Lines of Fate  -  Conclusion
                          (Submitted by Morngrym)


     The two warriors were both in place...Kerik hidden on one side of the
thieves camp and Erin on the other.  They wanted to pull this off with as
little bloodshed as possible and had formulated a plan with this in mind.
The less conflict they had with the thieves, the better everyone would be.

     Kerik scanned the camp carefully...taking note of every detail.  He
spotted what he believed to the ceremonial sword he was seeking, wrapped in a
cloth, near other items of value.  Kerik gave the sign and he and Erin both
let arrows fly, taking out the two thieves on watch.

     An instant later, before anyone could react, Erin let the magical arrow
fly.  It streaked into the center of the camp, where it struck the ground and
exploded into a large cloud of darkness.  There was chaos.  A jumble of
sounds filled the air...thieves shouted in alarm, others moaned in pain,
there were sounds of struggling and falling down, along with more than a few
curses.  Jackal's voice carried about the wave, shouting orders, trying to
get the men organized...and out of the darkness.

     Erin held her breath and waited.  She knew that Kerik had burst into the
camp just after the darkness engulfed it.  She griped her bow with tense
strength, and readied another arrow.  Anyone, other that Kerik, who emerged
from her side of the cloud would have a surprise indeed.  An eternity passed
and a figure stumbled from the darkness towards her.  It wasn't Kerik.
'Thwip!'...the arrow streaked through the air, striking the thief squarely in
the chest.  He erupted in a slight gurgling sound before falling, face first,
to the ground.  Erin readied another arrow and waited.

A moment later, another figure emerged from the inky blackness.  She rose and
drew back on her bow, nervously biting her lip.  "Erin? ::cough::  ::cough::"
a weak voice asked...She breathed a sigh of relief and ran to Kerik, who had
breathed in too much of the magical cloud.  In his hands he held the sword
they had come for, its cover in tatters...soaked with blood.  A smile crossed
his lips as his eyes met hers.  "Ye could still put an arrow in me ye know.."
he joked with a grin.  She gave him a playful shove as they dashed off
through the woods together, the shouts of the thieves trailing off behind
them.

They passed through Nightsedge and Floodblest as quickly as possible that
day...and arrived in Neverwinter City by dusk.  They wasted little time as
they cleaned themselves, the sword, and changed into fresh clothing.  A short
time later the weapon was delivered to the noble who had hired Kerik and the
reward was paid.  They left the house with heavy purses...enough to be
comfortable for quite some time.

      They walked in the gardens of Neverwinter that evening, under the light
of a full moon.  "Thank-you", Kerik said once again..."There is no need",
Erin replied..."I knew the risks, and I received half the reward".  Kerik's
face darkened a bit at the comment.  It seemed like only a business deal they
had just completed...maybe there was no connection.  "Well, he said, I shall
part ways with ye then",...though his heart was not in it.  There was a
moment of silence as Erin looked at him and he looked towards the star-filled
sky, avoiding her gaze.

           "Is that what you want?" she asked, surprise and concern in her
voice...She quickly caught herself.  "I'm sorry...goodbye and be well" she
quickly added, as she turned to leave...tears filled her eyes.  A moment
passed, then Kerik ran after her.  "Erin, wait.." he said, as he gently took
her by the shoulders and turned her to face him.  Several tears had made the
journey down her face now, leaving a glistening trail.  "I don't want to
part", he stammered, unsure of himself.  This was very unlike him.  "I want
to know you better...If it is your feeling as well", he  continued.  There
was a pause.  "Aye, that would be very nice", Erin replied with a smile, her
voice cracking a bit.  Hand in hand they walked through the cobbled streets
of Neverwinter until they grew tired.  As they entered the inn to sleep that
night they knew there would be many more days...and many more adventures
ahead!