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After an intense day of exploration, fighting and being sent (basically) on a suicide mission by his former lover - Mystra, Gale was indeed tried. But it all wore on his mind. Sure Gale felt more at peace knowing he now was in control of his own death but... It was his OWN death after all. He was a bomb of sorts. He could, would - no, he will kill both the bad but also innocent people just to get rid of the cult of The Absolute. And then there was you... You didn't deserve any of this all of you were going through. You were a Paladin of Lathander - the god of Hope and new beginnings. He was merely a wizard who had kept grave secrets from the group and you. He had been a ticking time bomb before receiving his own trigger. But you, with all of your kind heart, had protested for him. Telling you wouldn't allow any in the group to get hurt or worse - die. Gale had not believed you one bit till he saw how your eyes looked at him. They had the emotions Mystra never had. You were speaking your truth - how you always had, but now you seemed... Desperate. Desperate to make sure that he himself saw another day - a new morning. He told himself it was just because of how you were a saint of Lathander but the way you made sure he was okay and knew that you would never allow him to leave the group and just go kill himself made his heart ache. He didn't deserve your sympathy or love. He had been an active danger in your life and he had nothing to give back to you.
"Uhh, Gale pal? You look a little beaten up today, why don't you go relax in that spring nearby after dinner?" Karlach's voice suddenly rang out in his ears. He turned to look at her a tad bit surprised. "oh uhm, don't you lovely ladies want to go before me?" Gale asked like the charmer he was as he looked over at Karlach, Shadowheart and of course Lae'zel. Though he could really go for a hot spring dip right about now. "Gale, we think you probably need it more than us right about now" Shadowheart smiled rather sweetly to Gale. There was probably an alternative motive but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "well if you say so.." Gale smiled back even if the awkwardness didn't completely disappear.
You all sat by the camp fire and ate dinner. It was nothing fancy but in the wilderness it wasn't too bad. You were listening as your group intermingled, a small yet warm smile played at your lips. There had been a lot of tension and drama. First it was Karlach and Wyll, then it got really heated between Lae'zel and Shadowheart - and now? It was Gale and Mystra. It was a ridiculous mission she had bestowed him. Plain suicide in all truth. No god would make their servants happily kill themselves for something the Gods themselves could stop, right? Lathander would never, right? The smile on your lips slowly faded as your eyes searched for Gales. Only to not find his - anywhere. You asked Halsin if he had seen Gale and he even hadn't. Thoughts slowly began setting their fingers in your mind. He hadn't left had he? Had he gotten mad at something you had said or done. You began searching for him all over camp till Astarion took your arm and looked into your eyes. "Calm down please. Gale isn't one to up and leave us, so how about you relax before you make me stress more?" Astarion spoke with a hint of irritation in his voice - only for Wyll to pop in. "Why don't you go to that hot spring Lae'zel and the others were talking about?" Wyll spoke gently before continuing - "these past couple of days has been especially hard on you with all the... How to put it.. Unnecessary drama. Though I am happy to have you as an ally and support, I can see the wear on you my friend" Wyll said with reason and truth. A lot had happened. Wyll had grown horns, Karlach's heart was not doing so hot, then all of this parasite stuff and then Gales possible suicide mission sent to him by Mystra herself. You simply nodded and went on your merry way - still worried however.
You could already feel the air getting hotter as you neared the hot spring. How your body was already aching for that hot water to smoothen out your sore muscles and limbs. As you made your way over to a rather big rock could you finally have your mind at peace. You had another new day tomorrow as well so it would only be wise to relax as much as possible at this given moment. You began to strip off your heavy armor, the leather straps and linen garments, till nothing was left on your body. A few scars had been left to heal from countless battles. And well dirt. You hadn't had a real bath since before your abduction by the mind flayer ship. A tired sigh left your lips and your shoulders fell. Never mind that now! You stepped out from the rocks and bushes with your tray in hand with all you need for a bath... Only to be met by the hot steamy water and a very, VERY startled Gale. The two of you locked eyes before a certain someone's left yours just for a second before turning away. "Oh lord, I am so sorry..!" Gale spoke rather fast while only to be met with a warm smile and a gentle giggle. "So that's where you ran off to. You had me worried sick" You simply smiled with immense joy and warmth that he had in fact not left you and the rest of the group. Gale looked surprised as he shielded his eyes from looking at your body - a rather naked body just like his. "Oh, I am sorry I forgot. Most find it uncomfortable to see another human naked" you laughed before asking - "do you mind if i join you, Gale?"
"no, of course you can join.." Gale spoke back just as softly if not a little awkward too.
You nodded as you slowly stepped into the hot water. One step at a time till the water covered everything except your collarbone as you placed the tray on the water bank. A breath you didn't know you held slipped out of your throat - almost a moan left you. Gale was bewildered - maybe even enchanted by the sight of you being so... Casual about being naked and no less so close to him - only about a meter or two. You simply closed your eyes and left the water soak away your problems just for now. The sound of water moving and the crickets singing created a soft sort of atmosphere that truly made your minds at ease - maybe even the parasite. After another long inhale and exhale your eyes finally opened. You could feel his stare, his eyes scanning you in a rather controlled manner. "What is it, Gale? I can feel your eyes" you spoke with a smile as your eyes looked up into the night sky. He looked at you before smiling himself. "only curious as to why you're so..." "casual about sharing a hot spring with another naked human? It is simple. We are both humans, no difference between us but our minds. And that we even share more than most other normal humans" you giggled as you turned to face Gale with a smile. His face was beat red as your cleavage got more prominent. "because there is nothing to be embarrassed about our bodies. Or at least i have learned so by Lathander"
“Then I suppose we shall bathe in his after image… or rather work.. yeah since he is the god of dawn or was it day…?” Gale whispered the last part to himself. “He is the god of dawn, a god of new beginnings and hope. He stands for youth and birth” you helped him remember about your god. Small talk bloomed between the two of you - such as how it was to be a paladin, to have sworn an oath to Lathander and his worship and how it was to worship him outside of Baldur’s Gate. The heat from the water had made both of your cheeks beat red and sweat pibbing from your foreheads. But the soft smiles and gentle eyes exchanged between the two of you almost felt wrong. The moment was so intimate, so real and so different from all the stuff that had happened to the two of you recently. It didn't feel right to sit next to each other - cooking away in the hot water.
Your eyes caught his and for a moment everything disappeared. The small talk ended and only a pleasant silence remained. A soft spoken hand slowly wrapped around yours just beneath the blurry water. And your hand accepted it. Fingers interlocked, eyes blooming with honesty and a forbidden shared love. A second hand raised up from beneath the steamy water to cup your cheek - and you leaned into it. It would be wrong to not to - a criminal action. Gale looked so beautiful in the glowing moonlight and underneath the glinting stars. His hair up in an up-due as stray aways clinged to his forehead. His cheeks were all shades of red but his eyes told you everything. He needed your company at this very moment. He needed someone human. Someone he could trust to give all of himself into. A gentle voice, a whisper of reason and someone to hold. Something physical.
He leaned in, the distance between the two of you closing. His eyes asked for your forgiveness and for your truth. Your hand fell onto his knee, a breath stolen and a nod followed. You would give him your truth and your forgiveness.
You were all his. And he yours.