Author note: I changed Ulric's backstory because, frankly speaking, I didn't like the idea of him losing his wife and child to the plague. I could, at most, sort of accept him being a widower, but having him lose his son? Nope, not on my watch folks. So I changed it entirely, making my own headcanon about our knight in sour armor. It's hinted at here and expanded on in a future chapter.
Also, a bit of shameless self-promotion: if any of you is a Naruto fan, I wrote and posted a little fluffy one shot titled "You'll never be alone" starring everyone's favourite sand panda, Gaara! *cuddles Gaara like a plushie* So cute! ^ᴥ^
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When evening came, the group gathered around the campfire to eat the rabbit stew cooked by Imoen, all save Ulric, who had disappeared between the trees as soon as they had stopped for the night. After waiting for a full hour, Sekhmet decided to go and look for him, worried that he might be in trouble. Though if someone attacks him, I am willing to bet all my money that they will sorely regret it, she thought, amused.
She found him soon enough: he was sitting on the bank, his gaze fixed on the murmuring waters of the river, his sword lying at his side on the soft grass. "You should eat, you know", the woman said, sitting down next to him, "And in case you're worried about the quality of the food, I assure you that Imoen is a good cook, really", she added with a smile. For a long moment, he didn't say a word, as if he hadn't even noticed her presence, then he murmured softly, "You should not be here". "Well, you've been gone for a while and...".
"I mean with us", he finally turned to look at her, "The village we are headed to is dangerous. It is no place for a woman". She clenched her jaw, suddenly angry, "Well, I'll have you know that I can hold my own in a fight as well as any man, thank you very much! I'm an Odesseiron, not some defenceless little girl in need of a big strong man to protect her!", she snapped, rising to her feet, "Starve if you want, I don't care". He stood and grabbed her arm in a single, fluid motion, "Wait". The Firewalker stopped at once, even though his grip was loose and his voice quiet, "What now?".
"It was not my intent to offend you". She turned to look at him and her shoulders relaxed, "Well...Maybe I overreacted a little bit". The envoy to the bishop arched an eyebrow, "Maybe?", he echoed, his lips curving slightly upwards and she chuckled. "All right, all right, I did. And for the record, I do care if you starve, so let's just go back to camp and have dinner, shall we?". "With pleasure", he nodded and retrieved his sword, then followed her back to their companions and enjoyed the rabbit stew, blissfully unaware of the spell component in it.
According to the ladies' plan, Sekhmet offered to take first watch along with Sarevok and the mercenaries were all too happy to agree, quickly laying down to sleep, grateful for the chance to relax after so many days of hard travel. When she was sure that they were all asleep, she gently nudged Imoen in the side, so the pink-haired thief obediently murmured the triggering word, knocking them all out cold, including herself and her half-siblings.
The Firewalker was the only one left awake, thanks to her amulet and wasted no time in kneeling beside Ulric to cast her most powerful healing spell on him, then she repeated the process on Griff and as a final touch, she dispelled the magic of the component on the whole group, as not to raise suspicions: despite being a very devoted priestess of the Firelord, the prospect of being burned at the stake didn't appeal to her one bit.
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After doing their morning prayers and having a quick breakfast, the ladies decided to take advantage of the nearby stream to wash themselves, while the men stayed behind, waiting for their turn and dismantling the campsite. "You said that you're not from France", Griff addressed the Helmite, curiosity flickering in his eyes as he spoke, "Where are you from, then? I seem to remember your wife mentioned a place...Tarel?". "Toril", Anomen corrected him, "But truth be told, that's quite generic. I myself am from the nation of Amn, as Jan is. Meg, Sarevok and Imoen are from the North, while Sekhmet is from the nation of Thay".
Ulric frowned, "I have never heard of any of these places. They must be quite far from England". "More than you think", Sarevok said with a smirk, "But we're used to overly long journeys, aren't we, brother?", he added, giving the Helmite a friendly pat on the back. "I'd say we are experts of overly long journeys by now! To Hell and back again", Anomen agreed. "Hell...The place we're headed to is probably home to one of its denizens", Wolfstan commented, sighing, "I don't feel at ease at the thought of bringing some women along".
The big warrior laughed out loud at that, "Trust me, my sisters are more than capable of taking care of themselves! I've seen what they can do in battle and believe me, you don't want to be on their bad side". Ulric intervened, "And what of Sekhmet? Is she capable of taking care of herself as well?", he asked, a nearly imperceptible hint of worry creeping into his usually cold voice.
"Why, of course she is, Ully!", Jan exclaimed, "Sammy's quite adept at... ", he yelped as he was suddenly lifted up off the ground. "My name is Ulric", the bishop's envoy growled, "Do not make me repeat it a second time". "S-s-sure, no problem", the Gnome stammered, paling and trembling like a leaf. "Good".
He hit the ground with a soft 'thud', but wisely kept silent, terrified: despite having threatened him many times with bodily harm, neither Sarevok, nor Anomen had ever truly meant it, so Jan had just ignored their words and kept on teasing them, knowing that they enjoyed their banters as well. But Ulric...The unspoken threat in those steel-hard blue eyes was enough to shut the Gnome up for good. Osmund cleared his throat, "So...Is it common where you come from to have women fighting alongside the men on the battlefield?", he asked Anomen, more to try and break the uncomfortable silence than anything else.
The Helmite nodded, "We have our fair share of female warriors, yes. The Order of the Radiant Heart counts many a lady paladin among its ranks and they are as brave and as capable as any of the men", his eyes drifted towards the trees, to where he knew his wife was, "And Meg is one of the most capable fighters I've ever met". Sarevok chuckled, "She is her mother's daughter. Well, step-mother, but considering how much she's taken after Jaheira, I'd say it doesn't really make any difference", he commented and his friend laughed.
"Truest truth, brother! I remember when we were in the forest outside Imnesvale and Edwin and I began quarrelling...Helm, it seems like a lifetime ago...Anyway, we were busy squabbling like two angry brats and suddenly, wham! Meg comes up and cuffs us both in the back of the head, giving us such a stern lecture that we didn't argue anymore for a good two weeks. And you should have seen Jaheira's proud smile as she complimented her!", he shook his head, an amused and fond smile curving his lips.
Jan grinned from ear to ear, his fear forgotten in the face of a good story, "Ha! I didn't know you had it in you, Ano, but I'm glad to find out you're a storyteller as well! And it was quite good for a beginner, though maybe next time you should try throwing in some turnips and a griffin or two: everything is better with turnips and griffins", he added sagely, giving the Helmite a pat on the leg.
"I'll make sure to remember it, Jan". Sarevok rolled his eyes, "Don't tell me you're seriously going to take into account his advice!", he said and Anomen shrugged. "Why not? He's got more experience in storytelling than all of us combined, after all". "Well said! See, Binky, the lad's got more sense than I gave him credit for", the Gnome beamed, "Now if only I could convince you to taste some of my turnip stew...".
"I'd sooner go back to the Abyss", the Deathbringer stated with absolute finality. Osmund blinked, "The Abyss? What is it?". "A place of darkness and strife", the huge warrior answered, a flash of sadness passing in his amber eyes, "But even that is nothing, compared to what Maggie had to suffer, because of... ". "Because of what Irenicus did to her", the Amnian knight cut him off, guessing what was passing through his brother-in-law's mind, "Don't go down that route, you know full well that she made that decision out of free will".
"She did it for me, damn it! ", Sarevok snapped, "She struck that deal for me, to let me out of that prison...". "You would have done the same for her", Anomen replied in a calm, reasonable tone, "And you have no reason to feel responsible for her choices". "I know! I know. And I can't deny that the knowledge of how deep her love for me is warms my heart. I just wish it didn't have to come to that". He sighed, "We all do. But let the past stay in the past: she is safe and sound now, we all are and this is all that matters".
The Deathbringer couldn't help a small smile curving his lips, "Wise words. My sister is a good influence to you". "She is", the other man nodded, "She has helped me become a better man, better than I've ever thought I could be. I wouldn't be a knight, if not for her guidance and support".
"A woman can be the saving grace of a man, or cause his downfall", Ulric said, surprising them all with the bitterness laced through his voice, "You are lucky to have found an honest woman, who cares about who you are and not about wealth. Be grateful to the Lord that you have her by your side, Anomen".
"I am grateful", the Helmite assured him, "And I thank Him every day for her presence in my life". Jan turned to the terrestrial knight, "You were dumped too, eh, Ull...Ulric? I know how it feels", he said and for once, his cheerful face twisted with grief and sadness, "I loved Lissa more than anything, I would have done everything for her, but she chose that swine Vaelag and his money over me. I've not heard a word from her since she left with him".
Ulric looked at the Gnome for a long moment and his expression softened, "Then we have something in common. Some women value gold more than they value an honest heart", he commented, then his tone changed abruptly, once again cold and sharp, "The ladies are back. I suggest we take our turn at the river". Indeed, the women were walking back to the camp, looking positively radiant and Sekhmet smiled as her eyes fell on Ulric. "The river is all yours, gentlemen", she said.
He nodded, "Thank you", he rose to his feet along with the other men and walked away, followed by her longing gaze. When they were well out of earshot, Imoen giggled, "If you keep on staring at his butt like that, he'll catch fire", she told the Thayan and her grin widened as she saw her friend blush. "I-I wasn't staring at his butt! I was…Merely looking in the distance and it just so happened that his rear end was in the way, that's all!", Sekhmet stammered defensively. "Uh-uh, sure thing, Sek. You're a worse liar than your cousin, ya know?".
"For your information, Edwin is not a liar and even if he were, he would be the best at it, as he is at everything else he puts his superior Odesseiron mind to, so there!", Sekhmet replied indignantly. "Sheeesh, you really sound like him, no doubt about the two of you being related", the pink-haired thief turned to Meg, "Say, sis, how come that none of us still living Bhaalspawn sound like the others at all?". The Painbearer shrugged, "I haven't the slightest clue".
A mischievous light entered Imoen's eyes, "Hey, are you up for some fun?". "I don't know what you're planning, but I don't think it's a good idea, Immy, unless you want Ulric to burn you at the stake for pulling a prank on him. He seems like the type who doesn't just shrug it off with a laugh". She sobered and actually seemed to cringe, "But...We're allies, no?". "I doubt he would care, if he were pissed off enough". The Firewalker nodded, "Meg is right, he's not the kind of man to take lightly. Better to keep your pranks for when we're back home and for someone who's less likely to kill you on the spot".
The little thief pouted and brought her knees up to her chest, "Oh, pooh. Fine. Pity, though, it would have been fun". "Care to share your devious plan anyway?", Meg said with a grin. "Well, first of all, we would have gone to the stream and stolen their clothes...". She arched an eyebrow, "You do remember that they are taking a bath, right?", she asked. "Well, yeah, but...". "And you're aware of the fact that, if you go there now, you may end up seeing them stark naked, right? All of them? Including Sarry, Anomen and Jan?".
Imoen thought about it for a moment and her face turned a very peculiar shade of green, "Ya know, I think I'll just stay here and read a couple more pages of the latest romance novel I've bought", she said, taking 'Sins of the Flesh Golem' out of her pack and desperately trying to get rid of the mental image of Jan Jansen in the buffs.