Chapter Text
Astarion looked at the cup of blood and then up at you. “Last meal before we get you out.” You frowned “Or we die trying.” Astarion had taken the cup and took a long sniff before finally drinking it.
The taste was thick like it was sitting for a while. You let out a groan “Please take your time.” You said sarcastically. He would’ve gone slowly just to anger you but he needed to get out, it was unbearable to be in here any longer.
Astarion had been through beatings almost every day, you’d come in and feed him and nurse his wounds. You looked at him “finished?” He nodded. You had grabbed him by the arm pulling him up and making him grunt from the force. You pushed against the wall sliding back and letting you both into the hall, you looked both ways before turning to him, giving him a cloak. “Stay close to me.”
Astarion put on the cloak staying as close as he could almost to the point where his nose was always against your back. He knew the layout of the place better than you, so he was ready to rip you to ribbons if you tried to fool him. So far things seemed right. “Just a bit more and we’ll get out-“ Suddenly the creak of a door was heard. “…what are you doing?” You froze immediately, biting your lip and keeping your head high as you turned to look at sweet Victoria. You smiled warmly
She looked at astarion then back at you “Where are you taking him?” She asked you pushed Astarion back “Where is your father Victoria? Where’s Leon?” Astarion looked between you both “Leon? Father? You're his girl?” He asked and Victoria scowled at him “Nobody is allowed to talk to you. So don’t try asking me questions like you belong.”
Astarion shook his head “Wow…Cazador has you all on hold well. He turned me, running away from his abuse against me?!” He let out a laugh “Why is that not surprising.” You sighed “Victoria go back to bed.” She stared at you “No. My father trusts you. I trust you, Cazador has chosen you as our protector, and now you're trying to take away my father's only opportunity for freedom?” She shook her head “No…no, I won’t let you.” She seemed like she was going to scream and in the corner of your eye, you saw Astarion pull a dagger from his waistband.
You blocked his view of her “Astarion, no.” You glared down at him and he glared up at you. “She’s going to cry wolf to an army of spawn! Do you want to risk that? It’ll be your head and not mine!” He was right, Cazador wouldn’t kill him. But he’d kill you. You looked over your shoulder then back at him “We just have to get out.” He shook his head “She’ll alert them and they’ll be on us in no time. Trust me…I don’t want to hurt her.” He looked down at the dagger. You sighed “I’ll do it.”
Victoria wasn’t a spawn she was still just a girl. You turned back to her “sorry” you had rushed up to her charging at her and sending her into the room onto the floor making her gasp trying to regain the air she lost you walked up to her holding her down and placed a hand over her mouth you started to whisper a chant hand giving a soft glow before she stopped struggling and her eyes closed pulling back you checked to see if she was okay, after seeing she was in a deep sleep you went back to the door Astarion standing next to the wall “Made a lot more sound than needed but…better alternative.”
You only grumbled your shoulder pushing him out of the way and walking towards the exit he was right behind you “Once we're out I take the lead we’re gonna find tav and the rest of them.” You stopped and shook your head “I can’t go to them, they'll crucify me in an instant.”
“No they won’t, I won’t let them. We’re together now. A team.” He said turning you around. You cringed at the thought of looking at the same guy that stabbed you in the back as a friend. “This is temporary, when I get my heart back…I don’t want to see you again.” You said turning back around and going to turn a corner before you bumped into Petras. “Shit!” He growled, dropping whatever he was holding. He let out a strangled laugh “You scared me..” Then, You saw the way he…froze his eyes wide and fearful as he looked back up at you shaking his head “no, come on…don’t tell me you're letting him go…” he whispered, pleading.
You gritted your teeth “Keep your mouth closed Petras. If you don’t tell him he won’t take it out on you, but all you do is squeal like a pig.” He shook his head “why are you letting this snake manipulate you??, again!?” You closed your eyes, almost like that same night your back stung the knife Astarion shoved into it, why? Was what you wanted to understand, when you could’ve vaporized Cazador in seconds, why did he stop you? You opened your eyes feeling that cold hand push up against your back. Turning to look at Astarion he seemed dizzy, weak. You fed him but over three days, he was suffering torture.
You’ll need to carry him soon, and there’s a long way ahead but you could make it to his camp by morning, he’ll just need to guide you. “Let’s just leave, forget Petras, he’s a coward.” Petras stayed silent and in the corner of your eye, you saw his lip tremble slightly. You secretly yearned for him to stand up for himself for once, he was such a pushover. You held a stern gaze with Petras before continuing down the hall his feet planted to the ground.
The fresh air outside was like a relief to know you weren't stuck in there with the threat of your heart roasted on a spit. You looked over at Astarion he was hunched against a wall holding his head “The hells is wrong with you?” you said and he only scrunched his eyes “Please, shut up..” he whispered, you scoffed “Excuse me? Shut up?” you said walking up to him and he only scowled “Yes, must I repeat everything are you paladins always so dense!”
you let your nose flair up, paladin…your family were paladins and monks you however…lost in time bloodline forever tainted with the missing daughter of the phoenix family were not a paladin…you wanted to be, you wanted to make your family proud. So, your emotions got the best of you and you snatched Astarion by his collar “Hey, little star you might wanna rethink your fucking attitude, or ill have you back chained up and break your legs myself.” You waited for a snarky remark but he only groaned “The…tadpole its, it feels like its feasting on my damn brain. Hells I need-..i need to get back to Tav” He pushed you away stumbling forward you could've sworn that when he shoved you you got hit with some kind of wave, what tadpole?
You wiped your hands on your clothes and looking up at him he was nearly falling to the floor. You scoffed “Dramatic, are we?” you pulled him back to you, and somehow even dead he was covered in sweat and his head was hot. He held onto you before casting some light that started to glide away, “Follow it. It'll take us to the camp” Then he was out, clear as day something was up, and it wasnt anything you could sense or smell. You sighed seems youll have to carry him there or you could leave him on the doorstep and let him get blamed for escaping, nope, too late to back out now.
You were following the light trail, how was it still going if he was in and out of it? . You huffed arms hooked under Astarions legs as he breathed on your ear, as long as he was alive and breathing, wouldn’t wanna walk to the camp with their dead friend. You looked at the light as it stopped, just around the way from the grove, they were on their way to the shadow cursed lands. “They move quickly.” Your nose twitched and you went to turn your head only to feel something Pierce right through your cheek. You dropped Astarion and you hunched over growling in pain.
“Grab him! I’ll give her what’s coming.” You rolled your eyes, Karlach…of course. You turned and stood up straight “Did you soot fhat?” You asked the feeling of the arrow laying on your tongue. She raised a brow “What?” She stepped forward putting up her arms
You broke the arrow in half with the force of your fangs spitting out the head and pulling out the remaining splint before throwing it to the ground “I said, did you shoot. That.” You repeated she staggered back slightly from your lack of response to being injured “Oh, careful. Don’t want you to fall on that bad leg.” You said raising your arms also “I don’t mind a fist fight.” But suddenly she was back on you.
—
Hits…you remember how it felt. The pain, the way you could feel your muscle being stretched and exposed bit by bit. You remembered how your cries turned to whimpers then groans then silence. But you’ll never forget the moment you broke.
Cazador had dismissed his little servant that had beat you for hours…felt like centuries to you. You had looked up at him, his smirk made your stomach drop. “Little bird…tell me, how are you feeling?” You were so tired your arms felt nonexistent as they were suspended up high you couldn’t move your legs they were like jello. You licked your chapped lips “Please…master. Release me from this, I’ll do whatever you want.” You pleaded you felt guilty about it.
You felt a sharp nail trace your temple then down to your chin “Hush now little bird, you will be released. But not now…I need you to be strong as stone, I need you to be a sword that will Not bend. I do not need you to break. I need you to keep your will, but you must submit to me, I am your master, your heart lies with me.” You let out a defeated sigh but stopped yourself. Crying won’t get you out of this, you bit your tongue. The sound of the beating came back but you couldn’t feel it, the only thing you could feel was anger towards the one who got you here.
Astarion.
—
Karlach was no soft hitter it was hard feeling her elbow land into your cheek but you bounced back, adrenaline pumping through you. You went to bite her, honestly you were blood thirsty. Before your teeth could sink into her the sound of something quick broke through the air and you heard Karlach let out a pained gasp and both of you confused turned to the sudden threat. But it wasn’t a threat when you saw the piercing, focused ruby red eyes “The hells was that Astarion!” Karlach yelled the area around you started to move like heat was radiating off of her, and it was.
You huffed “Looks like someone is back in good health all of a sudden.” You felt yourself being pushed back into the ground “Shut up!” Ah…the githyanki. You went to push yourself up but a foot pushed you back down. Heat had started to burn at your back, you felt yourself panicking the burn…the burn, her foot, the lashings, his red eyes, Cazadors eyes. You shook your head “Get off-..Get off of me!” You started breathing heavily. You saw a pair of feet rush over before pushing Karlach off the faint sound of arguing.
“You shoot at me?! I put my neck out for you Star and you shoot at me?!” Karlachs voice boomed
Astarion groaned trying to help you up “I did not! It grazed you! It was for both of you to stop!”
You stumbled to stand but when you did you felt yourself bound and unable to move “Karlach, maybe we should’ve thought before attacking her.” You looked at the girl with dark black hair, shadowheart
“Oh. Oh! So I’m the one who’s the bad guy?!” Karlach glared at you she was obviously a bit of a bomb
“There is no bad guy!” Astarion said trying to stay calm like he wasn’t just passing out a few minutes ago.
“Uhm yes! Yes there is and she’s right there!” You looked around and saw a man with long brown hair, gale. The wizard man you believed
Tav approached “Enough!” Even you felt compelled to stay quiet. “Stop fighting, Astarion, are you alright?” You looked at how Tav gently grabbed his hands and checked his arms, his face and he nodded “I’m fine Tav, the tadpole though it was acting up, I could barely stay awake it felt like I was going to pop.” Tav raised a brow “well I’m glad you're okay and your back safe. And quick too.” Astarion smiled and everyone asked their questions. Karlach, more calm, had approached “No tentacles?” She asked and he smiled “no tentacles.”
Tav sighed “so how you’d get here so quick?” Astarion turned to you, seeing you tied by magic as you avoided eye contact with him
“She brought me, carried me the whole way.”
Everyone blinked. “Knock her out, then we talk.” Tav said and you looked around “w-Wait a minute!” Suddenly you were out
——-
And just like that you were tied down to a tree. Fuck, again. You felt eyes on you as people passed. You struggled against your binds “Dammit!” You knew that taking sides with Astarion over Cazador would fuck you over. His friends didn’t trust you so now your tied spectacle of the damn camp.
You groaned, your head still ringing from karlachs boot, closing your eyes. You felt something cold press against your head. Cold meat you looked up at the snake tongue himself. Astarion. He looked down at you “Are you alright?” You only pulled away making him scoff “I’m trying to help you, I didn’t order them to attack you. But…this is the best option.” He said “Are you hungry?” He asked turning over to a silver cup filled with blood going to grab it you had kicked it before he could “Fuck You, I don’t want to eat your little catch, I want to lay down!” You felt the ropes burn against your skin
He let out a frustrated sigh laughing “I can’t help you if you keep denying any help!” He yelled before getting up and storming away, hands pushing through his head as he sat on his chair outside his tent, you watched tav walk over to him smiling and obviously talking about you. You put your head up looking at the stars peaking through the tree’s branches. Closing your eyes.
You had always have a heightened sense of awareness so the soft shaking of your binds made your eyes snap, turning your head you saw astarion cutting the ropes. “Whatre you doing?” You hissed “I don’t need your help.” Astarion tired of your shit pushed the dagger to your lip “we should’ve gagged you instead.” Slowly pulling away when you were silent “You’re filthy, so I’m letting you get cleaned.” You stayed quiet suddenly feeling the ropes fall and you sighed in relief. “Come on.” He said pulling you up and walking towards the river but further down from camp.
You could use a wash you started to undress but stopped. “You gonna watch me?” You asked, and he shrugged “I might want to wash up too, I am covered in blood and anguish from those three days.” You weren’t stupid, he was waiting to find something. But you continued, you turned your back towards him taking off your garments and feeling relief when your body was allowed to relax without tight clothing, you scratched your back feeling deep chunks of skin missing from all those lashings ago, and you heard a struggled sound, Astarion must’ve not expected this. You took off your trousers.
“Did he do that?” Astarion whispered he must’ve gotten closer. His whisper was loud. “Not Cazador…Godey though.” You said and he huffed
“So yes Cazador, when godey does it it’s just Cazadors way of keeping his hands clean so you can lean on him and deny that he had any part in it. Trust me I know.”
You sighed and went to step in. “Ah, wait.” You turned to Astarion and he didn’t seem to even care that you were exposed. He grabbed a band out of his pocket and started to tie your hair. “There.” You nodded and went in the water “Thanks.” You shrugged Astarion picked up your clothes “I’ll go wash these.” You nodded before sinking down under the water
Too late to turn back now.