The formidable stone facade of the library loomed before Talin and Shadowheart as they approached, its ancient architecture disfigured yet majestic, with signs of recent repair work along the weathered walls. The muffled sounds of the city faded behind them as they stepped through the heavy wooden doors into the dimly lit interior. The air was heavy and smelled of old paper.
"Alright, we're here. Now what?" Talin asked, looking around at the rows of shelves that stretched towards the high, vaulted ceiling, some still bearing the scars of damage.
Shadowheart surveyed the towering shelves, their contents a seemingly endless labyrinth of records. Discouragement laced her voice as she muttered, "Now we... search."
"This would take ages," Talin sighed. "I don't even know where to begin, or what we're looking for exactly."
A glint appeared in Shadowheart's eyes. "Let's ask that woman over there," she suggested, gesturing towards the lone figure perched atop a ladder amidst the stacks.
"Good morning." Talin greeted the woman as they approached, but she was engrossed in arranging the leather-bound tomes and didn't initially notice their presence. Talin delicately cleared her throat to get her attention.
The sound startled the woman, a surprised yelp escaping her lips. The ladder wobbled precariously, but with surprising agility, she righted herself.
"Oh, hello ladies!" She exclaimed, a wide smile crinkling the corners of her eyes. Relief and a hint of excitement washed over her features, "It's been so quiet in here, I almost forgot people still used these dusty archives," she said as she carefully climbed down the ladder. It was an elderly woman with white hair pulled back in a tight bun.
Talin, ever graceful, dipped her head in apology. "Forgive us for startling you," she said, her voice clear and melodic, "we are in dire need of assistance, and by the looks of it, we've found the right person. We seek an old record, perhaps centuries old, if such a thing exists within these walls."
The woman's smile widened. "Centuries old, you say? This library holds whispers of times long past, dearie. Most of it it's been restored, thanks to the tireless scribes, but a few things were lost in the attack." Her voice, though raspy, held a spark of pride. "Tell me, what kind of record are you searching for?"
Taking a cue from Talin's politeness, Shadowheart offered a curt nod. "Records on magistrates and judges." She confirmed, her eyes narrowed with focus.
The woman's gaze flickered to Shadowheart, then back to Talin. A knowing glint entered her eyes. "Magistrates and judges, eh? Those records go back a good long way. Hundreds of years, at least. Come with me." The woman announced, her voice surprisingly spry. She led Talin and Shadowheart through the labyrinthine stacks. The woman navigated the maze with such confidence and practiced ease that left Talin both impressed and a little unnerved. Reaching a specific section, the woman stopped and turned to them, "What names do you seek within those dusty pages?" she inquired, her gaze flickering between the two women.
Talin hesitated for a moment. A glance at Shadowheart confirmed a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes too. "Ancunín," she finally said, the name tasting unfamiliar on her tongue. "Astarion Ancunín."
The woman's brow furrowed slightly as she processed the name. "Ancunín, huh? Not a common one these days. Give me a moment, dearies."
She moved with surprising agility for her age, her hands flitting over the aged spines of leather-bound tomes. Finally, she pulled out three particularly large volumes, their covers worn smooth with time. Blowing the dust off the top, she presented them one by one to Talin.
"There you are, sweeting," she said, "Ancunín's a rare name, but have no doubt you'll find what you're looking for in these volumes. We keep every single record the city's ever had, notes of lives long gone. There's a lot of history in here, so take your time. Just be careful, these old pages are a bit delicate." With a lively step, the woman tucked the ladder under her arm and turned back to her previous duties.
"Alright, I guess we're spending the night here," Talin joked, gesturing to the sheer volume of the tomes she held. The weight of it certainly spoke of centuries of history.
Shadowheart chimed in with a playful smirk, "There go my afternoon wine-tasting plans."
Talin grunted, lifting the hefty tomes in her arms. "Ugh, these are so heavy."
"Her majesty can't pick up a few books? Try carrying a shield." Shadowheart teased. "Come, let me help you." She took a tome from Talin's hands.
Talin cringed slightly, her eyes narrowing in mock seriousness. "Do you think they serve coffee here? They really should." The thought of a long afternoon spent deciphering dusty records was already draining her energy.
"If I can't have my wine, you're not getting any coffee either," Shadowheart teased. "Now, let's uncover what secrets this lover of yours is hiding."
They claimed seats at the nearest desk and began their quest, each selecting a hefty volume to start with. Pages crackled as they turned, anticipation building with each rustle.
"Ugh, this is taking forever. We've been at it for a while and still haven't found anything" Shadowheart complained.
"Hells, I'm starting to think we should have brought Gale along." Talin said.
A smile played on Shadowheart's lips. "What? Just drag him all the way from Waterdeep for this dusty library?
"True enough. But he would have been delighted. Imagine the look on his face surrounded by these smelly old books. We could have left him here and gone shopping for the afternoon and he wouldn't have noticed."
A flicker of amusement danced in Shadowheart's eyes, mirrored by a brief, stifled chuckle from Talin. They both quickly clamp their mouths shut at Shadowheart's raised hand. "Shh!"
The playful moment evaporated as quickly as it arose. Shadowheart's expression turned serious, her voice low and laced with concern. "Talin, what exactly are you hoping to unearth here?"
"The truth, I suppose. A lead, a family member, a name… anything that might shed some light on Astarion's past."
"And when you find it? What then? Or what if you don't like what you find? Are you prepared for this?"
"I have to be. Astarion can't keep running from his past forever. He deserves to know who he was," despite the determination in her voice a flicker of doubt could be noticed in her eyes, "I can't stand by and do nothing. He just needs a little nudge. Besides, he doesn't have to find out right away. I'll share the information when he's ready."
"I suppose that could work," Shadowheart conceded, a note of skepticism lingering in her voice, "or come back to bite you later."
"Astarion deserves some answers, even if he doesn't realize it yet. Trust me, I know what I'm doing." A hint of defensiveness crept into Talin's voice.
"Ah. 'Trust me, I know what I'm doing.' Where have I heard that one before?" Shadowheart teased. The words hang in the air, a clear reminder of past misadventures.
"This is different, Shadowheart. Astarion's past is shrouded in darkness, and he's hurting because of it. Someone has to bring him the light, even if it's against his will."
Shadowheart raised an eyebrow in confusion, but decided to let the matter drop.
The silence in the library deepened as they flipped through the fragile pages. Suddenly a gasp escaped Talin's lips, drawing Shadowheart's attention.
"There it is!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with a hint of triumph. She quickly scanned the text, her brow furrowing in confusion. "But this doesn't make sense. Listen to this," she read aloud in a hushed tone: "'Magistrate Astarion was a strict upholder of the law, known for his harsh punishments and unwavering adherence to order.'"
A baffled frown creased Talin's face. "This can't be right. Astarion… upholding order? Can you imagine?"
A strange mix of emotions swirled within her. On one side was a grudging respect. The ruthless efficiency, the cold logic in enforcing the law… It was strangely compelling. Maybe even a bit… attractive? She quickly dismissed the thought, a flicker of unease settling in her stomach.
"Are we entirely certain this is the right Astarion?" Shadowheart asked, skepticism lacing her words.
Talin traced a finger along the faded inscription. "The dates…" she muttered, "birth year, death year… they line up perfectly. There can't be another Astarion Ancunín, a high elf who was a magistrate 200 years ago, can there? Besides you heard the woman that works here, she said it was a rare name."
"It seems like our carefree hedonist was once a stickler for the rules? That's rich." Shadowheart snorted.
This law-abiding Astarion clashed so sharply with the Astarion they knew, the one who reveled in a bit of chaos.
"Is that why the Gur people attacked him?" Talin muttered, her voice tight with frustration. "What in the Hells did he do?" She scanned the text again, seeking answers. But the book offered no explanation for the Gur attack or the circumstances surrounding his death. Just a cold record of a life abruptly ended.
"If they truly are the ones that attacked him. Does it say anything?" Shadowheart urged.
"Found dead on the street one night," Talin murmured, the words leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.
Anxiousness clawed at her throat. "It always sounded too convenient for Cazador to just show up at the right moment," she blurted, the realization dawning on her. "A man who practically lives sealed within his palace. This… this doesn't explain anything. It just opens more questions than answers." Her frustration was obvious.
She slammed the book shut, the heavy thud echoing in the silent room. But even the sound couldn't shake the disquiet that had settled over her. A sudden glint sparked in her eyes, a flicker of determination pushing back the tide of unease.
"But there's someone who might know the truth," she declared, her voice gaining strength.
Shadowheart, who had been observing her companion's emotional rollercoaster, raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. "Who?" she inquired, a hint of curiosity replacing her earlier concern.
"His parents. Their names are here and I have to find them."
The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken questions. The revelation hung in the air, a spark igniting a new path in their investigation.
"We should head back, it's getting awfully late."
Shadowheart cast her a concerned look. "Are you alright, Talin?"
Talin forced on a smile, but it felt brittle on her lips. "Of course, just… tired. Let's head back."
They returned the hefty tomes to the archivist. "Found what you were looking for, dearies?" she inquired.
Talin managed a curt nod. "Thank you, you have been most helpful." The answer was both yes and no, a tangled web of information that had only served to deepen the mystery.
As she stepped back into their bedroom, she noticed Astarion sprawled across a bench on the balcony, seemingly engrossed in a well-worn book. She glanced at him, but with the knowledge of his former life as a strict magistrate gnawing at her, Talin couldn't help but see him differently. Had this ruthless lawbringer always been buried beneath his jaded charlatan persona?
The revelation had opened more questions, and Talin wasn't sure she was ready to face the answers it might unleash. A single thought echoed in her mind: who was Astarion, truly?