Title: Of Like Minds
Author: psycocatgirl
Rating: PG-13 for violence, possible bad language, and possible (mild) slash implications.
Category: Humor/Action-Adventure
Summary: Drizzt rescues a dark elf unlike any he's ever met before… Could he possibly have found another non-evil Drow? Enter Olath Drathir, Arcane Trickster!
Disclaimer: I do not own Drizzt Do'Urden or any of Salvatore's other characters. Wizards of the Coast owns them. The only things I lay claim to are Olath and this story. ^_^
Chapter Two: Home
"Home" was actually just the term Drizzt used for his temporary cave, which resided on a mountainside locally known as Bruenor's Climb. It was a small, rocky cavern that Drizzt had used for most of his time spent in the Ten Towns area, and though he didn't always reside there, it was "home" for the time being. Actually, this time his stay on Kelvin's Cairn was intended to be brief; he was to return to Mithril Hall in a few weeks to visit his friends Bruenor, Wulfgar, and Cattie-Brie.
The frost giants weren't an unknown threat in Icewind Dale, but it was unusual to find a whole band of them so near Ten Towns. Drizzt frowned at the possibility of a giant attack, for though the cities' defenses had improved over the decades, they were still vulnerable if they didn't have time to prepare. The Drow ranger made a mental note to inform Cassius, the spokesman from Bryn Shander, of the recent increase in giant activity before he left for the Dwarven kingdom of Mithril Hall.
In the meantime, however, he focused his attentions on his current guest: Olath Drathir. The other dark elf had a pleasantly surprised reaction to the comfortable little cave, which Drizzt had quickly made livable again by setting up a fire and using some furs to line the cold stone floors. He'd swept all the bracken and wind-driven snow out of the cave with a makeshift pine bough broom. The cave was positively cozy by the time he'd finished.
Olath soon shed his heavy fur cloak in front of the warm fire, using the cloak as extra padding to sit on the floor. The white kitten, Mela, curled up at his feet. "You've quite a home here, Drizzt," the sorcerer complimented, his shivering all but ceased in the warmth of the fire. Drizzt noticed that Olath was not exactly used to the cold weather, and wondered exactly how long the dark elf had been in service to the frost giants. Obviously not long at all.
Drizzt voiced his question as he prepared a pair of rabbits for roasting. "How long have the frost giants held you captive?"
The question came as little surprise to Olath, who answered, "Only a few months. Before that, I was with some orcs, and before that I was part of a thieves' guild." He glanced up nervously at the admission. "Mostly as an information gatherer, you see. I was never very good at pickpocketing or anything. Didn't have the stomach for it." Drizzt nodded for him to continue. "Anyway, before that, I was taken by another band of giants—hill giants—and before that… Well, I don't remember much before that." He shook his head in confusion. "Even my memories of the Underdark are vague. I don't even remember how I got to the surface world to begin with, or who took me here. As long as I can remember, however, I've been bounced around from one band of orcs, or goblins, or giants, or humans, to another. I've only met a few other Drow, and all of them unfriendly. Other elves aren't much friendlier to me, though, for obvious reasons."
Drizzt grimaced sympathetically. He, too, knew firsthand the prejudice other elves and surface folk in general showed Drow elves. Most reacted with fear, and anger, and violence. Shaking away painful memories, he nodded for Olath to go on with his narrative.
"I was never really more than a toy, a pet, to most of those who kept me," Olath continued. "Despite the wicked reputation of my—our—kin, I was never paid much respect. I was more of an amusement or a tool than an actual person. Not that I really minded so much. As long as I did whatever I was told, I was fed and protected reasonably well. However, I didn't really like doing some of the things I was told. If I disobeyed too many orders, I was beaten down and passed on to the next set of masters, which were usually worse." An involuntary shudder ran through his narrow frame, and he scooted closer to the fire.
"I understand what you mean," Drizzt told him earnestly. "I, too, was shunned by my people for my integrity and beliefs, and faced prejudice from most of the folk I met when I came to the surface, for they could not look past the color of my skin to the person within. It has been a difficult life, but I do not blame those who shun me now. It is their loss, I say." He drew his head up proudly, firelight flickering in his lavender eyes.
Olath gave him a look of sincere admiration. "It is good to hear that you have overcome such troubles, and retained so much of your dignity," the Drow said softly, staring into the fire and squinting at the brightness. "I have not kept so much of my integrity, I fear. Being the plaything of so many evil creatures has somewhat broken my spirit."
"Then cast off your shackles, friend," Drizzt told him fiercely, circling the fire suddenly and grasping Olath by the shoulders. "You are free, and no longer under anybody's command. Go into the world, make a name for yourself, prove that you are more than your heritage."
By now, Olath was growing a little frightened of Drizzt's vehement pep talk. "Easy for the great Drizzt Do'Urden to say," he retorted, eyes wide. "I am but a rogue sorcerer, with little skill in either magic or thievery. I'm not much good to anyone, much less myself. I wouldn't last a week alone on the road." He poked at the fire with a stick, stirring up little orange sparks.
His pessimistic view of himself only spurred Drizzt into further insistence. "Then come with me to Mithril Hall. It would be good to have a companion on the road." Truth be told, Drizzt had been a little lonely coming to Ten Towns by himself. Bruenor was too busy with his kingdom, and Cattie-brie and Wulfgar had just gotten married, so were reluctant to go adventuring for at least a little while.
Olath hesitated, considering his options. He was unlikely to find a better offer from anyone else, so he nodded. "All right, then. I will join you, at least for the time being," he decided, adding the last bit to remind Drizzt (and himself) that he was now a free elf and could go where he pleased. He stuck out his hand, and Drizzt shook it warmly.
The rabbits were now spitted and roasting over the fire, their winter fat dripping and sizzling into the embers. Both Drow had a hard time keeping their mouths from watering. Mela was fed a few choice bits of heart and liver, which Drizzt had set aside after skinning the coneys, then the kitten washed her face and fell promptly to sleep in Olath's lap. Guenwhyvar came in just then, dragging a few dead branches for firewood. Drizzt thanked her and stroked the big cat's thick fur.
After a time, Drizzt asked, "Where did you get Mela?"
Olath shrugged. "When I was first given to the frost giants, we raided a village—I stayed behind, of course, with the camp," he was quick to point out, seeing Drizzt's frown. "Anyway, after all was said and done, I felt bad for what had happened to the humans in the village. I snuck down to see it at night, when my 'keeper' was sleeping. It wasn't hard for a Drow elf to sneak past a frost giant sentry in the dark of night." He looked a little proud of this fact. "Most of the villagers had survived, thankfully. The giants mostly just wanted to raid for supplies, and they were in a bit of a hurry. After assuring myself that the village would be able to survive the winter, I started to leave. Then a small cry caught my attention.
"In a barn on the edge of the village, a mother cat had been crushed to death, probably under the foul boot of a giant. She was apparently protecting her kittens, of which only Mela was still alive. Something called me to her, much stronger than her tiny voice. I slipped her into my pocket without a second thought and kept her hidden and safe from the giants. She has been my familiar since then, though she isn't yet full grown." He stroked the white bundle of fur affectionately. Glancing at Guenwhyvar, Olath returned the question. "Where did you find your companion?"
Drizzt shifted uncomfortably where he sat. "It is a long story." Olath's look told him that they had plenty of time for stories, so he relented, though he kept it as brief as possible. "A wizard used to own the panther, but he did not own Guenwhyvar's heart. I befriended Guen, and when the wizard attacked me one day, I was forced to kill him. I took Guenwhyvar with me. It has been my sole companion through many years, and many hard times."
"She's beautiful," Olath complimented, and Guen rumbled her appreciation.
The rabbits were cooked by then, and Drizzt took them off the spit, offering one to Olath. The other dark elf accepted it gratefully, tearing into the meat as though he hadn't seen a decent meal in ages. Studying Olath's slender frame, no longer covered in the thick cloak, Drizzt thought it might be true. Under the cloak, Olath only wore close-fitting breeches, soft boots that (Drizzt suspected) helped Olath step more quietly, and black studded leather armor in rather poor condition. Drizzt made a mental note to help his new friend buy some better equipment, and maybe a weapon, before they set off on their journey.
Drizzt noticed one more item on Olath's person: a collar. It was made of black leather and was very thick, hiding most of Olath's neck from view. A wide metal loop was fitted in the font, possibly (Drizzt thought with revulsion) to attach a chain or a leash of some sort. There was no visible clasp on the collar, which made the ranger wonder how Olath had gotten it on in the first place.
"Can you take that collar off?" Drizzt asked, finishing off the last of his meal.
This question did surprise Olath. "Why would I take it off?" he asked, almost defensively, though there was a waver in his voice that answered Drizzt's question for him.
"Let me take a look at that." He knelt beside the other Drow, running his sensitive fingers all around the collar, searching for a buckle or clasp to release it. The only apparent feature on the collar, however, was the ring. That, and an unmistakable tingle of power that revealed some sort of magical property. Drizzt frowned. "You can't take this off, can you?"
"It was put on by magic," Olath explained wearily, not meeting Drizzt's gaze. "I've been wearing it for as long as I can remember. I presume my first masters put it on me to mark me as a possession. Some of my other masters have tried removing it, but they too could find no way of unlocking the spell on it, nor could they cut through it with a regular knife. My own limited magic has no way of countering it, either." He tried to smile dismissively. "It's not so bad. It looks rather fetching on me, don't you think?"
"You'd look better without it," Drizzt told him, not laughing at the feeble joke. He stood back and drew the Icingdeath scimitar, considering it for a moment. "Hold still."
Before Olath could protest, the cold blade flashed before his face. For a moment, the dark elf thought he'd been attacked, though no pain accompanied the strike. There was a sudden coolness on his skin, and the collar fell to the stone floor, frost edging where it had been cut apart. Olath reached up to feel his neck, unharmed by the blade, and free of the collar for the first time in several decades. "I feel almost naked without it," he laughed, pink eyes misting over with tears. The skin of his neck was scarred from all the places the collar had rubbed it, and crusted over in a few other places, but it felt so good to have the damned thing off! "Thank you… but how did you know your sword would cut it?"
"Scimitar," Drizzt corrected, sheathing Icingdeath now that it had served its purpose. "And I wasn't sure, actually, but I had to try. I figured that a magical blade might be more effective than a regular one, at least when it came to cutting a magical collar." He smiled and picked up the defeated accessory. "I don't suppose you'll be wanting this anymore?" Olath shook his head, and Drizzt tossed the cursed thing into the fire. The smell of burning leather filled the cave briefly, but soon the collar was no more. All that remained was a metal ring, which settled into the ashes of the fire.
"We should get some rest," Drizzt told Olath a short time later. "Tomorrow, I'm taking you into Bryn Shander with me. I've business with the spokesman there, a man named Cassius. He will be anxious to hear of this giant activity so near Ten Towns. After that…" an almost mischievous grin crossed the Drow's face, "we're going shopping."
Olath wore a rather bemused expression as Drizzt ushered him off to bed, wondering what sights he might see in a city like Bryn Shander. He also wondered how people would react to seeing not one, but two Drow wandering within their walls…
***
Author's Notes: Okay, I've decided that this story takes place sometime in between the Icewind Dale Trilogy and the Legacy of the Drow series, since I've only read as far as The Halfling's Gem. If that somehow messes with canon, I apologize, but please bear with me. I'm doing the best I can to keep this fic somewhat canon-accurate (aside from Olath's existence, of course). As I read further into the Drizzt books, I may come back and tweak something if it doesn't fit with canon. However, I doubt it'll be a big problem…
Also, I know these chapters are pretty long and boring so far, but I wanted to go a little bit into Olath's background so we can start getting to know him. Trust me, later chapters will have more action, and probably a bit more humor.
Has anyone caught the pattern yet? The name of the chapter is also the first word of the chapter. I'm going to continue this theme throughout the fic, so if anyone wants to suggest words for me to start the chapter, I'd be happy to meet the challenge. ^_^ Just don't suggest anything stupid like, "porn" or "Twinkies". I'll beat you down with a dead mackerel if you do. *looms*
Yes, I know I put this new chapter up before I got a bunch of reviews. You see how nice I am? ^_~
Another note: I refer to Guenwhyvar as "she", even though I've noticed that Salvatore refers to Guen as "it" in the books. In the Forgotten Realms source book for D&D, however, they list Guenwhyvar as a female panther. Thus, Guen is a "she." Besides, Guenwhyvar sounds like a feminine name, sort of like "Gwenevere," but not quite. ^_^
One last thing before I end this chapter. I'm planning to draw Drizzt and Olath some more, so if anyone has a good suggestion for a picture, feel free to put it in your review. Thanks! ^_^
