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

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Spectators

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He didn't have to turn around to know she was there. It irritated him slightly; he had not invited her to join him, and he most certainly was not in the mood for her company. Yet she came regardless, as if she had not a care in the world.

And it seemed as if she was right to feel that way; the matters that he knew she watched as closely as he did, were tilting in favour of Hanali's wishes, and he seemed to be unable to stop her interference.

"What makes you think I'm somehow behind these developments?" she asked. His frown deepened at her blatant display of reading his emotions.

"You've meddled before," he pointed out.

"As have you," she countered, smiling delightedly at him as she sat atop a moss covered rock beside him. He almost willed it to fade away in the height of the chaos swirling around him, but he refrained himself. He would not be the one who resorted to petty tricks!

"You speak of things you do not understand," he shrugged, unable to deny it. Obviously it was known to Hanali that he'd visited Maiyn in her dream, but he wondered how much the goddess had managed to discover about what happened. He would have no part in revealing anything to her that she did not already know; he was tired of her curiosity.

"I understand enough," she cooed, tutting softly as she shook a finger at him as if he had been a naughty child. "Corellon does not think we should be involving ourselves in the mortal matters."

"I am aware," he replied stiffly. "Though anything I may have done may not surprise him as much as your antics regarding the dead."

She laughed. "Really, now... Coran has only been dead on one occasion, and even you have to admit that his story couldn't end there..."

Fenmarel shrugged. He had nothing against the elf, really -- it was his patron goddess' antics that infuriated him, and as long as his own follower was happy...

"Look at it this way," Hanali purred, leaning slightly closer to him. "Would you rather your delightful little Bhaalspawn chose my loyal worshipper as her own... or would you rather she gave herself to Corellon's choice, and you had his keen eye even closer to you than it is now, hmm?"

He clenched his teeth with aggravation. She was right, of course; the only way to prevent the ranger's closeness to Hanali's follower was to guide her into the arms of the enchanter -- something Fenmarel would not have hesitated to do, especially with the child involved, but...

His relationship with Corellon was testing, at the best of times. They could not see eye to eye for long, and neither would sacrifice their pride to make the first move towards reconciliation. That was why he was here, in his own plane in the heart of Limbo, rather than with the others in Arvandor...

But he didn't mind that at all. His nature felt more at home here, and he welcomed those of his People to his domain who shared his sentiments. Not all kin were destined for the same fates.

"I would rather she had the freedom to choose her own heart," he replied simply, moving away. When he turned around, she was watching him with curious eyes.

"Would you really?" she asked. "What makes you think it would turn out any differently to how it is?"

"Knowing you had no involvement in manipulating their actions would be good enough for me," he growled. "Then, at least, I would know she acted for her own interest."

Hanali gave him an exaggerated hurt look. "You really believe that I'd interfere in your own flock?" she asked. "I am disappointed in your view of me... I have not once touched Maiyn's emotions or thoughts."

Fenmarel scowled. "Perhaps... perhaps not. But you have played with the feelings and the nature of one she is close to. You cannot make people love each other -- I had thought that you of all people would know that."

Her face turned serious. "I do," she said quietly. "You may think what you want of my motives and actions, for they are mine alone to understand in full. Regardless... I have offered only the smallest of hints and guidance to Coran, and the rest has been for him to work out himself."

Fenmarel shook his head. "It is not only you," he stated suddenly, deciding to voice the thoughts he'd had these past few weeks. "The other Seldarine were quick to inform me of Maiyn's worship, which naturally made me curious with regards to her. Great things have been spoken about, and we know, in part, what lies in store for all those around her."

"We do," Hanali agreed.

"And so, suddenly, she meets with three more elves; each very different to her, and each having their own way of life thrown into complete chaos as fate is moulded into the liking of their particular deity, just so their paths cross hers..."

Hanali smirked slightly. "You truly believe that we intended for our favoured to come together as such?"

Fenmarel laughed. "Favoured? So you finally admit to it; your own, I already knew, but the others... Tell me. What was it about the quiet male ranger and the sombre enchanter that drew such attentions from Sehanine and Corellon, himself?"

Hanali's smile grew. "The ranger was not always devoted to Sehanine," she pointed out. "He followed your own protégé for a while..."

Fenmarel raised an eyebrow. "Then you are saying Shevarash was involved in this?" He laughed louder this time. "That is almost as unthinkable as Corellon plotting with me."

"No one plotted anything," Hanali shrugged. "Sehanine spied a chance to let Shevarash's worshipper redeem himself in the eyes of the Seldarine, so he would be welcomed to Arvandor when his time came-"

"And she did not expect it to be so soon, I wager," Fenmarel noted.

"And Corellon... well, he does so like those who embrace the Weave," Hanali reasoned, ignoring his interruption. "The elf from Evereska is powerful, with much promise and potential to be had. It is only natural that Corellon's eye rests on him from time to time."

"And you still expect me to believe that it is purely coincidence that they all found Maiyn?" Fenmarel asked. "I have noticed the threads of Fate becoming strained -- the glow around the elf known as Kivan was so bright that I wondered if even the mortals could see it."

Hanali remained silent.

"He was not meant to lose his wife that night, was he? They were not meant to be ambushed -- but that was what was needed to ensure he found the drive; the purpose, to hunt the bandits, to secure his joining with Maiyn?"

The goddess looked away.

"The glow around the wizard was less, but still quite bright. I wonder; what aspect of his fate was changed to put him in his current position? Was he meant to travel with others to investigate Nashkel? Was he perhaps meant to go somewhere else entirely?" Fenmarel paused, and frowned thoughtfully. "Perhaps your influence is rubbing off on your lover," he said coolly, "so that Father Corellon has the same designs regarding his favoured and the notable elven Bhaalspawn..."

Hanali snorted. "Ridiculous," she said.

"Any more ridiculous than your own games?" he asked. "Admittedly, the glow around Coran is much, much fainter... but still, something was changed; and you don't deny any of this, even if you do try to ridicule my notions. I spend a lot of time here in Limbo, remember, alone. It gives me plenty of time to... think."

She just smiled at him. "You can suspect what you wish," she purred, her flirtatious tone back. "Your imagination is good, I'll credit that to you... but I did not come here to discuss your fantasies."

"Then why did you come here?" he demanded.

"To watch the finale with you, of course!" she exclaimed. "The others are intrigued as well, you know, but... they're not as much fun as you or I. They think that Ao is right, and it'd be dreadfully bad manners to involve themselves beyond idle curiosity any more. We... we think differently."

He glared at her. "I did not ask you to come here."

"You are not asking me to leave, either," she pointed out. "Be a sport! Let us enjoy what we are to witness in each other's company. We have waited for this for so long."

Fenmarel thought for a few moments. "I will agree," he said quietly. "On one condition." She raised an eyebrow. "You take away all the influence you have on Coran, and let them decide for themselves what they do when this is over."

She seemed to hesitate; but then she nodded slowly and closed her eyes, murmuring softly under hear breath. A golden sheen seemed to glisten on her skin for a few moments, and then it winked out of existence, and she smiled up to him.

"It was merely a precaution," she said lazily, stretching her arms into the air as a scrying mirror formed before them with a perfect picture of the group. "We both know that the decision from both of them will be the same, regardless."

Fenmarel grunted. They'd soon find out.