Chapter Five – A Rather Failed Encounter

A/N – I can't believe I've gotten the reviews I've gotten on this story; so first off, thanks to all of you that took time to post reviews – every time I get stuck for ideas, you guys inspire me to think harder and more "outside the box."

elven-cat2 – I finally finished plotting out every tiny, unwary detail of Tazieyn's background story, so you can expect a lot more of her past explained in the chapters to come. :)

Fhulhi – Thanks! I look forward to writing those interactions as well.

Kynrael – Oh, sweet little Deekin...don't we all just adore the cute little guy? Gotta love a guy who can call someone "goat man" completely innocently, with a straight face and absolutely no shame. :)

I wanted this story to have a little creativity to it so it wouldn't be the same plot most of you guys play through on HotU, and even though she's only just been introduced to the story, I've grown to love Bellamina and her clumsy, naïve ways. I hope you have as much fun reading about her as I've had writing her! – Silvorfithrade

The feeling of dread that had begun as a simple prickling in her stomach had blossomed into a full-fledged gnawing by the time Tazieyn and the others left the welcome, if not unfamiliar, fireplace to venture further into the golem hall. Three feet into the spotless, foreboding corridors, she realized exactly why her instincts were on fire for her to leave – three massive, metallic constructs lumbered around aimlessly almost directly in front of her.

Any sort of unnatural, non-breathing creature made her uneasy, undead being among the worst. Golems fell into the same category, and Tazieyn suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to first throw up, then to run directly back out of the main entrance. She glanced over her shoulder and noticed Valen watching her intently, while Bellamina paced behind him uneasily. And Deekin was – wait, where was Deekin?

"Valen, have you seen– "

"No, my lady, I have not," he replied almost instantly. "I was wondering the same myself, but before you go accusing me of anything, he was right behind us only a minute ago."

"I wouldn't have acc—" Tazieyn began, but was cut off by Bellamina, who scowled and said loudly, "Defensive, are we? I'm watching you, you no good—"

"Bellamina, no! Lower your voice!" the half-elf hissed, but the damage was done. All three golems turned to stare at the group with an unnatural speed for beings so large. Tazieyn shuddered involuntarily as she swallowed her nausea. Damn...when did golems get so fast? And how in the Nine Hells did they hear anything, anyway?

"Now look what you've done, you little golden-eyed mephit," Valen spat as he hefted his flail with experienced hands. Bellamina's eyes grew wide at the insult, but she had no time to reply as she ducked instinctively to avoid the crushing fist of another golem that had just arrived behind her.

"Don't just stand there talking! Do something!" Tazieyn yelled as she hacked away at the golem in front of her, but to no avail. The metals that made up the creature before her only seemed to be doing damage to her weapons instead of the other way around. Taking a quick survey of her teammates, she assessed they were having the same problem.

As if to confirm her suspicions, Bellamina cried out in frustration, "Why won't my weapon work? Come on! No, don't get stuck there! Sunbeam! Sunbeam!"

"We should retreat!" Valen called over his shoulder as he dodged the relentless attacks. He hissed in pain as one solid hit connected with his right thigh. "Tazieyn! Let's rethink this plan of ours, shall we?"

"I agree!" Whirling around, she took up the rear and followed Valen and Bellamina back into the room with the fireplace, slamming the door shut and hastily locking it with a spell from a scroll, almost stumbling over the unfamiliar arcane words as she read them as fast as she could. For good measure, she grabbed a rather plain-looking but sturdy chair and shoved it up against the exit. Finally, she allowed herself to slump slightly in partial relief.

"You! Aasimar!" Tazieyn barked sharply. "What can you do, anyway, besides cause trouble and attract every golem in this cursed building to our little group of four? And look, we're missing someone. Can you heal? Ye gods, please say you can heal, because if you can't I might take your sorry little ass, haul it back over to the Dark River, tie a heavy rock to your feet, dump meat juices on you, and toss you in the water. And gods forbid there be no carnivorous fish in there, because I swear, I'll summon them up myself!"

"Yes, I can heal." Bellamina wilted under Tazieyn's furious glare. "I'm a paladin of Lathander, and the Morninglord—"

"Then patch up Valen while I try to figure out how we go find Deekin! It was your mouth that got us into this, Bellamina. Use it to help get us out!"

The aasimar looked for a brief moment as though she might protest, but another death glare from the half-elf silenced any words she may have said before they reached her lips. She set about her task with a sullen look on her face. Valen shifted uncomfortably as she began to unbuckle blood-soaked plates of armor from his leg but said nothing, only giving Tazieyn another one of his appraising looks he seemed to throw her way quite often.

Tazieyn paced back and forth across the expansive room, her mind racing and her heart pumping. Where had the little kobold gone? And more importantly, once they found him, how would they make it past the golems to reach the artifact they were supposedly going after? Would the item they sought be worth the trouble of reaching it?

"I hope you have a plan, Tazieyn," sniffed Bellamina as she stood up while Valen re-donned the parts of his armor lying on the floor around him. "You might be all ready for a suicide mission, but I, for one, do not relish the idea of dying down here! In this...this...nowhere place! You might just be treasure-hunting mercenaries, but I—"

"Actually, aasimar, we are fighting against a growing force that may soon overtake the entire Underdark. Of course, if you are too afraid, we could always turn you over to Cavellas the boatman..." Valen said slowly, his eyes expressionless.

Bellamina was not intimidated. "Oh, you mean like forces of good? In that case, I'd be happy to join the other cause."

The tiefling barked a laugh at her ludicrous statement. "You just let me know the day the forces of good overtake the Underdark, you naïve little teacup. Of course, if you want to rally with a drow matron who commands forces such as beholders, illithid, and even her playtoy, an archdevil, then by all means, Celestial Being of All That Is Good. Go run to the Valsharess right now; I'm sure she'd be happy to have another swordarm in her cause of destruction."

His short speech left Bellamina speechless for a brief moment. Then, she let out a soft cry of outrage. "How dare you – I would never—"

Valen shrugged and interrupted her. "You said it, not me."

Trapped by her own words, the aasimar could do nothing but fume silently, one hand gripping the handle of her mace in fury. While the two planetouched verbally battled out their frustrations behind her, Tazieyn gripped her hair in frustration. Oh, if she ever laid hands on that mad archmage Halaster Blackcloak...

To be continued in Chapter 6 of Elf, Man, and Demon. :)