Chapter Text
Aywin blinks her eyes open. The ringing in her ears from the crash is still there. I am alive. How? She shakes her head and winces. Ow. She blinks her eyes and squeezes them shut.
“Where am I?” she asks. She looks over the beach and finds the half-elf from the ship. She darts over and shakes the woman awake. “Shadowheart? Are you okay?” Shadowheart looks up with a smile.
“Yes, thank you. You saved me on the ship,” she smiles and gets up, brushing herself off. She grabs a strange object and her pack. “We seem to be near a settlement, let’s see what we can find.”
“Yeah, I think I hear someone yelling for help,” Aywin says, slinging her sword over her shoulder.
“Right, let’s go,” Shadowheart smiles.
Aywin and Shadowheart take out a few Intellect devourers.
“You are pretty capable with the sword of yours,” Shadowheart smiles. Aywin blinks and smiles slightly. “How long have you trained to use that?”
“Well, I just hit stuff really, anyone can do that…” Aywin says with a shrug. “Nothing good.” She adjusts her outfit and slings her sword on her back. They come across a dying mindflayer; Aywin just kicks their skull in, killing it. “Deserved it.”
“Well yes, but still, you made mush of the brain in seconds, that isn’t normal.” Shadowheart stares at who just Aywin shrugs and goes back the way they came.
Further up the hill, Aywin spots an elf. Odd, he’s just standing there like he is waiting for someone.
“Hurry! I got one of those brain things cornered,” the elf says. “There, in the grass.” He points. “You can kill it, can’t you, like how you killed the others?”
“Easy.” Aywin walks over.
“There, can you see it?” The elf points again as she steps closer to where he was pointing. Aywin sees only a boar running. Pathetic. Just a boar. The elf grabs her down from behind and holds a knife to her throat. “Shh not a sound. Not if you want to keep that darling next of yours.” Aywin pushes the knife away from her throat.
“Let her go!” Shadowheart yells.
“Quiet, or you will be next,” the elf hisses.
“I need her alive - stow that blade or I’ll show you just how messy things can get.” Aywin rolls her eyes. He’s distracted and kinda cute… stop. Remember what they would do to you if you started to have a romance with someone. Plus, I can over turn this little whatever this is in seconds.
“Promises, promises. But I have other business, I’m afraid. Now, I saw you on the ship, didn’t I? Nod.” Aywin nods. “Splendid. And now you’re going to tell me exactly what you and those tentacled freaks did to me!”
Aywin rolls her eyes. A sick hunger hits her in the gut. Just think how pretty he would be as a wall decoration. She blinks and pushes the thought away.
“You have it backwards - they took me prisoner, just like you!” Aywin says.
“Don’t lie to me! I - agh.” At that moment, their minds connect. Aywin sees through red crimson eyes prowling the streets at night. The memory fades to the worm. The light. The fear. What the hells was that?
Astarion holds his head. “What was that? What’s going on?” He questions, looking at Aywin.
Aywin sees the moment he is distracted and grabs the knife with an open hand. The pain doesn’t bother her. She pushes him over and pins him to the ground holding the same knife at his throat.
“I knew you were strong but damn, you didn’t even wince at that pain,” Shadowheart mutters.
Aywin glances down at the elf. Something in his eyes catches her attention. No fear. Most people are afraid when I am like this. He is calm? Or it might be the blood. She slowly stands and gets off of the elf.
“You’re not one of them. They took you, just the same as me,” he says. “And to think I was ready to decorate the ground with your innards. Apologies.”
Aywin grins.“Apology accepted. I might have done the same if the roles were reversed.”
The elf grins again.“Ah, a kindred spirit.” The elf relaxes. “Name is Astarion. I was in Baldur’s Gate when those beasts snatched me.”
“I am Shadowheart,” Shadowheart says.
“I’m Aywin,” Aywin says. Astarion grins at her.
“A pretty name for a pretty elf,” he smiles. Aywin finds herself blushing. “So do you know anything about these worms?”
“All I know is that they will turn us into mindflayers at some point.”
“We can’t have that now, can we.” Astarion hesitates as if he is choosing his next words carefully. “These worms are already affecting me. I can feel it. Now what to do about it…”
“Why not travel with us? The more the merrier really.”
He blinks then grins at her. “I would love that darling.”
Aywin blushes slightly and grins. “Alright, lead on.” The three of them continue up the road until they come across a hand in the portal. What a tasty snack that would be… Aywin shakes her head clear and walks up to the hand in the portal.
Astarion watches from behind. She’s an odd one. Never really seen someone so calm in danger before. He looks closer at her neck and licks his lips. On his inspection, he sees the faintest lines of scars. What is your story, my little pet? You grabbed that knife and didn’t even wince at the pain. Mine.