Am I so different?
Forgotten Realms



Drizzt Do’Urden walked silently through one of the towns in Ten-Towns. He wore his cowl over his dark ebony face, trying to obscure his dark complexion marking him as a Drow. But it was importunate...for everyone in Ten-Towns knew of the outcast Dark Elf. Not one person of Ten-Towns would personally acknowledge Drizzt, even though he had saved the Towns from oblivion--twice...For Drizzt was kin to the hated and feared Drow.

So Drizzt Do’Urden’s heroic deeds went unnoticed. Instead of a sincere greeting or two the Dark Elf received cold and mistrustful glares from the people he called his own. But the Drow took the looks stoically. He was use to such treatment and in truth, expected no less then just a small ounce of tolerence that the people of Ten-Towns gave him. To Drizzt, these people had no reason to trust him. He was a Drow after all.

As he walked, Drizzt kept his eyes humbly on the ground at his feet. It seemed logically, really, to not stare the ones that hated him in the face. But if he had raised his eyes he would of seen the young woman walking straight towards him with a look of pure determination on her angelic features. It was at the last moment that he noticed her. The Drow straightened, peering down at her through his white hair and shadows of his cowl.

“Drizzt Do’Urden?” she asked. The Drow nodded slightly, noting the small crowd of people gathering around him and the girl that had confronted him. “Remove your cowl.” she demanded.

Unsure of her motives, Drizzt continued to eye her, not yielding to her demand. The girl placed her hands on her hips and said again, this time more forcefully, “Remove your cowl, Drow.”

Hesitantly the Dark Elf reached up and slipped the hood off his head, blinking owlishly at the bright sun as it tore mercilessly at his sensitive irises. The drow had a slim face, high cheek bones like that of a surface Elf, the thin lips, high eyebrow, and the customary white locks of hair that the Drow all had. Drizzt Do’Urden had the features of a innocent man, with wisdom beyond his years...

The girl looked at him, her face softening. “There...that wasn’t too bad, now was it?” she asked. Drizzt continued to give the girl a blank stare, still unsure of where all of this lead. “Drow people aren’t that bad.” the girl stated.

Drizzt winced back noticeably, a look of inner turmoil filling his eyes. “You are wrong.” he stated in his soft almost musical voice. “There are little to no other Drow like myself. All the others would great your kindess with the cold edge of a blade.”

The girl looked un-phased. “Well, I’ll be sure to give them a piece of my mind next time I see one.”

“I advise otherwise, little one.” Drizzt said gently. “Drow know of no mercy.”

“Are you referring to yourself as well?” she asked.

Drizzt did not know how to reply. He wasn’t quite sure how to. Sometimes Drizzt would like to believe he was nothing like his kin...But on several occasions the Dark Elf found himself enjoying killing--having the lust for blood.

“I know of no other Drow who would save the life of an entire community...twice.” she said. Drizzt raised his eyes and met hers. “I still do not understand,” she continued, glaring around at the gathered crowd, “why these people would turn their backs on a man that saved their lives!”

Drizzt smiled a sincere smile then swept into an elegant, graceful bow. “I thank you.” he said to her.

“For what?” the girl asked puzzled.

“For looking past the color of my skin...But I fear that the voice of one young woman cannot alter the feelings of hundreds of people. I know that my people are discriminated against, and for good reason too. And I understand that people are suspicous of my motives, though as good as my intentions may be...I’d rather not be explaining myself to hundreds of peoples continously. I’d rather just save my breath for an insult or two against an Orc or Goblin.”


The girl stared at him silently then asked softly, “Why did you leave, Drow? Why would you leave the comfort of the darkness for the racism and hate from the surface world?”


Drizzt closed his almond shaped eyes and let out a soft sigh. “The underworld is a horrible place.” he stated painfully. “Thousands of times worse than the surface world could ever be. There’s so much chaos and destruction down there...that no one ever stops to take in the exquisite beauty there...” He shook his head, his silvery locks of hair swaying elegantly about his handsome face. “There was so much death... As soon as you killed one person you found a knife to you back the next minute...And they killed children!” He shuddered and lowered his face. “I could not stand the screams of the dying nobles as one of my own kin would drive a knife into their tiny little hearts...They knew of no evil...Innocent...” he raised his hands up and stared down at them as if they were cursed. “they were untainted at birth...But brought into the world to destroy...” he clenched his fists together and lowered them to his sides. “I rather face the solitude and blinding sun millions of times over then raise my sword against a child.” he shook his head slowly, opening his eyes to stare at the girl quietly. “I favor the light of the surface world over the darkness in the hearts of my kin.”

The girl nodded slightly. “I cannot even begin to image the horror you’ve been through, Drow. And for that...I envy your will to survive.” She stepped foward onto her tippy toes and gave Drizzt a gentle kiss on the cheek. She bit her lip to keep from laughing as the Dark Elf gave her a look of confusion and surprise. “Oh...Drizzt! Your hair is absolutely horrid!” She took a lock of the Drow’s soft white hair into her hand and fingered it gently. “How do you see when you fight? Wait--here.” She pulled the pony tail from her hair and swept the Dark Elves’ hair up into a loose pony tail, slipping a few of the bangs from the Elves’ hair to give him a look of pure innosence. “You’re absolutely adorable.” she said, giggling.

"I..." Drizzt started in protest, then he stopped, smiling. "Thank you." he said, with another one of his elegant bows.

She smiled again, "Are you even going to ask my name, humble one?" Drizzt looked embarassed, and laughing the girl said, "My name is Fiora."

"Fiora..." Drizzt said softly, trying the girls name on his own lips. "That is beautiful."

"Thank you." she said sweetly. "When will you return, Drizzt?"

"I'm unsure, little one. Whenever time decides it is appropiate."

"I'll take that as a 'soon'." she grinned. "Until next time, Drizzt Do'Urden." she curtsied then slipped off between the gathered crowd. Drizzt looked after her, smiling at her sincerity.

Drizzt turned to leave but found Kemp-leader of the town scowling down at the Dark Elf. The man's nostriles flared in anger, his face white with rage. "I dont know of what inclement magic you placed among that woman" He yelled, "But I will not tolerate it! Out, you wretched thing--out of my town!"

Drizzt looked at the man evenly, his lavender eyes almost hurt, yet holding intergrity. The Dark elf gave a short bow
and turned to leave.

"If I see your face here ever again," Kemp called, " I swear to all that is holy that I will strike you down without hesitation if you dare show your shadowed face here again!"

It was an empty threat, Drizzt knew as he pulled his cowl over his silvery hair, but it was a threat nevertheless. Being as humble as he was, Drizzt would honor the mans 'request' and not interfer with the people of this town. The Drow decided that the towns were getting along very well at the moment and anything that may give excuse for them to fight with each other again could not be proposed. There were mixed feelings about the Drow, Drizzt knew, and he did not want to hurt the growing bond Ten-Towns had began to develope.

But still...the little warmth he had felt when Fiora had been so open minded about him had smoldered into dying embers fro the reality Kemp had back handed Drizzt with.

Drizzt was starting up the mountain to his small cave that served as his home, nestled in the towering peaks, when the Drow realized how different from his kin he truely was. A dull throb pounded in his chest, almost matching another feeling he had learned, guilt. The Drow guessed the feeling he felt now was another of the unknown emotions his race didn't have...and quietly, the Drow noted that it was probably one of the emotions his people felt were weak.

He sighed half to himself as he entered his small home. He glanced briefly around the unadorned room then sat down on one of the bear skins he had acquired from Bruenor. The Dark Elf absently stroked the soft fur, slipping into the depths of his mind and letting it wander and turn over experiences he had had on the surface world.

Drizzt leaned back against the cave wall, his lavender eyes drifting absently to the ceiling. Slowly, deliberately, he turned each of his memories of the surface world over in his mind. All of the encounters with the surface dewalers, mostly bad experiences, all of the places he had seen (and then promptly chased out of).

It dawned on Drizzt, that maybe, just maybe, he had made a mistake of coming to the surface world.

He sighed regretfully, knowing himself to only be warped in his own melancholy at the moment to really make any sense. He was depressed from his recent encounter with the human girl, Fiora. But that didn't mean that he had made the wrong choice of leaving the hated underworld for the light.

Did it?

Drizzt's brow ferrowed and a almost pouting look pursed his lips.

Had he been wrong? Should he had stayed there?

A soft chuckle escaped his dark lips and he shook his head. He was being foolish now. He brought back his arms behind his head and leaned back, kicking his legs out infront of himself comfortably. As he shifted something pressed against his hip and he looked down at it as a small smile slipped onto his lips.

Guenhwyvar's onxy figurine. Drizzt pulled the figurine out of one of his pockets and turned the statue in his elbony hands gently. The panther had been his longest friend. He stroked the side of it tenderly.

"Guenhwyvar." he called gently. A gray mist appeared beside the dark elf and swirled omniously for a moment until a huge, black panther appeared. Guenhwyvar crouched low for a moment, her yellow eyes assessing it's location. She straightend and sat on her haunches, giving Drizzt a long look. "Guenhwyvar." Drizzt said again, holding out his hand to her. The panther obediently stepped foward and rubbed her head against the Drow's hand.

The panther idly batted the side of the Drow's face with one of her huge paws and tilted her head, almost as if she understood the Drow's mood.

Drizzt sighed softly, "Oh, Guenhwyvar...where would I be without you?" he asked. He rubbed her ears with both hands, smiling as Guenhwyvar broke into a deep, lazy purr. The panther shifted her weight and stepped halfway over Drizzt, one huge paw on each side of the dark elves' waist and then rested her head on the Drow's stomach. Drizzt laughed softly and continued to pet the panther.

Drizzt began to drift away into his thoughts again, but the shuffling of boots snapped the Drow awake. He tensed slightly and let his hands find the edges of his scimitars as Guenhwyvar gave a soft growl in her throat. Catti-brei stepped into the cave and gave a soft smile to Drizzt, her auburn hair flaring brightly in the sun. Guenhwyvar gave the human girl a courious look then yawned loudly and laid her head back onto Drizzt's abdomen.

"Hey, Drizzt." she greeted quietly, sitting herself across from the drow. Drizzt leaned back, staring back at her through half mast eyes as he petted Guenhwyvar who had began to nuzzel his hand demandingly. "I heard what happened in the town." she said.

"So?" Drizzt said offhandedly. He shifted his gaze away from the women and let them settle on a spot a foot from her head, uncomfortable by her intense stare.

"Will ye be alright, drow?" she asked.

Drizzt almost laughed out loud at the absurdity of the question. "Catti-brei, how many times have you seen me be rejected? I'm use to it by now. I'm a drow."

"Not just any drow." she said defiantly, lifting her chin slightly. "Ye are Drizzt Do'Urden."

This time, Drizzt did laugh. "Yes, Drizzt Do'Urden." he said contumaciously throwing his fist into the air mockingly. "Renegade drow, protector of humans, follower of Miliki*!" Guenhwyvar raised her head to give Drizzt a inquiring look, her ears flattening. Drizzt shook his head and scratched the panthers' face roughly. "I wont be accepted here, Catti-brei. Maybe by you, Bruenor, Wulfgar, Regis and a few others..." he shrugged almost apologetically, "But drow outlive dwarves, halfings and humans."


Catti-brei narrowed her eyes dangerously and stood. "Drizzt Do'Urden, I am ashamed of ye." she said coldly.

Drizzt looked at her evenly. "At the moment, I don't really care." he replied. Catti-brei's scowl deepend on her beautiful face. Drizzt mentally rolled his eyes. "Catti-brei, I'll be fine."

"That's not the point!" she yelled, stomping her foot.

"What's the point then?" Drizzt shot back angerily. "That you're going to get all worked up every time someone sees me for what I am?"

"Ye are not just a drow!" she screamed. Tear's welled in her emerald eyes, "I just wish that everyone could see what lies beneath yer dark skin, me friend." She walked over and Guenhwyvar stood up and laid next to her master. Catti-brei sat next to Drizzt hugging him and saying softly, "I really wish people would stop and consider that a drow walking through a town without his weapons drawn could be something worth holding dear to."

Drizzt raised his eyes to the ceiling and didn't reply. He too, had contemplated the same thing.

~*~

Drizzt sighed again, Catti-brie noted, sending the dark elf a worried--secretive--glance. It had been a almost a week since the incident in Ten-Towns. Drizzt had seemed to shut himself out to the rest of the world, silent, brooding. He answered with slight nods and short sentences. Drizzt had been infected by Kemp's rejection, even if the drow would not admit it openly.

Catti-brie was worried for her elbony-skinned friend.

"It's a beautiful day." she noted, giving Drizzt a wide small. They were standing up in the cliffs overlooking the cold tundra of Icewind Dale. The wind was blowing gently, tossing about their hair playfully--the air wasn't chilly, nor was it warm, but it seemed to have a pleasant sort of feel to it. Catti-brie cleared her throat noticing that Drizzt hadn't reacted to her proclamation. "Nice weather..." she said slowly, rocking back onto her heels.

Drizzt gave her a dead pan look, "Beautiful." he agreed at length, turning his lavender gaze back to the rising sun. Not once had the drow missed one of these exquisite sunrises since he had come to the surface world. But the fire in his eyes--Catti-brie saw-- that were always fascinated by all these simultaneous dream-like paintings, seemed not to be there.

Catti-brie straightend her resolve and walked over to the drow, tossing back her auburn locks. "Drizzt Do'Urden!" she said firmly, loudly. The snowy-haired drow looked at her blankly. "This is ridiculous, Drizzt!" she said. "When are ye going to snap out of this--this awful mood?"

Drizzt shrugged nonchantly, "I dont know what you're talking about." he said emotionlessly, turning away from her. Catti-brie grabbed the drow by the elbow and spun him about to face her.

"Ye're being all melancholy!" she said. "I want the old Drizzt back!"

Drizzt smiled, almost painfully, "There is nothing wrong, dear Catti-brie. I am fine." He bent down and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "I believe Wulfgar was looking for you this morning." he said, changing the subject. "Why dont you go see him?" He smiled at her again then turned and left down the trail.

Catti-brie sighed, watching her friend decend down the mountain.

Where all Drow oblivious to their emotions like Drizzt? she wondered.

Drizzt muttered to himself as he picked his way carefully on the well-worn trail. A scowl touched his handsome face, his eyebrows were arched down in thought, his lips upturned into a silent sneer. What was wrong with him? He was use to being treated...treated like...like a drow. His scowl deepened and he almost spit on the ground in spite of himself.

How Ten-Towns angered him! He had expected to come here in hopes that a place that homed rouges, ruffians, and outlaws might accept a lone drow. He shook his head fiercely. What did he expect? Everyone to give him one look and just accept him because he's an outcast drow? A "protector" of the people? Drizzt grinded his teeth in frustration.

It wasn't fair. Being a drow was just not fair.

Drizzt rounded a sharp bend in the rocky trail and let out a soft sigh. His gaze fell upon the clustered city of Ten-Towns huddled around the lakes. His lavender eyes bore a sincere saddness as he stared quietly down at the town, and a almost bitter smile touched his lips.

How he longed to be accepted there.

He forced his gaze away from Ten-Towns and walked into his little cave. He would talk to Fiora again. Tomorrow he would sneak into the town to talk to her.

It had been tomorrow for the last week.

[Ramirez]



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