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'You...are...mine!'
Astarion jolted away, feeling the walls closing in around him, before opening his eyes, seeing that their rooms in the Elfsong Tavern were mostly deserted.
"Hello?" He called out, voice throatier than usual.
Probably due to the screaming he'd done the night before.
"Hello?" He called out louder, voice echoing a little, seeing that it must be nearly mid-day by now. Shakily, he stood up from the bed, hands still shaking a little as he gritted his teeth and shook them out until they stopped.
There was no reason for him to feel this way.
Cazador was dead.
He was free.
Peering out at the room, he saw that it was empty...had they all left him there? Even the Aasimar and her girlfriend were gone.
Just as he was starting to worry a little, the doors opened and Alfred entered, the fighter neatly closing the door with the back of his heel, before spotting Astarion in the centre of the room.
“Ah, you’re awake.” Alfred held up the tray, “I’ve taken the liberty of making you some tea.”
“I- “
“- I won’t bother to ask how you are holding up, as I think I might know the answer already.”
Astarion straightened up, his usual smile already taken its’ place on his lips, “I am doing perfectly fine actually, why wouldn’t I be? I am free after all.”
“Indeed you are.”
“So there is absolutely no need for you to worry.”
“If you’re sure, then this can simply be a…regular cup of tea between friends.” Alfred smiled warmly at him.
“…Where is everyone else?”
“I decided to send them off to follow up on some other leads that investigating. For what is essentially, a fairly small city, there are a lot of problems that we seem to have found ourselves in.”
“You’re too kind.”
“I have heard that before.” Alfred chuckled, scanning Astarion from head to toe.
Astarion knew what he was seeing.
He knew how he must have looked.
“You didn’t have to stay behind to look after me.” The vampire muttered, sipping at the tea, surprised when he tasted hints of blood in there.
“I know.”
“…So why did you?”
Alfred was silent for a moment, before placing his cup and saucer on the table. “I haven’t told you much about my family, have I.”
“…You mentioned a lot of grandchildren.”
“Hm, yes.” Alfred chuckled, “Fairies, tieflings, humans, elves, half-elves…I love them all in their own unique ways. But, I am slightly ashamed to admit that I do have a favourite.”
Astarion stayed quiet.
“Jason.” Alfred whispered, “A little tiefling with parents who died. He loved reading, cooking…there was a brightness to him that couldn’t be contained. He wanted to learn everything that there was to learn- “
“- Him and Gale would get on.”
“Oh, no doubt, but I fear their debates would take down the camp.” Alfred took in a long breath, “He was killed…a Bhaal worshipper, not unlike the ones we face now. Five years later, we learnt that a necromancer had dug up his body and brought him back. They gave him his mind back, and all he could think about was revenge.”
“On the man who killed him?”
“One everyone who had ever wronged him.” Alfred whispered, “His adoptive father for not being there when he died, his older brother for not coming to the funeral, his younger brother who he saw as a replacement.”
“You?”
Slowly, Alfred shook his head. “No…not me.”
“What happened to the man who killed him?”
“I killed him.”
Astarion’s eyes widened, seeing Alfred’s fist tightening.
“When it became clear that my son wasn’t going to do what was needed, I went to find him…and I put three heavy crossbows into his head.” Alfred looked over at Astarion, who stared at him, “I then made sure that he could never come back again. Cut him up and burned the bits. I got my revenge, for my grandson. I never expected him to come back.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“You are not to blame for my misfortunes.” Alfred leant over, slowly placing his hand on top of Astarion’s giving him the chance to pull away if necessary, “I am glad that you have had your revenge my boy. And I am glad that we didn’t lose you in the process.”
Astarion didn’t trust himself to speak, simply nodding as the human gave him a soft smile in return.
“Perfect. Now, I will need a little help bringing the food I ordered up here, if you wouldn’t mind?”
“I- “
“- Good man.”
“…I bet that house is a disaster without you there now.”
“I fully expect to come back and find it burnt to the ground, with several guilty faces standing outside.”