Queen of the Flames

Mysteries Left Unsolved

Rowen Moonwalker & Drizzt Do'urdenHigh Hrothgar- Second Seed (

The sun shone through the painted windows burning into Rowens eyes as she awoke, yawning and stretching her arms above her head. She heard the sound of someone moving around in the washroom, assuming it was Drizzt as the bed he had slept it now sat unoccupied and neatly made.
She hardly remembered getting to the bedrooms last night with how exhausted she was. The greybeards had pushed her until she felt like passing out, honestly she could hardly believe the fact she managed to untie her bodice and let down her hair before laying down.
She still hadn't changed completely into her nightdress, her tired mind defeating her rationality. Forcing herself onto her legs before she walked to the vanity in the corner of the room, she almost gasped at her own appearance.
Her entire face had seemed to sink in, large bags hung inches below her eyes, the color from her lips  and cheeks had almost completely disappeared. She ran her hands through her hair and cringed at the knots near the ends.
She looked a mess.
Hoping she could at least make herself presentable, she slowly walked to the doors of the washroom. How, she didn't know, but she had somehow forgotten that she was sharing the room with another, and opened the door. A proper reaction would be to apologize and shut the door, but she fount herself not able to look away from the sight infront of her.
Drizzt stood facing a mirror with his back to her, a pair of leather pants hanging low on his hips. Rowen tilted her head as she looked at him, swearing she'd never seen a more finely made man.
Broad shoulders trailed into a broad and defined chest, tapering down into a tight and powerful waist. Each muscle on his body was prominent and enticing, covered in a thin sheen of water. His snow-white hair hung to frame his handsome face, still mostly pulled back into a loose ponytail.
As if reading her mind, he moves a hand back and snags the tie of, his hair can falling just to the top of his ribs. Running his hand over his jaw, he looked up at from Rowen the mirror, turning and smiling at her. "Hey, you're awake." Drizzt said as he walked closer to her, laying his hand on her forehead "You still haven't a fever. How are you feeling?"
"Tired" She laughed "But much better. Thank you" He nodded as he pulled an undershirt over his torso "It's no problem, my friend. You needn't thank me" She scoffed, splashing her face with water "Drizzt, you practically dragged me up the stairs. I would have slept on a cold stone floor if not for you."
Drizzt chuckled as he walked out of the room, allowing her to freshen up.
She washed off her face and forced a comb through her hair. The old men had left her clothes and weapons in the corner of the room, she gasped at the state of them. A long hooded bluish grey tunic made of elven silk along with matching grey silken pants, she'd heard that elven silk was made to adjust the body to temperatures, it must have been expensive. Next to the clothes, there sat a finely made bow and sword along with leather hilts. Smiling to herself, she continued to get ready.
After about a quarter of an hour, she stepped back into the bedroom.
Drizzt sat on the bed, writing something in a journal with Gwen by his side. Rowen scrunched her face at the panther, who snarled back at her. Since Gwen had stolen Rowens dagger in Whiterun, the two had formed a playful rivalry, with Gwen always tackling down deer before Rowens arrow could hit them while Rowen was always making faces at the cat.
Drizzt rolled his eyes at them and looked Rowen up and down "Those are new" he observed. She nodded as she spun, the tunic flipping around her legs "They are. Do you like them?" He laughed "Yeah. You look...
He stopped, shaking his head "They look good. Here, eat" handing her plate. She took the food and sat down "The greybeards wish to speak with us" He said "For what?" Her face paled "Oh, gods, Drizzt are they going turn me into a mute monk? I don't want to be a monk. Especially not a mute one"
"No, Rowen. I don't think their intent is to turn you into a mute monk" He assured.
She laughed and they finished off their breakfast, walking back down to the main room where the greybeards already sat. She inclined her head to them and they gestured for them to sit.
"Are there anything further questions either of you have?" asked Arnger.
Rowen spoke up quickly "Why us?"
The greybeards paused. They hadn't expected to be asked what they couldn't answer "Rowen, only the gods could answer that question" She huffed "Fine."
"What's the need for a protecter?" Drizzt asked "If she truly is 'DragonBorn' what's the need for her to be protected?" Arnger sighed, looking around at the others "'Tis a sad tale" he started "But..The first Dovakïn. Miraak, he was a young man with great honor. A strong and an exceptional warrior, not much unlike yourself." He paused, looking at Drizzt "Although, he was weak minded. He was alive when the dragons were quite active. And they..they coerced him to become like them. He wanted the full power of Alduin-
Rowen inhaled sharply, cutting of his speech. Drizzt laid his hand on her shoulder "Is anything the matter?" She shook her head, apologizing for interrupting "I'm alright. Go on"
Arnger nodded, and continued speaking "He turned against humanity. He saw men with human souls as inferior, and something that needed to be slain."
Drizzt furrowed his eyebrows "I don't understand" Rowen, who seemed to understand, grabbed his arm and led him away.
"They sugarcoated it. Everyone has been"
"What?"
"You're not a guardian" She said, shaking her head "You're a precaution."
He looked at her "Rowen, you're not like Miraak. I won't hurt you."
She shrugged, raising an eyebrow at him "You don't know that. When the solider in Whiterun said that I fought dragons and you fought every else, he forget to mention that that 'everything else' might be me"
"It won't be." Drizzt said as he laid a hand on her shoulder "You're not like that. You're not one of the bad guys."
She grabbed his wrist, pulling her shoulder from his grip "You don't know what I am, Drizzt" Her eyes became slightly unfocused as she looked away from him "I don't even know what I am"
She didn't say anything further, walking back to the old men and speaking again. Drizzt walked back aswell, just far enough to hear the conversation they had.
"I've one more question. Can you answer it this time?" She asked, clenching her jaw. Arnger nodded "We will to the best of our abilities"
"Who am I?"
"You're the Dova-
"Dovakïn. I'm aware. But who am I. Before Helgen, before Drizzt, before all of this. Who was I?"
Arnger sighed "DragonBorn, I'm sorry. We know the answer you seek, but cannot tell you"
Rowen scoffed, and the fire in the center of the room flared up "I'll be damned. You know I read about you bastards! You're meant to guide me. You're supposed to be mentors to me" She pushed her hand through her hair and Gwen whined, pushing against Drizzts leg.
"All the knowledge I'm gaining is that I've got to haul myself back down seven thousand gods damn steps to find answers that you already know" Rowen said, spitting at the old mans feet before stalking off, the doors of the monastery slamming behind her.
Drizzt went to follow her, only to be stopped by Arnger holding out his arm "Wait" The drow stopped. "Yes?"
He looked around "I cannot give you direct answers. But I can tell you this, you need to find the horn of Jurgen Windcaller, the first of us."
Drizzt sighed "Where? I'll try and convince her"
"Once you get down, it will be only a few miles north. You're a ranger, it would be-
"She's not." Drizzt said, pointing to the doors "She's a girl. She's confused and hurting and the lot of you aren't helping" He shook his head "If I am truly meant to protect her, then I'm going to. I'll try and convince her, but I'm not forcing her to do anything. It's up to her" He reached back and pulled his cowl over his head "I go where she goes"
He and Gwen walked away. Rowen sat on the steps with her head pressed hard into her hands. Drizzt lowered down next to her, and she looked up at him "Drizzt, I'm sorry. I'm just...I thought-
"It's alright" He said, pausing for a moment before speaking again "I understand, truly I do. I've been where you are before. When I first came to the surface, I was confused and afraid not unlike you now" He smiled at her reassuringly "The only difference is you are not alone. No one deserves to feel like that"
She smiled back, the weight on her chest feeling as if it had been lifted "Thank you. I..I don't know what's expected of me now"
Drizzt laughed as he stood and helped her to her feet "You can't let dragons burn me alive." Rowen nodded "I believe I can do that. What are they making us do anyway?"
"They want us to find a horn. One used by the first of their kind" He said, beginning to walk back down the steps.
"Any idea where it is?" She asked, bracing herself on Gwens back as she slipped on an icy step. "Uh..yeah. The greybeards said it's just a few miles out of Falkreath" Said Drizzt, hiding his laugh behind his hand as she almost fell.
"Hey" Rowen started, punching him in the chest "At least my ears don't twitch" She muttered under her breath.
"Will you ever let that go?" Drizzt asked, shaking his head. He swore she'd come up with at least a dozen nicknames for him because of his ears.
"I shall do no such thing" Rowen gasped as if the very thought offended her.
He rolled his eyes and didn't say anything further, the two companions continuing their journey in a comfortable silence.