Chapter 3

She didn't deserve his arms around her. The realization came to her after a long moment. Cattie‑brie let her arms drop, and Drizzt gently released her. She turned to retrieve her dropped basket, the world blurry with her unshed tears. She felt the babe move within her, and she let out a shuddering sigh. Mielikki had spared all three of them. Her throat constricted, and she swallowed around the lump in it. Now Drizzt would have even more reason to lead her home and keep her confined until the babe's arrival—or maybe forever. After all, children were so small and vulnerable for years.

Drizzt silently offered his hand, and Cattie-brie took it. If she wanted to make amends, she'd best follow him like a well-trained hunting dog.

The silence between them as they walked to the tree line felt like it would crush her. She took a deep breath. "Drizzt—" Just one spoken word, and the held-back tears broke free. Maybe she should've whispered. "I was wrong." Her voice cracked on the words, choked with tears.

He stopped walking and took both of her arms, lavender eyes glistening. His gaze was intent. "So was I."

Meeting his eyes was like stomping on a flower and then observing the damage she'd done. She'd caused that pain behind his gaze, and she couldn't bear to look at it for long. She hid her face against his chest, and Drizzt held her close. She didn't deserve to be held, and yet he held her again. She took a deep breath. "From now on, I'll do whatever you say. I'll—"

"Don't." He took her shoulders gently and moved her back a step to make eye contact again. He shook his head. "That's not what I want. I won't have it that way."

"You—you won't?" She swallowed back tears and sucked in a messy breath.

Drizzt pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and she took it with a trembling hand.

"Cattie," he said, "your free spirit is one of the things I love about you." He cupped the side of her face in one callused hand. "Forgive me for tarnishing that in my clumsy efforts to protect you and our child."

She shook her head. "But you were right too, Drizzt. Suren' we live in a dangerous place. If you hadn't followed me—" Her voice broke again.

Drizzt pressed two gentle fingers against her lips. "Shh, ussta che. All is well now."

She gave him a small smile but blinked back tears at the same time. "Yes, but I'm still sorry for pushin' you away. I jist wanted ta be alone for a while, but I was so foolish."

Drizzt released a slow breath. "Sometimes I desire solitude as well. I didn't see it as an option for you, in your condition, but I was wrong."

Cattie-brie frowned at him. "No, Drizzt, you were right. I jist don't know if I can handle another fortnight o' this, let alone moons." Her shoulders slumped.

"Cattie—"

"I know yer tryin' ta make me feel better, Drizzt, but it ain't workin'. We're gonna hafta live in the mines, or in a smelly, noisy city somewhere safer for the baby, and I don't wanna leave!" A fresh wave of tears broke loose, and Cattie-brie's shoulders shook as she sobbed. "I'm so unhappy with stayin' in, and it's me own fault!" She pressed Drizzt's handkerchief to her face and blew her nose noisily. "Worse, I ought to be happy about the babe, and I am, but I didn't realize it'd mean never walking in the woods alone fer months or movin' where I don't wanna go. It's all me fault!"

Drizzt put his hands on her shoulders, steadying her. "First, how is this your fault? I seem to recall creating this baby together." He raised his eyebrows, a playful grin spreading across his face.

Cattie-brie stared at him for a few seconds and then snorted a laugh despite her tears.

Drizzt chuckled too. "And what's more, what if I told you that you neither need to give up your solitary walks in the woods nor move away?"

A brief flicker of hope stirred in her heart as she looked up at him. She doused that spark. "It's not the same if I know yer watchin' me every move till I'm me old self again. Besides, someone'll hafta be carin' for the baby."

Drizzt nodded. "Truly, and I'm greatly looking forward to helping raise our child. However, I think I have a solution for you. I should've thought of it before."

She gave her face a last wipe and crossed her arms. Pregnancy brought her emotions as close to the surface as minnows in a brook. "Then out with it, Drizzt. Don't ye string me along after all we've been through today."

He chuckled and reached into his belt pack. "That wasn't my intention. Here."

Cattie-brie looked down. On Drizzt's palm rested the obsidian panther statuette, nearly the same color as his midnight-black skin. Her eyebrows arched. "Guenhwyvar?"

His smile widened. "Guenhwyvar."

The answer seemed so obvious that Cattie-brie wondered why it hadn't occurred to either of them before. Of course, Guenhwyvar. She could call the panther to her from the Astral plane and practically walk through the woods with impunity. Impunity and blessed solitude for those days when she desired such. "Bless you, Drizzt Do'Urden!" She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly.

Drizzt grinned. He pulled her close and returned the kiss, slowly and deeply.

When they broke apart, she was breathless.

Her husband's eyes roamed over her, and he smiled, then offered his arm. "Shall we?" He tipped his head to the trees.

Cattie-brie took his proffered arm, wrapping hers around it and leaning on him. "I'd go anywhere with you."

Cattie-brie had expected Drizzt to lead her back home, but he took her to the river instead, and they hiked along it. The rushing water was swollen with melted snow. Robins flitted through the branches of trees that were beginning to grow again, and the air was crisp and invigorating.

Fuzzy new buds were out on the willow trees, and Drizzt broke off a few branches, then offered them to her in a bouquet. "To grace the table," he said.

She stroked the kitten-soft buds with one fingertip. "You remembered."

He nodded once, his eyes warm.

Cattie-brie smiled, her heart melting at the love from this tender drow she had somehow been blessed to end up with. She tucked the branches into her basket and then shivered. The spring air, although much warmer than the Icewind Dale winter, still had a chilly bite to it. She should've opted for her winter cloak again instead of the lighter spring one, but putting it on had seemed a good way to declare that she was done with winter and its doldrums.

Drizzt wrapped an arm around her. "Cold?"

She nodded.

"Then we'd best head back." He rubbed her arms through her thin cloak and frowned. "My fur-lined cloak is warmer." He slipped it off, and Cattie-brie caught sight of his rippling muscles beneath his long-sleeved tunic.

"I can think of another activity that would warm us up," she said.

A slow grin spread over Drizzt's face as he held the cloak out to her.

Cattie-brie took it and spread it on the grassy riverbank.

They walked home briskly in the waning light. Drizzt could tramp through the woods at any time, of course, but it was easier for Cattie to not have to rely on his darkvision. If they walked fast, maybe they'd be home before dark. Besides that, she was hungry. So hungry that her stomach hurt. She lengthened her stride and frowned as she felt a twinge somewhere below her belly. That wasn't a hunger pain. She'd felt something similar when facing the grizzly bear and when talking through things later, but chalked it up to the stress of those moments. All was well now, and her body had better realize it and catch up with the settled peace of her mind.

They were nearly to the little bridge over the stream when another cramping pain made her pause. There was something familiar about this kind of pain. Sudden clarity widened her eyes, but the babe wasn't supposed to come for another fortnight. It could be a false alarm. It could be from walking too fast. It could be those "gettin' ready" pangs that Evka Deepsilver, one of the dwarven healers, had mentioned. They would go away. She just needed to relax and drink some water. Maybe hot tea.

Another cramp seized her as they reached the bridge. "Ooh."

Drizzt looked back at her. "What is it?"

She shook her head and straightened up. "Nothing. Let's go." She gestured to the bridge. They were losing the daylight and still had some way to go.

Drizzt's eyes studied her for a moment, but he stepped onto the bridge without comment, offering his hand.

The bridge was made of three logs lashed together and buried in the bank at either end. It was a few steep steps down to it at this end, and she took his hand gratefully, although her mouth twisted at needing more help balancing these days.

Maybe Drizzt sensed her frustration, because he released her hand with a wink when both of her feet were securely on the bridge. It had no side rails, but he didn't lead her across it like a little child, just turned and strode across.

Mist swirled in the middle of the stream. Cattie-brie shivered and followed Drizzt. It was a few steep steps up the bank at the other side, but up was easier than down. She climbed the slope in two large steps, waving away his offered hand this time. But something happened in that second, stretching step. The cramp she was ignoring was accompanied by a sudden wetness between her legs. Cattie-brie gasped. These weren't no "gettin' ready" pangs.

Drizzt turned back to her immediately, no doubt noting the arm curled beneath her belly and her wide eyes. "Is something wrong?"

She shook her head.

Drizzt folded his arms, reading her face as only he could. "Give me honesty, Cat."

She winced as a new cramp seized her. "The baby's coming, Drizzt. There's nothing wrong with that."

A/N: More to come. Thanks for reading, and a special thanks to those who commented.

ussta che = my love