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Thyl Goes North
Feb. 2nd, 2024 08:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
senmutIn the Aftermath of Crenshinibon (6451 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Inthylyn Aerasumé, Drizzt Do'Urden, Vierna Do'Urden, Alustriel Silverhand, Original Elf Character(s), Original Drow Character(s), Bruenor Battlehammer, Regis [The Legend of Drizzt Series], Wulfgar son of Beornegar
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary:
Just in case it was exaggerated or not a complete tale, he opted for a glamour to appear less like a Tall One, and used a phantom steed designed with the cold in mind. That let him get up to Ten-Towns, and before he was even visible to them, he saw how bad it was.
~Everyone, look,~ he sent as warning, pulling his aunts and mother and brothers in. The snow that had fallen so far had not done anything to hide the devastation. And yet, there were boats on the lakes, and obvious signs of rebuilding. Neither of those would be there if Crenshinibon had still be under the power of a despot.
The babble for explanations was mostly ignored, as Thyl noted a lone figure, a tiny speck, at the mid-point between the towns and the lone peak called Kelvin's Cairn.
~Later, I'll explain later,~ he added on the tail end of Andy's demand for more information. He went to land near the — ahh a hunter? — person contending with one of the large snow birds. A single person might well prove to be able to give a clear account, and less of a danger to Thyl. He waited until the bird was being blooded, staying mounted as he approached.
The hunter turned in moments, causing Thyl to almost gasp out loud, as that was a drow, in surface gear appropriate to this region, and neither spell nor weapon was threatening his approach.
"You're off course, wizard, if you need the towns. Though, I do not know if there is knucklebone to be had at any price."
"Actually, I saw you and hoped I'd be able to get an idea of just what happened. A trader mentioned destruction, but… this is even more than I expected."
The drow shifted posture, becoming even more wary. "Go your own way, ask in town all you like. We've had enough trouble made by wizards, and I will have no part in aiding you in learning how to make more."
With that, the drow turned away from Thyl, his posture so dismissive that the half-elf was actually speechless for the moment.
"I'd like to set up help."
"Go talk to Kemp. To Wulfgar. To Cassius. They might pay you what you seek."
Not really wanting to get into a fight, and not sure he could convince the drow of his honesty, Thyl turned his mount toward Bryn Shander, to go find one of the mentioned people. He wondered if he'd been out from under the glamour if it might have gone differently, but something told him otherwise.
Now he had two mysteries to solve. What had happened to Crenshinibon, and who was the drow?
Thyl was settled in an inn in Bryn Shander, a tiny room with little to recommend it. Most of the rooms were held by the locals, as rebuilding ships had taken priority over dwellings. He supposed it made some sense, too, to keep the non-fishers all centralized through the winter that was bearing down on the Far North.
He took the time to brief his family that he was following up on Cryshal-Tirith, that it did not appear to still be here, and left off the mention of the drow. That would be for later, once he knew more, maybe even had a name. If his aunt knew nothing, his paramour might. From that starting point, he went to mingle in the crowd, hoping these folks' heartiness extended to resisting plagues that followed in the wake of such destruction.
He didn't catch a name for the drow — they called him the "damned drow" or more charitably "the ranger" — but he was picking up enough pieces to know the man had done something to help the towns win. He also was hearing a name the drow had not mentioned. Regis, a halfling, was apparently the savior of the towns.
The halfling also resided in Bryn Shander, so Thyl set about learning where, and opted for that as his next target of opportunity. What he had heard so far was grim, and the mixing of Reghedmen with the motley humans of Ten-Towns added weight to the tales. There was grand talk of smiting hundreds, even thousands of orcs and goblins and giant-kind, but pain under it, for all the souls lost.
He'd have to ask his mother if it could be arranged to set up trade, bringing in supplies come spring for the prized knucklebone, and maybe some craftsmen to speed the rebuilding.
Regis, Hero of Ten-Towns, eagerly shared the full tale — as told by the members of the region. It was almost bardic, the way he parroted all the common 'facts'.
"But did the ranger have a part in it?" Thyl asked, and he all but saw a shift in Regis's eyes, one that didn't translate to the rest of his demeanor at all. Regis knew something and wasn't going to say it.
"I'm sure he was involved, because that's what rangers do." Regis then shrugged. "Maybe you should talk to Cassius or Wulfgar if you have more questions. It's getting late in my day."
Thyl let it go, hearing the same names the drow had given, and left. Maybe he should leave and come back without the glamour, even though it really wasn't their habit of leaning into the reputation they had built.
Cassius's version was close enough to the official story of the towns that Thyl didn't bring up the drow. He was unable to find Wulfgar — apparently the man was helping coordinate hauling out treasure from a dragon's hoard — but the tribes only spoke of their great hero, a unifying king, one who had promised them a better life.
He turned to scouting, didn't find any trace of where the crystal was at all, even after studying where the final tower had been. He was almost annoyed now, because he really needed to know where it had gone!
Yet winter was closing in, and the region could not support those who did not belong. He left the towns, and used a teleport to go home. He'd be back in spring, as himself, with Steelheart.
Thyl watched Ellifain showing a pair of goblin children how to comb the goats for their hair, feeling a spark of pride at the young elf's ability to manage others her age and younger.
"She's taking after you, being a teacher and leader," he told Vierna, sitting there with his hands spread with the yarn around them as she wound it. He was glad he'd come here after doing a little research into Crenshinibon, as it was far more peaceful than Silverymoon. After Syluné's narrow escape from an ambush, his aunt was in the city, recuperating. Those who Harped were busier than ever, trying to figure out where the next attack might come from.
"Hmm, she doesn't need to, but yes," Vierna agreed. "Now, you mentioned last night having a question for me?"
"Yes." He angled his hands better for her. "My aunt knows of no drow ranger in Icewind Dale, so I am hoping you do. Else, there's a drow running around that none of us know about, living on the tundra, and I did not get the impression he was evil at all.
"In fact, given his disdain for me asking questions about something terrible that happened up there, I am pretty sure when they said 'ranger', they meant 'ranger like my aunt Dove'."
Vierna smiled a bit at that last, but she shook her head. "No one from here has gone north to my knowledge. Perhaps there is another group of drow; we can't know everyone that escapes. Do you want me to ask my Lady?"
Thyl sighed. "Qilué offered that. No. She has enough on Her shoulders. I am going back in spring; I'll learn more then."
"Alright."
Steelheart being part of his plan meant Thyl had to plan for after the worst early spring storms, but he was able to finally set out from Mirabar headed north once they were thought to be over.
He did not expect to fly over an odd group of four travelers just passing through the Spine's lowest pass. He strained to see better — the small people seemed to be a dwarf and a halfling, the very tall one had to be a Reghedman.
The last one caught his attention, having noted the rich green cloak in its woodland dappling of color and Thyl indicated they should land close to the group. Steelheart obliged, with a flicker of anger passing quickly to surprise in how her skin twitched.
"He's a good one, like I suspected?" Thyl asked while they were still high enough to be private. She nickered, curiosity rising.
The ones on the ground noted them, with the dwarf's axe more prominent now, and the tall man standing between their landing place and the halfling. The ranger, Thyl noted, took the most prominent point, but did not draw his swords.
"Hello, travelers! My name is Thyl Aerasumé, and this is Steelheart!" he called in greeting. "I heard there'd been trouble in the region last year, and have come to investigate if there is aid to be given."
"Matters in Ten-Towns are being attended to, and there is no need for outsiders," the Reghedman said firmly. "There might be trade for you by now, though."
Thyl did not sigh or otherwise betray his irritation to get the stonewall attitude again. "Be that as it may, I'd be remiss to leave it alone. Silverymoon's tenets dictate I try to lend aid, and that is my home city."
"Quite far from yer home, then," the dwarf said. "None of those that live in Icewind Dale have time for strangers poking in their business."
Still the ranger merely watched, hood pulled low to avoid the glare of the sun beating on the snow still present.
"Bruenor, he's a Tall One. He might be able to help you," the halfling — that was Regis. And Bruenor was the name he'd heard for the leader of the Icewind Dale dwarves. That meant the Reghedman was likely Wulfgar.
"Bah, Rumblebelly," the dwarf grumbled.
"I can walk with you, so I do not slow you, and we could talk on the move?" Thyl offered with as much sincerity as he could muster.
He noted that the dwarf and the Reghedman looked to the ranger, who gave a brief nod, but reached up to sweep his cowl back.
"Suit yerself, but ye make trouble with me elf there, and we'll send ye packing," Bruenor said.
Thyl did not mouth 'me elf' but he felt it, and it helped him show surprise at seeing a drow.
"Rangers are people I've worked with quite a bit," he said easily, because the drow all but screamed his profession from the cloak to the bow and quiver carried for ease of use despite the cloak.
"Wind's picking up; follow us to the next camp so we can talk," the ranger said, drawing his hood back and turning to take point, ignoring the pegasus-rider — but not the pegasus. Steelheart trotted to the man's side, and after some low words Thyl could not hear under the wind, he saw the ranger remove a glove and reach out, stroking Steelheart's neck when she encouraged it.
That was a good start.
They wound up breaking for camp in a protected outcrop of rocks. Thyl still had not learned the drow's name, but he'd officially met the other three. While Wulfgar saw to the fire, the other two set up a ground cover for their rest, and the ranger vanished. When he returned, it was to drop to spitted coneys on the fire, before he settled against a rock.
"Don't mind Drizzt," Regis said, coming over to handle the cooking. "He's had a rough year, and he really doesn't want to go on a snipe hunt, but he's Bruenor's friend, and he promised."
The other two came over, with Bruenor sizing Thyl up.
"What's a Tall One that Rumblebelly thinks I ought tae talk to ye?"
"Wizard-fighter out of Silverymoon, tend to do a lot of problem solving in the Realms," Thyl said easily enough. "My brothers and I are all pegasus-riders, all of us learn both trades, and we were raised to believe that if you have skill and power, you use it to make life better."
"Seen things, heard things, mayhaps know a bit about lore?" Bruenor asked.
"Yes."
The beard was wagging, a sign of a dwarf thinking.
"Just ask, Bruenor!" Rum — Regis, Thyl corrected himself, though the nickname seemed apt — exhorted.
"Ye e'er heard o' Mithral Hall?" Bruenor did ask after scowling at the halfling.
"Yes. My elder brothers helped rescue survivors from there, and I have met a handful," Thyl said. "It's never been found, though, if you're thinking of looking."
Now what in his words could have made a dwarf go that pale under the beard?
"Did you hear that, my teacher?" Wulfgar called. "We have even more reason to see this quest through."
Thyl did his best not to gape at the title given to the ranger, given the height and race differences.
The ranger didn't seem to move, but Wulfgar turned his attention back to Thyl.
"This is Bruenor Battlehammer, son of Bangor Battlehammer, son of Garumn Battlehammer, last surviving king of Mithral Hall," Wulfgar stated in the polished delivery of one trained to be a herald.
"Greetings, Chieftain," Thyl said more formally. "I had no idea an heir survived, or that the clan had people this far from where the others were found."
"I'd nae idea there be others, lad, and yer words hold comfort that none have found me Hall," Bruenor said, having regained his composure.
"May I invite you, and your companions, to come directly to Silverymoon? I would even travel with you, all the way, if you wish," Thyl said. "All I am asking is to satisfy the need of knowing that the crystal towers we heard of are truly vanquished."
"Ye think I can find as what I need there?"
"Any information, my brothers' own testimony, allies among dwarves that follow no king but give service to all," Thyl offered. "Resources for finding the threads of the mystery. I can promise all of this to you."
Bruenor looked over to the drow, who finally pushed off his rock and came closer to the cook fire, angling to protect his eyes from it as he studied Thyl.
"They say a pegasus knows the deepest character of any they interact with," Drizzt finally said. "I pray this is true, for the crystal that caused the terror and destruction is not to be trifled with. You cannot tame its power, you cannot control it. It is a thing of pure evil."
"Yes. My father, who was a Lore Keeper, told us all the horrors it wreaked on the Realms, and it must be destroyed, if it can ever be found and captured."
The ranger held his eyes, and Thyl realized that now with the hood no longer shadowing them, they were purple, raising the hair on the back of Thyl's neck.
"Regis, share the tale."
The tale, it turned out, was similar to the official word, but fully omitted the ranger defeating a balor in combat to learn the nature of the enemy. It left out the desperate run from the Cairn all the way to the site of the last tower. It had not spoken at all of Drizzt doing battle with the wizard's traps and outwitting the wizard.
Thyl absorbed all of the real events with a growing awe for the ranger, who had moved away so the light wasn't an issue.
"And the crystal? What happened to it, after the avalanche?" Thyl asked.
"Had me people tunnel to it in the dark of night," Bruenor said. "Me elf knows a wizard he trusts, hopes to get aid for destroying it. Until then, he has the keeping of it."
"It is in a box that has been dipped in molten lead," Drizzt offered from his place. "I kept it out of light at all times, and the lead was applied with me holding darkness as Bruenor did the dipping."
Thyl's eyes were wide as he looked at the ranger again. No wonder the man looked a little gaunt around the mouth. Even fully quiescent, such an evil thing would have a wearing effect on the spirit.
"Why… why did the tale we heard mention nothing of you?" he finally asked.
"One, I am a drow and was barely tolerated. Two, I asked Regis to try and manage things so I was not mentioned."
"Aye, and with good reason," Bruenor said. "Cannae have trouble beating down our door, any more as ye bring home for tryin' always tae do right."
Drizzt actually snorted at the words. "I am a ranger."
Thyl grinned. "I've heard that before from my aunt who is one. I just feel like insisting on the recognition of your actions should have helped you be better accepted."
"Lad, they didnae want tae admit he saved them all when my boy's people invaded. More than like, they would have said he brought the wizard's evil down on us all, and then where'd he and his bairn be?"
"Oh." The ranger had a child. He lived so far from drow, and he had a child? In that hostile environment? Was it a case of adoption? Or natural born? Thyl's curiosity was burning, but he knew better than touch on it at this point. He'd just have to befriend the ranger, to learn more.
"We know his deeds," Wulfgar said. "A more honorable or brave warrior cannot be found in the realms!"
That was high praise from that man's culture, and Thyl just nodded.
Thyl wound up getting deeply involved in the quest. There was no need to stop in Luskan or Longsaddle. Nesme grudgingly admitted his presence meant the drow could pass. They made good time, especially with Steelheart scouting from the air, allowing them to bypass hazards safely.
And then they hit the wards of Silverymoon, which balked the group completely because Drizzt could not cross them.
"It's the crystal," Thyl said, reassuring them all. "Regis, hold his pack, and then the pair of you try to cross, so you believe me, Drizzt."
That was accomplished, and this time Regis was stopped, not Drizzt.
"Then, this is where our roads part for now," Drizzt said, taking the pack back. "All of you go with Thyl. I'll skirt the Evermoors and go by the road to Yartar to see the wizard I need."
"Ye said he was nae in when ye tried that before; what if he's not now? A full half-month ye'd lose, there and back again," Bruenor argued.
"A suggestion?" Thyl raised, watching stubbornness settle on the dark features. "Let me see them in, get my mother free of her duties, and bring her to you, Drizzt," he said. "Your friends can clean up, eat, and start talking to the Rockcrusher clan.
"She would likely know if this wizard friend of yours would be safe from the crystal's corruption, and is likely to have suggestions on how to handle it."
He'd been talking to her every night when they camped, so he knew she did have a plan already. However, Drizzt reminded him strongly of Vierna once she dug her heels in. It would be better to let Mother handle that fight.
"Alright," Drizzt said, conceding the point. He had no way of knowing, it was true.
Thyl had his mother with him when he returned. Drizzt was not in sight immediately, but Steelheart was certain he was there, and after a moment, the cloaked ranger dropped to the ground from a nearby tree.
"Napping?" Thyl asked playfully.
"I've missed trees," Drizzt admitted, a common complaint on the way here, once they'd hit wooded lands. He then straightened and looked at the lady dismounting from Steelheart, noting her height and silver hair, as well as her courtesy to the mare.
"Mother, may I present Drizzt, ranger of Icewind Dale? Drizzt, my mother, Alustriel Silverhand of Silverymoon."
He deliberately left off the titles his mother carried, not wanting to be overwhelming.
A look at Drizzt told him his friend was already overwhelmed anyway. Oddly, when he looked back to his mother, there was something about her demeanor that suggested there was a deeper curiosity than just meeting the man that had defeated Crenshinibon.
"Pardon me, Lady, but are you any relation to Dove Falconhand?"
"My sister."
"The ranger I've mentioned," Thyl offered.
Drizzt inclined his head then. "I was grateful to her for a letter she wrote some time ago. I only ever saw her at a distance, though.
"Thyl believes that you might have ideas on my accursed burden, or at least can verify if my faith in the wizard I thought to trust is well-placed."
"Certainly. I do not know every wizard, but one strong enough to aid you should be one I know. I also have consulted, at length, with Elminster on this, and we believe we may have a plan for you, Ranger." She gestured, and stools appeared for them all to sit.
Drizzt settled on one, let them do so. He half-smiled as Steelheart came to lip at his hair before going to crop grass. Thyl watched him focus on Mother, and waited to hear who the mystery wizard was.
"I have heard of Elminster, good and bad, but feel like one as old as he is rumored to be would likely not fall prey to the temptations of the crystal," Drizzt conceded. "My one good experience with a wizard, prior to meeting your son, was with Samiar Ravarel, and I have faith he would aid me."
"Oh I am certain he would, if he's attained his full potential," Alustriel said, amused, as Thyl was processing that name and just staring at Drizzt. "As Sam is very firmly a wizard I could trust in my younger days. I doubt he's changed all that much, if he worked with you on some other thing."
"Is that Father's cousin?!" Thyl had to ask, getting a nod from his mother.
Drizzt visibly looked startled at that. "I hope, Lady, he is up to the standards your family seems to hold then."
Thyl felt like there was more than just the business of the crystal involved, for why Drizzt had said that.
"I will be glad to find that out, Ranger. But, as to the ideas we had, Elminster feels your ability to hold darkness on it, without it drinking your magic to fuel itself, implies that it cannot steal spell-like abilities. I am to ask Valamaradace if she agrees — the gold that protects these lands — and then a combination of your ability and hers might see us rid of it.
"With a cleric on hand to protect against any liches tied to it, given how it came to be created."
"There would be few things more destructive than a gold's flames," Drizzt said with appropriate awe. "However, I can't just keep carrying it with me."
"Then you will need to come with me to meet her, for this discussion, and I do think if she agrees, a gold's hoard is a safe place even in your eyes?"
Drizzt chuckled. "Yes, Lady. I would agree, since you say I would be needed for the destruction."
Thyl saw his mother's smile grow at that, and the one Drizzt gave her in turn… well, he thought the ranger looked younger in the moment, like some of the weight came right off of him.
Drizzt accepted the hand up onto the phantom steed that was Alustriel's way off the dragon's floating lair. He was still dazzled by both the flaming chariot to come here, speaking with both a gold and a silver dragon, as well the lady herself.
"Since you wanted to check in on Sam, and I am very curious why he is outside Yartar but has not visited me, and I have the full day to myself, do you wish to go see him?"
"You and Thyl said he was Thyl's father's cousin. That is a child of a sibling to one of the parents, yes?"
"Yes. In this case, Sam's father was brother to Sharr's mother."
"Yet, I never heard your name while I lived with him," Drizzt said, trying to keep his voice polite.
"Elué would have been the name he used for me," Alustriel explained. "Most elves still use it. At least, if they knew me when I was younger."
"Ahh, that name I know." Drizzt squeezed her shoulder as she headed for Yartar. "Yes, I would like this. I have news I needed to give him… about a dozen years ago. And his curse-breaking might help Bruenor remember."
"Is that why you met him? For a curse?"
"Yes. He did break it, just… not immediately after his efforts. So I wish him to know."
"We should be able to find the tree quite handily from the air," Alustriel assured him.
Samiar Ravarel was more than a little surprised to look out and see not one, but two, faces of his past. It was the combination of them that was so shocking, but he was pleased to see both. As he climbed down, Elué let go of the phantom steed, and he swiftly told the wards to let her pass.
"Elué! Look at you being all beautiful still! And Drizzt, my friend! I have been worried about you; I thought you'd said you'd come visit!"
"I did! You weren't here!" Drizzt called back, smiling broadly as they crossed to meet.
"You look so much happier, my friend. I am glad it got settled," Sam said, taking his hands first, squeezing, then looking at Elué. "I mean it. You're just as I remember."
"My dear, it's been nearly two centuries," she answered that, taking his hands, leaning down to kiss his cheek.
"So long?"
"Yes. And we should go sit on that bench I see in your garden."
Something in her tone hit both men, and Drizzt lightly touched her arm.
"I'm going to go rest my eyes in the tree over there," he said. "Call for me once you have your news at an end?"
The look she gave him told Sam that the news was going to be terrible… and that Drizzt had charmed her, at least somewhat.
"Very well."
By the time Drizzt had joined him, Sam had most of his emotions under control. Elué was up in the tree raiding his library, but Sam knew Drizzt preferred being outside as much as he could. He smiled as Drizzt settled beside him on the bench.
"I rather dislike adding to the momentous news she must have delivered," Drizzt told Sam. "But first, thank you. Your effort not only broke the curse, but granted me a very precious gift."
"I'm not following, given you were very much not like this when you left me," Sam said.
"It took most of two years to take effect," Drizzt offered. "I found a ranger and a druid, and when they took me in, we discovered I was pregnant. I made the choice to see it through, and now have a daughter, eleven years old now."
Sam took in a breath. Yes, this was momentous, but in the fully opposite direction of all Alustriel had said.
"We, my friend, if… if I may know her?"
Drizzt nodded. "She's eager to meet her wizard father. Was disappointed when you weren't here, but she's a good child, and adapted to our home in the north rapidly. She's still there, under care of my best friend and the rest of the dwarves there.
"Once I return to the chieftain, I'll have more work to do, but we mean to bring them all down, once we have a place to go."
"Then, I obviously need to lend my aid, to be certain this happens quickly," Sam said, "as I've lost too many years with her, and getting to know you better."
"I'm glad you said that; there's a curse on the chieftain."
"Even better."
Thyl sat back, watching as the cousin he'd heard so much about but not met talked earnestly with Bruenor Battlehammer about how he could, and would, help.
"…no payment, I insist!" Sam said loud enough to be heard. "You've taken care of my child from what Drizzt has said, and given him both aid and friendship. I am already in your debt for these things…"
What?
~Mother, Sam just said the chieftain has been taking care of his child?~ Thyl sent, despite her having resumed court duties. She was adept at double-speak.
~Apparently Drizzt and your cousin have a daughter. Magic curses were involved, and practical solutions.~ There was a faint amusement with that.
Thyl was still surprised, but that made it even more important to go see Vierna… after he got one more answer from the ranger.
Drizzt looked up from the book he was studying; the Companions would be heading out the following day, with Sam, and a memory potion. Thyl noted the ranger looked peaceful, and almost chose not to bother him, but he did need to know.
Before he went back to Vierna to update her.
"Can I just have a moment, because there's something I've wanted to ask since I could first see your eyes."
"So not the first time I was rude to you," Drizzt said, amused now that he knew the wizard in the autumn had been this man he'd come to see as an ally, maybe even a friend.
Thyl ducked his head. "No, I didn't see them then, not clearly.
"See, I've heard about a drow with purple eyes, from someone I care about. And I am trying to figure out how unusual the color is."
Drizzt closed the book and set it aside. "It is something people note about me. I never saw any like them in my city. But where one exists, maybe others do. Your mother said there actually are good drow on the surface."
"Yeah, I happen to be on good terms with the leaders of both major settlements," Thyl told him. "I'm sorry, there's no easy way to ask.
"About three decades ago, were you at a raid?"
Drizzt's face shut down a little, the eyes became haunted by tragedy, as well as some anger, but not at Thyl.
"Yes."
Thyl breathed out a sigh of relief.
"The child survived, Drizzt. The saviors got there too late for any but her and one other that was not quite dead, and they healed her. She's thinking about learning to be a ranger, while the girl was adopted by their senior cleric.
"Who is my paramour, so the girl — whose name is Ellifain — is a little like a daughter to me."
Now it was Drizzt who had to sit in silent shock, weighing all of that. When he did speak, Thyl wasn't sure he'd expected the words, and yet from what he had learned of Drizzt, they didn't surprise him.
"Thank everything for the child living, and living well, it sounds like."
"Yes, she does," Thyl agreed. "They had to work with her, both of them, about the trauma, because it was goodly drow that went. But they are both part of the community now, very well-loved, and grown strong."
Drizzt closed his eyes. "Then, I am grateful to have met you for one more reason."
Thyl had chosen to see them out, but before they even got out of the courtyard, his aunt Dove was there, larger than life and bounding over.
"Drizzt Do'Urden! You can't leave just yet, or at least let me walk with you! I have to have a chance to give a proper apology now."
Thyl blinked, not because of the greeting, as the tale had come out already over a meal, but because that was the first time he'd heard the ranger's family name.
~Mother, things are even more tangled than we thought,~ he warned her, ~as Dove just called him Drizzt Do'Urden.~
~Oh my. And they're heading out. Which leaves us waiting to find out why his name matches Vierna's.~
Thyl didn't think he could just invite himself along… not when that looked like what his aunt was doing, so Mother was right. He'd have to wait.
Thyl lounged contently next to Vierna, feeling lazy and intent on making her join him in resting as much as possible.
"So what did you learn in all the weeks you were with the drow ranger?" she asked him, putting an end to the lazy feelings. He'd kind of hoped to save that for the next day of his visit, but of course she was more direct.
He loved it about her, usually.
"He has a daughter, who turned out to have a sun elf wizard — my father's close cousin — as the other parent. He ran afoul of my aunt Dove on his second time on the surface, but it got sorted out and she thinks he's someone to watch in the good way," Thyl began. "It was already strange enough to have him touching my family on both sides like that, but because of Aunt Dove, I found out his family name.
"And I had asked him about his purple eyes," Thyl finished, watching her face.
She sat up, and he followed, an arm around her shoulders as she tucked in.
"He's Ellifain's protector?" Vierna asked to confirm.
"Yes. And he's a Do'Urden."
That made her gasp out loud. "Tangled into your family and part of mine, with Ellifain in the middle of it all. What deity has marked his life so vividly?!"
"Currently? Mielikki. Has been watching him since he came up the second time. Before that? I don't know."
"I have to meditate on this, and reach out. My Lady may not know much, but there's too many coincidences!"
Thyl sighed, knowing she was right, but really not happy when she left the bed.
Finding the Hall, getting the dwarven clan down and reunited with others, then actually taking the Hall the following spring had kept things busy enough that Thyl had been unable to share what Vierna had learned from Eilistraee with Drizzt himself. However, Sam was able to report to Elué and Syluné both what he could see of the divine magic on his friend.
Syluné took it upon herself to remove the threat, which meant she was the one to break the news to him that Lolth had used his nature to turn his birth city upside down.
He had taken it poorly enough that she told Thyl, making him choose to wait even longer on arranging a meeting with the good drow so close to where Drizzt now lived with his daughter. After all, Sam deserved to get time with the pair, and Ellifain needed time to process that she could meet the man that had saved her life.
It was mid-summer, just after festival, when Thyl thought things were calm enough — as long as one ignored the growing amount of attraction between Mother and the ranger visiting her every chance he could, on pretext of letting Zanna learn more. He caught up with the small family, since Sam was with them this time, and smiled.
"Hey, Drizzt, can I talk with you a minute?"
"Here it comes, my friend. The concerned son speech," Sam said, making Zanna giggle but they went off. Somehow, Thyl thought Drizzt was blushing under his fond exasperation at Sam.
"What is it?"
"I mentioned the good drow in the nearby region before," Thyl began. "And I have an invitation for you to come meet them. With or without Zanna; they know it's a new thing, and you haven't had any dealings with drow in a very long time."
"Do you trust them?" Drizzt asked.
"Yes."
"Then Zanna will go. She should have her first encounter with drow be ones her kin can trust."
Thyl felt vaguely shaken by that, but nodded.
"I'll stick around, for when you want to go. Best to go by teleport, the first time, let them decide if you can know how to get there the long way." He started to apologize, but Drizzt gripped his shoulder.
"I appreciate the steps taken to protect them," he said, before nodding. "I look forward to it."
Thyl was not surprised that Vierna and Ellifain were waiting on them when they all arrived. Vierna's dwarves had slipped down into Clan Battlehammer without mentioning where they'd come from, given how careful everyone was to protect Spirit Sanctuary. The mix of drow and goblins in the background of the meeting was a little startling for Zanna, but she was a curious, brave child.
"Greetings, Drizzt and Zanna," Vierna said, searching the ranger's features, and both were seeing familiarity in the other. "My name is Vierna, and this is my daughter Ellifain."
"You… you're the stolen Do'Urden daughter," Drizzt said in awe. "Father — Weapon Master Zaknafein spoke of you to me once!"
She tipped her head, then let go of Ellifain's hand to reach for his. "Then you are my little brother in full, and please… give him his title of 'father'. I was never certain, but now I know he had another child so good, I am claiming him."
"I think you must be right; he was pained as he spoke of you, because he knew how to love us." Drizzt took her hands, and squeezed, before he focused on Ellifain. "To you, my … niece? Niece. I am very sorry for what happened when you were young, but overwhelmingly happy you wound up in a good place, with family here."
"It was a bad thing, for both of us to go through," she answered him bravely. She then went to Zanna, offering her her hands. "Cousin. Come with me? We can explore and play, while the adults talk."
"I like this idea. Hi."
Fearlessly, Zanna ran off with her new cousin, and Vierna guided both Drizzt and Thyl to a place they could sit, talk… and manage all of the emotions this meeting was.
Thyl could only hope that every mystery he ever found turned out as well as this one had.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Inthylyn Aerasumé, Drizzt Do'Urden, Vierna Do'Urden, Alustriel Silverhand, Original Elf Character(s), Original Drow Character(s), Bruenor Battlehammer, Regis [The Legend of Drizzt Series], Wulfgar son of Beornegar
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary:
Hearing the tale of the Far North, Thyl decides to go investigate, and winds up with TWO mysteries. They keep building in a spiral that will tie off in a knot.
In the Aftermath of Crenshinibon
A single trader making it to Luskan before the passes froze, a tale of horrific destruction, and word made it to Longsaddle from there. Thyl's eyes had gone wide at the idea of the crystal towers —Cryshal Tirith — being defeated without a wizard on the side of the defenders.Just in case it was exaggerated or not a complete tale, he opted for a glamour to appear less like a Tall One, and used a phantom steed designed with the cold in mind. That let him get up to Ten-Towns, and before he was even visible to them, he saw how bad it was.
~Everyone, look,~ he sent as warning, pulling his aunts and mother and brothers in. The snow that had fallen so far had not done anything to hide the devastation. And yet, there were boats on the lakes, and obvious signs of rebuilding. Neither of those would be there if Crenshinibon had still be under the power of a despot.
The babble for explanations was mostly ignored, as Thyl noted a lone figure, a tiny speck, at the mid-point between the towns and the lone peak called Kelvin's Cairn.
~Later, I'll explain later,~ he added on the tail end of Andy's demand for more information. He went to land near the — ahh a hunter? — person contending with one of the large snow birds. A single person might well prove to be able to give a clear account, and less of a danger to Thyl. He waited until the bird was being blooded, staying mounted as he approached.
The hunter turned in moments, causing Thyl to almost gasp out loud, as that was a drow, in surface gear appropriate to this region, and neither spell nor weapon was threatening his approach.
"You're off course, wizard, if you need the towns. Though, I do not know if there is knucklebone to be had at any price."
"Actually, I saw you and hoped I'd be able to get an idea of just what happened. A trader mentioned destruction, but… this is even more than I expected."
The drow shifted posture, becoming even more wary. "Go your own way, ask in town all you like. We've had enough trouble made by wizards, and I will have no part in aiding you in learning how to make more."
With that, the drow turned away from Thyl, his posture so dismissive that the half-elf was actually speechless for the moment.
"I'd like to set up help."
"Go talk to Kemp. To Wulfgar. To Cassius. They might pay you what you seek."
Not really wanting to get into a fight, and not sure he could convince the drow of his honesty, Thyl turned his mount toward Bryn Shander, to go find one of the mentioned people. He wondered if he'd been out from under the glamour if it might have gone differently, but something told him otherwise.
Now he had two mysteries to solve. What had happened to Crenshinibon, and who was the drow?
Thyl was settled in an inn in Bryn Shander, a tiny room with little to recommend it. Most of the rooms were held by the locals, as rebuilding ships had taken priority over dwellings. He supposed it made some sense, too, to keep the non-fishers all centralized through the winter that was bearing down on the Far North.
He took the time to brief his family that he was following up on Cryshal-Tirith, that it did not appear to still be here, and left off the mention of the drow. That would be for later, once he knew more, maybe even had a name. If his aunt knew nothing, his paramour might. From that starting point, he went to mingle in the crowd, hoping these folks' heartiness extended to resisting plagues that followed in the wake of such destruction.
He didn't catch a name for the drow — they called him the "damned drow" or more charitably "the ranger" — but he was picking up enough pieces to know the man had done something to help the towns win. He also was hearing a name the drow had not mentioned. Regis, a halfling, was apparently the savior of the towns.
The halfling also resided in Bryn Shander, so Thyl set about learning where, and opted for that as his next target of opportunity. What he had heard so far was grim, and the mixing of Reghedmen with the motley humans of Ten-Towns added weight to the tales. There was grand talk of smiting hundreds, even thousands of orcs and goblins and giant-kind, but pain under it, for all the souls lost.
He'd have to ask his mother if it could be arranged to set up trade, bringing in supplies come spring for the prized knucklebone, and maybe some craftsmen to speed the rebuilding.
Regis, Hero of Ten-Towns, eagerly shared the full tale — as told by the members of the region. It was almost bardic, the way he parroted all the common 'facts'.
"But did the ranger have a part in it?" Thyl asked, and he all but saw a shift in Regis's eyes, one that didn't translate to the rest of his demeanor at all. Regis knew something and wasn't going to say it.
"I'm sure he was involved, because that's what rangers do." Regis then shrugged. "Maybe you should talk to Cassius or Wulfgar if you have more questions. It's getting late in my day."
Thyl let it go, hearing the same names the drow had given, and left. Maybe he should leave and come back without the glamour, even though it really wasn't their habit of leaning into the reputation they had built.
Cassius's version was close enough to the official story of the towns that Thyl didn't bring up the drow. He was unable to find Wulfgar — apparently the man was helping coordinate hauling out treasure from a dragon's hoard — but the tribes only spoke of their great hero, a unifying king, one who had promised them a better life.
He turned to scouting, didn't find any trace of where the crystal was at all, even after studying where the final tower had been. He was almost annoyed now, because he really needed to know where it had gone!
Yet winter was closing in, and the region could not support those who did not belong. He left the towns, and used a teleport to go home. He'd be back in spring, as himself, with Steelheart.
Thyl watched Ellifain showing a pair of goblin children how to comb the goats for their hair, feeling a spark of pride at the young elf's ability to manage others her age and younger.
"She's taking after you, being a teacher and leader," he told Vierna, sitting there with his hands spread with the yarn around them as she wound it. He was glad he'd come here after doing a little research into Crenshinibon, as it was far more peaceful than Silverymoon. After Syluné's narrow escape from an ambush, his aunt was in the city, recuperating. Those who Harped were busier than ever, trying to figure out where the next attack might come from.
"Hmm, she doesn't need to, but yes," Vierna agreed. "Now, you mentioned last night having a question for me?"
"Yes." He angled his hands better for her. "My aunt knows of no drow ranger in Icewind Dale, so I am hoping you do. Else, there's a drow running around that none of us know about, living on the tundra, and I did not get the impression he was evil at all.
"In fact, given his disdain for me asking questions about something terrible that happened up there, I am pretty sure when they said 'ranger', they meant 'ranger like my aunt Dove'."
Vierna smiled a bit at that last, but she shook her head. "No one from here has gone north to my knowledge. Perhaps there is another group of drow; we can't know everyone that escapes. Do you want me to ask my Lady?"
Thyl sighed. "Qilué offered that. No. She has enough on Her shoulders. I am going back in spring; I'll learn more then."
"Alright."
Steelheart being part of his plan meant Thyl had to plan for after the worst early spring storms, but he was able to finally set out from Mirabar headed north once they were thought to be over.
He did not expect to fly over an odd group of four travelers just passing through the Spine's lowest pass. He strained to see better — the small people seemed to be a dwarf and a halfling, the very tall one had to be a Reghedman.
The last one caught his attention, having noted the rich green cloak in its woodland dappling of color and Thyl indicated they should land close to the group. Steelheart obliged, with a flicker of anger passing quickly to surprise in how her skin twitched.
"He's a good one, like I suspected?" Thyl asked while they were still high enough to be private. She nickered, curiosity rising.
The ones on the ground noted them, with the dwarf's axe more prominent now, and the tall man standing between their landing place and the halfling. The ranger, Thyl noted, took the most prominent point, but did not draw his swords.
"Hello, travelers! My name is Thyl Aerasumé, and this is Steelheart!" he called in greeting. "I heard there'd been trouble in the region last year, and have come to investigate if there is aid to be given."
"Matters in Ten-Towns are being attended to, and there is no need for outsiders," the Reghedman said firmly. "There might be trade for you by now, though."
Thyl did not sigh or otherwise betray his irritation to get the stonewall attitude again. "Be that as it may, I'd be remiss to leave it alone. Silverymoon's tenets dictate I try to lend aid, and that is my home city."
"Quite far from yer home, then," the dwarf said. "None of those that live in Icewind Dale have time for strangers poking in their business."
Still the ranger merely watched, hood pulled low to avoid the glare of the sun beating on the snow still present.
"Bruenor, he's a Tall One. He might be able to help you," the halfling — that was Regis. And Bruenor was the name he'd heard for the leader of the Icewind Dale dwarves. That meant the Reghedman was likely Wulfgar.
"Bah, Rumblebelly," the dwarf grumbled.
"I can walk with you, so I do not slow you, and we could talk on the move?" Thyl offered with as much sincerity as he could muster.
He noted that the dwarf and the Reghedman looked to the ranger, who gave a brief nod, but reached up to sweep his cowl back.
"Suit yerself, but ye make trouble with me elf there, and we'll send ye packing," Bruenor said.
Thyl did not mouth 'me elf' but he felt it, and it helped him show surprise at seeing a drow.
"Rangers are people I've worked with quite a bit," he said easily, because the drow all but screamed his profession from the cloak to the bow and quiver carried for ease of use despite the cloak.
"Wind's picking up; follow us to the next camp so we can talk," the ranger said, drawing his hood back and turning to take point, ignoring the pegasus-rider — but not the pegasus. Steelheart trotted to the man's side, and after some low words Thyl could not hear under the wind, he saw the ranger remove a glove and reach out, stroking Steelheart's neck when she encouraged it.
That was a good start.
They wound up breaking for camp in a protected outcrop of rocks. Thyl still had not learned the drow's name, but he'd officially met the other three. While Wulfgar saw to the fire, the other two set up a ground cover for their rest, and the ranger vanished. When he returned, it was to drop to spitted coneys on the fire, before he settled against a rock.
"Don't mind Drizzt," Regis said, coming over to handle the cooking. "He's had a rough year, and he really doesn't want to go on a snipe hunt, but he's Bruenor's friend, and he promised."
The other two came over, with Bruenor sizing Thyl up.
"What's a Tall One that Rumblebelly thinks I ought tae talk to ye?"
"Wizard-fighter out of Silverymoon, tend to do a lot of problem solving in the Realms," Thyl said easily enough. "My brothers and I are all pegasus-riders, all of us learn both trades, and we were raised to believe that if you have skill and power, you use it to make life better."
"Seen things, heard things, mayhaps know a bit about lore?" Bruenor asked.
"Yes."
The beard was wagging, a sign of a dwarf thinking.
"Just ask, Bruenor!" Rum — Regis, Thyl corrected himself, though the nickname seemed apt — exhorted.
"Ye e'er heard o' Mithral Hall?" Bruenor did ask after scowling at the halfling.
"Yes. My elder brothers helped rescue survivors from there, and I have met a handful," Thyl said. "It's never been found, though, if you're thinking of looking."
Now what in his words could have made a dwarf go that pale under the beard?
"Did you hear that, my teacher?" Wulfgar called. "We have even more reason to see this quest through."
Thyl did his best not to gape at the title given to the ranger, given the height and race differences.
The ranger didn't seem to move, but Wulfgar turned his attention back to Thyl.
"This is Bruenor Battlehammer, son of Bangor Battlehammer, son of Garumn Battlehammer, last surviving king of Mithral Hall," Wulfgar stated in the polished delivery of one trained to be a herald.
"Greetings, Chieftain," Thyl said more formally. "I had no idea an heir survived, or that the clan had people this far from where the others were found."
"I'd nae idea there be others, lad, and yer words hold comfort that none have found me Hall," Bruenor said, having regained his composure.
"May I invite you, and your companions, to come directly to Silverymoon? I would even travel with you, all the way, if you wish," Thyl said. "All I am asking is to satisfy the need of knowing that the crystal towers we heard of are truly vanquished."
"Ye think I can find as what I need there?"
"Any information, my brothers' own testimony, allies among dwarves that follow no king but give service to all," Thyl offered. "Resources for finding the threads of the mystery. I can promise all of this to you."
Bruenor looked over to the drow, who finally pushed off his rock and came closer to the cook fire, angling to protect his eyes from it as he studied Thyl.
"They say a pegasus knows the deepest character of any they interact with," Drizzt finally said. "I pray this is true, for the crystal that caused the terror and destruction is not to be trifled with. You cannot tame its power, you cannot control it. It is a thing of pure evil."
"Yes. My father, who was a Lore Keeper, told us all the horrors it wreaked on the Realms, and it must be destroyed, if it can ever be found and captured."
The ranger held his eyes, and Thyl realized that now with the hood no longer shadowing them, they were purple, raising the hair on the back of Thyl's neck.
"Regis, share the tale."
The tale, it turned out, was similar to the official word, but fully omitted the ranger defeating a balor in combat to learn the nature of the enemy. It left out the desperate run from the Cairn all the way to the site of the last tower. It had not spoken at all of Drizzt doing battle with the wizard's traps and outwitting the wizard.
Thyl absorbed all of the real events with a growing awe for the ranger, who had moved away so the light wasn't an issue.
"And the crystal? What happened to it, after the avalanche?" Thyl asked.
"Had me people tunnel to it in the dark of night," Bruenor said. "Me elf knows a wizard he trusts, hopes to get aid for destroying it. Until then, he has the keeping of it."
"It is in a box that has been dipped in molten lead," Drizzt offered from his place. "I kept it out of light at all times, and the lead was applied with me holding darkness as Bruenor did the dipping."
Thyl's eyes were wide as he looked at the ranger again. No wonder the man looked a little gaunt around the mouth. Even fully quiescent, such an evil thing would have a wearing effect on the spirit.
"Why… why did the tale we heard mention nothing of you?" he finally asked.
"One, I am a drow and was barely tolerated. Two, I asked Regis to try and manage things so I was not mentioned."
"Aye, and with good reason," Bruenor said. "Cannae have trouble beating down our door, any more as ye bring home for tryin' always tae do right."
Drizzt actually snorted at the words. "I am a ranger."
Thyl grinned. "I've heard that before from my aunt who is one. I just feel like insisting on the recognition of your actions should have helped you be better accepted."
"Lad, they didnae want tae admit he saved them all when my boy's people invaded. More than like, they would have said he brought the wizard's evil down on us all, and then where'd he and his bairn be?"
"Oh." The ranger had a child. He lived so far from drow, and he had a child? In that hostile environment? Was it a case of adoption? Or natural born? Thyl's curiosity was burning, but he knew better than touch on it at this point. He'd just have to befriend the ranger, to learn more.
"We know his deeds," Wulfgar said. "A more honorable or brave warrior cannot be found in the realms!"
That was high praise from that man's culture, and Thyl just nodded.
Thyl wound up getting deeply involved in the quest. There was no need to stop in Luskan or Longsaddle. Nesme grudgingly admitted his presence meant the drow could pass. They made good time, especially with Steelheart scouting from the air, allowing them to bypass hazards safely.
And then they hit the wards of Silverymoon, which balked the group completely because Drizzt could not cross them.
"It's the crystal," Thyl said, reassuring them all. "Regis, hold his pack, and then the pair of you try to cross, so you believe me, Drizzt."
That was accomplished, and this time Regis was stopped, not Drizzt.
"Then, this is where our roads part for now," Drizzt said, taking the pack back. "All of you go with Thyl. I'll skirt the Evermoors and go by the road to Yartar to see the wizard I need."
"Ye said he was nae in when ye tried that before; what if he's not now? A full half-month ye'd lose, there and back again," Bruenor argued.
"A suggestion?" Thyl raised, watching stubbornness settle on the dark features. "Let me see them in, get my mother free of her duties, and bring her to you, Drizzt," he said. "Your friends can clean up, eat, and start talking to the Rockcrusher clan.
"She would likely know if this wizard friend of yours would be safe from the crystal's corruption, and is likely to have suggestions on how to handle it."
He'd been talking to her every night when they camped, so he knew she did have a plan already. However, Drizzt reminded him strongly of Vierna once she dug her heels in. It would be better to let Mother handle that fight.
"Alright," Drizzt said, conceding the point. He had no way of knowing, it was true.
Thyl had his mother with him when he returned. Drizzt was not in sight immediately, but Steelheart was certain he was there, and after a moment, the cloaked ranger dropped to the ground from a nearby tree.
"Napping?" Thyl asked playfully.
"I've missed trees," Drizzt admitted, a common complaint on the way here, once they'd hit wooded lands. He then straightened and looked at the lady dismounting from Steelheart, noting her height and silver hair, as well as her courtesy to the mare.
"Mother, may I present Drizzt, ranger of Icewind Dale? Drizzt, my mother, Alustriel Silverhand of Silverymoon."
He deliberately left off the titles his mother carried, not wanting to be overwhelming.
A look at Drizzt told him his friend was already overwhelmed anyway. Oddly, when he looked back to his mother, there was something about her demeanor that suggested there was a deeper curiosity than just meeting the man that had defeated Crenshinibon.
"Pardon me, Lady, but are you any relation to Dove Falconhand?"
"My sister."
"The ranger I've mentioned," Thyl offered.
Drizzt inclined his head then. "I was grateful to her for a letter she wrote some time ago. I only ever saw her at a distance, though.
"Thyl believes that you might have ideas on my accursed burden, or at least can verify if my faith in the wizard I thought to trust is well-placed."
"Certainly. I do not know every wizard, but one strong enough to aid you should be one I know. I also have consulted, at length, with Elminster on this, and we believe we may have a plan for you, Ranger." She gestured, and stools appeared for them all to sit.
Drizzt settled on one, let them do so. He half-smiled as Steelheart came to lip at his hair before going to crop grass. Thyl watched him focus on Mother, and waited to hear who the mystery wizard was.
"I have heard of Elminster, good and bad, but feel like one as old as he is rumored to be would likely not fall prey to the temptations of the crystal," Drizzt conceded. "My one good experience with a wizard, prior to meeting your son, was with Samiar Ravarel, and I have faith he would aid me."
"Oh I am certain he would, if he's attained his full potential," Alustriel said, amused, as Thyl was processing that name and just staring at Drizzt. "As Sam is very firmly a wizard I could trust in my younger days. I doubt he's changed all that much, if he worked with you on some other thing."
"Is that Father's cousin?!" Thyl had to ask, getting a nod from his mother.
Drizzt visibly looked startled at that. "I hope, Lady, he is up to the standards your family seems to hold then."
Thyl felt like there was more than just the business of the crystal involved, for why Drizzt had said that.
"I will be glad to find that out, Ranger. But, as to the ideas we had, Elminster feels your ability to hold darkness on it, without it drinking your magic to fuel itself, implies that it cannot steal spell-like abilities. I am to ask Valamaradace if she agrees — the gold that protects these lands — and then a combination of your ability and hers might see us rid of it.
"With a cleric on hand to protect against any liches tied to it, given how it came to be created."
"There would be few things more destructive than a gold's flames," Drizzt said with appropriate awe. "However, I can't just keep carrying it with me."
"Then you will need to come with me to meet her, for this discussion, and I do think if she agrees, a gold's hoard is a safe place even in your eyes?"
Drizzt chuckled. "Yes, Lady. I would agree, since you say I would be needed for the destruction."
Thyl saw his mother's smile grow at that, and the one Drizzt gave her in turn… well, he thought the ranger looked younger in the moment, like some of the weight came right off of him.
Drizzt accepted the hand up onto the phantom steed that was Alustriel's way off the dragon's floating lair. He was still dazzled by both the flaming chariot to come here, speaking with both a gold and a silver dragon, as well the lady herself.
"Since you wanted to check in on Sam, and I am very curious why he is outside Yartar but has not visited me, and I have the full day to myself, do you wish to go see him?"
"You and Thyl said he was Thyl's father's cousin. That is a child of a sibling to one of the parents, yes?"
"Yes. In this case, Sam's father was brother to Sharr's mother."
"Yet, I never heard your name while I lived with him," Drizzt said, trying to keep his voice polite.
"Elué would have been the name he used for me," Alustriel explained. "Most elves still use it. At least, if they knew me when I was younger."
"Ahh, that name I know." Drizzt squeezed her shoulder as she headed for Yartar. "Yes, I would like this. I have news I needed to give him… about a dozen years ago. And his curse-breaking might help Bruenor remember."
"Is that why you met him? For a curse?"
"Yes. He did break it, just… not immediately after his efforts. So I wish him to know."
"We should be able to find the tree quite handily from the air," Alustriel assured him.
Samiar Ravarel was more than a little surprised to look out and see not one, but two, faces of his past. It was the combination of them that was so shocking, but he was pleased to see both. As he climbed down, Elué let go of the phantom steed, and he swiftly told the wards to let her pass.
"Elué! Look at you being all beautiful still! And Drizzt, my friend! I have been worried about you; I thought you'd said you'd come visit!"
"I did! You weren't here!" Drizzt called back, smiling broadly as they crossed to meet.
"You look so much happier, my friend. I am glad it got settled," Sam said, taking his hands first, squeezing, then looking at Elué. "I mean it. You're just as I remember."
"My dear, it's been nearly two centuries," she answered that, taking his hands, leaning down to kiss his cheek.
"So long?"
"Yes. And we should go sit on that bench I see in your garden."
Something in her tone hit both men, and Drizzt lightly touched her arm.
"I'm going to go rest my eyes in the tree over there," he said. "Call for me once you have your news at an end?"
The look she gave him told Sam that the news was going to be terrible… and that Drizzt had charmed her, at least somewhat.
"Very well."
By the time Drizzt had joined him, Sam had most of his emotions under control. Elué was up in the tree raiding his library, but Sam knew Drizzt preferred being outside as much as he could. He smiled as Drizzt settled beside him on the bench.
"I rather dislike adding to the momentous news she must have delivered," Drizzt told Sam. "But first, thank you. Your effort not only broke the curse, but granted me a very precious gift."
"I'm not following, given you were very much not like this when you left me," Sam said.
"It took most of two years to take effect," Drizzt offered. "I found a ranger and a druid, and when they took me in, we discovered I was pregnant. I made the choice to see it through, and now have a daughter, eleven years old now."
Sam took in a breath. Yes, this was momentous, but in the fully opposite direction of all Alustriel had said.
"We, my friend, if… if I may know her?"
Drizzt nodded. "She's eager to meet her wizard father. Was disappointed when you weren't here, but she's a good child, and adapted to our home in the north rapidly. She's still there, under care of my best friend and the rest of the dwarves there.
"Once I return to the chieftain, I'll have more work to do, but we mean to bring them all down, once we have a place to go."
"Then, I obviously need to lend my aid, to be certain this happens quickly," Sam said, "as I've lost too many years with her, and getting to know you better."
"I'm glad you said that; there's a curse on the chieftain."
"Even better."
Thyl sat back, watching as the cousin he'd heard so much about but not met talked earnestly with Bruenor Battlehammer about how he could, and would, help.
"…no payment, I insist!" Sam said loud enough to be heard. "You've taken care of my child from what Drizzt has said, and given him both aid and friendship. I am already in your debt for these things…"
What?
~Mother, Sam just said the chieftain has been taking care of his child?~ Thyl sent, despite her having resumed court duties. She was adept at double-speak.
~Apparently Drizzt and your cousin have a daughter. Magic curses were involved, and practical solutions.~ There was a faint amusement with that.
Thyl was still surprised, but that made it even more important to go see Vierna… after he got one more answer from the ranger.
Drizzt looked up from the book he was studying; the Companions would be heading out the following day, with Sam, and a memory potion. Thyl noted the ranger looked peaceful, and almost chose not to bother him, but he did need to know.
Before he went back to Vierna to update her.
"Can I just have a moment, because there's something I've wanted to ask since I could first see your eyes."
"So not the first time I was rude to you," Drizzt said, amused now that he knew the wizard in the autumn had been this man he'd come to see as an ally, maybe even a friend.
Thyl ducked his head. "No, I didn't see them then, not clearly.
"See, I've heard about a drow with purple eyes, from someone I care about. And I am trying to figure out how unusual the color is."
Drizzt closed the book and set it aside. "It is something people note about me. I never saw any like them in my city. But where one exists, maybe others do. Your mother said there actually are good drow on the surface."
"Yeah, I happen to be on good terms with the leaders of both major settlements," Thyl told him. "I'm sorry, there's no easy way to ask.
"About three decades ago, were you at a raid?"
Drizzt's face shut down a little, the eyes became haunted by tragedy, as well as some anger, but not at Thyl.
"Yes."
Thyl breathed out a sigh of relief.
"The child survived, Drizzt. The saviors got there too late for any but her and one other that was not quite dead, and they healed her. She's thinking about learning to be a ranger, while the girl was adopted by their senior cleric.
"Who is my paramour, so the girl — whose name is Ellifain — is a little like a daughter to me."
Now it was Drizzt who had to sit in silent shock, weighing all of that. When he did speak, Thyl wasn't sure he'd expected the words, and yet from what he had learned of Drizzt, they didn't surprise him.
"Thank everything for the child living, and living well, it sounds like."
"Yes, she does," Thyl agreed. "They had to work with her, both of them, about the trauma, because it was goodly drow that went. But they are both part of the community now, very well-loved, and grown strong."
Drizzt closed his eyes. "Then, I am grateful to have met you for one more reason."
Thyl had chosen to see them out, but before they even got out of the courtyard, his aunt Dove was there, larger than life and bounding over.
"Drizzt Do'Urden! You can't leave just yet, or at least let me walk with you! I have to have a chance to give a proper apology now."
Thyl blinked, not because of the greeting, as the tale had come out already over a meal, but because that was the first time he'd heard the ranger's family name.
~Mother, things are even more tangled than we thought,~ he warned her, ~as Dove just called him Drizzt Do'Urden.~
~Oh my. And they're heading out. Which leaves us waiting to find out why his name matches Vierna's.~
Thyl didn't think he could just invite himself along… not when that looked like what his aunt was doing, so Mother was right. He'd have to wait.
Thyl lounged contently next to Vierna, feeling lazy and intent on making her join him in resting as much as possible.
"So what did you learn in all the weeks you were with the drow ranger?" she asked him, putting an end to the lazy feelings. He'd kind of hoped to save that for the next day of his visit, but of course she was more direct.
He loved it about her, usually.
"He has a daughter, who turned out to have a sun elf wizard — my father's close cousin — as the other parent. He ran afoul of my aunt Dove on his second time on the surface, but it got sorted out and she thinks he's someone to watch in the good way," Thyl began. "It was already strange enough to have him touching my family on both sides like that, but because of Aunt Dove, I found out his family name.
"And I had asked him about his purple eyes," Thyl finished, watching her face.
She sat up, and he followed, an arm around her shoulders as she tucked in.
"He's Ellifain's protector?" Vierna asked to confirm.
"Yes. And he's a Do'Urden."
That made her gasp out loud. "Tangled into your family and part of mine, with Ellifain in the middle of it all. What deity has marked his life so vividly?!"
"Currently? Mielikki. Has been watching him since he came up the second time. Before that? I don't know."
"I have to meditate on this, and reach out. My Lady may not know much, but there's too many coincidences!"
Thyl sighed, knowing she was right, but really not happy when she left the bed.
Finding the Hall, getting the dwarven clan down and reunited with others, then actually taking the Hall the following spring had kept things busy enough that Thyl had been unable to share what Vierna had learned from Eilistraee with Drizzt himself. However, Sam was able to report to Elué and Syluné both what he could see of the divine magic on his friend.
Syluné took it upon herself to remove the threat, which meant she was the one to break the news to him that Lolth had used his nature to turn his birth city upside down.
He had taken it poorly enough that she told Thyl, making him choose to wait even longer on arranging a meeting with the good drow so close to where Drizzt now lived with his daughter. After all, Sam deserved to get time with the pair, and Ellifain needed time to process that she could meet the man that had saved her life.
It was mid-summer, just after festival, when Thyl thought things were calm enough — as long as one ignored the growing amount of attraction between Mother and the ranger visiting her every chance he could, on pretext of letting Zanna learn more. He caught up with the small family, since Sam was with them this time, and smiled.
"Hey, Drizzt, can I talk with you a minute?"
"Here it comes, my friend. The concerned son speech," Sam said, making Zanna giggle but they went off. Somehow, Thyl thought Drizzt was blushing under his fond exasperation at Sam.
"What is it?"
"I mentioned the good drow in the nearby region before," Thyl began. "And I have an invitation for you to come meet them. With or without Zanna; they know it's a new thing, and you haven't had any dealings with drow in a very long time."
"Do you trust them?" Drizzt asked.
"Yes."
"Then Zanna will go. She should have her first encounter with drow be ones her kin can trust."
Thyl felt vaguely shaken by that, but nodded.
"I'll stick around, for when you want to go. Best to go by teleport, the first time, let them decide if you can know how to get there the long way." He started to apologize, but Drizzt gripped his shoulder.
"I appreciate the steps taken to protect them," he said, before nodding. "I look forward to it."
Thyl was not surprised that Vierna and Ellifain were waiting on them when they all arrived. Vierna's dwarves had slipped down into Clan Battlehammer without mentioning where they'd come from, given how careful everyone was to protect Spirit Sanctuary. The mix of drow and goblins in the background of the meeting was a little startling for Zanna, but she was a curious, brave child.
"Greetings, Drizzt and Zanna," Vierna said, searching the ranger's features, and both were seeing familiarity in the other. "My name is Vierna, and this is my daughter Ellifain."
"You… you're the stolen Do'Urden daughter," Drizzt said in awe. "Father — Weapon Master Zaknafein spoke of you to me once!"
She tipped her head, then let go of Ellifain's hand to reach for his. "Then you are my little brother in full, and please… give him his title of 'father'. I was never certain, but now I know he had another child so good, I am claiming him."
"I think you must be right; he was pained as he spoke of you, because he knew how to love us." Drizzt took her hands, and squeezed, before he focused on Ellifain. "To you, my … niece? Niece. I am very sorry for what happened when you were young, but overwhelmingly happy you wound up in a good place, with family here."
"It was a bad thing, for both of us to go through," she answered him bravely. She then went to Zanna, offering her her hands. "Cousin. Come with me? We can explore and play, while the adults talk."
"I like this idea. Hi."
Fearlessly, Zanna ran off with her new cousin, and Vierna guided both Drizzt and Thyl to a place they could sit, talk… and manage all of the emotions this meeting was.
Thyl could only hope that every mystery he ever found turned out as well as this one had.
