The Feast of the Moon
"YOU DID WHAT!" she screamed at Shadimir.
"I danced naked with Quile Veladorn, I don't see why you have to get so mad about it!" snapped Shadimir," Its not like its any of your business Aliyah."
"What the man who my sister wants to spend the rest of her life with, does in the underdark with drow females is my business," Aliyah yelled louder as the three stood in the middle of Shadimir's living room. The blond haired ranger held her scimitars at her sides. "Stephanie, did you hear about this?" she asked, looking at her sister.
"Stephanie looked at Shadimir for a moment. At first she had not believed what she had heard, but she knew Shadimir would have no reason to lie to her. "Did you destroy Elisondar?"
"Of course, I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," answered Shadimir calmly. Stephanie sighed and looked away from Shadimir, itching the spot where the assassin's blade had struck her.
Stephanie, didn't you hear what your man just said," yelled Aliyah," He was dancing naked with this trollop named Quile."
Stephanie's eyes widened as she looked at Shadimir. The cleric stepped forward and looked into the hunter's eyes. "I have only this to ask," she said calmly, not seeing the evil stare her sister was giving the hunter. "How was it?" she asked, her face breaking in a big grin.
"It was interesting," answered the hunter. Shadimir began to go into details of his dancing with Quile, which seemed to last for a couple of hours until the hunter cut the bottom of his foot on a broken wand. Then the drow priestess had teleported the undead hunter back to his home in Silverymoon, after he had placed his armor on of course.
"Next time wear shoes when you dance naked with dark elves and invite me," was all Stephanie said, wrapping her arms around Shadimir.
Aliyah sighed and shook her head. "Well, I'm going to go the festival, and I'll leave you two to dance here alone," she said, walking outside.
Shadimir and Stephanie couldn't see the small smirk on her face or heard the giggle that escaped Aliyah's lips as she left the living room.
About an hour later, Shadimir and Stephanie left their house. A light snowfall was over the city of Silverymoon, and the ground became a little slippery. In her wool robes, Stephanie told Shadimir that the head of her clergy wanted to see her about an important matter, and she would meet up with him at the festival a little later. After a quick kiss on the lips, Stephanie walked towards the small temple of Kelemvor.
This left Shadimir to find his friends who had disappeared in the cavern.
For the second time today, the hunter found himself moving through the streets of Silverymoon. Trying his best to keep his balance, Shadimir ran, sometime sliding along the streets of Silverymoon. The snow began to build on the trees, the bushes, and the posts, making it quite the beautiful scene.
Passing a couple of kids who were regretting sticking their tongues to one of the metal poles, Shadimir had reached the temple of Helm. Two guards in shining armor escorted Shadimir to where Tara and Jepetto were resting. When he came into the room, Taralona was reading a small leather bound book, while the deep gnome was examining a small grey cube in his hands.
"I see you both made it out safely," Shadimir remarked, after watching the pair in silence for a few moments.
"Shadimir," the gnome began, but a bright light shined from the cube, causing Jepetto to cover his eyes. "I've been blinded."
"Its rude to just walk in," Tara said, placing her book on the bed next to her. "What if Jepetto and I were without clothes."
Shadimir laughed," I think we're in the wrong temple for that sort of activity." The hunter relayed his tale of the drow priestess channeled her energy though him, creating the silver fire to blind Elisondar, and finishing him off. He decided to omit the details of dancing with Quile, as well as the reactions of both Aliyah and Stephanie.
"With the constant presence of a Chosen of Mystra in your life, it sounds like you've got the love of Mystra," Taralona said softly, looking at the hunter's beautiful silver hair.
He shrugged, and thought about it for a moment. "Nah, I think she just likes me a little."
"Well I can tell you Shadimir," Jepetto said, placing the cube down," is that without the help of silver fire, or Lady Veladorn, you might have perished a horrible death," the gnome stopped, hearing Shadimir and Taralona laughing," What's so funny?" he asked.
The two looked at the gnome, then at each other, still laughing. Jepetto couldn't see it, but he was talking to the wall.
The snowing stopped, and Shadimir had left the temple of Helm a little earlier than he expected. He decided to let Tara and Jepetto rest while the Feast of the Moon commenced.
As he entered the Moonbridge, Shadimir smiled widely as a beautiful little girl wearing a green dress, with brown hair and elvish ears ran up to him. She jumped into his arms, and hugged him tightly. Setting her down, Shadimir looked at her and talked while signing with his fingers," Hello Dalla, I missed you."
The little girl, whose eyes matched those of her father, looked up with a big smile. 'I missed you too papa. Lady Alustriel and grandmother are waiting over here' she signed with her fingers back and took a hold of his hand.
Of all the festivals in Silverymoon, none seemed to excite little Dalla more than the Feast of the Moon. Stories of paladins, wizards, and old dragons who once walked and ruled the realms fascinated the little half elven girl.
Shadimir and his daughter caught up with his mother; the priestess Aprilana dressed in her blue clerical robes, and Lady Alustriel dressed in a silk red fiery dress. They were both chatting away with some dwarves about weapons. Aprilana, who had dark red hair and was a few inches shorter than her son, smiled and greeted him with a warm hug. She then bent down and kissed her granddaughter on her cheek. "I trust you'll behave yourself," she said softly.
"I'll make sure she behaves mother," Shadimir responded, looking down at little Dalla.
"I was talking to you mister," Aprilana teased her son, then walked away. Lady Alustriel walked forward, and suddenly Shadimir's stomach began to turn.
"Well well," Alustriel began," your mother and I were just talking about your duties as my apprentice Shadimir." Apprentice, Shadimir asked himself, then suddenly he remembered his words back at Serpent Hills. "The first thing to do, is to deal with that hair of yours," Alustriel tried to remove the hunter's hat, but Shadimir was too quick. "Training starts in a week. Be prepared," Lady Alustriel giggled then walked away.
Shadimir continued to walk though the crowd, holding on to his daughter's hand. Dalla looked at the people all around her, recognizing some of the local clerics and druids in Silverymoon, but her eyes stopped and spotted a person in the crowd who captured her interest.
Standing in front of Shadimir and Dalla, was a dark elf , who wore a dark green cloak and like Aliyah, carried a scimitar on each belt.
Taking a break from looking in the distance to try and find Stephanie, Shadimir glanced down at his daughter and noticed she was staring at the drow stranger. He tapped his daughter's shoulder, and when she looked up, he spoke and signed," Dalla, you know its not polite to stare," then looking up, seeing the dark elf looking at him," I'm sorry. My daughter usually doesn't stare at people.
The drow smiled politely, then looked to see the little girl signing words with her finger. The silver haired young man looked at him," I know Dalla, he looks like him."
"Shadimir Deachron," the drow said softly, looking at the young man's silver hair.
"Actually, that's my name," smiled Shadimir," My daughter wants to know if your name would be Drizzt DoUrden?"
"That it would be," Drizzt said softly to the little girl, who looked at him blankly. Shadimir quickly signed some words to his daughter, and her eyes widened as if she had met Masked Lords of Waterdeep. "Her name, its short for Yondalla, isn't it?"
"Aye, but how would you know who I was, and my daughter's name?" Shadimir asked softly.
Drizzt DoUrden, drow ranger and hero of Mithral Hall, smiled once again. "Exploits of a silver haired young man who hunts the walking undead have reached our ears in Mithral Hall, particularly by our dwarven clerics. In fact, one of the reasons I came here, was to find you and invite you to have a drink with Breunor Battlehammer in Mithral Hall."
Shadimir didn't know what to say. After being confused with many faces around Fauern, this was the first time someone actually knew who he was.
" Sure we can leave after the festival, it might be good that I have some rest before me torture begins." Both Drizzt and Dalla gave Shadimir confused looks, and the hunter quickly added," Long story."
The drow ranger and the undead hunter laughed for a moment, then looked around, as people began to stare at the middle of the bridge. There stood Stephanie, standing before two white robes clerics. One was a man with short dark hair, wearing the symbol of Selune and other was a dwarven woman with brown hair. They presented Stephanie with brightly shining silver chain armor, and new silk grey robes. "I Emilia Ghoulslayer," the dwarf shouted," proclaim Stephanie Munoz an official doomguide of Lord Kelemvor."
Everyone in the crowd cheered. This must have been the important issue, Shadimir thought he saw tears streamed down Aliyah and Deidra's cheeks. The hunter had never seen Aliyah cry before, except after breaking off relationships with men. Except this time was different. Her tears, were tears of pride and joy.
Dalla smiled and waved bye to her father and Drizzt, then ran forward into Stephanie's arms.
Stephanie caught Dalla in her arms, then set her robes and chain armor down as she smiled at everyone. "Citizens of Silverymoon," Stephanie shouted," A doomguide, is a special priest of Kelemvor, who does more than just fight undead. We comfort those in times of grievances, and show that death is not just the end of life, but the beginning of a new adventure. Tonight, The Feast of the Moon is about honoring those who have come and gone, I want to share a special story about a man who has changed my life. His name is Kelemvor Lyonsbane, though it may take awhile, I promise you it is a story to remember.
Shadimir watched as many of the children, and some adults gathered around Stephanie, listening as she began her story. The doomguide not only spoke her story, but signed it with her fingers for Dalla and others who were deaf, so that they could enjoy as well.
The hunter stayed silent as he looked to see Jepetto running up towards him. Drizzt was fascinated with the deep gnome, remembering seeing a few of them as he ventured in the underdark, but never really seeing one in the surface. The drow ranger became a little irritated when Jepetto tried to examine the onyx panther figurine that Drizzt was holding in his fingers.
Jepetto told Shadimir how Taralona had told him that she would see them again someday. The hunter nodded, then looked a few feet away catching a glimpse of Alustriel. She grinned wickedly at him, already thinking of ways to torture her new apprentice.
My hair would be the first Shadimir thought as he put on his brown brimmed hat, then looked at Drizzt. "Do you know of any good barbers in Mithral Hall."
"Some," Drizzt answered," they mostly trim beards Why do you ask?"
"Well," answered Shadimir," I think its time I need a haircut."
The End…