A/N: OoO ((stares at all the encouraging reviews she got)) Wowza, ya'll like this popcorn thing that much? Alrighty, then, yer wishes are my commands! Or something like that ... Wow, lotsa a guesses on what Aari is ... the cool thing is, a lot of them aren't far off the mark! (Though, no, Aari is not Guen, Guen is female. I think.)
Well, anyways, a great big "THANK YOU!" to: Anaroka, Venashira, Donaruie, Galimeril, Abbil, Ininil, carsonsheir, YoginiGal, and Kara Adar for their support in this thing. I'm having fun writing it - hope you're having fun reading it!
Two and a half weeks later found Drizzt Do'Urden roaming the dale with his panther companion, Guenhwyvar. He was trotting through a snowdrift when he suddenly remembered the strange drow with purple eyes he'd seen at Silverymoon. He shook his head. He'd just gotten home a few days ago, and had told his friends all about it. There had been some wild speculations as to who the strange drow was, but it had died out by the next day, and Drizzt was glad of it.
He was trotting through a large gully of snow when he heard the voices. He paused and listened, thinking maybe they were travelers from Ten-Towns, lost in the snow-desert.
" . . . want to find Diamaetus . . . look everywhere, Aari!" He made out over the sudden wind that had gusted up. He strained to hear the reply.
" . . . not that, Ria, it's just . . . sure if I want to see . . . soon."
Drizzt shook his head, puzzled, just as the owners of said voices crested the ridge in front of him.
The pair didn't notice him at first. One was a female gold elf, bundled up in heavy winter clothing, plowing grouchily through the snow. The other was another of the elven race, prancing and dancing about, practically walking on the snow, pausing now and again to speak with his companion before racing away again, reminding Drizzt strongly of Guen at play. It was then that Drizzt realized with a start that the male was a drow.
Drizzt strode forwards as the wind died down as suddenly as it had began. "Hallo!" he called out. "Are you lost?"
The gold elf looked up and grumbled, "Don't I wish!" Then, her eyes widened, as did Drizzt's. She was the same elf he'd run into at the marketplace in Silverymoon. As his mind made the connection, he turned to see purple eyes staring at him out of an ebony face.
The elf woman cleared her throat. "Well. Hello again. I'm Riakkal Rosethorn, and this is Aari Storm. And you are . . ?"
"Drizzt Do'Urden," he replied.
"Oh! You're the ranger!" she exclaimed in recognition. Her drow companion grinned, before turning to Drizzt and asking, "Have you noticed anything . . . strange, in the magical way, hereabouts?"
Drizzt, puzzled, replied, "No, why?"
The drow – Aari – took a deep breath before launching into the entire story. "Well, you see, there's this wizard, Diamaetus, and he's a really evil git, and he polymorphed me into my present form, so obviously I'm not really a drow, but anyway, we heard through the grapevine that he's come here for some bizarre reason known only to him, and we're looking for him to make him change me back, and stop whatever evil plan he's brewing up out here."
Drizzt blinked, slowly processing the information. Finally, he realized the basic gist of what Aari had just spouted. "Oh! Well, sorry, but I'll keep a lookout for this Diamaetus," he reassured them. As he spoke, Guenhwyvar strode up behind him and purred.
Aari saw the panther and gaped. Ria saw her and commented, "Oh, you've an astral companion? Lucky. They don't really talk back, unlike my dear friend here."
Drizzt chuckled. "I wouldn't be too sure of that," he replied, recalling several circumstances in which Guen had been very vocal, indeed.
Ria shrugged. "I suppose. But there's no comparing the annoyance of Aari with anything, really."
Aari laughed and shoved her lightly. "And there's no comparing with you, period!" he replied affectionately, strangely violet eyes sparkling with mischief and fun.
She scowled at him, while Drizzt could not withhold a smile at the pair's playful antics. "I don't even know why I put up with you," she informed her companion.
He pouted playfully and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Cuz you love me and I make you smile," he replied.
Drizzt had a hard time imagining the grouchy elf-maiden smiling, or even looking pleasant. Meanwhile, true to form, Ria retorted, "Oh, aye, smile at your own daftness!" She shrugged off his arms and turned to Drizzt, serious once more. "Be wary, ranger," she warned him. "Diamaetus is not to be trifled with. Those who seek him out oft meet grave ends."
"And yet you seek him," Drizzt pointed out mildly.
She raised an eyebrow. "And you think we're not insane … why?" Aari snorted. When she turned to look at him, he sniggered, "Ooh, snarky, Ria!"
With an obviously practiced gesture, she dismissed his comment and ignored him. "Truly, Do'Urden, Diamaetus is dangerous. Watch your every step – I know I'm watching mine."
"Why is this Diamaetus so dangerous? Is he so powerful?" Drizzt had to inquire – surely one mage, obviously skilled at polymorphs though he was, could not present such a threat that this formidable elf was acting as though she was laying siege to an army.
To his surprise, it was Aari who replied, violet gazes joining squarely as he said, his voice suddenly grim, "Because, Ranger Do'Urden … he's insane. The things he does defy all the laws of nature and morality alike. There is no level to which he will not stoop, where his paranoia does not reach." He shrugged, and then added, his voice considerably lighter, "We track him because we must. You need not. I … don't want to know that my quest brought trouble onto you."
Drizzt nodded – he could sympathize completely with the feeling. "I will watch my every step," he replied sincerely. "However, if you are right, and Diamaetus is not to be crossed, then it would be my duty to assist you in ridding him from the dale."
Ria nodded, accepting his indirect pledge of assistance mutely. "Well," she sighed, "C'mon, Aari. Diamaetus won't find himself for us in this godforsaken place."
Aari laughed as she went back to plowing through the snow. "She hates the cold," he informed Drizzt, before following after her, moving in graceful leaps and bounds. Drizzt watched the strange, unlikely pair until they were black specks to his light-sensitive eyes against the blinding glare of the white snow. He sighed, shaking his head. Those two were a mystery, to be sure. There were many questions here … and not enough answers to his liking. Beside him, Guenhwyvar growled uneasily, echoing her master's thoughts.
A/N: Wheeee! Next chapter, we get to meet the infamous Diamaetus! Meh, he's crazy/insane, but he don't act like it most of the time ... scaaaaary dude, tho'. Well, if ya liked, REVIEW! If ya didn't like ... meh, what do I care, if you didn't like it you wouldn't still be here, would'ja?