A/N:

Ahn-Li: Thanks. ;) Yesterday I got rid of the threads and up it goes... By the way, in this story everybody unwittingly gives his best to make the life of the others as hard as can be...

Anastasya: I try to add more serious character development to this, but everything I write turns out to have slap-stick tendencies. I really fear the romance part...

Valura: glad to be of service. Oh, and I can see the sweatdrop, too. Raistlin and Dalamar run through the plot with a permanent sweatdrop. LOL

Kinyruu: Ah, nice speculation. You are thinking along the same lines as Raistlin does. BTW: I swear, Nima will have more to "clean" up, if she ever gets back...

Guan: Don't worry, Nima is a tough girl. Nothing can really get into the way of a kender's cheerful mood for long.

Dally: You'll be relatively safe from more chapters this week.I don't think I'll get around to writing. Thanks again.

Now, onward...

17 - That's What Friends Are For

"I recommend that you continue another time."

Nima looked first at Dalamar and then at the innkeeper.

"Really, can I?"

Dalamar nodded once in stern affirmation, the innkeeper repeated the same movement frantically several times, desperately trying to make his creepy customer leave. Their combined efforts succeeded in convincing Nima.

"Fine, if you say so."

Nima tried to glide of the barstool as swiftly as she was used to only to realize that her legs gave way under her. As usual Dalamar caught her. One hand around her waist, the other hand fixing her arm around his shoulder, he held her fixed to his side. She stared fascinated at his dark hair and pointed ears.

"I know you." She stated in awe as if a long kept secret had been revealed. "I remember your name."

"I'm glad you do." Nima didn't hear the taunt in his voice. She also missed the conversation Dalamar had with the innkeeper, negotiating about a room for the night. She was still fascinated by Dalamar's elegant facial features. With his face only centimeters apart from hers and nothing else to do, she pondered how graceful the elf held his head. Did he know how good looking he was? He surely did know.

Dalamar had just paid for the room and turned to the man leaning on him. His Shalafi glanced at him open mouthed with a scrutinizing awe, an expression he would have rather expected in the eyes of a young, naive woman.

Hastily the elf looked away, in turn giving the innkeeper, who had begun to stare at them a menacing glare. The silent communication worked well. The innkeeper bowed submissive.

"I'll show you your rooms, venerable Magi."

He lead them upstairs.

Together they left the tavern room and the few customers who frequented the Inn in the afternoon relaxed. This night they would have something to talk about.

Half carrying half shoving his Shalafi into the small room which only contained a bed, a nightstand and a wardrobe, he realized he had another problem. His Shalafi didn't let him go. He still clung to Dalamar and looked as if about to cry.
"I'm so lonely." his master complained. "An' I miss my home. I miss them all very much. This is harder than I- I- I thought."

His master spoke more slowly and more clearly now. The hourglass eyes began to glitter suspiciously. Dalamar choked hard. He had never seen is Shalafi in such a miserable state. By the gods, he had never seen him cry. And he didn't want to. He wasn't sure if he could cope with tears from Raistlin. Instead of responding, the elf tried to push the drunken mage softly towards the bed.

"You will feel better if you have slept a little." he said and seated his master down on the bed trying to pull Raistlin's hand from his shoulder. All of a sudden he felt his hands being grabbed by golden ones. With the strength of drunkenness he was instantly pulled in a tight embrace.

"If it wasn't for you, I would be truly desperate. But you- you were always so nice to me. I don't know what I would do without you."

His Shalafi's warm breath brushed along the elf's cheek.

"Dally, you're my only friend."

This was so wrong. So terribly wrong. It was like being transported into a bizarre parallel dimension were the most unlikely things happened and Raistlin suddenly became mushy.

Resolute, Dalamar untangled himself from the embrace and pushed the other man on the bed. To his great relief, Raistlin kept laying there, staring at the ceiling. Feeling uneasy, the elf stepped towards the tiny window in the room and opened it. Maybe fresh air could bring his Shalafi back to his senses. But then, he stayed there, quietly staring into the bright afternoon sky. Even if his master didn't know what he was talking anymore, the simple sentence claiming friendship moved Dalamar inwardly. It confused him. He cast a glance backwards to the man on the bed. Raistlin had his eyes closed now, laying still. Did they have a friendship in the end? Twisted, tainted, since they both were unable to keep normal relationships, but still some kind of personal relation? He had never been able too look into Raistlin's heart or mind but he certainly knew he felt a deep loyalty for the archmage. He had made himself believe it had been only respect and admiration for Raistlin's skills, but somehow he knew, Raistlin had bound him in a way that went further as that. What else then friendship for the golden mage could make him go on that crazed trip to Solace? Not that they had gotten very far up to now. Suddenly Raistlin spoke.

"My head spins."

"Put one leg on the ground." the elf commanded automatically. He heard a soft thud.

"Does it help?"

"Not really."

"You will have a major headache in the morning, Shalafi."

"I had to much, didn't I?"

"Yes."

The other man's voice became a whisper.

"It was just, just- too horrible. Why do I have to see that?"

It was not easy to answer that question honestly.

"Nobody knows." Dalamar answered after a while. "It's one of the mysteries that surround you and draws other people towards you. Maybe the gods want to test you."

"The gods? The gods suck!"

They were silent for some more minutes, each of them diving into their own mental depths. Then the elf heard his name being whispered.

"Dalamar..."

"Yes?"

"Please stay while I sleep, yes? I feel so apart from anybody else, having seen them with these eyes. The loneliness frightens me."

Was that why Raistlin avoided other humans as much as he could? Because it hurt? Dalamar sighed softly.

"I'll stay with you, Shalafi. I'll stay."

He kept his word. And he kept standing at the window for hours, while his master fell into an uneasy sleep. Dalamar finally watched the sun go down setting the sky in flames in the course of her downfall. When it became dark, he sat down on the edge of the bed, watching the his master's sleeping form. In this moment Raistlin looked very young and innocent. He reminded Dalamar of a lost child. The young elf leaned against the bed post, closing his eyes and giving himself a little rest. These had been some strange days.

Having left his place at the window, Dalamar didn't spot the black raven that landed silently on the window frame, and he didn't notice the animal's eyes glowing like red embers for a second, before the bird went on in his journey through the night.

tbc