A/N: Man it's been a long time since I've written. I guess life just got ahead of me. I'm trying to wrap this story up fairly quickly so I can move on to other ideas. This'll probably be one of the last chapters, but don't worry, I have a sequel well in hand! I've been hinting at a really grand adventure in previous chapters, and I really wanted to do that story justice. Therefore, that plot will have a story all it's own. The purpose of this fic is to basically set the stage for the next one.
Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize.
Chapter 10
Alustriel had been hard pressed to find a landing spot with enough privacy for her liking, but eventually settled on a forest clearing several miles from the place Ororo called home. Although there was no one there to witness it, the transportation spell was always spectacular. The air crackled with electricity and light. In the center of the clearing, a ball of energy appeared. Small at first, it quickly expanded to fill the whole meadow, lightning crackling over its surface. Spring grass withered and burned away in the face of the extreme heat and energy. The last snows of winter hissed in protest as they melted away. Finally, with a resounding roar, the energy bubble contracting in on itself and dissipated, leaving nothing more than sparkling wisps of energy playing in the air.
Where there was once nothing more than grass and snow, there now stood seven figures, all clad in medieval looking travel clothes. "Did ye have to land us so far away?" Bruenor grumbled. When he heard Ororo had been found at last, he had wasted no time in packing his things and setting out for Silverymoon with his daughter and son-in-law. Needless to say, the rest of the Companions had been right beside him.
Alustriel simply smiled softly at the dwarf king's gruffness. He was worried for his grandchild and anxious to hold her again. He hadn't seen the child wince she was but a few days old. Alustriel knew better than to take offense. "I didn't want to bring unnecessary attention to ourselves," She patiently explained. "This world is much more crowded than we are accustomed to. Besides, I didn't want to risk that telepath sensing our arrival. I doubt he's an enemy, but as I said, this must be done cautiously. We must better ascertain the situation before confronting your granddaughter. I don't want to be noticed just yet."
Bruenor scowled and kicked a nearby rock, but said nothing else. He knew the Lady was right, as much as it hurt to admit it. He wasn't foolish enough to believe this was going to be easy. Ororo had a life here, it would be cruel to snatch her away from it so suddenly. For about the thousandth time in the last decades, he cursed Lolth and her demons. How dare they do this to an innocent child!
Although he was famous for his cool and stoic demeanor, Drizzt found himself easily as impatient as his friend (though perhaps he did a better job of hiding it). His daughter, his daughter was here, right within reach! He was so close. Lavender eyes turned longingly in the direction Alustriel had said Ororo was. It took all his self-control not to take off that way and run until Ororo was in his arms once more. Soon, He told himself sternly. Very soon, but not yet. He shared a smile with his wife and drew her close. They had dreamed of this day for years, he wouldn't ruin it for the sake of his own impatience.
They all listened to Alustriel as they began walking away from their landing site. The Lady was describing the world they were now in and explaining the many differences between this world and their own. Wulfgar was a bit skeptical about some of the things Alustriel described (horseless wagons and flying machines? Not possible.), but Zaknefein was curious. He couldn't wait to see some of those things, however, both his mother and the Lady had been perfectly clear that they would try to minimize any contact with locals. The seven travelers stuck out like sore thumbs, they had to be careful.
The forest came right up to their destination, allowing the group some much-needed cover. They stayed as deep into the trees as they could, walking with the ease of those who need no path to travel comfortably in the woods. Alustriel summoned enough light for Bruenor, Wulfgar, Regis, and herself to see by while the Do'Urden family melted into the darkness. Drizzt was on point, scouting ahead with his superior night-vision while his wife and son protected the group's flanks.
It was a familiar arrangement, one the Companions of the Hall had used long before Zak was born. The young half-drow didn't even think about it. When together, this was how his family traveled; it felt undoubtedly right. Where would Ororo fit in? Zak couldn't help but wonder. Studying the group's positions, it wasn't hard for him to imagine a fourth form outside the central group, another Do'Urden covering the group's rear, another black-skinned wraith slipping silently among the shadows. The thought brought an unseen grin to his face. The fit would be seamless, he decided. The formation was good now, offering early warning from three directions. But with Ororo's addition, it would be perfect. The glare of distant lights broke him from his thoughts. In the distance he could see their destination, an enormous ivy covered mansion. His sister was in there. His grin grew wider as he picked up his pace.
Drizzt was waiting for them, crouched atop the high wall that surrounded the X-Mansion's property. None commented on his apparently precarious position, they knew the ranger well enough to know he was in no danger. Zak used a nearby tree to join his father. "What do you think?" He whispered, studying to open expanse between the trees and the structure.
"I sense no sentries or wards," The elder ranger answered. "But in this world I'm not entirely certain what I'm looking for. Defenses may well be hidden by the same magics that machines fly by or wagons pull themselves."
Zak nodded in understanding. "Perhaps we will see more from the ground." He suggested, making as if to jump down.
"Wait!" Zak stopped out of reflex at his father's blocking hand. Drizzt stared hard at the ground below him, picking up several flashes of buried metal and concealed machines. Though he pushed his imagination to the limit, he couldn't guess what they might do, but the manner by which they were concealed implied they were weapons of some sort. The ranger turned back to his son with a smile. "I think I just found our missing defenses." He explained shortly before jumping down to join the rest of the group. After taking one last look at the mansion, Zaknefein did the same.
Cattie-Brie was the first to speak. "What did ye see?" She asked, addressing her husband.
"There are, what I assume, are significant defenses surrounding the building. I don't know what the purpose of those machines might be. They are too strange to me." He admitted.
Everyone was silent for a moment while they processed that. "So," Regis began tentatively, "How do we get in?"
"There's always the direct approach." Bruenor suggested. "If these durned machines won't let us get close to Ororo, we just go up 'n knock on the door."
"Delicate handling," Alustriel reminded for about the thousandth time. "We must find some way to be subtle."
"Perhaps if Cattie-Brie or I walk up and knock on the door?" Wulfgar suggested. "There are no dwarves, halflings, or elves here, and (you'll forgive me, Lady, for saying so) your silver hair sets you somewhat apart from the common breed. Perhaps if a human came up and knocked on the door, we might find a more gentle way to break the news."
Drizzt nodded, "A good idea, but it'll have to be Cattie-Brie. Your height and strength set you apart as surely as Alustriel's hair my friend."
Wulfgar nodded in acknowledgment of that fact.
"We may as well rest here until daylight." Regis piped in. "No matter the manner of creature knocking on their door, I doubt they'll be hospitable to a call in the middle of the night."
"Agreed." Said Alustriel. After a meal of travel rations (they dared not build a fire), Drizzt volunteered for first watch and the rest of the group laid out their bedrolls.
Once he was sure they were asleep, the ranger returned to his perch on top the wall. Quietly, he took out his panther figurine. Having his daughter so close to him, yet still out of reach was torture. He needed Guenhwyvar's company this night. Within a few moments, a much larger (though equally as dark) figure joined him on the wall.
Guenhwyvar immediately caught onto her master's mood. Letting out a low, comforting growl she laid down beside him, resting her massive head on his lap. She could smell Ororo, the child's scent was everywhere. It was older, different, but still definitely Ororo. There was still that distinctive half-elvin smell mixed with ozone and energy, like caged lightning. She was dearly tempted to try the strange machines on the other side of the wall, she strongly suspected she was fast and cunning enough to make it through. Prudence held her in check though, she was new to this world; she had no idea what those things were capable of. Guenhwyvar growled again, this time in frustration, then forced herself to relax. She had rarely known her master to be without a plan, she was sure he had one now.
The Next Morning-Storm's POV
The sun shining into her eyes woke Ororo Mun…Do'Urden (she corrected herself quickly) from her pleasant dreams. It was a beautiful day, bright and sunny without a cloud in the sky. The weather, as usual, completely suited her mood. Feeling more upbeat than she had in a long time, Storm got dressed and went down for breakfast.
Her good mood couldn't even be punctured by the considering looks she was getting from her fellow X-Men. Ever since she had shared her dream and believed ancestry with them a few days ago, they had been treading carefully around her, as if she were a china cup that might break if jostled too hard. At first it annoyed her (didn't they think she could take care of herself?!), then she felt touched by it (they're only doing it because they care), now finally it just amused her. She couldn't blame them for thinking she was crazy, if it wasn't for this utter belief that it was true, she would think she was crazy as well.
She had reached the bottom of the stairs and was halfway to the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. She could hear Jean answer it behind her. "Can I help you?"
Another female voice answered with a strange, lilting accent. "I'm hoping ye can. I'm trying to find someone, and I think she's here."
Ororo stopped in her tracks, not daring to turn around. She was having trouble breathing, all other sounds seemed to fade. Only a week ago, that voice would've meant nothing to her, an interesting accent, but nothing more. But the images Mystra had put in her head came with sounds. She recognized that voice. She knew that voice. Mustering every ounce of courage in case it turned out to be fake, she slowly turned.
Cattie-Brie looked just as lovely as the images in Storm's head, perhaps more. Even though she was well past her youth, the woman before her had an aura and grace that granted her an inexplicable beauty. Her face and demeanor were warm, but there was a fierce hardness too, like a mountain lion, like dwarven stone.
Cattie-Brie took that moment to look up and over Jean's blocking shoulder and froze. Identical pairs of blue eyes met. Ororo could see the hope, the love, the fear in those eyes so much like her own. Any doubt she had was gone, this was her mother.
Cattie-Brie cursed her own reaction, she knew that Ororo was here, was even hoping beyond hope to see her, but once her eyes' finally found her daughter, she froze. She couldn't hear what the read-headed woman was saying, she couldn't breathe. With her eyes, ears and skin it couldn't be anyone but Ororo, but the little girl was so different. Well of course she's different, ye half-wit, the dwarven part of her shot, ye haven't seen her since she was a baby. Still, knowing it and seeing it were two very different things. I didn't expect her to be so beautiful. Drizzt had been right, Ororo had inherited her features, but her skin and hair were undeniably drow, as well as her delicately pointed ears. Her daughter had that same regal stoicism that Cattie-Brie found so endearing in Drizzt and Zak. There was no mistaking any of them for anything except nobility.
The redhead was still talking, trying to get her attention, but she had eyes only for her daughter, and her daughter had eyes only for her. The rational part of her mind tried to figure out how that was possible. Ororo was only a few days old when she had been taken, she should have no memory of Cattie-Brie at all. But here she was, not looking at her mother with detached curiosity or vague recollection, but fully-fledged shock. Her eyes screamed I know you! Battle hardened as she was, the daughter of Bruenor Battlehammer felt like weeping for joy.
Jean had apparently realized that the woman in strange clothes before her was no longer listening, because she turned to see what had the stranger so enthralled, only to see Storm frozen in the entry hall with a similar expression. Utterly confused and really feeling as if she were missing something, Jean tried to get her friend's attention. "Storm? What's going on? Do you know this person?"
To her annoyance, she was utterly ignored. She was strongly tempted to use her powers and get an explanation, but replaying every morality lecture the professor had ever given, managed to restrain herself. Storm approached them as if in a trance, her eyes never leaving the woman in front of her. She tentatively reached out as if to touch the other's face, but hesitated before contact, as if afraid the woman was about to disappear before her very eyes. "You're real?" For the first time since Jean had met her, Ororo's voice seemed small, meek and choked with emotion.
The
tableau held for a breath, than the stranger leapt at Storm, wrapping
the weather witch tightly in her arms. Jean could just hear the
woman's mumbled words. "Ye know me. Ye know me. Oh me girl,
but I missed ye!"
Storm was holding the woman as tightly as the
woman was holding her, and to Jean's utter shock, they both had
tears running down their faces. Storm, the most stoic person Jean
had ever known, was actually sobbing into this woman's shoulder. Looking at them standing there, Jean felt absolutely flabbergasted. She was definitely missing something.
A/N: Well, there it is. Man, this one took a lot out of me. A lot of Emotional Drama. I'm sorry if I went overboard a little, but the chapter just seemed to take on a life of its own. I actually think it turned out alright. Anyway, tell me what you think. I didn't have my sister read through it like I normally do, so please feel free to point out any typos you may see. Thanks to everyone who reviewed my previous chapter, I hope to hear from you again for this one. Until next time kiddos!