I hereby present the scene I believe is most missed from NWNII, at least for the female PC. Fangirls will surely agree (wink).

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Confrontations

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Crossroad Keep was hardly much of a challenge for a practiced thief.

Sure, there was treasure to be found in the vaults, sure, there were some trinkets to be picked off from the newly-rebuild church and the tower of that mage who claimed to have come from Sigil itself, but after all that Nell had done for her, Neeshka felt the slightest bit uncomfortable about stealing from her. Nowadays, Nell herself wasn't the poorest person in Faerun, though she made a point of hiding her general funds from the rest of her party.

But as the sun elf never declined to buy something that was necessary or something that her companions really wanted (if they had the gold for it) even that wasn't reason enough to make Neeshka want to take a trip to the captain's quarters and turn them upside-down. The entire party was now outfitted with new armor and equipment, which was a far cry from the rags and rusty weapons they had come along with. The tiefling herself was now sporting brand-new leather armor that would have made even an arcane trickster envious, a new dagger and a lovely set of potions and thief's tools, not that she had much of a need for them.

Still, life at the keep was peaceful, if boring. At least the tavern was now getting livelier, with that new bard and dancer they had managed to recruit back in Neverwinter. Shame that Nell had explicitly stated that she didn't wish for thieves in her keep – and that if they were to appear, the tiefling would be the prime suspect. Neeshka had grinned, though obviously, Nell had meant what she said.

It was a gradual change; Neeshka had met the she-elf months ago, before the words "King of Shadows" had any kind of meaning for either of them, let alone the capacity to inspire fear. Back then, it had been only her, Nell and Khelgar, who was still as loud and thickheaded (and annoying) as ever. The Terrible Two, Nell had called them at times when they argued a little too pettily, a bit too much. It always succeeded in irking the tiefling, though she always let it go, knowing but never admitting that Nell was partially right.

The Nell she had met had been overly eager to prove her worth, confident about her own ability to reach the top and viewed the new world around her with enthusiastic eyes, even if she was slightly condescending at times if someone couldn't do what she could, prone to fireball death threats when someone acted irresponsibly or when her spell fizzled because someone distracted her and remained wary of changing her rural ways for those of the big city.

Once, Nell had said that her wish was that her actions have true significance.

Nowadays, Nell thrived much less to raise her status – which, now that she was an honorary member of the Neverwinter Nine, was almost impossible – and lost most of her sheer fascination that had once come from exploration. The amount of the threats she truly meant lessened now that a single meaningful look from the poised Knight Captain was enough to silence most. Likewise, she rarely wore wizard robes these days, choosing instead the comfortable armor of the Nine. As her spells no longer had a tendency to fizzle when emotion (usually annoyance) overrode her focus, she could allow herself the slight hindrance of her magic. She had begun to specialize in Evocation, though she continued to study all schools of magic the best she could.

But service to Neverwinter and the threat of death always at her heels had begun to drain Nell of her initial vitality. She had gone from eager mageling to somber knight in about a year and at times, only the will to survive this was keeping her going, Nasher and his city be damned. It was a matter of having greater chances in a keep with lovely high stone walls and an army at her beck and call than alone in the wilderness. It was also one of the reasons that convinced everyone that staying was in their best interests.

Neeshka didn't mind staying, boredom aside. Besides, where would she go if she left? Back to the slums of Neverwinter? Not a chance. Besides, the Watch likely already knew her face, though she had tried to be as invisible as possible while watching Nell's trial in the throne room of Castle Never.

Heck, she had made that little bet with Nell to cheer the elf up, but succeeded only in triggering some annoyance! The wizard needed a break from all of these duties, clearly, hopefully involving some drinks and gold and fun.

The only thing that could be done for fun in the keep itself was playing ghost. Neeshka found it very amusing at times. She'd sneak around and make a soldier or two think they heard footsteps behind them, when in fact she had deliberately broken her stealth only for a moment to allow them to hear it. Today, she wasn't actually searching for victims, but she had to have her half an hour of practice. Not that she needed it, mind you, being the greatest thief in Neverwinter and all that (likewise, she doubted that if the challenge was taking place nowadays, Nell would be as happy to help her with it as she had been back then, annoyance at the appearances of yet a new set of thugs that wanted to kill the tiefling aside) but tarnished skills were of no use to anyone and the tiefling planned to be ready when she needed them.

Sensing steady footsteps of a deliberate, light pace in a corridor a few meters behind her, the tiefling leapt into the shadows, waiting to see who she could avoid or follow this time.

It was Nell – fully clothed in her new Neverwinter Nine tunic, looking somewhat more serious than usual. In fact, Neeshka could almost compare the young elf's expression to what could almost always be seen in Casavir´s eyes; duty and despair. That was wrong; Nell never despaired. Not even when faced with Luskan trickery. She panicked at times, yes, but despair? Never.

The sword on her hip seemed almost too large, due to its unusual shape, its edges sharp like the features of its bearer, who kept a hand on its hilt at times, as if to remind herself that it was there, a part of her, a weapon that only she could wield.

"Wha-?"

The elf couldn't see the movement, but Neeshka certainly saw the hand that had enclosed around Nell's wrist before it did so and yanked the wizard into the shadowy corridor leading to the storage rooms. In the absence of a quartermaster, this part of the keep was mostly deserted.

The moment they were completely out of sight of anyone but Neeshka, who still remained unnoticed, Nell's wrist was released and the elf hissed: "Just what in the Nine Hells do you think you're doing?!"

Elven nightvision kicking in, apparently, Nell was able to recognize her "abductor" before Neeshka did, which was an almost admirable feat in the barely lit corridor. The rogue herself managed to do so a few seconds later, her surprise much more of the "slightly stunned" category than Nell's brief flame of righteous anger. Of course, she probably should have expected it to be Bishop; no one else in the Keep would dare manhandle Nell. And that meant no one – if not due to the fear of the captain's own powers and increasingly steadier sword arm, then because of the consequences either from Kana or either of the two men that were – willingly or not – watching the she-elf's every step.

Besides, no one could make a simple command sound like a very impertinent mocking leer quite like the ranger. "Shut up and listen, captain." The man had some nerve – or, in Neeshka's personal not-so-humble opinion, too little sense – because he was practically growling at Nell. Another thing on the list of Things You Don't Do To Neliel Imladris.

And the knight had also noticed that the line had been crossed, because judging by the tone of her voice, her eyes had narrowed dangerously. "In case you haven't noticed, there's a lieutenant meeting about to start and as captain, I have to go there." Usually, Nell's own mockery of someone was on a lighter note. Not now. "I doubt anything you have to say has anything to do with that."

But any kind of attempt to escape after tossing such a response to the ranger was in vain, because Bishop had effectively backed Nell into the wall and grabbed her arm easily when she tried to move past him. Neeshka didn't think it was mere luck; the ranger had been expecting such a reaction. This was no random encounter; somehow, she got the impression that Bishop had this planned, as there was an air of deliberateness about it all.

"You might be surprised." the ranger said then, sounding somewhat more serious. That confirmed Neeshka's hunch – anyone else would have been dodging arrows by now if they replied in such a fashion. And whatever else he might be, the tiefling could admit that Bishop was a precise archer. Now was the time to remain as soundless as possible if she wanted to see what was going on. "But I'd watch that tone of yours, before you turn into another firecracker like our academy bar wench."

Neeshka sensed it – she had learned to do so, being a prime target of Nell's occasional fits of annoyance – the moment when Nell carefully considered whether or not she would be forced to resort to violence. But in this care, it seemed to be a very easy decision. Nothing short of killing would likely stop Bishop, and even that was just a theory. Besides, if she wanted to maintain peace in the keep, there was little she could do other than verbal sparring. But Nell, in her slight gloom, seemed to discard that option quickly.

The hidden tiefling found that unnerving. Neliel Imladris, backing off from a verbal duel – with Bishop, whom she could likely best in her sleep in a duel of words – was unheard of.

"Fine, just… just make it quick, will you?" the sun elf almost sighed.

It was a profound victory and Neeshka was positively certain that the ranger saw it. "Look, war's gonna hit this place soon and hard." he said firmly, but it seemed just the beginning of a speech he had prepared. Neeshka wasn't certain what was more unlikely – Nell backing down from a verbal duel or Bishop weighing words. The only certainty was that she intended to listen to this, no matter what.

"What an eloquently put observation." Though she used more complex words, it was a bit unnerving to hear just how close Nell's tone was to Bishop's usual mocking drawl. What the intention behind that was, Neeshka couldn't guess. "Anything else I haven't known since forever?" she made another move to sidestep him, only to be halted again.

The ranger's eyes flashed dangerously, a look that would have made anyone saner than Khelgar back away slowly, but whatever venom he had to spit out, he swallowed it. If that wasn't a sign that this was going to be a question and Nell's answer mattered greatly, Neeshka didn't know what was.

"I can guide us out of here. just you and me, that's what I'm saying." Comprehension drawled across Nell's partly illuminated face. The hidden tiefling was practically frozen now. Now she had seen - heard - everything. That tone... he was imploring Nell to go. Gods help them, now it was serious. "We'll be miles away before you're even missed."

Neeshka herself was almost petrified. At first, she had been only mildly shocked that the grip of the ranger's hands on both Nell's forearms (to prevent her from even trying to get away this time) seemed rather gentler than one would expect from Bishop (though she was pretty sure that if he were consciously aware of the fact, he would correct that mistake immediately), but now, watching that scum try to convince Nell to abandon the keep – to elope with him… not that the tiefling thought even for a moment that Nell, one of the most sensible people she knew, would do such a thing with Bishop, of all people, but still…

It was an unnerving image. Almost as unnerving as the conviction in the ranger's voice.

And the worst thing was that Neeshka knew he spoke the truth: Nell, too, wasn't a complete novice when it came to scouting paths through the wilderness, and it had always been Bishop who got their group through the worst of marshes and forests. Without a large group trailing behind them, if only the two of them were to leave with a head start…

If they didn't want to be found, not even all of the armies of Neverwinter would be able to locate them before it was too late.

"To run away on the eve of battle?" The tiefling felt fear stab into her momentarily. She had expected Nell to reject it in some witty mockery of his words; instead, she was only repeating the meaning of them, but not entirely contemptuously. She seemed to be weighing the possibilities of such an escape. It did nothing to calm Neeshka. "Throw everything away?"

But the ranger had no patience for it. Neeshka understood things now. He was saying that they were to leave right away. This really was a planned thing!

"Ah, Neliel, cut the crap." Bishop said roughly, mercilessly, looking the elf right in the eyes. "We both know you hang the halo when it suits you. Besides, all you'd abandon is a doomed fort and a bunch of worthless fools. You know I'm right." The worst thing was, he was certain of it; and not without reason. Nell, for all her goodness, had a tendency to be pragmatic about things. Unless there was a reward for her trouble or the situation of a person truly brought out pity in her (which was far more difficult than it sounded) she was unlikely to aid someone just out of the goodness of her heart.

The prime example of that had been during Shandra's kidnapping by the githyanki. Nell back then was entirely unlike what she was normally. She had been cold, calculating, not even sparing the dead of Ember a look, much less pitying that girl, Alaine, her name was, when she had surfaced from the wreckage. At Neeshka's urging, she had aided the "heist of the century"; out of annoyance at the distinct unhelpfulness of the mage's academy, she had released several crates of imps.

There was a potential for danger in Neliel, whether she herself realized it or not.

Bishop obviously saw it. Perhaps that had triggered his uncanny interest in the she-elf; Neeshka didn't really see what else he might find… stimulating in a woman who practically exemplified everything he hated.

"They do say rats flee the sinking ship first." Nell remarked, putting Neeshka at ease a bit – her tone was sharp again, normal.

She didn't see whether Bishop sneered or growled at that, though his reply seemed a mixture of both. "You need to learn better insults, girl."

"That doesn't make it any less true." Nell said adamantly. It seemed that she was finally realizing that she was still trapped and that the insistent eyes of the ranger were too close for her liking; Neeshka saw her tense.

"So what does that make you, then, little elf?" Whether it was the slight tremor of tension that triggered the taunt or not, but Bishop didn't appear to be swayed in the least. Quite the contrary, it seemed, because anyone else would have met the wrong end of a fireball at the use of such a nickname. And the tiefling really wondered why Nell hadn't used a spell or two the first time she had been grabbed - it would cause no permanent damage if she took care. "Certainly not the dove the paladin sees you as."

"That has nothing to do with this or with us."

It was a slip, a wrong move. "So it's "us", now?" Bishop's sneer was back in place, wider and brighter than ever. Triumphant, even. Nell seemed to pale. "See, this is what I'm talking about. You're smarter than the rabble you're letting cling to your ankles. Kick them off while there's still tile – or, better yet, let me do it."

Now that she thought about it, if she chucked a dagger at him now, there was a chance that she could stab the insufferable idiot, Neeshka wondered. She had wanted to do this before, of course, but never had the thought been so vicious. I mean, rabble clinging to her ankles? That was low, even for him.

"So you can ditch me in the wilderness once you get tired of me?" At least Nell hadn't yet lost control of her logic, though her subconscious slip had been very untimely. "Despite my being passionately in love with you, that seems just a bit below my intellectual level."

"You'd survive." He wasn't even denying it; it would have been a greater lie to try. But such words were great praise from Bishop, who never complimented anyone or anything. He clearly really wanted Nell to go through with this. "And ask yourself what's more likely: this keep falling or death in the wild?"

"Tell me one thing. If you're so eager to turn tail and run, why are you wasting time with me?" Neeshka wondered that too, actually. Of course she knew that Bishop had an interest in Nell – that was common knowledge – but then again, Bishop had an interest in anything with two legs and any hint of breasts, apparently. Nevertheless, it was highly doubtful that any other female keep was about to receive this once-in-a-lifetime kind of offer.

"Am I wasting time?" The ranger drawled vaguely, dodging the question by turning it against her. that was never a good sign. "You seem to be playing for time yourself."

"I'm only curious. But I guess I was just imagining things." the captain shook her head, as if purging an inane thought. It made Neeshka wonder what exactly she believed to have imagined. "You are too… yourself to be anything else." Again, she tried to get away, but the grip of the ranger's hands seemed to tighten. Either it was not the answer he intended to take or he, too, wanted Nell to explain that remark. But this time, the sun elf looked him in the eyes, hard. A warning. "Let go, Bishop. You knew my answer before the question even came to your mind."

Something in her eyes had an effect on the ranger, who released her with a slight shove, which had no effect, her being backed up against the wall. It seemed more as if he wanted to tear at the fabric of her sleeves in anger, but refused himself such a lapse of control. Instead, he gave a half-snort, looking at her with some contempt.

"Thought as much. You've grown too fond of being in charge of people. Now they'll pay you back by dragging you down and drown you in the ocean of this war. You could have made it out on your own." Bishop and metaphors? Something was seriously wrong.

"To flee forever like a criminal? To never know when death by the hand of a Shadow Reaper might come for me?" Nell repeated, shaking her head again with stranger resolution. "I'm living on borrowed time already. I won't throw all I've suffered away for more pain."

"Seems like someone has enjoyed their one day as a paladin a little too much. You're already acting like a bloody martyr." It should have been a mocking sneer, his expression, but there was a raw anger in it that Bishop couldn't deny. His frustration at Nell's behavior was only magnified by his obvious hatred of the very word "paladin".

"This isn't about martyrdom. It's about paying back debts."

At the mention of debts, venom crept into the ranger's glance, but only for a moment, and it wasn't an anger that the she-elf had provoked. It was an older hatred, deep, rooted even deeper. "What has Neverwinter ever done for you, Knight-Captain?"

"Not Neverwinter." Nell denied. "I'm paying back the King of Shadows. He made me what I am. Everyone has to answer for their mistakes one day."

That response succeeded in stunning even Bishop into speechless silence for a few blessed seconds before he glared at the captain, but there was only the slightest touch of a kind of sadistic glee in the glance. "You're mad, Neliel."

"Undoubtedly." Nell nodded without missing a beat, unblinkingly staring up at him from her lesser height. "I was half a mind to accept the first time you made this offer."

Silence. Neeshka almost broke her stealth on accident, so great was her shock. Fortunately, neither of the pair seemed to notice. Perhaps only Bishop was aware of them being much too close for comfort, as Nell's full will was obviously focused on maintaining her steadfast view on the matter.

The first time?! What first time?! When? And the worst thing was that she wouldn't even be able to interrogate Nell about this, as no one was supposed to know this, most likely.

Strangely, though, the ranger didn't take advantage of those facts. Instead, he truly released her this time, stalking off into the shadows of the corridor. "Come see me when you come back to your senses."

"You mean you're staying?" Nell called after him with distinct surprise. She had been expecting this to be a one-time offer.

Obviously, it was not, because Bishop took the time to stop and flash the captain another of his collection of leers fashioned precisely for such occasions. "There's plenty of ways to show your gratitude, captain. And who knows? Maybe that's the last bit of convincing you need."

"In your dreams, Bishop." Nell firmly proclaimed, accenting each word.

"And such good dreams they are, too."

It was only after the ranger had vanished in the shadows and Nell walked past her - presumably to the meeting - that Neeshka noticed something. The elf had a heavier walk now than her usual near-floating, as if another keep had fallen on her shoulders. Or as if she had passed some kind of trial through serious self-suppression. And Neeshka really, really hoped that it was the torchlight playing tricks on her senses, because Nell had decidedly not blinked back something that looked suspiciously like angry tears.