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[tadpoled]

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[tadpoled]

[Tav is struck down, his body still and cooling in Gale's grasp. There is no pulse to find as Tav sinks into oblivion, into peace. As Gale sobs, Withers emerges from the dark and stands in silence as he observes the gathering of people, the blood, and Tav's still form.]

He has defeated Bhaal.

[As if that would bring Tav back from the grave.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[It's unfair. Desperately unfair. Gale all but spat in Mystra's face out of pride and no matter how painful the orb is, the strain it puts on him, at least he's been allowed to live.

Tav defies the Murder Lord, one of the Dead Three, their maker in pursuit of a better, brighter path, and they now lie still in Gale's arms.

Withers' voice makes Gale jump, cradling Tav tighter to him, cheeks wet with tears as the strangest member of their camp emerges from the shadows.]

He died for it. [Gale snaps out, glancing back to Tav as he smooths Tav's hair back, painfully tender.] I suppose you've come to record that in your ledgers? Couldn't even -- [Gale's voice catches, going quiet.] Couldn't even wait until we found some place to...

[Withers circles them, gaze as dispassionate as ever, and comes to stand at Tav's feet, looming over his still body as Gale cradles him close.]

Alas -- in defying his father, his liege, his courage is courage was in opposition to the divine cosmology that bound him to the Lord of Murder...

[He looks to Tav, tilting his head thoughtfully.]

Thou art faithless. Godless. Doomed to wander the Fugue Plane for eternity.

[Behind Gale, a tentative hand hovering almost soothingly somewhere over Gale's shoulders, Astarion scoffs in annoyed, pained impatience.]

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[Tav remains just as still and cold in Gale's arms as Withers continues to gaze at both Gale and the dead elf.]

I will not permit that, though all the powers of life and death dictate that it should be so.

[Withers' hands begin to glow as he continues speaking,] I, too, still hold some power, and I invest a portion of it in thee, who hath challenged the gods and now liveth to tell about it.

So rise, challenger of god, and prepare for battle once more. Death will not claim thee whilst I endure.

[The instant Withers finishes speaking, Tav jerks back to life, eyes wide and mouth screaming.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale starts as Tav's body spasms in his arms, so alarmed he nearly drops him until Gale gets his bearings again. He stares at Withers for a moment in a long moment of disbelief, then back down at Tav, gingerly helping him sit upright.]

Mystra-ryl, [Gale breathes out, quiet and strained as his eyes search Tav's face.] Tav, is it truly you?

[And, to Withers:] Who are you?

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[When Tav realizes he's being held, his screaming turns into coughing as he leans into Gale's shoulder. Gods, he thought he'd been looking into the planes themselves but now he's back in the Temple of Bhaal, clinging to Gale.]

I think? [Tav pants out, still trying to understand how he woke up.]

[Withers steps away from the pair but continues to talk all the same,] A scribe. A seneschal. A keeper of records. And now, thine advocate, both here and in the City of the Dead.

[waterdhavianwizard]

Thank the gods. Thank you. If you -- when you'd...

[Gale buries his face in Tav's hair as Tav leans into him, careless of the viscera covering and surrounding them both.]

I don't know what I would have done. I'm so glad.

[He glances to Withers again, holding on to Tav as if he's frightened of what might happen if he lets go.] Is he... what have you done to him?

[Withers watches them with that same dispassionate expression.]

The sole way to atone for thine actions is to do better, in a new dawn. That dawn has come.

Bhaal tried to extinguish thee, but his wrath is imprecise -- the only succeeded in killing the part of thee he knew. The Urge that drove thee to terrible acts. The spark of brutality that made thee his.

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[Tav holds a hand to his chest as he continues to lean against Gale, breathing in short gasps. He'd rather Gale not let him go, so he's clinging with his injured arm.

Withers seems to be speaking directly to him, though so he turns ever so slightly.]

But there is a new part of you that hath grown during thy travels. That part, Bhaal could not extinguish and so instead of destroying thee, he hath made thee anew.

[Tav shakes his head, confused.] Does that mean it's gone? The Urge?

[waterdhavianwizard]

I'm here. I've got you.

[Gale murmurs against Tav's hair, cradling him close, barely moving enough to look to Withers again with a hint of bewilderment.]

He... you're... you're you. Who you've worked so hard to be. You've done so much for so many in such a short time, my love. You deserve a second chance.

[Withers, as if in acknowledgement,] The heart of a savior hath overshadowed the heart of a murderer. Thou has vanquished thine urge.

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[Tav's world suddenly goes quiet. Wither's words fade into white noise and Gale's as well. For a moment, all Tav can hear is the beat of his own heart in his ears. He's defeated the Urge? He's finally outwitted Bhaal? He can breathe and not worry about the night to come? It all seems so impossible after dealing with violent thoughts and urges for months now.

Tav's breathing slows as he stares blankly, in shock, at the news he's been given.

However, this does not stop Withers,] This intervention, the reclamation of thy soul is beyond mine ordinary remit. But thou art extraordinary, and so are these times. Today, thou art born anew.

[waterdhavianwizard]

I am so proud of you.

[There are probably more questions to ask -- about Withers, about what's happened, about Tav's startling return from death. But Gale can think of very little but Tav, breathing in his arms, body slowly warming as they hold each other.]

I have never met anyone half as extraordinary as you. [Gale tips Tav's face towards his for just a moment, searching it before pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.

He climbs to his feet, finally, Astarion helping both of them to stand when Gale wobbles slightly.]

Go forth, and greet the bloodless dawn, child of none. As it was, so it is again -- a hero has risen from a legacy of death.

[And, with no further fuss, he vanishes in a smoky haze, leaving Gale bewildered as Astarion mutters, hopefully he's escorted himself back to camp if you want to get any actual answers.]

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[The kiss to Tav's forehead is what breaks the elf from his shock. He blinks and finds Gale so close, wounded but practically wrapped around him. Astarion helps them to their feet and Tav realizes that Gale is still wounded, or is that his blood? He's not sure what to be certain of, except that he is somehow free of the Urge.]

Elfsong. [Tav murmurs, too thoroughly exhausted to think of anywhere else. Camp currently holds too many bad memories: the bloody letter, unable to find Gale in the morning.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

Of course.

[Gale keeps an arm around Tav as Astarion helps them both trudge back through the sewers through town, leading them through less-occupied alleyways and looping paths back to the Inn as they manage to avoid the silent intensity of the Steel Watch and more rambunctious Fists.

Gale does his best to keep the party's fussing over Tav to a minimum when they arrive, at least til Shadowheart deals with both of their injuries. Gale keeps close all the while, one of Tav's hands clasped tight in his. He ducks his head to brush his lips to Tav's ear, quiet as Astarion gives the others a very abbreviated rundown of what little he pieced together of Orin's demise. Shadowheart politely ignores their conversation, though she does give Tav's shoulder a reassuring squeeze, her hands glowing with magic.]

Do you want to... you have a lot to share with everyone, my dear. Do you want to talk now, or rest for a bit?

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[Tav leans heavily on Gale the entire way out of the sewers, still a little wide-eyed as shock continues to fill the space where adrenaline propped him up. Once back at the Inn, his exhaustion and shock has only worsened. Everything becomes a blur until Gale asks him a question and Tav has something to focus on.

He's not sure he can remember all the details at the moment, not while his brain feels so fuzzy.]

I... I don't know.

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale frowns thoughtfully, giving Tav a long look before glancing out at their gathered companions — all looking restless and anxious, their eyes darting over to Tav often in their conversations.

Fair enough, with all that’s happened. But exhausting to experience.

When Shadowheart gives them a relatively clean bill of physical health, all their cuts and slashes mended, their bruises and everything else at least softened into dull aches, exhaustion finally settles deep in Gale’s bones.]

I think we ought to clean up and rest a bit, before anything else.

[It’s mostly for Tav, but the rest of them quiet for a moment before Astarion gently shoos them off so they don’t ruin the ambience any further with all the bile they’re sporting, to which Gale musters a mostly fond roll of his eyes.

Gale stands, steadier on his feet, and gently guides Tav upstairs to their private room.]

Why don’t we start with a bath first, and we can go from there. Will that be alright? I… [He trails off, pausing just inside their room, and turns to look at Tav again for a moment, his voice quiet as he brushes his fingers over Tav’s cheek. His voice trembles just slightly when he speaks again.]

I was terrified I’d never see you again. It would reassure me a little, to take care of you for a bit.

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[Tav remains quiet in his thoughts, still unsure how or if he truly is cured. How he looked into the Fugue Plane and was pulled back at the last moment.

He allows himself to be guided upstairs and into their room. He blinks when Gale touches his face. Oh, right, they’re back at the Elfsong.

Taking a look at the blood stuck to both of them.] Bath should be nice.

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale brushes his lips to Tav’s forehead, and guides him to sit at the foot of the bed while Gale sets himself to preparing the bath.

Soon enough there’s water warming in the tub, towels set nearby, and Gale carefully helps Tav undress, his touch perfunctory and quick but gentle all the same.]

In you get. [Gale guides him into the water, shucking his own ruined robe before sliding in after with a strained sigh.] Is this alright? Once we… rinse the worst of it off, I’ll refresh the water and we can have a bit of a soak.

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[Only after he’s helped into the tub does Tav seem to start coming back into awareness. He looks around for a moment or two, assessing where he’s at, before returning his gaze to Gale.

For the first time since dying, he sees Gale, truly sees him alive and well and quietly begins to sob.] ‘m sorry.

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale's eyes start to well as Tav sobs. He swallows hard, doing his best to steady himself as he gently starts to rinse Tav off.]

My dear, you have nothing to apologize for. If anything, I'm sorry I allowed myself to be fooled by that wretched creature.

[He sighs, taking one of Tav's hands in his own so and lifting it to his lips before pressing Tav's palm to his cheek.]

You saved me. You defied Bhaal and... [His breath catches, and he tugs Tav into his arms.] Gods, Tav, if I'd lost you I don't know what I would have done.

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[Tav leans into Gale’s shoulder as his tears continue. He should have woken up earlier or never slept at all, he should have secured the camp better, anything to ensure Gale’s safety.

He didn’t, though, and Gale suffered for it.

Gale lifts one if Tav’s hands and Tav sits up enough to look at Gale, his bloodied face streaked with tears.]

She— she said she would kill you wearing my face. She tortured you, Gale.

[waterdhavianwizard]

Tav. [Gale reaches for a cloth and wets it, gently wiping Tav's face clean.] I am -- keenly aware, my dear.

I don't mean to be glib. I would gladly suffer the worst pains of the orb a thousand times over than sooner experience a fraction of what it was to be trapped with her ever again.

But I also watched you die. I watched... I saw Bhaal drain the blood from your veins. Felt your body go frigid in my arms. Had it not been for Mystra letting Elminster stabilize the orb, I am quite certain in that moment I might have wiped out the Gate and the Netherbrain with it.

[Gale tips Tav's head back gently, eyes dark and somber.] I doubt I'll ever forget Orin, but it does not overshadow how desperately lucky I feel to have you in my arms right now.

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[Tav looks up at Gale, into his face, for possibly the first time since Bhaal attempted to end his life. His brows knit as Gale talks and cleans and Tav feels like the desperately lucky one to have Gale here with him.]

I cannot believe I subjected you to that. [To watching him die. Of course, he assumed Bhaal would kill him for rejecting his 'gift,' but he adrenaline from defeating Orin had driven the direct choice to die.

He'd been so tired of always worrying if he would kill someone, possibly Gale, in camp again, especially after Gale had been kidnapped. He's felt balanced on a knife edge for so long that the choice was natural.]

I'm sorry.

[waterdhavianwizard]

You subjected me to nothing. Orin did, as did Bhaal, in service of subjecting you to just as much suffering. To punish you for pursuing another path.

[He tugs Tav closer, rearranging them in the bath so Tav is settled between Gale's legs, back to his chest. He nudges him forward just slightly to wash Tav's back, his other hand tracing the patterns of freckles he's grown so fond of following.]

The misfortune of lovers in dangerous times may sometimes behaving that love turned against them, but there is nothing that could make me love you any less. If what Withers said is true -- and he seems to have no reason to lie -- then I do not want to overshadow the joy of your new beginning by lingering on what we cannot change.

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[Tav settles in the new position, trying to rein in his tears. Feeling Gale's fingers move along his freckles triggers another well of tears. He came so close to never having this again.]

Gale.

[Tav's shoulders shake with the weight of his exhaustion and grief.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale tugs Tav back against him, burying his face in the curve of Tav's shoulder for a moment as he holds him tight. He tries to keep his voice light when he looks up again, but it quavers all the same.]

However am I meant to get you resting in bed, if I don't get you cleaned up first?

[He sets himself to the task with care, pausing from time to time to cradle Tav against him when tears overtake one or both of them.

Eventually they're both at least clean enough they won't ruin the sheets, and Gale slides a hand in Tav's hair, tugging his head back just slightly to kiss the corner of his mouth.]

You look much more yourself.

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Do I? [Tav asks as he shifts to better face Gale, now that they're mostly clean. The water around them is stained crimson from the blood washed off of them. Tav hates it, how it looks like Fel's blood when Bhaal emerged from the Outer Planes.

Unless Gale stops him, Tav will start to climb out of the tub, looking away from the water as much as he can.]