Hello again, yet another update, and so quick! I sure hope that the quality isn't suffering. I've just had the bug to write lately. In this chapter, our heroes are preparing for the final assault on Andariel. Frost's true nature should be becoming more apparent, along with the pain she is carrying inside her. Luther, on the other hand, is beginning to lose his composure, a dark omen for sure.

To the reader asking about Paladins and marriage, I cannot remember if the documentation on the game provides any answers regarding that. It may do so, but that would kinda just screw up my whole story. I consider my paladin to be similar to the paladins in Baldur's Gate II. Especially Keldorn Firecam, and he was married with kids. He was my favorite character in that game, and fits my idea of what paladins are supposed to be. So that's where the inspiration came from. Also, to that reader and any other that reviews, either in the past or future, thank you for the feedback. I appreciate it a great deal.

Obviously, leave me a review and let me know if I was able to entertain you. If I wasn't, let me know that as well. What you think is important to me.

Enjoy!

VI

"Will she be okay Akara?" Luther asked worriedly.

"Yes, she will be fine, she just needs some rest"

Luther sighed with relief. Though he had failed at saving his wife, at least here was one woman that would continue to live because of him.

"Maybe this experience will cool that hot head of hers" Akara sighed "Something needs to, that's for sure".

"Well it is easy to become over zealous in the fight against Darkness" Luther offered.

Akara shot Luther a sarcastic glance, before heading back towards the tent where Frost laid.

Luther had thought more about his quarry while Akara looked after Frost, and had decided that he should seek the sorceress' aid to face Andariel. There was no sense in risking facing the demon queen alone if he did not have to. He would wait a few days for Frost to heal, then together they would vanquish evil, two warriors of Light, in glorious battle.

Over the next two days, Luther occupied himself with busywork while waiting for Frost to heal. He patrolled around the camp, destroyed a few camps of fallen, and speaking with Cain and the other inhabitants in the camp. Cain had told him of the original hero, and the tragedy that had befallen him. Kaysha swapped war stories with him, telling of the glory days of the Sisters, before the corruption began. Luther came to sincerely care for these people, shared in their pain and grieving for those lost, and would join in the revelry when Andariel was no more.

Late on the third afternoon after he had returned with Frost, while he was helping Charsi at the anvil, a bustle of noise rising up from Frost's tent drew his attention. Frost suddenly burst out of the front flap, striding confidently in the direction of the palisade gate. Akara stumbled out after, waving her hands in a vain attempt to slow the sorceress.

"You must not go! You need to rest!" Akara pleaded.

"Oh please, I am fine. Do you know who I am? I don't need your pathetic healing magics" Frost shot back, barely slowing her march.

Frost could not be allowed to leave in her weakened state, Luther knew. He stepped from Charsi's tent and moved toward the scene. "Sorceress, it is too soon for you to return to the fight. You were badly injured, and need time to mend. I know you must be eager to destroy the forces of evil, but you must be patient."

Frost stopped cold, and slowly turned to Luther, a burning arrogant look spread across her face. "Just who the hell are you, tin man?"

"I am Luther, a paladin in the service of the Light. It was I that came to your aid in the courtyard"

Anger flashed in Frost's eyes, born of the embarrassment of having to be rescued by another.

"How dare you interfere! I should kill you where you stand!" Frost hissed, ice covering her hand, and a small ball forming within.

"But without him, you would have surely died!" Cain interjected, hobbling as fast as he could, trying to place himself between her and Luther.

"That is why you still live" Frost said flippantly, the ball of ice dissipating. "This is just been fabulous, but I really must be on my way." Frost turned towards the gate, striding a bit slower this time, and trying her very best not to the pain her shoulder had begun inflicting, but failing terribly at it.

Irritation on the very edge of explosive anger streaked through Luther. The vision of the two of them fighting valiantly together was replaced by a vision of him strangling and shaking her until some sense shook into her head. With a slight mental focus, an aura of vigor settled over Luther, and he shot with blinding speed to the gateway, barring Frost's path.

"Get out of my way, tin man. I won't say it again" Frost growled.

"No, you cannot go. I bear you no ill will, it is for your best interest to stay at least until morning"

Frost's eyes narrowed to slits, a menacing glare springing on her face. If her look had been a sword, it would have sliced the strongest of armor. She lifted her hand, and lightning began flittering between her fingers.

Luther sighed, focusing his aura to protect him from all elements. "I will use force if I must." He raised his shield, blessed it, and steeled to take the sorceress down. Frost raised her hands, energy dancing about her fingertips, and paused there for a moment. A laugh erupted from her throat, and the spell died out. Frost let out a gale of laughter, her serious pose breaking down immediately. She stumbled around while she cackled, holding her sides.

Luther was baffled. One moment the woman looked to attack him, yet now, she was absurdly laughing and bumbling around as though she had heard the funniest joke ever. He was relieved that there was no fighting so far, but he was cautious still, she could be using the laughter as a diversion before striking.

Frost finally regained her composure, and walked up to Luther. "I get it now. You're scared to go out by yourself, aren't you tin man?" Frost said, as arrogantly as possible. "You want to wait until morning because you're scared of the dark, and want me to wait as well because you need my immense power to protect you, isn't that right?"

Luther's jaw nearly dropped off his face. How could this young woman, barely beyond childhood be so brazen? He had saved her life, and was she even a touch grateful? Not in the least, instead she was hell bent to plunge headlong into the same situation again. His mind couldn't even wrap around how someone must think to act like that.

"Now just wait a minute here. Don't forget that I was the one – "

"Fine, I'll babysit you. We leave first thing in the morning." Frost turned, and teleported out of sight, into her tent.

Anger and frustration washed over Luther. He spun on his heels and stormed to his tent. How could she dare think of babysitting him? He had saved her life! How insolent she was! Luther snapped up his shield and picked up a small cloth. He began cleaning the shield, his hands working off the stress and anger this young sorceress had inspired in him.

Frost nearly collapsed when she finished her teleport. She was still very weak, and truly needed her rest, but she could not allow the tin man to witness any more weakness in her. She fiercely wanted everyone to respect her, maybe even fear her for her immense power. It was all she had, and she felt truly worthless without it.

She did feel worthless however, because of that little display out there. The paladin had angered her by impeding her departure, and she had nearly attacked him. That is, until she saw the glowing multicolored aura encase him, and she remembered that paladins were nearly immune to most everything a sorceress could throw at them. A sorceress and paladin made good partners, but Frost could only see that a paladin was beyond her skill to eliminate.

As she realized that, it served to increase her anger, knowing that she could not take him down, along with the fact that her powers were still weak from the injury. She had to restrain herself, and groped for the only excuse she could think of, a spew of bravado that any fool could see through. Now she was even more embarrassed at how she had acted, even though at that moment she didn't feel like she had any other choice.

Frost let out a sigh, plopping down onto the blankets on the ground that served as her makeshift bed. Sadness swept over her, her magics being weak served to feed her anxiety over how people thought of her. She wanted to be liked by everyone, but also demanded that all she met admitted she was the most powerful sorceress around. People didn't take too kindly to her arrogance, however.

If they won't like me, then respecting me is enough Frost lied to herself. She desperately wanted both, needed both. Her mind wandered to the paladin, a warrior of great power, even she had to admit. But more than that, not only was he strong, but everyone in the camp seemed to take to him. He was respected, and she had overheard him speaking to everyone, and knew that they truly liked him, accepted him. She wanted to be like him, she just didn't know how.

Frost glanced around the tent, and strained her ears for sounds to reveal the presence of anyone near her lodging. Satisfied that no one could hear or see her, she allowed herself to indulge in the sorrow she felt. She pulled the ragged, worn pillow to her face and wept herself to sleep.

Frost stumbled out of her tent, bleary eyed still from sleep, to the sight of the bustling camp. Warriv was making his way around his wagon, checking to see if a stray breeze had dislodged a speck of dust from his precious cargo. Kaysha was pacing around the edge of the camp, instructing the few rogues remaining on their patrols for the day. Akara was working on some magical concoction, hanging over the small fire outside her tent, occasional puffs of colored smoke bursting out of the pot like thing she was tending.

Her attention turned to the center of camp, and the main campfire there. Cain, Charsi, and Luther were gathered round, talking and laughing. Charsi stood, waving her hands to and fro, apparently in the midst of telling a humorous story. Luther slapped his knee, bending over with laughter. Even Cain was shaking his head leaning on his staff heavily.

Frost couldn't stand Charsi at all. The woman just irritated Frost to no end. She was blonde, young, and beautiful. At this early hour, without the streaks of grime covering her face, her delicate features were even more apparent. Deep blue eyes set in such fair and flawless skin. She had yet to don her heavy work apron, leaving her stunning figure in view. Her ample breasts weaved and danced as she excitedly relayed the story she was telling.

Fire flashed in Frost's eyes at the sight of the tin man being so enraptured by that bimbo. She had no interest whatsoever in the paladin, but could not stand the idea of him drooling over that broad. It also stung that he was so comfortable with everyone, yet no one had even bothered to notice her coming out of her tent. She didn't understand it, and it angered her. She was more beautiful than Charsi by so much it wasn't even measurable anymore, and she possessed more power than Luther could ever imagine. Yet no one seemed to care to notice her.

"Well, I see that you've secured the camp, that must have been so much work" Frost grumbled, storming towards the town gate.

"Well good morning Frost" Luther answered, standing to move after her. "Are you feeling better this morning?"

Frost ignored him, pausing only long enough to look Charsi up and down disgustedly. Frost stopped at the gate, and quickly cast her defensive magics. Her shiver armor clanked on her, and her energy shield flashed over her. "Any day now, tin man" Frost shot over her shoulder as she started into the wilderness beyond the walls.

Luther grumbled to himself, allowing the vigorous aura encase him and started after the snotty sorceress.

They quickly arrived back where they had met, the courtyard of the cathedral still devoid of any activity. Luther was glad there was no resistance, for it gave him a chance to hopefully humble Frost a little on the way. She had attempted to teleport away and leave him behind, but she had not bet on the quickness granted him by his vigor aura. Every time she thought she got a good jump on him, she had turned to find him standing beside her smiling. Not only that, but her teleporting tired her a bit, drawing from her magical energies, whereas vigor did not draw anything, instead replenished his strength and stamina. His speed irritated her a great deal, and that amused him a great deal.

They quickly found themselves standing at the great door that led into the interior of the cathedral, where the battle would surely begin again. Evil and death hung in the air oppressively. With a quick glance at each other, they swung the door open and began their assault.