Thanks once again to all my reviewers. By popular vote Shandra is staying and now on with Topsy Turvey.
Chapter 10--The Drow and the Paladin
Shandra was caught a little off guard by the Drow's brilliant purple eyes, but only for a minute. "It's alright. You're safe," she said.
"Where am I?" Drizzt managed to ask. His voice was hoarse and rough.
"In my room at the inn," Shandra said. "Can you sit up?"
It took a little effort, but Drizzt managed. He felt awful.
"Just a minute," Shandra said. She got up and went over to the small table and poured water into a glass.
Drizzt watched her. She was taller then him by a couple inches with green eyes and waist length blond hair. He wondered why she, an Elf, would protect a Drow.
Shandra sat down and handed him the glass. "Drink this, it will help," she said.
Drizzt accepted the glass and drained it. "Why did you help me?" he asked.
"You gave no evil aura to my eyes and I'm afraid that Riana allowed her dislike of your kind to cloud her judgment," Shandra said.
"Thank you," Drizzt said.
Shandra nodded. "I'm Shandra Silverblade and you are?" she said.
"Drizzt Do'Urden, my Lady," Drizzt said, watching for a sign that she recognized the name, but there was none. It showed she hadn't saved him because she knew who he was.
"I received a letter from the wizard's council. We have been asked to leave. If we don't we'll be arrested. Would you mind joining me in my travels?" Shandra asked.
Drizzt shrugged. "I have nowhere I have to be," he said.
"Good, then it's settled. I noticed the symbol around your neck. You serve the Lady of the Forest?" Shandra asked.
"Yes," Drizzt said.
"Unusual choice for a Drow," Shandra said.
"Most would say that Tyr is an unusual choice for an Elf," Drizzt pointed out.
Shandra laughed. "You're right about that. I must admit. We will leave in the morning," she said.
Early the next morning they left the inn. Shandra went to the stable and led out a jet-black warhorse. "If I'm around Titan won't hurt you, but don't ever approach him alone or he'll attack," she said. She mounted an offered her hand to Drizzt.
Drizzt accepted her hand this time and swung up behind her. Soon they were out of the city and Shandra urged the stallion to a gallop.
They traveled until midday then stopped for lunch. While they ate, they talked, getting to know each other a little better.
"So why a paladin?" Drizzt asked.
"I was the youngest of the family. I had an older brother who's a mage. I wanted to see some of the world outside our city, but father forbade it because he said it wasn't safe. One day they brought a paladin to the city. He had been badly wounded in a fight and it took him a long time to heal," Shandra said. "He told me about Tyr and all he stood for. It sounded like such an important thing to do, helping others. It seemed more desirable then marrying and raising a family, which is what my father wanted of me. It took a lot of pleading, but finally I convinced my father and my mother to let me go. Now here I am. Now it's your turn. What brings a Drow to the surface and makes him a follower of Mielikki?"
"It's a long story. I left my people because I couldn't live like them, couldn't conform to their ways. I chose exile. I couldn't stay in the underdark. I had betrayed Lloth and that marked me for death by sacrifice. I had to go to the surface or they would have kept chasing me. After awhile I met a blind, old ranger named Montolio. He took me in taught me how to survive in a world that was alien to me. He taught me about his goddess….made me understand that Mielikki suited my beliefs. I had a strong dislike for deities then. I wanted nothing to do with them after what I'd seen of Lloth. He made me see that there are good and bad gods. Everything I know I owe to him," Drizzt said.
"What came of him?" Shandra asked.
"He died many years ago," Drizzt said. He told her about his friends and all they shared then was silent. Neither of them spoke for some time.
Shandra knew that her new traveling companion had left a lot out, but she didn't push it. He had a right to keep some things private and she understood that some things were too painful to speak of. "We should move on, we can go a long way before dark," she said. They remounted and continued on their way…..
Hope this is ok. I didn't want to go over the whole story about Drizzt. It would have taken hours and more typing then I want to think about. More things will come out as they travel….R/R please.