Zethri's Turning Point.
Zethri stood there, shocked and repulsed. By herself and her party, she couldn’t take it, couldn't handle it anymore.
Zethri suddenly called out “Mother, take me!” At first there was nothing, nothing to answer the call. Just the mild and dead air of the Underdark, until a coldness brushed up against her from behind. Zethri looked up to find a mist which took the form of a large, male drow with platinum white skin. The mist continued to encircle her, blocking her vision from her party. She closed her eyes and shivered, bracing for what was about to happen. The rush of wind in her ears and the turning of her stomach told her everything, they had left, gone from her party and closer to her true mother than she would ever realize.
Steadying herself and opening her eyes she was greeted with sight of a long abandoned cavern. A large stalactite loomed over the vast cavern. Not unlike most drow cities this stalactite held inside itself a mansion, no!. A stronghold. The platinum drow was by her side she realized and held her arm politely, as if he was ushering her. They exchanged glances as the drow looked back toward the stalactite.The mist was back covering their view to their surroundings. A familiar rush came and went, along with the mist. Zethri opened her eyes and looked up and around taking in the new scene. Behind her was a balcony that looked out over a large cavern, the same cavern they were just in.
Zethri felt the gentle pull of the drow leading her away. She immediately snapped her head foward falling into step, walking further into the stronghold. The pair moved through the stronghold her escort leading the way, down hallways and past many doors. After ascending a long spiral ramp the drow escort led her into crypt. The crypt held a singular stone coffin centered in the room. Surrounding the coffin rose shadowy tendrils licking at the it’s side. As if on cue the stone lid broke loose and slid to one side revealing its contents, a pale woman with long black hair. The woman’s eyes flicked open uncovering her glowing red eyes. Zethri shrunk back fearfully trying to hide in her escort's arm.
“W-Who are you?” Zethri said fearfully.
“It’s me, dear. It’s Mother” the pale woman replied, beginning to levitate out of the coffin and stand gracefully before Zethri, the woman’s long hair bleeding into the shadows behind her.
“It’s okay, dear. Mother is here to help” the woman reassured. Holding out her hand for Zethri to take. “No tricks, no abuse, no cruelty. Just a mother’s love, dear. No need to be brave when mother can protect you.” As if Mother knew everything Zethri was thinking just then, as if Mother knew Zethri’s entire past.
“I’m just scared, Mother.” Zethri finally managed to force out the words. “No one’s ever been this nice to me…” She paused, letting a moment pass. Mother waited. “U-Unless they wanted something or if they’re trying to trick or hurt me.” letting her voice rise a bit.
“I understand, dear. Has nobody ever asked what it is you want?” Mother asked emphasizing the word you and smiling. That smile showed only sincere kindness in Mother's eyes. “Trust and communication should go both ways''
“I guess I'm nervous that people will laugh at me and not give me what I want. I’m so silly and don’t really have the kind of wants my sisters did…” letting the end of her sentence trail off.
“Oh sweetheart, I'm so sorry that happened to you.” mother’s smiling facade turned into a deep sadness, like the wilting of a nightshade bloom Zethri thought.
“It’s okay… they’re gone now.. I think.” trying to reassure her mother. Her Mother… “I don’t really know what I want, really. I think I just want to be safe and useful and not so scared all the time.” Zethri paused to take a deep breath. “I want people to be proud of me, but no one likes what i’m good at.” Zethri’s mind began to race, the day’s disastrous events flooding her thoughts. Anger and disgust bubbled up from her gut, and all off it leveled at her party. After she discovered her companions, if they could even be called that anymore, had explained her role in using her poisoning skill on the half-breed child. The guilt and regret from that would have ensued would drown her, she knew this from the bottom of her heart. Would she have gone through with it? She had to ask herself, if not for Mother’s call, if Mother hadn’t reached out to her?
Mother watched her daughter turn inward, the millions of questions Zethri was self reflecting on. “Oh, my dear, that’s alright.” Mother began, bringing Zethri back to the present “Many people aren’t sure of their heart’s truest wish, but everyone deserves to feel safe and wanted. How you’ve been treated is simply monstrous. You’re kind and loyal and you’ve been treated like a dog for it. I can’t blame you for feeling anxious when everything again and again is finally. Truly. Within your grasp.".
Zethri could only nod slowly at the words. It was sound thinking to her. Mother seemed to get it, to understand it all. “So… What am I to do? I want to run, but I don’t think I should.” Zethri looked almost stared into Mother’s eyes, waiting, needing an answer.
A moment passed as Mother paused to think before replying. A moment which felt like an eternity for Zethri. “Come with me, me dear. We need to visit someone.” Mother said matter of factly.
Mother then swiftly strode around the pair and towards the entrance of the crypt. Zethri turned and followed obediently with the drow escort in tow. Zethri wringing her hands apprehensively as she followed, horrified by the terrible things they were capable of. Zethri hardly noticed the next few moments as they descended back through the stronghold. Mother settled in front of a set of stone double doors, old and worn with faint carving from years past. She’d pulled the handles flinging each door to the side, the doors revealing a grueling site. Laying on a stone table in the center of the room was another platinum skin drow with an arrow protruding from it’s chest. Several other platinum drow stood around the table quietly sobbing, if they noticed the new arrivals, they didn’t show it.
That arrow, Zethri couldn’t take her eyes off it. That’s, the arrow Lolthia shot she thought. But that arrow had hit Zethri, striking clean through the drow. Mother had rushed to the dead drow’s side, shocked and holding back tears. Zethri began to shuffle into the room, she could hear mother beginning to cry, holding the drows lifeless head in hers.
Mother began whispering to herself. “Oh, my son, my beautiful child. Why did that have to kill you, Paulianthiir?
Zethri found it difficult to recognize the drow due to its almost snow white skin and slight frame, but it was him she knew. It was her eldest brother lying dead before her. “Paulo… H-He died protecting me?!” She wouldn’t put it past her brothers. but the sudden realization took her back a step. They had always been the nicest to her, but could not always be there. In fact, they rarely were. She breathed out deeply then. The moments that her and her brothers did share were treasure and she held them very close to her heart. To see one of them after so long, dead by the arrow of a woman Zethri had thought to be the Queen of spiders. It was almost overwhelming to her sensibilities. She thought harder, remembering the last moments of her brother's life. That arrow had been enchantment to grow thorny vines as it flew. Shredding every bit of flesh as well as his heart as it bore through. She didn’t realize it but she had approached Paulianthiir, the others in the room moving to clear a spot for Zethri at the opposite side of Mother.
“He was always so brave. Mother started. “So loyal, even at the end. Oh, my child, why? Why did they do this to you? She cried out. Zehtri took one more slow step forward, still unsure of what to say. It had been so long and these events all so sudden. “I…” Zethri took a deep breath. “Thank you, brother.” She finally said.
Mother looked up at Zethri. “It’s alright, dear. You can touch him. Take his hand.” Zethri struggled to move at first, reaching out with a shaking hand and picking up her brother's cold hand in hers. “There’s not much I can do for him now.” Zethri stated.
“I know, dear. There’s isn’t much any of us can do for him now except from grieving him and remembering his bravery.
Zethri matched Mother gaze then, noticing the woman’s bloodshot eyes from crying. “He was supposed to meet you here, show you the life he built, help you feel safe. Instead, he gave his life to see you arrive unhurt.”
Zethri couldn’t stop as a few tears spring to her eyes. She pulled them back, holding telling herself to stay strong, to stay composed. “I probably could have done something for him then… I should have..”
“You mustn't blame yourself, dear. He loved you in a way not most drow show love. The truest love. You’re lucky to have a brother so noble. He was a good son. He watched over his brothers and sisters.” Mother’s eyes began to well and tears streamed down her face. “He was honest and loyal…” She reached out to Zethri for support, so hug her daughter, but pulled back at the last second. She remembered Zethri’s sensitivity and began to curl in on herself filled with grief.
“It’s alright” Zethri blurted out. “I’ll allow a hug.” Zethri moved closer allowing Mother to embrace her, Zethri becoming almost overwhelmed with the feeling of ease. This was the first true peace she felt in many years. A scent like fragrant floral incense from Mother filled Zethri’s nose as the moments passed. Mixed with her colling presence, like a gentle breeze in a humid tunnel. Her skin, soft like cavern lotus petals and her hair like silken ribbons brushing over her arms. Zethri returned the embrace in kind.
If this is love, Zethri thought. Then I’m a starved plant and this… Mother is a rain after a hundred years’ drought. I’m not sure if I ever want to let go.
Zethri suddenly called out “Mother, take me!” At first there was nothing, nothing to answer the call. Just the mild and dead air of the Underdark, until a coldness brushed up against her from behind. Zethri looked up to find a mist which took the form of a large, male drow with platinum white skin. The mist continued to encircle her, blocking her vision from her party. She closed her eyes and shivered, bracing for what was about to happen. The rush of wind in her ears and the turning of her stomach told her everything, they had left, gone from her party and closer to her true mother than she would ever realize.
Steadying herself and opening her eyes she was greeted with sight of a long abandoned cavern. A large stalactite loomed over the vast cavern. Not unlike most drow cities this stalactite held inside itself a mansion, no!. A stronghold. The platinum drow was by her side she realized and held her arm politely, as if he was ushering her. They exchanged glances as the drow looked back toward the stalactite.The mist was back covering their view to their surroundings. A familiar rush came and went, along with the mist. Zethri opened her eyes and looked up and around taking in the new scene. Behind her was a balcony that looked out over a large cavern, the same cavern they were just in.
Zethri felt the gentle pull of the drow leading her away. She immediately snapped her head foward falling into step, walking further into the stronghold. The pair moved through the stronghold her escort leading the way, down hallways and past many doors. After ascending a long spiral ramp the drow escort led her into crypt. The crypt held a singular stone coffin centered in the room. Surrounding the coffin rose shadowy tendrils licking at the it’s side. As if on cue the stone lid broke loose and slid to one side revealing its contents, a pale woman with long black hair. The woman’s eyes flicked open uncovering her glowing red eyes. Zethri shrunk back fearfully trying to hide in her escort's arm.
“W-Who are you?” Zethri said fearfully.
“It’s me, dear. It’s Mother” the pale woman replied, beginning to levitate out of the coffin and stand gracefully before Zethri, the woman’s long hair bleeding into the shadows behind her.
“It’s okay, dear. Mother is here to help” the woman reassured. Holding out her hand for Zethri to take. “No tricks, no abuse, no cruelty. Just a mother’s love, dear. No need to be brave when mother can protect you.” As if Mother knew everything Zethri was thinking just then, as if Mother knew Zethri’s entire past.
“I’m just scared, Mother.” Zethri finally managed to force out the words. “No one’s ever been this nice to me…” She paused, letting a moment pass. Mother waited. “U-Unless they wanted something or if they’re trying to trick or hurt me.” letting her voice rise a bit.
“I understand, dear. Has nobody ever asked what it is you want?” Mother asked emphasizing the word you and smiling. That smile showed only sincere kindness in Mother's eyes. “Trust and communication should go both ways''
“I guess I'm nervous that people will laugh at me and not give me what I want. I’m so silly and don’t really have the kind of wants my sisters did…” letting the end of her sentence trail off.
“Oh sweetheart, I'm so sorry that happened to you.” mother’s smiling facade turned into a deep sadness, like the wilting of a nightshade bloom Zethri thought.
“It’s okay… they’re gone now.. I think.” trying to reassure her mother. Her Mother… “I don’t really know what I want, really. I think I just want to be safe and useful and not so scared all the time.” Zethri paused to take a deep breath. “I want people to be proud of me, but no one likes what i’m good at.” Zethri’s mind began to race, the day’s disastrous events flooding her thoughts. Anger and disgust bubbled up from her gut, and all off it leveled at her party. After she discovered her companions, if they could even be called that anymore, had explained her role in using her poisoning skill on the half-breed child. The guilt and regret from that would have ensued would drown her, she knew this from the bottom of her heart. Would she have gone through with it? She had to ask herself, if not for Mother’s call, if Mother hadn’t reached out to her?
Mother watched her daughter turn inward, the millions of questions Zethri was self reflecting on. “Oh, my dear, that’s alright.” Mother began, bringing Zethri back to the present “Many people aren’t sure of their heart’s truest wish, but everyone deserves to feel safe and wanted. How you’ve been treated is simply monstrous. You’re kind and loyal and you’ve been treated like a dog for it. I can’t blame you for feeling anxious when everything again and again is finally. Truly. Within your grasp.".
Zethri could only nod slowly at the words. It was sound thinking to her. Mother seemed to get it, to understand it all. “So… What am I to do? I want to run, but I don’t think I should.” Zethri looked almost stared into Mother’s eyes, waiting, needing an answer.
A moment passed as Mother paused to think before replying. A moment which felt like an eternity for Zethri. “Come with me, me dear. We need to visit someone.” Mother said matter of factly.
Mother then swiftly strode around the pair and towards the entrance of the crypt. Zethri turned and followed obediently with the drow escort in tow. Zethri wringing her hands apprehensively as she followed, horrified by the terrible things they were capable of. Zethri hardly noticed the next few moments as they descended back through the stronghold. Mother settled in front of a set of stone double doors, old and worn with faint carving from years past. She’d pulled the handles flinging each door to the side, the doors revealing a grueling site. Laying on a stone table in the center of the room was another platinum skin drow with an arrow protruding from it’s chest. Several other platinum drow stood around the table quietly sobbing, if they noticed the new arrivals, they didn’t show it.
That arrow, Zethri couldn’t take her eyes off it. That’s, the arrow Lolthia shot she thought. But that arrow had hit Zethri, striking clean through the drow. Mother had rushed to the dead drow’s side, shocked and holding back tears. Zethri began to shuffle into the room, she could hear mother beginning to cry, holding the drows lifeless head in hers.
Mother began whispering to herself. “Oh, my son, my beautiful child. Why did that have to kill you, Paulianthiir?
Zethri found it difficult to recognize the drow due to its almost snow white skin and slight frame, but it was him she knew. It was her eldest brother lying dead before her. “Paulo… H-He died protecting me?!” She wouldn’t put it past her brothers. but the sudden realization took her back a step. They had always been the nicest to her, but could not always be there. In fact, they rarely were. She breathed out deeply then. The moments that her and her brothers did share were treasure and she held them very close to her heart. To see one of them after so long, dead by the arrow of a woman Zethri had thought to be the Queen of spiders. It was almost overwhelming to her sensibilities. She thought harder, remembering the last moments of her brother's life. That arrow had been enchantment to grow thorny vines as it flew. Shredding every bit of flesh as well as his heart as it bore through. She didn’t realize it but she had approached Paulianthiir, the others in the room moving to clear a spot for Zethri at the opposite side of Mother.
“He was always so brave. Mother started. “So loyal, even at the end. Oh, my child, why? Why did they do this to you? She cried out. Zehtri took one more slow step forward, still unsure of what to say. It had been so long and these events all so sudden. “I…” Zethri took a deep breath. “Thank you, brother.” She finally said.
Mother looked up at Zethri. “It’s alright, dear. You can touch him. Take his hand.” Zethri struggled to move at first, reaching out with a shaking hand and picking up her brother's cold hand in hers. “There’s not much I can do for him now.” Zethri stated.
“I know, dear. There’s isn’t much any of us can do for him now except from grieving him and remembering his bravery.
Zethri matched Mother gaze then, noticing the woman’s bloodshot eyes from crying. “He was supposed to meet you here, show you the life he built, help you feel safe. Instead, he gave his life to see you arrive unhurt.”
Zethri couldn’t stop as a few tears spring to her eyes. She pulled them back, holding telling herself to stay strong, to stay composed. “I probably could have done something for him then… I should have..”
“You mustn't blame yourself, dear. He loved you in a way not most drow show love. The truest love. You’re lucky to have a brother so noble. He was a good son. He watched over his brothers and sisters.” Mother’s eyes began to well and tears streamed down her face. “He was honest and loyal…” She reached out to Zethri for support, so hug her daughter, but pulled back at the last second. She remembered Zethri’s sensitivity and began to curl in on herself filled with grief.
“It’s alright” Zethri blurted out. “I’ll allow a hug.” Zethri moved closer allowing Mother to embrace her, Zethri becoming almost overwhelmed with the feeling of ease. This was the first true peace she felt in many years. A scent like fragrant floral incense from Mother filled Zethri’s nose as the moments passed. Mixed with her colling presence, like a gentle breeze in a humid tunnel. Her skin, soft like cavern lotus petals and her hair like silken ribbons brushing over her arms. Zethri returned the embrace in kind.
If this is love, Zethri thought. Then I’m a starved plant and this… Mother is a rain after a hundred years’ drought. I’m not sure if I ever want to let go.
FIN
