A/N: Ok, first the riddle-issue: you were all pretty close and right in general (Thumb up!) since it has to do with their attitudes towards life. Though Ahn-Li was definitely closest in linking it to the alignments. Yep. Its the alignment. In technical terms they see their own "aura-colors". I assume that Raistlin and Nima both have an alignment to chaos, and in most D&D-Interpretations chaos alignments causes the aura to appear as a whirling vortex. While Evil darkens an aura, Good lightens it. Nima, by the way, is supposed to be Chaotic-Neutral (generally perceived as chaotic colors) with a serious tendency towards Good. (Brightness factor!)

Now I made sure everybody will know what it means should their perceptions ever change...

Dally: Gee, yes! ROFL I fear they could nearly work for the "Wrongest Couples Ever" challenge. Though I think I will still vote for Sturm/Lord Soth as worst possible pair: "In eons nothing touched my hardened, undying, dread-filled soul as this lonely man... and his moustache!" (Only Dalamar/Fizban could possibly top that! Gnehehe.) Um...err... sorry to all you other readers who don't know what weird ideas we're talking about. But what the hell do you expect of the people who write stories about elven self-help-groups, hn? The bunnies made us do it!

Ahn-Li: A Marion-incident is a cool idea, but we would get some logical contradictions with the Blue-Star universe and timeline wouldn't we? Well, ok we could ignore it, but why not Agent Miiro from the PPC instead? I have a nice idea for the agent to pop in...

singvogel: For another update of Blickwinkel, I'll stuff you full with cookies of all sorts. I'll even get Klingon Gagh or Icecream or Otik's spiced potatos..

everybody: Thank you for reading and kind comments. ;)

Now onward...

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Chapter 24 - Down by the Riverside

After the involuntary recess from his studies, Raistlin decided to alter his strategy slightly and to focus his attention on the old alchemist again. Since he was stuck with his studies anyway, he could also take a break for a while. He didn't care about Mrs. Teketolls effort to hide the spellbook. He would be able to locate it when he needed it again.

While he appeared walking aimlessly through the camp, another thought entered his mind. He needed to convince the jugglers to consider Solace as their next stay. Nima had told him where she and Dalamar were heading. He couldn't believe that she actually was able to fool his apprentice. How could somebody take her for him? He would have a word with the elf when they met again.

More important was meeting the kender there and to get hold of the second artifact. Maybe in this manner their problem could be solved. In Solace he would also be able to buy the components he needed. And with Dalamar's help the analyzing should work out much better then now. Fortunately, they were not far away from Solace. He guessed they could make it in two weeks if they didn't take any stops. He needed to speak with the person in charge of the route. Carefully he asked several people. He tried to behave as kender-like as he could, speaking too much and too fast. His disguise seemed to work and it didn't take him long to get the information. The camp's elders decided the route, however they always took advice from Hrongar. Now he had a real reason to talk to the alchemist. Raistlin marched to the alchemist's wagon.

As he approached it, he saw two persons enter. Tiomar and- he didn't trust his eyes. Another kender. But not any kender. Could it be? Tasselhoff Burrfoot? It was him, Raistlin recognized the brown topknot. What in the Abbys did Tasselhoff do here? Sneaking closer the mage approached the window. It was too high for his recent height to get a look into the interior of the wagon but he could listen to what was said.

Tiomar stoically explained to a third person, probably the alchemist, that this morning a traveller had arrived. He was headed to Solace to visit some old friends and now he had asked if they by chance had the same route. If that was the case, he wished to travel with them. Oh no. Not Tasselhoff. Surely the kender wanted to see Caramon and Tika.

'That's my luck. That's just my luck.'

Then Tasselhoff started speaking. How nice it was to be here, how fine the camp was, how interesting all the people were, how happy he was to meet some fellow kender and how wonderful the shared time would be.

Then a third voice spoke. That had to be Hrongar. The eavesdropper listened even more closely now. Instantly Raistlin was disappointed. The man probably sat in the backside of the wagon; Raistlin couldn't understand what he was saying. He couldn't even hear his voice clearly. That was not what he had hoped for. Still, there was something in the man's voice that seemed familiar in a certain respect, but Raistlin couldn't tell what it was.

Then, he heard Tasselhoff again.

"Oh, I'm so glad I can stay. You will really go to Solace? You don't have to do that for me... what do you say?... Yes, yes, the people of Solace would be a grateful audience... Im sure, actually I know some people there who have influence... yes, they'd be more than happy to see the show, I'm sure." The kender sputtered in his usual cheerful tone. "I am so happy. Actually travelling all on my own became really boring and I-"

He was interrupted by Hrongar, who now cried out Tasselhoff's name in surprise. The kender was silent for a moment, then adding:

"Oh, it's you? Oh... I hadn't recognized you at first either. Oh, but why do you call yourself something different now?

The stranger muttered something unintelligible.

"Oh, well, that's a good reason actually." Tasselhoff laughed. "That's so great, I have so many stories to tell since we saw each other the last time. Did I tell you the story of how I met with a black dragon? Yes I did? Oh then maybe the story of..."

Raistlin turned away. He had heard enough. Great. Just too great! With Tasselhoff in the camp his life wouldn't get any easier. He had to find a way to avoid the kender as much as he could. But it was interesting that Tasselhoff seemed to know the alchemist. Maybe with Tasselhoff's help he could learn more about the wizard's past. But he had to be very careful with the all too curious kender, though.

Raistlin postponed his own parley with Hrongar for a while. It was more important to escape Tasselhoff's notice for the moment. Besides, it seemed already decided that they would travel to Solace. Now it wasn't necessary anymore to get involved in this. The less he showed interest for the route, the less suspicious it was. Better to go to the river now. Nima's mother looked at him from a distance, her mouth forming two words, while she gestured towards her own ponytail. "Wet! Hair!"

Two weeks. He just had to survive two weeks...

Raistlin strolled slowly to the river, when a light voice was calling his -Her!- name. Did he actually get used to being called 'Nima'? He turned around only to see Tasselhoff running near. Apparently, his plan to avoid the kender wasn't going on very well.

"Hey, you are Nima?" Tasselhoff asked him breathless from running. "I'm Tasselhoff Burrfot. At your service." Tasselhoff bowed comically. However, Raistlin noted a light flush on his cheeks as if the kenders was slightly embarrassed or exited. Maybe his imagination had played a trick on him, since as Tasslehoff rose again the kender grinned brightly as usual.

"You are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my life." Tasselhoff explained to a very taken aback Raistlin. Instantly the mage remembered Mrs. Teketoll's words.

"You really are slim and sweet and you are a nice-looking girl and I swear, every young kender on Krynn would be more than happy to have you as a girlfriend."

No, no, please, no!

"Where are you going?" Tasselhoff asked as his companion didn't answer.

"To the river."

"Oh, what a great idea, how about us two sweethearts having a bath?"

"You may be a sweetheart, I am surely not." Raistlin marched onward to the riverbank, leaving the nasty kender behind. Of course, Tasselhoff followed him.

"You are playing tough, he?" the kender asked grinning. "But I like girls like that. How about I take you out one of these days?"

"No."

"Still tough. Maybe on Thursday?"

"No."

"Friday?"

Raistlin clenched his fists, thus preventing himself from flattening his old acquaintance with a spell. Tasselhoff getting romantic was something he had hoped to never have to see.

They had reached the riverbank.

"Did ever someone tell you that you have a really sweet face and wonderful blue eyes?" the kender asked Raistlin. The mage decided that it was best to ignore Tasselhoff's compliments. But it was true. Nima's blue eyes were impressive. Which actually was disturbing because he usually never even noticed a female's eyecolor.

"I'm a lucky kender just for meeting you." Tasselhoff stated.

"Aha." was all the mage answered.

'Let's get over with this.'

Raistlin stepped out of his sandals and was about to pull off his tunic when all of a sudden he noticed an irritating phenomenon. Tasselhoff was silent. He halted and looked at the kender. Tasselhoff was watching him open mouthed, his cheeks glowing and his eyes popping nearly out of his head.
"WHAT?"

The kender shook his head. "Oh, don't feel disturbed by me." He said grinning nervously, waiting for Raistlin to undress further. Slowly Raistlin got the point of this. He was a girl now. And Tasselhoff was... That perverted little...

"YOU MORON!" The mage yelled and gave Tasselhoff a quick punch pushing the surprised kender directly into the river. With a big splash Tasselhoff fell into the water. Still fully clothed. Now Raistlin was smirking at him.

"Let that teach you a lesson, Burrfoot."

Tasselhoff crawled to the shore again. His mischievous grin when he climbed out didn't foretell anything good.

"That demands revenge!" Tasselhoff cried and threw himself at Raistlin.

Raistlin ran. Followed closely by the wet kender. The chase went on for several seconds, until Raistlin learned that Nima might be agile, but Tasselhoff had simply more strength which made him run faster. The wizard felt hands grab his waist and suddenly he was thrown over Tasselhoff's shoulder. The kender marched back with him to he riverbank. Raistlin kicked and pounded on Tasselhoff's back with clenched fists.

"Let me go, you imbecile rowdy. I will teach you to let me down, you will regret that! I swear, you will regret that!"

Tasselhoff laughed heartily.

"You are really gorgeous when you are angry, love."

"I'm not your love! Let me down instantly or-"

Suddenly he saw Knoblar Snugglepuck coming from the camp.

"What's going on here?" asked the red-haired gnome. "Your new boyfriend, Nima?"

"Help me!" Raistlin yelled. "Make him let me down!"

They had nearly reached the river. The gnome watched them winking one eye and scratching his head.
"One copper!" he demanded.

"Are we haggling now, you little rat?"

"One copper!"

"Damn. Yes." Raistlin gave in.

Tasselhoff had reached the shore. The gnome run up to him. Then, Knoblar placed his little hands on his hips and took a deep breath to make his chest look more manly.

"Hey, you." the tiny gnome addressed the kender. "Let her down now, or face the wrath of Knoblar the Mighty!"

Tasselhoff nodded.

"Agreed."

He threw Raistlin into the river.

When Raistlin finally came out of the water, his tunic soaked, only Knoblar was left standing there. The gnome drew out a demanding hand towards him.

"One copper."

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A/N: Haha, more romantic issues. I bet nobody anticipated this. And? Surprised? Hey somebody for Raistlin/Tasselhoff-slash? I guess I would be the first one to write that. No? Nobody? Thought so. Hehe.