Midsummer
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters are the property of R.A. Salvatore/Wizards of the Coast ©. I don't own them; I'm just examining all their possibilities.
Author's Note: This story is not to be connected at all with "The Lesser Evil:" I am keeping Catti-brie alive and Drizzt relatively "good"…relatively at least. Instead this is both an experiment and a change of pace for me. After writing such a brooding and violent story like my previous one, "Midsummer" will be more in the vein of a bawdy romantic comedy: a genre in which I have really never written, so any constructive feedback is gladly appreciated
"Midsummer" is a story about relationships and personal expression that is rated M for mature themes and sexual references, though it will contain no explicit sex scenes and anyone looking for mindless smut will be very disappointed.
Chapter 1: Dusk after the Dawn
A warm breeze blew from the west, fluttering the leaves on every tree and bringing forth the full aroma of fresh pines and grass. Drizzt Do'Urden stopped in his path, closed his eyes, and allowed his keen senses to absorb all of the wonderful smells and sounds that emanated from Moonwood on this magical night. As the warm wind brought forth the scent of pine, it also carried the shrill peeps of young frogs in a distant marsh and the low whistle of wood pipes in a haunting melody played with great skill by passing satyrs. With a long sigh, he opened his eyes again and continued on the barely trodden path, his eyes scanning the trees and observing how they seemed to dance in the electrified air.
It was Midsummer's Eve: the night when the earth itself seemed to celebrate life and the glory of all things lovely. Every stretch of brush down to the individual leaf seemed to pulse with the energy of pure life as the branches parted to reveal a sky filled with stars glowing more radiant on this night. He laughed to himself, noticing how his surroundings seemed to put him in a blissful mood even though so many troubling thoughts plagued his mind.
Drizzt tried to focus on his sense of the surroundings and not remember what brought him here last time. He had walked through this stretch of wood three months earlier beside his good friend Innovindil, a moon elf who had been his trusted companion and dear friend throughout the horrors of the Thousand Orcs War. The war ended and Innovindil accompanied him on another journey that had been a turning point in his tumultuous life: the trip to Golden Cove where they had retrieved the body of Ellifain. Drizzt paused and tried to shake away the image of her corpse; well preserved by the heavy salt in the sea-soaked clay where she was laid to rest, yet her small, once beautiful form was mummified. It was an image that still haunted his dreams.
It was here where his memory failed him. He only remembered the journey back to Moonwood as a haze, though a haze pierced by Innovindil's warm embrace when the heavy sadness became overwhelming. He did register the trees and the concerned looks on the faces of the other moon elves as they walked through, carried Ellifain's shrouded form in a procession and her people took her body, dressed it in a fine, green robe, and put her on a pyre as Nialian Springleaf, an old and venerable priest of Corellon Larethian, stood over her, his silver hair streaming don his face as his head bowed low, said prayers sending her to the afterlife. Drizzt's mind was numb; he recalled almost fainting a few times during the funeral, though Innovindil held him up, her warm embrace pulling him from his blackness.
It was Innovindil's embrace that kept him from completely falling apart. His fragile state was further bolstered by the elves of Moonwood, Ellifain's people, whose faces and words bore no judgment and showed him the utmost sympathy. They all knew Ellifain had sought to kill Drizzt in her own rage of vengeance. They knew Drizzt had fought her in self defense, and they knew Ellifain was killed in battle, while Drizzt himself nearly lost his life in the process; caught at the end of a fire shield charm Ellifain had purchased from a wizard. It was on that horrible day when their warm words and embraces made him feel as if he was another elf in the presence of his grieving kin and not a peaceful monster amongst goodly people. It was only now when Drizzt could ultimately overcome the horror of that day in Golden Cove and all the grief and guilt that plagued his heart; he knew now he was in the presence of friends who saw beyond his skin and accepted him for who he was.
Drizzt shivered and forced his legs to carry him forward towards his destination, a grove but a mile away where the elves of Moonwood held a large fest every Midsummer's Eve; a night of feasting, games, stories, and all kinds of other forms of amusement steeped in the energy of the evening. He was here on a special invitation from the elves, who desired his presence in happiness instead of sorrow.
The evening was meant to be a time of merriment, yet Drizzt, though emerged from the painful memory of his last visit, was still wrapped in melancholy. All over Faerûn, Midsummer's Eve was the ultimate celebration of love where hearts beat stronger, lovers kissed and embraced with more passion, and beauty could be found by even the coldest creature. Drizzt looked to the ground with a pained sigh for on this journey to a festival of love, he traveled alone.
Catti-brie had been invited as well and both of them had awaited this trip for so long. Both of them had just come from their respective journeys apart; as Drizzt and Innovindil retrieved Ellifain's body, Catti-brie joined Wulfgar to find his lost daughter Colson. Colson was ultimately discovered in a temple of Selune in Waterdeep, where a young woman had given the infant to the priestesses. After a month long journey, she was safe and sound. Shortly after Catti-brie and Wulfgar brought Colson back to Mithril Hall, Drizzt returned after escorting Innovindil back to Moonwood, to a passionate welcome from Catti-brie…as well as the not so warm welcome of spot insurgencies by the new Kingdom of Many-Arrows.
Fighting off the orcs and making alliances with neighboring communities were projects that took most of everyone's time and energy, yet the fighting and negotiating was slowing. Bruenor was finally able to plan their voyage to find the lost dwarven citadel known as the Gauntlgrym, using notes and old maps provided their wizard associates the Harpells and the now-cooperative elders of Mirabar. A few days after Midsummer, Drizzt and Catti-brie would join the rest of their companions in this latest adventure. This would probably be the last night of complete peace either of them would have together for a long time and this blissful holiday was the perfect time to spend it.
It was an occasion he had anxiously awaited for the past few months. Drizzt wanted so much to spend such a beautiful, romantic evening with his beloved Catti-brie, where they would mingle amongst friends and later slip into a private, secluded part of the woods, picnic, and then fully savor each other's flesh. Drizzt had left his usual rounds late that afternoon and practically skipped into Mithril Hall. After reaching his room, he threw off his sweaty mithril shirt, bathed, and picked up a more comfortable white linen tunic he had laid out on his bed that morning, while leaving his green traveling cape on the floor. He then smoothed out his long, white hair, and ran a trace amount of sandalwood musk, a joke gift from Catti-brie after a recent trip to Luskan, through his thick mane. With a satisfied sigh, he happened to glance to his plain, oak dresser and saw a folded parchment with his name written outside in Catti-brie's handwriting.
He picked up the note and read:
Darling,
I know we have waited for this night for so long. That is why I feel horrible about having to cancel our plans. Wulfgar found some pockets of spies in the western end of the woods and we need to find them and take them out before any harm is done. I am so sorry about this. I know this is our first Midsummer together, but I swear I will make it up to you. I say tomorrow night we go out and hunt rabbits, then we can properly camp and make up for lost time. Drizzt, I would like you to go ahead anyway and have a good time with your people. I will try to come along later, though I can unfortunately make no promises. Once again, I am so sorry about this. There will always be next Midsummer.
With all my love,
Catti
That is how matters were left. Drizzt was tempted to not go, yet so many were awaiting his presence on that sacred evening. Ultimately, he swallowed his pride, tried to keep his head high, and walked from Mithril Hall into the growing dusk that turned into what would probably be a lonely night.
I have no reason to be angry, he thought to himself as the sounds of revelry grew louder. Catti needs to root out any potential problems with the orcs. It was just our horrible luck tonight had to be the night. After all, she and Wulfgar are out taking care of business…alone together like they have been on so many occasions.
Drizzt shook his head and tried to chase that lingering thought out of his head. After all, Catti-brie was doing a wonderful job helping Wulfgar take care of Colson now that Delly had passed; leaving him alone with pleading eyes for…
"Damn you, Drizzt," he muttered to himself through clenched teeth.
His mind immediately fell to that wonderful moment when he returned to Mithril Hall after the war. He remembered leaping of Innovindil's pegasus, Sunrise, running to Catti, and sweeping her off her feet in a hail of kisses as he carried her into Mithril Hall, took her into his long abandoned room, and made love to her. Both kissed each other deeply and pressed against each other's bare flesh, fully savoring the one who had been loved and thought lost; both swearing their absolute love between sighs and soft moans mingled with happy sobs. It was the first time Drizzt had ever done this act, but consummating this love that had consumed him for so many years came naturally despite his inexperience and the fact Catti-brie had injured her hip in battle a short time before. In this moment, all was perfect for each of them; blissfully perfect.
Drizzt's mood lifted at this happy recollection. All he needed to remind him of Catti-brie's love was the memory of this wonderful moment, that should have been enough to let him ignore all the time she was spending with her former fiancé, all the missions that drew them apart for days, even the very fact she was not here at all…right?
"Master Drizzt! Master Drizzt!" a little cacophony of voices called from around his legs, breaking him from his troubled reverie.
He looked down to see five small, moon elf children running in a circle around him; all wearing loose robes of various colors, their silver, black, and blond hair tied in braids and bobbing over their small shoulders as all looked up at him with beaming eyes of gold-flecked green and blue.
"Mae Govannen, little ones," Drizzt said with a laugh.
"Mae Govannen, Master Drizzt!" they all said in unison.
"Are you going to tell us stories tonight?" one silver-haired elf maiden said.
"Stories all around," Drizzt said, patting her small shoulder, "you have my word."
"Can you tell us the one about the giantess' cave?" a black-haired lord said, his green-gold eyes beaming
"How about your fight with the orc king?" another lad with black hair chimed in.
"Now don't be hasty," Drizzt replied in a tone of mock scolding, "I am sure there will be time for whatever I have in mind. Have any of the games started?"
"You're in time for the moon dance," one of the boys said grabbing Drizzt's hand and pulling him forward.
With a laugh, he allowed himself to be led towards a small clearing in the wood; a circular piece of ground covered by a canopy of trees, whose branches bore various round lamps of finely carved quartz that glowed a shade of pale blue. The elves had gathered around in a circle, all in a formation ready to begin the dance. He suddenly found his little greeters had scattered to find their respective parents, leaving him alone and marveling at the beautiful sight of the elves in such a serene environment. Gradually, Drizzt inched closer towards the gathering as the main ring of elves as musicians in the front began the beat of drums, the whistle of the wooden flute, and the soft plucking of a lute.
The elves all began their steps towards the other side of the circle as dancers locked arms with their adjacent partner and circled in a slow, yet graceful fashion. Drizzt inched closer to the crowd, readying himself for a grand entrance into the circle of dancers. Then two couples danced in opposite directions, revealing a beautiful, blonde haired moon elf standing on the side of the grounds and smiling; her deep blue eyes meeting the lavender orbs of her honored guest. Drizzt gave a laugh of glee before slowly walking towards her, his muscles relaxed as he held out his hands, beckoning Innovindil forward.
Innovindil was absolutely radiant in a dress of flowing green silk that was loose, yet would flutter in such a way that would outline her lithe, yet shapely form. She drew closer, holding out her slender hands. In a graceful motion, a hand of polished obsidian gently clasped the hand of glowing moonstone as they exchanged smiles. Drizzt bowed, Innovindil curtseyed, and both began their own, perfectly paced steps. The music floated with the breeze and thee sway of the trees as a blue glow from the quartz lamps created a peaceful aura to this beautiful evening. Drizzt inhaled the aroma of fresh leaves mingled with the sweet hint of rose and lavender oil that seeped from Innovindil's hair and felt completely, blissfully at peace.
It was a moment that seemed to defy all the rules of time and space and was merely a floating state of happiness as he danced in perfect harmony with his radiant partner, unable to pry his eyes away from her glowing, blue orbs and the silken mane of gold that hung over her shoulders. Before he knew what was happening, the music gently slowed and came to a finishing crescendo. All dancers stopped in place and gave bows to their respective partners. Drizzt bowed, feeling his senses returning to that plane of existence as he gave out a gleeful laugh, savoring the moment where everything seemed perfect.
"Where is Mistress Catti-brie?" Innovindil asked softly.
"Fighting orcs," he replied with a grimace. "She should be along later."
"That is good to know," Innovindil replied. "I would hate for you to spend Midsummer's Eve alone."
Drizzt's gaze suddenly turned serious, remembering that she too was alone. Her longtime partner Tarathiel, a moon elf who had been Drizzt's ally on many occasions, was slain in by Obould Many-Arrows in battle. The sound of Innovindil's wails after watching her lover taken from her still rang through his ears.
"You don't need to say anything," she said, Drizzt's sad expression speaking volumes already. "I don't consider myself alone. Tarathiel is in Arvandor, yet I know he always watches over us. We also have his memory to keep us company."
Drizzt smiled and gave her a warm embrace.
"Now come," Innovindil said, breaking the embrace and clasping Drizzt's left arm. "This is a night of merriment, and I am about to take you to a bowl of the finest raspberry punch in all the land."
She pulled his arm like one of the small ones would and dragged him forward. He took one second to regain his footing before skipping along after her.
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"And there I was, in the great hall of ice," Drizzt said in a soft, mysterious tone as he eyed the eight little faces staring up at him with looks of wonder. "I was frozen, having just swum the frozen river, where one of my blades slipped from its scabbard. I looked up, trying to find a good place to build a fire. Only I saw her; the giant queen sitting in her icy throne. She was as big as a mountain."
Drizzt leaned forward on the log and spread his arms wide. The little ones gasped as looks of fearful anticipation washed across their beaming faces.
"Were you scared?" one little maiden squeaked.
"I would be lying to say I felt no fear," Drizzt continued, "yet I kept myself together, as I saw my good friend Guenwhyvar coming around the ledge."
The little ones gave soft cheers.
"I looked the giant queen straight in her eyes and said in my calmest voice, 'I would like a fire and for someone to retrieve my blade from the river.' The giantess laughed and said 'You demand much. What will you give me in return?' I pointed to the panther, who slowly crept within a claw's reach of queen's face, and I said, 'I will allow you to keep your beauty.'"
The small elves let out various gasps.
"What did she do next?" a little elf boy shouted.
"The giant queen gave me a luxurious room for the night, with a huge fireplace and delivered my blade on a tray of the finest roast boar in the land."
The children applauded with chiming laughs as Drizzt rose and gave a grand bow.
"Now, young ones," a female elf called, coming over to the crowd, "who wants to join the ribbon dance?"
The little elves cheered and jumped to their feet, walking in the direction of the maiden, though stopping to bow and thank Drizzt for the story.
"It was indeed an honor," Drizzt replied, watching the beaming faces gradually turn around and run off to their next event.
"You certainly have a way with children," Innovindil called from the side. "Have you and Catti talked about having your own."
"No, I guess both of us are too busy chasing after so many other scampering creatures," he replied turning towards his host.
"Still taking that herb mixture you were telling me about," she asked softly.
"Until we are ready," he replied with a small laugh.
"Now tell me again about those mushrooms you found. I'm rather curious."
"It was a secret among the males at the academy in Menzoberranzan, a simple mixture of medicinal fungus that let us not give the priestesses any little presents with out faces."
"I'm sure they were unaware of this mixture."
"Well, they certainly feigned ignorance. I was glad I could find these same mushrooms in the lower levels of Mithril Hall. I figure if Catti is already taking measures, it was only fair that I do the same."
"You will have to share that concoction with Nialian sometime. He is a connoisseur of various herbal remedies. I am sure he would be interested to get a little insight on some dark elf concoctions that do not involve poison."
"I will definitely remember that. I find these days I have become comfortable with the little aspects of my kin that have the capacity for goodness."
"Speaking of which, do you still talk to that scoundrel you told me about? I forgot his name, but doesn't he have an affinity for plumed hats?"
"Oh, Jarlaxle," Drizzt said with a laugh. "No, we haven't talked in years. Sometimes I do wonder what that old bastard is up to."
"Ah, has Drizzt Do'Urden finally found a friend among his kin?"
"I guess you could say that. He is no paladin by any stretch of the imagination, yet he is definitely honorable. So, yes, I guess I have found a friend among my kin."
"You rediscover dark elf remedies with a capacity for doing good and you have made an ally out of another of your kin. I can only think that you have finally become comfortable in your own skin."
"I guess I do know what it is to be an elf now," Drizzt said, a bright smile forming on his ebony face, "thanks to you."
"The only thing I did was push you in the right direction," Innovindil replied in a matter-of-fact tone. "You did the rest."
Drizzt gave a little chuckle in spite of himself. Maybe he had come that far.
"Now, what is this rather nasty rumor I'm hearing that The Ever Watchful Queen has fallen?" he asked.
"Oh yes, it is indeed a tragedy," Innovindil replied. "The tree games aren't for another few hours, so I say we go out and pay our respects."
Drizzt locked his right arm around Innovindil's left and motioned for her to lead him forward.
The two walked away from the festivities and further into the woods down a path carpeted in brush and branches that had once been tread over much at one point in history, yet was now virtually abandoned. The two pushed away low hanging branches as their path further twisted into the forest, both good friends talking about the weather and the various events of the past few months.
After half an hour's travel, the two elves reached a partial clearing below a series of granite cliffs carved into the earth by the passage of time. Drizzt then focused on a spot in the cliffs surrounded by trees and vines that cascaded down on both sides of an outcropping of rock and let out a groan. His memory recalled a formation in the rock that resembled the smooth, angled face of a stern elven woman that had formed by the passage of time on the stones, the cascading trees around her face resembled flowing hair that changed with the seasons. All that was left now was a gouge in the rock where the stern face had crumbled and was now lying in many shattered pieces at the base of the cliff.
"When did this happen?" Drizzt asked, prying his eyes away from the disturbing gouge.
"Just three days ago," Innovindil said. "Some druid friends of ours heard the tumble of boulders from their campsite and passed the news to us. It is indeed sad; she watched over this land for thousands of years. I guess we never thought we would see her fall in our lifetime."
"Not all beauty stands for long," Drizzt said with a sigh. "Time can be the cruelest thing for all of us."
"It can also be the greatest thing we can ever know," she replied. "It was time that created this face in the rock, and time allowed the earth to reclaim her. Time makes us grow, though time ultimately takes us in the end."
"Yet time also delivers us to so many amazing places we do not know of in the present."
"Very good. You have come far."
Drizzt smiled and looked at his companion, who was right beside him, her hand still resting on his arm. He looked into her eyes and noticed how the high waxing moon reflected the gold speckles in those pools of blue. Lost in his moment of contemplation, he wrapped his arm around Innovindil's slender shoulders. The moon elf's muscles relaxed and she leaned in against the drow's body. Drizzt lay his head against hers, inhaling the aroma of rose and lavender oil as Innovindil leaned closer and savored the sandalwood musk that exuded from his soft white hair.
Innovindil raised a hand and slowly ran her fingers through the strands of his thick mane. Gradually, his hand found its way to her hair and savored its softness. His fingers simply savored the beauty that exuded from every golden strand first, then every inch of soft skin along her pointed ears and then her beautiful, angled face, then her full lips. Without a coherent thought, he leaned forward and gently placed his lips on hers. Innovindil stood still for a second to savor the kiss, before leaning in further and allowing her lips to explore his as her tongue gently traveled past. His mouth slightly opened, allowing her to explore every warm ounce of flesh. He gently caressed her neck as she held him closer, her hands running down his back and coming under his tunic, feeling the skin underneath.
Drizzt let out a soft sigh as his hands caressed her shoulders and gradually traveled to the buttons of her dress, which he fiddled with for a second before undoing them. He did stop for a moment at Innovindil grabbed the bottom of his tunic and pulled it over his head, tossing it gently to the ground before fully wrapping her arms around his body, running her lips down his neck. Drizzt threw his head back and closed his eyes, savoring this divine moment as his own hands continued to undo her buttons. Soon, he gently clasped the panels of her dress pulled the garment open, looking down at her bare form in all its beautiful glory.
Her muscles bore the tone of a warrior and were perfectly contrasted by the softness of her small breasts. She opened her arms and allowed the dress to fully slip off before pressing her bare form against his tightly muscled body. Drizzt's mind went blank, though he knew he was kissing her deeply, his hands exploring every inch of her body. He gradually guided her onto her knees, then on her back, lying on the soft grass as he lay beside her and allowed her slender fingers to reach for the strings on his trousers.
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It was already past midnight as Catti-brie steered her gray mare, Nightfall, through the woods. Hopefully, the Midsummer events in Moonwood were still in full swing. Hopefully, Drizzt was not too mad at her sudden cancellation and subsequent late arrival. Her legs carried her through the brush as she ran further and further into Moonwood.
Five hours earlier she and Wulfgar had slain four orc spies who had become dangerously close to Mithril Hall. Soon after her task was done and immediately after reporting on their finds to Bruenor, Catti-brie hastily changed out of her blood soaked leather armor and put on a fresh pair of leather trousers and a loose green tunic edged with black embroidery she had saved specifically for this event. She only gave herself time to clean the orc blood off her skin and rub some rose water through her hair before charging out towards Moonwood. Hopefully, this night could be salvaged.
Catti-brie entered Moonwood at an angle that completely avoided the main roads, yet still followed along the general area Drizzt had mapped out for her months before when she first received the invitation. She knew the woods were relatively free of creatures too dangerous for her to handle due to the efforts of elven patrols and some magic repellents, so she felt comfortable along this path. She also wanted to come through in such a direction where she could surprise Drizzt, who probably spent the night in his usual melancholy, though Catti-brie did hope he found some good games and conversation.
She raced through the forest, her auburn hair flopping in her face as she guided her steed to a slow gallop. She took another brambled path and new she was moving in the right direction. The path broke on a series of rocky hills overlooking a small clearing below. By the description of the cascading trees down the cliff face, she knew this was the location of the famous geographical landmark known as The Ever Watchful Queen, the rock formation actually shaped like the face of an elven woman. .
Catti-brie dismounted her Nightfall, tied her to a tree, and walked further out on the rocky hill to get a better view of this wondrous formation. All she saw was the gouged cliff-face where smooth rock used to be. This was definitely the site, and the site had definitely fallen and taken the appearance of a face lined in green hair that was now completely blank; an image which she found disturbing. Catti-brie sighed; this stop was a disappointment, yet it allowed her to pause and allowed from her tiring journey.
She walked a little ways further until she was on a small cliff overlooking the clearing. Her eyes scanned the expanse of trees and plants, until another sight caught her eye; a flash of white among the green brush. Walking more to the side where the trees were not blocking her view, Catti-brie looked on the cleared, grassy ground and saw the nude figure of a blonde, female moon elf. Tangled in her limbs was the form of a male drow. After a more careful look, she eventually saw their faces, leaned forward, and clasped her knees against the rushing wave through her head.
Catti-brie gently guided herself to sit on a nearby boulder, unable to pry her eyes off the sight of Drizzt, her beloved, her soul mate, her dearest friend, locked in the arms of another woman, let alone a woman she had come to call a friend. Catti-brie wanted to run down and kick him hard, cursing him out and making him realize how he had betrayed her. Instead she sat still, feeling her muscles tremble and a pressure rise in her temples as she watched Drizzt and Innovindil rolling in the grass in the throes of passion.
She didn't know why she was so caught in the moment of this travesty. She only stared at the two lithe, elven forms wrapped together, Innovindil's skin of silvery white and Drizzt's skin of gleaming ebony making the most striking contrast against the bright green grass. Their faces bore the looks of pure bliss; their hair was wild and tangled with blades of grass and a few tiny twigs as their flesh glistened with perspiration. It was a horrible sight that Catti-brie found purely mesmerizing. At last she heard loud sighs and the two separated into two separate heaps on the ground.
Drizzt propped himself on his elbows and focused on the woods to clear his vision slightly, his numb mind beginning to register what had happened. He looked down at Innovindil and gave one last sigh, though this was a sigh of frustration as the full reality set in: he had mad love with another woman, betraying Catti-brie in every way. He had allowed himself to be ruled by his passions without thinking of the consequences, an act which violated some of his deepest principles. In the process he had betrayed his love and likely lost the woman who had become such a good friend to him, their friendship forever changed in this moment of reckless abandon. He sat up as his stomach churned with this realization. Drizzt's gaze then turned upwards, where he saw a mass of auburn hair amid the trees.
He jumped to his feet in one motion, clumsily picking his trousers from the brush and practically tripping to put them on. All the while, he got a better look at the form peering at them through the trees. It was indeed Catti-brie, dressed in the green tunic she said she would wear to the Midsummer festival. He felt the heat rise behind his eyes as his lavender orbs locked with hers, which were surrounded by veins growing redder by the second. Her fists were clenched and her face bore a look of calm, yet burning rage. He barely noticed when Innovindil rose and stood beside him, hastily putting on her dress as her own muscles trembled. Catti-brie just stared at him alone with a look of purest hatred.
"I am so, so sorry," he managed to say, his trembling lips forming the words so they could be easily read at a distance.
Catti-brie could not hear his cracking voice, but she read the words clearly along with the pleading, sad expression in his bright, lavender eyes. She saw his trembling form and even registered Innovindil holding her face in one hand as tears came down her eyes. Catti-brie's gaze, however, never left Drizzt. She wanted to say so many things; instead she whispered only two words Drizzt would read clearly:
"You bastard."
She then turned on her heel and rushed back to her mare, which she untied, hastily mounted, and charged out of the woods, the adrenaline fueling her body as she fled that wretched site in a haze.
After an hour's travel, she reached Mithril Hall, went into her own room, and smacked her bed hard with a long pine walking stick she had picked up from outside the Hall just yesterday. Then she threw the stick against the stone wall, the sturdy wood cracking it into several pieces, before collapsing on the bed in a wave of sobs.
Drizzt would later enter the room, profoundly apologizing through his own tears. She would scream at him, calling him every horrible name in every language she knew. Then they would separate, and then meet later the next day to talk in calmer tones that would become silent.
Eventually the emotion began to wear off in time for them to travel with their companions to find the Gauntlgrym, all the other Companions of the Hall oblivious to the drama. Eventually she said she forgave him, though her heart would tell her differently.
Regardless, the damage was done and nothing would be the same.
Author's Note: This is just the beginning.
The Ever Watchful Queen is directly based off The Old Man of the Mountain, which was a naturally occurring rock formation in Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire that was the shape of a human face. Sadly The Old Man fell to erosion in May of 2003.