Funny how stories change so much as you write them. I started out just with a little action/adventure/angst on my hands, and now I find myself in am action-filled, soul-searching, angsty little adventure with a hint of ROMANCE! That's right, I have decided I will have a romance, and I'm sure some people will have already figured out who it will be with. A cookie to whoever guesses…… well, a pretend cookie, but those are the best kind, er….. right? And just a warning, Jaheira's gonna be a bit of a bitch in these chapters, but that's cause she's the strong leader type. And Anomen is going to be a complete jerk. Not that I don't like Anomen, but he's been wearing on my nerves lately, so I decided to make him a baddie. He he he he

Disclaimer- I don't own Baldur's Gate or any of this stuff but Raz, Quinn and plot. Damn.

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"I can't believe you let her go!"

Sir Anomen, Knight of the Most Radiant Heart and current Prelate, paced back and forth in his office, his stern face marred by anger. In front of his desk with its carefully organized papers sat Jaheira and Imoen. Kelsey stood behind Imoen, his hands on her shoulders, and Sarevok lounged by the beautifully draped window.

The lavish beauty of these surroundings is fit for a king, he thought. It is clearly lost on this sniveling fool.

Indeed, the velvet covered chairs were only outdone by ornately carved, throne-like chair that lay behind Anomen's desk, clearly meant to confer the nobility of its owner.

As Imoen took this in, she realized how overly material Anomen had become since he had stopped traveling. Though she had never particularly liked the pompous knight, he had been a good enough person, in his own way. He had lost sight of that, she presumed, during his many glorious escapades and promotions.

Jaheira found the whole room somewhat amusing. The many books that lined the walls were there, it seemed, only to show that the owner was highly educated and had a love of the arts. Anomen had probably read less than half of these, and most were probably only there to fill the place of some spectacular trophy or reward that Anomen had not yet earned

Kelsey was focused not on the room but its inhabitants. Anomen looked like a bull ready to charge, and the poor guard in the middle of the room, who was being blamed for Raziel's escape, looked like he was expecting a slow and torturous death.

So much for the kindness and nobility of the Order.

"M-m-my l-l-l-ord-d-d-d," said the guard, stuttering with fear, "I… I did not think…"

"Clearly you did not! What were you thinking, giving her an eating utensil? You should have known she would escape! You should have held better watch! You should have-"

"Enough, Anomen. Leave the poor man alone," said Jaheira. "He made a mistake, but it is not as if he is solely to blame. There are quite a few others who should have been on the lookout for an escape. The defenses here are mediocre at best. It is the fault of the whole order, not just one foolish guard. There is blame for you in this also."

Anomen glared at her, but Jaheira glared right back. Few could stand the druid's fury for long, and after a moment Anomen turned his eyes to the poor guard. "Get out!" he barked. "I will deal with your punishment later!"

"Ah, punishment for giving a prisoner the courtesy of civil eating arrangements," Kelsey whispered to Imoen.

The guard scurried out and Anomen sighed, sitting down in his chair. After a moment he looked up at the group. "So, what am I supposed to do, oh wise lady?" he said to Jaheira sarcastically. "For it seems I have no clues on how to perform the duties I have been performing for years!"

Jaheira ignored the blatant sarcasm. "First of all, stop worrying so much . She will be found, eventually," the half-elf replied.

"Oh? So we should just wait for her to show up somewhere? And what happens while she spreads more destruction in the meantime?"

"I doubt very much Liaedra is stupid enough to draw attention to herself in such an obvious way. She will not go on a path of destruction; she is too smart for that. Nor is she as evil as you think. She is not monstrous, only…..confused. Insane perhaps. But not evil, and certainly no fool."

"Why do you keep referring to her as Liaedra?" Anomen asked, confused. "That…that monster is not the elven beauty that once traveled with you?"

Sarevok winced as he referred to her as an "elven beauty". That knight had always had an eye for Liaedra, probably one of the reasons Quinn had dropped him as quickly as he could. That left Sarevok to ponder why he had winced as Jaheira replied to Anomen's question.

"Yes, it is she. She calls herself 'Raziel' but she has also acknowledged the fact that she was once Liaedra. What happened to change her so, I have no idea. But the resemblance and some of the things she has mentioned leaves no doubt in my mind that our arsonist is the Liae that loved Quinn."

Anomen shook his head. "One so beautiful, fallen so far…" He clearly did not see the murderous glance directed at him by Sarevok, though Kelsey did.

"Well, no matter," said Anomen, rising and walking towards the door. "I shall simply send out orders to the patrols to search for her and bring her back, dead or alive…."

"No!" cried Imoen, standing up and intercepting him. "You can ask them to kill her! She hasn't done anything wrong!"

"Burning down temples? Endangering lives? I would count those as serious offenses!"

"She has killed no one," growled Sarevok.

Anomen turned to the group inside the room, his anger returning in full force. Sarevok noted with a detached sense of humor that his face was turning that peculiar shade of red that meant the knight was at the end of his patience. Before Anomen could explode, however, Jaheira spoke up once again.

"Sarevok is right, Anomen. She has killed or harmed no one intentionally. In fact, a few people actually say a cloaked, hooded figure actually saved them from the flames."

"Are you actually defending her, Jaheira? I cannot believe this!" he shouted exasperatedly. He turned to Kelsey. "What of you, sorcerer? She clearly injured you! That arrow wound was no mistake!"

Kelsey sighed and rolled his hurt shoulder. "That may be, but I did sneak up on her. I…. I can't condemn an old friend to death, especially not Liaedra. There was something so…. dead in her gaze. I think she needs help and friendship, not death and punishment."

Imoen nodded in agreement.

Sarevok chuckled. "Overruled, little knightling."

Anomen growled. "You!" He strode over towards Sarevok, who straightened at his approach. "I know you have something to do with this, you barbarian! You were too close to her cell, and too smug about this whole business……"

Sarevok spread his arms, laughing. "Try to prove whatever you wish, little man, but the fact remains that you lost her and you have no proof that it was my fault. Perhaps I did help, perhaps not!"

Anomen fingered the handle of the mace at his side. Tell me where she is going, you idiotic scum, or I will end your pitiful life right now." (AN: Here ya go, ArchYou2. Think of it as a cyber-cookie for being a good reviewer)

Sarevok's eyes began to smolder as his face turned dangerously cold. "You dare to threaten me? Say all you like, filth, but I can assure you, that even if I knew where Raziel was going, I would not tell the likes of you, you….."

"ENOUGH!"

Both men turned to see an angry Jaheira glaring at them. "Stop acting like children. Anomen, do not even consider drawing your mace! Sarevok, stop baiting him!" The two moved away from each other. Anomen lowered his hand from him mace, but did not hide the anger in his eyes.

"Much better," said Jaheira. "Now, then, Sarevok," she turned to him, "did you have something to do with Liaedra's disappearance?"

Sarevok merely smiled and shrugged.

Jaheira frowned. "Fine then. It matters not. I did not believe you would answer anyway." She turned to Anomen.

"Here is the plan. The four of us," she said, motioning to Imoen, Sarevok, Kelsey, and herself, "will look for Liaedra. If we do not find her after… say, two months, you may send your knights after her, agreed?"

Anomen sighed and sat back down in his chair. "Though you are in no position to make demands with me, I agree. As disturbed as Liaedra has obviously become, I would not want her death on my hands."

Jaheira nodded and stood up, Imoen following suit. They headed for the door, followed by Kelsey and Sarevok. Anomen rose respectfully at their departure. To his surprise, Sarevok lingered in the doorway and turn to him.

"Take your mind from her, fool. She is not yours and she never will be."

Anomen smiled sarcastically. "What, and you can lay some claim to the lady that I cannot? Is she yours? I doubt she would take up with a burnt-out warlord, especially one related to her former lover. "

Sarevok raised an eyebrow, but did not respond to the insults. "She is no one's, knight. And I imagine she would flay anyone alive who attempted to "own" her."

With that, he turned and left, leaving Anomen to his own thoughts. To his great surprise, Sarevok was met at the door by a thoroughly inquisitive and confused Kelsey.

"What was that all about?" he asked softly.

Sarevok shock his head. "None of you business, boy," he said angrily, stalking off.

Kelsey lifted an eyebrow at the abrupt departure of his companion, before following quickly himself.

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Next chapter: The search for our protagonist begins, and Sarevok gets a midnight visit.