naradrith: I like your fics too. I went back and fixed the typo. :)
Chapter Nine
Saronax opened his eyes and smiled at the sight in front of him. Viconia was fast asleep, her head resting on Saronax's chest. Her silver hair fell on her face in a mass of unkempt tangles. To Saronax, she never looked lovelier. The fighter was content just to gaze upon her as she slept.
This did not last long, however. Viconia opened her eyes and looked up at Saronax. "Is it...is it time to awaken already?"
Saronax nodded.
"I must admit, Saronax, that I slept more deeply than I have in some time. I have not felt safer in…a long time…than I did in your arms. A unique experience."
Saronax leaned towards Viconia and kissed her. When it was over, he said, "I care about you too much to consider you only here for my pleasure, Vicky. You are far more than that."
But do you love me, Saronax? Do you truly? Never have you told me outright. This was true. Saronax had informed Viconia that he cared about her. That he even trusted her, but not once had he said the phrase 'I love you.'
"I…I have nothing…nothing to answer that with, Saronax. Thank you for your…consideration." Her expression hardened. "But if you think I will become teary and weak then you are foolish indeed. Come! Let's move before we are beset by something more sinister than squirrels and rats." She stood up and began fishing around for her clothes.
"I don't know, Vicky. Squirrels can be pretty vicious. Did Jan ever tell you about-"
"Be silent and help me find my headband."
Saronax obliged, searching the tent for the missing object. "Where did you last leave it?"
"I do notknow!"
"Think!"
"Near the bedroll somewhere!"
"Can't find it."
"Keep looking, male."
They both perked up at the sound of a voice outside. "…Boo does not see why Minsc must wear this."
"I'm telling you, Minsc, the band has special powers. If you wear it for six hours without Vicky noticing, then you'll receive three wishes."
"If Zake says so…"
Viconia and Saronax immediately stepped outside. Minsc was wearing Viconia's headband, a rather confused expression covering his face.
Viconia's eyes bulged at the sight. A murderous snarl was soon painted across her face. "YOU ILBITH!" She ran up behind Minsc, jumped on his back, and began strangling him.
"Minsc cannot breathe!" The ranger cried as he spun around wildly, trying to get the enraged drow off his back.
"Vicky's gone nuts!" Zake exclaimed.
"Give me back my headband, jaluk! I will rip out your still-beating heart and crush your small brain in my grasp!" Viconia shouted, still attempting to choke Minsc.
"Boo! Crawl onto my shoulder! Feel the burning stare of my HAMSTER and change your ways, dark elf!"
"Relinqiush my headband!"
Minsc spun around again. This time, Viconia flew off his back and crashed into a pile of crates. She stood up shakily. "IT IS MINE!" She cried, holding up the headband.
Jaheira stepped out of her tent. She blinked at the laughing Zake, amused Saronax, pained Minsc, and triumphant Viconia. "I'm not going to ask…"
XXXXX
"I have...I have an odd feeling.I do not...think...I have ever felt its like before…" Viconia admitted the next day.
Saronax grinned. "What is it? Compassion? Affection? " He asked playfully.
Viconia snarled, "I will not be patronized by you, you idiot jaluk! Next time you have something smart to say, shove your head underwater before I do it for you!"
"You're still angry about the time I shoved your head in the bucket, aren't you?"
"ARGH! Idiot male!" Viconia cried in frustration and stormed off.
Saronax stared after her. "Claws are out today…"
XXXXX
The next day, they once again rested outside. Saronax decided to seek out Viconia in the hopes that she would speak to him about the feeling.
He found her in a small clearing of the woods. She knelt on the ground, whispering prayers to Shar. "Shar, qualla mrigg uns'aa areion nindol."
"Viconia?"
His voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She stood up and turned to face him.
"Are you alright, Vicky?"
A feeling of dread filled Viconia. It rapidly began to grow. "That...feeling! It is back again, but stronger this time! I can feel the ripples of the dweomer...black whispers from the depths of the Abyss!" The drow's eyes went wide."She has found me! SHE HAS FOUND ME! It...it's inside my head! IT'S INSIDE MY HEAD! NOOO! HELP ME, SARONAX! HELP ME! EEEYYYAAAAAIIIIIEEE!" Viconia's eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed.
A bizarre looking demon and a female drow appeared. "There is the strayed one! Gather her, rothe...and kill the other!" The drow cried.
"Oh no you don't, you little bitch." Saronax muttered and unsheathed Zake. The fighter charged the drow.
Zake let out a cry of delight. "MWAHAHAHAHAHA! We're gonna slice and dice and slice and dice and slice and dice…"
The battle was far from easy but Saronax's determination and concern over Viconia gave him the strength to prevail. He sank his blade deep into the heart out the drow, and into the flesh of the demon.When he was certain both the demon and drow were dead, Saronax crouched down next to the slowly recovering Viconia.
"Ooooh...that sort of psychic rape by a hound from the depths of the abyssis the sort that I simply will not tolerate! My head feels as if it is barely connected to my body..." Viconia moaned.
"Are you all right? Do you need healing?" asked a worried Saronax.
"Do not fawn over me, fool!I suffered a psychic attack, that is all! There is little that magic can do to assist me at the moment!" Viconia snapped.
"What the hell was that?"
"That was a handmaiden of Lolth, and a yochlol.Gated assassins. To think that she would go to such efforts to gather me up, it is almost beyond belief. Why would she come after me now, after all this time? Why now? Has she grown bored with my escapades, or is there some other reason? And...what will she do to take me, next? The Spider Queen is not so easily dissuaded. Saronax, I despise this terror that threatens to swallow me!"
The fighter wrapped his arms around Viconia, pulling her close and saying gruffly,"If she sends more, I'll deal with them the bastards same as I did these ones. I will protect you, Vicky."
Viconia pushed him away. "Easily and bravely said, Saronax...but Lolth is no creature to be trifled with. I...I must think. Please, leave me be for a while...I...I will pray to Shar for clarity in this matter." Cautiously, Viconia stood up and walked away.
Saronax stared at her retreating back. What are we gonna do?
