A Light in the Dark
Chapter 10
Beanea had retrieved her weapons two days after she and Drizzt were told they could claim their belongings. Drizzt and Belwar had gone out on the most recent mining expedition, she chose not to go with them. But she worried that something should befall the expedition. Of course, if anything did befall the expedition, Drizzt would be there to help take care of things. So, she and Zaknafein remained in the city and amuse the children with stories that were soon to run out. Beanea had been feeling a tugging that may lead her back to the very city she swore she would not return to after she learned that Zaknafein was killed. Was there something there that she was suppose to do, witness, or take? Or did Lloth demand her sacrifice in what Beanea and Drizzt did? There was only one way to know for sure.
In the dead of night, if there was ever such a thing in the Underdark, two figures emerged from a home and made their way to the gates of the city. The taller one led the way from the gates and into the Underdark. She knew that their presence would not be missed until morning, which would give them several hours head start before, if one was sent, a search party went out. The further the two went, the more it seemed like the days faded into each other. At last they came to the forking tunnels, and the taller one led the way down the center tunnel that led the way back to Menzoberranzan. There was no knowing if they would be accepted back into the house as members of the noble family, but it was better than remaining out in the Underdark.
Nabodel's light was nearly out by the time two figures entered Menzoberranzan. Stealthly they moved through the shadows that would not reveal their secrets so easily, the two shadows reached the gated cavern within a cavern. The elder of the two easily, though not as easily as it had wished, levitated over the gate and waited for its smaller and younger companion to do the same. Once done, they walked to the balcony that marked the noble house; and again levitated. Two servants saw the entrance and both rushed off to inform the matron of the arrival.
0o
"Beanea, I'm surprised that you have survived this long," Briza said.
The eldest daughter of House Do'Urden had come to greet the adopted daughter, and had seen the changes, small as they were, that had taken place over the ten years in the Underdark. More darker hair with streaks of white hair, her darken skin had grown paler, even her glowing icy blue eyes were slowly dulling. Yes, Moon Elves can see better in the dark than humans, but they were not equip as the Drow were. Even now, Beanea could just make out Briza standing before her. But the Moon Elf did not need the infrad spectrum to recognize the broad shouldered female Drow.
"You think I would have be killed in the Underdark, Briza? Even being raised and trained by Zaknafein has taught me much more than the mere use of blades."
Briza seemed to have forgotten that fact. Zaknafein had found Beanea when she was a year old, and had indeed raised the Moon Elf through life; all the way to the day that she and Drizzt went off to Melee-Magthere. Even then, there was something about Beanea that Briza could not pin down. What was it? Did Lloth have something bigger planned for this faerie? Briza did not know.
"A shame that Zaknafein isn't here to see you now," Briza shot back. "He would have loved to meet his daughtered-son."
It was something that had been shared among the high priestesses for all these years. Malice had seen Zaknafein treat Beanea as a child he knew he would not truly raise within their society. Beanea was like the daughter he could not fight for, as she became a high priestess of Lloth, and a son he dared not claim. So in fact, Beanea was both a daughter and a son to Zaknafein.
"Enough," Malice interrupted before Beanea could retaliate. "Beanea's return has given hope that Drizzt will return as well. But first, who is this?"
Malice had motioned to Zaknafein, who was doing his best on showing his place, but not having been indoctorinated, it was difficult. Beanea had done her best on teaching her son on the ways of the Drow, but teaching and going through was two different things.
"This is my son, Zak."
There was a surprise that had engulfed all those in the antechamber other than Beanea and Zak. The Drow females knew that Beanea was preganant when she had entered the Underdark; never did they expect both mother and child to survive ten long years. As the high priestesses looked closer, they saw a mix of both Drow and Moon Elf features. What surprised them the most was that Zak had icy blue eyes that glowed in the infrad spectrum.
"No doubt named after the great Zaknafein," Maya said.
"The very same."
"Well then, Beanea, seeing how you are the most skilled with weapons, you are our Weapons Master," Malice said. "You have control of all of our forces that bear our house emblem and of those that House Baenre has granted us. And as female Weapons Master, you are actually under Vierna."
The Moon Elf and youngest female Drow shared a look. The Drow now had to watch her back for that proverbial knife, while Beanea had to watch her footing. Being fourth in line for the throne was not as bad as being first, but that did not lessen the risk.
"What of Zaknafein?"
"Because he has gone this far without being reared, and granted the conditions in which he had lived I will let slide. But I leave Maya to properly raise Zak."
"Of course, Matron Mother." Beanea bowed.
"Now leave."
The four females and Zak left the antechamber, each in the order of their birth; or adoption. Zak caught up to his mother enough to where they could talk via hand codes. It was by far the easest way to talk without inviting Briza's wraith.
"Maya's raising me?"
"It's more like indoctorination than raising. Males are subservant, more like second class citizens than subservant, in the Drow society," Beanea began to explain. "Perhaps I could speak with Maya about it. But do not count on any favors; especially from me."
"Of course. What do I call you? Mother?"
"NO! You need to call me by my name. I may be your mother, but such connections are not...invited within the hiearchy."
"What are you two doing," Maya said, turning around.
"I was merely instructing Zaknafein on how to behaving. I know Matron Malice has said that you were to raise him; but I believe that you should remember that I have had the first ten years of his life; and connections that are not encouraged here had gained deep roots in the Underdark," Beanea said.
"Such connections should not have devloped in the first place," Briza said. At this point, the other sisters have joined in as well. "They should have been cut the second the cord was."
"I did not have any other females with me, Briza. Surely if you spend ten years in the Underdark as I have, you may understand."
0o
Beanea walked into the gym and knew that it has been empty for many years. She walked to the wall that contained all the weapons that she and Drizzt had trained with before settling on the ones that now hung on their waists. Then it was to the war room, where she had gone into only once by accident. Luckily there was no one there, and she was not disciplined for her mistake. The one room Beanea wanted to see, but dared not enter it. It had been Zak's for so many years, it felt wrong going in there. But she was now Weapons Master, and it would not seem right for her to be sleeping in the gym. So, gathering up her courage, Beanea opened the door and walked in.
Everything seemed to be in order. Though she would need to have the clothing changed out. A closer look around showed her the armor that he had worn. That, Beanea had decided, she would keep. Hers was now beyond the point of repair. Perhaps she could see if she could get it refitted to fit her body shape. The room still held Zaknafein's scent. Beanea wanted to remember the smell, but it was time that the room was actually cleaned. Beanea left the room and pulled the cord that signalled the servants that they were needed. Three arrived in due time.
"Clean the bedroom out, leave only the armor," she instructed.
The servants merely nodded and went about their orders. As they did so, Beanea walked out onto the balcony she had gone onto all those years ago when she was but a young Moon Elf child who held no notions of the dangers her new world held.