For a time, there was nothing. No light, no sound, no consciousness. Just a black stillness that kept all but the most primal, base urges from thought and mind. Still, one overriding sense kept gnawing at her, one desire that kept her from sliding too far into oblivion. Survive. That's what she'd done her whole life, after all- survive. She'd survived everything, from the loss of her family and home as a child, to the loss of her friends and mentors as she grew older... she'd even survived the torments and what the madman Irenicus had taken from her.
Still she clung to life, because that was all she knew how to do. Cling to life, force herself upon it. Waiting for... something, anything to tie her back to the world she'd left. How long had it been like this? Time wasn't something that could truly be measured in this place, in the realm of dreams and mindscapes- but in a flash, in an instant, there was something new. A new hope to run to- and without warning, her life flashed before her eyes.
Stone walls, with vaguely familiar banners hanging on each pillar, torches lighting the cold passages. Moments of dead silence and calm intermingled between raucous interruptions. She could see her own fingers clutching those of a woman, her features exotic, indwelt with the kind of beauty that came from the long lived ancestry that half of her lineage provided. The woman looked behind her, glancing down at the child- she smiled, and her world immediately lit up with the knowledge that this woman would be there for her, that everything would be okay. It served to calm her and bring her to peace. The world was safe- her world was safe. Wasn't it?
The world strobed with white light...
The castle walls- this time aflame, the regal banners and symbols put to the torch. Dead men lay here and there, products of the revolution going on all around her. Again, her eyes saw through the body of a child- again, she could see her hands clutching those of the same woman, but even as they ran through the halls and castle corridors, the knowledge was there- it had been a lie. The peace, the safety she had imagined for herself was gone. All gone. The woman's face had a long cut running along one cheek- her look was one of sheer terror, of desperation to find a way out. An explosion ripped through the stone walls and like a beacon of hope, there was freedom stretching out before her and the woman she called 'mother.' A breach in the castle walls, stone and rock falling away to reveal a drop down to the hillside below, longer and higher than anything she had seen or attempted before. Outside were the fires of the dissidents, the rebellions against the monarchy of Tethyr coming to fruition. Trying to escape back the way they had fled would be suicide- this was their last route. She felt her mother's hand pulling her towards the hole, the portal- she tugged in reply, trying to hold back, fear overtaking her small body, but it was no use. She heard herself scream as the two of them hit the open air-
Once again, the world hazed in and out of view, like looking through a pool of water...
Strange men and women, surrounding her. She could feel her small frame tightly enwrapped in furs and blankets, while her arms and legs curled up and tried to bring some kind of stability to the world that had been rent asunder before her eyes. One of the men took a step towards her- she pushed herself back into the tree she had been leaning against, feeling the bark dig through her clothes into her skin. It didn't bother her as much as she thought it might have- and with nowhere else to go, she simply remained still and listened as the man knelt and spoke to her. Spoke of nature, and the balance. Spoke of things she knew well- not then, but would, in the future. Spoke of precepts she would hold dear to her heart, and for principles that she would eventually lay down her life to protect. A question was posed to her. Did she want it? Vengeance, for the innocence she had lost that night? Vengeance, for the death of that woman in her mind's eye, that woman with the smile that had lied to her? Vengeance, for the ones who would lay waste to others like her?
The answer had been 'yes,' of course. She knew the story well, though it had been some time since she had thought about it in such detail. The last time she had recounted this tale was to one of her companions, her new lover-
A breeze ruffled her hair, and she felt the mane she had let grow float gently in the wind. Her eyes were closed, and all her senses were stretched out to the world around her. The scent of pine filled her nostrils, as did the faint touch of leather from the armor she wore. The light caress of soft blades of grass upon her naked feet as she stood amidst nature. The breath of fall's chill that caused slight goosebumps to rise on her arms. A bird's song drifting over the air. Nature, the world in balance. For a brief moment, she felt herself drifting slowly out of mind and body, completely at peace.
A harsh, unnatural sound entered her ears- footfalls in sequence, six in all. Coming this way, towards her in rapid succession. She felt her body tense, and her clarity vanish- no. That was not the way. She needed to be at peace, calm. She forced herself to focus again, to ignore the rapid breach of her sanctity. Forced herself to slip back into the trance of nature that she had been enraptured by mere seconds ago. Couldn't force it, it just had to happen... and in a moment, she felt it all. The smooth shaft of wood that filled one of her hands, the weight of the staff as she balanced it at arm's length from her body. She heard the sharp inhalation as a presence behind her prepared to strike. Could smell the fresh oil on a clean blade that swung towards her. And with a flashing open of her keen, sharp eyes, saw the glimmer of light off metallic armor before her.
Why was she seeing all of this again? Memories of her childhood, of her teenage years, she knew these times and places well. Did she enjoy thinking about them? No, it was hard enough for her to dwell on the past, much less relive it. With a roar of light and power, images flashed by in a blur...
Leaving her new family in the grove to seek out a new life. Foraging, surviving on her own for the first time in so long, leading a solitary existence for nearly two years. Sweaty and covered in gnoll blood, watching in disbelief as the battle that might have proven her last was broken up by men who would shape her life forever, men she would fight alongside, trust with her life... and one in particular who would betray her trust in the end. Sharing a first kiss with a nervous half-elf, hungry for this bond, this feeling of comfort and safety that she felt in his arms. Sharing her life with Khalid as they wed- an old wizard they would lose far too early applauding in the front row of their ceremony, a teacher and mentor who would try to kill her years from then smiling with pride. Watching Greywulf and Imoen stumble into the Friendly Arm Inn, the young duo scared, frightened... all too much like her on her first venture from home. Watching with both wariness and fear as Greywulf raged at them, all of them, upon discovery of his heritage... and his discovery that Khalid and Jaheira had known of it all along. Feeling her arms wrap around her knees as she lay in a cold, dark cell... her mind screaming at her in impotent fear and rage for letting herself be put into this kind of situation again. Watching as her world fell apart around her- those she had trusted betraying her... and the boy she had met and trained for so long, finding a way past her defenses and into her heart.
Even as the world continued its uncontrolled spin through her past, she felt a tug, an anchoring slow the march. It was a familiar presence, but she felt herself being swept away regardless. Only one chance to try and slow her descent- and she took it. Her mind hardened, her spirit gelled, and in a sea of inky nothingness, she could feel her body and soul reform, reaching out to the presence she had felt for- and in a light that blazed through the shadows, she saw a familiar face. "Jaheira!!"
The soft elven features, the large blue eyes... Aerie's smile brightened up the corners of her broken mind as she extended her hand, tightening her grip around Jaheira's wrist. "It's time to come back to us..."
X X X X X X
Minsc watched in both worry and hope as Aerie leaned over Jaheira's body, her brow knit in heavy concentration, the elven cleric pushing her healing powers to their fullest extent. Without warning, both Aerie and Jaheira's eyes flashed open, the druid inhaling sharply, coughing as she tried to sit up, tried to handle the onrush of senses that were coming in all at once. Minsc leapt to his feet, hefting Aerie off the ground as he spun her around in joy. "HaHA! Minsc's witch has done the impossible yet again!! Jaheira is safe at last, and Imoen will soon follow. Is this not a day of celebration, Boo? Yes, he thinks it is."
Aerie squeaked out something as she dangled from Minsc's grip, the big ranger's eyes widening as he heard her and set her down gently. "Ah... forgive me. I get excited too easily, but how could I not, eh?"
"Nothing dampens your spirits, does it Minsc?" Jaheira managed as she sat up, managing a half-smile as she swung her legs out from the wooden bedframe. "Aerie... thank you for healing me. I do not know what kind of pain or injury I had suffered, but..."
"The Implosion spell you cast was too much of a strain on your mind." Aerie informed her gently. "Your spirit- I don't think it could handle the stress of such a large use of magical energies."
The memory of what had happened came crashing back to the half-elf like a tidal wave- her eyes regained their focus, the sense of weakness that had been emanating from her since she had woken up somehow vanished. To any casual observer, it would seem that her injuries had suddenly vanished without a trace. "What happened? Did the others escape? Is Yaga-Shura's heart in our possession?"
Unfortunately for her, the others were anything but casual observers. Minsc gently took Jaheira's legs and lifted them back up onto the couch and pushed her by the shoulders until she was lying prone on the bed. "You are not ready to be up and about so soon. Get some more rest, and we will wake you when there is butt-kicking to be done."
Jaheira's vicious glare was anything but subtle- "I *hate* it when you do that, and you know it. But if it will keep you from circling me like a hawk, I shall lie here while you explain our circumstances. Now what happened?"
Aerie recounted the final moments of their battle at Yaga-Shura's Temple... stopping just before Greywulf's emergence from the Temple as the Slayer. In all their excitement to see the druid back to health and conscious thought, they had neglected to think of what their erstwhile friend and leader was doing. He had still remained secluded in the challenge room, even after Sarevok had descended to speak with him. The big warrior had said nothing to them since returning to the surface platform, and neither Minsc nor Aerie had been in the mood to go and question him. What he had done, what his response would be when questioned about his last transformation still remained to be seen.
"And?" Jaheira prodded, her sharp eyes flitting back and forth between Minsc and Aerie's suddenly grave faces as they hesitated before finishing the tale. "Did something happen to Imoen and Greywulf? Are they all right?"
Now it came down to the wire for the two of them... did they tell Jaheira what they had seen, what Greywulf had done? He had saved Imoen and himself thanks to the power of Bhaal, but was it worth it, in the end? Was that even a decision they were qualified to make? He hadn't spoken to anyone about it yet... and until he did, perhaps they couldn't either. Aerie tightened her lips and gestured towards Imoen's prone body across from Jaheira's, the young thief's chest rising and falling steadily. "Imoen was badly injured in the escape... and Greywulf has been blaming himself, I think. He's been secluded in the challenge room since we got back."
It wasn't a lie, per se... but there would still be hell to pay when she found out what had really happened. The two of them both knew it- but for the time, Jaheira seemed to accept this version of events. She lay back down, snorting quietly. "That boy's compassion will drive him to an early grave. Wake me in another hour- I will help you with Imoen's injuries, and perhaps get that whelp to stop blaming himself."
The ranger and the cleric watched Jaheira's breaths become slower, more regular until they were sure she had drifted back to sleep again, before striding from her side, speaking in hushed tones to one another. "Minsc does not like lying to his friends. Should we have told her about Greywulf?"
"I... I don't know, Minsc." Aerie shivered, glancing between the two women still unconscious, and their final companion, still skulking alone in the shadows of the Pocket Plane. "Greywulf deserves a chance to explain himself. And it had better be a good one, that's all."
"Is that so?"
The voice gave them a bit of a start, both whirling towards the entrance to the lower caverns as Greywulf stalked up the staircase, a lopsided smile on his face. He rested on his quarterstaff as he faced his two companions, giving them each a friendly nod. "I understand there are a few questions you have for me, about my little... transformation back there in the mountains. I understand your concerns... it's what I've been wrestling with for the last day or so. I'm here now to answer any questions you most certainly have for me. I know you've been waiting long enough for me..."
"While you left Imoen and Jaheira up here injured and only Minsc and I to deal with it." Aerie reminded, her blue eyes flashing with irritation at the seemingly unflappable calm that Greywulf was showing.
"I had every faith that you could handle their injuries." Greywulf responded, a slight quirk at the corner of his lips somehow failing to comfort them. "What would I have done? Stalked back and forth in a panic, distracting you from helping them? We've been over this kind of situation before- no... it was better for everyone involved that I stayed away, at least until I could come to terms with what happened."
"And... what did happen?" Minsc asked, peering down at the half-elf, his arms folded with nonchalance. "Because Boo still wishes to know why you turned into the thing you promised you would not turn into."
"It's simple... I had to make a choice. I could have left Imoen to die in that Temple or I could have used my powers to save us. I took the only choice I had." Greywulf replied calmly. "Think about it- if we had died, what would have become of Saradush? Of all the other towns destined to be trampled by Yaga-Shura's armies? It wasn't ideal, I know that. Maybe I did break my promise. But I see now... it's a promise I couldn't-shouldn't- have made."
"I guess... I guess that makes sense." Aerie said slowly, unsure of herself as she felt her anger falter in the face of such simple, basic logic. "It does make sense, doesn't it?"
The question wasn't a rhetorical one, and Greywulf could hear it her tone. He smiled, comforting and easy, and nodded. "Listen to me- I get what you're feeling, and I've had to make my peace with it. You should too. When Imoen and Jaheira wake up, I'll... tell them what they need to know."
"About your transformation?" Minsc clarified.
Greywulf hesitated a moment before answering. "Yes. Yes, I'll tell them. They deserve to know, after all. Listen, please... I understand that what I've done... what's happening to me, and Imoen, and this whole entire mess with the Bhaalspawn is troubling to you, and you're worried for me, about me. I do understand, truly I do. And please realize that I might make choices that seem questionable, it's all for the greater good. My goal is and has always been the same, to put an end to this bloodshed and to rid myself of this taint. And if I start slipping... that's why you guys are here with me, isn't it?"
Aerie nodded, his words finally, at last, calming her spirit. "You're right... I'm sorry I doubted you. I just-"
"You were worried. I understand." he smiled gently, and then nodded firmly to Minsc. "Like you said earlier, this should be a time for celebration. Let's get the others up and moving again and we can finally put an end to Yaga-Shura's army. I've been talking with Cespenar-"
"Hello!" the aforementioned imp popped into existence beside Greywulf, nodding furiously as he fluttered above the ground, his head swinging back and forth between Aerie and Minsc. "Cespenar be good servant, oh yes!"
"And one of his recipes might come in handy." Greywulf finished dryly. "We'll need Imoen up for this though. Come on, let's go see if we can't get her back on her feet."
Aerie nodded and began following the others back, before pausing a moment, noting something just ever so slightly out of place. How had Greywulf overheard her and Minsc's conversation with Jaheira? And for that matter, Sarevok hadn't spoken a word since he had emerged from approaching his brother- even now, he simply waited at the far end of the Pocket Plane, watching, those golden eyes unblinking in the darkness. What had they said to one another? All this and more, gnawed at her confidence as they returned to the two unconscious women.
X X X X X X
Billows of wind whistled through the fortress of Amkethran, kicking up dust and the desert sands alike. When the winds grew loud and high enough, it was enough to sting the flesh of any who dared walk through the parched lands. For the monks who made their homes inside the desert fortress, they were sheltered for the most part from any hint of that sting, even when the winds blew with all the fury it could muster.
One such furious maelstrom encompassed Amkethran at the moment, as villagers and townsfolk of the settlement rushed to make shelter inside their homes, seeking refuge from the sandstorm that buffeted their town. No sane man would dare risk himself outside at a time such as this. Given enough time exposed to the full fury of a sandstorm, the desert could blind a man. Still, if one sought a time to perform deeds under the cover of secrecy, there could be no better. Only fools would be caught wandering the city at a time like this, or those with enough guts and gall to carry out their actions in such weather. For one man, this was a time like no other... they would not suspect his movements; their spies would not catch his steps. Cloaked and hooded, his face covered with wraps to shield himself from the gusting desert sand, he trekked through the streets, holding his robes tight as he pushed against the gale force. He glanced upward for a half second, then shut his eyes tight and kept trudging. In that brief second of near impossible visibility, he had found what he suspected- the spies that would normally be situated atop the roofs and through the windows of the clay and mud brick homes were absent, seeking shelter as well. Good.
There- the house he sought. A completely unassuming home, the only defining characteristic being the small, barely noticeable vents situated around the edges of the building. Hard enough to spot if you even knew they were there. Even if you did see them, it would be nearly impossible to tell what they were for. He pushed closer to the house, and slipped inside quietly, his hands nearly numb with the small motion of exposing them to the desert sands when he pushed the portal open. After sliding the door closed, he unwrapped his face and unhooded himself, breathing deeply. The warm, humid air had never tasted so good- he wiped sweat and dust from his brow, then strode to the trap door concealed beneath a meager dining room table.
The further he descended the rickety wooden stairs, the hotter it got- it was nearly unbearable by the time he got to the bottom, but the resident seemed not to mind or notice. A dwarf turned to face him as he descended, bowing low such that his beard brushed the rocky floor. "Master Balthazar, 'tis a pleasure as always. How may I serve ye this day?"
"Merely an update on your progress, that's all." the monk replied brusquely, forcing himself to push aside the physical discomfort. Coming to Gerethor's forge was always a test for him, one he almost looked forward to. Could he put aside the boundaries of physical pain and force himself to see things from without, rather than within? He smiled, breathing evenly as the dwarf moved away from the forge he had been working on, then led his master on to the different parts of his forge. The heat was no better or worse throughout the rest of the underground forge- the only thing keeping the upstairs livable were the vents he had noted before- without them the main living quarters would be noted almost immediately as something more than they appeared. And that was unacceptable- he had taken great pains to keep this particular place secret from the rest of the Five.
Their spies were no doubt watching him as often as possible, just as his spies were keeping tabs on Abazigal, Sendai and Yaga-Shura. They would be fools not to do the same. And just as he was certain they had operations and stockpiles of power he had no knowledge of, he had done his best to keep this particular place a secret from them. Here, his master smith Gerethor worked metals and powers in solace that would put any other craftsman to shame. He stepped into a hall of weaponry that the master smithy had created, lines of blades and bows and armor that gleamed with magic and power beyond compare. "I've done as ye asked, me Lord. Every piece here be of the highest quality- no other will have this kind of power at their disposal."
Balthazar did not answer for a moment, instead nodding with seeming approval as he inspected each piece of work. Picking up a gleaming blade in one hand, he raised his other into a hardened fist, then released the sword as he struck. His fist impacted the flat of the blade and for a moment, he felt the very structure of the sword warp around his hand- before it bounced off, striking the stone wall and clattering to the floor. The dwarf arched an eyebrow and smiled at the quality of his work, while Balthazar nodded approvingly. He picked up the sword and placed it back upon its holding case, then examined the rest of the hall.
"Most of the armor be enchanted for speed, just like ye requested. The swords are strong enough to stand up to a blow from any of yer monks as ye just proved, or even one of them fire giants. And each belt and girdle will grant the wearer immunity to all the elements... poison, fire, and electricity in particular."
"Excellent." Balthazar spoke. "More mercenaries arrive in Amkethran by the day. Armed with these creations of yours, they will serve as an excellent vanguard for my own monks when it comes to open war."
The dwarf glanced at his master, and Balthazar smiled, noting the look he had been given. "You note my assurance that it will come to open war. It shall, make no mistake. The rest of the Five know full well that I do not share their goals. And they know full well that each of them would rather die than share the power they have agreed to split. Even our so called benefactor Mellissan... she is not all she seems, either. Why settle for the role of advisor to the five most powerful demigods when she could be so much more? I do not know what she plans, but I shall be ready for her when it happens. I will be ready for all of them."
"As you command, me lord." the dwarf nodded. "I'll have another dozen suits of armor and blades made for ye afore the week be ended."
"Very good." Balthazar nodded as their path looped around taking them back toward the main forge. They passed a large construct, in pieces and unfinished, but enough to draw the attention of the monk. "Master Gerethor- I do not recognize that among my requests. Pray tell, what is that... big metal unit?"
"Ah, that? 'Tis... tis nothing, me lord. Just a pet project I be undertaking in my free time, which I admit is rather slim of late. A suit of metal that would grant the wearer strength like that of an adamantium golem, and the power of a wizard at his fingertips! T'as never worked. I be missing some key parts... metals I canna' seem to find. As it stands, ye'd gain just as much protection from wearing golden pantaloons, har har!"
Balthazar considered the suit for a moment longer, then proceeded back towards the forge- he stopped in his tracks, the dwarf craning his neck up to see his master, frozen in the moment. "Me lord... is everything all right?"
"Leave me. Now." Balthazar said suddenly, his tone brooking no argument. The monk's eyes flashed black as the intense buzzing, the pressure in his skull threatened to blossom into something more. He barely saw his dwarven servant scurry off as the spell that allowed contact between he and the rest of the Five activated, sweeping his presence onto a plane of reality far higher than the simple forge his body found itself in.
Spinning in a world of stars and space, Balthazar found himself face to face with the giant Yaga-Shura, the humanoid's orange beard and eyes like fire in the darkness. "Balthazar!!! You have lied to me! The wards of Gorion were not in Saradush- I have rent the city stone from stone and found no trace of them!!"
"And you blame me for this?" Balthazar replied calmly, unfazed by the ire of the astral projection he spoke with. "Perhaps you should take up your grievance with Mellissan. It was she, after all, who told you that they were trapped within. Are you certain they did not simply evade your net? They are not to be underestimated, as I told both you and Illasera. That they killed her should have given you sufficient pause in seeking them out so eagerly."
"Bah!! They are nothing compared to Yaga-Shura! Or have you forgotten, little monk, that I cannot be killed!" the giant laughed, spittle flying from his mouth and into his beard. "I need fear nobody! I need no army! I could annihilate the rest of the Bhaalspawn myself!"
"Do you think I miss the threat of your words? Have a care, and keep your pride in check, Yaga-Shura." Balthazar warned, his own tone darkening as he prepared to cut the link that joined them. "You might be immortal- but there are other ways to stop one such as you without killing them. You would be surprised what amount of pain the body can endure. Turn your wrath towards finding the wards of Gorion and ending their threat. Until they are dead, none of us are safe. Including you."
The image of Yaga-Shura's infuriated features vanished, leaving Balthazar to return to his physical form, considering the warnings and words of his so-called partner. The wards of Gorion had escaped the net of Saradush... interesting. Perhaps they were stronger... and could be of more use than he had originally thought. He would need to speak with Mellissan again.
X X X X X X
A slight ring of laughter erupted within the open air of the Pocket Plane, a rare occurrence in these days, it seemed. But at long last, those who had been injured unto death in their last battle were on their feet again, free from death's embrace. Imoen was sitting up with Aerie and Minsc by her side, the girl making jokes and describing her descent down the stairs of the Temple in comedically over-blown terms. Cespenar was working hard on the plan that Greywulf had concocted and shared with the group after all of them had awoken- and to nobody's surprise, it was crazy, downright stupid, and would probably result in one of them getting seriously injured. Having said that, it made perfect sense. One after another, Cespenar carefully crafted the arrows of detonation Greywulf had requested of him... and finishing each one, he set them down gently. Very gently.
Off to the side, Greywulf and Jaheira had left the group so that they could speak- at first Jaheira had thought it simply an effort to reassure himself that she was safe, that he had not lost her. But as he strayed around the topic at hand, never quite allowing himself to meet her eyes, her senses told her that something else was bothering him. She reached out her hand and forced him to look at her, shaking her head gently. "You have something weighing on your mind. I know that look, and I would have you simply say it and be done with it. Surely we have kept enough secrets from one another in the past?"
"I agree." Greywulf nodded, exhaling deeply. "It's about what happened when you were unconscious... when I rescued Imoen. How much did Minsc and Aerie tell you?"
"They told me the whole story... that you escaped the collapsing Temple with Imoen. It nearly killed you had you not been quick enough to avoid its destruction." Jaheira frowned. "I... the look you give me tells me that there is more to the story than I have heard. What is it you wish to say?"
He paused for a moment, then pushed aside all doubt, all hesitation. "I didn't escape. Not alone, anyway. There was a chasm... too great for me to cross as it stood. Imoen and I were going to die down there, and Yaga-Shura's heart would have been lost. We were out of options, and we had seconds to live. I did the only thing I could and became the Slayer to save us. That's what they didn't tell you."
He paused a moment, taking in her stricken look before continuing. "Like you said, no secrets. I'm telling you now because I trust you, and because I know you'll see what I saw... what I had to see in myself after this was all through. That despite what Sarevok may think, and despite everything the taint inside me wants me to believe... I'm not going to fall. I refuse to allow the Slayer to control me. I'm going to beat this thing with you at my side."
She was taken aback- not at his words, but at how utterly... confident he was. There was none of the uncertainty, the hopeful but unsure tone to his voice he had demonstrated when talking about the taint's influence in his life previously. She looked into his eyes and could see that... he truly believed everything he was saying. He had made her a promise, back in the lands surrounding Athkatla. She'd demanded it of him, when his soul was gone. That he would put his soul first- that if he couldn't promise to hold his own purity above their relationship, then it had to end. But this... this wasn't about them. It was about him using the power... and refusing to be corrupted by it. It was about him being more confident and in control than he had ever been before. She studied his face a moment longer, then leaned in gently and brushed his cheek with her lips. "I trust you, Greywulf. And I believe in you. I am glad you were willing to tell me this so readily- and I do not know where your newfound confidence comes from, but I welcome it. I can only hope you are able to face the rest of our troubles with a similar strength of will."
"Believe me, I'm going to." he smiled. "I think there's one we need to deal with right now, in fact."
She laughed in disbelief, folding her arms and letting a smirk cross her face at his manner. So unflinching, so unworried. "Very well. Speak, and I shall listen."
"Jaheira, I care deeply for you. You know that, and I have never doubted it in my heart." he began, before continuing, his smile shrinking to a thin, grim line. "I need to know if our relationship is the healthiest thing for you. If us... us being engaged, is what you really want."
She inhaled sharply- so this was it. He'd called her doubts out into the light, no warning, no hesitation. He *was* different. "I... I suppose it was inevitable that we would have this talk. Perhaps it should have happened earlier, but there just never seemed to be- no, there was time, I simply did not want to risk my thoughts, risk you hearing them and thinking less of me for them."
"Less of you?" Greywulf shook his head with disbelief and clasped her hands in his. "You are the strongest, bravest woman I have ever met. How could I think less of you after everything you and I have been through together?"
"I was afraid." she said slowly. "I love you, of that there is no doubt in my mind. But wedding one another- to commit to such a relationship... if we are to be wed, I need to know that you and I will be with one another for the rest of our days. I need to know that I will not lose you as I lost... as I lost Khalid. And then that spectre came and said such things..."
"Is it too soon, Jaheira?" Greywulf asked, no hint of accusation in his voice, only calm and curiosity. "Those wraiths did a number on all of us, but I know how hard you took it... I want to know if you think our relationship is a good thing, or if you feel guilty for what we've done... what we've shared."
"Greywulf, I...I.... without a doubt in my mind, I say to you that I am not sorry for a moment we have been together. I have many regrets in my life, but you are not one of them." Jaheira said, forcing herself to be firm, refusing to budge to the doubts that crept to her mind. "And I understand that I have been unfair to you about our engagement- your newfound manner eases my thoughts and worries. You are foremost in my life now. Shadows cannot change that."
Embraced in shadow, Sarevok watched the two of them, specifically the druidess. How taken she was with his new confidence, his new strength of will. How easily taken they all were. Only he knew the source... the real reason why he was no longer so conflicted, so unsure of himself. He had yet to see it for himself, but he knew the truth. It was everything he could have hoped for...and only time would tell how long it would be until the others saw the darkness growing within their friend.