A/N I had fun with this, and beware, Drizzt is a bit on the OOC side… -.-; Song is "Heaven's A Lie," by Lacuna Coil. As beautiful as it is, I didn't write it. p
Chapter Twenty-Five – The Winter Solstice Masquerade
He scowled faintly at the woman that sat on the other side of the table from him, his arms crossed over his chest as he looked into the damn-near pleading silver eyes. It was almost midwinter, with snow already falling lightlyoutside. His voice was firm as he answered the asked question.
"No."
Alustriel smiled faintly as she looked at the drow sitting across from her. They had been there nigh on two months, and this was one of the few things that she had asked of him. She had been asking him for weeks to attend the event, and each time he had adamantly refused with a faint scowl on his face.
"Please, Drizzt." She tilted her head, glad that no servants or other attendants were near to see her this way. "Please come! I assure you that both you and Catti-brie will have a splendid time! I have already commissioned the tailor that you prefer to make your costumes!"
The answer was the exact same, including the expression. "No."
"No one will recognize you with a mask! Please! It will be the last thing that I ask you to attend. Besides," she smiled, ready to set her plan in action. "I'm betting that if I tell Catti-brie about this event, she will be asking to come as well."
The drow's lavender eyes widened ever-so-slightly. Alustriel smiled – a response! – infinitely pleased with herself. Drizzt sighed, running slender fingers through the long locks of his snowy hair.
"Maybe. I'll discuss it with Cat before I tell you if we are coming or not."
An hour later, he came to her study, a somewhat annoyed expression on his face and an excited Catti-brie behind him.
"Alustriel, we will be attending the event, as you planned. Will you please arrange an appointment with the tailor that you commissioned?"
"You have an appointment arranged for tomorrow morning, in the shop, just after the sun rises." She responded without looking up, not wanting the ranger to see the pleased expression on her face. She also hoped that he didn't see the wink that Catti-brie cast over his shoulder.
Catti-brie smiled at the woman on that other side of the room as she held her arms out for measurements. The event would be in a few weeks, and she had yet to decide what her costume would be. Alustriel had come to watch her being measured, allowing the younger woman to throw ideas at her.
"What about a unicorn?" She asked, looking thoughtful. "Drizzt is always saying how beautiful they are. Not to mention, it would stand out among other things that people could be."
Alustriel shook her head. "No. Drizzt already told that tailor that he would be going as a unicorn." She chuckled at Catti-brie's raised eyebrow. "He said that the only way that he would go willingly would be if he went as something that suited him, rather than something rather out of the air."
"Then…" she thought for another moment, wincing for a second as a pin was poked painfully into her side. "Then how about I go as a fox?"
"I don't think that it suits you…" Alustriel shook her head with a shudder.
Catti-brie flinched. "Well, now that you put it that way…" she thought for another few moments. "What about some kind of bird?"
The ruler of Silverymoon brightened. "How about kind of tropical bird? Some of them are absolutely beautiful, and their colours will go well with your colouring."
Catti-brie thought for a moment longer before shaking her head. "No, as much as the idea sounds good, I'm not big on having feathers on my face, now that I think about it." She paused again to think as the tailor continued to measure her, draping swaths of fabric over her arms, testing the colour against her skin. An idea came to her suddenly. "What about a panther? Like, Guenhwyvar?"
Alustriel looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding. "I think that that would be a great idea Catti-brie. The black would not only contrast, it would compliment Drizzt's costume. It will be brilliant. I say that you go with that idea."
She smiled. "I will, and I'll see what he thinks about it." She smirked mischievously, wondering what her husband would think if he knew about what she had decided. Things had become easier over the months that they had been in Silverymoon, for both of them. At night, she still had nightmares and visions but at least they were lessening in their ferocity. It was easier for her also to spend time away from him, allowing him to converse in private with his father.
She had also been able to spend more time conversing with Alustriel than she had in the past. It was during one of their conversations that the idea with the Winter Solstice Masquerade had come up. They had created a plan that would allow them to get Drizzt to come somewhat willingly.
That had been the difficult part of the plan, but they had succeeded eventually.
Hopefully, they would be able to get him to actually wear the outfit that they were planning for him. They had both known that Drizzt would likely choose the unicorn as his costume idea, so they had set about planning a costume about a month ago, and had seen the tailor about making it – to which he readily agreed. The metal-smith had also been quite willing to make the specially designed mask – something that would require them making a casting of the upper half of the drow ranger's face.
"Do you think that he may suspect anything about our little plan?" Catti-brie asked quietly, stepping down from the pedestal. "If he does find out, he won't be very happy about it."
Alustriel only smiled. "Yes, but he's already agreed that both of you will be going to the masquerade. And, the ranger that I know won't go back on his word, as much as he doesn't like it."
Catti-brie fully agreed a small smile on her face as she walked out of the room, praying that Drizzt wouldn't figure anything out until after the masquerade. After all, she knew of a lot of people that would love to see Drizzt wearing the outfit that had been specially designed for him.
Not to forget, the mask in itself was incredibly expensive to make – more so than the circlet he had worn to the banquet last year – since they had had to call in one of the best dwarven jewel-smiths from quite a distance in order to fit the mask to his face perfectly. Of course, he likely wouldn't be told this, simply because he wouldn't like the fact that someone had paid such a large fee to pay for something that he would be wearing for – what would likely be now more than a night.
A few days before the ball, Alustriel called both Drizzt and Catti-brie into her study so that they could both watch Drizzt try on the mask. He looked suspiciously at them as Alustriel pulled the carefully wrapped package from behind her desk, a smile on her face as she handed it to the apprehensive ranger. He turned the package over in his hands, looking between the two women with one snow-white eyebrow raised.
"Is there something that I should know about?" He asked suspicion obvious in his lavender eyes. A chuckle from the other side of the room drew his attention and he looked surprised. Zaknafein walked forward, speaking in a broken combination of drow and common.
"Well, dos (you), try it on. Must be good." Drizzt scowled faintly at his father before unwrapping the mask. He gasped when he looked at the mithril object. He looked up at the faces of the other three in the room.
"And you are all expecting me to wear this?" He frowned at the affirmative nods that he received. He held it up from the packaging, looking at it as it shone faintly in the candlelight. He knew from the flawless craftsmanship that it must've been expensive to make.
"Well, try it on already!" Catti-brie smiled as she walked up to him, a smile on her face as she looked at the finished piece of work. Sighing, he placed the mask on his face, tying the seemingly delicate violet string in place behind his head, and when he looked up at the three others in the room, they had looks of amazement on their faces.
The dark ebon of his skin contrasted sharply with the brilliant pale silver of the shimmering mask. His eyes stood out from the exact eyeholes like pale, pale amethysts that were filled with the intelligence and wisdom that was granted with longer life and hardships. The mask only covered from the tip of his hairline to the lower ridges of his cheekbones, reaching the bottom tip of his nose. At the top centre of the forehead of the mask protruded a four-inch horn that was carved like that of a unicorn, and swirling black, gothicdesigns around the base of it.
"Well?" He asked, looking around at the shocked faces, eyes widening ever-so-slightly. "Is it really that bad?"
Catti-brie shook her head, eyes slightly wide. "Absolutely not. Alustriel, you were right – it is a perfect fit – especially for his personality." She smiled at her husband. "The unicorn suits you perfectly."
From the other side of the room, Zaknafein laughed at the deep red haze that visibly darkened on the ebon-skinned elf's cheekbones.
Catti-brie sighed as she looked herself up and down in the mirror. In a few minutes, she would be going to the entrance of the hall – where she would meet Drizzt – so that they could be announced upon their entrance into the banquet hall. The ranger had been adamantly against it, but in the end, Alustriel's stubborn insistence had won out.
Their entrance would be announced.
Serenity and Gabriel had come all the way from their home to attend the celebration – Serenity had been the one that had helped her set her hair into the intricate loops and braids that it had been twisted into. She was still amazed at the gown that the tailor had designed for her over the course of a month and she hoped that her husband's thoughts were similar.
She walked out of the room and down the hall, not pausing to look at the decorations that had been hung throughout Alustriel's home, as she had already done that earlier. She smiled faintly as she saw the figure cloaked in dark violet standing near the banquet-hall entrance and peering nervously between the curtains. When he turned to face her, Catti-brie could've sworn that her heart stopped when she took a good look at the formalwear that had been made for him.
The outer tunic and leggings seemed to be made of mithril thread, and even shone in the soft candle light, accentuating the contours of his slender figure. The under-tunic was made of pale lavender that matched his eye colour perfectly, with a high collar that framed his ebon-skinned face. The sleeves of the outer tunic were long enough to cover his hands – but she saw that when he moved them, there was a slit on either side that allowed both hands complete freedom of movement – something that he had no doubt requested. Both tunics were left unbuttoned to a point halfway down his chest, where a modest mithril pendant of a unicorn head was tucked next to his normal scrimshaw one.
One thing that Catti-brie did find odd however was that a collar that was roughly three centimetres wide rested about his slender neck, the mithril metal carved with appeared to be a forest scene with a unicorn hidden amongst the trees. The boots were made of white leather. The tops reached past his knees, but were folded-over, were held in place – beneath the loose ends – with a strip of white leather and a mithril buckle. The belt too, was white leather, and held both of his long knives within reach of his hands.
The cloak in itself was made of a velvet clothe that was a dark, rich hue of violet. The covered his right shoulder, and yet didn't cover the left. The clasp that held it together at his left shoulder was a unicorn's head, made of elven craftsmanship in brilliantly shining mithril. He smiled faintly when he saw her, taking her hands in his and kissing her lightly.
"You look absolutely beautiful tonight Cat." And indeed she did.
The dress itself was made of midnight black silk that flowed around her legs like water – the hem just brushing the floor. All across the midnight fabric, small black stones sparkled and glistened. The bodice of the dress pulled tightly against her delicate, feminine curves, the neck dipping a graceful v and low enough in the back to show the low edge of her spine.
Immediately he could tell that something had been done so that the scars from her captivity were sufficiently covered so that no one would see them. Against the darker clothe, her skin was pale – almost deathly – but her smile put some colour in her cheeks. Her long hair was pulled back from her face in a series of complicated twists and braids that left most of it flowing down her back in soft auburn waves that contrasted starkly with the inky black of the dress.
The mask that she wore with her own costume fit to her face was made of a stiff black material. It reached back far enough that cat ears similar to those on Guenhwyvar's head perched atop of hers. Being that the bottom edge came just below her eyes, there were black lines that had been drawn on either side of her face with black kohl – like the whiskers of a cat. At her throat was a necklace made of darkened steel that glistened with bright rubies – the necklace matched drooping earrings and jingling bracelets.
Smiling, Catti-brie raised her hands to lightly cup his face – careful not to leave any fingerprints on the shining mithril mask. "And you're looking quite handsome yourself Ranger Do'Urden. I'm just wondering when such a collar-like necklace came to be part of your costume."
He frowned slightly but she could see the smile that danced in his pale eyes. When he turned to look again through the curtains, she got a better look at what was in his hair. Ribbons of violet and silver were twirled and mingled amongst the snow-white locks that fell in loose waves down his back all the way to the lower curve of his buttocks (or at least where she estimated itto be)– a stark contrast to the dark violet of the cloak.
He looked at her curiously as she fingered one of the locks. "And may I ask, who convinced you to let them put these decorative ribbons in your hair?"
Drizzt scowled faintly as he continued to look into the crowd. "Serenity did, with the backing of my father, her husband, and Alustriel. I have no idea why, but it seems as if everyone in this bloody place wishes for me to attend this, and I have yet to figure out the reason why."
Catti-brie only smiled slightly. She had had no idea either, only that Alustriel had wanted the both of them to come to the masquerade – saying something about a gift for the both of them and a brief mentioning of someone by the name of 'Rëváy.' But, she had thought of it as a chance for the both of them to attend something as a couple – something that they hadn't exactly done before – that is, if you didn't count their own wedding.
She smiled as she heard someone whisper through the curtains that they were about to be announced. She looped her hand through Drizzt's arm, resting her hand lightly on his wrist. Looking at him, she could see the nervousness flashing through his eyes as the tension sang through the muscles beneath her hand. It had been a long time since she had seen him this nervous. Catching his attention, she smiled gently at him, hoping to ease of his nerved before they stepped out onto the stairs that led down into the room. A loud, magically enhanced voice called out as the curtain was pulled from either side.
"Now entering are Ranger Drizzt Do'Urden, son of Zaknafein, and his wife, Catti-brie, adopted daughter of the King of Mithril Hall, Bruenor Battlehammer."
Catti-brie smiled slightly as she saw the slight smile on Drizzt's face as they walked down the sloping stairs. They made their way through the middle of the room to stand before the dais where Alustriel was sitting at her throne, dressed all in white with a mask of swan feathers. Standing a little to the left and just behind her chair with his hands resting lightly on the hilts of his sabres and his whip only inches from the hilts was Zaknafein. He was dressed in almost the exact manner as his son – only in black, darkened steel, iron, and amber, rather than the silver, white, mithril, and violet that was Drizzt's apparent colour scheme.
"Welcome Ranger Do'Urden," she smiled, looking at the both of them, and nodding in approval at Drizzt's clothing, "and Lady Catti-brie. I hope you enjoy the Winter Solstice Masquerade as my guests."
Alustriel gestured to a round table at the far corner of the room, where she and those whom she had selected would be sitting during the evening meal. With a smile and bow, both of them made their way between the tables, towards the one at the back corner. Gasps and stares met them as they walked, most of them from ladies of the court – those aimed at Drizzt – and Catti-brie could see the looks in their eyes, telling her exactly what they wanted to do with him.
When they reached the tables, there were already four people seated there, Gabriel and Serenity included. Both of the Luchiélt royalty looked like something out of fairytale. Both of them wore masks lined with feathers that matched the wings on their backs. Gabriel was dressed in Luchién-styled robes of white and violet – the darker colour setting off the dark amethyst of his eyes. Serenity herself was dressed in similar robes of gold and green, her hair done in a similar twist of braids to what she had done with Catti-brie's hair.
She smiled at the two approached the table, taking seats near them. "You both look so wonderful tonight. I wonder, Ranger Do'Urden, if you noticed the looks that the ladies of the court were giving you tonight?"
"Aye," he sighed, "that I did, and I wish not to read any of their thoughts again, thank you."
Catti-brie chuckled at the slightly sickened expression on her husband's face. She sat down at his other side, where the chair remained empty besides her. She talked quietly with Serenity, inquiring about small things, such as to how Adrian was doing. With a smile, the Luchiélt woman spoke of how the now 16-month-old was babbling and talking away, though he was learning how to actually talk to people, even if it were only simple phrases. She could tell that both of little Adrian's parents were proud – especially since he was the apple of their eye.
A few minutes later, the empty seat next to her was taken by a handsome man that looked to be somewhere in his late twenties, early thirties, with long, blue black hair, and intelligent, dark eyes. He smiled at her politely through the eyes of his crimson red mask. What he was dressed as, she did not know, only that it seemed to suit him. The cloak was a dark, midnight black that shimmered oddly, as if there was a spell placed over it. His tunic and leggings were a deep, crimson red that matched his mask, and his black boots and belt were tooled with silver etchings that shimmered in the candlelight. What surprised her most was the site of two short, yellowed horns coming from either side of his forehead, both attached directly to his mask.
He bowed politely, taking her hand and lightly kissing the back of it, his eyes sparkling with his smile. "Ah, Lady Catti-brie, it is an honour to meet you at last. I have heard so much about you from Lady Alustriel."
Catti-brie smiled, shaking her head slightly. "It is wonderful to meet you as well, even if I do not know your name."
He gasped theatrically, pressing his hands to his chest. "Oh! Forgive me my dear Lady! I forgot to introduce myself! I am Rëváy, one of Lady Alustriel's researchers, sorcerers, and historians, and I humbly ask for your forgiveness for not having introduced myself sooner, but I feel as if I could not help but forget, in light of such beauty as for which the stars have no match!"
Catti-brie chuckled slightly at his antics, colour blossoming across her cheeks – she could not see the faint jealous light that was making its way into her husband's eyes. "Of course you are forgiven, my Lord Rëváy, it was an honest mistake on your part, I suppose."
He smiled and bowed, sweeping his cloak out in a flare that accentuated the movement, and making it look comically exaggerated. "I am surely glad milady! And I beg of you, call me not Lord, call me Rëváy, for I say a single drop of your blood carries far more nobility than I carry in my entire body!"
She blushed at his words – never had she heard such, well, that many compliments in only a few breaths – and he continued to do it. "Thank you, Rëváy, and I beg you, call me not 'milady,' and cease with the compliments, for you will have me as red as your costume by the end of the night!"
His smile only widened as he bowed again. "Than, fair Catti-brie, at least give me the honour of having the seat beside you so that we may have conversation for the duration of the evening meal?"
Catti-brie smiled, giggling softly. "Of course, I see no reason not to."
With yet another theatrical bow, he sat in the chair on her left side, a wide grin on his face. After about a half an hour, Alustriel made her way to the table, having finally welcomed the last of the guests.
"Ah, Catti-brie, I see that you have met my Lord Rëváy." Alustriel chuckled as she walked towards the table, Zaknafein still following behind her like a faithful guard. Rëváy turned and bowed to the Lady of Silverymoon, who only chuckled and shook her head. "I'm glad that the both of you were able to join us tonight. It is an honour to have you both here."
Gabriel laughed as Drizzt rolled his eyes slightly. "As much as I am glad to be here, Alustriel."
"Well than, I hope that the rest of the evening proves to be just as wonderful, if not more so." Smiling, she nodded to the side, where the servants were waiting to pour wine and serve the meal. The Lady of Silverymoon watched, and waited patiently until everyone in attendance had been served. The meals were simple fare, suited to fit those of the different races and levels of nobility as she saw fit. When all were served, she stood, lifting her glass, making a toast in her clear voice.
"This toast, I make in honour of the coming winter. May there be peace in coming spring between the races, and amongst the cities and towns. May there be love and friendship between enemies and rivals, and may all wounds," she looked briefly and both Drizzt and Catti-brie out of the corner of her eye, "be they physical or emotional, heal with time, as they should. Now! Let us all enjoy this meal!"
Cheers sprang from the other tables in the hall and Rëváy gave an enthusiastic call from his place at the table that made the women giggle and the males roll their eyes. Alustriel laughed as she sat down. It was going to be a very interesting evening.
Throughout the meal, Rëváy continued to try and ask Drizzt about the abilities that he had gained over the last months. Catti-brie giggled, noting that her husband was pointedly ignoring the researcher, which annoyed him to no end. Alustriel explained with a chuckled, the historian had been trying to coax a conversation out of the drow for week with little success, except to be either pointedly ignored, or cursed at in drow.
When asked why, the ranger simply shrugged and muttered something in his native language that caused Zaknafein, who was in the process of taking a sip of wine, to snort most of it all over the white table clothes, laughing and gagging. Drizzt merely raised an eyebrow at his father's behaviour. With all the other people at the table looking at him funny, the Weapons Master translated.
"He said that he'd prefer not to have to shove either Icingdeath or Twinkle up his arse, or castrate him to silence him if he gossiped about it." He wiped wine from his mouth using a napkin, still chuckling.
Rëváy laughed with him, though his face had paled considerably. "And I am very glad that I will have neither unpleasant torture done for my curiosity is now officially gone."
Drizzt only rolled his eyes, as faint smile on his face as he moved the food around his plate, not really eating anything. He knew that Rëváy wouldn't give up his questions – he knew the sorcerer better than that. He would be asking about the abilities once again tomorrow.
And he would once again try ignoring him or cursing at him.
When everyone had finished their meals and the plates had been cleared by the servants, Alustriel, with the help of both Drizzt and Rëváy, she cleared the tables away to create a large dance floor for the guests to dance upon while a band of musicians played a variety of music in the corner. After this had been done, she smiled at the both of them before announcing that the dancing would be beginning.
With a small smile on his face, Drizzt turned to where he had last seen Catti-brie, hoping to ask her for a dance before the evening got quite a bit more into the festivities – only to find that she was gone. He blushed, scowling faintly as he saw her walking towards the dance floor with her hand resting lightly on Rëváy's arm. His eyes narrowed as watched them begin dancing amongst the other couples that were also enjoying themselves.
He sighed and leaned back against the table, picking up his one cup of wine and taking a slight sip from it, watch as the couples danced, laughing merrily at the faster-paced music. He knew that Rëváy had a way with the ladies, but he had never thought that the sorcerer would have the gall to go after another man's wife! He had thought that he would be able to dance with her at least once before any other men claimed her for the night. So deep was the ranger in his thoughts that he didn't notice the other person come up behind him and lay a hand on his shoulder.
"Dos'ph naak'e. (You're jealous.)" Drizzt jumped, startled as he turned to look into smiling amber orbs. "Usstan shlu'ta kyorl ol wun dosst solen vel'drav dos kyorl ilta. (I can see it in your eyes while you watch her.)"
The ranger scowled faintly. "Usstan tlun naut naak'e. (I am not jealous.) Usstan fridj talinth nindel ol zhahus kke nindel uk paken tir xuil ilta p'los belbaun ilta m'ranndii natha mayar whol l'ust lil'alure. (I just think that it was rude that he waltzed (took) off with her before giving her husband a chance for the first dance.)"
Zaknafein smiled, chuckling. "Izil usstan telanthus p'los -- dos'ph naak'e. (As I said before -- you're jealous.)"
Drizzt's scowl deepened as he looked at the smiling face of his father, knowing that he was right – and stubbornly denying it once more. "Usstan tlun naut. (I am not.)"
"Dos phuul lueth dos zhaun ol. (You are and you know it.)" It was Zaknafein's turn to scowl. "Ji vrine'winith rezlet ol. (So stop denying (denial) it.)"
Sighing at the headache that was beginning to form, Drizzt rubbed his fingers against his temples, also reverting back to the common tongue. "Alright, I am. Are you happy now?"
Zaknafein grinned. "Yes, now, why don't you go over there and ask her for a dance? Then you'll be able to get her away from that annoying human." He turned to look at the dancers, looking at his son out of the corners of his eyes, clasping his hand behind his back. "Besides, you'll be able to show her everything that Lady Alustriel showed you about dancing…"
Drizzt looked at him suspiciously with a tinge of pink on his cheeks. "How did you know that she's been teaching me how to dance?"
Zaknafein turned to him with a look of feigned innocence. "She told me. How else would I know? As her new personal guard, I have to know where she is at all times."
Sighing, Drizzt walked off, leaving a smirking Weapons Master behind him. He would ask Catti-brie would dance with him, and hopefully he would be able to keep her away from the human for the rest of the night – he didn't like the vibe that he got from the sorcerer.
Catti-brie chuckled as Rëváy once again whispered something in her ear, commenting on the ridiculous dress that one of the noble women was wearing. He had been making comments like throughout the dance, and she was enjoying them. She had to admit that the historian was charming and handsome, but she constantly felt like someone was watching her. Rëváy noticed this and once again leaned down to whisper something in her ear, his voice surprisingly soft and serious.
"He's been watching us since the dancing began, I'm afraid." He made a subtle motion with his head that made her look towards where her husband was standing, talking with his father and watching them. "And something tells me that he's jealous."
Catti-brie raised an eyebrow. "And why do you think that?"
He grinned, twirling her around as the music played. "Because the only word that I recognize and know from the drow language is 'naak'e,' and that means jealous. His father's been telling him that he's just jealous, and he's been denying it, though I think that he knows that it's true."
Catti-brie frowned. "And how do you know this? I certainly can't tell from here."
Rëváy only grinned. "If there's one thing that I excel at, it's lip-reading, and being able to tell one language from another. Not to mention from the expression on his face, it was fairly obvious."
As they moved on the dance floor, they were turned so that she could look at her husband and see for herself. And – as she could see – the historian was right, and the Drizzt appeared to be watching her. For some reason though, she found it odd – normally he didn't mind when she was talking to others. But when she remembered what Alustriel said about how Rëváy had been bothering him about his abilities for weeks, she sort of understood why – and the historian hadn't even really given her a chance to ask Drizzt to dance before dragging her to the dance floor.
She had to admit that he had been a bit rude, especially since the few that knew that Drizzt had gained such rare and powerful abilities knew that he didn't particularly care to talk about them. He preferred to keep it a secret, since he didn't want enemies to come after him just to test those abilities.
She lost site of him a little while later as the dancing moved them further into the crowd and farther away from the edges of the hall. To make it look like she was having a good time, she continued laughing faintly at the remarks that Rëváy whispered into her ear, though after seeing the look on her husband's face, she suddenly didn't feel like dancing. At least, not with the man she was currently with.
Minutes passed before the song finally seemed to end, and with a small smile on her face, she stepped away from her dance partner who waltzed away to find another partner after she declined. She jumped slightly when someone tapped her on the shoulder lightly, catching her attention. She turned and smiled into his chuckling lavender eyes.
"May I have this dance?" Drizzt smiled and bowed slightly as he reached out to grasp her hand. She smiled and gave a small curtsy.
"Of course."
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks as he wrapped his long slender fingers and wrapped them about her smaller ones, the other hand resting at the small of her back – against the bare flesh that the low backline allowed. With a small smile, she rested her free hand on his shoulder, relaxing at the feel of the muscles beneath the shimmering clothe. He smiled at her, gracing her temple with a feathery soft kiss that made her smile.
The next song that the musicians started to play was a soft, slow one, played with soft flutes and violins. After a while, Catti-brie gave into temptation – the music having seemed similar to a lullaby in her mind – and rested her head against the curve of his shoulder, sighing softly in contentment. Drizzt smiled and rested his chin on top of her head, slowly moving them in circles to keep them from running into other couples on the dancefloor. A female elf stood on the playing stage, her sweet voice singing a bittersweet melody.
"Oh no
Here it is again
I need to know
When I fall into decay
"Something wrong
With every plan of my life
I didn't really notice that you've been there
"Dolefully desired
Destiny of a lie
"Set me free
Your heaven's a lie
Set me free with your love
Set me free."
Catti-brie looked up at her husband's profile as they moved around the dance floor, both of them lost in the other's presence and listening to the soft music. The words were sad, but she somehow found herself relating to them. Blinking back memories and tears, the dwarven-raised woman buried her face in her husband's shoulder. Neither noticed the two pairs of eyes that were watching them.
"Oh no
Here it is again
Why did I choose to betray you
"Something wrong
With all the plans of my life
I didn't realize that you've been there
"Dolefully desired
Destiny of a lie
"Set me free
Your heaven's a lie
Set me free with you love
Set me free
"Set me free your heaven's a lie
Set me free with you love
Set me free."
Alustriel smiled over Zaknafein's shoulder as she watched the couple dancing in slow circles. His amber eyes moved over her face as he continued to watch.
"Did it work?" He asked quietly as they spun around. "Are they dancing together?"
She nodded, looking into the eyes of her partner in crime. "Of course it did, and they both look so happy."
He smiled brilliantly. "Finally. It was about time that those two got out and had some fun. All they seemed to do was sulk around the castle like little lizards that have been kicked and sent to the stable without their treats, and I was getting sick of the lacking fights that he continued to give me. I know that he's better than that. He's the best bloody fighter on all of Torril!"
Alustriel chuckled at the Weapons Master's short rant as she rested her head on his shoulder. She still had that announcement to make before the night was over, yet she was beginning to become tired from the magic that she had projected towards people, and to amplify the instruments and voices of the singers. She gave a small sigh as she settled against the finely muscled chest of her newly assigned guard.
It would be a long evening.
The dancing went on long into the night, with couples dancing and laughing. Catti-brie would laugh as she watched her husband being swarmed with ladies of the court, all biding for his attention – and wishes to either dance with him, or to take him to their beds. She laughed at the red blush that she could see from beneath his mithril mask.
She danced with him, amazed at the dances the Alustriel had taught him. While she had trouble with some of the complicated steps, with his natural dexterity and agility, she could tell that it was far easier for him. She smiled, laughing as he spun her around in beat to one of the faster songs. The spin ended with her back pressed against his chest – bare flesh to soft, shimmering silk.
"That, I think," he whispered into her ear, "is the most fun that I have ever had at a public event."
Catti-brie giggled as she felt his hands wrap around her waist, pulling her more tightly against his chest. She gasped softly as he gently brushed her hair aside and brushed his lips against the back of her neck, sending a familiar shiver down her spine. She turned her head to look back at him, but was surprised as he kissed her fully from behind – something that he hadn't done since before she had been captured.
She melted against him – glad that they were in a corner of the room where they remained unnoticed – and tangled her hand in his wavy white locks. She felt his tongue darted across her lips, asking permission for entrance. A moan was stifled against his lips as his tongue touched hers, then continued to explore the caverns of her mouth. She clung to him as they pulled apart – her knees having become too jelly-like to hold her up any longer.
He caught hold of her as she adhered to him. He chuckled softly, his pale lavender eyes smiling brightly behind his mask. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" He asked, sounding breathless.
Catti-brie only nodded, not quite trusting her voice. After a few minutes, she caught her breath and looked into his smiling eyes with a smile of her own. "It has been a while." She smiled as she brushed her fingers across the skin just underneath the strange collar that he wore as part of his costume. A wicked smile crossed her face as she reached up to speak into his ear. "And I think that we should continue this later, ranger mine."
Laughing, he turned her so that she was facing him, lightly brushing his lips against her jaw. "And why should we wait."
She blushed furiously at his suggestion, looking up at him in shock – only to see that he was joking. "How could you even—"
"Can I have everyone's attention please?"
The lovers looked up as Alustriel stood upon the dais of her throne, speaking to gather the attention of all those that had congregated. Standing a little behind and to the left, was Zaknafein, whilst on her other side, Rëváy stood, beaming at the crowd. She smiled as she looked upon the two that had hidden themselves in the far corner of the room – likely trying to be undisturbed.
Well, that was something that would likely have to be put aside – at least until she had finished her announcement.
"First of all, I would like to thank all of you for coming to tonight's Winter Solstice Masquerade." She smiled faintly as cheers filled the room, and raised her hand for silence after a few moments. "Of all the guests invited, I believe that there was only one that I actually had to convince to come here, and if I know this ranger" – she stressed the word, looking towards where Drizzt and Catti-brie were standing in the corner – "as well as I do, than he is probably wondering why I was so persistent on his attendance." She gestured to her right, signalling for Rëváy to step forward. He did so with a bow and a grin. "My personal historian, sorcerer, and researcher, Lord Rëváy, will explain the reasons by telling of a task that I assigned him about this time last year."
"Thank you, milady." He smiled and turned to the crowd, his voice being magically projected throughout the large hall. "Last winter Lady Alustriel assigned me a task that I was only to happy to accept – she wanted me to either find, or create, a spell that would allow lovers with a vast difference in life span – say an elf and a human – to either lengthen one life, or shorten the other, so that they would have ample time with the other.
"I spent months searching for a solution before I gave up using the books on magic that I had, and instead travelled to other cities to study in their libraries. It took me many months of travelling before I finally found a solution to the problem." Catti-brie watched as his eyes darted to them briefly before turning back to the crowd. "The solution that I found was in the most unlikely of places – the Harkle Family Home. Those who know the Harkle family know that they are known for their crazy experiments with magic, and their many inventions of spells.
"One spell in particular was the one that I had been searching for." He pulled from behind his back, a thick book that looked old and worn, with a black leather cover covered in arcane writing. "In this book, I found a spell that would lengthen the lifespan of a human with a longer-lived lover. But" – he looked again at the couple in the corner with something flashing through his intelligent dark eyes – "it requires a sacrifice on behalf of the lover that is longer-lived."
Catti-brie looked back to look at her husband as she felt his arms tighten around her waist. She saw that he was listening intently to what Rëváy was talking about, his brow slightly furrowed behind his mask as his lavender eyes carefully examined the magic-user's face.
"The spell requires the elf, for example, to give up a century of their own life, to allow the human to extend their youth by another full century." Rëváy looked around at the gasping crowd, his eyes filled with an unknown emotion. "But, their love must be true, else both of them will perish upon the completion of the spell, and their souls damned to eternity on the demon plane."
With a smile on his face, be bowed to the crowd before turning back to Alustriel, who had been waiting patiently for him to finish. "I will now turn you all over to our fair lady, so that she may better explain her reasons for assigning me such a task as this."
She smiled at her researcher. She knew that he had thrown his all into the task – to find away from the grief of the death of his wife shortly before she had assigned it to him. "Thank you, Lord Rëváy."
Alustriel turned to speak to the gathered nobles, her eyes briefly resting on the couple in the corner before a small smile graced her face. "I asked him to find this spell, because I know of two friends that are in such a situation. I know that they have both been through difficult times, and wish to give them this chance." She smiled as she turned to the couple sitting in the corner, her eyes sparkling as she noted the blush the had crossed Catti-brie's cheeks, and knew that, though it wasn't clearly visible, there was bound to be a blush on Drizzt's cheeks as well. "Will Ranger Do'Urden and his wife, Lady Catti-brie come up here so that my wizard may bestow the first part of this spell upon you?"
Taking her hand, Drizzt led her through the shocked crowd of noblemen and women. A few of the ladies were apparently surprised that he was indeed married – and were clearly disappointed that that kept him from their bed chambers. When they reached the front of the dais, he bowed slightly, his eyes still looking up and trying to read what was in her sparkling silver eyes.
Alustriel chuckled as she watched him looking at her, a smile on her face as she heard the snicker from the drow guard the she had standing behind her, and likely with a smirk on his face – he had known what was going on since Alustriel had met him, since that was the reason behind their midnight walks through the gardens. "Drizzt Do'Urden," she smiled, "you know that there is absolutely no need for such a formality."
His brow knitted behind his mask. "Formality itself can only be met with more formality."
Alustriel chuckled again, nodding. "That is only true." She walked down the stairs so that she stood in front of him and Catti-brie, a sad smile on her face. "Now, my dear friend, will you accept my gift and allow Rëváy to place the first part of this spell upon the both of you."
Drizzt looked back at Catti-brie, that same question lingering in the eyes that were peering through those exacting eyeholes in the mithril mask. A small smile graced her face as she looked at him and nodded. She wanted to take this chance, even if it meant her death, because it meant that, if successful, she could spend more than just the thirty years she had assumed with her beloved. Withholding a sigh, Drizzt turned back to the Lady of Silverymoon and nodded – whatever the consequences would be, a full century of being able to live with his Catti-brie would be well worth it.
The gathered nobles then watched as Rëváy stepped forward, his hands glowing red with the beginnings of the spell. He raised them up so that his hands lingered before either of them, the glow of power becoming brighter. He slowly began chanting with eyes closed – the soft mutterings of the arcane language growing louder with each repeat of the phrase in the strange tongue of the sorcerers.
Bowing his head at the strange feeling, Drizzt closed his eyes and wrapped his fingers around Catti-brie's hand. He didn't know what exactly was going to happen, or what the spell would include. He clenched his other hand into a tight fist, his nails leaving shallow gouges as he felt the magic overwhelm him. It was a strange feeling, but not one that was unwelcome.
When the chanted words slowly ceased, he opened his eyes and looked up into the smiling faces of Rëváy, Alustriel, and his father. Catti-brie smiled at him from behind and he smiled pleasantly back at her. He bowed at the waist and Catti-brie curtsied behind him.
"Thank you, Alustriel." He said softly, looking up to meet her eyes.
Smiling faintly, the Lady of Silverymoon walked down the stairs, Zaknafein following her patiently. "You are quite welcome, my dear friend." She stopped, standing only scant inches in front of him, and bending to whisper something in his ear for only him to hear. When she was finished, Drizzt's pale eyes widened slightly and his cheeks darkened with embarrassment – something that peaked Catti-brie's curiosity.
"I will milady." She listened as he whispered quietly back to the noblewoman before turning back to his wife with a sheepish smile. He held out his hand and she took it with a smile. The blushed deepened as he leaned over and whispered something in her ear that caused her to blush furiously. Alustriel laughed at the looks on their faces but made no other comment as the festivities ended, and she watched the couple walk out into the corridor and towards their room.
"Have fun, both of you."
Catti-brie smiled as she watched Drizzt carefully lock the door, also muttering a few words that placed magical wards behind the metal ones. His face had remained flushed with embarrassed heat until they had entered their room, seeming to prepare to bed down for the night – but she knew that there were other plans that had been set into motion.
They had to finish the ritual that Rëváy had only started.
Drizzt had explained it to her as they had made their way into their room after the masquerade. The ritual included – though he hadn't known this until Rëváy had explained this, coming into his mind to do so – a physical bonding that required a smaller, binding, blood ritual.
With a sigh, the young woman removed her mask, setting it down on the dresser. She had started to remove the jewellery that she was wearing when the rustling of clothe caught her attention and she looked behind her. Drizzt had apparently finished setting up the wards and had removed his cloak in a rush of violet and silver velvet. His boots were next and she giggled as he wiggled his toes against the cool marble of the floor. He smiled faintly as her soft laughter as he reached behind his head to carefully untie the ribbons that held the mask in place.
Beneath the mithril mask, enchanted silver kohl had been added around his already magnificent eyes, having had been added to add to the illusion that the mask was more than just a decoration that was on his face for the night.
Catti-brie smiled as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her from behind, burying his face in her hair and sighing softly in contentment. She shivered faintly as his velvet-soft lips brushed against her neck after he had moved her hair over her shoulder.
"It's been a while, that it has." His words were a mere whisper against the bare flesh of her neck as he reached forward with a finger to turn her face towards him. She closed he eyes as he lightly brushed his lips across hers. When she felt him deepening the kiss ever so slowly, his hand running gently down her arm, his touch feather-light and hardly there, she turned around, fully facing him and wrapping her arms around his neck.
When his tongue brushed lightly across her lips, she opened her mouth to him, revelling in the feeling of their tongues entwined. Slowly, she began unfastening the small mithril clasps that held his inner- and outer-tunics in place, moving her hand slowly up the smooth ebon skin if his abdomen and chest.
She gasped and paused for the merest of moments as his lips moved away from hers to start moving slowly across her cheek to suckle gently at the place were her jaw met her neck, running his tongue lightly over the shell of her ear. Whimpering softly, she continued moving her hands over his bare chest and over his shoulder and arms, allowing the shimmering, silken material to fall to the stone floor.
Drizzt's hands moved to the backs of her shoulders, slowly pulling the dress down over her chest to her waist, alternating between sucking and lightly biting her neck. She squirmed under his hands and gentle touch, moaning softly. A smile touched his lips at her gasp of surprise when he gently lowered her down onto the feather-soft mattress, and her soft moans and his warm lips made their way down to her chest to pay attention to the soft mounds of flesh.
Catti-brie's fingers entangled in his long hair, clutched as she gasped and moaned at the attention that he was giving her. With his knees straddling her lower legs, he slowly began to lower the rest of the dress, unclasping the tiny silver clasps and pulling her completely free of the clothe confines.
Her sapphire eyes flew open as she felt one of his hands running with feather-light touches up the inside of her thigh, igniting a fire within her that hadn't been lit since before her abduction. She cried out softly as those careful fingers touched the apex between her thighs. Soft cries rattled her throat as his moist tongue licked a wet line down her belly as he settled himself between her legs, pale eyes rolled up to gauge her reactions and pleasures.
She gasped and moaned as he continued his pleasurable administrations. After what seemed merely a few moments, she felt his lips back upon hers, warm and eager. Unable to stand the pressure any more, she reached down to the waist of his silvery leggings, and pulled them down far enough for him to kick them off while wrapping one arm around her shoulders and pressing their chests together. She wrapped her legs around his slender waist while he sheathed himself inside of her.
Her cries were stifled against his shoulder as her nails raked against his back hard enough to draw faint traces of blood. It had been so long since she had felt like this that she positively revelled in the attention that he was attending to her body, her mind, her heart, and her soul – his soft whispers of 'I love you' in her ear as he lavished attention on her physically.
Hours later the pair lay together on their bed with Drizzt spooning her from behind. Their left and right wrists, respectively, rested together in front of them, the blood from the slashes intermingling with the final part of the spell finally completed. Catti-brie smiled as she looked upon the limbs, seeing the severe contrast between the two tones of skin – pale flesh and the dark ebon highlighted with blues and violets. Drizzt had already fallen asleep, his other hand resting lightly on her hip.
She smiled as she fell asleep, feeling the bond between them grow as the spell completed its course.
End.
Finally! I have finished this chapter! 23 pages people! But, don't worry, its not over yet! I actually have an epilogue planned out. But, there is another special feature to this chapter... FANART! Done by yours truly! Here are the links and descriptions (just remove parethesis):
Drizzt's profile Masquerade
www(.)deviantart(.)com(/)deviation(/)17699341
Rëváy from the Masquerade
www(.)deviantart(.)com(/)deviation(/)17993126
More realistic Drizzt w/o the mask
www(.)deviantart(.)com(/)deviation(/)18026939
Drizzt in general
www(.)deviantart(.)com(/)deviation(/)18201599
Half Drizzt/ Half Catti-brie Masquerade
www(.)deviantart(.)com(/)deviation(/)21925712
There you go! and I hope that you leavea comment or something, if you can, and enjoy them! And Reviews are welcome, thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter!
--RangerDo'Urden