A/N: Continuing the rewrite.

Disclaimer: I do not own Neverwinter Nights, the characters or any of the locations mentioned herein. I own Elowayen and all the insanity that comes with her.

-o-

Valen stood at the entrance of the cave, arms crossed and on guard. He surveyed the terrain around him, aware of the slightest noise and movement in the shadows. The avariel, while vacant and numb to their surroundings, were still not completely safe. Valen knew firsthand the kind of devastation a madman could cause, and as the most seasoned warrior present refused to allow such harm to befall his compatriots.

Elowayen and Nathyrra murmured in low voices behind him as they prepared their camp. It had been a shock to find a drow camp so close to the Boatman's dock; Elowayen barely had time to draw her sword before they were upon her. Valen had barreled in, angry that she had gotten herself caught in such an obvious trap-

Only to gape in slight astonishment as she danced through the drow's weapons, her shield raised to block the arrows fired by the Red Sister assassins. Behind him, the kobold began to chant and magic began to flow; Valen felt it flood his body, felt a rush of vitality and strength that had everything to do with that lizard's gods-damned lute. He grinned madly and raised his flail's haft to block a blow from one of the warriors- any aid was welcome in battle, no matter how... odd the source.

A shadow darted around the edges of the battle; as Devil's Bane tore through the drow's skull, Valen saw that it was Nathyrra. She flickered in and out of sight, her twin blades alight with a sickly green glow that he recognized as her favorite poison.

It wasn't until after the battle was over that Valen and the new Savior had clashed. She commanded Deekin to raid the corpses of anything of value and use before she turned to Valen and Nathyrra and demanded to see to their wounds. Nathyrra obligingly seated herself and allowed Elowayen to heal her with softly glowing hands. Valen, however, scoffed at her order and drank a healing potion instead- something that infuriated the druid no end.

-o-

"I didn't want you hurt!" she shouted. "That was the whole point to my healing you!"

"Potions heal just as well as magic," he sneered derisively. "I fail to see how you could be better."

"Because potions rush!" she snapped, eyes full of fire. "If someone were to land a blow on you now, you would be injured worse than before you drank that gods-damned thing-

"Boss!"

"Not now, Deekin. You can lecture me later." she barked over her shoulder. Eyes back on Valen, she continued as if she hadn't just been scolded by a lizard. "I don't rush my healings, and make certain that everything is fully healed before stopping. Potions rush the healings, and you can and will be worse for wear if you rely on them so completely!"

"You have nothing to fear, my lady," the contempt in his voice made the title sound like a slur. "Your warriors will be in fit condition for you to command, have no fear-"

"Chauntea's teats, this isn't about my command!" she shouted, hands on her hips. "This is about making certain my companions are safe! I will not have you injured, do you understand me? If that means I have to knock you unconscious to fully heal you, I will, and there is nothing you can do to change my mind!"

He told himself later that it was the challenge in her eyes and stance that caused the demon to react, that it was the threat to incapacitate him.

He found his hand wrapped around her throat, a snarl deep in his throat as he pressed her against the crates left in the drow camp. He forced her down, teeth bared, until she was bent backwards underneath him. He burned with the desire to force her to submit, to make her bow and realize her place was not in front of him but behind. Valen did not follow, he lead, and this little elf would learn her place soon enough.

Bits of hair escaped her braid and clung to her skin, clammy with sweat from the battle. One of her hands gripped his wrist, the other pinned above her head by his other hand. He was surprised to see that instead of fear, her eyes blazed anger and a calculating gleam. "So, this is how the great general controls his troops then, is it?" she breathed, her voice a mere whisper that carried to all corners of the cavern. "By fear and wounded pride? You forget, tiefling, that I am no soldier. I am a druid, and battles for dominance are ones I know well. You will not force me to bend, and I will not submit!"

He had missed the glow of her hands until it was too late. She released her magic with a feral scream, a fiery blast that knocked him to the ground. With a snarl he regained his feet, only to find her on her feet as well. He watched her discard her sword, shield and bow through lidded eyes, watched as she stripped off her armor until she was in a tunic and leggings.

"If you want this, so be it." her voice was still that quiet whisper. "No weapons, no armor, no magic. To use any of the three means forfeit and surrender."

"I accept." he hissed in reply, his hands already at the clasps of his armor.

"Boss, this not right!" Deekin squeaked behind her. "We is in bad place, no time for kissy fights!"

"Deekin, Nathyrra, stand guard." Elowayen ignored the kobold's advice, her gaze focused solely on the weapons master. "If you need help, say so now and I will summon an elemental before we begin."

"The Seer will not appreciate this, Valen, Elowayen," Nathyrra cautioned from her perch atop the crates. "This is folly, even for you two-"

"So do not tell her, Nathyrra." Elowayen replied softly, her eyes alert as Valen stripped himself of his armor.

Her initial analysis of him was correct. He was well-built, his muscles visible under the fabric of his shirt. Leather breeches covered his lower half; something she was pleased to note as they would limit his movements somewhat. She would have to rely on speed, speed and the areas Tomi had once taught her- places to hit a man bigger than you that would bring him to his knees.

When he was finally ready, he began to circle, footsteps light and barely audible. Her eyes slid to half-mast, watching and studying his movements. His tail was surprisingly still, but she noted how it would still sway with his movements.

Balance then, she thought, and with that thought a wicked idea came to mind. She had no time to formulate a plan, however, because he moved.

It did not take long for him to catch her against the wall. He used his size to trap her against the stone, and gazed down with eyes of blue fire.

"Submit." he demanded, voice harsh. "Submit and accept your place."

"Never." she hissed defiantly, head raised to glare into his eyes. "I am not below you, I am not above you! I did not ask for this!"

"But you have it," he growled back. He leaned down until his mouth was pressed against her ear. "You have it, and you have Nathyrra, and you have me. I do not follow, elf, I lead."

"I do not follow either, tiefling, and you are mistaken if you think I wish for followers." her breath was hot on his neck as she twisted to whisper in his ear. "And you are doubly mistaken if you think you can hold me here."

"You're not only mad, you're boastful too," he chuckled darkly. The sound sent shivers down her spine, thrummed in her blood. He felt her tremble against him and smirked at the thought he had won-

Until she showed him exactly what she had meant.

"Do not underestimate me, general," she spat as she circled behind him as he knelt, gasping, on the ground. "A woman may be weaker than a man, but a man has places that a woman does not. Places that cripple, places that ache, as you are now well aware. You may thank my halfling friend for teaching me that one."

"You will pay," he promised, his voice dark and heavy. "Dearly."

"If you wish it, m'lord, so be it." she growled- and launched herself at him.

-o-

After they had finally worn themselves out, Nathyrra had climbed off her perch and stood between the dusty, bloody fighters. "I do hope this settles any more claims of leadership," she remarked dryly. "Otherwise I foresee a rather difficult future ahead of us."

"I am content," the druid panted as she forced herself to a sitting position. She squinted at the tiefling through one eye, as her other had swollen shut. "Are you satisfied?"

Valen did not answer at first as he tried to reign the demon in. He did not know how the slip of femininity managed to wear him out so fully, but the demon roared for him to challenge her, to kill her and crush her beneath his boots. Eventually he replied to her question, voice thick with exhaustion. "Yes. For now."

"Good enough." Nathyrra sighed. "Alright, you each get a potion-"

"No." Elowayen staggered to her feet, a hand pressed to her side. "No potions. That's what started this mess, and we both need something stronger."

She stumbled to Valen's side and dropped in the dust next to him. "You won't object, will you?" she grinned through blood-stained lips; he realized that the blood was his. She had bitten his arm during the last bout, teeth deeply rooted in his flesh until he managed to shake her loose.

"Will you heal yourself first?" he replied, wincing as he sat upright. "I am used to-"

"Congratulations on your stamina, but no." She lifted her glowing hands to his chest. "I do not heal myself before my companions. Call it folly, but I will not have others sacrificed for my behalf- regardless of their orders," she added when he opened his mouth to protest. "Now hold still and let me heal you."

-o-

He did not know how she survived the "battle", but she did. The demonic blood in his veins rose to the challenge, and the power of the Wild magic in her rose as well. She was certain that she lost control first, and after she had finished healing herself Deekin confirmed it.

"Boss went feral. Boss promised not to do that," Deekin scolded as he handed her a waterskin. "Boss broke Boss's promise."

"Sorry Deeks," she murmured. She patted his head affectionately, as one might a child's. "I had no choice, however, and it did more good than harm this time."

"This time." Deekin stressed. "Promise Deekin Boss won't do it again?"

"I can't promise that, Deekin," she sighed. "You know what I am. Asking me to never go feral is like asking you to not sing, or breathe fire! It's just not fair to ask me something like that."

Deekin cocked his head to the side. "Deekin never thought of it like that," he said slowly. "Deekin wouldn't be any use to Boss if Deekin not sing or breath fire."

"You would still be useful to me Deekin, just by being yourself," Elowayen smiled and returned the waterskin. "I can promise I'll try to control when it happens, but that's all."

"That's enough for Deekin."

-o-

In the end, Elowayen refused to stay in the drow camp they left behind; she had pointed out that there was no guarantee they had killed all of the Valsharess's forces on the island, and to think otherwise was foolish. She instead suggested a search through the connecting caverns to see if the lost city of avariel offered any other location to make camp.

He had reluctantly agreed due to the logic of her insight, but the utter desolation of Shaori's Fell left few places for the adventurers to rest in safety. It was the kobold's fault, he acknowledged sourly, that they had even found this small, narrow tunnel in the rocks to rest for the night. He had tripped over a loose stone in the garbage and tumbled, head over tail, into the boulders with a yelp. Frightened, Elowayen chased after him with a panicked shout.

He and Nathyrra were barely able to keep up with her and only found her when Valen tripped over her crouched form. Apparently the kobold had bashed his head when he tumbled, and Elowayen found him unconscious. Thinking the worst, she immediately dropped to heal him, only to have Valen crash down on top of her when he followed her blind charge.

Even now, the kobold was resting on his bedroll, tucked in by the druid who refused to let him up and take watch due to his injury.

"But Boss!" he whined as clawed hands scratched at her arm.

"No, Deekin." Elowayen's tone was gentle but firm as she moved glowing hands over the kobold's head. "You gave yourself a nasty bump, tripping over that rock. You need to rest until tomorrow, at least."

"But Booossss-"

"Deekin." Elowayen stood as the glow faded from her hands. "I will not hear this, you understand?"

"Deekin found something!" the kobold announced. He dug around in his pocket as he spoke. "It's why Deekin tripped, he stopped to see it."

"What did you find, little one?" Nathyrra crouched next to him and held out her hand expectantly.

"Shiny thing!" he announced, and dropped a piece of broken glass into the assassin's hand. "It glittered, so Deekin grabbed it for Boss. Boss likes things that glitter."

Elowayen blushed as Valen snorted. "That's enough, Deeks." she said softly as she bent down and placed her hand on his head. "I appreciate you getting it for me, but next time, let me know. I was worried about you."

The kobold had the decency to look ashamed. "Sorry Boss. Deekin won't do it again."

Elowayen smiled. "It's alright. Go to sleep, Deekin. We'll wake you when it's time to go."

-o-

"So how do we want to divide the watch?"

Valen considered the druid's question carefully. Both she and Nathyrra did not require sleep, whereas he did; however, neither of them were suited for direct combat like he was. He was still deep in thought when Nathyrra spoke.

"I am not opposed to taking first watch." she shrugged. "If you would take second, Valen, then-"

"No." he interrupted with a shake of his head. "I will take the last watch; Elowayen, you will take the middle shift."

"But why?" She questioned, her head tilted to the side as she watched him. "I could easily take the third."

"You and Nathyrra may be elves, but you are not as used to going with less rest as I am. I will take the third."

Elowayen studied him briefly before nodding her head in consent. "Very well, Valen. I will take the second shift."

-o-

Later, when Valen unrolled his bedroll, he caught sight of Nathyrra and Elowayen. The two elves conferred in low voices at the far end of their shelter. Elowayen sported a slight blush, while Nathyrra wore a teasing grin. The drow murmured something to the druid, causing her to turn a brilliant scarlet and yelp.

"Nathyrra!"

The drow merely laughed before she made her way towards Valen, her expression almost rueful. Valen waited until she was closer before he asked, "Is there a problem, Nathyrra?"

"There is a change in shifts. Elowayen will take the first." Nathyrra informed him with a smirk. "I will take the second."

Valen arched a brow at her; in response she merely chuckled and shook her head. "I'm afraid I have been sworn to secrecy by our fearless leader. All I can say is-"

"Your fearless leader has amazing hearing." Elowayen's voice was dry as she moved to stand next to Nathyrra. "And you would best remember that before spreading her secrets."

"Secrets?" Valen, bewildered, turn to stare at Elowayen. "What secrets?"

Elowayen flushed as Nathyrra cackled delightedly. "It's something that I have to overcome, as it is apparently very amusing," she shot a glare at the drow next to her. "I am... used to sleeping with my companion next to me." She looked down and mumbled something to her boots, embarrassed to meet his gaze.

"And?" Valen prompted, still confused.

"And I cannot sleep without another warm body next to mine." she exhaled in a rush as she looked up, her cheeks bright red.

"What about your kobold?"

"He snores," the druid muttered, her gaze cast to the side. "And he kicks in his sleep."

"Ah." Valen made a a non-committal noise in the back of his throat. He watched as the druid flushed before she plowed ahead with her explanation.

"I asked Nathyrra to take Shery's place for the night, but she would not do so well if I woke her on accident, so we decided to exchange shifts."

"You fear your instincts." Valen nodded at the drow, who nodded back.

"Yes. I know Elowayen means no harm, but to wake me by climbing into bed while in my trance would be most disastrous. She will take first watch then, and when she comes to wake me for my turn, at a distance," here Nathyrra turned and gave Elowayen a look, "I will wake safely, and she will not wake at all if I move in the night."

Valen nodded in appreciation; while this requirement of Elowayen's was silly, they were at least practical about it. He watched as they moved back towards where they had set their packs and arranged their bedrolls side-by-side. He wasn't prepared for Elowayen to suddenly strip off her leather armor and her tunic.

He turned away as her chemise slid down on one side, revealing a pale shoulder and the curve of her breast. He ignored the giggles of the two women as he prepared themselves for the night as best he could. He had just removed his own armor and placed it within reach when Elowayen's laughter broke through his thoughts again.

"You are wicked, Nathyrra!"

"But truly, Elowayen- you intend to sleep in those leggings of yours?" Nathyrra's voice held mock indignation. "I cannot imagine them to be as comfortable as that!"

Ah, those leggings of hers- long, fawn-colored leather that laced up the sides with ties of green. Green like her eyes, green like emeralds in firelight-

"And how long would you have me take in the morning, putting them back on again, hmm?" Elowayen lightly challenged as she pulled a brush out of her pack. "It will take so much time to lace them back up again- far better they stay on, don't you think?"

"If it takes them that long to put on, how long does it take for a man to get them off?" Nathyrra leered at the pale elf, her eyebrows arched high.

Elowayen froze at the question, her mind going back, back years and years to an evening in Beorunna's Well. Back when her heart had been heavy, but one bright spot remained, a ray of hope and joy for her to return to every chance she could.

-o-

She danced around the lodge, always just a bit out of his reach. She teased and tempted him as best she knew, until he finally caught her and drew her close.

"No more teasing, my love." he growled as his hand slid into her hair. He tugged, lightly, and pressed his lips tot her throat as she arched against him. "No more. I cannot take one more night of teasing, of knowing your scent and your laughter but not your taste. I cannot take not knowing you."

"So know me, then, my love." she whispered. She slid her hands up his arms, delighted in the feel of corded muscle beneath hot skin. "Know me, and let me know you."

"I will not be able to let you go after this, Elowayen." he murmured darkly. His eyes shone in the firelight. "I can barely send you after the Words now; how will it be once we-"

She silenced him with a finger to his lips. "We will face what comes, when it comes. Until then, my love, we will live for us, for now." She arched against him again, heard his groan as he buried his face in her neck. "And now, I want you out of your furs, out of your armor, and in your bed."

"Wicked creature." he breathed. He lifted her off her feet and strode to his bedroom; the door stood no chance as he kicked it open as he moved. "You torture me, Elowayen."

"How so, my love?" she teased as he laid her on the bed. She sat upright and removed her tunic; Aarin's breath left him in a hiss as she reached down to remove her slippers.

"You truly do not know?" he demanded as he unbuckling his armor. He dropped it carelessly to the floor, clad in only his breeches and boots.

"By coming to you in the middle of the night?" she teased. She knelt to untie the cords that kept the furs around his legs. He yanked her upright to, seal his mouth to hers in a rough, domineering kiss. He broke away, panting, as his hands began to roam over her bare skin.

"And wearing those breeches of yours." he groaned. His fingers slid down her legs and dipped in between the laces to touch her skin. "How am I to survive removing them from you?"

"With patience, Aarin love, with patience."

"Elowayen-"

-o-

"Elowayen? Are you alright?" Nathyrra's voice broke through her memories. Elowayen's head snapped up; it all came crashing down then. She stumbled to her feet with a shake of her head.

"I- I can't- I have to- excuse me."

With that, the druid bolted past a shocked Nathyrra, vaulted over the sleeping kobold, past a startled tiefling, and through the tunnel before any of them could move.

"What in the hells was that?" Valen growled angrily at the drow.

"How am I to know?" Nathyrra bit back. "We were only talking, and she was rather open. I made a comment about a man removing her leggings and she went... blank, for lack of a better term."

Valen groaned. "Our prophetical Savior is nothing more than a lovesick girl."

"Boss not sick!"

Nathyrra and Valen turned to face the little bard swaddled in blankets. "What makes you say that, exactly?" Valen growled. "She's certainly acting like it!"

"Boss not sick!" Deekin stubbornly repeated. "Boss not be in love since Boss met Deekin. Boss loved once, but not anymore. Boss never thinks of love, because love breaks hearts and Boss can't be broken anymore."

"So what do you suggest then, master bard?" Nathyrra sat next to the lizard with a curious look on her face. "How do we handle this?"

Deekin tilted his head to the side carefully as he considered her words. "Give Boss time."

"We do not have time to waste!" Valen stood and began gathering his armor.

"What are you doing?"

"Going after her, Nathyrra. Same as you should be."

"No!"

Once more they turned to face the kobold, only to find him on his feet and clutching a glowing white stone.

"No!" Deekin repeated, holding the stone close. "You leave Boss alone! Boss just needs time!"

"By the pits of hell, you are all idiots." Valen snarled. He dropped his armor and picked up only his flail. "I am going after her, kobold, and you will do well to not stop me."

"Deekin not stop you," Deekin agreed as the tiefling stalked to the cave entrance, "magic will."

"Magic?" Nathyrra turned in time to see a glowing line etched into the stone around the entrance. "Valen wait!"

-o-

Valen sourly gazed at the kobold, who flat-out refused to drop the magical barrier he had erected across the tunnel leading out to the Fell. He now sat on his bedroll, arms crossed and face turned down into a pout.

"Boss needs time!" he repeated and stubbornly refused to release the barrier. "You make Boss cry, now Boss needs time."

"Why did she cry, kobold? That is what I want to know." Valen growled. "We do not have time for such drastic changes in temperament."

"Boss only cries when she thinks of Neverwinter." Deekin shrugged at the tiefling. When Valen silently demanded more information, Deekin stuck out his tongue at him. "She never talks about it, only says that it were her heart be broken before."

"By a man?" Nathyrra guessed, her brows furrowed. "It was when I made a joke about bedfellows that she got that haunted look in her eyes."

"By a man." Deekin confirmed. "Boss only mention him once, and not to Deekin. To Dorna, and Deekin wasn't supposed to hear." He paused, his head tilted to the side as he considered his next words. "Boss call him 'her dark lover', tells Dorna that he wanted to put her in stone cage. Deekin no understand that part, but Dorna did," the kobold nodded to himself. "Dorna did, and asked her what happened next. Boss say that she love him, but not enough to die away. Said she ran, ran away until she found old master."

"Old Master?" Valen inquired, intrigued in spite himself.

"Yup, Boss's old master. Old Dwarf named Drogan. Boss called him second father. Boss never liked real father." Deekin shrugged again. "Deekin not sure he should be telling you this."

"If you don't, how are we to help Elowayen?" Nathyrra coaxed as she leaned closer to the little bard. "We only want to help her, little one."

"Okays." Deekin said warily, but narrowed his eyes at both of them. "But you no tell Boss you gets it from me. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Deal." Valen acknowledged.

-o-

Elowayen shivered as she climbed higher. It had been easy to ignore the blank stares of the avariel; most of them had only nodded as she moved past, seeking a small piece of solitude. In her rush, however, she had forgotten her cloak, and the higher she went, the colder the wind from the Dark River seemed to be. Finally, she found herself on a small ledge, perched above Shaori's Fell, and it was there she let herself weep.

Aarin, her first love, but not her first betrayal. Their time together still stung to think of, still caused her pain, and she desperately avoided thinking about him as best she could. To think about him was to think of her other pain, the pain of lost friends and companions.

Linu. Dear, sweet, clumsy Linu. Her dearest friend in Neverwinter, an elf far from home who swore undying friendship. Brave Daelen, loyal and true Daelen who sought to honor his tribe and his mother's spirit. Beautiful, bold Sharwyn and her quest for adventure and the tale of an epic hero. Boddyknock, the brilliant little gnome who sought knowledge and to right the wrongs of his past. She loved all of them, bled with all of them, swore friendship- only to have their memory wiped away by Lord Nasher's cruelty

It wasn't enough that Aribeth had to die. It wasn't enough to force her to stand there, to watch as she was executed and then burned. No, Nasher was not satisfied until she went before him and told him that she could not stand by and help rebuild a city based on cruelty and vengeance.

Aarin had pleaded with her not to go, to not antagonize Nasher now that Aribeth was dead. She had kissed him, her dark lover, and made him promise to wait for her that evening in her rooms. She had gone to Nasher's personal study then, and gone through the empty solicitations and motions, before she blurted out her questions and her desires. It was then that her heart was shattered, and all she knew was lost.

-o-

"What would you have me do now, my lord, now that the city is free?" she asked him neutrally. She watched his face, carefully, earnestly, for any sense of his thoughts. "Return to the Neverwinter Wood to maintain the order there? It is truly the only place for a druid like myself to be. Or perhaps go to Beorunna's Well, to continue the treaty with the Uthgardt? Yusam was most pleased with our aid during the war."

"What would you like to do, Elowayen?" Nasher had responded, his eyes dark and unforgiving. "I am not your Lord, remember? You are not a citizen of Neverwinter- although that can be arranged."

"My lord?" She blinked in confusion.

"You have my spymaster wrapped around your finger; do not pretend otherwise. If you wed him, it will create the sort of encouragement the city needs."

"You would have me wed Aarin... as an order?" she asked in disbelief. "But what of our feelings? What if we decide that marriage is not for us?"

"He has already agreed to it, Elowayen." Nasher waved his hand in the air, dismissive of her defense. "In fact, it was his suggestion."

The floor seemed to tilt underneath her feet; she shook her head and gripped the back of the chair in front of her. "He wouldn't..." she whispered as her heart twisted in her chest. "He wouldn't say something without asking me first."

"He did, and I want you to agree." Nasher continued. "He explained to me that you did not wish to be at Aribeth's execution earlier today; I would apologize for it, but the city needed to see you there."

"The city." Elowayen said bitterly. "It is always about the city, isn't it? For you, for him, and now you would chain me to it as well. A child of Chauntea and Silvanus, and you would have me in a cage of mortar and iron and stone."

"Watch your tone, girl." Nasher warned, his voice cold. "You may be an elf, but you are young and foolish to the ways of men."

"You once said the same of Aribeth and Fenthick," Elowayen held her head high and met his gaze squarely. "Are you warning me of what is to be my fate now, my lord, or merely informing me of your opinion?"

"Aarin suggested this idea to me, suggested that you would be willing to stay here, for him, and that you would make a most willing emissary of Neverwinter." Nasher pushed himself out of his chair and stood above her, face stern. "He stated that you would be a pillar of our society, willing to put aside your mantle as Hero if need be."

Once again, her heart lurched in her chest. Aarin sought to make her timid, weak; a noblewoman locked away in a city and forgotten until the threat of her powers was required. Powers she would be forced to give up, powers that would be denied to her once she broke her vows. She felt a rising tide of fear and panic- this could not be happening. She forced herself to speak through sheer force of will, her words heavy and bitter on her tongue.

"No." she whispered.

"What was that?" Nasher narrowed his gaze. "Think carefully, girl, of your choices here."

"I said no!" she shouted, anger burning away the haze of shock. "I will not be some pawn in your games, in your politics! I left my homeland and my family years ago for that same reason and I will not be tied to yours now!"

"And what of Aarin Gen, Elowayen?" Nasher's voice turn sly, insinuating. "Are you refusing him too? The love of your life, the man who would die for you?"

"I cannot love a man who seeks to take away all that I am," she spoke softly, bitterly. "He seeks to cage me, to break me, and I will not let him. Or you, or this city. None of you will control me, and none of you shall have me!"

She spun to leave, only to have Nasher's voice stop her cold. "If you leave, Elowayen, you will be forgotten." he warned, his voice dark. "I will find your companions, your supporters. I will have my mages cloud their minds and their memories- they will not remember you, they will not support you. You will be nothing but another nameless druid of the wild, should you leave."

She straightened her spine without looking back. "Very well, Lord Nasher." she spat. "Take them from me, as you would take my freedom. Even if I was not compelled to go to the wilds by my very nature, this alone would cause me to seek the solitude that only they can grant. A city betrayed and rebuilt on anger, on hate, on petty vengeance... such is no place for me, nor for what I stood for. What Aribeth stood for. What you once stood for."

She threw the doors open, ignoring his bellowed threats- only to freeze when she spotted Aarin in the corridor, his face a mask of sorrow.

"So, my love," she mocked bitterly, "Come to give me a kiss goodbye before Nasher removes even the memory of me?"

"Elowayen, I-"

"Should have asked me first." she spat, stalking past him. "Instead you plot my future with the lord of your beloved city, your first mistress, your true love- and you leave me to rot in the wake of your decisions."

He grabbed her arm and spun her to face him. "Elowayen, don't do this." he begged, his eyes beseeching. "Don't let him do this to you."

"Don't you see, Aarin?" she smiled, cold and bitter. "He didn't. You did."

He released her, shock clear on his face. "Elowayen, I sought to protect you! To keep you safe-"

"To make me soft and weak, defenseless and desirous only of you and how to serve your city." she spat. "Did you ever truly love me?"

His eyes filled with sorrow, he nodded. "You know I did. You know I do."

"You love an idea of me, Aarin. An idea that you think is malleable, able and willing to change into a perfect diplomat." she shook her head, backing away from him. "If you loved me at all, if you knew me at all, you would know that such things are not for me."

She tore the amulet she wore from around her neck and threw it at his feet. The heavy gold necklace slid across the tiles until it reached his boots. As he knelt to retrieve it, his mother's necklace, she turned and ran.

She did not see his eyes turn cold as she fled from him. She did not see him clutch the necklace in his hand, did not see him drop his head as she ran away from him, away from her first and only lover. She raced back to her rooms as fast as she could, her movements full of panic. Quickly, she shed her white dress, a creation of soft cotton and simple embroidery, and donned her traveling leathers. She threw all that was left into her pack- potions, weapons, armor, everything that she had left. It was not much, but it was enough to get here away, far away from Neverwinter and never look back.

Fastening her cloak as she walked, pack thrown over her shoulder, she raced out of the castle as if the hounds of hell were at her heels. Her destination was simple; the Trade of Blades was closer, very close, and she knew her friends were all gathered there to share stories of the battles they had all fought on the front lines and to listen to Daelen tell the story of Morag's defeat. Above her head, clouds gathered and thunder rumbled.

She ran faster; the storm felt unnatural, a summoned creation of arcane magic that foretold dire consequences. She arrived at the Trade in record time, terrified that she was too late-

Only to see her friends gathered in the main room, seated around a table as they celebrated their success with Trancar and his lieutenant. She stumbled to their table and begged Trancar for a moment alone with her companions, her eyes wild and bleak as she panted for breath.

"I don't have much time," she gasped, dropping her pack on the table in front of them. "Nasher's mages could start at any time-"

"Elowayen dear, calm down! What is going on?" Linu stood and came to her side, her arm around Elowayen's shoulders. "You can tell us, dear, don't worry. We'll help you-"

Elowayen shook her head and burst into tears. She sobbed as she told them of Nasher's plans, of how his mages would ensure that she would be forgotten. She told them, eyes red from tears, that the trinkets they had given her, items from their homelands and their hearts, had to be returned before she left. "If and when we meet again, I don't want you to hate me for having them. You would think I stole them, and you would hate me." she cried as she sank to the bench. "I don't want you to hate me."

Linu wept with her. The cleric held her close as they both shook with tears and shock. Sharwyn knelt on Elowayen's other side, her arms around them both. She swore to tell of Elowayen's bravery and selflessness, the deeds and qualities that made them all love her for years to come, that the Hero of Neverwinter would always be valiant and true-

Daelen, Tomi, and Boddyknock could only watch in silence as the women cried their goodbyes. It was Tomi who solemnly opened her pack and removed their gifts, Tomi who quietly returned them to their previous owners. Daelen's eyes, already hard from war and death, hardened further as he watched his companions weep. Boddyknock could only toy with his spoon, staring into his stew and unable to offer words of comfort.

Eventually, when she had spent her tears, Elowayen staggered to her feet. "I must go- I can't bear it if I'm here when- when it happens." she scrubbed at her face with her sleeve.

One by one, she hugged each of her companions, starting with Linu and ending with Boddyknock on his stool. She kissed their cheeks and whispered goodbyes in their ears. Daelen was particularly overcome at his, and nearly crushed her in his embrace. She returned it as best she could before she pushed away. Tomi, of course, copped a feel of her backside when she knelt to hug him goodbye, but she didn't have it in her to scold him. Instead she laughed and let him, her hug for him a bit harder than normal to make up for the blush on her cheeks. Finally, after hugging the little gnome goodbye, she gathered her belongings and moved towards to the door, only to pause before she left for the last time.

"I won't forget you, any of you, I promise." she whispered as she stood in the doorway. "I'll remember your stories, and all our adventures, and I'm just-" She swiped at her eyes, suddenly furious, "I'm so sorry. I love you, all of you. Remember that."

She fled Neverwinter then, dodging through the city core, ignoring the hails of the citizens inviting her for drinks, for meals, refusing to look back. She knew that if she did, she would see Aarin, heartbroken and alone, and she could not bear such a sight.

Once free of the city, she summoned Shery, strapping her pack to the panther's back, something the great cat had loudly objected to. She ignored her companion's protest and shifted into another shape, a shape just as sleek and deadly as her companion's. She roared, streaking away from Neverwinter and the ache of her broken heart.

-o-

In truth, she was grateful that Aarin's true colors had been revealed, as she might have married him, had he asked her first. She might have turned into a hollow shell of herself, an empty husk of the woman she once was. If she had stayed in Neverwinter, she never would have found Drogan. She never would have met Dorna or Mischa or Xanos or Deekin, never would have seen Hilltop or the trials thereafter.

She never would have befriended Ayala, or learned the ways of the rangers. She never would have found her beloved home in the Far Forest, a lodge hidden deep within the trees.

It didn't matter wonderful her life was, however. It still hurt to think of Aarin. To think of Aarin was to think of his betrayal, and to think of his betrayal was to think of the loss of her friends and companions. In time, she could and probably would forgive him for breaking her heart, but not for what came after. While Nasher was the true culprit, Aarin was still partially responsible for the loss of her friends.

With a self-depreciating sigh, Elowayen leaned back against the rock and closed her eyes. She owed Nathyrra and Valen an explanation when she returned to the cave. Even without the geas Halaster placed upon her, she still would have ventured to the Underdark to face the Valsharess. She still would have found her way here, regardless of what happened in Undermountain; she knew , deep in her soul, underneath the barbs of the mage's curse, that she was meant to be here. She had told her old classmates as much before she left Hilltop after Drogan's death- that something was calling her away. She told Ayala something similar when they parted ways at the Rauvin river- that she may make a home, but her journey was not yet complete.

-o-

"What do you plan to do, Elowayen?" Dorna asked her softly, sitting in front of the fire at Drogan's. She watched the druid take a sip of the mulled wine they found in the cellar, make a face at the taste, and put it aside. "Why don't you stay here and continue the school with Xanos and I?"

"Dorna has a point, Elowayen." Xanos boomed, toasting her with his cup. "Mischa's considering it already, and you were always the best of us."

Mischa nodded emphatically, her blond hair slightly disarrayed from the cleaning she subjected the house to earlier. "You would be most welcome, Elowayen. Between us all, we would have teachers for almost all the schools of battle!"

Elowayen smiled, a soft, aching smile. "Thank you, all of you, but I can't." Elowayen's voice was soft as she stared into the fire. "It's just... too much, you understand. This was only the second place I have felt at home, the second place I felt like I could make a life for myself after... after my past." She cleared her throat. "But all I've found here, besides you three-" she gave them another smile, this one less heartbroken than the first- "Is more pain. Master Drogan was a father to me, as he was to all of you." She shook her head, sighing. "There are too many ghosts, too many memories for me to remain here any longer. Besides... my path does not end here in Hilltop, no matter how much I would like it to."

"Where will you go?" Dorna leaned forward, her gaze steady and calm. "We rarely get attacked out here, and you swore you would never go to Neverwinter again."

"And I won't." Elowayen shook her head. "I don't know where, honestly. Wherever the Earthmother and Treefather guide me, I suppose. I just know that my journey is not finished yet."

"I do not envy you, my friend," Dorna shook her head. She took a drink of wine from her cup before continuing. "After Undrentide, I have no desire to keep adventuring. I think that staying here will be a nice finish to my story- to have the students of Dorna Trapspringer of Stoneshear go forth and make their own mark. That is how I will be remembered, and I can't think of a better way to be."

"I can't either." Elowayen reached over and squeezed Dorna's hand. "Just like we will honor Drogan's memory, they will honor yours. And yours too, Xanos, Mischa."

"You will always be welcome here, Elowayen, should you desire to come back and teach." Mischa smiled brightly at the elf, though her gaze was sad. "No matter what, should you ever need a place to stay, for however long-"

"You'll find it here." Xanos cut in, raising his cup again.

"Thank you." Elowayen stood suddenly, eyes bright. She grasped her cup and raised it high. "A toast!"

"A toast!" Xanos shouted, and surged to his feet. "A toast to us, that our names will be immortal through the ages! That our students will honor us, and our ancestors and theirs!"

"To us!" Dorna cheered, cup raised high.

They drank their wine, all but Mischa who shook her head. "While inspiring, that toast is boastful, and full of pride," she chided. "We should toast to something else, something we can all agree upon."

"And what, pray tell, would that be, little paladin?" Xanos swerved to face her, splashing a little wine over his hand. "What could we all-"

"To Master Drogan." Mischa cut in. "To his memory."

Silence fell over the four as they all thought about Mischa's suggestion. "It does have merit," Xanos grumbled.

"To Drogan Droganson, then." Elowayen raised her cup once more. "Our Master, our Teacher, our Father, our Friend."

"To Drogan." the others raised their cups as well.

"May his memory guide us as we guide those after us." Dorna added.

"May he watch over and protect our students, as he watched and protected us." Mischa blotted at her eyes with her sleeve.

"May we train students to be as fine of adventurers as he." Xanos raised his cup even higher.

"May we all do him proud." Elowayen murmured and toasted the others.

The four former apprentices downed the last of their wine as one; Mischa sputtered and gagged while Xanos laughed at her expression. "Not to your taste, little girl?"

"Paladins should not drink." she responded primly.

"Mischa, Xanos..." Elowayen sighed, then stopped herself. "No, never mind. Continue on."

"Elowayen?" Dorna peered at her friend, worried. "Are you alright?"

"Promise you that you won't change. All of you." Elowayen's eyes were bright in the firelight. "Promise me that you'll always laugh and tease each other like this. Please."

"Elowayen-"

"Please." the elf begged, tears slipping from her eyes. "Please, Dorna, Xanos, Mischa, promise me."

"I promise." Mischa slipped to the druid's side, and gently, carefully, embraced her. "We all promise."

"Thank you." Elowayen cried into her shoulder. "Thank you."

-o-

"Boss been gone for hour, right?" Deekin paused in his tales of Elowayen's adventures in Hilltop and after to give a worried glance to the tunnel entrance.

"Two hours, kobold, unarmed, alone, with no protection against any drow that might find her." Valen shifted against the rock behind him. "We need to-"

"Boss be okay against drow." Deekin shook his head. "Deekin worried Boss not be okay against Boss."

"What do you mean?" Nathyrra asked, curious.

"Boss tends to beat Boss up over past." Deekin paused again, head cocked to the side. "Deekin gots it!"

"What, exactly, would that be?" Valen asked dryly, annoyed that even Nathyrra's spells couldn't remove the barrier the kobold erected.

"A way to get Boss to come back!" Deekin announced. He scrambled over to Elowayen's pack and sniffed around until he made a noise of triumph. "Gots it!" He proudly waved a long, curly brown hair in the air. "Just what Deekin needs to find Boss."

"A spell component." Nathyrra breathed. She watched as the kobold hunkered down to dig through his own pack until he found a small, white crystal. "And that is?"

"Focus crystal. Boss still has Drogan Ring." The kobold nodded to himself as he wrapped the hair around the crystal. He clasped it loosely in his claws before he muttered under his breath, his free hand held inches above the crystal.

They all watched as the small crystal began to glow brightly, before fading from view. Deekin nodded with a look of satisfaction before he yawned. "Boss be back soons now." He nodded again as he crawled back onto his bedroll. "Night night."

-o-

Elowayen leaned her head against the rock. The taste of cold and damp stone hung in the air, pushed against her senses. Overhead she could sense the rocky ceiling as it pressed down against the dark, an illusion of cold and heavy death just inches away. Shery would have hated this, she thought to herself. She never liked the cold or the wet. She preferred the woods, or places like Beorunna's Well. Places that were more wilderness than civilization, places where beasts were free to roam and the sky was clear overhead.

She smiled bitterly, remembering a more idyllic night; a night of tangled sheets and panting wordless cries, of slick skin and sweat, of whispers and devotions. She remembered jow Shery patrolled around the cabin to prevent any from disturbing her mistress and her mate. She growled and snapped at any who came too close- Aarin complained of how his scouts were terrified to knock on his door to make reports the next time she saw him.

They didn't have much time together, but the short time they did stamped Aarin's mark across her heart. Even now, she could still imagine the feel of his mother's pendant around her neck, heavy and gold and warm, just like his touch, like his laugh.

Yes, I should remember things like this, she thought. Remember the wonder and the pleasure, instead of the heartache and pain. Remember everything that brought light into your life, remember it and cherish it, and then put it away.

Elowayen drifted off into her memories then, remembering the good, forcing away the bad. Linu, with her head caught in a milk bucket after Boddyknock's accidentally blew up the boiler in the Port Llast barracks; Shery, refusing to get off Tomi's legs after he tried to cop a feel for the first time; Daelen sheltering with her from a cold night with in the Neverwinter Wood. Aarin's smile as he held her close the night they declared themselves, warm and satiated and content in his lodge, the way his fingers trailed up and down her spine as she shivered against him.

A bright flash of light startled her out of her thoughts; a small white globe was in front of her, the shape familiar-

A focus crystal? She stared, amazed, as it fell into her lap. She lifted it closer to her faces, noticing it full of sparkles and shone with a light that was not customary of the crystals. She studied it and noticed that a piece of her hair was wrapped around it. She touched the hair, lightly, and gasped when the crystal exploded into soft light. It formed the shape of a sad face before it finally dissipated into the air.

"Oh Deeks." she chuckled. She shook her head and turned to begin her climb down. "Alright, alright, I'm coming."

-o-

"The barrier is still up." Nathyrra muttered. "How is she to return if he won't drop it?"

"I have no idea." Valen glanced at the kobold, wrapped in blankets and fast asleep. "If we killed him, do you think it will drop?"

"I don't want to risk it." Nathyrra shook her head. "I've never seen anything like this-"

"Probably because he stole it from an ancient Netherese city." a voice remarked dryly.

Nathyrra and Valen both jumped, startled, as Elowayen leaned against the tunnel just outside the barrier. "Elowayen, I-"

"It's alright, Nathyrra," the druid shook her head. "I acted like a child, and I apologize. I will explain in a bit, just give me a second-"

She frowned at the barrier before she moved forward slowly, until her open palm lightly touched the center of the invisible barrier. Teeth clamped on her lower lip, Elowayen began to push against it, eyes narrowed as the barrier began to glow. Slowly, she continued to push until her hand broke through and shattered the barrier completely.

"Thought so." Elowayen shook her her hand to restore feeling. "It's only resistant to sudden force. Continued pressure works fine." She winced as she shook her hand again. "Still stings, though."

"Elowayen..." Nathyrra tried to broach the subject delicately, but Valen interrupted.

"What in the hells is wrong with you?" he demanded, his tone harsh. "Running into the Underdark with no armor or weapons? You're lucky you weren't killed!"

"I promised you explanations, and explanations you'll get." Elowayen made her way over to her pallet to retrieve her blanket. She sat down and wrapped it around her shoulders like a large shawl. "If you would still like them."

"Very much so." Valen growled in annoyance. "Your kobold wouldn't even let us out to look for you."

Elowayen sent the sleeping reptile a fond look. "He knows me well." she murmured.

"Are we to know you well?" Nathyrra asked as she shifted until she was cross-legged in front of the druid. "If only to prevent tonight from happening again."

Elowayen gave her an empty smile. "If you wish." With a deep breath, she closed her eyes as she began to talk. "I was once known as the Hero of Neverwinter..."