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A lone owl hooted across the vast sky. There was no moon tonight and the dark had crawled into the camp. Moods had soured, terse exchanges were made over dinner and everyone had found a reason to sleep early. Astarion had sauntered to his bedroll after a cutting remark to Tav that had left her reeling. She was staring into the fire, unaware that Gale was still there.
He smiled awkwardly at her, regretting pouring himself another glass of wine so late. It was still full. He watched her pick up the plates and stand, sighing heavily.
He stammered as he stood. "Here. Let me help you."
"No it's fine. It's not that much."
She dumped the crockery into the pot and lifted it with ease, marching towards the stream without a backwards glance.
Gale watched her go and pondered if he should follow anyway. He could see the tensing in her shoulders and thought better of it. He cursed himself for not saying something to that damn vampire. Gods knew she was trying her best.
He poured his wine into the fire and went to his tent.
As he picked up his book, the pages lay blank before him. He could only see her face. He blushed and coughed, trying to shake her from his mind and concentrate on the text but she swam back to him. He let himself linger on the way the sun caught her hair, how it danced on the smattering of freckles on her neck and shoulders. How her eyes creased as she laughed, the lines in her face belying her gentle nature.
He wished he could tell her this. But they barely knew each other. He'd been so taken aback by her imagery of them kissing at his impromptu magic lesson that he'd barely been able to look her in the eye, though the thought had hounded his every waking minute since. On too many occasions he'd had to remind himself to look into her eyes and not at her lips when she spoke. It must be obvious to everyone how enchanted he'd become by her.
Since that night, he found he waffled at her constantly. Trying to keep up a professional comraderie until he had nothing left but to trail off into an awkward silence.
She wasn't interested in him, clearly. She'd drunk too much that night, and the warm embrace of Mystra had simply shown them a passing daydream. It wasn't him she wanted, just love and his face had just happened to be there. He was sure of it.
He remembered that image now, of how she drew him to her by his waistband, how she'd run her fingers through his hair and how her tongue had delicately slipped into his mouth.
His cock twitched and he inhaled sharply. He snapped the book shut and the orb in his chest pierced him. He rubbed at it and sighed. He threw the book on his side table and leaned back in the chair.
He heard foot steps. Tav's. He heard the plonk of the pot and crockery being dropped by the fire, and the scrape of her boot as she kicked dirt onto it to put it out.
He was out of his tent before he knew what he was doing. He just wanted to look at her.
She stood up and forced a short smile at him before going back to the fire. His legs forced him to shorten the distance between them. She stopped and looked at him passively. He could feel a blush erupt on his face and wash down his neck. He clenched his fists and walked slowly towards her, mouth agape, screaming at his brain to say something, anything.
He came to a stop in front of her, close enough he could reach around her waist and draw him to her. Caress her face and kiss her neck. Instead he cleared his throat, looked into her eyes and saw she'd been crying.
His mind went blank. He'd never seen her cry before. He'd blundered into a private moment and there was no way he'd imagine he could extricate himself from it without seeming a complete fool.
She sniffed and her jaw clenched. She waited, daring him to ridicule her and suffer the consequences.
His brow furrowed and he reached for her.
She flinched and so did he. But she didn't leave.
His body overrid his fear and shame and he threw himself at her, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing her to him. His heart raced so fast it ached. Her hair smelled like elderflower and her body was so soft and warm. He spread his fingers across her back as he hugged her tighter and felt her arms close around him delicatley. He closed his eyes and inhaled the perfume of her hair as he heard her sniffle.
There were no words that could compensate for this action. He'd shown her she was not alone, that he would always be there for her. He felt her fidget and released her, watching her wipe her eyes. She looked sheepishly at the floor.
"Thank you." She stammered in a whisper.
She wiped her eye again and he took her hand, causing a soft gasp to fall from her. He could feel his heart beat in his ears as he watched himself lift her hand to his mouth and kiss it. She looked at him with wide eyes, mouth slightly open.
His body seized the moment, he pulled her to him and pressed his lips to hers as he cupped her jawline tenderly with both hands. He felt her hand on his elbow and kissed her again, deeper. Her lips were pillow soft and salty from her tears.
She brought her other hand up to his chest and he moaned softly into her mouth, parting his lips.
She pulled back.
"Gale" She whispered. He flinched, shaking his lust from himself.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking I"-
He looked at her and she was smiling kindly. Her brow knotted beautifully as she looked at him puzzled.
Gale couldn’t bear to hear her tell him that she admired him as a friend, that their professional relationship was more important. It was more than he could bear in this moment.
"Well. Good night." He said far too loudly. He turned on his heel and scampered back to his tent.
He lay back on his bedroll, palm against his forehead. What had he been thinking? He hadn't, obviously. He'd embarrassed himself so utterly. Maybe he should pack and leave now. He'd be miles away by morning. Find a passing coach back to Waterdeep.
The tadpole squirmed in answer. No. They were close to finding this druid and a cure. But he would leave then. Gods was she ever so beautiful, her lips sweet and her body so soft in his arms.
He closed his eyes and thought of the kiss. He imagined parting her lips and tasting her tongue, touching her bare skin and hearing her moan with pleasure. Hearing her sigh his name.
His cock bristled and he unlaced his pants to play with himself. A sudden surge of embarrassment flooded him as he heard her say his name in admonishment. He flinched from himself and rolled onto his belly, pushing his face into his pillow. He couldnt scream. She'd hear him.
He closed his eyes. Go to sleep. Cast her from your mind. Reach for the weave. He whispered an enchantment and the air around him grew warm. Mystra. Oh how he had loved her. He inhaled her scent now and thought of their last night together before he'd ruined it. Ruined himself and been cast aside.
He felt wretched enough to cry. He whispered her name. Calling to her. If ever he needed reassurance from his goddess, it would be now. Silence replied. He sighed heavily and pushed his face deeper into the pillow until it covered his ears, stifling the air.
He heard his name whispered. Mystra had answered his call.
"My lady." He murmured, tears welling in his eyes. "I've longed to hear your voice."
He sat up and heard Tav clear her throat.
He spun and saw her standing in his tent.
"Oh, forgive me, I thought I was... Nevermind." He mumbled and looked at the ground.
Tav knelt at the edge of his bedroll. She cleared her throat again.
"Gale." She murmured. "I don't want you to think that I"-
"Yes I'm so sorry. Please, consider my blunder forgotten. Please. Don't dwell on it any longer." He stammered.
Tav didn't move and he blushed under her gaze. She seemed so awkward in his tent. He wanted her to leave so he could sulk in peace.
She sighed and began again. "I don't want you to go to bed thinking that I didn't want you to kiss me." She mumbled.
Gale floundered. He held his breath as he watched her fiddle with her fingernails.
"I... okay." He finally said. He stood up and she did the same quickly.
He took her hand and looked into her eyes. She was as nervous as he was and his heart leapt.
He took her shoulders and kissed her again. She clutched at his shirt and he wrapped his arms around her. He felt her chest heave against his as he held her. She parted her lips and slid her tongue into his mouth. He moaned softly and scooped his arms up her back, pressing her against him as he leaned back. She whimpered and held his neck tightly. They pulled back from each other and he rubbed his nose against hers. Listening to her sigh. He felt a chuckle rise in him as he buried his face in her neck. Kissing her and smelling her hair.He released her and took her hands. She smiled at him and sighed again.
They both blushed again as the awkward silence filled Gale's tent. He cleared his throat.
"Well"- Tav began.
"Stay with me." Gale blurted.
Another awkward silence followed.
Tav bit her lip and looked at him. Gale blushed under her gaze. "I mean, I can't. Because of the orb." He stammered. "But I don't want you to be alone."
Tav paused and Gale took her hand. "I don't want to be alone." He said firmer.
He hoped he was being forthright and charming, rather than the simpering fool he felt.
Tav squeezed his hand. "I would like that." She stammered back.
He led her to his bedroll and they cuddled up. She was so warm in his arms and he nestled his face in her hair. She clasped at his hands and let sleep take her. He watched her fall asleep and felt his eyes grow heavy. He kissed her cheek and rolled onto his back as he felt her cuddle up to him. Gale closed his eyes and hoped that the sun would be late tomorrow.