#simril

They chose to stop at the nearest inn that looked nice enough, leaving their horses in the stables before venturing inside. “Gods, it feels like I will never warm up again,” Astarion shivered as they walked passed the threshold. Being a public house, he could move freely through the downstairs tavern, but once they reached their room upstairs, he would still need Tav’s permission to enter. There were only a few souls up this early or late depending on your view. The innkeeper was just starting a large pot of porridge for breakfast and looked up at the newest arrivals curiously. It wasn’t a typical time for anyone to arrive, especially during winter.

When Astarion pushed back the hood of his cloak, the woman shivered slightly, noting his unusual paleness. He was far from the first vampire to enter and although they were typically well behaved inside, she still made a special note in her head about the pair. “Good morning,” Tav pulled her own hood down, her cheeks flushed from the cold. She noted the slight look of relief on the innkeeper’s face when she realized the vampire’s companion was of the living variety.

“Good morning,” the innkeeper responded, bowing her head slightly to them. “Will you be needing a room?”

“Just for the day,” Tav replied. “We are staying with a friend further in the city later this evening. A large bowl of that porridge and plenty of hot water would be wonderful as well, please.” She opened her coin purse and slid more than enough gold across the counter.

“Of course,” the innkeeper nodded. She brought Tav a key, telling her a porter would bring everything up once it was finished.

They climbed the stairs with their packs, finding their room the furthest away. It had become quite common during their journey, the cold making Astarion’s undeath even more apparent. He would get almost blue if out in the cold too much, so Tav made sure they were well dressed for their long trek North. She opened the door, inviting him in first, and then setting her bags near the cold fireplace. She unfastened her cloak and coat, slinging them across a nearby chair. “Halsin is certainly right about the uncomfortable restriction of clothes,” she shook her arms out, happy to be free from the extra weight.

“You should have asked him to come with, as our personal heater,” Astarion joked, taking off his cloak, but keeping his coat on for now. Even inside, he felt chilled to the bone.

“Ah that would have been nice,” Tav grinned, starting to get the fire going.

Astarion got into his pack, searching for one of his bottles of blood, needing something to eat. “Frozen solid,” he sighed, tipping the bottle upside down, the thick liquid inside not moving.

“Come here then,” she smiled slightly and unwound the scarf from around her neck. He looked through the other bottles, just in case any of them where drinkable. She knew he was being stubborn and walked over to him, putting her hands on his face. His skin felt like ice, but she kissed him nonetheless. “Come on, it will get you warmed up. You feel like an icicle.”

She swirled her thumbs across his cheeks to stimulate a little bit of color.

“Alright,” he stirred at her gentle touches. He only liked to drink from her on special occasions and dire circumstances. He hated how painful and fatigued it would make her afterwards. “But I want this,” he brushed her inner thigh with his fingers. “And I’m going to give you a massage first.”

“Deal,” she grinned and continued to undress. He took off his coat and boots, then joined her on the bed she now reclined on. She’d kept her short pants, chemise, and stockings on until the room warmed up a bit.

“You are like an unwrapped present now, with all those layers off,” he looked her over, leaning down to kiss her thigh, pulling her stocking down slightly.

“Well, hopefully you are satisfied with your gift,” she joked.

“Soon enough,” he purred.

Despite the cold, her skin was still wonderfully warm. He began to gently massage her muscles, tighter than usual due to their long ride. He had gotten adept with his hands, typically giving her massages after any of her more acrobatic performances or just as a caring gesture. He was happy to be able to dote on her as much as she did him.

“Mmmm that feels nice,” she let out a sigh, as he continued to knead her thighs.

“Do you want to stretch as well?” He asked, knowing her routine by now.

“Depends on how we’ll be spending the day?” She raised a seductive eyebrow at him.

He just chuckled, rotating her hip so he could gently press her leg back towards her. They spent most of their days off doing the same two things, reading and making love. He pressed her other leg back as well, as she slipped her feet behind her head. “Now you are just goading me,” He crawled forward, pressing a little of his weight on her to give her a deeper stretch and so he could kiss her. She let out a contented groan, opening her mouth to his tongue.

“It seems we’re both a little stiff this morning,” he smiled, rubbing his hardening cock against her.

“Gods, that was terrible,” she teased, pulling him closer, increasing the stretch of her hips even further. “You should’ve said I’ve been riding the wrong thing for too long.”

“Perhaps we should hire a carriage next time,” he moved his attentions to her neck, nuzzling her favorite spot and nipping her ear gently. There was a knock at the door, interrupting them.

“Food and hot water, miss,” someone called from the other side of the door.

“Don’t move a muscle,” he smiled, climbing off her and the bed. He readjusted his trousers to disguise his erection and opened the door just enough to take her porridge, telling the man he would attend to the buckets of hot water in a moment.

He set her porridge on the table, peeking over to see her continuing to stretch herself, and then went to retrieve the buckets. He poured the near boiling water into the large tub, adding in the room temperature buckets that had been left in the room for regular use. The water would be the perfect temperature for them in a moment. He returned to her, her legs back on the bed, yet still welcoming him. “Come have your bite, love, and then we can move things to the bath,” she beckoned. He obeyed, crawling between her legs, massaging and kissing her thigh a little more before gently sinking his teeth in. He savored every taste of her he allowed himself, closing his eyes so he could enjoy every drop that passed his tongue. He only drank what he needed for a day of vigorous lovemaking, the pre-bottled blood would be thawed for later. He licked and kissed her thigh when he was finished.

She sat up, mussing his hair a little and began to conjure a healing spell on the wound. “Thank you,” he smiled at her, the usual intoxication of her blood washing over him.

“Of course,” she grinned. “Now let’s get naked.”

She climbed out of bed, pulling her chemise over her head and setting it by the growing fire, which she added more wood to. She grabbed her porridge from the table and leaned against it, taking a few large bites and watching as he undressed. He made a show of it, teasing her with little peeks of flesh as he removed his own layers of clothing, until he was fully nude. She finished her final bite, licking the spoon sensually, before setting the bowl down and slipping her shortpants off. He waited at the tub for her, his cock wobbling for attention. She let her fingers caress it softly, eliciting a quiet moan from him. “After you,” she gave his balls a gentle squeeze, waiting for him to get in so she could straddle him.

He got in slowly, the water still a little too hot, but soothing to the coldness that had seeped into bones. He welcomed her into his lap, her body giving the tub extra volume to cover them. “Better?” She asked, cupping some of the hot water down his chest and neck and running her fingers down the wet skin, trying to warm him up.

“Much,” he grinned, letting his fingers caress her own skin. She slipped him slowly inside her, her own warmth cooler than the hot water, but much more pleasant. “Much, much better,” he moaned.

She laughed, kissing him, and beginning to ride him slowly, looking forward to enjoying a full day with him after so many on the road from Baldur’s Gate. He let his fingers explore her body, feeling for any lingering knots or tension, before fully surrendering himself to the rhythmic motion of her hips. “Gods, you feel so good,” he moaned, gripping her hips tightly.

“I know,” she joked, arching her back, so close to climax already. He knew just how to press her clit to make her come within moments. “You’re going to make me come twice, aren’t you?” She gripped the side of the tub, letting her orgasm rippling through her.

“I hope to get the total to at least ten before the day is through,” he smiled. “It is a holiday after all.”

“Is it?” she breathed heavily, climbing off of him and turning around so she could mount him again at a different angle.

“Mmmhmmm,” he helped guide himself back inside her.

Tav was rarely mindful of the time or her own schedule, something which he always had to assist with. He didn’t mind, as it made it easier to surprise her. She had managed to remember their anniversary last month, through a series of notes she’d left for herself. They had accidentally spoiled the surprise of his own atelier that she had acquired for him, but he still cried genuine tears when she’d presented it to him on the day. It was close enough to their cottage that he could slip over just before dawn and spend the day working with clients. He was finally able to make his own money again and feel less of a burden on her, no matter how much she insisted that he wasn’t.

“Which one is it?” She began naming random holidays and festivals occurring in Nightal, moving her hips along him with each wrong guess.

“Simril,” he finally grunted, pulling her hips back a little further.

“Oh?” She moaned, as he filled her completely, making her grip the edge of the tub again. “It’s the Solstice already? Gods, I’d forget my head without you,” she glanced back at him with a wry smile, pulsing her muscles around his cock.

“I know,” he teased, closing his eyes, feeling that much closer to climax himself.

She sped up her movements again, knowing the telltale quiver of his legs meant he was close. She writhed on him, her own legs beginning to quiver again as he reached for her clit. She leaned as far forward as she could, letting him take control of her hips for the pace he needed. They came together, their moans surely to cause complaints from the other guests. “Eight more to go,” she purred between heavy breaths, collapsed onto her arms that pressed on the edge of the tub.

“Come here,” he moved his legs further apart, so she could lay back against him and enjoy the remaining warmth of the bath. He wrapped his arms around her as she settled against him.

“Another year nearly gone,” she mused.

“It has flown by,” he let out a heavy sigh. “They used to crawl by so slowly before.”

She put her hands on top of his, stroking them reassuringly. “The arcanist sounded very confident in their letter,” she said. “If this scroll can do what she thinks it can, it will be worth the price.”

“You’re sure about this? It’s your entire life’s savings.”

“It’s our savings, love,” she squeezed his hand. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to help you be free of this. I need another sunset with you.”

“Thank you,” he hugged her tightly. “I’ll happily burn beside you if it comes to that.”

“I won’t let it,” she promised.

They stayed until the water grew cool, drying off, and then heading to bed for their trances. They made love again when they woke, spooning slowly, and bringing her total to five, his knowledge of her body making it quite easy to bring her to climax over and over.

They got dressed and went downstairs so Tav could have lunch and they could check to see if Gale had responded to the raven they’d sent when they arrived. They chose a table away from the windows and chatted about what to do for the night’s festivities. “Do you think Gale would let us build a bonfire on the top of his tower?” Tav wondered as she downed an entire bowl of stew. Between their lovemaking and Astarion’s tasting, she was ravenously hungry.

“I wasn’t planning to ask,” Astarion joked. “I’m sure he’s got plenty of old furniture we can toss on.”

“Speak of the wizard,” Tav saw Gale stride in.

She got up to greet him and lead him back to their table. Astarion watched as they hugged and she touched his face, now absent a beard. Despite he and Tav being married and throughly in love, he still couldn’t help but feel a little bit of jealousy seeing them together. She brought Gale back, grabbing an extra chair from an empty table. She moved her chair closer to Astarion, so Gale could squeeze in with them. “Between Tara, my mother, and Syma’s pestering, I finally decided to shave it,” Gale continued their conversation as he sat down. “Sorry I wasn’t able to come by sooner, I was wrapped up at the college for a bit.”

“It’s alright,” Astarion grinned sheepishly. “We had other things to do.” Tav kicked his foot gently.

“And how are you, Astarion?” Gale turned to him next.

“Unthawed from the cold and with my beloved. I couldn’t be better,” he answered, putting his hand on Tav’s thigh.

“I am pleased to hear it and of a possible cure for your affliction.”

“Have you ever heard of this arcanist, Magnabout of Luskan?” Tav asked.

“The name is not familiar to me,” Gale pondered. “But I could ask some of my colleagues.”

“We would appreciate it. If it turns out to be a false lead, we will still be on our way to Neverwinter to finally meet my parents.”

“That’s right, they weren’t at the wedding.”

“By my choice,” Tav sighed, a pang of anxiety wreaking her stomach just thinking about it. “But I don’t know when we’ll ever be this far north again and they might even pretend to care if they knew I’d been in the city and not visited.”

Gale saw how uncomfortable it made her to talk about and tried to change the subject. “My, was that stew you just ate? It smells wonderful. I didn’t get a chance to eat this morning.”

“I would take another bowl,” Tav pressed a hand to her stomach, trying to push the anxiety away.

“Two bowls of stew, coming up,” he left to see the innkeeper.

Astarion gently rubbed her leg, sensing her worry. “We don’t have to see them if you don’t want to,” he reassured her.

“I know, but I should. They aren’t exactly young anymore, and Gods knows with my father’s experiments. He could accidentally incinerate the whole house one day.”

“Let’s wait until we get to Neverwinter to decide for sure alright? Put it out of your mind for now.”

“Okay,” she put her hand on top of his and leaned in to kiss him. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” he kissed her in return, leaning over slightly to kiss her deeper.

“Still in the honeymoon phase, I see,” Gale returned with two steaming bowls of stew, a slight blush to his cheeks.

“I don’t know if it will ever end,” Tav grinned at Astarion, caressing his face. “Speaking of, when are you and Syma going to get married?”

“You know me, trying to calculate the perfect moment to propose and how. We all know my grand gestures in the past have been disastrous, but I don’t just want to do it just anywhere.”

“Well, as long as you don’t spring it on her right before the most important opening night of her life, making her a blubbering mess, I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Tav teased Astarion’s sudden proposal on the night Tale of the Tadpole premiered. She looked down at the amethyst ring he’d presented her with a smile. He pinched her on the thigh playfully. “Ouch,” she punched his shoulder softly in return.

Gale laughed, pleased to see they were both doing so well and still madly in love. He hoped the same for himself and Syma. Tara and his mother had come to welcome the tiefling into the family quickly, he just needed to make it official. “You are right, of course,” Gale swallowed a mouthful of stew. “Simple would be best. I’m just, well, you know me.”

“You’ll find the right time and place,” Tav smiled.

They continued to chat while they both finished eating. “Tonight’s festivities should be quite jovial,” Gale discussed. He was hosting his own stargazing party with a few of his colleagues and friends. “You are staying with me for a few days, yes?”

“Yes, I wanted to consult some of the libraries here about other possible avenues,” Tav replied, gently stroking Astarion’s thigh.

“I know all the best ones and can get you special access. I should be getting home, of course, to make sure everything is running smoothly for tonight,” Gale excused himself.

“We will see you at sundown,” Tav nodded. Gale bid them farewell and left the pair alone again.

“Well, darling, should we go upstairs and get a head start on number 6?” Astarion grinned at her. She grinned widely back at him, saying nothing, but taking his hand and leading him back upstairs to their room.

They drifted back to bed after adding more wood to the fire. They employed their mouths this time, making quick work of Tav’s sixth and seventh climaxes and his third. They dozed again, half dressed, and then read together in bed until it was time to get ready for Gale’s party. They changed into their nicer clothes, Tav putting on a lovely dress for the occasion and Astarion in a finely tailored overcoat and trousers of his own design. They bundled backed up in their cloaks and hired a carriage to drive them to Gale’s tower for the evening so Tav didn’t have to ride in her dress.

They waited at the doorway after Gale came down to welcome them in. “You have to invite me in nowadays,” Astarion sighed a little. He was at least glad Tav had begun to wait with him for his invitations now, instead of walking right in.

“Oh, right. Sorry about that. Please, I invite you in,” Gale blushed with embarrassment.

Most of the guests were already upstairs at the top of the tower, the bonfire yet to be lit, but other small braziers keeping the rooftop warm. They socialized together and Tav eagerly sampled the food and drinks. Gale had been kind enough to procure a ‘vintage red’ especially for Astarion, so he was able to sip from a chalice for most of the night.

Once the bonfire was lit, they gathered around it singing songs and lighting off loud fireworks. Tav and Astarion lingered near the edge of the crowd, Astarion taking the opportunity to pull up the back of her cloak and dress to furtively and quickly stimulate her eighth orgasm of the day. He whispered playfully in her ear that they were running out of time, though even if they’d had more time, he still loved teasing her in public. Her gentle cries were covered by the sounds of the party goers, her quivers disguised as a gentle dance to the music.

When it was time for stargazing and searching for their birth stars, they chose a more secluded area of the roof so they could have a little privacy as well. They spread out the blanket Gale had provided, lying on their backs and gazing up at the clear sky. They were both a little tipsy from the generous amounts of wine circulating and after a few minutes of discussing the stars, they found themselves entangled in their final tryst of the night.

They kissed each other messily, Astarion’s hand pushing up Tav’s dress once again. She was still slick from earlier, so he snuck a quick taste of her before unbuttoning his pants and climbing on top of her. Hidden by the darkness and their cloaks spread on top of them, he moved slowly in her, catching her soft moans in his lips. “Do you think we are the only ones doing this?” He breathed heavily in her ear.

“With all the wine flowing, I’m surprised no one has come over to join,” she laughed, pulling him closer.

“Mmmm,” he purred, tilting her hips up a little so he could press his weight around her clit. “I might let them fuck you for a bit, on your knees of course, so you could still have my cock in your mouth.”

“Oh really,” she moaned softly, ready for her ninth climax. “Would they fuck me hard or slow?”

“Very hard,” he grinned, thrusting against her harder, daring her to come. “They wouldn’t be able to resist that cunt of yours.”

They had tried to bring in a third on a few occasions in real life, but he still wasn’t comfortable enough for things to be satisfying for all of them, so it remained in their fantasies for the moment. Talking helped keep him present in the moment, avoiding his past disassociations and allowing him tto enjoy himself fully. They also liked to see who could turn the other on the most.

“Is it nice?” Tav quivered, on the precipice. “My cunt?”

“I can’t get enough of it. I thought about tying you to the bed earlier, when you were all wrapped up with your legs behind your head.”

“Yeah?” She gripped his back tightly, so very close.

“I’d leave you tied up there, all day, exposed, while I sat and read across the room. And I’d tease you, every hour or so, until you couldn’t stand it any longer.”

“Oh Gods,” she whimpered, trembling under him, trying her hardest to not scream his name as she came.

“Good girl,” he slowed down his pace to give her a little rest. “One more to go.” He kissed her deeply, shifting his weight to his other arm so he could brush a bit of her hair out of her face.

“What would you do if I was a bad girl?” She grinned, goading him to continue.

“Depends on what you did?” He grinned back.

“What if I summoned a Mage Hand while you weren’t looking and used it to touch myself?”

“You naughty thing,” he teased. “But you wouldn’t be able to keep quiet. I’d find out right away.”

“I can be very quiet when I want to,” she whispered, conjuring the spell silently. He laughed, knowing that wasn’t usually true. Even at her quietest, she couldn’t help a little whimper or sharp breath escaping her throat. She carefully guided the hand under their cloaks and along his legs, gently gripping his ass with it.

“You little devil,” he smiled, spreading her legs wider with his own, knowing what she wanted to use the hand for. She gently teased the fingers of the hand along his asshole, waiting for just the right moment to ease one inside him. He let out a little moan, pressing more of his weight on her. “I’d make you watch as I used the hand to fuck my ass while I stroked my cock, right in front of you on the bed. Your cunt would get so wet, begging me to touch you.”

She grinned, lifting her knees up so he could penetrate her deeper. There was no way to hide what they were doing now if someone were to stumble upon them. She added another finger inside his ass, continuing to use the mage hand to stimulate him as he fucked her. He increased his pace again, ready for their final climaxes of the evening. “Please,” she softly begged. Their dirty talk had put her near the edge again.

“Please, what?” He gently demanded.

“Please cum in me, cum all over me,” she quivered, begging for him to finish in both scenarios.

“You’d make me, uh,” he groaned loudly, his climax coming on a little more suddenly with her added stimulation. They shuddered against one another, the last of their desires flowing out of them for the night. They heard others giggling and whistling in the distance, clearly catching wind to what someone was doing in the dark. They happily laughed themselves, untangling from their cloaks and curling up side by side.

“Well, don’t keep me in suspense,” she teased quietly, gently sucking on his ear. “What would you do with me after you came all over me? Leave me tied up again?”

“Hmmm,” he chortled and pulled her even closer. “I’d untie you and lick every last drop from your cunt until you screamed and then fall asleep face first.”

“Oh,” she squealed a little. She liked the idea of him teasing her all day in contrast to her ten separate climaxes today. “Maybe the day before we leave?”

“Did you bring our toy with you?”

“Of course,” she grinned.

“Perhaps if we can manage to get enough rest,” he smiled.

They looked back up at the stars, chatting about their journey so far and other things their minds moved to.

Another couple eventually wandered over, their smacking lips and soft giggles revealing that Tav and Astarion weren’t the only ones feeling amorous this evening. “Oh sorry,” the woman apologized. “We didn’t know anyone else was over here.”

“We were just heading back to the fire actually,” Tav gave Astarion a little grin, subtly helping him button his pants back up.

“Yes, feel free to take our spot. The view is quite nice,” he added.

They got up and wrapped their cloaks back around themselves, leaving the couple to their own fun, and returned to the large bonfire in the center of the roof. Gale and Syma were still there, cuddled up next to one another. “How are the skies?” Syma asked when Tav and Astarion stopped next to them.

“Transcendent,” Tav leaned against Astarion.

“It’s so nice to see you both again, isn’t it Gale?” Syma hugged the wizard tightly.

“It is indeed. Especially without the impending threat of doom,” Gale replied, nuzzling her closer.

“Well, Gale and I have an announcement,” Syma grinned widely.

“We’re getting married,” they both blurted out at the same time.

“How wonderful,” Tav grinned. “I’m sorry we missed the proposal.”

“Oh Gale did it in private, thank the Gods!” Syma beamed. “He called me to the kitchens for an ‘emergency’ and Tara sat there with the ring in her mouth. I was half expecting some huge fireworks show that would’ve overshadowed the entire evening.”

“That was in the works, darling, but they ran out of smoke powder trying to spell out ‘resplendent beauty,’” Gale teased her, though that has been on the list of his considerations.

“How sweet,” Tav nudged Astarion gently. “We’re both so happy for you, aren’t we?”

“Way to not blow it,” Astarion teased, clapping Gale on the shoulder.

“Astarion, I would be honored if you would make my dress,” Syma requested.

“The honor would be mine,” he nodded.

It’s a slender, uniform band that is worn and unremarkable at first glance, but upon closer inspection the cracks of its matte black surface have been filled with shining gold. It shimmers, pulsing ever so slightly with its own light somewhere below the surface — possibly within the gold itself. “Alright, so,” Church begins to explain as Astarion stares down at it, his eyes wide and round. “It never sat right with me that you could only ever go into the sunlight if I cast a spell on you. It was a temporary solution, and this is as well.  “So… I’ve been researching and crafting prototypes of this for the past few years, with help from my mother, Dammon, Jaheira, Helsik, Rolan, Barcus, Zanner… you should’ve seen what that tea party was like…” he adds, chuckling.  “Anyways — simply enough, so long as you wear this ring, sunlight can’t hurt you. It just won’t. No penumbral veil. No spell. No… me… needed at all!” He smiles ruefully down at it.  “It’s… not a replacement for a full-on cure. And you must keep this safe while you’re not wearing it — I would hate if it were to get lost or stolen. “But on that note — I’ve… I’ve got a lead, love,” he says, a cautious, hopeful smile spreading across his face. “A cure to vampirism in its entirety — if that’s what you still want, of course. But in the meantime, I thought this might be something better than the spell, because—” “—Church,” Astarion interrupts him, the corner of his mouth quirked up in amusement, “...did you just give me a ring?”

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