Author's note: I'm back from the dead! Sorry to you all who are dedicated readers, uni work was hectic for a moment there. So, I decided to post the following two chapters. Enjoy!

To the Stronghold!

Xan strayed to the back of the group, his thoughts deep and melancholy. Minsc was getting slightly testy of late, until he finally pulled Asharia aside and told her that if they did not travel to the Knoll Stronghold soon and rescue Dynaheir, he would go by himself and he and Boo would 'liberally kick their butts'. Asharia had hastily suggested that they head that way first, if not to stop Minsc from getting himself killed, to gain more experience in battle before heading for the bandit camps.

The enchanter sighed, finding his thoughts straying to the conversation between Jaheira and Asharia he had overheard that morning. He had been walking down the steps when he heard the druid clear her throat, stopping him in his tracks

"Child, you seem... disturbed."

There was a sigh, and a long pause. When Asharia finally spoke, her voice was barely a whisper, "I'm a monster, Jaheira.. The way I killed that man. It wasn't right."

Jaheira chuckled, "I do not fully understand how you found the invisible man either, let alone killing the man with a clean swipe of your sword."

Asharia's voice became broken, confused, "But-but! That's not how it happened! I butchered the man! I stabbed him over and over and over..." She was sobbing by now, and Xan had forced himself to walk back to his room, not wanting to hear anymore of the recount.

How could that have been possible? He winced as he recalled how Asharia had stood in the way of the Magic Missiles, shielding him while he attempted to complete his spell. Her efforts were in vein, he reflected; his concentration broke the second she had been hit by the spell, her screams piercing his ears and stopping his heart momentarily. Why had she even bothered? I was doomed anyway...

She had dropped her head, her hair masking her face, then suddenly drew her sword and swung to the left of the enchanter, killing Tranzig with deadly efficiency. There had been no 'butchering'.

He sighed again, bringing one hand up to his brow, Xan, what in Corellon's name are you doing with this group?

"EVIL KNOLLS! MINSC WILL KICK YOUR BUTTS AND RESCUE PRETTY DYNAHEIR! GO FOR THE EYES BOO!"

A wave of panic swept over Asharia when group was met by a dozen Knolls as soon as they crossed the bridge to the Stronghold. Minsc was the first to attack, shouting battle cries about the justice he was about to extract, while his two handed sword cut down the dog-like creatures with ease. Jaheira and Xan had began muttering their incantations when Asharia decided she should attempt to join the fray. She drew her twin swords and charged at the group of Knolls, while Imoen covered her with her bow.

It was easier than she expected; she thrust one blade into the body of the creature, a horrified yelp escaping its mouth. She withdrew the first blade from the demon, and brought second down swiftly across its neck, sending its head sprawling. She glanced around and was met by a clumsy lunge, of which she cross-down parried, responding with a kick to the creatures face.

Asharia heard the whistle of an arrow as it flew over her left shoulder and struck one in the chest two feet in behind of her, it's sword held high, ready to strike. She whipped around, and Khalid gave her a sly wink and proceeded to attack the rest of the hoard, following behind her. That was close... I'll write a song to thank him later.

Her thoughts were cut short when she heard the shaman murmuring an incantation, it's beady eyes focussing on Imoen.

"Oh no you don't! Immy, look out!" she yelled, charging at the Knoll with her swords held high. Successfully distracting it, she ran her right blade into the monster's unprotected back. The Knoll roared in rage, and to Asharia's horror, she found that she could not pull the sword free. Before she could move, a massive arm swung around and hit her, winding her, sending her sprawling across the ground and over the edge of one of the pits. Gasping for air, she managed to grab a hold of the edge with her free hand.

Excruciating pain wracked through the entire left side of her body as she attempted to lift her sword arm. Asharia heard a stifled whimper ascend from the bottom of the pit, stopping her in her tracks. "Dynaheir? Is that you?"

Another muffled cry, and the blade realised then what she had to do. Corellon, give me strength...

Drawing in a shuddering breath, she let go of the edge. She landed on her feet, but the jolt from the impact caused her legs to buckle, and she fell to her knees. Adrenaline forced her to forget the pain, and she walked over to the dark skinned woman, untying the gag and began cutting the bonds that held her hands behind her back.

"Thou art surely suicidal!" she chided, but there was a small tone of gratitude within her smooth voice.

"Yeah, well, you're not the first person to tell me that." Asharia remarked as she cut through the last of the rope. "That should do it. Now, we just need to find a way out..."

The shaman's wolf-like cackle disrupted the meeting. She glanced out of the pit into the demon's face. "Stupid elf!" it barked harshly, "You think you come here and steal dark one from us? Hah!" There was the sound of shuffling as the Knoll turned around, "We have elf and dark woman tonight!"

"NOT TONIGHT EVIL!"

Asharia delegated to take the first watch with Xan. As the rest of the group unfurled their bedrolls, she sat beside the fire with the enchanter, neither of them speaking for half of the shift.

After what seemed like an age, Xan cleared his throat, "You... look pensive, Asharia... Is there something you wish to speak of?"

Asharia smiled at him whimsically, "I was just thinking of my foster father, Gorion. He was an amazing teacher. Kind and completely selfless." She looked back to the fire, "He... he died saving my life." She felt the sting of fresh tears in her eyes, but managed to force them back.

Xan felt a lump rise in his throat, and tentatively stretched out a hand to grip her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, "My deepest condolences, Mellonamin. I have heard he was a great man. May I ask how it happened?"

She nodded, "We left Candlekeep, for my own safety apparently. We had only been travelling a few hours, until a man in spiky armour and strange glowing yellow eyes came from out of nowhere. Gorion told me to run... And.." She took a few moments to recollect herself, "I did. Like a coward I hid in the bushes and watched as the man killed Gorion. It was so overwhelming, I just passed out..."

"So you are chasing this... man in spiky armour, then?"

Asharia nodded. Xan sighed, "Well... though it is probably a doomed quest, and my efforts will be all in vein, I would like to assist you in anyway possible."

Asharia turned to meet his eyes, "Thank you. It means a lot to have one of my own in the group."

The enchanter shifted under her emerald gaze uncomfortably, giving her a wry smile before standing, "Our shift is almost over, should we wake the others?"

Asharia shook her head violently before turning her attentions back to the fire, "No. I'll take second watch."

"Asharia, you will need to rest if you wish even the smallest chance of success tomorrow..."

Asharia shook her head again, "Every time I close my eyes, I see... him. The man with the yellow eyes." She confessed after a long silence, "My nightmares... they get worse each night."

Xan stared at her in confusion, "Why not simply slip into a reverie then?"

Asharia raised an eyebrow at the older elf, "A who-whatta?"

"You... were never taught how to fall into reverie?" Xan thought long and hard for a moment, Corellon, what do I do? He sighed, "When you were in the womb of your mother, she would have shared her thoughts and memories with you through your connection and well..." he shrugged, "Ah, it is too difficult to explain." He paused again, What am I doing? This will not end well, "The only way I could possibly hope to help you understand is by sharing my own reverie with you." He began unfurling his bedroll, placing it next to hers, making sure she could not see the redness that had spread across his face.

Oh Gods, I hope this isn't too intimate, Asharia lowered her eyelashes demurely, in an attempt to hide her own blush, "Alright, just tell me what to do."

He turned to face her, "It's simple. Lay down and relax."

Asharia nodded and lay next to him, "Now take my hand." She froze, her heart speeding up upon feeling the cool softness of his hand on hers. Shyly, she entwined her fingers with his, and Xan felt his face heating up again, "Relax, close your eyes and allow your mind to go blank."

It took several minutes, before Asharia could relax. She found herself standing outside what she perceived was an elven city when she felt Xan's mind tugging on her own. Turning, she then saw him standing before her, his hand outstretched, Welcome to Evereska. His lips were unmoving, but she could hear his voice, Come, there is much to see.

Jaheira sat by the dying embers of the campfire, smiling to herself. She and Khalid had volunteered to take the second watch, and upon waking she had been confused to find Xan and Asharia nowhere in sight. She panicked, until she glanced towards the edge of the forest, spying two figures lying together. As she moved closer she noted that the two were holding hands, and she had smiled when she noted that both were wearing a relaxed and almost blissful expression, before heading back to her post.

Author's Note: I'm not sure if I like this one or not, I feel like the fight scene was cut a little short, I just sort of hard a bit of a blockage I couldn't shake. Forgive me!