Author note: Welcome to my very first fanfiction, ladies and gentlemen. The story is set in BG2 and there is a PC-Anomen romance.
The PC is Margaret Dawn, a female human Painbearer of Ilmater of Neutral Good alignment. She was Lawful Good when she left Candlekeep, but life happened and her alignment shifted to Neutral Good during her travels in the Sword Coast. She also lost two Constitution points as a consequence of Irenicus' experiments.
Here are Margaret Dawn's stats:
Strenght 12; Dexterity 14; Constitution 12; Intelligence 17; Wisdom 18; Charisma 18.
Disclaimer: I don't own Baldur's Gate, nor any of the NPCs. I only own the PC Margaret Dawn and the other original characters who will appear later in the story.
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PROLOGUE
Two children sat side by side on the cold stone floor, with an ancient tome open in front of them. Both of them were human: a seven-year-old boy with dark skin, dark hair and amber eyes and a three-year-old little girl with blond curls, fair skin and deep emerald-green eyes.
"Come on, little sister", the boy said, pointing his right index finger on the page, "One more time. What letter is this?". The toddler looked at the book, then smiled at her big brother, "This is your letter!", she exclaimed happily. He blinked: the first letter of his name was an S, so how could a B be his letter? "Are you sure, Maggie?". "Yes, it's a B, for "big brother"!".
He laughed and wrapped his already muscled arms around her, hugging her close, "I guess that your letter should be an L, then". "Why?". "For "lovely little sister"!", the boy said and his sister beamed, snuggling against his chest like a kitten. "I love you very much, Sarry". "I love you very much too, Maggie. Now, how about going over the numbers again?".
"Yes! I like numbers!", the little girl clapped her hands, enthusiastic: she loved learning from her big brother, he was so smart and he knew everything! But there was something even he couldn't know: the cultists of Bhaal were getting ready for the Rite of Rebirth and at the same time, a party of Harpers, led by a man in a blue robe, was rapidly approaching the Temple.
The storm was coming.
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Nine years later, Candlekeep
"Meg! Meg!". Margaret Dawn smiled and looked up as Imoen, enthusiastic and cheerful as always, was running towards her. The girls had become fast friends, despite them being as different as night and day. Meg, now a pretty twelve-year-old girl, was calm, patient and eager to improve her knowledge, borrowing books from the library and following her lessons with interest, a true scholar;
Imoen, on the other hand, was a sort of a little rascal with no discipline at all, allergic to lessons and chores, but always ready to pull a prank on some poor unsuspecting monk, or to steal something from someone's pocket. "What's up, Immy?". "We have some visitors!", the other girl squealed, excitement lighting up her big brown eyes, "They're from Baldur's Gate, the richest city of the north!".
"Actually, Baldur's Gate is…". "And I have already seen 'em!", she concluded, straightening proudly to her full height, even though she was quite shorter than Meg. "Well…Good for you, I suppose". "Yes, I've seen them. And you have not!". "I'll try to get over this pain", the taller girl replied with a chuckle, getting back to watering the flowers.
Imoen waited for further reaction, but as it didn't come, she pressed on, "I've seen both of them, ya know. The older one is quite a creepy fella, he looks like he hasn't eaten properly in months!". "Well, I'm sure that Winthrop's delicious meals will help him regain his health", Margaret Dawn replied, so calmly that her friend started tapping her foot on the ground impatiently.
"But the younger one is very interesting, ya know. He's big, very big, even taller than you!". "Uh huh". "I think he's a Half-Giant! D'ya think he could be a Half-Giant? Do they exist?". Meg thought about it for a moment, "Well…I'm not sure about that, honestly: I can't really figure a Giant and a Human…Ahem…Having a child together: there's too much difference in size, I think.
But who knows? Maybe you should ask Gorion". "Eewww! Better not. Still, I tell you that guy must be something like that! Come, I'll show you!", the little thief grabbed her sleeve and started dragging her towards the library. "Thanks, Immy, but I'm not interested". "But you must see him! He's freakishly tall, with a dark skin, very, very dark, ya know? And he's got these really weird eyes, they are kinda yellow…".
Meg felt her heart stop for a second and grabbed the other girl by the shoulders, "Amber, maybe? Think, Imoen, are they the colour of amber?". Imoen blinked, she'd never seen her friend's green eyes burn with such a fire, "I…Yes, they could be…", her sentence was never finished, for the taller girl was already running towards the library.
Could he really be…? Please, please, my lord Ilmater, let it be him! I need him so much, I have been waiting for so long!, Meg prayed desperately, entering the great building. "Margaret Dawn!", one of the elder Readers stopped her, "What do you think you are doing? You know that it's forbidden to run in here!". "I…I know, I'm sorry, but…I have a message for our guest from Baldur's Gate…The younger one", she hated lying, but she really had no choice this time.
The man searched her face for an instant, then nodded, "All right, you can go. He's upstairs, in the first reading room on the left. But don't run!". "No, sir, thank you, sir", she smiled with relief and strode up the stairs, thanking the Gods for her long legs and taking the steps two at a time, her heart pounding madly in her chest.
She finally reached the door and knocked hesitantly, only two soft knocks on the thick wood. The silence hung heavily for a moment, then the door opened with a screech…And he was there. The last time she had seen him, they were children, but she just knew in her heart and soul that he was her big brother.
As Imoen had said, he was very tall, a full two meters, with broad shoulders, a broad chest and impressive muscles in his arms and legs. He wore his dark hair as short as he used to when he was a child and his features were a bit sharper, manlier, but his eyes were still the same, warm, kind and shining with intelligence. He'd been handsome as a child, but now he was absolutely breathtaking.
"Yes?", the young man looked at her with some perplexity, not understanding why this girl was standing as still as a statue, watching him with a look of utter love and adoration in her eyes. Her emerald-green eyes…"Maggie?", he breathed and she smiled, oh how he had missed her lovely smile!
"Yes", she flung her arms around his waist and he encircled her in his powerful ones, overcome with joy. "Sarry", Meg whispered his name like a prayer and cupped his face in her soft hands, "I missed you so much, big brother…". "I missed you too, little sister", he said, planting a kiss on her brow, "But come in, I don't want anyone to bother us", he closed the door behind them and hugged her again.
"You look fine", the girl said, "I was so worried about you, Sarry, I prayed every day for the Gods to take care of you, but…". "It's all right, Maggie, I am fine, as you see. I was adopted by a rich merchant, you know? He and his wife can't have children of their own, but they didn't want anyone to know, so they decided to adopt a child. Both of them are Sembian, so…Well, I suppose I was the best option to them, since I look like a Sembian myself.
Rieltar, my foster-father, gave me the best education available and I even have a real sword-master to teach me swordsmanship!". "But, brother…Why do I feel this pain coming from you? What did this…This Rieltar do to you?". "He…He is a cold, cruel man…", he stopped and shook his head, "It doesn't matter, now: all that matters is that we are together again. So tell me, Maggie, do you like this place?".
Margaret Dawn caressed his cheek, "You can tell me everything, Sarry, you know that. I am here for you and I always will be, the Gods willing". "He killed his wife. And…", the young man hesitated, then he turned his back on her and took off his scholar's robe. He heard her sharp intake of breath, then felt her hand touching lightly the faint white scars on his back, terribly clear against the dark colour of his skin.
"Sweet Ilmater…", Meg whispered, "Oh, big brother, how could that monster do this to you?". Sarevok put his robe on again and turned to face his sister, "I told you, little sister: he is cold and cruel. But it happened when I was a kid, before I learned how to avoid this punishment. Please, don't be so sad". "I…I should have been with you, I should have…".
"I thank the Gods that you were not there: he would have done the same to you, or worse. I have seen how…How he…How the women were punished", Sarevok concluded, swallowing hard. The girl sighed, "I can at least remove them, if you want me to. I am training to become a Painbearer of Ilmater and He has already granted me some healing spells", she showed him her silver pendant, on which was the picture of two white hands bound by a red cord: the Holy Symbol of Ilmater.
"You, an Ilmatari?", he raised his eyebrows in astonishment, "By the Gods, Maggie! Do you know what being a Painbearer means? You…You will have to suffer so much…". "Oh, Sarry", she kissed his cheek with a fond smile, "I'm glad to take it upon myself, if that means sparing pain to another. I just wish I could have done it for you".
Her brother hugged her tightly and his rumbling, sensual voice caressed her ear, "It's all right, it was so long ago, it doesn't matter anymore. Now show me your impressive healing powers, lovely little sister", he murmured, turning once again and lifting his robe. She closed her eyes taking a deep breath, then put her hands on his back, feeling his warm, soft skin under her fingers and she whispered a healing spell.
The feeling of the divine power coursing through her always managed to give her comfort and that sensation was improved a thousand fold now by the closeness of her beloved brother. A faint blue glow surrounded him, the scars slowly began to fade and soon the young man's skin was completely healed and intact. "Done", Margaret Dawn smiled as she saw him touching tentatively his back and finding nothing.
"Impressive indeed", Sarevok laughed, "I was sure I would have to take those marks to the grave! Thank you, Maggie. I'm so proud of you". "You are? Really?", the girl beamed and for a split second, he saw before him the sweet toddler to whom he had taught the alphabet and the numbers. "Of course I am! But", he added, his amber eyes sparkling with mirth, "What about your education? I hope you haven't given it up".
"Oh, no, not at all!", she vehemently shook her head, "I wanted so much to make you proud, I have been a good student, I've never skipped a lesson, I swear!", she exclaimed and he laughed again. "Easy, sister, I was joking", he reassured her, stroking her golden curls, "I know that you are a good girl, you've always been a blessing to me".
She snuggled closer to him, burying her face in his broad chest like she did when she was a child, "I love you so much, brother", she purred, "Will you stay?". "Only for a few weeks, unfortunately. Three months at best". "Oh. Well, we will make the most of the time we have, then, won't we?".
"Of course", the young man nodded and sat on a chair, gesturing for her to take the other one, "And now, I want to know about you: how have you been, all these years? Did they treat you well? Did you make any friends?". Meg smiled mischievously and sat on his lap, draping her arms around his neck, "This is definitely more comfortable than that old, worm-eaten chair".
He chuckled and kissed her temple, inhaling her light scent of wild roses: it was a part of her, it had always been on her, even in the Temple, where the stench of blood and death seemed to permeate everything. "My little wild rose", he murmured affectionately in her hair, using the nickname he had given her so long ago.