((AN: I gets it! Knows that I messed up, I'm sorry. Its lavender eyes, not face, I'd appreciate it if people stopped telling (when my DnD group read the story, each individually and each making comments about it put me a little frustrated over it) so here's another chapter for yall, and for the love of the upper planes, review, I need the input (but not about the face thing! ;) ))
To sum it up in his head, Tim thought just one word, Fuck. To him, this was probably the most dangerous thing he ever let himself do in his life. 'not even my mentor would have thought this a bright idea' he thought to himself as Drizzt got the Dwarves to open the gate.
The problem wasn't going to be with the first dwarves, not unless the wrappings he put on his face fell off, nor would it be with the dwarves him and Drizzt would likely pass in the halls. It would be when they got to the throne room. For it would certainly be there that if nothing else, his accent, no matter how well spoken he was, would reveal his race to the dwarf king, That or he would have to take off the wrappings and show his face, and so far into Mithral Hall, he would most certainly not make it out alive…
'Of course you will! The dwarves here learned to trust Drizzt, and he's a drow, the dwarves here had to fight the drow for the safety of their home! Same as with the orcs! They won't kill you outright, not with Drizzt vouching for you' he thought, but then flinched as another though hit him. 'what if Drizzt thinks me a spy? After all, Obould is said to be cunning, and with so many orcs out there, chances are one of them would be able to wield magic other than those shamanistic fanatics. Maybe he thinks this is all but a ploy to gain the trust of the Hall only to betray them in the end and give another opening for this self proclaimed orcish 'king'. maybe he's setting me up for a sort of test!' Tim grunted at himself as he followed Drizzt past the gate and through the open yard that stood between the wall and the entrance into the Dwarves great home. 'where they had killed many of your kind' a small dark part of his mind sneered. The same dark part of his mind that would have liked it if he never left his former tribe and pursued a life without hatred and never ending war.
The door into Mithral Hall stood intimidating, as if to dare it's enemies to try and wrest it from the dwarves who lived there. And as it opened, the darkness in Tim's mind writhed with joy and agony, joy for going where his kind had never been before, and agony at the sheer greatness and good that it stood for that was being sullied by his mere presence.
Drizzt turned to him, his eyes meeting Tim's. "We are going to meet my good friend Bruenor, I cannot deceive him. So you will have to show yourself for what you are, I will try to get it to be private, so that you won't get killed by any outraged dwarves."
Tim nodded understandingly and soon the door swung open and he walked in behind the drow, and with each passing dwarf he apprehension grew, afraid one of them might recognize his bodies shape as the same as their enemies. Or that the wrappings covering his face would loosen enough to reveal his enough of his face. It didn't help that all the dwarves knew Drizzt and were waving at him in greetings and watching him and his new companion pass through the halls towards the throne room with curiosity.
The guards at the door to the throne room gave a happy nod to Drizzt as he and his guest passed them, glad to see him well after a days incursion into Obould's territory. The guards, Tim noticed, wore suits of fine Mithral scale mail, and were armed with axes and shields of the same light weight yet durable mineral that was the Hall's namesake. Tim flinched slightly as the thought of the dwarves using weapons from that precious mineral on him.
The throne room door opened with a nod. And through it Tim saw the dwarf king Bruenor Battlehammer, seated on a well-crafted stone throne, the dwarf who trusted Drizzt and was like family to him. He sat less like a king and more like someone who'd rather be in the open air, cleaving his enemies with the exceptionally well crafted and notched axe at his side. Near Bruenor were two humans and a Halfling. The first human was female, with fiery red hair and piercing eyes that spoke of a similar fire in her soul. The next one, a large and well muscled male, stood there with the look of one who had felt deep pain, deeper than one could ever hope to understand, and he stood with a determined pride that would never back down. The Halfling, a portly male with the air of pacifism around him, one who didn't go out of the way to fight, but fought when he absolutely needed to. Others were in the room as well, like a dwarf in a strange wheeled device, as well as one with the symbol of the dwarven god Moradin on his chest and over his beard.
They all looked upon Drizzt with joy when they saw he bore no wounds. Tim felt a pang of sadness mixed with jealousy for the drow and how fortunate he was. The companions of the hall then looked upon the newcomer to their mists.
"Bah! What're ya gonna bring here next ya durned elf? wolf cubs? He got a name?" the dwarven king shouted out "Ha! But it is nice to see ye back elf, and I expect a full recount of what happened and how you met this.." he motioned towards the cloaked and cloth wrapped orc.
"Timothy" Tim interrupted. "Or Tim."
"… Aye, how you met this Tim 'ere. Gods know ye should! Seein' as meself canno' get out and kill orcs in jist cause its winter! Bah!" He then laughed heartily. "but seriously then, what in the gods name happened to yer face? Its like ye were badly burnt 'er sumtin, c'mon! Its not like we're goin' at be startled by anything that happened to ye!"
Before Tim could reply, Drizzt coughed into his hands, and spoke up. His voice calm and gentle, but firm and serious.
"Actually, that is partly what Tim would like to do, he has some things to tell you, and would prefer to tell you in private."
At this, the Halfling spoke up, his eyes suddenly growing suspicious as he looked closely at the cloth and cloak that hid the face of the guest from the world, "why is that?"
"If it makes you feel better, the rest of you companions of the hall can join as well." Tim quickly replied, his cultured voice nearly faltering. "it does involve the rest of you, more or less."
At this, the companions of the hall grew even more curious of this visitor that their friend brought into their midst. Bruenor nodded, and jumped down from his 'throne' and strode to his meeting chambers, with the rest of the companions in tow.
After making their way to the meeting chambers, they all set around the half circle stone table (think of half a donut, and you're there) with Bruenor in the middle and Drizzt to his left with the Woman. To Bruenor's right sat the Halfling and the hulking man, the dwarf in the wheeled chair and the dwarf with the holy symbol had left them. All eyes were on Tim, standing in the middle area of the table. Tim sighed, a knot in his stomach and more than a few lumps in his throat. He cleared his throat, and began to speak
"Before I tell or show you anything I need your words that you will remain seated until I've had a chance to explain, is This understood?" He asked in as firm and commanding a tone he could command with so many potential enemies giving him their full attention.
The companions looked at one another with their suspicion and curiosity building . They looked unsure of whether or not to trust this stranger, even Drizzt, who had some small doubts of his own.
"I give you my word Timothy, for all it is worth." The giant of a man next to the Halfling said first, surprising everyone else at the table, who expected Drizzt to be the first.
"What Wulfgar said. My word is yours"
"I pledge you the word of Cattie-Brie, I shall remain seated"
"Get on wit' this or I won't remained seated and kick ye arse!"
The Drow was the last, "I hope my word is as good as my friends when I say I will not get up until you are finished."
"All right then. First I will tell you what I know and have heard of the situation in general. Obould Many-Arrows has gathered a great army and claimed much territory, laying siege to this very hall as well. His hordes were pushed back. He has made a large claim to the land and is calling it the Kingdom of Many-Arrows. currently he is trying to consolidate his power and grow for an attack in the spring. that's as much as I know, besides the obvious current sentiments against orcs right now more or less being higher than normal."
Tim sighed again. As he reached up to the knot in the back that kept the rags from falling off. He loosened the knot, and then pulled the rags down to his neck…