Two lovers lazied about under the covers of their big bed in their small but well-furnished room, while the morning sun poured into the room and warmed their bodies. Rose lay with her back to Laska while the elf held her tightly and had her face half-buried in her lover's reddish-blonde hair.

"We should get up," Rose whispered.

"Don't wanna," Laska whispered back. "I like it here."

"Me too," Rose said. "But don't you have that big meeting with Lord Coprith?"

"Mmmmm, don't care," Laska whispered. "Think I might get a new tattoo done."

"Where?" Rose asked.

"Don't know yet... Hey," Laska teased. "How about a belly-ring?"

"Don't you go marring your body and your beautiful abs with those," Rose replied. "Don't you get enough metal sliced through your skin already?"

"Or maybe," Laska grinned wickedly, knowing how much Rose hated piercings. "A tongue-stud?"

"Do that, and the only one you'll be kissing is yourself," Rose chuckled.

"Aww, you don't mean that," Laska whispered and tickled Rose's bellybutton slightly with the tips of her fingers.

"Stop that," Rose giggled and squirmed a little. "Didn't you get enough of that last night?"

"No," Laska said. "Did you?"

"Never," Rose smirked and blushed a little. "So... what are we going to do about that?"

"Well," Laska said while positioning herself a little closer to Rose to be able to kiss her. "I have a few ideas..."

Unexpectedly, the door flew open. A started Rose pulled the covers over her body while Laska reached for her belt of daggers laying on the nightstand. But the panic was unnecessary. "Maid-service!" a burly maid in the standard black and white uniform entered the room, pushing a cart. Without saying a word, she took the feather duster from the cart and started to clean.

"Look," Laska snarled. "Do you mind?!"

"Yes, I do!" the maid snapped back. "Now, you know I start work here around eight o'clock, and work I will whether you like it or not! If you wanted an hour reprieve, you should have put up a 'Do not disturb sign' around your doorknob! Now, if you don't mind I have work to do. No sign, no privacy, that's what's being a maid is all about," she said and continued working.

"Laska, I told you the maid-service was fanatical," Rose whispered while clutching the covers to her chest. "Didn't you put up the sign?"

"I'm sure I did, so who..." Laska said, and then the lovers shared a brief look.

"Imoen..." they said in unison.

"So that's why you got up so early today," Viconia said to Imoen while the party sat gathered around the breakfast table on the main floor of the inn. It was the largest table in the room, and it was stacked with all kinds of a cereals and drinks. Most notable was the big stack of pancakes in the middle of the table.

"Yep," Imoen grinned at Laska and Rose.

"Very funny," Laska sighed.

"But please don't do it again?" Rose offered Imoen a hopeful look.

"No promises!" Imoen giggled. "Keldorn, pass the maple-syrup, please!"

"There you go, Imoen," Keldorn said and stretched to give Imoen the bottle of syrup. "Ouch," he suddenly spoke up. "Forgive me, I am not as young as I used to be... Especially not in the mornings."

"Oh, come on, Keldorn, you're only as old as you feel," Imoen said while shoving a thick slice of pancake dripping with maple syrup into her mouth.

"In that case," Keldorn smiled. "I'd be 350 years old."

"You look young for your age, then," Minsc said. "Boo says that is good."

"So, Dyna and I went shopping yesterday," Imoen said.

"Yes," Dynaheir spoke only after chewing her pancake and having swallowed it.

"Geez, a little more enthusiastic than that, please," Imoen replied.

"Well, I bought this wand! It's a wand of wonder, you know, capable of being loaded with six different spells ready to be cast at all time, so that I can bombard our enemies with power arcane!" Dynaheir raved. "And besides, it's also a letter-opener."

"Hey!" Imoen said. "I've got a new leather armor!"

"It's, uhmmm," Laska said while Imoen held it up for her friends to look at.

"What Laska means to say," Viconia offered.

"Oy, it be bloody pink!" Korgan said. "What kind o'adventurer would be wearin' pink?!"

"The adventurer with class and style!" Imoen said.

"Speaking of armor, I really think we should meet this guy in battle dress," Laska said. "We'd look more professional, don't you think?"

"I'll braid your hair!" Imoen offered with a broad smile. "I used to braid Laska's hair all the time since we were little girls, till the day we were the heroes of Baldur's Gate and..."

"Well, um," Laska took a deep breath, and was actually glancing over the table looking for a bottle to drink herself in courage. "You know, Rose often..."

"Oh," Imoen's face fell. "That... that's okay, I guess... So, when are we leaving?"

Laska saw Rose stare and smile at her while Imoen started to stare at her plate. "You know," Laska said. "We do have some catching up to do. So if..."

"Sure!" Imoen perked up with unbridled enthusiasm. "So, double knots or cross-ribbon pattern?"

"Cross-ribbon, I guess," Laska said and sighed in relief. She knew she could had handled it better than this and cursed herself inwardly.

They entered the home and office of Logan Coprith and were asked to wait in the main hall for him to appear. The room was well-furnished and richly carpeted. A huge, luxurious dining table was in the middle of the room, which oaken walls were adorned with expensive looking paintings in even more expensive looking frames.

"How gauche," Viconia snorted. "Even the paintings are decadent. These people here simply have too much money."

"Ey, I say we be lootin' the place! What do ye think, Laska?" Korgan offered.

"Nah," Laska said. "What are we going to do with those paintings away? Nobody'd buy them and Viconia will kill us if we try to take them into the house."

"You'd better believe it," Viconia snarled and raised her eyebrow.

A middle-aged, well-dressed and smiling man entered the room through another door in the back and approached the party. Though a noble, he certainly didn't look the part. The lines in his face betrayed the military man hidden under his velvet suit. "Ah, you are the kind adventurers who have come to our aid? My name is Lord Logan Coprith, and I am the High Merchant of this place. Welcome."

"High merchant?" Viconia shook her head. "Even the titles in this land are related to finances. You're even more decadent then the Drow of Ched Nassad."

"Pardon me?"

"Don't mind her, she's perpetually cranky," Laska said as she got up from her seat and approached the man. "I'm Laska Leafwalker, and I'm the leader of this party, insofar as we have a leader."

"I shall get right to the point," Logan said.

"Hey, now there's a change," Jan piped up. "The last time uncle Ebert came to the point is when he fell on his own sword, but that's another story all together. You see, uncle Ebert was an inventor. And he was crazy about knick-knacks with double functions. Some of his favorite was a dog that doubles as a lawn-mover, A hose which doubled as a drainpipe, a boat which doubled as a turnip-patch, a paladin which doubled as a plunger..."

"Jan, what was that?" Keldorn asked.

"You heard me, Keldy," Jan grinned. "Anyway, he also invented a tongue which doubled as an automobile, a political party which doubled as a target at tomato-toss contests..."

"So, how'd he fall on his own sword," Imoen asked. "Did he commit suicide because he didn't he have success as an inventor?"

"No, it was just because he had invented a sword which doubled as toilet-paper and he pressed the wrong button when he was in the outhouse. A sad fate, really. Even sadder when that pack of griffins took off with his body before we could take it to the temple," Jan said.

"Errr," Logan sighed for a moment, looking very resigned to be stuck with this lot. "Is he always like that?"

"You don't know how often we hear that," Laska chuckled while she sat back and fondled her long braid. "So, what's going on here?"

"Commandant Fentan has told me you have seen them already. The animals at the gate? The very land is against us. Animals attack, and even the foliage strangles. It began subtle, but now we suspect a dark mind behind it," Logan sighed and sat opposite to the elf.

"Say it is not so!" Minsc wailed. "Poor animals do not attack. Animals roam free and run wild! They don't want any city!"

"Until recently we did not know where to place blame, but now the people have found a target. The last group attacked saw several figures directing the chaos," Logan said. "Druids, belonging to a group that has long been peaceful. No doubt many of the attacking creatures were druids in animal shape."

"Oh, well, that's alright, then," Minsc smiled broadly.

"Hush, Minsc," Dynaheir said. "Thou art not helping."

"Aye," Korgan grinned. "If it be cow or druid shaped like cow, they both be makin' a bloody decent steak. HAR!"

"It's worse than that," Coprith said. "The people apparently captured one of the druids. Had I not locked him up they would have quartered him in the street."

"Blasted paranoid humans," Laska snorted.

"Believe me, I share your sentiments," Logan said. "I do not tolerated this kind of behaviour, so I had my guards step in. Besides, he is not guilty, of this I am sure. I can tell these things. He says he has been sent to investigate the druids himself."

"So," Keldorn said. "The druids sent an overseer to see if the local druids have not fallen from their faith?"

"Something like that," Logan said. "Though many of our citizens have already made up their minds on the matter. What I would have you do is escort him to his task, or see to it yourselves, whichever you prefer. In any case, you should escort him out of town soon."

"Sure," Laska said. "And if the citizenry protests, I'm sure we'll break a few noses on the way out."

"Damn right!" Korgan grinned.

"I... trust you will not kill any of..." Logan stammered.

"Of course not," Laska said. "But I don't like lynch-mobs..."

"I see, well," Logan looked a little relieved. "I thank you. I will allow you to pass so you might speak with him. He may leave under promise of your care."

The cell under Logan's house was quite cramped, but still, the druid inside was given quite an amount of food and soft blankets, signifying he was in protective custody, nothing more than that. Still, Laska and the druid were eyeing each other all the time. The druid was a middle-aged man with jet-black hair. Feathers were tied in his hair and leaves were stitched to his leather armor. Laska looked back at Viconia, who returned her look with one of her own... one which was apparently saying 'dork-alert'.

"Hello and well met to you. I am Cernd. You look pleasant enough, though I cannot be sure these days. Are you friends of that charming Lord Coprith? I've made very few friends among the merchants," the druid spoke.

'Yep' Laska thought. 'Viconia was right.'

"Surely, he was right to send an elf to me," Cernd smiled. "Surely an elf such as you would see that nature is defended and well represented?"

'A dork who's trying to manipulate me, I hate him already,' Laska thought.

Apparently, her thoughts were clear on her tattooed face, because Cernd seemed to be briefly taken aback. "Coprith sent me, but I don't trust you as far as I can throw you. What exactly are you trying to do here, druid?" Laska asked.

"Well," Cernd said. "I was send by Senidad in the north to investigate the attacks on the city of Trademeet...I know many druids in this region and they would not support such actions without due cause. I suspect that there has been a change in leadership here. Nature itself protests against its use for warfare... This foul deed sends tremors through nature all over Toril, reaching the far reaches of the desert, the peaks of mountains and even the depths of the oceans."

Laska and Viconia shared another blank look. This time, Laska was sure she could read 'brainless, stemless, witless oafish male' in the expression on her face.

"Whoa," Laska heard Imoen say. "You sound like Laska after she's downed about twenty pints."

"Hey!" Laska snapped back with a smile. "I never say stuff like that, do I?"

"Well, it's more about swords, blood, gore and all, but it's all the same..." Imoen grinned.

"Great," Laska chuckled. "You go out adventuring expecting a good, decent, violent quest and I end up getting insulted and bored to death by a druid. Great start of the week..."

It was decided Minsc, Dynaheir, Viconia, Jan, Keldorn and Korgan would escort the druid outside, while Laska would stop by the inn to say goodbye to Rose. Of course, Imoen insisted she come along and skipped alongside her sister as they strolled over the marble grounds of Trademeet. After a long goodbye kissed, the elf and her human sister made their way towards the towngate... and both nearly tripped over a rather gaudy looking halfling.

"Hey, watch it!" the halfling shouted.

"Sorry, mate," Laska said and helped the man stand up. "Didn't see you there."

"Then look down once in a while, beanpole," Imoen chuckled.

"Really, I've been waiting for you for a while, wench," the halfling said. "You and I can do business."

"First of all, don't call me 'wench' or we'll just see how far I can kick you," Laska said. "Secondly, who in the Hells anyway?"

"Mind your tongue, youngster, when you speak to your betters. I'm Lord Khellon Menold, future High Merchant of this town!"

"You're not nearly high enough," Laska grinned.

"Oh, that was a bad joke, big-ears," Imoen shook her head and pretended to choke herself.

"Don't be so dramatic," Laska said.

"Hey, you wenches be quiet when men are talking!" Khellon snarled. "I'm the man here, so you little ladies just listen to your betters."

"Did you hear anything?" Imoen said. "I didn't hear anything."

"I have better ears than you," Laska said. "But I only heard a worm below my feet, I think."

"Oh, forget it," the halfling said. "Logan has send you to find the reason for the attacks, while any drooling idiot can see why! They want our land and they are mad with lust for it! Mad with desire!"

"Shouldn't you be out on a ledge?" Imoen grinned.

"Bite your tongue, girlie!" Khellon huffed. "The fact of the matter is, Logan's lilly-footing ways will fail. I wonder of the fool even wants to stop the mad druids! This is not the first problem we've had with these freaks, these tree-huggers. Far from it. Last year, my company was to open a caravan route through the forest. It was to be a grand road, paved and straight. In short, it would've been the finest caravan route on the Sword Coast! My crew and I began construction but as soon as the first tree fell, a druid came running out of the bushes, screaming like a banshee! He was going on about the Spirit of the Grove, the sacredness of nature and some other nonsense. We gave him a knock on the head just to shut him up."

"Oh, my," Imoen said. "That wasn't necessary, was it?"

"Did you stand on a stool to knock him over the head or did you climb a tree?" Laska smirked.

"Within moments, more druids burst in casting spells at my men! They trussed me up with vines and roots! Kept us tied up all afternoon, lecturing about nature and other garbage."

"I know garbage when I see it, and I'm seeing it now," Imoen chuckled.

"Everything pink is usually garbage too," Khellon retorted.

"HEY!" Imoen said.

"The insult was too much! When they did let us go we killed a bunch of them before they ran off. The druid Verthan came to Trademeet and blamed ME for instigation and murder!" Khellon stamped his little feet.

"Fancy that," Laska sighed.

"Logan sided with them and forbade my company from entering the Grove on penalty of death. I lost 20,000 gold pieces!!" the halfling cursed.

"You... you," Imoen was starting to get angry now. A rare state for this paragon of cheerfulness to be in. "You make me so mad."

"Try not to pop a vein," Khellon grinned. "Logan would try to make peace with the devils. I intend to end their evil. You are obviously no stranger to battle. I would wish to hire you to make my plan a reality. We must kill the druids before they can kill us. We must destroy their source of power so that this can never happen again. We must exorcise the Grove of its evil spirit. The Grove derives its evil magic from a 'holy font' within the druid's lair. You, my friend, shall destroy the source and weaken the druids. Mopping up will be simple when the font is gone."

Laska said nothing. Instead, she bent to one knee to look the halfling in the eye. Then, she suddenly grabbed him by the lapels, stood up and hoisted the halfling in the air. "Tell me, do you see these two big ears on the side of my head?"

"Let me go!" the halfling shouted.

"Come on, you must have seen I'm an elf, and asking an elf to destroy nature is a bloody stupid thing to do... a very bloody stupid thing to do," Laska spoke slowly and menacingly.

"Ingrate! Peasant! I'll have your head!" the halfling shouted.

"I think not, now get lost," Laska snarled and dropped the halfling... and kicked him forward until he landed in a mudpuddle outside of town and slid against a tree.

"Nice, Las," Imoen said. "I hope that's the last we will see of that little creep."

"'xcuse me," a soft voice sounded from the other side of the square. The source was a little elven girl with big eyes, blonde hair and even bigger ears. She was wearing green clothes, and from her skin-tone, Laska could see she was a gold elf, no more than seven years of age. Again, Laska bent to one knee.

"Hello there," Laska greeted.

"Hi," the girl asked hopefully. "I'm Lise. Have you come to take me back to Suldenesselar?"

Laska was taken aback. In her youth, she had made extensive studies of Elven Lore, and had come across the name Suldenesselar more than once. Still, she was at a loss as to where it would be. It was a community of gold elves, and they were known for being overly reclusive. "I'm sorry," Laska said. "But I don't know where Suldenesselar is."

"Oh," the girl sighed. "My... my momma was eaten by a stupid wolf and now they wanna send me to an orphanage. I don't wanna go to an orphanage. I wanna go home to my family!"

"Tell you what," Laska said. "Maybe we'll be able to find Suldenesselar one day, or find someone who knows where it is. In the meantime, why don't you come live with me and my friends."

"Wow, really?" the child, who had obviously been living on the streets for days, said.

"Sure, us elves have to look out for each other," Laska said. "Go to the inn and ask for a woman called Rose. Tell her what you told me, and you'll be fine. She'll get you a good meal and a bed to sleep in."

"Thanks!" the girl beamed, hugged Laska and ran off toward the inn. Laska smiled to herself as she watched the child run away. Still smiling, she turned to Imoen... and was met by a scowl.

"So," Imoen said, and Laska noticed that there was spite in her voice, "do I have to have pointed ears to get any attention from you?"

"What?" Laska asked. "What are you talking about?"

"I bet you would have come for me at the Asylum at a moment's notice if I would have had pointed ears," Imoen sneered. Sneered? Imoen has never sneered in her life!!

"Imoen," Laska said and gently took Imoen by the shoulders while looking into her eyes... and she was pained to know that she saw spite in her sister's eyes. "What's up with you lately."

"Nothing," Imoen said, calming down as she turned her head away from Laska's gaze. "Nothing... It's, it's, just that halfling who got me worked up, that's all... Let's just... go, okay," Imoen said and tore away from Laska's grasp. Imoen walked towards the town-gate while Laska watched her go.

"Are you coming?!" Imoen called at the flabbergasted Laska. Apparently, Imoen's sour mood had been chased away by her cheerful self. Slightly worried, Laska followed.

"As the very wheel of the seasons turns, the oak stands firm, for strength is of all seasons," Cernd spoke.

"Ah, 'tis as the wheel of the little hamster!" Minsc grinned. "Always turning, turning without a destination or place to go to!"

"But only nature is the ultimate destination of all living creatures," Cernd continued. "After dead, all returns to nature's soil and waiting lap."

"Ah, gods, make them stop!" Korgan snarled. "Yakkaty-yak-yak, two idiots tryin' to out-idiot each other! Shut them up before be shuttin' them up with me axe!"

"Korgan please," Keldorn said. "I know it is trying but you must have patience."

"I dunno, Keldorn," Laska said. "Lynching is wrong and I hate it... but I do understand the people of Trademeet trying to get rid of this guy..."

"Fear not," Cernd smiled. "This nettle knows when he is not wanted. Besides, it is best to approach a rabid bear from two sides when trying to apply a cure. Yes, I will leave and meet you back at the grove."

As Cernd left, Laska closed her eyes and revelled at the closeness of nature. Even though Cernd was an annoying person, Laska did want to find a way to stop nature from going mad. Though, her pleasure was not without bliss, for she was growing more and more concerned about her sister... Still, Laska's guilt overwhelmed her.