Author's Note: No, it's not quite Throne of Bhaal, yet. I'm taking a slightly different approach, starting with this small tale about the time in between events of SoA and ToB -- it should (hopefully) lead up to the beginning of ToB events, and will follow Maiyn and Coran, and Imoen and Anomen and Minsc alternately, as both groups have something I want them to achieve before we go onto the next main story. So -- I hope you will enjoy! This part is very short, but I've been having difficulty figuring out where to start it. This seems as good a way as any, though.

General disclaimer: I own nothing, even Maiyn generally decides her own path.

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Prologue

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He remembered saying farewell to Jaheira.

He'd embraced her before they parted ways, allowing her to hug him as tightly and fiercely as she had the two girls. And then she'd pushed him away to arms length, her hands gripping his shoulders, her tear-stained face once again the serious picture he was used to.

"You've changed, elf," she said, neither warmly nor coldly. It was just a simple statement. "And you've proven yourself worthy time and time again in our company. I know... I know you will not fail me, now."

And he'd nodded, silently accepting her unsaid plea; watch over her, guide her -- be there for her. She will need it. He was no longer her irresponsible lover, after all. Now, he was her older, wiser friend.

--

He remembered saying farewell to Nalia.

The others had stayed in the hall, Maiyn caught in her own little world while Anomen, Imoen and Minsc chatted. He'd slipped away, looking for the Lady of the Keep -- his wife, no less, though not for much longer it seemed; and he'd found her up on the ramparts, looking up at the stars. His heart had lurched; so many things needed to be said before they departed in the morning. She still hadn't said as much, but he knew in his heart she wouldn't be travelling on with them.

"It's a fair evening, isn't it?" he said quietly, moving around to stand by her side.

She nodded, her gaze still fixed to the sky above. "I used to come here, when I was a child," she said thoughtfully. "I had so many dreams... so many fantasies back then."

"And now?" he asked.

She smiled; her eyes drifting down to easily meet his enquiring look. "And now I think I've experienced the reality of them all. I... shall not be going to Athkatla with you."

"I had expected that."

"Yes. I... I will make sure that everything is... dealt with as well as can be. With Isaea safely taken care of and Lord Roenall assuring me that he has no such intentions of taking my land, I think it would be best if our... agreement... was kept as discrete as possible." She paused hesitantly. "I mean, you will always be welcomed back here as a visitor-"

He allowed himself to laugh, then, and she looked visibly relieved by his reaction. He turned himself to face her, and was reminded just how beautiful she was; her long reddish-brown hair had been allowed to flow freely around her face, and although her eyes looked heavy and tired, the faintest curl of a smile on her lips allowed a radiance to shine on her that he'd rarely seen before.

"Oh, Nalia..." he whispered. Their eyes remained locked together, and slowly she moved to him. His arms found their way around her slight form, and she offered no resistance as he pulled her into a tight embrace in which they remained locked for a long time.

When they parted, she used one hand to rub her brow, her eyes closed. Then she gave his hand an affectionate squeeze, smiled warmly to him and bid him goodnight.

He watched as she left and suddenly there was clarity; she was a beautiful person, and he was honoured to know her and be her friend. But they'd never share a bed again, and he could never look at her as a lover. No... She was more to him than that. She was special.

--

He remembered saying farewell to Imoen.

Manly handshakes were exchanged with the young knight Anomen and the burly Rasheman, Minsc. And then Imoen had flown at him, throwing herself into his arms and allowing him to twirl her around as they both laughed lightly. It was as he set her down on the ground that he became so aware of how he'd always considered her the prettier of the two young girls; her shiny hair, her almost permanent smile, despite the hardships she'd endured.

And then a quick glance over to Maiyn, standing away from the others as she watched the scene. He thought he saw regret in her eyes for a moment -- a shadow of sadness across her face. But then it was gone, and she'd looked away; her hair tousled and wild, her face sombre. He'd never liked a serious girl, had he? Yet Maiyn... Maiyn had not always been so lacklustre. He could remember the days in Baldur's Gate, when she had laughed and played with him.

But it had only lasted a short time, just like everything else.

He frowned slightly, keeping his eyes fixed on her. He remembered the days he'd held her in his arms, and the nights that had followed. He remembered her how she'd stayed loyally beside him, despite his discovery of Namara. He remembered how she'd thought he was leaving her side to stay with his daughter, and the delight on her face when she saw him returning to her.

And then she looked up at him, and something strange happened inside him that he'd never felt before. He smiled, just a fraction, almost missing her bemused look as she stared right back at him questioningly. And then he reached out, and...

Warmth.

He laughed. He laughed with relief and with confusion both. He could feel her again, sense her emotions on the barest levels, and yet... and yet they shared nothing, any more. She'd thought him dead and turned to another, and though he knew she still cared for him, there had been no sign from her that she would even consider returning to what they once had.

And could he really love another man's child? She'd loved his daughter, hadn't she?

He silently chided himself, looking away from her raised eyebrow. Yes, Maiyn was special to him; there was no doubt about that. But it was not the easy relationship he now had with Nalia -- the complexity was almost maddening, and the regrets lingered in the back of his mind as she looked away from him, absently staring somewhere in the distance.

"Come," he said, taking her arm and leading her down one of the many Athkatlan roads that led to the city gates. "Let us head north!"

--

He rode by her side, now, following the path as it wound to the north. Behind them was Verya, her lynx companion, and ahead of them...

Ahead of them was unknown.

He wondered when he'd have to say goodbye to Maiyn.