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"Thaaaaaanks beee to youuuuu, Great and Treacherous Loooord!" The creature swept into a low bow before continuing. "There have beeeeeeen only...whisssssssssperssssss, of course, but... the deeeed would must be greatttt, chaaaaange the faaaaaate of the mortal plaaaane." |
"Such as?" Astarion huffed. |
"The godsssssss do not...appreeeeciate Your Exalted Traaaavesty... Theeey would be mooooooooooooost gleeeefulll were Lordddd Vammpire Asceeendant to be destrooooooyed." The creature cackled like a hyena again, clapping with glee, then flinched at Astarion’s face as it contorted with rage. |
"Destroy me? With what army?" he laughed, but the wheels were spinning in his head. The creature made no response, save a strange clicking in its throat. The foolish Gale had laid bare his plot already. He had plucked Tav from her sleeping tomb and sent her crawling back so she would slay him. She must know he can’t be... |
"Begone," Astarion commanded with a wave of his hand. The imp exploded in a black goo, taking the portal with him. Astarion flopped into a nearby throne, a glass of wine held aloft, and clicked his fingers on the seat’s arm. She was definitely plotting something. He had to discover what it was before she attempted to e... |
Tav was feeling uneasy as they wandered into the fifth shop of the day. Astarion had been lavishing her with gifts – dresses, jewels, spa treatments – and "loving praise" all day. Angela had warned her he was angry when he found she was not in bed. He had yet to show it. |
"How lovely these would look on your delicate feet, my treasure." Astarion gestured to a pair of red satin shoes, embroidered in gold. "You know how delicious you look in red." His seduction was on full display, and it made her embarrassed to have strangers fawning over them in public while he lavished attention on her... |
"Darling," she began tentatively, "perhaps we can return home? Much as I’ve enjoyed our excursion I’m afraid I am weary of walking." |
"Nonsense pet, I’m sure someone would delight to carry you!" At this, half a dozen men, and a few women jumped forward, bowing low. She waved her hands in front of her, smiling politely. |
"That’s quite all right," she laughed nervously, "I’m sure I can manage." The disappointed nobles fell back, their faces crestfallen. Just then, she felt a rush behind her as Astarion scooped her up and began carrying her, bridal style, down the street. This caused a ruckus of tittering from the nearby women, and grumb... |
"We can’t have our darling wearing out her delicate feet. I can manage the walking for the both of us, my love." She dared not look into his face, knowing she would find every drop of charismatic charm a mask on his face. Even though it was a farce, it was too reminiscent of who he had once been, and it set her heart p... |
"Where to now, my love?" She was hoping the playacting would be done soon, so she could get on to more familiar territory. If he wasn’t taking her home, then where would they go? |
"I thought we might visit the church, my dear." His voice rumbled low in her ear, and her chest seized. The church? But why? They hadn’t set foot in a church since their adventuring days back in the lower city. This was incredibly unusual, and a sinking feeling crept into her gut. Surely he couldn’t know about Gale... |
"You may return home with our things," Astarion called over his shoulder as a large gothic cathedral peeked into view between the buildings. She knew this was the largest church in the city, where the most wealthy nobility were wed and buried. Its imposing structure loomed over her, casting shadow and dimming the light... |
Once inside, he placed her gently back on her feet, and taking her arm in his, began walking slowly around the room. She stared at the large statues of deities adorning marble pedestals. Glancing around, she saw there was no one in the cavernous room, despite the presence of a dais where a priest might usually stand. F... |
"I thought we might check up on the pantheon, see how things are going," he tutted softly, pulling her along. "I see many familiar faces. Selûne, Mystra, Tiamat..." |
"What interest have we in the gods, my love?" Her voice was barely a whisper, and Astarion’s affected laugh startled her, ringing from the rafters. |
"We are practically gods ourselves, pet. We must keep up with the kin. Call it...a family reunion." He pulled her along, a devious smirk adorning his lips. Tav’s every muscle burned, ready to bolt at any second, panic gripping her throat like a clawed hand. |
They passed stoic stone faces, one after the other, and finally came to a stop in front of a modest pedestal. There was no carved stone statue there, simply a clay depiction of a small yet ornate crown. She recognized it immediately as the Crown of Karsus. The edges of her vision clouded, and Astarion’s voice sounded f... |
"Hmmm..." his voice swam in and out of focus as he spoke, "crown of...new postulant...Dekarios...Gale’s last name?" |
Tav slowly dragged her eyes away from the clay figure and met Astarion’s gaze. His face was blank as the marble statues around them, but his eyes burned red-hot. At once he was upon her, crashing them both to the floor, fingers gripping her wrists fiercely. His face was inches from hers, angry ruby eyes piercing into h... |
"How wrong I was," he hissed. "I thought surely you’d learned your lesson. Four gods-damned years in a fucking box, and you come back with a plot to kill me?" Tav struggled under his weight, but he was stronger than ever and her useless fancy slippers had no traction against the smooth floor of the church. |
"Please Astarion, I can explain-" |
"No," he growled. "I will not suffer more lies from those pretty little lips." He leaned in, nipping her lip as he did so. She cried out in pain and fear as he spat the blood from his tongue and it splattered wetly on the floor. |
"You are tainted, befouled, unworthy of my love and devotion." Even as he spoke he ground his hips into hers. On reflex, her legs attempted to crash together, meeting instead the unyielding wall of his thighs. "If I did not love you so, I would kill you." |
"Astarion..." her voice was merely a whimper as he peppered kisses along her cheek and chin, nipping as he went. She felt the blood as it trickled slowly down her face, and felt the hot tears that slipped from her eyes. |
"Yes," he cooed, "you are so beautiful when you cry." |
**TW: NON-CON** |
Tav stifled a sob as he moved one hand to her thigh, gripping the skirt there and pulling it up. His hands trailed hungrily along her body, and she heard the soft shifting of fabric just before he plunged painfully into her. Her back arched and she writhed, crying out as fresh tears sprang to her eyes. His hand moved f... |
"Someone will be along to fetch you soon, my treasure." He raked a hand through his hair and wiped the blood from his mouth with a handkerchief he produced from his pocket. He tossed it down to her. "Clean yourself up, you look a fright." With that, he turned on his heel and stalked out of the church. Tav trembled viol... |
**END NON-CON** |
"Oh Mother dearest, what a mess you’ve made." Tav bristled as she turned and looked into the smug face of Beirion. "Father said I am to be your keeper. Frankly, I don’t like being tasked with such a menial job, but if that is what our Lord and Master wishes, then that is what I shall do. I’ve come to escort you home." |
Tav did not move, nor did she speak, as she stared at the youngest spawn. She felt nothing, only a throbbing numbness, her glazed eyes staring into the middle distance. With a scoff, he crossed to her and heaved her unceremoniously to her feet. He smoothed her dress down with a tsk, and led her to the door. She glanced... |
Blood is oozing – it tickles. There is no pain anymore, only a numb throbbing sensation. It is dark. I cannot move. I can hear screaming, though I’m not sure if it’s my own voice or someone else I hear. I have to hold on. I must keep it together. I will soon be free. Punishment never lasts too long. He doesn’t like the... |
A sting, a tearing sound, and more tickling. My back itches. My legs itch. Why my back, I wonder? To hide the marks from view, or to punish me further when I’m laid upon them? |
A voice, far off and distant. Astarion. No, not him. Someone else. But that voice, it’s so...familiar. |
Beirion’s face swims into view. Ah, youngest son. He is so like Astarion. I suppose the first ones were for me. To keep me happy? Though I begged him not to turn anyone else... I guess he can’t actually make me happy, only make it seem like that’s what he wants. He doesn’t love me. He doesn’t love me. He doesn’t love m... |
"Where...is Ananua? I haven’t...seen her...since I’ve been back..." I barely recognize my own voice. Tired. Wan. Not a croak really, more of a strained whisper. |
"Oh, did no one tell you?" Beirion laughed haughtily, polishing his fingernails on the breast of his shirt. "I killed her." |
Tav sagged on the rack, head dipping low. Poor child... Ananua was a wood elf, when she was alive. She had always resented the "gift" Astarion had given her. She kept to herself in the nearest forested areas outside of Baldur’s Gate. Astarion allowed it, for no other reason than he simply didn’t care to keep her close.... |
Beirion laughed, slapping lightly at Tav’s face. "Oh all right, Mother, it’s over now." He began to loose her ties – first the ankles and then the wrists. "I’ve always disliked that, you know," he sneered, breath hot and close to her face. "Mother. You are not my mother. You are just like me, but weaker, with a weak wi... |
Tav hit the floor with a crack – her knees, but she didn’t feel them – and he gave a swift kick to her gut. She doubled over, but more from instinct than any lack of air in her lungs. She had gone so long without breathing she could turn it off at will now. It helped to dull the pain. This was something she could manag... |
Beirion dragged her to her feet and ushered her through the palace, back to her bedroom. "I’m sure Father will have something to say to you when he’s ready, so you ought to take care of yourself. I’m not entirely sure what kind of mood he’ll be in when he comes." A spiteful glee flickered in his treacherous eyes as he ... |
Counting the threads on the rug beneath her cheek, she imagined she was laying in sweet summer grass, swaying with the breeze. She inhaled the scent of rosemary, imagined flowered fields of lavender. She closed her eyes, but swiftly opened them again as the first face which greeted her in the darkness was that of Astar... |
She heard the door open, softly, and she braced herself to hear Astarion’s voice. Instead, she heard a soft whimper. She did not turn her head, but saw the modest shoes the maids wore shuffle into view. She saw a woman bend down on both knees, hands flapping uselessly around Tav's face, neck, and shoulders. |
"Misstress...oh Gods..." Angela. She had never seen her in such a sorry state. Usually Astarion took care to tend her wounds after inflicting them. Pleasure mixed with pain was his specialty. Beirion, apparently, had no such moral qualms. Tav hissed as a tentative hand touched somewhere on her back, flinching hard. The... |
"Did he do this to you?" Her brow furrowed, eyes cutting to Tav’s. She shook her head no, imperceptibly, but Angela saw the word in her sad eyes. "Who?" Anger. Don’t do anything rash, foolish girl. Tav forced the words into her throat despite the burning it caused. |
"Doesn’t...matter..." She coughed, and the racking sensation sent a bolt of pain coursing through her. She folded in on herself, cradling her ribs. They might be broken. "I need..." |
"Anything, Misstress. Anything at all." Angela’s eyes were hard now, though the tears were still there. She looked as if she would go to the hells for her. Tav smiled sadly. |
"Mirror...in the...wardrobe..." |
Angela’s face flashed through several emotions rapidly, chief among them confusion. "But, why...?" Her face softened, and she ran a warm hand over Tav’s cold forehead, one of the only places without visible injury. "Misstress...you’ve got no reflection. Have you a head injury? I doubt you’d want to see it anyway..." |
Tav rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help but smile a little. "No...it’s special. I need it." She looked into Angela’s eyes, hoping to convey the importance to her without words. Angela nodded, one eyebrow cocked, and complied. She bustled to the wardrobe and opened it, and Tav heard the sounds of her rifling through ... |
"This one?" She eyed it suspiciously. "It looks...cursed or somethin’ Misstress." |
Tav craned her neck, ignoring a twinge of pain. "This is important, Angela. Come here." |
Angela laid down beside her on the floor, eye to eye, a serious look on her face. Tav was glad to see a little more color in her cheeks now. |
"This mirror...can’t be found. When I’m gone...I need you to...hide it." Tav’s voice whistled softly as she spoke. Definitely broken ribs. "Somewhere else," she added. "Not in here. Somewhere he...doesn’t go." |
Angela’s face broke into panic. "Gone where, Misstress? Surely you’re not dyin?" Tav struggled, and reached one bloodied hand up to pat Angela’s cheek. |
"No...not dying...a friend...please, hold it up..." Angela placed her own hand over Tav’s and softly squeezed. Then she held up the mirror, and Tav’s reflection greeted her. The mirror pulsed and hummed with magic. She didn’t dare look for long, afraid of what she might see. |
Just like that, Angela was left alone, mirror facing away, bloodstained carpet where her Misstress had been. |
Gale heard the whoosh as the portal opened, and his heart leapt. It had only been a day since he’d seen Tav, but it felt like a lifetime. He smiled to himself, casting a new sky over the bed in the room he’d conjured for her, making it a deep violet peppered with stars. He took a breath to steady himself and keep from ... |
She was positively thrashed. Her whole back was red and oozing, dotted with dark purple bruises and bright red burns; he noted with horror that the landscape did not stop at the base of her spine, but continued all the way down to her ankles. Her hair, normally a vibrant copper, was slicked with dark blood, half of it ... |
That thought spurred him to action, and he ran to her, dropping down beside her. He didn’t speak to her, only cast as many rapid-fire healing spells as he could muster. He grew dizzy as the green magic snaked around her, but with relief noted that most of the deepest wounds were closing slowly. She stirred slightly, an... |
"Thanks for that. I’m pretty sure my ribs were broken." She gave a small smile, but it did not reach her eyes. Gale frowned at her, looking her over. |
"What in the nine hells happened to you?" He meant for the words to come out harder than they did. Instead, his tumultuous heart caused them to shake and stutter, coming out as barely more than a whisper. She winced at him, and he wondered if she’d felt a twinge of pain. His hand flew out toward her, and she flinched. ... |
"My devoted son," she scoffed. "Well, Astarion’s devoted son." Her tone was rueful, but her face was hard, anger and regret painting her features. Gale noticed several bite marks in her cheeks and along her jaw, and a crusted-over wound of some kind on her lower lip. He nodded toward them. |
"Awfully...intimate for a son," he hedged. He watched her hand touch idly at her mouth and cheek, and she looked away. |
"Oh, that was...earlier." She said no more, and he didn’t press her. They sat in silence for a long moment, and then Gale rose to his feet. |
"I know just the thing for this," he said confidently, though his eyes might have betrayed his utter lack of knowledge in this kind of care. "Wait here, or wherever you like. I’ll be back in a moment." He thought he saw fear or sadness in her eyes, but it was swallowed by her nodding, affecting a blank mask, as he turn... |
Gale hurried into a bathroom and conjured water in the tub. He filled it only halfway before turning to a nearby cabinet. A myriad of healing potions adorned the shelves, and he picked out the strongest ones and began pouring them into the water. They tinted the bath a soft pink, and as he conjured heat into the tub, a... |
"I’ve got a healing bath ready for you, if you want to clean up and revitalize..." Tav looked up at him with dark, surprised eyes, and his heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t been truly cared for in so long... She nodded gently, and moved to stand, but winced when she put weight on her shoulder. Gale moved to her, placing... |
"Ahem...well, I’ll...leave you to it, then." He looked at the tub, then dipped a finger in to make sure it was the right temperature. He shook off the healing water and crossed to the door. |
"Gale..." Her barely-there voice rattled through his skull like a war drum. He stopped abruptly and turned to look at her. Her face was downcast, her hands in her lap. "I’m not sure I...I might need..." She looked up at him, soft dark eyes large and wet, and his heart seized. "I think I need some help." |
Gale turned pink as the water as he eyed her half-gone dress. Parts of it were stuck to her back, but her whole front was covered. The long sleeves would be a challenge, on her own. He nodded, not looking her in the eyes, and slowly walked back over to her. He surveyed the disaster before him, trying to glean the best ... |
"Shall I...try to be gentle, or...would you rather I rip off the proverbial bandage?" He swallowed hard and felt her stiffen under his hands. |
"Just do it." Her teeth were gritted – he could hear it in her voice. He took a deep breath in, and she mirrored him. He held the air in his lungs as he tugged the fabric free, and she whimpered and drooped on the stool in front of him. New blood sprang forth, and he swooned a little. He had seen plenty of blood, of co... |
"Don’t go," she whispered. "I need someone...friendly..." She didn’t turn to look at him, and he preferred it that way. He stood behind her, letting his hands flit to the sides of her head, guiding her down into the water. Blood and dirt loosened from her hair as his fingers deftly combed through it, being careful not ... |
"What are you thinking," she asked softly. |
"What a fool I am," he said, unthinking. |
"Why?" Genuine curiosity colored her tone, and he sighed. |
"Nothing is worth putting you through this." He thought she might laugh it off, make light of her situation as she was wont to do. But she said nothing for a long while, and he thought that was the end of it. |
"You saved me," she whispered. His hands stopped, caught off guard. |
"Saved you?? I’ve damn near killed you!" He was indignant that she would see him as a savior for this. This time she did chuckle, softly, sending ripples coursing through the water. |
"You didn’t do this to me, Gale. You got me out of that box. You gave me a reason to keep fighting. You gave me a mission, and a safe place to return to when I need it." She turned and looked at him, her soft expression contrasting with his wild-eyed stupor. "Thank you." |
Heat flooded him again, staring into her eyes. They had been a beautiful light purple before, almost pink. Now they were dark red, like bloodstone, but they were still hers. The lines around them, the freckles dotting her nose, all of it was mostly unchanged from before she was turned. She crossed her arms on the side ... |
"I wish you wouldn’t..." he glanced away, then back, and she frowned softly. He regretted that his ruefulness caused her smile to slip away. He wanted it back. He placed a gentle hand on her cheek, wiping the blood from it and watching the bite marks dissolve away under his thumb. He dipped his hand in the water again,... |
His hands traced along the curves of her body, which twitched and rolled in response. He found no trace of the cuts and bruises that had littered her back before. Her hands moved to the collar of his robe, peeling it back from his shoulders and letting it fall to the ground. Passion coursed through him and he pulled he... |
She let out a drawn-out moan, hips grinding into his face, as he worked diligently. His tongue lashed and caressed in turns, circling and flicking. She bucked gently under him, hands pulling at his hair and pushing his head harder into her. He was pleased to note that she tasted just as sweet here as her mouth did. Her... |
Gale sidled up between her legs, mouth finding hers once more. She kissed him fervently, passionately, her hands gripping his hips. He opened his eyes and found hers blinking at him, and he paused. |
"Is this...what you want?" He panted, ready to stop should she say stop. She didn’t answer for a moment, and he couldn’t read the expression on her face. Finally, she nodded, pressing her mouth to his once more. |
"Yes," she panted against his lips. "I want you to make love to me, Gale." |
Hardly keeping his composure, he groaned against her mouth, kissing her deeply. She pulled at his hips as he guided himself to her entrance. Slowly, gently, he sank himself into her body. She groaned deeply, almost a growl, as he began moving his hips slowly, rocking in and out. He had to stop kissing her, burying his ... |
"I...can’t hold out much longer," he panted. She pressed her forehead to his, looking into his eyes. Gale increased his rhythm, and they crashed together, over and over, eyes locked in a tender embrace. He felt her squeezing around him, knew she was getting closer, and kissed her with passion. They came together, moani... |
"About last night..." Tav wouldn't look at Gale’s face; she knew what she may find there. "I was...vulnerable, and I needed comfort. Thank you for giving that to me." She hazarded a glance his direction, but his expression was unreadable. She shifted uncomfortably in his borrowed robes. He didn't speak for a while, and... |
"Tavwren," he began, and she detected a faint tremor in his voice that twisted the pit of her stomach. "I am ever happy to help in whatever way I can." She felt as though she'd been slapped. |
Tav truly hated to do this to Gale, but she was in no position to be in a relationship with anyone, and he deserved to know the whole truth. She was broken, and he was too kind for her. |
Tav swam through the portal, leaving Gale alone and sad in his astral tower. She knew internally he did not handle her rejection well, but on the outside he was ever the gentleman. She was grateful for the reprieve, the healing, the tender loving care he had given her, but her broken mind wouldn't allow her to see anyo... |
As she came back into the material plane, she felt a cramped sort of sensation, as if the walls were closing in around her body. Her vision did not return as it normally would, and panic gripped her like a vice. Not back in the dark, not back in the box, please! She reached frantically outward, finding rough wooden w... |
With a desperate cry, she threw herself upright one last time and the barrel opened, toppling to the side. She scrambled out, chest heaving, and held her aching shoulder. Her eyes darted around frantically, taking in her surroundings. I'll have to tell Angela not to hide the mirror quite so hard next time, she thought... |
Glancing back at the ruined barrel, Tav hastily pocketed the mirror in one of the deep folds of the robe, thankful for its bulk and myriad places to hide elixirs and potions. She paused, her eyes finding a small scrap of paper. Raising one eyebrow, she reached out a shaking hand and lifted the paper to her eyes. They w... |
He knows. You must go. Be safe and well. |
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