Post by Shardy on Jan 16, 2007 5:57:04 GMT 1
Title: Woman Like That
Author: Shardy
Fandom: Forgotten Realms
Pairing: Artemis Entreri x Catti-brie
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All characters are owned by R.A. Salvatore. Forgotten Realms is owned by Ed Greenwood and others, and Wizards of the Coast.
***
It was unusually calm and peaceful tonight, the breeze soft and the stars shimmering, ironic in the face of the dark circumstances concerning the small party gathered around the warm fire. One of the men was awake, stroking the embers almost absentmindedly, the kind of man who not even the blazing light from the fire could lift the shadows from. It was his turn to keep watch, but he was more awake due to restlessness, hardly able to still his body while the excitement of the hunt pulsated through his veins.
He wasn’t, however, too overly cautious about his prisoner that he insisted on taking with them. She had crossed him once, and he had made it so she would not even think of trying to cross him again.
Or would she?
Artemis Entreri glanced over at his captive, fathomless gray eyes narrowed in thought. She was curled into a small ball on her bedroll, tightly wrapped beneath the fur blankets to fend off the unforgiving tundra cold. She slept soundly, the firelight dancing off her auburn hair in a glowing red halo, as if she wasn’t too terribly concerned with her given situation. Whether her cooperation these past few days was out of submission or waiting for an opportunity, Entreri couldn’t be too sure.
Women liked that proved Entreri time and again how unpredictable they could be. While he had managed to subdue this girl with terror on more than one occasion, it was obvious to him that she was getting over her fear rapidly. Physical blows would do nothing, though he had hit her more than once, too; she was the adopted daughter of a dwarf, after all, and therefore not afraid of pain.
Entreri still wasn’t concerned. If she ran off, he would simply track her down and kill her. And it would be that simple, and he was quite confident that she was aware of this.
Not too sure why, Entreri stood up and, ever so silently so that the other two, Sydney and Jierdan, wouldn’t wake, moved over to the slumbering girl. It wouldn’t have mattered if he stomped over to her, his steps were always silent as death even when he walked normally. Squatting next to her, he studied the young woman.
She was, undeniably, attractive, even beautiful, with the fire and shadows contrasting sharply along her fair skin. Several strands of red-brown hair fell across her tender face, over thick dark lashes that closed her eyes to dreams, teasing the corners of her slightly pursed lips that looked soft to the touch.
In spite of her beauty, Entreri looked down on her with an expression of disdain. He had encountered women like that, too, women who would use their seemingly innocent charm and physical appeal to seduce a man and then destroy him from the inside out. Not that Entreri held any empathy for the poor fools; as far as he was concerned, a man who fell for a woman in such a manner deserved to die.
And yet…
Perhaps it was a trick of the firelight enveloping her in soft crimson. Or maybe Artemis Entreri just simply wasn’t prepared for a woman like Catti-brie Battlehammer to enter his life. Whatever it was, the assassin found himself leaning toward her. He stopped suddenly, considering his actions, trying to figure out why he was even doing such a thing in the first place. This girl, this young woman, possessed everything to make him feel utter contempt for her, and yet he also felt strangely…curious. In spite of her obvious fears, she was still making most of her situation. She held her head high, not dissolving into constant hysterics like a lot of women, even older, seemingly more mature women, would’ve done.
He had no idea where this feeling of respect was coming from, and it made him very aware of his proximity to her, which made him very, very uncomfortable.
Her thin brows narrowed as if she were suddenly uncomfortable herself and she stirred slightly in her sleep. “Nnn…” she groaned softly. “…nnn…Dr…Drizzt…”
Entreri froze. The sound had not been a lustful one, but rather one of heartbreak, and it was emphasized by the tiny sob that escaped her throat and a glitter of moisture that slipped from a corner of her eye. She was dreaming dreams of one who missed another and missed him terribly.
All the same, a hideous scowl erupted on Entreri’s face as he stormed off back to his own bed, still as silent as ever. A long stream of curses sputtered from under his breath, mostly directed at himself. He couldn’t believe he had almost given in to such weakness! Weakness that sympathized with the girl, made him respect her, and, all the Realms be damned, nearly made him kiss her!
However, the more he thought on that last bit, sitting on his bedroll while staring into the fire, the more he began to suspect what might be really happening here. A long, cruel smile crawled along his lips.
She was planning something, that was for sure. Something that either aided her own escape or destroyed her captors, or both. He had taught her, one time and one time only, what happened to those who crossed him. He had painted a very vivid picture in her mind, and here she was planning on doing it again, anyway! Stupidity or bravery, he chuckled softly, amused that he couldn’t tell. And again, that sense of respect reminded him of what he had almost done.
Oh, well. It wouldn’t have been a first time. He had kissed a woman like that once, years ago. She was young, beautiful, and seemingly innocent, and Entreri had to admit that she had been the only woman who truly intrigued him, perhaps even captivated him.
He had killed her, too.
-End-
Author: Shardy
Fandom: Forgotten Realms
Pairing: Artemis Entreri x Catti-brie
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All characters are owned by R.A. Salvatore. Forgotten Realms is owned by Ed Greenwood and others, and Wizards of the Coast.
***
It was unusually calm and peaceful tonight, the breeze soft and the stars shimmering, ironic in the face of the dark circumstances concerning the small party gathered around the warm fire. One of the men was awake, stroking the embers almost absentmindedly, the kind of man who not even the blazing light from the fire could lift the shadows from. It was his turn to keep watch, but he was more awake due to restlessness, hardly able to still his body while the excitement of the hunt pulsated through his veins.
He wasn’t, however, too overly cautious about his prisoner that he insisted on taking with them. She had crossed him once, and he had made it so she would not even think of trying to cross him again.
Or would she?
Artemis Entreri glanced over at his captive, fathomless gray eyes narrowed in thought. She was curled into a small ball on her bedroll, tightly wrapped beneath the fur blankets to fend off the unforgiving tundra cold. She slept soundly, the firelight dancing off her auburn hair in a glowing red halo, as if she wasn’t too terribly concerned with her given situation. Whether her cooperation these past few days was out of submission or waiting for an opportunity, Entreri couldn’t be too sure.
Women liked that proved Entreri time and again how unpredictable they could be. While he had managed to subdue this girl with terror on more than one occasion, it was obvious to him that she was getting over her fear rapidly. Physical blows would do nothing, though he had hit her more than once, too; she was the adopted daughter of a dwarf, after all, and therefore not afraid of pain.
Entreri still wasn’t concerned. If she ran off, he would simply track her down and kill her. And it would be that simple, and he was quite confident that she was aware of this.
Not too sure why, Entreri stood up and, ever so silently so that the other two, Sydney and Jierdan, wouldn’t wake, moved over to the slumbering girl. It wouldn’t have mattered if he stomped over to her, his steps were always silent as death even when he walked normally. Squatting next to her, he studied the young woman.
She was, undeniably, attractive, even beautiful, with the fire and shadows contrasting sharply along her fair skin. Several strands of red-brown hair fell across her tender face, over thick dark lashes that closed her eyes to dreams, teasing the corners of her slightly pursed lips that looked soft to the touch.
In spite of her beauty, Entreri looked down on her with an expression of disdain. He had encountered women like that, too, women who would use their seemingly innocent charm and physical appeal to seduce a man and then destroy him from the inside out. Not that Entreri held any empathy for the poor fools; as far as he was concerned, a man who fell for a woman in such a manner deserved to die.
And yet…
Perhaps it was a trick of the firelight enveloping her in soft crimson. Or maybe Artemis Entreri just simply wasn’t prepared for a woman like Catti-brie Battlehammer to enter his life. Whatever it was, the assassin found himself leaning toward her. He stopped suddenly, considering his actions, trying to figure out why he was even doing such a thing in the first place. This girl, this young woman, possessed everything to make him feel utter contempt for her, and yet he also felt strangely…curious. In spite of her obvious fears, she was still making most of her situation. She held her head high, not dissolving into constant hysterics like a lot of women, even older, seemingly more mature women, would’ve done.
He had no idea where this feeling of respect was coming from, and it made him very aware of his proximity to her, which made him very, very uncomfortable.
Her thin brows narrowed as if she were suddenly uncomfortable herself and she stirred slightly in her sleep. “Nnn…” she groaned softly. “…nnn…Dr…Drizzt…”
Entreri froze. The sound had not been a lustful one, but rather one of heartbreak, and it was emphasized by the tiny sob that escaped her throat and a glitter of moisture that slipped from a corner of her eye. She was dreaming dreams of one who missed another and missed him terribly.
All the same, a hideous scowl erupted on Entreri’s face as he stormed off back to his own bed, still as silent as ever. A long stream of curses sputtered from under his breath, mostly directed at himself. He couldn’t believe he had almost given in to such weakness! Weakness that sympathized with the girl, made him respect her, and, all the Realms be damned, nearly made him kiss her!
However, the more he thought on that last bit, sitting on his bedroll while staring into the fire, the more he began to suspect what might be really happening here. A long, cruel smile crawled along his lips.
She was planning something, that was for sure. Something that either aided her own escape or destroyed her captors, or both. He had taught her, one time and one time only, what happened to those who crossed him. He had painted a very vivid picture in her mind, and here she was planning on doing it again, anyway! Stupidity or bravery, he chuckled softly, amused that he couldn’t tell. And again, that sense of respect reminded him of what he had almost done.
Oh, well. It wouldn’t have been a first time. He had kissed a woman like that once, years ago. She was young, beautiful, and seemingly innocent, and Entreri had to admit that she had been the only woman who truly intrigued him, perhaps even captivated him.
He had killed her, too.
-End-
