„Tales Forgotten and Tales Told 2"

"Where is she now?" Xan caught a part of conversation as Valygar and Yoshimo passed him on their way to the lower levels of the Sphere. It was a late hour and he didn't expect to meet anyone while coming back from what Daria made Sphere's library, stocking all the tomes that came to her possession there.

"In the living room. Our friend is not going to get any sleep tonight. It's the full moon…" That bit of Yoshimo's answer at once drew the elf's attention, though he'd rather not realize that what he's doing was in fact listening to a private conversation. He stopped by the bend of the corridor, trying to appear as if he was trying to recall if he left something in the library.

"So she'll be quite alone in the room for the whole night?" Valygar asked, but Xan didn't catch Yoshimo's reply, since the both men already walked through the door of the next section of the complex construction. The enchanter looked at the end of the corridor, at the door leading to the living room, hesitating on his way to his own abode.

„I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your reverie." Xan immediately took a step back to the door he just went through, seeing he startled Daria from her thoughts as she sat on a blanket placed by a fireplace. He noticed a file of papers, covered in her a bit sloppy handwriting, lying by her feet.

"It's fine." Daria rubbed her eyes. She didn't even notice when she began to slip into a reverie. "You probably spared me another nightmare. You can't sleep?" She looked curiously at him. It was well after midnight already.

"I was worried you are here alone. But if I am interrupting anything I will go."

"It's fine" she repeated. "I finished already. I made some horoscopes. Here, it's is yours." She quickly searched through the file, drawing a page from the bottom. He came closer to the fire to take a look.

"Blind believing is better than blind disbelief. Summit under a goal, sun? Long journey?" he read.

"I know, I should have added some rhymes, and made it sound more mysterious, but remember I'm still new to this" she jested half-heatedly, sighing. "Precognitions for a long period of time are usually gibberish. I'll get better in few months."

"If we survive that long…" Xan sighed and stole a look at the sun elf. She was gazing into the fireplace flames, her hand reaching to her left cheek, though she probably didn't realize she was making this gesture. He knew what she was thinking about. "Can I sit down for a while?"

"O-of course." It seemed as if she woke up from her thoughts again. He took a place in a comfortable distance from her.

They sat in silence for a moment.

"We all have long journey in our horoscopes. Only Jaheira… she has mortal danger. I'm worried." Daria broke the silence.

"What is in your horoscope?"

"Big change, transformation. Shredding, tearing. I hope I am not going to ruin another set of robes."

One more moment of mutual staring into flames passed. The conversation somehow felt forced.

"It's obvious" she began again. "…that if I fall asleep now I will dream about Irenicus or vampires or something even worse. But imagine… if I had this abilities and a completely ordinary life… a safe home, family… All my talents would be absolutely useless. I'd be able to forecast the weather and… know that I'll be safe and loved tomorrow, and the next day… next month, next ten years…" She fell silent, just as if she hadn't just said that, as if her words weren't directed to him.

"You'd be bored with such life after a year at best" he looked at her with understanding. He remembered having similar thoughts concerning his Moonblade. If he hadn't decided to claim it, what would his life look like? But it was only idle hoping since it was already too late to change anything. His fate was sealed and unfortunately so was hers. "I know you too well to doubt that."

"Maybe… but it would be nice to try."

She looked so vulnerable and gentle, so heartbreakingly sad. Only in the last moment he stopped his hand he raised to brush off some stray locks from her face, to touch her cheek. Pleasant warmth of the fire enveloped him and Xan felt he could be quite content with his life if the rest of it could look just like that, by her side, defending his People, but from afar. But it couldn't last forever. Nothing could and the least she couldn't.

"Daria, I…" something blocked his throat, but he fought it quickly. "I need to tell you something."

She shifted her gaze from the fire to him, with some silver shine always hidden in the depths of her dark violet eyes. He felt his heart melting slowly.

"I… Daria, I tried to let go, to prove myself that it was vain, because there was no proof that it wasn't, but… I need to get a hold over myself again, regain control, I really do, but I can't. I can't until some part of me still stubbornly hopes that… maybe… that there's a smallest chance that…" He paused to take a deep breath, ignoring her puzzled look. "I need to hear it from you, everything, so I can finally stop deluding myself. I need to hear from you… what do you think of me." Normally he'd never say that. Normally he would tell her that she distracts him, that maybe it would be better if they stayed away from each other for some time, until he regains control of his feelings, but this night was different. Neither hers, nor his, but there was some magic in the air.

"I love you" the shining eyes said, softly. "I love you" Daria said gently, but with certainty of many hollow days and many sleepless nights.

"Daria, please. It is not a joking matter. I need to know" he begged her.

She moved closer to him on the blanket and he could feel her warmth along with the fire's heat.

"I love you" she said again, even softer. And her eyes repeated it.

"But you can't! You can't…" he whispered with anguish she knew so well. "We're doomed, you and I both. It is…"

"Shh…" she silenced him putting a finger on his lips. He instantly quieted. "Close your eyes."

He obeyed, now feeling his molten heart fastening its beat. He was waiting for something, but for what he himself didn't know. Or he didn't want to admit, not to feel disappointment if the reality didn't eagerly rise to meet his wishes, as it never did.

And then he felt something touching his lips, but it wasn't her hand this time. If this was a dream, than he wanted it to last. He didn't even consider that it could be reality. He felt the fabric of her enchanted robe around his neck as she circled her arms around him, and a rustle of robes, as she moved even closer to him. He felt her kiss on his lips like a fire, burning him without pain and he didn't care what was real anymore.

Her lips parted slightly on his and he understood that she's waiting for his answer. He was too terrified to move, fearing that if he only did something, if he believed it was true, he would wake up in his empty room, without her. He was afraid, he wasn't ready and he kissed her back, taking her in a gentle embrace of two magic robes sending sparks at the contact. For a moment their tears merged with neither of them quite believing in what was happening.

"What's happening?" Jaheira asked, entering the half-dark living room, upon seeing Xan holding sleeping Daria covered with his purple cloak, both on a blanket near a long extinguished fireplace.

"She fell asleep" the moon elf explained, turning to the druidess. Jaheira was surprise how different he looked without his gloomy expression. It must have been the first time she saw him without it. He almost looked… hopeful.

"Then wake her up!" she raised her voice, shaking off the strange impression. "Or do you want to wait before she has yet another nightmare?"

"No, wait. Look" the elf cut with still hushed voice. "She's smiling." He showed Daria, lying on his lap, to the druidess. The elven woman's face was adorned with a beautiful smile.

"Let her sleep" he asked, looking at his former student with fondness he didn't need do hide.

What says one shadow when meets the other? This one said: "Do you think it worked?"

"It had to work" the other shadow answered at once. "They were locked in one room for three hours and didn't even notice that the lock was shut, my friend."

"They don't seem any different…" Both shadows now looked into the light, where by the Sphere's exit the rest of the party was saying their goodbyes to the elf and his daughter. No one cared that the two shadows were missing.

"Valygar, my friend, if you really thought that they'd start singing how happy they are together then I'm afraid you don't know either of them one bit" the second shadow commented with teasing sarcasm.

Valygar grumbled with irritation. "I think it didn't work. Jaheira came too soon."

"I delayed her for as long as it was possible and you did what you could as well. I have no idea how you managed to sneak inside with fresh clogs for the fire, but the blanket by the fireplace was a brilliant idea. And what herb did you put into the fire? Pity they didn't find the bottle of wine… If we could only eavesdrop!"

"Too risky, I told you. She's usually watchful, but in full moon she'd see us before we'd manage to enter the room." The fact that it wasn't actually ethically appropriate wasn't a valid argument.

The two shadows watched silently as their leader handed the gifts to their guests. Rotan smiled thankfully, receiving two horoscopes for him and his daughter. Taira laughed running around with a figurine of an imp made of wood, her new toy. The wooden imp was enchanted with a simple spell that made its eyes shine in violet light.

"We try again tonight?" One shadow said to another.

"It's not like there's anything more interesting to do." Yoshimo smirked and blended with the darkness.

"But this time I distract Jaheira." Valygar grumbled, before following the thief.

Daria double-checked if her nymph cloak was pinned firmly by a yellow brooch, glowing faintly with a minor enchantment. She corrected the pins keeping her hair in check and went through all her spell components she had hidden in her belt, and then checked the cloak again. They were already late with the latest task they were to perform for the thieves – making a deal with Lathander acolytes for delivering holy water, but if she was to talk to the Shadow Thieves and Aran Linvail in particular, she wanted to look her best. Conversation with the Shadow Master was always a strain for her nerves, but knowing that she didn't look like straight from a week-long stay in a forest helped. A little.

She took a calming breath and marched out of her room to meet the rest of her party. They were already waiting for her in the hall of the Sphere. The sound of Jaheira tapping her foot accompanied Daria's steps on the stone ground.

And then suddenly Xan took her in his arms, held firmly and kissed full on the mouth. She opened her eyes to his hand on her shoulder.

"Daria, are you all right? You drifted away for a moment" he asked concerned.

"I'm… I'm all right" she smiled, realizing for the first time it was true. She led the way out of Sphere humming lightly. Her companions followed her lead, more or less used to their enigmatic leader.

The guild was quiet, too quiet. So quiet that made Daria check if the thief, who was leading them into its depths to Aran Linvail's meeting room, was in fact human and not a vampire in disguise, sent to lead them into a trap in an abandoned hideout of the Thieves. Only three days ago these corridors and rooms were filled with constantly training adepts, spies and messengers. Now only rats and mice could be heard rustling in dark corners. The place seemed abandoned. It was all very suspicious.

"You'll have to wait here" their guide, with a face uglier than athkatlan pavement, grunted and disappeared in one of many dark passages of abandoned guild. They stayed in an empty training room, which probably served as a place to practice throwing daggers, judging by various aims painted on the wooden wall.

"Boo says it's fishy" Minsc ineffectively tried to lower his voice. "But Minsc doesn't know what fish have to do with it."

"It's all right" Daria did a better job at whispering. Her team formed circle around her, with exception of Xan and Viconia, who didn't need to come closer to hear. "The Shadow Master has many guests today. I think he's preparing for an assault at the vampire's lair."

"A vision?" Jaheira raised an eyebrow.

"A logical conclusion. Based on a divination. We'll just have to wait."

Xan sat carefully on what appeared to be a bench for tired adepts of knife throwing. He hoped it was a bench, not a deadly trap just waiting for someone to take it for a bench. He bent over his pack to draw out his spellbook.

"Daria" he sighed, feeling something tangling his hair.

"Who else?" The diviner left his hair alone and fell on the bench next to him, giving him a light peck on a cheek. Xan blushed surprised, but tried to compose himself quickly.

"What's the reason of this sudden happiness? Has the news of Irenicus' sudden demise been made public today?" he tried to grumble.

"Yes, I love you too" she answered frivolously.

"W-what?" he choked. Then it got to him that it was a phrase. "You should be more careful of your surroundings" he desperately tried to distract her. He wasn't prepared for something like that. "Messing my hair won't save you from an assassin."

"If you say so." She smiled again, with eyes sparkling with mischief and something more. He felt himself blushing again.

"Daria, I have no idea why are you wasting your time on this wimp" Viconia found it appropriate to invade their private corner of the bench.

"He saved my life more times than I can count Viconia. He's not a wimp." Daria cut off calmly before the dark elf could continue.

"Clearly he's not capable of serving a woman in bed. I don't know…"

"Is this how you make friends dark elf?" this time Jaheira interrupted her. "By insulting everybody who comes near?"

"I would never even think about trying to befriend you, mongrel" Viconia sent a sharp retort. "Even though indeed they say trained dogs serve better."

"They're starting again" Daria whispered to Xan. "I think it's time to find ourselves a better place to be."

"I'm sorry…" she apologized in a secluded corner of the training room, separated by a wall solid enough for no dagger or sharp word to penetrate accidentally. She apologized to him often, but then again just as often she did something she'd have to apologize for.

"It is not your fault. Viconia seemed to have chosen me for a target practice for her insults." Xan sighed mournfully. It was to be expected that he would be a perfect target for drow's verbal attacks.

"I'll ask her to stop, but I doubt she will listen. It's just the only way of communication with men she knows." Daria tried to justify Viconia before him, Seldarine knew why.

"I drearily hope that backstabbing isn't the only other way she can express her thoughts. Why did you accept her in the group in the first place?"

"She had nowhere to go. I couldn't cast her out."

"But of course you could. Tales about the drow aren't only made up by vicious fanatics" he stopped seeing her apology forming in her face. "But then again I may be wrong and we will benefit from her presence. Though, I truly can't imagine how."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence." Daria came closer to embrace him. He loved her tender touch, the way she fleetingly glanced at him before put her head on his shoulder. He held her back savoring the moment. It wasn't a friend's hug anymore. Maybe it never was.

She sighed quietly in his arms. 'She will die one day and what will you do then, fool?' Xan wondered. More than ever he wanted to kiss her. He lowered his head…

"The Shadow Master is waiting for you" a thief came into the room, interrupting them even though they were covered behind the wall. Xan couldn't shield himself from the flood of disappointment. The moment passed… Daria freed herself from the embrace, with their eyes meeting for only a split second, and walked after the thief. Xan followed her as they resumed on their way to the Shadow Master.

"I expected you yesterday." Aran Linvail stated with a note of reproach the moment she entered, leaving her friends in the corridor.

"We had a bit of an interruption." She tried not to show any emotions as she made a simple excuse.

"So I heard." His eyes were even colder than usual when he glanced at her. She didn't like the look he was giving her, just like he was his property, bought for his money. "I was informed that the full moon is the best time for diviners to precognite. I was planning to use this time to prepare the assault on the crypts below the graveyard district, where the vampires and their leader Bodhi is hiding. I assumed you could help me with this task."

"I can make basic plan of the underground using divinations. I can also see into the future, but it will be only a possibility of what happens." Daria explained curtly.

"Good. You will stay in the guild for tonight" the Shadow Master stated, with what should be shown as an example of casual tone of not taking 'no' for an answer.

"I can divine in my Sphere and write down the results." Hair on the back of her neck rose, when she tried to suppress the seed of anger growing inside her. She was not a thing! No one was going to decide for her!

"We will waste no more time. Either you stay and divine or walk away. We won't help you finding Imoen in this case." Aran posed an ultimatum, already assuming she was going to fold.

The diviner glared at him angrily, but knew she was helpless. She already paid too much to withdraw and she had no other way to find where Imoen was kept. "I have no assurance that you will help me even if I cooperate" she stated, with only slight trace of bitterness.

"There's no need for such tone, truly" Aran Linvail smirked. "I informed you that divinations are included in our deal and believe me when I say that I'm about to fulfill every part of it, not only these which suits me. Once the undead guild and its leader, vampiress Bodhi, won't pose any more threat I will guarantee you a safe passage to where Imoen is located and a trip back of course. No swindle will take place, you can check."

"I'll stay in the guild. But there are some things I will need." Agreeing was her only choice. At least she mattered to him enough that he still wasted time trying to assure her of his good intentions.

"Name them" the Shadow Master mocked her with false joviality.

Xan was already waiting in a spare room of the guild, shifting warily among well-chosen furniture. After all he was on the list of 'things' she needed to make a long-distance divination.

"What's happening?" he moved to her once she closed the door behind her. He barely raised his voice over a whisper.

"I'm to make a divination of the vampires' hideout. I'm sorry I didn't give you much choice in helping me. In few minutes a scribe will come, who will write down all I say and that a map maker, who will try to create a map, based on it. You'll have to help me as an anchor."

"I know, but… is everything all right? I thought you learned how to use other's heartbeats. Then, at the glade, with Anomen…" Daria caught a false tone in Xan's voice as he pretended to ask casually.

"I tried, but for naught. I can only use your heartbeat, so I just sharpened my hearing to hear it from where you were sitting. I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"Daria, it was dangerous! If I walked off from your hearing range…"

"Surely you wouldn't do that to me!" she raised her voice in a jesting outrage. She put her both hands on his shoulders, seeing he wasn't just going to let it pass.

"Daria, please don't joke. If something would happen to you… I wouldn't be able to live knowing that because of me…"

"Xan, nothing happened. I'm all right" she reassured him, stepping closer. The scribe, or the Shadow Master himself could enter any moment, but somehow it didn't mattered all that much to her. Xan looked back at her, calming slightly. His arms surrounded her waist as they faces became closer.

"I didn't tell you, I didn't answer you last night" he continued, now looking only at her. "You know how I feel about you. Do not risk yourself unnecessarily."

"Is it so hard to say it?" she teased him lightly, placing a soft kiss on his chin.

"Daria… I love you."

And they kissed.