Chapter Text
There were voices. It was dark and there were hushed voices arguing somewhere off to the side. Gale grumbled to himself and pulled the warm blanket into a tighter cocoon around himself.
“Now look what you’ve done!”
That was definitely Astarion. However, the female voice wasn’t Tara or his mother. In fact Gale didn’t think he’d ever heard that voice before.
“It’s about time he stirred. Why were you so hamfisted with the draught?”
“Hamfisted? Me?!” All pretence of keeping it quiet was lost to Astarion’s outrage. “You told me he needs fluids and sleep. But he was worse after that. I thought it was because he didn’t sleep well so added a bit of sleeping potion to his tea. You were the doctor, you should have given me something that worked.”
“He’s human, it takes them days to get over something small like this. One sleep and a drink doesn’t solve things like it does for us.”
Gale cracked his eyes open and almost laughed at the disdain on Astarion’s face that he could just about make out.
“How…fragile.”
“So were you. So was I.” The strange woman was also elven, pale and with white hair like Astarion yet had none of his haughty air. In fact, she looked kind and approachable by contrast, even a little downtrodden.
The growled warning of “Dal” was lost to Gale sniffing loudly and clearing his throat. Immediately there were two sets of eyes on him, one filled with fear while the other had a soft understanding quality to it. First impressions were long gone so Gale had to make his first words count.
“If I’d known we were having a visitor, I’d have put the kettle on.” At least Astarion’s anxiety seemed to morph into indulgent disbelief while the so called ‘Dal’ laughed, smile wide. It showed off her fangs and Gale immediately rectified, “Or stocked up on more blood. Though I’m not sure I have enough to support two such voracious appetites for long.”
“Voracious appetite?” Dal looked at Astarion with raised eyebrows who elbowed her none too gently with a hissed “shut up” and a glare. “Mister Dekarios, it is a pleasure to meet you though I wish the circumstances were better-”
“You weren’t supposed to meet him at all,” Astarion grumbled and muttered “he’s mine” under his breath.
“-hopefully you’ll be up and well again in no time. I’m Dalyria, one of Astarion’s siblings.”
Aside from being pale and elven, Gale struggled to see any familial resemblance but it might have been because of the low level of light. He tried for a polite smile and pushed to sit up but a cold hand pressed against him.
“You’re not getting up,” Astarion informed him. “And Dal isn’t my sister, she’s just another sucker who got caught in the same web of lies I did.”
“Old habits die hard. I was also one of Cazador’s spawns. He insisted we were a family, that the seven of us were siblings.”
That did explain things but another issue arose in Gale’s mind. Clearing his throat again, he looked at Dalyria.
“Were you at the same centre too?”
Astarion and Dalyria exchanged a look before any answer came. Even so, it was hesitant and guarded.
“No. I didn’t end up at a centre.”
“Good. I’m glad.” Gale closed his eyes, only to open them when a cold finger poked him. “What?” The pointed look from Astarion didn’t help. “I am! Glad that is. That centre was awful.”
“I’m going to wait for your brain to wake up and figure it out.”
“Star!” Dalyria gave her brother a shove. “I thought it was a secret. He might not be safe.”
Now Gale was truly lost and he coughed wretchedly into the crook of his elbow as the other two glared at each other. Whatever it was, they weren’t getting anywhere with their silent glares and tiny changes to expressions.
“Just what is going on?” The words were croaked but at least it broke the staring contest.
“Mister Dekarios,” Dalyria moved so she was closer to the door, “I’ve spent almost two years living independently in this city.”
“Okay…”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Astarion let out a strangled growl. “She doesn’t have an ‘owner’, ran from the palace before the authorities could find her. What are you going to do about it?”
For a few seconds Gale was silent, figuring out just what all that meant. Not just for Dalyria’s situation but also the possible lengths Astarion had gone to in order to help him recuperate.
“I value your trust and kindness to assist in my recovery. If you’re looking for a way out of the city, to somewhere more, uh, welcoming, I have a contact in Waterdeep who can help.”
“You’d help her but not me?!” If Astarion had been trying to keep the hurt from his voice, he was doing a very poor job of it.
“I want to help you both,” Gale settled on saying. “Dalyria might be quicker though, the centre is keeping a very close eye on us, if you go missing then I won’t be able to help anyone else. But we’ll get you to Waterdeep too, I promise.”
Sniffing in displeasure, Astarion turned away like an insulted cat. There wasn’t anything Gale could do about it though, he was doing his very best in a very shitty situation. If it wasn’t enough for Astarion, that was on him.
“It’s very kind of you, Mister Dekarios but I have obligations in this city that I can’t leave behind just yet.” Another knowing look passed between Darylia and Astarion. “Maybe, once things are a little less strained, we could revisit the idea.”
“Of course. In the meantime, please know you’re welcome to visit any time you like. I’m sure Astarion would be glad to see you, or any of his siblings for that matter.”
A scoff from Astarion suggested Gale might have been wrong. That was on him to sort out and determine who of his forced family was a welcome sight. All Gale could do was be a conduit or host of some sort, easing the way when the path was already a treacherous, bramble covered mess.
“Right. Well, we’ve established that Gale isn’t dying. Dal, I’m sure you have better places to be, better things to be doing than flirting with my-” the words trailed off before Astarion lamely added, “-owner” though it had none of the disdain and fury such a word should have.
Snickering a little, Dalyria gave Gale a firm nod. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Mister Dekarios, I hope you feel better soon.”
She was promptly ushered out of the room and Gale couldn’t make out the furious yet hushed words being exchanged. He wasn’t too fussed, Astarion could hold his own and Dalyria had seemed nice enough. Left to his own devices, Gale snuggled into the bed, frowning at the realisation that they were the spare ones. Someone must have changed them not too long ago because they still felt fresh, even if a little damp from sweat. Closing his eyes, he sighed. A little more sleep wouldn’t hurt.
Thankfully, the worst of the illness was over and Gale was back up on his feet not a couple of days later. Oddly, nothing in the tower was out of place. He would have thought it was the prime opportunity for Astarion to have a thorough rummage, there was no chance of being found. Sure, the man could be sneaky if he wanted to but Gale very much doubted even he could place things back in such exact positions that no dust was disturbed or spilled ketchup over paper sheets was realigned. What was even more important was that Gale’s little stash of trinkets hadn’t been touched. Yes, they were valuable but it wasn’t the price that had Gale on edge about it, they were worth so much more than gold to him. It had been too long since he’d absorbed some of the Weave and, glancing around guiltily, he grabbed a pendant at random, clutching it to his chest. Breathing came easier, the world was less constricted and Gale sighed. He hated what he had been reduced to, shame burned in his chest along with the magic. Behind him, the door opened and Gale whirled around in surprise. He had expected Astarion to be sleeping, or at least trancing.
“Take it.” A scrap of fabric was shoved against Gale’s chest. Looking down at it, it looked like Astarion’s shroud.
“It’s yours. You need it.”
“I don’t want it.” The shroud was pushed against Gale’s chest more forcefully and he reluctantly curled a fist around it. Immediately, Astarion skittered away, eyes red rimmed and tired. Carefully, Gale folded up the shroud neatly, watching Astarion throughout it. His eyes were glued to the fabric, expression a strange mix of wistful and hateful.
Draping the folded shroud on the back of the sofa, Gale patted it. “We can leave it here for whenever you want.”
“I don’t want it. Destroy it.”
“You need it to sleep.”
“I’m never sleeping again.” With that, Astarion spun on his heels and disappeared back into the hallway, leaving Gale standing alone once again, more confused than he had been in a while.