Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. All is God's.
Comment: I haven't played BGII in a while, so if anyone notices anything wrong, (names… minor characterization…heheh etc.) just finer details that won't stick out in my mind… feel free to tell me.
Beginnings
Part 2
He hated this place. Every inch reeked of debauchery and vile practices. He had hoped he would not be forced to remain there for long. He had much better things to do, such as the clearing out the sewers of that cult beneath the temple district.
The sounds of fighting came from the wall behind him. He shuddered, remembering the one time he had ever gone back there. At that time, he had been there for the same purpose as he was now. After having looked everywhere he could, he had been ready to give up. As he had been about to leave, he had heard fighting and followed the sounds.
Inside, he had found noblemen standing in front of a railing cheering at something below. His father had been one of them. As he had gotten closer, he had seen two half-dressed women fighting in a mud pit with their hands. He had been too disgusted to persuade the drunken fool to return home and returned alone.
This was the first time he had been back there since.
He sighed, trying to ignore the animal roars he heard coming from behind the wall and from the dogfight pit near the bar. Thankfully few people were as interested in the dogfights as they were with the other entertainment available.
He refused to go any further into the place than necessary. From where he stood, he could survey the entire place. He had already accepted that his father was not in the main room, meaning he was in one of the backrooms. 'Perhaps he will contract a life-threatening disease and we will be rid of him for good.' He was briefly lost in a wonderful daydream in which his father was finally gone and he and his sister could live in peace. 'Moira could come live with me and we could sell the house…'
The smell of the meat roasting over the pits brought him back to reality. He wrinkled his nose and tried not to gag. That it smelled delicious wasn't helping, especially since he knew where the meat came from. On the other side of the large building was the bar. Attractive young servant girls took orders from each table, mostly beer. Every now and then the drunken men sitting around the tables accosted the girls, who tried their best to ignore them. They were allowed to lead the men upstairs where they could find women better suited for their lust, but otherwise could do nothing.
The men's wives were either at home or nagging them to come home. 'That never works.' One particular wife was busy harassing every single person, asking for her husband, Rupert, loudly enough for even him to hear. He made sure to be ready to run should she make her way towards him.
Another, younger woman, was going from table to table pleading for something. She stood out because of her clothes. He could tell she did not belong there, among this rabble. She was of finer class, like him. One of the men pulled her into his lap and tried to grope her chest. The girl, he knew, was not a servant girl, so he would not get in any trouble defending her. Before he was able to sprint all the way to her, he saw her reach down and punch the man between the legs.
He nearly tripped to see such a delicate young woman, as she appeared, able to defend herself so well. He had thought he could finally have his chance to be a knight in shining armor to a damsel in distress, instead of simply being a knight in shining armor. Alas, he would have to keep hoping.
The young woman stood up, brushed herself off and walked away from the group of men. Apparently the rest of them were slightly more sober than their friend, and did not try to hurt her. She passed two men who shot insults at her, but she ignored them. He thought for a moment she would leave, but instead she spotted him and came straight towards him.
"Thank you for trying, but I am able to handle men such as him," she shot said man another glare. She seemed to calm down instantly. "Oh, how rude of me. My name is Nalia D'Arnisse."
"My name is Sir Anomen Delryn. It is an honor to meet you, Lady D'Arnisse."
"Sir Delryn, is it? So you are a knight, then? Please, can you help me?" Nalia asked.
Anomen almost corrected her, but decided not to. 'She might not want my help if she knew I wasn't a knight.' "I would love to, My Lady."
Nalia's eyes widened. "Really? But you don't even know what-"
Anomen interrupted. "My Lady, I am willing to help such a beautiful woman as yourself in any way I am able. It is my duty!." 'Finally, I will get my big chance!'
"I… I… thank you so much!" Nalia said, throwing her arms around Anomen and hugging him tightly. She let go quickly, but they were both blushing when she did.
Anomen's blush quickly faded as he spotted his target exiting the whorehouse. "Excuse me, M'Lady, I have some business to attend to first." Anomen bowed. "It will not take long."
Nalia nodded and Anomen strode over to where Lord Cor was stumbling down the stairs. Anomen amused himself with images of his father tripping down the stairs and snapping his neck. But no, the old man managed the stairs quite well for a drunk.
"Sir, Lady Moira has sent me to escort you home," Anomen said, grabbing Lord Cor firmly by the arm.
"Lady… who?" Lord Cor asked, brining his face close to Anomen's. Anomen cringed and pulled back a little
"Lady Moira. Your daughter." Anomen said, his voice slightly unstaedy.
"Moira…. Moira… oh! Moira!" Lord Cor thought for a moment. "Who?"
"Bah! Nevermind. Come with me. Now."
"Now hold on… I'm not… done here…"
"I assure you, you are."
Lord Cor tried to pull away from Anomen, but Anomen's grip was firm.
"Lemme go! Guards!"
"What is the trouble here?" the tavern owner asked.
"Nothing, sir. My father is drunk and it would be in his best health to return home," Anomen said.
The tavern owner's eyes darted from Anomen to the drunken man hanging on his shoulder. The man sang a ditty that ended with him nearly puking on the tavern owner's shoes.
"You wouldn't want to lose a regular, would you?" Anomen sneered.
"Very well. Be off," the owner said.
Anomen nodded and motioned for Nalia to follow before forcefully steering his father out the door.
Nalia tried not to stare. But it was hard. She had expected…well, she wasn't sure what she was expecting. Yes, his father was a drunk, but so were most nobles. They still managed to maintain upkeep. But this was just awful. The house was decrepit. Most of the paint had chipped off and the wood had rotted through.
One harried guard greeted them from the veranda and silently took Anomen's father from him. A disheveled woman opened the door and broke into a smile.
"Welcome," she said, pushing loose strands of her hair behind her ears. "Please come in," she said, standing back and permitting everyone's entrance.
"Thank you so much, Anomen," she said as he walked in.
Nalia shuffled in, nervously expecting the place to cave in any moment. She was relieved to find the inside was in better condition. In fact, it looked astonishingly elegant compared to the outside. The first room had a marble floor that ended abruptly at the door. Beyond the door lay clumsily placed carpet, as if someone had been tiling the floor and never finished. In some places, tiles had been clumsily replaced with darker, cheaper ones that stood out in the pale floor.
A cherub fountain balanced in the center of an empty pool. Next to the pool sat a few cups of water with little goldfish swimming around inside. A bucket of dirty water and a soaking sponge lay next to the pool.
The woman noticed Nalia's gaze. "Forgive me, I was not expecting company," the woman curtsied. "My name is Moira, Anomen's sister. Sorry about the mess, I clean when I'm worried."
"My name is Nalia," Nalia said, also curtseying. "And it's no problem, you have a lovely home."
"Thank you," Moira said, "Sooo, Anomen, who's your friend?"
Anomen looked at Nalia and rubbed his eyes. "Forgive me, I seem to have misplaced my manners, my lady. Moira, this is a-" he hesitated.
"I am a friend of your brother's."
"Oh, have you known each other long?" Moira asked.
"Not really…"
"Good, then I won't abuse him for not mentioning you before," she gave Anomen a teasing glance, "Will you be staying the night?"
"Umm…" Nalia glanced at Anomen.
"I suppose that would be best," Anomen said, then quickly, "If that is alright with you, my Lady."
Nalia smiled, "I suppose it would be better than sleeping in the woods. And we do need supplies…"
"Good," Moira said. "Where are you going?"
"I am escorting Lady Nalia to her home on her request." He gave Nalia a pleading look to go along with his lie.
"Is it far?"
"About a day or so away. I traveled here by myself not too long ago, but heard rumors of increased monster attacks, and wanted to be safe," Nalia interjected.
"That makes sense," Moira said. "Well, I suppose you'll need food and water for the journey, but for now you should probably get some sleep."
"Yes," Anomen breathed. "I believe we would very much like that. I will inform the Order tomorrow of where I will be-"
"Nonsense, I can do that. I go there every chance I get, you know."
"Ah, thank you,"
"Nalia, I'll lead you to your room, Anomen, you know where yours is."
