Hi there!
This is my first fanfiction, and I've never written anything like this, but I love this game, and I love fantasy and RPGs, so I wanted to try this out and started writing for myself. I really enjoyed writing it, so I decided to share it, and I hope you'll enjoy it too. If you do, feel free to drop a comment :)
I'm doing my best to stay true to the Forgotten Realms lore, but I might miss a few things here and there.
Disclaimer: I want to make it clear that I don't own any of the Baldur's Gate 3 characters. They belong to their creators. But Talin and any other original characters you meet here are my own.
Note: Some chapters reveal moments from the game, so be careful if you don't want any spoilers.
She moved through the rubble-strewn streets of the Upper City, her eyes a striking shade of light elven blue, pierced through the veils of light and ruin with unsettling fear, scanning for any sign of Astarion. The sight was devastating. Flames engulfed buildings and destroyed homes. The entire upper city was in ruin. She struggled to breathe as the smell of smoke and ash assaulted her senses. But she pressed on. She must find him and ensure that he is alive. A partially collapsed warehouse drew her eye. Based on the direction Astarion turned to run, he might have found refuge from the scorching sun there.
She entered carefully, scanning every inch of the place. The air was heavy, filled with smoke and dust. Charred beams and boxes lay around, but luckily, the building was no longer aflame. Her heart sank when she found Astarion huddled in a dark corner, his head buried in his knees.
"There you are!" she sighed in relief and hurried towards him. "I'm so glad you're safe. Seeing the sun hurt you like that… I was terrified. Are you alright?"
He looked up, a weak attempt at a smirk twisting his lips. "Oh yes, I'm fine. Just a little burnt skin, nothing to worry about," he said, his voice trembling.
She kneeled before him, her hand reaching out for his face. She gently lifted his face, searching for his eyes. "I'm so sorry…" she said, her eyes glistening. "I can only imagine how hard this must be for you. But know that whatever happens next, I got you." She swallowed her tears. Astarion needed her strength now, not her despair.
He hesitated, trying to hide his disappointment. "It was nice while it lasted. I will miss its warmth on my skin. And the freedom to walk in pure daylight." He sighed heavily. "But I guess the night has its beauty, one I'll have to learn to appreciate… again." He looked down as he spoke.
"One we'll both learn to appreciate together. The tadpole is gone, but you're stuck with me now," Talin said, trying to encourage him and lighten the mood, even for a moment. "And I'm not that easy to get rid of."
His piercing gaze met hers. "I hope not."
Smiling, he reached out, his fingers gently untangling a loose strand from the braid that held back her long, luminous silver hair, shimmering with the faintest blue. The familiar weight of it brought a sense of relief. "I'm glad you came after me."
Her eyes softened as his fingers brushed her hair. "Of course I came," she murmured, cupping his hand with hers and leaning into his touch. "Wherever you go, I will follow. You know that, don't you?"
"I think I do."
She leaned forward, brushing a stray lock of his hair. Her soft, warm lips met his cool ones in a tender, lingering kiss. He gently slid his hand around her neck and deepened the kiss, savoring the intimate moment.
She settled beside him and held him close. With a sigh of relief, he leaned into her, nesting his head on the soft rise of her chest. The warmth of her embrace was a familiar feeling of belonging that chased away the fears and the darkness that entombed his heart. A comfortable silence settled between them like a shared understanding passing without words.
Then, a sudden realization washed over him. "So, they're really gone, aren't they?"
Astarion's question hung in the air as Talin let out a weary sigh, the weight of recent events catching up with her. "It's sad, isn't it?" She lowered her eyes, staring at a shattered plank on the floor. "For a moment, I thought it was over. That we will lose Karlach forever," she recalled. "But I'm glad Wyll stepped up. She'll be safe for the time being. I mean, as safe as one can be in the Hells. But, at least now she gets to live until we find a way to fix her engine."
"I'm glad too. She deserves to live." Astarion confirmed. "Besides, our Blade of Avernus will get to show his abilities in the Hells now." He smiled faintly.
"Yes," she chuckled. "Wyll may be the Blade of Avernus for now, but he could still reclaim the position of a Duke once we get them back."
He smiled, admiring her resolve and optimism, even though he sometimes found them completely naive and misguided.
"Let's hope Zariel won't be able to lay a finger on Karlach with the Blade on her side," Astarion said.
"They'll be fine. I have no doubt."
She paused for a while, then spoke again. "And you know, I hoped that Lae'zel would stay after everything we've been through," she said, her voice laced with disappointment.
"You know where her allegiance lies, Talin," Astarion noted softly.
"I know she wants to embrace her new role in spreading the word of Orpheus, but still…" her voice trailed off, laced with a hint of frustration. "It feels like she's just trading one leash for another." She paused for a while, then smiled. "You know, she said she'll never forget me."
"Bragging much, darling?" he said jokingly. "Of course, she won't forget you. You're… you. But I do agree with you. However, given her chosen path, she'd make a great leader."
"I have no doubt."
"And the others?" Astarion asked.
"They will meet us back at the Elfsong." Then she frowned slightly. "And I hope Gale will find that stupid crown before someone else does."
"Do you think he'll become a God?"
"I don't know. He said he would return it." She paused for a while, her expression turning thoughtful. She trusted Gale, but a small part of her felt uneasy that he might still get tempted once he got a hold of the crown. "He will do what is right when the time comes, I'm sure," she remarked.
Talin gave him a reassuring squeeze. "We'll wait here until it gets dark, then we can head back to the Elfsong and meet with the rest."
"Thank you, but I don't want to sulk here all day. I just needed a few moments to… adjust to the change. We could reach the Elfsong's old hideout through the sewers. We need a proper rest after all we've been through."
"Mhm, a soft bed does sound nice right now," she said, her mind drifting.
"There should be an entrance nearby," Astarion noted, peering through the entrance.
"Alright, I'll do a little scouting, then," she volunteered.
After a while, she returned to the warehouse, slightly worried.
"There is one, and it's not that far, but…" she hesitated. I'm not sure, Astarion. It's still dangerous. We could still move through some shadows, but there is a lot of sunlight."
"Then I'll be swift," Astarion assured her, but she wasn't convinced.
"No, wait! I think I have an idea." She tried to focus for a moment. "We'll need a bit of magic if we are to do this."
"But you're exhausted, my love. Are you sure you can use your magic now?"
"Don't worry. I can manage a few more spells. Come." She was exhausted to her core, but she tried to hide it. She didn't want him to worry or show weakness, even though casting the spell would prove challenging.
They moved through the shadowed parts to reach the warehouse's entrance. Talin took several deep breaths before she cast the spell. A magical cloud of darkness appeared a few feet from the entrance, where no shadow was in sight.
Astarion raised an eyebrow. "Clever."
"Stay close," she instructed. "There, near that wall. It's not that far." She pointed at a partially collapsed section near the docks.
They moved through the shadows between the ruins to reach the dark cloud. Talin re-cast the spell on new locations when necessary, ensuring Astarion remained cloaked in shadow. Her movements were sluggish, and she swayed as she stood. She struggled to concentrate, taking deep breaths between spells.
Reaching the sewer entrance was tricky, but they managed. Finally, they reached the wall—a dank, earthy scent wafted from the opening.
"Here we are," Talin said, her voice barely a whisper.
They climbed into the sewers, but as soon as Talin's feet hit the ground, she swayed, her eyes fluttering close.
Luckily, Astarion had climbed down before her, and his reflexes were quick, so he caught her before she fell. "I shouldn't have let you do this. You said you could manage."
She quickly composed herself but still leaned on him, feeling slightly lightheaded. "And I did," she said in a strained voice, weakly attempting to make a joke while gesturing with her hand. "Behold, the sewers."
"I see you haven't lost your sense of humor," he said, holding her close.
She attempted to walk but was unable to support her weight. Her feet buckled beneath her, and she would have collapsed again if Astarion hadn't watched closely.
Without saying a word, he effortlessly lifted her petite and delicate frame as if she barely weighed anything and carried her for a while, giving her a chance to recover her strength.
She despised the undercity tunnels, a wet, smelly labyrinth where she would likely get lost if alone. They moved in silence. There was much to say and deal with, but Talin felt exhausted. They both were. It was a long and dreadful night fighting the Absolute. All she could think about was the soft, feathered bed waiting for her in the inn's room.
As Astarion and Talin entered the dimly lit room in the inn, the buzz of conversation and the clinking of glasses greeted them. To their surprise, the tavern was already alive with celebration, the air thick with the joy of a city liberated from the threat of the Absolute. Their battle-weary friends were gathered around a long wooden table.
"There you are, come, have a drink with me!" Shadowheart called out, waving them over with a weary smile. Her voice was soft but cheerful. She offered Talin a goblet of ruby-red wine.
Talin chuckled, taking the offered goblet. She took a sip of the wine. "Where has this been all this time? Why did we have to drink that awful plonk before?"
They all laughed, the tension momentarily forgotten. Suddenly, Gale entered the room, and the lively chatter quieted momentarily. All eyes turned towards the doorway.
He stood tall and proud, his cloak billowing dramatically behind him. Talin's eyes lit up as she rushed towards him. "Gale! Did you find it?"
"Fear not, my friend." Gale's smile widened as he presented the Crown of Karsus before her. "The object of our desire is... in hand," he declared, smiling smugly. "A trifling matter, but with a touch of magic, accomplished nonetheless."
"What will you do now?" Talin asked. Gale's potential temptation to reforge the crown and ascend to godhood tinged her happiness with concern.
"Don't worry. I will return it to Mystra, as I promised." Gale assured her.
Talin signed in relief. "Good. We should ensure the crown doesn't fall into the wrong hands again. As much as I disapprove of what Mystra did to you, I still think you're doing the right thing. You're a good man, Gale. And you're going to be fine. She will remove the orb from your chest."
"I know. And thank you for having your fate in me, sincerely. It means a lot. You mean a lot to me."
"The feeling is mutual, Gale." Talin smiled. Now come, let's celebrate." She wrapped her arm around his and kissed him on the cheek, then guided him to the table where the rest of the company was.
They drank and laughed, and all their worries faded momentarily. But exhaustion soon took over, and they eagerly headed to their beds for well-deserved rest.
Talin sank into the soft mattress of the welcoming bed in the Elfsong Tavern. "Finally," she whispered, her eyes fluttering closed. Astarion lay beside her, but sleep did not come as quickly to him. Despite the comfort of her presence beside him, an uneasy feeling gnawed at him, and questions began to swirl in his mind.
What happens now? The tadpole and the journey to rid themselves of it no longer bound their destinies. He can no longer walk in the sun freely. Will she still stay with me? She had her own life to return to, after all, a life of privilege and comfort. She said no matter what, but… Is she genuinely willing to sacrifice all that just to be with a vampire spawn? He turned his gaze upon her, finding her in deep slumber already. Her face was soft and peaceful in the dim light, yet it failed to calm his nerves.
His thoughts raced. What if Talin went her own way, deciding the vampire lover's life was not worth it? The mere idea of her leaving sent a pang of loneliness through him. He would be alone again, forever bound to the shadows, missing her terribly.
He longed to reach out, feel the warmth of her skin against his, and chase away the chilling doubts, but he did not want to disturb her peaceful sleep. He closed his eyes and tried to enjoy this moment of peace.
Exhaustion finally took its toll, and the questions gnawing at him began to fade. As he drifted asleep, his last conscious thought was of Talin, her presence a beacon of hope in his dark world.