Disclaimer: I do not own 'Shadows of Amn', the 'Forgotten Realms' or any characters therein. Wizards of the Coast do, at my last check. Lucky them.
I do, however, own Fritha and certain other characters and plot points. Basically, if you don't recognise it from the game, it's probably mine.

Apologies for the delay. It seems USB storage devices do not appreciate being put into washing machines. Quel surprise.

– Blackcross & Taylor

Inside the walls

Battle raged in the great hall, the fighting fierce amongst the debris of broken chairs and torn banners, a long heavy table that ran the room's length the only furniture still intact. They had tried to keep together, but the group had already been split in two, Jaheira, Minsc and Aerie being forced further down the hall. Jaheira was sweeping her staff in graceful arcs, landing crushing blows to heads and limbs, Minsc swinging his broadsword at anything unlucky enough to come within reach, while Aerie stood behind them, working frantically to gather her energies for another spell.

The others had managed to hold on at the doors though; Fritha, Anomen and Nalia crushed together by the doorway and keeping their only means of retreat open should the battle move against them. Anomen using mace and shield to hold back the horde, Nalia firmly behind and firing shots past him, while Fritha danced back and forth, making quick forays out from the arc of his shield.

'Here, watch out!' cried Fritha behind him as Anomen took the nearest troll's jaw clean away and almost knocked her senseless with the back swing; things were much easier holding a line.

The squire hadn't time to consider this further though. Jaheira had been split away from Minsc and Aerie, being pushed further into the room's centre as she struggled to hold off a troll and two yuan-ti. The druid had wounded one, but could do little else while guarding attacks from the other two. Anomen, however, was not the only one to have noticed.

Just a moment to glance to them and cry, 'Hold the doors,' and Fritha was gone, the girl throwing herself into the horde with a zeal that bordered on suicidal and disappearing from view.

'Anomen!' came a scream behind him and he glanced back to see a smaller troll drop from the chandelier. He brought his shield up just in time, throwing it off and Nalia put an arrow through it before it had even hit the ground.

He pulled his attention back to the battle. Jaheira looked to be getting desperate and he strained to see a glimpse of copper in the throng. Where was Fritha?

Jaheira cursed angrily, another strike against her deflected just in time. She had finally managed to finish the wounded yuan-ti, but not without a cost to herself; her position now even less favourable as she found herself hemmed in against the table, holding back the final pair with little chance for retreat. She swung her staff out low, defending against the yuan-ti's blow to her legs and ready to dodge the troll's swipe at her face, when a sudden shout, and Fritha was on the table behind her. The troll hadn't even the chance to turn, the girl immediately bringing her blade down with enough force to split its skull, struggling to free her sword as she shouted orders to the rest of them.

'Anomen, move across the doors. Jaheira, fall back to Minsc. Ae-'

Her voice was lost to a curse, a small black troll dropping down at her from a shredded tapestry, only to be taken clean out of the air by a well placed arrow.

'Thanks, Nalia,' she yelled, swinging round to defend against another whose attention she had caught, Jaheira finishing the remaining yuan-ti and finally retreating back towards Minsc. Suddenly energy tore through the air, striking the troll Fritha was fighting dead, only to rebound off the wall behind, barely missing Anomen.

'Sorry!' came Aerie's plaintive cry, though the elf was already halfway to casting another, hands a blur.

'Helm's beard, girl!' he shouted, dodging it and moving straight into the range of the nearest troll. He threw up his shield to take the blow, the unexpected force knocking him off balance and he crashed into the table at his back to send Fritha sprawling. For one awful moment everything seemed to stop, the troll looming above them both, when another spell was released to strike it square in the back and the creature crumpled where it stood, the smell of singed flesh hanging in the suddenly silent air.

'Well,' began Fritha, picking herself up to cast an eye over the carnage; apart from a bit of hurt pride and her sore throat from all the shouting, she thought that had gone surprisingly well. But all were not in agreement it seemed.

'Anomen, kindly take into account there are others around you when flailing about with that mace of yours!' Jaheira snapped, eyes blazing. The cleric glowered down at her in silence, hefting the weapon slightly as though he would have liked nothing better than to knock her over the head with it. But the woman barely noticed, instantly whirling to the elf behind her, 'and Aerie, did you even consider who you were intending to hit before wildly sending spells into your comrades?'

'Jaheira!' Fritha interrupted crossly as the girl flushed and turned away. The woman scowled at her, but said no more and Fritha bit back a sigh, continuing more brightly.

'All right, so far, so good -leave the bodies,' she added to Minsc as the ranger made a move towards the corpse of the nearest troll, 'we've about an hour before they regenerate, so we'll burn them all together in the courtyard. Now everyone pair off and check the adjoining rooms. Come on, Jaheira, we'll take the kitchens.'

Jaheira shot her a look but followed all the same, Fritha moving into the hallway and cautiously opening the door at the end as the others dispersed behind them. The room lay gloomy and still though, the shutters closed and barred across the high windows and the only light was from an old arrow slit above the huge range, clearly left open for ventilation. Baskets of dried meat and fruit were overturned and pans littered the floor, though the room was thankfully clear of bodies and Fritha picked her way through the chaos with a sigh; she may as well get this over with.

Jaheira had been irascible ever since their escape, something she and Minsc merely accepted as part of the woman's grieving. But the others were understandably less sympathetic, especially as time wore on, and she sensed tensions were building. Fritha could appreciate Jaheira's impatience, but any more outbursts and their companions' inexperience would no longer be a problem, for the simple fact they would not have any.

'I understand it's frustrating,' Fritha began, drawing her sword to carefully lift the baskets at her feet, 'the way everyone is still getting used to each other and the way we all fight, but I don't think shouting at them is the answer.'

'No?' Jaheira snapped promptly, making no pretence of checking the room as she stood only a step or so from the door, hands firmly on her hips. 'Should I just keep silent then, let them carry on with their foolishness until someone is killed?'

Fritha sighed, sheathing her sword as she turned to face her.

'Of course not, but there are better ways of going about it. They are new to this group, this life; there's bound to be some difficulties in the beginning.' She smiled gently, 'just try to be a bit more patient with them.'

'More patient?' the woman repeated incredulously, her brow furrowing as she continued angrily, 'the way you must tiptoe around everyone is pathetic! Why you allowed them to join with us in the first instance is beyond me.'

'Well, it wasn't as though we had much of a choice!' Fritha snapped, instantly feeling guilty. Fritha admitted she'd had her doubts to begin with, but the newcomers had done nothing yet to warrant her scorn and she had not meant to sound as though she agreed with the woman. But, either way, couldn't Jaheira see this was about something so much more than just them? Imoen was in danger and whether their companions were ideal or not, they could not raise the money for her release alone.

'But that is beside the point,' Fritha sighed, unsure of what she was saying even as she spoke, 'your manner, Jaheira, is causing real friction within the group, and… and if it continues then…' She trailed off, the sentence hanging in the air between them. She could not finish the ultimatum; any provocation to the woman's pride and she may as well just tell Jaheira to go. Fritha dipped her head, her heart suddenly pounding. '…then I worry what will happen.'

Jaheira remained silent and Fritha glanced up slowly, not sure what to expect and was surprised to find the woman was not even looking at her, but gazing instead to the old arrow slit and the sliver of clear blue sky beyond. Fritha sighed to herself. It was so difficult, knowing the right thing to say and when. The druid had shrugged off her 'worthless pity' when they had first discovered Khalid in the dungeons, and would hear no comfort from anyone. At the time, leaving her alone to deal with her grief had seemed for the best, but Fritha wondered that if perhaps she had forced the point then, or soon afterwards, things wouldn't be a whole lot better between them now.

She watched the woman, still deliberately staring at the sky, her form tense. Perhaps all she needed was a reminder that whatever was happening, someone still cared deeply for her.

'Jaheira, I know I never said this, but-'

A shrill cry followed by an almighty crash cut her off and Fritha nearly screamed with frustration as the druid instantly left for the source.

'Oh, Hells!'

But by the time Fritha arrived, the crisis was well over, everyone in the northern storeroom and gathered about the body of a large dark green troll. The fact half its skull was missing and the way Anomen was hefting his mace giving her quite enough of an explanation as to what had happened, though Nalia saw fit to inform her anyway.

'We were checking the room when it leapt out from behind those banners. It dodged my arrow, but it wasn't so lucky with Anomen.'

The squire looked as though he was fighting desperately against a grin and Fritha had to bite back a laugh.

'Good work,' she smiled, 'are all the other rooms checked?'

Murmurs of assent all round and Fritha glanced to Jaheira who purposefully avoided her eye.

Later… she promised herself, before returning her attention to the rest of them.

'Right, with this floor secure, our next objective is to take the courtyard. We'll leave by the eastern doors- they're the ones nearest the steps, aren't they?' she added with a glance to Nalia, who nodded. 'Jaheira and Anomen stay at the doorway and be ready to retreat and bar the doors should you be overwhelmed; we can't risk loosing the keep again. Nalia and Aerie, I need you two behind them and providing cover for Minsc and I.'

'And what will you be doing?' demanded the druid. Fritha grinned.

'We're going to open the gates.'

Fritha knew the courtyard would be bad, but even then she was left breathless at the sheer carnage that had been wrought there, the corpses of guards and servants carelessly trampled by the trolls and yuan-ti that milled about, grazing as they willed. A moment of almost stunned silence followed their appearance, before the air erupted as battle cries were screamed on both sides, Anomen and Jaheira stepping up, the two girls ready behind them with spell and bow as creatures pressed in on all sides. Fritha couldn't afford to be pinned there though, barely sparing Minsc a glance as she dashed out from behind the line and straight into an approaching yuan-ti. Anomen stepped up behind, taking a blow meant for her across his shield as she dodged left, slashing it neatly across the mid-section as she passed and flying up the steps to the battlements.

The delay had allowed Minsc to pass her though, and she ran along the wall to catch him, the man already at the gatehouse and shouting something to the captain waiting beneath. She reached him mere seconds later, kicking out the chocks and throwing all her weight into the wheel of the drawbridge, her shoulder braced painfully against one of the spokes. It didn't budge.

'Minsc,' she gasped, still struggling in vain, 'I can't- here, you try.'

She stepped back, allowing the larger man in to apply his strength to the wheel, glancing quickly back to the courtyard to check on the group by the door. But they were holding their own and she immediately returned her attention to the battlements, whirling just in time to parry a blow, a huge troll suddenly looming behind her. She staggered back, realising too late she should have kept her attention on the walls. It slashed at her again and she dodged left into the shelter of the spokes, its blow missing her to hit the wheel. A tortured shriek and suddenly the axel was spinning freely, Minsc leaping back with a shout as Fritha threw herself to the ground just in time to prevent being knocked senseless, rolling away from the troll to rise in crouch and cleave off a leg, Minsc catching its fall to finish it with a slash to the torso.

The crash as the drawbridge landed rang through the courtyard, but even that was drowned out by the roar of the waiting soldiers as they poured in, and Fritha was sure she felt the gatehouse tremble beneath her from the stampede. She picked herself up to peer over the battlements, the sun hot on her back as she watched the last of the invaders fall. Her nose was bleeding; she didn't care. Minsc glanced down to her with a grin, the rest of their group looking bloodied but whole by the doorway and she was filled with a sudden joy.

They had done it. The keep was theirs!

xxx

Jaheira stood in the courtyard with Aerie, the troll fires making the afternoon heat almost unbearable, their smoke hanging in the air in long acrid tendrils. Nalia was still inside with Anomen, directing the men they would leave behind, while Minsc and Fritha were securing the drawbridge, fixing the chains that held it so even if they were overrun once more, their escape route would remain clear. Jaheira glanced up to the battlements as a triumphant laugh signalled they'd finished, and she watched the pair clatter down the steps to join her, Minsc with a red welt across his cheek that would no doubt develop into the most vivid black eye, Fritha sporadically licking at the blood still tricking from her nose, and both of them looking thoroughly pleased with themselves.

Jaheira straightened at their approach, a sudden anger at the pair filling her, their smiles a mockery of the sick dread she herself felt. Both of them wounded, and in such a way as could have been much worse with but a fraction's leeway…

Aerie fluttered at her elbow, eyes trained on Fritha's bloody face. 'Oh, are you okay?'

'Fine, fine,' she answered, dismissing the elf with a wave of her hand, 'see to Minsc. I don't want that cut swelling up and impairing his vision.'

Aerie nodded and Jaheira watched as she led the taller man back into the keep, not trusting herself to turn to the girl still behind her until she had calmed. The ranger was addled enough to be forgiven such behaviour, but Fritha had no such excuse! Any moment in there could bring their deaths, why was she not taking the situation seriously? Jaheira had wanted to say something earlier in the kitchens, explain to her that her actions were born from nothing but the desire to see her safe and not a victim of others' faults. But then the girl had begun her ultimatum and it had been all she could do not to march out and quit her company then and there.

Fritha may be happy enough to give the others room for error, but to do so when the situation was already so dangerous was suicide. That she could be so blind, so stubborn! Didn't she realise all it took was one mistake, one moment of lapse to claim a life! Jaheira swallowed, a sudden lump in her throat as she turned to find Fritha at her feet, crouched next to one of the bodies that still littered the courtyard, delicate amber curls trembling in the breeze as she stared blankly at his face. He was young and looked peaceful in death and the girl moved a hand up to lower his visor, Jaheira turning suddenly away.

They had already lost so much and she wouldn't, couldn't lose anyone else, not so soon after…

A deep sigh that ended in a cough broke through her thoughts and she glanced back to see the girl straighten, a mirthless smile pulling at her mouth.

'Did a victory ever smell so sour?'

Jaheira cast an eye of the carnage and shook her head. 'Many have lost their lives here; I wonder if this place can ever be more than a tomb now.'

The girl snorted, impatiently wiping the sweat from her forehead, smearing it with blood.

'At least that would be cooler; Gods, this heat is damnable!' she sighed, her gaze drifting to the sky. 'Though I suppose it's not all bad, at least these brushes with death make for a pleasant distraction.'

Jaheira recoiled. The joke felt like a slap in the face; a mockery of everything she was feeling, and she sensed a familiar anger at the world welling in her heart. Was this all some sort of game to her? People could die, had died! Why couldn't she see how fragile their lives were? Jaheira swallowed dryly, anger making her chest tight. Half their friends were dead, just gone, and there Fritha was just making light of the whole thing! And suddenly it was as though she was two people, the world almost a dream as Jaheira watched herself step up to the girl, her scornful tones ringing through the silent courtyard.

'You are enjoying this?'

'Enjoying?' Fritha questioned, turning to her with genuine bewilderment, before Jaheira's implication seemed to dawn. She looked hurt and Jaheira felt something inside her begin to purr as Fritha straightened, moving a hand unconsciously to her hip and she could just see the girl squaring up to her. There would be no backing down this time.

'Well, perhaps it seems like it since I'm not quite as content expressing my displeasure as you are, but I can't afford to let anything get in the way of what we must do here.'

'And yet you do it with such ease,' Jaheira snapped, a horrible helpless feeling that the argument was running away with her welling beneath her chest, but her anger would not let her stop.

The girl snorted, her nostrils twitching as she fought to keep her temper, and Jaheira hated her all the more for it.

'Please, when have I known you to suffer anything more than a toothache without letting the whole world know of it?'

'And I suppose just making a joke of everything is better, is it?'

'Yet again, we must ask the question, what else would you have me do? Spend my days sobbing into my sleeve? How will that help anything?' Fritha paused to send her a contemplative look, her eyes narrowing. 'Yet, perhaps I should just let others take the lead, never speak outside a criticism, just be rude and exercise my temper where I pleased -that would really get us far, wouldn't it!' The girl was breathing heavily now, her face flushed, flinging her arm out towards the keep as she spoke. 'We need them! Why drive them away for nothing?'

'It is not for nothing!' Jaheira shouted, all her self-control employed to keep from shaking the girl. 'They died for you! You laugh and joke and act as if everything is a game; you scorn their memory! What would they think? Dynaheir, Khalid, Imo-'

She stopped, and suddenly she was no longer watching from the outside, but staring down into the bright dark eyes of her friend, the girl's voice slow and measured and full of emotion.

'Imoen's not dead.'

A rattle of armour behind them, an uneasy cough and both women turned to see the broad figure of Anomen in the doorway, little more than an outline through the haze of smoke. Jaheira took the moment to turn and sweep past her, returning to the keep, Anomen stepping aside to let the druid pass before walking across to join her. How long he'd been there, Fritha could not tell, though his face was grim and she suspected the façade had finally fallen from her and Jaheira's fractured relations.

'You should let someone look at that nose,' he said tonelessly, gesturing to her bloody face. Fritha made no reply though, not trusting herself to speak, and merely smiled evenly at him, teeth locked beneath her lips. Her Alaundo Smile she called it: that expression of resolute and stony serenity as worn by his statue in her former home.

Anomen stared down at her intently, clearly deliberating on whether to voice his concerns when-

'You should not allow such insubordination to continue unchecked.'

'Anomen,' she sighed, all the fight suddenly leaving her as a dull ache surfaced behind her eyes, 'they aren't soldiers or knights; they're people. I have no authority over them bar the authority they give me, and so we continue with today's reoccurring theme: what would you have me do?'

He stared down at her, seemingly astounded that she would even have to ask, and she wondered absently just how high a pedestal Anomen had had her on.

'Anomen, she has just lost her husband-'

'So you will just allow her to continue with this abuse?'

Fritha shrugged, her words feeling somehow hollow even as she spoke them. 'I am her friend and such relationships are not always as simple as they could be.'

Anomen remained unmoved. 'You are her friend outside of battle; inside it you are her commander- I can see why the Order keeps such strict hierarchies in place,' he added in what sounded like a rather disdainful tone, and she considered that Anomen might well be regretting his previous haste to join with them.

Fritha just shrugged, lacking the energy to convince him otherwise, and she turned to walk back to the keep, leaving the squire little choice but to follow her. She returned to the dim cool of the hallway feeling all the worse for her argument, Nalia marching up to her purposefully as soon as she entered.

'Fritha, I've had the men take up strategic positions- oh, are you hurt?' she suddenly asked, peering concernedly at Fritha's face and it was only then she recalled the dried blood that was still smeared across her upper lip.

'No, no,' Fritha sighed, licking the corner of her sleeve to wipe at it half-heartedly, 'you were saying.'

'Oh, yes, well, the men have taken up positions covering the stairs and doors over the ground floor while Arat leads the servants back to the palisade.'

Fritha nodded absently. 'Good, good; down to the cellars then?'

Nalia looked disheartened. 'I'm afraid it's not as simple as that. The entrance to the cellars is on the first floor; the jail is down there, amongst other things… it's more secure that way.'

Fritha gave a loose shrug.

'Okay, what's on the first floor?'

'The family rooms, the library and the solar,' Nalia answered promptly, anticipating her question, 'all built within an encircling hallway.'

Fritha nodded once to show she'd understood, trying to restore a modicum of confidence in her leadership and turning slightly to include the others who had gather about them during their exchange.

'Okay, we'll move up to the first floor checking the rooms as we go, before heading down to the cellars. Minsc, you're up front with me.'

Nalia's description turned out to be quite an accurate one, the stairs leading onto a long square corridor; all the rooms, bar the solar, placed within it and windowless as a result. Fritha wondered absently at the fortune that would no doubt go to light them, though she supposed that when it came to castle design 'natural-light' was quite a bit below 'impregnability'.

But either way, there were still many rooms to search and they soon developed a quick routine for each door; Fritha putting her ear to the wood to listen for trouble, her findings deciding whether Nalia was brought forward to cautiously pick the lock, or all stepped back as Minsc kicked it off its hinges, everyone pouring into the room ready to subdue whatever they found. It was dangerous work, especially in such confined spaces where she could not rely on her agility to get her out of trouble, and Fritha knew she should have probably hung back slightly to let Minsc and one of their more armoured companions go in first. But Fritha was still sore from her fight with Jaheira and she stayed close to the ranger regardless, taking comfort in his loud good humour and the kind smiles he sent her way as they worked.

They had just finished in the solar; the myriad of plants providing excellent cover for any number of creatures, though the room turned out to have been empty. Fritha would have liked nothing more than to check the place all over again, lingering in the leafy room with only the sound of the fountains, the sun just a milky green orb through the glass ceiling. But there was nothing to be done but move onward and she led them promptly back into the dim cool corridor and on to the next door, dropping down before it with a barely audible sigh, her ear pricking as soon as near the smooth wood.

'Something's moving within,' she murmured, straightening to step back, 'ready, Minsc, on my signal, one, two-'

Suddenly, the door flew open, a guard appearing in the mouth only to be nearly decapitated by a startled Minsc as a high voice behind her screamed, 'Hendron!'

'Good gods, man!' he snapped, staring white-faced at the broadsword just inches from his nose, 'kindly lower that blade and explain to me what you are doing here!'

'It's all right, Hendron,' came Nalia's voice as she pushed her way through to stand at Fritha's side, 'I've brought them, they're liberating the keep. We've taken back the lower floors and the gate is open again. What has been happening?'

'Well, I've your aunt in here with me; quite shaken she is too- not that you could tell,' he added in a disgruntled undertone that Nalia saw fit to ignore, 'I haven't seen your father since the keep fell though. There were rumours of the trolls interrogating him about a cache of gold hidden somewhere in the cellars, but I've heard nothing more-'

'Nalia dear, is that you?' came a soft voice of crystal-cut vowels and Hendron stepped aside to allow Delcia forward, her temples grey beneath her wimple and lined face pulled into an expression of concern; that was until she actually noticed her niece and the company she was keeping, and suddenly she hardened, brows brought low in a stern frown.

'Well, look at you! Absolutely filthy and wandering the halls with these, these riff-raff! What will the servants think? If I have told you once, I have told you a thousand times, this behaviour is simply not becoming for a young lady of your standing. You will only end up as you poor dead mother; she would slum as you do, dealing with those beneath her and her reward was the pestilence that claimed her life.'

'Aunty, please!' cried Nalia, looking mortified, but it seemed Delcia was in full swing now she finally had someone to vent her fear on, turning from her niece to cast a critical eye over the rest of them.

'Just as I suspected: a likely group of ruffians. And is that not Lord Cor's son?' she accused, pointing a shaking finger at Anomen, 'Well, I would have thought better of you. What would your father say if he saw you with these commoners?'

Anomen sent Delcia a look that made the woman's disdain seem positively friendly. 'I am sure I do not know, madam.'

'Well, I never-!'

But what she had never was lost to them as, at that moment, Hendron wrapped a cloak about her shoulders and firmly escorted her out, Nalia following the pair halfway along the corridor with a few placating cries; the woman's demands that her niece come with her being duly ignored.

Nalia sighed, tripping back to them with an apologetic smile.

'I'm sorry about that, my aunt is a good enough person, but old and very set in her ways. I'm afraid she does not approve of dealing with her lessers.'

Jaheira snorted, narrowed eyes drifting along the corridor after the woman. 'It is a wonder she deigns to speak to anyone then.'

'I wish some others would follow her example,' Fritha muttered under her breath, pain flaring behind her eyes in sympathy as Nalia carried on oblivious.

'Come, there's an entrance to the cellar just down here, through the library.'

They followed Nalia the last few steps to the final doorway, the large oak door already ajar and the girl hung back to allow Minsc to enter first. The room turned out to be empty though, whatever had upset both tables and nearly destroyed one of the bookcases clearly long departed.

'Here, the steps are just through here,' she smiled, pulling aside a tapestry of the de'Arnise family crest to reveal a stone staircase curving down into the gloom.

The group fell into single file, Nalia just behind the ranger who led the way and Fritha close behind her, leaving Aerie and Jaheira to follow, the squire bringing up the rear. Aerie felt her heart quicken as each step took her deeper within the keep, the idea of all that stone above her leaving her giddy. The stairs were narrow, both walls and bodies pressing in about her and she tried to put all her focus on the head before her, the bright cluster of amber curls reduce to a murky tan in the gloom. Though she knew it was impossible, the air seemed to be thinning and she hesitated, putting a hand against the wall to steady herself, the druid behind her tutting the delay and causing Fritha to glance round.

'Come on,' the girl encouraged with a warm smile that Aerie tried to return, though she did manage to make the last few steps, her heart slowing again as she walked through the doorway into the larger room beyond. And then it stopped.

All about her chains hung, rusting and silent, cages still baring eloquent stains standing at intervals about the chamber. Aerie drew a breath, wanting to tear her eyes away but unable to move, transfixed by the room; an old brazier still filled with irons, a rack left solid and serviceable under a heavy layer of dust. The druid had commented on something and Nalia was speaking, but it was as though she was listening to them through water; the world about her reduced to an echoing dream.

'It's been here since the castle was built, though the family hasn't used it for generations, not even the prisons. Father prefers to send any criminals to the city gaol back in Ath- Aerie are you all right?'

And suddenly everyone was staring at her, the mix of faces swimming in and out of focus before Fritha stepped forward, grasped her firmly by the shoulders and marched her back into the stairwell, Nalia hurrying after them but seconds later.

'That- that room,' Aerie cried shrilly, her heart trembling inside her chest as she scrambled frantically back from the door, Nalia turning to close it behind them, 'I can't-'

'Aerie, please,' soothed Fritha, her hands still at her shoulders trying to hold her steady, 'no one will make you do anything you don't want to, but please, what on Toril's wrong?'

Her voice held a firmness that was calming and Aerie felt herself sink onto the steps behind to drop her head into her hands, misery rushing in to replace her fears. It was so long ago now, she had been sure she had banished the last of her demons concerning her imprisonment. She felt the tears begin to well, her eyes hot with sorrow and frustration. Oh, why now of all times, when everything had been going so well. Poor Nalia was relying on her. And Anomen and Jaheira; as if they needed any more of a reason to think she was pathetic!

But it was too late for regrets now. Silence was ringing about her and she knew an explanation would have to be made. She glanced up to the two girls, her voice sounding strange in her ears.

'I told you before, I was not always with the circus. I- I was born in Faenya Dail.'

Nalia's brow furrowed, none the wiser it seemed, but Aerie could see the slow horror dawning behind Fritha's eyes.

'But… isn't that an avariel city?'

Nalia drew a sharp breath, looking down at her like she was seeing her for the first time, her expression slowly mirroring Fritha's.

'But Aerie?' Nalia breathed, as though willing her to deny it, 'Your wings?'

'I- I was captured by slavers shortly after my ninetieth year and sold to a touring show as an attraction. But- but the cage I was kept in was too small. I could not move about properly and my wings atrophied. They-' Aerie swallowed, the words sticking in her throat. 'They had to be removed… But then I was freed,' she continued in a rush, trying to force a brightness to her voice, 'and I met Quayle and he took me in. I mean, I try not to think about it anymore, but just seeing all the cages and, well-'

It was no good. Merely thinking of it again dissolved any of her previous composure and she gave up, dipping her head to attempt to retain at least some shred of dignity as she cried quietly into her lap. The girls seemed to shuffle uncomfortably a moment before Nalia stepped forward to make soothing noises, awkwardly patting her shoulder, Fritha just watching them with a pained look.

'What is the delay?' came Anomen's voice outside the door and Fritha sighed, seeming to consider something before glancing across to Nalia.

'Could you go and tell them we'll just be a moment, please.'

The girl nodded and departed with a relieved promptness, the silence she left almost palpable as Fritha sank onto the step next to her.

'You know, we have yet to clear the roofs and I shouldn't like to be caught down here without warning. It would be prudent to have someone on guard at the top of the stairs…' She trailed off, letting the offer hang in the air between them.

Aerie swallowed another bout of tears, the unexpected kindness making her feel even worse about her breakdown and she stared at her hands, pale and frail looking in the half-light. Was this how it would always be? With her cowering beneath the shadow of her past at every step of her life. They had already stolen so much from her, so many years; how much more would she allow herself to lose?

Aerie glanced down, surprised to find Fritha's hand at her forearm, gently stroking the underside with the silken backs of her nails, so light a touch it could almost be discounted, though it was strangely comforting nevertheless.

'No-' she began tremulously, a blink dislodging the last of her tears, 'no, I will come.'

'Good,' said Fritha firmly, rising to pass her a handkerchief just as she had in the circus, her sigh barely audible and Aerie felt a surge of affection for her. The girl was trying so hard to fill a role she was clearly unaccustomed to and Aerie was sure this couldn't be helping.

'Thank you, I- I'll try to be less of a burden-'

'Oh hush now, don't start on with that!' she scolded, but there was no anger in it and Aerie smiled tentatively as she stood. Fritha drew a deep breath.

'Right, all set? Then on we go.'