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

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Fleeing

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Maiyn was quite relieved. Not only were they safely in Adalon's cavern, away from the lurking drow, but Imoen didn't think she was mad. Instead, the thief had nodded when Maiyn described her dream, a couple of tears shining in her eyes slightly. Only when the ranger finished did the young human speak; hesitantly at first.

"He... he came to me, too. In Spellhold, when Irenicus told me what... what I was."

Maiyn nodded. Something inside seemed to stir; a pang of jealousy, she thought. Why did he go to see her first? Why not me? She tried to ignore the demanding voice, frowning slightly as Imoen continued -- her sister seemed to notice her scowl and immediately looked pensive.

"Don't be mad. I think he was looking for the right time to come to us both, and he probably didn't think he'd need to come and see me at all. It just... happened that way."

Maiyn sighed, shaking her head slightly and reaching out to squeeze Imoen's hand with her own free one -- her other was safely clasped in Xan's iron grip, the enchanter sitting by her side with his eyes fixed to the flames in a dazed trance. "I'm not mad," she explained, realising how relieved Imoen looked. "I'm surprised -- in a good way, though. I thought I was going mad, but if he visited you too... then it was real, wasn't it?"

Imoen grinned and nodded. "He told me that things weren't so bad," the human recalled. "That it would all work out in the end. He said I needed to keep hope, because it would get me through it."

"Hope is pointless," chanted Xan dourly. Maiyn threw him a worried look before directing her attention back to her sibling.

"He didn't say we were coming?"

"Not as such. But I guess that's what he meant, you know, by making me have hope. He asked me not to mention his visit to you until he had a chance to see you himself; that it took so much effort, he wasn't sure when he'd be able, but he didn't want us thinking he was being selective or having favourites."

Maiyn smiled softly -- that was like the old sage, indeed. Though there had not been any open competitiveness between the two young girls for Gorion's affection, there had always been small issues that dwelled with them. The fact he shared the same race as Imoen was a favourite for visitors to remark upon -- as if that meant he'd have more in common with her and therefore love her more. Both of them knew it was rubbish, though it had taken Maiyn a long time to live with easily. And despite Imoen's rapport with Winthrop, Gorion was the one she always saw as her father; he never felt threatened by the kindly innkeeper's influence on the thief.

"I miss him so much," whispered Imoen sadly.

"Me too," agreed Maiyn. The silence lingered around them as they sat together, each letting their own memories cascade through their minds. The ranger barely felt Xan's hand removing itself from her own, and he stood and wandered away quietly, a solitary sigh escaping his lips as he departed. Imoen nudged Maiyn gently.

"What's wrong with him?"

The elf frowned slightly. "Don't be mean, Im," she chided. "We've been through a lot, and I know he can be gloomy-"

"No, no, no," sighed the thief in exasperation. "I really do mean -- what is wrong with him? He hasn't rested since you got back -- whenever he's tried to, he's been really disturbed and Minsc's had to hold him down more than once to stop him from hurting you with his thrashing around."

Maiyn frowned more. "He's not said anything?"

Imoen shook her head. "Not a word. I did ask him, but he wouldn't say -- kept excusing himself and avoiding the topic. I'm worried about him -- is it just being here, in the Underdark, that's bothering him? He seemed like his normal self back in Spellhold -- all doom and gloom but generally genial enough."

The ranger bit her lip, looking over to the shadowy form of the enchanter as he sat against the far wall, huddled and alone as he sought his own company as refuge. "I... I think I know what it is," she said. "But he hasn't even spoken to me about it, so..."

The thief nodded understandingly. "Something happened, huh?"

Maiyn laughed dryly. "That's one way of putting it." She sighed then lowered her voice, glancing around at the others: Minsc was taking his turn to rest, snoring gently beside the still sleeping Jaheira. Kivan was beside what remained of Adalon's old nest, rummaging through the limited provisions she'd been able to leave them. Anomen was still deep in prayer to Helm. "When we were in the inn at Ust Natha," she whispered, "Xan was taken away by a priestess of another House for... well, pleasure."

Imoen's eyes widened in surprise. "And you let him?" she gasped.

Maiyn scowled. "I wasn't there -- and even if I was, there's probably little I could have done, since we were meant to be from another city, and our opinions mattered not to anyone."

Imoen nodded solemnly, her own eyes shifting over to the mage. "Poor Xan," she said softly. "You don't know what happened to him?"

"No... I haven't had a chance to ask, and... I don't even know how to bring it up. I sat with him when he returned to our suite, doing what healing I could after Jaheira had tended the worst of the injuries. He looked so forlorn... I had all these images going through my head, and then... then I had the strangest dream..." Imoen raised an eyebrow and Maiyn sighed. "It was that thing again, you know? The thing I dreamt about before I realised Fenmarel had allowed me to serve as His cleric. It was telling me to beware, and passing on all these cryptic messages that I think were intended to see us safely from the city."

"Well they worked," noted Imoen with a grin.

"That, or pure luck," retorted Maiyn, stopping abruptly. "Coran did say luck would stay with the romantics..." she sighed again, and this time Imoen was the one to squeeze the ranger's hand in comfort.

"So, if you weren't there to stop Xan from being molested," said Imoen in her usual straightforward manner -- almost as if she instinctively knew that some topics were still off-limits, even for her, "where were you?"

Maiyn coughed slightly, causing Imoen's expression to become even more curious. "I was... seeing someone else." The human's eyes looked as if they were ready to pop from their sockets and Maiyn tutted loudly. "No, not like that -- though the drow woman we were working for had implied that I might want to use my charms to get the male into a position where he'd be vulnerable and easy to kill..."

"You were off seducing someone?"

"Im!"

"You didn't then? So you were trying to kill him without taking him to bed first?"

"Well, no... yes... Bah!" Maiyn scowled at Imoen's rather impish smile. "I actually told him who I really was and why I'd been sent there. He gave me his cloak-"

"And the fake eggs?" asked Imoen with a nod. "Kivan filled us in -- now it all makes sense." The thief paused for a second and looked back to the enchanter, all trace of amusement disappearing. "Does Xan know you didn't... well, do anything with this guy?"

Maiyn felt a strange hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach that seemed to grow slowly, and she looked over to him. "No," she said quietly. "I... when I got back and realised what had happened to him, it went straight from my mind..."

"You might want to think about putting his mind to rest," noted Imoen knowingly. "He's been through enough... there's no need for him to assume it's any worse than what it is."

At that point he raised his head, his eyes drifting over to Maiyn and Imoen. He stared at them both for a few moments, then shifted his gaze fully on to the ranger; his look was full of betrayal and anxiety. Maiyn groaned.

"And now he thinks we're gossiping about him," she hissed.

"Well, he's right," replied Imoen dubiously, taking her hand away and quickly standing up slightly abashed. "No need to make it quite so obvious though," she finished hurriedly, scampering off to assist Kivan in his search for food. Maiyn looked back to Xan -- his head had dropped again, more due to fatigue, it appeared, than anything else. Slowly she scrambled to her feet, looking over to Anomen and Sime -- there still was nothing from the priest, and Sime's lifeless body was looking greyer than before. Maiyn felt her throat constricting -- not another one, please, not another. With a sigh, she wandered slowly towards Xan.

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"I'm sure you haven't told Imoen all the details yet." Xan's voice was low, with a seemingly defiant edge to it. Maiyn ignored him and sat down regardless, reaching out to take his hand. He carefully moved it away, and she tensed, taking a deep breath.

"I think it's time we talked," she said.

He let out a small, hoarse laugh. "I thought our talking was done back in the svirfneblin village."

"If it was, why have you been holding my hand so often? Why were you so willing for me to stay with you when you came back from-" She stopped abruptly as he stiffened, silently cursing her bluntness. She closed her eyes, sighed heavily, and tried again. "What we said... well, more what we didn't say... it doesn't matter. The details don't matter, right now, because we're friends at least -- aren't we?"

He nodded slightly, and she smiled with slight relief. "Though it would appear you are closer friends to Imoen, because I am almost certain you would not discuss private matters involving her with me."

She recoiled slightly at his words. "That's not fair. I've confided in you about Imoen... about a lot of things, more than almost anyone else."

"Yet there are still some things you won't discuss with me, or that you'll lie about," he replied calmly. "Or rather, some people. And regarding your confiding habits, I don't doubt I was a very convenient replacement until you were reunited with your sister... or certain others."

She ground her teeth in frustration, opting to ignore his antagonistic approach; refusing to give him the argument he seemed to be seeking. "I care for you, and I'm worried about you. I'm worried that you might have the wrong idea about some things."

Xan raised his eyes to look at her. They looked dull and listless, and his normally pale skin looked even more devoid of life, with large, black shadows hanging under his eyes and a gaunt appearance to his face. He looked almost as bad as Sime. "I think I have the right idea about a lot of things," he said wryly. "Our doom, for example..."

Maiyn stared at him, trying to gauge if he was being humorous or not. She couldn't tell. "We've made it this far," she pointed out, slightly argumentatively. He merely shrugged in response, his eyes drifting back to the ground. She frowned. "I didn't sleep with Solaufein, you know."

He only chuckled in response, which annoyed her more than an announcement of his disbelief would have. "Did you want to?"

"Xan!"

"Well, did you?" he looked back at her, his eyes piercing -- they seemed to have picked up some life, some urge to go on. She stared back at him and felt strange; her surroundings seemed to dim, everything but Xan seemed to become slightly blurred. Then it passed, as soon as it had come, and she raised a hand to her head; surely she wasn't becoming ill now, of all times -- when they needed their strength to get past the final hurdle to escape to the surface.

Xan sighed and leaned back against the wall, his eyes closed. He was muttering softly to himself in elvish; foolish, foolish, foolish, over and over. Maiyn leaned forward, touched his arm to try and break him from it. He just shook his head. "Not now. Later."

"You can't keep putting this off," she whispered. "You can't-"

"Later, Maiyn."

With a sigh she withdrew, sitting next to him for several minutes afterwards as she watched him sit in the same position, his eyes closed to the world around him. With resignation, she finally stood up, giving him one last concerned look before she left, heading over to the awakening Jaheira.

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He needed to rest; he knew he did, and if he hadn't realised it before, he certainly did now. What possessed him to act like that... to push so close to her mind? He knew he wielded a power, an ability that many would subvert, or use against the target's will, like he had almost done. But this wasn't the first time the temptation had set in -- this time, though, it had been harder to fight it.

He kept his eyes closed, knowing that she was still sitting beside him, aware she was watching him. He could feel the confusion and hurt radiating from her; he desperately wanted to say something, to reach out -- to begin the conversation again. He had feared that on the night of his liaison with the drow priestess, Maiyn would have succumbed to the drow fighter she needed to kill -- if only to be able to catch him off guard. But he'd heard what had actually happened several times, and seen for himself the eggs he gave her; his survival of their fateful meeting as he appeared in the Underdark tunnels while they made their escape from Ust Natha only served to further lead him to believe her account was, by all means, true. But... they could still have shared a bed, and the words came to his lips almost callously, intending to cause hurt. They had succeeded -- he was sure.

But he knew he was wrong -- he was using it all as a convenient excuse to shield his frustration that was firmly centred on another matter. As she rose from her seat and slowly wandered off, he opened his eyes and looked at her. The drow was not Coran -- it wasn't fair to pin the unease he felt regarding her feelings for her former lover onto a situation that neither she nor Solaufein would have had much control over, either. He sighed heavily. She was right -- they did need to talk. But not now...

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Imoen and Kivan had brought food over to the campfire, making a hearty looking meal as Minsc helped Xan stagger over to the group. Silence was reigning the cave when Anomen called out, signalling the ending of his prayers. Plates were dropped, cooking was forgotten, as everyone's attention turned to the Priest of Helm as he sat, trembling from exhaustion and fatigue. Imoen dashed to his side, supporting him as he leaned on her small frame, his eyes closing as her arm went round his shoulders. Her eyes were fixed to the same point as Maiyn's; before him lay Sime, completely lifeless, and the ranger's heart began to fall. She stumbled towards them slowly, a lump in her throat preventing her from saying anything. But then she stopped; frozen in surprise as she watched. Imoen gasped, and the others let out various cries and exclamations. Anomen held out his hand, and Sime's slowly raised from the ground, finding his.

Jaheira darted over, immediately checking the girl over with careful and gentle hands as she soothingly welcomed her back to them. Maiyn rushed over to sit by her side, looking down to the young girl's face as she tried to smile up to them weakly. "Rest," she urged the human, softly brushing some of the rogue's silky hair away from her face before smiling down to her. "You gave us all a terrible fright... but you're back now."

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Adalon returned in her human form, as promised, not long after they'd eaten. Jaheira had managed to concentrate enough to channel some further healing into Sime, giving her some strength so she was able to sit up and join them, after being carefully hugged by all -- even Minsc managed to take the girl into his arms softly when he offered his embrace. Anomen and Xan were still exhausted, the priest not having had a chance to rest, and the enchanter unable to close his eyes for more than a few minutes before becoming increasingly disturbed in his reverie. They had little in the way of time, however, and Adalon apologised for their inability to stay in her lair longer.

"The drow get ever closer," she explained. "My eggs are safe for the time being, but I must return to them soon. And it is time for you to return to the surface while there is still disruption enough to give you a good chance. I will take you as far as I can go, but you may face some resistance beyond the doors where I will leave you -- if I could do more, I would, but I must return to my eggs with all haste."

Maiyn nodded her understanding and the group readied themselves to depart, Minsc supporting Xan while Jaheira and Kivan helped Sime as she shakily stood. Anomen and Maiyn followed Adalon as she strode along, Imoen close behind them, while the others tried to keep up as well as they could. With the dragon's help, even in her smaller form, the drow they encountered fell easily and their progress was swift. Before long they arrived at the doors she'd mentioned, and Anomen cautiously opened them, allowing Maiyn to peer out through them. She could see nothing, even with her elven vision, and she nodded to the others.

"Thank you for your help," she said to Adalon sincerely. The dragon smiled.

"Thank you all for rescuing my eggs," she replied. "You proved to be honourable, Child of Bhaal, and I will watch your path with interest. But for now, I must see to my own children. Travel as quickly as you can -- there is not far to go, but it may be the most dangerous stretch yet."

Maiyn nodded, watching as Adalon stepped easily through a dimension door and disappeared. She checked the others were fine to continue, and slowly she led them into the chamber beyond the doors, picking her way along cautiously and quietly as the walls narrowed, turning into a natural passage. They travelled for several minutes before Maiyn stopped, another cavern looming ahead of them. The ranger gave a strangled, gargling cry, and stumbled backwards, falling as she tripped over Anomen's foot, knocking his shield against the stone wall of the passage. It made a dreadful clamouring noise.

Instantly the others became tense -- Xan and Sime were gently propped against the walls as Kivan, Jaheira and Minsc moved forward, the druid scowling darkly as she asked what had happened in a hiss. Maiyn had fallen into a foetal position, her arms across her face as she violently shook. Anomen was standing beside her, his face pale as he stared ahead and into the high-ceilinged room. Jaheira followed his gaze, and her heart lifted when she realised that there was light -- it was only torchlight, but it meant that other surfacers had been in the vicinity recently; the drow had no need of such items, after all. But then she noticed what Maiyn and Anomen had, and her own heart clenched tightly for a second.

Watching them with an unfriendly expression and a large pointed spear, was a bloated body atop what looked like eight arachnid legs.

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Kivan knew what it was. "Drider!" he called, loud enough so that the group would hear him, but not so that it would echo further along the caverns and passages and draw even more unwanted attention to them. The elf was vaguely aware of Xan groaning behind him; the enchanter had no spells, having not been able to rest, so even a simple resist fear was beyond him. Anomen also shrugged helplessly -- he'd had no chance to pray to Helm for anything except the gift of life for Sime. Kivan joined Jaheira in standing in front of her, with Imoen slightly behind him, an arrow notched to her bow.

The noise of shuffling made him turn around quickly -- with a smile, he noticed Sime half stumble, half clamber to Imoen's side, her own bow in her hands. She was fairly unsteady and her hands were trembling; but as she took aim and waited for a signal, the ranger saw her slowly regain control over her tired and battered senses. He turned back to their foe and studied it carefully.

It was slowly heading towards them, weapon gripped tightly in its hands. Matted hair hung down around what had once likely been a fairly handsome male drow face -- now it was contorted; Kivan assumed it was due to the revulsion of what it had become and the pain it had likely undergone in the process. It was going to tower over them -- it was easily twice as tall Jaheira, and much bigger, even, than Minsc.

"The carapace around the legs will be difficult for us to pierce," he said. The druid nodded to his side, and he knew both Sime and Imoen would be able to hear him. Anomen and Minsc were also listening intently. "There are said to be vulnerable spots underneath, between the legs."

"That is not very helpful," noted Jaheira. "To find ourselves in that position would be dangerous indeed."

Kivan nodded grimly. "Try and reach any unarmoured part of the man you can. Disarm it if possible -- Minsc?"

"Minsc and Boo and Larry stand ready," announced the berserker.

"You'll have a good reach -- try and find a weakness in its armour."

"Larry shall ensure he finds the weak spot in the side of evil! Won't you Larry?"

"Sure thing! Lemme at 'em!"

"Jaheira, Anomen -- use your slings." The druid and cleric immediately pulled free their missile weapons, searching in their pouches for stones to load up. Neither questioned Kivan's instructions, trusting his opinion as the voice of authority over the creature -- the stoic ranger was only glad that the creature seemed hesitant to immediately charge, so he took the opportunity to drag Maiyn further back, closer to Xan.

"Keep an eye on her," he said quickly. "And watch out for anything appearing behind us -- if it does, call for Jaheira and Anomen."

Xan nodded weakly to him, moving forward slightly so he could be close to the completely terror-stricken ranger as she huddled close to the wall, her arms still wrapped closely around her head. Kivan quickly made his way back to the others, nodding to Minsc to signal their advance. Side by side, the two tall rangers cautiously moved forward. The drider paused at their action, then smiled. Only a second later, it charged.

"Aim for the head!" he shouted to the archers and slingers as he dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the drider's spear as it swept past his head. A mighty roar from the other side told him that Minsc had made contact with the enemy, though it seemed to have had little effect as the foe spun around -- fairly quickly considering the amount of legs it had to control -- ready to face off against Kivan once more.

This time the ranger ducked a lunging blow of the spear, coming up to the side and thrusting his own weapon forward; he noted with disappointment that the chitinous covering of the drider's abdomen easily absorbed the blow. He wrenched it free, nimbly rolling away from yet another attack, and sprinted around past Minsc as the berserker managed to cleave into one of the many legs with Lilarcor. This caused the beast some anger as ichor began to seep from the wound and it spun around, frustration crossing its face as the Rashemeni parried its counter attacks.

Kivan found himself facing its back, and he raced forward, raising his spear as high as he could while aiming at the drider's back. With as much force as he could muster, he drove his weapon forward, desperately trying to break through the tough chainmail worn by the creature. A chittering shriek erupted from it, and Kivan was dragged to the side as he clung onto his spear, the drider turning around as it tried to shake off the attack. Eventually his weapon became free, and he staggered slightly, trying to regain his footing as the beast descended upon him, ignoring the hail of bullets and arrows raining down upon it.

Disoriented as he was, he failed to completely evade the next attack, feeling the spear slamming into his side as he narrowly avoided the vicious point of the weapon. He tumbled to the ground, only just managing to hold onto his spear as the drider loomed over him, looking down at him with a cruel smirk. Its two hands raised its weapon, preparing to bring it down; but Kivan thrust his own up, through the two legs that were closest, and felt the tip piercing through the softer flesh underneath the drider's abdomen.

It screamed in pain, momentarily distracted from quarry, giving Kivan enough time to pull his weapon clear and attempt to move away. It noticed him moving, using one of its legs to knock him back to the ground where it re-assumed its position, preparing to bring the spear down on the elf while he was trying to get back to his feet. But the blow was well off-target -- distracted as the beast was by Minsc's continued assaults to its legs, causing it to fall slightly at one side as the wounds became too much for its weight. The berserker quickly moved in, thrusting Larry at the neck of the drider and piercing the bloated flesh. The creature let out a gargled cry, dropping its weapon as its hands rose to its throat; then slowly it sank to the ground, quivering as it crumpled to a heap, a pool of sticky fluid surrounding it.

Kivan slowly wandered over to the corpse, helping Minsc pull Larry free from the corpse as Jaheira and Anomen moved forward to check for injuries. Imoen and Sime were standing together, the pink-haired girl supporting her raven-haired comrade as they watched the aftermath, waiting for the signal to move on.

"We're fine," he insisted to Jaheira, who was looking at him with concern. "We need to move on." She nodded her agreement, following him as he headed back towards Xan to help the enchanter through the passage again. With some relief, he noticed that Maiyn had recovered slightly from her initial panic. Her trembling had lessened and she was peering from behind her arms at the scene, trying to avoid looking at the body of their foe. He knelt beside her, taking her chin firmly in his hand as he made her look up to him, coaxing her from her cowering position.

"Are you all right?"

She nodded and swallowed hard. He moved back slightly and stretching out his hand to help her to her feet, and he gave her a reassuring smile before moving to help Jaheira support Xan. He was about to give the nod for their moving on when the sound of voices began to drift along the passage behind them. Swearing under his breath, he exchanged a look with the druid, before hissing to the others; loud enough to be heard by the party, but quiet enough to avoid the approaching enemies from becoming aware of them too soon.

"Drow approach! Move! Quickly!"

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They ran as well as they could -- the panic that had consumed her so recently was forgotten as the realisation that they fled for their lives sank in deeper and deeper. Jaheira and Kivan were all but carrying Xan as Minsc really did carry Sime in his arms. Maiyn was holding Imoen's hand, running along as they followed Anomen's lead -- the tunnel was sloping upwards, the air becoming fresher. Nausea washed over her as she remembered the last time she'd been in this position -- gripping Imoen's hand tightly as they fled from Irenicus' dungeon, knowing freedom was so close, but it was uncertain if they'd ever reach it... she tried not to think about what had happened the last time they had 'escaped' from somewhere.

Bodies littered their way, both drow and surfacer elves alike, lying together in their shared tomb at the Underdark entrance. Their pursuers had apparently discovered the dead drider and began the chase almost as soon as the group had cleared the cavern, following the only other route away from the scene. They knew they didn't have far to go -- the light was getting closer, the air fresher... but their foes were becoming ever closer.

"There!"

A voice came from the shadows ahead, causing them to stop abruptly and reach for their weapons instinctively until Jaheira shouted.

"No! These are no drow -- listen to the tongue they use!"

Maiyn's head felt like it was swimming, but she frowned in concentration... elvish -- the unknown presence before them was elven! Several bodies soon appeared to match with the voices -- voices that were calling out defensive strategy, and attack plans-

"No!" Maiyn screamed, watching as Anomen deflected a sword directed at his chest. "We are no drow!"

The elves paused their aggressive moves, quickly looking towards the central figure. He waved them back, only moving forward slowly to examine them when he was sure they weren't using deception to gain a sly attack. His eyes widened as he grew close enough to see them in the dim light that was coming from further up the passage -- Maiyn could almost see the sky, feel the sunshine on her skin. Her hopes of finding allies were not the reassuring event she'd imagined, however -- distrust was apparent in the elves eyes as he regarded her, almost as if she was a dark one herself.

"Who are you to come from the depths?" he snapped at them, backing away to be closer to his men. More voices could be heard -- the drow pursuing Maiyn and her party were closing in rapidly. Maiyn answered him in the common tongue again, so the humans in her group could understand at least half the conversation.

"Surfacers, like you," she hissed. "And we are injured and in need of assistance -- the drow pursue us as we flee. Will you let us pass peacefully, or do we need to raise arms against you also?"

He studied her for a moment, then looked past her as the voices rose in volume. "You will stay and fight with us," he said calmly, ignoring her outraged cries. "You are a stranger to us and as much a threat to our people's safety as the drow. We will escort you to the surface when we are done here."

"This is not... necessary," said Xan weakly, moving forward and drawing his moonblade free from the sheath. The elf's immediately inclined his head respectfully, signalling for two of his men to help Xan.

"Take him up," he said. "The rest shall assist us." He turned to Xan as the mage tried to protest. "I apologise, but we cannot take the chance when we are in need of the assistance ourselves. You will see for yourself when you meet Elhan."

"No." Maiyn spoke firmly but with a degree of urgency. "We have come so far and through so much -- I will not stand for this. We have injured amongst us and those who are weak from exhaustion. If you stand in our way, I will be forced to stand against you as well as the drow -- and if our assistance is so important to you in facing them, then you will have to fight both them and us -- your odds will be significantly lessened, despite our fatigue."

The elf stared at her impassively for a few seconds, then waved his hand again. His men parted, allowing Anomen to guide Sime through after Minsc put her down. Jaheira, Kivan and the berserker readied their weapons while Imoen drew out the last of her spell components, signalling their willingness to stay and fight. "Follow Xan," she told the priest. "We will join you when we are done here." He nodded, supporting Sime as she stumbled along beside him. Maiyn turned back to the elven leader, allowing herself to glare at him with open hostility.

"You may appear to travel with a defender of our kind," he said coldly, "but that does not earn you my trust. Any treachery here will be the last action you perform."

"Any more words from you will ensure you stand against these drow alone," she replied calmly, turning away as the first of their dark kin darted into the vicinity. She called out to her companions, directing their defences as more and more of the dark-skinned warriors approached. Her feelings for her 'kin' were temporarily wiped from her mind -- but only until they'd dealt with the business at hand.