Author's note: Thank you to the two people who have actually reviewed.

If Tommi Undergallows had known the hell he was about to get himself into, it is quite possible that he would have chosen to make his move on Linu rather then Aribeth. It was the sort of simple, basic mistake he had heard of in ballads- falling for the beautiful, troubled girl rather then the one who would actually be good for you. But Tommi hadn't thought about any of this when he went over to comfort Aribeth in the Port Llast drinking house.

"Hullo there, my lady. Care to have a drink?"

The Paladin, who had been staring at the bottom of her cup, looked up at him.

"Shouldn't you be with your employer?"

"The Human girl? Krisha's already gone off to bed- Master Gend's bed, no doubt."

For a moment, Tommi wondered if he had said the wrong thing. Aribeth put her hand up to her eye as if brushing away a tear at the thought of love. Stupid me, he thought to himself, I always talk too much.

"He'll betray her", the Lady whispered.

"Pardon?"

"Or else he'll do what he thinks is right and be hanged for it. You can count on a man to do that."

Tommi took the opportunity to sit down next to her and take her hand sympathetically.

"Well," he said, "That's one good thing about me- I never do anything just because I think it's right. And when I betray a girl, she knows it's nothing personal, just my nature."

Aribeth smiled a bit at this, and brushed a strand of hair from her face.

"Tommi, you make the most transparent seduction attempts that I have ever seen."

"It don't pay to be subtle, that's what I say."

She sighed.

"But perhaps your way is best. Look out for yourself, don't think about others. All my life, I have worked for the public good, and for what reward? My lover's corpse, hanging from a tree?"

She swallowed what was left of her drink and met Tommi's eyes, almost challenging him.

"But you don't serve any community. For money, you could betray a city, break down the walls of the place you once called home, see your entire world collapse and simply laugh. Couldn't you?"

Tommi wasn't sure he liked the direction the conversation was taking. She still wasn't over that pretty boy, and now she was raving about philosophy. Maybe he should go see what Sharwyn was doing.

It was at that moment that Aribeth pulled him toward her and kissed him with enough force to knock out a weaker Halfling. When she pulled away she was crying, but Tommi silently congratulated himself.

"Tommi?"

"Call me Grin."

"Alright, then. Grin, I've always known why you stayed at the Hall of Justice rather then the Trade of Blades when you were looking for work. I used to feel flattered, but I would now like to ask a favor of you."

She smiled through her tears and stroked his cheek.

"I'm going away. I have to do some work in Luskan. Would you come with me? I've been so lonely since Fenthick was killed, and I'm about to isolate myself even more- I can't explain- I would appreciate your companionship."

"My Lady!"

Tommi felt himself luckier then he had been in a long time. He was wrong.