Hello, ok, brief gripe…two people complained about this being romance. First it says Romance in the summary, so you know it was and one of you read all the way to chapter 14, so no complaints about it being Romance…Don't read it if it's not your thing, all right? Thanks. Ok, end of gripe and on with the story!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 30--A Special Night
Catti-brie raised her hand to look more closely at the ring. It was gold with a lovely sapphire as the main stone with smaller diamonds surrounding it. "Drizzt, it's beautiful," she said.
"Not nearly as beautiful as the lady who wears it," Drizzt said softly.
Startled, Catti-brie looked up then smiled. She was about to tease him for his unusually loving remark, but when she looked into his eyes she changed her mind. She reached up and laid her hand on his cheek instead. She felt him shiver a bit at her touch then his hand covered hers.
They sat there like that without speaking for a while then Drizzt removed his hand. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you my feelings sooner, Cat. I was…" he said then his voice trailed off.
Catti-brie lowered her hand then took his, twining their fingers together. She studied his face intently. "I be understandin'. After all I guess I be guilty of the same thing," she said. She smiled then impishly. "Ye know it be customary to seal a betrothal with a kiss."
Drizzt lowered his face to hers and their lips met for the first time. At first the kiss was light almost cautious, but not for long. Catti-brie felt Drizzt's arms slip around her waist and pull her closer. She retaliated by looping her arms around his neck, as the kiss got more heated. The need to breath finally forced them to part though they were both reluctant to do so.
"We'll be needin' to tell, da before anyone else, so he can be givin' us his blessin'. After that we can tell the others," Catti-brie said. She stood, pulling Drizzt to his feet. Come on, we'll tell him now."
"Isn't it a little late?" Drizzt protested as he was nearly dragged back into the castle and towards Bruenor's room. "You know how he is when he's woken up for no reason."
"There's a reason and a good one, I be thinking'," Catti-brie said. They had reached Bruenor's room by then and Catti-brie hammered on the door with all her might. There was no answer.
"Damn, guess he's asleep, we'll just have to come back tomorrow," Drizzt said. He turned to leave.
"Don't ye dare leave! Ye stay put!" Catti-brie warned.
Drizzt stopped. "Well, it was worth a try," he joked.
Catti-brie pounded on the door a little harder. "Da! Wake up! It be me, Cat!" she yelled.
Drizzt glanced up and down the hall. "Shh, easy, you'll wake up somebody," he said.
Finally there was a response. "Hold yer damned horses! I be comin'! Suren there better be a good reason for this!' Bruenor yelled. Heavy footsteps sounded from inside and the door opened.
"Hello, da, can we come in? We have something important to tell ye," Catti-brie said sweetly.
"We, is it?" Bruenor grumbled. He looked past Catti-brie and spotted Drizzt. "Come in, but suren it better be good." He let them enter then slammed the door.
Drizzt winced at the loud crash. This doesn't bode well, he thought.
Bruenor stomped over to a chair and sat down. "Well, plant yer arses and tell me what's so durned important that ye had to disturb me rest," he said impatiently.
Catti-brie and Drizzt sat down. Catti-brie looked at Drizzt. It was obvious how nervous he was. She decided to show a little mercy and tell Bruenor herself. She showed Bruenor the ring. "Drizzt and I are engaged, da. He just asked me," she said proudly.
Bruenor didn't say anything. He looked at the ring then at Catti-brie. Finally he looked at Drizzt. "Ye proposed to me daughter," he stated.
Drizzt nodded.
"Ye proposed to me daughter without askin' for me permission," Bruenor said. His eyes bore into Drizzt.
Drizzt had an uncomfortable feeling that Bruenor was going to jump up and clobber him. He nodded again.
Catti-brie got up and went to the Dwarf's side and swatted his arm lightly. "Stop that, da. Poor Drizzt thinks yer gonna kill him,"she scolded.
A big grin spread across Bruenor's face though he tried not too. "I give me blessin, girl if ye be suren that ye want this," he said. He sobered again and pointed warningly at Drizzt. "Ye be good to me girl or I'll trim yer pointy ears, Drow. Ye understand?" he demanded.
"I understand and I will be," Drizzt said.
"Good, now both of ye get, so I can be gettin' me sleep," Bruenor said.
They said their good nights and left, closing the door behind them and headed off towards their rooms.
Catti-brie giggled.
Drizzt glanced at her. "What's so funny?" he asked.
"Ye are, ye should have seen yer face when da was doin' his little act," she said.
"Very funny," Drizzt grumbled.
They reached Catti-brie's door and kissed good night then Drizzt went to his own room. He knew he wouldn't be doing much sleeping tonight. He had to much on his mind…..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Protective fathers, how fun!!! R/R please!
