The light pulled to him, and it's call was tempting but he did not want to leave the safety of the darkness. It was comfortable and he truly wanted to sink back down to its depths.

But in the end Drizzt went to the light, he always did, and once his eyes opened he saw that he was no longer in the forest at the foot of Forth Peak. He was lying on a small bed in a window less room. The fire that crackled merrily, heating the room as well as providing light to see by.

The aching pain that ran through his body was intense and it drained him to just turn his head to look around. He burned and froze at the same time and was thankful for the several blankets that laid on top of him.What had happened? bb

The door opened silently and Drizzt look upon the wondrous face of his caretaker. He had never seen such beauty! She looked at him with a smile. Her pale green eyes sparkled in the fire light. Her long auburn hair braided to the tip, hung over her shoulder.

"Ah! He awakes!" She said. Her voice he recognized as the witch that had come to his aide in the woods.

"Where am I?" He asked. Her smile faltered a moment.

"You are safe." She answered, quickly. She came further in to the room, shutting the door behind her. He saw that she carried a small cup in one hand and a few folded items of cloth in the other.

After a moment longer Drizzt realized that that was all she was going say. He thought about it a moment, her answer was a little to brief to him. Then he stopped wondering, even thinking hurt right then, so he struggled to sit up, but his strength gave out once he reached up to push the blankets from his body.

She came over and assisted him to sit against the head board and wall. And gently handed him the small cup.

Drizzt took it but did not bring it to his lip. He wanted to take stock of his condition as what little strength he had, returned. He was completely unclothed his astonished mind told him, he looked to the pile of laundry she had set down on the floor beside him and realized that they were his. Thankful for his ebony skin Drizzt looked down at his bare torso trying to hide his embarrassment. Though what he saw only reminded him of another embarrassment.The blankets fell off his shoulder when he sat up and he could see a few faint bruises lining his chest, where the rope had hit him.

Touching his neck he felt a tiny dot that mark the spot where the pain flooded his body and caused him to black out.

"what happened?" He rasped. Talking hurt too he noticed, finally drinking the cool water she had brought to him.

She considered him a moment, and the drow wondered why she hesitated.

"You were poisoned." She said blankly. Again not much detail in her answers. He thought about her words, and he remembered the black cloud of smoke, and the flash of light. Nice diversion, he thought, he was completely unprepared for the dart that Raven had hit him with. He looked back at his apparent rescuer with a thought.

"Who are you? Why did you help me in the forest?"

"I am the witch of the wood, as most in these parts call me." She answered.

Drizzt had never heard of a witch that lived near the forest of forth peak, but he thought it an odd title.

"You do not have a name beyond Witch?" He inquired. She smiled again.

"My name is Jade."

"Jade is better, " He said. As he noted she did not answer the other question. He was about to ask again when the aching in his body increased to an unbearable level. He doubled over dropping the cup of water as his body started to jerk wildly, the pain increasing with every breath he struggled to get. His eyes closing against it and he cried out in anguish.

Through it all he felt strong arms grip him in a tight embrace. Giving in to the pain the last thing he remembered was the warmth of that body against his.

He did not know how long he was unconscious but he saw that the fire was almost completely out. Only a small pile of glowing ambers illuminated the room. He felt a cool sensation on his forehead and reached up to find a damp cloth resting soothingly on his brow. Looking over he saw Jade sitting in a chair next to the bed.

"How do you feel?" She asked. And Drizzt would have laughed if he had the strength. Looking at her, he felt a cold lump form in his chest as a realization came to him.

"The poison, you cannot cure it?" He croaked. She looked at him, her face betraying nothing of her thoughts.

"No, not yet." Her voice was low and Drizzt wondered if heard correctly.

"Not yet?" he asked. His thoughts racing. Why not yet? What was she waiting for? Why would she wait? His mind scrambled to come up with a reason for waiting. She put her hand on his head to pull the cloth from it, he reached up and grasped her wrist.

"What do you mean 'not yet'? What are you waiting for?"

Pulling her hand from his, she sighed. "I can not heal you yet," She paused, taking the cloth from his brow, wetting it again then returned it, "But I will." No emotion was in her voice. And again her answer was short and veag.

Finally, some sort of reasoning came to him and he did laugh this time. Though he quickly stopped and wished he had not.

"What is it that you want from me?" He did not bother to hide the bitterness from his voice, her eyes went wide in shock, yet he did not care, he just wanted to know what new evil he faced now. He looked in to those green pools, his conviction wavered. He remembered the warmth of her body when he was consumed by the pain of the poison. But the reason was obvious and he closed his eyes to hide her soft face from his sight.

"Tell me, so at least I know why. But I warn you now, you will not get it." No answer came. He did not expect one. Looking back up at her he saw a sudden coldness that was not present before. And he felt the truth hit home.

Again he shut his eyes against his new reality. And turned away from her. His soul aching more then his body. And he wished she would just kill him. For he knew his torment was that he had not the strength or the ability to free him self from her. He was left at her mercy, a place that he swore he would never be, and he hated her for it.

The warmth of her touch came to his thoughts, and Drizzt saw her face, full of beauty and compassion when he had woken earlier. He almost thought he was wrong. But the aching pain again returned forcing the thoughts from his mind as the pain flooded his body.