Beauty and the Bite || Astarion x Fem!Tav

He was Coarse and Unrefined

Days passed, filled with tireless preparation and planning as Tav and Astarion worked together to gather the information on his curse. Amidst their preparations, Tav found herself drawn back to the garden time and time again, seeking solace in its quiet beauty and the companionship of Halsin the bear. Each visit brought a sense of calm and clarity, grounding her amid the chaos that surrounded them.

And so, on a crisp morning days later, Tav found herself once again in the garden. She approached Halsin with a sense of familiarity, the bear greeting her with a soft rumble of recognition.

"Hello, my friend," Tav said, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she reached out to pat Halsin's fur. "It's good to see you again,"

Halsin responded with a gentle nuzzle, his presence a comforting presence amidst the uncertainty that loomed over them. Tav took a deep breath, the cool air filling her lungs as she let go of some of the tension that had been building within her.

As she sat beside Halsin, Tav couldn't help but reflect. From the moment she had set foot in the castle, her life had been irrevocably changed. She had seen creatures she could only have imagined.

But amidst the chaos and uncertainty, there had also been moments of joy, companionship, and unexpected beauty. Like the quiet moments she shared with Halsin in the garden or the fleeting glances she exchanged with Astarion in the library.

With a sense of peace settling over her, Tav leaned against Halsin's warm fur, content to simply be in the present moment.

As Tav savored the feel of the garden, her thoughts drifted to the memories she sought to escape. The hatred of the townsfolk towards her father had been a heavy burden to bear, casting a shadow over her childhood and shaping the way she viewed herself and the world around her. And then there was Gaddis, a figure she had tried to forget, a man whose obsession with her had bordered on arrogance.

But here, in the garden, surrounded by the soothing presence of Halsin, Tav found herself able to push those memories to the back of her mind.

With a sense of determination, Tav made a silent vow to herself. She would not allow the ghosts of her past to dictate her future. She would forge her path.

༻༺

Karlach wiggled her fiery eyebrows as she sat in Tav's fireplace. "Why do you care about how you look so much?"

Tav chuckled at Karlach's teasing remark, her cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment as she struggled with the zipper of her dress. "I don't know what you're talking about," she replied, her tone light despite her obvious frustration.

Karlach let out a hearty laugh, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh please, Tav," she said, her voice teasing. "I've seen the way you fuss over your appearance. It's like you're preparing for a royal ball instead of a simple dinner."

Tav rolled her eyes, finally managing to zip up her dress with a satisfied sigh of relief. "Alright, maybe I do care a little," she admitted, a sheepish smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "But can you blame me? Tonight we might make progress on breaking the curse."

Karlach raised her eyebrow, her gaze fixed on Tav with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "Is that the real reason, or is there something- or someone on your mind?" she inquired, her voice tinged with mischief.

Tav's cheeks flushed even deeper, her heart fluttering at the implication of Karlach's words. "I don't know what you're talking about," she repeated.

She doesn't like him.

She doesn't.

"Oh, come now, Tav," she said, her voice taking on a teasing tone. "You can't fool me. I can see the flames of attraction flickering around you."

"It's not like that."

Karlach chuckled softly, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Sure, sure," she replied, her tone dripping with amusement.

Tav bit her lip, feeling a mixture of frustration and confusion swirling within her. She couldn't deny the truth in Karlach's words, nor could she ignore the undeniable pull she felt towards Astraion. However, she knew it was only instinct.

༻༺

The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the table. Tav tried to focus on the task at hand, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Astraion, who sat before her with his intense gaze fixed on the food in front of him.

"Perhaps we've been looking at it from the wrong angle," Astraion mused. "What if the key lies not in breaking the curse, but in understanding its origins?"

The notion intrigued Tav, and she found herself leaning in closer, drawn to the spark of insight in Astraion's eyes. "You may be onto something," she replied, her voice low as if afraid to break the delicate thread of their conversation. "If we can uncover the root cause of the curse, perhaps we can find a way to unravel it from within."

Astraion nodded thoughtfully, his gaze meeting hers with a flicker of excitement. "Exactly. It's like peeling back the layers of an onion. We need to delve deeper, beyond just breaking it."

As Tav and Astraion delved deeper into their discussion, the atmosphere in the room seemed to crackle with anticipation. Each idea sparked a new line of thought between them.

They poured books over the dinner table. They dined as they researched.

"We're onto something," Astraion declared, a note of excitement in his voice as he turned a page in the ancient manuscript they were studying. "I can feel it."

Tav nodded, her heart racing with anticipation. "I agree. There's a pattern here, a thread that ties everything together. If we can just follow it..."

She trailed off, lost in thought as she traced her finger along the faded text. Astraion watched her intently, his expression unreadable as he absorbed the weight of their discoveries.

He cleared his throat. "How about we take a break, darling?"

She glanced up, meeting his gaze with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. The intensity of their research had consumed them both, and she realized with a pang of guilt that she had neglected to consider their need for rest.

"Yes, a break sounds good," she agreed, offering Astraion a grateful smile. "We've been at this for hours."

Astraion returned her smile, his eyes softening with understanding. "We've made excellent progress, but all this reading is boring me," he said, rising from his seat and extending a hand to Tav. "Come, let me show you something."

Tav hesitated for a moment before accepting his hand, allowing him to lead her out of the study and into the dimly lit hallway beyond.

Finally, they reached their destination: the grand ballroom of the castle, its towering arches and ornate chandeliers bathed in the soft glow of moonlight streaming through the windows.

Tav's breath caught in her throat at the sight, her eyes widening in awe. She had seen the ballroom from afar, but up close, its beauty was breathtaking. The polished marble floors gleamed in the moonlight, and the intricate carvings adorning the walls seemed to come alive in the shifting shadows.

"It's beautiful," Tav breathed, her voice barely above a whisper as she took in the grandeur of the room.

Astraion smiled, a hint of pride in his expression as he watched her reaction. "I thought you might appreciate it," he said, his voice soft but filled with warmth. "It's one of my favorite places in the castle."

Tav turned to him, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you for showing me," she said, her voice sincere. "It's... it's truly magical."

Astraion's smile widened, and for a moment, Tav felt as though the weight of their quest had lifted, leaving behind only the simple joy of being in each other's company.

He again extended his hand to her, "May I ask you for this dance?"