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fantasyfictionfables · 2 days

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Blue Thistles & White Lilies

Link to Ao3

Summary:

Athena is washing the blood off her face, when Gale approaches her with a gift. While his dreams are filled not only with a sun that shines during the night but also Athena, the Chosen of his heart struggles with fears.

The river´s calming sounds, and the lavender scented soap she so adored, normally aided her in finding serenity; not so today.

She knew Orin was unpredictable in her insanity, dangerous in her shape-shifting abilities, and lost in her devotion to Bhaal.

Catching Athena off guard was difficult – the Dawnbringer constantly veiled in mistrust –but she had been carefree after the charming love test at the circus, driving fear into her bones when the Dryad turned into Orin before her eyes. She was not safe – nowhere, something she had dared forget for but a minute.

Letting her dedication to Gale blind her to the danger surrounding them troubled her, for she knew her mistake could cost lives. Air pushed itself through her lungs in a sigh.

Starting to wonder about life´s unfairness was not in her. She had lived through too much to start contemplating it now. Her mission was clear, and hope was her guide. A flicker of doubt in the dangers of love tried manifesting in her mind, but she banished it with the light of recognition: Life was nothing without love, as such trying to keep it away would not save anything.

Huffing in amusement over her own kitschy conclusion, she started washing the blood from her face, before watching the soap in her hands turn pinkish in color with it.

“May I dare intrude?”

Gale´s warm blanket voice reached her ears, making her turn towards the source. He was standing there, a soft but cheeky smile planted on his lips; hands behind his back. He looked breath-taking, still wearing his brown leather armor, apparently not having gotten to change into his camp clothes yet. He was greeted with the hint of a smile by the Half-Elf maiden.

“You never intrude, welcome as you tend to be.”

His head bowed slightly, his eyes twinkling when he looked upon her once more.

“I have something for you, but maybe you should rid your face of soap before I proceed showing you what exactly.”

The joviality in his voice heated her cheeks. She had been washing her face, of course.

The wizard made her forget herself.

She spoke while filling her hands with water to relieve her face of the cleanser and the blush-causing heat.

“I´m honored you thought of me, but you know I don´t require gifts.”

She heard him click his tongue.

“You may not require gifts, but you deserve tokens of affection nevertheless.”

Drying her face with the cloth she had brought with her to the river, she looked up to Gale who had neared the river edge where she was sitting; sun shining on him from behind, illuminating his athletic statue.

Squinting, the Paladin shielded her eyes with a now clean hand.

“Come, sit with me.”

How could he deny her? Not one heartbeat later, the Sage was sitting beside her; brown orbs softly caressing her face.

“I saw them on our way back to camp and had to buy them for you.”

His words, accompanied with a smooth movement of his arm, presented her the most beautiful white lily she had ever laid eyes on, paired with a stem of blue thistles; his agile fingers holding their stems.

Athena´s mouth forming to a silent o awakened a new smile on his lips.

Carefully, yes, even reverently, she received them– her fingers brushing his. Her whole being leaned towards him, touched by the feeling of a warm silken embrace starting at the point where their digits met. The air touching her lips was punched out of her by an invisible hand of emotion.

“White lilies and blue thistles are my favorite, how...?

It was obvious she was raking her mind, trying to find a memory which could lead to an explanation. Had she ever told him? Had someone else let him know? Her thoughts were interrupted by his purple voice.

“I can see why. They reminded me of you – graceful, yet strong. Pure, but unafraid. Your skin is like the petals of a lily, soft and pale. You are pure in many ways and were reborn just like the lily symbolizes rebirth. Your commitment is eternal, if respect is given. The thistles speak of courage, determination and strength, all of which at home in you. Just like the thistle, you sting to protect. The blue hue has elegance in common with the lily, it is mystical and draws one in.”

He paused before continuing in his answer, his hands now enclosing hers – one around the flower-holding hand, the other around the one she had resting on her trousers-clad crossed legs.

“I did not know they were your best-loved flowers, but I dreamed of you wearing them in your hair.” His eyes seemed to look through her, captivated in memory as he was.

“You were dancing, a white transparent dress turning around your artful body in the wind. Your dark ashy blonde mane joined your dress´s own dance, letting the breeze lead. It was night, but somehow the sun was shining in the middle of it, stars remaining unbothered, since it only dared shine on you. Oh, you looked breathtaking; it nearly hurt how transcendental you appeared. The flowers crowned you like a tiara – one white lily whispering in your ear, while the surrounding blue thistles spread in a band over the top of your head. I have never seen you so carefree.”

Athena saw when he left his dream´s review which was playing behind his glimmering chocolate eyes, because he no longer looked through but at her. She believed he had only ever looked at her as adoringly as he was now, when they had been making love. His broad shoulders lifted with the deep breath he took, before pulling her hands together so he could proceed in pressing his lips forcefully against them.

“I love you as I have never loved anything or anyone before.”

His confession left him in a breath and desperate intensity, his eyes burning with devotion. It seemed as if his sole mission was to make her understand.

His beloved felt vulnerability take over, a feeling she did not like to indulge in. It made her dizzy and sweaty, daggers ripping through her throat and chest, dragging to her navel. Salty drops welled in her doe eyes, provoking a frown in the mage.

“Wha... have I? Is it too much?”

His insecurity was such a contrast to his usual self, that she hated herself for calling it into existence. Her eyes lowered themselves to their joined hands, seeing through a blur.

“You put me on a pedestal I don´t belong on, Gale. Sooner or later, I will disappoint you and I won´t be able to bear it. I cannot live up to the ideal of me you opened your heart to.”

Gale´s bearded face turned from initial disbelief into determined straight lines.

“Athena Asteriadis, I may have only had the pleasure of knowing you for a few months, but I do know you. I know that you boarder on being rude, when someone has an attitude you don´t like; I know that you are easily irritable, I know of your obsessive habits, your impatience, your poor dietary choices and I´ve seen you pick your nose before, but are you aware that you could have knitted far worse flaws into you? Have you decided to overlook your dedication to constant self-improvement? All of your flaws pale in comparison to your resilience, your honesty, your ambition, your intelligence, your love for beauty and your willingness to take on a room full of people who disagree with you. Do not be fooled: Me abstaining from mentioning your shortcomings does not equal ignorance on my part. I love you in all your glory – cracks in the vase included, just as I believe you love me, despite all the problematic inclinations I hold within.”

Forcing back the tears which had involuntarily advanced to her eyes, she focused on the truth behind his words, a chuckle vibrating through her. Relief washed over her like a fresh wave of cold water, banishing the hellish heat which had threatened to make her sweat life-force.

“Of course I do, how could I not? I´m entirely yours, if you so want me. Fighting through life seems to have taken a toll on me. I´m afraid I don´t know how to... do this . What we have is so different from anything I experienced before. My confident self-portrayal to the world has only ever been put to rest when faced with Lathander; he was my only refuge from the start. Whenever I tried to open myself to Stephanus I was punished with disdain and accusations. If I spoke up about his habit of pleasuring himself to other women, I was accused of jealousy; told I should work on myself. Whenever I mentioned that I wanted to try out having him pleasure me with his mouth, he refused – giving in once just in order to spit and start retching, making me feel like the most distasteful creature walking Toril. Of course that did not deter him from requesting my... services. That might explain to you why I was reluctant to let you discover me in that way. The consequence of being vulnerable was always painful to me. All I ever wanted was to matter to someone; someone I could respect; someone who was no deity. If I am to be completely honest to myself, I think I never believed myself worthy of it. It is regrettable you´ve chosen a woman with so much baggage, that she questions your insight.”

The lump which had started to form in her throat as soon as she began talking, remained, despite her walk through the memory garden which bloomed with Gale´s excitement in exploring her most intimate places with his capable tongue. The problem had not been her, something she had suspected but not realized before her union with Gale. He had seen her while they lost themselves in each other – body, mind and soul.

His capable strong hands cupped her face, furrowing forehead leaning against hers.

“You do not need to know how to do this, because it is not something done but rather lived. We connected and everything flew naturally, because that is how it is supposed to be, when souls connect. If I ever see Stephanus, I can´t guarantee for anything, love. His behavior was despicable and inexcusable. Comprehension evades me as to how someone could possibly have you in their life and behave so callously. People are no objects to be used, and your repulsion at his actions is understandable, as was your feeling of humiliation when faced with his disgust.” His mouth twitched to a smirk. “Though I hope I could remedy the latter. I can assure you that having you at the tips of my fingers and your taste on my tongue was indescribable and escapes even my eloquence. You were and remain divine.”

His nose wandered to the shell of her ear, nuzzling and licking the tip of her ear – just like an eleven–maiden enjoyed it. He was rewarded with a surprised but languid moan; music to the spirit singing in him.

“You make me love hungrily”, he nearly growled, impassioned with her nearness and the mild fragrance of her lavender soap which had interwoven with her very own scent.

His moistened lips touched her neck over and over again; little leaps between renewed contact. His raising of her hand came abruptly but fluently, not giving his lover enough time to think about it, before his tongue found the palm of her hand. He remembered Elminster having given him once a book to read - a diary of a half-elven ranger – which did not only entail knowledge on Elvish mentality regarding magic, but also the intricacies of making love to elven maids. It seemed it had not lied, for Athena threw her head back; hair touching the ground, a second moan even louder and unrestrained falling from her lips. He felt his manhood harden, preparing to penetrate the Chosen of his heart to create Elysium on Toril. He could see Athena´s nipples pressing against the material of her tunic, her eyes closed, mouth opened with glistening lips. He felt his chest heaving with passion – he was burning for her, wanted to crawl into her; desired to be one with her.

A small voice at the back of his mind made him aware of their surroundings, forcing himself into control. Nuzzling her wrist, feeling her quickened pulse against his fingers, he whispered against her arm.

“I fear we are losing ourselves in inappropriate surroundings.”

Her eyes opened slowly, unfocused still from the pleasure coursing through her.

“I don´t care, Gale. Please... please.”

His jaw tightened with his trousers.

“We cannot possibly. They will hear us.”

The shake of Athena´s head widened his pupils.

“I don´t care.”, she repeated, “let them hear us. They already know we are one and won´t come near if voices carry. I was intending on taking a bath, so they have no reason to near the river.”

The doors to her soul – like honey swirling in black tea – pleaded. She was praying to him for connection and the salvation he was capable of giving.

“They might be curious. From the conversations I overheard, some of them might be too nosy for their own good. Oh, don´t look at me like that, Athena -I´m very much aware of the irony, but my curiosity does not extend to voyeurism, much less unagreed upon experiences.”

Athena carefully laid the flowers she was still holding to the side, brushing a loose strand of hair from his face.

"It´s alright if you don´t want to risk making an exhibition out of our private affairs.”

Gale´s eyes shone with warmth.

“I will make sure to find a place just for us, so the night can be filled with more than just dreams.”

“Will you share soap and space in the river with me? I´m certain you intended on taking a bath as well.”

His gaze lingered on her silently, reminding her of a monk who took in the beauty of a Temple´s architecture with admiration.

“I will share everything with you – as long as I may live and beyond.”

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