Bar Talk

Well crap.

It was about five days after we had saved Sandusellar, the fantastic elven city. They had finally let us go back to Athkatla, so we could regroup. I was getting a little uncomfortable, anyways. A few of the locals had figured out I was a child of Bhaal, so things went a little downhill. I decided to hold a little get together of my own- I invited the people who had traveled with me over the past year to the Sea's Bounty. Most people came, save the dead and a few of the exceptionally antisocial. It took a week for the message to go out, another week for them all to get there. Trickled in, a few at a time… but almost all of them got to the bar.

About twenty of us packed into the dingy, poorly lit tavern. A few regulars were around too, mostly the old sea dogs who frequented the place to begin with. One could taste it in the air around them… the aroma of salt, and lots of it. The grayish, low ceiling and sputtering lanterns gave the place a sort of air of coziness, with adventurers kicking up their heels on the groaning tables, drinking and eating. The Thumb chuckled heartily further down the bar as Minsc ordered another round (on me, of course – adventuring was hard, but rewarding in more than the financial sense). The Thumb was doing great business – he had offered better prices than the Copper Cornet or the Mithrest. I half grinned at him as he passed, carrying another massive tray of drinks for my friends. While not quite the Elfsong Tavern, it was nice enough to let me relax.

I wasn't quite happy at the moment, for some reason. A few reasons, in fact. I rested my head in my hand, tankard in the other. I wasn't the only one being contemplative of course- Jaheira had staked out a stool further down the scarred and nicked bar. Viconia, being ever so subtle as always, had found a corner had yanked the hood up on her cloak. Her face safely concealed, she sipped at a dark wine and watched everyone. No one could tell her facial expression or mood. Aerie on the other hand was seated with Imoen, Nalia and Skie, chatting it up. Those four had become nigh-inseparable when they were together.

The mages sat together, as did the warriors, and the men and women of the cloth. Those of a...less reputable trade crowded around the bards, listening and exchanging stories. Everyone seemed happy (with the exception of Xan, who was lamenting loudly about…well, I don't remember) and well rested. It was a true luxury for these hard-bitten folk, who had helped me along across the year past. I couldn't help noticing the glances Aerie, Jaheira, and Viconia kept throwing at me, though. The three of them had been there when we had taken on Irenicus. Keldorn, Minsc, and Imoen had been there too, but their behavior was more normal than the three. I guess it was the whole 'romantic interlude' encounters that made things clear. By not choosing any single one of them over the others, I just encouraged competition. I was still fair game to the crazed woman who could seduce me. It made for some awkward moments and deep bruises. Was I interested in any one of them? Sure. But I can't say it was easy to even contemplate starting a romantic relationship considering that I hadn't been out of some sort of danger in two years. I barely scratched by myself, was I going to put anyone through what I had seen Jaheira go through?

Sighing once again to myself, I ordered another ale from the Thumb. Polishing a mug with a rag on the end of his hook, he watched me through old, wise eyes. "'Oy! Whot's wrong with you, mate? Ye hath almost every scoundrel on th' Coast in me tavern, but ye looks likes ye have just bit into a raw mackerel." I grunted in response and gestured to the three. "Ah, 'tis trouble with the lasses?" I nodded again. "Aye, 'tis nothing a fresh draft and a lively reel is wont to fix."

Before I could object, the Thumb had thumped down the ale in front of me and gestured for the three musicians in the center of the room to play up. The lively ballad crawled to my ears above the hum of conversation. It quieted down for a second before Keldorn thumped down a fist, yelling, "I remember this one from when I was a callow youth, much like the rest of you!" He was laughing, smiling for the first time in ages. His wife sat near him, holding his hand. He looked...younger, somehow. Happier.

The tavern erupted in laughter as people found themselves on their feet, dancing merrily. Only the more dour remained sitting- Xan, Jaheria, and Viconia among them. Haer'dalis and Garrick played merrily in the meantime. 'Dalis himself called out to me, requesting his 'raven' join the party. I quietly declined. He laughed, leapt up onto a table, and called out, "Good patrons of this fine establishment, I call upon you for aid, just as I and many of you have called upon my raven in our hours of direst need! He sits there, alone, sullen, and watches as we spend his coin. Come now, join the merrymaking, for thou canst not trust a man who doth not drink, and we all know that our raven can be trusted in all things!"

I smirked briefly, and the crowd applauded. Many raised flagons in a roared toast before aiming themselves towards the center of the room, hastily cleared of tables. I was pushed out onto the bar floor, where the people danced with abandon. It gladdened me to see them all so happy. They all had suffered so much. Nearly none of them wore any kind of armor but the ceremonial (the rest had been stashed in rooms) and even then those who wore that were sparse. Weapons still abounded, however. The ways life with me changed people were always apparent- scars, loss, different people. It was hard for them, I know. Walking into a bar, and not knowing if an assassin was waiting for us. We had all narrowly avoided death at the hands of those who sought my end.

Imoen, Aerie, Skie, and Nalia all stood apart form the greater part of the dancers, smiling and talking. Every so often, they would point in my direction. I sighed heavily, and looked around. Minsc was trying to persuade Jaheira to join the revelry, while Garrick and 'Dalis played on happily. Suddenly, Coran and Keldorn heaved me towards the shy girls from behind, having crept up there while I was distracted. The lot of them scattered, leaving only Aerie.

The merry reel played on as I stood dumbstruck in front of Aerie. Even after almost six months with her, her beauty never the less astounded me. Everything from her bright, innocent eyes to her slender, lithe body called out to me in a siren call that defied description. She giggled, and in a rare moment, grabbed my hands. I clutched on to the fine digits as I had often done in hell, when she would squeeze my hand every now and again as much to keep herself sane as to keep me sane. As soon as she touched me, I forgot the trials we had all faced. All that mattered was this single moment of normality.

The music reached a fever pitch around us. I took her and spun, round and round. Everything but her blurred together. All I could see was her. Her huge eyes, so bright, so full of emotion; her long hair flowing behind her like liquid gold; her pointed ears… it all swallowed me until we came apart in a rush, laughing wildly. I fell into a table, and blacked out.

When I came to, all I could see were people crowded around me. I looked through the slits of my eyes at everyone. Aerie looked positively aghast. A circle of my comrades had formed high above me, looking down with pale faces. I could feel something wet flowing down my face. I even saw Viconia's cloaked form push her way through the throng above me. Suddenly, gentle hands cradled my head. Words floated into my ears from behind.

"…ilvanus, I'll not lose you too!"

Tender hands worked their way across the top of my skull until I winced from pain. I twitched, and I heard a rather loud collective sigh of relief. "He is fine everyone. One of his wounds from the battle has merely reopened. Go back to your merrymaking. I will tend to him." Jaheira looked down at me, with a combination of worry, anger and relief. Despite her sharp tongue and 'independent streak', she still acted a little matronly towards me, perhaps a holdover from when I first met her, bleeding all over the Friendly Arm Inn after being jumped by an assassin.

I was (carefully) brought up to my room, where Jaheria carefully removed my shirt and began to clean my wounds. I coughed, fully awake.

"I can do this myself, you know," I said.

"Shut up."

"...thanks, Jaheira."

Lovingly, she cleaned and rebandaged my gashes on my body. She stood there awhile, pushing me back down when I tried to rejoin the party.

"You'll stay here, or I will cram you back into the hell you just crawled out of!"

Sighing, I rolled over and pretended to go to sleep. The idea was that I was going to get up as soon as she left, but things just didn't turn out that way. I began to remember, during the trials, how she had healed me time and again, watched over me while I collapsed from exhaustion in that infernal plane.

She watched me as I 'slept' for almost a half hour, repulsing any visitors (including an angry and panicky Aerie, who was desperate to see if I was okay). After the last of them had left, she stood over me a moment. Eyes still shut, I listened to her. She just stood there quietly a moment, waiting and breathing, before stroking my cheek with her hand. I heard a quiet sigh, then felt her proximity as she leant down quietly and kissed my lips and forehead gently before leaving. I cracked my eyes open a little, and watched her open the door. Looking behind her just before he she left, she sighed again. She closed the door.

I rested there quietly for a few moments, thoughts running through my head. Finally, I succumbed to sleep. My dreams brought me back to that final battle against Irenicus. Moments before we had actually started off into the Tree, I had given everyone a final chance to get out.

"Keldorn, you have a wife and children."

"Only because of your intervention. I stay: Torm would not allow any other course of action."

"Okay, next…"

"Do not bother asking, friend! Minsc and Boo will introduce evil to our sword one last time."

"Imoen?"

"You stuck by me time and time again. I won't leave you now, little brother."

"Jaheira?"

"What? You think I could let Khalid's death go unavenged?"

"Aerie, my dear... I know you-"

"I'd follow you anywhere."

"Viconia?"

"Jar khaless! We will fight together one last time, abbil, and perhaps Shar will watch over us. "

Everyone present voiced similar beliefs, all of the them- even Kagain and Korgan. They all dived down after us, fighting beside us. Only my six closest were dragged to Hell with me, but even as I faded into death I saw them forming around us, protecting our bodies, fighting off Irenicus's minions...shielding my body with their own. Such loyalty, I did not deserve. All throughout my journeys, they fought and bled for me. They fought my battles when I could not. It was them who drove me on when I could barely lift my mace, or when I questioned my faith.

The battle had been long and hard fought, most of us emerging barely alive. Even my healing arts were stretched to their limit to keep Minsc from bleeding out after he had hacked down a Baalor by himself. So much blood... I don't remember whose all of it belonged to. Irenicus finally succumbed to our flurry of blows after almost three hours of fighting. Battered, bruised, bloody- we returned to life. We found all our friends waiting for us - from Haer' Dalis to Cernd to Eldoth. They all began to howl and leap for joy as we all crawled from the beds prepared for us. From there, we caroused from Sandusellar back to Athkatla. I mean, what else could we do? We had conquered death, dragons and archmagi. It was finally time to relax, after a year and a half of being dragged along by my unusual fate. I had my soul, my friends, and a fortune in gold.

I woke up to sound of a mighty thump, and roar of laughter. Standing shakily, I descended the rickety stairs into the main hall of the Sea's Bounty. Night had fallen, and the lanterns burned bright. The bards were still playing away as I grabbed a seat at the nearest table, with Minsc, Kivan and Valygar. Coran soon joined us, simply because he felt more at home amongst the rangers than with the other rogues. Minsc cheered, chanting and singing along while the others quietly discussed other matters.

Valygar, Kivan, Coran and I started talking about where everyone was going, as the party continued. After the death of Tazok, Kivan had become the protector of the near just south of Beregost, solitude helping salve him soul. Coran too sought out the solitude of Cloakwood forest once again help him cope with the death of his beloved Safana. Valygar expected to retreat to his cabin once again, to consider the events that had occurred in the planar sphere. As the din quieted, I raised my flagon to them, and said very quietly, "To good friends and faraway times."

The party was beginning to tone down as our ale mugs tapped. The revelry quieted as people began to nurse drinks, talk more seriously. The rangers were nostalgic, but happy.The dead were remembered fondly, as were many other things. Bar fights, nights under the stars, discussions and mystical places. Some retired to rooms, tired and drunk though happy. I continued talking to the rangers for awhile, as the lanterns began to sputter and dim. Suddenly, I felt long-fingered hands run across my tunic, wrapping thin arms around my body. I smelt the exotic perfume before her breath danced across my neck.

"Hello, abbil. Feeling...better?"

She purred in her native tongue into my ear, sibilant sounds and wandering hands making me sit ramrod straight. She nuzzled me, her smooth skin on my neck. I said nothing, did nothing though she was obviously amused and trying to make a scene. Viconia always did things differently- instead of trying to earn my favor, she was trying to drive away her competition. I could feel eyes in the darkening bar take notice... most of it quietly amused. In the beginning, I had been amused my Khalid and Jaheira's bickering. Apparently, however, seeing three women bickering over me was WAY more amusing. Of the watching eyes, one set was angry, the other horrified. I could see Jaheira's form moving around her table, advancing with balled fists. Aerie's form stayed still at her table, watching and whispering to her friends.

Before I knew it, Viconia's lips were on mine. Her tongue probed into my mouth, tasting of dark wines and severely underdone steak. I flailed a little, before Jaheira tore her off me. Suddenly, it came back to me. Back in Hell, Viconia would pinch my ass every now and again, give me that wicked smile, or put her hands on my shoulders. Ever since I met her, she always came off...I don't know...mysterious. Odd. Sure, people looked at us funny when we walked by. I guess they saw something I tried to ignore. I just passed it off as her being a Drow, but eventually...eventually even I recognized it. Every touch was a calculated seduction, every word a bid for her favored jaluk.

Then the fur started to fly. Jaheira tore her off of me. I heard 'Olyth plynn...' and several references to nature. I was too busy ducking hands and feet to really pay attention. Within seconds, the pair had been separated by Minsc and Keldorn. The screaming and violence continued. I sighed, and the door burst open. Aerie was halfway to me when the messenger bearing Ellesime's colors ran over to me. Aerie showed no sign of stopping, intent on spiriting me away while the others fought. In hindsight, looking at two women brawling over me and the one advancing, I realized that relationship issues have better answers than "Hey, don't look at me, I don't want any trouble" or "I'm not getting involved".

I opened the missive as the elf departed, reading the delicate note. Aerie began to stutter, alcohol fighting the fear as she reached for my hand.

"Tomorrow, we have to go back to Sandusellar. Me and five companions," I said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, and the tavern went dead silent. They all nodded, and the rest of everyone decided to retire, saying their goodnights. Viconia, Aerie and Jaheira each kissed me on the cheek, told me they'd be waiting for me in the morning. It was a concession, I guess, that I didn't push them away. I simply sighed and accepted that they would follow me to the ends of the earth without even being asked.

I didn't deserve it.

Yeslick, the old dwarf from the mines, was the last to go as I sat and numbly stared at the letter. My respite was over. The ancient, wise man looked me in eyes.

"You knew this was coming, my son. You are favored by the gods for some grand act in the annals of history. You were destined for this greatness since your birth. We share in it, but it is you alone whose legend we are writing. The good you have done for Amn and the Sword Coast will be sung of for generations. The people whose lives you have touched will tell their children and their grandchildren of how you and your companions have changed their lives for the better. You have changed all of us."

I still felt like garbage as he put his hand on my shoulder, gave it a firm squeeze. He was halfway up the stairs when he stopped for a second, turned around, and looked at me. Everyone else was already lying in bed, but I expected more drama before the day was out. His stare lasted a few seconds, as if judging me.

"Oh, and by the way...pick Aerie."