Disclaimer:
I don't own Baldur's Gate, the great masterpiece of role-playing.
The story on hand, ‚The revenge' is fan-fiction. I wrote it, because I love to write, but I will not use ‚The revenge' in any commercial way.
o
Rating: 'M'. Some scenes may be a 'T', but I had the feeling that a few scenes should be rated as 'MA'. I think, in general it's OK, to give 'M'. If you don't like that or if you are too young, don't read!
o
o
Chapter9
Hammer4th, 1370
Suldanessalar, Amn
o
o
Jaheira stared at the entrance of the elven city of Suldanessalar.
Five days ago they had defeated the slavers and brought them to Zazerspur, where they were executed after Shelara had given them the evidence, the judges of the city needed. Jaheira sighed. She was sure that they had made new enemies… But she accepted that. If a group of slave traders was wiped out everything was well.
Before they left, Jaheira bought new fighting equipment. She didn't know what her enemies had done with her old weapons and armory, but she was sure that it was sold – and lost forever. It was quite frustrating, because her equipment had been unique: The heartwoodring, the helm of rock, her girdle of stone giant strength, her jerkin of thorns, the mighty club of detonation and the blacksteel shield, what she had bought from a merchant in Sigil, when the party had been there to save Saerileth, and her harper amulet had been great and mighty items.
Whatever.
Shelara had saved her life and that was more than she'd imagined when she had been taken away from her destroyed grove.
And there were things that were more important than her equipment: To free Saerileth, for example.
She kept on walking towards the gates of the elven city and stopped a few feet before it.
The druid looked around and raised her clear voice, "Elves of Suldanessalar, I'm Jaheira, an heir of a noble family in Tethyr. Also I'm a druid and a harper… and one of your people. A few months ago I helped to save your city and now I beg for your help."
Nothing.
Just the sound of slight snowfall.
But suddenly Jaheira pricked up her ears. There was something… In the leaves. And she saw shadows in the corners of her eyes.
Jaheira tightened her body… but relaxed one moment later when she saw four elven guards in the uniform of Suldanessalar.
Jaheira bowed immediately and whispered, "I beg for an audience with Ellesime, your great queen."
One of the elves nodded after a short moment, "Well, listen, I will tell the queen that you are here. If she allows, you may enter our city… but if you make any wrong move, our fighters and archers will kill you without delay. The same happens if you aren't the person you affect to be."
Jaheira bowed, "Thank you, my dear brothers and sisters, I will wait here."
o
The druid hadn't to wait for long, until the guard came back and led her into the city… and a second time she was allowed to see the miracles of Suldanessalar. The city was built in the trees of the forest and was lit up by small bright globes, which were attached to the branches of the trees over the streets and suspension bridges – and even the snowfall seemed to be softer and friendlier here.
The guards at her side were still there. She sighed. The elves who lived under the stars were friendly, light-hearted and helpfully… but they were also cagy and arrogant.
And these elves had all these traits. But Jaheira tried to ignore her feeling to rebuke them that it wasn't necessary to treat her like a captive.
After they had entered the palace they turned to a part of the palace she hadn't seen in earlier days: The room was decorated with valuable columns, decorated with marble, gold, rubies, sapphires and jade. At the walls were beautiful carpets and at the ceiling Jaheira saw the symbols of Suldanessalar. Ellesime stood in the middle of the room and made a step towards her, "I feel honored to see you again, Jaheira."
The druid bowed, "And I'm honored and glad to see laughing elves in the streets of this beloved city."
The queen smiled and nodded, "You're right, mighty druid… So please tell me: What's your desire."
"I speak for Shelara and our old party. We need to use your portal to Sigil to save Saerileth."
Ellesime looked at her in surprise, "Why do you know that there's a portal to Sigil in this city?"
Jaheira grinned, "We have a… companion who knows. His name is Haer Dalis', he's a tiefling and he was born in Sigil. We asked him, where's the next portal and he had told us we have to go to Suldanessalar."
"Hm… Where's Shelara?"
"She waits outside the city. Shelara wanted that I transmit you our wishes. The rest of our party won't enter the city if you don't allow us to do so… Eh, and I should add that Shelara and Imoen have defeated the essence of Bhaal. So they aren't yet cursed by the former god of murder."
Ellesime smiled, "I've heard that. The deeds she had done in Tethyr are legends already and everybody of us has to be grateful for what she had done."
Suddenly Ellesime looked to one of the guards, "Send scouts to inform Shelara that I would be happy to meet her and her group in my city."
The guard nodded and left.
Then Ellesime turned to Jaheira, "It will take one or two days, until we activate the portal. It's quite complicate to handle that supermateriel magic. I think there should be time to celebrate your arrival."
Jaheira smiled constrainedly, "Eh, well, but promise me, just a little celebration. Saerileth need us when the portal is ready."
"Hm, you haven't told me what has happened to Saerileth."
"Nalia can explain that better, I think."
o
"So… what have you done after the defeat of Amelyssan?" Elessime asked Imoen.
The brown haired archmage grinned at the elven queen, "Oh, nothing special. This and that. You
know. Regular stuff."
Elessime smiled, "So it isn't true that you establish a thief guild?"
Imoen hesitated, but laughed after a short moment, "Eh, yes, but it's a secret."
Ellesime laughed, too, "Oh, sorry. So I won't talk about that again."
Imoen smiled and took a short look around. Keto had been disappeared with some elven bards in an adjoining room and sometimes Imoen could hear someone reciting a poem or playing a harp. Chloe sat next to Ellhan and talked with him about the advantages of using two swords instead of fighting with sword and a shield. Jaheira talked with one of the priest… Imoen was sure that they talked about the position of nature in their lives – or something like that. Shelara and Nalia were with one officer of the guards.
Yesterday Nalia had told their hosts what had happened and it was easy for her to convince the council of Suldanessalar and the queen Elessime that the elves would support Shelara on her mission.
But today they would forget their problems – and celebrate their lives.
"Imoen?" Ellesime asked.
"Hm?"
"I want to tell you that it's a pleasure to see you without the essence of Bhaal. Your heart isn't made to carry such a burden and… you look so much better when you're laughing."
Imoen's face beamed, "Thank you. And let me say that I li…"
"WHAT?!" the furious yell pierced the room.
Ellesime started and looked to Shelara, who stared to the elven guard with anger in his eyes.
"Shelara? May I know…"
"Is it true that Yasraena lived in this city?"
"Yes, the drow was in Suldanessalar for two or three months."
Shelara suppressed her anger, "And you've haven't seen the necessity to tell us?"
The elven queen hesitated, but then she grumbled, "She's a drow."
"That don't give you the right…" she stopped, fixed the elf again, "And is it true that you found Divalir's corpse a few weeks ago?"
"Yes. And to answer your next question: We've found traces of his attackers near the gate to the Underdark. Our scouts told that they abducted Yasraena and brought her to Ust Natha."
Silence.
"And everything you do is to sit here and… do nothing?"
"She's a drow. Non-elves can't understand that," Ellesime said composedly.
"But she helped to save your city. She fought on our side and she bled for you!"
Ellesime gave her a dark glance, but sighed in the next moment, "Yes, it was a mistake to let it happen."
"Your late words don't pardon your… betrayal to one of my friends!" the priestess of Sune hissed and stormed out of the room.
o
Shelara stood in front of the palace and looked at the city… It was so lovely and nice… But perhaps the hearts of elves weren't much better than the hearts of human beings.
"Shelara?"
She turned around and saw Jaheira.
"What do you want?" she growled.
The druid sighed, "Come on, Shelara! It is not as easy as you think."
"Tell me, what's difficult here! Ellesime allowed that Yasraena was brought to Ust Natha. Her drow-sisters will torture and kill her on the worst way they can imagine. If Ellesime…"
Jaheira interrupted her with a furious wink, "Face the reality! She's a drow! Elves won't help a drow."
"But you! You fought with her!"
"I'm special when it's about Yasraena."
Silence again.
Shelara whispered, "I thought, elves are a power of the good and that they would help everyone who needs help."
Jaheira sighed, "Listen, elves don't see the world with good-evil-eyes. It doesn't make sense to be evil, so elves aren't evil. Life's short enough, even for elves and it's better to treat a person as a friend than to kill him. We just try to enjoy our lives. Perhaps that's a trait which is just elfish… But that doesn't make elves good although the most creatures see us so."
Shelara stared at her and nodded after a moment, "Hm, perhaps I understand."
The druid smiled, "All right. We should go back and you should apologize. Ellesime is still the queen and your behavior was… eh, quite outrageous. But she will forgive you. Elves aren't vengefully – and with the power of your ring of influence she will forgive you everything."
Shelara looked at her skeptically, but nodded and followed her old friend back into the palace.
When they entered the room again, Shelara looked around and saw Ellesime sitting there, still at Imoen's side. They were still involved in a conversation, but the mood in the hall seemed to be depressed.
The priestess sighed deeply and stopped in front of Ellesime. Then she bowed and whispered, "I want to apologize for my unfriendly words. You're the queen of this beautiful city and I trampled over your hospitality."
The queen smiled, "It honors you and your party that you take side, even with Yasraena. Perhaps we have a different opinion about this drow, but I see that your heart is always with old friends. It's good to know that there are people like you out there."
"Thanks."
"So," Ellesime added, "Imoen told me that you're a cleric in the temple of Lathander, although your heart belongs to Sune. Tell me about that."
o
o
-tbc-