Ceye's note: I'm posting the chapters I'd normally post over the next few days – chapters 11 through 14 – today as I have an exam on Friday and I will be going dark to study for it. If you want to keep yourself going at the same pace with the story, read a chapter a day. I'll be back to a normal schedule on Saturday. Thanks for your understanding! =)

Also, to any Norwegians who may be reading this: Jeg skal bo i Norge fra 9. mai til 7. august. Jeg vil snakke litt med deg, så snakk til meg! ^-^

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* 92 * 3/11/13

Lily sat just beyond the door to the war room, having taken a liking to the oft-neglected space. She pored over the book she had been trying to read before Casavir had entered to confront her just yesterday. She didn't quite know what she was looking for, but the book had to have been written for some reason, right?

The sun elf swayed back and forth as she read, still feeling tingles all over her body from Bishop's recent...unusual treatment.

Lily, anxious now and growing bored from war theory, put her chin on her hand and continued daydreaming. She thought about going outside to the woods again, feeling the wind whip through her hair and the sun shine on her glossy skin. Lost in sweet memories of the forest, she craved the unrestricted feel of her hair brushing against her neck again, and decided to search for a hairband in of one of the bags that were lying around. Indeed, the war room was so abandoned as to be used as a storage area for the party's unused items. Normally this role would be filled by the basement, but that was surprisingly a pretty popular location amongst several team members.

Finding a band she deemed good enough, she began tying her hair up in a high ponytail, sitting back at the table. Her hair now fell to just below her breasts in the back, and she leisurely moved her head back and forth to brush her luxurious locks against the small of her back. Entertained, she had forgotten all about the book in front of her, swishing her head front and back...

In the corner of her eye as she moved her head, she spotted a shiny, full plate of armor. Lily stopped her dizzying motion and gave the man a wide smile. "Casavir!"

The paladin's heart beat faster at her tangible enthusiasm. "Lily," he greeted fondly.

She got out of her chair and approached the paladin. "I'm in a good mood," she spouted in glee. She truly was, though she didn't understand why. A very recent memory involving a strangely-acting moody ranger came to the forefront of her mind as if seeking to answer her, but she shoved it back in its place.

"Why are you back in your armor? Are we going somewhere?"

"There are no plans; it was only to meet your father," Casavir admitted. "Are you feeling any better?" he asked, eyeing her new ponytail. Her hair flitted around when she moved even in the slightest, brushing against where her skin was lain bare.

"More and more each day," she said with a smile. "My head is still a little confusing sometimes; I'll go ahead and blame it on the pneumonia."

Casavir wondered what she meant by that.

"Were you going back to your room? Can I join you?"

"Yes, and of course," the paladin replied. He was glad to see her so sprightly again. He walked her to the inside of his room and sat down at the table there. The table had two chairs and Lily was about to take the other and sit across from him when she stopped short.

"Actually, Casavir... Would you mind having a drink with me?"

Casavir raised an eyebrow. "It is rather early, my lady."

"I don't care much for conventions, to be honest. I was just going to have more of that wine we had that night we celebrated your return to health."

That got the paladin to smile. "And this time, we would celebrate your own." He was keen on that idea.

Lily nodded excitedly. "I also just wanted an excuse to try more of that wine; it was really good, definitely better than the stuff my father gave me when I was young."

He raised a brow. "Your father gave you wine when you were young?"

"It wasn't wine...or at least, I don't think it was. It was some kind of alcohol, though. It tasted nothing like what I had with you, that's for sure. He made me try it so I wouldn't ever become a drunkard. I have to say, it worked; I've barely touched alcohol at all in my life until that recent night."

Lily spotted a glint in the paladin's eye that was remnant of true laughter. He was obviously amused by her story, so his abnegation disconcerted her.

If he wants to laugh, why doesn't he just let it out? she wondered.

"I really would like to taste that wine again, though. You don't have to join me if you don't want to; I just didn't want to drink alone."

"I will join you. I was simply wondering why you wished to do so so early, but you have preemptively answered that question."

Casavir got out of his seat and opened the door for her. "After you."

"Thank you, kind sir," she said, performing a mock curtsy and grinning. They walked to the beginning of the west wing before veering off in two separate directions.

"My lady?" Casavir inquired, having made his way toward the main hall.

"Oh, I forgot to mention I was planning on getting the drinks straight from the kitchen. They have enough ingredients in there for a few people."

"Who will be joining us?"

Lily beheld him timidly. "I was actually hoping it could be just you and me, if that's okay."

Her request dignified the paladin. "Of course."

The elf beamed at him, then grew shy again. "I was also hoping you could tell me the name of what we had that night."

Casavir chuckled at her unnecessary bashfulness when asking things of him. "The drink was a Lady Moon."

"Right," Lily nodded, committing it to memory. She entered the kitchen in short fashion and ordered two Lady Moons straight from the workers there.

This time we'll see if I can hold myself together, considering it's not drugged, she thought, picturing that memorable night with Bishop having gotten her her drink. As she found out later, though, it had hardly been out of the kindness of his own heart.

When the two drinks were procured, Lily handed one to Casavir. "Here you go."

"Thank you."

"Let's go to the dining room," the elf suggested. They did, and assumed two seats opposite each other, next to a plate of grapes left out on the table for anyone to pick from.

Lily eyed her bounty with a flash of excitement, taking a sip and immediately slumping a little in her seat.

"Ahh! That feels pretty good going down!"

Casavir took a drink as well, admiring the taste himself. He had always preferred red to white wine, mostly for the former's rich taste.

Lily prepared herself. "Okay, ready?"

The paladin looked at her quizzically.

"One, two, three, go!" she shouted, taking as big of a gulp of the wine as she could.

Casavir picked up on what she was doing only half a second after she'd already begun doing it. Despite that, he had easily drunk twice the amount she had, even having stopped at about the same time.

"How do you do that?" she sniggered.

"I drink," he said almost asininely. Lily laughed, and she shook her head. Everyone was better at this game than she was.

"What's your favorite drink?" she asked, curious. "I don't know of many."

"Likely this. However, I do not drink often."

"I saw that. Even when you do, you're fully in control of yourself at all times. That's very...well, you," she finished vaguely.

"What do you mean?"

"It's very like you to always be mindful of the state you're in, still being fully aware of your actions even when under the influence of drink."

Casavir looked pleased and took this as a compliment.

Then: "Have you ever had too much to drink?"

The grin from just a moment ago abruptly disappeared from the paladin's now-frowning face.

"I'm sorry. Guess I shouldn'tve asked."

"No, it is all right."

Moments of silence ensued.

Lily re-articulated herself: "I don't mean to pry, Casavir, your business isn't mine. But...do you mind answering the question?" she inquired, pushing her influence over him.

The paladin sighed.

"Yes, I have."

Lily looked like she thought it best to bite her tongue, but she didn't. "When?"

"It was when I left Neverwinter."

"...What happened?"

Casavir felt uncomfortable answering these questions, but Lily's influence was high. He stared at his drink as if it held his utmost interest, not wanting to look her in the eye for the duration of this particular subject.

"I made a...rather considerable blunder."

Sensing his sudden emotional distance, Lily put a hand over his armored glove. Casavir lightened up the slightest bit.

Thinking of the relevant circumstances, he sighed again. He cast a brief but meaningful glance Lily's direction, just long enough to catch the incredibly curious spark in her eyes.

Deciding that he felt no desire to be dishonest to such eyes, he continued for her sake alone.

"I...murdered a man...my lady."