Chapter Text
Gale was certain that this was all Withers’ fault. He objected to Withers’ ridiculous plan to have Arabella leave and simply “follow her own path”. She could not have been older than 9 or 10. If she was too young to start an apprenticeship or formal wizard schooling, then she was certainly too young to follow her bliss or whatever else that bag of bones had intended for her. Instead, he implored Saffron and Withers to allow the girl to stay with him, at least temporarily, and let him teach her the way of the weave. After all, who could be better suited to the task than Mystra’s former chosen and Archmage of Blackstaff Academy? Of course, Arabella was much younger, greener than most of his students at the academy. But it would be fine, mostly. Sure, Gale never saw himself as father material, but that’s not what this was. It is more like an apprenticeship.
Then they met Yenna, the young orphan girl in Rivington who had ‘lost’ her mother. Thankfully, Saff pulled the girl in without a second thought. Yenna and Arabella became fast friends. Yenna shared Gale’s passion for cooking, it just made sense that he would also take an interest in her well being. Then she confessed that she didn’t know how to read, and what kind of teacher would Gale be if he simply let that go uncorrected? When they were out on one of their many shopping trips, he picked up a few workbooks and beginning readers to help Yenna through. It was his duty as an educator, nothing more.
If he felt protective over the girls and objected to the way the other adults talked in the presence of little ears, it was because he was trying to maintain some sense of decorum for the young ladies. There was nothing else. No daughter shaped holes in his heart that they were filling. That was not his intent, certainly not a role he could fill long term. Sure, he had started half a dozen letters to his mother imploring her to take the girls in once he had seen to the end of the Absolute. But that was because it was the proper thing to do, making sure the girls had a proper home with structure, schooling, and bedtimes.
His affection concern for the girls was just because he was Gale of Waterdeep: wizard, professor, and above all else, gentleman. He was not going to let the toils of the road cause him to forget himself.
Never mind that every time he started a letter to his mother, he couldn’t finish it because he couldn’t bear the idea of not seeing his girls pupils every day. He was their teacher, nothing more, and Morena was getting up in years, so he shouldn't burden his mother with two young children.
There was also the matter of a certain vampiric rogue, whom he certainly didn’t harbor any feelings towards. He had made it known his thoughts on children. If there was any hope of something developing between him and the elf, then the girls had no place with him, leastways not long term. Not that he wanted anything to develop between him and the handsome elf. That would be as preposterous as him adopting Yenna and Arabella when all of this was over and moving them all into his tower in Waterdeep.
Ridiculous thoughts to be having when one was this close to death, he rubbed his chest where the orb sat.
“I’m adding this thyme that I found to the pot, okay Mr. Gale?” Yenna asked.
“Oh yes, splendid idea Yenna,” Gale said, her voice snapping him out of his musings, “Did you strip the leaves from the stem like I showed you?” Yenna gave an affirmative hum. “Well done!” He absently ruffled her ginger hair. “Well, I think this roast is just about done, why don’t you call the others in for supper?”
“Yes Mr. Gale! After dinner, could you read another chapter from my book for me and Arabella?”
“Arabella and me,” Gale instinctively corrected, “yes of course Yenna, alright go on, rouse the others.”
He watched her rush off to tell the others that dinner was ready. The rest of the adventurers headed towards their makeshift camp kitchen for the evening meal.
“Arabella, did you clean the bowls like I asked?”
“Yes Gale!” She called, setting down a set of clean bowls.
“Did you use prestidigitation like I showed you, or did you wash them?”
Arabella looked askance, “I tried, I really did. It just didn’t ugh,” she said, stamping her foot in disapproval.
“It’s fine, Arabella,” Gale said in a soothing voice, “We’ll try it again after dinner. Magic takes time.”
Arabella nodded sullenly and filled a bowl.
“Oh, is dinner ready, Papa Gale?” an acrid voice responded from behind him.
Gale rolled his eyes. “I won’t apologize for being kind to children, Astarion. Pity that Saff’s upstanding morality hasn’t rubbed off on you.”
“Pity that this camp is becoming more of an orphanage with every passing day,” Astarion tsked, though out of earshot of the girls.
“What would you have had us do then? Have them fend for themselves?”
“I did!”
“You’re a grown man, well Elf, Astarion it’s hardly the same thing. Speaking of fending for yourself, shouldn’t you be off scurrying in the forest for your evening meal?”
“Hardly. Those hired mercenaries that Karlach and Lae’Zel fought earlier were more than sufficient,” Astarion purred as he dramatically licked his fangs. Gale pulled a face of disgust. “I won’t apologize for being hungry, darling.” Astarion spat Gale’s own words back at him.
Gale sighed as he watched Astarion and the rest of the party settle in for their evening meal. Saffron discussed her plans for tomorrow, which seemed to mostly include poking around the Steel Watch foundry. Halsin would be going with her, along with Shadowheart and Lae’zel. Wyll, Karlach, Minsc, and Jaheria discussed scouting out the area that Wyll’s father might have been taken to. Of course, Astarion grumbled about how they were wasting time by not tracking down Cazador. But Saffron promised all in due time.
“Gale, you don’t mind holding down the fort as it were?” Saff asked.
“Always happy to help,” Gale said.
“We might try to see if there are rooms available at Elfsong Tavern while we’re out tomorrow,” Saff tentatively announced to the group.
“Oh, a right proper bed? Ah, that would be–!” The remainder of Karlach’s sentence was lost to unintelligible squealing.
“We could have a real bath for once,” Shadowheart said wistfully.
“True, but what about…you know?” Gale started and looked pointedly at the girls who were a bit away sitting on the edge of the ruins, legs swinging as if they didn’t have a care in the world.
“What do you mean?” Saff asked obliviously.
“I just don’t think a tavern is an appropriate place for two young girls to be staying,” Gale said.
“But a campsite amongst the ruins is?” Wyll asked skeptically.
Gale opened his mouth to retort, but his fellow wizard cut him off, “It’ll be fine Gale, it’s not like they’ll be subjected to gamblers or drunkards. I promise we will only stay there if we can get a private room large enough for all of us. That way, we will be able to keep an eye on them. It’ll be good to give them a sense of normalcy.”
“I’m not normally one for sleeping indoors, but I agree with Saff,” Halsin responded. It hadn’t escaped Gale’s notice how close the human wizard and the druid had become since lifting the shadow curse. He lounged an arm lazily around her small shoulders. She seemed completely dwarfed by his larger presence. They had a similar sort of outlook on the world, optimistic and led with kindness.
Gale decided to let the matter drop. After dinner, he helped Arabella magically clean the dishes, or rather he cast prestidigitation while Arabella struggled through a simple cantrip. He considered that she might not be a traditional wizard, or even a sorcerer. Instead, he decided to research further into her condition. Yenna begged for another chapter of the book he was reading to them, and Gale happily obliged. Yenna listened with rapt attention, craning her neck over his shoulder, attempting to read along. Arabella pretended to be less interested, but Gale could tell that the young tiefling was just as delighted with the story. He finished the chapter and brushed off their pleas for another chapter, instead sending them to bed in their own tent. Gale stretched and looked forward to a few precious moments of research before rest.
“Aw, Papa Gale, his heart swelling in pride,” Astarion sardonned, as soon as the girls were in their own tent across the camp.
“You know, no one forced you to set your tent so close to mine Astarion,” Gale sighed, “One might argue that you have ulterior motives for kipping so close.”
Astarion pressed his hand to his chest in mock disdain, “You wound me, wizard! If I had ulterior motives, you would be the first to know,” he answered in a low, sultry tone.
“Indeed? Good night, Astarion,” Gale sassed, and settled into his tent, lounging on his bedroll.
And if the deep recesses of his heart he loved the idea of being a child’s Papa, then that was certainly none of the vampire’s business.
The next morning after breakfast had been served, the rest of the party made their way on their respective adventures, leaving Astarion, Gale, and Minsc alone with the girls. Arabella and Yenna dutifully helped Gale clean up, before he dismissed them to work on their schoolwork for the day. I should enroll them in proper schooling… Maybe after we defeat the absolute? Gale questioned as he watched Arabella and Yenna work through the meager study books that he had purchased for them. They both deserved more than the party could provide at the moment. But maybe in a few weeks, when things were settled, he would… What exactly? Take them back to Waterdeep and enroll them in Blackstaff? Gale relaxed with his own research, reading through the Annals of Karsus that he and Saffron had procured after defeating Lorrokan. He settled far enough from the girls to give them privacy but close enough to be ready if they needed anything.
“Good morning, Papa Gale,” an acerbic voice called him out of his reading. He looked up to find Astarion leering over him with a cheshire grin.
“Good morning Astarion,” Gale responded stiffly as the vampire sat next to him on the ground. Gale tried to ignore the shiver that his proximity sent down his spine.
Astarion ran his tongue along his fangs as if he were lost in thought.
“How can I be of assistance?” Gale asked begrudgingly.
“Well, this is rather an embarrassing ask, but,” Astarion began with an uncharacteristic vulnerability in his voice, “I feel like there’s a stain on my face and obviously I can’t see it.” Astarion drifted off.
“Do you not have a mirror?”
“Darling,” Astarion deadpanned, and Gale mentally kicked himself for reminding the rogue of his vampiric shortcomings.
“Oh yes, allow me,” Gale said as he brought a damp rag to Astarion’s cheek, wiping the bit of dried blood from the day before. “There you are,” he finished, his fingers trembling as he traced over Astarion’s fine, flawless skin.
“Thank you, Gale,” Astarion said quietly. It was odd to hear the elf use his name instead of calling him wizard or some sort of pet name. It felt good, a sign of care and respect. Gale was unaware of how long they stood there, in front of Astarion’s tent as he cleaned his face.
“Gale, this doesn’t make any sense!” Arabella whined from her workbook.
“Papa Gale’s work is never done,” Astarion teased.
“It certainly seems that way,” Gale acquiesced, “I think I might take the girls to buy some supplies for dinner. Do you need anything?”
“Oh, I could use a new needle and thread, as long as you’re offering. I have some leggings that need mending.”
“Happy to help.”
“Mr. Gale!” Yenna joined in Arabella’s whining, and soon they began pounding on the table to get his attention.
“Go, they clearly need your assistance more than I do, darling,” Astarion joked. Just like that, he was back to pet names and teases. Gale nodded and went over to aid Yenna and Arabella.
“Whatever is wrong, my pupils?” Gale asked, trying to hide his exasperation.
“This doesn’t make any sense!” Arabella said, gesturing at the spellbook that she was reading.
“The verbal or somatic component?” Gale asked, and Arabella pulled a face, “The words or the movement?”
Gale listened as Arabella attempted to explain her difficulties with the spell. He helped her through the words and the gestures, giving her a demonstration. At one point, she actually cast the spell, and a rush of pride flushed through Gale’s body as he watched her perform her first cantrip. Then Yenna tugged on his sleeve, and he placed a hand over hers, assisting her through writing her own name for the first time.
“Why were you talking to Mr. Astarion earlier? Were you in trouble?” Yenna asked quietly.
Gale laughed, “Oh, nothing like that, Yenna-”
“Do you like him?” Arabella asked forcefully.
“Why, I like all our traveling companions, Arabella,” Gale said firmly, though the tips of his ears turned the faintest shade of pink.
“No I mean, you like like him!” Arabella explained.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Gale stammered out the quick lie. He knew absolutely what the young Tiefling was getting at, and he felt embarrassed to have made himself so obvious to a child. “I enjoy Astarion’s company, as I enjoy everyone’s company.”
“No, you like him, like how a dad likes a mum, or how Miss Saffron likes Halsin,” Arabella urged again, her small voice filled with patience.
“Certainly not,” Gale said with a laugh while his face flushed a fine shade of red. “I’m not sure wherever you got that idea from.”
“Mr. Gale, your face is red, are you okay?” Yenna asked, looking up from her workbook.
“I’m quite fine, thank you for asking Yenna,” He muttered, looking over to Astarion, grateful that the rogue had busied himself with a book. “Perhaps we’ve had too much sun, let’s go fetch some ingredients for dinner,” Gale added quickly.
“Miss Saffron said we needed to stay in camp!” Yenna protested, and though Gale was generally thankful for Yenna’s obedient nature, he wished at this moment she was a bit more rebellious.
“Oh, it’ll be fine, Minsc and Astarion are here,” Gale assured her, “Or you could stay here with Astarion if you’d rather.”
“Absolutely not, the children are your side project wizard!” Astarion called from his tent, and Gale immediately blanched with the realization that the elf must have heard the entire conversation.
“You could get something for Astarion while we’re out! That’s what my dad used to do for my mum when she was mad with him!” Arabella said brightly, clearing her spellbooks from the makeshift table.
“Astarion is not mad at me,” Gale assured Arabella. He briefly spoke to Astarion and Minsc, each waved him off unconcerned about his plans for the day. He brought the girls to the market first, picking up some herbs and fresh vegetables for their evening meal. Yenna and Arabella were relatively well behaved, always staying within his eyesight.
“Well, I think it’s time that we head back to camp girls,” Gale said, his arms full of things for the camp. “Girls?” he called a second time, panic brewing in his chest as he frantically looked around the streets of Baldur’s Gate for Arabella and Yenna.
“Gale!” he heard one of them cry, and he ran over to them, clutching his purchases while whispering the beginnings of a spell. Then he stopped, the girls were standing in front of a confectionery shop, which apparently had escaped his notice but not theirs. The little girls’ eyes were glued to the shop window, which displayed all manner of sweets.
“Arabella, Yenna, you cannot run off like that!” Gale chastised them in a gentle voice.
“But Gale, look!” Arabella whined, gesturing to the window, the pastel colors positively luminous in the afternoon light. It does look tempting, Gale had to admit to himself. He considered the amount of money left in the collective purse as the children looked up at him, pleading looks in their eyes.
“You can each get one thing,” Gale said firmly. “Behave yourselves.” He added as he opened the door of the shop for them, the twinkling bell announcing their presence in the store.
“You could get something for Mr. Astarion from here!” Yenna said cheerfully. Gale wondered how to explain vampirism to the child.
They went to make their selections as Gale leaned against the counter, his knees weak from the day’s errands.
“Your daughters are so pretty and wonderfully behaved,” the shopkeeper cooed from behind the counter. She was a half-elf who at least looked about his age, though it was always difficult to tell with half-elves, with lovely warm brown skin and tight coiled curls atop her head. Gale blushed at the misplaced compliment. He debated about correcting her, but then he would be forced to explain why a single man in his thirties had been entrusted with two young girls.
“Oh, thank you,” he murmured, assuming that the safer option was not to correct her.
“You and their mum must be so proud,” she said.
“Oh, there’s no… that is to say… um,” Gale stammered.
“You’re a single dad then?” the shopkeeper purred, and something in her tone made him flush.
“Yes, Gale of… Gale Dekarios, lovely to meet you, miss?” Gale leaned flirtatiously over the counter.
“Demora,” she answered with a gorgeous smile.
“You should buy these for Astarion! They were my mum’s favorites,” Arabella announced as she put a lollipop and a small box of chocolates on the counter. Yenna was close behind her with her candy of choice.
“Who’s Astarion?” Demora asked.
“One of the men who travels with us. Gale has a crush on him,” Arabella announced.
“Oh, your dad has a crush on someone, does he?” Demora asked, clearly taken aback by the revelation, as Gale blanched.
“Gale’s not our dad,” Arabella said, wrinkling her nose. Demora locked eyes on Gale, brows raised. Gale’s mouth ran dry with anxiety from having been found out.
“From the mouth of babes. Well, girls we ought to go; we wouldn’t want to worry Miss Saffron or Mr. Halsin. Lovely to meet you,” Gale said quickly, thoroughly embarrassed. He dropped a few coins on the counter and ushered the girls out of the shop.
Mercifully, the walk back to camp was uneventful. The girls were sufficiently silenced by their sweet treats. The rest of their party had returned to the campsite as well, in various states of distress. Gale caught one last look of Astarion, who seemingly hadn’t moved from his earlier post. The wizard tapped the box of chocolates that sat in the pocket of his robe and resigned himself to making dinner for the group.