Chapter 6: Dreams

There was something wrong. This Minsc was sure of. The evil wizard had become silent, most likely plotting something horrible. Anni was still unable to walk without help, but then again it had only been a week since she was hurt. The cleric Anomen often carried her. Something was brewing but he couldn't figure it out. Even little Boo didn't know. When Boo didn't know the answer things were bad.

At the moment, he was given the task of carrying the small witch, a task he proudly did. Minsc had adopted Anni as his witch after Dynaheir's death. Anni was a good witch like Dynaheir, though she did not yell at him about Boo or other things like Dynaheir did. Minsc hated to think this but Anni was a lot nicer, and Boo liked her better and Boo was a good judge of character.

The only problem with carrying her was the fact that he kept almost tripping on her braided hair, which had to be longer than she was. She was sleep in his arms, lately that was all she did, was sleep. Jaheira had been giving her some herbs to sleep since she refused to keep still. They arrived at the Five Flagons Inn and requested rooms for the night. Minsc heard Haer'Dalis saying how he could put on a play with the new troupe while they were here. He couldn't wait. Haer'dalis was an amusing fellow, though a little odd.

---

Anni was running, her foot steps echoing in the empty library. She was home but at the same time this wasn't home. It was too quite, too dark for it to be Candle Keep's library. She couldn't figure out what was going on. Suddenly there were stone statues everywhere and her companions were laying on the floor.

"Why do you resist your power?" She turned, her blood turning to ice. Standing there was Irenicus. Anni backed up and tripped over a body landing on the cold marble flooring. "Why do you bother t-"

Whatever he was saying didn't penetrate her mind, the body she had tripped over was Edwin's, on the left of her was Minsc and on the right was Anomen. She scrambled over to Edwin first and shook his shoulders. The next second he was walking again from her.

"No! Please don't leave me! Edwin help me! Please!" After a moment Irenicus stopped talking and gave her a disgusted look.

"Very well, we will continue this at a later date child."

---

Meanwhile in the real world...

-Edwin! Help me!- Edwin jerked up right, he had been falling asleep watching this horrid excuse for a play. He could have sworn he just heard Anni's voice crying out to him. Which was impossible, for starters she was upper stairs asleep and secondly she wasn't talking to him. Any time he approached her she stared right through him. She didn't acknowledge him at all, his words falling on deaf ears.

The good part was since she was acting like he didn't exist, she hadn't told anyone of their... disagreement. He knew if any of the others heard that Anni wanted him gone, well let's just say there would be no hesitation. -Is it my fault they cannot handle a far superior mind? -

He walked out of the theater, with most of his companions watching the play, maybe he could talk some sense into her. He needed to talk to her. -She is driving me insane. I can barely think when I'm around her.- He admitted this much to himself. Something inside of him just snapped when Anomen touched her, or spoke to her, or kissed her. Hell, Edwin couldn't stand Anomen at all. He was arrogant, annoying and overbearing. Who could stand a person like that?

Edwin only wished he had someone to talk to about all this. He definitely couldn't talk to Master Dekaras. -He possibly couldn't understand what it is like to have one woman occupies every thought, driving you to distraction- He shook his head, no he was on his own here.

When he got to the door of her room he could hear muffled crying. -Ah the perfect time to show her that I Edwin O- wait is there someone in there with her?- Inside the room he could hear another male which could only be Anomen.

---

"My lady, please tell me why you cry. It pains me to see you like this."

"It was I-Irenicus. He invades my dreams, I can't shut him up and he shows me things, things of death."

Anomen was silent for a moment considering his next words. "My lady, I have hear some whispers of him from the group. The most I know is he killed one of your friends and captured you and your dearest friend. I would beg of you to talk to me so I know how to help you."

"Irenicus knew of my bloodline. I'm constantly having people try to use me or kill me. He knows something about the power inside of me. He wants to unlock it for some reason, I don't. For all I care the power inside me can go to hell. He... he tortured me, made me watch people died. And Imoen is trapped with him, she's losing herself, I can feel it." Edwin heard Anni's sobbing get louder. "I can still feel his touch on my skin, how he used his knives on me."

"He can't hurt you here, and I will be by your side my lady. I will endeavor to protect you."

"Thank you Anomen but if we do face Irenicus, you won't be much good. He's too good with magic, and you'd never be able to get close. The only way I can think of fighting him is with magic. Besides from myself, Edwin's the only who is powerful enough to help."

"Is that the reason why he travels with us? The reason we have to put up with his foul moods?"

"Yes. It was like that at first but now, I can't help but thinking Edwin hates me. I don't think he'll help me when the time comes."

"How could anyone hate someone so gracious as you?"

"Easy. I think Edwin is jealous of the power everyone is convinced I must have." -And maybe you? Wow, If I believe that than I think I lost some of my brains when the dragon hit me.- She thought.

"It's been bothering me for some time, how did you come across him?"

"Imoen and I met Edwin in Nashkel where he told us he was sent to kill a Bitc- Wychalarn, named Dynaheir."

"That is shameless! How dare he propose to harm a woman."

"Trust me if you had met her you'd want to kill her too. She thought it was her business to tell everyone how to live. And to make matters worse she made me her pet project. Telling me how to dress, to act and such. But in the end it didn't matter, she was killed right before we got to Sarevok, Tamoko killed her for mouthing off."

"You do not feel sad about her passing?"

"Ok, you know how Edwin is? Take him, make him female and add hormones. That was Dynaheir."

"I see. I doubt I would morn the passing of the wizard if he died. I understand how you feel."

There was silence for a time. "Can I tell you something, Anomen? You can't tell anyone about this though."

"Of course you can."

"In my dream everyone was there. I was terrified. In my dream Irenicus tormented me and it's worse there since there's things that he can do in the dreams he couldn't do in real life. I wanted to get away so badly. I tried to get someone to help and I went to Edwin before anyone else but he turned his back on me. It hurt so badly and the worst part is I don't know if it would hurt me that bad if it was anyone else."

"Do you perchance care for him?"

"I thought I did, but he's made it clear what he thinks of me. That I'm lesser than him, he's oh so good." -In that evil bad boy way- "That I'm a lose woman." Anomen started to raise his face all red. "It's ok, Anomen. I've heard worse. It's what happens when it's common knowledge that your mother was a whore."

"One cannot judge the child on the parent." His gaze darkened with something a kin to anger.

"Father or mother?"

"Father."

"Bet you he's not as bad as mine." She smiled sweetly. It took him a few moments to realize she was talking of Bhaal and not Gorion and he smiled back.

"Maybe our fathers should get together and give lessons."

"Yes, then we'd have a world full of miserable people. It would be such a happy place." She snorted. "Gods, why couldn't I have had normal problems? I wish I was born truly Gorion's daughter. Things would be less complicated then. No running for my life, no teasing growing up and best of all none of my friends back home would be dead."

"Maybe so, but then you would not have gained all the new friends you have or your good experiences."

"I guess."

"What I'm trying to say, my lady is, will you give me the chance to be by your side, allow me the chance to win your heart. I will not be a fool to turn away from you like some."

"Oh Anomen, why not, it's not like there are many men beating down my door." -At least not the one I want.-