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Fearful beginning

Chapter 9: A friendly face

Summary:

Wyll arrives at Moonrise Towers.

Chapter Text

In the early hours of the morning, Tav, Halsin, Jaheira, Minsc and the Harpers were greeted to the sound of horses galloping up near the old Waning Moon. Making their way to the statue, they smiled at the sight of Wyll and at least 15 Flaming Fist Soldiers on horses.

"It may have been only a few months since we last saw each other, but it feels like years." Wyll hopped off his horse, pulling Jaheira into a hug first. Then followed Minsc and Halsin. Wyll stopped and looked Tav up and down, taking in how much she had changed.

"Tav, my dear friend, you look great!" Wyll happily adjusted his hug to fit Tav.

"You look great too, Wyll. How has Baldur’s Gate been since we left?" Tav asked.

"It’s been difficult, but we’re working with what we have. But the real question is, how are you doing?" He gestured to her belly.

"I’ve been fine. Finally entered the second trimester. Less puking is great." Tav nodded.

"Second trimester? You're developing faster than I imagined you would." Wyll smiled, curious.

That's what growing twins will do to a woman." Tav revealed, trying to ignore how sore her chest had been lately.

"Congratulations. One baby is amazing, but two? Halsin must be thrilled that nature has graced you with two babies to love." Wyll looked up at Halsin, who had the biggest grin on his face.

"We're both thrilled. Two will be a handful, but we've dealt with a lot worse." Tav chuckled, guiding Wyll and the Flaming Fists past the old House of Healing. Tav and everyone else could see the shocked look on the Flaming Fists faces as they glanced at the surroundings.

Wyll was surprised to see how bright Moonrise Towers had become. A lot of the structures that previously existed were knocked down, only a few walls remaining.

"What's the plan for the buildings?" Wyll asked as he opened one of the doors leading to the Reithwin Tollhouse.

"We want every building to be open, with lots of space for growth and light." Tav told as she gestured to the exposed nature of the old tollhouse, which was now only two walls and a few doors, part of the structure being destroyed.

"Last Light Inn will be expanded, mostly upward to make space for more comfortable rooms. The area surrounding Last Light will also be used for agriculture, so we can grow healthy crops. The House of Healing will remain as it was, just cleaner and a lot safer - it'll be used as a place for treatment. The Waning Moon will be turned into a tavern, which'll use the crops grown near Last Light. The Mason's Guild will be turned into a...school of sorts, where children can learn about everything from their ABC's to surviving combat encounters. The top floor of the Reithwin Tollhouse will be turned into an armoury, and the bottom floor will be turned into a carpentry station." Halsin excitedly detailed plans for some of the buildings.

"The Mausoleum will remain as it is - just with the Gauntlet of Shar being closed off, and at this time, there aren't any plans for Moonrise Towers. We don't really know what we'll do with that building." Tav mentioned, sitting down on a nearby chair.

"I'm impressed. You both have dedicated so much time to turning this land around. Soon the time will come when Ketheric Thorm's impact on this land will be forgotten." Wyll smiled.

"I'm sure our friends will be surprised if and when they come to visit." Halsin chuckled.

"Speaking of friends, I haven't seen Astarion at all. Is he okay?" Wyll questioned.

"He is just fine. Astarion requested that he spend a few months travelling. He did reassure us that he'd be back a little bit before I am ready to give birth." Tav smiled, seeing the calmed look on Wyll's face now that he knew that Astarion was okay.

Halsin left Tav and Wyll to catch up, considering Tav and Wyll were closer friends. He guided the Flaming Fists to Last Light, hoping they could start the process of building better rooms. 

"How are you faring now that your life is not constantly in danger?" Wyll asked, curious.

"I'm great, now that my lack of sleep isn't being caused by an impending doom, instead, because I'm pregnant." Tav exhaled, fidgeting with her fingers.

"Did you not sleep much on our travels?" Wyll was confused.

"I'm not sure anyone noticed, but I spent a lot of my time planning...instead of sleeping. While you and our friends slept peacefully, I would be in my tent, or in my room, figuring out all the details of our future encounters. I planned to kill Priestess Gut in a secluded room within the goblin camp. I planned to try and convince Ketheric Thorm to surrender in Moonrise Towers. I planned to use explosives in the battle with Viconia DeVir. With each and every confrontation, I attempted to keep my plans on track as much as possible, and as expected, not every plan went exactly how I intended it to." Tav explained, seeing the surprise on Wyll's face.

Tav proceeded to recount the fight involving Inquisitor Ch'r'ai W'wargaz and the Githyanki at the Crèche, in which Astarion was forcefully shoved off a high platform, landing with a big thud on the ground below, lowering his health. Tav also recounted the fight with Cazador, in which Shadowheart was paralysed by a Ghoul who attacked her. 

"I miss the banter we shared while travelling." Wyll chuckled, being reminded of a conversation he, Gale and Astarion had after encountering Auntie Ethel.

"Ethel mentioned Netherese magic. What in blazes does that mean?" Wyll questioned, confused.

"Magic from the fallen empire of Netheril. Ancient, exceedingly dangerous, and quite unrivalled." Gale explained, earning a concerned look from both Wyll and Astarion.

"Wonderful! I'd hate to be destroyed by any common old magic." Astarion rolled his eyes.

"What do you miss about our time before we destroyed the absolute?" Wyll wondered.

"I miss...the hours we'd spend after every fight, washing the blood off our clothes while we enjoyed listening to enchanted instruments play 'Bard's Dance'. Watching the cold water slowly wash away any signs of blood, hearing a slight bickering whenever Karlach and Lae'zel got into a disagreement over how to correctly sharpen their weapons." Tav chuckled, her hands resting on her baby belly. 

"I do fondly remember when you didn't hesitate to defend Astarion after he revealed himself as a vampire." Wyll reminded her.

"As do I fondly remember you willing to don some horns after refusing to kill Karlach." Tav reminded Wyll.

"Both Karlach and Astarion were misjudged - Karlach was seen as a devil, and Astarion was seen as a untrustworthy vampire. Neither of them were who we were initially led to believe." Wyll nodded. 

"I think it's about time we go and helped everyone." Tav stood up.

"I can go help everyone else. You can take it easy by entertaining the children. I'm sure there are stories they'd love to hear." Wyll stood up with Tav, walking her out of the tollhouse.

"Actually, I've already been telling them a story." Tav smiled.

"Oh? What tale has caught the attention of the children?" Wyll asked.

"The story of our journey to Baldur's Gate to defeat the Absolute. So far, I told them about all our adventures in and around the Emerald Grove, and our adventures in the Shadow-Cursed lands." Tav explained.

"Ahh, well I'm sure they'll enjoy the final part of our journey." Wyll smiled.

"I'm not finishing the story just yet. I want to let the previous parts sit with them a little longer. I enjoy listening to the theories they come up with." Tav shook her head.

"If I'm still here when you tell the final part of the story, let me know. I'd like to hear about some of the adventures you and our other friends went on when I wasn't needed." Wyll nodded, leaving Tav to join the others in helping build better rooms within Last Light.