A/N: I'll take this chance to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and a very good 2007 :D

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

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Friends and Memories

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"Can I have a word?"

Maiyn nodded without breaking her stride. She'd heard Kivan approach and fall into pace beside her, so his request had been expected. There was a pause before he spoke, and she knew he was looking for the words he wanted to use. She remained silent, giving him time.

"I'm worried about you."

She allowed herself a wry smile; he was to the point, as usual. "Why?" she humoured.

"I think you know why."

She looked over to him, rolling her eyes slightly. "Kivan, if you want to 'have a word' with me, then it is assumed that you will do most of the talking," she pointed out, "and not have me doing it for you."

He threw her a bemused look. "You've grown so much since we first met."

"Is that a good or a bad thing?" She'd flushed slightly at his words -- Kivan was not one for compliments, so even disguised ones were quite rare.

"Good, I think. I have concerns, though."

She sighed slightly. "I don't regret anything."

"No?" His eyebrow was raised. "I don't doubt that you have no qualms about striking the elven prince. I am worried, however, about other things."

"Other things?" She noticed Kivan throw a sly look behind him, towards Xan. The enchanter was barely coping with the walk, leaning heavily on Minsc as the berserker supported his slender elven frame with ease. She swallowed hard. "You mean Xan?" she asked, her voice much lower.

"I do," Kivan affirmed. "It's no secret that something happened with you and him, back in Brynnlaw-"

"So Jaheira did tell you as we walked to Spellhold," muttered Maiyn.

"-and we are worried. What about Coran?"

Her steps faltered slightly, but she regained her footing quickly and pressed on. "Coran is..."

"Coran is what?" he pressed. "The past? Forgotten?"

She stopped and spun round to face him. "He is not forgotten!" The others paused, looking over at their angry leader as she glared coldly at Kivan. He held her gaze, his expression emotionless. After a few moments she looked away, sighed, and marched on. He stayed by her side, the others behind them.

"You need to deal with it."

"There is nothing to deal with."

"Maiyn, if that was true you would not have acted like that, there," he sighed. "And more importantly, I would not have had to ask."

She bit her lip. "There is no point."

"Now you sound like Xan."

She laughed bitterly. "Perhaps. Perhaps he has it all right."

"No, Maiyn." Kivan spoke gently. "By all means, if it is right for you, move on... find love where it feels right. But don't ignore the past and leave it hanging -- it is not fair on Xan, it is not fair on you -- and it will not be fair on Coran when he finds you."

Maiyn stared at him. "When he finds me?" she asked. "For one thing, he is likely to be dead. And if he isn't, surely he will be enjoying his own company -- or should I say, the company of a different woman every night. I am sure they will be consoling him and his tale of woe enough for him to be satisfied."

"You don't believe he'd do that."

"Don't I? We all know what he was like before, even if he tried to hide it to a degree. And anyway... I'm a Bhaalspawn, Kivan. He's better... he's better off without me."

Kivan sighed heavily, giving her one last sorrowful look. "No, Maiyn -- he's not. Not unless he decides that himself, and I don't think he would. Child of a God, you may be... but that doesn't give you the right to play with the emotions and feelings of so many around you, without a second thought to what would happen if your past catches up with you." He dropped back before she could answer, then broke away from the group as he scouted further to their right, checking the area for potential foes. He knew they'd be stopping soon, and it was almost a habit of his to check the surrounding areas thoroughly. Maiyn sighed, deciding she'd wait for him to reappear, then call a halt.

"Heya."

Maiyn barely contained a sigh. "Hey, Im."

Her sister threw her a worried look. "You okay? You seem a bit..."

"Irate?"

The thief chuckled slightly. "That's one word for it," she agreed. "Something eatin' ya?"

Maiyn shook her head, but Imoen didn't seem inclined to believe her at all. The ranger sighed. "It's just... stuff."

Imoen nodded as they continued walking. "Is it Xan?"

Maiyn gave her a surprised look. "You know?"

"No," the human grinned, "but I do now. I mean, I suspected something had happened, because the way he was sitting there, stroking your hair-"

"He was what?"

Imoen looked amused. "When we were waiting for Adalon and you'd passed out. He made a pillow for you out of cloaks and things, and then sat next to you, stroking your hair, and occasionally your cheek. I think he was caught in his own world, because he didn't seem to be noticing anyone else much."

Maiyn walked on in silence, a slight frown creasing her brow.

"So, are you gonna tell me what's happening?"

"It's... complicated," the elf admitted with a sigh. "He... he is one of my closest friends -- I mean, we're all practically a family now, and so he was able to comfort me when I lost Co... everyone. Then you were taken too, and he and Kivan found us in an inn when they arrived at the city, and... well, it just happened."

Imoen nodded. "So, it's been for a while, huh?"

Maiyn looked up to the sky and took a deep breath. "It would have been, if it was still 'going'," she said quietly. "After Brynnlaw... well, after the asylum really..."

"When you changed?"

Maiyn nodded. "He... found that hard to accept, I think. By the time we reached the Underdark he was all but completely avoiding my company. In the svirfneblin village, I tried to talk to him alone, but he seemed distant and withdrawn. It... it ended there, I think."

Imoen's eyebrow rose. "You think?"

"Well, apart from asking me to stay with him after... after the night in the drow city, he treated me like just another travelling companions again."

Imoen frowned. "Well, he certainly wasn't acting like that when you were sleepin'."

"Maybe... maybe not," sighed Maiyn. "But when I spoke to him afterwards -- when I... spoke... with Elhan..." The ranger looked at Imoen sadly. "There might have been a chance, maybe, that I didn't see -- but now... now, I doubt there's any sort of chance, at all."

"Awww, c'mon," said Imoen, putting her arm around Maiyn's shoulder and giving her a squeeze. "You can't say that for sure -- it's Xan, after all. He's hardly Mister Simple! But..."

"But?"

Imoen cleared her throat slightly and withdrew her arm. "But what about Coran?"

Maiyn tensed. "I don't want to discuss it."

Imoen looked hurt. "I'm your sister-"

"And I love you very much," interrupted Maiyn quickly, "but... but I don't know what I'm meant to say whenever anyone asks that! It's always 'But what about Coran? What about his feelings?' But he's not here, Im! He might not ever be here again!"

Imoen nodded, moving back in to console her sister again. "But don't you see, silly? That's the word everyone wants you to notice. 'Might' -- it's not 'he won't be here again', it's 'he might not be here again'. Don't you have any hope?"

Maiyn shrugged. "I wanted to," she said in a small voice. "I really did... but after everything; after seeing him lying there in the palace... looking so peaceful. I knew that was it -- it was the end. Even if he recovered, he was better with Briel and Namara."

"You know that's not the life he wants."

"Perhaps it's the life he needs."

"He needed you."

Maiyn glared at Imoen. "Are you saying I was selfish to leave?"

The thief shook her head. "I'm saying that before Sarevok, he openly admitted he needed and wanted you. Why would that have changed?"

"Because of what I am," replied Maiyn miserably.

"What? A Bhaalspawn?" Imoen snorted. "I won't let you use that as an excuse, missy! Not when I can be tarred with the same brush." The thief's eyes flickered over to Anomen, and Maiyn caught him giving her sister a slight smile. "No," Imoen continued softly. "I certainly won't let you have that as an excuse."

"Well, it's enough for Xan," the ranger pointed out.

The human rolled her eyes. "Xan could find doom in a rainbow. And you're avoiding the other topic... what are you going to do about Coran?"

The elf shrugged. "Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"No... nothing. As far as I know he's either still asleep, content with Brielbara, seducing the women of Baldur's Gate, or..."

"And you can live with that uncertainty?"

"I don't have much choice, Im."

"You do. You could go and find him, when this is done."

Someone cleared their throat behind them. The girls turned around to see Jaheira there, walking much closer to them than they'd suspected. "There may not be a need for that," the half-elf said hesitantly. Maiyn raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

"What do you mean?"

"Before we left... for Spellhold, I mean -- well, Kivan and I... we decided to write to Brielbara and ask about Coran's health. There may well be a reply for us when we reach Athkatla."

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The fire burned brightly, crackling as the dry wood caught alight, having been heaped on by Minsc and lovingly tended by Imoen straight after as the berserker and his witch discussed a rash on one of Boo's paws. Sime and Anomen were sitting beside each other, having struck an alliance with each other in the wake of the priest's resurrection -- the rogue had thanked him repeatedly, then surprised him with a large hug when she'd gathered enough strength to do so, back at the elven camp, and the knight had flushed in embarrassment. Now they were sharing tales of their very different childhoods in Athkatla; Anomen with his unsettled family life and holy path that he'd set his heart on from a young age, and Sime's upbringing with her loving and devoted father within the Shadow Thieves Guild, a dangerous environment for a mere child. Xan sat between the two conversations with a glazed expression, as the flickers of the flames cast dancing shadows across his face, and emphasised the dark circles under his eyes.

Kivan and Jaheira were standing slightly away from the others, facing Maiyn as she scowled at them.

"So," she said, her arms crossed, the fingers of her right hand drumming against her left upper arm. "When were you going to tell me that you'd sent a message to Baldur's Gate, hmm? When you got a reply? When you'd summoned Coran, himself, to meet us?"

Jaheira rolled her eyes as Kivan sighed. "It is not like that, child," the druid said sternly. "We were worried about you-"

"And instead of talking to me, you went behind my back?"

Jaheira stared at the elf. "Talk to you? Can you hear yourself? We had tried to talk to you, repeatedly! You forbid the mentioning of his name, preferring to push the past behind you, rather than dealing with it as you should!"

"And how do you propose I could have dealt with it?" demanded Maiyn angrily.

"Not running away would have been a good start!" Jaheira's eyes closed instantly after the words left her lips, and she quickly apologised. "I... I am sorry -- I did not mean-"

"No," Maiyn interrupted. "No... you are right. But I... it was too much. With everything else... it was too much."

Jaheira nodded understandingly, reaching out to take Maiyn's hands in hers. "We know, child. We know."

"You could have spoken to us, rather than shutting us out," said Kivan softly.

Maiyn took a deep breath. "I couldn't. How was I mean to talk to anyone when I couldn't even find the words for myself? Every time I looked sad, people wanted to mention him, to make me open up about it. My memories were precious to me. My thoughts on what happened... there were no words. I didn't try and push it from my mind because I was being awkward. I did it because... because I didn't know what else to do."

Jaheira pulled the elven girl into her arms, stroking her knotted hair gently. "I understand," she whispered gently. "More than you think, perhaps."

Maiyn pulled away slightly. "Because of Khalid?"

The druid nodded. "I did not talk about it because... because it was too soon. It was difficult, it was accepting it. But eventually... you have to. Otherwise, you cannot move on." She looked up to Kivan and smiled softly at him. "It is good to have friends, more so those who can understand. Then, you are never truly alone."

Maiyn pushed herself away a bit further, and looked at the pair with widened eyes. They returned her gaze with amusement. "You two… you're... tell me you're not... are you? Really? I... really?"

Kivan laughed -- it was still a sound that she was getting used to, and so she peered at him suspiciously until she noticed that Jaheira was doing likewise. She frowned.

"We are friends," Kivan assured her, smiling over to the half-elf, "but I am afraid your notions of romance are misplaced."

"Indeed," remarked Jaheira wryly. "Certainly, you would be better placed looking more closely to your own sister."

Maiyn grinned. "I thought so," she said, nodding conspiringly. "They've been throwing suggestive looks to each other regularly, thinking no one else notices."

Jaheira's face twisted as she fought away a smile. "Much like a certain Bhaalspawn and the resident enchanter, then?"

Maiyn flushed. "Not any more," she muttered.

Kivan and Jaheira shared a look. "What happened?" he asked.

Maiyn recounted the discussions in minimal detail she'd shared with Xan in the svirfneblin village and Adalon's cave, ending with a heavy sigh. Her friends regarded her sympathetically.

"Perhaps it is for the best, for now," said Jaheira quietly. "You cannot go on as it was, that is for certain."

"Especially not now," noted Kivan. "At least let us see what news, if any, there is awaiting us in the city. You need to end that chapter before you can begin a new one."

Maiyn nodded glumly. "I know. Believe me... I know." She gazed over to Xan with wistful fondness, a soft but sad smile on her lips. "It's just... hard," she whispered. As if on cue, the mage seemed to snap back into the present, raising his dark eyes to look over to her, then took in the shapes of Jaheira and Kivan too, before throwing her one last hurt gaze, and returning to the fire. Maiyn swore loudly.

"Maiyn!" Jaheira exclaimed. "How many times-" But it was useless -- the elven girl had darted away, heading over to the Greycloak and settling down beside him as he sighed.

"Xan, it's not-"

"Just go away, Maiyn," he croaked, his voice struggling with the words. "I am sure there are still others -- Sime perhaps, or maybe Anomen and Minsc -- who you have not shared your gossiping with."

"Now hold on," she replied irritably. "I'm getting rather tired of you accusing me of telling people... actually, what exactly am I meant to be telling them, hmm? It's not as if you've told me what happened when the priestess took you away, so I can't be sharing those juicy details with the group, can I? So are you afraid I'm telling them about the night we spent together, or the evenings before it when we'd steal a moment together whenever we could and try and help each other through the days?"

An uncomfortable silence hung around her final words, and she slowly looked up to see the rest of the party staring over at them. Her eyes widened in horror, and Xan visibly cringed.

"Thank you," he said at length. "Now, if you'll excuse me..." Slowly he stood up, wandering away from the fire and curling up on one of the bedrolls, his back to the rest. Maiyn allowed herself to collapse on the ground, covering her eyes with her hands as she silently screamed at herself in frustration.

"Hey, it's not that bad," came Imoen's whisper. "You could have described the night you spent together..."

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"Boo is wondering if you are all right." Maiyn smiled up to the tall berserker who was looking down on her kindly. It had been almost an hour since Xan had stalked off to his bedroll, absolutely refusing to talk to anyone who tried to approach him, but continuing to fail at achieving any rest without wakening himself up with a nightmare.

She had been sitting at the other side of the camp, watching the enchanter carefully for most of that time, only picking at the stew the Rashemeni had made. He was looking at her bowl with a frown and she shifted position, hurriedly supping some more from it. He nodded approvingly, and sat down beside her, letting Boo scurry out from one of his pockets and onto his lap.

"Minsc wanted to tell you that little Imoen has agreed to be Minsc's witch, and so Minsc and Boo's dejemma can continue as he protects glorious Dynaheir's apprentice," the berserker beamed. Boo squeaked his agreement.

Maiyn smiled back to him. "That's wonderful news, Minsc! I'm so happy for you -- and happy that Imoen will be properly looked after, as well."

Minsc nodded solemnly. "I think Knight Anomen will aid Minsc and Boo and Larry whenever possible, as Boo reckons he is quite attentive of little Imoen. Minsc thinks that the more standing against the flood of evil, the better!"

"Sir Anomen does seem to be quite attached to Imoen," agreed Maiyn with a sly smile. "I think they perhaps developed a friendship when they were left together, after Saemon betrayed them."

Minsc's face grew dark. "The evil sailing-man will answer to Minsc's righteous butt-kicking when we catch up with him, for subjecting little Imoen to danger!" As if in agreement, Boo seemed to tense and quiver angrily.

"I'm sure we'll stumble across him again," said Maiyn. "We can't seem to escape people like that, and like a bad penny, he'll show up somewhere. Those sorts always do."

"Boo has suggested that we may stumble across those who are not bad pennies," said Minsc thoughtfully. "He has reminded Minsc that these lands are where colourful Coran grew up, and it got Minsc thinking about whether we would see the other little elf again." Maiyn stared at Minsc until he raised an eyebrow. "What?" he asked.

She shook her head. "Nothing... well, it's just that... everyone is talking about Co..." She cleared her throat purposefully and scowled determinedly. "About Coran."

"He was our friend," Minsc pointed out. "Many miss him, not just little Maiyn."

She felt a lump in her throat. "I... I do miss him, yes."

"Boo thinks it is nice you have Xan to comfort you, but that the gloomy enchanter seems to be upset recently." The berserker reached out to her, providing a bridge for his rodent to scamper across, perching on Maiyn's legs as he looked up to her with his large, almond eyes.

Maiyn nodded, absent-mindedly stroking the small creatures head with one of her hands. "He has... had a lot to deal with."

"So has little Maiyn." Minsc spoke so gently that it was hard to believe a man of his size and strength could have such a tone.

She smiled to him. "We all do. I'll get through this, and I'll help my friends get through it too."

"Boo is worried about the way you are coping. He says that you seem angrier now than you were before. Minsc does not know, and has not noticed if Boo is right or not, but Minsc is worried in case it is so."

"I'm fine, Minsc, really. It's there -- I know it's there, the taint, and I can feel it sometimes, trying to wear down my patience, but I fight it. I'll never stop fighting it."

"Minsc is glad. Minsc was quite surprised when you hit the other elf. Gloomy Xan almost fainted."

Maiyn couldn't suppress her grin. "That particular elf deserved it," she muttered. "But I promise... I will keep a more careful check on my temper, especially while Irenicus has my soul."

The berserker nodded happily and allowed Boo to return to him before he stood up. "Minsc is pleased, and Boo seems to be content with that. We will stick by little Maiyn and help her to find the evil mage who has wrongfully taken her soul. But for now, Minsc and Boo must go to sleep, for little Jaheira has decided that we will take the middle watch for the evening."

Maiyn nodded and wished him good night as he lumbered off towards the bedrolls. She stretched, her limbs feeling stiff and heavy, then slowly made her own way back closer to the campfire where she deposited her bowl as Jaheira gave her a quizzical look.

"You're not hungry?"

"Not really," she replied, barely stifling a yawn. The druid grinned.

"Final watch for you, with Anomen," the half-elf informed her. "Go and sleep -- the others will waken you when it is your turn."

The ranger nodded, bidding those still awake a good night, then collapsed onto her own roll, letting her weariness wash over and claim her into the lure of reverie. Just as she faded completely from her wakened world she heard a strangled cry, and the surprise was enough to pull her back to the present, making her sit up. From her position she could see Xan twitching, a hunted look on his face. She was beside him almost immediately, watching as Kivan tried to calm him down, slowly drawing him from his nightmarish memories. When he realised where he was and what had happened again, he slumped back, defeated. Maiyn gave Kivan a concerned look, then carefully signalled for him to go. With a nod of understanding, the other ranger withdrew from the vicinity, leaving her alone beside the mage. She looked down at him determinedly.

"I might not be your favourite person right now," she said matter-of-factly, "but you're suffering every time you try to rest, and you can't go on like this." She took his hand firmly in her own, gripping tighter when he weakly tried to pull it away.

"Leave me alone, Maiyn," he protested in a whisper.

"No," she replied simply. "Look -- when I was suffering from nightmares, you showed me Evereska, do you remember? You let me into your memories, allowed me to wander your home with you. Now... now I want to do the same for you."

He opened his eyes and looked at her -- she thought she could see some hostility in his gaze, but she put it down to his fatigue and pushed it from her mind. "Share your reverie?" he asked. "And visualise exactly what you got up to with Cor-"

"No!" she snapped, louder than she intended. He stopped immediately, a flash of regret passing across his face, and he opened his mouth. She spoke before he had a chance to continue. "Let me do this -- please. If only because you will be no use in the state that you're in, and I need all the help I can get for what we're going to face."

There was a long pause, where she knelt beside him, her eyes locked to his face. He stared directly up, his dark eyes sad and sorrowful, his brow creased slightly. Then, eventually, he nodded, allowing her to lie down at his side, relaxing his hand in her grip. Tentatively she became at ease in the position, and before long she could feel his presence alongside her as she drifted back towards her reverie. The last conscious thought she had was a desperate hope that her memories would be of her childhood rather than her activities in Baldur's Gate.

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She watched as a younger version of herself -- by no more than a year -- ran down the corridor of the library building. A green skirt swirled around her legs as her mottled brown cloak billowed in her wake. Her braided black hair was unfamiliarly neat, hanging down tidily around her shoulders and settled on her crumpled tunic. Gorion had summoned her and she knew she was late -- he'd have expected her to knock by the first few peals of the bell that was ringing from one of the towers adjoining the crenellations of the wall surrounding the settlement. As it was, they'd ended more than a minute ago, and Maiyn was desperately rushing in her haste to attend to her father's summons.

She darted around one of the sharper corners, her feet landing heavily on the thick rug that covered the polished wooden floor of the landing, causing it to slip underneath her. She shrieked slightly as her balance was lost, tumbling ungracefully to the ground and landing in an untidy heap. The lingering presence of the future Maiyn was sure she could detect a weak snigger from Xan.

Swiftly, the younger girl picked herself up with a display of extremely colourful language, and proceeded in her dash towards the large oak door at the end of the passage. No one else was around -- the corridor was empty and the girl's steps echoed slightly around the bare stone walls as her feet landed on the wooden floorboards underneath. So quick was her flight that some of the lighter tapestries hanging on the walls would ripple slightly in her wake, but eventually she reached her destination. Pausing at the door and bending over slightly, she took several moments to compose herself, her breathlessness lessening slightly. A quick check down at herself, a hand smoothing her ruffled tunic while the other was raised, ready to knock.

"Come in, child."

The voice came before she could even make contact with the door, though she couldn't stop the motion once it had started. She frowned at her father's keen hearing and slowly pushed the door open, trotting into the room as her scowl became a smile. She went straight up to Gorion, who stood from his seat at the glowing fireplace, and they shared a tight embrace before he wandered over to his desk, settling himself down into the well-worn chair situated behind it, his hands automatically reaching out to shuffle some parchments around. Maiyn perched on the small stool that had become her favourite, watching him and waiting for him to speak.

"Ah Maiyn, my child," he said. He sounded tired. "I do not have time to explain just now as I have much planning to do, but we must leave Candlekeep tomorrow, before nightfall."

"But why?" The surprise was clear on the girl's face and her body seemed to have tensed.

"It is no longer wise for us to stay here," Gorion replied, a faint, wistful smile adorning his face. "You have grown into a fine young woman, my dear, and it is time for us to leave these confines. There is much of the world out there, and perhaps it is time you saw some of it."

The younger Maiyn beamed happily, jumping up from the stool in barely contained excitement as her hands clapped together in glee. "Where will we be going, father? Can we visit Tethyr? And I know Imoen would love to see Calimport! Or maybe Waterdeep!"

"Maiyn, child," Gorion said softly, suddenly looking serious. "Imoen shall not be travelling with us at this time. Winthrop has agreed that she can stay with him at the Inn until we settle some other matters."

"But..." Maiyn sat back heavily on the stool, her smile fading immediately. Her look at Gorion was a mixture of dismay and hurt.

"I know you must be saddened by this news," he continued, his voice remaining gentle and kind, "but you must trust me when I say it is for the best. You shall see Imoen again -- sooner than you imagine, I daresay -- but for now it is in everyone's best interest for her to remain here, while you and I seek out some of my old friends."

The girl nodded, seemingly appeased, though she still looked sad. "I should pack my belongings," she said quietly.

"Only pack what you will need," he advised, standing up and moving around to the front of his desk. "I trust you will know what that is, but visit Winthrop now - he will have a few things for you."

She nodded, automatically moving over to him for another hug. He sighed as they shared the embrace, his face looking older and more lined than ever before. "Oh, Maiyn," he whispered, barely audible -- the young girl in his arms made no show of having heard him, and they parted, wishing each other a good day as the younger Maiyn wandered away, subdued, closing the door behind her gently.

She seemed to be slowly heading towards the main doors of the library, but she would pause at every window and look outside, as if drinking in the sights for the last time. The views from the floor of Gorion's quarters were high enough to allow her to see over the walls of the settlement slightly, and gaze in awe at the seemingly never-ending forest that lay to the east. To the west was the boundless ocean -- though she loved to watch the sun sparkle across its surface, she'd never found it as enticing as the leafy woods, with all their potential. Eventually she reached the staircase, and she wound her way down, smiling at the monks who passed, and more often than not, gaining a warm response in return. The library itself was fairly busy that day -- she could see Karan trying to teach some of the younger students about the history of Shadowdale, though most of them looked quite bored by the lesson. Parda rushed past, wishing Maiyn a good morning as he dashed upstairs, no doubt seeking out Tethtoril or Ulraunt for something.

She moved to the large doors, thrown open to allow the sunlight to flood in, the warmth from the fair day outside providing a pleasant sensation to her bare arms. Down the stairs she went, deftly avoiding the book left on the third step. A quick look at it, and the younger Maiyn nodded knowingly, picking it up and carrying it close to her chest with her arms wrapped around it as she followed the path weaving its way through the inner gardens. She passed by the chanters, waving hello to them as they had a break from their almost constant singing, and passed through the ivy covered archway that allowed access to the western side of the settlement, near to the Candlekeep Inn.

Instead of heading towards the tavern, she wandered towards one of the many wooden staircases that provided access to the ramparts. Perched on the bottom step was an older woman, her head in her hands. She looked up as she saw Maiyn approaching and offered a weak smile. The young girl held out the book, causing a squeal of delight from her elder as she leapt to her feet giving the girl a tight hug. Maiyn grinned.

"Oh, you remind me of Gorion when you smile like that," Phlydia said wistfully, wiping at her eyes with a tissue. "Raising you has been hard on him, I know, but he says it's a toil of love... a toil of destiny even. You must be a very special child indeed to draw such praise from a man of his silent nature."

The younger girl smiled bashfully at the words, then watched the woman as she wandered away towards the library, continuing to wipe at her eyes. Maiyn made her way to the inn, carefully weaving her way between the men standing near the entrance; another set of merchants either arriving or departing, she figured, approaching the bar, where Winthrop was taking an inventory of his stock. He stopped immediately when he noticed her.

"I have somethin' for ye!" he exclaimed, signalling for her to follow him as he made his way through to his storeroom. There, lying on a table, was some leather armour and a plain helmet. He nodded at her enquiring gaze, and she hesitantly wandered over to them, quickly glimpsing in the mirror as she passed it. With the innkeeper's aid, she hoisted the armour on, learning about the various straps and catches, then allowed him to place the helmet over her head. She returned her gaze to the mirror, emotionlessly staring at her reflection as she shifted around uncomfortably. Winthrop held out something for her -- and the younger girl accepted it, pulling a gleaming sword free from its sheath.

"I doubt ye'll need it lass,' he said, trying to sound assuring, "but if anything happened, I'd never forgive mysel' for letting ye leave these walls unprepared."

She nodded her thanks, and asked if Imoen was around. Winthrop laughed heartily, explaining that the young human wasn't allowed to leave the inn until she'd cleaned every one of his rooms, as part of her punishment for picking the locks on the inn's doors, leaving the guests to think that their keys were faulty, or that some treacherous magic was afoot. Maiyn grinned and left the tavern, continually fidgeting with her armour as she followed the path around to the north. Before long she reached the cowsheds, and a familiar voice called out.

"Hey there!"

"Hi, Dreppin," she smiled, looking over to the cattle herder.

He was smiling as he approached, but slowly it faded from his face as his bright green eyes registered her new clothing and the scabbard hanging at her side. He ran one hand through his unruly golden hair when he paused before her, and let out a small sigh.

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Something wrong?"

"No... well... no, it's nothing really."

"Dreppin..."

"It's just Nessa," he shrugged, coughing slightly. "She's a bit off colour, and... well, you know how it is." He was staring at her armour, a sadness in his eyes. The young Maiyn looked at him with slight confusion.

"Did Hull's antidote not work?" she asked, puzzled. "Last eve, you said that it had been quite successful."

He frowned slightly. "Yes. I mean, it was, and it worked, but... still. The whole incident has taken it out of her, you know -- she's not as young as she once was, and she needs to rest and recover."

Maiyn nodded slowly at him, then offered a smile. "How are you, anyway?" she asked.

He merely shrugged. "Been better."

"You're ill?" she asked, full of concern.

"Ye... well, no. Look, I should-"

"Maiyn!" The young girl groaned as Reevor's voice boomed across the yard towards her. "I thought I asked ye te finish this 'ere storeroom yesterday!"

"Just coming!" she called back, rolling her eyes slightly and looking apologetically to Dreppin. "I won't be long," she assured the young man, "I promise."

He nodded as she wandered off, and Maiyn watched as her younger self began to chase the rodents away from the storeroom with a broom, doing her best not to kill them, despite Reevor's clear instructions. The image faded slightly, returning as she exited the store and wandered back towards the barns. There was no sign of Dreppin, and the young girl frowned slightly. With a helpless shrug, she turned away and headed back to the library. Settling in the inner gardens, she closed her eyes in the familiar pose Maiyn had adopted, where she prayed to Fenmarel for the days ahead. She was interrupted by the chanters, whom she smiled at briefly. They wandered off as she received a nudge to her side, and she looked up to see Tethtoril, looking down upon her sadly.

"You are leaving tomorrow, child." He spoke quietly. "You have learned much in your time here, and I am sure Gorion is proud of you - as am I. Listen well to him, Maiyn, for without knowledge, life is a mere shadow of death, and your foster father is a very wise man." He offered a brief, wistful smile, then moved away. As she watched the whole scene, the older Maiyn was sure she saw him reach up to his eyes with a single hand, delicately wiping away a tear.

The memory jumped again, and Maiyn watched as her younger self hugged Hull goodbye and waved back to the Gatewarden as Gorion strode along the rocky trail that led towards the forest. She had to move quickly to keep up with him, deftly avoiding the rocks and holes in the path and pausing when he left the road, making his way through the trees. He looked back to her.

"Come, child -- it will be dark soon enough, and we must reach the Friendly Arms Inn."

"Is leaving the road... wise?" she ventured, hesitantly making her way after him. He chuckled softly.

"It is a more direct route, and we are less likely to encounter danger this way," he said, causing her to stare at him. "It should take us less time to reach our destination this way. My old friends, Jaheira and Khalid, are there -- should anything happen to me, you must head for the inn and seek out their assistance."

"Why would anything happen, father?" the young girl was frowning with worry.

Gorion chuckled. "My dear Maiyn, the roads are dangerous with bandits and other foes. It is likely we shall face some hostility, but in the worst case, you must get to Jaheira and Khalid, do you understand?" His voice was serious enough for her to nod solemnly as she continued to follow him. He seemed to relax slightly, satisfied that she'd grasped the importance of the matter, and his eyes drifted over her belongings to settle on her bow.

"That is a remarkable weapon," he noted casually. The girl flushed slightly. "It is unlike any I've seen Winthrop trading in, and nor did he mention that you'd bought one from him."

She cleared her throat slightly. "I found it one day, with this cloak." Her hand went out to point at the rather worn and long cloak, which had been tailored for someone much taller than she. "I thought I'd have a quick go with it, to see what it was like, and I'm actually quite good!" There was a twinge of pride in her voice.

"Really?" the sage asked, his eyes twinkling slightly. "And where do you practice, my dear child? I know the guard of Candlekeep make no allowances for any such activities in the settlement..."

She coughed in the uncomfortable silence that followed. "I... I sometimes managed to get outside," she said meekly. "I'd play around at the edge of the forest and use it there."

"And, pray tell, how did you achieve such acts of escapism?"

"I'd sneak out and in with the people arriving and departing," she said abashedly. Gorion nodded.

"And yet, you never once mentioned this to me," he noted quietly. "That, in itself, is somewhat disappointing -- I'd have expected it from Imoen, roguish as she is, but from you... no." The girl held her head low in shame as they continued, Gorion saying no more on the matter. The scene changed, and it became dark. The older Maiyn, looking on at her memory, felt the foreboding and fear welling up, but there was nothing she could do. Helplessly she watched as the two figures made their way into a clearing, several stone circles rising from the ground eerily. Her younger self was looking at them curiously as Gorion continued on, causing the young girl to run to try and catch up. She ended up walking into his arm, staring at him with concern as he frowned into the darkness.

"Wait - there is something wrong," he said quietly. A shadow moved ahead of them, and the bushes rustled noisily. Gorion reached for his pouch of components. "We are in an ambush! Prepare yourself, child!"

The younger girl stumbled back as she tried to find her own space, and her hands were visibly shaking as she fumbled around the hilt of her sword, waiting for whatever it was to manifest itself. Two ogres loomed out of the darkness first, immense frames and insanely tall. Between them was Tamoko, the slender girl wielding a large flail, her face covered by some type of helmet. And then, by her side...the most frightening figure of them all; a heavily armoured figure, almost as tall as the ogres themselves, and cloaked in darkness, save for the yellow light of his eyes. The younger Maiyn looked terrified -- Gorion looked determined.

"You are perceptive for an old man," said a deep voice. "You know why I am here. Hand over your ward and no one will be hurt. If you resist it shall be a waste of your life."

"You're a fool if you believe I would trust your benevolence," stated Gorion calmly. "Step aside and you and your lackeys will be unhurt."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, old man," said the armoured figure, the voice full of threat.

A flash momentarily lit up the scene as Gorion's magic got to work, targeting the ogres and knocking the woman. As the armoured figure and the injured ogres closed in on Gorion he turned to the young girl. "Run! Run child, get away while you can!"

The young Maiyn seemed to hesitate initially, but a shared look with her father was enough to make her act. She stumbled back a few steps as the ogres fell, and Gorion drew his weapon to go head to head with the man. She turned and started to run, reaching the undergrowth before she looked back. The older Maiyn watched on, just as helplessly, as Gorion staggered, felled by the blade of the attacker.

No... sobbed the elder Maiyn, trying to pull herself from the memory. The scene faded, and slowly everything went black -- all that lingered was the feeling of another presence beside her, offering comfort and sympathy for the plight. Xan...