The Illusion of Innocence
This is my first story, so please be kind with the reviews, I had to swallow a great deal of fear to even get the courage to post this as it is. This story is a Drizzt x Catti-brie story, as well as an OC x OC pairing within it. While I try to stay true to the nature of the characters in general, I do confess that like any fanfiction author, some liberties are taken to make the story flow as it should. I claim no right to the characters of Drizzt, Catti-brie and any other of the companions and others that appear in my story. Zaknafein Do'Urden II and Ellemiire Do'Urden however.. they are my babies and such.. please don't steal them. Thanks.
"The violently blowing wind whips through my hair
The mirage (reality) reflecting on your eyes.." --Plenty of Grit by Megumi Hayashibara
Sweat poured down the slender face of the half drow female as she concentrated on the task at hand. She had been in prayer and fasting for a week to her goddess Elistraee, enduring the last of her trials as an acolyte of the church. Her blue-violet orbs reflected her drained state but behind the tired, there was a fierce look of determination that could be said to match that of her human mother. A pale red strand of hair fell in front of her eyes and was hastily brushed away, clinging behind her ear from the sweat. Rising weakly to her feet, Elle felt like she was about to collapse. Her mentor, Lord Malhavoc Sylvariel was standing outside the chamber of endurance, knowing well that his apprentice would emerge victorious.
He himself never had to do this type of trial, he was a Mage Knight, a high level wizard trained to also fight in armor and with a sword and shield. The Mage Knights were Alustriel's arcane army and he was their current commander, a full blooded sun elf. Brushing the golden hair from in front of his intense emerald eyes, he folded his arms across his chest and looked up as the door to the chamber opened and the sweat soaked female stepped out.
" Master.. I.. I did it... I beat... my inner demons.." Elle said, each word almost an effort to just get to come out. Chuckling, the male moved forward and braced the girl upright, walking her down the hall to where the baths were, which he knew she would no doubt want. " I already knew you would.. you are the child of two very tough warriors.. and very strong in spirit.. I did not doubt your success for even a moment." He replied, smiling at the girl. Normally he did not take students but this was a special request from the High lady and he never said no to her... well almost never.
Turning her over to the maids, he laughed and said he would see her after she had dinner and some rest. Elle bowed her head in respect to him, the move almost making her fall over. " Come now ladyship... into the bath you go." Her maid said, pulling the sweat soaked robes from the girl's body. The teenager shyly covered her breasts with her hands, blushing slightly, as she had never disrobed in front of anyone but her mother.. and that was years ago when she was still a kid. It had been 4 years since she had seen her twin brother, father and mother and knew they would be waiting to jump upon her as soon as she made her appearence after the ceremony.
As she washed her body, she thought of all she had been through this past week and how she confronted everything she ever feared and her own darkness in her drow blood. The fight against her evil self had been taxing and painful, as the many bruises and healing cuts upon her pale silvery skin would reveal. Closing her eyes for a moment to relax, she began to feel a plethra of emotions ranging from elation and excitement, to fear and apprehension at the idea that now as a Priestess.. she would have to conduct the sacred dances in the nude. The girl was a very lady like and modest creature by nature, and the acolyte robes were long and covered most of her body, as only the Priestesses themselves were exposed to Elistraee's light.
Finishing her bath, the female stepped out of the tub and wrapped her slender body in a towel and walked through the double doors of the bathhouse and into the acolyte's quarters and to her own dorm room. Once there, she found the priestess uniform laying on her bed, along with a fresh breastband and loincloth. Donning the clothing swiftly, she took the time to look in the mirror, blushing at how her legs were all but uncovered and she was sporting a healthy amount of cleavge... oh her father would have fits, she could just see it now.. him and grandfather Bruenor going completely coo coo banannas over how much of her was exposed. The image of their expressions drew a weak giggle from the girl.
The giggle got the attention of her dorm mate Elissa, whom looked over at her, and smiled. " Congradulations are in order I can see... hopefully I will be called soon for my test and be successful like you Elle." The female said, leaping up from her bunk and bounding over to the half drow and wrapping her in a hug, until Elle squeaked about not being able to breathe. Laughing, Elissa pushed her towards the door. " Now go enjoy your night in the spotlight you silly elf." She said and Elle, laughing weakly, moved out of the room. The walk down the hall to the graduation chambers seemed even more short this day, as the last time she was here, she was listening to the Grand High Priestess lecturing them all on what they would be doing the next four years... now it was her turn to graduate, while the newest batch of Acolytes watched.
As she approached the door, she heard someone squeal her name and knew right away the high pitched exclamation had come from someone she knew very well... her mother Catti-brie. It was only seemingly seconds before the redhead had her daughter in a vice grip of a hug. " You did it me daughter... as I knew ye would be. Yer father and I are very proud.. aren't we Drizzt?" She asked, releasing the girl and stepping back. Lavender irises met blue-violet ones and Elle noticed her father, while shocked at her attire, had the glistening of tears in his eyes... since when did her father get that emotional? Moving over to him, she threw her arms around his neck, her head level to his chest in height.
Drizzt embraced his daughter, not caring about keeping the tough act up today... his daughter had just accomplished four years of training and was a Priestess. He mentally shuddered when he remembered what he was told her ordeal would include and was glad that she was able to come back from that the same sweet princess she always had been. " Father.. are you alright?" Elle asked, concern clear on her face. Releasing her from his hold, he swiped at his eyes. " I am fine Ellemiire... just glad to see you... and by the gods....you've gone and changed a lot on me... I guess the little girl with ribbons in her hair is a thing of the past?" He replied, and Catti-brie laughed. " Me elf... you are getting too worked up.. she be a warrior as well as a Priestess... we seen to that... our babes are growing up..." The female replied, rolling her eyes, wondering if her husband had fallen ill... he seemed to be almost depressed.
After looking over Ellemiire for a moment, she then realized what was bothering him and laughed softly. It was the lack of coverage of her.. female assets that was most likely bothering the drow, that and he seemed to take the idea of her growing up a bit harder than she was. But Elle was always a daddy's girl and the most like her father in terms of personality and a lot of the looks... perhaps it was just natural. But Catti-brie reminded herself how she felt when Zaknafein had started growing up and getting chased by girls, even the dwarven ones and the petrified look on his face when one dwarven girl pinned him down and kissed him. Oh how she could not stop laughing at that...poor boy.
As she looked over at her parents, she noticed a figure not too far behind her father, arms folded across his now broad chest and his gaze downcast. Making quick work of the distance, she threw her arms around the male. " Zak!" She exclaimed as she hugged her twin and after his intial shock wore off, he hugged her back. The two of them were closer than most siblings, being twins and all and their faces nearly mirrored each other, except Zak carried the same lavender eyes that their father had. " Allo Elle... been staying out of trouble I hope?" He asked, a teasing grin on his face. He was most like their fiery mother in personality, though he tended to brood much like their patron. " Why would I be doing anything less? I see you have been training as well?" She said, though it was more like a question, as she noticed the pair of runed twin scimitar hilts sticking up from the sides of his belt. " Yes I have been... mother and father both wear me to near unconciousness on a regular basis." Zak replied, ruffling his twin's hair.
"Come on sister.. lets go get this stuffy ceremony over with.... then I want a spar once you have rested." he replied, as it was something they used to do when she still lived at home with the family. " Okay.. but may Elistraee embrace you.... when you fall!" She retorted with a smirk and the family headed into the chamber for the ceremony.