Work Text:
“Darling, I think it would be best if you stopped trying to remember the past for a while. I’m worried about your nose bleeding.” He admits to them, the smell of fresh blood still clinging to the air. He leans back from them, looking them over, their upper lip still a little discolored from the strain of memory.
“Oh trust me, I have no desire to recall anything more about history. My head aches immensely. I’m exhausted.” He smiles softly, sitting down on the couch, a damp cloth in hand as they look at him, allowing him to clean their face, their eyes sliding closed as they let him care for them in the aftermath of their self discovery. Or perhaps, rediscovery. He can’t stop the gentle, sincere smile that has become his resting expression. He loves them. He loves them and they love him.
When the time comes for Gortash to die, he can only imagine their reaction will be complicated. The feelings they had had for the slaver would not be easy to deal with while they assisted in his murder. But he would not be alone in helping them through it, as well as whatever Karlach felt after the man who ruined her was dead.
“How about you rest your eyes for a moment? I’ll call the others.” He suggests, still holding them close, waving at his head to indicate the tadpole. Solace sighs, nodding into his chest before extricating themself from him, dark, stressed circles under their eyes. The tiefling walks over to the bed they share, laying on their side and pulling him to sit by them, using his thigh as a pillow. Their arms link around his knee and they, so exhausted from the confrontation with Gortash and the emotional turmoil they had then parsed, immediately fall into a heavy sleep.
For a quick moment, he simply looks at them. He sees the smeared constellation makeup, the stress lines and exhaustion that crease their otherwise fairly youthful face. Again he does not know how he got so lucky. To have this sweet person, who had been masquerading as a killer for so long, finally break free and choose to love him.
“ I don’t know if I deserve you, but I will always love you. Even if you leave. Even if I do. Even if we don’t last forever. I will always love you. ” He breathes to himself and the tadpole keeping him company. His cold fingers card through the tiefling’s hair, drawing a contented sigh from them as he does, their face nuzzling into his clothed thigh.
He smiles and picks up the book he had been reading, alerting all his tadpoled friends to return to the tavern as quickly and surreptitiously as possible. He doesn’t expect that the various individuals he travels with know the meaning of the word ‘covert’ but he can hope Gale has enough magic to spare.
Jaheira and Halsin have been told. How did that meeting go? Is everything okay? How’s Solace? Wyll’s mental voice is as warm as his spoken tone, his concern for the paladin clear even without asking directly. A cacophony of similar questions murmur along the tadpole’s connection, allowing Astarion to smile and relax a little, realizing just how tense he had been. He’s not the only person who cares about the paladin, and they will all at least listen.
It was… informative. Solace is well enough, but please do be quiet when you return. They are exhausted.
The quiet ascent of the tadpoled individuals once again makes him smile, looking down at Solace’s resting body. They are loved. They are not alone in this. Nor is he.
Solace does not have long to rest, as they jolt awake when their slumbering mind conjures a scenario for the inevitable revelation that has their heart beating wildly. Their arms holding so tight to his knee he lets out an undignified shout of pain.
Even after the affirmations the tiefling had come to, they are terrified of the conversation that had to happen. The allies had started to trickle in about twenty minutes ago, and Solace had not stopped pacing until Astarion had made them sit in a chair and drink some water. With everyone now gathered, they were about to begin speaking when everything started to fall apart.
There is a loud, demanding knock on the door. The suite falls quiet, the gathered friends of the tiefling paladin, eager to learn what had been discovered, do not fail to witness Solace's flinch. Karlach's hand settles on her friend's shoulder, promising safety and protection. The paladin's face creases in misery, dreading the moment the woman finds out the depths of their previous involvement with Gortash. It had only been about an hour and a half since they had returned; Solace only slightly calmed from their interrogation and mild assault. The entire camp was returned from their scouting or research, and Solace had been about to ask everyone to gather close so they could inform them of the earth shaking reality of their relationship with Gortash.
Jaheira answers the door, her aged face a mask of irritation. The frown increases at the sight of whoever had come to call. Astarion hears four new heartbeats on the other side of the door. He could be mistaken, but he could swear there were people waiting at the back door as well. He takes Solace’s hand in his, providing what comfort he could. He glances at the friends around him, their eyes and postures now preparing to defend this camp. Wyll in particular has his eyes on Jaheira, his summoned rapier in hand while he stands ready to attack whoever made a move through the door he stands aside of.
"What." The half elf bites, the door barely open enough to allow the soldiers to see her, let alone anything else about the room.
"The Archduke requests the presence of his husband." A commanding, deep voice informs the harper, a proud lilt to the tone. They speak with the power of the Archduke and they will gladly wield the secondhand influence.
Astarion watches Solace crumble; their hands shaking madly, eyes wide and terrified. He hears their heart beat a frantic rhythm. Their hands flex, their tail lashes. They cannot look at Karlach, the woman’s eyes furious and horrified. He isn’t sure what she’s mad about, Gortash making a demand, or the idea that Solace was his husband. He can hope the woman’s rage is pointed at the man who would kill all of them, but he has been wrong before.
“I was going to tell everyone right now. I swear, Karlach. I promise nothing has changed. We’re going to kill him. I swear. Please believe me. ” The paladin’s voice is a breath, a whisper of contrition, abject terror that Karlach would be betrayed by this information. They cannot look at the woman, their panic, their fear freezing their body and mind.
Karlach’s gaze stares into him, looking for denial. Looking for any sign that her friend, the person who gave her back the ability to touch, who held her and kissed her so kindly, was not married to the man who destroyed her. Astarion feels his face fall into a stony expression, unable to lie to her. The woman’s face shifts from anger to horror, taking to kneel by Solace, her fiery hands on the paladin’s forearm.
“You don’t have to go, Solace. We can kill these idiots and save the Gondians. It’s okay. Look at me. Please.”
Solace’s head tilts up, expression terrified.
“You don’t have to go. You don’t.” The tiefling woman kisses the back of Solace’s hand and wipes away a terrified tear. The paladin hisses a response that sparks absolute fury in his chest.
“He’ll kill the hostages if he thinks you got information out of me. He needs to know I’m safe.” He will not send them back to that man. Karlach’s expression says she agrees, her head nodding in agreement with his words when he denies Solace the opportunity to endanger themselves.
“Absolutely not. He has no respect for your choices, Solace. Even if someone went with you-”
“He’s a tyrant, Astarion. He’ll send everyone after us. We don’t have time- ”
“Then I’ll come with you! We have enough potions-”
“We have three and no spell scrolls. And they need you for the Iron Throne! If you hit the prison and the foundry at the same time-”
“He’ll think you told us and kill you if you’re lucky!”
Jaheira’s voice cuts over the tense, breath-loud whispers. She had not hesitated in her response to the presumed soldier she faced.
“Our leader is resting, I’m sure his husband would have told you the importance of not disturbing his healing. Or would you like to explain to the Archduke why his husband suffers immense pain?”
Jaheira occasionally reminds him she is a spymaster. Someone immensely talented with acting on new information, and he cannot imagine a person better suited to convincing whoever was on the other side of that door to go away.
A moment of silence from the soldier allows everyone save Jaheira, to gather around Gale, the man drawing a magic circle on the floor. He uses the tadpole to explain his actions, his thoughts focused but tense, shocked at the revelation of Gortash’s apparent relationship to Solace. The various tadpoles of the group resonated within the racing minds of their hosts; frantic and quietly demanding explanations.
Rolan gave me the rune to Ramazith’s tower. From there we can go elsewhere, but most importantly it is warded from scrying magic and unauthorized transportation. I have already asked his consent for arrival and he is expecting us. We should prepare to be unable to return to this suite until Gortash is dealt with. Does everyone have their armor and weapons?
Everyone quietly gathers their bags, Jaheira still trying to tell the soldiers to go away. They were proving persistent, but the half elf seemed to be getting through to them.
“I am certain the Archduke would be disappointed when his husband is dragged half maddened by pain into his office. When he wakes, he will be told he is wanted. Not before.” The druid moves to close the door, a golden toed boot stopping the door’s movement.
“You play a dangerous game, half-elf. You act like you don’t know who Archduke Gortash is. What kind of power he has.”
“I can assure you, boy, that his husband has made it abundantly clear just who runs this city and how. It seems you have no idea who his husband is. If you value your lives, you will return to your master and explain that his husband wished to be undisturbed. You know the consequences of disturbing the Son of Bhaal, yes?”
Astarion smiles as he hears a distant heartbeat momentarily stall in terror. The druid knew better than anyone the power of Bhaal’s name, and her use of it proved once again how she had lived as long as she had.
“The Archduke expects him by the evening. Do not disappoint him.” The soldier’s foot disappears, Jaheira shutting the door and turning around to see the camp nearly entirely packed up. She nods, unsurprised, locks the suite door, and accepts the pack Minsc offers her. Astarion hears the sound of multiple heavy boots leaving the back door as well. He had not been mistaken, the Archduke had sent a contingent of soldiers to escort the person he claimed as his husband. Was it out of the desire to protect? To make a statement?
“It seems we have a great deal to discuss.” The druid breathes, a gentle hand on the shaken paladin’s shoulders. They smile weakly at the woman, squeezing the hand on their shoulder.
“Putting it mildly. Good news is I know how to take care of the Steel Watch, and save the Gondians as well. But we have to wait until we get to somewhere safe.”
Halsin carries Yenna in his arms, her expression worried but not scared. Scratch and the owlbear cub prepare to go as well. Astarion looks around for Withers but fails to find the poor excuse for a skeleton, so he imagines he already found somewhere to haunt. Shadowheart guides her parents into the circle first, as Gale finishes the final markings. One by one, the wizard following last, the comrades appear in Rolan’s tower. The tiefling looks mildly alarmed at the number of people suddenly in his new home, but he takes it in stride. Particularly when Solace explains that ideally they’ll all be gone before the day is done.
“My home is open to all of your friends needing safety. Just don’t expect me to clean up after the dog and… is that an owlbear?! ” The man’s voice shifts from practiced politeness to mild panic as he lays eyes on the feathered creature, one of its claws poking at a pile of books that immediately topples. It chirps in alarm and scuttles around to find Scratch, the dog already getting pets from Lia and Cal. The two siblings look afraid until Scratch makes his comfort abundantly clear. The two siblings tentatively reach hands out to touch the feathered creature, the happy chirps and rumbles immediately melting the hearts of the tieflings, ruffling its brow feathers. Rolan’s expression is one of immense disquiet.
“Yes it is. He’s a good boy, though. Here.” Solace is immediately distracted by handing Rolan a raw, roughly cut piece of meat, the man’s face grimacing as he touches dead flesh.
“Toss him this and give him some chin scratches. He’ll love you. I’m sure there’s a potion of animal speaking somewhere in this tower. He’s very sweet. Give him a chance, Rolan.”
“I refuse to make you any promises about the owlbear but I will do my utmost to protect everyone else.”
It takes fifteen minutes to get Yenna and the Hallowleaf’s settled in a set of spatially impossible rooms, but after that, Solace is sat on a chair, Astarion at their side, as they tell everyone what they had learned in Gortash’s office. The sitting room is tense but otherwise quiet, all gathered allies concerned but willing to listen. Karlach is the exception. She paces madly, trying to focus on anything but the man who sold her to the devil. Her fires burn hot, but she doesn’t burn anything.
“I’d like to focus first on how we need to hit the Foundry and the Iron Throne at the same time. Personal things will need to wait for a hot second because I know you all have questions. Just… be patient. Please. I… am going to break down when the-” The tiefling waves a shaking hand into the air as if to complete their sentence. No one forces them to talk about Gortash immediately. The tiefling inhales deeply, focuses, and begins to explain everything they had learned about the Steel Watch and the Gondian prisoners.
Solace does make it clear that to successfully disable the Steel Watch and save the Gondians, the two locations would need to be hit at the same time. The paladin, shaken but determined to outline the plan they had been silently working on, suggests that the Iron Throne team consist of themself, Astarion, Gale, Karlach and Jaheira, because as soon as Gortash knew that the submersible had left the dock, he would likely start the detonation sequence. Which meant less than a minute to get the prisoners out. The paladin exhales, shuddering slightly as the reality starts to set in. All of these allies, these friends, would soon be staging coordinated attacks on two of the most heavily defended locations in the city.
“We’d need everyone to be fast. Focused. There are three holding chambers, but a few side corridors as well, which Astarion and myself would be best suited to investigating. We should make sure we have potions of speed and teleportation. Gale, you can make linked teleportation gates, correct?”
“Indeed. A wise choice of spell for getting innocent people to safety, although that would mean we could not then teleport to the foundry.”
“With Lae’zel, Wyll, Minsc, Halsin, Shadowheart, and a few summoned allies, I have every faith in them doing just fine until we arrive. And I know damn well the Gondians will want revenge. Additionally, you should all know how to disable the fucking motivational collar crystals.” The paladin’s voice reverberates with equal disdain and frustration as they describe the collars and the motivation sequence. It’s a fairly simple process, and those going to the foundry agree they can manage to disable them.
The plan for the foundry is genuinely more concerning in his mind. The Iron Throne is guaranteed to be at most a partial success, the Foundry is much more likely to be a blood bath, but try as he might, he can’t imagine sending anyone from the submersible to the foundry. Solace would send themself to the foundry if anyone asked, but so far, no one had.
With the plan set, a few minor alterations to give each team the best chance to succeed, Solace’s discomfort shadows the authority and certainty they felt just a moment before. The tiefling exhales, rubbing their eyes. No one speaks, Astarion putting a comforting hand on their shoulder, the tiefling nodding in thanks. They exhale, and the explanation tumbles out of their mouth like a dam breaking.
“I didn’t know until I fucking got there. Until he.. He told me he knew my old name and I didn’t see a way to convince him to trust me without hearing it, and… fucking hells it was so much. My head still aches. I can’t… I don’t have any real answers, I’m sorry. It’s just… fractured memories and feelings that feel like mine but aren’t .”
Solace tells all of their friends what happened. What Astarion had to witness and was unable to stop. Wyll’s eyes are soft as he silently asks him if he’s alright. He isn’t, and the warlock can see it. It seemed neither he or Solace could go a day without being forced into a situation that brought to surface terrible memories and experiences.
I know you’d rather not, but if you do need to talk about it, I will listen. I can’t imagine it’s easy to watch Gortash lay his hands on them, regardless of the circumstances. The warlock’s mind whispers in his head, kind and warm. He tries to keep his face blank as he responds, but he knows himself. His face is somber whether he wants it or not.
It was not easy, no. The only consolation was they could communicate without his knowledge. Which they of course did not do. I… thank you for asking, Wyll, but this is not the time. When the man is dead, perhaps then I will want to discuss this. He tries his best to sound firm in his resolve. He does want to talk about how Solace’s willingness to throw themselves on the pyre affects him, but he is uncomfortable with discussing it both in his mind and in front of everyone else. He also wants to talk to Solace about it. Given everything they had been forced to remember of their relationship with Gortash, he did not want to burden Solace with his misgivings. In time, there will be a chance to talk to them about their mutual willingness to sacrifice themselves for the other.
“He called me his husband.” Solace’s voice states, wrought with misery and anger. Karlach growls and kicks a desk, shattering it like weak porcelain.
“I don’t know truly what that means to him. If there is some fucking, piece of my soul that is bound to him in a marriage ritual of Bane or if he’s just calling Zealir that because it’s significant. I don’t know. I… was the Chosen of Bhaal. I killed everyone I ever cared about as a puppet of Bhaal because the bastard wanted my complete dedication. He tried with Astarion when I refused to kill Isobel. I… hate him. I hate Gortash. He’s a slaver, a bastard, a tyrant and unashamedly evil. He needs to die and I’m going to help, Karlach. You will kill him.” Their eyes are wet and stern, looking at their friend, the woman they trust so much. The woman they would give anything to fix if they could.
“I have no idea what memories I’ll have come up when he dies. Hopefully none and I can dance on his grave with you, but we’re not an especially lucky group. I… will stay out of the fight if you want to kill him and avoid me ruining that moment.”
Karlach blinks, looking at the paladin she had so much love for, telling her they will stand aside if their old memories might ruin her enjoyment of murdering a man. She pulls them into a hug and mutters so low Astarion can only barely hear it.
“I love you. You do what you need. I’m going to enjoy killing him no matter what. I love you. The real you. The one that refused to die. He’ll die for what he’s done. For touching you like he owns you. I want you at my side when it starts at least. If you’re okay with that.”
Solace nods into the woman’s arms, burying their head in her shoulder.
The group has a few questions that Solace doesn’t have answers to, the Harper especially. The druid’s frustrated belief is clear, but she gives Solace a warm embrace that the tiefling very much needs, still shaken by everything that happened in only the last few hours. She murmurs that she is still on their side. Still willing to help them do better. Solace mumbles a quiet admission that they are very glad to have met the druid.
“I am glad to have met you too, cub. The real you.”
“Solace is a good choice, by the way. Fitting.” Shadowheart offers, continuing the line of people who offer Solace much needed hugs. The tiefling happily sobs and throws open their arms to encourage a group hug, which all but he accepts. He remains on the outside, still uncomfortable with so many people touching him. He gives a half hug to Karlach’s back, the tiefling woman smiling at him with wet, still angry eyes. She likely felt betrayed by the news, but she loved Solace.
The day is not over, even as the sun starts to fall and Halsin reminds everyone that Gortash would be expecting Solace by evening.
“We’d better get ready to disappoint him then.” Gale quips, holding out several scrolls of invisibility. As long as everyone left the tower invisibly, Rolan and the civilians would be safe until Gortash was dead.
Traveling city streets while invisible is difficult. No one gets out of your way, but Solace offers to carry him and fly while keeping an eye on their allies. He is happy to accept, a little miffed when they scoop up his legs and carry him like a new bride. The paladin chuckles at his expression, kissing his forehead and telling him he’s the most beautiful bride they’ve ever seen.
“Well. At least you have taste this time around.” He hopes they don’t hate the joke.
“Asshole. You don’t know how good Gortash would look in a wedding dress. Imagine. He would absolutely have the most extravagant dress made.” He can’t see their face but their voice is smiling.
“True. The man can certainly accessorize. Still. My dress will be scandalous.”
“I’m sure Figaro will be thrilled to cater to our whims. The most unbearably extravagant moonlit wedding the city has ever seen. I wonder if Aylin can officiate weddings. Isobel surely can, but can you imagine getting married by the daughter of Selune herself? The papers would be talking about us for decades at minimum.”
He can’t see them, their invisibility spell well in place. He can’t even see his own body, but he knows the warm, strong arms of Solace are holding him close to their chest. He can hear and almost feel the beat of their newly reformed heart, steady, showing no signs of lying or even joking. Were they… serious? About marrying him? He grins to himself and buries his head where he knows their shoulder is.
“Nervous about falling? I can lower us down if you want.” Solace offers, thankfully missing his giddy expression.
“That would be nice, yes.” His voice is strained and he is immensely glad he can’t blush. He opens his eyes against what should be plate armor and chainmail to see that Solace has indeed lowered them to just above the rooftops of the wharf.
“They made it to the warehouse. It’s so fucking funny to watch everyone stumble around unable to see each other. Shadowheart and Lae’zel are holding hands so they don’t get lost. It’s so cute.”
“Oh come now you must show me. Come on, use the tadpole. I have to see this.” Solace chuckles and allows their view to become his, and he can’t stop the giggles that escape him as he sees the shimmering bodies of Shadowheart and Lea’zel, hand in hand, and clearly trying to pretend to hate it. He sees the sheepish smile on both of the women's faces.
“Aww. They’re so cute. Promise me we can tease them about it later.”
“Ha. Depending on how this goes, of course.”
Solace sets him down at the warehouse, telling everyone to get inside and that they will make sure the other team is secure.
“Never thought letting Volo stab their eye out would be of genuine benefit.” Gale remarks, a couple snorts of agreement in his ear as he unlocks the door, seeing a couple dozing Worgs.
“That’s how they got that eye? They trusted Volothamp Geddarm? And I’m following someone who thought that was a good idea?” The harper asks, genuine wonder in her voice.
“Yes.” Gale replies, his amused voice further in the warehouse. Astarion closes the door when everyone says they are inside. The worgs stir, sniffing for intruders, barking the alert to the others. They are quickly dealt with, as is his hunger for the next while. As a result, none of them are invisible any longer when Solace returns. The paladin is utterly undetected until he feels their heat behind him, their lips finding his cheek as their invisibility fails. He almost manages to stop the flinch, but he is still surprised by their presence enough to have his body react. Still, he smiles at the playful gesture.
“And here I thought I was the assassin.” He purrs, turning around and kissing their cheek as well.
“You’ve taught me bad habits. Also I couldn’t resist. Come on, Jaheira’s getting impatient.”