Note: These stories are not in chronological order. Also, part of the idea for this story was stolen from the movie Angels With Dirty Faces.
"You've got a visitor."
Fenthick looked up from his cell at the guard who had delivered this information. The guard usually didn't talk to him, out of sense of either guilt or disgust.
"Who is it?"
"Krisha Dian."
Fenthick sat up, surprised. He had never been very close with the hero of Neverwinter, and he wouldn't have thought she was the type to visit condemned prisoners.
"You can let her in."
As the bard entered the dungeon, she paused before going over to his cell. Fenthick stood up, and politely greeted her.
"So, the student is now a legendary hero!"
She shrugged.
"I don't feel much like a hero. Did Aribeth come to see you?"
"She came. I couldn't face her, though."
Krisha leaned casually against the wall, looking straight into Fenthick's eyes.
"You never liked me, did you?"
"Krisha, you know that isn't true."
"No, I never could get your respect. I was too ruthless for you, too "chaotic" as you once put it. You probably wished I had been evil, so that you wouldn't have had to deal with me."
"That's not true. I may have disagreed with you on some things, but I never disliked you."
She sighed, and brushed the hair out of her eyes.
"Anyway, whatever you thought of me, there's something we need to discuss."
"What?"
"Aribeth. You still love her don't you?"
Fenthick lowered his eyes- although it was the truth, he couldn't look into the girl's e yes.
"More than life itself."
"You don't have to be ashamed. It's natural- why, even one of my henchmen has a crush on her! But I have to be frank here- she's not in a very good state."
"Is she ill?"
"You know that's not what I mean. No offense, but her type sees things in terms of black and white, exalted good or vile darkness, without any middle ground. Your conviction has thrown her a curve. She can't reconcile this with the "justice" of Neverwinter. She's going to crack."
Fenthick felt ill- far worse then when his sentence had been pronounced. He knew the bard was right.
"But what can I do?"
"You can restore her confidence in Neverwinter."
"How?"
"By going to your death as a traitor. As you climb the statue, you can laugh at the fools who had believed you innocent, and say that you have been proud to work against Neverwinnter. She'll hate you, and her universe will make sense."
"But- but Aribeth is all I have left!"
"For how much longer?"
"You cannot ask me to do this."
"Look, it's not an order, not even a request, it's just a suggestion. You know her best, and if you don't think she needs you to do this, I'll respect your decision."
She turned to walk out of the dungeon, but as she reached the door, Fenthick called after her.
"You know I'm innocent, don't you?"
"Know? I don't even 'know' if I'm innocent."
She paused, her voice almost breaking.
"But I fought for you until Nasher was ready to have me hanged, too."
She left, and the door slammed shut.
Aribeth doesn't need to hate me, he told himself. She'll be strong.
