Queen of the Flames

The Elder Brother of Dragons

Rowen Moonwalker & Drizzt Do'urden- Throat of the World (Middas)

Rowen yawned as she tried to get Riyu to fly "Come, little one. I'll be right here"
The small dragon still refused, hiding behind Drizzt and shaking her head.
"You are encouraging this. Let me have her" Rowen said, glaring at Drizzt.
He laughed "I'm just sitting here."
"She needs to learn how to fly on her own. I can't carry her everywhere" Rowen said, grabbing Riyu and placing her on her leg.
"I'll be right here. Nothing will happen. Sahloknïr won't allow it, and neither will Drizzt and I" She cooed, now sitting with both of her legs on one side of Sahloknïrs neck.
Riyu was growing quickly, and no longer fit in Rowens satchel and was almost to heavy to sit on their shoulders. It was like teaching a baby to walk on its own, Riyu hated being away from Rowen and Drizzt. Rowen muffled another yawn as she stuck her hand out
"Go on. You can do it"
Slowly, the small dragon spread her wings and flapped them, rising from it's mother's hands. Rowen smiled happily, watching as Riyu flew under Sahloknïrs head before landing back on her leg.
Rowen fed her a piece of meat before Riyu nestled against her and slept.
As they flew, Rowen felt herself succumb to exhaustion more than before. She hadn't slept well, and this flight was lasting hours. They'd already watched the sun set and now it was beginning to rise again. Sahloknïr told her it would be around two hours before they landed.
Suddenly, she shivered.
"Viniaœ, Dï ladyÿ. We've enteeran iiz territory (forgive me, my lady. We've entered ice territory)" Sahloknïr said. Rowen nodded.
"What did he say?" Drizzt asked, looking at her worriedly.
"It's gotten colder because we're above snow-
She yawned, holding her hand out.
"Excuse me. But it's the atmosphere changing"
He nodded, grabbing her shoulder and making her look at him.
"You look horrid"
She laughed tiredly "Thank you. You look..
Scoffing, she patted his face sarcastically "Damn good. As always, Do'urden"
He would have laughed, but his concern overtook him. Not knowing what else to do; he reached his arm out.
Rowen looked at him with raised eyebrows "What?"
"Come here" Drizzt muttered "You'll pass out soon. Better laying on me then falling to your death"
She hesitated. While it was true she was exhausted, she didn't want to make him uncomfortable.
"Don't be stupid, Rowen. Come here" He said, waving his hand again.
Slowly, she did as told and leant against him; resisting the urge to sink fully into the warmth radiating from him.
Drizzt grabbed the edge of his cloak, wrapping it around her shoulders.
Exhaling deeply; Rowen curled her legs and quickly fell into a deep sleep, Riyu resting peacefully on her lap.
Drizzt pulled her closer to him, smiling down at her.
Rowen always had the oddest expressions when she slept.
"You love her" Sahloknïr said, startling him.
"You speak common?"
The dragon scoffed "I am a son of the oldest race known to gods and men alike. I know everything about every language spoken." He turned and looked back at Drizzt
"I also know how men work. And elves, if you will. And you just avoided my statement, simply because you know it's true" The great beast looked back out to the skies "I've never understood why people do that. Avoid something simply because it's the truth."
Drizzt sighed, brushing Rowens hair away from her face "She's my friend."
Sahloknïr scoffed again
"No. I'm afraid she's not" His deep voice rumbled and he looked back at the drow again
"Friends don't look at friends that way" 

~~~

Sahloknïr landed at the top of a large mountain after a few hours, looking around. Drizzt took Rowen into his arms and stepped down from the beast.
"Rowen" He said, nudging his shoulder "We've landed"
Rowen made a small noise before raising her head "Hm? Oh! Right, I uh-
She swung herself out of his grip, landing on her feet rather ungratefully. "Thank you" She said faintly before walking back to Sahloknïr.
"Where kos mu? (Where are we?)" She asked.
"Fin throat do fin lein (the throat of the world)"
Rowen paused. This is where the greybeards were. Why would he bring them here?
"Sahloknïr, why here?" She asked.
The dragon looked down at them. "You will find him here. He will instruct you further. I cannot say much else, I must return to where I was born"
Rowen, though frustrated, nodded and put her hand under the dragons snout, dropping her head against his. Sahloknïr wrapped one his wings around her and bowed lowly as they broke apart.
Drizzt inclined his head to the dragon before it flew off. He took a breath and called for Gwenwyver, not knowing what awaited in the mountain.
After only a second, the great cat appeared in a cloud of smoke and pushed against her master happily.
Drizzt rubbed his hand over her head; and Gwen was seemingly content until noticing the baby dragon on Rowens arm.
The cat walked up to Rowen and lifted its nose, confused as to what Riyu was.
Riyu, on the other hand, seemed absolutely thrilled about Gwen. She hopped from Rowens hold and landed happily on the back of Gwens neck, and it appeared she smiled at the two companions after she did.
Gwen rolled her head back and looked at the small creature, a confused glint in her amber eyes.
"Gwenwyver, this is Riyu, " Drizzt explained to his old friend as he knelt next to her.
"Drizzt, don't let her eat the baby" Rowen said, laying her hand on his shoulder. He rolled his eyes and laughed "No one's going to eat the baby. I swear"
Gwen shot a look at Rowen; as if she was also offended by her claim as she walked off, Riyu still standing on her back and looking around happily.
"I've been replaced by a cat." Rowen sighed.
Drizzt laughed, shaking his head "You haven't been 'replaced'. Gwens probably warm."
Rowen laughed and the two walked off again.

Moments after they fount a word wall, another dragon crashed to the ground. It was far larger than Sahloknïr, and almost bigger than Alduin, though neither of them felt afraid. It was as white as the snow that surrounded them, with torn wings and shockingly ice-blue eyes.
It only stared at them for what felt like hours before Rowen finally gained the courage to speak.
"We-we mean no harm. I'm-
"I know who you are" A deep and wise voice came from the dragon. "But the true question is, do you know who you are?"
Rowen nodded faintly "Alright. If you know who we are, do you know why we're here?
He tilted his large head "Manners, Yamka. Your mother taught you better than that."
Rowen pulled back and Drizzt looked at her "Who's Yamka?"
She shrugged "I've no idea. Me, I suppose"
The dragon rose to its full height and disappeared into a swirling blue spiral before reappearing, now as a tall man, with ghostly pale skin and the same blue eyes.
"If you won't ask, I shall tell. My name is Paarthurnax. The elder brother of Dovàh (dragons)"
Rowen glared at him "You knew my mother?"
"I know your mother. She's far from gone, as is your father"
"They're alive!?" Rowen cried. She'd been convinced that her family had been killed, and that's why she couldn't remember them.
Drizzt raised his hand "Wait, wait. I'm confused"
"Yeah, me to"
Paarthurnax laid his hand on their shoulders, beginning to speak before Rowen interrupted
"Who are you? How do you know me!? Who in the name of the gods is Yamka-
Paarthurnax raised his hand "You have questions-
"Yeah, no shit!"
The old warrior raised his eyebrows "Language, Yamka-
"Who is that!?" She cried.
"Patience!" Paarthurnax said firmly, tired of being interrupted "Your answers will come to you. But you must allow me to speak!"
Rowen huffed childishly "What then?"
Paarthurnax looked at them for a moment, before he dug his hands into his pocket and pulled out two necklaces.
Rowen gasped and stepped behind Drizzt; holding onto his cloak.
"What are they?" Drizzt asked, feeling a strange pull to the silver of the two. He reached for them, only for Paarthurnax to pull them away.
"These trinkets belong to the true rulers of Tamriel, the Lady and Lord of dragons. If you aren't that, they'll disintegrate you. Thousands of protective spells are upon me right now."
Rowen stepped forward, laying her hand out "The golden one. It's mine"
Paarthurnax smiled "How can you be so sure?"
"I just am. The gold one, it's mine" She repeated. Paarthurnax nodded and held them out, the silver to Drizzt and gold to Rowen
"You must not take them off. Ever."
They nodded and wrapped their hands around them.
Drizzt felt an odd sense of authority and purpose as he slung the silver around his neck, tucking it securely under his shirt.
Rowen, however, felt an earth shattering panic rise in her chest, and began to have horrid flashes of a burning city.
"RUN, YAMKA-
A racing heart, beating loudly in her ears.
"Miraak, please. It doesn't have to be like this."
An intense feeling of loss and sadness.
"I will rule! FAH! REAPETĘ! FÜS!"
Nothing. Waking up in Helgen.
Though, suddenly, an extreme feeling of happiness pulsed through her.
She had a family.
And they were alive.
And tears of happiness soon built up in her eyes.
Drizzt grabbed hold of her shoulder, jumping back as she tightly drew her arms around his neck.
"What..?
She pulled back and grabbed his face as if to keep him focused on her "My family. I've got a mother, an-and a father."
Drizzt smiled, her happiness almost contagious "That's wonderful."
She nodded, turning back to Paarthurnax.
"This is only the beginning of remembrance. You were torn away from your family hundreds of years ago, they will be most happy to see you"
Drizzt nodded "How do we get there?"
"The Padomaic ocean." Paarthurnax said "It's the ocean that separates Tamriel and Atmorta. 150 miles out, delve into the deepest depth of the water, and open the door with your keys"
Rowen looked at Drizzt "Delphine. What about Delphine and the blades?"
Paarthurnax sighed sadly "There is no need to return to Riverwood."
"What? No, I promised her." Rowen said, shaking her head rapidly.
"I know you did" Paarthurnax said "She's gone. On her way home, she was attacked by assassins. She..lost the fight."
Rowen looked down.
Drizzt grabbed her hand "It's no fault of your own"
Rowen didn't say anything, but she kept a firm grip on his hand even as he tried to pull away.
"Are you taking us there, Paarthurnax?" She asked the old dragon, who simply shook his head.
"No. But you will find me there when your arrive. I promise this" He bowed lowly, and before either of them had a chance to say anything else, he was gone. Without a word, the friends and their animal companions began their way down the mountain.