Chapter 7

Their son was born with a high-pitched wail, but it wasn't his. Cattie-brie sounded almost triumphant at the end of her agonized cry.

The baby was gray in the midwife's hands. Drizzt stared. Half drow were supposed to have dusky gray skin, but something was wrong. He was sure of it.

Evka cut the cord. "It's a boy! Ye have a boy."

Cattie-brie panted and pushed herself up on her elbows. "Why isn't he crying? Is he gonna cry?"

Evka wiped the baby's face with a clean towel and rubbed the little one vigorously. "Chauntea have mercy," she whispered. "Mielikki too." She'd only said it for Drizzt's benefit before on the trail, but now that name seemed to carry as much weight as her own goddess's. Her hands warmed with the healing prayer again, and the baby squirmed. He let out a thin cry, and it was the most beautiful sound in all the world. Evka wrapped the towel around him and gave him to his mother.

"Zaknafein Do'Urden." Cattie-brie pronounced the name they'd chosen for him with hushed awe, staring down at the little life in her arms. "Oh, how I love ye." She snuggled him close and dropped a kiss on his head.

Drizzt had both of his hands cupped around the baby as well. "Oh, Cat. He's perfect. So perfect." Fresh tears trickled from his eyes, but he paid them no heed.

"Aye, Drizzt. Oh, my wonderful Drizzt. My wonderful family. Thank Mielikki."

Drizzt shared a brief look with Evka. "Yes, and Chauntea too."

Evka smiled, looking decidedly pleased and decidedly tired.

How many healing prayers had the cleric expended? Drizzt was glad she'd been well prepared. He looked down at his newborn son again, and the unicorn pendant swung out to skim over little Zaknafein's blanket. "Oh, Mielikki, thank you for my son." He touched one perfect little pointed ear, and the baby opened his eyes, squirming against Cattie-brie's chest.

"He has your eyes!" she exclaimed. "Drizzt, they're lavender!"

Drizzt just gazed at the baby in wonder.

The little one moved his head and began to cry, lusty and strong this time.

Drizzt chuckled. "I think he's hungry."

Cattie-brie smiled. "I think I could do somethin' about that."

Evka smiled at them all. "Push for me again, Cattie-brie, and then you'll be all done. Just the afterbirth now." She turned to Drizzt. "Don't suppose I could convince ya to go fetch some hot water now?"

He didn't even take his eyes from the child. "It can wait." Everything could wait. He was looking at his son.

When they finally cleaned the blood from the baby's head, Drizzt was delighted to see a thin layer of fuzzy auburn hair. He looked at Cattie-brie, resting against the pillow with a serene look on her face as Drizzt held their son. "He has your hair."

Cattie-brie's eyes widened. "Show me."

Drizzt held him close.

"Oh, me poor laddie, ye do."

Drizzt raised an eyebrow. "Poor? Why?"

She sighed with a smile. "Don't want anyone makin' fun o' him."

Drizzt looked down at the little one in his arms. "They do, and they'll answer to me."

Evka cleared her throat, and the happy new parents both looked at her. "I hate to break up yer new bliss," she said, "but I be needing to place some stitches now."

Cattie-brie nodded. "Just do it."

Evka shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. She glanced helplessly at Drizzt, but he was enamored once again with the sleeping boy in his arms. She coughed. "I mean, like, forty or so."

Drizzt looked up. "Forty?" He hadn't come around to the end of the bed since those desperate moments.

Evka nodded. Just before the baby had entered the world, she'd told Cattie-brie to wait, to just breathe, but apparently that hadn't been possible. The midwife had picked up her blade to make a small cut when she'd had to drop it and catch the baby instead.

Cattie-brie's face paled, but then she squared her jaw. "Jist do it. Drizzt can hold the baby."

Evka shook her head. "It's too many to bear without givin' ya something. I have herbs that will make you sleep."

Cattie-brie shook her head. "No. I've been waiting so long for m' baby's arrival, and now he's finally here. Don't take this moment away from me."

Evka looked at Drizzt's face again, seeking an ally.

He turned to his wife. "Cat. We have every moment from now on. And you've borne enough pain on this day."

She held her arms out for the baby, and Drizzt placed him against her chest.

Cattie-brie stroked her fingers over the baby's cheek, then kissed him again. She looked up at Evka, seeming more relaxed now. "Just something to dull the pain, then. I don't wanna be put to sleep yet."

Evka frowned, but nodded. She moved to her bag and pulled out a packet of herbs, then went to the kitchen for the kettle.

"Drink this, girl."

Cattie-brie took the mug, reluctantly exchanging the baby for it. She sniffed the drink and took a cautious sip.

Evka's hands shook slightly as she passed the baby to his father. She turned to her collection of needles and thread.

Drizzt tipped his head, then placed one hand on her arm. "Perhaps you should sit down for a bit. Drink some tea."

Evka bit her lip. So many healing prayers had really taken something out of her, but that's not why her hands were trembling. What would Drizzt say when his wife fell asleep in the next few minutes? She glanced at Cattie-brie.

Cattie was frowning into the mug she held. Suddenly she looked up at Evka with narrowed eyes. "This is valerian. Nothin' else has this stench. Yer tryin' ta knock me out."

Drizzt looked up at her, and Evka took a tiny step back from his blazing eyes.

"Now, calm down. If I give ya so many stitches without it, you'll be out anyway, only it'll be from the pain."

Cattie-brie glared at her. "Try me."

Evka swallowed hard. "I—I jist want what's best for ya, is all."

Drizzt looked between them both. Cattie-brie's face looked white and pinched, her lips pressed together into a thin line. She clenched her hands into fists, one on the mug handle, the other on the edge of the sheet. "Someone take this mug away from me before I throw it on the floor!"

Evka reached for the mug, then stepped back hastily before she could be hit. She wouldn't put it past Bruenor's adopted daughter. The cleric turned away from Cattie-brie's angry eyes and looked at Drizzt imploringly. "I'm sorry. I hope ya won't think less o' me." Maybe her apology would get a better reception with him than with the stubborn Battlehammer who'd just given birth, and whose body was surely still flooded with all the strong emotions pregnancy brought to the surface.

Drizzt looked between them and narrowed his eyes a bit. If he didn't side with Cattie-brie now, of all times, then she'd likely never forgive him. At least not for a good while. He sighed. But he could hardly bear to see her in so much pain. She'd suffered enough today. Not only that, she'd nearly died.

"It ain't Drizzt's decision!" Cattie-brie exclaimed. "It's mine!"

Evka lifted her chin. "I'm your midwife. I—I won't stitch you up if you won't do as I say!" The words sounded certain, but Drizzt saw her chin tremble a bit.

Cattie-brie's eyes narrowed. "Is that so? Then get outta here, and Drizzt can do it. He's given stitches before."

Drizzt's eyes widened. "Cattie." He shook his head. "Evka. Let's be calm. Let's take a moment. Take a breath."

Evka frowned at him, but she sucked in a grudging breath and blew it out. "That's supposed ta be my line, too," she grumbled.

Drizzt turned to look at Cattie-brie, still glaring at her midwife. "Look at me, che. Can you take a breath for me? Just for me." He sank down on the edge of the bed, their son still in his arms. "Take a slow breath for me, and for him."

Cattie-brie met his eyes, then closed hers. She breathed.

He reached out to cup the side of her face. "That's good, Cat. Everything will be all right." He turned to reach for the mug, ready to convince her to drink it, and something gleamed in the corner of his eye. The healing potions! Of course. Drizzt turned to Evka. "Can she have another healing potion so soon?" In Menzoberranzan, countless potions had been used in rapid succession, but Drizzt didn't know if there were any ill effects.

Evka's eyes widened. "Aye. I don't see why not."

Cattie-brie opened her eyes. She shook her head. "Save them, Drizzt. For in case we really need them."

He sighed and stroked her cheek with two fingers. "No, Cat. I know I haven't asked it before, but please obey me in this."

Cattie-brie stared at her husband for a long time, remembering yesterday afternoon when they'd faced down the grizzly bears. It seemed a lifetime ago now. She'd offered to do whatever Drizzt said, and he'd said he didn't want that, wouldn't have it that way. She knew his heart. Perhaps she even knew his soul. At last, she nodded. "I'll do it for you, Drizzt. Since you ask it of me."

He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. "Thank you, Cattie. I don't ask it lightly. I won't make a habit of it."

Cattie-brie smiled ruefully. "I wouldna really mind, Drizzt. I trust you more than anyone." She reached for the potion bottle, and Evka handed it to her.

Cattie-brie eyed the glimmering contents. "Well, bottoms up." She downed the potion.

"All in all, 'twas one o' the most stressful births I've ever attended," Evka Deepsilver told King Bruenor Battlehammer as they hurried along the trail that evening so he could see his first grandchild. "But yer daughter sure did ya proud."

The dwarven king grinned. "Glad am I to hear it. She is a Battlehammer, after all. What could possibly go wrong?"

Evka clenched her jaw. She'd let Drizzt and Cattie-brie fill him in on that. King Bruenor had a goal in his sights, and she knew from experience that it was best not to delay him from his goals.

Bruenor had been grinning as they marched along, but now he turned to her with something of a sharp look. "Whaddya say they named 'im, again?"

"Zaknafein." She pronounced the strange name carefully.

Bruenor frowned. "Hmm. Big name for a little laddie."

Evka wondered if the frown wasn't about something else. "Aye. Perhaps they'll call 'im Zak from time to time."

Bruenor turned and kicked a clod of dirt from his path. "Did me girl say anythin' more about the name?"

Evka trailed her fingers over her brooch, choosing words. Then she shrugged. Direct and to the point had always worked for her before. "Aye. She said it be the name o' the baby's late grandpappy—er, grandfather."

Bruenor huffed. "Reckoned it had a drow sound ta it."

Evka nodded. "She also said the babe's namesake died sacrificin' his life for another."

Bruenor's eyes widened, and his gruff expression softened a bit. "Well, then." He coughed. "Guess I can't begrudge 'im his drow name in that case."

Evka nodded. "'Tis strange, but when ye know the meanin', well …" She let the words trail off.

Bruenor coughed again. "Died sacrificin' his life for another, ye say?"

She nodded again.

Bruenor looked into the distance. "Mebbe where that durned drow elf picked up some o' his good heart."

Evka hid a smile. Despite what her king had called Drizzt Do'Urden, she'd seen the admiration shining from Bruenor's eyes many times when the two warriors were together. She'd recognized that look, even if only seen from afar. Everyone in the clan knew that Bruenor's gruff exterior held a kind heart inside, though none would mention such a thing to his face.

"What you be smirkin' at?"

Evka chuckled. "I be glad all turned out well." It wasn't the answer to what he'd asked, but it was the truth.

Bruenor nodded once, then hurried along with renewed speed.

Evka nearly had to run to keep up. "Ye'r as impatient to get there as Drizzt was, an' the babe's already born!"

He glanced at her over his shoulder and slowed, perhaps only noticing belatedly that he was rapidly leaving the midwife behind. Bruenor waited for her to catch up, but he still hopped from one foot to the other. He looked ahead, then back at her again, now just a step behind him. "They didna say anything about no second name?"

Evka pressed her lips together. Why must she be the one to dash his apparent hopes? It had been a long day, and she was more than tired after the long hours, the urgent healing prayers, and her strong-willed Battlehammer patient. The words came out before she could consider rephrasing. "They didna, but I be thinking that one livin' Bruenor at a time is enough."

King Bruenor stared at her for a moment. He opened his mouth and then clamped it shut.

Evka shrank back a step and put her hand on her rose brooch.

Bruenor shook his head and began to laugh, slowly at first, and then harder. He sucked in a breath and guffawed, belly jiggling and shoulders shaking. His long beard danced around with his mirth. The deep laugh echoed off the sides of Kelvin's Cairn and the small cabin in the distance. He reached out a big hand and clapped it on Evka's shoulder once. "Guess you be right at that, girl. Guess you be right."

They sat in the cozy study together, crackling flames throwing shifting shadows from the hearth. Cattie-brie was tucked up on the overstuffed sofa, baby Zaknafein in her arms. She looked at the faces around her—Drizzt's, her adoptive father's, and her midwife's. She gave a contented sigh, listening to them talk and laugh. Bruenor wanted to make weapons for his grandson already, for when he was older. Drizzt was trying to get him to hold off. Cattie laughed.

The others turned to look at her, and she beamed at them, even including Evka in that smile. "I—I want to apologize," she began, focusing on the dwarven healer.

Evka opened her mouth to protest, but Cattie-brie held out her hand.

"I was rude enough to you that I'm surprised you didn't just leave in the middle of it."

Evka shook her head, eyes wide. "Ye don't hafta—"

"I do. Evka Deepsilver, you're the best midwife I could've asked for, and I'm so glad you were there. Thank you."

Evka nodded once, then dipped her head, face flaming.

It was one of the only times Cattie had ever seen a dwarf blush. She smiled and looked at her adoptive father next. "Da, you were always there for me, growing up, and I never thanked you for it. Now that I have a child of my own, I think I understand you more. I feel like he's a part of my very heart, and I'll always do my best to love and protect him." She blinked away sudden tears. "Thank you for doing that for me, Da."

Bruenor swiped at his eyes and nodded, then reached out to squeeze her hand. "Me girl." Perhaps it was all he could get out. He cleared his throat and rubbed a hand over his face again.

At last, Cattie-brie turned to Drizzt. "Oh, Drizzt. My only. My all. If I'd realized even half of how lucky I was to have you before today, I realize more now. So much more." She stopped as her voice grew rough with emotion. "And now we have this precious child. Our precious son." She choked back more tears. "I hope he grows up to be just like you."

Tears streamed from Drizzt's eyes for the second time that day, and he smiled through them. "Oh, Cat. You've blessed me more than you know. But our son will be his own person. He's not Drizzt the Second. He's Zaknafein Do'Urden."

Cattie-brie smiled down at the baby in her arms and the love all around her. "He most certainly is."

A/N: I hope you've enjoyed the story so far. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

Epilogue coming soon!

Che = love (as I'm sure you know by now). ;)