Family Reunions of a Sort
Mar. 12th, 2025 03:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
senmutFamily Reunions of a Sort (1667 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: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Original Drow Character(s)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Past Gender Changes, Unplanned Pregnancy, prompt fic, Minor Appearances By Other Characters
Summary:
As first meetings between a drow and an elf went, it was quite good, but if it had been between any two other species, well...
… the elves in question might not have been startled into drawing their weapons to begin with.
"I will point out I could have not drawn attention to myself," the drow in the lower boughs of the large tree said. "But you do all seem to be on the same road that I have been following, and that makes me curious why a pair of wood elves, and a half-human, are seeking the wizard that lives a day ahead of here."
"We might be going to Yartar," the paler of the two full-bloods said.
"You might, but it makes little sense as it would have meant leaving the main road to take this trace, and then you'd still need to circle back to actually reach the proper gate.
"I truly am curious, so I know if I need to delay my own visit, so that he can conduct business without me complicating matters."
The darker elf was drawing in a breath to say something when the drow suddenly reached up and over, close to the trunk, steadying —
— a child?!
"You are supposed to be sleeping, little one," the drow said, ignoring the elves, high enough up to not fear their swords, and two close for arrows to have much effect.
"Heard voices," the child said in very curious tones.
"What is a drow doing in the middle of these lands, alone, with a child?" the lighter elf called up.
"Hopefully speaking with a cursebreaker about the end results of his efforts," the drow said. "Drizzt Do'Urden. And Zanna." He helped the girl wriggle down into his hold from the branch she'd been on.
"What in hell has Sam been doing?" the darker elf grumbled, getting elbowed by the other full-blood.
"Uncle," the half-human said in a chastising tone.
"Sharr. Kor. And my son, Del," the paler elf said, a slight smile for his kin.
Drizzt's eyebrows both rose. "Well, Sam will be even more pleased to see you all. I have heard the tale as he got it." He looked at Zanna. "We will do a bit of exploring, give you all time to visit."
"I — "
"Thank you, saer, we will be on our way," the darker one — Kor — said before Sharr could say more.
"But — "
"Hush and let's go see your daft cousin," Kor grumbled, firmly leading the other two on. The one called Del looked back and shrugged with an apologetic smile for his uncle.
Drizzt just shook his head and looked at his daughter.
"Your other daddy has family that's been gone a long time going to see him. Let's see what good things to eat we can find for when we go see him."
"Okay!" she said cheerfully.
Drizzt woke from his nap with Zanna midday to see the party of three coming back his way. That was… not good, as it meant Sam wasn't in.
He sat up and looked at the trio after being certain his daughter was still resting.
"He's not in?" Drizzt asked, unable to keep the disappointment from his voice.
"No. And… we wanted to know if you wished to join us, as we are going to someone who might know where he currently is," Sharr said. "It's only a week on the road, but we thought you might appreciate the company and a place to help you find him."
Drizzt shook his head. "No. I appreciate the offer, but it would be too strange," and he looked at the darker elf, the one called Kor, able to see that one had no interest in a drow sharing their road. "I will seek him at a later time."
"Are you sure?" the half-human, Del asked. "I'm pretty sure since you've seen him most recently, you might be able to help my mother trace him."
"No, as I was expecting him to be here. However, he lost much time working on the curse I brought him a few years ago. He's likely making up time on his research."
"A child that young shouldn't be in the wilds," Kor said with a scowl. "Are you going back to your kind?"
"I am going wherever Mielikki calls me," Drizzt said, a stubborn set to his jaw. "I wish you all well, but I am a ranger, and go where the wilds call. Zanna is not without protections, I assure you.
"If, when you find Sam, you could tell him I did pass this way, and will return in time, I would appreciate it."
"As you will, Saer," Sharr said. "May Eilistraee — and Mielikki — guard your path."
Drizzt nodded to them, watching them walk on, before lying beside his daughter to rest further.
Sharr settled in with his lady after a long day of catching up with friends here in her city.
"So we decided, when Charic said Sam had settled near Yartar, to go that way, as it let me renew acquaintances in some villages toward that direction."
"And he's in Shadowdale," Alustriel told him with amusement. "Something I could have told you if anyone had reached out."
"We didn't want to bother you, and it was good to introduce Del to people I knew," Sharr said, before kissing her. "And we had the most interesting encounter, with a peaceful drow, who wound up claiming to be a ranger of Mielikki of all things, with a tiny little girl at his side.
"I have questions for your sister, letting such roam around alone."
"I believe she had little choice, as she was fretting over a ranger with a small child some months back, and how he could not bear to stay under rock any longer."
"He did mention going where the wilds demanded," Sharr told her with a sigh. "But he was on his way to see Sam as well. So we need to mention that to him when I see him."
"Indeed. And I will pass on to my sister that you saw the ranger and his daughter." She looked at her elf-lord. "Did you offer to have come with you, or was Kor too prickly?"
"We did offer; he refused."
"Ahh, well, we'll just be certain to pass on to Syluné that Sam needs to check in soon."
"Indeed."
Sam grasped his cousin's shoulders with enthusiasm, then thumped Korvallen on the back before looking at Del.
"You are the youngest of Sharr's boys, and have you chosen a sensible short name to get away from the ridiculous one he gave you?"
Del wound up laughing, even as Sharr snorted. "Del, cousin. I'm looking forward to getting to know you almost as much as I am the rest of my brothers."
"Good men, all of the ones I have spent time with," Sam said approvingly. "But given those idiots came after me — when I'd been out of touch for so long! — I am just as glad they sent you with Sharr and Kor to be safe."
"So we heard," Kor said. "Would've been better to have you with us, I think."
"Well I had no idea our family's enemies would stoop so low as a blood-tracing spell," Sam said with a deep sigh.
"Hindsight and all that," Sharr said with a shrug as they all got settled in. "I'm glad you didn't get killed."
"I was small fish, compared to you, Sharr, and you know it." Sam then leaned back and stretched, happy to be with family.
"What the hell kind of cursebreaking were you doing for a drow?" Kor asked, crossing his arms in full grumpy mode.
That made Sam sit right back up. "You've seen Drizzt? Where? When?"
"Wow," Del said. "Now I really wish he'd've come with us here, the way you just reacted."
"When we went to see you, so two weeks ago now?" Sharr said. "Said he was coming to tell you about the end of a curse."
"Still think he's foolish to be dragging that little girl around the wilds like that," Kor grumbled.
All color drained from Sam's face. "About three years old?"
"Roughly," Kor said, curiosity making him lean forward now.
"Damn that drow-hearted bitch for all eternity," Sam swore.
"Sam?"
The wizard took a deep breath at Sharr's concerned voice. "I helped Drizzt with a baleful polymorph gender flip curse. And when magic wasn't working on it, with his refusal to deal with clerics… we tried a practical solution."
"So that little girl, you think, is our cousin?" Del asked, excitement showing in his delighted smile.
"Most likely," Sam said glumly. "I need to go find them," he added.
"Of course," Sharr told him. "We did try to get him to come with us."
Sam smiled, even as he was standing. "I appreciate that, but he is a very independent man."
"Got that impression," Sharr said with a smile. "Good hunting."
"I'll need the luck; he's a damned good ranger and all that implies!"
When Sam returned, it was with Zanna but not Drizzt, and the family — as many of Sharr's sons had arrived — got to fuss over the small girl.
"Her father is hunting something, and agreed to return here. As he is no longer cloaked from sendings or scryings, I will be staying in touch, to help him as I am able," Sam said. "But he was very glad to see me, and I am looking forward to being a father to our child," he told them all.
"Ask if he wants a pair or two of hands… and sets of hooves… to help, when you check in next," Methri said. "He's family; he should have support, and not have to be away from her so long."
"I will, and thank you," Sam said, before smiling fondly at the little girl playing between them. "This is a grand new adventure for me."
"And you'll do fine," Sharr assured, happy it had turned out so well.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Original Drow Character(s)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Past Gender Changes, Unplanned Pregnancy, prompt fic, Minor Appearances By Other Characters
Summary:
Kor and Sharr and Del meet a drow with a child on their way to Sam's.
Family Reunions of a Sort
As first meetings between a drow and an elf went, it was quite good, but if it had been between any two other species, well...
… the elves in question might not have been startled into drawing their weapons to begin with.
"I will point out I could have not drawn attention to myself," the drow in the lower boughs of the large tree said. "But you do all seem to be on the same road that I have been following, and that makes me curious why a pair of wood elves, and a half-human, are seeking the wizard that lives a day ahead of here."
"We might be going to Yartar," the paler of the two full-bloods said.
"You might, but it makes little sense as it would have meant leaving the main road to take this trace, and then you'd still need to circle back to actually reach the proper gate.
"I truly am curious, so I know if I need to delay my own visit, so that he can conduct business without me complicating matters."
The darker elf was drawing in a breath to say something when the drow suddenly reached up and over, close to the trunk, steadying —
— a child?!
"You are supposed to be sleeping, little one," the drow said, ignoring the elves, high enough up to not fear their swords, and two close for arrows to have much effect.
"Heard voices," the child said in very curious tones.
"What is a drow doing in the middle of these lands, alone, with a child?" the lighter elf called up.
"Hopefully speaking with a cursebreaker about the end results of his efforts," the drow said. "Drizzt Do'Urden. And Zanna." He helped the girl wriggle down into his hold from the branch she'd been on.
"What in hell has Sam been doing?" the darker elf grumbled, getting elbowed by the other full-blood.
"Uncle," the half-human said in a chastising tone.
"Sharr. Kor. And my son, Del," the paler elf said, a slight smile for his kin.
Drizzt's eyebrows both rose. "Well, Sam will be even more pleased to see you all. I have heard the tale as he got it." He looked at Zanna. "We will do a bit of exploring, give you all time to visit."
"I — "
"Thank you, saer, we will be on our way," the darker one — Kor — said before Sharr could say more.
"But — "
"Hush and let's go see your daft cousin," Kor grumbled, firmly leading the other two on. The one called Del looked back and shrugged with an apologetic smile for his uncle.
Drizzt just shook his head and looked at his daughter.
"Your other daddy has family that's been gone a long time going to see him. Let's see what good things to eat we can find for when we go see him."
"Okay!" she said cheerfully.
Drizzt woke from his nap with Zanna midday to see the party of three coming back his way. That was… not good, as it meant Sam wasn't in.
He sat up and looked at the trio after being certain his daughter was still resting.
"He's not in?" Drizzt asked, unable to keep the disappointment from his voice.
"No. And… we wanted to know if you wished to join us, as we are going to someone who might know where he currently is," Sharr said. "It's only a week on the road, but we thought you might appreciate the company and a place to help you find him."
Drizzt shook his head. "No. I appreciate the offer, but it would be too strange," and he looked at the darker elf, the one called Kor, able to see that one had no interest in a drow sharing their road. "I will seek him at a later time."
"Are you sure?" the half-human, Del asked. "I'm pretty sure since you've seen him most recently, you might be able to help my mother trace him."
"No, as I was expecting him to be here. However, he lost much time working on the curse I brought him a few years ago. He's likely making up time on his research."
"A child that young shouldn't be in the wilds," Kor said with a scowl. "Are you going back to your kind?"
"I am going wherever Mielikki calls me," Drizzt said, a stubborn set to his jaw. "I wish you all well, but I am a ranger, and go where the wilds call. Zanna is not without protections, I assure you.
"If, when you find Sam, you could tell him I did pass this way, and will return in time, I would appreciate it."
"As you will, Saer," Sharr said. "May Eilistraee — and Mielikki — guard your path."
Drizzt nodded to them, watching them walk on, before lying beside his daughter to rest further.
Sharr settled in with his lady after a long day of catching up with friends here in her city.
"So we decided, when Charic said Sam had settled near Yartar, to go that way, as it let me renew acquaintances in some villages toward that direction."
"And he's in Shadowdale," Alustriel told him with amusement. "Something I could have told you if anyone had reached out."
"We didn't want to bother you, and it was good to introduce Del to people I knew," Sharr said, before kissing her. "And we had the most interesting encounter, with a peaceful drow, who wound up claiming to be a ranger of Mielikki of all things, with a tiny little girl at his side.
"I have questions for your sister, letting such roam around alone."
"I believe she had little choice, as she was fretting over a ranger with a small child some months back, and how he could not bear to stay under rock any longer."
"He did mention going where the wilds demanded," Sharr told her with a sigh. "But he was on his way to see Sam as well. So we need to mention that to him when I see him."
"Indeed. And I will pass on to my sister that you saw the ranger and his daughter." She looked at her elf-lord. "Did you offer to have come with you, or was Kor too prickly?"
"We did offer; he refused."
"Ahh, well, we'll just be certain to pass on to Syluné that Sam needs to check in soon."
"Indeed."
Sam grasped his cousin's shoulders with enthusiasm, then thumped Korvallen on the back before looking at Del.
"You are the youngest of Sharr's boys, and have you chosen a sensible short name to get away from the ridiculous one he gave you?"
Del wound up laughing, even as Sharr snorted. "Del, cousin. I'm looking forward to getting to know you almost as much as I am the rest of my brothers."
"Good men, all of the ones I have spent time with," Sam said approvingly. "But given those idiots came after me — when I'd been out of touch for so long! — I am just as glad they sent you with Sharr and Kor to be safe."
"So we heard," Kor said. "Would've been better to have you with us, I think."
"Well I had no idea our family's enemies would stoop so low as a blood-tracing spell," Sam said with a deep sigh.
"Hindsight and all that," Sharr said with a shrug as they all got settled in. "I'm glad you didn't get killed."
"I was small fish, compared to you, Sharr, and you know it." Sam then leaned back and stretched, happy to be with family.
"What the hell kind of cursebreaking were you doing for a drow?" Kor asked, crossing his arms in full grumpy mode.
That made Sam sit right back up. "You've seen Drizzt? Where? When?"
"Wow," Del said. "Now I really wish he'd've come with us here, the way you just reacted."
"When we went to see you, so two weeks ago now?" Sharr said. "Said he was coming to tell you about the end of a curse."
"Still think he's foolish to be dragging that little girl around the wilds like that," Kor grumbled.
All color drained from Sam's face. "About three years old?"
"Roughly," Kor said, curiosity making him lean forward now.
"Damn that drow-hearted bitch for all eternity," Sam swore.
"Sam?"
The wizard took a deep breath at Sharr's concerned voice. "I helped Drizzt with a baleful polymorph gender flip curse. And when magic wasn't working on it, with his refusal to deal with clerics… we tried a practical solution."
"So that little girl, you think, is our cousin?" Del asked, excitement showing in his delighted smile.
"Most likely," Sam said glumly. "I need to go find them," he added.
"Of course," Sharr told him. "We did try to get him to come with us."
Sam smiled, even as he was standing. "I appreciate that, but he is a very independent man."
"Got that impression," Sharr said with a smile. "Good hunting."
"I'll need the luck; he's a damned good ranger and all that implies!"
When Sam returned, it was with Zanna but not Drizzt, and the family — as many of Sharr's sons had arrived — got to fuss over the small girl.
"Her father is hunting something, and agreed to return here. As he is no longer cloaked from sendings or scryings, I will be staying in touch, to help him as I am able," Sam said. "But he was very glad to see me, and I am looking forward to being a father to our child," he told them all.
"Ask if he wants a pair or two of hands… and sets of hooves… to help, when you check in next," Methri said. "He's family; he should have support, and not have to be away from her so long."
"I will, and thank you," Sam said, before smiling fondly at the little girl playing between them. "This is a grand new adventure for me."
"And you'll do fine," Sharr assured, happy it had turned out so well.
Tense Meeting
Mar. 2nd, 2025 10:52 amsenmutTense Meeting (2805 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: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Original Drow Character(s)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Past Rape/Non-con, minor appearances by other characters, prompt fic
Summary:
As first meetings between a drow and an elf went, it was quite good, but if it had been between any two other species, well...
… there might not be so many negative emotions involved in the meeting.
The good side was that neither elf involved had actually let an arrow fly, despite both having them at ready, if not actually drawn back. The drow in question had drawn swords, mismatched and obviously taken from surface foes, much as the mismatched clothing and random pieces of armor were. He was not moving, standing lightly on a downed tree, poised but silent.
The younger of the veteran elves was the one to actually see the fear under the defensive posture, putting that with the fact that the drow was doing nothing to invite attack. No hand movements, no near-silent magical invocations, no darkness — the man was merely refusing to move or look away.
"Eilistraeean?" the paler, more slender elf called, causing his elder companion to grind his jaw a bit more.
The drow tipped his head just slightly, before speaking — and neither elf understood the sibilant words delivered at a barely audible range.
"Up here long enough to acquire gear, but… not the language," the elven speaker mused quietly to his companion.
"You don't know that he is one of them," the other, gruffer elf argued immediately.
"I don't know that he is not, either."
"Dammit, Sharr."
"Hush, Kor."
Sharr stepped slightly forward, lowering the bow to his side, flipping the arrow back into the quiver, eyes on the drow. That one shifted his footing… but it took Kor — complaining under his breath the whole while — following suit before the pair of weapons vanished.
Both elves noted the speed of the motion, before the drow mimed for them to go on along the road, stepping back off the tree.
That it gave the drow cover nearly to his chest did nothing to ease Kor's misgivings, but there was something in a quick downward look, a faint crease at the mouth that made Sharr wonder even more.
"It could be a trap," Kor said, but Sharr was already in motion, slowly but purposefully, toward the tree instead of them going on past on the game trail that had led to this encounter.
The drow tensed from head to foot, but there were signs that Sharr could see now, ones that he had ignored on seeing the ancient enemy that were tearing at his heart with peace between them.
Youth, hunger, more fear — where in hell were the good ones that one had been able to be on the surface so long but so alone?
The drow looked as if he were about to spring back up on the tree when a bird-high voice from out of sight said something in that sibilant language, and the drow that was visible looked down more fully.
A sibling? Had one escaped and managed to bring a child out? That made all of this make even less sense! Eilistraee should have long since found them! Actions were screaming of the better nature of the drow after all, and She had a mandate to —
The drow chose to act before Sharr got close enough to try and make a peace offering, swiftly ducking and pulling up a drow child, possibly past the tenth year, settling the child in a secure hold before moving away as swiftly as he could with his precious burden.
~Qilué, tell me the words for stop and truce swiftly!~ he sent in desperation across the anklet, trusting her to know which language he needed them in.
~Vrine'winith for stop; we use common for 'truce',~ Qi sent back without being ruffled at the sudden demand; if her brother-in-law had found drow he was trying to talk to, it was better than fighting!
"Vrine'winith!" Sharr said allowed, willing the drow to hear it as an imploring request, not a demand.
He suspected the man only obeyed because of their bows, recognizing a futility in outrunning a distance weapon. Given Kor's could punch through both bodies and not stop moving… it was wise, not that Kor would ever harm a child, even one of the drow.
Any hopes that it would translate to a peaceful solution vanished as the adult put the child behind himself and drew those blades again, taking a fierce expression and determined posture.
Sharr cursed all evil drow cities forever and always as he fumbled at the catch of his sword belt with one hand, dropping the bow from his other.
"SHARREVALIIR!" Kor hissed in absolute anger and worry. Sharr didn't even need to look to know Kor had an arrow on the string again.
The sword belt finally came free and fell, leaving Sharr unarmed, as even his dagger had been on that belt, and he opened both of his hands toward the drow, palms up and empty, before he repeated the word for 'stop' again.
The child peeked around the adult's hip, small dark face set in curiosity more than fear, and then he said something to the adult. When the words had no effect, the boy actually reached up to tug on the sword arm, and Sharr would have sworn there was a transfiguration to the adult face, as if he was coming away from a very dangerous state of mind.
Did drow have a berserker state?
Had he and Kor narrowly avoided finding out personally?
"Speak this?", was asked in Goblin of all things, and Sharr nodded once.
"Some. No fight, help. Child… need food."
It wasn't so much a guess as a correlation from varied pieces of observation, and the adult's arms sagged in defeat, face a mask of despair for the child's sake now.
"Kor, put your bow away," Sharr said, using the tones of his authority, so that his heart-brother knew there would be no argument accepted. "They're half-starved; look at their faces."
The sound of the bow being unstrung was followed by a deep, almost angry, sigh as the other elf saw the same things as Sharr.
"I hate this."
"Save your hate for the spider, and let's figure out how to help them without scaring the adult again."
"Fine."
Kor went and hunted for dinner to be useful, while Sharr saw to making a fire. The drow, both of them, were wary, and when he managed to get the small fire going, the wariness became full-fledged need to flee again.
"Fire make animal safe to eat," Sharr said in the Goblin that was their only shared language. "Teach. Give tools. Child needs food." That last phrase was winning far more cooperation than he could have hoped for, and the pair settled down.
"Teach. Why?" Suspicion and distrust oozed in those words.
"Good thing. Right thing."
With the fire started, and sticks whittled to hold whatever meat Kor brought back, Sharr studied the pair again. His estimate of the adult was close to the age of his youngest. The child… if he was judging right, that one didn't even have a dozen years.
Then again, drow males ran smaller than average in spider-cities, and both showed signs of severe hunger having affected them.
"Sharr," he finally said, tapping his chest. He indicated the adult, making no motion in the direction of the child.
"Drizzt," was the eventual answer, and a pause followed. Drizzt laid a hand on the boy's shoulder gently. "Kastan." He used the same gesture Sharr had, in the direction Kor had gone.
"Kor."
Drizzt nodded to that, then forced himself to look at the fire. Were his eyes different in more than color? Sharr had to wonder as the man actually moved close to study the fire.
~Sister of mine, do you have a band moving toward the Sundabar Pass to collect a pair? They have acquired surface clothes, but still had no fire.~
Sharr found it easier to reach out than to decide a course that might send the drow back into flight… or worse. The sheer protective energy toward the child was such that Sharr was certain he was not going to get far in lessons.
~My Lady has been seeking one, but cannot find that one due to some form of interference,~ Qilué sent back. ~Does this relate to your request?~
~Yes, and now I wonder if the elder is not actually good, and his presence is masking the child.~
It would be a bit of time before any answers could happen, since it was only the two of them supporting the conversation, and even his consort's amazing magic had to recharge.
Before he heard anything back from her, Kor arrived with a pair of coneys already cleaned. His approach sent Drizzt back to the boy, and Kor just grunted, seeing to spitting the meat to start roasting, adding a few roots he'd dug up on the rocks in front of the heat. Drizzt watched avidly, even as the smells wafted around to whet their appetites.
The quiet on them was tense, and not broken until the food was ready, at which point the adult pulled some nuts free of a rough pouch, offering them when Sharr handed him the spit with one of the coneys, and most of the roasted roots.
"Give. Take."
Sharr realized the drow had a sense of fair play, wanting to trade — yes, those nuts were edible, though not the best of what could be gathered — and decided he had better accept.
"Share," Sharr said in Common. "Give and take is share."
"Share."
Was Sharr imagining a hunger in those purple eyes for more than food? Was the taste of a language more what he wished for? It would take time to learn, and Sharr wasn't sure how long he could abuse Kor's sensibilities by them remaining with the pair.
He did smile, a little, as the adult made the child eat slowly, soft words that had apparently still the hungry urge to wolf the food down. He also noted that Drizzt actually was eating so slowly that the boy would get more of the food.
Well, they were going to show Drizzt how to make fire, give him a striker and flint to carry. There would be more food in the pair's future.
~Mena's friends have a hunting party with a wizard; my Lady is guiding them to you, Sharr, once the moon rises,~ Qilué sent as the boy finished the last bite. Kor and Sharr had split the other, but some was left, and Sharr passed it over to the pair, patting his belly to indicate it was full.
Kastan ate a few more bites, then argued Drizzt into eating more, at least to all appearances.
~We will be here; please have them move cautiously. The adult is very protective of the child.~
Even if the man wasn't good, he had to be at least neutral to keep putting the boy's needs ahead of his own, Sharr decided. As Kastan moved to lay down in a small ball, no covering but what he wore, the elder drow stroked the boy's hair until sleep came. Only then did Drizzt look at Sharr.
"Teach fire."
That was as good a way to pass the time to moonrise as any other, Sharr decided, and got what was needed to comply.
Sharr looked up as the moon cleared the trees, then over at Drizzt. "Drow come. Good. Like Kastan."
The adult frowned, obviously not believing in such a thing, but the moonbridge shimmering into place to deliver four drow, two in robes, and two carrying bows like Sharr and Kor did, held Drizzt's attention. Kastan stirred and looked up, then sat up, rubbing his eyes a bit. He chattered swiftly at Drizzt and even Sharr could hear the excitement, before the cleric of the newcomers called out a greeting to them both.
Kor was twitchy, but just managing to keep himself perfectly still. Sharr noted that Drizzt was very tense, but Kastan was continuing to speak, and the new drow were answering questions from him apparently.
Eventually that tapered off, and the wizard was the one to approach them, keeping a wary distance to the drow and Sharr alike.
"Greetings, Saer. I am Vahs, and the boy is the one our Lady knew of. There is a mystery about the boy's father; he cannot be perceived by our magic, divine or arcane, to let us know his alignment."
"That… shouldn't be possible," Sharr said with a frown. Father? Surely they were mistaken.
"So we know, but we are willing to take over their care, and see what we may learn. We are grateful to you both for watching over them.
"Did you say 'father'?" Kor actually asked, incredulous. "Boy can't be fifty!"
Vahs sighed. "These things do happen in spider cities."
"Obscene," Kor growled.
"Yes," Vahs agreed. He then looked at the pair, who were having a conversation solely with their hands. "The boy hears the song. The father is willing to trust in his son, and we are fairly convinced he must be good, but… well, we have a long walk back to our enclave, to find out what is obscuring him."
Sharr sized up the pair they had found, then looked at Vahs. "The boy seems to be the center of all things for the … adult," he said, reluctantly on that last word. "My instinct says good. But I understand a need for caution.
"I believe you may know of my son Inthylyn?"
"I do, and yes, Cleric Sira said we may have to ask for outside help from him. He, after all, is well known to us, and has been a solid ally for many decades."
Kor barely kept his bristling to himself, but Sharr nodded with a smile. "It's hard to trust strangers, yes," Sharr said. He then focused on Drizzt. "You go with? Good people."
"Kastan says yes. Need word, helping us good," Drizzt said. "Owe."
"No. Help good. Help always." Sharr reached out a hand, and after a moment, Drizzt took it, allowing Sharr to squeeze gently. "Be good, keep Kastan strong."
"Yes!"
Drizzt stood then, and Kastan rose with him, smiling at the two elves in a show of bravery, before they went to join the drow hunters, Vahs falling in step with them. In very short order the six drow were lost in the woods to the north side of the pass, and Kor drew in a very deep breath.
"Call one of your sons to teleport us the rest of the way. I need somewhere to practice with my sword."
"You and me both, my brother."
Alustriel let herself into Sharr's room, glad that her pages were right and Korvallen was with him.
"The pair of drow you helped on the road, my dears? I have news."
"It's been almost a full month," Kor noted, sitting up on the couch, to make room between them for her to sit.
"Indeed. As they had a few issues with the adult of the pair." Alustriel took a deep breath. "Thyl has mentioned to you that his friend acquired a moon elf through traumatic circumstance?"
"Yes," Sharr began, confused at the change in direction.
"Drizzt was the drow fighter who spared her life, hiding that fact."
Kor sucked in a whistle. "So there's a point of connection."
"It gets more complicated," Alustriel told them. "He is from the same city, same House as she is, and suspects they share the same father. All of that would have been enough to set many instincts aflame at a trap."
"Indeed!" Sharr said, shocked at the points of connection.
"Add in that the young man was under a shroud, woven at his birth, to hide his nature from being perceived, by any Seldarine, light or dark, and they had a lot of worries," she continued. "Syluné was the one to find and remove the shroud, with Mother's help, and then Eilistraee was able to perceive Drizzt.
"It is Her opinion, and Mielikki's of all goddesses, that he has been sorely tested, severely abused by life, and deserves a chance to raise his child and find his path."
"How did Mielikki get involved?" Kor asked after a long moment to digest that all.
"She'd been listening for him ever since he came back above, as Drizzt is apparently very in tune with nature. A wild-called ranger, even."
"Now I have heard everything… and I am glad we encountered them, to start unraveling it all," Sharr said, slipping an arm around her.
"I guess," Kor said, getting a snort from his heart's brother, and a playful push from Alustriel.
"I foresee his life being better in the care of others like him, but do not rule out more interesting things ahead of him," she said, a sentiment Sharr agreed with.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Original Drow Character(s)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Past Rape/Non-con, minor appearances by other characters, prompt fic
Summary:
Kor and Sharr, taking the long way between the High Forest and Silverymoon, encounter a pair of drow.
Tense Meeting
As first meetings between a drow and an elf went, it was quite good, but if it had been between any two other species, well...
… there might not be so many negative emotions involved in the meeting.
The good side was that neither elf involved had actually let an arrow fly, despite both having them at ready, if not actually drawn back. The drow in question had drawn swords, mismatched and obviously taken from surface foes, much as the mismatched clothing and random pieces of armor were. He was not moving, standing lightly on a downed tree, poised but silent.
The younger of the veteran elves was the one to actually see the fear under the defensive posture, putting that with the fact that the drow was doing nothing to invite attack. No hand movements, no near-silent magical invocations, no darkness — the man was merely refusing to move or look away.
"Eilistraeean?" the paler, more slender elf called, causing his elder companion to grind his jaw a bit more.
The drow tipped his head just slightly, before speaking — and neither elf understood the sibilant words delivered at a barely audible range.
"Up here long enough to acquire gear, but… not the language," the elven speaker mused quietly to his companion.
"You don't know that he is one of them," the other, gruffer elf argued immediately.
"I don't know that he is not, either."
"Dammit, Sharr."
"Hush, Kor."
Sharr stepped slightly forward, lowering the bow to his side, flipping the arrow back into the quiver, eyes on the drow. That one shifted his footing… but it took Kor — complaining under his breath the whole while — following suit before the pair of weapons vanished.
Both elves noted the speed of the motion, before the drow mimed for them to go on along the road, stepping back off the tree.
That it gave the drow cover nearly to his chest did nothing to ease Kor's misgivings, but there was something in a quick downward look, a faint crease at the mouth that made Sharr wonder even more.
"It could be a trap," Kor said, but Sharr was already in motion, slowly but purposefully, toward the tree instead of them going on past on the game trail that had led to this encounter.
The drow tensed from head to foot, but there were signs that Sharr could see now, ones that he had ignored on seeing the ancient enemy that were tearing at his heart with peace between them.
Youth, hunger, more fear — where in hell were the good ones that one had been able to be on the surface so long but so alone?
The drow looked as if he were about to spring back up on the tree when a bird-high voice from out of sight said something in that sibilant language, and the drow that was visible looked down more fully.
A sibling? Had one escaped and managed to bring a child out? That made all of this make even less sense! Eilistraee should have long since found them! Actions were screaming of the better nature of the drow after all, and She had a mandate to —
The drow chose to act before Sharr got close enough to try and make a peace offering, swiftly ducking and pulling up a drow child, possibly past the tenth year, settling the child in a secure hold before moving away as swiftly as he could with his precious burden.
~Qilué, tell me the words for stop and truce swiftly!~ he sent in desperation across the anklet, trusting her to know which language he needed them in.
~Vrine'winith for stop; we use common for 'truce',~ Qi sent back without being ruffled at the sudden demand; if her brother-in-law had found drow he was trying to talk to, it was better than fighting!
"Vrine'winith!" Sharr said allowed, willing the drow to hear it as an imploring request, not a demand.
He suspected the man only obeyed because of their bows, recognizing a futility in outrunning a distance weapon. Given Kor's could punch through both bodies and not stop moving… it was wise, not that Kor would ever harm a child, even one of the drow.
Any hopes that it would translate to a peaceful solution vanished as the adult put the child behind himself and drew those blades again, taking a fierce expression and determined posture.
Sharr cursed all evil drow cities forever and always as he fumbled at the catch of his sword belt with one hand, dropping the bow from his other.
"SHARREVALIIR!" Kor hissed in absolute anger and worry. Sharr didn't even need to look to know Kor had an arrow on the string again.
The sword belt finally came free and fell, leaving Sharr unarmed, as even his dagger had been on that belt, and he opened both of his hands toward the drow, palms up and empty, before he repeated the word for 'stop' again.
The child peeked around the adult's hip, small dark face set in curiosity more than fear, and then he said something to the adult. When the words had no effect, the boy actually reached up to tug on the sword arm, and Sharr would have sworn there was a transfiguration to the adult face, as if he was coming away from a very dangerous state of mind.
Did drow have a berserker state?
Had he and Kor narrowly avoided finding out personally?
"Speak this?", was asked in Goblin of all things, and Sharr nodded once.
"Some. No fight, help. Child… need food."
It wasn't so much a guess as a correlation from varied pieces of observation, and the adult's arms sagged in defeat, face a mask of despair for the child's sake now.
"Kor, put your bow away," Sharr said, using the tones of his authority, so that his heart-brother knew there would be no argument accepted. "They're half-starved; look at their faces."
The sound of the bow being unstrung was followed by a deep, almost angry, sigh as the other elf saw the same things as Sharr.
"I hate this."
"Save your hate for the spider, and let's figure out how to help them without scaring the adult again."
"Fine."
Kor went and hunted for dinner to be useful, while Sharr saw to making a fire. The drow, both of them, were wary, and when he managed to get the small fire going, the wariness became full-fledged need to flee again.
"Fire make animal safe to eat," Sharr said in the Goblin that was their only shared language. "Teach. Give tools. Child needs food." That last phrase was winning far more cooperation than he could have hoped for, and the pair settled down.
"Teach. Why?" Suspicion and distrust oozed in those words.
"Good thing. Right thing."
With the fire started, and sticks whittled to hold whatever meat Kor brought back, Sharr studied the pair again. His estimate of the adult was close to the age of his youngest. The child… if he was judging right, that one didn't even have a dozen years.
Then again, drow males ran smaller than average in spider-cities, and both showed signs of severe hunger having affected them.
"Sharr," he finally said, tapping his chest. He indicated the adult, making no motion in the direction of the child.
"Drizzt," was the eventual answer, and a pause followed. Drizzt laid a hand on the boy's shoulder gently. "Kastan." He used the same gesture Sharr had, in the direction Kor had gone.
"Kor."
Drizzt nodded to that, then forced himself to look at the fire. Were his eyes different in more than color? Sharr had to wonder as the man actually moved close to study the fire.
~Sister of mine, do you have a band moving toward the Sundabar Pass to collect a pair? They have acquired surface clothes, but still had no fire.~
Sharr found it easier to reach out than to decide a course that might send the drow back into flight… or worse. The sheer protective energy toward the child was such that Sharr was certain he was not going to get far in lessons.
~My Lady has been seeking one, but cannot find that one due to some form of interference,~ Qilué sent back. ~Does this relate to your request?~
~Yes, and now I wonder if the elder is not actually good, and his presence is masking the child.~
It would be a bit of time before any answers could happen, since it was only the two of them supporting the conversation, and even his consort's amazing magic had to recharge.
Before he heard anything back from her, Kor arrived with a pair of coneys already cleaned. His approach sent Drizzt back to the boy, and Kor just grunted, seeing to spitting the meat to start roasting, adding a few roots he'd dug up on the rocks in front of the heat. Drizzt watched avidly, even as the smells wafted around to whet their appetites.
The quiet on them was tense, and not broken until the food was ready, at which point the adult pulled some nuts free of a rough pouch, offering them when Sharr handed him the spit with one of the coneys, and most of the roasted roots.
"Give. Take."
Sharr realized the drow had a sense of fair play, wanting to trade — yes, those nuts were edible, though not the best of what could be gathered — and decided he had better accept.
"Share," Sharr said in Common. "Give and take is share."
"Share."
Was Sharr imagining a hunger in those purple eyes for more than food? Was the taste of a language more what he wished for? It would take time to learn, and Sharr wasn't sure how long he could abuse Kor's sensibilities by them remaining with the pair.
He did smile, a little, as the adult made the child eat slowly, soft words that had apparently still the hungry urge to wolf the food down. He also noted that Drizzt actually was eating so slowly that the boy would get more of the food.
Well, they were going to show Drizzt how to make fire, give him a striker and flint to carry. There would be more food in the pair's future.
~Mena's friends have a hunting party with a wizard; my Lady is guiding them to you, Sharr, once the moon rises,~ Qilué sent as the boy finished the last bite. Kor and Sharr had split the other, but some was left, and Sharr passed it over to the pair, patting his belly to indicate it was full.
Kastan ate a few more bites, then argued Drizzt into eating more, at least to all appearances.
~We will be here; please have them move cautiously. The adult is very protective of the child.~
Even if the man wasn't good, he had to be at least neutral to keep putting the boy's needs ahead of his own, Sharr decided. As Kastan moved to lay down in a small ball, no covering but what he wore, the elder drow stroked the boy's hair until sleep came. Only then did Drizzt look at Sharr.
"Teach fire."
That was as good a way to pass the time to moonrise as any other, Sharr decided, and got what was needed to comply.
Sharr looked up as the moon cleared the trees, then over at Drizzt. "Drow come. Good. Like Kastan."
The adult frowned, obviously not believing in such a thing, but the moonbridge shimmering into place to deliver four drow, two in robes, and two carrying bows like Sharr and Kor did, held Drizzt's attention. Kastan stirred and looked up, then sat up, rubbing his eyes a bit. He chattered swiftly at Drizzt and even Sharr could hear the excitement, before the cleric of the newcomers called out a greeting to them both.
Kor was twitchy, but just managing to keep himself perfectly still. Sharr noted that Drizzt was very tense, but Kastan was continuing to speak, and the new drow were answering questions from him apparently.
Eventually that tapered off, and the wizard was the one to approach them, keeping a wary distance to the drow and Sharr alike.
"Greetings, Saer. I am Vahs, and the boy is the one our Lady knew of. There is a mystery about the boy's father; he cannot be perceived by our magic, divine or arcane, to let us know his alignment."
"That… shouldn't be possible," Sharr said with a frown. Father? Surely they were mistaken.
"So we know, but we are willing to take over their care, and see what we may learn. We are grateful to you both for watching over them.
"Did you say 'father'?" Kor actually asked, incredulous. "Boy can't be fifty!"
Vahs sighed. "These things do happen in spider cities."
"Obscene," Kor growled.
"Yes," Vahs agreed. He then looked at the pair, who were having a conversation solely with their hands. "The boy hears the song. The father is willing to trust in his son, and we are fairly convinced he must be good, but… well, we have a long walk back to our enclave, to find out what is obscuring him."
Sharr sized up the pair they had found, then looked at Vahs. "The boy seems to be the center of all things for the … adult," he said, reluctantly on that last word. "My instinct says good. But I understand a need for caution.
"I believe you may know of my son Inthylyn?"
"I do, and yes, Cleric Sira said we may have to ask for outside help from him. He, after all, is well known to us, and has been a solid ally for many decades."
Kor barely kept his bristling to himself, but Sharr nodded with a smile. "It's hard to trust strangers, yes," Sharr said. He then focused on Drizzt. "You go with? Good people."
"Kastan says yes. Need word, helping us good," Drizzt said. "Owe."
"No. Help good. Help always." Sharr reached out a hand, and after a moment, Drizzt took it, allowing Sharr to squeeze gently. "Be good, keep Kastan strong."
"Yes!"
Drizzt stood then, and Kastan rose with him, smiling at the two elves in a show of bravery, before they went to join the drow hunters, Vahs falling in step with them. In very short order the six drow were lost in the woods to the north side of the pass, and Kor drew in a very deep breath.
"Call one of your sons to teleport us the rest of the way. I need somewhere to practice with my sword."
"You and me both, my brother."
Alustriel let herself into Sharr's room, glad that her pages were right and Korvallen was with him.
"The pair of drow you helped on the road, my dears? I have news."
"It's been almost a full month," Kor noted, sitting up on the couch, to make room between them for her to sit.
"Indeed. As they had a few issues with the adult of the pair." Alustriel took a deep breath. "Thyl has mentioned to you that his friend acquired a moon elf through traumatic circumstance?"
"Yes," Sharr began, confused at the change in direction.
"Drizzt was the drow fighter who spared her life, hiding that fact."
Kor sucked in a whistle. "So there's a point of connection."
"It gets more complicated," Alustriel told them. "He is from the same city, same House as she is, and suspects they share the same father. All of that would have been enough to set many instincts aflame at a trap."
"Indeed!" Sharr said, shocked at the points of connection.
"Add in that the young man was under a shroud, woven at his birth, to hide his nature from being perceived, by any Seldarine, light or dark, and they had a lot of worries," she continued. "Syluné was the one to find and remove the shroud, with Mother's help, and then Eilistraee was able to perceive Drizzt.
"It is Her opinion, and Mielikki's of all goddesses, that he has been sorely tested, severely abused by life, and deserves a chance to raise his child and find his path."
"How did Mielikki get involved?" Kor asked after a long moment to digest that all.
"She'd been listening for him ever since he came back above, as Drizzt is apparently very in tune with nature. A wild-called ranger, even."
"Now I have heard everything… and I am glad we encountered them, to start unraveling it all," Sharr said, slipping an arm around her.
"I guess," Kor said, getting a snort from his heart's brother, and a playful push from Alustriel.
"I foresee his life being better in the care of others like him, but do not rule out more interesting things ahead of him," she said, a sentiment Sharr agreed with.
Kissed by a Goddess Chapter 3
Nov. 6th, 2024 04:29 amsenmutKissed By a Goddess (~1950 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 3/?
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Elf Character(s), Mielikki [Forgotten Realms], Drizzt Do'Urden, Uoundeld Aerasumé
Additional Tags: Background Relationships, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Family
Summary:
Del was mopey when he dropped on his mother's divan and he didn't care that he was being ridiculously young.
"You could send to him and see if he wishes your company," Alustriel said, not even looking up from her needlework. It needed to be perfectly done for the spell she had envisioned for it, after all.
"I expected him to be here," Del whined, knew it for whining. "If I send he might see it as me being overprotective."
"He also knows that none of you ventured out alone until you were much older than he is now."
Del grunted. He should reach out, but he was still nettled that his baby brother was out there flying around and finding trouble!
"Dear. If you need work occupy your mind instead of finding out how your brother is, I suggest you find Niska in the morning. She has a crate of scrolls to sort before your father returns in the autumn, and doesn't recognize all of the scripts they are written in."
"Yes, Mother," Del said, accepting the subtle chastisement and invitation to go sleep instead of sulking in here.
"Your brother is thriving," she added, as he left her, and he knew that, from Drizzt's rare touches on the sending anklets.
Contrary to Del's beliefs, Drizzt had not been finding trouble all that often. He was honing his ranger abilities, finding druids for their lore, or working with the wilder rangers in their environments. Yes, he had been in fights from time to time, but never alone.
Mielikki wished him to be experienced, not slain, after all.
Evgin Morningmist was the ranger he returned to, time and again, as she had so much experience to share. He helped her build her retirement cottage, joined by her tiefling student, and the two of them had developed a very friendly rivalry in doing so. Evgin found their cheerful bickering and competition amusing, while continuing lessons for them between setting timbers and stone in place.
Tarhan declined the offer to stay that first winter, but Drizzt, pulled by some need, chose to remain. When a too-warm winter proved enticing to the trolls to break the boundaries of the Evermoors and spill out, he was right there, fighting alongside the ranger and the Riders of Nesme.
"You have foresight?" Evgin asked, once it was all said and done, and she was hanging her mithral shirt on its rack. Drizzt had admired it, finding it lighter than his lacquered plate, but there were few sources of the metal in all the lands to even think of commissioning a shirt to fit his conformation.
"Not clearly? As our Lady can only give portents," he said. "She's not gifted in that way, and my abilities mimic Hers, as She was my teacher in the magics we use."
Evgin chuckled. "Well that She did take the time for teaching Her chosen champion," she mused. "Well, it means you will have a life filled with events, hmm?"
"Yes, Evgin."
"Then, when my time is done, you take this shirt and hold on to it until you find one that can shape it around your wings. You're the only one of my living students it might fit, after all."
"May that day be very far from us, my teacher."
Dove's tone in the sisterly sending session was apologetic. ~Florin says to tell you all that Drizzt is fine, but Mielikki needed his presence elsewhere.~
~Oh She still has time for Her lover while caring for the child?~ the Simbul sent with amusement, to give Alustriel time to get past the nerves that had evoked.
Dove's spluttering did not help the case, and the others were full of laughter in their reassurances to Alustriel that the boy would do well.
~My son is well-grounded in technique and strategy,~ Alustriel finally said. ~And She will not risk him where his youth would harm him.~
~Were he raised as a drow, he would be an adult now,~ Qilué mused. ~That may be shading his choices, and Hers.~
~Perhaps,~ Syluné agreed, having most recently seen him, and noted the air of maturity he projected.
Sairena was the one to warn Del, moments before Drizzt folded his wings around himself, having touched down mere paces from the mare and her rider.
Del took in the careful motions of one arm, the faint silver line of a scar arcing down his neck on that side, and frowned.
"You've been hurt."
"A few times, but yes. I am under orders to take things easy for a change," Drizzt said cheerfully. "So I came to find my favorite brother."
"The last we heard, you were with the Forest Queen."
"I was. Another plane, where Her sanctuary was being threatened by another god," Drizzt responded. "Met Gwaeron this time. I think I like him."
Del had to snort at that casual appraisal of Mielikki's Champion that had been elevated to a demigod. "I was thinking of going to the village, but if you're with me, we can pick somewhere else?"
"Evgin's nearby," Drizzt suggested. "She won't mind me bringing a brother home."
"Alright then." Del gathered up his belongings, packing them, then putting Sairena's straps on so they could fly alongside Drizzt. Del noted his brother was relying far more on the air currents than his own powerful down-sweeps, and figured the injury that was healing had affected that entire side.
It only added to his unease about Drizzt adventuring so much, so alone.
It had been forty five years since Sharr found his youngest son during a ritual hunt. He knew his son was closer in age to Del now, as Mielikki had led him off plane more than once, helping Her feather-kissed Champion grow stronger in his skills. He sized up the man his son had become, watching him approach the palace on foot, greeted cheerfully by so many who saw him. He watched as a small child, egged on no doubt by the others near them, raced out to Drizzt, offering up a flower.
Drizzt accepted it, kneeling to be on a level with the child, even though that meant sweeping his wings back and holding them aloft slightly. Sharr smiled at the gentleness, at Drizzt letting the flower be tucked into his long braids. The child skipped off happily, and their friends swiftly crowded them for details, likely. Drizzt continued in, and Sharr left the window he'd been watching from to go greet his son.
"Drizzt," he called gladly as he reached the entry hall in time with his son finishing his greetings with the staff currently on duty at the doors. Drizzt strode over, embracing Sharr warmly. Now, close up, Sharr could see just how the shoulders and chest had filled out, had felt the powerful back muscles that supported those full wings.
"Hello, Father." Drizzt's voice was soft, before he pulled back and smiled broadly. "Please tell me Uncle is with you."
"When is he not?" Sharr retorted, before laughing. "You have new techniques to show him?"
"Yes! I spent some time among Aunt's people this time, learning their ways." Drizzt turned to fall in step, so that they could go up to the family wing. "I have a magical mystery for Mother, if she has time, and greetings for both of you from a wizard who swears he will make his way here in the next week or so."
"Oh now I am very intrigued," Sharr told him, amused at the conspiratorial tone Drizzt had said the last in.
"You should be! I have heard many stories of Samiar, but none of you mentioned just how curious he is about everything!"
"You met Sam?! No, wait, we'll go to my apartment so you can tell me and your uncle at once."
Drizzt laughed brightly, nodding in agreement to that.
Alustriel kissed Drizzt's cheek as he joined her in her workroom, then gestured to his stool there, with a low back rest and supports that were padded for just under the spar of his wings. He sighed; one thing he missed about homes was always the custom furniture for his physique.
"Your father says you had something of an adventure that brought you into conflict with drow?"
Drizzt sighed. "Conflict at first, then a rough alliance, and maybe even grudging respect from the brigands I worked with. They were very much the lesser of two evils in that strange city. And that gave me the mystery for you, as Aunt Laeral was not home, nor was her consort." He fished out a black, likely onyx, statuette and let her take it from him. "The leader of the brigands paid me for my efforts with that over my protests.
"Some of his band members were muttering about 'blessed cat' and 'celestial abomination', so I am hopeful it is worth use. He did not, however, provide me with its activation word, as he said 'a boy my age needed a mystery or two'." Drizzt chuckled. "Despite him being firmly opposite my nature, I think he was charming."
Alustriel smiled indulgently as she was studying to figure before her. "Just remember that our enemies can and will use charm to get their vile ways."
"I do, Mother. I don't like allying across my nature that way, but the other drow… they were — " he blanched a little, remembering the ones he'd rescued.
"Say no more, little one, unless you need to air it."
"I talked it out with Uncle Elkantar," Drizzt said, breathing deeply. "But I am very curious about that figure. It feels strongly magical but not corrupt."
"Just from a surface glance, there is no faerzress contamination, and I sense void magic," Alustriel said. "I'll have to do some research."
"Of course."
"Now, I am told you also met Samiar?" she invited, so he had reason to stay even as she pondered the mystery.
He launched into his happy discovery of family, and she was so glad to see how cheerful he could still be.
Alustriel had Sharr tucked in front of her, looking over his shoulder, as Drizzt and the giant panther played in a courtyard. Korvallen stood beside them, satisfied with what he was seeing.
"Boy's been through a lot, but he can still be young," Kor rumbled.
"I think this panther will be as good for him as the pegasi are for the boys," Sharr said. "He refused to accept a winged partner, but she's as ancient as the Old Man at least. That makes him fear less for her."
"Good," Kor said. "He needs an anchor like that, one that's not just family, as solid as we are for him."
"I agree," Alustriel said which made Sharr smile. He loved when his beloveds were in accordance with one another. "Has he said anything to you, Kor, that makes you think we should encourage him to rest here longer than just the winter?"
"No, Elué. He did have a long talk with me about the mess in Skullport, but I guess your sister's consort helped him through the worst of it.
"First time, he said, that rage shadowed every strike he made."
The cuddling pair sucked in deep breaths as one; Drizzt's anger was rare, but once it was lit, it could be dangerous — to him.
"He's fine now," Kor reassured them both. "Owe Elkantar for helping him over it."
"Yes, we do," Sharr murmured, before Drizzt's delighted laughter floated up, the cat having tripped him and being in the process of licking his face. "We'll be here, he knows he has the Promenade… and now he has a Companion."
Chapters: 3/?
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Elf Character(s), Mielikki [Forgotten Realms], Drizzt Do'Urden, Uoundeld Aerasumé
Additional Tags: Background Relationships, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Family
Summary:
Vhaeraun knew He could not keep the strange child, but He wasn't giving him to His sister. Better to remove him from drow manipulations altogether.
Kissed by a Goddess: On His Own
Del was mopey when he dropped on his mother's divan and he didn't care that he was being ridiculously young.
"You could send to him and see if he wishes your company," Alustriel said, not even looking up from her needlework. It needed to be perfectly done for the spell she had envisioned for it, after all.
"I expected him to be here," Del whined, knew it for whining. "If I send he might see it as me being overprotective."
"He also knows that none of you ventured out alone until you were much older than he is now."
Del grunted. He should reach out, but he was still nettled that his baby brother was out there flying around and finding trouble!
"Dear. If you need work occupy your mind instead of finding out how your brother is, I suggest you find Niska in the morning. She has a crate of scrolls to sort before your father returns in the autumn, and doesn't recognize all of the scripts they are written in."
"Yes, Mother," Del said, accepting the subtle chastisement and invitation to go sleep instead of sulking in here.
"Your brother is thriving," she added, as he left her, and he knew that, from Drizzt's rare touches on the sending anklets.
Contrary to Del's beliefs, Drizzt had not been finding trouble all that often. He was honing his ranger abilities, finding druids for their lore, or working with the wilder rangers in their environments. Yes, he had been in fights from time to time, but never alone.
Mielikki wished him to be experienced, not slain, after all.
Evgin Morningmist was the ranger he returned to, time and again, as she had so much experience to share. He helped her build her retirement cottage, joined by her tiefling student, and the two of them had developed a very friendly rivalry in doing so. Evgin found their cheerful bickering and competition amusing, while continuing lessons for them between setting timbers and stone in place.
Tarhan declined the offer to stay that first winter, but Drizzt, pulled by some need, chose to remain. When a too-warm winter proved enticing to the trolls to break the boundaries of the Evermoors and spill out, he was right there, fighting alongside the ranger and the Riders of Nesme.
"You have foresight?" Evgin asked, once it was all said and done, and she was hanging her mithral shirt on its rack. Drizzt had admired it, finding it lighter than his lacquered plate, but there were few sources of the metal in all the lands to even think of commissioning a shirt to fit his conformation.
"Not clearly? As our Lady can only give portents," he said. "She's not gifted in that way, and my abilities mimic Hers, as She was my teacher in the magics we use."
Evgin chuckled. "Well that She did take the time for teaching Her chosen champion," she mused. "Well, it means you will have a life filled with events, hmm?"
"Yes, Evgin."
"Then, when my time is done, you take this shirt and hold on to it until you find one that can shape it around your wings. You're the only one of my living students it might fit, after all."
"May that day be very far from us, my teacher."
Dove's tone in the sisterly sending session was apologetic. ~Florin says to tell you all that Drizzt is fine, but Mielikki needed his presence elsewhere.~
~Oh She still has time for Her lover while caring for the child?~ the Simbul sent with amusement, to give Alustriel time to get past the nerves that had evoked.
Dove's spluttering did not help the case, and the others were full of laughter in their reassurances to Alustriel that the boy would do well.
~My son is well-grounded in technique and strategy,~ Alustriel finally said. ~And She will not risk him where his youth would harm him.~
~Were he raised as a drow, he would be an adult now,~ Qilué mused. ~That may be shading his choices, and Hers.~
~Perhaps,~ Syluné agreed, having most recently seen him, and noted the air of maturity he projected.
Sairena was the one to warn Del, moments before Drizzt folded his wings around himself, having touched down mere paces from the mare and her rider.
Del took in the careful motions of one arm, the faint silver line of a scar arcing down his neck on that side, and frowned.
"You've been hurt."
"A few times, but yes. I am under orders to take things easy for a change," Drizzt said cheerfully. "So I came to find my favorite brother."
"The last we heard, you were with the Forest Queen."
"I was. Another plane, where Her sanctuary was being threatened by another god," Drizzt responded. "Met Gwaeron this time. I think I like him."
Del had to snort at that casual appraisal of Mielikki's Champion that had been elevated to a demigod. "I was thinking of going to the village, but if you're with me, we can pick somewhere else?"
"Evgin's nearby," Drizzt suggested. "She won't mind me bringing a brother home."
"Alright then." Del gathered up his belongings, packing them, then putting Sairena's straps on so they could fly alongside Drizzt. Del noted his brother was relying far more on the air currents than his own powerful down-sweeps, and figured the injury that was healing had affected that entire side.
It only added to his unease about Drizzt adventuring so much, so alone.
It had been forty five years since Sharr found his youngest son during a ritual hunt. He knew his son was closer in age to Del now, as Mielikki had led him off plane more than once, helping Her feather-kissed Champion grow stronger in his skills. He sized up the man his son had become, watching him approach the palace on foot, greeted cheerfully by so many who saw him. He watched as a small child, egged on no doubt by the others near them, raced out to Drizzt, offering up a flower.
Drizzt accepted it, kneeling to be on a level with the child, even though that meant sweeping his wings back and holding them aloft slightly. Sharr smiled at the gentleness, at Drizzt letting the flower be tucked into his long braids. The child skipped off happily, and their friends swiftly crowded them for details, likely. Drizzt continued in, and Sharr left the window he'd been watching from to go greet his son.
"Drizzt," he called gladly as he reached the entry hall in time with his son finishing his greetings with the staff currently on duty at the doors. Drizzt strode over, embracing Sharr warmly. Now, close up, Sharr could see just how the shoulders and chest had filled out, had felt the powerful back muscles that supported those full wings.
"Hello, Father." Drizzt's voice was soft, before he pulled back and smiled broadly. "Please tell me Uncle is with you."
"When is he not?" Sharr retorted, before laughing. "You have new techniques to show him?"
"Yes! I spent some time among Aunt's people this time, learning their ways." Drizzt turned to fall in step, so that they could go up to the family wing. "I have a magical mystery for Mother, if she has time, and greetings for both of you from a wizard who swears he will make his way here in the next week or so."
"Oh now I am very intrigued," Sharr told him, amused at the conspiratorial tone Drizzt had said the last in.
"You should be! I have heard many stories of Samiar, but none of you mentioned just how curious he is about everything!"
"You met Sam?! No, wait, we'll go to my apartment so you can tell me and your uncle at once."
Drizzt laughed brightly, nodding in agreement to that.
Alustriel kissed Drizzt's cheek as he joined her in her workroom, then gestured to his stool there, with a low back rest and supports that were padded for just under the spar of his wings. He sighed; one thing he missed about homes was always the custom furniture for his physique.
"Your father says you had something of an adventure that brought you into conflict with drow?"
Drizzt sighed. "Conflict at first, then a rough alliance, and maybe even grudging respect from the brigands I worked with. They were very much the lesser of two evils in that strange city. And that gave me the mystery for you, as Aunt Laeral was not home, nor was her consort." He fished out a black, likely onyx, statuette and let her take it from him. "The leader of the brigands paid me for my efforts with that over my protests.
"Some of his band members were muttering about 'blessed cat' and 'celestial abomination', so I am hopeful it is worth use. He did not, however, provide me with its activation word, as he said 'a boy my age needed a mystery or two'." Drizzt chuckled. "Despite him being firmly opposite my nature, I think he was charming."
Alustriel smiled indulgently as she was studying to figure before her. "Just remember that our enemies can and will use charm to get their vile ways."
"I do, Mother. I don't like allying across my nature that way, but the other drow… they were — " he blanched a little, remembering the ones he'd rescued.
"Say no more, little one, unless you need to air it."
"I talked it out with Uncle Elkantar," Drizzt said, breathing deeply. "But I am very curious about that figure. It feels strongly magical but not corrupt."
"Just from a surface glance, there is no faerzress contamination, and I sense void magic," Alustriel said. "I'll have to do some research."
"Of course."
"Now, I am told you also met Samiar?" she invited, so he had reason to stay even as she pondered the mystery.
He launched into his happy discovery of family, and she was so glad to see how cheerful he could still be.
Alustriel had Sharr tucked in front of her, looking over his shoulder, as Drizzt and the giant panther played in a courtyard. Korvallen stood beside them, satisfied with what he was seeing.
"Boy's been through a lot, but he can still be young," Kor rumbled.
"I think this panther will be as good for him as the pegasi are for the boys," Sharr said. "He refused to accept a winged partner, but she's as ancient as the Old Man at least. That makes him fear less for her."
"Good," Kor said. "He needs an anchor like that, one that's not just family, as solid as we are for him."
"I agree," Alustriel said which made Sharr smile. He loved when his beloveds were in accordance with one another. "Has he said anything to you, Kor, that makes you think we should encourage him to rest here longer than just the winter?"
"No, Elué. He did have a long talk with me about the mess in Skullport, but I guess your sister's consort helped him through the worst of it.
"First time, he said, that rage shadowed every strike he made."
The cuddling pair sucked in deep breaths as one; Drizzt's anger was rare, but once it was lit, it could be dangerous — to him.
"He's fine now," Kor reassured them both. "Owe Elkantar for helping him over it."
"Yes, we do," Sharr murmured, before Drizzt's delighted laughter floated up, the cat having tripped him and being in the process of licking his face. "We'll be here, he knows he has the Promenade… and now he has a Companion."
Dream Bonds, Drow Raids, and Family Ties
May. 30th, 2024 07:08 amsomarielDream Bonds, Drow Raids, and Family Ties (4073 words) by Somariel
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Alustriel Silverhand, Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Zaknafein Do'Urden, Vierna Do'Urden
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Ensemble Cast, Soul Bond
Series: Part 20 of A Crossing of the Realms
Summary:
While it wasn't unheard of for Korvallen to come to visit without warning, the agitation he was displaying was.
So rather than invite him to share her breakfast once Talira had let him into her rooms, Alustriel was more direct. "It's good to see you, Kor, but if you're looking for Sharr, he's up in the Moonwood right now, leading a patrol to investigate rumored sightings of drow."
That only seemed to increase his agitation, and when he spoke, she found out why.
"The rumors are true, because Sharr's been captured by drow."
Alustriel felt the blood drain from her face even as she made herself stand straighter. "Well then. His patrol wouldn't have been considered overdue for return until the morning after tomorrow, but given you must have found out through the dream-bond," and she paused just long enough for Kor to nod sharply before continuing, "then I will go talk to Taern immediately about sending a party to find the rest of the patrol.
"And I'll reach out to the family to start assembling a rescue party while I'm heading over to the Spell Tower."
Korvallen's agitation didn't ease completely, but his shoulders relaxed noticeably as he let out a small sigh.
"Thank you, Elué," he said.
Alustriel had not intended to sleep, not with Sharr in drow hands, but it seemed that her worry for him, helping with organizing the party to rescue him, and starting what was needed for seeing to the aftermath for the two elven villages that had also been destroyed by raids—including prevailing on Mena to go find out if it had been some of Spirit Sanctuary's residents who had been at the one that had clearly been disturbed by other people after the raid—was more tiring than she had expected, when it was piled on top of keeping up with her usual duties.
And so, two days after Sharr's patrol would have been considered overdue, with the rescue party having set off that morning, she found herself sinking into sleep, and then into dreams.
The first dream started out in the darkness she had expected, but before she had registered more than the sense of moving quickly, light flared, and she was able to see that her dream-bonded was engaged in a fight against drow.
He had killed two opponents—and done so so swiftly that despite her faint hopes, she knew this had to be her drow dream-bonded, not Sharr—when he suddenly lunged to one side, shoving someone else... out of the path of a magic missile, she saw, as he turned to face the wizard.
A huge panther moved between him and the wizard, snarling, but not attacking, and there was a stand-off that stretched out... until her dream-bonded threw a knife at the wizard.
The wizard ducked, and her dream-bonded vaulted over the cat, quickly ending the wizard, before retrieving something from the wizard's body.
Then the light faded away, and she could only sense careful steps, with her dream-bonded's hand on the shoulder of someone ahead of him.
But soon enough, they stopped, and blue faerie fire lit up a small cave, revealing that her dream-bonded had two other drow with him, one quite young—young enough to still have traces of baby fat, in fact—and one who was visibly mature.
The mature one's face was recognizable as one she had seen several times before, so she knew he must be from the same house as her dream-bonded, but the young one was entirely unfamiliar.
The young one appeared to be rather surprised by something when he looked at her dream-bonded, but he settled down fairly quickly to clean his own weapons.
After that, he cleaned her dream-bonded's weapon, and then, after a period of silence, said in Goblin—why was a drow using Goblin with another drow?—“Name Drizzt.
Her dream-bonded wrinkled his nose, and then she was utterly surprised. Because what he said—in Goblin, like the young drow had—was "Name Sharrevaliir. Small name Sharr."
The young drow—was he her drow dream-bonded, then?—grinned and pointed at Sharr, then spoke again. "Go up, send out. You leave. You live."
Sharr nodded, but looked between the young drow—Drizzt—and the older one. "You two live, after?"
Drizzt shrugged. "Try."
The older one growled a bit and added. "Will," in Goblin.
Drizzt looked at him, and then ducked his head, before nodding. "Will," he repeated.
And when Alustriel woke, she was certain that Drizzt was her drow dream-bonded.
Even though he knew it had to mean that Sharr had escaped, Korvallen was not entirely pleased by the dream he had had of his heart-brother in a small cave with two drow.
But before he had decided whether or not to say anything about it to the rest of the rescue party, Laeral, Dove, and his nephews all paused in their eating with the expression that indicated they were talking over Elué's anklets.
And when the expression cleared, Laeral said, in a quiet voice, "Alustriel says that her drow dream-bonded and one other drow are aiding Sharr in escaping."
Kor kept his sigh of annoyance entirely internal, hoping that if he stayed quiet, he would be ignored, but Thyl dashed that hope by turning to him.
"Can you tell us anything else, Uncle?"
Kor deliberately took another bite of his ration bar, but the patience with which the rest of the party waited out the chewing and swallowing was enough for him to relent and give some information.
"Him being Elué's drow dream-bonded explains why the young one did a double-take upon seeing Sharr's face under the light of faerie fire.
"His name is Drizzt, and they've given Sharr a sword."
With last night's dream through Kor's eyes placing the rescue party as having started down, Sharr knew he needed to tell Drizzt and Zaknafein that it was coming.
So after he accepted the food that the elder drow had given him, he quietly cleared his throat to get the attention of both of them.
And when they both turned to look at him, he said, in a low voice, "Kin party coming, to bring back to Surface."
That was not in any way anything Zak had expected to hear, but before he could say anything, Drizzt asked the question he would have. "How you know that?"
Sharr tilted his head in a thoughtful manner for a moment, then said, "Sleep, see through others' eyes."
Drizzt's eyes went wide at that, but Sharr wasn't done speaking. "Human mate gave party food, shelter, plans; heart-brother in kin party."
Drizzt's expression turned thoughtful at the first part of that, but before Zak could address his suspicions as to why, he needed more information. "Who coming, how many?" he asked.
"Sons, six." Sharr replied. "Mate's sisters, two. Heart-brother. Eilistraee cleric."
That last required Zak to exert iron control to not show his surprise at how easily Sharr spoke of one of the Dark Maiden's followers being in the rescue party, but he quickly stomped it down to focus on his son.
"Drizzt," he said, "have you been seeing through another's eyes in your dreams?" It was in Drow, which excluded Sharr, but he didn't want to have to take the time to wrestle with the concepts in Goblin, so that couldn't be helped.
Drizzt gave him a considering look, then nodded sharply.
Reverting back to Goblin, Zak asked, "Seen Sharr before, through other eyes?", remembering how surprised his son had been when Zak brought up his faerie fire and they first saw the elf's face in actual light.
"Yes."
Though he wasn't looking at Sharr, Zak could still sense the other man's double-take.
But he recovered quickly and asked, "Seen much or seen little?"
"Seen much," Drizzt replied.
"Know how other person look?"
"Hair silver, round eyes, female, think tall."
Sharr nodded as if he had expected that answer. "Alustriel. Human mate."
Zak narrowed his eyes at that, not liking the idea of Drizzt being dream-bonded to a human, nor that said human was a woman who already had a mate.
But this was also the second time Sharr had specified human mate, so he decided to ask the obvious question. "How many mates you have?"
"Human mate, elf mate, heart-brother mate," Sharr answered. And then he cut right to the heart of Zak's concerns. "Drizzt young. Drizzt control how things happen."
Zak wasn't entirely sure he believed that, but it was enough to settle his concerns for now. Drizzt, however, appeared to be bristling somewhat, and Zak wasn't sure why.
"Drizzt adult," his son said stubbornly.
Oh. Well, seeing how Sharr handled this would be interesting.
"Drizzt thirty, thirty-one, yes?" Sharr said.
"Thirty," Drizzt replied.
"Sharr and Alustriel youngest son almost fifty. Drizzt young."
And that seemed like an impossibility, from all Zak knew of humans, but they really needed to get moving, so he filed it as something to ask about later.
Remembering that the sigil she had seen in her dreams a few months ago had been identified by Vierna as being that of Vierna's own House, Alustriel had sent to Mena to inquire as to a good time for her to come and talk with Vierna.
Mena had sent back that an hour or so before dawn would be convenient, so Alustriel had taken the opportunity to sleep again before requesting a teleport visual from Mena.
And now, as she settled into a chair in Vierna's rooms, she was glad she had, because tonight's dreams had given her a name for the other drow with Sharr.
"So what is it that you wish to speak with me about?" Vierna asked, once she, Mena, and Alustriel were all seated.
"It appears that that my drow dream-bonded and one other drow—whom I recognize as a familiar face from my dreams—have freed Sharr and are aiding him in returning to the Surface."
Vierna's eyes widened in surprise at that news, but when she spoke, there was no trace of it in her voice. "I'd have expected such from your dream-bonded," she said, "but that another of the House is also helping has me... intrigued.
"Because the only member of it whom I would have even considered such a possibility for is the Weapon Master."
Alustriel nodded her understanding, then said, "Tonight's dream let me know that the drow who is not my dream-bonded is called Zaknafein."
"Then he is indeed the Weapon Master." Vierna took a moment to think things through, then continued. "Which leaves me suspecting that your dream-bonded may well be my full brother, as I have long believed the Weapon Master to be my father, and I simply cannot see him caring enough to help with such an escape unless the instigator was his son."
Chewing on her lip as she weighed matters, Vierna decided to go ahead and see if the other connection she now suspected did, in fact, exist.
"Have you seen what color your dream-bonded's eyes are?" she asked.
Alustriel blinked in surprise at the question, but answered it readily. "They're purple. Why do you ask?"
"The younger of the two survivors we found clearly had her survival deliberately hidden," Vierna began, "because although she was found completely covered in blood, her only actual injuries were a bruise and a scratch."
"And purple eyes feature strongly in her nightmares," Mena said, picking up the explanation. "So we think that whoever it was that hid her survival must have had such."
"I see." Alustriel hummed thoughtfully for a moment, then continued. "Then it might be best for us to give some consideration now to how to handle the first meeting between her and Drizzt.
"Given that I'm rather certain he's going to join the rescue party for the return to the Surface, but it would not be a good idea for any drow to openly come to Silverymoon until the outrage over the raids has cooled somewhat."
Laeral was in the lead currently, though Dove was not too far from her.
They came around a bend in the corridor, and Dove suddenly reached for her arm, making her stop.
A faint sound, ahead, not behind, repeated itself, and Laeral cast arcane eye to go in that direction.
She used it to go as far as it could, determining only the expected trio were in close vicinity, then conveyed the information and her plan via the sending anklets, knowing the boys would see her words relayed to the cleric and Kor via a regular sending.
And once she had a nod from Kor to indicate that he had been told, she gently scraped her foot across the floor of the tunnel.
Sharr and both drow startled at the sound, then after a brief discussion, the younger drow pulled something out of a pouch, set it down on the floor, and spoke a single word.
Dark mist gathered around whatever it was that the drow had set down, and then it coalesced into a panther twice the normal size.
The drow scooped up the figure—for that had to be what it was, despite the oddity of how it worked—and said something to the panther, after which it started moving in their direction.
~Summoned panther coming to investigate,~ Laeral warned via the anklets.
And then the panther rounded the slight curve that separated their party from Sharr's, and gave a quiet, but pleased sounding, mrowl.
Continuing forward, it came right up to her and butted its head up against her hand in a clear plea for scratches.
Laeral duly gave some, and then it flowed past her to beg the same from Dove.
Dove kept up the scratching for longer, but by her closed eyes and the expression on her face, she was using the time to communicate with it.
Eventually, Dove opened her eyes again, and the panther sat back on its haunches, then gave a quiet 'yip'.
"She's of astral origin," Dove said in a low voice, "and recognizes the two of us for what we are.
"She's also quite emphatic that her drow is a cub to be protected."
Andy's quiet "Her drow?" overlapped with Kor's strangled "Cub?!", but before either of their questions could be addressed, faint blue and purple light was visible around the curve, drawing everyone's attention, and then Sharr and the drow came around the curve.
Sharr was walking beside the rather young looking one, with the older one a few steps behind them, and both drow had faerie fire limning their hands, which they were holding out in front of them at about mid-chest level.
Upon actually seeing the rescue party, Sharr picked up his pace a bit, to actually get ahead of Drizzt, after pressing his hand down on the young drow's arm as a signal to not match his pace.
And just a few steps later, Kor did exactly what he had been expecting, and rushed over to embrace him tightly.
"Sharr," his heart-brother breathed, and Sharr returned the hug just as fiercely, feeling the same relief that that single word expressed.
"I'm here, Kor," he said. "I'm safely back with you."
Drizzt had not been sure why Sharr had indicated he should not pick up his own pace, but when the faerie rushed over to Sharr and embraced him, Drizzt realized that Sharr must have been expecting such, and had wanted to ensure Drizzt was far enough away to avoid reacting on instinct.
Turning his attention away from Sharr and the faerie that had to be Sharr's "heart-brother", Drizzt looked over the rest of the rescue party with an assessing eye.
The two tall women with pale hair had to be the "mate's sisters" Sharr had mentioned. One was in armor, with a sword on her belt and her hair in a braid—showing the rounded ears that marked her as a human—while the other was in wizard's robes, with her hair mostly loose.
The six faerie just as tall and pale-haired as the women had to be Sharr's sons, and Drizzt was intrigued to see that though all of them wore modified wizard's robes, they all also bore swords.
And their blunted eyes and ears had to be a sign that their mother was Sharr's human mate.
Finally, at the very back of the group, there was... another drow? A brief flash of confused fear went through him before he noticed the moons and swords worked into the robes the drow wore, and he remembered the explanation Zak had given about the drow who followed Lloth's goodly daughter.
And as further reassurance, he noted that the other drow was male, which Lloth would never allow any of Her clerics to be.
Bringing his attention back to the women, Drizzt caught theirs, and then, using the lessons Sharr had been giving him and Zak when they stopped to rest, said in careful Surface Common, "Name is Drizzt Do'Urden. Not speak much Common. Goblin is better."
Using Goblin, the one with the braid said, "Well met, Drizzt Do'Urden."
Then she repeated the greeting in Surface Common, and continued in the same language. " 'My' name is Dove Silverhand."
The very first word wasn't one that Sharr had taught them yet, but based on the firm tap Dove gave her chest as she said it, Drizzt thought it was a possessive.
"My name is Drizzt Do'Urden," he said, to test his guess.
"Yes." Dove was very pleased that Drizzt had correctly picked up the meaning of 'my', and decided to see how much more he could get from simple conversation.
So she pointed to Laeral, and said, "My sister is Laeral Silverhand."
Drizzt repeated 'sister' with a faint frown, then brightened and said the Goblin word for it.
"Yes," Dove said, smiling brightly.
Zaknafein had hung back a bit as Drizzt began speaking with the women, wanting to keep an eye on Sharr and the other faerie, but when the two of them broke their embrace and stepped back towards the rest of the rescue party, Zak moved forward as well.
"My name is Zaknafein Do'Urden," he said, once he was even with Drizzt.
Surprisingly, one of the tall faerie jerked on hearing his name, and although said faerie waved off the quiet question one of the others asked him, Zak noted the reaction as something to follow up on later.
After he finished his portion of food that night, Zak caught the attention of the tall faerie who had been introduced as "Thyl", then tilted his head towards the edge of the camp while mouthing "Talk?" in Goblin.
Thyl nodded in reply, and when he started to move towards an out of the way pocket in the walls of the cave their party had found to camp in, Zak did the same.
Soon enough, they were settled in the niche, and Zak spoke, in Surface Common. "Why you-" and he mimed the way Thyl had startled when Zak had introduced himself, "-at my name?"
"Spell for better Surface words?" Thyl replied—surprisingly enough, in Undercommon. "Not speak much of this; Drow and Goblin bad for this talk."
Zak thought things over for a moment, then nodded sharply.
And once Thyl had cast the spell, he got straight to the point. "I was surprised by your name because I had heard of you before all of this."
That was surprising to Zak, but he controlled his expression well enough to not betray it. "Oh?"
Thyl sighed and ran a hand over his hair before speaking again. "There are two permanent settlements of Eilistraeeans on the Surface.
"And the First Sister—the leader—of the nearer of them is named Vierna Do'Urden."
Zak couldn't help the shocked "What?!" that escaped him as joy warred with suspicion, but he at least managed to still keep it quiet enough to not carry.
"She knew the temple in your city would be a death sentence for her, so she left." Thyl gave a soft smile. "She eventually led a small band to the surface, and Spirit Sanctuary has been a home for drow, and others, ever since."
Having been forewarned of the impending arrivals, Vierna was on hand with Mena to meet Thyl when he teleported in with Zav'ren.
"It's good to see you both again," she said, once she could see them clearly. "Is there anything you feel I should know before Sharr's rescuers arrive?"
"The younger of them is only thirty," Rafi's son said, "for all that the Lolthites have counted him as an adult for most of a year."
Well then. Telling that to Ellifain would undoubtedly help in dealing with her trauma from the raid, once they got that far.
"Drizzt is also your full brother," Thyl said. "And Zaknafein has been told that you are the leader here, though it's clear that he doesn't fully believe it yet."
"I'd be surprised if he did," Vierna replied, remembering how cautious the Weapon Master had been when she was learning from him.
Then she nodded at Thyl, and a moment later, Lin arrived with her father and brother.
Stepping forward as soon as the teleport shimmer had faded, she said, "Zaknafein, Drizzt, welcome to Spirit Sanctuary."
And when she saw the two of them clearly, she was glad for the warning about Drizzt's youth, since it let her conceal her surprise on seeing that he still had traces of baby fat on his face.
But then her attention was drawn away from him when Zaknafein stepped towards her.
"You… you can't be anyone but my student," he said softly. "Daughter."
She smiled, eyes glistening a little at that immediate claim. "Father. My teacher." She offered her hands, and he took them, squeezing gently.
Drizzt had been just half a step behind Zak, so when her father released her hands, she turned to him. "And I am pleased to meet you, little brother.
"You did very well in managing to hide the child's survival, and she will have all the help she needs to recover from her experiences."
Drizzt's eyes widened significantly, and he gaped at her for a moment before stammering "You... you know about that?"
"I do," Vierna replied. "Those moon elves were followers of my Lady Eilistraee, and She asked for whatever aid we could manage.
"So the child was found quickly, and she and the one other survivor are being cared for by the dwarves that live here."
A tension that she had not truly noticed before lifted from Drizzt as she spoke, and when she finished, she found herself having to quickly reach out to support him as he wavered on his feet and tears started leaking from his eyes.
Carefully, she pulled him into a hug, and began rubbing her hand up and down his back as she would to comfort an overwhelmed child.
"Shh, shh," she soothed. "Everything's okay. She's safe and you're safe and everything is going to be okay."
For all that she and Sharr were comfortably curled up together in her bed, Alustriel found herself unable to fully set aside her thoughts.
So with a purely internal sigh, she shifted to where she could see Sharr's face, and said, "What were your impressions of my other dream-bonded, love?"
"He's good," Sharr replied, without even having to think about it. "To a rather startling degree for someone who managed to survive a full thirty years in Menzoberranzan."
Turning to better face her, he added, "And given what you've told me about the child he saved, I think that even if I hadn't been captured, he would have ended up leaving fairly soon anyway."
"And his father?"
"Very firmly neutral—and I had that impression even before learning he's also Vierna's father, though that did add weight to the impression, to know he'd survived that city for so long—but fiercely devoted to his children."
"Mmm." Alustriel shifted to steal a kiss from Sharr, then rested her head on his shoulder. "And I think his children return that devotion, given how Vierna spoke of him."
"I have to agree with that," Sharr said. "Drizzt was very tense when he first appeared, but after what sounded like a brief argument—that I now think might have been over how Drizzt could help an adult faerie, after he'd killed a child—he relaxed and gave leadership to Zaknafein."
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Alustriel Silverhand, Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Zaknafein Do'Urden, Vierna Do'Urden
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Ensemble Cast, Soul Bond
Series: Part 20 of A Crossing of the Realms
Summary:
My brain dropped on me the idea of merging the fics "Dreaming of the Other" and "Prisoner of the Drow" and the fic series "Sisters in Spirit". This is the result.
Dream Bonds, Drow Raids, and Family Ties
While it wasn't unheard of for Korvallen to come to visit without warning, the agitation he was displaying was.
So rather than invite him to share her breakfast once Talira had let him into her rooms, Alustriel was more direct. "It's good to see you, Kor, but if you're looking for Sharr, he's up in the Moonwood right now, leading a patrol to investigate rumored sightings of drow."
That only seemed to increase his agitation, and when he spoke, she found out why.
"The rumors are true, because Sharr's been captured by drow."
Alustriel felt the blood drain from her face even as she made herself stand straighter. "Well then. His patrol wouldn't have been considered overdue for return until the morning after tomorrow, but given you must have found out through the dream-bond," and she paused just long enough for Kor to nod sharply before continuing, "then I will go talk to Taern immediately about sending a party to find the rest of the patrol.
"And I'll reach out to the family to start assembling a rescue party while I'm heading over to the Spell Tower."
Korvallen's agitation didn't ease completely, but his shoulders relaxed noticeably as he let out a small sigh.
"Thank you, Elué," he said.
Alustriel had not intended to sleep, not with Sharr in drow hands, but it seemed that her worry for him, helping with organizing the party to rescue him, and starting what was needed for seeing to the aftermath for the two elven villages that had also been destroyed by raids—including prevailing on Mena to go find out if it had been some of Spirit Sanctuary's residents who had been at the one that had clearly been disturbed by other people after the raid—was more tiring than she had expected, when it was piled on top of keeping up with her usual duties.
And so, two days after Sharr's patrol would have been considered overdue, with the rescue party having set off that morning, she found herself sinking into sleep, and then into dreams.
The first dream started out in the darkness she had expected, but before she had registered more than the sense of moving quickly, light flared, and she was able to see that her dream-bonded was engaged in a fight against drow.
He had killed two opponents—and done so so swiftly that despite her faint hopes, she knew this had to be her drow dream-bonded, not Sharr—when he suddenly lunged to one side, shoving someone else... out of the path of a magic missile, she saw, as he turned to face the wizard.
A huge panther moved between him and the wizard, snarling, but not attacking, and there was a stand-off that stretched out... until her dream-bonded threw a knife at the wizard.
The wizard ducked, and her dream-bonded vaulted over the cat, quickly ending the wizard, before retrieving something from the wizard's body.
Then the light faded away, and she could only sense careful steps, with her dream-bonded's hand on the shoulder of someone ahead of him.
But soon enough, they stopped, and blue faerie fire lit up a small cave, revealing that her dream-bonded had two other drow with him, one quite young—young enough to still have traces of baby fat, in fact—and one who was visibly mature.
The mature one's face was recognizable as one she had seen several times before, so she knew he must be from the same house as her dream-bonded, but the young one was entirely unfamiliar.
The young one appeared to be rather surprised by something when he looked at her dream-bonded, but he settled down fairly quickly to clean his own weapons.
After that, he cleaned her dream-bonded's weapon, and then, after a period of silence, said in Goblin—why was a drow using Goblin with another drow?—“Name Drizzt.
Her dream-bonded wrinkled his nose, and then she was utterly surprised. Because what he said—in Goblin, like the young drow had—was "Name Sharrevaliir. Small name Sharr."
The young drow—was he her drow dream-bonded, then?—grinned and pointed at Sharr, then spoke again. "Go up, send out. You leave. You live."
Sharr nodded, but looked between the young drow—Drizzt—and the older one. "You two live, after?"
Drizzt shrugged. "Try."
The older one growled a bit and added. "Will," in Goblin.
Drizzt looked at him, and then ducked his head, before nodding. "Will," he repeated.
And when Alustriel woke, she was certain that Drizzt was her drow dream-bonded.
Even though he knew it had to mean that Sharr had escaped, Korvallen was not entirely pleased by the dream he had had of his heart-brother in a small cave with two drow.
But before he had decided whether or not to say anything about it to the rest of the rescue party, Laeral, Dove, and his nephews all paused in their eating with the expression that indicated they were talking over Elué's anklets.
And when the expression cleared, Laeral said, in a quiet voice, "Alustriel says that her drow dream-bonded and one other drow are aiding Sharr in escaping."
Kor kept his sigh of annoyance entirely internal, hoping that if he stayed quiet, he would be ignored, but Thyl dashed that hope by turning to him.
"Can you tell us anything else, Uncle?"
Kor deliberately took another bite of his ration bar, but the patience with which the rest of the party waited out the chewing and swallowing was enough for him to relent and give some information.
"Him being Elué's drow dream-bonded explains why the young one did a double-take upon seeing Sharr's face under the light of faerie fire.
"His name is Drizzt, and they've given Sharr a sword."
With last night's dream through Kor's eyes placing the rescue party as having started down, Sharr knew he needed to tell Drizzt and Zaknafein that it was coming.
So after he accepted the food that the elder drow had given him, he quietly cleared his throat to get the attention of both of them.
And when they both turned to look at him, he said, in a low voice, "Kin party coming, to bring back to Surface."
That was not in any way anything Zak had expected to hear, but before he could say anything, Drizzt asked the question he would have. "How you know that?"
Sharr tilted his head in a thoughtful manner for a moment, then said, "Sleep, see through others' eyes."
Drizzt's eyes went wide at that, but Sharr wasn't done speaking. "Human mate gave party food, shelter, plans; heart-brother in kin party."
Drizzt's expression turned thoughtful at the first part of that, but before Zak could address his suspicions as to why, he needed more information. "Who coming, how many?" he asked.
"Sons, six." Sharr replied. "Mate's sisters, two. Heart-brother. Eilistraee cleric."
That last required Zak to exert iron control to not show his surprise at how easily Sharr spoke of one of the Dark Maiden's followers being in the rescue party, but he quickly stomped it down to focus on his son.
"Drizzt," he said, "have you been seeing through another's eyes in your dreams?" It was in Drow, which excluded Sharr, but he didn't want to have to take the time to wrestle with the concepts in Goblin, so that couldn't be helped.
Drizzt gave him a considering look, then nodded sharply.
Reverting back to Goblin, Zak asked, "Seen Sharr before, through other eyes?", remembering how surprised his son had been when Zak brought up his faerie fire and they first saw the elf's face in actual light.
"Yes."
Though he wasn't looking at Sharr, Zak could still sense the other man's double-take.
But he recovered quickly and asked, "Seen much or seen little?"
"Seen much," Drizzt replied.
"Know how other person look?"
"Hair silver, round eyes, female, think tall."
Sharr nodded as if he had expected that answer. "Alustriel. Human mate."
Zak narrowed his eyes at that, not liking the idea of Drizzt being dream-bonded to a human, nor that said human was a woman who already had a mate.
But this was also the second time Sharr had specified human mate, so he decided to ask the obvious question. "How many mates you have?"
"Human mate, elf mate, heart-brother mate," Sharr answered. And then he cut right to the heart of Zak's concerns. "Drizzt young. Drizzt control how things happen."
Zak wasn't entirely sure he believed that, but it was enough to settle his concerns for now. Drizzt, however, appeared to be bristling somewhat, and Zak wasn't sure why.
"Drizzt adult," his son said stubbornly.
Oh. Well, seeing how Sharr handled this would be interesting.
"Drizzt thirty, thirty-one, yes?" Sharr said.
"Thirty," Drizzt replied.
"Sharr and Alustriel youngest son almost fifty. Drizzt young."
And that seemed like an impossibility, from all Zak knew of humans, but they really needed to get moving, so he filed it as something to ask about later.
Remembering that the sigil she had seen in her dreams a few months ago had been identified by Vierna as being that of Vierna's own House, Alustriel had sent to Mena to inquire as to a good time for her to come and talk with Vierna.
Mena had sent back that an hour or so before dawn would be convenient, so Alustriel had taken the opportunity to sleep again before requesting a teleport visual from Mena.
And now, as she settled into a chair in Vierna's rooms, she was glad she had, because tonight's dreams had given her a name for the other drow with Sharr.
"So what is it that you wish to speak with me about?" Vierna asked, once she, Mena, and Alustriel were all seated.
"It appears that that my drow dream-bonded and one other drow—whom I recognize as a familiar face from my dreams—have freed Sharr and are aiding him in returning to the Surface."
Vierna's eyes widened in surprise at that news, but when she spoke, there was no trace of it in her voice. "I'd have expected such from your dream-bonded," she said, "but that another of the House is also helping has me... intrigued.
"Because the only member of it whom I would have even considered such a possibility for is the Weapon Master."
Alustriel nodded her understanding, then said, "Tonight's dream let me know that the drow who is not my dream-bonded is called Zaknafein."
"Then he is indeed the Weapon Master." Vierna took a moment to think things through, then continued. "Which leaves me suspecting that your dream-bonded may well be my full brother, as I have long believed the Weapon Master to be my father, and I simply cannot see him caring enough to help with such an escape unless the instigator was his son."
Chewing on her lip as she weighed matters, Vierna decided to go ahead and see if the other connection she now suspected did, in fact, exist.
"Have you seen what color your dream-bonded's eyes are?" she asked.
Alustriel blinked in surprise at the question, but answered it readily. "They're purple. Why do you ask?"
"The younger of the two survivors we found clearly had her survival deliberately hidden," Vierna began, "because although she was found completely covered in blood, her only actual injuries were a bruise and a scratch."
"And purple eyes feature strongly in her nightmares," Mena said, picking up the explanation. "So we think that whoever it was that hid her survival must have had such."
"I see." Alustriel hummed thoughtfully for a moment, then continued. "Then it might be best for us to give some consideration now to how to handle the first meeting between her and Drizzt.
"Given that I'm rather certain he's going to join the rescue party for the return to the Surface, but it would not be a good idea for any drow to openly come to Silverymoon until the outrage over the raids has cooled somewhat."
Laeral was in the lead currently, though Dove was not too far from her.
They came around a bend in the corridor, and Dove suddenly reached for her arm, making her stop.
A faint sound, ahead, not behind, repeated itself, and Laeral cast arcane eye to go in that direction.
She used it to go as far as it could, determining only the expected trio were in close vicinity, then conveyed the information and her plan via the sending anklets, knowing the boys would see her words relayed to the cleric and Kor via a regular sending.
And once she had a nod from Kor to indicate that he had been told, she gently scraped her foot across the floor of the tunnel.
Sharr and both drow startled at the sound, then after a brief discussion, the younger drow pulled something out of a pouch, set it down on the floor, and spoke a single word.
Dark mist gathered around whatever it was that the drow had set down, and then it coalesced into a panther twice the normal size.
The drow scooped up the figure—for that had to be what it was, despite the oddity of how it worked—and said something to the panther, after which it started moving in their direction.
~Summoned panther coming to investigate,~ Laeral warned via the anklets.
And then the panther rounded the slight curve that separated their party from Sharr's, and gave a quiet, but pleased sounding, mrowl.
Continuing forward, it came right up to her and butted its head up against her hand in a clear plea for scratches.
Laeral duly gave some, and then it flowed past her to beg the same from Dove.
Dove kept up the scratching for longer, but by her closed eyes and the expression on her face, she was using the time to communicate with it.
Eventually, Dove opened her eyes again, and the panther sat back on its haunches, then gave a quiet 'yip'.
"She's of astral origin," Dove said in a low voice, "and recognizes the two of us for what we are.
"She's also quite emphatic that her drow is a cub to be protected."
Andy's quiet "Her drow?" overlapped with Kor's strangled "Cub?!", but before either of their questions could be addressed, faint blue and purple light was visible around the curve, drawing everyone's attention, and then Sharr and the drow came around the curve.
Sharr was walking beside the rather young looking one, with the older one a few steps behind them, and both drow had faerie fire limning their hands, which they were holding out in front of them at about mid-chest level.
Upon actually seeing the rescue party, Sharr picked up his pace a bit, to actually get ahead of Drizzt, after pressing his hand down on the young drow's arm as a signal to not match his pace.
And just a few steps later, Kor did exactly what he had been expecting, and rushed over to embrace him tightly.
"Sharr," his heart-brother breathed, and Sharr returned the hug just as fiercely, feeling the same relief that that single word expressed.
"I'm here, Kor," he said. "I'm safely back with you."
Drizzt had not been sure why Sharr had indicated he should not pick up his own pace, but when the faerie rushed over to Sharr and embraced him, Drizzt realized that Sharr must have been expecting such, and had wanted to ensure Drizzt was far enough away to avoid reacting on instinct.
Turning his attention away from Sharr and the faerie that had to be Sharr's "heart-brother", Drizzt looked over the rest of the rescue party with an assessing eye.
The two tall women with pale hair had to be the "mate's sisters" Sharr had mentioned. One was in armor, with a sword on her belt and her hair in a braid—showing the rounded ears that marked her as a human—while the other was in wizard's robes, with her hair mostly loose.
The six faerie just as tall and pale-haired as the women had to be Sharr's sons, and Drizzt was intrigued to see that though all of them wore modified wizard's robes, they all also bore swords.
And their blunted eyes and ears had to be a sign that their mother was Sharr's human mate.
Finally, at the very back of the group, there was... another drow? A brief flash of confused fear went through him before he noticed the moons and swords worked into the robes the drow wore, and he remembered the explanation Zak had given about the drow who followed Lloth's goodly daughter.
And as further reassurance, he noted that the other drow was male, which Lloth would never allow any of Her clerics to be.
Bringing his attention back to the women, Drizzt caught theirs, and then, using the lessons Sharr had been giving him and Zak when they stopped to rest, said in careful Surface Common, "Name is Drizzt Do'Urden. Not speak much Common. Goblin is better."
Using Goblin, the one with the braid said, "Well met, Drizzt Do'Urden."
Then she repeated the greeting in Surface Common, and continued in the same language. " 'My' name is Dove Silverhand."
The very first word wasn't one that Sharr had taught them yet, but based on the firm tap Dove gave her chest as she said it, Drizzt thought it was a possessive.
"My name is Drizzt Do'Urden," he said, to test his guess.
"Yes." Dove was very pleased that Drizzt had correctly picked up the meaning of 'my', and decided to see how much more he could get from simple conversation.
So she pointed to Laeral, and said, "My sister is Laeral Silverhand."
Drizzt repeated 'sister' with a faint frown, then brightened and said the Goblin word for it.
"Yes," Dove said, smiling brightly.
Zaknafein had hung back a bit as Drizzt began speaking with the women, wanting to keep an eye on Sharr and the other faerie, but when the two of them broke their embrace and stepped back towards the rest of the rescue party, Zak moved forward as well.
"My name is Zaknafein Do'Urden," he said, once he was even with Drizzt.
Surprisingly, one of the tall faerie jerked on hearing his name, and although said faerie waved off the quiet question one of the others asked him, Zak noted the reaction as something to follow up on later.
After he finished his portion of food that night, Zak caught the attention of the tall faerie who had been introduced as "Thyl", then tilted his head towards the edge of the camp while mouthing "Talk?" in Goblin.
Thyl nodded in reply, and when he started to move towards an out of the way pocket in the walls of the cave their party had found to camp in, Zak did the same.
Soon enough, they were settled in the niche, and Zak spoke, in Surface Common. "Why you-" and he mimed the way Thyl had startled when Zak had introduced himself, "-at my name?"
"Spell for better Surface words?" Thyl replied—surprisingly enough, in Undercommon. "Not speak much of this; Drow and Goblin bad for this talk."
Zak thought things over for a moment, then nodded sharply.
And once Thyl had cast the spell, he got straight to the point. "I was surprised by your name because I had heard of you before all of this."
That was surprising to Zak, but he controlled his expression well enough to not betray it. "Oh?"
Thyl sighed and ran a hand over his hair before speaking again. "There are two permanent settlements of Eilistraeeans on the Surface.
"And the First Sister—the leader—of the nearer of them is named Vierna Do'Urden."
Zak couldn't help the shocked "What?!" that escaped him as joy warred with suspicion, but he at least managed to still keep it quiet enough to not carry.
"She knew the temple in your city would be a death sentence for her, so she left." Thyl gave a soft smile. "She eventually led a small band to the surface, and Spirit Sanctuary has been a home for drow, and others, ever since."
Having been forewarned of the impending arrivals, Vierna was on hand with Mena to meet Thyl when he teleported in with Zav'ren.
"It's good to see you both again," she said, once she could see them clearly. "Is there anything you feel I should know before Sharr's rescuers arrive?"
"The younger of them is only thirty," Rafi's son said, "for all that the Lolthites have counted him as an adult for most of a year."
Well then. Telling that to Ellifain would undoubtedly help in dealing with her trauma from the raid, once they got that far.
"Drizzt is also your full brother," Thyl said. "And Zaknafein has been told that you are the leader here, though it's clear that he doesn't fully believe it yet."
"I'd be surprised if he did," Vierna replied, remembering how cautious the Weapon Master had been when she was learning from him.
Then she nodded at Thyl, and a moment later, Lin arrived with her father and brother.
Stepping forward as soon as the teleport shimmer had faded, she said, "Zaknafein, Drizzt, welcome to Spirit Sanctuary."
And when she saw the two of them clearly, she was glad for the warning about Drizzt's youth, since it let her conceal her surprise on seeing that he still had traces of baby fat on his face.
But then her attention was drawn away from him when Zaknafein stepped towards her.
"You… you can't be anyone but my student," he said softly. "Daughter."
She smiled, eyes glistening a little at that immediate claim. "Father. My teacher." She offered her hands, and he took them, squeezing gently.
Drizzt had been just half a step behind Zak, so when her father released her hands, she turned to him. "And I am pleased to meet you, little brother.
"You did very well in managing to hide the child's survival, and she will have all the help she needs to recover from her experiences."
Drizzt's eyes widened significantly, and he gaped at her for a moment before stammering "You... you know about that?"
"I do," Vierna replied. "Those moon elves were followers of my Lady Eilistraee, and She asked for whatever aid we could manage.
"So the child was found quickly, and she and the one other survivor are being cared for by the dwarves that live here."
A tension that she had not truly noticed before lifted from Drizzt as she spoke, and when she finished, she found herself having to quickly reach out to support him as he wavered on his feet and tears started leaking from his eyes.
Carefully, she pulled him into a hug, and began rubbing her hand up and down his back as she would to comfort an overwhelmed child.
"Shh, shh," she soothed. "Everything's okay. She's safe and you're safe and everything is going to be okay."
For all that she and Sharr were comfortably curled up together in her bed, Alustriel found herself unable to fully set aside her thoughts.
So with a purely internal sigh, she shifted to where she could see Sharr's face, and said, "What were your impressions of my other dream-bonded, love?"
"He's good," Sharr replied, without even having to think about it. "To a rather startling degree for someone who managed to survive a full thirty years in Menzoberranzan."
Turning to better face her, he added, "And given what you've told me about the child he saved, I think that even if I hadn't been captured, he would have ended up leaving fairly soon anyway."
"And his father?"
"Very firmly neutral—and I had that impression even before learning he's also Vierna's father, though that did add weight to the impression, to know he'd survived that city for so long—but fiercely devoted to his children."
"Mmm." Alustriel shifted to steal a kiss from Sharr, then rested her head on his shoulder. "And I think his children return that devotion, given how Vierna spoke of him."
"I have to agree with that," Sharr said. "Drizzt was very tense when he first appeared, but after what sounded like a brief argument—that I now think might have been over how Drizzt could help an adult faerie, after he'd killed a child—he relaxed and gave leadership to Zaknafein."
Tags:
- au: canon divergence,
- au: soul bonds,
- author: somariel,
- category: gen,
- character: alustriel silverhand,
- character: drizzt do'urden,
- character: ensemble cast,
- character: korvallen senahye,
- character: sharrevaliir,
- character: vierna do'urden,
- character: zaknafein do'urden,
- freeform: polyamory,
- pairing: alustriel/drizzt,
- pairing: alustriel/sharrevaliir,
- rating: teen and up audiences,
- series: a crossing of the realms,
- warning: no warnings apply
Justice is Served
May. 28th, 2024 04:27 amsomarielJustice is Served (1523 words) by Somariel
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Alustriel Silverhand, Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s)
Additional Tags: Ensemble Cast, Canon Typical Violence, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary:
Though Alustriel had received the first report of a man asking about "the drow" later in the same day as Drizzt and Sharr's warning about Sharr having tempted fate, it was not until the next day, when she received three more reports about the man before her midday break—none of them positive—that she realized his seeking Drizzt was most likely the 'something interesting' she had been warned of.
The fourth report had been sent by an off-duty member of the Silver Watch, and it was in reviewing the description of the man that had been included that she realized why she felt that was true.
And after consulting with Dove to confirm the suspicions that the description had raised in her, she sent the current page on duty off to request that Drizzt, Sharr, and Kor all meet her in her rooms once her afternoon appointments were over.
Of all the reasons Drizzt had considered for why Alustriel wished a private meeting with him, Sharr, and Kor, McGristle having come to Silverymoon in search of him was not one of them.
However, that was exactly what she had just told them, if in rather more words.
But though he was somewhat paralyzed by conflicting emotions, Sharr and Kor were not.
And after a quick glance between them, Sharr cut straight to the reason Alustriel had asked for him and Kor to attend the meeting.
"You want our advice on what can be done to keep Drizzt safe while McGristle is in the city," he said. "Given that the man hasn't yet done anything that would justify kicking him out."
"Yes."
"Well, the obvious first step is to issue an advisory about the man and his grudge to the Knights, the Spellguard, and the Silver Watch," Kor said. "And it would likely be wise to include the Mielikkians as well."
Drizzt made a face at that idea, but he couldn't really argue with the sense of it, no matter how much he didn't want to bother others with his problems.
However, when Sharr then suggested setting a guard roster for him personally, he put his foot down.
"No. Making sure others are aware of McGristle's presence and the likelihood of him causing trouble is one thing, but I'm not going have anyone follow me around just because of that."
Sharr sighed. He'd known that Drizzt wouldn't like the idea, but had hoped he might be talked around to it.
But the ranger's tone was uncompromising enough that it was clear he would not accept any guard, no matter how discreet.
"Then what's your plan for the swift arrival of aid if it's needed?" he asked.
"Courage," Drizzt said. "If he stays at the Harper Hall, he can reach me anywhere in the city quite fast."
Alustriel exchanged looks with both Sharr and Kor, then sighed.
"That does sound like a reasonable plan," she agreed. "But please promise us that you'll call for him at the first sign of trouble, not wait until it's clear you need help."
Drizzt looked mulish for a moment, before Sharr spoke again. "If you tell him that you only want him to intervene if you actually need help, he'll listen.
"Though he may well use his own judgment on if you do, rather that wait for a signal from you."
Drizzt considered that for a moment—he knew he was reluctant to actually hurt McGristle, so it might well be better for him to rely on Courage's assessment of the situation—then nodded.
"That works. Especially since I'm sure I can convince him to be non-lethal if I tell him I want McGristle to face two-leg justice."
Though notes reporting that McGristle had asked the sender about "the drow" continued to arrive, it was not until the fourth day after the meeting that any of them mentioned having actually given him a useful answer.
That note had been somewhat apologetic, saying that while the sender would have preferred to rebuff McGristle, the fact that he had actually asked about "the drow ranger" instead of "the drow" made them feel that he should be encouraged in that change with a bit of information.
And since the note then went on to say that what the sender had told McGristle was that Drizzt often passed through the Market Commons in the early afternoon, on his way from the Palace to the Moonbridge, Alustriel gave orders for a discreet increase in the Silver Watch presence in the southern part of the Market Commons.
Two days later
Drizzt was perhaps two-thirds of the way across the Market Commons when he knew he was being watched by unfriendly eyes.
Being careful to not show that he was aware of the watcher, he continued walking, seemingly ignoring the sounds of someone moving through the crowd behind him with little consideration for others.
It wasn't long, however, before his hackles went up, and even as shouts of warning sounded over a snapped command in McGristle's voice, he was moving to the side, turning as he did so.
When he stopped, he was a few feet from where he had started, and looking back in the direction he had been coming from.
McGristle's dog was rushing towards him, the bounty hunter close behind, so he gave his call for Courage even as he drew his blades, and as soon as the dog was close enough, he stunned it with a hilt punch behind its ears.
That produced a roar of outrage from McGristle, and then Drizzt found himself having to fend off the man's axe with his blades.
Even fighting purely defensively, Drizzt was very clearly better than McGristle, but the man was being erratic enough in his movements that he was not certain of his ability to stun him without inflicting any other injury.
Then an equine scream of fury sounded from above, immediately followed by Courage striking McGristle's right forearm from a dive.
The crack of bones breaking under the strike overlapped with McGristle's howl of pain, and his right hand dropped from the axe haft, the forearm looking almost floppy as the arm fell to the bounty hunter's side.
Then, seeing an opportunity in McGristle's distraction with the pain, Drizzt caught the axe between his scimitars and pulled it out of the man's hand.
And even as he dropped it to the ground and kicked it behind him, the Silver Watch arrived to arrest McGristle.
Given Dove's involvement with chasing Drizzt after the murder of the farming family, she had come up to Silverymoon after McGristle's arrest, to assist with forming a strategy for laying out the unjust nature of McGristle's continued pursuit of Drizzt.
And it was as she, Alustriel, Sharr, and Drizzt were discussing that, that Drizzt brought up a new angle to be considered.
"Though this is the first time since the chase ended that McGristle has personally attempted to kill me," he said, "it may not be the only time he has sought to kill me."
"Oh?" Dove was quite curious about what Drizzt might be referring to.
"After Montolio took me in, the orc Graul launched an attack on his grove later that spring.
"And my gut feeling is that McGristle was involved in the attack, especially since even though Montolio misdirected him when he came to the grove in search of me, the dog knew I was there."
Dove hummed thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded her head. "Then I suppose I should get in touch with Kellindil, as I know that he stayed behind after the rest of us left, to keep an eye on you with the aid of his kin."
"That does sound like a good idea," Alustriel agreed.
When Dove's attempt to send to Kellindil had failed in a way that told her he was dead, she had then gone to the clerics of the Seldarine to ask for their assistance in contacting his spirit.
And since doing so had revealed that McGristle was who had killed him, charges for both raiding and murder were added to the ones for assault and attempted murder that the bounty hunter was already facing over his attack on Drizzt.
Figuring out who should preside over the trial was not easy, but eventually, it was agreed that Besnell was the best choice for impartiality, and the elf somewhat reluctantly agreed to the request.
On the day of the trial, the court was completely packed, and as the evidence was laid out for the charges from the attack on Drizzt, the feeling of the room grew tense.
But although a disturbance at some point had been both expected and prepared for, given how well liked Drizzt was in the city, it wasn't until the prosecution turned to the charges of raiding and murder that the tension broke with a cacophony of incredulous and angry shouting.
Once order was restored, the trial resumed, and the methodical presentation of the evidence continued.
And eventually, McGristle was judged guilty on all counts, then remanded into the keeping of the clerics of the Seldarine, who had claimed the right of execution.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Alustriel Silverhand, Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s)
Additional Tags: Ensemble Cast, Canon Typical Violence, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary:
Drizzt's actions in saving Alustriel's son from Shimmergloom cause word of Silverymoon's drow ranger to spread far enough that a certain vengeful bounty hunter hears of his location.
The results are entirely predictable... for everyone except McGristle.
A continuation of Merfilly's fic Soul Trap Undone.
Justice is Served
Though Alustriel had received the first report of a man asking about "the drow" later in the same day as Drizzt and Sharr's warning about Sharr having tempted fate, it was not until the next day, when she received three more reports about the man before her midday break—none of them positive—that she realized his seeking Drizzt was most likely the 'something interesting' she had been warned of.
The fourth report had been sent by an off-duty member of the Silver Watch, and it was in reviewing the description of the man that had been included that she realized why she felt that was true.
And after consulting with Dove to confirm the suspicions that the description had raised in her, she sent the current page on duty off to request that Drizzt, Sharr, and Kor all meet her in her rooms once her afternoon appointments were over.
Of all the reasons Drizzt had considered for why Alustriel wished a private meeting with him, Sharr, and Kor, McGristle having come to Silverymoon in search of him was not one of them.
However, that was exactly what she had just told them, if in rather more words.
But though he was somewhat paralyzed by conflicting emotions, Sharr and Kor were not.
And after a quick glance between them, Sharr cut straight to the reason Alustriel had asked for him and Kor to attend the meeting.
"You want our advice on what can be done to keep Drizzt safe while McGristle is in the city," he said. "Given that the man hasn't yet done anything that would justify kicking him out."
"Yes."
"Well, the obvious first step is to issue an advisory about the man and his grudge to the Knights, the Spellguard, and the Silver Watch," Kor said. "And it would likely be wise to include the Mielikkians as well."
Drizzt made a face at that idea, but he couldn't really argue with the sense of it, no matter how much he didn't want to bother others with his problems.
However, when Sharr then suggested setting a guard roster for him personally, he put his foot down.
"No. Making sure others are aware of McGristle's presence and the likelihood of him causing trouble is one thing, but I'm not going have anyone follow me around just because of that."
Sharr sighed. He'd known that Drizzt wouldn't like the idea, but had hoped he might be talked around to it.
But the ranger's tone was uncompromising enough that it was clear he would not accept any guard, no matter how discreet.
"Then what's your plan for the swift arrival of aid if it's needed?" he asked.
"Courage," Drizzt said. "If he stays at the Harper Hall, he can reach me anywhere in the city quite fast."
Alustriel exchanged looks with both Sharr and Kor, then sighed.
"That does sound like a reasonable plan," she agreed. "But please promise us that you'll call for him at the first sign of trouble, not wait until it's clear you need help."
Drizzt looked mulish for a moment, before Sharr spoke again. "If you tell him that you only want him to intervene if you actually need help, he'll listen.
"Though he may well use his own judgment on if you do, rather that wait for a signal from you."
Drizzt considered that for a moment—he knew he was reluctant to actually hurt McGristle, so it might well be better for him to rely on Courage's assessment of the situation—then nodded.
"That works. Especially since I'm sure I can convince him to be non-lethal if I tell him I want McGristle to face two-leg justice."
Though notes reporting that McGristle had asked the sender about "the drow" continued to arrive, it was not until the fourth day after the meeting that any of them mentioned having actually given him a useful answer.
That note had been somewhat apologetic, saying that while the sender would have preferred to rebuff McGristle, the fact that he had actually asked about "the drow ranger" instead of "the drow" made them feel that he should be encouraged in that change with a bit of information.
And since the note then went on to say that what the sender had told McGristle was that Drizzt often passed through the Market Commons in the early afternoon, on his way from the Palace to the Moonbridge, Alustriel gave orders for a discreet increase in the Silver Watch presence in the southern part of the Market Commons.
Two days later
Drizzt was perhaps two-thirds of the way across the Market Commons when he knew he was being watched by unfriendly eyes.
Being careful to not show that he was aware of the watcher, he continued walking, seemingly ignoring the sounds of someone moving through the crowd behind him with little consideration for others.
It wasn't long, however, before his hackles went up, and even as shouts of warning sounded over a snapped command in McGristle's voice, he was moving to the side, turning as he did so.
When he stopped, he was a few feet from where he had started, and looking back in the direction he had been coming from.
McGristle's dog was rushing towards him, the bounty hunter close behind, so he gave his call for Courage even as he drew his blades, and as soon as the dog was close enough, he stunned it with a hilt punch behind its ears.
That produced a roar of outrage from McGristle, and then Drizzt found himself having to fend off the man's axe with his blades.
Even fighting purely defensively, Drizzt was very clearly better than McGristle, but the man was being erratic enough in his movements that he was not certain of his ability to stun him without inflicting any other injury.
Then an equine scream of fury sounded from above, immediately followed by Courage striking McGristle's right forearm from a dive.
The crack of bones breaking under the strike overlapped with McGristle's howl of pain, and his right hand dropped from the axe haft, the forearm looking almost floppy as the arm fell to the bounty hunter's side.
Then, seeing an opportunity in McGristle's distraction with the pain, Drizzt caught the axe between his scimitars and pulled it out of the man's hand.
And even as he dropped it to the ground and kicked it behind him, the Silver Watch arrived to arrest McGristle.
Given Dove's involvement with chasing Drizzt after the murder of the farming family, she had come up to Silverymoon after McGristle's arrest, to assist with forming a strategy for laying out the unjust nature of McGristle's continued pursuit of Drizzt.
And it was as she, Alustriel, Sharr, and Drizzt were discussing that, that Drizzt brought up a new angle to be considered.
"Though this is the first time since the chase ended that McGristle has personally attempted to kill me," he said, "it may not be the only time he has sought to kill me."
"Oh?" Dove was quite curious about what Drizzt might be referring to.
"After Montolio took me in, the orc Graul launched an attack on his grove later that spring.
"And my gut feeling is that McGristle was involved in the attack, especially since even though Montolio misdirected him when he came to the grove in search of me, the dog knew I was there."
Dove hummed thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded her head. "Then I suppose I should get in touch with Kellindil, as I know that he stayed behind after the rest of us left, to keep an eye on you with the aid of his kin."
"That does sound like a good idea," Alustriel agreed.
When Dove's attempt to send to Kellindil had failed in a way that told her he was dead, she had then gone to the clerics of the Seldarine to ask for their assistance in contacting his spirit.
And since doing so had revealed that McGristle was who had killed him, charges for both raiding and murder were added to the ones for assault and attempted murder that the bounty hunter was already facing over his attack on Drizzt.
Figuring out who should preside over the trial was not easy, but eventually, it was agreed that Besnell was the best choice for impartiality, and the elf somewhat reluctantly agreed to the request.
On the day of the trial, the court was completely packed, and as the evidence was laid out for the charges from the attack on Drizzt, the feeling of the room grew tense.
But although a disturbance at some point had been both expected and prepared for, given how well liked Drizzt was in the city, it wasn't until the prosecution turned to the charges of raiding and murder that the tension broke with a cacophony of incredulous and angry shouting.
Once order was restored, the trial resumed, and the methodical presentation of the evidence continued.
And eventually, McGristle was judged guilty on all counts, then remanded into the keeping of the clerics of the Seldarine, who had claimed the right of execution.
Tags:
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May. 26th, 2024 02:58 amsomarielIf He Was Alive… (69631 words) by Somariel
Chapters: 48/?
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series – R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Teen and Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Alustriel Silverhand/Original Character(s)
Characters: Alustriel Silverhand, Original Elf Character(s), Inthylyn Aerasumé, Lilinthar Aerasumé, Drizzt Do’Urden, Ghaelryss Aerasumé, Uoundeld Aerasumé, Andelver Aerasumé, Elinthalar Aerasumé, Ellifain Tuuserail, Dove Falconhand
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, tags updated as I write things, Ensemble Cast, Implied/Referenced Human Sacrifice, Trauma, Recovery, Alternate Universe - Fusion, the Fusion tag only applies to certain chapters, Implied/Referenced Unplanned Pregnancy, that tag only applies to the Zanna‘Verse
(Post tags are specific to this chapter)
Summary:
Inspired by "Aiding Love to Grow" and various other Legend of Drizzt AUs written by Merfilly (AO3)|Sharpest_Asp (SqWA), with or without Ilyena_Sylph, scenes and snippets from universes where the father of Alustriel's sons is alive in those AUs.
senmut fleshed out the elf father of Alustriel's sons. Aiding Love to Grow is the AU of an AU that inspired me to start playing with other AUs of AUs.
A few weeks after the spring equinox, Sharr received some surprising—and mildly concerning—news from Alustriel.
~Given the locations, it didn't seem necessary to tell you without more information,~ she began, as they were talking over the anklets after she had turned in for the night, ~but two weeks ago, Besnell received reports of a drow having openly approached both Rivermoot and High Hold by day.~
~But now it does seem necessary?~ Sharr asked. Then he switched to his own sending. ~Or is it that you now have more information?~
~A bit of both, actually,~ Alustriel said. ~Besnell sent a patrol to investigate, with Kolarven as lead and Niska for the Spellguard, and they returned today.
~But despite having swept all the way to the Surbrin and arced wide to return, they found no sign of the drow.~
~Absolutely nothing at all?~ Sharr said. ~That seems... odd.~
~Maybe so,~ Alustriel replied, ~but Niska could scry nothing, and the trail from High Hold was too old to follow by the time the patrol found it.
~So Besnell is increasing patrols to the north and west as a precaution.~
Sharr hadn't truly forgotten about the drow that had approached Rivermoot and High Hold, but with no further word of them, even with Silverymoon's increased patrols, he had set the matter aside as a curiosity.
So the following spring, he was actually rather surprised when Alustriel told him ~I now know what happened to the drow from last year.~
~Oh?~ Sharr said, starting a new sending so she could reply sooner.
~It seems he managed to make his way to Herald's Holdfast.
~As Old Night has informed me that the drow he has been hosting and teaching for the past year is on his way to speak with me.~
~He didn't say anything more than that?~ Sharr asked.
~No, he didn't,~ Alustriel replied, after the wait needed for her anklet to recharge. ~Which does suggest that whatever this Drizzt Do'Urden wishes to speak with me about could affect realm matters.~
~True,~ Sharr agreed. ~It'd be amusing if he found Mithral Hall.
~Given that his trajectory does suggest that he came from the Frost Hills.~
~Yes it would,~ Alustriel agreed. ~And we'll know soon enough, given how close Herald's Holdfast is to Silverymoon.
~Especially since I've sent word to my secretaries to fit him into my schedule as soon as possible after he arrives.~
The following night, Alustriel's tone was very amused when she sent to Sharr. ~It seems that you were correct in your guess as to why Drizzt Do'Urden wished to speak with me.~
~Wait, what?!~ Sharr yelped. ~Really? I was only jesting, because of the direction he came from!~
~Really truly,~ Alustriel replied. ~It seem that the deep gnomes who gave him a map to lead him out of the Underdark were trading partners with Mithral Hall.
~As he came out near Settlestone, and had been given specific warning about danger down a different tunnel than that one.~
~Which he then chose to explore anyway?~ Sharr said, amusement in his tone.
~Yes,~ Alustriel said. ~Though only after the onset of winter had driven him back underground.
~But beyond simply desiring to see the rightful heirs returned to their Hall, the reason he came to speak with me is because of the grave danger he discovered while scouting the Hall's undercity.~
~How bad is it?~ Sharr asked, starting a new sending for a faster answer.
~The duergar and their slaves would pose little problem for a dwarven army,~ Alustriel said, ~but there are also two shadow hounds that serve some creature of the Shadowfell—called Shimmergloom—that is worshipped as a god.~
~That is very much a reason for concern,~ Sharr agreed. ~But dealing with this "Shimmergloom" will surely require knowledge of what it actually is.~
~Which is why Drizzt has agreed to do a second scouting of the Hall,~ Alustriel replied.
There was an affectionate lilt to her voice on the drow's name, and Sharr couldn't help but smile. ~You're attracted to him.~
~Yes. And I'm very pleased that Old Night took steps to encourage him in informality with me by priming him with a tease about my library.~
~Tell me about him, then?~ And as Alustriel started to do so, Sharr settled in to listen.
Given that Alustriel was attracted to Drizzt, Sharr likely would have gone up to Silverymoon to meet him just on general principle, once she mentioned that she had convinced the drow to delay his departure at least long enough to acquaint himself with the city and explore the truth of Old Night's impression that he was ranger-born.
But given that Drizzt was a drow, Sharr felt it was even more important to meet him—for Korvallen's peace of mind, if nothing else—especially after the mystery of Eilistraee not knowing of him was discovered.
And as he got to know the wild-called ranger—because Old Night had been correct, and Drizzt had been literally enraptured the first time he visited Mielikki's Sacred Glade—Sharr realized that Drizzt seemed to reciprocate Alustriel's growing interest.
So he started to work on subtly encouraging the other man to at least broach the idea of his attraction with her.
And while Drizzt had not done so by the time he departed to do the second scouting of the Hall, Sharr could tell that he was giving the idea some serious consideration.
It was nearing autumn when Alustriel reached out to Sharr with the news that Drizzt was back in Silverymoon.
~Niska's patrol brought him in yesterday,~ she said, ~though it will be some time before he's actually ready to report on what he found.~
~Oh?~ Sharr said. ~Due to injuries, or is it something else?~
~Not physical injuries,~ Alustriel said, ~but he was considerably weakened when they found him, and looked grey.
~And the note from the Ladyservant after he was taken to the Glade said that he had suffered grave damage from shades, and will be staying in the Glade until they are certain he's recovered.~
~Mmm. I suppose that's not entirely surprising, given that we already knew the true threat is of Shadowfell origin.
~But it doesn't bode well that he was unable to avoid such damage.~
~No it doesn't,~Alustriel agreed. ~But he did seem to be recovering well when I visited him this evening.~
~I'm glad to hear that,~ Sharr said. ~Though I had the impression that he is not accustomed to being idle, so it does make me wonder what they found for him to occupy himself with.~
~He was reading a large tome by the light of an enchanted stone when I arrived.
~And on another note, he pledged himself to my service so easily that I couldn't help wondering if it's something inherent in elven blood that results in either rapid decisions or centuries of deliberation, with no middle ground between them.~
Sharr had to laugh at that. ~Or maybe it's something about you that causes those of us who hold you in high esteem to be able to make decisions so swiftly.~
He had to wait for her anklet to recharge before she responded, but when she did, he could tell from her tone that she was blushing.
~You really think so?~
~I do.~
It was several more days before Alustriel reported that Drizzt had returned to his rooms in the Palace, and the day after that was when Drizzt finally made his report on the second scouting.
~The true threat inside the Hall is an ancient Shadow Dragon,~ Alustriel told Sharr that evening.
Sharr let out a low whistle at that news, then sighed. ~Well, that would certainly explain why the shades were so thick Drizzt couldn't avoid them.
~What's the current plan for next steps?~
~The dwarven leaders I invited to the meeting are going to conduct a discreet search of the bloodlines of the survivors to see if they can find a proper heir,~ Alustriel replied. ~And I sincerely hope they can.
~Especially since Drizzt has volunteered to lead a small party in through his access when the time comes to actually reclaim the Hall.~
~Having a proper heir to speak to the death curse that would have been laid would definitely be safer than having to rely on clerics for protection from it,~ Sharr agreed. ~On another note, how are things going between you and Drizzt?~
~They're going very well.~ Alustriel's voice was almost purring with pleasure, and her next words explained why. ~I spoke with him privately after the meeting, and he confessed his feelings to me!
~We are, however, going to move slowly in seeing if a relationship between us will actually work out.~
~I am so happy for you, my heart's star,~ Sharr said. ~And yes, going slowly is a good idea.~
When Sharr had gone up to Silverymoon for a couple weeks right after Drizzt's confession, one thing Alustriel had spent some time talking over with him was how to manage her friendship with Niska in light of the fact that the other elf's past experiences with drow had her rather tangled up emotionally over Drizzt's presence, and Alustriel's growing closeness to him.
So when Alustriel reached out to him, shortly after the winter solstice, with the news that Niska seemed to have finally reached an acceptance of Drizzt, he was relieved.
~So what brought her change of heart about,~ Sharr asked, after expressing his relief, ~and how did she show it?~
~The change of heart seems to have been the result of both her and Drizzt having been among those who volunteered to go deal with a threat to one of the outlying farmsteads,~ Alustriel said.
~Specifically, that it was Drizzt's tactics that Kolarven chose to use to face a full tribe of goblinoids, and that he and Guen accounted for a third of the goblinoids—an entire company's worth—all on their own.~
~Ah,~ Sharr said. ~So she got shaken out of her prejudices, then.~
There was a pause for Alustriel's anklet to recharge, and then she replied. ~Yes. As for how she showed her change of heart, a few days after the force returned, she approached Drizzt to ask if he'd help her develop a true lexicon for Drow in exchange for her teaching him Sylvan.~
~Oh, that's a very good peace overture,~ Sharr said. ~Do you think she'd mind if I joined their work?
~Though I'll be coming regardless, since Drizzt and Guen having dealt with a company all by themselves is exactly the sort of thing I've been looking for to convince Kor to agree to a spar with him.~
~I'll ask her,~ Alustriel replied. ~And if Kor doesn't agree to spar Drizzt after hearing that, I'll be very surprised.~
Shortly after mid-spring, Alustriel had informed Sharr that Drizzt was heading up to Luskan to follow the trail of trade goods in Mirabar bearing the Battlehammer crest, but it was not until winter was in full swing that he heard anything further about that quest.
~Given that Drizzt has not returned, I decided to ask Qilué if there was reason to be concerned for him,~ Alustriel said.
~And was—or is—there reason?~ Sharr asked. ~Though, you don't actually sound concerned, so I'm guessing not.~
~Correct. He is alive in the far north, helping a dwarven clan.
~So I have informed Fret that it is likely that Drizzt actually found more Battlehammers.~
While Alustriel's amusement over his knee-jerk reaction to hearing that the Battlehammer chieftain's daughter had straight-up called Drizzt an elf had been mildly annoying, Sharr had not at all been expecting an apology for it. And yet, a few weeks later, that was the very first thing she sent during their conversation after her return from the evening's festivities.
~I find I must apologize for laughing at your spluttering over the idea of Drizzt being outright called an elf,~ she said. ~Because even with Nae having told me that the man's daughter had done so, it was startling to hear Bruenor Battlehammer do so when he and Drizzt met with me today.~
~I can't really blame you for laughing,~ Sharr said, knowing that if their situations had been reversed, he likely would have dome the same, ~but your apology is accepted.
~And I am glad that... Bruenor, you said?... is so clearly able to look past Drizzt's skin.~
~Bruenor, yes,~ Alustriel replied. ~And it was very clear, just from their body language, that he has developed a genuine friendship with Drizzt, even if his words hadn't displayed it later.
~Which I am very grateful for, as it undoubtedly helped smooth things when Drizzt suggested—and offered to mediate—a compromise on my hiring wizards to him for reclaiming the Hall.~
~Well, dwarven pride was always going to be the stumbling block there,~ Sharr said, ~so I'm pleased Drizzt had a mutually acceptable solution for it.
~But how did the rest of the meeting go?~
And as Alustriel started explaining what she'd discussed with Bruenor, Sharr settled in to listen.
Though Sharr had gone up to Silverymoon to visit with Drizzt once the ranger finally returned there after the Hall's reclamation, he was overall relying on his nightly conversations with Alustriel to keep up-to-date on how the other man was doing with fully settling into his relationship with her.
Which meant that when Alustriel mentioned that something about the age of the child Drizzt had saved, in combination with some of the other tales of his life that he'd shared, seemed worth following up on, Sharr spent a while debating whether he should take on the task.
He still hadn't quite decided when Drizzt returned from a ranging injured, but when Alustriel complained about how difficult it had been to get the ranger to accept magical healing, and that he was being resistant to the idea of taking it easy for a few days, Sharr chose to go up with Korvallen to oversee Drizzt's recovery, and simply see if an opportunity to bring up the matter occurred.
As it turned out, Drizzt ended up giving Sharr the clue he needed entirely unintentionally.
One evening when the two of them and Kor were enjoying Guen's company in Sharr's rooms, the conversation turned to Drizzt's bond with her.
And in the process of explaining why the Mielikkians believed that the bond had begun even before Drizzt took possession of her figure, the ranger said, "For all that it made Masoj so angry, being able to work with Guen was the best part of the year of patrol."
"You were only on patrol for a year?" Sharr asked.
Yes?" Drizzt sound confused, but that was only noted vaguely, as the pieces of the oddity Alustriel had mentioned were starting to fall into place.
Sharr knew that Drizzt had gone straight from school to patrol, that the raid had happened during the time on patrol, and that he'd fled the city within weeks of the raid.
But up to now, no one had put that together with the fact that Ellifain had been five at the time of the raid, and was only twenty now.
Which, when combined with the fact that Drizzt had graduated from the fighters' school at thirty, made him distressingly young.
"So you're not even fifty yet?" Sharr was pretty sure he'd managed to keep his distress out of his voice, but there was nothing he could do about Kor sitting bolt upright at his words and staring at Drizzt in horrified shock.
"My thirty-first name day would have been shortly after I fled the city, not that long after the events with Ellifain," Drizzt said. "So yes, I am only forty-five."
"What?!" Kor's strangled cry caused Sharr and Drizzt to both turn and look at him.
Reaching out to wrap his arm around his pale-faced heart brother's shoulders, Sharr pulled him closer.
"Alustriel had mentioned that something seemed odd, when Ellifain's age was combined with some of the other tales of his life Drizzt had shared," he said.
"Is my age a problem?" Drizzt asked.
"No," Sharr said firmly. "It's just... shocking, given that even half-elves aren't considered adult until fifty."
"Ah. Whereas I was considered adult upon graduation."
Kor gave a heavy sigh, and Sharr shifted his arm so his heart-brother could sit back.
"Just one more reason to hate Lolthite drow," Kor said, "for forcing their children to grow up so fast."
"I am beginning to see that," Drizzt said.
Chapters: 48/?
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series – R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Teen and Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Alustriel Silverhand/Original Character(s)
Characters: Alustriel Silverhand, Original Elf Character(s), Inthylyn Aerasumé, Lilinthar Aerasumé, Drizzt Do’Urden, Ghaelryss Aerasumé, Uoundeld Aerasumé, Andelver Aerasumé, Elinthalar Aerasumé, Ellifain Tuuserail, Dove Falconhand
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, tags updated as I write things, Ensemble Cast, Implied/Referenced Human Sacrifice, Trauma, Recovery, Alternate Universe - Fusion, the Fusion tag only applies to certain chapters, Implied/Referenced Unplanned Pregnancy, that tag only applies to the Zanna‘Verse
(Post tags are specific to this chapter)
Summary:
Inspired by "Aiding Love to Grow" and various other Legend of Drizzt AUs written by Merfilly (AO3)|Sharpest_Asp (SqWA), with or without Ilyena_Sylph, scenes and snippets from universes where the father of Alustriel's sons is alive in those AUs.
Fic notes
Sharr comes from Elué and Consort, wheresenmut fleshed out the elf father of Alustriel's sons. Aiding Love to Grow is the AU of an AU that inspired me to start playing with other AUs of AUs.To Begin in Settlestone
A few weeks after the spring equinox, Sharr received some surprising—and mildly concerning—news from Alustriel.
~Given the locations, it didn't seem necessary to tell you without more information,~ she began, as they were talking over the anklets after she had turned in for the night, ~but two weeks ago, Besnell received reports of a drow having openly approached both Rivermoot and High Hold by day.~
~But now it does seem necessary?~ Sharr asked. Then he switched to his own sending. ~Or is it that you now have more information?~
~A bit of both, actually,~ Alustriel said. ~Besnell sent a patrol to investigate, with Kolarven as lead and Niska for the Spellguard, and they returned today.
~But despite having swept all the way to the Surbrin and arced wide to return, they found no sign of the drow.~
~Absolutely nothing at all?~ Sharr said. ~That seems... odd.~
~Maybe so,~ Alustriel replied, ~but Niska could scry nothing, and the trail from High Hold was too old to follow by the time the patrol found it.
~So Besnell is increasing patrols to the north and west as a precaution.~
Sharr hadn't truly forgotten about the drow that had approached Rivermoot and High Hold, but with no further word of them, even with Silverymoon's increased patrols, he had set the matter aside as a curiosity.
So the following spring, he was actually rather surprised when Alustriel told him ~I now know what happened to the drow from last year.~
~Oh?~ Sharr said, starting a new sending so she could reply sooner.
~It seems he managed to make his way to Herald's Holdfast.
~As Old Night has informed me that the drow he has been hosting and teaching for the past year is on his way to speak with me.~
~He didn't say anything more than that?~ Sharr asked.
~No, he didn't,~ Alustriel replied, after the wait needed for her anklet to recharge. ~Which does suggest that whatever this Drizzt Do'Urden wishes to speak with me about could affect realm matters.~
~True,~ Sharr agreed. ~It'd be amusing if he found Mithral Hall.
~Given that his trajectory does suggest that he came from the Frost Hills.~
~Yes it would,~ Alustriel agreed. ~And we'll know soon enough, given how close Herald's Holdfast is to Silverymoon.
~Especially since I've sent word to my secretaries to fit him into my schedule as soon as possible after he arrives.~
The following night, Alustriel's tone was very amused when she sent to Sharr. ~It seems that you were correct in your guess as to why Drizzt Do'Urden wished to speak with me.~
~Wait, what?!~ Sharr yelped. ~Really? I was only jesting, because of the direction he came from!~
~Really truly,~ Alustriel replied. ~It seem that the deep gnomes who gave him a map to lead him out of the Underdark were trading partners with Mithral Hall.
~As he came out near Settlestone, and had been given specific warning about danger down a different tunnel than that one.~
~Which he then chose to explore anyway?~ Sharr said, amusement in his tone.
~Yes,~ Alustriel said. ~Though only after the onset of winter had driven him back underground.
~But beyond simply desiring to see the rightful heirs returned to their Hall, the reason he came to speak with me is because of the grave danger he discovered while scouting the Hall's undercity.~
~How bad is it?~ Sharr asked, starting a new sending for a faster answer.
~The duergar and their slaves would pose little problem for a dwarven army,~ Alustriel said, ~but there are also two shadow hounds that serve some creature of the Shadowfell—called Shimmergloom—that is worshipped as a god.~
~That is very much a reason for concern,~ Sharr agreed. ~But dealing with this "Shimmergloom" will surely require knowledge of what it actually is.~
~Which is why Drizzt has agreed to do a second scouting of the Hall,~ Alustriel replied.
There was an affectionate lilt to her voice on the drow's name, and Sharr couldn't help but smile. ~You're attracted to him.~
~Yes. And I'm very pleased that Old Night took steps to encourage him in informality with me by priming him with a tease about my library.~
~Tell me about him, then?~ And as Alustriel started to do so, Sharr settled in to listen.
Given that Alustriel was attracted to Drizzt, Sharr likely would have gone up to Silverymoon to meet him just on general principle, once she mentioned that she had convinced the drow to delay his departure at least long enough to acquaint himself with the city and explore the truth of Old Night's impression that he was ranger-born.
But given that Drizzt was a drow, Sharr felt it was even more important to meet him—for Korvallen's peace of mind, if nothing else—especially after the mystery of Eilistraee not knowing of him was discovered.
And as he got to know the wild-called ranger—because Old Night had been correct, and Drizzt had been literally enraptured the first time he visited Mielikki's Sacred Glade—Sharr realized that Drizzt seemed to reciprocate Alustriel's growing interest.
So he started to work on subtly encouraging the other man to at least broach the idea of his attraction with her.
And while Drizzt had not done so by the time he departed to do the second scouting of the Hall, Sharr could tell that he was giving the idea some serious consideration.
It was nearing autumn when Alustriel reached out to Sharr with the news that Drizzt was back in Silverymoon.
~Niska's patrol brought him in yesterday,~ she said, ~though it will be some time before he's actually ready to report on what he found.~
~Oh?~ Sharr said. ~Due to injuries, or is it something else?~
~Not physical injuries,~ Alustriel said, ~but he was considerably weakened when they found him, and looked grey.
~And the note from the Ladyservant after he was taken to the Glade said that he had suffered grave damage from shades, and will be staying in the Glade until they are certain he's recovered.~
~Mmm. I suppose that's not entirely surprising, given that we already knew the true threat is of Shadowfell origin.
~But it doesn't bode well that he was unable to avoid such damage.~
~No it doesn't,~Alustriel agreed. ~But he did seem to be recovering well when I visited him this evening.~
~I'm glad to hear that,~ Sharr said. ~Though I had the impression that he is not accustomed to being idle, so it does make me wonder what they found for him to occupy himself with.~
~He was reading a large tome by the light of an enchanted stone when I arrived.
~And on another note, he pledged himself to my service so easily that I couldn't help wondering if it's something inherent in elven blood that results in either rapid decisions or centuries of deliberation, with no middle ground between them.~
Sharr had to laugh at that. ~Or maybe it's something about you that causes those of us who hold you in high esteem to be able to make decisions so swiftly.~
He had to wait for her anklet to recharge before she responded, but when she did, he could tell from her tone that she was blushing.
~You really think so?~
~I do.~
It was several more days before Alustriel reported that Drizzt had returned to his rooms in the Palace, and the day after that was when Drizzt finally made his report on the second scouting.
~The true threat inside the Hall is an ancient Shadow Dragon,~ Alustriel told Sharr that evening.
Sharr let out a low whistle at that news, then sighed. ~Well, that would certainly explain why the shades were so thick Drizzt couldn't avoid them.
~What's the current plan for next steps?~
~The dwarven leaders I invited to the meeting are going to conduct a discreet search of the bloodlines of the survivors to see if they can find a proper heir,~ Alustriel replied. ~And I sincerely hope they can.
~Especially since Drizzt has volunteered to lead a small party in through his access when the time comes to actually reclaim the Hall.~
~Having a proper heir to speak to the death curse that would have been laid would definitely be safer than having to rely on clerics for protection from it,~ Sharr agreed. ~On another note, how are things going between you and Drizzt?~
~They're going very well.~ Alustriel's voice was almost purring with pleasure, and her next words explained why. ~I spoke with him privately after the meeting, and he confessed his feelings to me!
~We are, however, going to move slowly in seeing if a relationship between us will actually work out.~
~I am so happy for you, my heart's star,~ Sharr said. ~And yes, going slowly is a good idea.~
When Sharr had gone up to Silverymoon for a couple weeks right after Drizzt's confession, one thing Alustriel had spent some time talking over with him was how to manage her friendship with Niska in light of the fact that the other elf's past experiences with drow had her rather tangled up emotionally over Drizzt's presence, and Alustriel's growing closeness to him.
So when Alustriel reached out to him, shortly after the winter solstice, with the news that Niska seemed to have finally reached an acceptance of Drizzt, he was relieved.
~So what brought her change of heart about,~ Sharr asked, after expressing his relief, ~and how did she show it?~
~The change of heart seems to have been the result of both her and Drizzt having been among those who volunteered to go deal with a threat to one of the outlying farmsteads,~ Alustriel said.
~Specifically, that it was Drizzt's tactics that Kolarven chose to use to face a full tribe of goblinoids, and that he and Guen accounted for a third of the goblinoids—an entire company's worth—all on their own.~
~Ah,~ Sharr said. ~So she got shaken out of her prejudices, then.~
There was a pause for Alustriel's anklet to recharge, and then she replied. ~Yes. As for how she showed her change of heart, a few days after the force returned, she approached Drizzt to ask if he'd help her develop a true lexicon for Drow in exchange for her teaching him Sylvan.~
~Oh, that's a very good peace overture,~ Sharr said. ~Do you think she'd mind if I joined their work?
~Though I'll be coming regardless, since Drizzt and Guen having dealt with a company all by themselves is exactly the sort of thing I've been looking for to convince Kor to agree to a spar with him.~
~I'll ask her,~ Alustriel replied. ~And if Kor doesn't agree to spar Drizzt after hearing that, I'll be very surprised.~
Shortly after mid-spring, Alustriel had informed Sharr that Drizzt was heading up to Luskan to follow the trail of trade goods in Mirabar bearing the Battlehammer crest, but it was not until winter was in full swing that he heard anything further about that quest.
~Given that Drizzt has not returned, I decided to ask Qilué if there was reason to be concerned for him,~ Alustriel said.
~And was—or is—there reason?~ Sharr asked. ~Though, you don't actually sound concerned, so I'm guessing not.~
~Correct. He is alive in the far north, helping a dwarven clan.
~So I have informed Fret that it is likely that Drizzt actually found more Battlehammers.~
While Alustriel's amusement over his knee-jerk reaction to hearing that the Battlehammer chieftain's daughter had straight-up called Drizzt an elf had been mildly annoying, Sharr had not at all been expecting an apology for it. And yet, a few weeks later, that was the very first thing she sent during their conversation after her return from the evening's festivities.
~I find I must apologize for laughing at your spluttering over the idea of Drizzt being outright called an elf,~ she said. ~Because even with Nae having told me that the man's daughter had done so, it was startling to hear Bruenor Battlehammer do so when he and Drizzt met with me today.~
~I can't really blame you for laughing,~ Sharr said, knowing that if their situations had been reversed, he likely would have dome the same, ~but your apology is accepted.
~And I am glad that... Bruenor, you said?... is so clearly able to look past Drizzt's skin.~
~Bruenor, yes,~ Alustriel replied. ~And it was very clear, just from their body language, that he has developed a genuine friendship with Drizzt, even if his words hadn't displayed it later.
~Which I am very grateful for, as it undoubtedly helped smooth things when Drizzt suggested—and offered to mediate—a compromise on my hiring wizards to him for reclaiming the Hall.~
~Well, dwarven pride was always going to be the stumbling block there,~ Sharr said, ~so I'm pleased Drizzt had a mutually acceptable solution for it.
~But how did the rest of the meeting go?~
And as Alustriel started explaining what she'd discussed with Bruenor, Sharr settled in to listen.
Though Sharr had gone up to Silverymoon to visit with Drizzt once the ranger finally returned there after the Hall's reclamation, he was overall relying on his nightly conversations with Alustriel to keep up-to-date on how the other man was doing with fully settling into his relationship with her.
Which meant that when Alustriel mentioned that something about the age of the child Drizzt had saved, in combination with some of the other tales of his life that he'd shared, seemed worth following up on, Sharr spent a while debating whether he should take on the task.
He still hadn't quite decided when Drizzt returned from a ranging injured, but when Alustriel complained about how difficult it had been to get the ranger to accept magical healing, and that he was being resistant to the idea of taking it easy for a few days, Sharr chose to go up with Korvallen to oversee Drizzt's recovery, and simply see if an opportunity to bring up the matter occurred.
As it turned out, Drizzt ended up giving Sharr the clue he needed entirely unintentionally.
One evening when the two of them and Kor were enjoying Guen's company in Sharr's rooms, the conversation turned to Drizzt's bond with her.
And in the process of explaining why the Mielikkians believed that the bond had begun even before Drizzt took possession of her figure, the ranger said, "For all that it made Masoj so angry, being able to work with Guen was the best part of the year of patrol."
"You were only on patrol for a year?" Sharr asked.
Yes?" Drizzt sound confused, but that was only noted vaguely, as the pieces of the oddity Alustriel had mentioned were starting to fall into place.
Sharr knew that Drizzt had gone straight from school to patrol, that the raid had happened during the time on patrol, and that he'd fled the city within weeks of the raid.
But up to now, no one had put that together with the fact that Ellifain had been five at the time of the raid, and was only twenty now.
Which, when combined with the fact that Drizzt had graduated from the fighters' school at thirty, made him distressingly young.
"So you're not even fifty yet?" Sharr was pretty sure he'd managed to keep his distress out of his voice, but there was nothing he could do about Kor sitting bolt upright at his words and staring at Drizzt in horrified shock.
"My thirty-first name day would have been shortly after I fled the city, not that long after the events with Ellifain," Drizzt said. "So yes, I am only forty-five."
"What?!" Kor's strangled cry caused Sharr and Drizzt to both turn and look at him.
Reaching out to wrap his arm around his pale-faced heart brother's shoulders, Sharr pulled him closer.
"Alustriel had mentioned that something seemed odd, when Ellifain's age was combined with some of the other tales of his life Drizzt had shared," he said.
"Is my age a problem?" Drizzt asked.
"No," Sharr said firmly. "It's just... shocking, given that even half-elves aren't considered adult until fifty."
"Ah. Whereas I was considered adult upon graduation."
Kor gave a heavy sigh, and Sharr shifted his arm so his heart-brother could sit back.
"Just one more reason to hate Lolthite drow," Kor said, "for forcing their children to grow up so fast."
"I am beginning to see that," Drizzt said.
Tags:
- au: canon divergence,
- author: somariel,
- category: f/m,
- character: alustriel silverhand,
- character: drizzt do'urden,
- character: korvallen senahye,
- character: sharrevaliir,
- freeform: polyamory,
- pairing: alustriel/drizzt,
- pairing: alustriel/sharrevaliir,
- rating: teen and up audiences,
- series: if he was alive,
- warning: no warnings apply
Kissed By a Goddess
May. 19th, 2024 04:54 pmsenmutKissed By a Goddess (7553 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 2/?
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Elf Character(s), Mielikki [Forgotten Realms], Drizzt Do'Urden, Uoundeld Aerasumé
Additional Tags: Background Relationships, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Family
Summary:
Vhaeraun was torn. In preserving the male drow at birth, stealing him at the moment of sacrifice, He had carried off a brilliant coup. It had gained Him a noble House in Menzoberranzan from which to scheme as well as denying His mother one more soul. That it had also appealed to His particular ethics, of preserving drow life from senseless slaughter was secondary. Ethics were not one of his top concerns.
But now, in the heart of the Neverwinter Wood, that boy was showing all signs of having had his nature defiled by the spell performed by his mother in his birthing. Every ounce of ambition, avarice, and self-serving thought was gone from him. The boy was, without a doubt, entirely too un-drow, being of a truly Good nature.
Looking forward had never been Vhaeraun's domain, yet He itched when He strode through the boy's dreams. Something in the future was already calling the boy, a destiny that was stamped in danger. Was the danger for Himself, all drow, or merely the Lolthites? Perhaps the danger was solely meant for the boy.
Still, Vhaeraun could not order the child's death. Yet at the same time, delivering a destiny-touched good drow to His sister was anathema to His plans of the future, ones where He pulled His twin to Her proper place at His side.
Something different was necessary. Something… unusual. Yes, that would be the way to go, to touch the boy firmly with His magic, so His sister was suspicious, but to choose some foolish good deity to deal with the odd boy.
Mielikki was not unaccustomed to having Her domains invaded. Various evil deities over the years had sought to kill or capture Her, using Her love of walking the Material Plane against Her. Some protection was afforded by taking the guise of Khalreshaar, and confining Her wanderings to the lands still heavily under the sway of the Seldarine believers.
Foresight was not chief among Her gifts in any aspect, but the moment She found the toddler under an enchanted — divinely so — sleep in the woods, She thought the boy had to be bait in a trap. No drow lived here; the last entrance to the Underdark in the region that had been closed had happened centuries before.
Yet the boy was most decidedly a drow. She brought the wild animals nearer to Her, using their sense to further discern threats. Then, She turned toward divining what She could of the child's advent, and the lingering magics.
Shadow-touched, those were, but the boy himself was as innocent as all children born. Only, seeking deeper, Khalreshaar touched the soul and experienced a deep shock. The child was Good, not a trace of inherent Evil lurking there. That made this a ripe possibility, and she wove her magic around the boy, considering if She should —
— a stag warned of impending danger then. She side-stepped off the Plane, but remained near, and no arcane magic could hide the force that Her creatures saw and felt disturbing the peace of the woods. With the child shielded by a pair of does, She let Her anger and wrath descend upon the orcs, in the forms of both predators and prey driving through them with singular focus, to trample and strike as many as possible so that the elves were alerted.
She had placed Her claim, and She would watch over the drow child fondly.
With warning, the band of thirteen elves had been able to make use of the chaos the orcs seemed to be caught in. The four half-elves, in particular, had wreaked havoc on the band, and their father was quick to effectively use the fighters he'd brought with them.
After, he left the investigation to the elder pair, and took the younger pair with him to circle the kill zone. That so many different kinds of animals had plunged straight through the war band had his curiosity up for more than who had sent them.
It was Elin who spotted the does ahead, both quivering with fear of the hunters, and refusing to yield their place to flee.
"There's something between them," Ghael said, once he'd looked. "Father, stay close to Elin," he added, moving forward slowly once he'd handed his bow to his father.
"Be careful," father and brother alike said.
With every trace of wood-craft he'd learned as a boy, Ghael approached the does, eyes fixed on the thing between them, until it truly came into focus.
Black skin, white hair, wrapped securely in a blanket of… well, not spider silk, thankfully. It looked surface-woven even.
"You're protecting this?" Ghael asked, a sense of wonder at war with his paranoia. The larger, elder doe looked him dead in the eyes, and for a moment, he felt the Divine in that look. "Oh… squirrel nuts," slipped out, as he understood all of this was well above his expertise or chosen path.
The does ran then, as if released from the spell, and Ghael continued forward. He knelt carefully near the child.
"Father, there's a drow here, doesn't even look like they should be true-weaned yet."
"The day grows strange indeed," was Sharr's rejoinder before he and Elin joined Ghael. It was Sharr who noted the blanket seemed padded or bulky where it wrapped around the child's back. He reached, carefully picking the child up and that 'padding' shifted in ways that prickled along the man's nerves.
"Dad…" Elin said in a warning tone, but Sharr was already unpinning the blanket.
The padding, it seemed, was a set of fine, white down wings, much like the foals of the pegasus herd were first seen with.
"I don't think strange is enough to cover this," Ghael said in awe.
Ghael had warned their elder brothers. Still, the furor that erupted when Sharrevaliir revealed the impossible child was only slightly mitigated by the pair being a voice of reason.
"Enough." Sharr did not shout, conscious of the child sleeping in his arms. "The child is touched by a god. It was protected by the wild life, and that protection is what saved us from the ambush. No matter the color of skin and hair, I will not turn my back on an offering from the gods, and the responsibility that comes with it.
"I had already intended to step down for the rest of my youngest son's childhood; now I invoke that with the addition that I will see this feather-kissed champion raised as a child should be, and then guided to be all that it can be for its patron!"
There were grumbles, but to do less risked righteous wrath turned on their own people. Sharr delegated Dol, his chosen regent for his duties, to begin the process of their walk home, but took the time then to more fully inspect his new child. Why the goodly drow was so far from Eilistraee, he had no idea. That would need to be learned. And the fact it had been the wildlife protecting the boy, as he now knew, indicated that maybe it was not the Dark Maiden at all who had chosen this one.
As he was inspecting the child for any harm done to him, the boy finally stirred, slowly blinking his eyes -- such a shade of lavender! -- open to peer at Sharr. Fear warred with curiosity, making Sharr even more certain this was going to be unusual in all ways.
"Ilham? Ilhar?"
Despite the small size, the boy had words already. Sharr thought he'd heard those from his niece. He could guess they were parental words.
"I don't know your language, little one." He smiled, and fished out a piece of dried apple, offering it to the boy. "Eat..." He wracked his brain for the few words he did know of the drow tongue. "Cal."
The boy took the sliver, sniffing it, then put it in his mouth to suck and chew on, eyes wide and taking in all the movement around them. The wings fluttered a couple of times in reaction, but the boy never cried.
The day after the battle with the orcs — which Andy had asked his ranger aunt and one of the arch-mages to come finish investigating — the four wizard-fighters divided the party among themselves, and delivered them back to their home villages within the High Forest. Dol took responsibility for their father, strange new little brother, and the one other hunter from the Refuge of the Oaks.
Sharr had managed to convert the blanket to a sling, and had Drizzt, as the boy insisted his name was, tucked against his chest with a corner of the blanket up to protect the skin and eyes so accustomed to darker places. He did not stop to talk to anyone, going straight for Charic's home. Dol, with the other hunter, would make the report to the Elders.
"Morning sun, where are you?" he called, the endearment warning the priestess that this was going to be interesting. She came out of her still room, where she had been turning the tinctures and inspecting those that might need replacement.
"I thought we sent you out to hunt a stag," she said in bemusement.
"Please don't be too loud or fierce," Sharr said, undoing the sling and helping Drizzt settle on his own two feet on the floor. Wide purple eyes stared up at a new stranger, before the wings flattened to his back and he reached for Sharr's hand for reassurance.
"Lady bless us all," Charic breathed, understanding her co-leader's warning to her. "He's tiny! And those wings!"
"The boys can feel shadow-magic residue on him, but fresher divine energy over top of it," Sharr said. "Can you determine who he should be raised for? I know sometimes, with a feather-kissed, when they are born this way, they aren't yet committed to a single one."
"I can meditate when he naps, and see if answers come to me then." Charic knelt down on the floor, reaching out to the tiny winged drow child. When he slowly let go of Sharr's hand and came to her, she rested her hand on his face, feeling the innate goodness radiating through him. "The elders are going to be in an uproar."
"No doubt. Dol will handle them. Now, more than ever, I need to take Del, and Drizzt here, to Silverymoon," Sharr said.
As if on cue, Del came racing in and pulled up to a stop as he saw the boy with his mama. "What…"
"Who," Charic corrected gently. "His name is Drizzt. Doesn't seem to speak our language."
Del dropped on the floor, staring at the strange child, eyes full of wonder. "Is he my little brother now? Or do we have to give him to my aunt?"
Sharr smiled. "I plan to raise him, unless she objects, so yes, he is your little brother for now."
Del opened his arms, reaching… and after a moment's hesitation, Drizzt left the safety of Charic's arms to go, not understanding any of the words, but drawn to the good emotions around him.
Charic had determined Khalreshaar or Mielikki (as it felt blurred between the aspects) had laid a light claim and protection on the boy. Del was happily telling the boy names of things, helping develop the use of Common, since they would be going to a city that used it more than Sylvan. Sharr saw to wrapping up his affairs, not yet reaching out to Qilué, even as he realized that he very much wanted to help raise Drizzt to adulthood.
Maybe it was selfish of him, but the touch of what had to be Vhaeraun on the boy was surely reason enough to keep him away from Eilistraee's people as a safety measure. And the Forest Queen, under either guise, was sacred in Silverymoon.
Ghael was the one to take the trio to his mother's city, amused at how much the small boy's wings fluttered at the change of placement. Elué, bless her, had already dimmed the lights in the room they arrived at, and was waiting. She kissed both of her sons' cheeks, then her consort, before being introduced to her new son.
"I did already speak to my sister, love," she said firmly. "And Qi does not feel she can provide he safety he should have, even as she regrets it."
"Ahh, well then." Sharr let Drizzt get down, smiling indulgently when the boy went to take Del's hand instead. "We need to introduce him to the Ladyservant."
"He has been warned," Alustriel answered that, but her face was soft at seeing her last-born being so indulgent of the toddler's smaller steps, of how well Del was bonding to the boy. "Welcome home, all of you. Ghael, I had a request for you to visit the Harpers while here."
"I will do that later today," he said. "Nosy busybodies probably want an update on the weirdness," he added in amusement.
"Likely. Now, let's go get the boys settled into your room. When is Korvallen expected?" Alustriel asked.
"When Dove and Laeral are satisfied they can't learn anything else," Sharr said. "He'll ask one of the boys to bring him."
"How is he handling this?"
The laughter from Ghael, the grin from Del, and Sharr's rueful look were a partial answer.
"It's a child, so he's being fierce… but the drow part is making him want to stay hands-off," Sharr admitted.
"That won't last, but let us hope it doesn't take a century."
Norvor had been irritated enough by his elf teleporting to the north to actually land in a courtyard of the palace, and unleash the bellow of an indignant pegasus. In short order, Sharr came down to him, ready to placate his friend, with Drizzt in an improved sling that supported but didn't push the wings in against his back.
Norvor, whose eyes were not as sharp as they had been, had been stamping and making noises of his discontent until Sharr was within a few paces… and then he saw the white hair and fuzzy foal-wings.
"This is why I had to teleport. He's too young to be in the wind yet," Sharr said, slowly undoing the sling so that Drizzt could be on his own two feet. The boy toddled right over to the stallion, fearless in this, and completely full of wonder at the giant thing with wings.
Slowly, Norvor investigated, with neck outstretched, until he was satisfied the drow child really was a winged creature like himself. With care, the old stallion brought himself down to lie upon the flagstones of the courtyard, making it easier for the boy to explore him. Sharr relished the moment that Drizzt tucked in under a wing, with both his old friend and his new son thinking this was perfect for a nap.
Korvallen did show up about a week later, brought by Andy, and accompanied by Kolarven. Before anyone could find out why the younger fighter had come, Kolarven had given excuses and vanished into the city. Andy likewise went his own way after greeting his father, a line of research percolating in his head.
"Village was stifling them," Korvallen told Sharr, as they walked up to the suite on the family league. "Wants to make something of themself, without me pulling strings."
Sharr smiled indulgently at that. "Then I will look the other way I if I see their name on any enlistment papers. Been lending Besnell a hand as he gets his head wrapped around the duties of leading the Knights."
"More likely to go for the Silver Watch, I think," was Kor's opinion.
"They are a people person, and the Watch has that," Sharr agreed.
Sharr was watching closely as they entered the room and was amused when Kor flinched slightly at seeing the drow child, wings carefully tucked back, showing Del as he worked a shiny pebble across his fingers in a dexterity exercise children twice his age would have struggled with.
Del actually looking at the pair coming in broke Drizzt's concentration and it fell, before he scooped it up and turned to look. The droop of the little wings said everything about Drizzt remembering the cranky elf.
"Uncle," Del said, gently tugging Drizzt back into his lap, careful of the wings as always.
"Hello, Del. Drizzt."
"Hi," the little one said, shy about it to the point of turning his face into Del's chest.
Sharr could see the struggle in his heart-brother, before Kor moved and sat cross-legged in front of the boys.
"Show me?" Kor invited the small drow, when Drizzt looked at him, and that made Drizzt take the pebble back on a 'walk' across his fingers, but on the other hand this time.
"Does he always switch?"
"Uses both hands for anything and everything," Sharr answered.
"Well." Kor smiled, a tight line, at the small boy. "Good," he added, and Drizzt's wings fluffed out more fully, satisfied by that.
When Drizzt was ten, Del helped smooth and braid his hair, got him into a good tunic, one of the pretty ones with silver threads all through the green rippling colors.
"Is it a festival? I didn't hear about one," Drizzt asked his brother. They had, just this past spring, moved out of Papa's and Uncle's suite to one of their own on the same hall.
"No, little brother. You get to meet another aunt and uncle, and even a cousin, tonight. Mother let Taern take over evenfeast, and she will be there with Papa."
"What about Uncle?"
"No, Uncle is busy elsewhere." Del didn't necessarily lie, but he knew Kor had volunteered to help at the local temple of Sehanine Moonbow just to escape the dinner.
Drizzt's wings flicked a little, and Del remembered he needed to believe harder in the truthful answers he gave, even if they were incomplete. Fortunately, Drizzt let it go.
"Alright, stay clean, scamp, while I put my nice tunic on. Think you can put your good shoes on without help?"
The wings fluttered even more indignantly this time. "Of course!"
When Del came back to find his little brother, Drizzt was in shoes, and looking a little uncomfortable about it.
"Are they too small?" Del asked in concern.
"No, just heavy and blocky and I don't like them."
"Ahh, well it's just for a few hours."
"I can do it," Drizzt, normally barefoot, wearing pants and little else, while scampering in the gardens or the Sacred Glade, would be civilized. It had to be important after all.
Drizzt was not as shy as he had once been with strangers, but after several years of not seeing people like himself, and having learned why drow were feared and reviled, he found his wings tightening around him, and wished they were big enough to truly cloak him from being seen.
Three drow sat there with Mother and Papa, and they were smiling, but the red eyes reminded him of the long-ago when he had lived in mostly dark spaces. The lights were at the low level Mother used when she was teaching him for long times, so Drizzt knew they weren't used to bright light like he was.
He couldn't imagine not going out in the bright sun and feeling it warming his wings even if it did sometimes sting his eyes and he couldn't see as well.
"Drizzt, do you want to sit with Del, or come up here by one of us?" Mother asked, and he reached for his brother's hand for answer. "Alright. Sit with us, both of you, so we can introduce our family guests."
Drow. Other drow who were family? And Del had said that, earlier. So it couldn't be terrible, Drizzt reminded himself.
Once he was settled, wings draped over the low-backed chair, and Del was right next to him, he peered more closely at the trio. He thought the one woman was very close in age to his big brother, that the other one looked sad even when she smiled at him, and that the man was mostly curious.
"Drizzt, this is my youngest sister, Qilué Veladorn, her consort Elkantar Ilium, and their daughter Ysolde," Alustriel began. "I do ask that you not talk openly about meeting drow, though you can speak of them by name."
Drizzt nodded; he understood. He'd grown used to people being shocked by him, and knew that drow were supposed to be dangerous and evil.
"Tell us how your day was, Drizzt?" Sharr invited once food had been served to all of them by the unseen servants.
"I started by keeping vigil in the Knight's courtyard, and then Uncle Korvallen let me practice throwing knives," Drizzt started. "Del took me to the Glade for lessons there. I slept in the Glade for a little bit while he went to the Vault.
"After, we came back and I joined some of the pages for their lessons and games. Then we got ready for dinner," he said. "It was a quiet day."
"He didn't fall out of a tree once," Del said, getting a mutinous look from his little brother.
"I don't fall. I drop and see if my wings can slow me yet," the boy said with all the offended dignity of a ten year old.
~Weapon practice already, sister?~ Qilué sent in concern.
~He gets bored with dexterity exercises, and feels a need to do something. Knives were a compromise,~ Alustriel sent back.
"You sound like you stay busy," Elkantar offered.
"I don't like to be bored," Drizzt said. "Learning, practicing? Make me happy."
"I make certain he spends a good bit of time with the children of the palace," Del said warmly. "But yeah, little brother gets restless if he's not doing something."
"Do you like being out in the open?" Ysolde asked.
"No better place to be! Up in the trees, running on grass? Best thing ever," Drizzt said. "Papa and Uncle even take me into the Silverwood sometimes, and I see different animals and find out how they are doing!"
"That is a hard thing for many drow to be happy with," Elkantar said. "I am glad it comes easy to you."
"Mielikki says She's happy about it, that I can go day or night into the outside and be near Her," Drizzt answered happily.
The startled response of the drow went unnoticed, because Drizzt had realized one of his favorite stuffed mushrooms was on his plate and attacked it with his eating tine.
Sharr just quietly nodded at them, that yes, his youngest child had a goddess who talked directly to him.
"I would have expected Khalreshaar," Qilué offered after getting past the shock.
"Sometimes, but this is Mielikki's home," Drizzt told her. "She is very busy, but tries to have time for me to explore."
"Lessons in the Glade are not always with the people, but sometimes the creatures that live there," Del said. "It was a shock, the first time I found him sleeping in the local badger's den."
"I suppose that would be," Ysolde said.
"Ysolde, why don't you tell Drizzt a little about our project near the coast, so he can see what our lives are like?" Qilué invited, studying the gods-touched boy a while longer, and deciding that they had made the right choice. No nature loving elf or drow would ever be comfortable under rock, like many of their shelters were.
The note that arrived for Sharr was unusual in that the acolyte of the Sacred Glade looked a shade nervous and also overawed at once. He broke the seal, having noted it was from the Ladyservant himself, and read the words. A brief frown touched his lips, but honestly, they should have expected this at some point.
"Please tell the Ladyservant we understand, and will be patient for his return."
"Yes, Saer," the acolyte said with a little relief showing now. She saw herself out, and Sharr went to find his other son in residence. Del was in the library, magical tomes all around him, as he studied.
"Son, you don't have to go pick up Drizzt this evening," Sharr said softly once his son had noticed him and stopped making notes.
"Did they bring him home?"
"No. Mielikki has taken him from the Glade, and we must wait for Her to bring him back. The Ladyservant anticipates at least a few days. They will see to returning him here."
Del frowned fully, and did not let go of that immediately. "He's still a baby!"
"His life is Hers," Sharr said, not liking it, but reminding his son that duty was not something they could go against.
"Yes, Papa."
When Mielikki had come for him, Drizzt had been excited. He might be thirteen years old, and far too big to be picked up, but he didn't even protest the ten foot tall goddess doing just that and tree-walking them to this place, Her home on the Material Plane, in the Unicorn Run. He'd heard of the place of course, being very eager to learn everything about the goddess who had chosen him to be Her champion.
She did set him on his own two feet, and smiled when his wings did the flutter of balancing him. They reached past his waist now, though they still had a lot of downy feathers mixed in.
"You have grown a lot since I first saw you, Drizzt. You are always questioning My rangers and druids who come to teach you. As I have arranged time to be free to you, what questions would you ask me?"
His eyes lit up and he knew it, his smile so broad, and the goddess found Herself receiving a warm, intense hug where he could reach Her before the words began to spill in an excited torrent.
Drizzt was gone for three days, so far as Silverymoon was concerned. That he had put on a little height and his wings were less juvenile told the family and his teachers that he'd been gone for far longer. He did not, however, seem to wish to speak of his journey at his patron deity's side, only saying he had learned much.
"Someone should check on Aunt Laeral," he did mention to Del, who dutifully reported it back to their parents.
When that turned into a multiple person affair, to include not just Syluné but the Simbul herself, Elué came to see her youngest child.
"Drizzt, how did you know that Laeral needed to be checked on?"
He met her eyes, his wings flattening to his back. "We explored, and there was a place where magics were being used under the ground, the kind that can poison the wilds." He grimaced. "Mielikki knew the Nine used that general area.
"I hoped it was her friends, not her, but Del told me she was in the middle of it all?"
"I wish he hadn't heard that part to pass on, but yes, she was." Elué opened her arms, and Drizzt came to her, tucking in as best he could. "Syluné took her home. She will be well. So will her friends, in time. I was worried you had seen her."
Drizzt shook his head. "No, just felt a sickening of that area, so close to Her home."
"You did well, my son," she praised, then sat holding him until he could wrestle his emotions to a resting state.
Drizzt often made the walk back from the Glade alone now, having argued that he was a little older than the younger pages who moved back and forth on their own in the city, developmentally. He knew he was safe in his mother's city, so the first prickle along his spine almost went unnoticed.
Almost.
Much of his time with Mielikki had been learning the wilds in full, but She had also exposed him to dangers, to help him hone the in-born sense of good intent versus evil intent. The frisson on his spine was of the latter nature, and it was all he could do to keep from mantling his wings.
That would betray his awareness.
He focused, like his Lady had been teaching him, narrowing down where the person was, and then changed his path by turning down a side street. His body language implied he'd meant to turn, while his ears caught the sound of someone picking up pace.
Then he heard the 'thwip' of a dart being expelled, making him bring his wings around himself. Something hit one of them, but while they hid his chest and hands, he was pulling the pair of throwing knives he always carried.
Instinct made me him throw his wings out and high, startling two humans he did not know, both of whom had long hunting knives in hand, and swords on their belts that might come into play if this turned even uglier.
The one spell Mielikki had deemed him ready for, a variation on the light cantrip, came to mind and he quickly cast it. The sudden flare of light in a shaded alley both inconvenienced his would be attackers, and acted as a beacon to the city folk nearby. He slipped his knives back away, choosing not to throw as the pair attempted to escape, only to be slowed and pummeled by those who came to see.
Neither managed to get too far, before a pair of Silver Watch members wrapped entangling bolas around their ankles. After, it was just a matter of securing them, and Drizzt finding the dart that his wings had protected him from, so the incident could be investigated.
Sharr came to retrieve his son from the Silver Watch, amused despite his anger, to see Drizzt was regaling the constable present with a tale about rescuing a badger from the vat it had gotten stuck in recently. The messenger had come, explained the incident, and while Sharr came for Drizzt, a trio of Knights, two squires, and one Spellguard were retrieving the pair of attackers for questioning in the Glade.
Elué could have claimed precedence, but ultimately the clergy of the Sacred Glade of Mielikki would need to have a say. Sharr even agreed it had been best to turn the matter over from the beginning. He didn't even say anything about the fact Korvallen and Methri were following more discreetly, so that he and Drizzt had extra protection.
"Hello Papa," Drizzt said, giving that cheerful smile he met most of he world with. The wings even looked relaxed, so Sharr held his hands out, and his son came to be hugged.
"Thank you, Saer," Sharr told the constable.
"Always a delight to see the young lord," she told Sharr. "Take me serious, lad, and get you an arms-man for your walks. We need the Lady's Grace to see you grow up all the way!"
"I'm thinking on it," Drizzt promised, before leaving with his father. "I do not want to go back to a Leaf or a Needle escorting me, and Brother has complicated lessons now," he said to Sharr once there was a door between him and the constable.
"Still, you were attacked, and that means you are marked as a threat by someone. Or it might just be an attempt to harm your mother," Sharr chided.
Drizzt turned his face toward Sharr, but kept walking. "I want to learn swords."
"You're only … well, I'd say thirteen, but with the height and smoother feathers, you might be almost sixteen now. Still too young, even for a half-elf, let alone a full one," Sharr said. "And 'swords'?"
"Twin curving blades, like Mielikki. I want to master Her weapons." Drizzt tipped his chin up. "A noble drow would begin learning the basics of his future craft at sixteen, uncle Elkantar said."
"And he also said it was ridiculous to rush into such," Sharr said, grimacing when Drizzt's wings mantled a little. "Son, it was one attack."
"There will be more, and anyone assigned to protect me would have their blood on my hands eventually, if I am attacked again. I only want to learn, and it would mean me staying in the Palace more," Drizzt wheedled.
"You convince Kor," was Sharr's final word on the matter.
Korvallen had not been warned what Drizzt wanted to discuss with him, but there was something to his nephew's body language that promised this was not going to go easily. He continued inspecting his sword, have oiled it today and checked its edge, making the boy sit patiently.
Terrifyingly, Drizzt was doing just that. There was no rustle of feathers in impatience, just quiet, dogged determination to obey Korvallen's dictum of 'wait'.
When he at last could not possibly drag out the care of his sword longer, Korvallen sheathed it and looked at the youth on the bench, noting the wings were not truly relaxed, but weren't fully mantling with whatever Drizzt was feeling either.
"Alright, boy. What do you want?"
"To learn weapons. Swords specifically. I know the basics of archery and knives. I should know spear, maybe shield, but I truly wish to learn the art of the curved swords."
Curved — ahh. He meant to emulate his goddess then, in Her weaponry.
"Too young. Don't care you spent years away in the three days you were with Khalreshaar. You're not full grown."
Drizzt's jaw shifted to that stubborn line that was far more like his own than Kor liked admitting.
"I should be learning the footwork, the motions, at the very least now, even if I can't choose my adult weapons yet. Because I need to be the best I can be, to seek my eventual destiny," Drizzt stated in his calmest voice, and the wings remained still. "I will be a ranger. I will also be a true fighter.
"I don't want to waste the time I could be ingraining the motions in muscle, Uncle."
Korvallen frowned, looking at the half-grown boy again. "Why rush to your destiny, Drizzt? We have no idea when or how you will be called on to face the trials you were feather-kissed for."
"And if it is sooner than later? If Mielikki chose to give me personal training so young, would I not be remiss if I do not train now? Better to learn, and not need it soon, then be unprepared when the time comes."
"Is this because of those two adherents of Talona?" Kor demanded.
"Yes. And more. I am known to exist. What better way to eliminate a deity's advantage than to maim or kill me in childhood? If they send humans, we now know they can evade the protections of the city."
Dammit, but the boy was making entirely too much sense.
"Footwork, motions, yes. Go see the palace craftsmen to have wooden blades made to meet your wishes. You will not, hear me, practice with steel until I say so." Kor held the boy's eyes, but Drizzt smiled, a blaze of joy, and Kor knew that his nephew was intent on this path.
Might as well embrace it, Kor decided, before he found an inferior teacher and picked up bad habits.
"Thank you, Uncle," Drizzt said warmly.
Del smiled at his little brother testing the fit of his new armor. The restriction on using Steel had lasted three full years. Now, at twenty or so, Drizzt had graduated to being allowed to wear the lacquered wood-and-leather plates that had been designed to protect him without impeding his wings at all. Elin had put a lot of the design work into it, with his consort making a very small model of it in foil and wire to show the armorer.
"So you're going with me to meet the herd?"
"Yes." Drizzt flexed his wings again, and smiled at his brother. "Elin is brilliant. This works perfectly.
"Is Papa going with us?"
They had grieved Norvor's passing not long after Drizzt began learning weapons. By Norvor's own wishes, several of his feathers had been harvested to be used for Drizzt, should his own wings become injured. It had driven the feather-kissed up into a tree in the Glade to know that, and he'd stayed there for two days after, just existing inside of nature. Knowing a pegasus loved that intensely had made Drizzt swear never to bond one. The losing would hurt him too much.
"He's not ready," Del said sadly. "Ghael is coming for me. He can teleport three as easily as two."
"Wait, didn't Rua abandon him to go mate a couple of years ago?" Drizzt asked, grinning. "We'll get to meet Rua's offspring!"
Del laughed. "I'm kind of hoping whichever it is likes me. Even if they would be too young for me to learn to fly with, I think it would be good for my first to be the offspring of one of my brother's pegasi."
"I think so too." Drizzt returned to testing the armor fit, putting his sword belt on, then his pack, a modified haversack spell having been applied to one designed to be worn at the small of the back, its rigidity only extending part way up so it did not interfere with the lower connection point of his wings.
"I think both of our brothers did well designing your gear," Del said, taking in the full effect.
"Me too."
Ruakerym's mate proved to be a kinder pegasus than the feisty stallion had ever been. While Del wandered under the watchful eye of all the adults in this gathering, meeting the fillies and colts from the past three or four years, Drizzt was submitting to having his wings preened diligently by the mare.
Ghael had to smile every time he looked away from Del, seeing the blissful peace on Drizzt's face as the mare fussed over his wings. He knew Norvor had done that from time to time, but put it down to Norvor being family. This was a wild mare… and she seemed intent on inspecting every feather.
Honestly, the fact Rua had brought his mate and their filly, just past the year mark, spoke of Rua's intent toward Del. That wasn't surprising. Since Elin had settled firmly as a wedded elf with Lyrei, Ghael had not made any bones about the fact he meant to mentor his last-born full brother. The trio were too wild still, Bo was still apprenticed to Blackstaff, and Methri had his hands full with Tyresia.
He supposed Thyl and Lin could have stepped up, but that pair had gone traveling right after sorting out how to make a haversack spell fit something Drizzt could actually wear.
Del would be grounded with any young pegasus under four full years old, but Ghael needed time away from the southern lands anyway. He could take up residence in Silverymoon, probably in his own place, so Del could get away from being under their parents' direct supervision, for a few years.
Ghael wanted to be a little more hands-on with Drizzt, as well, and knew his youngest brother would not be allowed to travel for years still — barring Mielikki abducting him again, anyway.
"I think she's the one!" Del called, with a filly — definitely Rua's get despite the dainty conformation — planting herself fully between Del and the rest of the young.
"Yes," Drizzt called, showing he had been paying attention despite the feather-preening. Rua snorted and then neighed approval, before strutting toward Ghael with an 'I told you so' attitude. Ghael just had to laugh at his cocky stud, accepting that it had gone just as expected.
Kor sighed, watching as Drizzt's wings kept rising, the spacing of the feathers growing so that the effect was as intimidating as possible.
The squire was too stupid to realize just how frustrated and angry his words were making Drizzt, so Kor almost pushed off the wall to go over, break it up before something more than threat display started from his entirely too skillful nephew.
"Have you ever, in all your life, actually seen a drow?" Drizzt's words rang clearly, and Kor stopped. "Other than myself who doesn't count, as I am told repeatedly, even in your own diatribe."
The squire mumbled something, and the wings clamped tight to the young fighter's back at that.
"Perhaps, before you count them as 'stupid, useless beings that should be driven into their holes', you might want to consider why they are so feared. Every evil creature you just ran down as inferior has exceptions to their nature, and every single race of them has strengths to make them true dangers. Continue to dismiss them all, and you will find yourself dead if you ever venture past the safety of these walls."
With that, Drizzt turned on a heel, and leaped, powerful wings making a down-stroke that stirred the dust of the courtyard all around the squire. Kor made note of which one it was, with intent of telling Besnell to keep an eye on him. If the boy learned from the lecture, fine. But the Knights were commanded to keep an open mind and also not to underestimate the city's enemies.
More concerning was the fact his nephew was flying, and had obviously done it more than once, as Kor watched him go to the highest tower of the Palace to perch up high. Why had the boy not shared that yet, and what in hell was Kor going to do about the way the wings gave so much away?
Drizzt came into his rooms — lonely ones now that Del was off traveling with Ghael — to find Korvallen on the sofa.
"Wanted to talk to you quietly about the incident today," his uncle said.
"Hadn't realized you were watching," Drizzt said with a flick of his wing tips showing he wasn't happy about it.
"You said the right things," Kor told him, "and I told Besnell that the squire might need more lessons on understanding the true nature of being a Knight.
"You have got to do something about your wings, though! The amount of emotion they give away is ridiculous."
Drizzt shook his head. "I do control them when I hunt. I will control them when I face enemies. But to do so all the time? That would be too much like lying to people who deserve better."
Kor grunted at that; Drizzt knew his personal moral code was a little too chaotic for his uncle to understand, but having said that, Kor would drop it.
"How long have you been flying?"
Drizzt took a deep breath and went to his favorite chair, letting his wings drape along the special rests built into it. "A few days after Del left. I was lonely. There weren't any rangers or druids available to go with me into the Silverwood. And Papa was gone with you to the villages.
"I needed… something. Escape? And the next thing I knew, I was flying, all on instinct. I've practiced a few times, late at night, always within the city wards."
Kor nodded. "Then bring your spear and shield tomorrow. We'll start working out flight tactics for you."
Drizzt felt a deep relief at that, and smiled. "Thank you, uncle."
"I gave up on stopping you from what you were going to try when you talked me into sword practice. But it does mean I need to change what I teach, so you can keep adding to your abilities."
"Yes… it does."
Sharr put his sword away, set the shield down, and then came to embrace his son. "Damn good spar. You had me on points, and a bit longer, you would have just had me!"
"I try to do well by Uncle's teaching," Drizzt said, separating from his father so they could both go get water and wipe the sweat away.
"You know an official courier came this morning," Sharr began after they were walking inside, the cool of the Palace a welcome respite from the heat of the day.
"You are needed?"
"Yes. I know you wanted to start testing your abilities; do you wish to come to the High Forest?" Sharr asked.
Drizzt considered, then shook his head. "No. My duties should be here, at least at first. I have places I wish to explore more that I have learned harbor trouble, to test myself."
That got a sigh, but Sharr had expected the answer. "Promise me to come home if it is bigger than you can handle?"
"I will, Papa. I know where my allies are, and I will not risk myself much, not when my very birth means something powerful could be unleashed on the Realms any time now," Drizzt said. "I know no one is happy with me growing up so swiftly, but I do take time to live freely, to enjoy life.
"I won't let adventures rob me of that."
"I hope not, son." Sharr rested a hand on Drizzt's forearm for a moment. "Make sure you get an anklet before you leave."
"Mother started it a week ago. I think she knew."
"She always seems to," Sharr agreed, accepting that his foundling, his youngest child, was going to be out and about, risking his life.
"I will always come home," Drizzt promised, as if divining those thoughts.
"So you will."
Chapters: 2/?
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Elf Character(s), Mielikki [Forgotten Realms], Drizzt Do'Urden, Uoundeld Aerasumé
Additional Tags: Background Relationships, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Family
Summary:
Vhaeraun knew He could not keep the strange child, but He wasn't giving him to His sister. Better to remove him from drow manipulations altogether.
Foundling
Vhaeraun was torn. In preserving the male drow at birth, stealing him at the moment of sacrifice, He had carried off a brilliant coup. It had gained Him a noble House in Menzoberranzan from which to scheme as well as denying His mother one more soul. That it had also appealed to His particular ethics, of preserving drow life from senseless slaughter was secondary. Ethics were not one of his top concerns.
But now, in the heart of the Neverwinter Wood, that boy was showing all signs of having had his nature defiled by the spell performed by his mother in his birthing. Every ounce of ambition, avarice, and self-serving thought was gone from him. The boy was, without a doubt, entirely too un-drow, being of a truly Good nature.
Looking forward had never been Vhaeraun's domain, yet He itched when He strode through the boy's dreams. Something in the future was already calling the boy, a destiny that was stamped in danger. Was the danger for Himself, all drow, or merely the Lolthites? Perhaps the danger was solely meant for the boy.
Still, Vhaeraun could not order the child's death. Yet at the same time, delivering a destiny-touched good drow to His sister was anathema to His plans of the future, ones where He pulled His twin to Her proper place at His side.
Something different was necessary. Something… unusual. Yes, that would be the way to go, to touch the boy firmly with His magic, so His sister was suspicious, but to choose some foolish good deity to deal with the odd boy.
Mielikki was not unaccustomed to having Her domains invaded. Various evil deities over the years had sought to kill or capture Her, using Her love of walking the Material Plane against Her. Some protection was afforded by taking the guise of Khalreshaar, and confining Her wanderings to the lands still heavily under the sway of the Seldarine believers.
Foresight was not chief among Her gifts in any aspect, but the moment She found the toddler under an enchanted — divinely so — sleep in the woods, She thought the boy had to be bait in a trap. No drow lived here; the last entrance to the Underdark in the region that had been closed had happened centuries before.
Yet the boy was most decidedly a drow. She brought the wild animals nearer to Her, using their sense to further discern threats. Then, She turned toward divining what She could of the child's advent, and the lingering magics.
Shadow-touched, those were, but the boy himself was as innocent as all children born. Only, seeking deeper, Khalreshaar touched the soul and experienced a deep shock. The child was Good, not a trace of inherent Evil lurking there. That made this a ripe possibility, and she wove her magic around the boy, considering if She should —
— a stag warned of impending danger then. She side-stepped off the Plane, but remained near, and no arcane magic could hide the force that Her creatures saw and felt disturbing the peace of the woods. With the child shielded by a pair of does, She let Her anger and wrath descend upon the orcs, in the forms of both predators and prey driving through them with singular focus, to trample and strike as many as possible so that the elves were alerted.
She had placed Her claim, and She would watch over the drow child fondly.
With warning, the band of thirteen elves had been able to make use of the chaos the orcs seemed to be caught in. The four half-elves, in particular, had wreaked havoc on the band, and their father was quick to effectively use the fighters he'd brought with them.
After, he left the investigation to the elder pair, and took the younger pair with him to circle the kill zone. That so many different kinds of animals had plunged straight through the war band had his curiosity up for more than who had sent them.
It was Elin who spotted the does ahead, both quivering with fear of the hunters, and refusing to yield their place to flee.
"There's something between them," Ghael said, once he'd looked. "Father, stay close to Elin," he added, moving forward slowly once he'd handed his bow to his father.
"Be careful," father and brother alike said.
With every trace of wood-craft he'd learned as a boy, Ghael approached the does, eyes fixed on the thing between them, until it truly came into focus.
Black skin, white hair, wrapped securely in a blanket of… well, not spider silk, thankfully. It looked surface-woven even.
"You're protecting this?" Ghael asked, a sense of wonder at war with his paranoia. The larger, elder doe looked him dead in the eyes, and for a moment, he felt the Divine in that look. "Oh… squirrel nuts," slipped out, as he understood all of this was well above his expertise or chosen path.
The does ran then, as if released from the spell, and Ghael continued forward. He knelt carefully near the child.
"Father, there's a drow here, doesn't even look like they should be true-weaned yet."
"The day grows strange indeed," was Sharr's rejoinder before he and Elin joined Ghael. It was Sharr who noted the blanket seemed padded or bulky where it wrapped around the child's back. He reached, carefully picking the child up and that 'padding' shifted in ways that prickled along the man's nerves.
"Dad…" Elin said in a warning tone, but Sharr was already unpinning the blanket.
The padding, it seemed, was a set of fine, white down wings, much like the foals of the pegasus herd were first seen with.
"I don't think strange is enough to cover this," Ghael said in awe.
Ghael had warned their elder brothers. Still, the furor that erupted when Sharrevaliir revealed the impossible child was only slightly mitigated by the pair being a voice of reason.
"Enough." Sharr did not shout, conscious of the child sleeping in his arms. "The child is touched by a god. It was protected by the wild life, and that protection is what saved us from the ambush. No matter the color of skin and hair, I will not turn my back on an offering from the gods, and the responsibility that comes with it.
"I had already intended to step down for the rest of my youngest son's childhood; now I invoke that with the addition that I will see this feather-kissed champion raised as a child should be, and then guided to be all that it can be for its patron!"
There were grumbles, but to do less risked righteous wrath turned on their own people. Sharr delegated Dol, his chosen regent for his duties, to begin the process of their walk home, but took the time then to more fully inspect his new child. Why the goodly drow was so far from Eilistraee, he had no idea. That would need to be learned. And the fact it had been the wildlife protecting the boy, as he now knew, indicated that maybe it was not the Dark Maiden at all who had chosen this one.
As he was inspecting the child for any harm done to him, the boy finally stirred, slowly blinking his eyes -- such a shade of lavender! -- open to peer at Sharr. Fear warred with curiosity, making Sharr even more certain this was going to be unusual in all ways.
"Ilham? Ilhar?"
Despite the small size, the boy had words already. Sharr thought he'd heard those from his niece. He could guess they were parental words.
"I don't know your language, little one." He smiled, and fished out a piece of dried apple, offering it to the boy. "Eat..." He wracked his brain for the few words he did know of the drow tongue. "Cal."
The boy took the sliver, sniffing it, then put it in his mouth to suck and chew on, eyes wide and taking in all the movement around them. The wings fluttered a couple of times in reaction, but the boy never cried.
The day after the battle with the orcs — which Andy had asked his ranger aunt and one of the arch-mages to come finish investigating — the four wizard-fighters divided the party among themselves, and delivered them back to their home villages within the High Forest. Dol took responsibility for their father, strange new little brother, and the one other hunter from the Refuge of the Oaks.
Sharr had managed to convert the blanket to a sling, and had Drizzt, as the boy insisted his name was, tucked against his chest with a corner of the blanket up to protect the skin and eyes so accustomed to darker places. He did not stop to talk to anyone, going straight for Charic's home. Dol, with the other hunter, would make the report to the Elders.
"Morning sun, where are you?" he called, the endearment warning the priestess that this was going to be interesting. She came out of her still room, where she had been turning the tinctures and inspecting those that might need replacement.
"I thought we sent you out to hunt a stag," she said in bemusement.
"Please don't be too loud or fierce," Sharr said, undoing the sling and helping Drizzt settle on his own two feet on the floor. Wide purple eyes stared up at a new stranger, before the wings flattened to his back and he reached for Sharr's hand for reassurance.
"Lady bless us all," Charic breathed, understanding her co-leader's warning to her. "He's tiny! And those wings!"
"The boys can feel shadow-magic residue on him, but fresher divine energy over top of it," Sharr said. "Can you determine who he should be raised for? I know sometimes, with a feather-kissed, when they are born this way, they aren't yet committed to a single one."
"I can meditate when he naps, and see if answers come to me then." Charic knelt down on the floor, reaching out to the tiny winged drow child. When he slowly let go of Sharr's hand and came to her, she rested her hand on his face, feeling the innate goodness radiating through him. "The elders are going to be in an uproar."
"No doubt. Dol will handle them. Now, more than ever, I need to take Del, and Drizzt here, to Silverymoon," Sharr said.
As if on cue, Del came racing in and pulled up to a stop as he saw the boy with his mama. "What…"
"Who," Charic corrected gently. "His name is Drizzt. Doesn't seem to speak our language."
Del dropped on the floor, staring at the strange child, eyes full of wonder. "Is he my little brother now? Or do we have to give him to my aunt?"
Sharr smiled. "I plan to raise him, unless she objects, so yes, he is your little brother for now."
Del opened his arms, reaching… and after a moment's hesitation, Drizzt left the safety of Charic's arms to go, not understanding any of the words, but drawn to the good emotions around him.
Charic had determined Khalreshaar or Mielikki (as it felt blurred between the aspects) had laid a light claim and protection on the boy. Del was happily telling the boy names of things, helping develop the use of Common, since they would be going to a city that used it more than Sylvan. Sharr saw to wrapping up his affairs, not yet reaching out to Qilué, even as he realized that he very much wanted to help raise Drizzt to adulthood.
Maybe it was selfish of him, but the touch of what had to be Vhaeraun on the boy was surely reason enough to keep him away from Eilistraee's people as a safety measure. And the Forest Queen, under either guise, was sacred in Silverymoon.
Ghael was the one to take the trio to his mother's city, amused at how much the small boy's wings fluttered at the change of placement. Elué, bless her, had already dimmed the lights in the room they arrived at, and was waiting. She kissed both of her sons' cheeks, then her consort, before being introduced to her new son.
"I did already speak to my sister, love," she said firmly. "And Qi does not feel she can provide he safety he should have, even as she regrets it."
"Ahh, well then." Sharr let Drizzt get down, smiling indulgently when the boy went to take Del's hand instead. "We need to introduce him to the Ladyservant."
"He has been warned," Alustriel answered that, but her face was soft at seeing her last-born being so indulgent of the toddler's smaller steps, of how well Del was bonding to the boy. "Welcome home, all of you. Ghael, I had a request for you to visit the Harpers while here."
"I will do that later today," he said. "Nosy busybodies probably want an update on the weirdness," he added in amusement.
"Likely. Now, let's go get the boys settled into your room. When is Korvallen expected?" Alustriel asked.
"When Dove and Laeral are satisfied they can't learn anything else," Sharr said. "He'll ask one of the boys to bring him."
"How is he handling this?"
The laughter from Ghael, the grin from Del, and Sharr's rueful look were a partial answer.
"It's a child, so he's being fierce… but the drow part is making him want to stay hands-off," Sharr admitted.
"That won't last, but let us hope it doesn't take a century."
Norvor had been irritated enough by his elf teleporting to the north to actually land in a courtyard of the palace, and unleash the bellow of an indignant pegasus. In short order, Sharr came down to him, ready to placate his friend, with Drizzt in an improved sling that supported but didn't push the wings in against his back.
Norvor, whose eyes were not as sharp as they had been, had been stamping and making noises of his discontent until Sharr was within a few paces… and then he saw the white hair and fuzzy foal-wings.
"This is why I had to teleport. He's too young to be in the wind yet," Sharr said, slowly undoing the sling so that Drizzt could be on his own two feet. The boy toddled right over to the stallion, fearless in this, and completely full of wonder at the giant thing with wings.
Slowly, Norvor investigated, with neck outstretched, until he was satisfied the drow child really was a winged creature like himself. With care, the old stallion brought himself down to lie upon the flagstones of the courtyard, making it easier for the boy to explore him. Sharr relished the moment that Drizzt tucked in under a wing, with both his old friend and his new son thinking this was perfect for a nap.
Korvallen did show up about a week later, brought by Andy, and accompanied by Kolarven. Before anyone could find out why the younger fighter had come, Kolarven had given excuses and vanished into the city. Andy likewise went his own way after greeting his father, a line of research percolating in his head.
"Village was stifling them," Korvallen told Sharr, as they walked up to the suite on the family league. "Wants to make something of themself, without me pulling strings."
Sharr smiled indulgently at that. "Then I will look the other way I if I see their name on any enlistment papers. Been lending Besnell a hand as he gets his head wrapped around the duties of leading the Knights."
"More likely to go for the Silver Watch, I think," was Kor's opinion.
"They are a people person, and the Watch has that," Sharr agreed.
Sharr was watching closely as they entered the room and was amused when Kor flinched slightly at seeing the drow child, wings carefully tucked back, showing Del as he worked a shiny pebble across his fingers in a dexterity exercise children twice his age would have struggled with.
Del actually looking at the pair coming in broke Drizzt's concentration and it fell, before he scooped it up and turned to look. The droop of the little wings said everything about Drizzt remembering the cranky elf.
"Uncle," Del said, gently tugging Drizzt back into his lap, careful of the wings as always.
"Hello, Del. Drizzt."
"Hi," the little one said, shy about it to the point of turning his face into Del's chest.
Sharr could see the struggle in his heart-brother, before Kor moved and sat cross-legged in front of the boys.
"Show me?" Kor invited the small drow, when Drizzt looked at him, and that made Drizzt take the pebble back on a 'walk' across his fingers, but on the other hand this time.
"Does he always switch?"
"Uses both hands for anything and everything," Sharr answered.
"Well." Kor smiled, a tight line, at the small boy. "Good," he added, and Drizzt's wings fluffed out more fully, satisfied by that.
When Drizzt was ten, Del helped smooth and braid his hair, got him into a good tunic, one of the pretty ones with silver threads all through the green rippling colors.
"Is it a festival? I didn't hear about one," Drizzt asked his brother. They had, just this past spring, moved out of Papa's and Uncle's suite to one of their own on the same hall.
"No, little brother. You get to meet another aunt and uncle, and even a cousin, tonight. Mother let Taern take over evenfeast, and she will be there with Papa."
"What about Uncle?"
"No, Uncle is busy elsewhere." Del didn't necessarily lie, but he knew Kor had volunteered to help at the local temple of Sehanine Moonbow just to escape the dinner.
Drizzt's wings flicked a little, and Del remembered he needed to believe harder in the truthful answers he gave, even if they were incomplete. Fortunately, Drizzt let it go.
"Alright, stay clean, scamp, while I put my nice tunic on. Think you can put your good shoes on without help?"
The wings fluttered even more indignantly this time. "Of course!"
When Del came back to find his little brother, Drizzt was in shoes, and looking a little uncomfortable about it.
"Are they too small?" Del asked in concern.
"No, just heavy and blocky and I don't like them."
"Ahh, well it's just for a few hours."
"I can do it," Drizzt, normally barefoot, wearing pants and little else, while scampering in the gardens or the Sacred Glade, would be civilized. It had to be important after all.
Drizzt was not as shy as he had once been with strangers, but after several years of not seeing people like himself, and having learned why drow were feared and reviled, he found his wings tightening around him, and wished they were big enough to truly cloak him from being seen.
Three drow sat there with Mother and Papa, and they were smiling, but the red eyes reminded him of the long-ago when he had lived in mostly dark spaces. The lights were at the low level Mother used when she was teaching him for long times, so Drizzt knew they weren't used to bright light like he was.
He couldn't imagine not going out in the bright sun and feeling it warming his wings even if it did sometimes sting his eyes and he couldn't see as well.
"Drizzt, do you want to sit with Del, or come up here by one of us?" Mother asked, and he reached for his brother's hand for answer. "Alright. Sit with us, both of you, so we can introduce our family guests."
Drow. Other drow who were family? And Del had said that, earlier. So it couldn't be terrible, Drizzt reminded himself.
Once he was settled, wings draped over the low-backed chair, and Del was right next to him, he peered more closely at the trio. He thought the one woman was very close in age to his big brother, that the other one looked sad even when she smiled at him, and that the man was mostly curious.
"Drizzt, this is my youngest sister, Qilué Veladorn, her consort Elkantar Ilium, and their daughter Ysolde," Alustriel began. "I do ask that you not talk openly about meeting drow, though you can speak of them by name."
Drizzt nodded; he understood. He'd grown used to people being shocked by him, and knew that drow were supposed to be dangerous and evil.
"Tell us how your day was, Drizzt?" Sharr invited once food had been served to all of them by the unseen servants.
"I started by keeping vigil in the Knight's courtyard, and then Uncle Korvallen let me practice throwing knives," Drizzt started. "Del took me to the Glade for lessons there. I slept in the Glade for a little bit while he went to the Vault.
"After, we came back and I joined some of the pages for their lessons and games. Then we got ready for dinner," he said. "It was a quiet day."
"He didn't fall out of a tree once," Del said, getting a mutinous look from his little brother.
"I don't fall. I drop and see if my wings can slow me yet," the boy said with all the offended dignity of a ten year old.
~Weapon practice already, sister?~ Qilué sent in concern.
~He gets bored with dexterity exercises, and feels a need to do something. Knives were a compromise,~ Alustriel sent back.
"You sound like you stay busy," Elkantar offered.
"I don't like to be bored," Drizzt said. "Learning, practicing? Make me happy."
"I make certain he spends a good bit of time with the children of the palace," Del said warmly. "But yeah, little brother gets restless if he's not doing something."
"Do you like being out in the open?" Ysolde asked.
"No better place to be! Up in the trees, running on grass? Best thing ever," Drizzt said. "Papa and Uncle even take me into the Silverwood sometimes, and I see different animals and find out how they are doing!"
"That is a hard thing for many drow to be happy with," Elkantar said. "I am glad it comes easy to you."
"Mielikki says She's happy about it, that I can go day or night into the outside and be near Her," Drizzt answered happily.
The startled response of the drow went unnoticed, because Drizzt had realized one of his favorite stuffed mushrooms was on his plate and attacked it with his eating tine.
Sharr just quietly nodded at them, that yes, his youngest child had a goddess who talked directly to him.
"I would have expected Khalreshaar," Qilué offered after getting past the shock.
"Sometimes, but this is Mielikki's home," Drizzt told her. "She is very busy, but tries to have time for me to explore."
"Lessons in the Glade are not always with the people, but sometimes the creatures that live there," Del said. "It was a shock, the first time I found him sleeping in the local badger's den."
"I suppose that would be," Ysolde said.
"Ysolde, why don't you tell Drizzt a little about our project near the coast, so he can see what our lives are like?" Qilué invited, studying the gods-touched boy a while longer, and deciding that they had made the right choice. No nature loving elf or drow would ever be comfortable under rock, like many of their shelters were.
Growing Up in Silverymoon
The note that arrived for Sharr was unusual in that the acolyte of the Sacred Glade looked a shade nervous and also overawed at once. He broke the seal, having noted it was from the Ladyservant himself, and read the words. A brief frown touched his lips, but honestly, they should have expected this at some point.
"Please tell the Ladyservant we understand, and will be patient for his return."
"Yes, Saer," the acolyte said with a little relief showing now. She saw herself out, and Sharr went to find his other son in residence. Del was in the library, magical tomes all around him, as he studied.
"Son, you don't have to go pick up Drizzt this evening," Sharr said softly once his son had noticed him and stopped making notes.
"Did they bring him home?"
"No. Mielikki has taken him from the Glade, and we must wait for Her to bring him back. The Ladyservant anticipates at least a few days. They will see to returning him here."
Del frowned fully, and did not let go of that immediately. "He's still a baby!"
"His life is Hers," Sharr said, not liking it, but reminding his son that duty was not something they could go against.
"Yes, Papa."
When Mielikki had come for him, Drizzt had been excited. He might be thirteen years old, and far too big to be picked up, but he didn't even protest the ten foot tall goddess doing just that and tree-walking them to this place, Her home on the Material Plane, in the Unicorn Run. He'd heard of the place of course, being very eager to learn everything about the goddess who had chosen him to be Her champion.
She did set him on his own two feet, and smiled when his wings did the flutter of balancing him. They reached past his waist now, though they still had a lot of downy feathers mixed in.
"You have grown a lot since I first saw you, Drizzt. You are always questioning My rangers and druids who come to teach you. As I have arranged time to be free to you, what questions would you ask me?"
His eyes lit up and he knew it, his smile so broad, and the goddess found Herself receiving a warm, intense hug where he could reach Her before the words began to spill in an excited torrent.
Drizzt was gone for three days, so far as Silverymoon was concerned. That he had put on a little height and his wings were less juvenile told the family and his teachers that he'd been gone for far longer. He did not, however, seem to wish to speak of his journey at his patron deity's side, only saying he had learned much.
"Someone should check on Aunt Laeral," he did mention to Del, who dutifully reported it back to their parents.
When that turned into a multiple person affair, to include not just Syluné but the Simbul herself, Elué came to see her youngest child.
"Drizzt, how did you know that Laeral needed to be checked on?"
He met her eyes, his wings flattening to his back. "We explored, and there was a place where magics were being used under the ground, the kind that can poison the wilds." He grimaced. "Mielikki knew the Nine used that general area.
"I hoped it was her friends, not her, but Del told me she was in the middle of it all?"
"I wish he hadn't heard that part to pass on, but yes, she was." Elué opened her arms, and Drizzt came to her, tucking in as best he could. "Syluné took her home. She will be well. So will her friends, in time. I was worried you had seen her."
Drizzt shook his head. "No, just felt a sickening of that area, so close to Her home."
"You did well, my son," she praised, then sat holding him until he could wrestle his emotions to a resting state.
Drizzt often made the walk back from the Glade alone now, having argued that he was a little older than the younger pages who moved back and forth on their own in the city, developmentally. He knew he was safe in his mother's city, so the first prickle along his spine almost went unnoticed.
Almost.
Much of his time with Mielikki had been learning the wilds in full, but She had also exposed him to dangers, to help him hone the in-born sense of good intent versus evil intent. The frisson on his spine was of the latter nature, and it was all he could do to keep from mantling his wings.
That would betray his awareness.
He focused, like his Lady had been teaching him, narrowing down where the person was, and then changed his path by turning down a side street. His body language implied he'd meant to turn, while his ears caught the sound of someone picking up pace.
Then he heard the 'thwip' of a dart being expelled, making him bring his wings around himself. Something hit one of them, but while they hid his chest and hands, he was pulling the pair of throwing knives he always carried.
Instinct made me him throw his wings out and high, startling two humans he did not know, both of whom had long hunting knives in hand, and swords on their belts that might come into play if this turned even uglier.
The one spell Mielikki had deemed him ready for, a variation on the light cantrip, came to mind and he quickly cast it. The sudden flare of light in a shaded alley both inconvenienced his would be attackers, and acted as a beacon to the city folk nearby. He slipped his knives back away, choosing not to throw as the pair attempted to escape, only to be slowed and pummeled by those who came to see.
Neither managed to get too far, before a pair of Silver Watch members wrapped entangling bolas around their ankles. After, it was just a matter of securing them, and Drizzt finding the dart that his wings had protected him from, so the incident could be investigated.
Sharr came to retrieve his son from the Silver Watch, amused despite his anger, to see Drizzt was regaling the constable present with a tale about rescuing a badger from the vat it had gotten stuck in recently. The messenger had come, explained the incident, and while Sharr came for Drizzt, a trio of Knights, two squires, and one Spellguard were retrieving the pair of attackers for questioning in the Glade.
Elué could have claimed precedence, but ultimately the clergy of the Sacred Glade of Mielikki would need to have a say. Sharr even agreed it had been best to turn the matter over from the beginning. He didn't even say anything about the fact Korvallen and Methri were following more discreetly, so that he and Drizzt had extra protection.
"Hello Papa," Drizzt said, giving that cheerful smile he met most of he world with. The wings even looked relaxed, so Sharr held his hands out, and his son came to be hugged.
"Thank you, Saer," Sharr told the constable.
"Always a delight to see the young lord," she told Sharr. "Take me serious, lad, and get you an arms-man for your walks. We need the Lady's Grace to see you grow up all the way!"
"I'm thinking on it," Drizzt promised, before leaving with his father. "I do not want to go back to a Leaf or a Needle escorting me, and Brother has complicated lessons now," he said to Sharr once there was a door between him and the constable.
"Still, you were attacked, and that means you are marked as a threat by someone. Or it might just be an attempt to harm your mother," Sharr chided.
Drizzt turned his face toward Sharr, but kept walking. "I want to learn swords."
"You're only … well, I'd say thirteen, but with the height and smoother feathers, you might be almost sixteen now. Still too young, even for a half-elf, let alone a full one," Sharr said. "And 'swords'?"
"Twin curving blades, like Mielikki. I want to master Her weapons." Drizzt tipped his chin up. "A noble drow would begin learning the basics of his future craft at sixteen, uncle Elkantar said."
"And he also said it was ridiculous to rush into such," Sharr said, grimacing when Drizzt's wings mantled a little. "Son, it was one attack."
"There will be more, and anyone assigned to protect me would have their blood on my hands eventually, if I am attacked again. I only want to learn, and it would mean me staying in the Palace more," Drizzt wheedled.
"You convince Kor," was Sharr's final word on the matter.
Korvallen had not been warned what Drizzt wanted to discuss with him, but there was something to his nephew's body language that promised this was not going to go easily. He continued inspecting his sword, have oiled it today and checked its edge, making the boy sit patiently.
Terrifyingly, Drizzt was doing just that. There was no rustle of feathers in impatience, just quiet, dogged determination to obey Korvallen's dictum of 'wait'.
When he at last could not possibly drag out the care of his sword longer, Korvallen sheathed it and looked at the youth on the bench, noting the wings were not truly relaxed, but weren't fully mantling with whatever Drizzt was feeling either.
"Alright, boy. What do you want?"
"To learn weapons. Swords specifically. I know the basics of archery and knives. I should know spear, maybe shield, but I truly wish to learn the art of the curved swords."
Curved — ahh. He meant to emulate his goddess then, in Her weaponry.
"Too young. Don't care you spent years away in the three days you were with Khalreshaar. You're not full grown."
Drizzt's jaw shifted to that stubborn line that was far more like his own than Kor liked admitting.
"I should be learning the footwork, the motions, at the very least now, even if I can't choose my adult weapons yet. Because I need to be the best I can be, to seek my eventual destiny," Drizzt stated in his calmest voice, and the wings remained still. "I will be a ranger. I will also be a true fighter.
"I don't want to waste the time I could be ingraining the motions in muscle, Uncle."
Korvallen frowned, looking at the half-grown boy again. "Why rush to your destiny, Drizzt? We have no idea when or how you will be called on to face the trials you were feather-kissed for."
"And if it is sooner than later? If Mielikki chose to give me personal training so young, would I not be remiss if I do not train now? Better to learn, and not need it soon, then be unprepared when the time comes."
"Is this because of those two adherents of Talona?" Kor demanded.
"Yes. And more. I am known to exist. What better way to eliminate a deity's advantage than to maim or kill me in childhood? If they send humans, we now know they can evade the protections of the city."
Dammit, but the boy was making entirely too much sense.
"Footwork, motions, yes. Go see the palace craftsmen to have wooden blades made to meet your wishes. You will not, hear me, practice with steel until I say so." Kor held the boy's eyes, but Drizzt smiled, a blaze of joy, and Kor knew that his nephew was intent on this path.
Might as well embrace it, Kor decided, before he found an inferior teacher and picked up bad habits.
"Thank you, Uncle," Drizzt said warmly.
Del smiled at his little brother testing the fit of his new armor. The restriction on using Steel had lasted three full years. Now, at twenty or so, Drizzt had graduated to being allowed to wear the lacquered wood-and-leather plates that had been designed to protect him without impeding his wings at all. Elin had put a lot of the design work into it, with his consort making a very small model of it in foil and wire to show the armorer.
"So you're going with me to meet the herd?"
"Yes." Drizzt flexed his wings again, and smiled at his brother. "Elin is brilliant. This works perfectly.
"Is Papa going with us?"
They had grieved Norvor's passing not long after Drizzt began learning weapons. By Norvor's own wishes, several of his feathers had been harvested to be used for Drizzt, should his own wings become injured. It had driven the feather-kissed up into a tree in the Glade to know that, and he'd stayed there for two days after, just existing inside of nature. Knowing a pegasus loved that intensely had made Drizzt swear never to bond one. The losing would hurt him too much.
"He's not ready," Del said sadly. "Ghael is coming for me. He can teleport three as easily as two."
"Wait, didn't Rua abandon him to go mate a couple of years ago?" Drizzt asked, grinning. "We'll get to meet Rua's offspring!"
Del laughed. "I'm kind of hoping whichever it is likes me. Even if they would be too young for me to learn to fly with, I think it would be good for my first to be the offspring of one of my brother's pegasi."
"I think so too." Drizzt returned to testing the armor fit, putting his sword belt on, then his pack, a modified haversack spell having been applied to one designed to be worn at the small of the back, its rigidity only extending part way up so it did not interfere with the lower connection point of his wings.
"I think both of our brothers did well designing your gear," Del said, taking in the full effect.
"Me too."
Ruakerym's mate proved to be a kinder pegasus than the feisty stallion had ever been. While Del wandered under the watchful eye of all the adults in this gathering, meeting the fillies and colts from the past three or four years, Drizzt was submitting to having his wings preened diligently by the mare.
Ghael had to smile every time he looked away from Del, seeing the blissful peace on Drizzt's face as the mare fussed over his wings. He knew Norvor had done that from time to time, but put it down to Norvor being family. This was a wild mare… and she seemed intent on inspecting every feather.
Honestly, the fact Rua had brought his mate and their filly, just past the year mark, spoke of Rua's intent toward Del. That wasn't surprising. Since Elin had settled firmly as a wedded elf with Lyrei, Ghael had not made any bones about the fact he meant to mentor his last-born full brother. The trio were too wild still, Bo was still apprenticed to Blackstaff, and Methri had his hands full with Tyresia.
He supposed Thyl and Lin could have stepped up, but that pair had gone traveling right after sorting out how to make a haversack spell fit something Drizzt could actually wear.
Del would be grounded with any young pegasus under four full years old, but Ghael needed time away from the southern lands anyway. He could take up residence in Silverymoon, probably in his own place, so Del could get away from being under their parents' direct supervision, for a few years.
Ghael wanted to be a little more hands-on with Drizzt, as well, and knew his youngest brother would not be allowed to travel for years still — barring Mielikki abducting him again, anyway.
"I think she's the one!" Del called, with a filly — definitely Rua's get despite the dainty conformation — planting herself fully between Del and the rest of the young.
"Yes," Drizzt called, showing he had been paying attention despite the feather-preening. Rua snorted and then neighed approval, before strutting toward Ghael with an 'I told you so' attitude. Ghael just had to laugh at his cocky stud, accepting that it had gone just as expected.
Kor sighed, watching as Drizzt's wings kept rising, the spacing of the feathers growing so that the effect was as intimidating as possible.
The squire was too stupid to realize just how frustrated and angry his words were making Drizzt, so Kor almost pushed off the wall to go over, break it up before something more than threat display started from his entirely too skillful nephew.
"Have you ever, in all your life, actually seen a drow?" Drizzt's words rang clearly, and Kor stopped. "Other than myself who doesn't count, as I am told repeatedly, even in your own diatribe."
The squire mumbled something, and the wings clamped tight to the young fighter's back at that.
"Perhaps, before you count them as 'stupid, useless beings that should be driven into their holes', you might want to consider why they are so feared. Every evil creature you just ran down as inferior has exceptions to their nature, and every single race of them has strengths to make them true dangers. Continue to dismiss them all, and you will find yourself dead if you ever venture past the safety of these walls."
With that, Drizzt turned on a heel, and leaped, powerful wings making a down-stroke that stirred the dust of the courtyard all around the squire. Kor made note of which one it was, with intent of telling Besnell to keep an eye on him. If the boy learned from the lecture, fine. But the Knights were commanded to keep an open mind and also not to underestimate the city's enemies.
More concerning was the fact his nephew was flying, and had obviously done it more than once, as Kor watched him go to the highest tower of the Palace to perch up high. Why had the boy not shared that yet, and what in hell was Kor going to do about the way the wings gave so much away?
Drizzt came into his rooms — lonely ones now that Del was off traveling with Ghael — to find Korvallen on the sofa.
"Wanted to talk to you quietly about the incident today," his uncle said.
"Hadn't realized you were watching," Drizzt said with a flick of his wing tips showing he wasn't happy about it.
"You said the right things," Kor told him, "and I told Besnell that the squire might need more lessons on understanding the true nature of being a Knight.
"You have got to do something about your wings, though! The amount of emotion they give away is ridiculous."
Drizzt shook his head. "I do control them when I hunt. I will control them when I face enemies. But to do so all the time? That would be too much like lying to people who deserve better."
Kor grunted at that; Drizzt knew his personal moral code was a little too chaotic for his uncle to understand, but having said that, Kor would drop it.
"How long have you been flying?"
Drizzt took a deep breath and went to his favorite chair, letting his wings drape along the special rests built into it. "A few days after Del left. I was lonely. There weren't any rangers or druids available to go with me into the Silverwood. And Papa was gone with you to the villages.
"I needed… something. Escape? And the next thing I knew, I was flying, all on instinct. I've practiced a few times, late at night, always within the city wards."
Kor nodded. "Then bring your spear and shield tomorrow. We'll start working out flight tactics for you."
Drizzt felt a deep relief at that, and smiled. "Thank you, uncle."
"I gave up on stopping you from what you were going to try when you talked me into sword practice. But it does mean I need to change what I teach, so you can keep adding to your abilities."
"Yes… it does."
Sharr put his sword away, set the shield down, and then came to embrace his son. "Damn good spar. You had me on points, and a bit longer, you would have just had me!"
"I try to do well by Uncle's teaching," Drizzt said, separating from his father so they could both go get water and wipe the sweat away.
"You know an official courier came this morning," Sharr began after they were walking inside, the cool of the Palace a welcome respite from the heat of the day.
"You are needed?"
"Yes. I know you wanted to start testing your abilities; do you wish to come to the High Forest?" Sharr asked.
Drizzt considered, then shook his head. "No. My duties should be here, at least at first. I have places I wish to explore more that I have learned harbor trouble, to test myself."
That got a sigh, but Sharr had expected the answer. "Promise me to come home if it is bigger than you can handle?"
"I will, Papa. I know where my allies are, and I will not risk myself much, not when my very birth means something powerful could be unleashed on the Realms any time now," Drizzt said. "I know no one is happy with me growing up so swiftly, but I do take time to live freely, to enjoy life.
"I won't let adventures rob me of that."
"I hope not, son." Sharr rested a hand on Drizzt's forearm for a moment. "Make sure you get an anklet before you leave."
"Mother started it a week ago. I think she knew."
"She always seems to," Sharr agreed, accepting that his foundling, his youngest child, was going to be out and about, risking his life.
"I will always come home," Drizzt promised, as if divining those thoughts.
"So you will."
Exploring Together
May. 14th, 2024 03:27 pmsenmutExploring Together (100 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Drizzt Do'Urden/Original Elf Character
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s)
Additional Tags: Drabble, Past Rape/Non-con, First Time
Summary:
"Have you ever?"
"Not with a man."
"But a woman?"
"Not by choice."
Sharr flinched a little, more at the matter-of-fact tone Drizzt had used than the act itself. That, he had suspected and raged at inside his heart.
"We don't have to."
"I want to understand. I want to try."
Drizzt rested his hand on Sharr's face, eyes locked, with all of his earnest wish to pursue this showing.
"You get to say no. To say stop. To end this, if at any time you don't like what is happening."
"I know. I trust you."
Together, they began exploring.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Drizzt Do'Urden/Original Elf Character
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s)
Additional Tags: Drabble, Past Rape/Non-con, First Time
Summary:
When Drizzt is ready to move forward, Sharr is still careful.
Exploring Together
"Have you ever?"
"Not with a man."
"But a woman?"
"Not by choice."
Sharr flinched a little, more at the matter-of-fact tone Drizzt had used than the act itself. That, he had suspected and raged at inside his heart.
"We don't have to."
"I want to understand. I want to try."
Drizzt rested his hand on Sharr's face, eyes locked, with all of his earnest wish to pursue this showing.
"You get to say no. To say stop. To end this, if at any time you don't like what is happening."
"I know. I trust you."
Together, they began exploring.
2024 no_true_pair mini round
Mar. 31st, 2024 10:17 amsenmutThis will be posted to SqWA soon, but here are the ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
no_true_pair mini round ficlets.
Title: Learning Jokes
Fandom: Forgotten Realms/Legend of Drizzt
Prompt: March Twenty-Sixth - 1 & 2 bad jokes
Content advisory: Age Gap (background), Power imbalance (background), bad humor
Characters/Relationship: Drizzt Do'Urden/Alustriel Silverhand
Word Count: 100
( Learning Jokes )
Title: Temperature Check
Fandom: Forgotten Realms/Legend of Drizzt
Prompt: March Twenty-Seventh - 2 & 4 play a game
Content advisory: Age Gap (background), Power imbalance (background)
Characters/Relationship: Catti-brie/Alustriel Silverhand
Word Count: 200
( Temperature Check )
Title: Into the Underdark
Fandom: Forgotten Realms/Legend of Drizzt
Prompt: March Twenty-Eighth - 1 & 3 trying something new
Content advisory: Age Gap (background), Polyamory (background)
Characters/Relationship: Sharrevaliir (Canon-inspired OC)/Drizzt Do'Urden
Word Count: 250
( Into the Underdark )
Title: Shaky Footing
Fandom: Forgotten Realms/Legend of Drizzt
Prompt: March Twenty-Ninth - 1 & 4 "that didn't go as expected"
Content advisory: None
Characters/Relationship: Catti-brie/Drizzt Do'Urden
Word Count: 100
( Shaky Footing )
Title: In the Dark
Fandom: Forgotten Realms/Legend of Drizzt
Prompt: March Thirtieth - 2 & 3 with the title "In the Dark"
Content advisory: Graphic depiction of late pregnancy
Characters/Relationship: Sharrevaliir (Canon-inspired OC)/Alustriel Silverhand
Word Count: 250
( In the Dark )
Title: Magic-Twisted Fates
Fandom: Forgotten Realms/Legend of Drizzt
Prompt: March Thirty-First - 3 helps turn 4's bad day around
Content advisory: Time Travel, Changing History, Polyamory
Characters/Relationship: Sharrevaliir (Canon-inspired OC) & Catti-brie
Word Count: 1,266
( Magic-Twisted Fates )
no_true_pair mini round ficlets.Title: Learning Jokes
Fandom: Forgotten Realms/Legend of Drizzt
Prompt: March Twenty-Sixth - 1 & 2 bad jokes
Content advisory: Age Gap (background), Power imbalance (background), bad humor
Characters/Relationship: Drizzt Do'Urden/Alustriel Silverhand
Word Count: 100
( Learning Jokes )
Title: Temperature Check
Fandom: Forgotten Realms/Legend of Drizzt
Prompt: March Twenty-Seventh - 2 & 4 play a game
Content advisory: Age Gap (background), Power imbalance (background)
Characters/Relationship: Catti-brie/Alustriel Silverhand
Word Count: 200
( Temperature Check )
Title: Into the Underdark
Fandom: Forgotten Realms/Legend of Drizzt
Prompt: March Twenty-Eighth - 1 & 3 trying something new
Content advisory: Age Gap (background), Polyamory (background)
Characters/Relationship: Sharrevaliir (Canon-inspired OC)/Drizzt Do'Urden
Word Count: 250
( Into the Underdark )
Title: Shaky Footing
Fandom: Forgotten Realms/Legend of Drizzt
Prompt: March Twenty-Ninth - 1 & 4 "that didn't go as expected"
Content advisory: None
Characters/Relationship: Catti-brie/Drizzt Do'Urden
Word Count: 100
( Shaky Footing )
Title: In the Dark
Fandom: Forgotten Realms/Legend of Drizzt
Prompt: March Thirtieth - 2 & 3 with the title "In the Dark"
Content advisory: Graphic depiction of late pregnancy
Characters/Relationship: Sharrevaliir (Canon-inspired OC)/Alustriel Silverhand
Word Count: 250
( In the Dark )
Title: Magic-Twisted Fates
Fandom: Forgotten Realms/Legend of Drizzt
Prompt: March Thirty-First - 3 helps turn 4's bad day around
Content advisory: Time Travel, Changing History, Polyamory
Characters/Relationship: Sharrevaliir (Canon-inspired OC) & Catti-brie
Word Count: 1,266
( Magic-Twisted Fates )
Tags:
- au: canon divergence,
- au: time travel,
- author: sharpest_asp,
- category: f/f,
- category: f/m,
- category: m/m,
- character: alustriel silverhand,
- character: catti-brie battlehammer,
- character: drizzt do'urden,
- character: sharrevaliir,
- pairing: alustriel/catti-brie,
- pairing: alustriel/drizzt,
- pairing: alustriel/sharrevaliir,
- pairing: catti-brie/drizzt,
- pairing: drizzt/sharrevaliir,
- rating: general audiences,
- warning: no warnings apply
Fic: Sharr Finds Drizzt
Jan. 13th, 2024 10:56 amsenmutTime Trapped (13248 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 9/9
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Alustriel Silverhand/Original Character(s), Drizzt Do'Urden/Original Elf Character, Drizzt Do'Urden/Alustriel Silverhand
Characters: Original Elf Character(s), Drizzt Do'Urden
Additional Tags: Ensemble Cast, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Soulmates
Summary:
Thirteen elves and half-elves, clad in the armor and weapons of a ritual hunt, made their way along the outer edge of the High Forest. A pure white stag had been seen in the vicinity of Stone Stand, and that had given weight to the need to hold the Hunt.
The Lore Keeper, chosen leader of the Hunt, was ahead of all the rest. His bright laughter had been heard frequently on the journey, as he had four of his sons and some of his oldest friends with him. Soon they would grow quiet, become serious about the Hunt, as befitted a ritual in honor of Corellon, but there was joy for now.
None of them heard or smelled the slightest danger until too late. While the war-band of orcs all but appeared in weapons' reach of the various elven-blooded hunters, the one lich that was with them immediately threw his spell. A cloud of magical blades homed in on the Lore Keeper, each one holding a component of the second spell he had crafted.
Two things happened almost simultaneously as the shards embedded in the elf. The lich cast the activating spell, and he was hit by a desperate disintegration spell from the elf's eldest son's wand. That son took a heavy blow from the orc nearest him, but he hardly noticed, as his father vanished from the battlefield in shadow-touched magic.
Syluné, upon being told, took efficient charge of the family, working alongside Charic who put her own worry aside to tend the injured. She convinced Laeral to go reinforce Silverymoon's defenses, anticipating an attack on her younger sister's territory. She had both Dove and Storm go to keep a closer eye on Shadowdale in her absence, and sent word to the younger sons of Sharrevaliir to guard themselves well.
Andelver was both recovering — having been the worst injured — and wracked by guilt.
"If I hadn't used the wand so fast…" he began when Syluné came to see him. She put a finger over his lips.
"We will investigate the residual magic. All hope is not lost, my nephew."
"I hope, Aunt, you are correct."
1340s DR
Drizzt Do'Urden had been tracking a wounded boar, intent on either convincing it to rest for treatment, or to put it out of danger to others. Not long after he finished the hunt, regretting the necessity, he decided that camping to make the most of the meat was the better choice to make.
Guenhwyvar approved of the idea, and was lounging nearby as Drizzt built up the smoking racks, working as swiftly as he could, before he lost too much of the meat. He wouldn't need it all, but he could make a gift of it to the closest village in the dark of night.
It felt like he'd only just managed to get the last of it over the smoke when Guen raised her head in the direction of the thicker woods. Drizzt looked that way as well, and felt he needed to go investigate. Double-checking that he had built the fire safely, in a rock-ringed pit away from other vegetation, before taking up a jog.
Guen loped along beside him, nor was it long before they found the source. An elf, bleeding from multiple points, unconscious, was just inside the tree line there. None of the injuries looked critical, so Drizzt scooped the man up, carrying him back to camp. Guen kept watch but her nose agreed with Drizzt's unconscious appraisal of the scene.
There had been no tracks, nothing out of place, and the marks on the plants nearest to the elf had been magic-seared, something destructive but instantaneous.
Once at camp, Drizzt put the elf on his own bedroll in the shade of the one tree there, and saw to getting the armor out of his way. Guenhwyvar picked up Drizzt's pack and brought it closer without being asked. It took almost as much time as prepping the boar originally, but Drizzt got every cut cleaned and covered with his particular blend of protective, healing salve.
"Nothing near him, magic traces, none of these cuts were deep, none of them had debris — Guen, what in the abyss have I found other than a faerie that's going to hate me on sight once he wakes?"
The panther pushed her head into her drow's chest, loving on him even as she was feeling the need to go home.
"Yes, I know. Go. I'll be cautious." Drizzt gave her a quick scratching before she did take herself back to the Astral Plane. Drizzt split his time between watching the elf sleep and making sure the fire kept smoking correctly, wondering how badly this rejection was going to go.
The elf began to stir about an hour after Guen left him, and Drizzt came with his waterskin, braced for the violent reaction, but intent on being true to his nature.
"Peace, elf. Lie still."
The head turned toward his voice, of course, and Drizzt saw the eyes go wild as they saw him.
"I will point out you are lying on my gear, treated with my resources," Drizzt said calmly. "Please weigh that before acting." He did not, however, approach closer, the waterskin held out in front of him as explanation of his approach.
"I… you are drow, why?"
"I am a drow. You are an elf, though I am uncertain which kind. Does my action buy peace, in that you did wake?"
The elf frowned, took stock of himself, and then looked back at Drizzt.
"I don't understand. I… I am not certain of anything. But, you did not treat me as an enemy."
At that, Drizzt finished approaching, kneeling.
"Thirsty?"
"Yes."
With care, though none of the wounds had seeped past the styptic salve that had solidified as plasters, Drizzt helped the elf sit and put his back to the tree, before giving him the waterskin. Drizzt then settled back on his heels, waiting.
The elf handed the skin toward him, but Drizzt waved it off. "Keep that one; I have a second I will fill shortly. I'm in camp for a few days, as I had to kill a boar this morning and must get the meat dealt with.
"My name is Drizzt Do'Urden. I am a ranger of Mielikki. I found you at a disturbance caused by magic, with no tracks nearby."
"I — " A look of horror took over past the initial confusion. "I don't know my name. Or how that happened."
Drizzt took a deep breath. "Well, that's going to make getting you safely back to your people rather difficult, I think."
Over the few days they stayed at Drizzt's camp, they established that the elf had many skills in place, two languages that came easily to him, and complete awareness that he should know far more about the world around him.
Nothing, not even sleep, was shaking the memory of who he was and where he belonged loose. Likewise, he agreed with Drizzt that they would need to avoid people for a time, to try and break it free, because they had no idea who had done harm to him.
As Drizzt was packing the pork into woven baskets and carriers he had made while smoking it, he looked over at his ward in consideration.
"Did I grow horns? Wings?" the elf asked once he noticed.
"I can't just keep calling you 'Elf'. It feels rude."
The elf laughed. "Yes, but I keep answering to it." He then shrugged. "Names seem to be hard to remember, like they connect to whatever I am supposed to know? Solitath, Sol for short? It means Sun Tree in sylvan."
Drizzt nodded. "Solitath. Sol. I can do that. And that's why I could not decide which elf race you were, isn't it? You have a darker cast than most Sun elves, but their hair and eyes. Sun and Wood?"
"I think… maybe?" Sol answered. "I feel like if I could actually reach Reverie I might have more answers for you, but… that's not working either." He flipped the covering over the basket he'd filled, lashed it shut with more braided grasses, and looked over things.
"The village I spotted was two days northeast. I won't ask you to go too close, but I can leave this where it will be found," Drizzt said.
"You… can't approach them." Sol looked bothered by that.
"I've learned better. So I leave gifts in the night."
"Shame people can't see you as I'm learning to."
Drizzt ducked his head to finish closing his own, heart twisting up. When memory returned, would Solitath feel the same?
Drizzt grabbed Solitath's wrist, stopping him mid-step. He then tipped his head noticeably in the direction of the sound he'd heard, and Sol followed suit. When the elf's eyes went large, Drizzt was certain his ward — friend, for the bond building over the weeks — understood.
He looked up at the closest tree, and the pair swiftly swarmed up it in silence, barely disturbing the animals taking refuge there.
"The wolves," Sol began in a bare whisper.
"Are not true, no," Drizzt said. "Your armor is sturdy, but your sword is ill-suited to dealing with dire wolves or worgs, whichever that sound is coming from."
"I don't think either," Sol said, "but I cannot tell you why or what." This had been a source of frustration for him, Drizzt knew, the half-known things. "Also why is my sword bad, but yours aren't?"
Drizzt ignored that part, going for the plan forming in his mind. "I feel the need to see, to try to deal with it, but prefer to give you my bow — "
His words cut off as a strident hawk's call drifted down to his ears. He frowned, not liking the feeling it brought with it, that he should retreat, not stand and fight.
"What is it, Drizzt?"
The ranger grimaced, shaking his head, but the cry repeated.
"I… please do not think me a coward or mad, but we must flee," he said, letting the need to protect this vulnerable elf make the hard choice for him.
"The bird told you something." Sol didn't even question that idea. "Alright, across the trees, then."
"You … yes."
They moved swiftly then, with Sol actually taking point, choosing the path. He was guiding them deeper into the woods, toward the thicker groves where the trees were more likely to harbor elves, making Drizzt nervous, but the warning had been clear.
Whatever the canid voices had been were a threat larger than he could deal with, in the eyes of the goddess that seemed to hold some favor for him.
Eventually even Drizzt's ears could not pick up the sounds, and they came to rest in the crook of a very large, ancient tree's limbs. They shared water, catching their breath, before Solitath looked at him.
"You're a ranger. The bird spoke to you. It's rare that a ranger can understand without having prayed for the spell, but Khalreshaar — Mielikki to you — can bend the rules if She needs to."
Drizzt ducked his head a little, then laughed. "Montolio never told me that the ability to listen to them was known outside those who are trained. But, praying for spells? He never mentioned this.
"Also, you just remembered a name. And lore associated with what I do."
Sol blinked, then smiled brightly. "I did, didn't I? And… I know that both rangers and druids normally pray at a specific time of day for spells from their Patron Deity."
"I don't." Drizzt shook his head. "Montolio called it the Heart of Ranger, the fact that I could learn to hear and understand what the creatures wished."
"Means She really likes you," Sol decided.
The trees were whispering, Drizzt could feel. The danger was closer to them, and they should move on. He opened his eyes to tell Solitath, and found a very large eye, shrouded around the edges by bark, staring at them.
"Stay silent," the tree — oh spirit of his father, but that was a treant! — said very slowly, almost too slow to be understood.
Sol was awake, and slipped his hand over to Drizzt's, reassuring him through a gentle squeeze of fingers.
Drizzt didn't even argue, just listened harder. The distorted baying was just at the edge of his hearing, but the trees' warning was there. Danger was coming… and the treant was aware of it. He heard the eerie sound of roots pulling up, becoming tendrils ready to snare the problems.
Closer the danger came, making Drizzt's hands itch for his blades. Now he was hearing human voices, and they were calling his name! He could not help the shift, but Solitath squeezed his hand again, warning him to be still and silent.
Their protector vibrated slightly… talking to the trees? … and then there were crashing noises, startled yips, human screams of defiance. It did not last very long, Drizzt noted, and he filed a note in his mind to never, ever get on the wrong side of a treant.
"Now it is safe to speak, Sharrevaliir."
The voice, by dint of where the great eye was looking, was aimed at Solitath, who frowned.
"I… is that my name?"
"Oh. Oh dear."
There was, Drizzt discovered, an entire community of treants in the part of the Forest they had come to. And his friend, who was known to them as Sharrevaliir, was apparently a person of importance to them. They were given freedom within a particular section of the woods, but dissuaded from wandering out of it. Water and food was abundant.
"I think it best if I call you 'Sharrevaliir', in case it helps free your memories to hear your name," Drizzt said, as the pair were finishing a meal. Drizzt having asked if a fire could be made at a stream had apparently further impressed the treants, though he knew they were suspicious of him being drow, in company of their ally.
"Sharr." The elf looked at Drizzt and half-grinned. "It feels more right."
"Sharr, then."
"What do you think they are discussing?" Sharr asked.
"What to do with you, how to rescue you from the evil drow?" Drizzt answered, voice wry on the last.
"You, my friend, have never known evil inside you, though I have no doubt you are very familiar with it. At least… given my base reaction to a drow."
Drizzt nodded. "I was raised among those I know now were evil. At the time, I just didn't understand them, the culture around me, the actions." He shrugged. "I was a strange child, according to my wean-mother. Father had the same opinion." He couldn't help the note of sadness. "He was not like the others, but he was not like me.
"He hated all things drow, and would rather have seen me dead than to become what he hated. Sadly, before I could convince him we should flee together, he was killed."
"I'm sorry," Sharr said.
"I am as well, that he did not live to find freedom with me. But, I am here, and every day I live is an insult to the Spider Queen."
"A good way to look at it."
The treant called Turlang was the one to bring the decision, some several days later.
"You have avoided people, to try and learn who you are," he began. "You trust the ranger who found you to help guard you as you seek yourself. We believe there is magic upon you that might bring harm to those you held power over, or their allies, so long as the memory remains blocked."
"Yes," Sharr agreed. "I had no way to tell enemy from friend, other than Drizzt, who saw to my needs without offer of reward."
"He has been found worthy of the protection of one we call friend." Turlang regarded Drizzt who sat silently. When his attention focused back on Sharr, the shadows had deepened, but both men were very patient in their dealings with the slow-moving giants.
"Through our roots," Turlang continued at last, "we know of one person, a powerful wizard that is not tied to your enemies, but has reason to aid you. We can tell you the direction to go, if you trust what we say.
"In turn, we will say nothing to those we have known as your allies, so they do not inadvertently trigger the lurking traps of magic."
"Thank you, Turlang." Sharr smiled. "I look forward to remembering the friendship we must have, for the generosity of your people."
"I too look forward to knowing you are you again."
Drizzt had memorized the directions, but once they had made it back to the outer edge of the High Forest, he looked at Sharr with concern.
"It's far enough away that, if the wizard doesn't give aid, we will have to scramble to find shelter and put aside what we need for the winter."
"I noticed that. But, perhaps by then, I will remember more, and be a better aid in providing shelter and food to us," Sharr told him. "We can do this, Drizzt.
"Unless you prefer we leave it until spring?"
"No, I see how much not knowing weighs on you," Drizzt told him. He reached out with a hand to rest it on Sharr's forearm. "I have made your care my quest for now. And Montolio said you never disturb a ranger on a quest."
Sharr laughed brightly, but covered that hand. "I think that adage is actually in my limited lore of your duties, actually. Let's hope we have good travel, and this wizard proves trustworthy."
Drizzt nodded at that, and got his bearings. He pulled his hood up against the brighter light of the grasslands and set out, intent on both helping and protecting his friend.
Over the weeks of travel, Drizzt found himself growing ever more curious about Sharrevaliir. The man was an adept swordsman, had even proven to know how to counter some of Drizzt's more advanced techniques when they sparred. The random flashes of knowledge spoke of someone very educated, and the armor certainly implied a position of respect.
Yet the man easily let Drizzt lead, especially when they encountered small threats along their way. Sharr never protested the random detours that led to protecting small hamlets from raiders, or the ones to investigate blighted wilds. The friendship was growing deeper with every encounter shared, and Drizzt found his heart heavy with the idea that Sharr's reaction to him would, inevitably, change once memory had returned fully.
Even still, Drizzt found himself opening up, talking about his past, from how he was raised, to the awful raid, even to his father's final fate. Sharr listened, and when he had no words, he used touch to reassure. Drizzt found himself craving the moments when his friend would rest an arm around his shoulders, or just touch his hand in comfort.
It was, Drizzt realized, coming to be a taste of what he'd craved without understanding, to be accepted for who he was as deeply as Belwar had, maybe even moreso.
Drizzt and Sharr both stared at the very strange tree just barely visible ahead. They'd stopped once it came in sight, knowing a wizard would have heavy protections.
"It is a hiexel," Drizzt finally said. "But… it's been transfigured into a tower?"
"Wizard might be an elf," Sharr mused. "We've seen most elves tend to prefer trees for homes."
"Yes." Drizzt was amused, as sometimes it seemed like Sharr forgot he was an elf.
Sharr caught that and chuckled. "What can I say? Getting used to the way you study the people we avoid, and comment on their habits."
"Fair. Though I do it as much with the animals as the people."
They both studied the strange tree-tower a bit longer, before Drizzt pulled his hood back up. Sharr followed suit, his cloak roughly made from cloth salvaged and cleaned from an orc band they'd run into.
"I should probably do the talking," Sharr said.
"Hmm, if the wizard sees me first, it might be trouble," Drizzt agreed, and set about making certain his skin nor hair were showing. He then stopped them, a bit out of bow shot from the actual tree as he felt the tiniest whisper of strong magic. "Ward line."
"I want to remember everything so I can decide if it is strange you are capable of that," Sharr told him in a light tone. He then looked at the tree-tower and projected his voice. "Hello, the Wizard!"
The hiexel had been in a particular state for … a while, once Samiar could make his mind work around the idea of time well enough. Just before he heard a voice calling from outside, the tree shut every single cabinet and drawer that Sam had had open, in an emphatic 'go outside'.
"You are being odd," Samiar said, but he moved to pull his outer robes on, all the wands and components in their accustomed places as he did so. The creak sounded indignant, but he ignored that as he went to the balcony. He peered out across the distance, noted they were just outside his ward, and took in that there were two people, cloaks up. One, the further one, was likely a ranger, with the particular color shading of the cloak, and the bow visible over a shoulder.
The nearer one had a mismatched patchwork cloak on. Two swords visible on one, a single on the one in front — Sam really hoped he didn't need the hold person wand as he couldn't remember how many uses it had left.
"Turlang the treant sent us this way, Wizard," the nearer man called. "Looking for someone who might be able to detect magic traps, and memory spells."
If Sam were to judge by body language alone, the ranger wasn't happy that so much had come out in that statement, or maybe the second one was just wary of magic in general.
"Bold to claim that one's name, but I have no idea who you are," Sam called cheerfully, not yet dropping the ladder.
"That's because I only know the name Turlang gave me, and need to be certain I'm not walking into worse," the man called. "We give our word to be friendly, if you will give yours to listen and not involve outside forces."
"Ahh, I am curious indeed." Sam tapped his ring of truth. "I grant peace and anonymity, with the agreement to not consult others or speak of this visit. Quite common for me, actually, as a curse-breaker, as some clients get tetchy over being cursed."
"We give our word to bring no harm to you knowingly," the speaker said.
"I agree to this," his companion said, and now Sam was fairly certain both were men based on voices.
The ring had not detected falsehood, using the wardline to further its range.
"Come to the tree then," Sam said, letting them pass his defense unharmed. The further one was carrying something magical, the wards told him, but not malignant. While they finished the walk in, Sam dropped the ladder and descended, curious what Turlang had sent him as a puzzle, and now understanding his hiexel's strangeness.
As sentient as it had grown, of course it would heed the treants.
Once he was on the ground, he looked back to the pair, and the more talkative one was pushing his hood back.
Sam felt the ground tilt under his feet, metaphorically, and he damned that he'd already given his word.
"Sharrevaliir, what in the abyss?!"
"Oh, he knows you too," the second one said, with something like amusement. "I find myself nervous on who we will learn you are."
"It will not, my friend, change anything about who you are to me," Sharr said, with something like the firm leader Sam knew him to be. Sharr then looked at Sam intently.
"I know the name, because Turlang used it. But I know nothing else of who I am, only that someone used magic to harm me and cast me to where my friend here, Drizzt Do'Urden, was able to heal me and give me shelter these many months."
"Months, like hell," Samiar said. "It's been decades since they tracked me down to state you'd been lost!"
Drizzt was trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. Samiar Ravarel was apparently kin — son of the brother of Sharr's mother — and had taken the fact Drizzt was drow quite… easily? That Sam appeared to be full sun elf, that fact had stunned Drizzt.
Now, as Sharr had held up a hand stopping the flow of words once they got inside, Sam was inspecting Sharr with some magical scrying device, studying the magic he had confirmed as being present. Which meant Drizzt was both trying to stay out of the way and yet still keep an eye on his friend, to keep him safe.
He didn't think the wizard was a threat, didn't perceive any signs of lying, yet… he was too drow to take a person at their word with no history of actions observed.
Finally, the wizard stopped pacing around Sharr and went to sit down. Sharr moved from the stool to the space next to Drizzt, sitting close enough to let their shoulders touch.
"Turlang was wise, as ever, to suspect traps. Elué's magic must have blunted it, as the way I can read it was that you would have been a threat to her or her sisters, should they have been the one the time spell sent you to."
"Someone I know, then?" Sharr asked, getting a hearty laugh from Sam.
"You might say that," he told Sharr in a playful tone. "Possibly just the sheer magic protecting that lot caused it to bounce you to a different location. Or the fact they reside in magical fortresses, so to speak.
"Why it bounced you to the vicinity of a stranger, and a drow at that — no offense, Drizzt, merely curiosity — is what's intriguing me. I think I see why it did not bounce you to Korvallen, who is protected by Elué's magics at present."
Drizzt inclined his head, surprised at the acknowledgment, and just pushed harder against Sharr's shoulder since his friend was visibly growing concerned.
"Can you remove the trap? And more importantly, give me my memory back? I feel like I am stumbling blindly here with no context for any of what you just said."
"Yes. The lich that targeted you may have prepared that spell specifically for you, but therein lies its flaw," Samiar said. "It was tailored… and you are becoming someone not the man you were.
"Steering clear of others has helped you shift away, so to speak, and the spell is going to lose its grip. Well, the trap. The memory may be trickier, but I will deal with the trap first. In the morning, as I don't have the correct spells on tap today."
"Alright."
Drizzt opened his eyes as he saw Sharr coming down the ladder. He'd been offered a room, but found himself unable to endure being under a stranger's roof with things perched so precariously for the future.
"Couldn't sleep inside?" Sharr asked. "Went to your room first."
Drizzt sat up on his bedroll, making space for Sharr and pulling his cloak around the man's shoulders so they could share the warmth.
"Perhaps I do not understand how beds work any longer," Drizzt told him wryly.
"Or maybe you're worried about the way this is all going to change," Sharr said in a more serious tone, staying close to his friend.
"A little. The way he spoke leads me to believe you have very strong ties to other people, and I… I am a drow."
"You are my friend. I feel safe with you. I enjoy your company. No matter what, I do not want to lose you."
Under the cloak, Sharr put one arm around Drizzt's waist, and that felt perfect to them both.
"I do not want to lose you," Drizzt admitted. "I… you make life good, like Guen does."
"Then it's settled. Whomever Korvallen and Elué are, they will just have to get used to the fact I have a drow ranger of Mielikki as my friend."
Sam sat back in his chair, satisfied he'd removed the full trap portion of the spell.
"I don't feel different?"
"You shouldn't. The trap should only have been sprung by being near one of the Chosen, most likely Elué," Sam told Sharr. He rubbed at his eyes, as that had been an intensive bit of magical working. "The memory part is going to be more difficult.
"It would probably be easier with a cleric," Sam added.
"I don't want more people involved, and Drizzt is still uneasy about gods," Sharr said adamantly.
Sam stopped rubbing his eyes and looked at Sharr intently. "That matters to you, deeply," he said, voice softer now.
"I came to, and the first person I saw was a drow. Who was honestly wary of how I would react to him, when he was doing all he could for a strange, injured elf," Sharr said. "I knew 'enemy', but I could see 'compassion'. And I learned how much pain he has experienced because he is innately good.
"Yes. It matters. I won't see him hurt."
Samiar smiled, nodding a little. "A good man, then, as you have generally been an excellent judge of character. Alright. But it will take time to prepare the spells, as they are more ritualistic. So the pair of you are going to be here into winter.
"I am offering for you both to remain the whole winter, on the off-chance, once you remember, he is uncomfortable going with you elsewhere."
"Thank you, Sam. Something tells me your nature is generally generous, but I really appreciate that."
Sharr was getting worried as the ritual magic Sam had been brewing for the past month was near completion and Drizzt hadn't returned from his need to go and check something in the wilds. He wanted his friend to be here, yet the potion was one that would have to be drank at a specific time to be the most effective.
"He would be here, if whatever he went after wasn't important," Sam told his cousin. "I've never seen someone that driven by the wilds. Not even Dove's husband. And he's been face to face with Khalreshaar several times."
"More family?" Sharr asked, straining his eyes to see, hoping for the familiar green cloak to appear on the horizon.
"Yes, though you've not met him. Or Syluné's husband, for that matter."
Sharr looked at him finally. "Can you scry?"
Sam frowned. "I tried. This morning. He's impossible to find, which is unsettling."
"He is… under some destiny, I think. I just wonder which deity could have made him non-detectable to a wizard of your caliber."
"Indeed."
The morning that Sharr was to drink the potion with the sun at its zenith, Drizzt came into sight, letting the elf breathe a sigh of relief. As Drizzt got closer, Sharr spotted the signs of injury and fatigue.
"So what was it?" Sam asked, because Sharr truly wanted to to fuss over Drizzt, and yet the look on Drizzt's face was not very open.
"A gnoll shaman with great intellect and too much evil," Drizzt answered. "They had been stealing the animals from that hamlet we passed four days before arriving here. The animals were being held in a way that was cruel and sickening for some sacrifice, while the gnolls readied to raid.
"I do not understand these peoples who can only take, and hurt!" he finished, anger overriding everything else.
"One man, against a well-led gnoll band?" Sam gave an appreciative whistle at that.
"I did little more than kill the shaman," Drizzt said, before looking at Sharr. "Did I make it back in time?"
"Yes, my friend, though I fear you pushed yourself too hard." Sharr did not, for a moment, believe that Drizzt had only killed the shaman. But he probably had set the battle up to where the farm folk knew to come with their pitchforks and axes, and Drizzt would have worked to stay hidden once they had.
"Drink these," Sam said, pulling out two vials. "The red one is for your injuries; the blue is to help ease the fatigue."
Drizzt started to wave them off, to protest.
"Please," Sharr asked of him, and that quelled the rebellion against magic being 'wasted' on him.
Drizzt downed them both, handed the vials back once they had taken effect, and then found shade to settle in against the glare of the sun on the snow around the hiexel. Sharr sat beside him, continuing to braid the coil of leather strips he'd been working on to pass time. Sam settled back to his reading, as they waited for the correct moment.
Sharr held the flagon to his lips, setting in the sunbeam in nothing more than a thin tunic and breeches, the cold of winter pressing on him. The sun, however, was singing to him as the liquid passed his lips, a think honeyed intoxicant that soothed his throat and warmed his belly.
He was aware of Samiar, the man that claimed to be and acted like close-kin. He was aware of Drizzt, the friend that he likely never would have met but for the actions that had stolen his memories, made of him a knife aimed at a powerful woman. Both were keeping watch, as was the hiexel with its unusual awareness of the world around it.
The flagon had to be drained, and Sharr closed his eyes as he kept drinking, the heat pooling, then radiating out from his core until even the thin clothing he wore felt oppressive. Gentle sounds began to twine into a harmony within his mind, the kiss of Corellon blazing in visible light on his forehead as the Seldarine wove their gifts through him once more.
~Lore Keeper, awaken!~
The fierce call of Sharrevaliir's patron god, King of all the Seldarine, sealed the healing draught's power, his eyes opening with a glow of power for a long moment.
The warmth burned still, but was fading, and Sam was there with a thickly woven blanket to drop around his shoulders.
"Cousin?"
Sharr looked at the other elf, cousin yes, but dear friend and partner in so many youthful adventures.
"I am Sharrevaliir," he said, with full weight of knowing, to his core, who he was, and what his purpose had always been. "I am Corellon's Lore Keeper once more."
Drizzt had hung back, as Sharr seemed to be settling his newly found knowledge into place. He was tired, despite the potions, and knew there would be logistics to helping Sharr pick his life back up. While he and Sam spoke of that, Drizzt went to the room he used here, cleaned himself up, and laid down to get the sleep he had been denying himself.
He felt as if he must have slept the full four hours when he roused to the door opening quietly. He looked that way, and made out Sharr slipping in, shutting the door behind him. Drizzt sat up on the bed, which made Sharr sigh.
"There really is no sneaking up on you," the elf said, but he sat down on the side of the bed, carefully confining himself to avoid putting pressure on Drizzt, now that everything had changed — or so it felt to the ranger.
"Not generally. But I am rested now. Have you sorted out your mind? Begun deciding how to handle your return to your life?"
"Sorted? Yes. Decided on the rest? No. You needed to sleep, and I can't tackle that part without you."
Drizzt's eyes widened, and he knew Sharr noted it.
"I have not changed my mind in the least," Sharr said, firm and more confident than ever. "You are my friend, and I want you at my side. Even if I will spend half my time worrying over you while you go deal with gnoll shamans and hags and who knows what else."
Drizzt half-smiled at that. "I am a ranger."
"Yes, one of the most ridiculous professions in all our world for the need to throw themselves into danger and sort it out after," Sharr said, smiling back. "I have two consorts. I have a heart-brother. I have thirteen sons, and an adopted daughter. I have three villages I am — or was — directly responsible for in times of hardship. I … must mourn the loss of my last companion.
"It's all a lot of things, and very overwhelming even before I add in the six sisters of one of my consorts, and their family entanglements. And there's going to be some bumps, getting things worked out, especially with my heart-brother." Sharr looked at Drizzt very seriously. "I still want you near."
Drizzt listened to that litany, eyes showing his shock at some of the concepts like multiple consorts and so many children, confusion by the repetition of 'heart-brother', and finally he shook his head.
"I do not want to lose our friendship, Sharr. But at the same time, you have a life to pick up, and I … do not want to impose on that, or cause negative impressions," Drizzt told him.
Sharr reached out, going for Drizzt's bare shoulder to try and get his own feelings fully spoken, unwilling to let Drizzt sacrifice anything —
— and the world imploded for them both.
Sharrevaliir found himself immersed in an alien world, full of danger and intrigue at all turns. He was painfully aware of how young Drizzt was, as the tragedies spun out, adding depth to the words spoken aloud during their travels. More, Sharr began to truly understand that the man had been painfully alone his entire life, save for a few brief interludes.
Those had ended in death or separation as final as death, with no understanding of how to mourn, how to release the grief inherent in the losses. It was no wonder that Drizzt seemed easily into his second century, holding the weight of that grief and horror all inside his soul.
More than ever, the nascent emotions of something more than friendship made sense, as Sharr's heart embraced the thread that had bound their souls.
The sheer current of memories was a tide that Drizzt found himself at a loss to swim within. Elves, powerful and mundane alike, a life among trees, a name he could never claim, memories of the time someone had hunted his mother for being an heir of the line — all of that was swept away with the resolution to be stronger, to make a better way.
Lovers — Drizzt shivered at the understanding of how a heart-brother stood in the eyes of his friend — and children, people to teach and succor in times of need all added to the drowning wave of experiences flooding him.
How could his friend have room for him in the swell of such belonging? Drizzt ached to learn, yet he did not know if he had the ability to find a place to fit in against such strange concepts as family supporting one another.
When they came back to themselves, now buoyed by the gentle awareness of one another, Sharr had moved so he was supporting Drizzt, but was well aware of the tears that were drying on his face. Drizzt leaned into that closeness, but could not help how corded his muscles were.
"That… how do you give yourself to so many? How do you manage caring so strongly for so many people?" Drizzt asked.
"Not the first question I expected, but you would have felt me recognizing the soul-strings to first Kor and then Elué," Sharr said, "and you do tend to skip over more obvious questioning.
"The answer is embracing how long we live, knowing when to let go, when to hold on, and letting every person in my life claim the time they need while understanding we have a need for space too." Sharr drew in a deep breath. "And yes, I can feel that space is what I must give you.
"This is not what I expected to learn, on why the spell was able to divert to you. Fortunately, I had not yet met you, so I could not hurt you," he explained. "I want to explore this with you, Drizzt Do'Urden, yet I also see the differences in our experiences means you need more time."
"I… yes. I want you to settle into your life, and not … be a detriment. But, now, seeing — no, feeling — your life, I think, in time, I will find my way back to you," Drizzt said softly. "It feels like where I should be, just not now."
Sharr held him closer, his eyes closing as he mastered the slight disappointment. A tiny part of him had hoped Drizzt would choose to stay, yet he truly had recognized how difficult this was going to be.
"Elué and Kor will know I am back in my right mind, and be reaching out soon," Sharr said. "As that burst of emotion was not one I could have kept from them. But for now, let me be close to you?"
Drizzt shifted, lifting the blanket. "I am still tired," he said quietly, and Sharr moved to slide under the covers, just holding this young drow of his heart.
In time, there might be more. Or they might remain as friends, with an added layer of awareness. It really didn't matter, so long as Drizzt was comfortable with the idea of some kind of a future.
Before the family could claim Sharr, Drizzt left, his pack full of supplies, and despite the winter, he would not be returning, despite Sam's invitation to do so.
"Why?" Sam asked, once the drow was far enough away not to hear.
"Because I am part of something too big for him to endure just yet, and he needs space to be more solid in who he is before he comes back." Sharr rested a hand on his cousin's arm. "It was a soul-thread, Sam. How would you feel to see the entirety of another's life, and learn you're already connected, but all things are changing?"
"Damn," Sam said softly. "And of course, it could not take effect until you were you again," he added, understanding better. "He'll be alright?"
"I think so," Sharr said. "His personal mission in life is to live so long that the Spider Queen comes to fear him."
Sam snorted. "As driven as he can be… She should.
"Well, let me get a mansion up, and tell everyone they can stop waiting for the word."
Sharr nodded, but kept watching the direction his soul-mate had vanished in. Knowing it was best did not actually make it easier.
Change had been inevitable. Sharr learned that his youngest sister-in-law had managed to clear a large swath of Undermountain for her people to live in, that his eldest one had chosen to persuade her husband to move with her, and that others, likewise, had changed their bases of power.
Various enemies had been targeted harder, in the years since the ambush on Sharr, with Harpers ferreting out their secrets, and the Chosen using their resources to more actively undo the plots they had fostered. Currently, things appeared to be in a lull, but Sharr knew it for a regrouping.
Dolthauvin, backed by Charic, Kor, and Sam, had been named Lore Keeper's Guardian, meaning he was invested with the powers but only until Sharr's return or Tyresia being of a proper age. From what Sharr was told, the pressure had been to push Tyresia to take it then, but the triumvirate, representing each of the villages that made the alliance, had held firm on Tyresia being too young, when the hope remained that Sharr would be found.
Elué had not moved, but had worked ceaselessly to make Silverymoon even more the Light of the North she had envisioned for it. Once Dol had been secure, with Charic to advise him, Kor had left the villages to go be her personal protector. While Korvallen did help with the Knights, he was not one of them, having held firm to the knowledge Sharr would return some day.
Del was starting to adventure alone, at last, but had stayed with Methri and Tyresia, learning from them, once he ventured out originally. There was a deep caution, a slowness to trust, in his youngest son that burned Sharr's soul a bit.
Dol, blessed son he was, volunteered to remain in place, on the grounds that Sharr had forty odd years to catch up on, as well as a son to learn. So it was that Del joined his father, and Korvallen, and the trio flitted from one thing to another —
— while a drow ranger explored his own life, and traveled ever further from the elf who held his soul-thread.
It was Kor that was with Sharr the day Drizzt Do'Urden fell in battle. It was Kor that held Sharr through the paroxysm of the sudden silencing of the bond.
"You don't know he's dead," Kor said fiercely, shaking him a little. "You have been feeling intense focus from him! He could just be deeply unconscious!"
Sharr tightened his fingers in Kor's tunic, clinging to the idea that yes, maybe that was it. The absolutely focused mindset had made it hard to know anything but determination. Surely a swordsman like Drizzt wasn't dead from something he'd prepared for.
"But what if he is?" still came out of his mouth.
"Then… we ask your sister-in-law to look for his soul, and we do some diamond-hunting."
It hadn't been easy for Kor to accept that he'd be sharing Sharr with a drow, but on the other hand, that drow had protected Sharr at his most vulnerable. He'd stand by Sharr in this, and give aid, if that was what it took.
When, almost three days later, the surprise of survival hit Sharr, it made him weak in the knees and long for a chance to just go find his friend.
"You can't, Dad," Del said, once he'd admitted that. "You said yourself that the gap in experience would make it wrong. And while he can't ever catch up to you, you have to let him choose when he is ready."
"How'd you grow so wise, son?"
Del smiled a little. "You raised my brothers well, and they passed it on."
"You have the look of a haunted man," Elué said, after kissing her elf-lord 'hello'.
"He is," Korvallen said, settling on the divan. "That damned ranger of his has had a busy summer."
Elué arched an eyebrow as she and Sharr settled together.
"Intense curiosity that moved to blatant impatience," Sharr began. "Followed by a growing respect and even pride. Then something of a mystery, followed by intense action — he's almost unreadable while in that state — over and over again, mixed with horror and determination.
"But it seems to finally have come to an end? As he had a building wall of grief give way to both relief and irritation a few weeks ago before he fell back to the more normal pulse of being alive."
"My my." Elué smiled at both elves then. "Well, I am glad you two have come to stay for a time. Niska's got a pile of lore for you, Sharr, and Kolarven said they need a better partner to improve, at volume, during the tourney they hosted last month," she told the pair.
"My nibling's getting big for their britches?"
"Bored, I think, as Ghael's not been to visit, and there's been no truly spectacular parties."
Korvallen snorted at that, and nodded. "I'll spend some time working them over, see what I can teach them. Planning to stay here at least a year or so, give us all a rest, since Del went to Sam for wizard training."
"I think that sounds delightful," she told them both.
There was a commotion at the door, and a loud voice stating that they didn't have an appointment but there was a threat approaching. Sharr gestured for the page to go and actually open the door, despite it being his break from taking appointments.
The Riders of Nesmé who pushed in looked like they had ridden a harder pace than was generally needed between that city and here. Given how irritated Sharr's mood was, pushed by his long-missing soul-mate's moods of late, he was hoping that they had brought news of a fight.
"I am Sharrevaliir, consort to the Lady here," he introduced. "What has you in such a state, Riders?"
"Lord," the captain of the detail said. "My men and I were attacked near the bridge we hold, by a drow and his thralls, seeking to learn the strengths of the lands."
Sharr's nerves prickled; while it was true that Nesmé sometimes had to deal with raids of drow coming from the Lurkwood or the Neverwinter, this tale did not seem to match those past encounters.
"Thralls?" he pressed, deciding not to offer water, when his instincts said something was amiss.
"Yes, three warriors under his sorcerous command."
The one with a bow cleared his throat, and the captain glared at him, silencing him. Wasn't that most peculiar, Sharr thought.
"Explain," he commanded, aware that the Spellguard on duty was shifting, probably casting a spell to determine lies. Likewise, Jasti was more alert, the Knight assigned duty to him today. He didn't often take Alustriel's courtly duties, but she had been needed this day by Laeral for more dangerous duties.
"They sought to overcome us by forcing bog blokes up onto the road, then pretended to come to our aid," the captain said, assured of the tale as his prejudice said it must have been. "Half my command was down when they finally appeared, with the brute of a half-giant doing great damage to the blokes they had used for fodder.
"When the bog blokes were defeated, they spun a tale of travel but then we noted the drow," the captain recited, and Sharr saw all the signs of a man who had convinced himself of his own words.
A troubling impression came to Sharr, and he pinned the captain with a gimlet stare. "Describe this drow," he said, his posture fully that of a man who meant to be obeyed.
"About your own height, as black as onyx, with hair that mocks the purity of a new snow," the captain said. "With two blades, and eyes blazing under his cowl."
"Color?" Sharr snapped.
"Ehh? Red, I suppose."
"Purple," the archer blurted. "I saw them as he fired on me."
Sharr's temper, typically very difficult to ignite, was a burning rage as soon as those words confirmed his suspicion. "And what exactly did you do to escape?" he asked, well-aware they had no idea his anger was directed at them, when he was an elf after all, and should hate all drow.
"We denied them the bridge of course," the captain said smugly. "And turned them off into the comforts of the moors, where such foul things should remain."
Sharr made himself count to ten in three languages, reminding himself he was Elué's representative, not the actual power of this city.
"Congratulations, Captain," he began at last. "You have, without any doubt, just managed to offend one of the patron goddesses of the city you are standing in." He turned his attention to Jasti. "Go tell Besnell I am authorizing a double squadron to the Trollmoors.
"Drizzt Do'Urden, and whomever his companions are, need aid, and should be taken directly to the Glade. I will send word to the Ladyservant myself they will be coming, likely injured, and in need of care."
"What?" the captain demanded.
Sharr snapped his attention back to the captain. "Let this be a lesson, Captain, that looks and your bigotry are enough to land your entire city in hot water with other municipalities. Silverymoon may not deny aid to the travelers you harmed, as we hold our relationship with Mielikki in high regard.
"I do hope you can find the right penitence to pay before Her disfavor lands on your grain stores, on your hunting grounds, and every other place Her creatures can reach, because the drow in question is actually Her favored ranger."
The archer was smart enough to blanch in color, and the other infantry man grabbed his captain's arm, stopping the angry splutters by dragging him out of the audience room.
Sharr itched to go, to join the patrol, but Elué needed him here. So he went to the desk, and began drafting a message to the Ladyservant. He wasn't all that surprised when Korvallen showed up just as he signed his name. He flicked his fingers across the ink to dry it with an archivist's cantrip, then rolled and sealed it.
"Play messenger for me?" he asked his heart-brother.
"Where?"
"The Cloister. Those idiots turned Drizzt and party off into the Trollmoors."
"Corellon's balls," Kor cursed, before taking it and hurrying to carry the message.
Elué looked at the unrepentant elves, and then shook her head. "You realize if they close that road, my people will suffer?"
"The Ladyservant was already drafting a letter to their leaders," Korvallen said. "Sharr's right; Khalreshaar will be angry, and will punish anyone who uses this to further their bigotry."
"There is a deep irony in hearing you defend a drow, Korvallen," Elué said. "I personally agree with all that happened, but I have to be certain my people do not pay for it."
"Push comes to shove, heart's star, and I'll pay for the boys to teleport food in from other markets," Sharr told her. "Stand firm on the line that Mielikki is angry, and your citizens will rally to that.
"Please?"
"Oh I intend to, Sharr. And I am very intrigued at the opportunity to actually meet the ranger. I just see all sides of what a mess this could have become, might yet become."
"I'm not apologizing."
"I don't expect you to." She smiled at them both. "I know you would have done it for anyone you had proof of goodly intentions on, even if we didn't all owe this particular drow."
Jasti had gone herself to lead the patrol, curious that any elf, especially one of Sharrevaliir's reputation and standing, would champion a drow. When she found the party of four — okay the barbarian was tall enough to be a half-giant — being protected to the best of said drow's ability, and all four looking very exhausted, she was a little angry at Nesmé.
Then, the whole ride back, once potions had been handed out, she heard more of the tale, and was furious. She was just old enough to know the legend of the Battlehammer clan directly, but what in all the Named Ones had those idiot humans been thinking that a mere drow could control a dwarf?
Thralls indeed!
As soon as her party had delivered the group to the keeping of the Ladyservant, she told all of them to spread the truth far and wide, just in case the bigots had spread their lies and been believed by the gullible.
A wizard in an inn's tavern heard the tale, and a smile touched her lips. Soon she could part from the irritation that was the assassin she kept company with, and go back to her studies in Luskan. She finished her meal, and headed up to get her partners in this endeavor.
Sharr had intended, once he knew Drizzt was in the city, to go straight over and see his friend. As it was, he got delayed by explaining the circumstance to a visiting merchant from Sundabar, and that drew others, which suited him.
"I personally know the ranger in question," became the best defense he could use, and he was certain that what little hostility had been inflamed by Nesmé was puttering out under repetition.
Then, as he was finally on his way over to the Cloister to find out where the four had taken lodging, a sergeant of the Silver Watch hastily intercepted him.
"Lord Silverhand," the man said around his attempt to breathe normally. "The group you had the Knights bring in have been arrested alongside other visitors to the city. Four of the Watch were injured, one critically."
"What in the Abyss…" Sharr muttered. "Which holding station, sergeant?" and then he took off at a brisk pace, once told.
Sharr spoke at length with the captain that had been called in to get to the bottom of the matter. It seemed that one of the people involved had successfully managed to cull the halfling away from Drizzt's party, leading to Drizzt going to the halfling's aid. This had led to an attack on Drizzt himself, from a wizard, using low-level spells that flew under the ban on magic in the city. The spells were meant to disorient and be a nuisance, at which point presumably, someone else would get involved.
Only, it had been the halfling's allies, Drizzt's friends, wading in with bared hammer and axe, at which point the Silver Watch had made it on scene. If an off-duty Spellguard hadn't come to investigate, the captain was certain his men would be dead, possibly some of the drow's party, and no one would have been captured.
"We're tracing the wizard and her party to wherever they stayed, as their entry was noted as having four, not three, members," the captain finally said. "We're fairly certain the ranger's party is in the right, but procedures. The drow himself was insisting we follow them — I think to keep the little one safe from the other group's allies, maybe."
"That… would be his line of thinking, yes. Thank you." Armed now with the full story, Sharr walked back to the pair of holding cells, with a trio in one, and the quartet in the other. He looked at the sullen dwarf, the angry barbarian, the apologetic halfling… and then to his friend, who had curled up in a corner, cloak wrapped around him.
"You're not actually sleeping, my friend." Sharr let amusement touch his voice.
"No, but it's more polite to pretend so, rather than just ignore my friends all placing blame in a circle." The ranger did roll over to his back, turning his head to look out the bars. "Hello, Sharr. Not exactly an auspicious reunion."
"Not at all, and yet I look forward to getting the truth of it all." He then turned and looked at the other cell, noting the dark-skinned man was being held with enchanted manacles as well as the wizard, while no such hindered Drizzt and friends. The third one, a human man, was sitting as far from the other two as possible.
"Who did you intend to get to speak for you, proper procedures and all of that?" Sharr asked Drizzt, turning back to find the drow had come to the bars without Sharr noticing. "Damn it, you're sneakier than ever."
"I asked for a cleric to come determine truth," Drizzt said, his eyes sparkling. "Imagine that, from me."
Sharr threw his head back and laughed. "Give you most of a couple of decades and you can learn trust that far? I am impressed." He noted Drizzt's friends were slowly letting go of their own emotions, turning to more curiosity about what was going on. "Once you have all given your statements, with a cleric to determine truth, I invite you to come to the Palace.
"As my guests."
"What is this, my teacher?" the barbarian asked, skeptically.
"An honest offer, Wulfgar. Sharr is my friend, and I trust his offer. It also may be the best place to begin with our needs here, Bruenor, and a place where Regis need not fear."
So those were the names of the three with Drizzt, Sharr noted, sizing them up. That 'teacher' worried him, honestly, given that the human would grow old and die long before Drizzt was even approaching his true prime.
"I believe the Silver Watch have matters in hand," Sharr said, not wishing to remain where he could be targeted if there was still an unnamed threat in the city. "Until I see you, my friend."
"Until then."
Word reached Sharr, before his friend had arrived, that the trio were to be held for trial, as the fourth had been found to be a hostage. He felt a bit more vindicated in letting Drizzt see it handled through proper channels, and waited — impatiently — for the party to be guided to the palace.
Having the walls attacked by a flesh construct was not on his list of things he'd expect to be connected to the entire incident, but it resulted in a large portion of the Spellguard turning out to deal with the attack.
He was in the main entrance hall when the ranger and party were escorted in, and could not help but go directly to them, hands out toward Drizzt, who took them, squeezing firmly.
"I am so curious what you have gotten yourself tangled up in, Drizzt, but let me get you to a suite." He nodded to the page to go fetch up a meal, taking in the young woman that had joined their party, looking every bit the worse for wear.
"It has been an interesting year or so," Drizzt told him. "Once my companions are seen to, I will talk with you. And thank you; I have grown no fonder of trolls since I was on patrols in the Underdark. Having seen too many of them in the last year."
"You're only whetting my curiosity, and you should stop, or I will be a rude host." He looked at the others. "I am Sharrevaliir, consort of Lady Silverhand, Arch Mage of the city. I am told you are Bruenor Battlehammer, Wulfgar son of Beornegar, and Regis. I have not yet been told your name," he added, looking to the woman.
"Catti-brie Battlehammer," she said, leaving off any honorific as she didn't seem sure which was appropriate, and she also reeked of worry toward Drizzt, for the fact the elf was still in contact with the drow.
"We thank ye for yer hospitality," Bruenor managed to find the grace to say, but Sharr was almost certain they were all very suspicious of his relationship to Drizzt.
"I think I am upset, Drizzt, that I didn't warrant mention," Sharr said pleasantly.
"Oh I spoke of 'Sharr' and 'Sam' a bit. I failed to name your ties, as they didn't seem necessary."
"Elf, ye and yer durn secret keeping!" Bruenor grumbled at him.
"Well, I feel a bit more inclined to forgive you," Sharr teased, guiding them all along to the suite. His path meant that they arrived almost simultaneously with food, and he was careful not to ask any more questions, so they could all get settled in and begin recovering properly.
He knew the Glade had seen to injuries, but rest and meals were surely needed.
The page led Drizzt to Sharr's personal rooms, on orders, when the ranger finally slipped free of the suite. Now, Sharr could see the fatigue was still there in his friend, that Drizzt had been pushing himself for enough time that even the clerics of the Glade had not cured it all.
"You look terrible, and I thank you for trusting me enough to show it." Sharr gestured to the divan for Drizzt to come join him there. They settled, and after just a few moments and a touch, Drizzt actually rested against Sharr fully.
"I didn't dare sleep after my first attempt in the moors," Drizzt admitted. "Too dangerous, and I was the only one who could see well enough, it felt like.
"But I did not want to leave you waiting."
"I am glad you came to me, but I am not going to pester you for answers if you are that tired. I have missed you terribly, though. Especially… well. A few years ago, I almost demanded Sam bring me to you, somehow. I thought you had died."
"I very nearly did, my friend," Drizzt admitted soberly. "But I survived, as ever. And if you seriously wish to wait for answers, I think I should sleep, and would do so better near you."
Sharr's heart thrilled at that answer, and he started stroking Drizzt's hair gently. "Here, or bed?"
"If it will not scandalize anyone, I think I prefer the bed."
Sharr chuckled, and saw to taking Drizzt to bed, folding around him once they were down to their inner layers, and just doing all he could to make Drizzt feel safe.
Drizzt stretched, then rolled over to see Sharr was only just opening his eyes from Reverie. That made Drizzt smile, before he cupped his hand around Sharr's between them.
"I know Bruenor has an appointment with the Lady this morning, but do you want the full story now?"
"Of course I do, so I know best how to support her," Sharr answered. "Tell me over breakfast, and then I am going to put you in clothing that is better than you wandered in wearing."
Drizzt laughed at him. "I have been on the road since the passes thawed in the Spine of the World."
"And you are my friend, my bonded. I can't have you looking ragged to meet my consort."
The easy warmth between them was a needed balm, because by the time breakfast ended, Sharr was convinced that his friend was being pulled into dangers far above what he should be facing, and concerned on how the rest would spiral out from there.
"You're certain the crystal is unreachable?"
"By physical means, yes. Magical? I cannot concur to that. But I know that is why Luskan hunts me. They want it."
"I'll make a force to deal with that. It's useful to have so many mage-fighters, after all." Sharr forced a smile he did not feel.
"Let me know once it is contained?" Drizzt asked.
"Of course."
They both heard the bells, and hastened to finish readying for Bruenor's appointment time, so they could both be present.
Catti-brie was standing next to her father and facing the door when the elf-lord and her ranger walked in. Drizzt looked so completely relaxed and calm, even truly rested, that she couldn't find it in herself to still be piqued over waking to his absence.
More, he was dressed in a tunic that seemed to have been made for him, a pale purple that enhanced his eyes perfectly, the collar embroidered in silver curving swords… or unicorn horns? She could not quite make out from this distance. Everything he was wearing looked new, made for being in the city, not on the road, and he walked as close to the elf as he normally did when he was escorting her somewhere.
The men with her turned that way and took note, with Catti glancing down at her father to catch the slightest scowl pulling at his beard. Drizzt was going to need to talk to them all about this strange elf. The stories of 'Sharr and Sam' were not explaining this … intimacy, and they all worried over their ranger. If the pair were so close as all that, why'd Drizzt been up in the frozen north so alone? And left to nearly die when Wulfgar's people first attacked?!
Magic enough in this place that surely something could have been done to keep their ranger safer!
"Good morning, my friends," Drizzt said. "Let me get this out of the way first, so maybe you begin to understand.
"When I met Sharr, there was magic tangling him up that had to be sorted out. I watched over him until such time as it was. And then, knowing of his extensive family and a need to return to them, but not being ready to actually exist in those circles, I returned to my wandering ways.
"Which allowed me to meet all of you, and be where I was needed." He focused most intently on Catti-brie, as she was wondering if he'd been reading her mind. "That I chose to walk away does not negate the depth of friendship between Sharr and I. It only means he was strong enough to let me find my own way back to him."
Regis made a noise, and his eyes were very big.
"What be it, Rumblebelly?" Bruenor demanded.
"You've got a soul-thread?!" Regis squeaked, and Sharr was the one to laugh softly, nodding.
"It was a very overwhelming situation for Drizzt, at the time," the elf said. "The only thing we could do was part, so I could settle my life, and he could find more of who he wished to be."
"I do not understand," Wulfgar said, "but my teacher looks happy in your company."
"It's a thing o' magic, and rare among humans," Bruenor said with a sigh. "Me elf? Ye still owe me yer word tae find me hall."
"I have no intention of not finishing this quest with you, my friend," Drizzt assured him, finally looking away from Catti-brie when she gave him the tiniest nod of understanding.
The audience room's doors opened then, and a page ushered them in for their meeting with the Lady of the city.
Sharr was nearly ready to burst with laughter, by the time the formal report and request for aid had happened. He had not missed that Drizzt was utterly taken with Elué, or that his beloved heart's star had kept herself focused in such a way that let Sharr know she was affected. Nor could he enjoy that mirth right away; Drizzt and friends were on the way to the dwarven district to rouse more aid, and to put out the word that an heir was known.
He finally got to release it when he met his consort for lunch, eyes dancing as he took her hands. Once they were private, he kissed her deeply.
"You, my love, are fascinated by my ranger."
"Yes," Elué said, not bothering to deny what had rippled between them along their own soul-thread. "And I am making a point to not make skin-to-skin contact with him while he is pressed by duty."
"A good idea, in case he completes the little box of the four of us," Sharr said, still amused. "We'll learn in time. But, what do you think?"
"Are you certain he is as young as you say?"
"By years, yes. By experience? He's lived more than half our sons."
She sighed, then settled with him for a meal. "The Herald's Holdfast is a good place for them to strike out for. As to the other part of their problem here, I have remanded the construct, the guard, and the wizard to Luskan with a hefty bill for repairs, and an increase in fees for all Luskanites who come here to learn."
"And the other, the southern man?" Sharr asked.
"Laeral is coming for him, with Ghael, tomorrow. He's wanted in conjunction to several cases, and Bruenor was willing to cede authority since he is occupied by his quest," she said.
"I understand having to balance the living over the dead, but I have faith in Laeral and Ghael to see it through." He smiled at her, and settled to the food, thrumming with anticipation of the rest of this momentous year.
With Laeral occupied, it would make even more sense to go through Syluné to handle the crystal's fate, he decided, glad that part had not actually come up in everything. Elué didn't need that worry just yet.
The next several weeks were not without excitement — and worry — but eventually Drizzt was back in Silverymoon, as Regis and Catti-brie were there with him to see to dwarf business. Apparently Drizzt's promise to watch over the girl overrode seeing the chieftain back to his people.
Sharr convinced Del and Sam to go handle that part, so they would have someone familiar with the land, and magical back up if needed. Once Drizzt was certain his friends were good hands with the Rockcrushers, and a handful of Battlehammer relatives up from Sundabar, Sharr kidnapped his friend to introduce him to Deysa, his latest pegasus companion.
"Thought you might need some time out in fresh air, and to let Guen join us?" Sharr invited as they headed out of the city walls together.
"Oh she'll like that." Drizzt didn't wait then, pulling the figure out and summoning his friend.
Sharr was immediately pounced, and gently knocked to the ground, so Guen could rub her face all over him, leading to much laughter from both her two-legged friends. "Yes Guen! I missed you too!"
She eventually deigned to let Sharr back up, exploring all around as they walked toward a good clearing away from the road. There, Sharr whistled, and Guen went into attentive listening mode. When the sound of wings hit her ears, she wriggled a little and then moved to watch Drizzt intently.
Deysa landed daintily, her eyes on the giant cat and the drow alike, before Sharr walked over to love on her.
"Drizzt, Guenhwyvar, this is Deysa. She's my friend, just really old enough to be carrying me now. I held off a long time, because I missed Norvor terribly, but she picked me a few springs back."
"Greetings, Deysa," Drizzt said, after finding his voice, having been mesmerized. He'd seen the beautiful beings, both at a distance and in Sharr's memories, but to be this close to one was a potent emotional thrill.
Guen walked over, content in her suspicion on how her drow would take it, and touched noses with the mare. She then sat there, and made a small noise, making her drow actually approach. From there, it was as magical as being in the Glade had been for Drizzt, and Sharr got to watch as Deysa was completely spoiled with knowing fingers finding all her itchy points.
Sharr sat beside the great cat, letting his other friends get to know each other, and looked at Guen.
"Thank you for taking care of him all these years."
Guen rubbed her head against Sharr's, rumbling. Of course she had! Drizzt had been hers for over half his life after all!
"So we have the stupid blocking spell off of you," Sharr began, aware that Drizzt was only half-paying attention, since Elué was moving through the palace on the floor below this balcony. "And let me tell you my sister-in-law is not pleased, at all, that you were allowed to wander off from me with it clinging to you."
That made Drizzt turn and look at him, or maybe it was the fact Elué had disappeared into her court for the day.
"It possibly saved my life, as the demon Errtu didn't realize I was bluffing him until he detected the talisman I wore for Mielikki."
"Well, there's that… and I still think you're very reckless to have bluffed him at all." Sharr rested a hand on his shoulder. "Elué wants you to go to lunch with her today."
Drizzt's eyes narrowed, feeling the mischief, and Sharr had to laugh at the blatant suspicion.
"She's feeling as intrigued by you as you are by her."
"I — "
"Will make us both happy if this turns out to be one more connection between us all," Sharr said firmly. "Unless you have a need to run off for another fifteen years because my consort is curious about you?"
If Drizzt could blush, Sharr was certain he was at this moment.
"You said you'd introduce me to Korvallen," Drizzt tried to deflect.
"I will. When he gets back; Sam abducted him to go up once your friends got outside of Mirabar with the whole caravan." Sharr squeezed the shoulder he still had. "Stop dodging. Are you ready to face being part of us, no matter what the attraction between Elué and you is?"
Drizzt stood tall, and gave a slow nod.
"Good. I'm going to be shamelessly paying attention to you and she during your lunch."
"I think you should be there," Drizzt said. "Unless this lunch will be somewhere very secure; I had no awareness of my surroundings when you and I touched that first time."
"It will be here in the palace, in a quiet room, with all her protections around you both," Sharr reassured.
"Alright."
Alustriel looked at Drizzt, captivated by him, as the memory flow eased enough for her. She understood so well now why Sharr had been willing to let him go, after experiencing his tragedies first hand. Yet, in her heart, she was aware this man was firmly in control of himself now, having had the years to process and come to terms with his losses.
"Please tell me you aren't going off to explore this round of memories," she said softly once he was back with her.
"No, Lady… no."
"Call me Elué or Alustriel, whichever you feel best with. Elves have long since known me as the first, even if I rule under my proper name now," she said.
"Alustriel, then," Drizzt answered. "Are… is this going to suit you? This connection between us all?"
She smiled at him for that self-effacing concern for others. "Yes. I am looking forward to getting to know you, not just what shaped you. And it will be good, to get you fully integrated into the family at last. Even Ellifain knows of you, from Sharr."
"The child…" He closed his eyes, as that memory floated up, Alustriel meeting the moon-elf, welcoming her to their family.
"Yes."
"Then, I am looking forward to knowing all of you better." He breathed out, slowly, took a measured breath in. "I've learned, in my time away, how good family can be, and understand better why it is a bedrock of who Sharr is. I see that in you, as well."
"Even Kor feels it, no matter that he is a grumpy old elf that is a bit fierce to get to know."
Drizzt laughed softly. "I saw that, in both of your experiences. I will just have to give him a spar worth paying attention to, and win him over that way."
Now she laughed, before pointing at their food. "Let us eat, and then I'll give you back to Sharr's care for the day.
"We have all the time in the world to get to know each other now."
"Yes."
Sharr watched Kor and Drizzt sparring, noting the care that Kor was taking, knowing that Drizzt was only just out of the clerics' hands from taking Mithral Hall back. He leaned back into Elué's hold, content with the world.
"I'm going back to the Refuge in spring. Drizzt isn't ready to cope with that, but he's content to keep his travels in your region," he said.
"I think that is good, at this point." Elué dropped a kiss in his hair. "In time, we both can lay down our leaderships, and then what an adventure we shall find together!"
"With Drizzt's ability to find trouble? Indeed!"
They both laughed, and relaxed into a fuller future.
Chapters: 9/9
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Alustriel Silverhand/Original Character(s), Drizzt Do'Urden/Original Elf Character, Drizzt Do'Urden/Alustriel Silverhand
Characters: Original Elf Character(s), Drizzt Do'Urden
Additional Tags: Ensemble Cast, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Soulmates
Summary:
When Sharrevaliir was attacked by a band of orcs, there was also a lich ready to cast a trap for the Chosen of Mystra, using him.
Mystra diverts the thrust.
SharrVerse
Thirteen elves and half-elves, clad in the armor and weapons of a ritual hunt, made their way along the outer edge of the High Forest. A pure white stag had been seen in the vicinity of Stone Stand, and that had given weight to the need to hold the Hunt.
The Lore Keeper, chosen leader of the Hunt, was ahead of all the rest. His bright laughter had been heard frequently on the journey, as he had four of his sons and some of his oldest friends with him. Soon they would grow quiet, become serious about the Hunt, as befitted a ritual in honor of Corellon, but there was joy for now.
None of them heard or smelled the slightest danger until too late. While the war-band of orcs all but appeared in weapons' reach of the various elven-blooded hunters, the one lich that was with them immediately threw his spell. A cloud of magical blades homed in on the Lore Keeper, each one holding a component of the second spell he had crafted.
Two things happened almost simultaneously as the shards embedded in the elf. The lich cast the activating spell, and he was hit by a desperate disintegration spell from the elf's eldest son's wand. That son took a heavy blow from the orc nearest him, but he hardly noticed, as his father vanished from the battlefield in shadow-touched magic.
Syluné, upon being told, took efficient charge of the family, working alongside Charic who put her own worry aside to tend the injured. She convinced Laeral to go reinforce Silverymoon's defenses, anticipating an attack on her younger sister's territory. She had both Dove and Storm go to keep a closer eye on Shadowdale in her absence, and sent word to the younger sons of Sharrevaliir to guard themselves well.
Andelver was both recovering — having been the worst injured — and wracked by guilt.
"If I hadn't used the wand so fast…" he began when Syluné came to see him. She put a finger over his lips.
"We will investigate the residual magic. All hope is not lost, my nephew."
"I hope, Aunt, you are correct."
1340s DR
Drizzt Do'Urden had been tracking a wounded boar, intent on either convincing it to rest for treatment, or to put it out of danger to others. Not long after he finished the hunt, regretting the necessity, he decided that camping to make the most of the meat was the better choice to make.
Guenhwyvar approved of the idea, and was lounging nearby as Drizzt built up the smoking racks, working as swiftly as he could, before he lost too much of the meat. He wouldn't need it all, but he could make a gift of it to the closest village in the dark of night.
It felt like he'd only just managed to get the last of it over the smoke when Guen raised her head in the direction of the thicker woods. Drizzt looked that way as well, and felt he needed to go investigate. Double-checking that he had built the fire safely, in a rock-ringed pit away from other vegetation, before taking up a jog.
Guen loped along beside him, nor was it long before they found the source. An elf, bleeding from multiple points, unconscious, was just inside the tree line there. None of the injuries looked critical, so Drizzt scooped the man up, carrying him back to camp. Guen kept watch but her nose agreed with Drizzt's unconscious appraisal of the scene.
There had been no tracks, nothing out of place, and the marks on the plants nearest to the elf had been magic-seared, something destructive but instantaneous.
Once at camp, Drizzt put the elf on his own bedroll in the shade of the one tree there, and saw to getting the armor out of his way. Guenhwyvar picked up Drizzt's pack and brought it closer without being asked. It took almost as much time as prepping the boar originally, but Drizzt got every cut cleaned and covered with his particular blend of protective, healing salve.
"Nothing near him, magic traces, none of these cuts were deep, none of them had debris — Guen, what in the abyss have I found other than a faerie that's going to hate me on sight once he wakes?"
The panther pushed her head into her drow's chest, loving on him even as she was feeling the need to go home.
"Yes, I know. Go. I'll be cautious." Drizzt gave her a quick scratching before she did take herself back to the Astral Plane. Drizzt split his time between watching the elf sleep and making sure the fire kept smoking correctly, wondering how badly this rejection was going to go.
The elf began to stir about an hour after Guen left him, and Drizzt came with his waterskin, braced for the violent reaction, but intent on being true to his nature.
"Peace, elf. Lie still."
The head turned toward his voice, of course, and Drizzt saw the eyes go wild as they saw him.
"I will point out you are lying on my gear, treated with my resources," Drizzt said calmly. "Please weigh that before acting." He did not, however, approach closer, the waterskin held out in front of him as explanation of his approach.
"I… you are drow, why?"
"I am a drow. You are an elf, though I am uncertain which kind. Does my action buy peace, in that you did wake?"
The elf frowned, took stock of himself, and then looked back at Drizzt.
"I don't understand. I… I am not certain of anything. But, you did not treat me as an enemy."
At that, Drizzt finished approaching, kneeling.
"Thirsty?"
"Yes."
With care, though none of the wounds had seeped past the styptic salve that had solidified as plasters, Drizzt helped the elf sit and put his back to the tree, before giving him the waterskin. Drizzt then settled back on his heels, waiting.
The elf handed the skin toward him, but Drizzt waved it off. "Keep that one; I have a second I will fill shortly. I'm in camp for a few days, as I had to kill a boar this morning and must get the meat dealt with.
"My name is Drizzt Do'Urden. I am a ranger of Mielikki. I found you at a disturbance caused by magic, with no tracks nearby."
"I — " A look of horror took over past the initial confusion. "I don't know my name. Or how that happened."
Drizzt took a deep breath. "Well, that's going to make getting you safely back to your people rather difficult, I think."
Over the few days they stayed at Drizzt's camp, they established that the elf had many skills in place, two languages that came easily to him, and complete awareness that he should know far more about the world around him.
Nothing, not even sleep, was shaking the memory of who he was and where he belonged loose. Likewise, he agreed with Drizzt that they would need to avoid people for a time, to try and break it free, because they had no idea who had done harm to him.
As Drizzt was packing the pork into woven baskets and carriers he had made while smoking it, he looked over at his ward in consideration.
"Did I grow horns? Wings?" the elf asked once he noticed.
"I can't just keep calling you 'Elf'. It feels rude."
The elf laughed. "Yes, but I keep answering to it." He then shrugged. "Names seem to be hard to remember, like they connect to whatever I am supposed to know? Solitath, Sol for short? It means Sun Tree in sylvan."
Drizzt nodded. "Solitath. Sol. I can do that. And that's why I could not decide which elf race you were, isn't it? You have a darker cast than most Sun elves, but their hair and eyes. Sun and Wood?"
"I think… maybe?" Sol answered. "I feel like if I could actually reach Reverie I might have more answers for you, but… that's not working either." He flipped the covering over the basket he'd filled, lashed it shut with more braided grasses, and looked over things.
"The village I spotted was two days northeast. I won't ask you to go too close, but I can leave this where it will be found," Drizzt said.
"You… can't approach them." Sol looked bothered by that.
"I've learned better. So I leave gifts in the night."
"Shame people can't see you as I'm learning to."
Drizzt ducked his head to finish closing his own, heart twisting up. When memory returned, would Solitath feel the same?
Drizzt grabbed Solitath's wrist, stopping him mid-step. He then tipped his head noticeably in the direction of the sound he'd heard, and Sol followed suit. When the elf's eyes went large, Drizzt was certain his ward — friend, for the bond building over the weeks — understood.
He looked up at the closest tree, and the pair swiftly swarmed up it in silence, barely disturbing the animals taking refuge there.
"The wolves," Sol began in a bare whisper.
"Are not true, no," Drizzt said. "Your armor is sturdy, but your sword is ill-suited to dealing with dire wolves or worgs, whichever that sound is coming from."
"I don't think either," Sol said, "but I cannot tell you why or what." This had been a source of frustration for him, Drizzt knew, the half-known things. "Also why is my sword bad, but yours aren't?"
Drizzt ignored that part, going for the plan forming in his mind. "I feel the need to see, to try to deal with it, but prefer to give you my bow — "
His words cut off as a strident hawk's call drifted down to his ears. He frowned, not liking the feeling it brought with it, that he should retreat, not stand and fight.
"What is it, Drizzt?"
The ranger grimaced, shaking his head, but the cry repeated.
"I… please do not think me a coward or mad, but we must flee," he said, letting the need to protect this vulnerable elf make the hard choice for him.
"The bird told you something." Sol didn't even question that idea. "Alright, across the trees, then."
"You … yes."
They moved swiftly then, with Sol actually taking point, choosing the path. He was guiding them deeper into the woods, toward the thicker groves where the trees were more likely to harbor elves, making Drizzt nervous, but the warning had been clear.
Whatever the canid voices had been were a threat larger than he could deal with, in the eyes of the goddess that seemed to hold some favor for him.
Eventually even Drizzt's ears could not pick up the sounds, and they came to rest in the crook of a very large, ancient tree's limbs. They shared water, catching their breath, before Solitath looked at him.
"You're a ranger. The bird spoke to you. It's rare that a ranger can understand without having prayed for the spell, but Khalreshaar — Mielikki to you — can bend the rules if She needs to."
Drizzt ducked his head a little, then laughed. "Montolio never told me that the ability to listen to them was known outside those who are trained. But, praying for spells? He never mentioned this.
"Also, you just remembered a name. And lore associated with what I do."
Sol blinked, then smiled brightly. "I did, didn't I? And… I know that both rangers and druids normally pray at a specific time of day for spells from their Patron Deity."
"I don't." Drizzt shook his head. "Montolio called it the Heart of Ranger, the fact that I could learn to hear and understand what the creatures wished."
"Means She really likes you," Sol decided.
The trees were whispering, Drizzt could feel. The danger was closer to them, and they should move on. He opened his eyes to tell Solitath, and found a very large eye, shrouded around the edges by bark, staring at them.
"Stay silent," the tree — oh spirit of his father, but that was a treant! — said very slowly, almost too slow to be understood.
Sol was awake, and slipped his hand over to Drizzt's, reassuring him through a gentle squeeze of fingers.
Drizzt didn't even argue, just listened harder. The distorted baying was just at the edge of his hearing, but the trees' warning was there. Danger was coming… and the treant was aware of it. He heard the eerie sound of roots pulling up, becoming tendrils ready to snare the problems.
Closer the danger came, making Drizzt's hands itch for his blades. Now he was hearing human voices, and they were calling his name! He could not help the shift, but Solitath squeezed his hand again, warning him to be still and silent.
Their protector vibrated slightly… talking to the trees? … and then there were crashing noises, startled yips, human screams of defiance. It did not last very long, Drizzt noted, and he filed a note in his mind to never, ever get on the wrong side of a treant.
"Now it is safe to speak, Sharrevaliir."
The voice, by dint of where the great eye was looking, was aimed at Solitath, who frowned.
"I… is that my name?"
"Oh. Oh dear."
There was, Drizzt discovered, an entire community of treants in the part of the Forest they had come to. And his friend, who was known to them as Sharrevaliir, was apparently a person of importance to them. They were given freedom within a particular section of the woods, but dissuaded from wandering out of it. Water and food was abundant.
"I think it best if I call you 'Sharrevaliir', in case it helps free your memories to hear your name," Drizzt said, as the pair were finishing a meal. Drizzt having asked if a fire could be made at a stream had apparently further impressed the treants, though he knew they were suspicious of him being drow, in company of their ally.
"Sharr." The elf looked at Drizzt and half-grinned. "It feels more right."
"Sharr, then."
"What do you think they are discussing?" Sharr asked.
"What to do with you, how to rescue you from the evil drow?" Drizzt answered, voice wry on the last.
"You, my friend, have never known evil inside you, though I have no doubt you are very familiar with it. At least… given my base reaction to a drow."
Drizzt nodded. "I was raised among those I know now were evil. At the time, I just didn't understand them, the culture around me, the actions." He shrugged. "I was a strange child, according to my wean-mother. Father had the same opinion." He couldn't help the note of sadness. "He was not like the others, but he was not like me.
"He hated all things drow, and would rather have seen me dead than to become what he hated. Sadly, before I could convince him we should flee together, he was killed."
"I'm sorry," Sharr said.
"I am as well, that he did not live to find freedom with me. But, I am here, and every day I live is an insult to the Spider Queen."
"A good way to look at it."
The treant called Turlang was the one to bring the decision, some several days later.
"You have avoided people, to try and learn who you are," he began. "You trust the ranger who found you to help guard you as you seek yourself. We believe there is magic upon you that might bring harm to those you held power over, or their allies, so long as the memory remains blocked."
"Yes," Sharr agreed. "I had no way to tell enemy from friend, other than Drizzt, who saw to my needs without offer of reward."
"He has been found worthy of the protection of one we call friend." Turlang regarded Drizzt who sat silently. When his attention focused back on Sharr, the shadows had deepened, but both men were very patient in their dealings with the slow-moving giants.
"Through our roots," Turlang continued at last, "we know of one person, a powerful wizard that is not tied to your enemies, but has reason to aid you. We can tell you the direction to go, if you trust what we say.
"In turn, we will say nothing to those we have known as your allies, so they do not inadvertently trigger the lurking traps of magic."
"Thank you, Turlang." Sharr smiled. "I look forward to remembering the friendship we must have, for the generosity of your people."
"I too look forward to knowing you are you again."
Drizzt had memorized the directions, but once they had made it back to the outer edge of the High Forest, he looked at Sharr with concern.
"It's far enough away that, if the wizard doesn't give aid, we will have to scramble to find shelter and put aside what we need for the winter."
"I noticed that. But, perhaps by then, I will remember more, and be a better aid in providing shelter and food to us," Sharr told him. "We can do this, Drizzt.
"Unless you prefer we leave it until spring?"
"No, I see how much not knowing weighs on you," Drizzt told him. He reached out with a hand to rest it on Sharr's forearm. "I have made your care my quest for now. And Montolio said you never disturb a ranger on a quest."
Sharr laughed brightly, but covered that hand. "I think that adage is actually in my limited lore of your duties, actually. Let's hope we have good travel, and this wizard proves trustworthy."
Drizzt nodded at that, and got his bearings. He pulled his hood up against the brighter light of the grasslands and set out, intent on both helping and protecting his friend.
Over the weeks of travel, Drizzt found himself growing ever more curious about Sharrevaliir. The man was an adept swordsman, had even proven to know how to counter some of Drizzt's more advanced techniques when they sparred. The random flashes of knowledge spoke of someone very educated, and the armor certainly implied a position of respect.
Yet the man easily let Drizzt lead, especially when they encountered small threats along their way. Sharr never protested the random detours that led to protecting small hamlets from raiders, or the ones to investigate blighted wilds. The friendship was growing deeper with every encounter shared, and Drizzt found his heart heavy with the idea that Sharr's reaction to him would, inevitably, change once memory had returned fully.
Even still, Drizzt found himself opening up, talking about his past, from how he was raised, to the awful raid, even to his father's final fate. Sharr listened, and when he had no words, he used touch to reassure. Drizzt found himself craving the moments when his friend would rest an arm around his shoulders, or just touch his hand in comfort.
It was, Drizzt realized, coming to be a taste of what he'd craved without understanding, to be accepted for who he was as deeply as Belwar had, maybe even moreso.
Drizzt and Sharr both stared at the very strange tree just barely visible ahead. They'd stopped once it came in sight, knowing a wizard would have heavy protections.
"It is a hiexel," Drizzt finally said. "But… it's been transfigured into a tower?"
"Wizard might be an elf," Sharr mused. "We've seen most elves tend to prefer trees for homes."
"Yes." Drizzt was amused, as sometimes it seemed like Sharr forgot he was an elf.
Sharr caught that and chuckled. "What can I say? Getting used to the way you study the people we avoid, and comment on their habits."
"Fair. Though I do it as much with the animals as the people."
They both studied the strange tree-tower a bit longer, before Drizzt pulled his hood back up. Sharr followed suit, his cloak roughly made from cloth salvaged and cleaned from an orc band they'd run into.
"I should probably do the talking," Sharr said.
"Hmm, if the wizard sees me first, it might be trouble," Drizzt agreed, and set about making certain his skin nor hair were showing. He then stopped them, a bit out of bow shot from the actual tree as he felt the tiniest whisper of strong magic. "Ward line."
"I want to remember everything so I can decide if it is strange you are capable of that," Sharr told him in a light tone. He then looked at the tree-tower and projected his voice. "Hello, the Wizard!"
The hiexel had been in a particular state for … a while, once Samiar could make his mind work around the idea of time well enough. Just before he heard a voice calling from outside, the tree shut every single cabinet and drawer that Sam had had open, in an emphatic 'go outside'.
"You are being odd," Samiar said, but he moved to pull his outer robes on, all the wands and components in their accustomed places as he did so. The creak sounded indignant, but he ignored that as he went to the balcony. He peered out across the distance, noted they were just outside his ward, and took in that there were two people, cloaks up. One, the further one, was likely a ranger, with the particular color shading of the cloak, and the bow visible over a shoulder.
The nearer one had a mismatched patchwork cloak on. Two swords visible on one, a single on the one in front — Sam really hoped he didn't need the hold person wand as he couldn't remember how many uses it had left.
"Turlang the treant sent us this way, Wizard," the nearer man called. "Looking for someone who might be able to detect magic traps, and memory spells."
If Sam were to judge by body language alone, the ranger wasn't happy that so much had come out in that statement, or maybe the second one was just wary of magic in general.
"Bold to claim that one's name, but I have no idea who you are," Sam called cheerfully, not yet dropping the ladder.
"That's because I only know the name Turlang gave me, and need to be certain I'm not walking into worse," the man called. "We give our word to be friendly, if you will give yours to listen and not involve outside forces."
"Ahh, I am curious indeed." Sam tapped his ring of truth. "I grant peace and anonymity, with the agreement to not consult others or speak of this visit. Quite common for me, actually, as a curse-breaker, as some clients get tetchy over being cursed."
"We give our word to bring no harm to you knowingly," the speaker said.
"I agree to this," his companion said, and now Sam was fairly certain both were men based on voices.
The ring had not detected falsehood, using the wardline to further its range.
"Come to the tree then," Sam said, letting them pass his defense unharmed. The further one was carrying something magical, the wards told him, but not malignant. While they finished the walk in, Sam dropped the ladder and descended, curious what Turlang had sent him as a puzzle, and now understanding his hiexel's strangeness.
As sentient as it had grown, of course it would heed the treants.
Once he was on the ground, he looked back to the pair, and the more talkative one was pushing his hood back.
Sam felt the ground tilt under his feet, metaphorically, and he damned that he'd already given his word.
"Sharrevaliir, what in the abyss?!"
"Oh, he knows you too," the second one said, with something like amusement. "I find myself nervous on who we will learn you are."
"It will not, my friend, change anything about who you are to me," Sharr said, with something like the firm leader Sam knew him to be. Sharr then looked at Sam intently.
"I know the name, because Turlang used it. But I know nothing else of who I am, only that someone used magic to harm me and cast me to where my friend here, Drizzt Do'Urden, was able to heal me and give me shelter these many months."
"Months, like hell," Samiar said. "It's been decades since they tracked me down to state you'd been lost!"
Drizzt was trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. Samiar Ravarel was apparently kin — son of the brother of Sharr's mother — and had taken the fact Drizzt was drow quite… easily? That Sam appeared to be full sun elf, that fact had stunned Drizzt.
Now, as Sharr had held up a hand stopping the flow of words once they got inside, Sam was inspecting Sharr with some magical scrying device, studying the magic he had confirmed as being present. Which meant Drizzt was both trying to stay out of the way and yet still keep an eye on his friend, to keep him safe.
He didn't think the wizard was a threat, didn't perceive any signs of lying, yet… he was too drow to take a person at their word with no history of actions observed.
Finally, the wizard stopped pacing around Sharr and went to sit down. Sharr moved from the stool to the space next to Drizzt, sitting close enough to let their shoulders touch.
"Turlang was wise, as ever, to suspect traps. Elué's magic must have blunted it, as the way I can read it was that you would have been a threat to her or her sisters, should they have been the one the time spell sent you to."
"Someone I know, then?" Sharr asked, getting a hearty laugh from Sam.
"You might say that," he told Sharr in a playful tone. "Possibly just the sheer magic protecting that lot caused it to bounce you to a different location. Or the fact they reside in magical fortresses, so to speak.
"Why it bounced you to the vicinity of a stranger, and a drow at that — no offense, Drizzt, merely curiosity — is what's intriguing me. I think I see why it did not bounce you to Korvallen, who is protected by Elué's magics at present."
Drizzt inclined his head, surprised at the acknowledgment, and just pushed harder against Sharr's shoulder since his friend was visibly growing concerned.
"Can you remove the trap? And more importantly, give me my memory back? I feel like I am stumbling blindly here with no context for any of what you just said."
"Yes. The lich that targeted you may have prepared that spell specifically for you, but therein lies its flaw," Samiar said. "It was tailored… and you are becoming someone not the man you were.
"Steering clear of others has helped you shift away, so to speak, and the spell is going to lose its grip. Well, the trap. The memory may be trickier, but I will deal with the trap first. In the morning, as I don't have the correct spells on tap today."
"Alright."
Drizzt opened his eyes as he saw Sharr coming down the ladder. He'd been offered a room, but found himself unable to endure being under a stranger's roof with things perched so precariously for the future.
"Couldn't sleep inside?" Sharr asked. "Went to your room first."
Drizzt sat up on his bedroll, making space for Sharr and pulling his cloak around the man's shoulders so they could share the warmth.
"Perhaps I do not understand how beds work any longer," Drizzt told him wryly.
"Or maybe you're worried about the way this is all going to change," Sharr said in a more serious tone, staying close to his friend.
"A little. The way he spoke leads me to believe you have very strong ties to other people, and I… I am a drow."
"You are my friend. I feel safe with you. I enjoy your company. No matter what, I do not want to lose you."
Under the cloak, Sharr put one arm around Drizzt's waist, and that felt perfect to them both.
"I do not want to lose you," Drizzt admitted. "I… you make life good, like Guen does."
"Then it's settled. Whomever Korvallen and Elué are, they will just have to get used to the fact I have a drow ranger of Mielikki as my friend."
Sam sat back in his chair, satisfied he'd removed the full trap portion of the spell.
"I don't feel different?"
"You shouldn't. The trap should only have been sprung by being near one of the Chosen, most likely Elué," Sam told Sharr. He rubbed at his eyes, as that had been an intensive bit of magical working. "The memory part is going to be more difficult.
"It would probably be easier with a cleric," Sam added.
"I don't want more people involved, and Drizzt is still uneasy about gods," Sharr said adamantly.
Sam stopped rubbing his eyes and looked at Sharr intently. "That matters to you, deeply," he said, voice softer now.
"I came to, and the first person I saw was a drow. Who was honestly wary of how I would react to him, when he was doing all he could for a strange, injured elf," Sharr said. "I knew 'enemy', but I could see 'compassion'. And I learned how much pain he has experienced because he is innately good.
"Yes. It matters. I won't see him hurt."
Samiar smiled, nodding a little. "A good man, then, as you have generally been an excellent judge of character. Alright. But it will take time to prepare the spells, as they are more ritualistic. So the pair of you are going to be here into winter.
"I am offering for you both to remain the whole winter, on the off-chance, once you remember, he is uncomfortable going with you elsewhere."
"Thank you, Sam. Something tells me your nature is generally generous, but I really appreciate that."
Sharr was getting worried as the ritual magic Sam had been brewing for the past month was near completion and Drizzt hadn't returned from his need to go and check something in the wilds. He wanted his friend to be here, yet the potion was one that would have to be drank at a specific time to be the most effective.
"He would be here, if whatever he went after wasn't important," Sam told his cousin. "I've never seen someone that driven by the wilds. Not even Dove's husband. And he's been face to face with Khalreshaar several times."
"More family?" Sharr asked, straining his eyes to see, hoping for the familiar green cloak to appear on the horizon.
"Yes, though you've not met him. Or Syluné's husband, for that matter."
Sharr looked at him finally. "Can you scry?"
Sam frowned. "I tried. This morning. He's impossible to find, which is unsettling."
"He is… under some destiny, I think. I just wonder which deity could have made him non-detectable to a wizard of your caliber."
"Indeed."
The morning that Sharr was to drink the potion with the sun at its zenith, Drizzt came into sight, letting the elf breathe a sigh of relief. As Drizzt got closer, Sharr spotted the signs of injury and fatigue.
"So what was it?" Sam asked, because Sharr truly wanted to to fuss over Drizzt, and yet the look on Drizzt's face was not very open.
"A gnoll shaman with great intellect and too much evil," Drizzt answered. "They had been stealing the animals from that hamlet we passed four days before arriving here. The animals were being held in a way that was cruel and sickening for some sacrifice, while the gnolls readied to raid.
"I do not understand these peoples who can only take, and hurt!" he finished, anger overriding everything else.
"One man, against a well-led gnoll band?" Sam gave an appreciative whistle at that.
"I did little more than kill the shaman," Drizzt said, before looking at Sharr. "Did I make it back in time?"
"Yes, my friend, though I fear you pushed yourself too hard." Sharr did not, for a moment, believe that Drizzt had only killed the shaman. But he probably had set the battle up to where the farm folk knew to come with their pitchforks and axes, and Drizzt would have worked to stay hidden once they had.
"Drink these," Sam said, pulling out two vials. "The red one is for your injuries; the blue is to help ease the fatigue."
Drizzt started to wave them off, to protest.
"Please," Sharr asked of him, and that quelled the rebellion against magic being 'wasted' on him.
Drizzt downed them both, handed the vials back once they had taken effect, and then found shade to settle in against the glare of the sun on the snow around the hiexel. Sharr sat beside him, continuing to braid the coil of leather strips he'd been working on to pass time. Sam settled back to his reading, as they waited for the correct moment.
Sharr held the flagon to his lips, setting in the sunbeam in nothing more than a thin tunic and breeches, the cold of winter pressing on him. The sun, however, was singing to him as the liquid passed his lips, a think honeyed intoxicant that soothed his throat and warmed his belly.
He was aware of Samiar, the man that claimed to be and acted like close-kin. He was aware of Drizzt, the friend that he likely never would have met but for the actions that had stolen his memories, made of him a knife aimed at a powerful woman. Both were keeping watch, as was the hiexel with its unusual awareness of the world around it.
The flagon had to be drained, and Sharr closed his eyes as he kept drinking, the heat pooling, then radiating out from his core until even the thin clothing he wore felt oppressive. Gentle sounds began to twine into a harmony within his mind, the kiss of Corellon blazing in visible light on his forehead as the Seldarine wove their gifts through him once more.
~Lore Keeper, awaken!~
The fierce call of Sharrevaliir's patron god, King of all the Seldarine, sealed the healing draught's power, his eyes opening with a glow of power for a long moment.
The warmth burned still, but was fading, and Sam was there with a thickly woven blanket to drop around his shoulders.
"Cousin?"
Sharr looked at the other elf, cousin yes, but dear friend and partner in so many youthful adventures.
"I am Sharrevaliir," he said, with full weight of knowing, to his core, who he was, and what his purpose had always been. "I am Corellon's Lore Keeper once more."
Drizzt had hung back, as Sharr seemed to be settling his newly found knowledge into place. He was tired, despite the potions, and knew there would be logistics to helping Sharr pick his life back up. While he and Sam spoke of that, Drizzt went to the room he used here, cleaned himself up, and laid down to get the sleep he had been denying himself.
He felt as if he must have slept the full four hours when he roused to the door opening quietly. He looked that way, and made out Sharr slipping in, shutting the door behind him. Drizzt sat up on the bed, which made Sharr sigh.
"There really is no sneaking up on you," the elf said, but he sat down on the side of the bed, carefully confining himself to avoid putting pressure on Drizzt, now that everything had changed — or so it felt to the ranger.
"Not generally. But I am rested now. Have you sorted out your mind? Begun deciding how to handle your return to your life?"
"Sorted? Yes. Decided on the rest? No. You needed to sleep, and I can't tackle that part without you."
Drizzt's eyes widened, and he knew Sharr noted it.
"I have not changed my mind in the least," Sharr said, firm and more confident than ever. "You are my friend, and I want you at my side. Even if I will spend half my time worrying over you while you go deal with gnoll shamans and hags and who knows what else."
Drizzt half-smiled at that. "I am a ranger."
"Yes, one of the most ridiculous professions in all our world for the need to throw themselves into danger and sort it out after," Sharr said, smiling back. "I have two consorts. I have a heart-brother. I have thirteen sons, and an adopted daughter. I have three villages I am — or was — directly responsible for in times of hardship. I … must mourn the loss of my last companion.
"It's all a lot of things, and very overwhelming even before I add in the six sisters of one of my consorts, and their family entanglements. And there's going to be some bumps, getting things worked out, especially with my heart-brother." Sharr looked at Drizzt very seriously. "I still want you near."
Drizzt listened to that litany, eyes showing his shock at some of the concepts like multiple consorts and so many children, confusion by the repetition of 'heart-brother', and finally he shook his head.
"I do not want to lose our friendship, Sharr. But at the same time, you have a life to pick up, and I … do not want to impose on that, or cause negative impressions," Drizzt told him.
Sharr reached out, going for Drizzt's bare shoulder to try and get his own feelings fully spoken, unwilling to let Drizzt sacrifice anything —
— and the world imploded for them both.
Sharrevaliir found himself immersed in an alien world, full of danger and intrigue at all turns. He was painfully aware of how young Drizzt was, as the tragedies spun out, adding depth to the words spoken aloud during their travels. More, Sharr began to truly understand that the man had been painfully alone his entire life, save for a few brief interludes.
Those had ended in death or separation as final as death, with no understanding of how to mourn, how to release the grief inherent in the losses. It was no wonder that Drizzt seemed easily into his second century, holding the weight of that grief and horror all inside his soul.
More than ever, the nascent emotions of something more than friendship made sense, as Sharr's heart embraced the thread that had bound their souls.
The sheer current of memories was a tide that Drizzt found himself at a loss to swim within. Elves, powerful and mundane alike, a life among trees, a name he could never claim, memories of the time someone had hunted his mother for being an heir of the line — all of that was swept away with the resolution to be stronger, to make a better way.
Lovers — Drizzt shivered at the understanding of how a heart-brother stood in the eyes of his friend — and children, people to teach and succor in times of need all added to the drowning wave of experiences flooding him.
How could his friend have room for him in the swell of such belonging? Drizzt ached to learn, yet he did not know if he had the ability to find a place to fit in against such strange concepts as family supporting one another.
When they came back to themselves, now buoyed by the gentle awareness of one another, Sharr had moved so he was supporting Drizzt, but was well aware of the tears that were drying on his face. Drizzt leaned into that closeness, but could not help how corded his muscles were.
"That… how do you give yourself to so many? How do you manage caring so strongly for so many people?" Drizzt asked.
"Not the first question I expected, but you would have felt me recognizing the soul-strings to first Kor and then Elué," Sharr said, "and you do tend to skip over more obvious questioning.
"The answer is embracing how long we live, knowing when to let go, when to hold on, and letting every person in my life claim the time they need while understanding we have a need for space too." Sharr drew in a deep breath. "And yes, I can feel that space is what I must give you.
"This is not what I expected to learn, on why the spell was able to divert to you. Fortunately, I had not yet met you, so I could not hurt you," he explained. "I want to explore this with you, Drizzt Do'Urden, yet I also see the differences in our experiences means you need more time."
"I… yes. I want you to settle into your life, and not … be a detriment. But, now, seeing — no, feeling — your life, I think, in time, I will find my way back to you," Drizzt said softly. "It feels like where I should be, just not now."
Sharr held him closer, his eyes closing as he mastered the slight disappointment. A tiny part of him had hoped Drizzt would choose to stay, yet he truly had recognized how difficult this was going to be.
"Elué and Kor will know I am back in my right mind, and be reaching out soon," Sharr said. "As that burst of emotion was not one I could have kept from them. But for now, let me be close to you?"
Drizzt shifted, lifting the blanket. "I am still tired," he said quietly, and Sharr moved to slide under the covers, just holding this young drow of his heart.
In time, there might be more. Or they might remain as friends, with an added layer of awareness. It really didn't matter, so long as Drizzt was comfortable with the idea of some kind of a future.
Before the family could claim Sharr, Drizzt left, his pack full of supplies, and despite the winter, he would not be returning, despite Sam's invitation to do so.
"Why?" Sam asked, once the drow was far enough away not to hear.
"Because I am part of something too big for him to endure just yet, and he needs space to be more solid in who he is before he comes back." Sharr rested a hand on his cousin's arm. "It was a soul-thread, Sam. How would you feel to see the entirety of another's life, and learn you're already connected, but all things are changing?"
"Damn," Sam said softly. "And of course, it could not take effect until you were you again," he added, understanding better. "He'll be alright?"
"I think so," Sharr said. "His personal mission in life is to live so long that the Spider Queen comes to fear him."
Sam snorted. "As driven as he can be… She should.
"Well, let me get a mansion up, and tell everyone they can stop waiting for the word."
Sharr nodded, but kept watching the direction his soul-mate had vanished in. Knowing it was best did not actually make it easier.
Change had been inevitable. Sharr learned that his youngest sister-in-law had managed to clear a large swath of Undermountain for her people to live in, that his eldest one had chosen to persuade her husband to move with her, and that others, likewise, had changed their bases of power.
Various enemies had been targeted harder, in the years since the ambush on Sharr, with Harpers ferreting out their secrets, and the Chosen using their resources to more actively undo the plots they had fostered. Currently, things appeared to be in a lull, but Sharr knew it for a regrouping.
Dolthauvin, backed by Charic, Kor, and Sam, had been named Lore Keeper's Guardian, meaning he was invested with the powers but only until Sharr's return or Tyresia being of a proper age. From what Sharr was told, the pressure had been to push Tyresia to take it then, but the triumvirate, representing each of the villages that made the alliance, had held firm on Tyresia being too young, when the hope remained that Sharr would be found.
Elué had not moved, but had worked ceaselessly to make Silverymoon even more the Light of the North she had envisioned for it. Once Dol had been secure, with Charic to advise him, Kor had left the villages to go be her personal protector. While Korvallen did help with the Knights, he was not one of them, having held firm to the knowledge Sharr would return some day.
Del was starting to adventure alone, at last, but had stayed with Methri and Tyresia, learning from them, once he ventured out originally. There was a deep caution, a slowness to trust, in his youngest son that burned Sharr's soul a bit.
Dol, blessed son he was, volunteered to remain in place, on the grounds that Sharr had forty odd years to catch up on, as well as a son to learn. So it was that Del joined his father, and Korvallen, and the trio flitted from one thing to another —
— while a drow ranger explored his own life, and traveled ever further from the elf who held his soul-thread.
It was Kor that was with Sharr the day Drizzt Do'Urden fell in battle. It was Kor that held Sharr through the paroxysm of the sudden silencing of the bond.
"You don't know he's dead," Kor said fiercely, shaking him a little. "You have been feeling intense focus from him! He could just be deeply unconscious!"
Sharr tightened his fingers in Kor's tunic, clinging to the idea that yes, maybe that was it. The absolutely focused mindset had made it hard to know anything but determination. Surely a swordsman like Drizzt wasn't dead from something he'd prepared for.
"But what if he is?" still came out of his mouth.
"Then… we ask your sister-in-law to look for his soul, and we do some diamond-hunting."
It hadn't been easy for Kor to accept that he'd be sharing Sharr with a drow, but on the other hand, that drow had protected Sharr at his most vulnerable. He'd stand by Sharr in this, and give aid, if that was what it took.
When, almost three days later, the surprise of survival hit Sharr, it made him weak in the knees and long for a chance to just go find his friend.
"You can't, Dad," Del said, once he'd admitted that. "You said yourself that the gap in experience would make it wrong. And while he can't ever catch up to you, you have to let him choose when he is ready."
"How'd you grow so wise, son?"
Del smiled a little. "You raised my brothers well, and they passed it on."
"You have the look of a haunted man," Elué said, after kissing her elf-lord 'hello'.
"He is," Korvallen said, settling on the divan. "That damned ranger of his has had a busy summer."
Elué arched an eyebrow as she and Sharr settled together.
"Intense curiosity that moved to blatant impatience," Sharr began. "Followed by a growing respect and even pride. Then something of a mystery, followed by intense action — he's almost unreadable while in that state — over and over again, mixed with horror and determination.
"But it seems to finally have come to an end? As he had a building wall of grief give way to both relief and irritation a few weeks ago before he fell back to the more normal pulse of being alive."
"My my." Elué smiled at both elves then. "Well, I am glad you two have come to stay for a time. Niska's got a pile of lore for you, Sharr, and Kolarven said they need a better partner to improve, at volume, during the tourney they hosted last month," she told the pair.
"My nibling's getting big for their britches?"
"Bored, I think, as Ghael's not been to visit, and there's been no truly spectacular parties."
Korvallen snorted at that, and nodded. "I'll spend some time working them over, see what I can teach them. Planning to stay here at least a year or so, give us all a rest, since Del went to Sam for wizard training."
"I think that sounds delightful," she told them both.
There was a commotion at the door, and a loud voice stating that they didn't have an appointment but there was a threat approaching. Sharr gestured for the page to go and actually open the door, despite it being his break from taking appointments.
The Riders of Nesmé who pushed in looked like they had ridden a harder pace than was generally needed between that city and here. Given how irritated Sharr's mood was, pushed by his long-missing soul-mate's moods of late, he was hoping that they had brought news of a fight.
"I am Sharrevaliir, consort to the Lady here," he introduced. "What has you in such a state, Riders?"
"Lord," the captain of the detail said. "My men and I were attacked near the bridge we hold, by a drow and his thralls, seeking to learn the strengths of the lands."
Sharr's nerves prickled; while it was true that Nesmé sometimes had to deal with raids of drow coming from the Lurkwood or the Neverwinter, this tale did not seem to match those past encounters.
"Thralls?" he pressed, deciding not to offer water, when his instincts said something was amiss.
"Yes, three warriors under his sorcerous command."
The one with a bow cleared his throat, and the captain glared at him, silencing him. Wasn't that most peculiar, Sharr thought.
"Explain," he commanded, aware that the Spellguard on duty was shifting, probably casting a spell to determine lies. Likewise, Jasti was more alert, the Knight assigned duty to him today. He didn't often take Alustriel's courtly duties, but she had been needed this day by Laeral for more dangerous duties.
"They sought to overcome us by forcing bog blokes up onto the road, then pretended to come to our aid," the captain said, assured of the tale as his prejudice said it must have been. "Half my command was down when they finally appeared, with the brute of a half-giant doing great damage to the blokes they had used for fodder.
"When the bog blokes were defeated, they spun a tale of travel but then we noted the drow," the captain recited, and Sharr saw all the signs of a man who had convinced himself of his own words.
A troubling impression came to Sharr, and he pinned the captain with a gimlet stare. "Describe this drow," he said, his posture fully that of a man who meant to be obeyed.
"About your own height, as black as onyx, with hair that mocks the purity of a new snow," the captain said. "With two blades, and eyes blazing under his cowl."
"Color?" Sharr snapped.
"Ehh? Red, I suppose."
"Purple," the archer blurted. "I saw them as he fired on me."
Sharr's temper, typically very difficult to ignite, was a burning rage as soon as those words confirmed his suspicion. "And what exactly did you do to escape?" he asked, well-aware they had no idea his anger was directed at them, when he was an elf after all, and should hate all drow.
"We denied them the bridge of course," the captain said smugly. "And turned them off into the comforts of the moors, where such foul things should remain."
Sharr made himself count to ten in three languages, reminding himself he was Elué's representative, not the actual power of this city.
"Congratulations, Captain," he began at last. "You have, without any doubt, just managed to offend one of the patron goddesses of the city you are standing in." He turned his attention to Jasti. "Go tell Besnell I am authorizing a double squadron to the Trollmoors.
"Drizzt Do'Urden, and whomever his companions are, need aid, and should be taken directly to the Glade. I will send word to the Ladyservant myself they will be coming, likely injured, and in need of care."
"What?" the captain demanded.
Sharr snapped his attention back to the captain. "Let this be a lesson, Captain, that looks and your bigotry are enough to land your entire city in hot water with other municipalities. Silverymoon may not deny aid to the travelers you harmed, as we hold our relationship with Mielikki in high regard.
"I do hope you can find the right penitence to pay before Her disfavor lands on your grain stores, on your hunting grounds, and every other place Her creatures can reach, because the drow in question is actually Her favored ranger."
The archer was smart enough to blanch in color, and the other infantry man grabbed his captain's arm, stopping the angry splutters by dragging him out of the audience room.
Sharr itched to go, to join the patrol, but Elué needed him here. So he went to the desk, and began drafting a message to the Ladyservant. He wasn't all that surprised when Korvallen showed up just as he signed his name. He flicked his fingers across the ink to dry it with an archivist's cantrip, then rolled and sealed it.
"Play messenger for me?" he asked his heart-brother.
"Where?"
"The Cloister. Those idiots turned Drizzt and party off into the Trollmoors."
"Corellon's balls," Kor cursed, before taking it and hurrying to carry the message.
Elué looked at the unrepentant elves, and then shook her head. "You realize if they close that road, my people will suffer?"
"The Ladyservant was already drafting a letter to their leaders," Korvallen said. "Sharr's right; Khalreshaar will be angry, and will punish anyone who uses this to further their bigotry."
"There is a deep irony in hearing you defend a drow, Korvallen," Elué said. "I personally agree with all that happened, but I have to be certain my people do not pay for it."
"Push comes to shove, heart's star, and I'll pay for the boys to teleport food in from other markets," Sharr told her. "Stand firm on the line that Mielikki is angry, and your citizens will rally to that.
"Please?"
"Oh I intend to, Sharr. And I am very intrigued at the opportunity to actually meet the ranger. I just see all sides of what a mess this could have become, might yet become."
"I'm not apologizing."
"I don't expect you to." She smiled at them both. "I know you would have done it for anyone you had proof of goodly intentions on, even if we didn't all owe this particular drow."
Jasti had gone herself to lead the patrol, curious that any elf, especially one of Sharrevaliir's reputation and standing, would champion a drow. When she found the party of four — okay the barbarian was tall enough to be a half-giant — being protected to the best of said drow's ability, and all four looking very exhausted, she was a little angry at Nesmé.
Then, the whole ride back, once potions had been handed out, she heard more of the tale, and was furious. She was just old enough to know the legend of the Battlehammer clan directly, but what in all the Named Ones had those idiot humans been thinking that a mere drow could control a dwarf?
Thralls indeed!
As soon as her party had delivered the group to the keeping of the Ladyservant, she told all of them to spread the truth far and wide, just in case the bigots had spread their lies and been believed by the gullible.
A wizard in an inn's tavern heard the tale, and a smile touched her lips. Soon she could part from the irritation that was the assassin she kept company with, and go back to her studies in Luskan. She finished her meal, and headed up to get her partners in this endeavor.
Sharr had intended, once he knew Drizzt was in the city, to go straight over and see his friend. As it was, he got delayed by explaining the circumstance to a visiting merchant from Sundabar, and that drew others, which suited him.
"I personally know the ranger in question," became the best defense he could use, and he was certain that what little hostility had been inflamed by Nesmé was puttering out under repetition.
Then, as he was finally on his way over to the Cloister to find out where the four had taken lodging, a sergeant of the Silver Watch hastily intercepted him.
"Lord Silverhand," the man said around his attempt to breathe normally. "The group you had the Knights bring in have been arrested alongside other visitors to the city. Four of the Watch were injured, one critically."
"What in the Abyss…" Sharr muttered. "Which holding station, sergeant?" and then he took off at a brisk pace, once told.
Sharr spoke at length with the captain that had been called in to get to the bottom of the matter. It seemed that one of the people involved had successfully managed to cull the halfling away from Drizzt's party, leading to Drizzt going to the halfling's aid. This had led to an attack on Drizzt himself, from a wizard, using low-level spells that flew under the ban on magic in the city. The spells were meant to disorient and be a nuisance, at which point presumably, someone else would get involved.
Only, it had been the halfling's allies, Drizzt's friends, wading in with bared hammer and axe, at which point the Silver Watch had made it on scene. If an off-duty Spellguard hadn't come to investigate, the captain was certain his men would be dead, possibly some of the drow's party, and no one would have been captured.
"We're tracing the wizard and her party to wherever they stayed, as their entry was noted as having four, not three, members," the captain finally said. "We're fairly certain the ranger's party is in the right, but procedures. The drow himself was insisting we follow them — I think to keep the little one safe from the other group's allies, maybe."
"That… would be his line of thinking, yes. Thank you." Armed now with the full story, Sharr walked back to the pair of holding cells, with a trio in one, and the quartet in the other. He looked at the sullen dwarf, the angry barbarian, the apologetic halfling… and then to his friend, who had curled up in a corner, cloak wrapped around him.
"You're not actually sleeping, my friend." Sharr let amusement touch his voice.
"No, but it's more polite to pretend so, rather than just ignore my friends all placing blame in a circle." The ranger did roll over to his back, turning his head to look out the bars. "Hello, Sharr. Not exactly an auspicious reunion."
"Not at all, and yet I look forward to getting the truth of it all." He then turned and looked at the other cell, noting the dark-skinned man was being held with enchanted manacles as well as the wizard, while no such hindered Drizzt and friends. The third one, a human man, was sitting as far from the other two as possible.
"Who did you intend to get to speak for you, proper procedures and all of that?" Sharr asked Drizzt, turning back to find the drow had come to the bars without Sharr noticing. "Damn it, you're sneakier than ever."
"I asked for a cleric to come determine truth," Drizzt said, his eyes sparkling. "Imagine that, from me."
Sharr threw his head back and laughed. "Give you most of a couple of decades and you can learn trust that far? I am impressed." He noted Drizzt's friends were slowly letting go of their own emotions, turning to more curiosity about what was going on. "Once you have all given your statements, with a cleric to determine truth, I invite you to come to the Palace.
"As my guests."
"What is this, my teacher?" the barbarian asked, skeptically.
"An honest offer, Wulfgar. Sharr is my friend, and I trust his offer. It also may be the best place to begin with our needs here, Bruenor, and a place where Regis need not fear."
So those were the names of the three with Drizzt, Sharr noted, sizing them up. That 'teacher' worried him, honestly, given that the human would grow old and die long before Drizzt was even approaching his true prime.
"I believe the Silver Watch have matters in hand," Sharr said, not wishing to remain where he could be targeted if there was still an unnamed threat in the city. "Until I see you, my friend."
"Until then."
Word reached Sharr, before his friend had arrived, that the trio were to be held for trial, as the fourth had been found to be a hostage. He felt a bit more vindicated in letting Drizzt see it handled through proper channels, and waited — impatiently — for the party to be guided to the palace.
Having the walls attacked by a flesh construct was not on his list of things he'd expect to be connected to the entire incident, but it resulted in a large portion of the Spellguard turning out to deal with the attack.
He was in the main entrance hall when the ranger and party were escorted in, and could not help but go directly to them, hands out toward Drizzt, who took them, squeezing firmly.
"I am so curious what you have gotten yourself tangled up in, Drizzt, but let me get you to a suite." He nodded to the page to go fetch up a meal, taking in the young woman that had joined their party, looking every bit the worse for wear.
"It has been an interesting year or so," Drizzt told him. "Once my companions are seen to, I will talk with you. And thank you; I have grown no fonder of trolls since I was on patrols in the Underdark. Having seen too many of them in the last year."
"You're only whetting my curiosity, and you should stop, or I will be a rude host." He looked at the others. "I am Sharrevaliir, consort of Lady Silverhand, Arch Mage of the city. I am told you are Bruenor Battlehammer, Wulfgar son of Beornegar, and Regis. I have not yet been told your name," he added, looking to the woman.
"Catti-brie Battlehammer," she said, leaving off any honorific as she didn't seem sure which was appropriate, and she also reeked of worry toward Drizzt, for the fact the elf was still in contact with the drow.
"We thank ye for yer hospitality," Bruenor managed to find the grace to say, but Sharr was almost certain they were all very suspicious of his relationship to Drizzt.
"I think I am upset, Drizzt, that I didn't warrant mention," Sharr said pleasantly.
"Oh I spoke of 'Sharr' and 'Sam' a bit. I failed to name your ties, as they didn't seem necessary."
"Elf, ye and yer durn secret keeping!" Bruenor grumbled at him.
"Well, I feel a bit more inclined to forgive you," Sharr teased, guiding them all along to the suite. His path meant that they arrived almost simultaneously with food, and he was careful not to ask any more questions, so they could all get settled in and begin recovering properly.
He knew the Glade had seen to injuries, but rest and meals were surely needed.
The page led Drizzt to Sharr's personal rooms, on orders, when the ranger finally slipped free of the suite. Now, Sharr could see the fatigue was still there in his friend, that Drizzt had been pushing himself for enough time that even the clerics of the Glade had not cured it all.
"You look terrible, and I thank you for trusting me enough to show it." Sharr gestured to the divan for Drizzt to come join him there. They settled, and after just a few moments and a touch, Drizzt actually rested against Sharr fully.
"I didn't dare sleep after my first attempt in the moors," Drizzt admitted. "Too dangerous, and I was the only one who could see well enough, it felt like.
"But I did not want to leave you waiting."
"I am glad you came to me, but I am not going to pester you for answers if you are that tired. I have missed you terribly, though. Especially… well. A few years ago, I almost demanded Sam bring me to you, somehow. I thought you had died."
"I very nearly did, my friend," Drizzt admitted soberly. "But I survived, as ever. And if you seriously wish to wait for answers, I think I should sleep, and would do so better near you."
Sharr's heart thrilled at that answer, and he started stroking Drizzt's hair gently. "Here, or bed?"
"If it will not scandalize anyone, I think I prefer the bed."
Sharr chuckled, and saw to taking Drizzt to bed, folding around him once they were down to their inner layers, and just doing all he could to make Drizzt feel safe.
Drizzt stretched, then rolled over to see Sharr was only just opening his eyes from Reverie. That made Drizzt smile, before he cupped his hand around Sharr's between them.
"I know Bruenor has an appointment with the Lady this morning, but do you want the full story now?"
"Of course I do, so I know best how to support her," Sharr answered. "Tell me over breakfast, and then I am going to put you in clothing that is better than you wandered in wearing."
Drizzt laughed at him. "I have been on the road since the passes thawed in the Spine of the World."
"And you are my friend, my bonded. I can't have you looking ragged to meet my consort."
The easy warmth between them was a needed balm, because by the time breakfast ended, Sharr was convinced that his friend was being pulled into dangers far above what he should be facing, and concerned on how the rest would spiral out from there.
"You're certain the crystal is unreachable?"
"By physical means, yes. Magical? I cannot concur to that. But I know that is why Luskan hunts me. They want it."
"I'll make a force to deal with that. It's useful to have so many mage-fighters, after all." Sharr forced a smile he did not feel.
"Let me know once it is contained?" Drizzt asked.
"Of course."
They both heard the bells, and hastened to finish readying for Bruenor's appointment time, so they could both be present.
Catti-brie was standing next to her father and facing the door when the elf-lord and her ranger walked in. Drizzt looked so completely relaxed and calm, even truly rested, that she couldn't find it in herself to still be piqued over waking to his absence.
More, he was dressed in a tunic that seemed to have been made for him, a pale purple that enhanced his eyes perfectly, the collar embroidered in silver curving swords… or unicorn horns? She could not quite make out from this distance. Everything he was wearing looked new, made for being in the city, not on the road, and he walked as close to the elf as he normally did when he was escorting her somewhere.
The men with her turned that way and took note, with Catti glancing down at her father to catch the slightest scowl pulling at his beard. Drizzt was going to need to talk to them all about this strange elf. The stories of 'Sharr and Sam' were not explaining this … intimacy, and they all worried over their ranger. If the pair were so close as all that, why'd Drizzt been up in the frozen north so alone? And left to nearly die when Wulfgar's people first attacked?!
Magic enough in this place that surely something could have been done to keep their ranger safer!
"Good morning, my friends," Drizzt said. "Let me get this out of the way first, so maybe you begin to understand.
"When I met Sharr, there was magic tangling him up that had to be sorted out. I watched over him until such time as it was. And then, knowing of his extensive family and a need to return to them, but not being ready to actually exist in those circles, I returned to my wandering ways.
"Which allowed me to meet all of you, and be where I was needed." He focused most intently on Catti-brie, as she was wondering if he'd been reading her mind. "That I chose to walk away does not negate the depth of friendship between Sharr and I. It only means he was strong enough to let me find my own way back to him."
Regis made a noise, and his eyes were very big.
"What be it, Rumblebelly?" Bruenor demanded.
"You've got a soul-thread?!" Regis squeaked, and Sharr was the one to laugh softly, nodding.
"It was a very overwhelming situation for Drizzt, at the time," the elf said. "The only thing we could do was part, so I could settle my life, and he could find more of who he wished to be."
"I do not understand," Wulfgar said, "but my teacher looks happy in your company."
"It's a thing o' magic, and rare among humans," Bruenor said with a sigh. "Me elf? Ye still owe me yer word tae find me hall."
"I have no intention of not finishing this quest with you, my friend," Drizzt assured him, finally looking away from Catti-brie when she gave him the tiniest nod of understanding.
The audience room's doors opened then, and a page ushered them in for their meeting with the Lady of the city.
Sharr was nearly ready to burst with laughter, by the time the formal report and request for aid had happened. He had not missed that Drizzt was utterly taken with Elué, or that his beloved heart's star had kept herself focused in such a way that let Sharr know she was affected. Nor could he enjoy that mirth right away; Drizzt and friends were on the way to the dwarven district to rouse more aid, and to put out the word that an heir was known.
He finally got to release it when he met his consort for lunch, eyes dancing as he took her hands. Once they were private, he kissed her deeply.
"You, my love, are fascinated by my ranger."
"Yes," Elué said, not bothering to deny what had rippled between them along their own soul-thread. "And I am making a point to not make skin-to-skin contact with him while he is pressed by duty."
"A good idea, in case he completes the little box of the four of us," Sharr said, still amused. "We'll learn in time. But, what do you think?"
"Are you certain he is as young as you say?"
"By years, yes. By experience? He's lived more than half our sons."
She sighed, then settled with him for a meal. "The Herald's Holdfast is a good place for them to strike out for. As to the other part of their problem here, I have remanded the construct, the guard, and the wizard to Luskan with a hefty bill for repairs, and an increase in fees for all Luskanites who come here to learn."
"And the other, the southern man?" Sharr asked.
"Laeral is coming for him, with Ghael, tomorrow. He's wanted in conjunction to several cases, and Bruenor was willing to cede authority since he is occupied by his quest," she said.
"I understand having to balance the living over the dead, but I have faith in Laeral and Ghael to see it through." He smiled at her, and settled to the food, thrumming with anticipation of the rest of this momentous year.
With Laeral occupied, it would make even more sense to go through Syluné to handle the crystal's fate, he decided, glad that part had not actually come up in everything. Elué didn't need that worry just yet.
The next several weeks were not without excitement — and worry — but eventually Drizzt was back in Silverymoon, as Regis and Catti-brie were there with him to see to dwarf business. Apparently Drizzt's promise to watch over the girl overrode seeing the chieftain back to his people.
Sharr convinced Del and Sam to go handle that part, so they would have someone familiar with the land, and magical back up if needed. Once Drizzt was certain his friends were good hands with the Rockcrushers, and a handful of Battlehammer relatives up from Sundabar, Sharr kidnapped his friend to introduce him to Deysa, his latest pegasus companion.
"Thought you might need some time out in fresh air, and to let Guen join us?" Sharr invited as they headed out of the city walls together.
"Oh she'll like that." Drizzt didn't wait then, pulling the figure out and summoning his friend.
Sharr was immediately pounced, and gently knocked to the ground, so Guen could rub her face all over him, leading to much laughter from both her two-legged friends. "Yes Guen! I missed you too!"
She eventually deigned to let Sharr back up, exploring all around as they walked toward a good clearing away from the road. There, Sharr whistled, and Guen went into attentive listening mode. When the sound of wings hit her ears, she wriggled a little and then moved to watch Drizzt intently.
Deysa landed daintily, her eyes on the giant cat and the drow alike, before Sharr walked over to love on her.
"Drizzt, Guenhwyvar, this is Deysa. She's my friend, just really old enough to be carrying me now. I held off a long time, because I missed Norvor terribly, but she picked me a few springs back."
"Greetings, Deysa," Drizzt said, after finding his voice, having been mesmerized. He'd seen the beautiful beings, both at a distance and in Sharr's memories, but to be this close to one was a potent emotional thrill.
Guen walked over, content in her suspicion on how her drow would take it, and touched noses with the mare. She then sat there, and made a small noise, making her drow actually approach. From there, it was as magical as being in the Glade had been for Drizzt, and Sharr got to watch as Deysa was completely spoiled with knowing fingers finding all her itchy points.
Sharr sat beside the great cat, letting his other friends get to know each other, and looked at Guen.
"Thank you for taking care of him all these years."
Guen rubbed her head against Sharr's, rumbling. Of course she had! Drizzt had been hers for over half his life after all!
"So we have the stupid blocking spell off of you," Sharr began, aware that Drizzt was only half-paying attention, since Elué was moving through the palace on the floor below this balcony. "And let me tell you my sister-in-law is not pleased, at all, that you were allowed to wander off from me with it clinging to you."
That made Drizzt turn and look at him, or maybe it was the fact Elué had disappeared into her court for the day.
"It possibly saved my life, as the demon Errtu didn't realize I was bluffing him until he detected the talisman I wore for Mielikki."
"Well, there's that… and I still think you're very reckless to have bluffed him at all." Sharr rested a hand on his shoulder. "Elué wants you to go to lunch with her today."
Drizzt's eyes narrowed, feeling the mischief, and Sharr had to laugh at the blatant suspicion.
"She's feeling as intrigued by you as you are by her."
"I — "
"Will make us both happy if this turns out to be one more connection between us all," Sharr said firmly. "Unless you have a need to run off for another fifteen years because my consort is curious about you?"
If Drizzt could blush, Sharr was certain he was at this moment.
"You said you'd introduce me to Korvallen," Drizzt tried to deflect.
"I will. When he gets back; Sam abducted him to go up once your friends got outside of Mirabar with the whole caravan." Sharr squeezed the shoulder he still had. "Stop dodging. Are you ready to face being part of us, no matter what the attraction between Elué and you is?"
Drizzt stood tall, and gave a slow nod.
"Good. I'm going to be shamelessly paying attention to you and she during your lunch."
"I think you should be there," Drizzt said. "Unless this lunch will be somewhere very secure; I had no awareness of my surroundings when you and I touched that first time."
"It will be here in the palace, in a quiet room, with all her protections around you both," Sharr reassured.
"Alright."
Alustriel looked at Drizzt, captivated by him, as the memory flow eased enough for her. She understood so well now why Sharr had been willing to let him go, after experiencing his tragedies first hand. Yet, in her heart, she was aware this man was firmly in control of himself now, having had the years to process and come to terms with his losses.
"Please tell me you aren't going off to explore this round of memories," she said softly once he was back with her.
"No, Lady… no."
"Call me Elué or Alustriel, whichever you feel best with. Elves have long since known me as the first, even if I rule under my proper name now," she said.
"Alustriel, then," Drizzt answered. "Are… is this going to suit you? This connection between us all?"
She smiled at him for that self-effacing concern for others. "Yes. I am looking forward to getting to know you, not just what shaped you. And it will be good, to get you fully integrated into the family at last. Even Ellifain knows of you, from Sharr."
"The child…" He closed his eyes, as that memory floated up, Alustriel meeting the moon-elf, welcoming her to their family.
"Yes."
"Then, I am looking forward to knowing all of you better." He breathed out, slowly, took a measured breath in. "I've learned, in my time away, how good family can be, and understand better why it is a bedrock of who Sharr is. I see that in you, as well."
"Even Kor feels it, no matter that he is a grumpy old elf that is a bit fierce to get to know."
Drizzt laughed softly. "I saw that, in both of your experiences. I will just have to give him a spar worth paying attention to, and win him over that way."
Now she laughed, before pointing at their food. "Let us eat, and then I'll give you back to Sharr's care for the day.
"We have all the time in the world to get to know each other now."
"Yes."
Sharr watched Kor and Drizzt sparring, noting the care that Kor was taking, knowing that Drizzt was only just out of the clerics' hands from taking Mithral Hall back. He leaned back into Elué's hold, content with the world.
"I'm going back to the Refuge in spring. Drizzt isn't ready to cope with that, but he's content to keep his travels in your region," he said.
"I think that is good, at this point." Elué dropped a kiss in his hair. "In time, we both can lay down our leaderships, and then what an adventure we shall find together!"
"With Drizzt's ability to find trouble? Indeed!"
They both laughed, and relaxed into a fuller future.
Tags:
Young Adventures: A Tall Ones Tale
Nov. 28th, 2023 08:35 amsenmutYoung Adventures (1984 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 2/2
Fandom: Forgotten Realms
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Alustriel Silverhand/Original Character(s)
Characters: Alustriel Silverhand, Andelver Aerasumé, Dolthauvin Aerasumé, Ghaelryss Aerasumé, Elinthalar Aerasumé, Original Elf Character(s)
Additional Tags: Coming of Age, Fluff, Family Bonding
Summary:
"Bad memories."
"You came through it fine."
"Your sister terrified me."
There was soft laughter, and a pause in discussion as she made it up to her elf-lord.
"We could track down that amulet."
"Hmm, a little too high a risk for the boys. They've learned well, but that should have an experienced hand. I'd wind up stifling them."
"True. Or maybe we're being too protective."
"You were the one that insisted they go with one or both of us to see how well they fare."
"Yes, with reason."
Silence fell, an easy one, as they thought a bit longer.
"Ruins," he finally offered. "I know a set that was cleared within the last century, but we didn't have time to explore, and those things attract new trouble."
"But the trouble won't be as entrenched… a good idea, my love."
Andelver tried hard not to be too smug as he looked at his younger brothers being shepherded back up into the trees by Mama. He also didn't want to look too nervous, so he checked on Dolthauvin to be sure his twin was steady.
They were going out of the village! Out of the High Forest even! Father and Mother were both in their traveling clothes, and the four of them would be going by foot to the very edge of the High Forest and past, to a set of ruins Father knew about.
Dolthauvin gave him a quick grin, then paid sharp attention as Father indicated for him to be their forward scout. Andelver was allowed to take the rear, and the quartet began their adventure.
Up in a higher branch, Sam poked Kor, knowing he was fretting about not going with them.
"So how much trouble do you think they'll find?" the wizard asked playfully.
The fighter just growled at him, and watched until they could not see the four any longer.
The travel included camping time, for magic lessons. Sharr watched and listened, offering occasional tips to his sons as their mother helped them mastering one new spell each.
"Why aren't you a wizard, Father?" Dol asked, after they had settled down for their rest.
Sharr half-shrugged. "I preferred the idea of being able to defend Sam, to lead the village fighters from the front. Mother kept me in her classes through the first level spells she thought I would need.
"Corellon grants me the ability to read magic, thankfully, as Sam's command of the ancient scripts is spotty at best."
"You probably could learn, even now, my love," Elué said. "More than the first level."
"Likely, but I am settling more into the preservation of knowledge," he said. "I'm set on my path, and content. I will take pride in each of our children that follow your choice of life."
Andy nodded at all of that. "I think the four of us boys choosing both is going to be slow-going, but it also lets us either lead into battle or work from behind the fighters to protect more of them."
"Indeed it does," Elué said.
Working their way into the ruins required finesse and magic both, Dol found. Every puzzle lock, every trap — Mother was not offering any advice at all, which meant it was a fair test of his and Andy's ability to work together.
They wound up having to shelter in place, inside the ruined keep, as the pair had not memorized the best spells, and did not want to risk going lower without magic.
Even in this, Mother did not protect them, and Andy wound up working out a watch pattern to use all four of them without leaning into the greater experience of their parents. Dol was content to let him lead, having been copying some of the inscriptions as they moved further in. He saw their father nod approvingly once, and decided all knowledge, in some form or other, might be useful.
The moment Andy's foot came down on the stone, he realized his mistake. It hadn't been a trick of light or shadow, but an actually slight difference he should have seen. It fell under his foot, and the bones littering the corridor began to rise into undead warriors.
"Squirrel nuts," he hissed before analyzing the best approach to protect the others.
"Let me run into them, give me at least three body lengths, and then come in behind me," Dol said, sword in hand. "You didn't take an area effect spell today."
Andy nodded, and remembered which one his twin had. He didn't like it, but leading was going to mean sometimes letting others take the risk.
Dol took off at a run, dodging between the skeletons, sword deflecting one blow, and once he was far enough away from his brother and parents, he evoked the thunderwave. The boom was almost deafening in close quarters, but it disrupted — even shook apart! — several of the undead, allowing Andy to wade in behind and use his enchanted blade to break more of them up.
Both boys cleared the path, taking minor cuts from rusted weapons, while their parents only dealt with the one skeleton that wandered back to them.
For having set off a trap, it hadn't turned out so badly.
Dol reached out for his twin as they made it to the lowest level, and found his fear was very real.
"What?" Andy snapped.
"I think we need to leave," Dol told him. "You're feverish."
Behind them, Elué twitched, but Sharr put a hand on her arm, stopping her from moving forward.
Andy opened his mouth, shut it, and listened past the mind-fog he'd been dealing with since they got up from their second rest in this place.
The hum in his ears confirmed his twin's words, and he ground his jaw. "We made it this far. It's just a fever."
"Means you didn't get all the cuts from the skeletons cleaned out, you idiot," Dol hissed at him. "I don't have a potion. You don't have a potion. The infection is set in. We have to get back out and somewhere I can treat you.
"Past every trap we avoided, by thinking through them."
His brother wanted so much to deny the logic, but —
— he had taken the lead. He was responsible for the party.
"Yeah, you're right," Andy said. He looked at his parents. "Not finding out what's down here today; we're going out. Dol, you guide this time; your memory is going to be better.
"Defensive positions only, so we can keep moving out."
"Alright, let's do it."
Once they made it fully out, and made camp far enough from the ruined keep to be safe, Andy looked at his parents. Sharr had tended the infected wound, and the fever, with plant-lore he knew, but Andy still felt wretched.
"Other than missing the scratch that got infected, what did I do wrong?"
"Nothing," Elué said.
"Other than not being aware of yourself, to possibly head the fever off earlier," Sharr amended. "At the first sign you were feeling off, you should have done a second check of your arms and legs, had Dol check your body.
"You might have been able to purge the infection with a bit of the alcohol you carry, and could have made the choice to turn around sooner, if that failed."
"But I didn't get us all the way to the treasure room," Andy said, even as that sunk in.
"No," Elué said. "You made the choice for greater good. With no consequences but unsatisfied curiosity, you made the correct choice to turn back. In time, you may have a quest that has consequences for not seeing it through, but you should always try to build in failsafes."
"Like having baby brothers on standby, if it is a really big thing that needs done, more potions and elixirs at hand?" Dol asked.
"Among other steps, but yes." Sharr gave both boys — young men — a smile. "You each did your parts remarkably well. And did not let the idea we were there lessen your appreciation of the dangers possible.
"We're proud of you both. And think that come spring, if you choose, the two of you can begin to roam on your own."
Dol broke out in a grin, but Andy frowned for a long moment before sighing.
"It's going to take experience to learn the mistakes I can make," he said, working through what he'd felt was a failure slowly. "And experience to know how to avoid or mitigate them."
"Yes. A valuable lesson, my son," Elué told him. "Now, are we walking back, or am I memorizing two phantom steeds after our rest?"
That actually made Andy laugh, letting go of the failure, as all four debated the merits of each option.
Elin reasoned that Father's pegasus knew them, and would watch over them if they whistled for the mare. So they followed her flight line, watching the lazy glide, and wound up seeing a handful of others in the air as well.
Ghael was the one that pointed out that was more pegasi than usual, and the pair pushed themselves to keep her in sight.
"Kor?" Charic asked. "Have you seen the boys? They left berry picking this morning, and no one's seen them since."
Kor rousted himself from checking his pack; he'd been meaning to go over to his own village, since Sam was supposed to be teaching magic to the pair.
"Where did they leave from?" he asked, buckling on his sword as he asked. Charic told him, and left the matter in his hands; she had other duties to see to.
Ghael and Elin had found a fair-sized herd, and when their father's mare, Trynseel, had spotted them, she nickered for the colts and fillies to come meet them. Trynseel kept an indulgent eye on the younger pair of her friend's colts, knowing they were both sturdy and learning the ways of being adult.
She really wasn't surprised when the sole pair of hatched-together foals, now yearlings, fluttered and pranced, claiming the right to finish growing up with Ghael and Elin. The filly went to Elin, and the colt to Ghael. That done, there was more social time, and Trynseel let all the young ones play, including the pair of two legs that were just past the gangly stage.
Kor swore the moment he was beyond the borders of even Charic's village, but knew Sam would eventually send to him to check on them. He pushed on into the night, refusing to rest while the pair of nineteen year old boys were out loose in the world, away from safety, exposed to their mother's enemies.
Just after the sun rose, he came to a glade, and found Trynseel, both boys, and two young pegasi sleeping on the ground, with each boy under a pegasus wing.
"Well, damn," he said to himself, remembering finding their father with what became his first pegasus friend.
Trynseel opened her eyes, and he would have sworn she looked smug about it all.
They made it back to the village about a day ahead of Sharr and Elué with the older pair. A hasty 'no one was hurt' and then the two yearlings made their presence known.
"Mother! Father! Come see!" Ghael called happily. "You two can come as well," he added to his brothers before scampering off a limb into the forest below.
Sharr looked at Kor, then Sam, raised an eyebrow at them, before grinning.
"Not so much trouble to keep up with a pair of boys, hmm?" he teased, leading to Kor muttering about wood-sun elves and leaving them.
"Dad," Dol said, seriously. "It's not fair."
Sharr clapped both elder sons on the shoulders. "I'll ask Trynseel if there can be another meeting."
Chapters: 2/2
Fandom: Forgotten Realms
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Alustriel Silverhand/Original Character(s)
Characters: Alustriel Silverhand, Andelver Aerasumé, Dolthauvin Aerasumé, Ghaelryss Aerasumé, Elinthalar Aerasumé, Original Elf Character(s)
Additional Tags: Coming of Age, Fluff, Family Bonding
Summary:
The eldest pair of boys are almost ready to begin exploring on their own, so Alustriel and Sharrevaliir take them on an adventure.
Meanwhile, the next pair make an adventure of their own.
Young Adventures: Chapter One
"There's that wyrmling nest.""Bad memories."
"You came through it fine."
"Your sister terrified me."
There was soft laughter, and a pause in discussion as she made it up to her elf-lord.
"We could track down that amulet."
"Hmm, a little too high a risk for the boys. They've learned well, but that should have an experienced hand. I'd wind up stifling them."
"True. Or maybe we're being too protective."
"You were the one that insisted they go with one or both of us to see how well they fare."
"Yes, with reason."
Silence fell, an easy one, as they thought a bit longer.
"Ruins," he finally offered. "I know a set that was cleared within the last century, but we didn't have time to explore, and those things attract new trouble."
"But the trouble won't be as entrenched… a good idea, my love."
Andelver tried hard not to be too smug as he looked at his younger brothers being shepherded back up into the trees by Mama. He also didn't want to look too nervous, so he checked on Dolthauvin to be sure his twin was steady.
They were going out of the village! Out of the High Forest even! Father and Mother were both in their traveling clothes, and the four of them would be going by foot to the very edge of the High Forest and past, to a set of ruins Father knew about.
Dolthauvin gave him a quick grin, then paid sharp attention as Father indicated for him to be their forward scout. Andelver was allowed to take the rear, and the quartet began their adventure.
Up in a higher branch, Sam poked Kor, knowing he was fretting about not going with them.
"So how much trouble do you think they'll find?" the wizard asked playfully.
The fighter just growled at him, and watched until they could not see the four any longer.
The travel included camping time, for magic lessons. Sharr watched and listened, offering occasional tips to his sons as their mother helped them mastering one new spell each.
"Why aren't you a wizard, Father?" Dol asked, after they had settled down for their rest.
Sharr half-shrugged. "I preferred the idea of being able to defend Sam, to lead the village fighters from the front. Mother kept me in her classes through the first level spells she thought I would need.
"Corellon grants me the ability to read magic, thankfully, as Sam's command of the ancient scripts is spotty at best."
"You probably could learn, even now, my love," Elué said. "More than the first level."
"Likely, but I am settling more into the preservation of knowledge," he said. "I'm set on my path, and content. I will take pride in each of our children that follow your choice of life."
Andy nodded at all of that. "I think the four of us boys choosing both is going to be slow-going, but it also lets us either lead into battle or work from behind the fighters to protect more of them."
"Indeed it does," Elué said.
Working their way into the ruins required finesse and magic both, Dol found. Every puzzle lock, every trap — Mother was not offering any advice at all, which meant it was a fair test of his and Andy's ability to work together.
They wound up having to shelter in place, inside the ruined keep, as the pair had not memorized the best spells, and did not want to risk going lower without magic.
Even in this, Mother did not protect them, and Andy wound up working out a watch pattern to use all four of them without leaning into the greater experience of their parents. Dol was content to let him lead, having been copying some of the inscriptions as they moved further in. He saw their father nod approvingly once, and decided all knowledge, in some form or other, might be useful.
The moment Andy's foot came down on the stone, he realized his mistake. It hadn't been a trick of light or shadow, but an actually slight difference he should have seen. It fell under his foot, and the bones littering the corridor began to rise into undead warriors.
"Squirrel nuts," he hissed before analyzing the best approach to protect the others.
"Let me run into them, give me at least three body lengths, and then come in behind me," Dol said, sword in hand. "You didn't take an area effect spell today."
Andy nodded, and remembered which one his twin had. He didn't like it, but leading was going to mean sometimes letting others take the risk.
Dol took off at a run, dodging between the skeletons, sword deflecting one blow, and once he was far enough away from his brother and parents, he evoked the thunderwave. The boom was almost deafening in close quarters, but it disrupted — even shook apart! — several of the undead, allowing Andy to wade in behind and use his enchanted blade to break more of them up.
Both boys cleared the path, taking minor cuts from rusted weapons, while their parents only dealt with the one skeleton that wandered back to them.
For having set off a trap, it hadn't turned out so badly.
Dol reached out for his twin as they made it to the lowest level, and found his fear was very real.
"What?" Andy snapped.
"I think we need to leave," Dol told him. "You're feverish."
Behind them, Elué twitched, but Sharr put a hand on her arm, stopping her from moving forward.
Andy opened his mouth, shut it, and listened past the mind-fog he'd been dealing with since they got up from their second rest in this place.
The hum in his ears confirmed his twin's words, and he ground his jaw. "We made it this far. It's just a fever."
"Means you didn't get all the cuts from the skeletons cleaned out, you idiot," Dol hissed at him. "I don't have a potion. You don't have a potion. The infection is set in. We have to get back out and somewhere I can treat you.
"Past every trap we avoided, by thinking through them."
His brother wanted so much to deny the logic, but —
— he had taken the lead. He was responsible for the party.
"Yeah, you're right," Andy said. He looked at his parents. "Not finding out what's down here today; we're going out. Dol, you guide this time; your memory is going to be better.
"Defensive positions only, so we can keep moving out."
"Alright, let's do it."
Once they made it fully out, and made camp far enough from the ruined keep to be safe, Andy looked at his parents. Sharr had tended the infected wound, and the fever, with plant-lore he knew, but Andy still felt wretched.
"Other than missing the scratch that got infected, what did I do wrong?"
"Nothing," Elué said.
"Other than not being aware of yourself, to possibly head the fever off earlier," Sharr amended. "At the first sign you were feeling off, you should have done a second check of your arms and legs, had Dol check your body.
"You might have been able to purge the infection with a bit of the alcohol you carry, and could have made the choice to turn around sooner, if that failed."
"But I didn't get us all the way to the treasure room," Andy said, even as that sunk in.
"No," Elué said. "You made the choice for greater good. With no consequences but unsatisfied curiosity, you made the correct choice to turn back. In time, you may have a quest that has consequences for not seeing it through, but you should always try to build in failsafes."
"Like having baby brothers on standby, if it is a really big thing that needs done, more potions and elixirs at hand?" Dol asked.
"Among other steps, but yes." Sharr gave both boys — young men — a smile. "You each did your parts remarkably well. And did not let the idea we were there lessen your appreciation of the dangers possible.
"We're proud of you both. And think that come spring, if you choose, the two of you can begin to roam on your own."
Dol broke out in a grin, but Andy frowned for a long moment before sighing.
"It's going to take experience to learn the mistakes I can make," he said, working through what he'd felt was a failure slowly. "And experience to know how to avoid or mitigate them."
"Yes. A valuable lesson, my son," Elué told him. "Now, are we walking back, or am I memorizing two phantom steeds after our rest?"
That actually made Andy laugh, letting go of the failure, as all four debated the merits of each option.
Young Adventures: Chapter Two
They both knew the rules. No further than they could be seen by someone that knew them.Elin reasoned that Father's pegasus knew them, and would watch over them if they whistled for the mare. So they followed her flight line, watching the lazy glide, and wound up seeing a handful of others in the air as well.
Ghael was the one that pointed out that was more pegasi than usual, and the pair pushed themselves to keep her in sight.
"Kor?" Charic asked. "Have you seen the boys? They left berry picking this morning, and no one's seen them since."
Kor rousted himself from checking his pack; he'd been meaning to go over to his own village, since Sam was supposed to be teaching magic to the pair.
"Where did they leave from?" he asked, buckling on his sword as he asked. Charic told him, and left the matter in his hands; she had other duties to see to.
Ghael and Elin had found a fair-sized herd, and when their father's mare, Trynseel, had spotted them, she nickered for the colts and fillies to come meet them. Trynseel kept an indulgent eye on the younger pair of her friend's colts, knowing they were both sturdy and learning the ways of being adult.
She really wasn't surprised when the sole pair of hatched-together foals, now yearlings, fluttered and pranced, claiming the right to finish growing up with Ghael and Elin. The filly went to Elin, and the colt to Ghael. That done, there was more social time, and Trynseel let all the young ones play, including the pair of two legs that were just past the gangly stage.
Kor swore the moment he was beyond the borders of even Charic's village, but knew Sam would eventually send to him to check on them. He pushed on into the night, refusing to rest while the pair of nineteen year old boys were out loose in the world, away from safety, exposed to their mother's enemies.
Just after the sun rose, he came to a glade, and found Trynseel, both boys, and two young pegasi sleeping on the ground, with each boy under a pegasus wing.
"Well, damn," he said to himself, remembering finding their father with what became his first pegasus friend.
Trynseel opened her eyes, and he would have sworn she looked smug about it all.
They made it back to the village about a day ahead of Sharr and Elué with the older pair. A hasty 'no one was hurt' and then the two yearlings made their presence known.
"Mother! Father! Come see!" Ghael called happily. "You two can come as well," he added to his brothers before scampering off a limb into the forest below.
Sharr looked at Kor, then Sam, raised an eyebrow at them, before grinning.
"Not so much trouble to keep up with a pair of boys, hmm?" he teased, leading to Kor muttering about wood-sun elves and leaving them.
"Dad," Dol said, seriously. "It's not fair."
Sharr clapped both elder sons on the shoulders. "I'll ask Trynseel if there can be another meeting."
Tags:
- author: sharpest_asp,
- category: gen,
- character: alustriel silverhand,
- character: andelver aerasumé,
- character: charic taran'ru,
- character: dolthauvin aerasumé,
- character: elinthalar aerasumé,
- character: ghaelryss aerasumé,
- character: korvallen senahye,
- character: pegasus,
- character: samiar ravarel,
- character: sharrevaliir,
- rating: general audiences,
- warning: no warnings apply
Vierna's Legacy Askew, a blending of AUs
Nov. 23rd, 2023 10:44 amsenmutVierna's Legacy Askew (3516 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: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Regis [The Legend of Drizzt Series], Vierna Do'Urden
Additional Tags: Background Relationships, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Ensemble Cast
Summary:
That proved to be an opening for her to use, as they had left a friend behind, one not truly suited to holding power without a strong backing. Vierna received a message back that she would have word before the spring.
When Regis had first dealt with the shadowy messengers offering to reinforce his holdings as the Pasha, his skin had twitched. Once he knew for certain they were drow, using strange magic to protect themselves above the faerzress, his heart had quailed.
They'd been very persuasive, though, as Regis was a self-identified coward who preferred his wits to stay alive by. Slipping away in the dead of the night felt entirely too familiar to him —
— and not to be repeated twice as a pair of red eyes caught his attention in the dark passage.
He didn't actually see the one that caught him with the crossbow bolt.
The 'message' was a very frightened, comfortably-sized halfling. While her Lord had little use for non-elves among the Surface folk, halflings often ended up under their sway as thieves and spies.
Vierna could tell that was not going to be the case with this one, given how he'd been delivered to her all trussed up and pushed through a shadow gate.
"I would apologize for my colleagues, except I am glad to finally meet you, Regis of Calimport," Vierna said in Common, watching him squirm beneath the faerie fire lamps. She gestured, and all of his bindings fell away, before she indicated the chair near her dais. "Please, be comfortable.
"I do not wish you harm."
"Pardon, Lady — "
"Vierna. Vierna Do'Urden."
Her interruption had a peculiar effect. He did know her name… and he found a spine, plus resolve, as he took the chair stiffly and glared at her.
"Then I definitely don't believe you, and I won't help you."
Damn. Her brother had painted her as one of his problems. Well, that couldn't be helped; she had had to preserve the illusion she served the Spider, after all.
"Not even to aid him in regaining his father?" she dangled as bait, watching the halfling undergo yet another transformation of his features. Hope for his friend, wariness at her… and he tipped his chin up.
"Convince me, and maybe I will carry a message."
Oh he was a brave one, for his friends! Such a peculiar weakness among those who tipped closer to good than evil, but for now, she would use it, and all of her charm, to get what she wanted.
Regis found himself traveling within the month, having been fed well, treated with kindness, and having his head filled with Vierna's words about Drizzt, and about the man she claimed as their father. That struck a chord; Regis knew Vierna was the one sister Drizzt had complicated feelings over.
Even attaching himself to traders out of Waterdeep made the journey take longer than he would have wished, but by late spring, he turned off to go up the road to Mithral Hall, anticipating seeing his friends with joy. Catti-brie and Wulfgar should be married, Bruenor would be a proper king now, and Drizzt?
Drizzt had to be loving the land. He'd often said he missed the trees of the south after all.
The guards he finally reached did not know him — nor did Regis know them, making him panic slightly he'd found the wrong dwarf hall! — but a dwarrow runner was sent for someone. Lespur, however, did know him when she came out, and she grinned broadly.
"Lasted longer than me king wagered; I'll have tae collect me winnings, Rumblebelly."
"I should be offended," Regis said, not admitting that Bruenor had probably been right on the real time he'd lasted. "Hi, Lespur. May I come in, or am I going to have to wait out here? I've got a message I need to get to Drizzt."
"Och, ye'll not be findin' our elf in the Hall," Lespur told him. "But ye come in. Bruenor'll be glad tae see ye."
"What happened to Drizzt?!" Regis asked, even as he moved to Lespur's side. He did not want to have to walk all the way back across the continent, but if something had happened, he'd have to.
"Naught but fallin' hard for softer ways," Lespur said with a chuckle. "He's back and forth, 'tween us and the city o' Silverymoon, and all over the lands between them.
"Bruenor keeps twittin' him that he's lookin' for a wedding of his own."
Regis's eyes widened immensely to hear that; surely Bruenor had to be wrong. "What's Catti-brie think?" he asked as they worked their way into the Hall.
"Willnae say; holds her thoughts close, she does." Lespur blew out her breath irritably, and started ranting about the negotiations that had seen their princess married. Regis half-listened, while his brain tumbled over Drizzt's possible relationship. He remembered the very odd way Drizzt had come to defend Alustriel Silverhand's actions at the city.
Surely — no, he had to be imagining things.
Regis decided, after talking to Bruenor, who arranged to send a bird looking for Drizzt, to go find Catti-brie. She always knew the right things about their friend, being the one he was closest to. He had been kind of amazed that Bruenor had actually hired a rook-master and let a rookery be built, but it made sense to have fast communications.
Catti-brie was out in Settlestone, and all too easily persuaded away from the women of the tribes. She hugged him tight, and guided him to a comfortable place to sit.
Regis noted it was in view but not earshot of others, leading him to wonder if barbarian idiocy was weighing on Catti-brie.
"So I have come to find a new home," Regis said with a sigh, "because things got hot. And I have a message for Drizzt, but he's not here, and the dwarves think he's involved with the Lady?"
Catti-brie shook her head. "Me elf makes his own choices. Ye always have a home here, and me Da better have made that clear," she added fiercely, making Regis chuckle.
"Showed me my room himself," Regis admitted shyly. "C'mon, Catti, tell me about Drizzt? You're his best friend outside of Guen!"
She studied him long and hard, before answering. "He's making those choices, aye, but best not tae press him over them. He ne'er expected tae find a chance at such and it's a bit more complicated for him."
"I won't, Catti, I promise," Regis said.
Hopefully Drizzt didn't get upset with him for the message he had.
Sharrevaliir had to smile as the bird, a gorgeous kestrel, came directly to Drizzt to be relieved of its message. "Why did the king opt for falcons instead of pigeons?" he asked curiously as Drizzt was removing the tube.
"Better adapted to the mountains, able to hunt for themselves, and … they imprinted better with me, when I helped him make the choice," Drizzt answered, before laughing at the imperious demand for a reward. "Here," he said, giving up a piece of jerky from his pouch.
Drizzt then freed the message, read it, and sighed. "I have to leave again. Our friend Regis is there, needing me."
Deysa stomped the ground, not liking that. They had been intending to do some exploration together while Alustriel dealt with all the headaches of trade season.
"We could take you; Deysa's sturdy enough for two now," Sharr invited. "Here, bird. Come to me so he can write his message."
The kestrel complied, well-trained, and waited patiently for the return message.
"If you wish to? I don't mind the run back."
"If I take you, I will be able to tell Alustriel how long we are losing you for." Sharr's words were firmly coaxing, entirely too happy to spend time with their new lover now that he had settled to the idea of being a part of their lives.
"This is true." Drizzt got the message back on the bird, watching her go, before Deysa lipped at him, adding her coppers that she wanted to help. "Alright, beautiful. I'll let the two of you take me back."
"I'll let Alustriel know not to expect us for a few days," Sharr said.
Deysa saw them to the river gate, now able to open both ways, and where they had set up guest quarters for those allowed entry to the upper Hall. She went off to go explore, while Sharr and Drizzt waited in the receiving hall that had been shaped in the rock near where most of the heaviest fighting against the duergar had taken place.
It did not take much past both men washing up from the travel for Regis to show up, his face lighting at Drizzt until he took note of the elf with him.
"Regis, this is Sharrevaliir Silverhand," Drizzt introduced.
"I've heard a few tales, Saer," Sharr said cheerfully. "And your work on Drizzt's amulet is stunning."
That eased Regis a bit, even as he wondered at the surname. Obviously he needed to learn more about the local families of note.
"Drizzt, it's good to see you. Pleasure to meet you, Saer," Regis said, bobbing a nod at the elf in his very fine armor and clothing. "You came fast! Did the bird find you on the road? I must have just missed you if so."
"No, Sharr rides a pegasus, and Deysa, his friend, was willing to convey me," Drizzt said, glowing a bit with his joy at that privilege.
"Oooh. And I heard you met a gold dragon too!" Regis said. "To put an end to that stupid crystal."
"Yes." Drizzt ducked his head a little. "But, you said you had a message? Pray tell me that Entreri is not why you fled? I was told he'd been killed."
"He was," Regis said, and then he looked at Sharr more closely. "The Tall One, was he your son?"
"Fourth born," Sharr agreed. "Though each set of twins swear we mixed up the order at times."
Regis had to chuckle at that, but it added a strangeness to the situation with Drizzt. He wouldn't have thought his friend —
— well, people found relationships in all shapes.
"No, it's not about Entreri at all. I wound up with a drow problem."
He had all of Drizzt's attention then, and it looked… serious. Bruenor had mentioned Drizzt intended to scout below the Hall, but hadn't made time for it as of yet.
"They came, offering to be the muscle I needed, and implying I could stay as the figurehead," Regis said. "I really didn't like them more than the were-rats, so I was going to just leave, and let Lavalle deal with them.
"Only, that was kind of what they expected, and caught me."
"Regis!" Drizzt moved to where he could actually get a hand on his friend then.
"I'm fine. They tied me up, threw me through some kind of gate, and I came to looking at a drow priestess. She'd even lit several lamps with fire like yours, except blue," Regis told him. "She was… kind of nice to me, but that's because of what she wanted."
"And that was?" Drizzt asked, a cold pit in his stomach now.
"For you to come talk to her," Regis answered. "She's your sister. The one that raised you, and she's a follower of Vhaeraun. Said she always was and that it was very, very hard keeping you as safe as she could and not be exposed for a Masked Traitor."
Drizzt sat back, hard, on Regis's divan, shocked.
"You know this is still possibly a trap?" Sharr asked him, just to make certain he was thinking over all aspects. "We don't want to see you hurt again by other drow."
"I know, I just… she's Vierna, and she was always different, and she is my father's daughter," Drizzt told him.
"Very much so!" Regis interjected, glad of that opening. "She wants to know you are well but she also wants your help to get him back! Because she said, and these are her words, 'he suffered too much to not have a chance to live free'."
"The honey is smelling sweet," Sharr said calmly. "But … can you trust it not to be honey of madness?"
Regis wanted to glare, but honestly? Maybe it was good to have someone throwing up warning signs that wasn't involved.
"I can't not go," Drizzt said softly. "You know how much losing Zaknafein ravaged me.
"If there's a chance? I will risk it."
The elf sighed. "Saer Regis, where was this priestess?"
"In Skullport."
"I guess that's where we're going. Or at least to Waterdeep," Sharr said. "Do you mind if we do this the quicker way, give your sister less time to prepare for your arrival?"
Drizzt looked at Sharr with a slow shake of his head. "I will accept the teleport, but none of you are going with me, you especially."
"We can talk about that back in Silverymoon," Sharr said, steel in under the velvet of the words… and Drizzt dropped it.
For now. That just made Regis more curious.
Alustriel came away from talking to her sisters to find Kor, Sharr, and Drizzt still politely 'debating' the course of action.
"Laeral cannot assist," she said in a brief pause. "Qilué, on the other hand, will aid. And invites you, Sharr, to come stay with her while she provides a guide and back up to escort Drizzt to Skullport."
Sharr looked vaguely triumphant, Drizzt resigned, and Kor settled back. He might not like drow in general, but Alustriel's sister would keep his heart-brother safe.
"You will have to wait for after my evening activities for me to take you, Drizzt. My suggestion is to go rest in the Glade; it may be some time before you are back there."
"Agreed, Alustriel," he said. "I will." He got up and departed then, leaving her to look at the other two men.
"You both need to understand he was alone for long enough that putting others at risk on his behalf is entirely too foreign. Especially given the loss of his friend, and how those poor farmers met their end."
Sharr opened his mouth, shut it, and then nodded instead. "Come on, Kor; I'm stealing you for the day."
"Good."
Drizzt had greeted everyone he'd met previously, rested the night in the care of the Promenade, and then with a fighter and a wizard, he'd gone to Skullport.
Those two were staying with allies now, and the wizard would be checking on Drizzt at set intervals as he approached the Temple of Vhaeraun. He was, of course, stopped by the guards at the gate.
"I'm here to speak with Vierna Do'Urden," he stated clearly, hands away from his hilts.
"Why?" one asked with a sneer.
"What my comrade means," the other said, "is that you aren't known to us."
He met that one's eyes, face set in a solid skepticism. "Look at my eyes and what I wear, then say that again. I am certain my sister left word with you."
She flinched, just slightly, and Drizzt knew his sister had power from the woman's whirl away and sharp gesture to follow her.
His eyes had to adjust inside the temple itself; they seemed to use spells to block outside light from entering. He could already feel the headache coming on, but given the stress of this situation, he wasn't surprised.
At least the ever-present sense of evil around him was muted, less active.
They finally stopped outside a room, and the sneering guard stayed with him while the woman went in. After a couple of minutes, she emerged.
"She will see you."
"Thank you, Saers," he said with the slightest hint of sarcasm in his voice.
He stepped inside, every nerve strung tight for the least sense of danger. Only… it wasn't anything but a workroom, with books and components and one drow woman in cleric's robes.
"Drizzt."
She was focused on his entry, standing in front of a work table, and he took in just how much less irritated with the world she seemed.
"Vierna. Or do you demand 'Priestess' here too?" he asked, pushing his limits, judging her reaction.
She laughed. The sound of it was not mocking or cruel, and she moved toward him.
"Vierna, or sister, my little brother, is all I wish to hear from you." She held her hands out to him, palms up, and he rested his wrists there, clasping hers. The strong grip that answered was soothing to that part of a drow boy that had yearned for something different from the woman raising him.
"You look well, sister."
"As do you, Drizzt." She let go of one wrist and slid the other grip to his hand, taking him over to the divan to sit. "I must admit, I did not expect you so quickly; did you take up wizarding ways after all?"
He snorted, shaking his head. "Not for lack of people encouraging such." He then got a little mischief in his voice. "I tend to follow my sister as much as our father, having a calling toward divine magic — apparently."
She blinked. "That is what a 'ranger' is? Someone divinely magical?"
"So they tell me. I don't have formal training in it," Drizzt admitted. "And I will never be comfortable asking for it, but others say it does happen when I am in need."
"The human goddess, Mielikki, is so generous with you?"
He gave a short nod, still a little uneasy that She was, but if it let him protect others, he would accept it.
"Then I am pleased, for your sake, my strange brother," Vierna told him. "Do you know why you cannot be scried?"
"Originally? Lloth's doing. Using me as a chaos magnet, we think," Drizzt told her. "Now? Protection put in place specifically against clerics of evil deities." He gave her hand a squeeze. "Sorry; my allies don't trust Lloth not to tie up loose ends some day."
"I understand that concern," she told him fervently. "As I will always be a target for Her people, given what I did."
"Shall we share, truthfully, everything now?" Drizzt invited. "I wish to know of you, the real you, and I know you must want to know about me, given Regis said you kept asking him questions.
"Thank you for being gentle with him."
Vierna gave a nod to that, and began her side of the tales.
The trio of good drow made it back without adventure — in Skullport, anyway. Drizzt had dealt with one of Undermountain's pests on the way back before either of his allies could process what it was.
They'd only stayed two days, but plans had been made to find a more neutral place to spend time together later.
"Will it be an imposition, Lady, for messages to be passed to your merchants for me? I did not want a sending stone that could track me, not yet."
"I appreciate your caution, and it will be fine," Qilué promised. "We do, on occasion, manage trade with the temple people. As they have more reliable access to proper foods from the Underdark."
"Vierna had mentioned," Drizzt said, settling a little more firmly into the arm Sharr had slung along his shoulders. He was slowly coming to terms with them having the beginnings of an alliance, of a plan.
"So it was all legitimate?" Sharr asked, catching Elkantar's smile at that sign of physical comfort.
"Yes! She needs me to find the diamonds. She will work harder to be able to handle the resurrection. And cultivate the wizard it will apparently require."
"Given your stories of him, she may not be able to," Qilué pointed out. "Depending on if he is more firmly in the center of the alignments. There's a difficulty, when the alignments don't match."
Drizzt sucked in a breath. "Those are details we will need to learn; she intended to set one of the wizards she can trust into locating father's soul, to open him to the idea that we are trying."
"I hope that goes well. I am very intrigued to meet a man that could sire such a good man, and a daughter devious enough to lie to the Spider for so long," Elkantar told him.
"Makes two of us, my friend," Sharr said, before he looked at Qilué. "We'll stay another day or two, if you don't mind?"
"Not at all," she said, knowing it would be good for Drizzt to settle before going home.
"You are a pushy elf," Drizzt muttered.
"And you love being pushed," Sharr said evenly, amused… and hopeful for the drow of his heart.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Regis [The Legend of Drizzt Series], Vierna Do'Urden
Additional Tags: Background Relationships, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Ensemble Cast
Summary:
With Entreri dead, Vierna's attentions turn to Regis instead.
Vierna's Legacy Askew
Back-tracking to Calimport, where the ship that had borne her brother to Waterdeep had last come from had proven frustrating. Eventually the allies they had there, through Vhaeraun's temple in one of the cities under the desert, were able to tell her of the adventure her brother and his party had embarked on in those southern lands.That proved to be an opening for her to use, as they had left a friend behind, one not truly suited to holding power without a strong backing. Vierna received a message back that she would have word before the spring.
When Regis had first dealt with the shadowy messengers offering to reinforce his holdings as the Pasha, his skin had twitched. Once he knew for certain they were drow, using strange magic to protect themselves above the faerzress, his heart had quailed.
They'd been very persuasive, though, as Regis was a self-identified coward who preferred his wits to stay alive by. Slipping away in the dead of the night felt entirely too familiar to him —
— and not to be repeated twice as a pair of red eyes caught his attention in the dark passage.
He didn't actually see the one that caught him with the crossbow bolt.
The 'message' was a very frightened, comfortably-sized halfling. While her Lord had little use for non-elves among the Surface folk, halflings often ended up under their sway as thieves and spies.
Vierna could tell that was not going to be the case with this one, given how he'd been delivered to her all trussed up and pushed through a shadow gate.
"I would apologize for my colleagues, except I am glad to finally meet you, Regis of Calimport," Vierna said in Common, watching him squirm beneath the faerie fire lamps. She gestured, and all of his bindings fell away, before she indicated the chair near her dais. "Please, be comfortable.
"I do not wish you harm."
"Pardon, Lady — "
"Vierna. Vierna Do'Urden."
Her interruption had a peculiar effect. He did know her name… and he found a spine, plus resolve, as he took the chair stiffly and glared at her.
"Then I definitely don't believe you, and I won't help you."
Damn. Her brother had painted her as one of his problems. Well, that couldn't be helped; she had had to preserve the illusion she served the Spider, after all.
"Not even to aid him in regaining his father?" she dangled as bait, watching the halfling undergo yet another transformation of his features. Hope for his friend, wariness at her… and he tipped his chin up.
"Convince me, and maybe I will carry a message."
Oh he was a brave one, for his friends! Such a peculiar weakness among those who tipped closer to good than evil, but for now, she would use it, and all of her charm, to get what she wanted.
Regis found himself traveling within the month, having been fed well, treated with kindness, and having his head filled with Vierna's words about Drizzt, and about the man she claimed as their father. That struck a chord; Regis knew Vierna was the one sister Drizzt had complicated feelings over.
Even attaching himself to traders out of Waterdeep made the journey take longer than he would have wished, but by late spring, he turned off to go up the road to Mithral Hall, anticipating seeing his friends with joy. Catti-brie and Wulfgar should be married, Bruenor would be a proper king now, and Drizzt?
Drizzt had to be loving the land. He'd often said he missed the trees of the south after all.
The guards he finally reached did not know him — nor did Regis know them, making him panic slightly he'd found the wrong dwarf hall! — but a dwarrow runner was sent for someone. Lespur, however, did know him when she came out, and she grinned broadly.
"Lasted longer than me king wagered; I'll have tae collect me winnings, Rumblebelly."
"I should be offended," Regis said, not admitting that Bruenor had probably been right on the real time he'd lasted. "Hi, Lespur. May I come in, or am I going to have to wait out here? I've got a message I need to get to Drizzt."
"Och, ye'll not be findin' our elf in the Hall," Lespur told him. "But ye come in. Bruenor'll be glad tae see ye."
"What happened to Drizzt?!" Regis asked, even as he moved to Lespur's side. He did not want to have to walk all the way back across the continent, but if something had happened, he'd have to.
"Naught but fallin' hard for softer ways," Lespur said with a chuckle. "He's back and forth, 'tween us and the city o' Silverymoon, and all over the lands between them.
"Bruenor keeps twittin' him that he's lookin' for a wedding of his own."
Regis's eyes widened immensely to hear that; surely Bruenor had to be wrong. "What's Catti-brie think?" he asked as they worked their way into the Hall.
"Willnae say; holds her thoughts close, she does." Lespur blew out her breath irritably, and started ranting about the negotiations that had seen their princess married. Regis half-listened, while his brain tumbled over Drizzt's possible relationship. He remembered the very odd way Drizzt had come to defend Alustriel Silverhand's actions at the city.
Surely — no, he had to be imagining things.
Regis decided, after talking to Bruenor, who arranged to send a bird looking for Drizzt, to go find Catti-brie. She always knew the right things about their friend, being the one he was closest to. He had been kind of amazed that Bruenor had actually hired a rook-master and let a rookery be built, but it made sense to have fast communications.
Catti-brie was out in Settlestone, and all too easily persuaded away from the women of the tribes. She hugged him tight, and guided him to a comfortable place to sit.
Regis noted it was in view but not earshot of others, leading him to wonder if barbarian idiocy was weighing on Catti-brie.
"So I have come to find a new home," Regis said with a sigh, "because things got hot. And I have a message for Drizzt, but he's not here, and the dwarves think he's involved with the Lady?"
Catti-brie shook her head. "Me elf makes his own choices. Ye always have a home here, and me Da better have made that clear," she added fiercely, making Regis chuckle.
"Showed me my room himself," Regis admitted shyly. "C'mon, Catti, tell me about Drizzt? You're his best friend outside of Guen!"
She studied him long and hard, before answering. "He's making those choices, aye, but best not tae press him over them. He ne'er expected tae find a chance at such and it's a bit more complicated for him."
"I won't, Catti, I promise," Regis said.
Hopefully Drizzt didn't get upset with him for the message he had.
Sharrevaliir had to smile as the bird, a gorgeous kestrel, came directly to Drizzt to be relieved of its message. "Why did the king opt for falcons instead of pigeons?" he asked curiously as Drizzt was removing the tube.
"Better adapted to the mountains, able to hunt for themselves, and … they imprinted better with me, when I helped him make the choice," Drizzt answered, before laughing at the imperious demand for a reward. "Here," he said, giving up a piece of jerky from his pouch.
Drizzt then freed the message, read it, and sighed. "I have to leave again. Our friend Regis is there, needing me."
Deysa stomped the ground, not liking that. They had been intending to do some exploration together while Alustriel dealt with all the headaches of trade season.
"We could take you; Deysa's sturdy enough for two now," Sharr invited. "Here, bird. Come to me so he can write his message."
The kestrel complied, well-trained, and waited patiently for the return message.
"If you wish to? I don't mind the run back."
"If I take you, I will be able to tell Alustriel how long we are losing you for." Sharr's words were firmly coaxing, entirely too happy to spend time with their new lover now that he had settled to the idea of being a part of their lives.
"This is true." Drizzt got the message back on the bird, watching her go, before Deysa lipped at him, adding her coppers that she wanted to help. "Alright, beautiful. I'll let the two of you take me back."
"I'll let Alustriel know not to expect us for a few days," Sharr said.
Deysa saw them to the river gate, now able to open both ways, and where they had set up guest quarters for those allowed entry to the upper Hall. She went off to go explore, while Sharr and Drizzt waited in the receiving hall that had been shaped in the rock near where most of the heaviest fighting against the duergar had taken place.
It did not take much past both men washing up from the travel for Regis to show up, his face lighting at Drizzt until he took note of the elf with him.
"Regis, this is Sharrevaliir Silverhand," Drizzt introduced.
"I've heard a few tales, Saer," Sharr said cheerfully. "And your work on Drizzt's amulet is stunning."
That eased Regis a bit, even as he wondered at the surname. Obviously he needed to learn more about the local families of note.
"Drizzt, it's good to see you. Pleasure to meet you, Saer," Regis said, bobbing a nod at the elf in his very fine armor and clothing. "You came fast! Did the bird find you on the road? I must have just missed you if so."
"No, Sharr rides a pegasus, and Deysa, his friend, was willing to convey me," Drizzt said, glowing a bit with his joy at that privilege.
"Oooh. And I heard you met a gold dragon too!" Regis said. "To put an end to that stupid crystal."
"Yes." Drizzt ducked his head a little. "But, you said you had a message? Pray tell me that Entreri is not why you fled? I was told he'd been killed."
"He was," Regis said, and then he looked at Sharr more closely. "The Tall One, was he your son?"
"Fourth born," Sharr agreed. "Though each set of twins swear we mixed up the order at times."
Regis had to chuckle at that, but it added a strangeness to the situation with Drizzt. He wouldn't have thought his friend —
— well, people found relationships in all shapes.
"No, it's not about Entreri at all. I wound up with a drow problem."
He had all of Drizzt's attention then, and it looked… serious. Bruenor had mentioned Drizzt intended to scout below the Hall, but hadn't made time for it as of yet.
"They came, offering to be the muscle I needed, and implying I could stay as the figurehead," Regis said. "I really didn't like them more than the were-rats, so I was going to just leave, and let Lavalle deal with them.
"Only, that was kind of what they expected, and caught me."
"Regis!" Drizzt moved to where he could actually get a hand on his friend then.
"I'm fine. They tied me up, threw me through some kind of gate, and I came to looking at a drow priestess. She'd even lit several lamps with fire like yours, except blue," Regis told him. "She was… kind of nice to me, but that's because of what she wanted."
"And that was?" Drizzt asked, a cold pit in his stomach now.
"For you to come talk to her," Regis answered. "She's your sister. The one that raised you, and she's a follower of Vhaeraun. Said she always was and that it was very, very hard keeping you as safe as she could and not be exposed for a Masked Traitor."
Drizzt sat back, hard, on Regis's divan, shocked.
"You know this is still possibly a trap?" Sharr asked him, just to make certain he was thinking over all aspects. "We don't want to see you hurt again by other drow."
"I know, I just… she's Vierna, and she was always different, and she is my father's daughter," Drizzt told him.
"Very much so!" Regis interjected, glad of that opening. "She wants to know you are well but she also wants your help to get him back! Because she said, and these are her words, 'he suffered too much to not have a chance to live free'."
"The honey is smelling sweet," Sharr said calmly. "But … can you trust it not to be honey of madness?"
Regis wanted to glare, but honestly? Maybe it was good to have someone throwing up warning signs that wasn't involved.
"I can't not go," Drizzt said softly. "You know how much losing Zaknafein ravaged me.
"If there's a chance? I will risk it."
The elf sighed. "Saer Regis, where was this priestess?"
"In Skullport."
"I guess that's where we're going. Or at least to Waterdeep," Sharr said. "Do you mind if we do this the quicker way, give your sister less time to prepare for your arrival?"
Drizzt looked at Sharr with a slow shake of his head. "I will accept the teleport, but none of you are going with me, you especially."
"We can talk about that back in Silverymoon," Sharr said, steel in under the velvet of the words… and Drizzt dropped it.
For now. That just made Regis more curious.
Alustriel came away from talking to her sisters to find Kor, Sharr, and Drizzt still politely 'debating' the course of action.
"Laeral cannot assist," she said in a brief pause. "Qilué, on the other hand, will aid. And invites you, Sharr, to come stay with her while she provides a guide and back up to escort Drizzt to Skullport."
Sharr looked vaguely triumphant, Drizzt resigned, and Kor settled back. He might not like drow in general, but Alustriel's sister would keep his heart-brother safe.
"You will have to wait for after my evening activities for me to take you, Drizzt. My suggestion is to go rest in the Glade; it may be some time before you are back there."
"Agreed, Alustriel," he said. "I will." He got up and departed then, leaving her to look at the other two men.
"You both need to understand he was alone for long enough that putting others at risk on his behalf is entirely too foreign. Especially given the loss of his friend, and how those poor farmers met their end."
Sharr opened his mouth, shut it, and then nodded instead. "Come on, Kor; I'm stealing you for the day."
"Good."
Drizzt had greeted everyone he'd met previously, rested the night in the care of the Promenade, and then with a fighter and a wizard, he'd gone to Skullport.
Those two were staying with allies now, and the wizard would be checking on Drizzt at set intervals as he approached the Temple of Vhaeraun. He was, of course, stopped by the guards at the gate.
"I'm here to speak with Vierna Do'Urden," he stated clearly, hands away from his hilts.
"Why?" one asked with a sneer.
"What my comrade means," the other said, "is that you aren't known to us."
He met that one's eyes, face set in a solid skepticism. "Look at my eyes and what I wear, then say that again. I am certain my sister left word with you."
She flinched, just slightly, and Drizzt knew his sister had power from the woman's whirl away and sharp gesture to follow her.
His eyes had to adjust inside the temple itself; they seemed to use spells to block outside light from entering. He could already feel the headache coming on, but given the stress of this situation, he wasn't surprised.
At least the ever-present sense of evil around him was muted, less active.
They finally stopped outside a room, and the sneering guard stayed with him while the woman went in. After a couple of minutes, she emerged.
"She will see you."
"Thank you, Saers," he said with the slightest hint of sarcasm in his voice.
He stepped inside, every nerve strung tight for the least sense of danger. Only… it wasn't anything but a workroom, with books and components and one drow woman in cleric's robes.
"Drizzt."
She was focused on his entry, standing in front of a work table, and he took in just how much less irritated with the world she seemed.
"Vierna. Or do you demand 'Priestess' here too?" he asked, pushing his limits, judging her reaction.
She laughed. The sound of it was not mocking or cruel, and she moved toward him.
"Vierna, or sister, my little brother, is all I wish to hear from you." She held her hands out to him, palms up, and he rested his wrists there, clasping hers. The strong grip that answered was soothing to that part of a drow boy that had yearned for something different from the woman raising him.
"You look well, sister."
"As do you, Drizzt." She let go of one wrist and slid the other grip to his hand, taking him over to the divan to sit. "I must admit, I did not expect you so quickly; did you take up wizarding ways after all?"
He snorted, shaking his head. "Not for lack of people encouraging such." He then got a little mischief in his voice. "I tend to follow my sister as much as our father, having a calling toward divine magic — apparently."
She blinked. "That is what a 'ranger' is? Someone divinely magical?"
"So they tell me. I don't have formal training in it," Drizzt admitted. "And I will never be comfortable asking for it, but others say it does happen when I am in need."
"The human goddess, Mielikki, is so generous with you?"
He gave a short nod, still a little uneasy that She was, but if it let him protect others, he would accept it.
"Then I am pleased, for your sake, my strange brother," Vierna told him. "Do you know why you cannot be scried?"
"Originally? Lloth's doing. Using me as a chaos magnet, we think," Drizzt told her. "Now? Protection put in place specifically against clerics of evil deities." He gave her hand a squeeze. "Sorry; my allies don't trust Lloth not to tie up loose ends some day."
"I understand that concern," she told him fervently. "As I will always be a target for Her people, given what I did."
"Shall we share, truthfully, everything now?" Drizzt invited. "I wish to know of you, the real you, and I know you must want to know about me, given Regis said you kept asking him questions.
"Thank you for being gentle with him."
Vierna gave a nod to that, and began her side of the tales.
The trio of good drow made it back without adventure — in Skullport, anyway. Drizzt had dealt with one of Undermountain's pests on the way back before either of his allies could process what it was.
They'd only stayed two days, but plans had been made to find a more neutral place to spend time together later.
"Will it be an imposition, Lady, for messages to be passed to your merchants for me? I did not want a sending stone that could track me, not yet."
"I appreciate your caution, and it will be fine," Qilué promised. "We do, on occasion, manage trade with the temple people. As they have more reliable access to proper foods from the Underdark."
"Vierna had mentioned," Drizzt said, settling a little more firmly into the arm Sharr had slung along his shoulders. He was slowly coming to terms with them having the beginnings of an alliance, of a plan.
"So it was all legitimate?" Sharr asked, catching Elkantar's smile at that sign of physical comfort.
"Yes! She needs me to find the diamonds. She will work harder to be able to handle the resurrection. And cultivate the wizard it will apparently require."
"Given your stories of him, she may not be able to," Qilué pointed out. "Depending on if he is more firmly in the center of the alignments. There's a difficulty, when the alignments don't match."
Drizzt sucked in a breath. "Those are details we will need to learn; she intended to set one of the wizards she can trust into locating father's soul, to open him to the idea that we are trying."
"I hope that goes well. I am very intrigued to meet a man that could sire such a good man, and a daughter devious enough to lie to the Spider for so long," Elkantar told him.
"Makes two of us, my friend," Sharr said, before he looked at Qilué. "We'll stay another day or two, if you don't mind?"
"Not at all," she said, knowing it would be good for Drizzt to settle before going home.
"You are a pushy elf," Drizzt muttered.
"And you love being pushed," Sharr said evenly, amused… and hopeful for the drow of his heart.
Tags:
- au: canon divergence,
- author: sharpest_asp,
- category: multi,
- character: catti-brie battlehammer,
- character: drizzt do'urden,
- character: elkantar iluim,
- character: qilué veladorn,
- character: regis,
- character: sharrevaliir,
- character: vierna do'urden,
- rating: general audiences,
- threesome: alustriel/drizzt/sharr,
- warning: no warnings apply
AU cross fic
Nov. 23rd, 2023 08:12 amsomarielSoul Gems and Soul Bonds (9957 words) by Somariel
Chapters: 3/3
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Alustriel Silverhand/Original Character(s), Drizzt Do'Urden/Alustriel Silverhand
Characters: Alustriel Silverhand, Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Ensemble Cast
Series: Part 19 of A Crossing of the Realms
Summary:
If you are confused by this fic, please go read the linked inspirations, as this fic very much assumes familiarity with them.
For all that no one knew what had caused Sharr to just disappear from the battlefield, Alustriel did know that he was still alive, because if she focused on their soulbond, she received a sort of floaty peaceful feeling.
And she wasn't just imagining it, either, because Kor got the same results from focusing on his soulbond with Sharr.
But even so, it was something that required action on her part to sense. So she was quite surprised the first time she received a distinct feeling of unease—though oddly enough, no sense of direction—over the bond with Sharr, as she had not been focusing on it.
The feeling didn't last all that long, but talking to Kor revealed that he had felt it too, and as the years passed with no sign of Sharr, she grew to welcome the intermittent moments of unease coming over the bond.
And when, thirty years after Sharr's disappearance, she felt growing wonder turn to visceral horror, and then determination still tinged by the horror, somewhere nearby to the north, it was something of a disappointment to learn that Kor had not felt it. But as the years passed without any further connection, it seemed that whoever her new soulbond was had vanished even more completely than Sharr.
Seven years after the new soulbond had been forged, however, the intermittent sense of unease from Sharr became a constant feeling that never went away. Kor was at just as much of a loss for any explanation as she was, and soon enough, she learned to mostly tune it out.
Three years after that, the sense of wonder from her second soulbond returned, accompanied by determination, and it soon became clear that whoever it was had returned from wherever they had vanished to after the first contact.
And that was how things continued for several years—constant unease from Sharr, and normal contact with her second soulbond.
The sense of unease coming over her bond with Sharr had been a constant presence for so long that Alustriel was actually surprised when, ten years after it had started—and seven since her other soulbond had returned—it abruptly ceased.
Interestingly enough, the cessation occurred shortly before the end of the 'elation' part of the 'danger, plan, elation' sequence that had started coming over her second soulbond maybe half an hour earlier.
But she would have thought it no more than an odd coincidence if not for the fact that the next time she felt anything from either of them, Sharr's unease started and ended almost simultaneously with the 'threat/wrong' she intermittently sensed from her second soulbond.
And after the third such incidence of synchronization between Sharr and her other soulbond, she decided it was time to talk to Korvallen about it.
Of all the things Korvallen thought Alustriel might have wanted to talk with him about, an unexpected synchronicity between Sharr's unease and a specific feeling from her other soulbond was not one of them.
And once he had taken some time to mull over what she had told him, he asked, "Is there any way Sharr could have been trapped in some magical object that your other soulbond picked up and has continued to carry?"
Alustriel hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe. I'll need to do a bit of research to be sure, since I wouldn't have thought that what I'm thinking of would allow for any awareness on the part of the trapped person."
"Then please do."
A few days later, Alustriel settled into the divan in Kor's outer room, and smiled at him. "It seems like your idea may well be correct," she said. "As there is a particular awful spell that traps a person, body and soul, inside a gem.
"But what I had not previously known is that once the person is within the soul trap, it is common for it glow when in the presence of the alignment that is in opposition to that of the trapped soul."
"And that would even explain why your other soulbond kept the gem," Kor said. "Given that you said the feeling you get from them is 'threat/wrong'.
"Whoever it is probably has some ability to sense evil, noticed the synchronicity themself, and decided to keep the gem as an extra source of warning."
"That... would make sense," Alustriel agreed. "Which makes me inclined to think they are likely a ranger or druid.
"As one of those or a paladin seem the most likely to have such a sense, and I think a paladin would be far less likely to experience rejection as often as my other soulbond does."
"Honestly," Kor began, "I'd guess ranger. Since druids are less likely to seek the company of others."
"Good point."
The synchronicity of unease from Sharr and 'threat/wrong' from Alustriel's other soulbond continued, eventually becoming a pattern she was quite used to.
And then, eleven years after the synchronicity had started, she felt actual fear from Sharr at the same time her other soulbond was experiencing the great horror of their very first connection.
She couldn't do anything about it herself, of course, but since Mystra did not express disapproval of doing so, she did ask for any of her sisters or sons who were available to go to Icewind Dale.
Which turned out to have been the best thing she could have done, given what the cause of those feelings had been.
Nor was she at all surprised to find Kor waiting for her after evenfeast, as she had known he would want to know at least what her other soulbond had been feeling.
So she welcomed him into her rooms, and after changing into more casual clothing, she settled on the divan beside him, then—before he even asked—said, "Cryshal-Tirith was raised in Icewind Dale."
"What?!"
"That's what caused Sharr's fear, and the great horror I felt from my other soulbond."
"'Great horror'?" Kor repeated. "Like you felt the very first time you connected?"
"Yes. Which is why I felt it was warranted to ask anyone who could to go up there."
"And it's all taken care of now?"
"It is," Alustriel agreed. "Sharr's fear dropping to unease and then vanishing occurred simultaneously with a bone weary but vindicated elation from my other soulbond, and that came right before Elminster announced the crystal was under their control."
"Good."
For all that Alustriel would have preferred it if Del had not been one of the three boys who went to deal with Crenshinibon, Korvallen was privately glad for it, as between that, and the fact that Elminster, Syluné, and the boys had gone straight from that to dealing with the Cult of the Dragon taking advantage of Elminster and Syluné's absence to attack Shadowdale, Del had been convinced to come to Silverymoon for a while, so Alustriel could reassure herself as to his wellbeing.
Which meant that Korvallen now had an opportunity to ask him about possibilities for Alustriel's second soulbond.
He gave Del a few days to actually relax first, and then, on a night that neither of them had gone to evenfeast, he headed over to Del's rooms.
Del wasn't sure who might be knocking on his door at this hour, but opening it to find Korvallen definitely wasn't anything he had expected. So after they had both settled onto the divan, he said, "Not that it's not good to see you, Uncle, but what brings you to seek me out this late, and while Mom's busy elsewhere?"
"Have some questions for you related to dealing with that damned crystal," Kor replied. "Specifically, about the people you met up there."
"Can I ask why?" Del said.
"In short," Kor began, "I want to know who might be Elué's other soulbond.
"Since it was the feeling of great horror from them that let her know something had gone seriously wrong up there."
"Ah," Del said. "Did she tell you anything else that could help narrow it down?"
In answer, Kor explained Alustriel's suspicions that her other soulbond had been involved in Crenshinibon's defeat, and the reason for them, and when he finished, Del sighed.
"Great. Just great," he muttered under his breath. Because that made it abundantly clear who Mom's other soulbond was, but Kor wasn't going to like it at all.
"Well?" Kor said, choosing to ignore Del's mutter for now.
"It has to be the ranger of Mielikki who helped us," Del said.
"So what else can you tell me about them?"
"His name is Drizzt Do'Urden." Then Del sighed, and decided to just plunge ahead. "And... he's a drow."
"What?!" Kor could not possibly have heard that correctly.
"He's a drow ranger of Mielikki."
Well. He apparently had heard Del correctly, no matter how much he might wish otherwise. But that was also the second time Del had said the man was a ranger of Mielikki, so...
"You're certain he's a ranger of Mielikki?"
"Even if he hadn't introduced himself as 'Drizzt Do'Urden, ranger of Mielikki'," Del said, "he wears a unicorn head pendant that all but actually radiates goodness.
"So yes, I'm certain."
Kor sighed. "I... need some time to think about this."
Getting up, he thanked Del for his time, and headed back to his own rooms.
When, four days after he had started feeling unease from Sharr multiple times a day, Korvallen heard both rumors of a drow approaching the city and that Alustriel had turned her duties over to Taern indefinitely after ordering that the drow be denied entry, it was easy to guess that the drow had to be her other soulbond, so as soon as he had some free time, he sought her out to offer a sympathetic ear.
It took somewhat longer than he had expected, but eventually he found her in a corner of the Palace library, surrounded by books and scrolls.
"Elué?" he said softly, and she raised her head from the scroll she was reading to look at him.
"Yes, Kor?" she replied.
"Thought I'd see if you wanted a sympathetic ear or a shoulder to cry on," he said.
"For Nesmé's bigotry having forced me to keep a drow out of the city?"
Kor could feel his cheeks heat, but his voice was steady when he replied. "I asked Del about who might be your other soulbond, when he was here after the crystal."
Alustriel set the scroll aside and sat up straighter. "You seem... surprisingly accepting... of the idea that he's a drow."
"I've had months to get used to the idea."
"And...?"
Briefly wishing she couldn't read him so well, Kor sighed, then continued. "And Del was very firm about the drow being a ranger of Mielikki, so I went and asked Tathshandra what She thought of him."
"What is Mielikki's opinion of him, then? For that matter, do you have a name for him?"
"He's apparently one of Her favorites. And his name is Drizzt Do'Urden."
Alustriel sighed, then let her shoulders slump. "A shoulder to cry on would be nice, especially since this is going to be hitting him, as best as I can tell, just after the Riders turned him and his companions into the Evermoors."
Kor winced, even as he moved to sit down beside her and wrap an arm around her. That would certainly explain why Sharr's unease had been so frequent for the last few days, but it would definitely make Silverymoon's rejection hit harder.
Alustriel leaned her head against Kor's shoulder once his arm was wrapped around her, and let loose the tears she had been holding back.
Some time later, when Alustriel's sniffles had stopped, Kor gave her back one last rub, then said, "So what else can I do to help you right now?"
"A research assistant would be of the most use right at this moment," Alustriel said, lifting her head from his shoulder and turning to look at him.
Kor cocked an eyebrow at her, and she elaborated. "The Riders mentioned that the dwarf in the party was seeking his ancestral Hall-"
"-so you're doing advance research for them," Kor finished. "Alright, I can help with that."
Given his desire to not leave Alustriel alone to handle the emotional storm of Drizzt being turned away from the city, Korvallen was glad that a quiet word in Besnell's ear had been all that was needed for him to be assigned to stay at Alustriel's side until she resumed her duties.
So when she suddenly started weeping, six days after she had given the order, he was right there to hold her, and make soothing noises until the tears abated.
Soon after, the message was delivered that all of Drizzt's companions had also turned away, rather than enter without him, and Kor could see that news firming Alustriel's resolve to go to them and offer her apologies and personal aid.
Which was something that he still wasn't entirely comfortable with, but he wasn't going to even attempt to gainsay her in this.
So when the night had grown deep enough for her visit to them, he simply walked her to the nearest teleport point, hugged her, and said, "Good luck."
Alustriel returned Kor's hug fiercely, having greatly appreciated his steadfast presence over the last week, and once he had wished her luck, she pulled back and looked at him.
"You're really okay with me doing this alone?" she asked him.
"No," Kor admitted. "But the- the ranger is already hurting, so my presence could easily harm your reasons for going."
Alustriel hugged him again for that. "Thank you."
Then she let go, and vanished from his sight.
When Alustriel returned, Korvallen could tell that she was far more at peace with the decision she had been forced to make. But since he knew she wanted to keep the soulbond private, at least for now, he simply fell in beside her as she headed back to her rooms.
And once they were both settled on the divan in the outer room, he spoke.
"Well, I can already tell the visit went well, but I'd still like to hear the details."
"Of course," Alustriel replied. "Drizzt was... amazingly forgiving, once I had explained why I had felt it necessary to bar him from the city.
"However, something that I probably should have anticipated, but did not, is that no one had ever spoken of soulbonds to him."
"I... can see how that would be true," Kor said, "but it does leave me wondering what he believed your emotions were."
"He thought them to be a facet of Mielikki's interest in him."
"Huh. That... actually makes sense, if he's aware that She favors him."
"It does," Alustriel agreed. "I didn't feel I had the time to explain the connection to him now, but I did promise to do so—and do it here, once I have cleared out the rumors.
"And I have to admit that I am very pleased by how loyal his friends are. As the barbarian is injured, he believes the dwarf is as well, and the halfling is just as exhausted as he is, and they all still chose to turn away rather than enter without him."
"That really is impressive loyalty," Kor agreed. "As for clearing out the rumors, I bet the Mielikkians will help with that if you ask them. Given Her favoring of him.
"And on another note, did you see anything that might be the soul trap?"
"Oh, that's a very good idea," Alustriel said. "Thank you, Kor.
"As for the soul trap, it's probably the stone in a basket pendant that he was wearing as a necklace, given that I did sense some sort of magic to it."
Alustriel had not been concerned by the 'surprise, concern, worry' she felt from Drizzt, in the morning of the fifth day since she had met him, even when it was followed by a period of total focus during which there were a few moments of unease from Sharr, which then shifted to a sense of 'satisfaction/job well done', nor even by the unease from Sharr and 'threat/wrong' from Drizzt that started not long after the satisfaction ended, but when the unease and the 'threat/wrong' had not ended after several hours, she began to worry.
She and Kor spent a sleepless night discussing just what might be in Mithral Hall to generate such an omnipresent miasma of evil that Drizzt and Sharr were always sensing it, and in the morning, she arranged for Taern to again take her duties for the day.
Which proved to have been a very wise idea, as it was only late morning when what she was getting from Drizzt started to slowly shift from just 'threat/wrong' into 'threat/wrong/ache'.
As the hours passed, 'threat/wrong/ache' changed to 'threat/wrong/pain', and then in the early afternoon, she sensed a spike of fear that was quickly brought under strict control.
The 'threat/wrong/pain' then slowly shifted to 'threat/wrong/ache/fatigue', and perhaps an hour before sunset, she breathed a sigh of relief as both the 'threat/wrong' and Sharr's unease vanished, leaving only the 'ache/fatigue' from Drizzt.
"Well," she said to Korvallen, who had again arranged with Besnell to spend the day by her side, "I'm glad they're out of the Hall, but whatever the true threat is within it is not only severe enough to produce a spike of fear in Drizzt, getting close enough to identify it caused him actual pain."
"Odd," Kor said. "I would have thought something that bad would have caused an increase in Sharr's unease."
"If it weren't for the fact that the soul trap glows in the presence of evil, I'd agree with you," Alustriel said. "But since it does glow, I strongly suspect Drizzt left it with one of the others while he scouted the true threat."
"Good point," Kor replied. Then he sighed. "The waiting to find out what it is isn't going to be easy."
"No," Alustriel agreed, "it won't be."
Two days after the Companions had exited Mithral Hall, Alustriel received word from Old Night that they had returned to Herald's Holdfast, and that the clan chieftain wished to meet with her, but would prefer it if she came to the Holdfast for said meeting.
So she arranged matters for her absence of a day or two, and teleported to the Holdfast the next morning.
Drizzt was waiting for her in the clearing before the doors, accompanied by the largest panther she had ever seen, and after he had introduced her to the panther—Guenhwyvar by name—he led her into the Holdfast once Guenhwyvar had dissipated into black mist.
And as he guided her to where the others were, he said, "I offer warning that Bruenor's pride is still up, but I did manage to make him see events as a leader would.
"Though the lack of actual apology to me was a high hurdle to overcome."
"Thank you for the warning," she told him softly, "and I am glad you have such a friend and ally.
"Furthermore, I am sorry. And I have already set things in motion to counter the fear the Riders created, so I am hopeful you will be able to enter Silverymoon soon."
That last had taken her into the room, and she briefly saw a softening of the expression on the halfling's face before Old Night stepped in and smoothly began the introductions.
"Alustriel Silverhand, High Lady of Silverymoon, allow me to make you known to Bruenor Battlehammer, Chieftain of Clan Battlehammer and Eighth King of Mithral Hall; Wulfgar, son of Beornegar, former chieftain of the Tribes of the Reghedmen, Princess Catti-brie Battlehammer, and Regis, former Spokesman of Lonelywood."
"Greetings, Lady," Wulfgar said in a clear, firm voice. "We are pleased you could join us privately for this meeting, as the news must be shared, but your city is not a place we choose to be."
She could feel Drizzt's exasperation with the man for that clear dig at her decision, but it was truly no more than she had expected.
"Lady," Bruenor said gruffly, nodding to the vacant chair opposite his own place.
Drizzt unobtrusively drew it out for Alustriel, setting the dwarf to scowling beneath his beard, while the human girl—princess of dwarves?—studied them. That Drizzt chose to sit beside her only added to the contemplation.
"Lady, would you like a plate? We still have plenty," Regis offered. "Old Night is a gracious host."
Which, though still somewhat needling, was clearly less so than it might have been if he had not heard her apology.
And when Drizzt touched her arm under the table, she looked to him with a small smile, then looked to both the barbarian and the halfling in turn. "I am glad to see that you are such staunch defenders of your friend, Wulfgar, Regis. I can understand why you would not want to enter Silverymoon so long as I must ask Drizzt Do'Urden not to enter her gates. I dearly hope that that state of affairs can be ended very soon, and that I will be able to welcome all of you within.
"And yes, please. I had not yet eaten, as Old Night's hospitality is always more than generous, and welcome."
Wulfgar, son of Beornegar, was a very unusual barbarian, Alustriel thought, given the way he spoke to her respectfully, rather than as an inferior, and seemed to listen without qualm to both the dwarven king and the halfling.
But while her response to the needling had visibly soothed ruffled feathers even more than her apology, the girl's first words made it clear she was not yet fully forgiven.
"Seems a bit more than unkind, as tae bar a ranger as good as me elf," Catti-brie said, "and never catch on to an assassin and wizard of ill-intent held me there as hostage."
Alustriel went very still, and then looked to the young woman with her full attention. "What happened to you?" she asked, her blue eyes sharp with a quickly building anger, "Within my walls? Please. Tell me everything."
That was clearly not the response Catti-brie had expected, but it was only a moment before she mustered herself and answered in an even voice, Bruenor patting her shoulder as she spoke.
"An assassin named Artemis Entreri had come seeking me friend Regis. After seeing him kill two of me friends, leaders inside the clan, I made tae warn me Da and the others," Catti said. "He figured it out, and took me captive.
"In Luskan, he joined forces with the wizard, who had a guard and a construct, which lies buried near our Hall now, but me ranger says ye need tae know of it as well." Catti-brie met the woman's eyes fully. "They came tae yer city, held me there, until they had reason tae know me Da had not come within.
"And then it was back on the road, tae catch up tae me Da and party."
"Catti-brie freed herself when we were in sight," Drizzt said. "Brought us warning."
Alustriel knew her eyes were just shy of blazing silver, rather than blue. Setting aside her surprise at feeling deep love from Sharr at that moment, she took a deep and careful breath, her hands resting lightly in her lap rather than fisted—but only by dint of will. A report from a few days before, that she had paid only an exasperated, frustrated corner of her attention to, suddenly flashed back into her mind in full, as she wrenched her power under control. And as she did so, the sense of love from Sharr faded.
"You should never have been prisoner within my walls, and I think I may have some guards to speak to very sternly. And certainly I have a wizard of my Spellguard to chastise. This wizard’s—the foreigner’s—name was Sydney? I have some small knowledge of her, she could not have crafted a full construct unless she improved very rapidly in her Art.
"Did some other of the Hosttower know that she was working in concert with an assassin? More, did any other know that a destination of that assassin might be my city?"
"A wizard the name o' Dendybar ordered Sydney and Jierdan tae work with Entreri, and knew Entreri for a killing man," Catti-brie answered. "And aye, was the wizards as knew me Da had passed through somewhere called Longsaddle, headed for the city of Silverymoon," she added. "We took rides on magical not-horses and came quickly there."
"Only, our misadventure delayed us, and then you, Lady, accidentally delayed their plans further," Drizzt said.
Dendybar.
Alustriel had loathed that particular mage for a very, very long time, but she had not thought that he was stupid enough to send a construct that would assault her city. Nor had she thought that he would be foolish enough to send an assassin inside her walls, along with one of his own people.
"I know him," she said, her voice barely restrained from dripping with ice, "and the price we intended to take from the Hosttower for my broken city wall, my wounded men, and the disturbance of my peace has just risen substantially. King Bruenor," she added, turning to look at the dwarven leader, "would you like to add any demands of your own, for the harm done to your daughter, to the bill I mean to send?"
"The cost o' what yer wizards need, if'n ye mean tae help rid the Frost Hills o' the threat slumbering beneath them, then," Bruenor said. "As it will take me clan time, even once we purge the Hall, tae make goods worth the cost of such aid."
"That is the meat of what we needed to discuss, Lady," Wulfgar said. "I can entice many warriors to come, but we have as little need of magic as my friend Bruenor. And my teacher has confirmed the nature of the enemy that drove out Clan Battlehammer."
There was that calm respect for her position again, despite that he obviously still spoke for many of his people, and was—in several ways—the epitome of a Reghed barbarian. He called King Bruenor his friend, and Drizzt (a drow!) his teacher, when the barbarian disrespect for elves, mages, and all other peoples was a well-founded byword in the northlands. His story must be truly fascinating, and Alustriel hoped she got to hear it, some day soon.
For just a moment, she felt an echo of the pain Drizzt had felt while scouting the true threat, and then he took a deep breath and it faded back to just the ache and fatigue.
"The name the duergar used translates closely to Shimmergloom, and I do not recognize that name, but the dragon they worship is of the Shadowfell, Lady," Drizzt said. "With a swarm of shades and at least two shadow hounds I could make out."
Alustriel had lifted one brow slightly at the phrasing from the dwarven king—it was an interesting choice, to demand the value (or the components themselves) of spellwork for the insult to his daughter—but then Drizzt named the threat they faced, and cold slid down her spine, even as she suddenly understood the spike of fear she had felt from him.
"That," she said, "is not a neighbor I am at all pleased to have. Yes, Silverymoon will send you wizards and clerics to help reclaim your Hall." One corner of her mouth turned up, just a little, as some of her rage thawed at the thought of what would need to be done. "One of my sons might never speak to me again if I did not tell him there was a dragon--even one he must fight, rather than attempt to befriend--so near, after all. And that will bring at least two of his brothers to keep an eye on him."
"Any aid, on that front, is deeply valued," Regis said. "Because just scouting it turned Drizzt gray for most of the day."
Well. That certainly explained both the pain and the 'ache/fatigue' she had felt.
"My friend exaggerates," Drizzt demurred. "It was unnerving, though, to feel that ancient an evil when I have been dealing with Surface evils of far lesser varieties."
"It was worse than the crystal?" Wulfgar asked.
"Yes, but by the time I had to get close to the crystal, I was expecting it. There is no expecting something of the Shadowfell," Drizzt said.
Which was disturbing to hear, that the shadow dragon had been worse for Drizzt than Crenshinibon itself.
"Ye mean to aid us, and that is good," Bruenor said. "For that, once it is done, I'll negotiate a first-rights trade deal with yer people, or me girl will."
"It will be good," she said with a smile, "to have trade with Mithral Hall again. You look very much like your grandfather, did you know?"
That obviously startled him, and his beard wagged a bit as he visibly worked through the emotion. "Nae, Lady. We didnae carry much beyond the babes when we were chased away," he told her.
She reached across the table, offering him her hand in comfort for a moment. "He came to Silverymoon once, to discuss a trade matter with me, a few decades after he had taken kingship of the Hall. Your hair is a bit more coppery than his, but very similar.
"On the topic of being chased away... there are some of your kin in Felbarr, Adbar, and Sundabar, rescued by elves of the wood to our north from their confused flight. I do not remember exactly how many there were, but I have asked the Rockcrusher clan of scholar-dwarves to see about compiling a census for you."
That was far too much for the dwarf, and he squeezed at her hand once before he shifted… and Catti-brie tucked in along his side, arm around his shoulders.
"More clan, Lady, truly?" she asked, taking up the conversation. "Good, and we'll need any that will come home tae us. The last six years have seen us lose more than a handful of our fighting ones." She visibly swallowed, then continued. "Thank ye, Lady, for the news. It helps."
Drizzt paused in his eating, and looked at her, then Regis. "Would you accept Regis as our emissary, while we arrange what is needed? Catti-brie or her choice of messenger once our people have come, can bring him updates, and share what you need to with him."
Regis's eyes went big, and his expression was such that Alustriel could tell it was as much from relief as surprise. "I don't much like parting from you, but one of us should be the middle link, and that way I can help share tales of just why it's stupid to keep Drizzt out," he said for that idea.
"I am sorry for your losses," Alustriel told Catti-brie, transferring discussion to the young woman without a pause. Of course the news of more of his kin would be overwhelming... but she had needed to share it. "And yes. They were the very old and the very young, and very confused, but they were taken in by the other citadels, and dwarves are resilient folk. You are very welcome, both of you.
"As to an emissary, I have no no objections at all, if Regis is an acceptable choice to King Bruenor—and I will be very glad of someone to help me turn the tide against unreasoning and foolish prejudice, Regis, especially with your first-hand knowledge of him. I will be glad indeed."
The discussion wound up fairly quickly after that, and Drizzt led her to the room Old Night had set aside for him to read in.
The room, a sitting room in the way it was arranged, was a secluded space, with faint mage lights to provide a warm glow around the edge of the room. Drizzt indicated one chair, and dropped into the other, before he eyed the books in a way that made Alustriel sure he had neglected sleep last night in favor of reading them.
"I am grateful for the offers made, and apologize for the early rudeness on display," he began.
She shook her head, smiling again. "No, Drizzt. I am glad you have such loyal friends and defenders. I took no offense, I promise you. And they are offers anyone with my resources should make, against such a danger."
He inclined his head a little, but she saw the warmth of his eyes at those last words. "I find myself hopeful that you are correct, that some day I will walk freely into your city. As I would love to see if your people reflect the generosity and goodly duty of their leader so well."
Then he leaned back in his chair, looking quite comfortable to her. "I know we both have questions, but I feel I should offer you the chance to satisfy yours first."
"Actually," Alustriel said, "I was thinking that I should start with the explanation of the connection between us that I promised."
"That would be most welcome," Drizzt replied. "Bruenor told me it was called a soulbond, when I mentioned that I had been able to feel your grief over the decision to bar me from the city, but it really wasn't the right time for an explanation."
"Then I will be very glad to do so." And Alustriel began explaining.
Some time later, with all of the basics covered well enough that Drizzt clearly understood them, she moved on to the part that was less well known. "Sometimes, among the long-lived species, people will end up with more than one soulbond at the same time."
Drizzt tilted his head and looked at her like he didn't quite understand why she was bringing this up, but she had expected that, and simply continued. "And although I am human, the longevity granted to me through my service to Mystra has proved to be similar enough that my bond with you is the second one I have at this time."
"Interesting," Drizzt said. "Will you tell me about your other soulbonded?"
"Actually, I was hoping that you could help me with a mystery surrounding him."
"Oh?"
"You see," Alustriel began, "he just... disappeared, right off a battlefield, about sixty years ago.
"His other soulbonded and I both know he's still alive, partly because if we focus on our bonds with him, we get a floaty peaceful feeling, but also because we intermittently receive from him a feeling of unease without any sense of direction."
"I'm afraid I can't see how you think I can help with finding him," Drizzt said. But thankfully, he sounded curious more than upset or annoyed.
"Well, twelve years ago, that sense of unease from him became synchronized with when I sensed 'threat/wrong' from you.
"Additionally, last year I felt fear from him at the same time as your horror that had me ask any of my sisters and sons who were available to go to Icewind Dale.
"And just a little while ago, I sensed a deep love from him, when my temper broke free enough that the silverfire started sparking in my eyes."
"That's what surprised you while it was sparking?"
"Yes."
Drizzt raised a hand to touch the basket pendant, and his face took on an expression of deep thought for a moment before he spoke again.
"This sapphire has always glowed whenever I sense something evil nearby—sometimes it even starts glowing before I notice anything—and it grew warm without glowing when the silverfire was sparking, but I have no idea how he could be tied to it."
Alustriel reached out to take his free hand, smiled gently at Drizzt, and repeated the explanation she had given to Korvallen twelve years ago.
Drizzt looked horrified, and when he spoke, there was a slight waver to his voice. "I had no idea. How do we free him?"
"All that is necessary to free the trapped person is breaking the gem," Alustriel said. "But since I think it would be best to confirm that it is a soul trap before breaking it, I would like to ask my sister Laeral to come analyze it.
"She is something of an expert on magical items, and as a crafter herself, she has the tools needed to break it."
"That... sounds reasonable," Drizzt said. "Which leaves the question of where and when."
"I am certain that Old Night will give us a room to work in if I ask it of him," Alustriel said, "and if I contact Laeral tonight, she can teleport here tomorrow."
"Good. Because I don't want your other soulbonded to continue to be trapped for any longer than absolutely necessary."
Alustriel squeezed Drizzt's hand in reassurance, but before she could say anything, Bruenor stuck his head in the door and asked for Drizzt to come help the others with their planning.
The next morning, Laeral arrived as Bruenor, Catti-brie, and Wulfgar were readying to go back to Dwarvendarrow and start making it more habitable.
After introductions all around, Alustriel led her and Drizzt to the room Old Night had designated for their investigation. And once they were all seated around the room's table, it was Laeral who kicked things off.
"Alustriel told me exactly why she needed me to come," she said, her gaze fixed on Drizzt, "so if you'll give me the gem, I can get started."
"Of course," Drizzt replied. Then he unfastened the chain around his neck, slid the basket pendant off, and passed it to her.
Laeral carefully removed the gem from the basket, and once they were fully separated, the gem in front of her and the basket to the side, she began casting. And it wasn't very long before she sat back with a satisfied smiled. "That is a soul trap. So if you'll both come stand behind me, I'll break it."
"Of course," Alustriel said, even as she rose from her seat.
Very soon, she and Drizzt were each standing behind and to one side of Laeral, and her sister had the chisel positioned against the stone, and a small hammer raised in her other hand. "Ready?" Laeral asked.
Drizzt said "Yes", and Alustriel took a deep breath. "As much as I ever will be," she said.
Laeral brought the hammer down on the end of the chisel, but instead of splitting the stone, the blow caused a strong magical backlash, and left the stone intact.
"A spell shattering?" Alustriel asked her sister, who had set down the tools and begun to wring out her arms.
"Yes," Laeral replied. And after squeezing her hands down opposite forearms again, she picked up her tools and once again set the chisel against the stone. "Second time lucky, hopefully," she said, and swung the hammer back, then down.
This time, the stone broke, and a blue light flashed brightly, bringing the smell of a spring day in the forest. And when Alustriel's eyes cleared from the flash, Sharr was standing there in the armor he’d disappeared from that battlefield in, the proper ceremonial armor for a Lorekeeper in a ritual hunt.
Then, after a moment in which they just stared at each other, Alustriel wrestled down the flood of emotions, and all but threw herself at him.
"I… stars, you… you’re here, you…” Alustriel knew she was not really coherent as she wrapped her arms around her beloved tightly, but she couldn’t find it in her to care at the moment.
“I am, my heart's star, I am,” Sharr murmured, returning the embrace just as tightly.
Alustriel wasn't quite sure how long they had been wrapped in that embrace before a quiet cough behind her drew them out of it.
Feeling her cheeks heat faintly, she let go, and turned back to face Drizzt and Laeral.
"Drizzt," she said, "this is Sharrevaliir, my first soulbonded."
Then she turned to look at Sharr, and said, "Sharr, this is Drizzt Do'Urden, my second soulbonded."
"I am glad to finally see the warrior that has done such good in my time of imprisonment," Sharr said. "When the feeling of evil grew, it brought me something like awareness of what went on around me, but not enough to say I know you, yet. I hope to change that soon, given our shared bond with Alustriel."
"I will look forward to that," Drizzt said, "though it may not be as soon as you hope, as I have obligations to my friends to fulfill, and there is currently a bit of a problem with me coming to Silverymoon."
Sharr raised an eyebrow at her, and Alustriel sighed. "An encounter with the Riders of Nesmé resulted in them their usual bigoted selves about a drow, and they stirred the people up against him.
"I've already recruited the Mielikkians to help with calming the rumors, and we'll be returning to Silverymoon with one of his friends, but right now, it would be a political mess for him to enter the city."
At the mention of having recruited the Mielikkians, Drizzt took on an expression that made her suspect his cheeks would be flushed if his skin was light enough to show such, but she politely ignored that and waited for Sharr's response.
"Then I will be pleased to do so whenever the opportunity occurs," he said.
The fact that they were bringing Regis with them meant that they could not use the family teleport point, but even so, it was not long before Alustriel and Sharr were approaching her rooms—Laeral having taken charge of Regis and the arrangements that needed to be made for him.
As they walked, Alustriel had explained to Sharr how she had known Drizzt had his soul trap, and when she finished, Sharr had been silent for a long while.
In fact, it was not until they were entering her rooms that he spoke.
"That's... quite a lot to take in," he said. "Though I am definitely quite glad of it." Then a mischievous smile lit up his face, and he asked, "So how long do you think we'll have before word starts spreading of my return?"
"Not long enough to start anything," Alustriel replied, as she settled herself on the divan. "I was half-expecting Kor to be waiting for us, since he knows about the synchronicity between you and Drizzt, the likely reason, and that I was going to meet with the Companions."
Sharr sat down much more heavily than Alustriel was sure he had intended, wide-eyed relief taking over his face. "Kor's here?!?"
"Yes," Alustriel said, wrapping an arm around Sharr's shoulder to pull him closer. "He came to me, after his initial reaction, several years ago. He's Besnell's right hand, a full Knight-Captain for me."
Sharr nodded, clearly overwhelmed by the knowledge that his oldest love still lived, then nestled his head against Alustriel's shoulder.
Alustriel spent a few minutes just rubbing her hand up and down his side while he wrestled his emotions under control, and when he finally raised his head again, she smiled at him. "Feeling better now?"
"Yes," Sharr said. But before he could say anything else, there was a knock on the door.
After a brief exchange of looks with Sharr, Alustriel called, "Come in," and the door opened to reveal both Kor and Methri.
Sharr immediately stood up on seeing Kor, and the other elf all but launched himself across the room to embrace him.
Neatly avoiding the embracing pair, Methri came and sat down on Alustriel's other side, and smiled at her.
"Kor filled me in on things on the way over," he said, "so I don't need to ask how you found Dad. Nor do I blame you for not telling any of us boys about it.
"But Laeral shared her vision with all of us while the two of you were embracing, so you can expect the rest of us to show up within the next few days."
Alustriel returned the smile, then let out a sigh. "Let's hope that Del feels the same way."
"If he doesn't, I'm sure Dad and Uncle will be happy to thump him in the practice yard for it."
As much as Alustriel would have liked to take some time off to celebrate Sharr's return, it was the height of trading season, and she had already taken several days off very recently, so she truly didn't think it would be possible to have more than the rest of the day of his return—which was only possible due to her having already arranged for her duties to be covered that day.
Which meant she was quite surprised the next morning, to look at her schedule for the day and see that the only appointments in the afternoon were a handful of foreigners in the first few hours after her lunch break.
And when she asked Danella about it, her secretary of the day smiled brightly. "As soon as word started spreading that your Lord Consort was back with you, the people of Silverymoon started coming and asking if their appointments could be moved to later.
"So Dessa and I rearranged things for minimal afternoon appointments for the rest of the week, and have blocked off your afternoons for next week."
"Oh." Alustriel blushed for a moment at the display of just how much her people loved her, then returned the smile. "Thank you. And please pass my thanks on to Dessa as well."
"You're welcome. And of course I will."
Alustriel was quite pleased with the extra personal time, and would have been entirely satisfied with just that, but her people continued to surprise her further.
As on the afternoon before her rest day, all the shopkeepers closed up early, and a festival developed with such speed that Alustriel was certain people had spent the entire time since Sharr's return planning it.
But for all that she was quite touched by the further display of love from her people, she didn't fail to notice that the conversation at evenfeast both that night, and the next, indicated that Regis and Sharr, and even Dove and the Mielikkians, had taken advantage of the festival to speak to as many people as they could about Drizzt and his goodly nature.
And over the next week, as evenfeast conversations continued to feature Drizzt heavily, she noticed that there was starting to be a shift in how people spoke of him and his deeds.
That shift continued over subsequent weeks, slowly at first, then gaining speed after Catti-brie's first visit as her father's representative, and by the time fall had solidly begun, people were having open debates over whether or not it had been right for him to be barred from entering.
And by the time spring came, opinion had shifted enough for her to publicly rescind the ban.
For all that most of what she was feeling from Drizzt was the intense focus of fighting and the 'threat/wrong' of his sense of evil, there were enough moments of other feelings that Alustriel was really quite glad that Taern had insisted she take off the day set for reclaiming Mithral Hall, since they were distracting enough while she was just playing coroniir with Sharr that she knew it would have been difficult to remain fully focused on her duties.
After a while, the focus had gotten deeper, the 'threat/wrong' had gotten stronger, and the other emotions grew more frequent, and then, shortly after a surge of 'protect, danger, excitement, elation', she swayed in her seat as the world greyed out and it felt like she was experiencing mana drain while at the center of an explosion.
And when she could see and think again, she was on the floor beside the chair she had been sitting in, with Sharr's arms supporting her, and her head nestled against his shoulder.
She shifted, moving to sit up on her own, and Sharr gave a relieved-sounding sigh. "What happened, Elué?"
"I'm... not sure," Alustriel replied.
Then she described what she had experienced, and Sharr frowned.
"How is Drizzt?" he asked.
"He's... unconscious," she replied with a sigh. "That must have been backlash from something that happened to him."
"If whatever happened was severe enough to affect you through the bond," Sharr said, "I imagine we'll be getting a report fairly soon."
"I agree," Alustriel said. "Especially since I suspect he was fighting the dragon."
Mystery solved for now, she carefully stood up, and after a moment to make sure her balance was steady, she moved over to the divan and took a seat there.
Sharr followed her, and after he had settled with an arm around her shoulders, she sighed. "Now we just have to wait."
The sending from the triplets, and the details Nae had shared, had only increased Alustriel's worry about Drizzt, but the feeling of her own drained energy returning after Tathshandra cast the restoration on him reassured her even before the ashen pallor to his skin began to lift and the luster of his hair began to return.
And with the knowledge that Tathshandra was going to be arranging a pavilion for him in the Glade itself, and setting up a roster of clerics to keep an eye on him, she felt confident enough to leave.
Drizzt had still not awakened by the next morning, but Alustriel had rather expected that, and insisted on resuming her duties anyway.
So it was during her third appointment of the afternoon that she felt the sequence of 'startlement, wariness, relief' that told her he had woken up.
Which, for all that she had been reassured after the restoration took hold, was still a relief in that he had only needed a bit more than a full day to recover that far.
The confused delight she felt some time later was a further relief, and when she received the note on his status from Mielikki's clerics, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders at the knowledge that he had been convinced to take the time he needed to recover properly.
Once Drizzt had fully recovered, he left Silverymoon to return to the Hall, and although Alustriel had known that he would do so, given the need for his aid in ensuring every tunnel had been fully explored, she couldn't help but wish that he had been willing to stay longer.
The months seemed to drag on in his absence, but finally, in late summer, she sensed him heading towards Silverymoon.
Three days passed without her sensing any trouble from him, but on the fourth morning, before the sun had even fully risen, she was hit by a large splash of 'threat/wrong' at the same time she sensed a planar breach, which—if she was placing it correctly—was very close to him.
Even without the breach being so close to Drizzt, it would have been something that needed investigation, so she put out a call to her sons for whoever was closest to come to Silverymoon immediately, then headed for the Spell Tower to consult with Taern.
The flash of 'rage/anger/destroy' that hit her shortly after she left her rooms only increased her concern for Drizzt, especially when it then segued into an almost unthinking focus, but she managed to push it aside when she saw Taern heading towards her.
He proved to have been coming to see her for the same reason she had been going to see him, so she reversed course and accompanied him back to her rooms, where they found Rae waiting for her.
She had already summoned a phantom steed for him when she felt Drizzt's unthinking focus be replaced by satisfaction, but it didn't change her need to know what had happened, so she still sent Rae off to investigate.
And it wasn't all that long before he sent to her. ~Spider Queen sent a cambion after Drizzt. We're going to go warn Bruenor about the possibility of drow in the nearby Underdark, then Drizzt is joining my teleport back to the city.~
~What?! ...well, at least he dealt with it. And thank you for convincing him to let you do that.~
Then she let the sending go, and started to fill in Taern.
Once Rae and Drizzt arrived in Silverymoon, Alustriel managed to convince Drizzt to stay a while, in the name of getting to know each other better, and when Sharr heard that, he came up to the city with Korvallen, so that they could also get to know him better.
Between the lunches together—with or without Sharr and Kor—attending evenfeast and various festivities afterwards with Drizzt as her escort, and just spending some evenings in her rooms simply talking, Alustriel slowly grew to know the drow ranger better.
But one of the most significant moments in his stay in the city was when, after seeing how swiftly Drizzt managed to disarm Kolarven, Korvallen agreed to spar with him.
Even more than his sheer skill, it was Drizzt's humility when Kor defeated him that truly won over the elf, and Alustriel was quite pleased when Kor not only agreed to help Drizzt improve his single blade skills that winter, but also asked him to bring Catti-brie, so Kor could correct any bad habits she had been developing due to Drizzt's own lack of experience with single blade forms.
And although Alustriel would have liked it if Drizzt had stayed for Highharvestide, she was not truly surprised when he slipped out of the city the day before the festival, especially given that in addition to the fact that he was still acclimating to being as freely welcomed as the people were towards him, he did need to arrange for Catti-brie to come stay for a week or so before the snows came.
For all that she had been able to tell that Drizzt was on his way to Silverymoon, when the first true snowfall of the season arrived, Alustriel was greatly relieved when Ellorie informed her that he had arrived with it.
And as winter set in, and then continued on, she was very pleased by how much he was opening up to her and Sharr, and even Kor.
But one thing that all of them had noticed was that Drizzt's feelings about physical intimacy were rather tangled—which, she had to admit, was rather understandable, given that his only experience with it among thinking beings was what Lolthite drow had made of it.
So, between that, and the cutting insult that had been tossed at him when he intervened in a fight between restless adventurers wintering in the city, she could not truly blame him for his decision to visit the Promenade in the spring, after Catti-brie and Wulfgar were married.
Knowing rangers, Alustriel initially did not think much of how long it was taking Drizzt to reach the Promenade, especially as she could sense when he got detoured by something to deal with, but as it started coming up on long enough for him to have made it there twice over on a fairly uninterrupted journey, she began to grow a bit concerned.
And then, the day before she would have asked her sons to start keeping an eye out for him, she sensed a very brief moment of surprise before the silence of unconsciousness took over.
She wasn't entirely sure what to think of that, but not quite an hour and a half later, she sensed, in quick succession, 'wariness/concern, shock, suspicion, surprise, intense focus, wary hope, grief/hint of anger, humor, calm happiness'.
The happiness then faded to just a background hum, but it wasn't all that long before a flash of 'pleased shock, affection' came over the bond.
Which was when she decided that, given the overall combination of emotions, and that the sense of location was right for the Promenade, it was worth reaching out to ask Qilué if she knew what had just happened to Drizzt.
Said conversation, however, only left her more concerned, as Qilué was certain that Drizzt had not yet arrived.
But her youngest sister had pointed out that it was entirely possible that Drizzt had chosen to reach the Promenade via Undermountain, and had had something happen to him in Skullport, so Alustriel had asked Laeral to see what she could learn, and made a request of her sons for a few of them to go to Waterdeep in order to assist Bo with whatever was necessary to bring Drizzt to safety.
Four days later, she felt a massive wash of chagrin coming over the bond, though it was laced with both humor and affection.
Which was followed by Andy reaching out to her during her afternoon leisure time.
~Drizzt is at the Temple of Vhaeraun in Skullport, ~ her eldest told her. ~It seems that his sister converted, and someone else at the Temple decided to arrange a family reunion.~
~Well,~ Alustriel said, ~that's... unexpected, but it does quite nicely explain what I sensed.~ Then, switching to her own sending, she asked, ~Have you come to an agreement with him on a time for him to leave the Temple?~
~We're returning tomorrow at sundown,~ Andy replied, ~and have informed him that we're staying at the Dimmed Lantern if he needs to leave sooner.~
Since Andy had not started a new sending of his own, Alustriel had to wait for her anklet to recharge before she could reply.
But once it had, she sent, ~Thank you. Are you going to escort him to the Promenade afterwards?~
~Of course,~ Andy replied. ~And I'll even see if I can convince him to let us take him through the portal instead of traveling through Undermountain.~
Then the link dropped, and Alustriel let out a sigh of relief.
Andy did, in fact, manage to convince Drizzt to let them bring him to the Promenade via the portal instead of through Undermountain, so that was one less worry for Alustriel.
And as the months passed, she was very pleased to sense just how much he was enjoying his time at the Promenade.
The only actual agreement about how long Drizzt's visit would be had been that he would spend the winter in Silverymoon again, but even so, it was later in the fall than Alustriel had expected when she sensed Drizzt beginning to move north.
He still had enough time to make it back to Silverymoon before the heavy snows began, however, so she was not actually concerned... until the first one blew in while he was still a few days away from Silverymoon.
The sensible thing for him to do would have been for him to find someplace to wait out the storm, but Alustriel found she could only sigh with exasperation when she realized that he was continuing to trek towards the city through the snowstorm.
So when she had a few moments to spare, she sent to Taern, asking him to send a Spellguard to go fetch Drizzt.
The surprise and exasperated resignation she felt over the bond not long after was sufficient to let her know Drizzt was now safely within the city even before a page brought her the news, and she was pleased to hear that he had settled into his rooms with a hot bath and a hot meal.
And once her appointments were done for the day, she went to visit him.
Chapters: 3/3
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Alustriel Silverhand/Original Character(s), Drizzt Do'Urden/Alustriel Silverhand
Characters: Alustriel Silverhand, Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Ensemble Cast
Series: Part 19 of A Crossing of the Realms
Summary:
What if the canon divergence of the series SharrSapphire happened in the universe of Helplessly Bound?
Beginning notes
This fic contains a certain amount of borrowing from the second fic in the series "SharrSapphire", since some scenes from that fic are covered in this one.If you are confused by this fic, please go read the linked inspirations, as this fic very much assumes familiarity with them.
Chapter 1: Reactions
For all that no one knew what had caused Sharr to just disappear from the battlefield, Alustriel did know that he was still alive, because if she focused on their soulbond, she received a sort of floaty peaceful feeling.
And she wasn't just imagining it, either, because Kor got the same results from focusing on his soulbond with Sharr.
But even so, it was something that required action on her part to sense. So she was quite surprised the first time she received a distinct feeling of unease—though oddly enough, no sense of direction—over the bond with Sharr, as she had not been focusing on it.
The feeling didn't last all that long, but talking to Kor revealed that he had felt it too, and as the years passed with no sign of Sharr, she grew to welcome the intermittent moments of unease coming over the bond.
And when, thirty years after Sharr's disappearance, she felt growing wonder turn to visceral horror, and then determination still tinged by the horror, somewhere nearby to the north, it was something of a disappointment to learn that Kor had not felt it. But as the years passed without any further connection, it seemed that whoever her new soulbond was had vanished even more completely than Sharr.
Seven years after the new soulbond had been forged, however, the intermittent sense of unease from Sharr became a constant feeling that never went away. Kor was at just as much of a loss for any explanation as she was, and soon enough, she learned to mostly tune it out.
Three years after that, the sense of wonder from her second soulbond returned, accompanied by determination, and it soon became clear that whoever it was had returned from wherever they had vanished to after the first contact.
And that was how things continued for several years—constant unease from Sharr, and normal contact with her second soulbond.
The sense of unease coming over her bond with Sharr had been a constant presence for so long that Alustriel was actually surprised when, ten years after it had started—and seven since her other soulbond had returned—it abruptly ceased.
Interestingly enough, the cessation occurred shortly before the end of the 'elation' part of the 'danger, plan, elation' sequence that had started coming over her second soulbond maybe half an hour earlier.
But she would have thought it no more than an odd coincidence if not for the fact that the next time she felt anything from either of them, Sharr's unease started and ended almost simultaneously with the 'threat/wrong' she intermittently sensed from her second soulbond.
And after the third such incidence of synchronization between Sharr and her other soulbond, she decided it was time to talk to Korvallen about it.
Of all the things Korvallen thought Alustriel might have wanted to talk with him about, an unexpected synchronicity between Sharr's unease and a specific feeling from her other soulbond was not one of them.
And once he had taken some time to mull over what she had told him, he asked, "Is there any way Sharr could have been trapped in some magical object that your other soulbond picked up and has continued to carry?"
Alustriel hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe. I'll need to do a bit of research to be sure, since I wouldn't have thought that what I'm thinking of would allow for any awareness on the part of the trapped person."
"Then please do."
A few days later, Alustriel settled into the divan in Kor's outer room, and smiled at him. "It seems like your idea may well be correct," she said. "As there is a particular awful spell that traps a person, body and soul, inside a gem.
"But what I had not previously known is that once the person is within the soul trap, it is common for it glow when in the presence of the alignment that is in opposition to that of the trapped soul."
"And that would even explain why your other soulbond kept the gem," Kor said. "Given that you said the feeling you get from them is 'threat/wrong'.
"Whoever it is probably has some ability to sense evil, noticed the synchronicity themself, and decided to keep the gem as an extra source of warning."
"That... would make sense," Alustriel agreed. "Which makes me inclined to think they are likely a ranger or druid.
"As one of those or a paladin seem the most likely to have such a sense, and I think a paladin would be far less likely to experience rejection as often as my other soulbond does."
"Honestly," Kor began, "I'd guess ranger. Since druids are less likely to seek the company of others."
"Good point."
The synchronicity of unease from Sharr and 'threat/wrong' from Alustriel's other soulbond continued, eventually becoming a pattern she was quite used to.
And then, eleven years after the synchronicity had started, she felt actual fear from Sharr at the same time her other soulbond was experiencing the great horror of their very first connection.
She couldn't do anything about it herself, of course, but since Mystra did not express disapproval of doing so, she did ask for any of her sisters or sons who were available to go to Icewind Dale.
Which turned out to have been the best thing she could have done, given what the cause of those feelings had been.
Nor was she at all surprised to find Kor waiting for her after evenfeast, as she had known he would want to know at least what her other soulbond had been feeling.
So she welcomed him into her rooms, and after changing into more casual clothing, she settled on the divan beside him, then—before he even asked—said, "Cryshal-Tirith was raised in Icewind Dale."
"What?!"
"That's what caused Sharr's fear, and the great horror I felt from my other soulbond."
"'Great horror'?" Kor repeated. "Like you felt the very first time you connected?"
"Yes. Which is why I felt it was warranted to ask anyone who could to go up there."
"And it's all taken care of now?"
"It is," Alustriel agreed. "Sharr's fear dropping to unease and then vanishing occurred simultaneously with a bone weary but vindicated elation from my other soulbond, and that came right before Elminster announced the crystal was under their control."
"Good."
For all that Alustriel would have preferred it if Del had not been one of the three boys who went to deal with Crenshinibon, Korvallen was privately glad for it, as between that, and the fact that Elminster, Syluné, and the boys had gone straight from that to dealing with the Cult of the Dragon taking advantage of Elminster and Syluné's absence to attack Shadowdale, Del had been convinced to come to Silverymoon for a while, so Alustriel could reassure herself as to his wellbeing.
Which meant that Korvallen now had an opportunity to ask him about possibilities for Alustriel's second soulbond.
He gave Del a few days to actually relax first, and then, on a night that neither of them had gone to evenfeast, he headed over to Del's rooms.
Del wasn't sure who might be knocking on his door at this hour, but opening it to find Korvallen definitely wasn't anything he had expected. So after they had both settled onto the divan, he said, "Not that it's not good to see you, Uncle, but what brings you to seek me out this late, and while Mom's busy elsewhere?"
"Have some questions for you related to dealing with that damned crystal," Kor replied. "Specifically, about the people you met up there."
"Can I ask why?" Del said.
"In short," Kor began, "I want to know who might be Elué's other soulbond.
"Since it was the feeling of great horror from them that let her know something had gone seriously wrong up there."
"Ah," Del said. "Did she tell you anything else that could help narrow it down?"
In answer, Kor explained Alustriel's suspicions that her other soulbond had been involved in Crenshinibon's defeat, and the reason for them, and when he finished, Del sighed.
"Great. Just great," he muttered under his breath. Because that made it abundantly clear who Mom's other soulbond was, but Kor wasn't going to like it at all.
"Well?" Kor said, choosing to ignore Del's mutter for now.
"It has to be the ranger of Mielikki who helped us," Del said.
"So what else can you tell me about them?"
"His name is Drizzt Do'Urden." Then Del sighed, and decided to just plunge ahead. "And... he's a drow."
"What?!" Kor could not possibly have heard that correctly.
"He's a drow ranger of Mielikki."
Well. He apparently had heard Del correctly, no matter how much he might wish otherwise. But that was also the second time Del had said the man was a ranger of Mielikki, so...
"You're certain he's a ranger of Mielikki?"
"Even if he hadn't introduced himself as 'Drizzt Do'Urden, ranger of Mielikki'," Del said, "he wears a unicorn head pendant that all but actually radiates goodness.
"So yes, I'm certain."
Kor sighed. "I... need some time to think about this."
Getting up, he thanked Del for his time, and headed back to his own rooms.
When, four days after he had started feeling unease from Sharr multiple times a day, Korvallen heard both rumors of a drow approaching the city and that Alustriel had turned her duties over to Taern indefinitely after ordering that the drow be denied entry, it was easy to guess that the drow had to be her other soulbond, so as soon as he had some free time, he sought her out to offer a sympathetic ear.
It took somewhat longer than he had expected, but eventually he found her in a corner of the Palace library, surrounded by books and scrolls.
"Elué?" he said softly, and she raised her head from the scroll she was reading to look at him.
"Yes, Kor?" she replied.
"Thought I'd see if you wanted a sympathetic ear or a shoulder to cry on," he said.
"For Nesmé's bigotry having forced me to keep a drow out of the city?"
Kor could feel his cheeks heat, but his voice was steady when he replied. "I asked Del about who might be your other soulbond, when he was here after the crystal."
Alustriel set the scroll aside and sat up straighter. "You seem... surprisingly accepting... of the idea that he's a drow."
"I've had months to get used to the idea."
"And...?"
Briefly wishing she couldn't read him so well, Kor sighed, then continued. "And Del was very firm about the drow being a ranger of Mielikki, so I went and asked Tathshandra what She thought of him."
"What is Mielikki's opinion of him, then? For that matter, do you have a name for him?"
"He's apparently one of Her favorites. And his name is Drizzt Do'Urden."
Alustriel sighed, then let her shoulders slump. "A shoulder to cry on would be nice, especially since this is going to be hitting him, as best as I can tell, just after the Riders turned him and his companions into the Evermoors."
Kor winced, even as he moved to sit down beside her and wrap an arm around her. That would certainly explain why Sharr's unease had been so frequent for the last few days, but it would definitely make Silverymoon's rejection hit harder.
Alustriel leaned her head against Kor's shoulder once his arm was wrapped around her, and let loose the tears she had been holding back.
Some time later, when Alustriel's sniffles had stopped, Kor gave her back one last rub, then said, "So what else can I do to help you right now?"
"A research assistant would be of the most use right at this moment," Alustriel said, lifting her head from his shoulder and turning to look at him.
Kor cocked an eyebrow at her, and she elaborated. "The Riders mentioned that the dwarf in the party was seeking his ancestral Hall-"
"-so you're doing advance research for them," Kor finished. "Alright, I can help with that."
Given his desire to not leave Alustriel alone to handle the emotional storm of Drizzt being turned away from the city, Korvallen was glad that a quiet word in Besnell's ear had been all that was needed for him to be assigned to stay at Alustriel's side until she resumed her duties.
So when she suddenly started weeping, six days after she had given the order, he was right there to hold her, and make soothing noises until the tears abated.
Soon after, the message was delivered that all of Drizzt's companions had also turned away, rather than enter without him, and Kor could see that news firming Alustriel's resolve to go to them and offer her apologies and personal aid.
Which was something that he still wasn't entirely comfortable with, but he wasn't going to even attempt to gainsay her in this.
So when the night had grown deep enough for her visit to them, he simply walked her to the nearest teleport point, hugged her, and said, "Good luck."
Alustriel returned Kor's hug fiercely, having greatly appreciated his steadfast presence over the last week, and once he had wished her luck, she pulled back and looked at him.
"You're really okay with me doing this alone?" she asked him.
"No," Kor admitted. "But the- the ranger is already hurting, so my presence could easily harm your reasons for going."
Alustriel hugged him again for that. "Thank you."
Then she let go, and vanished from his sight.
When Alustriel returned, Korvallen could tell that she was far more at peace with the decision she had been forced to make. But since he knew she wanted to keep the soulbond private, at least for now, he simply fell in beside her as she headed back to her rooms.
And once they were both settled on the divan in the outer room, he spoke.
"Well, I can already tell the visit went well, but I'd still like to hear the details."
"Of course," Alustriel replied. "Drizzt was... amazingly forgiving, once I had explained why I had felt it necessary to bar him from the city.
"However, something that I probably should have anticipated, but did not, is that no one had ever spoken of soulbonds to him."
"I... can see how that would be true," Kor said, "but it does leave me wondering what he believed your emotions were."
"He thought them to be a facet of Mielikki's interest in him."
"Huh. That... actually makes sense, if he's aware that She favors him."
"It does," Alustriel agreed. "I didn't feel I had the time to explain the connection to him now, but I did promise to do so—and do it here, once I have cleared out the rumors.
"And I have to admit that I am very pleased by how loyal his friends are. As the barbarian is injured, he believes the dwarf is as well, and the halfling is just as exhausted as he is, and they all still chose to turn away rather than enter without him."
"That really is impressive loyalty," Kor agreed. "As for clearing out the rumors, I bet the Mielikkians will help with that if you ask them. Given Her favoring of him.
"And on another note, did you see anything that might be the soul trap?"
"Oh, that's a very good idea," Alustriel said. "Thank you, Kor.
"As for the soul trap, it's probably the stone in a basket pendant that he was wearing as a necklace, given that I did sense some sort of magic to it."
Alustriel had not been concerned by the 'surprise, concern, worry' she felt from Drizzt, in the morning of the fifth day since she had met him, even when it was followed by a period of total focus during which there were a few moments of unease from Sharr, which then shifted to a sense of 'satisfaction/job well done', nor even by the unease from Sharr and 'threat/wrong' from Drizzt that started not long after the satisfaction ended, but when the unease and the 'threat/wrong' had not ended after several hours, she began to worry.
She and Kor spent a sleepless night discussing just what might be in Mithral Hall to generate such an omnipresent miasma of evil that Drizzt and Sharr were always sensing it, and in the morning, she arranged for Taern to again take her duties for the day.
Which proved to have been a very wise idea, as it was only late morning when what she was getting from Drizzt started to slowly shift from just 'threat/wrong' into 'threat/wrong/ache'.
As the hours passed, 'threat/wrong/ache' changed to 'threat/wrong/pain', and then in the early afternoon, she sensed a spike of fear that was quickly brought under strict control.
The 'threat/wrong/pain' then slowly shifted to 'threat/wrong/ache/fatigue', and perhaps an hour before sunset, she breathed a sigh of relief as both the 'threat/wrong' and Sharr's unease vanished, leaving only the 'ache/fatigue' from Drizzt.
"Well," she said to Korvallen, who had again arranged with Besnell to spend the day by her side, "I'm glad they're out of the Hall, but whatever the true threat is within it is not only severe enough to produce a spike of fear in Drizzt, getting close enough to identify it caused him actual pain."
"Odd," Kor said. "I would have thought something that bad would have caused an increase in Sharr's unease."
"If it weren't for the fact that the soul trap glows in the presence of evil, I'd agree with you," Alustriel said. "But since it does glow, I strongly suspect Drizzt left it with one of the others while he scouted the true threat."
"Good point," Kor replied. Then he sighed. "The waiting to find out what it is isn't going to be easy."
"No," Alustriel agreed, "it won't be."
Chapter 2: Revelations
Two days after the Companions had exited Mithral Hall, Alustriel received word from Old Night that they had returned to Herald's Holdfast, and that the clan chieftain wished to meet with her, but would prefer it if she came to the Holdfast for said meeting.
So she arranged matters for her absence of a day or two, and teleported to the Holdfast the next morning.
Drizzt was waiting for her in the clearing before the doors, accompanied by the largest panther she had ever seen, and after he had introduced her to the panther—Guenhwyvar by name—he led her into the Holdfast once Guenhwyvar had dissipated into black mist.
And as he guided her to where the others were, he said, "I offer warning that Bruenor's pride is still up, but I did manage to make him see events as a leader would.
"Though the lack of actual apology to me was a high hurdle to overcome."
"Thank you for the warning," she told him softly, "and I am glad you have such a friend and ally.
"Furthermore, I am sorry. And I have already set things in motion to counter the fear the Riders created, so I am hopeful you will be able to enter Silverymoon soon."
That last had taken her into the room, and she briefly saw a softening of the expression on the halfling's face before Old Night stepped in and smoothly began the introductions.
"Alustriel Silverhand, High Lady of Silverymoon, allow me to make you known to Bruenor Battlehammer, Chieftain of Clan Battlehammer and Eighth King of Mithral Hall; Wulfgar, son of Beornegar, former chieftain of the Tribes of the Reghedmen, Princess Catti-brie Battlehammer, and Regis, former Spokesman of Lonelywood."
"Greetings, Lady," Wulfgar said in a clear, firm voice. "We are pleased you could join us privately for this meeting, as the news must be shared, but your city is not a place we choose to be."
She could feel Drizzt's exasperation with the man for that clear dig at her decision, but it was truly no more than she had expected.
"Lady," Bruenor said gruffly, nodding to the vacant chair opposite his own place.
Drizzt unobtrusively drew it out for Alustriel, setting the dwarf to scowling beneath his beard, while the human girl—princess of dwarves?—studied them. That Drizzt chose to sit beside her only added to the contemplation.
"Lady, would you like a plate? We still have plenty," Regis offered. "Old Night is a gracious host."
Which, though still somewhat needling, was clearly less so than it might have been if he had not heard her apology.
And when Drizzt touched her arm under the table, she looked to him with a small smile, then looked to both the barbarian and the halfling in turn. "I am glad to see that you are such staunch defenders of your friend, Wulfgar, Regis. I can understand why you would not want to enter Silverymoon so long as I must ask Drizzt Do'Urden not to enter her gates. I dearly hope that that state of affairs can be ended very soon, and that I will be able to welcome all of you within.
"And yes, please. I had not yet eaten, as Old Night's hospitality is always more than generous, and welcome."
Wulfgar, son of Beornegar, was a very unusual barbarian, Alustriel thought, given the way he spoke to her respectfully, rather than as an inferior, and seemed to listen without qualm to both the dwarven king and the halfling.
But while her response to the needling had visibly soothed ruffled feathers even more than her apology, the girl's first words made it clear she was not yet fully forgiven.
"Seems a bit more than unkind, as tae bar a ranger as good as me elf," Catti-brie said, "and never catch on to an assassin and wizard of ill-intent held me there as hostage."
Alustriel went very still, and then looked to the young woman with her full attention. "What happened to you?" she asked, her blue eyes sharp with a quickly building anger, "Within my walls? Please. Tell me everything."
That was clearly not the response Catti-brie had expected, but it was only a moment before she mustered herself and answered in an even voice, Bruenor patting her shoulder as she spoke.
"An assassin named Artemis Entreri had come seeking me friend Regis. After seeing him kill two of me friends, leaders inside the clan, I made tae warn me Da and the others," Catti said. "He figured it out, and took me captive.
"In Luskan, he joined forces with the wizard, who had a guard and a construct, which lies buried near our Hall now, but me ranger says ye need tae know of it as well." Catti-brie met the woman's eyes fully. "They came tae yer city, held me there, until they had reason tae know me Da had not come within.
"And then it was back on the road, tae catch up tae me Da and party."
"Catti-brie freed herself when we were in sight," Drizzt said. "Brought us warning."
Alustriel knew her eyes were just shy of blazing silver, rather than blue. Setting aside her surprise at feeling deep love from Sharr at that moment, she took a deep and careful breath, her hands resting lightly in her lap rather than fisted—but only by dint of will. A report from a few days before, that she had paid only an exasperated, frustrated corner of her attention to, suddenly flashed back into her mind in full, as she wrenched her power under control. And as she did so, the sense of love from Sharr faded.
"You should never have been prisoner within my walls, and I think I may have some guards to speak to very sternly. And certainly I have a wizard of my Spellguard to chastise. This wizard’s—the foreigner’s—name was Sydney? I have some small knowledge of her, she could not have crafted a full construct unless she improved very rapidly in her Art.
"Did some other of the Hosttower know that she was working in concert with an assassin? More, did any other know that a destination of that assassin might be my city?"
"A wizard the name o' Dendybar ordered Sydney and Jierdan tae work with Entreri, and knew Entreri for a killing man," Catti-brie answered. "And aye, was the wizards as knew me Da had passed through somewhere called Longsaddle, headed for the city of Silverymoon," she added. "We took rides on magical not-horses and came quickly there."
"Only, our misadventure delayed us, and then you, Lady, accidentally delayed their plans further," Drizzt said.
Dendybar.
Alustriel had loathed that particular mage for a very, very long time, but she had not thought that he was stupid enough to send a construct that would assault her city. Nor had she thought that he would be foolish enough to send an assassin inside her walls, along with one of his own people.
"I know him," she said, her voice barely restrained from dripping with ice, "and the price we intended to take from the Hosttower for my broken city wall, my wounded men, and the disturbance of my peace has just risen substantially. King Bruenor," she added, turning to look at the dwarven leader, "would you like to add any demands of your own, for the harm done to your daughter, to the bill I mean to send?"
"The cost o' what yer wizards need, if'n ye mean tae help rid the Frost Hills o' the threat slumbering beneath them, then," Bruenor said. "As it will take me clan time, even once we purge the Hall, tae make goods worth the cost of such aid."
"That is the meat of what we needed to discuss, Lady," Wulfgar said. "I can entice many warriors to come, but we have as little need of magic as my friend Bruenor. And my teacher has confirmed the nature of the enemy that drove out Clan Battlehammer."
There was that calm respect for her position again, despite that he obviously still spoke for many of his people, and was—in several ways—the epitome of a Reghed barbarian. He called King Bruenor his friend, and Drizzt (a drow!) his teacher, when the barbarian disrespect for elves, mages, and all other peoples was a well-founded byword in the northlands. His story must be truly fascinating, and Alustriel hoped she got to hear it, some day soon.
For just a moment, she felt an echo of the pain Drizzt had felt while scouting the true threat, and then he took a deep breath and it faded back to just the ache and fatigue.
"The name the duergar used translates closely to Shimmergloom, and I do not recognize that name, but the dragon they worship is of the Shadowfell, Lady," Drizzt said. "With a swarm of shades and at least two shadow hounds I could make out."
Alustriel had lifted one brow slightly at the phrasing from the dwarven king—it was an interesting choice, to demand the value (or the components themselves) of spellwork for the insult to his daughter—but then Drizzt named the threat they faced, and cold slid down her spine, even as she suddenly understood the spike of fear she had felt from him.
"That," she said, "is not a neighbor I am at all pleased to have. Yes, Silverymoon will send you wizards and clerics to help reclaim your Hall." One corner of her mouth turned up, just a little, as some of her rage thawed at the thought of what would need to be done. "One of my sons might never speak to me again if I did not tell him there was a dragon--even one he must fight, rather than attempt to befriend--so near, after all. And that will bring at least two of his brothers to keep an eye on him."
"Any aid, on that front, is deeply valued," Regis said. "Because just scouting it turned Drizzt gray for most of the day."
Well. That certainly explained both the pain and the 'ache/fatigue' she had felt.
"My friend exaggerates," Drizzt demurred. "It was unnerving, though, to feel that ancient an evil when I have been dealing with Surface evils of far lesser varieties."
"It was worse than the crystal?" Wulfgar asked.
"Yes, but by the time I had to get close to the crystal, I was expecting it. There is no expecting something of the Shadowfell," Drizzt said.
Which was disturbing to hear, that the shadow dragon had been worse for Drizzt than Crenshinibon itself.
"Ye mean to aid us, and that is good," Bruenor said. "For that, once it is done, I'll negotiate a first-rights trade deal with yer people, or me girl will."
"It will be good," she said with a smile, "to have trade with Mithral Hall again. You look very much like your grandfather, did you know?"
That obviously startled him, and his beard wagged a bit as he visibly worked through the emotion. "Nae, Lady. We didnae carry much beyond the babes when we were chased away," he told her.
She reached across the table, offering him her hand in comfort for a moment. "He came to Silverymoon once, to discuss a trade matter with me, a few decades after he had taken kingship of the Hall. Your hair is a bit more coppery than his, but very similar.
"On the topic of being chased away... there are some of your kin in Felbarr, Adbar, and Sundabar, rescued by elves of the wood to our north from their confused flight. I do not remember exactly how many there were, but I have asked the Rockcrusher clan of scholar-dwarves to see about compiling a census for you."
That was far too much for the dwarf, and he squeezed at her hand once before he shifted… and Catti-brie tucked in along his side, arm around his shoulders.
"More clan, Lady, truly?" she asked, taking up the conversation. "Good, and we'll need any that will come home tae us. The last six years have seen us lose more than a handful of our fighting ones." She visibly swallowed, then continued. "Thank ye, Lady, for the news. It helps."
Drizzt paused in his eating, and looked at her, then Regis. "Would you accept Regis as our emissary, while we arrange what is needed? Catti-brie or her choice of messenger once our people have come, can bring him updates, and share what you need to with him."
Regis's eyes went big, and his expression was such that Alustriel could tell it was as much from relief as surprise. "I don't much like parting from you, but one of us should be the middle link, and that way I can help share tales of just why it's stupid to keep Drizzt out," he said for that idea.
"I am sorry for your losses," Alustriel told Catti-brie, transferring discussion to the young woman without a pause. Of course the news of more of his kin would be overwhelming... but she had needed to share it. "And yes. They were the very old and the very young, and very confused, but they were taken in by the other citadels, and dwarves are resilient folk. You are very welcome, both of you.
"As to an emissary, I have no no objections at all, if Regis is an acceptable choice to King Bruenor—and I will be very glad of someone to help me turn the tide against unreasoning and foolish prejudice, Regis, especially with your first-hand knowledge of him. I will be glad indeed."
The discussion wound up fairly quickly after that, and Drizzt led her to the room Old Night had set aside for him to read in.
The room, a sitting room in the way it was arranged, was a secluded space, with faint mage lights to provide a warm glow around the edge of the room. Drizzt indicated one chair, and dropped into the other, before he eyed the books in a way that made Alustriel sure he had neglected sleep last night in favor of reading them.
"I am grateful for the offers made, and apologize for the early rudeness on display," he began.
She shook her head, smiling again. "No, Drizzt. I am glad you have such loyal friends and defenders. I took no offense, I promise you. And they are offers anyone with my resources should make, against such a danger."
He inclined his head a little, but she saw the warmth of his eyes at those last words. "I find myself hopeful that you are correct, that some day I will walk freely into your city. As I would love to see if your people reflect the generosity and goodly duty of their leader so well."
Then he leaned back in his chair, looking quite comfortable to her. "I know we both have questions, but I feel I should offer you the chance to satisfy yours first."
"Actually," Alustriel said, "I was thinking that I should start with the explanation of the connection between us that I promised."
"That would be most welcome," Drizzt replied. "Bruenor told me it was called a soulbond, when I mentioned that I had been able to feel your grief over the decision to bar me from the city, but it really wasn't the right time for an explanation."
"Then I will be very glad to do so." And Alustriel began explaining.
Some time later, with all of the basics covered well enough that Drizzt clearly understood them, she moved on to the part that was less well known. "Sometimes, among the long-lived species, people will end up with more than one soulbond at the same time."
Drizzt tilted his head and looked at her like he didn't quite understand why she was bringing this up, but she had expected that, and simply continued. "And although I am human, the longevity granted to me through my service to Mystra has proved to be similar enough that my bond with you is the second one I have at this time."
"Interesting," Drizzt said. "Will you tell me about your other soulbonded?"
"Actually, I was hoping that you could help me with a mystery surrounding him."
"Oh?"
"You see," Alustriel began, "he just... disappeared, right off a battlefield, about sixty years ago.
"His other soulbonded and I both know he's still alive, partly because if we focus on our bonds with him, we get a floaty peaceful feeling, but also because we intermittently receive from him a feeling of unease without any sense of direction."
"I'm afraid I can't see how you think I can help with finding him," Drizzt said. But thankfully, he sounded curious more than upset or annoyed.
"Well, twelve years ago, that sense of unease from him became synchronized with when I sensed 'threat/wrong' from you.
"Additionally, last year I felt fear from him at the same time as your horror that had me ask any of my sisters and sons who were available to go to Icewind Dale.
"And just a little while ago, I sensed a deep love from him, when my temper broke free enough that the silverfire started sparking in my eyes."
"That's what surprised you while it was sparking?"
"Yes."
Drizzt raised a hand to touch the basket pendant, and his face took on an expression of deep thought for a moment before he spoke again.
"This sapphire has always glowed whenever I sense something evil nearby—sometimes it even starts glowing before I notice anything—and it grew warm without glowing when the silverfire was sparking, but I have no idea how he could be tied to it."
Alustriel reached out to take his free hand, smiled gently at Drizzt, and repeated the explanation she had given to Korvallen twelve years ago.
Drizzt looked horrified, and when he spoke, there was a slight waver to his voice. "I had no idea. How do we free him?"
"All that is necessary to free the trapped person is breaking the gem," Alustriel said. "But since I think it would be best to confirm that it is a soul trap before breaking it, I would like to ask my sister Laeral to come analyze it.
"She is something of an expert on magical items, and as a crafter herself, she has the tools needed to break it."
"That... sounds reasonable," Drizzt said. "Which leaves the question of where and when."
"I am certain that Old Night will give us a room to work in if I ask it of him," Alustriel said, "and if I contact Laeral tonight, she can teleport here tomorrow."
"Good. Because I don't want your other soulbonded to continue to be trapped for any longer than absolutely necessary."
Alustriel squeezed Drizzt's hand in reassurance, but before she could say anything, Bruenor stuck his head in the door and asked for Drizzt to come help the others with their planning.
Chapter 3: Reunions
The next morning, Laeral arrived as Bruenor, Catti-brie, and Wulfgar were readying to go back to Dwarvendarrow and start making it more habitable.
After introductions all around, Alustriel led her and Drizzt to the room Old Night had designated for their investigation. And once they were all seated around the room's table, it was Laeral who kicked things off.
"Alustriel told me exactly why she needed me to come," she said, her gaze fixed on Drizzt, "so if you'll give me the gem, I can get started."
"Of course," Drizzt replied. Then he unfastened the chain around his neck, slid the basket pendant off, and passed it to her.
Laeral carefully removed the gem from the basket, and once they were fully separated, the gem in front of her and the basket to the side, she began casting. And it wasn't very long before she sat back with a satisfied smiled. "That is a soul trap. So if you'll both come stand behind me, I'll break it."
"Of course," Alustriel said, even as she rose from her seat.
Very soon, she and Drizzt were each standing behind and to one side of Laeral, and her sister had the chisel positioned against the stone, and a small hammer raised in her other hand. "Ready?" Laeral asked.
Drizzt said "Yes", and Alustriel took a deep breath. "As much as I ever will be," she said.
Laeral brought the hammer down on the end of the chisel, but instead of splitting the stone, the blow caused a strong magical backlash, and left the stone intact.
"A spell shattering?" Alustriel asked her sister, who had set down the tools and begun to wring out her arms.
"Yes," Laeral replied. And after squeezing her hands down opposite forearms again, she picked up her tools and once again set the chisel against the stone. "Second time lucky, hopefully," she said, and swung the hammer back, then down.
This time, the stone broke, and a blue light flashed brightly, bringing the smell of a spring day in the forest. And when Alustriel's eyes cleared from the flash, Sharr was standing there in the armor he’d disappeared from that battlefield in, the proper ceremonial armor for a Lorekeeper in a ritual hunt.
Then, after a moment in which they just stared at each other, Alustriel wrestled down the flood of emotions, and all but threw herself at him.
"I… stars, you… you’re here, you…” Alustriel knew she was not really coherent as she wrapped her arms around her beloved tightly, but she couldn’t find it in her to care at the moment.
“I am, my heart's star, I am,” Sharr murmured, returning the embrace just as tightly.
Alustriel wasn't quite sure how long they had been wrapped in that embrace before a quiet cough behind her drew them out of it.
Feeling her cheeks heat faintly, she let go, and turned back to face Drizzt and Laeral.
"Drizzt," she said, "this is Sharrevaliir, my first soulbonded."
Then she turned to look at Sharr, and said, "Sharr, this is Drizzt Do'Urden, my second soulbonded."
"I am glad to finally see the warrior that has done such good in my time of imprisonment," Sharr said. "When the feeling of evil grew, it brought me something like awareness of what went on around me, but not enough to say I know you, yet. I hope to change that soon, given our shared bond with Alustriel."
"I will look forward to that," Drizzt said, "though it may not be as soon as you hope, as I have obligations to my friends to fulfill, and there is currently a bit of a problem with me coming to Silverymoon."
Sharr raised an eyebrow at her, and Alustriel sighed. "An encounter with the Riders of Nesmé resulted in them their usual bigoted selves about a drow, and they stirred the people up against him.
"I've already recruited the Mielikkians to help with calming the rumors, and we'll be returning to Silverymoon with one of his friends, but right now, it would be a political mess for him to enter the city."
At the mention of having recruited the Mielikkians, Drizzt took on an expression that made her suspect his cheeks would be flushed if his skin was light enough to show such, but she politely ignored that and waited for Sharr's response.
"Then I will be pleased to do so whenever the opportunity occurs," he said.
The fact that they were bringing Regis with them meant that they could not use the family teleport point, but even so, it was not long before Alustriel and Sharr were approaching her rooms—Laeral having taken charge of Regis and the arrangements that needed to be made for him.
As they walked, Alustriel had explained to Sharr how she had known Drizzt had his soul trap, and when she finished, Sharr had been silent for a long while.
In fact, it was not until they were entering her rooms that he spoke.
"That's... quite a lot to take in," he said. "Though I am definitely quite glad of it." Then a mischievous smile lit up his face, and he asked, "So how long do you think we'll have before word starts spreading of my return?"
"Not long enough to start anything," Alustriel replied, as she settled herself on the divan. "I was half-expecting Kor to be waiting for us, since he knows about the synchronicity between you and Drizzt, the likely reason, and that I was going to meet with the Companions."
Sharr sat down much more heavily than Alustriel was sure he had intended, wide-eyed relief taking over his face. "Kor's here?!?"
"Yes," Alustriel said, wrapping an arm around Sharr's shoulder to pull him closer. "He came to me, after his initial reaction, several years ago. He's Besnell's right hand, a full Knight-Captain for me."
Sharr nodded, clearly overwhelmed by the knowledge that his oldest love still lived, then nestled his head against Alustriel's shoulder.
Alustriel spent a few minutes just rubbing her hand up and down his side while he wrestled his emotions under control, and when he finally raised his head again, she smiled at him. "Feeling better now?"
"Yes," Sharr said. But before he could say anything else, there was a knock on the door.
After a brief exchange of looks with Sharr, Alustriel called, "Come in," and the door opened to reveal both Kor and Methri.
Sharr immediately stood up on seeing Kor, and the other elf all but launched himself across the room to embrace him.
Neatly avoiding the embracing pair, Methri came and sat down on Alustriel's other side, and smiled at her.
"Kor filled me in on things on the way over," he said, "so I don't need to ask how you found Dad. Nor do I blame you for not telling any of us boys about it.
"But Laeral shared her vision with all of us while the two of you were embracing, so you can expect the rest of us to show up within the next few days."
Alustriel returned the smile, then let out a sigh. "Let's hope that Del feels the same way."
"If he doesn't, I'm sure Dad and Uncle will be happy to thump him in the practice yard for it."
As much as Alustriel would have liked to take some time off to celebrate Sharr's return, it was the height of trading season, and she had already taken several days off very recently, so she truly didn't think it would be possible to have more than the rest of the day of his return—which was only possible due to her having already arranged for her duties to be covered that day.
Which meant she was quite surprised the next morning, to look at her schedule for the day and see that the only appointments in the afternoon were a handful of foreigners in the first few hours after her lunch break.
And when she asked Danella about it, her secretary of the day smiled brightly. "As soon as word started spreading that your Lord Consort was back with you, the people of Silverymoon started coming and asking if their appointments could be moved to later.
"So Dessa and I rearranged things for minimal afternoon appointments for the rest of the week, and have blocked off your afternoons for next week."
"Oh." Alustriel blushed for a moment at the display of just how much her people loved her, then returned the smile. "Thank you. And please pass my thanks on to Dessa as well."
"You're welcome. And of course I will."
Alustriel was quite pleased with the extra personal time, and would have been entirely satisfied with just that, but her people continued to surprise her further.
As on the afternoon before her rest day, all the shopkeepers closed up early, and a festival developed with such speed that Alustriel was certain people had spent the entire time since Sharr's return planning it.
But for all that she was quite touched by the further display of love from her people, she didn't fail to notice that the conversation at evenfeast both that night, and the next, indicated that Regis and Sharr, and even Dove and the Mielikkians, had taken advantage of the festival to speak to as many people as they could about Drizzt and his goodly nature.
And over the next week, as evenfeast conversations continued to feature Drizzt heavily, she noticed that there was starting to be a shift in how people spoke of him and his deeds.
That shift continued over subsequent weeks, slowly at first, then gaining speed after Catti-brie's first visit as her father's representative, and by the time fall had solidly begun, people were having open debates over whether or not it had been right for him to be barred from entering.
And by the time spring came, opinion had shifted enough for her to publicly rescind the ban.
For all that most of what she was feeling from Drizzt was the intense focus of fighting and the 'threat/wrong' of his sense of evil, there were enough moments of other feelings that Alustriel was really quite glad that Taern had insisted she take off the day set for reclaiming Mithral Hall, since they were distracting enough while she was just playing coroniir with Sharr that she knew it would have been difficult to remain fully focused on her duties.
After a while, the focus had gotten deeper, the 'threat/wrong' had gotten stronger, and the other emotions grew more frequent, and then, shortly after a surge of 'protect, danger, excitement, elation', she swayed in her seat as the world greyed out and it felt like she was experiencing mana drain while at the center of an explosion.
And when she could see and think again, she was on the floor beside the chair she had been sitting in, with Sharr's arms supporting her, and her head nestled against his shoulder.
She shifted, moving to sit up on her own, and Sharr gave a relieved-sounding sigh. "What happened, Elué?"
"I'm... not sure," Alustriel replied.
Then she described what she had experienced, and Sharr frowned.
"How is Drizzt?" he asked.
"He's... unconscious," she replied with a sigh. "That must have been backlash from something that happened to him."
"If whatever happened was severe enough to affect you through the bond," Sharr said, "I imagine we'll be getting a report fairly soon."
"I agree," Alustriel said. "Especially since I suspect he was fighting the dragon."
Mystery solved for now, she carefully stood up, and after a moment to make sure her balance was steady, she moved over to the divan and took a seat there.
Sharr followed her, and after he had settled with an arm around her shoulders, she sighed. "Now we just have to wait."
The sending from the triplets, and the details Nae had shared, had only increased Alustriel's worry about Drizzt, but the feeling of her own drained energy returning after Tathshandra cast the restoration on him reassured her even before the ashen pallor to his skin began to lift and the luster of his hair began to return.
And with the knowledge that Tathshandra was going to be arranging a pavilion for him in the Glade itself, and setting up a roster of clerics to keep an eye on him, she felt confident enough to leave.
Drizzt had still not awakened by the next morning, but Alustriel had rather expected that, and insisted on resuming her duties anyway.
So it was during her third appointment of the afternoon that she felt the sequence of 'startlement, wariness, relief' that told her he had woken up.
Which, for all that she had been reassured after the restoration took hold, was still a relief in that he had only needed a bit more than a full day to recover that far.
The confused delight she felt some time later was a further relief, and when she received the note on his status from Mielikki's clerics, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders at the knowledge that he had been convinced to take the time he needed to recover properly.
Once Drizzt had fully recovered, he left Silverymoon to return to the Hall, and although Alustriel had known that he would do so, given the need for his aid in ensuring every tunnel had been fully explored, she couldn't help but wish that he had been willing to stay longer.
The months seemed to drag on in his absence, but finally, in late summer, she sensed him heading towards Silverymoon.
Three days passed without her sensing any trouble from him, but on the fourth morning, before the sun had even fully risen, she was hit by a large splash of 'threat/wrong' at the same time she sensed a planar breach, which—if she was placing it correctly—was very close to him.
Even without the breach being so close to Drizzt, it would have been something that needed investigation, so she put out a call to her sons for whoever was closest to come to Silverymoon immediately, then headed for the Spell Tower to consult with Taern.
The flash of 'rage/anger/destroy' that hit her shortly after she left her rooms only increased her concern for Drizzt, especially when it then segued into an almost unthinking focus, but she managed to push it aside when she saw Taern heading towards her.
He proved to have been coming to see her for the same reason she had been going to see him, so she reversed course and accompanied him back to her rooms, where they found Rae waiting for her.
She had already summoned a phantom steed for him when she felt Drizzt's unthinking focus be replaced by satisfaction, but it didn't change her need to know what had happened, so she still sent Rae off to investigate.
And it wasn't all that long before he sent to her. ~Spider Queen sent a cambion after Drizzt. We're going to go warn Bruenor about the possibility of drow in the nearby Underdark, then Drizzt is joining my teleport back to the city.~
~What?! ...well, at least he dealt with it. And thank you for convincing him to let you do that.~
Then she let the sending go, and started to fill in Taern.
Once Rae and Drizzt arrived in Silverymoon, Alustriel managed to convince Drizzt to stay a while, in the name of getting to know each other better, and when Sharr heard that, he came up to the city with Korvallen, so that they could also get to know him better.
Between the lunches together—with or without Sharr and Kor—attending evenfeast and various festivities afterwards with Drizzt as her escort, and just spending some evenings in her rooms simply talking, Alustriel slowly grew to know the drow ranger better.
But one of the most significant moments in his stay in the city was when, after seeing how swiftly Drizzt managed to disarm Kolarven, Korvallen agreed to spar with him.
Even more than his sheer skill, it was Drizzt's humility when Kor defeated him that truly won over the elf, and Alustriel was quite pleased when Kor not only agreed to help Drizzt improve his single blade skills that winter, but also asked him to bring Catti-brie, so Kor could correct any bad habits she had been developing due to Drizzt's own lack of experience with single blade forms.
And although Alustriel would have liked it if Drizzt had stayed for Highharvestide, she was not truly surprised when he slipped out of the city the day before the festival, especially given that in addition to the fact that he was still acclimating to being as freely welcomed as the people were towards him, he did need to arrange for Catti-brie to come stay for a week or so before the snows came.
For all that she had been able to tell that Drizzt was on his way to Silverymoon, when the first true snowfall of the season arrived, Alustriel was greatly relieved when Ellorie informed her that he had arrived with it.
And as winter set in, and then continued on, she was very pleased by how much he was opening up to her and Sharr, and even Kor.
But one thing that all of them had noticed was that Drizzt's feelings about physical intimacy were rather tangled—which, she had to admit, was rather understandable, given that his only experience with it among thinking beings was what Lolthite drow had made of it.
So, between that, and the cutting insult that had been tossed at him when he intervened in a fight between restless adventurers wintering in the city, she could not truly blame him for his decision to visit the Promenade in the spring, after Catti-brie and Wulfgar were married.
Knowing rangers, Alustriel initially did not think much of how long it was taking Drizzt to reach the Promenade, especially as she could sense when he got detoured by something to deal with, but as it started coming up on long enough for him to have made it there twice over on a fairly uninterrupted journey, she began to grow a bit concerned.
And then, the day before she would have asked her sons to start keeping an eye out for him, she sensed a very brief moment of surprise before the silence of unconsciousness took over.
She wasn't entirely sure what to think of that, but not quite an hour and a half later, she sensed, in quick succession, 'wariness/concern, shock, suspicion, surprise, intense focus, wary hope, grief/hint of anger, humor, calm happiness'.
The happiness then faded to just a background hum, but it wasn't all that long before a flash of 'pleased shock, affection' came over the bond.
Which was when she decided that, given the overall combination of emotions, and that the sense of location was right for the Promenade, it was worth reaching out to ask Qilué if she knew what had just happened to Drizzt.
Said conversation, however, only left her more concerned, as Qilué was certain that Drizzt had not yet arrived.
But her youngest sister had pointed out that it was entirely possible that Drizzt had chosen to reach the Promenade via Undermountain, and had had something happen to him in Skullport, so Alustriel had asked Laeral to see what she could learn, and made a request of her sons for a few of them to go to Waterdeep in order to assist Bo with whatever was necessary to bring Drizzt to safety.
Four days later, she felt a massive wash of chagrin coming over the bond, though it was laced with both humor and affection.
Which was followed by Andy reaching out to her during her afternoon leisure time.
~Drizzt is at the Temple of Vhaeraun in Skullport, ~ her eldest told her. ~It seems that his sister converted, and someone else at the Temple decided to arrange a family reunion.~
~Well,~ Alustriel said, ~that's... unexpected, but it does quite nicely explain what I sensed.~ Then, switching to her own sending, she asked, ~Have you come to an agreement with him on a time for him to leave the Temple?~
~We're returning tomorrow at sundown,~ Andy replied, ~and have informed him that we're staying at the Dimmed Lantern if he needs to leave sooner.~
Since Andy had not started a new sending of his own, Alustriel had to wait for her anklet to recharge before she could reply.
But once it had, she sent, ~Thank you. Are you going to escort him to the Promenade afterwards?~
~Of course,~ Andy replied. ~And I'll even see if I can convince him to let us take him through the portal instead of traveling through Undermountain.~
Then the link dropped, and Alustriel let out a sigh of relief.
Andy did, in fact, manage to convince Drizzt to let them bring him to the Promenade via the portal instead of through Undermountain, so that was one less worry for Alustriel.
And as the months passed, she was very pleased to sense just how much he was enjoying his time at the Promenade.
The only actual agreement about how long Drizzt's visit would be had been that he would spend the winter in Silverymoon again, but even so, it was later in the fall than Alustriel had expected when she sensed Drizzt beginning to move north.
He still had enough time to make it back to Silverymoon before the heavy snows began, however, so she was not actually concerned... until the first one blew in while he was still a few days away from Silverymoon.
The sensible thing for him to do would have been for him to find someplace to wait out the storm, but Alustriel found she could only sigh with exasperation when she realized that he was continuing to trek towards the city through the snowstorm.
So when she had a few moments to spare, she sent to Taern, asking him to send a Spellguard to go fetch Drizzt.
The surprise and exasperated resignation she felt over the bond not long after was sufficient to let her know Drizzt was now safely within the city even before a page brought her the news, and she was pleased to hear that he had settled into his rooms with a hot bath and a hot meal.
And once her appointments were done for the day, she went to visit him.
Tags:
- au: canon divergence,
- au: soul bonds,
- author: somariel,
- category: f/m,
- character: alustriel silverhand,
- character: drizzt do'urden,
- character: ensemble cast,
- character: korvallen senahye,
- character: sharrevaliir,
- pairing: alustriel/drizzt,
- pairing: alustriel/sharrevaliir,
- rating: general audiences,
- series: a crossing of the realms,
- warning: no warnings apply
senmutLegacy's Aftermath (842 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Drizzt Do'Urden/Alustriel Silverhand/Original Elf Character
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Alustriel Silverhand
Additional Tags: Grief/Mourning, Developing Relationship, Established Relationships, Polyamory
Summary:
"You look much improved."
"I feel it," Drizzt said, but there was no joy in his voice, no brightening of his eyes.
Sharr wondered how hard it must be for him, to have slain his own sister, even knowing the gulf of moral depravity between them.
"We're not going to waste the rested look. Up on Deysa, my friend."
"I can — yes, Sharr."
The filly nickered gently at her ranger friend, waited until he was settled, and galloped into the air to take them to the palace. She set down daintily on a balcony, let them dismount and get her straps off, before leaving to go explore on her own. Sharr had to actually use a cantrip to get the doors to open, and he heard Drizzt's startlement as they entered Alustriel's apartment.
"Hadn't realized where we were?"
"I thought surely we had to be a level down, perhaps two?"
"The balcony looks as if it is, certainly, but that's clever magic," Sharr said. "Very few people know the unlocking cantrip, and any attempt to magically force the doors without using it will cause the balcony to fall off the tower. There's a reason the area below is hedged to keep people away from the walls."
"I am glad such precautions exist," Drizzt said. He looked around, verifying they were alone for now, and checked the water clock. "A bit to lunch," he said.
"Hmm, yes, thought you might enjoy a soak. Food will be brought and Elué will join us."
Drizzt nodded… and didn't even protest when Sharr came to aid him in stripping away the armor and gear.
Alustriel took in the fact that both men were clad in robes alone, and made a playful pout. "I missed a bath," she said in her most put upon tone.
"Pretty sure another one tonight won't go amiss; Drizzt's muscles are like cords of wood."
"I'm not that bad," the ranger protested before Alustriel kissed him into quietness.
"I had hands on them; yes they are." Sharr grinned at Drizzt when he was too lost in the kiss to do any kind of follow up protest.
When Alustriel left off on that kiss, Sharr got one of his own, before they settled to the meal. Drizzt was quiet, but the other two provided bits of gossip from the city and abroad, filling the air with cheerful talk. When she had to leave them, she caught Drizzt in an embrace.
"Let Sharr pamper you today, my ranger. You need care of the spirit, and he knows how to give it," she said softly in his ear before departing.
Pampered, it turned out, meant some vigorous vocabulary lessons for Drizzt in the elf's first language. Sharr knew that engaging the mind was the key here to moving past it, as a good spar might trigger memories of the fight itself.
When Drizzt made it through a basic conversation before evenfeast, Sharr praised him, and then looked over at him curiously. "How do you pick up language so fast?"
In the next heartbeat he wished he hadn't, as Drizzt's pride in the accomplishment crumpled into grief and anger.
"Vierna."
Sharr moved straight to his side, wrapping an arm around him, tugging… as it slowly dawned on him that the cleric Drizzt had killed hadn't been just a sister, but the Vierna that was his full-blooded one.
How many times had her name come up, in the rare tales of something good from Drizzt's past?
"Drizzt? Let yourself grieve who she was to you, who she might have been in any other place and time," Sharr told him, manipulating the ranger into being truly held.
"But — "
"You can grieve that part of her, of your life with her, without consciencing her choices and actions," Sharr coaxed. "You need it."
His surety, his ability to lead, actually did the trick, and Sharr found himself holding a sobbing — silently — wreck of a drow, whose hands twisted up in the soft tunic Sharr was wearing.
Alustriel came back that night to find Drizzt sleeping along Sharr's body, with her elf-lord reading from a book the unseen servant was holding and turning pages in.
~How long have you been like that?~ she sent.
~About four hours, so he could probably be awakened now,~ he answered her. "Put the book away," he commanded softly. The unseen servant did so, and Sharr petted Drizzt's hair gently. "Love, wake up. Alustriel's home," he said softly.
Drizzt stirred, in no position to see how soft Alustriel went at hearing that endearment between her two loves.
"I… I didn't — "
Sharr shook his head. "Believe me, I could have moved you if I wanted to. But you need a snack, so do I, and then we have a lady to spoil."
Drizzt paused in moving away from Sharr, searching his face, and Sharr answered the unasked question.
"I… look forward to learning more," Drizzt said aloud, to be certain he understood.
"I'm looking forward to teaching."
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Drizzt Do'Urden/Alustriel Silverhand/Original Elf Character
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Alustriel Silverhand
Additional Tags: Grief/Mourning, Developing Relationship, Established Relationships, Polyamory
Summary:
After the rescue from Vierna, Sharr is keeping a closer eye on Drizzt.
Legacy's Aftermath
Sharr looked his friend over as he landed with Deysa."You look much improved."
"I feel it," Drizzt said, but there was no joy in his voice, no brightening of his eyes.
Sharr wondered how hard it must be for him, to have slain his own sister, even knowing the gulf of moral depravity between them.
"We're not going to waste the rested look. Up on Deysa, my friend."
"I can — yes, Sharr."
The filly nickered gently at her ranger friend, waited until he was settled, and galloped into the air to take them to the palace. She set down daintily on a balcony, let them dismount and get her straps off, before leaving to go explore on her own. Sharr had to actually use a cantrip to get the doors to open, and he heard Drizzt's startlement as they entered Alustriel's apartment.
"Hadn't realized where we were?"
"I thought surely we had to be a level down, perhaps two?"
"The balcony looks as if it is, certainly, but that's clever magic," Sharr said. "Very few people know the unlocking cantrip, and any attempt to magically force the doors without using it will cause the balcony to fall off the tower. There's a reason the area below is hedged to keep people away from the walls."
"I am glad such precautions exist," Drizzt said. He looked around, verifying they were alone for now, and checked the water clock. "A bit to lunch," he said.
"Hmm, yes, thought you might enjoy a soak. Food will be brought and Elué will join us."
Drizzt nodded… and didn't even protest when Sharr came to aid him in stripping away the armor and gear.
Alustriel took in the fact that both men were clad in robes alone, and made a playful pout. "I missed a bath," she said in her most put upon tone.
"Pretty sure another one tonight won't go amiss; Drizzt's muscles are like cords of wood."
"I'm not that bad," the ranger protested before Alustriel kissed him into quietness.
"I had hands on them; yes they are." Sharr grinned at Drizzt when he was too lost in the kiss to do any kind of follow up protest.
When Alustriel left off on that kiss, Sharr got one of his own, before they settled to the meal. Drizzt was quiet, but the other two provided bits of gossip from the city and abroad, filling the air with cheerful talk. When she had to leave them, she caught Drizzt in an embrace.
"Let Sharr pamper you today, my ranger. You need care of the spirit, and he knows how to give it," she said softly in his ear before departing.
Pampered, it turned out, meant some vigorous vocabulary lessons for Drizzt in the elf's first language. Sharr knew that engaging the mind was the key here to moving past it, as a good spar might trigger memories of the fight itself.
When Drizzt made it through a basic conversation before evenfeast, Sharr praised him, and then looked over at him curiously. "How do you pick up language so fast?"
In the next heartbeat he wished he hadn't, as Drizzt's pride in the accomplishment crumpled into grief and anger.
"Vierna."
Sharr moved straight to his side, wrapping an arm around him, tugging… as it slowly dawned on him that the cleric Drizzt had killed hadn't been just a sister, but the Vierna that was his full-blooded one.
How many times had her name come up, in the rare tales of something good from Drizzt's past?
"Drizzt? Let yourself grieve who she was to you, who she might have been in any other place and time," Sharr told him, manipulating the ranger into being truly held.
"But — "
"You can grieve that part of her, of your life with her, without consciencing her choices and actions," Sharr coaxed. "You need it."
His surety, his ability to lead, actually did the trick, and Sharr found himself holding a sobbing — silently — wreck of a drow, whose hands twisted up in the soft tunic Sharr was wearing.
Alustriel came back that night to find Drizzt sleeping along Sharr's body, with her elf-lord reading from a book the unseen servant was holding and turning pages in.
~How long have you been like that?~ she sent.
~About four hours, so he could probably be awakened now,~ he answered her. "Put the book away," he commanded softly. The unseen servant did so, and Sharr petted Drizzt's hair gently. "Love, wake up. Alustriel's home," he said softly.
Drizzt stirred, in no position to see how soft Alustriel went at hearing that endearment between her two loves.
"I… I didn't — "
Sharr shook his head. "Believe me, I could have moved you if I wanted to. But you need a snack, so do I, and then we have a lady to spoil."
Drizzt paused in moving away from Sharr, searching his face, and Sharr answered the unasked question.
"I… look forward to learning more," Drizzt said aloud, to be certain he understood.
"I'm looking forward to teaching."
FR/LotR fusion
Nov. 20th, 2023 01:25 pmsenmutA Second Lost Traveler (3123 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore, The Lord of the Rings - Peter Jackson movies
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Elf Character(s), Drizzt Do'Urden, Aragorn II Elessar, Alustriel Silverhand
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Fusion, Crack Treated Seriously, Time Travel
Summary:
It seemed like his friend appeared between one pull of the pipe and the next, as Drizzt settled in the chair opposite Strider. In the several years of learning one another, the drow never ceased to amaze Strider -- or others -- with how unintentionally stealthy he was.
"I heard I was needed?" Drizzt began, a touch of a smile on his lips.
"I see that last bird I spoke to really did go find you," Strider said, amused. "We had another breach. Need your language skills."
Drizzt frowned briefly; he'd made a life for himself here, and had learned what it was like to live among people, when he cared to, but... this was not his world. Now, to know there had been another breach made him feel like an interloper, living a stolen life among people who did not know to fear drow.
Strider reached and covered the hand on the table. "What is it, my friend?"
"Nothing of import," Drizzt said. "I must warn you; whomever it is may well try to kill me or flee, depending on their strength of spirit."
"Because you are from a race considered evil without redemption, yes," Strider said, before smiling. "You are anything but, and it will be made clear, if he attacks you.
"His ears are as long and pointed as yours, eyes shaped the same, but his skin is like a pale wood, and eyes like the day sky."
"An elf, of my world, and even more likely to revile me, but I must try. Not everyone picks up language the way I do," Drizzt said with false cheer, dreading a reminder of the hate and scorn heaped upon drow.
"I will walk in with you, and perhaps seeing you with someone like me will give pause," Strider said. "Come, unless you wish a meal first?"
"I ate beforehand," Drizzt said. "As I carry no coin."
"And I have little use for what I do, so you will take a room and a bath before you go again, as a gift."
The pair rose and walked up the stairs to where the rooms were, stopping at a door. "He was severely injured, but I have managed to convey the need to rest, and treated him since he arrived."
"Ahh, an advantage to keep me safe," Drizzt said mockingly. He let Strider open the door and enter first, coming in behind and taking in the elf just sitting up on the bed.
Paler than the one that had hunted him with Ranger Falconhand, but similar bones to the face. The elf looked first at Strider in the dim light from the window, but his eyes went very wide once he looked past.
"Peace," Drizzt said in Common. "I am not like my people. Let me help you."
"Well, at least you speak the language. I think he tried ten different ones with me," the elf said, relaxing back in a way that shocked Drizzt to his core.
He'd never been taken at his word so easily!
"My name is Drizzt Do'Urden, and I fell to this place... several years ago. I find being a ranger here a little easier in some ways; they don't fear and hate me on sight with the same magnitude." He then looked to Strider and switched languages. "I think we will be fine."
"Good. I'm going downstairs to finish my pipe." With that, Strider left them, and Drizzt moved to sit in the chair, aware that the elf tracked him, but only in a curious way.
"My name is Sharrevaliir, oh we'll use Senahye today, just so I can be privately amused at my heart-brother's reaction, were he here right now," the elf said. "Call me Sharr."
"Heart-brother? No, sorry. Not the important part." Drizzt had to return the smile being given; the elf was obviously set on being polite and charming.
Drizzt felt more out of his depths with kindness than he'd ever been with naked hostility.
"Well, I normally use the name of my consort, whichever one I am nearest," Sharr said. "But sometimes, I borrow his.
"Enough about that, you said years? Is there no wizardry here to get you returned?"
Drizzt took a deep breath. "The one wizard I am familiar with said that he cannot quite place where and when Toril exists in relation to this plane's cosmology," he said. "And then he was distracted by something with dwarves and a dragon and such. Or, at least, the fall out from it.
"Strider said the events happened a long time ago, but something has worried him."
"You trust Strider?" Sharr asked, and Drizzt nodded instantly. That got another smile. "I thought he seemed a good man. I know even drow of a goodly nature are slow to trust, so I will take your willingness as confirmation my instincts were right."
"I am sorry, I must ask. 'Drow of a goodly nature'?"
Sharr stared at him a long moment then took a breath. "You speak Common, so you had to have been above. Yet you never met others like you?"
"I had no idea others could be?" Drizzt half-shrugged. "My father, maybe, could have been save for surviving centuries in our city of birth."
"Well, once we get back, I'll have to introduce you," Sharr said firmly.
"You presume we can. How, if I may ask? As the wizard was certain he could not safely send me back." Drizzt was very curious, and his attention wandered to the armor and weapons to one side, noting Strider had done his best to see them restored, but yes, this elf was lucky to even be alive.
"When there's no body, the wizards I know will move the planes themselves to find me," Sharr said. "So, Drizzt, you get to stay right at my side to go with me!"
"Then I hope you enjoy travel, Sharr, because I rarely stay in one place for long. This world has needs to be tended."
"I look forward to it," Sharr said firmly. "Language lessons while I heal?"
"Indeed."
Strider looked at Drizzt when he came downstairs again.
"Seemed pretty calm for someone you thought might try to kill you."
Drizzt shook his head. "He knows others like me? Good drow? It seems impossible."
"You fell here from another world because your magic and other magic collided badly, and you think anything could be impossible?"
Drizzt laughed at that. "Planar travel is normal for high powered wizards. That only impossible thing there was that I am no wizard."
"Says the man that out-elfs every elf I know in dealing with the wild lands and its inhabitants," Strider answered mildly.
"You don't get to pull that, my friend, given things I have seen you do," Drizzt retorted, before turning to mime for food to be brought to him, answered with a cheerful smile from the barmaid.
"You have a plan?"
"Teach him, stay close to him. He suspects his wizards will pull him back."
"You will be missed, but I am certain you have a fate to play out there."
On Toril, a group of four fighter wizards tried to determine their father's status. When that failed, their mother came. Recovering Sharr became a puzzle to put together, as they had to sort through the collision of shadow-weave with all of the spells woven into Sharr's armor, weapons, and carried items.
The one clear thing they could find immediately was he was not on plane... but where was the puzzle.
A week into the stay at the inn, and Sharr was able to tell Strider 'thank you', confirm that he would stay with Drizzt, and walk out under his own power. Drizzt aimed for a gentle stroll, moving toward the region he kept an eye on, giving his new friend plenty of time to adjust to it.
There was language learning as they traveled, and when Drizzt needed respite from the brightness of the sun, Sharr was more than willing to rest as well. Drizzt still made a point of stopping for full night, so the elf could rest at a more typical time, but honestly, Sharr did need it.
"I know you're coddling me, and yet, somehow it is not as overwhelming as when Korvallen does it." Sharr poked at their meal on the fire he was tending, having taken that duty over to spare Drizzt's eyes. "Have you often cared for a convalescent?"
"No." Drizzt shrugged. "Watch, observe, push just to the point you are capable of without harming. It is the same thing as teaching weapons to those with less skill, with many of the same signals."
Sharr tipped his head to the side, considering, then just nodded. Drizzt was an unusual man in more ways than just being a good drow, and he was exceptional in his goodness. Sharr could barely wait to extol his virtues to the family.
"When do I get to start weapons' training with you?"
Drizzt grinned. "The first time we summit a hill and you've kept your wind."
"Ahh, so now I have a goal!" Sharr returned that smile, and wondered how he was going to break it to Kor that they had a drow in the family that wasn't Elué's sister.
He had no plans of letting this man slip too far away.
"Tell me about your family."
The pair had been traveling together for months, and Sharr had learned that his entirely capable teacher was a lonely man under it all. Even the delightful and oh so intelligent panther, Guenhwyvar, could not assuage it completely.
The simplest acts of camaraderie, though, had come easy to Drizzt, and Sharr was currently indulging one of those by letting the drow comb out all of his hair, to be braided up again.
"Starting from the earliest, I had my parents, a sun elf and a wood elf, a sun elf uncle — he had a sun elf consort but I don't have any real memory of her. She left, unable to endure the ways of our village.
"There was my cousin, my heart-brother, my friend who eventually became my consort… and then my human showed up." Sharr snorted in amusement.
"Sam, the cousin, Kor, the heart-brother, and Charic, the consort," Drizzt rattled off. "Elué, the human?"
"Yes on all counts," Sharr said. "Kor's going to be snarling at everyone to fix this and feeling helpless. He might even go find wherever Sam went off to, just to have another wizard to throw at the problem.
"As if Elué wouldn't involve her wizard sisters," he added with a snort.
"She is human yet not limited by aging, like the wizard here?"
"Hmm, I don't think the wizard here is actually human, but don't ask me why I think that. Probably something under my pattern of thought, from having been exposed to Elué for so long." Sharr considered how far to trust, decided he could go all the way. "Elué, or Alustriel as she is properly called, was born due to a goddess meddling in mortal affairs. Seven sisters, all total, all then chosen by that goddess to be Her conduits and anchors in the mortal world.
"As such, they are effectively immortal without a lot of effort put into trying to kill them."
Drizzt made a low noise of being impressed. "You are connected to powerful people."
Sharr chuckled. "Given all of our sons are following in her footsteps, as wizards, and mine, as fighters, I think so. Charic's son chose to follow wizardry, but he did take up the bow like his mother, and is passable as a swordsman."
Drizzt began rebraiding the hair, having combed it out fully. "In Menzoberranzan, the third son is sacrificed. I only can think of two Houses from what I learned while at school that went past having that third one.
"I was only spared because Dinin slew the eldest the same night I was born, and the Matron deemed that sacrifice enough."
"I had heard of that horrific custom, among other sacrifices offered, from the consort of one of Elué's sisters." Sharr tipped his head back enough to see Drizzt. "Through divine magic, the youngest was born a drow. I don't understand, and am not going to confuse you; she just is a drow.
"She leads the largest community of your kind — good drow — and once I got over my elf-ness, I chose to go stay in her community for a time."
"That seems… magnanimous," Drizzt answered, having shifted easily with the motion to keep plaiting.
"She saved Elué's life," Sharr said soberly, straightening his head back out. "Someone had put in the effort to kill her, and would have succeeded if Storm hadn't been right there. Storm protected Elué, Syluné began the healing to hold onto her, Dove went and got Qilué."
"The idea of a family that truly works together to protect one another is staggering," Drizzt admitted. "Dove? Is that a common name?"
"It might be? I can think of a few elves use some variation of it in our own language. Why?"
"A Dove Falconhand wrote a letter to my teacher, absolving me of the crimes I was accused of, as she had been in the party that dogged my trail until I rescued them from an ambush by giants."
"Hmm, seems like something she might have done, but she's a Silverhand, like most of her sisters," Sharr told him. "Do you often braid hair? I haven't felt a single tug."
"Never," Drizzt answered, grinning. "Grasses, other materials to make things, but not hair."
"Is there anything you do poorly?"
"Be a drow."
They both dissolved into laughter at how quickly and deadpan he had said it, before Sharr launched into a happy tale of his family.
Sharr looked all around the desolate landscape from the small rise they had found, then back at his friend.
"You never steer us wrong," he began.
"But why was I called to lead us here?" Drizzt finished for him, having completed his own survey. "We'll camp, down a bit, so the rise gives us some shelter from the wind. Maybe I will understand better once I have rested."
"I hope — " Sharr's words cut off as Drizzt stepped between him and a silver, sparking energy rift that was beginning to open ahead of them.
"Sharrevaliir!" came through the rift, muffled, distorted but his name nonetheless.
"Home!" Sharr shouted, before he grabbed Drizzt's hand, and both of them headed for the widening gap in reality, plunging through side by side.
Drizzt's head would not stop pounding. He sat on the floor, not trusting the chair that had been right there when he and Sharr had landed, and put his offending skull in his hands, elbows braced on his knees.
Sharr came over to him after a few more moments of kissing and embracing the very tall silver-haired woman, and knelt there.
"What is it, Drizzt?" he asked, even as he put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Trying… to determine that," Drizzt ground out, closing his eyes now.
"Love, can you make it darker in here?" Sharr asked, and she complied, dimming things to elf-comfort levels.
Slowly, just sitting in less light, listening to his own heart and breathing, letting Sharr's steadying hand be an anchor, Drizzt felt the world settle, but there was an echo of thought in his mind. A feeling of excitement, of exploration, an impending new adventure ahead of him?
It felt like a memory and it felt like now, all in one —
"Lady, what year is it?" he asked, head jerking up.
"It is the Year of the Blue Flame," Alustriel said, which made Sharr's head jerk up.
"It was the Year of the Singing Skull!" he said, horrified to have lost three full decades.
His attention was pulled back to Drizzt, who was struggling to rise, a sense of complete agitation on his features and laced through his muscles.
"I can't let it happen, I can't!" he said to Sharr's low noise of worry.
"What? What is happening?"
"I feel me, my memories, except now, and he's on the way to the Surface, and that village!" Drizzt grabbed Sharr's hands. "There is a drow raid about to strike a village of moon elves, in the next few days, and I don't even know where!"
Sharr took on a harder edge, but pulled Drizzt to rest against him with them both on their feet now, looking at Alustriel. "Then, my friend, we will use what you remember — time is very strange for us — and do our best to change this path."
Alustriel listened for something, inward, and then inclined her head. "Mother is not protesting, so yes, let us go work on this, and after will be time for reunions."
The moment the fierce counter-attack from pegasus-riding half-elves using magic and bows happened, the headache pounding in Drizzt's skull stopped. He had not been allowed to go, but had been promised that the party would merely be turned back, to protect his younger self.
Drizzt fervently hoped that his younger self realized the need and ran, with Zaknafein, as soon as possible!
"The man he will become is not you," Alustriel said, when he mentioned the headache had ended. "You and he are more akin to brothers, separated by however many years."
"That makes sense to me," Drizzt answered slowly, before looking at Sharr. "What… do I do now? I'm on the surface ten years before I came originally, and all the years I had on that other plane.
"I feel… lost?"
"No need to be lost, my friend, wherever I have a home," Sharr said. "I have a son to catch up with, and make up for lost time. Join me in mentoring him?"
Drizzt blinked.
"If that does not suit you, Drizzt Do'Urden, you are welcome to be part of my city," Alustriel said, "for many reasons, though my most selfish one is that you safe-guarded my heart's love."
That got a quick shake of head. "He would have done well with Strider's aid. I am grateful he insisted I remain with him, to have a chance to come here, especially knowing it led to sparing that village."
"Be that as it may, Sharr feels you are part of the family, and therefore, this city will always be open to you, so long as I have a say," Alustriel said firmly.
"Yes, Lady."
"Come on, Drizzt; let's go wait for the boys to arrive, so I can start introducing you," Sharr said, knowing he was overwhelmed… and grateful to his consort for putting her foot down on the matter.
He had a feeling she would find it a good decision, in time.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore, The Lord of the Rings - Peter Jackson movies
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Elf Character(s), Drizzt Do'Urden, Aragorn II Elessar, Alustriel Silverhand
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Fusion, Crack Treated Seriously, Time Travel
Summary:
Drizzt, well-established as Strider's friend, is called to aid another from his home plane.
A Second Lost Traveler
It seemed like his friend appeared between one pull of the pipe and the next, as Drizzt settled in the chair opposite Strider. In the several years of learning one another, the drow never ceased to amaze Strider -- or others -- with how unintentionally stealthy he was.
"I heard I was needed?" Drizzt began, a touch of a smile on his lips.
"I see that last bird I spoke to really did go find you," Strider said, amused. "We had another breach. Need your language skills."
Drizzt frowned briefly; he'd made a life for himself here, and had learned what it was like to live among people, when he cared to, but... this was not his world. Now, to know there had been another breach made him feel like an interloper, living a stolen life among people who did not know to fear drow.
Strider reached and covered the hand on the table. "What is it, my friend?"
"Nothing of import," Drizzt said. "I must warn you; whomever it is may well try to kill me or flee, depending on their strength of spirit."
"Because you are from a race considered evil without redemption, yes," Strider said, before smiling. "You are anything but, and it will be made clear, if he attacks you.
"His ears are as long and pointed as yours, eyes shaped the same, but his skin is like a pale wood, and eyes like the day sky."
"An elf, of my world, and even more likely to revile me, but I must try. Not everyone picks up language the way I do," Drizzt said with false cheer, dreading a reminder of the hate and scorn heaped upon drow.
"I will walk in with you, and perhaps seeing you with someone like me will give pause," Strider said. "Come, unless you wish a meal first?"
"I ate beforehand," Drizzt said. "As I carry no coin."
"And I have little use for what I do, so you will take a room and a bath before you go again, as a gift."
The pair rose and walked up the stairs to where the rooms were, stopping at a door. "He was severely injured, but I have managed to convey the need to rest, and treated him since he arrived."
"Ahh, an advantage to keep me safe," Drizzt said mockingly. He let Strider open the door and enter first, coming in behind and taking in the elf just sitting up on the bed.
Paler than the one that had hunted him with Ranger Falconhand, but similar bones to the face. The elf looked first at Strider in the dim light from the window, but his eyes went very wide once he looked past.
"Peace," Drizzt said in Common. "I am not like my people. Let me help you."
"Well, at least you speak the language. I think he tried ten different ones with me," the elf said, relaxing back in a way that shocked Drizzt to his core.
He'd never been taken at his word so easily!
"My name is Drizzt Do'Urden, and I fell to this place... several years ago. I find being a ranger here a little easier in some ways; they don't fear and hate me on sight with the same magnitude." He then looked to Strider and switched languages. "I think we will be fine."
"Good. I'm going downstairs to finish my pipe." With that, Strider left them, and Drizzt moved to sit in the chair, aware that the elf tracked him, but only in a curious way.
"My name is Sharrevaliir, oh we'll use Senahye today, just so I can be privately amused at my heart-brother's reaction, were he here right now," the elf said. "Call me Sharr."
"Heart-brother? No, sorry. Not the important part." Drizzt had to return the smile being given; the elf was obviously set on being polite and charming.
Drizzt felt more out of his depths with kindness than he'd ever been with naked hostility.
"Well, I normally use the name of my consort, whichever one I am nearest," Sharr said. "But sometimes, I borrow his.
"Enough about that, you said years? Is there no wizardry here to get you returned?"
Drizzt took a deep breath. "The one wizard I am familiar with said that he cannot quite place where and when Toril exists in relation to this plane's cosmology," he said. "And then he was distracted by something with dwarves and a dragon and such. Or, at least, the fall out from it.
"Strider said the events happened a long time ago, but something has worried him."
"You trust Strider?" Sharr asked, and Drizzt nodded instantly. That got another smile. "I thought he seemed a good man. I know even drow of a goodly nature are slow to trust, so I will take your willingness as confirmation my instincts were right."
"I am sorry, I must ask. 'Drow of a goodly nature'?"
Sharr stared at him a long moment then took a breath. "You speak Common, so you had to have been above. Yet you never met others like you?"
"I had no idea others could be?" Drizzt half-shrugged. "My father, maybe, could have been save for surviving centuries in our city of birth."
"Well, once we get back, I'll have to introduce you," Sharr said firmly.
"You presume we can. How, if I may ask? As the wizard was certain he could not safely send me back." Drizzt was very curious, and his attention wandered to the armor and weapons to one side, noting Strider had done his best to see them restored, but yes, this elf was lucky to even be alive.
"When there's no body, the wizards I know will move the planes themselves to find me," Sharr said. "So, Drizzt, you get to stay right at my side to go with me!"
"Then I hope you enjoy travel, Sharr, because I rarely stay in one place for long. This world has needs to be tended."
"I look forward to it," Sharr said firmly. "Language lessons while I heal?"
"Indeed."
Strider looked at Drizzt when he came downstairs again.
"Seemed pretty calm for someone you thought might try to kill you."
Drizzt shook his head. "He knows others like me? Good drow? It seems impossible."
"You fell here from another world because your magic and other magic collided badly, and you think anything could be impossible?"
Drizzt laughed at that. "Planar travel is normal for high powered wizards. That only impossible thing there was that I am no wizard."
"Says the man that out-elfs every elf I know in dealing with the wild lands and its inhabitants," Strider answered mildly.
"You don't get to pull that, my friend, given things I have seen you do," Drizzt retorted, before turning to mime for food to be brought to him, answered with a cheerful smile from the barmaid.
"You have a plan?"
"Teach him, stay close to him. He suspects his wizards will pull him back."
"You will be missed, but I am certain you have a fate to play out there."
On Toril, a group of four fighter wizards tried to determine their father's status. When that failed, their mother came. Recovering Sharr became a puzzle to put together, as they had to sort through the collision of shadow-weave with all of the spells woven into Sharr's armor, weapons, and carried items.
The one clear thing they could find immediately was he was not on plane... but where was the puzzle.
A week into the stay at the inn, and Sharr was able to tell Strider 'thank you', confirm that he would stay with Drizzt, and walk out under his own power. Drizzt aimed for a gentle stroll, moving toward the region he kept an eye on, giving his new friend plenty of time to adjust to it.
There was language learning as they traveled, and when Drizzt needed respite from the brightness of the sun, Sharr was more than willing to rest as well. Drizzt still made a point of stopping for full night, so the elf could rest at a more typical time, but honestly, Sharr did need it.
"I know you're coddling me, and yet, somehow it is not as overwhelming as when Korvallen does it." Sharr poked at their meal on the fire he was tending, having taken that duty over to spare Drizzt's eyes. "Have you often cared for a convalescent?"
"No." Drizzt shrugged. "Watch, observe, push just to the point you are capable of without harming. It is the same thing as teaching weapons to those with less skill, with many of the same signals."
Sharr tipped his head to the side, considering, then just nodded. Drizzt was an unusual man in more ways than just being a good drow, and he was exceptional in his goodness. Sharr could barely wait to extol his virtues to the family.
"When do I get to start weapons' training with you?"
Drizzt grinned. "The first time we summit a hill and you've kept your wind."
"Ahh, so now I have a goal!" Sharr returned that smile, and wondered how he was going to break it to Kor that they had a drow in the family that wasn't Elué's sister.
He had no plans of letting this man slip too far away.
"Tell me about your family."
The pair had been traveling together for months, and Sharr had learned that his entirely capable teacher was a lonely man under it all. Even the delightful and oh so intelligent panther, Guenhwyvar, could not assuage it completely.
The simplest acts of camaraderie, though, had come easy to Drizzt, and Sharr was currently indulging one of those by letting the drow comb out all of his hair, to be braided up again.
"Starting from the earliest, I had my parents, a sun elf and a wood elf, a sun elf uncle — he had a sun elf consort but I don't have any real memory of her. She left, unable to endure the ways of our village.
"There was my cousin, my heart-brother, my friend who eventually became my consort… and then my human showed up." Sharr snorted in amusement.
"Sam, the cousin, Kor, the heart-brother, and Charic, the consort," Drizzt rattled off. "Elué, the human?"
"Yes on all counts," Sharr said. "Kor's going to be snarling at everyone to fix this and feeling helpless. He might even go find wherever Sam went off to, just to have another wizard to throw at the problem.
"As if Elué wouldn't involve her wizard sisters," he added with a snort.
"She is human yet not limited by aging, like the wizard here?"
"Hmm, I don't think the wizard here is actually human, but don't ask me why I think that. Probably something under my pattern of thought, from having been exposed to Elué for so long." Sharr considered how far to trust, decided he could go all the way. "Elué, or Alustriel as she is properly called, was born due to a goddess meddling in mortal affairs. Seven sisters, all total, all then chosen by that goddess to be Her conduits and anchors in the mortal world.
"As such, they are effectively immortal without a lot of effort put into trying to kill them."
Drizzt made a low noise of being impressed. "You are connected to powerful people."
Sharr chuckled. "Given all of our sons are following in her footsteps, as wizards, and mine, as fighters, I think so. Charic's son chose to follow wizardry, but he did take up the bow like his mother, and is passable as a swordsman."
Drizzt began rebraiding the hair, having combed it out fully. "In Menzoberranzan, the third son is sacrificed. I only can think of two Houses from what I learned while at school that went past having that third one.
"I was only spared because Dinin slew the eldest the same night I was born, and the Matron deemed that sacrifice enough."
"I had heard of that horrific custom, among other sacrifices offered, from the consort of one of Elué's sisters." Sharr tipped his head back enough to see Drizzt. "Through divine magic, the youngest was born a drow. I don't understand, and am not going to confuse you; she just is a drow.
"She leads the largest community of your kind — good drow — and once I got over my elf-ness, I chose to go stay in her community for a time."
"That seems… magnanimous," Drizzt answered, having shifted easily with the motion to keep plaiting.
"She saved Elué's life," Sharr said soberly, straightening his head back out. "Someone had put in the effort to kill her, and would have succeeded if Storm hadn't been right there. Storm protected Elué, Syluné began the healing to hold onto her, Dove went and got Qilué."
"The idea of a family that truly works together to protect one another is staggering," Drizzt admitted. "Dove? Is that a common name?"
"It might be? I can think of a few elves use some variation of it in our own language. Why?"
"A Dove Falconhand wrote a letter to my teacher, absolving me of the crimes I was accused of, as she had been in the party that dogged my trail until I rescued them from an ambush by giants."
"Hmm, seems like something she might have done, but she's a Silverhand, like most of her sisters," Sharr told him. "Do you often braid hair? I haven't felt a single tug."
"Never," Drizzt answered, grinning. "Grasses, other materials to make things, but not hair."
"Is there anything you do poorly?"
"Be a drow."
They both dissolved into laughter at how quickly and deadpan he had said it, before Sharr launched into a happy tale of his family.
Sharr looked all around the desolate landscape from the small rise they had found, then back at his friend.
"You never steer us wrong," he began.
"But why was I called to lead us here?" Drizzt finished for him, having completed his own survey. "We'll camp, down a bit, so the rise gives us some shelter from the wind. Maybe I will understand better once I have rested."
"I hope — " Sharr's words cut off as Drizzt stepped between him and a silver, sparking energy rift that was beginning to open ahead of them.
"Sharrevaliir!" came through the rift, muffled, distorted but his name nonetheless.
"Home!" Sharr shouted, before he grabbed Drizzt's hand, and both of them headed for the widening gap in reality, plunging through side by side.
Drizzt's head would not stop pounding. He sat on the floor, not trusting the chair that had been right there when he and Sharr had landed, and put his offending skull in his hands, elbows braced on his knees.
Sharr came over to him after a few more moments of kissing and embracing the very tall silver-haired woman, and knelt there.
"What is it, Drizzt?" he asked, even as he put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Trying… to determine that," Drizzt ground out, closing his eyes now.
"Love, can you make it darker in here?" Sharr asked, and she complied, dimming things to elf-comfort levels.
Slowly, just sitting in less light, listening to his own heart and breathing, letting Sharr's steadying hand be an anchor, Drizzt felt the world settle, but there was an echo of thought in his mind. A feeling of excitement, of exploration, an impending new adventure ahead of him?
It felt like a memory and it felt like now, all in one —
"Lady, what year is it?" he asked, head jerking up.
"It is the Year of the Blue Flame," Alustriel said, which made Sharr's head jerk up.
"It was the Year of the Singing Skull!" he said, horrified to have lost three full decades.
His attention was pulled back to Drizzt, who was struggling to rise, a sense of complete agitation on his features and laced through his muscles.
"I can't let it happen, I can't!" he said to Sharr's low noise of worry.
"What? What is happening?"
"I feel me, my memories, except now, and he's on the way to the Surface, and that village!" Drizzt grabbed Sharr's hands. "There is a drow raid about to strike a village of moon elves, in the next few days, and I don't even know where!"
Sharr took on a harder edge, but pulled Drizzt to rest against him with them both on their feet now, looking at Alustriel. "Then, my friend, we will use what you remember — time is very strange for us — and do our best to change this path."
Alustriel listened for something, inward, and then inclined her head. "Mother is not protesting, so yes, let us go work on this, and after will be time for reunions."
The moment the fierce counter-attack from pegasus-riding half-elves using magic and bows happened, the headache pounding in Drizzt's skull stopped. He had not been allowed to go, but had been promised that the party would merely be turned back, to protect his younger self.
Drizzt fervently hoped that his younger self realized the need and ran, with Zaknafein, as soon as possible!
"The man he will become is not you," Alustriel said, when he mentioned the headache had ended. "You and he are more akin to brothers, separated by however many years."
"That makes sense to me," Drizzt answered slowly, before looking at Sharr. "What… do I do now? I'm on the surface ten years before I came originally, and all the years I had on that other plane.
"I feel… lost?"
"No need to be lost, my friend, wherever I have a home," Sharr said. "I have a son to catch up with, and make up for lost time. Join me in mentoring him?"
Drizzt blinked.
"If that does not suit you, Drizzt Do'Urden, you are welcome to be part of my city," Alustriel said, "for many reasons, though my most selfish one is that you safe-guarded my heart's love."
That got a quick shake of head. "He would have done well with Strider's aid. I am grateful he insisted I remain with him, to have a chance to come here, especially knowing it led to sparing that village."
"Be that as it may, Sharr feels you are part of the family, and therefore, this city will always be open to you, so long as I have a say," Alustriel said firmly.
"Yes, Lady."
"Come on, Drizzt; let's go wait for the boys to arrive, so I can start introducing you," Sharr said, knowing he was overwhelmed… and grateful to his consort for putting her foot down on the matter.
He had a feeling she would find it a good decision, in time.
KorVerse Outtakes
Nov. 9th, 2023 11:27 amsenmutKorVerse Outtakes (699 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
Relationships: Drizzt Do'Urden/Original Elf Character, Original Elf Character/Original Elf Character
Characters: Original Elf Character(s), Drizzt Do'Urden, Vierna Do'Urden, Inthylyn Aerasumé, Alustriel Silverhand, Naerond Aerasumé, Andelver Aerasumé
Additional Tags: Writing Genre - Snippet
Summary:
~Sons,~ Alustriel began. ~Anyone in the vicinity of where Evgin Morningmist lived, please go acquire any goods that can be salvaged and repaired from her cottage.~
~I'm close,~ Nae began, ~but why? For Mielikki's people?~
~Actually, her last student, a drow ranger now living here. Korvallen asks it.~ She was still amused the gruff man had asked the favor.
~Why? I mean we can, but seems odd that uncle is involved in anything with a drow,~ Andy responded.
~I think he means it to be a courting gift.~
Alustriel had to smile at the variety of squawks and shocked noises on the shared link. It felt good to subject them to the same surprise she had felt, for Kor to have actually opened his heart, and to a man of a species Kor had hated fanatically since his youth.
~We want more details, so yes, be there when we can!~ Nae finally replied to her.
Thyl sat next to Vierna, enjoying the quiet, hating that he was about to upset that calm.
"We have a drow in Silverymoon."
"Hmm? I'm not missing anyone, nor was I requested to find a new one," she said.
"Yeah, he's been on the surface for several years, apparently came up in the Lurkwood and found a human willing to teach him," Thyl said. "He's blocked from your Lady's sight — Mom is going to fix that when she can — but that's not the worst, not for you or Ellifain."
Vierna shifted to look at him intently.
"He's got purple eyes; that's why it will hit Ellifain, once he starts up this way to see about the good drow uncle told him about." Thyl took her hand, holding it, as she processed that.
"Go on."
"Under truth spell, he named himself 'Drizzt Do'Urden, secondboy of the Ninth House of Menzoberranzan', he's a two-handed fighter, and uncle has to pull out all stops to beat him in a spar."
He watched that information land like a hammer on an anvil, before she let out a long breath.
"So I have a brother, full one, most likely, to meet. Once… whatever that is can be removed."
"Mom said the end of winter, before he ranges in the spring. He's a ranger of Mielikki."
"Strange. But why the wait?"
Thyl had to laugh. "Apparently uncle fell boots over helmet for him, so Mom's trying to give space for that to settle."
Vierna could only stare, knowing the tales of Korvallen being anti-drow, and very much a one-elf-for-life person.
"Yeah, we all feel like that."
"Then, come spring, I look forward to this being resolved."
Kor had learned, quickly even, not to trust Drizzt's light sing-song voice when he announced something. So hearing 'I brought you a present' in their outer room had him on guard, half-anticipating some wild animal.
It was not warning enough to walk in there from the balcony and find Sam, Sharr's own cousin, standing there with all the sun-elf height, and a bit of chagrin on his face.
"Drizzt says it's been a bit longer than I thought, among other, less pleasant things."
Kor launched himself at the man he'd grown up with, whom he called cousin as well, and held on tight. He barely noticed Drizzt leaving, or the key turning to lock the door behind him.
While Drizzt's quick reaction to the news had been appreciated, Kor grabbed hold of him, wrapping a hand behind his neck, bringing their foreheads together.
"You're not getting rid of me, nor me you, just because of this. I shared him with Elué for centuries; he'll get used to it this way now."
Drizzt smiled; he hadn't been worried about it at all.
"We are one," Drizzt said softly, "and I have all the faith in that."
"You had better, my wild one."
Sharr rested against Kor, then tipped his head back to see his heart-brother better.
"So, the ranger?"
"Mine, Sharr. Just like I told Elué."
Sharr started laughing, but he wouldn't press, and just seek a friendship with the young drow that had gathered the bulk of the diamonds, seen the Battlehammers back into Mithral Hall, defeated Crenshinibon, and — most impossibly — won Kor's heart.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Drizzt Do'Urden/Original Elf Character, Original Elf Character/Original Elf Character
Characters: Original Elf Character(s), Drizzt Do'Urden, Vierna Do'Urden, Inthylyn Aerasumé, Alustriel Silverhand, Naerond Aerasumé, Andelver Aerasumé
Additional Tags: Writing Genre - Snippet
Summary:
A few scenes that were thought of but not included in "Knight and Ranger"
KorVerse Outtakes
~Sons,~ Alustriel began. ~Anyone in the vicinity of where Evgin Morningmist lived, please go acquire any goods that can be salvaged and repaired from her cottage.~
~I'm close,~ Nae began, ~but why? For Mielikki's people?~
~Actually, her last student, a drow ranger now living here. Korvallen asks it.~ She was still amused the gruff man had asked the favor.
~Why? I mean we can, but seems odd that uncle is involved in anything with a drow,~ Andy responded.
~I think he means it to be a courting gift.~
Alustriel had to smile at the variety of squawks and shocked noises on the shared link. It felt good to subject them to the same surprise she had felt, for Kor to have actually opened his heart, and to a man of a species Kor had hated fanatically since his youth.
~We want more details, so yes, be there when we can!~ Nae finally replied to her.
Thyl sat next to Vierna, enjoying the quiet, hating that he was about to upset that calm.
"We have a drow in Silverymoon."
"Hmm? I'm not missing anyone, nor was I requested to find a new one," she said.
"Yeah, he's been on the surface for several years, apparently came up in the Lurkwood and found a human willing to teach him," Thyl said. "He's blocked from your Lady's sight — Mom is going to fix that when she can — but that's not the worst, not for you or Ellifain."
Vierna shifted to look at him intently.
"He's got purple eyes; that's why it will hit Ellifain, once he starts up this way to see about the good drow uncle told him about." Thyl took her hand, holding it, as she processed that.
"Go on."
"Under truth spell, he named himself 'Drizzt Do'Urden, secondboy of the Ninth House of Menzoberranzan', he's a two-handed fighter, and uncle has to pull out all stops to beat him in a spar."
He watched that information land like a hammer on an anvil, before she let out a long breath.
"So I have a brother, full one, most likely, to meet. Once… whatever that is can be removed."
"Mom said the end of winter, before he ranges in the spring. He's a ranger of Mielikki."
"Strange. But why the wait?"
Thyl had to laugh. "Apparently uncle fell boots over helmet for him, so Mom's trying to give space for that to settle."
Vierna could only stare, knowing the tales of Korvallen being anti-drow, and very much a one-elf-for-life person.
"Yeah, we all feel like that."
"Then, come spring, I look forward to this being resolved."
Kor had learned, quickly even, not to trust Drizzt's light sing-song voice when he announced something. So hearing 'I brought you a present' in their outer room had him on guard, half-anticipating some wild animal.
It was not warning enough to walk in there from the balcony and find Sam, Sharr's own cousin, standing there with all the sun-elf height, and a bit of chagrin on his face.
"Drizzt says it's been a bit longer than I thought, among other, less pleasant things."
Kor launched himself at the man he'd grown up with, whom he called cousin as well, and held on tight. He barely noticed Drizzt leaving, or the key turning to lock the door behind him.
While Drizzt's quick reaction to the news had been appreciated, Kor grabbed hold of him, wrapping a hand behind his neck, bringing their foreheads together.
"You're not getting rid of me, nor me you, just because of this. I shared him with Elué for centuries; he'll get used to it this way now."
Drizzt smiled; he hadn't been worried about it at all.
"We are one," Drizzt said softly, "and I have all the faith in that."
"You had better, my wild one."
Sharr rested against Kor, then tipped his head back to see his heart-brother better.
"So, the ranger?"
"Mine, Sharr. Just like I told Elué."
Sharr started laughing, but he wouldn't press, and just seek a friendship with the young drow that had gathered the bulk of the diamonds, seen the Battlehammers back into Mithral Hall, defeated Crenshinibon, and — most impossibly — won Kor's heart.
Tags:
- au: canon divergence,
- author: sharpest_asp,
- category: m/m,
- character: alustriel silverhand,
- character: drizzt do'urden,
- character: inthylyn aerasumé,
- character: korvallen senahye,
- character: samiar ravarel,
- character: sharrevaliir,
- character: vierna do'urden,
- freeform: polyamory,
- pairing: drizzt/korvallen,
- rating: general audiences,
- warning: no warnings apply
Have Your Cake Part IV
Nov. 4th, 2023 04:56 amsomarielA Curse Here, a Blessing There (4355 words) by Somariel
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Alustriel Silverhand, Vierna Do'Urden, Zaknafein Do'Urden, Inthylyn Aerasumé
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Past Rape/Non-con
Series: Part 4 of Have Your Cake, Part 16 of A Crossing of the Realms
Summary:
This fic was inspired bysenmut and ilyena_sylph's fic Making the Most of Magical Mayhem and my fic Magical Mayhem with a Pegasus.
It assumes familiarity with those fics, and the previous fics in the Have Your Cake series.
1343 DR
Samiar knew, perfectly well, that drow were excellent liars, and one might be using tongues to speak, but… he also knew that it was not possible to fool a pegasus’s innate sense of a person’s nature. Even so, he still twitched his fingers through the motion for detect thoughts, focusing on the drow. "Drizzt Do’Urden, hm? Well, at least we are even on the matter of names, now, though I still do not know the name of your friend there.
"But what curse troubles you, that your own people could not deal with better than I?" The phrasing of his question was deliberate, as even though Drizzt was very clearly not evil, it was still possible that he was neutral, and a Vhaeraunite scout or information gatherer.
"My friend is called Lothalninil," Drizzt said. "As for my people, while the Dark Maiden has been good to me and my family since each of us escaped the Underdark, I remain wary of divine intervention in my life, nor do I wish to develop a habit of relying on those whom my ranging may have taken me quite far from."
That was the truth and nothing but, Samiar felt, reading the truth of the 'no divine intervention' and the 'don't want to depend on family' alike, though a stubborn thread of 'got myself into this, I'll get myself out of it' was woven through the latter. "And the curse?"
"I made a mistake in the last set of ruins I cleared. While I could feel magic, it did not feel innately tainted or wrong, and the box I took from there called to me, for it was inlaid with a cat much like my companion that drew you here."
Drizzt dropped his eyes, and Lothalninil bumped her nose against his chest. "The curse upon it escaped as I opened the box, and now… I need aid."
"You appear to be healthy enough," Samiar said curiously, raising a brow, then flicked his fingers, "no, no. Come, we will talk within my home."
If the pegasus—Lothalninil, he reminded himself—had not been present, he would have cast an arcane eye to keep an eye on Drizzt Do’Urden as he led the way to his tower, but she was, so he was willing to place enough trust in her goodly nature to expose his back to Drizzt.
Sharing drow culture and society notes, the language and writing examples, was familiar to Drizzt from the time he had spent doing the same with Sharr, whom he very much felt would get along quite well with Samiar.
It wasn't until Sam chose to share the tale of one of his youthful misadventures, however, that Drizzt realized just how correct that thought was. Because the other two elves featured in the tale were Samiar's cousin Sharr, and Sharr's friend Kor.
But although the likelihood of there being two such groups with both that structure and those names was vanishingly small, once Sam had finished the tale, Drizzt asked, just to confirm things, "Do you mean Sharrevaliir Silverhand and Korvallen Senahye?"
"Why, yes. How do-" Sam broke off abruptly and stared at Drizzt as the family names sank in. "Wait, Silverhand?!? Is that actually El-, I mean Alustriel, up in Silverymoon, then?"
Not sure what Sam's source of confusion might be, Drizzt chose to answer in the way he thought would have the least chance of being misunderstood. "Silverymoon's current ruler is Sharr's human consort, if that's what you're asking."
"Then we're going up there. If I'd known that really is Alustriel, I would have sought her and Sharr's assistance from the beginning."
As curious as Alustriel was about the guest that Drizzt had called an old friend of both her and Sharr, the timing of the page's message delivery had been such that she could not actually go find out until after evenfeast.
And now, having changed from her evenfeast gown to something more casual, she stood at the door to Drizzt's rooms and knocked.
"Come in" was called in Drizzt's voice—though, for some reason, it sounded higher than usual—so she let herself in.
As she entered, Drizzt and his guest were busy comparing the papers scattered across the table they were sitting at, but before she could do more than register that the guest was a sun elf, they both turned their attention to her, and she gasped in surprise.
"Samiar?!"
"Hello, Elué," he said, even as he got up and came over to her with his hands outstretched in greeting.
Bypassing any sort of hand clasp, Alustriel embraced Sharr's cousin tightly. He returned the hug with equal vigor, and they held it for a long moment.
When they mutually released the embrace, Alustriel took a step back, and reached out to clasp his hands. "It's so good to see you again. But how in the world did Drizzt find you?"
"He was looking for a cursebreaker," Samiar replied.
At that, Alustriel turned her attention to Drizzt, and had to stifle a gasp. Because though she could tell it was still Drizzt sitting at the table, he now had a female body.
"How are you, Drizzt?" she asked.
"Uncomfortable."
"Understandably." Then she turned back to Samiar. "It's easy to see why you wish to consult with me, but what is it about this matter that has you wishing to consult with Sharr?"
"The inscription inside the damned box that was the trigger is in Seldruin."
"And when I unknowingly triggered the curse by opening the box, the whispered words that accompanied it sounded vaguely familiar from my work with Sharr on comparing Seldruin with Drow," Drizzt added.
Alustriel nodded her understanding. "Well, I'd be asking him to come with Kor anyway, simply because of Sam's return, but I'll make sure to tell him Sam brought a translation challenge with him."
Drizzt had been insistent that Samiar should take some time to actually catch up with his family, so once the cursed box had been secured in the workroom Taern had set aside for Sam and Sharr in the Spell Tower, it was several days before any more attention was given to the matter.
The first day that Sam and Sharr worked on translating the inscription went well enough, with the box safely contained in an anti-magic field, but on the second day, Sharr happened to arrive at the workroom before Sam did.
Since both he and Sam had received a copy of the key for the workroom, Sharr chose to enter anyway, and settled down to review the previous day's notes.
He had not gotten very far into them, however, when an explosion in the adjacent workroom rattled the door and shook the furniture.
Setting the notes aside, Sharr stood up and turned to scan the rest of the room for anything else that might have been disturbed.
Movement on the central table caught his eye, and he experienced a frozen moment of shock as the cursed box slid over the edge of the table.
Then instinct kicked in, and he lunged to catch it. He only just managed to do so, grabbing it a bit below the visible line near the top.
And then, much to his horror, a seam appeared below where he had grabbed it, and the box swung open.
Samiar had just exited the stairs onto the level that held the workroom reserved for his and Sharr's work with the cursed box, when a door-rattling boom sounded from the other end of the hallway—which was where their borrowed workroom was.
Concerned over what effect the probable explosion might have had on the organization of yesterday's notes, Sam increased his pace down the hall.
Very shortly, he had reached the workroom, and was reaching for his key when he noticed that the door was not quite closed.
Knowing that had to mean that Sharr had arrived before him, Sam let go of his concerns about the notes, and opened the door.
But he had not gotten more than a couple of steps into the workroom before he noticed something of far greater concern.
Sharr was lying motionless on the floor, his head almost under the central table, with the cursed box close enough to his hands that it had to have been in them when he collapsed. But the most concerning thing was that Sharr had very clearly been struck by the box's curse.
Sighing, Sam stepped back out of the workroom, and knocked on the door of the adjacent one.
It was opened fairly quickly by a human male who looked to be on the younger side even for humans.
"Yes?" the young man said, a distinct note of nervousness in his voice. Which was not truly surprising, as Sam recalled Taern saying that the workrooms used for doing anything likely to explode were in a different area.
"Samiar Ravarel. Am I correct in thinking that you were responsible for the recent explosion?"
"Stordan Helder. Why do you ask?"
"Because it disrupted my own work in a way that had unfortunate consequences for my colleague," Samiar answered.
Stordan's face paled, and he visibly swallowed a few times before replying in a voice that squeaked with nervousness. "What can I do to help?"
"Go find Korvallen Senahye and bring him here," Sam said.
"I will, Saer." Stordan gave a low bow, then turned and headed for the stairs.
Once the young man had entered the stairwell, Samiar went back into his workroom.
The first thing he did was cast the anti-magic field on the box, but once that was taken care of, he used the sending he had memorized for the day to inform Taern of the incident.
Taern's response had been a sigh, a mutter about headstrong young idiots, and a promise to come as soon as he could.
Then Samiar set about checking Sharr over for any injuries that would necessitate moving him before Kor and Taern arrived.
When Sharr regained consciousness, he had to take a moment to just breathe—which felt so odd with the extra flesh on his chest—and catalogue the myriad new sensations his changed body was bombarding him with.
However, he was still working his way through them when the scrape of a chair nearby caused him to open his eyes.
He was lying on the bed in his own rooms, with Kor and Sam both sitting in chairs pulled up beside it.
"Good to see you finally awake again," Kor said, his voice gruff with worry.
"Finally?" Sharr repeated. "How long was I out?"
"Most of the day," Sam answered. "Which at least proved useful in allowing me to analyze the curse's traces on you."
"Did you learn anything useful?"
"There is an escape clause, and it's tied to both something physical and something time-based."
"Still would have preferred it if you hadn't had the opportunity," Kor grumbled.
Sharr sighed. "So would I, but I'll take it as a silver lining to misjudging where I grabbed the box when it slid off the table."
"How do you feel?" Kor asked.
Uncomfortable. Everything feels so different, and it's making it hard to concentrate right now."
Kor frowned. "That's the only problem, though?"
"Yes."
Kor gave a sigh of relief, and Sam smiled.
"Well," Sam said, "you'll presumably be able to concentrate better once you get used to the new sensations.
"Since Drizzt clearly has no problem concentrating."
"Let's hope so," Sharr said, "But speaking of Drizzt, please tell me that he isn't blaming himself for this."
"He didn't even get a chance to do so," Sam said. "The headstrong young idiot responsible was already defying a direct order, so Taern came down hard on him."
Samiar was indeed correct about Sharr's concentration returning once he became more accustomed to the female body's differences, and a few days later, the two of them resumed their work on translating the inscription.
As the weeks passed, Sharr's sons came by to meet or re-meet Samiar—with Thyl also visiting Spirit Sanctuary, resulting in Vierna and Zak being informed that Drizzt had run afoul of a curse, if not the exact details—and eventually, about a month and a half after the translation work had resumed, Sam and Sharr agreed that they had finally determined the correct one, though the implications it carried were unpleasant.
And with the translation found, Alustriel began working with Samiar on figuring out how the curse might actually be broken.
A bit more than three and a half weeks later—and almost exactly two months after he and Kor had started exploring the more intimate aspects of the female body's differences—Sharr noticed a change in his balance, along with a few other changes in how the female body felt.
So that evening, while he and Kor were lounging with Alustriel in her rooms after evenfeast, he asked, "What sort of physical changes accompany a pregnancy?"
Kor jerked bolt upright on hearing that, but Alustriel just gave him a considering look.
And after a moment, she said, "What changes have you experienced, to cause you to ask that?"
"There's been a shift in my balance, my abdomen feels unusually firm, and the breasts are sore."
Alustriel took a deep breath before she replied. "Well, those are all symptoms of pregnancy, so if you're thinking you might be pregnant, you're most likely correct.
"But if you want me to, there's a spell I can use to confirm it."
"Please."
"Then give me your hand."
Sharr complied, and Alustriel cupped her hands around his, then murmured a single word. And in reaction, a faint silver glow arched in a crescent from her right thumb to her left, over his hand.
Alustriel let out a gusty sigh and released his hand. "You are pregnant. About two months along, according to the spell."
Kor made a strangled sound beside him, and Sharr turned to look at his heart's brother. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"Are you?" Kor replied.
Sharr took a moment to actually think about it before he replied. "I... think I will be, once I get over the surprise.
"It's not anything I expected-" Sharr paused for a moment to look at Alustriel, who had made a surprised noise when he said that, but she waved for him to continue, so he did. "-and I'm sure there will be some difficult moments due to the mismatch between mind and body, but I'm pleased to be carrying your child."
Kor sighed and threw his arm around Sharr's shoulders. "Alright. But you will let me take care of you during the pregnancy."
"Of course." Then Sharr turned his attention back to Alustriel. "Why were you surprised I hadn't expected this?" he asked her.
Alustriel again took a deep breath before speaking. "What conclusions did you and Sam come to about the nature of the curse and its escape clause, based on the translation you settled on?"
Sharr knew there was a catch somewhere in that question, but he couldn't see where, so he simply answered it. "It's a lover's curse, possibly a spurned one. And I would have said that fulfilling the escape clause requires sex, but given that it's been two months since Kor and I started having it, and the curse hasn't broken yet, I'm not so sure."
"Men." Alustriel rolled her eyes with that exasperated mutter, then sighed. "May you learn the pain of your deeds most personally, by living the life you have given to me. To me, that says pregnancy, and some amount of time breastfeeding the baby after it is born."
Sharr groaned and threw his head back. "Physical and time-based. Why didn't I see that?"
Alustriel smiled wryly. "Because you're not a woman."
"Fair enough," Sharr laughed. "Fair enough."
Roughly two and a half months after Sam and Alustriel had begun their research into how to break the curse, they reluctantly concluded that the only options were requesting divine intervention or fulfilling the terms of the escape clause.
Drizzt had been just as displeased with that conclusion as they were, but after taking some time to think about it, he accepted Samiar's offer to be the child's father.
Drizzt's decision that he would stay at Spirit Sanctuary during the pregnancy resulted in Thyl—who had remained in Silverymoon after coming to meet Samiar again—going there to give Zak and Vierna a full accounting of the situation, so that, when Drizzt did come, they would not be surprised by either his appearance or Samiar's presence, and once Thyl returned, Samiar started on treating Drizzt as a friend he was interested in intimacy with.
Drizzt proved to be more skittish about the process than anyone—including himself—had expected, but Samiar was very careful about always making sure he was comfortable with whatever Sam was doing, and about a week and a half after they had started, Drizzt felt ready to move on to actual sex.
Which ended up not getting very far at all, as experiencing intimacy while naked caused the long repressed memories that were the source of his skittishness to return in full.
When Vierna emerged from her workroom for the evening meal, she was somewhat surprised to learn that Thyl had arrived on Steelheart not much earlier.
But since she was rather hungry, and Thyl did not appear to be excessively concerned, she was willing to wait until after the meal to learn what had brought him to Spirit Sanctuary so late in the day, when she knew that he had to have come from Silverymoon.
Once the meal was over, however, Thyl actually pulled her aside, and said, quietly, "I need to talk to you and Zak."
Well. That he was asking for Zak as well made it likely that whatever brought him here involved Drizzt, but since she knew how much her brother valued his privacy, she simply caught Zak's attention, and indicated a need to talk, with a tilt of her head towards Thyl, and then in the direction of the exit from the communal dining area that would lead to her quarters.
Zak gave a sharp nod in reply, and was moving towards that exit even as she and Thyl started that way.
The walk to her quarters was accomplished in silence, but once all three of them were settled in the conversation area, Vierna couldn't hold off her concern any longer. "What happened with Drizzt?" she asked.
Thyl sighed. "The careful progress he and Cousin Sam were making hit an unanticipated obstacle."
Turning his full attention to Zaknafein, he continued. "As it turns out that he had rather thoroughly repressed his memories of graduation, but exploring intimacy slowly eroded that, until they fully resurfaced when he and Sam attempted to actually have sex."
Zaknafein couldn't help but wince when Thyl finished his explanation, "I... probably should have considered that possibility," he admitted with a sigh.
Putting what Thyl had said together with her own knowledge of Lolthite society, Vierna came to an unpleasant conclusion. "He was raped. During his graduation."
"Yes." The answer came in two voices, Thyl and Zak having spoken simultaneously. And after they exchanged a look, Thyl gestured for Zak to continue.
"The graduation ceremony is for all students graduating that year," Zak said, "both male and female.
"The teachers from Arach-Tinilith and a favored student summon a demon for the student to have sex with, and the drugged incense induces an orgy among everyone else present.
"The incense is likely why it didn't occur to me that those memories could be a problem, since it affects the memory enough that I just plain can't remember anything between that and the end of the ceremony."
"That's useful to know," Thyl said, "because Drizzt very definitely does remember all of it."
Vierna hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe because of his innate sense of evil?
"Because a demon would be a large splash against that."
"That's probably the best explanation we're likely to come up with," Thyl agreed.
"And to return to the current situation," he continued, "since Drizzt is insistent that he still wants to go through with fulfilling the terms of the curse, any further attempts at sex are on hold until he's received aid in properly processing the trauma and has reached a point where he feels ready to try again."
As the weeks passed, Drizzt made slow but steady progress in processing his rape trauma and coming to terms with what had happened in a way that let him move forward with fulfilling the terms of the curse.
Finally, a bit less than two full months after the memories had returned, he felt ready to make another attempt at having sex with Samiar.
And after a day of careful discussion and planning, they successfully went forward with doing so.
The three week wait until a pregnancy could be detected by the spell Alustriel had used to confirm Sharr's was mildly nerve-wracking, even knowing that the curse had most likely been designed to guarantee fertility, but Drizzt managed to find enough to occupy himself with that he was able to avoid dwelling on the matter.
And once his pregnancy was confirmed, he and Samiar said their farewells to those they wished to give them to, then rode Lothalninil up to Spirit Sanctuary.
Samiar had left Spirit Sanctuary after seeing Drizzt settled in—though not without promising to return for the child's birth—but even so, Drizzt and his family were kept abreast of the progress of Sharr's pregnancy, as Thyl had chosen to remain in Silverymoon at least until Sharr gave birth.
Given that Thyl had been updating them by sending, however, it was still a surprise when he teleported to Spirit Sanctuary roughly three months into Drizzt's pregnancy, about five weeks after the Midwinter festival.
But even with his smile making it clear that he had brought good news, the Do'Urdens still gathered in Vierna's rooms as swiftly as they were able to, in order to hear what news had brought Thyl in person.
And once they were all settled, he launched right into it. "Dad gave birth around dawn," he said.
"Were there any complications with the labor or the birth, or for the baby?" Vierna asked.
"Nope," Thyl said. "Unless you count Uncle Kor almost dropping the baby when the midwife said it was a girl."
"That would only count if he had actually dropped her," Vierna said, before giving in to the giggles she could feel bubbling up.
Drizzt was snickering beside her, and Thyl was grinning broadly, but Zak just looked confused by their amusement, which helped her to bring the giggles under control once she had gotten the first rush of them out.
Seeing that Vierna had calmed her giggles, Zak gave voice to his confusion. "Why is it amusing that... Kor... almost dropped the baby?"
"It's not him almost dropping her that's amusing," Vierna explained, suppressed mirth still in her voice, "it's the reason he did so."
"That reason being," Thyl continued, "the fact that until now, Dad has only had sons. So no one was expecting him to finally have a daughter after thirteen sons."
"Oh." Zak took a moment to consider that, then smiled. "That is amusing."
Finally stopping his snickering, Drizzt asked, "What did they name her?"
"Faeliniel Senahye."
Vierna made a surprised noise at that, and when all three men looked at her curiously, she said, "Why'd they choose to use Kor's family name?
"Given that you've previously mentioned that elves pass family names along the maternal line."
"Because Dad never uses the one he received from his mother," Thyl said. "I don't even know what it is, and he's been borrowing Kor's or Charic's for so long, I'm not sure Mom knows it, either."
"Huh. Do you have any idea why?"
"Given that Grandmother and her brother left Myth Drannor before its fall, my best guess is that their family was of a high enough rank that Dad feels it's not safe to use the name."
Vierna quickly ran through what she knew about the fall of Myth Drannor, and winced. "I can see why."
Samiar returned to Spirit Sanctuary a month before Drizzt was expected to give birth, and just three weeks after the Midsummer festival—about five and a half months after Faeliniel's birth—Zanna Do'Urden was born shortly before false dawn, and experienced her first sunrise half an hour later, when Drizzt brought her along for his sunrise vigil.
Samiar chose to stay at Spirit Sanctuary after the birth, saying that he didn't want to miss a single moment with their daughter, and things soon settled into a routine for the new parents, with Sam doing as much to care for Zanna as Drizzt did, even if Drizzt was the only one who could feed her.
Time seemed to pass surprisingly swiftly with a baby to care for, and it felt like it was all too soon before the next Midwinter festival occurred.
But it was barely a week after that when Samiar received a very welcome sending from Alustriel.
As Drizzt settled down to feed Zanna after his sunrise vigil, Sam sat down beside him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"Alustriel sent while you were holding your vigil," Sam said. "The curse on Sharr broke while he was sleeping."
Drizzt smiled at Sam in relief. "That is good to know. I had been getting a little concerned over how close we were coming to a year since Faeliniel was born without his curse breaking."
"I think we all were," Sam said. "But it appears that the curse breaks eleven months after the child's birth, so now we know when to expect it for you."
Having a definite end to the curse in sight eased something inside himself that Drizzt hadn't even been aware was wound too tightly, and his mood lightened noticeably over the next few weeks.
And sure enough, just a week before the Midsummer festival, exactly eleven months after Zanna's birth, he woke to find himself restored to his proper body.
Part I|Part II|Part III|Part IV|Part V|Part VI
*Links will work as fics are revealed
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Alustriel Silverhand, Vierna Do'Urden, Zaknafein Do'Urden, Inthylyn Aerasumé
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Past Rape/Non-con
Series: Part 4 of Have Your Cake, Part 16 of A Crossing of the Realms
Summary:
Maybe the family isn’t big enough…
Beginning notes
This fic was inspired by
senmut and ilyena_sylph's fic Making the Most of Magical Mayhem and my fic Magical Mayhem with a Pegasus.It assumes familiarity with those fics, and the previous fics in the Have Your Cake series.
A Curse Here, a Blessing There
1343 DR
Samiar knew, perfectly well, that drow were excellent liars, and one might be using tongues to speak, but… he also knew that it was not possible to fool a pegasus’s innate sense of a person’s nature. Even so, he still twitched his fingers through the motion for detect thoughts, focusing on the drow. "Drizzt Do’Urden, hm? Well, at least we are even on the matter of names, now, though I still do not know the name of your friend there.
"But what curse troubles you, that your own people could not deal with better than I?" The phrasing of his question was deliberate, as even though Drizzt was very clearly not evil, it was still possible that he was neutral, and a Vhaeraunite scout or information gatherer.
"My friend is called Lothalninil," Drizzt said. "As for my people, while the Dark Maiden has been good to me and my family since each of us escaped the Underdark, I remain wary of divine intervention in my life, nor do I wish to develop a habit of relying on those whom my ranging may have taken me quite far from."
That was the truth and nothing but, Samiar felt, reading the truth of the 'no divine intervention' and the 'don't want to depend on family' alike, though a stubborn thread of 'got myself into this, I'll get myself out of it' was woven through the latter. "And the curse?"
"I made a mistake in the last set of ruins I cleared. While I could feel magic, it did not feel innately tainted or wrong, and the box I took from there called to me, for it was inlaid with a cat much like my companion that drew you here."
Drizzt dropped his eyes, and Lothalninil bumped her nose against his chest. "The curse upon it escaped as I opened the box, and now… I need aid."
"You appear to be healthy enough," Samiar said curiously, raising a brow, then flicked his fingers, "no, no. Come, we will talk within my home."
If the pegasus—Lothalninil, he reminded himself—had not been present, he would have cast an arcane eye to keep an eye on Drizzt Do’Urden as he led the way to his tower, but she was, so he was willing to place enough trust in her goodly nature to expose his back to Drizzt.
Sharing drow culture and society notes, the language and writing examples, was familiar to Drizzt from the time he had spent doing the same with Sharr, whom he very much felt would get along quite well with Samiar.
It wasn't until Sam chose to share the tale of one of his youthful misadventures, however, that Drizzt realized just how correct that thought was. Because the other two elves featured in the tale were Samiar's cousin Sharr, and Sharr's friend Kor.
But although the likelihood of there being two such groups with both that structure and those names was vanishingly small, once Sam had finished the tale, Drizzt asked, just to confirm things, "Do you mean Sharrevaliir Silverhand and Korvallen Senahye?"
"Why, yes. How do-" Sam broke off abruptly and stared at Drizzt as the family names sank in. "Wait, Silverhand?!? Is that actually El-, I mean Alustriel, up in Silverymoon, then?"
Not sure what Sam's source of confusion might be, Drizzt chose to answer in the way he thought would have the least chance of being misunderstood. "Silverymoon's current ruler is Sharr's human consort, if that's what you're asking."
"Then we're going up there. If I'd known that really is Alustriel, I would have sought her and Sharr's assistance from the beginning."
As curious as Alustriel was about the guest that Drizzt had called an old friend of both her and Sharr, the timing of the page's message delivery had been such that she could not actually go find out until after evenfeast.
And now, having changed from her evenfeast gown to something more casual, she stood at the door to Drizzt's rooms and knocked.
"Come in" was called in Drizzt's voice—though, for some reason, it sounded higher than usual—so she let herself in.
As she entered, Drizzt and his guest were busy comparing the papers scattered across the table they were sitting at, but before she could do more than register that the guest was a sun elf, they both turned their attention to her, and she gasped in surprise.
"Samiar?!"
"Hello, Elué," he said, even as he got up and came over to her with his hands outstretched in greeting.
Bypassing any sort of hand clasp, Alustriel embraced Sharr's cousin tightly. He returned the hug with equal vigor, and they held it for a long moment.
When they mutually released the embrace, Alustriel took a step back, and reached out to clasp his hands. "It's so good to see you again. But how in the world did Drizzt find you?"
"He was looking for a cursebreaker," Samiar replied.
At that, Alustriel turned her attention to Drizzt, and had to stifle a gasp. Because though she could tell it was still Drizzt sitting at the table, he now had a female body.
"How are you, Drizzt?" she asked.
"Uncomfortable."
"Understandably." Then she turned back to Samiar. "It's easy to see why you wish to consult with me, but what is it about this matter that has you wishing to consult with Sharr?"
"The inscription inside the damned box that was the trigger is in Seldruin."
"And when I unknowingly triggered the curse by opening the box, the whispered words that accompanied it sounded vaguely familiar from my work with Sharr on comparing Seldruin with Drow," Drizzt added.
Alustriel nodded her understanding. "Well, I'd be asking him to come with Kor anyway, simply because of Sam's return, but I'll make sure to tell him Sam brought a translation challenge with him."
Drizzt had been insistent that Samiar should take some time to actually catch up with his family, so once the cursed box had been secured in the workroom Taern had set aside for Sam and Sharr in the Spell Tower, it was several days before any more attention was given to the matter.
The first day that Sam and Sharr worked on translating the inscription went well enough, with the box safely contained in an anti-magic field, but on the second day, Sharr happened to arrive at the workroom before Sam did.
Since both he and Sam had received a copy of the key for the workroom, Sharr chose to enter anyway, and settled down to review the previous day's notes.
He had not gotten very far into them, however, when an explosion in the adjacent workroom rattled the door and shook the furniture.
Setting the notes aside, Sharr stood up and turned to scan the rest of the room for anything else that might have been disturbed.
Movement on the central table caught his eye, and he experienced a frozen moment of shock as the cursed box slid over the edge of the table.
Then instinct kicked in, and he lunged to catch it. He only just managed to do so, grabbing it a bit below the visible line near the top.
And then, much to his horror, a seam appeared below where he had grabbed it, and the box swung open.
Samiar had just exited the stairs onto the level that held the workroom reserved for his and Sharr's work with the cursed box, when a door-rattling boom sounded from the other end of the hallway—which was where their borrowed workroom was.
Concerned over what effect the probable explosion might have had on the organization of yesterday's notes, Sam increased his pace down the hall.
Very shortly, he had reached the workroom, and was reaching for his key when he noticed that the door was not quite closed.
Knowing that had to mean that Sharr had arrived before him, Sam let go of his concerns about the notes, and opened the door.
But he had not gotten more than a couple of steps into the workroom before he noticed something of far greater concern.
Sharr was lying motionless on the floor, his head almost under the central table, with the cursed box close enough to his hands that it had to have been in them when he collapsed. But the most concerning thing was that Sharr had very clearly been struck by the box's curse.
Sighing, Sam stepped back out of the workroom, and knocked on the door of the adjacent one.
It was opened fairly quickly by a human male who looked to be on the younger side even for humans.
"Yes?" the young man said, a distinct note of nervousness in his voice. Which was not truly surprising, as Sam recalled Taern saying that the workrooms used for doing anything likely to explode were in a different area.
"Samiar Ravarel. Am I correct in thinking that you were responsible for the recent explosion?"
"Stordan Helder. Why do you ask?"
"Because it disrupted my own work in a way that had unfortunate consequences for my colleague," Samiar answered.
Stordan's face paled, and he visibly swallowed a few times before replying in a voice that squeaked with nervousness. "What can I do to help?"
"Go find Korvallen Senahye and bring him here," Sam said.
"I will, Saer." Stordan gave a low bow, then turned and headed for the stairs.
Once the young man had entered the stairwell, Samiar went back into his workroom.
The first thing he did was cast the anti-magic field on the box, but once that was taken care of, he used the sending he had memorized for the day to inform Taern of the incident.
Taern's response had been a sigh, a mutter about headstrong young idiots, and a promise to come as soon as he could.
Then Samiar set about checking Sharr over for any injuries that would necessitate moving him before Kor and Taern arrived.
When Sharr regained consciousness, he had to take a moment to just breathe—which felt so odd with the extra flesh on his chest—and catalogue the myriad new sensations his changed body was bombarding him with.
However, he was still working his way through them when the scrape of a chair nearby caused him to open his eyes.
He was lying on the bed in his own rooms, with Kor and Sam both sitting in chairs pulled up beside it.
"Good to see you finally awake again," Kor said, his voice gruff with worry.
"Finally?" Sharr repeated. "How long was I out?"
"Most of the day," Sam answered. "Which at least proved useful in allowing me to analyze the curse's traces on you."
"Did you learn anything useful?"
"There is an escape clause, and it's tied to both something physical and something time-based."
"Still would have preferred it if you hadn't had the opportunity," Kor grumbled.
Sharr sighed. "So would I, but I'll take it as a silver lining to misjudging where I grabbed the box when it slid off the table."
"How do you feel?" Kor asked.
Uncomfortable. Everything feels so different, and it's making it hard to concentrate right now."
Kor frowned. "That's the only problem, though?"
"Yes."
Kor gave a sigh of relief, and Sam smiled.
"Well," Sam said, "you'll presumably be able to concentrate better once you get used to the new sensations.
"Since Drizzt clearly has no problem concentrating."
"Let's hope so," Sharr said, "But speaking of Drizzt, please tell me that he isn't blaming himself for this."
"He didn't even get a chance to do so," Sam said. "The headstrong young idiot responsible was already defying a direct order, so Taern came down hard on him."
Samiar was indeed correct about Sharr's concentration returning once he became more accustomed to the female body's differences, and a few days later, the two of them resumed their work on translating the inscription.
As the weeks passed, Sharr's sons came by to meet or re-meet Samiar—with Thyl also visiting Spirit Sanctuary, resulting in Vierna and Zak being informed that Drizzt had run afoul of a curse, if not the exact details—and eventually, about a month and a half after the translation work had resumed, Sam and Sharr agreed that they had finally determined the correct one, though the implications it carried were unpleasant.
And with the translation found, Alustriel began working with Samiar on figuring out how the curse might actually be broken.
A bit more than three and a half weeks later—and almost exactly two months after he and Kor had started exploring the more intimate aspects of the female body's differences—Sharr noticed a change in his balance, along with a few other changes in how the female body felt.
So that evening, while he and Kor were lounging with Alustriel in her rooms after evenfeast, he asked, "What sort of physical changes accompany a pregnancy?"
Kor jerked bolt upright on hearing that, but Alustriel just gave him a considering look.
And after a moment, she said, "What changes have you experienced, to cause you to ask that?"
"There's been a shift in my balance, my abdomen feels unusually firm, and the breasts are sore."
Alustriel took a deep breath before she replied. "Well, those are all symptoms of pregnancy, so if you're thinking you might be pregnant, you're most likely correct.
"But if you want me to, there's a spell I can use to confirm it."
"Please."
"Then give me your hand."
Sharr complied, and Alustriel cupped her hands around his, then murmured a single word. And in reaction, a faint silver glow arched in a crescent from her right thumb to her left, over his hand.
Alustriel let out a gusty sigh and released his hand. "You are pregnant. About two months along, according to the spell."
Kor made a strangled sound beside him, and Sharr turned to look at his heart's brother. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"Are you?" Kor replied.
Sharr took a moment to actually think about it before he replied. "I... think I will be, once I get over the surprise.
"It's not anything I expected-" Sharr paused for a moment to look at Alustriel, who had made a surprised noise when he said that, but she waved for him to continue, so he did. "-and I'm sure there will be some difficult moments due to the mismatch between mind and body, but I'm pleased to be carrying your child."
Kor sighed and threw his arm around Sharr's shoulders. "Alright. But you will let me take care of you during the pregnancy."
"Of course." Then Sharr turned his attention back to Alustriel. "Why were you surprised I hadn't expected this?" he asked her.
Alustriel again took a deep breath before speaking. "What conclusions did you and Sam come to about the nature of the curse and its escape clause, based on the translation you settled on?"
Sharr knew there was a catch somewhere in that question, but he couldn't see where, so he simply answered it. "It's a lover's curse, possibly a spurned one. And I would have said that fulfilling the escape clause requires sex, but given that it's been two months since Kor and I started having it, and the curse hasn't broken yet, I'm not so sure."
"Men." Alustriel rolled her eyes with that exasperated mutter, then sighed. "May you learn the pain of your deeds most personally, by living the life you have given to me. To me, that says pregnancy, and some amount of time breastfeeding the baby after it is born."
Sharr groaned and threw his head back. "Physical and time-based. Why didn't I see that?"
Alustriel smiled wryly. "Because you're not a woman."
"Fair enough," Sharr laughed. "Fair enough."
Roughly two and a half months after Sam and Alustriel had begun their research into how to break the curse, they reluctantly concluded that the only options were requesting divine intervention or fulfilling the terms of the escape clause.
Drizzt had been just as displeased with that conclusion as they were, but after taking some time to think about it, he accepted Samiar's offer to be the child's father.
Drizzt's decision that he would stay at Spirit Sanctuary during the pregnancy resulted in Thyl—who had remained in Silverymoon after coming to meet Samiar again—going there to give Zak and Vierna a full accounting of the situation, so that, when Drizzt did come, they would not be surprised by either his appearance or Samiar's presence, and once Thyl returned, Samiar started on treating Drizzt as a friend he was interested in intimacy with.
Drizzt proved to be more skittish about the process than anyone—including himself—had expected, but Samiar was very careful about always making sure he was comfortable with whatever Sam was doing, and about a week and a half after they had started, Drizzt felt ready to move on to actual sex.
Which ended up not getting very far at all, as experiencing intimacy while naked caused the long repressed memories that were the source of his skittishness to return in full.
When Vierna emerged from her workroom for the evening meal, she was somewhat surprised to learn that Thyl had arrived on Steelheart not much earlier.
But since she was rather hungry, and Thyl did not appear to be excessively concerned, she was willing to wait until after the meal to learn what had brought him to Spirit Sanctuary so late in the day, when she knew that he had to have come from Silverymoon.
Once the meal was over, however, Thyl actually pulled her aside, and said, quietly, "I need to talk to you and Zak."
Well. That he was asking for Zak as well made it likely that whatever brought him here involved Drizzt, but since she knew how much her brother valued his privacy, she simply caught Zak's attention, and indicated a need to talk, with a tilt of her head towards Thyl, and then in the direction of the exit from the communal dining area that would lead to her quarters.
Zak gave a sharp nod in reply, and was moving towards that exit even as she and Thyl started that way.
The walk to her quarters was accomplished in silence, but once all three of them were settled in the conversation area, Vierna couldn't hold off her concern any longer. "What happened with Drizzt?" she asked.
Thyl sighed. "The careful progress he and Cousin Sam were making hit an unanticipated obstacle."
Turning his full attention to Zaknafein, he continued. "As it turns out that he had rather thoroughly repressed his memories of graduation, but exploring intimacy slowly eroded that, until they fully resurfaced when he and Sam attempted to actually have sex."
Zaknafein couldn't help but wince when Thyl finished his explanation, "I... probably should have considered that possibility," he admitted with a sigh.
Putting what Thyl had said together with her own knowledge of Lolthite society, Vierna came to an unpleasant conclusion. "He was raped. During his graduation."
"Yes." The answer came in two voices, Thyl and Zak having spoken simultaneously. And after they exchanged a look, Thyl gestured for Zak to continue.
"The graduation ceremony is for all students graduating that year," Zak said, "both male and female.
"The teachers from Arach-Tinilith and a favored student summon a demon for the student to have sex with, and the drugged incense induces an orgy among everyone else present.
"The incense is likely why it didn't occur to me that those memories could be a problem, since it affects the memory enough that I just plain can't remember anything between that and the end of the ceremony."
"That's useful to know," Thyl said, "because Drizzt very definitely does remember all of it."
Vierna hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe because of his innate sense of evil?
"Because a demon would be a large splash against that."
"That's probably the best explanation we're likely to come up with," Thyl agreed.
"And to return to the current situation," he continued, "since Drizzt is insistent that he still wants to go through with fulfilling the terms of the curse, any further attempts at sex are on hold until he's received aid in properly processing the trauma and has reached a point where he feels ready to try again."
As the weeks passed, Drizzt made slow but steady progress in processing his rape trauma and coming to terms with what had happened in a way that let him move forward with fulfilling the terms of the curse.
Finally, a bit less than two full months after the memories had returned, he felt ready to make another attempt at having sex with Samiar.
And after a day of careful discussion and planning, they successfully went forward with doing so.
The three week wait until a pregnancy could be detected by the spell Alustriel had used to confirm Sharr's was mildly nerve-wracking, even knowing that the curse had most likely been designed to guarantee fertility, but Drizzt managed to find enough to occupy himself with that he was able to avoid dwelling on the matter.
And once his pregnancy was confirmed, he and Samiar said their farewells to those they wished to give them to, then rode Lothalninil up to Spirit Sanctuary.
Samiar had left Spirit Sanctuary after seeing Drizzt settled in—though not without promising to return for the child's birth—but even so, Drizzt and his family were kept abreast of the progress of Sharr's pregnancy, as Thyl had chosen to remain in Silverymoon at least until Sharr gave birth.
Given that Thyl had been updating them by sending, however, it was still a surprise when he teleported to Spirit Sanctuary roughly three months into Drizzt's pregnancy, about five weeks after the Midwinter festival.
But even with his smile making it clear that he had brought good news, the Do'Urdens still gathered in Vierna's rooms as swiftly as they were able to, in order to hear what news had brought Thyl in person.
And once they were all settled, he launched right into it. "Dad gave birth around dawn," he said.
"Were there any complications with the labor or the birth, or for the baby?" Vierna asked.
"Nope," Thyl said. "Unless you count Uncle Kor almost dropping the baby when the midwife said it was a girl."
"That would only count if he had actually dropped her," Vierna said, before giving in to the giggles she could feel bubbling up.
Drizzt was snickering beside her, and Thyl was grinning broadly, but Zak just looked confused by their amusement, which helped her to bring the giggles under control once she had gotten the first rush of them out.
Seeing that Vierna had calmed her giggles, Zak gave voice to his confusion. "Why is it amusing that... Kor... almost dropped the baby?"
"It's not him almost dropping her that's amusing," Vierna explained, suppressed mirth still in her voice, "it's the reason he did so."
"That reason being," Thyl continued, "the fact that until now, Dad has only had sons. So no one was expecting him to finally have a daughter after thirteen sons."
"Oh." Zak took a moment to consider that, then smiled. "That is amusing."
Finally stopping his snickering, Drizzt asked, "What did they name her?"
"Faeliniel Senahye."
Vierna made a surprised noise at that, and when all three men looked at her curiously, she said, "Why'd they choose to use Kor's family name?
"Given that you've previously mentioned that elves pass family names along the maternal line."
"Because Dad never uses the one he received from his mother," Thyl said. "I don't even know what it is, and he's been borrowing Kor's or Charic's for so long, I'm not sure Mom knows it, either."
"Huh. Do you have any idea why?"
"Given that Grandmother and her brother left Myth Drannor before its fall, my best guess is that their family was of a high enough rank that Dad feels it's not safe to use the name."
Vierna quickly ran through what she knew about the fall of Myth Drannor, and winced. "I can see why."
Samiar returned to Spirit Sanctuary a month before Drizzt was expected to give birth, and just three weeks after the Midsummer festival—about five and a half months after Faeliniel's birth—Zanna Do'Urden was born shortly before false dawn, and experienced her first sunrise half an hour later, when Drizzt brought her along for his sunrise vigil.
Samiar chose to stay at Spirit Sanctuary after the birth, saying that he didn't want to miss a single moment with their daughter, and things soon settled into a routine for the new parents, with Sam doing as much to care for Zanna as Drizzt did, even if Drizzt was the only one who could feed her.
Time seemed to pass surprisingly swiftly with a baby to care for, and it felt like it was all too soon before the next Midwinter festival occurred.
But it was barely a week after that when Samiar received a very welcome sending from Alustriel.
As Drizzt settled down to feed Zanna after his sunrise vigil, Sam sat down beside him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"Alustriel sent while you were holding your vigil," Sam said. "The curse on Sharr broke while he was sleeping."
Drizzt smiled at Sam in relief. "That is good to know. I had been getting a little concerned over how close we were coming to a year since Faeliniel was born without his curse breaking."
"I think we all were," Sam said. "But it appears that the curse breaks eleven months after the child's birth, so now we know when to expect it for you."
Having a definite end to the curse in sight eased something inside himself that Drizzt hadn't even been aware was wound too tightly, and his mood lightened noticeably over the next few weeks.
And sure enough, just a week before the Midsummer festival, exactly eleven months after Zanna's birth, he woke to find himself restored to his proper body.
Part I|Part II|Part III|Part IV|Part V|Part VI
*Links will work as fics are revealed
Tags:
- au: canon divergence,
- author: somariel,
- category: gen,
- character: alustriel silverhand,
- character: drizzt do'urden,
- character: samiar ravarel,
- character: sharrevaliir,
- character: vierna do'urden,
- character: zaknafein do'urden,
- rating: teen and up audiences,
- series: a crossing of the realms,
- series: have your cake,
- warning: no warnings apply
Have Your Cake Part III
Nov. 3rd, 2023 04:54 amsomarielFeathered Friendship (3006 words) by Somariel
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Uoundeld Aerasumé
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Ensemble Cast
Series: Part 3 of Have Your Cake, Part 15 of A Crossing of the Realms
Summary:
This fic was inspired by my fics Nestling: The Other Side and Fledgling.
It assumes familiarity with them, and with the previous fics in the Have Your Cake series.
1338 DR
By the time he started to see the local pegasi, Sharr had already come to the conclusion that Norvor was, in all likelihood, bringing him to aid Drizzt Do'Urden.
So he was not surprised when Norvor began to descend towards a young drow. What was a surprise, however, was the massive panther standing protectively beside the drow.
But given the clear greetings Norvor exchanged with it as he dismounted—and the fact that he had no intention of harming the drow—he was unconcerned by the panther's presence.
Keeping in mind Zaknafein's advice regarding language, Sharr focused his attention on the drow, and greeted him in Goblin.
The drow's face lit up with pleasure, and he returned the greeting in the same language, then continued with "Name Drizzt Do'Urden. What elf name?"
"Name Sharrevaliir," Sharr replied. "Small name Sharr." Then, resting a hand on Norvor's neck to ensure his meaning was clear, he added, "Friend name Norvor," and finished with "What Drizzt friend name?"
"Friend name Guen," Drizzt replied.
That evening, as he watched Drizzt prepare a fire for cooking the rabbits Guen had caught for them earlier, Sharr reached out to his family over Alustriel's anklets. ~I've found Drizzt Do'Urden.~
There was a moment of excited clamor, and then Qilué's voice cut through it clearly. ~That is very good news.~
~It is,~ Dol agreed. Then he kicked off a new round with ~And while I do need a few days to wrap up my current business, I should to be ready to teleport to you in less than a week.~
~Speaking of people coming to you, Dad,~ Thyl said, ~where exactly are you and Drizzt?
~Because Vierna will want to know.~
~The Rauvin Mountains, near Maldobar,~ Sharr replied. ~And when you get to Spirit Sanctuary, would you please ask Zaknafein what, if anything, he knows about an astral panther tied to a figure of wondrous power?~
There was an overlapping chorus of surprised questions in reply, before Laeral started another round of sending. ~Please explain, Sharr.~
~When I arrived, Drizzt was accompanied by a panther twice the normal size,~ Sharr said. ~She displayed intelligence at least equal to a pegasus, but some hours later, she started acting a bit listless.
~Upon which Drizzt told her to go home, and she vanished in a cloud of black mist after circling him three times.~
~I see,~ Alustriel said. ~Oversized plus intelligent and gendered suggests astral origin, but the appearance of some sort of time limit implies a figure.~
~And Zaknafein never mentioned her, so you want to know if that was an oversight, or if Drizzt acquired her figure after escaping,~ Thyl said. ~Very well.~
Two weeks after Dol had joined him and Drizzt, Sharr and his son broached the subject of Eilistraee and her followers with the young drow.
That explanation went quite well, but when they then moved on to telling him about Zaknafein's return to life, and the circumstances that had brought it about, Drizzt's very obvious skepticism made Sharr very glad that they had chosen to wait on telling him until they had earned his trust.
But even with that trust, it was was very clear that Drizzt had not truly believed them until after Thyl had brought Zaknafein to join them, and the elder drow had—quite obviously correctly—answered the question Drizzt asked him in Drow.
Even with Zaknafein's only moderate command of Common, the arrival of someone with whom Drizzt shared a language other than Goblin saw the young drow's fluency in Common progressing in leaps and bounds, and soon enough, lessons in reading and writing Common—which Zaknafein also joined—were added to the lessons in speaking it.
And though neither Sharr nor Dol had expected it, Zaknafein's arrival also brought about a form of lessons for them, as the elder drow had brought a pair of Surface-made scimitars for Drizzt, and the sheer skill both drow displayed in sparring each other had impressed Sharr and his son enough that trading fighting tricks and techniques rapidly became the preferred way for the four of them to unwind after language lessons.
Weeks passed in this way, and then, as the summer started to wane towards fall, Zaknafein broached the idea of Drizzt coming to Spirit Sanctuary with him.
That discussion ended up proving more fraught than any of the four had expected, due to Drizzt's pent up emotions regarding the child he had spared, and their sudden release when Zaknafein informed him of her presence at Spirit Sanctuary, but in the end, Drizzt did agree to go there with his father once fall truly set in.
As the temperature outside steadily continued to drop, making it less and less comfortable to be outside for any significant amount of time, Drizzt was finding himself becoming more and more restless.
He didn't know why, though, until Sarilanthe said—on a day when he had been unable to go outside at all due to how cold it was, and then found himself having trouble staying focused on his lessons in Common—"The outdoors really calls to you, doesn't it?"
"I... guess so?" he replied. "I certainly like being outside much better than being under all this rock.
"Though I have no idea why I feel that way."
"Given how well you understand Guen," Sarilanthe said, "and what Thyl has said about how much the pegasi like you, you're likely a wild-called ranger.
"And rangers just don't do well with being cooped up away from nature."
"Wild-called ranger?" Drizzt repeated. "What do you mean by that?"
"A ranger is someone who is drawn to guard the wilds from that which would despoil them, and to protect the innocents traveling through the wilds from any evils that might threaten them," Sarilanthe answered.
"As for what it means to be wild-called, while most rangers need to call upon the favor of one of the nature deities for the gifts they use in following their calling, a wild-called ranger receives those same gifts from the wilds, and can use them instinctively, though training and the favor of a nature deity will sharpen and enhance them."
Drizzt hummed thoughtfully. "The- the very first time I was ever on the Surface, it felt... right. Like this was where I was supposed to be.
"And when- when the priestess commanded us to watch the sunrise before we went back below, I thought it was beautiful.
"I've made sure to watch it every day since I came to the Surface for good... until today."
As soon as Drizzt faltered for words, Sarilanthe had known that whatever he was about to say was connected to when he had come up for the raid, and had bitten her lip to keep from interrupting him.
But by the time he finished speaking, she was gaping at him in surprise.
"You connected to the wilds that strongly when you'd never been on the Surface before?" she said.
"And you've deliberately watched the sunrise every day you've been up here?!?" She was unable to keep her bewilderment out of her voice as she continued. "Even Eilistraee's drow followers don't do that!"
Taking a few deep breaths while Drizzt looked at her with surprise of his own, Sarilanthe regained her equilibrium, then spoke again.
"You are definitely a wild-called ranger. There's just no other reasonable explanation for you holding daily sunrise vigils."
Drizzt tilted his head in curiosity. "That is something that rangers commonly do, then?"
"Yes. Though it's partially because that's one of the most common times for nature deities to accept their followers' daily prayers for spells."
"Rangers are able to cast divine spells?"
"Not as many as druids are able to," Sarilanthe said, "but yes, they can."
Drizzt was silent for a while, carefully considering everything Sarilanthe had just told him, and then he gave a single sharp nod.
"So what would you recommend as a starting point, if I want to learn how to be a ranger?"
"Well, given that Thyl will be bringing me to Silverymoon soon, so I can spend the winter continuing my own ranger studies, it would make the most sense for you to tell Vierna that you want come with me, so she can arrange things with him."
While the adolescent moon elf who had just entered the Cloister accompanied by Thyl Aerasumé was no surprise to Horim, the drow walking between them had him rubbing his eyes to clear them.
The drow was still there after he had done so, so he gave in to his curiosity and approached the trio to find out more.
"...want to be accepted for myself, not because your family favors me," the drow was saying as Horim came within speaking distance of them.
Thyl furrowed his brow, but did not reply, so Horim took advantage of the break in their conversation to say "Hello."
Sarilanthe's "Hi" overlapped with Thyl's "Good to see you, Horim" and the drow's cautious "Hello?"
Thyl then continued with "I take you're wintering here this year?"
"I am," Horim replied. "Who's your new friend?"
"This is Drizzt Do'Urden," Thyl said. Then he turned his head towards the drow and said, "Drizzt, this is Horim Half-orc, a ranger of Mielikki."
"Pleased to meet you, Horim," Drizzt said.
"Likewise," Horim replied. "I take it you're interested in becoming a ranger?"
Drizzt shrugged. "I've been told I already am one. But it will be helpful to receive the lessons anyway."
Horim turned a puzzled look on Thyl at Drizzt's claim to already be a ranger. Not only could he see that Drizzt was even younger than Sarilanthe—really, too young to be learning a profession, by elven standards, though he knew from Vierna that the Eilistraeean drow were more flexible about such things—but he couldn't see how Drizzt could be a ranger without having been taught the ways of being one.
'Wild-called,' Thyl mouthed in reply to his look, and Horim had to keep his jaw from dropping.
Well. It would be interesting to see how Drizzt's lessons went. And on that note, he needed to reply to the boy.
"Mielikki's folk are good ones to learn from," he said. "And if you're interested, I'd be happy to show you around the city whenever you have time for it."
Drizzt turned to look at Sarilanthe, and it was only after she had given him a pleased smile and a nod that he turned back to Horim.
"I think I'd like that," he said.
Several weeks later, as Drizzt and Sarilanthe were leaving the archery range used by the Knights in Silver, they were approached by an unfamiliar half-elf who shared Thyl's height and silver hair.
"Hi," the half-elf said, holding out a hand to shake. "I'm Uoundeld Aerasumé. Please call me Del, though."
Giving the offered hand a brisk shake, Sarilanthe said, "You're Thyl's youngest brother, right?"
"Yes. And you must be Sarilanthe.
"Though I was actually seeking Drizzt."
"Why?" Drizzt asked, a note of both caution and surprise in his tone.
"Dad said you might be interested in a traveling companion in the spring," Del replied. "Something about protective family, and solving that problem for both of us."
Knowing what she did about Thyl's family, Sarilanthe could guess what Del was talking about, but the puzzled look on Drizzt's face made it clear he had no idea.
"I had mentioned to him that my father and sister are... not entirely happy with my desire to explore this region once spring comes," Drizzt said.
"But he never said anything about having reached out to anyone regarding the matter."
"Not sure why he didn't say anything after I agreed to come meet you, but before then, he probably didn't want to give you false hope."
"That... makes sense," Drizzt said slowly. "But what did you mean by saying that traveling together would 'solve that problem for both of us'?"
A very brief look of surprise crossed Del's face, so fast Sarilanthe almost missed it, before it was replaced with understanding. And then Del replied.
"Well, I also have overprotective family that aren't best pleased by me traveling alone.
"Even though I've been of age for a half-elf for most of a decade." Del made an annoyed face at that before continuing.
"And being of age, I'd much prefer to not travel with any of my brothers, who have a tendency to still think of me as their baby brother."
"Oh," Drizzt said. "So if we travel together, you have a traveling companion who'll see you as an equal, and our families' concerns about each of us traveling alone are solved."
"Exactly!" Del said. "Anyway, I thought it might be best if we used the winter to get to know each other, so we're not starting out as strangers in the spring."
"That's a good idea," Drizzt agreed. "Though it will have to be worked in around my lessons."
"Of course," Del said. "Maybe we could start by sparring with each other? Dad's full of praise for your blade skills."
"That sounds good to me," Drizzt replied.
"Then I'll see you in the practice yard tomorrow." Del gave a jaunty smile, clasped wrists with Drizzt, then turned and sauntered away.
And as he left, Sarilanthe stared after him wistfully, trying to think of how she could arrange to meet him again.
When spring came, Drizzt returned to Spirit Sanctuary for a week, to let Zak and Vierna reassure themselves that he was well after several months away.
Del even came with him, so they could meet the man he would be traveling with, and resolve any lingering concerns about his plans to explore.
And when the two of them departed, Del easily agreed to the idea of going and checking on Drizzt's nest-mate and her herd before they took up their actual travels.
Del had enjoyed the week with Drizzt's pegasus herd—and he knew Sairena had, too—but as he put the riding straps on Sairena, he was willing to admit—at least to himself—that he was very pleased that they were finally going to begin the exploration that was his primary reason for joining Drizzt.
After a last round of pats and scratches for his nest-mate and her parents, Drizzt headed over to Del and Sairena with a wide smile on his face.
"Ready to go?" Del asked.
"Yes."
"Then let's mount up and do so." And even as he spoke, Del put his words into action, swinging himself up onto Sairena's back.
Drizzt quickly got up behind him, and as soon as they were both settled, Sairena trotted up into the air to start their flight.
They were barely past Maldobar, however, when an annoyed whicker-snort sounded from behind them.
Sairena turned at the noise without Del even needing to signal her, and once they were facing back in the direction they had come from, Del found himself staring in surprise.
"Drizzt," he said, "am I seeing things, or is that actually your nest-mate flying as hard as she can to catch up with us?"
Drizzt shifted to look over Del's shoulder, and sighed in exasperation. "If you're seeing things, so am I, because yes, that is my nest-mate. And I have no idea why she's following us."
Del thought he might have a guess, though it was unheard of for such a thing to happen this early, but rather than saying anything about it, he patted Sairena's shoulder and said, "Take us down so we can actually talk with her, would you, lovely?"
Sairena gave a snort and a toss of her head, and then complied with his request.
Soon enough, she had landed in a clearing, and Drizzt's nest-mate landed in front of her with a defiant toss of her own head.
Drizzt had begun to dismount as soon as Sairena's feet were solidly on the ground, and turned his attention away from the mare just in time to see his nest-mate's defiant head toss.
Walking over to the filly, he began to scratch behind her ears and asked, "Why are you following us, my friend?"
Reaching out with the same sense that let him understand animals, he listened carefully for her answer.
The snort and bump of her nose against his chest that she gave in response were accompanied by a sense of belonging: she was his and he was hers, so of course she was following him.
Drizzt couldn't help but gape at her as her meaning slowly sunk in for him. "You... want to bond with me? You're so young, though."
The filly gave another snort and tossed her head again. So? He was her nest-mate. Her parents knew exactly how well he could protect her.
Del suppressed a grin as the filly responded to Drizzt's surprise, and reached out over the anklets. ~So is there anyone who wasn't expecting Drizzt to end up with his own pegasus friend?~
A wash of laughter in several voices came of the link, and then Sharr said, ~I don't think so. Though it being this early is a surprise.~
Dol started a new round with ~Is his nest-mate even fledged yet?~
~While we were visiting,~ Del said. ~And I probably ought to reassure him now that I've shared my amusement with someone other than him.~
~Of course,~ Andy said. ~But do keep us updated.~
Del let the link drop, and returned his attention to Drizzt and the filly. "What are you going to call her?"
Drizzt startled out of the near trance petting his nest-mate had drawn him into and turned his head to look at Del. "You don't mind?"
"I know better than to try and argue with a pegasus who has decided on the person they're going to bond with," Del said.
Drizzt tilted his head thoughtfully. "Then... I think I'll call her Lothalninil.
"Do you like that, little sister?"
The filly nickered happily in response, and reached out to lip at Drizzt's hair.
"I think that's a 'yes'," Del said.
Part I|Part II|Part III|Part IV|Part V|Part VI
*Links will work as fics are revealed
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Uoundeld Aerasumé
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Ensemble Cast
Series: Part 3 of Have Your Cake, Part 15 of A Crossing of the Realms
Summary:
The pegasi choose to help a lost drow, with consequences.
Beginning notes
This fic was inspired by my fics Nestling: The Other Side and Fledgling.
It assumes familiarity with them, and with the previous fics in the Have Your Cake series.
Feathered Friendship
1338 DR
By the time he started to see the local pegasi, Sharr had already come to the conclusion that Norvor was, in all likelihood, bringing him to aid Drizzt Do'Urden.
So he was not surprised when Norvor began to descend towards a young drow. What was a surprise, however, was the massive panther standing protectively beside the drow.
But given the clear greetings Norvor exchanged with it as he dismounted—and the fact that he had no intention of harming the drow—he was unconcerned by the panther's presence.
Keeping in mind Zaknafein's advice regarding language, Sharr focused his attention on the drow, and greeted him in Goblin.
The drow's face lit up with pleasure, and he returned the greeting in the same language, then continued with "Name Drizzt Do'Urden. What elf name?"
"Name Sharrevaliir," Sharr replied. "Small name Sharr." Then, resting a hand on Norvor's neck to ensure his meaning was clear, he added, "Friend name Norvor," and finished with "What Drizzt friend name?"
"Friend name Guen," Drizzt replied.
That evening, as he watched Drizzt prepare a fire for cooking the rabbits Guen had caught for them earlier, Sharr reached out to his family over Alustriel's anklets. ~I've found Drizzt Do'Urden.~
There was a moment of excited clamor, and then Qilué's voice cut through it clearly. ~That is very good news.~
~It is,~ Dol agreed. Then he kicked off a new round with ~And while I do need a few days to wrap up my current business, I should to be ready to teleport to you in less than a week.~
~Speaking of people coming to you, Dad,~ Thyl said, ~where exactly are you and Drizzt?
~Because Vierna will want to know.~
~The Rauvin Mountains, near Maldobar,~ Sharr replied. ~And when you get to Spirit Sanctuary, would you please ask Zaknafein what, if anything, he knows about an astral panther tied to a figure of wondrous power?~
There was an overlapping chorus of surprised questions in reply, before Laeral started another round of sending. ~Please explain, Sharr.~
~When I arrived, Drizzt was accompanied by a panther twice the normal size,~ Sharr said. ~She displayed intelligence at least equal to a pegasus, but some hours later, she started acting a bit listless.
~Upon which Drizzt told her to go home, and she vanished in a cloud of black mist after circling him three times.~
~I see,~ Alustriel said. ~Oversized plus intelligent and gendered suggests astral origin, but the appearance of some sort of time limit implies a figure.~
~And Zaknafein never mentioned her, so you want to know if that was an oversight, or if Drizzt acquired her figure after escaping,~ Thyl said. ~Very well.~
Two weeks after Dol had joined him and Drizzt, Sharr and his son broached the subject of Eilistraee and her followers with the young drow.
That explanation went quite well, but when they then moved on to telling him about Zaknafein's return to life, and the circumstances that had brought it about, Drizzt's very obvious skepticism made Sharr very glad that they had chosen to wait on telling him until they had earned his trust.
But even with that trust, it was was very clear that Drizzt had not truly believed them until after Thyl had brought Zaknafein to join them, and the elder drow had—quite obviously correctly—answered the question Drizzt asked him in Drow.
Even with Zaknafein's only moderate command of Common, the arrival of someone with whom Drizzt shared a language other than Goblin saw the young drow's fluency in Common progressing in leaps and bounds, and soon enough, lessons in reading and writing Common—which Zaknafein also joined—were added to the lessons in speaking it.
And though neither Sharr nor Dol had expected it, Zaknafein's arrival also brought about a form of lessons for them, as the elder drow had brought a pair of Surface-made scimitars for Drizzt, and the sheer skill both drow displayed in sparring each other had impressed Sharr and his son enough that trading fighting tricks and techniques rapidly became the preferred way for the four of them to unwind after language lessons.
Weeks passed in this way, and then, as the summer started to wane towards fall, Zaknafein broached the idea of Drizzt coming to Spirit Sanctuary with him.
That discussion ended up proving more fraught than any of the four had expected, due to Drizzt's pent up emotions regarding the child he had spared, and their sudden release when Zaknafein informed him of her presence at Spirit Sanctuary, but in the end, Drizzt did agree to go there with his father once fall truly set in.
As the temperature outside steadily continued to drop, making it less and less comfortable to be outside for any significant amount of time, Drizzt was finding himself becoming more and more restless.
He didn't know why, though, until Sarilanthe said—on a day when he had been unable to go outside at all due to how cold it was, and then found himself having trouble staying focused on his lessons in Common—"The outdoors really calls to you, doesn't it?"
"I... guess so?" he replied. "I certainly like being outside much better than being under all this rock.
"Though I have no idea why I feel that way."
"Given how well you understand Guen," Sarilanthe said, "and what Thyl has said about how much the pegasi like you, you're likely a wild-called ranger.
"And rangers just don't do well with being cooped up away from nature."
"Wild-called ranger?" Drizzt repeated. "What do you mean by that?"
"A ranger is someone who is drawn to guard the wilds from that which would despoil them, and to protect the innocents traveling through the wilds from any evils that might threaten them," Sarilanthe answered.
"As for what it means to be wild-called, while most rangers need to call upon the favor of one of the nature deities for the gifts they use in following their calling, a wild-called ranger receives those same gifts from the wilds, and can use them instinctively, though training and the favor of a nature deity will sharpen and enhance them."
Drizzt hummed thoughtfully. "The- the very first time I was ever on the Surface, it felt... right. Like this was where I was supposed to be.
"And when- when the priestess commanded us to watch the sunrise before we went back below, I thought it was beautiful.
"I've made sure to watch it every day since I came to the Surface for good... until today."
As soon as Drizzt faltered for words, Sarilanthe had known that whatever he was about to say was connected to when he had come up for the raid, and had bitten her lip to keep from interrupting him.
But by the time he finished speaking, she was gaping at him in surprise.
"You connected to the wilds that strongly when you'd never been on the Surface before?" she said.
"And you've deliberately watched the sunrise every day you've been up here?!?" She was unable to keep her bewilderment out of her voice as she continued. "Even Eilistraee's drow followers don't do that!"
Taking a few deep breaths while Drizzt looked at her with surprise of his own, Sarilanthe regained her equilibrium, then spoke again.
"You are definitely a wild-called ranger. There's just no other reasonable explanation for you holding daily sunrise vigils."
Drizzt tilted his head in curiosity. "That is something that rangers commonly do, then?"
"Yes. Though it's partially because that's one of the most common times for nature deities to accept their followers' daily prayers for spells."
"Rangers are able to cast divine spells?"
"Not as many as druids are able to," Sarilanthe said, "but yes, they can."
Drizzt was silent for a while, carefully considering everything Sarilanthe had just told him, and then he gave a single sharp nod.
"So what would you recommend as a starting point, if I want to learn how to be a ranger?"
"Well, given that Thyl will be bringing me to Silverymoon soon, so I can spend the winter continuing my own ranger studies, it would make the most sense for you to tell Vierna that you want come with me, so she can arrange things with him."
While the adolescent moon elf who had just entered the Cloister accompanied by Thyl Aerasumé was no surprise to Horim, the drow walking between them had him rubbing his eyes to clear them.
The drow was still there after he had done so, so he gave in to his curiosity and approached the trio to find out more.
"...want to be accepted for myself, not because your family favors me," the drow was saying as Horim came within speaking distance of them.
Thyl furrowed his brow, but did not reply, so Horim took advantage of the break in their conversation to say "Hello."
Sarilanthe's "Hi" overlapped with Thyl's "Good to see you, Horim" and the drow's cautious "Hello?"
Thyl then continued with "I take you're wintering here this year?"
"I am," Horim replied. "Who's your new friend?"
"This is Drizzt Do'Urden," Thyl said. Then he turned his head towards the drow and said, "Drizzt, this is Horim Half-orc, a ranger of Mielikki."
"Pleased to meet you, Horim," Drizzt said.
"Likewise," Horim replied. "I take it you're interested in becoming a ranger?"
Drizzt shrugged. "I've been told I already am one. But it will be helpful to receive the lessons anyway."
Horim turned a puzzled look on Thyl at Drizzt's claim to already be a ranger. Not only could he see that Drizzt was even younger than Sarilanthe—really, too young to be learning a profession, by elven standards, though he knew from Vierna that the Eilistraeean drow were more flexible about such things—but he couldn't see how Drizzt could be a ranger without having been taught the ways of being one.
'Wild-called,' Thyl mouthed in reply to his look, and Horim had to keep his jaw from dropping.
Well. It would be interesting to see how Drizzt's lessons went. And on that note, he needed to reply to the boy.
"Mielikki's folk are good ones to learn from," he said. "And if you're interested, I'd be happy to show you around the city whenever you have time for it."
Drizzt turned to look at Sarilanthe, and it was only after she had given him a pleased smile and a nod that he turned back to Horim.
"I think I'd like that," he said.
Several weeks later, as Drizzt and Sarilanthe were leaving the archery range used by the Knights in Silver, they were approached by an unfamiliar half-elf who shared Thyl's height and silver hair.
"Hi," the half-elf said, holding out a hand to shake. "I'm Uoundeld Aerasumé. Please call me Del, though."
Giving the offered hand a brisk shake, Sarilanthe said, "You're Thyl's youngest brother, right?"
"Yes. And you must be Sarilanthe.
"Though I was actually seeking Drizzt."
"Why?" Drizzt asked, a note of both caution and surprise in his tone.
"Dad said you might be interested in a traveling companion in the spring," Del replied. "Something about protective family, and solving that problem for both of us."
Knowing what she did about Thyl's family, Sarilanthe could guess what Del was talking about, but the puzzled look on Drizzt's face made it clear he had no idea.
"I had mentioned to him that my father and sister are... not entirely happy with my desire to explore this region once spring comes," Drizzt said.
"But he never said anything about having reached out to anyone regarding the matter."
"Not sure why he didn't say anything after I agreed to come meet you, but before then, he probably didn't want to give you false hope."
"That... makes sense," Drizzt said slowly. "But what did you mean by saying that traveling together would 'solve that problem for both of us'?"
A very brief look of surprise crossed Del's face, so fast Sarilanthe almost missed it, before it was replaced with understanding. And then Del replied.
"Well, I also have overprotective family that aren't best pleased by me traveling alone.
"Even though I've been of age for a half-elf for most of a decade." Del made an annoyed face at that before continuing.
"And being of age, I'd much prefer to not travel with any of my brothers, who have a tendency to still think of me as their baby brother."
"Oh," Drizzt said. "So if we travel together, you have a traveling companion who'll see you as an equal, and our families' concerns about each of us traveling alone are solved."
"Exactly!" Del said. "Anyway, I thought it might be best if we used the winter to get to know each other, so we're not starting out as strangers in the spring."
"That's a good idea," Drizzt agreed. "Though it will have to be worked in around my lessons."
"Of course," Del said. "Maybe we could start by sparring with each other? Dad's full of praise for your blade skills."
"That sounds good to me," Drizzt replied.
"Then I'll see you in the practice yard tomorrow." Del gave a jaunty smile, clasped wrists with Drizzt, then turned and sauntered away.
And as he left, Sarilanthe stared after him wistfully, trying to think of how she could arrange to meet him again.
When spring came, Drizzt returned to Spirit Sanctuary for a week, to let Zak and Vierna reassure themselves that he was well after several months away.
Del even came with him, so they could meet the man he would be traveling with, and resolve any lingering concerns about his plans to explore.
And when the two of them departed, Del easily agreed to the idea of going and checking on Drizzt's nest-mate and her herd before they took up their actual travels.
Del had enjoyed the week with Drizzt's pegasus herd—and he knew Sairena had, too—but as he put the riding straps on Sairena, he was willing to admit—at least to himself—that he was very pleased that they were finally going to begin the exploration that was his primary reason for joining Drizzt.
After a last round of pats and scratches for his nest-mate and her parents, Drizzt headed over to Del and Sairena with a wide smile on his face.
"Ready to go?" Del asked.
"Yes."
"Then let's mount up and do so." And even as he spoke, Del put his words into action, swinging himself up onto Sairena's back.
Drizzt quickly got up behind him, and as soon as they were both settled, Sairena trotted up into the air to start their flight.
They were barely past Maldobar, however, when an annoyed whicker-snort sounded from behind them.
Sairena turned at the noise without Del even needing to signal her, and once they were facing back in the direction they had come from, Del found himself staring in surprise.
"Drizzt," he said, "am I seeing things, or is that actually your nest-mate flying as hard as she can to catch up with us?"
Drizzt shifted to look over Del's shoulder, and sighed in exasperation. "If you're seeing things, so am I, because yes, that is my nest-mate. And I have no idea why she's following us."
Del thought he might have a guess, though it was unheard of for such a thing to happen this early, but rather than saying anything about it, he patted Sairena's shoulder and said, "Take us down so we can actually talk with her, would you, lovely?"
Sairena gave a snort and a toss of her head, and then complied with his request.
Soon enough, she had landed in a clearing, and Drizzt's nest-mate landed in front of her with a defiant toss of her own head.
Drizzt had begun to dismount as soon as Sairena's feet were solidly on the ground, and turned his attention away from the mare just in time to see his nest-mate's defiant head toss.
Walking over to the filly, he began to scratch behind her ears and asked, "Why are you following us, my friend?"
Reaching out with the same sense that let him understand animals, he listened carefully for her answer.
The snort and bump of her nose against his chest that she gave in response were accompanied by a sense of belonging: she was his and he was hers, so of course she was following him.
Drizzt couldn't help but gape at her as her meaning slowly sunk in for him. "You... want to bond with me? You're so young, though."
The filly gave another snort and tossed her head again. So? He was her nest-mate. Her parents knew exactly how well he could protect her.
Del suppressed a grin as the filly responded to Drizzt's surprise, and reached out over the anklets. ~So is there anyone who wasn't expecting Drizzt to end up with his own pegasus friend?~
A wash of laughter in several voices came of the link, and then Sharr said, ~I don't think so. Though it being this early is a surprise.~
Dol started a new round with ~Is his nest-mate even fledged yet?~
~While we were visiting,~ Del said. ~And I probably ought to reassure him now that I've shared my amusement with someone other than him.~
~Of course,~ Andy said. ~But do keep us updated.~
Del let the link drop, and returned his attention to Drizzt and the filly. "What are you going to call her?"
Drizzt startled out of the near trance petting his nest-mate had drawn him into and turned his head to look at Del. "You don't mind?"
"I know better than to try and argue with a pegasus who has decided on the person they're going to bond with," Del said.
Drizzt tilted his head thoughtfully. "Then... I think I'll call her Lothalninil.
"Do you like that, little sister?"
The filly nickered happily in response, and reached out to lip at Drizzt's hair.
"I think that's a 'yes'," Del said.
Part I|Part II|Part III|Part IV|Part V|Part VI
*Links will work as fics are revealed
Tags:
somarielFledgling (2548 words) by Somariel
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Dolthauvin Aerasumé
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary:
Given the distance from Waterdeep, Sharr wasn't actually surprised that Drizzt had not yet met any Eilistraeeans, but his own presence meant that it would still be a good idea to contact Qilué.
So he settled more comfortably against Norvor's side as they watched Drizzt play with the foal of the mare who had adopted him, and reached out over the anklets.
~Qilué, would you please warn whichever of your people are coming to help this young drow in the Rauvin Mountains that I got pulled in by the pegasi that have adopted him?~ he sent.
~Young drow in the Rauvin Mountains who's been adopted by pegasi?~ Quite surprisingly, Qilué sounded confused.
And when she added ~Sharr, what are you talking about?~, on her own sending, he knew something strange was going on.
So he simply replied by sharing his vision with her, as the fastest way to explain things.
And once Qilué's anklet had recharged, she responded. ~Well, I certainly should have heard of a drow that good. I will have to consult with my Lady.~
~Of course,~ Sharr said, and then he let the link drop.
Before he had reached out to Qilué, Sharr had contacted Dol and asked for his assistance in teaching Drizzt Common.
And although his son had readily agreed, he had also needed some time to wrap up his current business before he could come.
So it was not until three days later that Sharr received his son's request for a teleport visual.
~Give me a moment,~ he replied. ~I want to warn Drizzt first, but he's in the middle of cleaning a rabbit.~
~Of course,~ Dol said.
Thankfully, it wasn't long before Drizzt put down the knife Sharr had given him to use, though it was clearly only a pause before he moved from gutting to skinning.
Sharr coughed softly to get his attention, and when Drizzt turned to look at him, he said, "Son coming by magic. Will help teach Surface Common."
After a brief moment for puzzlement, Drizzt realized that Sharr was telling him now because his son was coming now, so he gave a nod and said, "Ready."
Sharr's attention seemed to turn inward for a moment, then he looked very intently at a distinctive formation of a 'tree' that had grown out of a crack in a large rock.
And then a shimmer in the air appeared in front of the formation, like the heat shimmers that occurred near the magma vents in the Underdark, and when it faded, there was a tall, silver-haired faerie and another 'pegasus' where it had been.
The faerie—whose eyes and ears looked blunted for some reason—inclined his head towards Drizzt, and said, "Name Dolthauvin Aerasumé. Small name Dol. Pegasus name Vaska."
"Name Drizzt Do'Urden," Drizzt replied.
Even in the few days before Dol had arrived, Drizzt had proved to be quick at picking up Common. And after Dol arrived, the speed at which Drizzt did so increased, as Dol’s experience with teaching allowed him to organize the lessons in a way that let them build on the previous ones.
But even two weeks later, both Sharr and Dol felt that Drizzt’s Common was still not good enough to have the needed conversation about Eilistraee and her followers without magical assistance.
So that evening, after they had finished eating, Dol caught Drizzt’s attention and said, in Goblin, “Must talk good big news. Use magic, make best Common?”
Drizzt tilted his head thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded. “Make best Common,” he agreed.
Dol cast tongues on the young drow, and once he felt the spell take, he spoke in Common.
“You are not the only good drow,” he said.
“What?” Drizzt’s expression was one of stunned surprise, and his tone was so shocked that Vaska came over and settled down beside him, cupping a wing around him.
“There are other drow of a goodly nature, who follow a goodly goddess,” Sharr said.
“I’m… not alone?” Drizzt said, sounding utterly bewildered.
“You are not,” Sharr agreed.
“We know it’s surprising,” Dol said, “given that for some reason the Dark Maiden was completely unaware of your existence and therefore unable to Call to you.
“However, the reason we’re bringing it up now is because we want to know if you’d be okay with one of Her followers coming to join us.”
Drizzt thought about that for a moment. “To help teach Common?”
“Yes,” Sharr said. “And they can also teach you about the Dark Maiden and her followers if you wish.”
“I… think I’d like that,” Drizzt said. “But what were you talking about when you said that… the Dark Maiden… was unaware of my existence? Why do you think She should have known about me?”
“Because She should be aware of every good drow,” Dol said.
“She should have known of and been able to Call to you no later than when you reached the Surface,” Sharr elaborated. “But She was completely unaware of your existence until after I reached out to the primary leader of the drow who follow Her, to let her know that I had become involved in your life.”
With Drizzt's agreement given, Bo had brought Xinval to join them, and soon enough, lessons in reading and writing Common were added to the lessons in speaking it.
Drizzt progressed in those lessons quickly enough that only five weeks after Xinval's arrival, Dol ended up making a trip to Silverymoon to acquire new books for the young drow to read.
Methri happened to also be in Silverymoon then, and that night, while they were talking with Alustriel after evenfeast, the subject of conversation naturally turned towards Drizzt.
Discussion of how the lessons were going led to Dol admitting that he and Sharr both strongly felt that Drizzt was a wild-called ranger, given how in-tune with the wilds he was and how much all the pegasi liked him.
"... and honestly, I'll be very surprised if he doesn't end up with a pegasus friend of his own," Dol finished.
"Huh," Methri replied. "I wonder if that'll do anything to reduce how grumpy Uncle Kor is being about the whole situation."
"Oh?" Alustriel said.
"He really can't argue about Drizzt's goodly nature when there's the testimony of him having been adopted by pegasi, but he's not happy about how long Father has been out in the wilds because of it."
"Is it just about Father being out in the wilds, or is it really about Father being out in the wilds without him?" Dol asked.
"Some of both, I think. He'd definitely be happier about it if he was there to protect Father, but he's also just plain worried about Father spending so long in the same place when it isn't the village or Silverymoon."
As the summer wore on, Drizzt continued to learn quickly, and Sharr and Dol even got a chance to confirm exactly how highly skilled a fighter he was, after the failure of his remaining blade from the Underdark convinced him to let them provide him with replacements, and thereby enabled a proper spar with first Sharr, and then Korvallen, once the results of the match against Sharr had been shared.
And as summer turned into fall, Sharr and Dol—with assistance from Xinval—began to work on convincing Drizzt to come spend the winter in Silverymoon.
Drizzt resisted the idea for a while, not wanting to leave the pegasi, but after the first hard frost, he could no longer deny that he was—at least at this point—unsuited for the experience of a mountain winter, and reluctantly agreed.
Drizzt's first visit to the Glade proved to be just as exceptional as Sharr and Dol had suspected it would be, with the young drow being drawn into what was at least near-Reverie, if not actually the true Reverie that had been stripped from the drow as a people.
And as a result, ranger lessons were added to the continuing language lessons.
But while some ranger skills could be taught within the city, not all of them could, so some lessons were held in the Moonwood.
Drizzt returned from the first lesson in the Moonwood looking uncharacteristically shaken, and the tale that poured out of him when Sharr asked if he was alright left the elder elf somewhat shaken himself, silently cursing Lolthite society and practices even as he reassured the young drow that every effort would be made to find and aid the child that Drizzt had managed to spare.
Drizzt's lessons continued as the winter wore on, the elven child was found, and eventually, the season turned to spring, spurring in Drizzt a desire to explore the region.
The very first place Drizzt had chosen to go after leaving Silverymoon was to check on his nest-mate and the rest of her herd, because for all that Sharr and others had assured him that the pegasi would make it through the winter just fine, he couldn't quite bring himself to believe it without seeing it for himself.
Roughly two weeks after he had set out, on the far side of Maldobar, he was quite relieved by his first sighting of a pegasus flying overhead.
And a few days later, further up in the mountains, he was greeted joyously by a pegasus he could easily tell was his nest-mate, even though she had grown to her full height while he had been wintering in Silverymoon.
Drizzt had spent a very pleasant week reacquainting himself with the entire herd, but now that he seen that they had all made it through the winter, he was ready to begin his true exploration of the region.
So after a last round of scratches and pats for his nest-mate and her parents, he set off down the mountain in the gathering dusk.
He traveled through the night, and only began to look for a good place to take his rest when the first hints of false dawn started to creep over the eastern horizon.
By the time he had chosen a campsite, arranged it to his satisfaction, and eaten his last meal, the sun was just starting to truly rise, so he began his vigil, and once that was finished, he settled down to sleep.
When Drizzt woke, he could tell, even before he opened his eyes, that there was another being or creature nearby. But before he could begin to worry, a quiet—and familiar—nicker drew his attention to the left.
Sitting up, he turned to look that way, and saw his nest-mate standing a couple yards away. And while he sat there in stunned silence, she came over to him and started lipping at his hair.
That broke him free of his momentary paralysis, and he reached up to scratch behind her ears. "Not that I'm displeased to see you," he said, "but what are you doing here? Why aren't you with your parents?"
She stopped lipping his hair and gave an indignant snort, then picked up his pack by one of the straps, stretched out a wing, carefully placed the pack on the wing, and then lifted the wing so the pack slid down to rest on her back between her wings.
That done, she looked pointedly at him, looked towards the pack, then looked downslope.
After a second round of her looking at him, towards the pack, and downslope, Drizzt realized what she was trying to indicate. "You want to come with me?"
She replied by bobbing her head and briefly prancing in place, which was as clear a 'yes' as he could get.
"Why? Why do you want to leave your herd to travel with me?"
She gave another snort, bumped her nose against his chest, and started lipping his hair again.
Even with as uncertain and off-balance as his nest-mate's decision had left him, Drizzt responded in kind by resuming the scratching behind her ears.
Some time later, having regained some level of equilibrium from the prolonged contact with her, he reached into the pouch that held Guen's figure and withdrew the other magical item he now kept in there—a sending stone Sharr had given him before Drizzt left Silverymoon.
Taking a deep breath and reminding himself that Sharr had explicitly said he should call on him for aid if needed, he sent, ~My nest-mate caught up to me while I was sleeping, and is insisting on coming with me. What should I do?~
A brief sense of startlement came over the link, and then Sharr said, ~Stay near Maldobar for now. I or one of my sons will come as soon as can be managed.~
And even as the link ended, Drizzt gave a sigh of relief.
Once the link to Drizzt had ended, Sharr reached out to his sons. ~Are any of you boys able to get yourself and your pegasus to the Maldobar area sooner than Norvor can bring me from the village?~
~I'm home at Starlake right now,~ Elin said, ~so I could be there by this evening.~
~I think that makes you the only option,~ Andy said, ~given that I'm currently in Shadowdale with Aunt Syluné.~
Then Ghael kicked off a new round with ~Unless a teleport visual is possible, in which case Rua and I could be there within a few hours.~
~It's not that urgent,~ Sharr said. ~Drizzt went to check on the herd that adopted him, and his nest-mate decided to come with him when he left.~
Dol sighed. ~So now he's full of anxiety over how to care for a filly who's still a few weeks short of her first birthday.~
~I'm surprised her parents let her leave that young,~ Thyl said.
~So am I,~ Sharr replied. ~I wasn't expecting them to bond until next year.~
~Given her age, it'd probably be helpful for one of us to travel with them for the rest of the year,~ Elin said, ~but I can't stay more than a week or so.~
~I can do that,~ Del volunteered. ~And since I'm coming from Longsaddle, I can even be there before you need to leave.~
~Sounds like we have a plan, then,~ Dol said.
While Drizzt had initially been somewhat hesitant about the idea of one of Sharr's sons coming to travel with him and Lothalninil—as he had chosen to call his nest-mate—even after Elin explained that it was as much for Del's benefit as for theirs, actually meeting Del changed that.
Seeing how young Del seemed in comparison to himself, even with the knowledge that the half-elf was most of two decades older, Drizzt realized that Elin's description of Del as both young enough that the rest of the family wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea of him traveling alone and old enough to chafe at the idea of always traveling with his brothers was not just a sop to Drizzt's refusal to impose on them.
So once Elin left, Drizzt happily settled down to discussing with Del where to go next.
Over the course of their travels throughout the spring, summer, and early fall, a firm friendship was forged between the two, and when the season turned towards winter, Del happily joined Drizzt in Silverymoon to continue teaching him about pegasus care and riding.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Elf Character(s), Dolthauvin Aerasumé
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary:
Sharr helps Drizzt learn more of the world, and Drizzt acquires a friend for life.
A continuation of senmut’s fic Nestling and my fic Nestling: The Other Side.
Fledgling
Given the distance from Waterdeep, Sharr wasn't actually surprised that Drizzt had not yet met any Eilistraeeans, but his own presence meant that it would still be a good idea to contact Qilué.
So he settled more comfortably against Norvor's side as they watched Drizzt play with the foal of the mare who had adopted him, and reached out over the anklets.
~Qilué, would you please warn whichever of your people are coming to help this young drow in the Rauvin Mountains that I got pulled in by the pegasi that have adopted him?~ he sent.
~Young drow in the Rauvin Mountains who's been adopted by pegasi?~ Quite surprisingly, Qilué sounded confused.
And when she added ~Sharr, what are you talking about?~, on her own sending, he knew something strange was going on.
So he simply replied by sharing his vision with her, as the fastest way to explain things.
And once Qilué's anklet had recharged, she responded. ~Well, I certainly should have heard of a drow that good. I will have to consult with my Lady.~
~Of course,~ Sharr said, and then he let the link drop.
Before he had reached out to Qilué, Sharr had contacted Dol and asked for his assistance in teaching Drizzt Common.
And although his son had readily agreed, he had also needed some time to wrap up his current business before he could come.
So it was not until three days later that Sharr received his son's request for a teleport visual.
~Give me a moment,~ he replied. ~I want to warn Drizzt first, but he's in the middle of cleaning a rabbit.~
~Of course,~ Dol said.
Thankfully, it wasn't long before Drizzt put down the knife Sharr had given him to use, though it was clearly only a pause before he moved from gutting to skinning.
Sharr coughed softly to get his attention, and when Drizzt turned to look at him, he said, "Son coming by magic. Will help teach Surface Common."
After a brief moment for puzzlement, Drizzt realized that Sharr was telling him now because his son was coming now, so he gave a nod and said, "Ready."
Sharr's attention seemed to turn inward for a moment, then he looked very intently at a distinctive formation of a 'tree' that had grown out of a crack in a large rock.
And then a shimmer in the air appeared in front of the formation, like the heat shimmers that occurred near the magma vents in the Underdark, and when it faded, there was a tall, silver-haired faerie and another 'pegasus' where it had been.
The faerie—whose eyes and ears looked blunted for some reason—inclined his head towards Drizzt, and said, "Name Dolthauvin Aerasumé. Small name Dol. Pegasus name Vaska."
"Name Drizzt Do'Urden," Drizzt replied.
Even in the few days before Dol had arrived, Drizzt had proved to be quick at picking up Common. And after Dol arrived, the speed at which Drizzt did so increased, as Dol’s experience with teaching allowed him to organize the lessons in a way that let them build on the previous ones.
But even two weeks later, both Sharr and Dol felt that Drizzt’s Common was still not good enough to have the needed conversation about Eilistraee and her followers without magical assistance.
So that evening, after they had finished eating, Dol caught Drizzt’s attention and said, in Goblin, “Must talk good big news. Use magic, make best Common?”
Drizzt tilted his head thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded. “Make best Common,” he agreed.
Dol cast tongues on the young drow, and once he felt the spell take, he spoke in Common.
“You are not the only good drow,” he said.
“What?” Drizzt’s expression was one of stunned surprise, and his tone was so shocked that Vaska came over and settled down beside him, cupping a wing around him.
“There are other drow of a goodly nature, who follow a goodly goddess,” Sharr said.
“I’m… not alone?” Drizzt said, sounding utterly bewildered.
“You are not,” Sharr agreed.
“We know it’s surprising,” Dol said, “given that for some reason the Dark Maiden was completely unaware of your existence and therefore unable to Call to you.
“However, the reason we’re bringing it up now is because we want to know if you’d be okay with one of Her followers coming to join us.”
Drizzt thought about that for a moment. “To help teach Common?”
“Yes,” Sharr said. “And they can also teach you about the Dark Maiden and her followers if you wish.”
“I… think I’d like that,” Drizzt said. “But what were you talking about when you said that… the Dark Maiden… was unaware of my existence? Why do you think She should have known about me?”
“Because She should be aware of every good drow,” Dol said.
“She should have known of and been able to Call to you no later than when you reached the Surface,” Sharr elaborated. “But She was completely unaware of your existence until after I reached out to the primary leader of the drow who follow Her, to let her know that I had become involved in your life.”
With Drizzt's agreement given, Bo had brought Xinval to join them, and soon enough, lessons in reading and writing Common were added to the lessons in speaking it.
Drizzt progressed in those lessons quickly enough that only five weeks after Xinval's arrival, Dol ended up making a trip to Silverymoon to acquire new books for the young drow to read.
Methri happened to also be in Silverymoon then, and that night, while they were talking with Alustriel after evenfeast, the subject of conversation naturally turned towards Drizzt.
Discussion of how the lessons were going led to Dol admitting that he and Sharr both strongly felt that Drizzt was a wild-called ranger, given how in-tune with the wilds he was and how much all the pegasi liked him.
"... and honestly, I'll be very surprised if he doesn't end up with a pegasus friend of his own," Dol finished.
"Huh," Methri replied. "I wonder if that'll do anything to reduce how grumpy Uncle Kor is being about the whole situation."
"Oh?" Alustriel said.
"He really can't argue about Drizzt's goodly nature when there's the testimony of him having been adopted by pegasi, but he's not happy about how long Father has been out in the wilds because of it."
"Is it just about Father being out in the wilds, or is it really about Father being out in the wilds without him?" Dol asked.
"Some of both, I think. He'd definitely be happier about it if he was there to protect Father, but he's also just plain worried about Father spending so long in the same place when it isn't the village or Silverymoon."
As the summer wore on, Drizzt continued to learn quickly, and Sharr and Dol even got a chance to confirm exactly how highly skilled a fighter he was, after the failure of his remaining blade from the Underdark convinced him to let them provide him with replacements, and thereby enabled a proper spar with first Sharr, and then Korvallen, once the results of the match against Sharr had been shared.
And as summer turned into fall, Sharr and Dol—with assistance from Xinval—began to work on convincing Drizzt to come spend the winter in Silverymoon.
Drizzt resisted the idea for a while, not wanting to leave the pegasi, but after the first hard frost, he could no longer deny that he was—at least at this point—unsuited for the experience of a mountain winter, and reluctantly agreed.
Drizzt's first visit to the Glade proved to be just as exceptional as Sharr and Dol had suspected it would be, with the young drow being drawn into what was at least near-Reverie, if not actually the true Reverie that had been stripped from the drow as a people.
And as a result, ranger lessons were added to the continuing language lessons.
But while some ranger skills could be taught within the city, not all of them could, so some lessons were held in the Moonwood.
Drizzt returned from the first lesson in the Moonwood looking uncharacteristically shaken, and the tale that poured out of him when Sharr asked if he was alright left the elder elf somewhat shaken himself, silently cursing Lolthite society and practices even as he reassured the young drow that every effort would be made to find and aid the child that Drizzt had managed to spare.
Drizzt's lessons continued as the winter wore on, the elven child was found, and eventually, the season turned to spring, spurring in Drizzt a desire to explore the region.
The very first place Drizzt had chosen to go after leaving Silverymoon was to check on his nest-mate and the rest of her herd, because for all that Sharr and others had assured him that the pegasi would make it through the winter just fine, he couldn't quite bring himself to believe it without seeing it for himself.
Roughly two weeks after he had set out, on the far side of Maldobar, he was quite relieved by his first sighting of a pegasus flying overhead.
And a few days later, further up in the mountains, he was greeted joyously by a pegasus he could easily tell was his nest-mate, even though she had grown to her full height while he had been wintering in Silverymoon.
Drizzt had spent a very pleasant week reacquainting himself with the entire herd, but now that he seen that they had all made it through the winter, he was ready to begin his true exploration of the region.
So after a last round of scratches and pats for his nest-mate and her parents, he set off down the mountain in the gathering dusk.
He traveled through the night, and only began to look for a good place to take his rest when the first hints of false dawn started to creep over the eastern horizon.
By the time he had chosen a campsite, arranged it to his satisfaction, and eaten his last meal, the sun was just starting to truly rise, so he began his vigil, and once that was finished, he settled down to sleep.
When Drizzt woke, he could tell, even before he opened his eyes, that there was another being or creature nearby. But before he could begin to worry, a quiet—and familiar—nicker drew his attention to the left.
Sitting up, he turned to look that way, and saw his nest-mate standing a couple yards away. And while he sat there in stunned silence, she came over to him and started lipping at his hair.
That broke him free of his momentary paralysis, and he reached up to scratch behind her ears. "Not that I'm displeased to see you," he said, "but what are you doing here? Why aren't you with your parents?"
She stopped lipping his hair and gave an indignant snort, then picked up his pack by one of the straps, stretched out a wing, carefully placed the pack on the wing, and then lifted the wing so the pack slid down to rest on her back between her wings.
That done, she looked pointedly at him, looked towards the pack, then looked downslope.
After a second round of her looking at him, towards the pack, and downslope, Drizzt realized what she was trying to indicate. "You want to come with me?"
She replied by bobbing her head and briefly prancing in place, which was as clear a 'yes' as he could get.
"Why? Why do you want to leave your herd to travel with me?"
She gave another snort, bumped her nose against his chest, and started lipping his hair again.
Even with as uncertain and off-balance as his nest-mate's decision had left him, Drizzt responded in kind by resuming the scratching behind her ears.
Some time later, having regained some level of equilibrium from the prolonged contact with her, he reached into the pouch that held Guen's figure and withdrew the other magical item he now kept in there—a sending stone Sharr had given him before Drizzt left Silverymoon.
Taking a deep breath and reminding himself that Sharr had explicitly said he should call on him for aid if needed, he sent, ~My nest-mate caught up to me while I was sleeping, and is insisting on coming with me. What should I do?~
A brief sense of startlement came over the link, and then Sharr said, ~Stay near Maldobar for now. I or one of my sons will come as soon as can be managed.~
And even as the link ended, Drizzt gave a sigh of relief.
Once the link to Drizzt had ended, Sharr reached out to his sons. ~Are any of you boys able to get yourself and your pegasus to the Maldobar area sooner than Norvor can bring me from the village?~
~I'm home at Starlake right now,~ Elin said, ~so I could be there by this evening.~
~I think that makes you the only option,~ Andy said, ~given that I'm currently in Shadowdale with Aunt Syluné.~
Then Ghael kicked off a new round with ~Unless a teleport visual is possible, in which case Rua and I could be there within a few hours.~
~It's not that urgent,~ Sharr said. ~Drizzt went to check on the herd that adopted him, and his nest-mate decided to come with him when he left.~
Dol sighed. ~So now he's full of anxiety over how to care for a filly who's still a few weeks short of her first birthday.~
~I'm surprised her parents let her leave that young,~ Thyl said.
~So am I,~ Sharr replied. ~I wasn't expecting them to bond until next year.~
~Given her age, it'd probably be helpful for one of us to travel with them for the rest of the year,~ Elin said, ~but I can't stay more than a week or so.~
~I can do that,~ Del volunteered. ~And since I'm coming from Longsaddle, I can even be there before you need to leave.~
~Sounds like we have a plan, then,~ Dol said.
While Drizzt had initially been somewhat hesitant about the idea of one of Sharr's sons coming to travel with him and Lothalninil—as he had chosen to call his nest-mate—even after Elin explained that it was as much for Del's benefit as for theirs, actually meeting Del changed that.
Seeing how young Del seemed in comparison to himself, even with the knowledge that the half-elf was most of two decades older, Drizzt realized that Elin's description of Del as both young enough that the rest of the family wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea of him traveling alone and old enough to chafe at the idea of always traveling with his brothers was not just a sop to Drizzt's refusal to impose on them.
So once Elin left, Drizzt happily settled down to discussing with Del where to go next.
Over the course of their travels throughout the spring, summer, and early fall, a firm friendship was forged between the two, and when the season turned towards winter, Del happily joined Drizzt in Silverymoon to continue teaching him about pegasus care and riding.
