Chapter 3:

He pauses at the door to their room, his hand wavering above the doorknob. He steels himself before turning the handle.

It won't turn. It's locked from the inside. "Gods, damn it!" Astarion curses under his breath. "Really? NOW?" He exhales sharply in frustration.

He considers knocking on the door, but he stops himself, thinking that Tav might already be asleep. He didn't want to wake her just yet, considering how exhausted she must be after walking all over the city the whole day. He pulls out his Thieves' Tools and lockpicks the door. The lock easily releases with a soft 'click'.

Again, he steels himself before finally opening the door.

The scene that greets him as he enters their room is surprisingly serene. The room is dark except for a small sliver of moonlight peeking through the drapes. 'The rain must have stopped.' Astarion thought to himself.

Tav lies with her back facing the door on her side of the bed, wrapped snugly in blankets. She's reached out a hand towards where he usually slept, but of course it grasped at nothing in his absence.

Astarion walks to the other side of the bed so he can see her face properly. Her pillow is drenched with her tears. 'She must have cried herself to sleep… Oh Gods, what have I done?'

He notices the set of clothes neatly folded on the bedside table. He smiles sadly at the clean, fancy doublet Tav laid out for him on the morning of the battle. 'She said we'd be too exhausted to prepare our evening wear after the battle. Thank the Gods for her foresight.'

Astarion changed out of his wet battle-stained clothes and into the Magnificently Realized Ensemble Tav had chosen for him. 'And thank the Gods for her immaculate taste.' He added, amused.

After he got changed, he climbed into the bed next to Tav. Astarion noted her swollen eyes and puffy cheeks resulting from her crying non-stop for hours. He still couldn't help but think how beautiful she was, even now. He closed his eyes so he could listen to her heartbeat and soft, even breathing more clearly.

"Astarion, I love you… Come back to me please…"

His eyes snapped open as he heard her mutter his name in her sleep.

"I don't deserve you, dear. You're far too good for me…" was his hushed reply. He wiped a single tear that was rolling down her cheek with his thumb then continued his vigil over her.

Morning came and brought new hope to the people of Baldur's Gate. It's surviving citizens stir as they try to salvage anything from their old lives to rebuild it anew.

Tav tentatively opens her eyes, still slightly swollen from weeping the whole of the previous day. With her vision still blurry, she hadn't noticed that her Beloved was right next to her in bed, watching her with a smug expression on his face—until he spoke.

"Hello, Darling. I was just thinking about freedo—"

She didn't even let him finish his sentence before she wrapped her arms around him and sobbed hard into his chest.

Surprised by her sudden movement, Astarion was stunned for a couple of seconds before he returned her hug. Gently stroking her hair and her back, he tries to comfort his inconsolable Love.

"It's alright, Darling. I'm here. Shhhh…." Astarion kisses the top of Tav's head as they embrace.