Tav sits in stunned silence. The ghost of a forbidden hope that they hadn't allowed themselves to feel sparks deep within Tav's chest. Their focus flits back and forth between Shadowheart's eyes, looking for any reason to dismiss her words. Tav sees no lie or trick in her earnest stare. "That's not really possible. Those capable of casting Wish don't tend to be the helpful sort."
Shadowheart nods and scoots closer to Tav leaning in. "Wish isn't the only option I found." She produces Gale's leather bag wrapped in colored string. "Do you remember in Shar's temple when Gale fell into the lava at the forge?"
Tav grimaces and turns away, eyes closed instinctively trying to avoid the memory that is conjured at the mention of the event. The suffocating heat of Grimm's Forge had made breathing painful and the giant construct sloshed towards Gale, lava sticking to its shins. "I remember." In their mind's eye Tav sees themselves running, trying to get to Gale, trying to distract the guardian. But they were too far and the construct too fast. With a nearly lazy sweep it had sent Gale flying into the thick clinging magma. Screaming. The smell of burning flesh mingled with the gasses of the forge. He didn't stop screaming until he had sunk out of sight beneath the glowing magma.
Once the fight had ended and the lava had cleared Gale's messenger had appeared and presented them with the same wallet Shadowheart was now holding. "That puzzle Gale concocted had too many fiddly steps." Tav rolls their eyes. "Only he would think it a good idea to hide his salvation inside a self destructing bag." Tav snorts. "All brains and no wisdom, it's lucky for him that Withers was always at our camp."
Shadowheart grins. "That's true but what's the phrase you used to say all the time? All's well that ends, well, not as bad as it could have."
Tav chuckles "I thought it was witty, at the time."
"It was funny, and true." Shadowheart waves the bag in the air between them. "The scroll inside wasn't just a Revify, it was a scroll of True Resurrection! If a vampire falls and is then resurrected with this spell" She shakes the bag. "They would be raised as they had been before their first death!"
"Oh my gods..." Tav's eyes are locked on the simple leather bag between them. "Do you know that for sure?"
Shadowheart sets the bag down with a shrug. "Oh, of course not, but it is what everything I've been able to find has indicated. With Gale's orb gone, and us living the quiet life now, we don't need it." She reaches out and takes one of Tav's hands, giving it a squeeze. "If you want it, it's yours."
Tav blinks rapidly, their mind spinning. A smile slowly spreads across their face. They could return to the sun, the waves, the sanguine hunger would be left in the past... "Astarion." Their smile dies and Tav pulls their hand back. They shake their head with a sigh. "I can't. There's only one, and even if we had another, he's so happy. He'd never want to give up being the Vampire Ascendant."
Shadowheart snorts and turns back to the sea. "If that's what happy looks like, perhaps Shar had a point."
"What do you mean?"
Shadowheart shrugs. "I'm just saying that he has been particularly sardonic and spiteful this evening."
Tav sighs again and also turns back to the water. It laps the shore gently forever just out of reach. "Right. Sorry, that's my fault..." Do I really want to bring this up? Tav looks at Shadowheart. "I want to tell you about what happened but I want you to promise to not-" Tav struggles with the right word for a moment "Just don't get mad at me, like Jeheira."
Shadowheart frowns. "I'm not in the habit of making promises before I know the details." Tav makes a pleading face. "Ugh, fine, I will promise to not start shouting."
Tav stares at her for a second longer. "Good enough, I guess." They shift awkwardly and look at their hands. The silence stretches out and cold panic starts to creep up their arms. "We had an argument, more like a fight, before we left the palace to come here. It's why we were late." Tav takes a deep breath. "I brought up a sore subject, I should have known it would make him angry, but-" tav gestures uselessly with one hand. "I did it anyway. It's just... being his- his spawn." Tav shakes their head and smooths their hair down.
"He still hasn't made me a true vampire. ...I think he might never do it, but when I bring up freedom he gets irritated at best and hostile at worst." Tav looks at Shadowheart, willing her to understand. "It's not all the time, of course, usually he's the very picture of a gentleman, but there are times he's... compelled me to-" Tav grits their teeth and looks down again. "to do things, I didn't want to." Tav starts speaking faster. "I'm sure Astarion didn't intend to, he's even apologized for some of them, but it's still uncomfortable and I just want to be able to be on the same level as him so that doesn't happen anymore. I love him. I love him so much it hurts, but he thinks me asking for autonomy is... I don't know, a threat to leave him? Ungratefulness maybe?" Tav slumps forward and rests their forehead on the knees in a sitting fetal position.
Shadowheart's face is impassive and she keeps watching the horizon. Whatever she's thinking she doesn't show it. "So, you fought about him still not making you a full vampire?" Her voice is soft, relaxed even.
Tav nods and shrugs but doesn't lift their face. "There was other stuff, but yeah that was the heart of it." Tav chews their lip. "He was so angry..." the anxiety is a physical pain in Tav's back, a burning in the diaphragm. No, I can't say what happened next. A lie by omission is hardly a lie. "Well, like I said, we fought. There was a lot of shouting. He said 'You are mine!'." Tav mimics his tone, scowling deeply. They can feel their arms shaking. "I called him a 'soulless bastard'. He said something about giving me every good thing even if I don't appreciate it. But I do! Of course I do." Tav's tone is supplicating now, like they can rewrite the events they are describing if they can just make a good enough plea.
Shadowheart nods "I believe you, what happened then?" Tav rolls their head to the side to look at her. She hasn't moved and she seems calm, though a slight crease has appeared between her eyebrows.
"It's hard to say." Tav mutters miserably. "Everything happened so quickly. He threw a decorative clock. I tried to leave but he kept me there, he wasn't done talking yet." Tav sighs. "It seemed like forever... When it was over, I was a mess. I'd been crying, my clothes were disheveled, I'd even torn my sleeve at some point. I had to go get re-dressed and try to look presentable."
Shadowheart waits until she's sure Tav is done. "I don't understand. Why did you think I'd be mad at you? It sounds like he was being a prick."
Tav looks at her like she's grown a second head. "Because I started it? He's moping about, and so have I really, because I picked a fight right before a party. The party I've been looking forward to for weeks. He wanted us to have matching suits but I ripped my jacket sleeve. I even argued with Jaheira! Just everything has gone wrong and it's my fault."
Shadowheart hums noncommittally. "Perhaps. Though, that doesn't sound like grounds for that big of a fight, and you said that when you tried to leave he kept you there. So," she shrugs "maybe he wanted a fight, otherwise he would have let you leave so you could both calm down." She turns to Tav. "Whatever the case, I'm not mad at you. The party isn't ruined by you being sad or him being an ass." She grins a bit. "That's just his natural state and Withers knew that when he invited you two."
Tav chuckles quietly. "He really is an ass. A charming one usually." They wipe tears they didn't notice pooling away from their eyes.
Shadowheart puts her heels back on and stands. She holds a hand out for Tav to grip. "Come on. Let's go find the others before all the good wine is gone."
Tav clasps hands with her and pulls up from the sand. It has soaked the seat of their britches and Tav swipes at the coating of sand left on their behind. "Shadowheart?"
She looks at Tav eyebrows raised "Hmm?"
"Thanks for listening. I-I actually feel a lot better now." Tav is shocked to find that is true even as they say it. They feel tired, emotionally drained, but the undercurrent of anxiety that has swept them though one interaction to the next has receded.
When Tav and Shadowheart enter the glow cast by the bonfire Tav takes stock of the state of the party. Karlach drops an armful of wood onto the flames and sparks leap into the air. Halsin, Jaheira, and Minsc are gathered at the same table Tav had left Minsc at earlier. Scratch and the owlbear cub run though the camp at top speed, barking and chirping. They nearly knock Shadowheart over in passing. Astarion is still talking to Lae'zel.
Gale picks up two glasses of wine and leaves the table where he and Wyll had been talking. approaches Shadowheart closely followed by his winged cat. Tav thinks back trying to remember what the cat was called. Tessa, maybe? That doesn't sound right. "My love." He kisses Shadowheart's cheek and hands her one of the two goblets of wine he had been holding. "There you are." His eyes radiate adoration and Shadowheart blushes. "And look what the tressim dragged in." He smiles widely at Tav. "I'm glad you made it. Professor Gale Dekarios of Blackstaff Academy, educator of the esteemed School of Illusion." He bends forward in a slight bow. "A pleasure to remake your acquaintance."
Tav grins back. "Shadowheart told me you were a teacher now. That's wonderful, congratulations!" The small group walks together to the table laden with wines and food that Gale had just left. Tav pours themselves a drink.
"Yes, we are all incredibly proud of our Mr. Dekarios." The winged cat says "He excels at the academy though his pupils hardly seem to appreciate the honor it is to be educated by the Gale Dekarios of Waterdeep."
To his credit Gale looks a little embarrassed. "Right um, Tav, this is Tarra. Tarra, Tav."
Tav nods a greeting to the handsomely colored tressim. "An honor. Gale always spoke so highly of you." The tressim preens, obviously pleased to know they had been praised in their absence. A cool breeze sweeps through the camp ruffling her feathers and making Shadowheart's dress flutter at the hem.
"So, Shadowheart told you I'm a professor now. Did she tell you what became of the orb?"
Tav shakes their head and Shadowheart shrugs "Believe it or not, Gale," Shadowheart's tone is teasing and she leans against the table lightly. "but we had other things to discuss besides you and your accomplishments."
He laughs good naturedly, practically bouncing in his shoes. "Well then, I'll fill you in on that particular piece of the story now!"
"I want to hear this too." Karlach joins their huddle and pulls a chair up for herself. She sits on it backwards resting her arms on the back. They all stand and sit in comfortable silence while they listen to Gale's story.