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Twigs snapped under Helena’s boots and branches scratched at her arms as Helena trudged through the forest. It was a clear night, the moon and stars bright in the inky black sky. Helena’s shift as camp lookout had just ended, and the thought of lying down in her hot tent made her skin crawl. Instead of sleeping, Helena grabbed her lute and took off to find somewhere peaceful to meditate. They’d made camp on the crest of a steep hill so they’d have a better vantage point, and Helena didn’t have to travel far from camp to find the perfect spot.
The clearing faced east, and Helena could see for miles. She found a large, flat rock to sit on and crossed her legs in front of her. She closed her eyes and focused on her surroundings: the moon, the stars, the chirping of crickets and the distant bubbling river. She felt the cold, rough stone under her fingers, the breeze on her face. It was the most calm she’d felt in a few days.
Elistraee guide me, help me spread joy to my companions, let me ease their minds and souls…
Helena pictured all of her companions, their tired expressions etched on her mind. She wanted to find a way to raise their spirits, but so much had happened to them, she didn’t know how. Helena thought of Gale, and remembered how earlier that night she’d met his gaze across the campfire. He looked beautiful in the soft orange glow, the flames reflected in his eyes, the soft smile on his lips. If she focused hard enough, she could even smell the book dust that permeated his clothes and the sandalwood scent of his soap.
“There you are!”
Helena gasped, her thoughts interrupted by the disembodied voice. She clutched her chest in what was, admittedly, a bit of a dramatic gesture. Helena turned to see Gale emerging from the trees, as if her thoughts had conjured him. His hair was tied back, but some strands had come loose and clung to his sweaty neck.
“You startled me!” Helena said with a sigh.
“Apologies, dear lady,” Gale said as brushed a stray leaf off his shoulder. “What are you doing out here alone? This area runs rife with dangerous creatures. Bugbears, goblins, redcaps. Not to mention the –”
“I’m twenty feet from camp, Gale,” Helena laughed.
“Still, you should be more cautious. I would hate to see you eaten by a hag,” Gale smiled at her and looked around at the scene. “Though I can’t deny this view is spectacular. May I join you?”
Helena nodded and shifted over so Gale had space to sit. Somewhere in the distance, a screech of an owl echoed through the valley. Gale hummed quietly, a noise he made whenever he was pleased with something.
“What a beautiful night,” he said as he looked up at the moon, then back to Helena. “What were you doing out here, anyway?”
“I was praying, asking Elistraee to guide me, to help me raise the spirits of my companions. Yours included,” Helena nudged his shoulder with her own.
Gale blew out a sharp breath through his nose. “Oh, don’t waste your worries or your prayers. I am certain the pantheon is none too happy with the likes of me.”
Helena tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear and turned to face Gale. “It doesn’t work that way. At least, not with Elistraee. She doesn’t hold a grudge like some of the others. She doesn’t want anyone to suffer.”
Gale was silent, staring across the valley. Helena knew he didn’t believe her, but there was little she could do about it.
“I see you brought your lute,” Gale said after a moment, and nodded towards the instrument lying next to them. “Play for me, please? Nothing would bring me greater joy than to hear you sing, Helena.”
“In that case, how could I say no?”
A flush crept up Helena’s neck as she reached for the lute. She laid it across her knees and cleared her throat before her fingers began to move, the first notes filling the silence of the night. Helena closed her eyes as she sang a song her mother taught her years ago.
On this night the pale moon flies
Through the endless starry skies
So hold me close
Feel the rhythm of my heart echoing far
Take my hand
Lead me where to souls could soar
Helena’s fingers plucked the strings with deliberate precision. She felt closest to Elistraee, and her mother, when she honoured them through music. When the song ended and Helena opened her eyes, she saw Gale watching her in reverent silence. Helena put the lute to the side and turned to him.
“Helena, that was-” Gale met her gaze once more, and his smile made the creases around his eyes deepen. “Your voice is like the wind through the leaves, or the rain on the cobblestones. It is magic. To hear you sing is to be wrapped in the warmest embrace, where every syllable is poetry and every breath a spell. It was incandescent, truly.”
“Thank you, Gale,” Helena smiled back, content with his praise. She moved to lean back on her hands, but instead of cold rock, her fingers fell atop warm skin. Gale twitched but didn’t pull away. The forest seemed to go silent as they sat, frozen. A heartbeat later, Gale flipped his hand over and laced his fingers with Helena’s.
“Sometimes I wonder…”
“Gale, I…”
They spoke at the same time, and each laughed it off. Helena was about to tell him to go ahead when she noticed flickers of pale purple light travelling up the dark tendrils left by the orb. Slowly, she raised her eyes to meet Gale’s once more.
“Does it hurt?” she whispered.
“A little, perhaps, but I would not trade this moment for all the riches in Faerûn, nor every tome nestled in the halls of Candlekeep. This moment with you, Helena, with the moon and stars above us, well, I cannot tell you how much it means to me. It is enough to warm my soul for a hundred lifetimes,” Gale’s voice was tinged with sadness, but his smile was tender and genuine. Their eyes locked on each other for a second, and Helena saw all the pain and fear behind them. Gale’s hand tightened around hers briefly before he let go.
“We should get back to camp before the others wake up,” Gale muttered, his eyes on the ground.
“I can’t think of anything I’d like to do less, but you’re right. The others will get grumpy if they don’t have their breakfast, and your scrambled eggs are the best by far,” Helena joked, but it was true.
“Well,” Gale slapped his knees before he stood up. “I could always use an assistant, if you would indulge me.”
Helena grinned and stood as well. With her lute in hand, they made their way back to camp just as the sun broke over the horizon.