Memories

Chapter 2

"Tinius! "A bald Drow rogue, named Jarlaxle I later learned, called to the tavern keeper. "Can this not wait till another time? We are here to have a good time and this is rather detracts." This was said with a smile. How I hated him at the time for that comment! I realized later that it was his way of trying to stop my whipping.

"She slapped one of my customers! Slapped him! I can’t have that!"

Jarlaxle tsked and Zaknafein glared at me. I was in pain but glared back at this hateful elf with all the ferocity I could muster. Still glowering at me, he struck me and told me never to look a drow in the eyes again. I was shaking with rage and pain then also with hatred for this dark and horrid race that had captured me.

"You see what I have to work with!’, Tinius whined. ‘I believe she will end up being killed before I’ve had a chance to get back the money I spent on her. Such a waste!"

Zaknafein interrupted Jarlaxle, who had opened his mouth to say something and told Tinius to give me to him for a few hours. He would either bring me to heel or kill me and pay him what I had cost him. This pronouncement surprised everyone a bit.

"Zak?"

"I have not forgotten our meeting and I will join you as soon as I can. Have a drink or two on me but, no more than that." He said this to Jarlaxle with a wink. The other Drow shrugged and chose a table to wait. Zaknafein then turned his attention to me and indicated that Tinius should release me.

Tinius loosed the restraints that had held me in place and Zak caught me as I stumbled, off balance. I looked briefly into his eyes and saw unexpected concern for me. A cold glare quickly replaced it as I dropped my eyes to look at his boots. He dragged me off toward a guest room in order to ‘bring me to heel’, pulling me inside, then kicking the door shut and swinging me around to face him. I did not give him a chance to speak.

"Bring me to heel?? I would rather die first!" My youth fed momentary belief into this false bravado. Zaknafein pulled out a wicked looking dagger then and came to me.

"True. It would be better for you to die at my hand quickly than for you to live life in this cursed city, slowly corrupted till nothing remains but a shell."

I faced with death itself, for that is what he embodied at the time. In that moment I realized that I did not truly wish to die. Not yet. I was still too full of life to wish for that, even in this evil place.

"No." I whispered to him and raised my hand to indicate he should stop. Of course, nothing I could have said or done would have stopped him if he had decided to follow through.

"Why? Why would you wish to live here? The death I offer would be quick and as painless as possible. I give my word to you."

"I….I simply do not really wish to die. I guess I am more a coward than I thought. Forgive me, please."

"This would be a death our choosing…..not the priestess’ nor demons‘. Ours." He moved closer to me and stood against me much as a lover would, holding his dagger in hand and speaking to me in an intimate fashion and yet…not. ‘That is more than either of us could ever hope for."

I stood there breathing hard and suddenly very aware of him as a male. Race didn’t matter at that moment. I had found the unexpected in this bleak city. I had found kindness and compassion in the least likely of places, a respected battle lord and feared killer. I reached up and touched his face oh-so-lightly. Startled, he stood there and waited for my next move, which was not long in coming as I moved my lips to his and kissed him gently, tasting him and delicate drow wine still on his lips.

He broke off the kiss, but his lips still were touching mine as he whispered to me, seductive and persuasive, still ready to kill me. "Are you sure? The city would make you it’s own and your back will be scarred with the marks of those who found fault in you. You would be made to service males whether they were of your choosing or not. Is this truhat hat you desire? To live?"

============================================================================================

I felt his seduction keenly. He would seduce me to my death, but I did not heed that call. However, knowing what I do now…I wish that I had sought your father out for just that favor shortly before his death, Drizzt. I sensed a wrongness somehow and believed he would not be with me much longer. I loved him, Drizzt! Yet, I get ahead of myself again.

============================================================================================

I shook my head ‘no’. "I cannot find it within me to die but had I the choice at a future time then I would surely wish to die at your hand. Teach me then……master. Teach me to survive here and ‘come to heel’." This was said with a bit of shame but that faded from my mind as he kissed me and I moved my arms to encircle his neck and draw him nearer to me.

His tongue parted my lips demanding an entry I would not…could not have refused had I been so inclined. One of his hands went behind me and held me close to him while the other eased the tunic off my shoulder. My soft body molded itself to his in my desire. He stepped away breaking the kiss not unaffecby wby what we had shared.

============================================================================================

He was gentle with me that first time, Drizzt. He didn’t have to be. He knew that as did I. Another gift he gave me. He once told me that I had given him much. In my opinion it was nothing compared to what he gave me. He gave me solace and love, after a fashion. What was I to him? I was not drow. I was so very not drow. You should know better than any that he hated the females of his race mare than almost anything. So, he turned to me. What a blessing he was!