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. Nor do I own 'One Art' by Elizabeth Bishop
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.

– Blackcross & Taylor

Pax!

Fritha stretched in her chair, letting her attention drift from the checked board before her and travel around the quiet tavern. Draughts had never really been her game, but she was better at it than she was chess, and it was a diverting enough way to spend the afternoon, any time spent with Nalia easily considered time well spent.

The group had all arrived back late the previous evening, escorting Helenya straight home for a very tearful reunion, at least on the part of her parents, before they had all returned to the Coronet, Fritha more than glad to be sleeping in a bed once again.

As for that day, she was not the only one to rise late, the group eventually taking lunch together before everyone left for various errands about the city. Fritha herself collected the reward for Rejiek from the Watch House, taking it straight to the docks to visit the shrine of Mask and make her prayers for both Lirsand and Imoen, the girl finally able to pay her tithes as promised. Then it had been back to the slums to take her remaining coin over to Gaelen, the man chatting idly of the reputation she was getting about the area as he made note of the money in his ledger.

But this had only taken a few hours at the most and she had returned to the tavern in the early afternoon to find Aerie and Haer'Dalis already at a table, Fritha heading straight for her room when Nalia had appeared on the stairs and the two took a table as well, each just as glad to see the other, it seemed.

Fritha smiled as she glanced to the girl opposite her, straight red hair shining in the sunlight that had managed to pierce the grimy window next to them. Nalia had been so nice these last few days, bearing her tantrums and her moping with nothing but an unwavering desire to try and cheer her, which Fritha had to admit, the girl had managed for the most part. The pain of seeing Aerie and Haer'Dalis together, which had started out so sharp, had lessened with Nalia's help to a barely noticeable ache, and now she could look upon the couple with barely more than a twinge, Fritha following the girl's eyes to the table behind them.

Haer'Dalis and Aerie were sat, deep in talk as they often were, Aerie looking even prettier than usual, the elf having combed out her hair and added some jewellery. Fritha sighed. Such a thing would have never even occurred to her. Jaheira was right; she was green. But, she concluded mildly, if that was the sort of thing it took to win him, then perhaps he wasn't worth having.

She watched as the bard leaned in close, his eyes never leaving the elf's as he recited some quiet verse to her, the girl's face a mix of admiration and awe. Fritha let her eyes close slightly, putting herself in the place of the avariel; would she be staring back at him with the same grave adoration? Fritha felt herself smile wryly. No, she would more likely have burst out laughing by now and told the bard to stop taking himself so seriously.

Fritha understood that most people were likely to temper their technique to whomever they were trying to win, but Haer'Dalis seemed to be acting pretty much as himself and the more she considered it, the more she felt they would have probably made a less than ideal match. Still, it would have been nice to find out such with the fullness of time, rather than getting her heart so thoroughly stamped on before the same conclusion could be drawn.

Fritha pulled her attention back to their game, letting the sound of Aerie's giggling wash over her as she contemplated her next move, jumping a piece over two of Nalia's to reach the other side of the board.

'Okay, king me.'

'Hm?' came the girl and Fritha glanced up to see Nalia turning distractedly back to her, her attention clearly still caught by the pair behind them.

'Nalia,' she sighed, tapping an insistent finger upon the black disk in front of her and the girl shook herself, glumly placing another piece atop it.

'Look, let's just give up shall we,' Fritha continued with a gentle smile. 'It's clear your heart's not in it; you can normally beat me hands down.'

'No, no, I'm sorry, I'll pay attention, it's just.' Nalia gritted her teeth as another melodious giggle drifted over them. 'Doesn't it bother you?'

Fritha shrugged.
'The art of losing isn't hard to master,' she quoted with a slight smile, taking another mouthful of tea.

'Yes, but not just the fact he prefers, well…' Nalia trailed off a moment, looking uncomfortable before she gathered herself. 'But the way they flaunt their relations. And have you seen them together, it's like a pantomime!

Fritha grinned. 'Oh, no it isn't!'

'Fritha!' she cried, playfully smacking her hand and they both laughed warmly, Haer'Dalis's dramatic tones drifting back to them.

'You may have thought I had forgotten our previous plans for your acting, sweet Aerie, in the commotion of our tasks, but I have merely been searching for the perfect role with which to draw out your talents and I now believe I have found it.'

A pointed slap as Fritha assumed said script was thrown onto the table.

'It is from the play Tersis, my dove. You would be the goddess, fallen from favour and bearing the slings of accusation and scorn with grace and confidence.'

'And nary a hissy fit in sight,' added Nalia with a smirk, Fritha snorting into her teacup as the bard continued on, oblivious.

'With chin held high, she strides towards her former peers and dares to challenge the false verdict of the higher powers!'

Aerie sighed wistfully.

'That sounds lovely, Haer'Dalis, but it is hardly me.'

Fritha sighed into her cup.

'Yes, Aerie dear, but that would be where the acting comes in.'

Nalia dissolved into whispery laughter, and Fritha found she could not quite suppress a smile either, neither girl noticing as a tall figure arrived at their table.

'You ladies just tending your cauldron, I see,' commented a voice above them and they both glanced up to see Anomen, a slight smile pulling at his mouth.

'Come to join the coven, have you?' asked Fritha with a grin of her own as he sat, the girls quite unashamed at being caught in their malice, it seemed, Nalia tidying away their game to set a cup before him and politely pour him some tea.

'No,' Anomen began, sending the pair a stern look, 'but I am curious as to why you have both suddenly taken to tormenting poor Aerie; every time I look at you both lately you have your heads together whispering on some unkindness or another.'

'Poor Aerie, indeed!' hissed Nalia, slamming down the teapot looking outraged, 'I would ask you how she suffers this apparent torment when she has yet to acknowledge our existence this last tenday! She wouldn't even notice us two on fire, if that actor was in the room as well!'

'Peace, dearest,' soothed Fritha, patting the girl's arm and Anomen sighed wearily. It was as he had suspected. All this green-eyed silliness born from nothing more than the fact their friend had found a sweetheart before them.

'Really,' he scolded, feeling more amused than angry at the way a pair of supposedly sensible young women were behaving more like his sister and her juvenile friends. 'You are both acting as though she has performed some great betrayal! All she has done is formed an attachment with Haer'Dalis. I would warrant either of you would be acting just the same should your positions have been reverse.'

'Well, we shall never know now, will we!' snapped Nalia seemingly before she could stop herself, the girl glancing open-mouthed and flustered to Fritha who remained silent.

Anomen drew back, a frown slowly contorting his brow as he stared at them, an unreadable look passing between the girls and Nalia turned back to him as though to explain herself when the chime of cups cut her off and she glanced sharply to the table behind them.

'Oh, here he comes! Quick Anomen, pretend you've said something funny!'

'What?'

'Ah ha ha, oh Anomen, you're a positive cad!'

Fritha, who had looked as nonplussed as he, suddenly burst out laughing at Nalia's affected tone and with such a look of surprise that Anomen could not help but join her, and the effect must have looked quite natural as Haer'Dalis arrived at the table.

'How very merry,' came the man, though Anomen had already stopped laughing, realising that it may not be doing a lot for his stance of disapproving of the girls. 'What are you finding so amusing?'

'Nothing, nothing,' replied Nalia airily with a false smile, the one the bard sent her in return no more genuine.

'Keep your secrets if you wish, my bird, I desired only to know if you wanted any more tea; I am going to the bar.'

A round of polite dissent and he moved off.

'Really Nalia,' Anomen hissed, feeling slighting annoyed that she had brought him into her silliness, 'you are behaving like a child!'

Nalia rolled her eyes. 'Gods Anomen, do be quiet! You scold like my maiden aunt.'

He coloured at that, but she did not notice, the girl glancing back to where Haer'Dalis had now rejoined the elf, the man kissing Aerie's hand gently as he took her a cup and Nalia gave a small snort of disgust.

'Another moment here and I shall be sick! I am going to my room,' she announced, rising abruptly and turning her gaze to Fritha, 'are you coming as well?'

The girl sent the pair a glance as Nalia had, her face a mask as she shook her head.

'No, I am fine here.'

Nalia sighed, sending her a strangely pained look before she swept off upstairs. Fritha watched her go before dropping her gaze back to her cup, reaching for the teapot with a sigh.

'Would you like anymore, Anomen?'

'No thank you, my lady.'

He watched as she refilled her cup with slow deliberate movements and he was given the distinct impression she was avoiding his eye.

'I understand, my lady,' he continued more gently than his rebuking of Nalia had been, for the girl had held an air of melancholy lately, which he did not understand, but had no desire to exacerbate. 'That you both feel a little injured by the way Aerie has been ignoring you of late, but I must admit I did not expect you to behave, well, so pettily.'

He would have anticipated indignation at this, excuses, or even anger, but an amused albeit if tired smile suddenly lit Fritha's face, her voice warm with suppressed laughter as she replied, 'my pettiness is unexpected, eh? Is that a compliment? Either way I do not blame you, for I wouldn't have expected I could be this petty myself. I imagine it is quite unbecoming as well, but…'

She sighed, taking a sip of tea and the smile finally faded.

'Sometimes, it is the usually fulfilling noble path that leaves one emptiest of all. And you find all that taking the higher ground and being happy for people just doesn't help and the only thing that makes you feel any better is a few snide comments under your breath and a bit of quiet laughter.'

She sighed tiredly.

'Don't get me wrong. I am still Aerie's friend and I would never wish to see her hurt or upset, but I do not believe she has noticed Nalia and I, either in the fact she had hurt us or in the comments which result from it.'

'I still do not think it is right,' he pressed but the girl merely shrugged.

'In my heart, neither do I, but then I never professed to be a saint, Anomen, and while this still helps us and does not hurt her, I shall continue to share laughter with Nalia just as surely as Aerie shares kisses with Haer'Dalis. So,' she continued, taking another drink of her tea and sitting up straighter in her chair as though to physically indicate a change of topic, 'is Helenya back and settled with her family?'

'Yes. Her parents are overjoyed by her return; I truly believe they gave up hope when they received the ransom note. They seem sincerely aggrieved too, by the way they misjudged Lirsand,' Anomen sighed slightly, 'though it would all seem a little late now.'

Fritha nodded, looking tired. 'And Helenya?'

He sighed deeply. 'She is, as she was. Quite composed and utterly indifferent.'

She had actually reminded him quite a bit of Fritha as she had sat there between her parents, gazing out at the world with an absent look.

'Here, the reward we were promised for her return,' he continued more brightly, placing a purse of gold upon the table before her, 'I informed the city guard of the whereabouts of the bandit group's last campsite; perhaps they can catch those left.'

'Indeed, and do the Order know of our success?' she asked innocently.

'Yes, I believe the Cornwells may have informed them of it,' he answered, trying to affect an indifferent air, but Fritha could clearly tell he was pleased, the girl sat opposite him grinning widely. 'And what of you?' he continued, 'have you collected your reward from the Watch?'

'Yes and delivered it to Gaelen this morning, along with the coin Nalia and Minsc earned us. He'd heard about Rejiek and even the bandits; we seem to be making quite a reputation for ourselves in the slums.'

Anomen nodded once, feeling a surge of pride.

'Indeed, it is satisfying to be able to enjoy the glory of our accomplishments.'

But the girl just shrugged, such things apparently outside her concern.

'I suppose, I don't really think about it.'

'Perhaps it is easier for you to say such since you are already the Hero of Baldur's Gate,' he offered curtly, trying to keep the slight twinge of envy he felt from his voice, but Fritha merely snorted.

'Oho. Now they call us heroes. But mere days before the whole of the Gate was singing our praises, we were outlaws, sentenced to be hanged and unable to even walk the streets of that fair city for fear of capture. Saviour, hero; they are just words on the lips of others and susceptible to change at whim.'

Anomen frowned; she sounded like Keldorn.

'So which path should one follow then, if glory is not to be the aim?'

Fritha shrugged mildly.

'In the end, only your heart can be your guide. Follow it. Perhaps you will find glory, perhaps not, but you can always look back and know you were true to yourself.'

Anomen sighed; she was worse than Keldorn.

'Well, yes and it is all very well to say as such, but sometimes things are not so clear.'

Fritha sent him a puzzled frown. 'Really, how so?'

'Well, your treatment of Aerie for example- do not roll your eyes so, it was merely the first thing I seized upon. You and Nalia are treating her most unfairly.'

Fritha smiled, giving a nod of agreement as she took another drink.

'Yes, but I'm not following my heart, I'm acting in spite of its wishes. My heart, like my head, only advises. Ultimately, the decision is my own. There is much I do, Anomen, that is against my heart.'

Anomen frowned.

'So you are saying that you always know which path is right?' he asked, his words coming more curtly than he'd intended and sounding like a demand though the girl just shrugged.

'Right by my definition of the term, yes.' She stared across the table at him, her confusion evident. 'Are you saying you don't?'

'No, my lady, I do not,' he answered trying to keep the terseness from his tone, irked by her amazed expression.

'But how do you know which path to take?'

Anomen sighed, his frustrations building.

'As I said before, I do not always.'

'But surely,' the girl continued, a nervous laughter wavering behind her voice, 'surely, when you quiet your mind and your desires and- and everything, and you look into your heart, surely then you know, don't you?'

'No!' he answered crossly, 'and I cannot believe it is so clear to you either. You say you just look inside yourself and see your path, but how do you know it is the right one, the right way?'

'But why wouldn't it be?' she countered with the same bewilderment and the discussion continued in the same vein for quite some time.

But he could not understand how she always instinctively knew what to do, and for her part, Fritha seemed to find it difficult to believe that deep down he did not, and they reached something of an impasse, silence descending between them. A familiar giggle drifted over the table and Fritha sighed.

'I think I'll go and check on Nalia.'

Anomen nodded and watched her go before turning his gaze to where Aerie and Haer'Dalis were leaned in close once more, the bard gently playing with a lock of her hair as they spoke. When he had realised there was to be a relationship of that sort within their group he had wondered if it was such a wise idea. Such things could easily go sour and cause unwanted tension, especially when the bard had already proved himself to be less than trustworthy. But the man's affection seemed unexpectedly genuine and Anomen wondered yet again, why the girls seemed so turned over by it all.

xxx

Dusk had fallen outside by the time Fritha returned to the common room, Nalia, Minsc and Jaheira sat at their usual table by the window and bright against the darkened glass, Nalia looking up to send her a smile as she took a seat.

Fritha had looked in on the girl earlier as she said would, Nalia glancing up from the book she was reading and smiling brightly as she welcomed her in. But Fritha had not wished to disturb her, perching on the end of her bed just long enough to confirm her friend was all right, before returning to her own room and spending the rest of the afternoon making note of the supplies they had, including what they'd taken from the bandits' camp, with plans to trade whatever they did not need for new equipment before they next left the city.

Though when that would be she was not sure, and her mind drifted back to the unending problem of finding them more work. Anomen would have mentioned it if the Order had any suitable task for them, as would Renal, so Fritha supposed they would have to start looking about the city again. Still, she and Jaheira never did make it to Council Buildings to look at the bounties; perhaps that would prove fruitful. But finding them more work had not been the only matter she had been dwelling on that afternoon.

Fritha sighed to herself. Her conversation with Anomen had got her thinking, and though his words themselves had not made her feel the slightest bit ashamed of her past behaviour, she could no longer claim to be as hurt as she once had been by Aerie and Haer'Dalis's actions and Fritha had decided it about time to put all this unpleasantness behind them.
Though whether Nalia would share her view or not was another matter, Fritha considered with a glance to the girl next to her, currently laughing about something with Minsc and looking so sweet and friendly it was hard to believe she held such a sharp tongue. There really was a lot of truth in the saying 'Hells hath no fury like a woman scorned' and Fritha concluded that if any reconciliation was going to be made, she was better off leading by example.

And as though the fates agreed with her, the sound of familiar voices interrupted her thoughts and Fritha glanced up to see Aerie and Haer'Dalis descending into the tavern, the elf with her hair down about her, though not as she usually wore it. In amongst the golden tresses now hung sections of hair wrapped in brightly coloured silks, the beads that were fastened at their ends rattling slightly as she approached.

'What has happened to your hair, Aerie?' exclaimed the ever subtle Jaheira with a frown.

'Sorry?' the elf questioned, moving a hand self-consciously up to the brightly coloured threads at her shoulder, before seeming to realise. 'Oh, Haer'Dalis did it.'

'It looks nice, doesn't it?' said Fritha kindly, turning to the girl next to her for an agreement. Nalia pretended not to hear her.

'Well, I can do yours as well, if you wish, my raven,' Haer'Dalis smiled, holding out a hand, 'Do you have a comb with you?'

Fritha remained silent, her heart quickening unpleasantly and for a moment all she could see were two soft hazel eyes, the tavern's din suddenly replaced by the whisper of dune grass.

'No,' she said at last, her voice sounding distant to her, 'no thank you.'

Haer'Dalis shrugged and the couple sat, Anomen joining them soon afterwards and Fritha felt herself calm again as they ordered the food and their meal was brought, a warm air of camaraderie falling over the table as they ate together. Minsc was recounting Nalia's fury when they had made their delivery to Farrel's estate, Nalia looking a touch embarrassed while Haer'Dalis and Jaheira laughed, Anomen claming such nobles deserved no less. Fritha herself, recalling the decision she had made but an hour or so before, spent the meal politely asking Aerie how her acting was progressing, offering to introduce her to Zeran or other members of the troupe, though the elf declined shyly.

The meal over, Anomen left promptly to attend evensong and the talk lulled as a maid came to clear the dishes, Haer'Dalis pushing back his chair to turn to the girl next to him with a smile.

'Would you like to walk out, my dove? The night is very fine.'

Nalia pulled a face behind her cup and Fritha fought against a grin, a twinge of guilt squirming in her stomach; old habits were hard to break, it seemed. Aerie glanced from him to her though, hesitant, and Fritha offered her a friendly smile, the elf's words completely unexpected.

'Ah, well, I was wondering whether Fritha and, ah, Nalia would like to spend the evening teaching me to embroider, as w-we once planned?'

Nalia almost choked on her tea in her haste to refuse.

'N-'

'Yes, we'd be happy to, wouldn't we,' interrupted Fritha with a meaningful glare to her friend, Nalia scowling as Fritha turned back to the elf with a polite smile. 'Shall we go to your room now, Aerie? We can send for wine once we're there.'

Nalia, though, thought it would be quicker to get wine straight from the bar and Aerie watched as the two girls moved off together to be lost in the crowds there, every now and then catching glimpses of a rather heated discussion through the press, before they at last returned with wine and cups, and the three went upstairs.

Nalia instantly disappeared into her own room, much to Aerie's dismay, until Fritha smiled and told her she was just going to get her bag before leaving to get her own, Aerie setting the cups on her desk and busying herself over the wine, feeling strangely nervous as she waited for the pair to return.

'Here we are!' sang Fritha as they appeared in the doorway, the girl dropping her bag next to the fireplace and moving to help herself to one of the cups, as easy and comfortable as though the last few days had not happened and Aerie turned back to see Nalia lingering before the door.

'Here, ah, let me take your bag,' she offered, Nalia sending her a sullen look though she did hand it over, Aerie placing it carefully next to Fritha's before turning back to the girl, the silence seeming to swell between them.

'What is this, Aerie?' came a voice behind her and she turned to see Fritha, a cup of wine in one hand, one of the old spellbooks she had left on her desk in the other, the girl staring at it open-mouthed, glancing up as she pretended to read from the cover, 'I heart H.D.? A. four H.D. four ever?'

'Give that back,' Aerie cried, grabbing it from her, 'doesn't say that at all!'

Fritha was already laughing her head off though, making enthusiastic kissing noises as Nalia smirked into her sleeve, but it was not unkindly meant and Aerie could not help but smile even as she felt herself colour.

As much as she enjoyed Haer'Dalis's companionship, she had felt guilty as well and the idea that Fritha was not left broken-hearted by the way things had turned out was as welcome to Aerie as her friendship. Aerie watched as the girl passed Nalia a cup of wine with a smile, the question on her lips before she could stop herself.

'Fritha, what do you think of Haer'Dalis?'

Nalia looked suddenly furious, but the girl in question just shrugged.

'What do I think of him? Well, he's short, talkative, ornithologically-minded-'

'Fritha!' Aerie laughed and the girl smiled, taking sip of wine as she continued.

'I like him, of course. But I am sure that whether I like him is not the question keeping him awake tonight…'

Even Nalia laughed then, though whether it was at the girl's roguish grin or the fact Aerie could feel her face glowing scarlet, she was not sure.

The air of the room seemed lighter after their shared laughter though and the three settled on the bed, the girls busying themselves setting out needles and silks, Fritha and Nalia explaining between them the names of the needles and the stitches, Nalia showing her examples of each from her own work.

Aerie smiled as she watched the pair, arguing genially over which stitches were best sewn on a hoop. Though she had to admit her attentions had been rather caught up with Haer'Dalis over the last few days, she had missed the girls' company all the same, catching glimpses of them now and then as they laughed and talked together in a world she was no longer a part of, and it was heartening to know that all was not lost between them.

'So,' continued Fritha, breaking through her thoughts, 'why this suddenly renewed desire to learn how to embroider- you're not going to start sewing little hearts over all your clothes, are you?' she added with a wary look and Nalia laughed.

Aerie smiled, Fritha's light-hearted teasing banishing the last of her worries and she at last felt free to enjoy her feelings.

'No,' she answered quite seriously before she sighed, the sensation so strong she just had to share it with someone and yet it felt almost impossible to put into words. Aerie shook her head.

'I can't tell you how happy I am. I never thought it possible after, well…' She smiled. 'When I'm with him, it is as though there are only us two in all the world.'

Fritha smiled slightly as well, taking another sip of wine. 'Yes, I think I may have heard of that feeling.'

Aerie leant back again the headboard with a blissful sigh.

'Have either of you ever been in love?'

'No,' said Nalia, dropping her attention promptly back to her sewing and Aerie was given the distinct impression she would not have told her even if she had. The elf swallowed, determined not to let a few days of petty quarrelling ruin what had been the beginnings of a strong friendship.

'What of you, Fritha?'

The girl was looking blankly through the window, but started back at her name.

'Sorry?'

'Have you ever been in love?'

'Me?' she snorted, her incredulity apparent. 'Gods, no! I never really… well…' She tailed off with a shake of her head, her smile seeming more forced than usual as she continued, 'I suppose I used to be rather wary of men, and now…'

'And now?' prompted Nalia, the girl's curiosity piqued as well.

'And now, things seem to be the other way round!' Fritha finished with a bark of laughter.

'Oh, don't say that,' Aerie cried, the thought of the girl anything less than happy when she was so contented suddenly unbearable for her, 'why, I- I saw that elf talking to you at the bar yesterday evening.'

But the girl really laughed then.

'What, Salvanus? He makes advances to anything with a pulse. Straight after talking with me, he was trying to court Jaheira of all people! The man has a death wish! Now let's start this embroidery, do you have anything you can practise on?'

Aerie found an old handkerchief at the bottom of her bag and they spent the rest of the evening showing her a few of the simpler stitches and the way they could be brought together to make flowers or leaves, Aerie's accomplishment of the night being a small cluster of daisies in backstitch and cormyrian knots, about which even Nalia found something nice to say.

'Well,' sighed Fritha, stretching out her back and rolling up the stocking she had been mending as she rose from the bed, 'it's getting late. I had best get some sleep.'

'Oh, of course,' nodded Aerie, laying down the sewing she had been so intent upon to throw Nalia hopeful glance, 'Are you staying, Nalia?'

The girl gave a half-hearted yawn and promptly packed her sewing away.

'No, I think I shall retire as well.'

Aerie looked slightly hurt, but nodded and smiled all the same, seeming to understand such things would take time.

'Well, sleep well then.'

The pair nodded, moving out into the hall and both stopping as they reach Fritha's door, Nalia's room further along the corridor. The girl turned to Fritha, a frown that was not meant for her furrowing her brow.

'Are you all right? I mean she was acting-'

'Like someone in love?' Fritha smiled, amused by the consistent irony of how insensitive such sensitivity could make someone. 'I am fine. Even better for hearing her, actually. She likes Haer'Dalis more than I think I could have ever allowed myself.'

Nalia raised an eyebrow.
'The group still first in your affections, then?'

'Always,' Fritha answered gravely and the girl shook her head, laying a hand upon her arm as though she would say something else. But finally she sighed and bade her goodnight, Fritha watching her disappear through her door before turning into her own room.

She changed quickly, the day long due an end as slipped between the sheets, sinking back onto the cool pillows with a sigh and closing her eyes. But it was no use; even on the edge of sleep, her mind would give her no peace, flitting tirelessly among concerns of the future and memories long buried, and she returned to the same question that had been haunting her for days now: had she given up on the tiefling too easily?

But even as she questioned it again, she knew in her soul the answer, had finally known her decision was the right one ever since Haer'Dalis had held his hand out for her comb and her heart had skipped, not at his offer, but at the memory it had stirred. Fritha sighed, nestling down in the blankets as though hoping to bury herself from the thought.

It was nice to see Aerie so happy and she and Haer'Dalis worked well together, and much more harmoniously than Fritha suspected she would have been with the bard.

Haer'Dalis was still, of course, very interesting and would make a good friend, but he was not for her. She needed someone who would like her just as she was; not because she didn't want to make the effort, but more for the fact that with everything else she found herself worrying about, she was bound to forget she was supposed look be looking nice or being charming, or the like.

And, Fritha considered practically as she let her eyes trace along a long crack in the plaster of her ceiling, was it so unreasonable to expect such?

Indeed, someone had once be able to overlook that fact she had been washed ashore mere hours before and see something inside her. Something he must have valued very highly indeed considering the lengths he went to in order to preserve it…
Fritha frowned, pulling her mind away from the memory of that kind warm boy and closing her eyes; some things were best left forgotten.

It did not feel as though she had been asleep more than a few minutes, though the pale grey light of dawn that filled the room said different, Fritha awoken by a furious knocking at her door. She leapt from the bed, an unnamed panic filling her as she hurriedly pulled her tunic on over her shift and threw open the door, Anomen swinging into view, though not as she had ever seen him; hair and clothes dishevelled, his normally tanned skin ashen.

'Please my lady,' he began, his voice breaking, 'it-it is my sister…'