Work Text:
Aster gazed out across the glimmering water from the windows at the top of the tower. The sun was growing heavy over Waterdeep’s harbors, bathing the water in a golden glow. Her hand lazily traced the page of the book she had been failing to understand for the past hour. Her mind drifted uneasily over the next few days to come. Such a big thing to be so mundane…
The sound of the door crashing open jolted her from her musings. Astarion swept in, bolts of ivory fabric tucked under his arm, his tape measure flung over his shoulder. And the dress…draped across his arms. “Darling, I need your body. Er…your figure…Well, you know what I mean!” he said, dropping his supplies on a nearby bench. He turned to look at her as he hung up the dress.
“What’s that you’re reading?”
“Oh, Gale gave it to me. A wedding present. It’s something about using warding tattoos as a bonding charm…but to be honest, it may as well be written in Rashemi. “ Aster sighed, placing it to the side.
Astarion smirked. “Only Gale would try to flirt using a book.”
“It’s worked before.” Aster muttered absentmindedly.
“Oh, really now? Do go on…”
“What was it you needed, Astarion? Or did you just come in here to irritate me?”
He gestured to the small stool in front of him. “You’re taller than my dress form, I need to work on the hem.”
Aster begrudgingly rose from her seat, joining him in the center of the room. She eyed the ivory lace, the silk against her skin as he helped her step into it. Astarion had insisted that he be the one to sew their wedding outfits the moment Gale told him he had proposed. And he had worked with scarcely a moment to breathe for weeks. Drawing up designs, measuring every inch, dragging her to every textile merchant in Waterdeep that was willing to see them after hours. It was nice to see him so passionate. So alive.
“It’s beautiful, Astarion.” she said, running her fingers along the cuff of one of the flowing sleeves. “You’re beautiful dear, I have merely elevated it.” he muttered, never taking his eyes off a particularly troublesome seam. Finally pleased with its placement, he settled onto the floor and took to hemming.
Aster watched in the mirror, taking in the way the fabric seemed to float. White was not her color, yet Astarion had found the perfect shade. It was incredible. But putting the dress on, seeing herself in it, had caused a pit to form in Aster’s stomach. She shifted anxiously, eliciting an exasperated sigh from her tailor. “I’m going to stick you with a pin if you don’t stop fidgeting Aster. And blood will not come out of this fabric, you can trust me on that.”
Aster shot him an apologetic glance and tried to keep herself still. Several quiet moments passed. “What has you so jumpy anyway?” Astarion asked from between the pins gripped in his teeth. Aster didn’t answer, seeming lost in her mind. He resumed his work on the hem, only the sounds of his occasional tuts to punctuate the silence.
Finally he rocked back on his heels to examine his work. Nodding, he rose, and made his way toward the door. “Take that off,” he called over his shoulder. “I need another spool before I start stitching.” Aster complied, hanging the dress and returning to her spot near the windows. She drew the curtains until there was only a small patch of remaining daylight streaming through. She settled back with the book until Astarion returned. He smiled, bringing his work and joining her in the shaded area of the window seat, lighting nearby candles on his way.
They sat together, in their respective works, but Aster could feel his eyes on her. He wanted to know what was bothering her. But before she could break the silence, he cleared his throat and asked “You do want to marry Gale, don’t you, Aster?”
“Of course…” she replied, not looking up. “Because it’s important to Gale…he wants to be married…”
“That’s not exactly a resounding yes…”
Aster sighed, turning to look out over the harbor. Astarion continued his stitching patiently. She would speak when she was ready.
“Six months ago I was a carefree, artistic, hedonist in Baldur’s Gate…and now I’m about to be someone’s wife…I-I’m not sure I’m cut out for the role…”
Astarion made a sympathetic noise, nodding softly. “And you think Gale doesn’t know this about you? You’re not exactly subtle about your…wild streak.”
“I think Gale doesn’t understand it. You’ve said yourself that it was a miracle I didn’t wind up as one of Cazador’s spawn, given how I lived-”
“And I stand by that statement. You were quite the heathen.”
“And what could Gale Dekarios from Waterdeep understand about that?” Aster let her head fall against the window, the heat of the glass stinging her forehead. “It just all happened so fast…I don’t think enough time has passed for Gale to see me for who I am. Not as a hero of Baldur’s Gate. As the starving artist who drinks and smokes more than she should and did what she had to to survive. As the sorcerer who jumped off the Gate’s walls when the magic became too much…”
Astarion didn’t reply, giving space for her to release all her thoughts. After a few moments of silence, he set aside the dress and leaned forward. “You’re right. Gale doesn’t know that starving artist. Because that’s simply not you. None of us are who we were before. And while I understand your…trepidation…you’re making an awful fuss over something that’s a formality darling.”
Aster sat forward, her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve already made your vows! I was there!”
“I’m not following.”
Astarion rolled his eyes and huffed, gesturing to her warding ring. “In the shadow cursed lands! We were in the house of healing and you found those rings. I remember when you realized what kind of magic connected them. You both argued over who would wear the ring that could cast the ward. Gale refused to even consider allowing you to be hurt on his behalf. But you swapped the rings and thought no one noticed. You promised Gale that no matter what he decided to do about the orb, you would be by his side. And he in turn promised to stay by your side, the orb be damned.”
Aster’s eyes widened at Astarion’s implication. But he was technically correct…that was what happened.
“Shadowheart was there, so there was a cleric to hear your vows…And I-And I remember I was so…proud. Honored…to witness the first friends I had ever had pledge their lives to one another.” He tucked his chin, studying his hands intently. Aster reached forward and took his hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. He lifted his eyes to meet hers, trying to hide the soft mist forming in them.
“You know I loathe attributing anything to the gods. But there is one thing I agree with Gale on. It was a divine intervention that the two of you found me on that beach in Eltergard. I have never known two people more deserving of each other’s affections. Or vows. But this is just a party Aster…you and Gale have been bound to each other for months already.”
Aster pushed her book aside and pulled him into a hug. Astarion always seemed surprised when one of them embraced him, but today he welcomed it, allowing Aster to squeeze him as tight as she could. “Thank you.” she whispered, taking in the comfort of her friend's arms.
When they broke, Astarion tucked his chin again, clearing his throat. He put on his best jovial, teasing expression and said “But, if my sappy, twee droning hasn’t convinced you to go through with it, I can always whisk you away, darling. A sordid affair is always in my repertoire.”
“What’s this I hear from my closest friend and my bride to be?” Gale’s voice boomed from the doorway, where he was leaning with an amused expression.
“Oh perish the thought!” Astarion cried, dramatically laying a hand across his brow. “We’ve been caught laying our secret passions bare.” He gave Gale a wicked smile before rising from his seat and sauntering across the room.
“Alas, the sun has set and I’m feeling…peckish. Don’t wait up darlings!” he called as he swept from the room. Gale watched him go with a soft chuckle. He joined Aster by the window, kneeling beside her and pressing a soft kiss to her hand. “What were the two of you discussing, my love?”
“Nothing important, just talking through some jitters…”
“You’re not getting cold feet on me, are you?”
“Well…I suppose I was…until Astarion pointed out that we already made our vows months ago…” Gale’s eyebrows raised, his expression a mixture of amusement and surprise. Aster held up her hand wiggling her ring finger.
“In the house of healing…we exchanged rings, and made vows. Shadowheart and Astarion were there, so we had a cleric and a witness. Astarion was all too happy to point out that we’ve been sealed for months.” Gale smiled, leaning his forehead to hers. “What a happy accident…” he murmured, placing a soft kiss on her lips. His lips trailed down her to her jaw, then peppering her neck. “However,” he murmured, snaking his arm around her waist “That means I have been a woefully negligent husband these past few months. But…perhaps with Astarion out for the evening…that could be remedied…”