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(Warning: Potential spoilers for the end of Act 2 in Baldur’s Gate 3)
It had been what, a few hours since Ketheric’s death? Already the grim, ghastly grey of the sky was beginning to clear. Solemn trees now appeared a bit warmer, the grasses a touch brighter, and the sky just that little bit more blue. On the long trek back to Last Light Inn, Halsin swore that he felt the faint thrum of life returning to the area.
While most of their companions returned to camp and tended to their wounds, Kestrel followed Halsin back to the inn. They thanked the stars as the druid slowed his pace, making it easier for Kestrel to keep pace while they talked.
“Do you think Thaniel and Oliver will be okay now?” The wizard asked, trying their best to ignore the painful ache shooting up their leg. It would heal quickly, but for the time being it was simply another weight on Kestrel’s mind.
“I’m confident they will be, in time. We might not see any real changes for some time still.” Halsin’s eyes lit up as the pair approached the inn.
The inn and stables were busy as ever with people packing up to continue their long trek to Baldur’s Gate. It looked like a good number of people had already left, including Dammon if the empty makeshift-smithy was any indication. Danis and Bex could be heard gathering up the children so they could head out in the morning.
Inside was a mixture of celebration and speedy packing. Alfira and Lakrissa were gathered around the fire, sharing music and tales as Harpers began to clear out their equipment. Kestrel’s eyes skimmed over the scene as Halsin made his way into the infirmary. It was so peaceful. Everyone was filled to bursting with relief and hope.
Their eyes drifted over to the bar where Lia and Cal were sat. The two siblings looked exhausted, and Rolan was nowhere in sight. For a brief moment Kestrel was locked in place. Did he run off into the darkness again? They could have sworn he’d returned to the inn.
Forcing a smile, Kestrel approached the bar. “How are you two? Are you okay?”
Cal was the first to look up sleepily, “Mh? Yeah, just waiting for Rolan to come back.”
“Come back?” Kestrel tensed, “Did he go back out there?”
“Well, actually-”
“I swear I will wring his neck if he got attacked again.” Kestrel hissed, wincing as pain shot up their leg.
“I would love to see you try.” A voice replied lazily behind Kestrel.
Whirling around a bit faster than Kestrel’s leg would have liked, they looked up to see Rolan standing there, right as rain with his arms crossed and a bemused smile on his face.
They took a half step forward and paused, eyes shifting as they tried to figure out what they wanted in that moment. Hug him? Say they were relieved he was safe?
The smile on his face shifted from bemused to irritatingly smug as he continued to watch them.
Kestrel straightened their back. “Where in the hells were you?”
Rolan let out a quick laugh as they focused a sharp gaze on him. “The bathroom. Where else can I wander off to around here?”
Lia looked up from her spot at the bar and rolled her eyes. “Try to be nice. Can’t you see they were worried about your sorry ass?”
Rolan paused, looking from his sister to Kestrel and back again. The smirk returned as he hummed, hands on his hips as he leaned forward. “You were worried about me?”
Heat rose to Kestrel’s face as a few sets of eyes turned towards them. Kestrel slowly inhaled through their nose before taking a step towards the Tiefling wizard. They gently prodded his chest with their finger.
“Of course I was worried!” They glared, “You were damn foolish enough to go out there on your own before. I wouldn’t be surprised if you did it again!”
Rolan huffed, “Well clearly you were wrong.” He gestured lazily with his hand, “And besides I already thanked you once. Awfully greedy if you want a second.”
He glanced down at Kestrel, eyes full of mirth as he watched the heat rise in their face once again.
“You…” Kestrel shot him a frustrated look, “You…” They practically tossed their hands up, “You are gods-damned impossible!”
“Now, now. Language my dear-”
“Oh, don’t lecture me on language-” Their voice cut off into a pained hiss as they leaned on their injured leg. Instinctively they raised their foot slightly off the ground and began to reach for a chair.
Rolan caught their arm and guided them back into a chair near the bar, eyes moving from Kestrel’s pained expression to their foot. The smirk had completely faded from his face as he gestured at their boot, “Mind if I take a look?”
“Fine.” Kestrel murmured, leaning back into the seat.
While Rolan pulled off their boot, they gave a quick explanation about the pain. It was in the ankle and shot upwards if they walked on it the wrong way. They swore it was simply a strain and would heal in the morning.
Rolan had glanced up when they said it would simply ‘heal in the morning.’ They both knew a basic healing spell would fix it immediately, residual pain and discomfort aside. He studied their features for a moment, taking in their tired, dull eyes and furrowed brow. Their hand loosely gripped the arm of the chair, twitching slightly as he pressed near their ankle. Kestrel was completely sapped of energy. They probably couldn’t cast a simple healing spell if they wanted to.
He said nothing though, returning to his examination.
Cal leaned over and offered a comforting smile. “Rolan’s really good with healing sprains and stuff. Gods know Lia gave him plenty of opportunities to learn.”
A short laugh escaped Rolan as he tested Kestrel’s range of motion. “Between the two of you, I would say I qualify as an expert healer.”
Lia shrugged, “Maybe you should open a clinic instead of apprenticing for that stuffy mage.”
Kestrel smiled warmly, “Aw, sounds like Rolan’s been a good big brother.”
There was a brief pause to Rolan’s movements before he continued, urging Kestrel to hold still while he worked.
Kestrel arched a brow, struggling to hide a smirk of their own. They remembered the party after leaving the grove, and how Rolan’s chest puffed and his tail swirled when he was praised for the lightshow he put on. Sure, it wasn’t fancy, but it was a pretty sight of swirling colours and dancing stars of magic. Even now they could see a slight tremor move down his tail as he forced it to stay in place.
A soft blue glow gathered around Rolan’s hands as tendrils of magic wove around Kestrel’s ankle and spiraled up their leg. There was a quick pinch before the pain began to fade away, making Kestrel sag into their seat with a sigh of blissful relief.
Relief was followed by the realization that the magic continued to sink into their body, despite their ankle being healed. With each second they felt a fragment of energy return. They wouldn’t be casting any spells for the rest of the day, but they sure felt a thousand times better than before.
Rolan studied their face carefully, holding the spell until he saw that spark of life and energy return to Kestrel’s eyes. He smiled proudly before standing up and dusting off his hands. “There. Good as new!”
Kestrel slowly rose to their feet, testing their weight on their newly healed ankle. Sure enough the pain was completely gone. They grinned, eyes bright and a gentle bounce to their step, “Hells that is better.” They flashed a smile up at Rolan, voice filled with appreciation, “Thank you.”
Their gaze held for a few quiet, content moments before Rolan cleared his throat, cheeks darkening to a deep crimson as he crossed his arms. “Yes. Well… Try not to hurt yourself again. There’s only so many times I can do healings in a day.”
“Maybe you should consider opening a clinic. If you heal that well every time, I’m sure you’d have an endless line of clients.” They replied before heading towards the door, “Now… I don’t know about you, but I’m heading to the water to watch the sunset. It’ll be nice to see after so long in the darkness.”
Rolan returned to his seat with his siblings, quietly listening as they talked about their plans for when they arrived in Baldur’s Gate. Their pleasant chatter and the background noise of the inn were distant as his mind began to wander. A handful of fidget-filled minutes passed before he stood up, saying he needed to stretch his legs, and made his way outside.
Cal and Lia watched as their brother left before grinning.
Lia nudged Cal’s arm, “Not even ten minutes. You owe me five copper.”
***
Kestrel leaned against a half dead tree, watching as glints of orange broke through the cloudy sky and danced across the water’s surface. They heard Rolan before they saw him, chuckling as he cursed a small bit of tree root that had caused him to stumble down the path.
“You’d make for a terrible rogue.” They teased.
Rolan dusted himself off as he approached, moving to stand beside Kestrel. “My skills are in the realms of the arcane and academic. You’ll pardon me if dodging infernal roots is not a skill I typically have to practice.”
A long silence filled the air,
Cut by whistling winds and churning waves.
“How… Are you feeling?”
“You mean my leg? It’s great actually.” They smiled, bright and warm, “You really did a fantastic job. Thank you.”
Rolan’s chest puffed out as he crossed his arms, shoulders squared as pride rolled off him. “I am a master wizard after all.”
“So skilled.” Kestrel chuckled, watching as his tail began to curl and sway. “Absolutely unshakeable.”
“Of course!”
“So dedicated to your studies.”
“Was there any doubt?” Rolan smiled, feeling like he stood as tall as a Goliathl.
He was ready to regale them with tales of a few studies he’d conducted while starting his arcane craft. Something he’d hoped would impress Kestrel. He began to speak, only for his throat to go dry as Kestrel brushed a lock of hair behind his ear.
Their eyes danced with a playful, teasing energy as they watched his stunned expression. “Doubt? Never.”
His mouth moved helplessly, trying to summon words. Finally, carefully, he reached up to gently hold their wrist. “You’re an awful tease. You know that right?”
“You’re so fun to tease though.” Kestrel smirked, another hand coming up to rest on his jawline. “An impressive mage… and easy to fluster.”
Rolan hummed softly in response, watching through hooded eyes as he pressed his lips against the inner part of Kestrel’s wrist. Instantly the proud mirth and bluster seemed to waver as their cheeks flushed with heat.
“Once you are settled in the city… You should stop by Lorroakan’s. I can give you a tour of the area.”
“A tour, hm? Do you think you’ll have time while working to become an incredibly powerful wizard?” Kestrel stepped forward, thumb caressing his cheek.
Rolan leaned into their hand, head bent just enough for his nose to ghost against Kestrel’s. “And a stroll on the beach. A venture somewhere nice and peaceful.”
Kestrel moved in closer, their breath teasingly close to his mouth. “You spoil me.”
A hand wrapped around Kestrel’s waist, pulling them into a firm embrace. Their eyes fluttered from the searing heat of Rolan’s lips, their arms moving to wrap around his neck and a hand weaving into his hair.
And for one long moment there was simply tender heat, comfort, and welcoming embrace.
Rolan pulled back for a moment to appreciate the bright flush across Kestrel’s cheeks and warm, beckoning gaze. He peppered tiny kisses against their lips, earning a giggle that made his heart soar.
Resting their foreheads together, Kestrel unknit their hand from Rolan’s hair and moved to caress his cheek again. Despite the chaos and violence they’d been through in the last few weeks, things were starting to look just a little bit brighter. To the hells with what awaited in Baldur’s Gate. Right now, Kestrel was happy to bask in the warm comfort that surrounded them, and the promises for whatever would come.