A/N: At last, we finish with the Underdark -- slightly less in this chapter than previously, but there'll be more to come soon enough! And I want to thank everyone reading this because it's just broke the ten thousand hits mark (including repeat hits by people, but still!) which is something I never ever expected! But... on with the tale...


General disclaimer: I own nothing, even Maiyn generally decides her own path.

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Escaping

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"Maiyn, no!" Jaheira's arm shot out, grabbing at the errant ranger as she tried to double back. "We must get outside!"

"The seal has been lifted," Xan suddenly announced. "The Matron Mother is dead."

The others paused, Jaheira and Kivan quickly checking around for any sign of activity -- the corridors of the residence were quiet; almost too quiet for them to find any comfort, although meeting a group of guards was the last thing they needed. So caught up with the enchanter's announcement as they were, Maiyn easily wrestled herself free and darted back along the corridor.

"I won't leave Sime to die," she called back to them. Xan groaned and followed Jaheira as she shouted in frustration, barely heeding Kivan's advice to remain quiet.

Maiyn was halfway up the stairs, moving swiftly but stealthily, when the others caught up with her. She ensured the druid wouldn't try and force her to leave again with a quick raised eyebrow, and at the half-elf's shake of the head, she continued her progress, warily looking out for any potential foes. They reached the top of the stairs before they came across Phaere.

"What are you?" she hissed incredulously, her eyes narrowed as she looked at them, swords drawn warily. "One of your own -- the quiet girl, no less -- has brought down my mother and my sister, breaking the ritual? This was not part of our plan!"

"We have no plan," replied Maiyn coldly, freeing her own sword and standing off against the drow female. Phaere barked a mirthless laugh.

"I should have known," she whispered, "that one so talented would have no loyalty. Tell me, Veldrin... which House bought your allegiance so easily?"

Maiyn's face broke into a smile -- Jaheira was disturbed to see it was a ruthless, calculating sentiment, rather than any display of humour. "House? No House can buy off surfacers..."

Phaere's eyes widened and she shook her head slowly. "You are lying," she hissed. "You must be! We would have known!"

"Would you?" asked Maiyn, pressing forward, causing the drow to tense.

"It matters not," Phaere replied simply. "You will fall here, and I shall take over the mantle of Matron Mother -- the ritual will still go ahead, but you will pay for the delay!" With that she leapt forward to strike, her two long swords cutting through the air easily, the blade of one tearing into the leather on Maiyn's arm. Kivan and Jaheira moved forward to offer aid as three guards emerged from the temple, weapons drawn and expressions grim.

"We're doomed," sighed Xan before he desperately began murmuring a spell to lower the magical resistances surrounding the drow. Maiyn seemed to have barely registered the appearance of further opponents, her gaze fixed firmly to Phaere as she concentrated on avoiding the blows aimed at her. The drow female had been highly trained -- much more extensively than Maiyn had ever accomplished, and it was all the ranger could do to duck from the slashes and carefully targeted thrusts, taking hits which thankfully didn't manage to fully penetrate her armour.

Jaheira and Kivan managed to take down the first guard quickly as they worked together; Kivan's spear piercing through his shoulder, and Jaheira's club smashing into his head. They then faced off against one guard each as hazy glows enveloped their foes, Xan's cantrips struggling to work against the innate abilities of the dark skinned elves. They, like Phaere, were expert warriors, and only the druid was able to really stand up against them. She used her shield expertly, deflecting blow after blow until her attacker lost his balance, stumbling to the side. Without mercy, the half-elf closed in for the kill, swiftly bringing about an end to the guard's life before turning to aid Kivan with his own opponent.

The ranger was struggling slightly -- the male drow guard he was fighting was agile and fleet of foot, easily avoiding the elf's overly aggressive jabs. Jaheira waited until the opportunity presented itself, then literally leapt in -- pushing into the guard and steering him towards the tip of Kivan's spear. The ranger stood firmly, pushing forward as the connection was made and ensuring the guard was impaled before drawing his weapon clear and allowing the body to slump to the ground.

Then they turned to see Maiyn -- backed into a corner as Phaere's careful moves tested the ranger's weaker areas while ensuring she was still defended from any counter attacks. In her obsession with bringing down Maiyn, however, she was oblivious to everything else happening around her, and she didn't see Xan as he boldly walked up behind her, driving his sword into her back. Her face contorted in agony as she fell to her knees, both swords falling from her hands. She stared at Maiyn questioningly, her look of pained confusion at the group's betrayal shining from her eyes. She whispered one single word: "Sola", then fell to the ground lifeless. Maiyn immediately ran into the temple, glancing around wildly for any more foes.

There were none -- by the altar, face down, lay Matron Mother Ardulace, and by her side was her priestess daughter, just as dead. One single guard had joined them in their fate, but beside his body was a more familiar form. "Sime," Maiyn whispered, heading swiftly over to check the girl. She was completely still -- the drow disguise had faded from her skin, revealing her as the paler human girl they'd worked with since leaving Athkatla. Several wounds were dotted around her body and a pool of blood surrounded where she lay. Jaheira quietly placed a hand on Maiyn's shoulder.

"She is gone, child."

The ranger shook her head. "You can raise her," she said with certainty.

"Not here... my powers are weak in this environment. There is nothing I can do."

Maiyn turned to Kivan determinedly. "Can you carry her?" she asked. He raised an eyebrow questioningly, but nodded at her insistent stare, moving over to hoist her body into his arms. Jaheira sighed.

"There is-"

"Anomen," replied Maiyn simply. "He may be able to do something."

Jaheira paused in her objections and nodded. "That... that is true. We must move with all haste."

Maiyn nodded grimly in return, and the group turned and left the temple, cautiously making their way back downstairs without another word.

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Nhilune Despana cautiously slipped from the Handmaiden's torture chamber as soon as the opportunity presented itself. She'd barely been stripped down before guards burst into the room, informing Imrae of intruders in the compound. Despite her vulnerable position, Nhilune couldn't suppress a smug feeling that coursed through her; she had warned her mother, the visions had been correct.

They were under attack.

Quickly she made her way towards the temple, fearing the sight she'd see. To her surprise, she found not only her mother's body, but also those of her two sisters and several guards; yet there was no obvious sign of other House assassins. She frowned slightly to herself, then caught sight of an object that was threatening to spill from Phaere's pocket. With trembling hands she retrieved the precious eggs, marvelling in their perfection, then she hurriedly made her way to the altar, placing them down on the assigned place, and chanting furiously -- the ritual had obviously been disturbed, but that was no reason to believe it could not be salvaged -- and with the death of her mother and siblings, the role fell to her -- Matron Mother Nhilune.

The altar began to glow and become warm -- Nhilune's words became more insistent and more passionate. Eventually there was a loud, thunderous crack, and when she opened her eyes the creature was before her -- tall, magnificent -- everything Ardulace had envisioned. Her lips twisted up into a cruel smile, but she bowed her head respectfully, holding out her hands to point to the offering.

"I HAVE COME... YOU HAVE WRESTED ME FROM MY PLANE, DARKLING... HAVE GOOD REASON, OR I SHALL TAKE MY PRICE IN DARKLING BLOOD..."

"I have good reason, lord of the nether pits!" she cried. "I beseech you to aid the drow cause in the war against our hated surface cousins, to carve their pale flesh!"

"AND WHAT MANNER OF TITHE WOULD YOU OFFER ME FOR SUCH A DEED, DARKLING? WHAT MANNER OF PAYMENT WARRANTS MY AID?"

"I offer you those, lord of fiends..." she smirked, daring to look up to the demon. "The eggs of a silver dragon, a self-righteous creature of light. Yours to do with as you please, in return for your aid."

Slowly the creature altered its gaze to look down upon the offering, then its booming laugh echoed around the chamber. "FOOLISH DARKLING. DO YOU THINK I WOULD BE TAKEN IN BY SUCH A SIMPLISTIC DECEPTION?"

"Wh-what do you mean, o dark lord?" Nhilune's eyes were wide in fear as she desperately pointed to the eggs -- ensuring it was looking at the correct gift. "These... these are-"

"THEY ARE FALSE, DARKLING. I WOULD TAKE SUCH A TITHE, WERE IT REAL, BUT NOW YOU HAVE OFFENDED ME. PERISH, LITTLE DARKLING WOMAN. BE THE FIRST TO FALL TO MY ANGER."

Nhilune screamed as the creature's claw raked into her flesh. "No! NO! Lolth, protect your faithf-"

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They'd reached the massive doors leading back to the grounds of the Despana estate when an almighty noise came crashing from somewhere above them. Worried glances were exchanged, then the door was thrown open and they began sprinting to the gates as fast as they could. Halfway there, Jaheira stopped, calling out in warning for the others to do likewise.

"The gates will be locked, and the fence -- look. You can see the faerie fire shimmering on it."

Maiyn looked around desperately. "There has to be another way. There has to be some kind of-"

"Look!" Kivan was looking over to the gate -- or to where the gate had been. Now there was nothing there but an intense darkness -- an area completely devoid of light that was slowly creeping towards them -- towards the Despana home. Not even their infravision was able to penetrate it; but sinister as it was, they found themselves walking towards it, despite Xan's futile protests.

"The dream you had," said Jaheira urgently as they walked. "It said to take a risk?"

Maiyn nodded, her face betraying the scepticism she felt about their direction. "Surely you're not going to say-"

"Jaheira is right," came Kivan's voice. "If there are others seeking to attack House Despana, then they will provide the way out we need. We don't have time to wait for a better opportunity."

They were almost at the area of darkness and Maiyn felt a deep claustrophobia enveloping her. Noting the ranger's frightened expression, Jaheira gently took her hand and grabbed onto Kivan with her other one. "Take Xan's hand," she said firmly, waiting until the enchanter's grasp was firmly within Maiyn's then plunging forward into the darkness.

There was nothing but blackness. Maiyn fought to breathe -- she felt suffocated, she stumbled as the druid relentlessly dragged both her and Kivan through the void. Her grip with Xan faltered slightly -- his hand slid from hers, and she panicked, waving her arm around madly as she tried to relocate him. Thankfully she found his robes -- she hoped they were his robes -- and grabbed onto them furiously. A hand found hers, and she felt the familiar shape of his rings. Her heart settled slightly, but her breathing remained laboured.

Then Jaheira jostled into something -- Maiyn couldn't tell what it was, but the half-elf diverted their path and they wove their way through the fray. A stabbing pain went into her thigh, but Maiyn ignored it, forcing herself to keep up with the fast gait of the druid. The darkness went on and on, seeming to never end -- they'd reached the end of the cavern and were by the tunnel leading back to the main gates before it lifted, and the ranger noticed she wasn't the only one to have suffered.

Xan was bleeding from a wound in his shoulder, Kivan had been slashed across the face, and Jaheira... the druid was worst off, still somehow striding along despite the multitude of wounds that seemed to have ripped at her armour and torn at her flesh. They had no time to tend their wounds, though -- spilling from the darkness behind them were several goblins and kobolds. Close behind their slaves were two of the drow masters. Xan groaned twice in quick succession, but let a quick spell -- his hold enchantment freezing the lesser creatures in place, and leaving the two drow to be dealt with quickly by Maiyn and the limping Jaheira. Before the second had even fallen fully to the ground, the druid was walking away as fast as she could, heading down the passage towards the city entrance.

"What about Sime?" asked Maiyn in a quiet tone as they walked. The body of the girl would only be conspicuous because of her heritage -- quickly Jaheira unclasped her cloak, throwing it over the girl's body.

"It will have to do," she said, moving on.

They passed no one as they picked their way cautiously down the passages and tunnels. Reaching the main gate proved to be easy enough, but the large, foreboding structures were firmly closed. Jaheira strode up to the guard without pausing.

"Open the gates, male worm," she demanded forcefully. "We seek to leave to return to Ched Nasad."

The male looked curiously at her injuries, then let his glance slip over to her companions. To Maiyn's surprise, Jaheira raised her hand, slapping his hard across the cheek. He immediately shrank back, signalling for the other guard to do as requested as he backed away from them to help, a dangerous and hostile glint in his eyes.

"Demon! There's a demon loose in the city!" A drow ran past, disappearing off down another passage as he shouted his warnings. The gate guards paused momentarily, staring at the group suspiciously.

"Get on with it!" Jaheira snapped, watching as they slowly began to turn the handles to open the gates. Maiyn felt a slight tug at her sleeve, and turned to see a duergar standing behind her. She glared down at him as he glanced up apologetically at her, clearing his throat nervously.

"Most powerful of Drow, forgive my insolence in speaking before being told to do so, but I must beg your attention a moment."

"I have no interest in you," Maiyn snapped, pulling her arm free and turning away from the dwarf. He moved around her to face her again, much to her annoyance.

"I would not dream of bothering you with my own petty concern, oh great Drow. No, it is the wishes of my master that you must hear, please. I beg that you come close to the tank, that he might make contact with your mind."

Maiyn scowled darkly and glared over at the strange vessel that seemed to be filled with water. "I really don't have time for this," she protested. The duergar shook his head softly, and spoke very quietly.

"He knows. Approach him."

Maiyn's eyebrow rose, but the slave's eyes had fallen to the ground respectfully. A quick glance showed that the gates were still being opened, as slowly as possible it seemed, and the others of her group were watching the progress intently. She sighed and wandered closer to the tank, starting when a voice echoed in her mind.

"Hear me... hear my thoughts in your mind... I am ambassador... but I have a service I demand of you... one that you will perform discreetly and with haste."

I think not, she thought in reply. We are leaving soon, and I will not linger here to perform for you.

"But I command it... SURFACER! I can see it in your thoughts... clearly! Do you wish this secret announced? To the mind of every Drow within the city -- especially those tending to your so precious gate?"

Maiyn's eyes had widened in horror, and she looked around to make sure no one else had heard anything. The voice laughed.

"They will only hear if I choose it. You will do as I ask, and you will walk away free. I care not why you are here. The concerns of your kind are worthless."

Something inside Maiyn stirred and she felt her temper rising. So you contend to hold me in service against my will?

"That is what I intend, yes."

No, no, I don't think that is how this is going to work, fish.

There was a silence. Maiyn glared at the tank, her ears still listening out for the sign from her companions that they were ready to go.

"Fish? Perhaps I have not made my thoughts clear."

Oh no, I understand completely, she thought fiercely. I simply refuse. What's more, I'm telling you to shut up.

Another pause. "I have outlined the threat I intend. I do not bluff. Fear me."

She smiled, slightly evilly. You cannot harm me or I will expose you too. I die, you die. Simple.

"You are a strange individual. Leave me, volatile one. Go about your petty business."

Maiyn nodded satisfactorily, turning to see the gates finally swing open. She rushed over to her companions, pushing them ahead of her as they escaped the city at last. Just before she passed through herself, she heard the voice from the tank one final time.

"Only a fool would think this was over..."

The nearest guard suddenly appeared behind her, squinting as he gazed at her. "You... you are... a surfacer!"

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They ran into the darkness, the drow close behind. They were tired and injured, carrying the body of their fallen companion and in an environment alien to each. Only hope kept them running, fear and desperation motivating them along. They could only pray they were heading down the right passages as they twisted and curved around -- and then suddenly there was someone before them.

"Solaufein!" gasped Maiyn breathlessly. He nodded curtly, giving them a cursory glance and grimly noting the body in Kivan's arms.

"That way," he said simply, pointing down a tunnel to their right. "To the lair," he explained at their incredulous glances.

They thanked him quickly, darting down the tunnel as he stood behind. Maiyn glanced over her shoulder as she stumbled after Xan; she could see the drow male raising his sword, entering a battle with his kin that he couldn't win. But he was holding them up -- for them. For the surfacers he barely knew -- for the surfacers who'd spared his life before.

They kept running -- his word had been true, as soon enough they approached the stairs leading into Adalon's lair. They virtually tumbled down the final few steps, their three companions rushing forward to greet them as their drow disguises melted away, then looks of horror appearing as they noticed Sime's body. Maiyn managed to look up to Anomen, her eyes full of pleading as she pointed to the young rogue. Instinctively he nodded, grabbing his symbol of Helm and moving over to the corpse to begin his prayers.

Somewhere behind him was Adalon, and Maiyn carefully pulled the eggs free from her cloak, stumbling on towards the dragon. She placed the eggs down delicately, barely registering the delight from the wyrm, and turned back to see Minsc supporting Jaheira as she collapsed to the ground in weariness, Xan and Kivan sitting beside her. A figure appeared by the ranger's side, and she turned to see Imoen smiling down at her.

"Boy, we sure have some stories to exchange, I guess," the thief said. Maiyn smiled weakly, then fell to her knees and closed her eyes.