Chapter One
It was like walking through a dream, familiar yet incorrect somehow. The first thing Fallon noticed when she entered the city late in the evening, was the newness of some of the buildings. The last time she'd seen Baldur's Gate, half of it was rubble. Many areas were still being constructed but otherwise, the city looked revived. The second thing she noticed was the comforting lack of Gortash's eyes following her as she walked– all the propaganda posters were blissfully absent, as well as the imposing Steel Watch.
The evening she had arrived had been a blur. She was exhausted from the travel and overwhelmed by emotions of walking through a city she'd experienced so much in. When she had awoken in Elfsong Tavern, she felt a numbness. Her mind wanted to explore and revisit the memories yet her body refused and numbed itself against any feeling, protecting itself. For the better, perhaps. She reached into her pack beside her and rummaged around. She found the letter she had been carrying for two months. Reading the letter again, for the hundredth time,she hoped, somehow, that she would see something she didn't see before.
Fallon,
I don't know where I'll be by the time this letter reaches you, as you've taken it upon yourself to escape as far you possibly can. Rest assured, only I know where you are. It's disappointing you've not returned to Baldur's Gate as you've left quite the mess behind. I urge you, for your safety, to return as soon as you can. There are certain things that were set in motion after the destruction of the Elder Brain, do not think that your role in this is finished, on the contrary, this mess is only just beginning. If you will not return for the sake of playing your part, then return to save your own life. You killed and dethroned The Dead Three's Chosen, I wouldn't want to know what horrors they plan for you in response. Perhaps being amongst your allies will save you, or perhaps not.
Should you choose to return, I will come find you in the city.
There was no signature or remark of who had written it. But they mentioned the one thing Fallon hadn't stopped thinking about since leaving Baldur's Gate. The Dead Three. There was always this sense that they still watched, planned, and were waiting for the perfect moment. She told herself it was narcissistic to think Gods would even bother planning such a revenge against her– a mere human mortal. But then she'd remember how petty Shar had been, and realised that the Gods had nothing but time to plan their horrid revenge. She stuffed the letter back into her bag and headed downstairs, purging the thoughts from her mind.
She heard the clink of cutlery and idle chatter as she headed down the stairs. Elfsong looked exactly as she had left it– mercifully spared of the destruction the rest of the city had suffered. A heavenly aroma of bread and butter sent her stomach begging for food. By the bar was a modest but fresh spread of steaming bread rolls and homemade jams. Fallon took two warm rolls and spooned out a generous serving of apricot jam. At the table she wolfed down the food– it had been weeks since she'd eaten anything that wasn't her travel rations. She paused only when a familiar voice among the chatter of the other guests caught her ear.
"I was thinking of dandelions for the flowers, there's a meadow just out of the city with thousands of them growing. We can go there and pick them for free!" The cheery voice sent a rupture through Fallon's mind, the memories forcing their way to the front now. That was Alfira.
Fallon looked across the tavern to see two familiar Tieflings absorbed in conversation. Alfira leaned on a table, with a forgotten roll in her hand, while Lakrissa idly wiped a spot on an already clean table.
"And what about music? Do you think one of your bard friends would be willing to perform?"
"I could perform!"
"No! I can't dance with you if you're the one performing."
"Oh right, well I think–" Alfira's devilish purple eyes widened, her mouth hanging loose in stasis as though she'd been paralysed. Lakrissa spun around.
"By the Hells, Tracker!" Lakrissa went in for a hug and Alfira pounced on the two women and embraced both in her arms.
"I can't believe it's you! You're back!"
"I'm back," Fallon laughed. After a moment the two Teiflings released her. Their smiles beaming.
"Please tell me you're back forever," Alfira said.
"I'm back for a long while."
Alfira hopped on the spot excitedly, "Sounds like forever to me."
"Where have you been all this time? One minute you were at the party, then you just… disappeared, no one knew where you went," Lakrissa said. The journey to Baldur's Gate had given Fallon plenty of time to think, and most of it was spent on how to answer this exact question. After defeating the Elder Brain and saving the city– and probably the entire Sword Coast– Fallon took off, with no goodbyes. The past several weeks had been consumed with figuring out how to explain why. She never did find a good answer.
"I'm sorry, I should have said goodbye at least. I'm sorry I made you worry, I was ok I just… had a lot of processing to do."
"We're just happy you're ok," Lakrissa smiled. A weight lifted from Fallon's shoulders– she wouldn't have to talk about the real reason she left unceremoniously. Not today at least.
"Oh we have to tell her," Alfira gripped Lakrissa's shoulder.
"Tell me what?" Alfira and Lakrissa shared a knowing smile– affection pouring from their eyes when they looked at eachother. Fallon made a calculated guess as to what exactly they wanted to tell her. Alfira's left hand shot out, a metal ring with a modest jewel embedded into it sat elegantly on her fourth finger.
"We're getting married, right here in Elfsong!" Alfira radiated with elation.
"And we're getting the drinks real cheap too," Lakrissa added with a wink.
"And you're invited!" Alfira squealed. Fallon pulled the two into each of her arms for another hug.
"I'm so happy for you both, and of course I'll be there," the numbness was residing, the news brought a feeling of normalness she hadn't felt in a while– weddings always brought good tidings and cheerfulness.
"There'll be dancing and music and drinking… and food, lots and lots of food!" Alfira spun around as she described the event. A cough interrupted them, they all turned to see a Halfling woman with her arms crossed.
"There's no bread rolls left," she said curtly.
"Sorry ma'am, I'll grab some right away," Lakrissa turned to the other two women, "Sorry, I really need to get back to work, I've still got last night's glasses to clean. But hey, are you staying in Elfsong?"
Fallon nodded.
"Great, me and Alfie were going to meet here tonight after my shift to plan the wedding, you should join us. We'll share a few pints and catch up. You can tell us what you've been doing all this time."
A knot formed in Fallon's stomach. She'd prefer not to talk about the last four years, but she smiled and said, "Sounds brilliant."
"I'll see you tonight," Lakrissa gave a quick kiss to Alfira and then disappeared into the kitchen.
"So what are your plans today?" Alfira asked.
"Well, get oriented I guess. See who's still around, catch up."
"Oh you should go see Dammon! He's got his own forge now, doing really well for himself. Rolan is still at Sundries too. Most of the other Teiflings work for the Stone Masters as craftsmen and builders."
"Stone Masters?"
"Yeah, a new business that started after the city was destroyed. They hired all the Tieflings and practically rebuilt the city. People actually like us now, I guess seeing Tieflings fixing everything really made people change their mind about us." Or the Stone Masters just wanted cheap labour. Fallon kept the thought to herself.
"Astarion still lives in the city too, well, in the Upper City. We didn't see him again after the party either. But he does donate generously to the Bard's guild. Got my new lute with that money."
Astarion. That was the other most occupying thought over the last few weeks. They had ended things in a strange limbo. Not lovers anymore, but not in anger either. She almost wished they did end on bad terms, at least then she could just avoid him guilt free. She felt that she had so much to explain to him and yet she wasn't sure why. Or more likely, she hoped he had things to explain to her, why he changed overnight. There was nothing more she regretted than not stopping the Ascension. Leave it alone, Fallon.
"I'll see who I bump into," Fallon feigned a smile. They parted ways outside the tavern. Fallon stood on the steps and took in the atmosphere. Bright blue sky met the tops of the buildings. Teiflings were hanging from harnesses on the side of one of them, carving into the stone expertly. Stone Masters she presumed. The morning brought the merchants and the workers and the buyers. People haggled and chatted all around her. Only four years prior had the city come close to destruction, and yet here they all were, as though nothing had ever happened. Even Fallon felt it herself. Four years ago, everytime they left Elfsong, she always had this knot in her stomach, her eyes always peeling the crowd looking for cultists or Orin. They were never safe. Now it felt like a distant nightmare. This was the new world now. No cultists, no Mindflayers, no Absolute, no tadpole. Just herself, and Baldur's Gate.
Fallon headed down the streets, if she wanted to know exactly what was going on in the city, there was one person she needed to talk to.
