General disclaimer: I own nothing, even Maiyn generally decides her own path.
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Escaping
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Dynaheir quickly cast a spell of light, and the companions realised they were standing within an antechamber at the beginning of a dark corridor. Shelves of books lined the walls, a sure sign that they were still within the confines of Candlekeep, and in one corner were their belongings, as Tethtoril had promised.
"So many books!" exclaimed Minsc as he fixed his pack, and collected his sword. "You must be very clever, Maiyn and Imoen, growing up here."
"I wouldn't say 'clever'," said Maiyn quietly, "but yes, I did a fair bit of reading, growing up. Imoen spent more time avoiding it."
"Hey, I did not!" came the young thief's reply. "I read every single one of them!"
"Boo's so happy to be here," continued Minsc. "He says he can hardly wait to send word to his family that he has found such a feast! Yes, old and greasy pages, row after row after row, ready to be devoured by diligent hamsters... What? Oh, Boo says such an intle... inle... intellectual feast. Was that correct, Boo?" A squeak answered the Rashemen, and Imoen and Alora giggled. Maiyn found herself smiling too, and Imoen punched her playfully on the arm.
"Feelin' better?" she asked, her face still quite concerned by the ranger's subduedness. Maiyn nodded. "Heh, you know we're sisters, but you're always the one that has the interestin' stuff happen..." The thief ducked Maiyn's attempt to clip her ear, and darted off giggling while the ranger just rolled her eyes. Soon enough everyone was ready to venture forward, and Xan pulled Maiyn aside.
"I want to-"
Maiyn shook her head, and hushed him. "I know," she said simply. "Let's put it behind us. I can appreciate how hard it is for someone of your standing to even be near me, let alone have been working with me. I bear you no bad feeling; we can discuss it when we escape."
Xan nodded. "If we escape," he sighed.
Maiyn poked him in the ribs and smiled. "We will," she said, advancing into the darkness with Kivan and Coran by her side. The enchanter sighed as she went. Oh Seldarine, he thought, I could have made the greatest mistake of my life.
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The passage was dark and dank, and even with the party moving slowly, their footsteps and clunking of armour echoed around. Before long they reached a chamber, dusty and still. Carvings of figures lined the walls, and elaborate arches provided access to several other corridors. Small urns sat in the corners of the room, once brightly painted but their colour faded and covered in detritus.
The party looked around, debating which way to go. A faint noise caused Kivan to hush them, and the group tensed, straining to listen. Then they heard it too; footsteps.
Maiyn turned to the corridor they'd arrived from and saw a figure emerging from the gloom. Their weapons were readied instantly, but the ranger soon called out for them to wait.
"Phlydia?" she asked in surprise.
The woman kept walking towards Maiyn. "My book!" she shrieked suddenly. "You stole my book, you cur!" With an almighty hiss, Phlydia shuddered and shifted form into a lanky humanoid.
"Doppelgangers!" exclaimed Jaheira as Minsc and Coran swiftly moved in to defend Maiyn. The elf stood in shock, pulled from the fight by Kivan as she watched helplessly as the fighters brought the shapeshifter down.
"Child, you need to be strong," said Jaheira firmly. "Nothing down here may be as it first appears."
Maiyn nodded, looking back at the twisted remains of the creature as she chose a corridor to follow. "We'll go this way - and stay together..."
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The group discovered several dead ends in the next few hours as most of the trapped passages led to elaborate tombs. The thieves were kept busy as they examined the walls and floors for traps, and Maiyn had to remind Alora and Coran on several occasions that they would not be looting the homes of the dead; the ranger looked especially hurt when she had to mention it to Coran, who instantly looked abashed.
They also discovered that a family of giant spiders had taken up residence in one of the tombs, and Maiyn had retreated hastily, allowing the others to deal with them while she waited in the corridor, her head feeling quite light from the shock. It didn't take them long to finish them off, and Jaheira assured the ranger that no one had tried to pilfer anything.
It was the final passage leading from the main chamber that led to the stairs down to the next level. With a deep breath, the group descended, and found themselves in an incredibly large room. The middle of the floor was almost completely covered with black and white tiles in a checked pattern; the area walled with elaborate pillars forming graceful arches. Several brass sconces hung on the walls located between the six ornately carved archways that led off from the chamber. At the far side, Maiyn could make out several steps, leading to a raised corridor that led further beyond. She pointed to it, and Khalid nodded.
Imoen and Alora ventured forward in tandem, almost instantly spotting traps around the tiled floor. As they set off to work at them, Maiyn saw something move in the corner of her eye. She turned as a voice called out to them.
"Spy! Traitor! Fight fer the rats, will ye? Fickle as the wind, ye are, fickle as the wind..."
"Reevor..." Maiyn's voice trailed off.
"We have a name fer yer type! Ratbastards, it is," the dwarf muttered as he began walking towards her. "Aye, and I've never known one I didn't hang with my own two hands..." With a wail, the dwarf suddenly shifted into a much larger form, and almost instantly fell to Kivan's arrows.
"Seek comfort, will you?"
Maiyn spun round to see Parda heading towards her. It's not real, it's not real, she told herself over and over.
"Aye, I'll show you a sweet and silent comfort if you'll let me, wasteling." Again, the shift; again Kivan's shot rang true.
More followed, each familiar to Maiyn, and she stumbled backwards as their words were hurled at her.
"Fetch bolts, I said!" yelled Fuller. "Should have told you to lick my boots clean, you mound of flesh!"
"Dullard!" exclaimed Karan. "Insolent waif! I tried to instruct you, tried to make you wise, but it was like drawing compassion from a Zhent! You are a nothing child, and soon you will be much less!"
"No, that's not true!" cried Maiyn. "I did listen, I did learn!"
"Stole Hull's special elixir, did you? And fed it to the cows, no less!" snarled Hull. "You'll rue the day you ever met me, Maiyn!"
"Poisoned Arabelle, have you? And to think, I would have left this Keep with the likes of you!"
"Dreppin..." whispered Maiyn.
"Lost yer sense of humour, have ye?" Imoen gasped and let her bow drop as she recognised Winthrop. The innkeeper spoke directly to Maiyn though, a lewd expression on his face. "I've heard what ye've been telling all yer little friends, that ol' Winthrop has a hankering fer a little elven arse every now and then! Heh, come here my pretty and I'll show ye..."
Together, the forms shifted into their sinister natural forms, and Coran had already moved towards the one who had worn Winthrop's guise, cutting it down mercilessly. The others fell quickly to Minsc and the Harpers, Dynaheir's magic missiles weakening them sufficiently, and the group quickly checked that Maiyn and Imoen were well enough to continue.
Imoen nodded determinedly, and Maiyn was coaxed back to follow Minsc as he led the way to the stairs. They reached them without incident, but as Maiyn climbed them and advanced down the corridor, three more figures seemed to materialise before her. She shrank back almost instantly.
"Maiyn! Stop this madness child, I beg of thee!"
Maiyn gasped quietly. "Elminster...?"
"Thou hast soaked these halls in the blood of innocents, and I cannot permit it to go further!"
"No... this isn't real," said Maiyn, shaking her head slowly as Elminster started to move towards her. "Stay back! Stay where you are! The one with you wears the face of my father, and I know him for dead!"
"It's okay Maiyn, it's alright," said Gorion soothingly, stepping forward into the light. Maiyn began trembling and Imoen let out a small gasp. "I didn't die that night, nor have I yet," he explained. "The blade that you thought slew me had been treated with a magical poison. It left me a living soul and a lively mind, imprisoned in a body that gave all appearance of death. The man you saw that night is called Sarevok, and he has been in the Keep for three days. Tethtoril kept watch on him, but in our foolishness we never imagined he would have others with him. Please child, I have loved you too much to lose you now."
"Father..." Maiyn's voice was small, like that of a child. Tears were filling her eyes, and Coran gently took her arm, preventing her from moving forwards. She weakly tried to shake it off, but the fighter's grip was firm.
"Elminster and I had long suspected it," said the third figure - Tethtoril. "With Sarevok away from his lair, Elminster was at last able to locate thy stepfather, and bring him back to safety..." The old man's head bowed. "Forgive me Maiyn, I should have told thee earlier; but to raise thy hopes, only to see them dashed again? There is too much heart left in this bony old cage to have done that." Tethtoril raised his eyes to Maiyn's again, his gaze full of sincerity and apology.
"Please child," said Elminster gently. "Sheathe thy weapon and sheathe thy madness too. Come with us and we shall see thee, at last, to safety."
"You say that these walls are covered in the blood of innocents," said Jaheira sharply, her voice sounding loud and aggressive. Maiyn turned to look at her, but the druid's eyes were fixed firmly on the three men. "Then who was it that chased Maiyn down these wretched halls, calling her name in voices she knew only to close in and attack in a traitorous form?"
"By all that is good, Maiyn!" exclaimed Gorion, ignoring the druid. "What have they done to your mind to haunt it so? Your old friend Dreppin lies in his own tangled entrails, and foolish Phlydia..." The elderly sage paused, and his expression turned from anger to sorrow. "She rushed down here to offer a mother's shoulder, and you butchered her like the monster you perceived her to be. The God's have no mercy on us ragged mortals, it seems."
"I..." Maiyn's voice trailed off.
"I am a doddering and elderly fool," sighed Elminster, "for having let it come to this. There stood I, nudging and prodding but never taking action... the most powerful mage in the Realms, reduced to a mere puppeteer. Listen closely, Maiyn; with the help of doppelgangers and some powerful magic, Sarevok has encased thee within a vast and frightening illusion. I was unsure whether even I could penetrate it to reach thee. The time has come for a leap of faith, child. Thou must fling aside this foul illusion and let us lead thee back to reality where Sarevok is fightable."
"Minsc and Boo think we should trust the nice old man," proclaimed the berserker suddenly. "He looks like the man who gifted Boo to Minsc when Minsc was lost and needing guidance. See Boo, do you remember the nice old man who looked after you before you came to fight with mighty Minsc?" Minsc held out his hamster, pointing it at Elminster. The sage ignored him completely, but Boo suddenly fluffed himself up, squeaking noisily and clawing at Minsc's hand in an agitated manner. The Rashemeni frowned. "Wait! This is not right, Boo would never act like so to his real former owner!" roared Minsc. "What fiend is this who pretends to be an innocent vendor of miniature giant space hamsters?"
"Minsc is right," agreed Dynaheir. "There is something most unnatural about this."
Maiyn watched the rodent's reaction, and her gaze moved slowly back towards the three figures ahead of them. Time seemed to slow down as Elminster shifted suddenly, into a larger doppelganger than the ones they'd faced previously. Maiyn cried out - No! - as Gorion and Tethtoril did likewise, and she retreated, shaking her head, refusing to believe that they weren't real.
Her companions rushed forward to fight, the greater creature having mirrored and beginning another conjuration. Minsc and Coran rushed at it, working furiously to bring it down, while the Harpers and Yeslick took down the other two quickly. The shapeshifter cackled with glee as its spell flew towards Maiyn, engulfing her in an orange light. Minsc roared, and managed to hit the doppelganger rather than its illusions, causing it to crumple to the ground, dead.
Coran and Jaheira rushed over to Maiyn to check for effects of the enchantment. The ranger slid to the floor, rocking herself gently as tears ran down her face. The druid put it down to the recent trauma, but Xan approached quietly, and sat before Maiyn, looking at her carefully.
"The spell," he said quietly. "I think it was an emotion spell. It will have taken her fears and multiplied them, which is why she's not responding to you. She feels nothing but hopelessness."
"Isn't that your job?" muttered Coran dryly, ignoring Maiyn's feeble attempts to shy away from him as he picked her up. "How long will it last?"
"A few hours, most likely," sighed Xan. "It doesn't normally; but it was cast on her as she witnessed what she perceived to be three important mentors in her life, killed by her companions."
"We saw them changing though," noted Jaheira.
"We did," replied Xan. "Can you be sure she saw the same, considering the illusions they have demonstrated they are capable of? Regardless, when it wears off we must be wary; she may regard us with suspicion if she did not see them change into what they truly were."
Jaheira nodded, and quickly instructed the others to get ready to move on. "Will you manage to carry her?" she asked Coran. "I would rather we didn't tarry overlong in these depths." The elf nodded grimly, holding Maiyn close to him as she trembled slightly in his arms, and the group moved on towards a stairway leading up.
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The stairway led up to a dark cave, and soon the group were outside again, dangerously close to Candlekeep. Kivan guided them along the narrow coastal path, that was on occasion treacherously narrow, banded between the sheer cliff that dropped down to the Sea of Swords and the tall walls of the library settlement.
The companions reached the forest past the village without incident, the darkness of the night helping them to maintain some cover. Coran gently placed Maiyn on the ground, where she promptly curled up into a ball. Jaheira sighed resignedly, and suggested they rest until the spell broke off. None wished to remain so close to the scene of their arrest, but there appeared to be little alternative, and a quick rota was drawn up for guard posts to allow everyone to get at least an hour or two of sleep.
Maiyn drifted off into an uneasy reverie. Coran watched her worriedly as she twitched and flailed gently, but Xan and Jaheira assured him it was just the effects of the spell, and that he should leave her to rest. He grudgingly agreed, but his eyes remained on her, ready to intervene if she got any worse.
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Maiyn was back at Candlekeep. She didn't know if she was dreaming or in reverie, but walked through the gates of the citadel and come face to face with herself. She was a child of only a few seasons, standing next to Gorion - grey haired, even all those years ago. Maiyn wondered how old he must have been to have aged so little in the time since.
Off to one side was Imoen - wandering around the new, strange place; she was barely four years old, and Maiyn was not much her elder. She watched Gorion bend down, kiss her child form gently on the forehead and promise he wouldn't be long before he disappeared through the massive doors of the building. Imoen sat herself down by the flowerbeds, amusing herself with the pretty blooms, and the young Maiyn wandered over to the nearest fountain, dipping her hand into the water to make patterns.
She wandered over beside her, watching her youthful self intently. She could remember this day, the day Gorion had petitioned Ulraunt to allow them to stay in Candlekeep. The day he'd been honest with the Keeper of Tomes regarding Maiyn's heritage. After a while the voices within the building were raised, but neither of the children paid much attention. The young Maiyn was looking intently into the water of the fountain, her eyes fixed to the reflection of a raven that was perched on the wall. Maiyn looked up to look at it, but it ignored her completely; it's gaze was fixed on the young elf's reflection.
Maiyn thought back to the day... she recalled noticing its claws... its skeletal claws. She'd been unable to break her gaze through the water, too scared to face its stare any other way.
The doors suddenly swung open and Ulraunt stormed out, giving Imoen only a cursory glance. His gaze fell on the young elf, a poisonous stare that sent a shiver up her spine. He looked away before he spoke, turning back to the old sage who had followed as he scowled.
"You can all stay," he said coldly. "But mark my words: that child will be the death of you."
Gorion seemed to age immediately, and the raven cawed as it flew away. Ulraunt sighed; perhaps in despair, perhaps in disgust, and strode back into the building without a backwards glance. Her surroundings began to fade, and Maiyn stole one last look at her younger form.
The young elf raised her eyes from the fountain for the first time and looked towards her. She noticed the girl's eyes; they were completely black as she seemed to commune to the ranger: "Like father, like child."
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Maiyn awoke with a scream, and beat off the arms trying to restrain her in blind panic. She felt for her sword, and grasped the hilt, pulling it free as she leapt up, slashing wildly at her attacker.
"Maiyn, no!" A familiar voice, but one she couldn't place. "Minsc, help Coran!"
She cried out as her sword was safely disarmed, and a pair of arms encircled her from behind, holding her tightly, ignoring her kicks and screams. A flash of light followed, and her anxiety disappeared, the same voice now calling to her, soothing her. The effects of the remove fear spell began to sink in.
"Calm yourself, child." It's Jaheira... "We are still close to Candlekeep and we cannot risk being caught here. Minsc, let her go."
Maiyn felt herself being released gently, and she stumbled as she tried to move away, being caught by another pair or arms. She looked up to see the dark eyes of Coran, full of concern as he carefully helped her become steady. When she nodded, he immediately let go, fearing another attack on himself. Maiyn sighed, and sat down quickly.
"I can't remember getting here," she admitted. "I can't remember much at all, actually."
The others gathered around her, several having been awoken by her outburst. Alora stayed well back, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. Jaheira sat down next to the ranger, and put her arm around her shoulder comfortingly.
"Do you r-remember b-being in the catacombs?" asked Khalid gently.
Maiyn frowned slightly, and nodded. "I remember the letter, and being arrested. I remember Tethtoril casting his teleport spell on us all. I... I remember meeting a doppelganger who had taken Phlydia's form, and going to all the dead ends when we searched for the exit."
"Do you remember the large antechamber?" asked Jaheira quietly.
"I... I think so. There were so many... all my friends..." Maiyn suppressed a sob. It's past now, she told herself sternly.
"Maiyn, do you remember the shapeshifters who took on the forms of Elminster, Gorion and Tethtoril?" asked Kivan simply. The others ignored his bluntness, watching Maiyn intently for her reaction. She was quiet and still for a few minutes.
"Yes," she said eventually. "At the time I thought you were killing my father and his friends. I wanted to believe it was them so badly that I ignored the discrepancies in their claims, the claims that we had killed real people and not shapeshifters. Then I just remember an orange glow, and it all went blank until now."
Jaheira filled the elf in on the events after the attack by the doppelgangers, and Maiyn nodded. "How close are we to Candlekeep?" she asked when the druid finished.
"Too close," said Kivan grimly.
Maiyn stood up. "Is everyone okay to go on?" she asked, noting the nods from her companions. "Then we go."
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A quick discussion as they readied their packs led to the decision to head north towards, but not to, Baldur's Gate. Maiyn insisted they use Cloakwood as cover, as it was by far the best route to take to avoid any well used routes, and Kivan and the Harpers were to share the leading. Maiyn drew Xan aside as they set off, walking beside him at the rear of the group.
"I will not be offended if you have decided you wish to leave again," she said, deciding that a direct approach would be best. "If I'd had any idea what I was, I would have told you beforehand - I hope you believe that."
Xan nodded, but stayed quiet.
"I can understand that supporting one of my kind is something you cannot do as a Greycloak," she continued, "and that even just adventuring with me would likely be frowned upon by your superiors. I wouldn't want you to be put into that position, so if there is somewhere we can accompany you to, then we shall. I would advise against going to a town or city though; you'll probably still be recognised as one of my companions, but if you wanted to return to Evereska-"
"Maiyn," interjected the enchanter, interrupting her flow. "Before you plot out my entire life for me, or what pathetic little there is left of it before my untimely and gruesome death, may I at least give you a hint as to how I would like it to go?"
Maiyn apologised humbly, and allowed Xan to continue as they walked.
"It is true that being with someone of your nature is not something my people would approve of, and if you wish me to be completely frank, I'm not very happy with it either," he shrugged. "Regardless, my mission is tied into yours, and if I am to fail miserably at it, I may fail with some allies alongside me. If we should, by some strange stroke of good fortune, survive being outlaws, prove our innocence then manage to succeed at this task, I shall return to Evereska, and you shall go onto whatever destiny awaits you. But until then, I shall stay in your company if you will allow it."
Maiyn nodded. "Thank you," she said quietly, moving off to walk ahead with Kivan for a while. The enchanter watched her go with mixed feelings.
He was not devoid of emotion enough to be able to change how he felt just because of the revelation of what she was. It had been a shock, of that there was no doubt, but she needed support and guidance now; things she could receive from her friends in the group. He could barely bring himself to look at her any more, the mixture of sensations too much to cope with when the disgust at her taint was added to it.
He looked over to Coran. He realised that it was now a good thing that the fighter had been the one to win her heart. He had little in the way of principles, and though the news had shocked him somewhat he was still there, still by her side. For now, anyway. All Xan had to do, was to cope with his feelings until either death caught him, or they succeeded their mission. He knew which it was likely to be.
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"How are you?" Jaheira had been walking alongside Imoen for a few minutes in a comfortable silence. The young thief shrugged, but her face was determined.
"I'm okay," she said at length. "I... I won't deny it was all a bit distressin', but I think it was worse for Maiyn. It was all people she was friends with, more than me." Imoen noticed Jaheira raise her eyebrow slightly. "What I mean is, there were other people in the Keep I was closer to, I guess. Piato for one, was more my tutor than Karan or Parda - they used to help Maiyn with her elvish and stuff. And Dreppin, well... it was Maiyn he had a thing for, not me."
Jaheira smiled softly. She'd not been aware of that small fact at all. "What about Winthrop though?"
Imoen nodded sadly. "I... I guess that one was the one that affected me most," she admitted. "But as soon as he spoke, I knew it wasn't him. Same as Gorion and them - I knew they weren't real, I just... knew. And Boo's reaction to them, it... well I know it sounds silly, but I trusted Minsc and Boo's instinct, ya know?"
Jaheira grinned. "Don't tell anyone," she whispered, "but I found myself being convinced by their actions as well."
Imoen giggled for a bit. "We'll be okay, won't we?" asked Imoen quietly. Her voice was small. "I mean, they think we murdered the leaders, and we didn't."
"We will find a way to prove ourselves innocent," Jaheira assured her. "It may take a bit of time to achieve, but if we can work together and stay loyal to each other, then we will come through this."
