#helyne:writing

[helynedekarios]

Starlight

Summary: Helyne can't sleep. Gale helps her find peace.

Rated: General Audiences

Warnings: None

Cross posted on AO3 : https://archiveofourown.org/works/61741933

The noise of the camp was beginning to die down as the companions began drifting towards their respective tents for the night. One member, however, remained where she had sat throughout their shared meal. With the stick in her hand, the cleric stoked the embers of the fire as she watched the flames consuming the branches Wyll had so carefully collected hours before. Turned to nothing but ash right in front of my eyes.

Helyne felt the weariness of the day deep in her bones, but she was in no hurry to get to her bed roll. Since waking up on the alien ship, she had yet to get a good night’s sleep. Not only did thoughts of her own parasite plague her, she had somehow been appointed the leader of a rag-tag group of abductees all afflicted with the same condition, and all seeming to be hiding their own unique secrets. There could be no proper rest as long as she had such a large responsibility to carry on her shoulders.

As she watched Astarion’s pale curls disappear into the forest for his nightly hunt, Helyne was satisfied that she was finally alone. She stood up lithely on the very spot she had been sitting beside the fire. Years of rigorous training combined with the elven grace she inherited from her mother made her movements as fluid as the waters of the Chionthar. Reaching her long arms above her head to stretch, her head fell back to take in the skies above. A beautiful dark canvas of swirling dark blues and purples were sprinkled with a twinkling of stars. How many nights had she slept beneath them without noticing their beauty? Worse still, how many more nights did she have in which she could admire them?

Completely lost in her own grief for what may be a very real reality for her, she did not notice a figure moving in the darkness to stand by her side. “A beautiful sight, is it not?” 

As the voice next to her made her startle in surprise, she instinctively grabbed at her hip where, in any other situation, her most trusted hunting dagger would be located. Lucky for the owner of the voice, she had already changed into her camp clothing and her weapons were put to bed in her tent for the night. “Gale!” Helyne gasped, turning her surprised face to take in the mage that so suddenly had appeared next to her. “I did not believe wizards to be able to move as silent as a panther.”

She was greeted by the warm sound of his honey-coated chuckle. “I would have to agree with you on that point. We are not known for our stalking abilities,” Gale agreed, his dark eyes turning from the sky to lock with her own. “Though, you were worlds away and I had no intention of frightening you.”

The sudden intensity of his gaze upon her made Helyne feel vulnerable. Neither was it the first time she had felt it when he turned those chocolate eyes on her. Perhaps, she told herself, it had something to do with the ease at which he could reach out with his tadpole and read all her most private thoughts. Her companions were not the only ones to have carefully guarded secrets, yet she knew that Gale would not betray her by reading her mind. Not once had he ever tried to use the tadpole against her or anyone else. No, she knew whatever made her feel stripped so bare in his stare went far deeper. There was an expression of carefully hidden eagerness beneath his egotistical facade. A look of pure hunger for something he did not want others to know about. 

Tilting her head, Helyne tore her eyes away from his. The intensity of the feeling abated, and she felt she could once more use her voice. “I was admiring the stars,” she acknowledged, guiding the conversation back to a place which felt safe. “Are you not tired? All the others have gone to bed. I was just preparing to go myself.” The lie fell from her lips easily. 

Gale’s response was to shake his head. “I do not sleep well. I have not for . . . well, quite a while. But that is of little consequence when there are far greater matters one can put their mind to.” He tapped the side of his temple knowingly. “The stars, for example. Why waste time when we have such a magnificent celestial canvas stretched out above us to keep us occupied? Perhaps you would like to accompany me while I enjoy it?”

At his invitation, Helyne felt her heart flutter in excitement. There had been occasions when she had been alone with the wizard previously. Private conversations were held between them outside their respective tents or they had partnered to cover more ground while out scouting with their companions. Yet the thought of being with him when the others were asleep was an entirely different prospect. This time, he did nothing to hide his expectant gaze as he waited for her response. “Yes, I would,” she heard herself reply. The words, which her brain had been too afraid to speak, had somehow made their way from her heart. 

For a brief moment, she thought she saw relief pass across his features. A trick of the firelight, perhaps, as it was gone with the moment. All that was left behind was his smug grin that she knew all too well. “Follow me then.” 

Helyne could have sworn he gave her a wink as he turned towards the shore of the river. Without protest, she did as she was asked and kept pace with him. Gale led her down to the gently lapping riverbank, their shoes leaving tracks in the soft sand. With a wave of his hand and a brief magical word, he conjured a purple blanket that floated down to rest on the ground next to the water. “After you,” he beckoned, a gentlemanly bow of his head towards the newly appeared blanket. 

Gracefully, the half-elf lowered herself on the surprisingly luxurious fabric. The mage clumsily climbed next to her, limbs seeming to get the better of him. When he finally settled, he left out a heavy sigh, which only made her bite back a laugh.“There. Now, where were we . . .?” He turned his head, blinking as he took in her features. His proximity to her suddenly made him even more substantial. What was she doing here with him? Perhaps he was having the same thoughts, as he had grown uncharacteristically quiet. The starlight seemed to reflect in his dark eyes, and she could swear she saw a million universes inside of them. It seemed minutes before the thought of speaking came to the forefront of her mind. “The stars. You wished to show them to me.” 

With that, Gale broke from his thoughts. “Oh, yes! Quite right,” he started, snapping his head back to look up above him. With the moment broken, Helyne felt disappointment settle into her core. Why did she suddenly feel empty now that he was no longer looking at her? Pushing the sensation down, she tried her best to bury it as her attention returned to him. He had lifted his arm, pointing into the darkness above their heads.  “Yes, now, as you can see, the stars are arranged in what appears to be patterns . . .” 

Just like that, Gale began reeling off names of constellations and planets, diving into the history of astronomy as if he had been preparing the lesson for days. Leaning back on her palms, Helyne settled in as she listened to him quietly. She didn’t say much as she found herself content with listening to him speak. Strangely, the tension of the day seemed to melt away as she concentrated on nothing but the melodic intonations of his voice. Thoughts of tadpoles and cures, goblins and cults suddenly felt like a distant memory. All that seemed to matter was the two of them and the endlessness of the universe overhead. 

All too soon, her eyes began to grow heavy with drowsiness. She was disappointed to experience the weight of her fatigued limbs, knowing she would need to return to her tent for the night. “As much as I do not wish for this night to end, I believe it is time for me to bed down,” she confessed. Placing her hand on his forearm, she gave him a soft smile. “Thank you for this. I truly enjoyed myself tonight.”

Her gesture seemed to stir something in him. As he turned his focus from the heavens to her face, she could see a vulnerability on his face she had never seen before. “Thank you for devoting so much of your precious time to me. I truly do appreciate your companionship.” 

His words touched her, unprepared as she was for them. Her heart clenched with the sudden desire to reach out and pull him into her arms. “It was my pleasure, Gale. I appreciate your companionship too,” she confessed. 

A smile lighted upon his face at her words. “Perhaps we could do this again, some other night.” Gale’s proposal came with a look of bare eagerness, no longer hidden beneath the layers of ego and hubris he sported so well with everyone else. 

 Without hesitation, she gave him a nod. “I would love to do this again with you.”