The Travel Companion
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By: Shal Trboyevich
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The sun had risen.

Many years had passed since Drizzt's first journey to the surface, and yet it still enraptured his heart to view the sunrise as he had when he first journeyed out of the land of the starless night. Though the years of living on the surface had done him well, in more ways than spiritually, the light of the sun still stung his sensitive elven eyes to view its glory.

He hated to leave Mithril Hall now; after helping his dear friend Bruenor reclaim his home, but he had questions that he hoped the Lady of Silverymoon might answer.

Drizzt was brought back from his contemplations when he heard a shrill cry from the forest below. Standing on a high vantage point, he saw the outlines of three bandits confronting a smaller, seemingly overmatched, individual. Dropping down from his perch, he descended the mountain path that lead to the main road towards Silverymoon.

Drizzt hoped that he would get there in time to help the poor traveler, and he wanted to cause no unnecessary injuries, as this might just be a misunderstanding. Finally reaching the road, the drow lost sight of the action, for the traveler was hidden a couple hundred yards away behind a dense copse of trees.

Stopping quickly to summon Guenhwyvar, Drizzt glanced toward the direction of the traveler. Soon the telltale mist dissipated and Guenhwyvar's powerful feline form took shape.

"I only want to stop the fight ahead," Drizzt said to the panther. She responded in a low growl, and Drizzt knew she understood.

Guenhwyvar sprung away in to the shadows and soon disappeared from sight. Taking back up the figurine and placing it in his pocket, Drizzt sprinted down the road to where things suddenly became very quiet.

Upon arriving at the densely forested section of the road, Drizzt was totally unprepared for the scene that faced him.

Amid three unconscious men, stood an elven girl probably just in her twenties faced off with Guenhwyvar. She held in her left hand a dagger of curious make, and though her hands did not tremble with fear, her seemingly calm demeanor was betrayed by the slight quiver in her voice.

"Call off your devil beast, drow. Lest you wish me to banish it to one of the nine hells." Her voice was melodious and gentle, but she sounded dead serious.

Drizzt had to chuckle at the notion of a one hundred-pound girl challenging a six hundred-pound panther with only a dagger.

"If you continue to laugh at me, I shall . . ."

In order to save the girl's own dignity, he made no sudden moves. Slowly he moved his hands from the hilt of his scimitars, and reached into his pocket. Carefully he withdrew the onyx figurine, and set it upon the ground.

"Guenhwyvar, be gone."

The great feline form disappeared into a cloud of mist and soon afterward vanished. Drizzt began to bend down to retrieve the figurine, and noticed the girl to give an audible sigh of relief.

"I mean you no harm," Drizzt began.

"You are drow. You live to harm," she stated matter-of-factly.

"You misunderstand my actions. I am Drizzt Do'Urden."

The girl visibly let down her guard and relaxed her stance.

"I am on my way to Silverymoon, and if you are headed the same direction, I would enjoy your company." Moving a step closer, Drizzt offered his hand to the elf maiden, which she accepted in a warrior's grasping handshake rather than the traditional method for a young maiden.

"I am called Cirea. I would love to accompany you, famous goodly drow. I have heard so many deeds that you have accomplished. I make it my business to know of adventurers, especially rangers, bounty hunters, and a few select others." She sheathed her dagger and tried to brush off her soiled tunic and leggings, but she gave the task no real importance.

Gesturing to the three unconscious men laying nearby, Drizzt stated, "I had come to help."

"Your help was not needed. As you can see, I am capable to fend for myself."

"Yes, as I can see."

Eyeing him carefully, she retrieved a bag that she had hidden behind a tree and pulled out a dark green hat. Tucking her medium length, honey colored hair beneath the curiously shaped hat, she started off down the road at an even, but quick pace. Drizzt shook his head as he glanced at the still forms of three men, and sprinted lightly to catch up to Cirea.

For the remainder of the morning and the rest of the afternoon, their journey had been uneventful, save for Cirea's very talkative mood.

The sun soon descended past the horizon, and Drizzt began searching for a site to camp. Not long afterwards, a small fire was lit to warm the slight chill in the spring air. Drizzt and his companion sat on opposing sides of the fire.

"I'm a gold elf, you know," Cirea stated looking across to where Drizzt sat. "I'm going to be famous, too."

Drizzt, curious about his young companion's background, couldn't help but look at the beautifully crafted flute that she held. The cool silvery color of the flute seemed to uniquely compliment Cirea's honey colored hair now hanging loose around her shoulders.

"Are you to become a bard or a musician?" Drizzt questioned.

"I am a famous bard of renown in areas far from here." Cirea paused for a long moment, as if to gather her thoughts. "I also wish to be highly respected. Most people don't take a elven girl seriously. Some joke to those poor souls."

"Why are you traveling to Silverymoon alone? The way is dangerous, for many monsters lurk in dark shadows."

"I'm on my way to a convention in the city. What sort of jewelry is that about your neck?" Drizzt removed the unicorn pendant that Regis had carved for him out of scrimshaw, and held it up before his eyes.

"It was given to me by a dear friend." Drizzt thought about the last time he had seen Regis in Calimport and wondered how his little friend fared. He thought of that mischievous ruby pendant as he slipped his own necklace over his head and replaced it under his tunic.

"I love scrimshaw ornaments," Cirea whispered more to herself than to Drizzt.

"Is your flute made of mithril? Drizzt questioned, looking at the unusually, yet extraordinary workmanship of the diminutive instrument.

"Yes, it is, though most people don't believe me. I received this from a dear friend you could say. See the keys," she stepped over to where Drizzt was sitting so he could inspect the keys. "They're studded with gems like sapphires, rubies, even a diamond. This flute was crafted by a dwarven metal smith near my home. The body was made of mithril because that is the only metal the old dwarf would work with. Would you like to hear me play?" Drizzt studied the interesting instrument and nodded his head. "I would be honored to hear your talent."

Bringing the delicate looking flute to her lips, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. At first the melody of the song started softly, bringing a calm peace to Drizzt's end. He could not help but be soothed by the somniferous notes. He had never realized that he was being put to sleep, until the next morning when he awoke.

At first he could only remember a wonderful dream of peaceful serenity and renewed faith, but soon a feeling telling him that something was wrong overtook that tranquil sensation. Sitting up to look across the ashes of the fire, he saw that his interesting little travel companion had departed early. He also took note of her tracks leading away down the trail. Trying to recall all of Cirea's intentions and actions, Drizzt tried to sort out last nights events. Immediately his hand reached for the scrimshaw pendant around his neck and discover it missing though now that he thought of it, the less it surprised him.

Drizzt leapt up in celeritous pursuit of the thief. Being a ranger, he had no trouble spotting her trail, but too often she doubled back or crossed streams that caused Drizzt to backtrack his own steps.

By afternoon, Drizzt neared a heavily wooded section of the road. The perceptive ranger knew this to be an ideal place for an ambush. He walked on through the dense clusters of trees. Before reaching the middle of the woods, his sensitive drow ears picked up the sound of a small twig snap about fifty yards behind him. He recognized the ploy for what it was and played along, pretending not to notice.

After taking a few more steps, he deftly spun around and used his attacker's momentum to flip her into a roll.

Cirea came out of the roll and stood up, though clearly dazed.

"Little thief, I believe you have something of mine," Drizzt called to her.

Smiling, she held up the pendant and called out to him. "It will be yours once again, but only if you can catch me first. I want to see how I compare to Drizzt Do'Urden."

Cirea smiled and took off running into the woods.

Drizzt laughed at her spirit for challenging him. He knew she would give it back to him sooner or later.

After calling Guenhwyvar, Drizzt sent the panther to route the young girl, and he took off running in silent pursuit.

Cirea could never outrun the light-footed drow, but she used the geography of the area to her own advantage.

Springing lightly over trenches and numerous logs and wiggling through thick patches of thistle brush, she soon made her way from her pursuer. That is until she looked over her shoulder to locate the drow, and almost tripped over Guenhwyvar's black feline form. Cursing aloud Cirea tried to move around the panther, but Guenhwyvar would not let her pass. Pulling out her flute, Cirea began to play a slight haunting melody, but the panther shook of the effects of the sleeping spell and growled loudly, mainly to frighten the girl.

Cirea nearly jumped out of her skin when Drizzt unexpectedly tapped her shoulder.

"Where did you come from?" She gasped.

Drizzt, hardly worked up, simply stated, "You have to do a little better than that." He held out his hand, and Cirea reluctantly gave the unicorn pendant back to its rightful owner.

"That was hardly fair. I would have lost you if it wasn't for your damned cat."

"Hardly. I knew that you would take the course that would be the hardest for me to follow so I simply anticipated your movements and used it to my own advantage. Now I think you should tell me who you really are."

"I don't know what you mean," Cirea said, flustered.

"I believe you do."

"Okay. I'm not really a bard. In fact, I'm far from it, but I didn't lie when I told you my name was Cirea."

"And why are you traveling to Silverymoon?"

"I'm not really going anywhere. I'm just a wanderer."

"Amazingly I don't believe that, either."

"Okay, okay. I'm a thief. Are you happy?"

"Why are you going to Silverymoon?" Drizzt repeated.

"The truth is that I wasn't even going to Silverymoon. I was running away from it. I happened to require a magical item there."

Drizzt's eyes widen in astonishment as Cirea pulled a unicorn pendant, slightly smaller than his with diamond's embedded in it's eyes, from her small traveling bag.

"I had took it from the Lady Alustriel's bedroom. When I seen your almost exact pendant I hoped to replace the one I stole with yours. I knew it was a real slim chance, but you have to admit, I held out longer than I thought I would against you."

"What reasons did you have for taking it?"

"It's pretty," Cirea sighed and continued, "and it was supposedly made in Myth Drannor a very long time ago. Word has it that it contains very potent magic."

"Give it to me, and I'll return it to Alustriel when I go to visit her I will not tell her who was responsible for its absence."

She reluctantly handed it to Drizzt. "I want you to know that I don't want to make enemies with the Lady of Silverymoon."

"Why did you agree to come back towards Silverymoon with me if you were in flight?" Drizzt asked, now curious of her motives.

"Are you kidding? Miss a chance to travel with Drizzt Do'Urden?" Drizzt looked at Cirea, and she continued, "I knew you'd make me give it back." She took off her hat and retucked her hair. Then she turned and began to walk away towards the south.

"I'm going home Drizzt Do'Urden. I wish you luck in the future. Perhaps we'll meet again."

"Perhaps," called Drizzt, "but I doubt you are going home."

Looking back over her shoulder at him she said, "You're right."

The End