Boys Will be Boys
Deudermont led everyone into his cabin.
"This is probably the best place to talk about flying ships. I don't want to spook my crew any more than necessary. It is bad enough hearing of haunted pirate isles."
"So true." A voice said from a corner of the room.
"Robillard, I did not realize you were still here. Any progress with those charts?"
"No, Captain. Nothing here shows the location we are seeking."
"What are you looking for?" Solonund asked.
"A haunted pirate island, of course, and no, I do not need your help." Robillard said as he marched out of the room, " I'm going to go read in some place that is quiet."
"That is a pleasant fellow." Solonund said.
"He is like strong coffee. You get used to his grumpiness. " Drizzt replied.
"Too bad. I have studied maps of Toril that were used on my family's spelljammer, Nandaro."
"Spelljammer? You actually flew on a spelljammer ship? I have heard stories of those types of ships docking in Ched Nasad, and Undrek' Thoz. I have never seen one myself." Drizzt said.
"I have heard of them used on the fabled isle of Evermeet." Deudermont added.
"I have been to Evermeet. I spent a vacation with my wife there. Although, most of the spelljammer activity on this planet is from Wa. Wa is an island in the east, far off of the coast of Rokugan. We used to trade there from time to time. "
"I ain't heard of Rokugan."
"It is on the far eastern side of Kara-Tur, on the eastern coast. My wife loved all of the exotic dyed fabrics we could buy there."
"Wait just one minute, your wife?" Drizzt said as he started to laugh hard, " Mister 'I'm cursed with good looks that drive women wild?' The elf that has a lover or two in every city."
"Drizzt," Catti-Brie started.
"I can't believe it! Some woman actually snagged you by the testicles and led you to a temple entrance?" Drizzt was laughing so hard that he nearly fell over.
"Drizzt, ye should na be laughing like that."
"Why not?" Drizzt started to say when Catti-Brie slapped him in the face.
Drizzt shook himself a couple of times. "What was that for?"
Solonund crossed his arms and looked coolly at Drizzt. "Are you quite finished?"
"Ye durned fool, his wife died. Can na ye see he is mornin?"
That sobered Drizzt up quickly. " Oh, I.. I'm sorry."
"It's alright. The only ones on board who knew are Captain Deudermont and Catti-Brie."
"What was she like?"
"She was the most wonderful Elven woman I have ever met. Anaiys was my best friend above anything else. She did so much for me that there was no other way to thank her, than to marry her. It was the only way I could think of not loosing her, even so, my wild ways almost drove her away. I chased her down, to prove I was serious. She had this ring with Meilikki on it made specially for me. She was pregnant with our second child when our ship was captured by pirates. The pirates murdered her while she tried to keep the pirates from stealing our son."
"You are still looking for him."
"Yes, although Solaris told me that he is somewhere on or around Toril."
"Solaris? "
"Oh, I'm sorry, I suppose I forgot to mention Solaris. He was also a gift from Anaiys." Solonund said as he pulled the hawk shaped figurine from his pocket. "I told her about Guen, and she felt that if my brother had an astral companion I should have one too. Do you think Guen can behave herself if I call him?"
"A cat and a bird? Maybe we should introduce them later. Right Catti." Drizzt said.
Catti-Brie had moved over to a corner. She was talking to Guen quietly, and crying.
"I suppose I have offended everyone today," Drizzt sighed.
"Is she alright?"
"Yes, it was just all of the talk about your wife dying. Her Fiancé, Wulfgar, was killed not long ago. She still has problems accepting it. I am not taking it well myself. He was one of my best friends."
"I understand. It has been nearly three years, but it still seems like yesterday that Anaiys died. I guess you never get over the death of someone you love. I still think about father before he died."
"I think about Mooshie too. "
"How old is your son?"
"He would be about sixteen now. I hope I find him soon. At least I know he is alive."
"I started learning to fight when I was sixteen."
"That late?"
"What about your other adventures, Solonund. No offense, but this room has become much to dreary." Deudermont said.
Solonund cheered up as he told of the many adventures he had on his travels. Most importantly, he told them what he had found out about the amber talisman from the Scholar, Fallon, in Sigil.
"Incredible!" Drizzt said.
"Sometimes I wonder if Pilin'Solor and Meilikki are related. Yathaghera , the god of unicorns and Pegasi could be the father of them both."
"Philosophy can get you into more trouble than womanizing, Solonund. I have seen the results of that first hand. Let the gods worry about the gods. "
"I suppose you are right, Drizzt. Well, I am done with my stories for now. Next time, one of you gets to tell me a story. I am exhausted. I need to rest."
"Tomorrow then, Solonund?"
"Yes. Oh, I would like to pick the story."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. I want you to tell me how you met that lovely lady who travels with you."
Drizzt raised an eyebrow, " I told you not to make a move on her."
"No you told me she was yours, and she denied it. I call that a fair brotherly contest. She gets to decide, not us." Solonund said as he whistled a tune and headed out of Deudermont's cabin.
"Maybe I shouldn't have let him onboard?"
"No, he'll be fine." Drizzt chuckled, " I know I will win this one."
**********
The next morning, Drizzt woke from his reverie to a clanking sound coming from the deck. Catti-Brie and Solonund were taking pieces of broken pottery and throwing them into the air.
"Yer shot."
"Okay, Throw!" Solonund said.
Catti threw a pottery shard above the water. Solonund quickly drew back the arrow on his bow. The arrow shattered the shard into little pieces before following into the ocean.
"Now two."
"No ye don't. It's my turn."
"Solonund, you should save your arrows. We are chasing pirates. You may need them."
"Ah, good morning Drizzt, you are up late. Trouble with your meditations? Or have you gotten into the habit of actually sleeping?"
"No, and no. I just felt comfortable listening to the waves last night." Drizzt replied.
"Drizzt, we have been practicing our archery. Solonund is amazing. An look, he gave me his extra pair of archery gloves."
"That is good, Catti." Drizzt said.
"It is more than good," Solonund said as he grasped Catti's hand and stared into her eyes, " A beauty such as yourself should not get raw fingers for no reason."
"Now you quit yer flattery." Catti-Brie said as she blushed, " I aint ready for sweet talk"
"Alright, I can wait. I have learned to be very patient."
Drizzt raised his hand to his face, shook his head and sighed. "You really do never quit."
"No, I don't. You know my motto. Every lady is worthy of praise."
"Ye hungry Drizzt? Solonund cooked up some porridge and honey."
Drizzt wrinkled his nose, "Only if his cooking has improved."
"As a matter of fact, Drizzt, it has. Anaiys was a fantastic wizard, but she was no cook. I got a lot of practice."
The meal was better than Drizzt had expected. Besides honey, the porridge had cinnamon and apples in it.
"I'm sorry, Drizzt, it is much better if the apples are fresh. I had to use dried ones from my pack."
"No, it is delicious. Your cooking has improved."
"That is not the only thing," Solonund said as he patted his katana.
"I see, so you are wanting to spar with me?"
"When ever you are ready, Drizzt."
"Let me finish my breakfast."
Within the hour, the two elves were sparing on deck. Drizzt was amazed how much better Solonund's swordsmanship had gotten. Catti-Brie and Guen watched the two.
"I see you practiced every day, Solonund."
"I see you have two new scimitars to play with."
"Yes."
"What happened to the ones Shun made for you?"
"Stolen."
"I see. Did you ever visit Shun before he died?"
"No. By the time I was allowed into Silverymoon, Shun had already passed away. I visit his grave every time I visit."
"That's good. He would like that."
Both of them were covered in sweat by the time they decided to call the match a draw.
"I can tell ye are brothers now," Catti commented," Both of yer sword styles are very similar."
"Well, I did learn a lot from Drizzt."
"I will not take the credit. You probably have had several who taught you these past twenty years."
"Not really. I focused on my memory of the way you moved. It is what helped me the most. It helped me through many hard times."
"Then you know the other part of you that makes you a ranger."
"Yes, Drizzt, I am well acquainted with what you call the hunter. Although, I don't think Guen was very impressed at our playing around."
Drizzt looked at the panther who had rolled onto her back in a position of sheer boredom.
"I know who can lift her spirits." Solonund said as pulled out his brow figurine," Solaris come."
The large hawk materialized and circled above Guenhwyvar twice. She chased the bird playfully around the deck of the ship.
Solaris was tricky. Whenever Guen would get nearly close enough to catch, he would catch the breeze and fly far over the side of the ship. If Guen chose to jump after him, she would fall into the water. Then Solaris would fly high and dive for Guen. Even though their species should be deadly enemies, it was obvious that the two creatures did not mean to harm each other.
Solonund observed their play. In a way, those two creatures were siblings in the same way he and Drizzt were. Two who by nature should be the deadliest of enemies, but were not.
Drizzt went to the bow of the ship and stared at the ocean. Solonund's return was a blessing he had never expected. It gave him a reason to loosen part of the grip that guilt around his heart .
Solonund sat next to the forward mast. Catti-Brie sat next to him and handed him a cloth to wipe his face with.
"Thank you, milady"
"Now ye don't need to be so formal. Ye are Drizzt's brother, ye can call me Catti if ye like."
"Alright, I will remember that. "
"The bird and the cat seem to like each other a lot."
"I wonder if they play like that together on the astral plane? Perhaps they already know each other."
"Now that is possible. I hadn't thought of that." Catti replied.
Solonund turned to look at Catti. He stared deep into her eyes. He looked at how blue they were. Only one other woman he knew had eyes that blue, his Anaiys. His eyes slowly began to blur with tears. He saw Anaiys sitting next to him through the blur. He slowly leaned over and brushed her lips with an innocent kiss, hoping the kiss to be returned.
Catti looked at him as he leaned closer. He seemed so helpless as his face grew sullen and tears filled his eyes. She knew he was not thinking clearly and not seeing clearly through his tears. When he leaned over and kissed her, it was a kiss of longing for something gone. His light hair, so much like Wulfgar's. She decided to return the innocent kiss offered, for no other reason than to ease the pain they were both feeling.
Solonund realized what he was doing and suddenly stood up.
"I'm sorry," He quietly said, "It's your eyes. My wife's eyes were the same color. Please do not feel offended, I felt like Anaiys was beside.." Solonund started when a fist hit his jaw.
Catti turned her head around to see Drizzt in a rage.
"Drizzt! What de ye think…" Catti started, but Solonund placed his hand on her shoulder to gently silence her.
"You are right, Drizzt, I deserved that. I will get off of the ship when we dock in Waterdeep. If you love her that much, I will not stand in your way. She only reminded me of Anaiys, that is all."
Solonund turned and went below deck.
"Drizzt, what is the matter with ye? He meant no harm. He was just hurtin' an it was only an innocent peck on the lips."
Drizzt stood there in shock. He looked at Catti with wide eyes. He looked at his fist. He could not believe what he had just done. He had turned around to see Solonund kissing Catti-Brie and for some reason, the hunter came out. It led him to Solonund. It caused him to injure Solonund, for no good reason.
"I'm going down below deck to see if Solonund is alright." Catti said," Ye hit him pretty hard."
Drizzt sank down to sit on the deck. He called to Guen to return to her home. He did know why he hit Solonund. It was because Drizzt did not want to loose again. He had lost her affections to Wulfgar. Oh, how many times Drizzt held back his fist for Catti's sake, grinding his own feelings into the dust. Solonund was different. He was like that bird of his. Trying to swoop in and take Catti's affections away. Once Solonund had them, he would toss them aside. He knew that was how Solonund was.
Drizzt's heart would not allow him to be second in line once again. Yet, Solonund had changed much in the last twenty years. It may have been as Catti had said, innocent. He needed to apologize to Solonund, but he needed to calm down first.
"For once, I was the brasher one." Drizzt said to himself.
**********
Catti-Brie searched the hold. She found Solonund curled up in a ball, crying in a corner.
"Why do I always mess up?" Solonund said to himself.
"Solonund, are you going to be alright?"
"Oh, Catti, I am sorry." Solonund said as he stood up," I did not mean to cause you any trouble."
"Let me see that eye. Drizzt hit you pretty hard. You need to get some cold water to take care of that."
"It will be alright. I know a few healing spells. I did not mean to hurt him so badly. I deserved this black eye."
"No ye did not! Drizzt is just bein overprotective. He's always been overprotective around me."
"He is in love with you. He has been for a very long time. I know him well enough to tell."
"Ah, well he loves me yes, but in love with me? That is just silly. He still thinks of me as that little girl who helped him when he was alone on Kelvin's Cairn."
"You are not a little girl anymore. He knows that. I can tell be the look in his eyes. It is quite possible that he has been in love with you from the first time he saw you. He is just reserved. He thinks of other's feelings above his own. He has always been that way."
"I don't feel for Drizzt that way. He is just like family."
"I see. I will not trouble either one of you any more, once we get to Waterdeep."
"Ya do na have to do that. That kiss was my fault too. Yer hair is the same color as me Wulfgar's was. I was thinking of him and ye just looked so helpless. I wanted to help ye."
"Thank you. But I can't hurt Drizzt anymore. I have hurt him enough as it is. I could have sent him word that I was alive when I visited Wa or Evermeet, but I didn't. I was a bit afraid to do so, I suppose."
"Ye had your own reasons fer not sendin him word."
"I was selfish. I knew he would have a hard time on the surface. I should have come back and helped him."
"Oh no ye don't. If ye had done that, he wouldn't have ended up meeting me and me da and all of the people who care about him. He'd be alone, just like ye are now."
"You are right. I am alone. I guess, I am the one who is worse off."
"I am not helping you much, am I?"
"It's alright Catti. I need to apologize to Drizzt, at least , to make him feel better."
"Ye are hopeless."
"Perhaps. I am a romantic. Anaiys used to tell me that constantly."
"I will leave ye alone then. Just cheer up. Ye do na have to leave when we dock in Waterdeep."
Catti-Brie left Solonund to his thoughts.
**********
Notes:
Ched Nasad, and Undrek'Thoz- underdark cities.
"led you to a temple entrance"- in midevial times, weddings were held on the doorsteps of churches. The couple was not allowed to enter a 'sactified place' until their union was sanctified.
** For those who have requested books about Spelljamming, look for 'Beyond the Moons' by David Cook (set in the Dragonlance worlds) and 'Into the Void' by Nigel Findley (set in the Forgotten Realms). They are part of a series called The Cloakmaster Cycle. **
***For those who do not get the idea of spelljamming. I have two good examples. First, is the ships in Treasure Planet. The other is Ryo-ochi and the tree ships from Tenchi Muyo.***
Deudermont led everyone into his cabin.
"This is probably the best place to talk about flying ships. I don't want to spook my crew any more than necessary. It is bad enough hearing of haunted pirate isles."
"So true." A voice said from a corner of the room.
"Robillard, I did not realize you were still here. Any progress with those charts?"
"No, Captain. Nothing here shows the location we are seeking."
"What are you looking for?" Solonund asked.
"A haunted pirate island, of course, and no, I do not need your help." Robillard said as he marched out of the room, " I'm going to go read in some place that is quiet."
"That is a pleasant fellow." Solonund said.
"He is like strong coffee. You get used to his grumpiness. " Drizzt replied.
"Too bad. I have studied maps of Toril that were used on my family's spelljammer, Nandaro."
"Spelljammer? You actually flew on a spelljammer ship? I have heard stories of those types of ships docking in Ched Nasad, and Undrek' Thoz. I have never seen one myself." Drizzt said.
"I have heard of them used on the fabled isle of Evermeet." Deudermont added.
"I have been to Evermeet. I spent a vacation with my wife there. Although, most of the spelljammer activity on this planet is from Wa. Wa is an island in the east, far off of the coast of Rokugan. We used to trade there from time to time. "
"I ain't heard of Rokugan."
"It is on the far eastern side of Kara-Tur, on the eastern coast. My wife loved all of the exotic dyed fabrics we could buy there."
"Wait just one minute, your wife?" Drizzt said as he started to laugh hard, " Mister 'I'm cursed with good looks that drive women wild?' The elf that has a lover or two in every city."
"Drizzt," Catti-Brie started.
"I can't believe it! Some woman actually snagged you by the testicles and led you to a temple entrance?" Drizzt was laughing so hard that he nearly fell over.
"Drizzt, ye should na be laughing like that."
"Why not?" Drizzt started to say when Catti-Brie slapped him in the face.
Drizzt shook himself a couple of times. "What was that for?"
Solonund crossed his arms and looked coolly at Drizzt. "Are you quite finished?"
"Ye durned fool, his wife died. Can na ye see he is mornin?"
That sobered Drizzt up quickly. " Oh, I.. I'm sorry."
"It's alright. The only ones on board who knew are Captain Deudermont and Catti-Brie."
"What was she like?"
"She was the most wonderful Elven woman I have ever met. Anaiys was my best friend above anything else. She did so much for me that there was no other way to thank her, than to marry her. It was the only way I could think of not loosing her, even so, my wild ways almost drove her away. I chased her down, to prove I was serious. She had this ring with Meilikki on it made specially for me. She was pregnant with our second child when our ship was captured by pirates. The pirates murdered her while she tried to keep the pirates from stealing our son."
"You are still looking for him."
"Yes, although Solaris told me that he is somewhere on or around Toril."
"Solaris? "
"Oh, I'm sorry, I suppose I forgot to mention Solaris. He was also a gift from Anaiys." Solonund said as he pulled the hawk shaped figurine from his pocket. "I told her about Guen, and she felt that if my brother had an astral companion I should have one too. Do you think Guen can behave herself if I call him?"
"A cat and a bird? Maybe we should introduce them later. Right Catti." Drizzt said.
Catti-Brie had moved over to a corner. She was talking to Guen quietly, and crying.
"I suppose I have offended everyone today," Drizzt sighed.
"Is she alright?"
"Yes, it was just all of the talk about your wife dying. Her Fiancé, Wulfgar, was killed not long ago. She still has problems accepting it. I am not taking it well myself. He was one of my best friends."
"I understand. It has been nearly three years, but it still seems like yesterday that Anaiys died. I guess you never get over the death of someone you love. I still think about father before he died."
"I think about Mooshie too. "
"How old is your son?"
"He would be about sixteen now. I hope I find him soon. At least I know he is alive."
"I started learning to fight when I was sixteen."
"That late?"
"What about your other adventures, Solonund. No offense, but this room has become much to dreary." Deudermont said.
Solonund cheered up as he told of the many adventures he had on his travels. Most importantly, he told them what he had found out about the amber talisman from the Scholar, Fallon, in Sigil.
"Incredible!" Drizzt said.
"Sometimes I wonder if Pilin'Solor and Meilikki are related. Yathaghera , the god of unicorns and Pegasi could be the father of them both."
"Philosophy can get you into more trouble than womanizing, Solonund. I have seen the results of that first hand. Let the gods worry about the gods. "
"I suppose you are right, Drizzt. Well, I am done with my stories for now. Next time, one of you gets to tell me a story. I am exhausted. I need to rest."
"Tomorrow then, Solonund?"
"Yes. Oh, I would like to pick the story."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. I want you to tell me how you met that lovely lady who travels with you."
Drizzt raised an eyebrow, " I told you not to make a move on her."
"No you told me she was yours, and she denied it. I call that a fair brotherly contest. She gets to decide, not us." Solonund said as he whistled a tune and headed out of Deudermont's cabin.
"Maybe I shouldn't have let him onboard?"
"No, he'll be fine." Drizzt chuckled, " I know I will win this one."
**********
The next morning, Drizzt woke from his reverie to a clanking sound coming from the deck. Catti-Brie and Solonund were taking pieces of broken pottery and throwing them into the air.
"Yer shot."
"Okay, Throw!" Solonund said.
Catti threw a pottery shard above the water. Solonund quickly drew back the arrow on his bow. The arrow shattered the shard into little pieces before following into the ocean.
"Now two."
"No ye don't. It's my turn."
"Solonund, you should save your arrows. We are chasing pirates. You may need them."
"Ah, good morning Drizzt, you are up late. Trouble with your meditations? Or have you gotten into the habit of actually sleeping?"
"No, and no. I just felt comfortable listening to the waves last night." Drizzt replied.
"Drizzt, we have been practicing our archery. Solonund is amazing. An look, he gave me his extra pair of archery gloves."
"That is good, Catti." Drizzt said.
"It is more than good," Solonund said as he grasped Catti's hand and stared into her eyes, " A beauty such as yourself should not get raw fingers for no reason."
"Now you quit yer flattery." Catti-Brie said as she blushed, " I aint ready for sweet talk"
"Alright, I can wait. I have learned to be very patient."
Drizzt raised his hand to his face, shook his head and sighed. "You really do never quit."
"No, I don't. You know my motto. Every lady is worthy of praise."
"Ye hungry Drizzt? Solonund cooked up some porridge and honey."
Drizzt wrinkled his nose, "Only if his cooking has improved."
"As a matter of fact, Drizzt, it has. Anaiys was a fantastic wizard, but she was no cook. I got a lot of practice."
The meal was better than Drizzt had expected. Besides honey, the porridge had cinnamon and apples in it.
"I'm sorry, Drizzt, it is much better if the apples are fresh. I had to use dried ones from my pack."
"No, it is delicious. Your cooking has improved."
"That is not the only thing," Solonund said as he patted his katana.
"I see, so you are wanting to spar with me?"
"When ever you are ready, Drizzt."
"Let me finish my breakfast."
Within the hour, the two elves were sparing on deck. Drizzt was amazed how much better Solonund's swordsmanship had gotten. Catti-Brie and Guen watched the two.
"I see you practiced every day, Solonund."
"I see you have two new scimitars to play with."
"Yes."
"What happened to the ones Shun made for you?"
"Stolen."
"I see. Did you ever visit Shun before he died?"
"No. By the time I was allowed into Silverymoon, Shun had already passed away. I visit his grave every time I visit."
"That's good. He would like that."
Both of them were covered in sweat by the time they decided to call the match a draw.
"I can tell ye are brothers now," Catti commented," Both of yer sword styles are very similar."
"Well, I did learn a lot from Drizzt."
"I will not take the credit. You probably have had several who taught you these past twenty years."
"Not really. I focused on my memory of the way you moved. It is what helped me the most. It helped me through many hard times."
"Then you know the other part of you that makes you a ranger."
"Yes, Drizzt, I am well acquainted with what you call the hunter. Although, I don't think Guen was very impressed at our playing around."
Drizzt looked at the panther who had rolled onto her back in a position of sheer boredom.
"I know who can lift her spirits." Solonund said as pulled out his brow figurine," Solaris come."
The large hawk materialized and circled above Guenhwyvar twice. She chased the bird playfully around the deck of the ship.
Solaris was tricky. Whenever Guen would get nearly close enough to catch, he would catch the breeze and fly far over the side of the ship. If Guen chose to jump after him, she would fall into the water. Then Solaris would fly high and dive for Guen. Even though their species should be deadly enemies, it was obvious that the two creatures did not mean to harm each other.
Solonund observed their play. In a way, those two creatures were siblings in the same way he and Drizzt were. Two who by nature should be the deadliest of enemies, but were not.
Drizzt went to the bow of the ship and stared at the ocean. Solonund's return was a blessing he had never expected. It gave him a reason to loosen part of the grip that guilt around his heart .
Solonund sat next to the forward mast. Catti-Brie sat next to him and handed him a cloth to wipe his face with.
"Thank you, milady"
"Now ye don't need to be so formal. Ye are Drizzt's brother, ye can call me Catti if ye like."
"Alright, I will remember that. "
"The bird and the cat seem to like each other a lot."
"I wonder if they play like that together on the astral plane? Perhaps they already know each other."
"Now that is possible. I hadn't thought of that." Catti replied.
Solonund turned to look at Catti. He stared deep into her eyes. He looked at how blue they were. Only one other woman he knew had eyes that blue, his Anaiys. His eyes slowly began to blur with tears. He saw Anaiys sitting next to him through the blur. He slowly leaned over and brushed her lips with an innocent kiss, hoping the kiss to be returned.
Catti looked at him as he leaned closer. He seemed so helpless as his face grew sullen and tears filled his eyes. She knew he was not thinking clearly and not seeing clearly through his tears. When he leaned over and kissed her, it was a kiss of longing for something gone. His light hair, so much like Wulfgar's. She decided to return the innocent kiss offered, for no other reason than to ease the pain they were both feeling.
Solonund realized what he was doing and suddenly stood up.
"I'm sorry," He quietly said, "It's your eyes. My wife's eyes were the same color. Please do not feel offended, I felt like Anaiys was beside.." Solonund started when a fist hit his jaw.
Catti turned her head around to see Drizzt in a rage.
"Drizzt! What de ye think…" Catti started, but Solonund placed his hand on her shoulder to gently silence her.
"You are right, Drizzt, I deserved that. I will get off of the ship when we dock in Waterdeep. If you love her that much, I will not stand in your way. She only reminded me of Anaiys, that is all."
Solonund turned and went below deck.
"Drizzt, what is the matter with ye? He meant no harm. He was just hurtin' an it was only an innocent peck on the lips."
Drizzt stood there in shock. He looked at Catti with wide eyes. He looked at his fist. He could not believe what he had just done. He had turned around to see Solonund kissing Catti-Brie and for some reason, the hunter came out. It led him to Solonund. It caused him to injure Solonund, for no good reason.
"I'm going down below deck to see if Solonund is alright." Catti said," Ye hit him pretty hard."
Drizzt sank down to sit on the deck. He called to Guen to return to her home. He did know why he hit Solonund. It was because Drizzt did not want to loose again. He had lost her affections to Wulfgar. Oh, how many times Drizzt held back his fist for Catti's sake, grinding his own feelings into the dust. Solonund was different. He was like that bird of his. Trying to swoop in and take Catti's affections away. Once Solonund had them, he would toss them aside. He knew that was how Solonund was.
Drizzt's heart would not allow him to be second in line once again. Yet, Solonund had changed much in the last twenty years. It may have been as Catti had said, innocent. He needed to apologize to Solonund, but he needed to calm down first.
"For once, I was the brasher one." Drizzt said to himself.
**********
Catti-Brie searched the hold. She found Solonund curled up in a ball, crying in a corner.
"Why do I always mess up?" Solonund said to himself.
"Solonund, are you going to be alright?"
"Oh, Catti, I am sorry." Solonund said as he stood up," I did not mean to cause you any trouble."
"Let me see that eye. Drizzt hit you pretty hard. You need to get some cold water to take care of that."
"It will be alright. I know a few healing spells. I did not mean to hurt him so badly. I deserved this black eye."
"No ye did not! Drizzt is just bein overprotective. He's always been overprotective around me."
"He is in love with you. He has been for a very long time. I know him well enough to tell."
"Ah, well he loves me yes, but in love with me? That is just silly. He still thinks of me as that little girl who helped him when he was alone on Kelvin's Cairn."
"You are not a little girl anymore. He knows that. I can tell be the look in his eyes. It is quite possible that he has been in love with you from the first time he saw you. He is just reserved. He thinks of other's feelings above his own. He has always been that way."
"I don't feel for Drizzt that way. He is just like family."
"I see. I will not trouble either one of you any more, once we get to Waterdeep."
"Ya do na have to do that. That kiss was my fault too. Yer hair is the same color as me Wulfgar's was. I was thinking of him and ye just looked so helpless. I wanted to help ye."
"Thank you. But I can't hurt Drizzt anymore. I have hurt him enough as it is. I could have sent him word that I was alive when I visited Wa or Evermeet, but I didn't. I was a bit afraid to do so, I suppose."
"Ye had your own reasons fer not sendin him word."
"I was selfish. I knew he would have a hard time on the surface. I should have come back and helped him."
"Oh no ye don't. If ye had done that, he wouldn't have ended up meeting me and me da and all of the people who care about him. He'd be alone, just like ye are now."
"You are right. I am alone. I guess, I am the one who is worse off."
"I am not helping you much, am I?"
"It's alright Catti. I need to apologize to Drizzt, at least , to make him feel better."
"Ye are hopeless."
"Perhaps. I am a romantic. Anaiys used to tell me that constantly."
"I will leave ye alone then. Just cheer up. Ye do na have to leave when we dock in Waterdeep."
Catti-Brie left Solonund to his thoughts.
**********
Notes:
Ched Nasad, and Undrek'Thoz- underdark cities.
"led you to a temple entrance"- in midevial times, weddings were held on the doorsteps of churches. The couple was not allowed to enter a 'sactified place' until their union was sanctified.
** For those who have requested books about Spelljamming, look for 'Beyond the Moons' by David Cook (set in the Dragonlance worlds) and 'Into the Void' by Nigel Findley (set in the Forgotten Realms). They are part of a series called The Cloakmaster Cycle. **
***For those who do not get the idea of spelljamming. I have two good examples. First, is the ships in Treasure Planet. The other is Ryo-ochi and the tree ships from Tenchi Muyo.***