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girlwithadragonheart · 2 months ago

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Death's Chosen

Part 2

Halsin x OC

Summary: Aspen regains her bearings and explores what her temporary home has to offer.

Word Count: 2,114

Warnings: Mentions of death, references to bg3 plot,

A/N: Hope this lives up to expectations! Much much more to come (I have so many plans hehehe…)

Part 1 Masterlist Part 3(soon)

I wasn’t sure how long I had been out, but I knew it had been a while. I awoke still a bit drowsy, but comfortable. When I came to, I realized I had no idea where I was. I was also vaguely aware that I had no clothes on, and the furs against my skin were so soft and warm.

My hair was no longer up, but it was disgusting. I felt disgusting.

“You’re awake!” A surprised feminine voice said from my left. I whipped my head around, seeing a dark skinned human girl who had long braided hair with feathers woven in. She hurried over to my side, hovering her hands over my torso. A golden light emitted from her palms, and her eyes fluttered shut. “You seem to have healed nicely.”

I scooted away from her, sitting up, and she pulled her hands away rapidly. “Where am I?” I questioned. As I shifted, the blanket fell, revealing my bare torso. I glanced down and quickly pulled the furs back up, my heart pounding with unease.

My gaze darted around my surroundings, sensing a familiar form of magic that eased my mind a bit. Wherever we were, it was plenty spacious, seemingly walled off in sections by cloth drapes that hung open. If I looked up, there were lanterns hung, spiraling up and up and up until I could no longer see what lay beyond.

“You’re in the Golden Grove. Wait here, I shall fetch Master Halsin.” She scurried off before I could respond or further inquire about my surroundings.

I sat in silence for only a few moments before the girl returned. She was saying something, but my attention was stolen by perhaps the largest man I’d ever seen behind her. He looked to be fully elven despite his size and stature. Largely muscular with shoulder length hair the color of tree bark. It was half pulled back in a bun, revealing four large gashes across the left side of his forehead. The right side had an intricate red tattoo that was reminiscent of vines.

His lips curved into a smile when he approached me. “I’m glad to see you’re faring better.” His hazel eyes were kind as they took me in. He held out a wadded up tunic. “Your armor didn’t make it, I’m afraid. This should do, for the time being.”

I blinked up at him, taking the garment from his large hand. I didn’t miss his gaze falling to my chest when the furs slipped a bit. I carefully pulled the tunic over my head, feeling it dwarf me, before pulling the furs out from under it until they covered my thighs.

“I’ll take over from here, Kynd. Go tend to the others for now.” The large elf named Halsin said to the dark skinned girl. Kynd, I mentally noted. Halsin pulled up a hand-crafted wooden stool, taking a seat beside me. “I don’t believe we’ve ever met. What is one of our kind doing so far from their circle?” His voice was deep and very calming. He wasn’t accusatory, just concerned.

A flash of color and a menacing voice. Echoing screams surrounded me. Their bodies rotted from the outside in, becoming nothing but bones and dust in the wind. My breathing quickened.

“They’re dead,” I whispered, staring off into the distance. “Every single one of them.” My voice cracked, and hot tears slipped down my cheeks.

“Oak Father preserve you, child…” His voice was sullen. “You don’t have to tell me, but if you wish to, I will listen.”

I hastily wiped my tears away, shaking my head and taking deep breaths to compose myself. “How did I get here?” I asked.

“You must’ve been nearby,” he said. “You somehow stumbled to us half-conscious and bleeding out. I brought you here and healed you.”

“Thank you for helping me,” I looked over at him. “I don’t know how to repay you.”

“Think nothing of it. A friend to nature is a friend to me,” he said simply. “Something tells me you would do the same. You may call me Halsin.”

“Aspen,” I told him, nodding in thanks. “How long was I out?” I asked carefully.

“Several days,” he told me. “Your body and mind has been through a lot, it is no wonder it would take time to recover. You are welcome to remain here as long as you like, we have pods to spare, if you’re fine with a little climbing.”

“Pods?”

“You’ll see,” he smiled, and it made something inside me ease. I hadn’t realized I’d smiled back until the muscles in my face relaxed back to neutral. “How are you feeling otherwise?” Halsin asked.

“Restless,” I said honestly. “For all the rest, I’m not used to sitting still.”

“You have free run of the Grove and otherwise. No one here should bother you. I’ll have Kynd take you to your pod when it’s suitable,” he told me. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other matters to tend to.”

“Thank you, Halsin,” I said earnestly. I didn’t think any number of thanks would ever be enough to repay him for what he’d done for me.

Sensing my feelings on the matter, he just nodded before standing. “I hope this is a fine enough sanctuary after all you’ve suffered,” he said in departing.

I hoped it would be too.

I watched Halsin’s muscled back as he walked further into… wherever we were. After a moment, I laced up my tunic, making sure I was completely decent before slipping off the soft cot.

I put my curiosity of this place aside in search of fresh air. As I went, I noted several other ‘rooms’. Namely, a dining room, study, library, and twisting stairs leading to more above.

I had managed to wander my way to a wall. It looked like interwoven branches or roots of some kind. As I approached, they parted, and I had to squint against the sunlight that erupted in my vision. Once my vision adjusted, I saw that the roots had formed an archway to let me pass. We’d never had anything so intricate in the glade, being secluded in the natural cave.

Taking an experimental step forward, finding no resistance and only lush greenery covering the ground. The sun was golden, casting a heavenly hue over the world, but it wasn’t uncomfortably bright. The ground was soft beneath my bare feet.

I took a few steps forward before turning to look at the place I’d left. By Silvanus… I saw a massive tree of interwoven trunks. What could be a circle of trees came and grew together, twisting into a much, much larger great oak. I watched the roots come back together to seal the archway as though it was never there. I had to crane my neck to see everything, but I was so glad I did.

I saw between the leaves and branches were, what could only be described as, pods. Teardrop shaped structures hung from branches, ladders and bridges connecting them to a complex network of vines running along the trunk itself. This must’ve been what Halsin was talking about, and he was right, I did see.

There was no other way to describe it than to see it, and it was beautiful in that way that only nature could truly achieve. I took a step back in awe, something warm and solid intercepting me at my calves.

I glanced down, seeing a fluffy white dog peering up at me, grinning. “Amicus animales,” I muttered the spell under my breath, squatting down to the dog’s level. He had a leather collar, a copper pendant hanging from it that had ‘Scratch’ roughly engraved into it. I smiled at him. “Hello Scratch.”

His tail wagged. “You know my name! Hello, mistress. Master Halsin asked me to keep an eye on you.”

I raised a hand, scratching him between the ears and down the side of his neck. “Well then I’m glad to have you along,” I told him, standing and brushing the dirt off my knees. “What are you doing out in a place like this?” I asked him as we walked along the edge of the tree, my hand trailing against the bark.

“When my old Mistress went missing, Master Halsin took me in,” he told me. “He is very kind to me and everyone, I think.”

“Your old Mistress?” I asked. “What happened to her?”

“She was very, very sick,” he said solemnly. “I tried to find her, but Halsin said not to, so I instead came here with him. I’d like to think she is alright, but truthfully, I do not know.”

My heart sank for him. I remained silent after that, not sure how to comfort him when I hadn’t figured out how to comfort myself after my losses.

It wasn’t long before my contemplative silence once again turned to one of awe. We had rounded the tree, coming to what I discovered to be the actual front side. A large creek ran through the grove, winding and twisting all the way to a massive wall of trees that was far too barren and tall to climb. I saw stepping stones littered across it, all the way to the end where a tangle of roots like the ones in the tree were taking up part of the wall. An entrance to the grove itself, I assumed.

I looked around, seeing other druids mingling and laughing. Deer and rabbits grazed around us everywhere I looked. I glanced over, seeing a fully grown owlbear jumping around over the creek, looking happy as can be. Never in my days had I seen an owlbear able to coexist with people so fully. I wondered what the story behind that was.

Scratch must’ve seen my studying the creature, because he spoke up. “That’s Puck. My Mistress took him in when he was a cub.”

I wondered if he could sense us talking about him as he bounded over, jumping over Scratch and circling back around.

“Hello!” The owlbear’s light voice said to me. “You smell very delicious, but I will not bite you!” He held his head up high, looking very proud.

I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. I reached a cautious hand up, and Puck nuzzled his head into it, chirping under the contact. I giggled and scratched between his ears. He headbutted my side playfully when I pulled away.

I watched as he nuzzled Scratch before bounding off again. “You two seem very close,” I commented off-handedly to the dog at my side.

“Mistress saved both of us and gave us new friends. We wouldn’t be here without her.”

“I hope I get to meet her someday,” I said with a sad smile. These animals had endured just as much, if not more than most people. I was glad to be able to know them like this. I was even more glad that Halsin had saved me just as he had taken them in.

I felt eyes on me, and I looked around but spotted no one looking in my direction. I shrugged it off, fighting back a yawn as I laid down in the grass. I clasped my hands under my head, letting my skin soak up the warmth of the sun even with the tunic covering most of me. Scratch laid down beside me, resting his head on my thigh as his tail curled over the top of my head.

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I hadn’t realized I had dozed off until I was being nudged gently by a warm calloused hand. I stirred slightly as a large arm slid beneath my shoulders and knees, lifting me off the ground. I was settled against someone’s chest, and I could vaguely make out Halsin’s features in the moonlight.

I sighed, settling against him as he began walking. “My apologies.” I felt his voice rumble in his chest. “I didn’t wish to wake you, but it seems I was not successful.”

“It’s okay,” I whispered, my eyes slipping closed.

“Your pod has been prepared,” he said quietly. “Kynd will take you to it tomorrow. For now, rest.”

We had reached my cot much faster than I anticipated, and I was being lowered onto the silk gently. A quilt was drawn over me, and I curled up under it.

Halsin hesitated, as though he wanted to say something more. I fought sleep while he stood there, and finally he did. “You are safe here, Aspen. Rest.”

I wished that notion was as comforting as he meant it to be. I was asleep before he had taken a step to walk away.

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A/N: Likes, comments, and reblogs are all greatly appreciated! Have a wonderful night, loves! <3

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girlwithadragonheart · 1 month ago

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Death's Chosen

Part 4

Halsin x OC: Aspen

Summary: Halsin comforts Aspen after her nightmare. Something goes horribly wrong with Aspen’s magic.

Word Count: 1.7k

Warnings: Lots of crying, Scratch is a Good Boy™, Halsin is so so comforting, Religious trauma

A/N: I finally did it!!!

Part 3 BG3 Masterlist Part 5

Scratch’s ears perked up, and he picked his head up where it rested on his paws. Surely that couldn’t be right. But then he heard it again. A shrill cry in the night. Not loud, but recognizable. Scratch stood quickly and whined, moving to his Master and nudging his cheek with his nose.

Halsin stirred, seeing the dog in distress. He sat up, “What is it, Scratch?”

“Listen,” the animal said, ears perked.

And Halsin did. And he caught the unmistakable cry in the night. The voice was familiar, the sniffles and sobbing drew him to his feet.

“You stay here,” Halsin commanded, and Scratch sat obediently.

His strides were long and he climbed up the tree with ease, finding the source of the crying. Aspen’s pod. He stepped lightly, making sure not to disturb the others with the shaking of ropes. Carefully, he parted the vines, taking a step inside the moonlit room.

The moonlight spilled through the vines as Halsin stepped into Aspen’s pod, his gaze softening at the sight before him. Aspen lay tangled in the sheets, clutching her chest with one hand, her body curled inward as if bracing against invisible pain. Quiet sobs shook her shoulders, and every now and then, a breath hitched, as though she were fighting to keep the despair at bay.

Halsin knelt beside her, gently brushing damp strands of her coral hair from her forehead. “Aspen,” he whispered. She didn’t respond, only tucked her chin deeper into her chest. His voice lowered to a soothing murmur. “You are safe. No harm will come to you here.”

Aspen trembled, but when she felt the warmth of his hand gently resting on hers, some of the tension eased from her shoulders. “It’s nothing,” she whispered, though the crack in her voice betrayed the weight she carried.

Halsin didn’t press her, sensing that her silence held more than words ever could. “I’ll make you some tea,” he said softly, as if it were the most natural response in the world. He moved with care so as not to disturb her any more than she was. “Come.” He held a hand out to her.

She looked up at him, teal eyes brighter with the tears she shed. She hesitantly took his hand, sniffling as she fought a fresh bout of tears back. He lightly squeezed her hand as she stood, pulling it back to her side once she was on her feet. He noticed she was back in his tunic that fell to her knees. It was endearingly large on her.

The two of them made their way back down to the Inner Sanctuary. Halsin led her to his chambers. They were more open than the pods, and he had a station for tea. It wasn’t infrequent that he had nights he couldn’t sleep well also.

Aspen took a seat on the edge of his bed, watching as he steeped various herbs, his back to her, though he glanced back every once in a while to check she was still there. Her tears gradually dried, and she sat sniffling, arms crossed over her chest protectively.

He joined her side shortly with a steaming mug of herbal tea---lavender and chamomile with a pinch of licorice root. “Here,” he murmured, sitting beside her on the bed and offering the mug. Aspen adjusted as his weight dipped the mattress, wrapping her hands around the warm cup, though she couldn’t quite meet his gaze. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Halsin leaned back on one hand, his presence steady. “You don’t have to carry everything alone,” he said gently, knowing she wouldn’t open up tonight---but hoping she’d remember his words when she was ready.

Aspen gave a small nod, sipping the tea. He wouldn’t like what she had to say when that time came. Her chest still ached, and her thoughts were heavy, but the warmth in the tea and Halsin’s calming presence dulled the sharp edges of her fear.

Eventually, her exhaustion overcame her, and she drifted off with Scratch curled at her side, his head resting protectively on her hip. Halsin watched until her breathing evened, then slipped out of the bed and made his way to one of the other cots. As he lay down, he exhaled softly. His mind lingered on the sorrow in her eyes. He would wait.

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The next morning, Aspen found herself standing before the small herb planters Halsin had shown her. She hadn’t thought about how she woke up in his chambers, alone save for Scratch. Not that she had expected him to stay, more so surprised he had allowed her to stay. But she was learning that was just who he was. Or at the least, it was how he had behave thus far.

Kneeling down, she focused on the delicate herbs---lavender, lemon balm, and mint. Her fingers brushed over a sprig of lavender, willing it to grow stronger beneath her touch. She willed warmth through her, natural energy and sunlight.

Instead, the flower wilted beneath her touch, its petals curling and blackening as if scorched. Her magic felt cold and hollow.

Aspen’s breath hitched. Panic surged in her chest, but she clamped it down with practiced precision. Calm. Stay calm. She forced her hands to remain steady as she scooped a handful of soil and buried the withered plant beneath it, hiding the evidence.

Her mind raced, but she kept her movements slow and deliberate, like nothing unusual had happened. If Halsin saw the dead herbs, what would he think? Would he blame her? Or worse---send her away?

The next day, it happened again. Out in the forest, she bent to gather herbs for the tea and watched helplessly as the stems withered the moment her fingertips brushed them. She clenched her fists, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. Please. Please no…

On the third day, Aspen’s path crossed with a small rabbit nibbling on a patch of clover near the riverbank. She crouched low, a bittersweet warmth spreading through her chest at the sight of the soft creature. Perhaps this was what she needed---a small reminder that nature hadn’t forsaken her completely. That Silvanus had not given up on her yet.

She held out a hand, whispering. “It’s alright, my little love, I won’t hurt you.”

The rabbit sniffed the air, its tiny nose twitching. It hopped closer, cautiously sniffing her outstretched fingers. For a fleeting moment, Aspen dared to hope, her breath caught in her chest---

Until the rabbit squealed, a sharp sound of terror that pierced the quiet morning. It bolted into the undergrowth, as if her touch had burned it.

She fell back, feeling the grass beneath her wilting and decaying. She stood, quickly scrambling away as her breaths came faster. Hot tears welled in her eyes and spilled over, her chest tightening with frustration and grief. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she whispered, her voice breaking under the weight of the admission.

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Halsin noticed the distance growing between them. Aspen’s usual smiles were fewer, and she kept to herself more each day. When her avoidance became impossible to ignore, he approached her after breakfast.

“Come with me,” he said, his tone warm but firm. “We’ll patrol the forest together. The fresh air will do us both good.” As though all of the air surrounding them was anything but fresh.

This is it, Aspen though. This is the day he sends me away. Aspen hesitated, looking for a way to refuse, but something in Halsin’s gaze told her that he wouldn’t accept no for an answer. With a resigned sigh, she followed him into the woods.

The two of them walked side by side, the forest alive with birdsong and the rustling of leaves. Halsin spoke easily about the natural world, his voice carrying the wisdom and reverence of one who understood its rhythms intimately.

“As druids, we share a connection with the wild,” he said thoughtfully. “But leadership can make that bond… heavy.”

Aspen glanced sideways at him, sensing the personal weight behind his words. “Being First Druid can’t be easy,” she murmured.

Halsin gave a small nod. “It isn’t. But I’ve learned that the wild does not judge as people do. There is balance in all things---even in hardship.” He glanced at her meaningfully, his gaze inviting her to speak.

Aspen hesitated, biting her lip. She thought of the herbs wilting beneath her touch, the rabbit’s terrified shriek, and the weight of her past pressing on her chest. “I’ve always felt… out of place. Out of touch,” she admitted quietly. “Even among my old circle. And now, here…” She trailed off, her voice cracking.

Halsin slowed his steps, turning to face her. “You are not out of place here,” he said softly. “But I know the burden of feeling like you don’t belong.”

Her lips formed a thin line. She knew he meant well, but he had no idea how deep this hurt ran. Or how true it really was.

Before she could respond, a rustling caught their attention. A small rabbit emerged from the underbrush, pausing just a few feet away. Halsin crouched, his movements slow and non-threatening despite his size.

The rabbit sniffed cautiously, burrowing its head against his large palm. Halsin looked back and beckoned her to join him. She frowned, heart thudding in her chest.

Aspen knelt beside him, holding out her hand once more. The rabbit took a step toward her, but the moment its nose touched her fingers, it let out that same terrified shriek and bolted into the forest.

Aspen’s heart shattered. Hot tears welled in her eyes, and this time she didn’t bother stopping them. “Silvanus has forsaken me,” she cried, fists pushing into her eyes. “He’s given up after all this time.”

Halsin’s heart ached at the sight of her despair. He didn’t know what he had missed or not seen to make her come to that conclusion. “Whatever it is,” he murmured, “we’ll face it together.”

For the first time in days, Aspen leaned into his touch, letting herself be held. The forest stood silent around them. Eerily so. But Halsin’s quiet strength felt like an anchor, keeping her from drifting too far into the darkness as she cried into his chest.

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A/N: Omg this has been in the works forever and it's not even that much. Writer's block is a bitch frfr

Let me know if you want to be added to the Halsin tag list! <3

Tag List: @leiotyp

See my Non Writing OC Masterlist for screenshots and artwork of my characters and their ships!

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