lunabo17

[lunabo17]

Together, Now and Forever

Chapter 8 Slowly Back Forward

Gale and Astarion take time off from everything.

Part of the "Pieces of a Broken Heart" series.

Warnings: talk of Gale' s distorted thinking and discussions of cutting, self-harm, and how little Gale thinks of himself at the start. It gets lighter by the end.

Canon and DnD divergence; you'll see.

Read from start of fic, and Mind The Tags:

Gale expected disappointment from everyone, for once more finding himself weighed down by thoughts of his incompetence. He expected anger as well, because he had failed once more, failed to talk about his spiraling thoughts, failed to properly explain himself...

Fail, fail, fail.

Instead, there was compassion. He didn't know what to do.

"So my belief," said Shadowheart as she calmly sewed the deeper wounds shut, "is you need to step back for a few days, and then we begin lessons on taking things slowly."

For a moment, he said nothing, watching her wrap his arm in clean, soft linen. Astarion sat silently beside him, holding his hand. "I'm sorry."

"There isn't anything to be sorry about, Gale. You've gone through several, horrible events in your life, and you've pushed yourself hard lately."

"I can't keep breaking down each time life gets a little hard!" He hadn't meant to yell, but he had.

"Can I be a little honest with you, Gale?"

Ah, this is what he expected, and he gave a nod, his throat tight.

"I don't think I've met someone quite as caring as you, though Karlach might be fairly close."

That was not what he expected, and he felt his eyes water. "But...but if I can't work..."

"Gale, if you stopped working and simply frolicked through the woods, you could still say you've done more than many," Astarion interrupted.

He couldn't help giving a small laugh. "Really? Frolick?"

"With your clothes off."

Shadowheart rolled her eyes. "Yes, thank you for that. But truly, Gale. I think with all the kindness you've showed others, isn't it time you gave yourself some kindness, too?" She pat his hands. "Think about it."

He sat staring at his hands, even as they were left alone. It was only when Astarion ran his fingers through his hair did he jump just a little.

"Apologies. Did you want to cuddle in bed?"

He gave a small nod, and they went to their bedroom. He closed his eyes as he settled against Astarion's chest. "I'm sorry for failing again. I understand if you want it leave."

The elf gave a sigh. "Trying to get rid of me already, my sweet? I don't think it will be so easy," he teased. Then more seriously, "You scared me, carving your arm as if it were wood. I was terrified we were going to the hospital again, though that is still an option if you spiral more."

"I upset you beforehand."

"Arguing is a part of any relationship. Remember when we argued on the road, too? Quite a bit, if I recalled. If we want to play the blaming game, then I should have recognized you were pushing yourself too much. You can't do everything, love. It's all right to ask for help."

"But I don't want to be a burden, even if I certainly am one now."

"You're not. We just need to find that happy center for you, so you don't collapse."

For a few days, they both did very little, except lay in bed, or on the couch. Astarion read most of the time, while Gale dozed, or sometimes stared in the distance, mind swirling a little. The vampire was patient with him, gently steering him to eat and bathe.

Then, one morning, Astarion told him they were going out. He watched, perplexed, as his husband packed Gale' s notebook, a light novel, and then grabbed a traveling bag. Gale put on a simple tunic that tied on the sides as tight as one wished, clinching at the waist.

When they exited their abode, he was startled to see a creature he didn't recognize, calmly waiting for them. It appeared like a horse, but the coat almost appeared like stone, with areas like amethyst, her mane and tail also purple.

"What in the world...?"

"We were rather hoping you would answer the mystery," Astarion said.

"Well, I certainly haven't enchanted anything." He hesitated, and touched the muzzle. To his surprise, he felt warmth, almost like a surface horse, despite the coloring. "My goodness! An underground horse? I'm not sure if I've heard of such things."

"Dalyria said the herd appeared around the time we came down here, so I imagine they're attracted to your magic. One of the idiot spawn thought they would be tasty and learned that their hide is hard as stone."

The strange creature pushed against Gale's hand, demanding he continue to stroke her muzzle. He wasn't actually sure if she were female, but it felt right. Why would his magic attract such beings now? He didn't recall them when they were in the Underdark during the Absolute crisis.

Well, he supposed there was another mystery for him to explore. If his magic had indeed attracted this herd, would more malicious beings also appear?

"If they do, I imagine a colony of hungry spawn will be quite a challenge," Astarion responded, and Gale startled, unsure if he had spoken the question.

Undeterred, the vampire helped him onto the mount, who remained docile, before he pulled himself to sit behind Gale.

"Where are we going?" Gale asked, as Astarion urged their mount to move; she seemed just like any horse.

"You'll see."

It wasn't long until he suspected their destination: the giant sussur tree. It was a beautiful thing, glowing a gentle blue. He had discussed several times going back to study it, but had yet to follow through, so focused on a myriad of other things. As they approached, he could feel his magic dulling, but not fully silenced.

Astarion helped him down, before setting up a small picnic area, and he smiled. He never imagined having a picnic in the Underdark, but his husband did have a tendency to surprise him. They weren't quite under the sussur tree, but close. He looked up, small petals occasionally falling down.

"Gale?" Astarion called as he wandered a little closer.

"Just a moment," he said, touching the closest root, feeling his magic further dulled at the contact, but still not gone. He took a breath, and released it, before he closed his eyes, and leaned his head against the root. "Thank you," he said softly, for the help it had given them before.

He felt his body relax with each breath he took, and as his mind calmed, he heard what seemed like whispers, soothing, like a gentle stream, wrapping him in warmth. Then, just as gently, he felt a hand on his lower back. He turned to Astarion, wrapping his arms around the vampire, giving a happy sigh as he was pulled tight against his husband.

"All right?"

"Yes," he said simply.

And truly, in this moment, he was.

[lunabo17]

Together, Now and Forever

Chapter 7 Two Steps Back

Part of the "Pieces if a Broken Heart" series

Despite feeling better than before, it doesn't mean the mind doesn't go back at times.

WARNINGS: This is a short but heavy chapter. Depression, cutting, spiraling thoughts! Read with care.

Depression is an ongoing battle, as shown in this fic.

If you or someone you love deals with depression or any mental health problems, seek help. You matter.

Gale stared at the wall. He knew he had overdone it lately, throwing himself into various work, from cleaning Lenore's Tower, to helping some hopeful spawn with learning some magic, to fighting some beasties that threatened the colony...

People always told him he had a tendency to overdo things. He just couldn't quite tell when to stop. It wasn't that others couldn't help, too, but he just felt if he had the ability to perform a task well, then he might as well. Overconfidence? Probably. Yet he truly meant to help others, too.

So it began when he overheard a spawn mention how he was far too loud. Then, he and Astarion had a spat that ended with his husband stating there was no need to be so rude (though he hasn't been exactly a bundle of warmth).

Astarion had gone hunting for another rogue spawn, leaving Gale alone. He had plastered a smile to his face, told his lover to stay safe, though they still hadn't really discussed their disagreement.

He had plans, things to do, but he sat, staring at the wall, making excuses that he had some things to review, except it was in his head.

Too loud. Too quiet.

Too kind. Too rude.

Too fat. Too thin.

Too, too, too.

It didn't matter what he did, there was always too much of something. He could change. But then, when everyone always thought he was too something, if he changed more to try and please someone else, then what did that make him?

Who was he?

If he kept changing to make others happy, who was he?

Was he Gale? Or was he what others wanted him to be?

Was he real? Was anything real?

Did anything really matter?

What happened to the man who loved the simple pleasures in life? Where was the man that was confident in his skills, and enjoyed exploring? Where was the man who laughed, who loved, who cared?

Where did everything go wrong?

He stared at the wall, thinking of what he had done wrong, of what he could have done differently, of the disappointment in others.

He wondered at the people that could bounce back from things, could brush off the comments in a healthier way, while he wallowed in the mud.

It was exhausting.

Almost as if watching someone else, Gale picked up the knife, turning it in his hand. Astarion was going to be disappointed in him, not that it mattered. He would always disappoint someone.

He didn't cut to bleed to death. He cut to feel, to focus. He made little swirls, like drawing on canvas, except it was his arm. It was pretty, the red dripping onto the table. Perhaps he could put some blood in a mug for Astarion. The vampire was already going to be upset anyway; a little more wouldn't hurt.

He was just finishing another swirl when he heard the heavy thud of a bag hitting the ground. He jumped a little, too focused on the patterns, his eyes wide, meeting the equally wide eyes of his husband.

"The cuts aren't terribly deep," he said. "Did you want me to try and salvage some of the blood?"

Astarion shut his mouth that had fallen slightly open with an audible click.

Push too much, and everything crumbles around.

Slowly, the vampire approached, taking the knife from Gale's hand, setting it down. Still at a sedate pace, he wrapped a piece of cloth on Gale's upper arm, then pulled it tight to stop the flow of blood. The spawn tapped a setting stone and simply said, "I need you here quick."

Swirls and dots, two steps backwards, when it seemed to go so well. Deeper, walking downwards, slipping and falling, until the mind snaps. All that remains is despair, and another person one doesn't recognize.

'Who am I?' The mind asks.

Just keep pushing until one shatters...who cares?

"I don't know who I am, trying to be someone to make others happy, never me, trying to keep fighting to survive. Everyone is disappointed, because I failed again. I can't do anything right, no matter how hard I push, no matter how hard I try. l always fail. People will leave me, because it's too much to deal with this darkness that won't leave. And a part of me knows that this will go away, that things will get better, but I'm so tired right now, trying to be someone I'm not, but I don't know who I am. I don't remember, and I..."

His throat tightened, and his voice wavered, tears filling his eyes, but he blinked rapidly, staring at the wall.

Gently, Astarion took his hand.

[lunabo17]

Awakening

Chapter 9: The Only Way is Up

The companions take a moment in the ruins of the creche after discussing matters with Voss. Gale has a conversation with eagles concerning an owlbear cub. Halsin voices concern for Astarion over the dangers of remaining with Gale, and the wizard doesn't take it well. The two reaffirm their love.

Warnings: Smut at the end.

More canon breakage.

Link to start of fic:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64179355/chapters/164698633

Gale felt as if the world tilted just a little as the words seemed to echo in his mind. The Scepter of Karsus? In the little time he had been awake, he didn't have time to research further on the Karsus Weave, nor had he searched the rumours for other items of power, focused more on returning what he believed was the lost weave to Mystra. It made sense that Karsus held other magical artefacts, and now it had been used to create more monstrosities. Suddenly, the war became not only against this Absolute and the Ilithid, but also against Vlaakith.

Wyll stood near Lae'zel as she continued staring at the body of the Inquisitor. Her whole life until now was crumbling around her; Gale knew the feeling well, though he had little to mourn before being thrust into his deep slumber.

Slowly, the room began to fill with githyanki, silent, pale. They stared at the remains of the slaughter, the altered brethren that had turned their backs to all they believed in, to become the monsters they fought, even if these were new Ilithid abominations. Most were the younger githyanki, but a few were older. One curiously held what appeared to be a githyanki egg in his arms.

“Could the guardian that protects us be this githyanki prince?” Minthara asked.

Voss frowned. “A guardian that spoke to you? I am…not entirely sure.” The githyanki gave a sigh.

“We can't just give up the artefact,” Wyll added. “Not yet…”

For a moment, Voss simply looked at each of them, ignoring the other githyanki in the room. “Sometimes fate decides to set events in motion that make little sense to us at the time. As much as it pains me, I believe the artefact was meant to fall into your hands for a reason, and we have yet to discover the true purpose.”

“Do you believe we should perhaps enter the prison and free this Orpheus?” Gale asked. There was a moment where his companions frowned, and he knew the occupant was speaking to them. He suddenly felt unease, perhaps from the uncertainty of events.

“Even if you enter the prison, the chains that bind him would not break by magic or sheer strength. I fear only the gods may hold the answer, but I continue my search for answers. We will attempt to draw Vlaakith's eyes away from you, to continue to fight this Absolute, but eventually she will learn of our betrayal.”

Voss turned. “Listen well! There is still time. Any who wish to leave and return to your queen, do so now, but be warned that when next we meet, your life will be forfeit.”

“Vlaakith…Vlaakith is our queen!” A youth said.

“Vlaakith is a lie,” Lae'zel snapped. “Do you see this monstrosity? She ordered this! She has chosen for our people to become these half-Ilithid monsters. What does fighting mean if we become what we hate?! What has all our fighting done! Tell me!”

“That the time has come to walk a new path,” Gale said, though he knew Lae'zel wasn't speaking to him. She looked at him then, and he saw the fear in her eyes, how her body shook.

“And we’ll be there with you,” Karlach added, cracking her knuckles. “Never punched a deity before, but I wouldn't mind giving it a try!” These words earned a small smile from their companion.

“To walk a new path,” Voss repeated. “Though I can't say about punching Vlaakith in the face, I do agree with the general idea. There is still much to do before then, to first finish this Absolute before facing the lich queen. A three-way war will be far too dangerous for all the planes of existence.” Silently, Voss held a sheathed blade to Lae'zel. “Hopefully, when we meet again in Baldur's Gate, we will all have more information. Walk in the Light of our Comet, Lae'zel of K'lir.”

“Mha stil'na forjun inyeri,” Lae'zel said.

Voss smiled.

None of the githyanki chose to leave, instead deciding to go with Voss, though they were fearful. The captain picked several to travel with them, though the majority would go with him.

They decided to rest for a bit before continuing on their journey to Moonrise Towers, though they hadn't made a decision as of yet whether to travel above or below ground. They decided to search the remains of the creche for anything they could salvage, before deciding to return to the Grove for any remaining supplies they would need. Very little survived in the Shadows, and most of what they would find would not be edible, Halsin informed them, and the land was quite chilly.

Though Gale didn't feel as exhausted as before, he took his time exploring, more lost in his thoughts than actually actively looking. Astarion kept close to him, a comforting presence. He knew he would need to find more information on Karsus, though that would need to wait until he could find proper access to a library.

They meandered up into the Monastery proper once more when Tara abruptly flew away. He didn't need to call to her, hearing the high-pitched squeals of what sounded like a wounded animal. They quickly followed her, Astarion's blades drawn.

In the courtyard was a giant eagle, and the squealing was, to his utter surprise, was an owlbear cub. Tara was hissing and spitting at the eagle, far, far larger than her.

“Tara!”

“Mr. Dekarios! You must stop this poor thing from being devoured!”

The eagle flapped it's giant wings as he gingerly approached. He felt a gentle spell wash over him, even as two more eagles joined the other.

“Hells,” Astarion muttered. “Gale, this isn't a good idea.”

“Please, a moment of your time!” Gale called, realizing that Tara must have cast a ‘speak with animals’ spell to allow him to understand what was said, the little cub calling, “help, help, help!”

“This is our kill, Faerie,” said the largest of the eagles. “We deserve sustenance, just as anyone else, do we not?”

“Surely something so small would do little to sate your appetite, Eldest.” He was not sure of the proper honorific for such a being, but hoped it would suffice.

There was the sound of what he supposed was the equivalent of a laugh. “This is for our young.”

Gale looked sadly at the cub, the little thing shivering, nearly flat on the ground. He knew this was part of living, that some creatures must die so others must live. Would this be his fate as well, to struggle against Mystra's orders, but to follow them in the end, so that others might survive?

“An owlbear cub would be an asset to our party. We seek to cleanse the darkness in the land, and need stronger allies. If we hunt for you, will you perhaps reconsider killing this one?”

The large eagle spread her wings, flapping them, the strength causing him to step back as if hit with strong wind. “Come closer, Faerie.”

“Gale…”

“Trust me, Astarion,” he said, stepping close. The other eagles did not move yet, but he knew he was putting himself in real danger. However, he knew giant eagles were seen as benevolent, at least in his time. He didn't believe they would attack.

The giant eagle lowered her head, and pressed it against his, and then he felt it: magic, a sharing of thoughts, something he didn't know these creatures could perform, and yet somehow he knew not to be surprised. How often had he stringently ignored things not written in books? What was there to learn of the world that was not taught in school? There were so many mysteries yet to unravel.

He shared with her what they planned, the trip to the Shadow-Fell, the struggles against the mysterious Absolute, and their recent battles against the githyanki and goblins. She moved away, the connection severed.

“The Shadows are a danger to all. Though the curse spreads slowly, it still moves, expands, and all that it touches eventually dies. We lost several kin when it first appeared, many moons ago.”

“So Halsin has told us. We hope to stop it, and to stop the Ilithid rising.”

“Halsin, the archdruid. He is friend to many throughout the land. Do you truly believe this little cub worth your effort?”

“I don't know, and I hate to deprive your young of food, but my friend seems to wish to protect him, and a fully grown owlbear would certainly help us.”

“As would the eagles.”

“I…that is…that is true.”

For a moment, they said nothing, and then the elder plucked a feather from near her neck, bringing it down for Gale to take. Reverently, he held it in his hands, and felt a gentle magic, like the soft droplets of warm rain in the spring.

“If you and your companions remove the Shadow curse, your debt will be repaid. When the darkest of nights approaches, call us, and we will aide you.”

“Please, before you go, might I ask you a question, Eldest?”

“You may, but only one. We must find new prey.”

“You called me 'Faerie,’ yet I…was once a mere mortal man. Did…can you sense such a change in me?”

“I can sense the magic within you, not that of a mortal man, but one that has changed, that of the ancients. Tread carefully, because many will fear you and the power you wield.”

He had many more questions, but he did not want to keep his new friends from their hunt. “Thank you, Eldest.”

“May the winds always be in your favour, Little Storm.”

Gale smiled, watching as the Eagles took to the sky. When he looked down, Tara was cleaning the wounds on the little cub, and Astarion was staring at him.

“Of all the stupid things you've done, Gale…”

“Yes, I know, but on the bright side, we seem to be gaining some allies.”

Astarion shook his head.

~

There were many things Astarion expected on this journey of theirs, including violence and death. However, since finding Gale, the universe decided it was far more enjoyable to throw surprises into the mix.

He usually hated surprises, but discovered that most of these new ones weren't so bad. However, wondering if his soulmate was going to be killed by giant eagles was certainly a scare he could do without.

“Gaining allies is fine, except when we are sorely outnumbered, even with your considerable power.”

“Hungry,” said the owlbear cub.

Astarion let out a rather unnecessary breath. “Of course you are, because now we need to feed an owlbear cub.”

“Ah, I wasn't aware you understood them.”

“I thought you cast 'speak with animals?’”

“It was Tara.” Gale bent down to allow the cub to smell his hand. “Tell me, little one, what happened?”

“Mother was killed by smelly goblins.”

“Not surprising. Goblins will kill anything. I'm sorry about your mother. Would you like to travel with us? I know I said we would take you with us, but we won't hold you against your will. I'm sure we can scrounge up some food for you while we travel.”

The owlbear perked up. “Food?”

“Yes, food. Now, what shall we call you?”

Astarion sighed. “Are you going to name the gremiskas and worg also?”

“Of course, unless you wish to help me. I know Tara informed us of their names in their own tongue, but I believe perhaps nicknames will make things a little easier for others. I'm certainly not fluent in the words of other species.”

“And I suppose you plan to learn a few new languages, then?”

“Perhaps after we defeat the Absolute. Now, what shall I call you, little one?”

“Oiiiy!!” Came the loud cry from Karlach, causing the cub to skitter behind them, and his loudly. “We found a bunch of ham! We plan to…oh shite! Is that an owlbear cub?”

Astarion rubbed his temples. “Please, yell loud enough so everyone in existence hears us.” The words merely caused Karlach to cackle, her eyes still on the little cub

“He’s so bloody cute! If you're going to raise an army of wee beasties, I am here for it. Oh, what I wouldn't do to give it a hug.”

“You were talking about ham?”

“Oh yeah! We found a bunch of it, and thought it might be nice to have some din before we went back to the Grove for warmer clothes.”

With a sigh, Gale stood up. “Well, I suppose it would be good to eat a little.”

They wandered back down to the ruins of the creche, and a rather strong scent of ham.

“Hungry! Want ham.”

“Dear gods…is that what I think it is?” Wyll asked. “I thought Halsin was the druid!”

Astarion wondered if Gale would tell them what had occurred with the eagles, but the wizard was oddly silent on the matter. He could feel the slight tension in his mind, almost like a tightened muscle. When he tried to listen to the other's thoughts, he found a barrier instead, and Gale gave him a slight shake of his head; whatever was going on in his mind, he wasn't ready to discuss it yet.

Shadowheart healed the cub from his injuries, and the beast devoured quite a bit of the meats, though no one seemed upset at the matter. In fact, they seemed more intrigued, though Barcus kept his distance.

The vampire watched them all, the stern githyanki conversing with Minthara as Wyll shyly added his own experiences of monster hunting. Karlach was attempting to rope Barcus into a card game, while Shadowheart watched, attempting to appear like an ice queen, but the corners of her lips were turned upwards.

Despite the rather light-hearted banter, Gale remained silent, and the others kept any questions directed towards him superficial. His focus narrowed on his soulmate so much that he didn't notice when Halsin moved to stand beside him. He barely managed not to lash out.

“Apologies,” the druid said. “I didn't mean to startle you. I truly believed you heard me. Are you all right?”

The vampire raised an eyebrow. “I'm all right. Just thinking about some things.”

“About your wizard?”

He tensed, a little annoyed he had been read so easily. He was a far better actor than this, and yet everything seemed to tilt his thoughts on their axis. “Some things have come up that I need to contemplate.”

“You should be careful around him, Astarion.”

The vampire gave a bark of a laugh. “Truly? You're telling me, a vampire, to be careful?”

“Gale isn't a normal being, Astarion. He is an anomaly, one that may lead to your ruin, vampire or not.”

His mouth dropped open, for once speechless, and not simply because Halsin seemed to be concerned for his well-being. He was also livid the elf would go behind Gale's back like this.

Except, it turned out the supposed well-wishing wasn't quite as inconspicuous as he thought when Gale slammed his plate down, storming over to the pair. To his credit, Halsin stood his ground.

“I think that's enough,” snarled Gale, and Astarion was nearly ashamed to feel the surge of arousal.

“I wasn't aware your hearing was quite so good,” Halsin admitted.

“There's many things you're not aware of, archdruid. Kindly back away from my soulmate, or I will make you move.”

“Is that not Astarion's choice?”

For a moment, he thought Gale would tear the elf apart, but instead clenched his fists tightly. He alone heard in his head the soft, “yes,” acknowledging the question. If it had Cazador, the show of possessiveness would have rankled. He was not an object, and he was certainly not a blushing maiden in need of protection. However, beneath the real anger he felt radiating from Gale, he felt fear, the uncertainty. The wizard was scared, because he worried what Halsin said was true.

“I think I can make my own choices,” Astarion said. “And if it ends with my death, that will be my choice. I think you'll find I'm not entirely normal either, Halsin. Now if you don't mind, my wizard and I have some things to discuss.”

They wandered away to the former dormitory before Astarion swiftly grabbed Gale's wrist, yanking him close, and capturing his lips in a bruising kiss. The wizard moaned.

“I thought we were talking?” Gale rasped, even as he was already working on getting Astarion out of his armour.

“That was before you decided to show your teeth, little bunny. I thought I was the one that bit.”

“I'm sorry. I…maybe he's right…”

Astarion didn't let go, even as the wizard attempted to pull away. “I already know you're dangerous, Gale. We've all seen it numerous times during our fight.”

“As much as I don't want to lose you, I also don't want to hurt you. I've already hurt others with my selfishness before.”

Gently, he cupped Gale's face with his hands. “I think the person suffering the most is you, losing your friends and family, your power, your sense of self. Before you, I never really thought about helping someone else, but you've changed that. Whatever we face, we'll face it together.”

His hands work at the claps and ties holding the wizard's robes shut. He pushed them off easily, before his hands began mapping the man's body.

“Astarion,” Gale gasped, leaning his head to the side. Astarion decided to suck a lovely mark into the neck, before biting, slowly drinking. He pulled back after a few sips, though the temptation to gorge himself was still quite present. He licked the puncture marks, even as he steered Gale towards one of the bunk beds. Then, without warning, he shoved the wizard, earning an amusing squawk of indignation as the man tumbled onto the bed.

“You cad!” Gale yelled, even as he felt a wash of magic. He wasn't entirely sure what the man had done, but there was the smell of citrus in the air.

“I prefer the term 'bastard,’ but I suppose that would work, too,” he said, pulling his pants and smalls off, and giving his lover a wink.

“I've changed my mind being with you,” Gale said, even as he toed off his shoes.

“Your cock says otherwise.”

“It's an utter liar.”

Astarion couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled in his throat. Gale, too, was grinning, and lifted his hips to slip his trousers down.

“Gods, you're beautiful.”

The wizard flushed at the compliment, picking at the bedding beneath him. “I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to hearing that.”

“Well, that isn't such a bad thing,” Astarion replied, crawling on top of Gale. “It means I can keep watching your lovely reaction each time. You're quite pretty, with your pink cheeks.”

“Bastard.”

“Now you're learning.”

They kissed, a tender meeting of lips, even as Gale's legs wrapped around his hips. Astarion shivered, rolling his hips languidly.

“Come inside me,” the wizard whispered. “Fill me.”

“Grease, beautiful,” he croaked.

“I don't need it.”

“We can debate on many things, but this isn't one of them.”

With a pout, Gale summoned some grease onto Astarion's hand, and the elf worked two fingers inside, earning him a sharp inhale. “You're still tight, so warm and soft inside.”

“You're going to make me come.”

“Can I? Just from my fingers thrusting inside you, pressing just right to watch you shudder? If I make you come, will you let me keep touching you, even when it becomes too much, when pleasure becomes pain?”

Gale growled, tugging on his hair hard for another kiss, then biting his lower lip in warning. In retaliation, he swiftly removed his fingers, then replaced them with his length in one steady slide inside. He worried a bit that it was too much, Gale's fingernails digging into his shoulders, but the wizard hissed out as he tilted his head to the side, “yes, <i>oh</i> yes!”

From there, they movement became frantic, Astarion pounding into the tight channel as Gale met each movement. He wanted to frame a painting of the man like this, his hair like a dark halo, eyes like black moons, his lips reddened with their kisses and arousal. He wanted to hide from the world, to hold this man in his arms, protect him from everything.

This thought alone made him come hard enough to see stars in his vision. His release triggered Gale's, and the wizard tightened around his cock, earning a growl.

For several seconds, Astarion simply listened to the rapid heartbeat of his lover as it slowed down. As he went to pull out, he noticed the tears falling from his wizard's eyes.

“Did I hurt you?” He asked, startled. The last thing he wished was to harm the man.

“No. It isn't that at all,” Gale replied. “I'm just…you may laugh, but I'm so very scared. Of what I am, or I'm becoming. I don't…I don't know who I am anymore.”

It would have been easy to make a snide remark, or even to laugh it off. Instead, he said, “I'm not entirely sure who I am, either, so I suppose we'll need to find out what we are together.”

Gale smiled, despite his eyes remaining tearful, and stroked his cheek.

“I suppose you're right.”

[lunabo17]

Awakening

Chapter 8: All Fall Down

The creche does not hold the answers, but more questions.

Warnings: many canon divergences in this chapter

Not sure what this story is? Read from chapter 1:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64179355/chapters/164698633

Comments always welcome!

Compared to everything they had experienced in a relatively short amount of time, traveling to the creche was rather peaceful. Gale almost wished they had more time to simply wander the area, perhaps take a few samples of some plant life, and just enjoy the gentle breeze. At least, part of their path seemed picturesque.

However, even from this location, they could see the tendrils of darkness from what was called the Shadow-Cursed land, the trees become twisted, almost dead. Halsin claimed that though the curse hadn't spread far give how long it existed, the dark magic still seemed to affect everything nearby. How exactly they would make it to Moonrise Towers remained a mystery, though the druid mentioned there was a path in the Underdark that would bring them closer.

It would certainly be an interesting study in magic, but only after they attempted to remove the parasites at the creche. Nobody seemed quite as hopeful as Lae'zel.

And then came their next problem, as they found the doors to the Monastery housing the creche sealed tight. No amount of banging or kicking budged the heavy doors. It made him wonder why the place would be quite so fortified.

"Hey, there's some broken windows above," Wyll said, pointing upwards. "Do you think we could climb up?"

"Are you sure it's a good idea? This place seems to be crumbling a bit," Gale said, but Karlach was already pushing a few crates for them to climb. He prays that they are sturdy enough to hold them.

Thankfully, nobody was hurt as they enter the crumbling building, eerily silent, dust floating in the air. Halsin remained outside with Barcus and their as of yet unnamed worg. He stifles a sneeze. Bemused, he watches as Karlach and Astarion pilfer some old bottles of wine and liquors.

"They all taste like vinegar to me anyway," said Astarion. "Some are just better vinegar than others."

"Are we even sure the creche is here?" Shadowheart asks, her words barbed. "Or are we on a wild goose chase?"

"You..." Lae'zel begins.

"We haven't thoroughly investigated the area, so let's not start arguments yet," he interrupted before they began arguing.

"Once we are healed, you will thank me," spat the githyanki. Shadowheart simply rolled her eyes.

The silence made him nervous, not quite the sound of an empty library, but with a similar, heavy quiet. Sometimes, out of the corner of his eyes, he thought he saw movement, but when he looked back, there was nothing. He didn't say anything aloud, but he was sure he could feel ghosts watching them. Hopefully, they remained peaceful.

Wyll held up his hand after a few moments, and bent down. "There's fresh tracks here. Not large, but small feet."

"Gremishka," said Tara, and then they were surrounded by the little things, all growling. Tara hissed and growled at the things, and they didn't move to attack yet.

"Wait!" Gale called as his companions unsheathed their blades. "They're simply protecting their nests! Tara, you talk with them, can't you? Might you explain we mean them no harm?"

"Are you sure that's possible, Gale?" Wyll asked, watching warily as one seemed to sniff around their feet. "They're not particularly known for friendliness."

"And they're rather fond of harassing magic users, such as myself, but here we are. I would rather not fight everything in our path." His words earned a scoff from Lae'zel.

"They say if we leave their nests alone, they will let us go," Tara finally said. "And...oh?" There was a series of more hisses and growls. "The young ones want to join us."

"What?" A chorus came from several.

"Interesting," Gale said, bending down to allow what he believed was one of the young ones to sniff his hand. It sneezed, causing spikes to appear on it's body. "Gremishka are allergic to magic, so any spells near them can cause a rather violent reaction. What are their names, Tara?"

She gave a series of hisses and growls.

"They are kinda cute, in an ugly sort of way," Wyll said, scratching behind one's ears. "If you ignore the fact they can rip your fingers off."

"Oh, who's a good kitty?" Karlach said. "What I wouldn't give to scratch their bellies."

"If they're known for attacking magic users, why are we considering allowing them to join us?" Lae'zel asked.

"It is rather curious. Tara? Are we sure they won't turn on us?"

"If they try anything, I will absorb their magic and kill them. They also find your radiant magic soothing, Gale."

Astarion tensed. "If they try anything to hurt him, I will personally end them."

Tara seemed to translate what the vampire said, and the three gremishkas ducked their heads. One was near Astarion's feet, and seemed to be a mutated one, as well as an albino. They had a fine, white coat of fur, red eyes, and slightly smaller teeth, though still quite sharp. The others were mostly furless, as most of their kind, though they had a tuft if fur on their tails, like gerbils.

Gale searched through his pack, and pulled out a few scrolls, setting them down. "I know this won't be much, but please accept these as thanks for not attacking. I assure you we would have won the battle."

Perhaps they had understood it, known that despite the vaste amount of tasty magic he held, they would have lost, despite their numbers and resistance to magic. The scrolls were dragged away.

"Might our new companions know if there are other githyanki here?" Gale asked.

"They say below."

"Good! Then we are on the right path."

~

Astarion didn't trust their new additions to the party, mostly because he wasn't convinced they wouldn't attempt to attack Gale in the middle of the night. However, though gremishka were known to attack first, these had refrained. He didn't know if it was their recognition of Gale's vast power that would override even their allergic reactions, or Tara's ability to suck any latent magic from their bodies and kill them. The white one was kinda cute, too, in that murderous sort of way.

The beasties led them downward, and around the Monastery proper, to a door beneath. They left them outside to guard the area, since they didn't know how the githyanki would react to their arrival. Astarion hated it, but Gale told Lae'zel to take the lead, and he supposed it kept them alive, though the guards watched them closely.

There was just a flicker of hope that perhaps they would finally find a cure, and yet that would also meant Cazador could control him once more. Would it be immediate? Could they perhaps fight Cazador before the compulsions return? Or would he be called the moment the tadpoles were gone? On the other hand, there was the constant threat of the Ilithid change, despite this so-called guardian protecting them. Turn from one monster into another? He simply couldn't win.

With confidence, Lae'zel led them to the infirmary. The doctor there made him uncomfortable, and he glanced at Gale. There was something very wrong here, and it didn't take the strange tadpoles gnawing in their minds to realize it. Gale glanced at the tables, strewn with not only papers, but what appeared to be Ilithid samples in jars.

"Lae'zel, is this wise?" Wyll whispered to her. "Something isn't right here."

Lae'zel's lips thinned, and she seemed to hesitate. "No, this must be done."

Except it became clear that the device Lae'zel believed so ardently would heal them was meant to kill them. It didn't take the searing, sharp pain in their heads to realize it, and Wyll yanked Lae'zel out of the cursed device before it exploded or killed her.

It was as Lae'zel shook, staring at the remains of the zaith'isk that a guard approached them. One of Vlaakith's Inquisitor's was stationed here, and wished to see them.

Astarion glanced at Gale, who shook his head. They knew this wasn't going to end well at all.

Silently, they followed the guard through the creche, past even the Captain's quarters. There was a tension in the air, like the feel before a downpour of rain, about to snap.

The moment they stepped inti the Inquisitor's room, the doors shut behind them. Tara's fur was standing on edge, and she was growling. An image appeared above them, large and imposing, and Lae'zel fell to her knees.

"And so Lae'zel of K'liir, approaches" said the projection. Astarion shuddered, the red eyes boring into them as they were studied in turn.

"My queen, I remain your humble servant."

"Do you now? Then you will do as I order. Enter the Astral prism you hold, and kill what is within."

They knew, Astarion realized, noticing the githyanki in the room spread out to surround them.

"My queen..."

"Do you question me?"

"No, my queen! Of course not!"

"Indeed. After all, I may gift you, should you succeed."

There was a moment, as the image faded, and then there was a splitting pain, as if someone had taken an axe and hit them, staggering them. A voice called through their pain, telling them not to give up the artefact. When the pain ebbed, a new horror revealed themselves.

Not all of the githyanki had changed, but several, including the Inquisitor, had. They were not quite Ilithid, but certainly not githyanki. Around their heads were long tentacles, like the mane of a lion, but writhing like snakes. Each tentacle had small mouths with teeth, while the main face of the changed githyanki no longer had a mouth, and their eyes had changed to red.

"No," Lae'zel whispered, horrified.

Even from their farther location, they could hear screaming.

"Behold the power Vlaakith has bestowed on us," the Inquisitor projected into their minds. Though several githyanki had transformed, several also seemed horrified. "A new age dawns, and we shall prevail!"

"To become what we have fought for so long?" Lae'zel spat, disbelieving. "This is what Vlaakith has chosen?!"

Gale didn't wait, sending a blast at the Inquisitor. The changed githyanki, or whatever they were now, fought with strong psychic attacks that seemed to resonate with their own tadpoles. However, though some githyanki seemed to have faith in their queen, despite these new monstrosities, several turned on their own, aiding them in the fight.

With each psychic blast that froze them in pain, Gale attacked with his own spells. Astarion could feel the strain on him, the pain that throbbed in his chest, at each use of magic. It was beautiful as much as it was frightening, the purples lines on his body glowing, sweat trickling down his face.

Astarion winced as a few tentacles bit into his arm, like little vampires, but the bolt of a heavy crossbow caused the creature to stagger back. Behind them stood Voss with several of his squad, wearing black, brown, and green uniforms made for camouflage. Their heavy bows and bolts took out the remaining monstrosities. Gale moved quickly, catching Gale in his arms before the wizard dropped to the ground.

Lae'zel stood over the Inquisitor, her arms shaking as she stared at what he had become.

"Did you know?" She asked at last, her eyes never straying.

"I knew," said Voss. "I refused this...treatment as long as I could, but I knew eventually it would come to this, that I eventually I would turn on Vlaakith. This is one of her methods to defeat the Ilithid, to make some of us into these...things, ones she can control entirely. They altered the Ilithid tadpoles to create them, and now...we are no better than them. The only thing protecting us now is the prism you hold, the prism protecting you."

"Are you all right, bunny?" Astarion whispered. Gale looked paler than normal, and seemed to have trouble focusing.

"I may have..overdone it?" Astarion gave a snort, pulling a healing potion from his pack, and helped his wizard take it.

"What is the prism?" Lae'zel finally asked.

"It holds the prison of Prince Orpheus, true heir to the first Vlaakith, the one remaining being able to fully fight the psychic abilities of the Ilithid. The current Queen cannot, and she knows it, so she sought ways to change the Ilithid parasites, to make them hers, to control them. She found a specter of magic, altered the tadpoles, and...well, you see. Now that she carries this power, Orpheus is no longer needed, the one being that could overthrow her."

"The specter must hold immense power," Gale said, still cradled in Astarion's arms, but at least looking better than before.

Voss looked at his wizard, his face carefully blank. "I believe you would understand it best, archwizard. After all, it is the Specter of Karsus that she wields."

[lunabo17]

Beautiful

Pairing: Bloodweave

Rating: Mature

Part of the Connect the Dots series

Astarion noticed Gale's bad habit, and decides to show his wizard exactly what he thinks of him.

Warning: They're in love. There's touching, and everyone may die of sugar overload.

In case anyone is confused at what the series is, here is the link to a very smutty beginning:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64712977

Astarion had, of course, noticed a rather peculiar habit Gale displayed when they had traveled fighting the Absolute. When the wizard talked about himself and his accomplishments in the past, he had been rather proud (or rather arrogant, but he certainly wouldn't say it now). However, compliments flustered him. A well timed spell, or even a kind word on his cooking, would make him blush a lovely shade of rose red, and he would duck his head, give a nervous laugh, before redirecting to another topic.

Now, however, Astarion had some time to truly ponder the situation as they finally stopped their adventuring for an extended stay in Waterdeep.

Gale had, despite still traveling in search of the sunwalking spell and other fascinating artefacts, gained some weight. Truly, the man had been severely underfed when they had first met, and seeing Gale regaining the lost weight brought him joy. Morena admitted that in his younger years, Gale had been quite indulgent when it came to food, so finally seeing him healthy again after the whole Mystra debacle brought her to tears.

And, Astarion could admit, the curves caused him to hunger for the man.

However, when he called he called his lover anything but his name, Gale once more redirected the conversation, or ignored any praise. It was infuriating! His wizard could feel how much Astarion found him attractive, and still there was that swirl of embarrassment.

Now with traveling put on hold until after the wedding, he could do something about that stupid habit. So he had taken measurements of his lovely human with the excuse they needed it for their wedding clothes (not entirely a lie, really). He had even been quite a gentleman, despite the urge to simply ravish the wizard at each touch.

Then, one evening, he set his plan into action.

Gale's robes were always loose, and that included the ones he traveled with. Occasionally, Astarion manager to switch out a pair or two for something else, but usually he allowed Gale to pick his own clothes.

Tonight, they were going on a date, a lovely stroll in the Waterdeep gardens, before having a small dinner at the top of the Towers. Astarion had been spending a lot of time talking with his mother, learning everything he had missed. His father still refused to truly acknowledge them, but that hadn't stopped Andromeda from joining them in Waterdeep, with Astrid's blessing.

When Gale rejoined Astarion in the bedroom, ready to change into some boring, black robes, the vampire stopped him.

"Will you do me a favour, my sweet? I have something I would like you to wear tonight."

"I...well...I suppose..."

Astarion smiled, handing him a carefully wrapped package. "Now go on and dress in private so you might surprise me with how lovely you'll look."

He could feel the spike of anxiety in his mind, even as Gale gave a disbelieving laugh. "I'm sure no one could outshine you."

It annoyed him, to hear these things, and he wondered how someone who had been so full of pride once could not see his own beauty any longer. It also made Astarion angry at himself, for not acting sooner.

For several minutes, he simply listened to the rustle of clothes. He heard a soft "oh," one he was sure Gale believed he would miss. He swirled the wine in his glass, slightly nervous to see his lover's reaction. Then, Gale stepped out, and he nearly dropped his glass, his mouth dropping open.

The sleeveless robes were red with golden swirls along the hems and at the wrists. A thicker, red belt wrapped around his waist, not quite a corset, but still tight, and then below, the robes fell in layered waves to his ankles. There were slits up the sides, but underneath were red tights. Astarion had been tempted to make the neckline plunging, to proudly display the Orb's scars, but decided on something a little more modest, still showing a peek, but certainly not to his navel.

The red was nearly matching the shade on Gale' s cheeks.

"I look silly, don't I?"

For a moment, Astarion couldn't speak, and when he finally did, it was with an embarrassing croak. "Dear gods, no."

"You needn't pretend to be so kind."

He very carefully put the glass down, and then moved towards the wizard. "What do you feel from me, Gale? I think you can tell how much I want to simply tear off these clothes and have you, here and now. Or do you need to physically feel it as well?"

Swiftly, he grabbed the man's wrists, pulling Gale close against him so his lover could feel his body responding. He was entirely too pleased to hear the gasp that escaped.

"You're so very beautiful. I plan to take over dressing you, so each day you will be reminded of how lovely you are."

"You...I..."

"Rendering my darling Gale Dekarios mostly speechless? I consider my job well done indeed."

"You ass."

Astarion laughed. "Guilty! However, since we have plans, I won't destroy these clothes." He stepped a moment away to grab a choker with a rose on it, placing it around Gale's neck. "Now, my love, shall we go?"

~

Despite the bubbling anxiety Astarion could feel rolling through the bond, Gale didn't demand to change, but walked close to Astarion. The vampire certainly wasn't upset with the development, keeping an arm around the wizard's waist. As Gale began talking about the plants they were going to see, Astarion noticed many heads turn. He knew some would give disapproving glances, but he was delighted that many seemed quite smitten with them. Of course, he wouldn't point it out to Gale, since he was positive the man would simply brush it off and state they watched Astarion, not him.

Really, the opinions of others didn't matter. Astarion would prove to his stubborn man that he was beautiful, even if it took hundreds of years, something he was beginning to suspect they would now have with the connection between them.

He half listened as Gale talked about the plants in the gardens, as well as various places he recommended visiting with grander plant life from many locations. His darling always enjoyed a good lecture, and it reminded him how well he would be as a teacher, if they ever decided to settle.

His eyes hardly strayed from his animated lover, gently glowing in the light of the moon, his hair strands of cooped and silver. He stopped the stream of Gale's monologue with a kiss.

"Astarion," Gale began, pink tinging his cheeks. He didn't give the man time to say more, kissing him again, keeping it chaste, despite the urge to ravish him.

"Are you even looking at the flowers at all?"

"Of course. They're quite pretty, but I have the loveliest flower with me."

Gale gave a nervous giggle. "You need not ply me with such honeyed words."

"Hmmm. I beg to differ, sweet thing. I believe I haven't said enough. Shall we return to your Tower? I wish to do things to you that I believe would get us into quite a bit of trouble here."

To his delighted surprise, Gale created a portal back home instead of them walking back (not that Astarion would complain to display his beautiful fiance).

Despite his words, the moment the portal disappeared, Astarion gently cupped Gale's face, stroking it for a moment, before giving him a series of kisses. "Do you want dinner first?" He whispered in his lover's ear. "Or am I dining first?"

"I believe you first," Gale said, tipping his head back as his neck was peppered with bites, not drawing blood yet, but bruising.

"Then we better move this to our bedroom." With those words, he swiftly picked Gale up into his arms like a bride, causing the wizard to laugh.

"I can walk, you menace!"

"Consider it practice for our wedding night."

Gale leaned his head against Astarion's chest, and he could feel the mix of emotions, the swelling of joy, along with a sprinkle of fear.

"Sometimes, I think to myself that this is just a dream, and any moment I'll wake up, the Orb still in my chest, and so very alone. I..."

He could hear the waver in his lover's voice as he spoke. Gently, Astarion sat down on their bed, keeping Gale in his lap. "Sometimes when I awaken after a Trance, I forget I am no longer in Cazador's Palace, that I thoroughly made sure he wouldn't come back to haunt us. Then I see you, slumbering beside me, feel your heart beating, and realize I am finally free."

Gale gently touched his face. "You know I would never hold you here or anywhere against your will."

"Is this about the bond, lovely? You know I haven't changed my mind on a Wish."

"You keep saying those things..." Gale squirmed a little in his lap, the red spreading more on his face and chest. "I'm nothing special."

Astarion snorted. "Even when we first met, when you were quite underweight, I thought you quite handsome."

"I suppose somewhat, but compared..."

"Ah ah ah," he interrupted. "This isn't about comparisons. We are two different people. I am like the moon, while you are the sun, radiant and warm, especially when you let me dress you properly, or when you become entirely excited on a topic. And though you may not see it, I find you beautiful. Now where was I? Ah yes. To rip the clothes off, or actually properly undress you..."

"You just bought me these! Surely you wouldn't waste good coin!"

"It's my coin, and I do what I please. However, they are rather fetching on you, so I suppose I shall be good this time. Supposedly patience is a virtue, so I shall worship each part of you as I strip you down, and continue to do so until you realize what I say is correct."

"Stubborn man," Gale murmured against his lips. "It may take a very long time."

"Then it's good we have a long time together, and each day I can give you a reminder."

And with that, Astarion made sure to swallow any more protests with a press if his lips.

[lunabo17]

Apples, Strawberries, and Everything In between

Chapter 6 The Wizard

After receiving a mysterious note, Gale goes to face the wizard of Baldur's Gate. When the conversation becomes heated, Gale proves that he isn't someone that can be pushed around.

Warnings: Violence, and smut.

Been a moment, innit? I meant for the angst to be mild in this story, and then Gale decided to be a shit and ruin that plan. Rude!

Wondering wtf this story is? Read it from the start:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63305917/chapters/170813236

As always, comments appreciated (no solicitations for commissions.)

"A scattered dream that's like a far-off memory... a far-off memory that's like a scattered dream... i want to line the pieces up... yours and mine"

-Kingdom Hearts 2

~

Despite the Treow appearing to them, there was still plenty to do. The little creatures, they discovered, appeared in a variety of colours, depending on their element of choice. The ones they meet in the Center were of air and earth, so mostly white and green. He sometimes spied some in the fires, shy little creatures that danced when they weren't looking. He rather hoped they gave him and Astarion some privacy when they were together, though did spirits even care about such things?

Gale certainly didn't go out of his way to check, too busy with the feel of his lover to worry.

He would give them little things as they worked on the farm, such as a pretty flower that they had begun to grow, or a pretty leaf. Sometimes, it was a smooth stone, or even a piece of wood that couldn't be used. They would make a chirping sound, like tiny birds, and then squirrel their gifts away. Gale always wondered if they were good enough gifts, but they always seemed happy.

When Jaheira was helping him set up the coop when he noticed her smile as a small Treow made little hammering motions as she secured the enclosure.

"You see them, don't you?" He asked softly.

Her smile widened. "Of course I do. They are the magic of Baldur's Gate, of the land. For a long time, they remained hidden. They loved your family, and your family loved them back."

"I don't understand why I'm different. You're a druid, so I would think they would be far more interested in you and your family."

"Perhaps there is more to you than you realize, Gale Dekarios."

Gale frowned a little, even as the sight of the little friends walking across the top of the coop made his confusion turn swiftly to amusement.

Yet a part of him knew this peace wouldn't last.

~

They stood in utter darkness, the land around them twisted, dead. Deep underneath, the earth cried in pain for this wounded area, stifled by a never ending night. Beside him, Astarion stood, staring up into a giant tower. He knew it wasn't one guarded by a wizard, but something darker, more ominous.

Gale knew there was a possible end here, and it was not a good one.

'Find the heart, and kill it. End it. Kill for her, for Mystra. Die for her.'

The Orb pulsed with the beat of his rapid heartbeat. He didn't want to die. He wanted to live. He wanted...

"Don't do this," Astarion said, but he didn't turn to look at him. "Don't take your life for her. We'll find another way."

He wanted to say that he knew, that they could find another way, but a weight was pressing down on him, heavy so he couldn't speak, couldn't breath. And then...

Gale gasped, eyes shooting open again, pulse racing. His hand went to the pulsing Orb in his chest. This was becoming a little more common, these nightmares that even if they didn't end poorly (and many of them did), they still left him uneasy. At first, Astarion assumed they were the presence of the Treow, but Gale knew it wasn't them. It was something else. A past life? A different life? What could it be?

The sound of a cup placed on his nightstand shook him from his reverie. Astarion sat down on the bed, stroking his face gently. Gale knew the strength those hands held, and yet they touched him as if he were a delicate treasure.

He sat up slowly as the nightmare began to slowly fade into the background. The uneasy feeling, this sensation of wondering if he were simply in a dream, would be the last to go.

"Another?" Astarion asked softly.

"Yes," he said, his voice a little raspy from sleep and dehydration. He took a sip of tea, a nice blend mixed with rosehips, and a generous spoonful of honey. "Sometimes, when I'm lost in it, I wonder if this is all fake, and I'll wake up, about to..."

Die. Each dream, he knew he was about to die. Despite knowing in these dreams that Mystra had ordered his demise, he didn't die for her. He died to protect those he loved.

But why was this happening? Why now? It wasn't the Treow, so was it the Orb? He gave a sigh, dexterous fingers running through his hair, leaning into the touch.

"Maybe we should talk with Isobel or Aylin, see if there is something they could give you."

"Perhaps you're right. I should probably also begin some research into finding a solution to remove the Orb permanently. I was researching it when I was teaching at Blackstaff, but I doubt they'll let me look over anything. I could ask Halsin."

"I don't suppose the Treow have any ideas?"

"I asked, and all they say is 'happy magic' and go right back to working. It's perplexing, given that the Orb seems to cause me more pain than happiness. Perhaps..."

He jumped as their was a loud knocking on his door. Astarion glared in the direction, and went to go check who had come to bother them. He couldn't remember if there was something he was supposed to be doing today, and had forgotten? He checked his journal, but didn't find anything. Astarion returned as he slipped on a pair of pants, his face twisted with confusion.

"Is something wrong? Did I forget something?"

"No. There wasn't anyone there, but there was this."

The vampire handed him a small package, and he blinked. He hadn't ordered anything, but the package was addressed to him, written in calligraphy. There was no return address. A quick scan didn't show any malicious magic. Carefully, he opened it, expecting some sort of prank. Instead, what he found surprised him.

Nestled inside was three, glowing mushroom saplings, and he knew these were typically found in the Underdark. Yet though many mushroom trees from the deep withered at the sun, these seemed quite all right. He pulled out what he thought was a note, but discovered was a photo. It was a picture of these specific, fully grown trees of deep blues and purples. Written on the back was, 'The Underdark holds the secrets.'

"What in the hells?" Astarion said. "Is this a threat of sorts? A trap? I don't like this. Something isn't right."

"I agree. It is rather strange. You didn't see anyone?"

"No, and I didn't smell anyone, either. Gale..."

Gale studied the saplings. A mysterious note and plants, but no sign of whoever knocked. Astarion would have smelled whoever had been there, since it had only been moments, unless magic had been used.

With a sigh, he placed the saplings down, preparing to dress. He had a plan, but he wasn't ready.

~

"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Astarion asked again.

"I didn't say it was a good idea," Gale responded, already feeling his nerves frayed the closer they got to Lorroakan's Tower. "But there must be magic involved."

"Not that I know much about magic, but can't you trace it?"

"I wish. Unfortunately, I couldn't sense anything. The Treow didn't seem concerned with the saplings, and I just don't think any of our friends would leave us some mysterious plants and a very vague note."

He gave a sigh as he raised his hand, ready to knock on the door, when it opened.

"Not ominous at all."

"You could just stay out here, Astarion."

The vampire pressed his lips together tight, giving a glare at Gale, before pushing the door fully open.

When they stepped inside, Gale gave a gasp. From top to bottom, all along the walls, were hundreds of books. It nearly made him miss his own tower in Waterdeep (wait, it was his mother's now), the one Astarion kept pestering him needed a new name. He would have loved to study the bookshelves. Perhaps he didn't need to ask Halsin for assistance.

A tiefling approached them, and immediately Gale felt something was very wrong. He had bruises on his face, and his robes seemed far too tight for his build.

"Welcome to Ramazith's Tower, the home of the great wizard Lorroakan," said the tiefling. "Master Lorroakan awaits your arrival, Gale of Waterdeep."

Gale made a face at the honorific. "Just Gale Dekarios, if you please. Might I ask who you are?"

The tiefling blinked, as if he didn't expect such a question. "I'm Rolan, Master Lorroakan's apprentice."

"Apprentice, or body slave?" Astarion asked.

Rolan's eyes darted about, as if scared to speak. "He is the strongest wizard in this land."

He barely managed to repress a snort. He hadn't even met the man, and he already hated him. However, he had come to ask about the package, not to start a battle. Yet.

Lorroakan was on the upper floors, lounging on a throne. Rolan immediately went to kneel beside the throne, lifting a platter of various fruits for the wizard to take.

"The great Gale of Waterdeep, why, what an honor," Lorroakan drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see Astarion tense, and Gale placed a hand on his arm.

"Lorroakan, I would say the honor is all mine, but you leave a rather bad impression."

The other wizard laughed. "You dare talk to me about bad impressions? You, Mystra's former bitch? How does it feel to be one of the lesser wizards?"

Gale flushed at the words, refraining from aby attempt to hit the smug bastard in the face. He was finding it quite hard, however.

"We haven't come here to talk about my failures, but rather a package that arrived to my doorstep. I wondered if you had been so kind to send it to us."

"Why would I send you anything? Aren't you more interested in groveling in the dirt than anything important?"

"You piece of shit!" Astarion finally snapped. "The others always said you were scum, and they were right."

Lorroakan didn't seem fazed by the anger, still sitting in his throne, and eating grapes. "You're that vampire spawn. You know, I was going to study that Aylin, try to find out how her immortality works, but despite my generous offer of money, nobody has been willing to bring her here. Perhaps you would like to stay here instead. I'm sure I wouldn't kill you immediately."

His ears were ringing, and he barely registered the magic that surged through him. He expected the pain of the Orb to throb, as it had after he had released it, but instead, he heard a song.

"You dare threaten me in my home, Gale of Nothing?"

"People are not toys to be used, then discarded," He said, his voice cold.

"People? You call some aasimar bitch and a vampire spawn 'people?' Ha!"

Lorroakan looked triumphant as he shattered the lightening Gale directed at the smug wizard. He thought he had an easy target, a former Chosen, fallen from his position, his magic reduced to a mere apprentice level.

He would have thought the same, too. He had refrained for so long to draw on any magic, the Orb hungering for sustenance. Yet hearing Lorroakan speak of Astarion and Aylin as if they were nothing more than tools...

It felt like something snapped within him, a cold river wrapping around him. The smirk on the other wizard's face suddenly dropped, and with a snap, he saw elementals appear around the room. Rolan had wisely hidden himself.

"It doesn't matter what you've become," Lorroakan snarled. "I am still the stronger wizard."

Astarion ducked as a fire myrmidon swiped at him, the scorching blade heating the air around them. They were sorely outnumbered, until Treow appeared, making little noises, brandishing little spears.

The diversion broke his concentration for a moment, allowing Lorroakan to blast him away. He could hear Astarion cry out for him. Gale rolled with the hit, then swiftly got to his feet. The air seemed to freeze in the moment, and he could see his breath, as if winter had suddenly fallen on the land. Everything seemed to slow down, and he blinked.

His skin had changed, darkened into the colors of midnight, of a sky filled with stars, with tendrils of purple along his skin, from the Orb.

Lorroakan's eyes were now wide, and he shook as he sent another spell at him. Gale didn't step away to avoid it, nor raise any shields; he embraced the spell, let it run through him as if he were a lightening rod, sending it into the earth.

"What the fuck are you?!" The other wizard screamed as each spell didn't hurt him.

"I am Gale Dekarios," he hissed. "And you will not threaten what I love."

Lorroakan's eyes moved quickly to Astarion, but Gale was faster, intercepting the spell, but this time not just reflecting it back, but surging the magic at the other wizard. With a scream, Lorroakan fell.

Gale hissed at the wizard, before he dropped to his knees.

"Gale?" Astarion said, falling beside him. "Are you...are you okay?"

He looked up, seeing in the fear in his lover's eyes, believing for a moment the vampire was scared of him, until fingers gently touched his face, then touched something on his forehead.

"Dear gods," the vampire whispered. "And when I didn't think you could get any more beautiful." Their lips met, and Gale gasped as he felt the magic wrap around them both.

"Mine," he said against Astarion's mouth.

"Please don't kill me!" A squeaked request came, making them pull apart. Rolan was surrounded by the Treow. "By all rights, Gale Dekarios holds the Tower! I promise to leave! Please!"

"It's all right," Gale said, releasing the magic from him. "As long as you don't decide to try and fight me like this idiot did, I don't plan to hurt you."

"Thank you. Gods, you two are...are you both of this world, even?"

They glanced at each other, Gale allowing a small smile onto his lips, despite the rising ache of the Orb's hunger. He could feel the magic around him, and ever so gently began to tug at it, as if sipping from a cup.

"That is an excellent question," he murmured.

~

The idea was to return to the farm to decide their next steps. It took all of two seconds for that to fly out the window when he was slammed into the closed door, his lips caught into a bruising kiss.

Gale tried to open his mouth, to say something, only to find a tongue thrust inside. He moaned as Astarion pressed into him, slowly grinding against him.

"Fuck," he finally managed to utter as the vampire released his tingling lips in favour of adding a few new bruises to his neck.

"Seeing you take on that utter dipshit, the magic in you...fuck, Gale."

Rationally, he knew they really should be talking about what happened, and not rutting into the door like animals. Instead, he had just managed to kick off his damned boots, shimming to get his pants and underwear down, when Astarion demonstrated what a regularly fed vampire could do, and lifted him.

"Oh, fuck!" He called, wrapping his legs around the vampire's waist. "Astarion!"

With a snarl, the vampire abrupting dropped him onto his cock, and Gale's head hit the door, his mouth opening on a gasp, but he didn't feel the pain, just the exquisite slide inside of him, filling him.

The door was rattling with their movements, grunts and cries filling the air as they fucked against the door. Gale didn't care, kissing Astarion as if he needed it as much as air.

But even as their motions became frantic, Gale took one of their hands, and laced their fingers together.

[lunabo17]

Reconnection

Part of the 'Connect the Dots' series

Pairing: Bloodweave

Rating: Explicit

Astarion and Gale go to the Ancunín residence, and discover several surprises.

Warnings: Smut at the end.

Astarion's dad is still a dick.

Reminder for changes to Astarion: his eyes are blue. He is still a vampire.

Not done with these two. There are still ideas floating about.

Comments still welcome. As usual, don't bother to ask for commissions. Solicitation is still frowned upon.

Confused as to what happened? Read from the beginning of the series:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64712977

Astarion couldn't stop thinking of that distant home, despite the planning involved with their wedding. It was ironic that he could easily discuss simple aspects of such an event, such as flowers (roses, because it's cliche, yet still the height of romance) and colour schemes (dark blue for him, and purple for Gale), and yet he couldn't set the actual date. Gale finally broke the verbal silence, and pointed out that even though they had discussed visiting Astarion's former home after they were wed, perhaps they needed to go before.

Being entirely rational, Astarion had panicked. He made the stupid rebuttal that maybe Gale simply was finding an excuse to go on another adventure instead of marrying him, and the vampire then ran to his reading room to consider killing himself for being an utter ass. Again. Good gods, he was dragging his feet on setting a date, and he was accusing his wizard of such silly things?

Gale had silently followed him, that damned knowing smile on his face, and simply sat beside the elf as Astarion wrote down every single thought that came to his head. Only then did he admit the wizard was right, and it terrified him.

"It doesn't matter what we face there, Astarion," Gale said, kissing his hand. "They can hate us, for all I care, but at least it will be behind us. And I think, maybe, you wish they could be there."

His lover was right. A part of him, despite the pain, despite rejection, despite years of silence, wanted to ask.

Immediately, after the decision was made, they began to prepare. Despite Gale's ability to easily get them home if events soured, his wizard advised that they approach his childhood home from one of the nearby villages, instead of directly. They gathered the basic provisions, as always, but also a few additional items, such as warmer attire, as well as some beautiful sets of clothing befitting grander affairs. Gale then spent quite a bit if time enchanting the items to keep them warm, especially Astarion's clothes. Though the tumble into the stream had changed certain aspects of the vampire, such as his eyes turning blue again, as well as muting the burning pain of the sun (though he still couldn't remain under the rays as he had with the tadpoles), the cold affected him greatly.

They began the journey in a village known as Gleammorrow, a small, sleepy fishing village. Astarion vaguely recalled once visiting the place with his mother at a rather young age, though later such travels were frowned upon, especially as the second oldest child. They would marry whoever their father picked for them, and then the children would take over the well-being of their little domain. To leave was the temptation to change, to throw their duties away, as Astarion had.

The sun was beginning to lower as they made their way towards the Ancunín Keep upon their horse. Her name was Nova, her darker coat thick to keep warm, and mane long, and she quietly trotted towards the keep, sure-footed and calm. Gale had purchased her, reasoning that it wouldn't hurt to have a companion that could help them carry their items on certain excursions.

Gale had caste a spell to protect them from the sun's rays, though the cold made them wrap their scarves around their face. The stars were just beginning to peek out when they arrived at their destination.

An older elf approached them warily as Astarion helped Gale down from Nova.

"It is rather late to...my gods..." The elf exclaimed, eyes widening as Astarion pulled the scarf down. "Master Astarion? It can't be..."

"I remember you," said Astarion, his hand holding Gale's tight. "You're Davran. You used to sneak apples for me."

"Faris, go alert the lords and ladies!" A younger girl ran to the main house. "Please, my lord, follow me."

"Just Astarion," said the vampire. "No titles."

Gale gave his hand a squeeze as they followed the elderly elf to the main house as someone moved to take their steed.

It was as Astarion remembered it, nearly as ornamental and cold as Cazador's palace, except the paintings on the walls were his ancestors, his family. He expected someone to inform them that they were to be turned away, but instead, there was a bang from upstairs, and the flurry of dresses.

At the top of the stairs, a woman stopped, her eyes wide, her hair in a perfect bun. She wore the dress Gale had once seen in Astarion's memories, a white dress with silver flowers delicately embroidered. Beside her was a younger woman with a light blue dress, similar flowers on hers.

"My ladies Andromeda and Astrid," said Davran.

"You've returned," said Astarion's mother, carefully moving down the steps before cupping the vampire's face with her shaking hands. "I thought..."

"So the spawn returns," and Astarion knew the voice, though it was frailer than in his memories. The elf that moved down the steps was slower, leaning heavily on his cane.

Astarion had not kept who he was a secret after the defeat of the Absolute, though the horrors he faced from Cazador, as well as the location of his siblings and the spawn in the Underdark remained a mystery to most. Many shunned him for his vampirism, but he refused to simply scamper in the darkness, despite the continued problem with the sun. He was almost surprised his family knew anything.

"So I did," Astarion replied, cooly. "Though I assure you I have no urge to return here permanently, and won't ask."

"You..." His father began, but to his surprise, it was his mother that cut him off.

"Enough, Draco," Lady Andromeda said. "We have lost nearly half our children to your bull-headed ways. At least Astarion has had the courage to visit."

Astarion fought so his mouth wouldn't fall open, amazed that his mother said anything. She certainly hadn't stood up to him when he was a child! Gale squeezed his hand.

"Please, follow me," said Astrid, his older sister. She moved to take the arm of an elf with darker, gray hair, though young; was it Damien? Dorian? He vaguely recalled her betrothal to the man, an arranged marriage. She walked with authority, and it made him wonder if the reigns of the domain had been passed to her.

There were servants already scurrying around, setting up the table with wine and light delicacies; cheeses, some dried meats, fruits, and little pastries were set down. Astrid motioned for them to join her near her chair at the head of the table.

"We have heard some of the exploits in Baldur's Gate," said Astrid. "Though what is true and what is false is another story." Her eyes lingered on Gale.

"I dare say a lot is true," he replied. "This is my fiance..."

There was a gasp from several before he could get much further, but his father said, "A mere human."

Astarion felt his mouth pull back into a snarl, but the loud laugh from Gale stunned everyone.

"Dear me, it had been a while since I've been seen a 'mere' anything, and it is rather refreshing to be insulted in such a manner. Gale Dekarios, archmage of Waterdeep, former Chosen of Mystra, at your service. Do not dare to cross me, or I will make sure you regret it."

Despite the jovial tone Gale kept, there was the hint of danger in his words, a clear warning not to cross him.

"Enough, father," Astrid ordered. "Despite your ire for Astarion's return, I welcome him and his fiance into our home."

It seemed enough for the older Ancunín, the elf leaving the others. Tension seemed to melt as he departed.

"The other siblings were 'lost'? Did they...?"

"They left," said Andromeda. "As you did, discontent to follow your father's orders. "Ophelia and Sirius won't even talk to us, but Sterling..."

"Sterling? Who the hells is Sterling?"

"Language," Gale breathed, but Astrid laughed.

"Of course you wouldn't know. You remember 'Iris,' yes? He changed his name to Sterling."

Astarion's jaw finally dropped. "Huh! I suppose father wasn't too pleased when he made that move! Well, good for him."

"He does rather enjoy annoying father" Astrid replied, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "I imagine it is one of the reasons he continues to visit. Astarion...tell me truthfully. Are you...happy? We don't know the details of Cazador's manipulation and abuse, nor even the trials with this Absolute cultists, but it seems you have been through so much."

For a moment, he simply focused on the feel of Gale's hand in his, always warming his cold hands. His mind reached out, and he felt Gale meet him, their very beings wrapping around each other.

"Once, I didn't think it possible to ever be happy again, but it turns out I was wrong."

~

Of the many things that he thought could occur, having a fairly warm welcome by Astarion's family was certainly rather low on Gale's list of possible outcomes. He was quite pleased he was so thoroughly incorrect, even though his lover's father was annoying him quite a bit.

They discovered that after Astarion left, the family began to break down, the younger children discontent to remain under their father's stern teachings, too stuck with tradition to care what his children wished. It finally shattered when they first received word of Astarion's apparent death. It was then Andromeda began to stand up to her husband, believing that if they hadn't raised their children in a silly tradition, then Astarion wouldn't have died. Of course, after the shocking news that their child not only still lived, but turned into a vampire and tortured, had made them hesitate to request to see him.

"I didn't remember my past until recently," Astarion admitted. "The turning and years of torture blocked my memories. Gale and I were looking for a method for me to walk unharmed in the sun when we had a magical...ah..."

"Mishap with a happy ending?" Gale finished, his lips quirking into a smile at the sharp look he received.

"Happy indeed," and his fiance's eyes were smoldering, making his own cheeks flush.

Astrid was smirking at them, while her husband was coughing to hide his amusement.

"Show some decorum, children," Andromeda chastised, but there was no real bite to her words.

"I admit to corrupting him," said Astarion.

"Ha! Don't act as if I'm a little child."

"You are a little child, darling, far younger than me."

"Cradle robber," Astrid murmured.

"Astrid!" Andromeda gasped, while Astarion laughed, and certainly not the fake one he often used in their earliest acquaintance. It was full-bodied, and filling the room with delight.

Now, they had the time to reconnect, to take their time to explore a new relationship. Gale knew they could never mend the years lost, the pain of a severed connection, but they could make something new.

Andromeda stood, urging then to follow, stating that they had A journeyed far, and deserved rest. A room had been prepared for them to stay for as long as they wished, even if the elder Ancunín was displeased. A sickness had greatly weakened him, and he had passed the majority of decisions to Astrid.

"Perhaps a day or two," Astarion murmured, glancing around the extremely lavish room. "This room needs more books."

They had agreed, then, to be polite guests, and simply sleep. That plan went entirely out the window the moment Astarion finished his bath (alone, so they would behave). Gale had been reading quietly, quite comfortable in the new nightgown Astarion had insisted to purchase. It was an extremely soft shirt, bigger than what the elf enjoyed to dress gim with, but falling off one of his shoulders. The neckline was also low, displaying his scars. He had planned to slip on the pants, but the book had suddenly plunged into a rather important plotline, so he had simply laid down with the full intention to dress in a moment.

He looked up as Astarion entered the bedroom, a surge of heat and want quickly flooding their bond.

"Well, hello..."

"In my defense," Gale said, reaching for his pants, "I was reading."

Astarion snatched the pants before he could pull them on, throwing them behind him, before crawling onto the bed, very much the predator.

"Weren't we...? He began, but his words were cut off as Astarion captured his lips in a kiss. Hands pushed his shirt up, exposing his lower body, already aroused, leaking..

"We were going to be good," he murmured, even as he pulled Astarion on top of him, his hands slipping underneath the elf's shirt.

"It's more fun to be bad," Astarion replied, nipping his neck. "And I'm rather curious how sturdy the beds are."

Gale jolted as a finger pinched one of his nipples. "That would, <i>ah,</i> be an interesting development to break one."

Astarion chuckled, getting up long enough to throw his night wear in the general direction of a chair, but mostly keeping his eyes on him. Gale gently touched his cheek, ignoring the simmering heat in favour of studying his lover, to see how he felt after such a mentally taxing day.

"I'm all right," the elf whispered in response to his mental question. "Now stop worrying, and let me fuck you."

He laughed, spreading his legs. He attempted to remove the shirt, but the vampire pushed his fingers away. "I think the ability to stop worrying would be impossible. You'll have to endure this forever, my dear. <i>Oh!</i>" Gale glared just a little at Astarion's rather abrupt thrust of his fingers inside him, causing him to shudder. He could pretend to stay just a little angry, however the flush spreading down his chest, the soft moans nearly spilling over like an overflowing cup, would merely betray him.

"Beautiful," Astarion said. "I thought the gods had abandoned me entirely, but now you're here."

"Now you say sweet things with your fingers spearing me open?"

"Would you rather I say more filthy things?" There was gravel to his voice, the beautiful blue Gale had begun to get used to eclipsed by the black of his pupils. "How tight you are, despite how many times we've done this? How warm and soft you feel as my fingers stretch you? Or shall I talk about how responsive you are, the soft sounds that you try and muffle, until you finally can no longer hold them back, how you push into each touch? I want to keep you in bed, flushed from this pleasure, until you stop thinking and only feel what I do to you."

"Tempting," he responded, just a little breathless. He wrapped one leg around Astarion's waist, urging him. Fingers slipped out of him, and he could feel the tug of the Weave as his lover cleaned his fingers. Their eyes remained locked, even as he felt the slow and steady pressure and stretch of Astarion finally giving him what he wanted.

"Then we have something to look forward to." Their fingers laced, and then the vampire began to move, a languid pace as Gale became used to the feel of his lover inside of him. It reminded him of their first, rather hasty coupling near the Emerald Grove, after Elminster told him to kill himself for Mystra, after they had defeated the goblin leaders, and how everything changed after, transformed into this gentle lovemaking. It had been painful then, as much as pleasurable, and yet Gale didn't regret how he limped the next day, how each movement made him wince just a little.

"Stay here, lovely," Astarion growled, his thrusts becoming a little harder. "Or do I need to bite you?"

"You can, if you want." Their lips met in a kiss. "You know you can always drink from me. I am yours."

Astarion paused in his movements. "My love," he said simply, then finally began to move faster, their skin finally slapping at each snap of his hips. Gale attempted to stifle his gasps and moans for only a moment before giving up. He had never been quiet before, and probably never would be, unless they tore out his throat. He supposed that anyone passing their room wouldn't mistake their activities.

Gale didn't care too much, not when he could see the faintest blush along alabaster cheeks, nor the sheen of sweat forming on his lover's skin. His hands wandered along the muscles of Astarion's back, urging him closer. It shortened the movements, but didn't stop him from hitting the spot to cause Gale to nearly scream.

"Yes, that's it," Astarion said into his ear. "You're mine, beautiful. Forever. And I'm yours."

Gale arched his back as the words pushed him over the edge, all his muscles tensing at the powerful orgasm, his mouth open on a silent cry. For several moments, all he could feel was each pulsing wave as he covered their stomachs in his release, the feel of Astarion still moving inside him, pressing as deep as he could go.

"Gods!" He finally uttered, his body screaming as he tumbled into overstimulation, the urge to pull away and pull closer equally tempting. Astarion shook as he finally reached his own peak, filling him to the brink, then spilling over, and he loved it.

For several seconds, they were still, allowing the ecstacy to wash through them. Astarion was sucking at his neck, leaving marks that would be rather difficult to hide.

"Do you think it will be enough to annoy my father?" Astarion finally asked, smirking.

"I believe our existence annoys him, but it doesn't hurt to add a few more, even if it will be mortifying to face your mother and sister."

Astarion laughed. "I truly have corrupted you. Whatever happened to the shy wizard, the one that worshipped the Weave and Mystra equally, and blushed at the mere thought of fucking?"

"I might remind you I still blush at your words, and rather consistently! You just have a tendency to fuck my worries out of my head."

Again, he was treated to another laugh, and then to kisses along his neck. He pulled Astarion down on top of him, finding the weight comforting. Soon, their soft sighs and gentle touches would grow heated again. Nothing mattered, now that they had time.

But more importantly, they had each other.

[lunabo17]

Gently

Pairing: Bloodweave

Rating: Explicit

Finally returning to Waterdeep, Gale and Astarion attend a celebration in their honor. However, not everyone is happy to see the archmage return. When Gale's old bullies show their faces, Astarion steps in to protect his soulmate.

Warnings: Bullying, discussions of bullying, and Gale's low self-esteem. Depression hinted at.

Astarion and Gale share a soulbond, and can communicate telephathically, and can share memories and feelings.

Bounces between POVs

Angst with a happy, smutty ending.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66102835

Comments always appreciated, except for those trying to butter me up and scam me for commissions. :) Don't bother. The answer will be no. I can find people if I wanted to commission art.

It came as a bit of a surprise when the deaths of the tadpoles hadn't removed the ability for Astarion and Gale to communicate telepathically. Isobel was the first to inform them of the rare existence of such a soulbond, not just binding them mentally, but entirely.

Astarion had, of course, noticed it during their travels, how he had a tendency to gravitate towards his wizard, and how Gale did the same. Of course, the vampire had simply brushed it aside, gave the excuse he needed the help of the powerful archmage against Cazador. It had nothing to do with the man's senseless prattle or wit, and certainly nothing to do with his kindness.

Gale simply found Astarion not only alluring, but intriguing. He knew, of course, what books said of vampires, but now he could learn first hand what it meant to be a vampire! Yet at the same time, he could feel the slight undercurrent of fear when he sat with the elf, the tension that wouldn't quite leave when they talked. Gale began to steer away from the topic rather quickly, despite his yearning to learn, and instead began sharing his books (even though he fully knew he might not see them again), giving them the chance to discuss other subjects.

And really, Astarion fully planned to seduce various members of the party in hopes of gaining their support, but each night, he would plan, and each night, he ended up beside Gale, reading and discussing various topics. Of course, when that old fart, Elminster, finally stabilized the Orb, Astarion finally managed to convince the wizard to play a little. He thought he would simply drift away, as he had previously when he needed to seduce victims for Cazador. Instead, he was surprised to find himself quite present. He supposed a large reason for this was how utterly reactive Gale was during their dalliances.

Gale felt entirely embarrassed. He thought he was quite a generous lover, and truly wished to please them. Of course, given that his only sexual partner was Mystra (which brought a new level of rage to the vampire, but that was neither here nor there), he didn't have a lot of experience on the physicality of lovers. He was, however, very fond of romance. True, he couldn't treat his lover with any form of delicacies, nor was his blood palpable with the Orb, but he still wished to properly woo him.

So when he came in mere seconds while he sat on Astarion's lap, all Gale could do was hide his face against the vampire's neck, and attempt not to perish from the extreme embarrassment.

Astarion found it utterly delightful, and proceeded to see what other sounds and sensations he could pull from the man.

However, when the tadpoles were gone, their connection remained. In fact, it seemed to grow stronger, yet gentler than the connection the tadpoles had given them. It was only between them, a soft warmth in the back of their minds, rather than the painful gnawing from before. Isobel assumed the tadpoles had somewhat disrupted the bond. Astarion thought that finding himself bound once more to another would annoy him. However, the gentle caress in his mind brought him a peace he didn't believe possible.

Gale, of course, had heard of a soulbond, but certainly never believed he would find one. They were quite rare. He also knew that a Wish could break such a bond, and told Astarion that. Despite how much he craved for the elf, how happy he felt around the vampire (even when he was scathing), he would never keep him bound. He would cradle this love in his hands, protecting it, even if it meant from afar.

Astarion, of course, simply shut Gale up with a kiss. Together, they found the pieces of the Crown of Karsus, a tricky endeavor, given the vampire couldn't stay in the sun as he had with the tadpoles. Finally, the Crown was returned to Mystra, Gale refusing to return as her Chosen, and her earring thrown into the Chionthar. Finally, they could begin a new life. Aylin had informed them that their bond, according to her mother, had bound Gale's life to Astarion's the moment they met, which meant they had eternity (unless, of course, one of them died, in which case they both would perish, but the vampire was all right with that).

Gale noticed a few changes, of course, with the bond fully established. Though he still had some aches, they seemed lessened. Of course, there was still the ache from the removal of the Orb, but healing would take a bit of time. He could block the bond a little, something he did when his pain flared, but also reach out to Astarion and share his thoughts and memories, just as they had with the tadpoles.

That was what he did when, after a few days in Waterdeep, they received an invitation to celebrate the heroes of Baldur's Gate in Waterdeep. Astarion was surprised to find Gale apprehensive.

"Not to say that we won't go," said the wizard. "I just fear that some individuals may be a bit unpleasant."

"We could simply not attend," Astarion replied.

"Perish the thought! The people are holding a celebration in our honor! We can't simply toss that aside simply because one or two people may say some unpleasant things. Anyway, I'm sure you'll charm everyone."

The celebration was grand indeed, and it seemed that all of Waterdeep attended. There was the faintest of discontent from the wizard, a buzz of tension. Astarion stayed alert, at the ready, even as he charmed his way through the throng of partygoers. Overall, it was a rather pleasant affair, filled with talking, singing, and food. He was good at this sort of entertainment, though he hated it, reminding him too much of his time with Cazador. He wished the other companion's were here to take off some of the burden. At least a good majority seemed genuinely happy to see Gale.

Then suddenly, there was a zing of anxiety, like the sharp sting of a needle, and immediately, Astarion began to move towards his lover. Images pushed into his mind, of a younger, heavier Gale, surrounded by his classmates. He had received a note from someone, claiming that he wanted to see the wizard, was interested in him. The classmate had seemed so charming, had even praised him during classes, so he had gone. Instead, Gale had been surrounded, taunted. Too arrogant, too talkative...

"The great Gale of Waterdeep returns!" It was the man in the memory, now older. Astarion considered punching him, but Gale asked him to show some restraint.

"Ah, Darien," Gale replied, his smile a little more strained.

"So no longer the Chosen of Mystra, but supposedly a hero of Waterdeep? What did you do? Throw a few spells while your, ah, so-called 'lover' did most of the work. Is he really even your lover?"

Astarion felt his patience snap at last. He didn't care if the people of Waterdeep thought little of him, but he was not going to allow anyone to push his wizard around. He walked over to Gale, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze, but his eyes were focused on the arrogant bastard.

<i>"Killing is still frowned upon, might I remind you, my love,"</i> Gale said to him alone, just a little too jovially. His hold on the vampire's hand tightened.

The noise around them seemed to die a little, as if sensing the drama about to unfold. Astarion smiled, displaying his sharp teeth. He would no longer hide.

"And who might you be?" Astarion asked sharply.

"I am the wizard Darien Korad."

The vampire's eyes narrowed, and the chatter dropped significantly. "Well, oh great wizard Korad, then let me make it very clear to you, and to the lovely pack of imbeciles around you. He has done more in the short amount of time we've traveled together than you've done in your miserable life. If you ever imply that our love is some facade, or that my archmage is anything less than brilliant, I won't be held accountable for my actions. So kindly piss off!"

"Astarion!" Gale choked on his nervous laughter, but he couldn't say much more, as the elf tilted his head, and kissed him hard in front of everyone. He could hear the excited twitter of several individuals, and he believed many were quite approving of the display. Despite the utter lack of decorum, he felt himself relax into the press of their lips, though he was shaking just a little from anger and pain.

It shouldn't hurt to hear such things. It was certainly nothing new.

"We're leaving," Astarion said when they broke apart. "Thank you to the few that actually mean something. Good evening."

Gale considered protesting, but knew he wouldn't be able to actually sway his lover. He gave his thanks to everyone, and the vampire told anyone that tried to stop them to send their regards later.

The moment they stepped into their tower, Astarion turned to him, tilted his head up so they were looking at each other, and said, "go start a bath. I will be with you shortly."

The clear order made him nod, and Gale made his way upstairs, starting to run the hot water. He slowly removed his clothes, his thoughts running a little too quick to focus, wondering if they had been hasty in their departure, while memories pushed into his mind.

Astarion quickly cut up some dried meats and cheeses, grabbing a bottle of wine, before nearly sprinting up to their room. He forced himself to relax. A simple ice spell chilled the wine, and he set the items aside. Entering the bathroom, he found his wizard staring at the water, lost in his thoughts. The vampire swiftly removed his clothes, before gently touching the man on his arm. Gale startled, jolting from the caress, eyes wide.

With a small tsk, Astarion led him to the tub, the two sitting so they faced each other. The vampire picked up a washcloth and his favorite soap, and began to clean Gale.

"You don't need to do this," Gale said softly. He knew that sometimes Astarion had to perform such acts for Cazador and his guests. He didn't want his lover to feel obligated.

"I know, my dear. I'm choosing to."

That was really the difference, Astarion realised. Though they shared their bond, everything they did was their choice to make, not forced. They were silent as they cleaned, and he could sense the flood of Gale's thoughts begin to slow, to focus on his lover's actions, his touch.

Astarion refused to give him the towel, helping him dry off, despite the ability to use magic for everything. Gale knew this was about staying in the moment, the feel of the towel along his body, the gentle caress of his lover. He could feel heat in his belly, the stirrings of arousal making him begin to harden, yet Astarion's touches didn't linger on a single spot long. He wrapped them both in soft robes, before leading them to his favorite spot on the balcony. It reminded him that his next goal was to find a way to allow the vampire to fully embrace the sun once more.

A mage hand brought a plate of food, then some wine, and it made Gale smile. Elves held an affinity for magic, and Gale believed Astarion could excel in magic with some tutoring. Carefully, they had explored the connection, and found that the elf had affinity for ice magic. Once the discovery was made, Gale began to focus on those spells. It wasn't that Astarion couldn't grasp other magic; he did know firebolt, after all. Ice simply came easier. It was no surprise, then, when the wine was already chilled.

Gale leaned back into Astarion's chest, and the elf could feel the slight embarrassment as he was fed. The vampire knew the wizard enjoyed pampering, especially when it came from romantic gestures, but also didn't want to be seen like a burden to anyone.

Astarion's hands stroked Gale's sides, pleased the man was beginning to gain some weight once more. He had been so thin when they first began their journey, dark circles under his eyes, his skin a sickly pallor. The Orb, Mystra, and then the tadpoles had taken a heavy toll on his body. Yet slowly, he had begun to eat again, to take care of himself (as much as he could in their travels and battles). It didn't mean Gale didn't occasionally skip meals, the burden of the Orb and Mystra's orders heavy on his shoulders. Sometimes, Astarion could coax some food into him on those darker days, and sometimes he simply remained near.

Gale gave a sigh of contentment, closing his eyes as he savored the final piece of cheese pressed between his lips. He heard the plate set aside, then felt cool fingers slide underneath his robes. He shivered as one of his nipples was gently massaged, while the other hand continued to touch his hips.

"Don't stifle your sounds, sweet thing," Astarion murmured into his ear, followed by a gentle tug of teeth on his lobe.

"You're not going to ravish me here, are you?" Though the balcony did have some privacy, it was still in the open, and they could still be seen. Even this felt a little illicit.

"And let others see you at the height of passion? Absolutely not. However, I will take great joy in touching you, and making others envious of my beautiful wizard."

A flush of heat flooded Gale at the words. "I hardly find myself beautiful, Astarion."

"Good thing we have a long time to change your mind, then." He urged the wizard to stand up, slowly leading him to their room, before finally pulling him into a kiss. Unlike the claiming kiss from before in front of the others, this was tender, or at least began that way. Slowly, they pulled each other closer, tongues exploring, and Astarion tugged the ties of Gale's robes open.

Astarion's eyes roved over the wizard's body when they finally pulled apart, the robes cascading to the floor as Gale shrugged them off. His face and chest were flushed from pleasure, his eyes dilated, his length hard. The elf threw his own robes somewhere, glad when he didn't hear anything break at his carelessness.

Gale stepped backwards, his lips turned upwards at the scrutiny he received. He didn't study Astarion as the elf did to him, aware of the times his lover had been judged on his looks alone. Astarion was all sinewy muscles, gaining back even more strength with regular feedings. Instead, he focused on his eyes, rubies taking in the sight of the wizard, his pupils eclipsing the red irises.

The wizard was proud he didn't simply fall onto the bed as Astarion slowly approached him again. Hands once more went to his sides, moving down towards his hips, kneading the layer of fat he was gaining. He might have considered becoming stricter in his exercises and food consumption. However, just as he felt pleasure in finally being able to feed Astarion, the elf took satisfaction in watching him regain some weight.

Carefully, they crawled onto the bed, their lips once more pressed against each other. Astarion swallowed the moan that spilled from his lover's lips. The elf felt the moment Gale lowered his mental barrier entirely, their minds threading like their fingers.

Gale wrapped his legs loosely around the elf's lower back as Astarion made to pull away. He shook his head, feeling the jolt of surprise like electricity in his mind, even as he felt the physical shudder as his fingers slicked his lover. He loved to feel the press inside him, the burn and stretch as he was impaled, to feel the pleasure along their bond as the elf was engulfed in his warmth.

Astarion had to take a moment, leaning his head down, and concentrating on not immediately coming as he entered his lovely wizard. He would rather have stretched his love a little, even knowing they had done this the night prior, so he moved slowly. Gale was tight and warm, and always so very sweet beneath him. The wizard's hands were on his upper back, avoiding the tender marks left by Cazador.

"Beautiful," he said, his voice deepened with the lust ricocheting through him, and he didn't know if he said it out loud or through their bond. Gently, he began to move, languid motions to prologue the pleasure.

Small sounds began to slip from Gale's lips, sighs and moans, so very soft. Astarion knew he wasn't going to stay that way; he would make sure of that.

With just a few adjustments, he knew he pressed inside just right when Gale gave a shuddering gasp, his legs tightening around him for just a moment.

"Astarion," Gale whispered, like a personal prayer.

He stilled for just a moment, his hand caressing Gale's face, before his hands moved to support the man's hips, beginning to move harder and faster.

Gale attempted to stifle his sounds for just a few moments, before giving up. Mystra had hated how loud he could get, and so he had made it a habit to remain as quiet as possible. Astarion was the opposite, making it clear he enjoyed the sounds Gale uttered, encouraged him to voice his pleasures. He moved as much as he could to meet his lover's thrusts. He could feel the pleasure rising, bouncing between them, and their eyes never strayed, locked in an embrace.

With a loud gasp, Gale tumbled over the precipice first, tightening around Astarion, but the vampire followed only a moment after, his thrusts become just a little harder as he filled the man beneath him. He finally stilled as they both shook from their shared pleasure, bordering on overstimulation.

The wizard was a masterpiece beneath him, dark hair framing his face, sweat glistening in the low light, his cheeks even darker than before, and his lips the color of roses.

Carefully, Astarion pulled out of his lover, immensely pleased as his release spilled from the man beneath him. Despite usually hating uncleanliness, he knew Gale took a strange pleasure in the scent and feel of sex, and wouldn't use magic to remove signs of their coupling. It didn't stop the vampire from giving a small kiss to the man's forehead, before retrieving a wet cloth to clean them a little.

"All right?" Astarion asked softly, his hand cupping the wizard's cheek. Gale leaned into the touch.

"Thank you," Gale said. "For everything."

"You don't need to thank me for loving you. If anything, I should be thanking you, given my rather complicated history."

"Maybe you're right." The wizard sat up, giving a small groan as he stretched. "I doubt it will stop me."

"I imagine it won't." He cupped the wizard's face in both his hands so his wizard wouldn't look away. "If anyone dares to say anything like that utter shit did, you will tell me. Understood?"

"Astarion, you need not protect me. Not everything they say is entirely wrong. I..."

A kiss interrupted Gale's words. "Words have power, beautiful. I don't care if others think you an arrogant know-it-all. You are <i>my</i> lover, and no one will treat you as mere trash."

Gale's eyes filled with tears, and his own hands moved to caress Astarion's face. "Then you must also promise me the same. If anyone upsets you, I'll lecture them to death on how they're wrong."

Astarion laughed, not one of his fake ones from their early travels, but very real. "Deal."

They shifted closer, lips once more gently meeting, and the thoughts of anyone else drifted away.

[lunabo17]

Sing For Me

Chapter 3 Those Silenced

After a rather restless night, Astarion and Gale look over the investigation notes.

Wondering what the hells this story is?

Read from the start:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65598478/chapters/168890971#workskin

Astarion expected many things from strangers he worked with, including a certain attraction to him. Many found him attractive, so it came as no surprise he could smell arousal from Gale as well. However, where most would continue to flirt with him, or continue their (usually poor) attempt at seduction, the wizard simply treated him as a honored guest. It honestly surprised him, especially since they had certainly flirted at the tavern.

"This is the guest bedroom," Gale said, opening the door, and giving a little wave. "Two doors down is the restroom. There is plumbing, so if you wish a hot shower, please feel free to use it. You can also eat anything you wish, though I am aware it will do you little good. I will contact a butcher I know to set up a delivery for blood to this location, unless you wish to relocate your shipment?"

It took him a moment to digest all that the wizard had said, his mind a little distracted by the small patch of skin revealed to him when Gale bent down to check underneath the bed. Those trousers hung low on his hips; a single tug would cause them to slip to the floor.

He cleared his throat instead. "Thank you. It's appreciated. I usually get my blood directly. Ah, I mean from the butcher, not from people."

Gale smiled, his hands making vague motions, the barest of a magical shimmer surrounding them. He was fairly sure the man was cleaning as they spoke.

"I wouldn't judge if you had a few good friends willing to give you some of their blood. You can have some of mine, if you so wish, though I certainly don't know if it's any good."

Once more, Gale managed to stun him. He was starting to wonder if perhaps he should begin a running total, just to see how many times the man could surprise him in a short amount of time. "That is...quite a generous offer."

"Forgive me if I'm being rude. I fear I don't have any vampiric acquaintances, or at least not that I know of, from my Blackstaff days."

"Most vampires aren't very open to discussing their condition. Some find the act of feeding abhorrent, while others turn it into some erotic debacle."

Gale's eyes widened, a pleasant flush spreading along his cheeks. "My apologies! Please, don't take it the wrong way. I just want to help, if possible."

"Do you?" Astarion asked, his voice just a little deeper than normal.

"In any way I can," Gale whispered. Astarion couldn't quite understand this gravitational pull between them, but the way the wizard's eyes dilated intrigued him, the smell of arousal, of musk and magic, filling him with want. Yet was this just a game, as he had so often played under Cazador's thumb, or was it real attraction? Flirting was second nature to him, but anything else remained a mystery.

"I...ah..." He began, feeling suddenly awkward at their exchange, uncertain how to proceed.

Gale replied, his flush even darker than before, "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"It's complicated, but I appreciate the words."

"Then if you need anything, please let me know. Have a good night, Astarion."

"You as well."

Astarion shook his head as Gale practically ran out the room, almost as frightened as a startled bunny. He set his pack down, before rummaging around for his sleepwear and toiletry, nearly absentmindedly. His thoughts revolved around their exchanges, how one second Gale seemed so innocent, then the next clearly flirting. It could just be an act, he supposed, just as he himself had done countless times before, except for how his scent had shifted. The wizard said he hadn't had a lover other than Mystra. A man like Gale surely had suitors. He wandered into the bathroom, noting a large towel had been left for him.

What did it matter if Gale flirted with him, and he played back? Why did it upset him to think of the wizard with others? A little talk of their pasts didn't mean they were suddenly the best of friends! And Astarion had sworn he would never use his body as a tool ever again, not after the many long years of torment under Cazador.

~

Gale debated bashing his head into a wall. How stupid could he be, flirting so heavily with a stranger? True, this stranger was ethereal, and those muscles weren't just for show, and...

He gave in and hit his head into the wall once, just to remind himself to stay focused. He wasn't fishing for compliments, wasn't looking for tips, and he certainly wasn't going to continue to make Astarion uncomfortable. They were meant to work together! Gale just had a tendency to ramble at the worst times, and the vampire was just so...

There was no such thing as love at first sight. He knew that! It was utter nonsense, a lie told to children to give them hope. Just because Gale wanted lust and love to go hand-in-hand didn't make it so.

Still, he truly did wish to learn about Astarion, and to help him kill this Cazador.

Gale felt a little relief when he heard the water running, realizing his guest hadn't run out. He fell onto his own bed. Flirting was fine, he supposed, except the truth was he didn't just want to do it simply for sex. He wanted a true connection, just as (he thought) he had with Mystra. He wanted something real, not a quick tumble.

So that meant he needed to watch his mouth, to stop giving the lovely elf the wrong impression.

He fell into an uneasy sleep, his dreams filled with shadows laughing at him, as well as a trail of blood, that led him to a bright, swirling light. The sound of his doorbell startled him awake, and he stretched a little, his neck sore, before slipping out into the hallway.

He gave a little yelp as he found Astarion already there, wearing only sinfully tight pants, his upper body bare. However, he had two knives in his hands, and clearly ready for a fight.

"It's most likely Wyll," Gale said. Astarion's eyes flickered to him for a moment, before moving away. There was a sense of danger, the tension of a coiled spring. Though he knew Wyll planned to bring the reports early, he still moved quietly to the entryway. With a flick of his wrist, an image formed of the person beyond the door.

He relaxed just a little, seeing it take the shape of the duke, yet still remained alert. He glanced back, but either the elf was hidden in the shadows, or had gone back to his room. Gale assumed the former, feeling as if someone was still watching.

"Good morning, Gale," Wyll said, holding a box.

"Duke Ravengard, a pleasure. Hello, Karlach."

"'Lo, Gale," the tiefling replied.

Gale tilted his head as he felt the cool wash of magic through him; his security didn't sense any spells out of the ordinary. He took a step back, morning for the pair to enter. It really would only be a matter of time before these attackers realized who was hunting them, and he knew he would become a target.

"You look like shit, mate," said Karlach.

"Thank you for the lovely assessment. Would either of you like some pancakes? I made them yesterday, but once I heat them, they should still taste quite lovely."

Wyll set the box down. "We actually already had breakfast. Thank you kindly for the offer. Do you know when Astarion will be coming by?"

Gale opened his mouth to reply, but the vampire's voice cut him off. "Astarion is already here."

~

Astarion decided, as Karlach gave a fairly maniacal cackle, to fully embrace the unexpected. In all the times Wyll had perviously visited, his guard had always watched him quietly, respectful, but cautious. In seconds, what he thought he knew of her had crumbled.

"Gale!! No wonder you look exhausted!"

"W-what?" The wizard stammered, his face flooding with pink as the tiefling waggled her eyebrows.

"Karlach!" Wyll called out, looking extremely uncomfortable. "What they do behind closed doors..."

With a sharp bark of laughter, Astarion replied, "A misunderstanding. I didn't feel comfortable leaving him alone."

"Bullocks. So you're not plowing him?"

"Oh dear gods," Gale murmured, truly looking as if he would burst into flames any moment. He practically raced into the kitchen, hopefully to get some food, and not drown himself in alcohol.

When he realized his eyes had been following the wizard' s hasty retreat, he refocused on their guests. Karlach still grinned at him, and he rolled his eyes. "It's all professional."

"Sure, absolutely professional to sleep in the man's house..."

Astarion ignored the pair, beginning to remove the various folders from the box. He wasn't quite prepared to jump into the research until Gale wished to join him. He was rather glad he had slipped into a shirt before revealing himself to their guests, or the situation would have looked even worse.

"If there is anything you need, call us," said Wyll as the smell of brewing coffee filled the air. "Astarion..." The vampire glanced at the duke, an eyebrow raised, but the man simply shook his head. "Just be careful."

"Aren't I always?"

Gale shuffled back into the room, carrying a partially eaten plate of pancakes with him. He set it on the coffee table, before escorting the pair to the door. Astarion ignored the quiet exchange in favour of pouring two mugs of coffee. When he returned, they were once more alone.

"You didn't sleep well," Astarion stated. He had noticed the dark circles under the man's eyes, his clothing and hair rumpled from a restless sleep.

"I sometimes have nightmares. It's no matter. Shall we begin?"

"You're going to eat and work?"

"Yes. I did it often when I was researching at Blackstaff. I promise I won't get syrup or coffee on the notes."

Astarion gave a small snort of amusement. It wouldn't really matter (most likely) if the worst happened; the guard would have copies. "I imagine this isn't going to be pretty. Just try not to get sick."

Each case was in it's own folder, and photos had been taken of the bodies and surrounding areas. Whatever spell used to burn the bodies left little to identify. It could have been anyone listed on the report, and Astarion would have been none-the-wiser. Had they truly been sucked dry by Cazador, then their bodies burned? It made no sense, when he could turn them into spawn, bind them to him.

His back ached at the memories of the hours Cazador spent burning abd cutting the scars on his back, a leash to keep his spawn obedient. He had been tied to a stone bed, unable to move, screaming until his throat felt raw, praying for someone to save him, praying to the gods for mercy.

His answer was silence. Nearly two hundred years, until he had been found by a contingent of harpers and Gur keen on capturing Cazador.

He had then spent several hours burning new marks on his back to break the bindings on his back. No matter the pain, he did so willingly this time.

A gentle hand covered his, and he flinched, realizing he had been lost in his own memories.

"Forgive me," said Gale softly. "I called to you, but you didn't answer."

"I..." It had been a long time since he had wandered so far into the past, forgetting what was around him. It was too dangerous. He needed to focus. He cleared his throat and asked, "did you find something?"

He expected Gale to ask about his lapse, but the wizard simply picked up a piece of paper. "There are certainly a few investigators on the job, but I noticed that one of them, a Devella Fountainhead, has made some interesting notes. She mentions cuts on the bodies, as well as various possible patterns on them."

"Patterns? Let me see."

Gale picked up the aforementioned report, and he looked it over. "Cazador gave his spawn binding marks on their backs, but it wouldn't make sense to kill these wizards if he simply wished more slaves. Perhaps this isn't Cazador at all, despite the puncture marks they think they found on one body."

"Are you thinking of withdrawing, then?"

"I already signed the contract with Wyll. Even if it isn't that bastard, it's still someone dangerous enough to worry a lot of people, and I'm still a hunter. I won't abandon a job."

"All right," Gale said, giving a small smile.

"Grab a sheet of paper, and let's see if we can find some sort of pattern to these victims."

[lunabo17]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65884789

Look Me in the Eyes

Pairing: Bloodweave

Rating T

After the fall of the Netherbrain, after returning the Crown of Karsus to Mystra, Gale confesses he wishes to commit to Astarion. The vampire pushes him away, and it's up to Gale to push back.

Warnings: Not canon-compliant, as in Karlach doesn't immediately go to Avernus.

The boys have some self esteem problems. Go figure.

Being sick on a long weekend is lousy. Have some angst with a happy ending.

Comments always appreciated, unless you're just there to spam me for commissions; trust me if I wanted a commission, I would seek a person out. :/

In his mind, despite the quick beating of his heart, despite the slight shaking in his hands, everything would work out perfectly. Gale finally returned the Crown of Karsus to Mystra, and he was finally free. Baldur's Gate had begun to rebuild. Though Karlach soon planned to return to Avernus until they figured out how to fix her heart, his friends were stilk here. Astarion was still here. True, he no longer held the sun, but Gale knew he would figure out how to give it back to his lover.

He planned to return home to Waterdeep, to rebuild his life once more. He finally reached out to his mother, now that the worst was behind them. She was equal parts angry, sad, and relieved, the first two emotions because he had kept his pain from her instead of trusting her to try and help.

Gale wanted to invite Astarion to his home. They had become lovers after the Orb had been stabilized, something that had surprised the wizard, even though Astarion consistently flirted with him, spent most evenings bickering or discussing books, and coaxed his story from him. After his fall from Mystra's grace, he thought himself a mere failure, a washed up wizard with no prospects. Astarion had laughed at him, then kissed him.

So it was simple. He would ask Astarion to come with him, and from there, they would decide where to go. He was certain the vampire wished to help his siblings in the Underdark, despite complaining about them.

What he didn't expect was the answer.

Astarion stood still, his hand on a table, staring at a spot on a floor. Gale's ears were ringing.

"What?" Gale croaked, and he rapidly blinked the tears from his eyes.

"You heard what I said," Astarion said, devoid of emotion. "I don't care for you that way."

Gale's mouth fell open, and abruptly, he turned on the spot, walking out of the room. It should have been perfect, after everything. He hadn't calculated that Astarion had only shared everything because he thought they would all die. Now, with his freedom, the truth came.

"Gale?!" Karlach exclaimed, and through the tears, he saw Karlach and Shadowheart in the hallway, staring at him in shock.

"Excuse me," he mumbled, swiftly avoiding their hands that reached to stop him, and nearly sprinting away towards the balcony. He just needed a few moments to compose himself, to mourn the loss of another lover. He shouldn't be surprised. A beautiful and talented elf like Astarion deserved far more than a mortal man like Gale.

For several minutes, he was blessedly alone, taking steady, deep breaths as he fought the urge to cry. However, eventually, he realized he was, in fact, not alone, and Shadowheart was standing near him.

"Well? Are you going to tell me what Astarion said this time to upset you?"

Gale gave a broken laugh, wiping the tears from his face. "It's no matter. He simply..." He took a shuddering breath in, shaking his head. "I believed he cared for me, perhaps even loved me, but I was wrong."

Shadowheart's eyes widened, her mouth dropping open. "What...?"

"I know it is quite surprising someone would find me attractive, but..."

"Don't be daft, Gale," the cleric snapped. "Astarion is madly in love with you."

"I can assure you he isn't. He told me he doesn't care for me. I can only assume our dalliances were just to pass the time, or to ensure our continued support, or..."

"Did he look you in the eye?"

Gale jumped a little at the question, turning to find Karlach behind them.

"What do you...?"

"You're upset because of what he said, yeah? But did he look you in the eye? Was he honest?"

"He..." Gale began to retort, then stopped, thinking of the brief conversation, how Astarion had slightly turned away, how he almost seemed devoid of life. Before, even when angry, he had been passionate, especially with keeping Gale alive. They had nearly screamed in each other's faces on various occasions, had even tussled a few times in the heat of the moment. Even angry, Astarion's piercing glare had remained on him.

"I went to talk to him," Karlach said softly, sadly. "I asked him what the fuck he did, and he told me he had broken the relationship, some bullshit of not caring for you, and he turned away from me when he said it. I was so mad, I wanted to punch him! But when I was about to storm off, I heard him. I don't think he thought I would hear. He said 'he deserves better.'"

~

Astarion shouldn't have found it surprising when he discovered Gale had left for Waterdeep. That was the point of his words, to push the brilliant, beautiful man away, to set him free.

Gale deserved happiness, a beautiful husband or wife and children, the sun above him, adoring fans around him. He deserved someone that could walk with him everywhere, someone smarter, more talented. He didn't need a broken spawn that could barely channel the Weave properly, or couldn't enjoy the sun, and had no future. All Astarion had was a pretty face, a quick wit, and the ability to steal and kill. Oh, and he needed blood to live. What a wonderful match for an archwizard! Ha!

No, he knew it was the right thing to push Gale away. It still stung. He had almost hoped the wizard would argue with him, and perhaps...

No! No going back. Eventually, he would move on, would cradle the precious memories of his time with Gale. He would join his siblings, and would watch for news of his wizard growing back into the man he was meant to be before Mystra's harsh treatment. He knew Gale would do great things. He would do them without Astarion.

Astarion felt so tired, from the rebuilding of Baldur's Gate, the end of constant battles, and watching his companions leave. Sometimes he felt he could trance for several years, and still remain exhausted. He was so very tired.

It came as a surprise then that one day he opened the door to his temporarily lodgings to find Gale waiting for him.

"What the hells are you doing here?" He snapped, stepping backwards into the room in shock. Gale gave him a smile, stepping forward, and he felt his throat tighten.

"I've come to get you so we can go back to Waterdeep."

Astarion's mouth dropped open, then he shook his head. "I told you we were done."

"Look me in the eyes and say it."

"W-what?" Dear gods! He was stuttering.

Gale stepped close, warm hands cradling his face, so very gently. He didn't deserve it! He tried to pull away, but the wizard moved with him.

"Tell me that we're done, Astarion."

A soft sound escaped his lips, the smallest sob, and he closed his eyes. He needed to push the man away, to not let him see how he held his still heart in his hands. He needed to hurt him, to end it once and for all, because he deserved everything.

"We're done."

"Open your eyes and say it."

He opened his eyes, meeting warm, wet brown, and he could feel himself shaking. He just needed to push him away, to set him free. He needed Gale to be happy.

"We-we're...done..." And he felt himself shatter as those beautiful eyes widened. There was no love for someone like him, someone whose hands were covered in blood, who didn't know how to love. He only knew how to hurt.

It was over.

But Gale didn't pull away, though there were tears still in his eyes. "Oh, Astarion. I am such a fool. Come with me to Waterdeep."

"Did you not hear what I said?" His voice was strangled, broken like glass fallen to the ground.

"I heard your words, but I see it in your eyes. You don't mean it, and you don't want it. You're pushing me away on purpose."

Astarion panicked, yanking himself away from the warmth, so like the gentle touch of the sun. "You need to get away! I have nothing for you! I'm...!"

Broken. Damaged. Garbage. Nothing.

"Everything," said Gale. "You are everything to me."

A sob slipped from his lips, and finally, the tears fell from his eyes. He thought he had shed all his tears after killing Cazador.

"I can't," he said, his voice breaking. "I'm nothing. A burden. I've done so many horrible things, and I can't..."

"The things you did were ordered by Cazador, may his soul rot. In the time you've been free, you have done so many good things, despite complaining every step of the way."

"I'm not like you, Gale! You're brilliant, and you're going to do amazing things, and I..."

Gale stepped close again, taking Astarion's hand. "We'll do amazing things together, I promise. Each step we take, we'll walk together, no matter what we do. I promise."

Astarion was unable to reply, simply clinging to Gale, both of them crying.

~

Only when Astarion calmed did Gale finally take him back to Waterdeep. He had never believed the vampire had the same fears as him, thinking himself so defective and deficient. It meant they would need to rediscover themselves, and they would do it together.

He softly welcomed the vampire into his home, and Astarion gave a sharp inhale as he walked in. The window panes had been altered to filter a good portion of light, while thick, purple curtains made sure nothing else would leak through. The ceiling of the lower levels of his tower had been covered in bright, hanging lights, almost like vines. Gale quite liked the effect.

However, Gale led Astarion up the stairs to what he hoped would be their room (though he had a guest bedroom in case Astarion wished privacy). It was merely an illusion spell, but the ceiling was meant to mimic the sky outside. The vampire closed his eyes, shaking, as he noticed it.

"You've given me so much," Astarion croaked, his voice breaking again.

"It's only a fraction of what we'll do together, Astarion. It doesn't matter what we thought the future would look like before. We're going to create something new."

"I don't have your skills in magic..."

"It doesn't matter. I've helped you learn some spells, and we'll keep practicing. And you can keep helping me learn some more with the blade, since I'm still quite abysmal with a knife, unless you count cooking."

"But..."

"Stay with me," Gale said softly, caressing his lover's cheek. "We'll grow and change together. It doesn't matter what we face, as long as I walk this path with you."

"I..." Astarion closed his eyes for a moment, and he knew the vampire was struggling with his words.

"I love you," he said instead, and ruby eyes opened wide at the words. He smiled, not needing to hear the words repeated to him; he could see it in Astarion's eyes. Gently, he pressed his lips against his lover's, pulling him close.

Against his lips, silent, he could feel the movement of the words that the vampire was still afraid to utter: 'I love you.'

Gale smiled, and kissed Astarion again.

[lunabo17]

Together, Now and Forever

Chapter 6 Eternally Yours

While in the process of fixing Lenore's Tower, Gale becomes lost in thought.

Warnings: Discussions of depression and anxiety; gentle sex and sugary sweetness follows

It was easy not to think too much when one kept busy, and fixing Lenore's old Tower was not a simple endeavor. However, after Wyll and Karlach heard of the plans, the pair decided to join in fixing the Tower. It only took minimal convincing for Shadowheart and Lae'zel to decide to visit as well.

There was something pleasant in performing such a mundane task together without the fear of the Absolute over them. In their travels, Gale didn't think he would have such a opportunity, to find people that accepted him just as he was, not because of his magic or the Orb.

He had faith that with his magic, and help from Astarion and his siblings, he could fix the Tower, but he was glad the others decided to join them. Gale had gone to the uppermost chambers, which would require the most work, to assess not only the damage, but to check if any constructs still remained. Unfortunately, they had all been destroyed by Gortash, and he found Bernard's decapitated body.

Gale knew Bernard was simply an automaton, a helper to Lenore, but seeing the body made him sad. It hadn't deserved it's fate, to end up a toy in Gortash's studies. The man had always seen everyone and everything as a tool, easily replaced, even in death.

A wave of sorrow made Gale sit down on the crumbling steps that once led to Lenore's bedroom, and he wiped his eyes. He was just human, not the unwavering constructs, and yet he had been tossed aside by Mystra easily when he had attained the Orb.

Magic and the Orb, the two things people saw in Gale of Waterdeep, the only things they wanted. They didn't want his dreams, his ideas, his fears, or joy. They needed the tool, to manipulate, then toss aside, just as Bernard had been.

"Gale?"

The wizard nearly jumped as his husband's voice cut through his swirling thoughts. He cursed his overactive mind. "Hi," he said instead.

Astarion sat down beside him. "Hello."

They didn't need to talk, really, not with their growing bond. Astarion probably heard some of his thoughts; it wasn't anything new, really, just a pit he sometimes flung himself into, and if it sometimes flooded with his tears...well...

"I think we've done enough for today, don't you think?"

"I barely touched anything up here. I was hoping to fix a bit of the wall."

"But you got distracted."

"Poor Bernard didn't deserve it's fate."

"I believe Wyll managed to prevent anyone from destroying it's head, but I think that isn't the only thing concerning you. It doesn't matter how many times I need to say it, but you are not a tool, nor an object I would throw away."

"I..." He swallowed past the lump in his throat. "I know. I know, but I still can't stop the thoughts, and it makes me feel guilty, because I know you won't leave."

"But when so many have already left you before, it's hard to remember that not everyone will toss you aside."

Gale bit his lip, a few tears falling from his eyes. "I never understood why you stayed with me, despite my constant worries, how I can't break free of these silly notions. Everyone has been so kind, so understanding, always supporting me, even at my worst. I don't think I can ever express how thankful I am, and how sorry that my fears still plague me."

He was a little surprised when Astarion pulled him close, kissing his temple. "Let me tell you what Shadowheart told me, something I imagine she's said to you as well. As much as we think we can control our thoughts, the truth is we can't always stop something from appearing. How we react is a different story. And sometimes, something may trigger an unhappy memory. Every time your mind travels down this path, you always think first how it affects others, thinking yourself a burden, but you forget your own suffering. I know you; your pain is not as important as the suffering you think you cause others."

"I..." Gale attempted to form some sort of response, but he didn't know what to say.

"Let's go rest, my love. Tomorrow will be another day."

~

The spawn community had created two settlements so far. The first was a smaller one in the decrepit village. The houses had been rebuilt, the vampires traveling above ground during the night to procure wood. Yet it wasn't large enough to house so many.

Instead, they had taken over Grymforge, something that didn't quite surprise Gale, given the proximity to the lava pits and the warmth offered. The place was renamed Dawnforge, for a new beginning (though Astarion didn't find it creative enough. His siblings didn't particularly care). They could easily move above ground, when needed, and though working on the repairs was certainly a large endeavour, the spawn found a different freedom in creating a new life after so long under Cazador's reign.

Many remained to help create this strange community, though some left as well. If they heard rumours of spawn causing trouble, Astarion went to deal with them.

Astarion had his own room in Dawnforge, the same area that Philomeen had threatened them with rune powder. Like many places in the fortress, several rooms had been built to house the spawn. Though not extremely large by any means, the room still held a bed, a small table, and two chairs, as well as bookshelves carved into the stone itself. The vampire didn't feel it necessary to have much more, given that they spent most of their time in Gale's Tower. It didn't stop the wizard from adding lights to the room, or enchanting the ceiling to show the sky above ground.

After they entered the room, Astarion pulled Gale close, simply holding the wizard, their foreheads pressed together. Slowly, Gale felt himself relax as his lover's scent wrapped around him. His thoughts began to calm, and he moved first, tilting his head to press his lips to the vampire's own. One kiss became two, then they moved closer, hands exploring gently, even as their kiss deepened. Nimble fingers worked his belt off easily, as Gale argued with the buckles of Astarion's leathers. He growled a little as he had to pull back from the kiss to see what he was actually doing.

"You don't need this many buckles on a damned outfit," he groused.

Astarion laughed. "Fashion isn't always practical."

"Bloody hells, it should be!"

"We should get you some of the new robes I've seen some younger wizard's wearing. They're not only tighter, but they have far more straps and buckles."

"Absolutely not," he said, kicking his boots to the side before allowing his robes to pool to the ground.

"But unwrapping my lovely wizard would be so much fun," Astarion retorted, his shirt ending somewhere near the table, leaving him only in his tight pants.

"Until we can't figure out how to get it off."

"Then I rip it. Problem solved."

Gale shivered as Astarion touched his skin, still the feather light touches of before, until the vampire reached his smalls. He tugged once to get them below Gale's hips, now kissing the man's neck. The wizard was annoyed that Astarion still had the damned pants on, even as he wiggled a little to get his smalls off. He was also fairly sure his husband was fully aware of his irritation, not bothering to remove the offensive article of clothing before devouring his lips. This time, teeth accompanied the kiss, the threat of fangs tearing his skin open present. It made a small groan escape.

His hands slipped underneath Astarion's pants, massaging the man's arse, delighting in the feel of muscles jumping under his touch. He didn't have a long time to play, however, as he was tumbled onto the bed. However, he got a moment to gaze at Astarion's arousal as the pants were finally removed, before the vampire crawled on top of him.

"Astarion..." He began, but was cut off as they kissed again, and he gave a pleased sigh, his legs wrapping loosely around the vampire's waist. He urged the vampire to roll his hips, their lengths pressed close.

The kiss was broken as their bodies moved faster, searching for release, but Astarion nibbled and sucked at his neck, leaving plenty more marks to display what they had been up to. Gale's head tilted to the side, giving his husband more access.

His orgasm took him nearly by surprise, one moment skimming the edge, the next tumbling over at a particularly harsh bite, the skin most likely punctured, but not terribly deep. He gave a gasp, legs tightening, holding Astarion closer as the vampire joined him in ecstacy.

They were both still shaking when a finger slid inside him. "Fuck!" He yelled, uncertain whether to press down, or to buck away.

"In a moment, lovely," Astarion growled in his ear. His thoughts scattered, everything focusing on the here and now.

Later, he could worry. Right now, he had what he needed in his arms.

[lunabo17]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65598478/chapters/169115623#workskin

Sing for Me

Chapter 2 Heart to Heart

Astarion and Gale share their backgrounds.

World building.

Warnings: A bit towards the end deals with Gale's utter lack of confidence in himself. He wears quite the mask!

There were many things Astarion expected as he entered Gale's apartment, but not the wizard calling out, "Tara, I'm home!"

He raised an eyebrow, curious if the man was seeing someone, and utterly baffled when a winged cat came out of a separate room, giving a stretch.

"Welcome home, Mr. Dekarios. Ah, I see you've brought Mr. Ancunín with you. Goodness me! You still haven't shaved off that monstrous beard?"

Gale gave a laugh, waving his hand, and Astarion watched as the man's clothes began to change, starting from his feet. There was the faintest shimmer as his skirt became loose trousers, the wrap shirt became a velvet, formless monstrosity that made Astarion want to rip it off the man's body.

However, despite the momentary distraction of watching the human simply wave his magic around as simple as breathing, Astarion's mind was already working on another shocking bit of information. He was starting to get a little annoyed with the ongoing revelations, and he imagined there would be quite a bit more.

"Dekarios," he said, taking out another cigarette to keep his hands occupied. "As in former archmage Dekarios?"

Gale's smile was dangerous, showing a bit of teeth. "I said I would keep that story for later, but clearly you have me at a disadvantage." He poured into two glasses some bourbon, then handed one to him.

"I have a tendency to keep up to date on the news, maybe more so than others. Wyll would say I have a bit of an obsessive nature for information."

Gale sat down on a plush chair, throwing his legs off the side of the armrest, and far more at ease than he should be. "You do know what I am, right?"

"I know who you are, or what I could find, and what Wyll knows. Don't worry about anyone hearing us, except Tara. There is a zone of silence around my apartment, and anyone who thinks to listen will hear a soft murmur."

Astarion sat down gingerly, taking a sip of his drink, smooth and rich, a good vintage. "I don't often talk of what my sire did to me."

"Cazador Szarr never had a good reputation to begin with, so the revelation he was a sadistic vampire only cemented the hatred for him. You were one of his spawns."

"I was. He is the reason I continue to hunt other vampires, so I can kill him myself. I spent nearly two hundred years as his slave, the marks he burned into my back binding me to him. I would lure victims to him, using my body, so he would remain fed. I was beaten, tortured, raped...I spent a year in solidarity for angering him once. You look surprised."

Gale shifted, his bare feet touching the ground. "I wish I could say I was surprised for what he did. I'm more surprised you told me what he did to you."

"I don't exactly keep it a secret, though I didn't share it with the damned news reporters. Most aren't interested in hearing such things. They like the notion of a lowly spawn breaking free of their master, but don't want the details of what was done to him, only able to live on rats and bugs. They want the handsome elf, his body, not his entire being."

"And yet you told me. Why?"

Astarion smiled. "Because you're going to share your story, aren't you? It only seems fair to exchange sordid pasts."

For a moment, Gale simply stared, then began to laugh. "I could just lie to you."

"You could, but somehow I imagine you're the honest sort, Gale of Waterdeep."

"Ha! Just 'Gale Dekarios,' please. That other man died a year ago."

"I know you were an archmage, and once a Chosen of Mystra, but all the news said was that you had a falling out with your goddess, had lost your position. After that, you withdrew."

"I'm waiting for you to begin telling my life story. Are you sure you don't know more?"

Astarion shrugged. "I didn't realize I should be searching for it, but you're here now."

Gale sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I was a Chosen of Mystra, and taught by her personally at a young age. In my teens, in fact. When I grew a little older, we became lovers."

He nearly sputtered on his next sip. "She what?"

The wizard held up his hand. "Mystra didn't just have me as a lover. This is what led to my withdrawal as an archmage. I...became obsessed with finding a way to impress her, to not only show her I was worthy of being her only lover, but for her to share arcane knowledge that mere mortals could only dream of. I found references to a rather obscure history, and I believe I even found a part of the Weave that had been lost to her."

"I take it that it didn't go as planned."

"Do things ever?"

"So you returned this Weave to her?"

"It never got to that," Gale replied with a sigh. "During the years I was with Mystra, I was often pulled aside from my classmates, taught alone, and when I became her lover, I was on the Astral plane even more. I lost many friends, and then my mother became very sick. She...she hated Mystra, hated that she took me away, not just from her, mind. She hated that I stopped living, being with people, going places, helping others. All my focus became on how to please Mystra."

"Did your mother die?" Astarion asked softly.

"Thankfully, no, but her illness became a wake up call. It didn't matter what I wished to accomplish, nor my intentions. I told Mystra what I had thought to do, and how I wished to remain more on the material plane. Do you know what she said?"

"I imagine nothing good. The gods care little for us."

"You're correct. She told me that everything was but a second to her, that the suffering of a single person mattered little to the glorious beauty of magic. I don't think I was ever truly a person to her, just a...magical unicorn."

Astarion snorted. "I don't think I've ever heard someone call themselves a 'unicorn' before."

"I'm full of surprises. After she waxed poetic about magic, I left her, told her I didn't want to be her Chosen, nor her lover. I didn't want to be some sort of experiment for her, to see what I would do just to gain her supposed love. What was the point of being this powerful wizard when I would lose so many things I cared for? I helped my mother through her sickness, and then left Waterdeep. That would be about half a year ago."

"And you decided of all things to be a singer? Not, say, a teacher?"

"It crossed my mind, certainly. I was rather tired of hearing the snide remarks from some of my fellow wizards, so perhaps I jumped into a completely different profession."

"Your story...sounds absolutely insane."

Gale laughed again, his eyes drinking in merriment. "It does, doesn't it? I think it would make a rather good novel, don't you think?"

"Well, you changed your career, and I admit you've got quite a talent for singing..."

"Oh?" Gale all but purred. "Did you like the show?"

Astarion felt the little blood flowing through his body flush his face. "Are you fishing for compliments, darling?"

"I do rather like compliments."

He made a mental note of that tidbit of information "Going back to the point I was attempting to make, if you've left your wizarding ways, why decide to help on this case?"

"My magic hasn't disappeared, Astarion. I still have power, but that is besides the point. I wished to help you because a few of my former classmates were killed. One of them was a dear friend."

"A close friend? A lover?"

"Mystra has been my only lover."

"That..." Astarion shook his head. "I admit, her entanglement in your life at such a young age is quite disturbing. I also imagine you're not the only one Mystra or some of the other gods played with at a young age. Thank you...for sharing your story. What you did is...brave."

Gale flushed, and turned his face away, the barest smile on his face. "I...no, thank you. You didn't have to tell me any of your past, but you did. I imagine there is far more you glossed over, but I understand your need to kill Cazador. I want to help you, even if this isn't Cazador's doing."

"I didn't realize my pretty face would attract you so, Gale."

"I didn't realize my singing would enthrall you."

Astarion gave a small chuckle. So the man had noticed that? Still, a moment of intrigue didn't mean he would simply bed the man; the fact he even thought it was quite surprising. "Your assistance is...appreciated. And unexpected. You hardly know me. What if I was secretly in league with these fanatics?"

"Then I imagine I would be in quite a bit of trouble."

"You're a strange man, Dekarios," he replied with a chuckle.

"So I've been told. Hopefully I'll continue to surprise you."

~

Gale gave a little sigh, realizing now that their stories were complete, most likely the pale elf would leave. He could admit to himself that he didn't wish for Astarion to leave.

He had, of course, done as much research as he could on the vampire shortly after Wyll had asked for his assistance. Though the atrocities Cazador had performed on Astarion were never clearly stated Gale found other tidbits about his current life. He was a hunter, often taking contracts on violent vampires. He was skilled with knives, lockpicking, and sneaking.

Many sought companionship with the vampire for his ethereal looks, but as far as Gale knew, Astarion was a loner, refusing any sort of physical relationship. In fact, one of the many that had sought the vampire had been quite problematic to the point the guards had to be called. Gale had believed their partnership would be strictly professional; he had been entirely surprised that Astarion seemed almost attracted to him, even flirting back!

He had to be careful. As much as he wished to help the pale elf, to even put himself at risk to fight this Cazador (though he could admit that it wasn't solely to help the vampire), he also wanted to truly understand him. He seemed quite smart and skilled, so unlike the wizards he had dealt with. He also suspected there was more than Astarion revealed, and Gale had been given just a few puzzle pieces to work with.

Ah, how he wished to keep talking with Astarion into the early hours of the morning! It was certainly tempting, but Wyll was personally gathering information on the deaths, and would be bringing them so they could review them. It wouldn't do to remain exhausted with a job to do.

He stood up, rolling his shoulders back, his neck giving a small pop. He loathed the idea of simply sending the vampire away, though there was no reason for him to stay, either. Tomorrow, perhaps he would set up a delivery from a nearby butcher for blood. He knew they weren't hateful of vampires, a reason he continued to go there.

After a moment, his eyes returned to Astarion, who was watching him with a crooked smile on his face. "Do you know you mumble a bit when you're making plans?"

Face warming up, Gale gave a laugh. "I have been told. I apologize. Sometimes talking out loud helps me actually remember things in the long stream of my thoughts. I hope I didn't say anything to upset you." He sincerely hoped he didn't say anything to make the vampire uncomfortable.

"Just something about a butcher and the damned idiots that couldn't let go about their prejudices. You do know that vampires are dangerous, even if we control our bloodlust."

"Of course! So are wizards! So are many others. People with power always have the ability to become corrupted. It's what a person with power does that matters."

Astarion stood, and Gale felt a twinge of disappointment, but then the elf hesitated.

"Is something the matter, Astarion?"

"I..." The vampire hesitated another moment. "Do not take this the wrong way, but with all the deaths, I feel a little uncomfortable simply leaving you alone."

Gale flushed again. He was rather flattered the elf had any concern for him, and he certainly wasn't going to destroy the tentative...well, whatever was between them. He certainly wasn't going to throw himself on Astarion, as others had, despite their playful banter.

"To be fair, the recent deaths have been rather concerning, but I have placed as many wards as I could around my apartment as possible." Then, before he could think things through, his treacherous mouth added, "but I do have a guest bedroom if you wish to stay."

Oh, how he kicked himself for that! Could he be even more desperate to keep the elf near? Still, at least he hadn't offered his own bed. Astarion was watching him, his face carefully blank.

"Forgive me! I'm sure you wish for your own home, and I promise I'm usually not quite so forward in offering a place, but...."

But it would sound far worse to admit there was a spark he felt between them, even if they had just met.

"Well, there is a guest bedroom, if you're concerned," he finished lamely.

Astarion pulled out his watch, then said, "all right, but I need to grab a few things from my office."

"By all means! I'm going to cook something to eat."

"I'll be back shortly, then. Try not to get killed in the meantime?"

Gale chuckled, ushering the vampire out. He cleaned off the makeup he wore, and brushed out the curls from his hair, before going to the kitchens. Tara was lounging on one of the chairs, and he assumed she would begin questioning the logic of his actions, but instead remained silent.

He considered what to cook, before deciding he much preferred some pancakes over something else. He pulled the ingredients for that, some blueberries, and began heating some pans; some bacon would be good on the side, too. He was about halfway through cooking his pancakes before Astarion returned.

The elf raised an eyebrow when he opened the door. He had a traveling bag slung to his back."You need to be a little more careful, darling. Someone might try and hurt you, especially once our enemies know we're looking."

"You're probably correct, but I did see it was you," he said, hurrying back to his cooking.

"That...is quite a lot of pancakes. Can you finish all of that?"

"Oh goodness no! I mean, I probably could, but would be very ill. I usually make some for a few days, and that way I have an easy meal. I enjoy cooking. Do you mind if I ask you something about vampirism?"

"You may."

"Can vampires taste? I've read conflicting reports on the matter, which I admit is quite frustrating. One would think that someone would properly document such things, but that is not the case."

"It's only recently that vampires are being, and I use this term loosely, 'accepted' as citizens. Many assume we'll just break into a house and suck a victim dry. Unfortunately, that was common, before the vampiric movement brought to light that regular feedings, especially by willing individuals, as well as animal blood, quelled the need to suck a person dry."

"I'm glad things are changing."

"Yes, but I didn't answer your question. We can taste food, but most foods won't help with our hunger. However, food with blood, such as rare steaks, may help a bit, but aren't enough to sustain us."

"Then it was rather unkind of me to cook something worthless to you! If you give me but a moment, I can heat up a steak."

The words seemed to startle his companion, Astarion's eyes widening. "No, it's all right. I had some blood before going to the tavern, and there's no need for you to cook for me."

"I insist. I enjoy eating with others, and I assure you that it isn't a problem at all," he retorted, already prepping some spices. "I enjoy cooking for guests, and I'll have to consider some ways to alter some recipes for you."

Again, Astarion seemed speechless, watching as Gale cooked the steak a little with some basil and rosemary. Normally, he would have added some garlic, but he was fairly sure that vampires had allergic reactions to it, the one thing most sources agreed on. He didn't cook it for long, however, removing it only after a short amount of time. He placed the pancakes on the table, some bacon, cooked enough to give a bit of a crisp, but not burned, and the steak. He poured themselves just a little red wine, since he didn't wish to wake up ill, and a large pitcher of water.

"If you want to try some pancakes, then by all means help yourself, though I know it won't do much for your hunger. I wonder if I can make blood pancakes..."

"You continue to surprise me," Astarion said softly, taking small bites of the steak.

"I dare say most find me a little...overwhelming, so to speak. Hopefully I won't offend you too much."

The vampire's eyes narrowed a little at his words, and Gale looked away from the piercing stare, giving Tara some of the bacon. He supposed that when they eventually discovered this murderer, then Astarion would disappear from his life.

That was what they all did, except his mother and Tara. After all, nobody cared for a disappointment like him.

[lunabo17]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64179355/chapters/168936457

Awakening

Chapter 7

No Rest

The team discuss several things while Gale cooks, and take a short break before traveling to Waukeen's Rest.

While the others searched through the various crates and barrels, Astarion, Gale, and Karlach helped the gnome off the blades of the windmill. Though dizzy, and a little bruised, this Barcus Wroot seemed in fairly good health, though he had little doubt the goblins would have killed or enslaved him eventually.

"What is a deep gnome doing so far from home?"

"I left Baldur's Gate to find a friend. I once gave him a medallion, and during one if my walks, I found it, covered in blood."

When Barcus seemed more steady, they joined Halsin, who had begun a fire. They had chosen to camp outside the village, most of them too tired to deal with the goblin bodies.

"You don't look like a fighter," Astarion said. "Was he just a friend?"

Barcus glared at the fire. "That's personal. And yes, he's just a friend."

Gale sorted through the odd pile of assorted foods the others had gathered, giving a thoughtful hum. It certainly wouldn't be the best of meals, given the very limited number of spices, but he hoped he could make something decent.

"So you know how to cook, Gale?" Wyll asked, watching as he began cutting the vegetables into small cubes.

"I learned from my mother," he replied, and his throat tightened. Even knowing he had a possible home to return to didn't ease the pain of what he had lost. He could only imagine what his former friends and family believed, that Gale had finally killed himself in some sort of magical accident. Oh, how he wished he could just give his mother one last hug!

Astarion placed a hand on his arm, even as he took the knife from him to cut the meats. He gave a watery smile to his lover.

"Show me how you want it done," the vampire murmured softly.

"Ah, just into cubes. There's much we could do to make a lovely meal, but I don't believe anyone is looking for fancy today."

"Another time, when we're not in mortal danger."

Gale smiled, chopping the herbs.

"Now that we're not fighting a hord of goblins, do you think you can cure us, Halsin?" Shadowheart asked. "Your assistant, Nettie, said you've done some research on Ilithid parasites?"

"What?" Barcus squawked. "You're infected?"

"Unfortunately, and you're free to go, if you're scared."

Barcus seemed ready to get up, before looking around them at the lengthening shadows. "I...will be cross if any of you become mindflayers and eat me."

"Curious," Halsin said, his hands glowing gently as his magic studied them. "I can sense the parasite, but it seems as if it's sleeping."

"That voice from before said we were protected. That's why we haven't transformed."

Gale sighed, stirring the stew. "It feels as if we have been deposited in a very uncertain situation, with very little direction."

"We must find a creche," said Lae'zel. "Which I have said since the beginning."

"And if the creche isn't the answer?" Shadowheart asked.

"My people who cure us, and then you will thank me."

"If they even have a cure!"

"Do you dare question me?"

"We must go to Moonrise Towers," said Minthara. "That is where our contingent left. The Absolute forces gather there."

"Why didn't ya say something beforehand, Minty?"

The drow made a face at Karlach. "Do not call me that, and nobody asked. We will kill these remaining goblins, and if we cannot find a creche, go to the Towers."

"We thank you for your assistance," said Halsin.

"I don't do it for you. This is revenge, for what they did to me. I will kill every Absolutist in our way, then take their power."

Gale frowned as he sensed some approval from Astarion at the words. He stood up, moving a little away to think, searching the darkness for answers.

"I didn't mean to make you angry," Astarion said, and he jumped; the elf moved so quietly!

"I'm not angry. It's complicated. I understand the appeal of power. It gives a certain freedom, and yet, I can't help wondering at what cost will it come?"

"Did the Orb not give you power?" Astarion asked, a little angrily. "Your magic..."

"You're ignoring the fact that I lost my family and friends, that the magic Tara gives to me comes with pain," he snapped. He nearly regretted his tone when Astarion flinched.

"Cazador has power," the elf said at last. "He told us what we could or couldn't do, treated us like dolls."

"Cazador will die," Gale said vehemently. "Even if it kills me."

Astarion gripped his arms tight. "Don't ever say that! I won't let you die for me!"

Their mouths met in a hard kiss, and Gale bit his lip, earning a hiss, before Astarion returned the favour, sharp teeth piercing the skin. The vampire's tongue ran along his lips, soothing the mark.

He yanked them further away from camp, knowing the others probably wondered where they were, and uncaring of their concern. With a glint in his eyes, Astarion moved swiftly, purposely tripping him so he fell to the ground with a yelp. The elf was on top of him, grabbing his wrists to pin them against the grass.

"Have I ever mentioned we have the worst ideas?" Astarion whispered in his ear, rolling his hips.

Gale smirked, his hands firmly on the elf's ass, encouraging him to move harder. "Is it? I think it's rather marvelous."

~

"We left you some of the stew, despite our better judgement," Lae'zel said the moment they returned.

"Is this going to be a regular occurrence each time we rest?" Minthara asked.

"None of your business, 'Minty.'"

"I will kill you, Astarion."

"I'd like to see you try."

"Perhaps we can refrain from murder while we deal with the larger problem we face?" Gale said, sipping on the broth of the stew. "This Absolute...what is it? An Ilithid?"

"I don't know," said the drow. "I've never seen it, and I wasn't given much information when they took me, then threw me into the search for the artefact. I know of two generals, a Ketheric Thorm and Orin the Red. Orin..." She shook her head, and Gale wondered what she wasn't saying. He did not feel he had the right to push.

There were too many holes in their knowledge, something far larger at stake here. Mystra knew, feared what it could mean to not only the mortal plane, but to the gods, and they were in the middle of it all.

"We can go to Moonrise Towers," said Astarion. "But as long as we have the artefact, they won't stop coming after us."

"Since it is with you, we could simply leave you here," Minthara said.

"Except we all know it has great power, if they are searching for it," Gale pointed out. "Whatever it is most likely holds the key to your protection, but what it is..."

Astarion pulled out the artefact, turning the thing in his hands. "The voice from before told us we were protected, but little else. It seems that no matter what we do, we're pawns."

Gale gave a sigh. He hated it, but Astarion was right. The artefact gave them no answer, so they prepared for rest. To his surprise, Astarion joined him, tangling their limbs as they lay in their tent. With a sigh, he relaxed fully, the touch if his lover soothing.

He quickly found himself asleep. He dreamt of Waterdeep, cooking something while his mother laughed with joy, Tara waiting patiently for some food. Then the image changed, and he stood on a rocky landscape. He turned slowly, noting the floating pieces of land, just as Astarion sat up with a gasp.

Someone stood near them, neither male nor female, wearing golden armour. Their eyes were wide as they looked at him, then at Astarion.

"The hells? What is this? Who are you?" Astarion spat, scrambling away from the unknown.

"I am what is protecting you from changing," said the stranger. "It was a near thing. I was...not expecting the wizard to be able to see me."

Gale opened his mouth, but no sound emerged. Apparently there were limits here for him.

"What are you? Who are you?" Astarion asked, eyes narrowing.

"I cannot stay long. I am needed elsewhere, but keep the artefact safe. It is what keeps you alive as you are now, and the Absolute must not have it."

"But...!"

They woke up at the same time, both tense, ready for a fight.

"For someone protecting us, they certainly didn't say much," Astarion said.

"Whoever it was, I don't trust them," Gale replied, stretching. "But if it truly protects you, we have no choice but to protect this artefact."

Still tired, though having rested some, they joined the others, discovering their companions had similar dreams.

"Can we trust this...guardian?" Shadowheart asked.

"Of course not," Astarion replied. "But what choice do we have?"

~

The closer they came to Waukeen's Rest, the more abominations they encountered. Gnolls, a few goblin patrols, and worgs stood in their way, but were easily dispatched.

When they noticed the rising cloud of smoke, they began to run; the town was under siege. Screams of both goblins and humans were filling the air.

Wyll gave a little gasp, his eyes widening. "Flaming Fists," he said simply, while his blade struck a goblin. Astarion knew of them quite well, but why were they here of all places?

It was a far easier battle than there last since the Fists fought as well. It didn't mean that this Dror Ragzlin was an easy kill however. It especially didn't help when pain shot through their heads, and their heads filled with a command, to find the artefact, to destroy all in their path.

It staggered those infected, but some of their opponents held no tadpoles. The feeling of his side tearing open override the pain in his head. Astarion hissed, twisting before the sword could hit him again, and a firebolt struck the goblin in the chest.

"Astarion!" Gale called, eyes widened, looking at his side. They didn't have time to worry about that.

"Focus, Gale!" He threw one of his knives at a gnoll creeping closer to his lover.

"The inn is burning!" A fist cried, attempting to kick the door down. "We need to get in!"

"Let the place burn!" Lae'zel yelled, slicing her opponent in half.

"Councillor Florrick is inside!"

"Hells!" Wyll cursed, grimacing at the news.

"For fuck's sake," Karkach huffed, tossing a goblin into a group of it's companions. With a single kick, the door to the Inn broke. "Stay here, ya lot! I'm going in."

Astarion's breath hitched as he felt magic rising inside his mind. Tara must have intercepted a spell. He had a choice, then, to allow Gale to shoulder the burden of the wild magic, or for him to draw on it.

Before everything, before the bond, it would've been an easy choice, to allow the wizard to deal with the problem. Had Gale been bonded with anyone else, Astarion probably would have advised to allow the great archmage to handle it alone instead of being a burden. Yet the bond did exist, and he could feel Gale's discomfort. He also knew this idiot archmage would gladly shoulder the magical influx, even if it meant he was hurt in the process.

Astarion pulled at the magic, finding it a little easier now. Instead of letting it sit in his body, he pulled it along, dragging it like a wet cloth over his skin, then wrapping it around his sword. The metal heated, flames dancing along the blade like it did over Karlach's body. He didn't stop to admire it, instead stepping towards a hobgoblin to bring the fire to flesh.

As the last opponent fell, Karlach emerged from the inn, carrying a drow woman.

"Councillor," Wyll said, giving a bow to the lady in question as she was set to her feet.

"Wyll Ravengard? What in blazes are you doing here?"

Astarion's eyes widened. "Ravengard! You're joking!"

"Who?" Gale asked softly, taking Astarion's hand in his, checking to see if there had been any burns. Thankfully, though he still didn't have full control of the magic, his hand wasn't quite as burned as last time.

"Yes, I am the son of Grand Duke Ravengard," Wyll said. "We...aren't talking."

"That doesn't matter right now," said Florrick. "Wyll, your father was captured by these Absolutists."

"Shit! We...we have to go after them!"

"He most likely will be taken to Moonrise Towers," said Minthara.

"Then we have to go now! We have to...!"

The sound of a roar broke Wyll's panicked mutterings, and they looked up as a red dragon soared overhead. Before they could say anything, a red dragon landed where a fountain once stood. It snapped at a terrified Fist, pale as snow. Everyone remained still, quiet.

A tall githyanki in silver armour dismounted, ignoring everyone, except Lae'zel. Astarion had rather expected another fight, and wasn't entirely sure how they would have managed to fight such a beast.

"You! What are you doing away from your squad?" The githyanki ordered. "What is your name?"

Lae'zel hesitated, her eyes meeting his, and he tilted his head. "Lae'zel of Crèche K'liir. I ask for assistance in..."

"Quiet," the githyanki ordered, holding his hand up. Astarion was almost impressed with his boldness. "I am Kith'rak Voss, and you will make no demands of me. Now, you will answer me, and perhaps I shall let these ants live."

Astarion knew the name meant something to Lae'zel, her body tense. "Yes, Kith'rak," came the reply, her voice steady.

"Have you found any signs of a githyanki artefact, a weapon of sorts?"

A small, weak voice begged them to remain silent, to keep what they carried safe. For a moment, Lae'zel seemed on the cusp of throwing them to the wolves, but if the artefact truly protected them, they would turn. Astarion urged her to lie.

"No, Kith'rak. My servants and I have not found any such thing, though we are in need of healing."

"Then go to Crèche Y'llek. They will heal your wounds, and you may continue the search. Do not fail me. I must return to our divine."

The moment the dragon was back in the air, taking this Voss away, Gale gave a shakey exhale, while Lae'zel cursed softly in her own language.

"What have we gotten ourselves into?" Gale asked softly.

Astarion truly wished he had an answer.

[lunabo17]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65598478/chapters/168890971

Sing For Me

Chapter 1: The Singer

Pairing: Bloodweave

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Heavy flirting

Comments that do not involve solicitation are greatly appreciated

Notes: Yeah, I know. Another. Blame the plotbats.

Wizards are being hunted and killed, but the reason behind it isn't clear. With fear running rampant in the city, Wyll calls on Astarion to try and solve this mystery. Normally working alone, Astarion finds himself partnered with a lovely wizard that may finally break down his walls.

Astarion's feet rested on his desk, staring slowly at the fan rotating above. The damned thing was old enough that it wobbled a little when it moved faster, and he knew he should just get it replaced. It wasn't like he didn't have the money for it. He simply hated others in his space for longer than five minutes.

Unfortunately for him, Wyll had been there for far longer, but fortunately, Astarion had some tolerance for the man in question. Perhaps Wyll being duke of Baldur's Gate also helped curb his urge to kick the man out.

"Of all people you want to hire, you choose me?" Astarion asked. "I know we're friends, Wyll, but most people aren't kind to those like me."

Wyll's lips pursed, and he gave a sigh. "You're a hunter, Astarion, and despite your condition, you're damn good at it. And..."

Ah, there it was. Astarion wondered how long it would take to find the real reason behind Wyll approaching him. "Take your time," he said dryly. "It's not like I have other things to do, your lordship."

If it had been anyone else, most likely they would have been on the receiving end of a beating at the hands of Wyll's bodyguard. However, Astarion didn't fear such things, and they both knew it. He had been tortured for hundreds of years by that bastard, Cazador, after all.

"The news hasn't been entirely honest," Wyll said softly. "At least not the whole truth."

Astarion's feet thumped as they hit the floor, eyes narrowing. "Go on."

"It's true that whoever this killer is targets wizards. What the news hasn't said is that this isn't just in Baldur's Gate. It's been happening in other places, too. And we think they've been drained dry.

"Vampires, then. Killing so many, and leaving a trail...?"

He didn't need to complete his thoughts. It could be some other psycho vampire clan on the loose, but it could also be Cazador.

"Why would they be focusing on wizards? And why only believe they've been drained?"

"The victims have been burned to a crisp, but one victim wasn't entirely burned. We think there were puncture marks."

"A lot of speculation, it seems."

"I wish I could give more concrete answers, but the whole thing is bizarre. Astarion, I trust you..."

"Horrible idea, really."

"We haven't told all the information because we know people will begin to riot and cause other vampires trouble. Will you at least consider it?"

"You already know I will take the job, so there's no point in mincing words. Even if it isn't Cazador's merry band of fanatics, they need to be stopped before people start burning down vampire houses. Again."

Astarion's eyes narrowed as Wyll seemed to pick invisible lint from his clothes. "There's one other matter to discuss, then."

"Bloody hells, isn't that enough?"

"Ah, well, you see...it's the matter of your partner..."

"My what? No. Absolutely not!"

"Listen to me just a moment?"

"I work alone, Wyll. You know this. It's dangerous enough by myself. I'm not going to babysit someone."

Wyll gave a polite cough. "I'm afraid I'll have to disagree. Your partner is a wizard."

"Oh good! Even better! Give me some bait to worry over! Excellent idea. My answer remains the same."

"I hired him, too, Astarion, whether you like it or not. He isn't some new recruit. He's powerful. Very powerful. You can see him as bait if you want, but he can take care of himself. If anyone can watch each other's backs, it's you two."

~

Astarion was less than pleased with Wyll after their meeting. As much as he attempted to reason that anyone, especially a wizard that could become a target, would merely slow him down, Wyll would not sway. Astarion had the choice either to help, and possibly protect the man, or work solo (and not get paid).

Irritated, he agreed to meet this mysterious 'Gale' fellow at a tavern known as the Elfsong. The place was said to be haunted on the upper floors by several singing ghosts. He looked around, hoping to easily spot this wizard, and merely finding a bunch people talking. He sighed, resigned to taking a seat at a small table. At least he was fairly noticeable, so hopefully Gale would find him. He checked his watch, before taking off his gloves to slip into a pocket of his suit. It was a dark blue in an older style, but far more simplistic; there was no embroidery, and only simple silver buttons. Even his undershirt was a simple black. It was a far cry to His time pretending to be a noble under Cazador, dressing him in fine silks to seduce marks. His boots were far higher quality, thick and sturdy black leather, tied tight.

"We have a treat tonight!" The innkeeper proclaimed. "I know it's been a few good weeks since we've heard his voice, but please give a round of applause to Waterdeep's Nightingale."

Astarion raised an eyebrow; surely this couldn't be the man he was supposed to meet? Yet the moment this singer walked on stage, his jaw dropped.

The man that walked to the microphone wore a sleeveless wrap shirt in dark purple, tied tight to display the man's curves. Underneath was a skirt of the same color, slits on the side cut to the waist, that swished around him like waves as he moved, the tight black hose peeking occasionally. His hair was curled into ringlets of brown and silver. His eyes had been outlined in black, with just the barest hint of purple highlighting his lids. His lips were tinted just a bit, not the brighter red he saw on many women, but there was almost a shimmer to them.

The singer scanned the crowd, before finding him, the smile widening just a little. He suddenly felt more eyes on him, the soft twitter of the curious guests. Oh, they would surely gossip, and Astarion would let them.

"It is an honor to return to the Elfsong," purred the man, his baritone voice washing over everyone. His cheeks became rosy, and it made Astarion hunger in a way he hadn't for a long time.

Then, without further pause, the man sang, and everyone who heard became silent, listening. Astarion had to admit the man had talent, able to hit high and low notes, but it was more than that. He sang with feeling, with longing and hope. He sang with love.

Astarion didn't know if the music was part of his magic, or if it really was simple talent, but either way, he was enthralled. Despite walking in, irritated with the notion of having to deal with a partner, now he simply listened. He didn't know how much time had passed, until he almost felt as if he was waking up. He looked around to the people clapping, and none seemed quite as affected as him. He took out a cigarette, taking a deep drag to fill his lungs with smoke.

With the swishing of his skirts, Nightingale approached him, sitting down beside him without a care in the world to his adoring fans. "Would you be willing to share a cigarette?"

He raised an eyebrow even as he pulled one out, leaning close to slip it between those plush lips. Without a thought, he lit the cigarette with his own, watching the lovely brown eyes dilate. Oh, this was trouble, and he was sinking very fast.

"You don't seem the type to enjoy places like this," Nightingale said.

"Maybe once, a long time ago," he replied, watching the man carefully. "I'm meeting someone here."

"Oh? A lover?"

Astarion wasn't sure what possessed him, but he said, "not yet."

He nearly expected the man to stutter, and certainly wasn't surprised when his cheeks turned a rosy pink. However, the man chuckled, a deep sound, not of true mirth, but something darker, hungry.

"It so happens I'm meeting someone, too. Wyll, in fact, told me quite a bit about you, and I admit I've done some research myself. I must say that mere words and photos do little justice."

"Oh? And what were you expecting...<i>Gale</i>?" He purred. For so long, after he was free of Cazador, free to do as he pleased, he had rarely flirted with people, finding he enjoyed real conversations more than touch, and certainly more than fake words. In moments, this man had shattered his resolve thoroughly.

"I've been known to talk far too much, so I might keep my thoughts to myself, Astarion."

So this was indeed the 'Gale' he looked for, this singer that Wyll claimed was a powerful wizard. "Why exactly do you sing?"

"That is a story for later, if we get to know each other."

Astarion barely refrained from shivering at the words. "We shall see," he replied, sitting back, realizing they had been far closer than appropriate for mere acquaintances.

"Come with me to my apartment so we can talk."

"I don't..."

"Don't make assumptions," Gale interrupted. "I do mean 'talk.'"

"Very well. Lead the way, then."

Gale stood, smile still on his face. "So you can watch me move?"

"You're learning fast," Astarion replied, unable to keep the smirk from stretching his lips.

[lunabo17]

Together, Now and Forever

Chapter 5: Fear and Courage

Gale makes a decision to travel with Astarion to start a new chapter in their lives.

Missed the start? Here' s the link. Mind the tags due to possible triggers.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65271568/chapters/167921158

Chapter under cut is sickly sweet (and Gale rambles a lot.)

Gale didn't immediately make a decision. He couldn't just leave in the middle of a semester to help Astarion. However, the thought did give him several ideas and projects, a few that he brought up with the dean.

"If what you are suggesting is possible, it could change many things," the dean admitted. "But it will take time. Are you sure you wish to continue this endeavor?"

"It's something I've considered for a while, and what I may learn will be invaluable. Plus, it'll give me time to try my experiment, though I suppose if you simply wish to fire me..."

"Ha! Fire the archmage of Waterdeep? The students will rebel!"

"They'll survive, I believe. They did before."

The dean made a face, and Gale wondered exactly what the students did to earn it.

So it was during the end of the break, a week before the semester began, that Gale said, "what do you think about visiting your siblings?"

Astarion winced as he pricked his finger. "I beg your pardon?"

"Well, I was thinking that we haven't visited them together in the Underdark, nor have I seen the renovations you made to the Palace. You did tell me if I wished to protect you to simply join you as you travel"

He almost laughed as his husband simply stared at him, clearly shocked at his words. "But...your teaching...?"

"I've had a long conversation with the dean, and I have several ideas to work with. We're considering it field research. There is so much to learn in the Underdark, as well as much we could learn about vampires. Of course, that is if you haven't changed your mind. I would understand if you don't wish me to join you. I know I haven't always been the easiest person to get along with..."

"Gale," Astarion said sharply, and Gale's mouth shut with a click. The elf set his needlework aside, moving to sit beside him. "Your mind is spiraling a little."

He nodded his head, knowing his love was correct, that the more he talked, the greater his fears crept in. He took a deep breath. "Only way to face fear is to step towards it."

"Is it?" Astarion kissed his hand. "Do you really want to travel with me?"

"If you'll have me."

The vampire laughed. "As if that was ever in question!"

~

Shadowheart was watching them curiously as Astarion set some things aside before turning to him.

"I should have known you wouldn't stay still for very long," she mused.

"I'm still now," Gale said. He tapped the sending stone on the table. "It'll be easy for us to leave, if necessary, but I admit that since Astarion planted the idea in my head, I haven't stopped thinking of it."

"Yes, yes. Blame me!" Astarion teased.

"And Blackstaff is simply allowing you to leave?"

"Not entirely, of course. I have one class on magical history."

"You're going to teleport then for one class?"

"No, not exactly."

Shadowheart looked at Astarion, who shrugged.

"Gale, you're not making any sense."

He tapped the sending stone, a smile on his face. "I know. But I did say I was working on experiments, didn't I? Here is my first one." He added mentally he hoped it would work.

Carefully, he pulled from the Weave, then slowly directed it to the sending stone, placing a hand on it.

"Hello? Can you hear me?"

"Gale?" Esme's voice rang through stone. "It...appears to be working?"

"The hells...?" Astarion muttered, watching curiously.

"Excellent! Now what we need to discover is if it will transmit longer than what a normal sending stone usually performs, and I do know that won't take much effort on my part to exceed the normal capacity, since I have been told various times I tend to ramble when excited. Tell me, did you get all of that?"

There was laughter on the other end, and he could hear the voices of various doctors and nurses.

"We heard you! All of it! My goodness, Gale! You are an absolute wonder!"

"What...? What did you do?" Shadowheart asked.

"It's something I've thought about the moment Wyll and Karlach went to Avernus. I wasn't able to get it working before we managed to solve the bigger problem of Karlach's heart. I always felt very put off by the fact sending stones are so limited, so I thought with a few minor tweaks of the Weave here and there, it would be possible to extend the duration of communication. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get it to work without continued contact, and I can't add visual as of yet, but I'm working on that."

"My genius," Astarion said, kissing his forehead. "You never cease to amaze me."

~

Gale took a breath as they neared what once was Cazador's Palace. He was surprised to see how much work had been even on the outside to make it less imposing. Statues had been removed, and plants had been added to give it a little more life, somewhat ironic given what it was used for.

It was evening when they knocked on the door. To his surprise, Dalyria opened it.

"Hello, brother, Gale. It's good to see you both. Please, come in."

Gale felt his heart speed, despite knowing the work put in to renovate the place. The last time he set foot in here, there had been so much uncertainty and fear; he believed he would lose Astarion forever.

Yet the darkness of before was gone. Thick carpets of yellows and greens covered the floors. The red wallpaper from before had been removed, replaced with white and gold. There were lights everywhere, giving the place a warmer glow. There was also an abundance of chairs and couches, as well as some plants.

"Goodness! You weren't joking when you said you gutted the place."

"Cazador had horrible taste in decor," Astarion said. "It's a wonder someone didn't walk in and immediately know he was demented."

"The druids helped us tremendously, as well as some friendly werewolves," Dalyria added. "It's become quite the place for those seeking a refuge."

"Has there been any harm to anyone? I imagine there are those still deathly afraid of vampires and werewolves."

"As they should be," Astarion replied. "Not all of us can reform, and many of us have done unspeakable things. Hatred and fear are an understandable reaction, but there are safeguards in place, especially for receiving new victims."

"We can also place some magical safeguards as well," Gale murmured, already making some notes. He blinked as the siblings shared a smile. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, my sweet. We made a wager how long it would take for you to offer assistance, and clearly, I won."

"Not that I'm terribly surprised. You know him far better, Astarion."

"Ah, but you haven't even heard his other ideas."

"Further...?"

Gale clapped his hands together, a grin on his face. "Oh yes! Not to disappoint, but I haven't quite gotten the Sunwalker rings to work without need to recharge them, so I apologize I can't bring them yet, nor are the filtering windows quite ready. However, I did discuss with the dean of Waterdeep of the possibility of opening a small division of magic in the Underdark. I believe with my powers restored, it shouldn't be terribly hard to restore Lenore's Tower. It's a waste to simply let it sit in such disrepair! It would quite easily make a nice little school, and I'm sure some of the spawn have some magical talent!"

Dalyria's mouth dropped open, and Gale delighted in his tendency to stun people. However, just as quick, the doubt surged through him. He didn't wish to overstep.

"You..." Dalyria shook her head. "You are always so full of surprises, Gale. I imagine we'll need to fully trust any spawn that decides to learn. It wouldn't do to have them killing their teachers."

"Indeed! And it will take some time to set up the school itself...if you're agreeable to the idea...you and your siblings."

"And what say you, Astarion?"

"We have many limitations as vampires, and many fear us. To be given such an opportunity, a chance of some normality...well, I believe the times are changing for us."

"Indeed, it appears that way, and you and Gale are the ushers."

[lunabo17]

Awakening

Chapter 6 Wolves in the Woods

Pairing: Bloodweave

Explicit content

The party plan their next steps, and begin their attack on the goblins.

Warnings: Begins with some ravishing, because Astarion still has some energy to work off. O.O

Also, I've seen several stories giving Gale a nickname associated with rabbits, and kinda like it, hence his new pet name.

Missed the start?

Read here:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64179355/chapters/164698633

Astarion knew that surely he needed to slow down, if not completely stop wrecking his poor wizard. Never had he felt the urge for such closeness, and he wasn't sure if it came from their bond, his freedom, or adrenaline, though most likely everything.

After fucking him again, he had straightened their clothes, and picked up the man like a bride, to Gale's muttered curses, but lack of struggle. He was bemused to see their armour following them in the air, as if with magical wings.

The guards that greeted them pretended they weren't quite there, and one appeared about ready to pass out with the amount of blood flooding their cheeks. Gale had hidden his face in his neck, but didn't struggle to pull away.

He moved towards the rooms that had been set aside for them, finding the others staring as they entered. Wyll wouldn't look him in the eyes, his cheeks flushed.

"Are you two done?" Shadowheart asked scathingly.

To his utter surprise, Gale said, "no." Astarion laughed, easily catching the potion lobbed at his face from Lae'zel, before moving to their previous room.

"You know, I don't plan to break you until you can't move, lovely," he said. "And I can promise you we don't have to continue, even if... He gave a vague wave.

One of Gale's eyebrows arched, the edges of his lips slightly pulled upwards. "You make it sound like I'm merely indulging you now, Astarion. I can assure you if I didn't want you fucking me until I scream myself hoarse, I would let you know."

Astarion closed his eyes at the words, for once taking a few deep breaths in an attempt to gain some semblance of calm, and not to lunge. This was a hunger similar to his vampirism, and he was gorging himself as he had the night he drank Gale's blood. Apparently, this hunger went both ways.

"How the bloody hells are you going to move after this?" He finally said, nearly ripping his clothes.

"Potions and heat," Gale retorted, lifting his hips to slide his pants down. "And you're going to drink more of my blood."

"I am?"

"You are."

Astarion smirked, enjoying this side of Gale immensely. He moved on top of his lover, and leaned down for a kiss. <i>"Tell me if it's too much,"</i> he whispered. <i>"Promise me?" </i>

They didn't need any more words as their bodies met again.

~

Karlach whistled as they finally joined them again in the common room.

"Damn, fangs, magic man. Are you two done going at it like rabbits?"

Astarion smirked, enjoying the eye roll they received from Shadowheart.

"The stamina required is quite impressive," Lae'zel noted. "I would almost be intrigued to partake in such debauchery."

"This bunny is mine," he replied sharply. "Get your own."

"I'd say Astarion is less bunny and more predator with the number of bites on Gale's neck," Wyll said, face flushed with embarrassment. Karlach laughed.

"Enough," said Gale at last. "We've had our fun, now down to business."

"Indeed," Minthara said. "If I had not seen all of you fight, I would have thought you inept whores."

Astarion watched closely as the worg from earlier sat down near Gale's feet. It was smaller than the others, though still larger than a wolf. It's teeth, however, was smaller. Tara still lounged on it's head.

"Now that we've gotten the barbs out of the way," Gale said cooly, "what have we learned?"

"There are two other leaders of the goblin horde," said Minthara. "One sheltered in Moonhaven, the other in Orion."

"I fear I don't know these locations."

Astarion shook his head at the glance from his lover. He knew little of these lands himself, hardly ever leaving Baldur's Gate for Cazador. If he had traveled elsewhere before turning, he couldn't remember.

"Moonhaven is an abandoned village," Minthara continued. "Priestess Gut has set up her forces here. She is a goblin with some knowledge of magic. Orion once held a temple to Selûne, and her followers were killed in our attack. Dror Ragzlin has his base there, though he planned to march on Waukeen's Rest to continue to search for the artefact."

"What is the artefact, Shadowheart?"

"I don't know," the cleric replied. "My memories...have been suppressed. My mission was to acquire the artefact and bring it to my lady, Shar."

Lae'zel?"

The githyanki shook her head. "I have no knowledge of such things."

"There is definitely something strange with it," Shadohweart said, pulling out the strange icosahedron. Astarion's eyes narrowed, leaning forward. He tilted his head, and heard the barest hint of a heartbeat, and realized it was alive.

With a startled yelp, the thing rose, hovering between the members of the party, spinning in the air for a moment. Then it flew to him, and he caught it before the spikes hit him in the chest.

"Well, fine. I guess it's yours now, Astarion."

"How very lucky," he drawled, but studied the marks on the surface. The thing was warm to the touch, and he could sense some sort of contained magic. "This is...Tir'su, is it not?"

"Indeed," said Lae'zel. "But the words mean nothing. 'Bound, Stars, Eternal.' It does not explain the purpose."

"These Absolutists will not stop until they retrieve this artefact, or they are dead," Minthara said.

"And they are along our path to find the creche." The githyanki made a face. "It appears everyone shall get their wish to face this goblin horde."

"Not exactly a wish," Gale said. "An unfortunate necessity. I was rather hoping we had taken out the majority of our foes in our last fight. It seems we were wrong. Do we have an idea of the location of the creche?"

"No," said Wyll. "We asked several tieflings, but they only pointed in the direction we're headed."

"What of this Halsin?" he asked, placing the artefact in his pack.

"Last I knew, he was in Gut's contingent," the drow answered.

"Then I guess we'll see if he can help us at all."

~

They gathered supplies that the druids provided at a fair discount for protecting them before beginning their journey to Moonhaven. The general plan was to pretend to be in the service of the Absolute, and take down the goblins from within. Most of then had parasites in their head, so it would be easy to pretend they were these "True Souls."

Except for Gale. He had never been the best at lying; his mother had told him so plenty of times as a young child, so he had eventually stopped attempting to fib.

"Then don't lie," Astarion had whispered in his ear. "Tell them you are mine."

Heat courses through him at the words, and he shuddered.

"Oy! Stop necking, and let's go!" Karlach called.

The route to Moonhaven was fairly straight forward, and he spoke any and all knowledge he retained on the various useful plants they found. Karlach seemed interested in the information, while he could feel Astarion equal parts exasperated and amused.

"Alchemy isn't my strongest suite, but we did have to learn about it in classes. I...pardon...but...is Blackstaff...actually, I should ask if Waterdeep is still present?"

"The City of Splendors!" Wyll exclaimed. "It's still a lively place."

He felt tears prickle his eyes, and felt a longing to see his former home. Gale knew nothing would feel quite right, knowing his mother was no longer there. Fingers threaded through his, and he gave a smile to his lover.

"Your Tower is there, too, Mr. Dekarios," said Tara, now sitting in the worg's head. The worg, named Cecilia, didn't seem to mind the added weight. The tressym seemed to have grown some, and he wondered of the consumption of magic helped feed her.

"What?"

"Your Tower."

"Impossible! It's been far too long, and another wizard surely took my former Tower by now."

"Did not. Elminster kept it for you. Still a fuddy duddy."

"I...he did?"

"And money."

"But...why? He...but Mystra..."

"That's how you got the money before," Astarion said. "So that old fart did you a favour."

"Astarion! Elminster may be one of the strongest wizards known to mankind! You simply can't...!"

"Can. Did. Will continue to do so."

Gale shook his head, noting to continue the debate later. For now, they were approaching Moonhaven. Minthara moved to the head of the party, her jaw tight. He knew, because she had stated in detail, that she wished to slaughter every goblin in the town. He didn't blame her, but at least she knew better than to kill immediately, unlike Lae'zel. The githyanki hated the subterfuge.

"Mistress Minthara!" A goblin greeted. "You have returned!"

"Indeed. I have news. Where is the Priestess?"

The goblins eyed the party suspiciously, but led them, oddly enough, to a windmill. Gale felt his stomach drop as he noticed someone hanging from one of the blades, a deep gnome, wailing for mercy.

Gut glanced at Minthara, then to the rest of the party. A sharp pain caused him to wince, and he realized it was the priestess, probing them with the tadpoles, something he, too, felt because of the growing connection with Astarion.

"Found more True Souls, eh?" Gut said. "Brought them for the Brand?"

"I brought them to aide us in our search," replied the paladin. "We were not able to locate the artefact, and the Grove has been sealed by the druids. My scouts continue to search for a possible way inside, but have had little luck. Whatever the druids have done appears to shield them entirely. Where is this druid we kidnapped before? Perhaps we may break him of his secrets."

"Below. The kids took 'em to see the spiders."

"What? No matter. I will personally see to him, then."

"Ye didn't bring more o'yer hord...why?" Gut replied.

For a moment, Gale was worried the priestess would raise the alarms, and they would find themselves in the middle of battle. Slowly, the drow brought her hand to one of her blades.

"You question me? How bold. If you wish for battle, I will gladly oblige."

Gut recoiled. No matter what doubt lay in her mind, the goblin still seemed to respect Minthara, unaware of the changed alliance.

With that, they made their way to the building pointed out to them, and began to descend downwards, past some crumbling walls, and into some caverns. He wondered how far they went, and if perhaps it was possible to reach the Underdark. It was a question for later.

Dead spiders were the first indication they were hopefully approaching their destination, and they were quite large. Then, he heard the sound of squealing laughter, as well as a road of what seemed to be a bear. Here?

Over a large expanse was a walkway made of spiderwebs, a large bear in the center. On one end were several goblins, throwing sticks and stones, and on the other end were several large spiders, chittering.

"What in the hells is going on?" Minthara bellowed.

"We're watching him squeal!" One goblin laughed, throwing a rock hard.

Lae'zel and Karlach shared a look, before drawing their weapons.

"Come to join the fun?" A goblin asked.

"Something like that," Lae'zel said, before kicking a goblin over the edge. What followed was a quick slaughter as they moved to kill the goblins before they alerted the others. The good thing about being deeper in these caverns was that the shouts of the goblins wouldn't raise alarms. Even then, Gale knew they would need to move swiftly to kill the others before they wondered why their companions didn't return.

Gale raised his hand as the spiders seemed to grow bolder, climbing the walls, but the bear changed shape to a a rather large elf.

"Wait!" The elf called. His form shifted once more, this time to a spider, and he seemed to be talking to the spiders.

"At least we know the druid lives," said Wyll.

"Yes, and...Astarion...?" Gale trailed off as the pale elf placed a hand on his arm.

"Shadowheart and I are going to move ahead, and try to take out a few of the goblins before we're spotted."

He opened his mouth to question if it was a wise move, then admitted that of course it was, though he hated to see his lover in danger.

"I'll follow," he said. "I imagine it won't be long before all hells break loose."

This time, it was Astarion's time to hesitate, and he almost expected an argument. Then, the elf nodded.

"Follow behind, and I'll tell you when and how to move."

He nodded, and they silently made their way back. Whatever the druid had told the spiders, they did not attack.

The first few goblins encountered went down with little trouble. Astarion told them to remain in the lower levels, while he went up, taking out goblins.

But it was only a matter of time.

"Traitors! For the Absolute!"

"Now can we kill things?" Lae'zel asked.

Gale sighed.

From above, Astarion and Wyll were picking off the goblins that they could. Lae'zel, Karlach, and Minthara stepped out, giving a yell as they struck the first wave.

"This isn't how I expected to be rescued," Halsin said.

Gale gave a snort, freezing a goblin that thought he was an easy pick. A radiant strike hit another.

"I always knew you weren't one of us," Gut spat, glaring at Minthara. She raised her hand, weaving magic into a spell, only for it to fizzle. Gale could feel the trickle of magic enter him, and he nearly panicked, worried there would be a repeat of before. However, he could feel another tug on the stream, realizing Astarion was redirecting the magic.

<i>"Astarion!</i>

There was the sound of electricity, and an arrow flew through the air, hitting some water, and jumping to nearby goblins. "Shit!" The elf cursed. Gale could feel the tingle of pain along the bond.

Tara gave a hiccup, and the rest of the magic exploded outwards, almost as it had from him, except instead of pain, there was a wash of healing.

Minthara's sword went through Gut, and the remaining goblins seemed to panick. Many fled, though those loyal to the Absolute still attempted to fight. They ended as Gut had.

"That was fun!" Karlach said, smiling despite the cuts on her arms.

"Those others may report to Dror Ragzlin," said Minthara. "We won't be able to sneak in as we did here."

Gale ignored the others, taking Astarion's hand to study the reddened fingertips.

"It'll heal quickly," the pale elf said.

"You said you wouldn't be an experiment, but still did something wreckless!"

"The magic hurt you beforehand."

"And it hurt you now! Astarion..."

"We don't have a manual on how to do this, beautiful. We're just going to have to learn together."

Gale sighed, knowing his lover was right. He realized the others were listening.

"We should rest a bit before we continue," he said instead. "Perhaps see if there are any usable supplies."

"And we have questions for you, druid," Lae'zel added.

"I am at your service," Halsin said.

[lunabo17]

Awakening

Chapter 5: Release

The companions defend the Grove against a battalion of goblins, and unexpectedly gain an ally. Astarion doesn't have the patience to deal with the bickering between Lae'zel and Shadowheart, and decides ravishing his wizard is a far better plan.

WARNINGS: violence then abrupt sex. Astarion has some energy 0.0

Missed the start if the story? Here' s a link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64179355/chapters/164698633

Kind comments always appreciated!

Together, Wyll and Zevlor directed the tiefling refugees into various areas surrounding the doors if the Grove, while the druids stayed within, but at the ready. Gale was impressed at their efficiency, clearly both trained in the art of war.

"The scouts say they are sticking to the main roads, but I imagine there will be some attempting to sneak in on us," said Wyll. "They appear to be led by a drow woman, and she's sharp. She nearly took out a scout."

"I fear we may still be outnumbered," Zevlor admitted. "The refugees know little combat."

"I guess that means we'll just have to fight extra hard, eh?" Karlach replied. There was a hardness in her eyes that hadn't been there before, a tightness in her jaw.

Gale wasn't entirely sure where Astarion had hidden, though he could almost feel a general location. He knew that as a vampire, the elf must have learned to hide in the shadows. It was...a little disconcerting and impressive. Laughter seemed to echo in his head at his thoughts.

The cruel laughter of the goblins filled the air, but they stood their ground, awaiting the battle to come.

"Look at the little lambs to slaughter!" A goblin sneered, followed by the laughs of several.

"Silence!" A drow commanded, the one that Wyll had mentioned. Immediately, like a shockwave, the goblins held their tongues. She studied each of them, their weapons at the ready, except Gale. He kept his staff slung to his back. He truly didn't need it, using it more as a focus than anything else.

"We can do this two ways, the drow said. "You may open your gates to the Absolute, swear fealty to our divine cause, and perhaps we shall let you live, if I so choose. Or you may continue to fight, and your death shall be certain."

Shadowheart tilted her head to the side, as if she heard something. Frowns spread on Wyll and Karlach's face.

<i>"There's someone telling us to spare her,"</i> he heard in his mind, almost as if Astarion was beside him.

Well, that was a problem. "This Absolute plans to do what?" Wyll asked. "Destroy everyone?"

"We will be united, and all that oppose us will die. No more talk. Make your decision."

There was the twang of an arrow loosened, and the goblin nearest their leader gurgled on the blood filling their lungs.

"For the Absolute!" The drow called, unsheathing her blades.

"Fuck that shit!" Karlach yelled, her axe cutting through a goblin that lunged at her.

Gale frowned a little at the bubbles floating through the air, causing a few goblins to hesitate, confused. Those fell swiftly to either blade or bow.

"Fireball!" Tara screeched. "Fireball, not bubbles!"

Perhaps they expected a wizard to stand to the back, to wave their hands and utter spells. Perhaps they thought him a fool, his staff still on his back, and wearing lighter armour, but he was not that wizard.

Lightening wrapped around him, almost like a lasso, and he lashed out at the nearest goblin. He didn't linger as his foe was dropping to the ground, still convulsing, already turning, almost like a dance, as he pivoted to meet the next attacker. He was surprised when he saw Astarion already there, his knives plunging deep into it's neck. The elf didn't remain there long, moving with Gale to protect his back as more goblins moved to strike.

Gale noted that not all of their hoard were goblins, bugbears, or worgs, but as well as some humans. As expected, a few opponents had indeed attempted to sneak on them, but those that tried to scale the mountain found a sudden deluge of rocks and stones falling, causing them to loose their footing. Higher up the mountain, the stones had been smoothed to prevent further climbing, so they certainly wouldn't have been able to get into the Grove that way.

The clang of weapons meeting caused him to turn, and he felt his stomach swoop. Astarion's arms were shaking, one of the drow's swords stopped by his blades. Her other blade had ended in his shoulder.

"Submit," she hissed.

"I won't be a slave again!" Astarion yelled, pushing the commander away. "Not to you! Not to Cazador!"

With barely a thought, Gale redirected his magic to Astarion's weapons, flames licking his knives. A ball of fur flew into a face of an opponent, and Gale felt a slight tug, as it something was pulling him. He realized, as a fire arrow's flames snuffed out, that Tara was absorbing the magic, and trinkling it into him. The lines on his body flared purple, accompanied by little prickles of pain, like tiny pins. With a shout, the magic released from him like a shockwave, knocking several to their feet and staggering others. Lae'zel took that moment to hit the drow in the head with the pommel of her sword, before slicing the head off a goblin.

When the last goblin fell, an eerie silence replaced the sounds of battle. There was a small whimper, as one worg limped over. Astarion raised his bow, but Tara yelled, "no!"

"Tara? The worg..."

"Helped! It turned on the hoard!"

"Are you really taking advice from your flying Orb?" Lae'zel spat. "Kill the thing, and be done."

Gale clenched his jaw, looking as the worg sat down, keeping it's head done, an act of submission. Perhaps he was foolish, a little soft, to give something typically seen as evil a chance.

"I could have killed you, too," Gale finally replied, and he watched as Lae'zel turned to him fully, sword still in her hand. "You're dangerous, maybe more so than this worg, and yet here you stand. Shall we slaughter everything in our way, including your people?"

"You're playing a dangerous game, wizard," the githyanki replied.

"I play to win," came the reply, and he didn't waver as he kept his eyes on her. For a moment, he believed she would cut him down for his insolence, but then just the barest of smiles crossed her face.

"You have guts to threaten me, but I have seen a fraction of your power. Do not think for a moment that I won't try to slice your head off should you turn on me. That creature is your responsibility."

"Noted."

"You're insane," Astarion whispered as Gale turned to him, immediately focusing on the elf's shoulder as they sat waiting for healing. "You threatened a fucking homicidal githyanki, and she didn't kill you."

"I'm a useful tool, I suppose." It was the wrong thing to say, and he knew it the moment the words were out of his mouth. Astarion flinched, hissing at the movement, and glared at him.

"Don't ever say that again."

"Astarion...." He began, thinking that the reminder of Cazador had set him off.

"Isn't that what your Mystra and those in power do? Use you like a good errand boy, until you do something they don't like, then throw you aside?"

Gale stared at the ground, the words ringing in his ears. He had never quite thought of it that way before when he was in her service, always more focused on the wonders of magic he learned. Yet Elminster had come to them, asked him to throw his life away, and in the very back of his mind, he knew that if anything became dire, he would indeed do everything in his power to destroy the Absolute.

"I suppose you aren't entirely wrong. It would certainly be convenient for Mystra if I died. I imagine she isn't pleased with my actions so far."

"Or your growing powers. That blast from before..."

"Was painful. Please be still while I keep pressure on your shoulder."

"It won't kill me, Gale. What do you mean by 'painful'?"

~

Astarion watched Gale closely, the wizard remaining quiet as Shadowheart walked over to heal his shoulder. His eyes focused on the man's hands, covered in blood. With a whisper, the blood disappeared.

Only when the cleric moved away to heal the next patient did Astarion say, "You didn't answer my question."

"I'm not entirely sure how to answer, to be honest. Tara seemed to suck the magic earlier and gave it to me. However, when she gave me that magic, it caused me pain."

The vampire looked away, studying Tara, who was currently draped on the worg's head. He hadn't forgotten that Tara was truly the Orb, though shaped as a tressym. Mystra wished to use her to destroy the Absolute.

She seemed so innocent, still small, but growing. What did it mean that she could absorb magic into herself, or even share it with Gale? What would she become, and would it bring destruction, as it did to Netheril? Would it kill Gale?

The wizard took his hand, gentle and warm, studying it, running his fingers over his knuckles, the calluses on his fingers. The wizard was nearly as pale as him, almost glowing, though it was difficult to tell with the sun above them. He lifted their hands, placing their palms together, and closed his eyes.

Ignoring the noise around them, he focused on the connection between them, that warmth of sunlight that was his Gale. He could almost feel the swirl of the Weave. As all elves, he had some affinity with magic, though he never sought to learn much of it, nor did he believe Cazador would have allowed him. Nonetheless, he focused on it now, reached out to that part he felt through his lover. There was the snap of electricity, and they both jumped, Gale giving a little yelp, at the sting in their hands.

"What did you do?" Gale asked in wonder.

"No clue," he replied, shaking his hand.

"It was as if you were channeling through me," said Gale, excitedly. "It is, of course, possible to help another with their magic in such a fashion, but it almost felt as if you were drawing the energy from me!"

His eyes widened, followed by a frown marring his face. "What? Like drinking your blood?"

"Oh! Well, I suppose something like that. Don't make that face. It wasn't unpleasant. I meant the channeling, not the shock."

"I don't like it. It's bad enough I have to drink blood to survive. I'm not keen to suck magic out of you." He gave a little smirk the moment the words left his mouth. "Though I could suck..."

A hand covered his mouth, a lovely pink dusting Gale's cheeks. "Don't even complete that sentence. The point is, if you can channel the errant magic Tara filters to me, it might give us quite an advantage in battle."

"Or just end up blowing us up quicker," he retorted, pulling Gale's hand away from his mouth.

"I suppose it might be an option. Perhaps if we practice with small bits of magic...?"

"I'm not an experiment, Gale."

The wizard winced, squeezing his hand. "No, you're right. I apologize. One would believe I had learned my lesson after what Mystra did to me. Forgive me. Let's forget this. I believe they have revived that drow from her stupor. We should see if she has anything to say."

Astarion gave a sigh, following the companions towards their captive, his hand still held by his wizard. Vaguely, he thought he should pull away, and yet didn't.

"You said that a voice told you to spare this woman? What voice?" Gale asked.

"Good question," Karlach asked. "Some creepy voice in the back of our heads. Told us it was protecting us from transforming, too."

"What? Why didn't you say so, Astarion?"

"We have parasites in our heads. I'm not even sure this isn't some bullshit from them."

Gale blinked, giving a quick nod, then looked down at the drow. "Who are you?"

"Minthara Baenre," said the drow. "You have released me of the hold the Absolute placed upon me. How?"

"Excellent question. I don't suppose anyone has an idea?"

When no one responded with words, Astarion said, "how do we know this isn't a trick by the Absolute?"

"How do we bloody know anything?" Karlach retorted. She had a fair point.

"The Absolute," Minthara spat. "They have been raiding several locations, searching for a githyanki artefact. The orders come from one of their generals, Ketheric Thorm."

"What? But that..." Shadohweart began.

"Is impossible? I saw him with my own eyes. I went to them, to learn and destroy these interlopers in my home. I lowered my guard, and they killed my companions, then tortured me, shoved their damned tadpoles in my head, and clouded my mind."

"This artefact must be powerful if they seek it," said Gale. "Yet what is it? What can it do?"

"I do not know. I was not told."

"I believe her," said Shadowheart softly.

"What? Why?"

The cleric gave a sigh. "Do you remember what I carry, Astarion, Lae'zel?"

"Shit," Astarion said.

"You...!" Lae'zel began.

"Don't even start," he snapped, letting go of his wizard's hand. "If those bastards want that thing, then we need to make sure they don't get it."

"All the more reason to find a creche. With the aide of the githyanki..."

"Yes, I'm sure they'll be so welcoming!" Shadowheart's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"And you believe your Sharran friends will be better? You stole what is ours!"

"Fuck this," he said, pulling Gale away. "I have a headache."

"Are we really going to just let them argue?" The wizard asked, bemused, but following him obediently.

He knew that this probably wasn't his best plan, especially after the recent attack by the goblins, but he also didn't particularly care. "I don't have the patience to listen to them. What I want is a few moments of silence, and your blood."

"My...!" Gale was cut off as Astarion pushed him against a tree. He barely refrained from simply biting into the wizard's neck, his teeth grazing the skin. He could feel the shudder of the man he held, the sound of his heart beating a little faster.

"Can I...?"

Gale didn't answer with words, tilting his head to the side. Astarion didn't wait to tease, plunging his teeth into the wizard's neck, and drinking deeply. He pressed against Gale, could feel the man shake again, his length growing harder. Astarion growled, pulling away to clean Gale's neck, pleased at the twin puncture marks. His nimble fingers were already working on loosening the armour, allowing it to fall at their feet.

"Astarion," Gale said, a little breathless, and yet he had removed his shoes and trousers. "I don't know if this is a good idea."

"I think you like danger," he replied, freeing his cock from his leathers. To his delight, Gale gave a little jump, wrapping his legs around him, their lips meeting in a bruising kiss. His fingers found Gale's entrance, still slick from the previous night. He plunged two fingers inside.

"Oh fuck!" Gale shouted. He wouldn't be surprised if others heard them, and he didn't care. His fingers kept thrusting inside, stretching, fingers squelching at each push in. There was heat beginning to flood him, and he realized he was tugging on the Weave again, letting it fill him as the blood did. He gave a hiss, replacing the fingers with his cock, and abruptly dropped the wizard onto his length.

He nearly winced when he heard Gale's head thump into the tree, but he was too busy thrusting upwards, leaving bite marks on the wizard's neck. Gale was panting, and each plunge into his tight heat punched a sound from his lips. Astarion knew they weren't going to last long, adrenaline coursing through their veins. He didn't know what he was doing, but electricity was at his fingertips, and there was a snap as his fingers touched Gale's neck.

The wizard wailed, tightening around him, and he could feel the warmth trickling down their stomachs. It only took a few more snaps of his hips before his own cock exploded inside, filling Gale up.

"Shit...I don't think I can stand," Gale said, giving a little giggle.

"What a pity," Astarion said with a little smirk, still pressing the wizard into the tree. "But I'm not done yet."

Gale gave a gasp as Astarion moved again.