m: 'Take Me Away' belongs to Seether. (World's greatest band, EVER.)

shadow0015: I love Zake. Hmmm…Zake vs. Nackor vs. Drak…tough choice.

Chapter Five

Saronax ran his blade through the heart of bandit. The man let out a strangled gasp and collapsed, dead.

"Yay! Blood! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Zake cried manically.

The rest of the group stared at the blade. Saronax didn't bat an eyelash at the sword's antics and continued on. Viconia once again materialized next to him. "Have I ever told you how it is that I came to flee from the Underdark?"

Jaheira turned around and addressed Viconia. "Are we to be entertained by another of your stories, drow? No doubt they consist of little but one set of lies strung to another. Why you bother is beyond me."

"I have no need of lies, half-breed. But obviously you find cause to be jealous of my relationship with your man."

"Wait…what? When was I Jaheira's 'man'?" Saronax cried indignantly.

"Jealous? I am Saronax's friend. I would warn him of a nearby snake readying to attack, the same I would warn him away from your lascivious attentions." Jaheira spat.

"Then you fool yourself, elg'caress. I see your glances at Saronax, even as you speak of the dead. You have abandoned Khalid, though you do not admit it." Viconia shot back.

"Khalid would not begrudge my moving on! You hold yourself in such high esteem? You think Saronax would find such a soulless harlot as yourself attractive? What say you, Saronax? I give fair warning of this serpent's intentions.Warn her off before she entwines her way around your heart and it is too late"

Saronax scowled. "I value your opinion, consider me duly warned. Either way, I'm not attracted to-" He stopped himself. Was he certain that he was not attracted to Viconia?

His thoughts were interrupted by the voice of Viconia. "Good, then.I was about to tell you the reasons behind my flight from the Underdark... do you still care to hear the tale, Saronax?"

Saronax shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

"I had worshipped the Spider Queen for an age and a half, longer than you have been alive, but there came a time when my faith in Lolth was no more. I lapsed when a child...a baby...was to die: it would not have made Lolth stronger or more influential or made her a greater deity. I lost my will that day. One of the lesser priestesses noticed my hesitation and she took the babe's life, herself, eager to usurp my place in Lolth's favor."

"What happened then?"

"My House had fallen into disfavor with the Dark Queen as a result of my actions, and the word spread throughout the city. My mother scrambled to make sacrifices of wealth and servants to appease Lolth, but the goddess would have none of it. As is custom among the drow, the weak become the prey of the faithful. A lesser House jumped at the opportunity and began a war with ours. Lolth was pleased at the House's aggression...and ours had to fight twice as hard to survive and regain Lolth's favor. My mother wished me to recant, to prostate myself before the Spider Queen and beg forgiveness. She was desperate that I do so, in fact. But I refused. I was disgusted with my Queen, so I cursed my mother and endangered my House. In my naiveté I thought that I would survive after my actions."

"But...you obviously did survive.What happened next?"

"I...no. The memory of the events fills my heart with bile, Saronax. I cannot continue. Another time, perhaps." She said before walking off.

Saronax stared after her. Once again, he began to ponder whether or not she was really as ruthless as she seemed. Of course she is, Gallisone. If you fall for her, it will be your suicide.

XXXXX

"I am ready to continue my tale, if you are willing to hear it." Viconia said several days later.

"Alright then." Saronax replied.

"Let me see...I had told you of my mother, correct? She was desperate to restore Lolth's goodwill to the House DeVir, and I was proving uncooperative. My mother did the only thing she thought she could do, of course. She commanded that I be offered as a sacrifice to appease the Spider Queen. I was surrounded by male soldiers who attempted to cart me off to the temple. I hated my mother, but I knew that she did the right thing. I knew that my Queen would indeed be pleased at one of her daughters being offered to her. I fought grandly, killing many of the males...but it was futile. I was overwhelmed, dragged to the temple, and splayed across the altar in preparation for the priestesses to take my life.I was frightened...terrified, in fact. I would have died, in fact, were it not for...if it were not for my brother. My poor, foolish brother.Valas..." Viconia cast her eyes to the ground but Saronax had already seen several tears splash onto the ground below.

Saronax put on a sneer. "Is that a tear I see running down your cheek? Shedding a tear for a mere male? What's come over you?"

Viconia snapped her head up, her eyes filled with burning anger rather than grief. He...he was no mere male! Is it so difficult for you to believe that I might have cared for another, once!"

A sudden thought struck Saronax. She cared for her brother. Valas was to her as Imoen is to me. Saronax did not like to admit it, but he cared about Imoen. She could make him laugh when he was at his most enraged and always made him smile, despite what was happening. He cared about Imoen, just as Viconia did Valas. Saronax shook his head. "It surprises me, that is all. It seems differentthan what you have said about the drow before."

"Our...our relationship was unusual, yes... ...I...I am sorry, Saronax. I do not wish to discuss Valas any further. Excuse me."

XXXXX

Saronax growled as he went through the group's coins. He had thought that they had reached twenty thousand gold but they were short by several thousand, a counting error on his part. He was sitting in one of the rooms he had rented at an inn as he recounted once more.

Viconia walked into the room and sat down across from him.

"What?" he asked gruffly.

"Tell me something...did you have much of a family?"

"Go away, I'm busy." Saronax snapped.

"Moody bastard. As you wish." she snarled and stepped out of the room.

XXXXX

The next several nights, the party rested outside. Saronax felt a strange feeling of deja vu as he and Viconia sat around the campfire. Viconia had a troubled look in her eyes; as though she were suffering form some internal conflict.

"My...brother...is what finally made me break my faith fully from the Spider Queen. His actions, I mean...saving me from sacrifice" Viconia said quietly.

Saronax looked at her. "I thought you lost your faith when you refused to sacrifice the kid."

"I had begun to question Lolth's appetite for power and absolute devotion with the child, but I did not cast her out of my heart fully until Valas saved my life."

"Why would your brother's saving you do that?" Saronax asked, puzzled.

"Valas used his magic to free me...and when my mother became enraged and tried to stop him from ruining the House, he killed her. It was the ultimate act of defiance for a drow male, and Lolth did what she does to all males who defy her. She transformed him into a drider, a half-drow half-spider creature of pure malice and base instinct.Valas was wiped away, replaced by this...monstrous thing. I cursed Lolth's name for what she had done to him. I renounced the Dark Queen with every fiber of my being...and she was not pleased. She abandoned me, left me completely without power. I had no brother, no power and House DeVir was, as far as I knew, falling. I was forced to flee the Underdark, making my way quickly to the surface before the other drow could stop me, cursing and crying the entire way."

Saronax looked at Viconia. Raw grief swam in her grey eyes, proof that she was battling emotions within. Hesitant at first, Saronax moved to sit beside Viconia. He then put his arms around her in a friendly embrace. "Without your power, that must have been a difficult journey." He commented.

"Yes.Yes it was. Never have I been more terrified, until I found the grace of the Nightsinger." Viconia's breath came in short, staccato, bursts. It was obvious she was on the verge of tears.

"Just let it out." Saronax coaxed.

"No…I…I can't."

"You don't have to be strong all the time, Viconia. It's okay if you give in just this once."

Tears fell freely from Viconia's face. The drow tried to stop the river of grief, but found herself incapable. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed,still attempting to muffle her cries.Saronax pulled her closer allowing her to lean against his chest and cry. Saronax offered no words of reconciliation, for he had none to give.

After several more minutes, Viconia pulled away. She looked up at Saronax and saw something she had never gazed upon before. Saronax's ice blue eyes were filled with warmth, concern, compassion. He cared about Viconia, his eyes gave it away.

Surprisingly uncertain at first, Viconia leaned closer towards Saronax and pressed her mouth against his. Alarm bells went off in Saronax's head. This will be your death.

To hell with that. Saronax returned the kiss. They both immersed themselves in the moment, becoming more passionate by the second.

"I SEE SHINY PEOPLE!"

Zake's voice made the fighter and the cleric break apart as though they had suddenly been electrocuted. Saronax sighed. "I thought he was asleep." He got up to see to the blade. Nothing lasts forever, he reminded himself.

XXXXX

Several nights later, the group was back at an inn. Saronax sat in his room, sharpening his spear. He grimaced when he accidentally nicked his finger on the blade. He got up to search for a bandage but found none in his room. Scowling, he opened the door to leave.

Viconia stood in the entranceway, hand poised in a knocking position. "May I come in?" she asked, lowering her hand.

"Sure. Just let me get something for this first." He held out his finger.

Viconia cast a healing spell on it. "There." She walked into Saronax's room and sat down on the bed. Saronax shut the door and turned around to face her.

"If you would...if you would please sit with me for a moment, I would be thankful. I find myself uncharacteristically overcome with anxiety and I am not...eager...to be alone for the evening." Viconia admitted.

A suspicious feeling came over Saronax. "Forget it, Viconia...I'm not about to fall victim to another one of your head games."

"Please, Saronax...do not make me beg. I implore you to stay with me but a few moments so that I may put myself at ease..."

"Actually I think I'd rather enjoy seeing you beg, Viconia. It would be nice compensation for spitting in my face." He said, grinning.

"Hmph. I'll not give you the pleasure. If you will not offer me any comfort, then I'll go."

"Relax, I was only joking. I'll stay with you." He sat down next to her. A look of alarm crossed the fighter's face. "By the hells, Viconia...you're shaking! What's wrong?"

"I have been...thinking of Lolth. She is cruel, not known for forgiveness, and always takes revenge...collecting the lapsed and fallen. I know she will come for me."

"How so?"

"She will answer any summons simply to make a vainglorious entrance and impress the gathered. I have seen her power, what she does to those who fall from grace. It is because I have seen, because I have felt the lash of tentacle rods, that she will...will leave me to think I am safe or free and then she will come for me. I...I dream of Valas, sometimes, and I try to speak to him in my dreams. But he is only a monster, now, and I scream when his horrid spider legs caress me... I think...what can Lolth do to me if she has done this to Valas? What worse torments await me when she finally decides to come!"

Viconia startled Saronax by grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling him closer. "Saronax, I am frightened to my very core! Do not leave me alone! Stay with me this night. I...I need to feel your flesh next to mine, to embrace your strength..."

"Viconia. This isn't right. I mean, I only kissed you once…"

He was silenced by the drow's finger pressed to his lips. "I...have a need, Saronax. A need that must be fulfilled...I must feel your strength within me and around me. Do not deny me this, Saronax...I offer to you all the pleasures that a drow woman may bestow if you but hold me this night."

"I...do not doubt that your talent, Viconia.And you're beautiful. But not like this, not now..."

"When can it be perfect, Saronax? You are a valiant male filled with courage and god's blood. I have seen you look upon, and I am not displeased. Do not deny me, Saronax...and do not deny yourself."

Saronax smiled grimly. "You're going to be the death of me. I don't doubt it for a minute." He said affectionately and kissed her. The kiss was tender and held a hint of great promise. Saronax wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. Viconia gently raked her nails across Saronax's scalp, pulling them downwards until she reached Saronax's waist and began undoing his belt. Saronax would have helped her, but found himself too busy loosening the ties of her shirt.

Saronax broke away momentarily. "I will protect you from any that seek to do you harm. I refuse to lose you to anyone. Be they the greatest God to the lowest bandit."

"Shut up, male." She replied. Saronax was about to make an angry retort when he saw the grin on Viconia's face. He smiled as well as they sank backwards onto the bed.

As beautiful as fire against the evening sky
You fuel the lost desire
I no longer wanna die
Take me by the hand
And see beyond the lie
Strip away the fences
Leaving me needing
Leaving me high
I know you're so
Solo but I can't
Take me away
(cause I don't wanna lose control)
Take me away
(cause I don't lose it all)
Relieved of all the pain
You let me see again
Delivered from my shame now
And I'm lost for what to say
Cleansed and pure and weak
I suffer when I dream
I need to find a purpose
Need to feel you needing me
I know you're so solo I can't
Pure and weak
I suffer when I dream
Cleansed of me I suffer when I dream
I want you to stay
You take the pain away
Want you to stay
I need you here to keep me sane