Hmmm…. One review…… I kinda deserve it though, as I haven't been writing as much….
Still, if you guys could just tell me if you want me to write the sequel to this fic. I assume you do but I would like a bit of feedback, cause I'd rather not write it if you guys don't want it. There's a summary at the bottom of my profile and I will include a sneak peek at the end of this story. So, if, lets see, five people review saying they want the next story, I'll write it.
Maharishi: Thanks. Yeah, the author's notes are a stupid thing I do…. Did…. Yeah. Sometimes I just put them in, don't really know why. I'm just odd like that. I'm glad you like the story though. Your reaction of sympathy towards Raziel is kinda what I'm going for. I hope you like the end of the story.
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Raziel slumped on to her bed. She had talked to Haer'Dalis for over an hour. He had had some news of old friends and party members, people she hadn't seen since she had begun her vendetta. Conversation had turned over many a topic, until it had turned to her current traveling partner.
"Why does Sarevok choose to accompany you, my raven?" Haer'Dalis had asked. "I've always had the impression that he was more of a….. solitary hunter."
"I really don't know," she had replied. "But he's gotten me out of several problematic situations so far, and I owe him a lot. I really don't care what his reasons are; but he's someone I can sympathize with, and it is good to have company."
Haer'Dalis had smiled in a very odd way and had turned the conversation to another inconsequential topic. Now, as she lay in the dark, Raziel wondered what exactly the bard had been inferring.
"So, did the tiefling and you have a good time?" asked Sarevok from the darkness.
"I guess. We were just talking, Sare. It was good to hear what everyone else has been up to."
Sarevok snorted. "Missed gossiping about the social lives of all your old friends? Hn, you haven't changed at all."
She sat up, glaring at him where he lay on his bed, facing away from her. She had the advantage of infravision, and could see him quite clearly in the darkness.
She was tired of his attitude. As they had traveled, he and she had been fine, speaking occasionally, of things they saw on the road or old adventures. Ever since thy had gotten here, however, Sarevok had been unbearable. She had no idea if it was Haer'Dalis, her, or the people around, but she had had enough.
"Stop being so damned cynical about everything, Sarevok! So I was talking to him! Is that a crime?"
He too sat up, and glared back at her. He had better night vision than most people, probably because his adventuring life had led him to need the ability. "I don't care if you were talking with him or sleeping with him, elf."
"Sleeping….. Sleeping with him! What do you think I am! Haer'Dalis is my friend, you fool! Unlike you! What has been wrong with you lately!"
He jumped out of his bed. "You're what's wrong!" he shouted.
She stood up and moved towards him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
The man glared at her. Then with two strides he stood in front of her, grabbing her shoulders. Raziel simply stared at the man in shock, all her anger lost.
"You infuriating, idiotic elf! You drive me insane ever moment I'm near you, and yet I can't get away from you! Half the moments I want to leave you to whatever pitiful fate you bring upon yourself, and the other half I….. I……"
He was panting with exertion staring into her eyes. She looked back with determination. His eyes burned with that anger she was so used to seeing in him, from the time her lover had driven a sword into him when they fought so long ago to when he watched the other members of the party insult him and disregard him and could do nothing. Still, there was a tinge to the fire there, one that resembled….. desperation?
Sarevok had no idea what he was doing. All he knew was the silver eyes were tearing into him, daring him to do what had been on his mind for so long now, and he was so angry with them because there was nothing he could do to stop this. He hadn't felt like this since so long ago, when not only had his brother been offered godhood, a choice that had been torn away from Sarevok, but that Quinn had thrown away the family, the friends, his lover…… things that Sarevok had never been allowed, things that Quinn had discarded so easily in order to ascend. At that time he had hated Quinn with all might. Now……
"I hate you," he growled, before lowering his head to kiss Raziel forcefully on the lips.
Raziel was in shock. There was no thought that ran through her head as he attacked her lips with his own. She almost felt like he possessing her, trying to tear out her soul in a moment of rage. Then it was over, and he stepped back at her. She sat back down on the bed, staring up at him. He growled, then turned and strode out the door, slamming it angrily behind him.
Raziel raised two hands to her lips. Softly, she whispered, "What the hell is going on?"
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Raziel descended down to the stage the next evening. She had stayed awake much of last night, pondering what the kiss from Sarevok could have possibly meant. She had come to the decision that it couldn't have meant anything. This was Sarevok, after all; he didn't really show much in the way of affection. He must have been angry and just…… she didn't know.
All she knew was that a small part of her was really hoping it wasn't just a mistake. That he hadn't meant it when he had said he hated her.
She ignored that part of her. This situation was the last thing she wanted to worry about now.
He stood next to Haer'Dalis on the stage, right where they had cast the first planar gate almost six years ago. She was surprised he hadn't left completely. He was obvious doing his best to ignore the bard next to him. However, when she walked up the stage, he glanced at her. She met his eyes fro a moment, then nodded. He nodded back.
A truce made with two simple glances. They wouldn't bother with the last night's incident until after this whole mess was finished. They had enough to worry about as it is.
Haer'Dalis smiled slightly. "Well met again, my raven. I almost feared that your good sense would come into play and you would flee our arrangement."
Raziel smiled slightly and raised an eyebrow. "Is that your way of telling me I'm insane to attempt this?"
"You could say that. I meant no insult, my raven, but what you are about to attempt is certainly not something I would advise. Plane travel is dangerous, and I find your face too attractive to be dissipated in the fires betwixt worlds."
Sarevok rolled his eyes. "I think we have established long ago that bother Raziel and myself are not the sanest of people. Now, can we get this over with?"
"Oh, no, do keep up the banter," came a voice from the back of the room. "I find it…. invigorating."
Raziel turned around as a group of figures stepped out into the light.
"Anomen," she growled.
"How ice to see you again, my old friend," said the knight, as he strode down the aisle. "What have you been up to since our last meeting? Burn anything?"
"We've been avoiding you, you self-righteous fool!" growled Sarevok, stepping forward, his hand on is sword.
"Ah, Sarevok, I am not surprised in the least to find you involved in this. Did you think to curry the ladies favor by helping her? I have certainly heard of easier ways to bribe you way into a lady's bed. I believe in this case, money would have worked just fine…." (AN: Burn!)
Sarevok growled and moved forward, but Raziel stayed him with a glance. He moved forward.
"I very much doubt you came here to infer I was whore, Anomen. What do you want?"
"Why ever do you think, Raziel?" he said.
"You're on some sort of odd vendetta to capture me and bring me to justice?" she replied.
"This time, I will capture you. And you will not escape," he growled.
Before Raziel could reply, a great flash issued behind them. Everyone looked to where Haer'Dalis stood, smiling, in front of a glowing blue portal.
"I apologize," said Haer'Dalis, making a slight bow, "But I believe Raziel and Sarevok have an appointment they must keep with a certain deity."
Raziel grabbed Sarevok's arm. "Let's go," she shouted, turning to the portal. Sarevok glared at Anomen before following her. Both hurried towards the glowing blue light.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you!" called Anomen. The two companions turned back.
Beside Anomen stood Jaheira and Imoen, with bound hands and defiant faces. Kelsey lay in a slump nearby.
Raziel strode angrily towards Anomen, but was stopped by two crossbowmen on his sides.
"What are you trying to do, Anomen!" growled Sarevok.
"They did nothing, Anomen. Have you fallen so low as to harm innocents to get to me? Is my capture that valuable to you?" Raziel whispered dangerously.
Anomen smiled. "I have done nothing to harm them, Raziel. They were merely…. bait, in order to bring you closer."
"Not harmed? What did you do to Kelsey?"
"He… would not cooperate, most regrettably. I assure you, he is not permanently hurt."
Raziel laughed angrily. "So you haven't hurt them. What are you gong to do, threaten me with their safety? With their lives?"
Anomen shook his head, a frown on his face. "What do you take me for, some common knave? No, I will not harm them. However, I have enough evidence of them hiding you away to lock them up for quit some time. Now, you wouldn't want that, would you?"
Raziel looked away, towards the portal, gazing into its blue light. How close it was, how easy it would be to run through it. She could get pardoned and come back, right?
But she didn't trust Anomen. She would have never thought him capable of holding good people prisoner. How did she know he would keep his promise not to harm them? The man had lost his mind, and it was never wise to trust a sane enemy to be predictable.
How easy it would be to go through that portal.
Stupid conscious.
She turned back to Anomen, eyes intense with a silver fire.
"Let them go. I'll give myself up," she said.
Sarevok turned to her in anger. "What! Raziel, what are you thinking, you fool!"
Jaheira spoke up from Anomen's side. "Child, don't be a fool. Go through the portal! We shall be fine, child."
Raziel shook her head. "I've risked you're lives enough. I'll go with Anomen. It's the most I deserve." She sighed, turning to the portal one last time.
"It was not meant to be, after all," she whispered, so no one but could hear it but Sarevok.
All of the sudden a shout came from the guards. Both turned and saw Anomen and his guards in disarray. Imoen had untied the bonds on her wrists (being a thief, after all) and had now freed Jaheira, all without the knights noticing. The two of them were now distracting the guards and Anomen.
And it seemed that Kelsey had not been as injured as they had thought. He stood now, casting blinding spells on the other knights that had accompanied Anomen.
"Go, you idiots!" shouted Imoen, looking back at Sarevok and Raziel. "We can handle this! Go!"
Raziel moved to go help the others, ignoring Imoen's pleas. Sarevok grabbed her arm, as Haer'Dalis raced past to help the others.
"The portal shall only remain open for a little while longer, my raven. Go!" he said to the pair. Sarevok grabbed the resisting Raziel harder and dragged her towards the portal. He threw her though before entering it himself.
A few minutes after they had gone through, Anomen noticed that his quarry was no longer present. Pulling away from the fighting, he ran towards the portal. Before anyone could stop him, he had jumped though the portal. It closed a second later.
The four companions looked at each other before continuing the battle. events were in the hands of the gods now, and all they could do was trust that things would work out.
Even if one of those gods was Quinn.
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Raziel and Sarevok landed on the ground on the other side of the portal, shocked from their trans-planar ride. Raziel stood up quickly, walking quickly towards the throne. It was cold now, most of its power gone into making Quinn a god. But motes of light still floated around, reflected in a dance of light across her hair and eyes.
Sarevok came up beside her. "Where is he?"
"I don't know. Maybe we have to look for him?" she replied.
"I don't believe that will be necessary," came a familiar voice from the darkness to one side of the Throne. Footsteps echoed as a figure stepped into the pale light from the Throne.
"Hello, brother," said the face, shrouded in shadows, as it looked at Sarevok. Then the face turned to the elf.
"Hello, Raziel," said Quinn.
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Ooooohhhh…. Suspensefulness! 2 CHAPTERS LEFT 'TILL THE END! Yay! BTW I'm not gonna end with any big battle scenes, cause I suck at writing battles. But whatever.
And we had the first kiss! The only kiss, I'm afraid. I don't want to make the focus of this story the romance between Sarevok and Raz. Still there will be more in the next story.
Next chapter: Quinn meets Raziel! Everyone who's been waiting to meet him so they can beat his head in with a rock gets to do so! Everyone comes to the Throne of Bhaal, and… they have a disco party! Okay not really, but that would be kinda cool…..
Valvete!