#and then the inherent tragedy of losing one's memory and realizing you've forgotten your own child

[basket-of-cats-and-witches]

Bittersweet Reunion

It's been a while! I'm back playing Baldurs Gate 3 again to satisfy my rpg itch while we wait for Veilguard to come out. I'm hungry for it.

Anyway, this isn't about that. This is about durgetash, because I'm trash. Angst ahead >:3c

-

Their feet found the old worn steps long before they realized it.

It was as if their body remembered what their mind could not, that there was something worth safeguarding behind the cracked blue paint of that door.

Something terrifying and beautiful.

Aelune hesitated, their fingers grazing the surface. They closed their eyes and breathed in, then out.

You've faced far greater threats than an old cottage, they reminded themselves. Nothing will compare to the agony of fighting Enver.

Even now, the signet ring nestled in the hollow of their collarbone, a gentle reminder of their fractured past.

A warning.

They curled their hand into a fist, raising it to knock, and-

The door swung open.

An older woman stood in the doorway, basket in hand, her expression creased with surprise.

“Ah,” she said. “It's you, then. Is it time?”

Aelune found themselves responding, even though they didn't understand the question. “Yes.”

The old woman stepped back, nodding inside. “Come on, then. He's been waiting for you.”

Aelune drew in another shaky breath, and moved past. Their legs carried them forward in large strides, one of the heroes of Baldurs Gate reduced to a trembling mouse before the might of the unknown.

Past the rickety stairs, the faded floral kitchen, and into a worn, tired living room.

The one place Orin wouldn't know to look.

Where Ketheric would forget.

Where Gortash would never know.

Beneath a puff of unruly black hair, red eyes looked up, mouth spreading into a toothy grin.

The toddler lurched forward, chubby arms outstretched.

“Mama!”

Aelune fell to their knees, embracing the child, and wept.