The Shadows | Astarion

~ 23 ~

A voice broke through her thoughts, the voice cold and cruel, made to break her.

You think you are worthy of love?

A cruel laugh echoed in her mind as her eyes flew open, and she shot up in her bedroll. She sighed and rubbed her eyes forcefully, trying to erase those memories.

That voice hadn't haunted her dreams ever since she began this journey, she didn't know why they'd returned now.

Faint orange light now glimmered around the cave entrance, the sun must be setting.

She then realised that Gale was making another stew, it smelt delicious but Aelia hesitated to stand up.

That voice plagued her mind again, and she was brought back to that room, screaming and begging when anything that was given to her was quickly taken away.

"Darling?"

Aelia was brought into the present, and saw Astarion sat down beside her, his eyes concerned. She then noticed a steaming bowl of stew in his hands, and she didn't take it.

He understood.

Astarion held out the bowl, nodded at her with a soft smile and she took it slowly.

He knew what it was like to be plagued with nightmares of the past, and even now he still got them even though it was all over.

"Thank you." She murmured, and Astarion's smile grew when he looked at her.

Reassuring her.

She ate slowly and Astarion waited until she'd eaten it all, even if she was eating slower than normal.

She put down the bowl, and pulled her knees to her chest.

"What happened?" He whispered, staring as she wrapped her arms around her knees.

"I can't help but wonder, what if he comes back for me. What if this is all a figment of my imagination, and I made everything up in my head to cope with the torture." She answered, and Astarion stilled.

"I sometimes think that, that I'm back in the coffin that Cazador trapped me in for a year. You are here, this is real." He muttered, and Aelia stared at him. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself, too. That he was no longer in Cazador's hands.

She then moved from her position, and slowly crept towards him.

"Can I hold you?" She asked gently, and his eyes widened. But then he nodded.

She looked at their position on the floor and hesitated, but Astarion reacted quickly and pulled her across his lap, so her legs were straddling his waist.

She stiffened at the fast movement but quickly relaxed, and felt his arms wrap around her waist, hers were around his neck.

She felt her heart relax whilst she was in his arms, and he buried his head into her neck.

Holding each other tightly, they didn't let the other go.

"My, my, you're both looking cosy." Gale's voice echoed across the cave, and Aelia was almost sure there was an edge to it.

She felt Astarion stiffen, but didn't move.

What she didn't see was Astarion glaring at Gale, his head still in her neck, but his arms tightened around her.

"Don't be so envious, Gale." The vampire teased, and Aelia leaned back, and grinned as she looked at the wizard.

She was still sat in his lap, her arms still around his shoulders and his arms around her waist.

Looking back at him, he stared at her softly and smiled up at her, his eyes bright. His fangs pointed out slightly, and she couldn't help but poke them gently.

He then pretending to nip at her finger, and they laughed quietly.

She sighed, "Thank you." She repeated, and Astarion shook his head.

"There's no need to thank me."

Aelia tilted her head, but was interrupted before she could say anything.

"We should leave soon." Shadowheart said, packing up her things.

Aimee inwardly groaned in her mind, and it's like Astarion could tell she did it, because he smirked at her.

"Don't worry, my darling, it won't be long before you can touch me again." He teased, and Aelia's face flushed.

She could hear fake gagging behind her, and turned to glare at Shadowheart but couldn't help but grin at her.

Then she slipped off of his lap and slowly stood up, stretching.

Astarion watched her, and she blushed again. His eyes were teasing, but there was something else there, she just couldn't place it.

Packing up her things, she got ready and it soon became dark outside the cave.

As Shadowheart put out the fire, Aelia's chest tightened.

She thought she was getting better with the darkness, but after the dream, she was scared. Her breath quickened and she didn't move, couldn't see.

A hand slipped into hers.

She jumped at the contact and noticed it was Astarion, his face calm but he didn't look relaxed, his jaw was clenched and his eyes were hard.

"You're here, you're with me." He whispered, squeezing her hand.

She breathed out, and finally felt her Dark Vision kick in.

"I'm here." She repeated, squeezing his hand in return. Her mind felt clearer when he was nearer.

"Are we ready to leave?" Shadowheart asked gently, and Aelia nodded at her.

They then set off out the cave, and walked through the forest. Aelia came to like to moonlight that glowed, and couldn't stop staring at Astarion.

They'd dropped their hands soon after they set off, but Astarion stayed beside her. He was a solid weight of comfort, what she didn't know was that she was the exact same thing to him.

"Any chance of a tavern or inn crossing our paths? My back doesn't enjoy lying on rock." Astarion joked, his voice light and airy.

"There should be, so you should be able to get your princess treatment." Gale replied dryly, and Aelia couldn't help the laugh that broke from her, and Astarion looked at her in mock offence.

"He's not wrong." She murmured to him, and Astarion rolled his eyes.

They carried on walking through the night, and although Aelia seemed relaxed, her mind was raving and turning.

It was stuck on that voice, and the pain and terror that came with it.