Work Text:
It had to have been quite late in the evening when Ezmerelda made her way up to her personal level of the tower, a number of candles lit in her room as she made her way over to her work desk. Gods what a day… She sighed and sat herself down, grabbing a few pieces of parchment and her quill.
Dear Van Richten,
It’s been some time since we’d gone our separate ways after defeating Strahd with the adventurers from the land of Eibon, consider this being my attempt at checking in with you. After all, we did agree to reconcile things and do better about staying in touch. Gods the things that have gone on while you’ve been away…
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A few years had passed since the death of Strahd and the departure of the adventurers who’d helped end the curse of the lands. Ezmerelda D’Avenir found herself traveling about to wrap up any remaining business- hunting down any lingering vampire spawn that posed a threat to the folk of Barovia and neighboring towns, keeping any pesky lone werewolves in check, exorcizing a possessed villager, you name it. After all such hard work, she returned to Barovia for a bit of rest and to check in with the new Burgomaster, Ireena.
Having been able to leave her horse and vardo at the nearest inn and asking a few locals of the Burgomaster’s current activities, she promptly made her way over to the leading house in question.
The house was quaint, a coat of white paint on the outside, two stories, a lush garden of flowers out front and what looked to be a growing vegetable garden in the back. Surely it had to have been the handiwork of Ireena and her brother..
Ezmerelda gave the sturdy wooden door a few knocks, patiently waiting although not for long seeing as how only a few minutes later the door swiftly opened, revealing a rather surprised and disheveled Ireena.
“Oh! Ezmerelda! I didn’t think you’d be around- I haven’t seen you since..”
“Aye, since the day of reconnin’ and when we sent off our friends. Been what? Four years?”
“Mm, I think so… Come in! Please!” Ireena smiled and stepped aside, welcoming her old companion into her home.
Just like Ireena, nothing in the house was gaudy or pretentious, instead it was comfortable and warm.
“I was taking a break from work and was cooking something- care for a meal?”
“Hm? Oh- that would be quite nice, yes,” nodded Ezmerelda, now noting how her stomach seems to quietly growl at the mention of food, “but working yourself to the bone for the townsfolk I see?”
The young woman sighed and tucked hair behind her ear as she led the vampire hunter over to her kitchen, “You've no idea… Ever since crops have been growing successfully, we’ve now run into the problem of underestimating the pests that want to eat said crops…”
Ezmerelda made a sound of sympathy, sitting herself at the table as Ireena continued to ramble on about her plans, tactics that have both worked and failed in a number of ways, how she wants to redistribute wealth, etc. It was good seeing her so passionate and not caring about any incoming threat. She smiled and listened contently, sharing an opinion here and there. Though really she felt that politicking and running a village wasn’t a strong suit of hers. Ireena on the other hand seemed to appreciate the ideas and feedback, having hastily shoveled some food into her mouth before running off to grab parchment and pen to scribble down ideas.
The two continued to catch up for a few more hours, having gone from the life of a burgomaster to Ezmerelda’s own activities these past couple of years. And at one point, Ismark even showed up, adding to the conversation a bit. Once the sun began to set, Ezmerelda politely excused herself and wished Ireena and her brother much luck with their endeavors. The two couldn’t help but gift her some fresh produce from the garden and their own words of thanks and hopeful wishes to see her soon again as she departed.
Perhaps having closer friends wasn’t too terrible of an idea, something she’d have to pass on to the old man…
Come mid morning the next day, Ezmerelda awoke refreshed and ready for what she had planned next: Revisiting Castle Ravenloft.
She kept breakfast short and sought out to ride to the castle straight from the inn. Navigating the rather treacherous roads to the castle would take some time, and quite frankly she wasn’t in much of a rush this time around. If the vampire was truly dead, then why walk on eggshells?
By the time she was able to pull her horse out before the lowered bridge, it was already past noon. Not too bad, but now she had to make sure she got in and out as quick as possible… Leaving her horse behind and taking a few precautions, she brought a crossbow with a quiverful of arrows, some holy water, and various stakes.
Just in case. She told herself.
Carefully making her way across the untrustworthy bridge, Ezmerelda took her time, not wanting to rush and take a misstep and fall to the near bottomless pits below herself. She couldn’t help but remember how crossing this bridge went when she and the others sieged the castle… how Cricket almost fell to her death, how anxiously thick the air was around everyone as they traversed the bridge to the entrance of the daunting castle. All memories now, right?
With a sigh she finally made her way to the entrance to the castle, inhaling deep and exhaling as she pushed the doors open, allowing herself in. Strangely enough nothing was in ruins. In fact, the castle looked… well maintained? Surely Rahadin couldn’t have survived, nor brought back to life, so who kept everything so tidy? Something was off… As she ventured further into the castle, this state of cleanliness and near refurbishment could easily be seen. From the carpets to the paintings on the walls, not a spiderweb was to be seen. How was a castle that was so empty so alive? Especially after the death of its ruler!
Turning down another hallway, she remembered where she currently was and made her way over to a study that she and the party had rested in briefly while getting information out of Escher. Surely this had to have been a little dust covered, right?
Wrong.
Before her was an hearth that was alight, an iron gate pulled in front of it and open books on a table.
So, he returned after all…
She was so focused on her thoughts that as she walked further into the study she hadn’t paid much attention to her surroundings. Her eyes were trained on the book that lay open… whatever could the bastard be reading up on….
SQUEAK!
Ezmerelda nearly jumped out of her skin, immediately pointing her crossbow at whatever made the noise, her heart pounding in her ears.
“Wh- what??” Her voice wavered for a moment, now slowly putting away the crossbow as she reached down and picked up a rubber duck. “What in the Morning Lord’s name…”
There was another sound, this time it was the cream of wooden chair legs against the floor and a light babble. She quickly shifted her focus on the little being that made the sounds, her eyes widening and jaw going slack.
“No… S-Scott, is that.. is that you..?”
There on the floor before her was an infant in a loose cotton dress with puff sleeves and bloomers, the main difference being that he looked half dragon; a plump little tail, digitigrade little feet, small wings, and big ears akin to that of the Paladin that was here years ago.
Picking the babe up, she looked him over and shook her head, “If you’re like this, then I worry how Cricket and Quill are… curse these lands and the cruel powers that control it. Come, let’s get out of here and see what we can do to maybe reverse this..”
The infant merely cooed and babbled at her happily, running chubby little fingers through her curly hair.
As if sensing imminent danger, Ezmerelda clutched the cooing baby close and quietly made her way back from whence she came, hurrying out of the castle as quickly and quietly as she could. Then as she made it down a few sets of stairs she heard a shriek and commotion from the floor above her. Now she really had to get out, and fast.
Ezmerelda ran as fast as her legs could carry her, being careful not to trip or drop the child in her arms and making a great escape from the castle. Gods how she hoped no spies were on her tail.. As soon as she made it to her horse and vardo, she tossed her crossbow into the back and fashioned a sling to keep her infant friend strapped close and safe for the ride back to the tower.
The vampire hunter was too caught up in her thoughts to have even noticed how fast she was having her horse pull them along, the only thing she wanted was to get the hell out of that castle again and find a way to help the Paladin in her arms. At least the little fellow didn’t seem too bothered, if anything he quite enjoyed the air and bounce of the road, giggling in Ezmerelda’s lap. She found a bit of relief from that but still… how could the powers that be do this to the old dragon! Or perhaps it was some cruel joke that fiendish Ludmilla pulled.. Either way she knew this situation was fucked no matter which way she shook it.
A little past midday and she’d finally arrived at the tower, parking her vardo just outside and letting her horse take its rest in the makeshift shelter behind the tower. Gods what a day… she sighed as she entered her home, babe in tow on her hip. What in the world was she going to do?
“You must be hungry… oh Paladin, what did they do to you?” She sighed with a huff, lightly bouncing the infant in her arms, getting in the elevator and taking it up to her personal space then heading over to where she kept her foods and other supplies.
A little growl of a tiny stomach was all she needed to hear as confirmation. Thankfully he wasn’t being fussy, then she really wouldn’t know what to do! Oh if only Van Richten was here, at least he was a father once.
So much for sending messages asking for help, just watching a draconic infant was enough work! She couldn’t keep her eyes off him for a minute! Not that he was bad by any means, but he was curious and…. Her home was anything but childproof. After having attempted to let him be on the floor and him finding his way to her magical components, Ezmerelda opted for keeping him in the sling she’d made, letting him rest against her back and play with her hair and jewelry she kept on some braids.
“Uh… gods I don’t even know how old you are- I suppose a little gruel of potatoes and some uh… beef broth and little meat pieces could be fine? Right? You’re a dragon! You surely eat solids soon right?”
“ Mmm ba!”
“I’ll take that as a yes, a little mash and tiny pieces of tender meat…” sighed the vistana as she boiled a potato and heated up some roasted meat, “What am I going to do with you? I have no cradle, no clothes for you, certainly no nappies! And I have to figure out how to dispel this curse on you?”
“Blemblemblem pbbbbb..”
“Oh my gods I’m talking to a babe as if this is going to get me anywhere..”
After muttering to herself about any possible game plans and what to do about the missing Tabaxi, she got the simple food ready and fixed a small bowl of it for her little friend, bringing it to the table and feeding the eager little half dragon.
Today was supposed to be simple! Nothing but a little catching up with Ireena and her brother and also a little sweep of the castle! But no, of course not! Nothing is ever so simple here in the lands of Barovia! Oh what a headache… Van Richten wasn’t going to believe any of this if she were to send for his help..
She shook her head free from her anxious and frustrated thoughts, helping the child on her lap finish his food and clean his face off, “Tomorrow I’ll see about getting all of this straightened out I think-”
A sudden slam from the bottom floor made her jump, startling both her and the infant. She instinctively clutched him close to her chest as he whimpered, little wings giving an anxious flap.
Crap, she must’ve been followed.
Ezmerelda rushed to her feet and tried to reach for a knife but was bumped into something- no, someone - rather hard. Between the squeak of the child in her arms and her vision blurring for a second, the vampire hunter blanched at who her eyes met.
“S-Strahd..? I thought we-”
“Well that’s not how you welcome the Lord of the lands, now is it, miss D’Avenir?” replied Strahd, tone unamused. His eyes flicked from hers to the squirming babe in her arms, “Kidnapping a noble’s child has serious consequences you know…”
Coming up to join Strahd was Ludmilla, eyes red as she glared at the vampire hunter, baring her fangs in a scowling snarl, “Our child, Ezmerelda, I would like him back. Now.”
Noble’s child? Their child..? Wait-
“Oh- Oh god- I thought this was..” she shut herself up and held out the wriggling little half dragon, who seemed quite happy to see his parents. “I genuinely didn’t know, and he looks so much like-“
“Yes. He does. But nevertheless, Lucious here is the latest addition to the von Zarovich family.” Said Strahd as Ludmilla happily snatched up her baby, the ancient vampire’s eyes softening at his wife’s display of affection towards Lucious.
“I truly didn’t know… he was alone in the study…” Ezmerelda’s tone was softening, almost at a complete loss over the revelation that smacked her upside the head.
“Yes… clearly we’ve made the mistake in trusting some overly lax vampire spawn while attempting to get our share of rest…” grumbled Ludmilla, holding Lucious close to her chest as if he’d be taken from her again.
“Call this a mutual mistake. I won’t punish you for such a heinous crime, and you won’t expose the existence of the prince just yet.” Sighed Strahd, pinching and rubbing at the bridge of his nose, “We’d like a… proper introduction for him.”
“Right. Ah.. again, very sorry for the uh, kidnapping..”
“Mm. Do it again and perhaps I’ll have you rot in the larders. Or worse. Either way, you best not do it again D’Avenir.” Strahd waved her off and began making his exit with Ludmilla, gently caressing Lucious’ cheek. The chubby cheeked infant cooing at his father and looking over his mother’s shoulder, making grabby hands at Ezmerelda all the while.
Ezmerelda watched as they returned to mist, leaving her in stunned silence, only to fall back into her chair, blinking at the space the vampires previously resided. She needed a moment to let everything settle, not only in her head but the sudden rush of adrenaline that was coursing through her body.
Strahd was back. But now he was raising the paladin’s child as his own? Who knows what this could mean for the lands, but just the fact that he caught her unawares meant she quite literally kissed death tonight. Maybe this was just a bad dream? Better yet, maybe she really just needed to sleep.
After rubbing her face for a moment, Ezmerelda rose to her feet and walked over to her bed, throwing herself down upon it face first and simply letting herself lay there, accepting the sudden fatigue that washed over her, eventually falling asleep.
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I know everything that I’m telling you now in this letter may be wild and terrifying but I doubt there’s going to be any concern over Zarovich. That child couldn’t have been older than a year old- though who knows with how dragons age… anyways, Strahd not Ludmilla seemed interested in making a public display. No threats upon the people of the lands, no heads on pikes… Maybe this is a strange change of heart? Either way I’ll be keeping a close eye on them as time goes on.
But uh, who would’ve guessed that I’d committed kidnapping for a second time by pure accident! Terrible humor I know, but I figure that may also get a chuckle from you, old man. I hope this letter finds its way to you, and that someday you can return to see how things have changed here with your own eyes.
Sincerely,
Ezmerelda D’Avenir