Literally falling through the door of the avariel's room, Negrath looked on in a daze as she stood from her meditation corner and hurried over to help him up.

Waving weakly with his hand, he could only gesture in the general direction of the forest, and stammer;

-"Jah-Jah-Jaheira…needs you…"

Out of breath, he could only plead with his eyes as she hesitated, apparently annoyed at his eagerness to have her help the Druid, probably assuming that it couldn't be very important since he hadn't called for Minsc or Keldorn.

Wheezing as his strength returned, he played a hand Viconia would have appreciated;

-"If…if you don't…she has…promised…to kill me."

Well aware that she wouldn't be able to stop the Druid in such an endeavor before the Druid stopped her, she leapt to her feet, and hurried down the hall towards the stairs.

Thanking those he could remember to have called to for help, he gratefully acknowledged that she made no call for any of the others, as she could be heard running downstairs and through the doors.



Where he lay semi-breathless on the floor, just inside the wingless avariel's door, he gasped as he were grabbed by the shoulder and tossed onto his back.

Looking down at him "from on high" were a very amused Drow cleric of Shar.

His first coherent thought on his back being that the description probably wouldn't sit well with her if he told her about it, he idly wondered if she would be considered any kind of acceptable Drow by her own kind…her reaction to his suggestion of at one point having to go there, made him conclude that she probably wouldn't. On the other hand, her first actions on the surface would probably be received with great joy by the Underdark's entire population…

Deciding to discard that train of thought, he became aware that she suddenly appeared closer…and no longer at an angle…

-"Hmmm…"she mused aloud; "I don't think I've ever found you in a more suiting position…"

-"Where were you when the rest of us set up camp?" he retorted, almost instinctively.

-"Picking flowers to Minsc," She smiled; "But what you were supposed to answer, would be something along the lines of; "a rider, are you?"

-"…"

The while it took him to figure out exactly what she meant, where the time she spent kissing him oh-so-sweetly, and disappearing out of sight as quickly as she had come within it.



Later that day, as Aerie and Jaheira returned from their "meditation session", as Negrath had explained to a Viconia that quite obviously didn't believe a single word, they where gathering at various tables in the pub, preparing to travel once more.

Seeing Keldorn wave him over to his table, he walked to sit with his fellow, if older, warrior, gesturing for the man to speak his piece.

-"I have been noticing things within the group that may cause problems should you attempt to deal with things as you have so far." Explained the Knight in hushed tones, unwilling to let the problems of their leader become common knowledge.

-"What do you suggest, my friend?" the Kensai asked, just as quietly, though not as carefully.

-"That you let the Avariel and the Drow go." Were the quick reply, followed by a look that made it quite clear that Keldorn considered it unlikely that either of the two elf-kin would neither want, nor be forced, to leave any time soon…

-"I can tell you right now, for any number of reasons, that such a thing simply won't happen." Negrath stated, matter-of-factly.

-"I know…" Keldorn sighed.

-"Anything else?"

-"Cut the excessive honesty. Going around complimenting or insulting folks simply because you feel they ought to know, is never going to do other than bad things to group morale."

-"You should know, eh?" Negrath smiled.

The Knight nodded stiffly.

-"Well then, may I tell Aerie of my lack of interest in her before I start spewing lies?"

-"That's not what I suggested, and you know it." Keldorn grunted companionable, standing as Aerie came down the stairs, backpack safely secured on Minsc's free shoulder…

Standing to approach her, he took her by the arm and led her back upstairs, keeping the ranger where he was with a apologetic smile.

Once back in her room, he let go of her arm and motioned for her to sit on the bed.

Doing so, she looked at him as though unsure of whether or not to fear his next move.

Settling down in a relaxed lotus-position, he looked up at her, wondering what words to use without causing the group permanent harm…

Leaning forward, she gave a sad murmur;

-"You don't love me, do you?"

-"…how?"

-"Jaheira told me." She replied tiredly, sitting up only to lie back on the covers.

-"…you…seem to take it well…?" he carefully queried.

-"Do I have a choice? Being part of this group have been my first real taste of life since…since…"

-"..they captured you."

Smiling, grateful for his reminder that the removal of her wings, although being the worst, were not the first bad thing to happen to her, she nodded;

-"Since they captured me…and although Jaheira and that Drow…"

-"Viconia." He interjected.

Sitting up, she just Looked at him, assuring him that she knew that;

-"…But that doesn't mean I have to use it all the time, now does it?"

-"…I guess not."

-"Good. As I said, Jaheira and the -Drow- have been less than civil at times, though I'm sure at least Jaheira will calm down now…and hopefully Viconia as well, once she understands that I…" she sighed; "that I'm not part of the competition…"

-"You were, for a while, though." He allowed.

A literal sunbeam of a smile spread across her face, as she leaned forward to almost rub noses with him;

-"Really? What did I do wrong?"

-"…nothing, really,…"he admitted, wondering how he was going to get out of this one…