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Life since returning to Waterdeep had been, from Gale’s point of view, idyllic. The Netherbrain was gone, he’d helped save the world with a ragtag group of people whom he’d come to care for as a family. He’d asked Rhuta to marry him and she’d agreed. He knew it wasn’t easy for her to live in a city, being such a free spirit and a druid, but he appreciated her sacrifice and made it a goal to honor that.
The sun was beginning to set over the waters outside his balcony. He sat back in his chair, rubbing his eyes after staring at looping texts for hours. It was one of the things Rhuta loved to tease him about. When he was focused, he became focused. He’d barely even noticed how dark it was becoming inside his study. Although being alone in this room wasn’t abnormal for him, he felt the solitude was particularly pervasive today. Both Tara and Rhuta had been out all day. He grinned to himself as he reflected on how well the two had gotten on once they’d returned. With a slight embarrassed grimace he recalled how much they both loved to tease him.
Gale stood and stretched, his spine popping and cracking. ‘I’m certainly not getting any younger,’ Gale thought. He waved his hand and ignited the stacks of candles throughout the study, bathing the room in a soft orange glow. He set about tidying up his desk when the sounds of fluttering wings caught his attention. He looked up to see a Dire Raven perched on the balcony railing and a winged cat landing softly on the balcony stones. The raven hopped down, cawed in greeting and shook its feathers, a look of contentment in its beady black eyes.
“Good evening, Mr Dekarios,” said Tara. She padded over to a cushion next to the fireplace and sat gracefully, folding her wings in tightly. “I do hope your day of study was fruitful.”
Gale smiled and ignited the fireplace, Tara purring in approval at the burst of warmth. He leaned down and gently patted her head, nodding as he did.
“Twas most invigorating,” he answered. “I hope your day of pigeon hunting was half as bountiful.” Tara was about to reply when the raven cawed loudly and a bright burst of light erupted within its body. Within a moment there stood his love Rhuta, all smiles.
“You should have seen her prowess, dear,” she said. “Fewer creatures that I’ve encountered stalk their prey with as much vigour as our dearest tressym.” She stretched and popped her joints, no doubt tired from a day spent in Wild Shape. Her wild dark hair looked windblown, her mismatched eyes watching him with unmasked adoration. She carried so much power in a form so small that Gale was amazed. He may have looked down on her physically but he always looked up to her in matters of the heart. Why, without her, he’d have sacrificed himself to his pernicious patron at the first chance. He’d be forever grateful she talked him off of that ledge.
“I’m surrounded by the mightiest of hunters,” Gale joked. He walked over to Rhuta and bent down on a knee, drawing her into his arms. She smelt of sunshine and forests, so reminiscent of their time spent in the Emerald Grove. Her strong arms encircled his waist and squeezed, causing him to wheeze slightly and chuckle at her exuberance. They parted and Gale stood again and clapped his hands once.
“What say you both to dinner, hm? I’m feeling particularly cozy this evening.”
“We already have that covered, Mr Dekarios,” Tara supplied. Rhuta pulled some pigeon carcasses from her pack and proudly held them aloft. Gale grimaced slightly but then shook his head in defeat.
“Pigeon pot pie, coming right up.”
Once dinner was finished Gale and Rhuta cuddled into their favorite sofa next to the fire. Gale was reading aloud from a book, some kind of adventure novel, one of the stories Rhuta liked best. As much as she loved Gale and his expansive intelligence, the minutiae of magic and all things wizardry was a bit over her head. Even learning to channel the Weave that night in camp had been a test of her skills. She’d take her natural magic over anything that complex any day.
Rhuta did her best to stifle a yawn but it didn’t slip past his awareness. He shut the book and placed it on the small table beside him, drawing her further into his arms and holding her tightly. He nuzzled his nose into her hair and breathed deeply, causing Rhuta to giggle quietly.
“Have I ever told you how grateful I am that you agreed to come with me?” he asked. “I know it’s not in your nature to be kept within walls. I know that marriage isn’t the most conventional thing for you either. You and Halsin are so much alike.”
Rhuta laughed loudly. “True, we are much alike. Even without our shared druid nature, we agreed on much. I chose to come with you, though. I have enough room to spread my wings.” She turned to face him. “As for marriage, I’ve considered us mates for a long time. That night before Moonrise Towers was the deciding moment for me.”
Gale recalled that night under the false aurora, how she’d looked into his eyes and refused the magic he’d offered to wow her with. She’d given herself to him and he’d given himself to her. He blushed slightly at the memory. He was still a bit shy in matters of physical intimacy given that his only real experience up until her had been his metaphysical bonding with Mystra. He’d fumbled and blushed his way through that night but she’d been so patient and guided him through everything.
Rhuta could see the slight color rising on his cheeks as she could almost hear his thoughts. “You’re getting better if that’s any consolation,” she said. Gale’s blush deepened even more and she chuckled. She loved to tease him. How could she not when his reactions were nothing short of adorable?
“B-Be that as it may,” he slightly stuttered, “I’m more that happy to continue my education.” He looked down and she could see how his eyes darkened, the pupils blown wide.
“I’m more than happy to continue teaching you,” she replied. She was sure her eyes were just as blown. Gale stood and pulled her with him. He bent down again and leveled his face with hers.
“Please do. Please give me the hands-on approach.” Rhuta smiled and sauntered over to the stairs leading to their bedroom. She paused and turned before ascending.
“You’ll be practicing with Mage Hand today.” She scampered up the stairs and he quickly chased after her, more than excited to see just what his little wildling had in store.