Chapter Text
The Devil’s Den. She had met with Raphael many times before but was never filled with this much dread. He was some sort of evil cambion bard, verbose but not foreboding, versed in iambic pentameter not ill-omen. He was rhymes and lullabies, cherries and sulfur. He seemed like he should be a character in a play whispering out his dastardly plans to the audience while standing on stage right.
The desperation of the Illithid voice in her mind raged and howled as she walked across the balcony to the ornate door carved with the likeness of a devil. The rage shivered down every vertebra one after the other, demanding to be heard. She refused it.
“What are we doing here?” Gale demanded. “You can’t honestly want to make a deal with the devil.”
Tav eased him gently, running her hand down the Karsite scar on his chest. “He helped Astarion understand the Rite, he might have other information at a price we’re willing to pay.” She knew what he wanted the last time they visited: the Crown of Karsus. Gale’s latest obsession.
“You know what he wants,” Gale pounced. “He wants the Crown.”
“And my Prince requires rescue.” Lae’zel reminded him firmly. “The perfumed trickster inside will provide us the means to rescue him for only a small price.”
Gale’s jaw clenched firmly. Ascension. She knew Gale thought that would solve all their problems. In his mind they would be together for eternity, wanting for nothing, infinite in power. Gale had dreamed of what Goddess that Tav would become. At night, when they lay together, he told her of his imaginings of her as the Goddess of Regrowth. The Goddess of Winter. The Goddess of Snow. She was all of these goddesses, currently residing in flesh in his mind, and he wanted her to pick one. He would trace the path of her white scales on her human form and regale her with stories of how much they would shine when she was with him in Elysium.
“This deal will only spell trouble for all of us,” Gale countered. “You will save your people from the Grand Design only to doom them further.” Tav could feel the pinpricks of the Emperor’s eager agreement to her paramour, but she did not care to remind him mentally that he never gave a shit about Lae’zel’s people or any of them at all.
Raphael’s prior deal had been tempting. They would gain the tools needed to defeat an Elder Brain and would finally be free from the looming dread. The Grand Design would be over. Raphael even promised to throw in a lavish dinner at the House of Hope at the conclusion of their adventure, allowing her band of mighty heroes to celebrate their victory in style.
Gale couldn’t ascend. Gale couldn’t have that power.
Gale couldn’t leave her.
She took a quick look behind her and saw the panic on his face. He was trying to hide it behind a mild scowl and his glorious beard. Tav knew that Gale's closest friend hated his beard, but she melted every time the lips within went to her neck and the bristles tickled. He quickly shook his head in warning not to knock at the door.
Tav didn’t want to lie to Gale, but she knew the terrible row they would have if she told him the truth. She had come to read Raphael’s deal, and likely, sign it. Their terrible predicament would have a path to resolution. A path to redemption , Raphael had called it. Forceful eviction of their other tenant. She had purposely left Wyll and Karlach back at camp, knowing how disapproving they would be of what was about to occur. She wanted to have left Gale back as well, but he forcefully demanded that wherever his beloved went, so he too would go. So, she reluctantly agreed to drag him along to a meeting that would break his heart and destroy his dreams. The dread pooled deeply in her abdomen. This was the only way to be free of the tadpole - or it was the only way that relieved the guilt at her lack of faith.
Lae’zel stood proud, eager for her to knock on the door and grant her the path to Prince Orpheus’s freedom. When Tav hesitated, she urged her on. Enter. Go.
Tav could feel the sweat on her palms. She took a deep breath and whispered silently to herself. You know Infernal. He won’t be able to trick you with hidden loopholes. She researched Cania and Hellfire magic at the university, though sorceresses were often not accepted in academic circles. Her research was about to be put into practical use, though she wished the stakes weren't so high.
Gale’s face had drifted from furious into stony. His rage had hidden but not extinguished behind his eyes. He knew they were there about the Crown, despite whatever story she tried to tell him.
Tav ignored his gaze and placed three firm knocks on the door.
She had to do it. They would both just have to deal with the consequences.
“Come in,” the deep voice purred from behind the door. Tav opened it and entered.
“Ah, my most cherished client.” Raphael’s face was smug. He was wearing his human guise and gave a grand gesture of welcoming with a smile. “Please, please, come partake of the Devil’s Den where we have no shortage of sins to enjoy.”
Raphael strode to his desk, crossing his legs as he lounged in an ornate chair behind it. He gestured again to three ornate chairs opposite him. Tav seated herself in the center, but both Gale and Lae’zel elected to stand.
“Now tell me,” he purred. “What can I do for my most favored client?” He cocked a brow and leaned back, relaxing into the silence.
Tav wasn’t going to be put on the back foot so early into a negotiation. She leaned forward and rested her head in her hands. “I thought you always claimed to be a good host.” Raphael’s eyes narrowed before widening again with a smirk. He snapped and a bottle of wine appeared with four goblets. He waved and a mage hand poured and served each glass. Tav took hers but the the mage hand had to leave the other two in front of Gale and Lae'zel. Tav and Raphael each took sips from their own goblets, but the ones before the other two were left deliberately untouched.
“I imagine you are not just the famished coming to feast, but there is a reason you have come knocking at my door.” Raphael countered, now that his abilities as host could not be challenged.
“We have come to deal,” Lae’zel finished for her. “We have come to negotiate for the Orphic Hammer.” Raphael’s brow lifted quickly and his smug smirk brightened. Tav stiffened, and she thought she could audibly hear Gale turn to her in betrayal and anger. What she had wanted to hide from him was now completely out in the open. She was going to accept the devil's deal. Tav tilted her head slightly to Gale and saw his face completely red and his hands shaking. His eyes were forced closed. Tav winced at how much this must be hurting him.
“Aha!” Raphael exclaimed triumphantly. “Are you now?” His voice held a cocky musicality. He always knew they would come knocking at his door, and as much as it hurt to admit it, he was always right.
“Yes, Devil. We have come to negotiate for the Orphic Hammer," Lae'zel repeated, becoming more annoyed and impatient at Raphael's lazy interactions.
Raphael turned to Tav directly, still holding her goblet and asked again. “You are the only one with whom I wish to make a deal. Are you here to make a deal with me?” Smugness radiated off of him. Tav paused, and Lae’zel gave her a look that was surely going to result in Gith expletives if Tav wasn’t forthcoming.
She swallowed and refused to look back at Gale who was likely trying to summon multiple Scorching Rays into the back of her skull.
“Yes, Raphael, I am here to make a deal for the Orphic Hammer.” Tav spoke plainly, knowing that any attempts at subterfuge would result in a much more complicated contract to read when the actual signing came.
Gale immediately stiffened, and she knew she there was no way to deny that she had lied to him on several occasions. She knew him well enough to understand that his fears were contorting and consolidating into a verbose rage that probably would require a dictionary the morning hence. He stormed out of the Devil’s Den to return to camp without another word spoken between them. Tav hadn’t wanted him to be here for this, and she felt a heavy pang of sadness that he had decided to join.
“My Little Mouse,” Raphael started, the excitement in his voice palpable. “Then I believe we should get started with the contract I prepared.” He snapped his fingers and a pitch black piece of parchment appeared in his hands. Even in his human guise, his grin widened and his eyes glowed. Tav felt like she could feel flickers of his cambion gaze break through his glamor. He handed her a document aglow with the fiery runes of an Infernal contract.
“I had this prepared for you, in hopes you would return.” Raphael rolled up the scroll and passed it to her. She unfurled it, starting to read the runes within. The infernal script danced in front of her as she tried to parse its meaning, but this wasn’t her first time reading and translating Infernal language. She rolled it out fully over the desk to get a better scope of what legalese awaited her. Raphael leaned over, amused at her reading. Her fingers traced firmly over the runes, reviewing the translations.
“Do you require assistance?” Raphael taunted. He leaned back in his chair again, waiting for a reply.
“No.” She didn’t need his help. He would have demanded additional clauses if she agreed to any additional services. Raphael would never do anything for free. The devil always received what was owed to him.
Lae’zel was waiting eagerly but impatiently. Her armored boot tapped against the wood floors of the Devil’s Den in an eager impatience. Tap. Tap. Tap. Orpheus. Tap.
Tav blinked and took a deep breath, hoping Raphael wouldn’t notice the momentary lapse of focus. His brow raised slightly, before he relaxed again, appearing disinterested. The language was intentionally complex, written to confuse rather than educate. She took her time and traced each rune. She occasionally sipped at her goblet while ruminating on the meaning held within the runes. They were sharp and jagged and angular - nothing like her Common language writing which was looping and gentle. As with all Infernal text, the true meaning was held deeply within.
Raphael’s smile widened as she persisted. His Mouse was a clever one.
“Shall I translate?” Raphael taunted. They both knew that he had to be honest in their dealings, but every moment of weakness would set her back some sort of irrational and irritating demand of his.
“Raphael, I am only taking my time.” Tav breathed in and out deeply, internally trying to regain some sense of control over the accursed document while remaining calm in front of the accursed devil. The distracting foot taps from her Githyanki colleague were not helping.
“Of course, my dearest Mouse, we have all the time of the Hells.” Raphael sat back and continued to drink his wine. He studied her with uncomfortable concentration as she continued to read.
“Crown for Hammer… Unable to invade mortal realms…” Tav started to roughly translate aloud as she read her contract. Raphael raised an eyebrow but didn’t say another word as her monologue continued. “Soul collateral… Tavara Aureum.” Tav looked him straight in the eye, though she was numb from so much horrible legal writing. “Why just my soul?”
Raphael checked his nails uninterested in her question. “Why would I want the others?”
“Are they safe from you if I fail?” Tav responded nervously. The Little Mouse was fatigued and nervous, and Raphael found this state delightful.
“Would you like them to be collateral, my darling?” he responded again, still uninterested in her concerns.
“No,” Tav responded firmly. Lae’zel gave an affectionate and approving noise, though it seemed more like a tut than a hum.
“Very well.” Raphael finished falsely examining his nails and continued to watch his favorite client read. She paused at the bottom of a page on some sort of footnote referencing an appendix. Oh Gods, how many appendices did he include?
“Something wrong?” Raphael challenged. The Mouse bit.
“No,” Tav fought back. She thought back to all of her wizard colleagues who disregarded her because of her innate sorceress gifts of winter and storms. Ignorant sorceresses could not study the arcane. Dragon Children were too spoiled to be able to truly understand Hellfire. Raphael clearly believed in the same fashion that Little Mousies could not understand his writing.
There was one clause that caused a multitude of rereadings. She had a hard time deciphering it and didn’t know its meaning. “Pater….” she almost tried to sound it out, the rest of the word huddled in her chest, locked in ice. “Pater…” she repeated again. It was part of a line, a subclause for Raphael’s duties to her. He had agreed to protect her something something pater something.
Tav could do this by herself, and she definitely didn't want his help. He was not going to translate, and he was not going to read it to her like she was a child.
Raphael watched her intently. Lae’zel’s foot tapped impatiently.
“Give me the quill, I’m ready to sign,” she declared triumphantly.
Wordlessly and with an unreadable expression, Raphael handed her a quill and ink. Lae’zel’s eyes burned through her as she signed the contract. The resident devil clasped his hands in joy before snapping and handing Lae’zel the Orphic Hammer.
“Thank you,” Tav deadpanned, fatigued and still frightened of Gale’s reaction.
“Thank you, Devil.” Lae’zel didn’t bother waiting for a response before heading back to camp. She was out of earshot before Raphael responded to her. Delight was a new look on his face that she had never seen before.
“You are most welcome, my Lady.”
*****
When she returned to Gale at camp, he was hiding: fuming in his tent. Tav approached him, hoping she could lure him forth so they could speak.
“Gale, please come out. I want to talk,” she pleaded quietly, so the entire camp couldn’t hear her.
“You didn’t want to talk before, and I certainly don’t want to talk now,” He bit back angrily. She paused, sadness biting at her and a horrible feeling of tension lay beneath her sternum.
“Please, Gale. Please talk to me.” Her voice became lower, and before she realized it, she was softly begging him to leave his tent or welcome her inside.
The reply became short and stiff. “There is nothing for us to talk about.”
“Gale…” she took a sharp breath. “I did it for you.”
Incensed, he sharply stood up and ripped the tent flap open to stare at her in the face. Fat tears were rolling down her cheeks and her look pleading. Mocking, he raised his voice so everyone could hear him. “For me? You threw away everything that I wanted and dreamed of. You discarded all of my gifts and all of my ambitions for what ?” His voice was now a shout, emphasizing his final question. All of her companions in the camp turned to stare at the two of them.
“Prince Orpheus!” Tav could hear Lae’zel call from behind her. Gale’s face became red and angry. He was obviously not expecting a third party to intrude.
“My love,” Tav pleaded, her voice missing the any confidence she might have had at her negotiations with the devil. The confident, competent front she wore meeting with Raphael had eroded, leaving behind only a weak vulnerability. Tears continued to fall, freezing on her cheekbones when they hit patches of scales.
“Do not call me your love. I gave, and I promised. You took, and you keep taking. You stole godhood from us, Tav. We could have been together for eternity.”
“Gale, Mystra would have ended you. I couldn’t let her hurt you.”
“Why will I never be good enough for you?” Gale challenged. He prodded his finger at her, which lightly struck the sensitive patch of scales on her chest that mirrored his own scar from the Orb of Karsus.
“You were always more than enough…” Tav continued to cry, but her pleas went unheard. Gale’s face became red again and he turned away quickly.
“I will help you defeat the Elder Brain, but then I never want to see you again, Tavara Aureum.” He threw his hands up in a grand gesture of exasperation. “I’ve wasted too much of my energies on you. We will get rid of these tadpoles, and then that’s the end of us.”
“Gale… Waterdeep…” Tav started to wail. Some sort of dam inside her broke, her magic swirled angry and chaotic. Her fingers crusted with ice that she could no longer control.
“When all of this is over, I am going back to Waterdeep. You are not coming with me.”
Gale retreated back into his tent, closing the flap with an unmistakable huff. Tav slowly retreated back into her tent, gingerly closed the flap, and lay motionless on her side for some time. Long after the darkness was heavy in the sky, she continued to cry hail on her pillow.