Based on Baldur's Gate II, which I do not own, and inspired by the Romantic Encounters mod at the Gibberlings 3.
Chapter One
"That will be all. Except for you, Talia. I'd like a word," the Bloodscalp said.
The thief turned around slowly, eyes scanning the room for signs of an ambush. Renal chucked and nodded to his guards, dismissing them from the room. Talia raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as the room emptied but for the two of them.
"You have done well with Mae'Var. I fully expect you to run the guildhouse as smoothly," Renal said.
Talia nodded. "Though I am not as familiar with Athkatla as some of your other thieves. It may take some time to mold the guild into the right image."
"Perhaps someone should show you more of the city, then," Renal offered.
"Perhaps."
The Bhaalspawn scrutinized the hooded man, suspecting he was doing the same to her. She could make out only part of his face due to his red hood, and his frame was average, though lithe.
"I admit it," Renal said. "You do intrigue me. Allow me the privilege of your company this evening?"
She willed herself not to blush as she nodded sharply. "You may find me in the inn at nightfall. Now which inn, I shall leave to you. I trust it will be an easy task for one such as yourself."
With these words, Talia strode out of the room, willing her heart to calm. Did she imagine Renal's tone, or was he flirting with her?
She joined the rest of the party outside, where Minsc was telling everyone about a problem in Umar Hills they needed to check out. Jaheira agreed that they should go, though it would be a fair journey. Anomen pointed out that they should probably rest for the journey and stock up on supplies at an inn, maybe in the Promenade. He'd made his opinion of owning the guildhall quite clear, and though his pompous attitude grated on her nerves, Talia did feel that sleeping there was out of the question for the night. She'd sent strict orders ahead that the entire place was to be cleaned, and the basement cleared out.
They set off towards Waukeen's Promenade, where MInsc and Yoshimo left to trade some old gear for new, and the remaining adventurers ended up at the Den of the Seven Vales. Talia liked the woman running the place, and the food was some of the best in the city.
Talia heard the soft tap at the window as loudly as a bang. She rose quickly from the bed, pressing her back against the wall as she stretched out an arm to ease the window open. Finding it already unlatched and open by inches, she looked back around the room, concentrating on the dark corners where a fully grown man could hide himself. As she turned towards the darkest, she felt someone at her back, and a knife was suddenly in front of her at her neck.
"I believe this round is mine," Renal's voice caressed her ear.
"Did you?" The knife Talia held pushed slightly in from its position at Renal's ribcage. His soft laugh brushed over her skin as he released her, and she turned to face him. Both appeared relaxed, but their daggers still held firmly.
Renal sheathed his dagger and held out a hand to the Bhaalspawn. "So, little thief, shall I take you on that tour I promised?"
Talia took his hand, and they flew the room without a sound.
Hours later, they sat on a rooftop of one of the nobles in the Bridge district, a small cake and steaming mugs of cider between them, lifted from open windows and a passing cart. Talia delicately tore pieces off of the cake, tasting lemon and berries. Renal reclined against the boards, staring out over the lights of the city. Beneath them, revelers and crowds could still be heard at this hour, and a play had just ended at the Five Flagons. Talia took this time to study his features uninterrupted. His face was not one she would readily pick from a crowd, and she realized that it would be on purpose. Stubble dotted his jaw, and in the glow of the lights below she could make out some of the golden tones to the hair peeking out from his cap. His skin had an olive cast to it, and Talia wondered where his parents were from. Her own skin had the tan of the Calimshites, but Talia had never known her mother.
"Looking your fill?" he asked, still staring ahead at the partying below.
"Of course," Talia answered, "When else will I be given the chance to study the infamous Renal Bloodscalp?"
His mouth quirked at that, and he raised his mug to his lips. Once he had taken a healthy swig, he said, "Is it you who is lucky to meet the Bloodscalp, or me, meeting the daughter of a dead god?"
At her silence, he continued, "Of course I've known. I knew who you were the moment you set foot in my building. I know your father was Bhaal, Lord of Murder, and that you were raised in Candlekeep. I know that you defeated Sarevok, and that you were the captive of a mage named Irenicus for several months after."
"If you knew all of this already, why ask me here? Is this some kind of game?"
"Talia, as I have said, you intrigue me. I knew all of these things before I met you. But as I sit here, with you, I find myself filled with yet more questions. I saw myself the wreckage at the Promenade, the twisted cages. How could you-how could anyone survive that and still keep onwards? How are you not a broken shell, but instead this fierce, stubborn woman who went up against Mae'Var, and returned to me not only victorious, but without a scratch on her? And before that, cleared out a nobleman's home of invading trolls? Now that one, I nearly didn't believe…"
"You didn't believe I could handle trolls? Really?"
Renal laughed. "No, I couldn't believe I ever thought sending you against Mae'Var was a bad idea, now knowing about that."
"If you know all of this about me, isn't it fair that I get to know something about you? Like your name?"
"You can ask me, but not that. For as long as I've had it, Renal Bloodscalp may well be the only name I've ever had."
"Fine, then. Where were you born? Here in Athkatla?"
"No, actually. I grew up in Waterdeep."
"Is that where you became a thief?"
"Yes, little one. Though most likely not in the same way you did, I'd imagine. You were most likely picking locks on library doors and stealing from monks."
Talia smiled ruefully, and gestured for him to continue.
"It was also not the bloody start that many think I also had. I was a young boy, raised by my mother and sisters. She was never married to my father, but the word was he was one of the secret Lords of Waterdeep. The father of my older sisters, was a sailor, who died at sea. We had some from his legacy, but not enough to get by as we grew older. My sisters found work in various places, leaving the home empty except for me and our mother. I found odd jobs here and there, until one day, a man in a black hood gave me a new job. It was my first crack at any sort of thieving, stealing from crowds, but it turned out I had a knack for lifting money. The man turned out to be the second-in-command to the Thief Lord, and from that day on, he supported me as my skills grew."
"What happened to him?"
Renal's face darkened. "He was murdered by some ambitious fool who thought himself the next Thief Lord, and wanted to prove himself."
"So then…" Talia reached out a hand to the man, but thought again and pulled it back.
"Then I killed him in revenge. It was the first time I killed a man in cold blood, and not the last, for as it turned out, he was the son of the Thief Lord at the time."
Talia exhaled slowly as she took this in. She tried to think of what she would have done in his place, but noted that she did take revenge for her foster-father's murder. It had been the right thing to do, to stop the war that would plague the Sword Coast, but as she slew Sarevok, her drive was to punish Gorion's murderer.
The Daughter of Bhaal reached a hand over to Renal, and the Bloodscalp took it, squeezing gently. They continued conversing, softly, as they held hands on the rooftop.
It was well after midnight, or even one, when Talia and Renal made it back to the Den of the Seven Vales. As they made it through the window into her room, Renal's hands lingered at her side as he helped her in. Talia looked at him, and in the moonlight, the green appeared luminous. Realizing she was staring, Talia instead leaned forward and kissed him. His grip on her hips tightened and she let out a breathy sigh as he walked her backwards to the bed.
Renal broke the kiss so he could slide Talia's tunic over her head, his nimble fingers having made quick work of the lacings. He took a moment to appreciate her form in the thin undershirt, the silken material clinging to her body, only held up by two straps at her shoulders. He kissed her again, hands roaming from her shoulder to her back, then to her hips where he hooked his thumbs into her leggings. Slowly he rolled them down her legs, kneeling in front of her to pull off her boots and continue undressing her. Soon, she was divested of her underthings and pushed back onto the bed, Renal lying atop her, kissing her fervently. His hands caressed every inch of her body as he kissed down her neck, dusting light kisses across her collarbone.
Talia felt Renal kissing down her body, pushing her legs apart as he neared her center. She felt her face redden, but soon surrendered to the bliss of Renal's touch, coming apart with a cry.
She had taken a few breaths when she heard a knock at the door, and a second later, Jaheira's voice.
"Talia, are you all right?"
Talia swallowed, and looked at Renal, who put a finger to his lips for her to be silent a moment. He leaned forward and kissed the top of her head before stealing out of the room.
"I'm fine, Jaheira," Talia said, "It was a dream,"
