Beauty and the Bite || Astarion x Fem!Tav

Magical

Tav pets her father's horse. "What's wrong?" The horse came running back to her house, but her father was nowhere to be found.

"Was he taken? Did he get lost?"

All the horse did was whine.

Tav's mind raced with worry as she tried to make sense of the situation. Her father's sudden disappearance, coupled with the horse's distress, fueled her concern. She knew she had to act quickly to find him.

She found her map and drew the path her father most likely took. The fastest path there was through the woods. Tav nodded, tucking the paper map in her purse.

She hicked herself up on the horse, "Go, boy!"

The horse sped away with great power. Through the dense woods, Tav guided the horse, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of her father or what might have happened. The canopy of trees above cast dappled shadows on the forest floor as they ventured deeper.

As the horse galloped on, Tav's worry intensified. Thoughts of her father's safety consumed her.

After what felt like an eternity, the horse abruptly halted. Tav, sensing something amiss, dismounted and approached a clearing where an eerie silence hung in the air. In the center of the clearing lay her father's wagon, overturned and its contents scattered.

Tav's heart sank at the sight, fear gripping her. She rushed to the wagon, scanning the area for any clues. Amidst the scattered jars and papers, she found a torn piece of her father's coat.

Dread settled over her as she realized that something more had happened. Tav's determination to find her father intensified, and she clutched the torn fabric in her hand, vowing to uncover the truth.

Without hesitation, she set off on foot, following the trail that led deeper into the woods. The horse whined again behind her.

Tav turned to the horse, "What?"

It gestured for her to keep going.

As Tav pressed forward, she stumbled upon a metal gate. Her heart raced as she approached the metal gate, realizing that her father's coat inside suggested he might have been taken. The ominous atmosphere around the gate raised her suspicions. Without hesitation, she pushed the gate open, revealing a giant castle towering over her.

The castle loomed ahead, its ancient spires reaching towards the sky. Tav's eyes widened as she took in the grandeur of the structure, wondering how her father could have ended up in such a mysterious place. The horse whinnied nervously, as if telling her she was in the right place.

Determined to find her father, Tav approached the castle's massive entrance. The gates creaked open with an eerie sound, inviting her to step inside. As she crossed the threshold.

The corridors inside were dimly lit, adorned with faded tapestries that depicted scenes of long-forgotten tales. Some of them, however, were ripped to shreds. Tav followed the hall, guided by the echoes of what she thought were voices.

Tav tilted her head, "Hello? I heard someone?"

From then on, the horse stayed outside the castle. But, Tav continued.

As she delved deeper into the castle, the air became heavier. The whispers grew louder, and shadows danced along the walls. The corridor led her to a large hall adorned with majestic chandeliers that barely flickered with a feeble light.

The echoes of her footsteps seemed to resonate with distant murmurs. Tav strained to translate the voices, wondering if she had just happened to be going crazy.

"Father!" Tav called out, her voice echoing through the hall. But there was no response.

She continued, stepping down a flight of stairs. The stairs led Tav to a series of winding hallways adorned with portraits of long-gone royalty. The air became colder, and an unsettling feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. Tav couldn't shake the eerie sense that she was being watched.