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The women of the party had just got back from a great time at the tavern. Everyone was giggling and having a good time still when the arrived back at camp. Manona was starting to feel extra lightheaded and giggly. Astarion looked at her with concern. He knew how she was when she was drinking and he knew something was wrong. He quickly got Halsin while Manona made her way to her bedroll. She was still giggling and fighting back tears as she realized she was alone. She sat on the hay stack, tears streaming down her face and giggle escaping from her lips. Manona glanced around and saw it was getting dark around her and more tears started to fall.
“Oh my gods,” she whimpered, “oh my gods.”
“My love?” Astarion whispered. He and Halsin looked at Manona, seeing tears streaming down her face, her lips twisting from a smile to a frown. Her eyes were glazed over. Astarion recognized this right away, someone drugged her but he didn’t know which drug. He went and kneeled in front of her. Her eyes slowly made their way to him.
“Sta-starry?” She choked out, “oh my gods.”
“I’m here, what do you need?” Astarion asked. Manona just stared at him whispering the same three words over and over.
“I think I know what’s wrong with her,” Halsin said gently.
“Someone drugged her, we need to heal her,” Astarion said.
“Not this drug. This is a nature flower. Only time will heal her,” Halsin explained.
“Hal-sin?” Manona said, her eyes were still on Astarion. He motioned for the druid to come over and kneel.
“We’re here,” Halsin said as he kneeled in front of her.
“Oh my gods, oh my gods,” she cried.
“Please talk to us,” Halsin said.
Manona slowly looked between them and to the firepit. She knew what to say but she couldn’t get the words out and this made her cry more. Astarion took her hand in his hands and held her close to his chest. Halsin did the same. Manona then looked at her lap. She felt so stupid. She knew she shouldn’t have accepted that free drink at the tavern.
“Stupid,” she said, her voice still watery.
Then, the visions came. Gale had lit a fire at Halsin and Astarion’s request. Manona stared at the fire and started seeing nightmares in the flames. She started to hyperventilate. Halsin acted quickly.
“Manona, love, calm down,” he said. She looked at him, still scared. He kept his voice gentle, “deep breaths, do it with me.”
Astarion joined Halsin in breathing slowly and deep for her. She slowly started to mimic them. She sniffled and looked at the fire again, the nightmares were gone. She was starting to shake.
“How long?” She asked.
“Until this is over?” Astarion asked. Manona looked at him and nodded.
“It could be a while, but we’ll be here with you the whole time,” Halsin said.
“Oh my gods,” she said. Panic started to set in again. She became aware of her heart rate and she started to think that she was dying. She started to cry again.
“It’s okay, my love,” Astarion said.
“I’m dying?” She asked.
“You’re not going to,” Halsin reassured.
“I’m sick,” she said. Halsin knew what was coming next.
“She’s going to throw up,” Halsin said. Halsin grabbed the bucket her brought with him and gave it her. Astarion reluctantly let got of her hand. She took the bucket and stared. The men got on either side of her and geld back her hair, waiting for the inevitable.
Shortly, she did throw up. She cried into the bucket and kept apologizing. Slowly, she started to feel better. Her head had the tiniest bit of clarity before being replaced by a fit of giggles.
“She’s better now,” Halsin said. He took the bucket from her and set it away from them.
“Hal-sin,” she sang while touching his face. She looked at Astarion and set her hand on his cheek. She smiled and sang, “Star-ry Night!”
“Oh, yes, she’s much better now,” Astarion agreed.
“Let’s go swim-ing!” She giggled out.
“How about we go tomorrow?” Halsin offered. Manona pouted and looked at Astarion as if he would give her a different answer.
“He’s right, love. Tomorrow,” Astarion said. Manona then leaned back and laid on the haystack with another giggle fit.
“Where’s sky?” She asked, “No stars.”
“Would you like to see the stars?” Astarion asked. Manona gasped.
“Yes,” she dragged out.
Halsin and Astarion helped her stand and took her to Halsin’s tent where she could see the stars. They all laid down and stargazed. Halsin and Astarion laid on either side of Manona. She gazed at the stars.
“Wow,” Manona whispered.
She adjusted to lay her head on Astarion’s chest. He adjusted so that he was holding her better and Halsin wrapped his arms around both of them. Then, there were giggles from Manona. They both looked at her with a confused look.
“Two boyfriends,” she whispered before laughing. She sighed, “Lucky.”
Eventually, she finally fell asleep nestled her both of her lover’s arms. She slept really well that night. She felt it was the best sleep she had ever gotten. When she woke, she was still in the arms of Astarion and Halsin. Then, memories of last night started to flood her mind. She quietly groaned to herself and hid her face in Astarion’s chest. She felt so stupid for everything.
“How are you feeling, love?” Astarion asked. Manona looked up from his chest to his eyes.
“Stupid, like really stupid,” Manona said.
“Don’t feel stupid for partaking in one of nature’s gifts,” Halsin said.
“But I didn’t know! I thought it was a normal drink,” she said as she felt tears pricking at her eyes.
“Manona, you can’t know everything,” Astarion said.
“But I should’ve known better than to drink it. I know someone bought for me but still,” she said.
“If I’m not mistaken, if someone buys you a drink, you drink it?” Halsin asked.
“Yes, that is the idea,” Astarion said.
“Fine. You two have a point. But I was so ridiculous last night. I’m sorry you had to see that,” she said.
“I’d rather us see it than all of Baldur’s Gate,” Halsin said.
“You didn’t do anything stupid if that’s what you wondering,” Astarion said.
“Thank you, both of you,” she smiled.
They stayed like that for a few more hours. The sun started to rise above the horizon, casting blues across the sky. Manona felt safe in their arms. She was grateful it was them who took care of her.