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"Brionne?" Catti-brie watched as Nala woke the young man. They were so similar it was eerie. They looked like twins, though Nala had told her they weren't related, and that over a decade separated their births.
"Nala?" He murmured as he sat up, bringing Drizzt's cloak up with him. His eyes flicked to Catti-brie, meeting hers without fear, without anger. "Catti-brie," he greeted her, politeness and a hint of welcome in his voice.
The red-haired woman met his eyes as he gathered Nala's shivering form into the cloak with him. She wanted to tell him she was sorry, that she wanted for Drizzt to be happy, that she never should have struck him. The apology stuck in her throat, and the compassion in his eyes said that he understood, and that she was forgiven.
He held out a hand to her, and she took it without a word. With the slightest tug, he drew her down, to join them in the warmth of Drizzt's cloak.
For what seemed a long while, she just leaned into the comfort that they offered. Brionne stroked her back in slow reassuring motions. Their closeness, it was a type of physical affection she was unused to, tender and generous. If Brionne had been this way with Drizzt, she could understand a little why the stoic ranger had opened up to the young man.
"If ye treat him bad, I'll have to be killin' ye." Her voice was so matter of fact, yet muffled by being pressed against his shoulder, and she knew it sounded childish and silly.
"No force in this world could make me treat him ill."
She looked up to meet his eyes, studying them for long moments. There was an honesty there, a strength and determination that she was beginning to trust.
She wanted to make sure that he understood how often Drizzt had been hurt, how he had been betrayed by his family, who should have treated him better; how it cut him when complete strangers distrusted him or children ran in fear. She wanted to tell him how deeply Drizzt feared his friends being hurt because of him, that he had walked back into the Underdark to sacrifice himself, thinking it would make them safer.
But those were Drizzt's secrets, and his stories, and she wouldn't be the one to betray his confidence.
With a soft sigh she hugged him. He stroked her hair. Nala nuzzled her cheek against Catti-brie's shoulder.
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Drizzt found them like that, snuggled close like a pile of kittens. He stood for a moment in the arch of the passage, taking in the sight. He had come here still confused and worried over what Catti-brie had done, that she had struck a helpless prisoner. The sight of the three so close, so clearly not suffering any lasting anguish over the slip did much to ease his mind.
He made an intentional scuff sound with his boot against the rock, and three pairs of eyes turned to him; two silver, one blue. Catti-brie straightened out of Brionne's arms, embarrassed and blushing. Brionne let her pull away. Amusement danced in his eyes, but there was tenderness there too.
Drizzt walked over, settling himself behind Brionne, motioning for Catti-brie to stay where she was if she wanted to.
"Alustriel is here." He told Brionne. "She says there is no way back through the portal. She cannot relocate the land where I met you. The portal shattered and took it's secrets with it." He sighed. "I am sorry for the choices you are no longer able to make."
Brionne nodded, dark hair falling over his eyes for a moment. "It was not your doing, and truly, if not for you and for your friends, Nala and I would be walking in chains back to our master by now, if not dead in the forest."
"I've spoken to Alustriel about your..." he brushed his fingers across the network of fine lines permanently marked into the skin of the young man's throat. He would not name it, not here in front of Catti-brie. "She believes she can help you, given time. There is no other that I trust with this task, who has the power to accomplish it, but the choice is yours."
The slightest flicker of uncertainty moved behind Brionne's eyes. "I will heed your advice, but how can I ever repay her for such a boon?"
Drizzt smiled and kissed his forehead, his face hidden over his lover's by a curtain of snow-colored hair. "She is my friend. She does this because you are my friend, and because you do not deserve this curse."
He moved to his feet, helped the women up, then offered his hand to Brionne. The smooth pale fingers slipped into his dark sword-calloused ones like they were made to fit.
"Will you come with me?" Drizzt could not find it in his heart to laugh at the insecurity in the usually strong young man.
"Of course."
"Brionne?" Nala's voice was soft, and interrupted their staring at each other in wonder. They turned to look at her.
"I spoke with Catti-brie. She has offered to keep me as a guest in her home for a time."
Confusion and distress moved on Brionne's features, so fast that Drizzt was not sure he even saw it before it was gone. Nala took one of Brionne's hands in both of hers. "For a time." She repeated, seeing something still in the silver eyes that Drizzt could not. "I am needed there." Her eyes moved the slightest bit towards Catti-brie. "I will be safe, and she is in need of a friend."
Brionne reached out to touch Nala's face, and nodded. "Be well, sister of my heart."
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Drizzt could not help the warm smile that graced his features as Brionne greeted Alustriel as the head of state that she was, and Alustriel greeted Brionne as the lover of her friend. The young man's eyes were just the slightest bit wide as the lady of Silverymoon clasped his hands in hers, and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. Otherwise he showed not a bit of the shock he must be feeling. His poise seemed perfect, his respectful bow low and formal, his facial expressions polite.
Alustriel had taken the news of their relationship well, and he had been grateful for her unquestioning support. In his mind, he went through the list of people that he trusted enough to share this secret. He was equal parts appalled and relieved how short it was. Appalled that he had so few close friends in his life, but relieved that he would not have to risk receiving an angrily protective reaction like Bruenor's or a hurt one like Catti-brie's very many more times.
"...With us?" Alustriel asked, and he realized he had been daydreaming. Her smile was warm and understanding as she caught his puzzled expression. "Are you coming with us?" She repeated for his benefit.
He smiled and nodded, taking Brionne's hand in his. He could feel the pulse in the young man's wrist, stronger and faster than his calm appearance would suggest. A calm, mild smile was on the graceful lips. I will remember that smile, he thought, watching as it didn't waver, even as his lover's steps became more fearful, more wooden as they came closer to Alustriel's flaming chariot. "It will not hurt you," he whispered, and felt his hand squeezed in reply.
Alustriel gathered the reins in her hand as Drizzt and Brionne joined her in the chariot.
Drizzt wrapped warm arms around Brionne, feeling the pounding of his heart beneath his fine-muscled chest. As the fiery horses took flight, Drizzt hugged him tight, and watched as Brionne smiled with delight.
With Brionne in his arms, Drizzt watched as the lights of Silverymoon came into sight. He was reminded of the sight of his first dawn, watching it alone after the long journey from the Underdark. Brionne's future now was no more certain than his had been then. But, he mused, enjoying the feel of the man in his arms, at least he will not be facing it alone.
The end...for now.
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A/N: Well, that's the end of my first novel-length fanfic. Hope you all enjoyed.
I've got a few short stories rattling around in my head that I want to get out, then I'm going to go back and revise "Run," so if you have any feedback, any feedback at all, please feel free to give it. I will consider them all as I do the second draft. Was there something you thought was silly? Were RAS's characters pretty much in character? Did you like the scenes with Drizzt and Brionne better when it was from Drizzt's point of view or Brionne's? If you were recommending it to a friend, what would you tell them about it?
After that, I'm planning a sequel, but it will probably be a few months before I'm ready to start posting it. Also, I may tack on a little bonus lemon to this piece sometime this week, since Drizzt and Brionne got so little "alone-time" here.
Thanks so much to those who reviewed it. Your encouragement was very helpful in keeping me motivated.
-Janelly