Festival of the Blue Moon

The Festival of the Blue Moon

by anamnesis


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Drizzt trailed behind his friends as they approached the gates to the city, pulling his hood low over his face with gloved hands. He always began to feel a bit sick at this point. His mind rolled through all the expressions of fear, horror and revulsion he had come to expect , and he unwillingly visualised the iron-banded doors closing in his face. He rolled the numb pain of it around in his mind a little, waiting for the burn to fade. It is what he should expect, he was a drow. All the noble actions in the world wouldn't change the fact of it, and he had best settle with it and move on. "I...perhaps I should stay out here.."

Catti-brie and Wulfgar turned to him with a flat look. "Don' be startin' this agin ye fool drow, ye won't never succeed if ye won't even try." growled Catti-brie.

"Better just myself than everyone." countered Drizzt. Catti-brie sighed irritably. "Move!" she snapped, and proceeded toward the gate. Drizzt reminded himself that he did not have the luxury of giving in, and put one foot after the other.

"Party of three for Alustriel, she'd be expectin' us" she barked crisply through the gate window. There was a rustling of papers, a keen glance at her bow and Ageis-fang, and the gate opened. Drizzt held his breath. Bored eyes passed over him and moved on. He was in. They hadn't checked. The Lady had left instructions. "Breathe." whispered Catti-brie, and kept walking.





Drizzt savoured the elaborate sounds and smells of the city. He wished he could see it too, but he wasn't feeling reckless enough to bare any skin. He didn't need to see to follow his friends. People laughed and fought and bartered. An apple rolled past his feet and small children swarmed around his legs after it. He froze. People were touching him. Elbows and shoulders in a constant unthinking stream. Drizzt felt his heart beating in his throat and the brush of panic behind his eyes. People did not touch him outside of battle, without a reason, even in play. Certainly not strangers. His stomach twisted.

They would know- he wasn't one of them, they would sense it. The ugly fear-fuelled rage at his nature would soon unfurl around him. He had to leave - now. He had to get away. Someone grabbed his coat, and he jerked, frozen. "Come on!" Catti-brie hissed.

Drizzt realised he was hyperventilating, standing in the middle of irritated foot traffic, and blocking the way. He grabbed onto his senses and ruthlessly crushed them into submission.

No. He thought. Stop feeling so much, none of this will ever be for you. He put one foot in front of the other, and moved on, after his friends.







He inched back his hood a little once they entered Alustriel's halls. They were expecting him here. They had eaten and slept here before, many times he had sat at Alustriel's side and spoke quietly into the night. She had not shown fear, but instead a kinship with him that left him breathless and intimidated. Many in her hall were less than pleased by his presence, but none would go against their beloved Lady. Oddly, that was easier to handle then the genuine kindness she offered him, which left him feeling raw and exposed.



Conversation stopped as they entered the hall. There was a long table, set with elvish glass wear and festive silks, and many guests were mingling about the hall, only a few at the table with Alustriel. "Ah!" She cried, "My brave companions from the north! Welcome! You are the last of our guests for this special festival, and we may now prepare. Everyone, please welcome Cattie-brie and Wulfgar of Clan Battlehammer, and my honourable friend and ranger, Drizzt Do' Urden."

Silence followed this proclamation, into which Lady Alustriel walked toward them and inclined her head.

"Rooms have been readied for you, as well as baths and ceremonial robes- I hope my taste pleases you."

Wulfgar and Cattie-brie nodded, surprised.

"That isn't necessary, Lady, but we are pleased to see you again," Drizzt replied softly, his eyes on the floor. She laughed. "As I am to see you. But politics insist, I am afraid to not dress for this affair would be seen as an insult..." He risked a glace up, and caught her soft amused smile and raised eyebrow. "You just want to see me in silks..." he joked.

She smiled mischievously, her warm eyes twinkling. "Ever since you told me of the artistry of the drow I have been terribly curious to see you in your native costume, I admit."

Drizzt's brows shot up, as did those of his companions. He knew he looked rough for anything but a wild elf, but he never imagined it would matter in his monastic life on a barren mountainside. "Besides," she continued, "I am certain your companions would enjoy the finery with the upcoming nuptials, however, your friends may wear whatever they wish with the rest of the festival hunting party. I had hoped, Drizzt, that you would attend the festival in the hall with myself instead. I realise you expected to attend the hunt, but it would please me deeply if you would join me here. The clothing is my gift to you. Come. Ahrec will attend you."

She gestured to a slight, balding red-haired man with a harried look. At her call, his eyes widened and he swallowed. Actually, Drizzt noted that many of the guests were looking at them in a similar fashion. He began to feel less comfortable then he had under the lady's gaze. He could tell from the mannerisms of many present that they were nobility, and to his rising horror, at least half were elves. What in the nine hells was she thinking? "Lady," he whispered, his brow creased with worry, "are you sure that my presence is wise? Your guests do not seem pleased. I understand that this is a significant elven festival."

Alustriel gave him a look.

He could not seem to keep his eyes off the floor. What was wrong with him? All the training he rebelled against in the underdark seemed to overcome him in her presence.

"If... you wish it, I could visit with you privately and disturb no-one."

"Drizzt," she said, "how can you teach people who you really are if you will not face them? This is an unparallelled chance to make friends whom will open city gates to you. Your unique fame will simply make my party more engaging for the rest. You are my guest, and I will not tolerate undue rudeness toward you. You must however, expect the natural doubt they would have and be patient." She gently touched his jaw and tilted his face toward her. Drizzt inhaled sharply, eyes snapping to her face. She smiled affectionately at him and whispered "Trust me, my friend." The touch had sent an electric bolt down his spine, and he made a vague noise of agreement. Her eyes widened slightly, and she searched his face.

Drizzt had learnt every one of his early lessons to the bone, but had never before been asked to bend his knee to a powerful woman who deserved it. He respected her and how she chose to wield her power, and trusted her. He realised suddenly that with her his willful nature had nothing to fight against, nothing which would override the rules of submission beaten into him from birth. His eyes slipped to the floor.

She paused for a moment, a pensive look on her regal face, and moved on to he other guests.



"Breathe," said Catti-brie flatly. "And tuck yer damned tongue in."

Wulfgar snorted. He cracked his huge knuckles, looking bored, and smiled arrogantly at a small group of ladies who had begun to gasp and titter as he stretched out his bared arms.

"Let's be gettin' to our rooms, ye needn't mingle till tomorrow and I feel like a flat squirrel on a cart track," she continued, suddenly making for the door. Drizzt winced, and gestured to the sixty or so finely groomed guests gliding about the fountains and wine in butterfly silks, some of whom were still regarding them with disgust. "Don't you feel intimidated at all?" He asked. She glowered at him. "Not one bit!" She snapped, tugging her thin, white muddy shirt down and backing toward the door, eyeing the crowd over her shoulder. Drizzt laughed, feeling his tension dissolve. "I see. I imagine you are eager to see the dress clothes, there are few womanly things where we live." Wulfgar had not begun to follow them, but seemed to be easing his way into a circle of wide-eyed women. Ahrec moved frettingly to herd him back. She made a noise like a kicked cat and rounded on Drizzt, chest bouncing under the thin fabric with a snap. Drizzt desperately averted his eyes. "What makes ye think I want any dammed frilly crap any more than ye? Trussed up like some sort o' blue-ribbon cow? I hit ye between the eyes with me sword sparrin' and I don't get a look like ye give silvery-muff when she scratched yer chin!" Drizzt paused, startled. What did she mean? She couldn't WANT him to think those kind of thoughts about her, could she? He had always brutally crushed those ideas down, he would never betray them all with defiling their cherished Catti-brie. He would never have that right. He was lucky they kept him as a friend...

Suddenly, a musical drawl broke his thoughts-"Ah, the fabled northern charm. You must have been the one raised by [/dwarves/]." Drizzt narrowed his eyes and turned. And paused. Behind him was the most beautiful elven male he had ever seen.

Cattie-brie had gone somewhat red in the face.

His robes were pastel layers of green and blue shot with silver lines, perfectly matching his eyes. He archly swept a lock of long, white-gold hair back over his shoulder with a slim, graceful hand and let his eyes run disdainfully down her muddy clothes. Suddenly, there was a very large naked torso between them.

"She's taken." Growled Wulfgar. The elf's eyebrows shot up, and he blinked. "Mine." Wulfgar clarified, grabbing her arm. The elf made a sort of choking noise. Ahrec began to flail uselessly behind him.

"I kin speak for me damned self and there's no need te be grabbing at all then!" Yelled Catti-brie. Wulfgar yanked her close "So you encouraged him!" She yanked her arm away and shoved him, tossing her auburn hair behind her with a jerk of her head. "Now I do want a bath!" She snarled.

Wulfgar's face reddened "I won't have you slutting about in some tight dress for that girly little twig!" The twig in question had actually clutched his robes in horror and backed into Ahrec.

"WONT ye." Said Cattie-brie, suddenly quite still and grim. She turned to Ahrec with a terrifying, furious smile. "I would like that bath now, an' would welcome any help ye might have for [/fancy/] grooming."

Ahrec squeaked and backed in a wide circle toward the door "Ah, yes, yes, I will inform the, uh, female attendants,"

Wulfgar, apparently convinced she had been speaking to the elf, bared his teeth and lunged for him with one meaty hand. In countless sparring sessions, Drizzt had taught Catti-brie how to defend herself well enough, but he wasn't sure about this elf. And for the love of rothe they just GOT here...Drizzt caught Wulfgar's arm and spun him a quarter turn, cracking him lightly in the head with the butt of his blade. "NO," he said looking pointedly in the barbarian's eyes. "Go. Wash." Drizzt said, pushing him toward the door.

Wulfgar looked mutinous and muttered "Barbarians don't bathe."

Drizzt sighed. "Then go drink."



Drizzt turned back to the elf. "Hello."

The elf glared at him murderously. "You should never have been born," the elf hissed, and spun to leave.

It was about what Drizzt had come to expect. Perhaps they would be asked to leave. He went to follow his friends, but then stopped. The lady had wanted him here, and had asked him to try, so try he would. Silently, he caught up to the elf and stepped in his way. The second of fear that passed before the sneer was not lost on Drizzt. "My name is Drizzt, and as I just saved you from a very large fist, perhaps you could grace me with your name?" The elf glared at him in silence. "The Lady wishes us to speak." Drizzt reminded him pointedly.

The elf closed his eyes. "Lorien."

Drizzt sighed. This was going to be a long three days. "I do not wish to displease her, but I do not know how I am supposed to do this, Lorien. Perhaps you could help me." Lorien stared at him incredulously. "I only have learnt how to speak to dwarves and their kin, and I do not know how to properly speak to elves."

The fair elf looked appalled. "What right is it that you imagine you have do speak to us at all, demon spawn?"

Drizzt's resilience was flagging rapidly. He had nothing to say. He couldn't even argue with that last remark- he believed it himself. His eyes dropped. "None." he said softly, and swallowed. The moon elf seemed startled.

"Lorien!" Lady Alustriel's warm voice washed over them. "I am so pleased at your thoughtfulness. Drizzt knows few people here, and nothing about this elvish festival. It was my desire that he learn more of the ways of the true kin of his heart. Allow me to introduce you. Few are able to rise above their circumstances as he has, and I know none that have retained such a pure spirit after such adversity. You would be blessed by his companionship. Perhaps you might be his guide for the duration of this rite?" She waited, expectantly.

Lorien cleared his throat. "I,.. uh, " he sounded utterly mortified.

Alustriel's eyes narrowed. "Lorien is here as an ambassador for trade with the closest grove of moon elves. His elvish delicacies, although non-essential, are appealing enough to offer in trade for our most rare and indispensable spell components and prepared enchantments, isn't that right Lorien?" Drizzt could not believe what he was hearing. She was blackmailing an ambassador of trade?! He began to re-evaluate the depth of their friendship. It seemed to far closer to what he wished for then he had previously believed. "I...cannot describe my surprise at this honor." Lorien managed.

"I have always found the gift of ones compassion to bring [/riches/] in equal measure in return," she continued, smiling sweetly at him. "Do you not agree?"

Lorien smiled coldly in Drizzt's direction, his face softening considerably as he looked upon Alustriel. "Of course my Lady. Whatever you wish." Drizzt raised his eyes to watch her walk away.

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Lorien turned to him with a light, bubbling drink. "Here." he said shortly. "This is a traditional drink of festival eve." Drizzt shook his head. "I drink only water."
Lorien looked scandalised. "I gave her my word, you have no fear of poison!"
Drizzt shook his head. "My body is a weapon, I cannot afford to lose control of it, I have seen what happens when other people do." The moon elf looked at him speculatively. "The weapon is only as lethal as the wielder. Perhaps what comes out is your true nature, the drow one you hide so well."
Drizzt momentarily looked unsure. "Perhaps."

Lorien smiled. It wasn't friendly.

"This is just a restorative drink, nutritious, and giving pure sleep. It prepares you for the rigours of the next several days." he handed it to Drizzt. "It is part of the traditions you are so keen to invade. If you are not going to participate and spurn our activities then you should leave." Drizzt glanced down the table at the Lady, then looked at him evenly. "I will drink as much as you. No more." Lorien rolled his eyes and took a glass for himself. "You are a black, scarred, muscled mess, and everyone around you fears that any moment you will rip out an organ with your teeth. How do you even live with yourself?"

Drizzt gazed at him. "Wait until you meet my pet."

Lorien began to laugh, but then looked at him nervously. He decided to move on. "I mean it, only a wild elf would let themselves go as you do. Just look at your hair. What do you do? Cut it with your weapons in the dark?"

Drizzt looked at him. "Actually, yes. " he paused. "In a cave."

Lorien sneered. "Are all drow so uncouth?"

"Yes!" a third, reedy voice chimed in, "tell us more!" A diminutive figure waved a pen and paper at him eagerly. The tiny wizard was flanked by an array of hideously robed companions. Drizzt groaned. The wizards had found him. He did NOT want to recount a brief history of drow yet again. "No." Drizzt said.



Within minutes, he was sketching hair and cloak styles, tools and architecture for the small mage. Lorien seemed unwillingly impressed. "The average drow lives like this?" skimming across the magical fence and balcony sketches. "No," said Drizzt, "this is the dress and home of a noble house. I am not sure how the commoners lived." Lorien raised his brows at him, incredulously. "Nobility?"

"Was." said Drizzt. He paused, "They may all be dead for all I know. I was intended to be killed at birth. For Lloth, because I was the third male son. If my brother had not murdered the eldest during a family slaughter when I was born, I suppose I would've been. They kept me, much to their detriment." The table fell silent. Drizzt frowned. "I am usually not so forthcoming." he said, gazing at the uncomfortable faces around him.

The little mage beside him seemed eager to respond. "There are spells of openness and communication in the hall, to facilitate the union of the celebrants, and bring unspoken thoughts to the lips," he moved in conspiratorially, "meant especially to meld with the Moon Tears of Second Night, the fabled drink said to bring ones soul from the body to dance with the gods." He sighed. "For public versions of the festival with humans such as this one, however, I have only heard of Kriss being used, a mild elven wine." The little mage seemed wistful. "I would sell ten spell books for a vial of Moon Tears. No-one I know has even seen them."

Lorien's eyebrows rose.

The little mage continued, winking. "Newlyweds are always in for a rough time of it though, we should have warned your warrior friends...heh." Drizzt rose to go. "If you have any further tales," piped the wee mage after him, "send them to Merriodoc of Lintz!"



Drizzt frowned. "I do not know that I like the idea of hearing unspoken thoughts without consequence."

Lorien turned to him, sneering. "Surely you did not think I was normally so rude?" he smirked. "Alustriel will have to forgive me. But it is so hard to resist the [/spells/]."


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"But why would they kill princes?" a mage in a spectacularly orange robe demanded. "It is hard enough to ensure succession without killing them oneself!"

Drizzt sighed. "Because men have no power, and never rule." the mage blinked. Drizzt noted he had caught the attention of most of the table yet again.

"So many cultures are like that about women, up here on the surface, to some degree. Menzoberranzan is like the most repressive cultures, where the women are beaten, sold like cattle, bred without choice. Where they do not speak or raise their eyes. Roles are simply reversed in the underdark."

"Is that why you left?" drawled Lorien, eyeing his weapons.

"Actually," Drizzt said, "no." Several guests looked amused and scandalised.

"How could a man be bred without choice?" a local noble laughed.

Drizzt couldn't look at him. He didn't want to think about it. "Better than a slow death." he said, sliding a blade from it's sheath and fingering the smooth edge. The laugh sputtered. His blade blurred and he rubbed his eyes.



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"How much did he drink!"

"No more than I!"

They were walking toward the guest rooms, but Drizzt felt as if he were floating, as if he had no legs at all. He felt incredibly peaceful, as if in a walking reverie."It was just the Sleepwell Elixer!"

"He must have been exhausted, he became half conscious at the table."

"It is only beginning to affect me now lady! How could I have known?"

"You will stay with him."

"..."

"You will stay, and be sure he is fine. You have the run of my household servants. Use them. Make sure he is safe and happy by tomorrow."

Hands were on him, guiding. He gasped.

"What?"

"Your...who...touching.."

"This is rather bad isn't it?"

"Oh, Drizzt..."

"No-body ...touches me."

"Or what? You eat the skin off their face? Nine Hells, work with me here, step OUT of the boot."

"Oh, Drizzt, my poor friend." Cool hands slid up the sides of his face, and soft lips pressed against his brow. Suddenly, there was something warm and pliant under his hands. He leaned into it. Pressed it to him. It was warm and soft and everywhere. It smelled wonderful.

He moaned.

"Oh!"

"Lady!!"

"It, um, is merely a hug, Lorien. Help me place him on the bed."

The world tilted, and Drizzt's hands slid up into a mass of silk. He rubbed his face in it lavishly.

"He's sure enjoying that hug, there."

"Oh, Lorien, shush! I must go. Keep him safe."

"Wait, I have to stay here?"

"Who gave him the drink?"

"That isn't safe for me! Look at him! He might dismember me in his sleep!"

"Now."

Drizzt felt something warm and silky beside him. He burrowed into it and sighed.



Lorien froze, half in the bed. "Ohgods."



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Lorien had to pee. He had to for at least an hour, now, but was waiting desperately for the terrifying, black, muscled arm clenched firmly around his legs to move. There was a drow in his bed. Every childhood closet monster fear had suddenly come horribly, vividly true.

Perhaps if he shifted it off in tiny increments? He gingerly grasped the -thing- at the wrist. Just a little...

Suddenly, he was being held in the air by his neck. He noticed he was making a high pitched gurgling scream.

Two lavender slits opened in the black mass in front of him, then widened as he was dropped to the bed.

Drizzt looked absolutely stunned.

"What...?"

Lorien bolted for the bathroom.



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Drizzt lay in the soft pillows and watched the light catch the dust in the air above him. He had missed the sunrise. He had slept like the dead, and the end of the night was unclear to him. He was trying to decide if he should be ashamed for his moral laxity in accepting a drink, but the knowledge that there was a moon elf beside him when he awoke overwhelmed his thoughts. What goodness of spirit, to put aside the hatred of a racial enemy on the word of the good Lady! What a show of trust, to sleep beside him without fear! Drizzt felt a lightness expanding in his chest. What bravery this elf had shown! Imagine! An elf for a friend, that he might learn of the world he wished he had been born to...



An elf he had just strangled and sent fleeing from him in terror, confirming every doubt and fear.



Drizzt felt the familiar nausea run through him. He sat up and dropped his head into his hands.

Everything they said about him was true, he shouldn't be allowed near others, he shamed Alustriel's trust in him.

He sat up. He could not allow that. He would not. She was perfect. A goddess. The Matron of his heart. It would be no shame to kneel at feet such as hers. Not that he had any right to in his shameful behaviour. He must repair the insult his own flawed nature had caused. He would beg forgiveness of Lorien, this very morning, before word of his failure could reach her ears. He would swear to do anything he wished to repair their friendship. Then he would thank her for her undeserved kindness, and she would place her cool hands on him, and draw him in...

A vivid memory of soft warmth and silky hair sliding against him overwhelmed his thoughts.

He gasped.

Her clean, complex, feminine smell, her firm, pliant body pressed briefly against him- did that seriously happen? She was here, by this bed!

Drizzt realised he had the sheets in a death grip, was panting, and was painfully hard. He groaned, letting go of the sheets.

He would NOT give in to this weakness. It was not for him. No-one would touch him, he was irreparably stained, a monster to most, and the sick, dark things in his head had to stay there lest they lose him the goodwill he had managed to receive. He shouldn't even think these things, it was wrong.

His defiant cock was bent uncomfortably into the seam of his pants. He sighed, unbuckling his belt. I will adjust myself, and take a walk, he thought, his hand sliding into his pants.

The grip of his hand on his cock sent a web of electricity through his back and thighs, and his hand tightened convulsively.

I am not doing this, he thought. He realised his thumb was sliding around the head, and a blinding memory of Alustriel's soft, delicious body pressing him to the bed shot through his mind.

He realised his hand was pumping his cock. "No," he gasped, arching back onto the bed.

He remembered her silky hair sliding over his face and whimpered, writhing into his fist. "Ng." He imagined her straddling him, her fine hair cocooning them as her cool hands slid up his arms, pressing him down into the bed, her full breasts and pert nipples sliding up his chest as she reached.

"Oh.Gods.nnnnnnnnn." He growled, thrashing, his hips snapping wildly into his fist.

He felt himself fucking her, her soft bottom banging against his thighs as she pressed down onto him, moaning. He heard fabric ripping, but it didn't register it. He wanted to fuck her, he wanted to grab her hips and slam up into them until he couldn't see. His arm caught in something and held. He was in chains. He was in chains and Alustriel was sliding little knives through his skin, laughing, her eyes glowing red. Drizzt moaned in fear. "NO.No.No.Nonononono." He felt sick. He couldn't stop. He didn't want her to stop. He whimpered. She could hurt him. He would let her. She could do anything to him as long as he could stay by her feet, belonging to her, owned. A sob caught in his throat. It wouldn't stop. She wouldn't stop. Something dark and terrifying was sliding up from the back of his mind and he didn't want to see what it was. "NO!" He was sick. He was staining her. He mustn't ever think of her. It was wrong. He forced his mind blank.

Suddenly there was a flash of auburn hair and the clash of steel. He was sparring, in the dwarven halls. Thin, wet, dirty cotton stretched tautly across a pair of full, pert, breasts. It had become translucent. When she would lunge at him, they would bounce and snap up at him before jiggling.

He growled, arching off the bed, his hands in death grips, his hips writhing slowly.

He ripped open the teasing piece of cloth and grabbed the breasts, rubbing his thumbs over the nipples. He slammed the heated body, gear and all, against the wall. Weapons clattered to the floor as leather clad legs and boots wrapped around his waist. Drizzt was snarling. He held her down on the wall, on the floor, on the table. He pulled his boot knife and slit the pants front to back. He pressed his bulge against the plump, pink, nether lips and watched them pull open and drag across him. He was coming, his mouth was open, he was arched like a bow and he was coming and couldn't stop. A white blinding light spread through his mind as he looked up at her face. It was the dead elven woman from the surface raid, and his brother stood above him with a bloody blade, erect and laughing.

Drizzt dry-heaved off the edge of the bed.





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Lorien lept into the bathroom and slammed the door. He could get through. He knew it. He was a monster of legend and no door would ever stop him. Lorien waited. Then he waited a little more. Then he sighed, and used the bathroom.



Lorien knew he had to open the door eventually, but he couldn't quite bring himself to do it. What was he going to do? He needed this trade agreement, he needed it, and he desperately respected Lady Alustriel- he adored her. He had no choice at all. Why was she friends with this THING in the other room? Because he was disturbingly beautiful, whatever he was? Because he was lithe and powerful and filled the room like some sort of deadly force of nature? If a fire-breathing beast fell out of the sky and said `pet me` would it be any different? He snorted. She would likely keep it in the hall too. Drizzt did look at her kind of like a kicked dog now that he thought about it. He chuckled. Last night he was even sniffing her, half unconscious from the sleeping potion. He felt a chill. Drizzt had pulled her into his arms and began smelling her neck and hair and she hadn`t even tried to stop him! She had blushed! Oh Gods- she [/wouldn`t/]! Lorien paused in horror. He had to save her. He had to protect his kind hearted lady from that twisted thing in the other room. He had to make her see! But how? He thought that the sleeping potion, given early, would have spared him the evening, but it seemed to have backfired, trapping him here.

The drow just let every ugly thought just tumble out of his mouth, though, didn`t he?

Lorien felt a little thrill.

Oh he [/couldn`t/].

It would be utter sacrilege! But it would show everyone what the drow truly was, and She would withdraw from him and be safe.

Lorien heard a muffled shout. He started, and opened the door. It took him a moment to register what he was seeing.



Drizzt appeared to have slaughtered the sheets, one arm was hopelessly tangled above him. He was shirtless, thrashing, with one boot on, and muttering sobbing, growling protests against an invisible foe.

What could give a drow nightmares? The thought left him cold. The drow might kill him by mistake. A snarling growl from the bed sent a stab of fear through the fair elf. He began backing toward the door. Gods, he even looked beautiful like that. This was all so wrong. It was erotic...

It was then that he noticed Drizzt's hand.

He was... he was.... Lorien froze, his mouth falling open.

He simply could not believe what he was seeing. The snarling, beautiful dark form in front of him was wildly fucking it's hand.

Drizzt arched, crying out, his thick white mane sliding off his face, exposing an expression of absolute horror. The drow then thrashed to the side of the bed and began retching violently.

Lorien stood uselessly, unsure of where to go, or what to do.

The drow slowly curled into a ball, his arm still caught above him, weeping a phrase softly into the ruined sheets. Lorien felt himself pulled closer to the drow, although he was certain that he was unwilling to do so. "I'm sorryI'msorryI'msorryI'm sorry ...tell her... I'm sorry...I'm.."



Ten grimiores. He swallowed. It was worth it.

He had to make him stop. It was so awful, Lorien wanted to climb out of his own skin.

He cleared his throat, loudly.

Silence.

A pair of wide violet eyes slowly lifted to his. Drizzt made an unintelligible noise and shut his eyes tightly.

"Well!" said Lorien with false cheer, "Time to start your day!"

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Lorien wanted him to suffer. He could practically taste the humiliation pooling around the dark elf. He could see the guilt written all over him, and wondered what evils he had done.

How dare this frightening thing arouse him?

It must be an aspect of it's abomination that it would cause these feelings in good beings like himself and the good Lady. He would fix it. He would purge it's vileness from their presence by exposing every ugly thing under it's skin she couldn't see. What horror had come to the woman it spoke of? He had to be careful. He couldn't ask now. He had to save it for when it would matter. Drizzt raised wide, shattered eyes to him again. It was like looking into a wasteland of shadows, and he wanted to raze it with every fibre of his soul.

First, though, to prepare. Lorien smiled cruelly. "Time for your bath."





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Drizzt had heard the phrase 'to die of shame', but he had never fully experienced the meaning of the phrase until this very moment. He wanted to die. He wanted to sink into the bed and disappear. He couldn't take another moment. And worst of all was the depth to which he loathed himself. If there was any suffering that was to be found here, he was certain that he deserved it, every second. He took a fortifying breath in and sat up, wadding the torn fabric into his lap. He opened his mouth and made a strangled sound. Shame rolled over him so thick he couldn't speak. He forced himself to look into the light elf's eyes instead. The sheer loathing he saw there hit him like a fist. Some small, fortifying bit of self-respect that had clung to him until now broke, and fell to the floor. He knew. The elf could see Drizzt for what he was. Lorien smiled, and a promise of every dark punishment that Drizzt secretly knew he deserved lay there waiting.

"Time for your bath."

All he could do was nod.





Drizzt stood awkwardly, still clutching the sheets, and felt an additional jerk of shame as he tried to think of of the least appalling way to retie his pants.

"Don't bother," said Lorien coldly. "Just take them off. You are going to be taking a bath. I realise it may seem new, but then, you are meant to do whatever I say lest you further humiliate yourself and offend the good Lady." Drizzt flinched and nodded again, his eyes on the floor. Slowly, he untangled his arm from the sheet. He dropped his pants, and slipped off his boot. He licked his lips and waited, biting his lip.



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Lorien still could not believe what he was seeing. The drow was so - submissive - . He was certain the drow could kill him in seconds, and had heard of his unmatchable deadly skills. Yet he kept his eyes on the floor and obeyed him without question. Lorien began to feel a little giddy. He ran his eyes over the delicacy of Drizzt's well developed inky muscles, his fine elven hands and feet, his black-violet hairless package. Inhaling, he slid his eyes over the sculpted elvish features and the fine, high arched brows. White, feathered lashes hid Drizzt's faintly glowing violet eyes. Lorien was startled to realise they looked rather similar, with only scars, skin colour, and 40 pounds of muscle to divide them. Drizzt's wild, dishevelled white hair slid partly over his face and he bit his lip. Belatedly, Lorien realised his giddy feeling had transformed into deeply, achingly aroused. It made him furious. "What the hell am I supposed to do to make you acceptable company?" He snarled.

Drizzt raised his feline eyes to him and said softly, "You can't."



He had set Drizzt to scrubbing himself in a bath of neroli, sandalwood, and spice. The lady had chosen the scents and he had to admit that the sensual combination would suit him. He had rinsed the soaps from his hair and was trying to decide what to do. It was important that he do this well, he wanted no doubt as to his genuine compassion toward his ward. He needed that trade deal. Drizzt needed to implicate himself as a danger to everyone, Lorien needed to have nothing to do with it. The idea that his elvish love of grace and beauty was savouring this on its own teased the edge of his mind, but he shoved it away.

Ah! The drawings from the night prior! The Lady would love that. He picked up a comb and razor. Something flickered through Drizzt's gaze, and he went very still. As Lorien approached, he slid back in the tub, his neck and chest exposed, his hair inaccessible. Lorien hissed in irritation and the drow's breath quickened, his eyes never leaving the razor.

"How exactly do you expect me to cut you hair? Sit UP!" he snapped.

Drizzt's eyes widened and he looked up at him in confusion, "You... wanted to cut ..my hair?"

Lorien stared at him. "What else would I..." he started, trailing off as the exact nature of many of the scars in front of him sunk in.

Lorien realised to his horror that not only was Drizzt willing to let him slice his flesh, no, expecting it, but also that the fact of this disturbing submission made a slow burn of arousal creep up his spine, and his cock harden. [/I could. /]He thought. [/I could and he would never say a word./] He swallowed. His hand tightened on the razor, and Drizzt's eyes snapped back to it. "You would want to play while the Lady is waiting. Sit UP!" He could not believe the words had just come out of his mouth. As if he would seriously consider it later. The vile things the drow made enter his mind. He glared at the figure in the tub as it slid up and clasped it's knees. "You will guide me to replicate the drow noble haircut precisely." Drizzt nodded once.



Lorien was obsessively gentle with Drizzt's hair. He would not let the drow infect him with his violence. Every time he brushed the drow's skin Drizzt tensed ever so slightly. The cut was long, with sharp, angled pieces, and flattered the drow well. Lorien narrowed his eyes and then smiled, selecting a shimmering oil meant for his own fair hair. He smoothed it into Drizzt's hair and began to massage it in with his delicate fingers. Drizzt went completely stiff. Lorien flicked his own hair behind him with an irritated hand. "What now?" Drizzt shook his head. Lorien set the bottle down too hard. "I cannot do my job unless you tell me what is running through that twisted head of yours, so SPEAK."

"I... just am not used to being touched," Drizzt replied.

"No one has ever groomed you?" Lorien asked flatly.

"Before, until I was sixteen, my sister Vierna sometimes did. She was in charge of me." Drizzt paused, trailing a hand through the water "Actually, you remind me of her."

Lorien was appalled. A drow and a female? "How?"

"She was beautiful. She hated me. She was kinder then she could have been." Drizzt ran his hands up his arms. "She only whipped me when she was teaching me, at first, not just for pleasure like the others would have."

Lorien took a moment to realise Drizzt wasn't mocking him. It left him feeling vaguely chastised. He took a breath, and ran a finger over the odd scars on Drizzt's back. "These don't look much like whip lines."

Drizzt dropped his head to his knees with an odd smile, and chuckled. "The whips had snake heads, with poison teeth."

Lorien recoiled. He was laughing?! The drow was making him feel ill. He didn't want to know about the freak drow and their sick drow ways. "No wonder drow are all so sick," he hissed. "What did they do to bond, rape you on the family altar?"

Drizzt jerked convulsively and put his hands in his hair. His voice suddenly held a dangerous edge it didn't have before. "I don't want to talk anymore," he growled.

Lorien had to get away from him, it was all so unbelievably nauseating, and Drizzt was beginning to frighten him even more.

"You make me sick," he said, and backed out of the door.



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"Me too." said Drizzt to his knees.

He rolled his head to the side and stared at the razor. He wished he was the sort that could simply end it. He sighed. No matter. One of these days, he would make a mistake in battle, and it would be a death without shame. He had enough shame, he tried to make dammed sure that nothing new that he did added to it.

His mind wandered uncomfortably to the disgusting thing he had done on the bed. It had been a few years since he had made that mistake. Lorien's stunned face flashed before him, and he put his face in his hands and groaned. Well. He hardly needed to find an appropriate penance, it seemed that his utter humiliation had taken care of that.

"GET OUT!" the light elf barked from the other room.

Drizzt realised there was no towel or robe of any kind, and sighed.



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Drizzt slinked past him with a flat stare and his hands discreetly over his parts. Lorien realised that he had let whatever edge the drow's earlier humiliation had given him when he left the bathroom. It made him uncomfortably nervous. He had to be careful. "I am sorry if I upset you," he muttered. Drizzt looked momentarily surprised, and seemed about to make a dismissal. Lorien noted with alarm the moment he thought better of it and shut his mouth, a defiant glare in his eyes. Shit. He had just kicked a drow somewhere vulnerable. His elders always chastised him on his lack of wisdom. When would he ever learn? Drizzt snatched up the towel he had dropped on the destroyed bed and threaded around his waist, visibly relaxing as he sat down. He crossed his arms over his chest and pointedly raised his eyebrows. Lorien was reminded of how he felt when he fled to the bathroom. "Uh," he said.

"Where are my clothes?" said Drizzt.

Actually, he realised, this was worse. "I've, um been a bit rude, and I thought, uh, perhaps we could forget what just happened and uh, go on as if we just met." Shit. He had to stop showing fear. This was going downhill.

"Where. Are. My. Clothes." growled Drizzt .

Lorien knew he would be killed. He would never make three days. There was nothing he could do.

"I see you find nothing wrong with wearing mud and cum to the festival, however, I am here to see that you do not," he snapped. "Alustriel's expensive robes for you will arrive shortly, and I would ask that you NOT give then the same treatment."

Yes. He was about to die.

Drizzt's wide eyes slid to the floor. Lorien barely stopped a shaky sigh of relief.

Drizzt sighed, and held out his hand. "Hello, My name is Drizzt. Lovely to meet you?"

Lorien couldn't help himself. He was too stressed. He burst out laughing.



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Drizzt held up the tiny strip of violet silk. "I would rather wear the towel," he said, faintly.

Lorien rolled his eyes. " Look, that goes underneath the robes. It is only worn by itself for the dancing, later on, when everyone is too trashed to care anyway, or for the modest who choose to swim."

"Swim in what?" said Drizzt, baffled.

Lorien quirked his mouth. "Well. You did see the decorative fountains..."

Drizzt began to look nervous.

Lorien grinned and slid off his outer silks.

Drizzt couldn't decide where to put his eyes.

"Look, it's basically a loincloth. Just slide the strip between your legs and fasten the cords on the sides. The ends of it drop to your knees in front and back. Easy. It looks just the same as what you drew for the mages, to me."

"That was meant for over chain mail!" Drizzt protested.

"Yes, but this is [/sexier/]," he replied perkily, sliding his hand down his own soft blue undergarment.

Drizzt's eyes widened and fell to the floor. "Perhaps on you. It will make an ugly spectacle of someone like me."

Lorien was irritated that he felt a flash of concern for the drow. He was dealing with a monster, not an elf, and he needed to remember it. He smiled tightly. The night was planned. "I guess that depends on how you behave."

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Lorien eyed Drizzt critically. His robes were deep indigo, with violet details, and thick silvery-white trim that matched his hair. They flattered him obscenely, and his lithe beauty was like a slap to the face. With the sculpted lines of his hair and face, he looked cultured, exotic and refined. He looked like a black moon elf, exquisite and untouchable. It was a vile mockery, and Lorien hated it. He smiled.

"Alustriel will be pleased. Let us go."



Lorien glanced at the prowling figure beside him. The robes split at the front as he moved showing hard ebony curves of chest and thigh. It was horribly erotic, and Lorien hated him even more than before. He fingered the vial in his pocket. Soon.



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Lady Alustriel's eyes widened as they approached, and her companions turned to stare. This was worse than yesterday, he was alone and couldn't blame the stares and whispers on the barbarian's size and their muddy attire. He reminded himself that he had to give if he wished to receive acceptance, and settled himself to ignore his discomfort. Last night was informal. This was not. He inclined his head and smiled. "Thank-you, Lady, for your gracious invite. I never expected to have the blessing of attending the festival of the Blue Moon. I hope this... attire pleases you." Drizzt forgot himself and looked her dead in the eyes.

"Oh!" she said.

In the ensuing silence, Drizzt's eyes slid to the floor. He was becoming overwhelmingly insecure.

"Forgive me Drizzt," she managed finally, "the attire all suits you far better than I ever imagined. Be welcome, and enjoy. Lorien, I pray our hospitality has suited you?"

"Aside from nearly having my neck snapped this morning, it has been fine."

Drizzt's stomach fell. He had forgotten to apologise. No-wonder the elf had been so angry with him. The Lady would hate him, and now all of her friends knew. The silks felt ridiculous. He wanted to leave. Alustriel's companions sent each other meaningful looks.

This was possibly his worst day in recent memory.

"It... was an accident. He surprised me as I slept." Drizzt risked a glance at Lorien, and the hard smile made him look away. "I am so sorry, Lorien. If there is something I can do to make reparations for my actions, please name it."

"I am sure that is excessive," Alustriel interrupted, "anyone would know better than to surprise a soldier in his sleep."

"You utterly destroyed the sheets," the fair elf drawled at him, pointedly. Drizzt's head snapped up, his heart seizing in his chest. He [/wouldn't/]!

The Lady's friends tittered, and their looks held an entirely new meaning. No-one was looking at him like a beast now, instead he felt like a side of glazed beef. He made a choked sound. Please, no.

Lorien smiled widely. His eyes held the unspoken threat.

"And yet there is something I would ask.."

Alustriel began to speak, disapproval written on her face. "Anything!" Drizzt interrupted. [/Just stop sharing./]

"It is a rare blessing, actually. I understand the rather monastic ranger abstains, and partakes of only water, but I would like Drizzt to share the traditional toast with me this Secondnight, as my festival companion." Lorien's eyes mocked him.

Alustriel laughed. Her friends smiled at them admiringly.

"Oh Drizzt, of course you will. Has he been teasing you so all day?"

"You have no idea," said Drizzt weakly.

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The meal was elaborate, and flocks of enchanted butterflies and pearls swirled throughout the crowd in time to the spectral musicians. The crowd was reserved, but merry, and many strange faces found the courage to approach the lone drow. Drizzt realised the lady was right. The impressions he made at this event, presented as he was, would ease his way through city gates for years. He found himself profoundly grateful. During a lull, he found her to express his thoughts.

Alustriel smiled warmly, "It is a joy to me to see you happy."

Drizzt smiled at her shyly.

"You have brought a subject of interest and entertainment to my guests, as well, Drizzt. I am grateful you were able to provide that for me in return, I know it is hard for you."

His eyes trailed to her feet. She frowned and slid a hand up his jaw. He inhaled sharply at the touch, and closed his eyes.

"Why will you never look me in the eyes?" she asked with concern.

He opened them. "I..." his gaze travelled halfway up and stopped, "..it is how I was raised." He could tell she looked at him sadly. He didn't need to see.

"Drizzt..." she said softly. He shivered. "...you do not do this with Cattie-brie." He shook his head. "What is different about me?" she asked, pleadingly.

Drizzt tried to explain. "You.. you're powerful... a woman who expects obedience from those she rules." Her hand stiffened on his chin. He froze.

"I remind you of a Matron Mother?" she gasped, her voice deepening with horror.



The silence that followed was filled with Drizzt's wild visions of Alustriel's horrified rejections of him.

"I-I don't know. I thought I hated it. But. Sometimes. With you." Drizzt crushed his eyes shut for a moment and took a breath. "It's how I learnt to show respect, and unlike the women in my past, I know you deserve it."

She laughed and brushed his cheek. "So you were never this obedient before."

Drizzt grinned haltingly. "Really, no."

She stepped closer to him, close enough for him to smell her, to be staring straight down at the thin dove grey silk stretched tautly across her full breasts. Her silvery hair slithered to the side as she moved, exposing the fair swell of her flesh as she breathed. Drizzt's teeth clicked shut.

She spoke softly. "I have never demanded such things from you Drizzt, you do not need to comply to them to please me. I have met those who are weak-willed and retiring before, and I would never describe you as anything but the complete opposite." Drizzt was having trouble paying attention. "Drizzt?" Nothing. She sighed. She decided to try something else. "Drizzt! You will look me in the eye when I speak!"

Drizzt's eyes snapped up. That was a completely different tone then he was used to. Her dark eyes searched him deeply and with a little shock of shame he felt heat pooling in his groin. Her scent was making his head spin. She gave him an exasperated smile. He looked almost frightened. She looked at him affectionately and shook her head, sliding her hand down his face and running her slim thumb across his bottom lip. Heat shot through him and his was blinded by a moment's vision of his morning fantasy, with her writhing above him as he was deep inside. Something hot and fierce rippled across his face and he roughly pulled air into his lungs. His eyes burned into hers.

"Oh!" she said, her eyes wide. "Not meek at all."



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Lorien was irritated to see Alustriel speaking intimately with the drow. She was touching him! Why couldn't she see he was dangerous? Was she so blind? Then a look crossed Drizzt's face that made Lorien go cold. He looked absolutely murderous. He looked like he was going to eat her. It had to stop. He bolted to them.

"Lady!" he gasped "You would not have our friend renege on his promise?" She looked at him quizzically, her hand dropping to her side. "Why the [/toast/]," he said, desperately. "It is almost midnight!" Alustriel's silver laugh tinkled around them. She gestured them towards the feasting table. "Yes, of course! Come, we will make the announcement." Drizzt breathed out gratefully, feeling as if he had been spared at the last moment from the headsman's axe.



The table was dazzling. Elaborate centrepieces spaced between delicacies in silver serving dishes, and tiny globes of light caught the display and glittered. Elves and men had divided into small subdued groups, and couples sat by the table, feeding each other with their hands. The wizards were huddled in debate near the head of the table, but a few looked up with interest as they approached. Alustriel motioned to servers with her hands, and she was soon flanked with servants holding crystal pitchers and trays of elvish glass. She raised her hands. "My friends and and noble houses, the ritual toast of Second Night approaches." Applause and murmurs ran throughout the hall. "We are grateful to the delegation of Moon Elves who have blessed us with their direction in what I hope will be the first of many such celebrations in our halls. As a gracious gift of goodwill, Lorien, their director of trade, has gifted us with fine elven wine for all who attend tonight." She made a motion with her hands, and the servers spread throughout the hall.

This time, the applause was much more pronounced. Lorien arched his fine brows and preened. The lady continued. "At the stroke of midnight, may the toasts you make bind our hearts and open our minds. The festival will end at dawn on Third Night, and will complete with our procession to the sun, where we will greet our hunters and light the Bel-fire, blessing the offerings of the hunt they will bring at the first light of the sun. Find your partners for this rite, and much joy upon all of you."



Lorien caught Drizzt by the elbow as she was speaking, and led him slightly away, toward the table. "I have reserved the finest and rarest vintage for us to share. I had thought to bring it for trade, but I would not have it said that I had failed to show you the best of the elvish traditions, as I have been charged." Drizzt looked genuinely surprised. The elf had truly forgiven him? Then again, he did seem as changeable as quicksilver. "That isn't necessary, Lorien, I do not expect such extravagance, when it is beyond by expectations to even attend. You should make your profit, or share it with Alustriel. I do not drink, and trying to do otherwise last night made me not myself."

Lorien looked at him angrily. "You would insult my offer and break your oath?" The cluster of wizards seated beside them had ceased to speak and had begun to gawk. Drizzt was ever a specimen of fascination to them, and his social failings had their fingers twitching toward pens.

" No," Drizzt backpedalled, " of course I will not break my word to you, I am grateful, truly, and meant no insult."

Lorien seemed satisfied. The first chimes of the midnight bell began to toll, and he unveiled a small blue vial, and smiled. "Only as much as I, you said." He uncorked it, and a soft mist floated from the small opening. The fair elf's eyes glittered, and he tipped back his head, taking a long draw. "Half," he said, handing it to Drizzt, "that we may share our true faces tonight, beneath the skin." Drizzt took a long drink, and handed it back. It tingled on his tongue, and tasted of ice and rain. A few drops remained. "That," said Lorien, "was worth more than you will ever own." Drizzt winced.
"Here," said Lorien, handing the bottle to the littlest wizard. "Now, you have seen one."

Merriodoc of Lintz widened his eyes and smelled it, carefully. "Moon Tears?" he exclaimed excitedly. Lorien nodded. "Moon Tears!" waving the bottle over his head. He clutched it to his chest, and gazed adoringly up at Lorien. "I should save the residue to test it, shouldn't I?"

"Well I don't know," said Lorien, smiling sweetly, "it is Second Night, and there should be enough left for one."



Enough for one? Drizzt felt the blood drain from his face. He jerked Lorien around to him, exclaiming, "What have you done?" Lady Alustriel and the Elder elf she spoke with turned to them in concern. Lorien looked delighted. "I didn't think your violent nature would rear it's head so quickly. But then, it does have a long way to go to show your true self, does it not?"

Drizzt dropped his arm numbly and backed away, the betrayal making his mouth taste of ash. He closed his eyes. It was everything he had ever feared.

Alustriel's voice broke through his misery, "What is going on?"

Drizzt let out a bitter laugh. He glanced up. "I think I need to go."

Alustriel looked disappointed, and somewhat insulted. It made him feel miserable.

"I fear I am about to be unfit company, and I do not wish to offend you."

Alustriel glanced sharply at Lorien, who shrugged languidly. "I have no desire to have him leave. If he did, I would feel that my rather expensive gift would have been wasted."

"Moon Tears!" squealed Merriodoc, bouncing past them.

"Ah." said the Elder elf.

Alustriel turned to him. "Elenril? What have I missed?"

Elenril had spoken to Drizzt earlier, and was one of the few who had warmed to him, looking past his skin. " I haven't done that in decades! Be prepared not to sleep for two days." he laughed.

Lorien smiled winningly toward Drizzt. "I hope you realise what an honor it is that I shared such a rare elven treasure with you. The lady asked me to teach you about our exclusive rites, and that is exactly what I have done."

Drizzt struggled to save himself. "But... I...I would never have had so much if I knew - I, " he grasped to explain "I spend years in the underdark devoid of contact with any speaking thing. I lived to kill and barely knew my own name. What would happen to the people around me if I was unable to tell truth from dream? I should not stay."



Lorien was radiant with satisfaction.

Elenril smiled and explained. "Moon Tears allow your secret, inner self to be bared in all it's glory without the shell of your conscious mind to interfere. It is a pure waking dream like no other, a rare chance for honoured friends to bond heart to heart in truth, without the fetters of the world. It quite a gift. You should not fear so. You will know what you are about, just with honesty."

"Yes, but half a bottle?" gasped Drizzt. Elenril's brows shot up.

"I drank the other half!" declared Lorien defensively.

"Half a bottle?" Elenril replied in astonishment. "They are called [/tears/], child, because they are intended for use as [/drops/]."

Drizzt put his face in his hands.

"Will they be alright?" demanded Alustriel with concern.

"I have done nothing that would cause harm!" insisted Lorien indignantly. "My father drank an entire bottle himself when he was young!"

Elenril choked. "That explains so much about you, child." Alustriel covered her mouth.

"Will I be sick?" asked Drizzt. Lorien huffed.

Elenril hesitated. "I think they will be fine. It is not a poison, in any form."

Alustriel sighed. "I had hoped to share time with Drizzt, how unfortunate," she said, delivering a lancing look to Lorien.

"But," he stuttered, "I want you to. I mean, you both go on about how good and pure he really is, here is an honest chance to see what is inside without deceit."

Elenril gave him a long look. "Indeed. We have had enough of that." Lorien began to look nervous.

"I can't," said Drizzt, "I can't, there are things in my past I would not stain you with knowing, memories I would do anything to forget, and as much as I would like to say that they have not made me something hideous deep inside, I cannot promise that you would not hate me before the night is done. As much I would welcome looking at my demons and knowing my true face, I would not ruin such an important public event to find out."



Lorien had the grace to look abashed. He made the mistake of looking at Alustriel and flinched. She had her usual soft expression, but her eyes looked like they would burn holes through his flesh. "As you failed to learn your lesson last night, Lorien, we will try it again. Should either of you become incoherent or antisocial in any upsetting way, you will both be locked into a room together until it passes." Lorien looked slightly green, and clutched his own arms.



Elenril looked as if he were restraining laughter. "I would not be concerned over mild foolishness. Do stay. I expect half the guests will be quite intoxicated soon enough. The festival is famed for it's free ribald playfulness, and more than one has quite destroyed the halls it was held in. All this propriety you have been so keen to respect is exactly what is meant to be thrown out the window on this night. Go have fun." The Elder elf reached out and gently squeezed Drizzt's shoulder. "Never fear. We will watch you and keep you safe. We have more than a handful of powerful wizards here tonight, and many are more forgiving than you have been led to expect." His eyes drifted to Lorien. Elenril stepped back. "I will inform the other guests what a unique surprise you have provided for them. A drow and moon elf, bonding on an excess of Moon Tears. Perhaps it will encourage everyone else to let down their hair. Now go, and visit with others while you still can. The toast is not a formality, with what you have used. There may be a point when you truly only understand each other." Elenril shooed them with his hands, and walked away.

"Ah," he said. "to be young."



Drizzt sat at the edge of a fountain, his face in his hands. Lorien hated him. Soon the others would too. But perhaps he was right. It was wrong to deceive the people around him, wrong to lie. If his true self was the horror that Lorien seemed to believe, then he deserved the judgement he would receive. Just as he deserved his solitude. If only there was someone here he wasn't afraid to hurt. He sat up. Of course. Guenhwyvar could pin him with one foot. If he began to behave badly, she could stop him. She had before.

He should ask permission first. He wandered over to Alustriel to ask.





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Lorien was having fun. They had brought out the dancers, who were clad in not much more than loincloths and pixie dust, all of whom seemed more than happy to spend their breaks teasing him and feeding him fruit. He had to catch one of the trapeze girls. They had nothing on but feathers.

An unwelcome black shape caught his eye. What horrible thing was Drizzt doing? He sat up suddenly. The hand fed fruit missed his mouth and slid down his robes. He started, and fished it out. When he glanced up again, Drizzt was nearing Alustriel. He felt a chill. It had begun. The beast was unfurling it's evil intent and was stalking his prey. Lorien had to do something. He lept up, dislodging a half nude elf and several cups of cider. He had to get there in time.



Drizzt saw Alustriel, ringed by elves, smile as he approached, and immediately dropped his eyes. She stepped toward him and he fell to his knees.

"Drizzt?" She said. "Whatever are you doing?"

He needed to ask about his pet, but the words came out strange. "Matron, I would ask your permission..."

"Drizzt!" she exclaimed, her tone appalled. He winced. He had done something wrong. He wasn't sure what it was. Perhaps he wasn't supposed to speak? He stared at the floor in confusion. People were whispering above him. Something touched his shoulder. He looked up.

It was Lorien, hissing "Get away from her!"

Drizzt blinked and stood up.

Lorien eyed him. "What were you trying to do, anyway? Don't think I can't see your evil plan."

"What?" said Drizzt.

"What are you doing?" he repeated, angrily.

Elenril stepped between them. "Lorien, be at ease. Drizzt had a request."

He did? What was it? Oh right! "I wanted to invite my friend, she has the strength to keep me in line, and it may be pleasing. She is beautiful."

Elenril looked amused. "Beautiful? Indeed. What is her name?"

"Guenhwyvar."

Alustriel laughed. "Oh Drizzt. Why not. Yes. But do it in that corner and let the guests adjust to her first."

Drizzt bowed and turned to the empty area with delight.

Lorien stepped in front of him. "Who is this woman? Some black sorcerer seeking easy kill?"

"Would you just let up already?" Drizzt asked in frustration.

"You're planning something awful, I know it!" Lorien insisted, eyes narrowing.

Drizzt suddenly realised he was getting angry. This irritating elf would not leave off. He wanted to be paranoid? FINE. Drizzt pasted on a demonic grin. "Why... yes." He said with a low, dark laugh. "She is a shape changing demon from the blackest pit of the underdark, and she lives on the beating hearts of dying men. Guenhwyvar! Dark mistress, Guenhwyvar! I call you to FEED!" Thick mist swirled about them, and Lorien went a sickly grey.

Drizzt leaned toward Lorien and licked his lips. "She gets the hearts, but I get the rest."

The enormous black form of the panther materialised and Lorien shrieked. Drizzt rolled his eyes. He pointed to Lorien. "Guenhwyvar, KILL!"

She regarded Drizzt blandly.

Drizzt laughed so hard he had to sit down.

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When Lorien recovered enough nerve to bolt, she batted him down with one paw and held him there, sniffing at him.

Drizzt giggled. "It helps if you play dead. She might just chew a little."

Lorien went limp.

Guen regarded the room imperiously, and then lay down, still pinning the fair elf. Drizzt flung himself around the cat's neck and cried,"Guen! I love you!" She began to purr. Lorien began to cry. Drizzt pushed the cat's huge paw off the fair elf's back.

She flicked her ears in irritation.

"Come on, get up. I was only joking."

Lorien didn't move.

"Hey." Drizzt shook him. Nothing. Drizzt sighed. He slid off Guen's back and flipped the elf over, straddling him. Lorien had his eyes squeezed shut and was biting his lip. Drizzt gently slapped the side of his face. "Hey, shh, you're safe. She's just my pet, I was kidding around."

Lorien opened his eyes, saw Drizzt, squeaked and closed them again.

Drizzt sighed in exasperation. "Here," he said dragging the limp elf up and depositing him on to the cat. "Pet her."

Lorien jerked up, eyes wide. He was straddling the cat, and had his hands in her fur.

Drizzt knelt between her front paws, and wrapped his arms around her neck, and scratching deeply behind her ears. She nuzzled him, and licked the side of his face. He laughed. "See? Nice."

Lorien leapt off the cat and backed away, gasping, "How, how [/could/] you?"

Drizzt looked incredulous. "How could you be so blind and obsessed that you would believe such nonsense?"

Lorien looked to Alustriel for support. Several of the elves were frowning at Drizzt, but Elenril had covered his mouth with one hand and looked to be laughing.

Alustriel raised one eyebrow. "Time for you three to go to your room?"

Lorien blanched and sat down beside Drizzt. Drizzt picked up his hand and used it to pet the huge cat. "See? Niiiiice."

Lorien squeezed his eyes shut. "I want the dancers back." he said, mournfully.

"Dancers?" inquired Drizzt, straddling the cat and rubbing his face in her fur.

Lorien sighed, pitifully. "They were pretty, and fed me fruit."

"Mmmm." pondered Drizzt. "I like fruit." He slid off Guen and landed on his back beside Lorien. He laughed, and stuck out his hand. "Show me."

Lorien eyed his hand suspiciously. Drizzt grabbed him and hauled him up. He gave him a little push. "Go on. Fruit." Lorien eyed him, then turned and raced across the room.



The two elves dashed madly though the crowd grinning like idiots. They could see performers on floating rope on the far side. The feast table barred the way.

"Table!" screamed Lorien, dropping to his knees and skidding underneath it to the other side.

Drizzt snapped into a flying roll over the spray of lilies and two elderly elves. They both continued on without a pause.

"Eh," said one of the wizened elves. "Haven't seen that in years."

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Drizzt was buried in feathers. He didn't like them, they tickled his nose and made him sneeze.

"[/Why him/]?" wailed Lorien, from beneath a tray of fruit. "I'm nice! And I won't eat you!"

One of the feathers tittered. There was something attached to it. Drizzt jumped in horror and climbed to the table. A sparkling girl in a loincloth and two decorative coins caught his robe. "No, love, you'd best stay down here. With us." Her companions giggled. He went to pull her hand from his robe and it slipped. He stared at his hand. It was shiny.

The girl smiled. "It's the oil, love. It helps the glitter stick, and catches the light."

"Oil..." said Drizzt distantly. "I haven't been oiled in years." The girls shrieked with delight.

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"Here." said a pouting girl. "You do it. He won't let us touch him."

Lorien stared at the bottle of oil in bewilderment. "Um, no?" A feathered torso did a back-bend beside him and leaped up the hanging rope. "Wait! he cried. Don't leave [/now/]."



"Here." he said, thrusting the bottle at Drizzt. "Do it yourself!" Drizzt poured the scented oil into his palm with a slow fixation. He stared blankly at himself for a minute, unsure of what to do. Decisively, he slapped the palm full of oil to his bared chest and smeared.

"What are you doing?" cried Lorien. "You are going to [/ruin/] those robes! Take them [/off/]!" Drizzt stared at him, and Lorien jerked his robes from him, toppling him over. Drizzt yanked Lorien to the floor and tore his robe from his shoulders, flinging both garments onto the couples dining at the table nearby.

"If I am going to wear a loincloth," announced Drizzt, "so are you." The dancers stopped and applauded, catcalling rude suggestions to them.

Lorien gave an enraged huff and tossed the oil at Drizzt.

Drizzt slammed him to the floor and rubbed it off on him, but his hands slipped, and Lorien scrabbled toward the tray of fruit, smashing a handful of pineapple against Drizzt's collarbone and grinding it in. Drizzt's hands were too slick to be effective, and the fruit-filled hand made it's way to his face.

Drizzt grabbed the elf with his legs, snapping his body into a roll and pinning Lorien under him. He shoved his slick hands up the pale arms and pinned them down above them by the wrists. Little pieces of fruit rained down onto the thrashing light elf. The dancers tossed handfuls of sparkles at them with glee.

Drizzt narrowed his eyes, leaned forward and growled.

Lorien gasped and froze.

Drizzt dragged his eyes over the dishevelled elf's face and blinked. Inches from his nose were bits of pineapple, decorating the fair elf from eye to chin. He sniffed experimentally, and grinned, licking his lips.

Lorien's face went slack with disbelief.

Slowly, Drizzt leaned in and licked a trail up the side of Lorien's face, hooking a bit of fruit with his tongue and catching it with his teeth.

Lorien whimpered in shocked arousal and arched.

Drizzt leaned to lick a second bit from his cheek.

Lorien was beside himself. He couldn't help it, he had to catch the drow's open mouth in a deep kiss. Drizzt jerked against him in surprise, and Lorien moaned and ground up into him with his hips. The catcalls had evolved into all-out applause and cheers.



Drizzt lept backward in horror, scrambling against the table and wrenching the tablecloth over himself with a jerk. "Agh!" he exclaimed. A gravy tureen bounced to the floor and dashed him liberally with sauce, followed by a small topiary and several forks. "AGH!" he exclaimed, and rolled under the table.



"Gods!" said an elderly elf, "what a display!"

"Quite!" said another, " Alustriel has simply outdone herself with the show."


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Guenhwyvar perked up her ears at Drizzt's alarmed shouts, and snapped her tail. Rising to her feet, she swiftly padded through the intoxicated crowd, eliciting whispers of awe and alarm. The seats concealing Drizzt were vacated quite rapidly, and she batted them aside with a paw. The lilies, finally giving in, toppled from the mangled table and scattered as Guen slid herself under the table, snuffling her Drow.

"Guen!" he cried plaintively, "Oh Guen, I am so glad you are here!" He went to hug her, but she backed away, inspecting the mess that was her drow. She batted him out from under the table and sniffed at him, pushing him down with her nose and one great paw. Shivering with satisfaction, she began to lick the food and oil from his skin. Drizzt smiled and began to laugh with delight.

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"It appears you have been replaced..." One of the dancers whispered to Lorien archly. Despite being splayed half naked and covered in fruit, in a puddle of oil, he still managed to deliver a searing glare.

"Get up and dance!" heckled an elderly elf, "What are they paying you for?"

Lorien made an indignant noise and jerked to his feet, angrily wiping fruit and glitter from his skin. "Look at him!" he spat, " That perverted thing! Destroying the table, ruining my robes, disrupting the rites! He even brings some monstrous beast to help him!"

"Oh I'm looking..." said the dancer.

Drizzt was rolling on the scattered lilies, in his underwear, giggling, the enormous black panther purring and licking him head to toe. Lorien could not tear his eyes away. How dare this thing tear off his clothes and molest him! It was appalling! What if someone had seen...

"... and I think he looked a hell of a lot like that big panther when he was licking you."

Lorien stiffened uncomfortably and crossed his arms. "He started it," he said darkly. "Where is a servant? I need a wet cloth!" Snatching his robe, he stalked to the kitchen entrance.

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Drizzt hazily noticed the rather fascinated ring of heads that were chatting above him, and felt somewhat exposed and uncomfortable on the floor. Guenhwyvar had sat back with a purr. Drizzt looked at himself. He seemed cleaner, but he didn't like knowing he was covered in spit and glitter everywhere but his swimsuit. Drizzt smiled. That would be great right now, he should find one of those fountains.

He back-flipped up and ran a hand down Guen's head. "Hey, Guen- how about a swim?" She stood and headbutted him. He looked about to find the fountain, and blinked. There were people everywhere. Some were even avidly watching him. Suddenly Drizzt felt trapped and alarmed. This was bad. They could see him. That never ended well. He backed up, and bumped against the table. Something sharp poked his thigh. He blinked and stared at little wizened elves. "Why aren't you dancing?" said one, and poked his hip. "We've been waiting," said the other.

"What?" said Drizzt.

"On with the show!" wheezed the elderly elf, gesturing at the idling scantily clad dancers across the table. "Get back where you belong!"

Drizzt flinched. That, he was used to. He hurried around the table, with Guenhwyvar a sleek rippling shadow. He did not notice the fair figure easing his way along the wall.

Several dancers greeted him with squeals of delight, and Guenhwyvar with exclamations of awe.

The cat began an intense inspection of a feathered bodice, which swiftly shimmied up a nearby rope to spin by one leg. The spinning rope had the panther's complete attention, and she batted at the end sharply. This resulted in a tiny shriek from above.

Drizzt needed to distract his pet, they liked him here, and he didn't want to upset them.

"Here Guen!" he called, catching hold of a floating rope. Climbing the rope was nothing for the agile drow, and he ascended quickly, catching the rope between his legs and flipping his lithe sculpted form upside down.

He twitched the rope teasingly at his cat with a free hand, and swung above her in lazy circles. Guen whuffed at him, playfully smacking him back and forth with his paw.

Little cries of alarm sounded beside him, but he just laughed merrily and jackknifed his torso, sending himself in a wide spin, dodging her blows. His thick white hair whipped in a teasing arc past the big cat, and Guen growled playfully and lunged at him with her teeth.

Someone screamed.

Drizzt, thrashing evasively, caught the rope above his feet and swiftly untangled his legs, swinging them up and holding them out of her reach. Pulling himself higher with one arm, he launched himself off the rope with a delighted snarl and slammed into the lunging panther, knocking them both to the floor. They rolled to a stop with him straddling the cat, scratching her belly.



"Drizzt?" an alarmed voice enquired. He gazed up into Elenril's concerned face. "Is everything alright?"

Drizzt nodded. "Guen's here now, and she's playing with me." he replied happily, still scratching the now idle cat.

"Ah," said Elenril, struggling for words, "she is truly lovely, indeed. However... she may be a bit - intense - for this particular crowd. Having seen how," he cleared his throat, eyeing the ruined table, "masterfully you have handled Lorien, I feel you would be safe letting her... [/rest/] for a little while."

Drizzt stared at him with mournful eyes. "Drizzt, she can come out to play again, perhaps tomorrow. We will simply arrange for the use of one of the unused basement military halls." Elenril's eyes twinkled at him. He handed Drizzt his robe and bag. "We can even send Lorien with you," he added dryly, glancing behind them.

"Ok," Drizzt said softly, taking the bag. He stretched out, cuddling the large cat full length. Guenhwyvar snuffled and licked his shoulder. As he sent her away, he sunk to the floor in a haze of swirling mist. He gazed up at Elenril with a lost expression, his clothing forgotten at his side. Drizzt was impacted on both sides by feathers and pixie dust.

"Oh!" said the dancer, "you were so brave!"

From his other side, the trapeze girl exclaimed, "You saved my life! Tell us, what can we can do to thank you!"

Drizzt's expression had transformed from lost to horrified bafflement. Elenril struggled not to laugh, and made a muffled noise through his hand. "Well then," managed the fair elf finally, turning to leave, "I see you are well in hand. Have fun."



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Lorien caught Elenril by the arm as he passed. "Did you mean it?" he asked quietly, "About the unused halls?"

"Eavesdropping now as well, Lorien?" Elenril replied, glancing pointedly at his sleeve.

Lorien released him, stepping back and looking over at the drow. In frustration, he said "Why do you speak to me as if I have offended you? I have done nothing but comply to our hosts wishes and endeavour to keep my people and the good Lady safe, yet you seem to treat my devotions with disdain. What have I done to deserve this?"

Elenril paused, and looked at the young elf sadly. "I knew your father very well." He smiled, shaking his head. "I had always thought he was a fool." Lorien stiffened in anger, as Elenril continued. "No, I was wrong. I also admired him, and I still do - his free spirit and his playful ways were a lesson I had been unable to learn until now. This, I regret. I was too stiff, too obsessed with form and appearances. It took joy from my youth I will now never know, and kept our clan quite solitary from the outside world."

"You think I am nought but fool." stated Lorien coldly, hands curling to fists. "I remind you of my father, who you insult with disrespect."

"No, Lorien, you disappoint me. The one who reminds me of your father is Drizzt." He gestured to a fountain, where two dancers were leading the hesitant drow under the spray.

"In him, it as if all of the playfulness, innocence and joy of your father was beaten down and left under a rock. Watching it bloom out of such an unexpected source, untainted, is breathtaking. I do not believe, by his hesitation and fear, he has ever been fully so until this night. Well, "he chuckled, "perhaps with the cat."

Lorien made a noise of disgust. "See how he shames our festival!" Lorien snarled. "He should be removed. He does not belong. That - monster he brought ... Alustriel trusts him, she will be harmed, and I will not allow it. Can you not see the wolf in your midst?"

Elenril stared at him sadly. Finally. he sighed and looked away.

"I had hoped his revelations would inspire your own this night, Lorien. It would be good for you. It is not your father you remind me of, it is myself, years ago." Lorien was staring at the fountain. Elenril reached out and gently turned his head back to him. "Open your heart, child. Find joy."

Lorien smiled tightly. "Why don't you show me where these old military halls are, and we will see."

Elenril glanced at the ceiling. This youth made him feel as if he had a cold stone in his belly, and it wouldn't leave. He would take his own advice, at least.

"It has been mentioned to Ahrec. Find him, and he will take you."

The older elf made his way to the fountain.


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The little crowd parted to reveal a lithe, smiling drow and two young women in wet loincloths dancing happily in the fountain, under the spray. It was disorienting, seeing something deadly, a thing of nightmares, embody the sweetness that so many of his people so admired. It made him wonder about the nature of souls. If he had been through what this strange creature had, would he be still so pure inside? Elenril was sure that it would not be so. It made him ache.





Lorien watched the drow, wet and glistening, dance to the soft, rhythmic music. Drizzt's muscled form moved like liquid, slender and impossibly graceful. He twined about the centrepiece and slithered, spiralling, back down. Something in the back of his mind and belly was seething at a low burn whenever he looked at the drow, and it was slowly driving him mad. He could not stand the feeling a moment longer. He would break open all of the dark secrets in front of him. He would vindicate himself in the eyes of Elenril, and prove his worth. And it looked as if he would have to do it alone.

He went to find Ahrec.


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Drizzt slid down the sculpture into the pool.

"We must go," said the dancer, regretfully.

"We should really be working..." said the trapeze girl, reaching over the side for her abandoned feathers. The position exposed her wet thighs and backside, and the loincloth was reduced to a thin silk rope between her cheeks. Drizzt snapped his head in the other direction, embarrassed. He was glad he was sitting in the water, the view was having an effect.

"Goodbye, Drizzt." A soft voice called behind him. He looked tentatively over his shoulder at the approaching performers. "Don't worry, we won't touch you. We remember." The girls blew two air kisses on either side of his face and departed, giggling. Drizzt tried to shake vivid image of the bending girl from his mind. He slicked his hair back from his face with both hands and leaned back. A face swam into view. "Elenril?" Drizzt smiled.

"Indeed it is." said the fair elf. "What have you gotten up to here? You seem to have an unending knack for discovering ways to entertain yourself... and everyone else." Elenril eyed the thick cluster of guests about the fountain, all of whom seemed to be busy with each other, despite constant veiled glances toward the drow. "Oh," said Drizzt, "just myself now, really, they had to work."

"Ah- yes, of course, the girls." He cleared his throat. "I assume this was your request? Whatever compelled you to...play...in the fountain?" Asked Elenril, his eyes twinkling. Several of the guests behind him tittered.

"Well, Lorien mashed fruit and oil all over me, so I was sticky. And then when I realised I was in the swimsuit he gave me, it just seemed really appealing." He swished his hands in the water, watching the ripples. "I thought it was odd to swim in the fountains when he told me about it, but now I am pleased that he did."

"Swimsuit?" Asked Elenril, bewildered.

Drizzt looked at him, confused, and pulled up the corner of his wet loincloth, gesturing at it. Laughter rippled around the crowd, and Drizzt began to look unhappy.

"It isn't for swimming, is it?" Drizzt mumbled into his lap. He pulled up his knees. A group behind Elenril began joking about what kind of show they would get once the wet loincloth came off, and then began placing bets for if it would be with an elf or the panther. "Did you see him snarl before?" Asked one. "I wonder if he bites?" giggled another.

Elenril was biting his cheek. He had noticed how insecure the drow was.

"Drizzt..." he said. The drow had somewhat curled in on himself, and wouldn't look up. Elenril steeled himself.

"Of course it is." The fair elf stood on the edge of the fountain and dropped his robe, stepping delicately into the pool. "Why, it's been a while since I enjoyed a good fountain." He turned behind himself. "Why don't one of you illustrious mages add a bubble charm, or some lights, so that we can all enjoy the fountain like Drizzt is?"

There was an odd silence. A very tiny, very wobbly wizard teetered out from the crowd, stuffing his pockets with cutlery.

"Oh yes!" he squeaked. "Let me! Merriodoc of Lintz is...is..." He gleefully began to climb up the side of the fountain and peel off his clothes. He managed to get himself halfway onto the lip of the pool before falling in headfirst.

"I can charm it." said Drizzt shyly to the elf before him, and closed his eyes. Suddenly, the pool shimmered with moving purple lights, as if flames rode the water and followed it's flow. "Faerie fire!" gasped Elenril. Surprised whispering spread behind him. The tiny mage untangled himself, started in surprise at the flames, and fell back in.

"Is it good? I've never done it to water before." exclaimed Drizzt, watching the scintillating fountain with delight. "Yes- yes Drizzt, it is. It's beautiful." he said smiling, lowering himself to sit beside the drow. Several other guests approached the water and splashed at it. One older elven couple lifted their hems and hesitantly placed their feet in the pool, laughing privately to each other. "There you go." said Elenril, smiling. "I said you would help this crowd loosen up, did I not?"

Suddenly, the fountain foamed with floating rainbow bubbles, catching the air and swirling about the guests. The butterflies and pearls from before mingled in, and each time a bubble popped, it made a small chime. The crowd broke out in scattered applause, and the tiny mage shouted with accomplishment, three silver spoons clenched in one fist. "Drizzt Do'Urden!" he exclaimed, fumbling waist deep in his robe. "Drizzt Do 'Urden, we must speak!"



"I am afraid he has other plans," said Lorien, from the side, holding up a set of keys. "Come Drizzt, I have arranged for a safe place for you to bring your panther out to play, just you, her and I. Elenril suggested it, He felt it would make you more comfortable, and keep everyone safe."

"Oh!" said Drizzt, turning to Elenril, eyes sparkling. "Thank you!"

"Damn! Who bet on both?" said someone from the crowd.

Elenril watched carefully as Drizzt sleekly lept from the pool and followed Lorien . He hoped his honesty with the young moon elf had given Lorien a reason to rethink his attitudes, and it appeared to have worked to a degree.

"Why hello," said Lady Alustriel from behind him, her dress looped up over her arm, "fancy meeting you here." Elenril turned in surprise to regard the regal woman, standing barefoot in her fountain. They both laughed.



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"Where is the bag for Guenhwyvar?" asked Drizzt, as they turned down an even darker passageway. The wet drow shivered.

"Don't concern yourself. I had Ahrec take care of everything, it should all be waiting," Lorien replied, sparing him a glowing red glance. It was good that they both had infra-vision, the passages were getting smaller and blacker with the descent.

Drizzt stopped to finger an old axe mark in the stone.

Lorien paused and stepped up beside him. "The lower floors are part of an older building, long destroyed. It hasn't been used down here in quite some time, and is mainly for storing weapons, as I understand. Perhaps that was remnants of a siege."

Drizzt turned to him, eyes glowing the same violet in the dark as they did in the light. He still had a perfect, tiny bubble caught in his hair. When Lorien reached out to touch it, it broke.



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Soon enough, a warm glow caught Drizzt's eye. The wall torches had been lit in the wide hall, which had extreme signs of disuse. There was a large fireplace, and hooks with weapons along the walls. The walls were lined with crates and barrels, and old tools and broken axles were piled against them. There were a few tables, one with a tray of food, and several adjoining rooms. Lorien walked to the doorways and smiled. One room held two fresh beds and a bathing area. One held old barrels and rotting fabric. The third was a long hall.

"This appears to be where they threatened to move us if we became antisocial," mused Lorien.

Drizzt had climbed the boxes and was fingering the weapons. "This reminds me of the hall that I trained in, in the underdark," said Drizzt.

Lorien watched him, his eyes lost in shadow. "There must be many things you never speak of from that time."

Drizzt ran his hand along a rusted pike. "Yes." he replied softly.

Lorien approached him slowly, silently. "Things you are afraid to speak of."

Drizzt turned from the wall and looked at his knees, twisting the damp fabric of his undergarment between his fingers.

The torches flickered orange-gold reflections off the drops of water on his inky skin and caught the whites of his eyes. His hair looked as gold as the light elf's in the firelight. The room was warm and secret, a hidden place, outside of the world. The velvet dark closed around them both, making the hall seem close and intimate.

He couldn't see Lorien's eyes. The firelight illuminated a nimbus of gold around the light elf, leaving his face in blackness.

"I..." said Drizzt, "yes." He was reminded of the years he spent alone in a single hall, and suddenly felt very small.

Lorien approached him. One pale finger slid idly down Drizzt's bared abdomen. "Why do you have these scars?"

Drizzt's stomach twitched. "It was my sister. She... caught me... chained me. It was a punishment, I thought it would never end."

"Why did she punish you?"

Drizzt curled up and clung to his legs. "For many things. Because I betrayed my people, because I wouldn't submit. Once," Drizzt looked at his knees, "because I refused to ... service... her." Drizzt's voice was very quiet.

Lorien stared at the drow in disgust. The more he heard about these drow, the worse it got. "Your sister?" he asked incredulously.

Drizzt wouldn't look at him. Drizzt realised he was still talking, but it sounded far away.

"I cannot bear to be chained... after... she just kept peeling the flesh off me with her little knives and laughing... the healing potions making it all grow back again..."

Lorien smiled, too close. He leaned in and smelled Drizzt's skin. "Sometimes, I can taste your shame."

Drizzt closed his eyes.

"Tell me." Lorien was very close, insistent. His voice was soft. "Whatever things cannot see the light of day, tell me now."

The silence stretched between them.

"Who was it you begged for forgiveness?"

Drizzt felt the weight of every wrong choice folding him into himself until he thought he would choke.

Drizzt inhaled unsteadily, staring with wide eyes blinded by flames. "A light elf. A woman."

"Why?" The voice was close, seductive, sliding into places it shouldn't in the cover of darkness.

"She - we - " Drizzt took a shaky breath."They died." he whispered.

"What did you do? Tell me." The voice was sharp now, pressing.

Drizzt felt ropes of fear and silence loosening inside him. He didn't want to hide any more, he wanted to purge and be clean.

"It was a surface raid."

A harsh sound broke the silence at Drizzt's feet, and then it was gone. Drizzt continued his whispered confession to the dark. "They always told me light elves were evil.

They - I don't remember most of the years. I spent them on my knees, my eyes on the floor. But when they did talk to me, they were very clear. Light elves were evil, and were the cause of my pain. When they would whip me," Drizzt slipped his head into his hands, " I would beg for a light elf to die."

The voice was hard as stone, and thick with rage. "What. Did. You. Do."

"It was at the end of drow warrior training, when we made a long and dangerous trip to the surface, to show our strength, to prove our skill. To seek revenge."

A moment of heavy silence hung between them. "They brought us to the surface to see the horror of the sky. I thought it was beautiful. They did not. They were eager to find our reviled enemies, the surface elves. We crept up slowly, weapons drawn, in the dark. It - I thought it was beautiful - a shining glade in the dark forest, glowing with light. They were laughing. Dancing. There were women and children, and..."

"Get down."

"What?"

"Get off that crate and get on the floor."

Drizzt climbed down in confusion, the sudden blow catching him by surprise. He knew the fair elf was before him, but he hadn't expected it.

"You piece of filth. You vile, disgusting.." There was a choked noise, and a shove. "Go." Another push.

Drizzt wasn't sure how to respond. He had no intent to fight the light elf, and felt such revulsion for himself at that moment, he wasn't sure if he could bring himself to if needed.

He went. He was pushed once toward the door which led to a corridor, and went unresisting into the dark, toward uncertain absolution. He was unaware of his feet, or the chill on his wet skin. There was just the invading voice, the dark, and the shame. They walked.

Lorien had brought a torch, and the light stopped his eyes from adjusting, leaving them isolated in a pool of unending black. Suddenly, there was a door.

'Go," said the voice.

Drizzt went.

There were torches - Lorien turned to light them. Drizzt stood beside a single table and stool. A long-dry water barrel, and a stunning array of steel and leather restraints, some bolted to stone walls, were all that decorated the room. Drizzt felt a dark twisting in his belly and forced the feeling down.

"What are we doing here?"

"What you deserve." Lorien's face broke from the shadows. It had been reformed by the sculpting of rage, and was sharp and terrible. "Kneel."

Drizzt felt lost, outside of himself. Images of the times he spent in chains flashed through him. Memories of Vierna, of his mother, of the long, bleak, unending silence of the underdark crowded in. This is what he had fled, coming to the surface, to live out his days reviled and alone. He wanted - oh gods how he wanted- to pay what ever dark fee was due for his race, and have the chance to be near his light brethren. It was a forgiveness he could neither expect or ever deserve.

Drizzt felt like the world was shifting, like there was not enough air. He looked up into Lorien's eyes.They were hot and burning stars in a landscape of stone. He had never seen hatred so clear and pure from a being of light, just for him. He felt baptised by this burning rage before him, as if all his sordid past and regrets could burn away in it's fire.

Drizzt was hyperventilating. He fell to his knees.

With a heady rush Drizzt knew Lorien wouldn't disappoint him, wouldn't give up, and wouldn't turn him away. His bleak waiting was over. An angel of Justice was before him, and his dark penance would finally be meted out as utterly and completely as he deserved. He wanted to thank him, he knew he should, but he couldn't speak.


A muffled moan broke the long stretch of silence from behind him as Drizzt's knees hit the dusty stone. He heard the rasp of metal, and something softer. He did not raise his eyes. Lorien approached and something unfurled above his head.

"Raise your arms." said the voice.

With a slow, sickening curl of apprehension, Drizzt reached above his head. The grim sound of steel clasps snapping shut graced the sudden cold of steel on his wrists, and he jerked, violently.

"No." he said, horror filling him, "Nononono." He moaned like a wounded animal.

He stumbled backward, half standing, clawing on his wrists, jerking on the chains that ran all the way to the stone above.

He could not breathe. There was not enough air, he knew he was gasping but his vision swam with black dots. The room tilted and he fell to his knees.



A familiar hiss broke into his terror, followed by a line of fire across his back.



He sucked in a violent breath of air and held it as he arched back, in the shock of pain. His eyes were wide and, in a moment, his vision cleared. He grasped the chains with his hands and held himself desperately in the here and now. The sound of the whip echoed in the small room.

He thought he could handle this. He was wrong.



"Tell me!" the voice raged, "What did you do to them!"

The lines of fire on his back crossed, multiplied. He cried out. He deserved this. He knew he did. It was the least of what he deserved. Better penitent at a light elf's feet than a murderer at his mother's side in hell.

"I... I watched. I knew it was wrong the moment I saw them. I had been prepared to do battle for the good of my people, but from the first second they broke apart screaming, I knew the only monsters there were us." His back was a white sea of pain, and he was babbling and couldn't stop. "I watched, I watched them cut them down like helpless farm animals, and I knew everything I had been told was a lie. I couldn't even stop them, there were too many of us, and to fight my military team was useless suicide."

"Liar!" screamed Lorien. "You enjoyed it. I saw you, I saw you fucking yourself while you thought about it!"

The next blow took the voice from his throat, and he felt something wet drip on his calves. "No!" he choked. "I didn't. I swear to all the Gods I did not enjoy it."

The whip bounced against the wall with a wet slap, and a rough hand jerked back his head by the hair. "Who were you apologising to?"

Drizzt stared at the ceiling, but all he could see was the memory. "A f-female elf. I do not know her name. She ran straight at me, screaming. My brother ran her through, and she died in front of me looking into my eyes."

"And you pictured her this past morning, didn't you? Was it satisfying? It certainly did the trick." The hand jerked his head violently as the words were hissed in his ear.

Drizzt was utterly humiliated, and nauseous. His face felt wet, and his voice came out strange. "No! I remembered it at the ...end. I don't know why, I hated it. I...wanted...to imagine what it would be like to b-be with a woman." The hand in his hair went slack.

The voice barked a laugh above him. "You've never...?" His head was jerked back again. "Why would you picture that you sick fuck?"

Drizzt closed his eyes and choked back a pained sound. "They were talking about doing things to them, taking prisoners, for...pleasure. When my brother was standing over her body, he," Drizzt made another choked sound, "he was aroused."

Lorien shoved Drizzt's head away from him with a noise of disgust. Drizzt was hanging limply in his chains, head bowed, and helplessly crying. Words poured out as if from a lanced wound.

"Drow males submit, they have no choice over who they bed and when. On the surface, they could suddenly do whatever they chose to women, and they went mad with the thrill of it. I...wanted to know what it would be like to be in control, I tried to picture it, but I couldn't, I couldn't and I am so afraid that if I ever did, it would be like that, and I shouldn't ever be with a woman, because I don't know what would happen if I gave in to the desire."

Lorien was silent. That sounded like Drizzt actually cared about people, and that wasn't at all what he wanted to hear. He wanted the truth.

"Tell me what you were apologising for."

"I was there."

"Is that all? And you did nothing? The whole time?" Lorien asked mockingly.

Drizzt balled his hands into fists above him. He spoke brokenly through his hair. "There was a little girl."

"Ah. Finally," the voice sneered.

"She ran, screaming, to the woman at my feet. I could tell that it was her mother. No drow would cry for their mother like that. Drow children know better than to expect more than blood and pain. It was wrong. It was all so wrong. It was a sickening massacre." He shuddered. "They were all watching me, they had seen her. I couldn't make a mistake. I threw her down and slashed open her shirt with my blades."

Lorien made a sound of horror. It was worse than anything he had imagined.

Drizzt continued brokenly. "I smeared her with her mothers blood...while shoving her under the dead body. To - to hide her. It was all I could...do not to kill my brother. It was the day I learnt the true face of my people... and I wanted nothing more than to be wiped from the face of the earth."

...

Wait. That wasn't right.

He saved someone? He had done nothing yet was filled with shame?

Lorien didn't know what to do. It was not at all what he had expected to hear, and he had the creeping, uncomfortable feeling that he had made a very, very, bad choice, yet again. The drow was at his feet, and wounded, and he didn't even have a key.



Lorien struggled for a handhold. There must be [/something/]. "What was the worst thing you have done?"

"I killed a drow to escape. I fought to live, and killed to save myself. I have brought pain to those who have harboured me. People have died for being near me when others attack me for my skin. Entire families wiped out by those that hunt me. My presence is a curse to those I care for, and yet I wish to be near them. I damn those I love by living."



Oh no. That was not what he expected at all.
Lorien was beginning to panic. This might be the biggest mistake he had ever made, and he did not know how to hide what he had done. He grabbed the restraints and clawed at the latch, futilely. Drizzt groggily brought his tear stained face up to see. Lorien slid his hands down Drizzt's arms. "Hey, uh, how are your arms, still ok?"



Drizzt stared at him in confusion.



Lorien knelt in front of him and nervously ran his fingers through Drizzt's wildly dishevelled hair, smoothing the damp locks back from his blank face. What was he going to do? He had to turn this into something else, and he had to do it now. He wiped his thumbs under the drow's eyes. You couldn't see the tracks, could you? No-one could tell...



Drizzt gazed at the elf in front of him with absolute bafflement. He looked worried, and was touching him in ways people didn't. It felt wonderful, and he was rung out like a damp rag. He whimpered.

Lorien started. The drow was leaning into his touch like an abandoned dog. He was bare, chained, and appeared utterly broken. Better yet, they were completely alone. He bit his lip.

Impulsively, he went to pull the drow up by reaching around under his arms. Drizzt made a strangled noise of pain and Lorien jerked back, his hand wet with blood. He swallowed.

Shit. Shit, shit. They could incarcerate him.

Lorien wondered if Drizzt would try to kill him.

He stepped between Drizzt's knees and searched his eyes. They were shining and wild. He looked completely strung out.

"I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I will do anything for it." Drizzt begged.

Lorien paused, watching him carefully. What the hell.

"You said you were afraid of what would happen if you were with a woman and in control," he leaned in, his face close to Drizzt's ear, and whispered, "so right now there's nothing to be afraid of."
He ran his hands slowly down Drizzt's neck and torso. Drizzt shivered and jerked, blinking at him through dishevelled strands of thick hair with wide eyes.



"So," said Lorien, kneeling before him, "you wanted to be punished for you sins. Did I do a good job?"

Drizzt was speechless.

"Now I, uh, should make you feel better again, shouldn't I?"

Drizzt looked frightened.

"After all, we can't have anyone say I've been a bad host."

Drizzt stared at him.

Lorien pulled him to his feet, carefully.

"Don't... you hate me? For all I have done?" Drizzt asked, unsteadily.

"No, no, you've um, paid your dues and I forgive you. Yes. Forgiveness from a light elf. Right here."

Drizzt fell back to his knees with a choked sob. He shook helplessly.

"Shit," said Lorien, and kissed him.



Drizzt didn't know what he was feeling anymore. He expected the pain, but not the forgiveness. It was the ground under every dark room of regret and despair, his unspoken driving need. That his people's most hated enemy see him for what he was and still grant him absolution. He was floating in pain, but he was being touched too, touched so gently and carefully, in ways he desperately wanted from someone, anyone, yet thought he would never be. He opened his mouth to the soft lips against him and sunk into the deep pool of sensation.



Lorien felt Drizzt's mouth open, his body opening to him like a sigh. Unbelievably, the drow was actually submitting, and it gave him a bone-jarring thrill. Desire washed over him in ascending waves. He pulled the drow up and guided him to the table, dragging it behind him and pushing him up onto it, sitting.

Drizzt's hands could now almost reach his thighs. He grasped the chains near his face, wrapping tight fists into the steel.

Lorien slid a slow hand down Drizzt's chest and began kissing his neck, nipping at the skin and sliding his tongue slowly toward his ear.

Drizzt was beginning to feel strange, his skin was tingling, and a slow rush was climbing up from his spine toward his brain. It made him dizzy, and it made him burn.

The lips reached his ear, along with the teeth, and he bucked up with his arms, making a whimpering noise.

The movement sent a wave of pain across his back, and Lorien ran his nails down his abdomen and sucked. A flash of dark, brutal, lust shot through the drow, and he bucked slightly with a pained moan.

Lorien licked his way back to Drizzt's mouth, and this time, the drow kissed him back savagely.

He grabbed Drizzt's legs and jerked him to the edge of the table, pressing their torsos tight together. Desperately, he clawed off his robe and let it fall behind him, never breaking the kiss. He slid his hands up and down Drizzt's lithe, sculpted legs and thighs, making the drow catch a short, small whimper in his throat with each laboured breath. Dark legs curled around him and he moaned brokenly into Drizzt's mouth.

Their hips pressed together, and he could feel the hard line of Drizzt's arousal pressing against his own. He grabbed his hips and ground against him.

Drizzt broke the kiss with a strangled gasp. Lorien curled his tongue up over his lip and began to thrust. Drizzt dropped his weight onto his arms at the sensation and then abruptly arched, hissing in pain with teeth bared at the pain in his back. Lorien thrust again and Drizzt froze, shaking, arms tensed and knuckles white. Lorien caught his neck on the other side and sucked.

Drizzt was taut as a bowstring, shaking, breathing in sharp, staccato breaths.

Lorien tore at the knots of silk at their hips, and pulled the fabric free, leaving them both completely bare. He spat into his hand and grabbed both of their lengths in one grip.

As he jacked his hand fiercely, Drizzt's eyes rolled up in his head, and he pulled his entire weight onto his arms with a guttural snarl.



Lorien almost stopped in shock. How could he handle that kind of pain? Most people would barely be able to move their arms, in his state.

Drizzt snapped a narrow, burning gaze into Lorien's eyes, and jerked their hips together with his legs. It was all Lorien could do not to come on the spot. He grabbed Drizzt's hip roughly with one hand and slammed his hips into his fist in time with Drizzt's thrusts.

Drizzt was making rough, animalistic noises through clenched teeth.



Lorien ran his eyes down the taut chains, the steel-wrapped fists, the bent, muscled arms.

Drizzt's pain-addled gaze cut through wet strips of thick white hair, and Lorien felt the searing charge gather in his groin. He slid his eyes down the flexed muscles of Drizzt's chest and abdomen, twisting and writhing in a slow, violent display. His arm was pressed along the length of one hard thigh, his hand digging into the rhythmically clenching buttocks. His other was -Lorien moaned- clenched around the dark, silky cock sliding roughly against his own.

He twisted his open fist as he jerked it, catching both sides of their cocks instead of just one, and slid his thumb over the weeping tips. He began to jerk uncontrollably at the sensation, and leaned forward into the drow, no longer thinking or feeling anything at all.

He came violently, slamming against Drizzt, face pressed firmly into Drizzt's neck.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For a moment there was nothing but heat and the hard form pressed against him. Then Lorien felt something wet making his hand slip on Drizzt's hip. His blasted mind snapped back again, sharp. He pulled back to look. His hand was covered in blood. He let go in shock. Drizzt fell, shaking, against the table. It was flowing down from the deep gash on Drizzt's back.

"I...uh..." said Lorien, frightened and unsure.

Drizzt moaned desperately, clinging to the chains, still shaking, and still painfully hard.

Lorien swallowed.

Drizzt made a pained sound, and begged, hoarsely, "... Please ... " Without the fair elf's touch to balance it, the searing pain in his back was overwhelming him, and beginning to black out his vision.

Lorien dropped to his knees. He licked his lips nervously. "Have you ever ...?" he made a suggestive motion with his mouth and hand.

Drizzt gave him a bleary, confused look. "What?"

Lorien grinned, suddenly feeling more confident. He slid his hands up Drizzt's thighs, took the tip of his cock into his mouth, and sucked. Drizzt bucked, and the crisp sound of the chains snapping tight sounded above him. Lorien swirled his tongue around the tip and slowly inched the shaft past his lips, all the way down. One lithe leg wound itself around his back, and the other found its way over his shoulder. Drizzt's mouth had dropped open, and his top lip twitched.

Lorien swallowed around the length of him, and then slid his head back up and began to pump with his mouth and free hand.

Drizzt was making short, helpless cries above him. Lorien smiled around the shaft and hummed.



Drizzt had pulled nearly his full weight onto his arms, and was jerking into the wet, hot, suction in front of him. He could not believe the intense sensation he was receiving from the mouth of the sculpted moon elf. He had no idea the elf could do these obscene things to him with his lips and tongue. He would never be able to look at his face the same way again.



The white, hot pleasure in his front mirrored the mind-numbing pain in his back, and transformed it. With every jerk on the chains, the pain shot straight to the sensations in his cock and made them stronger. With every wet pull of that hot, sucking mouth, the pain became something else, made him strong instead of weak, became an electric rush of pleasure that made his whole form one blazing arc of need. It felt like a sound, growing louder and louder, was echoing through him, aiming for that one, perfect note.

He cried out and thrashed, teeth clenching shut, and began snarling gutturally, snapping his hips violently into the shocked elf's mouth.

White light exploded behind his eyes and he arched, shooting hot steams of come into his now choking companion.

He whimpered, spasming, as Lorien recovered and set him down with a slow, erotic lick up his belly.

Drizzt could no longer feel his body, and fell limply towards the floor, swinging by nerveless arms.

Lorien stood wiped his mouth, watching the drow with awe.

"See?" said Lorien," I said I would make you feel better again, didn't I?" He picked up his robe and shrugged it on, raising his eyes to see Lady Alustriel and Ahrec standing stunned in the doorway, holding Drizzt's things.

"Lorien," said Lady Alustriel, slowly, "what...why do you have blood on your face?"

Lorien started and looked down at his hands. He seemed to have wiped his face with the bloody hand. "Oh! Oh. Don't worry, none of the blood is actually mine."

Alustriel covered her mouth with both hands. She stared at them both in horror.

"I uh, don't, um, have a key for those, and I was hoping you might ... actually, do you have a healing potion?"

Alustriel shoved passed him with a scream and ran to Drizzt. With a soft whispered word the cuffs fell open, and he collapsed to the floor, displaying the wreckage of his back.

"OH!" she cried in horror, "Oh, Drizzt, oh gods, I can see your ribs..."

Lorien stared. He hadn't actually looked at it yet, he had no idea it was so bad. "Go get washcloths!" she screamed at them. Ahrec was already gone. Lorien backed out of the doorway and fled to the bathroom.



Alustriel cradled Drizzt's cheek with her hand. "Drizzt, a simple healing spell will not be enough to knit this wound. I will have to use one specifically to close wounds, and that will not help at all with all the rest of these. We can give you a potion for the rest." She whispered softly to him, running a hand across the grisly welts on his back.
Drizzt shuddered, and looked up at her. "Do it again," he whispered, and kissed her, threading one hand through her hair. She broke away from him with a gasp and he pulled her head back down to a slow, languorous kiss. He drew back and looked deep into her eyes with an intense stare. "I want you to touch me." He ran smoking eyes over her face, and then kissed her, hard. He moved his lips to the side of her face. "I want you to touch me, and I want it to hurt," he growled in her ear.

She stared back at him, shocked. "But I wouldn't mind getting that closed up first." He said, with a look of pain.

Quickly, she closed the deep, bloody gash in his side.

Drizzt's vision cleared, and his pain eased to a tolerable degree. "No more potions." he said. She laughed tearfully at him. "Then let me..."

"No," interrupted Drizzt, "It's fine." And rose gingerly to his feet. Belatedly, he realised he was naked. He covered the pertinent parts with his hands and cleared his throat. "Have you seen my...?"

Lorien, now clean, stepped into the room with several wet cloths and a towel.

"Oh good!" He said. "You're up! Here, let's clean you - hey! She did fix you." He began efficiently running the cloths over Drizzt's ravaged back, as the drow jerked and clenched his teeth in pain.

"Get away from him!" Alustriel cried.

"Hey, it's alright, if you know what I mean," said Lorien, throwing her a wink and attempting to slide the cloth around Drizzt's hip to the front. Drizzt grabbed his hand and took the cloth, shoving the elf away. Alustriel turned around in embarrassment and Drizzt finished himself and then fished for his underwear.

Lorien handed him his robe and bag. "Here, they finally brought your things-" Drizzt snatched them from him with a hard look.

"Gods, it's always the same, once they've been in your mouth they turn into assholes," drawled Lorien snottily.

"Shut up!" snarled Drizzt, confused and stinging with humiliation.

Alustriel turned and gaped at them.

"Well, if you still have something better for my mouth to be doing..."

"Fuck you!"

"Too late, sweetheart."

Drizzt covered his face and made choked, indignant noises.

Lorien smiled sweetly at Alustriel and batted his eyes. "Our little wildcat is grumpy, we should get him to bed. Mine would be fine, but he would absolutely love yours."

Drizzt made a strangled sound of rage and grabbed Lorien by the back of the head, slamming him back against the wall. "Why are you doing this to me?" He choked.

Lorien carefully eyed Alustriel. She was blushing, uncomfortable, and what appeared to be unhappily jealous. To his relief, his earlier mistake seemed to be well concealed. Lorien smirked and then ground his hips into Drizzt with a dirty smile.

Drizzt released him with a sound of outrage and stalked from the room.

Lorien's mocking laughter followed him.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ahrec met them on the stairs, seemingly less ruffled now that no worse scenario could be expected. Alustriel still would not look at either of them, and they walked in silence. It bewildered Drizzt, how he had managed to get into this situation. The disturbing and darkly shocking experience in the the dungeon room had left him feeling more clear headed than he had been since the potion had kicked in, nearly a day before. Perhaps it was the healing, or blood loss, but his swooning confusion was gone. He was finding it difficult to ponder the experience, and was not sure if he wanted to. He had let - no - even begged - for this manipulative elf who seemed to hate him to take something he had not been willing to give even to his closest and most loved companions, and he felt unspeakably stained.

Lorien was sending him quick, nervous, glances- likely wondering if Drizzt would expose his shameless deception to Alustriel. Drizzt could see that Alustriel was uncomfortable with walking in on what she believed was a sordid, private scene between consenting, if disturbed, adults. The thought gave him pause. He did not recall consenting at all. In fact, both the drug and the chains were inflicted on him by trickery. As for what followed, it was neither expected or desired by him either - he was well into the realms of self loathing and desperation before it became something of a mutual act. Drizzt shied from the ugly memory of where his mind had been by that point. His hands curled tightly into fists, and he felt the cold edge of a slow, growing rage.

"I wanted to know the truth of surface elves," Drizzt spoke quietly into the dark, twisting stairway, " I wanted to learn the ways of the goodly races.." He laughed bitterly. "I have found that they bear a stunning kinship to the drow."

Alustriel paused and turned fully back to him from an upper stair, her magical light bathing his stiff form in an indistinct red glow.

Lorien shot him a single, fear filled glance before worriedly eyeing Alustriel's suddenly intent form above them. Ahrec paused a few steps above and began to fidget once again.

Drizzt turned, restraining himself with trembling, fisted hands, and glared with cold fury at the shaking elf. A wave of stark terror convulsed across Lorien's face as his back struck the cold stone wall.

"Drizzt," intoned Alustriel, warningly, "whatever issues you have may best be left for sobriety. My healing may have centred you, but do not doubt that you are still quite intoxicated - the Gods only know how much after what the both of you had ingested. You are obviously unsafe to leave alone together, and I truly fear whatever unresolved demons you two will dig out of your minds to play with next. I will not judge you for tonight but I do not even know what to say to you both on what I had just seen. You will follow me, and will not leave my sight until festival's end."

Drizzt allowed a low, threatening growl to release the pending violence crawling through him, inches from Lorien's petrified face. It was a great act of will for him to turn and follow the lady, and he did not look at Lorien again.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Lady?" Asked Ahrec nervously, "Are you sure...?"

Alustriel gestured dismissively. "You know the arrangements for the remainder of today. Be sure they are done as planned. The festival is well in motion, and my presence is unneeded for some time." She turned, closing the drapes on the invading sunlight. "Be gone. I will summon you when there is need."

Ahrec shot one last, cautious glance toward the tense males, backed in opposite corners of the sitting room, and shut the door behind him. Lorien lowered himself into a plush, ivory chair with a shaky breath, his eyes not leaving the stiff drow. Drizzt did not move, but kept his arms crossed before him and his eyes on the floor. The tension in the room was tangible and oppressive. Alustriel sighed.

"Drizzt?"

He nodded once in recognition, but did not look up.

Alustriel waited, silently, for a few moments, then cleared her throat uncomfortably.

"Perhaps I should leave you two alone for a moment. I did...interrupt." She said gently. "I will be in my room, making preparations to sleep, and will return shortly." She eased from the room in a breath of silver silk, and shut the door softly.





"I...am sorry I broke your skin, I did not realise the blow was so hard." Lorien tried edgily. "I did not intend it to be so."

Drizzt did not respond.

"It was fun though, I mean, you obviously got off on it, right? I mean, you practically threw yourself at me in your underwear in the hall, didn't you? Not so many elves would be so understanding of a drow walking up and tearing their clothes off as I was,"

"Stop." Drizzt's voice was hoarse. "Just, stop." Drizzt sunk to the floor, and brought his knees up, resting his arms on them and hiding his face. "What do you want from me?" He asked despairingly.

"I-" Lorien paused. His mouth worked, but nothing came out. He shrugged helplessly.

Drizzt made a miserable, wet sound.

Lorien stared at him, incredulously. "Tell me you aren't crying."

Drizzt sniffed, and laughed. "Would you prefer me angry? Because I am doing everything in my power to avoid thinking about how badly I wanted to kill you on the stairwell." He shoved his hands in his hair and raised hard violet eyes to the light elf's face. The dampness on his face did nothing to diminish the sheer rage in his expression. "I expected to go hunting boar with my friends. I didn't ask to be here, I didn't want to be drugged. I cannot bear to be chained. And I NEVER asked you to..." His voice caught and he looked away.



Lorien stared at him, then frowned. He sneered tauntingly. "I have apologised for the whipping, but you cannot deny a part of you seemed to enjoy it. Even wish for it. If you are so 'pure hearted' then why the oozing shame? I responded to your obvious guilt and you accepted the blows as due. You should thank me. I am sure there is something you had done to deserve it, or you would not have reacted so."

Drizzt's face crumpled in disgust. "I wasn't talking about that. I am no stranger to pain, but I didn't think my first..." Drizzt couldn't continue, just shook his head and stared hard at the floor. "I don't even know you," he finished miserably.

It took several minutes for Lorien to register what the drow was inferring, and he blinked at him in shock.

A soft knock sounded, and Alustriel slipped quietly into the room. Her long silver hair was unbound and draped in loops across her smoky violet robe, her slender hands holding the silk shut over her nightgown. "Unlike the two of you, my lack of sleep is making me weary. It would bring me great comfort of I could trust you to not maim each other or light anything afire while I sleep." She noted Drizzt's miserable face and huddled pose, and knelt gently by his side.

"Drizzt..." she said softly, brushing the wild, silky hair from his face, and smoothing it down. He closed his eyes and turned his head into the touch, like a plant seeing light. She continued stroking his hair as his tension seemed to flow out of him.

"Perhaps, um" Lorien interjected hesitantly, "you should speak with him privately, Lady. Some of his problems are beyond me, and I may have made them worse. He, uh, has been in a bad way."

Alustriel gazed at him with a worried expression, then turned back to Drizzt. "Come with me, my friend. We will talk before I sleep." Drizzt rose with a wince and followed her into her room. The sound of the door clicking shut filled Lorien with a profound sense of relief. He was no longer worried that Drizzt posed a threat to Alustriel, but he was more than relieved the distraught drow would not be closed in alone with him.

Scant moments passed before he began exploring the room. There were few things to catch his interest until he parted the drapes. Alustriel's balcony was a walkway onto a private garden, filled with flowering fruit trees and dappled sun. Soft grass spread invitingly before him, and he soon vanished through doors that locked behind him.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The room was large, with muted tapestries of vines and soft ivory rugs. The enormous four poster bed, hung in fine ivory fabric, dominated the room, and was braced by low dressers set with fine green glass. Drizzt stopped just inside the door and bit his lip, wrapping his arms around himself. A muted beam of light from her veiled window crossed his face, reflecting on the dried tear tracks and making his hair and lashes glow with reflected light. He looked so very young, and he was, compared to Alustriel's many centuries of life.

"Come," she said, and sat at the side of her bed, "speak with me."

Drizzt rubbed a hand roughly over his face and met her feet with an even gaze. "I am disturbing you Lady, I should go. Forgive me for this... everything. I don't even know what happened. I may never be shameless enough to visit here again after this night. I should not have come."

"Drizzt." She said sternly, "Sit."

Drizzt hesitated and looked at the door.

"NOW." Drizzt tensed in surprise and found himself on the floor at her feet. She began running her hand gently through his hair. He let his head fall to her thigh, and sighed.

"Drizzt, tell me what happened."

He shook his head, and looked down at the floor. "It doesn't matter."

"What were you doing down there?" She demanded, angrily. Drizzt stared at his hands. An uncomfortable silence began between them, compelling Drizzt to speak.

"He said we could play with Guen if I followed him, but she wasn't there."

Alustriel's hand stilled.

"He asked me questions instead. I... hate being in chains, I can't think straight, I can't.." Drizzt turned his head away.

"What did he ask you?" Alustriel asked with a frighteningly quiet voice. She was very still.

"About things I had done. The drow raid. What I dream about. Secrets. Ugly things I can't talk about. He knew I wasn't right inside, he could tell."

"Drizzt, did you ask him to... " her voice broke, "...use that whip..."

Drizzt was silent for a little while.

"No."

Alustriel's hand left his head and he glanced up briefly. She had her face turned away, her mouth covered with her hand.

"But, I suppose he was right. It did release something. Some of the weight, the guilt, I don't know. I didn't expect it, but I deserved it. He knew."

Alustriel turned back to him with an expression of absolute fury. Drizzt immediately dropped his gaze.

"What else did he say." She asked coldly.

"He forgave me."

Alustriel stared at him in horror. "And how did that become what I saw when I came in?"

Drizzt stared at his hands, and spoke softly. "I said I would do anything for forgiveness."

The silence was heavy, and long. Alustriel put her face in her hands.

"No-one had touched me like that before, not since..." Drizzt bit his lips. "I expected it to hurt, I didn't realise it could feel good too - not like that. It's not what I wanted for my first real ..." Drizzt looked up at her, "I wish ... it had been someone who cared about me, someone I wanted and loved. At first I thought it was horrible... but it felt... good ... to be touched." He said softly, staring into her eyes with a bewildered expression.



Alustriel stared at him silently, and ran the back of one hand down his face. She leaned in, and kissed him softly on one cheek, then the other. She caressed his open face with both hands, and then pulled him up and kissed him deeply on the lips. He gasped at his friend and blinked at her. She rubbed her cheek softly against his and pulled his hands into her silk robe, and placed them around her waist, kissing him again. His eyes closed, and she wrapped her arms around his back and pulled him into a tight embrace.

Drizzt jerked and moaned violently into her mouth, clutching her hips hard.

Alustriel gasped. "Oh! Your back! Drizzt, I'm sorry!"

He shook his head helplessly and ran his face through her silver hair, trailing his lips down her neck and biting softly, tasting her skin. His hands ran up and down her hips and back, sliding between the layers of silk. Her cool hands slid soothingly across his shoulders and he moaned softly, momentarily biting harder as his hips twitched involuntarily. He released her neck and trailed his lips to her ear and his hands to her thighs.

"Please," he whispered. "Do it again."

She gasped and pulled back from him, staring into his face. "Drizzt?"

His intense, hungry violet stare was answer enough, and he kissed her, first deep, then slowly softer, then teasing, as he slid shaking hands up the sides of her legs under her nightgown.

"Touch me." he begged, and began to work his mouth down her neck and collarbone. He recalled that the last thing done to him felt good and he tried a rough approximation. Gentle hands caressed his chest and arms, and he jerked her hips to the edge of the bed, gripping the flesh of her ass and sliding fine fingers up and down the back of one thigh. The other hand slid silk and straps from a fair shoulder and down one arm, baring one full, pink nippled breast to his searching tongue.

Her fingers caught on his shoulder as she cried out, and he jerked again, sucking hard for one moment before releasing her nipple with a gasp. Nails ran down the back of his neck and his body began to writhe slowly, the silk robe sliding from his shoulders and onto the floor at Alustriel's urging hand.

Drizzt pulled her nightclothes to her waist, grasping one lush breast in his hand and the other with the suction of his mouth. He pushed her backward while grabbing her thighs and pressing her hips against his own, sliding his hands up the backs of her legs as he leaned in for a deep kiss.

Her nails trailed up his abdomen while her hips started in a slow roll against him. It made him cry out into her mouth and begin to thrust mindlessly against her.

She slid one soft hand up his back, digging in her fingers at a particularly well-aimed thrust. Drizzt snarled into her mouth and bucked against her, shoving himself back from the bed and looking at her with wild eyes. His gaze dropped to the offending cloth between them and he grabbed the front of her nightgown in two hands and ripped, the remainder sliding easily down as he tossed the ruined garment to the floor. Her pale, soft breasts jiggled as her smooth, white abdomen and pink, downy sex were exposed.

Drizzt paused, then stared nervously at her. He froze. "Uh, what...?"

Alustriel gazed back, heavy lidded, through a curtain of silver silk, her perfect lips parted around a small smile. She lifted to fingers, then ran them up the sides of her nether lips.

"Lick." She said.

"Uhn." Said Drizzt, and moved to comply. Her lips were full, and pressed together under a fine dusting of silver hair. A bolt of raw need shot through him as he knelt between her legs, and he gasped, sliding a thumb between them, bottom to top. When he hit the top, she bucked and cried out. He hit the spot again and she moaned and jerked her hips toward him.

He bent his head and ran his tongue along her lips, exploring between them and experimentally darting his tongue into the moistening space at the bottom. Cool fingers wove into his hair and gripped him as he licked, tightening convulsively as he reached the tiny nub at the top again.

"OhGodsSuck!" She moaned plaintively.

He caught the nub in his teeth and sucked, still rolling his tongue along it. Alustriel arched, and began to buck helplessly, releasing an unending stream of desperate whimpers that went straight to Drizzt's cock. He snaked his hands up to her breasts and loosely palmed them, teasing her nipples with a feather-light touch. She cried out, and jerked into his mouth hard enough to bruise. "OHnnpleasedontstopplease..."

Drizzt gasped roughly, the sound of Alustriel begging driving him out of his mind. He dove to continue, but then stopped with a grin. Backing up, he grabbed one ankle and ran his tongue up the base of her foot, eliciting a sharp jerk on the leg in his fist. He pulled her centre two toes into his mouth and sucked, receiving a small shriek in return and harder thrashing. Running his tongue between them for one final suck, he ignored her small scream, and began to work his lips slowly up the inside of one leg, stopping only to lick the backside of her knee. The inside of her thigh brought more small, delicious sounds from her perfect, pink mouth, and Drizzt crushed down a violent urge to immediately test what it would feel like around his cock. The desire brought a sudden, vivid image of the powerful and dignified Lady of Silverymoon gazing up at him from her knees, with her glossy pink lips stretched around his shaft, and he almost came on the spot.

Releasing his death grip on her leg and bedsheets with a strangled moan, he slid his tongue along her nether lips to her clit and sucked hard. Her legs spread for him as she arched, hips bucking into him and mouth open in a silent scream. This time, he did not relent, and rubbed his tongue in rough circles onto the bud in his mouth.

Alustriel began to beg again, but this time with the tone of sobbing desperation. Small hands roughly grabbed fist fulls of his hair and jerked him upward,before gripping his arms. Hastily, he wiped his arm across his mouth and leaned full length against her, as she caught him in a deep, lustful kiss. He pressed onto her, running his hands through her masses of fine, silky hair, and felt her hands clawing at the knots on his simple undergarment, before he simply ripped it and tore it off. Her slender hand pressed between them and fisted his shaft, causing him to groan and buck into her uncontrollably, his hand fisting violently in her hair, before he could recover a moment's control.

He pulled back and looked questioningly at her. Her cheeks were flushed, her full lips open and gasping, and silver strands of her hair stuck randomly to her face across her lust clouded eyes.

Her response was to guide him with her gripping hand to her warm, slippery entrance and slide her moist sex in circles onto the head of his cock.



Drizzt cried out and thrust violently inside of her, then again, eyes wide, then again, unable to stop. He held her hair with the arm on which he had his weight, and grabbed her hip roughly with the other, using it to slam himself all the more violently home. He was not even aware that he cried out with every thrust, or that she was making noises as wild and guttural as his. He released her hair as her legs made their way to either side of his face, resting on his shoulders. He knelt upright, using both hands to slam her hips up onto his cock. Alustriel's weight was now on her shoulders, and her slim hands moved to grip her full, bouncing breasts, white fingers pulling and twisting at her nipples as her cries went higher and higher pitched.

Her long, shapely legs spread wider and her knees fell backwards onto the bed as her sex began to pulse and milk him. Desperately trying to press deeper, harder, against him, she threw her arms around his back and dug her nails deeply across his damaged ribs, pulling him in. Drizzt's eyes rolled up into his head as he slammed her wildly into the bed, muffling his primal scream in her flesh as he came, biting her neck.





Drizzt was shocked from unconsciousness by the panicked hammering of the Guard on Alustriel's door. He attempted to leap to his feet and promptly fell out of bed, hopelessly tangled in sheets.

"Damn," drawled a voice from the window," you're almost more fun to watch."

Drizzt pulled the sheet from his face and growled at the smirking, upside down face of Lorien, leaning through the window. A fresh barrage of knocks inspired Drizzt to attempt to right himself and find pants, until he realised he didn't have any.

"Shit." he said, clutching his open-front silk robe.

"You know, said Lorien conversationally, "I really don't think you should be the one to open that door."

Drizzt stared at him, incredulous.

"You are an intoxicated drow, in the high Lady's chambers, with no pants, covered in blood, and she is naked and unconscious. Also, she was screaming bloody murder, and you sounded like a quartered Owlbear. Come through the window. Wait, cover her first for God's sake, look at the mess you made."



Drizzt, appalled, realised some of the blood on the sheets was recent, and hers. He had bitten her neck far too hard. He rolled her over, making a horrified noise, to inspect the wound.

"Don't worry, she's fine. She passed out just before you did that. Trust me, I was watching."



Drizzt returned Lorien's smarmy grin with a bloodthirsty snarl, prompting the guard to begin a bludgeoning attack on the door.

Alustriel woke with a soft moan. Drizzt turned and gazed down at her from within a white curtain of hair.

He brushed hair from her face, with a look of worry. "I hurt you." He ran his fingers softly over her neck and looked down, ashamed. "I should have been tied down," he said, miserably.

Her gaze drifted toward the noise at her door, but she took Drizzt's head in both hands and looked carefully into his eyes.

"You did nothing I did not enjoy, and would not want to do again, my dearest friend. I care for you deeply and adore that I made you lose control." She kissed him slowly, then looked at him again and smiled.

Drizzt looked as if he had been hit. He made a helpless noise and pulled her up to him, into a deep kiss that trailed down her neck as he began to clean the bite mark with his tongue.

Alustriel curled one leg and arm about him in a slow slide while licking her way up to his sensitive pointed ear. He made a wild noise and pressed hard against her, sliding her back into the sheets. His arousal had returned, far stronger than before now that he knew what her body promised him. He began sliding his hips in a slow grind against her, growling into her neck and ear.

"No! Gods! You idiot! Get UP!" Hissed Lorien. Alustriel flicked one hand in the direction of the window, and Lorien's head disappeared, followed by a thump.

"Mmmmmmmmmm," said Alustriel, whispering in his ear, "I think I am still wet from before...forget using your tongue."

Drizzt made a harsh noise in his throat and flipped them over, sliding his length along the slick line between her lips and across her nub. Alustriel's long hair slithered down around them, and she jerked above him and gasped. Drizzt slapped one hand on the headboard behind him, and raised himself on bent legs, one hand steadying Alustriel astride him as he slid his cock back and forced it slowly up inside her. Her hands fell to his chest and her head fell forward as she moaned, loudly. Drizzt's mouth was open in a look of abject lust and he flexed, snapping his hips up into her in midair. He planted his feet and tightened his grip, beginning to thrust up into her in earnest. Alustriel fell forward, and caught one hand on the headboard, her hair and breasts bouncing violently between them as she rode him with short, breathless screams. Drizzt began to growl and cry out.

"Harder!" She sobbed. He complied, pushing forward into a crouch and grabbing her hips with both hands, jerking her down against his lap. They were both buried in her hair and he began to tease her breasts with his mouth, fucking up into her, hard. He slid one hand between them and began to flick her clit with his thumb. Alustriel bucked so hard she fell backwards to the bed, hips still up in his lap. Drizzt didn't pause, just fell forward to his knees and continued hammering into her and circling with his thumb. Alustriel began to buck violently and scream. Drizzt fell forward with both hands and began to fuck into her incoherently as she shuttered beneath him, letting himself go with a guttural cry. He collapsed, his cooling sweat stinging the bloody nail-marks across his whip weals from hours before.

"PLEASE tell me you are done," came a muffled voice from outside.

Alustriel buried her face in his shoulder. "Do you want me to prosecute him?" she whispered grimly.

A flash of magical light around her door-frame made her jerk upright in shock. Drizzt went naked into a wary crouch by the bed. "No, let it be. Besides, now is not the time for that concern," he said.

"Who would DARE breach the wards on my room?" She gasped.

"Are you deaf? The envoy from the north had arrived to speak with you and heard you scream bloody murder, AGAIN. Or did you not notice them trying to beat down your door?" Snarked Lorien, still from outside.

"These are my private rooms!" protested Alustriel, indignantly.

The curtains twitched. "People were told you brought us here to be watched, I imagine that by now they expect to find your half-eaten corpse." Lorien's head popped into view, and Alustriel jerked the sheets up to her chin. The door rattled. "Oh for God's sake FINE. I will demand that they leave." She spat. Her eyes widened in horror. She cast about at the side of the bed and fished up a hopelessly torn set of nightclothes and a mutilated loincloth.

"We have no wearable clothes in this room." She whispered. She scrambled to wrap herself in the sheet before noticing the somewhat glaring sprinkling of blood on the pristine cotton.

Lorien grinned. "I do recall some rather shocking things being shouted about drow, I imagine they are trying to save you. What [/would/] they say if they saw you now."

Her door flashed again, and rattled. Drizzt raised his head in concern. "Lady...they can't find me here. At one time they wouldn't trade with your city if you let me through the gates, never mind your bedroom."

Alustriel gave up on the sheet and grimaced, gripping the bridge of her nose with one hand. "Why can I not have even one private thing outside of my work and title?"

"Perhaps you should have screamed less." Said Lorien helpfully.

Alustriel glared at him in irritation, hopelessly wadding the sheets to hide the stains. "What are you doing beside my window? The garden is secret."

Lorien grimaced. "I got locked out. It's absolutely horrid and I am stuck and bored and I can't NOT be outside your window. This whole garden may as well be the size of your bathroom." He sighed pathetically. "You were too BUSY to let me back in. I had to sit on DIRT."

A shout sounded from outside. Drizzt looked at her nervously. "Lady, have Lorien come in. Pretend you were with him, and I will hide under the bed. I am well aware of how unreasonable your neighbouring cities can be, and I would not be the cause of a failed trade agreement."

Lorien's eyebrows shot up.

Alustriel looked at Lorien in anger, but then nodded reluctantly, still pinching the bridge of her nose.

Lorien slid through the window, smirking, and flung himself onto her bed, tossing off his slippers and sliding his robe off one shoulder with a campy pose. Drizzt snorted and rolled under the bed. Alustriel sighed and walked to the door. Nearly a dozen male voices shouted on the other side, and at least one was being addressed as a lord. The proud, but obviously ravished woman stopped, swallowed, and paled. Her brow tensed.

"Oh Gods, I can't let them see me like this," she whispered, and covered her mouth with both hands. Lorien's smirk slid off his face. Drizzt stuck his head out in concern. Suddenly, the door cracked in a blast of light, and Alustriel's face crumpled in utter humiliation.

Lorien grabbed his arm. "Get back on the bed," he said, pulling Drizzt out. Drizzt frowned at him, but complied, covering himself with the mangled duvet. Lorien pulled off his clothes and shoved them at Alustriel. "Take this, and get under the bed." She stared at him, and he began jerking on her ruined violet nightwear, torn open to well below his navel and barely covering everything else.

"What...?" She said, as he turned and inspected Drizzt's face.

"Where is this lipstick?" he said, pointing to the pink marks on Drizzt's neck and face. She gestured in bafflement to the small handbag on the floor. Lorien tore open the bag, grabbed the lipstick, and shoved her and the bag toward the floor. He gestured under the bed as he jerked the sheet from her and draped it over the edge. "Go, hide."

"What are you doing?" She managed, clutching his robe around herself and eyeing the cramped, hidden space.

"Who says you had to be here at all?" Whispered Lorien, before liberally smearing his lips with pink.

"What about the blood?" Asked Drizzt, gesturing at the sheet, bewildered.

"Have you seen what she's done to your back?" Lorien sneered, crawling into the bed. The door shook and groaned. A flash of light from under the bed mirrored the flash at the door.

"What SHE did..." choked Drizzt. Lorien jerked Drizzt forward and kissed him messily, smearing lipstick over both of them, and the door exploded inwards. Lorien flung himself back on the duvet and pulled his torn silk closed with a earsplitting shriek.


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The elven wizard that had assisted in the now dubious rescue of our High Lady of Silverymoon from the clutches of The Bloodthirsty Drow in Her Chambers had retreated to the back of the envoy and was staring at Lorien, aghast. No-one was really sure what to do with the pair of them.

"Pleeeease don't tell her we went in her room, we promised to stay in the den and not break or eat anything!" Wailed Lorien.

Drizzt winced at the noise, and attempted to rub off the lipstick with the bloody sheet he had commandeered as a sarong, as they were hauled down the corridor by the merchant soldiers and guards.

Lorien slapped him. "Oh it isn't enough that you have to go and get bloodstains all over Alustriel's sheets, you have to rub my lipstick into them too, you uncultured PIG!"

Drizzt grabbed him by the neck and growled.

"Quit the love-play, you sick faerie freaks." Barked the closest guard.

Drizzt allowed himself to be manhandled forward, and tried to find a centre of calm indifference.


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Lorien winced as they burst through the doors to the main celebration hall. The table was once again perfect, and several elegantly silk-clad elves danced to the ghostly flutes and harp, among the rapidly silencing crowd. Everyone turned to stare. Several people darted about and money began changing hands. One woman started an argument about the exact time the panther departed, and several young guests and a petite wizard broke into cheers. Drizzt bit his cheek and stared straight ahead.

"Lady!" The guard called. The crowd parted and revealed, much to Drizzt's shock, the regal and impeccably groomed form of Lady Alustriel. Lorien gaped. Her hair was once again a smooth sheet, her make-up precise, and her high-necked gown swirled about her in elegant, untouchable folds. Lorien eyed the neck covering again and smirked.

Alustriel raised one perfectly groomed eyebrow, and did not smile in return.

"What is this, now?" she demanded in irritation.

"We found they'd broke in to your private rooms, Lady, screaming like murder and carrying on in ways I'd best not mention in good company." Replied a guard, gesturing significantly at the destroyed fabrics adorning the two elves. Alustriel raised both brows. "Drizzt?" she demanded.

Drizzt fell instantly to his knees.

"Why are you covered in blood?"

Drizzt's eyes widened and he shook his head.

"Have you been whipped ?"

Drizzt swallowed, at a loss for how to respond.

"Did you do this?" She demanded, turning to Lorien. The lipstick and violet silk lingerie made his fine features and fair slender form strikingly pretty and feminine, but his smeared and garishly torn state made him appear unspeakably sleazy and used. He watched her nervously, and nodded with a sickly grin.

"Is that MY underwear you are wearing?" She demanded, her voice rising. Lorien squeaked.

Elenril approached, and placed one hand on her arm, soothing. "My lady, they are both quite intoxicated, and we did promise them tolerance." He glanced at the two and then did a double take. "My Gods, is that blood?"

"You drugged my personal guest and had him chained up and whipped, at my festival, against his will!" She roared at Lorien, causing him to join Drizzt on the floor.

Elenril stared at them in shock. "Lorien!" he began, horrified. He stared at the tensely kneeling drow wrapped in a bloody sheet and the gristly weals striping his back. He tried to speak, and failed.

"I am taking my ward to my rooms, and we will speak of this, soon." said Elenril coldly.

Alustriel tensed her jaw. "You will take them both, Elenril." Elenril stiffened. Alustriel put up one regal hand. "You will take them both, and I will handle it later. All things will come clear in time," she spoke with finality, grimly staring at Lorien. Lorien winced, and allowed himself to be manhandled back up by the guard. Several wolfwhistles and and many shocked, disturbed stares followed them out toward the doors. Just outside the doors, Elenril stopped them.



"Stay here, I must explain to the business owners I was speaking to that they have to wait." Elenril instructed angrily. "Do NOT move." As the Elder elf walked away, several young ones approached to replace him.



"Lorien! You have changed clothes! This outfit is - how should I say it? Better suited for you." The golden hair and eyes of the finely dressed and impeccably groomed elf in front of them did not soften his sharp smile. The fair green-eyed companions flanking him smirked as he laughed.

Drizzt's eyes narrowed. Lorien blushed, and managed an unhappy smile. "Felenidis... have you enjoyed the festival?"

"I would have enjoyed it more if I could have found the village pony. What does it usually cost? Two ales per ride?" His friends tittered. "We assumed with a whole bottle of Moon Tears you would be good to go for all of us." Lorien's face crumpled and he looked at the floor.

Drizzt's mouth fell open in shock.

Felenidis crowded in close, and dropped his voice to a cutting whisper. "We voted for you to handle the trade so that you could arrange for us to get the best things, and give us a cut, not give them away to the fucking inbred races you stupid little shit. That vial was expensive and you just pissed it away on trash like yourself and a fucking [/dark elf/]." Felenidis pushed Lorien a little, and continued to hiss in his ear. "I don't care if Elenril wants to keep you as a pet, you have no family, no training, and nothing to offer our clan but your cheap ass while you cry in the fucking grass, and if you don't want us to take our fees out of it, you will find a way to pay for those Moon Tears. Tonight. I expected to ride to the coast and back on my cut from that."

Lorien nodded unhappily. "I'm sorry, I didn't think..."

"You never think, that's why we can't stand you. The only trade your idiot father bothered to teach you was how to get drunk and fuck."

Felenidis eyed Drizzt disdainfully. "Lorien is ours, drow, if you wanted to nail him into the floor you should pay us, even if Elenril had you whipped for it. I think he's worth a few gold for a roll, even if all he does is lie there like a wet rag and snivel."



Drizzt was utterly appalled. He desperately wanted to break Felenidis' face. He wondered if he could do so and not be permanently banned from the city. Perhaps he could blame it on the Moon Tears? He balled his fists and fought to restrain himself. He had seen this scenario too often in the drow training barracks, and seeing Lorien's hopeless acceptance of the abuse made him feel ill. These were light elves. It wasn't supposed to be like this. No wonder Lorien acted the way that he had. It did not matter what Lorien had done to him, he could not stand to have him abused before his very eyes. Drizzt needed to do something to defend him, but it had to be more subtle than making them all permanently ugly. They were not drow, and although the game might be familiar, he had no fear that these elves would attempt to knife him in his sleep. They were youths flirting with cruelty they would never fully understand. He was perfectly certain they would never carry it as far as his kin.

In fact...



"Do you know what I do for a living?" said Drizzt, politely. Felenidis arched one eyebrow. Drizzt smiled, running hands down his scars. "I kill things." Drizzt smiled too widely. "I could kill you in seconds with my bare hands, or over the course of weeks, if it amused me. No camp or wall could keep me out, no sentry would see me, and my panther could track you to the ends of the earth if I chose to find you." Lorien gaped at him, and Felenidis had gone white. "What I do for a living is kill, for my friends. Something threatens their lives or their home, I make it cease to exist. And I do enjoy my work." Drizzt smiled lazily and slid to his knees, nuzzling Lorien's thigh. Lorien recovered his shock far enough to paste on a bland expression and pet Drizzt's hair.

"If all he did with you was lie there he must have been so very bored." He gazed up at Lorien. "I'm sorry they are so bad at pleasing you - I could help." Drizzt perked up eagerly, and grinned crazily at the group of elves. "I could MAKE them please you. We could take one of the saddles from the tack-room, and a crop. I could ride your golden-eyed friend from behind while you occupied his mouth, and you could cane him hard enough to make my back look like a slap on the wrist. I would make him crawl around in the saddle, afterwards, so all his friends could see the mess we'd left, and then they could take rides. He'd make a pretty pony." Drizzt hammed it up with an evil look. "He might not be able to walk particularly well after. We would have to practise often so that he became used to it." He laughed wildly and Lorien joined him in startlement, just at the look of stark terror on Felenidis' face.

"Here little pony," called Drizzt, grinning while showing the whites of his eyes. Felenidis and his friends took one last look at the blood-spattered drow and fled.



Lorien turned to Drizzt, a gleeful, astounded look on his face. "I love you," he laughed.

Drizzt grinned and stood up, watching the elves disappear. "I cannot believe I just said that." He laughed. "But I am certain they won't come near you again."

"No, really," said Lorien, clutching Drizzt's arm. "Promise me you will visit? Please?"

Drizzt looked at him and shrugged,uncomfortable and distracted, his eyes catching a flash of silver hair in the crowd. "Why not. I could sell you rare tusks and furs from the mountain directly. Make you a profit." Drizzt glanced back at him, briefly, but continued scanning the crowd.

Lorien wrapped his arms around himself with a small smile of happiness.



Elenril broke through the crowd and entered the corridor, his face grim. He gazed in horror at the marks and blood on Drizzt and his gristly sarong. "Did you do this thing, Lorien? Attacking a guest of the Lady?" Then he noticed the lipstick and nail marks, and his mouth snapped shut. He uncomfortably eyed the ripped lingerie gracing his young ward and closed his eyes.

"If it were not for the state of your dress, I would have thought you had behaved as a predator," Elenril began, "but it looks as if you had harmed each other." Elenril gently tilted the lovely, debauched elf's face up to his. "Lorien, are you...alright? What happened to you?" He caught Drizzt's sudden look of bafflement, and frowned. "Lorien." He said flatly, tightening his grip. "What have you done?"

Drizzt regarded Lorien with grim satisfaction. Although he had moved to defend the elf from that revolting little gang, he still wasn't settled with what had happened between them in the dungeon.

Lorien had the look of a kicked puppy and glanced between Drizzt and Elenril with big, wounded eyes.

"But," he said, plaintively, "He tore open my dress."

Drizzt could not believe where Lorien was taking this, and glared at him and growled, belatedly realising that it was helping the ploy.



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"How could you suggest to Elenril that I would rape you?' hissed Drizzt to the fair elf beside him. Elenril had left them in his rooms with a guard watch in one corner while he went to gather supplies.

Lorien huffed in agitation. "I just humiliated myself in front of all of my peers for you, and have possibly ruined my career, and she just publicly tore into me- what was I supposed to say? I was HELPING you and you turned on me! You and Alustriel made it out like I attacked and tortured you!"



Drizzt stared at him. "Didn't you?" he said softly.

Lorien looked at him, hurt. "You liked it!" he spat. "Besides, I didn't know that you were good person! You acted like a psychopath! You tried to choke me! I thought you would hurt people! And as far as what came after, getting you off was my apology, as was the humiliation I just endured in the hall to hide your unending fuckfest. I am sorry you don't 'love' me, or whatever hangups you have, but I thought you had told me, because you were afraid of fucking women, you had only ever fucked men. I did not realise you meant you had never touched anyone at all!"

"I believe I just humiliated myself to help you as well," growled Drizzt. "You should not have done what you did in the dungeon."

Lorien looked at him, upset. "You looked beyond desperate for me to continue at the time."

"You had tortured me. I was not myself."

Lorien stared at him, his lip trembling.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, alright! I didn't mean to stain the 'pristine ranger' with my filthy existence! I was wrong, and I knew it, afterwards, but I did not know I was wrong at the time. I always fuck everything up, no matter what I try to do. I thought I was helping people, I wanted to show everyone, be a fucking hero! Fuck you and your fucking noble reputation!" Lorien's voice was rising, and had begun to hyperventilate.

"You are a drow and my mentor and the Lady fucking adore you and think I am a piece of trash and my father was a joke! You fucking bit through her neck and she all but proposed to you, if I had done that they would call me a beast." He gasped, his eyes watering, "Wait, you just did! In front of everyone I know, while I was wearing your girlfriend's fucking soiled underwear because I am still stupid enough to try and be somebodies hero." Lorien began choking out his words. "I let you ...come on my fucking ...face, and even you think I am a.. piece of.. shit! You think I am just like a drow? Well I think you are just like everyone else, and I hate it!"



Drizzt felt awful. His anger melted away in the face of Lorien's tearful regrets, and at the thought of how he had tried to save Alustriel from public shame by humiliating himself. He also sympathised with Lorien's hopeless attempts to do good things and have them blow up in his face. Drizzt was uncomfortably familiar with the experience.



"When I still lived in the Underdark," this was hard for him, but he plowed ahead wilfully, "I was whipped more times than I could count."

Loren quieted, and he regarded Drizzt warily.

"They didn't need a reason to beat me, and they rarely had one. What they did have was a notable pleasure for inflicting pain and domination - something I thought I saw in you. You were not just trying to be a hero, Lorien, you were chasing your own lusts."



Lorien stared at him in shock. He was silent a moment, then closed his eyes. "Is it any worse than the obvious pleasure you had from receiving both? I have never done that before, and your reaction to it was the most erotic thing I have ever seen."

He ran his eyes over the drow. "I wanted to know how it felt to be in control. You fall to your knees and submit like it is nothing, and yet you are the most wilful person I have met. I don't think of you like a slave or a thing or whatever sick things the other drow did, but every time you do that thing where you drop your eyes and, and I don't even know, but - Gods." He bit his lip and leaned back against the wall, pulling at the silky shift half covering him. Drizzt suddenly remembered the last time it was used and how it became torn. Seeing it on Lorien, with the same lipstick even, was doing strange things to his head.



Lorien gave him a long, careful look. He leaned close to him and ran one finger slowly down the weals on his back. "I know these got you off," he whispered.

Drizzt shivered, repulsed and aroused. He turned away.

Lorien removed his hand. "Everything you have known was real, but it doesn't have to be."

Drizzt looked at him, confused. Lorien bit his lips, and looked back.

"There are games people who are equals play, that only look real. They use a word that means stop, but isn't, so that you can scream stop over and over to no avail, and pretend to have no control, just for a little while, but say the special word if you really need it to end."

Lorien began to pensively run his finger slowly around Drizzt's back again. "Not everybody is kind enough to use one, but I would." Drizzt tensed.

"Maybe a part of me thought that's what we were doing in the dungeon, playing the parts just to feel them, not meaning it, just tasting it for a little while." His finger pressed a little harder and Drizzt stiffened, eyes widening as he realised he was hard. He swallowed and looked at Lorien nervously.

"It wouldn't be like the Underdark, because you can stop anytime, and it wouldn't be real." He let his nail trail lightly along a weal and Drizzt closed his eyes and shivered. Lorien leaned in close and ran his glossy pink lips along Drizzt's sensitive ear. Drizzt's breathing began to speed up, and he couldn't open his eyes.

"If you had a safety word, what would it be?" Lorien whispered, leaning back and licking his tongue along one long weal. Drizzt gasped harshly and moaned, gripping the sheet on his lap.

"Hey! Stop that!" Barked the guard, smacking his spear on the wall threateningly.

"Guenhwyvar." gasped Drizzt, opening his eyes. Lorien sat up and looked at him, searchingly.



Elenril walked through the door with a tray. "You have not eaten in some time, so I have brought food." He glanced up at them, and then looked again, hard. Drizzt and Lorien were sitting close, staring into each others eyes. They did not move.

"I have also brought you some decent clothes. You will attend the greeting of the sun and rejoin with your friends in the coming morning, and you will be dressed and properly groomed. I believe this will require a bath, and one will be brought in shortly." Elenril punctuated this with a pointed look. "Please attend to your grooming. What has been excusable throughout the festival will not be for it's formal end. Drizzt, please step into the other room for a moment." Drizzt glanced up in surprise and obeyed.

"Lorien," said Elenril, sitting close to his dishevelled ward, "Did he hurt you in any way?"

Lorien looked chastised and shook his head. "No, I hurt him, not the other way around." He looked down at his lap. "This isn't as bad as it looks. We are safe to leave alone, really, I am sorry for the scene. Alustriel knows everything, and is less upset than she seems. We were in Alustriel's rooms. It was a stupid place to be. I did what you just saw because I was saving someone from worse embarrassment, not because I am this much of a fool. I think him and I could be friends, actually. You don't need to stay." He looked up at Elenril. "I am sorry if I caused trouble for you. I did not wish to bring you shame."

Elenril suddenly felt rather old. He sighed with a pained look and rose to the door. The bath was ready, and being wheeled in. "There is an enchantment to keep the water warm. Use it. Alustriel needs to sleep, and I must be in the main hall." He paused. "Should I be asking the guard to remain?"

"Please, no." said Lorien, embarrassed. Elenril shook his head and left, the guard following behind.



Drizzt crept from the room, and leaned of the door-frame, holding the sheet at his waist. Lorien fidgeted in the torn silk, biting smeared pink lips, his body peeking out far more explicitly than Drizzt could handle. It was like some strange meld of the confusing dungeon experience and Alustriel's bed, and it made his head spin and his back itch.

Lorien pulled down on the lacy hem, and stared at him with wide eyes. "Are we friends?" he asked. The question made Drizzt blink.

"I... have no idea." Drizzt blinked at him, hazily. "I feel like I am on a mining cart with no breaks, and I can't tell up from down, never mind how I feel about you."

Lorien looked chastised. "They won't last much longer, a few hours, perhaps. The Moon Tears, I mean. I feel dizzy -it's from the lack of sleep, it only shows up at the end. I'm sorry. For... everything. I want to be friends, if we could."

Drizzt's mouth curled in a half smile. "It's not an unusual way for two drow to meet."

Lorien looked at him, hurt. "You did seem to like it, you know. I couldn't have stuck with it otherwise."

Drizzt sighed, and walked over to sit by him, attempting to eat. They picked at the food awhile, until Drizzt suddenly laughed. "Look," he said, "fruit." He flicked a bit of pineapple at Lorien, and they both broke into fits of giggles. Drizzt's expression sobered. "My friends would never believe it if they could see me right now."

Lorien snorted. "I doubt anyone would be surprised if they saw me." Drizzt stared at him incredulously, and they both broke into laughter again. Lorien looked at the bit of pineapple that had slid to rest at the base of the silk undergarment's tear. He arched one brow. "You know," he said conversationally, "You really should lick that off."

Drizzt laughed and kept eating.

Lorien stared at him a moment, and chewed his lip. "Do you even... like... men?"

Drizzt grinned at him and eyed his lacy slip. "How would I know? I'm the only one here."

Lorien pelted him with a handful of stewed prunes, and Drizzt fell off the bench, laughing. He propped himself up on his elbows and paused, lost in thought.

"When I was growing up, I remember that men slept together fairly commonly, but it had nothing to do with preferences, rather, the degree of risk. When they wanted to get off, but they didn't want the high stakes of torture, or even death, that might result from risking being with a woman, they would just go off with a man. It meant nothing, usually. Few things did unless they could buy or bully someone. Usually women were a calculated risk, for power or position, but the risk was in being noticed. Men did not have the right to ask, and they sure as hell did not have the right to refuse." He flicked off a bit of fruit. "I suppose men took out their frustrations out on one another. In the fighters dorms, where I trained, I saw more than one scuffle end in what amounts to rape, but I didn't know there was anything else that people did with one another at the time. I guess I just thought all sex was disgusting, and so I avoided it, even after coming to the surface, and learning that there were other forms."



Lorien looked miserable. "I assumed you had done all of the things you describe, and worse. I had heard the things that drow did to elves on surface raids, and I thought when I saw you, that you were jerking off to the memories of ... rape, torture... even murder, maybe. I thought you might to do it to someone here, and I wanted to save them...but," Lorien paused, searching for words, "I think I wanted you too, and didn't realise it. I didn't touch you like... that... until I wanted to make you feel good again, afterwards. Then I was just trying to please you, not hurt you. When you said you had been a virgin...I didn't know what to think. I made your first time something ... twisted, and it makes me feel horrible." Lorien slid to his knees and crawled over to Drizzt, who was staring at the floor. "I ... could let you do anything you wanted, with me...to make it better..."



"I never said I was a virgin," he said quietly. Lorien stared at him, confused. "Just that it would be my first real time with someone." Lorien looked confused, and then horrified. Drizzt flicked another bit of fruit off his chest, and stood up. "We should wash." he said flatly, and walked over to the tub, dropping the bloodstained sheet and stepping in.

Lorien crawled to the edge of the tub and clung to the lip, peeking in. He hesitated, and Drizzt submerged himself completely until his air had run out. He broke back through, hidden in a sheet of white hair.

"Was... it in the dorms?"

Drizzt sat in silence, then shook his head. " I could defend myself by then. I was lucky enough to be the best fighter in my dorm, so it only ever got so far. After I disabled a few students, they left me alone, mostly."

Lorien nearly attempted the obvious question, but his courage failed. "I... could wash your hair," he managed. Drizzt gave him an unreadable look and nodded. Lorien began to carefully wash him, and struggled with what to say. "Lady... Alustriel. When I asked her to... you know, was it...did you like it?

Drizzt let a slow smile split his face and closed his eyes. "Yeah. Yeah, I really did."

Lorien finished rinsing his hair. "Stand up." Drizzt stood, and the water slid down his form.

Lorien stared at him, and valiantly tried for a smile. "Imagine if I had been wearing this the first time we were in this position." Drizzt glanced at him in surprise and coughed a short laugh. Lorien began rinsing suds from him with a cloth. "Maybe you can just think of Alustriel as your first time."

Drizzt regarded him pensively as he slid his hands over the back of his head, squeezing the water from his hair. "I think, if you hadn't done what you had, before, I would not have had the courage, control, or wherewithal to do anything with Alustriel." Drizzt looked away. "It's not that I didn't enjoy what you did, it was that I didn't know you."

Lorien hesitantly slid a washcloth up Drizzt's thigh, and bit his lip. "Do you know me now?" Drizzt laughed at him in disbelief. "You really don't give up, do you?"

Lorien grinned wickedly and slipped into the tub, the washcloth sliding higher. Drizzt raised his eyebrows and started to speak, but the sight of glossy pink lips opening right in front of his thighs while the wet cloth slid up over his ass and onto his back made his cock twitch and his eyes lose focus. His fantasy of Alustriel's lips and his memory of Lorien's mouth blurred as his breathing roughened.



A wet tongue slid up his chest and over his nipple, stopping to tease it as soft fingers slid over the tender ridges on his back. Drizzt moaned helplessly, and the mouth on his nipple sucked. He threaded his hands in pale hair and jerked back Lorien's head, hard. Lorien was staring at him nervously, but all Drizzt could see were his open, pink lips, and he growled. The lips curved into a smile and Drizzt was pushed backwards out of the tub.

He stumbled, then crab-walked backward along the floor as he watched the wet violet silk suction itself obscenely to Lorien's form. He didn't notice the bottle until the oil hit his abdomen, splashing on his cock. He jerked, glancing down in surprise. Lorien continued pouring a line from his erect cock all the way up his chest, the last drop catching on Drizzt's surprised face.

Lorien smirked above him, capping the oil. " I remember how badly you wanted to be oiled, why don't I do it properly this time?"

Drizzt was speechless as Lorien knelt over him, and slid his thumb through the oil on his cheek, spreading it across his lips. When Lorien slid his thumb into his mouth, Drizzt sucked the oil from it without thought, the surprised look still intact. Lorien's mouth dropped open and he whimpered, watching his thumb slide between Drizzt's lips. He ran both his hands through the line of oil on Drizzt's chest, and began a slow, gentle massage, spreading the oil down his neck and arms, even smoothing it gently on each of his hands. He brought one of Drizzt's hands to his face, and sucked one long, black, finger into his mouth slowly, swirling it with his tongue and then licking the tip as he broke away. Drizzt watched him, mesmerised, and felt himself harden, his gaze a slow violet burn. Lorien stopped his hands at the base of Drizzt's leaking cock with a smirk, and reached for the oil, again. "I forgot your legs." He said innocently.

Drizzt groaned in frustration, but not disappointment. Lorien was giving him a truly wonderful massage, and it was an amazing treat to be so thoroughly and affectionately touched.

As Lorien worked his way up Drizzt's thighs, his cock began to jerk helplessly. He could not believe how much the suspense aroused him. The muscles in his thighs began to jerk in sympathy, and he knew if he had to wait any longer he would start to beg. He reached forward, but Lorien slapped away his hands, leaning forward teasingly. "We're going to play a little game. I am going to tease you as long as you don't touch me or cry out. The moment you do, I will stop. It's kind of like being tied up and gagged, but it's not real."



Drizzt growled and lept at him. "You want to play games? Then it is your turn to be tied up." Drizzt slammed him to the floor, before rolling over him in a lazy flip and reaching for the bloody sheet. He snatched cutlery from the breakfast tray and gouged the fabric, tearing it quickly into strips with his hands. Lorien's eyes were completely round. Drizzt grinned at him, too widely. "Get on the bed." Lorien scrambled backwards into the bedroom, intimidated. Drizzt stalked after him, strips of fabric in his hands. Lorien landed on the bed and then started, slightly.

"This is like my dad's bed!" he cried with horror. He looked down and grimaced. "I am in Alustriel's underwear in my father's bed. This is horribly disturbing,"

"Don't forget about the bloody drow," said Drizzt, and lept on him. They both collapsed in giggles.

Lorien grinned mischievously. "So you think you can resist me? My game first!" He pushed Drizzt to his back on the bed, and slithered down his body, the violet slip riding up obscenely. He caught Drizzt's eye and ran his hands down the black oiled chest before him, continuing down between Drizzt's legs.



Lorien slid one slippery hand around Drizzt's sack and began pull and rub it gently with his thumb as he lowered his head to the straining shaft in front of him. Slowly, keeping his eyes locked onto Drizzt's, he slid his tongue up from base to tip. An muffled noise sounded from above him as his oiled hand followed the path of his tongue and he rubbed his glossy pink lips over the end. Lorien pumped his hand slowly and slid the end into his warm mouth, swirling his tongue around the head. Drizzt began uncontrollably writhing his hips upward, trying to drive into the wet mouth without using his hands, which were clenched into fists at his sides, fabric forgotten. Lorien lowered his mouth all the way to the base and swallowed, his throat milking the shaft, before slowly sliding back up, corkscrewing his tongue. He glanced back up at Drizzt, who looked like he was on the verge of coming undone, his eyes riveted to Lorien's pink lips. Lorien slid one oiled hand lower and teased between Drizzt's cheeks, as he pumped with his other hand and sucked. He managed to keep his suction despite the sudden violence of the drow's bucking. Lorien released his mouth with a pop and smiled, still moving his hands. Drizzt shuttered and bucked. "Slow down, there, ranger, I still have to massage your back."

Drizzt stared at him, wide-eyed, and swallowed. He moaned and rolled over, tossing the strips of sheet to the floor and waited as Lorien returned swiftly from the other room.

A fresh line of oil was poured down his spine, and he propped himself up on one hip and elbow, tossing his thick hair forward and looking back. Lorien started massaging again at his feet.

"Your skin looks incredible with oil, like polished onyx. I don't know why you don't do this every day."

"Are you offering to be my personal masseuse?"

Lorien stared at him seriously. "Yes?"

Drizzt laughed. He suddenly realised he felt incredibly happy. He stared at the confusing creature behind him and felt something warm break open in his stomach and unfurl into his chest. He grinned at Lorien. "Yeah."

Lorien blinked at him in surprise and laughed. "Where do I keep my masseuse table in the woods?"

"Yeah, we're friends," grinned Drizzt.

Lorien stopped what he was doing and stared at him, wide eyed. A small, sweet smile of happiness spread across his face, transforming him from beautiful and dishevelled to breathtakingly radiant. Drizzt blinked.

"O.K." he breathed happily, and slid both oiled hands firmly up Drizzt's back.

Drizzt tensed so hard he lifted them both off the ground, and even though he tried, he did not have enough air in his lungs to make sound.

Lorien pushed his fingers into Drizzt's damaged back and began to massage. Drizzt's eyes rolled up into his head and he ground his cock down into the bed as he writhed. He made a strangled, guttural sound. Lorien worked his slick fingers slowly and firmly down Drizzt's back, and finished by smoothing oil around Drizzt's ass. Drizzt sounded like a spent horse, and shook slightly as he gasped.

"O.K.?" asked Lorien softly.

Drizzt moaned incoherently, unable to move, and Lorien took it as a yes. He slid his hand down between the cheeks of Drizzt's ass, over his sack, and into a firm grip around his cock, and pumped. Drizzt snarled and jerked forward with his hips.

Lorien knelt between his thighs and bit his way down his ass. He ran his tongue down between the cheeks, parting Drizzt's ass with his other hand. Teasingly, he flicked against the oiled entrance with the tip of his tongue. Drizzt made an incredulous noise, but his cock throbbed violently.

Lorien raised his head. "Oh, you liked that." Drizzt seemed unwilling to respond, so Lorien began a slow, twisting pull on Drizzt's cock while slipping his free hand along Drizzt's entrance, sliding one finger inside. Drizzt made a strangled sound, pumping his hips into the oiled fist, grinding Lorien's knuckles into the bed. Lorien bit his lip and added another finger, moving his hand in time to his occupied fist and crooking his fingers to slide against a particular secret spot. Drizzt cried out and bucked, and found himself unable to stop.

Lorien whimpered with lust and pulled away, fumbling with the oil and spilling it messily about himself, desperately coating his cock. Drizzt had half pushed himself up on one arm to blearily look around, but Lorien flung himself down behind him, trembling. He realised he wanted Drizzt since the first moment he saw him, and he had never had the opportunity to be with someone in the way he was about to now. He caught Drizzt's hips and pulled him backward, pressing himself slowly into the tight heat, overwhelmed.



Drizzt went stiff, and Lorien finally recovered his senses enough to resume his fist's corkscrew milking of Drizzt's cock. Drizzt gasped, shaking, and Lorien slammed his chest against the whip marks, crying out in pleasure.



"G.. Guen, Guenhwvyar.." choked Drizzt.

Lorien continued to move for a moment until the word sunk in, and he stilled, a nauseating curl of fear growing in his stomach. "Drizzt?"

Drizzt was shaking violently, and his face was completely blank. Lorien pulled away and tried to get Drizzt to look at him.

Drizzt was staring at something that wasn't there, and couldn't see him.

"Drizzt!" cried Lorien, shaking him.

Drizzt said something pitiful in Drow. He sounded very young.

"Oh Gods," said Lorien, panicked. He had no idea what to do. Drizzt curled up slightly and covered his head.

Lorien thought he was going to throw up. He started to get out of the bed, and then climbed back in. He stared about the room, at a loss, and then down at his companion.

Helplessly, he shook his head, and pulled the covers over them both. He pulled Drizzt up onto him, chest to chest, his welted back safely unencumbered. Lorien winced as he manhandled Drizzt's back, but the drow didn't react at all. Drizzt curled around him, shaking, and Lorien gently wrapped his arms around Drizzt's arm and head, petting him gently, and buried his face in his hair.

"I told you I fuck everything up." Lorien bit out, his eyes watering. "Shit!"

He stopped himself, taking a shaky breath, then softly began to sing instead.

Slowly, Drizzt stopped trembling.

Lorien ran his hands gently over the dark form in his arms and sang.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Inky fingers began to trace the edge of the mangled slip he still wore, and he looked down into clear violet eyes.

"You have a beautiful voice, what are you singing?"

Lorien took a deep breath, and then let it out. "It's an elvish lullaby."

Drizzt smiled and began to play with Lorien's hair. "It's beautiful. No-one has sung to me before."

Lorien swallowed, and buried his face in Drizzt's hair. "Are you alright?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Drizzt regarded him with a perfectly peaceful expression.

Lorien looked at him, warily.

"It was just a food fight. We should try to use the bath."

Lorien felt like the floor had fallen out from under him. There was a hole in Drizzt's memory that was burning an equal pit in Lorien's stomach. He held Drizzt very carefully, and tried to keep himself calm. Drizzt slid up beside him, puzzled, and wiped away the quiet tears.

"Don't cry," said Drizzt kindly, "Perhaps we could be friends."

Lorien crushed his eyes shut and tried to breathe. He smiled bitterly. "I want to make you happy, but I don't know what to do."

Drizzt slid up from the covers and smiled at him. "Do you want to wash my hair?"

Lorien made a choked sound that became a strangled laugh. "Ok." He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, unable to move. "Ok, I will wash your hair."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This time, they washed each other, and Lorien stayed silent and subdued. Drizzt reached up with a cloth and gently wiped away the sparse lipstick that remained. He smiled and ran his fingers over Lorien's lips. "I liked that," he said shyly.

Lorien blinked at him and swallowed. Drizzt ran his fingers along the planes of Lorien's face with a happy expression. "Are we friends?"

Lorien nodded faintly, and tried to work some spit into his mouth. "Yes."

Drizzt smiled and sank into the water, their knees making four little islands between them. "I am glad, I never thought I could have a light elf for a friend." Drizzt winced slightly. "Was it very bad what we did?"

Lorien tensed, and licked his lips, "Which... thing?"

Drizzt looked embarrassed. "The thing in the basement..."

Lorien looked away. "You didn't do anything wrong. I did."

"I know why you whipped me. We were strangers, and intoxicated, and I don't really blame you- it's nothing worse than I received at home."

Lorien brought his fists to his hair and an his hands over his face. "I wouldn't do that to you now. It was wrong. I was wrong. I don't expect you to forgive me."

"I liked what you did right after...is that... wrong too?"

Lorien dropped his arms into the water. "No."

"I think it upset me before, but it doesn't now that we're friends." Drizzt pulled Lorien's leg forward, and rested the pale foot on his chest. He ran his hands along it and smiled. "I like touching you."

Lorien swallowed, and didn't move. Drizzt put one dark foot on the pale chest across from him and laughed. "We should dry off." He scrambled out of the tub and pulled Lorien after him, tossing him a fluffy towel. They dried quickly, and Drizzt reached over with a towel and began to roughly dry Lorien's hair. Lorien pushed the towel from his face, his smile dropping as he realised that Drizzt was inches from his face. Drizzt darted in and kissed him, quickly, watching his face. Lorien took a step backward. Drizzt smiled and moved forward, catching his lips again. Lorien dropped his towel and backed away, breath quickening, unable to hide the desire on his face. Drizzt grinned, and cocked an eyebrow. "Are we playing a game?"

As Lorien backed away, his hand hit the wall, and he realised he was at the door of the bedroom. His eyes widened. "Let's not go in there."

"Why not? There is something I would like to learn, and I think you could teach me..."

Lorien stopped breathing for a moment, and backed through the door. "You don't know what you're doing."

Drizzt grinned, stalking him. "I believe that is the problem, yes."

Lorien glanced at the messy sheets, and started in horror at the torn bloody strips of fabric that were still on the floor. "Uh.."

Drizzt glanced at them curiously, and stopped, frowning. "What...?"

Lorien looked at Drizzt, and then the floor, nervously. "You tore them, you were going to tie me up."

Drizzt blinked, his face blank, and then smiled. "What a good idea!"

Lorien felt horribly disturbed. "We should get back to the hall."

Drizzt picked up a strip, and grinned at him wickedly. "Soon." And lunged in, kissing him deeply, before biting down his neck and chest while lathing him with his tongue. Lorien was still keyed up and unsatisfied from before, and despite his reservations, he whimpered with lust and fell back on the bed. Drizzt smiled and shoved him backwards, sliding his hands up Lorien's arms and pressing them to the back of the bed. Deftly, he twined the fabric around Lorien's wrists and tied him firmly to the backboard. He slid down Lorien's body with a grin. "Now you get to see how it feels."

Lorien's face froze, and he tensed.

Drizzt's eyes narrowed, his smile fading. "Are you still afraid of me?" he asked, incredulous.

"I don't think I enjoy pain as much as you do." Lorien said, nervously. "Besides, there's no whip..."

Drizzt stared at him, confused. "I'm not going to hit you."

Lorien fidgeted, the knots around his wrists disturbingly strong. "Then... what..."

Drizzt lowered his head, and dipped his tongue in the fair elf's bellybutton, raising one brow.

Lorien's jaw dropped open, and he began to pant. "Oh. Oh fuck."

Drizzt trailed his tongue in small licks down his hip, and nipped lightly at the inside of his thigh. "I will need you to tell me if I am doing this right."

Lorien gasped, arching. "No- Nobodies done it to me before. I've always been on the other end."

Drizzt glanced at him, surprised. "Then in a way, I'm your first too." He beamed with a tiny smile. "Good." Then he bent down and sucked the entire length into his mouth.

Lorien cried out, and jerked on his restraints. Drizzt choked, and pulled back. "How...?"

"Just start at the end, and use your hand" said Lorien faintly, "you still have a gag reflex."

Drizzt looked down with a determined expression, and caught the shaft in his fist, sucking the tip, and sliding partly down.

"Teeth!" squeaked Lorien. Drizzt stared at him in surprise, and frowned. "Use your lips and tongue to keep your teeth off." he gasped. "Open ...your jaw more, and... suck."

Drizzt went to comply, and Lorien cried out again. Drizzt froze in place, looking up warily.

"Don't...stop." Lorien whimpered. Drizzt beamed, and went to work.



Lorien had begun to make the most delicious stream of noises, and Drizzt was beginning to feel rather proud. He noticed Lorien was attempting to say something, and stopped.

"Go - get - the oil." Lorien gasped. Drizzt looked unsure, but went.



Drizzt stood over him, handling the bottle awkwardly. Lorien was spread, pale and beautiful, his arms pinned above him and framing his face. His white-gold hair was flared around him in a delicate halo, and his slender chest heaved. He did not look like the elf Drizzt had met days before. There was nothing cold or sharp before him now. He looked fair, sweet, and fragile, a pink blush spreading from the tops of his cheeks across his delicate nose, making him glow. Drizzt tipped some oil into his hand and smoothed it over the satiny length of Lorien's shaft. "Lower" he moaned.

Drizzt fondled the sack nestled beneath, and Lorien writhed up into Drizzt's hands. "Lower." Lorien whimpered. Drizzt looked at him, unsure. Lorien licked his lips, and rolled his head onto one arm. "Use the oil to slide your fingers inside me. Go slow. If you don't use oil, or... stretch me first, it hurts."

Drizzt poured a thin trail of oil into his hand, and slid it down between Lorien's cheeks. Lorien's legs fell open, and he lifted himself slightly off the bed. He slid his oiled hand back and forth a few times, and then ventured, with his fingers, inside.

Lorien hid his face in the crook of his arm. "More"

Drizzt had managed three fingers, and decided to also take action on the erection in front of him with his tongue. Lorien gasped, and raised his head to watch the dark form between his legs tease him with white teeth and a wicked tongue. Black fingers gripped his pale side, and white hair slithered wetly along his thighs. Lorien gasped again helplessly, and bounced up off the bed. "N-now."

Drizzt looked at him nervously.

"It's ok. I want you to. You won't hurt me."

Drizzt didn't move.

"Please." Begged Lorien.

Drizzt moved up Lorien's body and hovered above him, a serious and intent expression on his face. Lorien arched against him and whimpered. Drizzt licked his lips, and then slowly slid his erection against Lorien's skin. Lorien arched up higher, sliding Drizzt's erection along the crack of his ass. Drizzt made a needy sound, and closed his eyes, trembling. Lorien twisted, forcing himself down on Drizzt's cock, and Drizzt gasped, going completely stiff. Lorien twisted his hips, and struggled against the fabric ties, moaning in desperation. Drizzt gasped again, roughly, as his eyes snapped open. Pinning Lorien with a wild stare, he pressed all the way into him, hard, and held still. Lorien writhed under him, trapped at wrists and hips. His lips fell open to his whimpers as he strained up to catch Drizzt in an open kiss. He kissed him deeply, slowly, and began a slow draw of his hips to match. Drizzt began long, slow thrusts while continuing the kiss, and Lorien's helpless noises increased until his mouth broke away and his head fell back between his arms. Drizzt watched as the pink blush spread down Lorien's neck and chest, and bent to catch and suck a nipple. Lorien's eyes were almost closed, and he arched up into him, crying out his name. Drizzt jerked against him hard and almost cried out. He reached up and grabbed a fistful of Lorien's hair, growling in his ear. "Say my name."

Lorien managed, barely.

Drizzt began to fuck him harder, but no faster, and reached down to grab his pale hips.

"Again!" Drizzt snarled.

Lorien called out his name, brokenly, and locked his legs around Drizzt's hips. Drizzt began crying out roughly, and reached down to jerk Lorien's cock. Lorien tensed into a tight bow and came with a silent scream. His inner muscles clenched around Drizzt, who bucked forward, coming with a guttural yell. He fell onto his elbows, shaking, his forehead pressed against Lorien's cheek. They lay, damply pressed against each other, and breathed.





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Lorien, still blushing and happy, trailed Drizzt into the hall and through the crowd. They were clean and presentable for perhaps the first time in days. Lorien's mind trailed across the few hours they had spent simply lying near each other in repose, and he was filled with the warm glow of joy.
Drizzt's eye caught a glimpse of silver, and he moved to find it.

Drizzt stopped a few feet from Alustriel and watched, unsure of what to do next. She was incredibly imposing, and the wall of dignity and power wrapping around her as she chatted softly with Elenril and several other Elder elves made her seem utterly untouchable. Drizzt remembered what she looked like screaming and tried to smother a wicked grin. He broke through the crowd to greet her.

"Drizzt!" she said, politely, "are you somewhat recovered from your - interesting - celebratory drink?"

Drizzt dipped his head politely with a self- depreciating look. "Quite, my Lady. You will forgive me if I do not kneel." They gazed at each other for a moment, eyes sparkling, and then they both began to laugh. Lorien glanced between them and his smile dwindled into something rueful and strained.

"And yourself Lorien? No ill effects?" He glanced at her and shook his head.

"No, I damaged nothing but my pride." The Elder elves shared and amused look. "I don't know, Lorien, our Senior elves seemed quite taken with you both, they kept asking when you would come back and dance." Lorien winced faintly and attempted a polite smile. He cleared his throat.

"I am never going to live this down, am I?" Elenril and the others laughed. "No, but we will tell you some stories of our antics when we were as young as you, and I am sure that will mitigate the sting. We've all been greatly entertained, I assure you. It makes us a bit wistful for your father, in fact."

Lorien's face froze, and nodding his head he turned uncomfortably to leave, only to stop again at the sight of Felenidis approaching with a bullish look on his face. The sudden sound of someone making trotting horseshoe noises with their tongue made him spin around and stare at Drizzt, who was smirking and looking at his nails. He quickly looked back, but Felenidis was gone.

"Another story, I assume?" Alustriel asked archly, with a raised brow.

"Later," said Drizzt, his jaw working. Alustriel narrowed her eyes, but did not pursue it. The Elder elves exchanged another look.



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Elenril, who had joined them on a private balcony to share a sparkling breakfast drink and trade stories, brightened suddenly. "Excellent, Lorien - here come your friends. I imagine they thought you had abandoned them."

Lorien became oddly quiet, a nervous look on his face.

Drizzt looked through the doors in confusion, and nearly choked on his drink. Felenidis approached with his entourage, with a determined expression.

"Lorien, please try to be more gracious. It pains me that you blow off their attempts to be social, they have even complained of it to me."

Drizzt pinned Lorien with a grim look, and received a pleading shake of the head in return. Felenidis stopped before them, and opened his mouth.

Drizzt beat him to it though, staring at him intently while whinnying loudly and slapping his thigh. Felenidis paled visibly and bolted in the other direction without a word.

Lorien covered his mouth with glee.

Elenril looked at them both angrily. "What is wrong with you? I do not even want to know what that was about, but you cannot become part of the community by avoiding the other youths all the time. You may have been born elsewhere, but it is still your duty to integrate and make friends as part of our clan. This is unacceptable."

Drizzt rounded on him. "Are you blind? Those thugs will never be his friends!" Lorien's eyes went round, and he began to shake his head, in horror, mouthing "NO!"

Elenril looked at him as if he had not seen him before, and he did not like what he had just found. "Do not cause trouble for my ward, Drizzt Do'Urden, I do not appreciate it."

"They are vile bullies. They threatened him in front of me! They tried to exhort him for money from the trade deals he had made!"

Elenril was shaking his head slowly, "You are not one of us, I am sure you misunderstood what you heard." Lorien was wringing his hands.

"They called him the two ale village pony!" Lorien jerked like he had been punched, and hid his face behind his hair.

Elenril stared at Drizzt, his face a cold mask of anger. His voice was threatening. "How dare you speak in such a way about my ward."

Drizzt stared him down and snarled. "They've been hurting him."

Elenril's mask broke with his creasing brow. He turned to look at Lorien, incredulously. "Is this true?"

Lorien would not answer or look at him. Elenril's frown deepened, and he grabbed his shoulder, asking again gently. Lorien crumpled in on himself with a sob and tried to pull away.

The expression on Elenril's face became too painful to see, and Drizzt turned to the balcony. He could hear Lorien crying behind him. "I tried to fit in, I tried to make them like me, just like you said, but they don't. I know I'm useless, that I don't contribute, but please don't put me out!"

Elenril's voice cracked as he tried to comfort him with soothing words. "I won't ever put you out Lorien. Tell me what they had said to you."

"No. You will never be able to look at me again. Please don't ask me."

A hand on his arm made Drizzt turn around. Elenril's grim face was beside him. "You will tell me what transpired. Every detail."

Drizzt looked at the small form curled in the corner of the balcony, and then turned to Elenril, and quietly repeated every word. When he was done, there was no sparkle remaining in the light elf's eyes, and his face was grey. "Something must be done."

Drizzt responded with a gesture toward the hall. "Do what you need to do Elenril, I will stay with him."

Elenril stared at him. "What I said to you before, I was wrong, and unkind..."

Drizzt silenced him with a gesture. "No need."

Elenril embraced him tightly. "I am grateful Lorien has found a friend in you. I hope to be blessed with the same."
Drizzt smiled softly at Elenril's retreating back. He had new friends and new opportunities, and he faced them more free from the fears and scars of the underdark than he had ever been. Lorien looked up at him, and Drizzt opened his arm to his new friend. Something more painful than hopeful crossed Lorien's face, and he scrambled forward to bury his face in Drizzt's shoulder. Drizzt held him gently and ran his fingers through his soft hair. He wondered what it would have been like if someone had done this for him in his childhood, and pulled Lorien into a tighter embrace. It felt wonderful. He had only held one other person in such a way, and the memory of it sent a flood of emotion through him. He had hugged Cattie-brie like this before, when she was younger, but had instinctively backed away from such physical signs of affection when she came of age. His arms stilled as he finally, finally, realised why. He dropped his head against the rail with a sigh. It did not matter now, and was likely for the best. She was engaged to his best friend, and he should put his new understanding back out of his mind. The thought brought a dull ache to his belly, and with a memory of Alustriel, he shoved it away. Any man should be beyond grateful for the chance to be the lover of such a woman as the Lady, and he disciplined his rampant thoughts along those lines. It was not an unpleasant fate by any means. He buried his face in Lorien's hair and smiled. His life was getting better than he had expected.

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Lorien looked up at him with wide, shining eyes. The early morning glow caught his hair, and made him seem both ethereal and fragile. Lorien's lips parted in a sweet, adoring smile, and he ran a tentative hand along Drizzt's face. Drizzt felt an unexpected burst of joy wash through him that he did not understand. He ran his mind past this dawn, the celebration, his new lover - the beautiful Lady-, and this creature before him, his new friend. He burst into a dazzling smile of pure happiness, and tightened his arms around Lorien, turning his head to watch the coming dawn. "I don't think they will mind if we watch the dawn and lighting of fires from up here, do you? I can't bring myself to move."

Lorien made a soft, contented noise and clutched at Drizzt's robe, curling himself in closer to watch the sky from Drizzt's chest. Noise intruded from the hall, as some elves began a procession to greet the dawn from below, while others began to file toward the enormous balconies overlooking the ceremonial site.

"I hope Alustriel comes over here with us," said Drizzt, eager. "Can you believe she is my lover? Who would have imagined such a thing?" he continued with awe. "I hope you don't mind if I just stay with you, I don't think she would want anyone to know. I think a proud, private woman like her would hide her private life with anyone, not only because I could cause her political troubles because of my race. I know she can see past it. When I have been here before, I always had to sneak in, but she had been the best of friends to me in the privacy of the walls. Gods, this whole thing has been like a dream come true. I never expected to be so happy. " He sighed in contentment, and fell to silence as the men and elves began to filter onto the balconies. He did not see Lorien's injured expression, or the light leave his face.


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Felenidis turned from the procession at the beckoning of the elder elf. They were nearly to the grounds, and he was unsure of the purpose of these darkened, lower rooms.

"I have a gift for you," said Elenril. "Lorien has explained your arrangement to me."

The blond turned to Elenril quizzically.

"I have learnt that you have an understanding, where you take a cut of profits." The young elf's eyes widened, and he looked nervous. " This time, I have taken the privilege of selecting your cut myself. Lorien is very special to me, I see him not just as a ward, but a son. It is time that I involved myself more in the details of his work, and trained him to replace me in my position, in time. I hope my selection pleases you." Felenidis looked as if he could not believe his luck, and peered eagerly at the trunk being hauled in by two more of the Elder elves. "I understand you wish to travel to the coast, Felenidis. We desperately need a trade contact to reside at port for our trade arrangements, but it is a permanent post, and none have been willing to reside so far from our clan. I feel it may suit you." Felenidis opened the chest and stared motionless inside, an odd look on his face. "Lorien has wisely negotiated regular trade visits from a certain Drizzt Do' Urden- I believe you had met? He has travelled quite widely, I am sure if you have any reservations about the post you may discuss them with him."

Felenidis replied without moving, or raising his eyes from the trunk. "There ...is no need, Elenril, I will be ...pleased to take the post."

Elenril smiled, and lowered the lid on the crop and saddle. "Do take it with you, you never know when it might be needed." He patted the young elf on the shoulder, and walked away.