A few weeks earlier.
"I wonder if the tieflings really know how to celebrate. I fear that the party tonight will be a total letdown with cheap and sour wine and bad music, sung by this whiny tiefling bard. Or worse: by Volo," Astarion grumbled.
He, Gale and Tav were out, doing some more research in the abandoned village before dusk would break. Probably to find some more artifacts for that wizard to feed on.
"Oh, I'm sure they do," Gale answered happily. "After all, they origin from Avernus, I am certain they know how to throw one hell of a party there."
Astarion stared at him.
"That was a lame pun, even for your standards, Gale. But you have to admit: you're a bit worried too, aren't you? You and me, we're people that are used to a certain quality. We have taste. Well, me more than you, obviously, but you get my point. These beggars don't look like they could suddenly pull out a buffet the way that Raphael guy did. And I pray to all gods that they don't have some self-made piss for wine," Astarion continued to nag while he was watching how Tav investigated the area around a destroyed house.
"Oh, I've been to many places. I certainly had worse than cheap wine. One time-"
"Spare me the story, please," Astarion pleaded and lifted his hand defensively before he put a finger on his chin. "I just can't stop wondering if the goblins would've maybe thrown a better party... you saw what they did in the ruins, they certainly knew how to celebrate."
"Sure. With us as appetizers," Gale said with a frown.
"Well, I wouldn't mind to taste from you... just a nibble or two..." Astarion purred and gave Gale a thin, dangerous smirk. Gale just answered with a kind and unfazed smile.
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you. I taste awful."
"That so. And how the hells would you know that."
"Well, a mimic once swallowed and spat me out immediately. Also even the mosquitos in the swamp avoid me. So don't try it. I think puking wouldn't suit you. You're already so pale, how would that look like?" Gale explained happily and gave Astarion a wink before he went over to Tav, who was standing in the broken door of the house and waved Gale to come over.
Astarion's shoulders dropped a bit and he grimaced in slight annoyance, when he suddenly noticed something in the doorway, over Tav's and Gale's heads.
"Ohh, look at that," Astarion pointed out with a wicked grin. "A mistletoe! You know what that means!"
Gale and Tav both looked up.
"That's no mistletoe. That is a white-berry twig," Gale said.
"Southern white-berry, to be precise", Tav added.
"A very good ingredient for certain potions that help to keep fiends away!" Gale said eagerly and Tav nodded.
"Common folk uses it to keep evil fairies and such away from their houses. Think that might have something to do with what happened here?" he mused.
"Maybe the evil redcaps from the swamp nearby got bold and the people here looked for methods to fend them off," Gale said.
"Well, it certainly seems to work on Astarion."
"I am not fended off by your stupid plant but rather by you two being amazingly boring!" Astarion yelled over to them, after he decided to sit down on a rock and sulk. "Bloody boffins," he groaned and shook his head.
Gale wasn't impressed by Astarion's threatening way of flirting, as no one could ever be sure if his true intention was to kill or to have sex. Or maybe both. Probably both. If you know one vampire, you know them all, thought Gale. He wasn't really interested in this kind of predator-prey-relationship. Besides, he had his eyes elsewhere. On someone far more interesting. Someone he could trust. Someone who didn't ask nosy questions and just said: 'you don't have to tell me, Gale. It's okay.' And when was the last time Gale could trust anybody? Tav sure was special. Some might call him a simple man but Gale knew he was much more than that. Honest. Brave. Fierce when he needed, gentle when he wanted to be. Rough around the edges, true. But he was hiding such a big, warm heart under that tough outer shell. Too bad Tav rarely showed that soft side of his, because Gale came to like that side. A whole lot.
He couldn't help it but a warm smile stretched over his face while he was watching how Tav dug through an old, wooden chest, looking for valuable things, left there by the – probably dead – homeowners.
"I hope I was able to impress you with my random knowledge about plants?" Gale asked and leaned against the wall.
Tav laughed a bit without lifting his head.
"Alright, yes, count me impressed. But to be honest, I am a bit surprised you knew the difference. A twig of a white-berry bush more or less looks the same as a mistletoe to any layman and you don't strike me as someone who likes to be out in the wilderness a lot...?"
"I am not a guy who's fond of camping, that much is true, but I've been around. To my shame, however, I have to admit that my knowledge about plant life solely comes from books. I have to say though... I wouldn't mind if it was a mistletoe, hanging there in the door." Gale didn't take his eyes from Tav, so not to miss his reaction. He blinked in sudden embarrassment and threw Gale a stolen glance, while pretending to be nose deep in the chest. Gale still noticed the faint blush on Tav's face and it made his smile wider.
"Well, I... wouldn't say no to that either..." Tav mumbled after clearing his throat. "But you already know that. I showed you when we shared that spell..." He finally lifted his head and looked up, anticipation in his eyes but also some incredible adorable, shy reservation.
He's gorgeous, Gale thought, and I want him.
"That you did. I often think about that moment... one under the Weave. And... I am glad to know you think about it too," Gale said softly.
And tonight... he would have him.
Mystra.
His beloved Mystra.
The memories hit him with unexpected force. It all came back to him in an instant, vivid, like it was yesterday. The flowery scent of her hair. The gentle touch of her fingers all over his body. Her smooth skin, pale under thin veils of black cloth. Her soft lips on his.
Her divine voice, whispering.
Chosen One.
Gale closed his eyes for a moment, swallowing hard. It was tough to stand her presence right now.
After taking in one deep breath, he looked up again.
Amina was on her knees, her eyes and mouth standing wide open in awe or shock, it was hard to tell. The goddess was standing in front of her, with her back to Gale. He knew how Amina must feel right now – being in the presence of a true divine being for the first time, yet the one she swore to serve, could be mind shattering.
"You speak in my name, child. My will shows through your actions. If you kill this man, even though he might deserve it, you will destroy all of Baldur's Gate. And then you shall speak for me no more. But aid and worship me through kindness and respect rather than magical gain and great destiny awaits you, Amina. The choice is yours." Her words were spoken so soft and yet so clear that they were able to fill the whole room, silencing every other noise.
It took a while until Amina found her voice again and when she did, it was but a strangled whisper.
"Mistress... I am not worthy to lay my eyes on your grace..." And with these words Amina dropped her head with a whimper, kneeling before Mystra, not moving an inch. It seemed like she'd made her choice – to spare Gale for the time being.
Mystra slowly turned around and with silent steps, as if her naked feet weren't even touching the ground at all, she walked over to Gale.
He didn't know where he took the strength to look at her, reserved, trying to hold back the admiration, the awe, the fascination, the heavy heartbeat he felt. He didn't want it to show. He didn't want her to see what she did to him. But when her hand gently touched his cheek, he let out a shuttered breath and his eyes fell closed. Oh, these sweet, torturing memories.
"Chosen One," Gale heard her voice, a soft whisper and he could swear he felt her lips gently brushing against his ear as she spoke. He took in a sharp breath through gritted teeth and opened his eyes again but she was standing a few feet away, motionless and her dark, cold eyes were staring at Gale.
"Surprised that I am still alive?" he asked and hated himself the moment he spoke those bitter words. After all those years, he had nothing better to say, now that they finally met again?
"What is it that you desire?" Mystra asked.
Her question took Gale by surprise. An aching part of his heart screamed one word to answer: you. But for some reason his mind wasn't willing to let this word be spoken. Instead, his gaze started to wander and found Tav.
What was it that he truly desired?
He had no answer.
"Turn him back. He doesn't deserve to be in this state," Gale begged, one hand over his heart.
"That I cannot do."
Of course not. What did he even expect?
"You can't – or you won't?" He didn't sound angry.
"He knew what you are. He made his choice. The laws of magic were not broken so I see no reason to interfere with the paths of his destiny."
"I don't believe in fate."
"Perhaps you should."
Suddenly, Mystra was standing right in front of him again and Gale took a startled step back. Something in her eyes didn't sit well with him and he realized that it was creeping fear that he started to feel.
"You do deserve a chance to change your fate," she said and held her hand in front of his face. Something started to form between her fingers and Gale tensed up, half-heartedly he expected her to just wipe him from the plane of existence now but instead it was a scroll that manifested in her hand and she held it towards him.
"Your will to live impresses me as much as your will to undo your mistakes. Fail, and you and your folly won't be a danger to the mortal plane no more. Succeed, and you might become my Magister. My Chosen One. Once again."
Gale took the scroll. Slowly, he unfurled it but when he read the symbols and glyphs, he had to close his eyes again and that tiny bit of hope, that had just started to bloom in his heart, got crushed in the most cruel way.
He didn't need to open his eyes to know that Mystra was gone. Without her presence, the room felt cold and lonesome and the sense of well-being got replaced by a gut-wrenching feeling of dread.
Moments that felt like hours passed and it was Amina's cracked voice that finally cut through the dense silence.
"Who are you...?"
Gale opened his eyes and started to shake off the numbness.
"A Netherese abomination, you said it yourself," he answered dryly.
"But... what she said... the way she spoke to you... like you two were..."
"Yeah. I know." Gale turned his head and looked at Amina.
He should feel hatred for what she did to Tav but right now he could only pity her. Maybe his heart held no space for hate. Slowly, Amina got back on her feet and ever so slowly she regained her composure.
"You're not going to turn him back, are you," Gale said. A simple statement. He knew the answer already.
Amina narrowed her eyes, wrath sparking in them.
"You heard the goddess. He made his choice by protecting a monster like you."
"I am no-" Gale started through gritted teeth, frustration boiling up inside of him but then he just sighed and decided to drop it. "Are you at least willing to let me walk out of here with him...?" he said instead. He felt tired, worn out.
"I should throw you into the dungeons and leave you there to rot."
"I am afraid I will explode there too. My condition requires me to constantly absorb Weave and I doubt you will feed me powerful artifacts in prison."
"Then leave before I change my mind." Amina's voice was still a bit shaken, meeting her goddess sure had taken a toll on her. For good or worse – but that was not Gale's concern. He just nodded and started to wonder how the hells he should get Tav out of here, when the door suddenly burst open.
Both Amina and Gale got startled, their hands lifted to throw a spell at what- or whoever broke through the door – but at least Gale relaxed when he saw a large shadow skittering over the ground towards Tav.
"What is this-?!" Amina let out and reached after her dagger but Gale just shook his head.
"Don't. He's Tav's companion. He won't harm you. Well... I think so, at least. You better not tell him what you did to his friend."
The giant spider gently nudged the stone Tav like he wanted to motivate him to get moving. It stung Gale's heart to see this, knowing that the spider probably lacked the intelligence to understand what was going on but his animal instincts and the bond these two shared probably told Peter that something was seriously wrong.
"Leave, now. I won't repeat myself a third time," Amina growled.
Gale threw a quick look towards the open door and noticed a twitching bundle of silk outside. That explained what happened to the guard.
"Come on, Peter... we need to go," he said, hoping that the spider would understand the tone in his voice. Then he took one last look at Amina.
"I am no monster. And I mean no harm, to anyone. And it wasn't me who turned an innocent man to stone, without blinking an eye, without even a second of doubt or hesitation," Gale said bitter. "Maybe you shouldn't judge people that easily without knowing their story. Maybe you also shouldn't be too eager to deal out death in judgement. Some that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Think you can give it to them...?"
It wasn't easy to communicate to Peter that he shouldn't crawl on walls any more, with Tav tightly strapped on his back. A spider, even giant, was no horse and not really the best carrier for a man turned to stone. And Gale knew: if the stone broke, then Tav would be lost forever.
It also wasn't easy to find a certain druid in the woods, outside of Baldur's Gate. The first bear, that Gale had found, turned out to actually just be a bear and it took him the last bits of his magic and a sleep spell to avoid a fight with it, even though Peter seemed to be eager to kill something. Maybe it was the spider's way to show sorrow.
Gale was almost glad that he was so heavily exhausted. Not only physically and mentally but also emotionally drained. It was good. Kept his thoughts from wandering too much and helped him to focus on his steps instead of his worries. And there were plenty of them.
Finally, he came across a familiar camp but it looked strangely barren and empty. No campfire was lit, no voices filled the air, not even the strange undead scholar was in sight – Gale decided that he didn't want to know where exactly that skeleton was creeping around right now. He let his tired gaze wander. At first glance, it seemed like no one was here but that wasn't quite true.
"Halsin!" Gale basically called out that name, feeling hope growing in his heart. He let out a sigh of relief. Halsin would fix this. Halsin had to fix this.
Upon hearing his name, the tall druid turned around and concern crossed his face the moment he saw a completely devastated Gale and a Tav statue on the back of the giant spider.
"My, my! Gale, darling! What mess did you create this time?"
That wasn't Halsin's voice. Gale was irritated but then one very familiar face peeped out behind Halsin's broad back.
"Astarion... how... what are you doing here?"
"I had a feeling," Astarion shrugged. "Can't really describe it. Almost like... a calling?"
"And he's not the only one." There was rustling to be heard in the bushes and a few moments later Shadowheart stepped out of the undergrowth, carrying a few branches for a campfire on one arm. She pinched her nose with an annoyed sigh and then tapped her temple.
"It was like a pull, a cry out in my head. I felt a connection being... severed," she explained.
"Yes, same here, same here... I had hoped it would be you, Gale. But no... Looks like it hit Tav. What a shame. He was so young and handsome! Now he's just a handsome statue, I suppose."
"Sorry, Astarion. You know how much I hate to disappoint you. Next time I will make sure it hits me, promise," Gale said dryly, not really in the mood for this teasing.
"What happened?" Halsin finally asked the important question. He was already at Tav's side after freeing him from Peter's back.
"You can heal him, right?" Gale said instead of giving an answer. He couldn't be bothered that he sounded so broken-hearted, so desperate. Shall the others hear it. Shall they see him fragile. He didn't care. "It was a spell. Flesh to stone. Please, tell me you can turn him back..."
Judging from the look on Halsin's face, however, he didn't bear good news.
"That is one very powerful spell. Only mighty wizards and clerics are able to perform such magic, or odd creatures like the beholder."
"How could that happen? I thought you two just wanted to spend some alone-time..." Shadowheart asked. She tried to hide the sadness in her voice but Gale noticed it. "At least that's what I thought when you went out to rent a room in a tavern without inviting any of us," she added in a more cynical tone, hiding her true emotions under that mask of unconcern she was always wearing.
"That doesn't matter now," Gale said and focused back on Halsin. "What matters is, that we free Tav from this spell. I know that there are ways to treat this, you certainly know magic that can help, don't you? A greater restoration spell, maybe?"
Halsin let out a long hum, his hand on his chin.
"I'm afraid I don't. Such powers lay beyond the gifts Sylvanus granted me."
Gale felt his heart sinking. His shoulders dropped and suddenly the weight of the whole day started to lay heavy on him and he felt the need to sit down on a log. Starting from this stupid argument with Tav, up to their break up because Gale himself was a coward, a selfish coward to be precise, to the meeting with Amina, a disaster that peaked with Tav being turned to stone and Gale losing control over the Netherese orb in his chest for a short, painful moment – and Mystra.
Gale felt a hand on his shoulder and twitched a bit under the touch. He lifted his head and saw Astarion sitting down next to him.
"Wipe that sad look off your face. See the positive side! At least Tav is hard enough now," Astarion said and dared to add a teasing wink on top of it.
Gale had never punched another man in his life. Never. He's always been a peace loving person, avoiding conflict as much as possible and if there was no other way, he either used magic or words to get out of tight situations. He would never let his fists speak for him. It wasn't how he handled things.
But right now something snapped in Gale and the instincts took over when he rammed his fist straight into Astarion's stupid grin.
He'd never lost his temper like that. He also didn't expect that it hurt so much to punch someone into the face.
Now Gale wasn't a very strong man but his actions took Astarion by surprise. His head snapped back and he fell from the log, landing heavy and with a muffled sound on his back.
Gale was on his feet by now, trembling in anger. His right hand hurt and was bleeding a bit, skin being torn open where his knuckles had met Astarion's chin.
Silence.
Neither Halsin nor Shadowheart dared to say a word, both just stared at the other two in mild shock.
Astarion picked himself off and wiped his face. With a certain fascination he looked at the blood on his hand and then raised his eyebrows.
"Who would've thought you had it in you, Gale," Astarion said and his voice had lost any hint of humour or sarcasm. In fact, for a moment, he looked like he would ram a dagger through Gale's chest. But instead, a thin smirk formed on Astarions face and he licked the blood off his cracked lip, engaging into a staring contest with Gale.
Halsin finally decided to break the dense silence and cleared his throat.
"There is something I can do for Tav. Maybe," he said and immediately gained Gale's attention. Forgotten were the anger and the stupid vampire.
"I would need the fresh gullet of a basilisk. With that I can create a potion strong enough to break any petrification curse or spell. Even this one. But there is not much time. The longer he remains in this state, the more potent the potion needs to be. The chance for failure raises with every day that Tav is made of stone. And then only a divine intervention can break him free," Halsin explained.
"Right! The oil in a basilisk gullet!" Gale said and suddenly laughed relieved. "Why didn't I think of this... All we need to get is a basilisk gullet!"
"Easier said than done. Basilisks are not as common as deer," Shadowheart threw in and then hummed in thought. "However, the markets of Baldur's Gate offer a lot of strange things... maybe it is even possible to buy a basilisk gullet there..."
"It has to be a fresh one," Halsin pointed out again. "Best would be to take one directly from a killed basilisk."
"Well, alrighty, then!" Astarion said, sounding strangely chipper even though his lip was still bleeding. "All we have to do is find a basilisk, kill that basilisk, cut out its gullet, throw it into a cooking pot and we get our dearest Tav back in a day."
Halsin, Gale and Shadowheart all threw Astarion a strange look.
"What? Sounds easy enough, doesn't it?"
"Are you aware what a basilisk does?" Halsin asked carefully.
"Of course I do," Astarion scoffed. "You have to fight these things with closed eyes or you risk getting petrified. Every child on the streets of Baldur's Gate knows the stories. No one carves statues of frightened warriors. If you see one, keep your eyes closed and your ears open."
"The question is: how do we find one soon enough?" Shadowheart wondered.
"They are not roaming predators. No need to chase your prey when one gaze turns it into stone. Usually, they like to build their lair in caves or other sheltered sites. Most often, basilisks are encountered underground, though," Gale said pensively.
"I will ask the Oak Father for guidance. He will point me at one of those beasts. Await me at dawn," Halsin said cryptically and in the blink of an eye, he turned into a raven and took off into the sky.
"Aaaand off he flies. Well, I got senses too. Guess I will use the night to do something useful," Astarion said and threw Gale one last, deadly glance before he vanished into the night with a hummed melody on his lips.
After he was gone, Gale sat down on the log again, burying his face in his hands for a moment.
"You should get some sleep," he heard Shadowheart and the softness in her voice surprised him as much as the fact that she'd decided to sit down next to him.
"You're not really useful on a basilisk hunt if you're tired and can't perform any magic. What are you gonna do then, poke the beast with your staff?" she said in an uplifting tone and indeed, Gale rewarded her with a tired smile. "I know that some things better remain secrets so I am not going to ask you a second time what happened to Tav. I guess the less I know, the better. Just get some rest. I will take care of the first watch. And tomorrow, I will go to Baldur's Gate and seek out a few people that might be able to help us. You know, in case you don't find a basilisk to hunt. Because I am not going to join you on that. No way that I will risk getting petrified by such a creature and end up like poor Tav!"
"Thank you, Shadowheart. I appreciate it. And I am sure Tav does as well," Gale said and she gave him one last smile before she got up from the log and went to light a campfire.
With a sigh, Gale looked at the tents and sleeping rolls. It had been so nice to sleep in a bed for a change. But it was just now that he realized that he had to sleep alone for the first night in weeks. No warm body next to him, no hairy chest to put his head on.
His eyes found Tav. Nothing but grey, cold stone and empty eyes, his mouth still slightly open from the words he couldn't finish. No shy smile. No hidden desire in those eyes that Gale liked so much.
He forced himself to take his gaze off Tav and pulled out the scroll Mystra had given him. It still held a faint scent of rose water, being composed of the Weave itself and it made him shiver slightly. He read over the symbols again and again. Gale knew what he was holding in his hands but felt as helpless as the first time reading it. He put the scroll carefully under his coat, close to his own heart.
At least he finally knew what he desired.
What he truly desired.
He wanted to be at peace.
No more fighting, no more adventures, no more travelling, no ever-going goose chase for the next artifact to feed this horrid magic that was pulsing inside his chest and eating a tiny part of him, each day, every day.
He wanted to be back at his tower in Waterdeep, back to his studies, with his cat, his library – and with the one he loved.