Academy of Drell, Part 7

[GnomeWorks]

I'm just thankful we got out of that alive...

Charlotte trudges on beside Keith. When he glances at her, she smiles at him.

At least he came to help us as soon as the dire bear was dead... he could've just ignored us.

But does his coming to help mean that he doesn't think I'm capable of taking care of myself? Or that he is genuinely worried? Is he worried because he genuinely cares, or is it because he simply wants...?

...wait a minute. There's only one voice in my head...
That's right, you forgot about me.
I'm sorry. Hold on.

"Sildarin!" She calls out. "I want my psicrystal back, if you don't mind!"

That should help.
Not soon enough.
Oh, deal with it... now where was I?
You were contemplating Keith's motives for trying to come and save you.
Oh, that's right. I don't know why I'm thinking like that, though... Keith has always been protective. Even in the library, when those things attacked... he was protective. And we didn't even know each other very well.
You still don't.
Yes, we do! We know each other quite a bit better than we did when we first met.
And yet you still doubt him.
That's not very nice! After what I've been through... of course I'm going to be cautious. This kind of... happened, and I didn't really have time to think about it.
Yes you did. How long did you and he talk? About relationships, among other things?
Damn it, I just don't know! I know how I feel about him... but I just want to be more careful. He left for a long time, and then he suddenly comes back, expecting me to be waiting for him... almost like... him...
You worry far too much. He is not like him, and you know it.
I know... but part of me still wonders sometimes...
You're second-guessing yourself again.
I know, I know, I know! Can't there be an equal ground here, between self-confidence on being with someone else? Where I can be as confident in my own abilities as I was when we attacked those orcs and freed those villagers, and where I can still be in a relationship with Keith?
...I doubt it.
Thanks for the support. But what am I going to do? If I try to act on my own, and be more independent, Keith will think I'm angry with him.
Are you?
No! I'm not angry with him... it's not his fault that I have these problems. It's mine. But, if I act too dependent on him... then he might get tired of it, and go away, and I won't feel right inside.
You have to make a tough choice. Life is tough - learn to deal with it.
Why do I talk to you?
Because there is no-one else for you to talk to.
...damn you. I hate it when you're right...

 

[Velenne]

"Ah yes, I concur with the logic stating we should be departing now."

Travellios goes the way of Kieth and Charlotte.

 

[Dalamar]

Sildarin blushes as Charlotte comes for her psicrystal.
"Sorry... I forgot I had it..."
He picks the crystal from the pouch he had tugged it into and then hands it to Charlotte
"...Here..."

 

[Zhure]

Boromin replies to Sildarin: "That's a good idea, laddie. Ta tell ya the truth, I thought that bear might've rung me bell for a moment there. Ya think we should hide out in the cove agin?"

 

[Jarval]

Mortimer follows after his companions, making his way back towards the camp. He's lost in thought...

We really should have taken some of that bear. I hear there's good eating on those things...

 

[GnomeWorks]

"Thank you," Charlotte says as she receives Doyle from Sildarin.

She then heads off and rejoins Keith.

 

[Zhure]

Falling back to the original campsite on the island, the group make good time through the frosty woods. The wind has conspired to cover your earlier tracks, but the trip has been made often enough it's simple to find the route.

Once back at the small cove, a quick survey shows everything is as it was when the group left. The longboat is still hidden safely.

 

[GnomeWorks]

"Back at last." Charlotte says, relieved. She goes and finds her rock from before, sits, and leans against it.

 

[Tokiwong]

Keith takes a seat, and stays silent thinking, running different scenaros through his head, he finally speaks, "Two days and still no orcs."

 

[Argent Silvermage]

"Well Keith, We at least know where the giant is, and the tower. It's not like we're a trained invasion force. But we do need a better plan than the one we had." Lyrique says "I just wish there were some way to scout the island."