She dragged her sweaty hands over her breeches again, wiping away the evidence of her nerves as she stared up at the familiar front door. It had been years since she'd seen her parents, and so much had happened in that time. Between all of her adventures, she'd written but it wasn't the same. Correspondence was patchy, at best, and she knew that her parents were upset that she hadn't been home sooner. But Neverwinter held a host of painful memories that she'd always tried to run away from, memories her parents didn't know existed. Zarra wanted to keep it that way.
Gale's warm hand captured her own, twining his fingers through hers and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "It'll be alright, dearheart. They'll be beyond thrilled to see you again."
"Maybe, or maybe mama will actually skin me alive."
"Because you haven't been back in so long, or because when you do return, you do it on the arm of a wizard?"
She huffed a laugh at that and brought their hands down to place an answering kiss on his hand. "A little bit of both, I suspect. She always did warn me away from your kind."
"My kind? Handsome, charming, well-educated men capable of greatness?"
"Over-confident windbags with more ambition than sense," Zarra shot back, grinning wickedly up at him. "It's a good thing you're an exception to that rule, no?"
"You are a vicious creature," Gale muttered, unable to hide his twitching lips at her pointed teasing. "Why do I love you, again?"
Zarra rose on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his smiling lips before pulling back a breath to whisper: "Because I can also be very, very nice, like I demonstrated this morning. Would you care for a repeat performance to refresh your memory? Or perhaps a standing O?"
"Gods," he cursed, squeezing his eyes shut as he fought to control himself. "I think it would be wise not to be too nice before I meet your parents for the first time, hm? I'd hate to give them the wrong impression." He gestured helplessly below his belt, and rolled his eyes when she laughed. "Yes, yes, very funny."
She couldn't stop giggling as she knocked on the imposing front door. "I can't believe you picked today of all days not to wear one of your robes."
He joined her on the front stoop, bottle of wine and a lovely bouquet of wildflowers clasped in one hand. "I didn't want to look too wizard-y! You've told me how your parents feel about 'my kind,' after all. It seemed prudent to at least give myself a fighting chance at a good impression."
"It's not something you should hide, either. You know I love your magic, Gale—"
The door flew open then, and Zarra's heart stopped at the sight of Grimbold, her parents' loyal butler. The man had stood tall and proud the last time she saw him, and now he was white-haired and paunchy, shoulders a little stooped, but no less proud. She squealed her joy and launched herself at the man, wrapping him in a tight hug.
"Young Miss Tavariel!" he gasped, returning the fond embrace. "It has been so very long, miss. Your parents—we have all missed you something dreadful."
"Grimbold, you haven't changed a bit," Zarra said thickly, drawing back to study his dear face. His brows were still bushy, cheeks still round and rosy, and hazel eyes sharp as ever. "By the gods, it is so good to see you. How have you been? And Sarah? And mama and papa?"
"We're all just fine, miss, just fine, indeed." Grimbold patted her arm fondly and extricated himself from her embrace. "Everyone who knew you has been worried, of course, but we always knew you'd return. Eventually."
"I hated being gone so long, Grim," she said, running her hands over her breeches once again. "I've missed you all terribly. It was hard not to see you all every day, but… well, I was running from something and it took a long time to learn how to face it. But I have, and I'm back."
The portly butler peered around her then, one brow rising critically. "And not alone, it seems."
"Hello," Gale said cheerily, extending his free hand to the older man. "I'm Gale of—Gale Dekarios. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I'm sure," Grimbold sniffed, looking him up and down before giving the smallest nod. "Come to the parlor. I'll have refreshments brought up and fetch your parents."
They fell into step with the butler, walking the halls that hadn't changed a bit in her time away. The creamy runner down the walnut parquet flooring was the same, the plaster walls and tasteful paintings of various landscapes—a moonlit glade, the emerald hot springs outside the city, the glowing otherness of the Underdark—lined the walls at precise intervals. Elegant brass sconces lit the way, casting a warm glow upon the delicately carved end tables and beautifully arranged flowers in hand-painted vases.
Zarra took it all in, breathing deeply as the sounds and smells of her home washed over her. It was all exactly the same, but it felt… different. Smaller, somehow. No, not smaller. She was just changed. As welcoming and familiar as it was, this wasn't her home anymore. It was her parents' house, her childhood home and first safe haven. But it wasn't hers anymore.
She stole a glance at the man walking beside her and couldn't stop a smile. He was where she belonged now. She fit perfectly in his arms and hoped that there would be room in his world for them to grow together. It was hard to imagine life without him after all they'd been through.
"Here we are, miss," Grimbold said, opening the double doors to admit them to the parlor. "Your parents will join you shortly."
When the doors clicked closed behind him, Zarra took in the room and found herself blinking back tears. It was all just the same.
The creamy carpet extended to this room, absorbing the sound of their footsteps. Delicate furniture was upholstered with seafoam green patterns of vines, flowers, and birds. Each seat was softened with small pillows in varying hues of cream and blush. A fire crackled merrily in the hearth, casting a golden glow about the room. The wall opposite the hearth was lined with bookshelves and filled to the brim with books, all well-worn and well-loved. Opposite the doorway sat a grand piano, positioned carefully before a wall of windows that looked out over the gardens. Even in the winter, the gardens were a riot of color, the cheerful blooms bobbing in the breeze. The natural hot springs that the city was built upon kept everything temperate and lively.
She'd spent her youth running through this room, flitting through social gatherings and etiquette lessons. She'd learned to play the piano in this room, the violin, the lute, the lyre… Her first recital had taken place right here, surrounded by friends and family. "A promising talent," they'd called her in the same breath as they'd said she would be a "boon on the marriage market."
Fate, it seemed, had a sense of humor.
"I don't think your man, Grimbold, likes me," Gale said, placing his hostess gifts on the rosewood coffee table and joining Zarra at the windows. "But no matter. So long as your parents approve, I'm sure he'll come around in time."
"He still sees me as a wild youth, whirling about with no thought for the consequences of my actions." She studied his faint reflection in the glass, and heated at the tenderness in his gaze. "But I'm not that girl anymore. He's stubborn, but he'll see it eventually."
"I find that the people who knew us when we were young have a way of holding on to those memories, for better or for worse." He threw an arm about her shoulders, drawing her into his side. "Besides, I'm stubborn too and will make it my mission to win over those who matter to you."
She buried her face in his chest to stifle her chuckles, finding comfort in the scent and feel of him. "I think you'll have an easier time of it than I will—show them your good heart, and mama and papa will try to adopt you and oust me."
"Then what a bargain our impending nuptials will be for them!" Gale wrapped her in his arms and dropped a kiss atop her head, enveloping her in the security of his embrace. "They keep their daughter and gain a son."
"Hm, I think they'll have you convinced that you're too good for me within the week," she teased, words muffled by his chest.
He chuckled at that and moved so he could look into her face. "Too good for the woman who makes me feel like a god? Impossible."
She pressed a kiss to his chin, then, and nestled close once more. "Don't forget, 'chev, we've both made the impossible possible very recently."
"And you remember, dearest, that you are the one thing I'll never willingly give up."
The door opened then, admitting a tall, willowy man with skin of the deepest violet and garnet eyes. Long white hair was tied back in a simple tail, and his finely cut clothing gave him an air of easy dignity.
Upon seeing him, Zarra froze in Gale's arms and whispered, "Papa."
After a heartbeat of the two drow simply staring at each other, they became a whirlwind of energy, each rushing at the other and colliding in a tight embrace full of half-asked questions and happy exclamations in Drow. Her heart threatened to break her ribs it was beating so hard, so happily to see her father again. He looked exactly the same, down to the loose tendrils of hair framing his handsome face. He still hugged her the same, smelled of the same soap and the lavender that was used to keep the clothes fresh.
When they drew back to examine each other more closely, tears stained Zarra's cheeks and an answering emotion glistened in her father's eyes.
"Zarra, my darling girl, it is so good to see you—words don't do it justice," Ilphrin Tavariel said cupping her face and frowning at her mismatched eyes. "You've had some adventures, I see, but those can wait until your mother joins us."
"Papa, I've missed you so much," she said thickly, hands grasping his wrists. "I am sorry for staying away, but I… Well, I'm here now, and so elated to see you again."
"We've missed you too, pet. More than you know." Ilphrin wrapped her in another hug, squeezing her tight and blinking away his own tears. As he drew back, his attention landed on the man standing respectfully by the piano, watching the reunion with a small smile. "And I see you don't return alone. Introduce me to your… friend."
"Papa, this is Gale Dekarios, Archmage and Wizard of Waterdeep," she said, moving to stand beside the man and slipping her hand into his with a comforting squeeze. "Gale, this is my father, Ilphrin Tavariel."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," Gale said, extending a hand towards her father with a friendly smile. "Zarra speaks highly of you."
Ilphrin shook the wizard's hand, eying him critically. "I wish I could say the same, but I haven't heard a peep about you. But 'wizard,' is it?"
Gale nodded, expression turning serious. "Yes. I understand your family has some reservations about wizards, but I hope to assure you that we aren't all pompous, power-crazed windbags. Isn't that how you put it this morning, dearest?"
Ilphrin's brows shot up at the endearment and he looked between the pair, noting Zarra's flushed cheeks and the wizard's teasing smile. "'Dearest?' Zarra, is there something you'd like to tell me?"
She shifted, fingers tightening around Gale's. "I was hoping to tell you and mama together, but… well, we're engaged. To be married."
The silence dragged on for a long moment, broken only by the fire crackling in the hearth. Zarra's chest was tight and her breathing shallow as she awaited her father's reaction. Her palm grew clammy against Gale's, but she didn't care. She couldn't imagine what her father was thinking. She'd been away for the last five years with only sporadic letters assuring her parents that she was alive and well, and on her first visit home she brings a man—a wizard that she intends to marry. It must be quite the shock.
"You love him?" Ilphrin asked softly. "Is he kind to you?"
"I do," she murmured, choking back the emotions that threatened to overtake her. "He is the kindest, most generous person I've ever known."
His expression hardened as he turned to Gale, russet eyes flashing. "And you, wizard. Do you love my daughter?"
"With all my heart," he said, squeezing her fingers.
"Very well," Ilphrin sighed and gestured towards the sitting area. "Tea should be here shortly. Let's sit and continue our discussion."
"I think you mean interrogation," Zarra joked, moving to settle on the plush loveseat. When her betrothed sat beside her, she happily moved to press her thigh against his. "Papa, I promise this isn't some whim or flight of fancy. We'll tell the whole story once mama joins us, but suffice to say: Gale and I have been through a lot together in the last months, and we… Well, I can't speak for Gale, but I wouldn't have made it without him by my side."
"That's all well and good, pet," Ilphrin said, studying the pair from his preferred seat near the fire. "But I reserve the right, as your father, to ensure the man you bring home is good enough for my daughter. If that means a mild interrogation, well, at least your grandmother isn't here to turn it into a real one."
"Thank the gods for that." Zarra rolled her eyes at the mention of her maternal grandmother and matriarch of the house in Menzoberranzen. "Has there been any word from Her Wickedness since I was last here?"
"Beyond the occasional letter complaining of the quality of the goods we send to the Northdark? No, thankfully." Ilphrin shook his head wearily at the mention of his mother-in-law, a common reaction for anyone dealing with the family matriarch. "But enough. Anymore talk of her and she'll darken our doorstep before we know it. How long have you two been involved?"
Zarra sighed, defeated. Her father wouldn't give up on his line of questioning until he was either made to stop or fully satisfied. He was like a dog with a bone, and her mother was somehow even more tenacious. She was already weary and they hadn't even properly started.
"We've known each other for a little more than six months, and have been romantically involved for a little less," Gale answered bluntly, his hand moving to rest atop her knee with a gentle squeeze. "It is an admittedly brief time, but we have been in each other's company constantly for these several months. Our traveling party was small, so we all came to know each other quickly, both through circumstance and necessity."
"And how, exactly, did you two end up traveling together?" Ilphrin asked, expression unreadable as he studied the pair across from him.
"We really should wait for mama to get into all that," Zarra said, shifting uneasily at the looming threat of sharing that tale. "It's a long, unpleasant story, and I know you'll both have questions. Best to tell it once and be done."
"Very well, then I'll ask—" He and his daughter perked up at the same time upon hearing the distant creak of the front door and harried footsteps on the thick carpet. "It sounds like your mother is home. And in a hurry. Grimbold must have sent the stableboy running to her."
Frenetic energy struck Zarra then, and she rose jerkily to face the parlor door. She was filled with a whirlwind of emotion at the prospect of seeing her mother again: excitement, nervousness, anxiety, fear. She didn't know how her parents would react to the tale of mind flayers and elder brains, given their centuries in the Underdark, and she truly had no idea how her mother would take news of the engagement. After so long away, she didn't know what to expect. It was… Frightening.
She scrubbed her hands over her breeches once more, trying to hide the evidence of her nerves even though it was futile. If her clammy hands didn't give it away, the tension vibrating through her surely would.
The parlor door flew open, banging loudly against the plaster wall, to admit Taldra Tavariel. She entered in a tornado of midnight blue silks and violet skin. Her silver-white hair, usually impeccably coiffed, was wild with flyaways and loose tendrils as her pale, lavender eyes flashed. The petite woman froze as she saw her daughter for the first time in five years, and she trembled with barely-contained emotion.
"Zarra xund Taldra Tavariel, you have some nerve—what in the gods-damned Hells possessed you to stay away for so long? And with only the barest correspondence?" Taldra hissed, eyes narrowing at her only child as she seethed in the doorway. "Do you have any idea how worried your father and I were? We didn't know if you lived or-or… And then you just appear with a man in tow?"
"Hello, mama," Zarra croaked, tears appearing once more to choke her and make her voice thick with emotion. "We also have a dog, but he's in Waterdeep with Gale's sister."
"Where are you staying, Zarra?"
The flash of her mother's eyes had her sighing. "An inn nearby. We got a room this morning—"
"An inn? You're staying at—no. Which inn? Which room? I'll send a runner to collect your things. My daughter is not spending her first visit home in some musty, suspicious inn." She tugged a velvet rope to call a servant and zeroed in her wayward child once more. "You and your friend will stay here. I will not hear any complaints."
"Mama, it's fine, the inn isn't a crime hub or anything, it's actually quite nice—"
"Did I stutter, Zarra? I don't recall stuttering, but perhaps I'm going deaf in my dotage," Taldra said as a maid appeared with a silver tea service. "Thank you, dear. On the table, please. And please arrange for Grimbold to send a couple boys to collect their belongings from…"
She raised her brows expectantly at her daughter, waiting for the requested information so that her wishes could be carried out. Zarra still tried to protest, but Gale cut her off.
"It's the Golden Orchid, room 5. Please be careful of Zarra's dagger under the pillow."
"At least you haven't forgotten everything I've taught you," Taldra muttered, before turning back to the maid. "Have some of the boys collect their belongs from the Golden Orchid and set them up in Zarra's old room, please. I have a feeling that separate bedrooms would last only as long as it took for them to pick up a bag and walk down the hall."
The girl bobbed a polite curtsy and hurried out, closing the door behind with with a quiet click. Once that was complete, Taldra sank into the chair beside her husband's after dropping a kiss to his cheek. "Hello, dear. Is Lysanthir joining us for dinner tonight?"
"He was, but that was before our wayward daughter appeared on our doorstep. I'm going to write him to reschedule. He'll understand."
"What? No! Please, Lysanthir should join us," Zarra pleaded, settling beside her betrothed once more. "He's family, papa. He should be here too."
Gale leaned close to her and murmured, "Who is this?"
"Papa's lover. You'll like him, I promise," she whispered back, patting his arm.
"She's right, Ilphrin. Have Lysanthir join us, and make sure he stays the night. The two of you haven't been spending nearly enough time together of late, and it's making you surly," Taldra agreed. She busied herself pouring the tea, serving her husband first and daughter second. "Do you still take it with one sugar and lemon?"
"Yes, mama." She gratefully accepted the delicate china cup and saucer, the linden flower and green tea blend her parents preferred. It was the scent of her childhood and golden hours spent in this very room, listening to her parents bicker and laugh over friends, business, and family matters. She greedily inhaled the delicate scent and let those memories wash over her.
"And you, strange man, how do you take your tea?" Taldra asked, forcing her daughter back to the present.
"His name is Gale, mama."
"Milk, no sugar, please," he said. When he took the teacup, his large hands nearly dwarfed the delicate china. But Gale handled it expertly, years of precise handiwork giving him a grace that she'd always envied.
"Gale. Fine. I'd appreciate a proper introduction, young lady."
Zarra had to fight not to roll her eyes at her mother's antics. She couldn't blame her, but it was classic Taldra. "Mama, this is Gale Dekarios, Archmage and Wizard of Waterdeep. He's my betrothed. Gale, this hellion is my mother, Taldra Tavariel."
Taldra froze with her teacup halfway to her mouth, shock etched into each line of her body. "A wizard and a Dekarios to boot? Zarra, are you trying to send me to an early grave?"
"What? Don't be absurd," she spluttered, china clinking dangerously as she set it down harsher than she'd intended. "I know you don't like wizards because of the politics in the Northdark, but Gale is nothing like them—"
"Forget that. The bigger travesty is the clan he hails from. Tell me, Mr. Dekarios," Taldra said, turning the full force of her displeasure on the man beside her daughter. "Your mother is Morena, yes? And your sister is Araceli?"
"Yes, how did you know?" He sounded mystified.
"They are the owners and proprietors of Dekarios' Fine Goods. I'm going to have to insist that you end the engagement now. I'll not have my daughter marrying the son of my family's largest competitor." She lifted her chin imperiously, the expectation of being obeyed coating the demand, uncaring of its outrageousness.
"Mama, for fuck's sake—"
"Language!"
"—be reasonable! I'm not breaking anything off with Gale because of your business. That's ridiculous."
"It is extreme, Taldra," Ilphrin added, sipping his tea calmly as if none of this fazed him. His long years of experience with their disagreements had inured him to such spats. "Let's at least hear them out. What is this unpleasant tale surrounding your relationship that you've been putting off sharing? I think it's best we have all the facts before your mother demands anything else from you."
Taldra rolled her eyes, the expression eerily reminiscent of her daughter. "Fine. How did you two meet?"
"Well, I pulled him out of a malfunctioning portal after we narrowly survived a mind flayer nautiloid crash landing…"
"Don't forget, you crash landed the nautiloid, dearest," Gale said smoothly, smiling at her over the rim of his cup. "And you slapped my hand before deigning to help me."
"Bloody Hells, be serious, Zarra," Taldra huffed. "Tell us the truth or end this farce."
"This is the truth, mama. You asked how we met, and that's it," Zarra defended, voice steadier than she felt. She knew this wouldn't be an easy conversation, but such resistance from the beginning was enough to shake her confidence. "I was taken by the mind flayer ship less than a day after I left Candlekeep. Gale was taken in the wilds north of Waterdeep. We… we were infected—we're not now. That's the unpleasant journey we've been on these last months. We were searching for a cure and—" At her parents' disbelieving stares, she changed tack. "Did you hear about the elder brain in Baldur's Gate? The plot with the Dead Three and their Chosen? Gale, our companions, and I stopped it."
"We heard. Shit." Ilphrin shrank into himself and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You were infected?"
"Tha-that was you? You, my only daughter, destroyed an elder brain?"
Zarra nodded, searching for Gale's hand to anchor her in the face of her parents' despair. "Yes, we both did. I know this is incredibly upsetting to hear, but it's the truth. We can gloss over the worst of it, if you'd like, but our story is tied into the larger tale."
Her parents took a moment to settle themselves before sharing a long, silent look. An entire conversation unfolded between them in the span of a few heartbeats without a word ever being uttered. Zarra had seen them do that before, but it was always a sight to behold. She hoped to share that level of understanding with Gale someday.
"Tell us everything," Ilphrin said with a terse nod.
Gale squeezed her hand and dove into the story. He spared the worst details, but told her parents of their efforts to find a healer, of his struggles with the Netherese orb and Zarra's support, and their discovery of the cult of the Absolute. He told them of the astral prism and their dream visitor. When he struggled to speak of Volo taking Zarra's eye in a bid to rid her of the tadpole, she took over the story. She told them of the tieflings and druids, of the owlbear cub, and their run-in with the githyanki on the road to the creche and that particular disaster. A constant thread through it all was their mounting feelings for the other, spurred by her fears and his own woes.
When they reached Elminster's first appearance, Gale told them of his old mentor's stabilization of the orb and how, for the first time, he felt any sense of hope. His first thought was of properly wooing Zarra, but it was all dashed when he received orders from Mystra to use the orb to kill himself and the Absolute. He told them of his heartbreak at that news, and the realization then that he loved their daughter even as he knew he'd never get to hold her.
They spoke of fighting through Shar's curse upon the land, of meeting the Harpers near Moonrise Towers and the famous Jaheira—her mother actually gasped with excitement at that; Taldra had long been a fan of the stories of the other woman's exploits. They told her parents of lifting the shadow curse and saving Dame Aylin, the goddess Selûne's daughter from a century-long captivity.
They glossed over the start of their physical relationship, but spoke of admitting their feelings on what Gale believed might be one of his last nights alive, of the way Zarra's love for him, the man and not the magical prodigy, fueled him to defy his goddess and continue living. Her hope, her love, her stubborn refusal to let him die to assuage the bruised vanity of an uncaring goddess.
Her parents peppered them with questions as the story approached the better known parts that occurred in Baldur's Gate. Some were blown out of proportion or completely wrong, but they patiently answered every question and told the story of the dream visitor being a mind flayer using a githyanki prince's powers of resistance to the elder brain for his own purposes, his manipulations—the trip to the Hells, the underwater prison break, their battles against Bhaalspawn and Banites. By silent agreement, they avoided lingering on the gore of it all, and simply relayed the facts as best they could. Everything, from his updated directive to return the Crown of Karsus to Mystra after destroying the elder brain.
Gale told them in no uncertain terms of his deepening devotion to Zarra and the certainty that he would marry her and spend the rest of his life trying to make her happy, if they both managed to survive. And survive they did.
"So… the parasites, they're dead?" Taldra asked slowly, hand pressed to her throat as she watched them with wide eyes. All of their tea sat on the table, forgotten and cold.
"Yes, they perished with the elder brain," Gale assured her.
"And this orb in your chest—is it inactive now?"
"Yes—better, it is gone entirely. I reclaimed the Crown of Karsus and returned it to Mystra. In return, she removed the orb. It is no longer a concern." He ran a hand through his hair from where he leaned his elbows on his thighs. He looked haggard at retelling the tale. It was hard enough to live through it, and sharing the story with her family was downright draining.
Zarra felt as rough as he looked. "We all survived and are, arguably, better off than we were before this whole ordeal. Karlach and Wyll went to Avernus together to fight demons and find a fix for her heart. Astarion is helping to rebuild Baldur's Gate—he's been working with Ulder Ravenguard to clean up the mess the city is in, and Shadowheart is taking time to explore the world on her own terms. I think you'd like them, honestly. Halsin has relocated to Moonrise Towers and is helping to revitalize the land. Jaheira and Minsc are, presumably, still in the city with her family and the Harpers. And Lae'zel is working to overthrow Vlaakith. I honestly couldn't be prouder of them."
"And what will you two do?" Ilphrin asked, voice softer than it had been when they'd first broken the news of the engagement.
She stole a glance at Gale and charged ahead. "We're going to marry and live in Waterdeep. Gale is going to resume his work with Blackstaff Academy teaching and researching the Weave. And I would like to arrange a meeting between mama and Morena Dekarios."
"What? Why?" Taldra sat upright at that, all of her earlier furor returning in an instant.
"Because our families are joining, and this business rivalry needs to be turned into something more productive, like a partnership." Zarra leveled her mother with a determined frown, forcing herself to remain steady despite the nervous heat burning the tips of her ears. "Working together will open up new markets, new clients, a new region—just think of how beneficial this could be for Tavariel's Treasures."
"You're serious about this, aren't you?" Awe colored Ilphrin's voice before he started laughing. The others stared at him like he'd lost his mind, but he couldn't seem to stop. Between his guffaws, he somehow gasped, "This is—too good. Taldra. Didn't I tell you, Taldra?"
"You really think this is the best time to gloat, Ilphrin?" Taldra patted her hair, fingers working to remove the pins holding it in its precarious updo and allowing the pale strands to fall about her shoulders. "Really, you should know better."
"And you owe me twenty-five gold pieces," he said, wiping the mirthful tears from his eyes. "Zarra returns home and has a sound business proposition that you hate? This is the best day of my life."
"I do not hate it—I don't, daughter—but you must admit this is a surprise," Taldra argued, swatting at her still-chuckling husband. "And one that will require further consideration and at least one meeting with your betrothed's family."
Gale perked up then, smiling at the mention of his family. "They've actually asked that we extend an invitation to you, Ilphrin, and Lysanthir to stay with my mother in Waterdeep. She wishes to meet you all, both as potential business partners and as an extension of the family."
"Oh? That is… surprisingly kind of her," Taldra said, blinking at the wizard. "Thank you. When is this for?"
"Well, we haven't set the wedding date yet—we wished to coordinate with our families and ensure that this was welcome news—before doing so. But mother would be happy to host you for the weeks preceding the event and for some time after, as well," Gale said, eagerly chattering about their tentative plans. "We plan to provide ample notice of the festivities, of course, to make it as easy as possible for those dearest to us to attend."
"Yes, it will be some time yet, so please don't feel pressured to make arrangement right now," Zarra said, leaning against him. "It won't be anything elaborate—simple suits us fine—but we want to have time to heal, to give our families time to adjust, and give our friends time to heal too. Then we'll celebrate."
The clock atop the hearth chimed four times then, and they all turned as one to see the darkening sky through the windows. Zarra had to steady herself, having forgotten how early sunset was this far north in the winter.
"Goodness, we've been talking for hours," Ilphrin said, placing his untouched tea on the silver tray. "Your belongings should be here by now, so we'll let you settle in and clean up."
"Thank you, papa," Zarra said, following his lead. "Dinner is at seven?"
"Of course, that hasn't changed in all this time." He rose to drop a kiss atop her head, studying his daughter's face with all the warmth a proud father could muster. "It is very good to have you home, pet. I'm going to tell Lysanthir that there's a little surprise waiting for him…"
"Be sure to warn him not to wear that leather get-up. It's not that sort of surprise," Taldra scolded, a smile betraying her amusement at her husband and his lover. When Ilphrin moved to offer her a helping hand, she rose gracefully and circled to stand before the younger couple. "Gale… I don't know what to think of you yet, but you seem the honest sort. Tell me: Do you truly plan to love my daughter for the rest of your life?"
Gale straightened then, expression turning solemn as he met her gaze steadily. "Yes, I do."
"And do you plan to leave her heartbroken when your lifespan falls short of hers? Has that thought crossed your mind at all?"
"It has, and I've pondered over it at length. I'd considered the polymorphic route and becoming an elf so that our lifespans are more compatible; some preliminary research into the Wish spell seemed promising, but I quickly discovered I have no desire to live as a lich." He darted a glance at Zarra, hesitant but at her curious look, he barreled on. "But the solution has already been presented. I, ah, am one of Mystra's Chosen due to my abilities with the Weave. After the conclusion of our adventure with the elder brain, she offered me a gift. Two gifts, really. Not only did she remove the Netherese orb, she granted me a long life. A lifespan to match Zarra's. She called it a wedding gift."
The silence that fell over them was deafening. Zarra could swear that her heart stopped beating and that she could hear the air leaking from her lungs.
"Gale, why didn't you tell me about this before?" she breathed, unsure of what to think or feel in this moment.
It was a momentous gift, but from Mystra… She could only imagine the strings that came attached to it. Strings she knew Gale would accept out of a sense of duty, or debt, or possibly dedication. Though Zarra couldn't help questioning whether that dedication was to her or to the goddess who'd spurned him. She quickly banished that thought, knowing he'd accepted it for her sake as well as his own.
"Honestly, I'd planned to tell you the moment I returned from that meeting, but, if you'll recall, our time was, ah, interrupted."
"And in the weeks since?"
"…I had hoped to tell you as a nameday gift,"
"You romantic fool," she said with a watery laugh, throwing her arms around his neck and pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I don't need a gift, not with this news. I get to keep you forever, how is that not gift enough for at least one full year?"
He beamed at her, hand finding her soft curls and running through the strands out of habit. "You know me and my grand gestures. And I'm still getting you a proper gift, so don't bother arguing the point."
Taldra laughed at her daughter, shaking her head at her husband hovering quietly by the door. "They really do love each other."
"So it would seem," Ilphrin said gently. "Come, dearheart. Let's prepare for dinner and allow them to clean up. I'm sure the children are tired."
She turned back to her daughter and gestured for her to rise, waiting until Zarra did before wrapping her in a bone-crushing hug. "I'm so glad you are home and unharmed, my darling girl."
Zarra actually did cry then, clinging to her mother and embracing her like her life depended on it. "I've missed you, mama," she croaked into her mother's shoulder. "Through it all, I kept thinking to myself, 'Mama wouldn't give up. She would fight tooth and nail to come out of this intact, so how can I do any less?' You kept me going."
"Oh, my little dragon heart…"
The women clung to each other for another long moment, crying and swaying as they opened their hearts to each other. Mother and daughter, so alike as to grate at each other and so different as to be strangers by turn, were both too happy to be reunited after so long apart. Only the maid's squeak at the door drew them back to the present and reminded them of the evening ahead.
"Come, my girl. Let us clear the room so we don't inconvenience the staff," Taldra said, producing a fine cotton handkerchief to dab at her damp cheeks. "Your old room should be ready, and we will see you at dinner."
With that, they all went their separate ways to prepare for the evening ahead. When they were alone, Zarra lead Gale through the once-familiar halls towards the curving staircase in the foyer. They walked silently, too wrung out from an emotional afternoon to speak much on the trek. Zarra didn't even bother studying the halls for anything that might have changed—she'd have plenty of time the next day to go searching, and she'd drag Gale with her to every one of her favored haunts.
For now, she was simply relieved when she found the right door and threw it open to reveal a merrily crackling fire in the hearth and their belongings unpacked in her childhood armoire. Her lute was propped beside an old music stand, the sheet music all neatly bound with colorful ribbons atop a nearby desk. The four poster bed was still the same, and she was delighted to see that it would be plenty big enough for her and Gale to share. Fresh linens lined the mattress and plump pillows sang a siren song to her weary bones.
Gale, it seemed, had similar thoughts because he made straight for the bed and fell backwards, bouncing slightly on the plush mattress. "I don't know about you, but I am exhausted. Meeting the parents is harder than I thought it would be."
She bent to unlace her boots with a groan. "To be fair, my parents are probably more difficult than most. They aren't exactly what I'd call 'easygoing.'"
"I think they're protective of their daughter, and I can't say I blame them for it. You are rather precious."
"Bah." Her back popped deliciously when she stood to toe her boots off. Eager for a hot bath, she quickly began doffing the embroidered corset she wore over her billowy blouse. "I'm going to take a bath, and you really should join me. I think you'll be quite pleased with the amenities."
She tossed her shirt to land near his head, and couldn't stifle a bright laugh when it covered his face instead. Inspired, she repeated the action with her brassiere and hurried into the adjoining washroom. His exhaled curse made her laugh, any further mirth drowned out by the rush of hot water into a massive porcelain tub.
While the steaming water filled the tub, she gathered fluffy towels, sponges, and scented soaps and oils from their usual spots. It was one of the things she loved most about Neverwinter: piped in hot water from the hot springs under the city. Cooler water from the river was also available to temper the heat. Even their toilets flushed and filled with water, saving citizens from the indignity of chamberpots. The sewage system and magicked waste treatment facilities were unrivaled in all of Faerûn, and it was one of the many reasons she loved this city.
Zarra quickly adjusted the water to a few degrees short of boiling hot and added scented oil to the water. The aroma of lavender and rosemary wafted up on the steam to fill the room, greeting Gale as he stepped in shirtless and barefoot.
"Is that water—yes, of course it is. This is ingenious," he said, wrapping his arms around her from behind and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "And that tub looks big enough for the both of us."
"For us and Halsin, if we were so inclined," she teased, head falling back to rest on his shoulder. The delicious, warm wave of desire awakened in her belly at the sweet hug. It always did when Gale held her like this.
"Please don't mention his offer to share you to your parents," Gale begged. His hands drifted from her waist to cup her breasts, kneading the soft flesh and gently rolling her nipples until they hardened. "I don't think I can stand fielding questions about whether he'd make a better match for you."
She laughed at that and arched eagerly into his hands, loving the sparks of pleasure his touch sent through her body. "It's our secret. Besides, I'm perfectly happy with you—and as many copies of you as you'd like to provide."
He pressed his hardened arousal into the curve of her ass at that, pinching her nipples harder than intended. "Tease."
"Genuine offer," she corrected, pressing back against him. "We had fun that night with your simulacrum, remember? Would it be possible to create two at the same time?"
Gale ground against her again, his ragged moan skating over the shell of her ear and sending a shiver through her body. "And what would you do with three of me, I wonder?"
"I'd like to have you fill all my holes at once, for starters." Zarra moaned when his lips found her throat and began kissing and nipping the sensitive flesh there. "Maybe take both of them at the same time and make you watch, untouched, until they finished and left me full of their spend. Then I'd take care of you too, however you wanted. You'd have earned it—"
His groan had a rush of liquid heat pooling between her legs. "You say the wickedest things…"
"Only because I can't get enough of you," she breathed, forcing herself free of his arms to turn off the tap. She hurriedly shimmied out of her pants to stand bare before him. "Care to continue this in the tub?"
Gale's clothes hit the floor in record time and he was on her within moments. He captured her lips in a searing kiss, hands cupping her face and stroking her cheeks. The gently lapping waves of want turned into a torrent at his touch. Zarra couldn't get enough. She wanted all of him always, and she tangled her hands in his hair to anchor him against her. His arousal pressed against her belly, hard and hot.
Without breaking away from her lips, Gale maneuvered himself into the tub. Steaming water sloshed about his legs and he finally ended the kiss to carefully help her in too. When she went to sink into the bathwater, he stopped her with a squeeze of her hip.
"Sit on the edge of the tub and brace yourself against the wall," he directed, the command gentle.
Hot anticipation coiled low in her belly, and Zarra did as instructed. She practically quivered with excitement. It wasn't often that he made demands of her in such intimate moments, but she loved it when he did. She loved the way her muscles went soft and pliant at the loving orders he would issue, his quiet confidence making her melt with the desire to please him… He'd started out unsure, but grew bolder as he learned her body and she learned his. It was gratifying to see the shift, and she knew that giving him the reins would result in something rewarding for the both of them.
The cold porcelain on her ass and the cool tiles against her back had goosebumps peppering her skin, but she didn't mind the contrast with the hot water about her calves. It was rather delicious.
Gale took the opportunity to nudge her legs open with one of his knees, lowering himself before her. He didn't touch her beyond that, simply drinking in the image of her spread naked and ready before him. "If I were an artist, this is how I would paint you: flushed and unashamed, your eyes hazy with desire, and utterly trusting, opening just for me."
He lowered his mouth to her breasts, then, sucking one pebbled nipple between his lips to lave and nip until she released a ragged moan. It sent ribbons of golden heat from her breast straight to her core. She could feel the flood of arousal pooling between her legs, but she didn't care. She opened herself wider for him, the thought of him discovering his effect on her body making her even wetter. Zarra wanted him to know just how badly she wanted him, how brazen he made her. It would drive him wild in the best way.
His mouth released her nipple then, leaving it cold and painfully at attention in the steamy air. He trailed kisses along her sternum until he found her other nipple, tormenting it with the same adoration as its twin. Careful fingers pinched and rolled the abandoned nipple until it turned a lewd shade of aubergine from his ministrations.
Zarra was a panting, mewling puddle of need, and he hadn't even touched her where she wanted him most. He was determined to make her wait, it seemed, to see just how far he could drive her without ever touching her sex. Arousal coated her thighs and her core clenched around nothing. He'd even moved so that she couldn't close her legs to seek out the friction she so desperately needed, pinning her in such a way that only he could decide when to offer her the relief she needed.
She mewled and canted her hips, looking for something, anything to quell the throbbing between her legs. When she snaked a hand there to give her clit a few expert circles, Gale quickly snatched her hand away and made her hold the edge of the tub.
"Not yet," Gale rasped. When he drew back to look at her, his dark eyes were bright and cheeks flushed with lust. "Behave, or I'll leave you unsatisfied until tomorrow."
Zarra whimpered at the threat and gripped the lip of the tub until her knuckles paled. He studied her then, committing her wantonly heaving breasts and lewdly hard nipples to memory. When his gaze trailed to her glistening thighs and core, he actually groaned and gave his hard, leaking cock a few strokes where it bobbed above the bathwater.
"You are exquisite," he ground out, slowly pumping his hips against his hand.
Her mouth watered with the desire to take control and swallow him down until he was pumping into her mouth instead. But she didn't move. She chose instead to obey him, knowing that her patience would be rewarded—it would just be according to his plans.
She allowed her legs to open wider, spreading her folds and offering him a glimpse of her throbbing core. Her skin was so hot that the air felt cool against her clit. The contrast pulled a moan from her throat.
"Gale, please, touch me," she begged, uncaring of how needy she must sound. "I-I need…"
He raised a hand to her inner thigh, holding her open for him and falling purposely short of where she needed him most. "Touch you like this?"
Zarra shook her head, practically trembling with unfulfilled need. His touch was hot and familiar, so much so that she half-expected his palm to brand her thigh. She honestly wouldn't mind if he did. She'd be marked as his forever.
His other hand ghosted up her leg to rest on her hip, squeezing gently. "Tell me what you want, Zarra."
"I want you to fuck me," she breathed, peering at him from under half-lidded eyes.
Gale released a strangled noise at her blunt words and moved the hand on her thigh to toy with her aching clit. He wasn't gentle, instead working her firmly to drive her to the edge with the motions he knew she loved best. Her sharp cry echoed through the tiled room and her legs locked about his hips, drawing him so close that the head of his cock slid between her folds.
He dropped his head to the crook of her neck at the warm, wet heat of her, trailing kisses and gentle bites along her collarbone. Skilled fingers continued to circle her clit, demanding and unforgiving, as he forced her right to the precipice. When her thighs quivered about his waist and her panting mewls became silent pleas, he pinched her little bundle of nerves and retreated once more.
"No, please—don't stop," she begged, holding him tightly in place with her legs.
Her hands still hadn't left the edge of the tub, forcing her back to arch as she fought to keep him pressed against her.
His only response was to chuckle and press a chaste kiss to her parted lips. "Do you trust me?"
Zarra nodded wordlessly, panting with unfulfilled want. She'd thought herself needy before, but her nerves and sinews screamed for release now. The storm contained in her skin needed to break, and his touch was the key to releasing it. She would give him anything, let him have her any way he wanted, so long as he kept touching her and let her finish too.
Without another word, he pried her hands from the lip of the tub and arranged her so that she was kneeling in the water with her back to him. He spread her legs and pressed her hands against the porcelain once more. Gale even took the time to arrange her hair over one shoulder so that he had full access to the curve of her back.
Anticipation rocked her then, and she arched her back further in invitation. He massaged the globes of her ass for a moment before his fingers delved into her folds again. His thumb rested against her clit as he pressed two fingers into her slit, gently scissoring in and out to stretch the delicate muscles of her cunt.
She whined and pressed herself back against his hand. The beautiful intrusion felt good, but it wasn't enough. She needed more.
"You feel so good," Gale crooned, adding a third finger. "I wish you could see—so beautiful to see my fingers disappearing into you."
"You should use your cock instead," she panted, hoping desperately he would take the bait and give them both what they wanted. "I bet that's prettier."
He pulled his fingers out of her and playfully swatted her ass, cutting her pathetic whimper short. "As my lady wishes. Tell me how you want this."
"Hard, and as soon as possible." Zarra turned to toss him a breathless grin over her shoulder, careful to keep her hands where he wanted them. "Please."
Expression set, Gale lined himself up with her entrance and fully hilted himself in one thrust. Their strangled moans melded at the connection, and sparks flared behind her eyelids. She always needed a moment to adjust to his girth and the way he stretched her open. When she managed to catch her breath enough to grind back against him, his gratified groan had her clenching about him.
Gale moved, then, withdrawing to thrust back into her as he set an unforgiving pace. The sounds of their flesh mingled with the lapping of the water against the sides of the tub. Zarra eagerly met every thrust, pressing herself against him to heighten the feeling of him pressing into her. Breathy curses and unintelligible pleas danced over her lips as she fluttered around his cock. Heat, thick and golden, suffused her limbs and had her toes curling with pleasure. He kept one firm hand on her hip to hold her in place while the other snaked around to circle her clit once more.
He was unrelenting, determined to feel her fall apart around him before he found his own end. She knew that it was his goal—he was always attentive and considerate of her pleasure—and she gave her body over to him completely. His fingers on her sensitive bud had the heat coiling tighter and burning brighter. She was awash in the sensations he so easily commanded from her, like a conductor before an orchestra. She was his instrument, his canvas to create upon, and she loved it.
Zarra bucked and trembled against the onslaught of pleasure, gasping as he led her to that precipice and over the edge. She came around him with a wordless cry, quaking as she shattered and stars burst behind her eyes. When she came back to herself, her cheek was pressed to the cool porcelain of the tub and Gale's hips stuttered against her.
His own end sounded with a gasp of her name as his spend filled her, hot and thick. Gale collapsed against her and wrapped his arms tightly about her waist. His breathing was ragged, but it didn't stop him from pressing gentle kisses to her shoulder and neck.
"Have I told you lately that I love you?" he asked, sliding his softening cock from her. With a gentle swipe of a finger and a murmured word, he erased the mess of their coupling.
Zarra slowly twisted to slide down in the warm water and face him. "Not in the last hour, but I'll let it slide."
Gale chuckled, moving so that she was between his legs and pressed against his chest. "You are too generous, my love."
She hummed happily and relaxed in his embrace. "I love you too."
They sank into a comfortable silence as their heart rates returned to normal and breathing evened once more. She kept her eyes closed and allowed her mind to wander, the steamy air and hot water lulling her to a place of peace. Before Gale, she couldn't recall the last time she'd felt so at-ease. It was a marvelous feeling—there was no looking over her shoulder with him, no wondering when a nasty temper or cruel streak would reveal itself. No, there were no cruel words or harsh actions. If anything, he was far too selfless. She hoped to help him overcome his compulsive need to prove himself by bending over backwards for everyone he met, but that would be the work of years, not hours.
She was more than happy to support him on that journey, but he needed to help himself first.
"Gale," she started.
"Yes, dearest?"
"What does Mystra expect of you in exchange for her generous gift?"
His thumb stroked soothing circles against her belly and he dropped a kiss to the side of her head. "I am still one of her Chosen, if that's what you're asking. There will be the occasional task in and around Waterdeep, but nothing to rival her requirements of Elminster, for example. She has plenty of other Chosen to see to those."
"And she's agreed to that?" Zarra asked, eyes staying stubbornly shut.
"Yes." Gale tightened his hold on her then, assuring her with his touch that he meant what he said. "I promise, you are my first priority. Giving her the crown and the orb was more than enough to earn her pardon and take back control of my life. The full extent of my gifts have returned to me, and I fully intend to use every tool at my disposal to make sure our lives—yours and mine—are happy ones."
"I believe you, 'chev," she said, squeezing his wrist fondly. "I just… worry. I know the stories of what's been required of her Chosen before—Elminster's memories, commanding Laerel to work as Open Lord of Waterdeep—and I don't want to see anything bad befall you."
"Then you will simply have to join me on those adventures and watch my back," he answered, gently guiding her chin to press a butterfly-light kiss to her lips. "Nothing happens unless we both agree to it. I hope you trust me when I say that you are my first priority, now and always. I will tear the stars from the sky before I let anyone or anything come between us."
Zarra returned the kiss and stroked a hand over his beard. "I trust you, Gale, you know I do. Just… I worry."
"I know, my love, but there is nothing we cannot handle together."
She swallowed her other fears and kissed him again before moving to begin washing off. There would be time to sort through it all later. Right now, she needed to prepare him for dinner with her family and make sure they were both sufficiently presentable to meet her mother's exacting standards. As well as the initial meeting had gone, Zarra knew it was going to require still more to cement her parents' approval of the match. Luckily, she and her wizard were up to the challenge.