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thespookycollector · 1 month ago

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Belleteyn Festival with Gaunter O'Dimm

Pairing: Gaunter O'Dimm x reader

Summary: The Belleteyn festival is in full swing, and you just met a very interesting man. You're there as a tarot reader, but you might be persuaded to join him for a dance or two...

Wordcount: 2599

Warnings: none. Reader is gender neutral, nothing about appearance or gender is mentioned.

The delightful, gracious @gauntermetaverse has created a Belleteyn event! I am a little late, so this may be rushed, but I hope this still makes for a fun read. I did an actual tarot reading to incorporate in the fic too, hahaha. Thank you for organising the festival! A lot of wonderful art has already come out of it <3. Enjoy!

Dividers by @saradika-graphics

Belleteyn preparations kept the whole village busy, weeks in advance. Many activities were planned: a market in the town square with meads, fruits and homemade pastries; a bonfire in the evening; there would be music. The kids could hunt for eggs and the winner would receive a basket of sweets. A few artisans, like the basket weavers and the wood carvers would show their crafts, with little demonstrations for the audience to join. Kids always loved that kind of thing, and they'd go on home and show their grandparents the ducks and cats they carved.

You were one of the people there, among the merchants and brewers, who was setting up a little stall for themselves. Your set up was more like a tent, made of long sturdy branches, over which you draped deep purple velvet. In this tent, you'd read tarot for whomever was willing to pay the coin.

If this festival was successful for you, you wouldn't have to worry about money until the depth of summer. To the side of the tent opening, you attached a string of coins for prosperity. Belleteyn is the festival of fertility, for planting the seeds of what will be harvested later in the year, so you had a good feeling about what the day could bring you.

The whole town was decorated in colourful banners, holding well wishes for the year to come, and flowers. So many flowers. Arches made up with large wooden flower decorations, painted in bright, cheerful colours. The hyacinths were your favourite, and the sunflowers looked very realistic as well. Young maidens chased each other around the stalls, flowers in their hair, yanking at each other’s ribbons that they wore in their hair. In the centre of the town square was a large construction of wood and straw, for the bonfire that would be lit at night.

Everyone was in a cheery mood, now that the construction mishaps were past, and from your tent, you heard the arrival of the performers.

"A demonstration, please?" asked the mead-maker.

It was met with chuckling, "Later, good sir, later. We've travelled far."

"Some ale to help the fatigue, then?"

Festivals really did bring people together, you smiled softly to yourself. On the ground of your tent, you spread a tapestry, and laid down a few plush cushions. One for yourself, and two for your clients. Some treated the cards as some party game, but as long as they paid, you didn't mind what they thought of you. On such beautiful, festive day, you anticipated lots of questions about love; if they felt the same, whether a betrothal was in the cards any time soon, will her parents agree? It was spring after all, and love made the air smell sweet.

The beginning of the festival was quiet. Slowly more folk trickled in. They had some drinks, sauntered around, admired the stands, sent your tent curious glances, but that was all. No customers yet. You willed yourself to be patient - it was only the morning still.

It was half way through the afternoon before the crowd started to pick up. The musicians started their songs. They were on the other side of the town square, it was only just audible over the hum of conversation. Your first customers came, lingering by the tent until you beckoned them inside. A young couple - a love reading. Then an elderly man who wanted to know if his children would remain mad at him, or if he had a chance of reconciliation before his death. A young mother who regrets motherhood; 'a little bit, only sometimes. It can just so tiring'. A woman by herself, asking about her new love, since she had the feeling he was cheating. Another love reading for a pair of newlyweds. A beautiful redhead came in for a love reading, but it didn't feel like the other love readings you'd done. She was clearly torn on the direction her life could take - whether to lean into love, or to keep with her career as a medic on the frontlines of war. Throughout the conversation, you saw her determination grow. The signifier you pulled for her was the Prince of Discs, which felt very apt. Then a fun little reading for a group of three kids, who listened eagerly, and ran away to report their findings to their friends. They paid with a thimble, a button and a dandelion. You hoped their friends would also pop in later.

The mouth-watering smells from the food stalls, and the rumbling of your stomach, made you leave your tent to take a break. All food options seemed good, bread with warm, spiced sausage, devilled eggs, meat grilled over a fire pit, honey bread rolls, bannock bread, and a sweet honey custard dessert. After you got what you wanted, you leant against the fence beside the food stall and watched the merry-making from the sidelines. Maybe you'll try a dance or two, later on in the night. Just as you realised your mistake in not getting yourself some mead on the side, a stranger appeared beside you.

He seemed normal enough, with a kind, yet amused, smile and his hands politely clasped in front of him. "Enjoying the festival?"

With your mouth still half full, you nodded. "This is possibly the best bread I've had in years." You pointed to the stand that sold it.

"The name is Gaunter, by the way. Gaunter O'Dimm. They also call me Master Mirror, as I am a travelling merchant."

You told him yours.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance." He kissed the inside of your wrist, bowing lightly to do so, but never once broke eye contact. His eyes were the colour of a deep pine honey - swirling golden like the glow of a late sun. "What brings you to the festival? Sight-seeing?"

"Oh no, I do tarot readings for whoever is willing. That's my tent, over there." You point in the general direction. "I travel, so I get around. Festivals like these are always a joy to be at. How about you, Gaunter?"

"Ah, you're like me then. Always on the road." He pauses briefly, taking you in. "Perhaps I'll stop by, once I'm done with some business of my own." There was something playful in his tone, and you hoped he would indeed find you later.

"I'd like that. Good luck on your business."

It was evening now, dusk settled over the town. The bards increased their volume, drink was flowing aplenty, and you hadn't seen people revel like this since the wedding of your cousins two years ago. Yet your work continued, and the customers' tongues spoke more freely, which made your work easier. Longingly, you watched as others danced. Some merchants had long abandoned their wares - or sold it all - and had joined in. One of the beautiful maidens from earlier, wearing a flower crown, took up a torch from one of the posts, and went over to the centre of the square. While the fire would be lit, there wouldn't be any customers, so you stepped out of the tent and watched from the sidelines. Once the torch touched the straw, the whole thing caught fire, spreading fast. The crowd cheered and so did you, clapping with a smile on your face. The dancing turned wilder, the music rowdier, and you permitted yourself another moment to enjoy the ambience.

"Still working this late?" sounded a voice behind you. You turned around to see the man from before. He had gained a flower crown, and held the stem of a sunflower in one hand.

"It's the job. You understand, as a merchant."

"Why don't you have a dance? You clearly want to." He smiled as kindly as he did before, but the feeling he could see right through you, gave you pause.

"Perhaps later. Did you come to have your cards read, Master Mirror? The tarot also likes being a mirror, perhaps you will gain some insights on your business ventures."

He leaned in, his smile widening to something playful. He tapped the petals of the sunflower against your shoulder. It tickled, sending goosebumps up and down your body. "Only if you promise me a dance in return, after you've gazed into the future on my behalf."

"Alright then. You better tip well," you winked.

You lead him inside, and he took a seat on one of the cushions, and you sat down as well. He put his sunflower on the cushion next to him. Cards in hand, you sat and stared at him for a good long while. Inside the tent, with the thick drapes, the sound from outside was muffled. It felt like an intimate bubble, especially as it was dark now, and only candles lit your surroundings. Gaunter was interesting, in the sense that he appeared, at first glance, to be an ordinary man, but his eyes told the tales of eons, of lifetimes full of experience. The eyes of a wise man, but one who never lost his playful childlike nature, and still showed a great curiosity. It was a handsome trait. He said nothing either, content to stare at you with similar intensity. You started to shuffle the cards with practiced movements. Feeling a little fancy, a little flirty maybe, you did a nice rifle shuffle and a couple other card tricks, just to show off.

The first card landed on the table, face down.

"Will you do the honours?" you nodded to the card and continued to shuffle. He turned it around. The Two of Wands. Not bad. The fiery energy fit him, as the reflection of the flame on the table danced in his eyes.

The next one was the Eight of Swords. You hissed through your teeth. "Any tough decisions coming up lately?"

"Not tough decisions," he said, "but tough people."

You nodded, and revealed the third card: The Empress. "Alright," you shifted to get comfortable. "There are always two ways to go about something, whether it is business or personal, or what have you. The nice way, or the... let's say the not-so-nice way. Some people respond better when you show a stronger hand, but others are friendly and can easily be persuaded. Is your difficult person a customer, or a supplier, perhaps?"

"Something of a client, yes." There was a dark edge to his smile.

"The Empress is a very fitting card for today, for the fertility festival of Belleteyn," you mused. “I do see a good outcome, despite hardships, in which your ventures will not only be successful, but you will grow. Financially you will have nothing to worry about. How to get there? It's up to you, of course, but it seems you've tried quite a few different ways, and perhaps it's time to let them know, kindly, that you mean business. Despite struggles in the past, the cards call to not get bogged down in them, and to keep looking at the future. What you are working towards, will pay off."

He nodded at your explanation, he seemed to really take the reading seriously. "And the first card, how does that play into it?"

"That is you, your energy. I don't doubt you can come on quite strong, if you mean to. The Two is called 'Dominion' for a reason," you chuckled softly, then looked up at him. He listened intently. "There's a great passion in you, even if people underestimate that about you."

His smile then was nothing short of sinister, but the playful twinkle in his eye delighted you regardless. "Thank you. This is a wonderful reading. I must say, you certainly have a way with words."

"Always glad to be of service."

He got up, dusting off his knees. "And now, my fair friend, you promised me a dance."

You were barely upright, before he ushered you closer to the centre of the town square. The flames licked up high into the night sky, their heat warmed your skin. The roar of flames, the singing, the music certainly bolstered your mood, and you left your insecurity behind in the tent.

"Come on," Gaunter tugged you by the arm, then linked his in yours, as you danced and laughed. His eyes never left yours. The speed in which you were spinning made you feel like you'd fall if his grip so much as wavered, but that never happened. You switched arms, then back to the other one again. His dances were proper and lively, and considerably better than some others in the crowd - probably helped by the fact those had a little too much to drink. Then, the music changed, a little slower, a little more sensual. He circled you, around and around, the push and pull of the dance letting him draw you to his chest again and again. It was hypnotic, the way his attention never wavered.

Gaunter pulled you close, his eyes warm. "You have the most wonderful laugh. radiant like a sunflower." What could you do but give him the most dazzling smile in return?

The dancing continued. At some point, the two of you lost each other in the crowd, but soon his hands found yours again, and it seemed like anything else disappeared. Your cheeks felt hot and rosy from the heat of the fire, they almost hurt from smiling so wide. He took the sunflower from his belt, and gave it to you - tucked it neatly under the strap of the bag on your hip.

As the night came to a close, the first people retired to go home, or pass out in the grass. You, too, were tired. As much as you wanted the night to last an eternity, your feet hurt, and you knew you'd make the long trek to the next town tomorrow. Gaunter noticed, you two stepped away from the crowd. To the side of the square, underneath a floral arch, there was a little more privacy.

You turned to him, breaking the comfortable silence, as the night breeze cooled your heated cheeks. "You've enjoyed yourself tonight?"

He chuckled. "As have you, I take it."

"Maybe," you tease. It was after only a moment of hesitation, as you gathered your courage, you reached out to kiss him. One of your hands pressed firm against his chest, feeling the rough wool of his tunic underneath your fingers. You intended this as a tame yet tantalising peck on the lips, as a way to make your goodbye linger, but he was quick to gather you in his arms and kiss you back feverishly. Oh, how right you were about great passions lingering under the surface of his skin... You barely got the chance to breathe with how he devoured you.

When you drew back, you tugged at his collar. His hands squeezed your waist in response, holding you close to him. "Tomorrow, you're back on the road, I take it? Travelling merchant after all."

No doubt he knew what you were asking. He smiled knowingly. "My path may align with yours, for a while. If you're asking me to be a travelling companion."

You hummed and bit your lip. "Then we should make sure to get a good night's sleep before we travel again in the morning... Or something resembling sleep. Something that makes sure we wake with the satisfaction of a night well spent."

"Surely I can oblige," He grinned and with a hand on your chin, he kissed you deeply. "You're not the only one with a skillful tongue..."

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