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Another warm evening. The Rosymorn Monastery really was a triumph of architecture. Gale had been practising the meditations Tav had given him. He’d even joined her and Halsin on their morning climbs of late, trailing behind them. He’d fallen to his doom a few short days ago. Thank Mystra Halsin had caught him in the fall and taken the blow. Choosing his own demise over that of half the Sword Coast.
‘Think nothing of it my friend’ Halsin had chuckled as he stood with Gale’s aid back at camp. He had taken Gale’s face in both his hands and kissed his lips. Chuckling lowly as he went back to whatever business he had elsewhere. Gale was breathless. He felt far too warm but he was only wearing trousers. He’d brought his fingers to his mouth and frowned.
‘My love, are you alright?’ Tav asked. He spun, suddenly horrified. He stared at her wide eyed.
‘I was. I. Halsin was.’ Tav had smirked. ‘He kissed you didn’t he?’
Gale flustered. Tav took his hands. ‘It’s okay! It’s just, sort of what he does?’ she mused.
Gale’s grimace belied his fear.
‘No, I haven’t kissed him Gale.’ She reassured. ‘Though, if I fall off a cliff and he saves me, I might let him get a quick peck in. Would only be polite.’ She chuckled.
Gale snorted. She was right. Of course. Halsin was uninhibited. He loved freely, and often. He saw love and passion in all their forms as inclusive. It was inspiring, in a way. Just not for Gale. He’d heard Halsin talk of ‘lovers’ and assumed he was discussing subsequent partners. The glee with which Astarion had teased him for not understanding Halsin took more than one lover, often more than once at a time. Easy enough at the Grove he supposed. Though surely there had to be some kind of rota? And how did the bed chambers work logistically? He shook the questions from his mind to quell the image of a vast bed for more than a dozen druids, Halsin’s bellowing chuckle emanating from beneath a myriad pile of flesh. He shook again, moving on, Gale, moving on.
Now, he was doing some of the exercises Tav had taught him as part of their ‘meditations.’ He had noticed the sharper cut of his body, how his muscles had begun to breach his skin as he practised daily, nightly, Tav often beside him, engaging in her own far more advanced practises. He often watched as her body moved in ways that awed him. She could stand on her hands as though they were feet, walking around like one of the circus acrobats he saw once. Bending her lithe body this way and that, freeing all but one hand or a few fingers from the earth beneath her. He hadn’t considered this was possible without magic. To him, it seemed it. A human magic he’d been hitherto unaware of, it never worthy of mention in any magical tome he’d come across. Perhaps when this was over, he’d write it. With her help.
The greenery around them began to sigh its warmth as the sun fell, making the air sweet and wet. Tav approached him with a hot cup of tea. It smelled of mint and something earthy he couldn’t quite place. Mugwort? Something pastoral and probably good for his humours. Or muscles. Or constitutions? He didn’t know. But if he was going to train, it was good to keep replenished. He drank it all and sneered at the bitterness of it. Tav watched him wide eyed as she stirred her own cup, a pot of honey next to the cup in her hand.
‘I see you’ve been taking your teachings seriously then.’ She giggled. ‘Just because training your body can be hard, doesn’t mean everything you partake in should be gruelling. We’re not monks.’
‘It wasn’t that bad’ he lied.
Tav chuckled. ‘I have often made the same mistake.’
‘Often?’ Gale puzzled.
‘Honey’s hard to come by on the road. The tea is good for you all the same. It is easy to forget its taste. I’m glad we came across that hive.’
‘Halsin says the beeswax is also good for lacerations. Keeps wounds clean as they heal apparently.’ Gale offered. Tav raised her eyebrows in interest. They both pondered the next time this information could potentially save them. It wouldn’t be long.
Gale rinsed his cup in the pot and took Tav’s to wash them both. She sat by the fire and watched him work, massaging her hands and breathing deeply.
He felt her watch him with interest. Staring at him while he bent to his work. He felt himself being studied as he washed the cups and he heard her sigh contentedly. He smiled to himself. She enjoyed watching him as much as he enjoyed watching her. This was love, he thought. To be at ease, to enjoy being witnessed, as much as bearing. He did not have to perform magic for her when she was just as entertained by him rinsing dishes. He’d never known anything like it. Not once in his life that he could remember. He rose and turned to her.
‘I have been training for quite some time.’ he said flatly.
‘Your body and movements in a fight make that apparent.’ Tav replied warmly. She smiled now as Gale padded to her and took a place beside her. He took her cheek in his hand and brushed her with his thumb. She closed her eyes in contentment as she leaned into his hand.
‘Come to bed with me?’ He asked.
Tav smiled wider ‘of course, when was the last time we slept apart?’
‘No.’ Gale began. He faltered. ‘I would try to lay with you. Tonight.’
Tav’s smile faltered as she considered. She bit her lip. He knew her want was as deep as his but to hear her deny him would still cut to the quick.
‘Do you think we can?’ She asked
‘I don’t know. But I’d rather try than deny ourselves any longer.’ He exhaled. He kissed her, her lips sweet from her honeyed tea, she moaned softly in his mouth and clutched at his wrist as he stroked her face.
‘Your training has been to help you control yourself in fear, I do not know if it will work in love, but I cannot deny how I yearn for you Gale.’ She almost whispered.
His heart leapt. He stood, almost giddy. ‘Gently, then.’ He offered.
His tent was further away than the others at this camp, by the stream. As they lay down Gale wondered why he thought this was of any use. As though they’d be screeching into the night like harpies. If anything, anyone who had heard them at night were probably bored of his pained gasps followed by, well, nothing. Tav sat astride him as he settled with her on his lap. He steadied his breathing as she’d taught him, letting the weave pass through him. He felt her run her fingers through his hair and her lips on his forehead. He raised his face and she kissed him gently, carefully. With every few kisses she would move to kiss across his face and he would hold her tighter to him still. He felt his groin grow hot and he concentrated on his breathing. He felt her heartbeat thunder against him and he kissed her neck as she sighed pleasurably. She pulled at his top, and then at her own. She pushed him onto his back and rested atop him as they kissed again. Still slow, but a degree of insistence to it. He felt her breasts against him and fought the urge to touch one of them. He placed a hand at her waist and another across her back. Breathe. Inhale the weave, let it pass through the orb, let it leave your body. She kissed down his neck and sat up astride him.
‘Shall we rest?’ She offered.
He sat up quickly and pulled her to him, squeezing as hard as was comfortable, he kissed her lips and they parted, he darted his tongue in and groaned with the warm sweet pleasure of her mouth as she gripped him tighter, he felt the heat of her groin against his own, her arousal inflaming her entire body and he had to unlace his trousers to free the constriction to his stiffening length.
Tav leant back, almost panting, she stared at his groin and licked her lips. She inhaled sharply and shook herself.
‘If we continue from here, I can’t guard you Gale.’ she whispered, her claws pricking at the skin on his arms. ‘I’ll become undone in the pleasure of you.’ She released her grip and her breath shook as she tried to steady herself against him.
Gale nodded grimly. Pleasure was not for the likes of him. His goddess had seen to it. It wasn’t til this moment that he’d seen her for what she was. Spiteful. The bile rose in his throat as he released Tav and felt her lean back for cooler air. She pushed at his legs to part and she sat on the floor between them, her legs still around his waist. He understood. Close was better than nothing.
‘Shall we try to sleep?’ He mumbled.
Tav sighed heavily. ‘I don’t think that’s wise Gale. It would be better to part this evening. I need to meditate.’
She stood quickly, leaving him prostrate on the floor. He hunched over himself, suddenly too cold and exposed.
Tav marched towards the exit, her fists clenched. As she lifted the waxed flap, she hesitated.
‘We may try again. Maybe not tomorrow. But I will know you, Gale. And you, I.’ She left without a backwards glance.
Gale sighed exasperated. He put his shirt back on, it was far too cold to sleep any other way.
He found the foot wraps Halsin had made him and sighed warmly as they enveloped his feet, repelling some of the bitter sting of the night air. After the expulsion of heat caused by his lust, his chest felt heavy, ice cold. It ached all the way at his elbows and knees. He twisted his neck and heard a satisfying crack. That would have to do.
He sighed again and pulled his robe back around him, nestling in his bedroll.
As he rested his head against his arm, he pictured her face, still asleep at first light. How her smile creased the corners of her eyes and mouth, how her brow furrowed when she concentrated, her mouth pulling to her right.
His eyes grew heavy and he smiled to himself. He could find warmth even in this barren place, even alone. Too long he’d relied on others, on her. Mystra. He thought it was magic that steeled him in the dark. Now he knew. All this time, it had been himself.