The Shadows | Astarion

~ 21 ~

The group had been walking for a few hours, and were deep into the forest. Using a light was too dangerous, so they had to tread carefully through the darkness.

Aelia felt anxious, her eyes darting around everywhere at even the hint of another sound.

The group stayed silent, they couldn't risk talking much either unless they wanted to attract unwanted predators or enemies.

Shadowheart held up a hand suddenly, and they all stopped.

Movement could be heard up ahead.

"We know you're out there!" A rough voice yelled out, and Aelia winced.

"We're not getting past them without a fight." Shadowheart whispered, and they all nodded. Then she looked at Aelia, "Stay out of sight, if they know we have a healer, they'll target you first. But be ready for when we need you."

Aelia opened her mouth but Astarion beat her to it, "They won't touch her." But he didn't even look in her direction.

The three then carefully walked between the trees, careful of not making sound. Aelia didn't know how many enemies they had surrounding them right now, but kept close behind the thick oak tree, remaining there.

Fighting soon ensued, magic was thrown at each other and weapons clashed against each other. Aelia waited patiently, her delicate elf ears perked to hear any sound of someone being injured.

But she heard talking, the same rough voice that called out to them before.

"I can scent another here, a girl." The man sighed dramatically, "She seems delicious."

A small growl echoed through the forest, and the fighting sounded more intense.

Then a cry sounded out.

And she recognised it immediately. She stilled.

She ran out from behind the tree and witnessed the scene before her, Shadowheart were fighting two other enemies, Gale facing another whilst Astarion was downed beside a proud looking male.

Fury ran through her.

She rushed to where he lay, and the man who downed him chuckled.

"Astarion." She called, and he struggled to raise himself from the ground, elbows trembling.

She quickly summoned her magic and placed her palm on his back, allowing her power to heal him quickly. Not enough to heal completely but enough to let him stand and fight.

He groaned as he stood up, and he glared at the male over his shoulder. His eyes reddened more, and he bared his teeth.

He lunged towards the male and Aelia swear she heard a snarl come from the vampire, who ripped out the man's throat.

Aelia didn't feel any fear run through her as Astarion turned around, his mouth covered in blood, the substance soaking through his shirt.

But she couldn't find any words as they stared at each other in the moonlight, didn't realise Shadowheart and Gale had finished fighting.

"We should carry on, we don't know who else it out here." Shadowheart panted slightly, but she didn't seem to be injured, neither did Gale.

Astarion nodded silently, and they set off after looting the bodies, collecting more gold and healing potions.

The moon was still in the sky, casting a dimmed glow over the forest, and Aelia couldn't help constantly glancing beside her to the vampire, who kept quiet.

She'd never seen him sound so... feral before, hadn't heard even a small growl escape from him before. Soon the cave was in sight, and Aelia spied the river running gently beside it. She turned to Astarion and raised an eyebrow.

"Yes?" He sighed, turning stiffly towards her.

"You're still injured, show me your shoulder." She could sense it through her healing power.

Astarion rolled his eyes, "My shoulder is absolutely fine, you don't need to- Ow!"

Aelia lightly touched his left shoulder and he practically yelped, jumping back.

"You were saying?" She asked dryly, and beckoned him over to the river. Shadowheart and Gale carried on to the cave.

She put her pack on the floor and rifled through it, taking out a salve, a potion and a clean cloth.

"Sit." She ordered, gently dampening the cloth in the river. Astarion stubbornly sat on the ground, looking away. "I need you to take off your shirt." She asked, but more gentler this time.

His face winced as he peeled off his shirt, and revealed the deep gash going from his shoulder to the middle of his chest.

She tried to control her expressions as she dragged the damp cloth softly over the wound, cleaning off the blood. Astarion was prenaturally still, his eyes on her face.

She worked quickly with the cloth, then picked up the tin of salve, "This might hurt." She murmured, and began applying the cleansing salve onto the wound.

"Why did you run?" He whispered, as she continued rubbing in the salve. Her throat went dry.

"I- I was scared. I wanted to kiss you, but I don't know what I'm doing, I've never had this before. Well, from what I can remember." She explained, "We've both been through so much, and I didn't want to hurt you, or make you feel used."

Astarion listened silently, his eyes flicking towards hers.

"I don't feel like I'm being used when I'm with you. It... It feels real with you. Hells, I don't know what I'm doing, but we could find out, together?" He said quietly, and his hand grabbed Aelia's other one, softly caressing her palm with his thumb.

Her breath hitched. She'd finished applying the salve, and the wound looked better already.

"But what if this isn't what you want, or you change your mind, or you're confused about it. I-"

But he interrupted her.

"I'm not confused, I think I know what I want. And we don't have to know exactly what this is, we can take our time." He murmured, and his grip tightened on her hand, his eyes boring into hers.

"I need to adjust, I don't want to jump right in." She replied, her tone heightened in worry.

"We won't. Whatever this is, it's nice." He said, his eyes looking happier than they were hours ago, and Aelia smiled at him.

The moonlight glowed around them, making Astarion look ethereal. Her eyes couldn't leave his face.

Aelia used her other hand to grab the healing potion, which would completely heal the wound. Reluctantly, he pulled his hand away and drank the potion.

"I'm very glad I met you, Aelia." He murmured, his voice was sincere, soft.

"The feeling is mutual." She teased, and Astarion's grin finally returned on his face, and she felt relief flood through her body.

They sat in the moonlight for a few more minutes taking each other in, then Aelia looked at the sky and knew the sun would rise soon.

She stood up and pulled him to stand too, and they stood, close to each other. Neither let go of the other's hand.

"I suppose you'll need to wear another shirt." She muttered, and Astarion looked in his other hand where the blood stained one was.

"I suppose I will."

He then lifted their hands, and then softly pressed a kiss against her palm. She blushed instantly, and Astarion snickered at her reaction. He then slowly let go of her hand.

"I never knew you were so shy." He teased as they headed towards the cave, and Aelia rolled her eyes.

"I'm not shy." She replied, and walked a little faster ahead of the vampire. Then she realised that a vampire could easily catch up with her.

Which he did, he merely had to stroll a little quicker to be in pace with her again.

"Sure, my darling." His voice was cocky, a smirk on his face.

Aelia could feel her heart pounding, relieved to finally be talking normally with him again whilst they made it to the entrance of the cave.