Adinar was doing push-ups and similar activities while Bren was asleep to keep himself busy. As his big arms lifted and lowered him, his smaller ones were turning the pages of his alchemical notebook and mixing ingredients.

---------

Nellethiel was actually gone for a full day without returning to sleep before finally staggering in and crashing on one of the couches in the central living space. The wizard was out like a light.

Brenodie moved and kicked the covers, diving underneith them. The covers would poof up occasionaly, and finally they were like a torrent sea. She managed to poke her head out of the side and look at Adinar. "My head..." she closed her eyes.

Ragnoth awoke and saw Nellethiel, and he carried her to the bed tucking her in. He sat down and lightly played with her hair, hopefully making her feel better. He took off his mask carefully, and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Want something for your hangover?" Adinar asked with a slight smile, stopping what he was doing long enough to look over at her.

-----

Nellethiel stirred a little in her sleep, murmuring something indistinct in what sounded like elvish.

Brenodie nodded and shoved back under the covers, content to hide there until the light went away. "Ooww." she said muffled.

Ragnoth sat up next to her, pulling his hood up and leaning against the backboard. He closed his eyes and feel asleep, his mask in his lap. He would be there when she woke up.

Adinar chuckled softly before padding down to the kitchen with some leaves from his supplies. He had learned quite a few tricks for this kind of thing in dealing with his sisters.

-------

Nellethiel woke up late the next day, stirring a little. She wasn't sure exactly where she was, when it was, or what was going on at first. After a couple seconds her mind started to catch up with her. "Ragnoth?" she mumbled, seeing the big guy next to her.

Brenodie stayed in her blanket fort. By the time Adinar would come back, The bed covers were transformed, and the pillows were missing.

A part of Ragnoth's chin and cheek were showing, ravaged with a horrible scar running upward from the chin. The other cheek seemed a bit gaunt. He his head turned to look at her and as he did he paniced fumbling for his mask. "Gah!" he exclaimed putting his mask back on and turning away, panting from such a start.

Adinar came up with a cup of something warm that smelled a lot like eucalyptus. "I have something for your hangover, if you want to come out," he said with a small smile at the transformed bed.

------

Nellethiel looked up at the ceiling. Now she at least understood why Ragnoth was hiding his face...or she had a general idea, anyway.

"Why don't you come in here?" a muffed voice spoke from under the covers. "Ooooowww....damn wine...is always...worse....st"

Ragnoth stood up and walked away. "Did you see anything?" he asked softly, his head lowered and his hand to his mask holding it on with humilation.

Adinar smiled, casting darkness to blot out the sunlight from the windows before lifting up the covers. "Here you go," he said, setting down the mug.

------

Nellethiel sighed and got up. "Just a scar. A bit of one, that is," she said softly.

Brenodie was prepared to squint but was relieved when the light was blocked out. "Thanks..." she said softly, taking the mug and sipping at it. She leaned back against the head bored. "Wine is almost the worst. It never hits me immediertly, but then Bam! Always the worst hangovers too. Figures..."

"I'm sorry." Ragnoth said lowering his head. "How are you holding up." he asked changing the subject.

"That should clear the hangover up in a few minutes if you drink it all," Adinar said. "Good stuff, and it doesn't taste like the bottom of a birdcage."

-------

"As well as can be expected, I suppose," Nellethiel said. "Why are you apologizing?"

Brenodie chuckled. "That's a first." she said sipping the drink. It was quite good, in fact. "Makes it easier to survive. Thanks...and sorry for drinking a bit too much. I remembered I was mad but I can't remember why."

Ragnoth swallowed. "You never told me what's happening with you here. I don't know if you want to now, but...I'm still here."
He avoided the latter question, still not turning to face her.

"Not everything from the Underdark is bad," Adinar said with a smile. "And as I recall, you were upset with Carmine for telling you to wait until after I was done with the mission to go get Lynx a mate."

-----

"You could answer my question, you know," Nellethiel said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Brenodie blinked. "We want to find Lynx a mate?" she asked, not even remembering that much. "Really?"

Ragnoth's head dropped even more. "I'm sorry for whatever you saw. I shouldn't have taken the mask off last night. It was careless of me." he said quietly.

"Well, you said you did after a glass or two of wine," Adinar said with a laugh, laying down by her under the blankets.

-------

"Ragnoth, why are you apologizing? You haven't done anything wrong. I'm fairly sure we already covered my feelings on that subject--I don't mind your face. In fact, I wish you wouldn't hide it from me," Nellethiel said. She was a bit irritable since she was tired, but she tried to keep her tone mellow.