Chapter Text
Head throbbing, I come slowly to consciousness with a stiff back and sore neck. My eyes flutter open and I think I’m in the woods somewhere until I look over and realize that I’m beneath a large tree. Several people in rustic looking clothes are milling around the area, one noticing that I’m awake after a moment and rushing over.
“Are you alright?” He sounds concerned, a few others turning our way as well. Sitting up, I find myself on a mat of what seems to be woven grass, the surface surprisingly comfortable.
“I think so? Where am I?” I question, rubbing at my temple.
Concern is still present but he also looks relieved. “This is our grove, one of the scouts found you passed out on the road nearby.”
Grove?
It clicks in my mind as I look around, the place suddenly feeling very familiar.
No.
This isn’t possible.
I’m bewildered as I find that he is the spitting image of one of the druids from a video game. “I’m Moira.” I mutter, staring at him with confusion.
“Rath.” He inclines his head for a second and I’m surprised that his horned helmet stays in place.
What is happening?
My thoughts swirl, everything I know about the game blinking past my minds eye in a slideshow of events and somehow I’m now involved.
This isn’t possible.
Magic isn’t real.
I see a man with red skin and horns at the stone archway talking with one of the druids.
Druids, tieflings, none of this is real.
How can I even be here!?
It’s all too much, my head hitting the grass mat as I fall back, dizzy.
“Woah! Careful!” Rath rushes closer, his hand checking my forehead. “Someone get Nettie!”
My vision swims as I recognize the name, another impossibility.
“Easy there.” The woman’s voice is in my ear a minute later. “Did she say what happened to her?”
“No, just said her name, Moira. Then she took a look around and swooned.” Rath tells her.
Stay calm. Stay calm. Stay calm.
I chant it to myself repeatedly as I open my eyes. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened.” I speak, almost breathless.
The healer appears concerned, Rath walking away as she tends to me. “Just take it slow, no need to rush yourself. You’re safe here. Do you know what ails you?”
“I… I don’t know how I got here.” I can’t tell them, I realize. Not only would they not believe me, they would likely think I’m a spy or something worse if I start spouting off things I shouldn’t know.
“Where are you from?” She asks as I sit up, hovering close in case I collapse again.
“A town called Ridgewood.” Trying to be as honest as possible, she stares blankly.
“I don’t know of it, apologies.” I’d have been more surprised if she did. “Our leader, Halsin, will be returning soon and you can speak with him then. I am certain he would let you stay until you sort yourself out.”
She brings me some water in a leather pouch a moment later and I take it gratefully, my dry mouth coming to my attention. I’m about to stand when someone comes running down the slope and through the stone archway, panic on their face. “Aradin returned! Goblins were chasing him and are attacking the gate!” He runs back out along with some of the others and my mind races.
It’s today!
It’s the first day in game when you meet the first of the possible companions after the nautiloid ship crash. You reach the grove and…
I’m on my feet, sprinting as an instinct I didn’t know I had takes over.
I can save him!
Moving faster than I think I ever have, I’m up the slope and rushing past Arron the merchant in what feels like only seconds. The gate is in sight and I leap to the ladder, scaling it without a thought to get atop the structure. Wyll is at the far end, watching the goblins below as they move in on Aradin and the others trapped against the gate. Out of the corner of my eye I see one of the goblins raise a bow and I make contact with my target in the form of a full tackle just before the arrow whizzes past our heads.
“You saved him!” The girl standing several meters away exclaims and it hits me like a ton of bricks.
I really did save him.
“Thanks!” He claps my shoulder as we stand before returning his attention to the fight happening.
He should be dead.
Instead he’s still alive, heart still beating, body still moving. Raising his crossbow he takes aim, shooting at a goblin at the same time that Wyll jumps down into the fray.
I stay back from the goblins sight line but watch the small rise of earth where I often brought my party into battle. As if on queue I see Gale appear followed by Shadowheart. Both are casting offensive magic and in the next second I see a streak of silvery white hair. Astarion is on the ground having snuck his way closer until sprinting from the shadows and driving his dagger into the back of a goblin. The fight is over much faster than I expected and neither Aradin or any of his group are dead.
As soon as the last goblin falls the gate is being cranked open, the three I’m keeping my focus on coming into the grove along with the grove residents. I wonder where Lae’zel is and consider that maybe they missed her.
They stop to witness the fight that happens just inside the gate between Zevlor and Aradin, none of them stepping in. Instead I’m the one to rush in just as they are about to come to blows, separating them quickly. “Stop!” I put a hand on both their chests, shoving them back. “How about instead of fighting you reflect on what’s happened and try to do better next time? And be grateful that no one died?”
“Fine.” Zevlor grumbles as Aradin marches away, the tension in his back showing that he’s still irritated but at least he listened. “Thank you, that likely would have gone much differently without your assistance.” Zevlor addresses the three behind me and then glances my way. “You as well. You saved one of my men from taking an arrow that would likely have been fatal. Do you all know each other?”
“Not at all.” I almost can’t help the giddiness in my mind as I turn. “I’m Moira.”
“Shadowheart.”
“Gale.”
“Astarion.”
They all say their names quickly and I notice that their voices match their in game counterparts while Zevlor nods. “You’re all welcome for as long as you don’t cause trouble. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have other matters to settle.” He turns and walks away at a brisk pace while I face the group again.
Shadowheart looks just as she did in the game but made real, her features streamlined like an elf but with a hint of human dashed in, her ears giving away her genealogy. Gale, all human as he is, grins as I look him over in his purple robe. His beard and friendly smile remind me of a teacher I’d once had. Behind them stands Astarion, the white haired elf looking around curiously at his surroundings. Our eyes meet and I feel frozen, unsure what to say as he looks down his nose at me and I realize I’ve been staring for perhaps a bit too long.
“Are you all traveling together, or…?” I find my voice and they glance between each other as though trying to determine how to answer.
“Yes, for now I suppose, we-“ Shadowheart starts and stops abruptly as we both feel the squirming in our heads at the same time.
Oh…
OH
FUCK
“You’re infected…” She grinds out through a tense jaw and the two men realize what’s happening, looking at me more closely. “You were on the illithid ship as well?” Shadowheart questions as the wholly terrible sensation subsides.
“Honestly I can’t remember. Last I knew I was walking home and then I woke up here. They have a healer here, Nettie, but I don’t think she’s going to be much use.” I lie smoothly while internally I’m panicking.
I’m infected.
Shit shit SHIT
What am I going to do!?
“Well then this place is a glorious waste of time. We should head elsewhere.” Astarion speaks up and I realize we still need Halsin.
“Can I tag along with you?” I question a little too quickly and Gale takes a step closer.
“Of course, the more the merrier.” He speaks cheerily as though this isn’t a dire situation.
Except… it isn’t.
It takes a second for me to shake off the nagging thoughts as I recall that as long as Shadowheart has the artifact, we won’t turn into mindflayers.
As long as I do what I already know needs to be done, we can be cured.
“We shouldn’t leave right away.” I say with certainty and all eyes fall to me, leaving me a bit nervous at the attention. “I believe there’s someone else here with a tadpole, maybe they have an idea on how to fix this?” I quickly think of Wyll while they look surprised. “I just, I felt that squirm a little bit ago but wasn’t close enough to whoever it was to connect. Besides, this place is full of refugees, if not the other person with a tadpole then maybe someone else could be helpful.” Agreement comes from two of them quickly although Astarion takes a moment more to consider it before nodding with a resigned, annoyed sigh.
We venture further into the grove and I take a chance to run up to each tiefling I see. I’m fascinated, I can’t deny it, never having seen anything but humans my entire life. We’re approaching where we should find Ethel when a girl rushes over, grabbing my hand energetically. “Thank you! I’m Arka. You saved my brother, he almost got himself killed up there.” I see the male tiefling I’d tackled a short time ago standing several paces behind her looking sheepish.
“Oh, uh, you’re welcome. It was no problem.” I answer automatically, not sure what else to say. I’ve never saved someone before.
She shakes her head as though not believing me. “Maybe no problem to you but you didn’t have to do it. Many wouldn’t have bothered. Hang on, take this, I’m sure it will be useful.” Retrieving something from her pack nearby my eyes widen as I recognize the offered bag of holding.
“You’re sure?” I question, aware that it’s a valuable tool to have.
“Of course, please, take it.” She glances me over and smiles again. “I have an extra camping bag, do you need it?”
I hesitate, not sure what to think of her generosity before my eyes slide towards her brother. In the game she’d lost herself when he was killed and I decide to take her up on the offer. “If it’s not too much trouble. I sort of just appeared here earlier with no clue how I got here and I don’t have anything.“ Shifting my weight awkwardly, I don’t want to divulge too much but also don’t want her to think I’m just snatching supplies from anyone that offers.
“Oh my… stay here, let me grab a few things for you.” She’s gone before I can protest, the others visibly surprised when I look back.
“Well aren’t you a cunning one?” Astarion mutters and I’m sure that I’m blushing a little at the mild accusation.
“I didn’t plan this, I swear.” I try and he smirks.
“What exactly did you do for her?” Shadowheart asks curiously.
“Back when the goblins first got here, we were on top of the gate. They were taking aim and he looked like the one most in the open so I got him out of the way of getting hit.” Explaining, I see Gale nod approvingly.
“A wise choice.” He comments as I see Arka returning and she hands me a bag that feels less than empty.
“Here, I got some food and an extra set of clothes for you. Zevlor said he’d like to have a word as well, if you’re open to it. He’s over by where the kids are playing with the blade.” She points in the general direction of where Wyll should be.
“The blade?” I press, acting like I don’t know about him.
“You might have heard of the Blade of Frontiers? His actual name is Wyll, he’s the one who jumped down from the wall in the fight with the goblins. He just showed up this morning but went straight into helping wherever he could. If you need any sword lessons he’d be the one to ask.” She turns away and returns to where her brother is sitting by their small fire.
I shoulder the bag she gave me, putting the bag of holding inside of it quickly. With a turn I see Auntie Ethel near a cooking pot and wonder how best to approach this. “Shadowheart, do you and Gale want to go talk to that Blade of Frontiers? He might know something about the illithid ship or the tadpoles. I want to see if they are willing to part with some hot food for us, I’m starving.” I admit with a sorry look and she nods, Gale seeming indifferent as he follows her away. They go off towards the raised area where children are practicing with wooden swords as I look to Astarion.
I’m caught staring again when he meets my gaze, red irises inquisitive as he smirks. “Something caught your interest?” He presses and I try my best to remain casual.
“Just wondering if you’re hungry as well? We should all fill our bellies while we have the chance. No telling what will happen next.” Already aware of what he is, I try to hide my amusement as he shifts his weight.
“I’m actually not hungry but you go on ahead.” He says it in an even tone but I don’t miss the way his eyes linger just below my jaw as I turn away.
Gods help me.