He was a fool, he knew that. A damned fool. So she had flirted with him; called him handsome and tugged his tail once when he wasn't paying attention. More then a few females had done that. So she had clung to him for support in the Beholders' caves when she kept slipping and painfully falling on the greased floors, and listened patiently to him when he spoke of his past. That was unique to her... But she was so young, a Half-Elf of only 20 years. By the nine hells, she was barely an adult! He could easily be twice her age, if he actually knew how old he was.

Yet... He felt his heart flutter within his chest whenever she smiled at him. That damned, inexorably playful grin of hers drove him insane. She was always smiling when he spoke with her. Her brilliant blue eyes, so much like his own, seemed to glitter with an inner light when she spoke with him.

And she spoke with him all the time. To discuss tactics, to rearrange equipment, to merely see how he was doing. She never seemed to shut up, really. Even when she shifted into a form that couldn't speak, she growled, squeaked and roared all the same. Of course they were usually fighting enemies when she shifted...

She wasn't like other women, that was certain. Despite being half surface Elf, she harbored no ill will towards the followers of Eilistraee or even the Drow of House Maeviir. She was almost invariably genuinely happy to help whenever someone asked for her assistance. Although, there was that time in Drearing's Deep, when the color had drained from her face upon realizing they would fight the undead... She trembled the whole way through the temple, and screamed with unadulterated terror when they first beheld the Draco-Lich Vix'thra. Fortunately Nathyrra had a spell to calm her down, but if she hadn't... Well, it wouldn't have surprised him if she'd fainted then and there. Part of him rationalized that she was only mortal, yet he knew she was also something more... But what was it?

Amazing. That's what she was; pure and simply amazing... And if they were as likely to die as he thought they were, it would be best say what he wanted to now.

"Aleesha..."

The Half-Elf turned and smiled at him, her shortish blue hair whipping about her face from the incessant, hellish winds of Cania. "Yes Valen? What would you like?"

"How you're able to smile at a time like this is beyond me."

Aleesha laughed and shrugged, her scalemail clinking gently. "Someone has to make the best of our situation, don't they? Now what do you want?"

"I love you," he replied quietly, his words ripped away by the merciless winds before they could reach her ears.

"What?" The Shifter called, struggling to be heard over the sudden gusts of wind. "I can't hear you! Let's find shelter and then talk!"

The Tiefling only nodded in response, his head spinning as he desperately tried to come up with something to say.

They reached the Quarry Office far too soon for his taste, although the warmth of the building was soothing. Aleesha set Deekin down onto the ground (she'd carried him thus far in an attempt to keep him warm) and the kobold scampered off to barter with the Quarry Boss for supplies.

"Now, what did you want to say earlier?" She asked, stretching briefly and then patting her dire bear companion on the head.

"I..." The Tiefling frowned and closed his mouth, trying to compose his thoughts and himself.

"Take your time," Aleesha said absently, seeming more concerned with the strange patterns on the Quarry Office's ceiling.

"We have not known each other long," he began slowly. "But I have come to regard you as a close friend, and..." He stopped, a steadily darkening blush creeping across his features. "I have come to feel quite close to you."

The Half-Elf continued to stare up at the ceiling as she spoke. "I feel close to you too, Valen," she replied blankly. By the pits of hell, she could be infuriating!

"I mean very close," Valen continued on, hoping she would realize what he meant. "I feel more then a simple fondness for you, Aleesha... I-"

"BOSS!" Deekin screamed, hurtling toward the Shifter and slamming into her a moment later. "Deekin bought berries to start fires with!"

Aleesha laughed and placed the kobold on her companion's head. "That's wonderful, Deekin!" She fished around in her backpack and pulled out a small diamond. "Why don't you go sell this now?"

The kobold got an embarrassed expression on his face and shook his head. "Sorry boss, but Deekin can'ts. There be something big going to happen soon, and Deekin needs to be around to write it into epic story!"

"But you were away just a moment ago," the Half-Elf argued gently. "I'm sure a bit more wouldn't hurt."

Deekin grinned toothily at her. "Nope! The boss be really smart, but Deekin knows what's going on! Deekin will stay right here by the boss until something big happen."

Aleesha shook her head and sighed. "Alright..." The Shifter yawned widely; it had been a long, cold day. "I guess we'll be sleeping in the Gatehouse again..." The Half-Elf turned to him and tossed him a pouch of coins. "Valen, go buy some food from the Quarry Boss, since Deekin's refusing to leave my side at the moment."

The Tiefling nodded and did as the Shifter asked, feeling incredibly angry with the tiny kobold. So angry, in fact, that he swore right back at the Quarry Boss with enough fervor to nearly knock the Pit Fiend off his feet. The devil was so impressed that he gave him the food free of charge.

"Why he ignores my tanar'ri blood is beyond me," he thought pensively, returning to their small "camp" in the Reaper's Realm with this and many other thoughts weighing heavily on his mind. To his surprise, Nathyrra was there and helping set up the tents. The Drow smiled at him for a moment, then turned and said something to Aleesha that he couldn't hear. The Shifter walked over towards him a moment later.

"What... What was it you wanted to say earlier?" The Half-Elf asked, shifting her weight from foot to foot. She didn't smile at him now; she didn't even meet his gaze.

Valen swallowed hard and took a step forward. "Aleesha... You are the most amazing woman I have ever met." He took her hand and smiled hopefully at her. "I-"

"BOSS!" Deekin shouted, hurtling towards Aleesha once more.

The Shifter snatched the kobold up and glowered at him, holding him mere inches from her face. "SO HELP ME GOD IF YOU INTERRUPT HIM ONE MORE TIME I WILL RIP OUT YOUR ORGANS THROUGH HOLES YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD AND SHOVE THEM DOWN YOUR PUNY THROAT!"

Deekin stared at the Half-Elf with unblinking awe, not even flinching when she dropped him to the ground and turned back to face the Tiefling. The kobold simply sat and stared at her.

"I don't think I've ever seen you that angry," Valen said in awe.

"I've been angrier... Once." Aleesha responded quietly, her head turned away. "In Zorvak'Mur, when the warden threatened to make you a thrall."

"That made you angry?" The Tiefling asked, eyes slightly wide. "Why?"

"Because I care about you, Valen..." The Half-Elf was trembling as she spoke. "I don't want you to ever come to harm. I love you."

"Aleesha..." He smiled softly. "I love you, too." He placed a rough hand on her cheek, then frowned deeply. "Why are you crying?"

The Half-Elf shook her head and grinned at him through her tears. "I never thought you would return my feelings... I had hoped, but never expected you to-"

He smiled and kissed her softly. "My lady... I have loved you since we first met."

She arched a skeptical eyebrow. "Truly?"

He shook his head and gently brushed away what tears remained on her face. "No, but it seemed like the right thing to say in order to lift your spirits."

Aleesha laughed out loud. "You best leave the story telling to Deekin, Val- my love."

The Tiefling grinned and helped the still-stunned kobold to his feet. "What do you think of that, kobold?"

"Deekin thinks whole world go crazy!" The bard shouted, eyes wide. "He will now writes all of this down for his epic book!" Deekin then proceeded stumble back towards his tent and collapse onto his makeshift bed.

"I shouldn't have yelled at him like that," Aleesha said sheepishly. "Do you think he'll be alright?"

"I think he will be fine, my love..." Valen smiled and took her hand. "...And so will we."