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Alyss looked with a wry smile at the purple woollen blanket spread out at her feet, almost every inch of its surface covered in food and drink, while Gale sat at one end looking very pleased with himself. The park was absolutely beautiful in early evening, but the view of golden light and green grass was nothing compared to what was in front of her.
"I said a picnic, not a royal banquet," she said. "But I might have known you would put in the maximum amount of effort. You don't do anything halfway, do you?"
"You know me. No gesture too grand." Gale pushed aside a few dishes to clear a spot for her on the blanket, indicating that she should sit. Alyss did so, and began piling her plate with a bit of everything.
"Is this fig jam?" she asked in delight. "And honeycomb, too! When in the world did you have the time to track all this down?"
"I've been gathering it in bits and pieces over the last few days," he replied, with a sheepish smile. "Probably spent a bit less time grading papers on interplanal anomalies than I should have. One can never say I don't have priorities."
Alyss leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Well, I'm honored that I was a higher priority than interplanal anomalies. At least for today." She took a hearty bite of jam-smeared bread. "Mm! And goodness, am I glad you put in the effort."
"Anything for you, my beautiful and talented bard." Gale poured two glasses of wine, and handed one of them over. "I am eternally grateful that I walked into the Yawning Portal that night and met you."
She tapped her glass to his, trying not to make it too obvious that a swarm of butterflies was swirling in her stomach. "And I am grateful that you have such excellent taste in music—and lady friends," she teased. "Cheers, sweetheart."
The next few minutes were spent in companionable silence, as the two tucked in to the magnificent spread in front of them. Alyss couldn't help but remember that book he'd recommended to her, about the royal couple that turned everything in their lives into an art; clearly, it was a gift Gale had as well.
"We should go traveling someday," Gale remarked absently. "You would like that, wouldn't you?"
"Are you sure you can get away from your work?" Alyss teased. "I think half the magic students in Waterdeep might sink into despair if their favorite handsome professor was gone for more than a tenday."
He chuckled. "Oh, I'm sure they would manage. Though I expect their substitute professor would have a few horrifying tales for me when I returned. This is all completely theoretical, though, at least for now. Where would you like to go, if you had the chance?"
Alyss considered this. "Amn, I think," she said at last. "Athkatla, in particular. I doubt I would like living there very much, but it would be interesting to visit. All the culture, and color, and style…it would be extraordinary."
"I see the appeal," he agreed. "My one objection to Athkatla is how strict they are about magic practitioners there. I doubt I would last more than an hour without being arrested."
She winked and elbowed him gently. "Don't worry, I would break you out of prison if necessary. I'm a woman of many talents, you know."
"Oh, I am very aware. For what it's worth, if we did go to Athkatla, I would be perfectly happy to carry your shopping bags while we explore their famous markets. I have no doubt you would pick out splendid new wardrobes for both of us."
"Excellent. You really do need to wear something other than your teaching robes occasionally," said Alyss, and laughed. "We'll dress you up like a grand Athkatla merchant prince. So where would you go, if you were able to take a sabbatical from the school?"
Gale tilted his head, obviously thinking deeply. "To tell the truth, I'm rather intrigued by Rashemen," he said. "Extraordinary place, from what I've heard. Have I ever told you about my old friend Minsc, from the battle against the Absolute?"
"The one with the talking mouse?"
"Space hamster, according to him. And Boo was not even the strangest thing about that man. Still, I was fond of him, and he had some fascinating stories about Rashemen. It sounds like a remarkable place." He looked out wistfully over the park below. "They say the walls between the planes are thinner there, and all sorts of things slip through. Minsc told me that everything in nature up in the north has a spirit, and that they often speak to us mortals, if we are willing to listen. To be fair, he might have been exaggerating, but I'm very intrigued by the idea."
"I don't blame you. Imagine the songs they might know, or the things they've seen," Alyss breathed. "All right, you win. We'll go to Rashemen before we head to Athkatla. In the summer though, please. I may be resilient, but not enough for a Rashemen winter."
"Excellent! Perhaps Minsc himself would agree to be our tour guide. You'd like him, I think—I've never met someone with a more astonishing array of stories."
Alyss laughed softly and leaned against his shoulder, taking another long sip of wine. "I can think of someone here with plenty of astonishing stories as well. And I would rather not be talking about your old friend, when we could be talking about each other."
"Ah, so that's your game, is it? You want me to shower you with compliments?" He grinned and winked at her. "I think I can oblige. You, Alyss, are a remarkable woman, and I do adore you so very much."
She lifted her chin to press a kiss to his lips. "Very much likewise, my handsome wizard. Very much likewise."