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Gale glanced over towards the others from where he sat on the bench outside a shop in Rivington, resting his aching knees from all the walking they had done over the last few months on the road.

Gale could swear on every one of his living relatives, which were many, that he had never walked so much in his life - and likely would never walk so much again afterwards. It was difficult for him, and not just from the rapid transition to being locked in the tower mostly sedentary. Part of it was the fact that the netherese orb in his chest sapped every ounce of his strength out of his body, feeding on not only his magic but also his life. That would make tens of thousands of steps everyday hard on anyone.

A gentle hand laid on his shoulder, startling him out of his thoughts as he found the eyes of his lover. "Ah," He rubbed the back of his neck in slight embarrassment, "You startled me, love."

She smiled a toothy grin, the charming smile that so captivated Gale from the moment she pulled him from the rock. "Sorry, thought it was a better idea than just shoving the food into your face." She extended a hand towards the wizard, offering up some kind of sandwich with mystery meat within it.

For just a moment Gale recoiled at the sight of the meat in the sandwich. In Baldur's Gate, a city overrun by multiple cults, meat could be anything from an animal, to a dwarf, to another person. However, Gale decided he was too hungry and weak to care.

The pair sat in silence on the bench. The air silent as it missed the musings of the others down at sharresses carress, getting lunch . Likely Wyll was the only one who was doing what the group said they'd do, the man insistent that he was waiting for the woman he would marry.

"This meat is putrid ." Gale muttered, forcing himself to swallow another mouthful of the stuff along with some water.

"I don't find so."

"Yeah well you aren't normal ." Gale pointed out, vaguely thumbing back behind him towards his back. The both of them knew his back was riddled with paths from her nails.

She threw her hands up in mock surrender, her sandwich resting on her lap. "Hey now, it's not my fault you haven't had a freak like me who likes leaving marks." She could do a lot worse, but somehow that man managed to stop the voices telling her to with the way he fucked her.

"I assure you, Mystra left plenty of marks." Gale responded with a sigh, gently massaging the aching orb under his robes. It still hurt from time to time even though Elminster stabilized it. "Though, I have to admit, your marks are better." He added on quickly, somehow getting the gall to flash her a sight of the two hickies she left on him last night: One on his pulse point and the other in the centre of the orb scar.

Her eyes flashed with something akin to surprise and lust at his tease. "You must enjoy it if you are flashing me a glimpse in the middle of the street." She finished her sandwich. "You gonna finish yours?"

Gale rolled his eyes, passing her the disgusting sandwich. "Have your fill."

He drummed his fingers just below his lower lip as he turned his face towards the grand entrance of the city: Basilisks Gate.

"Oh gods, I think your meat is just spoiled." She gagged from behind him, spitting out the mouthful of Gale's sandwich she took. "This one is vile. Mine actually tasted like ham."

Gale had to resist the urge to dry heave at the thought of that. "Yes, I do suppose that would explain the weird hairy parts. I was scared it was dwarf like there was in the goblin camp."

"I ate that." She gagged again, rubbing her tongue with her gloved hand. "And this is certainly not dwarf."

"You are disgusting for eating dwarf." Gale pointed out, watching her start to try and get the crows to eat the sandwich.

"Hey, food supplies were food supplies, we were nearly starving to death out there. We ate apple cores, apple cores we didn't eat the actual apple of, for crying out loud!"

Gale couldn't argue with that logic, instead muttering a: " the morality still isn't there, but whatever ." As he looked back towards the gate again.

"My love, I can not lie and pretend I do not feel both a flutter of excitement to be able to sleep in a real bed, but also a deep feeling of foreboding dread." Gale confessed, slumping back against the wall of the store.

Somehow she managed to pawn the sandwich off to the birds, freeing her hands to take his in hers. "We can make it just perfect, just remember not to resort to exploding." She gently rubbed his hands, trying to warm the cold skin - sometimes his hands got clammy from the orb.

"I can assure you, the crown interests me a great deal more than dying does." His tone was dry and humorous but there was an undercurrent of anxiety. "My love, whatever happens in the city, whatever happens with the crown, know that I love you and that I am on your side."

She nervously bit her lip, something about his urgency making her nervous. "I know Gale, even if the rest of the party turns on us so long as we have each other, we will make it out."

Gale straightened, cupping the back of her head and kissing the crown of her head. "Come now, let us interrupt our companions' so called lunch." His knees popped as he stood, helping her to her feet a moment later.

His hand naturally slid into place on her lower back as he helped guide her through the throngs of people outside of the brothel. People always parted easier for the tall man. Something that always enraged you unless it was Gale guiding you gently.

Just as predicted, Wyll sat at the bar counter finishing up some kind of platter along with a pretty glass of wine. The man was deeply engaged in conversation with the older bartender as she told him about some of the crazy - or creepy - customers they got at the brothel.

Surprisingly though, Karlach was also at the bar with an empty plate and on her third pitcher of beer. Karlach was pretty excited about being able to touch and have sex a few weeks ago in the shadowlands, it was a shock to see she'd turn down her chance to.

In hindsight though, it wasn't that surprising - Karlach had seemed to have taken a liking to Wyll after he taught her how they dance in the high court. Perhaps the tiefling was trying to impress the warlock.

"Hey soldiers!" Karlach called upon noticing the approaching pair, wiping the beer foam off of her lips. "I'm honestly surprised the two of you didn't rent a room just for the two of you while we're stopped."

"I fear if we stopped to make love in a real bed it would not be for just the short time we allotted to eating." Gale said, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "Additionally, I am fairly certain that the rooms have to come with a worker. "

The older bartender nodded her confirmation, finishing off polishing a glass. "Aye, the man is right. Our people gotta make a living somehow." She leaned into the group a little, "But between us I say we would make more money by offering up just a couple rooms. Most would still go for a worker because that's the main crowd, but we'd open ourselves up to a more diverse crowd. Owners think I'm crazy though." She tsked as she leaned away again.

Gale frowned, "We had such offers in Waterdeep - not that I took advantage of it as I had my own personal tower - but it seems most things are better in very least, less dangerous."

"The whole lot of it seems immoral to me." Wyll slurped down the last of his drink. "Not to the part of being in your own home, but I do not see a point in going to a brothel to make love to your partner when you have your own home and bed - let alone include another party."

Karlach laughed, slapping Wyll so hard on the back the man audibly huffed. "You're so right! Wyll, you are so smart and wise about this stuff, I hope you know that."

Wyll rubbed what he could of his back, about to respond before his eyes caught on the other three coming down the stairs. "By Baldurians grace..." He muttered. "You lot look worse off than before."

Astarion grinned, looking rather refreshed when compared to both Shadowheart and Lae'Zel who trailed behind him. The vampire swaggered up between Karlach and Wyll, taking a long gulp of Karlach's beer - much to her obvious dismay.

Gale cleared his throat upon seeing the others approach, wrinkling his nose at the obvious smell of sex and some illicit substances coming from the trio. Beside him, his lover obviously frowned at the cocky vampire.

She couldn't even comprehend why she had bedded that man multiple times before Gale - sure, it had been a way to prove she could make love without becoming a beast, for Gale's sake. But now, looking at the man who has just had an orgy with two of the companions and some sex workers, knowing he had done this many many times, she knew it was by a small grace she did not catch something.

"I suppose you three may need a meal greater than that of a lover's body before we set out." Gale announced, slightly awkwardly but not without an undercurrent of superiority.

Astarion took another drink of the beer Karlach had decided to abandon, "Not for me, I am more than satisfied." He then gestured to the two women behind him, "These two however, they may need something. Not all of us can be the sex machine that does not need food."

Shadowheart sat down, attempting to tame her hair back into its neat style - Lae'Zel by her side in an instant. The older bartender seemed to understand without them asking for anything in particular.

"I'll get you something, on the house. Whoever y'all paid for seems to have sucked the life out of you two."

Lae'Zel sniffed, casting a disapproving gaze over to Astarion who was attempting to offer Karlach back her drink. "No, that would just be our resident leech."

"I don't get paid enough for this." The bartender muttered after a moment staring between the gith and vampire, shaking her head as she turned to put an order in to the cooks.

"Stop putting your cock mouth glass back in my face." Karlach grumbled, pushing the mostly empty pitcher of beer back over to Astarion. "It's basically empty, just finish it man."

"Someone is just jealous they got cock." Astarion responded snidely, gulping down the remainder.

Gale watched as a dancer, horrendously underdressed in just feathers and jewels that left nothing to the imagination, walked uncomfortably close to him giving him a discreet wink as she did so.

He frowned, quickly turning his face back to the woman beside him, letting a hand slip around her waist. "My love, I would value some fresh air if our lovely companions are not yet finished in this place."

She nodded, still watching the argument between Astarion and Karlach. "Agreed, the smell of perfume and sex is starting to give me a headache."

As Gale guided her back outside of the brothel and beyond the people daring each other to enter she could feel her gaze being drawn back towards the steel watch waiting at the Gate.

"I have my fears about Wulbren and the Gondian's steel watch ." She admitted as the pair wandered the street shops. "I am worried we are digging ourselves in deep for something we have no part in."

Gale paused at a shop selling a mix of cheap and vintage jewelry, thumbing through the gold and silver. The shopkeep busy with other customers. "Well my love, we will cross that bridge when we find ourselves at its edge. For now, we focus on what comes first at hand; and for now, Wulbren's plight comes rather low on our list of emergencies." 

She rested her head on Gale's arm with a sigh, "I suppose you are correct. I just do not want Wulbren to get impatient and take matters into his own hands... That man is crazy, he will resort to slaughtering the Gondian's." She paused, regretting even thinking her next words, because who could she be to decide who deserved to be free and who did not. "I almost wish we never saved him from Moonrise."

Gale's hand paused over a narrow little gold band before turning his face to look at hers. For a split second she thought he was going to shame her, scold her for her cruelty towards the gnome. Instead Gale breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank the gods you said that, I was worried if I said anything I'd be stuck with just Astarion's agreement - and we both know how much that man hates all gnomes. So I'd rather not be associated with that when it's just Wulbren."

She couldn't help but laugh at that remark; she was well aware of Astarion's disdain for all gnomes. The vampire didn't even try to hide it with the mouthful he gave the party for trying to save the deep gnomes in the Underdark.

"Are you two looking for engagement rings?" The shopkeep tittered, startling the pair. She was a plump woman, with a pretty smile and rosy cheeks, exactly the woman you would want to buy engagement rings from if you were in the position to.

Gale recovered quickly, "Not exactly yet, we were just browsing your inventory." He smiled kindly to the woman, "For as you must know, you need to take her jewelry shopping to learn what she would like for her ring without asking directly."

The shopkeep laughed, covering her mouth as she did so. "Oh, you know the tricks well. I can see your mother taught you right." Gale straightened some in pride at the mention of his mother. "You are a lucky girl," The shopkeeper went on, looking at her.

"Oh, trust me." She responded fondly, laying a hand on Gale's that was still at her hip. "I am well aware of how lucky I am - he makes sure to remind me every day."

Gale managed to pull out a handful of coins with his freehand, placing them on the counter. "Would you mind taking her ring size while we are here?"

The shopkeep waved away the coins. "I do it for free, unlike the crazies up in hightown, they will overcharge you for bloomers if they get the chance." She pulled out a little measuring rope, taking the woman in front of her ring finger to measure. "It's how they get so rich after all. But me? I am retired from those kinds of shops, I made my gold, now I do this little shop as a passion."

She noted down the measurements with a little stick of lead, folding it up tight and passing it over the counter for Gale. "Now, make sure whoever you buy your pretty ring from sees this."

Gale nodded, pocketing the slip of paper. "And while we are here, I would like that necklace." He pointed towards a little, slender chain that held a small pendant at the end. He slid the gold from earlier forward once again.

The woman eyed the coins before scooping them up into her plush hands and tucking them away in the pockets of her floral printed dress. "Would you like me to put the pendant in a little pouch for you?" She asked, scooping up the delicate chain in her gentle hands.

Gale waved a hand, "While I appreciate the gesture, it is unnecessary." He extended his hand for the shopkeep, the necklace being placed in his palm without hesitation.

The woman smiled brightly, reaching up to rearrange her red curls with streaks of white in its style. "Now you two have a wonderful day!" She then bustled off to help another couple peering at her wares.

Gale smiled as the woman hurried off, mumbling: "She reminds me of my mother - you'd love her." Before gently sliding around behind his lover and draping the necklace around her neck. "May I?"

She nodded, lifting her hair out of the way so Gale could secure the clasp. His hands were oh so gentle. His hands were lithe, the hands of a spell caster not a warrior but still scarred from a mix of the woes of childhood and magic.

Gale kissed the spot behind her ear before stepping away, though his hand still remained at her side - a soothing gesture for him as much as it was for her. He watched with silent fondness as she thumbed the small pendant.

As she stared at the pendant she tried to recall ever being gifted something like this in the past. Trying to force fractured memories back together as well as reclaim those lost. However, as always, her memory drew a blank.

She sighed, tucking the pendant in under the layers of her armour, so it rested against her skin near her heart. That way it would always be with her, and the only way it could be taken would be if someone pried it off her corpse.

"Thank you, Gale." She said quietly, steeping out of the way of another browser. "You did not have to buy me this, you are aware? I am not someone you have to earn."

An emotion akin to hurt crossed over his eyes when she said earn but she knew it wasn't directed at her. It was the knowledge that even subconsciously he was still doing things to earn her love and prove himself worthy. As though she was Mystra and would cast him aside if he stopped being interesting.

"I know my love," He spoke, glancing up for a moment as he heard the shopkeeper laugh before looking back at her. "But it is something for you to keep and hold. That even if we are torn apart in the city in battle or by the enemy, I am with you always."

She opened her mouth, unsure how to respond. She did not know how to speak the way Gale did unless it possessed her like the urges she fought. Just as she was about to fumble out an I love you, Astarion's voice shot into the shop, startling all the customers.

"Hey lovebirds? You two done kissing and ready to get your asses back in gear?" Astarion grinned from the doorway, the same smug grin he used to give her when she'd show up to his tent when they were hooking up.

Gale's face was a mask of disdain as everyone's eyes swept towards them. "I'll have you know, there was no kissing!" Gale announced, quickly hurrying out of the shop with her at his side.

"Uh huh, pack it up, we're leaving." Astarion said with a barely contained snicker, swaggering out of the shop after the pair.

"I told him not to do it." Wyll made a point in announcing as the group started off, shooting the vampire a look. "But the man, as always, abides by none other than himself."

Astarion sniffed, tilting his pale face towards the sun. Not that his already obviously sun-kissed cheeks needed more. "And why the hell should I listen to someone other than myself? I just got my own free will back a few months ago, and it seems so... freeing, to do whatever the hell I want."

"Trust me, Astarion," Wyll sighed, "I know exactly how you feel." Everyone knew the man was simply chomping at the bit to get Mizora to break his pact for freeing her from the colony.

Astarion wanted to shoot back that Wyll would never understand how he felt - given that Cazador's abuse was entirely different from Mizora's. Somehow, the vampire managed to bite it back, understanding that the warlock did not mean it like that. It was the desire for freedom that united them, not their abuse.

The party wove through the groups of people, desperate to get into the city. Unknowing that the epicentre of the evil they were fleeing was in the middle of the city they wanted to hide in. Starving, begging people - and it would not get any better once within the walls.

The aging wood of the bridge creaked underfoot as the party passed the flaming fist that guarded it, only needing to flash a pass once. Something about the sound was ominous, as if the city gates themselves were pleading for the party to either save it or flee from it while they still could.

A lone steel watch stood guard beyond the bridge. The mere sight of it a grim reminder of Wulbren's chilling ask: genocide a fellow gnome race for creating the steel watch - regardless that they are slaves.

Just as the party was about to move past the still armour it began to move. The sight at first alarming, why else would it be moving for reasons other than suspicion. It had no eyes, yet it seemed to see in an almost human way; as if counting the members to make sure there was the correct number.

" Greetings! " The watch chided, in not the voice of the other watchers but in a man's voice. A familiar man's voice, the tone so sickening it made her stomach churn just to hear it, but despite all attempts to remember she could not place.

"Hello..?" Wyll responded after a moment of awkward silence between the man-machine and everyone else. The warlock waving his hand as if someone could actually see through it. Beside him Karlach bristled, her gaze turning venomous as she realized who.

" Old friends, new friends; welcome to Baldurs Gate! " The machine continued as if Wyll had never spoken, or as if it was set to regurgitate that greeting every time it sensed movement. " Allow me to formally invite you to my inauguration. Please, make your way towards the ceremonial hall." The animated steel gestured beyond it towards a door. Its hands dropped a moment later, returning to its silent vigil.

Everyone stood in silence for a moment, unsure of how to react or what to do. Karlach was the first to react, stepping away from everyone and thumbing her axe on her back as she made her way towards the door indicated.

"And where do you think you're going?" Shadowheart said, stilling the barbarian for a moment.

"I'm going to kill a fucking bastard, that's where." Karlach responded, pointing towards the door. "Gortash is up there, and he all but challenged me to come up and face him head on like a man. I would be foolish to turn down such an offer."

"You would be foolish to accept it." Wyll interceded, laying a hand on Karlach's arm to stop her again. "To duel him now would spell your untimely death. The steel watch are likely crawling that mans ceremony, not to mention that we would quickly make an enemy of every person within the gate. It is too much loss, for hardly no gain." He paused, speaking in earnest. "Will not your revenge taste sweeter when it is taken when the time has come, on your own terms?"

Karlach deflated, her shoulders slumping as she saw the wisdom in Wyll's words. "You're right, soldier." She sighed, letting her hand fall off of the axe handle. "To me, revenge is worth it regardless. But I can not risk the rest of you suffering for my choice. I will wait - but when Gortash's time comes, I will be the one to lay that man to waste, and there will be no one who can stop me." The tieflings' words were pointed, but fair. She was due more than simply killing the man.

Astarion rolled his red eyes, "So, if we aren't going to kill him are we just going to waltz in like old buddies? Because I'm fine with that - pull one over on him with the old underhand."

"That is exactly what we are going to do." She piped in from her spot still at Gale's side. "Just like we did with Ketheric, we are going to learn from him and then exploit where he is weakest."

"Lead the way then, Solider." Karlach stepped aside, gesturing in an almost overdone way. "You haven't led us astray yet, so I'd say your track record for trust is pretty damn clean."

However, just as she began to move to pass Karlach a splintering pain burst from behind her eyes. Pain unlike that of the tadpole. The searing feeling, the rawness of every nerve, and sweeping nausea was violently familiar - found only before the more horrendous delusions or actions.

Karlach moved quickly stooping as the woman in front of her keeled over, falling to her knees. "...Soldier? You feeling all good?"

"She's fine." Gale responded, moving between Karlach and his lover. He knelt down beside her, stroking the length of her spine. "Wyll," he said calmly, looking up to the warlock who seemed shocked at the sudden illness, "You take the others up towards the ceremonial hall; we will follow shortly, just as soon as this... episode passes."

Wyll quickly moved to action, nodding his head at the wizards command. "Yeah, Gale's right. Let's all head up before the ceremony is over. Feel up this Enver Gortash and get an inkling where my father might be." He gestured for the others to follow as he proceeded towards the doorway.

One by one the others followed behind, seeming slightly reluctant to leave their obviously ill companion. Either that or too worried to leave Gale alone with her, knowing what she had done to Alfira the last time she had this type episode.

Sceleritas Fel danced before her feverish eyes, and it made her want to retch knowing that Gale could not see the imp of a man. The putrid bone growing from his face, the smile that seemed like it didn't belong to him. The sickeningly sweet words he spoke, words that both turned her stomach and made her heart lurch in glee.

Orin the Red, was her sister. Sisters in Bhaal. Destined to be each other's end for daddy's enjoyment. After all, there could only ever be one favourite.

The darkness began to fade from the corners of her vision, leaving only a sickening hole where there once was doubt. Doubt of what was wrong with her, doubt of who she truly was. But suddenly, everything made sense - and it was as if her worst fears were all converging.

"Feeling any better?" Gale's soothing voice came, noticing the steading of the once frantic breathing. He sounded nervous, but not wary. He should have been wary, after she nearly killed him that one night in the shadowlands, and knowing what she was capable of. Still, he wasn't.

She looked up at him from where they sat, crouched on the cobblestones together. "I'm a monster." Was all she could say, at a loss for anything more as she tried to process everything.

"No, you're not." Gale shook his head, "You are simply troubled. But no one is without their troubles and gripes. It is what makes us, us. "

"No, Gale." She said, running a hand through her hair and gripping it in the back. "I am not troubled , I am a monster. I am what goes bump in the night and makes children scream. I am who parents use to scare their children into obedience with."

"I'm... Not sure I follow." Gale responded, the worry lines between his eyebrows furrowing. The lines she loved to kiss when he would overthink late at night, but now the mere idea of touching him made her feel ill. How could a monster like her be worthy of him?

"I am a child of Bhaal, Gale." She finally said, unable to beat around the bush. She braced within, ready for Gale to stand up and leave, to run off to tell the party they had to dispatch of the traitor in their midst. "I'm Bhaalspawn." She repeated, seeing Gale not moving and instead the worry lines deepening.

"My love I can assure you that is not-"

"Gale, I am a monster. I could kill any one of you for my father. I am a danger and a liability."

"Yet you have not." Gale pointed out, tilting her chin upwards. "I have watched you fight these nameless urges for a few months now. You have shown such great strength and resistance, I find it almost laughable to imagine you succumbing now unless it was of your own wish."

She could feel the tears welling on her waterline. She wanted to scream at him, to chase him away herself so she could not harm him. She could harm anyone but him and it would not matter. 

"Like I said," Gale soothed, stroking her cheek with a knuckle, "We all have our struggles and troubles - this is yours. And while your burden may be heavier than many, you are stronger than many. Knowing that you are what you are may just prove to make it easier, give you someone to blame and something real and tangible to fight." He paused, thumbing away a tear. "And I will stand by your side through it, even if it spells my death. For to die by your hand, knowing you have gained, would be better than that of a man who will not weep for me."

She pushed tears back away with the heels of her hands, trying not to cause more of a scene than she already had as a flaming fist passed by them on watch. Part of her still wanted him to leave her, but her desire to be loved by him won out. And deep down she knew she could never chase Gale away, he would never allow it. "Please, don't tell the others... I don't want them to turn, they might not see it the way you do."

"I won't." Gale assured, leaning to lay a kiss on her hairline. "Only you will be the one to spill your secret when you are ready."

She allowed him to help her to her feet, his eyes were gentle with only the slightest hint of worry. She knew the worry was not for his own life, but for hers.

"If I ever become like the other Bhaalspawn, promise you will kill me." She begged quietly, still calming down. "I can not bear the idea of losing myself, my will and only being bent towards killing for the sake of killing. Kill me before I kill you."

"My love, you can not make that ask of me."

" Promise. " She pleaded, her tone shaky and desperate. "I would rather die by your hand, like you would by mine, than become what I abhor."

Gale finally nodded after a long moment of eye contact. "I swear to you. But know, I will soon see you in the afterlife."

She was about to object, the idea of Gale losing everything he wanted and worked towards was painful to imagine, but the seriousness in his gaze made her words die on her lips.

"I can not bear the idea of being separated from you, most of all in a place where I can not find you." His voice was low, as to not be overheard by the guards who passed by again, eyeing them momentarily.

"You are more than I deserve." She finally spoke, "I should be left behind for being too violent and unpredictable, let alone Bhaalspawn. But you do have a thing for undying loyalty, even if it means dying."

Gale managed to crack a smile at that, "I suppose I have a type: Women who are vastly powerful and may kill me."

"Don't even say that."

Gale managed a laugh despite the seriousness on her face. He slotted his hand back along her lower back. "Now, if we have ourselves arranged and our situation figured, we should go meet our fellow adventures before they come looking." He looked down at her as he guided her towards the large oak doors of Wyrm's Crossing. "It would be a shame if we missed the whole inauguration, and it would make a rather bad first impression on our new fake ally."

"I am rather delighting in the idea of Karlach finally getting her justice."

"Wow, it's already beginning. I thought it'd take a little while longer for you to start embracing good old dad Bhaal but turns out I'm wrong." Gale teased, pushing open the oaken doors.

"Shut up, I was always like this." She said, elbowing his side as they wove their way through the crowd. "Besides, you're the one who wanted to have sex with me even after I tried to kill you that one night."

"What can I say, the thrill makes it all the more enticing. I am just a man after all." He paused, looking over to a young boy by a staircase. "Excuse me, is the inauguration up this way?"

The young boy berated them for showing up while the inauguration was already more than half way through. "You nobles think you're so cool for showing up late, but it is just straight up rude! How would you like it if I showed up to your birthday party more than halfway through?" He stared at the couple for more than a few beats, but upon seeing they weren't bothered by his remark he grumbled. "Yeah, it's up there. Enjoy your snooty rich people thing."

"Thanks, kid." Gale said, beginning up the stairs with her close on his heels.

As much as Gale hated to admit it, the stairs were hard on his achy knees. Though, he couldn't understand why these stairs in perfect condition managed to hurt his knees worse than the dilapidated ones found in the shadowlands inns and bars.

The pair managed to slip in just as the ceremony was concluding, earning some dirty looks from the posh upperclass; both due to their tardiness as well as their state of dress which was battle armour. After all, who wouldn't be suspicious of a guy walking in with a massive sword and battle armour into their new loving dictator's inauguration.

As the former lord Gortash, now Duke, rose and turned to face the crowd she could feel the drop in her stomach. The face she only caught a glimpse of under moonrise hitting her like whiplash. She clutched Gale's arm as the Duke began to say his final words, Wyll's father fading into the background like planned.

The aristocracy began their applause like they were paid, the sound echoing like waves on a beach. It was so easy to be excited about a dictator when you were high enough in class to avoid the pain of his punishments.

In her murky mind she could recall the warmth of hands on her in the late hours of night. Shared kisses, whispered promises and plots. The lightness of her finger from the ring she had sold months ago to get food for the party even came back in fragments. She was this monster of a man's lover, fiancee even.

Gale soothed a hand down her spine, unaware of the revelation she had just had, assuming she was just feeling sick about the situation and how horrid the duke was. "He does look as gross as he acts, doesn't he my love." Gale mused, watching keenly as Enver Gortash interacted with the nobles wanting questions answered. "Exactly like how I imagine the type of man that would sell his devoted body guard to the arch-devil of avernus, and just the type of man who would start a brain eating worm cult. Ah, a face only a mother could love."

A face that I used to love so feverishly . She thought bitterly, somehow this revelation left a worse taste in her mouth than being Bhaalspawn. She used to routinely have sex with him? However, try as she may, she couldn't remember why they broke up as she tried to find the answer in the new glimpses of memories. Maybe he ended up being too oily, yeah that sounded about right.

A few rows ahead Wyll practically had to hold Karlach down from going at the duke like an attack dog, reminding the tiefling that the room was full of not only steel watch but likely undercover bane cultists. The warlocks devil eyes looking where the last spot his father was before vanishing, the wheels turning in his head.

"Ugly bastard," Astarion muttered under his breath to Lae'Zel and Shadowheart. "At least black and gold are his colour. Maybe if he took a shower and got some hair gel he'd be handsome, but right now he looks like someone dropped him in a gelatinous cube."

The two women had to bite back a laugh as they exchanged a look between them.

The final noble finished speaking with Gortash, bidding him farewell and good luck. Enver smiled until the door closed and his eyes instantly locked on Karlach, disgust written on his face for a split second before lighting back up.

"You're back I see, Karlach! It's good to see you're well." He said in a chipper tone, though he made sure to remain standing between the two steel watchers. His body language read as wary of the woman he sent for dead.

"If by all well you mean just about ready to fucking explode because of you, yeah I'm all well." Karlach responded, not even bothering to hide her hatred for the man.

"Wonderful, wonderful." Enver nodded with a smile, clasping his hands together in front of him. His netherstone glinting in the daylight, sending fractals of coloured light around the floor nearby. "You brought the artifact though, yes?"

Mustering up the guts to confront the man she loved what felt like a lifetime ago, she pushed away from Gale. She slowly walked towards Enver, trying to use their once relationship to earn his trust better and manipulate him. "I have the artifact."

Enver managed to tear his stare away from Karlach and instantly he softened, his eyes widening in disbelief. He walked forward to meet her, abandoning the steel watch behind him.

She stopped, reaching for her pack to take out the artifact. " You want -" But before she could even get her hand into the bag the man's hands were on her face and he was kissing her, the rest of the party watching on in absolute horror.

Gale had to lean back against the wall of the room, his heart falling to the bottom of his stomach. How could he be led on and betrayed again by another woman he loved?

The party looked back at Gale to see his reaction. Astarion muttering an: "Oh shit." As Gale grabbed the front of his robes like the orb was hurting.

Astarion quickly jumped from the pews to help keep Gale on his feet. "Hey man, I'm sure it's not what we think." He said lowly to Gale, though his red eyes were venomous as he watched the pair down the aisle.

She felt like she was choking as Enver kissed her, something about it feeling so right but so wrong at the same time. Like the feeling after killing in cold blood, knowing she had satisfied the deepest part of her urges but the emptiness of being a violent animal. She couldn't find the way to make him stop; why was the kiss going on so long? She wanted to throw up, her mind screaming that she was betraying Gale, the man she loved, the man that didn't give her the right and wrong feeling when they kissed - it was just right.

Enver remained clutching her face in his hands as he pulled away, his focus solely on her now. "My love, Orin told me you had died. It is a good thing me and that traitorous bitch have parted ways." He looked over towards the party for only a moment. "I do not exactly approve of the company you have kept to get here but I am glad you got here regardless."

If everyone wasn't so shocked he had kissed her they would have been more suspicious of everything.

She was fumbling, unsure what to say. Was she supposed to shut him down or was she supposed to play into it to manipulate him deeper. "I... Orin has betrayed you?"

"Yes, I always expected it." Enver said with what was almost indifference. "She was too unpredictable and messy. That's why you were so good, you were exactly what we needed, my love: A controlled killer and stalker."

"Ketheric Thorm was going to betray your alliance as well." She blurted, feeling like a fool. It was uncomfortable, being held by the face so endearingly by a man she did not love anymore.

Enver narrowed his eyes, "Seems like it is back to just you and I again then. None the matter, we were the perfect duo anyways. Just get rid of these little worm hosts and we can get to work, kill Orin, unite the netherstones and assume control." He lifted a hand to snap for the steel watch to begin killing.

In a panic to stop him she kissed him again, much to Gale's dismay. She tried not to gag as she pulled away. "No, no, my love." She soothed, pulling and strings to keep her friends alive. "They can help us, they have proved useful thus far. They can be useful again. Besides, we will always need servants when we rule."

Despite the disgust on everyone's faces at the ordeal it was clear, everyone but Gale, knew she was putting on to try and get them all out of this now.

Enver considered it. "If it is what will please you," He finally sighed, letting his shoulders drop. "We can keep them around, but if I catch them meddling and trying to stop me, I will not spare them, my love, regardless of your wishes."

She nodded eagerly, just glad he agreed to sparing everyone. She could explain herself later and make it up to Gale - in the time before then she just had to hope that Gale wouldn't spill her secret in a fit of rage before then.

"I would expect nothing less from you, my love." She said with what she hoped wasn't a tense smile.

Enver kissed her again, once again holding her face tight enough so she couldn't back away until he was done. Maybe that was why they broke up?  

"Return when you have Orin's netherstone." He directed the rest of the party before looking back to her. "But you, as always, are welcome at Wyrms Crossing whenever you want." He kissed her one final time before stepping away. "Oh how I missed you, my love." He uttered, turning on heel to walk elsewhere as well, vanishing out a back door ominously.

"Okay, what the fuck was that?" Karlach said the minute the door snapped shut behind him. "Care to explain why you are over here exchanging spit with the man who fucked my life up?"

She stumbled over to lean against one of the pews, spitting on the floor. "I wish I could explain, but I am almost as confused as you are." She said over her shoulder, wiping her mouth. "Was that first kiss as long as it felt like?"

Everyone remained silent, staring at her with a mix of shock and hurt before Lae'Zel finally spoke up. "Yes, it was uncomfortably long. I began to wonder if he was trying to mold his face into yours so you would become one." She paused, "I wish to never see that again. I take back everything I have said about you and Gale, please, help yourself to Gale's face."

Gale looked shattered off to the side, his eyes glassy and wet as if he was trying not to cry. "Yes, please, let's not do that again." Was all he responded with before clearing his throat. "If everyone can excuse me, I need some air." He left back down the stairs without another word. She almost wanted to go after him, but she knew she owed everyone else an explanation first, they'd never let her leave before then.

"Care for an explanation?" Shadowheart prompted, her tone cold but not uncaring as she stood from her spot by her girlfriend to offer water to her other friend to rinse her mouth out with.

She filled her mouth with water before spitting it out on the floor, leaving a puddle on the dark wood. "I want to preface this by saying I also knew none of this before like less than an hour ago."

"I told you all before but I have like zero memory of my life before the tadpoles, and some of it comes back when I see certain things." She rubbed the back of her neck. "And I guess I'm Lord Enver Gortash's ex or something?"

"Does he know he's your ex ?" Astarion pointed out, leaning back against the wall. His pale face still covered in disgust.

She paused, having not realized her and Gortash may not have formally broken up. "Probably not." She admitted numbly, suddenly needing to wash her mouth out again or she'd vomit.

"Oh darling, that is vile ." Astarion said with a grimace. "I can't even find humorous delight in that, that is just nasty."

Karlach also grimaced, her face full of what was best described as contained hatred. “I do not recall you in my short time as Gortash’s bodyguard. So whatever happened between you and him must have occurred after what he did to me.” She still didn’t seem pleased about the new revelation. “And since you recall nothing of you two being together I can’t exactly hold it against you if you did know. So long as this, reconnecting with your ex, doesn’t change anything about our plans I can get past it, soldier. You have never led us astray yet.”

She paused, a little surprised at Karlach’s willingness to move on from the fact she was once in love with the man who sold her to the archdevil of avernus. “Yeah, of course. You can kill him, I don’t give a shit… What he did to you and so many other people is inexcusable, go ham when the time comes.”

Karlach visibly relaxed at the reassurance, though it was obvious she would trust those words fully until Gortash was truly dead by her feet.

“Alright, this at least makes the game plan a little easier.” Astarion piped up, the wicked smile he had back on his lips. “The new duke obviously still trusts and loves you; that makes it so much easier to extract information from him and crush them from the inside out.” He punched his own hand for emphasis.

“I do not believe that is wise.” Wyll interceded, “There is too much grey area here, too much unknown and too many risks.” He vaguely gestured to her as she still was rinsing her mouth to rid herself of the taste of his lips.

“I don’t like it either.” Karlach piped up, her arm draped back behind the pew Wyll sat at.

“It is our best strategy thus far.” Lae’Zel said, backing Astarion’s point. “We have an asset, why not exploit it for our purposes in battle. If she happens to fall back in love with her ex then we just kill them both.”

“What of Gale?” Wyll and Shadowheart spoke at nearly the same time, the group talking like the woman they were speaking of wasn’t right next to them.

Lae’Zel paused, looking at Shadowheart for a moment as if weighing how she would feel if she was Gale and Shadowheart was the asset. “Gale is a smart man, I am sure he may be able to see the reason for the good of everyone. If their love is true then it will withstand a trial.”

Astarion walked over, leaning against the outside of the pew for a moment. “It would help us find your father Wyll, I’m sure. Maybe she could even convince him to let him go completely using her feminine charms.”

“I would not ask someone to hand themselves over to a greasy bastard just to find my father quicker. There must be another way. Feminine charms are an absolute last resort.” Wyll protested, wrinkling his nose as the mere suggestion.

Astarion rolled his eyes, “The outcome determines the worth of the deed.”

“That won’t be happening.” She announced from the side, finally giving Shadowheart her waterskin back. “I do not wish to behave as if Enver and I are still together, it will get too complicated and messy. Anything he discloses to me will be because he wants to, not because I kissed up to him to get it.”

“Lets just hope it doesn’t include any more of that kissing in front of us when he tells you.” Shadowheart made a gagging sound. “ Never in my memories can I recall seeing someone kiss like that, and you are saying you had sex with him?”

Karlach barely contained a laugh, stuffing a fist in her mouth to muffle the sound.

“Trust me; either Enver let himself go after I vanished or I had really fucking low standards.”

“Gale is certainly a step up either way.” Astarion quipped, beginning to swagger towards the stairs. “And If I’m saying it about Gale you know it has to be true.”

“Indeed, Gale was handsome for a human man , but compared to the lord, he may as well be one of the most handsome.” Lae’Zel said, emphasising the word man . Shadowheart elbowed her in the side and Lae’Zel quickly clarified, “The women in this Faerûn are all beautiful.”

Wyll shook his head and rolled his eyes as he stood, popping his back before following Astarion. Karlach trailed behind him saying something about how Wyll was so much more handsome than Gale.

“Lets head down and check on our timebomb wizard.” Astarion said, leading the way down the long staircase. “Make sure he hasn’t done anything too rash since he went to cool off.”

“I believe if he did something too rash we’d already feel it.” Shadowheart sighed, glancing out one of the stone windows into the waters below.

Behind them she trailed, feeling particularly numb. She was Bhaalspawn, she was Enver Gortash’s ex, and the party was trying to decide if they could use that. Not to mention what was she supposed to say to Gale?

Any and everything said would likely echo the things Mystra would parade, as the mother of the weave wasn’t known for her monogamy. Any declarations of love would sound hollow. She would be no better than Mystra, a manipulator who used Gale’s undying devotion to take advantage.

She barely registered when Wyll and Karlach split off from the group once they were back on the main floor of Wyrm’s Rock. The pair going to speak to someone and that they’d meet them at the elfsong later on.

Gale stood on the bridge between the city and the fortress, leaning against the rail to look down into the turbulent waters below. He glanced over when he heard the footsteps, his waterline slightly red from very likely crying. He kept a composed face, straightening up. “Ready to set off to our first real inn?”

“Good gods, am I ever.” Astarion sighed, stretching his arms up above his head in the warm evening sun. “I am ready for the best sleep I’ve had since I was raised from the dead.”

The party chattered idly as they walked, weaving in between the people bustling down and around the streets of the lower city after work. 

She walked a few steps behind Gale, longing to reach for his hand as he walked. Longing to feel his hand on her lower back. But she knew she didn’t deserve to feel that comfort after she pulled the rug out from under his feet just as he got his footing. How could a day start so beautifully, with Gale looking at ring sizes and the hope of getting married if they survived; to having another man kiss her and implode a relationship?

Her only hope was that Gale wouldn’t implode himself.

A few hours later the party was all settled in the top floor of the Elfsong tavern. The room was expansive, with smaller individual chambers branching off to sleep in. The beds were plush and made with what felt like silks - but that may have been simply the relief to have a real bed for once.

The party, aside from Gale, was all settled around the fireplace in the many couches and chairs in the small living room area. For once since they had all met months ago it felt like maybe they were just friends sharing drinks in one of their houses and everything in the world was okay.

Karlach and Wyll announced that Mizora had posed a deal to Wyll: Break his pact and have no help with his father and spell his fathers death, or keep the pact and guarantee his fathers survival. He had three days to make a choice, most of the party seemed in favour of him breaking it, that they were resourceful enough to find his father on their own.

She stood, slipping away from the chatter and laughter of the unlikely group of friends unnoticed to speak to Gale finally. Pushing it off would only make the situation worse and make him feel more abandoned and unloved. She had to try now.

She slipped in through the paper door to Gale’s small chamber. The man laid on his bed facing away, completely still. She came to sit on the edge of the squishy mattress, wondering if he had fallen asleep and if she should just leave – it was unlikely Gale would take kindly to her sleeping in his bed with him after everything today.

“I suppose you’re here to apologise.” Gale spoke just as she was about to stand up to leave him be. His voice was harsh, but with a bit of a rasp that only came into his tone when he had been crying.

“I’m not.” She spoke quietly, resisting the urge to lay down behind him and curl up in his familiar warmth and smell. “I know no apologies will make what happened today better or like it never happened, I just want to explain myself.”
Gale sighed through his nose, the sound defeated. He knew he’d forgive her, he was too lenient on the people he loved. He always let them walk over him and hurt him. And they always did it after they had him secured in his devotion.

“I didn’t know that was going to happen.” She said, the words sounding foolish aloud. Like a weak excuse all cheaters used to justify their actions. “My memories are gone almost completely from before the tadpoles and I didn’t know Enver and I had something. If I had known… I’d have never gone upstairs.”

“It just hurts.” Gale uttered after an uncomfortably long silence.

“I didn’t want him to kiss me.” Another weak excuse, she knew she was sounding like every toxic ex after meeting someone at the tavern they hooked up with.

“You also didn’t try to stop him,” Gale argued, his tone growing more defeated than harsh. “You didn’t set a boundary, you didn’t tell him you didn’t know what was going on. You went along with it, you liked it.”

She stopped, hurt blossoming in her chest. The only part of her that liked it was the same part that liked killing. “I did what I thought was best for the party, I just wanted to keep everyone safe. I… I was scared that if I didn’t play along he’d put the steel watch down on you all.”

“Call me irrational, but I would have rathered to fight the steel watch then watch you kiss another man and play the part of his lover.”

“I did my best in a split second decision.” She laid down on the bed, keeping a distance from Gale still, knowing he probably didn’t want her to touch him right now.

“I am aware.” Gale whispered, rolling over to look up at the ceiling. The sight of him alone was enough to break a heart. His eyes slightly bloodshot and puffy from crying. “And I will always value that decision as someone who fights alongside you, but as the man you profess to love it hurts me in ways I can not describe with words.”

“Please,” was all she could utter, “Please don’t tell the others I’m Bhaalspawn because you are angry.”

Gale looked at her, a hint of upset that that was what she chose to say now. “I meant it when I said it would be your secret to share. No amount of pain I feel could make me take away your right to feeling safe here.”

The pair laid in almost awkward silence for the first time since they had gotten together. The air tense and charged with painful emotions and memories.

“Forgive me,” Gale spoke, feeling like he had to revert to habits he kept with Mystra. “I am being so… immature about all of this. You did what you saw was best, and I should respect that. I should not be letting my own feelings and memories get in the way of you doing what’s best for everyone.”

“Don’t apologise.” She pleaded quietly. “I hurt you, you are allowed to be and feel hurt by what I chose to do. There were other ways I could have sent it, but in a panic I chose to knowingly hurt you.” She reached out, unable to stop herself from brushing the stray curl that always ended up on his forehead. “But please know: The only part of me that liked the kiss was the same part that delights in killing.”

Gale closed his eyes as she pushed away the curl. Her hands brought comfort to him that stung like a bee. “Mystra sleeps with all her chosen.” He finally spoke quietly. “And for the longest time I didn’t know she did because she told me I was her favourite and I thought that meant one and only. So to be told similar things by another, and then watch them kiss another… brings me back to the pain of finding out I really wasn’t that special to her. Like I always would love others more than they loved me.”

“But I do love you Gale.” She whispered, noticing the longing reaction to her touch and moving in closer. “I am a messed up individual. There are so many things I don’t know about myself or my life prior to all of this. But gods Gale, I want this. To me anything before us never happened because I’ll choose you over it all.”

“It would be strategic to use your past relationship to our advantage.” He was parroting the words Astarion said once again over dinner. “We are in life or death, we need every advantage we can get. I can set aside my feelings for a better chance.” The words tasted bitter on his tongue, a lump building in his throat once again.

“Astarion is talking out of his ass. We will find another way. I don’t want to kiss another man who isn’t you again. You make the voices turn off. I do not want to gain a slight advantage if it means losing you.” She rested her hand on the side of his neck, feeling the pulse under her fingertips. “Just like I promised you with the orb I will promise you now: We will find another way.”

“But imagine what we could learn.” Gale said weakly, unsure why he was arguing against what he wanted anymore. “You could learn so much about yourself.

“Enver will die regardless. What we can learn will not matter. Not about the absolute, not about me. There are other people in Baldurs Gate that would have known me, I will find myself through them.” She gently traced her nail along the artery in his neck. “But I think I only ever truly found myself in you.”

Gale closed his puffy eyes, turning his face towards her. His emotions a jumble of love and fear. He trusted her, she was too earnest about her words; but there was so much pain and fear in his past about this exact scenario. “I wanted to marry you if we survived this.” He rasped through the lump in his throat, “To have you as my wife.”

She glanced to the bedside table that had the paper from the jeweler detailing her ring size. The paper looked slightly damp and wrinkled in some spots where tears likely fell.

“I still want to marry you.” Gale continued after stopping to regain himself. “But gods, I didn’t expect this to hurt so much. I didn’t expect it to redredge up my insecurities.”

“I love you,” She responded, her words genuine. “I love you, insecurities and all – I think any reasonable person would feel insecure after all that bullshit anyways.” She paused, staring at his tear streaked face for a long moment. “You are so much more handsome than him, and a better kisser.” The words were a poorly timed attempt to lighten the mood.

Still a slightly rueful smile crossed Gale's lips, his warm brown eyes peaking open to look back at her. “Playing on my ego now, are we?”

“No, being honest now, we are.” She couldn’t help the smile that slipped onto her lips at his face. She leaned her head in to touch her forehead to his, her hands still gently cradling his neck. “I’m so sorry.”

“I forgive you.” Gale responded after a moment. “Just please, don’t ever do that to me again. I don’t think my heart – or the orb – can take it.”

She let her lips brush over the slight bump on his nose bridge. “If I ever do it again, just tell everyone I was becoming daddies favourite Bhaalspawn and that you had to kill me.” She quipped.

“Never say that again.” Gale said, a few final tears slipping down his face though a small laugh escaped his lips.

She laughed a little as well, just glad Gale seemed to be in better spirits. Every god would be getting a thank you prayer tonight for making sure he knew she was genuine and not being a manipulative ass.

The pair curled into one another, a commonplace in their relationship. Finding comfort in the smell of the others ' skin. There were many nights spent in their dirty grubby camp, curled in one of their tents finding comfort in the nearness after scathing battles.

Gale’s face nestled in her neck, his warm breath fanning out over the skin. Even at his most hurt a few hours ago he yearned for this, yearned to hold her near to feel even for a moment that she was still his.

That was one thing he knew he lacked when he was with Mystra. The goddess never truly had a physical form to touch him with, let alone enough love in her to bother to give comfort. Every interaction in the astral plane was either having forceful brain sex or learning some magic only her most favoured got.

It was nice to just be a man again. To be Gale Dekarios again, not Arch Mage Gale, or Gale of Waterdeep. To be truly loved and known, not for the power or the sex that could come from anywhere. And while it still caused whispers of insecurities about what had happened today, he knew it was just the voice Mystra planted in his ear to tell him he’d never be enough as just Gale Dekarios.

His hands fumbled with the hem of her sleep shirt, pulling to take it off over her head. Not necessarily for a sexual purpose, but mostly for a nearness purpose. He watched her settle back down onto the bed topless as he pulled off his own shirt.

It was not unusual for the pair to get mostly, if not completely naked to cuddle, just to feel the familiar sensation of the other's skin. However, it almost always ended up with lovemaking, not that either would complain about it.

She allowed her hand to trail over his chest, over the orb scar near his heart, her hand momentarily pausing on the hickey she left the night before in the middle of the circle. She’d have to refresh it in a few days so it was still there, it was like a brand to have her loving mark in the middle of a scar given to him by a goddesses hatred.

Gale’s lips brushed along her hairline, cupping his hand over hers on his chest. His heartbeat strong and slow underneath his ribcage.

“We do not have to make love tonight, if you do not wish.” She spoke quietly, as Gale edged off her trousers. She did not want Gale to feel as though he had to have sex with her so she would stay with him, however, she could not help the need starting to pool. She did not know Gale’s intentions, if he wished only to feel her skin. “I would not blame you if you did not want to after everything.”

Especially given the knowledge Mystra used to use sex as a tool. Her manipulations going deep.

Gale shook his head, “Unless you do not wish for it, I feel the need to indulge myself in the comforts of your body. To reaffirm to myself that I am the only one who can have you this way.” He grazed his lips against her jawline.

She tilted her head to give him better vantage to kiss her neck, which he took advantage of quickly. His lips managed to silence the quiet voices of violence that were ever present. Perhaps that was part of the reason her body reacted like a fine instrument being plucked under his intimate touches – because it knew that it would finally have its mind to itself for once. Not that it was much of her mind, with Gale being the one to possess her thoughts instead of Bhaal.

The man rolled over to kneel in front of her on the bed, still gently worshiping her with his kisses. His large hands traced over her body reverently, like how he so gently commanded the weave with his movements. How the hands that controlled so much power, hands that could lay siege and rain fire could be so gentle and reverent with her never ceased to amaze her.

Mystra had always wanted to be on top and in control, often using Gale for hours until she tired of it. Naturally because of it, Gale had an aversion towards being on the bottom and feeling out of control in sex. Terrified of being put into the same situation again, even subconsciously. While he was growing slightly more comfortable with it, with some very gentle trying, he still preferred to finally have control.

And in this moment, where everything felt so out of control and his reach for hours, it was clear he needed his moment of control.

His calloused hands from the many months on the road gently slipped into her pussy, letting his thumb carefully toy with the little nub as his middle and ring finger curled to massage her spongy inner wall.

She drew in a sharp gasp, reaching up to grab his face to pull him down to kiss her. An action he could never refuse.

His fingers had grown more accustomed to her body, learning her sweet spots as well as the skills he had before being isolated and alone in his tower coming back. Keeping a light but steady pressure on her swollen clit as well as caressing the inner wall of her cunt. A steady pace set is what works best.

While it could be a bit of a chore to prepare her for him, getting her body relaxed to take him once again, Gale considered it part of the fun to rile her up. Sometimes even insisting on having her orgasm multiple times before he even properly fucked her.

Gale broke away from her kiss to remove his hand from her cunt, sucking off the wetness that clung to his middle and ring fingers. He considered himself a controlled man, but he was never good at keeping control when it came to having her.

“My love.” He whispered, kissing along her chest but purposefully avoiding her nipples. “Must you be so enticing with your body? You are like a little siren, calling me back constantly to take you again and again.”

She sighed, arching her back to try and get his warm mouth over her breast. Her brain scratching and tingling for more of his quieting touch like a rabid animal would to infect another. “Do I hear you complaining?”

“Never.” Came his muffled response as he finally gave in and took one of her nipples into his mouth, sucking gently and swirling his tongue. “I could never complain when I have this.” He switched to the other nipple with a soft intake of air.

She wrapped her fist in the soft strands of his hair, her eyes fluttering shut from the sensation. A bit of guilt nabbed at her stomach, that she was taking advantage of him after he was hurt, but she tried to push it away. He was the one who insisted he wanted this after all.

Gale pulled away, much to her dismay. The wizard sitting back on his heels between her legs. His long fingers going back to gently stroking her clit again as he tried to worm his way out of his own pants. “If I wasn’t so excited to have this moment of finality I would insist on laying with my head between your legs for hours.” Gale said, watching with hooded eyes as she squirmed underneath his touches.

He finally kicked off his pants, his cock bobbing free against his navel for him to gently stroke as he touched her. Not only lust but love in his adoring gaze.

After a moment of thought she pulled away from his touch, moving to sit on her knees in front of him. “Let me give you head then, maybe not hours but still.” She spoke, letting her mouth hover over his cock. She had to please him tonight, make sure he knew she was focused on his wants as well
Gale nodded, almost a little too eagerly, gasping as she sucked it into her mouth. His hands gathered up her hair away from her face so she could more easily work on him.

He tasted clean, and still faintly like soap. The first thing he did when they reached the elfsong was to spend an hour in the tub, not that she could blame him for that. Months without a real bath were hard on everyone, but especially a man who valued being meticulously groomed like Gale.

She sucked, bobbing her head along his shaft. It was a little difficult to take all of him at once without gagging, especially if it was over and over again. So what she couldn’t get without gagging she wrapped her hand around to stroke in time.

Unfortunately, one of Gale’s favourite sensations was to have his cock fully sheathed in her warm mouth. And the longer she went and the better it started to feel the harder it was to not start guiding her the way he wanted – even though the last thing he wanted was for her to get hurt because of him, let alone throw up on it. That happened once, to both of their horror.

Gale nearly jumped when she put both hands on his hipbones to push herself down all the way, it was as though a little strike of lightning went down his spine. Her nose pressed against his pubic bone. She managed to hold back a gag as she slid up a little to repeat the motion, trying to tell him to guide her and show her how he wanted it.

The wizard seemed hesitant, his brows furrowed in worry before slowly beginning to guide her using her hair. “Tap me if you feel unwell, my love. I believe neither of us want another… incident…” He murmured, his head falling forward in pleasure. “Because I fear I will not be able to stop myself on my own accord.”

She swallowed down the discomfort, grateful Gale was gentle enough to go easy on her. Allowing her enough time to get a breath before having his cock pushed back down her throat. Gale knew he was larger than the typical man, and he knew he had to make compromises for both their pleasures, his care endearing because both of them knew she wouldn’t hold back.

Everytime she tapped his hip to let him know she needed a moment he relented, letting her come up to suck and lap at the head until she decided she was ready to do it again. Never forcing her, but always glad to show her how he liked it.

When she finally released his cock from her mouth, her jaw and throat sore, face covered in spit, and eyes slightly teary, the first thing he did was kiss her hard and firm on the mouth. He couldn’t care less that his own cock was inside her mouth moments before, let alone that she was a hot mess from it all. “I love you.” He said, and the words sounded like a promise.

She barely had time to return the sediment as Gale guided her down to lay among the pillows again. His kisses affectionate as he took her thighs in his hands to place them by his hips. His warm hands caressing the smooth skin adoringly before reaching to take his cock into his hand.

“Silence?” She managed to ask, the words tumbling out. For a moment Gale looked confused, his spit wet cock rubbing against her clit before the lightbulb went off in his head.

“Brillaint idea my love, just because we have a private room and not just a cloth tent wall does not mean our dear friends can not hear us. Though sometimes I wonder if they would enjoy hearing.” Nevertheless he raised a hand to utter the spell incantation, a soundless bubble swallowing them up.

The only people who could hear would be those in the bubble.

Gale leaned down over her body to kiss her again, waiting for his head to catch on her entrance before slowly pushing it in. Somehow her body always knew him now, relaxing under his intrusion to let him in without much easing in and out until it could be fully in.

He settled once it was fully inside her, moving to kiss her cheeks and neck. “I’m the only one who gets to do this.” He said, more to himself than to her as if trying to banish any lasting insecurities out of his mind.

“You’re the only one.” She confirmed, kissing his hairline. The voices banished from her mind temporarily now that he was all over her. It was as if he took the place of the voices every time.

He allowed one hand to move from bracing himself up to instead wrap down around her waist. His lips peppering across her collarbones. His eyelashes were still slightly damp from his previous tears as they fluttered against her skin. It seemed as though he was reluctant to pull out and away from her for even a moment, keeping himself nestled inside her warmth.

When he finally backed out, just enough to push it back in, she gasped. It was an unexpected sensation after being simply kissed for the last couple of minutes. Gooseflesh rippled over her hyper sensitive skin.

Gale was a gentle man about what he did, even when he tended to let lost in the moment he was attentive to every tell of her body.

The wizard kept his mouth pressed to her warm skin as he slowly rutted into her cunt. A wet squishing sound every time he buried himself to the hilt. “Oh my love.” He spoke into her skin, letting his tongue edge along her pulse point.

With a shudder she tensed her legs around his hips, the action an unconscious reaction to the sensation of each drag of his hips.

Gale sat back on his heels as he continued to thrust steadily, letting his thumb come down to circle her clit. His gaze was warm and adoring as he watched her body take him with every thrust. It was one of his favourite sights: to see her greedy cunt swallowing him whole as if it couldn’t wait to have him within again.

Every thrust slowly became more rough, trying to push in even just slightly deeper, to touch her soul like he always did.

She released breathy moans with every impact, arching her hips up into his touch. Yearning for even just the slightest more friction on her clit so it could push her over the edge into a shuddering orgasm.

But Gale evaded, moving his hand away with a smug smile between deep breaths. His hand instead went to gently press on her lower belly, to feel the outline of his cock stretching her out.

“Gale!” She protested weakly, kicking her legs out behind him, her heels gently smacking his lower back and ass. “You know that makes me super sensitive..!”

Gale let out a quiet breathy laugh, not moving his hand from her lower stomach. If she wanted him to stop she could move his hand herself, he wasn’t stopping her. “It makes you orgasm better,” He responded, pausing to close his eyes. “Especially when I do this.”

His free hand moved to her clit, changing the position of his hips to thrust slightly more upwards so he would rub more firmly against her G-spot.

Her hands launched down to grab his thighs, her eyes going wide. She knew she was probably cutting into his soft skin with her nails but in the moment she couldn’t care. Gale rarely did all three at once, saving it to keep her on her toes.

“Maybe I need to give a little more pressure, she likes that.” Gale mused between heavy laden breaths, his hips stuttering in some of his gliding thrusts. His thumb gently pressed firmer onto her clit inciting a whining moan from his lover.

She was practically trembling on the edge of her orgasm, her thighs quaking hard enough that she did not notice that he was practically quaking underneath her.

Gale desperately tried to keep his heavy eyes open, trying not to lose his focus or his head in it all. He wanted to watch her convulse around him, crying out for him in the sweet way only she could.

She broke, thighs clamping tight around him and feet kicking. “Gale…” She whined, her head arching backwards to look at nowhere in particular.

“I’m right here, my love.” Gale panted, biting his lip hard to keep himself steady through her orgasm. Her trembling and clenching walls practically begging for him to spill himself as well. But he couldn’t let it happen, not yet.

As she calmed, Gale leaned down to kiss her, his lips wet with spit from his chewing. He removed himself from her body, cock still rigid and almost painful, biting back a complaining gasp he could barely contain. He wanted so badly to keep fucking her until he too could explode into a puddle of melted brains.

Instead he slid down between her legs, leaving his cock neglected to instead gently lap up the drenched mess she had made of herself. He had to deny himself, at least long enough so that he could give a semi decent second round.

“Gale..!” She yelped, grabbing at his hair in a half-hearted attempt to get his mouth off her. Her body crackled with overstimulation and remounting pleasure.

“That is my name.” Gale responded, sliding in his two fingers as he swirled his practiced tongue around her clit. The man being good at not only running his mouth but also giving spectacular oral. “Please,” he said after a long lick. “Allow me to indulge in my dinner, I have not eaten since that awful sandwich.”

She gasped as Gale sucked a mark onto her inner thigh, brown eyes waiting for her permission for him to devour her before he continued.

“Fuck Gale.” She tried to complain but it instead came out a needy whimper. “Just put your tongue back on, you’re too good at it to tease me like this.”

Gale smirked, blowing cool air over the little nub before taking it back between his full lips. He knew he was a lucky man that his beard did not become slightly bleached from the amount of pussy eating he did. The only time he loved having her over top of him was when he had her sitting square on his face so he could devour every inch – brownie points if she gave him shaky head while he ate.

The first few times he went down on her he was embarrassed that he got so much pleasure out of simply eating her out. Sometimes groaning into her wet folds from the thrill he got in knowing he was doing a good job and the taste alone.

She clamped her legs around his head, keeping him trapped against her cunt, one of the happiest places he could be. Her soft cries as she played with her own breast better than any symphonies he had heard in the Waterdeep theatre over the years.

He left one hand on her stomach, while the other went to slowly play with himself. Pointedly avoiding stroking his head, he knew that would feel too much for the game he was trying to play.

All insecurities were temporarily banished, she was here, arching and moaning under everything he did, not under another man. Under him . She loved him. She chose him.

Her cunt tightened around his fingers, and with one more firm suck to her clit, she came undone in his hands. The most beautiful thing he ever saw.

Gale waited until her legs released him before he came back up, sucking off her slick before wiping his mouth and beard with a hand. “I have made the observation that you love oral and fingering.” Gale said as if it was a fact from a book he read, a smug smile on his wet lips.

She fought back the urge to smack him with the pillow by her head. Only Gale could be so scientific about sex and still sound hot, and it honestly pissed her off. It especially pissed her off when they first met and he’d say something horribly nerdy and she’d have to come to the terrifying realization she still wanted to fuck him.

“It’s hard not to like it when your boyfriend has the mouth of a god.” She responded hoarsely, throwing her arm over her eyes.

Gale chuckled, shifting on his still trembling legs as he stroked himself a few more times before lining himself back up. “I believe you have one more left in you tonight my love.” He cooed, but waited for her agreement. If she was too exhausted he was willing to settle with his hand and her eyes on him.

“One more.” She agreed, gasping loudly as he began to push into her hypersensitive walls.

It took everything in him not to start pounding, his body aching for the release he had been denying it. He loved and hated edging for that reason.

Every thrust was measured, as if he was counting the seconds to make sure they lined up. And knowing Gale he very likely was doing just that. The wizard wanting to finish her one final time instead of just wasting himself like he was unpracticed oaf; He proudly had a month's experience under his belt after having none for over a year, and physically nearly a decade. No longer an oaf.

He lowered himself over her to kiss her, his kisses unfocused and slightly messy; his lips sometimes slipping off hers to her chin with a particularly - and unintentionally - hard thrust. Okay, maybe still a bit of an oaf.

His cock had a mind of its own, sometimes jumping his hips to rut like a teenage boy against their mattress after a particularly sexually stressful dream. It was hard to blame him, not when he made the most delightful sounds.

“Gale,” She spoke between kisses, her voice hoarse from the whining and crying out she had done. Her mind was blank mush like it always became. “Gale, this is your pussy.” She was mindlessly speaking, wanting to assure him that she was his, despite the vulgarity. “It’s all yours… no one can fuck me like you do. Fuck…”

Gale drew in a sharp breath, his face landing the the crook of her neck on the pillow. “Fuck, love…” He uttered, the curse always a treat to draw out of him. 

The wizard adjusted himself on the mattress so he could thrust more directly down into her, pulling out almost to the head before practically falling back down onto her. The technique was honestly exhausting, but the results in his orgasm were worth it to him.

His shaky hands gathered up her legs to push them closer to her chest, allowing him deeper inside her – Even if it was just slightly. Afterall, every inch counted.

Gale moaned deliriously with every thrust he bottomed out on, half of the mind to be embarrassed with his face right next to her ear. However, she always seemed to be more turned on when he made noise, so he did not turn his face away into the pillow.

She slid her hand down between them to play with her own clit, knowing that Gale’s hands were busy holding her legs in the place he wanted them. And if there was one thing Gale liked, it was when she helped him guide her to orgasm – any way she orgasmed, so long as it was with him, was a good way in his mind.

She turned her face to look at him, at his beautifully sweaty face. His brown curls stuck to his damp forehead from the usually perfectly done style he kept it in. His brown eyes were half open to watch her expressions, and he smiled just slightly when her eyes met his.

His warm, panting breaths fanned out over her lips. “I fucking love you.” He nearly whined, turning his face just slightly into the pillow. “Fuck I love you.”

She shuddered, legs trembling underneath his hands. “I love you too.”

His thrusts were getting sloppy, messy even. He was almost glad he hadn’t accidentally pulled out too far and had it pop out with how out of form he was getting. Gale might have just died of embarrassment if that did happen, knowing he would have made some embarrassing sounds if he lost friction now.

“Fuck…” Gale groaned, the curses falling from his lips in desperation. He always became a desperate man in sex. He now held her legs in place with only one hand as the other coiled itself into her hair so he could kiss her with crushing force.

His teeth knocked against hers, tongue sloppy as he explored her crying mouth. 

“Fuck…” He repeated again, as he pulled away from her lips. “Oh fuck I’m cumming.” His hips stuttered, ceasing their movement of beginning to withdraw to slam back in as deep as he could.

“Shit..!” She cried, tilting her head back on the pillows, the warm flood of his cum and the throbbing of his cock seeming to stretch her further. “Gale..!”

Gale’s toes curled in the bedsheets, as if clawing for better purchase or ground inside her. His face was fully turned into the pillow now, trying to quiet his moaning and basically failing.

Just as he began to messily thrust the last few spurts she cracked. Her own voice crying out for him as her body tensed.

As if in response, Gale unconsciously buried himself to the hilt again. Groaning in overstimulation as another pump of cum escaped him.

She knew Gale was spent and overstimulated by the way he was trembling and groaning into the pillow. So she made sure he didn’t try to keep thrusting her through her orgasm with a hand on his lower back. Letting her own body end it.

Gale always ended up so fragile and spent after edging, she couldn’t understand why he did it so often – sometimes multiple times in a row. Perhaps it made his orgasm more enjoyable before the overstimulation came? That was the best she could figure.

Gale pulled out of her but allowed himself to stay settled practically on top of her, not minding the stickiness of his own cum dribbling out onto him.

She gently scratched his back, something she quickly came to know that Gale loved more than keeping his knees warm by the fire. It was soothing, these moments after sex where they just laid in silence together, finding comfort in each other's presence after a particularly rough session.

“Do you want water?” Gale asked hoarsely, pulling away from her warm embrace to reach to the bedside table where he already had a mug of water.

She nodded, appreciatively taking the glass from his hands and greedily gulping down the clear liquid while Gale used a simple spell to tidy up from the sticky cum on both their bodies.

He gave her a displeased look when she gave him back the glass with nearly no water left in it for him, though there was no real malice in his expression. He finished up what was in the glass before collapsing down onto the bed beside her with a huff of air.

Gale pointed up towards the ceiling before speaking with his still hoarse voice. “See, that’s how you have apology sex and actually apologise.”

She couldn’t help but laugh a little at that, moving to rest her head on his shoulder. It surprised her even to see a fresh bite mark she couldn’t remember leaving there. “I will admit, I am quite fond of the idea of Mystra watching you have better sex with me than she did with you.” She said coyly, kissing the bite mark. “Cucking a goddess if you will.”

Gale snorted, his eyes falling shut, though his face turned towards hers. “Do not let her live rent free in your head. Trust me, I feel smug enough about it for both of us.”

“You have enough of just about everything for both of us.” She responded, sitting up to look at his legs, suddenly recalling how she had clawed at them. “Enough hubris, enough passion, enough smug ass.” She was relieved to find that only a few nail prints had broken the skin, and the ones that did barely bled, having already clotted themselves.

“My hubris is fine. ” Gale responded with a tired huff. “I have just the right amount for one man.”

“Uh huh…” She teased, laying back down beside him to toy with one of his damp curls.

“I am being genuine! There are so many others that have a worse hubris.”

“Name one.”

“Astarion. I assume the wizard Lorroakan. Rolan.” Gale listed on his fingers, his eyes still shut. “And that is to just name a few. I could easily go on and list to you wizards I studied with when we were both students, or fellow professors I have worked with at Blackstaff.”

She chuckled, kissing the side of his face. “Ah yes, the people who have the same amount of ambition as you do.”

“May I remind you without ambition all the things we love would have never come to pass?” Gale responded, peaking an eye open to look at her. “If I wasn’t ambitious I would have never invited you to stargaze with me in the shadowlands.”

“Oh and you know how much I loved doing that.” She cooed, biting his earlobe gently.

“So much so that I will have to see if I can find a private place here in Baldurs Gate for us to stargaze again.”

She laughed quietly, but she knew Gale was genuine about it. The man loved the stars – the cradle of existence, as he called it – and he loved spending private time with the woman he loved. To have both would be his ideal. The only step up would be to be at his home in Waterdeep on his balcony to do it.

“I look forward to our next adventure under the stars, then.” She spoke, curling tighter to his side. Their damp skin still sticking slightly.

“As do I.” Gale uttered, turning his face to kiss her hairline with all the adoration in the world. He remained there; his lips on her forehead, breathing in the smell of her skin for a long while before speaking again, his tone low and earnest. “I love you more than the world.”

“And I love you more than all the worlds.”

For the first time in his life, Gale truly trusted someone with those words. Truly trusted that he was the only one someone wanted. Sure he knew his chest would still tighten with anxiety, as was his nature and because of trauma. But he trusted truly . And that alone was a relieving feeling for the wizard.

“I do not hear our dear friends out there giggling any longer even though my spell has worn off.” Gale mused, reluctantly pulling himself away from her body to head towards the paper door on shaky legs. “Say, if no one is out there, would you be willing to take another hot bath with me before we finally retire for the night together?”

“Gods, sounds ideal. I love you.” She sighed, enjoying the feeling of domestic life once again.

"I love you too." Gale murmured, peering out into the rest of the grand room before motioning for her to follow after him.

She leapt up on her jello legs, following him through the empty room towards the bathroom. The only sound in the air the snoring of some of their companions. 

Tonight she would pray to every god that they all lived through the tadpoles, that they would get to experience this life everyday. Not living disaster to disaster, moment to moment.

To love Gale forever, that would be her prayer.