Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dear Astarion,

I am sending you this message in the hopes it will reach you this time. Thrice before I have tried, thrice before I have failed. I know you to be a creature of the night but surely there is no need to hide in the darkest pits of it? Or might the postal service be swindling me? In short, a repeat of previous attempts:

I have missed you. Since Karlach's passing I have greatly withdrawn from many social happenings, but seeing you, all of you, at the Withers' party has been like a moment of clarity. We've all gone through something incredible, something horrific, something that connects a person to another on a deeper level. Living through it, I could have easily imagined spending rest of my days having wild and ludicrous adventures with all of you, and then, well...

… Karlach is
Karlach felt like... everything. Her ever shining light seemed impossible to dim. And well, that turned out to be not the best thing. Still, I am glad for the short time I got to know her and I will try my upmost best to carry on her strength and joy. I am sorry for rambling here, might be because this is the fourth version of the same letter I am writing, and so I am increasingly prone to treating it as my own diary entry. So once more, apologies Astarion. I doubt you have patience to read my sad musings.

I have been singing adulations to Karlach (which she undoubtedly deserves!), but truly all of you have been irreplaceable support during some of the harshest times I have experienced so far. I have felt immense guilt upon realising how waylaid our friendship has become. Another victim of my grief. I can blame only myself and fight to right it as swiftly as possible.

I am already in contact with Shadowheart and Gale, you'll be glad to hear. Shadowheart is still wandering around, seeing the world and although she speaks of plans including a small wooden cottage, I do not see her committing to it any time soon (winning Sharran encounters still brings her too much glee). Gale on the other hand, is only exploring in a more academical sense. Last I heard, he is slowly overtaking most of the curriculum at the Blackstaff Academy's School of Illusion.
And while Laezel's fight takes her out of range of even the most fey messengers I am sure with time I will find a way to speak with her too.

But it would mean a world to me if I could continue to enjoy your sharp wit once more. How have you been since the party? How has adventuring life been treating you? I pray the reason you have not been answering is not that you've gotten into some type of serious trouble (note here that I deliberately say serious trouble as I know troubles of smaller sorts always follow our group). If you need a tip of help, always know that you can call on the name of Blade.

Looking forward to your answer, or if the case be, writing another version of this letter.

Wyll

- - -

Dearest Wyll,

Might you need to change your moniker to something akin to Pen of Frontiers, Pride of the Scribes, for how fast you make the ink flow. I have not yet had the chance to respond to your first message, nor the second or the third. This I write in great haste lest you decide to start attacking the poor post workers.

Adventuring life is very busy. Pay is good and the people that need killing never run out. Just yesterday I had the loveliest time of it. It started with a luxurious and grandiose masked ball and ended with mass panic, hysteria and absolute (no pun intended) blood bath. Before you start! All the murdered were very, very bad and you have nothing to preach about.

I've noticed you mentioned how both Shadowheart and Gale are doing, even Lae'zel whom you hadn't heard anything from, and yet not a word of the humble Blade. So I ask, how are you Wyll?

Ever gracefully,
Astarion

P.S. I know it is hard to go long without my voice, or word in this case, but do try to wait a bit longer between barrages, darling.

Chapter Text

Dear Astarion,

apologies for overwhelming you with my letters, take it as a compliment to your character.

You are of course very right in that that I have not spoken much of myself in all my past messages. I admit it to still be difficult. But one must try, so…

I have been doing well. The Blade is as busy as ever. In fact, might even be busier now that I no longer have Mizora's tether pulling me around on her whims. I have been making my way all along the coast following any calls for help. As I am relearning how to fight once more without the devil magic, I'm afraid none of my adventures are as grand as you probably expect from the Blade's legacy. In fact, to my great chagrin a few weeks back I've had a rather unfortunate meet with a troll when I tried to instinctually pull on a well that is no longer there. You might have already heard a new ditty they sing of the occasion. But yes, life is busy…

Shadowheart and Gale both send their regards, although Shadowheart's are accompanied with curses as she was sure I would not be able to establish contact with you. I am now a proud owner of a new pair of enchanted earrings because of that fact and for that I also thank you. Gale expressed surprise as well, for he said that his invitation to Waterdeep academy was left hanging for weeks now. I admit to surprise for that fact. Are you truly so busy you cannot make time to be stared in wonder by a number of impressionable students? Sounds exactly like something you would enjoy.
Laezel is still beyond stars, but Gale thought of asking Withers for help on reaching her.
Your own adventure sounds, ah... thrilling. But were you not near Weathercote Forest? You speak of grand and luxurious ball and only such happening in the vicinity was in the city of Parnast, and unless news that travelled to me have been heavily edited, the ball you speak of was no bloodbath, nay it was not even a bloodpuddle. According to most sources only two people quietly disappeared that night?

Eagerly (yet patiently) awaiting your response,
Wyll

---

Dear Wyll, The Ever Patient

Oh, ruin all my fun, why don't you! Yes, I am very good at my job and only dealt with two targets I've been assigned. But I assure you there have been other kinds of wicked debauchery that evening, the kinds news are hardly likely to write about.

No, your brave ditty has not yet made way to where I am, so you must share it yourself as soon as possible. It sounds like something I very much want to hear.

Now, I cannot help but notice you still haven't talked about Wyll, as much as The Blade. I am glad you are free of that wretched skank and that you are still as much of a tooth-rottingly sweet hero type as ever. But. How ar
You looked disgustingly pitiable at the party. And the amount of drink? Coming from someone whose sole diet is liquid, that was a lot darling.
I've also n
Karlach was truly one of the best. I have often spent We talked sometimes, her and I. There was a big stretch through the Underdark where we both independently decided to forgo sleep a night or several. She did not like certain familiarity of Grymforge, and I didn't like... well everything to be perfectly honest. And so it happened we had some spare time to talk.
She had many stories of Hells and while they were all decently horrific, she was able to tell them with a laugh, with a smile. I didn't underst I was jea
She'd be able to make them into charming and funny anecdotes to share around the campfire. I didn't understand how she did that. The laughing part. Because I could see- Because I was also Because I could still see the rage and frustration with everything that was done to her. And she could tell, I think. Because when it was just me and her, she would let go a bit more. There would be more grisly details. Less laughing about it all.
And I think it helped m it helped both of us. It was nice somet- It was fun It was nice. When nights were too long, it was nice to talk about the worst things that ever happened to us.
Now don't think that us talking like that meant I-don't-know-what. I assure you, two of you were disgustingly sweet together. And she knew that you would never judge, but. But maybe you wouldn't understand. You were made monster, but you never acted like one.

Anyway, that is more than enough of that for this letter!

Ciao,
Astarion

P.S. To be gawked at by a bunch of mini-Gales? No, thank you.