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Minthara assumed she would always see her world in black and white. In truth, she never wanted to find it. The very concept of it turned her stomach, words haunting her ever since she was a young girl.
“Soulmates are a weakness, Minthara.”
Even as she had her mind controlled, she remembered her mother’s words, and was thankful that all she interacted with were goblins and hobgoblins. If the Absolute introduced her to her soulmate here of all places, it would be easy to dispose of them and she could continue to follow the words of her new goddess.
And then she met Karlach Cliffgate.
Life had spun and moved so fast that she barely had the time to process that her entire world had exploded in color the minute the tiefling entered her life. Except for the fact that so many bright colors made her eyes burn.
The first color she saw was red. The red of Karlach, the red of blood.
It was probably her favorite color if she allowed herself such a child-like thought that did not belong to someone of House Baenre.
The rest of the colors followed suit and while she did her best to ignore them, she couldn’t deny that she found her eyes lingering on Karlach the longer they travelled.
It was only when Karlach was about to let the infernal engine take her life that Minthara allowed herself to admit that she had a soulmate.
“You mustn’t allow your spark to go out, Karlach.” Minthara knew her voice sounded very level, but internally she knew her desperation towards keeping her alive. “Return to the hells and I shall be by your side until we find a way for you to return to this world.”
“Ngh… alright Soldier.” Minthara helped Karlach up as Wyll opened a portal for them to go through.
The Hells were hotter than Minthara could have imagined, but perhaps it was because she was used to the cool climate in the Underdark. She managed to keep herself composed as Karlach fell to her knees, gasping for air with a hand on her engine.
“It worked,” Karlach took one final deep breath as she stood up fully. “It worked Soldier, my engine, it’s cooled off.” She felt Karlach’s golden eyes on her as she spoke, and Minthara wondered if it was the heat from Avernus that made her cheeks burn. “But what I want to know is why you fought so hard to save me, Minthara. We rarely, if ever, saw eye to eye.”
Minthara didn’t respond, at least not at first.
If she responded with the truth, it would be admitting the weakness that she had been denying since she had met Karlach in the Goblin Camp. She hadn’t wanted to admit that she saw color. In fact, the only person she had even mentioned it to was Tav, and they had been encouraging her to say something since they found out.
“Do not worry about it, Karlach.” Minthara shook her head. “We need to find shelter for now.”
Karlach hesitated before eventually she gave her a small nod, and the two of them started walking.
They walked in silence for a while, the time blurring together as they avoided the imps that had been sent by Zariel to bring Karlach in as she was alerted to her arrival.
“I think I saw a cave,” Minthara’s voice broke through the awkward silence between the two women. “Behind that dark red stone,”
The addition of the color had been said off the cuff. It was only when she saw Karlach’s head snap towards her did she realize that she had said something that wasn’t commonplace for most people.
Her heart betrayed her and flipped in her chest as she watched Karlach turn and go in the exact direction she had mentioned, finding the cavern that had been mentioned.
Camp was set in relative silence, and only once Minthara was alone in her tent did she allow herself to breathe.
Karlach saw color too, was it because of her?
No, how could she even think like that.
“Minthara?” Karlach’s voice was softer than she had ever heard it, and her head poked in through the curtains. “May I?”
“Feel free,” Minthara shifted to give Karlach room to sit, and instead of sitting next to her, Karlach sat in front of her. Before Minthara could ask her, she grabbed the collar of her camp clothes and pulled her into a kiss.
“I’ve been waiting for you to say something,” Karlach pulled back, both of them panting. “But I couldn’t wait anymore. I’ve had a feeling for a while. You looked at me a lot, like a lot. And Tav said… oh fuck.”
It took a moment for Minthara’s mind to catch up with what Karlach was saying. She was so focused on the mere concept of how good Karlach’s lips had felt against hers. Minthara had kissed many people, but the idea of kissing her soulmate after so long was a feeling she didn’t think she would ever tire of.
“Tav told you.” When they returned to Baldur’s gate, Minthara would hunt them to the ends of the earth. Their blood would stain the soil beneath their feet.
“I’m glad they did,” Karlach’s fingers undid Minthara’s updo, letting her silver hair cascade to her shoulders. “I was starting to worry that you didn’t see color the same time I did, and then Tav mentioned it, and I knew I just had to wait until we were both ready. And then… I got tired of waiting, especially since you joined me here.”
“I suppose I owe them a thank you,” Minthara’s lip curled, but Karlach kissed it away. “Are you sure you wish to pursue a relationship with me? It can be dangerous.”
“Minthara, you followed me here. I’m sure I can handle drow assassins or whatever it is you expect us to deal with once we get my engine fixed.” Karlach shook her head. “I can take ‘em. You’ve seen what I’m capable of.”
Minthara had seen everything she was capable of, and knew they would be ready. First they would conquer Avernus, and Minthara would get Zariel to beg and plead for mercy and a way to fix Karlach’s engine before she separated her head from her body. From there, it would take very little effort to return to her home in the Underdark and take control of it there.
Minthara pulled Karlach into another kiss at the thought.
They wouldn’t be a weakness. Her mother was wrong.
Karlach was strength, and the two of them will be unstoppable.