#eidel

“Why did you really come here with me?” Astarion asked. 

“Well, that’s easy, I like you! I wanted to spend time with you!” Eidel laughed. 

“Darling, here I am. We have nothing but time,” he purred. 

“The stars are so bright tonight. We could walk along the river, I thought? There’s a rise up not far from camp where we could look at them. Are you sure you won’t take my cloak? You’ll catch a chill.”

She wasn’t playing by the rules. He didn’t have time to answer before Eidel tossed her cloak over his bare shoulders, fussing as she pinned the edges. He had seduced his fair share of innocents before. But once they were alone they always went for him, no matter how shyly. But Eidel was either the densest woman in all of Faerun, or she was deliberately avoiding the obvious. 

“Aren’t you sweet?” If she wasn’t going to play the game his way, he’d have no choice but to play it the way she wanted. Dense or obtuse, she was still the best bet he had for protection. “And I’m sure that perfect little body of yours absolutely glows in the starlight. Lead on.”

He didn’t sleep with her that night. 

She’d led him up to the hill and rambled on about the stars and the constellations and how she’d never seen so many before. She’d sat beside him and clung tight to his arm as she excitedly talked. He’d watched as her eyes went as big as the world in her enthusiasm and when he did manage to kiss her she tasted of guilt. 

Technically it should have all felt like a victory. She was clearly enamored with him, sex be damned, and she was gullible enough he had her dancing to his tune no matter what he said. 

So why did all this feel…so terrible?

Astarion blanched as Eidel motioned for him to join her. He set the book down and walked on. It didn’t matter how he felt about the situation, he had a part to play. 

He smiled as he approached, lessening the seductive stare and mimicking her open one instead. “What can I do for you, my dear?” He asked lightly, sitting alongside her. 

She giggled. “I like when you call me that. Can I call you that?” 

“You may call me whatever you wish. Now, did you invite me over merely for my company? Not that I’d blame you.”

“I need your help,” she said. “Could you hold onto my friend here, and keep him nice and still while I set this splint for his wing?”

“Me?” Astarion asked. “Wouldn’t….wouldn’t Halsin be the better option? I’m not exactly the nurturing kind.”

“Oh that’s not true! You’re perfect for the job or I wouldn’t have asked,” Eidel said, holding out the sparrow. 

“Animals tend to run at the scent of blood, you know,” he pouted. 

“Hold out your hand, please,” she said. Astarion was beginning to think she wasn’t dense at all. Merely stubborn. 

It didn’t seem he had much of a choice. He sighed and cupped his hands as Eidel placed the bird in his palms. The bird gave a small peep and ruffled his feathers, but settled in moments and Astarion kept him still as Eidel delicately stretched the bird’s broken wing to fit the split onto it. 

“See?” She said as she worked. “He trusts you.”

“Your bird must not be very smart, then. That’s an objectively stupid thing to do.”

“Why? You’re a good person to trust.”

A slight splinter of guilt stabbed at the base of Astarion’s stomach. “Eidel, you’ve seen me lie, and cheat, and kill dozens of people. Sometimes all in one day.”

“Well, yeah, the world is a dangerous place and we have to do things to survive. I know that, but that’s not the same thing is it?” Eidel bit her lip as she tied off the bandage. “You can’t keep an animal anywhere it does not wish to be.”

“Easy for you to say, I believe the bird with the splint doesn’t have many options.”

“Don’t let that fool you. There now,” she took the bird gently from Astarion’s hands. “All set. Stay here in camp and I’ll check on that wing in a week, you should be good as new soon enough.”

The sparrow chirped what Astarion could only assume was a thank you before hopping off. Eidel watched him go. 

“I know what you wanted from me last night,” she said without looking back at him. 

The splinter in his middle tore a little wider. “I’m…I’m not sure I know what you mean, darling.”

“I would have said but I was afraid you’d leave, and I’d never had a night like that. It was perfect, and I was selfish, because you’re wonderful and I’ve never liked anyone before. But I’m not sure you’d want to spend more nights like that with me if sex is off the table for now. I’d understand. I won’t pretend it won’t hurt, but I would…understand.”

She’d taken the playbook and thrown it into the fire. He blinked at her as she turned around to look at him. Her eyes were downcast, as if she expected him to toss her aside. He wasn’t entirely certain he understood her at all. What did she want from him if she wasn’t after an easy escape? All of his best instincts were to offer a physical compliment, a teasing line, something to turn her head. He realized he was frozen. He’d never been with anyone who hadn’t wanted him for his body, for what the lies it could offer. 

“Darling,” he laughed, hoping she didn’t catch the hitch in his tone. “I’m hurt you’d think I’d cast you aside so quickly. In fact, I was going to ask you for another midnight stroll, but if you’re not interested…”

“Really?!” 

He inhaled sharply as her expression brightened, her one pale eye and one red eye lighting up like the sky. And the mottled pink that cracked through her otherwise copper skin turned a lovely shade of magenta where it polka dotted across her cheeks. “I’d…I’d like that!” She said in a rush. 

“Good,” he took her hands in his as he helped them both to their feet. “Then I’ll see you tonight.”

“See you tonight, my star!” She repeated, bouncing on her heels as she pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. She pulled away, blushing furiously, a hand on her lips as if unsure if she was allowed to do such a thing.

My star? 

“Oh, I can think of something else if you’re not fond of it,” she said. Apparently his look of confusion had been a tad too obvious. 

“No…no it’s…charming,” he cleared his throat. He had to get away from her. “I’ll see you later.”