#athlia

The city of Baldur's Gate was bustling, as it was every morning.

The army of the Absolute, the constant earthquakes, the political changes… so many were the novelties shaking the great city. Already from early morning, this beating heart of the people could be heard outside the tavern windows. The group had been accustomed to the much more sinister and mysterious sounds of the forest, the Underdark, and the Shadowlands. By comparison, the city and its lively din were pleasant in their own way, even though it made everyone wake up with a certain alarm.

Gale turned several times in bed, blindly searching for the warm presence of his lover under the covers, before realizing that Athalia was not there. Forcing himself to wake, he began to wonder if she had already risen, if she had already begun planning the day and the missions to be undertaken. When his eyes began to search her room, searching for answers, he was shocked and even slightly saddened to see that Athalia was none other than sleeping in her bed, across the room. She still hadn't fully accepted their relationship, and this broke Gale's heart, even though he understood sweet Athalia's insecurities.

She had never loved anyone before him, had never shared a bed, not even for the pleasure of a single night. She had grown up at court, in a glass bell, and later in the convent of Selùne.

Sleeping with her man was completely incomprehensible to her.

This, of course, didn't mean she loved him with all her being, but even so, she couldn't overcome certain barriers. She still couldn't be completely uninhibited, free.

Gale would have given anything to free Athalia from her gilded cage of insecurities, naivety, and good manners. He wanted so much to see what Athalia was capable of, if only he knew how much Gale would love every single aspect of her, without judging her or inhibiting her.

Even making love to her was torture. Every time Gale wanted to worship her, celebrate her, as his new and unique Goddess, Athalia felt ashamed. She closed herself up like a shell, clasped her hands over her mouth, hiding her sighs of pleasure, blushed, and looked away. So sweet, so unreal.

In Gale's eyes, she was a vision, a unique creature. No woman was like his Athalia; he loved this aspect, so delicate, so celibate. And yet he would have given anything to feel her more, to see her not be ashamed.

What was there to be ashamed of? Perhaps he still made her uncomfortable?

As these thoughts swirled through Gale's head, he noticed Athalia begin to gasp and turn in bed, until her barely open eyes met his. Athalia smiled as if she'd seen the sun of her day, already in a good mood. Gale couldn't help but smile back, enchanted by the beauty of that woman's appearance and manner, with a single smile and her eyes still half open. A dream.

How lucky he was.

But he didn't want to push her. If she'd slept alone, he didn't want to invade her space, and Gale simply got up and pulled the screen forward to change. He packed his backpack for the next adventure, read a few spell books, considering which were most useful for the type of missions that awaited them.

He waited calmly for Athalia to come to him, to give him the first kiss of the day.

When he smelled that sweet, fresh scent of citrus and fruit, he immediately turned, realizing that the long-awaited moment had arrived.

"Hello, Gale."

She still called him by his name. She didn't yet have the courage or audacity to call him anything other than Gale. Gale, for his part, had never dared to call her anything saccharine, so as not to rush her or make her feel inadequate.

"Athalia."

They pressed a gentle kiss on each other's lips. Sweet, like that of someone who has truly known each other forever.

They headed with their companions, Karlach and Astarion, into the streets of Baldur's Gate, intent on investigating the Bhaalite threat that was stalking the city in the shadows. Gale hadn't had the courage to talk to Athalia about why the previous evening, as soon as he'd closed his eyes, she'd left what he considered "their" bed. Maybe it wasn't as bad as he thought, maybe she was just uncomfortable; after all, that was a bed designed for one person.

As he was freed from his thoughts, Athalia exclaimed, "No. Something doesn't add up."

Gale blinked several times to get out of his world of thoughts.

"Excuse me?" "Something's eluding me. I can't figure out how these things connect. We need to go back to the murder scenes outside the city."

"Nooooo… I've gotten used to that lovely fireplace and the room service" exclaimed Astarion, desperately.

So, the group packed up and returned to the refugee camp, near the circus and the sanctuary of the Open Hand.

When evening came, instead of returning to the city, as in the old days, they packed up their gear and set up camp near an old barn, where they usually set up camp before they even entered the gates.

Late in the evening, with the stars high in the sky, Athalia approached Gale's tent.

"Can I?"

This startled the wizard. "Could she? Athalia, really?" he thought, but his thoughts weren't entirely hidden, and a frown crossed his face.

"Why do you ask? Of course you can."

Athalia made her way into the tent, clinging to the wizard. "Am I bothering you?" Her voice was innocent and pure; she wasn't trying to attract attention by getting her beloved to say the obvious. She was genuinely concerned.

"Are you kidding?" Gale didn't hold back, and the remark came out completely naturally.

He closed the book he was reading and faced Athalia, trying to be transparent. "You don't sleep with me, you just call me 'Gale,' and you ask me if it's you who bothers me? No! Good heavens, no! You never bother me, for the love of the Gods, I love you, Athalia!"

Athalia simply replied, looking at him with her huge, ocean-blue eyes. She didn't add anything, she didn't respond with words, she seemed to lack the courage. Gale hesitated before speaking again, his lips thinning to a slit. He hoped Athalia would say something, but he immediately regretted the way he addressed her. Had he hurt her? Maybe he'd been too blunt.

"Don't you feel loved by me?" Athalia asked, as soon as Gale opened his mouth to speak.

"…No! I would never say anything like that!" Gale held her close, to chase away all those demons from both of them. To feel the body of his beloved little Athalia, all his, in his arms.

"I'm just afraid you don't have the courage to love me. I don't doubt that you have sincere feelings for me, just as I do for you. I'm just afraid you're not ready for certain things." Athalia's arms tightened around Gale, returning his embrace.

"I-…"

A long sigh, muffled by the wizard's robes.

"I've never loved anyone before, Gale."

Athalia pulled away from his embrace to look him in the eyes. "I don't even understand why you love me."

Gale, contrary to his intentions, didn't react excessively to that statement. He wanted to stand up and give a detailed outline of all the things he loved about her, as if he were presenting a scientific thesis.

But instead, he simply smiled tenderly, took her hand, and kissed it.

"My love…"

Athalia squeaked at those words.

"I know that no matter what I tell you, you won't believe me. Any rational explanation, any tangible fact, you'll turn into a fantasy and settle for believing you're not enough. But you, to me, are everything."

Another kiss, on the knuckles of Athalia's delicate, small hand.

"Let me hear you."

Another kiss, this time on the inside of her palm.

"Listening to you is all I have to truly show you that I love you."

Gale brought Athalia's hand against his cheek, against his stubble. Athalia's thumb gently caressed Gale's lips, while hers closed like a shell, narrowing to a slit.

Athalia kissed Gale, with love, passion, ardor. A kiss of pure love.

A kiss that began to grow more and more lustful, hot, passionate. Athalia pulled Gale down, while she straddled him.

She broke the kiss only to sit up and settle herself on top of him as he grew hard. Gale, taken aback, blushed until his face was almost purple.

"W-What are you doing?"

Athalia began to pull down Gale's pants from under her robe. With a final bounce, she settled herself on top of him. A hot, lustful sigh escaping her body. Oh g-gods Gale impulsively gripped her thighs with both hands, dropping his head into the pillows behind him with a deep moan.

"I'll let you hear me." ⊹₊⟡⋆⊹₊⟡⋆⊹₊⟡⋆⊹₊⟡⋆⊹₊⟡⋆⊹₊⟡⋆⊹₊⟡⋆⊹₊⟡⋆⊹₊⟡⋆⊹₊⟡⋆⊹₊⟡⋆⊹₊⟡⋆⊹₊⟡⋆