Six

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/54721996.

Rating: Explicit
Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Categories: F/M, F/F
Fandom: Baldur's Gate (Video Games)
Relationships: Halsin/Tav (Baldur's Gate), Halsin (Baldur's Gate)/Original Female
Character(s), Lae'zel/Shadowheart (Baldur's Gate)
Characters: Halsin (Baldur's Gate), Karlach (Baldur's Gate), Astarion (Baldur's
Gate), Wyll (Baldur's Gate), Gale (Baldur's Gate), Tav (Baldur's Gate),
Original Female Character(s), Shadowheart (Baldur's Gate)
Additional Tags: Past Child Abuse, Past Domestic Violence, Alcohol, Drunk Sex,
Protective Halsin (Baldur's Gate), Childhood Trauma, Recovery,
Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Graphic Depictions of Illness, Not Canon
Compliant, Long, Character Death, Canon-Typical Violence, Pain,
Platonic Relationships, Flashbacks, Shock, Wetting, Not in a kinky way,
Lae'zel being emotionally stunted, protective Shadowheart, Protective
Halsin, daddy halsin, Smut, Fluff, Fluff and Angst, Crying, Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Dubious Consent, Eventual Smut,
Platonic Female/Male Relationships, Cuddling & Snuggling, Camping,
Leadership, Mental Health Issues, Fight or Flight, Spooning, Explicit
Sexual Content, Porn With Plot, Everyone Has Issues, Suicide Attempt,
Suicidal Thoughts, Age Difference, Insemination, Penis In Vagina Sex,
Breeding, sort of., Forced Breeding
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2024-03-25 Updated: 2024-04-14 Words: 40,115 Chapters:
23/?
 Six
by Undeterat

Summary

"Are you sure you are healed, dear?" Astarion pulled Raima to one side as the group trundled
through the forest path back to the -now empty- goblin keep. "I think you are still bleeding."
Raima cursed under her breath before looking up at Astarion. "Thank you for noticing,
friend, but it's just… you know. That time."
Astarion frowned deeply but saw the look in Raima's eyes that clearly said 'This conversation
is over.'

Raima is reluctantly wise beyond her years, even for a wood elf, dragging a group of once-
strangers into various holes, dungeons and fortresses, to try and address the tadpole(s) in the
room. If she fixes everyone else’s problems, hers will go away…right?
Starts just before party goes into the Underdark, after rescuing Halsin. I'm not going to
completely retell the story but obviously there will be spoilers for all acts. Big feelings Fic
_

Notes

This is a very self indulgent fic about keeping secrets and internalised trauma. It starts off
heavy as fuck and will probably get worse before it gets better. There will be mentions and
descriptions of miscarriage, past sexual abuse and assault, as well as death, so heed the
warnings. I do want it to be fun though. I'll add to the tags and add warnings as we go.
 1: Torn Off Sleeves

The camp gurgled its own dawn chorus of creaks and groans as everyone stirred, tension and
worry spilling out the tents as people left their little safe havens. It was at this point that
Raima's eyes fluttered open, and she sighed deeply before firebolting under the kettle to get
the hot drinks started. She rummaged through her pack, adding a few pinches of different
herbs to a pewter cup before adding the steaming water. She then brewed a large pot of tea
for the others.

Raima had tried trancing in a tent only once so far, and she hadn't been able to get a second of
rest, so the rest of the party weren't surprised to find her up by the fire and readying breakfast
when they woke up. Astarion still managed to make her jump as he reached over to add some
wood to the fire.

"Darling, you jump out of your skin at me almost every morning, even though we all know
your magic is possibly the scariest thing out here." He chided, gently.

Raima recovered quickly and rebutted "I surrounded us with thorns one time yesterday. And
no one died!"

"Technically." Shadowheart joined in, giggling.

Raima watched Karlach drain the last of her tea before she slapped her legs and laid out her
idea of a plan for the day.

"First, anyone not fully healed up needs to check in with Shadowheart or Halsin, I don't want
anyone getting sick in the underdark. Then, we need to get back to the goblin camp and find
the hidden path. While we look, I want some of us to rinse the keep for supplies and spare
weapons, really anything we can sell that isn't too heavy. We'll camp one more night before
heading into the under dark, providing we find this mystery entrance."

Murmurs of approval hummed around Raima and people began settling into two groups, as
she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. Her eyes flickered around the group, glad no one had
noticed her wincing. She knew what was happening but was not quite ready to share with the
rest of the class.

Raima was not a natural leader. She, like the rest of the party, felt more like a victim of
circumstance, forced into a predetermined role, than anyone with actual authority. She took
charge only because the decisions needed making and everyone else had their own problems
to deal with. Whereas she had, well, not nothing, but pretty much nothing in comparison to,
say, an evil vampire lord, a bomb the size of a swede in their chest, a dangerous pact or one
of seemingly many dark goddesses breathing down her neck.

It also seemed to stop some of the infighting. Raima hated fighting. Battle, she could
stomach, protecting herself she could manage, but tension, anger, arguments tore down her
defences far quicker than any wounds or arrows. Karlach had called her "Rai-mama" a week
or so ago and somehow this had developed to most of the party calling her, either
affectionately or sarcastically, the party mother, or just Ma.

The silver lining was that Raima did have an impeccable "mother stare" that usually quashed
any bickering before it got out of hand.

"Are you sure you are healed, dear?" Astarion pulled Raima to one side as the group trundled
through the forest path back to the -now empty- goblin stronghold. "I think you are still
bleeding somewhere."

Raima cursed under her breath before looking up at Astarion. "Thank you for noticing,
friend, but it's just my monthly."

Astarion frowned deeply but saw the look in Raima's eyes that clearly said 'This conversation
is over.' Raima tried to hold his gaze as another pain ripped through her sides. Astarion
recognised a mask when he saw one, but decided not to push the issue, as she was still
standing and clearly didn't want to talk about it. He made a mental note to check on her when
they made camp later, he did not want to lose his main food source when they went
underground. He was decidedly against trying to drink the blood of a myconid.

Raima was grateful the day was drawing to a close without them getting into a fight for once.
She had talked their way into the chapel that would lead to the underground without it
coming to blows. They spread out in the camp, everyone enjoying a little privacy before the
inevitable close quarters they'd be stuck in in the Underdark. Dust bloomed in Raima's face
as she moved an old stone bench to anchor her tent. Halsin and Shadowheart glanced over at
her as she coughed, confused eyes staring as she assembled her tent for the first time in
weeks. Karlach bounced over to help move the heavy stone before Raima could get it into
place, when she also clocked the anomaly.

"You alright Ma? Not sleeping under the stars-erm rafters, tonight?" Karlach asked,
gesturing at the wonky, tatty tent Raima had just erected. Across the hall, Raima saw the
other tents blooming like tulips in spring, the rest of the party a dab-hand at making and
taking down camp by this point in their journey. In a lower voice, Karlach asked "Is
everything okay, Raima? No offence but you look kind of pale. Like, fangs kind of pale."

"I guess with all the goblin hunting and grove saving we've been doing, I haven't been able to
top up my tan." Raima laughed half-heartedly at her own joke. "Are you feeling okay, Kar?"
Raima deflected. "Looking forward to the heart upgrade?" Raima knew this topic would
work as she saw Karlach's smile broaden as she mimed swooping Raima up in a bear hug.

"I can't wait, ma, I feel like I'm so close to touching everyone again!" Raima quickly pulled
away as Karlach withdrew her arms, "oh shit, sorry Raima I forgot you aren't quite as cuddly
as some of the others. Even in my fantasies." She saw her discomfort and settled on an
awkward fake arm-pat.

"Kar, I'm sure I'd be just as physical if I'd not been able to hug anyone for ten years." Raima
giggled at the implication, eyeing Wyll's tent conspiratorially. She was sure if Karlach were
any other colour, she would be blushing.

Gale clanked a ladle on the side of a cauldron a few times to indicate that dinner was ready.
Raima knew she did not have long so she nipped over to Halsin's tent to catch him as he
emerged, hoping his mind would be too focused on food to ask too many follow up
questions.

"Raima, our apparent camp mother, did you need something?" Halsin peered up as he slipped
on some sandals. His nose twitched and Raima cursed inwardly, forgetting his nose was
probably as attuned as Astarion's from all his time spent as a bear. "Are you well? Where are
you injured?" Halsin began to fuss around her. His eyes lingered over the rows of scars over
her wrists, and Raima realised this was the first time she had really been around any of the
party without armour or at least long sleeves on her heavy wool tunics. She had removed the
sleeves of this tunic for clean rags. As Halsin seemed to notice the scars were all old and
healed, he diplomatically refrained from asking about them.

"Halsin, I don't want to keep you but I need a favour."

"Anything for our hero of the grove, dearest." Halsin beamed up, his soft gaze holding hers
and reminding her of the steamy night they had spent together after resolving the issues at the
grove. They had not shared a tent since, and it had not really come up in conversation as he
was preoccupied in getting to Moonrise. Raima hoped it was still enough to help her situation
now.

"As you know, Astarion has fed on my blood as needed while we work out how to get rid of
these tadpoles. " Raima was not actually at all sure he knew, but she was pleased when Halsin
merely nodded for her to continue. "And we are going into the Underdark tomorrow, where
there won't be much for him to, erm, snack on." Raima tried not to ramble and took a deep
breath. "I can't give him my blood right now, but we will need him on top form as we go
underground. Would you be willing to, um, take my place this week?" Raima tried to give
her best everything-is-fine-but-I-really-need-you-to-do-this face, to which Halsin raised his
eyebrows.

"I suppose I did say anything. Can I ask why? Did he upset you?" Relief sagged Raima's
shoulders as she stomached another wince, trying to look pleased rather than desperate.

"No, nothing like that, I don't really want to talk about it right now. I'll let him know. Thanks,
Halsin."

More questions pursed Halsin's lips as Raima dashed off to speak to Astarion, her hope that
like Halsin, the prospect of food would keep him from paying too much attention to her.

Raima sat with the others while they ate, picking at the stew Gale had prepared for them that
evening. The smell was strong, a mix of onions and rosemary, and while the others assured
Gale it was delicious, Raima only felt pangs of nausea. Soon enough the party settled into
their various tents. Raima saw Halsin and Astarion speaking before heading into Halsin's
rickety tarp, and she took the opportunity to grab a shovel and sneak past them and the other
tents as she made her way out the chapel and into the nearby wooded area.

Finally alone, Raima gave into the pain and sank to her knees. She rolled up one of the rags
from her bag and bit down hard on it as pain flushed through her system. She began to dig a
small hole, working methodically between waves of pain. Tears rolled freely down her pale
face, her red hair sticking to her cheeks. With a jolt, Raima felt her body shift and she
allowed herself one, painful, aching sob. Checking for threats, she then quickly pulled down
her underwear and revealed the blood soaked rags. She glanced over them and then chucked
them in the hole, replacing it with some more tunic-sleeves. With a final contraction, Raima
felt something pass onto the rag, and she figured the worst was over. Without looking, she
folded the top rag neatly and placed it into the hole. She mumbled a prayer to Meilikki and
Silvanus as she scooped dirt over the fabric. Once she finished, she rolled up her tunic and
situated the rags in her underwear, her hand running over the jagged scars across her
abdomen.
 2: Sponge
Chapter Summary

Astarion realised he was not only worried about his sack of blood running dry, he was
genuinely worried about this little ginger sorcerer, and even more strangely, he felt
compelled to help her get better from whatever had gone wrong, although he was more
and more confident he knew the underlying cause.

Chapter Notes

Content warning for decription of miscarriage, blood and vomit.

Raima knew she was pregnant a few days after they had all been taken by the nautiloid and
washed up in the crash. Her companions were strangers then and it did not seem like a good
idea to share any weakness at that point, in case they did not want to journey with her. Being
alone would be a death sentence for the young sorcerer, with no healing magic and a
tendency to accidentally cause damage far more often than she would reliably cast the right
spells. Everyone felt off and sick with the tadpole situation so no one seemed to notice she
was especially unwell. A couple of days before they had finally rescued Halsin and settled
matters at the grove, she knew the pregnancy had not stuck. She knew, deep down, it never
would have, but only discovered she actually harboured some hope when it was torn from
under her feet. The grove thought she was celebrating with them that night she ended up
throwing herself drunkenly at Halsin, when in reality she was mourning.

It had taken a long time for her body to catch up with what her heart already knew. She had
wanted to lean on Shadowheart for support, but as she learned more about the Sharran, she
lost her confidence. Karlach was too emotional as it was, either crying or laughing at any
given moment. Raima was not particularly old fashioned, but she did not want the men in the
group to know either. She did not want to tolerate their attempts at sympathy, and she did not
want people to judge her for how she coped with what was happening to her.

Relieved the pain was subsiding, Raima began to walk back to the camp, she was not looking
forward to sleeping but knew her body needed to recover from the miscarriage.

Raima yelped as Astarion caught her by surprise by the entrance to the camp.

"What the fuck, Astarion, you nearly made me piss myself!" She jabbed as she tried to hurry
past him. "Are you going out to hunt?" Raima tried to look maternal and huffy, to distract
from the residual pain and bleeding.
"Darling, you know Halsin took care of that. I came out here to find you, to find out what's
going on. If you're sick, don't you think it might be a good idea to talk to one of the healers in
the group, rather than sending vampires to their necks? I've heard they can be deadly." Raima
laughed a little at Astarion's joke. She tried to move past him and winced as he touched her
arm. "Dear thing, I know we are not exactly bossom pals, but you can talk to me. I owe you a
great debt -"

"You owe me nothing, Astarion" Raima interjected. Astarion glared at her before continuing.

"A great debt for the sustenance you have given me. I know it is a gift you have given freely,
and I appreciate it. Now, tell me what has happened today. I am no expert on the matter, but
this isn't your cycle, is it?"

"Astarion please let me go and get some sleep. Please." Raima nearly begged, trying to
manoeuvre around him. He did not try to stop her but she turned anyway as he took a sharp
intake of breath.

"Raima, you've been hurt, you're still bleeding-" his eyes were glued to the crumbling stone
steps you can just climbed. Raima paused and followed his gaze. She quickly looked to his
eyes, afraid suddenly of his vampirism, but she saw something far worse, far harder for her to
deal with - sadness and understanding. Raima bolted, trying to find somewhere small and
safe in the camp huge camp that wasn't littered with corpses. She knew he would follow her
but she ran to give herself a second or two to prepare. Crashing into an unlocked door, she
threw a firebolt at a torch and sank to the floor of a small room, empty except for a pile of
empty crates, probably picked clean by Wyll or Karlach earlier that day.

Astarion did not know what to do. He had decided early on in the journey not to care about
anyone in the camp and just to stick around for the sake of better odds at getting rid of the
gruesome parasite in his head. But then, when he was so faint with hunger he tried to bite
Raima as she slept fitfully by the campfire, she had let him. Her blood had tasted rich and
strange, both fresh and slightly sour. Her ginger hair had felt so soft tangled in his fingers
each time he drank from her, and she seemed so accepting of him, of everyone in the group,
that Astarion was sure it was her who convinced the others to accept him too. Hell, she had
even convinced Halsin to let him drink his blood that very evening. So, he decided, if she
wanted to keep her life private, he was not going to press her for details, even when he
noticed the scars on her arms that he was sure were self inflicted, even when he watched her
night after night writhing in the midst of nightmares as she tranced when he got back from
hunting. But, by his nose, he was fairly sure she had been bleeding heavily for over 48 hours.
She had not even attempted to stop several loud arguments that had broken out that afternoon
about what to take to the Underdark, and Astarion realised he was not only worried about his
sack of blood running dry, he was genuinely worried about this little ginger sorcerer, and
even more strangely, he felt compelled to help her get better from whatever had gone wrong,
although he was more and more confident he knew the underlying cause.
He knocked on the door, wincing as he smelt the tempting, yet heartbreaking, blood, and
when Raima did not answer, he pushed it open and let himself sink down beside here, careful
not to startle or touch her. He knew all to well what it was like to not want to be touched.

With a deep breath that he did not really need, Astarion began, "Darling, I don't know what to
say. I'm so sorry."

Raima sighed and looked up at the paler elf. "Rai, how far along were you?"

Raima's eyes grew wide momentarily as she processed the question. "Not very." She replied,
trying to give him a reassuring smile. It did not reach her eyes.

Astarion startled a little at her response, confirming his theory. Suddenly he remembered
seeing her and Halsin sneak off at the party. "Halsin -" He started to say but Raima
interrupted.

"No. It wasn't his."

"Oh."

"I think it had been six tendays when it...when it..." Raima paused to try and find the right
words. Finding none, she pressed forward, "but nothing really, um, came away until
yesterday. I'm sorry Astarion."

Astarion looked at Raima, confused, "You've been pregnant pretty much this whole time and
you're sorry? Whatever for? Wait, darling, the blood, the blood you gave to me, it didn't cause
the-"

"No, it didn't." Raima looked into Astarion's deep red eyes, "it wasn't anything you or I did."

"How could you know that, I would never have- I would not have- if I had known I'd-"

"Stop, Astarion." Raima cautiously put a hand on Astarion's knee. "This isn't the first time
this has happened to me. I knew it was never going to....amount to anything, before I let you
drink from me."

"Oh." Astarion repeated, realising she was now trying to comfort him "oh you poor thing,
Raima, I'm so sorry. And all I have done is moan about Cazador and hurl jokes at you when-"
Astarion cut off as Raima suddenly rolled away from him and vomited into a crate. Astarion
gently patted her on the back, then stopped when he saw her muscles tense up underneath his
touch.

"Darling, I'm just going to get you some water and um, supplies." He mumbled as he left the
room.

Astarion figured if he was going to care about Raima, he might as well do it properly.
Pregnant, fuck, how had he not noticed? How had Halsin not noticed? He grabbed a
waterskin and then went into Raima's tent, if you could call that ramshackle mess of sticks,
benches and fabric a tent, to get some clean clothes. He saw a familiar tunic and then frowned
when he noticed the stitching was torn and the sleeves had been haphazardly removed.
Sorrow and pity swept through him as he realised what she had needed the fabric for, and he
then went to his own tent and took one of his clean shirts and tore it into several long rags as
well as some leggings and a less ruffly top. He grabbed a dish and a sponge on his way back,
as well as a health potion, and made towards Raima.

Raima shivered as she felt the blood pooling around her as it congealed on the cold stone
slabs where she was hunched over. Her body felt numb now, but her mind was in overdrive
trying to figure out how to proceed with Astarion knowing about the miscarriage. She hoped
he would not tell anyone, but she felt hot tears splash down her cheeks as she felt huge
amounts of guilt for putting him in this situation. Her nails dug into her wrists as she tried to
distract herself from the mental pain that was finally coming home to roost. She knew she
should mourn the pregnancy but she mostly felt relief, but that relief was quickly morphing
into guilt. Guilty for not being able to save the pregnancy. Guilty for not sharing her situation
with the party even though it could have made her weak, and guilty for landing Astarion, a
gods damn vampire of all people, in the thick of what she'd so wanted to be a one-person
event. She was impressed he had managed to be so calm about the blood. And she also
realised she was grateful he had decided to help.

Astarion was surprised when he came back to Raima nude, leggings pooled in her lap, then it
became clear she had not quite managed to reach the crate to be sick again. He crouched next
to her, trying not to breathe, it was more of a habit than a necessity anyway. He poured a little
water onto the sponge and then gave the waterskin to Raima to drink. He gently washed the
vomit and blood off her face as she took some cautious sips. They sat in silence for a while as
she continued to bleed. Raima shifted from time to time to check if it had slowed yet, sighing
deeply as she rested back onto the sodden make-shift pad. Eventually, after an hour or so, the
flow seemed to steady to something more manageable and Raima was wincing less. Astarion
broke the silence first.

"Here, let me take those," he started, passing her a potion and clean clothes while he reached
for the dirty rags, "Should I wash them or, er, dispose of them?"

Raima looked across the grimy stone floor to the pile of rags and shook her head. "That's
kind, Astarion. But I'll manage. I'll wake up early and take them to the stream." Astarion
raised an eyebrow in response.

"Darling, they won't dry. Let's get you back to your, ah, tent," he said, gesturing with finger
quotes, "I can wash the rags when you're settled. They can dry by the fire."

"No, Astarion, that's not fair on-" Raima tried to argue.

"Believe me, Raima, I cannot say I will relish the task, but cleaning blood from clothes is
something I do have a considerable amount of experience in."

Astarion averted his eyes as Raima dressed in his clothes, huffing at his insistence. While she
had mostly been wearing tunics and robes, everyone had swapped and found clothes so many
times at this point that he was fairly sure no one would notice.

"Thank you. Astarion. This can't have been easy for you." Raima said with a muffled tone as
she finished dressing. He glanced over to reassure her that he'd seen worse, only to find her
pulling her head and arms through the shirt, revealing a brutal scar across her stomach. It
looked old and fresh at the same time, like it had never healed fully. He found his hand self-
consciously reaching to the scars on his own back. Suddenly he felt even more

connected to Raima than he thought possible

 3: Party
Chapter Summary

That evening, Karlach and Shadowheart came back to camp with large smiles, and an
even larger crate of bottles. Raima figured it had been a while since she had let off
steam, and, with a promise that no one would wonder off, the camp decided to indulge
for the evening.

Chapter Notes

Things get hot and heavy (in a good way)

Raima woke up with a start, swallowing a scream as she oriented herself. It's just a tent,
Raima, you're alright. It was just a nightmare. She forced herself to take some slow deep
breaths as she sat up in her bedroll. She was pleased to find she had not leaked over night,
and then surprised to see a bundle of clean, dry rags folded atop a clean tunic. That is quite a
surprise from the cagey vampire. Perhaps he had more of a relationship with the other spawn
than he lets on. Raima pondered a while on the unusual act of kindness. Stretching, she
tenderly felt her wounded stomach before reaching into a pouch and preparing her morning
drink.

Astarion was also surprised that morning, when he found himself feeling particularly relieved
to see Raima up and about, her mask held firmly in place. She met his eyes as he walked to
the fire, giving him a silent, but grateful nod. He was sure she did not want the others to be
aware of what had passed, and replied with his own curt nod.

Raima kept the party close as they explored the Underdark. She shut down several arguments
with ease, as Lae'zel and Shadowheart bickered endlessly about the goddess Shar. There was
tension too between Karlach and Wyll but Raima found herself reluctant to get involved in
that situation.

A tenday passed, not exactly uneventfully, but as well as Raima found she could have hoped
for. They had found some leads and cleared a lot of ground, and no one had actually fully
died, and Raima had managed to control her magic fairly well, aside from a small fog-related
incident, but there was an argument that it had technically given them some good cover. That
evening, Karlach and Shadowheart came back to camp with large smiles, and an even larger
crate of bottles. Raima figured it had been a while since she had let off steam, and, with a
promise that no one would wonder off, the camp decided to indulge for the evening. Raima
found herself looking forward to the party, somehow, as she and Gale set up some protective
spells. She even let Gale get away with a few unnecessary jabs at her wild magic. As much as
she tried to be pleasant to everyone, her and wizard had remained quite distant throughout
their travels.

Gale chalked it up to Raima being very busy, and possibly risk-averse, as he ran his fingers
over his chest. She had easy smiles for everyone else at the camp, even feeding the vampire
and fucking the grimy druid. He figured she perhaps just placed his needs slightly further
down than the others, and by the time she interacted with him, she had run out of social
steam. As a mage, Gale had been offended at first that he had not been the shoe-in for the
party leader. He was Mystra's chosen, for gods' sake! But he had seen the heavy toll it had
taken on Raima to keep the band of stragglers moving and focused on getting their tadpoles
removed, and he found himself quite glad to be out of a job.

Raima's sharp green eyes flickered around the camp like a flame while she helped slice up
some vegetables. She was trying to relax and put some faith in the spells. That was why you
bothered developing them in the first place, wasn't it? Raima tried to challenge her anxiety. It
helped that, for once, the camp looked beautiful. Someone had cast some lights that danced
joyfully around the edges of the tents , matching the gorgeous tones of the various fungi they
found themselves surrounded with. Luckily, a few brave prods with Raima's quarterstaff
earlier confirmed that these ones did not explode or release noxious spores.

When the party had become a little raucous, Raima found herself suggesting the louder
drunks find something quiet to do. To her surprise, they conceded fairly quickly as everyone
huddled around the small firepit. Wyll began the hushed game of ghost stories with a tale of
bravery and blazing skeletons that his blades had found themselves surrounded by in a creepy
abandoned village. Lae'zel took the brief a touch too literally and regailed the group with a
story of a past fight she had had with some actual ghosts. The plot seemed less than relevant,
but Raima could not deny that everyone was enjoying her increasingly vivid description of
violence.

The party eventually turned to Raima expectantly, as she sat perched on a folded bedroll, her
hands clasped firmly around a fine silver goblet. Her laugh rang out through the camp and
she smiled as she confessed she had not had any of these kinds of adventures before, and that
she had barely stepped out of her region before the nautiloid stole her away. Her red hair
glowed merrily by the fire as she giggled and instead told a story of getting up to no good
when she was younger.

"It had been a bountiful harvest across the land that year and we were celebrating long into
the night. We told our parents we were going to pray in the woods to Silvanus," Raima
winked at Halsin, "when in fact we had come into some rather interesting mushrooms and
intended to take them together."

"None of us had much experience at that point, but it sounded like fun and was better than
being stuck at home. Nothing happened for a while and we sat around a tiny fire, the best my
pathetic magic could muster, waiting for what felt like an age. I remember staring into the
flames and suddenly they morphed into beautiful patterns. I saw the richest silk scarves and
finest embroidery dancing on the charcoals. I remember my head spinning as we all began
laughing and dancing. Even back then, I was quick to scare, and suddenly I saw an enormous
shadow of a bear approaching the camp. I remember screaming and running deep into the
forest while the others chased after me. I couldn't tell friend from foe as I launched up a tree.
After a while my friends caught up with me, winded at first and unable to speak, just calling
out to me. Then Idda stumbled into the clearing and crashed into someone, and she let out
the most convincing meow I had ever heard. Only then did I see her hulking beast of a cat in
her arms, squished between her and Jerf, cross as anything, and I realised I may have slightly
overestimated the size of the shadow that had caught my eye. Thankfully at that point we all
decided to go home before we got up to any more nonsense and I slept next to Iddria for
twelve hours straight. Her parents were appalled!"

Raima looked over at Halsin, who had tears in the corners of his eyes, as he rolled
backwards, losing his balance in a fit of laughter. She reached over to him and gave her hand
to pull him back up, her delicate tan fingers dwarfed by his heavy set hands. For a second,
Raima swore she felt fur on his hand as she tried to heave him back upright. The first attempt
got him absolutely nowhere so Raima pulled hard, clutching his wrist as she grunted slightly
with the effort. At that moment, a mage hand from one of the other spellcasters tried to
haphazardly assist in righting the now hiccoughing elf, and he fell forward into Raima. She
shrieked as his large form pinned her to the ground and they both swore and giggled as they
tried to roll him off, first going the same way and only achieving in bring his face closer to
Raima's.

The young elf gazed up at the druid, her hands clutching either side of his waist. Halsin
paused, returning her stare, suddenly looking far more serious. He traced her delicate
cheekbones with his rough finger as he pushed some errant hairs from her face. He leant in as
Raima gasped quietly. How had he never appreciated her freckles before, mapped across her
face like a glorious constellation? Her thick eyelashes were batting up at him, clearly waiting
to see if he would be the one to make a move. He went to press his lips to hers, but lost his
nerve right at the last second and buried his face in her neck, kissing her gently, his warm
breath only making her flush a more gorgeous shade of pink. He felt a gentle tap on his hips
as Raima whispered into his ear,

"Halsin, don't get me wrong, this is really fun...but I can't breathe!" She let out a wheezy
giggle. Halsin kissed her neck again, laughing softly into the space by her collarbone.
Suddenly his grip on her shifted and Halsin pulled Raima atop him, her head held to his neck
with a firm hand and the other tightly around her waist. Her thighs hugged either side of him
as she caught her breath, dizzy both from the unexpected spin and the heat rushing to her
core.

"Oh, devils," Astarion called out in mock surprise, "Is that the time already? Definitely past
our bedtime wouldn't you say?" He shooed the various stragglers into their respective tents as
he gave Halsin a knowing wink across the campfire. Just as well Halsin insisted I have an
early dinner. Astarion thought as he watched the pair roll around on the dirt. He wondered if
Halsin knew more about the pretty little sorcerer straddling him than Astarion did. He was
surprised to see Karlach and Wyll go into the same tent, as they had not been talking the last
time he bothered to pay attention to their reluctantly chaste relationship. He hoped the
warlock had a fire-retardant tent. He was less surprised to see Lae'zel hesitating outside
Shadowheart's tent. No couple could bicker so constantly without their being some
semblance of deeper feelings behind it.

Raima got up to her knees as Halsin did the same, the soft earth feeling damp on her skin.
She was still laughing noiselessly, her eyes sparkling with tears and her face crinkled in a big
smile. Halsin enjoyed seeing her like this - relaxed, carrying slightly less of the world on her
shoulders for a short time. He tried to feel the same, pushing away dark thoughts of the
Shadowlands and what might possibly await them in Moonrise Towers. It was surprisingly
easy to follow Raima's lead, to simply enjoy the moment. It helped that he found the young
wood elf beautiful, her skin soft and fuzzy like peaches. Her face pleasantly rounded for an
elf, her body strong and supple. She carried more weight than most her age, and Halsin
adored the way his fingers could dig in to her hips, and the way her chest had felt pressed
against his. Yet, what truly attracted him to her was the way she governed the camp and
brought out the best in each of her friends. Her selflessness in the face of anyone in need, and
her willingness to listen to everyone's endless complaints and demands was inspiring. At her
core he could see a young woman determined to face the worst odds and come out the other
side smiling.

Halsin rested his hands on either side of Raima's face, feeling and seeing the blush spreading
across her cheeks as he leant in. He paused just short of completing the kiss, checking her
half closed eyes for any hesitation. Raima smiled broadly up at him and ran her hands
through his hair as she pulled him in to meet her lips. The pair stood up together and Halsin
took hold of Raima's hand, leading her towards his tent. Raima stopped and tugged his hand,
then motioned with her head down a path away from the camp. Halsin nodded and let her
lead him away, he preferred being closer to nature anyway, even the bizarre nature of the
Underdark.

"What happened to no wandering off?" Astarion called out, teasingly, as he retreated to his
tent, watching the pair disappear behind a turn in the cavernous space.

Raima slowed, not wanting to stray too far, and pressed her forehead against Halsin's, and
whispered in mock-sweetness, "You'll keep me safe, won't you, Halsin?" Halsin tried to say
something witty in reply, however only managed a low growl of desire.

"Oh, I liked that," Raima's voice now sounding far more coy than sweet, "What can I do to
make you make that noise again?"

Halsin pressed Raima's smaller frame against the rough stone gently as he kissed down her
neck and collarbone, pressing his thigh firmly between her legs as his hands worked to loosen
her laces on her shirt and leggings.

The dim, gentle glow of the mushrooms reflected off of Raima's naked form, giving her an
ethereal shine and cat-like eyes. Halsin stood back and quickly disrobed, before swooping
back to hold her. Their lips clashed passionately as Halsin cupped one hand under her chin
and the other squeezed her breast. His fingers caught Raima's nipple and tugged at it gently
as it hardened in his grip. Raima let her own hands drag down his chest, teasing lower and
lower until they hovered just above his already alert cock.
"Is this okay, Halsin?" She checked in, and Halsin confirmed by rolling his hips slightly to
brush his member across her fingers.

"Yes, my delight, I want nothing more than to take you once more. In fact I have dreamt
about this a fair few times." His breath was hot and smelt like sweet buns and red wine as he
gasped, feeling the delicate fingers curl around his hard cock and run tentatively up and down
his length. His hand left her face and moved between her legs and he ran his fingers down her
curly mound, searching for her folds.

"Fuck, Halsin," Raima groaned as she bucked her hips into his, grinding her clit on his rough
palm. She could feel her arousal spilling out and beginning to run down her thighs in
anticipation. She felt Halsin stiffen further as his finger dipped between her lips, running a
line across the divide.

"Oak Father preserve me, Rai, you are that aroused?" Raima felt his smile in his deep kiss,
and heard his moan as she pushed her tongue between his lips.

"You do this to me, Halsin," Raima began, "You're so strong and so, fuck, uh-" she cut off as
his finger pressed into her entrance and up within her, "-And you're so hot, I love it when
your arms are around me."

"Raima," Halsin whispered into her ear, adding a second finger tentatively, "You're so tight
around me. When was the last time you..." He trailed off as Raima bit his earlobe, losing
focus for a second.

"You know exactly how long it has been, Halsin. There's not been anyone else around here
I've wanted to share this with." Raima stifled a louder moan as Halsin's fingers curled up
inside her and began moving back and forth.

"No, sweet thing?" Halsin nipped at her neck suggestively, "Not even the vampire?"

"No, not the vampire. Haven't you met him? He's all talk."

"Wyll, then, does he not tickle your fancy on a cold evening?" Raima groaned as she felt
herself clench around his fingers. She managed to shake her head.

"I fear the wrath of Karlach, I prefer my skin un-singed." Raima rolled her eyes as Halsin
kept teasing her. "And I believe he may be a touch... fuck "

"Old fashioned?" Halsin answered for her as she moaned into his neck. Halsin could feel how
ready she was for him now, but was enjoying drawing out the teasing and hearing her sweet
little laughs at his jokes.

"I suppose Shadowheart and Lae'zel won't be interested in sharing, they don't strike me as the
type. So that just leaves Master Gale."

Halsin felt Raima's body tense up as she pulled away slightly.

"No. Not Gale."

"Little elf," Halsin paused and looked at her, "I did not mean to offend, did...did something
happen between the two of you?"

Raima had a panicked look about her as Halsin withdrew his fingers and brought her closer in
an embrace.

"No, no, nothing like that. He just reminds me of someone I used to know."

"My apologies, Raima, bird of my heart, I did not know, or I would not have said."

He watched Raima take a deep breath as she came back to herself.

"It's okay," she replied, more to herself than Halsin. Fuck, I just want to have some fun for
once. "Can we, uh, can we keep going?"

Halsin hesitated as she kissed him. "Are you sure, friend, that you want this?" Yes. Before I
sober up, preferably. Raima moved to lie down on top of their pile of clothes, pulling Halsin
down to join her between her legs.

"Yes, Halsin, honestly, I want this. I want...you." Raima tried to give a reassuring smile as
Halsin hovered above her, keeping his weight off her with his elbows. He met her lips for a
kiss, before pecking her neck and then latching onto one of her breasts. He felt Raima relax
underneath him and smiled as he flicked her hard nipple with his tongue. He moved his head
further down, kissing her navel and trailing kisses down. He paused momentarily over a
jagged scar across the right side of her stomach. It felt even softer and more delicate than the
rest of her skin. Now is not the time, Halsin thought as he felt Raima tense up slightly as he
stopped. He planted a gentle kiss on the centre of the scar and kept drifting down, towards his
target.

-
 4: Shirt
Chapter Summary

He moved his head further down, kissing her navel and trailing kisses down. He paused
momentarily over a jagged scar across the right side of her stomach. It felt even softer
and more delicate than the rest of her skin. Now is not the time, Halsin thought as he felt
Raima tense up slightly as he stopped. He planted a gentle kiss on the centre of the scar
and kept drifting down, towards his target.

Chapter Notes

This chapter is all smut.

Raima focused on her breathing as she felt the large elf move down her body. She allowed
herself to respond to his touch and was grateful when he acknowledged but did not question
her scar. Other lovers had been less kind. For several years she had not been able to remove
her top when sleeping with someone.

It felt good to take her time with Halsin. Their first time had been rushed and fevered.
Passionate but not loving, a fumble in near pitch black well clear of the camp. Not tender,
like this was. Honestly, most of that night was a blur. Raima did not usually enjoy tender, but
talking and communicating with Halsin felt easier than with others. He responded to her,
made her feel seen. She did not need to have drunk her way to oblivion to enjoy herself
tonight.

She let herself get lost in the sensations building in her body as Halsin lapped at her clit. His
tongue worked little circles around her nub, then he would use the flat of his tongue in long
drags up and down.

Raima bit down on her lip to quieten her moans, as much as she could tell Halsin would like
to hear her, she had enough awareness to remember she would like to be able to make eye
contact with the rest of the group in the morning. Raima raised her hips into Halsin's tongue
as she cursed softly. She pulled Halsin's hair gently to bring him back up for a kiss. His
mouth was shiny with her arousal and he tasted sweet and sour on her lips.

Halsin's hard cock brushed against her stomach as they kissed and Raima found herself
aching to feel him once more.
"Please, Halsin," Raima whimpered as his warm body pressed against hers, "I want you so
badly. I need you inside me."

Halsin pushed his tongue into her mouth as he guided himself into Raima's wet folds. "Oh,
gods, Raima, hells!" Halsin blurted out as he entered her. Raima moaned in reply, unable of
coherent speech as her body clamped around him. The stretch ached within her core but there
was not the pinch of their previous rendezvous, her body more pliant with arousal. Halsin
rocked his hips into Raima, pushing further in as he felt her flutter around him.

"My heart, is this alright?" Halsin whispered as he felt her body adjust to his intrusion.

"Mmhm, yeah, fuck, don't stop!" Raima replied as she wrapped her legs around him. This is
what I wanted, fucking finally, Raima thought as she encouraged Halsin to move in and out of
her. His large cock forcing all the intrusive thoughts out of her head as she basked in the
tingling feelings rushing through her body. She whimpered as Halsin sped up, running her
fingers through his hair and up and down his back. She tugged on Halsin's hair, pulling his
mouth to hers and she pushed her tongue into his mouth. Pleasure rippled through her as
Halsin sucked gently on her tongue. Raima kissed across his mouth and neck down to his ear
and whispered, "Harder Halsin, fuck me harder..." before licking along the sensitive part of
his ear. Halsin raised his head to meet her eyes as he shifted his weight and she saw his eyes
flash with golden magic.

"I will devour you, Raima, if you keep talking like that." He responded with a grunt as he
grabbed her thigh and raised it over his shoulder.

"Try me," Raima sank down into the pile of clothes as Halsin thrusted into her, feeling
warmth pooling in her core as his cock brushed past a sensitive part of her walls. Halsin saw
her eyes roll back slightly as her breathing hitched, gasping alongside every movement.

"Yes, kitten, tell me you want this," he begged as he maintained a punishing speed. He let her
leg fall as he leant in close, "Come for me, Rai, let me feel you."

Raima tried to return Halsin's kiss, her mouth open as she moaned into his, her climax
radiating through her body as she came hard, her breath uneven and her core fluttering
around Halsin's cock, squeezing him as he felt her get wetter as he continued to ride her
through the orgasm.

"Fuck, Halsin, fuck, that was amazing!" Raima panted and swore as Halsin paused to look at
her as she came down from the bliss he had given her.

"You look incredible like this, my heart."

Raima looked up into his eyes, flecks of gold dappled his irises as he stared back.

"Halsin, do what you did earlier?" Raima requested, and Halsin chuckled as he leant down to
hold her close.

"As you wish, my sweet."

Halsin held Raima tightly as he flipped them around so that she was on top, still inside her.
Her thighs pinned him down as she pushed herself up to ride him. Halsin dug his nails into
her hip as he encouraged her to move, while his other palmed her breast. "You are divine."
He moaned as she writhed on top of him.

Raima bent down to kiss him, before guiding her nipple to his mouth. Halsin took it between
his lips and bit down, forcing another moan out of Raima as he bucked his hips up into her.

Raima rocked down into him as he pushed upwards, sensing Halsin's movement getting more
rapid and erratic. Raima saw Halsin's eyes flash gold one more time as she deftly replaced
her pussy with her hand, stroking his release onto their stomachs as Halsin groaned and
swore underneath her.

Raima rolled off him as she landed a giggling kiss on his lips before grabbing a random piece
of clothing to wipe away the mess.

"Oh, fuck, oops," She began as Halsin sat up, and she showed him her shirt she had been
wearing that was now covered him cum.

"Oops indeed, my sweet." Halsin laughed as he leant back down and invited her to cuddle
against his chest, "I don't think you should wear that back to camp, people may talk."

"Oh, ha-ha," Raima laughed sarcastically as she curled up against him. "After Astarion was
so subtle, it would be a shame to ruin his hard work."

Both elves' ears pricked up as they heard a rustling sound followed by a crash of what
sounded like a helmet falling onto some plate armour. "My shirt," Halsin gestured to Raima,
who looked back at him confused until he thrust it in her hand and wild-shaped into his bear
form. Raima dressed quickly in his top, before coaxing a fireball into her hand to face the
intruder.

They rounded the corner back to camp to see Scratch and the Owlbear cub feasting on
leftover stew from a now up-turned cauldron. Bear Halsin huffed a grumble of relief as
Raima muttered a "for fucks sake, you two."

"Nothing to worry about, gang!" Raima sang out, still a little tipsy, as various heads poked
out of tents at the disturbance. Shadowheart looked up and down at Raima's outfit change and
smirked before whipping her tent shut.

Raima righted the cauldron and Halsin appeared to give the two trouble makers a stern word
as she unfurled a bedroll next to the embers of the fire. She shuffled into the bedding and
looked over questioningly at Halsin.

"You don't have to stay here with me if you don't want to, Halsin, you have a perfectly good
tent." The bear exhaled and stared at her, cocking his head to the side questioning her. "I
mean, you're welcome here too, sorry, I didn't mean you couldn't, I just, I didn't want you to
feel-"
Bear Halsin plodded over to her and settled down behind her, spooning her tight against his
stomach. Halsin was sure this was more physical contact than Raima had had in weeks, aside
from their quick venture into the woods near the grove. He hoped it was not just the alcohol
that drove this change, as he nuzzled the back of her head, breathing in her soft, earthy scent.
He hoped that even if he had not quite knocked down her walls tonight, he had at least been
allowed to look through the window.
 5: Goodnight

Halsin was roused from his trance a few hours later as something kicked him, hard, in his leg.
Opening his eyes his eyebrows raised in surprise as he saw the young elf twitching and
thrashing in her sleep. It was unusual to see a grown elf sleep like this, but with everything
the party was going through, perhaps she needed it. He left her to sleep as he fetched some
clothes, as while nudity was not a problem for him personally, he knew Raima would not be
best pleased if the rest of the camp awoke to find him next to her naked, and besides, the fire
was long since dead and it was cold in the Underdark. Once dressed in his leather trousers
and a loose green shirt Karlach had found in an old wardrobe, Halsin attempted to slide back
in next to Raima.

"I wouldn't, if I were you." Halsin started at the unexpected voice next to him. Astarion
stretched like a pampered housecat before lighting the fire with an almost silent firebolt and
curling up on a tree-stump. "Once she gets kicky, it tends to only get worse until she wakes
up."

"You let her suffer through nightmares like these often?" Halsin frowned, looking down at
Raima as her hand swung out trying to grab or stop some invisible force. Her face was
crumpled into agony as she mumbled. The two awake elves could not help but lean in to hear
what she was saying.

"Stop. Please, stop..." Raima repeated over and over as her movements slowed and she curled
into herself.

"This isn't right, Astarion, we should wake her." Halsin slid to the ground next to Raima's
bedroll as he laid a hand against her shoulder to rouse her. Astarion winced as Halsin began
to shake her awake.

Raima was running, as fast as she could. She must have run so far she left the Underdark, as
dark green trees whipped at her legs and stars shone down from the skies above her, the
glossy scar on her stomach catching the light . She felt herself stumble and groaned as she
staggered back to her feet. She pushed off with her foot to sprint but suddenly her limbs felt
heavy and she struggled to stay standing. It felt like she was trying to wade through treacle as
red glowing magic latched onto her limbs. Raima slowly turned her head to see the man
catch up to her, his copper hair greasy and lank, his nails long and unkempt, dirty robes with
stains and rips billowing out behind him. Raima squirmed, begging her body to move and
begging the man to leave her alone.

‘Stop, please, stop,’ she begged as she tried to push through the restraints.

Raima felt her body go limp and numb as she gave up fighting the spell. She closed her eyes
as tears streamed down her face, while she heard twigs snap and leaves rustle as the man
made his way towards her. Raima waited until the last second, trying to sense when he got
close enough. Sooner than she expected, his hand stroked her shoulder and she put all her
fear and determination into a swing as she punched the man in the gut.

"Leave me the fuck alone!" Raima screamed, as her fist made contact with the man. It was
suddenly darker, her surroundings lit by a small campfire, and Raima blinked as her elf eyes
adjusted to the darkness. She scrambled to her feet as she realised she had hit Halsin instead
of the man in her nightmare. "Fuck, Halsin, I'm so sorry! Did I hit you hard?"

Halsin rolled over on the floor with a groan before standing up.

"No, not that hard.. I'm sorry as well, I tried to wake you from your nightmare."

"Oh," Raima looked embarrassed, her cheeks flushing as she felt caught out, "I've been told
before that I can be quite, um, vicious, when I sleep. Apologies, Halsin. I don't think I've ever
punched someone in my sleep before."

Halsin tried to embrace Raima and felt her stiffen awkwardly around him, ah, the walls are
back up , he thought as he released her from his reluctant hug. She still smelled strongly of
sex, and his cock twitched as he remembered how she had felt wrapped around him.

Raima did not seem to be upset from the nightmare and began busying herself around the
camp, and Halsin realised he must have often missed this domestic routine of hers. First, she
drank some herbs, and then she fletched some arrows and brewed some potions. She tidied
the camp, washed the dishes and began to break down the old crate Shadowheart and Karlach
had brought back to camp to use as firewood. She began cleaning someone's shield before
finally realising she had an audience, and she thrust some dirty armour and a rag into Halsin's
hands, and glared at Astarion until he sighed and began drying some of the dishes before
putting them away in a large trunk. She disappeared into her tent briefly before returning
dressed in some fresher clothing, and deposited the borrowed shirt into Halsin’s tent.

Lastly, Raima boiled some water for tea as the rest of the party rose to join them, all slightly
worse for wear but no one seemed to be suffering too badly. Hot tea was quickly past round
as Gale made some apple and oat porridge. As Raima greeted each camp fellow cheerfully,
Halsin pulled Astarion aside and asked, "Does she do that every morning?" And Astarion had
the decency to look slightly sheepish as he nodded.

“Most mornings. She wakes early.”

Halsin hummed in response and felt a pang of guilt that he had not noticed or questioned how
the party stayed so organised, believing the labour was distributed slightly more evenly
among the band of travellers. He made a mental note to try and wake earlier the next day to
join her in her tasks, and to complete some of the chores before she returned that evening.

As alarming as each day was in its own way, filled with brutal assaults, dangerous creatures
and fleeting allyships with strange mushroom folk, the days in the Underdark largely bled
into one another. Raima and the team would gather leads and then untangle them by the fire,
searching for the best way forward. The aim seemed to be clear enough; get through the
Underdark to the cultist stronghold in Moonrise and find out more about the Absolute and
whatever their plan is, and how to remove or kill the tadpoles that are being implanted into
the so-called ‘True Souls’, before they become illithid. One evening, Raima explains that she
has been visited a couple of times by a strange man in her dreams, who said there is a battle
raging against the Absolute and it must be stopped.

“Why did you not tell us this before?” Shadowheart asked, looking shocked at Raima’s
revelation, as she braided the githyanki’s hair by the fire. “Dreams are important, this could
have saved us so much time!”

Raima hesitated before answering, chewing on her lip as she looked for her words.

“Honestly, I was not sure it was real, and then I was not sure I believed them. And I have a
lot of dreams, besides, and sometimes they would overlap. I did not want to give anyone false
information or…false hope.

As much help as this dream-spirit is, I fear we are alone in this mission.”

Wyll nudged Raima, trying to coax a smile as he pointed out, “None of us are alone while we
have each other, Ma.”

Halsin found a strange pang of jealousy rear up in his gut as he watched the Blade wink
across the fire at her. Halsin had never felt particularly compelled to monogamy, he did not
want to keep Raima all to himself, but he found her irresistible, and he had only had her
twice. He wanted so much more - not just to feel himself inside her again, but to feel her
relax around him, to smile and let him hold her, let him protect her. He wanted her to
experience all that love making had to offer, fuck, she could have everyone in the camp for all
he cared, but not if it cock-blocked him.

He glared across the campfire as Raima indulged her friends, listening to their dreams,
discussing what they would do in the future, where they would go. It was hard to stay in a
bad mood around her, as she brought Wyll and Astarion to stitches braiding ribbons and
feathers into Gale’s hair, especially when the wizard realised the tight plaits would not come
out without a fight. She sat with Astarion as she asked him how he was feeling, knowing the
sun had been and gone for him until they left the Underdark and the Shadow-cursed lands.
She admired his handiwork as he repaired the tears in his clothes and agreed gratefully when
he offered to mend something of hers. She mediated passionate discussions of goddesses, and
entertained Gale’s droning on about the Weave.

Eventually, Raima came to wish Halsin goodnight.

“You always come to speak to me last, Raima - I am beginning to have hurt feelings!” Halsin
said in jest, although he felt a sting of truth to his words.

“Why, Halsin, there was never anything stopping you from coming over to me! ” Raima
chuckled as she sat down next to him. She looked through her eyelashes at him, her eyes
wide in the dark, flecks of purples and blues and oranges of the mushrooms shining up at
him, giving her an ethereal gaze. Spellbound, Halsin suddenly leant down and kissed her. He
felt her face stiffen from the shock at first, and just as he went to pull back, her mouth
relaxed, her lips parting to receive his kiss.

“Maybe this is why I always come to speak to you last.” Raima whispered, pulling back to
stare into his eyes. Fuck, she’s perfect, Halsin caught himself thinking, Silvanus has created
another goddess in her. They stayed next to each other, just touching, for a while, as the camp
settled in for the night. Her hand on top of his sent electricity coursing through him, passion
nipped at his core as he kept meeting her eyes and seeing them smile, crinkling her face as
she played with some magic in her other hand.

“Careful, Rai, lest you shroud us in darkness again,” Halsin jibed, eyeing the lights dancing
across her fingers.

“Would that be so bad, druid?” Raima winked at him. Halsin felt his bear flare up in him at
her words and he grunted slightly, containing himself. He looked back at Raima and she
looked torn, her smile not completely gone, but faded, her expression serious.

“Halsin... I apologise. I’m being an awful tease,” the elf began, fiddling with the little ball of
magic like it was viscous putty in her hands. Halsin’s eyebrows shot up, confused.

“Rai, you do not owe me anything by a little flirting. I am yours if you want me, but I am just
as content to sit here beside you.” Raima seemed taken aback by this, and Halsin leant in to
let her whisper more quietly.

“Are you sure? I just, I guess I just don’t really want to do anything…like that, right now.”

“Raima,” Halsin turned so he was facing her directly, “I would never, ever want anything you
are not willing to give.” He tried not to take offence at the doubt in the look she returned him.

“Is it all right if - if, I don’t know, we just lied down together? Just while I fall asleep? It’s
just, it’s easier for me if there’s someone there, I think. Although it’s usually just Scratch.”

Halsin smiled encouragingly at the young elf as he lay down next to the fire, patting her
bedroll. “Anything, my sweet.” Raima shuffled down atop the bedroll until her face was
buried in Halsin’s chest. Her warm breath tickled as he heard her adjust her breathing to
match his, slowing as he guided her into a relaxing trance. He chuckled as he felt a
possessive lump of fur flop down at their feet, Scratch clearly put out by his elven usurper.
Halsin let his mind wander as he watched the little elf fall asleep, imagining their lives under
a different circumstance.

Halsin approached the plump, red-haired elf from behind, his hands grasping her waist as
she jumped playfully, lolling her head back to peep at him over her shoulder as he leant in
and kissed the top of her head, her cheek and her neck. He spun her round in the grove,
sunlight dappling on her freckled skin and he pulled her lips to his. He felt a moan escape
from her soft lips as her hands ran through his hair. His hands danced up and down and
around her glorious body, squeezing and palming her curves as her breathing got harder and
faster, barely coming up for air between kisses. He laid her down gently on the soft moss,
running kisses up and down the side of her body while he sidled up next to her, lying them
both on their side as his cock pressed keenly against her back. She arched her back, pushing
harder into his embrace, feeling his desire for her. He slid easily between her folds as she let
out a beautiful sigh, taking him into her fully. His fingers flicked and played with her nipples
as they became hard with arousal, while he slowly pumped into her, burying himself deep
with every thrust. Little gasps and moans were like birdsong in the morning, filled with desire
to hold her tight and not let go. He reached over her thigh and rubbed her clit delicately as
her moans became louder, feeling her climax building around his cock. He pressed firm
circles around it as she came with him inside her, her wetness spilling out between her legs
and on to his. He moved his hand up to rest on the swell of her stomach, round with his child.
He moaned her name as he filled her with his cum, shuddering through his orgasm with her
clenching around him.

Oh, thought Halsin, as he returned to his surroundings, oh.

 6: Runepowder
Chapter Summary

The gang face Nere and all the joys of battle.

CW: Death, descriptions of death. Cannon typical violence. Shadowheart swearing. You
know, all the usual.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

All roads seemed to lead to Grymforge, and a drow named Nere. Raima found her confidence
in the team building quickly. Shadowheart and Lae’zel were thriving in the Underdark, their
combined efforts wiping out the most terrifying foes, and the leftovers were easily managed
by Karlach and Wyll. Raima and Astarion managed the more delicate events, where
espionage or people skills triumphed over violence.

Raima noticed the camp was often tidier, and she had less to do in the mornings. She made a
point to thank Halsin frequently for his efforts, although he occasionally denied his part,
giving credit to another member when it was due. They often spent the quieter evenings
together by the fire, Raima would fletch arrows and bolts, and Halsin would whittle. It was a
comfortable silence, at least for Raima. She knew questions gnawed at Halsin under the
surface but he seemed content to let her be for now. Sometimes she would let him curl up
next to her on his bedroll, but after she discovered she kept kicking him awake, she insisted
he either sleep out of reach or back in his tent. Some nights she fell asleep still picking at
lengths of wood, or scrawling in a journal, leaning heavily on his shoulder. Those nights were
Halsin's favourites.

She continued to surprise Halsin at every step. From quicking navigating the group through
an abandoned wizard's home, convincing a myconid to join them in battle, to saving the party
a difficult questioning, or worse, fighting on a rickety boat, by simply keeping track of who
wanted a pair of boots. She had stopped leading through lack of options, and had built her
group up into a functional party, with a part for everyone.

Well, almost everyone.

Halsin wanted to join them, but Raima seemed reluctant. He knew he needed to focus on
saving his strength for the Shadow cursed lands, but it stung a little each time the brave little
sorcerer came back to camp bloodied and bruised. So he tried to be useful, helping Gale by
preparing vegetables, letting Astarion drink his blood on the occasions Raima came back too
broken to cope with the extra loss. He enjoyed talking to Scratch and the Owlbear, and
Scratch was becoming quite the little gatherer under Halsin's tutelage. He also helped Karlach
carry the obscenely heavy kit they had acquired.
Halsin sighed when Raima immediately requested Gale, Lae'zel and Halsin go to set up
camp in a safer spot while they dealt with the immediate threat - a man named Nere, and
more importantly, some innocent gnomes that had unfortunately been trapped in the cave-in
with him. Halsin felt the hairs on his arms bristle with rage when he caught a glimpse of the
enslaved gnomes. The whip he saw the mercenaries use sent shivers down his spine as he
pushed thoughts far back down into the depths of his memories. His bear form growled
within him, trying to break out and break necks, and it only stilled when he saw the disgust
and fury seething out of Raima and the party heading that way.

Halsin paced around the camp as Withers played fetch with Scratch. An hour or two seemed
to pass, although Halsin found it hard to tell in the Underdark. There was a thunderous
explosion from somewhere in the forge. Halsin found himself wild-shaped and out of the
camp before he even realised what he was doing, Gale and Lae’Zel shouting after him.

Another decision, lucky me , Raima thought as she numbly agreed to kill the True Soul Nere,
teaming up with an unlikely ally, a greedy druegar out for blood money. Raima explained her
decision as the party followed a lead to a gnome with rune powder that would clear the
rubble.

Philomeen, the deep gnome in question, was desperate. Raima slowed her breathing and held
her hands out, slowly approaching her and her dangerous cargo peacefully. Astarion lurked
nearby, no doubt already aiming at the poor gnome's heart. Raima and the group argued
furiously via the tadpole as Shadowheart and Astarion wanted to kill her, before she exploded
the whole party. Karlach and Raima reminded them less-than-politely that they were in fact
attempting to save the gnomes, not kill them.

Enough.

Raima projected, silencing the gang with a piercing wave of telepathic fury. She bargained
with the gnome and let her go, receiving a vial of rune powder.

Shadowheart blistered at Raima, spitting at her "You know that's not nearly going to be
enough smoke powder! Are you planning on using your own magic to blast the rest of the
rubble away? Does your magnificent plan also involve turning half of us into cats and setting
the other half on fire? One gnome to save the rest is a loss they can manage!"

“These gnomes have suffered enough loss, Shadowheart, I think.” Raima hesitated and then
looked to Astarion, but he simply shrugged, "Darling it is an awfully small amount of
powder. And she did threaten to blow us up. A lot."

Even Karlach seemed to have doubts. Disapproval sat poorly within Raima, as she swallowed
Shadowheart's attack. But why would the gnome give her a vial of this new powder if it wasn't
enough? Why would she potentially doom the other gnomes?

"We'll make it work. We've managed to avoid killing that indiscriminately for now. We don't
know what the next choice will be or if we will have that luxury in the future. Shadowheart, I
 know I ask you to put faith in me a lot. I promise I will return the favour, but not this time.
Let's go blow up a wall."

It turned out that one vial of rune powder was ample.

"Fucking hells, she wasn't kidding!" Karlach yelled, their ears ringing as they tried to see
where Nere and the gnomes were. Raima froze, suddenly, before crying out "No!" As through
the settling dust, the rest of the party saw Nere standing over a dead gnome. He had murdered
her small form for no reason, bar his own cruelty.

Raima couldn't move. She had witnessed a great deal of said cruelty and death in her short
time since the nautiloid, but this attack went straight into her heart. Nere tried to talk to her
but her mind was finally blank to his awful visions and tadpole messages. I guess I made the
right call this time . Green magic coiled in her hand as she flung a glowing, jagged ball into
his stomach. Then she fell down to her knees. The fight broke out immediately between the
mercenaries and the absolutists that were faithful to Nere. Arrows and poison and flames
ripped through both parties. Move, Raima! Someone messaged her, or maybe they screamed
it. But her eyes remained fixed on the dead gnome, as if the battle around her was on another
plane, going through her like she had already faded away.

Until she got hit.

Halsin roared as he pounced on the first cultist, ripping a limb off as he moved to get to
Raima. She was on her knees, but in some kind of trance. Shit, Halsin thought as he dashed to
reach her. Then a flash of energy sank into her chest and she flew back ten feet and fell
forward, her face hitting the stone, her body limp.

No! Halsin sprinted to her, his rage boiling over as he covered her body with his bear form,
growling and swiping at anyone who came to try and finish the job. Within a couple of
minutes though, he began to panic as he felt Raima slipping away. He needed to shift back, to
save her, but his bear refused to leave her. Her heart beat flickered and just as Karlach
cleaved through Nere's neck, it stopped.

Suddenly, Shadowheart was on him, screaming, "Why did you not heal her? What is wrong
with you, you good for nothing fucking fur coat !" Shadowheart shoved the bear aside and
rummaged through Raima's bag and quickly read off a restoration spell, tears streaming down
her face. Raima only had a chance to think, 'No-' as she felt her body fall forward and hit the
ground. She tried to scream but the air in her lungs had already left, beaten out of her by the
fall. Then she felt a warm, heavy, familiar weight next to her, and a smell like wet spring air
and honey enveloped her. It almost drowned out the worst of the pain, swirling around her
like ethereal pollen, comforting her like a thick blanket on a cold winter's night. She did not
really mind, for once, that her body would not move. She had no desire to move.

Gradually, the warmth seemed to dissipate from her, a dull ache blossoming in her chest, as
she slipped into a cold, but peaceful, death.

Chapter End Notes

Don't worry too much guys, it's an easy fix, right?

Right?
 7: Scrolls
Chapter Summary

“We started that fight with seven scrolls. We have seven left. I remember saying the
words, but the scroll did not work. The spell never left the scroll. I guess I just put it in
my pouch after, not realising the scroll did not disintegrate.”

Briefly there was nothing, and then there was a golden light floating in front of her like a
mote. Raima cautiously reached out to touch it, more out of curiosity than anything else. She
already felt content, here in the nothingness. She felt light, complete. As she neared the
bobbing, dancing glow, she recognised it as an acorn, a celestial copy of the fruit of the
ancient oak trees that had surrounded Raima's childhood home. Her fingers clasped the
familiar shape as she smiled at it. The forest had long been her sanctuary, her place to just
be, to feel calm, to feel safe.

Suddenly she felt warmth rush into her body like she had been injected with firewine. Raima
heard a scream, as she tried to open her eyes, before realising it was her own. Her breathing
was ragged and wheezy, as if she had smoked a pound of devilweed a day for six months.
Her lids felt heavy, swollen, and she could feel blood trickling down her face where she had
split the skin on her forehead. She tried to stand, but a gentle hand kept her down.

"Easy, kitten, you're back but you're badly hurt." Halsin poured his magical healing into her
chest, before heaving her up into his arms. Raima screamed again as she was gathered up,
pain radiating through her, her body hyper aware of every cut, burn and ache. Halsin kissed
her deliberately at the top of her head as he hauled her back to camp. Shadowheart was still
tearful but she also looked confused, worried. Astarion brought a potion to Raima's lips as
she winced with each step in the large druid's arms. The arms around her were too much, she
felt trapped, and began thrashing like a wild beast. Then the arms restraining her did
something she did not expect. They loosened slightly, just enough to let her move more
freely, and a hushed voice began to soothe her.

"Shhh, Raima, it's okay. You're alright. It's going to be okay."

Raima felt her screams morph into sobs as she desperately tried to settle her body, each
movement agony. Her mind went numb as she tried to cope with the pain radiating through
her chest, her mind begging her body to relax and stop twitching. Halsin placed Raima
delicately in his tent while Shadowheart poured the last of her healing magic into the elf.
Lae'zel walked over to inspect the casualty.

"Chk, you ran like a rabid animal to this one?"

"She died, Lae'zel, really died." Halsin glared at her.

"Well it would have been a glorious death for her, to die in battle. Better than," and she
gestured to Raima's crotch, "Risking another soldier to save her and then pissing on him in
thanks."

A low growl emanated from Halsin, far louder than he had intended, before he realised it was
not just him staring at Lae'zel with unbridled fury, but the rest of the party as well. Even
Scratch looked ready to bite the githyanki.

"Tchk. I would not have kept carrying a pissbaby. You are all fools."

"I do so wonder why Raima doesn't bring you to these kinds of fights." Astarion purred at
her, flashing his fangs. "Your diplomacy knows no bounds...nor beginnings, for that matter."

Lae'zel continued to tut as she walked away back to her tent.

Shadowheart knelt next to Raima and began removing her armour. She continued bickering
with Halsin about his lack of help earlier. The studded leather was concave into her chest and
the cleric gasped as she delicately lifted it from the elf's body. Her tunic beneath was soaked
with blood. Shadowheart reached for a dagger to cut away the bloodied clothes, while Halsin
tried to hold Raima's head still and comfort her as she began to stir again.

The tiniest whisper of a voice said, "Get off."

"Hmm?" Shadowheart looked to Halsin as she continued to cut away pieces of tunic, her
work nimble and efficient, despite Raima beginning to writhe underneath her again. Someone
cleared their voice behind the open flap of the tent, and Shadowheart looked up to see
Astarion, whose eyes flicked between Halsin's grip on Raima and Shadowheart's knife, an
eye-brow raised. He began, "She said 'get off,'' crouching next to the elf, "I strongly suggest
you leave her with me for a moment, before something-" Then , all of a sudden, the cleric and
Halsin were clutching their heads in pain.

I said Get Off!

Astarion, Shadowheart, Halsin and most of his tent all flew about ten metres back in a gust of
wind centred on Raima.

"-upsets her and triggers a surge." Astarion sighed from the floor.

Shadowheart stood up and cursed, "For the love of the goddess, are any of you going to
actually help or just fucking tell me how to be the only one here with," and she glared at
Halsin, "reliable fucking healing spells!?"

“Let me see to her, briefly. I think I can keep her calm.” Astarion quickly reassembled the
tent around Raima and closed the flap as he went inside. He immediately started speaking to
her in a steady, calm voice.

“Raima you are injured and we need to remove your clothes in the tent. I know you are very
scared but we have to do this now.” He grabbed a large white shirt of Halsin’s and held it up
in front of his face, shielding her from his eyes. “I am holding up a shirt, so I cannot see you.
Can you move at all?” Raima ‘mmhm’ed in reply. “Good. If you can, please remove or pull
down as much of what you are wearing as possible. If it hurts too much, stop. Let me know
when you’re finished or have to stop, and I’ll lay this shirt over the top of you. I won’t see
anything, okay?”

Astarion heard shuffling and muffled hissing as Raima began to take off what was left of her
top, and then she tried to remove her boots before giving up and settling for just pushing her
leggings and underwear down to just above her knees.

“That’s all I can manage.” She said, hoarsely.

“That’s great, thank you for doing that. I’m going to put the shirt over you now so you’re still
covered, okay?” Another ‘mmhm’ and Astarion gentle lowered the top down over her naked
torso. He then talked her through his movements as he removed her boots, leggings and
underwear, and then offered her a few minutes to gather her thoughts before he brought
Halsin back to look over her wounds.

“How did you calm her down enough to remove her clothes?” Halsin asked, genuinely
surprised when the pale elf came to say she was ready to be examined.

“I asked her to, and only did the things she agreed she needed me to. She’s in shock, Halsin,
but she still speaks common. I don’t think the shouting was helping either.”

“But she’s safe now. We’ve healed her before. And I’ve seen her naked already. She
shouldn’t be cross with any of us! Except maybe me for not healing her straight away, Oak
Father knows I wish I had been able to!”

“I don’t think she’s really with us right now. Wherever her mind is, she’s still terrified.
You’ve seen her when she has nightmares, Halsin… I think that’s where she is.”

With Astarion’s assistance, Halsin knelt next to Raima and apologised for not speaking
earlier. Raima’s eyes were wide and her body tensed around his touch as he first looked at her
head, arms and legs. She answered questions about what hurt and what was just sore, and
gradually she relaxed a little, even smiling slightly when Halsin accidentally tickled her foot
while cleaning off dirt and blood. Astarion noted he was a skilled healer, and very gentle with
Raima.

“Raima, I need to look at your chest now, and to clean the blood. I will probably have to
touch you quite a bit. Astarion is still here, are you okay with him staying?”

Raima prickled at the inevitable situation, and Astarion nodded at Halsin and left the tent,
saying he’d return with some fresh water and clean rags.

Raima looked up at Halsin as he peeled back the top of his shirt, revealing her top half,
leaving her covered from below the navel. He tried not to look too frightened by the mess he
had revealed. He handed her a damp cloth as she cleaned off most of the blood herself,
leaving only the wound for Halsin to touch. Halsin channelled the last of his healing magic
into her as the wound knitted back together, but the damage was deep and he was fairly
certain she had broken a rib. The top layer of skin did not heal fully and Raima looked like
she had been clawed across her chest with scalpels.

She sat up slowly and pulled the shirt on as Halsin averted his eyes, gathering the rags.

“Can I see your stomach, Raima?” Halsin probed. He remembered the damage it already had
sustained, and was worried about the scar tissue being more delicate than the rest of her skin.
But Raima shook her head, her eyes glossing over again. “Is it injured?” Raima bit her lip
and nodded, and then shook her head, changing her mind. “I can handle it, Halsin. Thank you
though, for patching me up. I hope it did not take too much out of you. And I’m really sorry.”

“Do not apologise, kitten. You did nothing wrong.”

“I froze , Halsin, I couldn’t save that gnome and I froze. I distracted the party, I got you
involved in a battle that was none of your business and I full on died. That’s not exactly
stellar behaviour for the supposed leader of this hairbrained mission!”

“None of my business? Raima, what do you mean?”

Raima sighed and looked away from Halsin. “I cannot let you try and help us before we get
you to Moonrise. I cannot shoulder the responsibility of the shadow-curse. If you die, Halsin,
the hope of the lands healing dies with it. I cannot promise to fix it in your stead.”

“I never asked that you try, my heart. You take on these burdens that are not your own. I
joined your camp to help, and I hope to repay the debt of my rescue, and the saving of my
grove, and the saving of the tieflings, and, well of course, I care about you.” Halsin gulped as
he confessed himself to Raima. “I cannot let you die either, Raima. I fear we are going to
have to save one another a fair few more times before we are both safe. We aim for Moonrise
but what then? We have no idea. We only have this camp and each other.”

Raima’s eyes glistened as the druid spoke. “I think we can do it. Whatever we need to do,
we’ll find it out, and then we’ll do it.” and with that promise, she leant in and kissed Halsin,
her hand intertwined with his in the tent. She lingered on his lips, smiling as she pulled away.

“I think it may be a good idea if I feed Astarion tonight, my heart.” Raima smirked as Halsin
popped a second kiss on her lips. “Can you rest here?”

“No, but I can get myself dressed and get to the fire, I think, if you fetch me some clean
leggings.” She frowned as she felt her underwear, “Halsin, tell me. Did I piss myself?” The
druid nodded and shrugged, as she threw the underwear back down on top of the dirty rags in
disgust. “I’m so sorry. That’s…wow. That’s embarrassing.”

“You died, Raima. I think I can forgive you. But yes I will grab some clothes for you and
then we can get you to the fire.”

-
Raima sat around the campfire drinking a potato stew that Gale had whipped up. She listened
to the hubbub that evening, the sounds melting around her like a comforting symphony.
Karlach had returned to the myconids to deliver Nere’s head and had a brought back various
items to dole out. Usually this fell to Raima to sort out, but no one seemed to squabble that
evening so she was not required to intervene. Shadowheart eventually stopped talking in a
hushed voice to Gale and asked Raima to come and talk to her. Halsin stood up too, and
Shadowheart rolled her eyes as the couple came to sit on the cushions Gale scattered around
the entrance to his tent.

“Firstly, Shadowheart, I just want to apologise for how I was today. And for the wild magic.
And for being a bad patient. And for dying.” Shadowheart looked like she needed to swallow
whatever she had been about to say as she stuttered out,

“But you did not die.”

Halsin looked up at Shadowheart suddenly, curiously. “I can confirm she did, Shadowheart. I
felt her pulse weaken, then stop.”

Shadowheart peered into Halsin’s eyes as if trying to work out if he was telling the truth.
Then she nodded, accepting it.

“Raima, I’m sorry to ask you this but it’s important to me. Well, to everything I guess.”

Raima met her gaze as well, equally confused about what was troubling the cleric.

“What do you need to know? I remember the nothingness, I remember a glowing…thing, and
I remember suddenly being pulled back. If that was not dying, fuck I don’t want to find out
how much worse it can be.”

“If you did die, and I think,” She looked over at Gale who nodded in silent agreement, “-I
think it sounds like you did, then, well, I did not bring you back.”

Halsin’s and Raima’s eyes snapped back to Shadowheart.

“Yes, you did, you read the Scroll of Revivify and she came back.”

Shadowheart rummaged in the deep pocket of her pack, and drew out a scroll, and then
another, and then another, and kept going until there were seven Scrolls of Revivify on the
ground in front of the group.

“We started that fight with seven scrolls. We have seven left. I remember saying the words,
but the scroll did not work. The spell never left the scroll. I guess I just put it in my pouch
after, not realising the scroll did not disintegrate.”

“But that’s not possible, Shadow. Did you cast the spell from your own magic? I know it’s an
advanced spell but…” She shook her head in reply to Raima.

“No, I’m sure I didn’t. I’ve talked it through with Gale and I would have known, and I would
not have been able to cast anywhere near as much healing on you afterwards if I had cast a
spell like that anyway.”
“So what did?”

Shadowheart scooched closer to Raima as she gently placed a hand on her knee.

“Tell me exactly what happened, from the moment you…froze, to the moment you were
aware you were alive again.”
 8: Spoon
Chapter Summary

Halsin slowly moved his face against hers until their lips were almost touching. Raima
stared up at his jade coloured eyes, her breathing heavy as she inhaled his scent. Even in
human form he smelt like pollen and earth and sawdust. She grabbed fists of his shirt as
she pulled him in to meet her mouth. His tongue quickly found its way between her lips,
and his large hands wrapped around her waist, while hers cradled his neck.

“And you're sure it was an acorn?” Shadowheart asked again, “And you're sure no one spoke
to you, or that you heard anything while you were gone?”

“Yes, and yes I'm sure. I was not exactly gone for very long.”

“And you have not had any dreams recently about a god, no?”

Raima flinched a little at this question, and Halsin was relieved when he put his hand on her
shoulder to reassure her, and she did not pull away. “No dreams about a god.”

“And you've not been praying?”

“Not recently.”

Shadowheart and Gale looked at each other, as if they were drawing the same conclusion.

“Then we can probably assume that this was Halsin's doing.”

“You mean the Oak Father’s,” Halsin countered, “I merely pray to him.”

Halsin's face was flushed with pride and a grin broke out across his face.

“You mean you think he intervened? Don't all three of you pray, like, a lot though?” Raima
interjected, “Although… I guess it would be an unlikely act for Shar…or Mystra…no
offence guys.”

“Yes, we already discussed this.” Gale laughed, “it seems highly unlikely.”

“I guess I should say thank you, Halsin, and, um, Silvanus.” Raima sheepishly gestured
upwards, addressing the deity. Halsin laughed, the joy of seeing his god's intervention filling
him with delight. "Don't gods tend to have like, a message or a task or some words of advice
when they do things like this?"
"I thought so, but perhaps it is not a necessity. After all, you do have a path to follow at the
moment. We will need to end this tadpole business one way or another. I can imagine an
illithid invasion does not align with Silvanus' ideals."

With that, Raima gathered up the scrolls and kissed Shadowheart and Gale goodnight, a
gesture she did not give out too freely, but not dying had lifted her spirits a little. Halsin let
her lean on him as they walked back to the fire.

“Can you show me how, Halsin?” The druid looked over at Raima as she broke their nightly
silence.

“How…what, my heart?”

“How to pray to Silvanus, to properly pray.” Halsin’s smile broadened at the young elf’s
request.

“Yes, my sweet, of course I can. Perhaps it should wait until tomorrow, though. We dare not
risk Shadowheart’s rage if she caught us sneaking off while you're supposed to be resting.”

Raima merely ‘mhmmed’ as she scooted over so that she was next to Halsin, and he curled
his arms around her as they lowered themselves both down to sleep, faces warmed by the fire
and Raima’s back warmed by a suddenly hairier feeling druid.

Raima sulked briefly when she was left behind with Astarion, Gale and Halsin while the
others travelled down into the namesake of Grymforge. She busied herself tidying the camp,
chatting to Gale and Halsin about growing up as a wood-elf near Suldanessellar, and how her
parents were vintners, and was disappointed that that only took five minutes.

Halsin chuckled as he watched the elf potter about, trying to start chores only to discover
they were already completed.

“Shall we pray, Rai?” Halsin offered, remembering the little elf’s request. A smile crept up
her freckled face, framed by her ginger curls that she had taken to only loosely pinning back
when not out with the party. Her eyes glinted with pleasure as she eagerly dashed over to the
druid. Halsin had a rummage through the affectionately named “trunk of junk” that was filled
with things that Raima either promised would be useful or worth some coin. Raima raised her
eyebrows when he produced a small wooden spoon.

“I thought it might be good for cooking!” She immediately defended as Halsin laughed,

“Well today it will serve a far nobler purpose!”

He led Raima to a small opening in the forge building, where there was a little bank with
mushrooms growing into the river silt. They knelt down as Halsin guided her through a
prayer of sacrifice to Silvanus, giving her the little spoon to break and then bury in thanks.
He finally added a short prayer of his own.
“Oak Father, we pray in thanks for your wondrous gift of life. I promise to protect her
tenfold, to let her guide me as you have, and to relieve her of her sorrow as you did mine
when she died.”

Tears snuck into Raima's eyes at the sincerity of Halsin's words.

“Do not cry, my heart,” Halsin wiped her glistening cheek, “I am so blessed to have found
you.”

“You saved me, Halsin. Your words brought me back. I think you're stuck with me.” Raima
giggled as she leant her forehead against his.

Halsin slowly moved his face against hers until their lips were almost touching. Raima stared
up at his jade coloured eyes, her breathing heavy as she inhaled his scent. Even in human
form he smelt like pollen and earth and sawdust. She grabbed fists of his shirt as she pulled
him in to meet her mouth. His tongue quickly found its way between her lips, and his large
hands wrapped around her waist, while hers cradled his neck. Raima felt heat rush to her core
as Halsin pinned her against a crumbling stone wall. She tangled her hands in his hair,
intensifying the kiss and moaning into him. His tongue explored her mouth, and he grunted
softly as Raima sucked on it.

“You are divine,” Halsin purred into her ear before kissing down her neck.

“All thanks to you, Halsin…” Raima rebutted before gasping as he grabbed at her thighs and
her round cheeks as he hoisted her up the wall, her legs curling naturally around his waist.

Halsin went to pull his shirt off her body, “My heart, I need to have you. I need to lie with
you as nature intends. I need to feel your skin pressed against mine.”

But when he met Raima’s eyes, something was missing. She felt pliant in his arms but not…
eager. He pulled away and lowered her back onto her feet, and saw her bring herself back as
she realised what he was doing.

“Kitten, are you too injured? Tell me, where is the pain?”

“I'm fine, Halsin, I'm not in pain, it's just…” Raima trailed off, her hands worrying the fabric
of his shirt in her fingers.

“Blessed one, tell me your mind, let me reassure you.”

Raima let Halsin move her to face him, his hands cradling her cheeks as he looked into her
eyes to try and discern her shift in demeanour.

There was a long pause as Raima tried to find what she needed to say. She bit her lip and
broke his gaze as she asked, “Halsin, have you had many lovers?”

Halsin raised his eyebrows at the direct question, before replying, “Well, yes. I am 350 years
old. Of course there have been lovers. But that does not mean I do not have space in my heart
for you, my sweet. Have…you do not need to tell me, but I was not the first person to lay
with you, I am fairly certain of this, yes?”
Raima nodded, looking sheepish.

“It's not that. It's just been a while…and I find myself nervous.”

“A while? Raima…it has not been that long since we-”

“It's been a while since I slept with anyone…sober.”

“Oh.” Halsin tried not to look taken aback. He recalled the last two times he had laid with
Raima, both of you had been, well, not horrendously drunk, but definitely not sober either.

“I'm sorry Halsin, I… I want to, I mean, if you still do, of course, it's just… I don't know.
Honestly I'm shy.” Raima spluttered before burying her face in his chest.

“Little elf,” Halsin held her close, “Promise me this is not some attempt to pay me back for
yesterday’s events. You owe nothing. There is no obligation to me.”

“No, I know, Halsin,” Raima looked up at him, her eyes regaining some of her typical fire, “I
guess without a drink I can find it harder to… stay in the moment. But I cannot deny there is
something…intense about what you did, too. Maybe I like that you prayed for me so hard
that Silvanus himself took notice. Maybe I would like to reward your goodness .”

Halsin’s eyes flashed gold as he resumed kissing the younger elf. Raima still felt nervous in
his strong arms, but she kissed him back with vigour he could not deny.

“Let's get back to camp.” He whispered in her ear. Raima looked surprised but then looked
around the damp, dusty cavern they were in, and nodded as he took her hand to guide her
back, their fingers interlocked
 9: Butterflies
Chapter Summary

Her breath was hot against him and Halsin struggled not to lean in and kiss her
immediately. Lying naked under the greenery with Raima was certainly ticking a few of
his boxes.

Chapter Notes

Caution, spooning ahead. It's not all angst I promise.

Gale looked up as the couple returned to camp, and began to enquire about the prayer before
Astarion kicked him in the shins and he fell quiet. Astarion and he shared a wry look, and
Astarion loudly proclaimed they were out of firewood and he and Gale would need to go and
collect more of the old barrels and crates that littered Grymforge. Raima flushed a deep red as
she traipsed after Halsin towards his tent, especially as she nearly tripped on the small mound
of perfectly good timber piled next to the firepit.

Once inside the tent though, her nerves returned to her. Halsin kissed her fervently but made
no move to undress her. He loosened his own trousers and shirt, quickly disrobing between
pecks on her cheek and neck and collarbone. Raima caught herself staring at his erection, it
seemed…larger in the clearer light of both camp and sobriety.

As Halsin peppered her with kisses, she whispered timidly.

“I have a lot of scars. I know you've seen them but it feels different to show them
deliberately.”

“Would you prefer to remain clothed? Halsin tried to shield Raima from his disappointment
at that particular notion, “I truly believe you are beautiful, scars and all…but the choice is
always yours, my heart.”

Raima pulled away and took a deep breath, shaking her head, before slowly removing her
leggings, underwear and loose shirt. Halsin gasped before he could stop himself, not, as she
feared, at her scarred stomach and grated arms, but at her full figure, the dip of her hips that
she hid with baggy clothes, her generous breasts, still read with cuts, but with perfect, peach
coloured nipples and the ice-like stretch marks that littered all of her curves, a testament to
her fast development. Her stomach paunched a little as it met the crest of her strawberry
blonde curls, the scar across it reflected rippled light like it was stretched over water. She
knelt in the tent, nude and facing him, slightly hunched over, covering the worst of her
stomach scar with her arms, breathing slowly and deeply as if to force her body to relax.

“Raima,” he began as he pulled her close, moving her hands and running his up and down her
body, tracing her silhouette as he marvelled at her. “You are divine, blessed one.”

He felt her chest swell at the complement as he guided her to lie down. He could not help but
dispense some magic into the wounds on her chest, sealing the cuts and strengthening the fine
threads of scars that now decorated her sternum. He then returned his focus to her pleasure,
bringing his finger to her mouth.

“Suck.” He said, grinning at Raima's obedience. He moved his wet finger down onto the edge
of her engorged clitoris, swiping either side as she pushed her hips up into his. She could feel
his cock pressing into her and fuck did she want more.

“Go inside me, Halsin, mmph, yes, just like that-” Raima felt her wet pussy clamp down
eagerly on his finger, as he played with her entrance. She kept her eyes fixed on him as he
pawed at her breast, before taking a hardening nipple between his teeth and nibbling, causing
a moan to escape the younger elf’s mouth.

Halsin kissed every inch of her stomach as he worked his way lower towards her entrance,
where his other fingers were already teasing her slit, his index slowly moving in and out.
Raima sat up on her elbows, watching as his tongue began to draw across her clit, before he
captured it in his mouth and gently sucked. He beamed between her legs, making Raima feel
like her body was some glorious meal he was feasting on. She watched the muscles in his
back ripple with each movement of his hands, feeling her body grow wetter and more wanton
for his touch. Her breath hitched in her throat as his second meaty finger entered her, she laid
back and closed her eyes as he began moving within her, coaxing pleasure from her core.
Then as he tried to slip in a third finger, Raima opened her eyes and saw the fabric of the tent
hanging above her, and suddenly she felt like she could not breathe.

“Halsin,” she mumbled, his mouth feeling wet on her, his fingers uncomfortable intrusions,
“Halsin, I’m -” He looked up at her, grinning and glistening with her fluids, expecting to see
the flushed beauty he had just been devouring, and his smile dropped as he quickly withdrew
his touch. “I’m sorry, Halsin, I can’t do this.”

Raima curled into a ball, rapidly shrinking into herself as she refused to meet his gaze. She
grabbed a tunic, not hers, that was nearby and used it to cover herself, laying it over and
around her body as tears formed in her eyes.

“Halsin, I didn’t mean to, I mean, I can’t, it just, I need a moment to stop and think or
something, I just -” Raima searched impatiently for the words to explain what had just
happened, finding none. Halsin’s brow furrowed as he watched the elf retreat into herself, her
face pained with the same expression he had witnessed when she slept, when she would
thrash in her sleep. Her breathing was erratic, and he could hear her heart racing.
“Rai, look at me, breathe. I know you know how. Breathe with me.” He deliberately slowed
and exaggerated his breathing, hoping she would imitate him.

“I can’t move.” She stuttered out, her nails digging into her wrist as she tried to ground
herself with the pain, her eyes darting all over the tent as if looking for an escape. Halsin
went to move towards her and expected her to flinch away, but when she remained stock-still,
he sat himself next to her and delicately lifted her nails off her wrist, healing the row of
bleeding crescents as he did.

“You are okay, Raima,” Halsin wrapped an arm around her, and manoeuvred her to press her
face against the warmth of his chest. She felt wooden and stiff for minutes, her breathing still
chaotic, then her shoulders began to shake as she silently wept in his embrace.

It took a long time before Raima finally ran out of tears. Her eyes were red and puffy, and
Halsin's bare chest was soaked from her leaning on him. Eventually, Raima stirred and risked
a glance up at Halsin.

“I am so sorry, Halsin, I-” Raima stuttered out an apology before Halsin interrupted,

“No, my sweet, do not apologise for being upset. There is nothing to be sorry for. I am sorry
if I pushed you, or went too far?”

“I just, I guess… no. It's not you, Halsin, or anything you did. I was enjoying everything,
honestly. Then I saw the tent ceiling and I was back there. ”

“Back where, Raima?” Halsin placed a kiss on the top of her head. “You can tell me, my
heart. As much or as little as you wish.”

Raima battled internally, trying to settle on the right words, the right amount to share without
scaring off the gentle druid. The truth, but not the whole truth.

“Something…bad…happened to me, a long time ago,” Raima began, “and it happened in a

tent. I guess that's obvious enough. But yeah, I can't stand tents. I guess I thought I could,
with you here. But even though I know where I am, logically, my body thinks I am back
there.”

“I think I understand, Rai.” Halsin held her firmly in his embrace, grounding her rather than
trapping her. “After my time with the drow, it took me a long time to return to the Underdark
without fear, and an even longer time to camp without reliving the past. Here, let me try
something.”

Halsin pulled on his magic and roots and vines sprouted up from the ground, forming a lush
green canopy over the two of them, covering them on all sides with nature. Halsin broke into
a huge smile as he saw Raima’s eyes light up at the change of scenery. She giggled as held
him close as they lied down and looked up at the leaves together.

“This is nice. Thanks, Halsin. But it's missing something.” Raima reached up.
“Oh?” Halsin smiled, enjoying watching the little elf relax into their little sanctuary. Raima's
fingers glowed with her sorcery magic as some butterflies fluttered around the top of the
canopy.

“Incredible, Raima,” Halsin chuckled at the illusory magic.

“We all have our tricks, I guess.” Raima nuzzled into Halsin's neck. Her breath was hot
against him and Halsin struggled not to lean in and kiss her immediately. Lying naked under
the greenery with Raima was certainly ticking a few of his boxes.

The couple lay there, for a while, enjoying a comfortable silence, watching the butterflies
flutter around their little paradise.

“What is your favourite tree, Halsin?” Raima asked out of nowhere. “And do not say oak or I
am kicking you out of this tent.” She added, smirking up at him. Halsin laughed, enjoying
how his chest shaking made her body jiggle for him. Oak Father, preserve me, and grant me
the restraint I need . He thought as his eyes lingered on her curves.

“Bear, you're staring,” Raima waved her hand over his eyes before cupping his cheek so he
would meet her eyes.

“In my defence, my heart, it is a very good view.” He retorted, his hand moving to match her
movement on her cheek, his thumb gliding across the side of her face, tracing her blush.
“And it would be the maple tree. For the sap, of course. I cannot resist sweet things.”

“I noticed,” Raima bit her lip as she looked into his eyes, as her hand settled on his prominent
erection, “Is this okay?”

“For me, yes, but are you sure - Raima, it was only moments ago you were-” Raima silenced
him with a kiss as rich as the sweetest maple roll he had ever tasted. His hands moved into
her hair as he deepened the kiss, his cock pressed between their bodies. Raima grasped his
hand and rolled herself to face away from him, so that her back was pressed up against his
chest and his hand moved to squeeze and play with her breast. She arched her back and
pressed her weight on his cock.

“I really want you, Halsin, right now.” She said as she tilted her pelvis and guided him so that
his cock stood brushing against her entrance. The bear inside him growled but did not escape,
Halsin teetering on the brink of giving in to his animal instincts. Slowly, deliberately, Halsin
pushed his hips forward and sank into her folds, feeling her tighten around him. A moan
fluttered from her lips as he kissed her neck, Halsin whispered sweet nothings into her ear as
he felt himself fully inside her. She whined in approval as he withdrew and began making
love to her.

This is a lot, Raima thought to herself as the druid slipped into her, his hard cock languidly
rocking in and out. This is a lot of feelings. And cock. He lifted her leg to get deeper, her body
taking it all and asking for more. His hand dipped down to her clit and Halsin began
massaging either side of the sensitive nub with his fingers. Raima felt her body reacting to his
touch and she felt anchored to him as he wrapped his unoccupied arm under her neck, letting
her hold it. Raima moaned his name as her body became overwhelmed with the multitude of
sensations, tingling growing in her core, her clit and all over her back where his body was
pressed against hers. Thoughts flashed in her mind, thoughts she really did not want, but she
managed to push them away this time, expecting them but not giving into them. Soon the
sensations built up so much inside her that all thoughts of anything left her mind. Halsin was
guiding her to a euphoric climax, his ministrations gentle yet persistent as he held her tight.

Halsin felt her release as warmth flooded around his cock, her orgasm bringing with it a rush
of her hot juices. First, he felt her walls clamped around him, tensing in time with her ragged,
but elated, breathing. Then she grabbed his hand and pulled it away from her clit,
overstimulated almost immediately, as she moaned hard into his fingers, biting down on his
knuckle to try and quieten her noises. Halsin began to slow, not wanting to risk taking
anything for himself after she came.

“Don’t stop .” Raima almost pleaded, her hand trailing behind her to encourage Halsin back
inside her and into a rhythm. Her skin felt so soft and warm in his arms as he held her tightly,
rocking into her hips and taking her at a faster speed. Her moans became curses as he felt
himself chasing his own orgasm, as her head turned to look at him. He kissed her open mouth
through her moans as he felt a second climax ripple through her body. Halsin stumbled
through his words, between gasps,

“Where… fuck, should I-”

“My back,” Raima blurted out, before adding a meeker, “Please?”

Halsin let out a growl of satisfaction as he gripped his cock and pumped himself once, twice
and then released his cum onto the curve of Raima’s hips and his stomach.

Raima turned to face the breathless Druid and pecked his lips and cheeks. She then shuffled
down and settled against his chest, curling her finger around his chest hair, smiling to herself.
I wonder if this changes things. She thought, her mind still pleasantly slow from the sex, but
quickly ramping up to her usual state of chronic anxiety. I wonder if he will stick around after
Moonrise. She felt a funny sensation in her stomach when she realised that she really, really
hoped that he would.
 10: Fangs
Chapter Summary

Halsin laid back onto his bedroll, breathing in Raima's scent as he looked up to the now
butterfly-less canopy. Who could have ever hurt such a wondrous creature? Who could
have failed her that death felt like the best option? Halsin felt fury build in his stomach
at the idea that anyone could hurt his lover that badly.

Chapter Notes

CW Mentions of suicide.

Raima must have fallen into a trance, as she came to, hearing a great deal of noise in the
camp, followed by urgent but almost comically loud shushing from Astarion and Gale. She
rolled over to see that Halsin had left her to rest, and she had been tucked into bed roll. Lying
under Halsin’s canopy, Raima found herself feeling pleasantly calm for the first time in
months. Her friends were all outside the tent and it warmed her heart when she heard their
discussion.

“Shh, Gods, Karlach, you gargantuan tomato! She’s asleep!” Astarion stage-whispered.
Halsin smiled to himself at the campfire, knowing his canopy and…other kinds of magic, had
finally let the elf relax in a tent. He worried about what she was not telling him of her past,
and, well, worried about what she had told him. She had visibly struggled to reveal even the
vaguest explanation and he knew better than to push her, but he could not help but feel
conflicted for sleeping with her so soon after she had had a panic attack.

“Who, Ma?” Karlach looked to the fire, expecting to see the elf asleep there.

“She’s in Halsin’s tent!” Gale explained, through his teeth.

“Oh fuck, is she still suffering? She took a hell of a blow yesterday.” Astarion snorted at
Karlach’s choice of words. Shadowheart made an attempt to barge past the tiefling to get to
the tent, pausing just before the entrance, when she saw Astarion’s smirk.

“Oh, ohhh .” Shadowheart quickly turned around and marched over to Halsin. Halsin raised
his hands in mock-surrender as the cleric began her interrogation.
“Are her wounds healed?”

“Yes.”

“Has she had food?”

“Yes.”

“Is her breathing back to normal? Is she walking okay?” Halsin hesitated at the last one, as
Astarion and Gale snorted and laughed at her questioning. “Is she doing okay, Halsin?”
Shadowheart sighed.

“She is much improved.” Halsin responded, sincerely.

“Oi, oi!” Karlach gave Halsin a playful tap with a piece of wood before she added it to the
fire. Halsin smirked and stood up, having finished preparing a drink for Raima.

“My heart, are you awake?” He gently pushed apart the tent flaps and vines.

“Somehow, despite everyone’s stellar attempts at quiet, yes I have been for a moment or
two.” Raima was sitting up, already dressed, when he came to sit in front of her. Halsin
presented her with her tea.

“Did you make this?” Raima smelt it carefully. “How did you know?”

“You drink the same herbs every day. I would be a lousy druid if I did not recognise them.
Saint John’s Wort, Bowen’s Flower and Maiden’s Milk?”

“You have a good nose, Archdruid. ” Raima was impressed but could not resist teasing the
man she had just laid with.

“Who prescribed this mixture to you? It is unusual.” Halsin dared to ask further questions
now that Raima seemed to be in better spirits. Raima sighed as she took a deep sip.

“A healer, when I was a teenager. My parents insisted.” Raima shifted uncomfortably as she
tried to find the words to explain herself. “I was not well, I was not coping with…well,
anything. There was an…accident. And I’ve been taking these or something similar ever
since.”

“An accident? Raima, must you be so vague with me, even now?” Halsin took Raima’s hand
and squeezed it, reassuringly. Raima stared into the cup, refusing to meet his gaze.

“I tried to hang myself. I was seventeen. I climbed an old oak tree while my family were
trancing. The branch snapped and I survived. I went to a healer and they insisted they inform
my parents. It’s not a time in my life I revel in talking about.”

“Oh, my heart. Come here,” Halsin opened his arms for Raima, “I am so sorry.”
“Don't tell the others. Please.” Raima looked into his eyes with such raw vulnerability that
Halsin felt his heart aching for her. “I don't think it's a good look for the supposed leader of
this…whatever we are.”

“Rai, you have nothing to be ashamed of. But I will of course keep this to myself if you
prefer.”

Raima’s body visibly relaxed as he said that. She leant in and gave Halsin a kiss on his cheek
before shuffling out of the tent, greeting the campfellows with a cheerful, “So what did I
miss?”

Halsin laid back onto his bedroll, breathing in Raima's scent as he looked up to the now
butterfly-less canopy. Who could have ever hurt such a wondrous creature? Who could have
failed her that death felt like the best option? Halsin felt fury build in his stomach at the idea
that anyone could hurt his lover that badly.

It was the final day of tying up loose ends in the Underdark and Raima found herself
climbing an almost invisible set of stones to reach a mushroom circle that Shadowheart had
noticed a while back. Astarion had made it look easy and was smirking at the top, every now
and then saying “Here, kitty, kitty!” as Shadowheart, Karlach and Raima lagged behind. As
Shadowheart expected, the mushrooms were a portal and suddenly they were out in the
sunshine again.

“This is glorious, Shadowheart, well done!... Where are we?” Karlach sniffed the air while
Astarion stretched and backed in the heat. “ Fuck, that smells worse than when Gale gave us
all food poisoning.”

“Hag.” Shadowheart and Raima said at the same time. Then Raima added, “Mayrina.”

“Oh hells, Soldier, that’s the girl we said we’d try and rescue. Do you think that old bitch
who took her lives here?”

Astarion was relieved to be done with the gods forsaken hag, but the fight had taken a lot out
of all of them. Shadowheart patched up everyone while Raima dolled out health potions to
top up recovery.

“Back in a moment.” Raima said to Shadowheart and Karlach, who looked at each other and
nodded, Karlach smirking while Shadowheart looked cross.

“Be careful. Do try not to undo all my healing to keep the spawn full.”

Raima stuck her tongue out at Shadowheart, winked at Karlach and caught Astarion’s
attention, motioning for him to join her out the back of the hag’s abode.

“You took a lot of damage, you know. We need you to stick to the shadows. Stop barrelling in
after one or two shots.”
“Noted, darling.” Astarion huffed, picking dirt out of his nails. “I assume you didn't drag me
here just to give me some poorly timed battle strategy.”

Raima reached out and wiped some dirt from the fight off his face.

“You're so cute when you're hangry, you know.”

“I'll have you know I am, in fact, cute all the time, little elf.”

Raima grinned as she rolled up her sleeve for him. She made herself comfy on an old barrel
as Astarion grasped her wrist in one hand and supported her weight in the other. Shadowheart
would be furious if Raima fell off another seat while he was feeding.

Raima tensed at his touch but let herself lean into him, taking deep breaths as he bit into her
arm. It was slower like this, but Astarion had greater control.

A couple of minutes went past in silence as Raima breathed heavily and Astarion drank.
Suddenly, Astarion broke off, smelling something in the air.

“Good gods, Raima, is that you?”

Raima stood suddenly and held Astarion tightly to her as a man came into view, reeking.
Both elves' involuntarily wrinkled their noses at him.

“I apologise, I was not expecting Ethel to have visitors.” The man began, “I am a monster
hunter. The smell - it helps keep me safe, you see.”

“I can imagine.” Raima says, clearly trying not to breathe through her nose. “I am afraid to
inform you that the hag is dead.”

“Ah, I see. Well, I do not mourn that. I am looking for a vampire spawn. I thought the hag
may be able to help.”

“Oh.” Raima feigned disinterest as Astarion straightened and braced himself. “A vampire,
you say?”

“I have been sent to capture him and return him. Alive. You both look…battle weary. Perhaps
you have seen him on your travels. He is probably only out at night, the sun we enjoy
protects us from him for now. I must let you depart. While I am safe, you will be sure to have
a whole coven of hags after you soon. Make haste!”

Astarion turned abruptly to leave , having said nothing to the monster hunter. As Raima
turned, the Gur added, “Gandrel, is my name. Let me know if you see this Astarion Spawn on
your way.” He held out his hand and Raima went to shake it, noticing only too late as
Astarion whipped around, the Gur’s eyes landing on the two bite marks on her wrist, fresh
blood still dribbling down.

“You lying, deviant young lady!” He yelled, drawing his crossbow up to Raima’s chest.
Raima felt her wild magic surge within her both at his words, and his desire to hurt her
friend. Before Astarion had even drawn his blade, Gandrel was flown backwards, landing
hard on his back against a nearby rock, the wind knocked out of him as he crumpled prone on
the ground. Astarion loosed an arrow on him before he got up and Raima sent over a firebolt
to finish him off.

“Everything alright, fangs? Oh, shit, who was that? And how does it smell worse out here?”
Karlach and Shadowheart burst through the back of the cottage and saw the smoking corpse
against the rock.

“He was a monster hunter. He wanted to capture Astarion and take him to Baldur’s Gate.”
Raima explained simply. “Also I shoved him with my wild magic, so that was neat.”

“Neat? I suppose, darling. I, for one, am just pleased none of us were turned into cats again.”

Raima biffed Astarion gently on the arm, “But you love being a cat, Astarion!”

Shadowheart rifled through the body and chucked Raima some potions and some arrows at
Astarion.

“We better head back. I’d rather we stick together until we’re back at camp.” Raima trudged
off, keen to heed the now-dead Gur’s warning.

Raima and Astarion were the last ones awake around the fire. Raima had requested Halsin
prepare the vines around the tent, which he sped off to do with a sweet enthusiasm that was
not lost on Raima.

“Was it Cazador, do you think? Who sent him?” Raima got straight to the point. Astarion
stared into the flames for a while before answering.

“No. I know why the Gur hunt me in particular.”

“Do you want me to know why that is?”

“No. No, I really don’t. But I think you should know anyway. It’s… you know how I
mentioned he would compel us? Make us seduce people, bring them back to the palace, for
him to feed on?”

“Yes. I cannot imagine Cazador wanted to sup on Gur though?”

“You are not quite correct. He did not ask us to fetch Gandrel. He sent us after his children.
And we were successful.”

Raima shuddered at the thought. She thought of Gandrel’s wife, the mother of his children,
who had now lost a husband as well.

“Are you angry with me?” Astarion broke the silence. “I understand if this changes things. I
am still grateful for your help, even if we have to part now.”

Raima’s eyes shot up, surprised at the vampire.

“Part? Astarion you would think me force you out for something you were compelled to do?
Really? After all this?”

“I still did it. I still doomed all those children. Whether I wanted to or not does not seem that
important.”

“To me, it’s the only thing that is important.”

Astarion met her eyes, and Raima was surprised to see he was tearing up next to her.

“Thank you, Raima. You give me peace I do not think I deserve. I’m going to stay up for a
while. Hag watch duty. If that’s okay with you?” Raima left the vampire alone with his
thoughts, her hand patting his shoulder as she went to Halsin’s tent.

“Good night, fangs.”

-
 11: Helm
Chapter Summary

“I…I had a dream, a memory, I think. It hurt to think about but I kept trying. I saw a
flash of something. A glimpse. I don't…I don't recall what it was, anymore. The pain… I
think it stole it away.”

“I'm so sorry, Shadowheart. You serve Shar with such…passion. I don't understand why
she does this.”

“Shar only gives me what I can handle - her pain is… it's a gift.”

Raima’s eyes flew open as a scream filled her ears. Shadowheart. She dashed out of the tent,
pulling her leather armour over her head and grabbing her quarterstaff as Halsin roused next
to her.

She darted out of the tent to find Shadowheart writhing on the ground, her hand glowing with
dark, radiant pain. It was Shar. Raima quickly positioned herself behind the cleric and put her
lolling head in her lap. She grabbed a cloth and folded it, then pushed it to Shadowheart’s
lips.

“Bite down. Now. ” She instructed, her own heartbeat rattling in her skull. Halsin knelt beside
the pair and brought a damp poultice to the cleric's hand. He held it firm as he watched
Raima whisper reassurances in her ear, her arms a heavy weight on Shadowheart’s shoulders.
Lae’zel appeared, across the campfire. Raima looked up as she neared, seeing, to her surprise,
both fear and genuine concern for Shadowheart.

“She will be okay, Lae’zel, she is not dying.” Raima could tell the githyanki felt helpless.
“Check the perimeter. Take Karlach.” Lae’zel nodded once then matched off, clicking at
Karlach as the tieflings emerged from their shared tent, weapons already drawn.

Raima steadied her breathing and filled her mind with calm as she drove into Shadowheart's
mind with her tadpole.

Raima and Shadowheart are in a clearing in an ancient wood. There is light filtering down
onto the yellow and green leaves that coat the ground. It catches the pollen and dust in the
air, scattering the light into beams. The leaves are dry and crisp underfoot as they walk to the
centre of the clearing, where the sky is just visible, blue and striking against the dappled
warmth of the treetops. In the centre of the clearing there is a blanket, and a cushion. There's
a pewter mug of tea, steam blooming from it and drifting away in the pleasant breeze. The
pair sit on the blanket, taking sips from the tea, taking in the surroundings. A rustling in the
leaves causes them both to turn as they see a magnificent doe watching them. She eats some
acorns on the forest floor and then slowly, contently walks away. She feels safe, so they
realise they must be safe too.

Raima broke the connection to find Shadowheart has stilled, her breathing returning to
normal, her hand no longer throbbing. Through half lidded eyes she looked up at Raima and
curled up in her lap, her hands clinging to Raima’s leathers as silent sobs wracked through
her.

Lae’zel, Karlach, any concerns around us?

No, soldier. All good as far as we can tell.

Shadow has recovered? We shall return promptly.

Wait a few more minutes, if you don't mind. I want to speak to her.

Chk, Raima you cannot be angry with the poor Sharran, her stupid goddess is to blame for
whatever trouble her cries-

You misunderstand. I do not blame her. I want to help her.

Raima broke off the telepathic connection, the ‘Chk’ ringing in her ears as she rubbed slow
circles on Shadowheart’s back. “Shadow, shhh, it's okay. It's stopped now. You're okay.”
Raima comforted her. Slowly the half elf rose to look at Raima, her eyes bloodshot and her
nose running with snot and tears.

“Where did you take me? It was…serene. I've not felt like that before.”

“It's a calm place. When I'm struggling with…something, I try to imagine it. I try to picture
everything about it. I find it soothing. I'm glad you did too.”

“It…it felt like nothing could go wrong there. Like we were just…content.”

Raima nodded, then used her tunic sleeve to wipe the snot from Shadowheart's face.

“You've mentioned the pain before, we've even witnessed it before, but it was different that
time. Why do you think that was?”

“I…I had a dream, a memory , I think. It hurt to think about but I kept trying. I saw a flash of
something. A glimpse. I don't…I don't recall what it was, anymore. The pain… I think it stole
it away.”

“I'm so sorry, Shadowheart. You serve Shar with such…passion. I don't understand why she
does this.”

“Shar only gives me what I can handle - her pain is… it's a gift.”

“It is not my place to question your faith, Shadow, but it did not look like a gift to me,
tonight. There are still a few hours left before we need to leave. Rest. Come find me if you
cannot, and I will show you my calm place again. Perhaps we will have a chance to develop
your own one in due course.” Shadowheart nodded stiffly as she got to her feet. Lae'zel
rushed forward and practically dragged her into the tent, her words for Shar much more direct
and far less diplomatic than Raima's. Raima busied herself with potion brewing and darning
as the camp fell silent again. Her mind was racing far too fast for her to get any sleep. Why on
faerun would anyone worship such a cruel goddess? What does Shar have to do with this
weird artifact that is keeping us all alive? Wouldn't the lady of darkness want her cleric to
turn illithid? Why is this Sharran so…kind? So full of light and laughter and tenacity.

A few hours passed as Raima encouraged the others to rest, and when it became clear the
little elf was not returning to their tent to sleep, Halin let himself trance until he smelled the
tell-tale waft of coffee. Carefully sneaking up behind her, Halsin wrapped his arms around
Raima, causing her to let out a little yelp before she recognised his touch.

“Halsin,” Astarion tutted as he swaggered towards the pair,, “Must you get her to make those
noises outside your tent now as well?” Raima felt her cheeks flush red at the remark as
Halsin chuckled.

“I would have her make those noises all day long if we had time on our side.” He tightened
his embrace, almost possessively, as Raima somehow turned an even deeper pink.

“How nauseating.” Shadowheart poked her head out her tent, smirking as she watched Raima
get hot under the collar.

“How are you feeling?” Raima wiggled free from Halsin to check on the cleric. “Did you
manage to rest?”

“I did. I have done some thinking as well. I'm going to wear this,” Shadowheart revealed a
rusty, but unmistakable, Dark Justiciar helm. “To remind me of my purpose. Of my
worship.” Raima bit her lip and tried to maintain her composure, studying the cleric's face
for any signs of doubt.

“Okay. If that is what you choose, then it is settled.” Raima faked an encouraging smile.
Suddenly the githyanki spilled out of the tent, anger boiling over.

“Your idiotic goddess could have killed us last night. Tsk, we have hags and worse after us.
Raima, shame on you for letting this ghustil carry on in this way. It will be her death as well
as ours!”

“It is her life and her decision, Lae'zel. We can accept it even if we don't…understand it.”

“Thank you, Raima. This is my course to follow. And I believe the pain will lessen too, now
that I have found my way.” Raima could not help but notice that Shadowheart looked less
than certain of this as they all began packing up the camp to finally, finally leave the
Underdark.
 12: Jar
Chapter Summary

“I don’t find myself as affected by this curse. I believe I have been granted protection
from Our Lady. We need to see if there are any further traces of Lady Shar around here.
Perhaps a temple?”

“I would rather be slain into pieces that step foot in a fucking temple of Shar, istik”
Lae’zel spat at the cleric, who Raima noticed was trying hard not to seem hurt by the
githyanki’s words.

The initial arrival at the top of the elevator was…underwhelming. Shadowheart crooned over
some Shar themed markings and architecture, and Astarion found a chest to lockpick, his
own way to stake claim on somewhere new.

Raima sent Shadowheart and Gale to scout ahead as the party trudged towards the exit. Stale
air and dank stench was replaced with intense, dry rot. Shadows cast by Raima’s torch
seemed to creep, shiver and dance across the walls. Gale cast Light on Shadowheart’s shield
as they marched ahead, until the cleric thrust her hand out to stop him, motioning to a strange
sight ahead. A figure was crouched, shrouded in a deep red robe.

Absolute? Shadowheart motioned an ‘A’ symbol with her fingers.

Perhaps? Gale shrugged, and they moved forward cautiously. The man looked up as they
approached.

“Elminster.” Shadowheart’s head jerked round to Gale as he spoke to the other wizard.

“You know this person?” Shadowheart lowered her sword.

“Quite. Can you spare a moment for a weary old man?”

Shadowheart could not help but look past the red-robed wizard and out to the beginnings of
the shadow-curse. She felt cold, almost hopeless looking out at it. The feeling was quickly
disrupted by a shooting pain to her hand which brought her back to the wizards’ lengthy and
elaborate conversation, the party now caught up with the two scouts.

“Yes, wizard. You may follow us to camp to deliver this…important news? Although we
would all surely prefer you tell us now… right, Gale?” Raima looked between the wizards
and when Gale did not push things, shrugged and moved the group on, out into the shadow-
curse proper.
The team huddled around the torches as they made their way through the shadow-cursed
lands. Raima whispered reassurances to the others as they followed a path, encouraging
everyone to stay close to the lights as they trekked forward into the unknown. The Underdark
had left them all wary and paranoid, second guessing every tree, rock and creature.
Unfortunately, the party quickly discovered they were in far more danger here than in the
Underdark, as they fought bushes and possessed beasts.

Raima called out to Shadowheart again as she walked too far ahead of the group.

“I don’t find myself as affected by this curse. I believe I have been granted protection from
Our Lady. We need to see if there are any further traces of Lady Shar around here. Perhaps a
temple?”

“I would rather be slain into pieces that step foot in a fucking temple of Shar, istik” Lae’zel
spat at the cleric, who Raima noticed was trying hard not to seem hurt by the githyanki’s
words. She caught up with her and tried to provide a little comfort.

“She was terrified, last night, Shadow - I’ve never seen Lae’zel look so scared and confused.
She cares for you deeply. We all do, but I think she will struggle to look past that moment for
a while.” Shadowheart only nodded, and Raima ignored the tear she saw glittering
underneath the cleric’s helm, and the way the she winced in pain when she wiped it away.

A lantern flickered ahead and Raima called the party to a halt, sending Astarion ahead to
investigate.

A commotion broke out and Raima sprang forth with Karlach, casting Light on a rock where
a fight had broken out. Astarion, and suddenly Shadowheart, were battling shadow beings,
seemingly alongside some fighters Raima did not recognise. It became apparent that someone
of their team had succumbed to the Shadow Curse and that these people were fighting their
kin as well as the monsters.

The four managed to take down the remaining enemies when the other party hesitated to
make the killing blow of their friend. However, Raima was then surprised to be thanked with
arrows drawn at her face.

Raima, ignoring the grunts of protest from the rest of the group, talked down the party of
Harpers that they had just saved. She explained painfully slowly that they were not in fact the
enemy, cursed or Absolutists. They were finally instructed to make haste to an old tavern that
had protection from the curse.

Raima gathered the others and they made their way to "Last Light Inn." She saw Halsin
shudder at the Shadow Curse and recognised the look of impatience in his eyes.

“We need to seek shelter. We cannot hope to march straight to Moonrise. This curse…Halsin.
I’m so sorry. It’s so much worse than I imagined.”
“It feels somehow even more powerful than when I visited last. Stronger…darker. I fear we
would not be able to even keep a torch alight between us further ahead where the curse seems
more concentrated.” Halsin suddenly seemed so much older, Raima saw the scars and
wrinkles and sadness that could only be achieved via a long, and at least party, tragic life. She
reached out and took his hand. “The inn, then. We will find hope at the inn.” At that moment,
she felt old too.

"Oh, how delightful!" Astarion retorted as the party was met with more hostility at the
entrance to the inn, a tadpole in a jar thrust in front of them, wriggling at them accusingly.
The group was nearly shot on sight, despite the remaining Harpers who had travelled back to
the inn with them. A small tiefling seemed to turn the tides in their favour, having
remembered them from the Grove. At least she is alive, even if she is here in this wasteland.
Raima thought, gravely. Eventually Raima was thrust in front of a wizened half-elf, who
looked her up and down with intrigue and distrust.

"Damia, have a drink.” Raima raised an eyebrow at the woman but made no move for the
drink that was placed in front of her.

“We have not gotten this far accepting drinks from strange women.”
“It pleases me that you said ‘strange’,” The half-elf grinned, “I usually get ‘old’ or
‘wrinkled!”

“Oh, please.” Raima nodded towards Withers, who stood sagely at the back of the party, like
a 7 foot raisin on observation duty. “We are investigating the tadpoles and the shadow-curse.
We are in control of ours and have been for considerable time. We seek answers and a cure.”

Jaheira and the wood elf began exchanging information as the rest of the group made for
camp, settling just around the corner from the inn, where the dome of protection still
reached.

“Lovely, as ever.” Astarion moaned to no one in particular as he assembled his tent. “No
room in the enormous tavern for the likes of us, I suppose.”

“Do you ever stop complaining, bloodsucker?” Lae’zel lashed out. Astarion noticed that
Shadowheart had pointedly set up her tent in the far corner of camp, rather than neighbouring
the githyanki as she normally would. Ouch , he thought, letting the jibe from Lae’zel drop
without a cutting reply, just this once.

“Shadow, Halsin, Karlach - can you come with me please?” Raima yelled out from nearer the
inn. “We need to speak to someone upstairs and receive a blessing of some sort.”
 13: Damia
Chapter Summary

"You were 'surviving' before all this happened, yes?"

Raima looked up at Jaheira with tears pooling in the corners of her eyes.

"Is it that obvious?"

"No, child, it is not. You just strike me as abnormally resilient. You care for everyone like
a woman maybe five times your age. You tel'quessir are not meant to grow up so fast."

"I look older. I always have done."

"Ah, I have children of my own, Raima, I am not so easily fooled."

For a moment, Raima was worried Shadowheart would reject the Selunite’s blessing. The
beautiful women poured light and hope out of her very soul to protect the group of strangers,
and it was hard for her not to feel disappointed at the path Shadowheart felt destined to travel.
Raima had never paid the gods much mind after her childhood and found the concept of
devotion complex and confusing, but Shar seemed to feed off Shadowheart’s sorrow, whereas
Isobel, this young cleric, seemed enhanced. Presumably, Shar had taken memories from
Shadowheart that were so awful, the cleric was truly better off without them. Raima certainly
had plenty she thought she would not miss, but…how would she ever know if Shar really just
took away the painful memories? How had Shadowheart managed to be so vulnerable with a
deity?

So much for a “safe place” Raima thought as her missiles gored a ghoul, and she yelled
directives to Karlach and Shadowheart, who were protecting the Selunite. Halsin growled and
pounced on their main attacker, a flaming fist, who had just tried to kidnap Isobel to take her
to Moonrise. Screams from afar told Raima more ghouls had arrived elsewhere, as she shot
sacred flames out the bedroom and into the hallway. Hopefully Jaheira is not all talk about
these harpers.

Raima heard a sickening crunch and turned in time to see bear-Halsin tear a chunk of leg
muscle from Marcus’ thigh. She threw a firebolt into one of the fist’s wings for good measure
then, reasonably happy with the situation upstairs, raced back into the hall and down the
stairs, firing her crossbow at the final ghouls as she slid down the bannister.

-
Following the fight, everyone at the inn and back at camp was drained and exhausted. Raima
discussed plans with Jaheira as the two shared a sweet red wine at the bar.

"You fight well for such a young elf." Jaheira probed. "Where did you manage to learn such
talent?"

"It is no talent that led me here, Jaheira, but, thank you. I fear it is only luck, dumb luck at
that, which has kept us alive, and, you know, not-" Raima brought her hand up to her mouth
and wriggled her fingers like tentacles.

"I daresay luck may have had something to do with it. You are far too battle worn for a girl
your age. But you smile still, and make jokes. I have this feeling, that you will get through
this, Raima. I feel something special about you, something sacred."

"Oh Jaheira, I thank you for the compliment but I believe it is Halsin's prayers to the Oak
Father that you can sense."

“If you say so. But I think there is someone on your side nonetheless.”

“Trust me, we have enough goddesses and demons wrapped up in this merry gang to keep us
more than busy enough. I hope to keep myself…unattached. In that respect.”

Raima put her head in her hands, suddenly quite forlorn. "I truly do not know what awaits us,
or what I am supposed to do."

Jaheira nodded, sagely.

"It is a heavy burden you carry. You take not just your own but that of the group, yes? You try
to worry for them so they are spared this."

"I guess. I am used to worrying. I thought I could handle this. But every step closer to the
solution seems to take us further away. Every choice I make comes with more unforeseen
consequences, deaths and losses. And what makes it worse is that I fear I am failing to even
help, let alone guide, each and every impossible choice that presents my friends. They turn to
me for guidance and I have nothing to give them. It never stops. I'm so scared, all the time.
Even when I know we are as safe as can be."

"Are you trancing?"

"Sometimes. Sometimes I sleep. I am yet to manage on trancing alone."

"I thought so. These friends of yours, how do they help carry your burdens? How do they
support you ?"

"I...I guess I don't let them. I mean, they heal me, physically, but I only really let myself feel
like this when I am alone.

I let Astarion help me with something a while back."

"It is not a good sign you are listing individual events, damia . You cannot hope to be
everything to everyone all the time."

"I let Halsin in a bit. He knows I am not doing so well. I guess they all know, really. I think
maybe I just force everyone around me to pretend like everything is fine because it's the only
way I know how to survive."

"You were 'surviving' before all this happened, yes?"

Raima looked up at Jaheira with tears pooling in the corners of her eyes.

"Is it that obvious?"

"No, child, it is not. You just strike me as abnormally resilient. You care for everyone like a
woman maybe five times your age. You tel'quessir are not meant to grow up so fast."

"I look older. I always have done."

"Ah, I have children of my own, Raima, I am not so easily fooled."

Jaheira kissed the top of Raima's head as she rested it on the table. Exhaustion swept across
Raima as she tried to force herself to relax, even for a moment.

"Go, there is a room upstairs for you. With a real bed. Sleep, damia , for tomorrow I am
afraid we will have need of you again."

"I'll try. Thank you, Jaheira, it was nice to just...talk about it. Can you let Halsin know where
I am sleeping?"

Jaheira seemed a little surprised at this request but quickly rearranged her features. Raima
shrugged at her, too tired to discuss something as frivolous as sex, before trudging upstairs.
Jaheira found Halsin sitting next to a Fist who lay unconscious on a bed.

"Halsin, I would like a quick word."

Finding the room, Raima began to remove her armour and clothing, fiddling with the leather
straps. She grabbed a wet sponge from the basin and tried to clean off some of the day's
grime and the parts of her body that were red from her backpack and scabbards. The door
swung open as Raima adorned a fresh shirt, causing her to cry out in fright, nearly casting a
firebolt on the intruder. Raima quickly extinguished the flame in her hand as Halsin barged
into their room.

"Hells, Halsin, can you not knock? You scared me half to death. Halsin, Halsin, are you
okay?" Halsin was staring at her with a look of anger and betrayal, mixed with some kind of
longing. His eyes honed in on her bare legs poking out from under her shirt, before looking
down and fixing themselves pointedly beyond where the young elf was standing, waiting for
his explanation.
"How old are you?"

-
 14: Note
Chapter Summary

His eyes honed in on her bare legs poking out from under her shirt, before looking down
and fixing themselves pointedly beyond where the young elf was standing, waiting for
his explanation.
"How old are you?"

"How old are you?"

"What? What kind of question is that?" Raima tried to meet his gaze, but Halsin would not
look her in the eye.

"Silvanus help me, just answer the question, Raima."

"Well what age did you take me for?" She retorted, backing away from the large elf. Raima
felt her lip quiver and bit down in an attempt to hold her nerve.

"I assumed you were around ninety when you told me you were yet to take an adult name.
However Jaheira has just said-"

"What did she say?!" Raima blurted out, hurt at what Jaheira could have told Halsin about her
recent confession to her, that she's not coping, that she does not know what she's doing. Fear
gripped Raima as she braced herself for Halsin's anger and disappointment. She flinched as
her back hit the wooden bedframe and she realised she had been backing away from him. Her
arms shook as she tried to steady herself. Halsin moved towards Raima, arm outstretched to
touch her, but he stopped himself as he saw the unbridled panic in her eyes. Raima looked
terrified. She seemed more scared of him than when they faced the minotaurs, or when she
had to lie to a group of drow about their reasons for being in the Underdark. He withdrew his
hand.

"Raima. I apologise for getting upset. I should not have raised my voice. But, I need to know
what I have done."

"What do you mean?" Raima hesitated, her voice low and wavering, "You haven't done
anything."

" Fuck, Raima! I cannot drop this."

"Don't shout at me. Please." Raima choked back tears.

"I am trying not to shout at you again. Just tell me the truth."
"I don't want this to change things." Raima tried to meet his eyes when he did not reply
straight away. Halsin felt his heart sink at this request but shook his head. Raima took a deep
breath.

"I am twenty three years old."

There was a long pause before Halsin spoke again. His expression looked pained.

"You're sure?" He finally asked. Raima seemed confused by this question, then she realised
Halsin was trying to see if she was being truthful.

"I am. I know I never told you, outright. It's....it's complicated. Most races are happy to treat
me like an adult, you realise?"

"You're essentially a child! Raima, I slept with you! I thought I shared something with you,
that I comforted you. But I fear I used you, I took advantage of you," Halsin tried hard not to
raise his voice as the young elf wept in front of him.

"I am not a child, Halsin! Nothing has changed!"

"Of course things have changed. I should have been protecting you! I should have been
finding your parents, they must be worried sick about-"

"You know nothing of which you speak Halsin. Don't do this. If you don't want me, then just
go." Raima spat icily at Halsin, the wine from earlier giving her more courage to speak her
mind.

"Then tell me, Raima. What happened to you that makes you act like this? Why did you lie to
me?" Halsin tried to place a hand on Raima's arm. She was trembling.

"Look, I'm sorry that I didn't invite you to my fucking birthday party, Halsin! Had it occurred
to you that maybe I do not talk about it because I do not want to? I am sorry you assumed
you knew all about me but you don't. None of you do."

Halsin stood frozen as the little elf grabbed her leggings and boots and raced towards the
door. Halsin turned to her, with a pleading look in his eyes.

"Then tell me, gods, Rai!" Raima spun round to look at him.

"No. NO. I'm done. Who the fuck do you think you are? This," she gestured between herself
and Halsin, "this was a terrible idea. I'm done. We'll get you to Moonrise and get your
answers about curse. But then I don't want to see you again."

With that, Raima ran from the room and tried to put as much space between herself and
Halsin as she could. She ran out of the inn and down to the water and ducked behind some
crates. She tried to focus on her breathing before she gave up and let her body cry.
Eventually, she cried herself to sleep nestled amongst the crates.

-
Raima woke up a few hours later, stiff from her cold, damp nest. Someone had draped a cloak
over her. No, fuck you, Halsin. She thought as she went to rip the cloak away, as she saw an
elaborately written note pinned to the top.

𝓡𝓪𝓲𝓶𝓪,
𝓒𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝓶𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓾𝓹, 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮.
𝓐𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓸𝓷
Raima could not help but admire his frilly, ostentatious penmanship for such a brief note.
Jaheira's warning to let the others help her rang in her ears as she tried to squash the rising
guilt at her behaviour. Screaming and running away probably did not help her case against
being a child. Raima focused on her breathing before she tiptoed to camp, alert for any sign
of the druid. Thankfully he was either in his tent or back at the inn, she cared not. Astarion
was sitting by the fire and looked up at her as she approached, despite how silently she felt
she had crept up to him.

"Hi." Astarion said simply, his eyes scrutinising her face, which she was sure was a mess of
tears and snot and dirt. Still, he had seen her in worse states.

"Hi, Astarion." Raima held out the cloak for him to take. "Thank you for this."

"Do you want to talk about it?" He probed, gently.

"Not especially."

"Okay."

Astarion and Raima sat in surprisingly comfortable silence for some time.

"I was 39, you know," Astarion began, finally breaking the silence, "When I was assaulted, to
the brink of death. This man offered me immortality and I took it, just to survive."

"I'm sorry that happened to you, Astarion. We will kill him, I promise. We'll avenge you."
Raima replied, looking at the ruby eyes of the young vampire. "Do you still feel 39?"

"No. Do you feel 23?" Astarion met her gaze briefly before giving her space to decide if she
wanted to do this.

"No. Well, I guess sometimes. But I can't... When it feels like it's too much, that I cannot
cope, something always stops me. That there's still a chance it can get better, even though so
far, you know, no dice." Raima shuffled uncomfortably, picking at a scratch on her hand. "23
years is not a long time, though. It's not two centuries."

Astarion looked across at the fidgeting elf.

"Why do you do that? You downplay what happened to you, like it does not count." Raima
winced at his words but tried to keep herself from brushing off the genuine question.

"I guess because, in comparison, it really is not a big deal. That and, well, there's nothing to
be done about it. I have no vampire lord to slay, god to please or deny, heart to fix.
Everything bad that happened to me already happened. There's no changing it. I just need to
move on. To grow up. With you, and the gang, there's like, worse stuff on the horizon. If I can
stop even some of it, I have to. I cannot bear the thought of any of you in pain."

"If getting a parasitic tadpole stuck in your brain does not count as a bad thing, Raima, I'm
not sure what to say. Although, there’s been a…development with Gale. It can wait until
tomorrow though."

Raima only shrugged. She went to find her bag to get her herbs together. Fuck, it's still in the
room.

"Astarion. C-can you come with me to get my bag? I'm not sure I'm ready to face Halsin on
my own, even if he's trancing."

Astarion gave her an irreverent bow,

"Lead on, darling."

Raima tried to mimic Astarion's gentle footsteps as they climbed the stairs. Astarion listened
at the door to the room, and shook his head. The pair entered the room and Raima hastily
grabbed her bag. Her stomach rumbled and she realised she had not eaten since they got to
the inn. She dug around in her bag and found some dried sausage, which she nibbled on
quickly as she headed back out. Then she paused and looked at Astarion.

"You were injured in the fight today." It wasn't a question.

"Yes, but not badly. Shadowheart healed me." Astarion replied loftily.

"You need to feed." Raima looked at him, again, it wasn't a question. "And I'd rather do it
here than at camp." Her maternal stare found his gaze and Astarion knew better than to argue.
After all, unbeknownst to Raima, he was immediately starving since they entered the shadow
cursed lands. It leeched at his strength, ached his stomach. It took a lot of restraint not to skip
to the elf and latch onto her neck.

Raima sat awkwardly on the bed and patted again, beside her.

"You're sure? You've been drinking, darling. You're in for a hell of a hangover if we do this
now."

"I'm young. I don't really get hangovers." Raima tried to jest, tried to adjust to her secret
being out. Astarion paused and then sighed, sitting next to her.
Raima held out her wrist for him. It had been a few years since Raima had self-harmed but
she still found release in the sensation of Astarion's fangs on her arm. Tiredness invited her to
sleep as blood left her veins and Raima sighed deeply, finally feeling like she had got one
thing right today as Astarion drank from her.

Astarion could taste the wine in her blood as he drank. He knew the others would be cross if
they found him drinking from Raima in this state, but he could sense she was desperate to
feel useful. Usefulness offered protection, safety, comfort. That much, he understood. He
slowly swallowed some mouthfuls, the sharp edge of the hunger dissipating for now, before
licking the wound as the bleeding slowed. The scars across her wrists were slightly raised and
smooth, and wide. She must have opened them repeatedly, he thought. He wondered what
would cause a person to feel that desperate. He wondered if she let him drink for the same
reason.

Raima slipped slightly on the blanket and Astarion wrapped his arm around her waist to hold
her in place. Raima turned to face him, a smile on her face as she looked in his eyes. He
dropped her arm and she brought her fingers up to his face, wiping away a dribble of blood
that had escaped his lips.

"Thank you, Raima, truly." Astarion held her gaze, admiring the sparkle of greenery that he
saw. It reminded him of the trees at the Emerald Grove, with the flecks of all different shades
of green and yellow as the sun hit them. Raima's forehead touched his as she found his hand
and squeezed it. Her warmth felt like it was permeating his brain, perhaps even his soul, as he
felt his strength returning to him. Raima's heart thudded rapidly in his ears, as her eyes fell to
his lips.

This is a terrible idea , Raima thought, even as she tilted her head slightly and leant in to kiss
Astarion. His hand squeezed hers as his breathing seemed to stop. She leant in and let their
lips meet. She could taste her blood on his tongue, and his grip around her waist tightened as
he leant into her kiss. His hands were cold but Raima revelled in the touch, he did not feel
like anyone else she had ever let hold her.

You idiot , Astarion thought, as he kissed the younger elf. He had originally intended on
wooing Raima when he first began drinking her blood. He had wanted to secure his place in
the group, to survive. To use her. Now, he did not know what he was doing. She had let slip
so little of herself, slivers of a fascinating, if terrible, past to him, but he had revealed more to
her than anyone he'd ever met before. And now, if the bear's reaction was anything to go by,
she was off-limits. He did not even want to sleep with her, he just wanted to hold her. He
tried to think of ways to stop, to let her down gently, without causing her more pain that
night. His lips froze on hers as he heard the door handle turn.

Raima pulled away from Astarion to see Halsin staring at them both from the doorway. Shit,
she thought, this becoming a bit of a mess. She considered, briefly, following him as he shut
the door and walked away. But he left her alone when she ran, so it was only fair she gave
him the same courtesy.

"Raima?" Astarion repeated, having tried to get her attention once already, "Raima, I'm so
sorry. I shouldn't have, we - shouldn't have-"
"I know. Astarion. I'm sorry too." Raima closed her eyes and sagged a little.

"Oh," Astarion seemed a little surprised at her admission, it almost stung. Raima looked up at
him and sighed again.

"I always do this."

"This?" Astarion brought his hand to her face, "Kiss vampires and upset bears?" He was
relieved to get a small chuckle from Raima.

"This - kiss the people who are nice to me. Seduce them. I guess I do it to try and keep them
around. It usually works." Astarion tried to hide his surprise at her confession and its
similarities to his previous intentions for her.

"I had a similar plan when I first met you, you know."

"Oh I am aware, Astarion, you were not particularly subtle." Raima flashed him a smile.
"What a pair we might have been."

"I'm glad you kissed me tonight, Raima. Even if it upset Old Bear. But I don't need your body
in exchange for sticking around."

"Nor I yours, Astarion. I mean it."

Raima gave him a final, chaste kiss on his cheek, before she stretched and yawned. "You can
stay if you like, Astarion, but I'm going to sleep now. And I am aware I can be rather...
kicky."

"I can believe that. Sleep tight darling. Don't let...anything else bite."

Astarion hesitated at the door, listening to the young elf potter about getting ready for bed,
and he only left once he heard Raima's breathing settle as she fell asleep.
 15: Infernal Iron
Chapter Summary

“No one, no one deserves to be held, trapped against their will in such a prison. Go, be
free. We will find another way.”

Raima slept fitfully, the bed somehow too soft, the blankets too warm. She woke from
nightmares a few times, sheets and throws scattered on the floor, pillows in a vice grip in her
hands. Giving up, she dressed and braided her hair back. Her head ached with a dull throb as
she went in search of water. Damn bloodthirsty curly top was right about the hangover , she
thought as she traipsed down to the bar. Grabbing a large, turquoise bottle, she wrapped her
cloak around herself as she headed back to camp. She poked her head into the Fists’ room
and saw Halsin slumped in a trance on a chair. His eyes flicked to hers and Raima heard him
sigh as she closed the door and headed out.

The camp was stirring when she got there. Gale immediately grabbed Raima and asked for a
moment. Shadowheart was trying to polish a shine into the rusted Justiciar helm she liked so
much. Raima smiled when she realised Gale must have prestidigitated the majority of the rust
and grime off it for her. Karlach and Lae’zel were deep in discussion on fighting techniques,
ignoring Wyll’s request for help with making breakfast. A cup of coffee was thrust into
Raima’s hands as Gale sat down with her by the water.

“You remember the situation with my chest…?” The wizard began, shuffling awkwardly
from foot to foot. “Elminster delivered me his message. It was from Mystra. She offers me
forgiveness.”

“Forgiveness?” Raima grinned at Gale and patted his arm. “That's fantastic. Did she say what
will happen to it, does it need to be removed or do we need to deactivate it? Between Jaheira,
Halsin and Shadowheart we could possibly do it ourselves…maybe we should wait until we
are at safer though…I'd hate for anything to-”

“She means for me to activate it on the heart of the Absolute. To save everyone from its
power. To redeem myself.” Raima’s eyes grew wide at the revelation.

“But you can't! You'd die!” Raima hoped she'd misunderstood him.

“I just need you to…to get me there. Wherever it is. When it is time, I will do what needs to
be done.”

“ Gale! I am not shepherding you through this like a lamb to slaughter! We will find another
way. We will defeat this fucking Absolute, whatever it is, without you…detonating yourself!
That's insane .”
“I am ready for this. Raima. I don't…look forward to it. But I look forward to my goddess’s
forgiveness, even if I don't understand it.”

“These fucking goddesses! What happened to “not interfering” and leaving people the fuck
alone? I swear I have had it with Shar this, Mystra that, Selune this, Oak Father preserving
not a whole fucking lot!”

“Hear hear.” Lae'zel said dryly, as Gale stared at the wood elf like she had finally gone
insane. “Karlach has to ask you something. It seems you have made the wizard quiet for
once. Well done.”

Raima spun round ready to pounce on Karlach, before clocking the excitement in her eyes as
the rare flare of anger washed away. Raima would sooner tell off the Owlbear cub than make
Karlach sad.

“Ma… Dammon’s here! He…he can't fix the ticker but he reckons he can cool it off a little!”

“Oh that's...good news, surely you didn't come to ask for permission or anything silly like
that?” Raima beamed at the tiefling.

“No…no, I know I'm going to do it…we just need some…infernal iron.”

“Oh, cool.” Raima kept beaming at Karlach, who looked puzzled.

“I'd need to go back to Grymforge to get some.”

“What? Why?” Raima gasped, “How much does Dammon need?!”

“Not much, just a couple of pieces. I'll try to be really quick, honest. You won't even notice
I'm gone!” Karlach had a pleading look on her face.

“I'm confused.” Raima furrowed her brow.

“I'm confused!” Karlach flamed in response.

“We have four pieces of internal iron in the trunk. I picked them up for you.” Raima said
slowly, as if not quite sure why this was not common knowledge.

“ WYLL! YOU SHIT FOR BRAINS! YOU SAID YOU COULDN'T SEE ANY INFERNAL
IRON IN THE JUNK TRUNK!” Karlach hollered at the warlock, who ran over.

“It's…it's a bit chaotic in there, you know. Ma… I am sure it’s not there…Can you find it?”
Wyll looked guiltily at Karlach's flames that were licking fiercely at the air. Raima huffed,
smirking as she dragged the group over to the strictly useful or valuable item storage
container and immediately withdrew four pieces of infernal iron and tossed them at Karlach,
who squealed with delight and ran off to the smithy.

“Perhaps we should get that eye of yours tested. I think your stone one would have found the
iron faster without you!” Wyll merely groaned as he dashed after Karlach.
Raima ate breakfast while analysing some old maps of Reithwin with some Harpers. It had
clearly once been a beautiful, thriving settlement before the Shadow-curse descended. The
fists also wandered over, keen to sort out a plan. They point out the futility of trying to get
too close to Moonrise, where the curse is too strong even with Isobel's blessing. Soon, a plan
was hatched to intercept a band of absolutists as they travelled to Moonrise, and steal
whatever it is they have that grants them protection from the curse.

The splintering wood was damp on Raima's knees as she crouched behind a rotten window
sill, waiting for the bobbing lantern to draw closer. The harpers waited for her signal,
confused when she did not immediately go in for the ambush. Astarion smirked as he realised
why she hesitated, when the drider killed one of the insolent goblins they were travelling
with. Raima nodded at the harpers and everyone sprung into action, pummelling the drider
before realising that their attacks were doing…nothing. The element of surprise seemingly
wasted, Raima focused the party’s attention away from the spider-hybrid, the team making
short work of the remaining minions. Once the glowing aura around the drider faded, a quick
nod to Lae’zel was all it took for the githyanki to slice across its chest, blackish, bloody ichor
spilling just above the scuttling spider legs. Raima threw an ice-knife into where she hoped
was the heart of the beast and watched it stumble, and then fall, dropping the lantern onto the
ground with a loud clunk.

Raima inspected the lantern, expecting to feel some kind of enchantment, or sacred flame
encased in it. Instead, she discovered a simple pixie. She heard Astarion mumble a quiet ‘for
fucks sake’ as she listened to her plea, begging for release. She had hardly finished her
sentence before Raima gently cracked the lantern on the side.

“No one, no one deserves to be held, trapped against their will in such a prison. Go, be free.
We will find another way.” The pixie fluttered, stretching at the freedom.

“Thanks, it was getting…musty in there. What do I owe you for releasing me?”

“Do not fret, I do not want anything in return.” Raima started, before wincing as
Shadowheart and Astarion both coughed pointedly at her. “ Although , we do need to get
through this land…we cannot travel much further without your help.”

The pixie giggled at the request, “But of course. Easily done for my saviours. Here, take this
bell, I’ll protect you when you need it. But for now, I bid you all adieu!”

The harpers gushed to each other about the fight all the way back to the inn, Raima trying to
humbly hide her smile. She was updating Wyll when she heard a thump-thump-thump and
saw the warlock take a hasty step backwards. Raima turned, just slightly too late as she was
knocked to the ground, the air leaving her lungs at the brute force of the attack.

“Ma! Shit! Are you okay?” Raima opened her eyes and coughed, realising the warm embrace
she was in was not some hideous assault, but the overenthusiastic embrace of the new-and-
improved Karlach.
“Your heart! You’re touching me!” Raima pushed the tiefling off, before spinning and
pinning her playfully on the ground. Karlach’s eyes sparkled up at Raima with pure joy as the
elf pressed her face against hers and kissed her cheek. “You deserve this, Karlach. I’m so
glad this has worked.”

“Ahem.” Shadowheart cleared her throat as Karlach and Raima rolled around in the dirt.
Karlach immediately jumped up and grabbed the cleric, pulling her into her arms. Raima
could not help but smile as she saw the flash of jealousy flare on Lae’zel’s face at the pair.

Raima sought out Halsin in the Fists’ room. Feeling all eyes on her, Raima realised that their
fight had been overheard by the entirety of the inn’s inhabitants, or at least quickly relayed to
those who missed it.

“Halsin. You stand vigil here. Why is that?” Halsin turned his head to look up at the elf.

“This man…he has mentioned a name. Thaniel. He is the spirit of the land…and my
childhood friend. But aside from a few words, this man remains comatose. I am trying to
rouse him.”

Raima looked the man over, and noticed a small piece of parchment folded into his pocket.

“This order mentions the House of Healing. We saw that on the map… it is deep in Reithwin.
Perhaps something familiar of his would help us wake him. Let him know he is safe.”

Halsin merely grunted in agreement, before pushing a little more healing magic over the
soldier, to no avail.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Raima turned and left the room, her cheeks embarrassingly flushed
and her eyes wet from seeing the druid again so…passively. You do not need him, Raima. You
are only helping because it is the right thing to do. She could not help but remember the
satisfaction of his heavy arms around her as she slept, the way his lips had been surprisingly
soft, his touch light and gentle. She found herself longing to curl up against his chest and
pour her heart out about Shadowheart and Gale and Karlach’s doomed heart, about this
Ketheric Thorm that as far as Jaheira could tell, was invincible. No matter. I can always cry
later. I guess it’s time to explore Reithwin.
 16: Thisobald
Chapter Summary

Raima felt herself go pliant in his embrace. She did not necessarily want the young
human, but she could not deny how satisfying it was to feel desired, to have fun, without
her age or race getting in the way.

Content Warning: non-consensual insemination

Chapter Notes

Content Warning: non-consensual insemination

Raima hiccoughed and stumbled as the party traipsed back through Reithwin to the inn. The
town’s inhabitants were fickle. Despite her best attempts at charming the disgusting slug of
an undead inn-keep, Raima had not been able to solve this particular problem with words
alone, and Shadowheart and Karlach returned with her absolutely soaked in gore and undead
vomit. Astarion grabbed a few bottles on the way out, to try and make up for Raima's
frightfully useless attempts in battle after she had two drinks with the rotten barkeeper. Her
spells that did hit had left icy puddles all over the brewery. At one point Raima also made
him catch fire, which in her defence did usually help, but only seemed to make this...thing
angrier and deadlier. And then, as a final hurrah into drunken stupidity, she had turned into a
sheep.

The three women washed up by the lake, shivering, drinking and giggling as the tiefling and
the cleric quickly caught up with Raima's drunkenness. Once dressed, they settled by the fire
to warm up, passing a large bottle of whiskey to one another as well as a couple of off duty
fists, and Lae’zel, Wyll and Gale. They howled with laughter as Karlach gave an animated
recount of the fight, including Raima's accidental polymorph. Well, Lae’zel was disgusted,
but everyone else seemed to enjoy the tale.

"Pfft, say what you will!" Raima huffed dramatically at the tale, "I enjoyed my short sojourn
to sheepdom. I admit it was baaaaaaad timing though!"

The group groaned at the pun and Raima giggled as she stood up, promising to return with
something decent from the cellar. Raima had been inspecting the racks in the cellar for a few
minutes when the sound of glass breaking made her spin round, ready to attack. Her fear
dissipated immediately as the source of the noise swore and sheepishly looked over at her.
Fuck, what's his name? Alfred? Raima giggled at the Fist as he tried to regain his composure.
He took her hand as she helped him up and Raima felt his eyes on her body as she dusted him
off, her hands brushing his legs for slightly too long for him not to notice.

"I hope you didn't break anything worth drinking!" Raima jabbed playfully. "All I've found so
far is more of that vinegary red stuff.

“Perhaps we need to look further in,” The fist winked, “I am sure there’s something…tasty…
in there.” Raima raised an eyebrow at his poor attempts at seduction as she took in the
soldier’s figure properly. He was handsome, for a human, slender, in comparison to Halsin at
least, and did not look to be much older than Raima herself. Fuck it. She thought, a wry smile
appearing on her face as she pulled…Ulfred? Ulthred! further into the cellar.

Ulthred did not let Raima get far, before he pushed her against a rough stone wall. “I enjoyed
watching you roll around with that tiefling.” He whispered into her ear, “I found myself quite
jealous of her position.” Raima chuckled as she kissed his cheek.

“Are you still jealous?”

“Desperately.” His lips were on hers with fevered passion, his kiss forceful and unrelenting.
His breath was tangy with whiskey and campfire smoke. His hands moved to unlace her shirt
and trousers as his erection pressed into her. Raima relaxed into his touch and smiled into his
mouth as she felt his hands explore her body. “You’re beautiful…” he mumbled as he palmed
her breasts and pinched her nipples, enjoying how she gasped for him. Raima felt herself go
pliant in his embrace. She did not necessarily want the young human, but she could not deny
how satisfying it was to feel desired, to have fun, without her age or race getting in the way.
Ulthred seemed more than happy to take the lead anyway, as his fingers found her core and
started roughly pumping into her. Raima winced a little at the sensation, missing the warm
thickness of Halsin’s ministrations, before trying to banish those thoughts away.

“I want you.” He whispered into her ear before taking the tip and pulling it gently with his
teeth as he pushed her trousers to the floor and lifted Raima to sit atop a wine barrel. She felt
her legs part automatically for him as she nodded and suddenly he was in her. The fullness
she felt was distracting enough to banish all other thoughts from her head as he began
pumping into her. This is easier, this is better, she thought as she whimpered and moaned for
him.

The fist was a greedy lover and quickly found a fast rhythm that seemed to suit him once they
laid down on the stone floor. However, Raima tried to slow him down a little. “I want you to
come for me,” he growled into her neck as he sped up once more, misinterpreting her actions.
Raima surprised herself when she felt his efforts paying off, the familiar feeling twisting and
tingling in her core, but as he pulled his mouth away from her to catch a breath, she saw he
was much, much closer than he was.

“On my stomach,” she hissed, as the fist’s face began to contort in pleasure.

“What, no, I’m close!” He continued ploughing into her, his grip on her tightening.

“Finish on my stomach!” She repeated, trying to push the man off slightly to get his
attention.
“Sure,” he said as one of his hands stroked her face, “Don’t worry.”

Raima relaxed onto the ground and let him kiss her, his hands settling on her hips as he
chased his pleasure. Suddenly his thrusts became erratic and Raima gasped as he tried to hold
onto her.

“Bastard!” She shrieked, trying to heave the man off of her, panic rising in her stomach. “Get
off me!” Raima cried out again, swinging, the man ignoring her as his nails dug into the flesh
of her buttocks. Raima tasted bile in her mouth as she realised how restrained she was, as his
hands pinned her forearms either side of her so that she could not strike him again.

No. This is not happening. She thought as she tried to wriggle free. She grunted with a final
effort to move from under the man as a flash of light filled the cellar. The man screamed and
clutched at his eyes as Raima backed away from him.

“You bitch! What did you do?” He yelled as she hastily pulled on her trousers, shivering at
the feel of his spend dripping from her and down her thighs.

“What in the hells happened in here?” Raima heard Wyll’s voice as he rounded the corner. “I
heard screaming!”

Raima stood up and wiped her face, hastily lacing her shirt as he approached.

“A misunderstanding.” She managed to stutter out before she ran past them both and sprinted
to camp. Thankfully, it was empty, save for Withers haunting the background like a
rehydrated cannellini bean. Raima dove into Wyll’s tent, shaking as she curled up into a ball.

Halsin looked up from his post by Art Cullogh, when Wyll pushed through the door, half
leading, half dragging a writhing fist through into the room. “Speak.” Wyll shouted as he
guided and/or shoved the soldier onto a bed, and moved his hands so that his face was
revealed. His flesh was burnt and red, his eyes bloodshot and raw. The man took deep breaths
as Halsin walked over to him, inspecting the wounds.

“We were…and then she just… screamed! And there was this flash, and I could not see! I
can’t see!”

“Who screamed?” Halsin looked at Wyll, who kicked the shin of the soldier.

“The girl! Um, uh, Raywin?”

“Have you any chivalry at all, you villain? You do not even know her name?” He spat.
“Perhaps you should save your healing for the spirit touched one, Halsin.”

“Is Raima alright?” He asked Wyll, waving a hand over the man’s wounds anyway. The
soldier relaxed a little.

“She ran. I think she went back to camp.”

“Go to her. I think she would prefer to speak to you…rather than me, for now.” Wyll nodded
and left the fist on the bed. He saw Halsin’s eyes glow gold for a second as he exited. Good.

“Knock knock?” Wyll said, their tents still lacking brass knockers. He saw his own tent flap
wriggle in response. He knelt down at the opening and quickly got inside when he saw the
state Raima was in.

“Raima, what in all hells happened in there?” He began, trying to pat her shoulder but
stopping when she shied away from his touch. “Did he…did he force himself on you?”

“Is he blind?” She managed to speak out, her voice high and watery.

“I believe so. But not permanently.”

Raima shook, her silent sobs bobbing her shoulders up and down as she clutched herself
around her knees.
“Raima… if you cannot tell me, do you think you could show me?” Raima’s eyes shot up to
meet Wyll’s. “If it’s easier for you, I mean.” he finished. Raima nodded once, trying in vain
to steady herself before she pushed at Wyll’s tadpole with her own.

A moment passed as Wyll took in the scene flashing through his mind. Just after Raima
thought about the burst of magic light, she cut off the connection. Wyll suddenly rushed out
of the tent, vomiting into the bushes. Raima followed him out and rubbed his back.

“I’m so sorry Wyll. I would not have shown you if I knew it would upset you so much.” Wyll
stared at her in disbelief.

“Raima, do not apologise. I just…I cannot believe he did that to you.”

“Please don’t tell the others. Please don’t tell Halsin.” Raima sighed, out of tears for the time
being.

“Raima, the man deserves to… to fucking rot for what he did. Why would you protect him?”
Raima kicked a stone into the shadows, allowing a tiny bit of rage to escape.

“I got myself into…it. I did not mean to attack him. I just wanted him off me.”

“It is not your fault, Raima.” Wyll tried to hold her hands as he said this, until the elf
shrugged off his touch.

“I am glad you think that, Wyll. Really. Can you tell the others I went to sleep?”

“If that is your wish, then of course." He brought her pack to the door of his tent. "Stay in my
tent if you prefer.”

“I am happy for you, Wyll. About Karlach, I mean. You must be relieved.”
Wyll shook his head at the sudden change of topic, “I am, for now. Thank you. You have
shown us all such kindness.”

Raima slipped into his tent to change, not wanting to expose herself any further that evening,
even though just hours ago she was in her smallclothes washing in the water with Karlach
and Shadowheart. She rummaged through her pack until she found a potion of sleep and once
she was settled in front of the fire, she drained the bottle.

-
 17: Healing
Chapter Summary

How could I ever suggest she is still a child? This leader, this matriarch. How can I call
her a liar one day and place my life in her hands the next?

Raima woke early, ate some food, threw it back up and got herself ready to return to
Reithwin.

“Lae’zel, Shadowheart, Astarion - meet me at the front of the inn when you’re ready to head
out. Karlach, Wyll, Gale,” The three looked up, mouths still full of pottage, “It’s laundry day.
Thanks in advance.” Wyll chased after her as she made her way to the inn.

“Raima, wait. You don’t have to go back out. You had a…terrible day yesterday. Don’t you
think you should rest?” Raima smiled at Wyll, giving herself a second to respond. Mask
firmly in place, she responded.

“I hate laundry, Wyll. I’ll be fine. The show must go on!”

Shadowheart lagged behind as the group scurried across the open expanse of the town square.
“Shadowheart, heal!” Astarion hissed, as the Sharran stopped to look at a crypt erected in the
centre.

“Wait, Raima, look at this. I think it’s important.” She gazed up, mouthing some words
silently, before walking up to the monument. Shadow beings sprung from the edges of her
vision as she heard Raima yell out a warning. Shadowheart immediately dispensed her spirit
guardians, sizzling one shadow back to wherever it came from. She saw a sacred flame
launch at another one as she turned to fight a group of undead harpers.

Once the fight was over and the undead were re-dead, Lae’zel began cursing the cleric for her
foolishness. “Shar can only protect you so much, k'chakhi. Your dark lady relies heavily on
you not being stupid. ” Shadowheart only shrugged as she walked around the crypt. Raima
was about to ask what she was doing, when a click revealed an entrance and a spiral staircase.

“Huh, neat.” Raima lit up the inside of the crypt as Shadowheart huffed happily, descending
into the large room.

“Ketheric sure liked Shar, I guess.” Raima commented as Astarion sat on the steps, making
himself comfortable. “Nap time, fangs?”

“Chk, Look at the cleric. The vampire knows she will be here some time.” Lae’zel stretched
and then joined him. “Perhaps now you can tell us what happened last night. Halsin looked
ready to kill that Florrick lady this morning.”
“ What?” Raima gasped at the githyanki.

“Tsk, You tell me, istik .” Raima felt Astarion’s eyes boring into her skull as she tried to
recover herself.

“I had a…fight, with one of the fists. I hurt him, quite badly.”

“Did he deserve it?”

“Yes.”

“Then all is well.” Raima exhaled a laugh at the blunt words of the fighter, wishing she could
see her own actions as that black and white, instead of numb and grey. She called out to the
cleric,

“Getting anywhere, Shadow?”

“Yes, this is incredible. Oh, uh, oops. ” The trio on the stairs all sighed and stood, bracing
themselves to help fight whatever Shadowheart had accidentally raised in the temple.

“I know that paid off Shadowheart, but you stick right by me until we’re back at the inn,
understood?” Raima’s stern voice took Shadowheart by surprise, the elf serious as they
approached the gates near the House of Healing. They all heard sounds of commotion ahead,
and the shriek of a young girl. Raima nodded at Astarion as they headed towards the noise,
readying spells and notching arrows as they crept through. It’s that girl from the grove! Raima
pushed into Astarion’s head. She doesn’t look cursed. As the girl curled dark vines around the
shadow beings, Raima threw sacred flames at one while Astarion took care of the other.

Astarion watched with interest as the mask slid seamlessly back onto Raima’s face when she
spoke with the child and promised to find her parents. Satisfied, the girl ran to their camp.
Perhaps it’s just as well we took care of the nasties around that Sharran hideaway. He
thought as she thanked him quickly as she zoomed past. He once again found himself worried
about their little elf leader, it was as if she was in two places at once. Either very present, or
far, far away. Whatever happened between her and the fist, he was determined to find out,
although he knew better than to ask Raima directly.

Shadowheart led the way through the House of Healing, first negotiating with another strange
undead nurse, then interrupting what appeared to be an awful torture in the surgical theatre.
Astarion found himself itching to draw his bow, but Raima’s hand gestures fluttering by her
side kept him waiting, as Shadowheart directly addressed the man ‘performing’ the surgery.
Malus Thorm.

Astarion was too focused on the undead nurses circling the group to pay much attention to
the Sharran’s blithering, until it sounds like Shadowheart is talking the surgeon into letting
his own students kill him themselves. Huh, he thinks to himself as Shadowheart plucks the
lute found on their latest corpse. Shar’s finally began paying off for the pious little cleric.
They all knew the drill at this point - search the building, try not to set off any traps, bring
anything locked back to Astarion, bring back anything Raima would deem worth lugging
back to the inn, which typically meant pretty much anything. Astarion worked on a few
chests, barely concentrating on the simple locks. He felt a tug at his tadpole and let Raima in
almost automatically.

I’ve found Arabella’s parents.

Dead?

Dead. Time to go, guys. Raima pushed out to everyone. She was silent as they walked back
to the inn.

Shadowheart found her mind tripping over itself as she walked back with the mysteriously
quiet elf. She did not expect…praise for her part in the day’s efforts, but some kind of
acknowledgement would have been...nice. You do not need her approval, Shar is watching
over you. It is her opinion that matters. Still, was Raima upset with her? Or just…upset. She
thought they had managed to have some fun the night before, although looking back, they
should not have let Raima have anything further to drink after her stint with the other Thorm.
She’s probably just hungover.

Halsin went to find Raima at the camp, as Art had now woken up, intending to thank her for
her hard work and to apologise for the other night. Instead he heard a young girl screaming,
and as he rushed in to try and help, he saw Raima with her arms around a tiny tiefling child,
who was thrashing and shouting in her arms, resisting her comfort. As he approached, the girl
seemed to snap, and she held onto the fabric of Raima’s top as she cried into it. Raima rubbed
circles on her back and whispered to the child. “I’m so sorry, Arabella. I’m so sorry.”

Raima appeared to him the picture of maternal instinct, holding the child tightly against her
chest, right up until he saw her eyes. Her eyes were glossy again, like she was only going
through the motions, she was not really there. Withers spoke to the young child, and she
walked off with him, leaving Raima sitting on the dirt, her arms suddenly empty. Eventually
she noticed Halsin standing there.

“Hi.” She said, “Art?” Halsin wanted to hold her, to comfort her, but he did not know if she
would let him. He wanted to protect her and make her feel safe. But he did not know if that
was even possible. Has she ever felt safe? He thought as they walked silently back to the inn.
Just before they entered the inn, she finally spoke.

“What did Wyll tell you?”

“He brought the…fist…to their quarters. I healed him with what I had left in my reserves.
Wyll did not explain anything else…but I am not foolish. I know you would not hurt him
without cause.”

“I need your help, Halsin.” Halsin stopped and turned to her, her voice sounded strained,
distant. “I’m…I’m so sorry.”
“Raima, what happened? Do not be sorry. But please, talk to me. Did he hurt you? Did
he…?”

“Not really.” Raima failed to meet Halsin’s gaze as she wrung her fingers in her hands.

“I need help making a potion. To prevent…to stop… to make sure nothing comes from what
he did.”

“Rai, sweetheart. I… the chances of something like that… I mean, you’re an elf.” He saw the
look in her eyes and changed tact, “Of course I can help. Sorry for… for what I just
suggested.

When you said ‘not really”, Halsin pulled Raima into his arms, “What did you mean?”

“I told him…where to…finish, and he did not listen. And then he did not stop.”

“That’s still rape, Raima.” He felt her shrug in his arms, not really letting him in, but not
really resisting either. “You did not deserve what he did.”

“About the other night. I’m sorry about hiding my age from you.”

“Thank you. Rai, I’m sorry too. I was shocked…but I feel terrible for upsetting you.”

“And what you saw with Astarion, that was a one-time-thing. We just kissed.”

“Raima, I never sought to keep you tied solely to me. Your heart is your own.” He noticed
how her face fell slightly at that.

“I need a minute. I’ll join you shortly.” Halsin took his cue to leave the young elf by the
entrance to the inn. He turned to watch her as she smoothed down her tunic and took some
deep breaths. She stood up straighter as she walked into the room to greet Art.

Raima listened as the plan formed: Halsin was to retrieve Thaniel, who was lost in the
Shadowfell, through a portal. He asked Raima to lead the party in defending the portal while
he’s inside.

“That’s…that’s really dangerous Halsin. If the portal closes before you’re back…you’ll be
worse than dead. Let me come with you. Surely you’ll stand a better chance with me beside
you.”

“My heart, I cannot ask that of you. I need you here. Truly…I cannot trust anyone else with
this. With my life.”

Raima walked with him to the lakeshore. He began generating the portal, while Raima
ordered around the team, strategically placing oil barrels, firewine and smokepowder around
the edges of Isobel’s protection. He overheard her allocating roles and areas to Gale and
Astarion to protect, and make sure everyone had the best weapons to fight shadow-beings
and the undead. He saw her rest her hands on Shadowheart’s shoulders, reassuring the cleric
about something. She shared out potions and went over a final plan before returning to stand
on the rock next to Hasin. How could I ever suggest she is still a child? This leader, this
matriarch. How can I call her a liar one day and place my life in her hands the next?

“And, Halsin?” She faced him, eyeing the glimmering portal.

“Yes, Rai?”

“Fucking come back .” She kissed his lips before he had a chance to react.
 18: Florrick
Chapter Summary

CW: Florrick is a bit of a cunt

It had felt like the longest fight of her life as wave after wave of undead and shadow beings
poured into the battleground. Raima cast fireballs and radiant blasts in all directions as she
stood atop the rock, yelling out directives and warnings for the team as she saw the next
enemies approach. She heard Shadowheart scream, like a jagged blade through her skull, as
Lae’zel was brutally torn open by shadow beings. She hated herself for screaming at the
cleric to concentrate. Her voice was raw as she threw firebolts at bottles of alcohol strewn
across the ground, trying to clear as many attackers as she could before they reached Karlach.
Her heart leapt to her throat each time an arrow or a spell made its way through the fray and
damaged the portal. She felt her body set itself aflame as she pushed her wild magic to its
limits, dousing undead githyanki in fire and crushing their skulls with her quarterstaff. The
heat pouring off her reminded her of sitting too close to Karlach. The air by her face became
too hot to breathe in as she pushed her way to the final archers firing on the portal from afar.
She threw her last spells at them, taking out the first two as the last seemed to evaporate in
bright light. She turned and saw the figure stagger out of the portal, a child in his arms.
Smiling, she watched the portal close behind him as she fell to her knees, her vision fading to
black.

Raima woke to the all too familiar sensation of a healing potion being poured down her
throat. Her body ached, crying out for her to be still as she gritted her teeth and sat up.

“Woah, there. Gently does it.” Raima turned to see Halsin at her bedside, an empty potion
bottle in his hands.

“Lae…zel?” Raima coughed, wincing as she tried to get the words out of her burnt throat.

“I have had a taste of death, but I am otherwise recovered. At least I managed not to set
myself on fire.” Raima looked around the room properly for the first time and realised that as
well as Halsin, many others were standing around her. Lae’zel stood next to Shadowheart,
their hands clasped together. Astarion and Karlach were at the foot of the bed and Wyll and
Gale stood in the doorframe, both laden with trays of cups of tea for everyone.

“Lae’zel, you would have been dead three times over without her calling out to you every
five seconds!” Karlach grinned. “As would I.”

“The child… Thaniel?” Raima frowned as Halsin looked less than happy.
“We brought him back…but something is missing from him. He cannot lift the curse as is. I
am sorry, my heart. That it is not better news.”

“Oh. I guess we need to get the missing part then.” Raima replied, suddenly exhausted. She
intended to rest just for a few minutes but when she woke, it was well into the night. Feeling
better for the longer rest, Raima pulled on some clothes, fresh ones, she noticed, and went to
find the others.

Instead of the usual low level hubbub of the inn, Raima paused on the landing as she heard
tense, angry voices from the sitting area near the foot of the stairs.

“He should be cast out to the fucking shadows!” Jaheira spat, just back from a supply
gathering mission.

“You cannot be serious, he can still barely see! Any kind of…punishment might as well be a
death sentence for the man!” The prim voice of Councillor Florrick replied. “They were both
drunk. Mistakes happen.”

“As soon as he broke her trust… as soon as she said stop, it should have stopped! There is no
excusing his behaviour. And I am certain her team would tear him limb from limb if word got
out.”

“Well maybe if your little slut kept her legs shut, she would-aah!”

“Florrick. That was a very disappointing thing to hear you say. Consider your next words
very carefully.” Raima ducked below the bannisters and saw Jaheira pointing a sword to the
flaming fist’s throat.

“You do not…scare me Jaheira. And Halsin, we both know you're only so keen to get rid of
him so you can have your plaything back all to yourself.”

Raima heard Halsin growl, as he bit back his tongue.

“Florrick, you would do well to listen to Jaheira. You are responsible for the soldier's actions.
The least you can do is keep him in the cells while we move forward with the plan to
infiltrate Moonrise.”

“And if I do that, will you make sure no one in her camp knows why he is in there?”

“What? Why protect him?” Halsin’s hands were in fists at his side.

“It's his word against hers. And she did not come out blind and covered in burns! It's not his
fault if she regretted it after, or changed her story!”

“Is that really what you think happened?” Halsin's voice was gravelly and slow, rage pouring
out of every word.

“Regardless. We'll keep him in the cellar downstairs if you make sure this…rumour… does
not spread. It would be bad for morale.”
“So is being pinned down and…used like that!”

Raima cleared her throat as she descended the stairs, the three leaders awkwardly scrabbling
for something to say.

“I am glad to see you…up and about.” Florrick said lamely.

“You are too kind.” Raima replied, her voice dripping with false niceties. “I’m heading back
to the camp. I’ll try not to fuck anyone on the way.”
 19: Parents
Chapter Summary

Raima fixed her eyes at a point on the floor as the old woman started asking questions,
and Raima started lying.

Raima cursed under her breath as she felt Halsin and Jaheira follow her. Despite how sore her
limbs felt, Raima could not help but hurry away from them, pointedly rushing out of the inn
and towards the camp.

“ Damia , please.” Jaheira grabbed the young elf’s arm, which immediately recoiled like the
hand was made of ice. Raima let the pair's words wash over her as her mind wandered,
retreating into the intruding memories.

Raima shrank back from the taller, paler elf who was still screaming at her.

“I'm not lying.” She mumbled, choking out the words between tears.

“Of course you are lying! You…you are just making up stories to sabotage him! You cannot
bear for him to have any success. You timed this perfectly to ruin his life! He has his exams,
Raima! How is he going to be able to concentrate on them now?”

“I didn't know they would have to tell you.”

“Well what did you think would happen? What did you hope to achieve by spreading such an
awful lie?”

“I didn't lie!”

“I cannot even look at you. This is a serious accusation. I'm sure whatever did happen we
could have handled it if you just told me instead of going behind my back to someone at the
school!” The woman paused for breath. “Well?”

“What do you want me to do?” Raima did not even recognise her voice, it was so quiet.

“I want you to go back to them and say you made it all up! Your father is on his way home
right now. You will have to talk to him about this too.”

-
Raima was waiting in the small room connected to the temple. Her fingernails pressed one by
one into her wrist as she stared at the old oak door. The elf that came in was greying and her
skin sagged. Raima was surprised she did not know her, she knew most of the adults in the
grove. She must be from Suldanessellar. Her robe was faded green and her smile felt…
inappropriately cheery considering the circumstances. She locked the door behind her and
sat down on the chair opposite Raima.

“Good afternoon, damia . I am Mage Elondde, from the high council. I have come to speak to
you today about what you told Cleric Ariadne.”

Raima fixed her eyes at a point on the floor as the old woman started asking questions, and
Raima started lying.

“Raima?” Raima was dragged back to the present by a gentle hand on her shoulder. It was
warm and somehow did not make her jump. Karlach looked at her, and then at the two druids,
in confusion. “Raima, I know this is the last thing you need but…” Karlach winced as the
unmistakable screams of Arabella sounded back in the camp. “I think Shadowheart said
something that upset her. And then Lae’zel tried to… help.”

“Oh fuck that. ” Raima felt her body calm as she lurched into action, sprinting to the camp
even though her legs felt like they were tearing apart at the knees and her lungs tightened as
she tried to gulp in air.

The camp was chaos. On one side was Shadowheart, sprawled out on the ground with a gash
across her cheek, furiously telling Gale to “fuck off” as he tried to help her up. On the other,
Lae’zel was restraining the tiefling child as she screamed at the cleric. Black tendrils curled
around the githyanki’s feet. Astarion and Wyll stood far back, holding baskets of laundry,
mouths agape.

“I hate you! Let me go! It’s not fair. You don’t know what it’s like! Stupid mean woman!”
Lae’zel grunted as the child kicked her shins and tried to get to the cleric again.

“Still yourself foolish child!”

“No! Let me go! Her parents aren’t even dead! She acts like she understands loss but she’s
just forgotten everything! It’s not fair !”

Raima rushed to the child and picked her up, holding her firmly and carrying her quickly past
Shadowheart, giving the cleric a stern look. Shadowheart looked away first, staring at the
floor as Gale continued to try and dab at her face with a handkerchief.

“Your words to the small tiefling were not well received, cleric.”

Shadowheart slumped to the ground. She saw Halsin and Jaheira back away from the camp
almost comically. Astarion crouched down next to her, resting a hand on her knee. “That was
fucking dreadful , darling. Even if you might be right. But she’s young. She will bounce back
soon enough.”
“I hope you’re right.”

Astarion snuck down to the lake, just in case the Arabella did prove too much for the camp
mother. He cringed as he realised the weight that nickname probably held for Raima. He let
his ears do the work as he settled some way off from the lakeshore, the pair just visible.

“If I had stayed with them…maybe they would not be dead.”

“Maybe. But Arabella, it is not your fault they died. They do not blame you.”

“How do you know?”

“I spoke to your father, after. He died loving you. I promise.”

“But it’s not fair. ”

“I know, child. But you don’t have to be strong all the time. I know you’ll be strong when
you need to be. It’s okay to be sad right now. You are allowed to be upset.”

“Are your parents dead?” Astarion saw Arabella snuggling into Raima’s side.

“No, I do not think so.”

“Why don’t you know?”

“We do not talk. I have not seen them for many years.”

“Did it hurt to leave them behind?” The vampire’s eyebrows shot up at the sincerity of the
child’s question.

“It did. But it was the right thing for me to do, in the end.” There was a long pause as the pair
sat by the water together, both idly running their fingers over the pebbles.

“I’m sorry Raima.”

“I’m sorry too, Arabella. And I am sorry Shadowheart upset you. I hope one day she is as
insightful as you are.” Astarion watched as the tiefling’s eyes, still wet with tears, managed a
small smile at the gentle praise.

Raima leant into the little girl's hug, twisting around her to hold her in her arms again.
Looking over her shoulder, her gaze met Astarion's, and she smiled at him, looking more
content than he had seen her since they rescued Halsin from the goblins.
 20: Potions
Chapter Summary

"And besides, how in all hells would I actually be able to make you bite someone?” The
duo slowed to a stop as Astarion turned to face Raima.

“Not just me, Raima, but I daresay all of us…we are all yours to command now. I am
quite certain you could order us to jump down the neck of a nautiloid and we would
form a queue.”

Astarion and Raima had made quick work of exploring Moonrise Towers, largely undetected.
Raima had learnt the spell Fly, so scaling the outside of the building had proved easier than
sneaking around inside. Armed with maps and journals, some with more human viscera than
others, the two had started piecing together the grim puzzle that was the Absolute, and the
source of Ketheric Thorm's invulnerability. Astarion had shuddered when they had watched
the goblin attempt to kill the man, only for his body to knit itself back together with evil
necrotic energy. A flicker of the old Raima had shone through when she refused to kill the
goblins in cold blood and had actually shrugged at the disappointment of the other "true
souls" at her lack of bloodlust.

They did a final sweep of the upper levels, nearly coming to blows with a mechanical dog,
and a chest with far too many teeth, but they managed to make their way around the ground
level. He had smelt the wretch before he saw her, a pungent and rotten stench coming off her
and whatever she was working on. Raima was busy poaching supplies in the kitchen, sweet
talking her way into sausage links and sweet buns.

"You. Come here." Astarion wrinkled his nose as he approached the drow. "Tell your mistress
to visit me once she is done stealing pastries. I have something to offer her." Astarion
smirked at the word mistress, his mind's eye filling with images of Raima in tight leather,
standing over him with a riding crop. He nearly giggled as he worked to keep his face
neutral, although, as humorous as the image was, he realised that if he were not undead, he
would definitely be blushing. Astarion cleared his throat - and his mind- as he swaggered
towards the kitchen as Raima opened the door.

"Ah excellent. True Soul. I have an offer for you."

Raima pouted a little as she spoke to the drow. Ultimately, she declined the offer to exchange
some of her blood for a "special potion", which Astarion was glad for. Keen to make a quick
exit as soon as possible, he attempted to steer Raima away from the sanguine apothecarist.

"One last thing," the drow requested as Astarion rolled his eyes, "Your vampire. Yes, I can
tell. I have a different offer. I have an extremely rare and powerful potion, that would make
you permanently stronger, and more dangerous in battle. All I ask in return, is for him
to...bite me. I long to feel those fangs pierce my skin. To study myself as it heals. It is an
incredibly rare and generous offer."

Astarion recoiled from the drow, disgust on his face. He made eye contact with Raima, a
pleading look in his eyes as he shook his head.

"No, he's not my vampire, for one. He's clearly not interested."

"I fail to see the issue. He will surely do as you ask if you command it."

Astarion began to panic. Raima surely would not force him to bite the wrong-smelling
woman. But if she asked...was he really in any position to refuse her? He was seconds from
acquiescing, to save himself the embarrassment of having the blood taken rather than offered,
when he saw Raima's face fall even further in disdain for the drow.

"He is not my vampire, he is quite clearly his own man. Do not mistake my resolve not to
break your nose as an endorsement of what you just dared to presume. I have no desire to
make a scene today. Perhaps tomorrow you will be less fortunate. I suggest you leave before I
return." Flames licked around her quarterstaff as her eyes bore into the drow. Like wolves at a
standoff. Astarion thought, waiting to see who would be the first to look away. It did not take
long. The drow mumbled half apologies to the sorcerer and turned her back. Anger still
bristling in Raima's eyes, she looked up at Astarion and, probably just to rub it in (but still
appreciated nonetheless,) she bowed and held her hand out, gesturing to him to lead the way.

“Thank you, Raima,” Astarion began as they took the day’s findings back to the inn for
Jaheira and Florrick to inspect. “I confess, for a moment I thought you might make me bite
her.” Raima reached out for the vampire’s hand, holding it tightly.

“You spent 200 years being told what to do, Astarion. I’m not going to add to that now. I
hope by the end of this, whatever…end that may be, you never have to do someone else’s
bidding ever again. And besides, how in all hells would I actually be able to make you bite
someone?” The duo slowed to a stop as Astarion turned to face Raima.

“Not just me, Raima, but I daresay all of us…we are all yours to command now. I am quite
certain you could order us to jump down the neck of a nautiloid and we would form a queue.”
Raima stared back at him, for once speechless, as Astarion held her hand up between their
chests as he moved in closer. “...Because when you say we can do it - no matter what it is, or
how frightfully impossible it should be - we believe you. And we get through it.”

“I don't deserve you.” She whispered into his chest. He leant in and let the younger elf wrap
her arms around him in a comforting embrace. He did not feel compelled to touch her. He did
not feel revolted in the sensation of her body pressed up against his. He felt warm, and he felt
hopeful .

-
Halsin felt a tug on his heart strings as he crushed the mixture of herbs, berries and
mushrooms in a small pestle and mortar. He had made this mixture many times for humans
and other races, but this was the first time he had ever been asked to assist another elf.

He ached with grief for Raima. He had never met anyone who was so clearly destined for
motherhood, for raising not just a child, but a village. He found himself imagining her as an
archdruid, her grove flourishing under her watchful eye and sensitive leadership. His eyes
moved across the inn, and he saw Thaniel, giggling as he danced for Arabella, who in turn
was braiding delicate little twists into Shadowheart's hair, adding strands of black ribbon and
leather, cut to length by the githyanki with a sharp blade that morning.

Raima sat curled up next to Astarion on one of the padded benches. Halsin wondered if the
vampire knew about Ulfred. Probably not, as the bastard is still breathing. Raima looked like
she was reading an old tome of something or other she had found, but she had not turned the
page in about ten minutes. Halsin had attempted to comfort her again each night when she
came back from exploring more of the shadow cursed lands. She did not reject his advances,
but he distinctly felt she did not welcome them, either. She merely let him hold her, because
he wanted to. She seemed more comfortable with the vampire, and he often woke to them
talking in the early morning. Halsin had tried to swallow his disappointment at this, because,
ultimately, he had been the one to push her away.

He kept looking over at her, how she smiled and laughed when people came up to her, told
sweet stories of growing up around naughty fey creatures to the children and carried on with
each stage of the plan with general-like precision. She poured over maps and stolen plans,
texts and scrolls with Jaheira and made detailed notes of their findings.

She was not eating, he noticed. Gale tried to cook the best he could with the meagre rations
they had managed to scavenge, but more often than not she merely moved the food around
the plate, despondent. However pointless he felt this potion was, he knew that Ulfred’s
actions weighed heavily on her mind. Elf pregnancies were rare and…sacred, if he was
honest with himself. Although this would technically be a half-elf, the risk was still
incredibly low. Many couples often tried for years. In 350 years, Halsin was certain he had
never sired a child of his own, not that he had tried particularly hard to.

At least it should not cause her too much discomfort. He had been sorely tempted to leave out
some of the key ingredients, to spare her the inevitable side effects, but they were usually
tolerable, and it felt wrong to disrespect her wishes when she had been so vulnerable with
him. She had noticed he had collected everything required the night before as she did her
rounds of the tents, and Halsin had not been surprised when she sent Wyll, Gale, Lae’zel and
Karlach to rescue some prisoners in the dungeon at Moonrise, glad that she was allowing
herself at least the day off to rest. She had been throwing herself into unravelling Ketheric,
and potions aside, she needed a break.
 21: Fetch
Chapter Summary

“I told you I never wanted to see you again. I lied about my age. I kissed Astarion. I
slept with that fist and got myself into trouble and then made you come to my rescue.
And we still have not lifted this goddamn Shadow Curse for you. You should hate me.
You should want to punish me.”

Chapter Notes

Stop trying to make fetch happen

CW fantasy discussions of abortion

Halsin added the last ingredients into the pewter cup before taking a cautious sip. While he
had not made this potion often, he had made it enough times to know what it should taste
like. He asked Raima for a “quick word”, and she nodded as her eyes fixed on the cup. He
led the young elf out to the back of the inn where it was quieter.

“I can only apologise that it took this long to find the ingredients, Raima. But it is ready. I… I
have to caution you though, that this is a choice you have to make. If there is a pregnancy
developing, this will stop it. If…if you change your mind after, there will be nothing I can do.
You may bleed a little. I need you to tell me immediately if you are in pain or if there is a lot
of blood.”

Raima stared at the potion like it was about to attack her.

“I have made up my mind, Halsin.” Still, her hand shook as she grasps the drink and brought
it to her lips. The first sip was tentative and her eyes grew wide at the bitter taste.

“Better to drink it all in one, my heart.” Halsin had a glass of water ready for her to drink
after. Raima steeled herself and then swallowed the rest of the potion in two gulps.

She immediately grabbed the water and used it to rinse her mouth out before she finally
sagged onto one of the benches. Fat tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked up at the
druid.

“Thank you, Halsin. For doing this for me. I know… I know it is not… I know I am supposed
to let nature take its course. I know that is what you would prefer. What Silvanus would
prefer. But I… I could not have coped.”

“My heart. Silvanus does not judge you in this - and neither do I.” Halsin sat next to her as
she buried her face in her hands. Her curls were tangled in clumps and had lost their shine
and bounce. He saw her fingernails were bitten and raw, and her shirt, which used to fit
snugly around her shape, was loose and stained.

“Why aren't you angry with me, Halsin?” Raima shook as she asked him. “I can't keep…
waiting. For you to blow up at me. For you to hate me.” Halsin tried in vain to get Raima to
look at him. Her hands refused to move from her face and she flinched at his touch when he
tried to comfort her.

“Why would I be angry?” His voice was soft, calm. Raima stilled momentarily, but did not
look up.

“I told you I never wanted to see you again. I lied about my age. I kissed Astarion. I slept
with that fist and got myself into trouble and then made you come to my rescue. And we still
have not lifted this goddamn Shadow Curse for you. You should hate me. You should want to
punish me.”

Halsin blinked back tears as Raima poured out her mind to him. How could someone so
intelligent, so compassionate, so generous with her own love, be so blind to the love that
shines back at her? Why is she so hesitant to accept forgiveness when she forgives so easily?

“I do not. I could not ever punish you, Raima, or hate you.”

“You don't know that. Anything could happen. I could do something… terrible and then you
would not want me anymore.”

“Do you intend to? To do something terrible?” Halsin furrowed his brow as Raima shook her
head furiously.

“No, no, but I could. So when you say you could not ever , you don't mean it. And what if I
did something bad…by accident? What if choices I make backfire and bad things happen
because of me? I don't always get to control what happens. I don't know what is ahead of me,
and neither do you.”

“I…do not find myself putting so many conditions on my feelings for you, Rai. To believe
you will only be deserving of… love, if you are perfect and never make mistakes, it's an
impossible standard to hold yourself to. You prove every day that you want to do the right
thing, no matter how hard it is. I… I love that about you. I do not want to burden you with
my feelings, Rai. You do so much for so many of us, not just me. But you must know this: I
am old -”

“I know that already, Halsin.” Raima cut in, with a half-chuckle half-sniffle.

“Hah, my sweet, I mean that these days, my… old heart does not stir lightly. But it does now.
I long to be with you. Not just as a campfellow, not just as friends. I yearn for your touch.
Truth be told I have missed you incredibly since we arrived here and…well, I made a fool of
myself. I was wrong to call you a child, to demand explanations you did not wish for me to
know. You have surpassed every expectation I could have of you. You are magnificent,
Raima.”

Raima dried her eyes with the backs of her hands. She pushed herself off the bench and
turned to briefly stand in front of Halsin. Straddling the druid, she then knelt with her thighs
either side of him as she threw her arms around his neck, burying her face into his neck. She
felt the soft curls and short feathery braids in her fingers as she brought her face back to his,
to look into his eyes for the first time since she drank the potion, and whispered “I love you
too, Halsin.”

Raima was picking up around camp and playing a slow game of fetch with Scratch, a smile
on her face as she gathered up empty bottles, cups and goblets that seemed to spawn
randomly around the tents. She enjoyed the quiet moment to herself, thinking about what
Halsin had said to her, how he had felt in her arms. Suddenly she felt lightheaded and she
staggered to one of the stools by the firepit. She tried to call out but a wave of nausea hit her
and she scrambled out to the trees near camp. She clamped her hands over her mouth as she
fell to her knees. No, no, no. Don’t you dare throw up. She begged herself as she felt the
potion causing chaos in her stomach. She only taken it under an hour ago. I need more time!
She clutched her stomach as she tried to take deep breaths through her nose. She could feel
the muscles inside her spasming as waves of pain began accompanying the nausea.

“Master, are you well?” Raima turned violently at the unfamiliar voice. Scratch was there,
pushing a ball around with his nose.

“I can hear you!” She gasped. It had happened once or twice over the years, only by accident.
His voice was calming, but the accidental magic was not. She pulled at it, trying to find what
was going on, when she felt strange and harrowing sensation, like all the strings of the weave
were twisting and lurching in different directions, and she could only grasp them at random.
As she realised how out of control she was, all she could do was brace herself as she choked
out the potion. No , was all she could think as she stayed kneeling, I can’t do this again.
 22: Fen
Chapter Summary

Raima and the man finally sat down together under a beautiful, blossoming tree, and
Raima nervously played with the flowers that had dropped to the ground.

“Fen, there is something I need to tell you. I have some news…of my own to share.”

Chapter Notes

CW Mentions of miscarriage

Halsin smiled as the scruffy white dog came bounding over to him as he whittled by the steps
to the inn, but it was short lived when he saw that the poor beast was panting heavily and his
coat was bushy with fright. Halsin tried to think a quick prayer to Silvanus before Scratch
could confirm his fears, but the dog was too quick, even when he was out of breath. “Master.
Go.” He said as collapsed onto the ground, tongue lolling out as he took in gulps of air.
Halsin sprinted to the camp, terrified when he could not immediately see the elf. A flash of
light drew his attention to the trees lining the camp towards the grave site. He called out to
her as he ran, seeing more flashes and sparks of energy. He felt some small relief when he
saw her kneeling by the trees, magic pouring out of her, that she was not dead, but
something…bizarre was happening to her. Suddenly she screamed as she caught fire, blue
flames bursting from her clothes and the nearby trees. Halsin misty stepped next to her,
conjuring water over her and the woods, before sinking to his knees to hold her. He grunted
as sharp spikes shot out from the ground and into their legs, his healing magic barely keeping
up with the damage Raima was causing herself. He kept hold of her as her magic surged
again and she vomited onto the brush. Thankfully she seemed to be calming down slightly
with his touch, and the magic became less intense, bubbles and flower petals forming around
them instead of fire, ice and spikes.

“I can’t do this!” She screamed into the trees, as one final flash surrounded her and Halsin in
a thick fog. Then, her voice was quiet and raw, “I can’t.” Halsin let her sink down into his
lap.

“My heart, I am so sorry. What…what happened? Did you change your mind?”

Raima stared up at him, the fog making her look as if she was on a cloud.
“No, no. I was not sick on purpose. Damnit! ” She stared off, vacantly for a second before
coming back to him. “I do not want this pregnancy. Halsin, I cannot cope with it.”

“Rai, I know you were put at risk by Ulfred, but…truly, you should be…fine? Even without
the potion the chances were so slim. But, you should know that if you are with child, I will
not abandon you. I will stay with you as long as you would have me, I would even be a father
to the child if that is what you wanted.”

“Oh, Halsin,” Raima choked back more sobs as she pushed herself away from him, the fog
dissipating in the light wind. “I would love a child. Any child. But I cannot…I cannot let this
one progress. Not with what we are facing. I cannot suffer another…” she trailed off.

“Another? Raima, what do you mean?” Raima’s eyes glistened as she looked from Halsin to
the trees, seeking some kind of comfort from small tokens of nature around her.
“I cannot lose another pregnancy. I cannot get sick and bleed and cry and be weak while there
is so much at stake. So even if there is… something there, I know it won’t… it won’t take.”

“You lost one before? When? ” Halsin tried to hide the shock in his voice as his brain cried
out at the impossibility of it all. She’s only three and twenty, how could this happen?

“No…” She began, and then with great effort she met his eyes briefly, “not one. Four.”

An eighteen year old Raima’s long red hair flowed past her waist as she danced with the
young elven man. They were celebrating his birthday and his acceptance of an
apprenticeship with a cobbler. His family were kind and had welcomed Raima into their lives
generously. They knew from snippets of conversations that she was desperately unhappy at
home, though any attempts to broach the topic had been dismissed, but the joy she brought
their son was reason enough for them to let her stay for days on end.

Raima and the man finally sat down together under a beautiful, blossoming tree, and Raima
nervously played with the flowers that had dropped to the ground.

“Fen, there is something I need to tell you. I have some news…of my own to share.”

“Ray-ray! This is excellent!” The elf began, before seeing the nervousness in her face,
“Sweetie, you are trembling. Pray, what troubles you?”

“I was ill last week, well, all of last month, really. I went to a healer. Fen, I’m - I’m with
child.”

Fen dropped the flower in his hand as his hand flew to his mouth. Raima tried to form a smile
through her fear, saying “They told me it is a blessing… I know this is not what we planned. I
had no idea, honestly.”

“No, surely not…” Raima’s eyes brimmed with tears as the man cast her out of the party. She
walked alone down a dusty lane, tears streaking her face as her party gown trailed in the
dirt.

-
Raima slowly opened the door to her parents house, letting Fen enter. He looked a mess, his
clothes creased and his eyes puffy. She had hoped he would come to see her, to beg her
forgiveness, to invite her back to his home, before her family returned from their trip to
Suldanessellar . She felt excited as well as scared, knowing she would soon be a mother. She
just did not want to do it alone. She had packed a bag upstairs, to either take back to his, or,
if it came to it, to leave the grove. She would not risk raising a child anywhere near her
family.

“Raima, I am so sorry. I was…in shock. When you told me. I came here today…to make it
right.” Raima’s eyes lit up at Fen’s words, her hand resting on her small, but growing
stomach. She fell lovingly into his arms as she thanked him and said she knew he’d come
round. Fen nestled her face in his chest as he kept apologising. Raima hardly had a chance to
see the glint of the blade before it pierced into her stomach. She screamed, and tried to push
the man’s hand away, when a flash of magic caused her to double over, the blade dropping to
the ground, sizzling with untamed magic. Fen made a strange, wet sound as she turned to see
him clutching his wrist, blood spurting onto the floor, onto his mangled hand. Raima
screamed again, as he dropped to the floor in agony, swearing and cursing at her. She raced
upstairs, the pain briefly overtaken by fear, opened a box and hastily read aloud a scroll of
healing that her parents had left for emergencies, crying out as she felt the wound she dared
not examine knit back together under her dress. Grabbing her bag and heavy cloak, she
wrote a note that just said, I’m leaving , and she fled out the door and out the grove.

“I lost the baby a ten-day later, near some human village on the edge of the road leading out
of the Wealdath. I fell pregnant again when I was nineteen…I was drinking and going to
parties with travellers and traders, hitching rides up the Sword Coast. I did not think it would
happen again, if I was honest. But it did, twice. Then I stopped lying with people, stopped
really doing anything except travelling, trading, working here and there. Then I met a half-elf
called Themenor. We had been together a year and a half when his ship…failed to return to
port. Umberlee took him, and well, then, the nautiloid took me.”

Halsin took a long time to respond while he processed everything that she had just revealed
to him. Finally unravelling her final sentences, his eyes snapped back to the little elf, who
was rocking herself back and forth.

“When did you last miscarry?” She looked up at him, her voice now even, and a little cold,
like she was mentally distancing herself from what she was saying.

“Just before we entered the Underdark.”

“Oh hells Raima. I’m so sorry. I… I truly had no idea. When you asked me to feed Astarion
that first time… I assumed you two had had a disagreement or something.”

“Believe it or not, Astarion really helped me through it. I tried to hide it, but, well… you can
imagine, I’m sure.”

“We cannot let you go through this again, my heart.”

Halsin shuffled closer to Raima and held her hand as she muttered prayers, seemingly to the
entire Faerûnian pantheon, and inside, he called out to Silvanus and pleaded with him to
listen. To please save her again.
 23: Doe
Chapter Summary

“I saw you, precious child. I witnessed your sacrifice for the helpless doe. And when you
prayed, after you were scolded for trying to leave, I… I offered you protection. I
answered your prayers… I blessed you to have everything your heart desired. I gave you
the strength to endure, to get through what you were going through. To survive."

Chapter Notes

Finally some answers!

Big thanks to everyone who has left kudos and comments, it's made it really fun for me
:)
CW Mentions of past child abuse

Raima looked up at Halsin when he gasped, and followed his gaze to the trees. A golden
haired maiden, beautiful, glowing with a radiant energy, marched towards the couple. Her
body was slender, elegant, covered only with a short green dress and strings of golden acorns.
A crown of oak leaves sat atop her head with further leaves pouring down her back. As she
grew nearer, however, it became clear that the creature had an expression of fury. Energy
surged out of her, causing the mostly dead ground around her to burst forth with new growth.
Raima was stock-still on the ground, staring up as the woman stopped just short of crashing
into her.

“You!” The woman screamed, her voice low and threatening, “You accept my gifts
gracelessly for years and now spurn them? You believe you can pray to Lathandar, to
Silvanus, to reject my blessing, and I would not notice? I may not have their power, but I can
still hear when someone prays so loudly .” Raima’s eyes were wide, first with shock and fear,
and then confusion, as this beautiful woman rained down on them with spiteful words.

“Wh-what? Who are you? What…is it that you think I have done?” Halsin turned with
surprise to Raima who had not taken her eyes off the golden maid.

“Raima… do you not recognise her? You are known to her, clearly. This is the Lady of the
Woods.” The maiden frowned, not receiving the instant repentance she had expected from the
elves before her.

“That is correct. I am Shiallia, Lady of the Woods, Dancer in the Glades. And I am known to
you, Raima Meliamne. Perhaps I may…jog your memory.” Shiallia glowed brighter for a
fraction of a second, and transformed into a strange creature from Raima’s early youth.
Raima felt a tug in her mind of memories of long ago, of happy little fey creatures she would
play with before…well, before . In front of her now was a tall, beardless korred. She radiated
a familiar sense of safety, of protection. Without really thinking, Raima ran to her arms,
where the goddess welcomed her.

“It has been so long , Shia, I… so much has happened.”

“Do you remember me, truly?” The goddess asked, “Do you remember what you did, when
you were so tiny?” Raima shook her head. The korred sat down next to Halsin, who was still
struggling to speak, his eyes never leaving her. She pulled Raima into her lap and wrapped an
arm around each elf. “I believe I owe you both an…explanation. I may have…overestimated
the memory of a mortal elfling.”

Light filled the trees and the projection of an ethereal child, of perhaps seven, appeared, her
face set in determination as she trudged along a path, a large bag strapped to her back, a
branch in her hand used as a walking stick. She finally comes to a stop and rests, when she
hears a desperate sound, and she goes off the path and sees a large, heavily pregnant doe, who
is in significant distress. She runs, only to return with her waterskin, tipping water gently
over the doe’s mouth. It runs out and the doe wails in pain. The child frowns and takes a peak
at the rear end of the deer, which is leaking blackened blood. Tears form in the child’s eyes as
she tries to comfort the doe, before she sighs, and her tiny child fists throw a rock at the
ground in frustration. Abandoning her pack, she grabs her stick and begins walking back,
hurriedly, to where she had come from.

As the image faded, Raima had a look of understanding. She spoke to Halsin, as much as to
herself, “I… I was running away. I thought If I made it to another grove maybe there would
be someone who would look after me. Then I came across the doe and I knew she needed
help. I knew she or the baby would die if I did not get someone older…so I turned around.”

“I saw you, precious child. I witnessed your sacrifice for the helpless doe. And when you
prayed, after you were scolded for trying to leave, I… I offered you protection. I answered
your prayers… I blessed you to have everything your heart desired. I gave you the strength to
endure, to get through what you were going through. To survive. I gave you my blessing to
have a large and beautiful family of your own to love and to love you. I did everything I
could…and then you disappeared, you left the High Forest. I figured you had left whatever
hurt you, so I left you to forge your own path.”

“Wait, what did you just say?” Raima leapt out of the korred’s lap, “It was you? You- you did
not bless me! If anything you cursed me!” Her finger pointed accusingly at the goddess,
whose own mouth was agape in surprise and anger.

“I rewarded your kindness with your heart’s desires! How dare you shun my gifts. I saved
you when I felt your essence fading, someone had strung you up, I made sure you did not
perish!”
“I did that to myself ! I tried to kill myself !” Raima screamed at her, her fear of the woman all
but replaced by fury. “You forced me to keep going with your ‘blessing!’ I did not leave
whatever hurt me, my family moved across the country after I tried to run away. I spent a
year in a fucking tent with him! It was not even like they moved to help me after I tried to
leave! It was so Sollan could attend a wizarding school! And I suffered through his every
fucking whim for nine more years as his magic got stronger, which you forced me to endure,
with no support, with no friends. I cut myself because I did not have any other way to cope!”

“Child, I -” The korred stood up, trying to speak, but Raima kept going.

“And when I finally found someone I thought was good, with a kind family, who did not
immediately send me home to my parents when I was unhappy, which was all the time by the
way , you fucking knocked me up!”

“Every child is a blessing, my dear, you know that. I can still feel how much you long for a
family.”

“Did you never think to…to check if I had the child? If your blessing came to fruition?
Where were you when I was scared, and bleeding? Where were you when Themenor died,
and the only piece of him I had left died inside me? Where were you when a fucking
mindflayer shoved a parasite in my eye and sent me on this fucking suicide mission?”

At this final outburst, Raima collapsed to the ground, hoping, secretly, that perhaps the
goddess would smite her or whatever goddesses are supposed to do, and put her out of her
misery. Instead of a heavy blow or radiant strike, Raima felt a warm, slender hand on her
shoulder. She looked up to see the golden maid staring down at her, tears falling freely down
her pale face.

“I made a terrible error, my sweet child. Truth be told, I rarely pay attention to those outside
of nature, especially outside of the High Forest. That is my mistake. I did not mean to
abandon you to…cruelty.” Raima snorted reproachfully at the simplification of what she had
been through. “I do not deserve your forgiveness. In fact I fear asking for it, because I know
you will grant that which I do not deserve.”
“Please…please don’t leave. If I forgive you… Shiallia… will you stay? Will you help me…
my friends?”

“Oh my heart, I will stay regardless. I will watch over you all. I… I cannot interfere with the
Absolute, but I will help you in every other way I can. When you call to me, I promise I will
come to your aid.” Raima winced as she felt her stomach twist in pain once more, now that
she was running low on adrenaline. Shiallia crouched down and lifted the elf’s shirt, her eyes
filled with renewed concern. She tutted as she pressed a hand onto the gnarled and raw scar,
and Raima felt a wave of strangely comforting nausea flow into her as the scar faded. “You
have a…dangerous journey ahead, my child. I know you wish for a family of your own, but I
fear now is not the time for-”

“Please, please take it away, if there is something there.”

“I already did, when I realised the pregnancy would cause you harm. Early life is so…fragile.
I moved the blessing to a couple in Neverwinter, the spark that was within you is theirs now.”
“And in the future..?” Raima held her stomach protectively, her hand mapping the outline of
the scar that was no longer there.

“When you are ready, child. And not before. I promise you.”

“Th-thank you. And… I am sorry for screaming at you. I… am glad you saved me. Even if I
wasn’t the first time. It was you, in the Underdark? Not Silvanus?”

“The Oak Father may have…nudged me to your plight, but yes, it was me. It was not your
time.”

Raima leant in and hugged the goddess, soaking up her calming energy, filling herself not just
with resolve, but hope, hope for triumph, and hope for peace. Halsin had remained silent
throughout, and he stiffly caved when Raima dragged him to join her in the goddess’
embrace.

“There is darkness ahead, my dear child, and you will be the light that guides those entrapped
away from it. And you, Halsin,” She kissed the cheek of the still mostly stunned elf, “You
will carry these burdens with her. She will not walk alone again. And Raima,” She turned
back and kissed her forehead, “You will let him. You must.”

“What if I am not…strong enough? What if we fail? Will you torture me to keep going, to
push through even if it kills my heart?”

“Raima, you may always be my child of the High Forest, but you are, as you know, an adult.
My power to help you stay the path, to endure…that faded long ago. What remains is all that
you are, all that powers you is your own doing. You will keep pushing because you know you
are strong enough. Call on me in your time of need, I will be there. Until then, I hope I will
be in your prayers.”

With a final kiss, the goddess faded from view, leaving behind the ring of luscious grasses
and flowers, and the two elves.

The pair were brought back to reality when Scratch came over and nuzzled Raima’s leg
fondly, before lifting his leg and marking the patch of grass as his own. “Mine now.” He said
as he wandered back. Raima turned to follow him and saw a small crowd had gathered.
Jaheira was at the front, grinning, while Shadowheart and Astarion seemed to still be taking
in what they had witnessed. Oliver and Thaniel whispered to each other and giggled, quickly
sharing their joke with Arabella whose eyes grew wide with delight as she joined them in
laughing. Shadowheart was the first to speak, still staring at Raima.

“Did you just… argue with a goddess?”

Please drop by the Archive and comment to let the creator know if you enjoyed their work!