Chapter 2: Quiet Times
Lady Alustriel was at court yet again, her huge majestic throne room was full with courtiers from other courts all wishing her well, but she found them boring. Something was cold and dry to stand around and be courtly, she did it well, as she did everything well; however it she didn't take any solace in that fact. She always looked forward to her sister's visits, who would always bring wondrous tales of adventure and heroics. Something Alustriel could not do, although she desperately desired to do so.
She was trying desperately not to look bored whilst talking to a representative from Citadel Sundabar. When in the corner of her eye she notice Fret enter the room and approach her a smile on his face. His neatly trimmed beard was clean along with his robes. Alustriel excused herself form the man she was talking to.
"What is it Fret?" she asked hoping the answer would cure her boredom.
"It's him, he's here." Fret replied.
It did.
X
Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle were stood on a pier at Calimport. They watched the drunks scrapping and the boats entering and leaving the harbour. Around the pair a series of drow sat around making idle conversation and a few gambling with a card game.
"Have you given up your quest to kill Drizzt." Jarlaxle asked, although he already knew the answer.
Artemis seemed not to answer at all his hands rested on his belt and he stood looking at the sun setting on the horizon.
"Why do you ask?" Artemis replied, not willing to give away how damaged his pride was from their encounter in the sewers in Calimport.
"Well, if we're to take this town from the thieves guild I don't wish a…" he paused looking for the right word, "colleague disappearing on a vengeful quest." Jarlaxle replied smiling the entire time.
His eyes were studying his surroundings as though he expected someone to attack him at any moment. His hand rest on the belt where his throwing daggers lay waiting.
Artemis frowned, "…sure" he replied eventually.
A few drow let out a cheer, apparently they had been placing bets on two drunks who were fighting. They exchanged money, as the winning drunk then began to mug the collapsed one. Jarlaxle cautiously grinned at his men.
"How do you plan to deal with the thieves?" Artemis asked not long after the cheer.
"Well they're strongest allies are the were-creatures, I figured my soldiers will be suited to taking them out quickly. I say within a ten-day we'll have the were-community leaving the city or in hiding." Jarlaxle said
Artemis smiled he hated were-creatures.
X
"Nonsense, I'll not have me lass doing anythin' o the sort." Bruenor balked at his daughter.
Catti-brie crossed her arms like a disgruntled child. She had hoped that her father wouldn't have been his usual stubborn self.
"But da'!" she said in protest.
"No and that's that." He replied as he tried to go back to business with Cobble.
"B-" she began.
"No! I'll not 'ave me daughter disappearing of to Silverymoon, by herself, a ten-day before her wedding day."
"Not by me self Wulfgar would be comin' to" she protested.
"No, not even with 'im, Wulfgar doesn't need to go, he's only going cause you wants to! No get out of 'ere, I got business to attend to." He said beckoning her to leave.
X
Alustriel eagerly opened the door to her private quarters. Then saw the familiar figure sat at the desk. He was reading a book of elven poetry, his smile on his face that made it even more handsome to gaze at. He hadn't appeared to notice her. She looked over to see Guenhwyver cleaning herself on her customary bed area.
"Hello Guen." She said cheerfully.
Guen looked up from her grooming and let out a noise that was close to conventional cat's miaow, appearing to smile as well. Then went back to her cleaning.
Drizzt closed the book and span out of his seat to face her. His smile turned to an embarrassed one.
"Sorry, Lady Alustriel, I meant no harm I was just reading the-" he began to apologise.
"Nonsense, dear Drizzt, you should know by now if something isn't meant to be looked at I wouldn't leave it on my desk." She interrupted.
She span and looked at Fret who was outside watching.
"Kindly tell the court I have retired to bed, that I'm not feeling well." She said a sly grin on her face.
"Why of course my Lady." Fret said, a knowing smile on his face and he turned and walked back towards the courtroom.
She let the door close behind herself and she approached Drizzt. She brought him into an embrace and he returned the hug. It had been many ten-days since his last visit to Silverymoon, and Alustriel didn't care to admit she enjoyed everyone of them.
"How are you Drizzt?" she asked pulling him out the hug but retaining some hands on his shoulders.
"I am well thank you Lady Alustriel." He replied.
"I've told you before Drizzt do away with Lady. We are friends."
Drizzt smiled and did a slight bow of his head.
"Many thanks," he paused as though the name was hard to produce "Alustriel."
"How have you been dear friend? What adventures have carried you away since I last saw you?" she asked.
"Nothing as frantic as saving a friend across the continent." He replied sincerely. His last effort to save his little halfling friend Regis had certainly had a following interest from many powers. He was allowed to walk unhindered through the gates of Silverymoon now. He was on first name terms with many of the guards and knew each captain of the watch.
"Come Drizzt you are modest. I heard news of a caravan attacked by Orcs being saved by a long haired blonde man and a green cloaked ranger." She said whilst picking one of Guenhwyver hairs off the cloak almost to emphasis her point.
Drizzt smiled humbled in the presence of the great elf. She smiled and bade him sit down. How she enjoyed their conversations.
X
Regis rounded the hillock and saw the entrance to the Mithril Hall. The big gates only obvious to those that knew it was there was grand sight for the weary traveller coming all the way from Calimport.
His pony trotted on and Regis licked his lips at the thought of the massive roaring fires inside of the spit mounted boar he would lavish himself on.
Then he thought of the friends he would soon see. Ones he hadn't seen in a good while, a messenger had brought word of Catti-Brie and Wulfgar's wedding. He brought some wedding gifts along with him, after all he could afford to now he essentially owned Calimport through his guild.
He had started to notice a few drow appearing in the bustling crowds of Calimport and was aware something was amiss so the wedding could not have come at a better time.
As least now he could be in the safest place in all the lands.
X
That night Drizzt bedded down in Alustriel's study, she always offered him a proper room with an actual four-poster bed. He always refused; he liked the study and the marvellous books on offer for him to let his mind wonder.
He had once stumbled upon a book that told of an old friend he'd known. Mooshie's encounter with the dragon that had blinded him, was accounted in one of the books. The dark elf smiled at the thought of his old mentor, and how the old ranger would have been proud to be remembered in such a way.
Drizzt had a small bed in the corner of the study and when Alustriel had bid him good night he sat up many hours into the night reading and flipping from book to book.
Eventually he drifted off whilst lying on his bed a book in hand.