Comfort continued:
Ziggy: Thank you so much for your review! It made my whole week, never mind my day XD
Thanks as well to SteelAndFire and Lessiehanamoray for your reviews :)
Warning: Implied (well, maybe a wee bit more obvious than that) minor domestic abuse. After all, they are drow.
Disclaimer: I do not own Vierna, Zaknafein, Malice or Briza Do'Urden. I wouldn't want Malice or Briza anyway…
Vierna awoke slowly, gradually becoming aware of how warm and comfortable she was, and of the odd sensation of another body lying beside hers. She could feel the Weapons Master's chest rise and fall with his breathing; could both feel and hear his heart beat as she lay closely snuggled against his side.
The little drow child was unused to such intimacy- her mother did not hug her, did not kiss her, did not let her sleep in the same bed. Vierna could not ever remember feeling so secure.
But she needed to go to the bathroom.
"Zaknafein," she whispered, giving a tug to a long, snowy lock of hair. "Zaknafein!"
The male opened drowsy eyes, gracing her with an indulgent smile. She told him of her problem, and he cheerfully left the comfort of his bed to lead her to the little side-chamber well equipped for such situations. When she was done Vierna wandered back to the bedroom proper, to find the male had made a trip to the house kitchens, and returned with a tray furnished with all sorts of goodies. Vierna was not excessively indulged when it came to her diet- any sweets or candies were inevitably eaten by her elder sister, Briza, and even she did not get as much as she would have liked. Their mother, Matron Malice, herself of unusual beauty even by the high standards of the drow, would be livid if anyone knew the efforts she had to go to to maintain her figure. She was excessively preoccupied with inducing her daughters to do the same- and Briza, large and of a naturally sturdy build, was often prey to their mother's waspish remarks.
When this happened Briza was inclined to sulk, and Vierna, under her tutelage, suffered the brunt of it.
It was pleasant to sit on the Weapons Master's bed and feast on her favourite goodies: savoury mushroom and rothe cheese muffins, hot from the ovens; delicate, flaky pastries of rothe meat and mushroom which oozed moss sauce over her fingers, and a sweet drink made from the juice of fruits from the terrible surface world. This drink she had only ever been offered on very special occasions, and great was her delight when the male poured her a cup.
"Our secret," he whispered, holding a finger to his lips and winking. The little girl nodded eagerly, slurping noisily from her cup. While she breakfasted Zaknafein brushed, and even proved proficient at braiding, her hair, listening indulgently to the little girl's happy prattle. Unused to having someone to converse with about childish matters, Vierna was disappointed when the door banged open and her mother strode, scarlet eyes flashing angrily, into the room.
"Here you are!" she snapped at Vierna, before turning her glower on Zaknafein. "And what do you think you're doing?"
"The child had a nightmare, Matron," the male replied demurely, rising from where he'd been sitting cross-legged on the bed behind Vierna and dipping into an elegant bow. "I let her remain the night with me, and thought to give her some breakfast before I returned her to her sister's care. I judged it best to treat a female as well as I was able."
Matron Malice snorted, her thin lips curling in a slight sneer.
"You did, did you? Vierna, get out of here. You're late. I shouldn't further try Briza's patience this morning if I were you."
Vierna slid from the bed and hurried out the door. She had no wish to incur Briza's further displeasure! Behind her she heard the smack! of a hand striking flesh…
oOo
Vierna didn't see Zaknafein for some two or three days after that. She had thought about going to spend another night with the Weapons Master, and of maybe asking him to read her a story- a nice one, not one with any faeries in it- but she thought maybe she had done wrong. Both her mother and sister had been out of sorts with her, and if her mother had reprimanded Zaknafein for his indulgences she worried that he might be too.
Vierna didn't want Zaknafein to be angry with her. She was quiet and attentive to her lessons, and kept herself out of the way of the rest of the house, so that she might avoid the Weapons Master for the time being. But on the third day all the house was required to attend the Chapel, and Vierna was not given exemption.
Zaknafein was there too, walking the aisles amongst the pew-like seats, leading the commoners of the house in the proper chants. There appeared to be a few near-faded bruises on his face, slightly warmer marks than the rest of his skin.
Still, when he saw Vierna he smiled and winked, and the little girl could not hide her answering grin. As he walked past the Weapons Master covertly pressed something into Vierna's hand, and briefly pressed a finger to his lips. She nodded slightly, and he moved on. Looking down at what he'd given her Vierna beheld a sweet, wrapped in pretty paper, of the sort only Matron Malice herself was privileged to have. Eyes wide, the little girl unwrapped the treat and popped it in her mouth, only just able to hold her silence when the divine thing melted on her tongue. Stowing the paper in her sleeve she waited until Zaknafein was facing her once more, and stealthily flashed him a 'thank you' with slightly clumsy fingers.
A broad smile spread across the male's face, and his voice was of exceptional sweetness as he led the congregation in their song.
He might be a drow, but that's still an elf, and all elves are beautiful singers in my book- however, I find it hard to believe dear Zak is normally particularly enthusiastic in leading the choir to Lolth. So this unusual effort is a natural result of Zak being happy.
Vierna, of course, has no idea that Zak is her father. Just in case anyone out there happened to be unaware of that…
