Chapter Text
Reaching Last Light had apparently been the easy part of our journey into the Shadow Cursed Lands. Within moments of our arrival we had been threatened, gotten the blessing of Selune (much to Shadowheart’s chagrin), and fended off the Absolute’s attempt to abduct the cleric that provided the aforementioned blessing.
After a night of rest, we split into two groups and headed toward Moonrise. Lae’zel, Gale and Halsin would search for more information about the shadow curse in Rethwin town while Astarion, Shadowheart, Karlach and I slipped into Moonrise Towers for some reconnaissance.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that”, I muttered while shaking the guard’s intrusion from my head.
Once we were identified as True Souls the guards left us to our own devices. Shadowheart spoke with other recruits and Karlach recognized and stopped to speak with an old acquaintance. Meanwhile Astarion and I explored the other rooms nearby. Behind a heavy oak door, we found a drow female standing over a table laden with alchemy equipment.
“It smells like blood in here”, Astarion said softly behind me. The drow seemed to ignore him, training her eyes on me.
“Araj Oblodra, trader in blood and the sanguineous arts. It is a pleasure to stand before a True Soul… and your pale companion. I’d like to offer my services, if you’re willing.”
“Tell me what you’re doing first”, I replied.
“Put plainly, I’d like your blood”, Araj said, “A vial of a True Soul’s blood specifically. With one drop, I can brew a potent potion for you. The rest I keep for myself.”
Astarion and I looked at each other for a moment, he gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. That was answer enough for me.
“No, we’re not interested”, I said, turning to leave.
“Wait, there’s one more thing we should discuss: your friend here. He’s a vampire, no? Or one of their spawn at least.”
Astarion broke in playfully, “Oh don’t worry, we’re all friends under the Absolute. I won’t bite.”
Araj continued looking at me as if he were not in the room.
“He’s yours, yes? I hope you don’t mind sharing him for just a minute.” For the first time, she addressed Astarion directly. “Do you have a name, spawn?”
“A-Astarion”, he sputtered, “but hold on-“
Araj leveled him with a sinister grin as she explained how she wanted to be bitten by a vampire. It was her life’s dream, it seemed. As off-putting as she was, Astarion’s response to her was more unexpected. Instead of being excited by the prospect of a willing meal, he looked uneasy. Everything about him screamed that he did not want anything to do with Araj or her blood, even with the added offer of a special potion.
“I will have to decline”, Astarion stated politely.
“Excuse me?”, Araj looked confused, “I’m offering you a lifetime opportunity and you’re saying no?” She regarded me again. “Can’t you talk some sense into him?”
“He said no”, I said as I turned to leave, “We’re done here.”
“How disappointing”, she quipped as the door shut behind us.
Quickly we collected Karlach and Shadowheart and left the Towers. The rest of our group met us on the outskirts of town. It appeared that everyone had a story and was willing to share it. Astarion, however, stayed uncharacteristically quiet. I let the others relay their tales as we made our way back to Last Light.
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Later that evening I was relaxing in the room I shared with the other women in the group. Everyone else had things to do, so I was alone for the time being. I had started quietly practicing with my lute. The notes flowed serenely and I was so focused that I almost missed the light knock on the door.
“Come in”, I called without stopping my song.
Astarion slipped into the room and closed the door behind him. For a while he stood silently as he listened to the notes and my soft intonation of the lyrics. When I finished, he approached me.
“What is the song about?”, he asked.
“Its about a man lamenting the choices he’s made… and the choices he will need to make in the future”, I replied pensively, “Our whole lives are choices we make, aren’t they?”
“Yes”, he said with a smirk, “until someone starts making them for you. But that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I... I wanted to thank you.”
“Thank me? Why?”, I looked up at him with a puzzled expression. The question must have been plain on my face, because he continued talking, the words tumbling out of him
“For what you said in front of that vile drow. I spent 200 years using my body to lure victims back for my master. What I wanted, how I felt, none of that mattered. You could have done the same, what I wanted be damned.”
As he spoke, Astarion had come to stand a few feet in front of me.
“But you didn’t… and I’m grateful.”
Slowly I put my lute on the ground next to me and stood, locking my eyes on his.
“I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do”, I said quietly.
A ghost of his usual grin appeared on his face momentarily. “It’s a novel concept for me… and a little intimidating.” His smile was gone, a look of sadness having replaced it.
“But… I also came here to apologize. You see… before you, I had a plan. It was clean and simple. I would seduce the leader of our little group, make her fall in love so she would never turn on me… and then she died. Fell into that pit with you. When I realized the Tav we pulled out of there was not Tav, I felt as though all my work had gone to waste.”
He paused a moment before continuing, his eyes locked onto mine
“I’ve watched you closely, looking for some sign that you were some kind of threat. I treated you horribly. But you seemed to take it all in stride. I started to see you for who you were. Then you changed your appearance for that idiot wizard. “
I cringed both inward and outwardly at the mention of my failed fling with Gale. The whole thing still stung a bit.
“When I realized he had coerced you into it, that you had no idea who’s face you were wearing, I lost control and punched him. It all reminded me of myself, being forced and tricked into doing things for someone else’s benefit. You didn’t deserve that.”
“I would like to start over”, he extended his hand toward me, “I can’t promise to be the best person, but I would like to be friends.”
Gently I placed my hand in his, giving him a soft smile.
“I accept”, I said before pulling him into a hug. Instantly I felt him freeze. For a moment I thought I had made a mistake. Of course he wouldn’t like being touched! I continued berating myself mentally and began to let him go only for Astarion to wrap his arms around me in kind.
“This… is nice”, I heard him murmur into my shoulder. We stayed that way for a few moments. Soon enough I felt him release me, and I did the same.
“Thank you for listening to me, Bex. Have a pleasant evening.”