Sunset Tears Chapter 18, a neverwinter nights fanfic

"Milady Captain, there is someone here to see you..." said the guard standing at attention in her doorway. Before she could respond, a figure ducked into the room beside him.

"Kyrie!" Torio ran to her, embracing her with great joy. Kyrie held onto her friend tightly, full of relief and delight at seeing her again.

"I so hoped that you would find your way here Tori! Did you come with your family?"

The guard, satisfied that things, as odd as they were, were normal, receded back to his post.

"No, but..."

Her words were cut off as Sand, a male dwarf and a female tiefling bounded into the room.

Kyrie ran to Sand with a cry of joy and threw her arms around him. He laughed with great mirth when he saw her and hugged her back tightly. The dwarf and the tiefling were laughing also, but Kyrie stopped and looked at them oddly. The girl pulled the dwarf back as he moved to embrace the paladin.

"Khelgar, she doesnt remember us..." the red eyes grew sorrowful.

"Kyrie? Captain?" asked the dwarf, his face still full of joy. "Ye remember ol' Khelgar! We met on the road and spent many a day knockin' heads left an' right! Remember those giants! Thought they could step on us and we showed em and got me Ironfist belt back!"

Kyrie knit her brows together trying to force her mind to remember. His face looked so hopeful, pleading. Suddenly, fragments of memories, always swimming just beneath the surface of her mind exploded upwards. Images, sounds, scents cascaded together and formed the missing parts of her life. Crying with happiness, Kyrie embraced Neeshka and Khelgar, dragging Sand and Torio to her again as well.

She wiped her eyes and stood back looking at her friends, her heart finally completing the puzzle. Sand put his arms around Torio and kissed her, and Kyrie gave an exclamation of surprise.

"Sand! Tori! You...you got together?"

Sand looked down and smiled, then looked at Torio, the love in his eyes blazing.

"Indeed we did. Kyrie, I love her so. I truly love her."

Kyrie felt the tears well up in her eyes again. Torio pulled herself away from Sand and put her arms around her friend and whispered in her ear.

"Ky...its going to be ok. Trust me...you will see its going to be alright."

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Kyrie was signing and stamping paper after paper when Sand crept into her office.

"My girl, I need to speak with you."

"Yes, I need to talk to all of you as well. Its time I was going."

Sand sat down in the chair opposite her and dragged a sheaf of papers over and began signing and stamping them with her. Kyrie sat back and watched him with amusement.

"You have some untapped talents my magical friend. Maybe I should have Kana delegate these tasks to you. Looks like you have my signature pretty well worked out there."

He looked up at her affectionately for a moment. She continued with her pile and for awhile they worked in silence.

"Sand," she said, "I only came back here to wait for you and Torio. I ...well you know I need to go find Casavir."

"Mmhmm. I know. You were right about him, Kyrie."

She looked up, her face ashen. "W...what? What do you mean I was right? He is alive? Where? Where is my Cassi?"

"Kyrie dear, tell me...do you still have those nightmares?"

"No, not for some time now. Actually since I ...well not since I left."

Sand opened and closed his hand a few times, creating and uncreating a small flame rose.

"Where did you go, Kyrie?"

"I was...I followed...I met..." she looked at him, a hopeless expression in her eyes. "I cant talk about it, Sand."

"Cant, or wont?" He saw so much in her eyes, but she was guarded, withholding it from him.

Kyrie shook her head. "Its too much, Sand. Just please understand, I dont wish to go into it with you just now. Please...tell me about Cassi! I wont speak of anything else!"

Sand gently told her what he and Torio had learned. She was awestruck, crying as he shared the story that Torio had told him, and what they had learned since then. Sand didnt want to think on what it meant that she no longer had any nightmares of him, but Kyrie's heart was still secure in the knowledge that her beloved was alive. Sand gathered her into his arms and let her cry until she had no tears left. Tears of regret, sorrow, vindication and relief flowed freely from her until she was spent. Raising her head from his shoulder she looked at him, those sunset eyes on fire.

"Lets go get my Cassi and bring him home. I will tear that city apart with my bare hands if I need to."

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The stress of the entire situation became volatile several times over as they made their rescue plan. At times, no one agreed with anyone else's suggestions, and tempers flared, room doors were slammed shut and old friends refused to talk to one another. Each realized the gravity of the situation, and each believed none of the others did.

"I cannot use my magic, as I have tried to say a thousand times before, there are wizards who hold a magical barrier on the prison at all times!"

"Well we cant get rid of the wizards, so what else can we do?" quipped Neeshka. "Can we make them drop the barrier a different way?"

"Maybe...maybe there's a way." Torio stood behind the exasperated Sand and ran her hands through his hair.

"I could distract them. The Brotherhood has an...affinity for...women. Especially dancers."

Sand turned around to her. "Hells no! I am not going to allow you to debase yourself like that in front of those Luskan dogs."

"Althraion, I know you love me, but you cant stop me from doing this if there is a chance it will work. You need to get in there and teleport out with Casavir. The wizards need to be distracted at the very least to weaken their magical barrier enough for you to get through."

Sand's eyes nearly popped out of his face.

"What?! Teleport out WITH Casavir?! What in the nine hells makes you think I can DO that, woman?"

Torio's own eyes grew larger and she looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"You mean you cant? I thought you could do anything."

Khelgar sat back and elbowed Neeshka.

"Ohh now this is gonna be good!"

Torio's beautiful, slightly tilted grey eyes looked innocently into Sand's blue ones, blinking slowly. The wizard's incredulity gave way to adoration, then he sighed.

"Well, I can do it but it will take time! I must learn the proper verse for the spell, not to mention practicing it to ensure I know exactly how to do it when the time comes, the need to calculate precisely..." his words were cut off by a kiss from Torio.

Khelgar gave a short guffaw.

"Now ye see! That's how the lasses get their way every time! Jus' go on and blink those pretty eyes and we canna see left from right!"

Kyrie sat quietly in a patch of shadow, listening to them. The child inside her was growing, she felt her body changing to accomodate. Soon she would not be able to hide it anymore, in fact she herself noticed it was harder to hide the small bump. Layers of clothing and cloaks wouldnt do the trick for too much longer. They had to move on the rescue, and move quickly. Not only did each passing day increase the threat to Casavir's well being, but to her unborn child as well. She wouldnt be able to do battle very well even at this point. Battle. She hoped it would not come to that.

"Alright. This is what is going to happen."

All eyes turned to her and tongues fell silent.

"Sand, you have two days to learn and perfect the dual teleportation spell."

The wizard opened his mouth to protest, but a look from her silenced him. It was not his dear friend speaking to him, it was his Knight Captain. He nodded respectfully, his mind whirling.

"Torio. Are you sure that these wizards will allow themselves to be distracted by you? Will they not suspect anything if a woman suddenly shows up and entertains them?"

Torio shook her head. "That happens all the time. Someone trying to earn a few coppers for a meal will approach anyone and try anything. I should know..." her voice went soft and tapered off. Kyrie gave her hand a comforting squeeze, and her friend smiled.

"Neeshka. We need some information regarding the guards in the prison confines. Primarily who is down there, who Sand could potentially come into contact with. Do you have contacts able to sell this information?"

The little rogue thought about it for a moment, then nodded.

"Khelgar, we will need some horses. Our beasts are warhorses and will attract far too much attention. I will ride Razelique, and bring Azrelaine for Casavir but I will not be going too close to the city. Its best that we not head in together, but enter through different gates. Im sorry Sand, but that means you and Torio as well. You can all ride in and stable the horses."

Kyrie looked around thoughtfully.

"We need a map of Luskan. That's my task. I will find a blueprint of the city."

Khelgar gave a grunt.

"How about you let me get the map lassie, and you get the beasts? I canna abide by those unpredictable creatures! I've me own two legs that does me right fine!"

Kyrie shook her head.

"No, Khelgar. You can have the stable masters handle the horses if you like, but you must procure them. Im sorry but you will have to ride to Luskan with us either on your own or with one of us."

Neeshka giggled. "You can ride with me, Khel. It will be fun."

The dwarf grumbled, but knew better then to argue with his Captain.

Kyrie headed for the door. She had to brief Kana, Katriona and Bevil, and they wouldnt be pleased with the entire plan. She suddenly felt very tired and rubbed her abdomen absently. They could wait. She needed to rest.

She didnt feel the eyes that followed her down the hall to her private chambers.

Sand had never cussed more in his life then he did as he learned and practiced the dual teleportation spell. He got lumps, bumps and bruises from hitting the walls as he teleported around the Keep holding his cat, Jaral, making the minute calculations in his mind, then converting those numbers to the proper words. The spell was extremely taxing on his mind and body, and after a few rounds of it felt very ungraceful as he stumbled around looking for a place to rest.

One of the orphan children, Dory, came up to him and looked at him quizzically.

"Are you sick mister wizard?" she asked. "Should I get you some medicine?"

He looked at the child and closed his eyes.

"No, I am not sick. I am learning a new spell, and its tiring."

"Oh I know about that. I get tired when Deekin teaches me new things too. Know what helps?"

"I cant imagine," said Sand.

"This," said Dory, reaching into her pocket and extracting a small candy, offering it to him.

Sand shook his head, not wishing to consider just where she had gotten it and where it had been.

"Oh, how lovely of you to share, sweetheart," said Torio, coming upon them. "Sand is very grateful and would love to eat it." She took the proffered treat and hugged the little girl.

"Now go to the kitchens, and tell Cook that Torio told you to get a slice of pie for yourself alright?"

The little girl clapped her hands with delight, her face lighting up in a wide grin.

"Thank you Lady Torio, thank you SO much!"

As she bounded away, Sand raised his head to make room for his love to sit, and put his head on her thigh. She kissed the tip of his nose and stroked his hair gently.

"You know, you will have to get used to children and their grubby little hands and gifts, Althraion. Our "little wizards" wont be born 300 years old and full of brains."

"That's what you think, dear girl," he said, his eyes sparkling at the thought of a little family.

"Dont you dare put growth spells on them! I want to enjoy them as tiny babies for as long as possible!"

Sand chuckled and reached up a still exhausted hand to stroke her face.

"You are safe from that, a'maelamin. There are no such spells. You know, I would never have thought I could get excited by the thought of children, but I think of it quite often now. Perhaps we should retire to our chambers and ... practice. What do you say, beloved?"

"As tired as you are, I doubt you will make it that far, but if you do...you know I say what I always say..." Torio slid off the little bench and knelt on the ground, kissing him deeply, passionately.

Barely able to contain his desire, Sand stood up and put his arms around her.

"Feeling brave, Torio dear?" he asked. "Hold on tightly to me..."

There was a displacement of air, and the two of them vanished.

Kyrie put Razelique back in his stall, after riding him gently around the outside of the Keep a few times. Although it felt like most of her memories had returned, she still had no idea where the stallion had come from. The beast had an uncanny way of reading her mind, and the first hour they had spent together, all she had had to do was think of switching gaits and the beast responded. She didnt know his name at first, and took it forgranted that her returning memory had simply filled that in for her.

He was a beautiful animal, large boned and strong, with a coat as black as her hair. His gaits were fluid, floating...another strange ability he had. There was next to no jarring in his movements despite his great size. If not for that, Kyrie doubted she would be able to ride him. Her growing baby was causing her some discomfort now, and she had taken to sitting or standing behind things to hide it. She was still not ready to share the information with her friends. Thank goodness her armor still did a good job of keeping the pregnancy hidden.

When she was alone, she talked to her child, which she was sure was a daughter. She told her about her father, about their great love for one another, and how happy he would be to learn about her. Those quiet moments made Kyrie feel connected to Casavir, and it did her heart good. She made plans for his return, summoned the best and most discreet Tyrrian clerics in the Sword Coast and paid them an exorbitant sum in exchange for their assistance. They were more then happy to move into the church quarters with Father Ivarr to await their call of duty. She praised Tyr in her devotions morning and evening for sparing her beloved's life, and often she was accutely aware of his presence and felt that he loved her.

As she passed the stalls at the far end of the barn where the work horses were quartered after the work day, she saw 4 new animals. Summoning the stable master, she questioned him.

"These new beasts, are they for the farms?"

"No Milady Captain. I thought you had requisitioned them. They are cart horses, from Luskan."

He produced a parchment.

"This was pinned to the door this morning when I got up. They were already here. I thought you had ordered them. I have got a messenger out there looking for you as we speak to ask if they are to be brought out to the farms."

Kyrie looked at the smaller, shaggier horses. Obviously this was Khelgar's doing. He had been tasked with procuring their transportation, but why did he get 4? He had planned to ride with Neeshka. Also, why would he pin the requisition form to the stable door and not give it to the master himself?

Kyrie considered it for a moment longer, then decided it was not worth worrying over. If the dwarf had changed his mind and decided to ride on his own that was his choice. Perhaps it had been a late night and he wanted his ale and his bed. In any case, the horses were here and that was all that mattered.

Khelgar, his heart heavy, walked into the barn.

"Laddie! Do ye know any good horse traders around here?" he asked the master. "I need me 3 little beasties, but not the big kind do ye know what I mean?"

The stable master pointed at the four new arrivals.

"These arrived this morning. The Captain said they are not bound for the farm, but for her own personal use. You will have to wait til they are moved since we dont have any more room here."

"Ahh the Captain was here then? Good enough for me lad. I can go back to my ale now!" He clapped the stable master on the shoulder and sauntered out, whistling. He was more then relieved that Kyrie had obviously changed her mind about having him handle the horse issue and done so herself.

Neeshka spent far too much gold gleaning the information she did about the guards in the Luskan prison. Her informants were scared of the Brotherhood, insisting that they could be scryed at any given time. It took coin after coin to loosen their lips, but in the end she did get a good idea what to expect.

Returning to her chambers, she found several parchments pinned to her door. One was a list of names, the other was a series of blueprints of the city. One of the others must have decided to give her a hand, and she was grateful. The faster they could get Casavir, the faster they could forget all about that horrible place.

Kyrie shut the door to the war room. She had donned her armor plate to hide her pregnancy; she knew everyone would assume she had been training with the guards and wouldnt find it odd to see the Knight Captain in full battle regalia occasionally.

"Well, it looks like we have everything we need. Horses, blueprints, information, and a wizard who can now teleport with another person. You all did very well, and I am so grateful for all your love and support."

She looked at her friends.

"Its too bad that not everyone was able to return and join us. I have grieved those we lost, and those whose hearts just couldnt return to this place."

The little druidess Elanee had hidden herself in Neverwinter Wood, and aside from the odd whispered sighting of a wood elf, it was obvious that she no longer wished to be part of the world at large. Kyrie didnt know if the druidess would ever hear that she had not died in the fall of the Vale. Elanee had spent many years watching Kyrie and the paladin hoped that if word ever reached her deep in the wood that she would venture to come say hello.

The little bard Grobnar, who had regaled them with his sometimes silly, sometimes happy songs had died trying to save his precious Construct. The lonely gnome had fallen head over heels in love with the farmer Shandra Jerro, and Shandra's death had hit him so hard that in his grief he had bonded with the Construct. He treated it as a beloved pet instead of a deadly war machine, and in the end trying to save this "pet" cost him his life.

The strange Githzerai cleric Zhaeve had vanished without a trace after the battle with the King of Shadows. No one had seen her leave the Vale, and no one had seen her die. Kyrie accepted that her mission was over and she had returned to the Astral Plane, to her strange world where thought became reality.

As for the warlock Ammon Jerro, nothing was heard from him either. No one had seen his death and he had not contacted anyone since the war. Perhaps he had died, perhaps he had gone off to a far away place to grieve in solitude...or perhaps he had been swallowed up by the Nine Hells or the Abyss to fullfill the contracts he had made with the demons and devils. Kyrie didnt know, but for his help she would be always grateful.

As for the sorceress Qara, her mentally unstable mind had convinced her to join Black Garius, and she had been swiftly killed by Sand.

"There is no point in delaying this journey. We...well we are as ready as we ever will be. I suggest everyone take an early rest, for tomorrow we leave for Luskan."