Chapter 5: To Find a Brother

Solonund's heart was heavy as he made his way east towards Silverymoon. He kept close to the river, looking for the spot where his sister had met her end so many years ago. He came upon a small group cottages. The people were building a new hamlet next to the river just above the Silverwood forest. He looked at the people who were working on a large building. They were using magic to grow the walls instead of felling the trees. They were elves, Sun Elves.

Solonund wondered what they were doing there. "Weren't most Sun Elves making their way to the coast, for ships, bound for Evermeet?" he wondered. Solonund had just come from the coast . He had escorted a group of Elves bound for Evermeet, and was returning to Silverymoon.

Solonund walked up to one of the younger ones and asked, "What are you building?"

"A school for girls," the young Elven boy replied, "King Straan of the keep in the river decreed that all girls who choose to live here in this riverside hamlet must be educated. He believes it will keep prostitution to a minimum as this place grows."

"King Straan? Who is that?"

"The leader of the Straan family, King Onaagran Straan. The finder of the sacred altar. A powerful wizard who has chosen exile from Evermeet due to embarrassing circumstances. The Straans have built their keep on that island in the middle of the river," the boy replied as he pointed to the island, "King Straan hopes to build an area of peaceful trade. So, this soon to be town is being constructed. This town will hold the ferries that take goods back and forth."

"Does Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon know of this?"

"Of course. She welcomes the chance to have Elven masterworks available practically at her doorstep. Plus, with the Knights of the Astral Blade taking residence at Straankeep, it offers additional protection to all towns in the area."

Solonund had heard of the Knights of the Astral Blade in only whispered rumors and bard's tales. He never realized that such an order of fighter clerics actually existed.

"The chosen warriors of Corellon Larethian? Here? I thought they would choose to stay in Evermeet."

"There is still a large temple of them still in Evermeet, but King Straan found the altar on the island about ten years ago, so the sword chosen are all here."

"Of what altar do you speak?"

"The altar of the Sword Shard of course. Even in Evermeet, we thought it was a legend until King Straan found it. The altar contains a crystal, a shaving off of Corellon's own sword. Corellon sharpened Sahandrian there before battle. It is a sacred and holy place that needs protecting. King Straan transported all of his holdings to the island. His family and allies followed soon after."

"Understandable. Thank you for enlightening me."

"You are a Sun Elf, are you not, sir?"

"Half Sun Elf. I am Solonund, adopted son of Montolio DeBrouche, often called Solonund Brasher."

The youngster's eyes went wide and he gave Solonund a respectful bow.

"I am sorry, Sir Solonund DeBrouche! Your good deeds have been sung by many bards among us. I am honored to have met you."

"I did not realize I had such fame. Thank you. I can not stay much longer. I am on my way to Silverymoon, and Lady Alustriel does not like to be kept waiting."

" It is fortuitous that you came when you did. Princes Iagron and Iasa are preparing to go to Silverymoon at this moment. You can travel with them. I am certain they would not mind the company. I will find you a boatman to get you across to Straankeep. "

"Thank you again.."

"Firdill Macath'sheeson Willows, or just Firdill."

"Thank you, the company would be nice. I will accept your offer."

**********

The boatman arrived on Straankeep just in time to load his new passengers onto his ferry.

Prince Iagron was a wizard, and had no reason not to dress as flamboyantly as he wished. Prince Iasa on the other hand dressed in courtly, but tasteful traveling clothes. Each prince was escorted by their royal guardian Knight, and a couple of servants.

Once on the opposite side of the river, they were given horses to use for their journey. Solonund could ride a horse, but he preferred to walk. This time, however, out of courtesy to Georg, the stable master, Solonund was content to ride.

Iagron spoke to Solonund civilly on the journey, but Iagron's distain was clear.

Iasa was cordial and more polite. Iasa explained that Iagron had just recently regained their father's forgiveness after a long exile. The elder Straan prince was moody towards everyone, and Solonund should pay it no mind. Iagron was simply adjusting to being the heir apparent again.

Iasa was glad of his elder brother's return and reconciliation. Iasa had no desire to become the next ruler of Straankeep. He told Solonund of his love for travel and adventuring. Solonund promised Iasa that if Iasa ever decided to go adventuring again, Solonund would gladly accompany him.

"If you do, Iasa, be prepared to take me with you." a feminine voice rang out from inside the helmet of the knight riding to Iasa's right.

"Oh, Katla, not that again. Take off your helmet. It must itch you terribly, and we are not in much danger here. It's a short trip. With such fine horses that Georg had this time, we will be in Silverymoon long before nightfall."

"Is that a command, your grace?" Katla snapped.

"If you are going to be like that, then yes it is."

The Elven female removed her helmet. Two long braids tumbled down past her waist. Her skin was pale and her face was delicate. She wore small gold earrings in her gently curved ears. Her eyes were like violet flowers that bloom at the first of spring. Solonund gasped at the sight of her. This was more than he could fathom. She greatly resembled Willwaren, Solonund's mother. Her eyes were the same color as those of his adopted brother, Drizzt. Her nonchalance reminded Solonund of Montolio. Solonund could not help but stare and try to contain the fluttering in his chest.

"Quit staring like that," Katla said as she whipped her head around to give Solonund a hard stare.

"You are perfect." Solonund blurted out before he could think.

Iasa started laughing so hard that he nearly fell off of his horse. "Only a ranger would think of Katla as a beauty that rare. But truthfully, Katla is very beautiful."

Once Iasa's laughter calmed, he took Katla's hand and stared lovingly into her eyes. She smiled and her cheeks gained a rosy hue. Solonund knew at that moment he had no chance to woo that girl.

Once in Silverymoon, Solonund parted ways with his new companions. He made inquiries among the Harpers to see if they heard of any sign of Drizzt. Solonund had been searching for him since early spring. It was nearing the end of autumn and every lead Solonund had turned cold quickly.

He wanted to repeat the offer he made to his foster brother over a year ago. While traveling with his friend Shun and the Annui, Shun had agreed to have scimitars made specially for Drizzt. Solonund yearned to tell Drizzt the good news.

Solonund's contacts told him of a Drow elf living in the forest of Neverwinter. The Drow in the report was seen helping travelers whenever he could, and trying to find shelter in any city that would allow. So far no city had admitted the Drow. Solonund knew that it had to be Drizzt, and immediately prepared to go to Neverwinter Forest.

On his way out of Silverymoon, he saw Katla, but did not pause to speak. He turned his eyes from her. Katla looked too much like Willwaren. Solonund could not stand to see her, knowing she shared another man's bed.

Solonund could not love any woman more than his mother. Every woman he wooed had an aspect of Willwaren to her. Whenever Solonund made love to a woman, he wished it was Willwaren in his arms.

When his mother first fell in love with Montolio, Solonund was jealous, jealous more like a jilted lover than a son. The feelings of jealousy towards Montolio slowly went away, but Solonund's passionate feelings for his mother never did. Solonund often thought about his feelings, trying to force himself to be less perverse. Yet, whenever another woman fell into his arms, the feelings for his mother welled up inside him, and he could not make it stop. Solonund resolved that Kordon, his birth father, had cursed him with this perversion, and there was no way to remove such a curse.

Perhaps when he found Drizzt, he could talk to him about it. To Solonund, Drizzt was the only family he had left, despite the differences in their heritages.

***********

It took two weeks for Solonund to find Drizzt. Drizzt looked half starved and badly mistreated. It made Solonund so angry, that he decided he needed to kill something. Solonund gave Drizzt some new clothing and gave Drizzt instruction to gather firewood and make camp. Solonund's growling annoyed Drizzt, but Drizzt knew Solonund needed to work out his anger on his own. Drizzt put on the new clothing and waited for Solonund to return.

Solonund was packing a small roan over his shoulders when he returned. Drizzt helped him clean and gut the beast. Some the meat they combined with water and spices that Solonund had brought with him, the rest they cooked over the fire. Drizzt was grateful to Solonund for preparing such a grand feast for the two of them. It had been many days since Drizzt had anything substantial in his stomach. He was not sure he could keep the food down, but he was willing to try.

Solonund said nothing as he hung the spiced pieces of meat up to dry. He knew they would need it for the journey they were going to take. Solonund was positive that Drizzt would follow his advice this time.

Drizzt broke the silence.

"How have you been, Solonund? You look terrible."

"I am fine. I just had a shock a few weeks ago that has yet to work its way out of my system that is all. As for looking terrible, you look much worse than me, Drizzt. I have worried about you."

"I wish I could tell you it has been pleasant since I left Mooshie's grove, but that would be a lie. Most of the time I have been running for my life. Just one look at my hair and my skin and any whom I encounter run from me. If I try to talk, they either pull out weapons or call for someone else that has better weapons. When the surfacers find where I am, they hunt me just like you hunted that deer. They have the same anger in their eyes you had when you went out to hunt."

"You are not an animal, Drizzt, you never were. Never begin to think of yourself as one. The minute you begin to think of yourself as an animal, the process begins to turn you into one. That is the biggest lesson I learned from my time under Kordon's thumb. Kordon turned himself into an unfeeling animal. I refused to turn myself into an animal, like him. I would wish that fate on no one, especially not you, Drizzt. You are the only family I have left now."

Drizzt was stunned at Solonund's statement. He remembered how Solonund swore to be his brother back when they resided in Mooshie's grove, but that was two years ago. Drizzt was surprised to see that Solonund's feelings towards him had not changed.

"What about Shun and the Annui?"

"They are my friends. They care for me as a friend, but they are not family to me. They have never tried to be, and I have never pushed the point. I told you their feelings towards outsiders. They have become very close to me, but I am still an outsider to them. That gives them enough distance to not be felt as family."

"I see. They befriend you as long as you don't get too emotionally attached to them."

"Yes, that is about right. Speaking of Shun and the Annui, they should be heading to the northern border of Thesk about now. If you want to come with me when I go to meet them, you would be very welcome. I have found my travels very lonely as of late."

Drizzt smiled and remarked," Oh, so you have not had the ladies melting into your arms lately?"

Solonund caught his breath. His face turned pale and he got a slight flush to his cheeks. Drizzt immediately became concerned at Solonund's reaction.

"Are you alright, Solonund? If I offended you I am sorry."

"No, Drizzt, I am not offended. I am just reminded of the shock I had a few weeks ago."

Drizzt smiled," So it was a female who put you into such a shock. You didn't use your wooing lines to make her melt. Am I correct."

"Yes."

"There is something about this female that made you not make amorous moves toward her."

"Yes."

"Let me guess. She is married?"

"No."

"She is attached in some other way to another male."

"Yes and no."

"Well, which is it? Yes or no?"

"She loves someone else, but they are not attached or betrothed in any way. But, that is not the reason I was so shocked by her."

"Well then, what is the matter."

"She looks very much like my mother, except for her eyes. Her eyes are the same color as yours."

"You are frightened of her just because she looks like your mother?"

"Yes, and the fact that she is a highborn noblewoman and a knight-priestess serving Corellon Larethian made her pretty intimidating as well."

Drizzt understood that. Any priestess, even if she served a good deity, could be very intimidating.

"Solonund, are you in love with her?"

"I-- I don't know. I am cursed. If I loved her it would make my curse worse. She looks so much like my mother."

"So, she looks like your mother. She is not your mother. You told me when we were in the grove that you had not found any of your mother's relatives. Perhaps she is a cousin?"

"That would make this curse on me all the more worse. You see, Drizzt, I was in love with my mother more than a good son should be in love with his mother. I never told my mother and I never moved upon my mother. I can not woo or bed any female without thinking about doing the same to my mother. It is my perversion and curse. I am at a loss at what to do about it. I am nearly eighty years old. I should have grown out of this a long time ago."

"I see," Drizzt replied, not quite knowing how to respond. He never had feelings like that for his close relatives. He found it repulsive. Yet, Drizzt could see Solonund 's struggle. Solonund wanted to be repulsed by such feelings, but he could not. It was tearing Solonund apart.

"You are afraid of this female because you are in love with her." Drizzt stated flatly, " You are not as perverse as you make yourself out to be. You never wooed or bedded your mother. You were too much of a good son to disrespect her like that. You loved your mother because she was the only one you could depend on until you escaped Kordon's grasp. It may take longer, but you will grow out of it. Perhaps this female is the answer to your prayers. You have prayed to have this curse lifted, haven't you?"

" Of course I have. I do every time I get near a town where there are girls for me to woo."

"Then perhaps this is the priestess who can lift your curse. She is Elven? She must be to be a follower of Corellon. Corellon Larethian, creator of the entire Elven race. Perhaps he is the one who answered you prayer."

"You're a Drow, how much can you know about Corellon Larethian?" Solonund spat out in a frustrated tone.

"Quite a lot actually, and not just from what I read about him in Mooshie's library. Lloth was once his consort and lover. She bore Corellon two children, Eilliastrae and Vhaeraun. Lloth was cast out of Arvandor for betraying Corellon and trying to murder him. The Drow were cursed to live in the Underdark at Corellon's command. That is why the Drow who worship Lloth hate the surface elves so much. Corellon still favors the surface elves. Corellon is a good deity. I am sure Meilikki would hope for your happiness. If she could not lift the curse herself, then I am certain she would find the god who could. Doesn't that make sense."

"Yes. It makes perfect sense. I am glad you are my brother, Drizzt. As soon as the jerky dries in the sun, we should make our way east to Thesk. Shun is waiting there with a surprise for you."

"I have not yet agreed to go with you."

"But you will, Drizzt. It makes perfect sense."

"Alright, I agree, but I do not agree to stay long once we get there," Drizzt said while shaking his head and smiling, "It makes perfect sense."

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