The Quest for Dawn

Chapter 12: Memories That Guide Us

Astarion and Tavriel returned through the portal shortly after the ritual had failed. The ritual itself may have been ineffectual in its original purpose, but it rekindled a bond between the bereaved high elves. Returning to their shared life above the Elfsong Tavern, there was a bittersweet moment shared between them as they sat on the bed.

The afternoon sun was dipping below the horizon. Warm striking rays of light streamed through the window of their room, and though Astarion could feel the light on his pale skin, he did not see it. Tav described the scene to him.

"The sky is a brilliant splash of orange and pink and purple," she said to him, "painting the sails of the ships in the harbor. The waters of Gray Harbor glitters like gold, and shadows have begun to stretch long and wide among all the buildings." Her heart ached as his face crumpled in sorrow. Reaching her hand, she gently combed her fingers through his white curls, trying to offer him comfort.

Astarion bowed his head, and Tav leaned in to press their foreheads together. There were no words for this moment that she could say to him. So she softly sang, "One I love, Two she loves, Three she's true to me... "

There was a little pouch tied to her belt, the same that had held the rings as before. She pulled them out again. Astarion pulled back, listening to the metallic sounds rustling in her hand. Her voice quivered, the words of the song breathy and whispered, "When I'm awake, I find no rest. Until his head lies on my breast." Tav took his hand, and slid the ring onto it. He felt the weight of it, touching the stone. Sliding his fingers to find her hand, she carefully gave him the sapphire ring, her whispered song continuing as he found her finger and placed the ring upon it. "When I'm asleep I'm dreaming of, My own, my dear, my one true love."

His hand lingered upon hers, feeling the sapphire with his thumb. "How could I have thought it, Tavriel?" he said at last, his voice straining, "How could I have thought I could live without you? And how could you live with me as I am?"

Tav wished he could see her smile, but relented to letting her words show him. "Because you are brilliant and cunning. You don't need eyes for that."

"Three months like this, and I don't think I could be what you see in me. Not anymore."

She pressed a soft kiss upon his knuckles, and his face softened at the sensation. "For a man who can recite poetry in flawless Elvish, you seem to have a short memory, my love. We will simply have to put that memory to the test."

"Memory," he murmured, as if tasting the word for its flavor of truth. "Not quite the same as sight."

"Perhaps not," she relented, squeezing his hand, "but memories carry echoes, and echoes can guide us." The warmth of Astarion's thumb lingered on her ring, and she glanced down to see her sapphire nestled against his carnelian. A smile tugged at her lips at the residual warmth, though she wondered why it lingered when Astarion himself was not mortal.

"And if my past is a guide, what then? It is filled with... shadows and torment." He bowed his head again, and Tavriel reached up to his face. His crimson eyes searched the dark, and even though he couldn't see her, she felt their gaze.

"Then we will have to make new memories, Astarion," she told him gently, "bright ones." She leaned forward, and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was gentle, like a warm summer breeze over snow. He hummed, the lids of his eyes fluttering closed.

When she began to pull away, he kept his head still, his eyes still closed, and smiling softly. "Please don't stop."

She let out a gentle laugh and kissed him again, and again. As Tavriel's laughter filled the room, Astarion felt a surge of warmth that didn't come from the sun's rays or the fire's glow. His hands traced the ribbons of her bodice, his lingering kiss distracting her.