, there came an indignant cheep of an awakened bird, an echoing hoot of an owl as it closed in on the unfortunate mouse, the eerie chirp of the cricket hiding in the grass, the grass that stirred at the wind's breath. A river sang it's fluid song as it tore at the banks and rushed up and around the few insolent rocks that dared step into it's way, wetting the ferns that dragged their arms and heads in it's water and, below the surface, several fish, little flashes of half-seen silvern moonlight, flitted here and their, dodging the occasional raccoon's hungry claws.

It was far from silent, she thought, slipping easily into the shadows. The same wind that so teasingly played at the trees pushed her dark hood back, exposing her hair to its cool touch. She did not draw her hood back: she found she liked it's touch through her hair.

Tugging her hair out of her cloak, she let it fall around her, for the simple sake of heat: it was warm in the spring night, and she disliked her hair tickling her neck. Moving from tree to tree, shadow to shadow, she came to the riverbank and settled herself on it, letting her fingers casually brush the cool water.

A strand or two of her hair escaped the shadows, flashing in the moonlight. She did not attempt to brush it back, put ignored it. She was waiting, and had much more concerns than her silver tresses gleaming in the moonlight.

She did not have to wait long.

"Ah, I find you at last." a soft, musical voice came from somewhere above her. Looking up, she saw the cloaked figure, hood off, standing above her with a teasing smile on his lips.

"Good evening, Sir Rogue." her humor showed in the teasing smile on her lips and the light in her eyes.

"Good evening, Mistress Silver Hair." A hand gestured to her silvery tresses, gleaming in the moonlight. She stood, purposely moving half into the moonlight, half into the shadow, so that her hair gleamed brightly but her face remained unseen to him.

"It's so nice you could make it." her voice was sweet and soft, yet mocking. She spread her arms before her, and he caught a swift flash of flight in her gleaming teeth.

"Hard to miss an oppertunity like this." he answered with a smile of his own. "What was your mission?"

"Only this-a great artifact, an ancient and powerful item, had been stolen from my family. My Queen will not tolerate it's loss. Your duty, if you accept, will be to retrieve this item."

"What does this, ah, item look like?"

She smiled; he could see her rosy lips. "It is a necklace, a sort of oval thatgoes down, made of a sort of clear crystal with what appears to be black smoke or mist trapped in it. At the middle, nearly hidden by the dark fog,is a sapphire in the shape of a cresent moon. Bringing it closer, and you will see tiny silver runes on the sapphire and the top of the stone, whichis set in silver. It is strung on a fine silver chain with a black clasp. Holding it inyour hand,youwillfeel the cool crystal and almost a warmth, coming from the black smoke, through the crystal."

"Ah. Is this item magical?"

"That is no concern of yours."

He took this to be a 'yes' and stored away this bit of information.

"How much steel are we talking?"

She displayed a slip of paper in her hand. The man took it and read it by the light, sucked in his breath, let it out in a low whistle. Folding the precious slip, tucking it away, he did not miss the laughter in his companion's eyes.

"There! Do you except, Mighty Rogue?" She displayed a beautifully molded hand, white and slim. He took it without hesitation. "Just get the necklace, right, Mistress?"

"Yes."

"Should I kill the bearer?"

She considered this, raising a slender finger to her rubious lips. "If you can help it, no. If the bearer refuses to relinuish the stolen property-my Queen's stolen property!-then do not fear my Queen's wrath if that robber meets an, ah, unfortunate . . . accident." her trilling, musical laugh rang out with the dire words.

He chuckled, bowing to her. "Always a pleasure, Mistress.

"Always a pleasure."

What do you think?

Please review! Sorry it's taken sooooo long to update!