Queen of the Flames

An Old Foe

Rowen Moonwalker & Drizzt Do'urden- Second Seed (Sundas)

Rowen and Drizzt had set up for the night below the hanging leaves of a willow tree. Drizzt had prepared the base of their fire for the night whilst Rowen laid on her stomach; trying desperately to get Riyu to light the small twigs.
"Riyu, Vol (fire)"
Riyu chirped and spread her wings. Rowen huffed "Oh come on you little monster. I know you understand me. Riyu, Vol" Drizzt tilted his head as he watched them "What are you telling her?" He asked.
"Fire. Why?"
He watched the dragon chitter and flap her wings before speaking again "Perhaps she thinks your trying to tell her what needs to happen instead of telling her to do it. Try 'light' or something like that"
Rowen thought "That's actually really smart." She looked back at Drizzt "Have you spoken with dragons before?" She teased. He laughed and shook his head "No, I can't say I have. But I remember how Gwen was when we first met"
Rowen hummed at Riyu to get her attention "Alright, little monster, ready?" She asked, tilting the dragons head to look at her
"Riyu, jün"
Smoke came out of Riyus nose; like she was trying to do as she was told.
"Riyu, jün" Rowen said firmly. After a moment, Riyu opened her mouth and shot a small spark onto the kindling; causing it to catch fire.
"Yes!" Rowen grinned, clapping her hands "Good girl, Riyu" Drizzt chuckled at his friends excitement. After tucking Riyu into her lap, Rowen turned back to Drizzt "You can rest, I'll take first watch"
He cocked of his eyebrows at her "Is your reason because you wish to marvel in what you've taught Riyu to do?" Rowen scrunched her face at him "Hush. Just sleep, you need it" The two chuckled. Drizzt rolled himself in his cloak; resting his head on his arms. Soon, he fell asleep and Rowen began to read; relaxed for the first time in days.
If only they'd seen the dark pair of eyes sitting vigil on them.

~~~~
Rowen stole a glance at her drow companion as he turned to face her. He looked so different in the world of dreams than in the world of waking. Drizzts face softened from its usual hard stoic countenance, his jaw lost it's firm setting, and his browned relaxed and turned up. His expression changed from one of a strong warrior to one of a pleading and slightly sad child. Suddenly, Riyu jumped from Rowens leg, attempting to roar at an advancing figure from the shadows.
Rowen watched in shock as a tall southern elf walked to the willow tree she sat under. He glared down at the small dragon and kicked it aside, making it cry out.
"Ri-
Rowens speech was stopped when a gloved hand struck her face. She went to grab her blade, but the elf stomped hard on her wrist; preventing her from moving, much less grabbing a sword. The figure knelt and drug his bejeweled dagger across her neck, the blood trickling down and forming a small puddle beneath her. The man stared her down evilly "Now" he whispered; covering her mouth before she could call for Drizzt "Don't go ruining my element of surprise"

~~~
Drizzt body crumpled as he was jarred from sleep by the steel toe of a boot. He rolled to his knees as another vicious blow came to his chest "Get up" an all to familiar voice brought Drizzt from his hazy thoughts.
Drizzt stumbled to his feet, only to be felled as the southern elf drew back his fist and delivered another crushing blow to the drows face. Drizzts back hit the trunk of a tree hard and his head lolled to his shoulder. The light elf grabbed hold of Drizzts snowy white hair and forced him away "Stand up and fight, underscum"
Feebly, Drizzt brought up his hand and wiped away the trickle of blood forming at the corner of his mouth. Grounding his feet below him; he pushed himself into a standing position. Drizzt drew his weapons and took a defensive stance "Artemis Enteri, we meet again"
Enteri smirked "Well said, Do'urden. Much has happened since my last visit" he said, moving out of the way to revel Rowen, bound to a tree and gagged with Riyu trembling against her stomach.
"I see you've already replaced your wife..Cattie-Brie, wasn't it?"
Drizzt clenched his jaw "Neither of them have anything to do with this, Enteri" Artemis hummed, tilting Rowens face up with the tip of his dagger "This ones prettier. Nasty beast with her though" Rowen narrowed her eyes and brought her knee up to Enteris groin. He groaned and chuckled
"Feisty little wench, aren't you?" He turned back to Drizzt "Well, you know what I'm here for"
"Artemis, we don't have to-
Drizzt was interrupted when the southerner launched into a dizzying attack, but not one hit went past Drizzts flashing blades.
The drow dragged himself into a fierce battle with Enteri, that is, until a thunderous roar pierced through the night sky. Large black wings beat a raging storm through the forests canopy. Rowen, with a strength she didn't know she had, broke through the ropes and pointed at Artemis, causing Riyu to fly up and scratch at the elf's eyelids. He yelled and shot his arm out, effectively slashing Drizzt in the side before running away, leaving the drow injured and in the way of a dragons rage.
Rowen, while wishing she had time to run after Artemis, called Riyu to her shoulder and used her free arm to support Drizzt.
One hand holding her packs and the other holding up Drizzt, Rowen dashed into the woods.

~~~
Darkness cascaded over the hillsides like a blanket, not even the brightest star could penetrate through the thick shroud of clouds that obscured the night sky.
Rowen forced her way into a cave; not nearly as mythical or comfortable as the willow tree; but it was better than nothing. Rowen sat back on her haunches and muttered a short arcane verse, lighting a fire in the center of the room.
Ragged breaths drew her back to Drizzts side.
She placed one cool hand on his forehead, fearing the worse "You've no fever, but we have to bandage your side"
Rowen scrambled around in one of her packs and pulled out medical supplies. She stripped down Drizzts top half and noticed his injured side, the bright red color a stark contrast to his dark skin. She poured a cleaning potion onto a rag "You're married?" She asked, hoping to distract him. He shook his head as she cleaned around the cut "I was married. She..She's gone"
Rowens face fell in sympathy "I'm sorry. Do you wish to speak of what happened?"
Drizzt sighed "She wasn't in pain. It was age that took her from me"
Rowens hands stopped in shock. Had Drizzt married someone much, much older than himself? Or had he simply aged unbelievably well "How old are you, again?" She asked, hoping he wouldn't take offense to her question.
"I'm five hundred and sixteen"
She gasped. He hardly looked past his twenties.
"Oh..that's..okay" She muttered, continuing her work on his side. He laughed at her expression "I'm elven. I age differently than you do, Rowen" She nodded "No, I know. I just didn't know you were so..uh-
"Old?" He teased. She laughed "You certainly don't look it." Her smile fell as she realized he would need stitches. "Damnit. I'll have to stitch it shut" Drizzt raised his eyebrows "Do you know how?" She shrugged "It can't be that hard"
He exhaled and leaned his head back. She pulled a spool of thread of small bone needle from her bag. Drizzts jaw tightened as the needle passed through his skin again and again. "Done!" Rowen severed the end of the thread with her teeth. She took the roll of bandages and wrapped them around Drizzts chest and abdomen, covering the long cut that reached from just above his left ribcage to the underneath of his right.
Drizzt took one of Rowens much smaller hands in his; pressing a soft kiss to the back of her knuckles "Thank you, Rowen"
She smiled and ruffled his hair "You are welcome. But, if you don't mind me asking, who was that man?"
Before Drizzt could answer, Riyu screeched and forced her way into his hand, wanting her thanks. He laughed and bumped his nose against hers "Thank you aswell, little one" She chirped and went back to Rowen, nestling above her clavicle.
After they laughed at the small creature, Drizzt began the story of Artemis Enteri.
They'd crossed blades once before; and proved to be an equal match to each other. Since then, Enteri hellbent on defeating Drizzt in battle, not stopping until one of them lay deep in their grave.
At the end of the narrative, Rowen handed Drizzt his mended shirt and he carefully dressed himself.
All was quiet until another piercing roar spilt the air, the large black wings that had terrorized the tree only hours before crashing down into the ground. Riyu hid behind Rowen as she placed herself infront of Drizzt, standing tall and at the face of the gargantuan black beast.
"Zu'u lūt foûnt hi, Dovakïn, Vahlok (I have fount you, DragonBorn, Guardian)" He moved his red eyes to Riyu, who hid behind Rowens legs "Hi lūt foûnt...aan hatchling? (You have found...a hatchling?)" Rowen glared as the dragon almost laughed.
"Nas kind dô hi (how kind of you) Nuz hi dreh realize, Riyu sedro hi ol rek Monah nu? (But you do realize, Riyu sees you as her mother now)" Rowen looked down at the small dragon, who chittered at her
"Leave mu, Alduin (Leave us, Alduin)
Alduin huffed, and to Rowens suprise, flew away.
Riyu whined and flew up,  nestling close to Rowens breast while Rowens hands supported her.
"Monah.. (mother)" A child's voice whispered. Rowen didn't answer, smoothing her hand down Riyus wings as she sat again.
"I believe you have some explaining of your own to do, Rowen Moonwalker" Drizzt said. Rowen sighed, leaning her head back. Her soft features held a more serious look than Drizzt had ever seen her with before. "That was Alduin. Better known as 'The World-Eater'. He wants me dead, that was the dragon that attacked at Helgen" She ran her hands down her face "He's had so many chances to kill me, but it's like he's incapable of doing so no matter how much he wishes to hurt me" Drizzt looked at her, reaching for her hand again "You don't have to figure this all out alone, Rowen. I'll help you" She nodded, squeezing his hand "I know. But it's been a fairly stressful night to say the least." She eased him softly to the ground "You need to rest. It'll help you heal faster"
He looked up at her "Right. But what was Riyu calling you?"
Rowen smiled, closing over using her fingertips to shut his violet eyes
"Rest, Drizzt. We'll continue traveling at first light"
To tired to argue further, he followed her instructions; and Rowen kept a close eye on her handsome companion and the dark night sky. Her nerves were far to rattled to find any semblance of rest on this dreary night.