Journey to Baldur’s Gate

A Moment of Peace (short story)

It had been nearly weeks since the Illythid snatching. A young half-elf sorceress called Ellynn had met quite a collection of colorful characters throughout her journey, one of which was a bewitching vampire called Astarion. She had the misfortune of waking up one night to him hovering over her neck, ready to feed on her blood. After some interrogation and some hesitation, she had allowed him to feed on her just until he got his strength back. It took a few tries, but she managed to get him to stop after a few gulps. Their journey since then had gotten easier as he was left feeling very happy. Happy enough to become a perfect asset in the next battle that came.

One night, before getting ready to infiltrate the Goblin Camp, the group decides to have a long rest to recover their energy and health. After setting up camp, Ellynn went around the grounds, catching up with her newfound company before making her way to Astarion, who had been gazing at a lovely vanity mirror that showed nothing but the half-elf approaching.

“Looking at something?” He asks with his brow raised in curiosity.

Ellynn stands there, somewhat confused, before asking him, “How did you know I was here?”

“The only benefit to a mirror when you have my … condition.” He said, still looking at the mirror with some disdain for it as he then continued. “It doesn’t quite make up for the lack of reflection, mind you.”

Ellynn pauses for a moment before finally asking him again. “Do you miss it? Seeing your own face?”

Astarion slowly lowers the mirror as he begins to reply. “Preening in the looking glass? Petty vanity?” He slowly turned around to face her before his face softened a bit. “Of course I miss it… I’ve never even seen this face.” He frowns as he continues. “Not since it grew fangs and my eyes turned red.”

Ellynn’s curiosity had only grown, now wondering what he may have looked like before the change. “What color were they before?” She asks so simply.

Astarion begins to answer. “I…..” He tries to think about the last time he had ever seen himself, the last time he got a glimpse of the elf he once was, but after nearly 200 years, his mind could only draw a blank. “I don’t know… I can’t remember. My face is just some dark shape in my past.” He hisses before throwing the mirror to the ground, shattering it into pieces. “Another thing I’ve lost…”

Ellynn begins to stare into his eyes, taking in every detail as she begins to lean in closer to the vampire. He began to become flustered before leaning back somewhat.

“What?”

Ellynn ponders for a moment before coming up with somewhat of a solution. But she had no idea if it would work. “I have an idea…. I can be your mirror, but first, I would like to try something.”

Astarion raises an eyebrow before crossing his arms, looking down at the half-elf with intrigue. “I’m listening.”

She continues. “Our tadpoles connect us just enough to see into our recent memories, right?”

“Yes, go on.”

“I was wondering if it might be possible to connect them so we can see through each other’s eyes.”

Astarion looks at her for a moment before scoffing. “Don’t be absurd. Even if that were to be possible, I could hardly handle the discomfort as is.”

“But that’s the thing. Sometimes, there isn’t any discomfort when we have control. It has to be worth a shot, right?”

Astarion pondered to himself. The idea could actually work if they do connect wavelengths just long enough for a glimpse. “Very well, I will humor you. How do we proceed?”

Ellynn held out her hand to him as he looked down at it. He rolls his eyes before slowly placing his hand upon hers as they clasp fingers. She closes her eyes as he lets out a sigh and proceeds to do the same. The tadpoles begin to emit the same energy as before, but not as intensely as they were used to. It was a soft humming in their heads as they began to connect with each other on a psychic level. The humming passes as Ellyn and Astarion each open their eyes. Astarion looks as he begins to see…. Himself. Ellynn begins her description of him as he continues to look at what she saw.

“You have strong, piercing eyes… Such a dangerous grin…”

Astarion could see her hand from her point of view reaching up and caressing along his features, fingers grazing against his cheeks down his smile lines. She already knew what to tell him as he was yearning to hear it.

“You’re beautiful…. Exactly as you are. Exactly as I see you, as you now can see for yourself…”

“As you see….” His eyes softened from the experience as the connection began to wear off. They close their eyes as the energy soon fades off. When they open them once more, they can only see each other again. He looked down at her as she rubbed her eyes somewhat before she looked back up at him. His cheeks flush a soft red shade before he grabs her shoulders and leans in, pressing his forehead against hers and closing his eyes again. “This is a gift, you know…. Thank you….. I will never ever forget this….”

Ellynn blushes softly before closing her eyes and giving a soft smile. “I hoped it would help…. You do know that whatever you’re going through, I’d be happy to help…”

Astarion chuckles softly before pulling away and letting her go as he switches back to his usual personality. “Whatever you say, darling. Now, is there anything else you’d like to say? Perhaps a nice midnight snack could be arranged?”

Ellynn rolls her eyes as she turns away, flushed in a deep shade of red. “Sure. Whatever. You can feed on me tonight if you’d like.”

Astarion smirks as he watches her walk to her bedroll, getting ready to turn in for the night before the smirk softens to a thankful expression. “Of course, my sweet….. There is nothing I’d like more.”