tales_of_faerun | Entries tagged with rating: mature

Knight and Ranger (9924 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 6/6
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: Ensemble Cast, Developing Relationship, Age Difference, Past Rape/Non-con
Summary:

When Drizzt Do'Urden found a different teacher, he becomes a savior to a surly elf in the Silver Marches... in more ways than one.

Chapter 1

The people of Nesmé hadn't even given Drizzt time to mourn Evgin before deciding he was responsible for her death. It didn't matter she'd died in her sleep while he read to her from one of her books. It didn't matter that he'd been performing protective duties for her as she taught him. Nothing mattered but that he was a sorcerous dog, a filthy drow, a lying evil being good for nothing.

Evgin had warned him, but he really thought he'd made a better impression with those he'd helped save... and maybe he had, but they were travelers, not locals, by and large.

He thought about leaving the region entirely, but the pull of Mielikki encouraged him to remain in the Silver Marches, protecting as he had been, with the lure of Silverymoon calling strongly. It was supposed to be a welcoming city; Horim Half-Orc spoke of friends there and safety to rest the winters. He would have remained at Evgin's cottage... but they had taken that from him when it burned in their zealous need to have a person to blame for the death.

Maybe, someday, he'd risk the gates of that city... and then he'd know if he could have a place on the Surface.

Korvallen had underestimated the threat level. That kept ringing in his mind as he reviewed how badly injured his fellow Knights and the pair of squires were. The Spellguard had been taken down too early in the fight, meaning these orcs had prepared for them with more thought and cunning than Kor cared for.

"Jasti, retreat," he growled at her, when they had a moment of breathing room. "Get them back to the city."

The other elf started to argue, but one look at his face and she knew better.

"I'll bring a larger force," she said, even though it would be for vengeance, and she knew it.

Kor didn't look back as she started getting the horses moving, scooping their wizard up on the run. He looked at the group gathering their own resolve for a new charge, and let himself fall full into the Protector, intent on killing as many as he could to give the patrol time to retreat.

Drizzt had seen the Knights in Silver, vaguely understood they were sworn to protecting Silverymoon's roads and hamlets. He'd also heard the sound of the confrontation and was hurrying to get there, Guen running ahead silently to try and circle.

Hearing the retreating hooves only increased his own effort to get there, thinking to give the protectors time to make good on their escape. It never entered his mind that something a full patrol would retreat from might be too much to take on. He had Guen, and he was the son of Zaknafein.

Korvallen had finally pushed through the warriors, reaching the dangerous shaman that had too many wits, too many spells and alchemical tricks. He became aware of something attacking from the far side, knew it could not have been Jasti, that she could not have circled so quickly.

It wasn't going to be enough, whoever this new ally was, as the shaman barked out a prayer for some sinister spell.

I'll see you soon, heart-brother, went through his mind as the spell exploded between them.

The very bright light at the center of the fighting gave Drizzt trouble, but it oriented Guen perfectly to the largest threat. She rushed in, ignoring the fighters, and the shaman was slammed down under six hundred pounds of snarling, rending fury, ending his life.

It terrified the fighters closest, and from there, it did not take Drizzt long to kill the few who tried to face him. He did not, however pursue, seeing the shine of the armor on the downed knight.

Ignoring the cuts he had for now, Drizzt swiftly lashed his cloak to two orc spears, points tied together, and got the injured — faerie? — knight on it. He did not have time to sort through useful items, as the elf looked to be in terrible shape. Guen took point, once he had applied bandages to the worst bleeds, and she guided them to a den, currently unoccupied, but smelling of foxes in past seasons to her nose.

She had to break the mouth of it a bit, but the space inside was more than enough to let her drow get his patient in, and begin treating. There was water close by, and Guen still had time to find meat for them before she would have to go home.

Korvallen was warm, weak, and conscious.

None of which made any sense.

"Please don't move," a voice said, and he realized that even though his eyes were open, he could not see. "Your injuries have been tended, but two of the punctures were jagged enough that any motion might make them bleed again.

"And you do not have enough blood to lose."

"I can't see."

His voice was gruff, coarse, full of gravel around the dry throat and tongue.

"It may be temporary. You were much closer to the light flare than I. I did bandage your eyes, and used a healing salve along the lids while you were unconscious. It is best to leave the bandage on, until you are well enough to seek a proper healer."

"You joined the fight from the rear," Korvallen noted, deciding if he'd been cheated of death he should at least learn more. "Why?"

"I'd heard the fight and begun that way. Your party retreated under my pathway, and I hurried, thinking to buy them more time, not even knowing one of you remained.

"As you are in the wilds, and I am a ranger of Mielikki, I was duty-bound to prevent them from following or causing more destruction. Though I suppose you would say Khalreshaar, given you seem to be a full-blooded elf."

"I know Her under both," Kor said, relaxing a little. No one falsely claimed the Forest Queen; rumors of turning those who did into wild animals near hunters abounded, though Sharr had always said that was a different goddess who did that.

Sharr. He… no. He could not rail at being left to live, yet again, fall back into the despair of his heart being missing a half.

"May I know your name, ranger?"

"Ranger will do. My name is unimportant."

There was a story there, in the angry grief those words were tinged in. But Kor was tired, and it was easier to fall into sleep than press.

Drizzt watched the elf stir a full day later from that brief waking, four days after the actual fight. It was good the elf was sleeping so much, but on the other hand, it was delaying his ability to be certain the healing he had performed was working.

"In case you don't remember, please don't move. Things looked like they were sealing when I changed bandages, but I don't want you to suffer more."

The elf snorted. "Don't feel so fuzzy… but still can't see more than a lightness behind the bandages."

"That you are perceiving light may be good. But I am going to get a cloth to add to the bandages, to protect your eyes while they heal." Drizzt put actions to words, then brought the water skin over with a reed, helping the elf to drink.

"How long?"

"Four days. Heading into the evening now."

"Patrol will be coming. Should see sign of me being moved."

Drizzt frowned. "It is an easy trail to follow; your armor meant I had to use a pole drag."

"No later than tomorrow."

"I will be glad that they can take you to an actual cleric," Drizzt told him. "Because you took enough wounds that I am honestly surprised you lived for me to get us to safety."

The elf frowned deeply. "Almost wish you hadn't intervened, Ranger. Lived a long damned life, and lost the one that mattered most."

Drizzt sucked in a breath against his will, seeing the spirit-wraith falling, feeling his heart ache all over to lose the one drow closest to being like him.

"I am sorry you hurt," he said carefully. "However, I am almost certain there are people who would hurt if you had lost your life, and I prefer to protect others from all forms of injury."

His words must have landed hard, because the elf shifted as if to look at him, then grimaced.

"Don't move," Drizzt said, on top of the elf speaking the same words. It made them both laugh a bit, quietly.

"You lost someone."

The words were said as fact, and Drizzt realized he'd let too much emotion come through.

"Everyone that ever mattered, save one," Drizzt admitted. "Either by ideals, death, or moving on."

"Hell of a thing." The elf let his voice be gentle, and it made Drizzt's throat tighten. Then again, if the elf could see him… that would vanish.

"Since you are awake, I need to guide your arms and legs through motion, to be sure I did find the worst of it all," Drizzt said once he had control of his voice.

"Go ahead, and I promise to be honest."

Kor woke to hear the sounds of armor outside the hole he was in… and not the soft reassurance from his caretaker. Maybe the ranger had slipped out to get food or water for them?

He waited until he heard a voice, recognizing it, and called out. In no time at all, he was being carried out, given a potion, and readied to teleport back to the city.

"Anyone see the ranger?" he demanded before that could be done.

"None but you, Saer, and no trace… but if a ranger moves, they can be a ghost on the land."

Kor promised he'd seek the ranger later, once he was whole again — named ones let his eyes truly be healing! — to pay his gratitude to the man.

The ranger in question, only son of a ghost, remained still up in the high tree he'd watched from. He longed for more companionship, to know for certain the elf would heal… but he was only a drow, and that was foul to all people of the surface.

Chapter 2

After the cleric of Sehanine Moonbow finished, confirming that Korvallen had been subjected to minor divine healing, Kor turned his head in Elué's direction, knowing she was worried.

"Keep those eyes covered at least another day. Your eyes reacted fine in dim light, but they need time to strengthen or you'll lose sharpness," the cleric said. "Two days would be better."

"I can go covered for that long," Korvallen said, remembering past incidents with flash incidents on people he'd known. He wasn't risking losing any sight.

"Good."

The cleric left then, and Elué came to take his hands.

"I was worried," she admitted, and he remembered the ranger's words, about his presence affecting others.

"I wish the ranger had still been there," he said aloud. "He should be thanked properly, no matter what rangers believe on duty."

"Our people will keep an eye out for him. Did he give you a name?"

"No, and I never gave him mine, now I think on it." Kor sighed softly. "Wasn't anyone I know by voice, hands felt normal sized, pretty damn strong in them. Used a lot of moss for bandaging, and the broths were flavored with medicinal herbs," he added, analyzing. "I'd think elf, possibly human, but leaning to elf."

She squeezed his hands, and he knew she understood that he didn't want to talk about his survival all that much. He endured the hug she gave him, let her fuss at getting him settled, and snorted when she left an unseen servant to get him whatever he might need.

He really hoped the ranger didn't go too far before he was able to make his way back out and look for himself.

Drizzt had found the care and immediacy of the Knights who came for his patient to be encouraging. The patrol itself, twice the size of a usual one, investigated the battle site, and traced back to a certain point before turning off and heading around on a loop to go back to Silverymoon.

Drizzt decided that they must have been at the edge of Silverymoon's claimed territory, which made him respect the choice… and go to backtrack the trail fully, as he was citizen of no land at all. He winding trail took him to an actual village. His understanding of their language was slim, but over the course of several nights, he found out the shaman had accepted foreign coin to cause a disturbance.

That meant he went back to the battle site, and despite the state the bodies were in, he searched the shaman and the fighter that had looked to be in charge, coming up with coins on both that looked unlike any he had seen in the region before.

Well, that might be something needed back in Silverymoon. He moved away from the battlefield, letting the scavengers work, and found a small piece of hide that was scraped clean enough to take ink. Carefully, he wrote a message, put the coins in a scrap of fabric, tied both together tightly, and called for one of the larger birds to come to him.

With a prayer to Mielikki, as Evgin had taught him, he enjoined the bird to take the pouch and message to Silverymoon, to the servants of Mielikki there. The bird accepted the task, and several pieces of dried rabbit, flying off to do his bidding.

Tathshandra watched as Korvallen was summoned to join them, passing the time with Alustriel until he could return. When the Knight came in, looking hale and hearty, well past the near-fatal attack, Tathshandra smiled at him.

"It seems you gained Silverymoon an ally, Korvallen."

Alustriel passed a piece of hide to him, letting him read the words in spare but neat writing.

I hope this helps. The group came from a village northeast of your borders. The ones there said foreign coin. Found coins, do not recognize. It was unsigned, but there was only one person it could have been from.

"A harpy eagle — not the friendliest birds — delivered that this morning," Tathshandra said. "With a pouch of the coins."

"Thay."

Korvallen jerked his head around sharply at Alustriel's single word. "Thought they were your younger sister's problem," he said gruffly.

"They are. And I have reason to suspect that it was not Thay who paid the orcs, but someone wishing me to look that way," Alustriel said with a sigh. "I'll do my best to investigate, but… it's been a bit of time."

Korvallen nodded, seeing that logic. He focused on Tathshandra then. "Recognize the writing? Any idea who he is?"

"I wish that I did," she said. "Takes a gifted ranger to convince a harpy eagle to do their bidding, or to use as much healing as you seemed to need. My Lady is being quite silent on the matter, but does not deny he is one of our people."

"Squirrel nuts," Korvallen said in exasperation, making both women smile and chuckle at him.

"If he is willing to do this much, perhaps in time, he will come to the Glade," Alustriel soothed him.

There were more frequent patrols, Drizzt noted. That made him think his note, and the attack on his patient's patrol, were being taken seriously. With that realization, he started circling around, going to explore the outer areas that touched on Silverymoon. If he could find anything else suspicious, he could always call down another bird; they never minded helping since Evgin taught him the way of asking.

Other than a few of the usual raiding parties, Drizzt spent the rest of the year dealing with animal injuries and stocking what he would need for the winter in a small cave not too far from the garrison he had taken note of in his exploration. He had worked out the best ways to come and go without the force in their high fort from ever noticing him.

Elué settled on the divan, studying the map Korvallen had presented her with after requesting a little of her time. He was sitting opposite her, also looking at the marks he'd made.

"So those marks are all where raids or dire beasts were found, but not dealt with by our people at all?"

Kor grunted an affirmation, then pointed to the ones he'd circled. "Spellguards picked up astral magic at these. They've been noted by the Argent Legion's battle mages too, in the area the garrison protects."

"You think the astral magic is connected to your mystery ranger?"

"They're close enough to spots I believe are his doing," Kor answered.

"You do realize it could be the usual rangers and druids wandering through, not just one man," Elué pointed out.

Kor scowled. "Most of them will stay at hamlets, or at least check in with the land-folk. Most of these events are confirmed that no one was seen in the area near the time of the kills."

She looked at the marks again, overlaying her mental map of where she had people living and working through the realm. "And yet every one of the raiding parties was near enough to at least a cot-hold that they seem to clearly be defensive ventures," she mused. "Your ranger is a ghost of the woods, it seems."

"I want to find him, Elué," Korvallen told her seriously. "All the weather wise say it's going to be a rough winter. And… the way he spoke, the sheer presence of him said he's lonely, hurt by life. I'd be a hell of an ingrate if I don't try to repay him sparing you and the boys my death."

She leaned over and took his hand firmly. "I am very grateful he did." She let go and looked once more at the map. "The astral presence is a good thing to look for. I should be able to craft a divining tool for you to use.

"And I will wish you luck in convincing him to come in for the winter. As, for all you are usually much slower to make up your mind, you are a very good judge of character."

Kor snorted for the dig at his ways, knowing it for a reference to taking so long to officially countenance her presence in Sharr's life.

Drizzt sniffed at the air, then looked across the river to where he intended to lair for the winter. "About time to go tuck in, Guen."

She brushed against his leg, sniffing as well, and agreed. The first snows were near, and once they began in earnest, he'd need to stay close to the earthen cave. She'd helped dig it out with him, watched him cut multiple vents for when he did use a fire, so the smoke would not overwhelm him, helped him arrange 'dead-fall' near all of the holes he made to diffuse the smoke and protect them from snow.

It wasn't as good as rock, but it would be warm.

"Race you to the bent tree," Drizzt challenged, and she huffed, before taking off, her drow running with her. Soon would be a time of gentle scratches, long naps, and listening to him read. That was a good use of winter, along side his making of things. Those things would be left to be found, in the spring, near the hamlets they protected.

Sometimes, she wondered why, when no one treated him as well as he gave to others. But that was her drow's heart and wish, something that made her happy to be his partner.

Chapter 3

Korvallen had taken shelter with one of the land-holders on the edge of the Silverwood when the first snow came, entirely too early for how heavy and wet it had been. Fortunately, autumn asserted itself, and the snow melted away soon enough to allow him to continue his tracking out to the area closest to the garrison.

The river was close, as were the woods, and the gentle hills there would provide some protection from any driving snows that came, but Korvallen still found himself wondering. Why was his healer, the ranger, taking up so close to the garrison? Did he not trust the garrison to protect the north and west road well enough? Had the ranger found reason to suspect trouble would come from the direction of the Spine? Or did he have some fear of trouble rising out of the Evermoors in the heart of winter?

Korvallen let everything percolate as each time the astral divining tool confirmed the ranger — it had to be him — was definitely staying in one place now.

The dawn vigil had been crisp, and Drizzt thought the stream closest to him had been colder than usual, though not yet frozen at the edges. After his mid-day sleep, he called Guen to him, and they headed into the nearest edge of the woods, using the bent tree to cross with a strong jump from it to land on the far bank.

Did the Rauvin freeze over? He'd find out this winter. If it did, it would make crossing easier — for himself. Which meant he would wait until he had crossed to call Guen, if that came to pass.

Guen sniffed the air, looking all around, before rumbling a question at him.

"No, not hunting. Well, not meat. I can't risk smoking it this close to others, I don't have a brine made up, and it's not staying cold enough to keep it."

She huffed, but understood that well enough. Her drow had to be careful, given how terrible the people had been to him when the kind old human had died.

"Let's see if there's any fruit left on that one tree we spotted last time, and then I'll gather up more sticks," he said cheerfully. "A quiet day."

She made a half-laughing sound, it seemed, as if taunting him for challenging fate.

Korvallen almost missed the small signs of passage that guided him to the earthen cave. He had to admit that if the ranger wasn't in and out of it, he probably would have missed it completely. He didn't settle where he could be seen, going to where he had a view of it but was hidden with the skill of centuries of wood craft.

At that, he didn't hear the return of the ranger, only spotted him as the man paused, arms burdened with a bundle of wood lashed together. The man was cloaked, hood up, gloves on the hands, so Korvallen could only make out basic concepts like height and an estimate of build based on the shoulders.

The ranger didn't pause for long, so whatever had caught his attention wasn't likely any trace Kor had left. He continued on into the earthen cave, stooping to get through the narrow, short mouth that had been reinforced — probably with dirt from inside. The hillock it was in could be spacious, if one knew how to make it habitable, and Kor was wagering this ranger knew his business.

Korvallen kept watching, saw as the mouth was blocked — clever. Whatever the framed windscreen was, it had been daubed with mud and leaf litter, creating a good camouflage with the scraggly growth around the opening. Well, it wasn't going to be too cold this night, and Kor could be patient.

He'd approach once the sun was up.

Korvallen roused from his half-doze against a tree, noting the windscreen had been moved, and…

… a drow?! What in all the Named Ones was a drow —

— a drow in the same cloak, hood thrown back, purple eyes glowing in the dimness of the false dawn.

Purple eyes. So strange, different, and trying to jog a memory in the back of Korvallen's head. He stayed perfectly still, though, silent, as the drow lithely made it to the top of the hillock, facing due east. As the light grew, the drow never faltered in watching it, and Korvallen began to wonder.

Korvallen wanted to call the debt he felt to the man over; a drow saving him almost wiped out the drow nearly killing Sharr when they were young. His sense of justice, though, demanded there at least be some words, something to jar loose the memory on why a drow with purple eyes had been mentioned in his hearing.

He wanted to know why and how a drow could subject themselves to the punishment of Corellon's Kiss like that. Even the ones he knew of through Elué did not embrace the day like this.

When the drow's ritual was over, and he had come down from his height, Korvallen watched to see what else the ancient enemy, his healer, this ranger who stayed hidden, might do, gathering his temper and shock under firm control.

The brief impression of a watcher had been there when he came in the day before, and now. Drizzt refused to let it phase him; if he was being hunted, they would learn his skill was more than a match for any trap they set. Still, he was not going to go inside his den again, now that the presence had confirmed itself to his senses.

Once he finished vigil, he found a spot to sit with his back against the hillock, and pulled out dried mushrooms to break his fast. While he chewed, he reached out as Evgin had taught him, opening his full awareness to the small creatures beginning to make use of the autumn day to scramble and hunt down more food for the winter.

In the space of less than an hour, he knew where the watcher was, that it was only one, and that yes, the watcher had been there all night.

He let a prayer of gratitude seep through his heart to the animals and Mielikki alike, taking comfort that he at least had those connections to succor his sanity. Meal done, as well as the apparent nap he'd feigned while he communed, Drizzt pushed to his feet, and started on his way to the stream… which would take him near the watcher but not on a direct course.

"If you mean peace, stranger, I would share food and drink with you," he said in a conversational tone. "If you do not, I ask that you reconsider, and go your own way."

There was only a brief moment, and the person dropped to the ground without disturbing the leaf-litter much at all.

Drizzt turned, and saw a wood elf in traditional elven garb, with a sword —

— a sword Drizzt recognized, even if the elf was not in armor.

"Not so much a stranger," he said. "Your eyes healed. That makes me relieved."

"You really mean that," the elf said, and Drizzt actually met the man's gaze, briefly, to see there was some form of confusion in place.

"I generally say what I mean, unless speaking to an enemy. I find they don't much warrant truth, but I would hope my actions have spoken well enough for me to avoid a fight, Saer."

There was a moment's tightening of the jaw, Drizzt noted, looking more in the direction than straight at the elf.

"A meal, some talk, and then I will go."

Drizzt inclined his head, and continued to the stream, to fill his waterskin fully. That it put his back to the elf made him twitch some, but he was not going to show it.

Chapter 4

Korvallen ducked to get inside the dwelling… and found that it had been deepened and shored up extensively. Rush mats weighted by wood covered what he could guess were storage pits away from the rock pit for a very small fire. He made out that the smoke was being drawn out through several vents, yet the earthen cave was actually very comfortable.

"Feel free to sit on the bedroll; I have no stools. I was more concerned with making certain it was secure and hidden than comfortable."

"Yet you are so close to the garrison," Kor commented. "Why?"

"Seemed a good distance to them or the city walls, should something need attention," the ranger said. "Even in winter, some birds are available to take messages. And not all evils cease to move when the snow comes."

Kor nodded at the reasoning, even as the drow began fixing a meal, heating some of the water and adding dried ingredients to make a soup. Kor noted the pot looked like it had been through a fire at some point… so did a few of the tools he could see.

That memory stirred once more, of a drow with purple eyes, and this time, since his host was busy, he chased it down. When it came to him, there was a part of his heart that ached to embrace the accusations, yet Kor was too damned honest to not apply actions against rumors.

"Your name is Drizzt Do'Urden."

The ranger tensed, then looked over at him. "Yes."

"You're accused of murder."

"Yes."

Korvallen studied the face, noted the eyes did not focus directly on his face, just like outside… was it lying?

No.

It felt more like Del, and the way he was uncomfortable with direct contact for long.

"My name is Korvallen Senahye."

"Greetings," Drizzt answered that, before focusing fully on the soup, and Kor was left with the fact this drow was vulnerable, knew Kor was aware of accusations, and yet… he was not protesting or seeking escape.

Either this was one hell of a long game, or maybe… maybe the drow was really as good as his known actions implied.

Drizzt had been surprised the elf — Korvallen — let him finish cooking, and that they ate in near silence. The elf even complimented the flavors of the soup, and did not comment on the burn marks along the bowl he was served in.

All of Drizzt's tools and cookware had been stealthily salvaged from the ruins of Evgin's place, and cleaned to the best of his ability before being hidden away here. He didn't travel with more than he needed on the trail, but the winter would require civilized things to keep from going mad. The pair of books were scorched and illegible in places, but Drizzt would work around that, just to have something to pass the time.

"You said questions," he invited, once he had placed the dishes in the basket he used to carry them to the stream to be cleaned.

"I think they've changed while we ate," Korvallen said. "Evgin Morningmist was a well-respected ranger. Why do people think you killed her?"

"I was her student, in residence there. I had aided, taken on the physical side of protecting travelers. Nesmé did not care for my presence, and I am certain the ones who came to attack me were goaded by their officials," Drizzt said bluntly. "You don't think I did."

"Maybe I'm being a blind fool, but no. You could have left me to die, killed me yourself even. Why would you spare an elf, but kill an old human?"

"She died in her sleep," Drizzt said softly. "It was expected. She warned me. She said my advent had … helped her enjoy the last years she had." He had to look away, but not before the tears had gathered, and no doubt the elf had seen them.

"Ideals — the people you were born to," Kor said aloud. "Death — your teacher. Moving on?"

Drizzt sucked in a breath as the elf recalled the words said during their first meeting. "Death — teacher, father, friend," he corrected softly. "Ideals — there was a time when I thought I cared for my mother and she for me. I learned differently. Moving on — I have a single friend in the Underdark, one I miss often, but he had a home, a people that cared for him.

"And now, I am alone, having lost the teacher that gave me purpose again. Her other students travel far and wide. I only know two by name, and do not know how much of their attitude to me was polite obedience for her, and what was genuine."

"You could have come to the Glade. Especially after you tracked the orcs, and learned part of the puzzle of that attack."

"Ahh, but Nesmé trades to all cities, and I am accused of murder. If I had gone, and that had caused trouble? I would have lost my purpose all over again, and probably worse."

"Or you could have cleared your name."

"Would you so quickly dash into the one hope of a place to be, and learn it was an illusion?" Drizzt asked softly.

Korvallen had no answer for that, but he also did not brush the concern aside, making Drizzt wonder if he might yet find a new friend.

Korvallen went with the drow to clean everything after the meal. He was making up his mind, struggling to overturn centuries of prejudice in regards to this one drow, a man that protected the lands, the people, and received nothing in turn for it.

This man that Korvallen owed his life to, if only because he had sworn to live for Elué and her sons, was nothing like the horrors he'd grown up with. And while he knew Elué had a sister among the drow, that one was part of Mystra, and therefore an exception.

That thought though —

"Drizzt, why do you live alone, instead of seeking other drow who think like you?"

"There are none."

That simple answer, delivered as a statement of fact, rocked Korvallen back on his mental heels. It was very clear that Drizzt truly believed himself the only good drow, something Korvallen would have normally agreed with, except… he knew better. He might not have ever wanted anything to do with them, but Sharr had gone and lived among them for weeks on end, trying to understand their society, and weave bonds with Elué's family.

"I've heard there's an enclave of good drow near the coast around Waterdeep," he said. "Rumors of another colony of them somewhere in Frost Hills, even."

Drizzt turned to look his way, then he put all the now clean dishes back in the carrying basket.

"Lies and tricks, no doubt, as that is all the Spider Queen's followers know."

Korvallen decided that maybe he would leave this one for Elué to tackle… and he realized he was going to make the offer for Drizzt to come back with him.

Drizzt had put everything away, then come back outside to see Korvallen had not left. The man was sitting with his back to the same tree Drizzt normally used, twining cordage peacefully. Drizzt came and sat cross-legged opposite him, watching the weaving of green and brown strands in silence.

"You should come to Silverymoon with me," Korvallen said at last. "They're calling for a bad winter, we've already had one unseasonable snow, and you deserve better than this lonely life you've been pushed into."

That made Drizzt glance up at his face, seeing an honest offer.

"I think I am a fugitive," Drizzt answered with bitterness, "which could cause issues."

"The Arch Mage will ask you to submit to a truth-verification under spell, in front of witnesses, then," Korvallen said, dismissing that. "We'll get it sealed by Khalreshaar's high priestess, post it publicly and send a copy to those Nesméan nitwits."

Drizzt couldn't help but laugh a little at the phrasing. But… if he could actually connect with the people of the Sacred Glade of Mielikki, he could keep learning. Evgin had said he had boundless potential for being a ranger, but some things couldn't just be instinct alone.

And Korvallen's continued presence, the offer alone, was touching on all of his need to actually have contact with others.

"I have nothing to offer. Evgin told me that life in towns and cities required coin, to always keep coin on me so I could get a meal and a bath if I went into one. But I know I do not keep enough to survive for months. Here, I have food, shelter, and water at no cost but the work I put into it."

Korvallen snorted at that. "Ranger, the Knights in Silver hire people like you, and while winter is calmer, there's always teaching you could do. You also have the Arch Mage's personal gratitude, both for saving me and for learning why those orcs were there.

"The clergy of Khalreshaar hold funds and lodging for those druids and rangers that prefer to spend the winters in civilized places. Now, are you going to stop coming up with excuses?"

Drizzt wound up smiling brightly, but he ducked his head a little, embarrassed by being called on his excuse-making. When he looked back up, there was the briefest wonder on Korvallen's face, quickly put aside for the more professional mask.

"Can you arrange for the garrison to come get the food and hides? I don't want it to go to waste," Drizzt told him, accepting the offer… and making it clear he believed Korvallen by burning the bridge of his hidden place.

"I will, and I'll help you pack up what you salvaged from the old ranger's home."

Chapter 5

The squire on the gate merely saluted briefly, even if Saer Senahye wasn't in armor. It didn't matter that a drow was walking in with him; Korvallen was carrying his sword, and the wards had marked it as genuine. If Korvallen had led a dragon in, they would have just accepted it.

Sometimes Kor made himself sick coming up with the ways Elué's tricks could be neutralized, but there were layers upon layers that helped protect Silverymoon, and he would let it go.

"Palace first," Korvallen told his companion. "A proper bath, a long rest, a meal. Your clothes can be laundered — all of them — while you borrow one of my tunics.

"Then, you can go explore your goddess's Glade."

"Has anyone ever told you that you have a tendency to take leadership firmly?" Drizzt asked mildly, but he was smiling when he said it… and it had the same effect on Kor as the first time he'd seen it. What in hell was this strangeness where he was feeling interest in someone?!

"I let you guide on the way here; you have an uncanny strength in finding paths," Kor told him, not dwelling on the way the smile changed the solemn, tragic face into a different kind of beauty. "But yes. I know I'm pushy. I've been pushing stubborn elves and elf-kin most of my life to do what was best for them."

"As it is new to me, I won't — yet — argue," Drizzt said, smile going sly and playful almost.

Damn it, that was even more distracting.

For all that Drizzt had given himself over to the guidance his former patient was providing, he still found it unnerving to walk openly, to be introduced, to have people turn surprise into honest and friendly curiosity.

He was pleasantly full, clean, wearing mended and clean clothing, and now he was meeting Alustriel Silverhand, whom Korvallen called Elué, in the presence of a ranking officer in her city militia, as well as a cleric of Mielikki.

"Korvallen briefly described why we need an official testimony, Ranger Do'Urden. Are you prepared to speak under truth in front of witnesses?"

"Yes, Lady," he said, addressing her directly. She nodded, then cast the spell, had the secretary note that it was in effect, then focused on Drizzt.

"State your name, your profession, and the events of Ranger Morningmist's death."

"I am Drizzt Do'Urden, once Secondboy of the Ninth House of Menzoberranzan, now ranger of Mielikki, trained by Evgin Morningmist for three years.

"Late last autumn, my teacher knew her health was failing, and talked me through the stages to come, and what to do when she did pass." He was trying to be professional, but the grief he still felt over losing her came back. "I escorted a late grain arrival to Nesmé, and returned to find Evgin was abed despite it still being afternoon when I arrived. She told me it would be very soon.

"It was that night. I was reading to her, and between the page turning, she had stopped breathing. I made no effort to start it again, as she had wished peace," Drizzt told them. "When the sun rose, I held vigil beside her body, where we had readied a rock-lined grave. I buried her in her cloak, but not the armor, as she had been having me use that when I went in her stead to aid travelers."

He saw them all take note of the mithral mail that peeked out under the hem of his tunic on that.

"Will you tell us the details of after?" the cleric, a woman named Tathana asked. She fascinated him with her many braids and skin that was darker than even Korvallen's.

"I began to ready for travel in the spring, fully intending to live there that winter and then go, as she and I had spoken of. Instead, a group of a dozen or so people of the region came to accuse me of murder." He had to stop, pain lancing through him, before he raised his jaw. "If I had killed her, why would I do everything in my power to avoid hurting that … mob?

"In the violence, when they rushed me and the cottage, an oil lamp fell. The cottage is a burned out wreck, and what few things I managed to go back for all show the evidence of the fire. Yet not one of them was killed because of me. If they were injured by the fire, or died later, I do not know."

"How did you get by for the winter?"

Drizzt dropped his eyes at the officer's question. "I availed myself of a hunter's cabin. I replaced everything I used to get by, and made sure to bring a stag once the hunter was there to begin his year's work."

"Needs must, when it comes to survival, and if you had moved into the lands I protect, none of us would ever begrudge it," Alustriel said. "I will have the official summary delivered to Nesmé, and posted in the city, Ranger Do'Urden. And I offer, on behalf of Silverymoon, citizenship here, so that you have the right to claim my protection on your travels, when the spring comes."

He looked at her briefly, startled by that, and slowly realized the truth magic was making it very difficult to master his emotions properly… which had not done him any harm, apparently.

"I… I accept, Lady Silverhand."

She dispelled the magic then, and spoke a few more minutes with the others, and her secretary, before dismissing them all. Drizzt went out of the room, and Korvallen was there, waiting for him.

"You look like you need time to settle. Come on; we can go sit in the kitchen's gardens to let you be closer to nature."

"Thank you."

Korvallen dropped on Elué's couch, just back from seeing Drizzt to the Sacred Glade, where he evidently meant to remain for the night. Elué was readying for Evenfeast, and Kor was dressed appropriately enough to go with her.

It would be a welcome distraction from his thoughts that ambled all over a certain ranger.

"What was your impression?" he asked, looking over to his friend as her ladies were lacing her into her evening finery.

"A man burdened by tragedy, seeking to rise above his people, with a very good heart."

Korvallen nodded along with that.

"I find myself looking forward to getting to know him, Kor."

The nodding stopped, and he actually frowned, words spilling out before he realized what they were.

"Saw him first, Elué."

She looked at him, matching gazes with him with a touch of surprise in the slow smile that dawned.

"So you did," she answered, letting it go rather than twit him over that sudden jealousy.

Drizzt arrived just as Korvallen was readying to go take up his classes with the junior knights for the day.

"If you're not tired, come along?" he invited. "Probably ought to get you your own quarters later, but… for now I have to go drill sense idiots who are certain they know every trick in the manuals."

Drizzt couldn't help but snort. "There's always going to be a fighter that knows a maneuver you do not, or has a way of combining basic ones to confuse you."

Korvallen's whole face lit up and the elf looked at the twin scimitars — gifts Evgin had requested Grimward acquire for him, on one of the goblin's treks to see her.

"Wouldn't mind seeing how you handle those," Korvallen said.

"I'd be glad to train for a time, yes," Drizzt agreed, going down to the courtyard with him.

Damn.

Korvallen was, without a doubt, working harder to hold off an opponent than he had in centuries. Drizzt was relentless, faster than most fighters could dream of, and absolutely precise in where his blades went.

Both of them.

The feeling of perfection was bad enough, pulling hard on all the closed off parts in Kor's soul.

The fact his ranger was lost in joy during their spar, lighting those delicate features with ethereal beauty?

Kor was losing all pretense of holding out against the unwelcome thought of courting a new lover, the longer the spar went.

He finally found a minuscule opening in the defense, pressed the advantage, and watched Drizzt spring away, before crossing his swords across his chest in surrender of the spar.

Laughing.

Smiling.

Radiating bliss for it in the stretch of the mid-day light falling on him.

Damn. Damn. Damn.

Kor was too damned old to do this now, when he hadn't even consciously chosen it with Sharr, merely falling into him as they grew up together.

Drizzt woke from his evening sleep and went out into the main part of the apartment. He opened his mouth to see if Korvallen wanted to get him moved —

— and there were items stacked outside the door, things he knew from Evgin's home, freshly mended. It wasn't much, but the cups, bowls, and tools were well-known to him.

"Won't need them much, here in the palace, but my nephews — sons of my heart's brother — were passing by there, and finished digging things out of the ashes for you," Korvallen said. "I mean… if you want to take up a residence, they could go there, but there's plenty of space in your room for you to have them, to remind you of her."

"Then… you wish me to stay in this room?" Drizzt made himself look at his new friend, and saw a mix of emotions, chief of among them a guarded hope.

"I know you're a ranger, and you'll be gone a good bit. But yes. If you want to be here, with me, when you are in residence, I want that."

There was something to the words, something that made Drizzt's chest tight, and he considered them very carefully.

"We are friends," he finally said. "And… I would like to know more of you, to stay close. I felt… like maybe you understood more of me with so little to know than anyone else."

Korvallen shook his head, but he came over and picked up one of the bundles. "I've hated drow my whole life. But, you aren't like them. Not the ones that nearly killed my heart's brother, did kill others I knew.

"More, you know what it is to care deeply, and lose the ones that matter, which hits something deep inside me."

Drizzt picked up the other bundle and brought it into the room, thinking about those words.

"Your heart's brother?" he questioned after several minutes of them arranging the items on the shelves and bureau.

"Dead, decades now. The only person I ever loved with all I was, that way. I watch over Elué now, their sons, but I miss him still."

That made Drizzt pause, his chest a little tight to be given such a private piece of history and motivation.

"He must have been spectacular, to hold your heart, and give to a family as well."

Kor came over after setting the last piece on a shelf, and faced Drizzt. "Sharrevaliir was a man that lived fully, freely, and confidently. I think you have the makings of doing that as well, now that you have more options available."

The intensity of Korvallen's gaze, the unknown tenor of the words, all made Drizzt feel as if he were swimming in unknown currents, but his instinct was to reach, to take one of Kor's hands.

"I would learn more, if you will teach me?" he said in a low voice.

Kor squeezed, nodding, as they took a step on a path that was uncharted for Drizzt, and terrifying for Korvallen.

Chapter 6

Drizzt looked up as Kolarven, one of the Knights as well as what was called a 'nibling' by Korvallen, stood in front of him in the library. He'd been settled in for nearly two weeks, sharing Korvallen's time when the Knight was present.

In between those times, he was usually either in the library, learning more from books, or in the Glade, learning from the rangers that had come in to avoid the wilds of winter.

"Am I needed?"

He had told the Knights' commander, Besnell, he'd gladly go with any patrol that needed a ranger, especially one who saw well in the dark. So far, he'd only given aid in calming a stallion that had been spooked in the stables so he could be healed.

"Hmm, really just wanting to chat. Care to walk with me?" the sociable half-elf invited, not quite as boisterously as Drizzt had seen them with others.

"Let me give this back to the archivist."

Once that was seen to, Kolarven guided the walk to a sitting room a few hallways over, one that was decorated with murals of elven history, including the Betrayal of Araushnee.

"Something I need to be a lot more blunt about than I usually would be, ranger," Kolarven said as they settled in the chairs there. "My uncle is a man with a long history of dedication to family, a family that was built by the man he loved."

"Sharrevaliir," Drizzt said, nodding. "We've spoken about that."

"My uncle Sharr is the only person my uncle Kor ever loved fully," Kolarven said.

"He told me this as well," Drizzt replied, confused on what they were getting at.

"Until you."

If the ground had opened and swept him back into Malice's presence, Drizzt could not have been more surprised. The kind of love that Kor spoke of, what he saw in the couples (and more) of Silverymoon did not seem to be anything that could embrace Drizzt's life.

"We are friends?" Drizzt said, questioning in his tone as confusion clouded every thing.

Kolarven rubbed their face, looking a little chagrined, and a lot uncomfortable now.

"It's more, from him, Saer Ranger. And I'm stepping up, as his kin, to ask you to be very damned careful with his heart, now that he's actually healed enough to start seeing the chance of a partner."

"I… will, I promise."

He'd have to figure out how… and if that was why his chest stayed knotted when Korvallen was out of the city for his patrols, if it was why he felt a deeper peace when they were together, even if each was doing something completely separate for a task.

"Good."

Korvallen hadn't expected to find Drizzt waiting in their apartment when he got back from the patrol, knowing the ranger was doing his best to become better educated. That Drizzt got up and came over to help with removing the armor was something that felt entirely too right and perfect to the Knight.

"Any trouble?"

"No, quiet as the snow itself," Korvallen told him. Had that been a note of concern?

Slow. He had to go slow with this. Elué had warned him that drow males experienced horrific abuses in their personal lives.

They got the armor settled on the stand for it, and then Kor headed into the bath to finish stripping down, to get clean. By the time he came out in his dressing gown, Drizzt had gotten food up and laid out on the low table.

It was … damned nice to have that touch of domestic comfort in his life. Sharr had done it for him, and he'd done it for Sharr. He'd missed it, missed sharing the quiet moments.

"Your nibling came to speak to me yesterday," Drizzt offered, after they'd finished eating.

"Surprised they hadn't come to start introducing you all over the city, honestly. That one is a butterfly of social energy." Korvallen's amusement, and pride, came through, because Kolarven was dear to his heart as a person and as a fighter.

Drizzt shook his head, small frown on his lips. "They were concerned, and now I have to ask you something."

Korvallen shifted, his own frown creasing his features. "What is it, Drizzt?"

"Kolarven said you… are caring for me? Deeply, not just… friends."

Korvallen muttered in his first language about meddlesome kin, and how he was going to make Kolarven ride border patrol for at least a month —

— and Drizzt covered his hand.

"I do not know how such things happen or are done," Drizzt told him, "but I have thought about it, and if you do feel strongly for me, I want to learn."

"Why? Because I am offering it? Because you think no one else would? Because my kin was probably vaguely threatening at you?" Kor demanded, his pride stung, and his heart hurting for all the reasons he could see now of how this was going wrong.

"Because my chest is tight when you are out of the walls," Drizzt told him, refuting that nonsense. "Because I find myself drawn back to you during your waking hours that you are free, instead of pursing more learning. Because I am happy to just be near you and read quietly.

"And because you can actually keep up with me in a spar."

The reasons had eased a lot of tension, but then that last came out, and Kor actually chuckled. "You mean I can beat you, if I put my effort into it."

"That too."

Kor shifted his hand, lacing his fingers through Drizzt's. "I don't really know how to court, to … make the effort to fall into a partnership. Sharr and I just grew into it. But I know I would like to sit closer, have an arm around you, and just start growing into whatever shape this takes."

"Yes." Drizzt made full eye contact to emphasize his choice. "I want that."

Kor let out a deep breath, and decided maybe his nibling's meddling had been helpful. For once.

A slow, steady progression of being closer, learning intimacy of shared spaces began from that talk. By mid-winter, it was a rare night that didn't see Drizzt actually curling up in Korvallen's bed to share sleep and reverie.

Drizzt was learning that sometimes, being close like that, made his body react in ways that brought shame. Korvallen would usually lie on his back then, posture fully open, and let Drizzt arrange himself so that he was neither trapped nor touching in the way that brought that back to mind.

"Your body hungers, but your mind remembers something terrible," Korvallen said one night, when they'd come away from rest with Drizzt's blood racing for how close they had been. "Among the good folk, there are many who feel that having the body violated through sex is almost worse than death, and leaves deeper scars.

"I would listen, if you need to talk it out?"

Drizzt drew in a deep breath, and chose to sit up. Kor adjusted by sitting with him, against the headboard of the bed, wrapping an arm around Drizzt.

"During graduation, they drug us. A priestess who had… been trying to maneuver me into being alone with her took advantage of it." Drizzt had to breathe in and out slowly. "I… did not want to, and yet. It happened."

Kor squeezed. "You're not to blame, my wild one," he said softly. "The body responds to things we don't much care for, and if they had drugs in you, you stood even less chance of controlling it.

"I'm never going to ask more of you than you feel comfortable giving, Drizzt. But your body reacting to me like this is nothing for you to be ashamed of."

"No?" Drizzt's voice was hopeful.

"The next time it happens to one of us, do you want to explore it?" Korvallen offered quietly. "With the understanding we stop if it makes you feel worse?"

"I… it's normal? It's not being — drow?"

Kor chuckled gently, shaking his head. "It's very normal, and it can even be fun."

"Then yes."

For all that Korvallen had been calm in reassuring Drizzt, once his love was off for a day at the Glade, the elf had to go and work out his anger. He'd realized early on that showing his upset over the things that Drizzt had experienced was not easy for Drizzt to endure.

The ranger hated upsetting him, and more if it was over something that was from Drizzt's past.

As shocking as it had been to learn his love was so young, Korvallen had been too lost in the quiet connection to even think about backing away from it, so he locked down his explosions, and then worked them out through complicated training bouts with the other Knights.

Kolarven finally backed off, indicating they were exhausted from this one, and Korvallen stood there, breathing harder than the exercise warranted.

"Are you alright, uncle?"

"I hate drow society."

Kolarven just nodded then, as that had become code for some unpleasant revelation as Kor and Drizzt settled into their partnership.

Drizzt let his head fall back on Kor's shoulder, his breath coming in short gasps, back to Kor's chest. Korvallen kissed along his ear, and that … oh that was making his body try to respond again, but he could feel the fact that Kor was still wound up.

He managed to shift, and remove the cloth around the mess Kor had guided him to making, then he moved away from his love — his lover.

"Show me how to make you feel that good?"

Kor smiled at him, and slipped down on the bed, reaching for Drizzt's hand.

Kor brushed a bit of lint off the cloak's shoulder, then looked Drizzt over. The cloak had been enchanted with protective spells, and the seal of Silverymoon embroidered over the left breast.

"You and Guen be careful," he said. This was the first time Drizzt would go ranging, now the winter had broken enough to allow it.

"I'm going up into the Frost Hills," Drizzt told him. "I… need to know if there really are drow like me up there, but I will come home."

Home. Drizzt had put a little emphasis on it, and Kor stood straighter.

"I'll be here, when you do, my wild one."

They would keep coming home to each other, solid in what they had found together.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30

Tales of Faerun

Entries tagged with rating: mature

Clean and a Bed?

Exploring Together

Catti and Drizzt Reunion

Kor'Verse

Profile

June 2025

Syndicate

Most Popular Tags

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags