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.

Author's note: Since this will probably be the last chapter I publish this year, I'd like the take the chance to thank my three Beta readers, Drew, Maje and Ella, and everyone who has been reading the story over the past twelve months. See you in the new year.

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

– Blackcross & Taylor

A foreign country

Fritha stood huddled under the archway, her cloak drawn about her against the chill, rain pelting against the cobbles of the courtyard as the moments crept slowly by. Jaheira had been unwilling to leave her, but she'd eventually convinced the druid to go. Part of her had wanted to go too and forget that whole horrible mess. But she felt too responsible now, too tangled up in it to free herself and when Anomen announced he would have to go back to inform his father of the verdict, Fritha would hear nothing against her joining him. So now she was stood in his doorway waiting, the sounds of shouting and the occasional smash drifting through the wood.

Fritha sighed gently. Poor Anomen. If it was not enough to lose a sister, he did not even have the comfort of a family to ease the loss.
Neither do you, reminded a voice behind her eyes and she felt surprised to realise it was true. She had been travelling with Minsc and Jaheira for so long now, well, she had just never noticed.

Fritha shook her head sadly. She could only imagine the torment he must be going through, for Imoen had only been arrested and hope remained to see her again.
She could be dead already for all you know… sniped the voice behind her eyes with an air of callous practicality, but Fritha quickly pulled her mind away from that thought, it made her feel sick.

Suddenly the door was flung open and Anomen stormed out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her with him, the bottle that followed narrowly missing his head to smash on the wall beyond. A second later, Lord Cor appeared in the doorway, tall and of Amnian colouring though he bore little resemblance to Anomen in either look or manner, the man leaning heavily against the doorframe for support and still shouting drunken threats after his son.

'If you leave now, you are forever banished!'

Anomen whirled round and Fritha prepared herself for another bout of shouting, but instead he seemed suddenly calm.

'Goodbye father,' he said with finality, before he turned and strode off out in to the rain, Fritha left with little choice but to hurry after him, the sound of his father's screaming following them across the courtyard.

'You are nothing! NOTHING!'

xxx

Anomen was striding ahead, regardless of the rain, and Fritha hurried along next to him, the wet streets a blur as she tried to match the pace of the taller man. Though he knew the others were waiting for them at the Copper Coronet, he had yet to head in the direction of the slums and seemed to be walking just for the sake of it. Fritha could sense the anger boiling inside him and knew he was trying to calm down before he had to face the others, before he had to face anyone.

Suddenly he stopped and Fritha, in her efforts to keep up, almost hurtled in to the back of him. He turned to face her, his whole form tense, as though he could snap at any moment.

'My anger is built up to the point where I must speak. I must gain some reassurance! My father cast me out of the family for doing only what I must. I cannot do anything when there is no proof and he knows it. And yet…'

Anomen leaned in close, his eyes narrowed and voice low, suggesting something more primal was fighting for control.
'My heart cries out for vengeance! I am so full of hate I can barely control it!'

Fritha felt properly frightened by this point, though more for him than herself. But perhaps he saw this in her eyes, because his wild look disappeared as fast as it had surfaced, and when he spoke again he just sounded tired and confused.

'Everything just feels so wrong. My sister lies dead while that murderer, Saerk, still roams free. Please, Fritha, did I do the right thing?'

Fritha felt her stomach groan. The last thing she wanted to do was impart any more of her so-called 'advice', but she'd found once given, it became increasingly difficult to distance herself from the situation. Until you were caught, as much a part of it as any other of the players and you found yourself stood in the pouring rain, trying desperately to convince someone of something that you, yourself, were unsure. No more advice, she decided forcefully. Perhaps just a little guidance this time, something rhetorical…

'How would you feel if you killed Saerk and then found him to be innocent?'

Anomen seemed to consider this a moment before nodding wearily.
'Aye, true,' he sighed, straightening to shake the wet hair from his forehead, 'but I still feel so helpless. Surely he will pay for what he has done?'

'If it was he, then yes, I believe he will pay,' she reassured gravely, staring up at him, blinking the rain from her eyes.

He nodded again, glancing back to her and it was the first time he seemed to truly notice her, stood before him and drenched to the bone. He frowned.
'Come, we should return to the inn.'

She nodded and, ignoring her protests, he draped his own cloak about her shoulders and they set off.

xxx

Inside, the inn was packed with people all trying to escape the storm outside. The air was close and humid and Fritha immediately slipped off the two wet cloaks, handing Anomen's back to him. The man nodded his thanks and muttered something about 'retiring early' before pushing his way through the crowds and heading upstairs. Fritha scanned the room, spotting Jaheira and the girls at a table in the far corner and wandering over to see them.

'How did you fair?' the druid asked, Nalia and Aerie looking up too, ready to hear her answer.

'His father banished him.'

'Oh, how awful,' Aerie cried, 'is he all right?'

Fritha just shrugged, wanting to forget about the last few hours, not relive them. She crossed to the bar, sliding through the press to wait her turn as the harassed-looking barmaid bustled back and forth, Fritha glancing up as a dark-haired man elbowed through to stand next to her. He noticed her glance to him, giving her a lopsided grin and she smiled wanly before returning her attention to the bar. She still felt his gaze on her though and turned back to find him staring, his eyes narrowed slightly as though he was grasping for a something.

'Er, don't I know you?'

Her guard was up instantly.

'I'm sorry, friend, but I think you're mistaken,' she replied with forced geniality while making to turn from the bar, her drink apparently forgotten, his voice halting her.

'Candlekeep. 1361. The Records Library.'

Fritha glanced back, eyeing him warily. He was tall, almost as tall as Anomen, but leaner with it and clad in a short brown coat, with trousers and boots of black. She looked up to his face, trying to place him. His skin was pale, his features sharp, and she noted, quite handsome.

But still, she recalled nothing, and dark blue eyes watched as her gaze moved up to his hair. It was black, making a pleasing contrast to his skin; cropped short at the back and getting longer towards the front, where it fell haphazardly across his brow. He smiled slightly.

'It used to be longer.'

Suddenly, it clicked.

'Wren?'

'I knew it!' he laughed, slapping the bar in triumph, 'Fritha!'

'Eriyn? How did you-? I mean, you recognise-?' Fritha babbled, painfully aware of how idiotic she must have sounded. Eriyn just grinned widely, something that could have looked rather predatory if it were not for kindness to his eyes.

'But it was years ago. We only met once!' she continued, finally pulling herself together.

'Indeed. But you made quite an impression.'

xxx

Eriyn wandered through yet another library, his fingers lightly skimming the spines of the tomes as he slowly walked the aisles.
It was no good, he was bored.

When he'd been chosen to come here with his Order he'd known it had been a great honour; he was just having a bit of trouble feeling it. Hours sat at desks in the scriptorium with his fellow novices and Candlekeep's own novitiates, making copies of whatever they were brought by the elder brothers. As it was, some of the research they had been doing was actually quite interesting for once, it was his free time that was proving to be the problem.

When they'd told him that Candlekeep housed a wealth of knowledge, they hadn't mentioned it housed nothing else!

He had reached the window at the end of the aisle by now and he glanced out at the grey Tarsakh sky. A storm would likely break within the hour, but at least a walk outside couldn't be anymore dull than wandering around in there.
Eriyn sighed, and had just turned to leave when a girl suddenly hurtled round the corner and ran straight in to him. She seemed very surprised to find him there and just stared a moment, eyes wide, before apologising quietly, pressing a finger to her lips to forestall any reply and dashing past him to duck into the narrow gap between the wall and the bookcase.

Eriyn was about to ask her what was wrong when a voice cut him off, the tone snapped and hissing of one trying to vent their anger without actually raising their voice.

'Fritha? Fritha! By Helm, you are only making it worse for yourself. Come out here this instant or I will be forced to go straight to Gorion!'

Suddenly a tall grey-haired man in robes to match appeared at the end of the aisle, glancing back and forth along the rows of shelves as he went, the man's eyes catching him as he passed. He too seemed surprised to find someone there, but recovered quickly.

'Have you seen a girl pass here?' he demanded, obviously deeming pleasantries a waste of time, 'about 'so' high, with red hair.'

Eriyn could sense the man was carefully watching his reaction and between a rude scholar and a young girl, it didn't take long for him to decide where his loyalties were.

'Yes, I've seen her,' he answered nonchalantly, fighting against a grin as he imagined the girl's horrified expression. 'She ran past the end of the aisle but a moment ago, an instant later I heard a door slam.'

He felt the man's eyes on him, regarding him with suspicion and Eriyn forced himself to meet his gaze.

'Very inconsiderate of her, considering this is a library,' he added haughtily and the man smiled.

'Quite, quite. My thanks,' he nodded, before hurrying off again. Seconds later, the library door clicked shut and Eriyn heard the girl give a relieved sigh, turning back to find her stood behind him beaming.

'Thank you so much, that was wonderful! And what you said about me being inconsiderate- brilliant!' she enthused, laughing brightly and Eriyn smiled. She was younger than him, probably no older than fourteen summers, but very pretty, with bright dark eyes and a frizzy mane of copper hair.

'Anyway,' she continued briskly with a bow, brushing back the chaos of curls that instantly fell into her eyes, 'I am Fritha and I am in your debt.'

Eriyn grinned at her sudden change from friendly to formal and continued in the same vein, dipping a bow of his own.
'Well, I am Eriyn, and there is no debt.'

'Eriyn…' she repeated absently to herself, 'how pretty.'

'So my mother seemed to think,' he replied trying to sound sullen, but feeling more amused by her strangely open nature. 'It means 'little bird',' he added conversationally, causing her to smile broadly.

'Well, that's convenient, as it sounds a bit like wren,' she laughed, her eyes sparkling. 'You don't look much like a wren though… More a crow, I think,' she decided with a smile, considering the long black hair that had been tied back and tidied into the hood of his robes.

'So, you're here with the Order of the First then?' Fritha continued with a nod to his chest and he glanced down to the Old Draconic character for "one" that had been embroidered there, his monastery's emblem. Eriyn nodded.

'Yes, who are you here with?' he asked, her habit unusual compared to the plain green robes of his Order, the girl wearing a long-sleeved smock the colour of buttermilk over a pair of leaf green trousers, a wide sash of a similar colour tied just under her bust and keeping the voluminous cut of the dress in check.

The girl just looked faintly bemused though, giving him a smile as she answered, 'Me? I live here.'

'Live here,' he repeated, just as surprised, 'I didn't think they allowed anyone but the monks and lay brothers to stay in Candlekeep permanently.'

Fritha shrugged, seemingly unconcerned by this detail, absently playing with the tails of her sash.
'They don't usually. My father is one of the sages so they let Imoen, my friend, and I live here as well.' She smiled brightly. 'So how are you finding it so far?'

'Very interesting,' he lied, 'I am sure the trip has been most beneficial for the Order.'

'Oh, you enjoy spending all your time copying from tomes?' she questioned with a sly smile and he wondered if any of the grey cowled novices who had joined them in their scribing had ever been her. 'Anyway, aren't you a little young to be a monk?'

Eriyn shook his head.

'I'm not one, not yet anyway. I'm a ward of the monastery. My parents died when I was young in a plague that killed many in our village.'

'Oh, I'm sorry,' she said with sincerity and he smiled.

'Don't be, it was long ago. The local temple could not take all those orphaned, so I was sent to the Order for my education.'

Fritha nodded, smiling though there was a new gravity to her manner.

'I understand. My father, Gorion, isn't really my father. My mother died in childbirth and he took me in. But your sect is called the Order of the First,' she continued, brightening, 'the first what?'

'The first word actually,' he answered, surprised she had even thought about it. 'Long ago they believed that there was one word that created all the universe. They spent centuries researching the creation theories of different ancient cultures, trying to find out more about it. It was believed all things stemmed from it and if used correctly it could remake the world. These theories evolved and changed and now the Order works towards the collection and preservation of ancient knowledge through teaching it to others and preserving books, artefacts and other sources of ancient learning.'

He sighed gently to himself, glancing again to the window and the grey sky beyond.

'I've been with them for sixteen years, another one and it will be time to take my vows…' or leave his mind added silently and he felt a familiar uncertainty settle in his stomach.

'You aren't sure about it, are you,' broke a voice through his thoughts and he glanced up to see the girl giving him a measured looked that made her seem suddenly older. He considered denying it, but finally nodded.

'How could you tell?'

She smiled gently and something just under his stomach gave a jolt.

'All the time you were talking of them, it was "they" not "we".'

Eriyn sighed again, hearing the truth of it; the longer he spent at the Order, the less he felt a part of it.

'It is not that I do not enjoy my life there, the monastery is my home. And I have learnt much within its walls. The Order does not just collect and preserve books, but also works in the protection of ancient sites of knowledge, so all novices must be skilled in the martial arts as well as the restoration of ancient artefacts,' he continued, his voice casual enough, but he could not help but glance slyly to the girl, feeling almost embarrassed by his sudden desire to impress her, 'and, of course, the study of ancient languages. For instance, Aragrakh-'

'Oh, I've been studying that!' she cried, seemingly pleased to have found some common ground, 'and Netherese and Thorass and oh, have you seen the latest translations of the Darvilt Letters from the original Loross in the Peers library? I helped with those, well the easier bits anyway- what is it?' she asked as Eriyn began to laugh, amused both at her enthusiasm and his rather feeble attempt to dazzle her with his comparatively shallow knowledge of the subject.

'Nothing, you just sound like old Brother Aldier, the Master of Languages, when he begins to talk about his latest work.'

Fritha pulled a face, clearly finding this an unfavourable comparison, but Eriyn just smiled, dropping his chin slightly as he admitted, 'I suppose I'm not quite as scholarly as I might have been pleased to make out. To be honest, I think the only reason I was brought on this trip was because I took to the martial aspects of our teaching more readily than most and the journey is long and hazardous all the way from Waterdeep.'

'Well, that's nothing to be ashamed of,' Fritha assured him with a warm smile, 'I know most of the people around here would disagree with me, but there is more to life than academic knowledge and no one can be good at everything.'

'I do find it all interesting to a point,' he said earnestly, wanting her to understand his frustration, 'but I want my knowledge to be learnt for something, not just for the sake of learning it. I've been studying for sixteen years now, I just want to do something with what I've learnt, anything!'

Fritha nodded, sending him a sympathetic smile.

'Like what though? I mean there must be some things you like more than others.'

He shrugged and sighed tiredly

'I don't know. It sounds foolish, but I know of so little outside my lessons; the Order deem so much of the world as unworthy of study.'

Fritha tutted, shaking her head with disapproval and raising her hand as she intoned a passage he recognised as the doctrine of Oghma.

'Look ye not upon any learning or skill with distain; all knowledge has its value. Me, I like learning languages and sewing and studying maps and dancing,' she listed quickly, finishing with a slight arabesque and a grin.

'Dancing?' Eriyn laughed and the girl tried to look affronted though it was quite difficult when she was clearly giggling as well. 'You want to become a dancer?'

'Oh, no,' she refuted genially, 'I don't enjoy it half as much when I can't make mistakes.'

Eriyn laughed.

'So what will you become?' he asked and the girl shrugged mildly.

'I don't know. A seamstress, a teacher, a cartographer-'

'Perhaps a translator?' he supplied innocently and she stuck her tongue out at him, though she soon joined him in good-natured laughter, 'you know I really would like to see the new Darvilt translations -at least the passages you did,' he added quite honestly. She grinned, though her cheeks looked a touch pinker at that and he smiled too as another jolt tremoured through his stomach.

'All right,' she agreed, still looking rather pleased, 'but not just yet, I need to stay in here until I'm sure it's safe to wander about the keep.'

'Ah, yes, your irate pursuer,' Eriyn smiled, remembering the happy chance that had brought them together in the first place, 'who was he?'

'Oh, Father Whelan,' Fritha groaned though her smile lingered, 'he's always in a snit with me about something. I'm supposed to be cleaning the Helmite shrine this afternoon, but he didn't specify a time for me to begin and I'm staying out of his way until after dinner because I overheard two of the altar boys talking and he plans to keep me there until sunset come what may.' She snorted crossly. 'There's no way it will take four hours to clean the place, he just wants to use the time to lecture me on what a horror I am.'

'But why do you have to clean the shrine in the first place?' Eriyn questioned and she sent him a mischievous grin.

'Because I defiled it.'

'Defiled it?' he repeated, a little worried at the implications, but Fritha just laughed.

'Oh, only in his words,' she dismissed airily. 'Imoen and I were in there yesterday evening, delivering some books Whelan had had brought up from the archives. He wasn't about though and his office was locked so we were just messing about as we were waiting for him. Well,' she continued, face flushed and voice wavering as she fought against her laughter, 'Imoen had just splashed me with water from the font and I was screaming "it burns, it burns" just as Whelan walked in. He was so cross!'

Eriyn began to laugh, as much at her own clear amusement as his own, their laughter echoing about the high vaulted ceiling and probably the most noise the library had heard since it was built.

'What's this?' snapped a voice from the end of the aisle, instantly silencing the pair. An old man in grey robes stood there, a gnarled staff in his hand and a frustrated look on his face. 'This is a library, you know! Fritha!' he barked, turning towards the girl, 'I should have guessed.' He smiled maliciously. 'Gorion is looking for you.'

Eriyn watched as her face fell. She risked a glance to him, giving him a half-smile and mouthing 'bye, Wren', before hurrying past the man and disappearing round the corner. He suppressed a grin when seconds later the library shook as the door was given an almighty slam. The old man shook his head, muttering something about 'uncontrollable' before turning back to him.

'And as for you, I am aware you are a guest here, but the rules still apply. I suggest you remember that in future.'

With that the man left, Eriyn scowling at his retreating form before turning back to the window. It had just started to rain.

xxx

'You know, I looked for you that evening, the next day as well. In fact, I kept an eye out for you until the Order left four days later,' continued Eriyn, a hint of reproach creeping in to his voice as he leant causally against the bar to wait for his drink.

'I tried to see you too, but when Gorion, my father, found out I'd been talking with you he asked that I stay away from then on. What was it he said?' Fritha wondered aloud, smiling at the memory of it. 'I do not think that any influence you can have on his behaviour will do him any favours once he returns to his monastery.'

Eriyn grinned.

'So you just gave up?'

'Gods, no!' she laughed, nodding her thanks to the barmaid as she received her drink, 'but it was a lot harder to get near you with half of Candlekeep watching me. In case you didn't notice, I wasn't exactly popular with some of the residents. It was in Candlekeep I discovered my first leaf of world wisdom.'

'Which was?'

Fritha swallowed a mouthful of wine to send him a wry grin.

'No-one bears a grudge like a sage.'

Eriyn laughed heartily, and Fritha felt warmed. Meeting him here like this, it was kind of like having a little bit of home back with her.

She smiled. 'Would you like to meet my friends?'

He agreed readily and she led him back to their table to introduce him to the three there, the druid looking up with clear interest, while the two girls looked no less than astounded at who she had arrived with.

'Er, everyone, this is Eriyn, an old friend of mine. Wren, this is Jaheira, Aerie and Nalia.'

Eriyn smiled. 'Nice to meet you all.'

Jaheira gave him a polite nod while the girls reached up to tentatively shake the hand he proffered, both looking a bit pink.

'So,' he began, turning back to her as they took their seats, 'what was that whole "sorry, friend, but you don't know me," cant before?'

'Er,' Fritha began, feeling the heat rising in her stomach while the others turned quickly to their drinks and Eriyn sent her a sympathetic look.

'Ah, I understand, too many drunken declarations of love, eh?' he laughed.

Fritha smiled weakly. 'Something like that, yes.'

'So, how do you know Fritha?' asked Nalia, quickly changing the subject and Fritha shot her a grateful look.

Eriyn smiled, finishing a mouthful to answer her.

'Can you believe we met in Candlekeep? I was sent to a monastery for my education and we spent a tenday within the library's walls where I was lucky enough to make your friend's acquaintance,' he finished, raising his cup in salute to the girl in question and Fritha grinned.

'So you live in Athkatla then?' asked Aerie.

'No, no, I'm first mate on a trading vessel, the Calistoriaus. We just docked here this morning.'

'You're a sailor?' came Nalia, looking almost scandalised.

'Indeed I am,' he laughed, seemingly amused by her reaction. 'We travel along the west coast from Chult to The North and sometimes across to the Moonshaes too, taking everything from furs and ores to pearls and spices. It is a mainly peaceful life that can become perilous in a beat of your heart -but am sure it pales in to comparison in what you would face,' he finished, seeming to realise they were all adventurers of a sort and looking a touch reluctant to continue with talk of his livelihood.

But Nalia and Aerie questioned him without respite, asking him where he'd travelled and what he'd seen and done, the man entertaining them with a few stories of his travels, which were far from mundane, the girls telling him a little of their own exploits, although Fritha was glad to see the pair avoided their more extraordinary adventures.

'Well,' sighed Jaheira at last, finishing her drink and rising from her chair, 'pleasant though this is, I'm afraid there is something requiring my attention.'

'Oh, yes, that,' said Nalia quickly, ignoring Jaheira's puzzled frown and downing an almost full cup of wine, 'I'll help too. Are you coming, Aerie?'

The elf glanced up with an absent look. 'Hmm?'

Nalia sent her a meaningful glare. 'I said are you coming to help Jaheira?'

'Help with what?'

'Oh, come on!' she snapped, standing to drag the girl with her, the beginning of their argument lost as they moved off through the press of tables. Fritha felt her stomach groan, the desire to just slide under the table and hide burning within her; she was going to kill those two later.

'Well, that couldn't have been more embarrassing. I'm sorry about them,' she apologised, but Eriyn just laughed.

'Ha! What for? Nice group of girls, very nice. Have you travelled with them long?'

'With Jaheira for almost a year now, we met Nalia and Aerie about a month ago.'

'And now the four of you are wandering about the Realms in search of adventure?'

Fritha gave a dry laugh.

'Ha! Try gold and there are actually seven of us. Minsc, who I've know almost as long as Jaheira, Haer'Dalis, who I imagine will be about later if only to see Aerie and Anomen, though he has retired for the evening now. He has just found out his sister has died,' she shook her head sadly, 'it is a hard time for him.'

Eriyn gave an understanding nod.

'Ah, I am sorry for his loss. But,' he continued after a moment, 'you mentioned something about gold; don't tell me that sweet little girl I met all those years ago has turned ruthless merc.'

Fritha snorted; even the most generous soul would have had a hard time describing her younger self as 'sweet'.

'I'm afraid so, though my reason is more altruistic than most's. Do you recall I had a friend at Candlekeep, Imoen?' He nodded and Fritha continued with a sigh, 'she was taken, well, almost a month ago now, arrested by the Cowled Wizards for a magical infraction within city. Enough gold will secure the location of where they are holding her and help with her rescue.'

Eriyn whistled through his teeth.

'You're right, that is a good reason. Do you have any idea of where she could be?'

Fritha shrugged.

'At an asylum for the magically unstable called Spellhold, but no one seems to know where it actually is. I don't suppose you've heard of it, have you?' she added hopefully, but the man shook his head.

'Sorry, I haven't, but I'll be sure to keep an ear out from now on. But what have you been doing with yourself since I last saw you?'

'Well, I only left Candlekeep in the spring,' she admitted with a smile at his surprised expression, 'when the iron crisis was at its height.'

'Really? I can hardly believe that old place contained you for so long. You were so full of life even then, I doubted you'd make it to sixteen before striking out on your own.' He smiled slightly, something about his eyes softening. 'Even though you seemed dead set against it, I always had an idea that you would become a dancer.'

Fritha laughed brightly.

'Hah, you're closer than you think. About four years after you left I got all sulky and despondent as teenagers are wont to do. I still had no idea what I wanted to do and even then I only wanted to study when I wanted to study; I could have drifted on like that indefinitely. Gorion had to make me choose a profession in the end, though I'm glad of it now, and I came as near enough to a bard as one can without actually being brave enough to sing or dance or recite for an audience of any more than two. But I do own the local theatre here, can you believe?'

'The local theatre? How on Toril did you get hold of that?'

'Er, well,' she began hesitantly, unsure of how much she wanted him to know. It was so nice just being treated like a normal girl for once. 'We helped the previous owners and when they had to leave Athkatla they left me the deed,' she finished vaguely and Eriyn nodded, seeming to realise he'd only had half a tale and the pair went quietly back to their drinks, a silence descending between them, Fritha desperately searching for something to say, but the man beat her to it.

'So, why did you finally leave Candlekeep?' he questioned genially and Fritha bit back a sigh. Did everything in her life relate to something morose? She shrugged slightly.

'I didn't really, well not of my own volition anyway.'

'They kicked you out?'

'Not exactly. I left with Gorion the first time, but he was killed by bandits.'

'Oh, I'm sorry,' he said quickly.

'Don't be, it was long ago,' she replied in an echo of himself years before and they shared a smile as she continued. 'Imoen and I wandered northwards, met Jaheira among others, before finally making it back to the Keep. And the second time…'

Yes, go on, "I found out I was a Bhaalspawn and then I was arrested for murder."

Fritha swallowed.

'Well, let's just say something really bad happened and my reputation as resident troublemaker did me no favours when all signs began to point to me. It all got sorted out eventually, but I don't think I'll be welcome back there anytime soon. But what about you?' she continued with a bright smile, glad to change the subject. 'Last time I saw you, you were a ward of that monastery of yours, the Order of the First.'

Eriyn nodded and smiled, seemingly pleased she had remembered.

'Yes, and I left there about a year after meeting you, and with no more idea of what I wanted from life than I had when we had spoken. I wandered about the north for some years, joined a mercenary group who were escorting caravans to the Silver Marches; served a year or so as junior curator at a library within the city, but nothing seemed to fit me, or at least, I did not seem to fit anywhere. I wasn't actually planning to stay when I first boarded the Calistoriaus. I had agreed to take a position teaching history and some more martial skills to the young sons of a noble family in Calimport, but current funds were low and the captain agreed to let me work for my passage. We were heavy with cargo and we must have stopped in every port on our way south, but it was not just seeing new places, even the travelling held something for me.'

His smile gained a wistful air and Fritha felt quite moved as his eyes gazed out at something she could not see. 'The feel of being at sea, the freedom of it, it somehow filled me with serenity at the same time as stirring my heart. I realised those few weeks were the best of my life, and when we docked in Calimport I asked to stay on. What?' he questioned suddenly as he glanced back to find her grinning.

'Gods, we'll make a poet of you yet!' she laughed and he scowled at her, clearly trying to hide a grin of his own. 'Seriously, come down to the theatre tomorrow, I'm sure we can find a part for you.'

'Ah, I would like nothing more than to oblige,' he smiled and for just a moment he looked at though he meant it too, 'but I'm afraid we set sail to Waterdeep first thing tomorrow.'

'You docked today and leave tomorrow,' she confirmed before asking, 'well, why are you here then? In the Coronet, I mean. Surely there are plenty of taverns on the quays.'

Eriyn laughed wryly.

'That's true enough, but the rest of my ship's had the same idea and I just spent a good month at sea with them. Don't get me wrong, you'll not find finer crewmates anywhere, but I just fancied a quiet evening on my own.'

'Oh,' said Fritha, wondering if that was subtle hint for her to leave, 'well, I mean if you just want to be alone…'

But Eriyn shook his head, smiling.

'Now you hardly count as company.'

Fritha gave him a disgruntled look that was very much at odds with the warmth in her stomach.
'Oh cheers, mate.'

But it seemed he could tell she was joking, the man laughing and she couldn't help but join him, the laughter fading to leave another silence between them though with none of the awkwardness of before. Fritha took a long draft of her wine, glancing up to find him watching, his expression not far from the one he had worn when he had spoken of the sea.

'What is it?'

He smiled suddenly and Fritha felt something tremble in her stomach.

'I just can't believe I am seeing you again after so long; you haven't changed a bit, you know.'

Fritha smiled; she sincerely doubted it, but it was a nice thought.

'Really? I was sure I'd grown at least an inch taller.'

They laughed at that and the rest of the afternoon seemed to pass very quickly, the pair taking dinner together and telling stories, Eriyn laughing heartily as she told him how the chores she had been hiding from on the day they met had finally played out. How after a half-hearted reprimand from her father, she had been sent down to the shrine as planned. Whelan had been there waiting for her and clearly ready to scold and she had quickly begun her task, spending the entire four hours until sunset singing herself hoarse with Helmite prayer-songs as she cleaned in an attempt to forestall her lecture, the priest unwilling to interrupt her hymns.

The sun was well set by now, the lamplight casting a glow over the inn that seemed to mirror the warmth inside her, Fritha feeling almost light-headed. She had blamed it on the wine at first, but they had switched to tea after they had eaten and the joyful giddiness still remained bubbling in her stomach, Fritha giggling merrily as the man opposite continued his latest tale.

'So there we are, one crate broken and about twenty vials of the strongest smelling perfume you could ever imagine in shards underneath it. And we're all scrabbling through it, trying to secure the rest of the crates before the storm worsens. But the smell! I'm sure it would have been fine as it was meant to be used, a few drops added to a bath or the like, but it was so strong! This heavy smell of-of rotting flowers billowing about the hull. Even the most hardened sailors among us were reaching for their hats on that voyage. We had the cabin boys scrubbing at the hold for hours, but it seemed to have sunk into the very wood. And that wasn't all it sunk into either. The taverns around docklands are rarely the most civilised of places whichever city you're at and then us lot walk in smelling like the finest concubines Calimshan has to offer…' he shook his head with a grin, 'gods, that was a long voyage.'

Fritha was still laughing even after he finished his story and he just watched her as she tried to compose herself, fanning a hand over her flushed face, sure she looked pretty frightful and not much caring.

'I can just see you lot,' she grinned, 'skulking round the quays all smelling like powered dandies. Ah, I've gone all warm, 'she continued with a laugh, pressing cool hands to her burning cheeks, 'am I clashing with my hair?'

'Not at all,' he lied, laughing gently and shaking his head, his gaze soft. 'Ah, when you smile your eyes could steal a sailor from the sea.'

'By Sune! How many times have you used that line?' Fritha laughed, her cheeks still glowing. 'Oh, I can just see you now, sailing the Sword Coast, leaving bar tabs and broken hearts in every port.'

Eriyn pretended to look appalled at this.

'How could-!' he started before shaking his head sadly, 'you wound me, my lady.'

Fritha snorted, giggling in to her cup as he continued with this caricature of gallantry. 'I speak to you of what is in my heart and all you can do is laugh.'

'Oh, stop it!' Fritha cried, giving him a playful shove. But with speed that belied the amount of ale he'd had, he caught her hand and holding it in both of his, he gravely held her gaze.

'Your eyes are very pretty and let no one tell you otherwise.'

Fritha smiled, an odd mix of pleased and embarrassed, her stomach lurching pleasantly, before Eriyn released her and turned quietly back to his drink, a silence falling between.

xxx

'Oh, my goodness!' breathed Aerie, looking like she was going to faint with sheer happiness. 'Did you see that?' she squealed, squirming in her chair, her eyes still fixed on the couple.

'Yes, yes, we saw it. Calm down, girl,' Jaheira answered her, trying to sound dismissive, but unable to quite stifle a smile as she watched the dark-haired man turn shyly away from her friend.

'Yes, well…' the elf continued, calming slightly and smoothing her skirts.

'Quite. I mean, he is rather…' agreed Nalia, a little breathless.

'Handsome,' finished the elf decisively.

'And those eyes!'

'And his hair!'

'So charming.'

'And polite.'

'And witty too, if Fritha's reaction is anything to go by,' added Jaheira dryly, interrupting the two's fervent appraisal of the man as laughter once again erupted from the table opposite.

'Such praise, ladies,' came a familiar voice behind them and the three turned to take in the grinning face of the tiefling. 'Should this sparrow's ears be burning?'

Jaheira's snort said it all. Haer'Dalis just laughed though, seemingly not offended, turning to follow the women's gaze to the table behind him.

'What is this? Our leader has found another and dare I say eager adherent? Ha, good! The raven always looks her fairest when she is smiling. Who is the fortunate bird?'

'His name is Eriyn-' began Jaheira before Aerie rather excitedly cut in.

'But Fritha calls him Wren. They met years ago when he visited Candlekeep. He's a sailor now though.'

'The wren is a gull?'

'Yes, you should hear his stories,' said Nalia just as animatedly, 'it was his crew that finally managed to capture the pirate captain Dervil Sharkshide when their ship came under attack a year ago.'

'Oh, and he once saw a leviathan just west of the Moonshaes!' added Aerie and the girls beamed at each other.

Haer'Dalis frowned slightly.

'Ah, well, such things may impress one who has yet to see the wonders of the planes… Have you heard tell of those twisted beasts, the astral dreadnoughts, my birds? They dwell in the shimmering void of the astral plane, gliding ever onward in their silent search for the souls of unwary travellers…'

The girls did not seemed to hear him.

'And when Murann fell to the Sythillisian Armies,' continued Nalia, 'they helped as many as they could escape the city before pirates secured the harbour.'

'Has this sparrow yet recounted for you the time the Sigil troupe-?'

'Fritha!' cut in Aerie as the pair opposite both rose, Eriyn disappearing into the crowds as Fritha wandered over to join them. 'He- he's not leaving is he?'

Fritha glanced about the table of eager faces before answering, seemingly bemused by their interest.
'Er, no, he's just gone to get some more drinks and I was going to go and check on Anomen; has he eaten do you know?'

'There is no need for that,' said Jaheira firmly, 'I visited him myself but an hour ago. He says he is fine, but would rather be alone.'

Fritha looked uncertain a moment, sending a contemplative glance to the stairs before she shrugged.
'Well, if you're sure…You lot should come and sit with us though, Wren was just telling me the funniest story about the time they took a cargo of perfumes and incense from Almraiven up to Baldur's Gate.'

'Yes, we could tell,' said Jaheira dryly. The girl flushed a becoming shade of pink and mouthed something very rude at her.

'Oh, yes, let's join them,' cried Aerie earnestly, but Jaheira shook her head.

'No, I am retiring soon. You go if you wish.'

The elf sent the girl next to her a pleading look. 'Nalia?'

But the girl yawned and shook her head as well, giving Fritha the slightest wink that made her go even pinker. Aerie laughed, glancing to the man at her side.

'Well, you'll come, won't you, Haer'Dalis?'

The bard looked less than enthusiastic though.

'If you truly wish it, my dove; this sparrow could never deny you. But the rain has finally relented, I had a vain hope we could walk out.'

Aerie looked torn a moment though she eventually smiled and nodded.

'Yes, I suppose that would be nice.'

Fritha shrugged, sending a wave to the man who had just arrived back the table behind them.

'Well, suit yourselves. Enjoy your walk, goodnight you two.'

xxx

Fritha glanced up from her cup, the tavern about her empty save for the man opposite, Eriyn smiling at her as he took another drink of tea, the pot between them casting two shadows, the lamps of the tavern slowly being made redundant by the windows next to them as the dawn approached.

They had been talking all night and she should be tired, but for some reason she was not. A silence had fallen between them now, easy and comfortable and Fritha let her attention drift over the pitted grain of the table, wishing absently she could study her companion as intently.

'Well,' Eriyn sighed at last, his reluctance evident as he rose from his chair and emptied his cup, 'I should really be going, we're sailing with the dawn…' He glanced back to her, stopped halfway into his coat with a contemplative look in his eyes, 'would you like to see my ship?'

Fritha nodded and he grinned, the pair leaving the inn together.

Outside, the dawn sky was pale and clear after the rains and seemed to be lit with its own inner light, their voices ringing through the deserted streets, the world wholly theirs as they made their way to the docks.

They had arrived by now, passing under the arches of the customs house and Fritha could see a beautiful clipper in the harbour illuminated by the rising sun, the crew hurrying about the quay before her, loading crates and preparing for launch.

'Come on,' Eriyn smiled, but Fritha made no move, suddenly shy of herself.

'No, I'll just be in the way.'

'As you will,' he sighed, eyes downcast and trying to hide his grin, 'but you are cursing me to a voyage of ridicule, for none of them will believe I spent my evening with the prettiest girl in Athkatla.'

They both laughed at that and she shoved his arm gently; more of a touch than a push, though he did not seem to mind the difference. Their laughter had faded by now and silence hung about them, a slight awkwardness creeping in with each moment.

'Well…'

'Yes, you'd better…'

'Yeah…'

He started forward, arms wide as though to embrace her just as she stepped up to shake hands, and they did a merry dance between to two gestures, things becoming increasingly uncomfortable before they both laughed and came together to embrace firmly, Eriyn patting her back in a friendly fashion.

'Safe journey, Wren.'

'You too, Fritha.'

They parted and she watched him jog down to meet the crew, looking very alive as he left the shade of the customs house and sunlight poured over him. Fritha slipped back into the gloom of the tunnel, suddenly unwilling to let him catch her watching, and leant back against the cracked plaster, the cold seeping through the back of her tunic.

Her heart felt overly large in her chest and she couldn't stop smiling, the sudden desire to shout and sing pounding within her.

You're a fool

'I don't care!' she cried, laughing, and with a shriek she sprang up and was flying from the tunnel, her footsteps echoing along the empty streets as she ran back to the inn.