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Blood and Shadows--Chapter Three


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#1 Guest_Yunami_Silverblade_*

Posted 04 April 2004 - 02:18 AM

Welp, here's the much-put-off (I'm lazy) next chapter. Hope y'all enjoy.

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When she woke again, she was far calmer and much more clearheaded than she had been the day before. The remainder of the night had been uneventful. Jaheira had held her, rocking her back and forth like a child until she had stopped shaking. Rinara had fallen into a fitful but mercifully dreamless sleep soon after.

She lay for several minutes with her eyes closed. Though some small part of her knew it was foolish, she was trying to convince herself that she was back in Candlekeep. She was sixteen years old again, and Imoen was in the bed opposite. When she opened her eyes, she would see nothing but the familiar stones of the tower bedroom she shared with her sister, and sunshine streaming in through the window. The last year, hellish as it had been, was only a dream. Gorion was alive. The children of Bhaal had nothing to do with her.

Then Jaheira, sleeping next to her, let out a soft snore, and her wishful fantasy was gone. Sighing with regret, she cautiously peeled one eyeball open. When she neither spontaneously combusted nor found herself struck down by heaven’s fury, she forced the other lid up as well and looked around.

She was lying on her side, with her back to the sleeping druid. Directly in front of her was a window. From her position, she could see very little. Just the rubble of what had, just twenty-four hours ago, been a part of the largest trading center in Amn. She groaned. Behind her, Jaheira snorted and rolled over.

Kicking off the thin blankets, Rinara levered herself from the bed. She took a moment to stretch out a few of her aching muscles—Now I know what Evil feels like when Minsc gets through with it—and looked around for her boots. They had been kicked half under the bed; she retrieved them and tugged them on, then turned toward the door.

On her way around the bed, she caught sight of herself in a wall mirror. Ugh.

***

About twenty minutes later, she descended into the common room of the Mithrest Inn, looking considerably cleaner, thanks to the washbasin and pitcher. Though her clothes were still ragged, and so grimy that one could no longer tell what color they were supposed to be, at leasr she didn’t stink quite so badly. She’d done her best with a comb she found wedged behind the wardrobe, but her hair was still filthy and hopelessly tangled; she’d probably have to cut it all off. Her boots, at least, were in good condition.

She spotted Minsc seated alone at a small table, eating what looked like porridge and feeding something to Boo. She made her way across the mostly-empty room and sat down with him. He pushed the half-empty bowl at her, smiling kindly.

“Minsc and Boo have saved you some breakfast. Boo says you should eat quickly, but not too quickly. There is Evil to be stomped, and Evil Wizards to be butt-kicked!”

“Thank you, Minsc. I’m not very hungry.” He just looked at her. So did Boo. Sighing, she picked up the spoon, and began to eat.

***

She had nearly finished her breakfast when Jaheira appeared and seated herself alongside Rinara. She, too, had cleaned herself up as well as possible, and was looking much like her usual capable self.

“You have eaten? Good. There is much that must be done today.”

Rinara looked up, mouth full. “Like wha?” she mumbled indistinctly.

“First and foremost is the matter of money. We are stranded in the City of Coin with none to our names; what little we had has been used up on our rooms and food. We will have to find some way to rectify the situation.”

“Boo says that he is sure there is no shortage of employment for Heroes of Goodness in such a large city,” volunteered Minsc.

“I suspect you are correct,” Jaheira said, “but I was thinking of a more immediate solution. There is much that was salvaged from our trek through Irenicus’ ‘home,’ much of which is of no use to us.”

“A bit of commerce, then,” guessed Rinara.

“Precisely. If you are finished, we should be about our business.”

Rinara hurriedly gulped down the last of her porridge (she’d been hungrier than she thought) and stood. “Ready when you are.”

------------------------------------------------------

Well, not my best effort, but I hope you enjoyed anyway. Thanks for reading!


#2 Laufey

Posted 04 April 2004 - 08:27 AM

[color=black]Welp, here's the much-put-off (I'm lazy) next chapter. Hope y'all enjoy.


---------------------------------------------


When she woke again, she was far calmer and much more clearheaded than she had been the day before. The remainder of the night had been uneventful. Jaheira had held her, rocking her back and forth like a child until she had stopped shaking. Rinara had fallen into a fitful but mercifully dreamless sleep soon after.


Awwww...Jaheira is really a great mother figure, I think.

She lay for several minutes with her eyes closed. Though some small part of her knew it was foolish, she was trying to convince herself that she was back in Candlekeep. She was sixteen years old again, and Imoen was in the bed opposite. When she opened her eyes, she would see nothing but the familiar stones of the tower bedroom she shared with her sister, and sunshine streaming in through the window. The last year, hellish as it had been, was only a dream. Gorion was alive. The children of Bhaal had nothing to do with her.


A wishful dream I bet plenty of our PC:s have indulged in from time to time.


On her way around the bed, she caught sight of herself in a wall mirror. Ugh.


Yeah...I suspect after what PC goes through, they'd look pretty much a mess at this point.


“Minsc and Boo have saved you some breakfast. Boo says you should eat quickly, but not too quickly. There is Evil to be stomped, and Evil Wizards to be butt-kicked!”


“Thank you, Minsc. I’m not very hungry.” He just looked at her. So did Boo. Sighing, she picked up the spoon, and began to eat.


Minsc is a sweetie. :shock:

“I suspect you are correct,” Jaheira said, “but I was thinking of a more immediate solution. There is much that was salvaged from our trek through Irenicus’ ‘home,’ much of which is of no use to us.”


“A bit of commerce, then,” guessed Rinara.


And a visit to the circus, perhaps?
Rogues do it from behind.

#3 Guest_AlphaMonkey_*

Posted 04 April 2004 - 10:10 AM

When she woke again, she was far calmer and much more clearheaded than she had been the day before. The remainder of the night had been uneventful. Jaheira had held her, rocking her back and forth like a child until she had stopped shaking.


Gotta agree with Laufey on this one. Jaheira really does seem like a good mother-figure type here. Gorion and Khalid were like fathers, Jaheira is "Mom"... in spite of everything else, I'd almost consider Rinara "lucky."

Then Jaheira, sleeping next to her, let out a soft snore, and her wishful fantasy was gone.


:) C'mon, admit it... she sounds like a lumber mill when she's asleep... it's a wonder Khalid didn't die of sleep deprivation.

When she neither spontaneously combusted nor found herself struck down by heaven’s fury, she forced the other lid up as well and looked around.


(Chuckle) I know I'm always concerned about spontaneous human combustion when I wake up...

Now I know what Evil feels like when Minsc gets through with it


Good analogy...

She’d done her best with a comb she found wedged behind the wardrobe, but her hair was still filthy and hopelessly tangled; she’d probably have to cut it all off.


Mmmmmm... crew cut... :)

Minsc and Boo have saved you some breakfast. Boo says you should eat quickly, but not too quickly.


I almost expected the next line to be something like "He says eating too quickly will give you a tummy ache..." or whatever.

First and foremost is the matter of money. We are stranded in the City of Coin with none to our names


I like that little play on Athkatla's alternate name.

Anyway, what -is- next on the agenda? Hooking up with the Wingless Wonder? :shock:

#4 Guest_Theodur_*

Posted 04 April 2004 - 01:57 PM

When she woke again, she was far calmer and much more clearheaded than she had been the day before. The remainder of the night had been uneventful. Jaheira had held her, rocking her back and forth like a child until she had stopped shaking. Rinara had fallen into a fitful but mercifully dreamless sleep soon after.


Yeah... that's really sweet from Jae... I do wonder what this "being there for Rinara" takes out from her. Maybe it makes her forget her own grief.

She lay for several minutes with her eyes closed. Though some small part of her knew it was foolish, she was trying to convince herself that she was back in Candlekeep. She was sixteen years old again, and Imoen was in the bed opposite. When she opened her eyes, she would see nothing but the familiar stones of the tower bedroom she shared with her sister, and sunshine streaming in through the window. The last year, hellish as it had been, was only a dream. Gorion was alive. The children of Bhaal had nothing to do with her.


Yes, who of the Bhaalspawn wouldn't wish to go back... unfortunately, that's not an option... ;)

She was lying on her side, with her back to the sleeping druid. Directly in front of her was a window. From her position, she could see very little. Just the rubble of what had, just twenty-four hours ago, been a part of the largest trading center in Amn. She groaned. Behind her, Jaheira snorted and rolled over.


Loved that wordless communication... soft snoring, groaning and snorting... :wink:

On her way around the bed, she caught sight of herself in a wall mirror. Ugh.


Hehe... it always amazes me how all the (breathtakingly beautiful) female Bhaalspawns manage to look so irresistably attractive by the time they reach and enter the Copper Coronet... it almost feels like "from a dirty sewer to the Duke's ball" :)

“Minsc and Boo have saved you some breakfast. Boo says you should eat quickly, but not too quickly. There is Evil to be stomped, and Evil Wizards to be butt-kicked!”


“Thank you, Minsc. I’m not very hungry.” He just looked at her. So did Boo. Sighing, she picked up the spoon, and began to eat.


Those two make for good nannies, eh? :wink:

“I suspect you are correct,” Jaheira said, “but I was thinking of a more immediate solution. There is much that was salvaged from our trek through Irenicus’ ‘home,’ much of which is of no use to us.”


“A bit of commerce, then,” guessed Rinara.


“Precisely. If you are finished, we should be about our business.”


I guess this sort of practicality is what makes those that dislike Jaheira, assume that she never loved and grieved for her husband. *shrug* :roll:

:wink: C'mon, admit it... she sounds like a lumber mill when she's asleep... it's a wonder Khalid didn't die of sleep deprivation.


Nah, she doesn't snore! :lol: And I would imagine that Khalid was indeed suffering from sleep deprivation, but it wasn't Jaheira's snoring that kept him awake... :shock: :) :)

#5 Guest_Yunami_Silverblade_*

Posted 04 April 2004 - 10:49 PM

Awwww...Jaheira is really a great mother figure, I think.


I think so too. I always figured that BioWare meant her to be one of the guiding influences in the PC's life, and Rinara sees her as both a "big sister" type and a role model. Of course, they still often drive eack other crazy, as you will see.

A wishful dream I bet plenty of our PC:s have indulged in from time to time.


Indeed. And it won't be the last time, either. Rinara, much like me, has a tendency to daydream.

Yeah...I suspect after what PC goes through, they'd look pretty much a mess at this point.


Yes. Blood, and slime, and grime, and can you imagine the hair? Yech...

Minsc is a sweetie. :)


Of course he is.

And a visit to the circus, perhaps?


Perhaps. :D

#6 Guest_Yunami_Silverblade_*

Posted 04 April 2004 - 11:03 PM

Gotta agree with Laufey on this one. Jaheira really does seem like a good mother-figure type here. Gorion and Khalid were like fathers, Jaheira is "Mom"... in spite of everything else, I'd almost consider Rinara "lucky."


She is lucky. She's still alive, she has companions she knows she can count on, she slept in a safe place last night, and there's food in her stomach. She's already 100 times beeter off than she was this time yesterday.

:lol: C'mon, admit it... she sounds like a lumber mill when she's asleep... it's a wonder Khalid didn't die of sleep deprivation.


Rinara: You think she's bad, you've obviously never had to camp with a Jansen. Not only does he snore loud enough to wake the dead--literally!--he kicks and thrashes himself practically into our fire, and mutters about griffins, wizards, and "batty Aunt Thelma" all night long.

(Chuckle) I know I'm always concerned about spontaneous human combustion when I wake up...


Rinara's not a morning person.

Good analogy...


Thank you!

Mmmmmm... crew cut... :)


Erm...Perhaps not that short. But a visit to a barber is definitely on the agenda. For all of them. Including Boo.

I almost expected the next line to be something like "He says eating too quickly will give you a tummy ache..." or whatever.


I almost put that in...In those exact words. Uncanny.

I like that little play on Athkatla's alternate name.


Thank you. It wasn't even intentional, it just sort of happened.

Anyway, what -is- next on the agenda? Hooking up with the Wingless Wonder? :)


:D Maybe, maybe not.

Thanks for reading.

#7 Guest_Yunami_Silverblade_*

Posted 04 April 2004 - 11:13 PM

[quote]
Yeah... that's really sweet from Jae... I do wonder what this "being there for Rinara" takes out from her. Maybe it makes her forget her own grief.
[/quote]

Partially. I think she also views it as her duty (and sometimes her pleasure) to watch over the PC. She's really the only family that Immy and Rinara have left.

[quote]
Yes, who of the Bhaalspawn wouldn't wish to go back... unfortunately, that's not an option... :D
[/quote]

Sadly, no. But then again...After all they've seen and experienced, and the people they've met, would any of them really want to, if they could?

[quote]
Loved that wordless communication... soft snoring, groaning and snorting... :P [/quote]

:D

[quote]
Hehe... it always amazes me how all the (breathtakingly beautiful) female Bhaalspawns manage to look so irresistably attractive by the time they reach and enter the Copper Coronet... it almost feels like "from a dirty sewer to the Duke's ball" :D [/quote]

Not in this case. She's filthy, she's stinks, she's practically naked, and she broke some of the teeth off of the comb.

[quote]
Those two make for good nannies, eh? :?
[/quote]

Can't you just see it? :P

[quote]I guess this sort of practicality is what makes those that dislike Jaheira, assume that she never loved and grieved for her husband. *shrug* :D[/quote]

Of course she did. It's just that, unlike other female romance options (*cough*Aerie*cough*) she understands that the world moves on, and you have to move with it.

[quote] :P C'mon, admit it... she sounds like a lumber mill when she's asleep... it's a wonder Khalid didn't die of sleep deprivation.
[/quote]

Nah, she doesn't snore! :D And I would imagine that Khalid was indeed suffering from sleep deprivation, but it wasn't Jaheira's snoring that kept him awake... ;) :) :D[/quote]

:D Didn't need that image!

#8 Weyoun

Posted 14 April 2004 - 09:54 PM

Welp, here's the much-put-off (I'm lazy) next chapter. Hope y'all enjoy.


Lazy you. :lol: Oh, well, the story's here now. :?:

When she woke again, she was far calmer and much more clearheaded than she had been the day before. The remainder of the night had been uneventful. Jaheira had held her, rocking her back and forth like a child until she had stopped shaking. Rinara had fallen into a fitful but mercifully dreamless sleep soon after.


:)

Kicking off the thin blankets, Rinara levered herself from the bed. She took a moment to stretch out a few of her aching muscles—Now I know what Evil feels like when Minsc gets through with it—and looked around for her boots. They had been kicked half under the bed; she retrieved them and tugged them on, then turned toward the door.


On her way around the bed, she caught sight of herself in a wall mirror. Ugh.


Tragic comedy, I'd say. You do both well.

“Thank you, Minsc. I’m not very hungry.” He just looked at her. So did Boo. Sighing, she picked up the spoon, and began to eat.


Hey, if you want to kill evil wizards, you HAVE got to eat your peas first! :(

“First and foremost is the matter of money. We are stranded in the City of Coin with none to our names; what little we had has been used up on our rooms and food. We will have to find some way to rectify the situation.”


As in... steal stuff? :)

Rinara hurriedly gulped down the last of her porridge (she’d been hungrier than she thought) and stood. “Ready when you are.”


------------------------------------------------------


Well, not my best effort, but I hope you enjoyed anyway. Thanks for reading!


I did! Good story,
---Weyoun
TnT Enhanced Edition: http://www.fanfictio...rds-and-Tempers

---
Sith Warrior - Master, I can sense your anger.

Darth Baras - A blind, comotose lobotomy-patient could sense my anger!

---

"The New Age? It's just the old age stuck in a microwave oven for fifteen seconds" - James Randi




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