Wow, over 200 reviews, thanks everyone! I'm glad you're all enjoying this!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 36--Ballroom Brawl
Catti-brie watched the bard leave and sighed in relief. "Thank the Gods," she said.
"Bards," Drizzt snorted in disdain.
A servant came up to them with a tray of goblets. "Another drink?" she asked.
Delly and Catti-brie took one, but Drizzt and Wulfgar politely refused. A crash caught their attention and they turned towards the sound.
A well-dressed noble was just sitting up from his position on the floor. There were broken dishes all around him.
"Ye clumsy fool!" Bruenor growled. "Why don't ye watch where ye be goin'?"
The noble took in his food and wine stained clothes and turned red with anger. He got to his feet to loom over Bruenor and glared down at him. "You should step out of the way of your superiors, Dwarf!" he yelled.
"Oh, no," Regis groaned.
"I don't be seeing anyone who be me superior around here," Bruenor snapped.
Catti-brie got up. "I've got to stop this," she said. She hurried over to Bruenor's side. "Da, are you all right?" she asked.
"I be fine, girl. Don't be fussin' over me," Bruenor snapped.
"Come sit with us, da," Catti-brie said.
"Not until I be getting' an agrology from this one for nearly runnin' me over," Bruenor stated. He folded his arms over his chest and glowered at the noble.
"Da, please, don't cause anymore of a scene," Catti-brie whispered. "Not here, not in front of Lady Alustriel's guests and Lady Alustriel."
Bruenor glanced at her then looked at the noble. "Bah, he not be worth the effort," he snorted.
Catti-brie sighed in relief and began to draw Bruenor away.
It was then the noble made a terrible mistake. "Yes, do go with the woman. The company of a slut suits you better," the noble sneered, "only her kind would wed a filthy Drow."
Bruenor stopped and his fists clenched. The one thing he would not allow unanswered was a slur against his daughter and one he considered his dearest friend. He turned and walked slowly back to the noble. "Ye better be apologizing' to me girl for that or pay," he said. He glared at the noble, eyes cold and glittering with anger.
Drizzt winced at the tone and the look in Bruenor's eyes. He knew it all to well. There was no way to defuse the situation now. He hoped the noble got out of it with no broken bones.
Lady Alustriel was heading towards them as quickly as possible, but she wouldn't get there in time to help stop anything.
"I do not apologize for speaking the truth about lowlife scum. None of you belong here," the noble said.
"Fine," Bruenor growled. "It be on yer head." He grabbed the noble by the shirt and yanked him down then the Dwarf's fist connected solidly with the noble's nose. There was an ugly crunch and then Bruenor shoved him away.
The noble howled, clutching his face as blood ran between his fingers. "You filth! You broke my nose!" he cried.
Lady Alustriel arrived. "Enough, stop this!" she said.
Bruenor bowed. "I be sorry, me Lady, not for punching him because he deserved it, but for shamin' ye. I be leavin'," he said and left the ballroom.
After that the party broke up and the guests left the palace to return to their homes. A healer was sent to tend the angry noble's nose before he returned to his home as well.
Early the next morning the companions were summoned to Lady Alustriel's private audience chamber. She smiled as they entered. "I wanted you to know that all is forgiven in my case, King Bruenor. I heard what was said and he did deserve the punch. Next time though please punch the person outside my ballroom. I hope this will not cut your visit short," she said.
"We'll stay a bit longer, but me people will want to be holdin' a proper Dwarven party for me girl and the Drow," Bruenor said.
"Then all is settled. Shall we go to breakfast?" Alustriel asked.
They followed her from the room, relieved to know all was well….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I liked this chapter. *POW* heh, heh! R/R please!!!