Chapter Text
Nightstone lay a day's journey through the Ardeep Forest. By the time they arrived at sunset, the group was exhausted from the march.
Zasudur carries Thallen to keep him from slowing the group. Those who are not constructs struggle to maintain a consistent pace, due to exhaustion.
They arrive at a village once abandoned and ransacked by goblins, that now bustles with life. Farmers sell their wares. Children play outside their homes. Its violent history remains hidden from anyone who doesn’t know where to look.
Rusty, however, notes the town's scars from recent attack. They pass areas of broken stone, scorched beams, and a few boarded windows. Despite this, life has returned cautiously. Lanterns glow along the road, and the inn still stands.
It's Mavlivyne that speaks first. "For the love of every god, can we focus on food, ale, and sleep?" she groans.
Tyranna nods furiously, taking the lead to a tavern.
Inside, warmth greets them. The tavern was smaller than most in Waterdeep, but lively enough to make up for it. Warm light spilled across rough wooden tables, the smell of ale and roasting meat thick in the air.
Rusty collapses into a chair. “I’m not sleeping outside again," he announces. “Civilization has chairs.”
Tyranna laughs as she drops into the seat across from him. “Careful. You might start enjoying comfort.”
The tavern is crowded but not hostile, loud enough to hide subtleties.
Rusty enthusiastically begins explaining something about mechanical joints to Zasudur and a deeply confused farmer. Tyranna listens to a group of travelers describing road conditions north of the village. Mavlivyne and Thallen have already brought a round of ale to the table. Drizzt graciously accepts a tankard, and joins them at a table.
Khana leans against the bar, waiting to look over wares, holding her tankard with both hands. A man at the bar turns slightly toward Khana. He isn’t overtly drunk or rude. Just curious in a way that lingers too long.
“I didn’t expect to see your kind this far north,” he says.
She doesn’t turn fully toward him. “And yet.”
The stranger smiles faintly. “You’re… striking.”
Khana meets his gaze now. “I am aware.”
The man chuckles. “I meant no offense.”
“Then you have succeeded.”
Across the room, Drizzt watches the exchange without appearing to watch it. His posture remains relaxed, one boot hooked against the rung of his chair, but his attention has sharpened.
The man's gaze drifts, assessing. “Are you traveling alone?”
Before she answers, she feels it. Not movement. Stillness.
“No.”
The answer came from across the room before Khana could respond.
The man glances over his shoulder, briefly confused. Drizzt has not moved from his seat, but his gaze meets Khana’s calmly from across the tavern.
Khana’s mouth twitches faintly. “Not alone,” she confirms, taking a sip of her drink.
The man shrugs, unbothered. “Still worth asking.”
Thallen snorts loudly, from the table. “Bold strategy,” he mutters into his mug.
The conversation ends there.
The night becomes nothing but food, drink, and easy laughter. Khana finds herself periodically allowing banter amongst herself and the party.
The night stretches on, and Khana slips outside without announcing it.
She appreciates the quiet and cool air, watching the village lanterns cast soft pools of gold across the road. For a moment she simply breathes, letting the noise of the tavern fade behind her.
She leans against the wooden railing outside the inn, just as the door opens behind her. She doesn't turn.
“You assessed him for threat,” she says, feeling the familiar weight of his attention settle between her shoulders.
“Yes.”
“And?”
“You handled it well."
He approaches, stopping beside her and resting his forearms against the railing. "You weren't in danger."
"Your approach was definitely surprising."
His mouth curves faintly. “I prefer not to be predictable."
She hums softly, but doesn't respond.
The wind shifts, stirring the loose strands of her hair. When his shoulder brushes hers as he shifts his weight against the railing, neither of them moves away.
She becomes aware of his hands hanging off the railing. Still, even when standing at ease.
Silence stretches long enough to become intentional.
Khana tilts her head slightly, studying him from the corner of her eye.
"You're being careful," she says.
"I usually am."
"Not like this."
She gestures vaguely between them. The words hang there.
He exhales quietly, eyes flicking away. "Your observation is correct."
She looks at him then, studying him more openly. “That must require great discipline.”
His eyes dart back to hers, mouth curving slightly. “It does.”
The tone shifts unmistakeably, because they both know they are no longer talking about the tavern.
Khana's mouth tilts faintly at one corner. “I imagine it becomes uncomfortable.”
Drizzt turns toward her. “It can.”
She turns to meet him fully. Her shoulders straighten, not with tension, but anticipation. He sees it, his jaw tightening slightly. The restraint in movement is louder than any action.
“If you continue looking at me that way,” he says quietly, the control in his voice deliberate, “this will become difficult.”
She should look away. Instead, she holds his gaze a second longer than necessary.
The door slams open. Before either of them can respond, Tyranna shoves between them and braces herself against the railing. She leans over, vomiting up the contents of her stomach.
Drizzt straightens slowly, blinking towards the back of Tyranna's head. "Well," he says, "that is unfortunate."
Khana stares in disbelief, then a slow smile spreads across her face. Drizzt watches as Khana leans in to brace Tyranna for the next round of sickness.
"You sure know how to make an entrance, friend," Drizzt sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. Not in frustration, but humor. Almost relief.
Khana laughs then, unrestricted.
Drizzt looks over in surprise, as she braces Tyranna while trying to not collapse as the laughter continues.
Tyranna raises her hand slowly, in acknowledgement.
"The ale here sneaks up on you," she groans.
~*~
The party reaches the adjacent inn, pooling enough gold to purchase single rooms, as opposed to fighting over beds. Everyone moves toward the stairs, a full night’s rest finally awaiting them.
Drizzt gestures toward the entrance. “I’ll make a final patrol of the perimeter.”
He swiftly turns and leaves. Upstairs, the inn hallway is quiet. Lantern light flickers along wooden walls.
Everyone locates their rooms, Tyranna receiving support from Mavlivyne. Khana nearly reaches her door when she hears boots climbing the stairway behind her.
She doesn’t turn. “Your patrol was quick.”
Drizzt continues up the hall, stopping a few steps away. “The town is secure.”
Finally she glances back. “Your room appears to be closer towards the stairs, and you came this way anyway.”
His mouth tilts slightly. “I wanted to confirm you reached your room safely.”
Her eyes narrow. “You escorted me to the inn already.”
“Yes.”
“And you patrolled the perimeter.”
He folds his arms. “Nightstone appears to be extremely safe.”
She huffs a quiet laugh.
The tension softens — but only slightly.
Then he speaks again, tapping his fingers. “You’re planning to go below.”
His directness catches her by surprise. It wasn’t a question.
Khana glances at him sideways. “That obvious?”
“You noticed the tether that night,” he says calmly. “You've been quiet ever since. Doesn't take a scholar to put it together.”
She turns, as if focusing on the door. “The ritual is improving,” she says. “That corpse moved like a living warrior. If the cathedral is refining the spell, the source of that knowledge is likely below.”
Drizzt studied her a moment. “And you intend to investigate.”
“I intend to understand what we’re dealing with,” she replies, tracing her fingers down the door frame.
Drizzt exhales, awareness settling in. "You want to confirm your house is responsible.”
Her hand stills. “Yes.”
“And you think the answer lies below.”
She doesn’t deny it. “If the cathedral is connected to the Underdark, there has to be a path.”
Drizzt considers her carefully. “You would go alone.”
She doesn’t respond, which is answer enough.
He exhales slowly. “That is not happening.”
She turns to him now, her eyebrow lifting slightly. “You assume I was asking permission.”
“I assume you were not planning to ask anyone.”
“Correct.”
His eyes narrow, voice deliberately lowering. “Going alone would be reckless. You could have died two nights ago,” he says quietly.
“I handled it.”
“That is not the point.”
“It seems to be your favorite phrase lately.”
Drizzt’s expression tightens slightly. “If you go… I go.”
Khana blinks once. “That is a terrible idea," she says. "You are one of the most recognizable drow in existence.”
“I am aware.”
“So you think walking into Menzoberranzan territory of all places is wise?”
“I did not say wise,” Drizzt responds, calmly. “Though, evidently necessary.”
“I survived the Underdark for over a century. You don’t realize how I move.”
His mouth tilts faintly. “That argument feels outdated."
The words are deliberate.
Her breath catches slightly at that, tension returning. There's less confrontation now, and much more gravity.
Khana studies him, before she exhales. “You’re very stubborn.”
“I’ve been told.”
She glances sideways at him. “And yes, I was planning to go alone.”
“I suspected.”
She opens her door slowly, before adding lightly, “And no, you’re not invited.”
Drizzt smiles faintly. “We’ll see.”
Now the space between them feels smaller.
Khana notices the details again. The quiet steadiness in his posture. The way his attention settles fully when he speaks to her.
He huffs a soft laugh. He realizes the threshold again, the same one from the sparring match.
Instead, he steps back. “Goodnight, Khana.”
The sudden distance feels louder than the closeness did.
She straightens slowly. “…Goodnight, Drizzt.”
He starts down the hall, towards his room. Halfway, she calls after him.
“Drizzt.”
He stops, glancing over his shoulder.
“You’re right,” she says. “I should have called for help.”
The admission is quiet. Honest.
His expression softens. “Next time,” he says.
“Next time,” she agrees.
She slips into the room and closes the door.
Drizzt stands there a moment longer before continuing down the hall.
Neither of them rest easily that night.
~*~
Ardeep’s canopy turns the late afternoon into muted green shadow, broken only by shafts of light cutting through the branches.
The morning had gone as planned. Thallen and Mavlivyne volunteered to scout the cathedral from their new vantage point. Zasudur and Rusty were to inquire around the village, regarding potential sightings of monsters or drow. Tyranna had joined Khana and Drizzt briefly at the edge of the grove, before breaking away to continue her inquiries with the Ardeep Elves.
There had been no argument when Khana and Drizzt had offered to search for an entrance to the Underdark. The thought of running into Lolth-Sworn was daunting enough that no one wanted to risk splitting their drow companions.
Khana did not share her intent to eventually travel below. Drizzt noticed.
~*~
The forest thickens as the path narrows.
Drizzt moves ahead silently, scanning the undergrowth and the terrain beyond.
Khana watches him as they walk. His stride is steady, quiet as always, but there’s a tightness in the way he moves. A coiled precision she usually only sees when he expects a fight.
She glances at the forest around them. Nothing moves.
Her gaze returns to him. Whatever he’s preparing for, it isn’t in the forest.
She continues following a few steps behind before veering off the trail slightly, crouching to study the earth.
“Fresh tracks,” she says. "Maybe-"
“Deer,” Drizzt responds, glancing back briefly.
She stands and gives him a look. “Annoying.”
“So you've said.”
They continue deeper into the trees. After a moment, Khana speaks again.
“You’re quiet.”
“Trying to be.”
She steps over a branch. "Usually you pretend scouting is thrilling. Or at least pretend you're enjoying yourself.”
Drizzt's gaze lifts toward the ridgeline ahead. “We could be close to the tunnel entrance.”
“So?”
“So I prefer not to announce ourselves.”
She hums softly, but lets it drop.
They walk for some time after that, the forest dimming as evening settles in. The air grows cooler beneath the tall pines, the light filtering through them in long, gold ribbons.
The air between them, however, remains tense.
Khana notices Drizzt watching the treeline. He doesn't appear to be searching, but thinking. The focus is too narrow.
She slows slightly.
Drizzt stops immediately. “What?”
Khana studies him. “You do that a lot,” she says.
“Do what?”
“Look like you’re measuring a threat.”
Drizzt doesn't answer. She notices that his hand rest at the hilt of his scimitar, not gripping it, but grounding.
Her gaze lifts back to his face, smirking now. "Unless something else has your attention."
"Khana..." His voice isn't sharp, but it carries weight.
She continues down the trail, moving around him. "Yes?"
"You have the tone that precedes trouble."
"I'm aware," she responds, glancing over her shoulder. "It's called being subtle. Now tell me something."
He watches her carefully. “What?”
She turns to face ahead, feigning dismissiveness. “Yesterday, you said you would follow me into the Underdark.”
“Yes.”
“Even knowing what that entails.”
“Correct.”
“And you expect me to believe that’s purely strategic?”
She turns again, only to find he has closed the distance between them, without her noticing. Not aggressively, just closer than expected.
Khana blinks once, before stepping closer.
"Tell me I'm wrong." she says, quietly.
She takes another step, close enough now that he catches the faint scent of pine in her hair.
Drizzt exhales slowly through his nose.
The tension from days ago still lingered between them. He knew she felt it too.
The heat that had been simmering all afternoon sharpens suddenly, pulling tight in his chest. The control he prides himself on feels dangerously thin, the familiar focus of battle twisted into something far less disciplined.
The silence stretches between them, tight as a drawn blade.
She only manages another step, before his hand catches her wrist.
It's fast, but not rough. He pulls her forward in a single step, eliminating the distance between them.
Her breath stills.
His voice is low. “You should stop flirting with danger.”
Her brow lifts slightly. “Is that what I'm doing?”
His jaw tightens. “You're testing limits you don’t intend to cross.”
She tilts her head, as slow smile touching the corner of her mouth. "Who says I don't intend on it?"
His gaze sharpens, something in it settling into place. He studies her for a beat too long, as if searching for hesitation. It becomes painfully clear that the line between them was long crossed.
He had assumed a boundary under the assumption of protecting her.
In a single motion he turns her, pressing her back against the broad trunk of a pine. Bark presses cool through her clothing as he steps in close, one arm braced beside her.
The air between them suddenly feels too warm, space deliberately shrinking.
For a moment, he simply looks at her, control held in place by habit alone. His breathing is controlled, but heavier now.
Then, he lowers his head to her temple, as his body pressed closer to her. "I want you, he breathes. The words brush against her ear, sending heat throughout her body. "Which means it would be wise," he adds quietly, "for you to be mindful."
She huffs a small laugh. "Or what?"
His breath warms the side of her neck. "Or I stop pretending restraint is working."
The teasing reply waiting on her tongue disappears, replaced by heat. "Doesn’t seem so," she says, barely a whisper
He stands full, something in his expression settling as the decision is made.
His hand slides from her wrist to her waist, drawing her forward as he closes the distance between them.
His mouth finds hers with sudden intensity. For a moment he forgets to breathe. The realization hits a heartbeat later, and he exhales sharply through his nose as the kiss deepens, restraint finally redirected instead of contained.
Khana makes a soft sound of surprise that turns quickly into approval.
This is different. Not curiosity, or accidental.
They break apart, only when breathing becomes urgent.
His eyes remain dark, locked into hers before he pulls her back in, one hand sliding behind her neck. The second kiss is deeper, his tongue melting into her waiting mouth, hungrier. The tension of days collapsing into a moment, as he pulls her flush against him. She feels the strength in him, the unmistakable press of his desire close against her.
Her head tilts as his mouth travels along her jaw, his hand shifting to cradle her face before moving to her neck. The patience he usually carries is gone, burned away by proximity and too many near misses.
Her breath catches, as she feels his mouth pulling and biting against her neck. Her hands trace down his chest, feeling the tension coiled beneath the leather and muscle.
One of his hands catches hers, guiding it lower with unmistakable intent. A sharp breath escapes her, as her palm presses against the strain in his pants.
Confidence suited him dangerously well.
His temple lowers to hers, lips parting as she grazes her nails lightly against where his sex presses against his pants. She applies more pressure, her hand wrapping around the imprint of him. His hips press forward in response, exhaling against her ear.
Khana’s knees buckle slightly in response. Drizzt lets out a breathy laugh. “I still haven’t heard-“ his tongue flicks against her earlobe, “-that you’re done playing games.” His hand at her waist moves to hike her leg around him, indicating for her to slide her hand from him to allow access between her legs. He intentionally moves his hips, brushing himself against her waiting core.
She leans her head against the pine, as sensation between her legs noticeably begins to sharpen. “I- Ah- He grinds himself against her again, causing her composure to bend. She responds by turns her head towards the hand cupping her face, and wrapping her lips around his thumb. He inhales sharply, posture stiffening as she sucks gently at his finger.
He raises his gaze to meet hers again, pressing his thumb against her tongue. She responds with her tongue twirling against him, sucking hard when his expression is clearly undone.
He reaches for her underclothing, yanking the barrier down her leg, before moving both hands to lift her. He pins her body to the tree with his, bracing her upright as he quickly undoes his pants, his length springing free with urgency. She shifts to help him align himself to her, the need turning to an insatiable ache. He leaves no room for further teasing, pushing himself deep inside of her. They both exhale sharply, the weight of the days finally releasing
Drizzt buries his head into her shoulder, as Khana braces herself, moving as much as the space between him and the tree allows her. Their foreheads meet, both their breaths coming out in pants, parted lips hovering over one another. Her hand moves to his hair, pulling lightly, and he responds with a groan.
He continues rocking his hips against her, the ache between her legs responding with each brush of him. She feels her legs stiffen around him, greedily wrapping tighter around his hips.The bark against her begins to scrape her shoulder.
He pauses, face flushed, and angles himself to pull out of her. Her eyes dart to his, a plea at the tip of her tongue, but is cut off as he moves her away from the trunk. Leaves scatter under his boots as he lowers her down onto the forest floor with far less patience than he has shown all evening. He follows her down to the earth, into another kiss that's heavier, charged with certainty. He turns her quickly onto her stomach, a small gasp of satisfaction leaving her. He lifts her hips, just enough to enter her from behind in a fluid motion.
Their movements maintain urgency, rhythm forming faster with rougher edges. She braces her hands on the ground beneath her, as he lowers his chest to her back, deepening his reach inside of her. A sound escapes her involuntarily, residual buildup from earlier resuming towards climax.
He lowers his face to her neck, his breath heating her skin, as the hand at her hip moves to her core. She gasps, the moment his fingers find the spot that sends her over the edge, moving with rhythmic precision and pressure.
Khana's head tilts back, her hips rocking against his, as a cry escapes her before she can contain it. Drizzt's forehead presses against her shoulder, as the hand bracing him moves to her neck. He pulls her slighly upright, pumping against her as he rides out her climax. She whimpers, pushing against him greedily as the last shudders leave her body.
She moves quickly, lifting herself from him so she can turn her body. She pulls at his shoulders, pulling him on top of her, as he enters her again. He resumes his speed, his mouth hovering over hers, as she moves with similar urgency. She reaches up, pulling him close enough to latch her mouth under his collarbone. She bites down, sucking gently, causing a sound to escape his throat. A hand slides underneath her, giving him deeper access, her breath leaving her as her core begins to sharpen with warmth again.
Drizzt's breath leaves him in a shudder, his thrusting progressing to rhythmic pounds against her. He exhales sharply, another sound leaving him as she feels the tensing of his body, his release pulsing inside of her. Her mouth latches in the crook of his neck, as she moves her hips to ride out his climax. She breaks from his neck to gasp, as his final thrusts causes her to come again, milking the last of his release. Their mouths hover over one another, breath creating heat, muscles releasing.
Her head falls back to the mossy earth, eyes closed, breath uneven. His face remains buried in the crook of her neck, allowing himself time for the forest to settle around them again.
After a moment, he slowly lifts his head, brushing his hair away from her face. She exhales a laugh, her body relaxing as he moves off of her.
Khana remains against the grass, watching branches sway overhead, as her breathing steadies. Beside her, Drizzt sits partially upright, sliding his pants back over his hips. He sits back on his hands, his breaths evening.
She glances sideways. "So," she says, voice calm despite the heat still lingering in the air. "Effective scouting."
A faint huff of laughter escapes him. "Debatable."
She turns her head towards him. "You started it."
His eyes meet hers again, the tension from earlier finally eased.
"Yes," he says.
Then, with a quiet breathy laugh, "but I admit, I learned a great deal, scouting with you."
She laughs then—unguarded and bright, the sound carrying easily through the trees and startling a cluster of birds into flight above them. Drizzt watches them scatter through the canopy, before looking back at her. She is still smiling faintly at the sky.
The sound of her laughter carries through the trees, scattering the last of the birds into the night.
When it fades, the quiet returns unchanged, and neither of them moves to break it.