Well, crap.

I ducked more flying crockery as I stood. Jaheira was checking up on Imoen as I braved Aerie's rage. Not Viconia's, she was covering behind an upturned table and occasionally hurling some of the larger chunks of pottery back at her rival. Aerie, however, was clearly in charge of the situation. She had the high ground,and was screaming imprecations at the drow as she took full advantage of the supplies of kitchenry behind the bar. The innkeep was nowhere to be seen.

I took one look at her, and said to myself: Oh, sweet Lathander, she's finally lost it.

Her rage was terrifying to behold. Her throwing skills were subpar, yes, but it was so out of character that it frightened me. If she decided to use her magics, she could do some serious harm. Like, mostly, kill us all. She wasn't crying, she was yelling. And throwing things.

Oh, crap indeed. She saw me, scurrying from table to table, ducking a flying mug and a wooden spork. Okay, she wasn't happy at me either. Viconia was thoroughly bruised by the looks of it. Jaheira seemed to be as safe as non-combatants got, having flipped her own table to shield herself. I went prone, protecting my head with my hands as Aerie focused her anger on me.

"How dare you defend her! HOW DARE YOU!"

"Defend-"

I was cut off by a salvo of wooden bowls clattering past me.

"Defend who?"

"HER!"

"Hey," I yelled as a clay mug shattered, showering me with shrapnel, "I'm not defending anyone! You're the one who's out of line, throwing stuff!"

A roar of disapproval. High pitched, almost musical, but a roar none the less. Time to admit fault and cut my losses. I stood, palms up, reaching out to her.

"I'm sorry if-"

Aaaaand down I go. Wooden plate to the skull. Lucky hit...I think. I lie there, stunned at the sudden appearance of the ceiling, and start wondering to myself: how the hell did things end up like this?

I heard gasps, dimly off in the distance. Thumps. A crash. Aerie frantically apologizing. The innkeep asking if it's safe to come out. Thump of boots and sandals. Then, long blonde hair falling down around me. Braids and beads forming columns to support the beautiful face above me. Huge, bright blue eyes staring down at me. Familiar. Around Aerie, I seemed to be a magnet for blunt trauma. She cradled my head in her lap.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! Please, please...talk to me!"

"Ow."

Well, I'm talking. I hope she's happy. She looks relieved, at any rate.

Wide blue eyes, blue as the wide sky. Tears falling on me. Thin arms around me. What am I to do. Curses from Viconia. Jaheira looking on stoically. She seemed relieved, at any rate. Imoen's confused, Viconia bitter. I was helped to a sitting position. I felt...trapped. Boxed in. Jaheira was clearly displeased at Aerie, if not myself. Everyone looked concerned, though. Everyone was calm, no one was fighting. It was nice, I guess. Except for the pain.

I was dizzy, but I somehow managed to pay the terrified innkeep and apologize. I was forced to lean on Jaheira and Aerie, who managed to ignore each other long enough to get me upstairs. Must've looked odd to the gnome, seeing the two of them holding me up, my arms slung over their shoulders and their arms behind my back. Aerie was on my right, with my arm slung over slight shoulders. Her hand had a deathgrip on mine, and she had looped her arm up and around my shoulder. She held me tightly, like she was afraid that if she let go I would die.

Jaheira, on the other hand, was a campaigner. We had done this before for allies, hell, for each other. Khalid's leg had snapped in the Nashkel mines, and we had to fight Mulahey like that. We carried him like that for twelve hours, give or take, switching back and forth when we got tired. She was used to it, I guess. Her right arm was low on my back, looped around my waist. Her left was on my stomach, helping me keep my balance. It was hard to concentrate- my head was swimming, and both women were failing in their efforts to be stoic. They curled up against me, like it was them that needed support.

Twice this week I've gotten hits to the head. Healthy. They dragged me upstairs, threw me in bed, and actually agreed on something. Unfortunately, that happened to be that I stay my ass in bed until tomorrow. At that point, I was barely capable of coherent thought, much less resistance. I nodded, and the two finally broke their truce for a brief 'chat'. I heard the door close on some very blunt words being exchanged. My eyes closed, and I heard the door again. Viconia's voice.

"Forgive me, abbil."

The door closed again.