Well here ya go... slash. What some individuals have kept asking for so now here it is. It's non-cannon; none of my other versions of these characters are interested in each other romantically.

Surprises
~*~

From behind the flickering flames of the campfire, Imoen watched desperately as the exact same scene played out that had been played out almost every night since leaving the Underdark.

Aerie, who had spent the entire day trying to work up the courage to speak to him, took Caiman, Imoen's brother, to one side walking just enough away from the campsite that their voices could not be heard. Judging by the tearful look in the elf's eyes though, it was likely she was again lamenting the loss of her wings, which of course represented the loss of freedom; a very potent metaphor. Imoen didn't care so much for metaphors, but she was wise enough to see that when Aerie spoke of her wings, she was using them as a focal point for all the cruel and unjust abuse that had been inflicted on her. More importantly, the day Aerie lost her wings was also the day on which she knew for sure that she could never go back; that the home of her childhood was lost to her forever.

After her stay as a... a guest, of Irenicus, Imoen found herself thinking more and more of the childhood home she'd lost, Candlekeep, and how she used to feel safe and secure and even somewhat happy within its walls. But she could never go back to it... well, she could. There was little barrier preventing her from physically going to the place, but it wouldn't be the place she remembered. That feeling of being secure and unaffected by all the nastiness that went on outside, that was what was lost. She was sure it was much the same for Aerie too; the Avariel knew inside that even if she could go back and find herself resting in her mother's lap once again there was just no way she could ever really forget about the things she'd already seen and felt for herself.

There was little point in dwelling on the past; seemed there was little way to prevent it either. That was probably why people made friends; so that they could always distract each other and prevent dwelling on the really bad stuff. But not even Imoen could keep herself occupied every entire day playing pranks on her friends. She trying to distract herself now by watching Aerie, but obviously all that did was keep reminding her of her own loss...

Right on schedule, Jaheira appeared then like a lioness locking onto her prey... of course, she wasn't actually planning on eating anybody. At least, Imoen was ninety five per cent sure she wasn't. The druid was just protecting what she obviously, if a bit presumptuously, considered to be her territory. Aerie had a choice between fight or flight; she was tense, trembling but from the little clenched fists and determination in her wet eyes it was clear she had chosen to try and hold her ground whatever the odds. A fight, then; the loser would likely end up spending the next day grooming the coat of the victor.

The alpha male meanwhile had taken a few steps back from the two females whose attention was now focused on each other. Imoen couldn't decide if Caiman looked bemused or amused by all this; the later was more likely. Imoen knew him better than anybody and although he could act he was deep down just a bit of berk; definitely not worth all this fighting over him. She wanted to go over and tell them that, but with emotions being as high as they were it would probably just make things worse. They might assume that she was actually after him as well; Imoen wouldn't know how to begin explaining what was wrong with that assumption.

She didn't want to take sides either. She felt loyal to Jaheira; she wouldn't say she say she saw the druid as mother figure exactly. More like a school mistress. Not exactly the overbearing militant type who tried to instil conformity by simply traumatising the children; but definitely not the softly, softly, 'I'm just like one of you' type that children just walked all over. Rather, Jaheira found the perfect balance between the two. At least she had; but, losing Khalid... it seemed to have definitely tipped her towards militant. Whereas previously if she yelled at or criticised someone, she would give it time for her points to sink in and then make up with them by telling them something they'd done quite well. Now, if she yelled at someone, then later on she would just yell at them again leaving only resentment in her wake.

Aerie on the other hand; well, Imoen just really liked her. When she wasn't crying to Caiman, she was usually very quiet but genuinely sweet, compassionate and nice. Although you shouldn't be fooled; she was also very brave and although she didn't realise it probably the most powerful individual in the group. She'd had her whole life taken from her though; every day the frustration of standing up on her tip toes and finding it just out of her reach just grew and grew. There was only so much she could keep inside though; obviously she did have feelings for Caiman and that had for some reason been what had caused the cork to pop out.

Imoen had actually resented Aerie at first; she'd thought something along the lines that in her absence, while she was being tortured, the rest of the group had decided to replace her with another 'child'. But Aerie was just such a warm, affectionate individual. She'd hugged Imoen, and did more to try and support and comfort her than anyone else in the group. What Imoen found most frustrating about the current situation was that there were other people besides Caiman that Aerie could trust enough to confide in... she didn't have to put herself through this stupid ritual night after night.

Imoen stood and silently walked around the fire towards the 'combatants'. She didn'y know what she would do... in fact, she didn't do anything. She just leant sideways against a tree but was now in a position where she could hear their voices more clearly.

"... pull yourself together!" Jaheira demanded of the elf. That was what Aerie was trying to do. A large part of herself wanted her to just run away. Just say 'y-yes ma'am, I'll let you have him ma'am and just go and quietly sob over there'. Not just because she was scared of Jaheira, although only a fool would not be, but because she didn't really believe she had a chance of actually winning. But the former slave was determined to never again be cowed so easily. Although it wasn't exactly coming naturally, she was trying all she could to fight back.

"I am not your child! I'm older than you are, more than likely," the elf said. Imoen had obviously missed the part of the conversation when Jaheira had called her a child; she called Imoen 'child' as well, and although she actually meant it affectionately it did just come across sometimes as very patronising and annoying. Young and old are obviously relative terms though; at three years old Imoen would have still been a baby. Boo at three was practically ancient. "And the only thing my 'simpering' does is distract you from those little looks you are always giving him!"

"I... I do no such thing! You are mad, girl!" Jaheira did in fact do that thing. Imoen emphatically agreed with Aerie there. There was little point in denying it; if she wasn't interested in Caiman then what business did she have walking over there? "Obviously a life of adventuring is too much for you," and that was a lie too from Jaheira. It wasn't what she really believed. Aerie could handle travelling and roughing it and having to trudge through dirt and slime without any difficulty; it wasn't that different from what she had already been used to in the circus and she had done plenty to prove herself in battle. So far at least, this depression she was having hadn't really affected any of her abilities, although she would have to get over it soon.

So far, Aerie was very much in the right in this argument, but looking at her Imoen could feel her growing frustration and desperation. For her, fighting Jaheira was like pounding her fists against a solid rock; it hurt her, so naturally enough she wanted to hurt it back. But nothing she did seemed to move or affect it in any way and she ended up mostly just further hurting herself, just adding more fuel to her desperation to hurt it.

"If..." the out of breath, red faced elf swallowed and tried to compose herself, "if a life of adventure will turn me into an annoying, heartless woman ready to abandon her dead husband's memory so soon after his death, then... then maybe you're right!"

The whole world gasped and then held its breath; that was a shocking low blow from Aerie. Of course, it was shocking because it was so utterly out of character for her. Even the Avariel looked shocked and horrified to have heard those words coming out of her mouth; she may have succeeded in finally getting a grimace out of her opponent, but she again had hurt herself just as badly.

"You cross a line, Aerie," she had, Imoen agreed with the druid who was still trying to maintain her stony exterior but now had a bit of fire in her eyes as well. Imoen did agree that it was still too soon for Jaheira to start looking for someone to replace Khalid. But despite her stony exterior, inside she was just like most people, probably, and just couldn't stand being lonely. Aerie had been driven into saying it by a combination of factors, but still... someone really ought to separate the two of them so that they could have a chance to cool down before apologising. No one made any effort to do so though. "You do not know enough about love to question my love for Khalid. Mention his name again and you shall regret it."

Aerie face went through about fifteen different expressions in the next few seconds; horror, guilt, sorrow, terror, horror, guilt, sorrow, loathing, despair... eventually however, she decided she still wasn't giving in.

"I don't care!" She screamed twice.

Imoen shook her head; why did no one stop this? If she wasn't going to stop it, why was she still watching? She felt like she was watching a less civilised form of bear-baiting. No, she couldn't cope with this anymore; she was just going to walk away and leave them to whatever fate.

As she did, she was surprised to feel something brush past her, and then catch a glimpse of someone's long blonde hair disappearing into the woods. Looking back, she could see that Caiman was standing on his own. Jaheira had moved a short distance away from him, her expression a mixture of relief and sadness. Having stopped paying attention Imoen wasn't sure what had happened. No actual violence had taken place, she hoped. Had Aerie finally given up? In any case, it would probably be best if someone kept an eye on her.

Aerie had only ran a short distance; she was sensible enough not to lose sight of the campfire. The elf had sat herself against a stump and was sobbing quietly to herself. When Imoen stepped in front of her, the elf's eyes shot up nervously; she was unsure whether the red head had come to help her or chastise her.

"Relax... I'm on your side," Imoen assured her. Obviously she didn't support or endorse what Aerie had said to Jaheira but she understood why she'd said it. Aerie was already feeling guilty about it; she didn't need any further chastisement. What she needed was a friend.

"You... you heard that, didn't you?" The elf said, turning her head away.

"Sure did, bufflehead," Imoen sighed, "You wanna talk about it?"

"I-I didn't mean for it... oh, I just hate myself... I hate this life. W-what more is there to say?" She was clearly very tired now, physically and emotionally. Imoen wasn't about to just let her wallow though.

"What happened there, just before you ran off?"

"He... he said to be strong. Such a hollow, meaningless thing to say... no home, no people... what is there to be strong for?"

So Caiman hadn't made a decision, and that unbearably gruesome scene was likely to repeat itself in the near future. Unless something could done to prevent it... but what? The problem was that Aerie did it to herself; she allowed herself too much time to dwell on what she had lost. The circus had basically told her she was worth nothing after losing her wings and she dwelt on that too; whether or not anyone could see any worth left in her at all. All this pain and frustration came out making her say and do things that weren't in her nature, causing even more pain... Imoen just couldn't stand seeing her friend on this downward spiral anymore. Aerie was a good, worthwhile person, and she needed to be made to see that she didn't need anyone like Caiman to give her a purpose.

"Ouch!" Imoen winced, having deliberately placed her hand somewhere she knew would cause her to do that. Aerie turned herself around, looking curiously at the red head as she was shaking her hand through the air.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Nothing... I just got bitten or stung by something..."

"L-let me see..."

"It's fine... its just a bite..."

"Some of the insects in this forest are very poisonous," Aerie said matter of factly, "you should let me see." The elf hurried over and started to examine the back of Imoen's hand; soon as there was someone who needed help, she quickly forgot about feeling sorry for herself.

"So, am I going to live?"

"I'm sorry... I-I'm afraid you've probably only got about another hundred years," the elf looked up, blinking and smiling.

Time seemed to slow down for Imoen, as she realised she was seeing the real Aerie again for the first time in ages. After a long moment, Aerie opened her eyes, probably surprised that Imoen hadn't responded at all to her jest, and her found herself looking directly into the soft grey eyes of her friend... immediately they both realised how close their faces were and, cheeks flushing, tore themselves away from each other.

"Um... I-I can get you some cream if you'd like," the Avariel said, back facing Imoen awkwardly.

"It's fine," Imoen slowly sighed, "do... do you actually love him, Aerie?"

"I... I don't know," she admitted, "m-maybe Jaheira's right and I'm too young to know what love is, and it's just some silly infatuation... but, w-what if it is real?"

"You don't have to fight like that over him," Imoen shook her head sadly, "its crushing you."

"Believe me, t-the last person I've ever wanted to fight with is Jaheira. But, won't I regret if I just let him go? What... what if I never meet someone else?"

"Well... what if there was already someone else?"

"Who?"

Imoen couldn't hold it in any longer; she just grabbed the elf, spun her round, and kissed her. Imoen felt the elf's muscles tense as she was taken by surprise, but, as their lips were pressed against each others, she started to relax and take it. Imoen let her go, and there was another long awkward moment afterwards.

"You can say something you know," the red head said to break the silence, "it's not like I've got your tongue."

"I..."

"You... you didn't like it, did you?" Imoen felt her heart sinking.

"No... I-I did like it," Aerie said, and the heart was rising up again, "I... I was just surprised."

"I was too, to be honest. I always liked you, but it wasn't you were holding my hand just now that I realised... but don't you see?" Imoen enthusiastically took hold of her hand again, "you don't have to keep fighting... I want to help you, Aerie. I want to make your life worth something... you don't need him."

"Imoen, I," Aerie became lost in thought for a moment, "I did feel something when we kissed. But I don't know what that was... I-I need to think about it," and the heart was sinking again.

"Just promise you won't fight again."

"Y-you have made me feel a lot better," the elf smiled warmly, "now I know I'm worth something. I believe I can get things in perspective now. Just wait a little while longer."

"All right," and up, as Imoen smiled back. The two made their way back to the camp, holding each others hands.