A Poisoned Blade Towards Two Ignorant Souls

"Hold still Belle! It's Ugh! By the moons! I got this in two XXs!" Rose gave one last heave on the corset strings that was (poorly) holding Belle’s "Frontal Assets" in place. The dwarf gave a hard grunt with the cloth digging into her thick skin, A heat of red invading her cheeks, “Har har. Tis not me fault dat it swells up so quickly! Damn milkers 'av been more trouble dees past couple weeks than Eileen on Ole Hearts Eve!”

Roselle snickered, "She goes through her suitors like Ale. It's kinda funny really…"Rose seemed to ponder on the subject before continuing, "Has she ever been, you know, romantically involved?"

Belle snorted at the thought,"Eileen? wi' her "holier than thou" restin' bitch face? Doubt-"

SNAP!!!

Belle's front spilled outward as the corset strings came loose, her tits giving a sigh of relief as they began to leak rest in the now torn corset, cleavage very visible.

Roselle held back a gasp as she collected what was left of Belle's dress "Uh, oopsie. Guess I should have gotten you XXXs instead-" her playful jab trailed off, an awkward silence following as Belle felt the halflings bare hands on her back.

Belle tensed at her touch, taking note of a faint soreness against her fingertips,"By the stars Belle, when did you get this on your back?"

The dwarf craned her neck to face her, "De feck yer blatherin’ aboyt?" She strained to get a better look, but her wild mane of locks obscured most of her view. She definitely saw something on the nape of her neck, but it looked like a scar more than anything,“Oh feck, please tell me I didn't git a drunken tattoo?! Pa'll 'av my-

She saw it before felt it.

A flash of light against dark steel. Blade coming downward onto Rose's back. The slick blade ramming through Rose's chest with a wet squelch. The Hobbit's eyes grew wide, then vacant as she fell forward onto Belle in a heap.

Everything seemed to have gone silent, her world gray as she turned and cradled her only friend. Her best friend whose blood soaked her linens and palms as she fruitlessly tried to stifle the bleeding from the hole in her chest

"You can't save her."

Belle stopped, a voice piercing the gray, red, and white noise.

The elf had the bloodied weapon in her grip still, the tip oozing something thick, and green.

"Boris poisoning, it'll fry her nerves within the next few minutes. Even if she didn't bleed out."

Belle's eyes finally settled on the assassin, silent fury meeting a cold indifferent gaze. Her body felt hot, to the point that her blood was boiling.

"It matters not what you feel, a contract has been submitted to the three of you. And I intend to-"

Belle fist attempted to connect with the elfs jaw, only for the lithe killer to give a subtle dodge, bringing the shortsword down towards her.

"I'll make your **** as painless as possible! So cease-"

One of the many things her pa taught her was that in a fight, you're going to get hit, all you can really do is make sure the blow isn't a fatal one. She brought her wrist forward to counter the blow, letting the blade connect with her wrist.

It shattered on impact.

Belle blinked, before taking the opportunity to slug the dark elf in the jaw.

This time it connected, and Belle swore she could hear teeth and bone shatter against her fist, The assassin's head turning a full one-eighty before falling limp to the floor. Belle quickly rushed to get on top of her, grappling her hair to deal the finishing blow.

A vacant gaze stared back at her, her neck was at a very wrong angle. The left side of her face bashed in. A smoldering crater where her fist has imprinted.

Belle recoiled, She never killed someone before, her body felt cold, numb to the point it felt like cobwebs in the lungs-

"B-Belle?"

Instinct took hold as she quickly returned to Rose's side. The area around her chest wound has begun to darken. Black veins taking root on what was now ashen gray skin.

"Belle I can't see…why is it so dark Belle…I… feel so cold…."

Belle kept pressure on the wound, doing her best to keep her blood from pouring out, but it was for naught. She was fading, fading fast. And for the first time in a long time, tears began to flow.

"Aluxum!!"

A circle of light enveloped both of them. A soothing warmth that cradles a newborn into a new world. It was powerful, yet peaceful. Tranquil she believed it was called.

As fast as the light came, it dissipated. The hobbit's shallow breathing returned into snoring as the blood cleared and her wound closed, leaving naught but a simple scar where her heart lay beating.

"By the stars! I never thought they would make a move so quickly, let alone…” The priest's eyes laid upon Rosebottom. Hasty breathing followed by a heavy sweat. “Been awhile since I used such potent casting. She should be conscious, but given the situation, her healing is a miracle.”

Belle gave a quick sniffle as she wiped her tears. Rose was fine, for now at least.

"Why'd an assassin try to kill her Hendricks! Rose's Mom-"

"-Has gone into hiding" Hendricks said, "Her workplace seems to have gotten new leadership, and are cleaning house."

Belle looked towards the stairs leading downward, “ And Roland-"

“Is fine, I stabilized him before I came up. The boy seems to be a magnet for bodily harm."

Hendricks let off a deep breath, grasping at a medallion in his right fist,and began to mutter some words under his breath; it sounded gnomish, but more lyrical. The cabinet doors swung open, revealing stairs leading downward. Go, it'll take you-” A loud crackle thrashed itself against the window as a ball of fire made contact. The window heaved, but didnt budge from the arcane blow, only earning a strained cough from the priest as the backlash wreaked havoc on his insides. Barrier magic came with a large price it seemed.

“Belle, carry Rose and go! I’ll get the boy!”

All she could do was nod, before traversing into the veiled darkness. She could still hear the impacts of magic shaking the tavern's foundation. She almost turned back, if the door hadn't vanished behind her.

Like it or not, Belle and Rose are one their own.

Same could be said for Roland as well.