This was my first fanfic ever, and my first attempt at writing in over a decade. I thought it was ok, until I reread it before posting here, and now I realize it really sucks. My grammar is almost non exsistant, and my dialogue and characters really need work. But I have decided I will not change it. I am going to use it for a guide of how my skill and ability have hopefully changed. The only reason I do post this the way it is, I am planning on continuing the story. To make any sense at all this will have to have been read somewhere. So please bare with me. Review if you will, I would greatly appreciate it. And yes I am aware this story needs work. Thank you.
The Path Less Traveled
Recognizable characters belong to RAS and WotC. I do not intend to make profit on these or any other characters not belonging to me. I use them here for entertainment purposes only.
The wind was finally dying down after blowing relentlessly for a day and night. Maybe travel would be a bit easier tomorrow thought the big man as he turned to look at his sleeping companion. Although the freezing wind bringing in the winter snows was nothing to the barbarian that had grown up in the wild frozen tundra of Icewind Dale. It affected the sleeping woman by the fire almost as little as it did him. Wulfgar glanced over to the human woman curled up asleep by the fire wondering how far their adopted father King Bruenor of Mithral Hall had gotten in his planning of the coming war with the orcs. Oh well that was for another day first they had to find his daughter. He was still troubled over his wife Delly's death but he had already settled that he could have done nothing else to save her. What troubled him now was the fact she had taken their adopted daughter and given her to the fleeing refugees leaving for Silverymoon. He had to retrieve Colson before the winter set in or he may never find her.
As the horizon started to lighten, Wulfgar woke Cattie-Brie then began to break camp. Time was running out and he was getting anxious to be on the road again heading for Silverymoon. By unspoken consent they ate their morning fare of dried meat and dried summer fruit as they walked.
"Do you think we'll come across them soon?" the young woman asked as she pulled her long auburn hair back into a tail to keep the wind from flinging it into her face.
"I hope so. If Drizzt was right about the path the refugees will take we should come across them sometime after midday today." replied the barbarian as he glanced at the placement of the sun in the sky.
"As many times as Drizzt has made this trip, we will prolly see them about that time then. I'm sure Colson will be fine. Delly wouldn't give her to someone that wouldn't take care of her." stated the woman.
"That's what I'm afraid of. We all know Delly wasn't in her right mind at the end. Cutter could have had her do any number of things and we both know it." said the man as he hastened forward to stop the conversation. Cattie-Brie took the hint and fell into step behind him continuing to scan the brush on both sides for trouble. Who knew what could be out here orcs, bandits, goblins any number of things that the encroaching orcs had stirred up.
No matter how intent the woman was on her surroundings her mind invariably began to wonder to her lover. Wondering how he fared on his own quest. The drow ranger Drizzt Do'Urdon along with their moonelf friend Innovindil had gone to retrieve the corpse of another moonelf, Elafein by name, and to put her to rest in the Moonwood where her people dwelled. She was glad Drizzt was finally coming to terms with Elafein's death at his hands. He hadn't had any other choice but kill or be killed by the mentally unstable elf.
Thinking thoughts of her dearest friend she didn't pay attention to where she was going and bumped into her companions broad back. "What are ye about?" she asked annoyed. Her dwarven accent coming back at her annoyance.
"Don't you smell that?" asked the blond barbarian as he stood nose in the air.
"Smells like smoke." she said looking up to her adopted brother's almost 7 foot frame.
"Yeah it does. I think we may have found them earlier than were planning on. I knew Drizzt would know exactly which trail to take to cut them off before they got too far ahead." he said with a grin ducking under a tree branch. Cattie-Brie had to hurry to keep up with him in his haste to get his daughter back.
Cattie-Brie came upon her stunned companion standing at the edge of a clearing in the forest. She couldn't believe her eyes. The only thing she could think was she had to be looking out on what was a recent battle. Broken weapons, discarded clothing, and broken branches littered the ground in a 10-foot radius in the clearing except for a fresh mound in the middle of what looked like dozens and dozens of foot prints. Oh no, this can't be it. This can't be the end. Not after everything Wulfgar has been thru the thoughts fluttered thru the woman's mind as she started walking the edge of the clearing.
Wulfgar started to the right opposite his worrying friend. He started checking the tracks, flipping over a broken axe to get a closer look. After over an hour of both companions scouring the clearing, mound and the surrounding area they both met in the center to discuss what they had found.
Cattie-Brie knew by the look on her friend, brother and former fiance's face that he had come to the same conclusion she had, but she couldn't let this end here not like this. "I found some tracks that go east toward Silverymoon. Looks like some survived. Someone had to have made this grave. I think we should continue the trail we were on until we find them."
Hands gripping his mighty war hammer Aegis-fang, knuckles whitening from the pressure he seemed to have to push the words out, "I know there are tracks there. But only one set and that they don't look like orc tracks. I haven't been around Drizzt this long to not be able to read prints. You know as well as I do the odds of one little infant surviving this kind of battle."
"Yes but there is a chance tho. As long as a chance exists we should continue." she stated her heart going out to her friend knowing the odds were indeed slim if any his daughter still lived.
Slamming his mighty hammer into the nearest tree the formidable barbarian growled, "I swear I won't stop until I find out what happened to her. Someone did survive this battle and I'm going after them."
As the sun began to sink behind the mountains, the two companions were still following the tracks that led from the clearing and the burial mound. Wulfgar's hope of finding his daughter alive was sinking with the sun. Every minute that ticked by lessened the chances of finding the only survivor of the battle. Could it be called a battle? With the churned bloody ground to the large burial mound. Knowing it was a group of mostly elderly men, a few woman and children on their way to Silverymoon from Mithral Hall. It was more a massacre than a battle. Just another reason that the orcs of Many-Arrows had to be pushed back once and for all come spring.
Cattie-Brie was about to suggest making camp for the night when she thought she saw a light ahead. She moved so she could better see and she was almost positive she saw what could only be a camp fire in the distance between the trees. Pointing she said, "Wulfgar is my eyes deceiving me or is that a fire ahead?"
"I think it is. At this distance we could be wrong tho. Let us take it quietly and we will go see. Perhaps it's the one we've been following from the clearing." he gripped the haft of his hammer as he started off. Cattie-Brie pulled her magical bow from her back and knocked an arrow from her enchanted quiver ready in case the one ahead wasn't entirely friendly.
As they came upon the fire Wulfgar noticed two things the person at the campfire was indeed human and they had two small children with them. He glanced at Cattie-Brie approaching his left, he motioned her to keep going so that they would come at the camp from two different directions. When his companion started on her way to the north side of the camp he straightened and stepped into the camp.
"Well met friend of the road. Would you be looking for a warm fire this night? I would hope you're not looking for more I've had a strenuous few days and would like a quiet night without bloodshed." the lady at the fire stated as Wulfgar's full form came into view.
"Well met . No I am not looking for a warm fire this night." the barbarian gestured to his companion as she came out of the woods on his left arrow still knocked ready to fire in a moments notice. "My companion and I are searching these woods for the Nesme refugees that are on their way to Silverymoon from Mithral Hall. Might you have run across them?" Wulfgar studied the woman in front of him. She cradled an infant in one arm while petting the wild main of a small boy napping on her lap. She wore metal shin guards, plate armguards, a dull breast plate that looked to have seen many battles and the most unusual bastard sword strapped to her back. The pommel was what looked to be a skeletal hand gripping a guard that was a scale of justice. Her hair looked a dull brown braided into dozens of shoulder length braids. She couldn't be called pretty by anyone's standards. He saw the hilt of a dagger on her right hip peeking over the sleeping boys head. She was obviously a seasoned warrior so why the two sleeping children?
Her hand didn't stray close to either of her visible weapons and she kept her voice even and calm, "Sadly I do believe I did cross their path from the very direction you seem to have come from. They were attacked by orcs and all were killed save these two little ones. I gave them their last rites and buried them as best I could. May their souls find rest? May I ask why you and your companion would be searching out these refugees?"
Cattie-Brie and Wulfgar glanced at one, another she shrugged her shoulders slightly as if saying why not tell her it can't hurt. The barbarian took a breath and addressed the seated warrior, "I am Wulfgar son of Beorgnar, and my companion is Cattie-Brie daughter of King Bruenor Battlehammer of Mithral Hall. We are searching for the refugees because they have something that belongs to me. Something that was taken without my permission."
"Well met both of you" the warrior replied tilting her head first to one then the other of the companions before going on, "I am Toleen faithful follower of Lord Kelemvor the Just. I was on my way to Silverymoon on church business when I came across the refugees back there, or what was left of them. What could they have taken that would bring both of the dwarf kings children out this time of year?"
So she knew them.Good this might go smoothly if she knew their reputation. went thru Cattie-Brie's mind as Wulfgar said only, "They took my daughter."
With raised eyebrows, "Your daughter you say? These little ones are the only ones that survived. I found them hiding in a bush a few feet from where the killing took place. As far as I can figure the boy took the infant and ran from the attacking orcs. As of now he hasn't said a word. Can't blame him after everything he's been thru. How old was your daughter? I don't recall any children close to this boys age."
A shiver ran up his spine as the warrior in front of him talked so calmly of the death of children. Perhaps this wouldn't go as smooth as he had first thought.
Cattie-Brie answered for him speaking for the first time, "She was but a babe. Not yet past her first year. I would say close to the age of the one you hold in your arms."
"Well your more than glad to have a look at this little one. If she's your daughter you can take charge of her and if not I'll take her on to Silverymoon with this little one and hand them over to the church." she said as she unwound the blanket from the one she cradled so gently in her arms.
Wulfgar reached for the bundle Toleen tilted toward him. His heart was thumping so hard he was sure it would jump out of his chest. The odds were so low that this little bundle would be his precious Colson. As his large calloused hands wrapped around the babe he remembered the sound of his daughters giggles, the way she always stared straight into his eyes when he spoke to her, just like she knew every word he said. With a prayer to Tymora the lady of luck he took the child and pulled the blanket from her face.
It was Colson! His Colson, his daughter, his little one he had almost given up hope of ever seeing again. With tears in his eyes Wulfgar said, "It's her it's really her."