Fall was slowly giving way to winter when they finally reached Waterdeep. There were even flurries of snow that chased them as they made their way through the gates of the great city. Sera laughed as they coated her hair, melting away to leave icy water lingering in their place. Astarion greeted the flakes with disdain at first but Sera's joy rubbed off on him.

"Come on, Astarion, it's not like we get snow that often in the Gate, we should enjoy it!" She caught a few on her tongue to emphasize her point.

"I suppose it is a thing of beauty. Though it pales in comparison to you, my love." He caught her hand and kissed it with a show of bravado.

"Flatterer."

The intense throat clearing of the guard at the city gate interrupted the flirty exchange and left Sera blushing.

"State your business in Waterdeep," the guard intoned with barely hidden amusement.

Desperately, she tried to affect a serious countenance to answer him. Not that it mattered all that much. The question was more a formality than anything. No one announced when they'd come plotting mischief.

"Visiting a friend," she answered and moved on brusquely, before the guard could catch her blushing.

"Very smooth, you didn't look embarrassed at all." Astarion's voice was right at her ear, tickling the outer shell.

"No thanks to you!" Sera scoffed and took his waiting arm. "Now let's find our waiting wizard."

Gale had promised to meet them at a tavern but it was not too far from the gate he'd sent them to. Neither her nor Astarion had been to the city before. Gale's tower shouldn't have been too hard to find, but they were glad he was making it easy on them.

Beside her, Astarion giggled, drawing her gaze.

"The Mystic Maiden. I just realized how very appropriate that is for Gale."

"Well don't tell him what you're implying."

A few short blocks away the tavern awaited them. Adorned in deep blue paint with gold embellishments, the tavern's namesake was rendered in stained glass in a great window, a young woman — the Weave a plaything in her hands. The place was evidently popular given the size of the crowd teeming inside and out, even given the late hour of their arrival. Sera and Astarion squeezed their way through the crowd and inside the door. Gentle music played from from an animated harp on a central dais, a background to the low rumble of chatting voices.

Out of the crowd, a familiar voice called to them.

"There you are, friends!" Gale greeted them warmly, seeming to materialize right in front of them.

"And here I was worried you'd be too busy with your important new position for us little people." Astarion smiled, taking the edge off his words.

"I'm never too busy for my favorite adventuring companion." Gale looked pointedly away from him and towards Sera.

It was delightfully like old times. Part of Sera had wondered if her and Astarion would be forgotten, if the ties that held their group together would vanish without the shared danger. True, messages had made it between them all sporadically, but meeting in person filled her heart with warmth.

"Shall we tarry for a quick drink? The wine cellar here has the most extraordinary selection."

They kept the conversation light as Sera sipped on a bold red vintage from Neverwinter that proved Gale's assertion correct. The wine had a depth of flavor that made one slow down and savor it. Even Astarion, who found wine one of the few things he could taste, enjoyed a glass without his normal critical commentary.

With warmth restored, Gale led them to his tower.

The streets of Waterdeep were more orderly than those back in Baldur's Gate, and lacking in the ever-present air of danger that permeated their home city. Though really, that was part of its charm. Here, one felt relatively safe amongst the clean walk ways and shining facades.

They were moving into the deeper hours of the night and the streets around them were beginning to clear as even nightowls made their way home. It offered them a chance to take in the city in growing quiet. Gale pointed out some of the city's sights as they went, including a giant statue of a knight, one of the eight Walking Statues of Waterdeep that would defend the city in times of great peril. Astarion gave it a disbelieving glance.

Finally, after crossing several districts, Gale's tower loomed up from the buildings surrounding it. The stones were bright white and would gleam in the sun. Despite what should be imposing architecture, it felt warm and inviting, like a real home, even from the outside.

"This way, friends." Gale touched the door at the base of the tower and spoke a word. Inscribed runes glowed and the door opened with an audible click.

Gale gestured for them to enter before shutting the door behind them. This lowest floor was a sparsely decorated foyer where a spiral stair case began its ascent to the rest of the tower.

"Now then, I'll give you the summary tour as we go up, but you're free to explore as you like later."

They followed Gale up the stairs, Sera noting that the torches were everburning, and needed no snuffing after they left. While one could think a tower would be cold and imposing, Gale's featured many wooden finishing, plush carpets, tapestries, elegant furnishings, and plentiful lights from candles and sconces. They ascended multiple floors, passing functional areas such as kitchens and pantries, until they reached living quarters and Gale's magical study and laboratory. The whole of it was breathtaking. Even Astarion was so busy taking it in that he didn't bother to complain about the all the stairs.

After their brief, but not so brief tour, Gale let out a large yawn. "I do hope you'll forgive me but I had a rather important meeting today at Blackstaff Academy that was quite early."

As excited as they were to explore the new possibilities Gale had for them to hunt down sun protection items, Sera wouldn't push her friend. Besides, they had planned to stay a few days to rest and plan out their next journey.

"Of course, we'll talk more tomorrow evening."

Gale had of course provided a cozy room for them to stay in, though the patterned drapes and linens felt as though it had been decorated by someone's mother. Perhaps it had. At least the drapes were thick enough to hold out the sun. They had also been assured they could explore anywhere except the magical laboratory. So as soon as Gale departed, Astarion turned to Sera.

"What trouble should we get up to, my dear?"

"Hm, the pantry might be a place to start, I'm famished. Then maybe Gale's wine cellar?"

Astarion was loathe to admit it, but the wizard's tower was in fact, quite impressive. Where he'd expected something cold and austere, it was homey and welcoming. He'd watched carefully for signs that Sera preferred that to their life on the road. Of course she has said she wanted to adventure, but Astarion was ever at the ready to change if she wished. Even without sun-walking, as much as it would pain him. They would still be able to make a life together back in the city. For however long it would last.

The two of them had plundered the pantry of bread, cheese, and leftover pastries. Then they had proceeded to conquer the wine cellar, splitting a bottle between themselves. As they had entered though, a familiar smell hit Astarion's nostrils. Blood. A small cask in a dim corner reeked of blood and magic.

"What do you suppose that is about?" he asked Sera, after explaining his find.

"Some ritual or something," she shrugged.

It had to be. Astarion did his best to brush it aside but the scent of the cask lingered in his nostrils, even as he saw Sera off to bed. He 'd come to reverie later.

With little to do on his own, Astarion headed towards Gale's mundane library. He had a few tricks but he was not interested in studying magic in the least. A decent novel on the other hand... Astarion wouldn't admit it to just anyone but he did love a good pulpy adventure or even a steamy romance.

The shelves in Gale's library were heavy-laden even beyond what Astarion had expected. They seemed to be organized by genre and author. Still the number was overwhelming enough that eventually he pulled one at random and settled into a comfortable chair far from the windows that were thankfully covered by drapes.

The book was dramatized account of a group of adventurer's journey to the Feywild. Maybe it would give Astarion some valuable insight, he thought wryly. He was aware he was not the favorite being of Sera's patron and any weapon was welcome. Or perhaps he would at least get a laugh from the book.

It felt like he'd just settled in when the door creaked open. So far the intrepid group had managed to fight some pixies and already start fucking each other.

"But Mr. Dekarios, the best sunbeams are in there." The voice of Tara the Tressym heralded the arrival of her and Gale.

"Now now Tara, Astarion is our guest and we must show him our hospitality."

Astarion rose as they entered, noting the page of the book and closing it. Tara was quick to give him an icy stare, quite a feat from her fuzzy little face.

"I suppose Madame Dekarios would say the same," she finally relented.

"Well as long as the tressym is satisfied, all is well," Astarion couldn't help but follow up.

"Good morning to you, Astarion," Gale responded, far too chipper. "I see you've been making yourself comfortable. Do continue. All the curtains should be closed. I've a few staff but they've been instructed on that along with giving you your privacy."

Astarion still was not used to the warm rush of emotions for anyone other than Sera, and thus did his best to hide how Gale's kindness touched him with an awkward throat clearing while gazing anywhere but at his friend. "Right, uh, thank you for that."

For a brief moment, Astarion felt a temptation to ask Gale about what had happened to Sera back in the Troll Hills. The two of them had tacitly avoided the subject after one brief conversation in which Sera assured him she would "figure it out." They'd only spoken of it again on their approach to Waterdeep, where once again Sera had rebuffed the topic when he'd brought up the possibility of asking Gale. But now the potential for answers was staring him right in the face. Alas, he'd given his word. And it wasn't as if it had happened since.

"I'll be off shortly for classes but will be back in the evening. I think some of the leads I've got will be most promising." Talk of knowledge always put a gleam in Gale's eye.

Insatiable thirst for it was second nature to him. Which brought Astarion's thoughts back around to what he'd seen in the wine cellar.

"Before you go, Gale, indulge me." Astarion took a step closer to him, creating an air of confidence between them. "What is that delectable smelling cask in your wine cellar?"

Gale's skin flushed red and he stammered before he could get proper words out. "Ohhhh, that's just a little experiment Dal and I are working on. Preserved blood, nothing—"

"Hold on, Dal, like my sister?" Astarion interrupted, incredulously.

"Why yes. We met at the good-bye party back in the Gate and a fascinating discussion—"

"You said preserved blood?"

The interruption finally got the best of Gale and he sighed deeply. "Yes. It's not quite there yet but we're hoping with some work we'll be able to keep blood fresh. It should help out in the Underdark."

The mention of the Underdark caused Astarion to wince internally. So many like him forced into the permanent darkness while he at least could still see the sky, if not the sun.

"Why didn't you tell me you'd been spending time with my sister?"

"Well, it's less spending time and more an academic partnership. But I really must be going."

It felt like something wasn't quite right about it all but Astarion relented. If his curiosity wasn't sated he could always enlist Sera to help pry it out of Gale later.

"Alright, but we'll expect some real findings later." Astarion waved him off and took his book back up.

Though he could have found mischief aplenty, Astarion was hesitant to do anything to truly wear on Gale's goodwill. He still was their best shot at sun walking. It was with monumental restraint and decorum that Astarion spent the next few hours, while only doing the lightest of snooping and a smidge of spying. Finally, he tucked in for reverie next to Sera who was curled up under a pile of blankets, the tips of her little pointed ears barely visible. As she snuggled into him, he kissed the top of her head and felt that feeling that was still so strange to him—contentment.

For all that they had a fraught beginning and a few missteps, Sera was everything. Which made sun walking all the more important. There was every possiblity that a nocturnal life would get old, that having to avoid people finding out about his nature would grow tiresome. Sun walking would let them live a normal life. Otherwise this relationship was like an hourglass, slowly spilling it's sands away. With the Summer Queen there to hasten it along.

These thoughts were too dour for reverie. Pushing them away, Astarion focused on warmer ones, their adventures so far and dreams of a brighter future. Even still, shadows lurked in the visions he saw, and darkness seemed to stalk him. It left behind something that haunted him, yet lurked just out of his mind's reach as he came back to the waking world.

He reached for the darkness, only for it to banished by a voice. "Astarion," Sera's voice was a light burning the shadows away.

His eyes opened and he smiled lazily up at those deep blue eyes gazing down upon him. "Good evening, my love."

Gale was waiting for them, a veritable feast already laid out at his dining room table. It was set for three—with one chair having nothing in front of it but a glass chalice filled with dark red liquid. Astarion sat and sniffed it. It wasn't fresh but neither did it have the stench of decay of old blood. There was something else there as well, a whiff of magic.

"Am I to be part of you and Dalyria's experiment?" Astarion laughed, and brought the glass hesitantly closer.

"She's already tried it herself and it's perfectly safe," Gale said.

"Please, I am rather curious." Sera added, watching intently.

"Fine." Astarion feigned exasperation, but in truth, he was deeply curious himself, if still skeptical. He took a small sip.

"Well?" Gale was staring at him like a hawk.

The feel was slightly thicker than fresh blood, and it lacked that spark of something that made blood the sweetest nectar on earth. But it was not…unpleasant.

"It certainly doesn't compare to other vintages I've had." Astarion gave Sera a pointed look and blew her a kiss. She blushed so prettily, it gave him a thrill to know he could still do that to her. Gale, on the other hand, coughed awkwardly. "It's rather like a meal one's let go cold. At one time it was very fine, and now it has lost some of that lustr."

"I will report that back to Dalyria." Gale said with all seriousness.

"I am sure you will." Astarion replied.

After their meal, Gale escorted them to a rather comfy sitting room. Here, wooden panels lined the stone walls to trap the warmth of the fireplace with a cheery fire burning away inside. Well-loved, comfortable couches and chairs gathered around the fireplace. In the corner, a sideboard waited with several decanters of liquid glowing with the fire's light reflected in them.

Gale had several tomes waiting on a side table and took his place in a chair while Astarion and Sera cozied up on one of the couches.

"Now, I have come across a few very promising artifacts of note. I've tracked them the best that I can and I would say the chances of finding at least one are very good."

But not guaranteed, Astarion stopped himself from saying. The words would only vex both his friend and his beloved.

In short order, Gale laid out three possibilities: a ring, a potion, and an amulet. All of them relics of vampires of the past, imbued with some variation of making the sun harmless to the wearer. Despite himself, Astarion began to feel the stirrings of hope. All of them were recorded fact at one point, not just rumor.

Sera carefully studied a map where the locations had been marked. Her eyes were drawn to one location in particular, the same one Astarion found himself staring at—a city near Cormyr on the banks of Dragon Lake.

"The ring. It's the most recently recorded, it makes the most sense." She tapped the marked city on the map, Blue Hollow.

Her words had echoed his thoughts and the blossoming hope began to turn into a visceral hunger for what he had once had. And who was he to argue with his beloved. "Agreed, we should seek that one first, as soon as we're ready to leave. Fantastic idea, darling."

"I did find the artifacts," Gale butted in.

"But just like in our worm days, she's making the strategy." He flashed a flippant smile.

"We'll split the credit." Sera was ever the diplomat, but she snuck a pleased smile at Astarion.

"I'll get you everything I can about the city too. Though this will be some cold traveling, I do not envy you."

CW for somewhat detailed discussion of past sexual and domestic violence. The AO3 notes tell you where/how to avoid the descriptions.

This fic is so very self-indulgent. If I were writing in a more formal context, I'd cut it down by a third or more, but I wanted to sit with these two in this moment and really let their conversations play out. I was hearing everything in my head and honestly just felt like I was transcribing lol.

There was so much I wanted to explore in Astarion's psyche during this scene and so much OC lore I wanted to solidify too. I know it might seem a little Jamie-centric, but this all comes after Astarion's already shared his past re: Cazador, so Jamie's reciprocating by opening up, not actually dominating the conversation.