Disclaimer: Forgotten Realms belongs to RAS, WotC, and all the wonderful
writers who have contributed to the world of Faerûn. We seek not to steal
the ideas, only to embrace them and create a story of our own. The
characters and the world may belong to RAS, but the plot is our own.
Darkness surrounded them and tendrils of light caressed their faces. The hum of magic and time was in their ears, yet it was all a blur to their eyes. The fabric of the realms was being torn and two young women were in the midst of it. Other forces held sway as they were transformed. These two women, untouched by magic were penetrated by it in a whirlwind. . .and they could do naught but flail in its grasp.
Eyelids fluttered open and one of the young women looked around. "Kristi. . .where are we?"
Kristi sat up and felt her heart flutter in panic. A drow elf had asked her that question, but what was odd was that she recognized the voice. "Alex?"
Alex turned and gasped at what she saw. She looked to her own hands and then back to her friend who was like her. "What's going on?"
"I. . .I don't know. I feel like I'm wearing a costume or something, maybe it's magic or a dream."
Alex took a deep breath. "It's a very vivid dream then."
Kristi noticed that they were speaking in another tongue, yet could understand each other. She was reminded of a book series they both read.
Alex also noticed the sheen to Kristi's eyes, slowly realizing that she must be able to see in the darkness as acutely as Kristi.
"This can't be good," Kristi said standing and looking around.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Alex asked as she also stood looking around.
They were in an alley and upon walking out of it they both froze in their tracks. They were on the outskirts of a city. . .full of drow elves. Their jaws fell slack and they numbly stared. This had to be a dream. . .some illusion.
"We have to get out of here," Kristi whispered hurriedly.
"Agreed," Alex whispered back.
They were under the visage of drow females, yet their walk was human. They did not walk toe heel as the dark elves did, but heel toe. Regardless, male drow avoided eye contact and bowed to them.
Kristi whispered, "if I wasn't scared out of my wits I'd find this amusing."
Alex nodded, "we're underground. . .so we have to find a way to the Surface."
A drow male approached them and bowed reverently. "My apologies Mistresses, but I could not help but overhear. . .do you wish to get to the Surface?"
Alex and Kristi exchanged glances.
"Should we trust him?" Kristi asked Alex in a whisper.
"Never trust a drow," she replied.
"Good point, but what choice do we have at the moment?"
Alex sighed and looked to the drow male.
The male kept his eyes lowered, but a smile of amusement formed on his face. "Well. . .?"
"Quell your insolent tone!" Kristi suddenly shouted. "And address us as Mistress!"
Alex blinked at Kristi in slight shock, but inwardly realized they would have to put up this act.
"Of course Mistress," the male said humbly bowing. "Please follow me."
They both followed the drow until another male strode to block the one that was leading them. "I couldn't help but overhear. . ."
"This is none of your concern," the drow leading them said darkly.
"Of course it is," he replied. In a swift motion he stabbed the drow leading them.
"What do you think you're doing?" Kristi yelled.
"You killed our guide!" Alex said as she looked in horror at the dead drow.
"That guide was not worthy of you two mistresses," he looked at them for a long while. "My name is Pharaun and unless you tell me who you are right now, you will meet a similar end as your guide."
Alex blinked in shock and swallowed hard.
"You lie!" Kristi said gritting her teeth.
"I do not," he said twirling a dagger. "Besides he would have taken you to House Baenre, the First House."
Kristi paused, "then let us go to someplace more private."
"As you wish," Pharaun replied.
He waved his hand in a complex motion, chanting quickly to surround them in a blue light. When the light cleared they were in a decorated chamber, dimly lit.
Kristi whispered to Alex, "I don't know how we're disguised like this. But you may as well take us out of them, there's no point anymore."
Alex nodded and the disguises faded. The girls both wore looks of confusion on their faces as if they weren't sure exactly how they caused the disguises to do that.
Pharaun blinked in surprise, but had a smile at the edge of his lips. "I surmised you were not drow. . .but humans and female ones at that? How can slaves possibly have this power?"
"We're not slaves!" Alex said vehemently.
"Listen, we don't know how we even ended up like that. All we want to do is get to the Surface and go home," Kristi said.
Pharaun flicked his fingers causing Alex to levitate, "you are slaves. You are delusional if you think you can get to the Surface."
Alex's eyes widened and she started to struggle.
"Hey! Leave her alone!" Kristi said charging at Pharaun.
Pharaun let out a breath of surprise as Kristi grabbed his arm and nearly tackled him. Chanting another spell, he levitated her in the air and started choking her.
"Stop it!" Alex said.
"Why should I?" Pharaun said tightening his fist.
"Because we mean you no harm!" Alex pleaded.
Kristi coughed for air and was growing very angry. Pharaun looked down and blinked, he was levitating himself. Narrowing his eyes at the dark haired girl, he increased his choking.
"Tell me, where you are really from?" Pharaun said, not bothered by the fact he was levitating.
"We are from the Surface!" Alex cried out.
Pharaun let them both fall to the ground and floated down on his own volition. Chanting a spell he froze them to the spot, paralyzing their limbs. He muttered about 'travel to the Surface is difficult.'
(Oh my god, I can't move!)
(Kristi! Is that you?)
(Wait. . .you can hear me?!)
(Yes. . .I can, somehow. . .)
(We can speak in each other's minds. . .we couldn't do this before. . .)
(What are we going to do?)
(I don't know. . .)
Pharaun dismissed the spell about Kristi and grabbed her by the collar of her shirt. "Now tell me why I shouldn't kill you like I did your guide?"
"We can help you," Kristi said catching her breath. "Please unfreeze my friend." She inwardly wondered if she caused Pharaun to levitate. "You wouldn't keep us alive unless you were planning on going to the Surface yourself."
"And how can you help me?"
"We just can," Kristi said. "We can journey together and help one another."
Pharaun gritted his teeth and dismissed the spell, dropping Kristi to the ground.
Alex crawled over to her, nodding in agreement with her words.
"Well my dears, it is apparent that I can help you. We shall see if you can help me. You remind me of another. . ." he said trailing off.
Kristi and Alex both cringed at the 'my dears' reference.
"What do we have to do to get to the Surface?" Alex asked.
"You will have to get permission from the First House, House Baenre. That is a difficult task indeed, so you will have to undertake the disguises you had previously."
"But you saw through those disguises," Kristi pointed out.
"Yeah," Alex said. "What if they see through our disguises like you did?"
"She won't my dears," Pharaun said with an air of confidence. "I have spells that are invisible even to Matron Baenre herself."
Kristi inwardly thought, 'if he calls us dears one more time. . .' but said, "cool. . .I mean very interesting."
Alex swallowed nervously. "What if it doesn't work? What if something should go wrong?"
Kristi turned to her. "Alex it'll be okay, it's either try that or be stuck in the Underdark. Which do you prefer? Death now or death later?" She paused, "that sounds so wrong..."
"Yes, that did sound very wrong. . .I don't want to die!" Alex said looking to her.
"You won't if all goes well," Pharaun said. He was amused at the girls' conversation.
Kristi shook her head and turned to Pharaun, "so when are we going?"
Pharaun looked to them both, "Well, first dear ones, we will rest here for the night and we shall go first thing in the morning."
"I suppose we will need rest," Kristi said inwardly wondering how they were going to sleep.
Alex nodded absently thinking along a similar line.
"Where are we going to rest anyway?" Kristi asked looking around.
Pharaun waved his hand having two cots appear. "You shall sleep here."
"Well that works," Alex said looking to the cots.
Kristi nodded, "okay sounds good, and you're sleeping where?" She eyed Pharaun suspiciously.
"In my chambers of course," Pharaun said. He waved his hand in front of the wall and it opened to a finely furnished bedroom.
Alex and Kristi both looked to the room in awe.
Kristi leaned close to Alex and whispered, "What about. . .you know. . .going to the bathroom? I'm not asking him. Just a random thing, but you know I've always wondered. . .never mind."
Alex turned to give Kristi the oddest look.
Pharaun smirked in amusement as he overheard her with his sensitive ears. "The washroom is the wall to the left, just say spider before entering."
Kristi blinked, "thank you."
"You are quite welcome. Oh and one more thing. . ."
"Yes?" Alex asked looking to him.
"Don't try to leave this room under the threat of a slow and painful death," Pharaun said darkly. "I bid you good night." Walking into his chamber, the wall closed behind him.
"Sure. . .no problem," Kristi replied to the closed wall.
Alex blinked as if trying to process his words.
Kristi walked over to the wall trying to lighten the mood, even though they had essentially been threatened with death. "I've got to learn how to do that."
"Well this is an odd turn of events," Alex said sitting down on her cot.
"I'd say so," Kristi replied going to sit down on her cot. "I mean everything is okay. . .for now at least."
"Shall we try to sleep?" Alex said. "I don't think I really can, not with all these spiders about."
"Thanks Alex for reminding me," Kristi said looking around nervously.
They fell asleep and after a few scant hours a loud explosion awakens them.
"What was that?!" Kristi said alarmed.
Alex sat straight up in bed, "What the hell?!"
Kristi yawned, pulling the covers around her. "I just got to sleep. That noise. . .explosion cannot be good. Not with our luck."
A door appeared in the wall and Pharaun scrambled out of his room to look out his window. A smile formed on his face. "Ahh yes a battle of houses, this is not going to help with my plans at all. . .Oh well it is still fun to watch. My dears, you must see this."
"Oh great, just what I wanted to watch," Kristi said with a sigh. However her curiosity got the best of her and she walked over to the window anyway.
"Beautiful isn't it? Of course it is a battle of the lesser Houses," Pharaun said.
Turning to Pharaun Kristi asked, "What house are you from?"
Alex still clutched her blankets not interested at all in watching houses destroy each other.
"The fourth House, House Mizzrym of course," he replied with an air of arrogance.
"Of course," Kristi absently mumbled. She stared at the window and could feel tears in her eyes as she thought of those just being killed.
"I can see that you are holding back tears. Why are you crying? This is a beautiful sight," Pharaun said looking to Kristi.
Alex looked appalled and said sarcastically, "Beautiful indeed."
Kristi sighed, "It's not beautiful. Even if there are dark elves who perish they still deserve life."
Pharaun shrugged and mumbled, "Humans, no taste for the beauty of life."
Alex stood up, "Beauty is not watching other people die and suffer!"
"I suppose 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder.' I can learn to respect your taste for beauty even if it is twisted," Kristi said to Pharaun. She glanced to Alex nodding to her.
Another boom caused both Alex and Kristi to cringe.
"Now you two dears," Pharaun said. Alex and Kristi cringed, "should get some sleep, we have much to discuss in the morning." He smirked to them, then walked back to his room.
Alex whispered to Kristi, "I hate it when he smirks."
Whispering back, "I'm going to wipe that smirk off his face if he calls us dears one more time. . ." She trailed off and watched him leave. "Oh good, Mr. 'I think suffering is beauty' is gone."
"It's about time."
"Good god I hope we don't mess up. We've got to face the first House and sad as it is, Pharaun seems like our only hope," she sighed, "we're doomed."
Alex shuddered and mouthed, 'the first house.' "But he is a Drow, and remember we should never trust a Drow. He may turn and stab us in the back."
Pharaun sat down at his desk and lightly brushed his fingers on a red gem, with a grin. Its magic allowed him to listen in on the two girls.
Kristi was pondering Alex's words. "Well what if we didn't stab him in the back but the-" She cut herself off. "Great, now I'm thinking like them!" Sighing, "but I know I could never do that."
"Nor could I," Alex replied solemnly. "But, what are we going to do?"
"What we have to do is go along with it," she replied. "We don't really have a choice."
Alex sighed. "Well, we have really screwed ourselves this time."
"You've got that right. Who knows? He could be listening to us as we speak," she ran a hand through her hair. "Maybe I'm just paranoid."
"True," Alex said. "He is a wizard after all, and has many magical items."
"Oh great," Kristi said. After a moment it looked as if she got an idea. "Hmm....we could use our slang he can't understand that."
Pharaun still listened to the girls through his magical gem. "Smart you are little one." He laughed silently. "You would be surprised at what I can understand."
"Hmm, true. We could try," Alex said.
"Shall we?"
Alex nodded. "I hope it works."
"Me too. Okay here we go, damn giiiiiirrrllll!!!! These dark faced salvatores are messed up bad in da heada?" She held back a laugh. "Damn, I'm good thank you Spanish class."
Trying not to laugh, "girl you are soo right, these dark faced salvatores are messed beyond the eye." She shrugged and went along with it.
"Specially that Gandalf, Merlin wannabe neighbor of ours...you know who I talkin bout."
"True be that."
Pharaun blinked and held the gem in his hand. Looking to it, "what in the nine hells?!"
"Yeah giiiirrrrlll his undies so tight he gonna die of no laughin in da hizhouse. He be triiipppin if he think he undastand the languwij of us homies."
Alex looked oddly at Kristi. "Girl you know we not did tell the dark faced salvatore the titles to us that were given."
"True dat," Kristi looked around. She could have sworn she heard an echo but maybe she was just overtired. "That does it, I'm overtired and I'm sleeping in until morning. Whenever morning is since there's no bloody sun."
Pharaun shook his head and said to himself, "These human are quite odd to me." Shutting the gem down he returned to his sleep.
Alex walked to the window and pointed to a large spire in the middle of the city. "That is how they tell the time."
"Oh yeah," Kristi said recalling her reading. "The archmage lights it right? Narbondel?"
"Yeah," Alex said with a nod. She then paused. "Wait just one minute! I just realized something," she shook her head. "We are sooo screwed!"
"What? I thought we were already screwed. So now were doubly screwed! Aw hell!"
"The archmage is a Baenre, correct?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, what is the First house of this city?"
"Oh boy."
"And if we are to meet with Matron Baenre, who do you think will be there?"
"The," Kristi paused then trailed off, "oh no. . ."
"If the archmage is there he will see through Pharaun's spell!"
"Shit! Does Mr. Pharaun know this?!"
"I think he does. . .I hope."
"Well, we have to know for sure. And I'm not waking him up."
Alex ran and started knocking on the wall. "Pharaun?!" She turned to Kristi, "Damn as hell you're not."
"Oh great, piss off the wizard."
"Come on just help me," she looked to Kristi. "Please."
"Oh all right," Kristi paused for a moment. "You want me to try something drastic?"
"Depends on what the something drastic is."
Kristi concentrated and a black mist jetted out from her fingers to a sleeping Pharaun. He mumbled, "What is this which wakes me?"
Alex stared at her for a long moment.
"What? You're not the only one with these new powers all of a sudden. It seems when we got here some kind of doorway was opened inside of us, just full of possibilities." With a slight grin, "I suppose the mist is better than electrocuting him with lightning."
Alex was speechless for a moment. "Are you sure that was a good idea?"
"I didn't hurt him!"
The wall moved and Pharaun entered the room, arms folded.
"Alex has something she wants to ask you." Looking to her, "right Alex?" She mumbled to herself, "hah, I didn't get pushed forward."
"Umm. . .errrr," Alex stammered. She was quite nervous due to the fact that there is a drow wizard in front of her. "Yes, we do have something to ask you." Grinning despite the situation, pushed Kristi in front of her."
"Damn! I mean. . .we have a concern that we'd like addressed."
Pharaun looked to her, "and that is. . .?"
"The archmage is of the first house and if that's whom we see, then won't he see through your spell? We just wanted to make sure you knew so that. . .you know all of us don't die or are tortured. You know, just in case you wanted ample time to plot. . .or I mean mull over this matter."
"Perhaps I do know this already. . .and am fully aware of what will happen to you, but I myself can talk my way out of it."
"Are you so sure?" she smiled far too innocently.
Alex was wide eyed as she pondered the sanity of her friend.
"Nothing is certain in a lifetime," Kristi continued on, "you'll be branded a helper of humans. . .and we wouldn't want that to happen to a powerful drow as yourself. You'd be shunned. . .maybe a shamed one, sure we'd be dead. . .but I'm aware of a. . .worse fate than death. "
Alex's jaw dropped; yes her friend was insane trying to sweet talk a drow.
"Oh quite sure my dear," Pharaun said enjoying Kristi's cringe. "I have talked my way to and from death many times, my sweet."
Kristi gritted her teeth at the 'sweet.'
"And I have seen the glory of the spider queen up close."
"Talk is cheap in the presence of a female and the spider queen's favor can be lost as quick as the blink of an eye," Kristi quickly said.
"You think I don't know this?! I am a Drow and am superior to you Human!"
"Really? You seem a bit angry, anger hides what you truly feel, you should know this. So, you admit what I say is true? Is that a risk you're willing to take?"
"I am in the Spider Queens favor. I have seen her in person in the abyss itself."
Alex started to look worried and she whispered to Kristi, "Maybe we should not have done this after all."
Kristi looked to Alex reassuringly, and then turned to Pharaun. "Oh.well, how would you like a guarantee? A guarantee that we'll both survive the encounter? I have a plan." She turned to Alex, "When have my plans failed?"
Pharaun paused and a smile spread across his face. "Now my dears. . .let us talk I do not think I have heard your names yet."
Alex looked to Kristi skeptically.
Kristi whispered to her, "why does he want to know our names?"
She shrugged, "ask him."
"Why do you wish to know our names?"
"Just for my own personal enjoyment," Pharaun said with a smile. "Now my dears, can I have you names?"
Kristi mumbled, "personal enjoyment." She turned to whisper to Alex, "may as well tell him, if we die at least someone will know our name. . .and yes I know that's grim."
"Thanks for the positive outlook."
"Now for the names?" Pharaun said looking to Kristi.
"Fine. . .my name is Kristi," she looked to Alex.
"And my name is Alex."
"Kristi and Alex? Those names are not heard of. . .even on the Realms of the surface," he said looking to them skeptically. "Tell me where are you really from?"
"I tell you no lie Master Mizzrym we are from the surface realms," Alex said.
Kristi mumbled, "would you believe us if we said we're from another oh say world of reality?"
Alex looked to Kristi quickly, then to Pharaun. "Err she may have hit her head on the way here and is still feeling the effects of it."
Kristi blinked and rubbed her head as if she didn't hear from Alex said. She then started petting her hand whispering 'my precious.'
Pharaun looked to her questioningly. "I see. You say you are from the surface." He looked to Kristi again. "Are you sure she is all right?"
Alex looked to Pharaun hiding a grin. "Sadly she is always like this."
"Hey!" Kristi said. "I'm perfectly 'normal'." She said the word normal while making quotation marks with her fingers.
"I have spells of healing. . ." Pharaun said trailing off.
"No, I'm fine," Kristi said. She was inwardly impressed at the fact he offered her a healing spell. "Thanks, but I can still come up with brilliant master plans."
Pharaun nodded and turned to Alex. "Now, I see a few problems. First of all I do not think we can get into a meeting with the First Mother for at least three weeks."
Kristi felt faint, "Three weeks!"
Pharaun nodded.
Kristi looked to Alex. "How long is a week in drow time?"
"The same as on the Surface realms Kristi," Alex said with a sigh. "And that's even if we can see her in three weeks, it may take longer But how are we going to survive till then?!"
"We have to maintain a positive outlook," Kristi said. "I mean, are there even disguises that can last us for three weeks?"
"I can help you," Pharaun said. "But it will take training and the help of Jarlaxle's Bregan D'aerthe."
Kristi nodded, inwardly wondering what Bregan D'aerthe was exactly. "I can handle training. 'There is no try only do.' How about you Alex?"
"Yes, Bregan D'aerthe and Jarlaxle. I am willing to do all that will help me live."
"I'd say that we're in. What must we do?"
Pharaun nodded. "Good good, now follow me." He walked into his room.
Alex and Kristi followed him and he motioned for them to sit on his bed.
Random Note: (. . .) indicate conversations via a mental link.
Authors' Notes:
K: Well, this was when we first started out about a year ago. . .and we're still going strong. This story has a special place in both of our hearts, so we've decided to share the adventure. The beginning was when we first started RPing (we did this night after night in an RP format and allotted colors to characters in IM), but later we really develop a rhythm. We've got everything saved and are steadily changing it to story format. Also, we've rated the story R because it will get more drowish as time goes on. Hope you all enjoy and drop us a review!
A: Hello readers, and thank you for tuning into this little fanfiction of ours. As Shadowgirl1 stated we have been working on this for quite a while, and figured it was now time to put it into story form. I hope you enjoy reading this just as we enjoy writing it.
Darkness surrounded them and tendrils of light caressed their faces. The hum of magic and time was in their ears, yet it was all a blur to their eyes. The fabric of the realms was being torn and two young women were in the midst of it. Other forces held sway as they were transformed. These two women, untouched by magic were penetrated by it in a whirlwind. . .and they could do naught but flail in its grasp.
Eyelids fluttered open and one of the young women looked around. "Kristi. . .where are we?"
Kristi sat up and felt her heart flutter in panic. A drow elf had asked her that question, but what was odd was that she recognized the voice. "Alex?"
Alex turned and gasped at what she saw. She looked to her own hands and then back to her friend who was like her. "What's going on?"
"I. . .I don't know. I feel like I'm wearing a costume or something, maybe it's magic or a dream."
Alex took a deep breath. "It's a very vivid dream then."
Kristi noticed that they were speaking in another tongue, yet could understand each other. She was reminded of a book series they both read.
Alex also noticed the sheen to Kristi's eyes, slowly realizing that she must be able to see in the darkness as acutely as Kristi.
"This can't be good," Kristi said standing and looking around.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Alex asked as she also stood looking around.
They were in an alley and upon walking out of it they both froze in their tracks. They were on the outskirts of a city. . .full of drow elves. Their jaws fell slack and they numbly stared. This had to be a dream. . .some illusion.
"We have to get out of here," Kristi whispered hurriedly.
"Agreed," Alex whispered back.
They were under the visage of drow females, yet their walk was human. They did not walk toe heel as the dark elves did, but heel toe. Regardless, male drow avoided eye contact and bowed to them.
Kristi whispered, "if I wasn't scared out of my wits I'd find this amusing."
Alex nodded, "we're underground. . .so we have to find a way to the Surface."
A drow male approached them and bowed reverently. "My apologies Mistresses, but I could not help but overhear. . .do you wish to get to the Surface?"
Alex and Kristi exchanged glances.
"Should we trust him?" Kristi asked Alex in a whisper.
"Never trust a drow," she replied.
"Good point, but what choice do we have at the moment?"
Alex sighed and looked to the drow male.
The male kept his eyes lowered, but a smile of amusement formed on his face. "Well. . .?"
"Quell your insolent tone!" Kristi suddenly shouted. "And address us as Mistress!"
Alex blinked at Kristi in slight shock, but inwardly realized they would have to put up this act.
"Of course Mistress," the male said humbly bowing. "Please follow me."
They both followed the drow until another male strode to block the one that was leading them. "I couldn't help but overhear. . ."
"This is none of your concern," the drow leading them said darkly.
"Of course it is," he replied. In a swift motion he stabbed the drow leading them.
"What do you think you're doing?" Kristi yelled.
"You killed our guide!" Alex said as she looked in horror at the dead drow.
"That guide was not worthy of you two mistresses," he looked at them for a long while. "My name is Pharaun and unless you tell me who you are right now, you will meet a similar end as your guide."
Alex blinked in shock and swallowed hard.
"You lie!" Kristi said gritting her teeth.
"I do not," he said twirling a dagger. "Besides he would have taken you to House Baenre, the First House."
Kristi paused, "then let us go to someplace more private."
"As you wish," Pharaun replied.
He waved his hand in a complex motion, chanting quickly to surround them in a blue light. When the light cleared they were in a decorated chamber, dimly lit.
Kristi whispered to Alex, "I don't know how we're disguised like this. But you may as well take us out of them, there's no point anymore."
Alex nodded and the disguises faded. The girls both wore looks of confusion on their faces as if they weren't sure exactly how they caused the disguises to do that.
Pharaun blinked in surprise, but had a smile at the edge of his lips. "I surmised you were not drow. . .but humans and female ones at that? How can slaves possibly have this power?"
"We're not slaves!" Alex said vehemently.
"Listen, we don't know how we even ended up like that. All we want to do is get to the Surface and go home," Kristi said.
Pharaun flicked his fingers causing Alex to levitate, "you are slaves. You are delusional if you think you can get to the Surface."
Alex's eyes widened and she started to struggle.
"Hey! Leave her alone!" Kristi said charging at Pharaun.
Pharaun let out a breath of surprise as Kristi grabbed his arm and nearly tackled him. Chanting another spell, he levitated her in the air and started choking her.
"Stop it!" Alex said.
"Why should I?" Pharaun said tightening his fist.
"Because we mean you no harm!" Alex pleaded.
Kristi coughed for air and was growing very angry. Pharaun looked down and blinked, he was levitating himself. Narrowing his eyes at the dark haired girl, he increased his choking.
"Tell me, where you are really from?" Pharaun said, not bothered by the fact he was levitating.
"We are from the Surface!" Alex cried out.
Pharaun let them both fall to the ground and floated down on his own volition. Chanting a spell he froze them to the spot, paralyzing their limbs. He muttered about 'travel to the Surface is difficult.'
(Oh my god, I can't move!)
(Kristi! Is that you?)
(Wait. . .you can hear me?!)
(Yes. . .I can, somehow. . .)
(We can speak in each other's minds. . .we couldn't do this before. . .)
(What are we going to do?)
(I don't know. . .)
Pharaun dismissed the spell about Kristi and grabbed her by the collar of her shirt. "Now tell me why I shouldn't kill you like I did your guide?"
"We can help you," Kristi said catching her breath. "Please unfreeze my friend." She inwardly wondered if she caused Pharaun to levitate. "You wouldn't keep us alive unless you were planning on going to the Surface yourself."
"And how can you help me?"
"We just can," Kristi said. "We can journey together and help one another."
Pharaun gritted his teeth and dismissed the spell, dropping Kristi to the ground.
Alex crawled over to her, nodding in agreement with her words.
"Well my dears, it is apparent that I can help you. We shall see if you can help me. You remind me of another. . ." he said trailing off.
Kristi and Alex both cringed at the 'my dears' reference.
"What do we have to do to get to the Surface?" Alex asked.
"You will have to get permission from the First House, House Baenre. That is a difficult task indeed, so you will have to undertake the disguises you had previously."
"But you saw through those disguises," Kristi pointed out.
"Yeah," Alex said. "What if they see through our disguises like you did?"
"She won't my dears," Pharaun said with an air of confidence. "I have spells that are invisible even to Matron Baenre herself."
Kristi inwardly thought, 'if he calls us dears one more time. . .' but said, "cool. . .I mean very interesting."
Alex swallowed nervously. "What if it doesn't work? What if something should go wrong?"
Kristi turned to her. "Alex it'll be okay, it's either try that or be stuck in the Underdark. Which do you prefer? Death now or death later?" She paused, "that sounds so wrong..."
"Yes, that did sound very wrong. . .I don't want to die!" Alex said looking to her.
"You won't if all goes well," Pharaun said. He was amused at the girls' conversation.
Kristi shook her head and turned to Pharaun, "so when are we going?"
Pharaun looked to them both, "Well, first dear ones, we will rest here for the night and we shall go first thing in the morning."
"I suppose we will need rest," Kristi said inwardly wondering how they were going to sleep.
Alex nodded absently thinking along a similar line.
"Where are we going to rest anyway?" Kristi asked looking around.
Pharaun waved his hand having two cots appear. "You shall sleep here."
"Well that works," Alex said looking to the cots.
Kristi nodded, "okay sounds good, and you're sleeping where?" She eyed Pharaun suspiciously.
"In my chambers of course," Pharaun said. He waved his hand in front of the wall and it opened to a finely furnished bedroom.
Alex and Kristi both looked to the room in awe.
Kristi leaned close to Alex and whispered, "What about. . .you know. . .going to the bathroom? I'm not asking him. Just a random thing, but you know I've always wondered. . .never mind."
Alex turned to give Kristi the oddest look.
Pharaun smirked in amusement as he overheard her with his sensitive ears. "The washroom is the wall to the left, just say spider before entering."
Kristi blinked, "thank you."
"You are quite welcome. Oh and one more thing. . ."
"Yes?" Alex asked looking to him.
"Don't try to leave this room under the threat of a slow and painful death," Pharaun said darkly. "I bid you good night." Walking into his chamber, the wall closed behind him.
"Sure. . .no problem," Kristi replied to the closed wall.
Alex blinked as if trying to process his words.
Kristi walked over to the wall trying to lighten the mood, even though they had essentially been threatened with death. "I've got to learn how to do that."
"Well this is an odd turn of events," Alex said sitting down on her cot.
"I'd say so," Kristi replied going to sit down on her cot. "I mean everything is okay. . .for now at least."
"Shall we try to sleep?" Alex said. "I don't think I really can, not with all these spiders about."
"Thanks Alex for reminding me," Kristi said looking around nervously.
They fell asleep and after a few scant hours a loud explosion awakens them.
"What was that?!" Kristi said alarmed.
Alex sat straight up in bed, "What the hell?!"
Kristi yawned, pulling the covers around her. "I just got to sleep. That noise. . .explosion cannot be good. Not with our luck."
A door appeared in the wall and Pharaun scrambled out of his room to look out his window. A smile formed on his face. "Ahh yes a battle of houses, this is not going to help with my plans at all. . .Oh well it is still fun to watch. My dears, you must see this."
"Oh great, just what I wanted to watch," Kristi said with a sigh. However her curiosity got the best of her and she walked over to the window anyway.
"Beautiful isn't it? Of course it is a battle of the lesser Houses," Pharaun said.
Turning to Pharaun Kristi asked, "What house are you from?"
Alex still clutched her blankets not interested at all in watching houses destroy each other.
"The fourth House, House Mizzrym of course," he replied with an air of arrogance.
"Of course," Kristi absently mumbled. She stared at the window and could feel tears in her eyes as she thought of those just being killed.
"I can see that you are holding back tears. Why are you crying? This is a beautiful sight," Pharaun said looking to Kristi.
Alex looked appalled and said sarcastically, "Beautiful indeed."
Kristi sighed, "It's not beautiful. Even if there are dark elves who perish they still deserve life."
Pharaun shrugged and mumbled, "Humans, no taste for the beauty of life."
Alex stood up, "Beauty is not watching other people die and suffer!"
"I suppose 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder.' I can learn to respect your taste for beauty even if it is twisted," Kristi said to Pharaun. She glanced to Alex nodding to her.
Another boom caused both Alex and Kristi to cringe.
"Now you two dears," Pharaun said. Alex and Kristi cringed, "should get some sleep, we have much to discuss in the morning." He smirked to them, then walked back to his room.
Alex whispered to Kristi, "I hate it when he smirks."
Whispering back, "I'm going to wipe that smirk off his face if he calls us dears one more time. . ." She trailed off and watched him leave. "Oh good, Mr. 'I think suffering is beauty' is gone."
"It's about time."
"Good god I hope we don't mess up. We've got to face the first House and sad as it is, Pharaun seems like our only hope," she sighed, "we're doomed."
Alex shuddered and mouthed, 'the first house.' "But he is a Drow, and remember we should never trust a Drow. He may turn and stab us in the back."
Pharaun sat down at his desk and lightly brushed his fingers on a red gem, with a grin. Its magic allowed him to listen in on the two girls.
Kristi was pondering Alex's words. "Well what if we didn't stab him in the back but the-" She cut herself off. "Great, now I'm thinking like them!" Sighing, "but I know I could never do that."
"Nor could I," Alex replied solemnly. "But, what are we going to do?"
"What we have to do is go along with it," she replied. "We don't really have a choice."
Alex sighed. "Well, we have really screwed ourselves this time."
"You've got that right. Who knows? He could be listening to us as we speak," she ran a hand through her hair. "Maybe I'm just paranoid."
"True," Alex said. "He is a wizard after all, and has many magical items."
"Oh great," Kristi said. After a moment it looked as if she got an idea. "Hmm....we could use our slang he can't understand that."
Pharaun still listened to the girls through his magical gem. "Smart you are little one." He laughed silently. "You would be surprised at what I can understand."
"Hmm, true. We could try," Alex said.
"Shall we?"
Alex nodded. "I hope it works."
"Me too. Okay here we go, damn giiiiiirrrllll!!!! These dark faced salvatores are messed up bad in da heada?" She held back a laugh. "Damn, I'm good thank you Spanish class."
Trying not to laugh, "girl you are soo right, these dark faced salvatores are messed beyond the eye." She shrugged and went along with it.
"Specially that Gandalf, Merlin wannabe neighbor of ours...you know who I talkin bout."
"True be that."
Pharaun blinked and held the gem in his hand. Looking to it, "what in the nine hells?!"
"Yeah giiiirrrrlll his undies so tight he gonna die of no laughin in da hizhouse. He be triiipppin if he think he undastand the languwij of us homies."
Alex looked oddly at Kristi. "Girl you know we not did tell the dark faced salvatore the titles to us that were given."
"True dat," Kristi looked around. She could have sworn she heard an echo but maybe she was just overtired. "That does it, I'm overtired and I'm sleeping in until morning. Whenever morning is since there's no bloody sun."
Pharaun shook his head and said to himself, "These human are quite odd to me." Shutting the gem down he returned to his sleep.
Alex walked to the window and pointed to a large spire in the middle of the city. "That is how they tell the time."
"Oh yeah," Kristi said recalling her reading. "The archmage lights it right? Narbondel?"
"Yeah," Alex said with a nod. She then paused. "Wait just one minute! I just realized something," she shook her head. "We are sooo screwed!"
"What? I thought we were already screwed. So now were doubly screwed! Aw hell!"
"The archmage is a Baenre, correct?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, what is the First house of this city?"
"Oh boy."
"And if we are to meet with Matron Baenre, who do you think will be there?"
"The," Kristi paused then trailed off, "oh no. . ."
"If the archmage is there he will see through Pharaun's spell!"
"Shit! Does Mr. Pharaun know this?!"
"I think he does. . .I hope."
"Well, we have to know for sure. And I'm not waking him up."
Alex ran and started knocking on the wall. "Pharaun?!" She turned to Kristi, "Damn as hell you're not."
"Oh great, piss off the wizard."
"Come on just help me," she looked to Kristi. "Please."
"Oh all right," Kristi paused for a moment. "You want me to try something drastic?"
"Depends on what the something drastic is."
Kristi concentrated and a black mist jetted out from her fingers to a sleeping Pharaun. He mumbled, "What is this which wakes me?"
Alex stared at her for a long moment.
"What? You're not the only one with these new powers all of a sudden. It seems when we got here some kind of doorway was opened inside of us, just full of possibilities." With a slight grin, "I suppose the mist is better than electrocuting him with lightning."
Alex was speechless for a moment. "Are you sure that was a good idea?"
"I didn't hurt him!"
The wall moved and Pharaun entered the room, arms folded.
"Alex has something she wants to ask you." Looking to her, "right Alex?" She mumbled to herself, "hah, I didn't get pushed forward."
"Umm. . .errrr," Alex stammered. She was quite nervous due to the fact that there is a drow wizard in front of her. "Yes, we do have something to ask you." Grinning despite the situation, pushed Kristi in front of her."
"Damn! I mean. . .we have a concern that we'd like addressed."
Pharaun looked to her, "and that is. . .?"
"The archmage is of the first house and if that's whom we see, then won't he see through your spell? We just wanted to make sure you knew so that. . .you know all of us don't die or are tortured. You know, just in case you wanted ample time to plot. . .or I mean mull over this matter."
"Perhaps I do know this already. . .and am fully aware of what will happen to you, but I myself can talk my way out of it."
"Are you so sure?" she smiled far too innocently.
Alex was wide eyed as she pondered the sanity of her friend.
"Nothing is certain in a lifetime," Kristi continued on, "you'll be branded a helper of humans. . .and we wouldn't want that to happen to a powerful drow as yourself. You'd be shunned. . .maybe a shamed one, sure we'd be dead. . .but I'm aware of a. . .worse fate than death. "
Alex's jaw dropped; yes her friend was insane trying to sweet talk a drow.
"Oh quite sure my dear," Pharaun said enjoying Kristi's cringe. "I have talked my way to and from death many times, my sweet."
Kristi gritted her teeth at the 'sweet.'
"And I have seen the glory of the spider queen up close."
"Talk is cheap in the presence of a female and the spider queen's favor can be lost as quick as the blink of an eye," Kristi quickly said.
"You think I don't know this?! I am a Drow and am superior to you Human!"
"Really? You seem a bit angry, anger hides what you truly feel, you should know this. So, you admit what I say is true? Is that a risk you're willing to take?"
"I am in the Spider Queens favor. I have seen her in person in the abyss itself."
Alex started to look worried and she whispered to Kristi, "Maybe we should not have done this after all."
Kristi looked to Alex reassuringly, and then turned to Pharaun. "Oh.well, how would you like a guarantee? A guarantee that we'll both survive the encounter? I have a plan." She turned to Alex, "When have my plans failed?"
Pharaun paused and a smile spread across his face. "Now my dears. . .let us talk I do not think I have heard your names yet."
Alex looked to Kristi skeptically.
Kristi whispered to her, "why does he want to know our names?"
She shrugged, "ask him."
"Why do you wish to know our names?"
"Just for my own personal enjoyment," Pharaun said with a smile. "Now my dears, can I have you names?"
Kristi mumbled, "personal enjoyment." She turned to whisper to Alex, "may as well tell him, if we die at least someone will know our name. . .and yes I know that's grim."
"Thanks for the positive outlook."
"Now for the names?" Pharaun said looking to Kristi.
"Fine. . .my name is Kristi," she looked to Alex.
"And my name is Alex."
"Kristi and Alex? Those names are not heard of. . .even on the Realms of the surface," he said looking to them skeptically. "Tell me where are you really from?"
"I tell you no lie Master Mizzrym we are from the surface realms," Alex said.
Kristi mumbled, "would you believe us if we said we're from another oh say world of reality?"
Alex looked to Kristi quickly, then to Pharaun. "Err she may have hit her head on the way here and is still feeling the effects of it."
Kristi blinked and rubbed her head as if she didn't hear from Alex said. She then started petting her hand whispering 'my precious.'
Pharaun looked to her questioningly. "I see. You say you are from the surface." He looked to Kristi again. "Are you sure she is all right?"
Alex looked to Pharaun hiding a grin. "Sadly she is always like this."
"Hey!" Kristi said. "I'm perfectly 'normal'." She said the word normal while making quotation marks with her fingers.
"I have spells of healing. . ." Pharaun said trailing off.
"No, I'm fine," Kristi said. She was inwardly impressed at the fact he offered her a healing spell. "Thanks, but I can still come up with brilliant master plans."
Pharaun nodded and turned to Alex. "Now, I see a few problems. First of all I do not think we can get into a meeting with the First Mother for at least three weeks."
Kristi felt faint, "Three weeks!"
Pharaun nodded.
Kristi looked to Alex. "How long is a week in drow time?"
"The same as on the Surface realms Kristi," Alex said with a sigh. "And that's even if we can see her in three weeks, it may take longer But how are we going to survive till then?!"
"We have to maintain a positive outlook," Kristi said. "I mean, are there even disguises that can last us for three weeks?"
"I can help you," Pharaun said. "But it will take training and the help of Jarlaxle's Bregan D'aerthe."
Kristi nodded, inwardly wondering what Bregan D'aerthe was exactly. "I can handle training. 'There is no try only do.' How about you Alex?"
"Yes, Bregan D'aerthe and Jarlaxle. I am willing to do all that will help me live."
"I'd say that we're in. What must we do?"
Pharaun nodded. "Good good, now follow me." He walked into his room.
Alex and Kristi followed him and he motioned for them to sit on his bed.
Random Note: (. . .) indicate conversations via a mental link.
Authors' Notes:
K: Well, this was when we first started out about a year ago. . .and we're still going strong. This story has a special place in both of our hearts, so we've decided to share the adventure. The beginning was when we first started RPing (we did this night after night in an RP format and allotted colors to characters in IM), but later we really develop a rhythm. We've got everything saved and are steadily changing it to story format. Also, we've rated the story R because it will get more drowish as time goes on. Hope you all enjoy and drop us a review!
A: Hello readers, and thank you for tuning into this little fanfiction of ours. As Shadowgirl1 stated we have been working on this for quite a while, and figured it was now time to put it into story form. I hope you enjoy reading this just as we enjoy writing it.