Part 8

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Drizzt had intended nothing more than to make sure he was alone with Catti-brie and fulfill his long-held desire to kiss her.

They were in a beautiful forest clearing, and the clouds were beginning to thin and part, but he didn't care. She was all he was paying attention to.

"Catti-brie."

She turned to him, large eyes trained on his face.

He threaded his delicate fingers through hers.

"I love you…"

She bit her lip.

He leaned in, slowly tilting his head.

"Why were ye with him?"

He had to hastily rock back on his heels to make it look like he hadn't been leaning in to put his lips to hers. His face was warm with embarrassment. "I thought we settled all this. I am here now, and Artemis has been released, so why don't we move on? I am safe now."

Catti-brie looked indignant. "But ye never said why ye were so keen to get him out!"

"I – I was trying to give him a second chance," Drizzt said. He anxiously took her hands into his again. "Can't we let him live in peace?"

She yanked her hands away and gestured angrily. "Live in peace? Since when has that swarthy son of a whore ever lived in peace?"

"Cat!" Drizzt stared at her, shocked.

"What?" she yelled. "He done nothing but cause us trouble, and ye defend him like he done save children! He's a monster! He kills for a livin'!"

"He has paid for his crimes in his own weight in suffering," Drizzt said, almost speechless. "He can't be held accountable for misdeeds he's already atoned for because of his hardship."

"What hardship? I don't see him toiling over a field all day, tryin' to feed a wife and seven children! I don't see him beggin' in the street! He looks fine!"

"He barely ate anything in over three days, and he's been beaten, put down, ridiculed, and exiled more times than he can count," Drizzt said. "He's not someone who has profited by what he did."

She looked made enough to snap her bow in two and then kick the pieces. "You stubborn-headed drow! You coulda died because o' him! I was kidnapped! Regis got his fingers severed! We all suffered because of him!"

Drizzt backed away. He felt strangely intimidated by her at this moment. When she'd yelled at Wulfgar, it was funny, but now that she was yelling at him…it didn't feel so good. His skin was tingling all over, and the aggressive stance she had was making his heart beat in terrified thuds he could both feel and hear. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He could usually argue with anybody for at least half an hour before giving in, but here, in front of her, his tongue felt stuck to the bottom of his mouth.

A familiar voice sounded behind him. "I see I've walked into the middle of a lover's quarrel."

Drizzt turned on his heel to face Artemis and blanched. "What happened?" The ex-assassin was gray, a horrible pallor that showed he was weak from blood loss. "You shouldn't even be standing!"

Artemis stopped and raised an eyebrow at him. "Why?"

"You psychopath!" Drizzt didn't bother debating with the stubborn man when his life was at stake. He ran over and started patting down his body to find the wounds.

Artemis shoved him away. "What are you doing?" he snapped.

Drizzt gaped. "You can't want to die! Not after escaping!"

Artemis looked at the ranger as if it were Drizzt who was suffering from insanity. Then he touched his cheek and looked deeply uncomfortable. He opened his mouth, but he was so troubled that nothing came out. He licked his lips and tried again. "It is not what it looks like."

"It looks like ye've been spying on us when someone gave ye what ye deserved," Catti-brie shot at him, finally recovered from her shock. "I oughta slay you, ye peeping tom!"

"A peeping tom is one who sees a woman when she is exposed," Artemis said, giving her a look. "Since you are fully clothed, I can only assume that you have no idea what you are talking about."

"Why, you little –" Catti-brie spluttered, her face turning a shade of bright red.

Drizzt turned away from her with difficulty, feeling guilty that he wasn't comforting her. "If you're not dying, what happened to you?"

"I have looked this way ever since fighting a shade in Heliogabalus," Artemis said. He looked at the ground, seeming disturbed by the memory of it. "I had an accident…due to my jeweled dagger."

"You stole some of its life force," Drizzt breathed, staring at him.

"As I said, it was an accident."

"I don't care!" Catti-brie yelled, stammering. She didn't seem to know what to do with both Drizzt and Artemis ignoring her.

Drizzt gave her an annoyed look. "You should really calm down. He's done nothing to harm us since we've met once more."

Catti-brie looked at him in confusion, settling down. "What is going on here?"

"It is the truth," Drizzt said, glaring at her. "I have formed a truce with Artemis. I have not been lying. This is a new development between us, and I intend to honor our peace agreement. Now stop."

She fell silent.

"I did not mean to cause a split between you," Artemis said, bowing to her. "If it is your wish, I will quickly leave and bother you no more."

Catti-brie looked at him hesitantly. "If…If'n Drizzt says it's okay…maybe ye should stay. Why are ye here in the first place, Entreri?"

Artemis winced. "I am in need of assistance in reaching the next town. I do not know where I am, and am not familiar with this area."

"Artemis," Drizzt hissed at Catti-brie. "I told you. Call him Artemis. He doesn't like being called that other name anymore."

Catti-brie couldn't seem to fit her mouth around the syllables. "A-Artemis." She looked faintly sick. "Ye're…welcome to come along with us. I won't cause ye any more trouble." She softly left, walking off to join her father, Wulfgar, and Regis.

"I'm sorry," Drizzt said, bowing his head. "I didn't know it would cause this most dissent to make peace with you."

Artemis sighed heavily. "It is alright. I am used to such reactions. I have made my life a bane to all that enjoy living. It is natural that I am not welcomed."

Drizzt squeezed his arm.

Artemis looked at him, surprised.

"It will get better," Drizzt said. "They will come to accept you."

"Are you trying to comfort me, Do'Urden?"

"Maybe." Drizzt looked at him innocently. "You wouldn't mind if I tried, would you?"

Artemis scrutinized him. "I have half a mind to leave right now."

"Why?" Drizzt asked.

Artemis smiled. "I'll no doubt hate traveling with all of your close-minded and sanctimonious friends."

Drizzt laughed. "They're not that bad. They just seem that way because they hate you."

"Comforting."

"I didn't say it was comforting."

"Good. Because then I'd have to note possible cranial damage."

Drizzt stuck his tongue out at him.

Artemis sighed. "I suppose now you want me to go over and introduce myself to your friends as a traveling companion."

"That would be helpful," Drizzt agreed, grinning.

"How did I know you were going to say that."

Artemis visibly resigned himself, then walked beside Drizzt to where his friends sat camped.