The Heroes of Baldur's Gate... and Me

Part 11: The Dream Visitor

I am back here again. I stand in an unfamiliar forest, the trees a stark white against the strangling darkness, their bare branches reaching out like dead fingers.
"Cullen, are you there?" I call into the darkness. There is no answer, the silence deafening.
I look around me desperately and peer into the shadows looking for Cullen's familiar face.
Suddenly there is a growl behind me and I spin round to see the darkness has increased. A pair of red eyes glare at me, glowing eerily blood red. Then I see the gleam of two fangs, impossibly long and bone white.
I stand frozen in horror, unable to tear my gaze away from the red eyes. My mind screams at me to run, to get far away, but I cannot move.
A large shadow detaches itself from the darkness and it begins to move closer, the eyes and fangs getting bigger.
"Cullen! Help me!" I scream as the monsterous shadow lunges.

"Hey Soldier, wake up!"

I am woken abruptly by Karlach shaking me by my shoulders. Her face looks at me in worry as she releases my shoulders.

"Gods Tamara, you were having a nightmare." She says relief flooding her voice as she looks at me critically. "You were calling out and thrashing - I was scared you were beginning to change into a mindflayer!"

I give her a shaky smile and wipe the sweat from my brow. "I'm sorry for disturbing you Karlach, you're probably regretting sharing a tent with me now."

But Karlach just scoffs and gives me one of her toothy grins. "Not at all! I've been living in the hells remember - there's nothing but non-stop screaming and agony down there!"

I let out a soft laugh, thankful she wasn't making too much of a big deal about it. I get up from my bedroll while she throws herself back down on her own. She lays on her side, propping herself up on her elbow, as she regards me while I put on my leather corseted jerkin.

"Do you get them often? Those nightmares" she asks gently, eyeing me curiously as I tighten the strings of the jerkin.

"My daughter says I would moan and that I cry in my sleep sometimes," I sigh thinking back to home. "but I think they have gotten worse since the nautiloid."

Karlach's eyes light up. "You have a daughter! What is her name? How old is she? Does she look like you?" She asks excitedly, firing questions rapidly at me.

I can't help the smile I get as I think of my beloved daughter. "Her name is Lyra and she is four and a half years old. She resembles her father most - she has his golden hair and grey eyes, and obviously his elven features. Though every now and then she will do something or say a particular phase and it will throw me as I see myself in her! She is a little rebel, she loves tear around with her friends barefoot and her hair undone and wild."

Karlach chuckles, her eyes shining. "She sounds great - I would love to meet her. I love kids!"

"Well you are very welcome to meet her when we get to Rivington. I know she would absolutely adore you!" I tie the bandana over my hair and walk towards the tent exit.

"You must miss her a lot." Karlach says softly, as looks down at her hands.

I sigh deeply, my heart hurting as I think of how long I had been separated from her. "Desperately. It is painful to be so far away from her and not know what is happening. I'd do anything to get back to her."

Karlach nods her understanding and a silence falls between us. I quickly banish the dark feeling and give Karlach a smile. "Breakfast?" I ask her briskly.

A wide toothy grin spreads across her face. "Oh fuck yeah!" She exclaims happily.

------

I sit at the campfire, cooking eggs and porridge for everyone for breakfast, Karlach sits beside me - eyeing the food hungrily and holding her bowl in anticipation.
Gale has also joined us, his hair sticking up on one side from where he slept. He questions Karlach about Avernus, eagerly absorbing everything she tells him.
Lae'zel stands a way off, doing a series of parries and swings with her sword, her posture intense and concentrated.