Winning Over The Weave Master

In Every Lifetime

It had been two years since the fight with the elder brain and two years since Gale went against your wishes and broke his promise.

You still had nightmares about that day. The pain of his loss was a raw wound that never healed and no one had been able to console you.

You would never be the same. The reunion party Withers had invited you to in the six months after the end of the fighting had only cemented  that fact.

You'd gotten an awful surprise knowing that Gale had planned for his death. He had written you a letter and the spectral clone of himself he created to deliver it had been even more devastating.

Tara had been there and she grieved with you and there had been a small comfort in that. She had implored you to come visit Morena and you  said you would in the moment as it felt like the right thing to say even if you knew in your heart it would be too painful to face Gale's beloved mother.

You had spent the rest of that evening drinking and you didn't remember what had happened after you had finally blacked out.

You had lost so much weight and muscle as you no longer found any enjoyment in the foods you once loved. You nearly starved yourself to death from grief until Shadowheart had forced you to start eating. She had refused to leave your side for months as she brought your back from the brink.

You carried so much guilt in your heart for the fear now permanently in her eyes.  Even now she was constantly checking on you. You let her fuss over you because it helped her to feel better.  Each night that you were fine and she very reluctantly left your room you ended up curled in bed with one of Gale's robes. His scent was slowly fading from it and this was just another sign of your loss and you hated it.

You spent your days either in front of Mystra's statue in the Stormshore Tabernacle demanding she answer you. Having yelled,cried and even prayed yet you never received any response. The rest of you day was spent at Gale's grave. You read to him, and talked hoping to hear his voice once more.

You despised the gods for their callousness and the fact Gale had been so disillusioned in believing he wasn't worthy of forgiveness unless he sacrificed himself.

You had become numb as the days, weeks, months and years passed. Everyone had moved on but you were still unable to let go.

Your friends stopped trying to make you see reason. There was no reason in what happened and no one's false platitudes would have you believe any differently.

You had fallen asleep during your daily visit to Gale's grave having been utterly exhausted. The dreams that swamped you were so vivid, you swore you could feel his touch, hear his soothing voice calling your name.

You were shocked into consciousness when you felt yourself being lifted from the ground. You didn't know who was carrying you or why but there was a strange familiarity to it in how they cradled you against their chest. You pressed yourself more into the warmth of the body against you.  You hadn't felt any warmth in ages. 

You blinked trying to focus but your mind was still hazy from exhaustion. You were able to notice the person carrying you had a tanned complexion, long dark hair, a trimmed beard and he smelled of leather, old books, and a dark spice.
You had to still be dreaming because you'd recognize that scent anywhere. There was no way this was your Gale holding you so carefully against his chest.

Your felt your eyes filling with tears once again. Your heart thumped painfully in your chest as your hands clung desperately in the shirt of the person carrying you.

When the stranger finally looked down and you were met with chocolate eyes that shone with such love and affection for you, you screamed and the world went black.