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You deserve this.
The halls of Castle Whitestone are quiet and empty, except for the sound of footsteps and the owner of said steps as she walks to a specific door.
It’s all horrible. Not only did Keyleth discover that one of the Conclave was responsible for the release of Thordak and thus the decimation of Pyrah, but also that said dragon wished to be an ally of Vox Machina.
She had an extremely hard time trying to keep her anger in check but some threats still came out. Threats that she would be the one to end her.
Even so, the dragon, Raishan, offered a chance to ensure that the bargain was real: by revealing the location of another dragon’s lair. The lair of the Frigid Doom, Vorugal.
You deserve this.
So Raishan left, leaving Vox Machina with only the next 48 hours to decide. If they could not agree to the deal, Raishan would expose Whitestone’s location to Thordak and thus bring the full might of the Chroma Conclave down on Percy’s ancestral home.
Eventually, the team will have to choose.
And Keyleth wanted to do at least one thing in that timeframe, in case she would never have a chance again.
She had been wanting this for some time now. Ever since their recent battles with the likes of the Herd of Storms and the Hope Devourer. No, longer than that. She’d been wanting this from the day they met, but was too afraid to pursue her feelings.
She kept making excuses, such as having responsibilities, and that her feelings didn’t matter.
Of course, both of those were shot down in relatively quick succession.
It began when Osysa the sphinx called her out on her deepest fears and insecurities.
The fear of failure and the fear of success.
The fear of failure had been resolved when she finally cleared her fire trial in Pyrah, in the midst of a crisis. She had been reforged, reborn in fire like a phoenix.
The fear of success was addressed even sooner than that, when Vex had died and been brought back. She had realized that life is precious and shouldn’t be taken for granted. Even if she will outlive them, isn’t it better to love in the here and now than to wonder about what could have been?
The only thing left that held her back was her doubts as to whether she should even try.
And that’s when Vex told her that “it always matters. Don’t let him get away.”
You deserve this.
She had seen him at peace at long last following his visit to a temple of the Matron. The blood-stained Vax’ildan that emerged from the temple was not the same one that entered. There was clarity in his eyes, a free smile on his face, a calmness and acceptance that accompanied his words and actions.
Seeing him like that made Keyleth reconsider why she had been so afraid.
Death is unavoidable, it brings meaning to life, and it’s not something to be feared.
And what should also not be feared is matters of the heart.
She hadn’t even considered that she herself would have gotten a second chance, and yet she did.
She’s not going to waste it.
You deserve this.
Those same three words repeat in her mind the whole time she makes her way to his room.
Vex had mentioned that he wished to be alone.
She also mentioned that if she were to act, now was the time.
Keyleth takes a deep breath, and knocks on the door.
It takes a moment, but the door does open slightly.
She sees Vax in the doorway, finally free of his armor. Must be a perk of fully accepting his role as the Matron’s champion.
“Keyleth?”
She nods. She’s never felt so nervous in her whole life. “Can I stay with you tonight? I know you want to be alone and…”
Vax just places a hand on her shoulder and smiles… as he ushers her in.
The door is closed, and locked.
You deserve this.
She deserves happiness in the face of potential doom in what many would consider the “end times”.
So for tonight, she doesn’t think about dragons. She doesn’t think about death.
She doesn’t even think about the Aramenté and whether she will finish it.
All she thinks about is what she deserves… which she seals with a kiss.
A kiss and a promise. To love each other forever and ever and always.