Chapter 3 - Out of the Frying Pan

As I regain consciousness, I can hear the crackling of a fire. There's a faint humming in the background. The surface I lay on is soft and warm, and I smell a hint of cinnamon in the air.

… Am I dead? Could this be Heaven?

I try to open my eyes, but my eyelids are so heavy. It feels like they've been glued shut. With a groan, I hardly manage to squint. But the room's light is too intense for me, so I promptly close them again.

The humming stops.

"Lady Aquina - are you awake?" a gentle, high-pitched voice asks me.

Ah, so an angel has come to speak to me.

I will myself to pry my eyes open again. Standing at my side is no celestial being, but rather a young freckled Tiefling girl in a maid's uniform. She barely looks sixteen. My memory is hazy, but I remember her - although I don't know her name.

"You're… one of the maids at the manor," I rasp. I cringe at the sound of my voice. It sounds like scraping metal together.

She gives me a shy smile, delighted that I recognize her. "Yes, my lady. I am Ashe, it's such a pleasure to meet you. You've been asleep for a while, about four days now."

Before I can fully process what is happening, the door swiftly opens to reveal Falnar standing there.

"Is everything alright? I heard voices - " Falnar pauses, eyes opening in disbelief at the sight of me. "Aquina!" he exclaims, as he rushes to kneel by my side. He clasps my right hand in both of his in joy, an expression of relief on his face.

I flinch at his touch, the sight of his face snaps me back to reality. The memories of past events flood my brain as I recall every single detail. I immediately sit up, ignoring my aching body.

I grasp at my throat. I can't believe I almost drowned myself. And Father…

"My father! Where is he?" I ask them in vain. I already know the answer, but I can't help clinging onto false hope. Oh Gods… did I wash him away?

The two look at each other hesitantly. After a moment, Falnar looks down as if ashamed. He gently lets go of my hand and suddenly stands up, now avoiding my gaze.

"Sorry to leave so soon, my lady, but I must report to Lord Norold. He may summon you for an audience soon. Be prepared." He formally states, avoiding my question. With that, he returns to the door and quietly closes it behind him.

Why do I get the feeling that he's running away from me?

Ashe watches him leave with a sigh. "I apologize for my brother's behavior. He's been scared you wouldn't wake up, and even more afraid of what you think of him," she wistfully remarks.

Oh, so this is Falnar's little sister. I vaguely recall him mentioning her in the past, but I never knew she worked as a maid here. The more I look at her, the more I can see the similarities in the features between the two Tiefling siblings. They have the same curly brown hair and horn structure.

She then adopts a more solemn air. "As for your father… During your rest, Lord Norold took the liberty of having him buried near where you both resided. Said that it was the least he could do for his darling granddaughter," she says softly, seemingly concerned about how the news will affect me.

So, it is as I remember… I close my eyes and feel my world shatter around me. I breathe deeply through my nose and compel myself to remain composed. Although they are treating me well for some reason - this is still enemy territory. I can't afford to be vulnerable here.

"I am very sorry for your loss. I - I did not know Master Ezekiel on a personal level, but I remember him treating me with kindness whenever I saw him," Ashe stammers earnestly.

I open my eyes to look at her. She tightly grips at her skirt, a somber look on her small face. The sight makes me soften up a little.

"Thank you, that is very kind," I murmured in reply. My voice is starting to warm up after days of no use.

"Will I be able to leave to visit his grave?" I ask desperately. Though he is already buried, I need to hold a funeral in his name. For my own sake, if anything.

Ashe nervously twiddles with the apron on her skirt. "Unfortunately, Lord Norold said he wanted to speak with you as soon as you awoke. We need to get you bathed and in a new set of clothes," she answers with a tone of regret.

I see… I wonder what that old snake has in store for me. With this friendly reception, it's obvious he's trying to get on my good side. Well, whatever he's up to, it will certainly be hard to not choke the man on the spot.

I nod to Ashe in confirmation and take her hand to help me out of bed.

I observe myself in the mirror, as Ashe combs and fashions my dark hair into an intricate bun - braiding my hair at the sides. A style that's more time-consuming than I'm used to. I've never had anyone fix my hair like this before. It feels… nice.

I wear a simple yet elegant black robe with golden seams and detailed gold plating on the chest and shoulders. So, the Dluskers are still able to afford finery such as this. Albeit this robe is nothing compared to the fancy attire of the nobility from the Upper City. As a child, I used to peek at them through the fence - dashing away whenever I was caught.

"You are quite beautiful," Ashe remarks dreamily, drawing me away from my reverie.

Men have called me various pretty things, especially while I worked at the tavern. If they went too far, I always made sure they'd leave regretting ever harassing me. I may have slipped a certain substance in their drinks. In a way, I assumed their flattery was just a means of getting something from me.

But I don't sense that from this girl.

"Why, thank you. You flatter me." I say with slight embarrassment.

"No, my lady," she retorts in bewilderment. "It's hard to explain - but it's like you have some type of ethereal charm."

Sheesh. Now I feel like she's just trying to humor me.

Wanting to change the topic, I quickly assert, "You don't have to call me that. Lady, I mean. You and Falnar are the only ones who address me that way. I told your brother to stop a long time ago, but he refuses. Eventually, I gave up trying."

"He has his reasons, I suppose," she giggles as she places the final touches on my hair. "You know, when we were kids, it was his dream to become a knight," the girl whispers as if telling me a secret.

I stifle back a chuckle. Well, that explains some things about his personality. I imagine the Tiefling man in a full set of heavy metal armor, gallantly riding a horse. It suits him.

Or does it? Instead of being my savior, he was my captor. Although, realistically, I may have gotten myself killed if he didn't hold me back. I know he was only following orders, and clearly, he feels guilty for what he's done. Perhaps I am being unfair.

But it still hurts… When I see him, all I can remember is my father lying dead in my arms.

"Ashe - I do hope you haven't been telling Lady Aquina anything embarrassing," Falnar questions from behind. We both jumped in surprise. Speak of the devil. I turn around to see him leaning on the doorway, barely out of sight of the mirror's reflection, arms folded across his chest. How long has he been there?

When I meet his eyes, he doesn't look away this time. His eyes widen a bit, and he just stares. Seconds pass by. Feeling uncomfortable, I turn away from him - abruptly ending the moment.

Seemingly not sensing the tension between us, Ashe proudly states, "I did a good job, haven't I brother?" She's like a puppy, waiting to be praised.

Falnar coughs into his fist and makes his way towards us. "Yes, you did a great job, Ashe. Maybe too good." He assures her, ruffling her hair in amusement. She rolls her eyes at him but is noticeably happy with his approval.

He turns towards me and offers his hand. "I hate to interrupt, but your grandfather summons you. Shall we go, my lady?"

Since when did he become so charismatic? Maybe he's trying to show off in front of his little sister. I hesitate, but eventually I take his hand. I give Ashe an unsure smile, and wave goodbye as we head out the door.

While walking down the hallway, I observe my surroundings and glance at the paintings on the walls. Although the outside of the building looks run-down, the inside is surprisingly well taken care of.

I remember visiting the manor a couple of times as a child. Father took me along when he was still healthy and conducted business meetings with Grandfather. All I can remember is doing my best to hide so that Uncle Nicolas wouldn't see me. If he did, he'd grab me and lock me in a room with his feral hunting dogs. Once Father found out, he no longer brought me with him.

I used to be deathly afraid of dogs because of my uncle. I suppose I'm more of a cat person anyway.

Speaking of Uncle Nicolas, where is he? He's probably scared to death, hiding in his room to avoid me. I snicker at the thought.

We finally approach Lord Norold's office. Before we get any closer, Falnar tightly grips my hand. He was oddly quiet while escorting me.

"We need to talk," he whispers as if he's worried that someone might overhear.

I knew this was coming. Although it is painful, it's only fair to hear what he has to say. I sigh and murmur, "I understand. Are you able to meet after this?"

"Yes, I have the evening off, actually," he quietly replies, a relieved smile on his face. "I'll be waiting for you tonight at the gathering spot in the forest… And be careful around that man, Aquina, he's dangerous," he warns me in a grave tone.

You don't have to tell me twice. I know my grandfather cannot be trusted. He's a psychopath who allowed his eldest son to murder his youngest. The man who cursed my father with years of pain - and for what? I truly don't know what to expect from him.

My friend gives my hand a gentle squeeze before letting go, then knocks on the large wooden door.

"Enter," a croaking voice commands from within.

Falnar opens the door for me, and I see Lord Norold sitting imposingly behind his desk. I entered the snake's den with fake confidence and my head held high. I refuse to show this man any weakness.

The door slowly shuts behind me.

I look around the room. His office is filled with books, papers, and letters scattered about everywhere. My grandfather has piercingly dark eyes that seem to see right through me, his frame like a skeleton covered in skin. Two heavily built guards stand at the ready in opposite corners of the room.

Damn it. Even though I want nothing more than to destroy this man in front of me, I won't be able to get very far. I have no weapon, and to be honest, I'm not really sure how to use my magical abilities yet. I don't know if I can even control it. I can't risk dying here.

"You did quite a number on my guards. Two of them are dead because of you - I'm quite impressed," Norold tells me with a sinister smile on his gaunt face.

The reality of my actions suddenly dawned upon me. I had completely forgotten about them. I've taken the lives of animals, but I have never killed a person before. Does this make me a murderer? Gods… I don't even remember their faces. My breath becomes shallow, and my pulse starts to quicken.

No - I did what needed to be done. To save my father. Don't let this man get into your head. I force myself to stay calm. I choose to say nothing to him, only glaring in return.

"Hmph," he scoffs at me. "Nothing to say, eh? I suppose they were insignificant - replaceable, really. You on the other hand…" He gestures with a gnarled finger to beckon me closer. I step forth until I'm directly in front of him, my face illuminated by the sunlight.

"My, my, look at how you've grown. You look so much like your mother." He croons softly, looking as if he's lost in a distant memory.

My mother… This may be my only chance to get more information about her. Father wasn't able to tell me much before he passed.

"Why are you searching for Mayra? Why go through all this trouble?" I ask, eager for answers.

Lord Norold focuses his attention back on me. "Let's just say that your mother has something that I want - no, that I need. A power that will restore the Dlusker family back to its rightfully respected status," he claims. An obsessive grin creeps onto his face.

This old man is insane. Did he really tear his family apart just for the ability to mend his noble name? It's pure madness.

"My own son had her in the palm of his hand! Then the fool allowed her to slip away," he continues to rant. "...But you show potential. You have displayed arcane power similar to Mayra's. You, my sweet, might be the key to finding her." His gaze burns into my very soul. He doesn't see me as a person, but rather as a pawn to fulfill his desire.

The words came out before I could think. "What makes you think I will ever help you?" I spat, completely repulsed by the idea.

My grandfather's expression turns sour. "Don't you dare defy me, girl! You are my property, and I shall do with you what I please." he threatens, hissing between his teeth. "I know you care for that Tiefling boy. Do you think I haven't noticed? If you won't cooperate, I will dissect him alive and sell his body parts. His entire family if need be."

My heart drops to my stomach. The stone-cold look on his face tells me that he's not lying. This isn't some petty threat. In a twisted way, I'm amazed by his cruelty.

Once again, I get that overwhelming feeling of helplessness. What is the point of this power, if I can't protect the ones I care for?

I clench my fists so hard that my knuckles start to turn white, and my nails draw blood from my palms. I look away from him. There is nothing I can say.

The snake of a man smiles arrogantly, as if he knows he's won. He haughtily places his bearded chin on his folded hands. "Let's not make this harder for each other, my dear. I'm feeling generous today, so I'll allow you time to think it over. Go clear your head," he gloats.

I turn and abruptly fling open the office door, stomping my way out. I can hear his wheezing laughter from behind.

I will kill that man one day. I swear it.

Blinded by my rage, I don't even realize I left the mansion until I see the shed - at least what remains of it. It's completely in ruins, and the ground surrounding it is still muddy from the flood of water.

Behind the wreckage, I find my father's tombstone. I go to kneel beside it. The dirt appears to still be fresh, and the stone is simple in its making. All it reads is,

Here lies Ezekiel Dlusker

That's it? Not even a "Rest in Peace"? Hells… I let out a shaky breath.

Perhaps with the money saved up, I can buy Father a better tombstone. I almost want to laugh. The gold that was supposed to pay for his cure will now be spent for his grave.

But instead of laughter, I feel my eyes start to sting - tears threatening to spill out. I don't even care to hide it anymore. I let loose all of the pent-up emotions I've been holding back ever since I woke up in the manor.

I cry. I scream. I claw at the dirt. So what if the whole damned city hears me? He's gone forever, and there's nothing I can do to bring him back. I continue until I run myself raw.

Eventually, the blazing red light from the setting sun brings me back to my senses. I promised Falnar I'd meet with him in the forest tonight. I need to get going or else I'll be late. Well, later than I'm going to be already. I wipe my swollen face and notice my dirty hands.

Gods, I'm a mess.

I look around the broken shed and find a rag. I do my best to wipe myself clean. For a minute, I search for the location I've stored my savings at.

Here it is. I pry open a loose floorboard and find that all of my money is still in one piece. I'm grateful it wasn't discovered or had drifted away. I pocket the purse then promptly make my way back to my father's grave.

I kneel and clasp my hands as if I'm about to say a prayer.

Father… I love you too. Thank you for all you've done to raise me. I promise I will do all that I can to find Mother. And I will become stronger, no matter what it takes. Strong enough to vanquish anything that threatens me or the people I love. I vow to avenge you. I will cast the men who've harmed you to the flaming pits of Nessus, where the devil lord Asmodeus will torture them for all of eternity.

In my name, this will be done.

I began to dig a small hole with a wooden plank that was lying about. Once I've dug about a foot deep, I bury the gold-filled purse inside. It wouldn't be wise to keep this much money on my person, and besides, it was always meant for my father.

Keep that safe for me Dad. Once I've accomplished everything, I will use the money to buy you a better headstone. I suppose that's another promise to add to the list.

And with that, I hastily depart towards the woods.

A full moon starts to brilliantly shine as I travel through Rivington, the southern Outer City district that separates the wilderness and Baldur's Gate.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a couple outside of the bar at Sharess' Caress. Two men are brazenly flirting out in public, one appearing to be a bit more drunk than the other. The elven man who seems to be taking the lead in their affair captures my attention. His hair is such a bright shade of white that it almost glows in the moonlight.

Suddenly, the Elf's gaze meets mine, as if he could sense that I was watching them. Red eyes that gleam like rubies almost make me stop in my tracks. I turn slightly red in embarrassment since I've been caught gawking.

The man smirks. He smugly raises an eyebrow, as if amused by my reaction.

A shiver runs down my spine. Something tells me that this man is dangerous.

I force myself to look forward, and pick up the pace of my walk. I shake my head, willing the memory of the stranger to disappear without another thought. However, I can still feel his lingering stare bear into my back as I disappear into the forest.

I finally made it to my gathering spot in the woods. The light from the moon seeps through the branches of the trees. It's now late at night. Hopefully Falnar doesn't think I forgot about him and already left.

"Falnar, are you there?" I call out in the hopes to get his attention.

I hear a branch snap behind me. Could that be him? But as I face the direction of the sound, I feel a hand touch my upper back.

On instinct, I grab the person's arm and push back with all my might so that we both fall over. I swiftly turn over to pin them down and see that it's -

…Falnar. Oops.

"Hells, you scared me, you jerk!" I yelp, playfully punching his chest.

"A-Aquina…" he stammers, his face redder than a tomato. Uh oh, I must be choking him.

I quickly get off of the Tiefling, and offer a hand to help him up. He brushes the dead leaves from his clothes and gives me a look over.

"My lady, you look - "

"Terrible? I know," I interrupt, finishing his sentence for him.

"I was going to say, like you've been crying," he rolls his eyes at me, chuckling at my antics. I missed this. Just less than a tenday ago, everything was relatively normal. We were able to joke around and tease each other.

I notice that he wears a wooden quarterstaff on his back. This is new. Normally he prefers the sword and crossbow.

"Thinking about becoming a monk? But your sister told me that you wanted to be a knight?" I ask curiously.

He blushes slightly. "No, I bought this for you. It's a staff with magical properties." Falnar pulls out the staff from behind and presents it to me.

The weapon is about the same height as me. Both ends are encased in metal, the top being round and slightly thicker than the bottom. Its shaft is perfectly straight except for a slight twist at the top. The staff appears simple at first glance, but upon closer inspection I can see the subtle details and runes embedded in the wood.

I gingerly take it from him. "Wow… Falnar, I don't know what to say. Thank you." I hold it up to the light to admire it, then strap it onto my back.

"Your thanks is more than enough," he says with a smile, happy that I like his gift. "I admit, it's not the best money can buy, but I hope it helps - since you can use magic now."

Right, Falnar was there when I killed those two guards with the power of a storm. Those were people he knew, I mean, they did work together.

I wince. How is he not afraid of me?

Before I can start to explain myself, Falnar gets down on one knee - taking both of my hands in his. The expression on his face now solemn.

"I'm sorry Aquina… I'm so sorry I didn't do anything to help you and your father," he whispers, tears welling in his eyes. "I wanted to warn you that morning, but I was afraid. They threatened me - said that they were going to harm Ashe and sell us both into slavery if you found out."

He looks down, his eyes closed in frustration. "I'm nothing more than a coward. I don't dare ask for your forgiveness, but I pray for your understanding."

Oh Falnar… It pains me to see him like this.

"Look at me," I gently tell him, pulling him up to stand so we can see each other face to face. "None of this was your fault. I will never be able to forget… but I do forgive you. You were protecting your family, of course I understand."

He looks at me in wonder, then slowly pulls me in for a hug. We stay like that in silence, neither one of us wanting to ruin this moment of solace.

Finally, I start to pull away but Falnar grabs me by the shoulders. "This may sound crazy, but run away with me Aquina - with us I mean," he stumbles over his words. "My sister and I have been planning to leave Baldur's Gate and start anew at Waterdeep."

"I was so scared when you were asleep, I thought you were never going to wake up. But now I realize just how much you mean to me… I don't want to lose you. Please, say you'll come with us," he sincerely pleads.

Gods, that sounds wonderful. I imagine running away from it all and living a tranquil life with Falnar by my side. We'd never have to deal with the Dlusker family again. We would be happy.

…But something pulls me back from that dream.

I promised my father I will find Mayra. I swore vengeance against my grandfather and uncle. How could I ever be at peace if those two are still breathing?

No. I must remain at Baldur's Gate.

However, Falnar and Ashe need to leave - for their own safety. That way Lord Norold won't be able to use them to threaten me. I close my eyes in focus as I try to find a way to best explain myself.

"Falnar I -" a booming sound coming from overhead promptly cuts me off.

I look up to see a massive ship floating in the sky. The vessel seems to be made from an enormous conch shell with grotesque tentacles protruding from the front.

Could that really be…?

"Mind flayers!" Falnar gasps in shock, pointing at the group of Illithid that are descending from the ship above.

The tentacled figures slowly levitate towards the ground, their heads turning about as if in search of prey. Two of them start to make their way towards our direction. Are they able to sense us?

Without another thought, I push Falnar away from me. "Go! I'll hold them back for as long as I can," I frantically urge. The Tiefling's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Are you crazy?! You can't fight those monsters - we need to leave now!" he tries to grab my hand, but I evade his reach.

"No. They move faster than we do, there's no point in both of us running," I reason with him. "Think of your little sister, Falnar. She needs you. Please - take her and leave the city." I do my best to not tremble in fear. Of course, I am afraid. I don't want to be left alone.

"Gods damn it!" he utters in frustration.

The Mind Flayers are approaching faster by the second. We don't have time for this!

I remove the staff from my back, wielding it in both hands. I close my eyes, and force myself to relax. I focus on the power that lies dormant inside of me, and compel it to awaken. Suddenly, the chaos of a storm lets loose from within, as if angry at me for waking it from its slumber. I muster all of my willpower and focus on channeling it through my staff.

I am its master. I am the one who is in control. The energy begins to settle.

I exhale a sigh of relief and turn to my friend. "I am not dying here. I promised you that I'll find a way to come crawling back, remember? Now go!" I shout, not allowing him to say another word. I need to get him out of here.

I feel the wind swell around me, as I hold my staff in the air. I focus on Falnar and summon an intense gust of wind, then point the staff towards the town. It heeds my call. I watch in grim satisfaction as the gale carries him away to safety. His cries of refusal fade in the distance.

However, I can't relax for long. Within minutes, the pair of Mind Flayers flank me at both sides. The air now faintly smells of a gross combination of garlic and vanilla.

A buzz of electricity travels through my arms and into my fingers. I direct my hand at the monster closest to me and release a blue beam of energy. It is stunned for a moment, then shrugs it off as if it were an insignificant bug bite.

They slowly float towards me, like cats toying with their food. I cast another beam at the other Illithid, but again no reaction. I just need more time!

Out of desperation, I ran into the forest - hoping to lose them amongst the trees. After a moment, I look back and realize that they're no longer there. I turn back to the front, and there they are… dead ahead of me.

There is no escape.

I ready my staff and attempt to swing at the creatures, but it's of no use. I experience a sharp pain in my head. The ache is so intense that it brings me to my knees, leaving me defenseless.

One of the Mind Flayers places a moist hand on top of my head and the pain suddenly intensifies. It's like it's trying to burrow its way inside my mind.

I scream in pure agony… My eyes roll to the back of my head, and the world goes dark.

I'm sorry Father.

Author's Note:

I finally managed to get this chapter out! Sorry it took so long, well it felt long to me at least. I recently started my senior year of college so that's been my priority. Writing this fic has become sort of a hobby though.

Anyways, now that the backstory is over, we can finally get to the good stuff! Astarion - I mean... the game's plot. Of course.

I'm not planning on covering every single event, but I will try to choose ones I felt were meaningful/funny or progressed the story. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks for reading!