It's PINK!

When Asharia woke from her shared reverie with Xan, she was alone. Sitting up, the wood elf blinked owlishly and scanned her surroundings. She certainly felt refreshed after a restful night, and she felt a smile stretch across her face as she recalled the sights and memories the enchanter shared with her.

"Morning Asha!" Imoen's cheerful voice brought her thoughts to an abrupt halt. The mischevious smirk that played on her face gave an indication that the events of the night had become common knowledge. "Sooooo, you and Xaaaannny huh?"

"Im, please, it was nothing, really." Asharia grinned at her friend, feigning indifference, "He was just helping me sleep through sharing a reverie with me."

"Suuuuuuuure." Imoen helped the blade to her feet, and walked with her towards to dying embers of the fire, where the party sat. Xan was nowhere in sight.

"I believe you. Thousands wouldn't." Imoen nodded towards Jaheira, who shot Asharia a knowing smile.

With an exasperated sigh, Asharia threw her hands up in surrender, "Why me?"

Khalid chuckled, shaking his head, "H-how are you feeling this morning, Asha?"

Asharia beamed at the warrior, "Hungry!"

"I thought as much," Jaheira passed her a serving of gruel, "we decided not to disturb you, child. That is the soundest I have seen you sleep in weeks. Xan has gone to the stream to wash. We were thinking of leaving for the Friendly Arm for the night before confronting Tazok."

Asharia raised a quizzical eyebrow at the druid, "Seems like we have a plan, then."

As soon as Xan returned from the stream, the group made their way towards the inn. Asharia noted that Xan seemed to lag behind the rest of the group again; the enchanter had barely spoken a word when he had returned, and had not once made eye contact with Asharia. Sighing deeply, she slowed her pace and allowed for Khalid and Jaheira to lead on.

"Xan, is something troubling you?"

Xan merely shot her a sideways glance and a wry smile, turning his attentions yet again to the forestry.

"Xan, seriously, if I have done something to offend you I-"

He raised his hand to silence her, "No, Asharia. I assure you I am fine, truly."

The blade bit her lip and casted her glance downwards, "Well, thank you for sharing your memories with me last night. It really did help."

"Just... Leave me to my own thoughts for now, Asharia." His tone was melancholy, as always, but Asharia noted the enchanter's expression was irritated. Sighing, she did as requested and caught up to Imoen, who was busy studying a scroll rather seriously.

"What's that, Im?"

The thief looked up at her friend and scrunched her face up, "Some crummy scroll I found back at the Stronghold. I asked Dynaheir what it was and she said she didn't know." Imoen's eyes glimmered with mischief, "Do'ya think I could try out magic?"

Asharia raised an eyebrow at her, "I dunno Im, I thought you enjoyed being a rogue?"

"Pfft, yeah, I just want to do something different, ya know? I'm gonna try it!" With that, she began chanting the words on the scroll, her eyes closed as she ran circles around her head, apparently an instruction of the scroll. Nothing happened, and the scroll disintegrated when she was finished.

"Booooooring." Was all Imoen said, before the rest of the group stopped and stared at her. Khalid chuckled, before Jaheira jabbed him in the ribs. Minsc was smiling awkwardly and Dynaheir had both eyebrows raised. Xan merely rolled his eyes. Asharia was laughing, clutching her stomach as tears of mirth streamed down her face. "What?"

Minsc scratched his head, "Erm, well, Boo says that Imoen's new hair colour looks good..." he said, breaking the painful silence.

"You have GOT to be joking. It looks disastrous!" Xan exclaimed, earning a glare from Minsc.

"Boo also says that you should not be so mean to friends!" The berserker shook his fist threateningly, and Xan shrank back slightly.

"Imoen, bring thyself here." Dynaheir pulled a mirror from her pack and gave it to the thief turned mage. She took it from the diviner and her eyes widen when she saw.

"My hair! It-it's PINK!"

Asharia giggled some more, then slung her arm around Imoen, "Aw, Im, it doesn't look THAT awful. It kind of suits you, really. Maybe you should ask Dynaheir or Xan to teach you other spells?"

Imoen sighed, and gave the mirror back to Dynaheir, "Would you mind?"

Dynaheir chuckled lightly, "Of course not, my dear. What wilt thou wish to learn?"

By nightfall, the group had reached the Friendly Arm Inn. Jaheira and Khalid had retired early, as did Minsc. Imoen was sitting with Dynaheir, a spell book opened in front of them. Asharia smiled at the sight. Imoen was a quick learner, and she had been focussed on her lessons from the word go. Xan looked at Xan, who was intently drawing on a piece of parchment. I suppose I had better leave him be... As soon as the thought manifested, she noticed that the enchanter had raised his eyes to her. She met his gaze with a warm smile, and his eyes darted back to the parchment.

Time to find out what is going on...

As she approached the enchanter, he hastily hid the parchment in the folds of his spell book, "Alright, what's going on, Xan?" she asked

"I'm not quite sure I follow you. As I have said, I am fine." He was avoiding her gaze again.

Asharia sighed, and sat next to him, "Well, would you mind if I sat with you a while?"

Xan nodded, "You are a bard, are you not?"

The change of topic caught Asharia off guard, and she shrugged, "Yes, why do you ask?"

He finally looked at her, a hint of curiosity creeping into his expression, "I have never heard you sing..."

Asharia flushed and looked away, "I'm... not that great."

Imoen and Dynaheir approached the pair, the latter holding a small brown paper package. "I hath a gift for thee, Asharia, to thank you for saving my life." Dynaheir presented the package to Asharia, who stood and embraced the diviner.

"Thank you, Dynaheir! May I open it now?" The Hathran smiled and nodded, and Asharia picked apart the wrapping. Inside was a nightgown of the purest white silk, and Asharia blushed when she noted the slit up the side of the leg and the low cut at the back of the garment. "It's beautiful!"

"Hey, Asha! I picked this up at the market too!" She held out a small lute and winked at her," You should play again."

Xan shrugged. Asharia pouted in defeat, and took the lute, "Fiiiine."

She began strumming it, the tune soft, slow and a little sad.

Come up to meet you,

Tell you I'm sorry

You don't know how lovely you are

Asharia's voice was unlike any others Xan had heard. It was a light, shimmering sound, almost as if she were whispering, and seemed to hit each note with amazing accuracy.

I had to find you

Tell you I need you

Tell you I set you apart

Tell me your secrets

And ask me your questions

Oh, let's go back to the start

Nobody said it was easy

Oh, It's such a shame for us to part

Nobody said it was-

Asharia abruptly stopped singing, her voice quivering by the last line. Xan noticed that she had tears standing in her eyes. Sighing, she rose, "I'm sorry. I cant..." she whispered, taking her presents and heading to her room for the night.

"Methinks they companion still bares the trauma from losing your foster father." Dynaheir wrapped an arm around Imoen, who sighed heavily, "Best we go and retire. We've a long day tomorrow."

Xan watched as the pair ascended the steps to their rooms with a great sadness. Sighing, he lifted his spellbook from the seat and headed towards his own room. It would prove to be a long night.

Author's Note: Again, not sure if this one turned out as well as I had hoped... Any suggestions would be great :)

Thanks for reading!

(Oh and the song "The Scientist" belongs to Coldplay, not me :) good little guitar song though.)