Chapter Fifteen

Drizzt glared at what he hoped to be the target, raised the bow he was holding, waited until he was as sure as he was going to get and released the arrow.

A thud was heard as the arrow embedded itself and a giant grin lit up his face. He had hit the target! He had been practicing for hours with the bow and this was the first time he had hit the mark he was aiming for.

"Well?" he asked, after a round of applause off to one side. "Did I get close to the bullseye?"

Silence as the clapping and laughing stopped and someone approached the target. "Ye got it somewhere between the board end and the bullseye." Catti-brie stated.

Drizzt's grin didn't fade. Not only had he hit the target, but he had done better than he had thought.

Putting the bow away, he leaned forward until Catti-brie was right in front of him and gave the woman a kiss.

It was then that Drizzt woke, his mind still buzzing with the sounds of arrows hitting their mark and of kissing. He rubbed at his eyes, trying to rid them of sleep, only to keep rubbing when he realised that his eyes were itchy.

Sighing, he slipped out of his bed and padded his way to the bathing room. He had been here for a while now and had already memorised his room and the paths to Alustriel's chambers, the guest rooms and the Hall where he and his friends played their card games.

Bruenor had left the day before, taking both his adopted children, Delly and Colson back to Mithral Hall.

Delly had been worried at first and had wanted to stay, but after being nudged quietly in the direction of the cart they would ride on, she had decided to stay with her family.

Regis was staying here, however. The halfling spending most of his time in the city, selling a few of the scrimshaw pieces he had made.

Sighing in pleasure at the feeling of the bath and its relaxing oils and bubbles, he decided he would be lazy today.

A week had passed since his little trip into the city and his getting lost. Bruenor had been sent for yet again and couldn't shirk off his duties as King any longer.

The prisoner that had been captured alive after the fight on Silverymoon hadn't yet talked, but since progress was said to be going nowhere, Alustriel had asked him personally to see to the questioning. That, he could leave until tomorrow.

He was determined to enjoy being lazy for just one day. Oh, how he hoped this could last. He knew it sounded mean, even to his own thoughts, but he was glad for the time alone. Since his running off on Wulfgar, he had been surrounded by all his friends.

He had become an exellent card player.

Sighing as the water grew cold, he got out and hurriedly dried himself off, grabbed at where his clean clothes were kept and dressed as fast as he could. At least that was something he was getting used to, though he obviously would need help getting into his armour if the need arose. Luckily it hadn't.

Slowly, he walked his way towards Alustriel's room, intent on telling her about his itchy eyes and whether that was a bad or a good sign. One hand made its way up to his face and began rubbing at the irritation.

He stopped after he counted how many steps it was to the Lady's room. Turning, he felt for the door handle and entered unannounced. Luckily this had become common place so he wasn't too surprised when he was greeted by Alustriel.

"Drizzt! Just the person I wanted to talk to." She exclaimed, getting off her chair at her desk and dragging the strangely embarrassed drow into a hug.

Drizzt shifted uncomfortably in the embrace the Lady was giving him, unsure about its reason. Alustriel had never been so...loving towards him before.

"I have found something that might help you gain back your sight! I do not know if it will work, but it is worth the try."

Drizzt was silent for a few moments, before smiling brightly at the happy news. "That is good news. Speaking of my eyes...they itch."

Alustriel smiled brightly at him regardless of the fact that he couldn't see her. "It sounds as though they are trying to heal themselves. That they itch is a sign of healing itself."

Drizzt's smile widened at hearing that, hope of being able to see again playing like a song in his heart. "Is there anything you can give me to stop the itch...it is rather annoying."

Alustriel thought for a few minutes. "Perhaps. I will see later, until then, you will have to live with the itch."

Drizzt nodded, before cocking his head to one side as if listening to something. "I better go now. I will come back later."

With that, he hurriedly left Alustriel's room and headed for his own. He had heard the guards coming and if he pretended to sleep, they should leave him be for the rest of the day...or at least until he has 'woken up'.

That was his hope at least.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The guards at the gate were on immediate alert as a wounded elf slowly made her way to the bridge into Silverymoon.

Two guards helped her inside, while another four went on the alert to any enemies that could have been the one to injure the woman. Their halberds were held at the ready just in case.

When no enemies were about, they went back to their posts and kept an eye out for any danger as their jobs warranted.

None of them knew that the danger had just walked in. The young elf nevver knew it either.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Off to one side of the city, Shade smiled, his fanged teeth glinting brightly, though the tips were lightly tinted red with blood.

Colt was dead. The elven whelp hurt and bloody. With any luck, his plan would work out perfectly. So far, his luck had been very good.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lyavain was immediately let in to the sprawling city, a couple of guards at her side, helping her to one of the nearest Healer's. Her wounds, while all superficial were many and all were bleeding, leaving her weak.

"Do you know who your attacker was, ma'am?" One of the guards asked, a male human with a dark complexion.

Lyavain closed her eyes and nodded. "Yes. His name is Shade. He...was an old associate but we have not spoken in many years. I thought him to be dead."

"Well, the guards are on alert nowadays, since the city was attacked a week ago. There has been no trouble since, from outside at any rate. We will make sure you are healed and will look for this Shade character. If he comes here, you will hear about it." The second guard, a half-Elf female, stated.

"Thank you." Lyavain stated, as she was taken to a bed and was asked to lie down. A potion to induce sleep and a healing potion were given to her and drunk.

As she drifted off into reverie the thought that Drizzt was in the city, possibly even with Lady Alustriel herself crept its way into her mind. Just before sleep fully claimed her, she must have muttered his name.

A/N - Well, it's about time, isn't it? I wanted to update, or put up all one-shots finished, before November, as I not only have a course on Animal Care to finish (tests are horrible aren't they?) But I also signed up for NaNoWriMo. My November is full now, lol.

Well, this part was updated faster than the last one, so that is a good thing. Mostly, I have been working mainly on my story called Lost. So that is my main excuse...that and laziness.

Thanks go to my reviewers for being faithful, even though I have been rotten with updating this story. Thanks to those who have stuck with it every chapter. Some have answers, or thank you's in brackets, one has an entire explanation! Different, I know.

Walker - Yes, he was trained by someone who was blind, but that is not the point. The point is, he had extremely good eyesight, especially at night and that was taken away from him very fast. Who wouldn't be upset? Also, he is drow. Usually, unless very powerful, a blind drow is killed. That would be hard to do to Drizzt, so I don't think that would be much of a problem. He is getting used to moving about without being able to see now.

HumbleMaster (thank you!!!), Ahn-Li Steffraini, Ranger Do'Urden, Calendae, Chickens (unfortunately yes, Colt did die), Em Starcatcher, Abbil, ChiChiX (the reason for the strange behaviour for a Healer will be brought up in the next chapter), Itsuki Tachibana, fanfic-demon