Chapter Text
It’s strange how normal everything is as we move down the street, the people in their houses having no idea of what we’ve just done. An appallingly evil creature hiding in plain sight for hundreds of years is now gone and few will ever know. Even fewer will ever speak of it again or discuss it at length. Foreknowledge tells me that Cazador is certainly not the last monster that will ever inhabit these streets but at least for now I know that less people are being stolen away every night. Glancing up at Astarion as my mind keeps churning, his steely gaze is straight ahead until he notices me staring. Reaching out I barely even have to brush against his mind before he lets me in.
‘We’ll have to defend ourselves, won’t we? Other vampires will see this as an opening.’ I speculate and can feel his instant agreement.
‘Yes.’ He responds and continues without breaking stride. ‘It will likely not be a problem for some time, potentially years. My former siblings will not be eager to tell of their masters demise if they meet others of our kind. If they are smart, they will make use of the threat of what would happen to any who would harm a Lords spawn without permission. Lying will keep them safe. But eventually, yes, some wretch may attempt to take his place.’ He turns at a corner with the others following right behind us and far ahead I see the Elfsong cast in soft light from the low sun. ‘By the time the downfall of my former master is well known we will have long established ourselves in his place. Do not fret, little love. They would have no idea what they are walking into.’
It’s at that moment, of course, that the ground beneath our feet shakes.
“Is that another earthquake?” Shadowheart questions and Jaheira speaks up.
“We’ve ended two of the dead threes chosen.” She says with a foreboding tone. “The brain is somewhere beneath the city and attempting to break free. We need to begin making moves. Moira, what-“
“No.” Astarion’s sharp tone cuts her off and she stares at him in disbelief. “While I am certain that you would all love nothing more than to question her until she is blue in the face, I will have to insist otherwise. After the events of today I require some time alone with my treasure.” His fingers brushing beneath my chin I barely have time to register what he’s doing before he’s captured me in a heated kiss. When I’m released to breathe my thoughts are scattered, looming perils all but forgotten. “We will be present at breakfast.”
“Astarion!” Jaheira is trying to sound assertive as she says it but he’s already carrying me away and they’re out of view when he turns at the next street.
One more turn a block later has us in an alley and I’m suddenly placed on my own feet, Astarion’s hand taking mine firmly. “There is something I want to show you.” His voice is changed, colder than before, and I silently agree to following him.
Everything makes sense a while later when we enter an old cemetery on the edge of the city. “I think you already know why we are here.” Saying it so quietly that I hardly hear him, Astarion barely pauses his steps before leading me to an overgrown section in a back corner. “Two hundred years and I never came back, not since the night I woke up down there.” Shuffling forward almost hesitantly, his hand brushes away the twisted vines covering the headstone with his name carved into it. “Had to punch a hole in my own coffin and claw my way through six feet of dirt. Then when I finally broke the surface, retching up dirt and congealed blood, Cazador was waiting. From that day on I was his. Until today.” He turns and then I’m crushed to his chest, his arms wrapped entirely around me in the blink of an eye. “You’ve set me free, darling. Something I at times never thought I would ever be. Two hundred years and now I get to figure out who I am.”
“I told you from the beginning that we would get here.” I remind him warmly and something akin to mirth sparks in his gaze.
A small upturn twitches at the corner of his lips and then he leans in to give me a sweet kiss, his hand caressing my cheek. “You were by my side through all of this. Through bloodlust and pain and misery. You were patient, and you cared. More so than I sometimes think I deserve.” Another ghosting of his lips across mine and he gives a sigh that ends in a slight chuckle. “You trusted me even when that was an objectively stupid thing to do.”
“I love you, I will always trust you.” I reiterate and our foreheads rest together, his eyes searching mine.
“I feel safe with you. Seen. And whatever the future holds for me I don’t want to lose that.” Something cold slips against my hand as he takes it between his and I’m stunned when I look down to see myself wearing a polished gold band.
Specifically, a golden band on the ring finger of my left hand. “Astarion…” I trail off, lost for words. “I already agreed to be turned, you don’t have to-“
“I want to.” He cuts me off gently and I can’t deny that my heart is racing a mile a minute. “If I am anything, my love, I am selfish. And I want you in every way I can have you. Forever.”
“Will you love me forever?” The words leave my lips in a whisper before I even register them and his eyes widen marginally as if he wasn’t expecting the question.
“I can see this ending in no other way.” He pulls me into his thoughts and I feel it for myself. There is not a single trace of doubt in his mind and the depth of his emotions is staggering. “Should you wish to think it over more I would understand. If there is anything I can give you, it is time. I do not require an answer right now.” Still connected to his mind however I can feel his sincerity and moreso feel the hint of a pain not yet felt. The mere possibility that I could say no conjures an unrealized ghost of heartbreak into existence.
“Yes.” I say it and before I can blink his mouth is crushing mine, elation flowing through him like the sweetest ichor.
My mind hazes with his attention and we leave the cemetery behind although I cannot guess in which direction. I’m far too preoccupied with an elf kissing the coherency out of me. Ending up on a narrow street somewhere quiet I find my back against cool brick, white hair tickling my cheek when he gives me a chance to regain oxygen. “Astarion…?” I question breathlessly as he works his way down to beneath my ear and I struggle to retain a solid train of thought.
“Hmm?” He hums, a sound that almost rumbles like a full growl and sends a tingle over my skin. Goosebumps raise and a low gasp leaves me when he bites without breaking the skin.
“We should… we should go?” I question even as my own fingers twist into his shirt with anticipation, legs locked around his waist.
“Go where?” There’s a haunty laugh given with the words followed by another nibble and I almost forget what I was talking about. “I am perfectly content to remain right here.”
“Someone might see…” I point out even though my resolve is already all but crumbled and my lidded gaze meets his when he looks up.
For a brief second his eyes flash a bright red and I understand why when the alley is suddenly filled with darkness. His mouth captures mine heatedly, fangs brushing over my lips and sending a shiver through me at the possibility of drawing blood. “I need you.” Astarion husks against me when we break apart and I pull myself closer against him.
“You have me.” I assure before lavishing kisses along his jaw and I feel his hands tighten on my hips. He clearly doesn’t mind the attention though, leaning his head away as I make my way up his throat just as he often does to me. Peppering affections, I don’t stop pressing closer until I’m able to whisper in his ear. “I’m yours, my Lord.”
A shudder goes through him but he hesitates when I pull back enough to put my hands between us. His mouth splits into a broad grin when I tug at the bottom of my shirt. After a second of struggling on my part he intervenes and the fabric is removed to be forgotten on the cobbles. “Hold on to me.” My legs are already around his waist and my arms go around his shoulders before the ground begins to drop away behind him. It takes a second longer than it should for me to realize that he is walking up the wall with me wrapped around him.
The top of the building, I then realize, is actually the top of a guard tower built into the wall around the city. There’s not but a few boxes and forgotten crates within the waist high wall, the space clearly not seeing much use lately. At least not until now. I’m barely given a few heartbeats to register our surroundings before he’s got my back against the cold stone floor. In the predatory gaze he stares down with is a carefully controlled display of restraint and I feel warm all over. “Love me.” The request is met with a muffled chuckle, his mouth already against mine with a gentle kiss.
“Always.” He growls out and a low moan leaves me when he latches onto one of my nipples unexpectedly, his tongue twisting around the sensitive flesh enough to have me arching my back desperately. “Forever.” He vows before shifting, a trail of saliva extending across the valley of my breasts before he sucks on my other nipple harshly.
“Fuck!” It’s dragged out of me when I feel his fingers brush across the sensitive nub between my thighs. My belt isn’t very tight and he’s slipped his hand in with such care that I don’t notice until he makes his move.
“These need to come off.” Astarion growls as he tugs at my pants and it’s all I can do to assist by lifting my hips among the deluge of distractions. While he uses one hand to pull my pants away his other is massaging every inch of skin being exposed until I’m finally fully bare beneath him. His fingertips trace over my nether lips and a whimper leaves me, the sound seeming to encourage him. “Open them.” The demand has my legs spreading willfully, two of his fingers immediately teasing my entrance. “Hmm… good girl.” He groans as he presses them in and my head falls back against the stone. “So wet and ready for me…” The continued praise is striking a chord I’m not prepared for and he sinks his fingers deeper. Curling them in a distinctive way, he begins to pump them in and out slowly causing my channel to flutter.
“Please… fuck!” I begin to beg as he holds me in suspended bliss, at the very peak and ready to go over it if only given that extra push.
“What do you want? Say it.” He intones huskily and I try to bring some syllables together.
“Fuck me, please, please I want to feel you.” They tumble out far from eloquently but he doesn’t mind, his cock freed from the confines of his pants in the next instance.
There’s no further teasing, thank the gods, a long moan drawn from me as he sinks in inch by glorious inch. Only a few shallow thrusts are given before he feels that I’m ready and then he quickly falls into a maddening rhythm. There’s no loud slapping of flesh, instead he’s moving in long languid strokes with just enough speed to keep me panting. “Do you feel me, little wolf?” A deep groan follows the words from him, the sound of his pleasure music to my ears and nearly pushing me over the edge.
It’s all I can do to hold onto my sanity as he drives in to me suddenly faster, his hips an unwavering force. “Astarion!” At the same time that his name falls from my lips like a prayer I crest and practically convulse beneath him. My back arches harshly while my vision whites, a choked sound emanating from my throat. Astarion slows his movements the second he feels me cresting but doesn’t stop, prolonging the addicting tingling sensation burning through every fiber of my being.
When I begin to come down from the high his tongue invades my mouth, fangs dangerously catching against my lips when he roughly kisses me back to full attention. I feel his arm going behind me and before I know what he’s doing his hand splays across my lower back to lift my hips. The change in angle has him striking deeper than before and leaves me seeing stars, a delighted gasp dropping from my lips followed by him chuckling. He’s grinning cockily when I meet his eye, his pupils dilated and countless strands of hair sticking to his forehead. A fresh wave of pleasure runs up my spine at the sight and I unwittingly clench around him, his eyes rolling back in reaction.
“Give me one more.” He demands with another toe curling groan before nosing down along my jaw and mouthing his way to beneath my ear. “Come again, my dear.” The request brings me to the edge and his bite a second later seals the deal, my entire frame shivering when release rolls through me. Clinging to him I’ve barely ridden out the first waves of my orgasm when he stills and I feel him releasing as well. Being drained and being filled while still clenching around him is a delightfully dizzying mix of sensations. It leaves me certain that if not for his grip I would already be collapsed into a boneless heap. He keeps me steadily in place as he drinks and I gladly rest, limbs not fit to move although still wrapped around him.
Once he’s sealed the bite mark on my neck he sits back against the stone half wall and pulls me into his lap. I’m still willfully immobile, body pleasantly tired, and he doesn’t say a word as we simply exist together. When his hand starts running patterns across my arm and shoulder I find myself hoping that once this is all over we keep finding time to ourselves. I’d hate for us to miss out on moments like these due to whatever businesses we delve into later. Thoughts of where we’ll be months from now run ahead on their own and possibilities begin to present themselves.
“Do you-“ I cut off the impulsive thought, swallowing, and he looks downward in silent questioning. Astarion waits patiently and I take only a few seconds before giving in. “Do you think you’ll want to turn others apart from me?”
Given his expression I don’t think he’s very surprised to be asked it. “That is something I’ve thought about deeply and I have come to the conclusion that I am not entirely sure.” His mind is open to me and his emotions around the topic are complicated, apprehension and intrigue swirling together in roiled conflict. “I certainly see the appeal but I cannot make that decision lightly. It’s not just myself that I put at risk if it goes poorly.” I feel a flutter in my chest from the way he says it and a smirk flashes across his lips. “Darling, rest assured that should I choose to turn someone else it will not be on a whim. Nor will it be in the immediate future.”
“What will we do with our time?” I ask next and he shrugs.
“Whatever you wish. We could remain here or explore all Faerûn has to offer.” Leaning my head back against him my eyes rake over the night sky and he looks up as well.
“Sometimes I still forget that it’s a different sky.” Mumbling it I know he’s instantly watching me in the corner of his eye. “Sometimes when I look up I’ll try to find the constellations I’m familiar with. An old habit. Then it hits me that I’ll never see them again and these ones are completely foreign. Do you know any of the named constellations?” Turning my head, he smirks and then speaks with a sorry lilt.
“Very few. We will have to learn them together, my love.” Leaning in he captures me in a sweet kiss and my hands rise automatically to cup either side of his face. When he pulls back its slowly and his eyes trace my face as if trying to memorize it anew. “You are giving me everything. I will do my utmost to fulfill your every request. If you wish to learn the constellations then I will find someone who can teach them. If you prefer to study them in books then I will give you an entire library. You need only ask.”
“What if all I want to do is stare at your beautiful face all day?” Asking it of him with amusement, his chin lifts.
“Then I shall never leave your sight.” Astarion says it with all the dramatics he can muster while holding me in his lap and a laugh falls from my lips before he steals it.
We sit together speaking of everything and nothing for hours until I fall asleep at some point. I awaken to a blanket having been draped around us and I idly wonder how he pulled that off without rousing me. Blinking to clear the sleep from my eyes I’m left sighing contentedly when his lips meet my forehead. “Good morning.” He whispers in my ear while I shift in his embrace to get more comfortable and I notice the faintest lightening of the sky.
“Not yet.” I push back with a yawn. “It’s still dark.”
“True. And I would never miss an opportunity for a cuddle.” He pauses as if he was going to say more and has been distracted, his head turning to look over his shoulder. Astarion’s peeking over the short wall and I wonder what could bring his eyebrows knitted together as they are.
“What?” I ask when he doesnt speak and instead of answering he stands us up. Taking the hint I quickly begin to pull on my clothes and he does the same, righting himself while his eyes are locked somewhere else. I’m only half dressed when I realize that he’s staring not out to sea but instead inland towards the path we’d used to arrive to the city weeks ago. I open my mouth to speak again but am distracted as a glowing orange sphere is suddenly visible arcing through the air in the distance. I’m not sure what it could be until it crashes somewhere near the docks and with it a bright flash of fire consumes the area of impact. Smoke billows in a giant plume before the distant sound of fire alarms rings out.
In the next second several more fire bombs are loosed all at once and I see them coming from all sides, large swathes of the city suddenly ablaze. “The army of the Absolute has arrived.” Astarion’s says it flatly and as I swallow the truth it feels like the air has completely left my lungs.
“We… we need to get to the others.” It’s the first thing that comes to mind as we watch the city rapidly awakening to chaos and he nods in agreement. I blink and then he’s turned into a bat prompting me to do the same, the streets soon to be crowded. I’m lost once in the air but he clearly knows the way and I follow his confident path in a straight line until I recognize the Elfsong below us.
The others are already awake when we come through the roof access and I catch a glimpse of the hastily repaired damage to the space. Broken windows have been boarded over, scorch marks littering multiple surfaces and the door to the stairwell seemingly held together by a few boards nailed across it. At least half of the furniture is broken but one of the larger table remains and most are seated at it, the rest standing. Scratch and the owlbear cub come rushing closer in excitement when we appear and Astarion steps in the way to stop them bowling me over.
“We’ve heard explosions, what is going on?” Jaheira speaks demandingly and I swallow.
“It’s started. The Absolute’s army has reached the city.” Everyone freezes before rising to their feet, Jaheira’s face betraying her worry.
“We need to act. We cannot just-“
“Do you trust me?” I cut her off in a hard tone and she stares me down, a weight in the air.
“Despite my better judgements, yes.” Nodding, I look to the others with an expectant gaze. Each of them give me a nod until I get to the last one, Karlach.
“Don’t you dare even ask me that.” The tiefling says it in a challenging tone and I can’t help the smile that crosses my face.
“Alright.” Grabbing the bag of holding I start handing out potions to everyone as I speak. “We’re going to split up into three groups. I know some of you might not like that but this might be our only chance to achieve some things before we face the brain. Jaheira you are taking Gale and Halsin into the sewers. Before you go there mobilize the Harpers and, if possible, take a couple with you for backup. Do you know where the abandoned cistern is?”
“Yes. Who do we fight?” She presses as she tucks several vials into a small bag attached to her belt.
Taking a deep breath I speak quickly and don’t give her a chance to interrupt. “You’re fighting to get Minsc back. Use the water pressure valves to get the door open to where they are hiding. One of them has taken your shape and is using your face so he believes he is working with you and the Harpers. Gale will break the illusion which should get him on your side and then the fight should be easy. A portal will get you back out of the sewers quickly and you’ll meet up with us at the edge of the upper city. Gale, contact us with the tadpole when you’re done in the sewer so we can coordinate.”
She stares and I can’t tell if it’s with contempt or resignation until she speaks. “Very well. But after this is all over I expect you to answer many questions.”
“I will. For all of you.” I reassure and turn my attention to Shadowheart who shifts under my focus as if uncomfortable. “I need you to take Wyll, Aylin and Isobel with you to the House of Grief. Your parents are being held there along with the records of your life. Once you’re done there come find the rest of us.”
“My parents?” She looks stricken and it only takes a second before Isobel’s hand is on her shoulder.
“We’ll take care of her, I promise.” Isobel tells me while Aylin moves to stand behind both of them and Karlach cuts in.
“I’m with you and fangs, right? Where are we off to?” She’s clutching her weapon and clearly ready to go, her stance betraying her eagerness.
“We’re going to kill Gortash.” She grins broadly in an instant. “It shouldn’t be a problem for the three of us to handle.”
“Fucking right it won’t be a problem.” Karlach’s answer seems to break the tension, a few of us laughing as we prepare to separate.
The laughter dies out as we hear the roaring of dragons.