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

Part 19: Journey to the Monastery

As predicted, the dark clouds that had lined the horizon now covered the once clear sky in a blanket of grey, the sun breaking through weakly in pale shafts of light. Not long after, the heavens had opened and a persistent rain had begun to fall, soaking those walking below and quickly turning the dirt roads to slick mud.

The smell of damp earth and pine needles permeates the air, the pattering of the rain on the canopy of trees that line the road and our heavy muddy steps, the only sounds.

Myself and my companions walk in silence, the mood subdued and apologetic. I walk closely with Astarion, towards the back of the group, my cloak pulled tightly around me and the hood pulled down low on my face to ward off the rain.

Tav walks at the front of the procession, her head held high despite the rain and her gait unwavering. However, since our confrontation at the camp, and a further reprimand from Halsin, her pride had taken a hit. There had been a waver in her usually stoic demeanor,a self consciousness to her speech, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

I had kept my distance from her since we left, as well as Wyll, as I wasn't quite ready to face their apologies or their admission of guilt. I was still too angry, my mind a torrent of thoughts and questions, like multiple people speaking in my head at once, giving me a slight headache.
I felt a build up of energy or emotion in my body, coiled like a spring to burst out at any minute. I wanted to scream, to punch and lash out - to express myself physically and expend this energy in some way.

But I keep my head down and proceed to walk beside Astarion, an uncomfortable silence between us. Every now and then, I feel his eyes turn to me, watching me as we continue to trudge ahead in the chilling rain.

We reach the ruined village just before midday, the rain showing no sign of receding any time soon. We decide to take a small break and take shelter in what appears to be an abandoned apothecary store. Shelves line almost every wall, on which are bottles and jars of various sizes and colours. From the ceiling hang bunches of dried herbs and flowers, now covered in dust and cobwebs. However, the smell of herbs and medicines still linger in the air.

I wander over to a group of shelves and peruse the contents, noting weavemoss, powered valerian root, fireweed, as well as more unusual ingredients like dried knolls ear, spider glands and drow poison. A small curved purple bottle pushed behind several jars catches my eye, so I delicately pick it up and notice it appears to be filled with an opalescent powder. I look closer at the small label and see written in thin spidery letters: Pixie Dust.

Pixie dust - surely this is a jest? Pixies and fairies aren't real? They are just make believe, creations of children's bedtime stories.

I look around and see Gale and Shadowheart pulling bottles from  shelves and examining them, before either putting them back, or into their packs. I look at the small bottle again, deciding whether or not to take it.

I'm sure it isn't real, but it would be a cute thing for Lyra to have.

With a small smile, I carefully place the delicate bottle into my pack, wrapped in one of my spare shirts.

Once I am done, I look around the store again, the sound of the rain pattering loudly on the old slate roof. Gale and Shadowheart continue to peruse the bottles and jars, talking quietly among themselves, while Astarion stands behind what was once the counter, searching through the small boxes and draws that sit hidden beneath the counter top.

Tav stands to the side of the counter, looking through a heavy dusty book, which appeared to be the owner's stock and transactions log.

Lae'zel stands impatiently at a broken window, her fingers tapping on the hilt of her sword as she stares out at the pouring rain, a deep frown on her stern face.