Well, this is it. The final chapter with the surprise I mentioned..though I'm sure most of you are gonna want to lynch me for it....Enjoy!!
Chapter 37--Fallen Warrior
The demons backed off covering their eyes in pain, but they were the only ones that were hurt by it. The glow faded, but it still surrounded Drizzt and the unicorn like an aura.
Drizzt had never felt anything like this. He was feeling every living thing on the planet, absorbing energy from them. He realized he had regained all his innate abilities he'd lost when he came to the surface. The power built until he cried out with agony. He knew how to use it and he did. The words of a spell were torn from him and the green light sprang outward.
The lesser demons howled and shrieked with pain as the green light engulfed them then they were just gone as if they'd never existed.
"Damn you, Drow!!" Errutu howled, hands clenching into fists.
Drizzt slid from Rogue's back to face the demon and the unicorn backed away. "No, damn you," he said. His hand shot out and seized Errutu's wrist.
"Drizzt!" Catti-brie cried. She tried to go to him, but Wulfgar held her back. "Let go! I have to help him."
"You can't help him. His fate has already been decided by his Goddess," Cadderly said softly.
That made everyone stop and stare at him until a howl of rage and pain sounded from Errutu.
The demon's flesh was being scorched and burned as the green light surrounded. He tore at Drizzt, leaving horrible bloody wounds. The Drow didn't seem to feel them. Suddenly there was another flash of light and Errutu collapsed. The demon was dead.
Drizzt stood motionless for a long minute. His horrible wounds were completely healed as the green light faded He took a couple steps then collapsed.
Catti-brie was the first by his side and gathered him into her arms. "Drizzt! Are ye all right? Why did ye go after them alone? What happened?" she asked as the others came up.
"I…used…nature's power against the demons…I agreed to be a living conduit for it…It's called Nature's Fury, powerful, but it demands a high price," Drizzt gasped.
"What price may that be?" Bruenor demanded.
Drizzt smiled weakly then grimaced in pain. "The wielder's life," he whispered.
Catti-brie let out an anguished cry. "No, ye can't leave me! Ye can't leave our son!" she protested.
"There was no other way. I swore an oath to protect the people of Ten-Towns. Would you have me break it when it was needed most?" Drizzt asked. "You know I couldn't do that, Cat."
Bruenor, Wulfgar, and Regis knelt by their friend as well. The ranger was dying and they all knew there was no way to prevent it.
"You'll never be forgotten, Drizzt. Stories of your sacrifice will be told by my tribe forever," Wulfgar said.
"We'll make sure ye get the highest honor, Drizzt and a tomb fit for a king," Bruenor growled, voice hoarse with grief.
"Goodbye, Drizzt, thank you for being my friend. I will miss you," Regis said. Tears ran down his face.
"I'll make sure Zak be proud of his da," Catti-brie sobbed. "I promise. I love ye, Drizzt."
"I love you too, Cat. Call Guenhwyvar to me. I have little time and I want to say goodbye to her," Drizzt said.
Catti-brie found the statuette and did so.
When Guenhwyvar appeared she seemed to know what was going on. She came to Drizzt and stared into his eyes. Drizzt laid his hand on her shoulder and stared back. He smiled then his hand fell limply to his side as his eyes closed. Guenhwyvar howled in grief. The Drow ranger was dead.
*****************
Drizzt regained consciousness in a green meadow. He sat up and looked around. "Montolio!" he cried.
"Bout time you woke up," Montolio grinned, blue eyes sparkling. He was young again and no longer blind. "Come with me. We have a lot to talk about and Mielikki wishes to speak with you," he said. He offered Drizzt his hand and pulled him to his feet then the walked off together…
The End
Ha, thought I wouldn't do it…didn't ya? *Sniff, sob..* Neither did I…R/R please…Thank you to all those that read this story and reviewed. Thanks and kudos to DragonEyeZ who helped me do these last chapters. See you when I do my next Drizzt fiction, which of course will not be connected to this story in any way.
