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Moments in the Sun	By : Shebagirly Category: +M through R > Neverwinter Nights Views: 2345 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Neverwinter Nights or any of its characters. I make no money off of this story. This is my first adult fic so I welcome all reviews!

Chapter List
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            Leona opened her eyes and smiled. Today was one rare day she would have all to herself. Managing the keep takes almost every spare minute, especially since she’s gone so often recruiting allies and keeping the periphery safe. Yesterday after she got back from Highcliff, making allies of the Lizard men, Zhjaeve told her she needed some rest before going out on the road again. It was a tough few fights yesterday, with all the ‘tests’ the Lizards threw at her before agreeing to ally with her group. It challenged her mentally and physically and she had to admit she was spent.
            She stretched, and opened her dark curtains to a sunny, warm day. Damn, she was sore. All her companions used the same weapons all the time, but because she switched between arrows and swords, her whole body hurt from double the muscles used. She was sure Zhjaeve could help her ease the aches. Despite the pain, she smiled again. The day was hers to spend as she pleased. She would dress, deal with papers and business from the keep while she ate, and then time was hers and hers alone. How long had it been since she decided her own fate? How would she choose to spend her day?
            Yes, it was true. She was tired. She wasn’t only the leader of the group, the one who fought the most and made decisions. Because she was also a ranger, she did most of the tracking, too. What she would give to blindly follow someone else on the trails, at least. She could take Bishop along to lead; she trusted him to do that much, at least. But she usually didn’t like to do that. For one thing, their skills overlapped, making it a waste of manpower. She could only take so many people on these trips, and she needed varied strengths. For another, Bishop made her other companions nervous. Most didn’t trust him, and they spent too much time keeping him ‘honest’ and not enough on the task at hand. Bishop didn’t make it any easier with his constant snide barbs. He almost seemed to feed off of making others uncomfortable.
            But there was another reason Leona didn’t like to bring Bishop along. Not long after she’d arrived in Neverwinter, she and Bishop had had a brief – well, an encounter – in one of the storage rooms at her uncle Duncan’s tavern. Wasn’t a big deal, she reminded herself. It wasn’t unusual for adventurers to pass like ships in the night, and move on. They led dangerous lives, and because they worked hard, they played hard too. It just made her uncomfortable now to be around him. She’d never expected back then, that her uncle would have called in some debt to force Bishop to join her party. If she’d known that, she would have stayed away. That’s why she and Casavir were dancing around each otherlike polarized magnets. There was something there, but they knew there was work to be done, and it couldn’t get in the way.
            She was done with Bishop. But sometimes the way he looked at her sideways, sharing that secret….well, she didn’t like that he held that over her. A few of her companions knew of it, but she didn’t want to make it worse. She knew Bishop was waiting for the right moment to throw their encounter at Casavir. The less time they spent together, the better. And since she usually brought Casavir on her journeys, Bishop stayed home. Leona didn’t have the time to get sentimental right now. She shook her head to clear it, and dressed for the coming day.
            The castle was already bustling, since she’d slept in later than usual; with a stack of papers under her arm, she settled into the dining room alone, to eat and drink while she managed the details. Often she was making these decisions verbally with Kana, walking somewhere else while she signed or talked. Today already felt like a vacation, that she could take her time with this never-ending task. Kana must have told everyone to give her space today; she’d have to remember to thank her.
            “Morning, Captain.” She knew who it was before looking up; no one else named her title with such disdain. She kept her head in her work but said, “Bishop. Didn’t they tell you to stay clear of me today?”
Bishop didn’t bother to answer her question. “Rumor has it you have a day off. I’m surprised your work ethic allows for such revelry.” Bishop never uttered a word without a mocking tone. Leona briefly wondered what he was like as a child, and when he got so cynical. It must take a lot of energy to look at the world that way all the time, she thought.
She raised her head. “As you can see, my work ethic compels me right now. What do you want?”
“I was just wondering what you planned to do with yourself today. Surely a Captain of the Keep has grand plans on a free day.”
Leona knew enough to never display too much to Bishop. Later he could, and would, use it against her. To tell him she had no plans was not a good idea. “Why?” she asked. “Have something grand in mind, worthy of a captain?”
She had to admit, looking at him now, she was glad they didn’t spend a lot of time together: she would be constantly tempted by him. His gold-brown eyes were hard to resist. But she had a good beginning with Casavir now, subtle and chaste as it may be. It was the start of something real, maybe, but still not enough yet to pull her in. Not like this. Leona chastised herself for being drawn to the wrong kind of man, but the truth remained.
“As a matter of fact, I do,” said Bishop. He pulled out a chair and sat a few seats down from Leona, stretching out his legs like a sleepy cat. “This keep isn’t far from where I did some jobs a few years back. Once while tracking some marks, I came across the best spot outdoors for miles. Anyone would think it’s beautiful, but it’s the kind of spot only a ranger could really understand.” He looked at her pointedly. “I’d camp there still if I could, but the damn guards get suspicious if I leave the gates after dark.”
Leona smiled. “With good reason,” she said, returning to her papers.
“Anyway,” Bishop continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “the sun is out, and the water will be warm.” He untangled himself from the chairs , leaving them askew, and turned his back on her, heading for the door. “I pass through the farms at 9.”
Leona couldn’t resist a little jab; she’d gotten so many from him these few months, she’d never catch up. “Why, Bishop,” she said sweetly. “Are you asking me on a date?”
He turned, looking at once lazy and stern. “Date? I don’t date." He spit the word as if she'd insulted him. "But you know better than anyone here all the other things I can do.” He turned again and said to the air, “Nine o’clock.”

Leona rested her head against the last of her papers, at war with herself. She could worry and she could resist, but she knew well she wouldn’t turn Bishop down. No point denying it, or worrying over it. She wasn’t attached to any man, and until she was, she would do as she liked. Her only pause was that Casavir might be hurt, if he found out. On the other hand, he didn’t come looking for her today. Probably obeying Kana's request, she thought. Also, she had nothing with Casavir, yet. Nothing but glances and properly placed words. They were flirting, and nothing more. Later, when more evolved, Casavir would take her as she was, or he wouldn’t.   In this adventuring life, you take it one day at a time, and she knew what she’d do today, at least. Lifting her head again, she sighed, finished her work, and left the papers for Kana. Then, she suited up for a day in the forest.
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Moments in the Sun