Dreams Beneath a Starfilled Sky

Chapter 31: Wedding night

Laughing, Catti-brie ducked, barely missing the splash of mead as the mug it had been in struck a wall. Dwarves being dwarves, her and Drizzt’s wedding party had turned into a giant food-fight by the aid of a generous supply of “holy water” as well as leftovers when everyone had had their fill.

She looked around, spotting her newly-wed husband nimbly sidestepping a leg of roasted lamb when it came flying his way, and found a snicker escaping her when said piece of meat instead struck Wulfgar. Bruenor was, not surprisingly, orchestrating the fight, standing on top of the main table and proudly throwing everything at everyone to make it as fair as possible. Needless to say, the result was a room lying in ruins and food splattered over everyone present. Even Alustriel, tall, powerful leader of Silverymoon, dressed in a flowing gown of bluish white silk, was busy throwing pies at various people.

Regis, being Regis, was sitting under a table, happily gnawing away on whatever happened to fall in his general direction. On top of the very same table, a delegate of elven warriors from Moonwood had barricaded themselves, using trays for shields and large spoons as make-shift slings to fire potatoes.

The Gutbuster Brigade had joined in as well, using the long spikes on top of their heads to spear large chunks of meat, before shaking their heads so furiously that the pieces of mutton was flung to all sides, soiling everything within a ten-yard radius. The best thing about this, however, was that someone had managed to dump a bowl of grease over Pwent – and though it meant that the offender had been tossed halfway across the room, the battlerager’s armour had finally stopped squeaking at every movement.

For some reason, Catti-brie could not help being happy that she wasn’t in charge of the cleaning of the hall when the party was over…

Their plans for the ceremony had been altered several times during the 1½ month they had been working, and at end, they had decided on a single, grand ceremony outdoor, and then a huge party within the mines for everyone who had wished to attend.

She smiled, recalling the oaths she and Drizzt had made to both each other and to everyone present – swearing by both Dumathoin and Mielikki to protect and love each other for as long as they would draw breath.

Drizzt made his way to his wife, using a metal tray for protection against the various incoming missiles in form of eggs, sauce and different kinds of vegetables. Laughing, he ducked behind the table with Catti-brie, staying out of shooting range behind the heavy tablecloth.

“Mayhap we outta retire,” Catti-brie suggested with a snicker, watching her adoptive father roar at the roasted duck flying his way.

Drizzt nodded and took her hand, leading her – under the cover of the tray – to the door out of the hall. A couple of dwarves spotted them leaving, and valiantly leaped to their aid, defending the newlywed couple with knives and plates against the furious forces of Flying Drumsticks - and only added to the already absurd picture the dining hall currently presented.

The heavy door fell shut behind them, and barely seconds later they heard the squishing sound that could only come from a plate of stew behind thrown at full force at the door, followed by the distinctive clink of a shattering plate.

Laughing hard and leaning onto each other for support, they walked down the corridor, leaving the noise of fighting behind them as they made their way to their private quarters. The room had, by Alustriel, Delly and Regis, been decorated with hundreds of sweet-smelling flowers, and a few candles were lit along with the fireplace, casting a cosy and pleasant glow over the chamber.

Smiling, Catti-brie leaned back into Drizzt’s arms, dropping her head onto his shoulder with a blissful sigh as he started nuzzling her throat.

“Maybe we should take advantage of the mines being so noisy this evening, and that everyone has gathered in the main hall..,” the drow suggestively whispered into her ear, his hands drifting up and down her sides.

And, as he found out, his wife fully agreed.