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.

– Blackcross & Taylor

Wine and song

Fritha smiled broadly as the grey slate roofs of Imnesvale filtered through the thinning trees. They had risen early that morning, setting out from the temple as soon they had laid Merella to rest. Yet despite this sombre start, Fritha felt better than she had in days, their journey full of talk and laughter and somehow much quicker than the passage to the ruins had been, though she had still kept a bottle of Jaheira's linctus with her for the walk.

It was late afternoon now, the amber forests finally giving way to the broad sloped clearing of Imnesvale, a fat golden sun hanging in the western sky and casting a warm yellow light over the houses nestled at the foot of the plain before them. Together they made their way down to the village, though the group had barely reached the first building when a high voice called out and Fritha glanced up to find a young girl running up the slope towards them, her long sandy braid flapping out behind her.

'Hello Kaatje,' Fritha called brightly, the girl not even pausing to catch her breath as she reached them.

'Oh Fritha, everyone's been talking about you! The wolves have gone! Did you find Merella? What happened?'

Fritha felt her stomach sink, glancing to the solemn faces around her before turning resignedly back to the girl.

'Ah, I'm sorry Kaatje, we found Merella, but it was too late.'

Kaatje's face fell, her fingers absently playing with the hem of her apron as she continued, her voice quiet and sounding suddenly much older.

'Oh, I see… I suppose I always knew really… ever since I saw the wolf at her cabin. I just didn't want to believe it…'

Fritha crouched down next to her, trying to see her face

'I'm really sorry, I know she was your friend. Are you all right?'

The girl nodded, though she still did not look up and Fritha had the horrible feeling she was trying not to cry in front of them. She smiled gently. 'And how's your brother, has he recovered yet?'

Kaatje glanced up with a shaky laugh, the girl looking almost surprised the noise had come from her, smiling tentatively as Fritha sent her a knowing grin and they continued on down to the village, Kaatje telling them of her brother's scolding and subsequent punishment in every gleeful detail.

Imnesvale was not as they had left it though. For a start it was busier than Fritha had seen it yet, stalls lining the wide street while people browsed or stood about in groups laughing and talking excitedly, many nodding and smiling to them as they passed, though their young escort seemed oblivious to the bustle.

'Kaatje,' said Jaheira eventually, giving a voice to all their thoughts, 'what is going on? Has a caravan arrived?'

The girl glanced up, looking for a moment puzzled before her face lit with a smile.

'Oh, didn't I say? There's going to be a party!'

'A party?' repeated Fritha, her face suddenly impossibly hot, 'Not for us?'

But Kaatje just laughed.

'No, silly! For Highharvestide!'

'Oh,' Fritha sighed, feeling more than relieved, the image of her stood in petrified silence on the town dais before the assembled people of Umar as they waited for a speech finally fading from her mind. 'Oh, that's nice.'

And they carried on through the bustle, Kaatje only leaving them when they reached the mayor's house, explaining it was time for her supper and assuring Fritha she would be about later if she 'wanted to play'.

Fritha smiled, watching the girl skip back up the way they had just come before turning to the stout stone house before them. It was indistinguishable from the surrounding buildings barring the large bronze bell that was hung in a small tower on the porch roof and she wondered whether it was merely a mark of the office or served a more practical use; from the appearance of the rope, it looked as though it had been rung recently.

Fritha stepped forward to knock politely on the door, rubbing her hands together as they waited for an answer.

'Oh, I'm so excited! I wonder what I'll spend my ten gold reward on.'

Behind her, Nalia and Aerie shared a nervous look.

As it turned out though, their reward was a far more respectable five hundred gold pieces which had been raised by the local farmers and merchants, Minister Lloyd as unhappy to hear about Merella's fate as he was pleased that the village was finally safe.

'Merella was a good woman and the winter will be all the harder without a ranger, but I am pleased to hear this evil has been lifted from us. We knew you had been successful when reports began to come back about the wolves moving off, and you need only enter the forests to feel the change in them. But glad though we were, we had been worried that you had met your ends as well; I am most pleased to see it was not so.' He beamed, barely leaving room for a reply as he continued enthusiastically. 'And you return in time for Highharvestide too! We have held a harvest celebration in Imnesvale since before most can remember. I had thought this would be the first year it would be called off and instead we have twice the reason to rejoice!'

Fritha nodded, not wanting to mar this good mood, but Nalia and Aerie had approached her earlier in the day with their concerns and she had agreed that they could not go unanswered.

'And,' Fritha began stalwartly, Nalia giving her a slight smile as she continued, 'have the boys, Delon and Blayel arrived back yet? As I said, we put them on a caravan back in Athkatla. I know they were due to stop in Trademeet before heading here, but I would have thought they should have arrived by now.'

Lloyd smiled broadly. 'Ah, my friends, such concern does you credit.'

'Indeed,' continued Nalia rather briskly, 'but are not their parents worried?'

The mayor frowned and shook his head.

'Well, they are orphans, my lady. Their father was a woodsman who kept a cottage just on the western outskirts of the village, but he died early last year. The boys live alone there now, but Blayel is old enough to look after his younger brother and most in Imnesvale keep an eye on them as well.'

Lloyd sighed, a slight shadow passing across his face. 'I must admit I was a little reluctant to let them go when they volunteered to take a request for help to the city, but we were getting desperate and no one else was willing to leave their families. And as for your question,' he continued with a polite nod to Fritha, 'I'm sorry to say we've had no caravans from the north for a good few days now, but they can sometimes be delayed this time of year due to the rains.'

The mayor saw them to the door, still offering them his assurances about the late caravans and expressing his hopes of seeing them at the celebrations later, before the group finally left to return to the inn. The tavern was even more crowded than the square they had just crossed though, people drinking and making merry and Fritha was glad they had paid the extra coin to keep their rooms free in their absence. The inn was a large one, especially considering the size of the village it served, and already people were being redirected to a nearby barn that had been converted for the task, some just setting up tents on the green behind the inn.

Fritha returned to the room she shared with Jaheira to quickly wash and change her clothes as the others did the same, before tripping back down to the tavern again to finally get a table and share a meal.

Dinner was not the usual relaxed affair though. It seemed everyone in that close-knit community knew it was they who had routed the evil from the ruins and Fritha was quick to grow uncomfortable with people constantly sending smiles and toasts in their direction as they ate. She was sure it was kindly meant; indeed, the others seemed quite pleased with this recognition, but the idea everyone was talking about them was making Fritha feel very on show and she soon left with the excuse of finding a buyer for her dragon hide.

Outside, it was a little quieter, what crowds there were being distracted by the stalls and general air of revelry and Fritha found she could blend in a lot better without the others around her, Haer'Dalis and Minsc not exactly inconspicuous wherever they were. She wandered absently between the stalls, finally managing to find buyers for her hide, half going to a merchant who was heading to Trademeet, the rest going to the local blacksmith, who apparently dabbled in making armour; a fact she rather wished he had kept to himself.

Fritha was sat upon the town dais now, ignored as she watched the activity about her, people laughing and talking, everyone knowing each other and fitting in, all just going about their lives, small and ordinary and wonderful. She suffered with flashes of it now and then, ever since she left Candlekeep, the profound sense that she was different, doomed always to be on the outside of things. Not that she did not feel welcome there in Imnesvale, or indeed, anywhere else she had visited, but she did not belong either, everyone treating her as an honoured guest; respected, yes, but ultimately removed.

Fritha sighed to herself, smiling as she noticed Minsc crossing the square towards her, a gesture which only grew as she watched the villagers getting out of his path with an amusing haste.

'Ah, young Fritha, you are here,' he greeted genially, 'the girls were asking where you had gone.'

'Aerie and Nalia? What did they want?'

'They were going to change their clothes again, even though they had changed them just before we broke bread! Very strange, though Boo tells me it is normal.'

Fritha snorted.

'Well, I'll take his word for it then. Come on,' she said as people began to glance in their direction once more, 'I could do with a walk.'

Minsc nodded and the pair were soon heading northwards up the street and across the plain beyond to the foot of the hill where the village children had been flying their kites but days before, Minsc settling on a large flat stone while Fritha sat at his feet and took her hair down, absently scratching Draconic characters in the packed earth next to her. She sighed, looking back down to the village and wondering what it would be like to know a little corner of it was her own.

'Are you never tempted to settle down as Merella did, Minsc? Just watch over one area, live there until you belong to the place and know it all down to the last leaf and stone.'

But the ranger just shook his head gravely.

'No, young Fritha, Minsc and Boo were made to roam. And besides, we must return to Rashemen one day.'

Fritha nodded absently, glancing up to the man next her, his solid presence somehow comforting.

'Yes, I suppose. I want to travel too, but it must be nice to actually have somewhere you can always come back to, somewhere you belong… What's this?'

The sound of footfalls brought her attention back southwards and Fritha laughed as her eyes fell upon a small group of children headed by Kaatje walking up the slope from the village towards them, some of the younger ones looking wary.

'An army marches on us, Minsc. Ho Kaatje, we surrender!'

Kaatje giggled, a few others joining her nervously as she announced importantly, 'See, I told you she knew me. Hello Fritha, these are my friends,' the girl continued brightly, promptly reeling off a list of names of which Fritha barely caught half.

'Oh, ah, nice to meet you all,' she said eventually, standing to dust off her trousers and smile down at them all, 'I'm Fritha, this is my friend Minsc. He's a ranger. And this is Boo, his, er, companion.'

A soft wow travelled the group, a few of the bolder children stepping forward to tentatively pet the hamster Minsc had lowered in one large scarred hand.

'So did you kill all the wolves that were attacking the village?' asked Kaatje abruptly, the other children all turning to look up at her as well and Fritha felt rather caught out.

'Well,' she began slowly, perching on the edge of Minsc's rock and the children instinctively dropped one by one to sit at their feet, the girl still wondering whether or not she should be telling children such a story even as she continued. 'It wasn't really the wolves' fault. They were being controlled, you see, by a shade who had corrupted the power of the ancient temple here.'

'The northern ruins? My father took me and my sister there last summer,' came a young boy with a messy crop of dark brown hair who, from the look of his tunic, had had something with jam for his supper.

Fritha nodded. 'Yes, well, like I said, this shade had corrupted the place and made the wolves go around killing people. So we fought the shade and now the temple is safe again and the wolves have gone back to the hills.'

'My brother said you killed a dragon up there as well,' came a round-faced boy, shaking his curly blond hair from his eyes as he stared up at her.

'Well, yes, we did,' Fritha conceded, adding quickly, 'but only because it gave us no choice. Dragon's have feelings and mothers the same as anyone. You shouldn't go around killing things just because you can.'

Much nodding followed this before a brown-haired girl in a pale green smock piped up, 'b-but what about monsters?'

Fritha smiled slightly. Ah, the worries of children… there were so many real evils in the world of which to be frightened; how nice they were safe enough to be scared of imaginary ones.

'Well, of course, monsters are a different matter entirely,' she began knowledgably, a sudden awed hush falling over the children at her feet. 'There are your common-or-garden wardrobe dwelling variety, and the ones that hide in shadows under your bed, but those are actually quite harmless. No, the one you really need to watch out for is the Frithenach.'

'The Frithenach?' breathed Kaatje, her eyes wide and Fritha nodded gravely, dropping her voice as she leant forward.

'Oh yes, a huge terrible monster with teeth as long as your arm and most common in autumn when the leaves match its wild orange coat. But worst still, it can disguise itself, taking the form of a young red-haired girl and delights in luring children away to wild places where it can eat them! RAARRGH!'

And Fritha leapt up to make a grab for the nearest girl, the children shrieking and laughing as they scrambled to get away, Fritha stooped and snarling as she gave a pursuit just slow enough to keep from catching them and Minsc laughed deeply.

'Ah, but Boo says you must not forget, however big the monster is, there is always something bigger!'

And it was Fritha's turn to shriek as the ranger caught her up and threw her over his shoulder much to the delight of the surrounding children, the air filling with laughter and Fritha's cries for help.

xxx

Anomen stood under the eaves of the inn watching the crowded square before him with an uncomfortable frown. He had been tense all day, waking that morning from dreams of his sister, and though he could not quite remember what had happened, they had left him with a feeling of unease that he just could not seem to shake.

At his elbow, Nalia and Aerie were giggling about something the bard had said, all three of them in high-spirits and blending in well with the celebrating villagers, and Anomen's eyes scanned the crowd for others of their group, though he knew that, for one at least, it was in vain. Jaheira had left once the meal had finished to go and make her prayers, Minsc leaving soon afterwards as well. And as for Fritha, the girl had been the first to quit their company, barely stopping to eat with them in her eagerness to find a buyer for her dragon hide. He could just picture her now, wandering from stall to stall, enjoying the laughter and the bustle as she looked for potential customers.

Anomen sighed, he knew he should be happy too, indeed, for there was no real reason not to be. But the air of joy that hung over that place felt somehow oppressive and he suddenly wished the village had a shrine or small temple that he could visit and gather his thoughts.

The others laughter had finally faded by now and at his side Aerie's voice rang clear above the surrounding din.

'Come on, let's take a walk about the stalls. Anomen, aren't you coming?' she questioned, glancing back with surprise as he made no move to follow them. Anomen stood a moment, hesitating and the words left his mouth before he fully had a chance to consider them.

'Ah, no, I must go and find Fritha. There are matters we must discuss.'

Aerie looked mildly taken aback, but nodded all the same.

'Oh, very well then.'

The three stood staring at him expectantly and he was left with little choice but to turn and begin his search. He did not really mind though; if he was to talk to anyone about these unsettling dreams it would be Fritha. Quite apart from the fact that he knew she suffered from them too, on occasion, the girl had a surprising talent for always being able to say something that seemed to help.

To his surprise, there was no sign of her in amongst the brightly-clothed villagers though, and Anomen sighed with relief as he left the square, walking up the street with half and idea of passing the girl, Kaatje's house in case Fritha had gone to visit the child.
But he saw neither, the walled area before the girl's home empty, and Anomen continued northwards, leaving the village and walking up the slope to at last see Minsc stood on the plain up ahead, the ranger in the centre of a group of young children, all laughing and shrieking as they danced about him. Anomen frowned slightly, the children barely sparing him a glance as he approached.

'Ah, Minsc, have you seen…'

He trailed off as the ranger turned to face him and he was greeted by a familiar pair of sandaled feet dangling over one broad shoulder.

'…Fritha.'

A small white hand tapped his arm and Minsc obediently turned his back to reveal a head, the face obscured by a mass of curls, fingers appearing through them to pull away a curtain and finally Fritha emerged, pink in the face and beaming.

'Hello, Anomen. Minsc here was just explaining the, ah, intricacies of the food chain.'

She shook with the rumble of Minsc's laughter, smiling through a wince as she turned her head to call back, 'here Minsc, if you don't put me down soon, I'm liable to be sick.'

Anomen took an instinctive step back as the ranger obliged her, moving aside to reveal her now stood, already gathering hair back from her face to pin it up again, while Minsc moved off to help the children mark out what looked to be a hopscotch board in the packed earth.

'You were looking for me?' Fritha confirmed brightly. Anomen nodded.

'Yes, I was…'

'Fritha, are you coming?' came a high voice behind and he turned to see Kaatje stood, hands on hips and glowering at him, the interloper who was delaying their games.

'I'll just be a moment,' Fritha called back, turning to him expectantly.

'I, ah,' he faltered, feeling rather on the spot, 'your cold is better then?'

She blinked once and nodded slowly. 'Yes…'

'Fritha, we want to start!'

'Patience is a virtue,' she trilled back, her eyes not leaving him, 'Anomen are you all right? You seem a bit, well, odd.'

He wrestled with himself a moment, feeling increasingly foolish before, at last, he shook his head.

'No, I am fine, my lady… Well, I should let you get back to your…'

'Hopscotch,' she supplied after a moment, smiling mildly as she added, 'you can join us if you like.'

'No, no, I will no doubt see you later.'

He felt her eyes on his back as he turned back to the village, silently berating himself. What had all that been about?
He had been prepared to speak with her, to ask her advice on his dream, and suddenly he had been speechless. Anomen narrowed his eyes. Finding her playing with the children had thrown him, and her ensuing amused bewilderment as they spoke had hardly helped. It was the same feeling he got when speaking with Prelate Wessalen, that there was a joke somewhere that he was missing, and he had the frustrating feeling it was at his expense.

Anomen shook himself, feeling out of sorts and irritable and he glanced back, half expecting to find the girl laughing with Minsc. But Fritha was playing hopscotch with the children now, clearly trying to keep her balance as she stood on one foot and bent down to retrieve her token, the ranger sat watching them from a nearby rock.

The squire returned his gaze to the path ahead of him and drew a deep breath. He was being foolish. Fritha wasn't acting any differently, he was just tired and it was making him unreasonable. He should just return to the square and join in the festivities. Anomen swallowed, a heavy reluctance settling him over at the mere thought. Or…

He turned back to watch the children at their game, Fritha stood with the others watching the next girl take her turn. He would not have to play, after all. He could just sit and watch them as the ranger was…

Another glance down to the crowded village and he had started back up the slope once more, fighting to quell his embarrassment with every step.

xxx

Anomen sighed, letting absent fingers trace over the symbols etched in the earth at his feet, the blithe chatter of the children washing over him. That afternoon had been one of the nicest he had spent since joining their company.
Fritha had greeted him again without comment as to his sudden reappearance, before mildly going back to her game and he had settled down next to Minsc to watch them in easy silence.

He smiled as the girl before him cut off a potential disagreement between two young boys by distracting them with a magic trick. Fritha was really very good with the children, getting them to suggest different games and joining in with an enthusiasm which was amusing, and the afternoon had passed pleasantly in a round of marbles and follow-my-leader, the girl even getting Minsc to fetch out the company's rope from his pack for some skipping.

But the dusk was drawing in and one by one their numbers dwindled as parents and elder siblings arrived to collect the children, and the games were eventually abandoned, the three walking Kaatje back to the village and meeting the girl's father halfway. He was a broad bearded man, who shook hands with them each in turn and gruffly thanked them for returning his son safely, before scooping up the yawning Kaatje and disappearing into the twilight.

Fritha seemed unusually quiet now the children had gone though, and they travelled the rest of the way in silence, the girl walking close to Minsc and wearing the absent look Anomen was more than used to seeing. Time away from the village had wrought changes though. The stalls were now packed away and benches had been brought from the inn to line the edges of the square, while a group of minstrels were setting up on the town dais- something which soon brought Fritha from her melancholy.

'Look, musicians,' she exclaimed eagerly, quite herself again as she turned to him, 'do you think there'll be dancing?'

'You like to dance?'

'You needn't sound so surprised!' she laughed, giving his arm a playful shove and Anomen felt himself flush.

'I did not mean- it is just- well,' he corrected quickly, thinking back to the Rashemi ode and her ensuing shyness the previous evening, 'you seem so reluctant when it comes to singing.'

Fritha just shrugged though.

'Dancing's different,' she said airily, 'it harder to tell if you make a mistake and usually people are too busy concentrating on their own dancing to notice you.'

Anomen frowned and considered that if she were tripping about the same dance floor as him, with worn sword and grazed face, he'd probably find it difficult not to.

'Look, there's Nalia and the others,' she continued brightly, 'Hey Nalia!'

And soon they were joined by the three, their group reunited bar one.

'Has Jaheira not returned yet?' asked Fritha, peering about the square as though she hoped to see the woman, but Nalia shook her head.

'No, I suppose she must still be out praying. Don't worry, dearest,' she added as Fritha sent a concerned frown to the woods behind them, 'the forests are hardly a danger for one such as her, not now anyway.'

Fritha persisted to look worried, but any further discussion was cut off as the musicians suddenly struck up.

A flurry of movement all about them as people moved towards the square and Anomen looked over to the dais where four men and a woman were playing an assortment of harps and pipes, one of the men squatting frog-like behind a large heavy drum.

Together they followed the crowds, Minsc breaking from them to stand next to the dais, apparently absorbed in watching the musicians, while the rest of their group gathered at one of the benches, couples already sweeping about the square behind them and Anomen watched as the bard turned to Aerie with a gallant flourish of his arm.

'Would you like to dance, my dove?'

'Oh, ah…' the girl stuttered, blushing slightly and looking shy. Haer'Dalis took a step back, clearly considering whether to press the point, and perhaps he would have as well, had it not been for Fritha.

'I'll come if Aerie doesn't want to,' she said brightly and the tiefling beamed.

'A flight with my raven, how could I resist?' And hand in hand, they joined the throng.

Anomen watched them a moment, the pair caught together in some strange dance he had never seen before, the movements sharp and quick, while Aerie sat silent on the bench with Nalia, the elf's gaze following them with a disgruntled look.

The squire smiled slightly, letting his attention drift over the other dancers. He, of course, knew how to dance; his mother had taught both he and his sister when he was but a boy, but he never really enjoyed it. He had always felt a little awkward and not so much with the steps, but more with having to find something to talk of while you went.

Nalia had been asked to dance as well now and seemed to be enjoying herself despite having a slight problem with some of steps, and he suspected she was better acquainted with the more formal styles.

'Not dancing, Anomen?' came a familiar voice and he glanced behind him to see Jaheira, her staff still in hand from where she had been out at prayers.

'Jaheira, you have returned.'

The druid smiled dryly. 'So it would seem.'

She moved to stand beside him, her eyes travelling over the square as his had and he could see them linger on Fritha and the bard, Jaheira frowning slightly as she noticed Aerie still sat alone on the bench a little way from them.

'Haer'Dalis asked Fritha to dance?' questioned the woman eventually, sending Anomen a shrewd look.

'Well, he asked Aerie first, but she seemed a little… hesitant, so Fritha volunteered.'

Jaheira sent him a wry smile.

'And the Squire Anomen did not gallantly step in to provide a partner?'

'I prefer to watch,' he answered promptly, so much so he was worried it may have sounded a little sharp and continued more mildly. 'It is interesting, this dance is not one with set steps and yet, though all the couples are moving freely, they all dance together so smoothly, somehow moving as one.'

The druid smiled, looking genuinely pleased by his observation.

'The ordered chaos… it is a contradiction I know well. Nature is often accused of such disorder, but her laws there, and are much harder to break than those made by men. But listen to me,' she laughed ruefully, 'I turn a celebration into a sermon… though I sense in your manner there is little of the reveller in you this evening.' Jaheira sent him a measured look. 'You are thinking on your sister?'

Anomen shrugged, no longer in the mood to share his worries and after a moment the woman continued anyway.

'It is normal to feel grief, Anomen, but do not cling to it, however… comforting it may feel. It does not do to prolong the winter, just because you fear the spring…' She trailed off absently, silent a moment and Anomen had the feeling she was no longer speaking to him. The druid shook herself, turning back to him and smiling once more. 'Though I would not pretend to have known your sister, I sincerely doubt she would wish you to be miserable.'

'Does that mean I can have your hand for a dance later, my lady?' he asked with mock innocence, safe in the knowledge she would likely refuse.

The woman sent him a withering look that was quite at odds with the smile he could see quivering at her mouth.

'Your bravery is admirable, squire, but it is a sorry fool who invites his trouble in.'

And with that she left, Anomen watching as she moved to join Minsc before the dais. The squire smiled slightly, turning back to the square before him.

Haer'Dalis and Fritha danced three rounds together before they returned, both flushed pink and laughing, and Aerie did not need to be asked twice when the next song began, tripping lightly back to the square with the bard. Fritha took Aerie's vacant seat and Anomen moved to stand next to her, the girl's gaze following the couple a moment before she turned to him with a smile.

'Enjoying yourself, Anomen?'

Her eyes were shining darkly in the twilight and he stared down at her about to answer, only to find himself voiceless once more, his mind goading him to speech.

Go on then, say something, anything…

'It has been pleasant enough so far, my lady,' he replied at last, rather more formally than he would have liked and inside he groaned.
What on Toril was wrong with him?

But if Fritha had noticed his tone she was pretending not to, the girl nodding once and turning back to watch the dancers, her eyes drifting over to the bard and his lady who were dancing closely, Aerie laughing lightly as he spun her.

'Ah, that I should always have someone to dance with…' she sighed, all rueful smile and warm eyes. Anomen felt a sudden weight drop into his stomach.

Ask her! Ask her to dance this minute or by Helm-!

'W-Would you like to dance, m-m'lady?'

Anomen blinked owlishly and together he and Fritha turned slowly to the voice, finding one of the young lads they escorted back to the village drunk but a few days before stood behind them, pale, grimacing and looking more like he wanted to vomit than dance, his two friends a little way behind and falling over themselves with laughing, and Anomen wondered if they hadn't dared the boy to ask her.

'Hello, Valsben, isn't it? How's your mother?' Fritha greeted and the boy swallowed.

'Ah, she is very well, my lady. So, would- would you…?'

He seemed too embarrassed to finished, just gesturing to the square behind them and Fritha smiled kindly.

'I would be delighted.'

The boy looked as though he would collapse with relief, his face a delicate green as he reached out a trembling hand and Fritha allowed him to escort her into the floor, the girl leading them in a very basic box step when it became clear the boy could dance about as well as he could hold his ale.

But in spite of this, they both seemed to be enjoying themselves, Fritha just laughing brightly when a wrong turn sent them both careening into another couple, the lad's embarrassment fading in the face of her amusement. His dancing seemed to improve somewhat once his nerves had died and he was soon sweeping her around the floor in a merry jig, missed steps and their ensuing laughter seeming to only heighten their enjoyment.

Anomen sighed, glad he had been saved from having to dance and moving forward to take the bench she had left, the weight in his stomach evaporating to leave him feeling rather empty as he went back to watching the dancers.

'E-Excuse me, but, ah, is this seat taken?' came a voice at his arm and he looked up to see a girl stood next to him, slight and fair, with straight pale blonde hair and if she was any older than sixteen summers he would have been greatly surprised. He nodded politely and she beamed, sitting down next to him to lay her hands neatly in her lap.

'I saw you were alone… I- I am called Mari. I- you're one of the people who saved the village, aren't you?'

'Yes, that is so, my lady,' he answered, an awkward silence following this agreement and he felt pressed to continue, 'Ah, I am Anomen, a squire of the Most Noble Order of the Radiant Heart. My companions and I were summoned here by Minister Lloyd to investigate the killings that were plaguing Umar. We found a shade had corrupted the temple ruins to the north, and set out to destroy it. I am pleased to say we were successful.'

The girl gasped, soft grey eyes wide.

'Oh, that's so brave!'

He nodded modestly, trying to ignore the quiet voice in the back of his mind that reminded him she wouldn't really know either way.

'So, Mari,' he began, searching for some topic to occupy them, 'ah, what is it you do in Imnesvale?'

The girl beamed, looking flattered he was interested.

'Well, I live with my parents and younger brothers here in the village. They are fur trappers, though I began my apprenticeship this year. I am learning to be a weaver under Mistress Elna, the Mayor's wife.'

He nodded once, the girl's pride rather endearing to see.

'A good sound profession and one for which there will always be a demand; there was a time my father imported many different types of cloth from all over Amn…'

Anomen trailed off, unsure as to why he had suddenly thought of Lord Cor then when he usually tried very hard to forget the man even existed, though Mari did not seem to notice.

'Your father? Is he a merchant?'

'Ah, no… he is of the Athkatlan nobility and used to be an importer of exotic goods for sale in the city.'

'Then you are of noble blood?' the girl cried, looking awe-struck and Anomen frowned, beginning to feel slightly uncomfortable.

'Yes, but the title belongs to my father while he lives. And besides, in the Order all are equal in brotherhood. The only title I wish for, is that of "knight"'

Mari smiled gently. 'That may be so, though I believe your manner would betray you anywhere, my lord.'

She dipped her face slightly, letting her eyes flick up shyly to meet his own, and Anomen turned his attention quickly back to the square as his embarrassment flared again.

Nalia was dancing with Fritha now, the pair looking very natural and pretty together, both taking it in turns to lead. Fritha seemed to be singing along to the music, Nalia's comment on this apparently an amusing one for she was suddenly shyly laughing into the taller girl's shoulder, another remark from Nalia prompting her to glance up and they both turned as one to find him watching, sending him a wave and a smile and nearly stepping into another couple for their trouble.

'Are they companions of yours?' asked Mari and Anomen nodded, glad their conversation seemed to have returned to its innocuous beginnings.

'That is so. The taller is Nalia, the shorter, Fritha.'

Mari smiled again. 'They must feel very fortunate to have a warrior such as you in their company to protect them.'

Anomen choked back a snort; he could just imagine the girls' faces if he suggested that to them. Behind his eyes, Nalia was scowling and Fritha was already pink with laughter. Mari was still gazing up at him through the gloom, her young face shining with adoration and he frowned slightly.

Normally he would have been flattered by the girl's regard, for she was sincere and fair to boot, but confusingly, it no longer seemed enough. Mari was fair, yes, but she at that age where it was very easy for a girl to be pretty and besides, it was much harder to look nice when covered in troll's blood or sporting a black eye. And what was more, she was clearly too young for someone of his age and the obvious regard she held for him was inappropriate.

The dance ended, Fritha and Nalia moved from the square, going to stand with Minsc and the others who had gathered before the dais. Anomen straightened where he sat, about to excuse himself to join them when the musicians started up again and Mari gave a wistful sigh.

'Oh, I love this song…'

She was looking at him, eyes shrewd beneath the shy tilt of her head, with a clear idea of what propriety commanded in such situations. Anomen swallowed and against all better judgement asked if she would like to dance, the girl agreeing with a coyness of which Aerie would have been proud.

Fortunately, the song was a reel and one he knew quite well, the dancers forming two lines to make their salutes before the dance began. Anomen moved through the set of steps and turns, his stomach twisting uncomfortably as the girl moved opposite him, still dipping her face coyly now and then as they danced. He felt as though all eyes were following them, watching with a grave displeasure, and Anomen just tried to put all his focus into his steps as he continued with what felt like the longest dance of his life.

A flash of wild amber hair though the crowd and he caught a glimpse of his own group, his stomach giving a particularly violent twist in response. Fritha and Nalia had not noticed, chatting with Minsc and the boy, Valsben as they were. But Jaheira had seen him and looked torn between disapproval and amusement, while Haer'Dalis was laughing outright, Aerie tugging at his sleeve and trying to get him to stop as she hid her own smile behind her hand.

The song finally over, he quickly excused himself to rejoin them, the girl looking a touch unwilling to let him go, but there was little she could do about it and he tried to ignore the twinge of guilt as he felt her eyes follow him from the square.

'By Silvanus, could you have found anyone younger?' exclaimed Jaheira as soon as he was within earshot and Anomen felt himself flush.

'Come now, good druid, she is not so youthful,' rebuked the tiefling. 'Besides, I think some of the girls Fritha was playing hopscotch with earlier would be interested,' he added, turning to him with a wink.

'Haer'Dalis!' scolded Aerie over the laughter, the man barely noticing her slap his arm.

But Fritha was not laughing either and Anomen followed her eye to where Mari was now back on the benches opposite, watching the dancers with a forlorn expression.

'Oh, bless her, how lonely she looks,' Fritha sighed, seeming genuinely concerned, 'I think she needs a partner.'

For one awful moment, Anomen thought she would turn to him again, but the girl passed him by, instead stepping up to give Valsben an encouraging shove towards the floor.

'Well get over there then, and show her your moves.'

For a second, the poor boy looked stricken, but Fritha grinned at him and he seemed to come to slightly, returning the smile to jog over to the girl. The pair were on the floor but moments later, the group about him laughing and cheering and Anomen felt himself smile, Fritha's voice just audible at his arm.

'Dancing, matchmaking and hopscotch; this is the best party I've ever been to!'