Chapter Text
All had gone still, silence finally settling in, mind calming. Jevan stood there, truly empty. His great sword had fallen to the ground during his fit of laughter and it would soon be forgotten entirely.
Heat was boiling up from the paladin's core as he realized what had happened. Between his denial of Lolth's will and Nere's interference, he had lost control, seeing how he was now facing the brick house of a tielfing, known as Karlach.
A shout pulled him back into the here and now. There was a commotion. The familiar sound of agony and despair. Something had gone wrong.
Time seemed to slow as he turned to see Nere standing over Frans and then it stopped all together. From where Jevan stood, the scene was clear from his perspective; the last remaining shard of the heart he had forsaken was gone, Róisín's legacy ran through, their union of flesh and blood null.
Despite his struggle to fight back, to not give in, and his rebellious denial, his son had perished in the end.
Red.
All he could see was red.
What happened next was a blur. Jevan charged like a raging bull, blade forsaken. He didn't need it. Not when he had two gauntlet clad hands to tear and pummel with.
The spell had broke and Shadowheart was ready to aid when she saw it had drained Gale but the wizard's cry had her gaze bolting towards the damned drow. There was no time to assist Frans, not from their distance and not with that damned orb zapping Gale's strength.
"Gale. There's nothing you can do," Shadowheart was at his side, shield having fallen. There would be no speaking reason though.
“Frans!” The cry was that of anguish and pain. No. He can’t be gone. “Please, no…NO!”
Gale was in disbelief but deep down, he knew what had happened. Once again, he had lost someone he fell in love with, but for the first time, he lost someone he knew was his true love, his true soulmate.
As he fell to his knees, Gale began crawling towards Frans’s body. He didn’t care if Nere was still there standing over him. His only hope was that the drow would end him in order for him to be with his love.
The next moment had come unexpectedly.
There was no stopping the paladin as he became a force of raw nature, plowing right into Nere, tackling him off of Frans and to the ground. Jevan was on top of Nere now, straddling him between his armored thighs as he brought his fist down on the bastard’s face. Then again. And again. His fury was uncaged.
Gale watched as his little rogue’s chest sucked in air, causing his eyes to bulge open.
Frans's lungs filled back up instantly when the weight on his chest was lifted but he soon regretted sucking the air in as pain shot through his neck. The blade had been driven down into it but only half of it had made contact with the side, barely missing a major artery. If Nere had been able to stay focused, he would have succeeded in swiftly ending the little rogue.
It was bleeding though, a scarlet pool was already forming beneath him. He needed to apply pressure as soon as possible. For now he stayed still, thinking about how best to go about removing the blade without finishing what Nere had set out to do.
Gale began moving quickly towards his lover, chest pain be damned. He finally sat by his side and saw the blood pooling at the side of his neck.
“Oh hells! Frans! Don’t move. I need to…” Immediately, Gale took his robe off and bunched it up near the bleeding neck wound. “Shadowheart! Please. Please help him!” Pressure was applied as Gale held onto his hand. “Stay with me, ok? Remember, we promised to live through this together, so that we may see the world.”
So much was happening around Frans, the area alive with all new chaos and blaring noise. All of it was beyond concerning, setting his heart racing with panic as he tried to piece together a plan. Anything to get out of there. Alive.
Before he could give it much more thought, a familiar face came into view, filling his weary vision with hope. Hope that was heavily laced with fear and dread on his lover's usually soft and glowing features.
Frans couldn't suppress the wince that hissed past his clenched teeth as pressure is finally applied to his throbbing wound but he managed to do as he was told, staying still as death itself.
"Gale...." Frans rasped, narrowing his gaze in hardened concentration. Talking hurt like hell, every torn muscle felt in all their intense agony.
"Don't," another voice joined in and he blinked to let Shadowheart come into focus. "Just stay still."
As Shadowheart removed the blade, she took over applying pressure for Gale, telling the wizard to focus on keeping their injured rogue awake.
Frans’s cool hand was placed against the pokey stubble of Gale’s cheek. “You can’t go because….” How much time did they have? Did any of them have? There was no telling, but Gale didn’t want to go a moment longer without Frans knowing. His next words came out as a soft whisper for his one and only. “Because I love you.”
Another wince, this time Frans squeezed his eyes shut tight.
He needed to focus on something other than the literal pain in his neck.
Gale was that focus, icy blue eyes opened to grow wide with more than just pain but layers of confusion at the wizard's words. There was no denying that they were said in the heat of the moment, passion fueled with truth. If there was one thing Frans knew, it was that desperation was a good motivator to bring out the truths that lay underneath lies meant to hide discomfort.
But how could he respond? He didn't know nor could he at the moment, his ability to move his mouth or head at all restricted as Shadowheart got to work doing what she could to mend the damage before too much blood was lost. Before his life was forfeited,
All he could do was stroke Gale's stubbly cheek with his thumb.
Oh, how he wanted to say something but it was getting harder to focus.
All he could do was focus on the wizard’s tense, longing gaze.
"Hold on a little longer," he could hear Shadowheart say, the cleric working diligently. "You'll survive...."
Frans hoped so. That was all he could do as the power of choice was taken from him, once again.
Thundering footsteps shook the ground and another face came into view, this one big and marked with scars.
"Keep holding pressure, dear heart. Silvanus lend me your aid," Halsin wasted no time in offering his healing touch.
While Halsin was busy lending his aid, Nere had no idea what even hit him. In a different situation, he would have thought an ogre threw a boulder at him. But this was no boulder and there was no ogre.
Just one pissed off daddy.
The True Soul’s head was being hit from side to side with such force that he began to feel the bones in his skull dislocate and even shatter.
The large drow he had been fighting–the one he failed to bring to his side–was now sending him to his grave.
Nere was begging the Absolute to aid him in his greatest moment of need. My goddess, please. I am your True Soul. Give me the power I need to defeat…
Pleas, bargains, and all thoughts suddenly ceased as Nere had finally gone still. Brain matter was splayed against the floor and shards of skull had broken into pieces. The True Soul was no more, and much like with any god, the followers of the Absolute were expendable.
Aku had continued clinging to Astarion as the commotion was happening. “What the hells is happening?!”
In one area, Jevan was beating Nere to a pulp and in another area, Gale was crouching near a motionless Frans.
Aku shimmied from Astarion, but continued to hold his hand as she pulled him closer to the scene.
Soon Astarion and Aku had arrived, the whole party gathering thereby.....all but for Lae'zel.
As Frans was being taken care of, his father was letting out years of pinned up rage and regret until the man who dared to cross him was nothing more than a bloody plup. Standing, the paladin was stilled for a moment, blood and bits of skull dripping from his now scarlet gaunlets. There was nothing left of Nere's head to collect but Jevan cared not. All that mattered was that the bastard was dead and in the most unpleasant of ways.
Eventually, Jevan turnned slightly to look around at the others before his exhausted gaze fell upon his son. How he wanted to take over, to mend his mistakes himself but he knew that Lolth wouldn't lend him the magic to do so.
That thought, knowing that the goddess he had devoted his life to, would refuse even that simple request. No prayer, no act of redemption on his end would save what he had only recently found. It was a pain beyond anything he had ever felt before.
Warm tears streamed down Gale’s cheek and over Frans’s thumb. He turned his head slightly and kissed the pad of his finger, not caring who saw.
The light in Frans’s eyes was swirling as it seemed he was losing consciousness, but he needed to stay awake. “Frans, stay with me, my little flower bud.”
As Shadowheart and even Halsin joined up together to work their healing, Gale talked to Frans about Waterdeep. He spoke of certain sights he enjoyed, food he couldn’t wait for him to try.
“But we must divert Tara from the birds. She can be rather rude and murderous towards them,” he said with a nervous chuckle. He was trying to keep his sanity at the moment as well.
A warm hand rested upon Frans’s chest, a passionate heat penetrating his clothes and flesh to embrace his heart. “I cannot wait to show you what the world has to offer and I have to offer as well.” Knowing that the little rogue was going to live had Gale letting out a sigh of relief.
It was getting harder to keep his eyes open, but having Gale there as a pleasant distraction was doing the trick in keeping Frans awake. With tales of the new home he had been promised it was hard not to listen. It was almost enough to make one forget the hell they were all living through. But they had each other and one way or another they would make it through this.
Frans wanted to see the source of all these tales more than anything he had ever wished for. A risk was taken, the little rogue wanting to feel Gale as much as possible, moved his other hand to rest onto the wizard's, both warming his beating heart. There was no protest made on the healer's ends, the worse of the damage had already been taken care of.
Karlach slid down against the wall. Wyll was at her side now, but he wasn’t able to assist with her injuries. She was watching what had happened and couldn’t help panicking when she thought Frans had died, but seeing how Gale reacted and how much he cared for the little elf had her heart aching for that same love.
Aku continued to hold onto Astarion as she watched on. The pair had walked into intimacy between the two males just the other night, but it seemed that to the little tiefling, it went beyond just pleasures of the flesh.
Just like Karlach, Aku also ached for something she had never once experienced in her life. Not even now had she understood this feeling.
Astarion had been watching with mild interest but as he did so he subconsciously rubbed the small of Aku's back. Why? The reason wasn't clear but he also wasn't aware he was doing the small comforting act.
A heavy presence loomed over Frans and Gale, and the wizard knew exactly who it was. Saddened darkened eyes turned to meet Jevan’s gaze.
“He’s going to be alright.” Gale informed him, voice soft and quiet as adrenaline started to subside.
A single breath before Jevan neared, his son had closed his eyes, not in enteral sleep but simply resting while peace surrounded them.
"That is...reassuring," Jevan admitted, letting some relief slip into his words if only to hide the guilt that was there.
Hurried footsteps rung out, startling the group, fearing more enemies. Jevan was already readying himself to fend off an attacker but halted when he saw Lae'zel approaching, looking the worse for wear herself. He dismissed himself to step away and investgated where the githyanki had been. What he found only added more salt to his already stinging wounds.
Minthara had gotten the slip on Lae'zel and was long gone.
Did it matter though? With the state of things? Jevan had already failed his goddess many times over, what would be the difference of adding another transgression. He was lucky he wasn't sprouting legs and a hive of eyes by now.
Considering everything that had happened and Loth's words that still repeated in his mind, the heat inside of Jevan was threatening to boil up again only to be quenched by shame.
"It matters not. We will push through without," was his simple response as he turned to rejoin the others.
The turmoil was growing inside of his heart, stony exterior be damned.
What am I to do...Róisín? The prayer he sent up was not for the goddess who used him since bith but to the one woman who showed him uncontintional love–a love he had taken for granted. Is this the price for my sins? Should I be forgiven? Would you forgive me if you had the chance? Our son won't. For that I cannot blame him. I have done wrong by both of you....and for what?
For what? That was the question plaguing him and it was one he did not have the answer to.
Gale was also dealing with his own internal storm. He knew that the heat of the moment and the fact that emotions were high, had brought out his true feelings for the little rogue. Even though they had known each other a short period of time, there was no denying that the sparks between them had erupted into passionate flames.
But was the young lad even ready to hear such a powerful confession? Had anyone ever told Frans they loved him? He had to wonder if what he said was too much, but it was too late now and the wizard refused to take it back.
Every word he said was meant. He promised to show Frans the world and have a lovely home together. He promised he was going to make it out of this alive, and he intended to see to that. Nothing was going to keep them apart, to stop them from experiencing true happiness.
“Rest now, my sweet flower,” Gale said as he closed his own eyes. The softness of Frans’s hand upon his own had provided a comfort to him that no one else could. Such a small gesture had meant the world to Gale.
Once Frans was stable enough, Halsin let Shadowheart take over and he dismissed himself to go tend to Karlach, racking his brain already on what could be done. This battle had taken a toll on them, more than any so far and he knew the trails would only grow the further they journeyed. For now, he would do what he could to aid the fiery barbarian. That would be a challenge in and of itself.
“I said I’m fine, Wyll,” Karlach said as she sat against the wall, her head resting against the coolness of it. “I just need a moment. And stronger armor.” A pained chuckle came from the tiefling as her eyes opened and she saw Halsin approaching.
“Look, I’ll handle this alright? Nothing anyone can do anything with my body imprisoned by this fucking curse.” Her hand rested over her chest, gesturing to her infernal engine. Karlach wasn’t made to leave Avernus. Zariel made damn sure of that when she used her as an experiment. “That’s why I’m malfunctioning.”
“I can’t let you bleed out, damnit. I’m going to search the area for a potion at least. Anything.” Wyll stood up and began digging around the duergar campsite. There was bound to be something useful.
"Always so fiery," Halsin chuckled, smiling lopsided but there was unlaying worry there. He crouched down beside Karlach, examining her face and noting the discomfort. The attack upon her had been seen and he had a jest of what was wrong with her but he would only attempt to treat it if she allowed. "I have had my share of wildfires, dear heart. It should only take me a few to mend what needs mended and I'll be sure to do so before that fire spreads. May I?"
The druid knew what he was getting into but he also knew he could assist without actually touching the touch starved tielfing. Well, maybe a little bit of touching which that in and of itself was more than he expected she usually received.
Fiery amber eyes suddenly popped open, the vertical irises honing in on the massive druid approaching. Mere moments ago, he was tearing duergar apart in the form of a giant owlbear. It was a glorious sight! Now though? He was being kinder than ever before, offering his aid in Karlach’s great time of need even knowing that he was taking of the risk of being burned.
Even down here, where the group was surrounded by death and carnage, Halsin was the Ray of sunshine Karlach needed right now. After a moment’s pause, she finally gave in.
“Hells, you damned soldiers are going to be the end of me,” she said with a weak smile as she carefully stood up, using the wall as leverage. After unfastening the buckles of her leathers, she took the flimsy layer of armor off and dropped it in front of her. She turned her back on Halsin now and glanced over her bare shoulder. “See? It’s not so bad. Bastard barely scratched the fucking surface.”
"That's my girl!" Halsin was beaming, grateful that Karlach finally agreed to accept help. What he saw upon those leathers dropping had his smile wavering and he had to quickly recover it.
The wounds, even as deep and gnarly as they were, weren't the worse he's ever sense but they weren't the best either. And considering the hazards that came with getting close to Karlach, it was going to make it as challenging as any other trauma case.
Karlach beamed as she faced the wall at Halsin’s praise. It had been so long since she was regarded in such a way that made her tail begin to wag. Even though she felt a moment of happiness, she needed to be cautious. The druid was offering a favor no one had since arriving here and that meant she needed to calm herself if she wanted her wound treated.
“We can’t stay here for too long,” Wyll suddenly called out as he scrounged through crates. “The Underdark still has a few more of those little bastards. We don’t want to be here when they show up.”
“Wyll is correct and I for one, prefer not to engage in combat. I did create a teleportation rune near the Myconids, which will bypass the duergar near the sandy shore,” Gale paused for a moment as his gazed down at his lover. “But I would prefer to have Frans stabilized before any decisions are made.”
Aku had been watching the scenes unfold with curious eyes. It was a serious situation and had so much had happened in a small amount of time, but one thing was for sure and that was Frans was going to make it. A little worse for wear, but Aku knew Gale would help him recover.
The gentle touch of Astarion’s comforting gesture had her closing her eyes. She turned to him and began examining his body.
“Are you hurt? Did you suffer any injuries?” Her hands began lifting his shirt as she walked around Astarion, inspecting him for any wounds. The pair were soaked in blood and that made the task a little more difficult.
"Hurt?" Astarion was thrown a little off, not having considered the possibility since he had been far too busy gorging himself to care.
What Aku did next only pushed him through another loop. She was like a little squirrel, searching for nuts under any rock they could find. It was adorable, yes. But there was no real reason for it in his opinion, seeing as they were both bathed head to toe in fresh blood that wasn't their own. Besides, he wasn't the one who had been injured.
Astarion stopped Aku by taking her hand and hushing her. "Shhh. I'm fine. I assure you but....I do recall you unwisely using your hand as a shield. Granted, I appreciate it but none the less, you should get Shadowheart to look at that. Infected blood tests rather grotesque."
Of course, that was partly true but he also knew Aku needed both of her hands to be at one hundred percent and he hated to be in anyone's debts on the side of that.
Wyll's words only added to the need to get patched up and moving on.
"Yes, agreed. The last thing we need is someone else acquiring anymore new orifices. Its messy enough as it is," Astarion added.
Wyll pulled out a few potions from a crate with a triumphant grin that soon turned to shock as he looked up at Karlach’s back.
The large tiefling had a huge slash across her skin which was oozing blood. The fine layers of skin and meat were exposed like a chunk of freshly cut meat hanging in a butcher’s window.
“Uhhh…Yeah, of course. Right, just the surface.” Wyll appeared at Halsin’s side now, whispering. “You will be able to ah, mend that up at least?”
"I will do my best, yes. Even in a season of drought, a tree will always find a way to take root. Besides...." Halsin had turned his warm smile onto Wyll as he pulled out of potion from his pack. "A vial of fire resistance will take the edge off. Enough to do what I must at least."
Wyll had to give it to the druid; he handled the sight of the wound way better. His crimson and onyx eye followed Halsin’s hand into his pouch and he blushed slightly as he felt his large hand moving around. He observed the bottle being tugged out and knew exactly what it was.
Halsin’s confidence in mending the wound was high and Wyll was going to place his faith in him. With an observant eye, he watched the druid work his magic.
The bottle met his lips and the druid threw his head back to down the potion in one go. Once that was done, he cracked his knuckles and got to work, calling on nature to aid him as he got his fingertips as close as he could, palms aglow. Even with the magical fire resistance, he could still feel the hellish heat and he was already sweating, not from the nearby lava but the devilish beauty needing his healing touch.
A beam of gentle sunlight had graced the wound on Karlach’s back. The searing sensation of it was now a dull throb. She rested her forehead against the cool wall, and closed her eyes, trying to focus on anything else but the handsome man behind her.
The majority of the wound was taking to the hovering light of curing but he needed to close it completely which would require a more direct touch. Pursing his lips, Halsin took a deep breath. Far worse things have happened to him in his life than pesky burns. No hesitation was had as he quickly grabbed the skin and took the next few breaths to close up what he could before the heat got to be too much. A pause was taken before he got back to his searing task.
Then came an even gentler touch and the fiery tiefling had to take a deep breath as Halsin’s fingertips brushed against her skin. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she savored the brief contact of another being against her. All too soon it was over.
"I have done all I can. There will be scars. What is a scar though but a beauty mark of valor," Halsin chuckled softly, slyly using the tail end of his spell to mend his hands before Karlach could turn. The burns weren't terrible because of the potion he had taken but the tielfing's flesh was still hotter than Avernus and it had left its mark.
Karlach turned her back and felt that she was able to move freely than before. Before she could thank Halsin, he served her with another compliment of beauty marks and valors.
Quickly, Karlach dove to the side, landing on Thrinn’s burnt corpse as her skin burst into flames once again. “Thank you! You’ve no idea how fucking grateful I am! Every moment of your touch was like…Fuck!”
Wyll had to chuckle at the sight before him, finding Karlach’s moment of happiness to be utterly adorable.
Heat washed over Halsin like the morning sun blanketing a basking feline, pleaseant and warm. To some, Karlach's sudden burst of flames would be terrifying but to him it only reinforced how Karlach felt, her excitement and gratitude coming out in waves of fire. The smile on his lips grew at the sight, ignoring the ping of pity that was there. To be touched was something the tielfing rarely, if ever, felt. He was honored to have at least given her a taste of such a treat.
"It was my pleasure, dear heart. Your skin reminded me of the Sword Mountains. Hardy, strong, and beautiful," he was dishing out the compliments.
Another smile broke out along with more flames from the compliments. Karlach just couldn’t get enough. She wouldn’t and whenever her infernal engine was fixed, she was going to make sure to repay Halsin and even Wyll.
“You saved my life, the both of you. Surely, I would have bled out had you not risked your damned beautiful skin, Halsin,” she said as the flames continued to lick her body, but slowly died down. She stood up and dusted the ashes of Thrinn from her worn out clothes.
“And Wyll, had it not been for you, that little shit could have gotten a killing blow offa me. Ya saved me. Ya saved a devil. I’m sure Mizora is going to love that,” a soft chuckle lightened the mood between the three as Karlach sauntered by the men. She looked back at them and gave a fair warning.
“Ya two better prepare your asses cause once I get this shitty engine fixed, ya ain’t gonna know what hit ya!” She gave Halsin and Wyll a wink before walking off with the rest of the group.
Wyll stared at his tiefling devil with his mouth open. He wiped away the drool on his lips as he watched her hips sway. “I sold my soul to a devil for powers and turned my back on that same devil for this fiery beauty. Is there any regret? In the words of Karlach…” he said as he turned to look at Halsin now. “Hells fucking no.”
Halsin's earthy gaze followed Karlach, drinking in her form as she walked away ever so tempting. To dive into the erupting flames of her love would be a satisfactory death.
"Mmmm...if she's this fiery now, one can only imagine the flames she stokes behind the foliage," the druid hummed, meeting Wyll with a heated gaze of his own.
Aways away, Aku was scurrying around Astarion now, even pulling on the loops of his pants and checking to make sure his pristine ass was unharmed. A little gasp sounded as her hand was swallowed up by Astarion’s icy touch. As cold as it was, the gesture was nothing less than gentle. The light of the moon stared back at the vampire for a moment before turning away in embarrassment at the mention of a hand injury and awful infected blood.
Yes, Aku had risked her own limb to shield Astarion. Could she have taken another path? Yes, but she wasn’t thinking. Usually the one who caused pain, the little death bringer also accepted pain in her current and past state. It was a what licked at the dark flames whenever she went into battles then and was becoming a terrible habit in her state of amnesia.
Aku wasn’t ready for Astarion to stop feeding from her. Quickly, she turned to plead for aid from Shadowheart.
"Frans should be fine to move soon," Shadowheart informed Gale as she finished wrapping up Frans's neck with some torn clothe, a makeshift covering. "No jostling, bumping, or throwing him around. We need to get somewhere safe. That'll help as well. Too many injuries will make us vulnerable."
“Understood, Shadowheart. I will be as gentle as the wings of a butterfly with my dear flower bud,” Gale said as he stared down at Frans. He was going to be ok and that’s all that mattered right now. His young body was exhausted and he was going to need a good amount of rest before they could press on.
Aku had stood by Shadowheart, waiting her turn to be aided. She saw Jevan walking towards them again and Lae’zel hanging back. Wait. Something, or rather someone, was missing.
"That's reassuring," Shadowheart gave Gale the kindest of smiles, soft as a daisy and bright like the sun. "He'll be just fine in your care."
As she said that, she felt a new presence beside her and glanced over to see Aku, covered in blood as if she had just crawled out of a lake of death.
"Oh...." Shadowheart was taken aback for a moment, scanning the little tielfing for any injuries but it was hard given the state of her.
Before much could be further assessed, a concerning matter was brought to light.
“So I don’t mean to alarm, but,” Aku said as she looked between the drow and the gith. “Where’s the prisoner?”
"Minthara is gone," Jevan informed them bluntly as he crouched down beside Frans, checking him over closely now that the cleric's work was done.
"I...." Lae'zel started, shifting where she stood. It had been her fault, she had failed, and there needed to be consequences. "I have failed in my duties. Kaincha."
"The past cannot be changed," Jevan interjected, getting back to his feet and stepping away to retrieve his sword.
There's a long pause, his back towards the githyanki. His words spoke truth for no one could reweave what had already been sewn, no matter how much they'd love to. There was no going back. Only forward.
They needed to prepare for the worse.
"She will crawl back to the Absolute, there is no doubt about that, and she will tell her tales. That is out of our control now. All we can do is pick up the pieces and ready ourselves for the trials to come. For now," Jevan turned back to the group, his features having returned to their usual stony selves. "We tend to our wounds and rest. Our journey will prove to be more challenging from this point on."
Gale looked up at Shadowheart when he heard her exclamation, thinking it had to do with Frans, but his gaze followed hers and he saw Aku bathed in gore. Astarion was just as bad, but considering she was asking aid, meant that she was injured as well, though it was hard to tell from where.
“Aqua Pura,” he said as a sudden gush of water fell onto Aku and even Astarion.
Aku squealed as the blood mostly washed off and she began shaking her limbs out. Her tail vibrated as it tried to dry itself. Another spell was uttered and a gust of wind dampened their skin and clothing. The little tiefling was caught off guard and tumbled backwards.
Astarion was about to tell Shadowheart exactly what was wrong with Aku when he was suddenly drenched, causing him to hiss in irritation like a wet cat. The act, though helpful in its meaning, was an unwelcomed surprise. One that was doubled by a gust of strong wind. Thankfully, Aku spoke for them while Astarion simply stood there with a sour look on his face.
“Gale?! Maybe warn us next time, but thanks,” she said as she approached Shadowheart once again, holding up her hand.
“It was my pleasure. The sooner we leave, the better and trying to figure out where you’re injured would have taken too long. Our heavy hitters took quite a beating,” Gale said as he turned his attention back to Frans. “Except my little precious flower. He’s not a heavy hitter, and I was the one who encouraged him to aid Jevan…” Guilt was hanging heavy now, but he couldn’t think on it now. They needed to leave.
Words were mumbled by the wizard and purple glowing runes suddenly appeared. “We can leave through here and return near the Myconids. It will disappear once we’re all on the other side and I can close it.”
Gale looked over at Jevan with a seriousness in his tone. “As much as I want, I am far too weak to carry Frans. Jevan…” he said as his dark eyes met rubies. “Can I entrust you to cross through with him?”
Gale's words had Jevan looking down at the wizard, guilt creeping up into his own heart. He would have to seek clarity on what exactly happened later. For now, they needed to leave.
"I vow to keep him safe....upon my own life," Jevan said, truth lingering in his stoic tone.
Coming back over, the paladin put his sword away and crouched down to carefully scoop up his injured son. Upon standing once again, he stopped.
Frans was so small in his arms, not so much dainty but more so from the life he had lived so far. Just holding him like this, told Jevan more about the boy he had helped bring into this cruel world and with it brought a ping of pain. How he had missed out on years of cradling him and he wondered what it must have been like for Róisín to hold their baby without his father there.
Now was not the time to dwell on the past and all its regrets.
Without another word, Jevan went through the portal first, bringing Frans with him.
Gale had nodded at Jevan. He was going to take his word and keep it. From what it seemed like so far, he was hells bent on protecting his son and the older man had to admit that little by little, the drow’s actions were speaking louder than his words and he was beginning to trust him.
Shadowheart took a quick look at Aku and Astarion before speaking. "You look fit to travel, so I'll patch you up once we're at camp. Just put a cloth on that hand of yours for now."
Aku was looking through her own pouch and spotted an old rag. She wrapped it around her hand and looked over at Astarion, the vampire this pouting. She couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. “You’re adorable when you’re feeling sour, my sweet.”
"I'm flattered," Astarion commented, words dripping with sarcasm as the pair headed towards the portal.
After Jevan and Frans went through the portal, Aku took hold of Astarion’s hand and led him through it. Karlach went next, followed by Wyll and Halsin.
Gale suddenly froze when he heard footsteps and voices. The shadows on the walls were dancing from a moving light source. Someone was heading their way.
“Ladies, I do believe we need to get going now,” he said as he ushered Shadowheart and Lae’zel through the portal. Once he was on the other side, he turned towards the portal and closed it with a spell. It was now in his personal Weave and if they needed to get anywhere, he could always recall the place and create a portal as long as they had been there before.
When he turned to face the others, the area was dark, the only light being that from the mushrooms. They were in Myconid Colony territory now and from what was on the path to temple, it seemed they were able to hold their own. They were safe now.